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distant-utopia · 1 year

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• Log #001: Red's Backstory - 1

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It was on a certain winter day, just a few days after new year, when a new life came to this small house I used to love.

"Waaah... Waaahhh..."

"It's a boy, Grace!"

"A baby boy! Really?!"

A pair of warm hands handled me. My cries were accepted by laughters and happiness. My existence was something my parents, Alan and Grace Collins, expected so much. My grandmother was also there. Tears of joy were also running on her cheeks since I was also her first grandson. My mother didn't go to a hospital during her labor. It still went well though, thanks to the competent local midwife who helped her.

"Oh... Alan, look! He is so cute... Our son! This is our son!" Mom sounded so happy. She kept caressing my face as she held me close. Dad also smiled non-stop. He couldn't hide his happiness too. Well, I heard Dad wasn't a really expressive man. But, the day of my birth was one of the days when he smiled a lot.

"Yes... What should we name him?" Dad asked.

"Didn't you prepare a name, already?" Mom asked him back.

"Well, uhm... In case, you want to name him something else..." he retorted poorly. Mom laughed.

"What do you mean? Of course I want him to be named with the name you give!" she continued with a small chuckle.

"O-okay... Ahem." Dad cleared his throat, acting a bit nervously.

"Flynn. It is the name I prepared."

"Flynn?!" Mom responded in awe. "That's a beautiful name!"

"I think so too." Granny chimed in.

"Alright then, my son." Dad caressed my head gently. "From now on, you will be Flynn."

"Welcome to this world, my dear."

* * *

I don't think there is anything remarkable about me growing up. I grew up normally, just like other boys. It's just... I guess, Mom kinda... loved me excessively. I didn't feel annoyed with her attention. It was just how she was. Mom was an energetic, perky woman who never ran out of energy. She would tag me in everything she did. She would brag about how much she loved me to everyone she came across. Mom also had an affinity with animals. When she had no one to talk... she would talk to those animals. Strangely, they seemed to understand her. Maybe my mother was weird, but she was loved by everyone. Dad also loved her very, very much.

I guess Mom kinda spoiled me, but somehow it didn't turn me into a brat. Somehow, I think I was kinda exasperated with how my mom acted too... but, maybe, I was a bit different. As a toddler, I was very quiet. It was not like I have speech problem. I was normal. I simply didn't like talking, because Mom used to do it all the time. Well, since it didn't really hinder me, my parents let it be. I still could play with other kids just fine. I was only very quiet.

What else was there...? Hmm... I think, most adult said I was intelligent. I could count when I was barely one year old. I also had good comprehension. I could read before I turned four. I was quite complacent, placid, and easy to deal with. Somehow, other children listened to me too. I was an only child, but my presence was like their older brother. Although, we were on the same age. I was closer to Mom, but Dad also cared to me despite being busy with his job. I learned a lot about being disciplined and responsible from Dad, because Mom was very carefree. Dad said a man should keep his words and being faithful. They also should be strong so they could protect their family. Everytime Dad told me that, he would hold my small hand. We walked together around the village while watching the sunset. I knew he was tired from his job. But, he was always so happy to see me as if his fatigue was gone just from seeing my face.

Despite that, I also had my shortcomings. I was very, very bad with arts and crafts. My drawing was so bad. My friends would laugh at that, and I always went home crying. Dad also tried to teach me how to make simple wooden handicrafts. Yet, I always butchered them so badly. I was also short and small. And my face was rather... cute. Uhm, maybe it still IS, but it's not something I like to admit, okay? If my hair grew a bit longer than usual, I would be mistaken as a girl. That's why I always cut it very short. Just like how Dad had his haircut.

I never get bullied due to my stature, thankfully. I guess that's because my friends respected me. It's like how they would respect their older brother. Back then, I didn't have a lot of birthday parties. But when my parents held one for me, my friends would always come. We had so much fun when the days were simpler.

* * *

Aside from my parents, I was also close to my grandmother. Granny cherished me so much, because I was her only grandchild. Twice a week, I would visit her with Mom. Granny lived on the neighboring village, separated from mine by a bridge. I loved walking to her place. I loved to see the scenery; the blue sky, the white clouds, the clear water of the river, the gentle breeze, the humming voice of Mom who was always singing everytime we walked there. When we arrived, Granny would welcome me so warmly, hugged me and sometimes even carried me. She would make me cookies and warm milk. Then she chatted with my mom until the sun set while letting me sit on her lap. Sometimes, Granny cooked something during my visit. I would help her in the kitchen along with my mother. Mom and Granny were good cooks. I was quite fascinated with helping them in the kitchen. Despite people saying that cooking is not a 'manly' thing to do, I didn't care. I liked being in the kitchen. Sometimes I would try to cook on my own, with Granny and Mom watching over me.

Granny was a tailor. Apparently she was quite fashionable during her youth too. Granny made a lot of clothes for me, but there was something that stuck with me even until I grew into an adult. At one point, I was so offended with someone who mistook me as a girl. I asked Mom for a haircut afterwards. I got too upset that I asked for a buzzcut to the barber... which, frankly, made me looked even weirder. Back on the village, my friends laughed at my almost bald head and called me 'matchstick'. I refused to go out of my house. During my visit to Granny's house, I was visibly upset and even quieter than usual. Granny only laughed and patted my head. She went inside her room, and brought something when she was back. It was a bright red hood.

"Here, Flynn. You can wear this." said Granny. "You can cover your head until your hair grows back." she continued.

"...isn't this for girls?" I asked while staring on the hood she put on my lap.

"Well, it was mine!" Granny laughed. "You don't need to wear it all the time, though. You can stop once you get your hair back."

I kept staring on the hood. I was reluctant to wear it, even though it was Granny's. Wouldn't it make me looks like a girl even more?

"There, there, Flynn... It's okay." Mom patted my back.

"It's okay if you don't want to wear it, but won't you try it first? Let's see whether it suits you or not." she continued, while giving me a big smile. I couldn't say no to Mom's smile. I wore the hood, and covered my head with it.

"Ohhhh.... Mom, look! Flynn is so cute! Sooooo cuutteeeeee!!!" Mom gushed over me and pulled me in a hug, while squishing my cheeks and rubbing my head. "Flynn, how could you be this cute! Waaaahhhh..."

"Grace, calm down!" Granny only laughed at my mother's antics. "Let Flynn go, will you?"

"No!!!"

I started to lose my breath in Mom's hug.

"Flynn can't breathe, dear. Let him go." Granny repeated again.

"Oh, really? Oh noooo...! Sorry, my baby boy!" Mom finally released me, but she was still pinching and squishing my cheeks.

"M-mom..." I weakly groaned. Sometimes, Mom was just too much.

"What is it?" Mom answered nonchalantly. I only let out a big sigh.

"Grace... You're annoying him." Granny also let out an exasperated sigh, although she chuckled afterwards. "Your son is not a doll, you know?"

"Sorry, Mom... He is just too cute..." finally Mom let go of her hands, although it was obvious that she held back so hard.

"I know." Granny gently smiled to me and patted my head. "It suits you, darling." she continued, while still looking at me with her warm gaze.

I blankly stared at Granny. I could heard Mom still gushing next to me. "He can wear it everyday!" Mom exclaimed.

"Don't force your son." responded Granny.

I heard them continue to bicker, although I didn't really care about what were talking about. After that, I started to wear the hood Granny gave me. Everyone's reaction was like Mom's. They all said I was cute. It was really grating on my nerves. But, I guess it was better than being called 'matchstick'. I started to get used with it, until I was very famous with my red hood. Some people even ended up calling me, "Hey, Little Red!" due to my hood.

The Little Red Riding Hood was a boy, though.

* * *

At least, that was my life until I turned seven. One day, my mom glomped at me after she came out of the bathroom. She seemed happier than usual.

"Flynn, my hooneeeeyyyyy!!!" she hugged me so tightly. "You will be a big brother!" she excitedly exclaimed.

"...?!" I stood frozen after hearing what she said. Soon after, Dad came and gently laughed at us.

"It means your mom is pregnant." he said.

"Oh...?"

"Come on, Flynn! Be more excited!" Mom released her hug, then proceed to shake my body.

"W-what??" I only stared blankly at Mom, trying to process the information.

"Flynn! We gonna have another child! And you will have one baby sibling!" once again, Mom shook my body back and forth while yelling loudly. Honestly, I was dizzy from what she did to me.

"Calm down, calm down." Dad held Mom back. "Flynn, your mom is pregnant. You will have a younger sibling soon." finally, Dad spoke in a comprehensible manner.

"Tomorrow?" I asked him.

"...in nine months." he replied.

"That's not soon."

"Well? Pregnancy lasts nine months. If three weeks, that's chicken egg."

"Oh."

I had nothing to say any further, so I only stared at my parents. What should I do? I never expected a sibling. I lived my life as an only child for so long. Will I be a good big brother? What should I do as a big brother? I was lost in thoughts while my parents were talking to each other. Then, I inadvertently opened my mouth.

"Is it a brother or sister?"

"Oh... we don't know about that yet." Mom quickly replied. "We'll see when the baby is born, okay! It's a surprise!"

Without hesitating, I continued. "I want a brother." I said.

"Why?" asked Mom, a bit surprised.

"A sister is also not bad, though..." Dad muttered.

"It's easier to share my stuff if it's a brother." I replied to Mom.

"Aww... Flynn!!! I'm sooooo touched...!" Mom hugged me again. I was too late to react...

"You will be a good big brother! I'm sure of it! You already think of your baby brother even before he was born..." and Mom rambled again. I sighed without listening to what she said, and resigned to her bear hug.

Day by day after that, the three of us were really anticipating the baby's birth. Dad kept buying baby stuff and toys. Oftentimes, he would bring me along. He said maybe I knew which things were better for my sibling later. In short, he was bringing me along to choose what toys to buy. Even if I didn't show it on my face, I was also excited. I couldn't wait to play with my baby brother... or maybe baby sister. I wanted it to be brother though. I hope it would be a brother for real. Dad patted my head when he saw me hugging the toys we bought tightly.

"Do you know how is it to be a good big brother?" asked Dad. I shook my head while staring on his face.

"Well... A good big brother will protect his younger sibling." he explained. "You will keep him out of harm, you will share what you have with him, you will comfort him when he is scared and crying..."

I listened to what Dad said closely. He really explained everything in details. A moment later, I asked him back.

"Where did you know all of those, Dad? You were an only child."

Dad stopped his walk, seemingly taken aback with what I said. He looked dumbfounded at me.

"Well... I told you, didn't I? About what a man should do."

I didn't say anything, only looking at his face with a piercing stare.

"A man should protect his family. When Dad is not around, the responsibility will fall on the oldest son's shoulder." he continued. I still didn't answer, but what he said sounded heavy.

"Are you ready for that?" Dad asked me again.

"...I don't know..." I answered hesitantly.

Dad let out a short chuckle. He bent down and patted my shoulder.

"... You must be ready, whether you want it or not."

* * *

At that time, I didn't really take what my father said to me seriously. I took it with a stride. But, looking back, maybe it was my last memory where I think about him fondly.

On a certain evening of a summer day, my parents were visiting Granny without me. I didn't mind as I was doing my own business. But, as the sun set, I heard a noisy crowd outside my house.

"Grace! Grace... hang in there!"

That was Dad's voice. Brought by curiosity, I walked to the front door and opened it. Dad was carrying Mom, her beautiful yellow dress was stained by blood. A lot of adults around them were panicking while trying to support my parents. For the first time in my life, I felt a chill down my spine.

"...Mom!" I cried.

"Flynn!" it was my father who responded. "Move! Give way! Oh, Grace... Grace, it's okay, we're home!"

I obeyed what Dad said. Soon after, they brought Mom to her room.

"Mom...!" I tried to follow them, but a hand stopped me.

"Flynn, let's wait here with me." it was Mrs. Martha, the Village Chief's wife. She was a good friend of Mom.

"What happened to Mom?" I asked her, my voice shaking.

"She got injured... I don't know why." Mrs. Martha gently led me to my living room couch.

"Will Mom and the baby be okay?" I asked her again.

"Let's pray for that, okay." she replied with a gentle smile. People around me were always so kind.

Soon after, Granny arrived. She apparently hurried here when she heard Mom was injured. However, she went straight to my parents' room instead of looking after me. After that, some doctors also came. I grew uneasy when I heard Mom was screaming in pain. Mrs. Martha tried to hold me back, but eventually I was able to escape her. I ran straight to where Mom was. It was so messy, blood everywhere... and something else.

A baby.

I gasped. It still had two months to go, but why was it here? Mom was very pale and looked very weak. I pushed the adults in front of me in order to reach her.

"Mom! Mom...!" I broke in tears while calling her. My mother only looked at me weakly. She was unlike her usual, energetic self.

"Flynn..." she called me back almost inaudibly. I can barely hear her voice. Then, I looked at my father who carried the baby. As I looked at him with wide, crying eyes, Dad sighed and put the baby next to Mom. Dad was also crying too.

"It's... a boy, Grace..." he exclaimed in a shaky, weak voice. It was as if he was holding back his tears.

"A baby boy..." Mom responded, still in a weak voice. "Really...? Haha. Flynn, you must be happy. It's a baby brother..." she tried hard to sound fine and continued what she said.

I stared at the baby in disbelief. He was... very small. He was as large as a plastic bottle. He was so red. He cried, but not so loudly. Or maybe, that's because I couldn't hear it amidst the adults.

Dad wiped his tears and raised his voice again. "What... What should we name him?" he asked.

"...I don't know..." Mom replied while looking at the baby.

"Flynn was from me, so maybe... it's your turn to name him?"

Mom paused for a while, her finger slowly caressing the baby's cheek. "I don't know... I don't... prepare... any name..." Mom's answer sounded so lifeless. It was really different from how she usually sounds. I found it hard to believe that it was Mom talking.

Dad who sat next to me pinched the bridge of his nose. It seemed like he was thinking hard of something. After a while, he spoke again.

"How about... Snow?"

"Snow?" Mom echoed what he said, a bit confused.

"Snow... You like it so much. Also, you look the most beautiful while you were surrounded by snow too..." he tried to explain.

"Oh..." Mom mumbled something. Maybe she pondered the name Dad proposed.

"Snow. Snow... That's a good name. I like it." finally, Mom let out a small, quiet laugh. "Then, you will be called Snow, darling..." she kissed the baby's head as she said this.

Snow.

What a weird name to be given to a baby who was born in summer.

Snow.

He was not supposed to be here now. He was supposed to come two months later.

Snow.

I was born in the winter. I was born surrounded by it. There are a lot of things you can do with snow, even if it freezes your hand. The New Year is also in winter, and I always had a lot of fun around New Year.

Snow.

It was something my mother loved so much. She was really good with ice skating and skiing. Despite the deathly cold, there was something so beautiful with snow. The whiteness that envelopes everything turns it into a wonderland. The gentle snowflakes that fall on the fingertips will soon melt due to the body heat. It is not something that means to last long, but even the short-lived beauty is still a beauty.

Snow...

I am Flynn. I am your big brother.

Welcome to the world, my dear brother. I will be your protector.

"Alan?" Mom's voice brought me back to reality.

"Yes?" Dad responded.

"Quit with that long face. I will be fine." she said again. I could tell she tried hard to sound alright.

As the day got late, everyone started to leave the room. Some of them stayed on our living room, including Granny and Mrs. Martha. I didn't want to leave Mom, so I sat on a chair next to the bed. Sadly, I was still a little child. I eventually fell asleep after I got tired of crying. However, somehow I woke up in the middle of the night. I saw Mom panted heavily, but she managed to regain her composure.

"Alan... I love you..."

Her voice was even weaker than before. I was not fully awake at this time.

"Flynn too... I love you so much..."

Hearing my name, I rubbed my eyes. I saw my mother in the verge of death, still caressing my brother's head.

"And you... My dear... I'm sorry I can't be around longer..." Mom still continued. "I... love you too, Snow..."

I finally sat straight. Mom closed her eyes, her hand limply fell. I couldn't believe what I saw.

"Mom... MOOOMMM....!!! MOM!!!" I frantically shook her body. She was not breathing. Her body was still warm, a bit cold, but still warm. I cried, futilely called her.

"Flynn! Flynn, what's wrong?"

The adults stormed into this room, someone tried to hold my body. My tears broke. I kept calling my mother.

"MOM!!! MOOOOMMM..... MOM!!! MOM... MOM!!!"

I wanted to say, please wake up. You said you will be okay. But, I couldn't say anything except 'Mom'. My screaming awakened my brother. He also cried with me. I stared at him, my body frozen. After some moment, I unconsciously reached for him. To my surprise, his small hand gripped my finger. It was very small. He looked so fragile. He is my brother.

"Snow..."

I got up from my chair, trying to get closer. I put my head next to my brother. I could feel his warmth. Snow was so small. He looked like even the smallest touch could break him. He was just like a snowflake.

"Snow, it's okay... Hic... Don't cry..." I said to him, even if I was crying myself.

"It's okay..." I wiped my tears and put my biggest smile. Then, I said to Snow: "Big brother is here. Everything is gonna be alright."

I am a big brother now. I am your big brother, Snow. I promise I will protect you until my last breath.

#heeqocs #heeqocs_lore #original writing

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magicdreemurr17 · 1 year

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Chapter 10: "Gazing Through The Cracks"

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Frisk made their way out of the shop after purchasing some much needed items for the journey ahead. With 33G remaining in their pocket, three Cinnamon Buns, and a Bisicle to share with their sister (should they need some extra sustenance for the journey ahead) stashed away in their convenient little pouch, they waved goodbye to the shopkeeper; a nice bunny monster who wore very casual-looking clothing despite living in such a brutal winter climate. How she wasn't completely freezing in a t-shirt and shorts was beyond the human child's comprehension, and that summer hat sure didn't help.

Magic waited just outside the door, in a much more pleasant mood than she was about a half hour ago when they were confronting the two skeletons. A bright smile gleamed on her face as she scanned their surroundings, feeling comforted by the sight of the locals running around, placing presents under the nearby tree like it was actually the holiday season. It filled her with a warm, fuzzy feeling she couldn't shake aside, even if she wanted to.

"Why can't surface people live like this?" Magic asked, "Imagine how much greater the world could be if humans took to life as graciously as these monsters…"

"I thought you'd know something more about that than just asking me." the little human signed to her.

Magic's smile fidgeted slightly, threatening to curl into a frown as she replied anxiously, "Well, just because I'm older, doesn't mean I'm always gonna be wiser… I wish I could figure out how other humans work… unfortunately, I'm not a mind-reader, so I have no clue what's going on inside anybody's head but my own."

"Maybe you should use that knowledge to stop yourself from making bad decisions." Frisk signed, a smug little grin plastered on their face.

The older human furrowed her brow slightly at her sibling's comment, glaring down at them as they giggled silently at her reaction. Aside from her twitchy eyebrow, she had this strained smile, making her look like she was using all her willpower not to hurl a snowball at them.

"Oh, so that's the thanks I get for keeping you safe all this time? I suppose you could confront Papyrus better than I could." she responded with a hint of sarcasm.

"And how!" Frisk replied, beaming with confidence and assurance. They tried to make themselves look as tall as their sister by standing on their tippy toes, hands on their hips all sassy-like, but they got clumsy and had to regain their balance before they fell face-first onto the snow. Magic couldn't deny how adorable they looked in their attempt. It made her grumpiness melt away as an amused smile threatened to take over her features.

"Okay, okay. That's enough trying to imitate your big sister," she patted them on the head, ruffling their hair a bit, "I know you like it when I'm dramatic, but don't you try to copy me now, you hear?"

Frisk giggled as they signed in response, "I know, I know."

The two humans started to make their way to the other side of Snowdin Town, passing the magic igloo that Sans told them about earlier. It wasn't that they wouldn't appreciate a good shortcut, but the one thing Sans neglected to mention was that the igloo entrances were only big enough for children and small adults. Magic wasn't exactly as tall as Papyrus, but she wasn't that much shorter than him either (the top of her head was at chin level with the taller skeleton). She tried to crawl into the entrance with her sibling before, but struggled to fit comfortably without burying herself in the snow beneath her. If she had lowered her body any further, she would have taken in a mouthful of the cold, white slush. Ultimately, Frisk decided it would be better if they just passed on the shortcut. They didn't want to have to go through that mess again.

On the way towards the Snowdin exit point, which led into the next area of the Underground, it seemed the further they traveled from town, the more the snow falling around them grew. How weather even happened in the Underground, they didn’t know for sure. Frisk felt their body growing numb from how cold it was getting. They had, at this point, adjusted to Snowdin's naturally cold climate, but with this harsh wind and constant snowfall whipping all around them, it practically made icicles form out of the end strands of their hair. Magic noticed their shivering form and took Frisk’s hand in her own, providing some extra warmth so they wouldn’t get frostbite on their fingers.

“R-Right now, I wish that Snowdin had a place where you could buy clothes for this kind of weather…” Frisk signed shakily, their left hand freezing as they did.

“You know, I’m actually going to agree with you this time.” Magic replied, looking at the dangerous weather blowing all around them, “All this wind is adding to the cold. We shouldn't stick around too long… you could very easily freeze out here.”

Just then, the two humans noticed a silhouette appear amidst the raging snowfall, dead ahead. They recognized that slender figure by this point. That was none other than the Great Papyrus, as he consistently advertised himself.

“HUMANS! YOU’VE ARRIVED!” he exclaimed, that bubbly grin on his face still firmly present, “I MUST SAY, I’M IMPRESSED. YOU’VE MANAGED TO CLEAR EVERY PUZZLE I’VE DEVISED FOR YOU WITH SUCH RESOLUTION! QUITE THE FEAT TO TRIUMPH OVER THE GREAT PAPYRUS!”

Your puzzles weren’t even that challenging, they were just overly convoluted, the older human thought.

There was a brief pause in Papyrus’s words that made Frisk feel a bit uneasy, looking at him in concern. They noticed a contemplated look on the skeleton’s face, one that temporarily replaced the normal, boisterous expression he frequently wore.

“HUMANS, ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME… COMPLEX FEELINGS I’VE BEEN HAVING!” he continued, looking at them with a newfound sincerity, “LIKE… THE JOY OF FINDING ANOTHER PUZZLE ENTHUSIAST. YOUR PUZZLE-SOLVING SKILLS FILL ME WITH A GREAT LEVEL OF ADMIRATION! THE KIND OF ADMIRATION THAT MAKES YOU YEARN FOR SUCH COOL, SMART PEOPLE TO THINK YOU ARE COOL TOO!”

“You… think we’re the cool ones?” Magic asked, seeming a bit confused, “You’re brimming with so much confidence, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW, THE GREAT PAPYRUS CAN RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL WHEN HE SEES IT, TALLER HUMAN!” the skeleton monster answered, grinning from nonexistent ear to nonexistent ear, “ANYWAYS, BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING… THESE FEELINGS… THEY MUST BE WHAT THE TWO OF YOU FEEL TOWARDS ME!”

… What..?

“I CAN HARDLY BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HARBORING THESE FEELINGS! THEREFORE, I SHALL GRANT YOU BOTH PERMISSION TO BE MY FRIENDS!”

Uhh… I think he’s lost his brain, Magic thought, mentally facepalming again at the unintentional pun. Sans was absolutely rubbing off on her, and not for the best in these moments.

Papyrus held out his arms, as if offering the two humans an invitation to a nice, warm hug, “I, PAPYRUS, WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS!”

A sudden chill went down Frisk’s spine, and not because of the blizzard around them. Their entire body felt stiff and numb, like their sins were crawling on their back. Wait… what sins? They hadn’t done anything to hurt anyone, at least not from what they could recall. Everyone was alive, everyone was well..- wait, alive? What was this unnerving feeling they were getting, and why was it growing stronger..?

Papyrus then stopped, contemplating yet again before he shook his head feverishly, “NO! NO! THIS IS ALL WRONG! I CAN’T BE YOUR FRIEND! YOU’RE HUMAN! I MUST CAPTURE YOU TWO!”

The skeleton monster summoned a bunch of bone-like magical projectiles behind him, glaring at the humans across with a confident smile. Magic rolled her eyes, unfazed by Papyrus’s petty words.

“You can try your best, pal, but I’m not letting anyone take Frisk from me.” she said, turning back to look at her sibling, “You ready, Fris..-? Woah, wait… Frisk?”

When her eyes landed on the tiny human beside her, she noticed they looked rather pale, their mouth quivering slightly as they stared at Papyrus in horror. At first, she thought the tears that pricked at the edges of their eyes were from Papyrus declining to be their friend, but something else was clearly wrong… horribly wrong… with Frisk. Their body trembled, and despite Magic waving, prodding, and even shaking the tiny human, nothing seemed to snap their attention back to reality.

“Frisk? Frisk, what’s wrong? Answer me!” she called, her voice beginning to shake from her concern.

The younger human’s eyes stayed fixed on the skeleton monster standing across from them. Images began to flash in their mind… the violent blizzard, a knife across the neck, and Papyrus’s decapitated head on the ground, lying in his own dust. He looked up at them with a sad, but hopeful look in his eyes as his head was slowly fading into dust, like the pile he sat in.

“W-WELL, THAT’S… NOT WHAT I EXPECTED… B-BUT STILL… I BELIEVE IN YOU… YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BETTER… EVEN IF YOU DON’T THINK SO… I… I PROMISE…”

There was a loud crack as they saw the image of their own boot crashing down onto Papyrus’s skull, turning what remained of him into dust. It was all too much. The tears began falling from their eyes like two flowing rivers and Frisk falling to their knees, punching the snow-covered ground with their bare fist in a fit of agony. It was too much for the small child to handle. Where were these images coming from? They prayed for some sort of message from that ethereal voice, telling them that this was just some kind of illusion; a cruel attempt to scare the child and get them to back down.

