#Alternative modern universe

[theoneeyedgoldenwolf]

Lies to correct

Happy New Year! =D Let's start it with rough story for Hyrule and Time! XD

Whumptober 2024, alt prompt: Regret

In AO3:

Summary: Hyrule calls his mother out of good heart. The answers he gains aren’t what he waited for and things begin to spiral downwards. Time, even with shattered heart, will never leave his boys into danger. And when he gives a promise, he has all the intentions of keeping it. Eventually a specific promise he once gave to Hyrule nearly costs him his life.

CW: Hurt feelings (shattered heart), anger, hurt, confusion, cut wrist, cursing, dread, fear, worry, terror, tormenting one’s mind, blood, near death situation, regret Long story. ^^;;

Notion: - Part of my Ranch Family AU, the Modern Linked Universe stories - Time has lost his right eye and has the scar over it but he does NOT have the Fierce Deity’s markings. Those will be coming soonish. - Mentioning TV-show called Doctor Who and the creatures called Daleks. - When Malon died, she had been pregnant. Malon and Sprite (Time) hadn’t been aware of this. The doctor whom had done autopsy few days later told to Sprite (Time) the information. Time hasn’t told to anyone about having lost a child too when Malon died. He had Malon and their little one buried in same coffin to let them truly be together. Time never saw his child. In the gravestone, beneath Malon’s information is simply writing of “Our beloved little one” with the same date of birth and death as is Malon’s day of death.

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“I HATE YOU!”

Time jerked in absolute shock like he would’ve been stabbed right through his heart. Nearly immediately he snapped his gaze into one of his boys. “H-Hyrule…?” He called with tiny voice while staring wide-eyed at the boy he had last adopted.

“I HATE YOU!” Hyrule screamed again with tears in his eyes. “HOW COULD YOU LIE TO ME?!” He shouted in hurt and rage before turning his gaze off of his caretaker and dashing up the stairs.

Time flinched roughly when he heard the door slam shut with force. He had no idea of what had just happened. Shakily he took hold of the kitchen’s doorframe and nearly crashed against it. He stared at the floor while desperately going through the day’s happenings in search of answers. And yet, he had no idea what he had said or done to bring out something like this.

“Time?” The one eyed male jerked roughly and snapped his startled, still fully freaked out and bit teary, gaze up into Twilight. The worry in the younger male’s eyes turned soon into anger. “I’ll talk with him.” He stated out while already heading towards the stairs.

“NO!” The ranch’s owner commanded roughly and startled his first adopted boy into a stop. “Let… Let him be. I…” He gulped while trying to stay intact but feeling himself shatter. “I… I don’t want any of you seven to break ties. Please?” He nearly begged instead of getting his voice strong enough for normal words.

“But… Time…” Twilight started while glancing from his guardian into the second floor and back several times. “He at least should explain.” He stated out before feeling uncertain of the whole situation as Time shook his head.

“If…” The one eyed male started before gulping once but knowing it did nothing to aid him keep his voice strong. “If he wants to hate me, then so be it. If it helps him, it’ll be worth it.” He stated out while feeling his heart break into tiny pieces. He gave a weak smile while shakily trying to dry his tears. “I… I-I’ll try to talk to him later. O-Once he’s bit calmed down.” He told and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.

“Time?” Twilight called worriedly while crouching down.

“I… I just… N-need a moment…” Time mumbled while keeping his gaze off of his boy. This was already at least eight time he felt his heart shatter and he wasn’t certain if he could fix it anymore. In all reality, he felt like this was only the beginning. One way or another, he would lose all seven boys eventually.

The ranch’s keeper’s heart had taken first strike the day he escaped the orphanage and left his older brother behind. Second time was when Talon, his wife’s father, had died. Third shattering came when the orphanage burned down and he had believed to really have lost his older brother. Fourth hit came when Malon died due to a cancer. Fifth shattering was when he learned to not only have lost Malon but also a child the two of them had been unaware of Malon carrying. Sixth attack on his heart was done when he kicked his older brother out because of some shocking truths he had discovered about him. The boys had not long ago actually found the older male alive and well and he had been so delighted and happy to having him back only to be shattered by him all over again. And at the same day he knew, according to law, to have already lost his boys. Latest destroying of his already fragile heart was now, with Hyrule having said those three hellishly cruel words to him.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The day had started well for Hyrule. He had been happy after a good night’s sleep. He had been eager and very willing to help around the ranch. Things had been perfectly fine and well. Or, at least, everything had been just fine until Hyrule had decided to call his mother.

He had gained about a month ago so much knowledge about his past, his mother and the reasons he was the way he was. Time had given the thick envelope that had contained all he could think to need to know. And couple of weeks after that they had traveled to meet with her. Yet, according to Time, she hadn’t been well so they had left to let her recover. And now he had thought it would be nice to call and see how she was doing.

Time had claimed she had been ill. Time had claimed that she was using new meds and needed bit of time to get them to work properly. Time had claimed she’d call once she’d feel well enough to be in touch with her son. And Hyrule had believed these claims as truth as the main ground rule at Lon-Lon Ranch was to stay truthful and honest with each other.

Sadly, Hyrule’s mother had told entirely different story…

“Hey, mom. It’s me, Link. Your son. Just calling to see how you’re doing. Time said you’re sick and on new meds. I’m hoping those are working well.”

“I’m not sick! I’ve never been sick. I’m not on any meds whatsoever.”

“…What? But… Time said… He wouldn’t…”

“That ‘caretaker’ of yours is lying. You can’t trust him!”

“What? Why? Why would he…?”

“Why? Because he wants to keep you away from me! He wants to hold you to himself. Thinking he’s better than your own mother!”

“That… That’s not… He wouldn’t…”

“He’s just selfish! How long do you think he’s known of me? Why hasn’t he told about me so much sooner?”

“I… He… He’s gathered info for long while. He said he wanted to make sure we’re strong enough to face our pasts.”

“You’re not fragile! I made you strong! No-one understands that I did it all to make you strong and capable of dealing with the hells of the world. Besides, you belong with me.”

“Mom… I… Time has adopted me. I think that has some—”

“I’M your blood relative! He has NO rights to keep you away from me!”

“I… I know, mom… But…”

“He’s withheld crucial information from you for years. He’s kept you away from your own mother. How can you defend and trust him after all this? I bet he’s known all this time. He certainly knew before he chose you. He’s just a liar.”

“…H-he does say that being honest is the ground rule in here…”

“HA! Hypocrite too!”

“…”

“Come home, Link. You know where I live. Come back where you belong to. That guy and your so called ‘brothers’ aren’t worth your time or caring. Blood is thicker than the water, after all. Please, make my waiting end and return home, my son.”

“…I will. I’ll come home soon. I promise.” Hyrule almost whispered before having ended the call. He didn’t know what to believe anymore. Time had lied to him. And that hit far harder than he could believe. Were all of his rules false? Or did he just have different rights than his so called boys had? Then again, the ranch was his while Hyrule and his adopted brothers were brought to there.

Hyrule unconsciously and unintendedly fed his anger that slowly turned into hatred. He felt contradicted while just wanting honest truths. He didn’t know who to trust anymore or where he’d belong. And yet, right now, Time was at the fault of his current situation.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Time?” Twilight called worriedly while having carefully moved closer to his caretaker.

The one eyed male raised his sorrowful gaze up into his first adopted boy. “It’s okay.” He whispered quietly and gently placed his hand behind the younger male’s head to bring him closer to kiss his forehead. “I need to be alone for a moment.” He continued without much of more strength than before.

Twilight felt uncertain of the situation. He didn’t want to leave his guardian alone but he also understood the want to deal with the situation on his own for a while. “Okay.” He finally replied as gently as he could. “I and the others will be close by.” He promised while still feeling unwilling to leave.

Time gave a weak smile and nodded. “Thanks. Look after the ranch for me?” He half requested and Twilight simply nodded. After that the younger male finally stood up and left. The moment the front door had closed behind the first brought boy of his, the ranch’s owner shattered fully.

Time had no idea how long he had been crying before he just sat there and stared forward while trying to figure out what he had done wrong. And yet, no matter how he went through the day’s situations, he couldn’t figure out what had changed. Everything had been just fine few hours ago and then, suddenly, Hyrule had simply stormed back inside and thrown those words right at his face.

The one eyed male shakily too few deep breaths before forcing himself back to his feet. He hesitated for a moment before he walked up the stairs. He felt fearful and uncertain as he moved to Hyrule’s door. Part of him just wanted to demand for answers but he knew he’d get nothing done right by such actions. So, instead, he gently knocked on the door. “Hyrule? Dear?  Can we talk for a moment?” He called while desperately trying to keep his voice strong enough.

“NO!” Hyrule’s reply was rough and laced with tears.

Time flinched and slid down to the floor. “Please, let me know what happened. What did I do wrong?” He begged while hating to hear his boy hurting.

“You LIED to me!” Hyrule screamed and the one eyed male could feel the glare even through the door.

“I have no idea what I’ve lied about. Please, you gotta explain better.” Time pleaded while praying it was nothing more than simple misunderstanding. “I want to fix this. Please, young one, give me a chance to make it right.”

“You lied about my mom! She’s not sick and she’s not on meds!” Hyrule shouted with raged tears. Time flinched roughly and gasped in shock. He stared wide-eyed at the opposite being wall. “I called her. I wanted to check on her.” Hyrule explained sorrowfully.

The ranch’s keeper cursed inwardly while feeling like he had failed one of his boys really roughly. He slumped and stared at the floor in front of him as he desperately tried to figure out what to say. Eventually he sighed heavily and waveringly while leaning his head to rest against the door behind him. “I’m proud of you, my dear.” He started before already scratching the next few lines.

“I’m NOT yours.” Hyrule growled out while clearly holding on to his anger.

“You’re right. Not by blood and flesh.” Time answered while fighting to keep his voice strong enough. “But in my heart, you always will be.” He promised before flinching cruelly at the younger male’s next words.

“I DON’T WANT THAT! YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER!”

“You’re right. I’m not. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love you all the same.” Time replied as calmly as he could while feeling like he was saying all the wrong words.

“LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!”

The one eyed male flinched once again and slumped. He bit down to his lower lip while desperately trying to figure out how to get back to the earlier topic and fix the situation. “Alright.” He finally replied while knowing his voice was already shattered and betraying him entirely. “If that’s what you want.” He stood up slowly and rested his hand against the closed door. “Just…” He gulped once while having not thought the shattering of his family would start from Hyrule. He had waited it to begin from Wind. “Just know that I’ll always be here for you should you ever want or need a safe place to be at.”

“I WON’T! I’M GOING BACK HOME!”

Time jerked at the claim and he trembled as he started breathing shakily. “O-okay… Okay. I’ll drive you there if you wish. O-or you can ask Twilight or Legend or Sky for a ride. Just… J-just stay safe…” He answered while feeling like he had thoroughly failed one of his boys.

The ranch’s owner unwillingly backed away from the door. He gulped few times but he couldn’t get the lump down from his throat. While feeling entirely shattered, he finally returned to the first floor. At there he chose the movie room of sorts and let it stay lightless as he went to sit down to a corner and break down. “Wars… What am I supposed to do?” He thought miserably before snorting. “Not that you’d help me after all that’s gone through. I just… I’ll just lose everyone and everything once again. One by one I’ll be left alone again.”

Time desperately wanted someone to hold him and tell it was going to be okay but he had no-one to ask for such. The boys needed him to stay strong. Wars was gone from his life once again but he himself was to blame for that. And he didn’t dare to go to Epona while knowing he would need to go past his boys to get to her. So, all he could do, was to sit in the darkness, be as small as he could and cry his shattered heart out.

After some time the one eyed male just sat there and stared at the dark room. He knew he should’ve gone to aid his boys around the ranch but he just wasn’t able to get himself up from the floor. He simply slumped even more while trying to stay intact so he could function soon enough. The boys still needed him and so he had to stay strong for them. Besides, this was between him and Hyrule. The others didn’t need to get involved into it.

The ranch’s keeper jerked when he heard the front door being opened and closed. He gulped once and bit shakily stood up before drying the tear marks away. He feared for Hyrule to have left but he hoped that it simply had been Wild coming in to handle dinner. He bit uncertainly made his way out of the movie room and sighed in relief when he heard the clatter from the kitchen.

Time smiled a bit as he went to the doorway of the kitchen and knocked on the wood. The youngster in the room gasped a bit and turned around swiftly. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you there.” The one eyed male apologized while moving to half sit, half lean against the table. “If it’s not too much of trouble I was bit thinking about one of Hyrule’s favorites for today.” He suggested with slightly hopeful voice.

“Sure, no trouble at all!” Wild nearly chirped out while starting to search out for the right ingredients. Time smiled a bit relieved and just stayed to his place. He would only help if asked but otherwise he just supervised to make sure things were done safely. He knew the boy already knew far more than he did so he mainly trusted him to handle things correctly for pretty much any dish he could come up with.

The scarred youngster glanced at his caretaker every now and then but he didn’t dare to ask. Time simply tried to give a reassuring smile and a nod every now and then to show he was doing everything right. The one eyed male was certain the boy wasn’t checking for confirmation of doing things correctly but to see if he was all right. All of his boys surely were already aware that something had happened between him and Hyrule. Yet, he wasn’t up for explaining or picking up the topic. He’d talk only if one of the young ones actually started to talk about the situation.

Once the meal was ready, Time requested Wild to take the plateful of food up to Hyrule. He didn’t give reasons but simple plea and the youngster just nodded and handled the task. He knocked on the door and placed the food, cutlery and glass of milk next to the door to be in safe place. “Food’s ready, Rules. Brought it over. Since you’re feeling bit unwell, I did one of your faves.” He told carefully.

“Who claims I’m unwell?!” The reply through the door was rough and got Wild to flinch a bit.

“No-one.” The scarred boy replied truthfully. “I just had seen you rush inside and haven’t seen you since. Thought you had fallen sick or something.” He explained carefully.

“Oh…” The word just barely got through the door. “Um… Thanks…. I…. I’ll pick it up in a moment.” Hyrule told with bit more strength while feeling contradicted. He wanted to trust the boys he lived with at the moment but that would be going against his mother’s words.

“Okay… I hope you’re feeling better. Enjoy of your meal.” Wild simply told before bit uncertainly leaving back to the kitchen. He wanted answers but he didn’t dare to ask for them. He knew the truth would be given if it was for him to know. Once back with the rest of his current family, Time whispered his thanks with a small sorrowful smile and a nod.

It was few hours later that Twilight returned to the house. Time had, after having helped Wild with the dishes, actually come to help with the ranch work. The first adopted boy of the one eyed male’s knew he didn’t really have the rights for what he was up for doing. And yet, he really hated to see Time suffering. He wanted to do something to fix the situation between one of his brothers and their guardian.

Twilight took once a deep breath and knocked on his newest brother’s door. He flinched at the rough shout of Go away!. He did his best to stay calm so he wouldn’t make things wrong. “Hyrule? It’s just me, Twilight.” He called gently.

“Did Time send you?” The accusation was rough and the first adopted youngster of the ranch’s keeper tried not to flinch at it.

“No. He’s entirely unaware of me being here.” Twilight answered truthfully. “In fact, he’s not even wanting me to try and fix this.”

Hyrule snorted and the older boy could imagine him shaking his head. “And why the hell not? You’re always doing things for him.”

“Because he doesn’t want you to end up breaking ties with me and the others.” Twilight answered calmly while feeling to be bit more on safer ground. “May I come inside?” The silence that answered was good indication of the younger male hesitating and thinking things through.

The first brought boy inwardly sighed in relief when Hyrule moved to the door and opened it. “Thank you.” Twilight half whispered while slipping inside and closing the door behind him. He sat down to the floor while feeling like a hug or being too close would be too much at the moment. “Can you tell me what happened? Things were just fine in the morning as far as I’m aware.”

Hyrule sighed and pulled his legs against his chest while sitting on the bed. He wrapped his arms around his legs while keeping his gaze off of his adopted brother. “Time lied to me.” He mumbled sorrowfully.

“I highly doubt that.” Twilight answered with a worried frown. “Could you explain bit better, please?”

The younger boy sighed almost exaggerated while his gaze turned into a glare. “Couple of weeks ago he claimed my mom was sick and on new meds. That was a lie. I heard the truth from my mom when I called her just to be nice and check on her.” He growled out while tightening his hold on his legs.

“I see…” Twilight half whispered while searching for right words. He could see how delicate the situation was and how few wrong words would crash things quite roughly. Eventually he took a deep breath and stood up. “Well, I don’t know what’s in your past but… If I were you, I’d check through the information about my past and read it very carefully.” He told firmly while being ready to leave as he felt like he wasn’t capable of really aiding his brother. “But, for what’s it worth, Time’s not a liar. He might tell things bit differently if he believes it would help us but he means no harm.”

Hyrule snorted and shook his head. “Of course you would say that.” He growled quietly.

“You should talk with him. See why he chose the words he said.” Twilight simply answered before hesitating. He sighed and turned around to face his brother. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you know why Warriors left?”

Hyrule frowned and shook his head. “What does that have anything to do with my case?” He challenged bit roughly.

“Maybe nothing but the thing is that we can’t choose our parents.” Twilight shrugged and sighed bit sorrowfully. The younger male just frowned while waiting for continuation. “Warriors is the son of the keepers of the orphanage where Time lived for his first ten years.” Hyrule gasped in shock and stared wide-eyed at his adopted older brother. “Yeah, Time hasn’t talked with Warriors ever since he kicked him out. They didn’t clear things out but you’ve seen it as well as I and the others. It hurts him. He pushes it aside to help us.” Twilight sighed and slumped a bit. “Your room is closest to him. You’ve heard him wake up with a scream of Warriors’ name. I don’t know what his nightmares are about as he refuses to talk about them.”

Hyrule was silent for a while as he frowned and thought things through. “How do you know?” He eventually asked far more calmer than before.

Twilight sighed and slid down to sit on the floor. “I was just going to fetch Time so we could talk with him about stuff and noticed Warriors going to his room. Followed and saw him packing his stuff. I simply asked and he told me the truth.”

Hyrule nodded and turned his gaze off. He frowned for a while before sighing and slumping. “I just want honest answers.” He mumbled sorrowfully while turning his gaze back into Twilight.

“Then you should talk with Time.” Twilight suggested but Hyrule just snorted and shook his head. “What do you want to do, then?” He asked while knowing it was his brother’s choice rather than anyone else’s.

Hyrule sighed and shrugged. “Maybe meet with my mom and talk to her face to face?” He rather asked than stated out.

“How about I make that call on your behalf and set the date and time for you to go to meet her? I’ll drive you to her too.” The older youngster suggested.

Hyrule felt uncertain before nodding. “Can we call her now?” He requested with hopeful voice and bit pleading gaze.

“Sure. What’s her number?” Twilight replied while getting up and moving to sit on the floor in front of his adopted brother. He fished out his phone while letting Hyrule see whole time what he was doing. He didn’t want to be blamed for false actions.

“Why not call from my phone?” Hyrule queried with a frown while getting his mother’s number into sight.

“She knows your number, right?” The older youngster queried and Hyrule simply nodded. “I want her to answer as who she is.” He told while putting the number in.

“What makes you think she’d be different with you than with me?” Hyrule’s voice came out more of accusing than just inquiring.

“It’s just a feeling.” Twilight answered with a shrug. “I’ll have her on speaker so you can hear the conversation fully. But, please, stay quiet and just listen.” He requested with a slight beg.

Hyrule frowned in confusion but he nodded in acceptance. “Wait!” He suddenly stopped the situation before his adopted brother could press the dial-button. His brother frowned and looked confusedly at him. “Why do you have that feeling? That she’d be different.”

Twilight flinched a bit and averted his gaze away as he hesitated for a moment. Yet, he soon sighed and slumped a bit. “You remember how you were when you came to here?” He inquired bit sorrowfully and Hyrule nodded with a confused frown. “Compared to how you were when you arrived to here and how you are now… Which do you prefer?”

Hyrule jerked a bit and moved backwards on the bed to have his back against the wall. He slumped and turned his gaze away as he thought the words through. “I don’t know your past but the way you were back then… I have a feeling your mother has greatly affected in that.” Twilight whispered sorrowfully.

“She said she made me strong…” Hyrule mumbled quietly.

“Did you feel strong back then?” Twilight asked and felt his heart break as the younger male slumped. “Or do you feel strong now, after having stayed here at the ranch? Which life do you prefer, the one you had with your mother or the one you’ve been living at here at the ranch?”

Hyrule tried to say intact while feeling himself break apart. He closed his eyes as he hid his face by resting his forehead against his knees. He fought to breathe calmly but he couldn’t help the tears or the trembling as they came forth. He didn’t want to say it but he was certain Twilight already knew the answer.

The first brought boy of the ranch sighed sorrowfully and got up from the floor. He sat down to the bed and gently pulled Hyrule into his arms. To his luck, the youngster didn’t fight back and he began to whisper quiet reassurances.

It took a while but eventually Hyrule calmed down and he pulled off. “Make the call.” He stated out surprisingly firmly even though his voice was bit flat. “I need answers.” He simply gave as an explanation.

