#//i could have swore the moonlight's reflection was like some kind of floating thing. i fear my eyesight is getting worse

[hoplaventon]

nevermind , probably just the moon 's light on the water . are you sure there 's no one around ? not even wild pokemons ?

chat i think im slost :(

how ? ? are you on your own ? can you call anyone ? ?

[squidpro-quo]

Mist

AN: Went with the magical portion of this prompt! Also, I imagine running through mist would be magical in itself. Credit to @vfordii​ and the beautiful Miraculous Ladybug au they did, I love it too much

Zen’s pretty sure this isn’t how normal school worked. There wasn’t a single television show that covered anything even close to this, and there was one airing with a classmate moonlighting as a hidden alien. This was honestly as complicated as he could take his life getting, any more than this and he would consider returning to his room to never leave as his only option. How could he end up falling for both of Paris’ heroes, in one night? From just an interest to a rather concerted interest, of a different connotation. 

He hadn’t meant to get saved by them, it was just a routine run around the city out for some fresh air and the paparazzi had mobbed him right when he was farthest from home. Backing into the fence as he raised his hands to avoid the bright flashes in the twilight, he almost lost his composure when he was grabbed under the arms and hoisted into the air far higher than he would have thought possible. The next second he’d been on a rooftop a few blocks away, facing Ladybug and Chat Noir while he fought to keep his potential heart-attack under control. 

High profile dinners were the only thing that saved him from making a complete fool of himself. If he could keep a straight face while the host’s dog bit through his shoes and tried to drag him under the table, then he could very well not fall to pieces in front of the most famous people in Paris. 

“Lovely night, no?” he said, trying for nonchalance. “Thank you for your help back there.”

“Is it always like that?” Ladybug asked, catching her yoyo as she straightened up from her crouch. 

“Usually I manage to switch up my routes enough that they can’t catch me, but this time I guess I got distracted.” He wasn’t going to admit that the source of that distraction had been the two standing in front of him, more namely their latest exploits and pictures thereof. Ladybug and the radiant hope she emanated, red hair floating about her face in the wind; and Chat Noir, amber eyes glowing in the dark, reflecting the shadow that he was, containing the destruction within. He’d read all the theories, compiled the facts himself to see what picture they put together and where the dots led in the search for who they were and where they’d come from. 

“Miss, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” 

“Hardly ever, but I’m listening.” Ladybug smiled, her mask crinkling from the gesture and Zen had to hope his blush wouldn’t be visible on the dark rooftop. 

“We run a patrol route most nights, what’s one more to come along?” 

Zen was almost certain his ears had been lost during the rescue and what he was now hearing was simply a delusion brought on by his brain not having the capacity to both deal with the pain and the currently magical situation happening before him. That was the only explanation. 

“I don’t see why not,” Ladybug turned to him, “You said you switch routes every night, we can simply start at your house and move on from there.” 

“Wh— Ho— You know where I live?” 

“You are Zen Wistalia, right? Am I mistaking you for some other billboard model plastered over half of Paris?”

“Ah.” Zen had to give her that, he shouldn’t have assumed it was any kind of clue to who they were that she knew where the head of Wistalia Fashions lived with his little brother. 

“And I’ve read your articles online, for the blog? Some of the things you’ve uncovered even we didn’t know,” Chat Noir chimed in, his smile dark as an oil slick but Zen didn’t feel anything except a flutter in his chest at the sight. Hours of videos and analysis of all the fights could never have prepared him for this, to hear that the heroes who had pulled him from his monotone life knew of his—could he call it work?—efforts, however incomplete they might be. 

“We’ve been meaning to thank you for some of the tips on there,” Ladybug said, adding another heart palpitation to Zen’s list of symptoms. “But you’re hard to grab ahold of.”

“Apparently not that hard.” He could’ve really thought more about his response but his brain was taking its time to cool down properly and this was what the rest of him came up with. 

“Oh, don’t worry, we’ll make sure we’re gentle next time,” Chat promised, slinking close enough that Zen was pretty sure he saw him wink before he circled behind him. If Zen didn’t know any better, mostly going on the fact that he couldn’t quite process what was happening to him, then he’d almost believe that counted as flirting. 

“You’ll be in good hands.” Ladybug laid a hand on his shoulder, her eyes earnest, so close that he could smell what he thought was cloves. “Until next time, pretty boy.”

That definitely counted too. Zen almost lost his footing then, feeling weak in the knees and only gaining his focus back when he found back on the street just a few buildings down from his house. Nobody was going to believe it, but he swore to himself he’d convince Mitsuhide and Kiki of the meeting. Not necessarily of the heart-pounding parts, that could remain just for him.

[pixelburied]

Icarus (Sonia x f!MC)

Summary: A rewrite of Chapter 5 when Sonia and MC (Kayla) were stranded on an island.

Rating: General, some swearing

A/N: I have a different MC for my Rye fics to avoid confusion. Mostly for me lol. In my head, Lee and Kayla are v different people. Hmu if you wanna know more.

When she was young, her mentor always warned her - “In this business, you gotta know when to quit, kid. Get too close to the sun and-"

Kayla Dizon wasn’t afraid to get too close. She wasn’t scared of a few burns – a necessary price to pay for her ambition.

Besides, she had spent years mastering the game and she always knew exactly when to quit.

“Kayla, if you play too fast and loose with our marks, you’re going to get hurt.” Rye may act cool but he’d always been an anxious kid, worrying about her at every turn.

But he had no reason to worry. Every mark, every target - perfect hit. She knew how to use what she had to her advantage, learned every trick to making trades under the table, over the table – sometimes, on the table.

She’d throw in the key to her hotel room like another bargaining chip.

But never the key to her heart.

“What happens if you fall in love?”

“You’re not going soft on me like Rye, are you, Eris?”

Eris shrugged and took a swig of her drink.

“Don’t worry, Huang. I always know when to quit.”

Get too close to the sun and you fall to your death.

---

Death.

Kayla was sure this was it. As the water closed in on her, she felt herself drift off until all she could see was darkness.

“So you’re awake.”

Kayla bolted upright, coughing up saltwater. She looked over to Sonia, sitting by a fire, the flames casting a soft glow on her face.

Beautiful woman. Unfortunate employment.

“You really wanted to get me alone huh?” Kayla smirked as she caught Sonia’s lips twitch into the tiniest hint of a smile.

God, she has pretty lips.

“This really isn’t the time for jokes, Kayla.”

“How can I resist when I’ve got a captive audience?” She stumbled towards the fire, warming herself next to Sonia. “As the only other living soul on this island, I’m pretty sure you’re stuck with me.”

Another smile. This one a little wider than the last.

Kayla felt something stir inside her before she shook her head and turned her attention back to the fire.

“Speaking of which, how did I survive that storm? I know I went overboard, and then… nothing.”