… but nobody came.

No matter how much they pleaded to hear that oddly comforting voice that always seemed to show up when things looked dire or bleak, nothing came out of it. There was no one there to spare them from the horrors of these sequences; no one to hear their calls for help. Frisk felt a painful throbbing in the depths of their soul, like something inside them was trying to remember something crucial.

“Frisk!!” Magic yelled, her worry increasing drastically. For the most part, Frisk preferred to stay mute and communicate through sign language, but this also made panic attacks like these, as uncommon as they were typically, very alarming. The only hints they gave off was the way their face would twist and contort in agony, refusing to make direct eye contact with their older sister. What was making them so distressed?

“H-HUMAN!?” Papyrus immediately dropped the fighting stance, dispersing his magic as he rushed over, his kind heart bleeding at the sight of the tiny human in distress, “TALLER HUMAN, WHAT’S WRONG?!”

“I-I don’t know..! They weren’t like this a minute ago!” Magic tried shaking her sibling again, “Frisk, come on! If this is a joke, it isn’t funny!”

The tiny child whimpered and held their arms over their head, as if trying to protect themselves in desperation. Magic flinched, caught off guard by her sibling's behavior. For the first time since meeting Frisk, she genuinely had no idea what she should do. Suddenly, before she could ponder her options, Papyrus scooped the tiny child up into his arms and made a mad dash back in the direction of town.

"Wh..- Hey!" Magic yelled, chasing after the taller skeleton when her brain registered his actions, "Get back here with Frisk right now! Do you hear me!? Papyrus!"

The older human's threatening tone fell on deaf ears as Papyrus made his way to his own home, kicking the door open as he held Frisk close and ran inside, the door luckily staying on its hinges. When Magic got inside shortly after, she slammed the door behind her, ready to rip into the taller skeleton for basically abducting her sibling, but was shocked when Papyrus gently laid Frisk on his couch, pulling a warm blanket over them soothingly, being careful not to make any sudden movements to startle them any further.

"SANS, GET YOUR LAZY BONES DOWN HERE! I NEED YOUR HELP!" he called upstairs.

"i'm right here, bro." replied the shorter skeleton, who just awkwardly appeared beside his brother with no real transition or announcement to his presence, startling Magic slightly. It's like he just materialized from thin air.

"SANS, I..-" Papyrus stopped momentarily, clearing his throat (which, again, made no sense, but hey, who cares at this point? He was a magic skeleton. He didn't need to follow logic), "Sans, the little human is so frightened… I-I don't know what to do. Something's terribly wrong with them..!"

Magic's eyes widened a bit when she heard Papyrus talk in a softer voice. It was still loud by normal standards, but it wasn't Papyrus loud.

Huh… He really can speak softly, she inquired.

The shorter skeleton turned to look at the crying child curled up on their couch. His eyes darkened momentarily, making Magic feel uneasy again. Why did he do that sometimes?

"what exactly happened?" he asked, not even turning to look at his brother.

"I-I don't know..! All I said was that I was going to capture them and they suddenly started to freak out!" Papyrus exclaimed, grabbing his brother's arm tightly with worry written all over his expression, "Brother, please..! I don't know what to do… I don't want the tiny human to be so scared."

Magic watched as the shorter skeleton started reaching one hand out to Frisk, becoming alarmed, "Hey, bonehead, watch it..-!"

Before she made any sudden moves, the older human stopped herself as she watched him gently pat her younger sibling's head, ruffling their hair a little as he chuckled.

"relax, kiddo. that nightmare's over… you're awake now." he told them.

Nightmare? What's he talking about? Magic asked herself, Frisk doesn't get nightmares.

Miraculously, much to the shock of their big sister, Frisk actually began to calm down a bit. Their tears started slowing down gradually as they took a few deep breaths to calm their shaky body. Magic couldn't believe what she was seeing. This… total numbskull was actually helping them.

"it's gonna be okay, buddo." Sans told them, holding up a TV remote, "how about you watch something with your sis while pap heads into the kitchen to cook something up for ya?"

Hearing his brother's suggestion made Papyrus grin widely as he got up from where he was kneeling, "GREAT IDEA, DEAR BROTHER! I SHALL MAKE THE TINY HUMAN SOME OF MY UNDERGROUND FAMOUS SPAGHETTI!"

Magic rose one hand up to her ear, wincing slightly.

"And there goes my eardrums again…" she muttered under her breath. She didn't miss the loud, boisterous tone, but she couldn't help cracking a small smile when Papyrus recollected himself after Frisk's recovery.

As Papyrus dashed off into the kitchen, chuckling out his infamous 'Nyeh Heh Heh's, Sans casually handed Frisk the remote as he turned to leave, bumping shoulders with the older human, seemingly intentionally.

Magic flinched slightly as she scratched the back of her head, mumbling quietly, "I… umm… T-Thanks, I guess… I really owe you one for that."

Sans eyed the older human for a while, creating a slight tension in the air between them before letting out a hearty chuckle, "don't sweat it, pal. you were just lookin' out for your younger sib. i can't exactly give you a hard time for something like that."

She turned to look Sans in the eyes for once, "You… You're the older one?"

"yep. at least, that's what I remember anyways. memories are a little fuzzy, but i know someone important asked me to look after pap when he was too young to really remember." he turned to look at his brother in the kitchen with a somber smile, "papyrus is a lot more independent now. i mostly support him from the sidelines these days… honestly, just seeing my bro doing what he loves… enjoying life… that's all that really matters to me now."

Magic's breath stopped momentarily at Sans's words, side-eyeing her sibling momentarily as she sighed, "I know how you feel… Frisk means everything to me, so when their life is threatened or someone's bothering them, it just rubs me the wrong way." she scratched the back of her head slightly, avoiding direct eye contact with the monster in front of her, "Listen, I'm… uh… sorry I've been kind of a jerk to you and your brother. I suppose you could say we started off on the wrong foot."

While Papyrus let out a groan of dismay from the kitchen, Sans let out a deep chuckle at the human's joke.

"don't sweat it. like i said, you're not gonna have a bad time with ol' sans here," Sans looked back at Frisk briefly, a softer, gentler smile spreading across his features, "you better look after that kid. i don't know what exactly brought the two of you together; maybe it was 'fate' or whatever… but you need to make sure they don't stray from the path they've chosen. keep them determined."

She cocked her head slightly at his words, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Sans shrugged nonchalantly, "don't worry about it. you've got enough of a burden weighing you down. it's probably for the best you don't know..."

Aaaaaand there goes the moment.

"You cheeky..-" Magic facepalmed, clenching her fist tightly as a crooked smile appeared on her face, "Do you ever answer anybody's questions without dancing around the truth?"

"hey, i try not to waltz over the issue. i like to stay on pointe." he replied, the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.

There was a loud snapping noise as Papyrus broke the wooden spoon he had been using to stir his spaghetti sauce, "SAAAAANS!!!"

"sorry, bro. the human wanted to tango." he continued, making his brother scream in absolute agony while both humans were hollering with laughter.

"Oh, lord… He has dance puns too." Magic responded, wiping a stray tear from her eye.

After recovering from the onslaught of stupid jokes, the short skeleton made his way to the door, stopping for a brief moment to look at the two humans, "you two should come by and have lunch with me at grillby's sometime. my treat."

Frisk nodded gratefully, "Thanks, Sans."

The stout skeleton smiled as he made his way out of the house and disappeared, not as randomly as he had appeared, much to the gratitude of the older human. Magic sat down beside Frisk and adjusted the blanket Papyrus had wrapped around them, making sure they were comfortable and warm, given that they were just out in the middle of a blizzard.

"You had me there for a minute, Butterbean. I was really worried about you." she told them, her smile faltering slightly.

Frisk ignored the nickname this time as they signed to their sister sadly, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to scare..-"

She gently reached out and lowered Frisk's hands to stop their signing, "Don't be. It wasn't your fault, nor was it Papyrus's. You more than likely had an anxiety attack or something… Whatever it was that scared you before, it's gone now. Dust in the wind."

Frisk shuddered slightly at the analogy, which didn't go unnoticed by Magic.

"Sorry, did that stir whatever made you flip out earlier..?" she asked, quietly thinking to herself, "How about we just take Sans's advice from earlier and watch something on the television?"

Anything to get their mind off of that freakout from earlier, she thought.

Frisk thankfully nodded as they raised the remote and hit the power button to turn it on. To their surprise, there was only one channel on the entire Underground TV Network, titled "MTT Channel". They didn't exactly know what it stood for, but it piqued their interest. Turning the channel on, they heard a rather catchy jingle play as Papyrus poked his head out from the kitchen to see what they were up to.

"OH! ARE YOU WATCHING METTATON!? THIS IS MY FAVORITE CHANNEL!" he was practically glowing with how excited he looked.

"Mettaton..?" Magic raised an eyebrow, confused and curious.

"ONLY THE UNDERGROUND'S MOST POPULAR TV STAR, HUMAN!" Papyrus replied, "HIS FANCLUB HAS ALMOST THREE DOZEN MEMBERS!"

The older human didn't seem too convinced by his words. Three dozen members only added up to thirty-six people, and that wasn't a lot, at least by human standards. Then again, with how small the Underground apparently was, maybe it meant more to the monsters because of their population being substantially smaller compared to the humans. Who knows, maybe she'd get to see firsthand why the guy was such a celebrity in the Underground.

Turns out, that was too much of a good thing. As soon as the jingle ended, the channel's logo was quickly replaced on the TV by an intermission screen, as a suave robotic voice interjected, "Stay tuned for a new program!~"

"AW, THIS SHOW'S LAME!" Papyrus suddenly exclaimed.

Magic let out an undignified snort at the younger skeleton's comment. Was he genuinely unaware that this was just an intermission and not an actual show? She exchanged glances with Frisk, who had clapped their hands over their mouth so as not to burst into laughter, but after the two humans locked eyes… they utterly lost it. Both siblings broke into a fit of giggles, which greatly concerned Papyrus.

"WHAT? WHAT'S SO FUNNY, HUMANS?" his voice was laced with genuine confusion, "WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID?"

They couldn't respond. In fact, Papyrus's continued naivety just made their laughing fits worse. It might've been a bother to them before, when they were struggling to get through an almost life-or-death situation, but now that they were safely in Papyrus's house, just enjoying some downtime, they both felt at ease… even Magic.

After a bit more laughter, Frisk made the effort to recover and got up from where they sat, making their way over to hug Papyrus's leg (y'know, since he's so much taller than the little human).

"NYEH? TINY HUMAN, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" the skeleton monster knelt beside them as he checked their face in concern.

"... I'm really sorry, Papyrus. About earlier…" they signed, not really bothering to question if he could understand ASL in the first place.

Luckily for them, Papyrus seemed to know it as well as Sans did, "YOU SHOULDN'T APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, HUMAN!! EVERYONE HAS SKELETONS IN THEIR CLOSET..!" he paused briefly between words as Magic let out another undignified snort, "... DON'T TELL SANS I SAID THAT ONE. ANYWAYS! I TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID EARLIER!" he patted the little human on the head gently, like he saw his brother doing when he calmed them down earlier, "I COULD NEVER CAPTURE SOMEONE SO FRAIL AND KIND AS YOURSELF! YOU AND THE TALLER HUMAN ARE MORE THAN WELCOMED TO BE FRIENDS WITH THE GREAT PAPYRUS!! ERR, THAT IS… IF YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE MY OFFER..?"

The tiny human looked back at their sister, a questioning look on their face that honestly surprised her.

"Since when did you need my permission for anything?" she cracked them a small smile, "I don't have any problems with it. It would be nice to have some friends down here… some actual friends."

Her words made both Frisk and Papyrus grin from ear to ear as the skeleton scooped up the tiny human in his boney arms for a big hug, "THEN FRIENDS WE SHALL BE! NYEH HEH HEH!"

Magic smiled as she watched Frisk melt into Papyrus's embrace, but was suddenly caught off-guard when the taller skeleton charged straight towards the couch to envelop her in that same hug, making her feel a tinge of discomfort. Sudden hugs without consent were one of the things that startled her easily, but she let it slide this time. She knew by this point nothing could contain Papyrus's energy. Whenever his mind was set on something, he would accomplish his task by any means necessary (well, any means that were within reason, he wasn't a super-monster).

The sudden stench of smoke filled the two humans's nostrils as Frisk winced slightly, snapping their fingers to get the skeleton monster's attention before they signed, "Is something burning?"

Papyrus perked up even more at their words, "OH! THAT'S MY SPECIAL GET-BETTER SPAGHETTI! IT WOULD APPEAR IT'S ALMOST DONE!"

The two humans turned to look over in the kitchen when they noticed a strong, open flame underneath the pot that Papyrus was cooking the pasta in.

Oh no…

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Author's Note: (Did I say 12 pm EST? Surprise! You guys get an early release at 12 am EST.) Hello, my lovely readers. Thank you for your patience and loyalty to the cause. We have finally reached Chapter 10 of Lost In The Echo! I'm sorry that this took as long as it did to release, but I am a human of my word, I promised I would not yield until I complete this story, and I intend to hold true to that word, no matter how long it takes me.

I would just like to say thanks to all my friends over on Discord (who know who they are), as well as a particular group of seven longtime friends who heavily encouraged me to write this story. Without them, Lost In The Echo wouldn't have half as much polish, care or love put into it. Their encouragement, their input, and most of all, the fanart and promotional art they've done for me has meant a whole lot during the production of this fanfic.

It doesn't matter to me if the Undertale Fandom is dying. Even if I am the only Undertale fan left in this fandom, I will finish this story. With that, I must bid you adieu.

Until next time, beauties! Stay determined! <3

START

#undertale #lost in the echo #fanfic #chapter 10 #frisk #oc #papyrus #sans the skeleton

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mackeydoodledoo · 3 years

Text

The Fifth Lord: Chapter 2

Pairing: Alcina Dimitrescu and (Fem!Dragon)Reader [non-romantic], Bela Dimitrescu x (Fem!Dragon)Reader

Summary: Your name is Y/n Dracul; The only ‘mutant’ that doesn’t have the Cadou Parasite. You already have some sort of power that impressed Mother Miranda; you were the first known Human-Dragon Hybrid. Although you have your own house, “House Dracul”. Your ‘house’ itself is basically an unused wing of Castle Dimitrescu.

Warnings: None?

A/N: So like- Y/n’s dragon form is different from Alcina’s. Y/n Dracul is based on the Dragon Slayers from an anime titled: Fairy Tail. Y/n’s relationship with Alcina is that similar to like close work colleagues. Aside form Donna and Mother Miranda, Alcina respects Y/n a lot. Fun Fact: “Dracul” is Romanian for Dragon or Devil

Ethan Winters is captured by Heisenberg and we take this chapter to the intro of the Five Lords.

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As you enter the main hall, Bela and her sisters are seated before Alcina.

“Y/n, you and I are to go to a ‘family’ meeting,” Alcina says, taking a sip of her drink from her teacup

You nod as you seat yourself in a single seat, “When do we leave?”

“Right now,” She says, “Bela you are in charge of the castle until we reutrn.”

“Aww, Why can’t I watch the castle Mother?” Daniela pouts

“Because you will burn down the castle,” Bela states

“I do not!” Daniela looks at her elder sister

“Now now girls,” Alcina calms them, “My decision is final. No arguing while y/n and I are out. Understood?”

They nod their heads calmly.

“Good,” She says, “Let’s go y/n.”

You nod and begin following her before Bela takes your hand. You turn your head and she pulls you in for a hug.

“Keep that fly with you,” Bela whispers, “That way I’ll always be with you.”

You give Bela one last kiss before she let’s you go to go to the meeting.

“I’ve called you all here today to discuss this man’s fate,” Mother Miranda begins, “The lord who can persuede me the most, I will leave this man’s fate in your hands.”

“My daughters do so love, entertaining foreigners,” Alcina starts, “Furthermore, I can assure you can entrust the mortal to me.”

“Dracul, do you have anything to say about this mortal?” Mother Miranda asks, “How do you argue to entrust the mortal to yourself.”

You were sitting along a ledge right above Alcina. Smoke comes out of your nose as you exhale and you look away from whatever it was you were staring at and look at Mother Miranda; all eyes are looking up at you.

“You know, if I’m going to be honest,” You start, ‘You four can do whatever the hell you want with him. Don’t entrust the stupid manthing to me.”

“Y/n... We live in the same domain,” Alcina sighs in annoyance

“You may be right My Lady,” You add, “But, I’d be responsible for him and I’d rather not look after a stupid manthing. I rest my case.”

You lean back into a beam, letting out smoke from your mouth. You just listen to Alcina and Heisenberg argue over the manthing.

“You can entrust the mortal to house Dimitrescu, the manthings suffering is assured. Regardless,” Alcina states

“Yada yada if the man’s dick is cut off in the castle blah blah blah,” Heisenberg drones on

You couldn’t help but let out a snicker. You and Moreau. Alcina looks up at you in annoyance and a question of; are you on my side or not?!

“I’ve heard all of your arguments, some of you were less persuasive than the rest. But, I’ve made my decision,” Mother Miranda starts, “Heisenberg.”

She points to him, “The manthing’s fate is in your hands.”

You watch Alcina and Heisenberg argue once more.

“Mother Miranda I must refuse this decision!” Alcina states, standing up from her chair, “Heisenberg is but a child. Give the mortal to me and I will ensure he is ready.”

“Shut your damn hole!” Heisenberg growls, coming up to Alcina and telekinetically dragging his hammer back into his hand, “And don’t be a sore loser. Go get your food elsewhere.”

“Quiet now child! Adults are talking,” Alcina attempts to calmly say

“Oh, I’m the child?” Heisenberg asks, “You’re the one always arguing with Miranda’s decisions!”

“You wouldn’t know responsibility! Even if it was welded to that hammer!” Alcina argues

“Oh! Keep growing! Maybe your head might one day fit your ego!” Heisenberg argues back

Your eyes widen...

Not even I can make an argument like that... Well, they are siblings after all...

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” Angie provokes the two arguing lords

“SILENCE!” Mother Miranda yells, unfolding her wings, “I’ve made my decision and it is final. There will be no argument. Remember from whence you came.”

You gently land yourself into Alcina’s chair as Alcina walks over to stand behind her chair. You all watch Heisenberg deal with Ethan.

“Lycans and gentleman,” Heisenberg announces, “We thank you for waiting.”

You watch Heisenberg lean down to Ethan’s eye level, “Let’s see what you’re really made of, Ethan Winters.”

You follow Alcina back into the castle where you just head straight towards your clocktower. Having Bela be a regular visitor of yours has you really thinking on where you should set your bed. She told you about her weakness despite Alcina’s protests for you to know. However, you promised her that you would never take advantage of that.

“Tired already? Here, let me help you,” Bela teases as she throws the blanket around the both of you

You place a warm kiss on Bela’s forehead as you begin warming the blanket slowly for Bela to warm up.

“Mother is upset,” Bela sighs, “I guess it’s going back to woman flesh...”

“Sorry love,” You say, “I’d feel like I’d be the worst at looking after a manthing...”

Before the both of you continue on, you hear flies from the distance which are getting louder.

“Sister!” Daniela yells as she materializes first, “I heard the front door opening. Someone’s here.”

You and Bela give one glance at each other before throwing the blanket onto your bed and you follow their lead.

Once you reach the main hall with the girls, you watch them. The giggles echo throughout the castle entryway.

Music to my ears...

You see Bela hooking her sickle into the manthing’s calf. A shrieked pained scream exits his mouth.

“Mmmmm Man-blood,” Bela smiles

She yanks on the hilt of her sickle and begin materializing into her swarm of flies, dragging him with her. You follow close behind Daniela as Cassandra helps her older sister by hooking her sickle into the manthing’s other calf. The both of them bust open the door, beginning to turn back into their human form. You walk towards Bela, but stopping once you had reached Cassandra’s right side.

“Mother, I bring you fresh prey,” Bela says, trying to take the credit

You look over at Bela, slightly unamused.

Bela honey... Cassandra helped you drag him here...

“You are so kind to me daughters,” Alcina smiles through her glass

You stand next to Cassandra as Alcina stands to see who had entered her castle.

“Well Well Ethan Winters,” You and Alcina say in unison

You look up at Alcina as she looks down at you. However, someway somehow the both of you turn your heads toward Ethan, also in unison.

“You’ve escaped my idiot brothers’ games did you?” She asks, “Let’s see how special you are.”

You stand next to Cassandra as Bela and Daniela hold up the manthing’s arms for Alcina to taste his blood.

“Hmm,” She swallows the remaining blood lingering in her mouth, “Starting to go a bit stale.”

“Then let’s devour this man-flesh quickly mother,” Daniela suggests

“But- I’m the one who brought him in here!” Bela protests

Bela... Again, Cassandra helped you drag him in here...

“Now now daughters,” Alcina states, pressing a napkin between the creases of her lips, “I first must inform mother Miranda. Oh, but later, there will be enough for everyone. Now, put him up.”

Again, you watch Bela and Daniela place hooks into Ethan’s hands and Cassandra cranking a lever.

“Let me... Down!” Ethan pleas in pain

“Oh,” Alcina moans, “Be careful what you wish for, Ethan Winters.”

You watch Alcina turn and begin walking towards the door. You begin following her but you stop.

“You! I saw you in one of the photos in the village!” He says, “Let me down and I’ll help you find your past!”

You actually debated on doing that. However, if it wasn’t for Bela stepping in front of you, you would have actually let him go.

He might be lying... I’ll find out on my own time.

“Mere humans left me,” You state, stopping at the doorway

You turn your head and look up at him, “They sacrificed me to Mother Miranda. If it weren’t for her sparing me, I would have been long dead.”

I owe it all to Alcina for raising me though.... Mother Miranda neglected me...

You take Bela’s hand as you walk out with her. The both of you part ways for the time being.

“I’ll see you in my chambers love?” You ask

“The same time as always my love,” She smiles as she gives you a kiss

You return the kiss and watch her off with her sisters and Alcina. You decide to return to your clocktower and rest. Your head was pounding from the meetings.

Of all times head?... Damnit...

As you lay there in your bed, you hear high-heeled footsteps echoing through the tower. You look over and notice Daniela.

“Oh- Lady Daniela,” You say, “What can I do for you?”

“Can you help me make this for mother?” Daniela asks, holding up a decently sized weapon

Quite unfinished... But, Nonetheless impressive.

“What do you need help with specifically?” You ask

“Heat it up for me? Make the basic form of it,” Daniela explains

“Give it here,” You say, “ Don’t want those hands being severely burned now do we? You need to eat that manthing.”

You take the unfinished weapon from her hands and begin heating it with your hands, concentrating your heat into your hands.

“Can’t you just breathe fire?” Daniela asks, watching you

“I haven’t done that... Ever,” You say, shamefully, “I don’t know if I can.”

“Oh... Well, you’ll figure it out.” Daniela says, cheerfully

You couldn’t help but smile at Daniela’s comment of encouragement.

Maybe I will try it once everyone has taken care of the manthing...

You make a makeshift hammer and begin molding the basic form of the weapon. Reheating it when you needed.

“Okay,” You sigh, removing the sweat off of your head, “That should be good to get you started. Don’t worry about telling her that I helped you.”

She squeals in happiness and jumps onto you to give you a hug.

“See you at supper My Lord,” Daniela says, materializing into her fly swarm

Just as you were going to go rest some more, you could hear Bela’s voice...

“Bela?” You ask yourself

You could head a gunshot as well.

“Oh no,” You panic

You jump out of bed and begin making your way towards Bela. wherever the hell she was in the damn castle.

Bela you better be okay or else...

You make your way through the dungeon, pivoting or even forcibly moving all of the turned-ghoul maidens out of your way.

Bela...

You inhale the foul stench of the dungeons.

It’s blocking Bela’s scent... Shit...

You find a set of stairs and you ascend them.

Oh! I finally got her scent! And it’s stronger! Bela I’m coming my love!

Chapter 3

#bela dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu x reader #bela is my wife #alcina dimitrescu #alcina dimitrescu x reader #cassandra dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu #donna beneviento #karl heisenberg #salvatore moreau #mother miranda #house dimitrescu #house beneviento #house moreau #house heisenberg #female reader #resident evil village

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let-me-luve-you · 4 years

Text

Winter Storm

Jared Padalecki x Reader

Summary: You play Cordell Walker’s daughter on the new show Walker. Jared takes you under his wing. What happens when a winter storm hits all of Texas.

Warnings: Mentions of a rough upbringing, Texas winter storm, power outage, water problems, some angst, scary weather, fluff, protective Jared, maybe a cuss word somewhere

A/N: As a Texan, this past week has been scary. I have been extremely blessed to not have the problems that a lot are. I was lucky and did not lose power and did not have any pipes burst. This idea came to me after seeing that Jared and Gen were helping others while dealing with their own problems at their house.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO HELP OUT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO.

KICK THE COLD - AUSTIN MUTUAL AID

GENESIS WOMEN’S SHELTER & SUPPORT

FEEDING TEXAS

LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING DONATIONS IN DALLAS AREA

THE WAY HOME

You do not have to donate to any of these organizations, but if you feel the need to help, here are a few links. ^^^^ There are plenty more out there if you don’t want to donate to these links.

