#DON'T LET A SINGLE BLADE GET NEAR THIS MANS HAIR I'M BEGGING

[bbybearcubbs]

I keep having to update his hair tier list 😭

HAN ♡ ENDING MENTION (240331) SKZ'S MAGIC SCHOOL

[super-ion]

Red & Wolf

(remaster - chapter 1 | chapter 2)

Chapter 3: Silver

A week passed and then another and another.

Red and Loup rarely left each other’s sides, both terrified of being separated once more and eager to spend every single moment together. By day, they dedicated themselves towards renewing the bond they once shared, swapping jokes and stories and memories. By night, they explored the new fragile thing that had grown between them, with locked lips and tangled limbs.

On the night of the full moon, the wolf showed Red the forest in her own way. She showed her the moon and glittering stars and sang her haunting songs to Red until she collapsed exhausted into the warm soft fur.

As each day and night came and went, Red began to believe that the danger had passed. Perhaps the protection of the wolf of the forest counted for something.

*

But the huntsman did return, and he did not come alone.

Red and Loup were in the forest collecting mushrooms when they came. Loup had just told a lewd joke and Red was doubled over in laughter when the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the trees.

Red rushed to Loup's side as five riders appeared and promptly surrounded them. All of them bore spears and swords and armor that gleamed in the sunlight.

"My lady," the huntsman called. A few of the accompanying guardsmen snickered at the title and Red's stomach churned with fear and anger. "This is your last opportunity. Surrender calmly or we will need to resort to force."

Loup stepped between him and Red, letting out a low growl.

"If you have any affection for this beast, I suggest you consider your next actions carefully," he added.

Red looked at the distressing number of spears, all pointed directly at Loup

"Loup-" she whispered.

"I'm not letting them take you!" Loup hissed.

The huntsman dismounted and drew his sword, its edge gleaming impossibly bright.

Loup drew her own knife in response, but it seemed dreadfully inadequate in comparison. What was worse, Red could see straight through Loup's bravado to the tense fear below. She knew just as well as Loup that she was nowhere near full strength. It was too many days since the full moon.

Without warning, the huntsman struck, catching Loup across the arm as she tried to dodge. She dropped her knife and screamed in pain, clutching at the wound. The horrible stench of burning meat struck Red's nose and a faint wisp of smoke curled from the wound.

Silver.

Red knew that the royal armory had a secret arsenal of weapons: cold iron chains, ash staves and arrows, silver edged blades… all manner of unique weapon to combat the supernatural. To see one employed for its intended purpose…

Someone seized her roughly from behind, one of the huntsman's companions.

Loup howled and spun at Red's scream, only to receive another slash, this time across her back. Red watched in horror as Loup staggered forward a single step before collapsing to get knees and then her side.

Red bit hard into the gloved hand at her chest. The man roared in pain and she threw her weight against him. She broke free and fell upon Loup before the huntsman could take another swing.

“Please,” she begged. “I'll do whatever you want. I'll go with you willingly. Just don't kill her!”

Some flicker of sympathy crossed his face and he lowered his blade.

Red's previous assailant grabbed her by the hair and jerked her off of Loup.

Loup cracked her eyes open and reached after her.

“Red!”

The man delivered a kick to Loup's side.

“Enough,” the huntsman snapped. “She'll be dead by nightfall anyway, leave her for the vultures.”

Dead?

Red thrashed against her captor as she was dragged to his horse. A blow to the face and a punch to the gut rendered her senseless long enough for her hands to be bound and her body secured to the saddle.

“Loup! I love you,” she managed to croak out before she was carried away.

*

Loup's injuries burned like fire as she last curled on the forest floor. She drifted in and out of consciousness as the sun slid slowly across the sky. She needed to get up. She needed to save Red, but every time she moved, the searing pain from her wounds overwhelmed her.

The sky was gold, edging towards red, when a figure appeared, silent as death.

“Foolish child,” Grandmother clucked. “What mess have you landed yourself in this time?”

“They took Red,” she rasped.

“Of course they did,” Grandmother replied. “The queen is too stubborn to let that one go.”

She crouched before Loup, meeting her gaze with cold grey eyes.

“We have to-”

“Do you love that girl?” Grandmother interrupted.

“Yes,” Loup replied without hesitation.

“Hm,” Grandmother replied. “That's good, you'll need that for what comes next.”