Silence except for the soft crackling of the fire. Tendrils of smoke floated softly towards the night sky.

“Sonia?”

“Fine! You wanna know what happened? You went over the side like an idiot, and I… I couldn’t just let you drown.”

Sonia met her eyes, burning bright with anger, fear… and something else Kayla couldn’t quite place.

She almost reached out to put a hand on her shoulder but thought better and gave her a nod instead.

“Thank you.”

Sonia looked away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, giving Kayla a clear look at her hand.

For such a glamorous woman, her hand told a different story. Even a few feet apart, Kayla could tell it was calloused and tired – covered in a few cuts and bruises. She knew it was the hand of a woman who had to fight for everything she had, a woman much like her.

“What?” Sonia caught her staring and Kayla silently reprimanded herself for letting down her guard.

She shrugged and gestured towards the fire. “SOS signal?”

“Yeah. My people will be looking for us, but they won’t know which island we’re on.” Thanks to you, Sonia didn’t need to add but Kayla knew she was thinking it.

Hopefully, throwing Ansel’s radio off the boat bought her enough time to escape. But she couldn’t do that in this godforsaken island. And she definitely couldn’t leave Sonia here alone, not after she’d saved her life.

They decided to scour the place for resources, but after trudging through the thicket covering the small island and walking around in circles, they found themselves back where they started.

“Great! Just great!” Sonia groaned in frustration before something on the beach caught her eye.

“Is that our…”

“It’s our speedboat!”

In her excitement, Sonia threw her hands around her enemy before she realized what she’d done and pulled back, her cheeks burning red.

She’s even prettier when she’s blushing, Kayla thought to herself.

“This doesn’t mean we’re…”

“Of course.”

“We’re only working together to get off this-“

“Definitely.”

Too bad.

They fixed the boat in silence, Sonia’s hands occasionally brushing against hers as they passed tools back and forth. Perhaps it was merely shadows from the moonlight or her mind playing tricks - an aftermath of almost dying - but Kayla swore she saw Sonia watching her with a smile for a moment.

When they had finished, they slowly rowed their boat towards the mainland.

The ocean was calm and still. The starry night reflected against the water made it look like they were sailing across the universe.

“I can’t say this is how I expected my night to go. Beautiful sky, beautiful girl-“

“Don’t get used to it.” Sonia glared at her but Kayla could tell she was fighting back a smile.

“When we get back to the mainland, I’m taking you straight to Ansel.”

Kayla rolled her eyes. “Do you always have to ruin the moment?”

“Look on the bright side – at least I no longer have a gun to your head.”

“Pretty low standard for being nice.”

Sonia huffed at an amused Kayla.

This is fun.

“I know you’ll just tell me to shut up, but I’m curious – why do you hate thieves so much?”

A dark shadow passed over Sonia’s features and for a second, Kayla was sure she’d overstepped.

“You don’t have to share anything you’re not comfortable-“ If Rye could hear her sounding like a goddamn therapist, he’d-

“My sister, she-“ Haltingly, Sonia told her about her sister and the thief who took everything from her. She kept her eyes out to sea and Kayla watched as her grip on the oars tightened with every word.

“Sonia, I’m sorry.“

“Don’t feed me your fake sympathies.”

“They’re not fake.” Kayla pulled herself up and stared straight into Sonia’s eyes. “Thieves can have honor, too.”

Sonia’s eyes softened for a beat before she put on a scowl again. “A thief is a thief, Dizon”

They rowed the rest of the way in silence, admiring the twinkling of the lights in the sky. At one point, Sonia splashed her oar against the water, covering Kayla in cold droplets. She responded in kind, starting a playful war between them.

Sonia had just started to visibly relax when the mainland shore came to sight.

“Finally! It’s a miracle we didn’t kill each other.” Kayla laughed and jumped off the boat as soon as they hit shallow water.

“True. We should be commended for our self-restraint.” Sonia pushed herself off the side but stumbled on the way down and Kayla caught her in her arms.

“You okay?” She steadied Sonia as she tried to find her footing.

“Yeah, I-“ A breath away, Kayla could see golden flecks in Sonia’s brown eyes, pulling her in.

Kayla, if you get too close to the sun-

A beam of light startled them apart. Her crew busted out of the van, poised for a fight. Sonia immediately stepped back and bristled.

“Oh, you’re good. Getting my defenses down so you can ambush me.” Sonia shot her a deadly glare.

“No, Sonia, I-“

“Kayla, are you okay? Did she hurt you?” Eris’ worried shouts carried across the beach as she and the rest of their crew moved in on their location.

“Everyone, back off!” Kayla took a step in front of Sonia. “She saved my life.”

“By taking you at gun point?”

She gave them a quick explanation before instructing a hasty retreat back to the van.

Kayla gave Sonia one last glance before climbing in. She was standing still on the beach, staring back at her with what looked like sympathy.

Enemy or not, Kayla was sure of one thing – even after a heinous night, Sonia was still a sight to behold, seeming to glow in an otherwise dark shore.

“You coming in, Kayla?”

You gotta know when to quit, kid. Icarus died and for what? One glorious day near the sun.

“Yeah.”

Kayla knew the myth all too well, always thought Icarus to be an idiot.

But after tonight, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

[raptorginger]

Netherfield Is Let at Last: Chapter 3 - Still Moonlight

Guess who’s feeling better!!  Thank you guys for your support and for those of you that reached out.  You guys are amazing and I love you all.  Now here, have some fluff.

The party went long into the night, the catering staff leaving a couple of hours in, and the bar staff leaving not too long after.  A few guests took it upon themselves to manage the bar, the noise and activity becoming boisterous.  Rey was thankful she was Poe’s closest neighbor, and she lived far enough that she wouldn’t hear anything.  Her home had probably been a caretakers cottage for the mansion at some point in the past, but the land had long since been parcelled.  She’d catch Ben glowering at her every once and awhile, and she’d try her best to ignore him but would often end up trying to watch him out of the corner of her eye.  Even though his words had been hurtful, she couldn’t find it in herself to be that angry at him.  It took too much out of her to remain angry, so Rey tried her best not to let those emotions linger.  The lonely comment still hurt though.  She wanted to say that he was wrong but that would be a lie, and she wasn’t a liar.

At some point in the evening, Rey noticed that Ben had disappeared.  Deciding that now was as good a time as any to head home, she went to look for Finn to tell him.  She found him dancing animatedly with Poe, Rose, and Paige, looking well into his cups.  Thinking it best to let sleeping dogs lie, or dancing dogs dance, as it were, Rey slipped away from the brightly lit patio to a more dimly lit side path.  The air grew noticeably cooler away from the lights and the warm bodies, and she shivered.  She carefully made her way down a set of broad, well manicured garden steps that ran along the side of the house until she found herself back at the front of the house.  Stepping out into the massive circular driveway, she stopped short when she saw Ben pacing furiously, his hands tugging at his dark hair.  Unsure of what to do or say, Rey held still for a moment, watching him.  He cut a striking figure, Rey mused, with his dark clothes and pale skin.  He was muttering something, but she was too far away to hear so she just watched him pace, chewing on her lip thoughtfully.  Rey jumped when he stopped and whirled around to face her.  Perhaps she hadn’t been as unobtrusive as she’d thought.