Twilight simply nodded and took the phone out again. He showed the number before putting the phone down to the bed and pressing the dial-button. He put it already into speaker just to be certain his brother would get the whole conversation and not miss a thing from it.

“Yes?”

“Hi, this is Twilight LonRan and I’m—“

“Oh fucking hell! Now he’s putting his brats to handle the dirty work.”

“Ma’am, that’s not—“

“Shut up! Tell that one eyed freak I’ll sue him for threats, harassment and lies!”

“Would you just, please, let me talk! I’m not calling on his behalf!”

“*laughter* So he’s teaching his brats to lie, huh? What else is he teaching? Stealing? Fraud?”

“SHUT UP!”

“*snickering* Oohh, feisty. What does he have on you, hmm? As far as I’ve learned, that fool you so fiercely stand up for simply lies, threatens and holds back crucial information. Trust is such a fragile thing. Few perfectly chosen words and one’s world can come crashing down.”

“What… W-what do you mean…?”

“*clear smirk within the words* Oh I’m sure you can figure it out. *voice turns cold and cruel* He has something I want back and for that I will tear everything that bastard holds dear into shreds. And the best way for that is to turn his little brats against him.*cruel chuckle* I already got the one I want on my side. The idiot gave the ammunition I needed for that action.”

“M-mom…?”

“*a shocked gasp* OH! *the voice turns into surprisingly loving and even bit sorrowful* Dear darling! Do you see now? The ones you live with are just trying to keep you away from where you belong! I simply want you back. That is all. He’s kept you away from me for far too long. Please, return home.”

“…I’ll come home if you don’t sue him. Okay?”

“But darling…! He deserves a lesson! He can’t just keep kids away from their real families!”

“I’ll be there tomorrow.” Hyrule cut the call right after that. He was slumping and feeling even worse at the moment. He felt far more contradicted of the situation than before.

“Rulie?” Twilight called worriedly while watching his adopted younger brother.

Hyrule took a shaky deep breath and let it out equally shakily. “I need answers.” He told while raising his gaze up. “I need to talk with her. Will you take me to her tomorrow morning?”

“Hyrule, I’m not sure this is wise…” Twilight started uncertainly.

“Please?” The younger male begged sorrowfully. The first brought boy of the ranch sighed heavily and nodded. “Thank you.” Hyrule whispered with a slight smile. “I’m probably back to here before dinner. I just….” He sighed and shook his head. “I haven’t really seen her since I was taken away from home.” He whispered bit sorrowfully.

“I’ll stay with you when you meet with her.” Twilight stated out firmly but Hyrule shook his head.

“No. I need to talk with her alone.” The youngster replied with surprisingly lot of firmness within his voice. “I’m strong enough to do this.” He stated out with determination.

“Time needs to know. I can’t just—“ Twilight started before he was already cut short.

“NO.” Hyrule quite well commanded. “You can tell him if I’m not back by dinner time.” He told calmer while bit relaxing. “I just… Need to see the place. To talk with her. Find answers. I just…” He sighed and shook his head. “I need to see things for myself. I need to face my past to get over some… Problems of mine.”

“We could help you. You know this, right?” Twilight tried much calmer and gentler.

Hyrule sighed and bit slumped. “I know but not in this one. This is for me to do alone.”

“Time will worry.” The older boy pointed out.

“I know…” Hyrule whispered sorrowfully. “But… If things go well… I… I might be able to forgive him for the lies.”

Twilight sighed a bit and simply nodded. He wanted to defend Time but he knew his words would only be wrong choice at the moment. “Alright. I’ll cover for you tomorrow. I hate keeping this from Time but this means a lot to you so I’ll go with it for now.”

Hyrule smiled a bit and nodded. “Thanks, Twi.” He half whispered and his brother just nodded. “I’ll see you at the morning. I’m not… Yet ready to face anyone else…” He continued while ending up bit uncertain. The older male sighed bit heavily but he nodded and gave a tight hug to the younger male before leaving the room.

It was still very early when Twilight and Hyrule left the ranch. The older youngster wasn’t too eager of the situation but his adopted brother had told to have seen the male Siberian Jay that Time called as Luck Bird. He had already seen the good fortune the avian had brought to them and hence he was certain of things going well with his mother. The older male wanted to remind that the bird rarely brought the luck the way they hoped for but he didn’t want to jinx things so he stayed quiet about the topic.

Twilight wasn’t happy when Hyrule wanted to be dropped off few houses before the right one. He had assured things to be fine as he got out of the car and headed to the place that had once been his home. The older youngster felt entirely uncertain and contradicted of the situation. He wanted to at least walk his brother to the door and see things for himself but, against his own feelings, he stayed at the car simply out of Hyrule’s request.

It had been almost hour and half drive which was the reason Twilight stayed until the younger teen had gotten inside. He hadn’t gotten a check on the youngster’s mother but there wasn’t really much he could do. “Call or text me when you need a drive back to the ranch.” He texted while knowing it would be equally long road but he really wished Hyrule would inform him well before dinner time. And yet, something kept telling him that things wouldn’t go well. Nonetheless, he wasn’t up for going against his brother’s wish so, with a heavy sigh, he started the car and drove back to the ranch he called as his home.

Once Twilight got back to the Lon-Lon Ranch and had his car parked, Time already came over. “Where you’ve been? And have you seen Hyrule today?” He straight off inquired while doing his best to hide the hurt and shattered heart he still had after yesterday’s situation.

“On errands.” Twilight answered as calmly as he could. He really hated to keep this from his guardian but he had promised to keep his mouth shut. “Hyrule stayed at the town for few more things. I’ll pick him up when he calls.” He explained while heading off to handle his part of the work around the ranch.

Time followed him while clearly being grateful that Hyrule was still having a connection to his adopted brothers. He had simply nodded as an answer into the given information. Yet, he could easily hazard a guess where one of his boys truly was but he kept reminding himself that Hyrule wasn’t his. And that only hurt even more. Still, he forced the pain out as well as he could so he’d be able to handle the needed work and look after the boys that still were there with him.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Hyrule took a deep breath and let it out slowly to stay calm. After that, as calmly as he could, he knocked on the door as there was no doorbell to ring. He could feel Twilight keeping a check on him but he hoped he wouldn’t stay longer than needed. It would be bad if they both were missing and neither having told to Time where they went.

“What do you want?” The woman’s question was rough when she came to the door. Yet, her glare was turned into frown until the recognition struck. “Link?”

“Hi mom.” Hyrule replied with a smile. “I promised I’d come and so here I am.” He told as calmly as he could. The moment the woman moved aside to let him in, he already went inside. He really hoped Twilight would leave now. He needed to do this alone.

“My dear child.” The woman whispered while keeping close check on the youngster. “I’ve been long waiting for this moment.” She mused before nodding deeper into the house. “Please, come, let me show you around in case you don’t remember anything about your true home.”

Hyrule nodded and let her lead the way. He wasn’t certain he liked the way his mother was talking. Yet, the more she showed, the more he recalled the slight memories of having been there before.

When they returned to the first floor, the woman’s son was up for going back to the living room. “What are you doing?” The female of the house queried bit roughly while stopping the youngster. She grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him back to the hallway.

Hyrule gasped a bit startled and stumbled slightly. “I… I just want to talk with you.” Hyrule replied as he frowned slightly. “Thought it would be nicer on soft seats.” Yet, he felt himself shrink under the rough gaze she gave him.

“They’ve made you soft.” The woman almost growled. “The world is not made for soft people. It’ll tear you apart.” She stated out before starting to drag the youngster along. Hyrule partly gasped, partly screamed out as he stumbled along. “But, don’t worry, child of mine, I will fix this.”

Hyrule felt uncertain as he followed his mother. He had a bad feeling of where she was dragging him but he didn’t really feel like fighting back either. Part of him knew he should’ve but bigger part kept telling that this was his mother and he should just follow her command. Still, when she brought him out to the backyard and to the hatch, he began to tremble. “Mom… Please… No, I don’t want to…” He begged while recalling the two rooms that certainly were waiting for him underneath that doorway on the ground.

“Shut it, brat.” The woman snapped and her son flinched at the rough looks she gave him. “They’ve made you soft. I will not accept such. Get down or I drop you down.”

The youngster gulped and followed the command. He wanted to run away but he didn’t want to bring more trouble to Time than what she had so far threatened to do. He really would’ve wanted to talk things through instead of returning back to where he had been taken away from.

As the woman dragged Hyrule again and forced him deeper into the underground place, the memories and understanding were beginning to make themselves known. This was the reason he had been taken away. And yet, all he really wanted to know was that one simple question: Why was she doing this? She claimed it to be for his best interest and getting him ready for the hardships of the world but… It didn’t seem like the truthful answer. It felt more like something was missing from the explanation.

As the latest boy brought to the Lon-Lon Ranch had fallen to his own thoughts, he failed to realize to them having already reached one of the two rooms. “Get in.” The words startled him back into reality before he was already pushed roughly up the few steps and into the dimly lit place. He gasped as he stumbled and crashed to all four before already flinching as the door was slammed shut and locked behind him.

Hyrule stood up shakily while knowing what would be in there. And yet, when the sounds and flashes began, he screamed and flinched roughly. He wanted to go into a corner but then he’d be close to one to few of those hideous monsters around the room. He trembled, flinched and screamed with each horrendous sound and swift sight of the monsters around the room as he stumbled into middle of the area and just sat down. He shut his eyes, pulled his legs to his chest and curled up to be as small as possible while digging his hands into his hair.

As the youngster trembled and cried while flinching at what was going on around him, he knew this certainly hadn’t been how he had hoped things to go. He had just wanted answers. Truthful answers. And all he got was a ticket back into the hell he had been away from for several years.

On that moment Hyrule understood that this had been what Time had wanted to keep him away from. More than anything, he really hated himself for having not tried to talk with him instead of doing things the way they had gone. Shakily and fearfully he fished out his phone with a desperate prayer to which God or Goddess would ever listen to him as he checked the reception. He felt his heart sink and shatter when it was clear he wouldn’t be capable of getting a call or text through to any of his family that had adopted him. He just begged and prayed that Twilight would come back when he wouldn’t get the call from him around dinner time.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The closer the dinner time came, the more often Time glanced at Twilight. There was no need for words as the youngster checked his phone at each turn only to shake his head as an answer. And each time he could see how much that simple action hurt the one eyed male more and more.

Eventually the first brought boy had enough of waiting and he called Hyrule. Yet, the lack of connection got him to frown in worry. He texted his brother but the message didn’t get through. Part of him just wished the area had bad reception or the youngster had shut his phone for a reason or another. Yet, the longer it took to get in touch with the last brought boy of the ranch, the more worried he was.

Just as the seven residents of the Lon-Lon Ranch sat down for dinner, Twilight tried once more to catch Hyrule by phone. “Time, I can’t get in touch with Hyrule.” Twilight eventually informed while knowing his brother should’ve at least texted him by now.

Time let out such rough curse words that it very much startled his boys. “He can hate me all he wants but I’m going to check on him now.” He stated out while getting up from the table. “Sorry, Wild. I know you did lot of work on this but I can’t wait any of longer for Hyrule to contact.”

Wild nodded while doing off simple finishing touches to his creation. “Go. Find him and make sure he’s okay.” He answered calmly while not wanting to show how worried he too was of the situation.

“Thanks…” The one eyed male half whispered before already heading off towards the front door with swift steps.

“Time…” Twilight called while hesitantly following the one eyed male. “Hyrule… He’s not… Um…”

“I know.” Time answered with a heavy sigh. “I tried to talk to him yesterday and he said he’ll return to home. I already know where he is.”

The younger male flinched and slumped. “Time, I…” He started uncertainly.

“It’s okay.” The ranch’s owner half whispered and gently kissed the youngster’s forehead. “Not your fault. Just make sure you and your brothers never break ties.” He half requested before giving a weak smile. “You and Legend are in charge. Hopefully I’ll come back with Hyrule.” He stated out before leaving the house, locking the door behind him and almost dashing to his car before already driving out of there faster than ever before.

Instead of driving through the town and having to slow his going, Time rounded most of the town by the country side and entered from the east gate. Still, he knew his speed was bit over the accepted but he was way too worried to care about getting fined for speeding. The tires screeched when he parked the car in front of the house he had brought Hyrule to not so long ago.

Time pretty much banged on the door while just barely wondering if he’d leave a dent into the wood by his action. “What the fuck do you want?” The woman almost snarled as her gaze fell into the golden haired one eyed male.

“I want to see Link.” Time replied roughly while easily matching the woman’s rough gaze.

“Yeah, well, he doesn’t want to see you.” The woman snapped while being up for slamming the door shut. Her boy’s adopter struck his foot between the door and the frame.

“Don’t care.” Time stated out almost coldly. “I want to see him and that’s final. I need to know he’s well and safe here. If he’s happy and wanting to stay, then I’ll leave.” He told while fighting to stay calm enough in the situation. “If he’s not…” He continued and his gaze hardened into almost murderous glare. “Then you’re in huge trouble.” Right after those words, he struck the door with his shoulder and slammed it open.

The woman shrieked and stumbled backwards. “I’m calling the cops!” She threatened while going after the intruder in her home.

“That’s actually a great idea!” Time replied while going through the rooms. “Let’s call them straight off.” He stated out while already taking out his phone and dialing the right number.

“Public-safety answering point, how may I help you?”

“Hi, this is Sprite LonRan calling.” Time started as calmly as he could while glancing at the woman following him. He had the call on speaker just to let her know of him being absolutely serious of the situation. “I want to admit that I have quite well forced my way into the next address…” He continued and gave the address of the woman’s home. “I have very strong reasons to believe that the resident of this house is holding the sixteen year old son of hers trapped in a room of horrors against the boy’s own wishes.” He explained while storming into the second floor and quite well slamming the doors open. “If you check the earlier information about her and this address, you will understand what I’m telling.”

The woman was seething in rage but there wasn’t much she could do. If she attacked, it would be recorded into the emergency call. The situation didn’t seem too good to her but she wasn’t finding a way out of it either.

“I’m sending the police to there. You do realize you are trespassing at there?”

“Perfect!” Time exclaimed almost gleefully. “I’m well aware of my own actions in here.” He replied while having gotten through the rooms. “Let the police know to get into the backyard and search for a hatch. The boy’s not inside the house. I’m going down and I doubt the phones are working below the ground.”

The clearer the situation was, the harder it was for the one eyed male to stay calm in the phone. His glare only got crueler with each empty room he had found. There was only one place he could check and he dreaded it more than anything while praying he was entirely wrong of the situation.

 “Sir, you should wait for the police to arrive. You have already—“

“No time for such! The youngster’s in danger and I will not just stand around and do nothing! He’s been my responsibility for the past four years or so and I will do absolutely anything to keep him safe and sound!” Time almost shouted into the phone as he searched the backyard’s ground for the hatch.

“Sir?”

“I adopted him from an orphanage.” The Lon-Lon Ranch’s owner told surprisingly much calmer with lot fonder voice. “Been doing a lot to get him through his traumas and nightmares. I can’t let all of that work go to waste by his own mother trying to destroy him all over again.” He told with slightly breaking voice. Yet, he soon gave out a triumphant sound. “Found the hatch! It’s about five meters from the backdoor. Straight line.” He told out before already crouching down and cleaning the dirt, sticks and leaves off of it.

Time growled when he saw the lock on it. He glanced once at the woman whom seemed almost pleased at the obstacle. Yet, as he took a check around in search of a way to break the lock, his gaze fell into a boulder. “I’m going in.” He simply told to the emergency call personnel before cutting the call. After that he went to the heavy rock and picked it up.

It took couple of strong strikes before the lock finally gave up and the one eyed male swiftly flung the hatch open. He knew it was a bad idea as he wasn’t certain of the fall’s length but he just jumped down while hoping for the best. For his luck, the drop wasn’t hurtfully long and he was very swiftly checking around the area. He checked the phone swiftly and scowled as there was no reception on it.

The woman followed after the golden haired male while going through her options. The police was on the way. The emergency service was aware of the situation. She was certain her son’s caretaker wouldn’t let this slide. The question mark was what her own son would want or do. Still, even though she knew her work was coming to an end once again, she wasn’t up for giving up on it as of yet.

Time’s gaze hardened once again and he was seething with rage when he saw the two rooms in the underground place. His gaze fell into the closer one as it seemed to be in working by trembling and creating cruel sounds. “You daughter of a…” He snarled before dashing forward to the room’s door. He growled as he found a new lock but it wasn’t one he could just break.

The one eyed male glanced once at the woman to make sure she was far enough before he already crouched down to check the lock better. After that he took out the few bent paper clips he had had along ever since he had ran away from the orphanage. Giving one last check on the woman’s placement, he started to pick the lock as swiftly as he could.

The moment the door clicked open, Time already swung it open. He gasped and bit flinched at the sudden flash but right after that he already let his gaze search around the dark room. “Hyrule?” He called with worry clear in his voice. Yet, even though he didn’t get an answer, he heard the quiet whimpering. “Oh Goddesses…” He half exclaimed before dashing into the room and straight into middle of it. “Hyrule!” He shouted as he hit the floor and half slid, half scrambled to his boy’s side.

Time didn’t think twice as he pulled the youngster into a tight hug. Hyrule screamed in terror while starting to tremble even more. The one eyed male wasn’t certain if his actions were right but he tightened his hold while whispering reassuring words and hiding his boy’s face against his chest, away from the bright flashes and the images of the beasts.

The Lon-Lon Ranch’s keeper jerked when the door was slammed shut and the lock clicked. He held back his growl and shooting a glare towards the way he had come into there. Yet, his notion was more in the boy in his arms than in the way out. He could always try and pick the lock again or just wait for the cops to arrive. He knew they would eventually come once they’d know who called and to where they had been asked to come.

It took a long while before Time’s voice and words started to get through the panicked and terrified mind of Hyrule’s. Slowly the youngster calmed down a bit and frowned in confusion. “Time?” He called with quiet and tiny voice while just barely being able to believe that the one eyed male would’ve come for him.

“I’m here, Pixie. Just as I promised. I’m right here.” Time whispered with a small smile while feeling relived of his boy coming back to his senses. He pulled bit backwards and gently leaned his forehead against his boy’s. “You’re safe now, Pixie. I got you.” He continued gently as the youngster calmed down and relaxed.

“Time, I…” Hyrule started with bit teary voice.

“Sshh, no worries. Let’s just clear this off. It’ll be okay.” Time replied while bit shaking his head and letting the youngster feel that. “Everything’s okay.” He promised before pulling off and taking a check around the lightless room that flashed every now and then with cruel sounds and pictures of beasts.

“You remember when I promised I’d take care of your nightmares? That I’d vanquish them should I ever have the chance for such?” Time inquired while gently letting go of Hyrule and standing up. The youngster opened his eyes and looked bit fearfully at his caretaker but he nodded. “Well, I never thought I’d be given the rights to uphold my promise.” The one eyed male told with a grin clear in his voice. “I will exterminate these creatures of your nightmares.” He told and grinned wider at the boy’s chuckle at the bit robotic way he said that one simple word. “What were those robots with alien drivers in Doctor Who?” He queried while being determined to keep Hyrule’s mood and notion elsewhere than what was going on around them.

“Daleks.” Hyrule replied straight off.

“Right. Daleks. Pretty cool ones.” Time mused and the youngster nodded eagerly. “Now, I want you to do me a favor. Okay?” He continued calmly and the younger male nodded firmly even though he was bit frowning. “Sing.”

“What?” Hyrule frowned even more while titling his head a bit.

“Anything. Just sing. Loud and clear. Drown out the noise in here.” The one eyed male stated out firmly. “Whatever comes into mind. Just sing. I’ll join in if I know the right lyrics.” He continued while taking a check around in search of where to start his work of destroying the cruel pictures of the room. As the youngster tried to come up with something, he knew his boy needed bit more of ideas. “How about that latest movie’s main song, hmm?” He suggested before giving a gentle kiss to top of Hyrule’s head before moving towards the wall.

There were ten pictures of hideous monsters in the room. Two on both ends and three on both sides. It gave out that the room wasn’t a full square as Time had originally thought. As he moved closer to his first target, he already searched through his pockets to find anything to destroy the images as the room was entirely lacking in anything he could use.

The youngster started to sing quietly while starting to feel his fear and terror rise as the one eyed male left from his side. “I can’t hear you, Rulie.” Time called and grinned a bit when Hyrule raised his voice’s volume. “Still too quiet, Pixie.” He commented before scowling as he couldn’t find any markers or such. All he could find was his knife and lighter. He shrugged and took the knife out in hopes of being capable of slashing the things into smithereens. “If you want me to join your singing, my lovely fairy, you gotta sing louder. I can’t get the words you’re using.”

Hyrule chuckled a bit at the nickname and actually smiled. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly to stay calm. After that he started to sing louder while doing his best to over-volume the shrieks and rumbling of the room. “That’s the way! Keep it up!” Time exclaimed almost gleefully and he could hear the actual joy in the boy’s voice as he sang the words and taking the courage and strength from the song.

