#(water pushes you electricity hurts you more the closer you stand to it poison is targeted aoes and fire is uh. ....)

[devotedlystrangewizard]

losing ur sprout status is so weird you spend like. so many hours as a sprout then boom. you no longer have an excuse to suck

[quietmyfearswith]

new year’s day ; andy barber x fem!reader

status — completed oneshot

word count — 3,960 words

warnings — swearing, mentions of active sex life, SMUT, degradation, sir kink, choking, oral smut (receiving), fingering, unprotected penetrative sex (pls use protection), slapping, name calling, drinking champagne off of one’s body, fluff at the end?? porn without plot lol

pairing — andy barber x fem!reader

a/n — HAPPY NEW YEAR! im still high on my andy feels so yeah,, lmk what yoou think!

masterlist

“Fuckin’ hell my eyes hurt,” Y/N groaned out as she rubbed her palms on her eyelids, as if she was massaging the stress away. Rose could only chuckle at her friend’s distress, “Well I did warn you about how you shouldn't have gone to work today; you deserve to take a break once in a while you know?”

Cracking her knuckles once she was done rubbing her eyes, Y/N retorted, “Well it’s not like I had any New Year’s Eve plans so I decided why not go to work?” As she continued to torment her eyes with the light emitted from her desktop. Being her only real friend at the workplace, Rose took it as a responsibility to look after her; for she knew how she wasn’t really close with her family and her other closest friends were on the different side of the country. “Hey, I invited you to that party me and Agnes are going to!”

Tearing her straining eyes away from the screen, Y/N gave the brunette a pointed look, “You mean to say you invited me to party where I don’t know anyone but you and your girlfriend; which definitely guarantees that you’ll both leave me alone so you can fuck.”

Rose didn’t find it in herself to deny her allegation or defend her and her girlfriend’s active sex life; instead she could only give her a sheepish look as she joked, “Guess you’ve been spending too much time with Mr. Barber since you’re incredible at drawing conclusions and noticing patterns huh?” Seeing how much time she had spent with the mentioned lawyer over the past year, Y/N couldn’t help but nod and agree with her.

The soft chime of Rose's Favorite song rang and a cocky, “See! Can’t even wait an hour before you two get to be together,” was quickly being hushed by her friend. “Okay you have a point, we have a high sex drive — but can you blame us? And I need to leave early, stupid bitch burnt herself as she was baking.”

Chuckling without tearing her eyes away from the documents in front of her, Y/N greeted, “Yeah, yeah; don’t need to rub it in. Happy New Year’s Eve, babe.” Before heading to Mr. Barber’s office to sweetly ask to leave early, Rose went to where Y/N was seated and let their cheeks touch as their way of bidding adieu.

Andy was more than generous to allow Rose to leave the office early, “Go ahead and enjoy, you deserve it for being one of the few ones who chose to come in today,” He told her smiling form. Once she left his office, he loosened his tie and undid the top button of his button down shirt and let out a loud groan. Usually, this time last year he would be rushing to go home — if ever his work demanded his presence — in order to celebrate the New Year’s with his family. But now as he mourns the family he once had and lost it as his son was brutally killed by his ex-wife that had gone insane in disbelieving her son’s innocence was now serving prison for her crimes, he had nowhere to be.

After a couple of hours filled with silence and burying his head with paperwork, Andy noticed how there was a soft, melodious hymn coming from the other side of the office. The lawyer wasn’t necessarily alarmed, but he was curious about who was left working since there had only been 7 other people who decided to come in to work today; and to his knowledge they should have left by now.

He decided to check out who was left — but it really was an excuse to stretch his long, lean legs as he felt them cramping up a bit from being seated for too long — and was surprised to see the most diligent employee he’s ever met in his years of practicing law, “Ms. Y/N, what are you still doing here?”

Hearing his deep voice snapped her out of her concentration; seeing her boss in his less than organized state had her taken aback, “Oh Mr. Barber, I’m just doing some work on the Richards case.” Looking at the watch on his left wrist, he took note how it was a mere 15 minutes before the new year dawned on them. “No plans for the new year then?”

Deciding to test the waters she cracked a joke, “Are you talking about the holiday or the actual year? Because I have no plans for both.”Covering up her remark with a nervous chuckle, she was glad to see the older man wrinkle his eyes as he laughed out loud, “Well that makes the two of us; why don’t we grab a drink in my office?”

Eyes going wide and gasping silently, Y/N was pleasantly surprised at his offer but nevertheless nodded in agreement. Quickly shutting off her desktop, she moved out of her chair and decided to leave her footwear and floral kimono by her desk as she somewhat felt restricted by the light cloth. As she entered his post, she settled herself on the gray sofa he had placed near the office’s wall. Grabbing a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses, Andy sat beside her then poured them a drink.

“Never pegged you as a champagne guy, Mr. Barber,” She thanked him as he handed her a glass which she took a sip of; letting out a small moan of appreciation at the taste, the  sound causing Andy to cross his right leg on top of the left in an effort to conceal his erection. “Please, call me Andy,” He cleared his throat as he took a sip of the liquor, “And whiskey and bourbon are my usual choices of poison; but since it’s the New Year, figured this was more appropriate.”

Y/N surprised the man beside her by drinking all of the champagne in one go and placed the now empty glass on the coffee table in front of them before turning to his gobsmacked expression and giggled, “Sorry, really need that one.” With his hooded eyes watching her intently, he drank some of his before answering, “Don’t be Y/N, it was quite a show.”

She could feel her wetness dampen the panties she wore with how good her name sounded as it left his lips, “Don’t think I ever heard you call me by my first name before.” Worried he crossed the line he was quick to fumble out an apology; but quickly stopped as he felt her hand on his thigh, “It’s okay, I’m not mad or anything. I really like it, actually,” She trailed off once she noticed how he seemed to have let out a quiet, but aroused purr. Tilting her head to the side with an amused expression plastered on her face, “You alright, Andy?”

Years of practicing law and appearing in courtrooms taught him not to lose composure; but with a simple touch and mention of his name had Andy forgetting how to remain calm and collected. But can you fucking blame him when the girl who walks around with so much grace and confidence — who also happens to be the subject of his filthy fantasies — is so close to him that he can almost feel her warmth piercing through his long-sleeved shirt. In that moment, he wasn’t sure if it was a wise or dumb decision to discard his suit jacket, but as their arms touched and he felt a surge of electricity run through his veins, he thought of himself as a fucking genius.

“I am, yeah,” Deciding to test the waters, he grabbed her hand that rested on her thigh and intertwined their fingers together; when she made no attempts at removing her hand from his he smirked, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but something tells me you want more than just this champagne I offered.”

Feeling her inhibitions disappear, she gave him a smirk of her own as she untangled her hands from his, “Well, I do want some more champagne,” Her finger was now tracing his lips as she moved to sit closer until she was now straddling his lap, “Maybe taste it from your lips?”

Silently, Andy brought the glass to his lips and downed the remaining sparkling drink; his free hand settled itself on the back of her neck, pulling her close to him until her lips touched his. As he bit her bottom lip, she opened her mouth and moaned out loud as she felt the alcoholic beverage enter her mouth. Both her hands caressed his bearded cheek as she drank up every last drop that he offered her. Groaning out loud when his mouth was now devoid of the drink, he let his tongue enter her mouth and asserted his dominance; something she willingly conceded to him. His hand on her neck traveled lower and rested on her bum, squeezing the soft flesh which emitted more moans from her.

“Been dreaming about this for so long,” His staff silently, mindlessly let out as she kissed him desperately. “Is that so?” He asked once he broke away their kiss, Y/N whined at the loss of his lips and confused with his question. Chuckling at her groggy state he squeezed both her cheeks with one hand, forcing her to focus on him and answer his question, “You said you’ve been dreaming about this, baby. Is that what you daydream about at work? Me fucking you so hard your dumb brain can’t even think straight?”

Letting out a pathetic whine, she could only nod her head enthusiastically, “Want that so fucking bad, sir.” He felt his cock harden even more at the title she called him; but he wasn’t even done with teasing her yet. “And that fantasy will come true; but first, stand up and strip for me, baby,” With a soft smack on her cheek, she stood up quickly and unzipped her dress. Andy watched her present her body for him as he poured another glass for himself.

Resting on the arm rest was the hand with the sparkling champagne, while the other was palming his erection as watched her push her dress down to the floor. “No bra? Just that poor excuse of underwear?” He moaned out as he observed the fabric that parts at the middle, teasing the paradise that awaits for his cock.

Lowering her gaze, as if bashful, at his filthy remarks before resuming her previous position of sitting on his lap with her hands moving to unbutton his button down. “Such an impatient little thing, aren’t you?” He clicked his tongue at her; to which she pouted as she stared at him with want written on her face, “I’m sorry, sir. What do you want me to do?”

“Ride my thigh like the slut you are, baby,” He commanded her without even thinking about it, which turned her on even more. Situating herself on his thick, lean thigh she moaned out loud as the fabric of her thong added even more friction. She began to ride him with slow but sharp movements, throwing her head back when she felt her wetness taint the fabric of his slacks, “How does it feel, baby?”

“Good, so good,” Her broken cries turned him on even more as he sipped on the champagne, enjoying the tingle it left on his tongue. “Do you trust me, baby?” Surprised at his question, she opened her eyes to look at him, her hip movements not faltering one bit. Upon seeing how serious he was she answered, “I do, Andy. I trust you.”

With a smirk, he then tipped the glass just above her breasts, allowing the liquid to run from her collarbones and down to her breasts. Gasping out loud when Andy runs his tongue on her skin, following the trail that the champagne took, “Don’t stop grinding on me, love,” He reminded her as his lips drank the liquid that landed on her nipple — subsequently sucking on the pebble-like flesh. Seeking purchase on his dark hair, Y/N continued rubbing herself on his thigh — his assault on her breast encouraging her to ride him even harder and faster.

“Time to drink some more,” Andy huskily spoke out as he poured some more of the beverage on her opposite breast  causing the girl to stiffen a bit as she was taken aback by the sudden coolness on her breast. His tongue flattened against her skin, now more focused on kissing every inch of her skin instead of drinking up the liquor. His hand held her breast firmly, raising it a bit so he could suck on it and slurp the booze.

“Fuck, the champagne tastes even incredible on you, baby,” HIid praise got her flustered and she could only whine as she felt herself getting closer. “I’m so close, sir. Can I cum, please?” She fluttered her eyes at him sweetly, hoping he’d show her mercy; but his wicked smile and wink got her thinking she’d be shown the opposite of it. “Not yet, baby,” He was quick to shut her wails up with a smack on her breast, “Sit down on the sofa, baby.”

Even though she denied him her release, she followed his orders without a complaint — working with him provided her a clear picture of what happens when you don’t follow Andy’s orders, and it didn’t end well for everyone involved. As she sat down, she watched as the lawyer placed his glass on the table and reached for the bottle; poured some on her pussy. Y/N watched closely as Andy licked her clit, down to her hole. Without tearing his eyes away from hers, he inserted his tongue in her and tried to reach as far as his long tongue can go. “So good, Andy,” She grabbed onto his hair, pushing his face closer to her. The man was quick to smack her thigh, causing her to press her thighs more into his frame, “You know what to call me,” He warned.

“Sir,” She panted out, “Feel so good, sir.” Pleased with that, he rewarded her by rubbing his right thumb on her clit, making her moan even louder. Loving her blissed out sounds of pleasure, Andy began licking her ferociously; he drank up all of the champagne he poured and all the juices she had to provide. He inserted his left pointer and middle finger in her, taking her aback with the sudden simulation. Her thighs were shaking with how good he was making her feel, too weak to even grab onto his hair and her arms were now limp on her sides, “Sir, please! I’m so fucking close, please let me cum.”

Without tearing his mouth and hands from her he replied, “Then cum on my fucking tongue, you slut,” The vibrations adding more to the pleasure she felt. After a few more thrusts of his fingers, kitten licks of his tongue, she felt apart with a scream. Her thighs wrapped themselves around his shoulders, squeezing him so tight that she felt his beard tickle her delicate skin. Andy pulled out his fingers that were in her, replacing them with his tongue so he can gather all of her juices and drink some of them in. “You taste like fucking heaven, baby,” He groaned as he parted from her pussy, his fingers pushing her juices back inside her so he could use it as lube.

“Wanna kiss you, sir,” Her fingers touched the patch of facial hair above his lips, surprised with how it had her juices. Andy complied, giving her a brief, but sweet kiss. “Want you on your hands and knees, baby. Hold on to the back of the sofa okay?” Y/N couldn’t help but feel mushy with how gentle he was bossing her around — when she knew his next actions would be far from gentle.

Holding on to the back of the sofa, she used it to steady herself on her knees, bending slightly so she could arch her back to accentuate her ass. Andy quickly discarded his clothes before rubbing her pussy again and pushed some of her juices in, before entering in her pussy in one go. His forehead rested on her back as he groaned out, “Fuck baby you’re so tight. Been a while huh?” Anchoring himself on her hips, he slid in and out of her at a steady pace.

Y/N moaned out loud as she felt the back of her thighs meet Andy’s hips; he was thrusting into her with no remorse. Her hand travelled to her breast, switching between pinching the nipple or pulling on it. Grabbing her hair with one hand, the bearded man pulled her so her back was pressed firmly against his chest. You’d think that this would give Andy a difficult time to rut into her but it didn’t; instead it just made him drive his cock in her harder and faster, falling into a drum-like rhythm.

“Why are you fucking touching yourself, slut?” Feeling his breath on her ear turned her on more than she cared to admit and she couldn’t even string together a coherent response since the tip of his dick pushed into her g-spot, causing her to moan out loud. “You’re such a fucking mess that you can’t even think straight huh?”

Nodding pathetically was all the response Y/N could offer as she clawed on to Andy’s toned arms; the lawyer then decided to go all the way with his fun by wrapping his big hand around her neck, applying gentle pressure. “You don’t mind this do you, sweetheart?” Shaking her head no, Andy then smiled as he put more force on the sides of her neck as he rammed his cock in her until the tip of his cock repeatedly hit her bundle of nerves that made tears leave her eyes with how good everything felt. The other hand that wasn't wrapped around her throat then lowered itself on her clit, rubbing the hardened nub.

“If only you knew how hard you got me every time you came to work with a tight skirt or pants,” He breathed out against her ear, tickling her with his breath, “Giving me a perfect view of the shape of your ass,” And to emphasize his point he thrust so hard until his cock was all the way in and spanked her ass. “Walking around the office with so much fucking confidence,” He recalled the time wherein she called out an officemate for talking lewdly about her — that caused him to jerk one off in the office bathroom. “But now you’ve been reduced to a dumb cock hungry whore for me,” She wailed out in agreement as his hand squeezed her throat so tight to the point she was now gasping for breath as his other hand wrapped around her tit, loving the weight and feel of it on his hand, grabbing onto it to move it up and down his hand.

“Are you gonna cum again, baby? Gonna cum around my thick cock?” He could feel her walls clinging on to his cock even more, making it difficult to thrust in her but he was determined to keep on sliding his cock in and out. “Yes, so close, please let me cum,” She trailed off as he abandoned his hold on her tit and throat and returned to her hips so he could maneuver her and ram his cock swiftly and harder. “Cum then you, slut. Let me feel you milk my cock,” Was all the permission she needed before she dug her nails into his forearms as came with a scream, “Thank you, sir!”

Even as she was cumming, Andy thrust in and out of her; though his thrusts weren’t as powerful and quick. Once he felt her spasms die down, he slid all the way inside her and came with a groan. They both could feel his cock twitch as it released his load inside her, filling her up with his hot semen. Littering kisses on her back, Andy could feel his regular breathing return — as was hers.

Carefully, Andy pulled out of her, “Can you stand up for a bit, baby?” She nodded and stood up from her position, the lawyer guiding her to sit by the arm rests. Still stuck in her post-orgasm haze, she watched as he moved the coffee table away and transformed his sofa into a bed. Grabbing the spare bed sheet, blanket, and pillows he kept in the office — in case he had to spend the night in the office — he quickly made the bed before he helped Y/N to lay down with him, wrapping the blanket over their naked bodies.

“How you feeling?” It was amazing how he had a quick change of demeanor; Y/N was lazily tracing over Andy’s face with her finger, making the most out of this intimate moment. “Feel good, really good. Always wanted someone to fuck me the way you did.”

Her curt response had him chuckling, loving the way she was being open with him and the way she traced over his features. “Well I’m glad I fulfilled this fantasy of yours.”

Suddenly, Y/N felt small and insecure; was this a one time thing? Just something to release his frustrations and a fantasy of hers that's been fulfilled? Furrowing her eyebrows, she failed to mask her worry as she wondered, “So this is just a one time thing then?”

Hating what she just said, Andy kissed the wrinkle in between her eyebrows as he spoke, “I don’t want it to be. I really want to be with you; if you’ll have me, of course.” A small smile rested on her lips as her eyes brightened up, “I’d want that and you. You’re so amazing, Andy. I admire your strength, resilience, and determination. For someone who could easily give up in life you choose to carry on and look forward to what the future holds. It’s just a bonus that you have a thick cock and know how to use it.”

Her small speech had him chuckling and kissing her nose, pulling her close against him, “What I said earlier was true; I love how you walk around the office like you own the place. You take no shit from people and do your job damn well. Plus, I love your music taste as well.”

Grinning at him she jeered, “Wow can’t believe you still sweet talk your way even if it’s not in a courtroom setting.” Andy laughed at her retort and just grazed his fingertips on her sides, tickling her so he can hear her giggle. Once both their laughter died down, their lips met for a sweet, passionate kiss. “We have quite a mess to clean up tomorrow, Andy,” Y/N reminded him as she referred to the champagne bottle, glasses, their clothes, and his sofa bed — their whole situation, really.

“I don’t care,” He whispered as smiled at her, feeling so much lighter and better having been haunted by his personal demons for so long, “I don’t mind doing anything as long as it’s with you.”

Her heart fluttered with his simple statement; she was then reminded of the new year countdown. Reaching out for his wrist, she checked the time and noticed how a few minutes had passed 12. “Happy new year, Andy,” She greeted him with a peck on his lips.

A short, sweet kiss was returned to her as he planted his lips on hers again — quickly getting addicted to her, “Happy new year, baby. Can’t wait to spend this year with you by my side.”

[tearsofsyrup]

half-silvered

— With all the time that has passed since your endless fleeing began, some part of you seems to have forgotten that you are running away from actual people and that there is an actual possibility that they might catch up to you.

pairing. kwon soonyoung / reader

genre. space pirate au, exes au, sci-fi au, romance, angst

word count. 4k

warnings. brief violence

notes. part of @merakiiverse​‘s collab! happy holidays, honeys.

-

Your heartbeat is steady. And unsettlingly silent.

The darkness stretching from wall to wall, blanketing the rooms and corridors in a thick black only interrupted by the round stream of your flashlight which creates distorted shadows before you, does not make your blood pump faster anymore. A thrill you faintly remember from past times in this career is but a stale taste in the back of your throat now, its tang long since eroded.

Skimming over the numbers on each crate with heavy-lidded eyes as you proceed, your free hand digs in the pocket of your coat to retrieve a small list. You cannot bother to count the rooms you pass until you find the box with a code matching the one on your piece of paper, dismissing any distant thud that might reach your ear. Even the thought of one of the thugs you passed on the street before entering the warehouse following you inside, does not alarm you. You trust it would be different if a thirty-seven thousand credit blaster - stolen, naturally - wasn’t fastened to your utility belt, but you cannot be sure anymore.

You shove the end of your flashlight in your mouth as you crouch before the targeted crate and pull out your cloaked mobile to hack the heavy lock sealing the lid shut - a fruitless attempt at keeping your kind out. And with nothing but a few taps and a few beeps more, the lock slides open.

The list feels amateur to you despite its ambition; two whole pairs of di-blasters, no less than three Caratian batteries and one weighty pouch of crystal powder. You're aware that this used to be exhilarating, the thousands of credits worth of cargo you are currently tucking in your backpack - multiplied with a one point two by your buyer. However. You suppress a yawn as you check the list again, before closing the crate with a loud boom.

And wandering back the way you came is just as uneventful as you remember it.

Until you hear a door shut somewhere behind you, not far away.

Instinct is what swings you around, arm steady with experience as you shine your light forth and around, other hand ready on the handle of your blaster. You see nothing but shelves and crates and more crates as your light scans the room, penetrating its dense shadow. Your heartbeat is picking up, but shyly so, your breathing yet even.

Silence. Similar to the one that often creeps inside your skull and lays its eggs of isolation and loneliness in your dreams when you try to sleep during some nights. You gulp, slowly releasing the grip on your blaster.

So you turn back around, quietly and carefully-

A face.

Halted breath.

Soonyoung?

Everything burns, lightning setting fire to the bones beneath your skin and squeezing your lungs of their air and-

...

A piercing headache is what coaxes your consciousness, eyes yet closed. Piercing, as though you are being slammed in the head with the handle of a blaster over and over, the resulting groan that crawls its way out of your chest almost causing you to jump in surprise. Attempting to pry your eyelids open only seems to worsen the incessant pounding, so you let them remain shut, slowly realizing that you are slouched on the ground, back leaned against a wall of some sort. You move to push yourself forward.

But your wrists are tied behind you.

It hurts when your breath hitches.

You force your eyes open then, despite it seemingly grasping your brain and ripping it apart, the instinct to survive activating and tingling within your muscles.

A disorienting blur is all you see through your squinting, a distant canvas of blacks and greys and biting lights. You think a monotone whirr surrounds you but cannot be sure if its a figment of mere imagination through the painful pounding in your ears.

As your vision slowly steadies and your heartbeat’s speed increases, you see that someone sits before you. A face. When your eyes close, Soonyoung’s face flashes across the insides of your lids and you feel fluster burning beneath your cheeks, remembering. Soonyoung?

With a sharp sting, you blink and blink away the dim coating your pupils. It isn’t Soonyoung.

“Ji- ugh... Ji-...” Jihoon, your sore throat won’t let you say.

Jihoon?

His glare is pointed, willing everything in its way to turn to stone. Just like how it used to be. But filled with more hatred, directed at you now. And you can barely comprehend that it is really him.

The inside of a ship surrounds you when you look around, a grey and matte metal, various large crates - one of which Jihoon is seated upon - rucksacks and blasters and canisters and multicolored lights crowding the space. It is bigger than the ship of theirs from your memories.

Jihoon’s all but predatory gaze is still waiting when you return to it.

You try to clear your throat, wincing at the painful pounding that follows and echoes between the walls of your skull. Fingertips tingling, you remember being knocked out, in the warehouse. The fiery burn. Electricity.

“Ji-” you begin, voice raspy but Jihoon stands with a sigh and walks away, out through a doorway and presumably into another room.

You are left stunned, feeling abandoned, body aching. The chill he meets you with after all these years, without even as much as a word, squeezes around your heart in a most discomforting way, despite being expected. Despite him clearly having a hand in your current physical state.

But you ignore that pain and will your eyes to scan your surroundings, your instinct to survive muted but present, searching for any way to escape and run.

With as much power as you can muster in your unwell state and vulnerable position, you jerk your wrists against the cuffs tying your hands together. An electronic lock, you guess, definitely attached to the wall somehow. Inconvenient...

You swallow around slimy saliva, throat so dry it almost feels like sand on its way down. And Soonyoung’s face flashes behind your eyelids when you blink again.

Your eyes are fixed on the doorway now, somehow sensing exactly who will soon enter, rhythmic thuds of footsteps approaching.

But expecting his appearance does naught to calm the heat his presence spreads throughout your body.

Soonyoung.

The same Soonyoung but with grimmer eyes, a stronger build and a missing smile.

Your throat squeezes, feeling as though your heart has jumped up and plugged it shut in an attempt to leave the painful constraints of your chest. Feelings you have tried to keep hidden for so long. Nails bite into your palms where your hands form tight fists behind you.

He walks with steady steps, sharp eyes narrow when they meet yours, Jihoon stopping to lean against the doorway while someone unfamiliar follows behind Soonyoung.

It hurts to breathe as heavily as you are now but you cannot stop.

Soonyoung stills before you to sit where Jihoon had, the stranger standing behind him scrutinizing you. But you don’t pay the latter much mind.

“Soonyoung...” you sigh, but an injured whisper, something salty burning distantly behind your eyes.

He watches you silently, eyebrows twitching slightly at the utterance of his name.

“Why-” you begin but stumble on a cough.

Soonyoung reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a small flask, unscrewing the lid and guiding it to your mouth, helping you drink. If he were anyone else, you would give the offer a second guess. But he’s Soonyoung.

Yet here you are, captive in his ship.

“You never were good at being taken by surprise...” His voice resonates within the deepest parts of your chest and you choke slightly on the water, fists tightening impossibly when his sentence his followed by your name. The familiar vibrations in your ears are too shocking and it somehow scares you, a feeling you do not experience much of.

Soonyoung retracts the flask and flashes you a strained smile, eyes remaining dull. “That’s why we made such a good team.”

A stab in the heart, is what that sentence feels like and you cannot help but shift your eyes to the floor, your dirty boots. Unearned, since you were the one holding the knife back then.

You test your voice with a careful hum, lifting your eyes to meet Soonyoung’s returned frown. “Wh- uhm... I- You electrocuted me... Didn’t you?”

He nods, something pained in his stare. Freezing compared to how Jihoon made you feel. “Yes.”

“Wh-” A cough. “Where’s my ship?”

“We’ve parked it in a private haven. It’s ours now.”

Your gaze shifts from Soonyoung to the stranger behind him, his expression inquisitive, then to Jihoon, glare heavy with unmistakable anger. A swallow tightens your throat.

“You- Why am I here?”

“We want credits,” Soonyoung says and you frown. “A desire you must be pretty familiar with...”

Your heartbeat freezes for a second and something stings somewhere behind your eyes again. There is venom in his voice that never used to be there before. But you are who poisoned him so the hurt you feel is unearned, you remind yourself.

“So, then just take-”

“We want credits,” Soonyoung repeats, interrupting you and resting his elbows on his thighs to lean closer. “... but not yours.”

When your eyes stray due to puzzlement they are only received by Jihoon’s still hateful glare, therefore returning to Soonyoung quickly. Even though his hostility hurts you more.

“Then... What will you do with me...?”

The man before you shrugs, head jerking when black strands of hair catch on his eyelashes. “Nothing much... We’re not gonna kill you or hurt you any more. But I can’t make such promises on the Chancellor’s behalf.”

Your jaw drops along with your heart, and probably your temperature too.

“You’ve pissed a lot of people off, y’know?” Soonyoung continues, leaning away. “The bounty on your head only keeps increasing, especially alive.”

“Y-... You’re fetching me for the Chancellor...” Your voice is significantly weaker now.

And it seems to reach Soonyoung differently, because the chill in his gaze turns glum, a poignance in the way he observes your deflating form on the floor of his ship. Which only seems to worsen the pain viciously clawing at your insides, like your body is only just realizing that it is really him. He found you, after so long. And he is sending you to your probable death.

“Soonyoung...”

He purses his lips, as if biting back an apology of some sorts that he knows you don’t deserve. A nod is all you get before he stands again.

“Jeonghan, upload the route and start the ship,” he commands, seemingly to the stranger behind him. Then he is gone through the doorway again, what remains of your heart merely left to soak in self-inflicted misery.

...

They decide to watch you for one shift each whilst you travel toward your pending doom, a wise decision considering your track record of escaping sticky situations. Coupled with the fact that you do not want to hurt either Soonyoung or Jihoon anyway, despite phantom heat still tingling throughout your limbs from the earlier electric shock and heavy handcuffs digging into your wrists.

Jeonghan, the stranger, is the first to watch you. He is surprisingly nice to you, offers you water and even bread, initiating small talk - something you cannot remember when you last did without an ulterior motive.

“So, you used to know Soonyoung and Jihoon, right?” he asks at one point with an encouraging smile, making you wonder how much he knows. The weight of the question rings quietly in your ears.

“Uhm, yes... Yes, I used to know them...”

When you say no more, despite Jeonghan’s patience, he clears his throat. “Did... you guys have a falling out?”

You scoff upon reflex. “Yeah, you could say that...”

Jeonghan squints. “What happened?”

A heaviness brews within Jeonghan’s eyes and suddenly you feel like he knows everything, like he is just asking to confirm what he has already been told. To decide if you really are the vile monster he thinks of you as.

The darkness of the cargo hold turns colder suddenly and you look away. “I’d rather not talk about it...” you squeak as your heart thuds painfully.

Jeonghan’s all but invasive stare fades and he changes the subject then.

...

The next shift is Jihoon’s and you have never felt as naked, vulnerable and guilty as you do under his burning glare.

He doesn’t utter one single word. Only sits in front of you and stares, seemingly trying to summon your death with nothing but one long look and a chilling quiet. And you are terribly surprised that it doesn’t work.

Not even sleep is worth attempting in Jihoon’s silence as when your lids fall shut Jihoon’s loathing expression is imprinted behind them, slowly morphing into Soonyoung’s instead. It only makes your heart jump and eyes itch, so you endure Jihoon’s invisible knives with an increasingly parched throat for the duration of his shift.

...

Despite how unsettling being watched by Jihoon proved to be, when it is Soonyoung’s turn you almost ask Jihoon to stay.

Your body has grown heavy with fatigue but your mind awakens painfully when Soonyoung approaches, bringing a tension so thick it makes you sweat with him. Therefore his first action of offering you water is appreciated. But the way there’s a permanent frown weighing at the corners of his mouth makes the water taste bitter.

You break the silence after moisturizing your vocal chords, speaking over the consistent beeping sounds in the background.

“I think Jihoon wants me dead,” seems like the only thing you can think of saying. Even though there are so many words boiling within your chest with Soonyoung’s name written all over them, you feel like you do not have the right to their utterances.

Soonyoung’s lips purse, slanted gaze serious. “You’re probably right.”

It hurts, though you have not earned that pain. Only caused it.

A quiet that lasts a forged eternity proceeds, until the tension turns deafening.

Soonyoung sighs, a slow hand combing through his hair. “Jihoon used to like you more than me, y’know? You were always his favorite...”

It really hurts.

“Until you fucked us over,” Soonyoung finishes.

Averting your eyes you swallow around slimy saliva, a cold knot twisting in the pit of your stomach. And there is a burn behind your eyelids you are afraid will boil over if you meet Soonyoung’s stare again. The cognizance of your weakness that washes over you and makes your hairs stand on end is unpleasant, mercilessly corroding the strong image you’ve built of yourself.

“You-you gave up everything we had for... money,” Soonyoung continues when you can’t, the weight of his tone increasing. “You left us, you left... me. You left me for fucking credits...” His voice wavers and it’s a dagger in your heart, a sting behind your eyes.

Your memory is as clear as if it had only just happened. Seeing the offer that had been sent to you. Considering and considering and considering, all those credits that could be yours if you just made the right choice. Lying sleepless next to Soonyoung that night, palm flat on his naked chest. Getting dressed quietly, leaving the ship with the emptiness of an unspoken goodbye in your stomach, one you convinced yourself wasn’t real. Giving away the ship’s location to the bidder, knowing the trouble it would bring your friend and your lover. How salty the countless credits tasted once yours. You still taste it now.