MASTERLIST BUY ME A COFFEE

Winter weather will be hitting Texas this weekend. You can expect lots of snow and ice. It is best to prepare for possible power outages and water being turned off. That is worst case scenario, but be prepared as Sunday will be a cold one.

You panicked. Growing up in North Texas you never had to deal with severe winter weather. You were used to dealing with tornados. But the way they were talking on the news, this weekend was going to be bad.

Thankfully you had the day off and were able to go to the store. You grabbed a case of water and food that you could prepare and food that didn’t have to be cooked to eat. You were still getting used to the adult life as an 18 year old, but since you had been taking care of yourself the last few years, you learned a thing or two in the kitchen. You made sure to grab some snacks as well since they didn’t have to be cooked or stored in the fridge either.

As you pulled up to your apartment building, you got a call from the lead and producer of the show you were on. You still weren’t sure how you managed to land the role of Stella in the new show Walker, but you were grateful. You put the car in park and grabbed your phone.

“Hey Jare.” You said. Jared was the older brother you always wanted, even though he plays your dad and he has moments where he acts like your dad. You didn’t have a great life growing up and to have a male figure in your life to help you in anyway, made you happy. Same thing with Gen.

“Hey Y/N/N. How’re you doing?” He asked.

“I’m doing good. Just got back from the store. Am I needed on set?” You asked in a panic thinking you missed something.

“No, no you’re not needed. Just wanted to call and tell you we are not filming Monday or Tuesday next week. And depending on the weather and roads, we may cancel Wednesday as well.” He informed you.

“Oh. Is it because of the storm?” You asked.

“Yeah. We aren’t sure how bad it’ll be, but we are hoping we are just being over cautious.” He said. “You said you went to the store?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to get something’s so I won’t have to get out. And I got some stuff. I won’t need to cook in case we lose power. Also filled up with gas in case I lose heat and need to warm up some.” You told him.

“Come stay with us. We have plenty of room and we have a fireplace. We just restocked our firewood supply. I don’t want to be worrying about you all weekend.” He said.

“I’ll be okay. Really. Thank you for the offer though.” You said nicely. You really did mean it. You were used to taking care of yourself that when people did want to help you, you appreciated them.

“Well. I have my truck if I need to come get you. If you change your mind, come over. The kids would love to see you.” He said. You heard Gen agree with him in the background. “And Gen would too.”

“Well after the storm, I’ll come over for dinner to see everyone. And I’ll even come another night to babysit so you and Gen can go on a date.” You said with a laugh once you heard Gen immediately laugh.

“Gen says you don’t have to, but I will take you up on both offers.” Jared told you. “Okay. Well stay in touch. They say it’ll start sometime tomorrow night.”

“Y’all stay safe and stay in touch too.” You said. “Bye Jare.”

“Bye Y/N/N.” He said before hanging up. You put your phone back into your pocket before lugging all of the groceries into your apartment. You put everything away before going to change out of your winter clothes.

After changing into some PJs to be comfortable. You decided to meal prep some so you wouldn’t have to worry about it later. And if the weather isn’t as bad as they think it’ll be, you can just eat them throughout the week.

Sunday morning, you woke up and looked outside. All you could see was white fluffiness. You smiled as the world looked at peace. You loved snow. You always thought it brought beauty to the world.

When you walked back to your phone where it laid on its charger, you saw a couple of texts from Jared and Gen. Both had sent you photos of Tom, Shep, and Odette playing the in the snow. Then you saw Jared’s text about possible rolling power outages.

You picked up the phone and called Jared and before he could even say hello, you asked, “What does that mean? Your text... I don’t understand it.”

“It means they’ll shut the power off for an hour to three hours to preserve energy.” Jared said.

“Oh.” You said.

“Yeah, so if the power goes out, don’t worry, it should come back on.” He reassured you.

“Okay. Thank you for letting me know.” You replied.

“Of course. How are you doing anyways?” He asked.

“Good. Just woke up. Felt good to sleep in. I’m probably about to start warming up my lunch.” You informed him. “How are y’all handling it over there? I saw the pics you and Gen sent. The kids look like they’re having a blast.”

“We’re doing good. The kids are definitely loving the snow. I did have to help Gen gather the chickens this morning which wasn’t fun.” He said with a laugh.

“Oh gosh. Yeah chasing chickens isn’t fun. Are they okay? I didn’t even think about y’all’s animals?”

“They’re all in the barn with heat lamps. Thankfully the barn is powered by solar so we don’t have to worry too much if the power goes out since we have a lot of energy stored up.” He said.

“Good that’s good. Well I’ll let you get back to doing whatever you were doing. Thanks again for letting me know.”

“Anytime. If you need something, holler. Okay?” He asked.

“I will. Bye.” You said. You heard his farewell as you went to hang up the phone. After preheating the oven, you took the lasagna and boxed garlic bread out of the freezer. You figured, while the power was still on, you could cook the one meal you prepped that couldn’t be eaten cold until you cooked it and it was leftovers.

An hour later, you sat at the counter charging your phone and iPad while you ate. When you went to take another bite, the power cut off.

“Great.” You whispered. You knew it was only going to be for a few hours, but you were a little aggravated by the inconvenience. You stood up and went and put on thicker sweatpants and your socks. When you made it back to your phone to text Jared that your power went out, you saw you barely had any service. That concerned you in case you needed to make a call for an emergency.

Power just went out. Hopefully y’all didn’t lose power. I’ll let you know when it’s back on. Sent 1:23 pm

You continued to eat as you awaited a response. Shrugging when you finished your meal and put the dirty dish in the sink, you moved to the living room to read a book you started the night before.

Hours later, you still had no power and you still hadn’t heard from Jared or Gen. You had checked social media, but neither had posted anything. You decided to scroll through Twitter and saw the horrors of people’s pipes bursting and roofs caving in flooding their homes.

Seeing people in Austin posting that, you decided to grab a tote to store your valuables in. Sadly, it wasn’t a lot, but the idea of losing what little you had that meant something to you scared you.

You needed to go to your car to charge your phone and warm up some, so you decided to store your valuables in the trunk. Thankfully you had a covered parking space that was right in front of your apartment. When you put the tote in the trunk, you checked to make sure the tail pipe was clear of snow before you started the car.

After spending an hour in the car, you decided it was time for bed. Grabbing every piece of blankets you had, you cuddled up in Jared’s hoody that you stole from him when you filmed episode 2 of Walker and all the blankets. You even had on two pairs of socks on since you got cold earlier.

The next morning, you checked to see your phone still had more than half its battery life left. But what shocked you was still no response from Jared. You got on Instagram and saw that Gen had posted a boomerang of him with his socks on as gloves, but neither had checked in with you.

You were kind of upset by this. You knew they didn’t owe you anything, but it still hurt. Going to the kitchen, you saw it was flooded.

“Oh no. Oh no. Nonononono.” You panicked. You ran to the bathroom and grabbed all the towels you owned and rushed back to the kitchen. You threw them down to try and absorb as much water as possible. You opened the cabinet and saw the pipe that had burst. You grabbed your phone and called the landlord.

“Hey Craig. I had a pipe burst this morning.” You said when he answered.

“Can’t do much with the weather like this.” He said not really caring.

“Can you turn the water off or something? Or tell me where it is and I’ll do it.” You said getting angry.

“Can’t do that either. If I do that, your neighbors lose their water too.” He said.

“Well what am I supposed to do. Just sit in water all day?” You asked with an annoyed tone.

“City’s running out of water anyway so they may shut it off. So won’t be long before it stops.” He said. You got so mad that you hung up. He was useless.

After 3 hours, all of your towels were soaked and you started using some of your clothes to help absorb what the towels couldn’t. You had tried calling Jared to see if he knew what to do but it went straight to voicemail. Same with Gen.

After using most of your clothes to stop the water, you decided to pack a bag in case you had to leave. Plus it would let you know what you could use to absorb the water that still remains. Thankfully your landlord had turned the water off after multiple people called about pipes bursting. All you had to do was finish cleaning up the mess.

Two days later, you were sitting in your car, about to go back into your apartment when you got a call from Gen.

“Y/N. Oh my gosh it’s so good to hear from you. We haven’t had service, plus we lost power and had a few pipes burst. Are you okay?” She asked worriedly.

“I’m okay. Sitting in my car right now so I could charge my phone and warm up a bit.” You told her.

“You don’t have power still?” She asked.

“Nope. And I also had a pipe burst. But I cleaned it up and nothing was damaged. Did you have any damage done? Is everyone okay?” You asked concerned.

“Yeah. We are fine. And just minimal floor damage.” She told you. “Jared is cleaning that mess up while I’m going to the store. Do you need anything? We have some of our neighbors over trying to stay warm and I’m grabbing them stuff too. So I don’t mind getting you anything.”

“I’m okay. I have plenty.” You said. You wanted heat. You wanted to sleep without having to wear five layers, but you refused to ask.

“Well if you do need something, text or call. Hopefully we get service back.” She said.

“I will. Thanks Gen.” you said as you hung up. Ten minutes later you got a call from Jared.

“Pack a bag and bring some blankets.” He said before you could even greet him.

“What?” You asked genuinely confused.

“I said, pack a bag and bring some blankets. Also if you want to bring any food you don’t want to go to waste or if you have water, bring that too. I’ll come in and help you carry.” He said.

“Wh-wait.. what is happening?” You asked.

“I’m coming to get you and you are going to stay with us for a couple of days. I just got off the phone with Gen and she said you had a pipe burst and you don’t have heat. So you are going to come stay with us until your power is back on and the pipe is fixed.” He said. “I’m pulling up. I’ll be inside in a second.” He hung up before you could say anything.

You went and unlocked the door before moving to your room. You grabbed your big suitcase and packed what few pair of pants you had, a weeks worth of underwear, two weeks worth of socks since you hated having cold feet, and the remaining three sweaters and seven shirts you had. It barely filled your suitcase so you decided to throw in a couple of hoodies as well.

“That all your packing?” Jared asked concerned. No one knew how long this was going to last.

“It’s all I got clean.” You answered honestly.

“No way.” He said in disbelief. You shrugged and told him to follow you as you walked into the kitchen. He saw the pile of clothes and towels on the ground. “Oh Y/N. I’m sorry this happened to you.”

“Happened to you too.” You said before moving back to your room. You grabbed a blanket and started to fold it, starting a pile you were taking with you to the Padalecki’s. Once you finished that, you grabbed your pillow too.

“Want any books or anything? You have room in your suitcase.” Jared said as he pointed to it. You shrugged and grabbed a few books you had been wanting to read. After throwing them into the suitcase, you ran to the living room to grab your iPad and chargers.

“We can charge them in the cars if we need to.” Jared said when you thought about not putting them in your bag. You nodded before throwing them in and zipping it up. “This ready to go to the truck?” You nodded once again before he grabbed the suitcase handle and stack of blankets and your pillow with ease. “Go figure out food and I’ll come back to help.”

Once in the kitchen, you grabbed the full water case you had bought a few days before and the almost empty one that you had already opened. You then moved to the fridge to grab the few casserole dishes you had left to eat. You grabbed your travel food carrier and put the casseroles in first before the almost empty case of water in after it. You saw Jared walking back in and asked,

“Is there any food of mine you want? I’ve got everything packed that will definitely go bad before I get back. The rest has already gone bad.” You said while looking at Jared who was looking through your cabinets. He found your snack one and grabbed a few things and shoved them in your carrier.

“That’s all I want.” He smirked. “Ready to go? We can come back in a couple of days if we need to.”

“Ready.” You walked to his truck and he helped you load the water and carrier. As you got into the passenger seat and started to buckle, you said, “thanks for coming to get me and letting me stay with you.”

“Anything for family.” He said smiling at you before driving carefully back to his house.

“But we aren’t family?” You said more as a question.

“You’re my tv daughter, so technically we are.” He said with a laugh. “But in all seriousness, I do see you as family. Me and you have gotten close over these past few months. I can see you as a daughter and I can see you as a little sister.” You could hear the sincerity in his voice.

“Really?” You asked. He nodded his head. “It means a lot to hear you say that. I see you as a big brother.”

“Good.” You saw him smile. “That means you can ask me for anything or do anything and I’ll be there for you. Sorry I didn’t come get you sooner. I thought about it.”

“It’s okay. I tried calling but could never get through. It happens. I’m just glad nothing more serious happened. I’m glad we are all safe.” You said honestly.

“And we are about to get you warm. We have the fire going in the living room and in mine and Gen’s room. Kids have been sleeping with us or on the floor in our room. You’re welcome to make a pallet in front of the fire and crash there.” He said as he pulled into his driveway.

“Sleeping in front of a warm fire sounds lovely right now. Thank you.” You leaned over and gave him a big hug. “I love you Jare.” You said before pulling back to kiss his cheek.

“Love you too y/n/n.” He smiled at you. “Now let’s go take all this in and get you warmed up.”

Tags: @deadcoldhearts

#jared padalecki #jared x reader #jared padalecki x reader #jared padalecki rpf #jared padalecki one shot #jared padalecki imagines #jared padalecki fanfic #jared padalecki fanfiction #jared rpf #cordell walker #walker #walker rpf #walker fanfiction #walker fanfic

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kanonsarchivedblog · 3 years

Text

Night Terrors

Word Count: 1627 Rating: T Warnings: Descriptions of wounds, body horror Characters: Tobirama Senju, Hashirama Senju, Izuna Uchiha ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ The dream always begins the same. He’s had it so many times by now, he could recite it by memory if he could get the words to form in his mouth rather than his brain alone. If he could bring himself to speak out loud, to vocalize, to just finally tell it to the world and get it off of his chest. But he can’t. And so, the dream begins. It’s near winter, the end of fall- late, late enough that his breath fogs in the early morning air. He is ten, here. The sky is starting to lighten now, the sun not yet breaching the horizon to the east but starting to, the rays making streaks of gold that dance through the retreating navy, banishing the night once again. Hashirama is standing beside him, shaking in the early morning chill. He never did like the cold; he couldn’t handle it the same way that he could, or the way Mother could. Hashirama whines softly, wanting to go back inside. Hashirama always whined, even now. Their father had left the night before, called away late to some important meeting. Kawarama wasn’t back yet. He should have been back. He was seven. He didn’t know anything- he barely knew what flowers he could and couldn’t snack on, what mushrooms would kill you the moment you breathed in their spores and which ones were the best to roast over an open fire. He was seven, so little.

Butsuma approaches, a weird bundle in his arms. Except that isn’t just clothes. Red is staining white, and it’s Kawarama wrapped up in that little bundle, looking too small to possibly be his little brother, but it is. It is him, because he’s sitting up in that bundle and looking at him and telling him “This is your fault. This is your fault. This is your fault.” But he can’t talk. His mouth isn’t moving right, the jaw broken, pried apart by adult hands, broken and hanging loosely, tongue lolling far too long to be normal, but that’s what the tongue is, isn’t it? It goes down the throat. But his eyes aren’t there, even though he can feel him looking, his eyes aren’t there. Instead it’s black holes in his head, but it isn’t black, not really, just a really dark red because that’s muscle and tissue there where his eyes used to be. Butsuma is talking. “He is a shinobi.” He says. But he wasn’t a shinobi, he was seven. Shinobi were older. They had to be older. Kawarama could barely hold a sword. “He died a shinobi.” Butsuma says again. “He died a shinobi.” “He died a shinobi.” His brothers repeat. A shinobi. A shinobi. He died. Died. Died. Dead. The world swirls around him, fading into darkness, and it’s like he’s waking up except he knows he isn’t awake. The ceiling above him isn’t the ceiling in the Senju compound in Konoha, but the thatched ceiling of his childhood. His mother is screaming. He moves before Hashirama does. Or, Hashirama is moving, but he’s moving to pull the blankets up, telling Tobirama he doesn’t want to go, doesn’t want to know. But Tobirama is twelve, and knows more now. He knows what a mourning cry is. She is kneeling on the ground, clutching the lifeless body of Itama. Itama, who was only nine. Who had been sent out because Butsuma needed Hashirama and Tobirama at home to watch over Mother. Itama, who was stabbed over and over and over and there are too many holes to count from blades. Itama, whose lifeless eyes stare at the sky as Mother howls out a sound that’s not human in any way. Grief, personified; her white hair is wild, blowing in the cold spring wind, whipping it this way and that, and tears are streaking down her pale cheeks, cheeks that hold the same scarlet streaks that his would in four years, but he didn’t know that then. She is crying, and Hashirama is on the porch, and Butsuma is yelling and he is always yelling, always screaming. The Uchiha did this, the Uchiha massacred his boy, the Uchiha are responsible even though it was his fault for bringing his son onto the battlefield. The Uchiha killed him. Uchiha men killed him. Uchiha men desecrated him. He didn’t know what that word meant, then. He knows what it means now. The world swims once more, and as he blinks, he’s staring at scarlet eyes with a peculiar windmill pattern. He blinks, hard. Izuna. He’s pretty, he can’t help but think- a softer face, a smile that was far too cocky for someone like him, far too taunting. He’s holding Tobirama’s shirt, and Tobirama is in a river while Izuna is laughing, trying to run away but the current of the water is pushing him back to Tobirama, and he catches him, and it’s that weird moment when time seems to slow. When everything stops and he just stands with him in his arms and oh. Wait. They can’t do this. They step back from one another like they had been burned, Izuna throwing his shirt so quickly and harshly that it smacks him in the face. By the time he grabs it off of his face, Izuna is gone, and he is alone in the river with a smile that’s too big and cheeks that feel too warm and he has to dunk his head into the river when Hashirama suddenly appears, calling for him. When he rises, he’s not in the river. He’s on a battlefield, the sound of fighting all around. The Uchiha and the Senju. That’s right, that’s this fight. He spins, and finds Izuna, his blade raised, tears in his eyes. Madara is screaming across the field at Hashirama; their fight is flashy and stupid and too big and of course it is, because that’s what Hashirama is. Flashy and stupid and too big for his pants, Mother always said. She’s gone by this time, taken by grief and maybe his father’s hand, they never knew the truth of the matter, only woke one day to find him already burying her. But Izuna is there, his hair having fallen from it’s tie. The wind rustles it, and he looks so beautiful, even torn up and bloodied and bruised and with dirt smudged across his features. So beautiful, even as he lunges first. Uchiha were so fucking devoted to their clan, it confused Tobirama sometimes. He’d do anything for Hashirama, sure, but not for his father. Not for his other clansmen, who were lying in heaps, dead or dying or maybe trying to hide beneath all those bodies, hoping to get away from this fighting once and for all. He can’t blame them. He isn’t sure what he’s devoted to, now. Izuna’s blade crashes with his own. They aren’t using Jutsu- Izuna’s chakra reserves were too low, and Tobirama couldn’t risk signing right now, not with Izuna coming at him over and over and telling him to just give up, to just let him do this, to just die already, you stupid fucking albino Senju. That catches him off guard, he even laughs as Izuna goes in and gets him across the top of his left thigh. Going for an artery and just barely missing. He can’t remember what happens next, even in this night terror he can’t piece it together. It’s so many flashes all at once of skin, of laughter, of those crimson eyes with those pinwheels, of heat, of heartache, of funerals, of Hashirama laughing, of Madara laughing, of feeling weightless, of the feeling of someone atop him, of holding someone in his arms, someone with black hair and pale skin and then- Then, he is holding him in his arms, except this time it’s Izuna’s blood on Tobirama’s blade, and Izuna’s head in his lap as he smiles up at him, as Tobirama apologizes for things having to end this way. As tears fall from his eyes and onto Izuna’s pale cheeks, as Izuna closes his eyes, as Tobirama does not let out a mourning cry but instead lifts Izuna’s body and carries him to where Madara and Hashirama are fighting. As he feels hands, actual hands touching his actual face, and he’s awake, jolting upright on the futon, gasping for breath and looking around for the phantom hands. The bedroom is empty, the sky moonless. He reaches over and grabs a candle from beside his bed and lights it with a wave of his hand. Nothing sits in the corners waiting to reach out and take revenge, nothing sits at the top of his futon, stroking his cheeks as he struggles through another night terror, nothing lays beside him, onyx hair spread out across pale sheets. Nothing. Alone. His penance. He breathes a sigh of relief and closes his eyes, shoulders slumping as if he were Atlas and he, alone, held the weight of the world. A shake of the head, and he reaches up to snuff out the flame, never blow it out. No, that was an insult to the spirits, always has been, always will be. Mother taught him that. He lays back down, eyes falling closed, but for a hint of a moment, he thought he saw scarlet above his head, gazing down at him. A trick of the light, Tobirama thinks as sleep pulls him back under quickly. Exhaustion does that to a man when you have to go behind and fix every single mistake your brother makes and make sure that the village doesn’t fall apart while he’s in office. A trick of the light, even as the shadows begin to move.

#m's scribbles #naruto #naruto fanfiction #tobirama senju #izuna uchiha #tobiizu #naruto imagines #tw: death #tw: body horror #tw: night terrors

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dragynkeep · 4 years

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defense of whitley schnee.

& weiss you suck, holy shit i cannot believe this is a controversial opinion at all.

with the latest episode of rwby, 8x04, aptly named fault; we were given the scene towards the end of the show where weiss & her entourage consisting of ruby, blake & an unconscious via electrocution nora seek refuge in her former home & find only whitley there. he informs them that the staff have left & willow has locked herself inside her room. when whitley is snarky & combative to his older sister, weiss makes the delightful choice to point her loaded, military grade weapon in his face & then orders him to go to his room.

in short : this scene is disgusting. i have no doubt it’s another of crwby’s “””humourous””” scenes or at least what passes for their attempts at humour nowadays & even so, it is still disgusting. especially when you put it in context of their family dynamics, past interactions, differing power dynamics & levels & the current situation whitley has found himself in.

now to start off, i’ve seen plenty of defense for weiss when people have been faced with the appropriate reaction of what the actual fuck, weiss? ranging from “well if i was dealing with that little shitlord” to “they’re siblings, my siblings & i have done worse to each other” to “well, weiss isn’t his mom !!!1!” all of these excuses are piss poor. they ignore everything i laid out up above about the context of the scene & honestly, about the characters themselves. i understand the need to try & defend a favourite character, weiss has been the only one i could stand for the past few volumes out of the main girls but this scene was incredibly shitty & shows a nasty side of her that the writers probably don’t see anything wrong with. considering this episode was written by eddy ... yeah. so, since we need to defend a 14 year old, unarmed, abused child from a fndm that apparently sees nothing wrong with brutality from what’s basically a cop, let’s go through them.

if i was dealing with that little shitlord / okay but he was mean to her once / he was being a brat.

i simply do not know how to tell people that even if someone is being petty to you, you do not get to point a loaded, military grade weapon in their faces. yes, i understand that they were on the run & nora was severely injured; but jesus christ ruby managed to get through to whitley just by treating him like a human being & not an annoyance. maybe you should try it weiss.

some people hold a grudge against whitley for him “being snarky” to weiss; ignoring the fact that for a majority of his life she has not been there. like willow said last volume, weiss left. not only did she leave, but she left him alone with two abusers. no, it is not weiss’s responsibility to care for whitley & i would never wish that to be put upon her, but she cannot act blind about why he might have just the smallest chip on his shoulder. he was left behind to jacques narcissism & abuse, willow’s neglect & disinterest while miring in her alcoholism & as far as he cared; two sisters who abandoned him. pair this with jacques doing what narcissistic abusers do, applying the roles of golden child & scapegoats, then it makes perfect sense why he acts the way he does. & just to lay it out; whitley did not cause weiss’s disinheritance. she did that, through her own actions. whitley is in no way shape or form to blame for weiss’s brashness getting her disinherited & some of you need to get that into your skulls quick sharp.

even if whitley had done all he was accused of; at the end of the day, he is a fourteen year old child who is unarmed, abandoned, auraless & a civilian. if certain huntsmen can be compared to cops then weiss, who had the power to arrest her abusive father, can also most definitely be considered a cop to. this is not the first instance of her brutality against civilians & whether or not if you think the victims “deserved it”; that doesn’t matter. we don’t get to decide who deserves to be protected from brutality & who doesn’t. pointed a loaded weapon in a child’s face is disgusting. end of story.

they’re siblings, my siblings & i have done worse to each other !!

weiss & whitley are not you & your sibling(s). end of story. not all sibling interactions can be generalized across the board, especially in instances of abuse where narcissistic dynamics of the golden child vs scapegoat are in play. weiss & whitley canonically have a very fraught relationship where they barely know each other, have clashed over weiss’s chosen profession & have had clashes where weiss was disinherited & whitley had wine thrown over him ( which in context of their mutual alcoholic mother is a giant fucking oof & was also never funny, crwby just stop. )

even if they did have that type of relationship like we’ve seen with other siblings in the show; there is a difference between playful roughhousing or fights that escalate to minimal violence vs once again, pointing an armed military grade weapon in your defenseless younger sibling’s face & treating him like he’s beneath you & a hindrance. this is not okay. this is not teehee funny or acceptable on weiss’s part. if your relationship with your sibling ends up in serious or life threatening violence; that is also not okay. that is dangerous, that goes beyond the scope of just “normal” sibling relationship boundaries & should be examined in closer detail before being used to excuse this incident.

well, weiss isn’t his mom !!!1!

the final point & one i actually agree with; weiss isn’t whitley’s mom. & she shouldn’t act like one. like i said, right after the scene where she points her weapon at whitley’s face, she orders him to go to his room. like a mother, only their mother has probably never done that because for a majority of whitley’s life, she’s been a useless drunk & he’s had to rely on the manor staff & his father to have his needs fulfilled.

but right now, he has none of that. the staff are gone, willow has locked herself in her room because of course that stupid drunk can’t step up to the plate & the only adult in his life that ever seemed to give a damn is gone because he was arrested by the sister who is now laying down the law in his home like she owns the place. whitley is far better off without jacques & honestly, willow too, in his life & we know this but he doesn’t. all whitley knows is gone. he has a right to be snarky to the older sister who only ever seems to cause trouble, especially when we don’t know how long it’s been since he’s eaten or hell even talked to someone. imagine being hungry, alone in a giant, lonely mansion with your only guardian actively ignoring you, only for your older sibling to come home & immediately treat you like you’re the dirt on the bottom of her shoe.

it’s kind of disturbing how easily weiss slips into the gaping hole left behind by jacques arrest to play that domineering figure in whitley’s life; just look at how this scene basically paralleled the one of jacques telling whitley to get lost in v7 when arthur showed up. knowingly or not, weiss is mirroring the actions of their mutual abuser & furthering those shitty actions onto whitley because no one has thought that he might need a way out too.

i honestly do think of whitley was whitney; that this scene would’ve played out a lot different in fndm perception. just look at the perception of “abusive winter” because she bopped weiss on the head in v3, mirroring ruby fucking decking yang when they were rough housing in v1. neither of those situations are abusive because there is not a difference in power dynamic, at least not one that drastically affects the ability to speak up or retaliate; but for whitley & weiss there is. not only in age, but in weaponry, training, status in society, etc. in every one of those, weiss ranks higher than whitley & she has an inherent power over him.

