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yellowmagicalgirl · 4 years ago

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(the garrote killing me is made of your) heartstrings

Wizards whose powers awaken at a young age stopped aging in their late teens until they meet their soulmate. That didn't mean that Douxie expected to meet his soulmate any time soon, however.

This was inspired by that one tumblr post where you start aging again when you meet your soulmate. Warning for discussions of death as well as mild body horror concerning Akiridion biology.

AO3

FFN

“So, how did you manage the whole living for 900 years thing?” Claire asked. The two of them were in Douxie’s old bedchambers; they spoke quietly to avoid waking Steve up.

“By taking it one day at a time,” Douxie said. Some of those days had been better than others. Some of those days the only thing that had kept Douxie alive was that one day, Merlin would come back and need Douxie.

“Er, I actually meant the fact that you haven’t aged from now to when we left Arcadia... I hate time travel.”

“Oh. That’s actually simpler. Wizards whose powers awaken at a young age stop aging in their late teens until they meet their soulmate. Then, if they want to gain their immortality back they have to kill their soulmate. I mean, it’s still really hard to kill a wizard if they’ve met their soulmate, but I just haven’t aged in about nine centuries.”

“How do you know, that someone’s your soulmate?”

Douxie blinked. That wasn’t a question he expected Claire to ask. “Why, I thought you had more faith in me. I would never kill my soulmate.”

Claire raised her hands apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that! I just... I guess you’ve never met yours, so it doesn’t matter, I’m sorry I asked.”

Douxie glanced toward the dungeon. She was probably asking about Jim. “There was this guy, back in the early nineteenth century, and at the time I thought he might’ve been my soulmate. Obviously, he wasn’t, but I loved him nonetheless. And like I said, if you have to struggle with immortality, then you have to take it one day at a time. Live in the moment. And yeah, outliving your loved ones is hard. But there’s upsides to immortality as well.”

Douxie walked into Hex Tech, thankful to see a short girl with pink hair pinned neatly into place. He didn’t trust any other hedge mage like he did Zoe. Douxie walked up to her. Her, and a boy at the front desk shoving something into a backpack.

And as he bore the wrath of the boy Douxie had technically cut in front of, Douxie felt something unlock deep within him.

Surely, it was just a feeling of familiarity, and safety, from being in a place where the Arcane Order wouldn’t find them.

Douxie came home to the shared studio apartment to find Archie and Nari talking in low voices. That... wasn’t exactly a good sign. It wasn’t automatically a bad sign, but it wasn’t exactly good.

“Douxie,” Archie said gravely as Douxie put away his keys. “Have you noticed anything different, in the past two months?”

“Uh, we’re in New York?” After a week of making their way around the continent and setting up false magical signatures for Nari, the three of them had buried themselves in a small, crowded part of New York City. The Arcane Order wouldn’t be able to find them here. Also, Merlin was dead as opposed to just asleep, but Douxie was trying not to think about that.

“Other than that,” Archie said. Douxie shook his head in response.

“You’re aging,” Nari said.

“What? No.” Douxie couldn’t be aging, he still had so much to do. He protected the Earth for about 900 years and he planned to keep doing so. He planned on protecting Nari for eternity if he needed to. If he was now mortal, then he wouldn’t be able to do so. “I don’t have time to be aging.”

“We all knew it would happen eventually,” Archie said. “Who do you think your soulmate is?”

“I...” The problem was, Douxie had only met one person whom Douxie had thought was his soulmate. That man died a little less than two centuries ago. It had been for the best, really. If Douxie’s lover had been his soulmate, he wouldn’t have been able to meet Merlin again in Arcadia Oaks. Who knew what he could accomplish if he lived long enough that he would still be around two centuries from now? “I don’t know.”

“Give me your hand,” Nari said, “and I can try to find them.”

Douxie obediantly stuck out his left hand, and Nari took it in her own. She closed her eyes. Her hands glowed with green light, and illusory vines wrapped around Douxie’s hand and floated in the air. The vines then disappeared, and her hands stopped glowing. Nari opened her eyes.

“That is strange,” Nari said. “I can sense the living soul of every being of this planet. But your soulmate is not one of them.”

“So... my soulmate is dead?” Despite Douxie’s frustration with aging, he still felt a shallow pang of grief. It wasn’t fair. If he had to once more age, then he’d want to meet and get to know the destined person that Douxie was intended to die for. And instead, he wouldn’t even get that.

“I do not know,” Nari said. “Your soulmate’s soul could be in the Shadow Realm, like Jim’s was.”

“We need to find a way to better hide you and the seals, or even find a way to defeat Bellroc and Skrael for good,” Douxie said. “The Arcane Order has forever. I’ve got, what? Eighty years?”

“Or longer, if we use the right spells, or...” Archie trailed off, looking away. Douxie frowned. It must be hard on Archie, to know that he would definitely outlive Douxie. Dragons could live for three or four millennia, after all.

“We can’t be sure, but we think that you might be aging slightly slower than the average human,” Nari said.

“Could it be because I died?” Nari and Archie flinched as the words left Douxie’s mouth.

“I don’t know,” Nari said. “You’ll have to give me time.”

That was something Douxie was running out of.

“So, I was thinking,” Claire said as she rummaged through Douxie’s pantry, looking for a snack. She was quite the prodigy, having progressed quite far in the year and seven months that Douxie had been training her. The two of them had come back to his apartment after setting up decoys for the Arcane Order in various locations across Central and South America. “Jim’s mentioned that he wants to find a way to return to his troll form, but not permanently. And my first thought was maybe making him a changeling, but then we’d have to kidnap someone.”

“Not a good idea,” Archie said. “Hand me that can of tuna?”

“Exactly,” Claire said as she passed along the can. “But, we might be able to adapt Akiridion transduction so Jim can choose if he wants to be a human or a troll. So, what do you say to bringing Krel into this project?”

“Sure,” Douxie said. A couple days after Douxie had left Arcadia Oaks, Steve had added Douxie to a group text with the other Guardians of Arcadia. Douxie and Krel had started talking on their own a couple months after that. It would be nice to see Krel in person again. “Do you or Jim want to ask him, or should I?”

Claire brought Krel with her through a shadow portal soon after noon the next Sunday. Krel looked around, fidgeting his fingers along the edge of his jaw. Douxie expected to be annoyed that in the time since Douxie and Krel had first met, Krel had grown taller in his Akiridion form. They were no longer the same height, which had been... oddly nice, for reasons Douxie couldn’t name. Krel was now tall enough that his hair brushed against the ceiling of the apartment. Douxie wondered if it naturally grew that way, or if Krel had to spend time using products to make it stand up. From all the time the two of them had texted each other, Krel didn’t seem like the type of guy to spend a lot of time and gel spiking his hair every day, and Douxie had once been the type of guy to spend a lot of time and gel each day, making sure his hair was nice and spiky.

A small pang of grief for his lost immortality came with the memory of the old, somewhat cringe-worthy hairstyle. Douxie had mostly adjusted to his newfound mortality, but it still hurt sometimes. He, Nari, and Archie still hadn’t made any progress on the topic of Douxie’s soulmate, either.

Douxie forced himself to stop staring at Krel. Yes, Krel was attractive in a way that caught him off guard. There was something about the way his face now looked that made him look regal, moreso than Arthur and Morgana had ever looked. Maybe it was the fact that his faceplate had finished detaching a week ago? Krel had complained over text a month or two ago that it was an uncomfortable process that signified the start of adulthood for a royal Akiridion.

“You’re...” Douxie trailed off. He wanted to say beautiful. “A little later than expected.”

“Yeah, sorry, Mass ran late,” Claire said. “So, how’d you want to get started, Teach?”

Six hours of three frustrated prodigies ignoring each other’s personal space as they debated schematics passed. While Akiridion technology and magic were surprisingly compatible, transduction wasn’t quite as compatible with human-and-troll biology as they had hoped. Still, they weren’t quite ready to give up. Well, not forever, anyways. Words were starting to stop making sense for Douxie, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the same was starting to more-or-less happen to the others as well. Douxie stifled a sigh. He didn’t want to be the one who bailed first, but he also got the feeling that if he didn’t say anything the three of them would continue attempting to work for another hour or two of increasingly angry conversation.

“Do you want to break for dinner any time soon?” Douxie asked.

“Please,” Claire said in a desperate, thankful tone, “I’m starved.”

“Wouldn’t it just be a late lunch?” Krel asked.

“Time zone difference,” Douxie said.

“Right, forgot, sorry,” Krel said. A year ago Krel had explained how time zones weren’t really a thing on Akiridion-V. Instead, all clocks were set to the same time as it was in the capitol, but depending on where on the planet you lived you might start your delson at a different time. That being said, the amount of artificial lighting on the planet meant that location didn’t quite matter for when people were supposed to be awake or asleep.

“Can we get pizza from that one place a block away?” Claire asked as she stretched. “You’ll love it, Krel.”

“Archie, Nari, we’re going out, you want to come?” Douxie called across the apartment.

“Bring me back something with anchovies!” Archie said. Claire wrinkled her nose.

“Give me a moment to put on my disguise!” Nari called. Krel activated his transduction. While Arcadians had gotten used to trolls and extraterrestrials, and New Yorkers were mostly unphased by Nari’s antlers, Krel’s four arms and glowing body might draw unwanted attention. Douxie swallowed in order to stifle a gasp.

If Krel had grown into a regal young man in his true form, as a human he had become a roguishly adorable sort of scruffy. Krel had grown his hair out into messy a chest length ponytail. He was an inch or two taller, too.

Nari walked over to them, disguised as an incredibly short human with a beanie that had antlers attached to it. There was probably something to be said about how a nature goddess was more focused on a game on her phone than her surroundings, but she was used to the layout of the apartment. Plus, she could sense the soul of every living being of the planet Earth. She wouldn’t bump into anything until they left the apartment. Then she’d have to be careful.

She bumped into Krel, and looked up, startled.

“Sorry, I didn’t...” Her eyes narrowed. “I didn’t sense you. You’re not from Earth, are you?”

“No, is it still that obvious?” Krel fidgeted with the ends of his ponytail.

“Not if you can’t sense souls,” Nari said. She gave Douxie a pointed look. He had no idea why.

Nari and Archie spoke in hushed enough to be somewhat worrying tones as Douxie got ready for work the next day.

“Should we tell him?” Nari asked.

“He’ll figure it out,” Archie said. “Or well, he should. If he doesn’t figure it out within a year, I guess we should tell him, but until then if he’s that oblivious it won’t hurt him.”

Douxie decided to ignore them and whatever they were talking about. His phone buzzed with a text from Krel, and Douxie smiled.

A/N: I decided to leave it ambiguous as to whether or not Jim and Claire are soulmates in this.

#krexie #claire nuñez #hisirdoux casperan #krel tarron #nari #toa archie #toawizards #toawizards spoilers #tales of arcadia #tales of arcadia spoilers #archie #drel #krouxie #my writing

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bigmultifandomgirl · 4 years ago

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Master and the Mute Kylo Ren x reader - Chapter Two

Chapter One Chapter Three

YOUR POV

As you had spent more time on the Finlizer you slowly forgot your frustrating first morning. You had delved deep into whatever assignment was given to you and thankfully Hux had deemed it appropriate to give you more solo tasks than ones where a team was involved. He had also not engaged with you on a face to face basis which you were also extremely grateful for, you had a feeling that he resented you for causing him to be put in his place by Kylo Ren, which you understood but did not relish in.

Today was similar to how the last couple of days had passed, you had been assigned to fix a row of lighting panels that had kept malfunctioning leaving corridors in darkness apart from the subtle red glow that came from all the wiring and little red bulbs on motherboards that were lined beneath the flooring. For some reason you were really beginning to struggle, it was as if every night you would leave having made some amount of progress and then you would return the next morning to find what felt like a completely different set of wires in front of you. It was endlessly frustrating as you knew that your skills were more advanced but for some reason you just could not figure it out, you rubbed your face with frustration as you looked down at the unscrewed panels and offending wires before you.

You just could not find it in you to focus, you had a sneaky suspicion why, he had been creeping into your thoughts at night and you had been waking abruptly in the night. It was unexplainable. You had fully recovered from your encounter with the dark caped master of the force, but that did not stop your curiosity. Why could he hear you? What did it all mean? Would he do anything about it? You had heard that when a master of the force was reading your thoughts you could feel it and apparently it was shockingly painful, so why hadn't you felt anything at all? Was he trying to read your mind? If so, you had no idea his motives in doing so, you were just a mute engineer - so far down the food chain from him that it was actually laughable that he would even look in your direction.

The wires hummed as you began disconnecting certain ones and inspecting them for damage.

I wonder what else he heard from my mind? Your blood chilled as you realised that he may know things about you that not a soul on this earth knows, about your accident and your poor late parents. Could he see images in your mind? Relive memories as you thought about them? You thought to a couple of days after the accident when you first were able to stand up from the comfortable bed from which that lovely old woman had nursed you. You were completely naked as some of your skin was still sizzling in places where the explosion had burned you. You stared at your marred flesh, burns covered a large surface of your legs and arms, a lot of your torso had managed to escape the fire, but you disliked it for other reasons. Then there were the scars. Debris had been flung in all directions, as your father had similarly been an engineer there was lots of scrap metal lying around the house as he was always building something it seemed. There was always a new idea in his head that he decided to pursue on a whim. Unfortunately for you it meant your skin had been split open in many areas. Most notably your neck, there was the main scar, the deepest, the one that had stolen your ability to speak. One end started on the left side of your neck and slanted down it to where your neck met your shoulders and down to the top of your right breast. The second largest scar crossed the first near your collar bone and travelled down your arm, ending in the middle of your forearm. The third and ugliest in your eyes started on your lower left cheek, it was barely on your face but the bubbling flesh made sure it was noticed, it travelled down your neck and ended a little after it had collided with the first scar. Those were the three main scars where the flesh was raised and red, they always looked angry and as if you were boiling from the inside out. Your body was decorated with lots of smaller white scars where debris has impaled you, not as deep as the angry three but deep enough that it left a mark on you.. You remember falling to your knees and sobbing, you were unrecognisable to yourself. You were ugly, marred and alone in the world.

A small shock shot through your fingers from an exposed wire which broke you from your thoughts. Finally! This may have been causing the malfunctioning, you smiled smugly as you felt accomplished having found the fault now you could just fix it and move onto the next assignment. You reached behind you and into your tool box to find some new wire coverings, you quickly replaced the faulty covering and replaced the panel over the wires.

Satisfied with a problem finally solved, you ticked off the assignment on your data pad and decided to sit and wait for the notification of your next assignment come through while you took a break.

Pulling a flask out, your poured yourself some coffee. This was not a luxury provided by the First Order on their ships, it was something you had brought from the planet you were working on. The warm and rich taste calmed down your mind from the emotional tangent it had been on. There was no way Kylo would be able to hear you all the time, he surely has to be close for this strange connection to just transmit all your thoughts into his head. That must be why h you had not seen him in the two weeks since your first meeting. You did not know but you assumed it must be very agitating to have someone else's stream of thought filtered in with your own, especially the thoughts of a mute girl who basically has no filter as she has never had to watch her mouth/ edit her thoughts and feelings.

You let out a mute chuckle at the thought of your benign wonderings intertwined with the thoughts of the most powerful and important man in the universe.

Slowly, you felt the silence in the corridors get heavier. These corridors had been empty in the days that you had been working. These corridors were not central to the ship so even though it was strange it did not bother you. But the soft thudding of heavy boots echoing off the walls did. Who in the hell was that? Quickly, you checked your data pad to see if there was a new assignment yet so that you could move on and would not have to run into whoever those boots belonged to. For some reason your intuition did not think that it would be a harmless stromtrooper that would just walk by and completely ignore your existence. You hastily put your mug of coffee by your feet and started to gather the rest of you tools into the toolbox and then placing the toolbox into the bag that you slung over your shoulder as the footsteps got closer and louder. Your lovely smooth silence was being disturbed and so your mood had instantly been dampened despite the mug of heaven you retrieved from the floor. You stopped to realise that your years of isolation due to being mute had made you hate interacting with people. Your stomach wobbled with your little laugh at how absurd you were when the boots rounded the corner and your breath got stuck in your throat again.

Him.

He was taking long strides towards you, mask obscuring his face, he was a predator who was stalking his prey and all you could to was stare and admire how powerful he looked with his cape billowing elegantly behind him. You realised that he was definitely close enough to hear you now so you tried your best to push him out of your thoughts and instead focused on the dark brown liquid in your mug. His steps continued towards you and you began to feel his presence.

Silence again was restored and you felt yourself relax even though now he was stood right in front of you. You were not sure what he wanted and even less sure if you were willing to find out.

"Are you afraid of me?" The mechanical voice asks and you raise your eyes to stare into his helmet where his eyes would be. What colour are they? You wondered and then snapped back to thinking about the cooling coffee in your hands.

"All you have to do is think the answer, I can hear all your thoughts. Ever since you arrived on this ship I've heard you and I cannot understand why, and yes it is extremely frustrating. Do you have a connection to the force? Are we related? Did you know about our bond?"

Your mind stilled with no effort after his bombardment of questions: a connection to the force, related a BOND?? You sobered yourself up and looked back into the helmet.

I have no idea, you answered. No-one has ever heard my thoughts, I have no-one, I am pretty sure we are not related Prince and a bond are you mad? You and I? A Master of the force, a Prince, a Knight and a stupid mute? You must be insane. You sneered and the silence from Kylo's helmet made you more uneasy by the second, you realised the mistake you had made and reminded yourself of who you were actually talking to.

A sigh came from the helmet in front of you. He was hesitant. You felt it, it was unmistakeable.

"That's fine we'll figure that out later. Are. You. Afraid. Of. Me?" he spoke quickly and then offered the question much slower. More deliberate. This was the most important question to him and the one you had evaded successfully until this moment.

Were you afraid of him? His helmet did not help that was for sure. The whole mask and cape get up was powerful and almost demanded respect and fear from anyone who was to gaze upon it.

There was a small hiss and a click from above you and a loud clang as something heavy hit the ground near your feet.

"Don't forget that I can hear everything you are saying even if you are not aiming it at me." his raw voice mumbled. No longer edited or amplified by the voice modulator, his voice was as smooth has honey and as deep as a wealthy man's pocket and as rich as chocolate you had once tried from a trader. You almost swooned at the sound of his voice addressing you, it gave you courage.

"Look at me and tell me if you are afraid."

You obediently raised your eyes to gaze upon his face. He was human much to your surprise, you were convinced he was some type of monster the way he powerfully commanded his armies and the way he ruthlessly disposed of his enemies as if they were nothing but annoying flies buzzing around him. The first thing you noticed was his dark locks which framed his face handsomely and curled in such a way that you fought the urge to reach up and run your fingers through them. Somehow you knew that Kylo would not have been too happy with such a familiar act. You had heard that very few people saw him without the helmet and so you understood that this was a strange occurrence for him. You quickly moved onto his strong aquiline nose, it made his whole face look strong and confident as his e=height enabled him to look down it upon anyone who he wished to make feel small. Then there were his eyes, the deepest brown that you had ever seen, but as you looked into his eyes you realised that he was doing the same to you which made you feel uncomfortable and so you swiftly moved your gaze further down to his lips which were plump and pink, you were almost envious of how beautiful he was. It was almost scary that this was the face that all the storied said had committed atrocious acts that would remain in people’s nightmares for decades to come.

He was handsome, intimidating but handsome. You were not afraid of the man who stood before you.

No. You thought as you finally raised your eyes to meet his own again.

You observed what you thought was a small smile grace his pretty lips but it was gone too quickly for you to be definite about its existence. You waited patiently for what he was going to do next, still looking into his eyes steadily.

“I need to know about our connection before it becomes too much of a distraction from my duties. Then I'll decide what to do with you."

Fear struck through you like lightening at his words and you worked hard to not let him notice where your mind was going.

Your thoughts were broken when the large man bent down and picked his helmet off the floor and placed it back on his head, you secretly hated that you could no longer see his soft locks of hair or his deep eyes which seemed to stun you still every time they met yours. You let out a soft sigh and watched him to see what he would do next after fiddling with the latches on his helmet.

"Where do you stay?"

You weren't sure exactly how to explain where you were staying as you still relied heavily on the data pad map to manoeuvre around the ship. I can take you there? You offered as it was the only way you could see of effectively letting him know where you were staying, after all you were not going to say no to him, he was a great commander. As you had said before, you were practically at the bottom of the food chain, a small helpless creature and he, he was at the top a predator who was powerful and dangerous. There was no point in denying him anything if you valued your life.

He gave a small nod to you and so you turned and reached for your data pad from out of your bag and brought up the map, you thought it may be quicker if he saw it and led you there, after all this was his ship and you were still getting lost in it every day. You turned to face his stoic helmet again and raised your hand to him which held the data pad, he responded by gently taking it from your hands, his leather-covered fingers brushing yours in the exchange which sent shivers down your spine which you prayed he didn't notice. He scanned over the data pad screen, made a tiny nod and handed it back to you.

"Follow" he commanded and you were not about to disobey the demanding modulated voice.

He started his long strides down the corridor and you were left to follow, he did not look back to check, he just assumed you would be there. You had to jog slightly to keep up with his long strides but he did not seem to notice, your heart was thumping harder in your chest as you realised he was going to see your living quarters. They really were not much. You had unpacked what little you owned and had decorated the walls with pictures of your favourite places. Nothing sentimental of your parents was left after the explosion and so all you were left with were memories and because there were no other people in your life the pictures were all landscapes, you didn't mind but were worried about what he would think about you when he saw them. I mean he could hear your thoughts but you weren't sure if he could see images that you conjured or feel emotions that overtook you. This uncertainty reminded you that he was only a few strides ahead of you and you quickly got your thoughts in line and made you mind blank. simply concentrating on the walls of the halls, trying to pull out any distinct feature that you had seen before. Trying to commit this ship to memory was a hard task.

He stopped in front of a corridor full of doors and you passed him and went straight to yours, smoothly putting in the pass code which allowed you to enter. You could feel his presence behind you as you did so, when the door slid open you stepped inside and then made way for Kylo to make his way in behind you.

You silently watched as he surveyed your room, you could not tell his reaction as his face was still covered by the helmet until you saw him reach up and heard the hiss and the lick of it releasing his head. He turned his piercing gaze to you and your heard almost stopped. He took steps towards you and you breath hitched as you were yet again stunned by his beauty, suddenly it was too hot where you stood but you were paralyzed where you stood - you were sure he was not even using the force on you. All you could do was watch his body as it moved towards you, you imagined how powerful his body was underneath all the layers of armour, you couldn't help but wonder what it looked like, what it would feel like under your fingers. You had never been paid this much attention to by a man and it was making you forget how to act. You were sure that your face was flushed which would tell Kylo all he needed to know if he hadn't already heard.

He was ight in front of you, warm breath fanning your face until he dipped his head by your ear. His breath down your neck made you shake and you felt one of his hands on your arm steady you as he nipped at you ear and you very almost fell.

"I did hear it my darling." he whispered lowly into your ear.

And then he was gone, a smug smirk on his lips as he clicked his helmet back on. He turned his head as he was in your doorway.

"I'll be back for you tomorrow." he promised and with a swish of cape he disappeared down the corridor. It was all you could do to fall on your bed and try and catch your breath, that small encounter was enough to arouse you and it scared you how readily you reacted to him.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING <3. I have had such good response fom part one in only a few days, other pieces of my writing have not been reacted to as well, so thank you so much it means a lot to me. Here is part two, longer and hopefully better :) Feedback is appreciated. Love you all, stay safe xx

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loveactionsspeaklouder · 4 years ago

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don’t give up on me

I will fight I will fight for you I always do until my heart Is black and blue

Life’s all about moments of impact and how they change our lives forever, but what if one day you can no longer remember any of them? That was the scenario I now found myself in. It was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives; I had just married my soulmate, in the perfect ceremony, surrounded by all our family and friends. But it just wasn’t meant to be. We had been driving to start our honeymoon when it happened, the night that changed our lives forever.

I had met the wonderful Freya at the age of 18; it was an instant connection, I knew this was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. It took me a while to ask, but a year later she made me the happiest person on the planet as she agreed to be my girlfriend. Three years later she made sure the smile on my face was staying forever by agreeing to become my wife. Four hundred and twenty-four days later she became Mrs Rashford, in her I had found the love of my life and my closest friend.