“What?” Ben snapped.

“Oh nothing.  I was just waiting to see if you were going to wear a hole all the way to Chandrilla in Poe’s driveway,” Rey replied breezily, walking closer.  

Ben scowled and shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans, slowing his frantic pacing.  “I’m...I’m sorry.  For what I said earlier,” he muttered through gritted teeth.

Rey smiled a soft smile.  “Now can you apologize without sounding like you’re chewing glass?”

The corner of Ben’s mouth twitched as he replied, “No.”

Rey huffed a breathy laugh.  “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, I suppose.  You could express yours a bit more...delicately though.”

Ben harrumphed and closed more of the distance between them.  “So, what are you doing out here?  Party’s that way,” he said, pointing back over her shoulder.

“I’m walking home.  I live a mile or so down the road,” Rey replied, stepping past him to make her way down the driveway.

“May I walk with you?  Poe gets more insufferable the more he drinks, and I can hardly stand him to begin with.”

Rey laughed again and gestured beside her, motioning him to join her, her heart fluttering oddly behind her ribs.  “Then why did you come?”

Ben shrugged his broad shoulders.  “Poe’s my oldest friend.  I promised I’d be here if he ever got this place livable.”

Rey hummed thoughtfully in response.  She wondered how someone like Poe became friends with someone like Ben, but didn’t want to pry, so she kept quiet.

They walked silently side by side for some time, the air warm and gentle around them.  The sky had grown even darker, the speckles of stars even sharper, the glow of the moon even stronger.  A slight breeze played with the curls in Rey’s hair, softly lifting them this way and that.  Rey shivered involuntarily and rubbed her arms, momentarily transported back to her lonely nights in Niima growing up.  Despite the desert environment, the nights had been cold.

Momentarily lost in her memory, Rey didn’t notice Ben had stopped walking until she was a few feet in front of him.  She felt her face flush when she looked back and saw him pulling his sweater over his head, giving her a brief glimpse of his midsection.  He might be a literature professor, but he certainly didn’t look like one, Rey mused.    

Tugging his undershirt back into place, he held the garment out to her.  “You were shivering,” he murmured.

Rey reached out with tentative fingers and took the sweater, the black cashmere the softest thing she’d ever felt.  Mindful of her butterfly comb, she slipped the sweater over her head, tugging it gently over her hips.  It was massive on her, the hem reaching past mid-thigh and the sleeves reaching well past her fingers.  His skin had imparted a gentle warmth into the fabric, and Rey found herself surrounded by his scent, leather and sandalwood and something else.  Something faint and almost secret.

“Thank you,” she said gratefully.

The corner of Ben’s mouth twitched again, his shoulders giving another shrug.  Rey swore she could see the hint of a blush, but his pale skin made it hard to tell in the moonlight.  “No problem.”

They strolled on, the fields of wheat and tall grass whispering around them in the dark, the gravel crunching beneath their feet.  After another few silent minutes, Ben shoved his hands into his pockets and cleared his throat.  “So, why were you looking at my car earlier?”

Rey started, surprised.  “I...I’m sorry.  I...umm...like cars,” she said lamely.  It was the easiest and quickest answer she could think of.  

“Okay…” Ben said skeptically.  

Rey sighed heavily.  “I was a mechanic for awhile.  I developed an appreciation.  End of story,” she muttered, hoping her tone put an end to the topic.

“Sorry to bring it up, but that was my car you were touching,” Ben snarked.

“It’s beautiful.  I couldn’t help it,” Rey replied defensively.

Ben opened his mouth like he was about to say something, thought better of it, and closed it again.

They reached Rey’s walk after several more silent minutes.  The scent of roses and herbs floated over to Rey on the soft breeze as she turned to head up to her heavy wood front door.  She’d left a lamp on in her living room, it’s gentle light spilling out onto the shrubbery beneath the large bay window.  Moths and other night bugs flitted in and out of the warm glow.

“This is me,” she said softly.

Ben whistled lowly.  “It’s like something out of a story book,” he said in a voice Rey couldn’t interpret.  It was simultaneously disbelief and derision, awe and disregard.  Like what he expected and not what he expected at all.

“Yeah?” Rey said, a questioning lilt to her voice.  

“This whole place.  It’s an hour outside the city, but it’s like a different world.  A place of softness and some kind of ancient magic.  Where will o’ the wisps wait to lure you away to where nature spirits and ancient guardians dwell, keeping secrets long lost to time.”

Rey cocked her head to the side.  “People don’t really talk that way, you know.”

Ben looked down into Rey’s upturned face.  “No, but they think that way.”

Rey looked away and started pulling at one of the sleeves of Ben’s sweater, wanting to give it back to him.  She inhaled sharply when Ben reached out and stopped her, wrapping his fingers loosely around her wrist.

“Don’t.  Keep it,” he murmured, his voice low and soft.

Rey eyes widened.  “I can’t do that.  This is cashmere.”

Ben laughed softly, his breath ghosting over her temple.  Rey jumped, not having realized how close they were standing.  Leaves and petals rustled around her, his scent and the smell of flowers filled her nose, almost making her dizzy.  She swallowed thickly when Ben’s long fingers reached out and carefully tucked a loose curl behind her ear, his fingers lingering a moment longer in her hair.  A tingling sensation chased across her scalp and down her neck, and she felt her lips part.  The sharp cry of a night bird cut through the quiet.

Rey blinked in surprise when Ben stepped back suddenly, the spell they’d found themselves under broken by the bird’s shriek.

“Bring it by the house tomorrow then,” Ben said, somewhat sharply.   He turned abruptly on his heel and started making his way back down the road.

Rey shook her head to clear the fog that had settled there and made her way up her walk.  Locking her door behind her, she turned off the living room lamp and made her way upstairs in a daze.  Flicking on her bathroom light, she blinked at her reflection in the mirror.  Something was different.  Off.  She couldn’t place it until she started running a brush through her hair and remembered.  Her butterfly comb was gone.  He’d taken it.

[dccomicsimagines]

Gone But Not Forgotten - Batfamily Imagine

Requested by Anon -  a Halloween one where while out on patrol Batman and the fam get haunted by a ghost, making them return to the cave early to search for clue and up finding Alfred unconsciously on the ground -turns out he had an accident while putting away chemicals and would have died. And like later one of the boys find a picture of the ghost, Alfred's deceased wife who died during the war.