& she used it to drive him further away. that’s not something to be excused.

#rwby #rwby spoilers #rwby 8 #whitley schnee #weiss schnee #weiss schnee critical #pro whitley schnee #owl.txt #btches making me write this at 4am #to combat stupid ass takes #smh

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prurientpuddlejumper · 4 years

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You’re a Mean One, Mr. Kneef (Part 2)

<- Part 1 | Part 3 ->

For @thatesqcrush’s Naughty or Nice Holiday Bingo! Filling the Fake Relationship When Visiting Family square.

Bryan Kneef x Female Reader

Warnings: Language. Holiday fluff. Bryan being the worst... but also hot? Horrible pet names. Nothing nsfw happens this chapter except Bryan’s mouth.

2,900 words

The bluish LED headlights of Bryan Kneef’s BMW blinded other drivers as they cut through the dark on the drive to his parents’ suburban house. You ascertained from the hands-free call he was making the family hadn’t started dinner yet. Christmas was close to the winter solstice, so it wasn’t as late as the sky suggested, although you’d heard a hungry child screaming impatiently about having to wait for Uncle Bry.

“Uncle Bry,” you teased as the call ended.

He chuckled. “That would be my brother’s kid, Finn. My brother’s name is Timothy. The CEO of LogicFinance. You will say you’ve ‘heard so much about them.’ Let’s review.”

“Jesus.”

Sitting next to Bryan while his attention wasn’t on you, you lost yourself noticing things. The clean smell of his cologne. How sexy he looked—in a rich douchey way—in his tailored suit and expensive car. His long fingers wrapped around the steering wheel. That beard that made you want to scream, “Daddy!”

You could almost forget he was the asshole who held every paralegal at STR Laurie hostage with busywork unless you pretended to be the woman who dumped him.

Until he started barking at you to memorize facts about his life.

“First, what do I have to know about this woman I’m supposed to be?”

He stared straight ahead at the road. “Her name is Sydney. So you’re Syd from now on.”

“Oh joy. Being called your ex’s name all night won’t be weird or anything.”

“You were the one who wanted to get out of work.”

“Whatever. I bet you already forgot my real name, anyway.”

He didn’t contradict you. The engine roared to life as he changed lanes before signaling and cut off the SUV he’d been tailgating for the last mile.

Your arms crossed over your chest. “How much did you tell your family about Sydney? I hope you didn’t send them any pictures.”

“Not much, and obviously not. I’m not stupid.”

“Just pathetic.”

He scowled. Before he could think of a searing response to take back control of the conversation, you asked another question that knocked him off balance.

“What made this one so different? We’ve been working together for what, a year? And I’ve never seen you upset over a breakup.”

“The sex was fantastic,” he answered too loudly.

“Uh-huh.”

“Oh yeah. I’ve never had a woman who could keep up with me—”

“Because you finish too quickly?”

“Cute. Keep it up.” He stepped on the gas again and your stomach lurched as he pulled off another aggressive passing maneuver in the right lane. “No one walks away from my bed unsatisfied. You could find out. A little reward for helping me out tonight?”

“Not in a million years,” you clipped, shutting him down, even though your wild, lonely, horny side that noticed his beard and fingers was beating at the inside of your skull. “You are going to keep it decent and chaste. Ground rules: holding hands. Kisses on the cheek. Moderate cuddling as the situation calls for it. That should be plenty to sell that we’re involved.”

“You haven’t seen me around women I’m involved with,” he smirked with a suggestive glint in the side of his eye.

“And I’m sure your parents haven’t seen you with a partner who isn’t just some bimbo you’re screwing, either. Cop a feel, and I end the charade right there.”

That comment, which was more insightful than you knew, silenced him. His suggestive side-glance returned forward to focus on the road. That look was back on his face again—the look when he ran out of swaggering bullshit to spew. Sadness. Genuine human sadness.

“She wasn’t clingy,” he said, voice a soft rumble. “Didn’t expect me to be her fucking boyfriend—she was the one who told me no strings.”

“You loved her because she was distant?”

“No. I don’t know. She did nice things, too—like ask how my day was, and bring me coffee. She remembered the way I like it.”

“That’s just basic human kindness, Bryan.” You sighed. “That’s actually… really sad.”

“Fuck you.”

“I mean it. You call women clingy for wanting to be close to you, and now you’re so starved for connection you think remembering your coffee order is a huge deal. Your secretary knows your coffee order. Hell, I know your damned coffee order you’ve sent me out for it enough times, even though—as I often remind you—that’s not my job. I’m sorry. Really. But maybe this is a lesson? That you actually have a heart and might want to try opening it sometime?”

“How the fuck is that the lesson? I open my heart, I get hurt. From now on, I’m only dating broads who disgust me.” His eyes lingered on you for a dangerously long time until you got the point and gave an annoyed grunt. His eyes returned to the road, corners crinkled in satisfaction.

***

Dinner was already starting when Bryan’s BMW finally pulled into the driveway of a large house on a private cul-de-sac. The porch was glowing with tasteful white lights and a wreath on the door. Silhouettes were moving behind the decorative glass set into the front door, waiting for you to get out of the car. As soon as you approached, the door flew open and you were hit with the smell of roast turkey.

“Bry-Bry! We were worried you wouldn’t make it!” His silver-haired mother threw her arms around Bryan’s neck while he grumbled with reluctant affection, hugging her back.

A rich oaken voice of the man who must have been his father said, “And this must be the famous Sydney. We thought we’d never get to meet you.” He shook your hand warmly.

Both of them were wearing hideous red and green Christmas sweaters straight out of a Hallmark movie.

“I can’t believe this one hasn’t driven you away!” Bryan’s mom teased, pinching his pink cheek as she did so. “We’re so happy you put up with our little monster.” She hugged you.

“Come, come on in. Let me take your coat. We were just starting dinner—you’re right on time.” His dad helped you shrug your winter coat off and hung it up in the entryway closet for you.

This was… bizarre. How the hell did people this friendly churn out a Bryan?

More shocking still was when you felt warm, long fingers twine between yours, and you nearly tore your hand away before remembering you had a “boyfriend” tonight. Bryan smiled at you sweetly, eyes soft and affectionate.

Yep. You’d fallen into some kind of Bizarro World.

Martha, his mother, led you both through the spacious house toward the dining room. “What do you think of our humble home?” she asked, pausing in the living room. “I keep thinking I should move that chair to the other side of the fireplace. What do you think? Would it flow better?”

“Uh, I’m not really—”

“Mom! We’re hungry,” Bryan snapped.

“Oh, come on, honey, let me pick her brain! It’s not every day we have an interior designer in here.”

“Bryan told you I’m an interior designer?” Your mouth smiled pleasantly at Bryan while your eyes stabbed daggers into his stupid handsome face.

“Obviously I forgot I mentioned it,” he smiled back.

You batted your eyes. Now the daggers were on fire.

“Well, what do you think? Chair on the left, or the right?”

“Well,” you said, “the symmetry with the fireplace is… balanced with the rich tones in the leather”—Martha nodded along attentively—“You know, I’ve been working all day, maybe we can talk shop later?”

“Oh! Of course! I’m sorry—Bryan’s mean old mom ambushing you the minute you walk in the door!” She flexed her hand into vampire-claws and playfully attacked your shoulder. “Aw, are the stuffy old adults embarrassing you, peanut?”

Bryan’s cheeks turned the brightest pink you had ever seen them. And this was a man who didn’t blush when telling a roomful of attorneys to go fuck themselves. You let out the first genuine laugh you’d made in his presence. You squeezed his hand.

“Honey-bear, I love your parents!”

***

The table was crowded with Kneef siblings, cousins, and their children and spouses. Finn, you guessed, was the youngest boy. And that would make the silver fox next to him Timothy. His older brother had the same bluntness as Bryan, but none of the cruelty. In fact, his entire family was so… normal.

Bryan’s hard edges were hardly softened in their presence, but unlike in the office where his cranky moods inspired fear, here they were met with boos and hisses and his cousin throwing a bread roll at him. The youngest kids mimicked this exciting behavior, and soon it was raining whole-wheat on Bryan Kneef.

You smiled and patted his hand and called him “dear” and made sure your mouth was full of turkey the moment anyone asked you about yourself.

Over the evening, you learned that Mrs. Martha Kneef put herself through nursing school after having her first child to support the family while her husband piddled around with his low-paying hobby in computers. By the time Bryan was born, his father was programming for a growing company, working his way up the ranks—back in the days when one could do that. By the time Bryan was ten, dad was the Chief Information Officer of one of the largest corporations in the country.

And so Bryan, the youngest, grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth, handed all the things his parents had worked hard for in the hopes that he would have a better life.

“All the child-rearing books at the time said encouragement was important,” said Martha, who was a little drunk on red wine at this point. She let out an exasperated groan. “This is what happens when you encourage too much. We created a monster. Didn’t we?” Her voice went higher as she pinched Bryan’s cheek again.

“Martha and I are so happy to see him finally settling down with someone.”

“Yeah, how’d you manage to find a girl who’ll put up with you?” Tim teased, punching Bryan’s arm.

Bryan stared back. Locked eyes with his brother. He took a deep breath. “How’d you manage to—”

Bryan then asked something too obscene to be repeated, which set the entire table screaming, and parents’ hands clamping over children’s ears (though not before an adorable curly-haired niece asked, “mommy, what’s a prolapsed rectum?”).

You should have been offended, or embarrassed to be attached to the guy wrecking Christmas without even needing to be drunk. But oddly, as hot as your cheeks were, you found yourself laughing. You were dating the most interesting guy at the table. He was so overwhelmingly charismatic—not necessarily in a positive way, but in a way that made him the center of attention in any room he walked into. And he was charming enough for people to keep wanting him around, even when he said things that... were probably going to scar those children for life. Not to mention the adults.

Reaching over, you cupped the opposite side of his cheek and forced him to turn his head to you. “You’re so bad, Bry. How do I put up with you?” You began affectionately scratching his beard like it was something you’d done to him a hundred times. “He’s just so cute, I can’t resist. Settle down now, baby.”

His mom gave a loud, “Aww” and Bryan side-eyed his brother, who snorted.

You were getting into it, mussing up his perfect beard in a way that was sure to annoy him later—but it wasn’t annoying him that was on your mind. It was more the feeling of that coarse but soft hair under your fingertips, the shape of his jawline… the way he was staring back at you, eyelids drooping…

“It’s really the beard I’m dating—if he ever shaves, we’re breaking up,” you joked, suddenly needing to crush the romantic mood. It worked. His family laughed, and Bryan scowled, catching your wrist to make you stop.

***

Bryan wanted to leave right after dinner, but his mother wheedled him to stay.

“We’ve still got your bedroom set up if you want to sleep here. Think of it—we could have Christmas morning together just like when you and Timmy were babies!”

“Ma! I couldn’t impose on Syd. She… has a cat.”

Great. More backstory to remember. You surreptitiously elbowed him in the side.

Bryan got his dominating instincts from somewhere, though. The big ask to stay the night was a tactic to make him give in to the smaller ask of staying for hot cocoa and holiday movies.

Bryan had yet to recover from your crack about breaking up with him and forgot to play the part of the affectionate boyfriend. While her husband was explaining the intricacies of a particular wireless security device to whichever cousins would listen, Martha casually sidled up and whispered, “You don’t have to be shy about PDA in front of us old people. We’ve seen everything.”

“Oh! Uh...” Your mouth gaped, unsure how the fuck to respond to that.

Bryan overheard it and rolled his eyes with a groan. “Ma!”

He looked so grumpy and annoyed, something about it made you kiss him on the cheek. Just to put to rest his mother’s suspicions! That must have been it.

Then Bryan was all fire again, his eyes glittering above a wicked smirk. He grabbed your waist and pulled you roughly against his arousingly solid body, covering your neck with wet, open-mouthed kisses. Oh god, hot. He was definitely only doing this to make his mom uncomfortable, and if you knew Bryan, he wouldn’t stop until she regretted meddling or he was fucking you on the stack of presents under the tree. So why was your skin too hot? Why did it prickle everywhere his hand wandered? Palming your curves, sliding down to your hips, lowering over the swell of—

You leaned close until your lips brushed the shell of his ear. “Watch your hands, or HR is hearing all about this,” you warned, then pulled away smiling.

Bryan smiled back. “Of course, babycakes.”

“You lovebirds! Keep it PG.”

He warned you in the car that no one would buy him keeping things chaste, didn’t he? Well, you weren’t going to be the one to blow your cover.

When you filed into the living room where the kids were already watching A Christmas Story, there was only one spot left on the couch, and an empty armchair. Bryan flopped down on the recliner, and you sat on his lap. His chest vibrated as he gave an encouraging growl, cocking an eyebrow at you.

“You didn’t expect me to sit alone, did you, honey-bear?” you cooed.

His hand moved to support your hip, cradling you close to him. The other hand covered yours, which was resting on your knee. It was just a performance, but god, his hands were so big and warm, and the gesture so remarkably soft. You let yourself recline back against his chest, and turned your head to inspect his profile—the greying at his temple, a strong, square brow that shaded such lively green eyes.

A fire danced in the fireplace, stockings hung up neatly above it. A tree in the opposite corner filled the room with a piny balsam scent. The whole scene felt so domestic. Bryan’s beard scratched the side of your face, the soft cashmere of the sweater he’d thrown on over his dress shirt making him a comfortable cuddle partner. Suddenly you could imagine perfectly well why someone might put up with him.

“So, Sydney, how did you meet Bryan?” his father asked. A few other prying relatives leaned forward, and you began to sweat.

“Oh… I’m sure Bryan’s already told this story,” you deflected, glancing at him for assistance. Bryan frowned.

“It was through a case.” His evasive answer only made everyone more curious.

“What kind of case?”

“A divorce case.”

A bark of laughter leaped from your throat before you could hold it in, and you had to quickly disguise it as the kind of nostalgic laugh you get from an inside joke. “It’s true”—you stroked Bryan’s beard—“I think he only slept with me as part of the victory, you know? Took my ex’s money, took his wife. You know our Bryan,” you giggled. You would bet money that was exactly how it happened, too. “It’s a major rebound for me. But it’s been working out. Bryan has this whole other side to him that people don’t see.”

He looked at you. The clarity of his green eyes caught you off guard, and you felt a burning heat creeping up the side of your neck toward your ears.

“Well, we’re so happy to meet you!”

“You dog, Bry.”

“Want to see baby pictures?”

The last voice was Martha’s.

“No.” Bryan said. “She doesn’t.”

Of your asshole boss? Why yes. Yes, you did.

“He used to be such a sweet little peanut.” His mother always seemed eager to stir trouble for her brat of a son. “Just wait until you see how cute he was in diapers.”

“No!” Bryan groaned, but couldn’t stop you from following Martha to the family photo albums.

He had no power here.

• ● • ━━━━━─ ••●•• ─━━━━━ • ● •

Tagged: @beccabarba / @caked-crusader / @itsjustmyfantasyroom / @thatesqcrush / @dianilaws / @permanentlydizzy / @mrsrafaelbarba / @madamsnape921 / @astrangegirlsmind / @neely1177 / @onerestein / @welcometothemadxxhouse / @stardust-fray / @dreila03 / @tropes-and-tales / @the-baby-bookworm / @ireadfanfictionontheweekends

(I also just tagged everyone who commented/reblogged the last chapter even if u didn’t ask so uhhh >_> lmk if you hate that?)

#Bryan Kneef #bryan kneef x reader #Raúl Esparza #raul esparza #thatesqcrush holiday bingo #moodboard #The Good Fight #My writing

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athenaquinn · 3 years

Text

Enough for You || Orion & Athena (flashback)

TIMING: January 2012 LOCATION: A forest in White Crest PARTIES: @3starsquinn and @athenaquinn SUMMARY: The twins give each other a lot of annoyed glances. CONTENT: Physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, sibling abuse (if you want a summary, please let one of us know!)

It was quiet tonight. Or maybe Orion’s hearing wasn’t working. He never really knew, especially considering it had just started. His mom had been so excited by the news, but Rio couldn’t only remember the pain. He had been in class trying to listen to his teacher talking about biology when an ear splitting scream suddenly disrupted any coherent mental notes that Rio had been taking on the subject. It had been so loud, so guttural, that Rio was half convinced it had come from the kid sitting right next to him. His head shot from side to side, a terrible realization coming over him as he realized that nobody else was reacting to the sound. Why wasn’t anybody reacting to the sound? As quickly as it was there, it was gone. And it was another moment or two before it suddenly came back. But this time he could hear the sounds of car horns as well. And then sirens. Rio barely had time to ask for permission before rushing out of the classroom and to the nearest bathroom to lock himself in a stall. He huddled on the seat, covering his ears with the palms of his hands in a desperate and futile attempt to block out the noise. It didn’t take long for him to connect the dots. His parents had been telling him and his sister about this for years now. These abilities. ‘Gifts’ as they called them. Rio wasn’t convinced they were gifts, even as young as he was, he didn’t like them. He knew what this meant. He hated it.

His family however, wanted to celebrate. It had only been a couple of days since he told his parents and they were ecstatic by the news. His senses had been on a seesaw since then. Sometimes he could hear his neighbors from three doors down and other times he couldn’t hear his own sister calling for him from her bedroom. One morning he could read a bulletin board from the opposite end of the hallway or he could smell food that someone had eaten for breakfast. It was overwhelming. All he wanted was for it to stop. Instead, his parents decided to take them on a field trip.

“These woods are incredibly dangerous at night. I know neither of you are stupid enough to think otherwise.” His mother’s lukewarm warning spoke to her children, following behind the Quinn parents as they walked through the forest in the middle of the night. In response, Rio felt his chest tighten. He clawed at the sleeves of his hoodie, pulling his fingers inside of them and further hiding them by stuffing his arms in the middle pocket. He wanted to shrink away from his parents, from his sister who seemed far too eager to be out in the middle of the night in winter. He wished that he could have played sick. He didn’t want to be here and he definitely didn’t want to find anything.

“I’m cold,” Rio mumbled, but he knew his parents would hear him. That was the last thing he actually wanted to whine about tonight, but this seemed like the safest option. Complaining about anything else risked annoying his parents. They were already deadly serious when out on a hunt. He didn’t want to give them any other reason to be upset.

___

Her brother was maybe actually possibly agreeing to his powers. Athena couldn’t believe it. In fact, she was practically over the moon about it, vibrating in a good way for once (so much so that all the stupid fae that were in the school didn’t even bother her) when he’d mentioned it to her. He used to complain about the noise of the bright neon signs at the mall in Bangor but for the most part he usually tended to totally ignore his super-awesome-brilliant abilities. Maybe she wouldn’t be totally left on her own, if he was really ready to actually admit that their powers were good. He liked superhero movies and comics and even though Athena didn’t understand any of those very well at all, if he liked those sort of things, shouldn’t he like his own powers?

Their parents wanted to take them out, and so Athena had been certain to finish all of her homework early. There was only a paper for geography and some write-up for science class, both of which were way too easy, but it got her straight A’s in school, so she knew that she really shouldn’t complain. Besides, even though she’d helped out her dad in the basement sometimes, it took a lot to get both of their parents to invite them out and even though it was in the middle of winter and really super cold, she didn’t mind. She’d even decided to wear her brand new Abercrombie jeans and her new favorite sweater and one of the best coats she had.

This was all special and she didn’t understand why her brother had to be such a grump about it. “You can play whatever video game you like later, you know.” She knocked against him with her hips as they began to walk into the woods. They didn’t get to stay up this late, basically ever, except when they did so on their own on their birthday, but this was different. Even if she was shivering, she did her best to not show it. That was weak, and she knew how much her parents loathed weakness. At least she’d won the pacer test every year in gym class and was her soccer coach’s favorite player and got all A’s. She just wished that her brother would try a little harder.

“Of course!” She chirped in response to their mother’s words. Of course she knew. She’d read about so much, though at least there were no fae right here and right now. That would have ruined this wonderful-amazing-perfect family outing. She looked over to her brother, pursuing her lips for a moment. “Come on Ri, it’ll be just fine. Also wear more of a coat next time! Do you wanna borrow my scarf?” She took it off and threw it at him. “It’s extra cozy. Maybe it’ll bring you some luck, too!” She didn’t know how much of that she believed, but she did know that when it came to hunting, her brother could use all the help he could get. Especially because he so often liked to miss their trainings, leaving her to do double the work. Not that she minded.

___

“Don’t argue with your mother. Or your sister.” His father’s words were tired and sounded distant. Clearly his mind was on other things, as usual. Orion gritted his teeth and averted his eyes to the ground. There was no point in arguing that he wasn’t arguing. That would only make his parents angry. He jerked when a scarf smacked him in his face. His hands shot up to catch it so that it wouldn’t fall on the ground. He could only imagine how his sister would react to dirt on her scarf. Though he didn’t want to accept his sister’s pathetic attempt at appeasing him, Rio begrudgingly wrapped it around his neck.

The pair couldn’t be more different. His sister was practically glowing, dressed head to toe in an all new outfit and walking with a level of confidence that most adults didn’t have. She was absolutely beaming at the idea of coming along with their parents. She worshipped the ground that they walked on and was already dead set on becoming exactly like them when she was older. She had already made a top ten list for medical schools. Rio on the other hand had kept on the same worn sweatpants and hoodie that he had been wearing when he woke up that morning. He was shrinking in on himself, trying to force his body into its smallest and least noticeable form possible. If he was lucky, he might disappear entirely. Unlike his sister, nothing seemed so absolute. He had no interest in being here. He wasn’t convinced that anything his parents said or did was as noble as they claimed it was and he could barely think about what he wanted to do for the rest of the week let alone the future.

He didn’t want to admit that the scarf had actually helped fight the cold a bit, but he tightened it around his neck a bit and crossed his arms to hold the ends in place. “What are we even out here looking for?” Rio asked, immediately met with shushes from both of his parents. He cringed at the sudden sound and made a mental note to only speak in whispers for the remainder of the night. Maybe time. “I don’t think there’s anything here. Maybe we should just leave.”

___

She couldn’t help the smug smile that covered her lips. Daddy’s always right, she wanted to whisper to her brother, but that might displease their parents, and so she kept her mouth shut - at least on that topic, at least for now. Maybe the scarf would shut her brother up. Not that he was being very talkative, but Athena didn’t like when he got into one of his moods, which seemed to be happening more and more in the past couple of years. At least he’d taken her scarf. At least she could count that on her win. My brother listened to me about something for once. She watched her breath form small cloud-puffs in the cold night air. She liked it, liked that her nose was cold - though it wasn’t as satisfying as how she felt when she went for a long run in the cold, the way that it made her throat ache just enough. That felt powerful.

Her brother always seemed small. Even though he’d started to grow taller than she was, he always seemed to shrink away. She’d noticed it at school - which was part of why she’d taken it upon herself to make - no, ask him persuasively - to sit with her and her friends at lunch. Which he agreed to, when he wasn’t off at the library. She had to admit that she also really liked the library, but hanging out with her friends a lot didn’t always leave time to wander around the stacks. It didn’t matter much anyways, she still got perfect (or near-perfect, when her brother beat her on a history test) grades. She’d still get into all of her med schools. She just hoped her brother would figure out what he was doing with his life sometime. Prayed that he’d come to accept his gift.

“I don’t know, but that’s part of the thrill of it, isn’t it?” She giggled, just quiet enough that only her brother would hear. “We don’t know what we’re walking into, and so we’re going to have to think on our feet.” She grinned at her brother. That got some affirmative murmurs from their parents. “There’s gotta be something, come on! Just give it a little more time. I’ll make you extra-good breakfast in the morning.” The last sentence whispered just between the two of them. Anything to make him see that all this could lead to good things. That was part of her duty, as sister and hunter. He’d see someday, that much she knew.