A gnarled hand pressed a smooth stick between Loup's teeth.

“I do apologize, child. This will not be pleasant.”

Loup squeezed her eyes shut and clamped her teeth down.

*

The guards were not gentle with Red. The first order of business was to roughly hack off her hair and burn her dress while she screamed and trashed against their grips. Her resistance earned her a split lip and a couple of likely cracked ribs on top of her black eye from earlier.

She was dressed in a rough spun tunic in a masculine cut that made her stomach twist and brought to the queen's chambers where she was roughly shoved to her knees.

"Not so fair or beautiful now, are you?"

Red glared up at the queen where she lounged in a high backed chair. Ever haunted by her own vanity, the queen's appearance was immaculate, with not a single hair out of place and a dress intended to make her look ten years younger than she was. But beneath the caked make up, there were new stress lines embedded in her skin and the manic gleam in her eyes had only intensified in Red's absence.

The queen languorously stood and made a circuit about Red because gesturing to a single apple that sat upon a side table.

"Would you care for some refreshment?" she asked with a cruel edge to her voice.

The skin of the fruit was glossy and deep red… like blood.

Red recalled the events and revelations that led to her initial flight from the castle.

"Why? Are you planning on poisoning me like you poisoned my father?"

The queen's eyes flashed with fury and she stalked forward to deliver a backhanded blow to Red’s face. The room spun and the floor rushed up to meet her painfully. Red lay there, tasting blood and feeling the throb in her cheek where a ring had caught her flesh.

"You should be so lucky to get poison!” the queen hissed. “Not after everything you've done. Did you think word wouldn't get to me? I know about the noble families that you've been communicating with. I've heard the whispers of revolt."

Red blinked up at her in confusion. What on earth was she talking about? Was that what the queen thought Red had been doing in the forest? The idea seemed almost ridiculous. Red did not have a mind for schemes or machinations. She didn't even want to rule at all.

For a strange dizzying moment, she wondered if she had fallen into someone else's story.

The queen snatched the apple from the table and looked over Red's still prone form.

“I am going to make an example of you,” she said in a low, dangerous voice. “You will beg for poison before I am done with you.”

She bit into the fruit, spraying flecks flesh and droplets of juice on Red’s face.

"Take him to the dungeon," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Give him some time to consider his crimes before we begin."

*

Night had fallen in truth by the time Grandmother finished.

All that remained of Loup's wounds were puckered scars and a bone deep ache that might never fully heal.

“I'm going back for her,” Loup said as she painfully rolled her shoulders.

She cast a defiant glare towards Grandmother, but was met only with a nod.

“Of course you are. I wouldn't expect any less.”

The old woman climbed painfully to her feet and leaned heavily on her staff as she hobbled over to Loup. A gnarled hand fell on Loup's shoulder and…

For a horrible, dizzying moment, the two of them were nowhere, a black empty place in between.

…and then they were back in the forest. Loup broke free of Grandmother's grip and staggered into the bushes to wretch. When she finally recovered, she discovered that they were now at the edge of forest, miles from where they had started.

The castle rose imposingly in the distance.

"This is as far as I go," Grandmother grunted. "The rest is up to you."

The old woman looked worn, almost translucent, as if healing Loup and transporting her here had used up some vital part of her.

“Thank you,” Loup said, swallowing the lump in her throat, “for everything.”

Grandmother gave her a single nod and turned to hobble into the shadows of the forest.

Loup turned back in the direction of the castle and took a deep breath. The moon was merely a crescent hanging low in the sky. She'd only have two, maybe three hours to draw on its light, meager as it was.

She closed her eyes and sought the beast where it slumbered within her.

Please. I need your help.

It stirred. The song of the moon was just a distant echo, but the wolf heard the plea and lent Loup her power.

The world came into focus. Sounds and scents grew sharp. Her muscles sang, ready to run. Teeth and claws grew into weapons that she hoped she would not need.

"I'm coming, Red," she whispered and she began to run.

*

"A princess, beautiful and fair, will take the queen's throne."

Red's eyes snapped open and she looked painfully over her shoulder from the cold floor of her cell.

Standing in the other side of the bars, somehow looking regal even as she clutched a lantern and peered into the gloom, was Red's stepsister, Antonia. Behind her was a nervous looking clerk holding a folio. He kept glancing over his shoulder nervously as if he would rather be anywhere else.