***

Jason was just about to pounce on a fleeing mugger when a chill ran up his spine. He felt a presence behind him as he spun around, guns raised with his fingers on the triggers. However, the sight made his blood run cold.

A translucent woman, dressed in a old British army uniform with a red cross on her arm, stood behind him. She frowned at his guns before pointing into the distance. A knot formed in Jason’s stomach as her low echoing voice reached his ears.

“Cave...now,” she whispered softly, but sternly enough to be an order. 

“What the hell?” Jason choked in shock as her eyes narrowed at him.

“To the cave...now,” she repeated before she faded away. Jason stared at the place she had been, blinking his eyes before taking off his hood. He rubbed his eyes, trying to believe what he just saw. 

“Stupid trick,” Jason mumbled to himself, putting his hood back on. However, he couldn’t escape the feeling he should listen to the woman.

***

Tim was just about to kiss Steph one more time when she suddenly froze, staring at something over his shoulder. 

“Steph, what are you...” Tim trailed off when he turned to see a ghostly woman in a medic’s uniform standing behind him.

“Both of you....to the cave now,” the ghost woman ordered, her gaze fierce. Tim swallowed hard as Steph squeezed his hand to the point he was sure the bones snapped. 

“Yes, Ma'am,” Tim mumbled automatically, sensing that the ghost woman meant business. The woman smiled at Tim’s answer before fading away. 

“Tim, did you just talk to a ghost?” Steph whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. He blinked, glancing at her. 

“Well, it would have been rude not to answer,” Tim explained, shaking his head. “I mean if I was a ghost, I would like people to reply to me.” 

Barbara had just finished brushing out her hair after a long, much-needed shower when she glanced up into the mirror to see something besides her reflection. 

“That’s not the point!” Steph threw her arms in the air. She continued to speak, but Tim turned to look back at where the ghost had been, wondering why she would order them to the cave.

***

A scream caught in her throat as she pulled the towel tighter around her body. The ghost woman in the mirror started to speak.

“Go to the cave...now,” the ghost ordered. Barbara’s heart started pounding so hard, it threatened to break out of her chest.

“This can’t be happening,” Barbara whispered to herself, closing her eyes. Her mind tried to find a logical explanation for this, but she was coming up with nothing. 

“To the cave...Batgirl....now,” the ghost’s voice sounded in her ear. Barbara screamed at the sound, jumping half out of her skin. She opened her eyes to find the ghost gone. Her heart calmed slightly as she frowned.

Dick punched the last of Penguins’ goons before turning toward Damian. “Robin, you doing alright?” Damian had mysteriously stopped mid-fight, causing Dick to have to swing in to protect him.

“The cave?” Barbara asked herself in confusion before she moved to get dressed.

***

“Who is that?” Damian demanded, pointing at a ghostly figure floating in the moonlight that shone through the warehouse’s skylight. Dick choked at the sight, his eyes almost popping out of his skull. Damian didn’t notice Dick’s pause, confronting the form. “Who are you?”

“Damian, Dick... to the cave,” the ghost whispered in a feminine voice. The firmness of the words caused Damian’s eyes to narrow despite the pounding of his heart. Dick still was unable to move.

“How do you know our names?” Damian snapped, approaching the ghost. He attempted to attack them only to fall through the translucent figure. 

The figure, which Dick finally defined as a woman, sighed. She looked straight at Dick as if looking deep into his soul. “Go now,” she ordered, fading away. 

Dick took a stuttered breath as he stared at the spot where she had been. Damian got to his feet, searching for the woman as he swore under his breath. “Damian, stop. We have to get back to the cave,” Dick said, moving towards the exit of the warehouse. Damian ran to catch up with him.

“You are going to listen to that phony, Nightwing?” Damian growled, shaking his head. 

Bruce was in the middle of a Justice League meeting when the ghost appeared beside Superman. Bruce blinked, believing the woman to be a figment of his imagination. However, the woman was still there when he opened his eyes.

Dick simply gave him a stern look as they both headed back towards their motorcycles.

***

No one else in the room seemed to notice her as she began to speak. 

“Go to the cave...now,” she whispered softly. Bruce’s blood ran cold as his defenses went up. He narrowed his eyes, recognizing the woman from somewhere, but the place escaped him.

“Batman, are you listening?” Superman asked, noticing Bruce was distracted. The ghost gave him a fearful look, pointing towards the teleporter.

“Go now,” she ordered firmly before fading away. Suddenly, Bruce was on his feet.

“So, why are you here?” Dick asked Jason as they arrived at the cave at the same time. Damian parked beside Dick, grumpy at Jason’s presence. 

“Batman?” Superman asked as Bruce quickly left the room. “Where are you going?” Bruce simply shook his head, going into the teleporter. A sense of dread built up in his stomach, knowing that the ghost’s appearance was not a consequence.

***

Jason thought for a moment, choosing not to mention the ghost. “I came to pick up some equipment for...a stakeout I’m planning.”

Dick raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “Really? Because Damian and I saw a ghost who told us to go to the cave.” Damian grabbed Dick’s arm.

“Don’t tell that imbecile, Grayson,” Damian demanded, sending a glare Jason’s way. “He doesn’t need to know our business.”

Jason spoke up, ignoring Damian. “Wait, you saw her too?” 

Dick’s eyes widened. “How did you know she was a she?” Damian stilled in surprise, waiting for Jason’s answer.

“I thought she was a figment of my imagination,” Jason mumbled, taking off his red hood helmet. He ran a hand through his helmet hair. “At least I know I’m not the only insane one.” 

Dick was about to speak when the footsteps echoed from the stairs. Tim and Steph appeared a moment later, confused by the presence of the others. “Hey, what are you guys doing here?” Tim asked.

“I could ask the same thing about you,” Damian snapped, wrinkling his nose. “Father has got to improve the cave’s security to keep out the riffraff.”

“Shut up, Damian,” Steph growled, crossing her arms while staying close to Tim. “We were told to come here by this ghost lady.” 

“So you saw her too? The woman in the medic uniform?” Dick asked, his voice cracking in surprise. Tim and Steph looked at each other before nodding. Everyone started to look scared, even Damian despite his attempt to appear unaffected.   

“Okay, this is freaky,” Jason spoke, expressing everyone’s fears. The rumble of another motorcycle interrupted their thoughts. Barbara appeared a moment later, parking her bike beside Dick’s.

“Hey,” she greeted, surprised by everyone. “Don’t tell me you all saw a ghost who told you to come here?”

“Yeah, it seems we all did,” Dick replied, pinching the bridge of his nose in thought. “But why would they want us all here? What’s the purpose?” Damian moved closer to Dick as everyone grew more nervous. 