___

“Yeah. Thrilling.” Orion whispered, so quiet he wasn’t convinced he had said any words at all. Of course Athena would be excited at the idea of this. She had no regard for self preservation. Did she not care at all how dangerous it could be out here? That didn’t even take into consideration what they were out here to do. Rio knew there was more to what they were being taught. His parents had been very forthcoming with their descriptions of fae and werewolves. But Rio knew something was wrong. Something that he wasn’t being told. He couldn’t question them on it though, that much he knew for sure. He would have rolled his eyes at his parents praising Athena if he wasn’t afraid that they’d somehow hear it. As per usual, Athena was completely oblivious to just how terrified Rio was. Either that, or she just didn’t care. It didn’t matter. All he knew was that her legitimately thinking that breakfast was going to motivate him, she was even more dense than he had previously thought. He narrowed his eyes towards her and tightened his arms against his chest before picking up his speed so that he was no longer walking beside her.

That didn’t last as long as he would have liked it to. There was a sound. Farther out in the woods and in a direction that Rio’s erratic senses couldn’t pinpoint. But it had definitely been there, and confirmed that the four were not alone. Rio froze completely, too afraid to say anything. If he was lucky, he had been the only one that heard it. But he knew his mom better than that. Plus, he was never that lucky. When he finally built up the courage to look over at his family, he could tell immediately that his mom was on high alert. And it looked like she even knew which direction the sound had come from. Heart plummeting out of his chest, Rio didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want whatever was out there to find them. Or rather, he wasn’t sure he wanted the Quinn family to find them. It wasn’t safe, for anyone involved. Rio hated that terrified feeling. He hated being in danger.

We’re going to have to think on our feet. Athena’s words stuck in Rio’s brain. Maybe she had a better point than Rio was giving her credit for. He did need to think on his feet. He finally forced himself to move, sliding his foot over and finding a twig to step down on. He started off slow, pressing down on it ever so gently and listening to the send of the twig bend and twist against its will before finally snapping. He winced at the sudden sound, instantly regretting the choice. But his parents did nothing besides shoot a look over towards him and Athena. Bingo. If he could get the attention of whatever was out in the woods, maybe it would go away. Then there wouldn’t be any danger at all. If only he could make sure that it heard the noise. He glanced at the ground, finding another piece of wood and readjusting his step to repeat the same process again. The branch snapped with a crunch, and before Rio could even react his mother had spun around just as quickly. She smacked him across the face quickly and efficiently, the force of it pushing Rio over and causing him to fall into the leaves. He brought his hand to his cheek immediately to survey the damage. It stung to the touch and felt like it had already begun swelling. “Shut up!” She hissed at him, pointing at him and forcing him to cower further. His cheek hurt so badly that all Rio wanted to do was cry, but he knew that would only make it worse. Instead, a silent stream of tears ran down his face as he clamped his mouth shut to avoid any further noise. His mother recovered quickly, turning away from him and speaking to their father, “That might have gotten it’s attention. We will need to move quickly to catch it. Do you sense anything?”

___

“Well, get a thesaurus and pick another term if you don’t like the one I chose.” Athena hissed back. She didn’t like how her brother just wanted to ruin everything. It was one thing when he beat her in chess but this was something entirely different and something she hated even more, especially because it was supposed to be a connection between the two of them. This was a learning opportunity for the both of them, and as much as Athena loved reading everything she could in their parents’ books and journals, but there was certainly something to be said for actually learning in person. It was why she didn’t mind so much when her father asked her to come to observe his operations. It was oddly fascinating, she had to admit. Her brother started walking faster and her face contorted into a grimace, because he wasn’t supposed to do that. It was unfair and stupid and maybe he should have just stayed at home if he was going to ruin this for her. She bit her lip, then. It wasn’t fair of her to think that way. It was her job to help him accept his abilities. To gently push him along.

She didn’t hear the sound until a little after her brother must have noticed. After their mother noticed. Because their mother was one of the best and most expert hunters there ever was. She was standing still, perfect posture, though Athena imagined that her eyes were darting around, zeroing in on wherever the thing was. She only hoped that they’d get to the creature or whatever it was before it got to them, because she very much didn’t want to die tonight, thank you very much. Years ago, if they were in this situation, she knew that she’d grab her brother’s hand and hold it tight. She had, when they were little, and she also knew that even just after they’d been born, back in the hospital, she’d sometimes cried until they put the two of them together in a bassinet.

Now wasn’t the time to focus on the past. That was useless, and made her far too soft and sentimental. Soft and sentimental didn’t get you anywhere. That was what her parents said, and so it had to be true.

Then a twig snapped and their parents looked over at the two of them. You’re gonna get the both of us in trouble, she wanted to tell him. Except she didn’t. Because that would only bring more noise, which was absolutely and entirely not needed right now. Then another branch was snapping and their mother was over near them, hitting her brother across the face. It was over before she could even say much of anything, and Athena watched their parents intently. I don’t feel anything, she wanted to say, just as she saw their father shake his head. Thank goodness. I’m not a screw up. Except that she should have been keeping a better eye on her brother. That was her job, and she was a screw up when it came to that, apparently. It wasn’t a fae or a werewolf and she tapped her fingers against her thigh - hoping that maybe it would be something even more exciting. That would make all of this more of a celebration, after all. There was another sound, closer this time - that much she could tell. If she squinted enough, it looked like there was a figure not too far away from them.

Athena took a couple steps forward, away from her brother. “I think - I saw some leaves rustling over there.” She pointed, noticing the way that her father’s lips almost curved into a smile. “What do you think, Linda?” He inquired. “That’s the right direction, isn’t it?”

___

While the rest of his family ignored him completely and stared off into the woods, Rio silently pulled himself back onto his feet. He kept his hand pressed against his cheek, careful to avoid crying. Instead, he tried to find the source of the noise that his family seemed to intent on discovering for themselves. His head drifted back and forth, staring across the treeline before finally settling on Athena as she pointed and gave away the direction. Rio scowled at her from behind as his parents made that annoyingly stoic proud face. “Good job, Athena. I heard it too. Follow me.” His mom’s voice had calmed from her previous threat hurled his way. No surprise there.

The rest of his family set off immediately, a quiet power walk across the grass as they headed towards their target. His parents didn’t even spare a glance back at him. It was the opportunity he had wanted to get away from this, but he knew he would only be in more trouble if they found out he wasn’t with them.

He kept his distance from the rest of his family, just how it was meant to be. With them miles ahead while he lagged behind. As if he needed any other reminder that he would never measure up. “I found it!” his mother shouted he broke off into a sprint, his father and sister just behind her. Begrudgingly, Rio forced himself to follow along.

The Quinns caught up with it quickly. Someone that looked like a human was running through the forest to try to get away, but his mom had cut them off, swiping out at the person’s leg. They flipped backwards and smacked against the ground. Rio gasped at the violence, but covered his mouth to muffle the sound. In one fell swoop, she reached down to grab the person and left them up by the collar of their shirt and slammed them against a tree. “You can’t run from us” his mother was smiling now, the first he had seen from her since they had left the house. Rio had no idea how she could enjoy something like this. But his eyes wouldn’t leave the horrified face of the person being held against a tree. There was a shift. Something so minimal it would have been easy to miss. Something shifted in the perception of the person. Like a green screen effect failing. Rio stared more intently as he realized what it was. An illusion. They had an illusion. And for a split second it had dropped. And Rio was almost positive of what he saw. He had never seen one in person, but he remembered reading about them. He hated how quickly this knowledge came to him. “It’s a kitsune.”

___

She couldn’t help but stand even a little straighter at her mother’s praise. It always worked that way - and Athena was acutely aware that at least part of her nearly-always-present confidence came from what her parents said. What they had said ever since she was a little girl. She probably should have paid more attention to the fact that her brother seemed hurt, but that didn’t really matter (no matter how much she loved him, there were reasons to be punished, and he’d acted out), and if she did stop to check in on him in clear sight of their parents, it wouldn’t end well for either of them. Besides, he never seemed to want her help anyhow.

She didn’t want to appear too over-eager, because she was twelve now, and that was childish. Even when she was a child, she knew that there was a fine line regarding what was acceptable and what was deemed to be too much. Even if it was about hunting, even if it was about remembering something she’d read or researched.

All of a sudden her mother began running and she took off too, though she was careful not to outpace her mother. No matter how well she was performing, she knew that that would not serve her well, nor win her any favors. She was obedient, she did as she was told and she didn’t speak out of turn - at least not to her parents. School may have been a different story, but even there she kept her mouth shut around adults. It was part of why she could get away with other things, if need be. Not that she always wanted to, but it didn’t hurt to have as an option, just in case.

They arrived at the person - no, the thing - and Athena narrowed her eyebrows, because she knew that no matter how human something looked, when it wasn’t human, it was always a trap. She would have winced at her mother slamming them up against a tree, but she didn’t do that. She didn’t cry and she didn’t throw a fit when something like this happened. It’s a kitsune. She heard her brother say, and she grinned. “Figures. You know there’s all sorts of different ones. Given the location, this one could be a forest one? Though I know it makes sense to not assume, because you never know for sure.” She looked over at her brother. “Look at you, being so helpful!” She pulled out one of her knives and held it out to him. “Do you want to borrow this?”

___

“Please don’t do this!” The kitsune screamed in protest, shut up quickly by Linda Quinn pressing her palm against the woman’s mouth and pressing against it far too tightly. Orion could see the pressure even from here. How the skin on the woman’s face started to redden around his mom’s fingers. Rio broke out in a cold sweat, his mouth going completely dry. This was wrong. This was wrong. This was wrong. His fingers curled into fists before unfurling again. He didn’t want his parents to see that. They would only take it as an act of defiance.

Yet in the middle of this, his sister had the audacity to offer a knife to him. We’re twelve years old! Don’t you see something wrong with this?! He wanted to scream those words so badly. He was almost shaking now, but still he did nothing. He didn’t move towards his parents. He didn’t take the knife. He just stood there, eyes flicking between all four people around him and begging something, anything to change.

“Excellent guess, Athena.” Linda’s voice was too casual for the situation they were in. “Orion.” His mother’s voice again, directed at him purely to egg him on. A shiver ran down Rio’s spine as his back straightened on instinct. His mother didn’t wait to see if he was listening. She knew. “What do we know about forest kitsune?” Rio didn’t say anything. His dad’s eyes locked with Rio’s and finally he shook his head. He hoped that would work as a response. It didn’t. “Answer your mom, Orion,” his dad’s voice this time. Distant as it always was.

“I don’t know.” Rio finally said out loud, his voice shaking from fear and so very quiet. It was a lie, they all must now. The only time Rio ever impressed his parents were during their little pop quizzes. He knew more about shapeshifters than even some adult hunters, they would boast. Usually at the Silver Bullet just loud enough for others to hear. Forest kitsune were in tune with nature. Able to heal plantlife and cast illusions, though this woman seemed too distressed to try to use that to get free. She had almost completely lost the illusion casting her as human.

“You’re lying.” his mother sighed, clearly disappointed in her son but seemingly unsurprised. He shook his head more ferociously this time, but the narrowed glance from his father kept him from saying anything. His mother had already moved on anyways it seemed. “Your illusion is faltering. What would it take to make you drop it completely.” her tone seemed so… playful. As if she was on the playground with friends. Cries and mumbling came from the woman’s clamped mouth, but Rio wasn’t sure anybody but him and his mom could hear them. “Let’s test it, shall we?” Linda motioned towards James who took the queue immediately to pull a knife from the bag and hand it off to his wife. Rio’s eyes grew wide, watching her spin the blade into her hand before pressing it against the woman’s gut. No. No. No! Rio took a step forward, but it was just in time for his mom to plunge the knife into the woman’s stomach.

___

She didn’t let her expression change, even as the woman - no, the kitsune - the creature - screamed. Athena just watched carefully, taking careful mental notes about the way that her mother took control of the situation, almost seamlessly. Her brother was refusing her offer of a knife and were they both alone, she might have stomped her foot, but now wasn’t the time for that. She was twelve, after all, which was practically a grown up. Though she liked to think that she’d always been advanced for her age. You couldn’t read Anna Karenina when you were only just ten and not be advanced for your age. Besides, she was always meant for something more. She and her brother both were, even if he had a harder time on the whole realizing it part of the deal.

She let the smallest of smiles cross her face as her mother affirmed her guess. It wasn’t quite praise (that was hard to come by, no matter how brilliant Athena knew she was, her parents still reserved that for select and special occasions), but it was something, and she’d take anything even close to praise - she knew it wasn’t good to be as hungry for it as she was, but she couldn’t help herself. She atoned for her excessive need for praise before, and nothing bad had ever happened as a result of it, so all was well.

Except that her brother was refusing to answer. She could hear their father’s voice pipe in, and even when it was over-even and distant, she found herself listening intently. She didn’t know quite as much about kitsune as her brother did, but she knew some things and so she pressed her hand over her mouth, because the last thing she wanted was to call out something and have her parents get mad at her. I don’t know. “As if.” Athena replied, her voice still muffled by her own hand. She didn’t know if her brother could hear her. Didn’t really care, at this point, because this was supposed to be a celebration and if he wasn’t going to take her knife then he could at least use his smarts and answer their parents.

She retrained her eyes on the creature, the illusion flickering. It would be gone, soon enough, probably. Probably because her parents always got what they wanted. Probably because this was a thing and it looked so unnatural, so inhuman and Athena finally dropped her hand from her mouth, wrinkling up her nose in disgust, though a certain element of morbid fascination always took over. It did, when she got to sometimes go and watch her father at work in the basement. It did, when she listened to her parents and to other hunters at the Silver Bullet talk about how they’d gotten rid of a creature.

Her mother’s voice was so playful and Athena made a careful note of the tone, of the fact that somehow that way of talking seemed far more effective and intimidating than yelling at the kitsune would be. She watched the exchange of the knife from her father to her mother, the way she deftly spun it around before digging it into the woman’s - no, the creature’s - stomach. There were a few other muffled gasps, garbled words that didn’t mean anything, anymore. Her mother cleaned the blade of the knife before handing it back over to her father. Both of them made their way over to where the twins were standing. “Quick and efficient can be the best way in certain circumstances.” The playfulness from earlier was all gone, and now she was all business. “We couldn’t just let her get away, as I am sure you both understand.” Athena nodded quickly, not daring to look over at her brother.

___

Those few moments after were quiet. A sharp intake of breath followed by held breath completely from both of the twins as the knife cut through the woman’s stomach. Orion kept his mouth covered and refused to let move. The woman’s muffled cries of pain and protest against his mother’s clamped hand slowly faded as her consciousness did. The only sounds left were the woman’s heartbeat, the beats becoming slowed and off beat. Soon, there wasn’t a rhythm at all. And then there was nothing. Just the dripping of blood against the root of the tree.

Another death. He knew this wasn’t normal. It couldn’t be normal to have seen this so young. He didn’t talk to many people in school, but he listened. None of them talked about death. That meant that it couldn’t be normal, right? Then why was so much of his own life surrounded by it?

His legs shook violently against his weight. Suddenly, the four were grouped together again, looking at each other. But he couldn’t hear what his mother was saying. He was looking directly at her, but couldn’t seem to make out the expression on her face. It all looked blurry, sounded blurry. The only thing that seemed in focus was the woman. She was on the ground now, slumped against the tree with a pool of blood circling the spot his mother had stabbed. Everything else sounded fuzzy, but her silence was apparent. No breaths. No heartbeat. No more muffled cries. Just silence.

He had no hope of self control at the moment. Not when his senses were going haywire. They blocked out everything except the woman, and soon Rio was completely losing it. The hyperventilating came first, something only exaggerated by the time he started panicking that he couldn’t catch his breath. Tears were shortly after that, his eyes stinging in protest as the sobbing began. He felt like he was choking. His legs finally gave out and he fell to his knees. Around him, he could hear his parents saying something, but he couldn’t make out the words. He wasn’t sure he could ever breathe again. It all felt hopeless. So hopeless.

___

She wanted to touch the tree. She always wanted to feel what it was like, after. After the creatures died. What was left of them, what their mark on the world was. She’d watched creatures in her dad’s operating room long after they’d died, the scent of the sterilizing materials burning her nose but in the best way possible. Athena didn’t move right now though, instead just watching, eyes wide. Eyes wide, lightly curled hair spilling around her shoulders. She liked how her family matched - all golden and bright against the dark, dark world. Nothing was ever going to change that, that much she was certain.

Except that then her brother had to go ahead and practically have a stupid panic attack. She had those, sometimes. She wasn’t supposed to, she didn’t like it, but sometimes when she thought too hard about one particular thing her heart started racing and suddenly she was tiny and in their shared childhood bedroom again, gasping for air in the middle of the night, not able to fall asleep until her brother came over. She was back, the day they’d been made to have their own rooms, whimpering because they were twins and she was supposed to be with him forever and she was a big girl but being with her brother was how it worked.

“Deal with him.” Her mother’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. She blinked. She knew what it meant. Deal with him. “Quickly, before he causes more trouble.” Without thinking, Athena whipped around and bent down, kneeling next to her brother. Slapped him across the face, twice. One on each side. Glared at him, as if to say listen to mom and dad. Don’t make this harder for us both.

___

At that moment, Orion didn’t care what attention he attracted. Whether it be his parents, the police, more supernatural creatures. Let them all come at this point. A woman was dead, a person. It didn’t matter what his parents told him. That was a human being, an innocent woman that had just been captured and gutted, ruthlessly. This wasn’t right. No matter what his parents or his grandparents or the family friends that came over for dinner parties told him. Nothing about this was right. So he would scream. He would scream and cry until somebody came to stop them. Or until they stopped hurting innocent people. Or until-

The smack took him by surprise and silenced him instantly. His panic attack had completely blocked out his senses. He had been fully unaware that his sister had knelt beside him until she had already hit him. The crying and gasping for air ceased immediately. Somehow, her attack had managed to both knock the wind out of him and help him find his breath simultaneously. Suddenly, he wasn’t concerned about the world spinning or his vision blurring because he could only focus on his cheek, stinging in agony against the already fresh bruise his mother had dealt earlier. “Ow.” was all Rio said, a mumbled phrase under his breath. He wasn’t speaking to anybody in particular, he was just too numb to think or say anything else. After, he pushed back up onto his feet. He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t say anything. His parents didn’t seem to care much, they were just thankful that he had finally shut up.

“Thank you, Athena.” His father mumbled, the notion passively doubled by their mother. Though neither seemed particularly interested in praise. They both studied the no longer breathing body on the ground. “I assume she is of no use to you?” his mother peered over at her husband, answered only by the brief shaking of his head. He was only interested in live test subjects. Twelve years old, and Rio was certain in this moment that they were monsters. “Athena, keep your brother under control. We are going to get rid of the body.”

___

She didn’t like the sound her hand made against her brother’s cheek, but it did what her parents had wanted it to do. He’d shut up and even though the response was neutral, and (as always) she found herself craving more praise from her parents, pressing her tongue firmly against the roof of her mouth, to remind herself to not not not talk, to not speak out of turn. She didn’t pay attention to the quiet ow that escaped his lips. This was a natural consequence, he knew that. She knew that. Athena gave a small tug at his scarf, as if to say ‘come on, straighten up, we’ll be done soon’. She’d been more encouraging when they were younger, but now they were twelve - and double-digits in general meant they were practically adults, and it really was time to start acting like one.

So she didn’t offer caring words to her brother because if she did that then how would he ever learn? She would have, years ago. A certain part of her still wanted to. Wanted to check in on him and make sure everything was okay. But saying sorry made you weak, and if there was one thing that Athena was not, it was weak.

She listened intently at her parents’ words. Not of use. This made sense, given how she looked, Athena didn’t figure that her father could make much use of the woman. Except that part of her wanted them to take her back, because books told her a great deal, but she’d never seen the inside of a kitsune before. Instead, at their comments, she just nodded. Firm, neutral, probably more serious than most twelve-year-olds would. As their parents retreated, she turned to face her brother again. He was getting taller than her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do her best to look him in the eye. “Come on. Just - like, I dunno, behave.” Her voice was almost whiny, a hint of actual pre-teenage-hood laced in her words. “Things work out better for you - us - if you do.”

___

How could they all think this was normal? Was Orion the crazy one? The way that his mother had so casually stabbed that woman. The way that his father and sister went along with it, walked around the body as if she wasn’t even there. How was he the only one losing his mind? It was almost enough to convince Rio that he was in the wrong somehow. His family had nothing to offer in the way of kind words or affirmation. His parents didn’t even speak directly to him, choosing to bark the order to his sister to shut him up instead. He wasn’t even worth their time.

Athena was no better, Rio decided. He had been on the fence for a long time. She had always been the golden child. Strong, smart and fearless. She never questioned them. She followed them to a fault. The two of them had been treated differently for as long as Rio could remember, but he had never settled on why. The two used to be close. They used to look out for each other. Rio always wanted to believe that she had seen that this was wrong too. Had just gone along with it because she wanted to make their parents proud. But tonight was a rude awakening. If his parents were monsters, she was no better. Give it a few years and she may actually be worse. Rio wanted nothing to do with that. Athena tugged at the scarf she had given him, and he pushed back onto his feet and tore the thing off and pushed it back into her. He’d rather freeze to death than wear anything of hers. “Whatever. I just won’t talk.” Rio stated as cold as he could manage, but his voice was still cracking.

“Pick up the pace.” His father spoke. The woman’s body was slung over his mother’s shoulders and the two were already making their way through the trees again. There was no other choice but to follow them, so he did. Though it was pitch black out, Rio could see just fine. Through a narrow path in between tree trunks, his mother and father walked side by side. Inches behind them was Athena, no doubt forcing herself to keep up right behind them. And then, trailing in the back with the distance between them only growing as the seconds passed by, was Rio. He never could quite keep up.

#wickedswriting #c orion #chatzy #enough for you #// this quinn twin chatzy brought to you by olivia rodrigo's recent album #though we wrote most of this before #also i love love love cody so much and same for rio #physical abuse tw #emotional abuse tw #domestic abuse tw #sibling abuse tw #also the twins hardly talk but the replies are long ://#and cody emotionally wrecked me with this

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supercasey · 4 years

Text

Dumb thoughts on the Child Avatars AU

I dunno, just some dumb ideas I’ve had since I started talking about the AU online/brainstorming about it. (Putting it under a readmore for everyone’s sake)

The “Daisy kidnaps Jon” situation in this AU is Daisy riding her bike to Simon Fairchild’s mansion, holding a water-gun up to both Mike and Jon’s heads, and ordering them to ride with her to the grocery store to buy soda and hang out at a nearby playground for the day. Cue Elias flipping tf out when Jon isn’t at Simon’s place when he goes to pick him up later, Simon being half asleep because he was napping while the kids hung out, and Mike getting soaked by Daisy before he agrees to go with her, and since this happens in, like, late fall or early winter, he gets pneumonia afterwards and can’t hang out for awhile, leading to the kids jokingly saying he’s dead. Btw the only reason the trio was found is because Basira was invited after they made it to the park, and she convinced Daisy to let the boys go home. Daisy literally only kidnapped them because she wanted to play with someone.

Also the Buried!Daisy arc is Daisy getting eaten by a Buried controlled sandbox and Jon jumping in after her. The rest of the kids, who thankfully witnessed this, spent the next three hours digging for them, with Breekon & Hope eventually joining in to help since they were in the area. Daisy and Jon form a trauma bond afterwards and are now best friends.

Jon keeps getting marked by shit and it’s stressing Elias out because hE’S NOT READY FOR THE WATCHER’S CROWN YET!!! He needs more time to prepare, but his son is literally getting marked faster than fucking Sonic.

Speaking of Sonic, seeing as the “Console Wars” (Sega vs Nintendo) are happening during this time period, the kids take the rivalry Very Seriously. The biggest arguments are had between Sasha, Daisy, Julia, and Mike, who are all on Team Sega, and Jon, Martin, Tim, and Danny, who are all on Team Nintendo.

Sasha, close to tears she’s so angry: “Sega DO what NintenDON’T, Tim!!!”

When Martin was born, he only had one thick clump of curly hair that was white, but as he’s grown older and entered the Lonely multiple times, more of his hair has begun to turn white. As of the time of the AU “starting” (so when he’s 8 years old), he looks like he has white highlights in his hair.

Trevor isn’t a fully-fledged Hunt avatar yet, but the girls more or less are, so if you’ve ever watched Wolf Children, that’s pretty much the situation Trevor is currently trapped in. His daughters keeping changing into wolf pups and running wild as he frantically tries to hide their powers from anyone who isn’t Gerry.

(All of the kids secretly know already, even Basira.)

Basira is pretty much the only “normal” kid of the avatar children, save MAYBE for Tim, but he’s been deeply marked by the circus and has a few tiny powers (think S3 Jon as he was figuring out some of his powers, but wasn’t a full-on Archivist just yet).

The season 1 gang (including Danny) are the closest group of friends in the AU, save for Daisy and Basira’s friendship, and they hang out a lot at each other’s homes on the weekends.

Adelard usually brings Jane with him for his “trips” away from the institute, so it’s not unusual for her to be gone for long periods of time. But she always sends postcards and gifts to the institute for everyone!

Helen is three years old, so theoretically she should be able to talk, but she rarely does so, preferring to communicate via giggles and laughter. Only Jon, the Stoker brothers, and Michael can understand her, and they take turns translating for everyone else.

Whenever she’s brought to the institute, Helen takes to toddling around after Jon and Martin, giggling up a storm the whole time. Jon finds it a bit annoying while Martin is endlessly amused by her antics.