"I always thought the meaning was rather straightforward,” Antonia continued. “Of course one of us would take the throne from her when the time came. But mother was convinced that it meant something nefarious. She has always been obsessive and paranoid and the prophecy only made it worse. I don't know her exact wording, but when she asked her mirror for a princess, it showed her you."

"What are you doing here?" Red muttered as she sat upright. "Did you come to gloat before your mother tortures me?"

Antonia pursed her lips but said nothing. Instead she produced a heavy key and unlocked the cell.

Red stared at her, utterly baffled.

The cell door swung wide and Antonia made a beckoning gesture.

"What…?" Red asked.

"You're free to go, but as a good faith measure…"

She held out her hand to the nervous clerk who produced a sheet of parchment from the folio.

"...I would like your formal abdication, forswearing any claim to the throne."

She handed the sheet to Red who eyed it dubiously.

"And if I refuse?" Red asked cautiously.

"I let you go anyway," Antonia replied. "I want you gone, not dead. Your presence here complicates matters and your signature on this document will make things a lot cleaner for the both of us."

Red stared at her, comprehension dawning slowly.

“It's you,” she gasped. “The prophecy… you… you're the one plotting against the queen. You're the one inciting revolt.”

Antonia smiled grimly.

"Don't sound so surprised, I am my mother's daughter after all. I have my own eyes and ears in the kingdom. There are a great many individuals who are displeased with my mother's rule. The scent of change is on the wind. I've merely positioned myself to be on the winning side."

Her face sobered, and there was a rare flicker of sisterly concern.

"I do apologize for your current condition. It was never my desire that you come to any harm."

She produced a pen and handed it to Red.

"I know you never wanted to be a prince and I strongly suspect that you have no desire to be a princess either. Sign and you can run off to your lover in the forest and no one will ever trouble you again. Everyone can live happily ever after."

The choice was so plainly simple, it was almost laughable. It was true. Red had no desire to rule, she never had. Even if the court accepted her as she was, she would never be happy. Not like she had been in the forest with Loup.

Loup… Red's heart twisted. Her Loup was somewhere out there in the dark, hurt and alone. Loup was the only thing that mattered to Red now.

With a shaky hand, she signed her throne away and handed the sheet back to Antonia. The clerk produced an official stamp and the deed was done.

Red felt a weight leaving her shoulders that she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying.

"Come, I'll show you a way out." Antonia said, hefting the lantern. "There isn't much time."

Red heard a shout from down a hallway and distant sounds of fighting.

"You're staging your coup now??" Red asked incredulously.

Antonia shrugged apologetically.

"Like I said, your presence complicates matters. We had to move up our timetable."

Red followed her in baffled silence. She'd only been away from the castle for two months. How far back did her stepsister’s political machinations go? She would have made a very poor ruler indeed if she had missed all of this.

She found herself begrudgingly grateful for the choice to abdicate.

"There's a secret passage, just around-"

Antonia cut off as another lantern bobbed into view. They had arrived at an intersection at the same time as the queen and her huntsman.

[lovelywingsart]

Sleepless

-- Karl Heisenberg X OC (AFAB, She/They) --

And now we get to the sweeter stories I have for them so far until the inevitable heartbreaking end... Don't worry, there's more angst closer to the beginning of the timeline than the end. But hey, 30+ years of living with someone you end up being partners with will do that to you. eue

Anyway, this was a fun little thing, and is pretty common in the timeline itself. It's pretty short, comparatively speaking, but I liked it. Enjoy!

**Remember, check out the Masterlist for more! <3 **

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*Warning?: Mention of nightmares/terrors, a very very sleepy metal man

Summary: Being a busy person has its perks, but everyone needs to sleep at some point... Unfortunately, sleep doesn't come easily to Karl. So, he tries to help it the only way he knows how- find some company.

The hiss of the cooling mould filled the small room, the molten metal providing what little light given other than a few lanterns and small industrial lights as always. Emelia preferred it this way, despite occasional offers given to brighten the room up a little. She watched the moulds fill one by one, reaching out her mutated arm every once in a while to help unclasp and move them along if they were stuck. The mutation itself wasn't practical for much other than strength and stamina, though it provided a surprising amount of heat resistance compared to the usual glove she wore on the other hand. She consistently worked to control the anger that came with the mutation itself with each transformation, easing into a decent work state of mind when using it around the machines. She now found it increasingly relaxing whenever she allowed her Cadou to make the changes, feeling the occasional fluttering in her chest with each movement she made.