But that was all about to change.

A few hours ago, I was staring into the bright brown eyes of my wife; they showed so much happiness, love and excitement, but that was all taken away from her, from us. I was now staring at a woman who didn’t recognise me, who didn’t know how insanely in love with her I was, I was staring at a woman who thought I was her doctor.

The accident had caused her to lose her memory, most importantly the last five years we had spent together. She had forgotten everything; every kiss, every touch, every gift, every laugh, every memory. She had forgotten we were married. She didn’t remember me. She didn’t remember the life we had shared; to her, I was a random man standing at the end of her hospital bed.

And I will stay I will stay with you We’ll make it to the other side Like lovers do

The days became quieter which meant the weeks become longer, our normal routine had disappeared along with all our memories we had made in the house. It had been four months since the accident and Freya was still the same; in her mind, she was eighteen preparing herself for her future years, she didn’t realise she already had a successful future. Every day was different; some days we would argue and not speak, other days she would look through old photo albums, occasionally she would show emotion at the memories she was looking at but not remember them.

On the sixth month, I started showing her some of the memorable locations from our relationship. The first stop was my old house, the first time I laid eyes on my beautiful Freya. She had attended a New Year’s Eve party I was having, her tiny feet scurried across my living room floor making her way to the seat adjacent to myself. I remember the figure hugging jeans she was wearing, they bought out every curve. Her lips where enhanced by the red lipstick that covered every inch of her smile, it was the most beautiful smile I had ever laid my eyes on.

On the tenth month, I re-introduced her to my family. They adored her almost as much as I did, I had lost count the amount of tears my mother had shed because of the accident. Freya and she were best friends, if she was ever upset she would find comfort in my mother. She would always attend all my games with my brothers, even though she didn’t know what was going on she would still have a beaming smile on her face.

This accident didn’t just affect myself, but both our families and that was an emotion we struggled to deal with.

I’ll reach my hands out in the dark And wait for yours to interlock I’ll wait for you I’ll wait for you

On the twelfth month we started to struggle, it was unknown whether Freya’s memory would be returning and that troubled her. It caused various arguments between us and it was made worse by the fact I couldn’t help her.

“What happens if my memory doesn’t come back? What are we going to do?” one day she cried. That was the emotion she was stuck in; it didn’t matter what I said to her, I was always worried about what would happen to our relationship. I had to convince her that my love for her was forever and I wouldn’t be giving up on her.

“Your memory wasn’t the reason I fell in love with you” I softly smiled. “I didn’t just fall in love with the best of you like the way your eyes light up the room or the way your laugh makes me smile. I fell in love with all of you. I fell in love with your scars also the way you make sarcastic remarks, the way you cry about something from years ago and the way you sometimes get angry over the little things. I fell in love with the great in you and I fell in love with the bad you see in yourself but that is the great I see because I love every part of you, I fell in love with all of you and I will continue to fall in love with you every single day until it is my last with you.”

‘Cause I’m not givin’ up I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up No not yet Even when I’m down to my last breath Even when they say there’s nothin’ left So don’t give up on...

Fifteen months down the line and things were improving quickly, Freya hadn’t regained her memory yet but she was progressing. We had officially been dating for three months, it had been a wonderful three months. It took me back to when I first fell in love with Freya; every fresh emotion and new memory we had been creating reminded me of our previous first meeting.

On month twenty, a miracle happened. I’m not sure how but I was thankful, my beautiful Freya had been sent back to me. After months and months of different emotions, new memories, little arguments and lots of love, her memory finally came flooding back.

I’m not givin’ up I’m not givin’ up, givin’ up No not me Even when nobody else believes I’m not goin’ down that easily So don’t give up on me

After twenty-four long months, we were finally able to say our vows again. Even after all these years I still found myself staring at my beautiful bride with absolute adoration, I don’t know how but she looked even more beautiful in her wedding dress. A little tear fell down my cheek as I gazed lovingly into Freya’s eyes.

“I vow no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way back to each other. Every morning I wake up and I choose you, I choose us.”

And I will hold I’ll hold onto you No matter what this world’ll throw It wont shake me loose

Our wonderful journey was finally able to continue, I was forever grateful for the time I could spend with Freya. I was forever grateful for the trust she put in me when she had her accident. I had many moments in my life where I wouldn’t give up on someone else, where I believed in them when they didn’t believe in themselves. Because when you love someone, you never give up on them.

#marcus rashford #marcus rashford imagine #football imagine #manchester united

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imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul · 4 years ago

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Return to Me - Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five: Homeward Bound

A/N: I’m so sorry this is so late! There’s been a lot going on in my life (mostly good things) and I’ve just been busy and not been in the mood to write. I hope you’re all still invested in the story, though! Let me know what you think and please accept my apology. Also, this chapter is a little bit short but I’m absolutely exhausted right now.

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Reader Word Count: 2,943 Synopsis: The reader returns to Naboo on the next step to making things right, while the Resistance works out a way to garner more support.

Tag List: @xeniarocks, @too-many-baes, @araceli91103, @idocarealot, @treblebeth, @treestarrrrrrrr, @thescarletknight2014, @cspr-2, @ibikus, @mellow-f1, @mrsdaamneron, @trustme3-13, @missjess71, @ella-solei, @minelskede, @gleigh42, @usuallyweepingnacho, @givemethatgold, @and-claudia, @constantdisgrace, @wordsinwinters, @readingvogueonprivetdrive, @trshbb, @kaitlynw011, @ihave2muchtimeonmyhands, @fairytalesforever, @thanos-jeep, @mixedfandxms, @pastelbunny1501, @emotionalcal, @danicalifxrnia, @getyourselfaunicorn, @spider-starry, @jimhalpertcanbuymelove, @angelicaxhouston, @roserrys, @blushingwueen, @americasass-romanoff, @commondazy, @throughparisallthroughrome, @ms-dont-care , @bubblegumcat229 , @barnesdameron

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“A bodyguard?” You stormed back to the command center so quickly, the door opening almost hit Finn in the face. You stopped it an inch from his face and mouthed an apology before turning back to Leia. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“Y/N,” she said with a tired sigh, “You have been gone a long time, there will be a large target on your back. Especially with what you plan to do. The moment you open your mouth to speak against the First Order, they’re going to want to get rid of you. You need protection.”

“I can protect myself. I did for--”

“For the months you were gone?” Leia asked, standing. “I don’t think you really want to go there, Y/N.” You tried to hold your ground, but the steel of her glare had you faltering.

“I”m sure Rey has more important things to do,” you said, your voice much weaker than before.

“Rey has a special connection with Ren, just like you. She’s the perfect bodyguard. Besides,” Leia said with a tut, “She’s the only one who wanted the job.”

Her final sentence was meant to silence you, and it worked miraculously. It felt like a slap in the face. You looked around the room, a room of people you had loved and fought beside for years, and none of them cared whether you were dead or alive? You couldn’t help the burning in your eyes when you looked to Poe. He was deliberately looking elsewhere.

“Fine, General. This is your war, and you know best.” Bhavisama was back. Your voice changed as you spoke, and when you turned out of the room, you threw back your shoulders and regally marched out of the room, not looking back.

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“Did you have to say that part?” Karé asked once you had left.

“She needs to know the truth,” Leia said simply.

“But is it really in our best interest to cut her off just as soon as she’s back?” she asked. Poe finally looked away from the spot he had chosen to stare at when you entered, and focused on Karé. She had a point.

“I think Y/N knows the damage she has done in her running away. She expects a little bit of penance,” he said.

“So it’s okay that we lied and told her no one else wanted to protect her? That she can think you don’t care about her?” Karé asked with a shake of her head.

“Look, Leia knows best. Y/N needs to be with Rey, and I have to stay here,” he said, folding his arms in a way he knew was childish.

Leia looked between the two of them until she was sure their riff was over before bringing the next piece of business to their attention. With you back, and your promise to vocally fight for the Resistance, their next step was to figure out how to address the galaxy. There was plenty of damage they could do by showing the destruction that the First Order left in their wake everywhere they went, but they had to be selective in showing off their wins. Flashy, but not too proud. Specific, but not revealing.

“What about our trip to that village on the other side of Chandrila?” Snap asked. “That might send the right message.” A smile spread across Leia’s face as she nodded.

“That’s perfect. And it’ll throw suspicion from our base. They’d never guess we’d shoot a propaganda video on the same planet we had taken root on.”

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“Look, she’s stuck with us, alright?” Nové said, sitting down next to you on the ship that was taking you back home, back to Naboo. “And as far as bodyguards go, we could have a lot worse.”

“I know,” you said, shaking your head. “It’s just so much has changed.”

“That’s the way things always are,” she said with a gentle frown, “But some things stay the same,” she said, taking your hand in hers. You smiled at her.

“Now, what do we have in mind for my royal return?” you asked.

“Well, the thing is, I’m not sure you’re going to have the most welcoming ceremony. You’ve been gone for a long time.” You nodded your head solemnly. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t look fabulous. And don’t worry,” she said, taking in the sight of your face, “Naboo is loyal to those loyal to her, our people have already turned their backs on Broden for what he’s done. Once they see that you’re home and ready to fight, they’ll find their love for you again.”

“Thanks, Nové.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve laid out a dress for you. Think you can manage without me for a couple of minutes?” she asked with a smirk. You decided to not bring up the months you had been on your own and instead nodded. Nové excused herself to go over a few things with Rey, giving you a chance to get ready for Naboo, both physically and mentally.

The warm blue waters were the first thing to greet you as you arrived on Naboo. With new changes in security, the hangar was no longer accepting any incoming ships that weren’t working directly with the military. It wasn’t uncommon for ships to make a water landing in Naboo, but it was a surprise. A royal ship hadn’t landed in the lakes surrounding Theed Palace in years.

The landing was rocky, but in a way you enjoyed. It felt like being back on the speeder boats you had cruised around in on Varykino. Your enjoyment quickly faded when you realized you were going to have to face your mistakes once more.

Nové came back into the room a second later, making sure that you were ready. She could read the anxiety in your face and didn’t ask how you were feeling. You fidgeted in your dress slightly and took in a deep breath. It was now or never, and you had done plenty of hiding already.

There wasn’t a welcoming committee when you exited your ship. Instead, you were met with a small group of soldiers. Like when you arrived on Chandrila, they asked you a few questions and examined your face, making sure that you truly were Bhavisama.

Once they were satisfied, you were ushered into the palace. The entry point was on the opposite side of the palace so there was another five minute walk in silence as you made your way towards the throne room.

Standing in front of the heavy doors, you took in once last breath before nodding to the guards. They opened the doors in what felt like slow motion, and with watery eyes you laid eyes on your parents. They had been notified of your arrival and were looking eagerly at the doors. When you stepped into the room your mother was the first one to break. She smiled as she let out a gentle sob and ran toward you.

Never in your life had you seen your mother run. She was always a woman of grace and poise, and running would not have fit her title. But she raced towards you and wrapped you in the tightest hug you had ever received from her. You thought that there might be a leak in the ancient ceiling until you realized it was your mother’s tears.

You hugged her back.

“I’m so sorry,” she said once she finally pulled away. “Oh, my Y/N,” she said softly, stroking your cheek. “I was so worried we had lost you forever.”

“Me too,” you said with a shrug. Osira laughed gently and nodded her head before wrapping you in her arms again. Over her shoulder, you saw your father. He hadn’t approached the two of you fully, but he had taken a few steps closer. You looked up into his eyes and saw the nerves behind them.

When you broke away from your mom you turned to face him. Even his posture was uncomfortable, as if he didn’t know how to act around someone he had known their entire life. You wanted to be angry with him, but he looked so uncomfortable, he was starting to make you uncomfortable, too.

“Thank you,” you said after a long pause, “For keeping Naboo safe while I had to step away.”

“O-Of course,” he stammered, surprised by your words. You looked at him for a little longer, but when it was clear he wasn’t going to say more, you rolled your eyes and turned back to your mom. She sighed and took your hand in hers.

“Let’s get you caught up on everything you’ve missed.”

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“If we’re going to show off what we’ve done on Chandrila, why do I have to go to Naboo?” Poe asked. He was hating the way he had been acting the last day or so, seeming like an entitled teenager, but he didn’t like to be pushed around. Especially when he was being pushed towards someone he didn’t want to have contact with.

“Because we need to start rebuilding our base. Y/N’s plan to voice her support for the Resistance is all well and good, but we need to strengthen it. She’s been gone for a long time, but so has the Resistance. We’re only just starting to make progress again, it wouldn’t hurt to remind the galaxy of that.”

“I agree,” he said, nodding his head, “But why am I the one who has to do it?” he asked.

“I thought you enjoyed being the poster boy for the Resistance?” Leia asked with a smirk.

“It can get in the way of things sometimes,” he said, only mustering a tired smile to match hers.

“What is it getting in the way of now? Ignoring Y/N?”

“I’m not ignoring her.” BB-8 gave a beep that said otherwise. “Can you blame me?” he asked, looking to both the droid and Leia.

“No,” she said, taking a step closer to him, “But you know you aren’t going to stay away from her forever.”

“Maybe I will,” he said, “She said she doesn’t see a future together anymore.”

“Within the galaxy we’re living in now,” Leia said, looking at him in a way that kept his eyes locked on hers, “We’re all fighting to change it. I thought you were, too.”

“I am,” he said with a sigh.

“Great. So you’ll go to Naboo and present the footage of the First Order attack, and stand by Y/N’s side as she pledges her support to the Resistance.”

“And then after?” he asked.

“I don’t pretend to know what the two of you did after a mission,” she said, finally making him smile a little. “Maybe just talk.”

“Maybe,” he said tiredly.

“I’ll take it. You’ll head out tonight.”

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“Clearly he didn’t want to see me before, why is he here now?” you asked.

“General Organa sent him here. She wants the both of you in this message,” Rey said. You sighed and nodded your head. The ton of Rey’s voice told you that she wasn’t messing around. There was no getting out of this, so you were just going to have to suck it up and push through it.

“Fine, when is he getting here?”

“I’m already here.”

You and Rey turned towards the door of the conference room and saw Poe standing in the doorway. His body language was not dissimilar to your father’s earlier.

“Hey, Poe,” Rey said with a smile.

“Hey. We all set up in here?” he asked, taking in the podium that had been set up for your announcement.

“Not quite yet. They’re still working out a few bugs.”

“What’s the issue?” Poe asked.

“Naboo went completely off the grid after Y/N left,” Rey said. “They did everything in their power to block off any communications in and out of the planet, save a few. They’re trying to undo all of that now but it’s taking longer than expected.” Poe nodded his head and stood there silently for a few moments. Rey looked to you, expecting you to start up the conversation, but when she saw that neither of you were talking, she groaned.

“I”ll go see what’s keeping them. You two get reacquainted while I’m gone,” she said, smiling at the both of you as she left. You opened your mouth to stop her, but she was out the door quickly. Poe laughed at her quick escape and shook his head.

“I didn’t expect to see you,” you said quietly. He looked up at you and walked towards the table, taking a seat as far away from you that it wasn’t awkward. “After today I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with me.”

“Well, after Taris I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with me,” he said. You looked down at your hands and nodded.

“Poe, what else was I supposed to say? Was anything else going to get you to leave?”

“No,” he said after a pause. “I went on a mission, I don’t give up so easily.”

“I’m not a mission, Poe,” you said quietly. “But I’m back now.”

“For now, you mean,” he said. You rolled your eyes.

“I told you, I’m not running anymore.”

“Yeah, well--”

“I mean it,” you said sincerely. “I’ve lost too much to keep letting the First Order win and win and win. I came back to fight with the Resistance, but I also came back for you, Poe. I was wrong on Taris. I should have gone with you. Out of all the mistakes I made, I regret that one the most.”

He was silent for so long that you were almost certain he wasn’t going to say anything, until he stood up. He moved to the seat next to you and pulled out his Holopad. He got to work pulling up the footage that he was going to present to the galaxy.

“What is this?” you asked.

“It’s a village on the other side of Chandrila. Not much there. A couple factories, a school, homes you wouldn’t want to step foot in unless you absolutely had to.”

“What was the First Order doing there?”

“Well, it’s our fault, really. There was a man that worked in one of the factories. He was helping us smuggle in supplies. Things were going great for a few weeks when in the middle of the night we got a distress signal from him. I flew out there with Jess and we found the First Order attacking the entire village he lived in.

“We tried to save as many as we could, but once the Resistance fully got there, there wasn’t much left to save. Our contact was gone, along with eighty percent of his village.”

“They were just civilians?” you asked.

“Yeah, just a bunch of factory workers that had no idea who any of us were. Just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“And you have footage of it?”

“Leia installed these new things in our gear. They record pretty much everything we do on our twenty-four hour basis. It usually deletes after a day or so, unless we save it. The footage is . . . well, let’s just say it’ll do exactly what Leia is hoping it’ll do. It shows the side of the First Order they’ve been trying to keep hidden for so long.

“But, you don’t have to watch it,” he said after a pause. “It’s really brutal stuff.”

“I want to see it,” you said gently. “I need to.”

“No more running,” he said with a gentle smile. You looked into his eyes and nodded your head.

“No more running.”

“Alright. It’s all yours,” he said, handing you the Holopad.

The entire time you were watching the horrific video, you felt Poe’s eyes on you. He didn’t speak for the entire time it played, but when you looked up at him with teary eyes he spared a small smile for you.

“Leaving you on Taris,” he said, taking in a deep breath, “Is one of the things I regret most, too.”

You reached across the table and gave his hand a squeeze, holding it in yours until Rey came in with the rest of the crew, ready to shoot your video for the galaxy.

#poe dameron #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron x you #star wars imagine #sw #sw imagine #sw fanfic #sw fanfiction #poe dameron fanfic #poe dameron fanfiction #star wars #star wars fanfic #star wars fanfiction

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arandompostarchive · 4 years ago

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SALEM - Ch. 18

SAVED WORK

Summary: In all the centuries of your existence, you had never been dragged out of hiding by another god, put in a superhero team and forced to save the universe. But it seems your luck has run out.

_____________

***

You tugged Loki along with you, heading to the conference room Steve usually called you to. You saw Loki use magic to change into his armor, and you did the same, changing into Tony’s new suit for you. You’d have to thank him for it later.

You arrived there before most of the others. They took a bit longer to change than you and Loki. Magic was a helpful thing. Steve, Tony, Bucky, and Nat were the only ones in the room when you walked in.

“Y/n, we’re taking the quinjet closer, Tony and Sam will help you and Loki get up there since you can’t exactly teleport somewhere you can’t see,” Nat said, reminding you of the plan. You nodded along, taking your seat at the table next to Loki.

You noticed the group had put an extra chair at the table for Loki. It wasn’t much, but it was progress towards at least acknowledgment of Loki’s existence.

Thor had walked in as Nat finished talking and took a seat next to his brother. Steve turned to the three of you, switching into Captain Mode. “The important thing is that you, Loki, and Thor take out Moros. We’ll give you weapons from the ship. Y/n, you and Loki have fought him before. Do you think the three of you will be able to do it?” He asked. There wasn’t anything condescending in his voice, just worry the fight wouldn’t be over as quickly as possible.

“With weapons that can kill him and the assistance of my brother, we should not have a problem,” Loki said, reassuring Steve.

Tony rolled his eyes a bit. “I’m just saying, why is this guy so hard to kill? I mean, the two of you are gods and it was two against one. For once, I’m not trying to be an ass, I’m serious. Why is he so dangerous?” He asked. You could see it was a serious question, though you were sure he was holding back on some sarcastic remark. Steve looked to you for the answer, apparently Tony had voiced a question he wanted to be answered as well.

By that time, the entire team had joined you in the room, all in their suits. You looked between Tony and Steve to answer the question.

“The Asgardians and Olympians are different. The Asgardians may have labels, like ‘god of lies’ or ‘god of thunder’,” You gestured to Loki and Thor respectively. “But they are all one race. They get their titles later in life depending on their personalities. Olympians are born knowing their purpose. We are all different.”

Nat seemed confused at your explanation. “I’m not sure I follow.” She said, her head tilted to the side.

You sighed, unsure of how to explain it and make sense. “Each god has their own ‘specialties’ I suppose. I use magic and can use it to change my form, like when my eyes go dark. Poseidon uses water, Athena is a genius, Ares has strength, and so on. My brother is the god of destruction. Needless to say, he destroys.” You took a moment, making sure you were making sense. “He was born into destruction, unlike the rest of us. He’s the concept of destruction itself, which is a hard idea to kill. Some gods are less powerful than others, and children of Nyx tend to be much more dangerous. Especially ones with an ability like destroying anything. And I mean anything. Buildings, planets… people. My brother is not to be trifled with.” You said the last part softly. It was true, but you thought that was better kept out of the conversation of people about to fight Moros unless it was absolutely necessary

Loki’s hand squeezed your thigh in reassurance and you put your hand over his and smiled up at him. He returned the smile, turning his hand over so you could hold onto it. You saw Tony roll his eyes. “Dear god, if you guys are going to turn into a gross touchy couple, I’m blasting our resident smurf in the face, hear me?” He said, staring at you. You laughed a bit, while Tony glared.

“While I do find this sweet, we’ve got a really angry god to fight,” Sam said, drawing your attention back to the task at hand. You all nodded. Even Tony could be serious when he needed to, although he always tried to lighten the tension with humor. It was greatly appreciated most of the time, despite your sarcastic responses.

“Everyone else, besides Thor, Loki, and Y/n will stay on the ground and fight back the army. SHIELD has offered agents to help us and authorities will help when they can. Thor, Loki, Y/n, you can’t crash this ship. Tony was able to get some visuals of it. If it goes down, it’s sure to destroy far too much of the city. People will die without a doubt.” Steve looked to you, making sure you understood. The three of you nodded and everyone left to prepare.

Moros was already here, the best you could do was be as prepared as possible. You hadn’t fought with Thor and Loki before, although they had spent centuries fighting side by side, you had only fought beside Thor for a year and Loki for only a week. You could hardly call it practice. So, you shared as much information about Moros as you could think of. His fighting style, weapons, anything that came to mind.

Tony came up to you a few minutes into your explanation and handed you the weapons from the ship. You spread them out on a coffee table in the living room in order to divide them up. There were three of them, two daggers and a longsword. They weren’t the world’s prettiest weapons, but they would certainly do.

“Brother,” Thor started, “take the daggers and dual wield. Mjolnir may not be one of their god-killing creations, but it will certainly be able to deal a blow.” He said, smiling. You and Loki nodded, picking up your respective weapons. The sword didn’t have the usual beautiful look of a good longsword, but it wasn’t about the glamour today. It was much more about death.

You heard Steve’s voice over Friday’s system. “Everyone, report outside. We’ve seen movement from the ship. We’re leaving now. Thor, Loki, Sam, Y/n, Tony, you’re heading up to the ship. Get this over with as soon as you possibly can. You nodded, despite the fact that Cap could see you. Thor moved first, walking toward the elevator, you followed. Loki stopped walking.

“Coming?” Thor said, looking back as he waited for the elevator to come.

“We’ll meet you there in a minute,” Loki said, waving Thor off. Thor nodded, stepping into the elevator. You looked toward Loki, tilting your head to ask what’s wrong. He reached over to grab your hand and you took a step closer to him, slightly concerned.

“Be careful, my love.”

My love. My love. My love.

“Of course I will, why?” You asked, confused why he felt the need to remind you of something obvious.

He laughed. “I do not want to lose you. I doubt I can do that again, as selfish as that is to say.” You smiled at him and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

“Loki, believe me, I have no intention of dying today at my brother’s hands. Or at all, for that matter.” He nodded at that, accepting your answer. He seemed nervous. You could understand that. You would be too if you were in his shoes. He had lost you for almost three and a half centuries.

“Good.” You opened your mouth, but he spoke first. “And yes, I will protect myself as well, before you ask.” You nodded, accepting his answer as well. “You should take that off, you know.” He said, gesturing to the left side of your face. You had started to get used to not seeing from that eye, but you weren’t quite sure you should take the patch off yet.

Loki reached up to take it off, his hands moving slowly to give you time to stop him. You let him.

He pulled off the patch, careful not to pull too hard and pull your hair in the process. “Much better.” He said. Lifting your chin up to examine your eye. You suspected he wasn’t admiring it, rather making sure it had healed, but he wouldn’t admit it, so you let it go.