A list of the guardian’s/adult’s ages before I fucking forget (as of when the AU “starts” in 1994): Gertrude Robinson - 62, Elias Bouchard “Jonah Magnus” - 51 (200+), Peter Lukas - 55, Simon Fairchild - 83 (300+), Gerard “Gerry” Keay - 30, Michael Shelley - 32, Alfred Grifter - Unknown, Adelard Dekker - 48, Nikola Orsinov - 30ish (100+), Annabelle Cane - 34 (Unknown), Trevor Herbert - 47, Agnes Montague - 25ish (60+), Jude Perry - 35, Jared Hopworth - 29, The Admiral - 10.

The “good” parents all keep trying to set up some kind of PTA meeting so they can actually talk about how to raise these supernatural kids properly, but it keeps going horribly wrong; last time they tried, Alfred Grifter and his band showed up and nearly made Simon go deaf, so no one wants to initiate the next attempt at a meeting.

Tbh, at this point the Fear rituals are more successful than Elias’s shitty attempts at forming a PTA.

At some point in the AU Gerry, Michael, and Trevor all pitch in to buy a decently big house together, which leads to some serious Shenanigans now that Melanie is around Michael and Trevor’s kids/wards... let’s just say there’s gonna be a lot of knife related accidents.

Gerry taught Melanie how to fight when he took her in and it is the single worst decision he’s ever made in his short, goth life, even if he’ll never admit it. Melanie can now beat the shit out of everyone but Julia and Daisy, and it’s pure chaos every time. Tim puts up a decent fight, but he’s been spoiled on easy wins over his brother all his life. Jon tries and fails to so much as push her. Martin runs away crying before Melanie even throws the first punch. Needless to say, the other kids are very cautious about playing with Melanie now.

None of the kids have an education of any kind except for Mike. I’m serious; the only kid who’s decently educated is being raised by Foxy Grandpa Off His Shits McGee! Julia and Daisy have had some public education but not much, Elias refuses to do anything but home-school Jon yet he sucks shit at math, Tim and Danny don’t even know what a school fucking looks like, Melanie and Jane were too young to go to school when they became avatars, Martin has only recently been allowed near other kids so fuck public school (Peter can do math but Nothing Else), Annabelle fucking forgot to give Sasha any kind of an education outside of Web stuff, and Helen is still a very small child. None of these kids have gone to school for more than a few years at most and dear g-d is that gonna suck for them later down the line.

As a result of this, Basira has taught the other kids a few things when she’s come over and insisted on playing “school” with everyone, but she’s still just a kid and can’t always get them to pay attention during her lessons.

Because of this Rosie, Gerry, Michael, and Gertrude have all started making an effort to more or less home-school all of the kids, which has gone... well enough, I suppose. However, things have recently taken a weird turn since Jon keeps giving everyone the answers to assignments/tests via telepathy.

Jon: Whoa, you can make tea all by yourself, Martin!? Martin: Yeah, I’ve been doing it by myself since I was a toddler. I can also do laundry, mop floors, vacuum, and cook a few things, too! Tim: Wow, that’s really cool, Martin! I wish I could do stuff like that. Gertrude, off to the side: *Gives Peter a horrified look* I’m sorry, but did Martin just say he’s been making tea on his own since he was a toddler? Peter: ╮(╯ _╰ )╭ Unfortunately, I’m severely depressed.

Yeeeeeeeah, Martin’s in a similar childhood situation to his canon one, but at least there are people actually willing to help him out of it in this universe. Also, Peter will clean himself up at some point here, he’s just still dealing with more or less disowning himself from his family and learning hoe to not be so lonely.

Speaking Of Which, the Lukas family are pretty big antagonists in this AU, primarily through Peter’s mother (I’ll come up with a name for her later if I can’t find it on the wiki), who is trying to kidnap Martin and more or less feed him to the Lonely so Peter will get over his “childish feelings” and return to being her favorite child.

And yes, she DOES accidentally kidnap Jon instead at some point... this kid can literally not avoid getting kidnapped.

I like to think Mike and Julia are really good friends in this AU, being the closest in age and all. They hang out a lot since their dads are both so chill and won’t get upset about it, the two of them mostly just playing video games, watching movies, and biking around their respective neighborhoods together.

(Also they may or may not be responsible for a statement that involves a woman seeing a “flying wolf” passing over London... they’ve yet to confess to it, but Elias is dead certain they’re behind the incident.)

The worms incident is 100% Jane’s secret worm collection getting fucking loose... she was keeping them in the walls “for safe keeping” and No One Fucking Knew, not even Elias, until Jon saw a spider, punched the wall, and Revealed them.

Jon and Tim got their scars because Jane lost control of the worms and they burrowed into the kids. Cue a very panicked 999 call from someone in the institute and Child Services almost getting involved, but Elias managed to cover it up.

Afterwards, Jon is incredibly self-conscious about his worm scars, but Martin tells him “now we both have freckles!” and it honestly makes him feel a little better about the whole thing.

Also Adelard makes an effort to track down a child psychologist/counselor with institute ties so he can get Jane some therapy/help controlling her powers. He loves her to the moon and back, and he’s terrified of her getting traumatized by what she accidentally did.

During the incident, a Notthem gets loose from Artifact Storage and attacks Sasha, but seeing as Sasha is of the Web and the Notthem is connected to a Web artifact, it only manages to really hurt her, but thankfully not kill her. She ends up hospitalized for a few weeks, but comes out fine later on. The table mysteriously disappears afterwards, and no one knows if it was Gertrude or Annabelle’s doing, but either way, the kids never have to deal with a Notthem again.

At some point I wanna get into Jon’s paranoia in season 2 for this AU, but I’m considering changing it from being because of the Jane Prentiss issue to be because of Mr. Spider almost killing him. I dunno how exactly it’ll play out, but I think it has a lot of potential!

Okay, before I end this post full of weird rambling ideas for the AU, I wanna make a list of the powers that the kids have at the time of the story “starting”/the ones they develop down the line because Jonny Sims himself said that all avatars have different powers, and I really wanna infodump on my thoughts for the kids!

Current powers of Jonathan Sims-Bouchard: Can simply know things whenever he wants to (so long as the Eye lets him, but the Eye sometimes keeps him from knowing anything he isn’t mature enough to handle), can compel people to tell him things (the other kids are better at resisting it, and so are other people touched by the Eye), can survive on very little food if he’s fed mostly statements/other people’s trauma, can non-consensually feel the pain and emotions of the people around him, has some weak telepathy powers, and he can subconsciously summon tape recorders.

Future powers of Jonathan Sims-Bouchard: Increased healing abilities, can know most anything if he tries, ability to resist other Eye avatars’ compulsions, can survive purely off of statements/other people’s trauma, can choose whether or not to feel the pain and emotions of the people around him, has much stronger telepathy powers than before, can force himself into people’s minds and read their thoughts, and he can summon tape recorders at will (though some still show up without his knowledge sometimes).

Current powers of Martin Blackwood-Lukas: Can disappear into the Fog for several hours at a time (he cannot be seen by anyone but other Lonely avatars while in the fog), can summon clouds of fog that he can momentarily hide things in (including people), can “banish” most anyone into the fog, and has “Sea Captain Eyes” (he knows where the Tundra is at all times, and can lead someone to it without a map or compass).

Future powers of Martin Blackwood-Lukas: Can change his hair color at will (only to red, white, and a mix of the two colors), can see much better in the Fog and can find anyone he’s pushed into it, can more or less teleport using the Fog, and he has what’s more or less a pocket dimension of fog for storage/hiding his friends from danger (think the inside of Gems in Steven Universe).

Current powers of Tim Stoker-Orsinov: Can make small bipedal toys “come to life” for a few minutes at a time (they can’t talk or communicate; only move around and perform small tasks/dances), can tell when a Notthem is masquerading as someone else, is supernaturally talented at gymnastics, and can dance alongside the creatures of the Stranger without being fully corrupted by them.

Future powers of Tim Stoker-Orsinov: Better control over the powers he already has as well as a high tolerance for the Spiral.

Current powers of Danny Stoker-Orsinov: Can order around creatures of the Stranger against their will, can tell when a Notthem is masquerading as someone else, can dance alongside the creatures of the Stranger without being fully corrupted by them, is supernaturally talented at gymnastics, and can change his voice to anything he likes (not always intentionally, though).

Future powers of Danny Stoker-Orsinov: Can more or less “teleport” to other circus locations by walking into theaters, can now change his voice to whatever he likes with his knowledge and consent, can take over as the Stranger’s ringmaster if necessary, can trigger a mesmerizing dance whenever he’d like, and has a high tolerance for the Spiral.

Current powers of Sasha James-Cane: Can communicate with spiders and have them send messages to other Web avatars, can read minds if she tries really hard, can “trap“ other entities in large webs that she can summon (takes a lot of energy), and she has Spider-Man-like abilities (can walk on walls and ceilings, can carry much more than her weight should allow, etc).

Future powers of Sasha James-Cane: Can now read minds without too much effort, can navigate almost any area that’s being controlled/influenced by the Web, can create webs without nearly as much effort as before, can transform her body to have more arms, legs, and eyes, and she now has venomous fangs (which can thankfully be controlled and/or hidden).

Current powers of Alice “Daisy” Tonner: Can turn into a wolf at will/when she’s especially emotional, can smell blood from several miles away, and has supernatural senses/physical abilities.

Future powers of Alice “Daisy” Tonner: Can now track most any monster she’s hunting once she gets at least one good look at them, can communicate with other Hunters via howling, and can navigate the Buried if needed (though this is very triggering for her and will cause her to pass out afterwards).

Current powers of Julia Montauk: Can turn into a wolf at will/when she’s especially emotional, can smell blood from several miles away, has supernatural senses/physical abilities, can track most any monster if she knows their name, can communicate with other Hunters via howling, and she can shift into a bipedal werewolf when she feels like she’s in danger.

Future powers of Julia Montauk: All of her previous powers have drastically improved, plus she has better control of them now.

Current powers of Basira Hussain: She has common fucking sense, something almost none of the other children have.

Future powers of Basira Hussain: She common sense AND she has a werewolf GF now. :) ((No dating for the babies, not until they’re at least teenagers))

Current powers of Melanie King-Grifter: Can listen to Grifter’s Bone without being damaged in any way, the music of Grifter’s Bone makes her powers exemplified for a period of time after she listens to it, the smell of blood triggers her to become violent, she can summon sharp weapons (knives, swords, etc) from thin air, and she can see a red aura around other people who have been marked by the Slaughter.

Future powers of Melanie King-Grifter: She has much better control of her abilities now, she can perform Grifter’s Bone songs for people and keep them from dying/going feral, and she can now also summon other weapons from thin air (guns, baseball bats, etc).

Current powers of Oliver Banks: Can see people’s deaths a week in advance via his dreams, he sees dark tentacles around people who are going to die soon, can see but not talk to ghosts, and he can smell death on anyone who’s undead/controlling other people’s bodies.

Future powers of Oliver Banks: Can raise the dead and control them to do his bidding (takes a lot of energy), can speak cat (not End related; Admiral related), and he can cause people to die within the week if he touches them in his dreams.

Current powers of Georgie Barker: Can see a “death countdown” over people who are going to die within the next thirty days, doesn’t feel any fear whatsoever, can see but not talk to ghosts, and she sees a dark sludge staining the clothes of people who have been marked by the End.

Future powers of Georgie Barker: Can bring people back to life for a minute or so by touching them (think Pushing Daisies type powers), can speak cat (not End related; Admiral is best cat dad), and she can communicate with ghosts much better now.

Current powers of Jane Prentiss-Dekker: Can summon bugs of most kinds from her mouth and under her fingernails, can communicate with bugs, and can fight off most diseases without any trouble.

Future powers of Jane Prentiss-Dekker: Can now completely control bugs via a hive mind effect, can summon bugs from anywhere on her body, has much stronger healing abilities than Jon, and she can see invisible bugs crawling on the skin of those who the Corruption wants her to get rid of (it’s hard for her not to give in to it’s desires).

Current powers of Mike Crew-Fairchild: Can levitate/fly at will, can summon clouds of any kind (rain, thunder, snow, etc) in any conditions, has much higher resistance to the weather/temperature, and he can “banish” people into the Vast at will.

Future powers of Mike Crew-Fairchild: Same as before, but with slightly better control than he had as a teenager.

Current powers for Helen Richardson-Shelley: Can change the world around her to be more like the Spiral (adding more doors, changing the colors of things, causing hallucinations, etc), can change any door into a doorway into the Spiral, and she can amplify her voice (very hard to control as a baby).

Future powers for Helen Richardson-Shelley: Can now summon doors that lead to the Spiral from thin air, has much better control over her powers and abilities than before, can morph her body to be longer and sharper at will, and she can “banish” people into the endless hallways of the Spiral.

((Holy shit, that took awhile))

Anyways, here’s a playlist I made for the AU, feel free to scream at me for my very weird taste in music: Pinky Swear That You Won’t Go Changing

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takingcourage · 3 years

Text

Family Ties

A Miscalculations one-shot

Pairing: M!Cassian x MC

Word Count: 3,400

Summary: Having Cassian back in her life means meeting his family too.

Note: This story is set somewhere between the final chapters and the epilogue of Miscalculations. It’s dedicated to my Cassian Nonnies and the now-inactive secretsaladbouquet, who once asked to see Kellen and Owen meet Cassian’s family.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“She’s going to love you, Kellen.”

“You don’t know that.” Rolling her lips flat, she stared past the sidewalk and up the stoop to the front door. Unassuming as it was, she couldn’t help imagining a critical woman peering through the diamond of frosted glass. A woman she had the sense that she’d already wronged despite never meeting her -- perhaps because she'd never met her.

Shifting the car into park, Cassian removed his hand from the gear and used it to cradle Kellen’s knee. “I know my Ma. She loves anything that makes me happy, and you’re at the top of the list.”

With a deep exhale, she felt a small portion of her worry melt away at his words.

“Besides,” he went on, “look who we’ve got in the backseat. You make a good impression on everyone, don’t you, Owen?”

“Uh-huh!”

Kellen giggled in spite of herself. Their son had almost-irritating tendency to agree with everything his father said, as long as it wasn’t related to vegetables or bedtime. “He’s like our secret weapon,” she agreed, punching her thumb on the seatbelt release.

“Show me your smile,” Cassian prompted, catching his son's eyes in the rearview mirror. The boy obliged, then resumed his efforts to pry apart the clip at his chest. “And yours?” Cassian continued, turning to the woman beside him.

Her lips curved instinctively at the question. Eyes dancing, he leaned into the passenger seat for a quick kiss. “Let’s go.”

Plucking up her courage, she tossed the strap off her shoulder and reached for her bag.

Kellen knew how to exude confidence. Between her flirtatious nature and her ability to stand up for herself against the naysayers in her line of work, she was used to taking the world by storm. Yet, she was at a loss as she mounted the doorstep, waiting to meet Cassian’s mother.

This wasn't a place to make an impression with double entendres or by bringing up her MBA. She didn’t even know how to get her own parents' attention, and they were the ones who’d raised her. What hope did she have of impressing the woman responsible for the incredible man standing next to her?

Hearing the click of the latch on the other side of the door, she shivered and held Owen’s hand a little bit tighter. The hair at her temple swayed as Cassian leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “You’ve got this.”

“Thanks,” she mouthed, focus still cemented on the door as it opened to reveal a dark-haired woman.

Though she’d seen pictures, Cassian’s mother was shorter than she’d imagined. She bit back a newfound sense of awe that this was the woman who’d brought eight children to a new country all on her own. But any threat of intimidation evaporated at the sight of the woman’s smile. Like her son and grandson, Teresa Keane had an incredibly ready grin.

“Hello, hello! Welcome.” The older woman’s thick brogue made Cassian’s accent sound weak by comparison.

“Ma, this is Kellen.”

“Hi, Mrs. Keane,” she greeted, stretching out her free hand.

“Hello, dear. Call me Teresa,” the older woman urged, pulling her in for a hug instead. Arms pressed awkwardly to her sides, Kellen tried to focus on the moment instead of berating herself. The attempt was only partially successful.

Ten seconds in, and I’ve already made a fool of myself. The thought sent a tremor of unease through her bones as Teresa pulled away.

“And this must be Owen?” She bent at the knees for a closer look. “How are you, young man? You’re very handsome, aren’t you?”

Feeding off the woman’s enthusiasm, Owen’s mouth cracked into a smile.

“He’s like a vision of the past, isn’t he?” she asked, straightening back to her full height to embrace her son.

“It’s uncanny,” he agreed.

Kellen warmed at the pride in his voice. They were fine -- this was fine. In spite of her misstep with the hug, things were still going relatively well.

“C’mon in,” Teresa beckoned. “It’s nearly winter and you’re still standing out here on my porch. It’s like you want this lovely family of yours to freeze, Cassian -- it really is. Let’s get inside.”

Gathering Owen into her arms, Kellen followed the other woman into the house, grateful when Cassian’s hand found the small of her back. Even if she and Kellen didn't get along right away, at least Teresa would see how attentive Cassian was toward them both.

“Is that apple cake I smell?” He asked, and Kellen breathed a chuckle at the question. Between the strong fragrance as they approached the kitchen the number of times it had come up in conversation, she could practically already taste it.

“Don’t sound so surprised. You know I make it any time there’s family over.”

Family. Was that how Teresa thought of them?

She means Cassian, you idiot, she corrected. And maybe Owen. They are related, after all. Whatever Teresa meant, Kellen was fairly certain she wasn’t part of it. But maybe someday...

Hoisting Owen a little higher, she tried to focus back on Teresa's voice.

“... told Cal not to cut into it until we got back, but I had to post Grainne in the kitchen to keep him in check. I’ve been watching him like a hawk all morning.

Kellen’s ears perked at the familiar names and tried to conjure up the images that matched them. Even with pictures to help, there were so many people to keep track of that it had taken nearly an hour for her to get the names and birth order of his siblings straight. With a flash of panic, she remembered how many members of his family she’d have left to meet after today.

Don’t get ahead of yourself, Kellen. Today is about Teresa. The fact that she was meeting two of his siblings was fairly incidental. As the youngest, Callahan was living at home while he attended university. Grainne -- Cassian’s eldest sister and the one he was closest to -- had devised an excuse to join them at her older brother’s insistence.

“I can hardly blame him. It smells delicious.” Kellen tried to gather the threads of conversation she still remembered, hoping there was still time to salvage the afternoon. “I assume you’re who I have to thank for Cassian being such a wonderful cook?”

The sound that came out of Teresa’s mouth was inarticulate, but it struck Kellen as vaguely disparaging. “I saw to it that no child of mine would ever have to rely on takeaway. They’ve all been cooking since they were old enough to reach the stove.”

Kellen bit her tongue to silence the curse that was hovering at the tip. She'd have a fit if she knew her grandson was subsisting on my repertoire of frozen bag meals and grilled cheese sandwiches. Maybe Cassian can give me some lessons before the next time we come over

“Mama, I thirsty.”

Shifting Owen’s weight to her hip, she dug into her deep leather tote for his bottle. Their eyes locked as he clicked the button to release the cap and sucked the straw. As she trailed Teresa into the kitchen, she stroked the boy’s curls fondly. Trivial as the interaction had been, she couldn’t help her sense of relief at the small reminder that her son’s needs were still being met.

Still shielding the cake as they entered, Grainne was the first to speak. “Cass! Good to see you.” If Cassian's stories hadn't left her with such a favorable impression of his sister, the woman's sparkling eyes and bubbly affect might have given cause for alarm. “And Kellen?” Abandoning her post, she slipped an arm around the other woman's shoulders.

This time, Kellen was more prepared. Though her hands were still occupied with Owen and her bag, she managed to lean into the embrace instead of standing still. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Cassian talks about you all the time,” she shared as Grainne pulled away.

From his place at the breakfast table, Callahan lifted a hand in salute.

Once the adults had finished introductions, Grainne’s attention turned to the only child in the room. “Hey there, buddy. Can you tell me your name?”

Holding his cup close to his chest, the boy replied with serious eyes. “Owen.”

“Owen, huh? I like that name.”

He gave her a toothy smile and wriggled to be let down. Releasing him to the floor, Kellen stretched out a hand to keep him from venturing too close to the stove where Teresa was finishing up the custard.

“He’s so sweet,” Grainne crooned in Kellen’s direction. “I can’t believe how much he looks like you, Cass.”

“Poor kid.” Cal quipped, tilting his chair to balance on the back two legs. “Pity you’re such an ugly ba--”

Spoon in hand, Teresa turned on her youngest before he could even think of adding a second syllable. “Callahan Arthur Keane! There are young ears in this room. You should be ashamed."

“Yes, Ma.” All four legs of his chair smacked the tile floor.

Kellen squatted down to retrieve Owen’s cup before it could roll under the table. Out of sight, her brows furrowed in concern. Was Cassian on such bad terms with Cal? She knew he’d asked Grainne to come in order to help temper his youngest sibling’s dubious charms, but it had never occurred to her that the two brothers might not get along.

Schooling her features before she rose, she wondered vaguely if she needed to come to Cassian’s defense.

Goodness knew she and her own brother weren’t close enough to have any kinds of disagreements. They didn’t know one another well enough to offer meaningful insults. But her parents certainly did. She considered it a miracle if the three of them made it more than five minutes without trading barbs. If the situation had somehow been reversed, would she have wanted Cassian to defend her against their criticisms?

She couldn’t say for certain, but the question was enough to make her feel sick to her stomach.

“You’re just bitter, Cal. We all know there weren’t any good genes left by the time it came to you.”

Recognizing the teasing edge in Cassian’s tone, she realized she’d been misreading the entire interaction. Blood rushed to her cheeks along with the certainty of her mistake. His family isn’t like that, Kellen. They don’t have those fights.

Noticing her distraction, Cassian raised a brow in concern. She quickly shrugged it away before he resumed the conversation.

“He’s only like me when it comes to looks. He’s already better with numbers than I am. Should we show your Uncle Cal, Owen?”

“Uh-huh!”

Still exploring the floor, Owen probably wasn’t even certain what he’d agreed to, but he always had plenty of uh-huhs for his father. Most of his nun-uhs and noes were, unfortunately, reserved for her. She smirked as her son turned his attention to Cassian. Come to think of it, she couldn’t blame him for the preferential treatment. His father had a tendency to get all of her yeses as well.

“C’mere,” Cassian prompted, and the boy who’d been squirming in her arms no more than two minutes before happily climbed up on his father’s knee. With the ease of practice, the man held out his hand, fingers stretched. Owen took them in turn, counting off in a lilting rhythm.

“One... two.... three...four....”

Of the two of them, Cassian was by far the more accommodating teacher. Kellen was always slow to provide answers when the boy faltered, intent on learning exactly how far his memorization skills had progressed. Cassian mouthed everything along with him, sometimes whispering hints with pretend secrecy. She hadn’t determined which approach was the most pedagogically sound, but there was no question which one was more fun to watch.

Teresa had turned from her place at the stove, positively beaming as she saw the two of them interact. Even Cal had slipped his phone into his pocket and adopted a courteous expression.

“Seven...eight...”

Owen’s brow furrowed, and he launched himself toward Cassian’s ear in concern. Even though Kellen didn’t catch all of the words he whispered, all signs pointed to a call of nature.

“Excuse us,” Cassian offered, pushing back his chair so that Owen could hop down from his knee. “We’ll be back shortly.”

Kellen breathed a quiet laugh as they passed into the hall, all at once aware of the tension now that the one person who connected them was gone. Feeling an uncustomary loss for words, she tried to recall what she knew about the room’s other occupants. Grainne was in sales, Cal was finishing pre-requisites and hadn’t declared a major, Teresa did administrative work for one of Cassian’s brothers-in-law... that didn’t give her a lot of ideas for sparking conversations.

“Mona?”

“Hmm?” It took a beat for Kellen to comprehend that the word was a question.

“Your lipstick,” Grainne clarified. “It’s Mona, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m impressed! Cassian told me you were into fashion, but...”

“My roommate is a beauty vlogger. You see enough swatches, some of it just starts to stick. It’s a great shade with that outfit, by the way.”

“Thanks.” Suddenly self conscious about the rest of her makeup, Kellen’s eyes flicked to the semi-reflective door of the microwave, but it was no use. The image was too dark to reveal anything about the application, though she was sure it had been passable when she’d left her apartment some hour before.

“It’s nice not to be the odd one out in the family anymore,” Grainne continued, leveling luminous brown eyes at Kellen. “My sisters have been refusing makeovers for years. At least Ma lets me pick her nail polish from time to time.”

Kellen’s lips crept into a smile as Teresa pshawed the statement. “Don’t speak ill of those who aren’t here to defend themselves.”

“You sound like the girls who sit in front of me in psych class,” Cal complained, phone in hand again. “They’re always carrying on about makeup and shoes. It’s moronic.”

Grainne cocked a conspiratorial brow across the table. Kellen met her grin, bracing her elbows on the table as they listened to Cal's continued complaints.

“I’m sorry you lead such a rough existence, Cal,” Grainne offered sarcastically when he paused to check a notification. “I’ll say an extra prayer for you tonight.”

“Plates?” Teresa cut in, her implied command rousing her youngest from his seat.

Kellen had to hide her giggle after the glance she shared with Cassian’s sister. No wonder he was so fond of the woman. She didn't want to get ahead of herself, but it was easy to see the two of them becoming friends. Making light conversation as Cal set the table, she hardly had opportunity to miss her boyfriend and son.