The buzz of the teleporter made everyone jump. Each one of them dropping into fighting stance, ready for a trap. However, they all relax when they saw Bruce. 

Bruce skidded to a halt at the sight of the batfamily. “What are you all doing here?” Bruce demanded, frowning deeply.

“We all got told to come here by a ghost,” Dick explained, resting a hand on top of Damian’s head. “This wasn’t some kind of Halloween prank by you, was it?”

“No, I saw the same person,” Bruce replied, glancing around. His eyes widened. “Where’s Alfred?” The batkids all shared a look, not realizing until that moment Alfred was nowhere to be seen. Bruce rapidly looked about the cave, noticing the faint amount of green gas creeping out from under the poisonous chemical vault. “No,” Bruce gasped, racing towards the vault. The others were on his heels.

Bruce quickly typed in the code before ripping open the door only to get a face full of gas. He coughed, grabbing his breathing mask from his belt. “Stay back,” Bruce warned before running inside. 

“Like hell we will,” Jason retorted, slipping his red hood helmet back on. He sprinted in after Bruce while the others quickly tried to grab masks. Tim moved to try to start the ventilation systems to clear the gas. 

Several hours later, Alfred was laying in his bedroom, hooked up to an oxygen mask and a heart monitor. Bruce sat by his bedside, watching over the man who was a father to him. 

After several painfully long seconds, Bruce and Jason reappeared carrying Alfred between them. “Barbara, Tim, go prep the medical bay. Dick, Stephanie, Damian, clear the gas and figure out it’s compound makeup,” Bruce ordered. The others ran to follow his orders. Bruce glanced down at Alfred’s blue lips and white face, wondering if he had been too late.

***

It turned out everyone had arrived just in time for if Alfred had been in the gas for a minute longer, they would currently be planning a funeral. The ghost who had appeared to him had saved Alfred’s life. Bruce frowned as he thought about the ghost. The woman was so familiar, he knew her from somewhere. 

“How is he doing?” Dick asked softly, coming into the room with a cup of coffee in hand. He handed the cup to Bruce.

“His voice may be rough for the next few days, and his throat will be sore, but Alfred should be fine,” Bruce answered, taking a sip. “Thanks.” 

“You’re welcome,” Dick said, sinking onto a chair positioned by the foot of the bed. The two men sat in silence for a long moment before Dick spoke again. “So, what do you think about the ghost?”

“I don’t know what to think.” Bruce shrugged his shoulders. “I only know that she saved Alfred’s life by bringing us all here.”

Dick smiled sadly, looking at Alfred. “Yeah, but who was she? Why would she come to warn us?” Bruce frowned deeply in thought before taking another sip of his coffee. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Tim barged into the room.

“I found her,” Tim announced loudly only to be hushed by Dick. Tim looked at his feet sheepishly, mumbling an apology even though Alfred didn’t even stir. 

“Who?” Bruce asked, glancing at the photo album Tim held. Tim quickly moved to his side, opening the album. 

“The ghost.” Tim pointed to a picture of a beautiful woman dressed in a medic uniform. She had a young Alfred at her side. Bruce took it from Tim, staring down at the photo. He finally realized why the woman had been so familiar.

“(Y/N) Pennyworth,” Bruce whispered. He paled slightly. “I knew I recognized her.” 

“(Y/N) Pennyworth? So the ghost was related to Alfred?” Dick asked, getting up to peek at the photo over Bruce’s shoulder. Bruce turned the page, coming upon a wedding photo of the woman and a young Alfred.

“She was Alfred’s wife,” Bruce explained softly as he glanced up at Alfred. Alfred was still sleeping peacefully.

Tim nodded, confirming what Bruce had said. “Yes, they were married for only two years. The both of them were in the army at the time. (Y/N) was a medic who was killed trying to evacuate wounded soldiers before their post was overrun by enemy soldiers.”

“That’s horrible,” Dick gasped, going back to sit in his chair. He buried his head in his hands. 

“Alfred came here shortly after, having been discharged from the army,” Bruce said, leaning back in his chair. A smile formed upon his lips. “It appeared even now, (Y/N) is still saving lives.”

“I bet Alfred would love to know (Y/N) is still looking out for him,” Tim remarked, taking the photo album back. 

Dick looked up with a sad smile on his face. “I guess this will be a ghost story to tell every Halloween, huh?” 

Tim snorted as Bruce chuckled, “True. This will definitely be a Halloween we won’t forget.” Bruce leaned back in his chair as he swore he saw the woman again, standing beside Alfred. She leaned down to kiss Alfred’s forehead before fading away. A soft ‘thank you’ floated to Bruce’s ears. Bruce smiled, knowing everything was going to be fine.

[hybridequalist]

Misconceptions Unveiled

My first fanfiction post! (This can also be found on my Ao3 account here)

Fandom: Undertale

Characters: Papyrus, Tabatha (OC)

Ships: PapyrusXFem!OC

AU: Medieval

Rating: Everyone

Notes: Songfic (link here)

Feel free to leave me some feedback! I’m trying to get into writing some drabbles and oneshots, so if you have any requests or suggestions, feel free to message me!

Papyrus was so nervous his bones were lightly clacking against one another. Of all the monsters of the Royal Guard that had been dispatched to this tiny human kingdom, he was the one who had been selected to remain behind. This young nation had an equally new queen on the throne who had sought an alliance with the kingdom of monsters, hoping for peace rather than the hostility that seemed the default perspective of her race. The guard had come as part of a goodwill gesture, exchanging one young trainee for another from the humans’ army. The tall skeleton had never suspected that he would be the one chosen while he still had so much of his own apprenticeship to complete!

As part of his schedule, Papyrus had to meet with the young queen and have a discussion with her as well as a report about what he had learned through training with her own guards. However, it was the first week of being in the human kingdom—there hadn’t been much time for him to adjust and he was already late after having gotten lost on the way to the royal study. He had no idea what his fate would entail. According to the stories told among monsters, human royalty could be unforgiving when it came to punishments—even among their own kind.

When he finally found the right set of double doors (they needed a labelling system here!), the trainee guardsman raised a hand to knock before he heard the sound of a lute being played. Not wanting to interrupt—and more than a little curious—he cracked open the door to get a peek.

Seated on a plush armchair was Queen Tabatha of the Humans. She was the one lightly strumming the instrument. Her face was more solemn than Papyrus had ever seen it—she was usually smiling and cheerful. She wasn’t looking at where her fingers were playing the chords and instead looked out the window, her eyes upon the darkening night sky.

“The stars are very beautiful, above the palace walls, They shine with equal splendor, still above far humbler halls. I watch them from my window, but their bright entrancing glow, Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago.”

She gracefully rose to her feet, setting the lute down, and strode over to a hanging mirror that rested above the fireplace. It normally reflected the room, but the royal woman was using it to study her own face as she continued to sing. Her fingers lightly brushed the diadem on balanced on her brown locks.