Though you cannot be sure of how long it takes for you to notice that you are crying, you find that your will to save face has run out. You break at last.

Ugly sobbing bounces between the metal walls of the ship, worsening with each breath as you keep remembering that you are not the one who should be crying. Your lungs burn painfully, Jihoon and Jeonghan surely waking upon your horrid weeping. It feels as though your heart is melting, running down your cheeks and dying as the droplets flatten across the floor. In only moments, you are reduced to nothing. Nothing but shame. And the man whose heart you battered witnesses it all.

Eventually, there are no more tears left to cry and silence thrives again, save for the rhythmic beeping.

“I’m sorry,” comes the apology that is long overdue, as raspy as it may be.

Soonyoung’s expression is blue, eyes glazed over with a sadness you only recognize now when yours are too. “It doesn’t matter,” he reminds you, though his tone is not as dismissive as the sentence it offers.

Your head shakes quickly, strands of hair sticking against your tacky cheeks. “I know it doesn’t. You’ve always been a man of your word Soonyoung, and you will turn me in no matter what I say now...” you concede and Soonyoung’s shoulders slump. “I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I-I-I was greedy and selfish and only cared about credits, about feeling strong and independent and invincible-... Or so I thought. Or wanted to, I-... I cared about you two...” Your throat tightens, but you force your words out anyway. “I loved you Soonyoung and I- It wasn’t fake, I was never lying, I just-... I wanted to feel like I didn’t need you... And there will never be a time when I won’t regret what I did...”

Tears descend the expanse of your face again, but silently this time. And Soonyoung’s stare is filled with something warmer now, despite his steadfast sorrow. And you can only think about the hugs you left behind, the kisses, the smiles, the laughs.

“You’re an idiot.”

Your chest jumps at the new voice, blurry stare shooting to where Jihoon is leaned against the doorway again. He sounds the same after three years. And some of the hatred in his glare has faded now.

You nod carefully, lip shaking. “I know.”

Soonyoung’s eyes remain steadily on you.

From where your limbs are slumped in a dead pile against the wall, they stiffen abruptly when there’s a sudden hand on your cheek and your attention jumps to Soonyoung again. He wipes your tears with gentle touches, warm thumb soft across your skin. Nails tickle your cheekbone lightly as he moves to tuck some stray strands of hair behind your ear. Your heart must be shuddering.

“I missed you for a long time,” he tells you, pupils tracing the shapes of your features along with his finger. “And then hated you for even longer.”

Your lips purse, sour accord pooling in your eyes, his touch leaving a trail of pleasant tingles. “I hate myself too, and it’s due time I get served my share of consequences.”

Soonyoung’s lids become heavier and his gaze darkens. “You should get some sleep now,” he mutters.

And the temperatures within and around you drop when his hand leaves your face.

...

Despite Soonyoung’s request and your extreme fatigue, sleep did not come easily that night. Likely due to the knowledge of your approaching punishment - though it is hard for you to imagine feeling any worse than you already do.

The guilt that you postponed for the past years weighs uncomfortably on your shoulders as you now stand by the still sealed ramp, and so do the electronic cuffs around your wrists along with the hanging shadows beneath your eyes. A sickness is brewing in your stomach, made up of shame and hunger, but you somehow like it in the same way that you deserve it.

You can sense Soonyoung’s presence behind you as much as you can hear it by his footsteps, and turn around slowly. Jihoon and Jeonghan stand idly in the background, also awaiting your departure. Though there is seemingly something sour in the curl of Jihoon’s brow, and something hesitant in the stiffness of Jeonghan’s lip.

But undoubtedly, the grim matte of Soonyoung’s eye is worst of all.

His face hasn’t been this close in years and the longing ache his proximity offers feels as undeserved as his frown. You threw him away and he is still the victim, despite the handcuffs trapping you. Soonyoung is still the good one.

“It’s time,” he says, voice steady and breath fanning your face. He really is close.

You nod, "it’s time.” And the silence that has plagued your chest for too long only deepens then, cold within the confines of your ribs.

A smile is what the grimace you present is meant to be, eyes piercing his own, desperately trying to remember his exact shade of brown and the charming tilt encasing it. What you fell for, what you betrayed and what put you in your place. This is right, as much as it hurts and as dead as it renders your barely beating heart. The goodbye you have earned.

But a fire is rising in Soonyoung’s gaze, even though it’s not supposed to.

And then he is grabbing your face, gloved palms flat against your cheeks, and kissing you. His lips are soft and plump, his pace is hard and reckless, his taste is warm and familiar and your whole body is frozen. Until your heart bursts with something so loud it feels like it hasn’t made a single sound in forever.

Coming to half your senses, you kiss Soonyoung back with as much fervor as you can manage, tied hands tingling with an insatiable desire to touch him and hold him closer. As if hearing your silent plea, he pulls you in, leaving no air to breathe between you. You distantly imagine Jihoon’s head turning away and Jeonghan’s unreadable expression but cannot find the will to care.

Soonyoung pulls away far too soon and his serious yet heavy-lidded gaze pierces you still.

“Listen to me,” he starts, chest heaving in time with yours, grip meaningful on your shoulders. “Get out of there as quickly as you can, and come find me.”

Your whole body is shaking under the impact of your heartbeat.

“Understand?” Soonyoung’s brows shoot upward.

The demand is unrealistic. You have not heard of anyone escaping the captivity of the Chancellor and know that the odds are positively against you, no matter how skilled you might be. Your death is surely ready to welcome you with open arms, as soon as the ramp is lowered.

Yet, you nod. Knees quivering.

Faintly, you register something beeping.

“Soonyoung,” Jeonghan calls.

You don’t know what to make of the man’s expression when you turn to look, nor Jihoon’s.

Soonyoung’s whisper of your name brings your bug-eyed stare back to him. Those deep brown, fiery eyes.

You nod again.

He sighs, carefully.

Then steps away to push the button that opens the ramp.

Cold winds rush inside the ship and tousle your hair, worsening the shaking in your limbs. But all you feel is rhythmic exhilaration pumping from your heart.

You turn around, met with the sight of the Chancellor’s guards standing in the midst of a snowstorm, waiting for you. Nearly stumbling while descending the ramp’s tilt, the guards grab you and begin searching you immediately, while one of them relays a message to Soonyoung that you can’t seem to hear.

Your neck twists, eyes looking up and meeting Soonyoung’s from where he stands at the top of the ramp. Something in your chest is screaming and it’s deafening.

With guards’ hands patting you down, Soonyoung smiles and his eyes do too. And you are immediately infected, mirroring his expression instinctively, aware of how little you deserve him. In the chilling temperatures of this weather, your blood is warm. Soonyoung presses the button.

When the ramp seals shut, you are left knowing that Soonyoung will be there and he is left wondering if you will ever come.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

One Night🌙7

Warnings: noncon sexual acts (to be warned later in series), Angry Andy, kissing.

This is dark!Andy Barber and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: One night changes your entire life.

for @kittykatlow​‘s 200 Follower Celebration

Note: Alright, here’s chapter 7. Andy’s anger is finally at a head.

Hope you enjoy it. Thank you. Love you guys!

Please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

Felicia waited for you on the patio of the restaurant. She already had a bright blue drink and waved to you as you approached the low barrier around the dining area. You sat across from her and cradled your purse between your leg and the arm of the chair. She handed you the drink menu and you sheepishly set it aside.

The waitress approached and asked for your drink order. You asked for a water and plated nervously with the corner of the menu.

“Water?” Felicia commented. “What are you, on a cleanse?”

You bit into your lip and glanced around. You couldn’t hide it forever. It was inevitable. But that didn’t make it any less embarrassing. You rubbed your cheek and leaned an elbow on the chair.

“I can’t…” You took a breath. “Why don’t you tell me how you’ve been before I get into it.”

“Wha-- uh, things are fine,” She gave you a suspicious look. “Benny and me are just fine. I’m sorry you couldn’t crash but… you back at your mom’s?”

The waitress returned with your water and you paused to give her your order. She took your menus and left you with a smile. You had a brief nostalgic moment for the diner thought it hadn’t been that long since you’d tendered your resignation.

“Yeah… it’s a long story.” You said. “Promise you won’t judge me.”

“When have I ever? Don’t you remember when I got us kicked out of that country bar?” She laughed.

“Ha, um, yeah, but…” You sighed and pressed your hands to your neck. “I’m pregnant.”

“What?” She chocked on her electric blue cocktail as she tried to sip. “Are you serious?”

“Kinda the reason my mom wanted me… out.” You sniffed. 

“Well, where are you staying now?” She set her glass down. “Better yet, who the fucked knocked you up?”

You looked around, hoping no one was listening. Felicia didn’t make it hard to eavesdrop.

“You remember when we went to the bar after my hours got cut? I got pretty drunk and…”

“You cabbed home with me,” She argued.

“Uh huh, well it wasn’t-- It was at the bar. In the… restroom. We just, you know.” You lowered your voice and touched your hot cheek.

“Oh my god, I never would imagine-- you!” She trilled. “Oh, I’m sorry, I know it’s serious but… wow.”

“Yeah, it is serious. Mom kicked me to the curb because the asshole who knocked me up insisted on telling her. And he wants to keep the damn kid,” You huffed. “On top of that, he’s…” Married. You couldn’t say it. “Well, I’m staying at his place right now. Not really ideal but it’s a nice place. I guess.”

She blinked and sat back. She scoffed in disbelief.

“Wow. Wow. I… I’m sorry I’ve been awol. I didn’t--”

“You didn’t know. I didn’t tell you.” You said. “Not exactly a shining moment.” 

“I can’t believe your mom kicked you out.” 

“Can’t you?” You rolled your eyes. “And I quit the diner.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, uh, got more house at the cafe.” You didn’t want to explain to her it wasn’t exactly your choice. “Look, I didn’t come here to talk about it all night. It’s all I can think of and it’s all so… overwhelming.”

“Then we won’t,” Felicia chimed. “Do you remember a few years ago when Liza met that guy online and he took her to the Chuck E Cheeze.”

“Oh my god, yeah.” You laughed. “And they got food poisoning.”

“She ran into him again. She said they’re giving it a second try.”

“You’re not serious?” 

🌙

You checked your phone as you finished paying the bill. You had a single message. From Andy, of course. 

‘ETA?’ Simple, short. The usual tone.

‘Should be home shortly. Probably around 9.’ You answered, hating that you had to check in with him like a teenager. Yet, if it could appease him and keep him off your ass, a few placid words were worth it.

“So, what now?” Felicia asked as she stood. 

“I should probably head home,” You fumbled with the strap of your purse as you hooked it across your body. 

“It’s not even nine. Jeez, I know you’ve got a baby on board but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.” She sang. “Come on, save that for when the kid’s actually here.”

“I don’t know,” You hesitated. 

Andy expected you at nine, and even if he understood you being a bit late, you really didn’t have the energy for a fight. But you weren’t a kid. You had every right to stay out past nine. Regardless of his house rules. Fuck him.

“Alright, fine, but… what are you thinking?”

“Drinks are a no and I don’t know if dancing is really a great idea but you should come back to mine,” She looped her arm through yours. “Benny’s out for the night but he left his Switch. When’s the last time I kicked your ass in Mario Kart?”

“Kicked my ass?” You scoffed. “That’s not how I remember it.”

“Must be pregnancy brain already,” She giggled. “Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on you, mama.”

🌙

It was past eleven when you got in. You caught the last bus and hoped against hope that Andy was asleep when you got in. The sheer amount of messages that bubbled up on your screen assured you that he was not happy. You were reassured that the lights were all out, only the porch light remained on in expectation of you.

You unlocked the door quietly and eased inside. You closed it, muffling the click with your hand cupped around the handle. You turned the lock into place and dug out your phone, holding up the screen as a light as you faced the dark house. The lamp beside the couch bloomed with a yank of the chain as Andy sat up.

“You’re late.” He said tersely.

You cringed and lowered your phone.

“You didn’t have to wait--”

“I was worried sick. You said nine. It’s almost midnight.” He stood. “I couldn’t sleep. I drove all around looking for you. You couldn’t send me one text?”

“Sorry, I was… distracted.” You unlooped your purse and set it down on the round table beside the armchair, placing your phone beside it. “Next time, I’ll--”

“Next time? I gave you the rules. I was lenient with you and you do this.” His hands went to his hips the way they always did when he was angry. “There’s not gonna be a next time.”

“What do you-- you can’t-- you’re not my father. I wish you would stop acting like it.” You snarled. “Christ, you said you’d take your foot off the pedal, I wasn’t aware that meant it would land on my neck.”

“I have to work tomorrow! I have to make money so that I can pay for the baby! Not just a crib, or stroller, or car seat, but your hospital room and-- and-- clothes and--” He threw his hand up. 

“I had two jobs. You made me quit one.” You hissed. “You can’t throw this in my face.”

“If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be living with your damned parents. If it wasn’t for me--”

“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be knocked up.”

“Takes two to tango, sweetie.” He spat. “You weren’t helpless. If you’re such a big girl, you can’t act the victim.”

“Fuck you!”

“That’s what got us into this mess,” He snapped.

Your nostrils flared as you swallowed down your anger. You grabbed your purse and phone, and shoved the latter in the former. You stormed past him before he could catch you and swept up the staircase. You went to the guest room as you heard him behind you and slammed your door. You flicked the lock into place and went through to the bathroom to lock that door. You returned to the bed room and started shoving clothes into a tote. You didn’t need him. You could find a way.

He pounded on your door. “Hey, what are you doing? Let me in.”

“Go away, Andy.” You hollered. “I’m leaving.”

“And where are you going to go?” He sneered through the door. “Huh? Not gonna look good for you living on the street with the baby.”

You ignored him and kept cramming your stuff into the bag. You winced as the door thumped. You turned as it jolted in the frame again and the third bang saw the latch broken and the wood slamming against the wall. Andy rubbed his shoulder as he stood in the doorway.

“You’re not going anywhere,” He charged towards you.

“Stop!” You stumbled back and the bag slipped to the floor along with your purse. “Andy!”

He grabbed your shoulders and pushed you so that you fell onto the bed. You gasped as climbed atop you, holding himself over you as his nose almost touched yours.

“You’re scaring me,” You whimpered. “Please. Don’t hurt…” You touched his chest shakily. “The baby…”

“You think I’d hurt the baby,” He shook his head. “What the fuck have I been doing here?”

“I don’t-- Andy, please, get off.” You begged.

“Do you have any idea how fucking scared I was?” He got closer until his nose pressed to yours, until you could feel his breath on your lips. “I thought-- I thought something had happened to you.”

“Please, please, Andy, I’m--” The tears welled in the corner of your eyes. “I don’t feel--”

His lips smushed against yours and your hands were crushed between your chests as he kissed you fervently. You were stunned and light-headed. Your eyes rolled back as the room spun and you curled your fingers against him. You groaned as you tried to shove him away.

Finally, he parted but you still felt dizzy. Even laying down. Your head lolled as another wave rolled over you. Your eyes fluttered and your hands fell limp between your bodies.

“Help,” You murmured as you felt suddenly fatigued. “Andy--” Your breath went out of you and it felt impossible to get enough air. “Something’s wrong.”

“Fuck,” He pushed himself off of you and the bed bounced beneath you. “Fuck!”

He lifted you to your feet but you barely had the strength to stand. He wrapped his arm around you and led you to the door. You clung to him without thinking, afraid you would fall as your legs threatened to collapse. He scooped you up as you staggered and angled you through the door.

He carried you sideways down the stairs and bent awkwardly with you in his arms as he gathered up his keys and wallet.

“I’m sorry,” He uttered as he fumbled blindly with the door knob. “I’m sorry.”

Your head spun as it rested against his shoulder. You were inexorably tired. He got you outside and hurried to the car. He managed to get the door open and you slumped into the seat as he set your down. He buckled you up before he ran to close the front door and returned to the car. 

The engine rumbled and he backed up sharply out of the driveway. The street lights blurred in your vision and you closed your eyes. Your heart was racing and yet you still couldn’t breath. You listened to the empty streets and the whir of the engine as you felt the car’s motion speeding ahead.

Flashes of reality tinged the haze which fell over you. The sound of the car door, ‘EMERGENCY’ printed in large red letters, voices, panicked and calm, a flurry of activity all around. And then it all just faded away and you were no longer so tired.

🌙

You awoke to the sterile smell of the hospital room. The bright lights painted your vision in white and you looked over to the chair against the wall. The window was a dull grey as another Boston morning approached. Andy sat in the thinly cushioned chair, arms crossed, his chin lowered, breath steady. 

You groaned as you brought your hand to your forehead. You felt heavy and your head throbbed but the dizziness had faded. Andy grunted as he sat up and stood quickly at the sight of your awakening. He neared and hit the button attached to the rail of your bed.

“How are you feeling?” He asked as he touched your hand. 

You pulled back and scowled at him. All you remembered was him on top of you, smothering you. And that night before, creeping in the dark, touching you.

The door opened and a nurse appeared. She smiled as she approached.

“You’re awake,” She said. “How are we feeling?”

“Tired,” You grumbled.

“Would you like some water?” She asked. “We do have to check your blood pressure quickly but we can get you something before the doctor comes to talk with you.”

“I’m fine,” You breathed. Your lungs no longer felt so thick. “What happened?”

“The doctor will go over everything,” She pulled the cuff free from the machine and wrapped it around your arm. “You’re okay. The baby’s okay.”

You nodded and let her scribble down the numbers. She left you after adjusting your bed to a sitting position. Andy hovered around you and you felt like smacking him and yet you were too weak for that. You let your head fall back and stared at the ceiling.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean too--”

“Save it.” You croaked. “What did you expect, Andy? You know how fucking horrid it is? Having to tiptoe around you? Don’t you think it’s bad enough knowing I have this goddamn child inside of me? Sucking every ounce of energy out of me? I--”

You gulped as you suddenly felt like crying. You kept quiet and blinked away the droplets that threatened to fall. It was almost twenty minutes before the door opened again. The entire time, Andy kept pacing around your bed. His impatience made you restless.

“Hello, I am Doctor Ari-Hass,” The man in the white coat greeted as he took your chart from the plastic pocket. “You feeling alright, ma’am?”

“Better than I did,” You shrugged. “Is there something wrong with me?”

“Nothing serious.” He assured you. “It is normal for many women to experience anemia during pregnancy. It seems you are one of them. An easy fix. Iron and folic acid should help.”

You nodded and shifted on the bed.

“However, you display an elevated blood pressure,” He peeked at the folder again. “It is early on but it would suggest a high risk of preeclampsia later on in your pregnancy. This is not to say that the baby is in danger as yet but it does put in a higher category of risk.” He explained. “That means we need to decrease stressors and you will be expected to monitor your blood pressure at home.”

“Okay,” You sighed. 

“Do you work?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’m a… a barista,” You said.

“Ah, yes, customers will be stressful, if possible, take an early leave from work, if not try to reduce your hours,” He suggested. “No heavy lifting. Avoid lifting at all, if possible. No running. Try to calm yourself when you feel anxious, meditation and breathing exercises as well.”

He smiled and glanced at Andy who listened intently, as if taking mental note of every word.

“And at the risk of being forward, I might add that… there are ways as a couple of relaxing,” He chuckled. “Orgasms reduce tension. Forgive my crudeness.”

Andy’s brow twitched and he cleared his throat. “Sure, we understand.”

“Good. Now you are all clear to leave. Your blood pressure is still higher than normal but it has shown improvement. I suggest rest. Lots of it.” The doctor closed your file. “And you can call and ask for me should you feel another episode coming on.”

“Alright, thank you,” You said.

He left you and you crossed your arms as you glared at Andy. You were both entirely deflated and inflamed by the news. Your job would be as good as kaput. You knew he wouldn’t let you go back and that meant more time with him. You sat up and rubbed your forehead.

“Let’s go,” You huffed. 

“We should talk--”

“Not now,” You pushed down the rail and threw your legs over the side of the bed. “The doctor said to avoid stress.”

[kissinginkitchens]

You Bring Me Home—Chapter Five: Like Real People Do

a/n: hellooo and welcome to the next part of ybmh!! i am sooooo excited about this next chapter (and upcoming chapters😏 ). Thank you again for all of your kind words and wonderful feedback! It's always so much fun to hear from you all, so as always, feel free to come chat in my inbox once you've finished this next part. I have a feeling there will be much to discuss👀 Much love, Mel <3

Pairing: Hawai'i!Harry x Original Character

Warnings: swearing, allusions to sexual content, mentions of drowning

Word Count: 5.6k

read parts one, two, three, and four

“I’m not going,” Alani says finally, discarding the outfit in her hands onto a pile on her bed. The clock reads 7:55 pm, only five minutes before she was supposed to be at the studio. She still hadn’t selected an outfit, but her hair and makeup were still relatively intact from her shift at the café.

“You have to!” Pua whines. “You told him you would!”

“Then I’ll tell him I’m sick or something—food poisoning. Period cramps, maybe,”

She begins placing the clothes on hangers to put back in her closet, but her sister reaches for her wrists to stop her.

“You’re just nervous,” Pua says calmly, getting eye level with her older sister. “But you’ll regret it if you don’t go,”

“Go where?” a woman’s voice calls from the door frame. Their mother, Estrella, peeks her head through the cracked door.

“To a party with a cute boy,” Pua explains.

Alani shoots an icy glare at her sister before turning back to her mom. “It’s not a party. I’m working on a piece about a local musician and he’s recording some music tonight and said I could go. You know, to write about it,”

Estrella nods, not convinced. “So why don’t you wanna to go?”

“Because they almost kissed—”

“Pua!”

“Hey, hey,” Estrella cuts in. “Mija, you’re twenty-two years old, I don’t expect you to stay single forever. If you want to go out and see a cute boy, you don’t need to lie about it,”

“But I’m not lying,” Alani defends. “It’s just… complicated, and I’m trying to be professional about it.”

Estrella steps away from the doorframe and envelops her daughter in a hug. “Sometimes, you just have to do what feels right and hope for the best,”

Alani is grateful for the piece of wisdom from her mother, feeling a small weight lifted off her shoulders.

“But if I were you,” her mom continues. “I would wear the black strappy dress with those wedges.”

********

8:10. Harry checks his phone for the third time in one minute, growing more disappointed each time the same three numbers stare back at him, almost mocking. He doesn’t feel any better when the time reads 8:11.

“Can I interest you in a piña colada?” Mitch pipes up, sauntering over with a glass in each hand.

The choice of drink seemed perfect when Harry had suggested it earlier in the day, but he deeply regrets it now. Despite the tightening at the back of his throat, Harry accepts the drink and chooses to nurse it in a different corner of the room. A part of him feels guilty for being such a buzzkill around his friends these days, and he wishes more than anything that he could just enjoy living in this moment with them. Being away from Alani had produced a strange feeling in him similar to the sickness experienced when leaving home on a long vacation; Harry didn’t know exactly how to cure it, but he hoped that lots of alcohol would do the trick.

When the clock reads 8:20, he accepts that she isn’t coming and decides to make the best of a shitty situation. He drains another piña colada and joins his friends who are huddled around various instruments and sound equipment. A few more of Harry’s writer and producer friends had joined the trip temporarily, and he’s grateful, now more than ever, for their presence—it distracts him from the overwhelming emptiness in the pit of his stomach. Jeff hands Harry a microphone and some headphones while Mitch plugs a white electric guitar into the amp. The guitarist begins with some chords that the crew has been messing around with for the past couple of days: an upbeat riff reminiscent of some of Harry’s favorite 70s rock pieces. His head is spinning mildly, but he uses the feeling as inspiration. He pinches his eyes shut and tries to let the lyrics flow, but the only words coming out are “she’s driving me crazy”, so he starts with that. The group also runs with it, adding a few yells and lyrics of their own. The song isn’t coherent in the slightest, filled mostly with laughter and choppy melodies, but it’s the best Harry has felt all night. He traded the piña coladas for a glass of tequila fit snugly in the palm of his hand, and true to Mitch’s word, the giggles emerge. At one point, he shouts the words “I’m havin’ your baby”, which makes zero sense to anyone in the room, including him, but they decide that it sounds cool and keep it going.

“It’s none of your business!” Mitch calls back, voice raised in his best soprano to mimic that of a woman. The shoddy attempt makes Harry laugh even harder and his hand clutches his stomach.

They continue on for what feels like hours, but in reality has only been forty-five minutes. At 9:05, Jeff Azoff heads outside to catch his breath and cool down. As he takes a seat on the steps, a yellow Ford Bronco pulls into the lot and Alani steps out once it's parked. She emerges in a black dress that falls mid thigh and a baby pink leather jacket, making her way nervously up the steps.

“Alani,” Jeff greets warmly with cheeks flushed. “Welcome. Party’s inside.”

She shoots him a grateful smile and reaches for the studio door, slipping inside cautiously. The music had been audible a mile down the road, but it’s even more overwhelming inside. Standing on a small coffee table in the center of the room is Harry with an arm draped around a shorter man wearing a black and white Adidas shirt. His dimples are on full display and his warbled words carry over the speakers to attack her from all sides. She recognizes Mitch hunched over a guitar and Jeff Bhasker spinning in an office chair, but she can’t put names to the other faces lingering around Harry. Alani feels extremely out of place, not knowing where she belongs in all of the chaos—it all seems to her like a living Jackson Pollock painting that she can’t look away from. In the middle of his off-key rendition of Wannabe by the Spice Girls, Harry’s eyes land on Alani and his smile grows ten times wider. He puts one foot in front of the other, completely disregarding the small size of the table, but he catches himself just as Alani lunges forward to help him. This results in their two bodies pressed flush against one another, the coolness of her leather jacket versus the warmth of his intoxication.

“You made it,” he slurs.

Alani takes a small step back and clears her throat. “Yeah. Sorry I’m late,”

“Don’ worry ‘bout it,” Harry shrugs, his eyes lighting up when he remembers something. “There’s piña coladas! In the kitchen,”

The fact that he remembered such a detail from their previous conversations and made an effort to incorporate it into this night makes her cheeks warm.

“Okay, cool. Thanks,”

Harry scans her appearance and his stomach flutters.

“Y’look really pretty,” he offers. Alani can tell that it takes every ounce of effort to do so.

“Thank you,” she murmurs, voice small.

“Wanna get some fresh air?”

“Yes, please.”

The two of them slip out through a side door and into the backyard, stopping just before the pier. Alani doesn’t know how much of these next moments Harry will remember in the morning, which makes her feel a little more confident to share what she’s truly thinking.

“Harry, I—”

“God, you’re so pretty,” he interrupts, running a hand through his hair.

Her cheeks heat up, but she pushes past the feeling. “And you’re drunk,”

“Yeah, true. But you’re still pretty. Always think so,”

Alani searches his eyes, which are sleepy and bloodshot, but there isn’t a trace of insincerity. In this moment, she also feels the overwhelming urge to be honest—about the butterflies in her stomach that only set flight when he’s around, and the way she constantly wonders what his lips would feel like against hers. But there’s an intensity behind Harry’s gaze, despite his intoxicate state, that stops her.

“You’re making this so hard,” Alani laughs lightly, more to herself than him.

“‘M sorry,” he offers. “Don’t mean to,”

She smiles at Harry’s completely innocent reply, not knowing what to do with all of the pent up affection she has for him. A part of her simply wants to scream in his face to stop being so goddamn endearing. Instead, Alani turns on her heel to put some space between them, but stops when she feels a warm hand tug at her fingers.

“Why d’you always do that?” Harry asks, his expression a little more sober.

Alani takes a deep breath. “Do what?”

“Pull away when I get close. Did it in the car that one time. And the other time at the beach,”

There’s a beat of silence where Alani isn’t sure how to respond, but before she does, Harry releases her fingers and takes a step back.

“Wait, that was stupid. ‘M sorry if I did anything—”

“No,” Alani interrupts, taking a step closer. “You haven’t done anything wrong,”

“So why?”

She releases a breath and swallows. “I don’t know,”

It isn’t the answer Harry is looking for, but he accepts it with a slow nod. Suddenly feeling the need to flee, he takes a step onto the railing of the pier and Alani’s heart rate speeds up.

“What’re you doing?”

“S’hard to tell,” he shrugs before letting himself fall into the water below.

“Harry!” she screams, heaving over the edge of the railing to find him. The drop, unbeknownst to her, is only six feet and he’s done it many times before.

After a few seconds, Alani sees him reemerge at the surface, shaking his wet hair out. There’s a small strip of sand along the shore below, so she bolts down the stairs to meet him at the bottom.

“What the fuck?!” She cries, panic welling in the brim of her eyes. “Why did you do that?”

“I don’t know,” he deadpans.

“You could’ve hurt yourself,” Alani croaks, her limbs shaking. “You—you could’ve—”

Harry reaches out to comfort her but she steps back.

“I gotta go,”

“Alani,” he says gently, but she doesn’t respond. “Alani, wait!”

She walks briskly back to the front lot, Harry close behind.

“Alani, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t follow me.” she orders.

Her words are like a dagger through his chest, but he respects her wishes and stops dead in his tracks. Harry stands soaking wet under the moonlight, feeling helpless as he watches Alani disappear into the darkness.

********

She wakes the next morning with puffy eyes and a heavy heart, still wearing the same black dress from the night before. The warm water of a morning bath eases some of the tension in her muscles, but she knows it will take a lot more to soothe the tightness in her chest.

Why do you always do that?

Do what?

Pull away.

Their conversation from the night before lingers like a nasty bruise in Alani’s mind, but she senses a bit of harsh truth in Harry’s words. She did have a bad habit of walking away when things got hard, especially concerning matters of the heart. Her instincts were all flight and no fight, so even if Alani had stayed, she isn’t sure how she would’ve explained her reasons for panicking. How do I gently pepper in the whole almost dying thing? she wonders, a lump forming at the back of her throat. Alani was only eight years-old when she nearly drowned, and though almost fourteen years had passed since then, she still vividly remembers the helplessness of sinking further under the strong tide. On nights after a particularly stressful day, Alani’s sleep is often disturbed by the sensation of her lungs slowly filling with water only to wake up drenched in sweat and clutching the sheets. She had worked hard for several years after the incident to overcome her fear of the ocean, but a part of her still couldn’t shed the debilitating need for caution. After all, it was easier to avoid the water altogether than to wade in blindly and get sucked under. Watching Harry sink into the unknown stirred the same sense of panic that Alani had felt all those years ago and threatened to undo her progress, but she quickly realized that it was the idea of losing him that had sent her into flight mode. She imagines the hollowness she would feel at the sight of waterfalls and the scent of vanilla; piña coladas—the drink and the song—tainted in her memory forever. The thought of Harry's absence was all too much to bear, but it’s how she knew that his presence must mean something. He meant something, and she couldn’t let him go.She ends her bath quickly and sifts through the first pair of clothes she can find. Suddenly none of it mattered: what she wore, how she looked, Rolling Stone—nothing but him. Alani thinks back to her mother’s words: sometimes you just have to do what feels right and hope for the best. All she needed to do was see him and the words would find themselves. The sky is overcast when she steps outside, so she quickly puts the top on Stevie and pulls out into the road, deciding to make one quick pit-stop before setting off to find him.