By the time Owen and Cassian returned, the cake and been cut and was ready to serve. His needs met, Owen returned his father’s knee while Teresa passed out the slices.

Kellen leaned over to straighten the buttons on the boy’s shirt. “Maybe you should share a piece, at least until we know he likes it? There’s a lot of cinnamon on top.” Catching herself, she glanced toward Teresa, “I can’t wait to dig in. Owen’s just a wild card when it comes to spices.”

“He’ll like custard.” Cassian poured a measure onto his cake and slipped his son a bite, beaming with glee at the boy’s enthusiastic response.

“More, please?”

With a hearty laugh, Cassian obliged. “Save some for the rest of us, a stór.”

“I’ll get him a dish,” Teresa insisted, returning to the cupboard for a toddler-sized bowl.

Like his affinity for sisters, Cassian’s taste in desserts was unassailable. The apple cake was, indeed, one of the best things Kellen had ever tasted. With the sharp tang of stewed apple, warm blend of spices, and rich, velvety cream, she was starting to feel like she never wanted to leave Teresa’s kitchen.

They finished eating some twenty minutes later, and Grainne stepped into the other room to take a phone call. Increasingly sleepy, Owen was preparing for a second attempt at counting. Exchanging a polite smile with Teresa, Kellen gathered up the dishes from their side of the table and followed the older woman to the sink.

She’s lovely and kind, and she seems to like you so far. Make conversation, her subconscious urged as she set the plates on the tile countertop. “Cassian’s told me about his nephew and nieces -- your other grandchildren?”

“I have four. Well, five now,” she adjusted, watching Owen tug on Cassian’s fingers. “Jack’s going to be so excited to finally have a boy cousin. He was so disappointed when Ciara’s last one was another girl.”

Kellen nodded with a faint smile, feeling heavy with the reminder of how extensive the Keane family was. Even with Cassian’s many assurances that they were loving and supportive, she was still an outsider. Perhaps she always would be.

“I have to tell you, Kellen, you’re not at all like I imagined.”

Panic pierced through like a knife to the gut.

Kellen expelled a shallow breath, feeling like she’d had the wind knocked out of her. For the past hour, she’d been lulling herself into a sense of security. Sure, there had been some missteps, but they'd started to find their footing -- or so she’d thought. But really, Kellen, she chastised, Cassian’s incredible. Is it any wonder you don’t measure up?

This was her worst nightmare. She could deal with their judgment, but if they didn’t accept her? She couldn’t ask Cassian to choose between her and his family.

“Oh, but I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” Teresa reached for Kellen’s arm, grasping it just above the wrist. “You know how he is: he’s got this constant need to swoop in and be a hero. I always worried he’d end up with a woman who was afraid of the world and needed rescuing all the time. That’s not what I see when I look at you, Kellen.”

For the second time that afternoon, Kellen bit back the words that came on impulse. Despite her frequent insistence to the contrary, she had been the kind of woman who’d needed rescuing. But with Cassian -- in many ways, because of Cassian -- that wasn’t the case anymore.

Lost to her thoughts, it took a few minutes to realize that Teresa had continued speaking. “You keep up with him. You challenge him.” A bony elbow prodded her side softly. “And you make him the happiest I’ve seen in ages. I’m glad he has you.”

“Thanks,” she mumbled in response, wondering how tentative that gratitude must be. For a mother, it would be all too easy to see her as the woman who’d broken her son’s heart. With a shiver, she considered how she would react when face to face with someone who’d hurt Owen in the same way.

She certainly wouldn’t be this civil.

“I’m really grateful to have him in my life again.” Glancing back to the man at the table, she couldn’t help the impulsive compliment. ”You must have been an amazing mother.”

“I did what I could," she agreed, nonchalantly. "Cassian said you don’t see your own parents very often?”

“Maybe once or twice a year. We’re hardly close.”

Turning back to the sink, Kellen expected to see judgment. She found only a genuine smile: a reflection of one she’d seen countless times before. “I’m sorry for that. I hope you know you’re always welcome here with us. Cassian knows this already, but we'll be getting together for dinner for Jack's birthday next week -- we'd love for you and Owen to join us if you'd like."

“I’d like that very much,” she assured, hardly giving the question a moment’s thought. She didn’t need time to consider; her eager anticipation was already proving that it was the right answer. Her eyes swung back to the table, imagining how much Owen was going to enjoy getting to know his cousins.

When they’d decided to go all in, to jump headfirst into this relationship without looking back, she’d thought that the family she had with Owen and Cassian would be all she ever wanted. But this afternoon was reminding her of something she been learning time and again since Cassian came into her life: what a delight it was to be proven wrong.

#playchoices #playchoices fanfiction #witness: a bodyguard romance #cassian keane #cassian x mc

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owlsbride · 4 years

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Icha Icha and Prejudice: The Book Club

Chapter VII: Under the Suna Sun

Kakashi was a man of war, of battlefields, makeshift camps, nights under the stars but surrounded by insects, earth and who knows what else. He was a man who had spent more than a day without bathing with questionable hygiene and eaten the most diverse foods, even some that he would never want to remember ever again. Kakashi had shared missions with both comrades and traitors at the same time. He had forever soiled his hands with blood for Konoha, and after many years of self-pity, regrets, little self-esteem, psychological torture and a considerable amount of therapy he could say that he felt Ok, with everything... Much of the time.

However, what Kakashi was not, and maybe he had his new job to blame, a man of high temperatures. He was perfectly fine with Konoha's weather. It was a nice one: with all four seasons developing naturally throughout the year. A winter that invites you to sit by the fire, but that does not soak the bones. Stable autumns and springs with the necessary rains and a hot but bearable summer, with sweet fragrances, long sunsets, cosy beaches, soft breezes and the eternal smell of the cherry trees. Even in those days when the heat was oppressive, Konoha was still comforting, comfortable and pleasant.

Now Suna, Suna was terrible. Kakashi hated Suna. No, he didn't hate his people, the villagers, the Kazekage nor nothing like that. He just hated the weather. There was a hideous winter or a hideous summer, and he wasn't sure which one was worse. He had been there on many occasions, and he never had been one to complain, but this heat? This heat was killing him now with all the protocol clothes and the village tour under the midday sun to take the dimension of the damage caused by Naruto and if he has to be fair also by the Kazekage. The same Kazekage that could not be found anywhere because he was busy in reunions and meetings with very important people.

"Gaara is going to be busy with very important politicians, Hokage Sama..." Baki began, Kakashi lifted an eyebrow "Not that you are not import..."

"It's ok, Baki, will he be available in the night?" Kakashi interrupted tiredly. He had been travelling the whole night for nothing, he didn't give a damn if he was an important person or not. He just wanted to go to what would be his room and wash off all the sand that he already had on parts of his body that he didn't even know existed.

"What a drag" Kakashi heard Shikamaru snarl and agreed with the boy, nodding only his head "He must be afraid of you, Lord Sixth." The Hokage smiled to himself. Shikamaru could be a bit of a pain in the ass at times and a lazy one, but he would never admit a disrespect to Konoha or his leader. And this time, he didn't correct him.

"Hey, crybaby," Temari spoke to Shikamaru, lifting her chin full of proud and arrogance "My brother is not afraid of no one."

"Troublesome" Shikamaru answered, looking down.

Kakashi's head was about to explode, but Shikamaru was right. Knowing Gaara's social skills, the most probable thing was that the young man would be hidden in his office trying to figure out how to handle the situation. After all, what he had told Sakura the other night, was correct.

The Kazekage had a difficult childhood, like most of them, but somehow he hadn't been able to fully heal the wounds of the past, (has someone actually done it?) and with his too rational mind and his emotional part repressed he was an introverted, quiet and distant being. Gaara was more like a child than an adult. However, the Kazekage had earned his respect. Suna had never been better, and his performance in the fourth war was outstanding, nothing to do with the boy with the deep gaze who was always seeking answers. Gaara was doing well as Suna's leader. Until two weeks ago that Naruto came up with his plan. And so it was now. He really should have brought Sakura, at least now it would be easing his headache. He could hear from behind him the merry couple fighting about something.

"Hey, you two" Kakashi addressed them both "Don't you have something to do? Like catching up, maybe?" He shooed them away with his hands.

"But Hokage Sama..." Temari tried to protest bowing a little.

"It's ok, Princess," Kakashi said mimicking some kind of courtesy he learned over the years "I'm sure Baki, here, is willing and able to show me the place around. I'll see you all of them later tonight after recognising the situation" Kakashi finished with a bow from his own.

Temari and Shikamaru stood still watching Kakashi walk away into the village with Baki. They both had to recognise that as idle or hunched or oblivious he may seem, he was a really regal Hokage.

"Oh, Temari..." Kakashi spoke again without turning to look at her "Make sure that your brother is available for dinner." It was not a suggestion, not a request or a wish, it was an order.

"Jeez, you are so fucked up." Shikamaru whispered.

"Yeah, what a drag" Temari finished realising her breath soundly. Shikamaru smiled at the use of his words.

The situation was absolutely irrational and surrealistic. There were hordes of villagers asking him things about when the improvements that the future Hokage to be promised them were going to arrive. The answers were never, but of course, he couldn't say anything remotely closer to that. What were they thinking? Would Naruto have drugged Gaara to agree or did he just convince him with a few words? If so, he would be a great Hokage if it could mature even a little.

Naruto and Gaara promised that through new jutsus they would stop the sandstorms. That they both would build hot springs bath and aqueducts coming from the outskirts of Konoha to Suna, to create their own spa and recreation centre. They had also promised that they would control the winter temperatures and that soon the houses would not need to have hermetic closures to fight against the sand. How the hell were they going to achieve that? Yes, the times were changing, but a whole new infrastructure to generate the energy necessary to fulfil Naruto's plans was impossible. At least for the moment. In fact, they had to be grateful that they could connect the required antennas to access the telephone lines and the internet.

Fortunately for Kakashi, time was on his side, and all his responses were "I'm sure, my dear sirs, that by the time Uzumaki Naruto takes over as the Seventh Hokage he will have all his plans in motion." With good fortune and favourable wind that would still be within a few years.

"There is one more thing, Hokage Sama" Baki spoke once all the villagers were already returning to their homes not so happy with Kakashi's half-lies, half trues answers.

"What now?" Kakashi felt light, almost floating. The heat was finally having its effect, and the headache was throbbing. Fucking Sakura, she was right, a heatstroke was coming.

"If you prefer we can discuss it later, you look..."

"I'm ok, Baki, what is it? what did those two do?" Now he was starting to get mad.

"Well... Uzumaki Naruto, and Lord Gaara, had promised all the kids in the village that they will form a special camp to train future academy aspirants and genins, and that Naruto would be in charge of assigning missions, all of low rank of course, in order to practice his duties as a Hokage and that Gaara would be his advisor. Kankuro would train the kids. We have all the village children signed up waiting for the special camp to start."

"What you are saying is that they want to form an academy prior to the academy just to simulate the work of the Kages and that not only are Naruto and your Kazekage involved but also Kankuro?"

"Yes, Sir" Baki was so embarrassed.

"Definitely not" Kakashi was about to pass out.

"But Lord Sixth, the kids are so excited, what will we tell them?"

"There is no we, Baki. I'll speak to Gaara tonight, and he will have to take care, now I want to go to my lodging."

The dinner with Gaara wasn't comfortable at all. The Kazekage would bearly looked Kakashi in the eyes. He much more preferred the terrible and strong Gaara from the Desert than this excuse of a boy playing the leader. Yes, he had messed up the things a bit, but nothing beyond repair.

The new infrastructures would arrive sooner or later, and the camp thing could be a summer camp and not a pre-academy. He would give them the possibility to do it in Konoha where Kakashi himself could control them, and Naruto would only be a simple instructor. That way, Gaara would not have to neglect his village. It was the best measure for damage control.

Even so, Kakashi did not put aside his job as Konoha's leader in this meeting. With the tenderness worthy of a good older brother, but the Hokage's firmness, he asked the youngest to please not listen to Naruto's follies anymore. Being a good friend did not mean putting the village's stability at risk just by being complacent. Kakashi also gave Gaara a friendly reminder: to never get over his persona again. He was Konoha's Hokage, not Naruto.

Gaara still had a lot to learn yet, so Kakashi incentivized him to not to hesitate to ask for advice outside his closest circle. Sometimes the objectivity of others was the best advisor. And for that, the councils were hostiles towards him, except of course for the two brothers and Baki. That annoyed him a lot, but somehow everything turned out ok.

Kakashi arrived finally at the luxurious room that Gaara had prepared for him. He didn't see Shikamaru in the whole day after he dismissed him early in the midday and during the dinner they bearly address each other and it was ok. He didn't need the Nara witty mind talking and complaining around in the same room. Besides, Kakashi suspected that Shikamaru was involved in much more satisfactory endeavours than politics, and plans for future summer camps.

After the longest shower of his life, Kakashi finally was ready to go to bed, it was still hot out there and in the room but the cold shower and the conditioner helped a little. He collapsed on the mattress as he had not in a long time. Only on his underwear, he didn't even take the bother to rearrange his mask. This time he was as tired as if he had been fighting all night for the Anbu. It was a very comfortable bed, enough for more than one person, and suddenly he remembered Sakura.

22:40: Are you there? I'm so so so sorry...

22:40: Sakura this have been madness

He waited for the answer, his eyes closing slowly.

22:41: You were right Sakura, I should have brought you with me. The heat is killing me, my head is killing me, everything is killing me

22:41: Ok... Let's talk later.

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Notes:

Well, Kakashi is having a hard time at Suna right?

Next chapter: chatting, texting, reading... and he will come back to Konoha eventually.

I just realise that I'm always asking for likes, and kudos and comments, but I've never thank you before! so here I go: Thank you, everyone!! you make my day when you do something like that, so please keep going and make me happy. See you soon.

16 notes · View notes

fanmoose12 · 4 years

Note

Hello. I really appreciate your fanfic works and would it be alright to request a tragedy/angst “Hotarubi no Mori e” AU of Levi (taking the place of Hotaru) and Hange (taking the place of Gin) if you’ve happen to watch it? :))

so i’ve never watched this movie, decided to watch it after your prompt and??? this was so damn heartbreaking, i’ve loved it and cried for like half an hour after watching it???

so thanks for your prompt and for recomending this movie!!! i hope my story isn’t so sad btw

anyways, enjoy!!!!

Levi cursed when he realized that he walked by the same tree for the fourth time. He lifted his head and sighed deeply, screaming internally.

Stupid Kenny!

This whole idiotic situation was completely Kenny’s fault. If he was a good uncle or at least a responsible adult, he’d come and pick his nephew from the train station.

But no, he was too busy to do that, and Levi had to walk through the dense forest to get to his uncle’s house.

And now he was lost!

Levi growled and kicked the nearest tree, imagining it was Kenny. Stupid Kenny, and stupid forest, and stupid him for getting lost.

Levi kicked the tree again, harder this time. He raised his leg to do it one more time, when suddenly he heard a voice from up above.

“Oi, what did that tree do to you?”

Levi lifted his head to look for the source of the voice and found… somebody, or maybe something, he wasn’t really sure. It looked like a person, talked like a person, but instead of a face there was some weird mask.

“Go away.” Levi grumbled, crossing hands on his chest and glaring at the person on a tree. He was already pissed off, and he wouldn’t let some masked weirdo bother him.

In the meanwhile, the strange figure jumped off a tree and landed in front of Levi, crouching beside him.

“Are you lost?” the person asked, and Levi fleetingly thought that voice resembled a girl’s. Although it was much deeper than the voices of girls Levi knew.

“Do you know the way out?”

The girl laughed. “I do!” she said way too cheerfully. “C’mon, follow me, and I’ll lead you out.”

Levi nodded, deciding that he really needed help. Even if that help came from a weirdo in a mask. Still, a help from some weirdo was much better than roaming the woods until he starves to death.

“Thank you.” Levi muttered awkwardly and quietly.

The girl smiled down at him, getting to her feet. And Levi realized that she was probably much older than him, as she was almost twice Levi’s height.

“Before we start,” the girl began, as she was looking for something in her pocket. “I’ve got to warn you: you can’t touch me, under no circumstances. Alright?”

Levi huffed. “As if I was going to.”

“I just needed to warn you,” the girl shrugged and then took a long white cloth out of her pocket. She passed one end of it to Levi. “Wrap it around your wrist,” she instructed, doing the same on her own hand. “So we won’t get separated.”

Levi found her request a little weird, but, well, the girl was very weird, and he really wanted to get out of this forest, so he complied, wrapping the cloth tightly around his hand.

The girl looked down on their hands, joined by a white fabric, and started to giggle.

“We look just like a couple on a date!”

Levi raised his eyebrow. “Aren’t you a little old for me?”

“Or maybe it’s you who are too young for me,” the girl chuckled.

And then they started walking, the girl leading the way slowly, but confidently.

She hummed quietly as they made their way through the thick forest, but surprisingly it didn’t irritate Levi at all. On the contrary, he felt relaxed and soothed by her singing.

As they walked side by side, Levi couldn’t help but wonder just who his mysterious savior was. Was she just a girl, who liked to hang out in the woods and wear stupid masks? Or was she living there? Suddenly, Kenny’s tales about ghosts and spirits, which inhabited this forest, came to Levi’s mind.

Kenny told him this story a thousand times, a story of how he accidentally happened upon supernatural festivities, but he did not realize it, because all spirits looked like real people.

Levi shook his head, trying to get rid of such foolish thoughts. Obliviously, she was just a girl and not some supernatural creature. Levi felt ashamed of even thinking about such nonsense.

Maybe he was a rather impressionable child, but he wasn’t a little boy anymore. This winter he would turn nine years old and it was time for him to grow up.

So deeply engrossed in his thoughts, Levi didn’t even notice when the girl led him out to the clearing.

When he finally came to his senses, Levi’s eyes widened slightly, as he took in the scenery around him.

From on top of the hill they’ve been standing on, he could see the whole town below, and if he squinted, he could even see his uncle’s house.

“Thank you,” Levi said again, turning to face the girl.

“It’s nothing,” she waved him off. “But I do want something in return.”

Levi tensed and narrowed his eyes at her. “And what is it?” `

“Your name.”

Levi scoffed, but decided to obey her request. She kind of saved his life, after all. “It’s Levi.”

“Nice to meet you, Levi!” the girl giggled. “I’m Hange.”

“I don’t care,” he answered, but before he could turn away and go home, Levi wanted to ask her another thing. “Aren’t you going down with me?”

“What for?” Hange asked, honestly surprised. “I live here, in the forest.”

Levi widened his eyes. Was she actually serious? He looked closely at her, but he could see nothing behind her mask. However, her voice was devoid of the mirth, which was there before. So was she really living in the forest?

“Well, I need to go,” Hange started to turn around. “You can return this thing to me some other time.” She said, pointing to the cloth, still wrapped around Levi’s wrist.

Damnit, he didn’t even see her taking it off.

“What makes you think I will ever step a foot in this stupid forest?” Levi called after her.

“Ah, then leave it as a souvenir, I guess. From your mysterious forest friend. See you, Levi!” Hange finished and started walking away.

Levi watched her until her figure disappeared between the trees.

Then he scoffed, turning around and going his way.

What a damn weirdo he had met today.

***

The next day, Levi woke up to the sounds of his uncle’s friends making some kind of a ruckus downstairs. Sighing and getting dressed, he decided to go for a walk.

Levi hated those disgusting pigs Kenny called friends. They were loud, they were dirty and stinky and they usually came to Kenny with one goal – to get drunk.

As he walked through the town, Levi couldn’t help but remember yesterday’s encounter. And as he thought about the strange girl in a mask named Hange and wondered what she did in that forest, his legs involuntarily carried him on top of a hill.

Levi cursed himself, when he realized he was standing right in front of an entrance to the forest.

“I knew you would come!” Levi heard the cheerful voice, and soon Hange emerged from between the trees.

Levi huffed, turning his face away to hide his embarrassment. “It was unintentional.”

“Well whatever the case,” Hange eagerly clasped her hands together. “Would you like to go for a walk?”

Levi studied her masked face for a while, contemplating his answer. There wasn’t really a choice – it was rather enter the forest with a weird, but probably innocent and friendly girl, or spend his day, cooped up in his room, trying to ignore the vulgar jokes and boisterous laughter from Kenny and his friends.

“Only if you show me a way back here.” Levi said finally.

“That’s a deal then!”

Hange turned around and started leading the way, Levi following after her.

“So you live here with your parents?” Levi asked as they entered the forest.

“Huh? Well, I do have a family, but that’s probably not what you expect.”

Levi stared at her in confusion. She gave him a rather cryptic reply. “And just what do you mean by that?”

Hange turned around to face him. Levi wished he could see what expression she made behind that mask.

“Levi, you know what I am, right?” Hange asked carefully.

Levi looked at Hange’s strange mask and then remembered her words about not touching her.

“You are not just a girl?”

Hange laughed softly, shaking her head. “I am not. I am a spirit, who lives in this forest.”

“So when you said that I couldn’t touch you…”

“I will die, if a human ever touches me. Well, die is probably a wrong word for it, because technically I’ve been dead for a very long time and-“

“Hange.” Levi stopped her. “I got it, stop rambling.”

“Oh, alright,” Hange scratched her head, cocking her head to the side and studying Levi. “Aren’t you scared?”

“Why should I? You don’t look like you’re going to hurt me.”

“That’s right, I’m not.” Hange confirmed rather seriously.

They continued to stroll through the forest quietly after that, the silence around them interrupted only by Hange’s voice as she pointed something interesting to Levi every now and then.

Soon they came to a small bridge, and Levi stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a creature that was standing on the other side of it.

It was obviously some kind of spirit or a ghost, but it looked very different from Hange. Hange looked just like a human, while that thing resembled some kind of a black, slimy cloud. It had no eyes, but Levi felt that it was watching him. He felt a shiver down his spine, and Levi involuntarily took a step back, hiding behind Hange.

“Oi, you’re scaring him!” Hange shouted to that thing. “It’s Levi, he’s my new friend. He’s under my protection, so don’t hurt him!”

“Alright,” the creature said, and Levi closed his eyes at the sound of its voice. It was a horrible sound, which didn’t resemble a normal human voice. Instead the thing bellowed, his voice deep and gravy.

Levi would have pressed himself to Hange, but he remembered that he couldn’t touch her. So gathering all of his courage, Levi opened his eyes and stared at the scene in front of him.

“I won’t hurt him, but tell him he can’t touch you. You can’t do that, human boy,” the creature looked him straight in the eyes.

“I won’t.” Levi promised, willing his voice not to shake.

“Well, we’ll get going,” Hange waved at the creature, gesturing Levi to follow her.

“Don’t worry,” Hange told him, when they were a safe distance from that thing. “He won’t really hurt you, he just worries about me.”

“What was that creature? It looked nothing like you.”

“He is also a forest spirit. I looked like a human, because I’ve been born as one.” Hange looked straight ahead, and her voice lost its mirth and cheerfulness, becoming quiet and neutral. “When I was a child, I was abandoned by my parents. I would have died, if the forest spirits hadn’t saved me. That’s why they are so protective of me.” Hange chuckled at her last words.

Levi just nodded, not really knowing what to say. He had a lot of things to come to grips with after Hange’s story. For example, the fact that spirits and ghosts actually existed, and were not made up by his drunkard of an uncle, who just tried to scare his nephew.

However, the part of Hange’s story, where she was abandoned by her parents, didn’t surprise Levi. His father did the same to him, after all.

***

Hange and Levi spend the whole day, exploring the forest, and only when the rays of sunshine were starting to fade, did Hange tell him that he needed to go home.

The forest at night was a dangerous place for a human, she said. And his parents were probably worried about him.

Levi wanted to scoff at the last part. His uncle probably didn’t even notice that he was gone. But his mother could call and ask about him, and she would get worried if Levi wasn’t at home. And Levi hated making his mother worried. She had enough on her hands as it was.

So Levi nodded, and Hange started to lead him to the clearing.

“I’ll come back tomorrow,” Levi said when they were standing on top of the already familiar hill. He purposefully hid his face away from Hange, embarrassed by his own desire to see her again. “If that’s alright with you, of course.”

“Sure!” Hange exclaimed, cheerful as always. “I’ll be waiting for your return.”

“A-alright then,” Levi replied, feeling even more awkward now. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

And then he went home, and the next day he was again standing at the entrance of the forest, and Hange was once again waiting for him in the shadow of a big tree.

And that’s how Levi became friends with a forest spirit named Hange. He spent his every day in the woods, coming in the early morning and going back home when the sun was already setting behind the horizon.

It was never boring with Hange, she always came up with new ways to entertain Levi – they explored the forest, they picked berries, they fished in the forest lake, they climbed the highest trees or they just sat in a shadow, hiding from the sun and talking about everything and nothing. Well, usually Hange was the one, who talked, but she didn’t mind Levi’s silence.

Being friends with Hange was easy, even though Levi had never had friends before. Other kids found him weird, they thought his always scowling face was scary and they didn’t like that he almost never smiled or laughed.

But with Hange, everything was different. She talked for the both of them, and she didn’t need to see his smile or hear his laugh to know that he was enjoying himself and her company.

***

Levi was nearly devastated, when at the end of summer his mother came to take him back home. He asked her to wait for half an hour and then rushed to the forest, desperate to see Hange one last time.

He found her at the entrance of the forest, as always. She greeted him with a wave of her hand, as always.

However, she tensed when she saw the troubled expression on Levi’s face.