The one eyed male sang along every now and then for the chorus parts once he fully caught the chosen song. Between his own singing, he slashed at the wall before inwardly growling. The pictures were painted into the wall. There wasn’t a chance he could just destroy them by slashing like that. He needed something else to get the images exterminated as the Daleks would call the action.

Time inwardly growled while trying to figure out the situation. He was adamant of making the creators of his boy’s nightmares go away before the cops would come to save them. Suddenly an idea hit him. He hesitated of going with it but when he glanced at Hyrule, he knew he would do absolutely anything for him. Just like for all the six others waiting back at the ranch. He send a prayer to Fierce Deity, the God of Protection he had chosen as his Guardian Deity, and took a deep breath before slashing at his own hand.

The owner of the Lon-Lon Ranch turned around and began to run his bleeding hand over the picture. He scowled as the amount of the blood didn’t feel like being enough to really do as he hoped for. He hesitated while knowing his next action could cost him his life. And yet, as he looked at the singing boy of his, he knew he didn’t have a choice. He needed to destroy these pictures with whatever he got.

Time cut his own wrist while knowing the flow of the blood would be bigger. He turned towards the picture again and did swift but precise work of vanquishing the creation. He needed to move quickly since there were so many of those hideous things to ruin. He moved around the room while staying close to the wall so he could actually see the pictures and figure out how far they were from each other.

The more the one eyed male destroyed of those painting, the weaker he became. And yet, he was way too stubborn and determined to annihilate the pictures from existence. Still, he knew he was running out of time when he reached the last image. Hyrule had already asked what the stench in the room was but he just told him to not to worry about it and to concentrate into the singing.

Time scowled as he realized he wouldn’t have enough of blood flow to exterminate the thing. He glanced at Hyrule while knowing he wasn’t going to fail him this close to finishing line. So, instead of fully vanquishing the beast’s illustration from the wall, he began to draw and make it look really funny while being far from the horror inflicting creation it was.

“H-Hyrule, come over for a sec…” The ranch’s keeper called bit weakly once he was done. He shakily brought out the lighter and brought the flame up. Hyrule frowned while blinking his eyes open and looking around. He carefully got up and moved towards the male whom had adopted him.

“Time…?” The youngster called bit worriedly while feeling like something was hellishly wrong in the room. “Are you okay?” He inquired while hearing his caretaker breathe heavily and bit shakily.

“Y-yeah…” Time nearly whispered with a weak, sorrowful smile. “T-take the lighter…” He half begged while shutting the light off and, with slight fumbling, gave the thing to his boy. “L-light it a-and… C-check it out…”

Hyrule frowned while getting more and more worried of the situation. Yet, he struck the fire into life and turned towards the wall. He gasped in shock and recoiled backwards when he saw the beast but very soon he already frowned. There was something odd in the picture of the beast.

The youngster bit fearfully came back closer and took a better check of the monster. Very soon he tried to suppress his chuckle as he saw the additions Time had given the monster. “Thanks…” He half whispered before turning his notion back into the one eyed male.

“Y-yeah…” Time half whispered while having closed his eye and quite well gasping for air.

“Time…?” Hyrule called worriedly while taking a better check on the older male. Suddenly the sound of dripping caught his notion and icy cold dread lodged into his chest on that moment. “T-Time… W-where did you find the red paint…?” He asked fearfully while seriously not wanting to hear the answer.

The Lon-Lon Ranch’s keeper sighed and slid down to the floor. “F-from where everyone can find it…” He answered with a slight lopsided grin.

Hyrule gasped in shock and his gaze checked the one eyed male as thoroughly as he could. “NO!” He screamed and crouched down before already pulling his shirt off. “Time! What the hell you’ve done!?” He screamed while wrapping the fabric around the cut wrist and desperately trying to keep inside that what was left of the blood within his caretaker’s body.

“I kept my promise.” Time mumbled while fighting to stay conscious.

“Time…” The youngster nearly begged while crying. “Please, stay with me. Don’t fall asleep. Please.” He pleaded desperately. “I’m sorry. I don’t hate you. I never could. I was just… Please. I’m sorry.”

The one eyed male weakly raised his hand up and gently brought his boy’s forehead against his own. “Ssshh, it’s okay…” He mumbled quietly. “Call Wars. I know you guys have kept contact with him. Tell him…” He gulped few times to keep talking. “T-tell him that I’m asking him to keep his promise.” He requested while fighting for each word. “A-and tell… T-tell Twi that… T-that I’m sorry… I promised… I’d be there… For him… Tomorrow.” He knew his time was running out but he still gently forced Hyrule’s head downwards just to kiss his forehead. “Love you. Tell the others… I-I love ‘em too…”

“Time…?” Hyrule called with tiny, fearful voice. “T-Time, p-please…” He begged while feeling his heart break as Time’s hand fell limply to the floor. “T-Time… P-please…. W-wake up…. Wake up!” He begged and screamed as he saw that blue eye having closed. “No…. NO! Nonono! TIME!” He screamed before he already started to scream for help. And yet, he was certain his shouts weren’t going to get through the walls and his mother wouldn’t care even one bit about the situation.

Suddenly the door of the room was struck cruelly and forcefully open. Hyrule screamed in start before he already begged for help. He wasn’t scared of the people that entered the room as he simply prayed they could save his caretaker. “HELP! PLEASE!” The group of people dashed over to him with flashlights to see what was going on. “Blood loss! Severe!” He explained the moment the help was close.

“MEDIC!” One of the men screamed while checking for the unconscious male’s heartbeat. “Weak… He’s alive but just barely.” He explained as calmly as he could. Soon enough two more persons entered the room and began to work as Hyrule and the earlier guy moved off of their way.

The youngster gasped when the room was suddenly lighted. Not by the sudden flashes but a fulltime light. He inhaled sharply and stared wide-eyed at the room. “The fuck’s happened in here?!” One of the police persons asked in near horror.

“H-he…. T-Time… H-he… He did it…. He exterminated them. He vanquished the nightmares. He did as he promised.” Hyrule whispered in shock, horror and awe. Yet, he snapped his gaze right into Time the moment he understood the people starting to rush him out of there. “I’m going with him!” He shouted and scrambled to his feet before already dashing after the people.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The moment Hyrule’s mother had struck the door shut after Time, she already searched the room with her gaze. Soon she smirked and began to drag several heavy machineries in front of the door. The guy could pick the lock all he wanted but there was no chance he’d get out of the room.

The woman nodded once before going back to the hatch. She climbed up the ladders and bolted the doorway shut. No lock but certainly strong enough to keep people from entering the place. These two blockages certainly would slow the cops down and she could enjoy of watching the duo suffer in the room of horrors.

Once done she moved to the monitors to see what was going on in the dark area where her son and the male that had adopted the boy were at. The screens didn’t only show what was going on in the underground rooms. There were life feed from all of the rooms of the house as well as from the yard and front of the house. She smirked and watched as the cops came about an hour after she had locked both the door of the room and the hatch of the whole area.

The woman fully enjoyed of the failed attempts of the cops trying to get the hatch open. It took them over an hour and a bomb expert to get the blockage destroyed. She didn’t fight back as they arrested her. She just watched how a whole team of police was needed to get the blockages off of the way. It still took them a while longer before they got the lock opened and the door slammed in. The only time she scowled was when her own son didn’t even glance at her way as he rushed out of there with the medics and just barely alive being one eyed male.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“Please don’t leave me. You can’t die, Time. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t hate you. I love you so much. I’m sorry. Please. Stay alive. You gotta survive. Please, just please, wake up.”

Time slowly woke up into the quiet sobbing and words that came out in desperate begs. It took him a moment to understand the words and even longer to recognize the voice. He hated that fact but he had almost died due to blood loss. It wasn’t going to be any of surprise that his mind wasn’t working normally for a while.

The Lon-Lon Ranch’s owner slowly blinked his eye open and turned his notion into the youngster by him. Hyrule was holding his hand tightly while clearly keeping check on his pulse. “It’s okay, Pixie. I’m here.” He whispered quietly while carefully bringing his free hand to gently run his fingers through the boy’s hair.

Hyrule fell still for a moment before he understood the situation. At then he sat up abruptly and snapped his gaze into his caretaker. Time smiled a bit before tad flinching as the youngster screamed out his name in both glee and relief. Right after that he already quite well glomped the one eyed male and held on tightly while breaking down into pieces.

“Sshh, it’s okay, Pixie. Everything’s okay now.” Time whispered while gently wrapping his arms around the crying youngster. He whispered quiet reassurances while trying to soothe the boy and calm him down a bit.

It took a while before Hyrule calmed down and sat up. The one eyed male smiled fondly at him while carefully sitting up a bit. “How are you, Link?” He inquired with a slight worried frown. He wanted to pull the youngster back into a hug but he wasn’t certain he actually had the rights anymore. He even bit hesitated before he gently dried the boy’s tears.

“Just call me Hyrule or Pixie or one of the other nicknames, please.” The younger male almost pleaded with a hopeful look while bit leaning into the touch. “If you allow, I would love to stay at the ranch. Please?” He pretty much begged as he feared to have destroyed too much already.

Time smiled fondly and pulled Hyrule into a loving embrace. “The ranch will always be your home as long as you want it to be.” He promised firmly while bit calming down as the boy relaxed in his arms and wrapped his arms around him tightly.

After a while of calming down the ranch’s owner gently pushed the youngster off to look at him. “Listen, Hyrule, I…” He started uncertainly before sighing heavily and bit slumping. He turned his gaze off while letting his ears droop. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I just…” He trailed off uncertainly and shook his head. “There’s no excuses. I did wrong by not telling you the truth straight off. I—“

“Why didn’t you?” Hyrule asked while cutting his caretaker off. He wasn’t angry anymore, just bit hurt and confused.

Time sighed heavily and closed his eye. “She’s your mother.” He started quietly but firmly. “I don’t want you or anyone else to lose contact or rights to your birth families. I didn’t want you to hate her or resent her. She’s n…” He held back the grimace  as he trailed off and shook his head. “I know her ways aren’t exactly… Well…” He fought to find the right words without saying something bad about the woman whom had given birth to Hyrule.

“She doesn’t care about me.” Hyrule stated out firmly.

“Rules!” Time exclaimed bit shocked and snapped his gaze into the youngster.

“It’s true.” The boy met his caretaker’s gaze firmly with slight anger. “If she did, she wouldn’t have done what she did. The only thing I ever wanted was to know why. That’s all. I just…” He sighed as he trailed off and shook his head. He dropped his gaze down into his own lap. Yet, he smiled a bit when Time gently placed his hand over his. He took the one eyed male’s hand into both of his as he raised his gaze back into him with a small smile.

“You’re different. Better. You honestly love me and the others.” Hyrule continued calmer. “She claimed she wanted to make me stronger. To be ready for the hardships of the world but…” He shook his head. “That’s not the right way. What she did just shattered me. Back then and again at now.” He whispered sorrowfully.

“Rulie…” Time whispered and sat up fully from the half laying position. He gently pulled the youngster into a hug. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I—“

“NO.” Hyrule almost snapped while roughly pulling himself free. “You’ve done nothing wrong! You saved me back then and you saved me now.” He stated out firmly while looking his caretaker straight into that one eye. “You’ve done everything in your power to help me. The rights to keep light on during night. The rights to have made that room of mine to be as I want it to be. The learning of Fairy Language. The constant support. The safety. You’ve done absolutely everything right. I owe to you. Hugely. I—“

Time shut the boy up by almost yanking the boy into a tight hug. He felt himself break down by the fact of how much his actions had already meant. “You owe me nothing, little one.” He whispered calmly. “I just love you for who you are and I want you to be able to enjoy of life. I want you to be happy and safe. That’s all.”

Hyrule relaxed very swiftly after the first surprise and he smiled happily. “I love you too, Time.” He replied happily while closing his eyes and just enjoying of the loving hold he was in. “Thank you.”

The one eyed male was bit startled of those two simple words. “What for?” He queried bit confused. He didn’t feel like he really had done much of other than what anyone loving their family would’ve done.

“For everything.” Hyrule replied calmly. “For having brought me to the ranch. For having given me the time to get used to things. For having given me the rights to make my room as I wish it to be. For the love and caring. For saving me. For destroying those hellish monster pictures. For having come for me even after I hurt you.” He told happily before slumping with ears drooping as he said that last line.

Before the youngster could go further, Time pushed him bit off to look at him. “No. Don’t you go down on that line.” He stated out firmly and the boy slowly raised his sorrowful gaze up into him. The one eyed male smiled bit sorrowfully and kissed the youngster’s forehead fondly. “I love you like you were mine. I will always come for you and the others. No doubt in there. I will always be there for you and the others. You seven mean the world to me.”

“Can I be yours?” Hyrule requested sincerely with fully hopeful look on his face. “Can I call you dad?”

Time blinked in absolute start. “…W-what….?” He half whispered while feeling entirely baffled by the simple plea.

“Please?” The youngster quite well begged. “I know we’re not related but you adopted me. That kinda makes you my dad… Right?” The sixteen years old youngster was being fully serious.

Time was entirely out of know what to say. He opened shut his mouth few times while just staring at his boy. Part of him wanted to accept and be a father but bigger part kept telling he didn’t have the rights. He didn’t know how to answer so he just pulled Hyrule into a tight and loving embrace while letting the tears fall.

“Time?” Hyrule called bit worriedly while slightly frowning. He had thought it was a given for Time to have the rights by the fact of adopting him.

“Let’s… I…. Um…” Time stammered while feeling entirely contradicted. Eventually he sighed heavily and gently pushed the youngster off to see him. “That right belongs to the one whom is blood related to you. I’m not…” He grit his teeth while trailing off and turning his gaze off. He took a deep breath and faced his boy again. “I appreciate that offer. I really do. I just… I don’t really have the rights for such honor. I love you like my own but like you pointed out, we’re not related. I don’t feel like I have the rights for such huge privilege when I haven’t yet been able to track down your real father. I’m still working on that.”

“Time…” Hyrule nearly pleaded sorrowfully.

The one eyed male shook his head while trying not to let the tears out. “Please, leave that title for the one whom deserves it. I will find your real father. One day or another, I will track him down. I promise.”

“But what if he’s not worth that title like you are?” The youngster asked firmly while feeling like he had just hurt Time harder than by those few cruel words of his.

Time felt uncertain of what to say before sighing heavily. “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.” He simply replied with a small smile. Hyrule sighed and slumped while dropping his gaze down. He simply nodded before bit gasping as his caretaker pulled him into a tight hug. “No matter what, my little fairy, my love towards you will never diminish.” He swore firmly and the youngster just simply nodded in understanding.

After a while of calming down, the ranch’s owner gently kissed the top of his boy’s head and pushed him off again to see him. “Now, about your mother…” He started as calmly as he could. “It’s fully up to you but I’m ready not to press charges on her. She’s your mother. That matters. And I’m ready to even talk on her behalf if that’s what you want.”

Hyrule was quite well taken off guard by Time’s offer. He blinked few times before starting to frown as he dropped his gaze down to really think. “I think…” He started quietly while letting his mind fully make a choice on the matter. Eventually he took a deep breath and let it out slowly before raising his determined gaze up into Time’s. “I think it’ll be safer for me and her both if she went to jail.”

Time was quite startled of that choice and he bit jerked before already frowning in worry and uncertainty. “You sure?” He queried and Hyrule simply nodded firmly. “She’s your mother after all. I don’t…” He started before trailing off.

“Maybe when she’s in jail I can actually talk with her.” The youngster pointed out firmly.

“Hyrule, I…” The one eyed male started uncertainly. “Just… Think it through. You only have one mother. By blood, that is. And…” He desperately tried to find the right words. He sighed heavily and leaned back against the headboard of the bed before running his hand through his hair. “I don’t want to be the fault for you to break ties to her. She…” He trailed off for a moment and gave a sorrowful smile to his boy. “I’m sure she loves you. Just… Her way’s different, I guess.”

“Her way’s wrong.” The youngster stated out firmly while crossing his arms over his chest. “Her ways hurt. If someone’s helped me to be strong, it’s you and my brothers. You seven are what makes my life worth it.” He sighed and slumped a bit while dropping his gaze down. “I honestly regret what I said to you yesterday.” He nearly mumbled sorrowfully while bit wondering how Time could still love him so much that he was ready to die for him.

Time sighed a bit and smiled slightly before sitting up straighter just to pull Hyrule into a loving hold. “I understand, Pixie. You were hurting. I had lied. I just hoped I would’ve had more time to clear it off. I…” He sighed and bit slumped while turning his gaze into the window. “If I had told the truth, you wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with your mother anymore. I couldn’t allow that. As far as I’ve found out, she’s the only blood relative you have. I can’t let that connection break. Not from you or the others.”

“Even though she’s not worth it?” Hyrule queried quietly.

“She’s still your mother.” The ranch’s owner replied sorrowfully. “Maybe with time and right words she might see things differently.” He suggested and shrugged. “Didn’t want you to lose that chance.”

The youngster huffed and leaned his full weight against Time’s chest. “It’s a shame one can’t choose their parents.” He grumbled and grinned when Time chuckled.

“Yeah, true that.” The one eyed male mused with a small smile. He returned his gaze into Hyrule when he pulled away.

“If I could make a choice, I’d choose you.” The sixteen year old boy told firmly while meaning each of his words.

Time jerked a bit in shock before melting and feeling the tears at his eye as he smiled fondly at Hyrule. “Thank you.” He whispered quietly before gently kissing the boy’s forehead. He pulled the youngster back into a loving embrace. “That means the world to me.”

Hyrule sighed happily and fully melted in the hold. He felt safe and loved while knowing he truly had found family and home. “I’m yours in all the ways that matter, Time.” He whispered quietly before shifting in the hold and returning it tightly and with full of love. “I love you, Time. Thank you. You saved me from the orphanage. You’ve kept me safe and done everything to help me heal. You’ve supported and backed me up. You saved me again today. And you destroyed those hideous nightmare giving images. You keep your word when you give it. I’m so fortunate to have you in my life. I really love you.”

Time sighed contently and bit tightened his hold while smiling fondly. “Always, Pixie, always.” He whispered and gently kissed the side of the boy’s head. “I love you too. Always will. No matter what happens or where life takes us, I will always love you and the others. There’s no doubt in that.” He promised firmly. “And thank you for being who you are. Never change, my little fairy. Always be true to yourself first and foremost.” Hyrule simply nodded in understanding.

“Now…” The one eyed male started while pulling off from the hold after a while. “Have you called Wars? And have you informed your brothers about the situation?” He inquired before tad frowning as the youngster blushed a bit in nervousness. “Rulie?”

Hyrule sighed and bit slumped. “I’ve called neither.” He confessed with slight sheepish look. “I know you’re not in good basis with Wars and didn’t want to force you into bad situation. And, well… I was worried and needed to know you’d survive first. After that…” He just shrugged.

Time sighed with a slight smile and shook his head. “Alright. Thank you.” He replied before gently kissing the youngster’s forehead. “Let’s get home.”

“But… Wait… You….” Hyrule stammered bit shocked.

“You’ll be driving.” Time told with a grin. “I’m not exactly in the condition and I’m not up for dealing with the situation in the phone nor putting you to deal with it. And even less I’m up for letting the others come over to here. So, all we can do is to get back home and handle the situation at there.” Hyrule just stared while being fully out of words and knowing of what to do.

Time chuckled a bit and shook his head. “I’m fine, Pixie. There’s no IVs in and no blood giving. The situation’s over and done. I’m not bleeding and I’m feeling well enough to get back home. The docs can’t really force me to stay.” He assured before grinning mischievously. “Besides, I’m entirely certain I’ll heal much quicker back at home while being surrounded by all of my boys.”

Hyrule blushed a bit before nodding. “I’ll get the doc to check on you just in case.” He stated out before carefully getting off the bed until already dashing out of the room. Time sighed bit exaggerated once the youngster was out but he waited patiently for the check up for his boy’s sake.

Once he was cleared and he had changed to his own clothes, another thing actually made its way into his mind. “Hyrule, I gotta ask… Did you talk with the cops?” He inquired while feeling contradicted of the topic. The fact he wasn’t arrested already told they quite certainly weren’t pressing charges on him for trespassing and breaking in. Yet, it also meant that Hyrule had talked with them without him and he wasn’t happy of that even one bit. Hyrule wasn’t exactly underage considering legality but the boy was still his responsibility.

“I did.” Hyrule answered calmly with a nod. “They’re not going to charge you as you were there to save me.” He explained while still feeling worried for Time’s wellbeing. “Officer Kafei said he knows you.”

Time was bit startled of that last line before bit smiling. “Kafei… Yeah, we know each other.” He mused while relaxing as he knew the situation to be fully under control. “Talon knew his father and introduced the police family to me too. Lost contact after Malon died but I kinda rekindled it after I had adopted Twilight.” He explained and bit grinned. “Kafei’s been great help in giving the police reports and whatnot as I’ve been digging into your and your brothers’ pasts.”

Hyrule nodded in understanding while feeling bit more relaxed as his caretaker confirmed the officer as family friend. It very much meant that the situation was in good hands and that he and Time would be kept aware of how things would go with the case about his mother. Still, that didn’t take off the worry about the one eyed male’s wellbeing.