“The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow, I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow. But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred, I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head.”

Seeming to float, the young queen moved to her desk where there rested a tray of food next to a pile of parchment that probably contained laws and other edicts. Her fingers tenderly brushed over the shape of the plate before straightening one of the papers, lingering meaningfully.

“Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least, The true Queen knows her people fed, before she sits to feast. The good Queen knows her people safe, before she takes her rest, Thinks twice and thrice and yet again, before she makes request.”

Leaving the objects alone, she twisted towards the windows again. Papyrus closed the door as far as he was able and watched her cross the floor and fiddle with a latch to the doors leading out to a balcony he hadn’t noticed before.

“For they are all my children, all, that I swore to defend, It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend— And of my children high and low, from beggar to above, The dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love.”

The queen strode out onto the balcony, moonlight highlighting her in silver. The tall skeleton carefully slipped through the door, watching her sing in a sort of trance. The young woman’s gaze was focused on the wall beyond the palace, where patrolled her own guards.

“The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command. Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand That land and people first have needs that I may not deny— So I must send my dearest friends to danger—and to die.”

Leaning against the balcony, the human stared at the ground below, melancholy in her tone.

“A friend, a love, a child—it matters not, I know indeed, That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need. They know, and they forgive me—doing more than I require, With willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire.”

Papyrus crept to the doorway of the balcony, feeling an aching sympathy come into his Soul as the song became clearly more painful for the young woman to sing.

“These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can’t shed, The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead.”

Tilting her head back, Queen Tabatha’s gaze landed on the low-hanging moon.

“Oh gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry… And if you have compassion… Let me send no more to die!”

The song faded into the night and the brunette raised a single hand to her face in a weary manner. Papyrus took another step closer and she suddenly turned around, probably having heard him in the new silence. After a tense moment of each gazing at the other, the human straightened up into proper posture, brushing a loose strand of hair back into place.

“Guardsman,” she addressed him. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT ANNOUNCING MYSELF, YOUR MAJESTY,” the lanky skeleton replied with a bow. “IT’S JUST…I DID NOT WANT TO INTERRUPT YOUR TRULY LOVELY SINGING, EVEN IF IT WAS A BIT SAD.”

“Ah, so you heard it…” the young queen sighed. “I really shouldn’t be complaining about my station like that; it’s selfish—”

“BUT SURELY EVEN THE QUEEN SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE SELFISH SOMETIMES?” the young guardsman interrupted. “YOU ARE NOT PERFECT, AFTER ALL—NO ONE IS, NOT EVEN THE GREAT PAPYRUS.”

It occurred to him two seconds too late that he probably shouldn’t have cut off the human ruler and that he ought not to have referred to himself by his made-up title. His cheekbones flushed orange at the same time as sweat began to break out along the top of his skull, but before he could apologize, the human let out a small laugh. Completely blindsided, Papyrus froze in place, not sure if her humor was a good or bad sign.

“My apologies; I shouldn’t laugh,” the brunette tried—and failed—to say without giggling. “It’s just…you made quite the face there…”

The laughter did not fade for another minute, the whole time the skeleton waited without breathing, eyes clamped shut, still worried that once she calmed she might reprimand him or…would she punish him? Isn’t that what humans did to those who broke the rules?

“Sir? Why are you flinching?”

“I…I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT PUNISH ME FOR INTERRUPTING YOU,” Papyrus admitted weakly.

“Punish you? Oh gods above, what did humans do to your people that would give rise to such horror stories? I’m not going to do something so drastic for something as simple as speaking over me. This isn’t court where everyone must wait their turn.”

The monster cracked open one eyesocket to peek at Queen Tabatha and saw she was frowning. Not an angry frown…it was a sad one.

“HAVE I…HAVE I UPSET YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS?”

“Hm? No; it’s an old worry,” she reassured him with a wave of her hand. “My race aren’t very considerate…not even to one another. It’s why there are so many human kingdoms and only one monster. But you have my word, guardsman, that I will not punish you unless you were to do something that endangered me or my subjects. I can’t expect you to adhere to human customs and laws without giving you time to adjust.”

“Y-YOU ARE VERY KIND, YOUR MAJESTY,” Papyrus stuttered out.

“Please, when we are in private you may call me Queen Tabatha. I’m not one for titles…which reminds me, what is your name, guardsman?”

“I AM PAPYRUS. JUST PAPYRUS.”

“Ah. What an honor it is to stand in the presence of the Great Papyrus.”

She was clearly teasing—she had a sly little smile on her face—but that didn’t stop the skeleton from blushing again, nervously playing with the edge of his scarf to distract himself from the embarrassed heat surging through his bones. The Queen laughed again and Papyrus decided he liked that sound: it was warm and meant good things.

“You were supposed to be here for a report, yes?” the young royal asked, bringing her hand up towards her mouth as she thumbed her painted lips. When she received a nod of affirmation, a thoughtful hum escaped her. “ I don’t feel much for an update right now. What do you say that we instead have a nice long conversation over tea instead?”

“YOU REALLY DON’T MIND?”

“Not at all. I could use a new friend. Someone whose willing to tell me exactly what’s what.”

“PLEASE, YOUR HIGHNESS, MY CHEEKBONES WILL BE STAINED ORANGE IF YOU CONTINUE LIKE THIS,” Papyrus groaned amidst the girlish giggles of the Queen who was far too proud of her own cleverness

[doyouevenhavetoask]

Burning Love

This AU story is based on the Romeo and Juliet play of the game Daughter of the Dusk, with Roy and Riza as the protagonists. This is a very extended version of it and I took my liberties, but I’m sure you’ll still recognize the dialogues that have been translated and been around Tumblr for a while. I hope you enjoy this! :)

The annual military ball was held on a beautiful summer night. Central City was famous for its rich people’s taste in fine wine, orchestral music, excessive meals, eccentric clothing and masquerades. Big celebrations that only reunited the best of the best. And this night’s celebration was no exception.

Roy Mustang was a young soldier; handsome, kind, well educated. He was never one to question orders or break the rules.

Roy had little interest in the party he and his family had attended. Everybody danced happily, but he roamed the room in search of something that would catch his eye. He stopped by the fish tanks, they were big and full of colorful, beautiful creatures. He wished he’d be swimming right now, just like the fishes. While dancing was nice, he only enjoyed it the rare times his partner happened to be someone of his liking.

As they moved, many fishes met for a moment in the middle of the tank, and Roy saw his reflection on the glass. He was wearing an orange mask with yellow feathers. He smiled to himself, and when the fishes went their separate ways, the face he saw on the glass was a different one. Big brown eyes blinked at him, and Roy sat up straight, aware that there was someone on the other side.