She reached forward with her mutated arm again, her claws closing around the edge of the mould that had gotten somewhat stuck when opening, the metal bits getting stuck around the edges.

"Bloody thing..." she growled, her voice deeper and warped from the mutation as she very nearly pried the thing open and removed the newly created cogs from the mould itself. Defects, of course... The metal hadn't cooled right. The thing wasn't even full, the deformed half being what had caused the jam. She simply tossed them to the side with a grunt, watching as the machine closed and started the process again with molten metal giving a golden glow to her eye and skin as she gave a near content sigh from the rush of heat.

It was through the hiss of the cooling unit that she heard another noise, her head cocking to the side just slightly. It sounded like... Tapping? Rhythmic tapping... Her body froze as she realized.

Footsteps.

Two options ran through her head at once; either it was the snarky bastard who owned the factory, or she'd have to fight a Soldat for the umpteenth time this week. She listened carefully for any mechanic whirring, generally a telltale sign of the Soldats presence other than the whirring of drills or blades. The rhythm of the footsteps was slow and even somewhat miscalculated, but... there was nothing. No whirring, no grunting or growling, no guttural 'war cries', as she called them. No, but there WAS breathing, only audible once the hissing of the cooling units halted. She turned her head slightly as the footsteps got closer, her mutated arm tensing and preparing for whatever hell of a sneak attack this was, her claws gripping the small railing near the machine to brace herself to swing back with the bone spur on her elbow.

She was instead met with the feeling of arms slowly and almost lazily wrapping around her waist, holding on to her tightly and making her jump and hold her breath. It wasn't until she felt a head fall against her shoulder that she even thought about relaxing, letting out an irritated growling sigh once she relinquished her grip on the rail.

"God damn you Heisenberg, what the bloody hell do you want now, I'm busy-" she started, only to pause as she looked down.

No gloves... no coat... just his scarred hands gripping on to her shirt as if she'd disappear of he let her go. What the hell... She could hear slow, almost uneven breathing next to her ear as he pressed his face to her shoulder, dark silvery hairs almost sticking to her skin. It wasn't until she heard a weak hum that she finally turned her head to look at him. She felt as her muscles eased somewhat at the sight of him, frowning as she reached her mutated hand up to pat his head. The man looked utterly exhausted... Eyes half lidded with the color dulled, deep bags under his eyes, and nearly sunken features that made him look almost as old as he was. She could tell his obvious exhaustion wasn't the only issue, but it was the one that caused the most concern in her mind at the current moment. It was as if he had turned into one of the walking abominations he had working in the tunnels under the main factory, almost feeling like a dead weight against her...

"Karl...?" She said, her voice still somewhat warped, yet holding an oddly soft tone. He only replied with another hum before burying his face into her neck. Her frown deepened as one of his hands reached up to hold her mutated arm, his grip weak. The man needed sleep... It was painfully obvious. It looked like he hadn't slept in literal weeks, which was most likely the case as it always was.

She quickly hit a button to power down the movements of the machine in front of them, feeling as he relaxed somewhat against her back despite the sharp bone spurs that rested along her spine from the mutation. She waited for the thing to stop moving before patting his arm lightly.

"Hey..." she said quietly, turning her head to look at him again. The only response she received was a light squeeze along her waist.

"Hey." she repeated, managing to carefully turn in his arms without ripping his chest to shreds with the spines. "Hey, Karl... Look at me..."

She grabbed his face with both hands, her mutated claws almost as big as his head entirely. But she held his cheeks carefully, forcing him to look at her as she examined his face. It was a pitiful sight, really... The man typically held either a grin or a smirk, his energy and enthusiasm for his work unmatched by anyone, even that giant witch Alcina. He always seemed oddly happy. Proud. But his look now... It was that a tired old man with years taken from his life in a single night. He blinked slowly, giving a quiet grunt.

"When was the last time you slept...?" Emelia asked quietly, a sudden concern flooding her gravely voice. Irritating as he may be, even now, she couldn't help but care for the man... She allowed her mutation to retreat with a quiet groan as he looked at her, the muscles and sharp bone disappearing back under the skin with cracks and pops as she kept a hold on his face.