********

Harry’s head pounds and he feels as if the sun has been set to maximum brightness. His clothes reek of saltwater, his skin feels like sandpaper, and his mouth is the Sahara desert. None of this compares, however, to the sense of impending doom that settles in when the memories of the night before, particularly those of Alani, resurface. I’m so fucked, he groans. Harry doesn’t quite remember every detail, but he remembers enough; he remembers how pretty she looked, and reminding her of it. He feels the temporary warmth of her fingers and the coolness of her jacket pressed against his chest. There’s a bit of fuzziness between the Spice Girls and piña coladas, but then Harry remembers crashing through water and his memory gets clearer. He fucked up. He had upset Alani in some way and although he doesn’t quite know how, he knows that he would spend the rest of his life trying to make up for it. Harry sits up suddenly and the whole room spins, but he makes an effort to stand anyway. Need to see Alani, he thinks with determination, I just need to see Alani.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” Mitch comments from the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee.

“What time is it?” Harry croaks.

Mitch takes a sip of coffee and checks his phone. “10:30,”

“And last night was…”

“The party?” Mitch fills in the gaps. “Yeah,”

Harry rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands and takes a seat at the table. “Did...did you see Alani?”

“No. I don’t think anyone did, actually. Did you?”

“Yeah,”

“So… I’m assuming it didn’t go well?”

Harry’s throat tightens and he hopes that she at least got home safely. He can’t bear to think about anything bad happening to her on his watch.

“No,” he confirms with a sigh. “No it didn’t,”

“Are you gonna go talk to her?” Mitch prods.

“Dunno if I should. She was pretty pissed,”

Mitch thinks for a second, taking another sip of coffee. “What would Noah Calhoun do?”

Under normal circumstances, Harry would be very amused by his friend’s reference to The Notebook, but right now he’s too focused on making things right with Alani. He devises a plan of action and stands.

“On a scale of one to ten,” he starts. “How shitty do I look?”

Mitch scans his best friend over, head tilting from side to side as he considers the question. “About a 7.5.”

“Good enough.”

Harry swipes the keys to the Cadillac off the counter and slips his feet into a pair of beat up vans before heading out the door.

********

The restaurant is fairly empty, as far as Alani can tell from the back. The kitchen staff are gathered in the break room for the time being, which allows her to tiptoe around unnoticed as she grabs the necessary ingredients for her peace offering to Harry. She hurries out through the employee entrance as soon as it’s complete and the key is already turning in her car’s lock when she hears a voice over her shoulder, calling her name.

“David?” she responds, turning to face the brawny man leaning against the car that is parked beside hers.

“Hey,” he starts, offering a flash of pearly white teeth. “I know I’m not supposed to be back here, but I just wanted to talk to you,”

Alani swallows, the icy chill of the drink in her hands reminding her of what needs to be done.

“You know, now’s not really a gr—”

“I haven't stopped thinking about you,” David interrupts, taking a step closer. “Since the other day when you stopped by. I mean, I think about you all the time but…” he trails off and Alani waits awkwardly for him to finish his ill-timed confession. David takes another step towards her and rests his forearm against the hood of her car, practically boxing her in with no escape route.

“We were really great together, don’t you think?” he asks, scanning her face with his prying eyes. “I don’t even remember why we broke things off,”

Alani’s brow furrows, her mind failing to come up with a logical explanation for this very sudden and uncomfortable conversation. She hadn’t lied when she told Harry that David wasn’t her ex, but she hadn’t been entirely honest, either. They had started hooking up during her senior year of high school—mostly because he was the star swimmer on their team that all the other girls fawned over, and despite all the attention, he had wanted her. It made her feel momentarily special, though she knew he wasn’t the boyfriend type. “Just a bit of fun” is what they called it, and the arrangement worked out well until Alani’s freshman year of college when she realized that there was an entire world of opportunities waiting beyond the confines of high school. A world that had brought her Harry, who was probably going to leave just as soon as he’d arrived if she didn’t make amends quickly.

“No,” Alani says decisively, nudging his arm away. “We weren’t ‘great’ together, we weren’t even good for each other,”

“Alani-”

“We were really young,” she continues. “And we did what we did, but that’s all in the past-”

“If you would just give me a chance-”

“I didn’t even know what I wanted for myself back then, let alone what I wanted out of a partner. But I do now,”

She doesn’t have to say Harry’s name, but they’re both thinking it. David steps back, arms crossed, and though he had always been somewhat intimidating, he looks small standing before her now.

“It’s because of that British guy, isn’t it?” he asks, despite the feeling that he already knows the answer.

Alani lets out a light laugh but she doesn’t confirm his suspicions. “We have nothing in common, David. We want different things out of life, you’ll see,”

“And he,” David continues, an accusatory tone on the word “he”. “Wants everything you do?”

She thinks for a moment, her heart pounding as she considers what Harry’s response will be to her confession. “I hope so.”

********

Harry had considered going to Alani’s house first, but he wasn’t sure who else would be home and didn’t particularly want his first interaction with her parents to occur whilst hungover. Sitting parked on the back road behind the café, however, he wishes that he had stopped there first to save him the painful sight ahead. Harry recognizes the other man from the restaurant he had taken Alani to the first time they had hung out, a name that started with the letter “D," though probably not the one flashing angrily in his mind. His arm is draped comfortably along the roof of her car, their bodies inches apart in what appears to be a very intimate moment. While he still can’t remember the exact details of his actions that had upset Alani so much, he fits this piece into the puzzle and it becomes much more clear. She has a boyfriend, and no amount of apologies could reconcile this fact, however tempted Harry may be to try. The word “boyfriend” sits uncomfortably in his mind, but it suddenly puts everything else into perspective. It explains why she fled his car so quickly when his wandering eyes had hinted their desire for her kiss—both times. He could have sworn that it would have happened had her phone not interrupted them the second time, but perhaps it had all been a trick of the rose-colored light. The sudden realization makes Harry feel sick, and a bit foolish, so he speeds off before he can be spotted.

He drives aimlessly for a while, mind still racing with the image of the other man’s depraved hands on Alani’s soft skin. The uneasiness boiling in the pit of his stomach is pathetic—he’s well aware—but he can’t stop himself from wondering why not me? It’s a selfish thought, but it eats at him, nonetheless. It should have been me. But the reality is that it wasn’t him, and it never would be. Despite any feelings he’d had that Alani was the one for him, he was not the one for her, and it’s a fact he must learn to live with. If this thought were a rock, he’d turn it over in his fingers until they bled.

********

Alani pulls up to the studio hesitantly and waits a beat before making her way up the stairs. She knocks twice, but there’s no answer, so she presses her ear to the door in search of any sound. Silence. There’s no trace of the cars Harry usually drives when she wanders to the back lot, either, so she figures that he must not be here. Alani racks her brain for other possible locations, but it’s a dead end. She doesn’t know what hotel or house he could be staying at, and her heart begins to race at the idea that he might not even be in Hawaii anymore. For all she knows, he could be on a return flight to L.A. or London, gone forever with the same instructions she had left him: don’t follow me. Alani lifts her phone with trembling fingers and searches Harry’s name, pressing the phone to her ear and praying like she had never prayed before. It rings three times before she’s sent to voicemail. The sound of his voice on the recording brings temporary relief, but it’s gone as soon as the message ends and she is prompted to respond. She clears her throat gently and speaks as if he is at the other end waiting to hear the right words and pick up.

“Hi, it’s Alani,” she starts slowly. “I, uh…. I’m at the studio. I don’t think you’re here though,”

She walks in small circles around the backyard and lets her eyes roam to the pier where it all went wrong. It sends a pang of guilt through her spine, but it fuels her next words.

“Listen, I really wanna talk—about last night. I shouldn’t have left, I know that now. It wasn’t you, it was me, and I know that sounds cliché but it’s true,”

Alani swallows down the emotion bubbling at the back of her throat and wishes that she could just see him, face to face, one last time. There’s so much more she needs to say, but it’s a conversation she doesn’t want to have with his answering machine.

“Please just call me when you get this. I wanna explain everything if you’ll let me.”

She hangs up and nearly throws her phone into the ocean. Though her trauma response wasn’t completely in her control and it isn’t something she should feel guilty about, she wishes she had been able to explain. Alani hadn’t always been comfortable sharing that part of her life, but there was a security in Harry’s presence that made her feel okay to do so. She wanted to share everything with him, the good and the bad, but she needed to find him first.

Only twenty minutes had elapsed at the studio when Alani decides to head out; there was still no word from Harry and she needed to be anywhere else beside the site of their potential last meeting. She drives with no particular place in mind, the windows rolled down to let in the chilly, overcast air. It isn’t until she’s halfway in the opposite direction that she gets the urge to visit one other location. There’s an extremely small chance that Harry will be there, but she goes less in search of him and more for her own personal wallowing.

When Alani pulls up to the lookout where the two of them had spotted the rainbow, there is another car already parked: a pink Cadillac. The sight makes her entire body freeze.

“Harry?” a small voice calls behind him. He almost thinks that he had hallucinated it until he reluctantly turns his head and sees a timid Alani emerging from her car. A million emotions run through his mind at once, starting with confusion and elation and ultimately ending in grief.

“Hey,” he responds, weakly, still leaning against the hood of the Cadillac.

Alani slowly makes her way over, not entirely sure that he’s actually there. Once she gets closer, however, she can smell the faint scent of vanilla and her chest swells.

“I left you a voicemail,” is all she can say.

Harry’s brow furrows as he tries to remember any phone calls, but he suddenly figures that in all of his rush to see her, he had forgotten to grab it from his bed.

“Left my phone at the house,” he offers.

There’s a brief silence where the two of them size each other up, weighing their own motives against what they assume to be the other person’s. Harry speaks first.

“Alani, ‘m really sorry,” he says gently, stepping away from the car and towards her. “I know I fucked up—”

“Harry—”

“But I understand now,” he continues. “I know why you were upset,”

Confusion settles into Alani’s body and she wonders how he could possibly know about her accident. Or if he didn’t know, what else he could be referring to. She doesn’t have to guess for long because Harry continues despite her silence.

“I saw you with him—your boyfriend, I mean. Derek?” he explains. “But not in a creepy way I just.. wanted to talk. Bad timing,”

“Wait,” Alani cuts in, her brain finally sorting out the pieces. “You saw me and David..today?”

Harry feels as if the knife in his chest has been twisted further at the mention of the other man’s name, but he nods. An uncontrollable bubble of laughter finds its way up Alani’s throat, and the sound would typically bring butterflies to his stomach, but it only exacerbates the heartache.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Alani clarifies. “He’s delusional. And a huge pain in the ass, but I think he finally got the hint when I turned him down earlier,”

Harry’s ears perk up at the news, but he’s still wary.

“But you two were—”

“Ancient history,” Alani reassures him, taking another step closer. “He might as well be Socrates,”

A faint smile tugs at the corners of Harry’s lips and he feels a wave of relief wash over his body. The news is music to his ears, but he still wants to know what he had done to make her walk away that night.

“So you weren’t upset because you have a boyfriend and I tried to make a move?”

Alani takes a deep breath, knowing that she has avoided saying her piece long enough. Before she can start, though, a rumble of thunder interrupts her thoughts.

“Can we talk in Stevie? I don’t feel like standing in wet socks again,” she asks, which Harry obliges.

The two climb into the truck and settle in, the atmosphere quickly becoming more intimate than Alani had planned. His vanilla cologne has also become more perceptible in the confined space, and there’s a whiff of spearmint, most likely his gum, that briefly draws her attention to his mouth. She snaps her mind back to the conversation at hand and clears her throat.

“I’m sorry,” she begins, reading his eyes carefully. There’s a faint reassurance behind the emerald surface, so she continues. “For everything that happened last night. You did nothing wrong, please know that,”

Harry wishes he could reach out and comfort her, but he gets the feeling that whatever she’s about to say is important so he doesn’t want to dismiss it.

“It’s hard for me, sometimes, to be around the water,” Alani continues despite the prickling feeling in her eyes. “Because when I was eight years old, I almost drowned,”

The revelation hits Harry like a ton of bricks and all at once he understands. He hadn’t even thought twice about jumping into the water that night, so it didn’t occur to him to rule that out as a possible offense. He understands now that he couldn’t have been more mistaken.

“And I know that has nothing to do with you,” Alani explains, her voice wavering ever so slightly. “Except that it terrified me to think about, you know… if you hadn’t been so lucky,”

Her composure quickly cracks, a single tear spilling down her cheek before she wipes it away with the sleeve of her sweater. This time, Harry does reach a hand out and Alani accepts it gratefully; the warmth of his fingers are a welcome contrast to her icy appendages.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” he murmurs as his thumb rubs small circles over the back of her hand.

“But I do,” she sniffles. “Because—”

Alani pauses, unsure of how to finish her thought. Just do what feels right and hope for the best.

“Because I care about you,” she says finally, noticing the way his Adam’s apple bobs at her words.

Harry's jaw tightens at her confession and every muscle in his body longs to bring her close, leaving no inch of space between them, but he lets her lead despite his instincts.

"But it’s also because I care about you that I can’t let this go any further,”

Alani’s words surprise herself just as much as they terrify Harry, but she knows that it’s the right thing to do as soon as it’s done.

“Alani—” Harry starts, all of his worst fears crashing down on him.

“Please, don’t make this harder—”

“Don’t I get a say?” he questions, tightening his grip on her hand, though she still manages to slip away.

Alani runs the free hand through her still damp waves and lets another tear roll down her cheek. “What is there left to say?”

“How about ‘I care about you, too’? How about ‘I want to be with you’?”

“It’s too messy—”

“Everyone has baggage,” Harry defends. “God knows I do, and I would never ask you to carry all of that,”

Alani lets her eyes meet his again; they’re bloodshot and glossy, which sends a pang of guilt and sorrow through her entire body.

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” she reasons, this time thinking not only about her own issues, but about everything—the lies she had told and the ambitions she was still nurturing. She hadn’t given up on her dreams and unless Rolling Stone had suddenly changed their mind about the Joni Mitchell piece, there was only one way she was going to achieve them. Alani hadn’t yet reconciled the fact that she would have to put aside her own feelings for Harry to get what she wanted, but she knew that time would heal the wounds.

“All I want,” he continues. “Is a chance. And I know nothing I do will ever change the past, but two hands make the load lighter. So, please, let me carry some of that with you. Give me a chance,”

As she studies the pleading in his eyes, something stirs deeply inside Alani’s chest. She had started the day thinking only of him, but with selfish intentions. Now, she was trying to do right by him, having realized that she couldn’t have both him and the story that would launch her career. Something would have to give, and Harry deserved more than that. He deserved more than her. Despite all of this awareness, there is something else nagging in the back of her mind that she can’t ignore. Don’t walk away, it screams. If Alani ignored her true feelings for Harry and refused his plea, she would be walking away from someone who believed in her, someone who cared deeply for, and wanted to understand, her. Perhaps the universe truly had brought Harry for a story, but to be a part of hers instead of the one she had been so eager to publish. There would be other chances, just like Dr. Hudson had said, but there would never be anyone else like Harry. So with this in mind, Alani decides to stop walking away and stand still, right in this very moment, with the boy who shined brighter than the sun itself and who had only asked for a chance to make her happy.

“Okay,” she breathes and it’s like the weight of the universe has been lifted from her shoulders.

Harry leans in, their foreheads pressed together gently, and cups her cheek in his hand.

“Can I kiss you?” he whispers.

Alani nods and nudges the tip of his nose with her own. “Please.”

Their lips meet like electrically charged magnets, with a force so natural and strong it sends bolts of electrons through their entire bodies. Harry’s mouth is warm and gentle against hers, and the coolness of his mint gum soothes the searing touch of his kiss. Alani’s fingers glide up his chest and along the sides of his neck, pulling him closer as if he’s the anchor keeping her from floating away into the dark clouds above them. Over and over again, their lips collide fervently, breaths mixing and filling each other’s lungs. Their hands eagerly explore the curves of each other’s faces, the softness of hair, and the occasional heat of exposed skin. Harry is the first to break the kiss, panting lightly as he pulls back to search Alani’s face.

“Y’okay?” he asks.

“Never been better.”

next chapter

[deiliamedlini]

ALTA Oneshot- Strength From Within

When your niece watches ALTA and Korra for the first time and she’s OBSESSED with bloodbending and you get inspired by her many comments. So behold, Katara bloodbends.

Mild Zutara, retelling of the final Agni Kai

“Can you feel the power the full moon brings? For generations it has blessed waterbenders with its glow, allowing us to do incredible things!”

Katara can hear Hama’s words racing through her mind, playing again and again on repeat. It’s incessant; a sound that never stops, never leaves. That woman’s voice is a nightmare that she’s reminded of day and night.

Katara can only bloodbend during the full moon. She knows this. She’s done this.

“Once you perfect this technique, you can control anything, or... anyone.”

Turning in her sleep, Katara can feel where Aang is, just feet away. She can sense the way his blood moves throughout his body. The pulsing of his heart is steady, but no less loud than everything else.

Katara hates nights like this.

No matter how hard she tries, she can’t push it away. She can’t stop feeling her brother’s pulse, or Toph’s, or even Zuko’s.

“My work is done. Congratulations, Katara. You're a Bloodbender.”

Soon, Katara is up, moving as far away from the group as she can, letting her head rest on her arms, trying to listen to the sound of the night birds and the sway of the trees. They are too far from the water for that to comfort her, so she makes do with the pieces of nature she can cling to.

But she can feel someone approach from behind. She can feel them.

She wonders if this is how Toph sees, though she still can’t tell who is who just from the rush of their blood. With time, she thinks she might be able to.

While she can’t tell their blood apart, there’s no mistaking the raspy voice that sounds from beside her, still tired, still hesitant.  

“You okay?”

“I’m fine!” she snaps. But immediately, she sighs, regretting it. “I’m fine,” she says again, much calmer this time.

Zuko takes the space beside her. Zuko, she realizes, has a soothing presence, despite his normally chaotic energy. She doesn’t feel obligated to talk to him just because he’s there. And she loves Aang as much as she loves Sokka, she does, but he needs her to confide everything to him so he can tell her how to let it go. Sometimes, that’s not what she wants. That’s not what she needs. There are some things that she can’t let go of. Some things that have just become her.Zuko understands this. Aang, Sokka, and Toph don’t.

“You’re stronger than Hama,” Aang had said to her one night when she’d confessed her fears. But that is what Katara is afraid of.

Katara turns to Zuko with a shaky breath, tears spilling from her eyes as she realizes she can feel his calm heartbeat, his blood leisurely doing its job. The red water in his veins isn’t straining to work, it’s just there. And it’s that calm that calls to Katara.

She takes her head in her hands, her fingers tight in her hair by her ears, as if she can stop hearing it; as if she can stop feeling it. Her tears come harder, and she can feel those. Every part of her is screaming, demanding she bend it all.

Zuko can see her white knuckled grip, and he gently touches her hand. When she doesn’t pull away, he helps her uncurl her fingers and instead laces his own through hers.

It’s good: his warm hand in hers. She wants this, but she can feel too much. He’s too close now. She feels it all.

Standing, she pulls away, finally giving in and bending her tears away from her eyes so she looks almost like she wasn’t crying, save for her puffy, red eyes. “I’m sorry,” she mutters.

Zuko watches her leave. He knows why. He’s seen her bloodbend and he knows that she’s still struggling with her powers. Unlike the others, he understands what it’s like to hate a something inside yourself so deeply that it threatens to break you. He knows this because it’s been his most defining feeling since the day of his banishment. And every day, he has had to push past it to see the greater picture, one that Uncle Iroh has been painting long before Zuko could see the brush strokes.

When Katara returns from her walk, she sees a rolled-up scroll on her bedroll and moves closer to the embers of the dying fire to read it. It’s undeniably Zuko’s script, but it’s not his words. They’re words from an old legend, from a story that’s been told in tales and plays for years. One that Iroh had told him time and time again. One that Katara had seen performed during a festival.

“The true mind can weather all lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can touch the poison of hatred without being harmed. From beginningless time, darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light.” – Lion Turtle

With a soft laugh to herself, Katara turns to Zuko. His eyes are closed, but she’s almost certain they’re cracked open just enough to see her. She smiles at him and tucks the words into her hand to read again.

And once she reads them three more times, the call of bloodbending feels less and less like a threat and more like a promise that she can overcome.

_____________________________

Katara watches as Zuko and Azula circle each other. Azula is a ball of uncontrolled energy and rage. Blue sparks of lightening and embers of flame encircle her, fanning out and wild. It’s like a fresh log had been placed over a campfire, and the flames were discovering a whole new world of opportunities and places to go.

Zuko’s flames, red like his scar, were precise and controlled, everything Azula’s weren’t. His strikes weren’t wild. Where he aimed, they went.

Katara remembered when she’d seen Zuko for the first time, when he was unbalanced, and his flames were as uncontrollable as Azula’s. Now, she can see something of his uncle’s style, something so tamed and yet so dangerous in each move he makes. His firebending, while not hot and bright, is just as dangerous as Azula’s, and far more of a threat than she’d ever seen.

Zuko fights with passion, and Azula fights with rage. Two emotions that come from the same place but are redirected in entirely different ways.

Katara can feel the call of water beneath the grates. She wanted to help, but she knew Zuko needed to do this on his own. She even knows he can win, but in the event that Azula pulls something, in the event Zuko falls, Katara isn’t going to just watch because the honor of the Crown Prince is at stake. She values his life too much now. And she thinks he knows that.

It’s difficult for Katara to see. The courtyard is a mix of reds and oranges, blues and whites. She almost calls up the water to shield her from a wide attack of Azula’s, one that dies before Katara has the need.

She walks the perimeter behind Zuko, always making sure that there is an angle from which she can see.

Zuko says something to Azula, and she spits fiery words back at him. She sees Zuko center himself, move into a space inside where he is at peace. Lightening, she thinks immediately, though it’s Azula who bends it. She’s wild, and the lightening appears all around her rather than directed through her movements. Her form is off. Even without being a firebender, Katara can see that.

Azula throws her head back with a laugh and moves her hands. Suddenly, the lightening is coming towards her, and not Zuko.

She hears him cry out, she sees him move. And then she sees his body engulfed by lightening.

His hand manages to redirect the lightening, but he doesn’t make it in time to move it out harmlessly into the sky. Instead, he’s redirecting it into himself, away from Katara.

He falls to the ground, twitching. She’s not sure if he’s in pain, or if it’s his body’s nerves acting on their own accord.

For a second, Azula is surprised. Her eyes are wide. She’s not upset, just surprised. She had wanted to rattle her brother with the death of the waterbender. She’d wanted to make her victory sweet by breaking Zuzu. She didn’t want to just beat him, she wanted to defeat him.

But Azula smiles. This turn of events is okay. Zuko’s death was inevitable, and Azula had always been flexible with plans.

Katara is stopped from rushing to Zuko by a blast of blue flame. A sickening laugh is loud over the explosion a collision makes. Katara just manages to get out of the way of another blast, rolling to her feet as debris pelts her face.

Azula bends lightening again, taunting Katara as she does. But Katara bends a wall of water as her shield.

It’s not enough against the lightening. Katara still feels painful ripples of shockwaves course through her, as if she’s been hit by a weak blast. It hurts, and it stings, and her arms are red already. Water conducts electricity, but water is all Katara has at her disposal.

There’s a pillar that Katara makes it to, just in time to feel the heat of blue flames on the other side.

“Zuzu, you don’t look so good!” Azula mocks from atop a roof.

Katara peeks her head out just in time to see Azula bend lightening once again. She looks at Katara and smiles, full toothed, hair wild. Unhinged.

And aims the lightening at Zuko instead of her.

This time, it’s Katara who screams. She’s too far from Zuko to take the hit, or even to lessen it with her water in the way. There’s no time to do anything.

Anything but react.

“What?” Azula screeches as her hand jerks to the side. The bolt of lightening misses Zuko by mere inches, but Azula’s aim has always been true.

She looks at the waterbender and notices that she’s in an unfamiliar stance. Her eyes are determined as she takes a breath and focuses on Azula.

Azula knows she’s faster. She bends the lightening again and aims it at both Katara and Zuko.

But suddenly, mirroring the waterbender, Azula’s hands move up to the sky, and the lightening misses again.

Katara can hear Hama’s voice again. “The choice is not yours. The power exists. And it's your duty to use the gifts you've been given to win this war.”

Then, she hears Aang’s from the first day they met. “If you want to be a bender, you have to let go of fear.”

She’s no longer afraid of Azula. She’s no longer afraid for Zuko. And she’s no longer afraid for herself.

Surprised, almost, by her actions and resolve, she glances at the sky. It’s not a full moon. It’s not possible.

“You’re stronger than Hama,” Aang had said to comfort her. He’d meant it that Katara didn’t need to worry, that mentally, she was stronger than Hama. But the words ring true for a different reason. Katara is a waterbending master. She’s stronger than Hama. Hama needed the moon to bloodbend.

Katara doesn’t.

“What are you doing to me, you filthy peasant?” Azula screeches, jumping off the roof when Katara lets go.

Katara has never done this without the full moon, so all she can manage is the twitch of an arm, not the full control of every action as she’d done in the past. It’s enough to surprise Azula though, and Katara feels a brief twinge of disgust before looking at Zuko once again.

He’s lying there, the front of his shirt burned off from the heat of the lightening. There’s a hole in his skin that reminds her of Aang’s wound that nearly cost him his life. She wonders if Zuko is close to death, if she can still get to him in time to save him. If the only chance of that is bloodbending.

Azula looks like she’s given up on lightening for the moment, but she charges at Katara with all four of her limbs lit up like the flames that propel the airships.

Katara runs, bending the water into a wave and then freezing it before skidding her feet along it to escape Azula. The heat from her flames melts the ice behind Katara, and she uses that to her advantage, bending the melted water into a whip that strikes Azula and knocks her back.

The move gives Katara enough time to get in front of Zuko, to protect him from anything that Azula can throw their way.

But Azula isn’t in front of them anymore.

She’s behind them.

Katara only knows this because the firebender cannot stop laughing whenever she feels giddy or that she’s done something right. It gives Katara the time she needs to turn around and see the flames coming at them, and she bends a wall of water to stop it.

Azula is relentless to the point that Katara can no longer remain on the defensive. She shoots ice picks at her, and uses the octopus form just to try to knock her off balance.

Zuko knew he’d need Katara’s help to beat Azula, and now, Katara realizes that she too needs Zuko’s help.  But he’s barely breathing behind her, shallow breaths that are getting fewer and farther between. And Azula has broken through every defense, leaving Katara with no time to heal Zuko.

She hears a particularly strained breath from Zuko and realizes that there’s little other choice. She reaches out and feels Azula’s blood, really feels it.

The first time, she’d been acting on instinct, stopping Azula from killing Zuko. This time, her motive is the same, but it is no knee-jerk reaction. Fully understanding the repercussions, fully aware of what her body was about to do, Katara widens her stance and bends the water near her, drawing strength from its constant flow. It is as soothing as it is strong, and that’s the same energy she channels into her bending as she reaches for Azula.

It’s easy now. She’d been sensing her friends’ blood all the time. It called out to her in a way that was entirely foreign, yet altogether too familiar. So here, she can find it easily. The water is distinct, and she starts in the easiest place to reach: Azula’s fingertips. Following the line, she is at her wrist, and Katara stops there, contorting Azula’s wrist away so that she can’t properly bend. But that enrages Azula, and fire is shooting out of her feet as she kicks.

Katara moves further down, one hand of hers focusing on holding Azula’s wrist while the other searches for her leg.

She’s sweating with the effort, disgusted by every action she takes and every second she’s holding another down with waterbending. But how is this any different from when she’d frozen Jet against that tree? How is it any different from restraining anyone? It’s the same, she tells herself so she can get through this.

Azula is screeching as she slowly starts to lose control of muscles.

Katara struggles to breathe, feeling like how Zuko must, as she maintains her form. Her hands and feet are precise as she lowers Azula to her knees and holds her there.

It’s hard enough to maintain the control without the fill moon, but she takes strength from inside herself instead, her unbendable resolve. Katara lets the water on the ground flow slowly from her to Azula, wrapping around her legs and turning to ice, slithering up to hold her wrists in the same place. Katara sees chains, and hastily rushes to replace the ice that Azula can melt with the unbreakable metal that only Toph could have torn through.

Azula is wild as she tries to break free, finally resuming control of herself as Katara lets go.

She’s dizzy, but she stumbles to Zuko and bends water around her palms before placing them on his chest, closing her eyes, and calling strength from the exact same place she’d just been to bloodbend. It’s jarring, how two contrasting actions—controlling someone’s will and healing their wounds—can be summoned from the same strength. Her desire to save Zuko is above all thoughts of herself or her morals.

She can feel heat on her back, but when she checks, she just sees Azula breathing fire as she sobs and writhes on the ground. It doesn’t distract Katara for long, and she returns her attention to Zuko.

His wounds close beneath her hands. It’s something she never got to do for Aang, but she’s glad she can do it for Zuko. His body stops shaking, and for a moment, Katara thinks she’s killed him with her tainted hands, that this was her punishment for using bloodbending. But there is no such punishment. Zuko tentatively opens his eyes and smiles.

“Thank you, Katara,” he manages. And she knows that there is more to this thank you than the healing. He’s thanking her for so much more.

“I think I’m the one who should be thanking you,” she says tearfully. And he smiles, because like her, he knows that this is more than a shallow thank you for their actions that day.

Katara helps him sit up and lets Zuko rest his head on her shoulder while he gathers his strength. She wouldn’t have minded if he stayed that way. She is tired, and so is he. They could both use a rest.

But he pushes himself to his knees, and then to his feet, keeping a steady arm wrapped around his waist.

They both watch Azula as she no longer speaks in full sentences, only incoherent screams. Tears run down her face, and she is rolling on the floor. She’s not even trying to escape anymore, but the hysterics have taken hold, and it’s like she’s being bloodbent again: no longer in control of herself.

Zuko, as much as he wants Katara near him, moves away from her touch to kneel in front of his sister. She tries to breathe fire on him, but he waves it away as though it were nothing. “I feel sorry for you,” he says earnestly. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

Azula screams some more, but Zuko has said what he needs to. He returns to Katara’s arms, and leans against her while he cradles the painful reminder of his wound. Though Katara healed it, there is still some way to go.

“We should try to find Aang,” Katara breathes, looking up at the red sky.

“No, he has to face my father alone. We should try to stop the fighting down here.” He turns to those observers, the ones who were ready to crown Azula Firelord.

“They’ll listen to you, Firelord Zuko,” Katara says with a smile. But it’s melancholy as the words register in her ears. Still, there’s nothing to do about it now. “They’re now your troops. You can stop this.”