You used your magic to summon a small hand mirror. The was a large scar over half your face and it was distracting, to say the least. It reminded you of a spider’s web. The discolored and burned skin, crawling its way across your face. But your eye was the worst part. It looked gray now, like you were blind. Which, in all fairness, you were. The off-white color was almost disturbing to look at for you, so different than what you were used to seeing. It wasn’t your face anymore. It felt like someone else’s had been plastered over it. It felt odd to know it’d never be the same.

“Are you alright, love?” The word shook you out of your thoughts. Not the question, the word. “You’re crying.” You looked at Loki and brought your hand up to your cheek. You hadn’t even noticed you had started crying. You weren’t entirely sure why you were crying either. Was it your face? The pain? Blindness?

“How can you call me that?” You asked softly. It wasn’t an accusation, more of a genuine question.

“Call you what? Love?” Loki asked, confused. He didn’t seem upset by the scar. More concerned about you rather than the burn covering your face.

“I’m not the same, Loki. I messed with magic that I shouldn’t have and now I’m stuck like this. And you love me?” You realized why you were crying. Before all of this, before Moros, or the Avengers, or even Thor, you thought much differently of yourself. You never would have believed that someone would’ve called you ‘love’ much less the same person from your days in Salem. But now, after everything that had happened, he still called you love.

“Because I love you. Do you not like it? I can call you something else…” He trailed off, trying to think of another name.

“No. I like it, I’m just confused I suppose.” You weren’t exactly sure how to describe what you were thinking.

“Well, I love you. I know it’ll take longer for me to earn your love back, but I’ve missed you all these centuries. Now that I finally have you in my arms again I will not let you go over something as small as a scar.” He seemed to understand what you were thinking without you having to say it, which you were thankful for. You couldn’t hear a lie as well and his, that was true. But you could at least tell when he was lying. And right now? He wasn’t lying.

You leaned up, pulling him into a much deeper kiss before you led him over to the elevator and took it down to the first level.

***

“C’mon, just let the bird-man carry you,” Tony said, bored.

“There’s no other way up?” Loki asked, staring anxiously at Sam. He wasn’t a fan of flying. At all.

“How did you think you were getting there?” Tony asked sarcastically. You rolled your eyes at the argument, instead, securing your new sword into the sheath on your back. The sheath didn’t quite fit since the sword hadn’t come with one and you had to hastily make your own with your magic. It was far from perfect, but at least it worked.

“I’m not sure, but I wasn’t expecting to cling on to false bird wings to fly!” You and Thor had given up and had decided to let Tony and Sam deal with him (much to their dismay). Eventually, after far too long an argument, Loki let Sam carry him. Tony had refused to pick up the trickster, and you didn’t bother arguing.

“I will have you know, I dislike this!” Loki called out, midair. Moros’ ship was above the city now. It was within the atmosphere, although the air only got thinner higher up.

“Yeah, we figured that out by now.” Tony said, sounding bored with Loki’s fear of flying (of course, Loki insisted it wasn’t a fear. Just an “extreme dislike”).

“Only a little further!” You shouted over the rush of wind. The coms weren’t as helpful when there was wind rushing past you. Tony and Sam were much better off with their helmet and goggles. With the wind drying out your eyes and mouth, you envied them.

Soon, you ended up on the side of the ship, attached partially with magic, and partially with some technology you didn’t entirely understand. Asgard may have had technology in their society, but Olympus consisted of magic and magic only. No fancy tech for you to learn about. Tony cut through the ship’s metal with little difficulty with some sort of laser, you hadn’t bothered to ask him about any of his inventions and he got too frustrated explaining them, although you appreciated that he always tried to. The much more important part was that you got onto the ship and Tony and Sam flew back down to help the team. By the faint sound of shots and screaming you could hear below you, you figured the fighting must have started already.

The ship was bigger than you expected. The space you had entered looked to be a garage-like area, full of ships similar to the one you had stolen. There was a hallway off to the side, lined with odd-looking lights.

“I’m not certain what I thought would be up here, but it certainly is not this.” You heard Thor say from next to you. The ship seemed exclusively black, white, and gray, a soft monochromatic theme that screamed ‘military’. It smelled of bleach and cleaning supplies, and the whole place was immaculate. In any other situation, you’d appreciate the cleanliness.

“It doesn’t much matter. We need to find my brother.” The boys next to you nodded and the three of you looked around to find some sort of map.

There were words printed on the side of the hall, and you stepped forward to get a better look at them. The listed off locations with small arrows. The halls were painted a light gray, it reminded you more of an asylum than an army base, but it was much better than the dirt and blood-covered halls on Kalan.

“Here!” You shouted over at Thor and Loki who were checking different areas of the ship. The ran over quickly, anxious to find your brother. “Main Room. That sounds like somewhere he’d be, right?” You asked. Loki nodded in response and the three of you started walking toward the room.

You were doing your best to stay quiet. You wouldn’t hesitate to fight anyone you needed to, but you’d like to avoid as many battles as you possibly could.

The halls were long and confusing, each had the same board you had seen earlier, pointing you towards the Main Room, whatever that meant. You had come across a few guards, who strangely didn’t seem alarmed at your presence. Loki had suggested the three of you had set off an alarm system when you broke in. Thor seemed to agree with this, meaning Moros was prepared for you. Just what you needed today.

Soon, you finally reach a large, overdramatic door. It was black, a sharp contrast against the light gray of the halls. You looked at Thor and Loki who had each gotten out their weapons. You pulled out your longsword and forced open the doors, doing your best to look composed.

“Sister.” The voice echoed off the walls of the main room. It was a huge space with a large window to the city below. There was a chair directly in front of the window, and you could see a large broadsword in a sheath next to the chair.

“Brother.” You responded, doing your best to match Moros’ volume. Thor and Loki stayed behind you, letting you do all the talking. You doubted there would be much talking with Moros though.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Moros asked. His voice reminded you of gravel below someone’s shoe. The low, rough sound took up the whole room. You walked the length of the room, standing next to his chair at the window. You kept your hand on your sword. You could hear Loki protest from behind you before you heard Thor say something in response. Loki’s protests stopped and you silently thanked Thor for whatever he had said.

“Please, get more comfortable.” He gestured to your eyes, and you knew what he meant. You took a breath and let your magic change your form. Your eyes darkened and black veins spread out from them. You felt a bit more self-conscious looking like that, but at least you were in… good company. Or at least company that wouldn’t be shocked looking at you like that.

“You’re a goddess of war sister, although you take much more pride in magic and darkness than I.” He said. He looked over to you. It had been a long time since you had gotten a close look at your brother’s face. Full gods chose their forms, and this would’ve been terrifying to anyone else. Anyone who hadn’t grown up with the literal concept of the night as their mother. His face was covered in what looked like cracks. His armor was old, you could tell. Maybe made by the Greeks themselves. His eyes though. His eyes were what scared you. They seemed to be a white color, but you could see something in them. It was like watching a million cities burn away all at once. Like watching solar systems die and people perish. It was disturbing. Ir made you wonder what people thought of your eyes when they were dark.

“You must still appreciate a good battle though? Fighting and monsters. That’s exactly what you should enjoy, is it not? Is it not perfect?” The question seemed genuine. You weren’t certain how to respond. He was right, you did enjoy a good battle. Sure, you were with the Avengers to help people, but saying that your inner war goddess didn’t seep out every once in a while would be a lie. But still, you had more control than this.

“People will die, Moros.” Your voice wasn’t stern, more concerned. Hopeful that maybe he’d listen. You knew he wouldn’t, but it was worth a try.

He only laughed. “You sound like a child, Sister. Like a younger sibling asking me to stop breaking her toys.” He slumped down more in his chair, seeming more relaxed than you liked. You glanced back at Loki and Thor, mouthing at them to ‘stay alert’. Thor seemed confused, but Loki got the message and whispered it to Thor. They looked around them, keeping their eyes on as much of the room as they could. You didn’t like the idea of falling into a trap.

Moros gave another small laugh. The rough sound of his laugh made you cringe. “Though I suppose I am breaking your toys, aren’t I? You’re better than this, you know. You sit all day with humans. They’ll die before you blink. You’ve got, what? Maybe fifty more years with them? That’s nothing. And then those Asgardians.” He said the word with disgust dripping from his tongue. Like he wanted to get it out of his mouth as soon as he could.

You could hear Thor and Loki stepping closer to you, just enough for you to feel their presence behind you. “Even they die, Sister. Give it 4,000 years. You’ll see. They aren’t gods. Not real gods. They haven’t shaped worlds. They didn’t create the sky, like our ancestors. They don’t control the tides or move the sun. They control wars or love like us. They don’t control magic, like you, Sister. You could defeat that sorcerer of yours. And that brute he calls a brother? He is no Zeus. They’re no gods, Sister. Not like you, not a witch capable of more destruction than I could imagine.” That’s what this was about. He wanted your magic. He wanted to see what you can do when you could let it all go at once.

“You never get to use all your power. It’s all caged until you have to save the next human. I don’t know why you bother. They’ll die soon anyway.” Moros stood, walking close to the window. You grew concerned when he left his sword behind. You looked behind you to Thor and Loki. They seemed… upset.

“You won’t die?” Loki asked, looking at you. He was upset, though you couldn’t tell why. You nodded slowly in response.

“Not unless someone kills me. We’re much different than Asgardians, though I suppose that was obvious.” He didn’t say anything else, so you turned back around to join Moros.

“Look at them. You must enjoy it, the fighting? It’s who you are. All of our siblings are dark people. Chaos, insanity, murder, death, war, destruction. We cannot control who we are, Sister. No matter how much you would like to.” You could see your friends fighting below you. They looked small from your view above the city, but you could still see them doing their best to fight the ships full of people running through New York. “Earth is a beginning. Our grandfather created this all, and I shall destroy it. It is the way of life. And it would be so much easier if you would join. This world is pointless. Humans live, they die, they impact nothing. They destroy their own planet. At the very least, don’t stand in my way. Go home, back to Olympus. I’ll even let you take your friends. Zeus would never oppose a daughter of Nyx!” He said, his happy tone contradicted his message.

Although, as sad as it was to admit, he had a point. As many people as you save, Earth would eventually crumble away. You’d have to return to Olympus sooner or later when the Universe eventually collapsed, and you wouldn’t even have Loki with you anymore. Asgardian life spans were impressive, but they didn’t last forever. Besides, your mother would want to talk to you about killing Ker eventually, not that you were excited about that conversation. She really hated it when her kids killed each other.

You couldn’t change who you were.

You’d always be the goddess of magic and war. You’d always have a place as Nyx’s youngest daughter. Always a child of the night, no matter how kind you were. Helping humans didn’t matter, it wasn’t as if the gods cared about them much anyway. There were plenty of other planets to fawn over and humans had long forgotten their existence. You could run away and keep Loki with you while you still had him. You could take up Moros’ offer. Drag all your friends away from the fight and bring them with you. Zeus never wanted to get on your mother’s bad side, which essentially gave you permission to break all the rules. You’d ignore Earth, convince them to save some other planets that were more worthwhile.

Moros was giving you time to think it over. You looked over the fighting. Every so often you’d see Sam and Tony flying over buildings, taking out as many soldiers as possible. But Tony seemed to stay close to the ship. He kept glancing back toward you, checking for any sign of change. He didn’t say anything. You couldn’t hear anyone contacting you over the coms, but he was thinking about you at least. And then you remembered…

How many of them would actually come?

There’s no way Steve would go with you. He loves these people too much, and he wasn’t your biggest fan. And if Steve was staying, so were Bucky, Sam, and Nat. If Nat was staying, so were Clint and Bruce. Thor had gotten attached to the humans over the past years. You couldn’t even blame him for it. Even Tony. He’d never say it, but he loved it here. He loved this team. Peter wouldn’t leave, he had his friends here. His new family. He was still an unofficially official Avenger, he’d never leave.

Which left you with Loki.

You could convince him to come. At this point, you were sure he’d go anywhere with you. You smiled at the thought, but the smile left your face quickly. You couldn’t leave your family behind. You couldn’t knowingly let a world die. You hoped that without you, maybe the Avengers would still find a way, but could you really take that chance. So, instead, you did just about the dumbest thing you could think of.

“Y/n, I know you may not like the humans as much as I do,” Thor started from behind you, “especially after everything they’ve done, but you aren’t thinking of saying yes, are you? There are billions of life forms here, not all of them are the same evil you’ve seen in your life. Please j—”

“Have you ever seen a sunset?” You asked calmly, ignoring whatever Thor was going to say. You were looking directly at Moros, and Thor recognized you weren’t talking to him. He didn’t interject again, letting you finish whatever thought you were going to start.

“What?” Moros asked incredulously.

“A sunset. Have you ever seen a sunset here?” You had a small smile on your face, remembering all the times you had seen a sunset yourself. They were beautiful.

“What does it matter if I’ve seen a sunset?” He was confused by your statement, completely thrown off. “That says nothing about humans! We created the sun, we created the sky, we move it across the heavens, we move everything!”

“That wasn’t my point, Brother. Have you seen a sunset?” You asked again, this time your tone sterner.

“This makes no difference, what are you talking about, Circe?” You glared again, not repeating the question. He sighed, resigning to your glare. “No, I have not.”

“You should. They’re beautiful. Humans love them. There’s a beautiful sunset in all of their romantic movies, they sit and just watch them constantly. Really. They do nothing but sit and watch the sun fall. There’s all these gorgeous colors, purples and oranges and yellows and pinks.”

You remembered sitting with Loki by the lake near Salem. It was a lovely view. Just the two of you, watching the sun sink past the dark lines of the trees, the sky echoing hues of orange. It was one of your favorite memories.

Moros looked at you like you were insane. “And?”

“That’s it. It’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything more lovely in my life. You should watch one. Just one. Just wait for the sky to turn and watch the sun over the ocean, you’d love it.” His expression didn’t change.

You could see Thor and Loki whispering to each other behind you, probably talking about how insane you sounded right about now. Talking to your genocidal brother about pretty colors.

“What do you mean ‘that’s it’?” Moros asked, “Is there no explanation?”

“What I mean is, there’s no point in sunsets. There will just be another one tomorrow.” You could still hear Loki and Thor behind you, and see the confusion plastered on Moros’ face. “But that doesn’t make them any less pretty. Humans are just like that. There will be a billion more and yes, some of them are much better than others, but they’re kind. And they create lives for themselves. They have friends and families, and this world is theirs. There is no point in wrecking everything just so you can ‘fulfill your purpose’. Maybe you should just destroy smaller things, things without as much life and beauty.

Moros groaned beside you. He walked back over to his chair and sat down, slumping against it. You followed shortly after, waving the next time Tony flew up close to the ship. You doubted he could see you, but if he could he’d feel a little better. You could hear some static over the com so you pulled it out of your ear. It looked like it was broken or something. Not that you understood anything about the technology in your hand. You shrugged and dropped it on the ground. If everything turns out alright, you could just grab it later. If.

“That’s your point? To leave because colors are nice? Go to Olympus, make your own colors! Sister, you have magic. Go create your own universe!”

“It’s so much nicer when you don’t make it yourself. You never know what’s coming that way.” You said, calmly.

Moros grabbed the broadsword next to him, once again coming to his feet. “I suppose it was worth an attempt, huh Sister?” He asked.

You sighed in response.“I suppose it was, Brother.”

You have a feeling you were talking about different things.

***

#loki x reader #loki #salem #saved work #fanfic

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blue-mood-blue · 5 years ago

Text

Minerva was retired.

“Not retired,” Duck would always say. “Just… starting a new career. Or, uh. Diversifying? Seems weird to call it retired when you’re still working.”

Maybe not retired, then. But certainly not working in the same capacity - less emergencies meant less lives at risk, and the kind of world-saving she did now didn’t usually carry the risk of bodily harm or a body count. A change of department, at least, if not a change of career entirely.

Just a change of department. And a good chance at that, because sometimes the old position still needed her.

The weather had taken an abrupt turn that evening - storms that had been predicted to miss them entirely for the past week were now looming in rolling, angry clouds overhead and creeping closer. Eventually, Juno made the call; they had a handful of campers in their section of the forest who might not know how severe the weather was going to be, so they were going to round them up and take them somewhere safer. "Service can be spotty," she explained. "Can't guarantee they've heard the change in the report, and better to get them out now than have to fish them out of danger later. I think we can handle it." And she divvied out the camping locations.

The storm held for most of the day, but by the time late afternoon arrived the wind was already whipping the trees around in a frenzy. Reaching the campsites became more complicated as debris was left over the paths and roads, and Minerva thought that Juno Divine made a wise call when she heard another large branch breaking in the distance. There would be plenty for them to do after the storm just to make the park accessible without the added worry of rescues.

A call came in over her radio. "Hey Minnie, there's only one campsite left on the list and no one else has gotten back from the last round yet, so I'm just gonna take it."

She looked up at the sky, eyeing it skeptically, before lifting the radio. Such old technology by her own planet's standards, but it worked well enough. "Are you sure, Duck Newton? The weather does not look promising, and it might be a good idea to have someone with you. I will not be much longer if you wish to wait for me."

"Nah, nah." If she concentrated, she could just make out the sound of footsteps and a snapping twig - already on his way, then. "Sooner I get there, sooner I get back, and then we can head home and watch movies until the power goes out."

Minerva grinned. "We are going to watch the one with the robots tonight, yes? You did promise me I could pick."

He laughed, and the sound was just as pleasant even with the fuzz of static. "Yeah, I promised. Hard to go wrong with Wall-E anyway. We'll pick up pizza on the way home, if you want."

"Sounds like a date." She glanced up at the sky one more time as she reached the main building, concern alleviated a little by their plans for a nice evening in. "Be careful, Duck, and I will see you soon."

"I’ll be back before you know it."

It was the last she heard from him for almost an hour.

The tension building in the air finally broke as the sky opened up and rain pummeled the roof of the main office. The wind only increased, whistling and shaking branches, and lightning showed the scene outside in bursts. Minerva stood by the window, radio in hand, and made unanswered calls as Juno began to pace.

"He should be back by now." Only static on the radio. "I saw the campsite he was headed to, it's not that far away." Juno glanced at the window Minerva stood by as though she might see Duck walking up the road, cool as a cucumber. It was all just sheets of rain and flashes of light illuminating the ways the trees seemed to writhe. No Duck, and nothing to reassure them that he would even be able to get back on his own.

"I should go and look for him. Something might have happened to his radio." Minerva didn't say what they were both thinking - something might have happened to him, and how would anyone know until the storm died down if they kept waiting - but the tension in her shoulders made her worry clear. It would have been obvious to Duck, and maybe it was noticeable to Juno, too, since Minerva was doing nothing to hide it - the amount of control it took for her to remain inside as long as she had.

"You should not go and look for him. What if we lose track of you, too?" The look Juno gave Minerva was uncertain, though, as if she wasn't sure of her own argument. Duck always said that Minerva could do whatever the fuck she wanted, and Duck... knew more about everything surrounding Minerva than anyone else. Maybe she could just walk out into a raging storm and bring her husband back. A thunderous rumble shook the building. Juno's voice sounded less sure, too, when she spoke again. "I'm sure he's fine. Duck's been doing this job a long time, he knows how to take care of himself. We'll hear something from him soon."

They waited and watched while the storm seemed to grow worse. Minerva stared at the window with single-minded determination, and Juno fumbled with her own radio as if willing it into activity. Just static, again, until it started to sound like the rain hitting the roof.

When they heard something, it didn’t come from the radio. A figure made of light stood in the room next to them suddenly, and just as suddenly it was on the floor, lying on its stomach and reaching out. "Mouse," said Duck's voice. "I... think I'm stuck."

"Where are you?" She walked closer while Juno stared, and Minerva had to ignore the alarms ringing in her head with his choice of her nickname, with the way the projection flickered between standing and crawling. She stopped just short of him, pulling back the hand that reached for him out of instinct - she couldn't touch him, not in this form. The worry was put into a box in the back of her mind for later; the sooner she was with him, the sooner she could help.

It seemed to take him a moment to gather himself enough so that the projection was on its feet again and he could point to a spot on the map hanging on the wall.

"Are you hurt?"

He laughed, a hoarse sound - a fearful sound. “I think so, honey. Fuck.” And with that the figure flickered out of existence.

There was a beat of silence as they both watched the spot where Duck’s astral projection used to be, waiting for something more. Anything. But it seemed that Duck had said all he had come to say.

“I am going to find him,” Minerva said, walking to the door.

“I’m going with you,” Juno replied, reaching for a set of keys.

In a moment of sorely-needed luck, Duck was not hard to find. He knew his part of the forest, knew it well enough to take Minerva wandering even before the end of the world had passed, when they needed somewhere quiet to be without expectations. Never once had he gotten them lost, not even when he took her hand and led them away from the path because there was a tree he wanted to show her, or a meadow he knew of. He was still aware enough to pinpoint his location on a map, and Minerva tried to take reassurance in that fact when she spotted him in the light from the headlights, lying in the road in front of a fallen tree.

Minerva could see immediately what he meant by “stuck” - in the harsh illumination, she could make out long drags in the mud left from Duck trying to pull himself free of the tree. He hadn’t made any progress; either the tree was too heavy or the ground was too soft, and he was lying there soaked by the downpour and smiling up at them though the pain clear on his face.

She jumped down before Juno had a chance to stop; the relief of seeing him and seeing that smile was a heady feeling, and she tried not to get lost in it. "The next time I offer to accompany you when the situation seems dangerous, I trust you'll take me up on my offer?" Her voice wasn't stern at all, teasing if anything, and she could see the effect that her words - and her presence - had on her husband. His smile looked a little easier, his fear a little farther away.

Duck chuckled. “You're right - you’re always right about stuff like this and I'm the idiot who keeps arguing with you, I know. I would've been back before the storm, though, just had the worst fucking luck - campsite was already abandoned, that wind started up, and I almost missed the tree.” He pulled himself forward a little, which was a mistake; the smile was gone and he barely managed to bite back a scream. His leg didn’t give at all.

“Do not do that again.” There was a time when she would've had more control over her emotions. She would have been able to lock her concern away in iron until she had time to deal with it, as her training demanded. But she wasn't exactly that person anymore, and this wasn't war - this was Duck, hurt, while she tried to decide what to do.

Minerva leaned closer to the spot where leg met wood. The trunk was heavy, not rotted at all, so there must have been some damage already that made the wind able to push it. That meant that the full weight of a healthy tree was on him, sunken into the mud. The luck that had gotten her and Juno to the spot so quickly seemed to have decided they'd been granted enough favors.

“Yeah, good call.” Duck's voice sounded strange, thin, and his face looked pale. “Don’t suppose… don’t suppose you could get that off of me? I’m not gonna lie to you, Minnie, it, it doesn’t feel great.”

She could, Minerva was sure of it. She didn't bother with false modesty when it came to her physical prowess, didn't see the point - it wouldn’t be easy, but she could remove the trunk with time and a good enough grip. But it wasn't lost on her that if she couldn't see Duck's leg, she also couldn't see the extent of the damage. She might make things worse by moving it, or by trying to and losing her grip.

Before she could answer, Juno was next to her. “Holy fucking shit, Duck. How the hell did you get wedged under there?”

“Just that talented. I’m sure you’re super jealous. Please get it off.” Being out in the storm was starting to take its toll on him; Duck looked tired and unfocused.

“I’m going back for… chainsaws, I guess. And backup. I’d say don’t go anywhere, but. Yeah.” She tossed a tarp at Minerva as she climbed back into the vehicle. “Ten minutes, tops.” And then she was gone, the headlights retreating back the way they came.

Minerva unfolded the tarp, spreading it over both of them as she sat down next to Duck. They were still wet, and they were still sitting in mud, but she felt better here than she had at the building; at least here, the uncertainty was gone.

"So I guess that's a 'no' to just lifting the thing and chucking it somewhere else."

"I would prefer to try the chainsaws first, yes," she said after a moment. "It is very likely I would hurt you, and if I could avoid that... that would be better."

"Oh." He nodded. “Yeah, I get that. Probably safer, anyway.”

They were quiet for a while. The sound of the rain on the tarp was different than the sound of it on the roof of the office, closer and more immediate. The cold was biting, sneaking in through the places the tarp didn't cover. There was no forgetting where they were.

"So much for date night."

The thought was unexpected enough to coax a laugh from Minerva. "I am sure I can find some way for you to make it up to me. When you are no longer trapped under a tree, perhaps."