Soon enough the duo got to the quite empty parking area. Time gave Hyrule the keys after unlocking the car. “Few ground rules to go by when driving.” He started once both of them were inside. “One, always check that everyone whom should be along are seated. Two, always tell that the car won’t move even an inch unless everyone’s seatbelts are on and check around to make sure. And three, always make sure the doors are locked if you’re driving through area that doesn’t seem too safe or if you’re driving late in the evening or, most of all, during night.” He told while making sure both of their seatbelts were well fastened and nodded firmly when Hyrule locked the doors.

“Since it’s late, there shouldn’t be too many driving at the same time.” The ranch’s owner commented calmly. “We’ll go slow and calmly so don’t worry about that.” He assured fondly before starting to teach how to start the car and get it moving. Since the parking area was wide and quite well empty, Time put Hyrule to practice driving for a while so he’d get a feeling to the whole thing. After that, while driving slowly, they finally left from the hospital’s area.

The youngster drove slowly and calmly with Time giving reassurances, notions and gently teaching on things. The streets were empty and Hyrule slowly calmed down while bit enjoying of the situation. His caretaker’s voice was calm and the whole situation was something that really got his mind away from the day’s happenings.

When the car appeared into the rear mirror, Time didn’t at first pay attention to it. “Just ignore the car. They can go past if they so wish.” He simply told while knowing they were going well below the speed limits. Yet, when the behind being car flashed the lights of a police car, the one eyed male cursed beneath his breath. “Hyrule, drive bit to side and stop the car. Don’t unlock the doors or get out. I got this.” He half commanded while having no actual reason to feel so worried and uncertain of the situation. Yet, something seemed off even though he wasn’t certain what flared up his senses of danger.

The car stopped few meters behind them and the driver came out. Time felt even more uncertain of the situation when it was clear there was only one police in the situation. The man came to the side of their car and knocked on the window. “Open it halfway. No more than that. Let me handle the talking. Don’t do anything I don’t tell you to.” The youngster’s guardian told firmly while wanting to have some safety within the situation.

The police scowled at the situation. “Open it fully.” He commanded firmly while looking at the two of them.

“Sorry. The window doesn’t open more than that. Been meaning to fix it for quite a while.” Time apologized while leaning over Hyrule to get a check on the police. Something clicked in the back of his head even though he didn’t recognize the guy before him.

“He’s too young to be driving.” The officer stated out while taking a check on Hyrule.

“I’m teaching him.” Time told as calmly as he could and bit shrugged with a smile. “Gotta start from somewhere, right? The streets at the night are quiet and lacking with traffic so it’s safe moment for bit of driving in different environment.”

“Name and registration.” The police commanded while narrowing his gaze.

“Sure, just a moment.” Time replied while reaching for the needed papers. “Name’s Sprite LonRan. This is Hyrule and I’m his adopted father.” He told firmly while allowing his name to have a meaning along with his position considering the youngster.

The police just nodded while checking the papers before giving them back. “Heard of the incident.” He stated out and gave a meaningful look to Time. “Since you can’t drive and he’s too young to drive, I’ll take over on the driving. So, get out and move to back so I can get you two safely to home.”

“Actually, I’d appreciate it highly if you could just escort us to the gate of the town.” Time countered while having no intentions of letting the guy inside their car. “It would be of great practice for Hyrule to uphold the speed of the traffic. Please? If you give your name and badge number, I can always give a good word about your eagerness of helping and teaching to the police. Got few friends in the forces.” He told as calmly and friendly as he could.

The police’s hesitation only got Time to be even more wary of the guy. Yet, eventually the guy told out his name and badge number and the one eyed male memorized them as well as he could. He would certainly check this guy through by calling Kafei as soon as possible. “Alright. Just follow me then.” The police finally told and returned to his car.

Time quite well sighed in relief the moment the guy had turned his back and moved away from them. He quickly shut the window and pulled back to his place. “Just follow his car and keep few meters between us.” He told as calmly and gently to Hyrule when the police car went past them.

Luckily the drive to the town’s gate went uneventfully. Time flashed a smile and a wave to the police as they went past the car and moved into the dirt road to the ranch. “Remember his outlook and don’t trust the guy. Something feels off in him.” Time stated out firmly while keeping check on their surroundings in case of deer, rabbits, foxes and other animals.

“Time?” Hyrule queried bit worriedly.

“Sorry. I just…” Time sighed and shook his head. “Feels like I know him but I’ve never seen him before.” He told bit uncertainly.

“Should you call Kafei, then?” The youngster suggested while keeping the car’s speed slow.

“Might actually be a good idea.” The owner of the Lon-Lon Ranch replied before taking out his phone. “Just concentrate into driving and keep full notion in your surroundings.” He told while already making the call.

“Kafei Dotour.”

“Hi, Sprite here. How’s it going? OH! And you’re in speaker.”

“Sprite! Hey! Oh gosh! How are you?! I heard what you did and… Shit, are you driving?! Tell me you’re not driving, you crazy fox!”

Time chuckled a bit. “No, I’m not driving. Hyrule is. And I’m fine. Still bit out of it but healing well. No worries.”

“Hyrule? Isn’t he, well…”

“He’s turning sixteen soon. And we’re going slow and easy. Nothing to worry about. I’m keeping a very close eye on things.” Time grinned and winked to Hyrule.

“…”

“Facepalming?”

“…” *sigh* “You bet.”

Time chuckled before getting serious. “Well, even though I’d love to call you sometimes without actual reason…” He hesitated for a moment before sighing. “First of all, thank you for having handled the questionings and all. I highly appreciate that.”

“No worries. The moment I heard the place and your name, I was already there. How is Hyrule? He was quite well freaking out there and worried sick for you.”

Time smiled fondly as he looked at his boy. “He’s well. The better I heal, the better he’ll feel too, I’m sure.” He grinned slightly mischievously at Hyrule’s blush. “Anyway, another thing…” He turned his gaze off while feeling mix of uncertainty and determination. “I’d like to know if you know one police officer.” He started before giving out the name and badge number.

“Yeah, heard a lot of him. Don’t tell me… You crossed paths with him?”

Time sighed and nodded even though Kafei couldn’t see that. “Yeah. Don’t know why but I don’t trust him. Can you send me a pic of him? Just to confirm we’re talking about the same guy. And what can you tell me about him… That is, without you getting into trouble by all this.”

“Sure, give me a sec. The guy’s not too much liked. There’s been some complaints about him but nothing too bad. He doesn’t have a partner and usually takes the night shifts. Haven’t met him in person, though. Got the picture?”

“Just a sec.” Time pulled the texts up and checked the picture. “Yeah, that’s the guy. Kinda hoped he might’ve just faked things. Just… Don’t get involved into things with him.”

“Sprite?”

“Eh, just forget it. All this might be caused by still being recovering from blood loss and all.” Time said airily while waving his hand bit dismissively. “Anyway, haven’t had the chance to meet with you and your folks in person for quite a while. How about dinner at the ranch few weeks from here?” He suggested while feeling tad hopeful.

“Sounds cool! Got a specific date figured out yet?”

Time chuckled and shook his head. “No, not yet. Got some things to handle with my boys so bit hectic times coming up but I’ll inform better once we get back home and I can check the calendar and all. I’ll be calling you inside day or two. And if you don’t hear of me, just call me. Okay?”

“Consider it done. Will be awesome to get together again and meet with your boys in better circumstances.”

“Agreed! I’ll talk to you later, Kafei.”

“Be in touch.”

Time smiled bit fondly while the call ended. It felt nice to be in touch with Kafei by other reasons than to be in need of help. He knew he was bad at holding on to old friends but he honestly wanted to keep this friendship alive and going. He just needed to let the boys know of things and set the day and time for the meeting. And he was certain things would go just fine. The boys would fully understand and be in touch to friends of their guardian. It would certainly strengthen their safety by that.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The police glared after the car while knowing he had missed a chance there. Yet, he had gained some much needed information by checking the guy’s name from the police records. At least he had something to report as he took out the burner phone and dialed the number. He waited patiently for the line to open while knowing he would be getting things to move a step forward and all he needed to say once his call was answered without a word being said: “I found him.”

“Are you sure it’s him?”

“I don’t forget a face even though he’s much older and lost an eye.”

“HA! Knew that bastard couldn’t have killed him! Come on, tell me.”

“He goes by the name of Sprite LonRan. Lives at the ranch called Lon-Lon Ranch. The boys he lives with calls him Time.”

“And my son?”

“Haven’t seen him at the ranch for over a month now.”

“Hmm… He might end up posing a threat to our plans at some point.”

“How do we continue? I have a feeling he might have recognized me. Not entirely to fully know me but he doesn’t seem to trust me.”

“The boys… Orphanage? Or something else?”

“Adopted by him. Seven of them.”

*snorts* “I bet he’d give his life for them.”

“You’d hit right by that. He nearly got himself killed today for one of those seven. Cut his own wrist to demolish some monster pictures by his blood.”

“Hasn’t changed for certain…. Wait… Monster pictures…?”

“She’s still trying.”

“…….That stupid bitch! I’ve told her to do her work outside the town!”

“She’s once again facing jail.”

“Hmph… Seems like I need to give her a visit again.”

“How do I proceed?”

“Continue to keep eye on things. We will plan things on our end and find right moment to strike. We’ll get him back, I’m sure. We’ll target the boys and he won’t have any other choice than to comply. Simple and easy. Hopefully swift too.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He simply said before ending the call. He stared after the car for a while longer. After that he started the car and drove back into the town. There wasn’t much he could do now but he needed to get more info of the youngster’s mother’s situation.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The six boys Time had adopted before Hyrule came out of the house the moment they heard a car coming to the yard. They bit thought about calling Time first but they counted in their number this time around if the vehicle was bringing something bad with it. Yet, they calmed down when they recognized their guardian’s car.

The worry rose once again when the youngsters saw who was in the driver’s seat. Twilight started to approach the car before it was even fully parked. He didn’t like the idea of Hyrule having driven in middle of the night as it meant Time wasn’t in the condition of doing such. Yet, he never had a chance to start barking about the feelings, situation or anything else.

The one eyed male had gently aided the newest adopted boy of his to park the car before getting out of the vehicle before the youngster. “Twilight.” He called sharply before shaking his head. “Everything will be explained in a moment. Let’s just get inside first. Alright?” He continued calmer while moving away from the doorway and shutting the door. He watched carefully as Hyrule got out and locked the car before giving the keys to his guardian.

The first brought boy of the ranch wanted to open his mouth but he nodded once firmly. After that he started to usher the others back inside while glancing at the duo every now and then. Time just ignored the worry and anger at the moment while Hyrule was clearly feeling sorrowful and guilty as the owner of the Lon-Lon Ranch did his best to keep the boy behind him and away from the anger of his adopted brothers.

“Have you two eaten anything yet?” Wild inquired while already heading off towards the kitchen. The oldest resident of the house glanced at his protégé behind him. Hyrule just dropped his gaze down while shaking his head as an answer.

“No, not yet.” Time answered calmly while carefully leading his boy into the kitchen instead of the living room. “If there’s something left of the dinner, just reheating it would be enough, thank you.” He told while knowing his third boy would’ve gladly began to cook just about anything for them no matter how big or small it would’ve been.

“You sure?” Wild queried while checking the ingredients and glancing at the one eyed male. Time simply nodded with a slight smile. “Alright.” The youngster half whispered while taking out the day’s food and starting to work in getting it heated and ready for his caretaker and adopted brother.

Time watched as the others took places from around the table. Twilight’s gaze was in Hyrule whom kept his gaze in his lap. “Before any accusations are going to be thrown around, the place Hyrule was in blocked phone signals. There wasn’t a chance for him to contact.” The keeper of the ranch stated out while mainly meaning his words to his first adopted boy even though his gaze checked all of the six around him and Hyrule.

Twilight grimaced and averted his gaze off. “I shouldn’t have let you go to there alone.” He mumbled while feeling bit at fault too.

“Wasn’t your fault, Twilight. You did as your brother asked.” Time reminded calmly before already giving a smile and a nod to Wild as the youngster brought the food in. “Just let us eat first and then we’ll explain everything.” He promised while starting to enjoy of the meal before him. Sure, re-heated wasn’t same as just done but the cook of the house knew perfectly well what he was doing so it wasn’t far from what a moment ago done food would’ve been. And Time did compliment his boy for the given dinner even though he and Hyrule were eating much later than the others.

While the duo was eating, Wild began to do hot chocolates. Yet, he only did two of them as he felt like Time and Hyrule really would need them. “This is special treat for the two of you as you certainly are in the need of it. And before you argue back, Time, we’ve only been worried without full knowledge of what’s going on but both you and Hyrule certainly have gone through something rough.” He told calmly before giving a swift check on his guardian’s wrist. “Because, honestly, otherwise you would’ve driven and you wouldn’t be having your hand and wrist bandaged.”

Time was bit startled of the notions before bit blushing. “Point taken. Thank you.” He half whispered with a nod. He gently coaxed Hyrule to pick the hot chocolate before taking bit more relaxed position on the chair while taking up his own hot chocolate and taking a sip of it. “Alright, so, about what’s been going on for today and yesterday…” He started while taking a deep breath. He glanced once at the youngster next to him before returning his notion back into his other adopted boys. After that he started to explain things with as much of details as possible while trying to keep the fault off of his boy.

When Time came to the part of having fallen unconscious and woken up at the hospital, Hyrule took part into the explanations. He unwillingly told what had happened with his mother and how the calls before that had gone. He also explained how the police had come to there just in time and what he had explained to them while sitting at Time’s bed.

Time listened carefully too while getting the info of what had been missing from his knowledge until now. Once the youngster began to quiet down, the one eyed male picked up from the point of having woken up to the moment of having come back to the ranch. The boys before the two of them stayed silent and just listened to the explanations of how and why things had gone the way they had. Time had also shown the picture of the police officer while still letting them know that he wasn’t certain what he had against the guy. Yet, he ended the whole explanations into having pretty much invited Kafei and his family to come over few weeks from the current date.

Once everything was said, the six youngsters of the ranch had calmed down. Twilight apologized for his harsh gaze while feeling fully grateful of Time and Hyrule having fixed things and that both were back home safe and sound. With those words, the adopted boys of Time’s finally rounded the table fully and came to hug both of the duo. With that it was clear the situation was cleared and things could get back to normal again.

Twilight was up for changing the next day’s visit but Time refused to allow such. The lucky thing was that they didn’t need to leave early and Twilight was old enough to already have a driver’s license so he could drive without a trouble. Still, for that specific night, all of the six boys piled onto Time’s bed close to their caretaker and adopted brother. That was the last needed piece to know for certain that everything was fixed and well again which allowed both Time and Hyrule to sleep peacefully in the loving care and hold of the six others.

[slvx0]

Modern au klance, this was pretty self indulgent tbh

[journen]

Mer Soap au, installment 2! Their meeting. I'm imagining they met after a helicopter Simon was in on an op got shot down over the water. Soap then pulled him to shore, and waited by him until he woke up.

This is Simon when he wakes up. 🤣

Installment 1 of this au is here!:)

[7s3ven]

Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x Fem! Hybrid! Reader where…

Notes: Y/N is a Dobermann hybrid, abuse mentioned, hybrid au where reader is a human with animal-like features, cussing, just a short little thing I wanted to write (might extend it later), reader is described as tall

Ghost wanted to forget most things from his childhood. They were traumatic and induced a sense of fear in him that he absolutely loathed.

The one thing he never wanted to forget, however, was you.

You were a hybrid, basically a pet to the Riley family. Ghost’s parents never saw you as fully human but they bought you simply to shut him up. Ghost remembered blabbering on and on about wanting a pet and then you showed up one day, tail wagging at the thought of being adopted into a happy family. That dream was soon crushed.

You were just as abused as Ghost. You were hardly fed and when you were, it was off Ghost’s plate. You were his duty and despite being yelled at day and night about how you were always in the way, he continued to love you.

You and his brother were the only good things in Ghost’s life at the time.

Ghost recalled allowing you to sleep in his bed when it got too cold, how he would snuggle up to you to regain some warmth through his thin blanket.

You were particularly protective over Ghost, always sending his father pointed glares when the older man snapped at him.

You hated his father just as much as Ghost.

Life with you around was bearable. You never complained when Ghost returned home and immediately tackled you into a much needed hug, tears threatening to pour out of his eyes.

“The kids at school teased me about my bruises.” He whispered and in response, you kissed the dark marks marring his skin.

You made life better.

Ghost was in his older teenage years, ready to finally pack up and leave with you when you suddenly disappeared. His lifeline had been torn out of his grasp by his father, who remarked how he sold you to earn some more cash.

All Ghost remembered was seeing red that day and storming out of the house with his things, never to return to that dreaded house.

He joined the military and his one most important mission in life was to find you. It didn’t matter how many years passed and how many ranks he had climbed, you were still all he thought about.

The world was different now. Hybrids were seen as actual people instead of glorified pets. There was still no trace of you; his last lead was a dead end.

Ghost was ready to give up before Soap and Gaz dragged a tall figure into the room. “Found ‘er at the enemy base.” Soap uttered, “Was snipin’ our men left an’ right.”

The figure had a bag over her head but Ghost’s gaze immediately landed on the prominent outline of two long ears.

“Hybrid.” Gaz notices his staring, “Some kind of dog hybrid.”

The hybrid is anything but calm. It takes both Soap and Gaz to hold her back.

Ghost is quick to rip the sandbag off her head, coming face to face with a pair of familiar E/C eyes. You look the same, only a little older. Your left ear was damaged, there was some sort of tagged embedded in your right ear, and the sight of a shock collar around your neck made Ghost sick to the stomach.

Seeing your face was a reminder of the pain Ghost had faced during his early years. He almost had the urge to back away into the corner as memories flashed through is head. But he remained strong.

“Take that damn fuckin’ collar off ‘er.” Ghost spat, staring at the shock collar in disgust. You didn’t recognise his face because of his iconic skull mask but his voice had your ears flicking.

You stared at him with your head tilted at a low angle, almost seeming like you were glaring but Ghost knew better. You were simply observing him.

The moment Soap’s fingers brushed against the nape of your neck, you wildly flinched. Despite being retrained to a chair, you thrashed around, slamming the back of your head into Soap’s face.

“Ow, lassie! Calm down!” The Scot yelled.

Ghost was quick to weigh you down, placing his heavy hands on your shoulders. “Ay, bloody hell, lovie, ‘tis alright. He’s only tryna help.” Without a second thought, Ghost lifted his mask to give you a peek of his face before he lowered it again.

You finally stilled, ears twitching as you stared at Ghost.

“You know her?” Gaz questioned as he picked at the locked collar with a screwdriver.

“Yeah.” Ghost’s reply was short. The moment the collar’s lock came undone, he grabbed it and threw it against the wall.

“Based on her injuries and the collar, I’d say she wasn’t working with the terrorist group willingly.” Price uttered, “Someone’s gonna have to patch her up.”

“The lass has already screwed me over, I ain’ doing it.” Soap grunted, holding his swelling nose.

“I’ll do it.” Ghost butted in.

Without Ghost’s teammates, you felt more at ease. You sat on the bed in Ghost’s room, allowing him to clean your wounds.

No words needed to be exchanged for Ghost to understand your pain. You leaned into his embrace as he carefully wrapped his strong arms around you, not wanting to alert you.

“Ain’ never letting ya go again, lovie. That’s a promise. Ya never gotta see my father or those terrorists again. I’ve got ya. You’re safe.”

[cattoonxd]

E/r in the big 2024 ladies and gentlemen

[artgremlinart]

season 3 spoilers..

[greece-greecia]

Harry: Do you want to have a date with me?

[thybreadmolds]

Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻

Oni!Ghost and Were!Soap for my soldiers. Hope you all have a lovely Halloween or just a lovely day. :0)

[girlsworldillusion]

Ocean's Tear

Aemond x Siren!Reader

Summary: At first it was just curiosity. There was something about the human that, for the first time in longer than you could remember, piqued your interest.

Captain Targaryen, they called him.

It seemed like just a silly curiosity. But you quickly realize that your little curiosity turns into something much worse.

Of all the terribly reckless things you could do, you had chosen one of the most dangerous and destructive:

Taking an interest in a human.

Rated: M +18

Warnings: interspecies relationships, mentions of blood and death, dark themes.

Word account: 9k

Author's note: This story was divided into two parts. I'll be posting the final act soon, if it gets a good reception. Happy reading!

At first it was just curiosity. 

There was something about the human that, for the first time in longer than you could remember, piqued your interest. 

That something could be many things, of course, and at first you thought it was just his unusual hair color, a singularity that made him stand out from the rest like a sore thumb. 

Despite having seen many different humans throughout your life, you didn't remember ever seeing one with hair like his. As far as you knew, only aged humans had hair that color. But the man you began to observe closely didn't seem aged. Quite the opposite. His tall, strong physique indicated that he was a very healthy adult man of, if your knowledge of the human race was anything to go by, thirty years old at most. And yet, the strands of his hair were as light as the pure white moon that shone above the ocean. 