Zuko nods, but before he can take a step, he grabs Katara’s hand. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this if it weren’t for you. I can’t thank you enough.”

Katara blushes, but she’s still reeling from everything. She knows her high from the win will crash soon, and she’ll remember the feeling of Azula’s blood in under her control for days. She knows it’ll give her nightmares, and make her feel powerful. She’ll remember how it came from the same source that her waterbending came from, and that will have her conflicted.

“Zuko,” she says, moving her hand up to his arm. “Please, don’t tell anyone what I did. Don’t tell them I was bloodbending. They wouldn’t understand.”

Zuko’s eyes search hers for a moment before he nods. “I won’t tell, Katara. But you shouldn’t be ashamed of it. You just saved the fire nation and the entire world. I know it’ll feel like you paid a heavy price, but you just saved everyone. We can end this now that Azula isn’t the Firelord.”

“What about your father?”

“Aang will take care of him. The Avatar isn’t the only one who can save the world, Katara. You did, too.” He doesn’t say anymore as he hurries over to the fire priests. They both know that the time for talking is later.

For now, Katara gives herself five seconds.

One, she takes to mourn Azula. For everything she is, she’s still just a young girl who’s lust for power has corrupted her.

Two, she hopes that bloodbending doesn’t lead her down that same path; that she’ll be okay.

Three, she thinks of Aang fighting Ozai. She knows how scared he was, but he’s the Avatar. He was born for this. He’s ready.

Four, she thinks of Sokka, Toph, Suki, and her father. Mostly, she thinks of Sokka, and hopes that he’s staying safe, despite knowing him.

And five, she thinks of Zuko. That alone is enough to make her smile, but he’s here, and he’s alive, and he’s waving her over.

She knows now what she’d be willing to do for those she loved, and that alone was enough to displace any regret she had about bloodbending.

She’d do it again, if she had to.

For them. For him.

[jhoudiey]

Ringing in the New Year with the Octoboys

Here’s the follow-up to the previous story! Yoru is back from vacation early, but things have gone.. uhhh... badly for her.

I wanted to try a Jade POV but couldn’t manage to get it to sound right so scrapped it, will try again later. Anyways, full story beneath the cut -2k words

“Heeeeeh? Why are there little fishies at the door? Can’t they read? WE’RE CLOOOOOOOSSSEEDDDD” Floyd shouted towards the door. They could hear someone trying to repeatedly open the door, somehow missing the very large and very obvious sign with the posted holiday hours. Azul sighed, gathering the receipts for the night. 

“Floyd, can you please tell the poor unfortunate soul outside that we’re closed, If they won’t leave, persuade them. Jade when you’re finished at the bar please join me in the VIP room” Azul nodded at the twins and left the main room of the lounge. 

“Little fishy, little fishy, swim away before you’re strangled…” Floyd hummed to himself walking towards the door. He unlocked it and pulled it inwards, searching for the student who wasn’t able to read clearly posted signs.

“Huh? Fugu-chan? Why are you napping on the floor?” He bent down to peer at her, but she didn’t move. “...Fugu-chan?” he grabbed her shoulder and shook her. “Oi! Fugu. Chan. Wake. Up...what the hell is wrong with you” He turned Yoru over, arms splayed out beside her, mouth slightly agape. He held a hand in front of her face to check her breathing and felt nothing “OI. FUGU CHAN WAKE UP” He shouted at her, searching for a pulse where none was present. “Ahhh Shit” he muttered, gathering her up in his arms and ran back into the lounge.

“Azul we’ve got a problem” He said frantically, kicking the door to the VIP room open

“Is...is that Yoru? Was she not supposed to be on vacation for another few days?” He said confused, standing up from behind his desk

“She’s not breathing, we gotta fix her” Floyd replied, putting her down on the desk in front of him. “What do we do?”

“How did this happen I wonder? Healthy young women don’t usually drop dead for no reason” Jade said, sliding into the room.

“Poison” Floyd muttered “She’s been poisoning herself for these stupid legs”

“That’s a possibility, she’s still warm so we’ll do what we can. Floyd, stand back” Azul said, rolling up his sleeves and standing over her. “Here goes nothing” He said, placing a hand over her heart and sending an electric shock through her in an attempt to get her heart beating again. 

“Floyd, you said it was poison? Would you happen know what kind? I may have something that will help” Jade was standing next to Floyd, hand on his chin. Floyd nodded, watching Azul work. 

“Multiple. Venom from the giant squid. Oleander. Water Hemlock. Lily of the Valley. There’s a lot of em mixed together with a bunch of other stuff to cancel it out”

“I see. I won’t ask how you know, but I trust you.” He swept from the room without another word. 

“Floyd, I need you to do chest compressions, I need to get something from the lab” Azul said, stepping away from his desk, wiping the sweat from his brow. 

“Mmm” Floyd nodded, taking up the space that Azul had just vacated. He stared down at his limp friend, sighed, and got to work. He was sweating by the time Azul returned

“Azul, I don’t think this is working” He said, his voice wavering with a hint of panic for the first time. “She’s still not breathing”

“Get out of the way, there’s something we can try” He held up the large syringe in his hand to show him “Worth a shot, at least” He took a deep breath and stabbed the syringe into her chest, depressing the plunger. Both Azul and Floyd watched her closely with baited breath. 

She gasped and gave a jolt, her breathing shallow. 

“...Now what?” Floyd asked, rubbing the back of his neck as he leaned against the wall. 

“Now we hope that Jade returns with a more permanent solution. This one will only give us a few minutes before she crashes again” Azul said, leaning against the desk watching his unconscious friend closely. 

The minutes dragged on, Yoru’s chest rising and falling more slowly than what was natural. 

“....What are we going to do if she dies?” Floyd asked quietly, leaning in closer to her on the desk

“Regardless of what happens, I am not looking forward to informing the headmaster of what has happened.” Azul said, looking away from Yoru towards Floyd

They waited in silence, watching Yoru breathe until Jade walked through the door holding a small bowl in his hands

“I believe I have a solution that will help Yoru-san” He glided toward the desk, a slight smile on his lips. “Floyd, if you would please sit her up”

“What is it?” Floyd said, making a face at the sludge like liquid in the bowl. He lifted Yoru to a sitting position on the desk, facing her towards where Jade was standing. 

“I have been growing rare mushrooms from the Land of the Dead, this one in particular is used to neutralize the effects of most poisons. I ground them with a restorative potion that will reverse any side effects she is currently suffering from” He smiled and tipped the bowl against her mouth, mixture slowly sliding down her throat. They all watched in silence, hoping that the potion would do what Jade claimed. Minutes passed; Yoru’s breathing becoming more stable. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she looked around the room at them. 

“Why… are you all….staring at me…” she sighed, not having the energy to keep her eyes open. 

“Ah Yoru-san, you seem to be back to your regular self” Jade chuckled “It will take a few hours for the potion to fully neutralize the effects of the poison, however, so you will find you have very little energy.”

“Now that Yoru is out of danger, I will notify the headmaster and see how he would like to proceed. This may end up being a profitable event for us fufufu” Azul chuckled to himself as he left the room. 

“What…. Did you mean… when you said… it would neutralize ...everything?” Yoru breathed towards Jade, trying to push herself off the desk

“Hmmm?” Jade looked at her thoughtfully “It means you will lose all the effects of the potions you were taking and your legs will revert to their natural state”

“What? No!” She said in a panic, trying to stand. She didn’t have the strength however, and began to fall. Floyd caught her before she hit the floor and dragged her over to the couch.

“Sit down before you hurt yourself, stuuuuppiiiiiiid” he scowled at her, depositing her on the couch

“I can’t… go back… I don’t want to… I want to be... normal” She leaned back breathing deeply, not wanting to accept the truth. 

“Yoru-san, your attempt to have human legs nearly killed you. Had we not been here it would have succeeded, perhaps it is not so bad to go back to your previous body” Jade looked at her, eyes full of pity. 

She closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths before speaking “You two… don’t understand…you’re able... to change whenever you need to...” She sunk down further on the couch, trying to focus on her breathing “cool merfolk in the water… tall and handsome… human forms on land… you wouldn’t understand... what it’s like… to be a bird when everyone else...is normal”

“Fufufufufu this potion has unexpected side effects, I think” Jade chuckled, smiling at Yoru’s sudden revelation.

“I spoke with the headmaster, Yoru, you’re to drink this. It’ll help you sleep. You will stay here for the evening so we can keep an eye on you” Azul had entered the room, carrying a small vial of silver liquid.

“I don’t… need you... to babysit me” she sighed from the puddle she’d melted into on the couch

“Heeeeeeeeeh? Fugu-chan, if you can stand up we’ll let you leave” Floyd taunted her, standing over her. She cracked an eye open but couldn’t muster the strength to move. 

She glared up at Floyd “Damn it. Azul, give me.... the stupid potion” She looked at him trying to reach for it, but was only able to lift a finger towards him. 

He laughed and walked towards her “Perhaps you need us here more than you thought. Sleep well” He tipped the potion into her mouth, her eyes drooping immediately 

“I’m still…. mad… at you guys” she whispered before passing out. 

“What did the headmaster have to say?” Jade asked looking from Yoru to Azul “will he be returning early from vacation?”

“No, he said he was satisfied with our efforts and confident she would make a full recovery” he grabbed her legs and lifted them up onto the couch so she was laying flat “At the headmasters request, that potion wasn’t only to put her to sleep. It will regrow the bones she damaged last year when she ripped her wings off. She is going to be very angry with us when she wakes up”

“I do hope you negotiated a good deal for the Lounge for agreeing to take on such responsibility”  Jade laughed

“We will negotiate in person when the Headmaster returns in a few days.” Azul chuckled to himself. “Floyd, what are you doing? I know they’re your style, but I don’t think Yoru’s shoes will fit you” 

Floyd looked up from where he was untying her shoes “haaaaah? Don’t be stupid Azul, when she goes back to normal these aren’t going to fit” he said, dropping the shoes to the floor. He shrugged “seemed easier to get em off now” 

Jade chuckled looking at him “Floyd, why don’t you take the first babysitting shift, both Azul and I were up early this morning and need to turn in.”

“Eeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I don’t wanna stay here all night! That’s so boring!” He complained

“Wake me in a few hours, Floyd, Goodnight” Jade grinned and left the room, Azul followed close behind. 

“Well Fugu-chan, it’s just you and me I guess” He said, sitting on the floor leaning back against the couch. He sighed and leaned his head back onto the cushions to look at her “You’re pretty dumb sometimes huh?” She didn’t respond. 

*****

“Is that my alarm?” Jade muttered to himself, wiping the sleep from his eyes. “It seems Floyd must have fallen asleep as well. I do hope Yoru-san is okay”

He slinked out of bed, hoping that Floyd hadn’t left Yoru alone in the middle of the night and wandered off. He made his way to Mostro Lounge, preparing for the worst and entered the VIP room quietly to not wake anyone.

“Oh my this is a mess” he muttered, seeing that the couch had been shredded by Yoru’s feet and hands as they changed back from human to her more birdlike limbs. 

Floyd was crumpled up on the floor, sitting against the couch, snoring softly. Yoru was curled on her side, arms outstretched in front of her, fresh bones poking out the back of her shirt. Her breathing had stabilized, and it seemed as if she and Floyd were holding hands. 

“Fufufufu they get more interesting by the day” He chuckled, loud enough to wake Floyd. He groaned and rubbed his eyes looking towards where Jade was standing

“Haaahh Jade? Is it morning?” He said, rubbing his neck “I slept like shit”

“At least it seems as if you had good company for the evening?” Jade smiled looking at the two of them

“What? Fugu-chan didn’t wake up at all it was so boring” Floyd whined. 

“Hmmm? I would have thought something had happened that led to that” He grinned at them, staring at their hands.

“Huh? Oh. They’re cool now! And sharp! I must have fallen asleep looking at em” he pulled his hand free, stood up and stretched. 

“How mad do you think Azul is going to be when he sees the couch?” Floyd asked looking at the numerous holes and the stuffing spilling out onto the floor. 

“He is going to be furious, I really can’t wait to see his reaction. Fufufu shall we make breakfast while we wait?”

“I wanna go back to bed” Floyd complained, following Jade to the kitchen.

[avis-writeshq]

Damian Wayne x Reader: One Kiss is All It Takes

Requested: Nope

Pairing: Damian Wayne x Fem!Reader

Summary: One kiss is all it takes to throw you head over heels with Damian Wayne. But when you’re in love with a very reckless boy who just so happens to be Robin himself, what are you to do?

Warnings: Swearing, fluff, VERY MINIMAL NSFW (just a steamy make-out scene), mention of underage drinking, and trash writing

Other: Damian and Reader are 17.

Word count: 1,845                                                                                            

 Things you probably wanna know, for all you ‘x reader’ illiterates:

(Y/N): Your Name

(H/C): Hair Colour / Color

(E/C): Eye Colour / Color

(N/N): Nickname

 ***

It was a mistake. You knew that. You never should have gone to that stupid party. It was all a mistake. Sure, you promised your friend that you would go. You may have promised her to go to that house party, but you didn’t specify how long. You could have gone in for a minute before leaving undetected. She would get wasted in the first 30 seconds after all. You could have hung by the food and drinks section and be the antisocial nerd you were. You should have done anything – anything – to not be in this situation. You should not be against the wall, the school’s bad boy against you.

 Damian’s lips were slanted against yours, pressing against them carefully, as if you were a porcelain doll ready to break. His hands were either side of your head, his fingers digging into the red brick walls. His shirt was balled in your fists, desperately wishing to be closer.

 It was a mistake. You knew that. He knew that, most of all.

 He pulled away slowly; brilliant green eyes bore into your (E/C) hues. Flushing a scarlet, you let go of his shirt. But he didn’t let you go.

 “How was that, Beloved?”

 4 words. That was all it took for your insides to melt and your heart to pick up its pace. You opened and closed your mouth, gaping at him as if you were a fish out of water. This was a mistake, a mistake you made perfectly sober.

 ***

 Two weeks. Damian didn’t talk to you for two weeks and it was driving you insane. You didn’t do anything but kiss, sure, but he was Bruce Wayne’s son. Surely he would fall into the same trap as his father. Bringing a girl so close, so close, and then leave without warning, leaving them wanting more. And you were disappointed to say that his tricks worked on you. You couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat. You were pathetic. He left you wanting more than a kiss, and that scared you the most.

 But you didn’t know. After all, how could you? How could you possibly know about his alter-ego, the mischievous crime-fighting vigilante? And Damian was careful. He made sure you didn’t know. He made sure you weren’t put into any danger. And if that meant going on an undercover mission for a few weeks to clear his head, so be it. But even though he had 2 weeks to do anything but think of you, all he did was think of you. The complete opposite of his intentions.

 His family knew of his infatuation. Of course, they did, Damian was their little brother. Tim was a genius, able to hack into any electrical appliance. Dick was a fully trained policeman. Jason was a gun enthusiast who was more observant than he should be. And Bruce was Batman, the feared vigilante whose name struck fear into every villain in Gotham. How could they not know?

 It was the little things at first. The way he would drift into a subconscious faze when he was training because he was thinking of you. Or the way how he would stare a few seconds too long at your social media account. How he would search up every definition of your name.

 Damian Wayne has fallen head over heels for a girl he barely even knew. He fell for a girl he kissed at a house party because he found it way too damn irresistible to not kiss you after the way you chewed your bottom lip. But there is no way you would forgive him after he went AWOL weeks later.

 So, when he returned to school the following month, he made sure to pull you into an empty classroom during your lunch break.

 “What the-” You stopped short when you realised who you pulled you in. “Damian?”

 “I would like to apologise.”

 “Of course you should apologise!” You slapped his chest angrily, pushing him away from you. He didn’t fight back. “You go off and kiss me and then you leave! No note, no text, no freaking call?! Do you know how much that hurt?”

 A tear fell down your cheek, warm against your skin. You forced yourself to look Damian in the eye, his usual cocky and mischievous hues filled with guilt. “(Y/N)-”

 “Let me finish! You can’t just kiss me like that-”

 “Like what?”

 You flush, glaring at him. Well, trying to, anyway. You licked your bottom lip, suddenly needing a glass of water. In two strides, Damian’s face was centimetres away from yours, his minty breath fanning your face. His stare was holding, staring deep into your eyes.

 “How do I kiss you, Beloved?”

 “I-” The words were caught in your throat and you tried desperately to gather your thoughts.

 “Maybe you need reminding.”

 You subconsciously licked your lips again and you knew he was growing weak. You looked up through your eyelashes, smiling innocently at him. “Is something wrong?”

 “Fuck it.” His lips were on yours once again, his arms tightening around your waist. Your hands were on his chest when he pulled back, his forehead against yours. “Don’t do that.”

 “Do what?”

 “You know what.”

 You didn’t respond, instead pressing your lips to his desperately, clinging on to him as if he was your life source. And he was.

 ***

 It was a mistake. You knew that. People were curious. You of all people should know. 3 months of keeping your relationship with Damian a secret, people were bound to find out. Damian said that he didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable with all the paparazzi and you were truly grateful.  Yeah, well, people were going to find out eventually.

 Damian Wayne: Out with another fling?

 Damian Wayne is taking on his father’s step – and not just the company

 Damian Wayne has a girlfriend?

 The headlines made the papers and you were not amused. You marched your way to Wayne Manor, using your spare key to enter the mansion. Alfred instantly came to your side, asking if you needed any assistance.

 “Where’s Damian?”

 “He’s not home, Miss (L/N).”

 You weren’t satisfied. “Where is he?”

 Alfred frowned. If he told you, he was sure you would go to the designated spot and search for him. You were persistent like that. “I’m not sure, young miss.”

 “Then where are the others?”

 “Not home as well, miss.”

 You let out a disgruntled groan, eyebrows knitting together as you clenched the newspaper in your fist. Of course, he wasn’t home. Whipping your phone out, you decided to give him a call.

 ***

Halfway across Gotham city, in the middle of fighting Killer Croc, Damian’s phone rang.

 ‘If you wanna be my lover~’ the boy froze. Did you change his ringtone again?! However, now was not the time to answer a call.

 “Robin, pay attention,” he heard his father call out.

 “Apologies, Batman.”

 Before a minute passed, his phone rang again. ‘You gotta get with my friends~’

 “Oh god dammit!” Giving up on his dignity, he answered the call.

 “Damian, where are you?”

 “Uh…” He let out a grunt, ducking under a pipe that was thrown at his face. “Nowhere!”

 “Sure…” he could hear how sceptic you were from through the phone. “Have you seen the papers?!”

 “Papers?” He responded weekly, groaning when the police came with reinforcements. And guns. “Beloved, I really have to get going-”

 He barely finished his sentence when the police began to open fire, missing his leg by inches (or millimetres). “Damian, are those gunshots?!”

 “It’s from a game!” He blurted, sweat falling down his brow.

 “No way, Bruce has good speakers, but not that good. Where are you?! Did you rob a bank or something?!”

 “No, but I think you robbed my heart.” Damn, was he turning into Grayson? “Beloved, can I call you back?”

 “Oh, sure, call me back when you finished fighting Killer Croc, you do that.” With a final huff, you ended the call.

 Damian did not need this stress right now. Besides, how on earth did you know that he was fighting Killer Croc? Now was not the time to be impressed. He focused on the fight, reminding himself that after this was over and done with, he could finally go back home and explain everything to you. Or rather, maybe he didn’t have to go back home to talk to you.

 The sound of a policeman yelling split his focus and he narrowly missed being shot in the gut.

 “What the hell are you doing, lady?! Do you not see the abnormally large crocodile that we’re fighting here?!”

 “What the hell are you doing?!” the girl demanded, her hands on her hips. “Why don’t you just leave the crime fighting to Robin and Batman? You’re only causing more problems for yourself as well as creating more casualties. You’re making Killer Croc more freaked out.”

 “Hey, Damian, is that your girlfriend?” He heard Dick ask through his intercom. The man had been injured previously while fighting Poison Ivy the week before and was still in recovery in the Bat cave.

 Robin groaned, “You can hear her arguing with the policeman?”

 “No, I’m watching her through the city’s security cameras. She is quite the feisty one,” he chuckled. “Better get her out of here before she loses an arm or 2.”

 “Relax, they are evacuating her out now. She’s trying to find me, that is all.”

 A few hours later, after Killer Croc was knocked out and taken away, Damian hid in an alley to change. He had just pulled a sweater over his head when he heard someone clear their throat. “So, you really were fighting Killer Croc, huh?”

 He sighed, spinning around on his heel, only to find you standing behind him. “How long have you been standing there?”

 “Long enough to see all you battle scars.” You glared at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

 Damian rolled his eyes, leaning against the brick walls of the alley. “Tell you that I was doing this?”

 “I would have understood, you know.” You wrapped your arms around yourself, suddenly insecure. “The more you sneak around, the more I assume… things.”

 “Assume what?” he challenged, looking at you.

 You shrug, sighing. “There are rumours that go around. In the papers, at school, on social media… things about me that I don’t need to hear. People say things that are so dumb and rash. They act as if they own the world, you know?” You bit your lip, letting out a groan.

 “Hey, if I didn’t like you, would we be having this conversation right now?” Damian’s emerald green eyes bore into yours as if they were intense stars that burned in the sky. “If I didn’t like you, would I have kissed you and done something so irresponsible?”

 You chuckle, “I guess not. But people have feelings and insecurities, Dami. You can’t just leave me hanging. No more secrets, okay?”

 He nodded, taking a few steps towards you and taking your hands. “No more secrets. I solemnly swear.”

~

If you like my writing please leave a like and a reblog!

[callboxkat]

A Little Nightmare (part 3)

Author’s note: This is really fun to write, you guys. I love Remy. Also, let’s pretend it’s still Monday. It is in some parts of the world! ...Just not here. XD

Warnings: drowning mention, illness and injury, a dog, fear, death mention, food mention, censored swearing

Word count: 3460

Infinitesimal Masterpost!

...

Joan brought Marco’s food and water bowls into their bedroom, both balanced on one arm as they opened the door.

“Hey bud,” Joan said, smiling at the dog eagerly prancing around their feet, his fluffy tail waving through the air with a frenzy.

Marco made a little yipping noise, bouncing like he wanted to hop right up into Joan’s arms.

“No, no, no jumping,” Joan said, grinning wider. They set down the bowls and Marco shoved his face into the food. From the fervor he attacked that food with, anyone would think he hadn’t been fed in days. Joan shook their head fondly, ruffling the soft fur at the back of his neck. Marco’s wagging tail went into turbo drive at the touch.

“Good boy,” Joan said, slipping back out into the hall as their dog eagerly gulped up the rest of the food. Time to go check in on their new friend and bring her some food and water, too.

Out in the kitchen, they looked through their cabinets, trying to find a suitably small container. They settled on a small glazed ceramic bowl meant for dipping sauces, which was technically larger than their shot glasses; but they chose it because it was shorter and would be easier for the tiny woman to reach into while sitting down. Choice made, Joan filled the bowl about three quarters of the way with water. As small as it was, the bowl was still an almost ridiculously large container for the job, but they couldn’t think of anything better. It would do, in any case. Then, they opened the pantry and looked inside, frowning as they tried to decide what she might like to eat. In the end, they just grabbed a small handful of cereal. If she didn’t like it, they could always go back for something else. They carried their cargo back into the living room, approaching the coffee table cautiously.

“Hey, uh…. Hey there.” Jeez. Joan really needed to ask for this girl’s name. “I’ve got some stuff for ya.” They came nearer, then frowned, not seeing her in the bundled blanket, or anywhere else on the table for that matter. Where was she?

A quiet squeak drew their attention.

They turned around; and there she was, standing on shaky legs on the carpet and staring up at them with wide eyes. She was dressed now, a little haphazardly, but definitely dressed, which was good. This would be a lot more weird if the impossibly tiny, mouse-tailed lady they’d found practically drowned in a bucket at their aunt’s house was now running around their apartment naked.

…Okay, this was still pretty f*cking weird. Joan wouldn’t be surprised to find out this was all some kind of strange dream. It wouldn’t be the strangest one they’d had, to be fair. (Just last week they had one where they went clubbing with Elmo from Sesame Street and Santa Claus, who for some reason spoke in a thick Boston accent and kept trying to smoke candy cigarettes.)

Joan shoved those thoughts aside, knowing they had to focus on the situation at hand.

“There you are,” they sighed in relief. They were quite glad to find the tiny mouse-tailed lady, that she seemed to be more or less okay; but they couldn’t help but feel sad and disappointed, too. The frightened way she was looking at Joan felt like a harsh blow. Although, they supposed they really should have expected something like this to happen. It wasn’t as if she had asked to be brought here. She had no idea who Joan was or what they wanted.

Meanwhile, the tiny, mouse-tailed young woman took a step back, her whole body stiff. Joan was glad to see she could walk, but it was obvious that they had caught her in the middle of trying to escape. And she was clearly afraid of what they would do to her because of it.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Joan said quickly, their voice soft. “Don’t worry! I’m not mad. Just….” They took a couple of steps back to increase the space between them, then uncertainly lowered themself down to crouch on the floor; and they set down the bowl of water and the saucer they’d put the cereal on. “I brought you some water,” they tempted, nudging the bowl nearer. “And I have some food here, if you’re hungry…?”

Her eyes flicked to the bowl before snapping back to Joan’s face. They weren’t sure she really processed what they said. They would have thought that getting down to her level would help, at the very least making it so she didn’t have to crane her neck back so far to look at them, but she didn’t seem to be any more at ease. Her face had drained of its color, and up close they could see how she swayed where she stood.

They opened their mouth to ask if she was okay; but before they could make a sound, her dark eyes rolled up in her head; and she toppled over backwards.

…

Remy leaned against the leg of the coffee table, needing to steady herself and catch her breath, as she looked around for a possible way out.

This would have been a lot easier if she hadn’t felt like absolute crap. Her breaths were wheezing in and out, each one causing the pain in her chest to spike in magnitude. Her head was cloudy, her vision swimming. She really just wanted to lay down and go to sleep, but she knew that she couldn’t do that. She had to get out of here before the human came back. She might not get another chance.

What were the odds of there being any doorways into the walls of this house? A window left open? A widely-spaced air vent? A loose electric outlet? Anything? She didn’t see any obvious opportunities, which sucked, so she decided that the best (and obvious) course of action for now was to get out of plain sight. She pushed off of the coffee table and started forwards, stumbling towards one of the chairs. She figured she could hide underneath, at least for the moment.

Before she could reach it, footsteps came from the other room, shaking the floor. The human had already returned. They stopped between the table and Remy herself, facing the table. Remy froze, wanting to keep going towards her hiding place but not knowing if the human would notice her movement.

“Hey, uh… Hey there,” they were saying, apparently not noticing her absence. “I’ve got some stuff for ya.”

A beat passed. Remy could sense the second the human realized she wasn’t actually there. They took a half step back, confused, and Remy let out an alarmed, involuntary squeak as that huge foot suddenly came that much nearer.

She wanted to kick herself.

The human turned around, of course, and spotted her down on the ground. She felt herself blanch, frozen to the spot.

“There you are,” Joan said, the relief in their voice as evident as the disappointment.

Remy’s heart was hammering, and it was her turn to take a step back. She suddenly very much regretted getting down from that table. The human had played nice so far, but that was before Remy had tried to get away. Her mouth hung open slightly, the little stricken completely speechless for once in her life. The thought of trying to run was at the forefront of her mind, but Remy felt rooted to the spot. She knew that especially in her current state she wouldn’t be able to outrun them—just look at how amazingly far she had made it this far.

“Hey, it’s okay,” the human said, taking a couple of steps back and lowering themself down to the floor, bringing those huge hands and that huge face even closer, and Remy’s eyes widened.

She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. Everything hurt, and she was so tired and dizzy and she just wanted it all to stop.

And before she knew what was happening, it did.

…

When the tiny form before them collapsed to the floor, Joan let out a gasp and surged forwards. They reached a hand towards her, then stopped, remembering how afraid she had looked. They hesitantly retracted the hand, instead studying her from above. She was splayed out on the floor, her eyes shut. Joan was suddenly very glad that the floor in this room was carpeted. At least that would have helped break her fall.

Their worried gaze fell on her chest. Occasionally, the creases in the fabric of her jacket moved. She was still breathing. Joan let out a relieved breath, which ruffled her hair slightly. They sat up and moved back to where they had been before, noting gladly that they hadn’t knocked over the bowl of water in their haste to check on the tiny woman.

A minute passed, then two. And then, finally, Joan saw one of her arms twitch. She groaned softly.

Joan heard a muffled bark from the direction of their bedroom. Marco was getting lonely. They felt bad, but they couldn’t worry about that too much for the time being. Their priorities currently lay elsewhere.

The tiny woman stirred again at the noise, and her eyes opened. She stayed there for a few seconds, looking confused, then raised her head. Her eyes locked onto Joan’s face.

“Stay down,” Joan advised. “You’re okay.”

The woman let her head fall back to the carpet. She muttered something under hear breath that sounded like the word “duck”, but which Joan suspected was actually something else.

“I’m not mad,” Joan repeated, remembering the woman’s fear from before. “I get it. It’s okay.”

She said nothing.

“Do you want some water?” they asked. “Or I’ve got some cereal here.”

They had expected to be ignored again, or maybe a snarky comment, but after a moment, the tiny person said, “You first.”

“Me first?” Joan echoed.

She looked up at them again, and did her best to nod.

Did she really think they would poison her? Joan blinked, then shrugged, figuring there was no harm in proving her wrong. While she watched, Joan lifted the bowl of water to their lips and took a drink. They made sure she could see them swallow it. Then, they ate a few pieces of the cereal.

She struggled to sit up once they were done, and Joan watched anxiously, barely able to keep themself from reaching out to help.

“Hand it over, doll,” she said.

…

Remy was surprised that she woke up to find herself still on the floor. She might have expected to be back on the table, or worse, in the human’s grip. But, no, she was just laying on her back on the carpeted floor. She was dizzy and sick and even more sore than before, but it could have been much worse. She could have been dead, for one. To be honest, though, she didn’t think there had been much of a chance of that happening. Though she loathed to admit it, the human had been right when they pointed out that if they’d wanted her dead, all they had to do was let her drown.

Speaking of the human.

She lifted up her head, trying to find them. She quickly spotted them a few feet away, watching her with a worried expression.

“Stay down,” they ordered. “You’re okay.”

Nothing about this stupid situation felt “okay” to Remy, but she didn’t feel much like getting up yet anyhow. She let her head fall back to the carpet, cursing under her breath.

“I’m not mad,” Joan said. “I get it. It’s okay.”

Do you, now? Remy thought.

“Do you want some water? Or I’ve got some cereal here.”

Remy felt like she’d had enough water for a lifetime; and yet, her throat did feel pretty scratchy. And at the mention of food, her empty stomach was tempted to growl, but Remy silently threatened it into submission.