Duck laughed, too. "Makes it a little hard to cuddle, yeah." He reached out for her hand. “Thanks for coming. This is probably the dumbest way I’ve ever gotten hurt, and you know there’s a list, but… means a lot.”

“I love you, Duck Newton, and I would rescue you from many trees.” He chuckled, and she smiled at him. “As I know you would for me.”

“Hell yeah I would.” And if his voice was a little quieter, a little more tired, it was no less sincere. “Would absolutely punch a tree for you. Let me at ‘em.”

Minerva tried not to let the silence last too long - she kept him talking, about his day, about that part of the forest, about the last time he’d seen a storm this bad - anything at all, as long as it meant he was present and alert. Ten minutes slid into fifteen before she heard anything on her radio - a string of expletives, because there was “another fucking tree down on the fucking road, get yourselves to some shelter while I call for help.”

Minerva brushed the hair from Duck’s forehead. The last time she’d seen him at this angle, they’d been lying together in bed and she wished them back there, in some safe moment. His eyes were tired, verging into glazed, but he smiled just a little at her touch. “This is going to hurt, Wayne Newton. This is going to hurt so much.”

He sighed, but he didn’t sound surprised or worried. “Figured. Do what you gotta do, Mouse. I trust you.”

She kissed his forehead. Back in the storm, she stood over the trunk, found her grip, and pulled.

Minerva had never heard Duck scream that way. She never wanted to hear it again. Mercifully, it didn’t last long - soon he was silent, passed out from the pain, and she let the heavy tree in her arms fall down at an angle that would leave him free to move.

It was bad. The damage was… bad, and that was as far as she allowed herself to think. Minerva thanked the little bit of luck that meant Duck wouldn’t have to feel the next part, as she wrapped his leg in the tarp and lifted him. She knew exactly where to take him; she knew this place almost as well as him, now.

The little outpost was a good choice - it was well stocked, with a bed and first aid supplies, and had reliably weathered storms in the past. Small, but Minerva would take anything more effective than the flimsy tarp. When they were dry she did what she could for his leg, drawing off of the experience of half-remembered war wounds and first aid training, and forced herself to be satisfied with what she’d managed.

“I am going to tell Leo Tarkesian that you lost a fight with a tree,” she told Duck. “He is going to laugh at you, and I will join him.”

Duck didn’t answer. Minerva didn’t expect him to.

A couple of hours later, while she was watching a window that usually showed a beautiful view of the forest and now only showed the growing darkness of night and the storm, she noticed Duck start to shiver. His skin was too warm - a fever was setting in, and she piled blankets on him and sat back down to do nothing but hope the night passed quickly.

It didn’t, of course; the hours dragged on while she watched. His sleep was restless, and she had to keep him from moving his leg. She tried the radio but there wasn’t even static, and her cell phone was similarly useless; her consolation was that the outpost was a holding of the park service, and should show up on the maps. All she could do was wait. The storm howled outside.

“I worried about things like this,” she confessed around midnight to her sleeping husband. “When I asked you fulfill your destiny, I worried about the day I would see you weakened, or bloody. Or the day you wouldn’t answer at all, because you couldn’t, and because my choosing you had cost you everything. And I, fool that I am, thought that the days I might see you hurt were over.” Minerva sighed. “Not even the abominations managed to do this much. There is a joke there somewhere, too; you will have to tell me what it is, when you wake up.”

Sometime before dawn - but only just - her husband answered, from behind her. The glowing figure was looking blindly for something, shaking and reaching out, and she realized he was dreaming.

“You can’t just be gone. That’s not fair, Minerva, you can’t just be gone.”

A fever dream. Fear from a long time ago, dredged back to the surface by confusion and pain. Minerva stared at the figure for a long moment; even without an expression it looked sad, lost and afraid. She remembered the feeling, the long silence and emptiness that she was left with when she was cut off from earth. And while it was tempting to cross the room to the figure, the one looking for her was right next to her.

The first time it happened that she knew of, she’d been in Duck’s living room. He was sitting next to the couch, holding her hand and humming some blues tune when she woke up. That was before either of them knew what it meant, that they were still together - that they just kept staying together - but in hindsight… maybe she did know, in that moment.

“You were having a bad dream,” he told her. “Bad enough that you astral projected into my room. Couldn’t just let you be alone out here after that.”

“I am ruining your sleep, Wayne Newton.” The protest was weakened a little by the smile on her face.

“Nah, I’d rather be here anyway.” And maybe he knew, too.

It wasn’t the last time. It was likely that there would always be nights like that, when the dreams felt too real and the only way they could reach out was along that reliable tether that used to be their only connection.

She turned around and rested her forehead against his, holding his hand. “Shhh, Wayne Newton. I am here. I have not left you. Try to rest.”