“Is everything alright?” she asked, unusually serious.

“I’m going home,” Levi breathed out. “I… I wouldn’t be able to come here anymore.”

“So this is a goodbye?”

“No.” Levi replied fiercely. “I’ll come back. Next summer, I’ll return.”

“Alright,” Hange said, but Levi heard that her voice was still sad. She didn’t believe him.

“I will return.” Levi pressed. “And then you’ll show me a million different things. Okay?”

Hange chuckled, her hand coming to scratch her head awkwardly. “Okay.”

“I… I need to go right now. But you’ll wait for me?”

“I’m not going anywhere, Levi,” Hange said in a gentle voice. “Just go already.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going. But I will be back,” he replied, just to reassure Hange one more time. “See you next summer, Hange.”

“See you, Levi!” Hange said, and Levi let out a small smile, upon hearing that her usual cheerfulness has returned.

***

Returning to his hometown and coming back to school, Levi felt utterly bored. He couldn’t wait for summer to come, so he could visit Hange again. He missed her voice, he missed her laugh, he even missed her stupid and weird mask.

Levi wondered if he always felt like that before he met Hange. Was everything so meaningless and pointless before or did he start to feel like this only after Hange showed him what a true life felt like?

Every time Levi wasn’t busy studying or helping his mother, his thoughts wondered to Hange. He wanted to know what she was doing right now, what interesting thing she managed to find that day, was the weather in the forest warm or cold, did she think of him and did she miss him just like he did?

And sometimes, while lying in his bed, unable to fall asleep, Levi wondered what Hange looked like. She had never taken off her mask in front of him, and Levi wanted to know what her face looked like. Did she look like any other girl, or was her face unhuman-like, showing her true nature?

Despite his desire to see what Hange was hiding behind that mask, Levi couldn’t bring himself to ask her about that. It felt too intrusive, too personal of a question to just outright ask her. But Levi was determined to see Hange’s face, when he would return to the forest next summer.

***

Levi felt incredibly happy, when his mother announced that he will be visiting his uncle Kenny this summer as well.

Noticing Levi’s small smile and the unusually pleased expression on his face, his mother softly ruffled his inky curls.

“I see that you and uncle Kenny finally started to get along?”

Levi barely resisted from making a gaging sound at his mother’s words.

“Something like that,” he muttered, not wanting to upset his mother. “Mom, I’ll begin packing my things, yeah?”

“Of course, honey,” his mother smiled softly.

***

After his train arrived at the needed station, Levi practically ran out of it and immediately rushed to the forest. He wanted to see Hange so badly!

However, he slowed his pace near the forest and tried to return his breathing back to normal. After all, he couldn’t let Hange know he missed her that much.

To Levi’s disappointment, Hange wasn’t waiting for him at their usual meeting place.

“Hange!” Levi shouted, hopping she would be able to hear him.

In the next second, Hange emerged from the forest. Since their last meeting, she didn’t change at all.

“Levi!” she shouted. “You came back!”

“Of course,” Levi scowled, crossing his hands on his chest. Did she really doubt him? “I promised I would.”

“And I’m so happy you did!” Hange clasped her hands. Then she cocked her head to the side, and Levi knew her eyes were studying him intently behind that mask. “Did you miss me?”

Levi felt his cheeks redden under Hange’s inquisitive stare. He turned his face away and scoffed. “I did not.”

“Oh my! You missed me so much! Levi, that’s so cute!”

“Shut it, Hange,” Levi growled, embarrassment making him feel like a fool. How Hange managed to read him so easily all the time? Was it her superpower as a forest spirit?

“I missed you, too,” Hange said, chuckling softly. She took a step towards Levi, her hand raised in an inviting gesture. “Shall we?”

“Let’s go already,” Levi muttered, coming to stand by her side.

They entered the forest together, and Levi hadn’t felt so happy ever since he said goodbye to Hange last summer.

***

And just like that, Hange was back in Levi’s life. It felt so easy and natural, as though Levi wasn’t absent for almost a year. They got along so well, as though they weren’t from two very different worlds.

But still, one thought lingered at the back of Levi’s mind. He wanted to see Hange’s face, but he couldn’t find enough courage to ask her.

And so, one sunny day, as they lay side by side on the warm and soft grass, close enough but not actually touching, Levi got an idea.

Hange seemed so relaxed, her breathing regular, and Levi concluded that she must have fallen asleep. He quietly and carefully rose and outstretched his hand towards Hange’s mask. He knew he couldn’t touch Hange, but she said nothing about her mask, right?

Levi’s hands slightly trembled while he was lifting the mask. However he successfully took it off and Hange didn’t seem to disappear in front of his eyes. Levi breathed out a sigh of relief, and then his eyes focused on Hange’s face.

And to his surprise… she looked completely normal. He expected to see something weird, but Hange’s eyes, nose and mouth looked just like any other girl’s. She wasn’t pretty like some girls in Levi’s school - her lips weren’t full, and her nose was too long, but Levi liked her face. It was Hange’s face, and Hange was his friend, his best and only friend, and to Levi her face looked more beautiful than the face of the prettiest girl in his school.

“Like what you see?” he suddenly heard Hange’s teasing voice, and Levi jumped back in surprise.

“I thought you were asleep!” Levi said accusingly.

“I was just resting my eyes,” Hange defended herself. She opened her eyes and sat, stretching her hands above her head.

Levi was lost the moment he looked into her eyes. They were brown, and warm, and so, so deep. Small creases appeared around them as Hange grinned at him.

Hange noticed his state, and she cocked her head to the side, looking at him curiously. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and she narrowed her eyes slightly. “Is everything alright?”

“Why do you wear that mask?” Levi asked instead.

Hange chuckled, as she scratched the back of her head. “I’m a forest spirit, but I look like a human, so I wear the mask to cover it.”

“You’re such a weirdo, Hange.” Levi deadpanned, making Hange laugh.

He watched with a small smile at the expression Hange made while laughing. She threw her head back, her eyes were closed, and her mouth was set in a grin.

Levi couldn’t look away.

Suddenly he remembered Hange could be withered away by a single human touch. A chill ran through Levi’s spine at the thought.

“Don’t touch me.” He blurted out. He didn’t mean to, but seeing Hange’s eyes at him, he looked back at her, staring deep into her beautiful eyes. “Don’t you ever touch me, Hange,” Levi pressed.

“A-alright!” Hange replied shakily, still staring at Levi in confusion.

“Do you promise me?”

“Levi, I don’t underst-“

“Promise me!” Levi raised his voice. His hands tightened into fists, and he squeezed them so hard, they began to tremble.

“Okay, okay!” Hange raised her hands into a placating gesture. “I promise that I will never touch you. Just calm down already.”

“I’m perfectly calm,” Levi argued.

“Alright, no touches, I got it.” Hange rose to her feet, putting her mask back on. “C’mon, I’ll show you a fox’s nest I found some time ago.”

And Levi followed after Hange, already missing the sight of her face.

***

Summer came and went, and then came another one, and another. Levi grew and matured, and Hange remained the only constant in his life.

Every summer he would visit her, and no matter how much he changed, Hange still was his best friend.

Spending time with her was still his favorite thing in the world, and Levi still missed her every time he went home.

And in all those long years Levi had known her, Hange didn’t change a bit. She was the same as the day he had met her, when he got lost in the woods all those years ago.

And even though, Levi had already grown up, and even though he already celebrated his sixteenth birthday, he was still shorter than Hange.

And that, of course, was an endless source of mischief and teasing for her.

But there was another consequence to Levi’s maturing.

In the school, seeing his pears dating, holding hands and kissing made Levi understand that he wanted the same thing. He wanted to find someone, who would hold his hand, hug his shoulders and softly kiss him on a cheek.

And as Levi was once returning home from school, one of the girls from his class decided to accompany him.

She had long blond hair and big green eyes with long eyelashes. Her lips were full and pink, her smile soft and gentle.

She was pretty, Levi thought. Very pretty.

But looking at her, he felt absolutely nothing.

Maybe, her hair was long and shiny, but Levi liked wild and messy brown curls. Maybe, her eyes were a beautiful shade of green that matched the leaves on a tree, but Levi preferred deep brown eyes, that were constantly shining with mischief and amusement. Maybe, her smile was pretty and delicate, but Levi enjoyed looking at the wide and slightly crazy grin.

As they walked home together, trudging through the snow, the girl came closer to him, taking his hand in hers.

And as she touched him, all Levi could think of was how it would feel to hold Hange’s hand. How it would feel to put his hands on her cheeks, while staring deeply in her eyes and admiring her smile.

Levi wanted to touch Hange’s hair to test if it really was as soft as it looked. And he wanted, desperately, to put his lips against hers and taste her gentle smile.

He wanted to see her so much, and he wondered, not for the first time this day, what was Hange up to right now. Was it also snowing in the forest? Was it just as cold there? Was Hange wearing the scarf, Levi had given her last summer? Was she feeling just as cold without Levi, as he was right now?

Levi thought that if Hange would ever put her hands around him, if she would touch him at least once, then he would never be cold again.

His heart started to beat faster, as Levi realized the truth. He was in love with Hange, and had probably been in love with her for a very long time. Maybe, he fell in love with her the moment he set his eyes on Hange, back when he was just a nine year old boy, who got lost in the woods.

Suddenly, the girl tugged slightly on his hand, and only then Levi remembered that she was still holding it in hers.

He untangled himself gently, but firmly, looking at the girl apologetically.

“I’m sorry…” he mumbled, staring at his feet. “But I don’t feel the same way you do.”

And then he turned around and headed home, his mind still reeling from the sudden revelation.

***

When it was time to visit his uncle again, Levi felt uncharacteristically anxious. He didn’t know how to behave around Hange anymore: should he tell her about his feelings, or should he keep it a secret from her?

Whatever he decided to do, Levi knew his wish would never come to life. He would never get to kiss Hange, or hold her in his arms, or even touch her hand. The smallest of his touch would kill Hange, and Levi couldn’t, wouldn’t, let it happen.

When Levi arrived at the train station and headed to the forest, his heart was beating loudly in his chest and his hands were getting clammy.

He fixed his hair for the tenth time today, and then looked down on his clothes, making sure there was not a speck of dirt on it.

For the first time in years, he was actually worried to see Hange, afraid that his feelings would ruin the friendship they had.

However, all of his fears disappeared the moment he laid his eyes on Hange.

As always, she was waiting for him, and when she finally noticed his approach, she began waving her hands happily. And Levi didn’t need to see her face to know she was grinning at him.

He felt his own lips curve into a smile, as his heart was finally at peace, now that he was beside Hange once again.

***

“Levi?” Hange called, while they were sitting on a tree branch, their legs swinging back and forth. “Are you busy tonight?”

Beside her, Levi scoffed. “Of course not, what I would be busy with? Why do you ask, though?”

“Well,” Hange faltered, fidgeting with her hands. “Tonight is the night of the forest festival. And I thought… maybe you would like to come? With me, I mean.”

“A forest festival?” Levi wondered aloud. He suddenly remembered the stories, his uncle used to tell him. So it was the truth, and not hallucinations of a drunkard? “Is it a festival for… spirits?”

“Yeah,” Hange nodded. “But it’s a special night. All spirits and ghosts are pretending to be human. They won’t even notice that you are not one of them. And even if they do, I will protect you. You don’t have to worry.”

“I do not worry,” Levi huffed. “I was just asking. Alright, I’ll sneak from the house tonight and come to this stupid festival.”

“Yay!” Hange threw her hands in the air. Levi wished he could see her smile right now, but Hange’s face was obscured by a mask. “I’ll be waiting for you on our usual spot?”

“Of course.”

***

In the evening Levi came to their meeting spot. He was surprised to see Hange already waiting for him. She held a lantern in her hand and she was dressed in a bright yellow yukata.

“Oi, you look so handsome today,” Hange noted, smiling and nodding at his dark blue yukata.

Levi felt his cheek burn in embarrassment. “You look good too,” he muttered quietly.

Hange’s laughed delightfully at his awkward compliment.

Before they entered the forest, Levi took a white cloth out of his pocket. He outstretched one end of it to Hange, and he wrapped another one around his wrist.

“So we won’t be separated,” he told her.

“You kept it all those years?” Hange asked with wonder in her voice.

“Of course. It’s a souvenir from my mysterious forest friend.”

Hange said nothing, but Levi saw her looking at their joined hands. He wished he could see what her face looked right now, but Hange was wearing a mask, as always.

They entered the forest, walking side by side.

The quiet and calm atmosphere of the summer night was interrupted by Hange’s sudden fit of giggles.

“We look like a couple on a date!”

“We do.” Levi replied simply, making Hange gasp. She stopped and stared at him in bewilderment.

“When did you learn how to be so suave?” Hange asked, as she caught up with Levi.

Levi shrugged. “I grew up. It’s you who always stays the same.”

“I do.” Hange nodded, and Levi was surprised to hear some sadness in her voice. He wanted to ask her about it, but soon they reached the clearing, and Levi’s eyes widened as he took in all the bright colors and different sounds of the festival.

All around him were shining lanterns and people in colorful yukatas, Levi was surrounded by the sound of music and laughter. It all looked so normal, he saw not a spirit in sight. Everyone looked just like ordinary people - Levi saw children running around, adults, walking in pairs and holding hands, and elderly, sitting down and enjoying their tea as they wore warm smiles, watching the festivities.

“Come on!” Hange tugged on his arm, breaking Levi out of his daze. “There is so much we have to do!”

And Levi let himself be dragged, dutifully following after Hange as she jumped from one fun activity to another. They went goldfish scooping, gun-shooting, ring-tossing and senbonbiki, and Hange tasted a dozen of different dishes from the food stalls.

Levi was barely able to keep up with her, but still he enjoyed his evening, as Hange’s delighted laugh and her squeals of joy made him incredibly happy.

When Hange finally tired out, she offered to walk Levi home.

She was humming softly, while they were walking side by side through the dark forest. Strolling with Hange like that Levi was reminded of their first meeting.

A smile graced his lips, as he thought of how lucky he was to get lost that day.

Suddenly Hange stopped. She took off her mask and put it on Levi’s face. Before he could react in any way, Hange took a step closer to him and pressed her lips to the mask. She lingered there for a moment, and Levi’s hands trembled with desire to touch her, to cup her face in his palms and truly kiss her, with no obstacles in their way.

“Keep it,” Hange nodded to the mask. She winked, grinning mischievously, before continuing. “It will be another souvenir from your forest friend.”

Levi froze, looking at Hange with helpless eyes. In that moment he knew that it was his last meeting with Hange. Somewhere deep in his soul Levi felt that he would never get to see his best friend or hear her laugh or listen to her stupid jokes.

He extended his hand, reaching for her. “Hange…” he called softly.

But before Levi could say anything else, a couple of kids ran past them. One of them stumbled and Hange caught him with her hand.

“Be careful!” she called after him, as the boy giggled and continued running after his friend.

And Levi watched with wide eyes as Hange’s hand, the hand that just touched the boy’s shoulder, began to disappear in a bright green light.

“That boy was probably not a spirit,” Hange laughed awkwardly.

And Levi still watched, unable to look away and shocked to do anything else. His heart beat wildly in his chest and Levi felt how tears slowly started to gather in the corners of his eyes.

“Levi, come here!” Hange urged him, widening her arms.

And Levi ran to her, almost knocking her down. He closed his hands around Hange, pressing her as close to him as he could.

“I love you, Hange,” he whispered frantically in her shoulder. He could feel Hange disappearing beneath his fingertips, but Levi held on tight, trying to memorize the feel of Hange’s soft skin and inhaling her faint scent.

“I love you, too,” Hange replied, laughing giddily. “I’m so happy that I can finally touch you!”

“I will always remember you,” Levi promised.

Hange nodded, the brilliant smile on her lips, and in the next moment she disappeared completely.

Levi continued to stare at the spot, where Hange stood. The tears flew freely from his eyes, and Levi’s heart was broken, shuttered in a million pieces, his soul already missing Hange.

But still, a smile began to appear on his face, as he recalled Hange’s last moments.

He was right after all, Hange’s touch did make him feel incredibly warm inside.

And staring at the night sky and the millions stars, that shone brightly, but weren’t nearly as blinding as Hange’s smile, Levi knew that even though he would always miss Hange, even though his heart would always belong to her, now that he had finally touched her, he would never feel cold again.

#levihan #levihan fanfiction #levi x hange #levi and hange #levi ackermann #hange zoe #snk #snk fanfiction #aot fanfiction #aot #my fics

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queenxxxsupreme · 4 years

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because we don’t have enough of it — what about some nice dad geralt content? 👀 geralt is a sort of mentor to teenager reader. reader makes it a hobby to annoy the absolute shit out of geralt but little did they know the reader holds a soft spot in gerbears heart so reader fails to pester each time. 😌👌🏾

Geralt had taken you in after your parents were killed by a higher vampire. You were young when it happened. The only memories of your family came in the form of nightmares.

The higher vampire, after realizing that he left a survivor, was determined to finish you off. Because of this, Geralt took you to Kaer Morhen, knowing you’d be safe there while he and Eskel went to hunt the higher vampire.

Years passed and you were lucky enough to call Kaer Morhen your home and the witchers inside it family.

Sometimes you were left alone in the castle, especially during the warmer months when the witchers were on the Path. You never minded being alone. There was always something to do at Kaer Morhen. From tending to the small herd of goats at the keep to cleaning or attempting to fix something that had been damaged years ago, you found things to keep yourself busy.

When you became older, you became more comfortable with traveling to the small village about two hours away from the castle. You’d go there for the market.

It was the start of winter and you were excited to have everyone back at the keep.

“Ger-Bear!” You sing-songed, twirling a knife between your fingers.

He was sitting at one of the tables in the large main room.

“What are you doing?”

“Polishing my swords.” He answered, very briefly looking up at you. “You’re going to lose a finger doing that.”

“That’s what Eskel said.” You plopped down on the bench beside him, shaking it and nearly making Geralt drop the sword he held across his lap. “But Lambert just said I need to practice more.”

“Lambert’s not a good role model. He’s only survived this long on dumb luck.”

“I resent that statement!” Lambert called from across the room. He was working on making dimeritium bombs.

“You resent everything.” Geralt sighed. You snickered.

Somehow, the knife slipped and you weren’t paying attention to what you were grabbing when you went to catch it. Your fingers wrapped around the blade. You let out a hiss, jerking your hand back. The knife fell to the floor with an echoing clank.

“Damn it, Y/N!” Geralt stood to his feet and took your hand to inspect the cut.

“It’s just a little cut, Ger-Bear.” You told him. It was actually a little more than a little cut. You were bleeding rather profusely from the gash that stretched across your palm and your fingers.

“Maybe that will teach you to not to listen to Lambert.”

“Did telling her that work last time you said it?” Eskel asked as he approached you two.

“No, but I can only hope.” Geralt muttered. “Stay with her.”

You watched Geralt leave the room to get bandages.

“When do you think Vesemir will get here?” You looked to Eskel, leaning back against the table.

“Hopefully soon. He’s the only one you sort of listen to.”

“He takes the fun out of everything.” You frowned.

“Hey, kid?”

You turned your head to Lambert.

“I found a bunch of arrows in a trunk in the library. There’s these old dimeritium bombs from Gods know when. Wanna throw the bombs while I shoot these bad boys on fire at it?” Lambert waved the arrows.

“Hell yes!”

“Watch your mouth, girl.” Vesemir scolded you as he entered the room.

“Hi, Vesemir!” You chirped. “How was your trip?”

“Long. Anyone have any idea what that dead forktail’s doing in the road at the base of the path?”

“I came in late last night and ran into it.” Eskel said. “Forgot to grab it this morning.”

“What did you do to your hand?” Vesemir sat down at the table you were at.

“She thinks Lambert makes a good role model.” Geralt muttered as he moved towards you. He knelt down in front of you and began to wrap your hand.

“Ouch, Geralt!” You winced, jerking your hand back but he had a firm hold on you.

“I’ve got to wrap this up so you don’t lose too much blood and so you don’t risk the chance of infection.”

“Once you’ve got her all patched up, Ger-Bear, I’m taking her down to the lake.” Lambert told him.

“Don’t call me that.” Geralt snapped.

***

Hours later, you and Lambert arrived back at the keep. Your hair was disheveled and there were dark smudges all over your face. It was dirt. There was also a cut on your forehead that had a small trail of dried blood.

Lambert was a little more out together. There was only a burn in the shoulder to his tunic.

“What the hell were you two doing down at the lake?” Geralt asked, taking in your appearance for anything more than the superficial wound on your forehead.

“Turns out that old dimeritium bombs are highly explosive.” You chuckled. “And we are going to need to fix the dock.”

Lambert hit your shoulder with the back of his hand.

“You weren't supposed to mention that!”

“I don’t even want to know what happened to the dock.” Eskel shook his head while Geralt rubbed his eyes.

“I do.” Vesemir said. “What the hell were you doing with dimeritium bombs, girl?”

***

Later on that night, you found yourself sitting outside around a fire with the witchers. You sat beside Geralt, leaning against his arm as Eskel told an exciting story about a foglet hunt.

The day had been exciting and chaotic, but that's usually how it was when the witchers first returned to Kaer Morhen.

You were sleepy and struggling to keep your eyes open.

“Glad you're home, Ger-Bear.” You yawned. He looked down at you, smiling just a little.

“Gotta say, I'm really loving the new name, Ger-Bear.” Lambert snickered.

Geralt picked up a chunk of stone near his boots and launched it at Lambert. The young witcher narrowly dodged the projectile.

“Why does she get to call you that?”

“She's fourteen and you're nearly a hundred.”

“Oh, so you're picking favorites now?”

“Don't worry, Lambert. You're my favorite.” You glanced over to the witcher.

“Poor Eskel.” He chuckled.

“Eskel is Vesemir’s favorite.” You reminded him.

“How could I forget? Vesemir reminds us almost every day.”

“That's because you two are idiots.” Vesemir poked at the fire. “And Y/N is a child. Hopefully she’ll grow out of it.”

“That’s what you said about Lambert and look at how he turned out.”

It was Lambert’s turn to throw a rock at Geralt.

You smiled, content with the witchers being home for the winter.

***

The castle seemed to tremble ever so slightly.

Geralt lifted his head, listening for anything that might alert him that there was danger. He could hear Eskel outside trying to herd the goats into a little enclosure he built. Vesemir was going through an old trunk across the room from Geralt but he was out of sight.

The only thing he couldn't hear were Lambert and you.

“Fuck.” He cursed, knowing that whatever made the castle shake had to have been you two. “Vesemir?” He called for the old witcher.

“What?” Vesemir’s voice echoed through the room.

“Do you know where Lambert and Y/N are?”

“Knowing them, probably off doing something stupid.”

“That's what I thought.”

Geralt traveled around the keep in search of you both. He found Eskel outside messing with the fence he’d spent the last three days building for the goats. Vesemir was tired of them wandering into the castle.

“Have you seen Y/N or Lambert?” Geralt asked. Lil Bleater moved to the White Wolf, butting her head against his knees until he knelt down to give her some attention.

“No, but I felt the ground shake a few minutes ago.” Eskel briefly looked up from the fence. “You think it was them?”

“Has to be. I felt it too.”

“I’d check the dungeons.” Eskel suggested.

***

The dungeons were a set of rooms located beneath the castle. It served as rooms to keep boys who were going through the trials during the different phases where their bodies were more susceptible to sickness and even for boys who had behavioral problems and the elders insisted that isolation was the best way to deal with them.

Luckily, Geralt didn’t have to go very far down the staircase. You and Lambert were making your way up the staircase, laughing about something.

Geralt immediately noticed that there was a gash on your cheek and blood trailed down your jaw. Your lip was busted too. Lambert’s wounds had already begun to heal.

“Hey! Ger-Bear!”

“Please tell me you weren’t using explosives in the castle.”

“How do you know we were using explosives?” You crinkled your brows together.

“The entire castle was shaking just a few minutes ago. Why do you insist on doing whatever Lambert suggests?” Geralt stopped you on the stairs to inspect your wounds. None of them were life threatening but they still bothered him.

“Because it’s fun to annoy you.” You giggled.

Lambert continued walking up the stairs ahead of you two while you walked alongside Geralt. “We were just having some fun, Geralt. It’s too cold outside for much and there’s not much to do inside.”

“There’s plenty to do, you just have to be careful with what you mess with. This place is old. One wrong explosion and the whole thing could come down.”

“Why don’t you yell at Lambert?” You gestured to the witcher in front of you. “He’s the adult.”

“Lambert’s not my responsibility. You are.”

“Haha!” Lambert stuck his tongue out at you.

You rolled your eyes.

“It’s late.” Geralt commented. “You should go to bed.”

“You should go to bed.” You mocked him, grinning just slightly when you heard him sigh.

“You’re a little shit.” He ruffled your hair, knowing you hated that. You swatted his hand away and tried to run ahead of him but he latched onto you in a big bear hug.

“Ger-Bear!” You whined, writhing and pushing against him in an attempt to get out of his hold.

You broke free and bolted up the stairs, slipping past Lambert.

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Note: Just a reminder that I have redone all of my taglists. In order to be put on to my taglist, you must go to this link. If you do not, you will not be tagged. This goes for everyone!

#geralt of rivia #geralt #geralt witcher #the witcher #the witcher netflix #mentor!geralt #lambert witcher #lambert #eskel witcher #eskel #vesemir witcher #vesemir #the wild hunt #the witcher 3 #witcher 3 #twh #ask #kacey answers

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