But there was another singularity about the man. He always wore a damn leather eye patch on the left side of his face. When you first saw this, you laughed in derision at how stereotypical the human was being. What? A ship captain wearing an eyepatch? So predictable. All that was missing was a hook in his hand and a wooden leg to complete the standard pirate look. 

It should have been ridiculous, at the very least. Except it wasn't. 

It was actually embarrassing how fascinating you found the dark contrast of the leather with the silver strands that were always coming loose from his ponytail. 

Honestly, it was worrying how quickly you were becoming interested in this strange human. 

But, the days passed and, regardless of how peculiar those details about him were, that wasn't the only thing that made you pay so much attention to the man. 

The way he behaved was also different from the others. Unlike the loud and obnoxious humans you were used to encountering while sailing these seas, this man walked the deck with his head held high and an indifferent expression, a cigarette lazily held between his fingers, telling each of the crew members what to do in a firm and authoritative manner, although he never had to raise his voice at any time. 

Captain Targaryen, they called him. He was always calm, always in control, silent most of the time - as if he were directly responsible for inspiring and maintaining order around him. It was immediately clear to you why he was the captain of this ship. Just as it was also clear that this human was more fortunate than others you had seen. Not only did his posture and manner reveal his high-class upbringing, but also his ship which, despite keeping its simple dark tones and overall understated appearance, was much larger and much better preserved than those that normally visited this area of ​​the ocean.

You didn't know who this man was, but he certainly wasn't just anyone. 

Despite all this, he was still a human, and even though he had caught your attention for reasons that not even you could fully understand, you knew from the beginning that you shouldn't entertain such curiosity. Humans were cunning and treacherous little things, regardless of their appearance. And even if such a notion was irrelevant (it wasn't), he wouldn't last long anyway. Not here. If you had noticed the ship's approach and, especially, the presence of the various crew members inside it, your sisters had too. It was only a matter of time now. The days of not only this man, but everyone under his command, were numbered. 

You shouldn't entertain your curiosity. 

But, despite all your rules, tact, and minimal capacity for good judgment, you found yourself getting closer and closer to the human's vessel. 

Surprisingly, there was still some sense left in you, and you chose to do this always at night, when it would be easier to keep yourself hidden from unwanted eyes. 

That was the reason, of course. Not the fact that it was at night that the man came out on deck to take a breather, when his crew was already asleep. Every night, without exception, punctual as clockwork. 

Fuck. You are such an idiot. 

A pair of large eyes peer through the gentle rippling of the water. Submerged up to your nose, you keep cautiously away (though closer than you were last night, and the night before, and the night before that... - tsk, idiot, idiot). The length of your long tail sways below the surface, deceptively delicate fins rippling in anticipation, tense and restless. 

He lights a cigarette. 

Your sensitive nose wrinkles in response to the disgusting and very human habit, but you barely blink as you watch him raise the thing to his lips. He holds it there until the tip burns an abrasive shade of red, staring at the dark, endless horizon ahead, the ship beneath his feet rocking rhythmically with the waves lapping at its sides. He pulls his fingers away after a few seconds to breathe in a cloud of smoke, and you swear you can taste the toxic flavor of tobacco even from where you stand. The thought doesn’t bother you as much as it should. The chilly night wind blows a few loose strands in front of his face, the rest of his silver hair tied back in a messy bun. 

His posture during the day is always the same; confident and calm. He’s the picture of composure most of the time. But here, at night, smoking his disgusting cigarette in deep, silent contemplation, he almost always looks...sad. As if the burden weighs heavily on his shoulders and this is the only time he can leave small visible cracks in his normally impenetrable countenance. 

Lonely. He looks lonely. 

Maybe he's not so different from you after all. 

Your tail fin shakes a little harder, the fingers on your hands flexing agitatedly. What was with this human, anyway? Why were you wasting your time here, trying to understand his fragile and insignificant human feelings when the time for hunting had obviously not even begun? This kind of behavior was not common in your species. Of course, if any of your sisters showed up you could just say that you were observing your prey, getting to know its weak points better for when the time came to attack. 

But was that really what you were doing? 

The human rests his elbows and leans his body on the edge of the ship, once again bringing the cigarette to his lips. His strong forearms are exposed by the rolled-up sleeve of his black shirt, showing off a pale ivory complexion, long and prominent veins along its length. He is like a carefully crafted statue, his body agile and tall, powerful and elegant. 

He tilts his face gently and blinks slowly and vaguely. You recognize that this is the worst moment to realize that from where you are standing you can't tell the exact shade of his eye - apparently his only good eye, in fact. The thought leaves a bitter taste on your tongue.

You want to know what color his eye is.

"Gods, what am I doing?" You mutter sullenly as you sink gently, pushing your body closer to the ship with a flick of your tail. Despite your obvious and undeniable propensity for making reckless choices, your movements are carefully calculated, using the waves and the blind spots of the moonlight to cover any suspicious tracks. 

You are now as close to the human vessel as you have ever been - at least outside of a context other than exclusively for attack and feeding. If you swing your tail enough you might even touch the side of the ship, the human hovering a few feet above you. Your hands are strangely trembling beneath the surface, nervous and anxious, and you flex your fingers to contain your stupid reaction, feeling the sharp tips of your claws in contact with the soft palms. 

Your discretion is rewarded with the human's seemingly complete ignorance, who remains in the same position as before, still smoking and staring at the choppy waves, oblivious to your presence. You sigh softly, a sound of relief, letting your eyes travel over the sharp, clear lines of his masculine face. 

The night is dark, cloudy, with only the moonlight and a few lights from the human vessel itself illuminating the surroundings. But your eyes are capable, much more capable than a human's, made to see perfectly underwater and stalk your prey with skill, and you part your lips when you clearly realize that his eye is blue. As blue as the sea is near the coast, where the waves shine with a crystalline and mesmerizing prism, like ethereal stained glass. 

As bright as... 

The man exhales another mouthful of that intoxicating smoke into the humid night air, but you barely blink where you stand. Your fingers instinctively close around the stone attached to the necklace floating in front of your breasts. The blue gem is cold against your fingertips, but you know its power and magic burn like burning embers. 

You’re so distracted that you barely notice the significance of the human’s next move, your eyes only half noticing his hand rising to his face. You watch without really seeing as he removes the eye patch from his face, vaguely returning to the present as you think of the strange break in routine that this act has made - he had never removed the eye patch during the nights you had been watching. 

He would go out, smoke that horrible cigarette without any rush while looking out at the endless sea, throw the toxic stuff on the floor when he was done and extinguish the ember with a drag of his boot before entering the ship to sleep. Every night, religiously. 

Any thoughts of routine evaporate from your mind when the leather finally comes off his face, caught between the captain’s fingers as he lowers his hand. Your lips part and your eyes widen, your tail freezes below the surface for a few seconds. 

There is a stone where his eye should be. A blue stone. A stone you would recognize anywhere. Your own blue gem seems to warm between your fingers in response, glowing subtly as if sensing the presence of a twin stone.

“W-what...but - how?” You whisper, confused and alarmed. How could this human have something like this? Not even all sirens had such a stone. You yourself only managed to find yours a few years ago.

The Ocean's Tear, as the stone was known to your kin, was an extremely rare and nearly impossible to find relic, treasured by all sirens for its power to grant them specific ‘gifts’. The gifts vary from individual to individual, however. While some could heal themselves from any harm, some could hear the thoughts of others as if they were their own, others could persuade any living creature to do what they wanted. The possibilities go on and on.

You, after decades of tireless searching, had found your gem in a remote corner of the ocean, having gone through thirst, hunger and almost losing your own life when facing a relentless pod of hungry orcas that chased you at some point towards the end of the journey. It was an exhausting search and almost cost you more than you were willing to give, but it was all worth it when you finally touched your own 'ocean's tear'. You remember how the jewel warmed slightly and sparkled like countless bright diamond points between your trembling fingers, reacting instantly to your touch, as if it had also been waiting for this moment all its life - waiting for you all its life. 

You cried that day, for the first time.

Of course, after days and days of the gem hanging proudly around your neck and nothing different happening, you started to get suspicious. Days turned into months and months stretched into years and you didn't see any change in your body; no psychic gifts, no persuasive power over sea creatures or self-healing abilities. You were still just you, the same as always. 

It was frustrating and humiliating. 

But you couldn't stop wearing the jewel, after all it was still the 'ocean's tear'. Any siren who had it would automatically gain the silent respect of others. You were someone capable with this stone. With it, you were important. Someone wise and strong enough to seek and find the impossible. You were proud to show off your relic - even if it was useless in the end. 

The bad mood was constantly present with you since then. Disappointed, but strangely not surprised. Of course this would happen to you; of course you would swim tirelessly across the seven seas in search of the jewel of jewels and it simply wouldn't work for you. That's the kind of karma that haunts you. 

You had almost died to conquer the impossible only to find out that the impossible didn't want you. 

And now this human dares to flaunt the impossible as if it were something anyone could have? 

As if it were something that some random human who thinks he knows the ocean could claim for himself just because he has a ship and other stupid little humans to put inside it? 

The stone wouldn't do anything for him, you know. The gem only reacts to sirens, without exception. This human dared to steal something that belongs to your species, only for the artifact to be absolutely wasted in the end. In this human's hands the jewel was just a cold, shiny stone. Beautiful and exotic, no doubt, but useless. 

(But wasn't it also useless in your hands?)

You snarl at your own incriminating thought, narrowing your eyes to slits as you watch the human tilt his face - oblivious to the dangerous and highly emotional turmoil of a supposedly non-existent creature right next to him. The moonlight gloriously intensifies the smooth complexion of his handsome face, the aristocratic line of his nose, the long silver strands fluttering in the wind. His good eye and the damned stolen jewel, dark as the deep waters of the sea.

The instant thought that this human, selfish and cruel as he is, could be as deserving (or undeserving, in this case) as you of something as pure and sacred as the ocean's tear, is so offensive that it is physically nauseating. How could he have something that you have spent decades of your life searching for? Something that countless of your sisters would never even have the privilege of seeing, much less having for themselves? He does not deserve this.

Your teeth grind, the sharp canines piercing the inside of your mouth until you taste your own blood. 

He's the enemy. No matter how interesting and handsome you find him, the stone (an heirloom of your people, not his) that he sports embedded in his face is just more proof of how dirty and morally corrupt humans are - something that, admittedly, you have known all along. 

He's a thief. A sneaky usurper. 

Of all the terribly reckless things you could do, you had chosen one of the most dangerous and destructive. Take an interest in a human. And you know it. From the human race, only the worst is expected, really. You just hated that this human in question was so fascinating. 

"How did you get this?" 

Your own grumpy voice echoes in the silence of the night, scaring not only the human on the ship, but yourself as well. The sound is a bubbling rustle of words, hoarse around the edges and almost brittle from disuse, rarely having been used for conversational purposes. But it is audible enough to catch the human's attention. Your eyes widen, any animosity and anger instantly forgotten in the shock of your complete and utter lack of control. The man turns his head in the direction of your voice, quick as a whip, at exactly the same moment that you react and dive. 

"Idiot, idiot, idiot!" You repeat the mantra, swimming until you are at a safe depth. 

The question had simply slipped through your lips without you being able to stop it, but you knew how much you had screwed up. 

Looking up, distressed and uncertain, you see through the ripples of the water that the human is staring intently at the sea, his one eye sliding from one corner to the other - trying to find the source of the voice he heard. The darkness of the night is on your favor and you know he can't see anything but foam and the dark waves, no matter how hard he tries. You hope he quickly comes to the most logical conclusion for this situation; that he didn't hear what he thinks he heard. It was just his own mind playing tricks on him. Maybe he blames it on tiredness and sleep, or the lack of it. 

But as he stands there, brows furrowed and serious eye, stubbornly searching for something that even he himself wouldn't know what, something whispers to you that he won't just give up. 

"Hello?" He asks in a thick, drawling tone, tired you notice, once again leaning slightly on the side of the ship to better see the waters below. When no sound other than the waves of the sea is heard, he hums thoughtfully for a moment, almost imperceptibly softening his frown to something more neutral and calm. "It's okay. I know you're there. It's not the first time I feel like I'm being watched, to be honest." His voice is the same as you remember; steady, controlled, a low timbre that’s almost husky around the edges. You would be delighted by it, as you have been many times before, if you weren’t on the verge of a panic attack, your cheeks darkening in embarrassment at the confirmation that he’d somehow felt your presence this whole time.

Gods, a human was embarrassing you. What had you come to?

"But this is the first time you've said anything. I have to say that you surprised me tonight, since I assumed we'd be playing this game for a while longer." He continues, a vaguely playful quirk in his drawl, adjusting his body so that he's leaning sideways on the deck and bringing what's left of his cigarette to lips again. Your heart pounds violently in your chest, your tail fin rattling restlessly with your anxiety. 

You don't know why you're still here. 

He puffs out his swirling cloud of smoke, looking completely at ease and at ease with the situation - although he's heard a mysterious, feminine voice ring out in the middle of the night, in one of the most dangerous parts of the entire ocean, in a place where he logically knows there no be any women. But he remains calm. Unlike you, who have everything but control over yourself at this moment. And, once again, you feel diminished by this human. 

He behaves in the opposite direction of what you're used to from human behavior. He confuses and intrigues you, awakening feelings you never imagined you had for someone of his kind. 

Here you were, undeniably afraid of being caught, but unable to simply swin away and leave him behind. All because some random human had made you interested in him. Turned you into a soft thing, fascinated by unusual hair colors and eye patches. Watching a lesser creature constantly, attentively and almost obsessively, like a damn stalker would - and not even in the sense you normally watch humans; in the context of predator and prey. With each passing day it became more evident that you were not planning to eat this human. 

It was just you, interested in him. 

For the first time in your long life, you don't know what you're doing. He messes with the natural order of things and you don't know what to do. 

The world has grown old. But not you, nor any of your many sisters. The world has grown old, but it has always been the same to you. There has always been an order to follow. You have been here for longer than you can remember, hidden beneath the waves while the men above came and went, building and destroying everything around them. You have watched them grow into selfish, greedy creatures, thirsting for a dominion over the world they are unable to maintain. Blind to the fact that there are other forms of life besides their own, men see themselves as better and more important, hunting and killing without scruple or consideration those they consider inferior to them. Without remorse. 

But it is here, in the far corners of the ocean, that they find retribution for their acts of greed. 

Men take everything. But here, shadowed by legends and tales, the sirens feed on men; on proud sailors roaming the vast blue sea, their noses in the air and their egos throbbing that nothing could harm them. 

You were the men's reckoning. That was all. This was the natural order of things. 

The time for the men on this ship, including their fascinating captain, was approaching, and there was absolutely nothing you could do to prevent such a fate. You shouldn’t entertain mixed feelings for him. You shouldn’t. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t do anything against an entire horde of sirens that would inevitably be here soon. Cultivating any feelings wouldn’t do him any good, much less you. 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to show up yet. You’ve already given me the proof I needed to know that I’m not insane, and I appreciate that.” He continues his monologue above the surface, unfazed by the lack of response, a small, amused tug at the corner of his pink lips. Below the waters you almost snort, thinking that he definitely shouldn’t be grateful for that. Regardless of whether you decided to show up or not, he would still be considered, at the very least, ‘insane’ by anyone who heard this story later. 

His words, however, bring heat to your stomach, rising until it darkens your cheeks. 

The Captain Targaryen had graced you with fine words, admittedly, simple as they were, and perhaps there was some truth to them. He had always been different, after all; he lacked the common harshness and cruelty with which captains tended to lead their crews. He had a fair amount of coldness in his speech, true, and his humor was acidic and even dark at times. But he did not seem cruel. He commanded with a firm hand, yes, but also with respect. 

Perhaps, deep down, he meant well. 

But there was still that voice that screamed that his nature would inevitably betray him. He was human, after all. It was in his nature to be seduced by his own greed and ambition. You only wondered how long it would be before the tide turned and he showed his true colors.

But even knowing all this, you find yourself unable to stop yourself from making the next monumental mistake. 

The man sighs wearily one last time, betraying his indifferent facade, the cigarette clutched between his fingers falling to the floor of the deck, just waiting for the usual drag of the sole of his boot. He looks a little longer at the dark waves below, his neutral expression not wavering much, but there is that same glint that screams loneliness flickering discreetly in his blue gaze - the stolen stone singing to you from the other side. He would leave. 

Before you think, you are acting. 

In your seriously questionable logic, you know that nothing has really changed around you. But in your body powered purely by adrenaline and poor choices, you feel as if even the waves have calmed in response to your action. The world stands still as you push yourself to the surface with a rhythmic undulation of your tail, webbed fingers moving in unison. Even the wind seems to have died down; all you can hear is your blood rushing in your ears. Deep in your chest, something pulls, twists, hurts — sings — 

Your head slowly emerges from the water.  

It takes a few seconds for the Captain’s gaze to settle on you, and you could have used that time to try to make amends for your rash decision, but you choose not to move. And when he looks at you, his indifferent expression finally cracking to reveal a single wide eye and lips parted to gasp a startled sound and you finely sketch a reaction other than silent hysteria. A shy smile stretches your plush lips as you notices his expression, despite how seriously damaged your nerves are — perhaps irreparably. You did this, you broke that perfect calm of his. 

Despite your silent victory, your large, narrow-pupiled eyes stare back at him with apprehension, your heart racing in your chest and your breathing ragged. There’s a moment when neither of you make a move, both frozen in place, unsure of what the hell to do with the surreal scene unfolding right in front of you. 

It feels like an eternity in the void before you’re swallowing the uncomfortable lump that’s permanently lodged in your throat, daring to swim in hesitant jerks closer to the vessel. 

He watches you with unwavering focus, a little more composed, but still open-mouthed. His steps stagger slightly, but eventually he too makes his way toward the lower part of the ship, where you’re swimming. 

You stop when you reach the raised boarding platform, the human slowly approaching from the other side, never taking his eye off you, as if afraid to blink and you’ll disappear. He stops walking when you raise a hand, blinking in surprise at the elastic, almost transparent membrane between your spread fingers. 

Somehow he quickly understands what you want, shaking his head once to signal that he won’t go any further from that point. With that, you prop your elbows on the edge of the platform, lifting yourself just a few inches above the surface, the heavy strands slick on your head and saltwater running down your cheeks to drip from the tip of your chin, the bridge of your nose, and the arch of your lips. 

“I...fuck, what the hell was in that cigarette anyway?” He gasps and crouches awkwardly, looking away at the length of your long tail swaying beneath the waves, lush fins undulating languidly like a delicate wet veil in the wind. He takes in every last detail of you with absolute focus, leaving you as embarrassed as you're flattered — but mostly, hyper-aware of yourself. But you force yourself to relax, trying to imagine yourself through his gaze.

The countless shiny scales all over your tail range from an endless expanse of onyx to purple at some angles, gradually lightening to the side fins and the end of your tail, tinged with a striking shade of translucent lilac. The purple scales were also dotted softly all over your body; rising in a perfect gradient from the sides of your waist until disappearing into the soft cream of your skin, on the undersides and sides of your forearms and elbows, delicately covering the soft, discreet mounds of your breasts and marking the entire line of your spine. 

There is a discreet dusting on the tops of your cheeks, a subtle kaleidoscope of purple and soft pink that transforms into small, bright freckles as your emotions rise - as they are right now. Your full, pink lips hide almost normal teeth, except for the dangerously sharp canines and incisors. Long, thick eyelashes over a pair of large, expressive eyes with slitted pupils like a cat's. Your hair waves around the shoulders, floating beneath the surface of the water in a slow dance, partially hiding the three small lines that mark the gills on either side of your neck. Your hands, though small and seemingly delicate, are adorned with long, sharp claws, as dark as the darkest part of the ocean, the thin translucent membrane between your fingers much stronger than it looks. 

It's unnerving how insecure he makes you with his prolonged silence, just looking at every inch of you with his bright eye and parted lips. 

You know you're beautiful. If there's any truth to the many tales about your species, it's the undeniably seductive appeal of your appearance. Deadly beauty, the tales say. It's your greatest hunting trick, after all. But under the weight of that watchful gaze, you find yourself unable to escape the clutches of insecurity. What if he didn't find your colors appealing? It's true that your scales aren't as vibrant and colorful as some of your sisters. Your tones are more muted and simple compared to the bright and open ones of your distant relatives. Maybe he found you...too dark? 

And why is this human's opinion so important to you? 

You huff and straighten up until your shoulders are completely out of the water, the sapphire pendant floating in front of your chest. Your expression takes on notes of embarrassed annoyance, the small freckles on your cheeks and the bridge of your nose shimmering subtly. The human drinks in your reaction attentively, not understanding what they mean, but undeniably fascinated by them. 

"You're...holy shit...this is a dream, right? It can't be real. You can't be real." He mutters lazily, voice slurred and thick, wide hands flexing at his sides in two tense fists, the night wind mussing the moon-like strands of his hair. "I knew there was something out there all along, but this...you..." he shakes his head in denial before continuing, "nothing as completely perfect as you can be real."