Minerva didn’t look to see if the projection was still there, but she didn’t hear anything else.

~~~

Daylight brought help - Duck was rushed to the hospital and Minerva was left in the waiting room until someone had news to give her. She was torn between the conviction that Duck needed her with him and the understanding that the doctors needed room to work, but all she had to do was summon the memory of her makeshift aid to convince herself it was better she stay away for now. So instead, she sat with a cup of terrible coffee in one hand, and her phone in the other.

There were an alarming number of messages waiting for her, she noted as she took a sip of the coffee. Something must have happened, and Minerva had a moment to hope no one else had been hurt in the storm before her phone started to buzz and the name “Leo Tarkesian” appeared on the screen.

“Thank fuck,” he said as soon as she answered. “I’ve been calling half the night! I was about to start over to you and Duck’s place, I’d be there already if not for that damn storm -”

“Leo Tarkesian, I do not know what you are talking about.” She had to speak loudly to be heard over him, which drew some glances from other people in the room.

“Uh, I’m talking about Duck? Talking all kinds of nonsense about looking for you last night? He sounded real spooked, I thought for sure some shit had gone down.”

So the projection had been lost. If he thought she was still planets away, there was little wonder that Duck overshot his target. “Something, yes. There was an accident in the park, but I doubt that that whatever he said had anything to do with it.”

A pause. “So, when he said he was looking for you…?”

“He was asleep by then, with a fever. He was projecting from his dreams.”

A longer, more significant pause. “...We can do that?”

Minerva didn’t answer. “Did he appear to anyone else?”

“Not that I know of, but I called Sarah. And Sheriff Owens, to see if anyone had called anything in.” Duck wouldn’t be happy to hear that the news had gotten that far, but in fairness, it would have spread anyway. “That fucking… I’m not gonna lie to you, Minerva, I haven’t forgotten that fucking vision, you know the one. Where Duck dies.”

“Yes, I remember.” Even with every possible attempt to forget.

“Really thought… really thought something big was going on. But you said there was an accident, is everything okay?”

Minerva braced herself for the fallout, and told Leo everything.

“Fuck it all, I fucking knew it! I’m calling Sarah back, we’ll be over soon - yeah I know, no news yet but we’re gonna be there, dammit - okay I gotta hang up so I can call her but I’ll call you back, yeah? We’ll be there soon!”

And then connection was quiet, and Minerva was left in a mostly-empty waiting room with a phone full of messages and the dawning realization of why there were so many.

Mama called next, before Minerva could find her number in her contacts. “No, I didn’t see him,” she explained. “That was Barclay, barged into my room and stood over me like some kind of serial killer. Scared me half to death. The storm had calmed a little by then so he went out looking to see if he could find, I don’t know, Duck’s wrecked car, maybe. Didn’t really sound like he had a plan beyond ‘do something.’”

“You can tell him that Duck Newton is in capable hands, and I will share any news as soon as I have it.”

“I can’t tell him anything because the fool hasn’t gotten back yet. I swear to god he and Stern are searching the whole town like bats outta hell. Not like Jake didn’t overhear him and get the Hornets in on it too - you’d think they’d have given up by now.”

She gave Mama the hospital information, interrupted once by a frantic Barclay getting back, and then again while Mama answered an incoming message from Thacker.

Sylvain, Duck? Minerva thought while chaos erupted from her phone. You must have missed me.

“Aubrey, too,” Mama relayed. “Real late last night, he says, and she got the whole court worked up with her fretting. You can tell Duck he should be expecting some visitors real soon; gonna be hard to keep that room from filling to the brim.”

Of course it would; he would pretend to hate it, and no one would be fooled, and the nurse would have to throw the rambunctious crowd out when visiting hours were done. It was always the same with their family. A wonderful kind of chaos.

Then the doctor was there, and Minerva’s thoughts focused on one person only.

As she expected, the injury was severe. The recovery would be long and frustrating - walking was a conversation for another day. And under everything the doctor said was the hesitant warning of this will be hard, do you understand that?

Minerva did understand. And she knew besides how worth the work good things were. It was a lesson she thought she knew, until Duck repeated it while showing her how to care for a sapling and she felt the words fully for the first time.

It was the heroism her current line of work called for. The quiet kind.

Duck smiled at her when she walked in the room, big and bright and still a little loopy from pain medication. “There you are. Been looking for you.”

“I hear you’ve looked for me in many places, Wayne Newton.” She sat down by the bed, and the tension finally fully eased from her shoulders as she held his hand. “Why did it take you so long to look next to you?”

“Guess I thought… guess I thought that’d be too good, you know, keeping a star all to myself.”

Minerva laughed, and the sound boomed out of her. “Oh, you are going to regret saying that tomorrow, I assure you.”

“Nah. Nah, never, ‘cause it’s true. You’re my hero, like one of those… one of those people. In the sky.”

“You are mixing your metaphors. Am I one star or a constellation?”

“All of ‘em.” He looked like he believed it, too. “Decided you were all of ‘em way back when I didn’t know where exactly you were up there. I used to look up and wonder which one had you.”

“This one,” Minerva said, and kissed him.

#taz #the adventure zone #taz am #taz spoilers #minduck #listen #i did a hit but in my defense #it was going to happen eventually #i got to thinking about using those astral projections and how that might work #i'm sure there'll be more softs eventually #because i am soft for these two

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sherrybaby14 · 5 years ago

Text

The Option XII

Summary: Your plans go into motion

Warnings: Death/murder, smut

A/N: This is the end! Thank you all for going on this ride with me. I hope it leaves you satisfied.

Bucky lunged. You tried to get out of the way, but his hand was on your throat in a second. You brought your arm up like he taught you to chop it down. Then you moved your foot behind his knee to try and knock him to the ground.

To your surprise it worked and you followed him down, ready to strike.

“You’re moving slow.” He looked annoyed. “There were five times you could have killed me in this instance and you didn’t take any of them.”

“Throat exposed, ignored the groin, didn’t pull out a weapon.” You noticed three. The other two were lost on you.

“This isn’t the movies.” Bucky rolled over on the ground, so now you were pinned to the grass. “If you want to kill someone, you do it quickly. No long speech, no hesitation.”

You stifled the eye-roll, sick of the same speech. Bucky pushed off of you and grabbed your hand, pulling you up from the ground.

“Is that still what you want?” His eyes narrowed on you.

“Yes.” There was no pause in your response.

“Odds are you will never be in hand-to-hand combat. You point and shoot.” He started walking toward the house. “That’s enough for today.”

There was no doubt he was unhappy with your progress. It felt like something wasn’t clicking and you didn’t know how to make it work. But you were trying, and your body was aching as a result.

You plopped down on the mattress. Sore, and knowing it would be worse when you woke up. Bucky’s hands went to your shoulders. He dug his fingertips into your muscles and started to rub.

A moan left your mouth at his expertise. He could rub the pain away. His hands worked their way down your back and you melted underneath him.

“What’s your mantra?” Bucky never stopped.

“Point and shoot. No talking. No thinking.” You could say those words in your sleep.

“Good.” He leaned down over you and placed a kiss on the back of your head. “Never forget.”

He settled on the bed next to you and started kissing your neck. You knew what that meant. Even with your training, Bucky was as insatiable as ever. You knew the pleasure he was about to bring you would send you needed to sleep, so you shifted on the bed, turning to meet his kiss and eager for his touch.

Tomorrow would be a new day. You wouldn’t hesitate. You would find the fourth and fifth way to take out your opponent, but right now you would bask in the glory your lover was about to bring.

The bruises stopped forming. You were getting quicker to block and recognizing the next move. The little sparring sessions were lasting longer. Bucky went to kick you and you saw it coming, maneuvering your body out of the way.

You countered with a strike against his chest. A grunt left his lips and a smile came to yours. Then his arms were on you in a second, turning and pining you against his chest. You tried to break out, but he gripped down harder.

“Don’t get cocky.” His mouth was next to your ear.

He noticed the smile. Your resistance faded, declaring this one won by him yet again. He dropped his arms and swatted you on the ass.

“But you did good.” The heat of the summer bore down on him and you saw some sweat. “You will never beat me, not at fighting like this.”

“That’s motivating.” You walked over to your water.

“Peach there is no such thing as a quirky assassin.” Bucky raised an eyebrow at you. “If you still want this, remember.”

“Point and shoot. No talking. No thinking.” You’d practiced with the guns enough; you were as good a shot as Bucky. “I still want this. Very much.”

In the evenings, sometimes Bucky would do a little research and let you help. The more you learned about the organization the longer your list of targets grew.

“Once you kill a person…you can’t go back.” Bucky picked up a black roll off the ground and set it on the little table. “Are you sure you want that on your conscious?”

“Those people have done worse. They will continue to do worse if we don’t do anything.” You were getting tired of this conversation. Your mind was made up.

“More will pop up.” Bucky unrolled the fabric. “In their place.”

“We can’t control the evil in the world.” Your eyes went wide at the shiny silver. “But I want some revenge.”

“Alright.” Bucky picked up a mid-sized blade with a black handle. “It’s a lot harder to stab a person than people realize. You have to use a lot of force.”

The air was thick and the temperature high. There were no more beads of sweat, now the second you were outside you were covered in it.

You did your little dance with Bucky, lasting even longer this time. Now it was a regular occurrence you battled until you were out of breath and he was slightly winded. Given his strength, you would take that as a win, even though it ended with you getting pined.

“You’re quiet today.” Bucky was at the table loading the guns, for whatever obstacle he was going to put you through this afternoon.

“It’s hot.” Of course, the little house didn’t have any AC either so hiding inside wouldn’t be any better.

“It’s been hot.” Bucky set the gun down and put out a knife. “Speak your mind Peach.”

“I’m getting a little antsy.” You knew this conversation wouldn’t go over well. “It’s August. We’ve been at this for what? Five months? How much longer?”

“You’re not ready.” Bucky set the knife down and looked at you with narrow eyes. “Five months is not a long time for this sort of training.”

“We know the target’s schedule. We have a plan formed. Why can’t we execute it now?” You knew how bratty you sounded, but you needed an answer.

“Drop it.” He shook his head. “You’re not ready.”

“When will I be ready then?” Your frustration was pouring out.

You picked up the gun and shot at the tree, then set it down and picked up the knife, flinging it just the way he taught you. It stuck in the tree centimeters from where the bullet was.

Instead of looking impressed with your accuracy Bucky looked annoyed.

“You will be ready when I don’t have to worry about you dying.” He folded his arms. “That’s the only way we will kick this off.”

“You will always worry about me dying.” You squeezed your fists and bit back a groan.

“That’s true.” Bucky walked around the table until he was in front of you, hands on your shoulders. “How about until you show me I should be scared of you, instead of for you?”

“Did you see me shoot? The knife?” You held your hand out to the tree. “Shoot. Stab. No talking. No thinking.”

“And what are you doing right now?” Bucky had a little smirk on his face. “Talking? Thinking? You’re not ready.”

You didn’t like how he was looking at you like you were a child having a tantrum, but the wind was out of your sails and he pulled you closer for a hug. Both of your bodies were sweaty and the heat made your skin stick together.

“We’re taking the afternoon off.” Bucky’s arm hooked under your legs as he hoisted you in the air.

“What?” You were deep in thought, trying to figure out how to how him you were ready. “Why?”

“Because watching you throw that knife got me hard.” Bucky’s blue eyes got that glimmer of lust you knew only meant one thing.

The rest of the day and night would be spent in the bed. Your core tingled in response, conditioned to grow needy at his gaze.

As eager as you were to get your plan in motion, maybe an afternoon with Bucky fucking you senseless would give you an edge as to how to clear your head.

The evenings started to cool. That didn’t make the day any less hot, but you could tell fall was on its way. Now was the time to act. If you didn’t prove yourself to Bucky, he would push back any plans until the spring.

The night was going to end with you getting your way or him being very angry at you, but it was worth the shot.

“It smells good in here.” He came out of the bedroom, his hair still wet from the shower. “Is that why you didn’t join me?”

“I wanted to make you something nice.” He wrapped his arms around you when you set the plates down. “Sit. Eat.”

“Tonight I thought we could relax a little.” Bucky picked up his fork. “Play cards or something.”

“Sure.” You tried to act nonchalant as you sat down.

“Peach I can tell you’re getting agitated, but there’s still a lot to learn.” He grabbed his glass of water and took a giant sip. “You will get there.”

When he set the cup down a smile crept up on your face. Bucky raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting a different reaction from you.

“I’ve killed you twice.” You put your elbows on the table and set a piece of chalk down.

Bucky looked down and saw the white line across his pants.

“That would be me slitting your femoral artery.” You picked up your water and took a sip.

“Wha…” Bucky started to trail off.

His head fell forward and smacked into the plate of food. You stifled a laugh, shocked it worked that quick.

“And I also poisoned your drink.” You spoke to nobody as you stood up and went to the unconscious Bucky. “No big speech.”

You put your arms under his and tugged him from the chair, dragging him over to the couch. Then you went and got a napkin and wiped him off. He’d wake up in a few hours. You imagined he would be angry, but once he calmed down you hoped he would accept the fact that you were ready.

“Urg.” Bucky brought his hand to his forehead when his eyes opened.

He didn’t remember falling asleep or being on the couch. When he sat up Peach was in front of him holding out a glass of water.

“Nothing in this one.” She looked pleased with herself. “I promise.”

The last memory of Peach killing him twice came back when he took the water from her. As annoyed as he was over being drugged, he was impressed with her little show.

“Are you mad at me?” Her nerves were showing.

She was the only person on the entire planet who could make murder look cute. Bucky had known for a few weeks they could start, but part of him was wishing she would change her mind, unsure that she fully grasped the concept of taking someone’s life.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He knew the answer but had to ask one last time. “There’s no going back.”

“They took something from me.” Peach turned on the couch. “Something, I don’t even know what it was. There’s a black spot inside me that will never go away. I know killing them won’t fix it, but if I can get a taste of relief. I want it.”

Bucky wanted to say no. To kidnap her and run off to Central America, but he knew exactly what she was talking about and he wasn’t hypocritical enough to deny her that taste. Besides, he had a hard enough time saying no to her as it was.

“Alright.” He took a deep breath. “Here is what I have in mind for target one.”

The train station was crowded. It was mainly tourists, some lugging multiple suitcases, ready to scatter across Europe.

“Are you nervous?” Bucky whispered in your ear.

“No.” You lied. “We’ve practiced twice now.”

Of course it was on different routes. When you watched your train pull in it was like your heart stopped beating.

“Don’t forget to breathe Peach.” Bucky squeezed your hand.

You were both in jeans and plain t-shirts with light jackets. Nothing noticeable. Nothing that would draw attention to you.

“Come on.” He took a step forward and you followed, the metal beast looming.

The conductor took a look at your tickets and gave you some directions in French. Your eyes continued to span the crowd, looking for any single lost looking girl. There was a target on the train. Would she be boarding now?

Bucky figured out their process. An unsuspecting woman would board the train, make a friend, usually in the dining car, who would drug her drink. Then the train would have a “break down” and the friend would drag the unconscious victim to the tiny tony about three hundred yards away from the tracks.

Board the train, go until the end of the line and walk off with all the victim’s belongings as if they were her own. Nobody suspecting anything.

The information made you add the contact at the train company who organized the break down to your hit list. But they would get their own special visit.

Bucky didn’t drop your hand as you walked into the car. Much like the first time you were on this train, there were small sleeping rooms. It was like déjà vu when he opened the door to the private space.

“Are you okay?” Bucky walked into the room.

“Memories.” You looked at the twin bed. “What would have happened if I’d stayed in here that night? Decided to sleep hungry?”

“It wouldn’t have mattered.” Bucky sighed. “She would have found some way to meet you, get you to trust her. Probably walked into your room like it was an accident.”

“I didn’t mean that. I meant I wouldn’t have met you.” You gave him a small smile. “Which in some way makes me grateful for her.”

“Does that mean you're changing your mind?” Bucky’s features went soft.

“No.” You leaned closer to him and put your arms around his neck.

“Then it’s time to go.” He gave you a quick kiss.

You went back out in the hall. Bucky walked to the end of the train car and opened the door. There was a small platform connecting the different parts. He pulled open the next. It was lined with seats. For the people not wanting to spend the money on a private compartment, or those feeling suffocated in their rooms.

Bucky led the way as you opened twelve doors, walking through six different sitting cars until you came to the one right before the dining car. He picked a seat at random and you sat next to him.

It wasn’t crowded, but soon a few more people chose seats. You reached behind your back and felt the gun tucked into your pants. It was hard to believe you were wearing a weapon and nobody seemed to notice.

Bucky pulled out a magazine from his jacket and handed it to you. He gave you a knowing look about touching the gun. Don’t draw attention.

“Sorry.” You took the rag from him and flipped open to a random page. “What if she doesn’t show up?”

“She will.” Bucky pointed to the page. “Stick to the plan.”

He was so calm. You didn’t understand how. You could barely sit still and were certain you were about to start sweating.

Then in an instant it felt like the world stopped spinning. There she was: Alice. She was as beautiful as you remembered, but with the toned down look. Approachable, friendly. Her hands were busy with the phone she was immersed in.

“You’re starring,” Bucky whispered.

You dropped your eyes to the magazine, wondering if she would even recognize you. When she passed your seat she didn’t even look up from her screen. Instead, she opened the door to move into the dining cart. When it shut your stomach felt rotten. Like you might throw up everywhere.

“Deep breath.” Bucky put his arm around your shoulder and tilted your chin toward his face. “You can do this Peach. I know you can.”

You nodded your head and he placed a kiss on your lips. It was soft, warm, longer than a peck. It heated the ice that was in your veins.

The train started to roll out of the station. Bucky broke the kiss.

“Stick to the plan.” He placed another on your forehead before sliding out of his seat. “You’ll do great.”

You smiled and laughed a little. Your assassin man praising and encouraging you over murder was not where you saw your life going.

“Thank you.” You didn’t think you had ever spoken the words with more conviction.

Bucky offered you a hand and you rose from the seat. He ran his palm over your cheek and gave you one more kiss. When he walked away you continued to hold on to him, not dropping his fingers until the final second.

He disappeared into the dining car and you turned and went the other way. The train wasted no time picking up speed and when you opened the door and crossed the small platform to the other car your confidence picked up. You could do this. You would do this. You needed this.

Bucky swirled the drink in his hands while he watched her. She sat at the bar section, waiting for her mark to show up. Based on Peach’s recollection of the evening it would be in about an hour. Bucky guessed if the victim didn’t show in two Alice would go looking for her.

They had to set this in motion before that happened. It would be hard to get her alone if she already had her companion.

The train wouldn’t break down until two a.m., but it seemed like Alice roofied them much earlier than that. It probably made them more compliant and everyone on the train would just see an obnoxious drunk girl.

He hoped Peach found a nice empty car. Given it was an overnight train ride there had to be a few.

The dining car got more crowded as people settled in for their trips. Bucky checked his watch. It was time.

“Excuse me.” Bucky tapped Alice on the shoulder. “I’m not normally this forward, but you are gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” She rolled her eyes and went back to her phone.

Bucky grabbed the seat next to her and plopped down, leaning closer.

“I mean it.” He could play obnoxious too. “What a beautiful creature you are. Let me guess model?”

“Nope.” She didn’t look up.

“Actress?”

“Not interested pal.”

“Trophy wife then?” Bucky gave a fake smile.

“Fuck off.” She looked up for that one.

“Wait.” He tapped the bar. “I’ve got it.”

“I said fuck off.” She was certainly sure of herself.

“You’re a siren.” Bucky leaned closer. “You trick people, drug them, and send them to their demise.”

The phone dropped from her hands. She was quick to pick it back up again. Rattling her had been easier than he thought.

“Do you even care what happens to them?” Bucky went back to his normal voice. “The girls?”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” She stood up from her chair.

Bucky only got one look at her face, but it wore an expression of terror. Clearly, she wasn’t prepared for this. He imagined the game she was playing on her phone would turn into texting her boss and alerting them of Bucky’s comment.

They would tell her she was being paranoid, but then when she never arrived they would know. Someone was coming for them.

Bucky watched her get almost to the door before he stood up from the bar. She was about fifteen feet in front of him as he moved to follow.

This part was all Peach, but Bucky worried she wouldn’t be able to pull the trigger and the wheels were in motion. There was no slowing down this train.

When he was on the open platform he reached into his jacket and drew his gun, hiding it up his sleeve.

Alice checked over her shoulder, Bucky was too far behind to grab her, but he was certain she was aware of his presence. Especially when she moved faster.

She traveled through to the next car. Bucky was hoping that was the last one, but Alice kept moving. Where the hell was Peach? How far did she go up?

There were too many loose ends. Bucky didn’t like it. He moved faster, deciding the second he caught up to her she was going to get a quick bullet in the back of her head. Peach would understand. The next one could be hers.

Bucky walked faster and faster. She was only about five feet in front of him now. Then she glanced over her shoulder and opened the platform door.

He was about to shoot when she cried out.

“Oh thank God! There is a crazy man following me.”

Fuck. Now Bucky was going to have to kill two people.

Stick to the plan. Wait between the vestibules. Bucky was going to drive her out of the dining car. You just had to find one that was a car or two away without a crowd and wait. A single shot and her body would drop below the train.

It would be better this way because you wouldn’t have to worry about what to do with the body and there would be no crime scene.

Two cars away were perfect. You knew it would likely be an hour, but you didn’t mind the breeze as you stood and watched the trees fly by and the sky darken.

A few people walked by, most of them assuming you were a smoker and going fast. You pulled the gun out and slid it up your sleeve like Bucky showed you. It would be quick and easy.

A small part of you worried you would not be able to pull it off, so you let your mind wander. This wasn’t the movies. Quick. No big speech. That didn’t mean you couldn’t play it over in your head though. What would you say to her?

You’re a bad person. Rot in hell. Remember me?

They all sounded so cheesy right now. Maybe it was best not saying anything, just getting it over with.

The train hit a bump and you reached out to grab onto the flimsy rail. With a clink, your hand grabbed on, but the gun slipped.

“Fuck.” It was long gone. Pulverized by the train. “Fuck fuck fuck.”

You had to think of something. Should you go get Bucky? Call it off? You checked your watch. She could be due any second now.

“Fuck!” You screamed out as the wind took your voice.

You were not losing this moment. You’d waited too long, practiced too hard. You pushed off the vestibule and went back into the train car, heading toward your room.

You couldn’t run, that would draw attention, but you moved as fast as possible. When you arrived your hands were shaking, but you got inside.

The only piece of luggage you had was a small duffle bag. It was designed to make it appear you were a couple heading away for a long weekend.

You ripped the thing open and felt around for a gun. There wasn’t one. But you did have a weapon.

You pulled out the dagger. Sharp, dangerous, and much more personal than a bullet. Could you do it? Stab someone? Bucky made it out like it was much harder than shooting.

What choice did you have? Give up? You hid the knife up your sleeve and left the room, strutting back to your vestibule, hoping you didn’t miss your opportunity.

All of a sudden a pit in your stomach started to from. What were you doing? Being disappointed about not killing someone? Had the world gone that crazy?

You weren’t an assassin. Hell, you couldn’t even hold on to the gun.

But the people deserved to suffer for what they’d done to you and what they tried to do to you. And countless others. Didn’t those girls deserve some vengeance too? How many of them were out there wishing Alice dead?

That cruel heartless bitch. You remembered how safe she made you feel, comfortable when in reality she was as big of a snake as they got.

Your unease turned to rage as you walked through the cars. Focusing on nothing but the need to stop her. You pulled open the door to exit the car when a voice was right in front of you.

“Oh thank God! There is a crazy man following me.”

You didn’t hesitate. Hell you didn’t even think. You just raised your hand and jammed hard, Grabbing her shoulder to leverage the blade deeper. It went straight under her rib cage, no doubt piercing her heart.

She looked at you with confusion, but then you saw it. Even in the darkness. It clicked in her eyes. She knew exactly who you were.

It sent an adrenaline rush down your body. One unlike any other. You spun and pushed. She did not put up any fight as she fell under the train. It was done. She was gone from the world. If it made you a horrible person that that fact made you feel better, you were OK with it.

“Peach?” Bucky’s voice made you turn.

He had his gun out and you were still carrying the knife, dripping with blood. Bucky put his weapon away and grabbed your wrist. He took the dagger and used the cuff of his jacket to wipe the prints off, then he threw it off the train.

“Are you alright?” He had to yell over the wind.

You nodded. Bucky pulled you close and then took your hand. His eyes combed your face, looking for signs you were telling the truth.

A loud whistle sounded and a second train zoomed by yours, close on the tracks. It made the wind pick up, but you did not look away from Bucky. You wanted him to see what you felt: relief and a little bit of pride.

The concern seemed to melt off of Bucky’s face and soon the hunger of lust appeared. It sent a jolt down your body and you parted your lips before his mouth was on yours.

Your tongue almost battled his for dominance as you held each other on the platform. Growing deeper and deeper with need for the man. Everything you were feeling, capable of doing, was possible because of him. You felt nothing but gratefulness for him.

The other train disappeared with a whistle and the breeze died down. Your kiss relaxed as Bucky pressed his forehead to yours.

“Come on.” He took your hand and pulled you inside the train car.

There were a few people in the seats, none of them paid you any attention or had any knowledge of the devious act you had committed or were about to commit.

Bucky kept the lead, pulling you across the car and over another vestibule, not saying anything until you were inside your small sleeping compartment.

“You did so good.” He spun you into another embrace, his hands running down your back while his mouth found yours. “So good.”

You started tugging at his shirt. He took off his jacket and set his gun on the small table. This hard needy kisses broke while both of you started to peel off your clothing.

“I’m so proud of you Peach.” Bucky kicked off his shoes.

The space was small and it was hard not to bump into each other as you stripped, but hearing Bucky’s praise made you grow all the more desperate for him. The train took a slight turn as you stepped out of your pants and panties, falling against Bucky who used the momentum to toss you on the small bed and fall on top of you.

His mouth was on yours again, the kiss deep and controlling. You didn’t feel the urge to battle this time, greedy to take whatever he would give you. His hands ran up your arms and lifted them above your head where he gathered your wrists in one palm.

Bucky’s mouth disappeared from yours as he kissed down your cheek to your neck, which you turned to the side to give him better access.

His other hand ran down your side. You shivered under his touch and parted your legs, bending your knees so he had access to all of you.

You felt the tip of his cock at your entrance and lifted your hips, wanting him to sink inside of you. Bucky pushed in as his tongue lapped at your neck and mouth sucked down. Your eyes shut as he filled you, unable to keep them open as your need was answered.

The need to touch him came and you started tugging your hands, but he gripped down harder, keeping them where they were.

“Please? I want to touch you!” You tried to move your head so that he was forced to look up from your neck, but he moved with you.

“Why should I let you touch me?” His teeth scrapped down as his fingers ran back up your hip.

Your brain struggled to come up with an answer. His palm came to your breast and he squeezed down, his knuckles rubbing against your nipples, drawing a gasp from your body and making you shrink back into the mattress.

“Because I love you.” It was the first rationale that you thought of.

Bucky let out a small grunt, but relaxed the grip on your wrists. You wiggled one hand free, but his fingers enclosed on the other.

Your fingernails found his back and you scratched down as he started picking up the pace. His shaft was pistoning in and out of you with ease, bouncing you into the mattress.

You tried to rock your hips with his speed, brushing your clit against his pelvis in the process, drawing you closer to your impending orgasm.

Bucky lifted his head, his lips on yours again. Your kiss was sloppy, both of you wanting as much contact with each other as possible, but too focused on other parts of your anatomy to pay attention.

In a flash Bucky’s hand left your body.

“Huh?” You let out a whine as his cock left your pussy.

He was back on your in a second, grabbing your hips and twisting you like you were weightless on to your hands and knees.

He put his hand on your shoulder and slid into you from behind with ease, making your toes curl. He didn’t take time working you up as he started nailing you into the mattress. His metal arm slid between your legs and a cool fingertip began massaging your clit making you moan.

“As much as I love those noises, you have to stay quiet.” Bucky’s arm left your shoulder as his chest came down on your back.

He brought it forward, pressing it against your mouth, muffling all the sounds your body was demanding you make.

There was no keeping up with him. He was like a machine, pumping faster and faster, rubbing your nub in a way that made your thighs shake. Slowly your body began to give out, your arms no longer capable of supporting you as Bucky fucked you with such vigor you thought your entire being was going to explode into nothingness.

The pleasure came on suddenly. You contracted around his cock and found yourself trying to bite his hand when the orgasm ripped through you. You panted and tingled all over, but he kept up his speed, hammering more and more pleasure out of you.