Where was the trick? Whether this human had saved her or not (and she had to admit that they had, as much as she hated it), they had to want something from her.

“You first,” she said slowly, watching them with wary eyes.

Surprisingly, they did as she asked. She supposed the drink of water could have been faked, but it looked pretty dang real to her, and she really did want to soothe her poor throat.

She sat up, her sore chest protesting. “Hand it over, doll,” she said as calmly as she could.

The water was pushed towards her, then the saucer full of pieces of cereal.

While she elegantly stuffed her face, Joan quietly cleared their throat.

“So, uh,” they said, making her pause, “you know I’m Joan, but… what’s your name?”

Remy swallowed the piece of cereal she’d been chewing. “Nunya,” she said, the nerves in her stomach thankfully not making it into her voice.

“Nunya?” they repeated, sounding almost amused.

“Nunya Business.” Remy had heard that once on a human television show. She was proud of herself for pulling that on an actual human. And also mildly horrified. Although, she had already called them a b*tch, and they hadn’t been mad at her for saying that.

To Remy’s surprise, the human started to smile. “Nunya Business, huh? Alright, Nunya. Nice to meet you.”

Remy stared at them. Were they actually going to call her that? Did the human not get her joke? Had she messed it up somehow?

Joan laughed at the look on her face. “I know that’s not really your name,” they said. “But, hey, you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.”

“You’re… you’re not going to like, try to make me tell you?” Remy asked.

“No? I’d like to know, obviously, but it’s your name. You don’t want to share, that’s fine.”

Remy searched their face for a second, then reached for another piece of cereal with an awkward shrug. “Good, then.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

Remy just took a bite of the cereal, watching them.

“Are you…. Are you, um, a borrower?”

Remy swallowed. “A what?”

“A borrower. They’re, um, these tiny people. They’re called borrowers because they take things from humans to survive. You know, like house mice, but… people.” They shrugged, looking slightly disappointed, like they had been hoping Remy was one of these creatures. “But I don’t think they have tails, like you do. And I thought they were fictional. At least… until today, I guess.”

“Uh… no,” Remy said, hoping that was okay to admit. “I’m not a borrower.” That did sound disturbingly like what she was, but she’d never heard that word before. That wouldn’t be a very good name, anyway, she thought. I don’t borrow things, I steal them. She tactfully decided not to disclose what she actually was, just as she hadn’t shared her real name, or the fact that she stole from humans to survive.

The human sighed, adjusting the beanie that sat on their head and looking around. “Are you feeling okay?” they asked, glancing back at her. “Better?”

“What is this, twenty questions?” Remy said, bristling.

“Well, you did just pass out on my living room floor,” Joan pointed out. “I’d like to know if that’s about to happen again.”

Okay, fair point, but still rude.

“I’m…” Remy hesitated, not knowing what the right answer was here. That she was fine? That wasn’t exactly true, and if Joan decided to somehow hold her to that answer, the truth would come out pretty quick. But if she said she didn’t feel well, would the human take advantage of that?

Although, the human was already a hundred times her size. They didn’t exactly need any more advantages.

“I’m tired,” she admitted at last, watching warily for the human’s reaction.

“Um…” Joan hesitated. “Well, I think it’d be good if you wanted to go back to sleep, or at least lie down. I don’t think the floor is the best place, though….”

“No tables,” Remy said quickly, thinking of her sore hip and ankle.

“Well… the thing is, I have a dog,” they said. “So….”

Remy’s eyes widened. “Okay. Nope. Good day, ma’am; I’ll be going now.” Remy grabbed the edge of the bowl, using it to pull herself to her feet.

“Wait—”

Remy flinched, her grip tight on the ceramic bowl, and the human broke off.

“He’s in my room right now,” they said, their voice now low and measured. “He can’t get to you, and I doubt he’d want to do anything, anyway. He’s a sweetheart. He’s even gentle with beetles he finds on the sidewalk. I won’t let him near you, though, not if you don’t want to be near him.”

“Why not just let me go?” she asked.

“Let you go?”

“Yes, let me go,” she repeated. “You know. Allow me to leave. To take part. To bounce. To get the hell out of Dodge. To get the f*ck out of this place.”

The human bit their lip. They leaned forward slightly, and Remy had to force herself not to shrink away. Her legs might have been shaking, but she would blame that on her exhaustion, and no number of naysayers could change that assertion.

“I’m not keeping you here,” Joan said. “You can leave whenever you want.”

Remy’s eyes drifted towards the chair, idly wondering if she should try to run and hide before they could go back on their word. She hardly dared believe that their words might be true.

“But,” the human said—Ah, there it was— “I’d really prefer if you stayed here a couple of days. You almost drowned, and that’s not something a lot of people can just walk off. I just want to be sure you’re okay.”

“And what if I say no?” Remy asked, probably dooming herself with her own defiance. “Are you going to force me?”

Joan licked their lips. “No,” they sighed. “No, I won’t force you.”

They had hesitated. Remy took a step back, as far as she could go without letting go of the bowl, her knee threatening to buckle under her weight. Her short tail flicked back and forth in agitation.

“Two days?” she echoed suspiciously. “That’s all?”

Joan spread their hands. “That’s all. Two days, and then you can go if you want. I’ll even take you back where I found you, if you want, so you can find your way home.”

Remy shifted, considering. She did not want to stay with a human, but she had nowhere else to go, and she had a feeling she wouldn’t make it if she left right now in the state she was in and with no supplies. If she could get back to the work bench, she could get her rope and hook back. And with those, maybe she could go fishing for her backpack. She’d have a chance, at least.

Plus, Remy knew she probably shouldn’t push her luck too far with the human.

“Today counts,” she said anyway.

Joan shook their head. “No, today doesn’t count.”

“Yes, it does, girl; it’s a day, and I am here, and therefore it counts.”

Joan sighed through their nose. “Fine. Today counts, but only the part of the day you were here for. I brought you home at three-thirty. So, at three-thirty tomorrow afternoon, that will be the end of the first day. Deal?”

Remy glanced around the room. “What about the dog?”

Joan glanced over their shoulder, probably towards wherever the beast was hiding. “Well….” They tapped their fingers on their knees, then brightened as they got an idea. “If you’re really against being on a table, I guess I could keep you in—or I mean, you could stay in the guest room. That way I could close the door and Marco wouldn’t be able to get in.”

Remy frowned.

“Just two days,” Joan repeated, their voice softer.

Remy looked down at her reflection in the bowl she held onto, mulling it over. She looked about as horrific as she would have expected. Her hair was a tangled mess, barely recognizable at this point as having once been neatly tied in a short ponytail. Her face was pale, making her freckles and the shadows around her eyes stand out sharply. She looked, in short, like hell.

“Two days,” she said finally. “Two days, and then you take me back.”

The tension left Joan’s shoulders. They slowly held out one hand, their pointer finger extended. “Shake on it, Nunya?”

Remy leaned back, hesitating for a long moment, before finally reaching forward and putting her hand to the human’s fingertip in an almost comical approximation of a handshake.

She hoped she wasn’t making a giant mistake.

[chonisbestmistake]

Run? Stay.

Vampire!Lisa x Female!Reader

Rated: R

Word count: 1,759

Summary: “What do you want from me?” 

“You know what I want, little flower. You knew I was hunting as soon as you laid your eyes on me.”

NOTE: I made a moodboard and then this was born.

When you met her – you immediately knew who she was. You watched too many shows and movies to recognize the signs right away. Her posture, her piercing, almost black eyes with a mixture of red dots around the pupils, her cold hands and the lack of breathing. She walked into the club like a queen, head held high, searching for her next pray. The aura around her was different, pulling, calling you to come closer and surrender, her scent almost intoxicating your senses. When your eyes met, you felt goosebumps erupt on the back of your neck, electricity shooting through your veins, down your spine. You were shocked, feeling your eyes widening. She smirked as if she could hear your mind scream “run” and took a step forward. You blinked, swallowing nervously and there was only a single free table between your bodies now. Nobody around you seemed to notice the tall blonde moving at a non-human speed inside the club, everyone minding their own business, dancing and drinking their brains out. You sweared under your nose, wishing you wouldn`t come alone here today. But who could save you from her anyway? The second passed and she was already in front of you, sweet smile plastered on her gorgeous pale face. You shivered, all the thoughts leaving your racing mind for a moment.

“Hello there, pretty thing.” She said, and your body felt heavy, knees trembling. Her voice was silk and honey, poisoning, dulling your senses so much you already were on the verge of wanting to give her everything, whatever she would ask of you. Fight, you told yourself silently, looking away from her intense gaze and squeezing your eyes shut. “Oh, that`s new.” You could hear she was grinning, eyeing you up and down probably. “So if you know who I am, why torture yourself, love? Isn`t it more pleasurable to just give up to my charm?” You felt her cold fingers on your waist, lingering there for a moment, than cupping your cheek. You flinched as if she burned you, but her other hand gripped your hip and held you in place. You inhaled sharply, but it was a mistake. She was standing too close now and as soon as her scent filled up your lungs you felt your mouth water, desperate feeling to taste her on your tongue blossoming inside your stomach. “Open your eyes, look at me, honey.” And you did just that, meeting her black pupils and red dots. Up close she looked even more breathtaking with her plump red lips, sharp cheekbones and long eyelashes. “Dance with me.” She whispered to your ear, ice cold breath lingering on your skin, and took your hand, pulling you to the dance floor. Your legs felt numb, refusing to move, but you pushed yourself forward, following her silently. Her hand in yours was cool, almost as cold as ice compared to the heat rising inside of you. The temperature difference was clearing the fog in your mind, and you started to regain control over your senses. As soon as you stepped on the dance floor, surrounded by a dozen people, moving to the slow beat, she pulled you impossibly close, her hands sneaking their way around your waist. You couldn`t help but instinctively wrap your arms around her neck, holding your breath for a moment. You didn’t move but your mind was racing at a full speed; one part of you wanted this moment to last forever, to stay in her arms like that, yet another one still wanted to run from this terrifying dangerous creature who will most probably kill you tonight. This turmoil inside of you, mixing with the rising heat in your stomach and her cold hands on your hips was making you dizzy and breathless. You couldn`t help but rise your head and look into her eyes, the question dancing on the tip of your tongue. “What do you want from me?” Her grin widened slowly, making your knees tremble once again. “You know what I want, little flower.” Her gaze was instance and mesmerizing, you couldn’t pull your eyes away from her black orbs. “You knew I was hunting as soon as you laid your eyes on me.” Her answer sent a shiver down your spine and you stopped your steady movements, your eyes widening at the confession. “But don`t be afraid, little flower. I`m not going to hurt anyone.” She said, her fingers brushing the back of your neck. Then she lowered her mouth to your ear and you froze. “Only if I get what I want tonight.” Her cold breath hit your neck and you gulped, both terrified and intrigued. You felt your heart start beating faster inside your ribcage and you knew she heard it, when she inhaled sharply, lowering her gaze to your pulse point. “Do I have a choice?” You whispered, breathless. “You already know the answer, flower. If it`s not you, it`s going to be someone else.” She pulled away, glancing at the table in the corner where 3 guys were eyeing her intensely, desire and lust dancing on their faces. “But i`d rather it was you than them. They don`t deserve such a pleasure.” You didn`t get it. Pleasure? That didn`t make sense, dying wasn`t pleasurable at all, you thought. She smiled again, as if hearing your silent question. “Our bite is the most pleasurable thing that you can experience, love. It`s like a dozen of orgasms mixed together.” Oh. That surprised you, to say the least. You didn`t hear anything about that kind of bites in any fiction masterpieces you`ve read or watched. “You`re smell is intoxicating, little flower. You caught my eye right away. “Her eyes turned back to yours. “I wonder what you taste like and it`s driving me insane.” She swallowed, her gaze lowering to your collarbones. You both started moving to the slow rhythm again and you couldn’t believe the jealousy that was rising inside you when you imagined one of the guys standing this close to her, touching her, wasting her time. This must have shown on your face, because she chuckled lowly, her head tilting to the side as if she was reading your mind. She grinned, showing her teeth for the first time and your eyes fell to her fangs. They were sharp but delicate, evoking something primal inside of you yet it wasn`t a fear of a danger but something different. Something more intimate, you couldn`t put a finger on it just yet. You didn`t realize you leaned forward before her nose awkwardly hit yours. They were calling for you, you could tell. You felt as if you wanted to taste how sharp they are and if they could pierce through your skin as if it was butter. The feeling shocked you to the core, but you couldn’t get your eyes off of them. “Will it hurt? Your bite.” You managed to ask before you could lose control completely. You hated being hurt. You had a low tolerance for pain, to be honest. The question was nothing more than your last attempt to save yourself tonight. “A little.” She said as if she was seeing your inner conflict. “But you`ll forget about it as soon as they dive right in.” She leaned forward, her lips brushing yours like a feather, and you gave up, tired of waiting and fighting against yourself. The kiss was slow and gentle, which set you off guard at first. Her lips were soft and sweet, the taste intoxicating, your head started to spin. But as soon as you deepened the kiss you felt it – the sharp edges of her teeth cutting your lower lip, giving her a preview of what she was so desperate to taste. The metallic flavor mixed with your own on her tongue and she moaned lowly, sending vibrations down your throat. You felt her grip on your waist tighten immediately, making it almost impossible for you to breathe properly, but she stopped before your mind started to fade to the lack of oxygen. She pulled away for a moment, her eyes closed and jaw clenched, muscles dancing under her skin as if she was desperately trying to restrain herself. Then her eyes opened and the black orbs were gone, deep red shinning around her pupils. You froze before her, mesmerized at the dangerous yet so inviting color. Then she blinked and the black irises were back, red dots brighter than usual. You knew it meant she lost control for a moment, but didn`t mention anything, just leaned your forehead against hers, trying to regain your breath. “You will kill me, right?” You whispered, feeling the lump in your throat get bigger. The thought of dying by the hands of this beautiful creature filled you with so much sadness. You knew she wasn`t going to let you go now as soon as she tasted your blood and judging by the looks, she enjoyed it too much to pass on this opportunity. You weren`t fighting her anymore anyway. “What?” She pulled away and looked you in the eyes, as if not believing your words. “Why would I?” She looked confused for a moment, which is quite a strange look to see on a confident vampire that she was. Then her signature smirk was back and she looked as if trying to read your mind again, staring into your soul. ”But you want to bite me.” You said, lowering your gaze, embarrassed somehow at your own thoughts. “Oh, little flower.” She raised your chin with her long fingers, making your eyes meet again. “I can feed without killing, didn`t you know?” And you were embarrassed once again, shaking your head and smiling shyly. Well, that was a relief to say the least. “So what do you say?” She whispered, leaning to your ear and leaving a soft kiss on your pulse point. Your heart skipped a beat. “You want me that much, huh?” You found the courage to tease her, your smile widening as you already knew your answer. “What gave it away, flower?” She teased back, blinking innocently. Cute vampire, what are the chances of meeting one? She took your wrist and kissed the back of your hand like a gentle woman and looked at you expectantly. “Lead the way.” You whispered to her, giving her a little peck on the lips. The smile she gave you was wild. She turned around and pulled you to the exit. You followed her without a care in the world.

[yangssunglasses]

SSM Day 1 Prompt: Far From Home

Read on FFnet

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Into the Jungle

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This was Sakura’s first solo mission outside of the village. A training mission, the young kunoichi reminded herself firmly as she slowly picked her way through the dense tropical foliage, careful not to trip over gnarled roots. Her sandaled feet were sinking into the muddy ground, giving her a disgusting slimy feeling between her toes. Sakura clenched her jaw in determination, trying not to think of all kinds of worms that lived in this muck and were probably touching her skin right now.

She had researched the conditions in this terrain before the mission, but nothing could have prepared her for the oppressive, wet heat of the southern jungle. Sakura was bathing in her own sweat but no amount of toweling could make her dry in this muggy atmosphere. Even breathing was harder because of the moisture in the air. And the smells! At least Sakura wasn’t overly reliant on her nose to find the way. She imagined even Kakashi-sensei would have gotten a headache from the hundreds of various smells mixing together in a confusing cacophony. Intense flower fragrances were only overpowered by the all-present scent of rot and decay, which both only partially hid the more subtle animal musks. She almost wished for a gas mask like those worn by Rain ninja.

Sakura stumbled along the path that wasn’t really a path, not one made by humans by any means. She would have preferred to jump on the trees like she was used to doing back home, but here it would have been nigh impossible with all the tangled, slippery and unstable branches forming a dense labyrinth of a canopy. She was better off on the ground, closer to the goal of her mission.

Shishou, why? Sakura sighed and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. She wearily adjusted the shoulder straps of her backpack that were biting into her skin. She’d been trekking through the jungle for five days already and her exhaustion had been steadily building up in that time. In preparation for the Sand chunin exams, Tsunade sent her alone to gather a certain type of mushroom that only grew in this specific rainforest. The chance to encounter enemy ninja was extremely low, wild beasts and poisonous plants on the other hand�� Obviously, Sakura was expected to deal with any danger she would face like a well-rounded, self-reliant chunin. Still, it would’ve been useful to have someone to watch her back. On top of that, she planned to make use of this occasion to bring back some exotic toxins for her own personal study. As a result, she didn’t get much sleep at night and her backpack was bursting with specimens collected on her way.

A suspicious rustle coming from the bushes put her on alert. In a blink of an eye, Sakura whipped out a kunai and scanned her surroundings for the threat, heart in her throat as she strained to sense anything or anyone approaching her position. When a small critter skulked out and quickly ran through the open space to its next hiding spot, Sakura’s shoulders slumped in relief. She turned away to continue her march, a kunai in hand.

Cutting the lianas and foliage in her way, Sakura came into a bit of an open space. A marsh area stretched wide before her. Sakura looked suspiciously at the dark surface, rotted logs and algae drifting in the still water between clumps of high grass. Then she gave out an excited gasp when she spotted a strip of land in the middle, positively brimming with the mushrooms she was looking for!

With a burst of speed, she rushed across the murky water for the small island, not caring about the splashes. She squatted to inspect the mushrooms closer, then grinned. They were perfect!

Sakura worked quickly, cutting the stems of mushrooms so they could grow back and sealing them in a special storage scroll. She straightened up and stretched languidly in satisfaction. With her main objective reached, she could finally go home. She hefted the backpack on her shoulders again and turned around—

Only to face a gaping maw filled with rows of sharp teeth.

Sakura did something which for a ninja was an unforgivable mistake—for a split second, she froze. It was completely involuntary, an instinctual reaction that could not be purged with any amount of training. The animal part of her brain took over, choosing to stay still as she stared into the jaws of death in total shock, unable to react. And no matter how little time it took for her reflexes to kick in, it was still going to be too late and she knew it.

In a flash of blinding speed, something violently pushed her back. Sakura fell, hitting her head hard, but the boggy soil somewhat softened the impact. Blinking through dark spots flying in front of her eyes, she registered electric blue flashing lights, followed by a pained roar and a smell of smoke and burned flesh. She scrambled up on her knees to see what had happened. She was certain someone had just used a lightning jutsu.

What she saw took her breath away. There was a man standing tall over the fallen beast’s carcass, breathing hard, a bloodied spear clutched in his hand. His hair was black, wet and wildly tangled, his body dark with what looked like mud and possibly paint (for camouflage, the analytic part of her brain supplied). Her gaze wandered lower and she couldn’t help blushing when it hit her that he was wearing only a loincloth.

Then he looked at her and she stopped breathing for a moment. Even though he was wearing a mask, she got an impression that he was checking up on her too from the way his stance relaxed after a few seconds.

Before she could gather her thoughts, her mysterious savior turned to already leave. Sakura gasped loudly. Red was dripping from his other arm down his elbow. “Wait! You’re hurt!” she called out to him.

Sakura pushed herself to her feet and fought through the wave of dizziness. She suspected she might have a mild concussion. She groaned, cradling her head and walked to him, spending more concentration than usual on the simple task of channeling chakra to her feet so she wouldn’t sink in the bog.

“Wait,” she repeated, softer than before. “I’m a medic-nin, I can heal your injury. You don’t want an infection to get in. Let me repay you for saving me.” She gave him an imploring look.

The man—no, the boy, she noticed, as he wasn’t much taller than her and he seemed younger than what she initially thought, maybe around her age—stilled in consideration, then gave a small nod. Sakura smiled in relief.

“Okay. Okay,” she said, gathering her sluggish thoughts. “First, let’s get to the stable land. Do you know any safe place to camp nearby?”

The boy nodded again and headed off, but after a few moments he doubled back when he noticed her lagging behind in disorientation. He took her gently by the arm and Sakura thankfully leaned on him. She didn’t even bother to watch where they were going, trusting that he’d get her there. If the ease with which she came to depend on him seemed a little strange her, she didn’t think much of it.

Finally, they made their way to a secluded spot at the foot of an ancient tree. It was easily defensible, with the wide, solid trunk behind their backs, rocks to the left and thick bushes to the right. No more chance for the wild beasts getting a drop on one of them.

“Thanks,” Sakura told the boy as she put her weight against the tree. She shrugged off the heavy overflowing pack from her shoulders. It landed with a thud on the ground beside her. She pulled out her medkit and water canteen before looking at him. “Come here,” she said softly.

Warily, he approached her. “Don’t worry, I’ll just clean and bandage your wound,” she reassured him with an easy smile. “Please, sit.” She patted the even spot next to her.

He stuck his spear upright into the ground, then kneeled at her side. Their thighs brushed and he abruptly straightened up, breaking the skin contact. Still tense, his hand curled around the weapon, as if he was not ready to let it go.

To break the awkward pause, Sakura coughed. “Um, your arm? Please.”

Very gently, she put her hand on his and pried it off the spear. He didn’t fight her. Sakura held his arm with her left hand and poured water from her canteen over the injury, cleaning it. The gash wasn’t very deep, but it was long, bisecting his upper arm from the shoulder almost to the elbow.

“Alright,” Sakura muttered, feeling around the wound. “Do you feel any unusual pain?”

In response, she got a headshake.

She pulled a roll of bandages out of the medkit. “I’ll wrap it for now,” she explained. “I’d stitch it up for you, but it’s not necessary.”

The smooth wooden mask tilted questioningly.

“I’m sorry, but my concussion will mess up medical ninjutsu. I need to rest for a bit and when I’m better, I’ll heal it completely for you. Can you hang on that long?”

The boy inclined his head in affirmative and she rewarded him with a smile. “Pinch me if I start nodding off, okay? I need to stay awake for a few hours.”

She wrapped his arm quickly and professionally, then let it go. They settled side by side against the tree, Sakura with her knees drawn up to her chin, the masked boy cross-legged.

“By the way, my name is Sakura. Can you tell me yours?” she asked in a friendly tone.

He gave her a piercing look through the mask and she sighed. “I guess no,” she mumbled dejectedly. “You’re not much of a talker, are you? Trying to stay silent and mysterious, is that right?”

Even though she couldn’t see his expression, he radiated amusement.

She huffed. “Very well, be this way. I’ll go first and tell you a bit about myself. You’re probably just dying to know what I’m doing in this jungle, aren’t you?” she said with a self-deprecating snark.

Against her expectations, the boy propped his cheek on his hand and leaned towards her in a listening posture. Sakura’s expression lit up.

“Okay, so it all started when my shishou ran out of sake…” she began telling her story animatedly.

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The masked stranger looked down at the girl he had rescued. The night had finally fallen and she had gone to sleep, deeming enough time had passed since she had hit her head. Her head was now resting on his thigh where he had gently moved it after noticing how uncomfortable she was, sleeping on the ground.

He had started a campfire before it had gotten too dark but he didn’t trust the flames to scare away all of the night’s predators. So he kept a silent vigil over the girl—just like he had done every night for the last week.

Unbeknownst to Sakura, her mysterious savior wasn’t really a stranger to her. And when he was sure she was fast asleep, he finally took off the cumbersome wooden mask.

When Aoda had informed him of an intruder entering his territory, Uchiha Sasuke had found himself in a predicament he never would have foreseen. Had it been anyone else, he’d have dealt with them with no mercy or hesitation, but Sakura was a complication he couldn’t get rid of with his usual methods.

Tsk, excuses. You could knock her out, drug her, cast a genjutsu on her, or toss her out anytime you wished, but you’re still too soft, Ssasssuke-kun. Too weak to defeat Itachi. The sibilant voice of Orochimaru mocked him inside his head while the cursed seal pulsed with burning pain. Sasuke grabbed his neck and clenched his jaw, taking the punishment.

It had been almost a month since his sinister teacher left him with nothing, no supplies, not even clothes on his back and told him to become the apex predator of this jungle. Sasuke spent the time honing his instincts as well as the mastery over the lightning techniques, but it was all put on hold when Sakura entered the picture.

With one look, he could see she’d gotten stronger, more confident, more capable in their time apart, however at first he was incensed that she would take such a big risk, coming there alone. She didn’t know all the dangers of this jungle and she had no one to watch her back. Sasuke doubted she possessed the same immunity to poisons like the one he’d built up through Kabuto’s disgusting cocktails and sadistic injections.

He treated following Sakura, watching over her while staying out of her sight as just another form of training. He had more than a few close calls when she almost found him out. Her powers of observation greatly increased and Sasuke learned not to underestimate her. He was becoming convinced he could leave her and she’d make it fine back on her own, when she relaxed her iron-clad guard for one critical moment and almost ended up as crocodile food.

His body moved on instinct when he jumped in between her and the attacking beast, a razor sharp fang slicing a long gash on his arm when he pulled it away just before the massive jaws would have clamped on it. It was the worst injury he’d sustained during his stay in the jungle. When Orochimaru sees it, Sasuke would suffer a “penalty” for damaging his future perfect body. Not that he cared much. Surviving Orochimaru’s cruel and unusual ideas for punishment would only serve to make him stronger, more resilient, more prepared to kill Itachi.

At least Sakura was going to leave soon, which was a relief to Sasuke. He didn’t relish the perspective of her running into his teacher or anyone that would be sent to summon him back to the Sound base. In the morning, he’d escort her to the edge of the forest.

Sasuke was jolted when the girl sleeping on his lap unexpectedly shifted. She made a distressed sound in the back of her throat, her face scrunched up funnily. Sasuke carefully brushed away a longer strand of her hair which was tickling her nose. She settled down immediately, but he didn’t pull his hand back. Very gently, he traced over her cheek and earlobe with his fingertips.

Sakura gave out a contented hum, so he continued touching her. This night, being far away from civilization and possible onlookers, Sakura’s obliviousness to his real identity—it all gave him an unparalleled privacy. He couldn’t help himself. No one would ever know, not even her.

He petted her hair, marveling at the silkiness of it, he greedily brushed his fingers on the smoothness of her bare arm, then back up. He stroked her nape, then along her jaw and chin, stopping just shy of her lips.

That’s when Sakura turned her head upwards, green eyes foggily peeking at him through the eyelashes and he froze in shock.

“Sasuke-kun,” she murmured with a drowsy smile, hand closing around his.

“… Sakura,” he said, feeling at a loss. She caught him without the mask, now what?

“I missed you… so much… Sasuke-kun…” she slurred sleepily.

“Aa,” he rasped through a tightened throat. “Go to sleep. I’ll be here,” he told her in a low tone.

Sakura mumbled her agreement and closed her eyes, drifting off. Sasuke released his breath. With a bit of luck, she’d dismiss this conversation as a strange dream. In any case, this was a warning. This one annoying girl made him lose his focus, his edge too easily. He wouldn’t let it happen again.

Sasuke picked up the mask and fastened it on his face.

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Sakura woke up refreshed and after sharing canned rations with her masked companion, she had felt good enough to attempt the medical ninjutsu. There was just that nagging feeling in the back of her mind, like she was forgetting something vital…

“Did anything happen when I was asleep?” she asked.

For a split second, she thought she might have seen him tense up. Then the boy shook his head once. Nothing.

Sakura still worried at her lower lip in thought, then let the matter drop. It was probably nothing. She must have dreamt something and simply forgot. That wasn’t unusual. She then turned her mind to more important things.

Delicately, she unwrapped the bandage from his injured arm and put her hands over the scabbing, reddened wound. Green chakra enveloped her palms and seeped under his skin as she concentrated on knitting his flesh. This was a fairly simple healing and it didn’t take long for her to finish, leaving behind smooth, untouched and pink skin where otherwise there would have been a long, ugly scar. Sakura ran her hand down his arm one last time, making sure all was in order. She noticed a small, oval birthmark just below his elbow, which struck her as odd, but not malignant, so she left it alone.

“All done!” she announced with a smile, raising her gaze to the slits in his mask.

The boy tentatively tried moving the arm and found no difficult or pain. He inclined his head in thanks.

“You’re welcome. You saved my life anyway, so this is the least I could do.” Sakura stood up and put on her backpack. “Now, how do I get out of this jungle?”

The boy touched her shoulder and pointed the way, before setting off in the lead. With his help as a guide, Sakura traveled a long distance across the jungle in a matter of hours. Soon her surroundings became familiar.

“I recognize this place… It’s near to where I entered!” she said excitedly and nearly ran into the boy’s back when he abruptly stopped.

“What, why did you stop?” she asked. He crossed his arms and she understood. “Oh… right, you’re not going back with me…” she said quietly, looking to the side, before lifting her face up to him. “Then, I guess this is where we say goodbye.”

Sakura formally bowed. “Thank you for saving my life and guiding me out of here. I owe you.” Then she straightened up with a smile. “I hope we’ll meet again and you won’t be wearing that mask,” she added with a sly look.

He shrugged, giving her the impression that he would consider it, but no promises.

Sakura chuckled. “Maybe not then. Well, I’m going. See you next time!” she said as she pivoted and started walking.

After a dozen steps, she looked back. He was standing where she’d left him, still like a statue. She raised her hand and waved.

He waved back, the darker spot of the birthmark visible from the distance. Sakura was taken aback by the familiarity of his posture, there was something about it that she’d seen before…

She continued walking for a while, mulling over this and then the realization hit her. She whirled around, casting a desperate look.

“Sasuke-kun?! Sasuke-kun, is that really you?”

But the masked boy had already disappeared into the jungle.