Oh. The dusting of color on your cheeks deepens and you look away, uncomfortable with the stupid shiver in your belly at the human’s words. Why did he have to be so rudely blunt? You blink the salty sea water out of your eyes a few times before looking back up at him from beneath your lashes, feigning an indifference you don’t feel. Rude, definitely. But, gods, such a handsome rude. His sharp features are as delicate in some ways as they are rough in others. A man, undeniably. The lights from the ship illuminate his striking features, highlighting skin as smooth and pale as the sand on the clearest beach.

Except for one detail.

The flickering yellow of the artificial lights only intensifies the depth of a grotesque scar across that false eye. Your eyes narrow slightly, following the rough, jagged line of the cut that runs from the middle of his forehead down his cheekbone, ending just inches above the corner of his lip. A raw, deep cut, a wound that certainly caused him a lot of pain - perhaps it still does. A scar like that indicates a trauma that cannot be easily overcome after all. 

Did he get it while he was behind the ocean's tear? 

The thought inevitably brings you back to what was the trigger for this whole colossal mistake, making you quickly focus on the blue stone in his left eye while trying to ignore the discomfort of seeing such a comprehensive wound on this human. 

"How..." You rasp, pushing the hoarseness out of your normally melodic timbre, even though your tongue feels uncomfortable inside your mouth and your throat scratches from being used after so much time in silence. The man looks at you with disturbing focus, however, his gaze lazy and bright, his lips slightly parted, as if he were listening to the most enchanting and pure sound of all. "How did you get that?" You point a finger at the stone when you manage to say the words, direct and honest, leaving no room for confusion. 

He blinks once. 

"Uh, this?" He extends two fingers to the stone in question, tapping its cool surface twice, a slight tug of amusement on his lips. “I found this a while back when diving near a reef. Shinier than anything I've ever seen.” He sounds almost proud as he drawls, though he shrugs at the end — as if the accomplishment isn’t all that big of a deal after all. 

Your fascination with the human is eclipsed by the blinding wave of irritation and humiliation that rushes through your veins at the sudden words. What the hell does he mean, ‘found this a while back’? As if the fucking ocean's tear is something a stupid human could just stumble upon by accident? Near a reef, of all places! As if something so inexplicably valuable could be so easily discoverable?

Fuck, as if you didn't literally almost die because of that!

What were the gods doing to you, anyway? What kind of cruel joke was this? How much more would you have to be humiliated by this human before you finally snapped and killed him?

“Liar.” You hiss slowly through your dangerous teeth, refusing to believe this lame version of the story. Your eyes narrow and your nose furrows a fraction, along with your eyebrows. Beneath the surface of the water your tail jerks restlessly, creating a visible ripple in the waves around you. The human, to your silent satisfaction, seems to have some sense after all and notices that something has changed in you. His posture, once reverent and curious, is now more alert and cautious, though he doesn’t pull away immediately. His shoulders roll slowly beneath the shirt and his jaw tenses once before he extends his open hands to you in what should be a reassuring gesture.

"Hey, it's okay..." His voice is lower now, almost a whisper, and it's embarrassing how his calm tone has an effect on you, making you almost instantly relax your fingers clenched into tight fists that you barely noticed you were holding. He remains crouched for a few seconds, but shrugs his shoulders and arches his back a little, as if he wanted to make himself smaller for you. Less threatening. You almost burst out laughing at the sheer silliness of it. 

This human wouldn't be a threat to you even if he were at his full height - which you admittedly agree is well above any human you've ever met. Even watching from afar all these nights, it was clear to you that his size surpassed yours in almost every way. Your upper half, of course. He was wide and tall where you were seemingly delicate and fragile. Except for your tail. At its full length you would be much taller than him. 

Yes, you may seem delicate overall, but that is just another deceptive hunting device, a feminine appeal that screams fragility and seduction, luring your prey until it is too late for them. 

You are anything but weak, and no matter what, he is still human. His strength, as great as it may be, would still be nothing compared to yours. One move, right now, and he would be dead. If you really wanted this, it would be over before he even realized what had happened. 

You could wrap your fingers around his ankle and pull him into the dark waters; it would take just the right amount of pressure and speed and he would hit his head on the deck as he fell, probably dying instantly from the blow. But even if he survived that, his end would come quickly beneath the cruel waves of the ocean. Whether from the inevitable loss of oxygen, or the absurd pressure as you pulled him under, or even from the deadly claws you would sink into the fragile flesh of his human body. Or even your fangs, long and sharp as needles as they slice into the pale softness of his throat, draining the life out of him as he gurgle and choke on blood and salt water. 

There were at least ten ways you could kill this human right here and now, and you wouldn’t even have to think about it. It would be natural, you’ve done it before. If you wanted to, he’d already be dead. 

But… 

You don’t want to. 

And that’s why you don’t laugh at his attempt to calm you down. You don’t laugh because it’s not funny. There’s no humor in the feeling of mourning in your chest for that instinctive, natural part that seems to have laid down and died inside you. There’s no hunger, no thirst, no desire to make him pay for humanity’s selfish, cruel acts. There’s no predator and prey tonight. 

You blink away the sting of tears wanting to form, tense expression softening to something almost melancholic, fins flicking slowly beneath the water. By the seas, you wouldn't cry in front of this human. It would be the height of your humiliation.

"What I said is true, I swear." He continues his soothing murmur, slowly lowering his palms, looking straight into your eyes with such interest and focus that you feel as if it were just the two of you in the world. What a foolish thought. "I actually found the stone by accident. It was just a dive like any other, nothing special. And then it was there. So bright that even hidden under the sand I could see it perfectly." He smiles a little at the memory, reciting the facts calmly and carefully, obviously wanting to avoid angering you again. "It doesn't shine like it used to though, now it looks more like a dead flame or something. I don't think it belongs in the world outside the sea." A tired sigh escapes his lips at the end, his expression almost disappointed - even though he's trying for a reassuring smile. 

You snort. 

"Of course it isn't. But that's what you humans do, after all. Always taking what doesn't belong to you." You recite the words in a disapproving tone that doesn’t carry as much hate as it should. Not for him, at least. 

He looks at you with parted lips and furrowed eyebrows, forearms resting on his knees as he thinks about what you just said. 

“Yes. I suppose so.” He murmurs after what feels like a lifetime, exhaling through his nose. 

There’s silence between the two of you after that, nothing but the waves crashing against the hull of the ship as he stands contemplatively looking at you, as if searching for answers in your face. He’s not embarrassed by it, nor does he even try to hide his obvious interest in you. It’s unsettling, to say the least, to have this human’s attention so completely on you. Flattering too, but you don’t think much of it. 

You definitely don’t want to be the first one to look away, but you’re getting restless with the intense eye contact and the silence, your sharp nails rhythmically drumming on the metal of the plataform. The shiny dust on your cheeks and nose becomes more and more evident, and perhaps the Captain is finally connecting the dots because a small smile stretches his lips - a genuine smile this time, something light and sweet, but undeniably provocative. 

"It's doesn't react to you!" You say abruptly, spitting out the first thing that came to mind just to break the tension of the silence between the two of you. But your tone is too shrill and loud not to be seen as suspicious, increasing the color and intensity of the shiny dots on your cheeks and shoulders. The captain raises his eyebrow in amused question, indicating that he hadn't understood. You sigh, swallowing your own embarrassment. 

"The stone. It's a special jewel... very sensitive, intelligent even, you could say. It's extremely reactive, just not to everyone." He listens to you attentively and with a sharp gaze, almost making you stumble over your own words a few times. "It doesn't shine like it used to because you're human and the stone know it. The ocean's tear, as it's called, only reacts to...uh, well...sea creatures." You find yourself irritatingly unable to explicitly say what you are, even though it's more than obvious by now. Some kind of throbbing self-consciousness takes hold of your mind, the very real realization that he can and probably will come to the inevitable conclusion that you and he are creatures from different worlds tightens your vocal cords and stops you from continuing. 

Good heavens, as if the disparity between the two of you wasn't already obvious enough. Why would you suddenly be worried about it?

“Creatures like you, I suppose.” He contemplates, ruining your earlier subtlety with his irritating honesty. A small, sullen pout forms on your lower lip at that, more glittering dust of color staining your cheeks. 

This was getting beyond ridiculous. 

“Here.” You sigh grudgingly, breaking eye contact to pull the blue pendant from your long necklace between your thumb and forefinger. The stone is, as you said, reactive and immediately comes to life under your touch, singing and vibrating in the most beautiful shade of blue; prisms ​​of diamonds and sapphires, resplendent and pure. The Captain Targaryen has the decency to look positively delighted to see this — as he should — and you smile softly at his reaction, finding great satisfaction in his rosy cheeks and bright gaze. 

And then he’s standing to walk towards you, but stops short when you narrow your eyes and tense. 

"It's okay. It's okay. I just want to..." he points to the stone, and you look at it. Then at him. And at the stone. And back at him. "I just want to get a closer look. But it's okay, I don't want to make you uncomfortable." 

You're already uncomfortable, you want to scream. You've been uncomfortable for weeks now. He's seen you, talked to you, heard more words from you than you've said to any other human - more words than you've said to any species in a long time, including your own. None of it made you comfortable. And yet, here you were. It would be a stupid, reckless mistake, no doubt about it. But you've been nothing but stupid and reckless these past few days. It couldn't get any worse. 

(Yes, it could.) 

"It's okay." You mumble, relaxing the muscles in your body and softening your expression into what you hope is something more friendly, more inviting. "You can come closer." 

"Yeah?" He asks and you just nod once, not wanting to repeat yourself. 

It takes him a few seconds to continue, but eventually moves. The tops of his boots are quickly soaked as he lowers onto the platform, the salty water lapping in small waves at his ankles. Something in your stomach feels alive, you notice with apprehension as you hold his gaze, fluttering and growing colder with each step he takes towards you. A sort of instinct growing and taking over you, taking over the strings of your body as if you were just watching everything from the outside, without control. 

Your arms seek better support on the deck and you push yourself up, sitting as best you can on the floor, your back against the edge of the vessel, most of your tail still floating under the water. It's an instinctive reaction, really, and you barely realize what you're doing before it's done. It's not comfortable, you realize immediately, but what's done is done and the human's dumbfounded look is worth the awkward position. 

"I..." he begins uncertainly, crouching back down on his knees, this time right next to you, taking your permission to come closer very seriously. 

His gaze inevitably drops to where your breasts are exposed, his chest rising and falling faster the longer he keeps his attention there. It's not an offensive behavior, although it still makes you self-conscious in a funny way. It's not his fault, really. They're just there, in front of him - without any of the fabric coverings that humans are used to wearing. It would be impossible not to notice. And, well, they're different. You know they're not the conventional breasts he's used to seeing, most likely. Unlike human breasts, your soft mounds are dotted with flexible, delicate scales in a prism of lavender and purple, with no nipples in sight. But they're still breasts, and he's still a man. So he stares, until he realizes he's still staring. His pale cheeks grow pinker and he quickly looks up at your face as if he's been caught doing something he shouldn't. 

A shy, yet somewhat mischievous smile stretches your lips despite your nerves.

"Fuck, this is insane." He scratches the back of his neck as he half laughs, half gasps, and for the first time, you find yourself agreeing wholeheartedly with this human. This is insane. 

His reaction makes you relax a little, and soon you're holding the stone between your humiliatingly trembling fingers again and holding it out to him, as far as the necklace around your neck allow. He's closer to you than he's ever been, so close that you can smell the ghost of artificial mint tobacco on his breath. It's horrible. It's perfect. 

The wind is more urgent now, whistling and howling and foaming water hitting the sides of the ship harder - as if the elements themselves are trying to warn you of the dangers of this approach. 

You don't listen. 

"It's...perfect." The captain whispers as he holds the stone, his long fingers inevitably brushing yours during the exchange, sending an electrifying, heated sensation through your entire body. He lowers his head to get a better look at the stone that gradually fades as it is held by his human hand, the vibrant and ethereal glow of blue fading to a darker shade. "Look at this, I guess I'm nothing special, hm?" He says this smiling, the stone still clutched in his fingers raised between your bodies, your faces close to each other. When he looks up at yours you are already looking at him, blinking with your large and expressive eyes. 

Your own fingers raise, hesitant and curious, to the stone in his eye. You are slow with it, giving both him time to stop you if he wants to and yourself, but in the end neither of you reacts. The human just looks at your fingers before slowly shifting to your eyes once more, the night wind pushing a strands of silver between your faces until they touch your cheeks in a strangely intimate caress. When the tip of your two fingers touches the cool surface of the jewel it reacts immediately, drawing a sigh from both of you. The gem shines, warms under your touch, singing in vibrant and lively tones. 

"I can feel -" The man murmurs almost breathlessly, blue eye wide open, dark pupil dilating like an endless black hole, searching your gaze as if you held all the answers he needs. 

"What can you feel?" Your voice is no better than his, just as small and low. Your trembling fingers still on the jewel, feeling its vibration, listening reverently to the secret and silent song that it could only sing for you. The pure brightness reflects on your face, illuminating your features with a soft blue shade, enchanting the man in front of you as if you were an angelic image. A mythical and unattainable creature. A siren, in fact. 

"I can feel...you." He confides with a reverent look, your own jewel still firmly gripped in his fingers, although inert and dark. The disparity should be frightening -; under your touch the gems shine and come to life, in his they wither and fall asleep. It should be just another indisputable proof in the already very high pile of evidence of how unnatural any involvement between you two would be. 

But the collision is inevitable like the approaching storm. 

He moves, leaning his body to kneel on the floor, soaking the fabric of his pants with the cold waves that partially cover this part of the deck. His tall, broad-shouldered body shadows yours, naturally trapping you against the side of the ship. Simultaneously you both release the grip your had on the jewels, as if you felt something had changed in the air. The pulsing muscle in your chest seems more intense and faster than ever as you looks at that stupid human, so close and so bold. 

"What's your name?" He asks quietly, watching you so closely that you can barely focus on what was said, the question coming to you like an afterthought or a bruise that you only notice hours after it happened.

A name? Gods, how long has it been since you were called by your own name? How many decades has it been since someone cared enough to ask? 

You whisper your name to him, confiding a part of yourself that was rarely spoken to anyone. 

"..." he murmurs back, your own name sounding like the sunset over the ocean as it leaves his lips, beautiful and peaceful, yet breathtaking. You blink slowly, feeling as if inverse forces are at work in this moment. Feeling as if he has the gift of enchantment, unlike you. What is happening? "I am -" 

"Captain Targaryen," you are quick to add, already accustomed to hearing his crew repeat his designation. 

"Well, yes, that is usually what I am called..." he laughs softly, tilting his head an inch closer to you, meeting your gaze over the bridge of his nose. "But it is not my name." 

Oh. Yes, of course. You know it. 

He touches a damp strand of your hair, curious and gentle before letting the pad of his finger trace over the delicate curve of your nose, the outline of your eyebrows. 

“Aemond,” the captain murmurs, and then presses the pad of his thumb against your lip, gently. You shiver, exhaling shakily at the touch. “My name is Aemond.” 

Aemond. 

The name rolls off your tongue and you repeat it, sweet as molasses, petal lips sliding against his thumb as you do so. He swallows with an almost mesmerizing movement of his Adam’s apple, heated gaze following the way his thumb presses against the soft fur of your bottom lip once more before he lets go of the touch. It’s almost disappointing to miss, but soon you realize he’s touching the bright freckles high on your cheeks and nose, one at a time, and then further to scratch along the shadows of color in your skin. 

He’s close, almost sharing the same breath with you, so intensely interested in you that your heart catches in a slow burst of heat — of desire. An old feeling, hidden and locked away beneath layers of loneliness. 

The gills on the sides of your neck itch and your throat starts to tighten from being out of the water for so long, a warning that you need to get back in soon. You know that. 

You won’t. 

Heart in your throat, you let him smooth your cheek with soft touches, thumb tracing the entire length of the curve of your jaw until it caresses the shape of your ear. His gaze is heavy on yours, mesmerized and fascinated, even though you haven’t used any of your gifts of enchantment. Not this time. Never with him. 

“Beautiful.” He sings you an honest compliment and is so gentle, careful, hesitant even, as he pulls your face to his, and you feel the whisper of a nose slowly sliding against yours before thunder is heard in the distance. The sound isn't loud or clear enough to alert the human, but your sensitive ears are able to hear it perfectly and it's enough to snap you out of whatever spell you were trapped in. 

He blinks rapidly with his one functional eye, the stone beside him now darkened to its previous shade of navy blue as you freeze and turn away from him, returning to the water with an abrupt and unkind movement. You keep your head above the surface however, staring at the heavy clouds forming more and more in the vastness above, feigning indifference to everything that has happened while your heart still thunders in your chest. 

"A storm is coming." Is all you say, praying to any divine being that may exist that your expression is as serene and calm as you are trying to pretend. 

The Captain - Aemond - is standing in the same position, looking at you with that stupid face, so confused and hesitant, as if trying to figure out what he had done wrong. 

"Uh... I don't -"

He tried to reach out, tried to touch your hand as it floated above the waves, but you jerked away from him, sending him a narrowed, warning look, sharp fangs bared in a loud hiss.

“Don’t touch me.” You say, and your voice is venomous to him, for the first time. It hurts you to see the surprise on his face, the silent beginning of that realization that you could be a dangerous thing after all. You are.

It hurts, but you welcome the feeling. It is all your fault. If you hadn’t been so reckless, none of this would have happened. This human would meet his inevitable death at the claws of one of his sisters without the knowledge that you existed. Without you having experienced being in his presence, feeling his touch on your skin, having his attention entirely on you. It would be easier, for both of you.

Aemond Targaryen was every rule of survival that you ignored. 

It was like one of those Greek tragedies that humans talked about so much. 

The storm is approaching quickly and with it the end of this Captain and his sailors. The horde of sirens was aware of their presence, as it had been for days, just waiting for nature to intervene to create the perfect scenario for the attack. It would be reported later as a shipwreck, an unfortunate accident at sea that could easily be dismissed without suspicion. There was nothing you could do to stop it, even if you wanted to. And gods help you, you want to. 

But you can’t save him. 

“You shouldn’t be here.” 

You stare at the dark cloud formation above once more, taking a deep breath to control the frightening wave of emotions that threatens to break your nerves. 

“Why not?” he asks, sensing the warning in your voice, and you shake your head slightly, eyes filling with tears — tears you haven’t shed since you earned your Ocean's Tear. He calls your name and you still don’t respond. “Y/n, tell me why I shouldn’t be here.” 

He presses, a little harder now, a little more concerned, and you should respond. You should warn him about the dangers that lurk in the depths of the ocean and the bloody future predestined for him and his sailors. He deserved that much at least, right? But then again, what good would that do? What good would there be in knowing about a tragedy he can't avoid?

"I'm so sorry." You sigh without looking at him, shoulders shaking with emotions that seem too big for your body to handle. "I'm really sorry..." your voice breaks and a tear runs down your cheek as you look up at him, the sparkling freckles on your cheeks highlighted and your brows furrowed in anguish.

"...What?" He's confused, of course, not understanding the whirlwind of events that followed your contact on the ship. He senses your anguish, your reluctance to tell him what needs to be said. And, gods, he looks so beautiful like this. Icy breeze blowing his silver locks in front of his face, his eye bright and his skin pale as moonlight. "Why are you crying? Please talk to me."

You slowly approach the edge of the deck again, where he's kneeling, still waiting for you. Your chest is tight and your hands are shaking, but you think you’ll tell him. You think you’ll tell him what you know will happen, even if you’re both powerless to fight the forces of fate. He looks at you, his calm and captain’s confidence taking over again, reassuring you. Your lips part to start to speak, but the sound of approaching footsteps sends a chill down both of your spines. 

You hesitate for a second, staring at him with wide eyes. Aemond is also alert, allowing himself to look at you one more time before saying:

“Go, now! He can’t know about you!” He’s right. No human could know about you and still be alive. But here you were, staring at one you didn’t intend to kill. “Wait-” He keeps his voice low as he watches you prepare to go, though his tone is urgent. His gaze is pleading, not wanting to leave you but knowing he has to. “Come back tomorrow, please.” 

You coo, a sad sound, wanting to tell him there wouldn’t be a tomorrow. Not for him, at least. But instead, you wrap your smaller hand around his, careful of your claws, leaving a gentle grip on his knuckles as you look up at him with teary eyes. 

“Take care, Captain Targaryen.” That’s all you say before you dive into the dark expanse of the ocean, never looking back. You couldn’t. Not when you felt so helpless. The jewel hanging from your neck protests and burns your skin so much that it even tears a grunt of pain from your lips, but you don't stop swimming, powerful fins pushing you as deep into the ocean as you can go. Silently you curse the stupid thing for not giving any sign of life in all these years, but choosing this moment to show that it was there.  

The final act of this tale of tragedy was herep and your human would meet his bitter end at the merciless claws of one of his sisters.

You can't save him.

You can't... 

You... 

You can? 

(And why did you think of him as 'your human' now?)