It was an out of body experience, one that was making your vision blacken and mind forget how to breathe. His hands went to your hips and he pulled you back hard as he thrust, his cock igniting inside of you, the aftershocks of the orgasm welcoming his cum.

Bucky collapsed on top of you, breathing heavily as he grew soft inside of you. You would never grow tired of this, him fucking you senseless and into clarity at the same time.

Neither of you spoke for a few minutes, but unlike other times you were not going to pass out, your adrenaline was much too high for that. He slipped out of you and turned on to his side. You did the same, so you were facing each other on the small bed.

Bucky touched your shoulder and placed a small kiss on your forehead.

“How are you feeling?” His blue eyes went back to studying your face. “Regret?”

“No.” You moved closer and put your hand on his chest. “Powerful, like we could conquer the world together.”

Bucky gave a half smile, but let it drop.

“You want to keep going?” There was a tint of nerves to his voice.

You wondered if he thought after taking care of Alice you weren’t going to be able to hang with this type of lifestyle. But that was far from the truth.

“I think we should pay my Uncle a visit next.” You let a wicked grin cross your face.

Bucky’s blue eyes flashed as he looked at you. The desire blooming all over again. His mouth found yours and you ran your hand through his hair, holding him close as his cock grew hard again against your thigh.

You didn’t know where your future was headed. Option A was finishing your list and going to Central America. Option B was keep adding names to your list, making sure everyone paid. When it boiled down to it, you didn’t think it mattered. Both Options involved being with Bucky.

THE OPTION

A/N: Thank you so much for reading this! So there you have it…..Steve and his lady are living domestic bliss and Bucky and Peach are murdering their way across Europe. I appreciate every single like/comment/reblog more that you realize and I am so grateful for the readers who take the time to check my stuff out! Thank you again. XOXO Sherry.

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #james buchanan barnes #fanfic #fanfiction #marvel fanfic #marvel

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thoughtfulfangirling · 4 years ago

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Something I've been wanting to write about for some time is how thoroughly the arc between Glimmer and Adora in season 4 parallel Catra and Adora's relationships and in this way, creates space for Catra's redemption, both for the characters in universe and for us as the audience. (btw who edits or revises things before posting them? Not me! Good luck!)

I remember thinking while watching season 5 for the first time and observing Catra and Glimmer's bonding, how Glimmer isn't quite as angry with Catra as one might expect given Catra's actions resulting in Angella's sacrifice. But it occurred to me: Glimmer's mistake just before the events of season 5 could have been just as destructive as Catra's in season 3, wherein that sacrifice took place.

Since then, I've been pretty blown away on the similarities between these arcs, and it came to a sort of head today while rewatching the first episode via Netflix Party with a friend of mine who is also still reeling over the season 5 finale.

In the first episode, Adora refuses to let Catra come back with her to the Whispering Woods to find what called out to her. She does this despite Catra's wanting to go with her because Adora fears that the consequences to Catra if they're caught would be too great. This means Catra isn't there when Adora makes her discovery about the Hoard. Catra isn't there nor a part of the decision of Adora's to abandon the Hoard. What might have been different if Adora had allowed her to come along?

But that's the thing. At that point in time in that first episode, it's not just Catra grossly influenced by the manipulations and abuses of Shadow Weaver, but even while more subtle, it's just as prevalent in Adora, and her acting on that which lays at least one foundational brick in the wall that springs up between them.

It's very well articulated in this Fandomentals article how Adora had to draw in on herself and her impulses and be the best that she can be in order to protect Catra.

"Adora wasn’t always like this. Her goofball side shows up lots of times in young adulthood, and we see that as a kid she wasn’t afraid to get in a bit of trouble. Not only did she tease Octavia to goad a violent reaction for her and Catra’s amusement, the excursion into the Black Garnet chamber was arguably her idea. That unfortunate encounter clearly stuck with Adora despite her not being the one who got in trouble...

...The thing Catra does not realize is that part of Adora’s drive to be good in Shadow Weaver’s eyes came from a desire to protect her. Shadow Weaver made Catra out to be a bad influence and threatened her because of it. If Adora was really really good and showed that Catra was not having a negative effect on her, then Shadow Weaver would have no reason to follow through."

And this drive to protect becomes a habit for Adora, a driving need. It's tied very much into the idea that if she can just keep doing everything she can to keep someone safe, she can keep bad things from happening to those she loves.

She carries this into her new relationships, and notably here, with Glimmer. It's only enhanced by Adora's feelings of always sacrificing her self for what she can do for others in the S3 finale when she has to sit on the sideline while Angella sacrifices herself in what Adora feels is her place. Not only does Adora walk away from that moment feeling that unless she can save the world, it should have been her, but she interprets Angella's last command to "take care of each other" as an order for Adora to protect Glimmer. It might also be worth nothing that the season ends with Adora being clear with Catra that she is done covering for her, that it's time for Catra to bear the responsibilities of her actions for herself and that Adora no longer accepts responsibility for her. I think it's not unlikely that this creates a bit of a vacuum for Adora, one which Angella seemed to suggest someone else for which to fill.

And the ramifications of that pulse ever more strongly as season 4 progresses. Adora hides behind the idea that this new sense of protectiveness for Glimmer is because Glimmer is the queen, but anyone can see that Glimmer needs to be a part of things and is more competent and capable than ever, and so it seems only reasonable to assume that Adora has gotten caught up in this protection impulse. And while Glimmer's own sense of desperation at the Hoard's advances and the death of her mother propel her ever ready anger and frustration, Adora's need to keep leaving Glimmer behind drives a wedge down between them. It's easy to see Glimmer's anger and her sharp tongue and her bursts of frustration as at fault and the cause of these issues—just like it is easy to see Catra's impulsiveness and possessiveness to appear to be the cause of all her and Adora's issues. But in reality, it's a two person game. Adora's behaviors are at least as destructive to these relationships, if less obviously visible.

So just like Adora makes a decision about going to the Whispering Woods and defect from the Hoard after leaving Catra in the Fright Zone, Adora leaves Glimmer behind at the end of Season 4 to, as she did in the beginning, do what was right at all costs.

Between getting information Adora doesn't get about Horde Prime arriving at any moment to Etheria followed by the blow that once again, just like many times before this season, Adora and Bow have gone off on a mission on their own, she makes a rash decision to try and use The Heart of Etheria.

In season 3, Adora tells Catra not to open the portal or the world could be destroyed. In season 4, Adora tells Glimmer the Heart of Etheria cannot be used without the world being destroyed. Catra pulls the lever, and Glimmer activates The Heart. The consequences of Catra's actions result in Angella's sacrifice. The consequences of Glimmer's actions pulls Etheria out of Despondos, into the path of Hoard Prime, and causes Adora to lose She Ra.

It's arguable what all Glimmer could be aware in regards to these consequences by the time she is taken prisoner, but it stands to reason she might truly believe, in the confines of ship and her cell until she hears further from Prime, that Adora could have been right, and she could have been transported off a planet just before it's destruction. Certainly she believes that the scale of her mistake is quite grave as she truly has a sense of carrying a hell of a burden.

So I think there's some awareness there, when it's Catra and Glimmer, lost in space in brand new and uncharted, horrifying waters that there is a certain likeness of their experiences. It created the space, I think, for Glimmer to recognize how easy it is to make catastrophic mistakes out of anger and pain and even well intentioned desperation. It shows the audience that given faith in Glimmer's heart and intentions and her own remorse, she is worthy of forgiveness.

And it just strikes me that it had to be Glimmer. Glimmer had to be the first to see this good in Catra, and it had to be Glimmer who saw hope in her, because Glimmer lost the most to Catra, something that can't be recovered.

The episode in which it's decided to go back to save Catra is one in which Glimmer spends the entire episode seeking Bow's forgiveness for a wrong even she feels she can never make up for and is only resolved when she says that she can't expect it but that she won't give up. She knows what it means to have messed up irreparably and that this doesn't mean one should just stop trying.

Glimmer: Look, I know you're still mad at me. Maybe you'll be mad at me for a really long time. I deserve it! And maybe— Maybe we'll— Maybe we'll never be friends like we used to be. But I'm not going to stop trying to make it better. I made a mistake with the Heart of Etheria. I should have listened to you, and I'm sorry. You get to be mad, for as long as you need to be. But I'm not going anywhere, and when you're ready, I'll be here.

Adora witnesses this, and it's then that she truly decides they need to go back for Catra. When she approaches the topic, the 'camera' is on her and Glimmer. Bow is there, but she's telling Glimmer, rambling as she tries to get to the point, knowing what Catra took from Glimmer specifically because she needs Glimmer to understand and, I think, give her this blessing, because it's Glimmer who was most hurt by Catra's past bad actions. And Glimmer gives it.

Glimmer: Catra sacrificed herself to save me. Whatever you need to do, I'm with you.

Angella is gone, but Catra is still here. Glimmer knows what it is to mess up profoundly, and she also felt real horror and trauma imprisoned on the Hoard ship. It certainly means Something that Catra risked everything to get Glimmer out, and I think even that it means something that she did it to protect Adora, just like Angella in many ways made her sacrifice largely as a means to protect and save Glimmer.

It is meaningful and impactful that Glimmer plays such a large role in Catra's redemption and that she is cheering her on as she walks the difficult path of admitting and making up for past mistakes. Catra, in some ways, learned how to make things right from Glimmer. Catra watched as Glimmer came to her to end the Hoard's reign at the end of Season 4. Catra watches the realization hit Glimmer that her choice was wrong, destructive as she collapses on the ground being sapped of her power.

Glimmer: Adora was right! Light Hope, used me. She activated the Heart!

Catra: So? I thought you wanted to win. Use your weapon.

Glimmer: I can't! It would destroy everything. I have to try and stop it.

Catra clearly followed Glimmer as she struggled back to the Black Garnet to attempt to destroy the garnet and make right the wrong she did. She must have watched Glimmer strike impotently at the garnet until she collapsed. And finally when they are stuck on Hoard Prime's ship together, and they know Adora is on her way to attempt to rescue Glimmer, Glimmer makes that statement, "Do one good thing in your life."

Catra's redemption has so many moving parts. The show really took it's time to put so many pieces in place, from everything it did with Shadow Weaver (oh hey, also note Shadow Weaver's presence with Glimmer and how it effects her and Adora's relationship too in S4), Entraptra, Scorpia, Double Trouble, etc to put Catra emotionally just in the right place to really hear Glimmer. And part of why she can hear Glimmer, is because she just witnessed Glimmer in her place. She shouts at Glimmer after those words that she knows nothing about her, but the truth is, I think Catra was seeing quite a bit of herself in Glimmer just then, and found herself wanting. So, finally, she strove to do better.

It honestly is just so beautifully done. I can't blame anyone for wanting more time with Catra's redemption, but I do think it was well earned. Glimmer offers a good prep in how a character can be misled and even estranged by the protagonist that leads to bad places. It creates a point of understanding and an example for the in universe characters to jump off of. I definitely saw in Glimmer's enthusiasm for Catra's joining the team a sense of 'if they can forgive her, then they can forgive me.' And it doesn't seem unlikely that Catra even had the exact same thought when she decided to risk Prime's wrath to save Glimmer. Despite her cynical nature, I think she found a spark of hope in her, and she made a leap of faith.

And I think in this way too, we were more ready to accept Catra's redemption. So many pillars were put up in many places by the creators, and even while I can't fault anyone for wanting some tweaks or changes, I think spop did a fantastic job on this redemption and felt it truly earned by the end of the season.

But then again, I might be biased in laying so much credit on Glimmer, cause Glimmer did nothing wrong, and they had to forgive her, and she’s wonderful and perfect!

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lupizora · 6 years ago

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Castaways On A Foreign Planet (2/5)

I have officially beat my fear of posting the second chapter! It sounds so irrational when I say it aloud but I was always worried if the next chapter will leave up to the first, especially if it had been well received. >.> That means I can slowly start working on the rest of my multi-chaps and whatever comes. Interest is so fickle on the internet. It shouldn't weight down my creativity and productivity.

This chapter is for the @kacchakobittersweetweek 's theme of Confrontation. I have one more chapter planned for the week and by the looks of it, this story will end around chapter five (maybe six, if chapter four gets too long). XD

Genre: Sci-Fi/Romance

Pairing: Bakugou x Uraraka

Rating: T

Summary: Ochako thought she had settled into her job as a mercenary. Katsuki thought there was only one reason to fly. Together they thought they knew their place in this war. But all it took to question everything was find each other again.

The ledge broke under Ochako's boots as she jumped from one rock formation to another.

"Arrogant," she hissed.

The wind whipped at her face and rustled her bangs. "Selfish."

Her boots hummed as they activated and pushed her off the ground. Conflicting emotions had tied themselves into a knot inside her chest. She couldn’t grasp how someone could be so ungrateful and rude to the person who had saved his hide from certain death.

"Jerk!" Ochako reached the plateau with one last jump.

As if she had wanted to drag his unconscious body—which had been heavier due to the higher gravity of this planet—out of that burning cockpit. She should have left him in there and spared herself from this grief. But she didn't because her consciousness wouldn't leave her alone if someone died on her watch. It baffled her though, how she hadn't recognized Bakugou when she took off his helmet. Maybe because he hadn’t had the otherwise permanently carved scowl on his face. He had appeared almost peaceful… until he woke up.

Pain shot through her chest as if her lungs stopped functioning. She hiccupped. No one besides her teachers knew why Ochako had left the Academy. Her grades had been decent, especially in their flying lessons. The incident with the Sparrow happened because of engine malfunction—forcing her to perform an impromptu landing. Thanks to her accurate calculations no one got hurt except Bakugou's pride. He started antagonizing her in all of their training sessions from that day forward. It had been surprising since he had ignored Ochako's existence during the whole semester. But as the challenges came and went, she found herself focusing harder than before, and giving her all wholeheartedly. After a while, Bakugou started lingering a bit longer after sessions. His eyes followed her whenever they were occupying the same space, although he seemed to think she wasn't looking. Ochako had even dared to hope there was something more to this than merely their growing rivalry. But she hadn't had the chance to find out for sure because she left.

I'm not gonna cry over this, she thought, wiping the tears from her eyes. It’s not worth it.

Up ahead, secluded between two rock pillars and illuminated by the light of the moon, stood her escape pod. Ochako climbed inside and sealed it shut. After returning the first aid kit back to its niche, she laid down on her seat. The bulletproof glass did little to protect her from the cold nesting inside her chest. Hugging her knees and with a clouded mind, she drifted to sleep.

For the next couple days, Ochako would crawl to the edge of the plateau and observe Bakugou’s camp. Some of the controls still worked because the Peregrine had returned into a horizontal position. Under her jacket’s protection from the scorching heat, she saw him working on different parts of the ship but not making any significant progress. Back then, she had been too preoccupied with his wounds to notice the true state of the spacecraft. But considering the windscreen was in shambles, the ship couldn’t fly out of here even with a functional engine.

When Ochako returned to the escape pod that night, she let her gaze wander on its surface. The rough landing had left minor dents here and there but she couldn’t use it to get out of there anyway. Being considered a last resort, the pod didn’t have any controls to drive. One only hoped for others to find them if they used it. Bad luck had it for the planet to pull in the pod instead of letting it float amongst the asteroid field.

Ochako snuggled in the seat, stretching her legs on top of the console. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the black surface of a screen. It was a digital frame previously adorning the Peregrine’s control panel. Ochako had grabbed it without much thought. However, after a closer examination, she was surprised to find it contained a video of familiar faces from the Academy. Kirishima—another pilot trainee, his personality vibrant as his wild red hair—and Kaminari—a radio operator spending more time in the spacecraft docks than the communications room—where seen dragging Bakugou inside the camera’s scope. Bakugou managed to shake them off but Sero—the mechanic that always got roped into the other two’s shenanigans—grabbed him by the collar of his uniform. Whatever he said made Bakugou stop resisting and he reluctantly stood in the middle. The video ended with all of them posing for the camera, the body of a spaceship and part of the docks visible in the background.

Bakugou had never struck Ochako as the sentimental type. Considering what she remembered from back then, it had probably been Kirishima’s idea. But the video brought a smile to her face nonetheless; reminding her of peaceful and simpler times, when all she had to worry about was not fail her classes.

Ochako didn’t ponder often about her decision to become a mercenary. She had done it with a clear mind and a set heart. But with nothing to distract her, she had mulled over it a lot in the past few days. Everything happened so her parents can have a more comfortable life. They had insisted she followed her dream to be a pilot, but their already dire situation became worse because of the war. Graduation stopped being Ochako’s goal soon after.

Pulling at the chain around her neck, she let the disk-shaped locket fall on her palm. Purple lines glowed in an elaborate pattern on its surface and a recorded holo-message of her parents materialized.

“Whatever path ya chose, remember that Papa and Mama won’t stop loving ya,” her dad said, hugging his wife close. “Yer a strong girl, Ochako. All we want is ya to be happy.”

“Always follow your heart, dear. It’ll never lead you astray,” her mother added.

The hologram flickered for a moment longer before disappearing back inside the locket. Ochako returned it beneath her turtleneck. It was hard to follow her heart because it told her Bakugou had people waiting for him to return home too. But it also told her she ought to wait until he realized his own hopelessness. Then, hopefully, he would ask for her help.

His scornful tone from their last conversation replayed in her head. Ochako covered her face, letting an angry whine. It was beyond the realm of wishful thinking for Bakugou to even remember she was still around, more so ask for her help. They had been stuck together on this planet for a week now, and he hadn’t shown any signs of recognizing her presence. Ochako could wait. This pod wasn’t as confined as the other places she had stayed. But she was tired of this suffocating gravity already. If he didn’t want to make the first move, she would.

When the twin suns passed their highest point the following day, Ochako climbed on the boulder she had been using to overlook Bakugou's camp. It rose six meters high above the ground. She had calibrated her boots accordingly, but the prospect of this jump sent her heart into a pounding frenzy.

This is your only chance, she repeated like a mantra.

With a deep breath, Ochako hugged the digital frame and walked over the edge. Gravity pulled at her legs like invisible vines right away. The system activated after a meter of free falling. She continued her descend as if she was walking down a staircase in midair. Her knees throbbed from the pressure, but she endured it until she landed. The ventilators on her soles raised a small dust cloud around her ankles.

Up ahead, Bakugou was hammering the surface of the right wing again. The clanging sounds became louder as Ochako approached, but his back remained turned even when she reached the left wing.

"So… how's it going?" she asked.

Bakugou stopped mid-blow, and a shiver ran its course on his shoulders. After a couple of heartbeats in silence, he resumed his work.

Ochako sighed and circled around the ship. Holding the digital frame behind her back, she inspected the exhaust. The metal constituting it had bent slightly upwards, looking like the frown face of a tragedy mask.

"Your thrusters are busted. Hard to fix but not impossible." Ochako peeked from behind the tail. "With the right parts," she chimed.

Bakugou finally turned with the familiar scowl on his face. Grease and machine oil were covering almost every inch of visible skin. He had unzipped the upper part of his spacesuit, revealing the black tank top he wore underneath. Ochako pretended not to notice as she approached the damaged wing. Her fingers traced over the initials G-0 on the hull which scorched a bit under her fingertips. She crouched down to take a look under the wing. Cables were tangling from the missing plates of the underside, and a large crack spread along what would be considered the wrist of a real bird's wing.

"What the fuck do you want?" Bakugou asked. His voice was a lot coarser than last time, as if unused.

Ochako ignored the shudders on her spine and with a tap of her shoes, jumped in front of him. Before he could protest, she presented him the digital frame.

"I came to return this."

He blinked confused and took it from her hands. His expression didn't change when the video started playing.

"It'd be a shame if it got lost in the fire. So… I salvaged it," Ochako said. "It seemed like something precious."

Bakugou put the frame aside on his toolbox and crossed his toned arms. "Don't waste my fucking time," he said. "What's the real reason?"

"This was one of them," Ochako insisted and waved a hand at the ship. "You can't fix this on your own. Even if you somehow manage to get it flying, you'll never get off this planet without functioning wings. They'll shatter before you cross the stratosphere."

"Are you blind, Round Face? This is what—"

"What about your windscreen? If not the cold, you'll die from the pressure. Face it. You have neither the team nor the parts to do this right." She offered her hand. "Let's make a deal. My pod is in good condition. I can give you the parts you need."

Bakugou narrowed his eyes in disbelief. "All right…"

"But!" Ochako lifted her pinky finger. "You have to promise that you'll take me along when you leave."

"What? Are you five or something?"

"It's either that or you won't see even a glint of those parts. Your choice."

His chest expanded as Bakugou took an angry breath, his nostrils flaring. The lion had been cornered but Ochako wouldn’t back down no matter how much he decided to growl. Their stare off was interrupted by a different kind of sound though.

The loud rumble of an empty stomach.

Bakugou looked away. Red bloomed on his cheeks, brighter than the sunburns already in place. "Can't make clear decisions right now," he said after the awkward pause. "Wait until I get something to eat."

There was barely anything left of his provisions, and he wouldn’t accept if Ochako offered hers. He'd have to hunt. But marching hungry in an unknown territory was too dangerous. She knew that all too well, having to spend several days without eating between missions.

"I could get you something," she said and added quickly because of his murderous glare. "Blab all you want about your endurance training, but you've been working non-stop.” She pointed at the forest line behind her back. “You'll just draw unwanted attention if you march in there like this. I'm better rested so I'll be done in no time."

"How do I know you won't poison me, take my ship and leave?"

"You never listen, do you? I can't fix the ship on my own either. And…" Ochako clenched her fists, her nails digging painfully into the flesh of her palms. "Someone has to pilot it.”

Understanding crossed over Bakugou’s features. He clenched his jaw, staring at the space between them like it burned. “Go,” he said through his teeth. “We’ll continue over dinner or whatever.”

Ochako nodded with a forced small smile and jumped back to the ground. Before she could take another step though, she heard shuffling above.

“Hey!” Bakugou stood at the edge of the wing. But the frown was softer, his eyebrows just a smudge less angled. “Don’t get killed,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir!” Ochako replied with a mock salute.

Her smile grew larger when he couldn’t see her face anymore. Maybe the spark back in the Academy hadn’t been only her imagination.

Beyond the forest’s brow, the scorched earth turned into ochre-colored grass. Mahogany brown trunks climbed high enough to obscure the suns with their wide foliage. They resembled lily pads sprouting from the bottom of a red lake. Her surroundings carried the faint aroma of strawberries too. It reminded Ochako of her mother. She used to cultivate some on the porch, right outside their door. But the golden glow her mother’s lean figure basked under was always cold inside her memories.

Birds with rich plumage passed overhead, startling Ochako out of her daydreaming. Their long tails left colorful trails behind like they were light-painting. Armadillo-like critters rustled the blades of grass on her right. They scurried away as fast as their tiny feet could carry them; wobbling like drunk elderly. Seeing other living creatures was a blessing after the past week’s desolation. But she had come here to hunt. The critters’ rough grey armor appeared tough like a crab’s but it wouldn’t hold a candle against her carbon-enhanced knife.

Ochako followed them deeper into the forest. Droplets were forming on her clothes like dew drops as the temperature got cooler. Without her realizing, the grass had reached her waist when the critters disappeared.

She stopped.

Chills crawled along her spine like slithering snakes. It was too quiet. She pulled out her knife and closed both hands around the handle. Listening patiently to the familiar—and maybe not so familiar—sounds of the forest, Ochako took calculated steps forward. She couldn’t pinpoint what was amiss. This sensation strained her nerves to their breaking point until stalks of grass broke with a loud crunch from her left. Something leaped out of there and Ochako dived forward. After a barrel roll, she jumped back to her feet and turned around. There was only an empty spot in the vegetation before her. She scanned the perimeter without turning her back to it when something blue shot out of the void. It swooshed above her shoulder as she dodged. The scenery trembled like the waters of a pond, painting the silhouette of a four-legged creature. While returning to the creature’s wedge-shaped snout, the blue forked tongue left behind a trail of translucent saliva.

Ochako bolted.

Her heart thumped hard against her chest. She slalomed between the trees. The heavy steps of the beast chasing her pounded on the ground like sledgehammers. Her breathing was labored. She felt like she was running through a swamp. Yet, she couldn’t stop. The creature was too big to deal with just a knife. She needed time to think; somewhere to take a breather and regroup her thoughts.

The trees around her opened up into a glade. On its other side, there was a tree with a bigger trunk than the rest but without lower branches like them too. Ochako turned left and made a wide arc inside the clearing. The beast—with its big awkward body—stumbled and rolled over. It gave her enough time to re-activate her boots. Pocketing the knife, Ochako dashed full speed ahead. Just as the beast recovered and growled, showing its pointy teeth, she jumped. The ventilators hummed on her first step midair. She didn’t drop the pace, hopping from one imaginary solid spot in the air to the next like an experienced dancer. The beast tried to reach her, its tongue missing her right foot for centimeters. Ochako’s stomach leaped to her throat and she forced her next jump to be higher. Her hands got ahold of the nearest tree branch when gravity returned with full force. She dangled from it, her shoulders screaming in protest. Hitting her ankles together ignited the boosters on her heels, and she made a 360° turn around the branch before leaping onto the next one. With the combined effort of her boosters and a couple of acrobatics, Ochako managed to perch closer to the main foliage. Below her, the beast trashed its tail and jumped, but she was too high to reach. As if disappointed, the beast continued pacing back and forth at the root of the tree.

Ochako went over her options. She could try passing above the creature but the next tree was at least two meters away. Her boots weren’t made for long-distance running and they were already pushed at their limits. The beast was so fast too. There was no way to outrun it once she reached the ground. For a moment she wondered if Bakugou would come looking for her if she didn’t return soon. It was highly unlikely. He wouldn’t put himself in danger by going so deep into the forest. There were other ways to find food and he would eventually locate the pod, without or without her help. All she had tried to do with this venture was win his trust.

With nothing else to do, Ochako decided to wait for the beast to leave on its own. Certainly, it wouldn’t take long and she had all the time in the world.

#kbsw #kacchako #kacchakobittersweetweek #uraraka ochako #bakugou katsuki #bnha #bnha fanfiction #boku no hero academia #fanfiction #fanfic #space pilots au #wolfswriting #castaways on a foreign planet #I was editing the forest sequence for three days and I still don't know how to feel about it #also this was late for a couple RL reasons but hey finally a second chapter xDDD

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smokescreen24 · 6 years ago

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Get to know me Questions

1. What is your full name? Jessica. I only hear my full first name when I’m in trouble.

2. What is your nickname? Jess to family, Jazz to @sabotage-prowl, since she’s the one who gave me that nickname.

3. What is your zodiac sign? Taurus/Gemini cusp, but I have more Taurean traits, so I just say Taurus for simplicity’s sake.

4. What is your favorite book series? Oof, that’s tough. Probably either the Nightside series or the Secret Histories series. They’re both by Simon R Green. I’m actually reading the last book in the Secret Histories, and I’m ready to cry.

5. Do you believe in aliens or ghosts? Aliens? Not so much. Ghosts, yeah, a little. Hard not to when you’ve actually seen spooks in real life and in real time.

6. Who is your favorite author? Simon R Green. Seriously. I love his writing.

7. What is your favorite radio station? I don’t have one - I don’t listen to the radio that much. Why listen to mostly commercials and some music when I can pay Spotify 10 bucks and listen to just music?

8. What is your favorite flavor of anything? Vanilla. I drink and eat a lot of vanilla flavored stuff.

9. What word would you use often to describe something great or wonderful? My instinct would be to use the word awesome. I use that one a lot, to be brutally honest.

10. What is your current favorite song? Currently? Probably either Legend by The Score, or Superpower by X Ambassadors.

11. What is your favorite word? Fuck. I say it A LOT.

12. What was the last song you listened to? Miss Jackson by Panic! At the Disco. It’s damn catchy, and thus is stuck in my head. I’m humming it now, tbh.

13. What TV show would you recommend for everybody to watch? Huh. That’s tough. I watch a lot of shows, so I don’t think I could recommend just one.

14. What is your favorite movie to watch when you’re feeling down? The Man From Uncle. That movie is hilarious, and Napoleon Solo gives me life.

15. Do you play video games? Uh, yeah. Fairly frequently. I’m a FO4 fan, and I also play a lot of Diablo 3.

16. What is your biggest fear? Spiders. This girl will nope the hell out of the room. Then make my guy go kill it.

17. What is your best quality, in your opinion? I’m not too sure, actually. My reliability?