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AN: Sorry for the lateness of this entry. Happy SasuSaku Month! XD

[jjajafar]

Crashing into Zeb (a Zebtv fan fiction)

Well here again our story starts with me gathering up loot, weapons, and odds and ends and selling them. When I walked in to the pub and weapons shop I couldn’t resist looking at this tough guy sitting at the bar. I think I’ve seen him some where before? Maybe I’ve been snooping around some of his past adventures knowing me. “Hey hey sonny looks like you had a good hunt.” Said the old man at the bar “Hell yeah I got a couple of gold axes, a demon possessed katana, I got all kinds of loot ready to sell!”. What? I get excited about sweet loot. “What about that demon possessed sword? Don’t you think it’s too dangerous to carry around?” “Don’t worry about it had a priest put a seal over in just in case it gets rowdy.” “Ok good excuse me if I get the daisies scared out of me because I hate ghosts.” “Ah don’t worry your secret is safe with me ha ha ha.”. So eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I asked. “Hey pops um who’s the big guy?” “He came in the bar a couple of hours ago asking for a rum and coke. I think his name starts with a z like Zach or Zeb something like that.” “Hmm well let me sit at a table and find my next bounty!”.  Introducing Zeb : powerful, strong, aggressive, proud Viking overlord. (First discovered youtube channel: in 2011 Game: sacred citadel). Just as I noticed two familiar faces on the bounty board a group of orcs came crashing through the main door. Hmm where have I seen this before? Maybe on another adventure? Sometimes I think I’m such a stalker watching other people’s adventures unfold, but it’s so much fun!” “Destroy the place and bring every ounce of gold back to mother!” said what looks to be the leading orc. One orc took it upon themselves knock the drink out my hand and grabbed me by my shirt, but I countered em by simply grabbing its arm and threw it through the wall of the bar. One of the orcs thought it would be hilarious to throw a rock at the guy sitting at the bar with the giant tattoo on his back. The rock hits him leaving a slight gash on the right side of his head. I had ducked under a table at the upper level of the bar. The guy picked up his axe leaped into the air and shouted “Why the hell did you do that!” and came crashing down with lighting knocking orcs out the door, through walls, and out of windows. Luckily this bar has some very sturdy tables. As the big guy ran out side I ran behind him and ducked into a tree. “Wait a sec didn’t I kick your ass before?” said the guy “Ah so we meet again. You might have defeated me before, but now I have more power than ever!” said what seemed to be the leader of the orcs that ransacked the tavern. “Here let me give you a taste of the power the dark lord gave to me!” she said as she cast a thunder spell that sent the guy crashing to the floor. Yikes that must’ve stung. “Ha not even enough endurance to stand. Move out! There will be no room for failure!”. After this shocking situation I pulled the guy by rope into the bushes to make sure they don’t come back for him. Took me hours to drag him to a lake in the forest. I waited around until the effect wore off and I could get him some water. When I saw that the electricity had finally died down I grabbed the drinking horn and holder off of  his belt, put some water in it, and sat it beside him just for when he wakes up. I went deeper into the forest to set up camp and watch him just in case anyone wanted to disturb his sleep. Later on in the night I woke up to a loud “AAAH!”. Yup that means he’s awake I raced outside with knife at the ready. Until I ran face first into a wall, but it wasn’t a wall it was him. “Ow shit that hurt.”, then in kind of a blur I saw a hand pull me of the ground. “Who are you” he said as he’s pulled me off the ground “I’m uh. I was there when you got shocked really hard by that orc witch.” “So you’re the one that brought me to this lake?” “Yeah.”. then after a second look he remembered. “Oh! I remember you now you were at the tavern turning in loot.” “Yeah that’s me name’s Jafar rogue extraordinaire. What your name again? Zeb right.” “ Right I overheard you talking to the old man tough customers aye.” Said the guy as he punched me in the arm. “Ow yeah you guys looked like a bunch of tough guys mr I put a crater into the floor of the tavern.”. Then suddenly came in arrows flying, but I ducked out of the way. Then I noticed that the arrows had a certain brand on them, the brand of a raven holing a skull, The brand of the execution guild. “Hey we got to go now!”. I tried to push Zeb and move  but unfortunately, we were too late. With swords drawn they backed us into a corner then their leader came out of the shadows. They call him Adam  “the raven’s skull”  Dupree . “Ah got you little sneak.” Said Adam “Well crap as if I didn’t get myself in enough trouble today.”  “And make that double.” Said Adam ’s assassin Rebecca “the sakura widow” . “Ugh what do you guys want?” “Wait I saw these two on the bounty board.” Said Zeb “Yeah but they was two different cases one well every male who thought to make a move on her she slaughtered for a dark magic sacrifice. The Other is a rogue that slaughtered a work force in a small village and ran.” As a look of annoyance raced across my face. “Right so why the bitter look?” “Well the one with the eye patch made a deal that he would keep the village safe so what happened?” “Well unfortunately for you our deal is up.” “How is that?” “Simple I cut my ties.” said Adam  as he raised his eye patch to reveal the glowing purple orb for an eye. “You’re her servant aren’t you. Yikes how the mighty has fallen.” “Funny you talk about mighty when you’re trapped right now.” “Better than being some witch’s servant.”. Adam  pulled his blade closer to my neck I looked at him face to face. “Say it again I dare you.” “You ain’t shit but a damn servant and it’s disappointing.”. as Adam raised his sword in the air I dropped a fog bomb. “Didn’t see that one coming did ya.”. Me and the big guy ran out the fog, but as we ran I knew we couldn’t avoid them for long as they were right behind us. “You thought you could run!” said Rebecca  “Escape? No I just needed some breathing room to actually fight.” I said as Zeb leaped over me and came crashing down with his axe. As he also sent me flying into the air I saw as the opportunity to make some shooting stars. I punched the crap out of every raven’s skull member I saw and sent em crashing to the floor. Then Zeb placed his axe into the ground Jumped into the air, grabbed one of them in a power bomb position, and sent them crashing down onto a group of their clan. “Here suck on poison you ass hole” said Rebecca as she thrown poison needles, but I blocked them with my chain. “Ha not on your life, but good try though.” “Ugh your face is annoying!” she shouted as she thrown more poison needles. “Yeah yeah yeah I heard it all before.”. I blocked her poison needles again, but this time with knife at the ready she jumped into the air to stab me. Suddenly Zeb swiftly swatted her out the air with a shoulder tackle and sent her flying into the arms of her master. “Ha nice try but did you forget that he’s here?” “oh shut up!” “You’re a lie and I bet your assassin don’t even know what she got herself into.” “ I bet you don’t know when to shut the hell up.” Shouted Adam  “Shove it! you know you owe that village because they shown you mercy. How dare you stab them in the back on a literal level.” “I told you before I’m done with them and I found something better  so get used to it.” “So being a servant of evil is something better?”. Then as rage raised to the brim Rebecca was the first one on the attack as she thrown more poison needles, but Zeb picked up a log, blocked the poison needles, and thrown it aside. “Don’t get it our way!” said Rebecca as both her and all of us came charging forward. As me and Rebecca  were going to connect into battle I noticed that she was going to throw a smog bomb of poison, But I quickly latched the chain to Zeb’s belt and sent him flying back out of the way of the smog. “Ha stupid I have more in my arsenal than just poison needles.” Rebecca  said as “Hahaha silly.” . With the chain I absorbed every ounce of poison out of the air. While I was tied up with Rebecca , Adam  went charging forward after Zeb, but he was able to pull the ax out of the ground with one hand and blocked Adam ’s attack. Zeb kicked Adam in the chest and sent Adam flying back. “I’m going to rip your head off your shoulders!” said Adam “I’d like to see you try before I split you in half.” said Zeb as they charged at each other. Rebecca pulled out a giant needle and I pulled out my knife and we went in a crazy flurry to see who will be the first to crumble. “I can’t wait to stab you right in the heart and watch you fall to your knees!” Rebecca said as she kicked me square in the jaw. With all I had I stood my ground and I sent my chain after her, but she dodged out of the way and ran forward. Rebecca  tried to stab me in the neck but I side stepped her and came across with my knife. Fortunately for her she dodged out of the way. That gave me enough time to recoil the chain. “You thought you were going to cut me?” said Rebecca “Lucky you moved out of the way.”. The battle continued she sent more poison needles flying at me but I circled around her untill I got close enough just to wrap my chain right to her foot, but she nearly got me with a needle. I yanked the chain and sent her flying to the floor. “bet ya didn’t see that one coming” I said as I stood over her, but she had a hidden needle in her mouth and sent it flying at me. I caught it though and returned it to its sender right in her leg. “You mother F-!” she said as she yelled out in pain. “Aw sucks for you.”. Adam back flipped and threw daggers at Zeb, but he deflects them by twirling his axe. Zeb went in for a side swipe Adam ducked under the blade he tried to come back and stab him, but Zeb came back around and kicked em right in the ribs. “Ugh damn it!” said Adam as he backed away “Give it up you lost.” Said Zeb “Heh this is far from over.” Then he turned into purple light and quickly went over and grabbed Rebecca and they both disappeared in purple fading light. “Damn it just when we had them. Hey, Zeb how you holding up?” “Alright no injuries.”. I thought it was back to square one untill. “HELP, HELP US PLEASE!” said a woman who raced up to us. “What’s going on?” said Zeb “There is a orc attack in the village bellow luckily me and my children made it out alive.” “Get to safety if you can find it.” I said as I started to run into danger again. “Ok strategy I know you’re the front man so you do you best and I can take out the other dudes in the area.” “No problem with that”. When we got to the area we hid behind a building and come to find out that there was double work to be done because there are orcs and assassins in the area. “Ok new plan you handle the orcs I’ll take out these assassins.” “Alright so on my count 3,2,1 GO!” said Zeb as he quickly ran in. I use my chains to sling right up into the air to take aim and drop three assassins with knives right to the head. Zeb hit one of the orcs with a flying knee knocking it’s teeth out and sending it flying into the hay then grabbed another by the throat and sent it flying through on of the buildings on fire. “What intruders? Kill them and put their heads on steaks!” Said a goblin that sat on his gold velvet throne covered in rings and chains. Zeb had made it through the halfway point of Orcs and I was on one last assassin. I ran across the roof as fast as I could, but the assassin shot off a arrow and shot Zeb right in the butt before I sent my chain after them and threw them right off the roof. “OW! What the fuck!” shouted Zeb pulls the arrow out “My bad didn’t get to em in time.”. “Get them, get them now!” shouted the goblin as he barks orders at the goons. I zip lined right in the middle of the action to back him up. Before I made a move I heard some heavy breathing like a enraged beast. Then I narrowed it down from the other sounds around me and come to find out it was Zeb pissed off because he was hit in the back side with a arrow. “Aw Shit let me move out the way.”. I made my exit stage left. “WHAT THE HELL!” shouted Zeb as he leaped into the air with spinning axe in hand and came crashing down sending bodies across the village and some through the decaying houses. After that I made my move and zip lined through the smoke over to the little shit and knee struck him right in the jaw and sent the poor thing falling out of his royal purple throne. “Hi we’re the intruders. If you give us info to the orc lady with the magic staff I won’t have to ring your little neck.” “No no no you didn’t think your little plan through did you.” “What’s that supposed to mean?”. Suddenly with the power of the medallion on his neck the little critter started to grow in size. “Well shit.” Said Zeb “We need to get that medallion off him.”. I tried to throw a chain at him and pull the medallion off, but he was just too strong and pulled me with it. Zeb tried to come up for a attack and the monster backhand Zeb and sent him flying into a crumbling house. I hung on for dear life as much as I could untill I went flying into barrels outside of a tavern in the village. “Bring it on I haven’t bashed any skulls in for quite some time maybe it’s time to knock some rust off.” Said the giant goblin. I rolled out of the of the barrels. “Ow shit! Hey you ok?”  “Yeah little bruised but I’ll be ok.” Zeb says as he arose from the rubble. “Ugh this sucks maybe I will have to strangle em.” “Hey gotta take a lickin and keep on tickin right?” as Zeb came up beside and we went into fighting stance again. “Hey giant asshole we’re not done yet.” Zeb shouted to the monster “Heh and I thought you were just small fries.” “Please far from it so you better get used to it because this fight is about to get real ugly.”. We both ran at the monster, but I let Zeb run ahead so that I can set something up.  Zeb went right at the monster swinging is axe at a crazy speed making the goblin go into defense. With some hand signs I prepped for the goblin to make a move. When Zeb slightly let up on his assault the goblin threw a punch and Zeb was able to dodge one of them. The goblin went back with another strike this time a swing back hand and sent Zeb flying through a tree next to a house in the village and that made the tree fell onto another house. As the goblin made his way towards me it tried to come in the zone to punch me, but Zeb quickly with loads of adrenalin came in and blocked the goblin’s punch, grabbed the goblin’s hand. and tossed it to the ground. Before the goblin could get up, with one more hand sign I trapped the goblin in chains. “Alright lets get em!”. I went after the goblin with the dagger Zeb hopped high into the air and came crashing down with his axe and slashed it right in the head and shoulder. I pulled the chains tighter sending it crashing to the floor again and slashing twice at its back and head. Then as Zeb leaped into the air to come down for another strike, the goblin was unfortunately able to turn around and send him flying through a group of barrels with a back hand. Then the goblin broke through the chains and hit me with a uppercut and sent me flying on to the stone shingles of a roof, but with the help of adrenalin I was able to recover. “Pff that’s all you got you hit like a punk ass.” said Zeb as he raises a middle finger then he rose from out of the pile and I couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s so funny” said the goblin “Your face” and I fell out laughing. “Heh I guess I tickled your funny bone huh” said Zeb “Yeah you did. Ok enough laughs back to work.”. Zeb picked up his axe and swiftly swiped at the goblin’s knee and that made the goblin buckle to one leg and he made his move behind the goblin. With the opening I was able to jump on the goblin’s back and slash at the chain of the medallion and it brought out a huge chip to the chain. “Alright your turn Zeb!” “Alright!” said Zeb as he leaped into the air and raised his axe and sliced the chains right in half. Then the chain slid of smooth as butter and fell right to the ground. “hell yeah!” shouted Zeb in victory. Then the once giant goblin decreased in size untill Zeb had his foot on his neck. “the information please?”. I tried to at least somewhat politely. “Fine the orc queen is in the catacombs of Celtia Deltarune she not only have her orc army but she also taken control of the golems as well.” “Alright well thanks for the help” said Zeb as he tied the goblin to a tree. Then we sat on a bench to at least breathe for a second. “Hey lend me your shoulder I’m hella tired.” “You’re tired? You didn’t go flying through a house and have it fall on you.” Said Zeb as he sat down also “ Hey I almost did  too when I hit that stone roof god my back hurts.” . I lean on Zeb’s shoulder thought I was gonna pass out. “I hope the guards come there should be news flying around about this village burning to the ground.” “Yeah you can’t do anything massive without someone finding out around here.” .Then just like clockwork some soldiers came to survey the town. “Hey you two ok over there!” Shouted one of the guards “Somewhat alive at the least!”. I tried to get back up on my own but just stayed on the bench. “What happened here?” said the second guard “This ass hole burned the village to the ground with the orc army and assassins. We took both sides out.” said Zeb as he pointed right at the goblin. Then the guards hand cuffed the goblin and put it on the back of the horse. “Do you all have a somewhere to stay there’s a inn a town over?” “Well I have a tent, but we do need to heal up and get a full rest.”. I showed them the summoning scroll I keep on me just in case. “Right come with us there should be some rooms available since most of the villagers from this village went another town over. Also there should be a healer at the inn as well that heal those wounds” “Alright.”. Then me and Zeb climbed into the guard’s wagon and went over to the next town. When we arrived at the village, we looked at the view of the town as the wagon went to its destination. It bustled like usual like a big town should, but even in the night and rain you could see that some parts were destroyed because of attacks from the orc army. “Well at this town is still intact.” “Yeah fighters in the town gathered together to defend this place and you’re in luck because one of them own a tavern in town.” Said the guard. They arrived at the honey inn with its signature bee ingrained into the wood and a scent of honey in the air. I climbed out of the wagon nearly falling over because of back pain, but Zeb leaps out of the wagon even though he got a bruised rib and well back side. We enter the inn where some tables and chairs were broken, but the bar was still working and the nurse’s office was in working operation. They we’re greeted by a large ginger male sitting behind a desk with his feet up with gold, black, and red armor, and a black and gold striped spear at his side. ( Met Odoyle in zeb’s stream he’s hilarious and random practically similar to Zeb, his stream is also chill) “Hi welcome to the Honey hive inn name’s Odoyle. What can I do for ya?” “Hiya me and this guy over there need two rooms and healing.” “Yeah sure. HEY WIFEY!” “Yes Husby!” said the rainbow warrior that skipped into the room wearing her signature rainbow zebra hat and armor and a white blade with a rainbow zebra charm on the end of it. (Also met Nniiee in Zeb’s stream and one of many supportive mods of the stream.) “Oh hi how can I help you guys? my name is Nniiee local healer and paladin.” “They need a room and a healing.” “Ok sure what’s your names and what’s hurting.” “Hello name’s Zeb my Right side and other places.” “Yeah he got shot in the butt with an arrow that a assassin shot at him.” “ WHA- DON’T SAY IT OUT LOUD!” “What? It’s the truth and yeah I do owe you because I let the assassin get by.” “You better pay me back!” as he looks back at me with a pointed stern finger. “Heh and what pains do you have Mr. rogue.” “ Hi name’s Jafar my back hurts because that jerk goblin hit me with a upper cut and sent me flying into a stone roof on one of the houses.” “Ouch.” “Yeah not fun.” “So let’s get down to payment.” Said Odoyle “Hey did you get that goblin’s amulet chain?” “Hell yeah I did can’t be a rogue and not take some things for yourself and if that doesn’t cover it-” I said as I snapped my fingers twice and a large bag of weapons fell to the floor. “I also got gold.” Said Zeb “Hmm I think the goblin chain and a few weapons are good enough right?” asked Nniiee “ Yeah there should be a place somewhere that will sell these.” Said Odoyle. We go to our sperate rooms and both Nniiee and Odoyle came in to help. “Alright just lay down and relax.” Said Nniiee as she spread her arms and summoned her healing powers sending zebras to race around him and the bruise on his side went from a purple back to his skin tone. “Alright I’m feeling a lot better.” “Great with some rest of cores you should be at 100% .” “Great thanks hey got any food? Throughout all that forgot to eat.” “Yeah same for the broken rogue too.” I said from my room. “Ha I think we got some food if not I’ll go around and get some things from the stores.” Said Odoyle as he ran downstairs “Don’t worry rogue I’ll be right in to heal you too.” said Nniiee as she skipped to my room. Nniiee also did her healing spell again relieving my back pain which their was likely a bruise their too. “Alright rest we should have food prepared in about an hour.” “Ok.” I said as I slowly started to drift off to dream land. Sometime after I was awoken by aroma of honey bbq sauce. I stretched around and opened the windows to let the sun in and then finally went out of the room to see if anyone was around. As I walked down the hall way I was great to the sounds of “GOLD FISH!” said a very active Odoyle “Bull Shit!” said a active Zeb “Well this is one active game of gold fish yo everyone.” “Ah hey Jafar food has been ready for quite a while luckily we had some to spare.” Said Nniiee “ Ah jeez did I sleep that hard? Well good thing cause I’m guessing those two tore the ribs apart.” “Yeah pretty much so come on plate is ready for you.” “Thank you”. After some eating I was stuffed and just watched the card game unravel again. “Ha take that Gold Fish” said Zeb “Wow you finally won.” Said Odoyle “You do know that it’s tied.” “Ha hey dudes I’m going  to be going out in the city for a while and probably get some new stuff and probably haggle.” “Alright man.”  “See ya.”. I walked outside it was a nice breeze out. I went store to store looking for new throwing knives and maybe a brand new knife set. As I made my rounds I hear something thud like something huge hit the ground. I zip lined up to the roof of one of the properties to get a birds eye view or a high view. I looked to where the sound was coming from and I saw the giant blocky boot of a golem. I also heard someone barking orders at them, and as their troops came out of the field of trees it was a dark knight. After paying for the knives and equipment, I ran back to the inn to let everyone know about the march. “What? A dark knight ? sounds like they’re beefing up their troops.” said Zeb “Yeah, we have got to get rid of that orc witch soon.” “Right, but let’s focus on this fight right now though.” “You’re right The golems look like their made from stone so you should be able to take em out in one or several hits with your axe and maybe I can set up a trap or two. Odoyle, Nniiee I feel like you fought for this town before we got here. So just in case they try to take a back entrance can you watch the town?” “Yeah and we’re ready to go we also prepared traps and ballista just in case if they were trying to sneak attack the town.” Said Nniiee “ Yeah we got this and we will fight right down to our fists to protect this town.” “ Yeah on the subject of weapons I picked up knives but your’s look pretty cool Odoyle.” “ Yeah that’s my stinger it’s guided me through several wars now. Although once this is all over gonna fix up the little things and relax and take a vacation.” “Right after this definitely taking  a vacation. Away from these fights for as long as I can at least.” “Yeah well ready to take down some golem and kick a dark knight’s ass.” Said Zeb as he picked up his axe “Hell yeah it’s time to end all this.”. As we wave the awesome owners of the inn good bye we start bolting towards the small battalion. As we got closer and closer I made my moves using hand signs to make more and more chains come through the grown and hook onto trees to stop the golems movement. Although I did set up the chains to stop them they still managed to trip over the chains and crash into each other. “Alright Zeb get em I’ll take out these golems out then we meet for the dark knight.” “Alright I’m going forward.”. Then Zeb picked up speed and the first piece of a fallen golem that went flying off was a hand.  I ran pass the golems and made my move toward the orc soldiers. One of them tried to hit me with a back hand as it was turning around, but I was able to grab it’s arm and charge a chi blast right at its side and send it flying into the other orcs. “Capture them! And take them to the mother!” Said the dark knight as they went deeper to the background of the fight. Zeb was going crazy fighting golems two to one Zeb caught one of the golem’s fist and send them crashing into the trees. One of the orcs came running at me with axe aiming to cut me right in half, I side stepped it, but the orc cam around with it’s fist and back fisted me to a tree. Then the orc went for a second attack with the axe, but I rolled out the way and punched em in the jaw, wrapped the chain around the orc’s foot and sent it flying into a tree. As Zeb was fighting the golems on of them came from his blindside and sent him flying with a kick, but he crashed right into a lazy orc that was just standing and watching the action. As the golem made it’s way to get Zeb I quickly wrapped a chain around two trees and pulled it tight and watched as the golem trip and fall right on it’s face. I couldn’t help but to snicker. Then suddenly I see a sword come right for my head but I ducked and  threw a knife in the direction of who ever was holding said sword I looked up and saw that it was the dark knight that was there. “Ha Thought you could get a way?” “No wasn’t trying to run, but that was a nice try at a cheep shot ass hole.” . I got up and whipped the chain around just in case the knight wanted to make a move and ran back to the action. Zeb got up and grab the orc by the arm and threw it right at the face of a rising golem. Then he ran and rolled pass the golem to pick up his axe, Jumped high in the air and put a hug dent in the golem’s chest plate, and then hit the golem again and breaking it’s core sending it crashing back to the ground. “One down!” he shouted in victory. I ran back into the battle and drop kicked the last of the orcs right in the skull and sent em flying to the ground. “Hey you got that last golem?” “Yup!” “Have you forgotten about me rogue?” said the dark knight “No you won’t let me forget you, but don’t worry now you have my full attention.”. I cracked my knuckles and went right for the dark knight. I threw a few daggers their way then tried to quick slash em with my knife, but the knight blocked the knives with their shield and blocked my knife with their sword. “Is this all the power you have?” “Nah I’m just getting started and your minions was just a warm up.”. Zeb is going in a back and forth battle with the golem, blocking nearly every attack the golem threw out. Then finally the golem made a mistake and tried to throw a kick and Zeb took it’s leg with his axe. As the golem fell to a knee he took advantage and chopped the core of the golem right in half. As the fight between me and the dark night went on he eventually caught me and threw me with their dark force shield sending me right over to where Zeb stood. “ Ouch that jerk.” “You’re alright.” Asked Zeb “Yeah I’m good just falling on my ass for one reason or another.” “ Yeah it happens to the best of us well not me though.” “Ha says you.” “I guess that the one on one didn’t go so well.” “ Wouldn’t be my first plan, but hey didn’t hurt to try.” . I rolled back to my feet and we both got into our fighting stances ready to go. “ So two to one, Come! Let’s test your metal!”. All three of us ran forward this time I let Zeb take the lead and I’ll follow up with some tricks up my sleeve. They both came to a blade to blade clash, and face to face they stood their ground. They both quickly leaped back and when back and forward in a flurry of attacks. Just as the dark knight a was about to come back around with his sword I threw a dagger at em and threw a couple of punches their way. In the middle of the combo the dark night was able to grab me again, however I ran up the tree side ways to release their hold, Zeb charged in with the axe, but the dark knight was able to block the attack thus bringing the fight back between the dark knight and Zeb . when they clashed again this time Zeb twisted around and hit the dark knight with a back fist sending their helmet flying off underneath another male soldier possessed buy the evil power of the orc mother. After the strike was landed I went after the dark knight and punched him aiming for his and dented at least the front plate of the armor. “You are stronger than I initially thought I’ll admit that, but it’s time to take this fight to the next level.” Said the dark knight as pitch black armor assembled onto him. Zeb with his axe ready made the first move, But with one quick step the dark knight was able to make a move before he did by grabbing Zeb by his face and throwing him through the trees. I tried to run in and slash at em with my knife but he quickly raised his sword and sent it crashing down sending a beam of dark energy. I thought I could block it, but it sent me crashing through several trees and my back felt like hell. After the sudden powerful attack the dark knight walked over to Zeb and kicked him in the gut to turn him over. The dark knight raised his sword looking to stab him in the heart, But I summoned chains to hold the swords in place. “Hey you might’ve hurt me, but I’m not going down without a fight!” “Ha you think you can hold me?” “No all I needed was a second for him to breathe!” . Zeb stuck up his middle finger rose to his feet grabbing the dark knight by the waist and  then slamming the dark knight right on his back. Zeb tried to go for another suplex, but the dark knight  got up and hit him with a upper cut to the jaw. As Zeb stumbled back against a tree he noticed that his axe was stuck in the tree and he ripped it out of the tree and marched back to the battle. Suddenly the dark knight started moving at a crazy speed to psych him out. “You can not hit what you can not see warrior.” “ Oh really?” Said Zeb as he powered up and smashed the ground creating a huge dust cloud to where the dark knight can see him. I made my move, didn’t move much because my back was hurting again but at least I did something. With some hand signs I summoned more chains to go after the dark knight. Though their was a huge cloud of dust I found the dark knight’s energy and made the chains latch around his leg, threw him to the ground twice and threw him high in to the air. Zeb Powered  up and jumped into the air around the same height and grabbed the dark knight’s face and brought him crashing back down to the ground. After the dark knight hit the ground his black armor faded away and a portal heading back to the orc queen opened and quickly pulled the dark knight in and closed. “ Dang I wanted to question him. Especially why she’s summoning the golems.” “My guess it’s to beef up the army she’s creating, but enough thinking let’s go fuck more shit up.” “ Heh sounds like fun, but let’s heal first and contact Nniiee and Odoyle to see if their ok.” “Alright then.” Said Zeb as he takes a seat on a log. I pulled a viewing crystal out of my bag it took about five seconds but it eventually made the magic connection. “Hey you guys ok on your end.” “Yeah we just got rid of two golems our selves plus a mini army of goblins.” “WOOOOO!” yelled odoyle “Sounds like someone is enjoying their victory.” “Yeah so are you guys ok?” “We’re fine just owned a dark knight.” “ Yeah we took kind of a beating but with time to heal I think we’ll be ok.” “Alright take care and I hope we could hang out some more when all this is over.” “Yeah I’ll be down for it.” “ Yeah and maybe we can go round two of gold fish.” “Bring it!” said odoyle as he brought his face close to the viewing stone. “Alright we’ll see you guys later when we win.”. After some resting and some healing we headed out on one of the horses that at least stayed during the fight. We raced all the way till we reached the outskirts of Caltia Deltarune. “Alright we’re here what’s the plan?” said Zeb “ I don’t know. There could be a lot of troops here. Maybe we can divide and conquer but we need to stick together though since you know. The odds.” “Yeah Normally I would just go in and wing it, but since you’re a rogue you like to plan before making a move.” “Hey I learned with all this, is sometimes you just gotta wing it, and hell you’re strong enough to just wing it.” “Yup strong enough to wing it.” Said Zeb as he flexed his bicep. “Oh whatever let’s just take these guys out.”. So any ways we went and scanned the camp to set up traps and to see if they set anything up for us. “Hmm bear traps looks like there’s some spike traps covered by leaves.” “Not to mention the two guards standing outside the gate.” “hmm I think I got an idea, but I’ll have to make the first move though.” “Why?” “Cause of their medallions I can easily steal those then I can get the chains to beat them up and draw the other troops.” “Yeah but that could send the rest of the troops out too.” “Yeah, but we could take them out all at once especially we could make them fall into their own traps.” “Right. Ok your move.” “Watch this is going to be easier that taking cake from a oversized knight.”. I casually walked untill The guards saw me in the night lights. “Excuse me good sirs I’m so lost could you all kindly what city is this.” “Hmm? Wait you’re the intruder.” “What no I swear just a rogue passing by.”. The chains I summoned quickly came behind them and took their location medallions off  them. “What the?” said the orc soldiers as the drew their spears. Before they could charge for me the chains wrapped around them and slammed them together knocking them out and then dragging them into the bushes. “Done and done. I didn’t even break a sweat.” “Wow good job.” “Thanks now let’s see”. I took the gold packs from around their waist and the keys to open the gate. The gate had opened, but nobody payed any attention at first. “Alright Zeb give me your best orc voice.” “OI humans are attacking humans are attacking.”. Then their focus shifted towards the gate with the bodies of their  about a quarter of their troops came out to see if their was an attack. I made the chains quickly close the gate. Then Zeb launched high to the air and came crashing down sending all of them flying. “Hell yeah took em all out with one shot.” “Yup well looks like it's on to the next poor souls who are going to get rekt.” “Yup and I got just the idea for this next trick. Let’s go.”. the next plan took us to the right side of the camp facing a hill. “So when they cam out I looked in for a second and it looked like they were having a party. I’m guessing one of them has to go to the bathroom eventually.” “Oh so you’re going to place the bear trap down to draw them out.” “ Yup and when he screams in pain their gonna come running.”. I placed down the bear trap in a bush. “Ok let’s see what are they going to do.” . It took some time of cores, but Eventually with a loud snap. “URAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”. They all came running to get the poor soul out of the bear trap and that was our sign to move in for the kill. It took us a little longer though because both battalions on the right side of the camp moved in to help the orc, but we got it done though ending the fight with me kicking it in the ribs and punching it in the jaw and sending it into the bushes. “Two groups of troops down one more to go.” “Should we charge straight in?” “Hmm I got an idea but it could take time to set up though.” “What is it.” “Remember the spike traps?” “Oh right.” “Yeah I’m guessing that there’s some traps over their or we got some digging to do.”. So we ran right over to the west wing of the camp to draw out the rest of the camp and luckily we didn’t have to dig holes we can just execute the plan. With everything in place I simply made my first move. “Hey guys!” “What the?  Kill him and go warn the mother!” Yelled the orc . As the orc was escaping to send the message Zeb flown past me and well needless to say he was silences with one swing of his axe. Then we came together and took out the other orcs. “Ok we’re done with this now on to the queen.” “Yeah Let’s get rid of her and make sure she stays dead.” Said Zeb as he picked up his axe and placed it on his shoulder. We went inside of the cave Zeb marched right through the cave head held high and ready for action while I hid in the shadows hiding behind large rocks and looking for traps even with so little light. “Man it’s super dark in here I wonder when we’ll gonna reach any light.” “Well if you want light so bad here it is.” Said Zeb as he pointed at the purple glowing crystal filled to the brim with souls. “Well this is a evil lab if I’ve ever seen one.” “Yeah and from the look of it they must’ve been harvesting for quite some time.”. We looked around for a while and then I noticed a stray needle flying at me from a certain someone. “Ha looked like you missed.” “Shut the hell up you’re ruining mother’s introduction.” Shouted Rebecca   “What ever.”. Then the resurrected queen of the orcs revealed her self stepping forward hidden by the light of the crystal. “I thought surely that my children would have ripped you limb from limb them selves, but they where no match for you even the dark knight was useless.” “Heh yeah.” Zeb snickered. Then Adam  came out from behind a pillar I thought he would be hiding somewhere. “Well, well look who’s finally here.” Said Adam  “Yeah and this time I’ll-” “Nah Zeb let me handle him. I want to talk to him one on one to see if he’s under a spell or just decided to make a dumb move.” “Alright then You take him, I’ll take her on then.” said Zeb as he cracked his knuckle “Ok then bring it on. I’ve been meaning to kick your ass for shoulder blocking me for that second rate rogue.” “Yeah says the one that lost to the second rate rogue. Second rate bitch.” Said Zeb “Listen up you mindless cave man, you only get one warning I’ll poison you and give you a slow and agonizing death.”. During the stair off, slowly the orc queen went back under the light of the of the glowing crystal. I pulled out my knife and Adam  pulled out his sword of darkness. Then we officially went charging after our targets. I started off the fight sending some throwing knives after him. He blocked both knives and blocked my incoming spinning back fist. Adam  tried to slash at me with his sword, but I was able to block his hand and roll back to bring the fight back to mutual ground. Zeb and Rebecca ’s fight the assassin started of by her flipping off the high ledge she was sitting on and tried to hit Zeb with a drop kick. Zeb was able to block the drop kick by blocking with his axe and throw her off of him. Though throwing her she was able to flip mid-air and throw poison needles at him. Zeb  was able to block the needles by spinning his axe, then he tried to go in for a huge axe swing, but Rebecca  ducked out of the way as the axe slice through a dark knight statue like butter. While Zeb tries to butcher her, me and Adam  were in a back and forth fight knife vs sword. Reven tried to come in for a huge over head slash, but I went underneath and tried to slash at his stomach. Just when I thought I connected, It was actually him blocking my hand and then he kicked me disconnecting the stand off. I hopped backwards and sent out my chain as it ricochet off the wall and try to trap Adam , but he dodged right out of the way. I sent out another chain this time one coming strait for him but he blocked it and he used that to go for his super attack: Night’s deception. Suddenly the space around him turned into shadow then he shot forward with astonishing speed. Luckily I was able to pull my knife up to block the incoming attack starting with a stab attack. From the stab he nearly pushed me to a pillar, then he went for three over head slashes aiming for my head, but I was able to duck out of the way. Then he went for double slash to the body  and finally one big final stab attack, but I was able to block both slash attacks though he caught me with the final stab and stabbed my shoulder. With a kick to the stomach he sent me crashing to the ground. “That’s all you got. Heh rogue my ass not even cut throat enough to be one.”. while I was stuck and injured, Zeb and Rebecca  continued their dangerous dance with Zeb nearly chopping everything in sight. “Yeah keep on swinging you giant ape.” Rebecca said in her head as if she had a plan of attack. Then she ran forward a ran right into the blade,  just when he thought he hit her, her body burst into poison smog. “What the hell?” “Not done yet suck on this.” Rebecca  said as she created more clones and made them spit out poison smog untill there was a huge cloud of smoke. “Now stay right there and suffer you ass.” Rebecca  says looking at the poisonous cloud of death. “What are you going to do now huh! Piece of trash.” Said Adam . As he had the advantage but then I heard something. “Jafar get up !” said what sounded like Adam ’s voice but less evil. With the most confused look I at least started to guard and prepare for my next attack even though injured. “Come Jafar save us please.” I heard the voice again and still wondering what the hell is going on. While I got ready for the next assault Rebecca had Zeb in a poison trap then she sent her clones in for the kill. “Go clones go in there and murder him.”. They swiftly went into the huge void of poison smog, though she couldn’t see the fight on the inside of the smoke she could her the sounds of steal cutting flesh. “heh if he’s not dead by now he should be.” “Dead heh gotta hit me harder than that.”. Then she started to see glowing white eyes pierce through the cloud of smoke. “What the!” Rebecca yelled out “Raaaah!” Shouted Zeb as he burst through the huge cloud bringing oxygen through. “I-I” said Rebecca as she was stunned “break through Thor’s lightning!” Shouted Zeb. Suddenly a huge bolt of lighting crashed down with force sending Rebecca crashing flat to the ground. After the attack Zeb fell to a knee to breathe then he pulled out a healing potion and it healed some of the cuts from Rebecca ’s attacks. On my side of the fight couldn’t stop hearing a familiar voice again and again. “You must wake me up!”. Then as Adam was going to stab me aiming right for my heart suddenly his arm stopped like a invisible ally came in to help. “What the! No you can’t win!” shouted Adam “No You’ve hurt so many. Enough is enough get out!” said the other voice “What the hell is going on.”. Then I started to see a royal purple aura that soon transformed into the Adam I knew before. “What the? Adam ?” “Jafar please that witch kidnaped me and made me kill all those innocent people in that village! Please kill me I deserve to die.” “I won’t kill you but you must atone. Luckily I have just the trick!”. From the ground I sent out chains again, though straining through the movements Adam  dodge out of the first three chains. I sent out a hidden chain and that chain wrapped around his leg, other chains ricochet off the walls and wraps his other leg, torso, and arms. “What the hell?” said the evil Adam “Tied up? Good it’ll make this a little less painful for you at least.”. Just when he thought to look my way I already teleported off the ground and made my move. “What the hell where did you go.” “Time to wake the hell up! Big burst: jade palm strike!”. Hit him right in his back and sent the spirit that possessed him flying out of his body. “How?” “Don’t worry about it and oh don’t run I’m kicking your ass even harder now.”. Just when I was about to go for a punch, all of a sudden the evil spirit was pulled into the hand of the orc witch and turned into dark energy. The same also goes for Rebecca as she floated right into her hand as well. “You two are weak! Well at least you’ll be useful to me in the end.” Said the orc queen. Then she absorbed the dark energy that the evil spirit morphed into. Then she took Rebecca ’s power of poison from her pulling the purple smog into her lungs. With the evil aura the orc queen collected she evolved into a twisted spider like form. “Oh crap and just when I thought you and this situation couldn’t get any uglier.” “Silence! You will both pay for breaking my pawns!” “Your pawns? I knew you were behind this giving them orders and not to mention the multiple attacks that we saw.” Said Zeb “Yup she was and I can’t wait to strip you of everything just like you tried to do to this land.” “You will never strip me rogue my children will rise and take this realm starting with you!”. The fight started with the orc mother blowing out Rebecca ’s poison smog. Zeb had taken another drink of healing elixir and charged right into the fog. I sat a unconscious Adam  onto a pillar away from the fight, took a healing elixir as well and ran in. I through out a chain to cut through the fog and it worked but to be greeted and slapped across the room by a spider’s leg. “Thanks for the opening at least” said Zeb as he cleared the fog within one spin. Zeb went in for the attack looking to chop off a leg, but she parried it, blew poison smog in his face, and slapped him sending him crashing through a pillar.  “Is that all you have? You really thought for a second you could end me? You don’t even know how much I had to sacrifice.”. Suddenly a needle hit the monster right it the face. “Take that for everything that you made me do you butt ugly tramp!” Shouted Rebecca  at the top of her lungs “How dare you!” “How dare you use my power for your evil makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.” . Rebecca  hobble ran over to Zeb. “Hear drink this this is the antidote this should help for and hour and just in case here’s two more healing elixirs.” “Um thank you?” said Zeb with the most confused look on his face. Can’t lie I felt the same. Rebecca  also ran over and gave me some of the antidote and a elixir as well. “No more healing!” said the orc mother as she went for a stab attack heading strait for Rebecca . Just when Rebecca  thought she was done for she heard a sound like something clashing with metal. To our amazement it was Adam  who blocked the attack and  with a new found power to boot. “I thought you were dead?” said the Orc queen “News flash that attack is not lethal, it’s only used to cast out the darkness within something. I learned that little trick along the way.”. I pulled myself off the ground, was greeted by Adam ’s hand to pull my self up some more and Rebecca  helped Zeb up even though he was three times her size. “Once I’m done with you little rats I’m going to feed you to my children!” said the orc queen with a snarl “Blah, blah you won’t be talking once I’ll take your head off.” Said Zeb as he picked up his axe. Zeb made the first move and charged to go in for the kill and I followed right beside him knife ready to do its job. The orc queen though to try to sweep my feet but I hoped right over the spider like leg and threw a knife aiming for her eye. The orc queen quickly dodged out of the way of the knife and went after Zeb with a attack looking to stab him, but he raised his axe and blocked it and continued his charge forward. As we started to inch closer to her she went for the poison breath again, but I was prepared using the chain of the reptile and absorbing the poison right out of her breath untill there was nothing left. “My poison breath nooo!” shouted the orc queen “Ha got em!” “Now time to take a bit off the top!” said Zeb as he gave the orc queen the proverbial off with your head and sending the rest of her body crashing to the ground. As the orc queens body slowly turned to stone, the orb of the evil spirit that was connected to Adam  cracked and the evil spirit died and faded away as well. “Thank you so much for freeing us.” Said Rebecca “Ah it’s no thing, but we’re not done yet though hold on to the chain.”. When she held onto the chain the poison poured out of the chain and slowly seeped it’s way back into the lungs of the poison assassin. “Thank you Jafar now I feel normal again.” said Rebecca  “ You’re welcome.” . As Adam and Rebecca went over to thank Zeb I looked over at the evil glowing crystal. I made a chain wrap around it then pulled it making the chain tear the crystal break into a pile of powerless gravel. I made sure that this land will have no evil authority ruling over it. “Hey Jafar come on dude this place could fall apart at any moment!” Shouted Zeb “Alright I’m that coming! Just making sure things stay dead this time.”. We all climbed out of the cave into the bright light and just as we made it out we saw some familiar faces. “ Hey! You guys made it out!” said Odoyle “Hell yeah took her head right off” said Zeb “Jeez and how are you Jafar.” Asked Nniiee “Alright, tired, took some fighting but we rescued these two as well.” “Hi I’m Adam .” “I’m Rebecca  nice to meet you.” “So what happened other than you rescuing them.” “Long story, but I’ll tell it once we go back to the inn.”. Suddenly I look next to me and Adam  tide a rope around his hands and bound himself. “ what the.” “Jafar I am your prisoner.” “But that doesn’t mean… whatever all I just want you to do is stay at the front of me and Zeb so just in case anything go south we have a fighting chance.”. Everyone assembled into marching order and started out of the orc camp. We made it back to the inn and man talk about hunger hitting me right where it hurts and everyone hung around the open area of the inn.“Hey Nniiee can I get a bourbon honey bbq burger.” “Yeah coming right up along with the other boys orders.” “Thank you so much you’re the best.”. Suddenly in the mist of the arm wrestling match of Zeb and Odoyle having a arm wrestling contest, Adam walked up to the bar. “So what’s next for you two huh?” “I don’t know Jafar I might turn myself in or go into hiding and be a rogue again atoning for my sins along the way.” “Yeah I get that you need to atone, but then again you was under a spell there has to be some level of mercy for that.” “I think so that’s why I at least want to go into hiding, but won’t you need the bounty on our heads.” “Well won’t need the bounty, again you were under control of the orc queen. I say that you and your troops go into hiding and restore the village that you once destroyed.” “I would really like to do that, but we are a group of rogues and cut throats they might not believe a thing we say.” “Try at least, but if you can’t call me rogue’s honor.”. After a while, Nniiee placed the plate on the table and I couldn’t help but to take a bite of he burger, but then Rebecca came over. “Listen I know I’ve probably said some very evil things when I was under her control please-” “It’s no big just make sure you both use your powers to rebuild the village that witch made you destroy.”. After the convos it was time to pack up, that is until I heard my com crystal go off. “Ugh looks like another war broke out man shit’s always hitting the fan.” “Yeah sound the everyday recently.” “Hey Zeb can I leave it up to you to take them back to their village and let the peeps at the bounty hunter guild know that their bounty is off.” “Yeah sure dude no sweat.” “Thanks.”. After some hugs we once again waved cya later to the awesome owners of the honey inn and we went our separate paths. That’s how a friendship can start with a crash.  