[hypnagogics]

read part two here! series masterlist here!

currently thinking about how modern!ellie would be such a like “hallway crush” type…OKAY WAIT i have an idea, picture this: it's the first day of classes, and you're on your way to your university's astrophysics lecture hall and see her, walking briskly to her destination, with big black headphones (listening to divorced dad rock, of course) seemingly in her own world, not even aware of how cool she is in the moment. she passes you, walking only a little faster than you are, but it gives you time to check her out a bit. she's wearing some dark wash jeans and a flannel with a chunky jacket over top, her beat up bag slung over one shoulder(because shes just too kewl for skewl), and her signature worn black converse. as you follow her into the hall, (not being creepy, you're just on the same path. oh, seems like you're classmates too…oop!), she enters first, then holds the door for you as you file in behind her, looking back, meeting your eyes, and giving you a small nod as a greeting. (one of those that guys do, like when they tilt their chin up for a split-second as a bro greeting, UGH THE ENGLISH EXPLANATIONS ARE ESCAPING ME i do not know the ways of the men but yall have seen that nod thing they do, right?) that would happen in a fraction of a moment and you'd go to smile back at this beautiful stranger, but by the time you collect yourself she's already looking forward again. oh and then the two of you would part ways and sit on opposite sides of the room, however she'd still be on your mind…and whenever you cast glances her way, she'd seem interested in what the professor is talking about, but you'd then realize you're staring and bring your eyes back to your own laptop....

☆: hi, i have SO many ideas for drabbles and stuff but they rarely translate onto paper how I imagine them to go, but I'm sure that comes with time and practice, but for now take this silly idea I jotted down as it crossed my mind...I need her so bad, wish she was real 😔 (half hoping a situation like this happens to me LMAO...but crushes are too much stress....) BUTTTTT this drabble thingy got them creative juices flowing, and now im highly tempted to make a series or more parts to hallway crush ellie ...I say that every time but this idea's bouncing around in my skull and won't leave so who knows...

[hoax1918]

Kindergarten teacher Joe and single dad Nicky🐻

P.s long time to see

[slvx0]

College au klance!!

[journen]

Olympian Pole Vaulter Ghost au! 🤣 Was totally inspired by this tweet I saw on Twitter lol. And definitely Soap is in the stands watching his bf compete.... 🥺

[quozacheese]

i can't stop thinking about the Singapore gp so i drew a CoD F1 AU

[fortunxa]

Blue hair, blue eyes, blue lights

Jinx x fem!reader / modern AU

summary: The chances of a blue-haired girl being chased by the cops and hopping in my car, simply yelling “Drive!” are low, but never zero.

author’s note: It’s my first time publishing a Jinx one-shot of mine, I hope you enjoy! This is a relatively new blog, so if anyone wants to become mutuals I’m definitely open to the idea! :)

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

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Fourteen days.

A mere two weeks stand between me and move-in day for my freshman year of college. In other words, summer break is slowly coming to an end, and I’ve done fuck all to make it memorable.

I can feel life passing me by as I watch like a bystander. Usually, the clock is my enemy—a constant reminder of my youth running out, and, shit, I’m too young to feel that way. This time, it serves as a way to free me from the shackles of the evening shift as a front desk worker at our local gym.

The clock strikes midnight, and, like a modern-day Cinderella, I jump up from my seat and make a beeline for the exit, hurriedly clocking out. I simultaneously greet and say goodbye to the night shift going in, already halfway through the small yet relatively empty parking lot. The smell of sweaty ‘gym bros’ is long forgotten as the breeze engulfs me, my dirty sneakers thudding on the concrete. The rust on my beat-up jeep shines in the moonlight as I approach—so seductive, I snicker to myself. I toss my duffel bag in the trunk, hop behind the wheel, and start the engine. I take this moment to commence my connect-phone-to-car-or-die-trying mission and thank the universe for its successful outcome. I browse a bit through the plethora of playlists before settling on the usual one, the sound of Arctic Monkeys filling the space as I leave the parking lot.

I don’t want to go home—not yet, at least—so I settle for a late-night drive. The cookie-cutter, upper-class houses pass me by as I mindlessly cruise through the clean streets—a stark contrast to my neighborhood, where you either learn to stick up for yourself or go home crying to your mama. A place where there is more sewage sludge than trees. A place where I grew up and one I learned to love.

In the midst of it all, I don’t notice the particularly nasty bump on the road that makes my song abruptly cut off. I take a right, pulling over in an alley with an annoyed groan as I resort to phase two, also known as connect-phone-back-to-car-before-I-impulsively-crash, of my initial mission. As I fiddle with the settings, showing my inner cheek no mercy as my teeth dig into their feast, a hissing and spritzing sound comes through my open window.

I think I’m imagining things at first, that post-shift fatigue surely getting the best of me, but I spot the source of the sound rather quickly: a figure, hidden almost out of sight between the fancy houses, switching between various colors of spray paint as she defaces the picture-perfect facade with her graffiti. The sheer speed of her actions makes it look like she’s juggling.

How do I know it’s a girl? Well, although she is wearing a hat to shield her face from any surveillance cameras, a neck warmer up to her nose, and a black, oversized tracksuit already covered in pink paint splotches, her disguise was blown the moment she decided to leave her blue, ankle-length, twin braids out. I twist my neck and reach over the dashboard to try and get a better look at her work. I can barely make out the shape of a green monkey’s face before moving on to the next element. ‘Get ji-’

My reading is interrupted by the sound of sirens piercing the air and blue lights illuminating the area. Instinctively, I turn my headlights off and duck, watching the girl as she hastily packs the cans into her backpack. I swear I can see her eyes twinkle with excitement as she takes one last glance at her—presumably—finished artwork and takes off running through the gardens. Her faint giggle reaches my ears, and a bewildered smile graces my features. I wanted fun, and now it’s right in front of me. I definitely couldn’t get a clearer sign than this.

I observe as one of the cops chases after her as the other drives away, seemingly trying to cut her off. Lightbulb moment. I put the car into gear and waste no time following them from the comfort of the dark alleys, reaching the mysterious girl first through the shortcuts. I catch her contemplating her next move and, without hesitation, quickly flash my high beams at her twice. This seems to grab her attention, and I signal for her to get in with a simple nod, tapping the car door as confirmation.

To my surprise, she actually runs over and hops in the backseat, her back lying flat as she takes a swift peek through the window, and holy shit, I didn’t think that she actually would.

“Drive!” she yells through her panting, and I do. I feel my heart beating wildly against my ribcage as the blue lights appear once again in my rearview mirror. Don’t fuck this up, I think before taking a sharp left. I hear her elated squeals as I visualize the district’s roads and plan the perfect getaway.

Right.

Right, once again.

Left.

Straight down the street.

Sharp right.

I can hear the sirens getting closer as I speed through the familiar routes. It doesn’t matter that I know this area like the back of my hand; the cops probably do, too. There is only one thing left to try, and, albeit risky, it should work. They hadn’t spotted my car yet, and we were quickly approaching a busy intersection—the perfect distraction.

The tires squeak as I harshly pull into an empty driveway, turning the engine off in hopes of blending in.

“What the hell are you doing?!” the blue-haired girl grumbles with brooding eyes. I don’t reply. Instead, I shush her as I grab her waist and roll her off the seat, pushing her into the legroom before ducking underneath the steering wheel. We fall silent, holding our breaths in as the police car passes us by. I watch as they get lost in the dense traffic, a sigh of relief escaping me as I throw my head back. I climb into my seat again and take a peek at the tagger in the back, confusion crossing my features as I watch her stuff her face with candy. My candy. “Hefty stash you got back there.” Her mouth twists at the sour taste of a Warhead she picked. She seems completely unfazed by this whole situation.

I notice that she had discarded her hat and neck warmer and take the opportunity to get a better look at her: blue eyes matching her hair, light freckles splattered across her straight nose and rosy cheeks, pouty lips, her dark and expressive brows… She truly is breathtaking. I feel a blush creep up my face as she climbs over the console, wiggling her way into the passenger seat. She takes her hoodie off, revealing her black tank top, and fuck me, she has tattoos.

She faces me with a curious look herself, seemingly analyzing me too. Her gaze is difficult to decipher as her eyes trail over my figure, and I stiffen. She shoots me a knowing smile before throwing her hands around my neck and placing a kiss on my cheek. “You’re a lifesaver, toots,” she muses into my ear. The pleasant smell of paint and bubble gum hits my nose making me lick my lips. “Name’s Jinx, by the way. Stands for Jinx,” she cackles to herself, drawing her lower lip between her teeth awaiting my introduction.

I blink a couple of times, realizing how silent I’ve been throughout this whole ordeal. I can get awkward, sure, but I’m not timid, so I muster up the courage and consciously relax, trying to project a nonchalant attitude. “I’m Y/N.” I shoot her a smile of my own.

“Y/N. Hmm…” Jinx gives an approving hum as she repeats after me, my name rolling off her tongue like honey. “What made you help little ol’ me?” New observation: she’s a teaser.

“I need some excitement in my life,” I answer truthfully and she perks up with a spark in her eyes.

“Toots, you’ve just made friends with the perfect candidate to help you with that.” Her giddy attitude returns as she beams at me.

“We’re friends, huh?” I tease at her choice of words, my eyebrows raised in a cocky manner.

“Sure we are! I feel like running from the cops together is the perfect bonding experience, don’t ya?” She gives me a once-over before her mouth curves into a smirk. “Unless you want to be more than friends. That could work, too.” She winks. Her straightforwardness should make me turn crimson, but instead, it makes my confidence grow. I give a low chuckle as I shake my head in disbelief.

“Tell you what,” I begin, starting the engine and trying to connect my phone back to the car for the third time already, “let me get you home safely, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings to our friendship. Deal?” I extend my hand toward her, and she ponders my proposition. I can practically see the cogs turning in her head, her facial expressions jumping from sour to doubtful, as if she were battling her thoughts before settling on a satisfied grin.

Her soft hand reaches mine in a princess handshake, and I try not to look at her manicured nails for too long. “Deal.” The blue-haired girl snatches the phone out of my hands, adding her number to my contact list and sending a quick text to herself. Just when I think she’s giving it back, she picks a song, and I hear Arabella playing through the speakers. How fitting.

As I leave the stranger’s driveway, I sense her shuffling in the passenger seat, throwing her legs out the window. She puts her head on my lap freely, toying with the colorful charms on my keychain. In the spur of the moment, I gingerly brush her bangs behind her ear, revealing her side profile. Her gaze catches mine, and I see her eyes soften before I turn mine on the road again.

Jinx tells me her address, and I realize how close to me she lives—the perfect circumstances. I feel her lightly bobbing her head to the music as her left cheek strokes my thigh, her fingers tracing mine as they sit on the gear stick. Her demeanor feels different from the badass tagger who willingly hopped in a stranger’s car. She looks peaceful and content now.

My shoulders slump in disappointment as I park outside her house. She clicks her tongue and lazily lifts her head from the comfort of my lap. She looks around the empty streets of her neighborhood and hums, her curious eyes now shifting to mine. As we take each other in, I can’t help but gravitate toward her—her presence feels almost intoxicating, and I don’t want to part ways just yet. To my surprise, she copies my actions. She’s so close I can feel her minty breath mingle with mine. Instinctively, my gaze drops to her lips as she tentatively licks them. I let out a faint sigh, and she slowly closes the distance. I can hear my heartbeat as I wait for our lips to meet.

But they never do. “I don’t kiss on a first date,” she murmurs in my ear, and my face flushes. Jinx pulls away as she flashes me a toothy grin, and before I can even react, she’s already skipping to her front door, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Wha-? When did she grab her stuff? I stare in disbelief as she turns around, her braids flailing behind her. “Let’s see what tomorrow brings,” she teases and blows me a kiss before disappearing into the dark hallway of her home.

Fourteen days.

Give me two weeks to make her mine.

╰┈➤ sequel – ‘Fourteen days’

[pandora-writes-one-piece]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! 🥳🎈🎂🎁

“What if I kissed you right now? Would you stop me?" with Kid (fem!reader, NSFW) pretty please? <3

Hello, anon! Thank you for the birthday wishes (it feels weird still thanking birthday wishes when it's been more than a month!). Thank you so much for your request, it turned out to be one of my favourites! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writting it!

Art: Here; Artist: @wesaier (pleeeease follow, such amazing art!)

Reverence 🔞

Word Count: 6302

Tags: Fem!Reader; Alternate Universe - Modern Setting; Kid has both arms; Posessive!Kid; Soft!Kid; Reverent!Kid; Fluff and Romance; Love Confessions; Body Worship; Just Worship in general; NSFW; MDNI; Fingering; Vaginal Penetration; Oops, no protection (wrap it up, peeps);

Special Warning: English is not my first language, I apologise for any possible spelling or grammar mistakes.

Summary: You and Kid are neighbours and very good friends. You flirt a lot, all in good fun, obviously, and he makes fun of every single one of your loser dates. When the last date goes south and you call Kid for help, will your relationship blosom into something else?

|Masterlist|

The clock’s nearly at the hour, but you're almost ready anyway, just some finishing touches on your hair and makeup, and you'll be done. “I look hot.” You say as a pep talk to your reflection and do a little twirl. Hot dress, nice makeup, perfect hair, you're ready for a nice date in town. 

And you're more than ready for it to end up with a nice, hot lay. Third-date rule be damned to hell. You've been in the longest dry spell since forever, and your toys aren't quite cutting it at the moment, but the dating scene isn't really offering the best choice of male specimens around. Maybe this time you'll get lucky. 

Just as the clock turns to the hour, the doorbell rings. You give yourself one last nod before heading out of the bathroom and opening the door with a bright smile. One that immediately falls at the sight that greets you. 

“Kid?”

“Well, well, well. Look at ye, all dolled up for a night in town? Another one of yer charity cases ye insist on callin’ dates?”

A twitch of a smile tugs at the corner of your lips, but you don't fully smile, instead you cock your head to the side and place a hand on your hip. “Hey, at least I get out of the house, you big hermit.” 

You’ve known Kid for almost a year, since you moved into the building. He looks menacing and gruff with all his ear piercings, huge size, and spiky red hair, but you suspect he's a big softie on the inside. You and he flirt and banter like there's no tomorrow and, admittedly, he's been the star of a few of your fantasies, but neither of you has decided to take things further. Perhaps because living in the same building has every chance of making it awkward if things go wrong. Still, you're good friends. 

He owns a mechanic’s garage and has saved your ass more times than you can count. Be it because of car troubles, leaking faucets, or visiting snakes - yes, that’s happened. He’s always there for you, and he’s the first person you go to when you’re in trouble. You have thought of him with more fondness than you would for a normal friend, but just like you two never pushed the limits of your friendship for sex, you wouldn’t even consider bending them for romantic involvement. 

“What are ye yappin’ about? I just got in! Been working till now.”

He moves past you and makes himself comfortable on your couch, manspreading while you search around for the perfect pair of heels to complement your dress. 

“All work and no play, Kid? No wonder you're no fun. Hey, do these work?” You strut around in the highest pair of heels you own, ones that make your legs go on for days. Kid's eyes follow you around as he focuses on your shoes, then his eyes follow your legs, bum - you give him a few poses so he can judge - chest, and finally settles on your face. His eyes seem darker, and there's no hint of his usual smirk on his lips. 

Clearing his throat, he averts his gaze with just the barest flush on his cheeks. “They work alright. Maybe too good.” He mutters. “Who’s the asshole?” Kid checks his watch and grins. “He's already ten minutes late, are you sure he's worth it? Don't even put up the effort.”

“Maybe he got lost?” You try, with a heavy sigh. It’s a setup date. A work friend's cousin or something like that. He's hot, and today that's all that really matters. 

“Aye, aye. Ye do know how to pick’em. Ye always choose the random losers to go out on dates.” He lets out a loud, barking laugh. “I told ye before, I’ll say it again: ye don’t need to leave the building if ye want company. I’m right here, lass.”

His cocky smirk is endearing, and that familiar warmth that comes from his flirting and all the attention he spares you always manages to make you smile like a silly little girl, but just before you manage to answer him, the doorbell rings again

“Oh, it's him. Kid, get out.” Kid sighs and gets up, standing behind you with an intimidating stance as you open the door. “Hi! I was afraid you weren't going to show up.” You try to lighten the mood with a small giggle, and Kid mutters something behind you. Your date smiles widely, barely notices Kid, and openly stares at you, taking you in head to toe. 

“Well, the photo my cousin showed does not do you justice. Had I known, I would've come faster.” Oh, God. Is he really going to be just another asshole? You can already feel it. 

Kid growls behind you and steps out of your apartment, making sure your date acknowledges his presence now, but you continue speaking, trying to defuse the situation. “This is my friend, Kid. He was just leaving.” You emphasise the last words and raise your brows at Kid, who merely grunts. “Shall we go?”

“Oi, lass, better take a coat, no?” Kid’s scowl deepens as he gives you another once-over, clearly catching all the ogling your date is giving you. 

“Don't worry, friend, I'll make sure she stays warm.” 

And before Kid says - or does - anything to your date before it even has the chance to start, you push him down the hallway so he can go to his house. “Bye, Kid. Don't wait up.”

-*-

The date sucks. Your date is obnoxious, self-centred, arrogant, and a downright prick. By dessert, you're dying to go home. His conversations are dull, and he barely lets you speak, instead filling every opportunity with something remarkable about himself. 

Plus, he makes you split the bill. 

When you make it outside the restaurant, he sets his hand on your lower back, and you warm a bit, thinking he's about to pull you close and trade places with you, obeying the sidewalk rule like a gentleman. Instead, the prick gropes your ass. 

“Can you just take me home?” You grunt, clearly over this date, so he leads you to his car. 

-*-

Kid keeps tossing and turning in his bed. He needs to sleep. He has to get up early in the morning. But you're still not home. He doesn't mean to pry, but he always hears the soft clicks of your heels in the hallway and the setting of your lock in place when you enter your home. Only when he hears those sounds can he rest at ease. If not, he keeps wondering if you're alright, if you're hurt, if your prick of a date tried something, or worse… if you actually liked him and he's going to have to get used to seeing you with some other man who’s not him. 

A heavy sigh parts his lips, and he's wondering if he'll be able to get up in the morning if he indulges in a few glasses of scotch. He's considering taking his chances when his phone rings. It's you. Kid’s heart skips a beat, his head immediately considering all the possible wrong things that may have happened as he presses the green button to take your call. 

“Lass?” 

“Kid, thank God you're awake. My date's car broke down. Can you come and… fix it?”

What the fuck? 

“No! It's almost midnight, I'm not going there to fix his car so ye two can get laid. Grab a cab!” 

He's actually pissed you called just for that. Like he gives two shits about helping the asshole get laid. With you! 

“Kid… please, can you come?” Except there's something else in your voice, a vulnerability he's never heard before, almost as if you're scared of something, on edge. 

Has the bastard done something to you? 

“Send me yer location. Now.” He gets dressed in the blink of an eye, packing his pocket knife before leaving the house. 

-*-

You're so cold. No, that's putting it lightly, it literally feels like you're stranded in the North Pole. You should've just brought a jacket like Kid said. But then again, how could you have guessed you'd be standing in the gusting wind with nothing but your skimpy dress on? You were supposed to be inside a restaurant, then the car, and then, if everything went well, your house and your bed. 

But now, your date is inside the car with a bloody - probably broken - nose, cursing you, and you're outside with your pepper spray ready in hand in case the asshole tries anything else. 

After what feels like forever, you hear the loud rumbling of Kid's motorcycle and let out the biggest sigh of relief ever. Seconds later the headlights of his Harley Davidson shine on the curb and he stops the bike in front of you. As soon as he steps out and removes his helmet, his usual scowl turns into a full frown, teeth baring as he glances from you, to your hand, and to your prick of a date. Without a word, he removes his leather jacket and drapes it over your shoulders, helping you pass your arms through the sleeves. While he's zipping it up, he growls. “What the fuck happened?”

Still shivering, you sigh into the warmth of the jacket, inhaling Kid's familiar scent: metal, gasoline, and something musky that feels like home. Then you shrug and pout. “He got handsy. I don't like liberties, so I punched him.”

You can see Kid fighting off an amused smirk. “Ye broke his nose?”

“Just a little.” You whine. 

Kid looks at you, chin up and a full smirk on his lips now. Then he pats your head. “That's my girl.”

Just on cue, the asshole opens up his car door, and Kid grins at the sight. The prick’s eyes are already darkening with bruises, his nose looks crooked, and there are blood splatters all over him. 

“You the mechanic? Figured.” He scoffs. “Fix my car, then! I want to get out of here and away from that crazy bitch.”

You flinch and shake your head. That was a wrong move. If he thinks you're crazy, he's about to get a dose of Eustass Kid he won't forget. 

“Kid, there’s no need to hurt him anymore. I don’t want him to call the cops.”

Kid chuckles low, reaches into his pocket, and takes out his trusted pocket knife, twirling it in his hand like a toy. “Listen here, buddy.” Kid pins the man to his car with a mere look. The poor bloke nearly trips over his feet just to gain some distance. “When ye get home tonight, yer going to say a little prayer to whatever angel’s watchin’ over you, because if the lady - not a crazy bitch, ye asshole - didn't tell me not to hurt ye, ye’d leave here with a lot more than just a broken nose.” Kid laughs some more as he pulls back. “But I'll fix yer car, I'll fix it up real good.”