"Dunno..." came the somewhat slurred answer. She felt his weight shifting from foot to foot, hearing a small mechanical clicking whenever he leaned on his left leg. She sighed, letting him lower his head so it rested in her hands, her thumbs brushing over his cheeks just slightly.

"Bloody hell..." she muttered, finally taking a step to the side. Her movements were slow, carefully removing his arms from around her waist and slinging one over her shoulder to help him keep his own balance. "Come on... Let's find somewhere for you-"

"Here..." he muttered suddenly, his voice low and broken. She paused and looked at him.

"Here?" She asked. He twitched his head into a nod.

"Sleep here... Please..."

She couldn't help but feel a pang of pity as she heard him speak. His tone wasn't begging, but it wasn't demanding, either. But she simply nodded, looking around for a moment. Her eye caught the corner of the room with a few tattered rags on the floor generally used for cleaning or polishing, and she carefully nudged his side to lead him over. His movements were simultaneously stiff and limp, creating an awkward pattern in footsteps just like she had heard earlier. She helped him sit once they reached the corner, the rags and fabrics providing a small sense of underlying comfort compared to the rough concrete floor. She left him for only a moment, almost feeling bad for doing so as she heard his grunts of discomfort.

"I'll be right back..." she said lightly, quickly making her way to the two entrances to the room itself.

She blocked them both, making sure the door entrance was locked and secure and moving two stacked work benched in front of the free corridor entrance. The last thing she needed was a goddamn Soldat bursting in... She didn't need one of the metal menaces showing their faces. Not when she already knew how this was going to end up... And it would end up the same no matter how she tried to prevent it. Almost every time he slept, the poor man would wake up screaming, speaking rapid broken German too quickly for her to understand. If he wasn't screaming, it was a panic attack bad enough for him to nearly hyperventilate and thrash around. Either way, one of both of them would have gotten hurt due to flying metal from his power going haywire from fear. It was why he was here with her instead of in his own room, even if she was increasingly nervous with the metal scraps laying about. The presence of someone... ANYONE else near him helped considerably, they both found, though that didn't obviously stop the night terrors... But she assisted him with pushing through them, often lulling him back to sleep each time while even falling asleep, herself. They still happened, but being near her made it... easier. Being near her made sure he wasn't alone.

And he hated being alone.

She made her way back to Heisenberg, kneeling down and helping him settle against the wall. She took her place next to him, feeling as he slumped over on her shoulder almost immediately before giving a quiet grunt. She looked at him for a moment before sighing, adjusting and nudging him forward so his head rested on her lap. He reached an arm forward to wrap around her leg as if it were a simple pillow. She couldn't exactly blame him... Even she knew it was easier to lay down.

"That better...?" She asked quietly, resting one hand on his shoulder as the other reached to pat his head lightly. He relaxed as she ran her fingers through his hair, occasionally reaching to trace along the scars on his face once she slumped back against the wall in a comfy enough position. It was a method she used constantly, having discovered it on accident. The motions soothed him, and soon she could feel his breathing even out.

"... thank you...." he nearly whispered, his words sounding almost like a simple breath had she not been listening. She tilted her head slightly towards him with the smallest hint of a smile.

"Easy, Metalhead..." she soothed, rubbing his shoulder for a moment before fully resting her arm over him. "I'll wake you if I notice anything, alright?"

She was met with silence, a gentle squeeze to her thigh the only hint of an answer he gave. After that, he was still, his breaths coming as gentle snores against her thigh. 'God damn, he WAS tired...' She thought, continuing the motions of her hand through his hair. She watched him for a moment before leaning her head back and closing her eye with a sigh. Despite knowing what was bound to happen, this was the most peaceful they would get, and she had to admit that she loved it... There was only a few hours if they were lucky, but she didn't mind. She quite enjoyed these times, she just wished neither of them were plagued by such nightmares. But even so, she couldn't help but feel relaxed... Even a bit closer to the man as he was granted a bit of much needed sleep. She was the only one to ever see him like this... The only one to ever assist with any kind of care he may have needed at that point in time, and the only one who understood what he had gone through.

She let his deep breathing sooth her, the other sounds of the factory lulling her into a drowsy, lazy feeling. She'd continue her work later... For now, she focused on the man on her lap, letting the smallest amount of sleep creep up. And suddenly she was out in a light doze, awkwardly cuddling Heisenberg with the warmth around them providing an inner comfort rarely felt.