18. What is your worst quality, in your opinion? Oh, this one I know, though. One of them is my inability to communicate. I’m bad at it - I miss calls, I miss texts, or alternatively, I get the calls, or get the texts, then forget to call or text back. For like, days. Then wonder why everyone’s mad at me. I’m trying to work on it, but it’s a work in progress.

19. Do you like cats or dogs better? I really do like both, but I like cats that little bit better.

20. What is your favorite season? Summer. Otherwise known as Monsoon Season here in Central Florida.

21. Are you in a relationship? Yup! I’ve been married for about 7 months now, but we’ve been together for a lot longer than that.

22. What is something you miss from your childhood? Naptime. I’m so serious.

23. Who is your best friend? @sabotage-prowl!! This chick! She’s my ride or die, she’s got my six, and she’s the Prowler to my Jazz.

24. What is your eye color? Uh, right now? They’re silver-blue. I’m wearing a light blue shirt.

25. What is your hair color? Brunette/Purple. I’m letting my hair grow back out, so the ends are a light purple.

26. Who is someone you love? My other half. He’s in the shower right now, humming to himself, even if he thinks I can’t hear it.

27. Who is someone you trust? Again, my husband and my bestie. I trust those two with everything.

28. Who is someone you think about often? My Dad, interestingly enough. I have a lot of his things in my apartment.

29. Are you currently excited about/for something? Not particularly? Today’s Monday. Who gets excited for Monday??

30. What is your biggest obsession? My obsessions come and go, tbh.

31. What was your favorite TV show as a child? Oh my Lord, that’s tough. I watched a LOT of TV as a kid.

32. Who of the opposite gender can you tell anything to, if anyone? I married the dude, if that tells ya anything.

33. Are you superstitious? Yeah. The only superstition I don’t believe in is the black cats. I’ll cross a black cat’s path, just so I can pet it.

34. Do you have any unusual phobias? No, they’re pretty usual. Spiders, heights.

35. Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it? Behind it, but every now and then, I get my picture taken anyway. I don’t mind it.

36. What is your favorite hobby? I read. My other hobbies come and go.

37. What was the last book you read? I’m currently reading Night Fall, by Simon R Green, which combines the Nightside and Secret Histories. Someone’s gonna die, and I’m gonna be sad, I know it.

38. What was the last movie you watched? Who Framed Roger Rabbit? God, that film is not for kids, and the villain STILL creeps me the hell out.

39. What musical instruments do you play, if any? None - though I have been known to torture a guitar from time to time.

40. What is your favorite animal? Cats. Big cats, small cats, I DON’T CARE. GIVE ME ALL THE CATS.

41. What are your top 5 favorite Tumblr blogs that you follow? @argentlune, @sabotage-prowl, @m-is-for-mungo, @leggylance, and last but certainly not least, @shiroismydadson

42. What superpower do you wish you had? Teleportation. Do you know how much easier my life would be?

43. When and where do you feel most at peace? I’m such a homebody, so home and late at night, usually.

44. What makes you smile? It doesn’t take much to make me smile. I’m pretty cheerful as a rule.

45. What sports do you play, if any? Paintball, and some backyard football, if the appropriate people are there.

46. What is your favorite drink? Coffee. I’ll drink coffee all damn day if you let me.

47. When was the last time you wrote a hand-written letter or note to somebody? Man, years ago, back when my babe was doing his hospital rotations. We passed a journal back and forth for about six months.

48. Are you afraid of heights? OH YES. The last time I was on a roller coaster, I passed out.

49. What is your biggest pet peeve? This stems from my time in retail - if you have exact change, GIVE IT TO ME BEFORE I OPEN THE TILL. DO NOT HAND IT TO ME AFTER I’VE OPENED THE TILL - I HATE THAT. I’M NOT GOOD AT MATH, AND NOW I HAVE TO BALANCE IT IN MY HEAD.

50. Have you ever been to a concert? No, not to my knowledge.

51. Are you vegan/vegetarian? Not at all. I did not claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat leaves.

52. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut. Oh, little me, so full of hope. Then I discovered I didn’t like heights.

53. What fictional world would you like to live in? The Transformers universe. G1, though. It has to be G1.

54. What is something you worry about? I’m an adult, so bills, usually.

55. Are you scared of the dark? Nope. I like the dark.

56. Do you like to sing? Yes. Can I sing? Not really.

57. Have you ever skipped school? Once, and it wasn’t even for fun - I had to clean the house to make sure that my mom’s ex wouldn’t ground me for the next eternity. Never mind that the house was already stupid clean.

58. What is your favorite place on the planet? Um. I don’t know?

59. Where would you like to live? London. I’d love to live in London.

60. Do you have any pets? Yes. My cat, Cleopatra. She’s fat, old, and spoiled.

61. Are you more of an early bird or a night owl? Night owl, for sure.

62. Do you like sunrises or sunsets better? Sunsets. If I’m up early enough to see the sunrise, something’s wrong.

63. Do you know how to drive? In theory. I can drive if I absolutely have to, but it stresses me out so much. I do better on two wheels.

64. Do you prefer earbuds or headphones? Earbuds. I wear glasses, so headphones actually press the stems into my skull, and that hurts.

65. Have you ever had braces? Nope!

66. What is your favorite genre of music? Pop, with rock thrown in.

67. Who is your hero? My Mom. She’s done so much, with so little, it’s honestly amazing.

68. Do you read comic books? Yes - I loved the Spidey/Transformers crossover!

69. What makes you the most angry? I’m super defensive of my family and friends. Mess with any of them, and get ready to catch these hands.

70. Do you prefer to read on an electronic device or with a real book? It’s a pretty even split. It depends largely on where I am.

71. What is your favorite subject in school? English. Can’t you tell?

72. Do you have any siblings? Yes! Two brothers and a sister!

73. What was the last thing you bought? Groceries, unfortunately. Because I’m a grownup.

74. How tall are you? 5′2″. I’m tiny.

75. Can you cook? A little? I’m not great at it, but I don’t set things on fire, either.

76. What are three things that you love? My friends and family, music, and books.

77. What are three things that you hate? Boredom, blood, and spiders.

78. Do you have more female friends or more male friends? More guy friends - I get along better with dudes

79. What is your sexual orientation? Heterosexual!

80. Where do you currently live? Central Florida.

81. Who was the last person you texted? @sabotage-prowl! She was giving me shit because she can.

82. When was the last time you cried? A while ago. It’s been a while.

83. Who is your favorite YouTuber? I don’t really watch enough Youtube to have one. If pressed, I’d say either Markiplier or Tobuscus.

84. Do you like to take selfies? Sometimes - I’m not super into selfies, I tend to take more pictures of my friends and family.

85. What is your favorite app? Uh, Tumblr. I spend waaayyy too much time on here.

86. What is your relationship with your parent(s) like? My ma and I get on like a house on fire! She’s an extremely tolerant woman.

87. What is your favorite foreign accent? An English accent. Take your pick of region - I love them all.

88. What is a place that you’ve never been to, but you want to visit? *points to above answer* Take a wild guess.

89. What is your favorite number? I don’t have one, as such.

90. Can you juggle? Not at all - my hand eye coordination is AWFUL.

91. Are you religious? Yes.

92. Do you find outer space of the deep ocean to be more interesting? “Kick ass, go to space, represent the human race!” applies here.

93. Do you consider yourself to be a daredevil? A little - there’s not much I won’t try.

94. Are you allergic to anything? Penicillin and Codeine. I’m allergic to one of the most common antibiotics on the planet.

95. Can you curl your tongue? Yup! Into a very tight curl if I try.

96. Can you wiggle your ears? Yup! It feels weird when I’m wearing my glasses, though.

97. How often do you admit that you were wrong about something? Um, fairly often - my hubby is more right than I am, usually. I hate admitting that, though.

98. Do you prefer the forest or the beach? BEACH, BEACH, BEACH!!!!

99. What is your favorite piece of advice that anyone has ever given you? “You have to take the leap. Because if you land on the other side, you’ve reached your goal, but if you fall short, you have tried, and are wiser for the attempt.” - My Uncle Steve said that to me years ago.

100. Are you a good liar? Not really. I’m a bad liar.

101. What is your Hogwarts House? Slytherin!

102. Do you talk to yourself? All the time. I get asked to repeat myself a lot by folks who hear me mutter, and think I’m talking to them.

103. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Ambivert. A little from column A and a little from column B.

104. Do you keep a journal/diary? Nah - I’m bad at keeping up with the entries. I don’t write often enough to justify it.

105. Do you believe in second chances? Depends very strongly on what happened to make the first one go away.

106. If you found a wallet full of money on the ground, what would you do? Try to find the owner. I’m not a complete monster - I’m a broke millennial, I know that something like that could fuck your week or month up.

107. Do you believe that people are capable of change? Yes. My youngest brother is a good example of that.

108. Are you ticklish? INCREDIBLY TICKLISH. TICKLE ME AND PAY THE PRICE.

109. Have you ever been on a plane? Yep! It was fun!

110. Do you have any piercings? My ears! I wanna get my nose pierced, but it’ll have to wait till allergy season is over.

111. What fictional character do you wish was real? That’s tough! I have several I’d like to meet!

112. Do you have any tattoos? Two! My family’s zodiac on my right wrist, and the Spartan II’s insignia from Halo on my left clavicle.

113. What is the best decision that you’ve made in your life so far? Tough to say. Lemme get back to you on that.

114. Do you believe in karma? I believe that it’s a bitch, and the wheel turns for all of us.

115. Do you wear glasses or contacts? Glasses!

116. Do you want children? Eventually. I’m not ready for them yet - I’m too broke.

117. Who is the smartest person you know? @sabotage-prowl

118. What is your most embarrassing memory? So not telling you that!

119. Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? From time to time. It’s not fun.

120. What color are most of you clothes? Blue, black, or red, primarily. But I’ve got other colors in there.

121. Do you like adventures? Heck yes! I’m ALWAYS down for adventure!

122. Have you ever been on TV? Nope. I’m not important enough.

123. How old are you? 30. Yeesh, I’m old.

124. What is your favorite quote? “So, you’ve got a plan?” “Oh, yes.” “Am I going to like it?” “Almost certainly not.” “If I weren’t already dead, I’d think I’d be very depressed.”

125. Do you prefer sweet or savory foods? Both. Both is good.

#Personal #get to know me

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banditywrites · 7 years ago

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Snow Drop

Created for Voltron Whump Week

Prompt: Day 2- Hypothermia

Summary: A storm rages and Pidge fights to get an injured Lance to safety.

Notes: I blame Star Trek V for what happened here. Please excuse mistakes.

Warnings for injuries, a little bit of blood and the onset of hypothermia (obviously).

Snow Drop

The storm had come on quickly. Faster than they had thought possible. Lance and Pidge had just been doing a little surveillance on an icy planet, checking out the remnants of a little Galra outpost. Their other team members were surveying the rest of the planet when the storm kicked up out of nowhere and disrupted their communication.

The last thing Shiro said, before the com went out, was to get to their Lions. So in the sudden blizzard, Pidge and Lance made their way back to Green and Blue. Pidge was walking behind Lance, letting him cut a path in the building snow. Their progress was slow. The planet was mainly ice and they had landed the lions amongst the craggy cliffs and fissures that stretched out for several miles before them. They had thought that the icy cliffs provided them with perfect cover in case the Galra decided to show up after all. However, now that they were trekking back with low visibility, it turned out to be a mistake.

“Lance! Turn left!” Pidge shouted through roaring winds. Lance did as he was told. Veering to the side, avoiding a cliff’s sudden drop. Before all her tech went down, she had more or less memorized the path they needed to take. If they kept going this way, they should see the Lions soon.

Any minute now.

Lance suddenly stopped, causing Pidge to bump into his back.

“Pidge?” Lance turned to look at his companion.

“Yeah?”

“Just checking!” Lance shouted back. “Are you alright?” He asked after a brief pause.

“I’m fine! We should keep going!”

“What?”

“Keep going! Lance, keep going!”

“Okay!” Lance turned and continued on his course. The fact of the matter was that their suits had excellent temperature regulation, but after all this time, Lance was starting to feel the cold creeping in. Before he knew it, his toes were beginning to feel numb. He had assumed Pidge would be worst off, because she was so small and didn’t that mean that she didn’t hold in as much body warmth? She was probably starting to feel really cold.

Lance was staring out at the white expanse in front of him and he had the oddest sensation come over him. With his feet going numb, he started to feel detached. Everything was blotted out by giant white snowflakes. He couldn’t see any difference between the ground and the air in front of him. How did Pidge know where they were? Everything looked the same. It was like floating through a loud angry cloud.

Until it wasn’t.

One minute Pidge was walking with both hands brushing against Lance’s back and the next, there was only air in front of her. It was as though he had just vanished. Pidge stretched out her hands in confusion, but there was nothing there. She slowly dropped to her knees and blindly reached out in the snow. He must have just tripped, he had probably just fallen over.

“Lance!” Pidge called when her hands met only snow and ice. “Lance!” She shouted. She scrabbled blindly until the snow fell away and her grasp was met with nothing but empty air. She gasped and fell backwards. Avoiding the sheer drop off that was directly in front of her.

“Lance!” Pidge carefully shuffled forward, finding the edge and peering over the side. Please don’t let it be far.

Pidge stared down into dark nothingness. It was a sheer, icy drop. A crack in the terrain, only a few meters wide, but stretching across the landscape like a canyon.

“Lance!” She yelled into the abyss. She couldn’t see anything. She activated her helmet, trying to get a read on Lance or the depth of the cliff. It looked bottomless.

Lance had his propulsion pack, why didn’t he activate it? He must not have even had time to react, he must’ve got hurt. Pidge swallowed down her panic. She glanced around, trying to figure out her options. It was then that she saw a hint of green among the white to her left.

Her lion, sitting and waiting patiently just ahead. She knew Blue would be there too, waiting for Lance.

Pidge clenched her numb fingers into a fist. She could do this. Just stay calm. The Lions weren’t far, she just needed to get Lance.

“I’m on my way,” Pidge called down into the dark. She stuck one end of her bayard in the ice on the edge of the cliff and pulled out the cord to give herself some slack. She could scale the cliff for several feet that way. Hopefully, it would be enough.

With a deep breath, she threw her shivering legs over the side and began her descent. She had her jetpack. She wasn’t going to fall. She could just jump and activate it, but something about leaping into the unknown darkness unsettled her deeply. So she climbed down, her fingers straining to hold her bayard and her feet scrambling to find purchase.

Her feet slipped and she bodily smacked against the icy wall several times. It wasn’t long before she heard the ice crack above her and her impromptu grappling hook broke from the ice.

Even though her pack ignited with no issues and stopped her descent, she still let out a short scream in that moment when she was falling through darkness. She ungracefully lowered herself until her feet touched cold ground. She spun in a anxious circle and saw that she had found a large ledge jutting out from the side of the cliff, but this wasn’t even the bottom of this terrible, cold death trap. Lance wasn’t here. It was dark, the only light emitting from Pidge’s own armor. She looked over the side to see nothing, but darkness. Except… there was a faint blue light… just a little further down on her left on another ledge.

“Lance!” Pidge called. “Hold on, I’m coming!” Pidge jumped, not having time to be afraid of the dark anymore. Her pack sputtered to life briefly to ensure a softer landing. As soon as she touched down, she dropped to her knees at Lance’s side.

“Lance! Lance! Can you hear me?” Lance was face down in the snow and she carefully turned him over. Her mind started buzzing with facts about spinal injuries and the dangers of moving someone who was injured, but she couldn’t leave him face down like that. She had to check him over.

Lance groaned at the movement and Pidge’s heart lifted in relief. However, it dropped again when she got a look at his face. Behind the face shield, Pidge could see that Lance’s face was heavily bruised on one side and there was blood in his hairline.

“Lance?” Pidge’s voice shuddered. She tried to tell herself it was just the cold seeping through, making her voice shake like that. Pidge looked up, gauging the distance back up to the surface and to safety. She could see the swirling white that told her the storm continued to rage. There would still be too much interference, no call for help would make it through.

They were alone.

She could wait out the storm; rely on their armor to keep them from freezing… But how long would it be? How long could they survive it? She couldn’t feel her toes anymore and her fingers were becoming too clumsy. And Lance was obviously hurt, he could be damaged internally. No, waiting wasn’t an option.

Her jetpack wouldn’t give her enough thrust to propel her straight up the cliff side for that long. She certainly wouldn’t be able to make it while carrying Lance.

“Lance?” Pidge gently shook his shoulders, trying to see if he would come back to consciousness. Pidge studied the icy wall above her. Her armor was equipped with two smaller grappling hooks. She could tie Lance to her and then use her bayard to reach the top. But if it didn’t reach, she could be potentially stuck, somehow carrying Lance with no footholds.

Wait.

She could see the ice jutting out from the wall above her. There were more ledges. Maybe she could just move a little at a time. Pidge could no longer deny that her teeth were chattering almost nonstop now. They needed to move.

She tied a cord around Lance’s middle and hooked it to her armor, just as a precaution. She then very carefully aimed her bayard above the closest ice ledge and fired. When she was sure that it had connected. She began to retract the line. Her jet pack burst to life briefly to propel her the needed distance. Lance flopped to the side. He was a dead weight that seriously dragged her down. She had one arm around his middle, trying to keep him from falling.

She collapsed on the ice ledge in a jumble of limbs. For a terrifying moment, she thought Lance was going to slip off the edge and she clung to him desperately. Luckily, Lance remained safe, though his feet dangled over the side. Heart pounding, Pidge tried to think of a new plan. This was incredibly unsafe. He could slip out of her tied knots. She wasn’t going to be able to make it without dropping him. Frustrated tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she screwed up her face angrily. Crying wouldn’t solve anything. She needed to think. Why was it so hard to think? Her brain felt like it was freezing over.

“Pidge?” Came the bewildered murmur. Startled, Pidge gasped and looked down to see Lance staring at her through half lidded eyes.

“Lance!” Pidge threw her arms around his neck and thanked every lucky star in the universe. Lance mumbled something, but didn’t protest.

“’s cold, Pidge,” Lance slurred.

“I know. I know. But you fell. Do you remember falling?”

“No.” Lance tried to move, to sit up, but when he shifted his weight to his right arm, he collapsed with a gasp.

“Lance! Your arm, you’re hurt! I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Lance forced out through gritted teeth. There were a few minutes of labored breathing as Lance tried to get a handle on his newly realized pain. Lance was lying on his back, just staring up at the icy cliff for a long time until he finally spoke again.

“I fell?”

“Yeah,” Pidge whispered. She had unhooked Lance from her hastily made safety harness, but she still sat close to him.

“You came all the way down here for me, by yourself?” Lance sounded like he couldn’t believe it.

“Of course. Of course I did.”

“That was dangerous.”

“You would have done the same for me.”

Lance slowly blinked and Pidge wondered if his mind was being slowed by the cold as well. Pidge decided to move forward with her plan of escape.

“If we both activate our jetpacks, I can use my bayard to help lift us and we can probably make it.”

“Are you going to carry me, Pidge?”

“If I have to.”

Lance let out a breath that was almost a laugh. They stayed like that on the ice until Pidge felt her backside go numb. Lance must have been losing all feeling in his entire back and shoulders. Maybe he was doing it on purpose. Being numb was probably better than being in pain.

“It’s a long way,” Lance muttered, still staring up at the opening above them. Pidge had been eyeing a ledge that was about halfway up. It looked small, but maybe if they could make it there first, the rest would be easier. It was at that point when they couldn’t wait any longer. Pidge needed to be able to hold her bayard, which meant she needed to have some feeling in her hands. Pidge settled herself under Lance’s uninjured arm and she hastily tied them together again. “Going to drag you down,” Lance commented once they were tied together.

“If I don’t do this, I won’t be able to hold on to you. You’re too lanky, Lance.”

Lance hummed in response. Pidge eyed her bayard, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to hold on to it and carry Lance’s weight. She quickly pulled out extra cord from the smaller grappling hook in her armor and tied her wrist to her bayard.

“You’re going to break your wrist,” Lance mumbled. “I can hold it.”

“No, you only have one good arm. I can do it.”

The first time Pidge fired her bayard off, it met only air and it quickly retracted back to her. She swore and tried again. She then felt it connect and stick into the wall. Pidge took a deep breath.

“If we take turns using our packs, we should be able to propel up the cliff. We just need to time it.”

“Time it?”

“Yeah, I will have my pack on for three ticks and then you have yours on for three and we take turns.”

“Wait, what if you count faster than me? We’ll just be dangling from your bayard.”

“I won’t count fast.”

“Yeah, but people count faster if they’re nervous.”

“Okay… What do we do then?”

“We could… sing a song? It would be easier to keep the timing.”

“Sing… a song?”

“Yeah, something easy like, ‘Row Your Boat.’”

“Row…”

“You know it, right?”

“Yeah… but…”

“So you would start. ‘Row, row, row your boat’ and you’d have your pack on and then the next part I would turn mine on for ‘gently down the steam’ and we’d go like that.”

Singing just sounded ridiculous, but Lance was most likely concussed, so if he said it would be easier, than that’s what they would do.

“Okay, ready?”

“Ready.” Lance tightened his grip around Pidge’s shoulders.

Pidge started to retract her bayard and the moment her feet left the ground, she began saying the words through chattering teeth.

“Row, row, row your boat-”

Her jet pack turned off and Lance’s kicked on.

“Gently down the steam-”

“Merrily, merrily, merrily-”

“Life is but a dream.”

“Row, row, row your boat-”

Pidge thought she felt something snap in her wrist.

“Gently down the stream.”

Pidge’s bayard had anchored them to a spot that was above and a little too far to the left of the ledge they had been aiming for. Without hesitation, Lance stretched out his leg and caught the edge with one foot. He had enough tread to pull them over to safer ground. They both started to stumble, but they desperately scrambled to cling to the wall of ice. This ledge was small and they wouldn’t be able to fall without tumbling over the side. For a terrifying moment, Lance clung to Pidge, worried that she was about to slip away.

When it was apparent that they had made it safely, they both let out a shaky breath. Lance was holding on tightly as Pidge tried to gauge the rest of the distance.

“Is your arm okay?” Lance asked.

“It’s fine.” She couldn’t really feel it anyway.

They weren’t far from the top now. She could hear the storm howling above them. They only needed to do that process one more time.

She checked to make sure they were still tied together and then she shot her bayard off again. It disappeared over the higher edge and stuck with a solid ‘thunk.’

“Ready?” Pidge asked. She wasn’t even really shivering anymore.

Lance slowly nodded and she wondered if he was dizzy. He certainly looked like he was having a hard time staying upright.

“You can start us off again,” he muttered. Pidge nodded and began to retract the line, lifting them off the ground.

“Row, row, row your boat-”

“Gently down the stream-”

Pidge felt like the roar of the storm was in her ears.

“Merrily, merrily, merrily-”

Her wrist was suddenly not as numb as she thought it was, but she still clung tightly, ignoring the sharp agony.

“Life is but a dream.”

“Row, row, r-row b-boat-”

“Gently down the steam,” Lance near whispered.

“Merrily, merrily, merrily-”

This was taking longer than last time.

“Life is but-” they hit the side of the wall hard and Lance immediately reached up with his good arm and grabbed a hold of the ledge. Using strength that Pidge didn’t think was possible, Lance worked one arm up over the edge and was able to find purchase with his feet to push himself up. Doing so, he dragged Pidge over as well.

It must have hurt so much.

Lance collapsed into the snow and lay gasping. His eyes fluttered shut and Pidge worried that he was going to pass out completely. They were still tied together, stretched out in the snow, all tangled up in each other’s limbs. Pidge was pressed into his chest plate and she worried that it would inhibit his breathing. She brought her hand up to try and free it from the bayard, but the cord had tightened and some of it had slipped beneath the plating on her arm. She couldn’t free her hand. The storm still blustered around them, but Pidge realized the sound in her ear was too much like static.

“H-hello?” Pidge stammered.

“..-ou copy?”

Shiro. It was Shiro. Pidge felt tears sting at the corners of her eyes and she swallowed thickly.

“C-copy.”

“Pidge! Where are you? Is Lance with you?”

Pidge looked up to see that Lance still had his eyes closed.

“Near my lion. Lance is here.” Pidge began trying to shakily untie the cord from around Lance’s chest, but her hands were useless. She couldn’t feel anything and her fingers wouldn’t cooperate at all.

“Are you both alright?”

“Lance is hurt. I can’t- I can’t move him.”

The snow was piled around them. Even if she got Lance in a position to be carried, she wouldn’t be able to get through the snow to her Lion.

“We have an approximate reading on your location. Just sit tight. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“Okay.”

A numbness came over her whole body as she stared up at the clouds and watched the snow swirl above them.

At some point she could see a dark shape moving through the sky, growing larger until it filled her vision.

“Shiro…”

-0-0-0-0-

“Here.”

“Thank you,” Lance said as he took the offered blanket from Pidge. Once Lance was carefully wrapped up, Pidge plopped down next to him on the couch, wrapped in her own comforter. She sighed as she felt Lance’s warmth leaking through to her side.

“I never realized…” Lance coughed before continuing again. “I never realized how cold the castle is.”

Pidge hummed and buried herself deeper into her blanket cocoon. The two of them had been out of the pods for two days and, while the pods had saved them, they were still left feeling like they were freezing.

“It’s not a warm experience,” Coran had commented when Lance complained. They had both been given orders to rest after that and Shiro had made sure they had warm drinks, heat packs and as many blankets as they wanted. However, there was still an icy feeling that sat in Pidge’s chest.

“I may never be warm again,” Pidge frowned deeply.

“How’s your wrist?”

“Perfectly fine now. How’s your arm and your head?”

“A lot better.”

“You’re not going to force me into anymore sing alongs are you?”

“I didn’t do that because I had a head injury.” Lance was scowling now.

“You couldn’t even count to three-”

“I did that so you wouldn’t be scared.”

Pidge went still.

She hadn’t realized.

Lance had seen through her false bravado. In that moment when she was trying to take care of him, to save them, Lance had stepped up. He had calmed her down.

Lance had probably saved them both.

“Thank you,” Pidge mumbled. She leaned her head against his shoulder and released a deep breath. Lance then rested his chin atop her head.

“No, thank you. You broke your wrist hauling us up that wall.”

Pidge shook her head slightly. This was one situation where Lance was never going to take all the credit.

“We did it together.”

“Yeah,” Lance agreed after a moment.

They sat like that for a long time, reveling in their shared body heat. With a content yawn, Pidge realized she was beginning to feel truly warm again.

The End

#voltronwhumpweek #voltronwhumpweek2017 #fic writing #prompt: hypothermia #pidge gunderson #lance mcclain #langst

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imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul · 5 years ago

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Return to Me - Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: Revenge and Reformation

A/N: Don’t keep scrolling! This is the next chapter of Return to Me, even if there is no gif of Poe on this one. Poe’s not in this chapter, only mentioned, so I thought I’d use a gif of my faceclaim for Lin Ral for this chapter, just to remind you what he looks like and because he’s in this chapter a lot. I promise, there is a lot of Poe to come in the next chapter and he’s mentioned quite a bit this time, so don’t get too sad or mad with me! Anyways, this chapter sets up a lot to come, so let me know if anything is confusing or you have any questions. As always, lemme know what you think and if you wanna be tagged! I love you all!

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Reader Word Count: 4,278 Synopsis: The shelter of Serenno provides the reader and the Resistance with a chance to recoup, albeit with a few surprises. A plan still needs to be made to defeat the First Order, and the reader finds help in this planning from an unlikely source.

Tag List: @xeniarocks, @too-many-baes, @araceli91103, @idocarealot, @treblebeth, @treestarrrrrrrr, @thescarletknight2014, @charlottie2998, @ibikus, @mellow-f1, @mrsdaamneron, @trustme3-13, @missjess71, @ella-solei, @minelskede, @gleigh42, @usuallyweepingnacho, @givemethatgold, @and-claudia, @constantdisgrace, @wordsinwinters, @readingvogueonprivetdrive, @trshbb, @kaitlynw011, @ihave2muchtimeonmyhands, @fairytalesforever, @thanos-jeep, @mixedfandxms, @pastelbunny1501, @emotionalcal, @daniellajocelyn, @getyourselfaunicorn, @spider-starry, @jimhalpertcanbuymelove, @angelicaxhouston

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

“Oh, Y/N!” Your mother raced forward and wrapped you in a tight hug. You hugged her back, reveling in the scent that was absolutely your mother: the flowers that grew in the fields around your house, and crisp watercress. You pushed her back a second later and studied her face, trying to determine whether she was real or just some strange illusion.

“Wait, I— Hosnian Prime. You were supposed to be there. I thought you two were . . .” you stumbled over your words. Your mother, Osira, frowned and took your hand in hers, giving it a loving squeeze.

“We were, but we took a trip to Serenno a day before the attack,” she explained.

“You’ve been here this whole time?”

“Yes. We’re alright,” she said, wrapping you in another hug. Your father stepped up and hugged you as well, smiling down at you.

“We tried to contact you on Naboo, but none of our transmissions went through,” Henri said. He and your mother looked at the group you had brought with you, their eyes finally landing on Leia. She smiled and took a step forward to embrace her old friends.

“Y/N, what’s going on?” Osira asked with a confused smile and panicked eyes.

“Why aren’t you on Naboo?” your father asked. You looked to Leia for help, but she only nodded her encouragement. There would be no lying to them now, you were going to have to tell them the truth.

“I will explain everything, it’s just going to take a minute, and my friends need their rest,” you said.

“Of course,” Lin said, stepping up. “We have rooms prepared, clothing, food, everything they might need.” Commander D’Acy led the group to the prepared rooms, leaving you alone with your parents and Lin. Thankfully, Leia stuck around to give you some support as well.

“Shall we,” your father said, motioning to the door at the opposite end of the room. You led the way and entered into a conference room. You took a seat at the head of the table with your mother and Leia on either side of you.

“Why can’t we make contact with Naboo?” your father asked first, unable to wait another minute. You shook your head sadly.

“I’m afraid to admit it, but the First Order has invaded Naboo.”

“What?” your father asked in shock, a hand over his heart.

“I was reaching out to Lord Broden when a Stormtrooper cut us off.”

“What are you even doing here? Why weren’t you on Naboo with your people?” Henri asked, his temper beginning to grow as he began a full-blown rant, until he remembered who was around him. He pursed his lips and looked at you angrily, waiting for your explanation.