Popping the hood open, Kid starts cutting wires with his knife. You don't know shit about mechanics, but you’re pretty sure that cutting those wires isn’t going to make the car start. 

“Hey, hey! What are you doing? You're not fixing it!”

“No?” Kid closes the hood, drags the pocket knife along the side of the car, and slashes two tires. “Oops. Maybe I'm just not a very good mechanic.” Kid rounds the car and slashes the other two tires, stopping in front of the prick again. “But I'm not that bad. I'm goin’ to give ya two options, ye arse. One, ye stay in yer car ‘till mornin’ and try to get a tow to collect this piece of junk. Two, ye start walkin’ and pray you reach town by mornin’.”

“What?” The man asks, eyes wide and scared. 

“Oh, the important part. I'll be callin’ every shop around so they can refuse ye service, but they only open in the mornin’. So if ye want yer car fixed, better start walkin’ and pray ye reach a shop before I call ‘em.” 

“But, but… we're in the middle of nowhere! It'll take all night to get to town!” He whines, a trickle of blood still dripping from his crooked nose. “And I'm hurt!”

Kid leans in, his scowling face almost on top of the asshole, and you revel at the way he cowers in fear. “Should've thought of that before ye groped a feel, aye, bastard?” Then Kid pulls his fist back, and the man screams, but Kid just laughs at his cowardice, turns his back to him, and pockets his knife. “I'd start walkin’ if I were ye.”

You smirk as you hear the car lock and watch your failed date’s retreating form. 

“Thanks, Kid.” Your words are a mere mumble. You don't really want to admit that you should've just stayed home, like Kid told you to. But he merely grunts as he walks to his bike, plucking his helmet from the handlebars and placing it over your head with a soft pat. 

“Aye, lass.” His thick fingers reach beneath the helmet, grazing your skin as he fastens the strap tightly to fit your smaller head. The fierceness of his bronze gaze as he stares through the open visor makes you shiver for reasons that have nothing to do with the cold. With another grunt and a muffled curse, he hooks two fingers under the helmet and pulls you close, making you stumble and face him with wide-open eyes. “No more asshole dates. Got it?” His gaze burns into yours, and you nod just before he slams your visor down and lets go of the helmet. “Let's get out of here.”

As soon as he turns on the bike, revving the engine, you feel hot tears stream down your cheeks. You were acting tough and badass, but things could've gone terribly wrong tonight. You could've frozen instead of punching him; he could've manhandled you and forced you into whatever he wanted; instead of a bruised up ego, you could've ended up much worse. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off, you can’t seem to keep the tears away.

No one will see you cry anyway.

So you wrap your arms tight around Kid, your knees pressing into his sides as you fix your feet on the pegs. You're safe now. Kid has always brought you a sense of safety, even though you never really needed it before. That's why you called him tonight, not because he's a mechanic, but because you needed him. Not even to take care of the guy - you certainly did that - but just knowing he would come if you asked… that's everything. 

The ride is long until you get home, so you can cry it all out now. He won't notice.  

Except he does notice, because his big hand wraps around your knee, squeezing tightly and caressing it after. The soft gesture only makes you sob harder, so you hold him even tighter. 

You notice his heavy scowl when he tilts his head back. “Ye alright there, lass?” You try to speak, but if you open your mouth, you know that you'll only sob, so you just squeeze him tighter. Kid grunts and, after a moment, he slows down the bike and turns onto a smaller road, driving you to a secluded clearing surrounded by trees. 

As soon as the bike stops, you scramble to get off, unzip the jacket, leaving it open and fumble with the helmet strap, your fingers shaking like leaves. “Oi, oi, calm down, lass.” His fingers move swiftly as he helps you unstrap the helmet and sets it on the handlebars. “What's wrong?”

You shake your head, swallowing tears and wiping your face clean. Kid reaches out, hand in the air as he tries to cup your cheek, but you take a step back and bite your lower lip, stifling another sob. “I’m fine.” You mutter without meeting his gaze. Your voice wavers on the words, and you sound weak. “It’s nothing. I don’t need coddling.”

Kid scoffs slightly, his eyebrow raising as he takes a step back, giving you the space you clearly need. “Yer shakin’ like a damned leaf. Don’t need to act tough. It’s just me here.” The softness beneath his rough tone makes you want to cry harder, so you just nod. “Yer tough as steel, lass, I know that. But even steel gets bent now and then. And it's okay.”

Another tear escapes your eyes, and you swipe the sleeve of Kid’s jacket against your face, angrily, your shoulders squaring as you raise your chin, a humourless laugh escaping your lips, even though your eyes don’t meet his. “I guess I should’ve listened to you, huh? You kept telling me not to bother with random losers who don’t deserve me… and yet… I didn't listen.”

Your words carry all the weight of the world in them. Unspoken possibilities of ignored ‘what ifs’. If you had listened to Kid, would you feel less vulnerable? If you hadn’t dressed so provocatively, would the asshole still have tried something?

“Don’t go there, lass. Ye don’t gotta blame yerself for the actions of an arse.” His fingers inch forward, flexing and grasping at the air, like he wants to hold you or comfort you. Like he means to put your broken pieces back together so he can fix you. “Ye didn’t do anythin’ wrong.”

“But what if I did?” You ask, exasperated, arms stretching wide as a hiccup fights its way up your throat. “He said so himself: ‘why are you denying me when you’re dressed like a slut? It’s like you’re asking for it!’ So what if I was? Asking for it? What if I had dressed–..”

“No!” Kid walks forward, his hands cupping your face so you finally look at him. “Ye weren’t asking for anythin’. If he can’t keep it in his pants, that’s on him. Not ye.” Kid nearly growls, you can almost feel the anger seething through his pores. It’s almost as if he’s weighing getting back on the bike and finding your date to hurt him. 

You step back, breaking contact again. “But what if I froze, Kid? What if I didn’t have it in me to punch him? To push him? It all happened so fast… I could’ve done something different, I–...”

“Ye did what ye had to do. Yer strong as fuck, and ye showed him that. I don’t think that nose is ever gonna heal straight.” Kid cocks his head and shoves your shoulder playfully, trying to distract you. “Ye got a mean hook.”

A semblance of a laugh leaves your lips, and you turn your hand into a fist, swinging it in the air. “Yeah, I know. I locked it all the way back like this, and then… Bam! Right on the nose!” You swing straight for Kid, trying to alleviate the tension.

He barks a laugh and grabs your wrist mid-air, stopping your swing. “So strong, lass. If I were a fly, I’d be dead right now.” You chuckle, and some of the dread from before leaves your chest. Kid’s eyes fall on your bruised knuckles, and they soften. “It was a shite situation ye were put in. It was not yer fault. There was nothin’ ye could’ve done different, got it?” He gently kisses your knuckles before caressing them with his thumb.

“I just… I… God, this is so stupid.” You let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m lonely, Kid. It’s stupid, and I know it. I don’t need a man to be fulfilled, but I am. I’m lonely.” Shaking your head, you remove your hand from his grip and hide your face in your hands. 

“Lonely?” Kid repeats your words, his voice rougher again. “What do ye mean? Ye got me, aye?”

Your laugh strikes suddenly, mirthful at first, then simmering down to a resigned smile. “That’s what you said. You told me I didn’t even need to leave the building if I wanted company.”

He smirks and takes a step closer to you. “Exactly. But I didn’t mean it like ye don’t deserve the world, lass. I meant it like… like I can be the one to give ye that world, if ye let me.” His cheeks flush a bit red, his voice is still rough, but his eyes are filled with gentleness.

Your gaze meets his again, and you blink several times. He’s looking at you like nothing else matters in the world. Almost as if you and he are the only important thing happening right now and you have the distinct feeling that if there were a war raging around you, you would still be the only thing that mattered to him. 

“Tell me, lass. What if I kissed ye right now, hm?” His hands grab yours, his calloused thumb tracing circles on your knuckles. “Would ye stop me?”

What?

Your chest heaves with heavy breaths as your heart hammers away. You don’t want to stop him at all. You want him. You’ve wanted him for a while, and your tired brain tells you that maybe that’s why none of your dates worked. Because, unconsciously, they were not the ones your heart and body craved.

Your eyes soften as you take another step closer to Kid. “Why don’t you give it a try?” The whispered words are a promise of compliance, and Kid lets out a shaky growl before leaning down and taking your lips in his. His hand finds your neck, and he entwines his fingers through your locks, his mouth claiming yours as his other hand finds your waist and pulls you closer.

You sigh into the kiss, clenching his shirt with your hands, moulding yourself into his body like he’s your lifeline. This is all you’ve ever wanted, and you can’t even begin to fathom why you thought this was crossing a line. 

Breathless, you both pull back while Kid’s hands cup your cheeks, his gaze never leaving yours. “Kid… I want more.” You plead, your nails digging into his muscular chest.

“Ye sure, lass?” The roughness in his voice tells you he’s as overwhelmed as you are. “Because if I start, I’m not gonna want to stop.”

The words make your stomach flip, and you grin, grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer to you. “I don’t want you to stop.” Then his lips are on yours again. The kiss is more urgent, fiery, and hungry. His hands roam your sides, settling on your hips and pulling you impossibly closer. He pulls back a smidge, breaths still mingling as he kisses his way down your jawline, his hand settling on your neck and tilting it to the side for better access. 

“All this time watchin’ ye leave the apartment to go on dates with losers.” Kid nibbles your neck and sucks, pulling a mewl from your lips. “Knowin’ they’d never treat ye right, like ye deserve. None of them knew what a gem ye are.” Another lick and bite on the curve of your neck makes you gasp and roll your eyes, your arms wandering up and holding Kid by his neck.

With a quick pull, Kid lifts you off the ground, and you wrap your legs around his waist, feeling your dress ride up with the action, not caring one bit. He backtracks you to the bike and sets you sideways on the seat. As you fix your stare on his fiery eyes, all you can see is hunger and devotion, and that sends a thrill through your spine.

“I only want you, Kid.” You pull him down again, allowing him to take your tongue in his with languid strokes of passion. His fingers trace your collarbone and slither beneath the jacket to your shoulders. With a tug, he pulls the jacket off, and you shimmy out of the fabric, leaving your arms bare for him to caress. 

“Damn right. I know how to treat ye right. Ye’ll see. Fuckin’ losers. Night after night, agonisin’ when ye’d choose one to be yer boyfriend.” He growls near your ear, his fingers never stopping their silent worship on your body, lighting fires with each stroke and igniting a heat between your thighs that starts to demand attention. He pulls back for a moment, placing his thumb and forefinger on your chin, tilting it up so you can meet his eyes through the fog of desire that clouds them. 

“Five.”

“What?” You ask, still dazed, your body tingling from all the kisses and touches he’s laying on you.

“I watched ye go out with five losers this month alone.” Five? You can barely remember three, that’s how unmemorable they were. Kid leans in, brushing your ear with his lips, his other hand travelling to your nipple and toying with it through the fabric, making you suck in a breath. “That’s how many times ye’ll come for me tonight, lass. To make sure ye forget those losers.”

Five times?

“Kid, I–...” You begin, but he cuts your rambling with another soul-shattering kiss, his hands plucking your breast from the confines of your skimpy dress and fully groping it. Instinctively, you buck your hips against him, trying to grind him or feel some friction, anything. 

“Calm down, lass. We have plenty of time. I’m not gonna rush anythin’. I told ye, I’m gonna treat ye right.” He lowers his lips, tracing a line of kisses from your neck to your collarbone, and then he takes your nipple into his mouth, sucking and twirling it against his teeth, pulling a deep moan from your lips. “Fuck, ye sound better than I ever imagined.”

Kid lets go of you and climbs onto the seat of the bike. You’re about to turn to him, but he turns you around, making you face the handles of the bike, your back flush against his chest. Then he spreads your legs open, placing them over his thighs. You shiver when the cold wind hits your sensitive spot, your panties already soaked through. “Lean back, lass.” 

Breathing faster and faster from anticipation, you melt against him, feeling his taut muscles ripple against your back. Your dress has ridden all the way to your hips, baring your legs to him and leaving you exposed. Kid uses one hand to tease your nipple while still kissing your neck and the curve of your shoulder. Then his other hand, traces the inside of your thigh, creeping closer to your core, making you gasp and hold your breath in want and need. 

“Kid!” Your plea is evident, but you know he’s going to take his time with you. Everything about the situation has you on edge already. The powerful feel of his bike beneath you, his strong muscular frame enveloping you, his fingers hovering just near your entrance.

“So perfect, look at ye. See how well ye fit against me? Like ye were made just for me?” His fingers trace your slit over the panties, testing and teasing. “See? All wet and ready for what I have to give to ye. I can be all ye ever want, lass. Just let me.”

“Yes, Kid, please. I want you to.” His scent is intoxicating. It clings to you like a second skin, enveloping you in safety, warmth, and so much desire. 

With a desperate grunt, Kid shifts your panties and plunges one digit inside your slit, turning your plea into a wanton moan as you arch your back, your hands finding purchase against his muscular thighs. 

“So wet for me. Look at ye. I want to hear you scream my name, lass. Every time I make you come, yer gonna scream my name. Yer mine now. I’m never gonna let ye go.” He inserts another finger, his palm stroking and pressing your clit, and damn it if you’re not just there at the edge, ready to come undone for him. “It’s like I’ve known yer body all my life. I know how to make ye feel good, aye?”

“Yes, Kid, yes!” Your head lolls back as you mewl, his ministrations making your head spin, turning you into a puddle of mush. With a few more strokes, he pushes you over and you gasp out his name, blinding pleasure coursing through your veins, turning your vision white.

“That’s one.” He whispers against your ear, and then he doesn’t relent, his fingers keep pulling pleasure, pressing on your G-spot with his rough fingertips, turning the smaller waves of dissipating pleasure into something else, something more.

“Oh, God! Oh, God!” You start chanting as a surge of bliss travels up your spine, tingling, igniting, burning.

“Wrong name, lass.”

“Kid! Kid!” You scream as your release topples over the previous one, briefer but more pleasurable. 

“Two.” Kid removes his fingers from your core, leaving you panting for air as you lie, burning against him, all the previous cold of the night vanishing from your thoughts. He gets up from the bike, unbuckling his belt and taking out his massive cock. Instinctively, you bite your lower lip. It’s been a while since you’ve had anything real down there, and he’s bigger than your average toy.

“Satisfied?” He asks with a grin.

“I’m sure I will be.” You answer him back, earning a barking laugh.

“Turn on the seat, lass.” You do as he says, and Kid sits back down where he was, pulling your legs over his so you wrap them around his waist. “I hope ye don’t love yer panties too much.” You don’t even have time to question his sentence when he rips your panties off of you, making you gasp as another surge of heat courses through you. “Fuck, yer so perfect.”

You sigh and let your fingers trace the muscles of his abs over his shirt. Then your hand goes lower as you take his pulsating, veiny cock in your hands. You can’t help but lick your lips at the sight. Kid grunts and lets you pump him a few times until a bit of pre-cum starts leaking through the top. 

“Aye, aye, enough, lass. Tonight’s about yer pleasure.” Kid gently removes your hand from his cock as he takes your lips in another fiery kiss, bringing you closer to him until you can feel him pressed against your thigh. “I’ve wanted ye since I saw ye. Since the day I helped ye move yer things into yer flat, I knew ye were the one for me.”

You can see the truthfulness in his eyes, his expression softer than you’ve ever seen in him. His fingers trace every curve of your face and jaw, and his eyes follow, as if he’s memorising all of you, soaking you in. His lips go in after, kissing you, worshipping every inch of you like a revered acolyte.

“Yer all I’ve ever wanted. Yer too perfect.” His hands find purchase under your thighs as he pulls you into him, sinking slowly into you. The stretch of his cock inside of you stings and burns, so you wrap yourself tighter around him, your face buried in the crook of his neck as his hands snake up your spine, cradling your neck. “There ye go. Slowly, we got time, lass. I’ve been dreamin’ of this since we met.”

He keeps pushing slowly into you until he’s fully sheathed. You take small breaths to accommodate him, but the sting of the stretch is long gone. The burn that you’re met with demands something very different now. “Show me, Kid. Show me how much we belong together.” You whisper into his ear, and then leave a trail of kisses down to his lips, shifting your hips slightly, showing him you’re ready.

“Ye have no idea what ye do to me. Ye drive me wild.” He leans his forehead against yours and starts to thrust lazily into you. You can feel every vein, every ridge of his cock touching your walls, rubbing them, igniting flames of pleasure inside you.

“Kid…” You moan out his name, pleasure mounting already as every thrust hits a perfect spot.

“Took me long enough to say it, lass. Took me too long. I didn’t know if ye wanted me back. Thought I was friend-zoned. Fuck, yer tight.” You thread your fingers through his hair, every movement making you dizzier as he keeps kissing your body, touching every curve and dip as if he’s committing all of you to his touch, to his memory.

“I can’t fuckin’ believe this is happenin’. I’m afraid I’ll wake up alone again in my bed.” Kid grunts and thrusts a bit harder, making you topple over the edge you’ve been playing at with a loud cry of his name. Your walls squeeze him tighter as your bliss washes through you in waves. “Three. Fuck.”

The chill of the night has nothing on both of you. You can feel little droplets of sweat running down your spine, and Kid’s forehead is damp with effort. 

“Yer mine now. Tell me ye’ll no longer go after fuckin’ losers. Say ye’ll want only me.” You nod, back arching into him, seeking more pleasure as his reverent touches and devoted words wrap a fog of lust and love around you. You feel overwhelmed with emotion. You had no idea that Kid felt like this over you. “I need to hear it, lass.” He seems desperate to know you want him, so you force a thought to materialise in the form of words.

“I’m yours, all yours. Forever, Kid.” That snaps something in him, and he wraps your waist, both feet planted firmly on the ground to keep steady. With a flick of his wrist, he turns on the bike and revs the engine, making it vibrate and purr under you, adding another layer of stimulation to your already stimulated self. With two harsh thrusts - a contrast to his steady, languid previous ones - you shatter again with another long cry of his name.

“Four. One more, lass. We’ll take this one together, aye?” You can barely think straight. Every nerve is tingling with pleasure, every bone is quivering with want, and every muscle is aching with release. 

“Kid… Kid…” You can barely utter a single word. Kid kisses your forehead softly, his hand pressing gentle circles on your back before he revs the engine again. You moan and clutch his shirt, barely able to stand straight as his thrusts become faster, harder, and more relentless. 

“I’ll be all ye’ve ever wanted, all ye’ve ever needed. I’ll make ye feel good every day, ye’ll never feel lonely with me, lass. Yer mine, all mine, aye?” You nod once more as he guides your body back, and you feel the cold metal of the bike against your spine. The new angle makes him repeatedly hit your G-spot, and you know you’ll unravel fast.

“Kid, I’m gonna come.” You manage to breathe out between pants and moans, and you have no idea how much strength you still have left. Though Kid seems to have stamina that goes on for days, you’re already feeling overstimulated.

His thrusts are more erratic, his breath coming in short puffs of air. “Aye, aye, lass. I’m right there with ye.” And as you arch your back against the motorcycle, already losing yourself to a wave of ecstasy, Kid leans forward, letting out a primal grunt against your ear, and unloading his seed inside you, filling you up as your eyes water with bliss. 

The gentle purr of the bike beneath you and the harsh breaths leaving your lips are the only things disturbing the silence of the night. Threading your fingers through Kid’s hair, you can’t stop smiling, even though your muscles are already aching and complaining. 

He’s still inside you when he raises his head, wicked grin in place and a slight flush to his cheeks. “See how much fun we could’ve been having, lass?” You let out a loud laugh, and he grumbles against your neck, pulling out with a groan. “Want to get me goin’ again? Don’t laugh like that while I’m balls deep. All that tightenin’ gets me wild.”

He keeps kissing your neck and collarbone softly as you laugh, his hands gently massaging your thighs.

“I didn’t know, Kid.” You whisper, your back still pressed against the motorcycle, feeling empowered by the machine beneath you and the man above you instead of feeling trapped. “I had no idea you felt like this, you never said anything.”

“I know. I should’ve said it.” His groan vibrates against your chest. “Maybe it would've saved me the trouble of seein’ ye with assholes.”

“Yes, Kid. It really would. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, even though I thought about it.” 

Kid lifts himself up and you use his shoulders to return to a seated position as he adjusts the straps of your dress. “Ye have? Ye thought about us?” You nod. “Doin’ this?”

You chuckle as you’re assaulted by a lone shiver. Now that you both have stopped, you’re getting cold. “Not exactly this. I don’t think you ever pulled five orgasms out of me in my fantasies.”

Kid’s wicked grin brings you another kind of shiver, but this one has nothing to do with the cold. “Lass, ye’ve been selling yerself short in yer fantasies. Five is just the warm-up.”

As you laugh into his fiery kiss, his hands pull you closer to him, claiming you, worshipping you. And despite the shitty beginning of a shitty night, you couldn’t have asked for a better ending. Turns out, you really didn’t need to leave the apartment. 

But as Kid revs the engine of his Harley again, you realise you’re glad you did.

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