[codyfernaesthetic]

Dichotomy

Part 15

Warnings: mass scale human suffering

Day 1

The first plague came without fanfare; it happened within a blink of time. One moment, the irrigation system put in place was working perfectly, and the next, people were choking on blood and the watering system was spraying red over every plant..

Michael was called immediately to a meeting with the Cooperative, who proved the direness of the situation by opening a bottle of water, crystal clear until being poured out as thick, red gore.

Michael poured the liquid into his hand, attempting to change it back as it splashed onto his skin. What would have normally been a simple parlor trick to him was now impossible. Mallory, who had accompanied him to the Cooperative’s disapproval, had the remaining put into a bowl. She spread her hand over the bowl, concentrating all the energy she could, but it remained blood.

“Send out a group to to inspect any nearby lakes or rivers to start the decontamination process,” Michael ordered.

“We already did,” one replied, “Every body of water for the nearest 300 miles is blood.”

“There has to be some other kind of water storage you have,” mallory chimed in, much to the room’s surprise.

“Why, thank you for the suggestion, Miss Mallory,” the same one replied disdainfully, “But we’ve gone through each backup storage since the first incident was reported, and not a single one isn’t pure blood.”

“Even the water systems for the animals?”

“Every trough, every aqueduct, every toilet is filled with blood.”

“And even worse,” another stood up, “We’ve tested several residents and animals; at least 50 cases from each housing district and 80% of our animals have tested positive for HIV. We’ve ordered a complex-wide testing.”

Michael placed his hands on the table, “How? Have they been drinking the blood?”

“No. So far, everyone who so much as eaten or drunk anything from an hour before the first report is contaminated. Either their food and drinks were already so-“

“Or they transmuted inside of them,” Mallory finished.

“Lord Langdon, have we done anything to offend your father that he would send this curse?”

“It’s her!” One screeched, pointing at Mallory, “The one from Outpost 3!”

The room began to murmur and agree. Michael waved his hand, “Enough! I will speak with my father. See what must be done.”

He stormed out of the room to their disgruntled shouts. Mallory followed behind him, quickening her pace to keep up.

“It’s her, Michael, she told me she’d hurt me if I didn’t comply. And now she wants to bring the whole Sanctuary into it.”

He didn’t slow down, keeping his deliberate, heavy gait. She rushed in front of him, putting out her hands to stop him, “Michael!”

“I have to speak to my father,” he told her sternly.

“He’s not going to take away something that will push us further into the plan.”

His eyes were wild, “And what would you have me do, Mallory?”

“I...I don’t know.”

He sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders, “You and I are the only ones who have hope of saving them. Do you think you’re strong enough to heal them?”

“All of them?” She shook her head, “I’ve never tried healing en masse before.”

“We don’t have to get to all of them today,” he touched her cheek, “I’m going to get you total clearance so those assholes don’t harass you and we will do what we can to keep this contained.”

She nodded, placing her hand over his and kissing his palm.

“Mallory,” he looked her dead in the eyes, “I won’t hurt you either.”

Day 2

Mallory was able to get through nearly all of the infected humans, but barely a fraction of any of the animals by the time the next day came. Michael told her to return to the house and rest, and being so exhausted, she didn’t protest. Meanwhile, they were quickly finding out that neither magic nor science was able to fix their water problem.

That’s when the swarms came.

They started out as a rising black cloud from the east, appearing like a solid column from a distance; but they didn’t make a single blip on any of the Sanctuary’s radar or cameras, they couldn’t tell how far away it was or how fast it was heading their way. They decided the safest bet was to evacuate all residents into the underground shelters. Then as if hearing their plan, the swarm descended on the Sanctuary in an instant, passing through the protective ceiling like it was air. They were a legion of large ugly bugs with thick outer black shells and tails like scorpions. Their arrival sent the residents into a panic, and only a small percentage were able to get underground. Michael tried burning them, flinging blasts of fire straight into pockets of them, but it was as if they absorbed the flames. He appeared in the house, screaming for Mallory to get to safety.

“What’s going on?!”

“Some kind of swarm,” he urged her, “get to the shelter underneath here, there’s a secret passage from the bedroom-“

“What about them?!” She indicates to the ensuing chaos, “I have to help them!”

“We’re getting them shelter as quickly as we can, get underground now. There’s a false wall across from the bed, open it stay down there until I come to get you.”

Arguing with him would only delay the inevitable. She did as he said and found the passage, feeling like a coward as she hid down there while the world above was suffering.

When Michael came to get her, she didn’t know exactly how many hours it’d been. He looked so defeated, his shoulders sagging slightly as they left the shelter.

“How bad is it?” She asked hesitantly.

He frowned, “No one’s dead.”

“That’s good, right?”

He shook his head, “Whatever those things were, they were poisonous.”

He didn’t elaborate, which worried her more than anything.

“How many?”

“Too many for you to try and heal.”

She straightened, “I can’t just hide here when I can help them.”

“Mallory, it’s not pretty.”

“I can handle it.”

The main lawn had been turned into a makeshift care center, tents raised up all around where doctors did their best to treat the poisoned patients.

The sight was even worse than she expected. There were only a handful of people Mallory saw that weren’t covered on each patch of visible skin with red, swollen boils; green pus and blood leaked from them. Every report said the boils were unbearably itchy and agonizing to the touch. When she was spotted by some suffering residents, they formed an angry mob almost instantly, screaming about how she was to blame, that she was bringing all their misery. They would have ripped her to shreds if Michael hadn’t surrounded the two of them in a wall of fire.

“Take another step and I’ll finish what the swarm started!”

They called out accusations and curses, telling her to be thrown outside to the elements.

“She’s the only one with a chance of helping you!” He yelled over them, “If you lay a finger on her, I’ll burn this entire complex to the ground!”

The mob eventually subsided, allowing Mallory to try and heal as many as she could, though she was just as dehydrated and hungry as the rest. Every time it felt like the wind being knocked out of her. She’d stumble back, feeling emptier than before. When she tried to heal a group of them at once, she fainted. Michael rushed her back to the house and revived her. He told her to stay there. They would try again later.

__________

She visited some place in her sleep, different from the field of flowers she’d seen. This was fortress made of jewels, burning white light creating columns for support. A path of water like glass stretched forward leading to a throne. She took an unsure step, finding herself able to walk over the water easily. As she drew closer to the throne she saw her; sitting upright with head held high, adorned with a crown of stars, a billowing white dress flowed down like a waterfall to her feet.

Mallory stopped right in front of it, glaring at her.

“How long will you wait to yield to my will, Mallory?” She asked, shaking her head disappointedly, “Will you stand atop the bodies of humanity’s last efforts before fulfilling your purpose?”

“How can you talk about peace and healing while you destroy what’s left?”

“This world was going to be set ablaze regardless of who won the war,” she said proudly, “He burns for chaos. I burn for purification.”

Mallory felt disgust roiling in her stomach, “Those people don’t deserve to die.”

“Those people are the cause of all this in the first place. I’d say that is cause for divine judgement.”

She threw up her hands, “You can’t punish them for setting them up to fail!”

The woman on the throne gazed into her eyes, “This isn’t about the people in the Sanctuary, Mallory. This is about Michael,” her tone grew mocking, “the broken little orphan who needs a mommy. And you are willing to let the world burn while you fill that void in him and yourself.”

The words were spears to her heart.

“I love him.”

The woman sighed heavily, “The human body can only survive three to four days without water, Mallory. Time is running out.” She placed her hand over her heart, eyes full of grief, “I take no pleasure in this, but if your insolence continues, I will send my wrath upon them until they are all dead. I will break you if I must.”

Day 3

Morning never came. Or at least, all lights had been extinguished. The complex had been covered in thick, inky blackness. To even move through it was like wading through mud. All electricity was down and couldn’t be fixed; even flash lights were unable to pierce the darkness. It was as if all light had been swallowed into this dark vortex. No one moved or talked for hours, like they’d been buried under the darkness.

When the blackness dissipated, the entire complex was disoriented for several minutes; just long enough to see the fire raining from the sky straight towards them. There was no time for either Michael or Mallory to do anything. They, as well as the others, were lucky enough to escape into the shelters this time, but the fire crashed into their granaries and stables, killing nearly every plant and animal not already contaminated. Whatever blood that hadn’t been filtered out of the complex was used to douse the fire; and when they emerged, their utopia had met its own apocalypse. The stench of gore and burning flesh and plants billowed out with the waves of black smoke pouring through the now damaged dome, the complex was smoldering, only the bottom levels remained untouched.

The once greatest achievement of human ingenuity was now reduced to huddled masses sitting in odorous, burning piles of their former glory.

Michael and Mallory shared a grief stricken glance.

They couldn’t defy their parents for much longer. Not if they wanted anyone to survive.

Day 4

Mallory remembered when Michael told them that there were pillaging cannibal hordes raiding the insecure Outposts. The Sanctuary, however, had been untouchable. But now that their resources were all but annihilated, and the integrity of their structural complex was compromised, those hordes descended upon the vulnerable residents like vultures to a carcass.

Michael and Mallory fought them off for as long they could for the residents to barricade themselves. Even weakened, Michael set fire to many at once; their bodies and souls wiped from existence. Mallory pushed the back with all the force she could muster. Her arms were outstretched, sending telekinetic tsunamis to force the hungry raiders back several feet. Her heels were dug deeply into the dirt, her entire body straining, head pounding-

She was knocked to the ground, a crushing weight over her chest as she lay flat on her back. She registered that two knees were atop of her, connected to a man, angry and holding a makeshift spear.

It was Brock.

His hair was overgrown, except for the top which was bald and covered in radiation burns. He was covered in blood, stinking of rotten flesh.

Mallory froze, petrified as he lifted the spear to plunge it through her, a murderous, inhuman screech resonating from his throat-

A figure tackled Brock to the ground, keeping him into a chokehold while he struggled, thrashing his spear wildly. The young man, dressed in servants clothes, red haired and freckled screamed to her, “Run!”

She began to cry, involuntary, recognizing the face from so long ago, “Bartholomew…”

“Run, Mallory!” He cried again.

Adrenaline pushed her to her feet and she ran, she didn’t know where to. Bodies and chaos blocked every path. Screams pierced her ears. She began to sob, covering her head and dropping to her knees.

There was a flash of white. A female voice.

Only you prolong this madness, Mallory.

The young witch threw out her arms, lifting her face to the heavens and released a shrill roar, like a battlecry to enforce aid from the earth. Blood dripped from her nose and mouth, every muscle taught with power.

The ground shook violently. The rumble of shifting earth overpowering the terrified screams. Deep trenches opened up like pits of hell, ravenous jaws swallowing hordes of raiders in their wake. The living residents scrambled away, the invaders falling to the depths. Michael dropped to the ground, staring in awe as Mallory ascended above the scene, light bursting from her fingertips, vaporizing those who weren’t devoured by the pits.

What was left of the hordes retreated, taking what spoils they could grab. As the last of them disappeared, Mallory slowly descended to the ground, the light fading and her cry ceasing. Michael ran to catch her, clutching her close as she passed out into his arms, breathing shallow and soaked in sweat.

“It’s gonna be ok, Mallory,” he sounded so small, whispering assurances in her ear, tears falling from his cheeks to her dress. He recalled a moment from his childhood, gripping onto the dead body of his grandmother in that cursed house. He held tighter, praying to whatever could answer that she would return to him.

________________________

She was back inside the castle of white light, this time on her knees before the throne. The woman looked on her lovingly, stretching out her hand, beckoning her daughter to come forth. Mallory slowly stood, shuffling to her. The woman took her hand, giving her a sad smile, “Yes?”

Her voice was ragged, barely above a whisper.

“What do you want me to do?”

[mrneighbourlove]

Kindled Passion: Ch 11. Fireworks Explode. Destruction or Celebration?

Kahli was walking through the palace halls by himself after a day of extensive research. It was nearly time for him to leave. In an hour and few Zannah would bring about doomsday. His research deduced, that depending on the Hasai tribe, the gift of the Exodrum gave unique abilities. For the royal tribe of the Ocho, ‘the fire of God himself’ could be channeled, unleashing ultimate destructive energy rather quickly. Their was little information on the gift being bestowed to-

His thoughts were cut off as an steel bolt pierced his back, shooting through his body, and out his chest. Kahli gasped, turning around. Their was a member of the Skurge tribe dashing low at him, too low for Kahli to counter in his shock. The Waku received a knife to his gut, the blade being pushed in deep for his lack of awareness. How could he be so careless.

With a snarl he blew fire from his mouth at the knife wielding assassin. It wasn’t much, more a reaction to save himself, but it was enough for the attacker to back off. Kahli pulled the knife out, running down the halls as more bolts shot at him. He should have known this would happen! The savages knew to strike when he was alone. Behind him his blood leaked a trail back to him.

He watched from the corner of his eye as his attackers ran beside him in the shadows. Reaching the courtyard, he threw a firebolt at one of them. The Hasai absorbed the fire after raising a hand. These men were prepared.

Horus had the look of insane wrath in his bloodstained red eyes. “I sent so many to finish you off Waku. You’re life continuing is a sin against nature.”

“You.” Kahli’s own hate burned, the power of a locomotive ready to strike. “You the one who’s been hunting me.”

“You’re death will appease the gods and save our island home. Once I kill you, I’ll slay Zannah. The false ideals she has brought will come to an end. I will save my people!”

Something in Kahli’s soul burned away. A thread containing all his hatred turning to great flame. He had enough of being hunted. And in a few moments, his hatred would finally settle to ash.

The Waku’s wounds lit up with his own fire, cartelizing his flesh, yet this time, healing it. His flames turned a dark purple around his fists as he clenched them. His voice spoke softly, but it dripped with an undeniable malice. “No. All of you will face the end before Zannah raises a finger.”

One of the Skurge fired a cross bow at him. This prompted Kahli to dance around the bolt, and fire a shot of lightning at the attacker. It came far easier to him now. The lightning entered the attacker, and he screamed as the bolt continued to course through his body like a worm, electrifying the attacker until he was a crispy corpse.

Two of the Skurge backing Horus rushed Kahli. The two assassins skillfully swiped at the Waku with curved knives. Kahli bashed their arms away with his wrists and kicks, getting a few cuts against him. Becoming fire itself for a moment, his hands became flame, turning the blades to goop as he slammed his fists into them with a chopping motion. One assassin couldn’t stop a motion of Kahli’s slicing his head off as the Waku made a clean chop with a fiery hand in a horizontal cut.

Kahli palmed striked the second Skurge’s chest, blasting his spine out his back. Molten fire burned around the hole of the dead man as he fell. Kahli walked towards Horus, who was readying his own fire. “I am a master of the flame. I won’t lose to a demon like you Waku!”

Kahli didn’t reply. The Waku smacked away fire bolts that were shot at him, only running in a circle as Horus fired a large beam of fire at Kahli. Kicking off the wall, Kahli jumped over the stream of fire, shooting a bolt of lightning at Horus. It was strong enough to sever a hand of the old Skurge.

Horus glared down at his suddenly weightless stump. Looking back up he saw Kahli right in front of him. “You bast-“

He was punched across the face, having three teeth knocked out. Kahli grabbed him by the collar as he fell, pulling him back up for another punch to the eye. He wanted to have Horus feel a little pain, so no molten hands with these strikes. No way to tell, but he might have been the one behind his families death. In the end it didn’t matter though. He was scum. A racist with dangerous delusions. And he had to go. He finished his beatdown with simple push, knocking the old man away.

“That it you animal?”

“It is. Goodbye.”

Kahli felt it, his power inside Horus. He slowly raised his hand, and snapped his finger. The fire he put into the Skurge with that push activated. Horus looked down to see himself explode from the inside out. He couldn’t even get a word out as his flying body part burst quickly into flame. Not a single part hit the ground as he turned to ash.

With that over with, Kahli took a breath. Finally, would he finally be free of these attacks? He supposed he would. With half an hour left, he decided to say a final goodbye to Zannah. Looking for her though, she saw that she was gone. It dawned on him, a terrible omen coming over him. She must have started early.

~

Zannah took a deep breath as her mind came to a final conclusion. She gave her children the happiest day of their lives, and all her subjects had surely gone asleep. The full moon was beautiful sight to look upon. A last sight of the sky. Looking back down at the poisoned earth, she focused her energy. A white aura of flame burst around her, electricity zapping in the air. Her palms glowed with black fire, and a small ball of energy, like the sun, filled her hands. She raised it into the air, and let it gather energy. Counting down in her mind, everything would be gone in minute. Everything.

Kahli looked everywhere for Zannah, but couldn't find her as he flew on his dragon. He only saw T0-D, looking down at his Empress. "Statement: I'll spit in gods eye if I don't get a good afterlife."

Ba'puu flew so fast, his wing flaps sounded like a storm brewing in the sky. His mistress had urged him to hurry, fearing that she may be too late to help the doomed island of the Hasai. The water dragon could smell the spread of poison growing stronger. Then came the smell of plasma being gathered. Soon enough the entire island would be dead either way. The magic of the Widayohisdi Stone had to be enacted quickly or else, all hope would be lost. Roaring, the water dragon tried his best to get the attention of anyone, someone, to stop Zannah.

 "Hurry, Ba'puu!" Zarazu held steadfast to the stone.

Kahli ran down to Zannah. His instincts told him to stop her. Why? "Zannah! Wait!"

T0-D stopped him from getting closer, drawing a guardian blade rather fast. "Query: Why are you here Kahli? Surely you know better to stay."

"This feels wrong!"

"Correction: It is the only path."

Kahli ran forward, but the Android fired a bolt of laser fire from his socket, shooting a hole through Kahli's leg, not giving a damn about the Dragon Zizi left to pick him up.

"Analysis: Leave in ten seconds, or face 1000% annihilation."

Kahli was desperate. He felt fate driving him. With thrust of his hand, he fired a bolt of fire at Zannah's back. It was barely enough to distract her. "What are you doing?!"

Zannah recharged her burst, ready to fire again.

T0-D replied to the attack by stabbing his foot on Kahli's hands, pinning them effortlessly underneath. "Statement: I have to kill you now. You’ll just have to imagine the fire. Lucky-"

A icy blast of plasma slammed into the android, knocking him off of Kahli. The blast sent T-0D through the outside palace wall, and through three more rooms, destroying furniture, pictures, and other items in the process. Ba'puu was hovering over the Empress, Zarazu and Covarog on his back. Bas'nike snatched up Kahli and took to the skies before the robot could attempt to hurt the Waku once more. She smelled his blood, and transferred some of her fire energy to him for healing. The Lorleidian queen hoped Zannah would listen.