He walked around the tank and saw her. The most beautiful lady he had laid eyes upon. Long, blonde hair, such a fair face, eyes he could die for. He saw her soul in them, and he felt immediately attracted. She enchanted him at first sight.

The woman smiled shyly at him, but didn’t make a move as she stared right back.

“My name is Roy, I’m an Amestrian soldier,” he said to her. He extended his hand at her. “Would you honor me with a dance?”

The woman took his hand and nodded. “Of course.”

They danced together for what felt like hours. Roy held the lady by the waist and guided her across the room. Her gentle touch on his shoulder felt shockingly warm, the kind of warmth Roy knew he couldn’t let go. They looked into each other’s eyes, which shone bright like the stars, and without a word they fell into the deepest of seas and drowned in the sweetest of waters.

The band playing the music took a rest, and Roy and the lady stopped dancing for a moment. She got closer to him, internally debating with herself whether she should kiss him, for he had become a gentleman she wanted to be held by, for at least the rest of the night.

She extended her hand to his face and pulled off his mask, revealing Roy’s handsome face. She blinked and tilted her head, observing him for a moment.

“I think… I’ve seen you before.”

Roy raised his eyebrows. “Oh! Well… maybe you’ve seen me in past military events? The Mustang family has been in the military for generations.”

Riza gasped. “You’re a Mustang.”

He smiled lovingly. “Indeed.”

They heard another song being played, and Roy moved to hold the lady tight again, but she broke the embrace and stepped back.

“I’m very sorry, Roy Mustang” she said. “I must leave now.”

Roy frowned sadly, suddenly confused and disappointed, and walked up to her.

“Wait, Miss! May I have your name?”

She sighed and turned around. “I’m… Riza.”

He put a hand on his chest. “Ah… such beautiful name for such beautiful woman.”

Riza smiled shyly at him, like the first time her eyes made contact with his.

Roy took a step forward. “I must say, Riza… my heart is burning with love for you.”

Riza blushed heavily. “Did… did I cause such thing?”

Roy touched her arm and looked at her tenderly. “You—”

“No, I’m sorry,” she interrupted. “I must go.”

Riza ran toward the exit, her full-length gown’s tale floating in the air behind her as she made her way. Appalled, Roy tried to follow her, but some dancing couples got in the way, and he soon lost sight of Riza. By the time he reached the entrance, she was gone.

Riza hid in the shadows, around the corner of the building. She could see Roy from there, looking desperately for her. Her heart pounded strongly, and she touched her chest with worry.

“What is happening to me? This feeling in my chest…” she took a peak at Roy again, “…what is it?”

She couldn’t go back to him, no matter how much she wanted to. He was a Mustang, after all. And her family, the Hawkeyes, had always been an enemy of his. They could never be together.

Later that night, Riza stood in the balcony of her room, watching the stars. They reminded her of Roy, of how much his eyes shone for her, of how far she would have gone with him… and of the distance between them.

Everybody in town knew about the history of the war between the Mustangs and the Hawkeyes. It hadn’t even ended yet. They still confronted each other when they happened to cross paths.

In a terrible discussion that began many years ago with her grandfather, who had been a military General, and Roy’s grandfather, of the same rank, both families swore putting an end to the other. And so Riza lost many relatives, with the latest being her father, who had been killed by Roy’s father. Now she only had her younger brothers, Edward and Alphonse.

“Oh, dear Roy, Roy Mustang.” She closed her eyes. “Why is our fate so cruel? Why did you have to be born a Mustang?”

“I gave up my name!”

Riza shook with surprise. She recognized that voice. Confused, she looked for the person who screamed at her. In the street, below her balcony, Roy was wearing his mask again, staring at her with fire in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?”

“I figured it out. You’re Riza Hawkeye, that’s why you rejected me.”

Riza winced, hurt by the terrible truth. “Yes, I’m a Hawkeye. That’s why you need to leave immediately.” She turned around to check inside her house. No one seemed to be watching them. “If someone knows you’re here, they’ll shoot you. You have to leave, Roy.”

“I’ve abandoned my family name for you, Riza. As soon as they realize, my own family will hunt me down.” He smiled and extended his arm at her, and his mask shone in the moonlight. “You can now call me Thief Fire Mask, for I’m here to steal your heart! Will you run away with me?”

Riza felt she could melt, so hot was her burning passion for him. She fell in love with this man the way thunders touched the earth, just as fast, just as powerfully, just as deadly. She knew she could never live another day without him.

“Ah, Thief Fire Mask!” She climbed over the railing in her balcony. “Please steal my heart with your burning kisses!”

Riza jumped to Roy’s arms, and he caught her securely. When she stood safely on the ground, Roy embraced her tightly, and kissed her mouth for the first time. It was a kiss both sweet and strong. Both long and short, for it would never last long enough. And also, it was a kiss both life-saving, and dooming.

By the time the sun bathed the town with its first rays of light, Roy and Riza were holding hands, and a priest was uniting them in sacred marriage. Till death do them apart.

  Roy and Riza had spent the entire day loving each other. They had never been this happy before, and now that they had ran away from their homes, nothing would ever get in their way. Or so they thought.

In the dining room of the hotel they were staying at, the married couple enjoyed a lovely dinner. Riza fed Roy, putting pieces of fruit in his mouth, and watched adoringly as he ate. Roy had yet to get his arms off of her since they woke up earlier that afternoon. They had slept late, and very little, since they were still very eager to play love games with each other.

 Roy moved Riza’s bangs gently and kissed her forehead. “You should eat, too.”

She gave him a peck on his lips. “Mhmm.”

“Oh, there you are!” someone shouted at them.

Roy and Riza stood up, alarmed by the intruder. It was a younger lady, blonde, with blue eyes.

“Who is she?” Riza asked him.

“Why, I’m Roy’s fiancée, of course!” she replied.

Riza took a deep breath. “Fiancée?”

“Winry,” Roy said to her. “Our parents arranged it. I never agreed to it.” He looked at Winry. “How did you find us?”

“Well, I have my contacts, Roy. It wasn’t hard. A lot of people know you in this town.”

“Dammit,” he said under his breath.

“You should leave us alone,” Riza said to Winry. “Roy and I are married now. We love each other.”

Winry rested her hands on her waist. “Oh, really? Did he tell you he loves you, just like he said it to me?”

Riza felt like an ice bucket had been thrown at her, but she didn’t care. She trusted her husband. “Liar! I don’t believe this!”

Winry laughed. “Face the reality! He’ll never be with you. Roy and I are childhood friends!”

“So what?! My feelings for Roy will not change because of that!”

Roy hugged Riza protectively, and threw Winry an angry look. “Winry… I love her. She’s my wife now. You would never have been happy with me. Go and find your own happiness.”