"Zannah, wait, wait!!!" Zarazu called over the noise of Ba'puu's wings. "We found one!!! We found a Widayohisdi Stone!!! Stop what you're doing!!!"

Zannah eyes were in a trance. The destruction of her ancestors filled her mind. The energy in her hand cracked dangerously. "What?"

"Zarazu can save your damn island, stop the magic!!!" Covarog yelled at the Empress. "She found that Whachacallit Stone!!!"

"Zannah, please, we can use this to heal the island!!!"

Kahli asked to be put down. He would not abandon this critical moment. As soon as he was, he carefully walked to Zannah. "Please my Empress. Zizi can use it to save your island. She can-" That was when he read her eyes. He looked deep to see her thoughts. She wanted salvation, but the thought of destruction couldn't be stopped. Once a Hasai started an attack, it couldn't be stopped. With no word, she thrust the destructive death ball downwards to the earth, her trance taking over completely. Kahli didn't attempt to kill her, or shoot her away, instead rushing forward to catch the power in his hands while Zannah still held it. "Channel it with me. Please!"

He struggled with her, thankful that he acquired his boost of power before coming to the island. The immediate earth around them shook as the sphere of power was being kept back by an unmovable object. The Waku strained against the Ocho. For a moment, he didn't know if he'd stand against her, but as they struggled, the trance Zannah felt faded, and together, the two Hasai started to absorb the power.

Zizi was holding steadfast to the stone that Zarazu found in the treasury. This was Kahli's home whether it contained bad history with Hyrule or not. The innocent people here did not deserve to die. As Zarazu urged Ba'puu to find a place to land, Zizi thought she heard a voice. It was not Kahli's, or her sister's. No, it was coming from the stone. It was whispering to her, she could hear the words of magi flowing through her head. It was ancient magic, spells and rituals she thought was lost when Lorleidi sank into the sea. It was hypnotizing, how sweetly the lull of magic sounded. Yet, why was it talking to her?

“A devout follower of Zemlja... you want to cleanse the poisoned earth and save the innocents."

"Yes..."

"We will help you."

Zannah gasped along with Kahli. All that remained between them was a small tiny flame. Closing her fingers into her palm, the Empress whispered her regrets. “I’m sorry....”

“It’s fine my Empress. We stopped the destruction.”

“If you hadn’t modified yourself with the gift of Exodrum....I could have killed you all.”

“But you didn’t.”

Looking at Kahli’s intense yellow eyes, her own shut close in relief. “Thank you.”

Kahli looked to his lover. “Can you really do it?”

"She's pregnant, I'll do it." Zarazu volunteered, holding out the stone for Zizi to hand to her. "I don't want you risking the baby."

"The stone is talking to me," Zizi told her elder sister. "It... it wants me to heal the earth here."

"But the baby..." Zarazu was worried for her younger sibling. "That kind of strain."

"It won't hurt my boy." Zizi rubbed her hand over the stone, causing it to glow. "I think... it wants a Zemlja to do this job."

“She carries a child of the Hasai. The baby is strong. Believe in your gods Zarazu, and let Zizi Slatki save my island.”

Kahli nodded to Zannah. He wasn’t sure how quick she’d go back to destruction if this didn’t work. Holding Zizi’s hands, he gave her a quick, soft kiss. “I believe in you.”

Zizi gave a soft smile to her sister, trying her best to assure Zarazu that everything would be fine. The queen could not help but worry. While Zizi was a talented Zemlja, she was only half Lorleidian. She did not want the magical strain to be too much upon her sister. Exiting the palace, Zizi slowly walked down the stairs and took a breath. The stone was telling her to sit upon the ground while holding it. Following the instructions, Zizi held onto the ancient artifact and closed her eyes. This time when it spoke, everyone could hear it.

"You and your child will be a link," The ethereal voice told her. "Of earth and of fire... you will channel your deities, Zemlja and Vatra, to rid this island of poison."

With a flash of white light, there were two figures suddenly beside of Zizi, a hand on each of her shoulders. One was the mighty Vatra, spirit of the flame, and the other was the caring Zemlja, spirit of the earth. With their free hands upturned, the blackness started to come forth out of the earth in the shape of a huge oozing blob.

Zannah and Kahli felt a mutual feeling at once at the sight of the avatar of Vatra. Their own godly gift made them feel...intimidated? On guard? It was hard to explain how the fire spirits presence made them truly feel. At the sight of the blob, they felt an intense passion to burn it, their fingers twitching, yet they kept themselves under control. If Zizi needed help, she’d ask.

Zemlja was drawing the poison out of the earth, but could not eradicate alone. That was why Vatra was there. With an outstretched hand, flames shot forth from her body, covering the huge black blob. The glob started to shrink in size, the blackness evaporating into nothing. Once the poison was eradicated, Zemlja pressed his hand to the ground. Flowers, grass, and even trees started to burst forth from the dirt. The island was reborn.

"The little flame within you..." Vatra spoke softly for her intimidating presence. "Think of a good name for him. He will be unique."

"Tiny, delicate flower," Zemlja told Zizi, who was in a hazy state of mind as the magic channeled through her body. "Many fruits will you bear... and your gardens will be forever growing."

Other Hasai had gathered, having been woken up either by the destructive ball Zannah summonded, or drawn by the heat Vatra emitted in spirit, all amazed by the growth that had happened.

“The poison is gone.”

“The island is saved!”

“My sickness has disappeared!”

Zannah’s Therons were a tad wary of the Spirts, but respectively kept their weapons shelved. Zannah herself took the wave of calmness that overcame her into in mind and soul. It was beyond beautiful.

“Zizi Slatki. Spirits of the Lorliedians. And Kahli of the Waku. We are forever in your debt.”

The Empress bowed towards them. At this sign of unlimited respect, the other Hasai bowed with her.

"Different names we may have over vast cultures, but we are all the same." Vatra informed Zannah as the fire spirit took Zemlja's hand. "Flames can be a symbol of destruction and rebirth, young empress. Find your peace and go forth knowing the future will be prosperous."

"Chosen queen of our people," Zemlja turned his attention to Zarazu, who was not expecting a greeting. She held onto Covarog's arm tightly. "Lessen your worries. All will be well."

With that said, the spirits disappeared into thin air. Zizi, exhausted from channeling the magic, slumped over onto the ground.

Kahli scooped her up as she fell. “I have you.”

"Mmm..." Zizi was half-conscious, and snuggled closer to Kahli's warmth.

"She needs to rest." Zarazu then looked at Zannah. "May she recuperate here while you address your people?"

“Of course.”

Zannah turned to her people, surprisingly taking Covarog and Zarazu’s hands. “All tribes of Hasai! As your Empress, I am happy to declare that we are free of the poison that cursed our land! Free of the evil that threatened to wipe us out! In celebration with our wonderful allies of Hyrule, I declare Mugen no yorokobi no shū!”

Zannah raised both her arms with the King and Queen. The people went ballistic with happiness! They cheered and danced about, some setting off firecrackers, others quickly running for musical instruments. Fel’Lath roared, shooting a stream of rainbow fire into the air. Zannah felt so...young. A giddy joy taking her over. “Tell me, do either of you like to drink?”

"Waikiki juice is a Lorleidian favorite, but I must decline drinks right now." Zarazu told Zannah politely, a small blush on her cheeks. "Covarog and I are trying for a baby."

"We would not object to a good celebration." Covarog assured Zannah, not wanting to be rude. He still held distrust for the Hasai but perhaps a new era could be built. "For peace."

"I wouldn't object to tuna." Ba'puu warbled in an amused tone.

T0-D had made his way back, reattaching his arm as his eye socket blinked in a twitchy manner from the plasma he took. “Demand: I would like a vacation from all this meatbag madness thank you very much.”

~

As Kahli laid Zizi down on the bed, the petite woman looked up at her lover with a tired smile.

"I saw him..."

“Saw who?” He laid carefully beside her. The Empress declared a week of celebration, however, he would not celebrate until his lover was ready.

"Our boy..." Zizi murmured sleepily, still appearing to be in a daze. "He was so handsome, just like his father... such a good big brother..."

Kahli was unsure of her credibility in her state, but he nodded, wanting to keep her assured. "I'm sure he will be. Rest. For my sake."

"Hrm-mh... stay with me." Zizi tugged on his arm gently as she curled up on the bed. "You're so warm."

Kahli curled up behind her, spooning her close to him. "I'll always be here."

[shimmy-sham-with-the-fam]

For the prompts/request project: Fantasy AU for Killugon? :3 (anything works! eg. Killua as a wizard and Gon as a dragon-trainer, or anything else, i'm just giving ideas XD) hope it's fine!!

I finally finished this! Sorry, this took a lil bit of time!

I hope this is kinda fantasy-ish!

I definitely took some liberties with this… But it was a lot of fun!

Thank you for making my first request so amazing, @kigamin! :) 

Here is the art that is paired with the fic!

(I apologize in advance for the terrible back ground.. I am awful with those…)

Here’s also a lil bonus sketch of Gon’s shirt because I actually super love it?

Title: Boy X With X Wings

Rate: General Audience

Words: 2289

Killua couldn’t help but stare at the boy in front of him with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Despite seeing each other every day for the past few months, he would always feel his breath hitching when his eyes graced upon the two limbs that naturally rested close his body. Both of the large appendages reflected golden-green colors, and if Killua took an even closer peek, he could make out the details of the smalls scales that lined in rows. In order to make room for the two large members that sprout from his shoulder blades, Gon sported a backless top that reached over his shoulders and covered his neck, almost similar to a turtleneck. Where the clothing didn’t cover, freckles could be seen washing over the boy’s sun bathed skin.

It was honestly hard to believe that Gon wasn’t just some dream, or maybe even an creation from his own imagination. But the smooth, scaled textures underneath the tips of his pale fingers served as proof enough. Gon was real.

And Gon had wings.

“They feel pretty weird, huh?” the owner of the wings chuckled at his friend’s curiosity.

Killua hummed in confirmation while continuing to stroke the left limb protruding from Gon’s shoulder blade. “How did you get these? Were you born with them?”

“No; my aunt told me that my dad was experimenting with a few things when I was a baby. Apparently he had decided to test some sort of potion on me to test if a human could acquire certain traits from different beasts. I guess you could say his test was a success.”

Killua’s lips pulled down into disgust. “He did that to you when you were a baby?! What a terrible dad!” The wings that Killua had easily become accustomed to petting were ripped from under his touch. The owner peered back at him from over his shoulder in the most childish pout in existence.

“I don’t think it was wrong!” Gon objected. “They’re a part of me! Are you saying you don’t like them?!”

“Wha- no! That’s not it! I just was thinking that he just did it when you couldn’t even say you were okay with it!” Killua tried to reassure his friend that he had no actual qualms about the wings themselves. Just the morality in which Gon had acquired them.

Then again, Killua knew he had no room to talk where morals of family members are concerned. Considering his father was the current ruler over Kukuroo Kingdom, the family demanded certain… training practices for self defense and survival of torture methods in case he was caught by an enemy. Much of these tactics included becoming immune to poisons, electricity, and whipping. But Killua had figured out in the short while that he had known the dragon boy that it was one thing for Gon to go through abnormal events. But it was another for his friend to do so. It was probably best that Killua stay silent on that subject for a while.

The pout that rested on Gon’s face instantly brightened into the widest smile Killua could have possibly imagined. Sometimes, Killua wondered how the other teen was able to smile so widely without making the muscles of his cheeks sore.

A bell chimed from the distance, reminding them that their time together was short.

“”Ah! I have to go back before my lessons starts!” Killua exclaimed hastily. He tried to stand up, but was quickly reminded of why they had been sitting. “Ouch!” His back hit against the tree behind him as he whimpered.

“Killua, does your ankle still hurt from the fall earlier?” The young Zoldyck winced in a reply. In all of the wonder of Gon’s wings and amazing chocolate, Killua had completely forgotten that when he and Gon were playing at an earlier time, he had twisted his ankle and face planted into the ground. He wasn’t normally the clumsy one of the two; no, that was normally Gon’s field of expertise. But somehow, Killua became much more aware of his inelegant tendencies. Today was just another painful reminder that Gon has such a peculiar effect on him.

“I’ll be fine,” Killua finally breathed out. “But I have to get to my lessons soon or my mother will be pissed!”

“Well…” Gon shimmied his eyes down at Killua’s bandaged ankle before looking back up into crystal ocean eyes. “I could fly you back?”

“What?! Gon, that’s crazy-” Killua immediately protested at the offer. It was stupid, really. He had been through various tortures in his ‘training sessions’. A twisted ankle was nothing in comparison to what he had been through in the past.

“How so?” Gon used his pouting face for the second time that day. “You’re hurt and it’s a long walk from here to your home! It would be much faster and easier if I just fly you over there!”

“Gon, I’ve never-”

“Please, Killua?” The pout transformed into the largest pleading eyes he could muster. It was Gon’s signature “get Killua to do what I want” face. And it worked every time.

“Okay, fine! Fine! I’ll let you do it, just stop looking at me like that!” Killua hates how quickly he gives into Gon, sometimes. But he can’t help it.

Gon cheers with pure enjoyment at his victory, and jumps to his feet at a terrifying speed.

“Here! You’re gonna have to hold on tight!” The dragon boy tells him as he faces his kneeling back towards Killua. Ocean blue eyes sigh as he begins to wrap his arms around his friend’s neck with little certainty. The white haired boy took the time to notice that his heart rate had increased significantly, and he wasn’t sure if it was because of the nervous anticipation of being air born or if it was from being compressed so tightly against his friend. Either situation wasn’t quite ideal for the poor boy, emotionally.

Gon gathered his hands beneath Killua’s knees and pulled him up so that the other teen relaxed into his back. Now that Killua sat piggyback against Gon, Killua wasn’t quite sure what to do. So he decided that the best idea was to tightly knit his eyes close and waited for the swooshing noises of wings cutting through the air.

“Are you ready, Killua?” a soothing voice met his ears.

“Yeah, sure fine, just get it o-VER WIITH~” half way through Killua’s sentence, Gon kneeled down in preparation for take of. Within less than a second, his feet pushed mightily against the ground, creating a howling sound against their ears. Killua’s muscles tensed around Gon’s neck, leaving hardly any room for the dragon boy to breath. But Gon didn’t mind; he knew this was a brand new experience for Killua. So instead he smiled patiently while waiting for his friend’s intense screaming to settle under the wind.

Killua shivered as the air cut through his hair and face. He pressed his face into the nape of Gon’s neck, wishing that the ground wasn’t hundreds of feet below him. He never realized how much he loved having cold pavement against his feet until now. This was such a bizarre feeling; being air born. He wanted down, he wanted down, he wanted down. This was a terrible idea, he could have walked it. Sure, the sore ache would be pretty annoying, but he could have done it. And it’d be so much better than pressing his eyelids tightly together and contracting every single muscle in his entire body. It’d be so much better being able to open his eyes and see-

“Killua! Open your eyes!” Gon shouted over the howling whistles of the wind in their ears. Killua almost shouted ‘no’ at the top of his lungs. But something made him second guess that decision. And so he complied, slowly unfolding his lids.

-The most beautiful scenery that only the two of them shared.

“Wow…” His cobalt eyes played against the top of the greenery far below them. Too condensed and pressed together to make out any details from so high up. But there were also homes and buildings and white churches. And Large hills and small mountains from across the way, covered in grassy fields And the beach off bits of ways into the distance, but still close enough that the clear waters of the ocean could be seen in its accompaniment.

“Pretty, huh?” Gon questioned from behind another signature sunshine smile.

“Yeah…” Killua gasped breathlessly. “Is this what you see all the time?”

“Yup! I love it! It’s so nice looking over the forests and the ocean!”

“It’s amazing!” Killua broke into the largest smile he could, marveling at the landscape. No longer did he wish to be planted to the ground. Rather, he wished that he could stay up in the sky with Gon forever.

“Ah, Gon! Look!” His left arm released from Gon’s neck and pointed below them. “That’s my favorite sweets store! Oh!” his hand pointed slightly farther up from the building. “And there’s that lady that gives me sea salt chocolate all the time! And then the small bakery that I take Alluka to all the time when we sneak out! That’s her favorite place to go!”

Gon couldn’t hold in his laughter. “You sure love sweets, Killua!”

“Well duh! Chocolate is the best food in the world! I live off of it!”

“Killua that’s not very good for you!” Gon nagged playfully. Killua scoffed at him.

“I never asked for your health tips, Gon! Just keep flying! We’re almost there!”  

Gon’s ringing laugh chimed through Killua’s ears. It was then that Killua sighed and rested his head in the juncture of Gon neck. For the rest of the flight, they stayed silent; both being truly content with having each other’s company amidst the sky. Just the two of them.

Disappointment filled Killua’s heart when he felt Gon carefully dive down. This was the end of their small adventures for the day, Killua realized. And he hated the fact that each day with Gon felt shorter than what he would have preferred. If it were up to Killua, he’d spend all day with Gon, not that he would ever admit that to anyone but himself… Okay maybe Alluka.

When Gon landed skillfully on his feet, he continued to walk with Killua on his back. It was only when Canary, Killua’s favorite guard had sprinted to meet them. She would always meet them at the end of their small adventures guide Killua back to the castle as if she had never left his side. It was an unspoken agreement amongst the three. Gon would come by in the afternoon and they would run off together to play or explore. Then when the chiming of the church bells bled through the air, they were ripped from their playtime and met back with Canary so that Killua could attend his lessons. If he attended his lessons, then his mother wouldn’t snoop and follow Killua around. So they had to make do with what time they had together.

Canary’s eyes immediately set onto the bandages wrapped tightly about Killua’s ankle. “Your highness, what-”

“I just tripped and twisted my ankle. I’m fine!” Killua assured before she could finish her concerned inquiries. He grimaced at the pronoun reserved for his social classification. It felt wrong to be called something so ridiculous.

“I flew him over so he didn’t have to walk on it the whole way. I think he should be fine from here!” The winged boy gently kneeled down, releasing his grip from underneath the knees of his best friend. Once Killua’s feet met the ground, there was a bit of wobbling as his body had finally caught up with the adrenaline rush he had experienced just a minute ago.

“Thank you for taking care of him.” Canary bowed in gratitude. Killua rolled his eyes at this, wishing that his guard didn’t have to be so formal but knowing she had no other choice. Even if only just in the presence of Gon and Killua.

“It’s no problem, really!” Gon scratched the back of his head is if he were embarrassed by the sudden gratitude. This had become a rather routine act between Gon and the young guard.

“Alright, you two,” Killua leaned his weight on the foot he hadn’t twisted. “I got a lesson starting in about five minutes! I’m in kind of a hurry here!”

“Right! Sorry, Killua!” Gon grinned.

Killua stuck his tongue out, playfully. “See yah later!” Gon was about to reply with the same phrase. But instead stepped forward; closer to Killua.

Blue eyes widened when foreign lips brushed against his cheek. It was a small, quick peck of affection against the flushed cheek. But Killua still couldn’t stop himself from reaching his hand up and tracing where Gon’s lips had touched moments ago.

Gon gave no time for Killua to sputter. He simply gave one more signature smile before replying, “See yah, Killua!” And with that, his wings were pushing him back up into the sky.

Killua stood stunned with the palm of his hand resting against his cheek. “Did… Did Gon just…” His voice stuttered into the air. Of course, this was not a question meant to be answered. The action itself, answered for him.

“Your highness… Your lessons.” Canary reminded, although she was quite amused by the display Gon had given.

“…Right.” Killua turned and leaned against Canary to support him. As they walked away, the slightest grin pulled at the prince’s lips. “”That idiot…” he murmured under his breath.

But he knew he’d wait with little patience for the next day to see his friend with the dragon wings.

[alka-di-kijarr]

Hunters Journey - 014

Disclaimer. The following part of the hunters journey was connected to my #CallOfThePharah on deviantArt in april2020. English is still not my native language, but I wish you a lot of fun reading the next adventure of Nero, Vaas and all the other hunters.

Grimwolf species is a closed species. If you want to get your own, please contact me.

The winner of this design - and so the new owner is - HashtagOctothorpe

Hunters Journey - 014

A few days were spent into the eager tries of finally finding some peace, after Nero had encountered this weird flower-fox-thing. He felt the warmth of the midday sun on his skin, while the wind stroke his blonde hair and a smell of sweet flowers tickled his nose. Every day since the event Nero came back to the garden, sat down on a bench and tried to remember what he had seen in this night. Or felt.

Unexpectedly his memories had gone blurry, with each hour passing after the creature had left the place again. Sighing from exhaustion and frustration Nero laid his face in his hands, trying to slow down the storm of thoughts in his head. What happened to him?

A rarely heard voice appeared next to the young hunter and a shadow covered him, squeezing between him and the sun. He lifted his face and found himself fixated by the gaze of Avon. The greatest medic of the guild was standing beside him, despite the fact that he hated the burning sun, the dazzling light and the heat. A chamber-crawler far away from his very chamber.

"Master Avon, wha-"

"Are you the hunter who got touched by the Flowki?"

"Y-yeah, I guess, what exactly is a Flow-"

"Follow me."

Without further explanations, the oldtimer turned around and left with flying steps in the direction of the medic quarters. It took Nero a moment, but finally, he jumped up of the bench and tried to catch up with Avon. This old man was really fast, contrary to his age and his appearance. Together they walked through the corridors, passed by different nurses and young medics who cared for whomever was in need of help. Nero always had a fascination for people who joined the medics, but he would never switch the place with one of them. Invisible enemies, bringing pain and death, no chance to either catch them or destroy them easily. Tons of elixirs, potions and poisons, which can cure, but also kill. The line between those attributes is just a milligram of the dose. A whiff between wonder and failure. Deadly failure. Until this very day Nero had not made up his mind on the question of who had the more thrilling and more dangerous job. The medics, or the nurses...

Caught in his own thoughts, Nero nearly ran into Avon, who stopped in front of a giant door. Nero had passed this door several times, but never had anyone entered or left the room behind it. Somehow the feeling of a giant rock in his stomach, dragging down his curiosity and his hope, appeared as Avon opened the gigantic door with a heavy key, slipped through the gab and ordered Nero to follow him.

The door made a deep, scratching sound when Avon closed it behind the young hunter.

"Follow me. Fast." The old man took a lantern, inflamed it and walked down a spiral staircase.

If Nero wouldn't know it any better, he would have said Avon was running. Was this some kind of weird panic attack of his? From all the sun and the outside climate? Nero had heard plenty of rumours about the greatest medic of the BlackBestia-Guild, but never had a chance to build an opinion of his own about Avon. After they reached the end of the stairs, a long - really damn long - corridor lead them through the darkness.

It was more like a tunnel, but Nero had no time to think about his fear of narrow paths, slippery stones under his shoes and the smell of rotting material swimming in ancient water. At least it was what it smelled like. Without any word they followed the tunnel, turned right once, and left it behind shortly after. Nero saw many other tunnels splitting away and vanishing in the deepest darkness he had ever seen. His heart raced and at one point he nearly passed Avon. But trying not to be rude, he stayed behind the old man - but as close to his lantern, as Nero could.

Eventually, they reached the beginning of another spiral staircase, leading upwards. Avon suddenly stopped. Nero could hear his rapid breathing as the old man smoothed out his clothings and walked upwards. Slowly. As if there had been no rush or pressure before, Avon took the stairs one after the other.

It felt likes ages, before the stairs finally found an end and Avon stopped in front of a door. This time the door made no noise, and Nero saw Avon turning to him, meaningful laying a finger on his lips, before he passed the threshold. Nero felt a dumpling hanging in his throat, but didn't dare to clear it.

Together they entered a room, broad walls, filled with hanging fabric. Nero touched one of them, it was made from the softest silk he had ever felt between his fingers. The room was litten up by huge windows with thin paper glued onto them. It gave the place a calm atmosphere. Somewhere in the room Nero could hear the lapping of water and the discreet scent of flowers filled the air. The young hunter felt the soft touch of a slowly flowing wind, but there was no open window anywhere.

"Avon. It has been a long time."

"Lady Eyrie." Nero saw how Avon bowed down, so he did the same - more out of reflex than anything else - even though he didn't see the person Avon talked to. After they rose again, Nero followed Avon through the labyrinth of flowing fabrics. One moment he saw nothing, the other, one of the fabrics turned to the side, and his eyes found a woman sitting on a big pillow in the middle of...well everything.

"What brings you to me, Avon?"

"Lady Eyrie, you know I would never invade your space or steal your precious time, if it was not for a very important reason."

Neros brain was still digesting what he encountered here, so the talk between the two nearly passed him entirely. The woman in front of them had dark hair with a soft blue shimmer.

"I know, Avon. I have felt it."

"What have you felt, Lady Eyrie?"

The woman arose from her pillow, soft feathers forming a dress, shining in the reflection of the warm light. She walked down the stairs in front of her, and two long, entirely black wings, formed in front of Nero. As if they had been hidden in nowhere. Exactly like the creature in the garden.

Neros heart raced. His throat was dry and his legs felt incredibly weak. Now the woman turned her ice-blue eyes to him.

"He has been touched."

"Y-yes, Mylady."

She walked towards him and a strong grasp around Neros heart nearly made him jump off and leave, but Avon formed a sign with his hands. Everything is okay. The woman came closer and Nero could sense the same kind of aura that Gemini had. Pushing him away, strongly, but not as strict as Geminis. More like flowing water, capturing him kindly in the middle, but also showing strength and straining him a little. She layed her hand on Neros chest and the poor young hunter nearly lost his breath, his eyes fixating the wide wings this woman had. Just now he realized that her hands were covered in scales, with long talons on the end of each finger.

Avon came close and laid one hand on Neros back.

"Excuse me, Lady Eyrie, the young hunter has never made an encounter with a Theres-Harpy."

"Oh, I don't blame him, Avon. My species is hiding for a purpose. I would have been more perplexed if he had known me...or my kind."

"Young man, Lady Eyrie is not only a Harpy, she is a weaver."

A weaver. A WEAVER?! Neros eyes jumped between the two figures who seemed to fixate him. He felt a little betrayed by Avon, but also felt a bit of ease, to know that he was here.

"Why am I here?" It was his first sentence, since they had started their journey from the garden.

"You are here, so Lady Eyrie can see if she finds the reason for your unstable health, since you have been touched by the Flowki."

"This again, what is a Flowki?" Lady Eyrie rose her eyebrows, giggling a bit into Avons direction.

"So Seth is still not teaching the hunters about the Kahoré realm?"

Avon seemed to turn red on his cheeks, turning his eyes down.

"No, Mylady."

"I haven't expected anything else. Now, Nero-" How did she know his name?! He hadn't told her.

"A Flowki is a creature of the spirit dimension, Kahoré. The fact that is was able to touch you, as well as the fact that you and the others could see it, tells us a lot about the current situation."

"Does it?" Avon was in thoughts, leaving his guard down for a moment.

"Eh, Mylady, I apologise. What exactly does it tell us?"

The harpy smiled but her eyes felt like piercing needles of ice.

"The barrier between the dimensions got manipulated. I assume the dark creatures are the reason for it."

"But how can that be? They were made out of mass - they got hurt and they have hurt people by contact."

"You can touch me too, young Nero." The careless way Nero had talked got scolded with silent words by Avon, but the Harpy just smiled, when she took his hand and guided it onto the middle of her chest. Nero turned as red as a tomato, feeling her heartbeat. But there was more to it. A sparkling feeling. Like electric voltage. The moment felt like an eternity, yet like a fracture of a second.

"Flowkis are known to be shy, and they don't interact with your realm. Normally they don't even pay attention to your kind. Something seems to happen in the dimensions layers...and I am not sure whether if it's good or bad."

"Are there more creatures in the Kahoré,...Mylady?"

"Yes. A lot more. Some shy and peaceful. Some far more dangerous."

She let go of the hand, which was grasping Neros the entire time, and turned to leave.

"Do you know what a Grimwolf is?"

"N-no, I-I am sorry Lady Eyrie." The fascination was drawn all over Neros face and somehow he followed her a few steps, until Avon caught his arm, softly pulling him back.

"They are harbingers of plentiful deaths as a consequence of a contract someone made with them."

"A contract?"

"Yes. In Padunay there is a story which got told through the centuries: The prestige tale of Shamki the merchant. He sold humans, which he had caught before, to people with a lot of money and prestigue. But not only poor people from the streets fell into his arms. He robbed babies from their parents, children from their families. Leaving nothing behind but agony and despair. Some day, one of his "sells" got lifted out of his social standing and became the student of a magician. And how the fate plays, he found the book of summonings, which his master believed, was very well hidden." The harpy took place on her pillow, stretched the wings back and folded her hands in her lap.

"What happened then?" She just smiled.

"The young men was full of hate and rage. He searched for the most powerful spirit he could summon, together with a piece of clothing he had ripped off of Shamki and kept hidden for all the long years. The appearing Grimwolf was a monster among the beasts. His eyes, holding three pupils on each side, the tail with the head of a snake on the end, holding a lantern with screeching souls inside. Only those who are really eager to make a contract, survive the first encounter. If the Grimwolf decides that you are weak,...well, he will devour your soul without further questions. But the young men was strong-willed. So the Grimwolf took the piece of fabric and left to find its rightful owner. The story goes that Shamki the torturer suffered a horrible death."

Nero was pale and even Avon seemed to be sucked into the story Eyrie was telling.

"What did the grimwolf do to him?"

"You know...there is the weaver who can weave things into your soul and the one who can unweave things from your soul. And then there are creatures like the Grimwolf. Ripping your soul into parts before they mingle them together and start all over. At the end, your soul, your precious, shining, wonderful soul, is nothing more than a chunk of chewed up material. And you are awake and alive the entire time. Until they rip off the chunk of the last strain that holds it to your real body and vanishes. Depending on which culture you are living, people say you will have no chance to find a peaceful end, nor the chance to find your beloved ones in the afterlife."

"There is an afterlife?"

Again she smiled. Knowing, teasing, but silent. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Who knows, young hunter. Well....but, at the end, even the Grimwolf is no monster."

"H-how can it not be?"

"It is a scavenger, eating up the contaminated souls of lost creatures, before it will die one day and release nothing but cleansed energy to the Ao, so the great Ao can form new life again."

"We will leave you now, lady Eyrie." Avon grabbed Neros arm again. Nero was thrilled. Confused. Angry. Sad. Overexcited. He was everything but calm, nor ready to leave already.

"So will it be, Avon, old friend."

The old man nodded, turned with Nero, who wanted to stay so desperately.

"And Avon..." He stopped.

"...the Flowki caused no harm to our young hunter Nero. The symptoms will fade soon. But it might be...that your youngster will see the world differently now. And you should talk to Seth, about my thesis. If the layers are damaged, we can only hope there won't be other Atmas roaming and leaving their home dimension. None of you...would be ready."

Avon clenched his fist and Nero could see how hard he was pushing his jaws together. Without any further word, they left the place, left Lady Eyrie behind.

But what would stay, were all the questions.

So many questions. No answers.

For now.