“Winry…” Riza said. “I love Roy more than my own life. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. If you have a kind heart, which I’m sure you do, you’ll see that he and I belong together. Please understand.”

Winry looked at the floor, speechless. Roy had been her fiancée for years, and even though she never really loved him, she had never considered another man to get married with. But they were right, she could see it. Roy and Riza needed each other like the night needed the moon. They were made for each other, and she wouldn’t be the one to stop them.

Winry whispered, “I… I lost.” She looked at Riza and smiled sadly. “Okay, I give up on him. Please, be happy.”

Roy and Riza nodded.

“Goodbye, Winry,” Roy said. “And thank you.”

“Thank you,” Riza said as well.

Winry abandoned the hotel and went back to her house. What she didn’t know though, was that she had been followed.

“Roy Mustang! I know you’re there! Come out, you coward!”

Roy and Riza were startled. That was a very loud noise, and it came from outside.

“Now what?” Roy asked.

Riza breathed through her teeth. “That’s my brother! He knows what we did!” She held Roy’s hand. “Let’s run even further away, please. Let’s just get out of this cursed town.”

Roy held Riza’s face and kissed her tenderly. He spoke softly to her. “It’s your family after all, my love. Maybe we should end this. I’ll talk to your brother.”

“Roy, I beg you. Please don’t go out there.”

Roy smiled at her, with all his love and full of confidence. “I promise you, we’ll still be together, tonight and always.”

Roy walked outside and confronted Riza’s brother, a blonde teenager too short for his age. He was pointing a gun at him.

“You’re Riza’s brother, right? I’m the person you’re looking for.”

“My name is Edward Elric, and I’m here to kill you for stealing my sister, you filthy Mustang.”

Roy blinked. “Elric? You’re not a Hawkeye?”

Edward rolled his eyes. “I’m adopted, okay?!”

Roy shrugged. “Anyway. I’m not here to fight you, Edward Elric. I have abandoned my family name out of my love for Riza, and I want to ask you to accept the both of us as part of your family. She does not deserve to lose her brothers because of an old family war.”

Edward shook his shoulders, and soon the rest of his body followed along. He laughed so hard that he almost ran out of air. “You fool!” he screamed. “You think I’m just going to forget what happened? Your father killed my father! I’m just giving you what you people deserve!”

Riza ran and stood protectively in front of Roy. “Ed, please! You don’t want to do this. I’m in love with Roy, and he’s my husband now. We’re just asking you to accept us.”

Edward gasped very loudly. “You… you married him? A Mustang?”

“Yes, I love him! He’s no longer a Mustang, he’s—”

“Nonsense!” Ed shouted. “My sister will never get close to a Mustang. This is unacceptable.”

“Edward, I—”

“Shut up! I’ve lost three parents already, all I ever wanted was a normal family, and it’s always the Mustangs ruining it!”

“Ed, I swear, you shoot that gun, you kill me too. I won’t move from my place. My life is with Roy, and if he has to die, I’ll die with him!”

Edward, full of hate, gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. He looked up at the sky, and then back at his sister.

Riza smiled relieved. It seemed Edward had changed his mind. Then he said something that left her frozen.

“Farewell, sister.”

He shot the gun.

Riza felt a sharp pain and her body went cold with dread. She was on the floor, unsure how she had gotten there. She turned around, and saw it. Roy was bleeding from his chest, unable to move. She was unharmed. In a second she realized Roy had pushed her aside before the bullet made contact with her. He saved her life.

“No…”

Riza threw herself over Roy, hugging him, trying to help him, feeling completely helpless as she saw her lover’s life fade away. Tears fell on his chest and mixed with his blood.

“Don’t you dare leave me, Roy.”

With the last strength he had left, Roy whispered to her. “We’ll still be together, tonight and always.” He closed his eyes, and stopped breathing.

Riza cried over her husband’s chest. Her life had ended there with his. He was all she ever loved, and just as he had stolen her heart, he now stole her will to keep living. For she had sworn to follow him.

“To the depths of hell,” she said to him.

Riza stood up and walked up to her brother, who had tried to kill her. Edward was in shock; he had never killed another person before. Riza took the gun from Edward in a quick movement, before he could even react. She returned to Roy, lied next to him and held his hand.

Then she shot herself.

 In Central Cemetery, Winry and Major Armstrong, an old friend of Roy’s, were still crying at the dead couple’s tombs. Every other family members had long left, except for Edward, who had gone insane, and laughed maniacally on top of a tree.

The Mustangs and the Hawkeyes, after the incident of the lovers, had arranged a peace treaty and they would no longer try to hurt each other. Edward Elric would eventually be sent to a psychiatric hospital for the rest of his days. His brother Alphonse and strangely, Winry too, would be the only ones to ever visit him.

It was a night of full moon, and when the dead couple was finally left alone, something incredible happened.

Roy rose from his tomb, and took deep desperate breaths. He felt something sharp in his mouth, and when he touched inside, he realized his fangs had grown longer. Then he remembered. He had died. He saved Riza and he bled to his death. Somehow, though, he was still alive.

He stood up, focused on finding Riza. He turned to check his surroundings, and he saw it. The stone that read her name.

“No…”

Why? Why was he alive while his love was dead? Why had he been condemned to this terrible fate?

He realized what he was now. He could feel it in his dry veins. He had become a vampire. And his new instinct told him why. He looked at the moon. Only on a night of full moon, could true love be saved forever. The moment Riza’s tears had mixed with his blood, she filled him with the power of eternal love, making him immortal, as long as his love for her was strong. And it would always be strong.

Roy unearthed Riza until he found her cold, pale body. He held her tight to his chest, and cried heavily. She was not a vampire. Her blood had not been mixed with his tears before she died, like it had happened to him. In a desperate, final act, he did what his new immortal body was aching to do. He bit her neck. His long, sharp fangs disappeared beyond her soft skin, making contact with her blood.

Roy waited, and waited, but Riza remained pale. He gave up, and left her in her tomb again, feeling useless, and defeated. Before burying her once more, he kissed her one final time. The kind of kiss that is full of love, and also full of grief. The last kiss he would ever give her.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The moon shone bright. Some leaves fell from the nearby trees. He opened his eyes again.

Riza was looking at him.

He gasped. “You’re alive!”

Riza blinked, full of confusion. “Wh… what? Roy?” She sat up. “You’re alive, Roy!”

They hugged each other so strongly, they almost broke each other’s bones.

“I have missed you,” he told her. “I love you so much, Riza.”

“I love you too, Roy.”

Roy stood up and helped Riza to stand by his side.

“Come on, my love,” he said to her. “Let’s get out of here. We’re free now.”

“Where are we going?”

Roy smiled at his wife. “Wherever our love takes us.”

Riza smiled back at him. “Then I’ll follow you, even into hell.”

Roy and Riza would now be together, tonight, and always.