“I left Naboo to help out the Resistance. It has been clear to me for some time that the First Order is not going to stop anytime soon. I know the senate’s decision was to take no action unless there was outright fighting, but there is no senate anymore. For years, Leia has seen what the First Order is planning, and the galaxy has chosen to ignore it. I may have left my people when they needed me, and believe me, I hate that, but the galaxy needs us. They need the Resistance.”

“Have you reached out to Naboo anymore?” Henri asked. “Surely there is still some hope left there, or we would have heard of its fate just like in the Hosnian System.”

“We’ve reached out a few times, but our messages haven’t gone through, either,” you said.

“How did you all get here? I thought the Resistance had a secret base somewhere,” Lin inquired. You looked over at Leia who nodded.

“A few days ago, I sent my best pilot, Poe Dameron, on a mission to retrieve information that I believed could save the Resistance,” Leia explained. You glanced over at your parents to gauge their reaction to hearing Poe’s name again. Your mother was staring off, her face pale as her eyes bore into the smooth wooden table you sat at. When your eyes trailed over her and found your father, his eyes were cold and hard as he looked directly at you, and the dark leather jacket of Poe’s you still wore over your shoulders. “Poe was captured by the First Order and tortured for what information he knew. Our base was no longer safe at that point and we had no choice but to abandon it. Unfortunately, the First Order was one very short step behind us.”

“I’ve heard of this pilot,” Lin said with a smile. “He’s quite good.”

“He is,” Leia agreed with a gentle smile, also glancing up at your parents. “They must have tortured him for hours because there’s no way he’d give up the Resistance’s location so easily.” You shifted in your seat. Thinking about Poe’s torture made you physically sick, and imagining it going on for hours — you couldn’t bear to think of it.

“So, what do we do now? The galaxy is afraid of the First Order, rallying them together won’t be an easy feat,” Lin said.

“Have you talked to any of the other planets?” you asked.

“No, I’ve been working on making arrangements here.”

“Arrangements?” you asked, but suddenly realized what he meant. “Your father was a senator.”

“Yes, and I’m afraid he was on Hosnian Prime when it was destroyed.”

“I’m so sorry, Lin, I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t,” he said with a kind smile. “Like others, I want to avenge my father’s death, but my people’s safety is of the most importance to me.”

“I agree,” you said, leaning back in your chair. There were so many things to figure out, and it was only now that you were realizing how long it had been since you had slept. Your mother patted your shoulder, drawing your eyes to hers.

“No progress can be made tonight with tired eyes and grieving hearts. Why don’t we all get some sleep and reconvene in the morning,” she suggested.

“A wonderful idea,” Leia said, standing first.

“Y/N, come with me, you can stay with us,” your mother said, holding out her hand.

“I will, I just need to check in with Nové.”

“Okay,” she said reluctantly. Your father’s face had barely changed since Leia said Poe’s name, and you were not looking forward to a lecture tonight. With Leia at your side, you left the conference room to find the block of rooms that Lin had kindly laid out for you.

Nové stood outside one of the rooms, her arms folded across her chest. When she saw the two of you come down the hallway, she met you halfway.

“So, what’s the plan?” she asked.

“To get some rest,” Leia answered for you. She smiled at you both as she was ushered into a room by Commander D’Acy. “Goodnight, ladies.”

“Goodnight, General,” you both answered.

“What’s going on?” she asked when you were alone.

“We’re trying to figure out our next step. No one has any leads yet.”

“Your parents?”

“They’re my parents,” you said with a half laugh. “I’m glad to see them alive. My mother wants me to stay with them, I was hoping you had miraculously found some change of clothing in the Falcon.” Nové twisted her lips in an attractive smile.

“I can do you one better. One of Lin Ral’s servants gave me access to Serenno’s best seamstress, the one that designs all of the clothes for Lin and his family. She lent me a few dresses.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ll find you something to wear,” she said, motioning into the room to her left. Laid out on the bed were a few ruffled outfits, the fabrics of which were spilling out over each other to make a rainbow on the bed so that you couldn’t even tell what color the bedsheets were. “I may have gone through more than a few of them.”

“Gearing up for a date with Jessika when she gets back?” you asked.

“Maybe,” she challenged. “And you?” Your playful smile fell, making Nové lose hers, too. “What did your parents say?”

“Nothing, yet. I think they were too happy to see me to be angry that I was gone from Naboo, especially after they heard what happened. But when Leia mentioned Poe their mood definitely changed.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, handing you a nightgown.

“Thank you.”

“I’d invite you to sleep with me, but I know your parents are eager to get their hands on you.” You laughed and nodded your head.

“Yes. Thank you, Nové. For everything.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You too,” she called.

After changing, you made your way back to your parent’s room. As you stepped in, you found your mother sitting on the bed, nervously fidgeting with her long hair, and your father pacing the room in front of the window. They both turned when you entered.

“Hi,” you said.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Osira said, holding out her hand to you. You walked forward and took hers with a smile, sitting down next to her. “Nové was able to find something for you, then?”

“Yes.”

“You look exhausted.”

“I am,” you said with a soft smile. Your father was still pacing across the room. “Dad, what were you doing on Serenno in the first place?” you asked. If he wanted to fight, you might as well get it over with.

“Working out arrangements,” he said stiffly, glancing up briefly at you with cold eyes.

“For what?”

“Your engagement to Lin Ral, of course.”

“I haven’t agreed to that,” you said quickly. He scoffed and shook his head.

“What were you doing with the Resistance? You know what that could mean, going against the explicit wishes of the senate,” he spat.

“There isn’t a senate anymore.”

“You didn’t know that when you went, did you?” he asked, turning to look back at you again.

“No,” you admitted.

“I know you haven’t made your decision yet, Y/N,” he said, coming closer to you, “But you know going back to the Resistance was a bad choice.”

“I meant what I said in our meeting. The Resistance has always been in the right. You followed Leia when you were my age, why is it wrong for me to do the same?”

“It’s not wrong, you just need to see where you are more importantly needed,” he said, looking at you with pleading eyes. You pursed your lips and looked off. Your mother stroked your long hair cascading over your back, hoping to keep you calm so that this conversation could end smoothly. “Just, tell me one thing.”

“What?” you asked.

“You didn’t do it for him.” You narrowed your eyes as you looked up at him.

“Everything I did was for the good of the galaxy.” Henri nodded and stood up straight again.

“We all need some rest,” he said.

“Yes.”

You found your way to an attached room with a small bed and a water basin. You washed your face and felt the weight of your exhaustion as you fell into bed. The soft fabric of your dress reminded you of the smooth sheets on your bed back home on Naboo. You longed to be there, away from all of this mess. You snuggled into your pillow, thinking about the only person who could make living in Naboo any better than it already was.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You awoke early, your anxiety making you unable to sleep any longer even if you were still tired. You crept out of bed and past your parent’s room, as if you were a fourteen year old again. The tall, dark walls of Serenno’s castle left much to the imagination. Every shadow seemed to hold a dark figure until further examination proved it was only a sculpture or base.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” You jumped and turned around to see Lin Ral standing a few feet from you. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“It’s alright. Are these hallways always so dark?”

“Yes,” he said with a laugh, “I’m afraid so.”

“What are you doing up?” you asked.

“I could ask you the same.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” you said with a smile. “I can’t stop thinking about Naboo. About everything,” you said, your mind wandering off to Poe and his mission.

“I understand. Do you want to try to contact them again? Maybe a message will go through this time.”

“I don’t know,” you said with a shrug.

“Couldn’t hurt to try. Besides, what else are we going to do in the middle of the night?” Your cheeks flushed, and you were grateful for the dark halls. Lin led you into a cozy library a few hallways down and got to work sending out a message to Naboo.

“Alright, well the transmission is sent, now all we can do is wait,” he said.

“Thank you.” He settled into the lounge chair across from you. His eyes were heavy with sleep, and you figured he was haunted by memories of his father and Hosnian Prime as well. “And thank you, again, for all of this,” you said, drawing his eyes up to you.

“It’s my pleasure.” The fire lit in the corner of the library left the room warm, and made you feel like you might actually get some sleep. Just as you felt your eyes start to droop, he spoke up again. “I’ve been thinking about how we can stop them,” he said quietly.

“Stop who?” you asked, sitting up.

“The First Order. I know everyone in the galaxy is scared, but I also know that they are willing to fight. Millions of lives were lost when Hosnian Prime was destroyed, but millions more were affected by those deaths. I guarantee there are others out there who want them destroyed just as much as you and I.”

“So, what do you recommend? We already destroyed their Starkiller Base.”

“And the rebels destroyed the Death Star, but the Empire still started to build it up again. We’ve got to put an end to them once and for all.” Your eyebrow peaked a little as you looked at him. His face was stonier than usual, missing its usual composed look. He was hurting and ready to fight. “With the Senate gone, there is no order in the galaxy. That needs to be our first step.”

“I agree, but how do we get people to join? The minute the First Order gets word a planet has joined our fight, they’ll send an attack, just like they did to Naboo.”

“Well, someone has to stand up to them.”

“I know, but we don’t want to put people in danger. We want to be different than the First Order. People need to join our fight because they want to, not because they have to. When Leia asked me to come ba— come to the Resistance,” you corrected quickly, “She wanted me to campaign for her. For too long the Resistance has flown undercover because the senate forbade it from doing anything else. We need to show the galaxy what the First Order is and what we can do to stop it.”

“What, just the two of us?”

“If that’s where we start, yes,” you said, scooting forward eagerly in your seat.

“Where to first, then?” he asked with a smile.

“People we can trust and who would be more eager to help out. Did your father have any friends in the senate?”

“A few.”

“Reach out to them first. We’ve got to get more people on our side before we look at harder targets. People are scared and the First Order is going to come looking for them. If they’re scared, they can be manipulated to their way of thinking.”

“We need to make a stand,” he said.

“And quickly.”

You spent the morning with Lin, planning out who would be the easiest to get on your side, and what help they could bring. You listed names, allies across the galaxy, where weapons and housing could be found, and everything in between. He seemed impressed by your knowledge of wartime rituals but didn’t push to find out how you knew. When Nové found you later that morning, the sunlight was streaming into the library, making the dark corners seem more welcoming.

“Morning,” she said, looking between the two of you curiously.

“Good morning, Nové,” Lin said with a kind smile.

“Morning,” you said as she sat down next to you.

“What’s going on in here?”

“A plan to reform the Republic,” Lin said eagerly. Nové raised an eyebrow at you and you shrugged.

“It’s a start.”

“It is,” she said appreciatively.

“We reached out to Naboo again.”

“Anything?” Nové asked. You shook your head. “Alright, well, your parents are looking for you.”

“Of course they are,” you sighed, standing up.

“Leia has gathered a meeting. I’m sure she’d be very pleased to hear what the two of you came up with.” You looked over at Lin who beamed at you.

“I’m sure.”

“I’ll meet you down there,” he said, standing. He nodded to you and Nové each before leaving the library. Nové waited until he was gone to look at you with wild eyes.

“What’s going on here?” she asked excitedly.

“I told you.”

“The two of you spent all night together?”

“Grow up,” you said, rolling your eyes, “I couldn’t sleep, and he found me wandering the halls. We just started talking and then began to flesh out our plan. Nothing else.”

“Oh, so it’s a shared plan?” she asked with a smirk.

“Well, we came up with it together, so yes.” Nové nodded her head and looked at you curiously. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just, he is kind of hot, though,” she said, looking longingly at the door.

“Why don’t you marry him, then,” you said, walking past her. She ran to catch up with you and laughed.

“Granted, he is no Poe.” You sighed and linked arms with her.

“No, he’s not.”

“I don’t think anyone ever will be in your book. Now, let’s get you dressed. We don’t want to excite your parents by finding you in your nightgown all night with Lin.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You hadn’t realized how tired you still were until Nové got you back to your small quarters. Staying up all night planning with Lin had been productive, but it hadn’t done anything for your mental or emotional state. Nové asked you a few questions, but you were too tired to answer anything. She picked out a gown for you and practically had to dress you in it herself.

“Think you can walk down to the conference room on your own?” she asked. You yawned through a laugh.

“I think so.”

“Good.”

“It’s just General Organa and my parents, right?” you asked, taking the Holopad from her, looking over the notes you had taken during your meeting with Lin.

“And Lin. And Finn and Rey. And probably a few other members of the Resistance.” You looked up at her and sighed. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright. Any word from Black Squadron, yet?”

“No,” she said with a frown, “But I’m sure they’re—”

“Of course,” you said, shaking your head. “In here?”

“Yep,” Nové said, opening the door for you.

Gathered around a large table was everyone Nové had listed, including Commander D’Acy and Lieutenant Connix. Your parents were the first to recognize that you had entered the room, and both smiled.

“Y/N,” your father said, pulling out the chair next to him.

“Am I late?” you asked, sitting down.

“No, just on time.”

“Lin Ral was just filling us in on your meeting,” your mother said with an excited smile.

“So, what do you think?” you asked.

“I think it’s a great idea,” your father said. “It would be a great start to your career in the sena—”

“The part I’m going to play in this is only to restore order to the galaxy. My devotion is still to Naboo,” you said, looking at him seriously. “And as Mom is still the representative of Naboo, I’m sure the two of you are the perfect people to lead the reformation of the senate. Lin and I came up with a rough plan, and of course, I will continue to support this effort, but that’s as far as I will go with this.”

“Very well,” your father said, averting his eyes from you. It was evident that he wanted to argue with you some more, but in this group, and the conviction you spoke with, he knew better.

“Rey, can you tell us anything about what the First Order’s next step is?” Leia asked.

“I’m not entirely sure. Kylo killed Snoke.”

“So, is he in charge of the First Order now?” you asked.

“I suppose. He wants to be in control of everything. He wants to get rid of the ‘old ways.’”

“The old ways?” Leia asked.

“He doesn’t want the Jedi, the Sith, anything. He wants to start over. With him as a leader.”

“And you by his side?” you asked. She looked into your eyes and nodded.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“If you’re here, it means you’re stronger than he is. That means he either wants you by his side or wants you destroyed. Maybe both.”

“Both sound pretty bad to me,” Finn muttered under his breath. You kept back your smile, noticing the flush to both his and Rey’s faces.

“We’ll need to create a new base in the meantime. Once we get Black Squadron back, we’ll regroup and assess our situation,” Leia said.

“What’s wrong with starting a base here?” Lin Ral asked.

“You’re very kind to house us, but we couldn’t put your planet in danger like that. We’d much rather find someplace more remote, in case worst comes to worst,” she explained.

“Very well, but you’ll stay here in the meantime.” He nodded at you specifically and you gave him a kind smile.

“Until we get word from Black Squadron, we’ll stay here. Make sure everyone knows,” Leia said, looking to Connix and D’Acy.

“Y/N,” your mother said, pulling you in close as the room began to clear, “I heard you spent the night with Lin.” You looked at your father who had the same excited expression on his face.

“We discussed plans to restore the Republic, nothing else,” you said, pulling your arm free. “I don’t know if you remember this, but I am still the queen of Naboo. I have a responsibility to my people.” You decided not to tack on ‘if they are still alive.’

“Y/N,” Leia called, drawing your attention to the door.

“Excuse me,” you said, quickly walking over to her.

“I heard about your night with Lin Ral,” she said, leading you into the long hallway. You rolled your eyes and started to argue, but she cut you off. “No, I think it’s a great thing. I need you rallying people together.”

“Leia, my parents and Lin will be doing the rallying, I’m—”

“Just going to go back to Naboo? Watch from afar as balance in the galaxy is destroyed in front of your eyes? That doesn’t sound like the Y/N I know,” she said with a knowing glare.

“Any word from Black Squadron?” you asked, looking down and changing the subject.

“They’re safe. Finishing things up on Ikkrukk. Poe wants us to meet him on Yavin 4.”

“I thought we decided against Yavin 4.”

“Well, you know how stubborn Poe can be.”

“Yes, I do.”

“It’s mostly just a visit. Say hi to some old friends, pick up supplies, and pla our next move.” You gave her a skeptical look and she sighed. “I don’t know Lin. I don’t know how trustworthy he is. I know I can trust Kes Dameron.”

“So what will you tell Lin?” you asked.

“Well, we can’t afford to lose allies. We’ll continue to keep an operational base here—”

“And a secret one on Yavin-4?” Leia frowned at you.

“I don’t have much of a choice. I want to put my faith in Serenno and would gladly do it if things weren’t so dire. I’m giving him a chance. That’s the best I can do, but I can’t bet the entire Resistance on Lin Ral’s smile.”

“That’s not what this is.”

“Good,” she said with a nod.

“Who’s to know about this secret, real base, then?” you asked.

“Black Squadron, Konnix, D’Acy. Finn and Rey. The few who are left and trustworthy.”

“My parents?”

“Your parents are the senate, just as Lin Ral is.”

“So they’re left out?”

“This cannot fail, Y/N,” she said, taking your hands. “If you can’t handle that—”

“I can handle it,” you said quickly.

“Good. We leave for Yavin 4 at noon. I want you there, but if you can’t keep it from your parents and Lin . . .” she trailed off.

“I can do it. Believe me, I’ve kept plenty of secrets from them before.”

“Very good. I’ll see you then.”

#poe dameron #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron x you #sw imagine #poe dameron fanfic #poe dameron fanfiction #sw #sw fanfic #sw fanfiction #star wars #star wars fanfic #star wars imagine #star wars fanfiction

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trade-baby-blues · 8 years ago

Text

Wilted

Pairing: Bones x Reader

Word Count: 1832

Warnings: 90% angst, death mention, some swearing

A/N: Funny enough this fic was supposed to be fluff but it got way out of hand. I promise part two is going to be fluffier, though!! Hope you enjoy it anyway.

The Captain announced shore leave almost a month ago, and every day that passed filled you with dread. You were probably the only one on the whole ship terrified of two weeks leave, but it was hard to look forward to it when it was going to be your first shore leave without family.

Even before you were a couple, you and Leonard McCoy had a tradition: you’d take a shuttle east to Georgia and spend a few days with his family (and his mother’s amazing dump cake) and then you’d rent a car and drive up to Virginia to see your dad. You were an only child and your parents got divorced when you were just a kid - couldn’t take the long stretches of absence that came with your dad being a Starfleet officer. Of course, your mom got custody, so you were forced to live with her and her new boyfriend in Kansas. You missed your dad so much as a kid that you spent every second you could with him to make up for lost time, visiting every shore leave and video chatting at least twice a week while you were on the Enterprise. Except the day his shuttle crashed.

It was a year into a mission that was only supposed to take 7 months, and the Enterprise was having a tough time of it. After restocking and refueling on the closest Federation planet, you were wrapped up with Montgomery Scott doing damage control. Of course the ship could handle much longer missions if she’d been outfitted properly, but no one thought you’d be in the air this long. Wires were shorting everywhere and coolant was leaking every other week. The entire rec area was in a blackout right now, and Scotty assigned you to fix it while he cleaned up the warp core. It was the first time Scotty left you alone to do such a big project, and you were determined to make him proud so you messaged your father that the Chief Engineer needed you and you couldn’t make the call. Since he was his ship’s Chief Engineer before getting promoted to Vice Admiral, you hoped he’d understand.

You were making good progress when Scotty came up to check on you. “How’s it going, lass?”

“Slow. Half these wires are frayed and shorting out.” You accidentally brushed a loose wire, pulling back with a yelp as it shocked you.

Scotty sighed, mumbling curses under his breath before crouching down next to you to take a look. “I’ll finish her up. Jim’s wants to talk to ye.”

You picked up some electrical tape and kept working. “Jim wants to talk he can come down here. I’m busy taping his ship together.”

“Aye, and that’s what I told him. Said it was important, though. He’s in conference room B.” Scotty took the tape from your hands and nodded towards the door. You sighed in defeat and stood to leave. “Oh, and Y/N. If the Captain’s trying to get you into another one of his pranks, will you tell him exactly how painful it is to die of radiation poisoning if the warp core starts leaking?”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “Sure thing, Scotty. Right after I help him with whatever prank he’s planning.”

As soon as you made it to the conference room, you knew Jim wasn’t planning a prank. Leonard sat at the table, wringing his hands over a file. His eyes were red around the edges, as if he’d been crying. Jim couldn’t even look you in the eyes. He tried, but he’d drop his gaze after a few seconds. You’d never known him to be timid.

“It might be better if you sit,” he said, pulling out a chair. Busying himself.

“I don’t want to sit, Jim.” You crossed your arms over your chest, planting your feet by the door ready to bolt. “I want you to tell me what’s going on. Someone’s gotta help Scotty keep the ship running, and I’m the best he’s got.”

“Sweetheart,” Leonard said, eyes closed, trying to smooth the wrinkles on his forehead with his hand, “please just sit.”

Your heart rate picked up. You’d know Leonard’s “I’ve got bad news” voice anywhere. You swallowed against the growing tightness in your throat. “Please just tell me what’s going on Len.” When he didn’t answer you started getting angry. “Leonard McCoy I swear to god if you called me away from my work to break up with me I’m gonna kick your ass and then I’m gonna kick yours,” you pointed at Jim, “for staying and watching.”

“It’s your dad,” Leonard said, voice no more than a whisper.

Everything started spinning. “What about him?”

Leonard took a steadying breath, trying to find the words, but it was Jim who spoke first. “There was a shuttle crash. The fuel lines caught and the whole thing burned up. Your dad was stuck inside, trying to pull people out. He saved seven cadets before he…” Jim’s voice trailed off, not that you would’ve heard it. After “shuttle crash” it was like your brain turned off. All you could hear was a high pitched buzzing.

“I know this is hard, baby, but I need you to breathe for me,” Leonard said, standing and taking a step towards you.

You shook your head. “He can’t be dead. I didn’t call him this morning. I had to fix the rec area I didn't….I didn’t call him.” You swallowed against the tightness in your chest, willing yourself to breathe but unable to do anything but picture the shuttle crash. The sound of the fuel line hissing and catching fire. You could hear your father’s voice ordering people to stay calm, pulling out as many people as he could.

Leonard put his hands on your arms, thumb stroking the fabric of your red shirt. “I’m so sorry, Y/N, but I need you to focus on my voice. I need you to tell me how to help. We’ve cleared you from work for the next couple days to-”

“No,” you said, pushing Leonard off. “No I-I need to fix the rec area. I’ll see you later.” You could hear Leonard and Jim both calling after you as you left the room but it was lost in the buzzing of your brain. Your hands shook as you pushed the image of a burning shuttle from your mind, focusing instead on the cold metal of the sip under your feet, the wires that needed replacing.

Scotty was hanging up his communicator as you rounded the corner. You cut him off before he could speak: “I need to do this. Alone.” Scotty just nodded, squeezing your shoulder as he left.

He should’ve stopped you. Better yet, you should’ve stopped yourself but you knew you were too much like your father for your own good. You dealt with grief the same way - by throwing yourself into your work. That’s probably why you ended up in Medbay more than usual. You asked for M’Benga, hoping Leonard wouldn’t notice that this was the sixth time you’d come in for treatment in four days, but you could hear his voice nearing the exam room and your heart sank.

He didn’t look at you when he came in, just closed the door behind him and stared at your chart. The bio bed beeped as your heart rate increased. Leonard’s eyes shot up briefly before settling back on the report. You could tell he was pissed, but when he spoke it was soft: “Electrical shock. Head trauma. Sprained wrist,” he listed off. “Guess you’ve been too busy killing yourself to meet for lunch.” You hung your head, wanting to say something but knowing nothing would suffice. Leonard threw the file beside on the bed, pulling out his tricorder and sweeping it over you, settling on the burns on your hands. “What happened?” No sweetheart, no sugar, all business.

“Burned myself,” you mumbled.

“I can see that,” he snapped. Leonard took a shaky breath before turning to grab the dermal regenerator. “I meant how.”

“Water heater broke. Grabbed the valve without thinking.”

“Seems like you’ve been not thinking a lot,” Leonard said, motioning to the cut on your forehead and the bruise on your arm. He brought a hand up to stroke your cheek absentmindedly before tending to your hands. “I’m worried about you, Y/N.”

“‘’M fine.” You didn’t even try to make it sound convincing.

“Horseshit.” Leonard’s voice was growing steadily louder. “You’re not, Y/N. You’re not fine. You haven’t been eating and don’t try to say you’re eating in Engineering because I asked Scotty to keep an eye on you. He said you’re not, even when he brings you food. Not to mention you’re not coming to our room at night anymore and you’ve tripled your visits to Medbay. Honestly, did you think I wouldn’t find out you’re seeing Geoff instead? I’m the goddamn CMO. Of course I’m gonna hear about it when my own girlfriend crawls into my medbay all cut up because she ignored my suggestion she take a few days leave and can’t focus enough to strip a damn wire.”

You were silent a few minutes, willing yourself to be angry, willing yourself to feel anything but grief. “I’m sorry,” you said.

Leonard put the regenerator on the bed, taking your hands gently in his own. “I just want to help, sweetheart,” he said, “but I can’t do that if you won’t talk to me.” His eyes were heartbroken when they locked with yours. You couldn’t stop your bottom lip from quivering.

“I just miss him,” you whispered, “and when I’m down in Engineering it’s like he’s there. He taught me how to strip wires and how to fix anything with a wrench and some tape and God, Len, I just miss him. I miss him so much.” The sobs choked you before you could stop them. Leonard stood between your legs, pulling you against him. You buried your sobs in his blue shirt, holding onto the material as tightly as you could. “I tried to call him,” you sobbed into Leonard’s chest, “after I left the conference room I tried to call him. I should’ve done it earlier but I didn’t. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

“I know, sugar,” Leonard said, rubbing your back. “But he knew you loved him, and I know for a fact he loved you with all his heart. I do too, Y/N. I love you so much.”

“I’m sorry I went to Geoff. I’m sorry I-”

“Don’t be,” Leonard said, pulling back and wiping your cheeks with his thumbs. “We’re both here now. You don’t need to be sorry.” He pressed his lips against your forehead. “Love you so much,” he whispered. He leaned down and pressed his lips gently against yours. You kissed him back before another sob shook your body, and Leonard wrapped you in his arms again.

Tags:

@imamotherfuckingstar-lord @outside-the-government @martinawalker @thevalesofanduin @goingknowherewastaken @daybreak96 @8bit-arc-reactor

#star trek imagine #leonard mccoy imagine #bones imagine #leonard mccoy x reader #bones x reader #angsty sorry :(#let me know if there are any problems with it!#also does the read more work on mobile? because I noticed last time the read more didn't show up on mobile #unless tumblr just didn't even save it on desktop #hope you enjoy!!

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guardianofjunmyeon · 8 years ago

Text

Seven (Part 6)

Paring: All of EXO x OC

Genre: Romance; Angst; Fantasy Post-Apocalyptic AU; Smut; Drama

Description: For a girl who has difficulty distinguishing emotionally charged decisions from logic, being placed in the middle of a growing war is the last thing the world needs. She finds herself stuck in a world full of mutants, magic, and privilege. It’s up to her to decide where she wants to stand. Will she save those who need her most, or will she let her own selfish desires turn her into the thing she once hated most. A human infected with the Seven.

Warnings: Literally…everything. R*pe. Self Harm. Eating Disorders. Slavery. Violence. Abuse. Not for the faint hearted.

Prologue, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Rest of the Story

I wake to the unpleasant feeling of the sun shining through my window straight onto my face. It’s as if it decided that perhaps if it fried me to a crisp I would leave the soul sucking attitude behind. Maybe it could fry it away; I wanted it to. The intensity of the rays of the sun, mixed with the cool air in the room was too much to sleep through. As much as I wanted to continue lying here, I knew that I had to get up.

Slowly opening my eyes, the first thing that I see is that there is another, very attractive, figure sitting on the ground right beside my bed just…looking at me.

My eyes widen.

His eyes widen, and we both stare in shock for a solid 10 seconds before we simultaneously jump up. I nearly topple off the bed trying scoot to the opposite end of the mattress and he jumps to his feet and presses himself against the closest wall, immediately casting his eyes down.

“Jongin…” I croak out in my horrid morning voice. I sound as if I’m not sure that it is him, and I’m not. Am I still dreaming? Why would I be dreaming about the boy I haven’t said more than 3 words to? Is this actually Jongin? I rub furiously at my eyes hoping that I can clear away my early morning sight and mental haze through physical means.

I see him opening his mouth to (probably) explain himself, but I decide to voice my own plaguing thoughts before he can find the words. “I’m sorry.” He closes his mouth and looks up briefly in confusion before looking back down. I sigh and scratch my head as I search for a genuine way to phrase what I want to say. “I was out of line. The other week when I called you a mu-” I catch my mistake and quickly change my phrasing, “when I called you the M word. I shouldn’t have called you that, and I shouldn’t have addressed you so disrespectfully.”

He nods showing that he’s heard me, but he makes no move to leave or look up at me. I crawl off my bed and pad over to the boy, stopping a foot or so away from him. “Am I really that scary to you?” I ask quietly. He stays immobile. His silence says more than words ever could. I find myself swallowing down my own nervousness and ducking so that I can look at his face and force him to make eye contact with me. He continues to avoid and I place a hand softly on his cheek. His eyes stop wandering and finally look at my face; I smile weakly. He has a beautiful face, and his eyes are adorable.

I guide his face so that he can stand straight with his head forward, and so that I don’t have to be awkwardly ducked under him. I don’t miss how he seems to be holding his breath, and has been since I put my hand on his face.

“Jongin…look, you don’t have to be afraid of me. I am not going to hurt you okay?” I say softly. His eyes flicker across my face and when they land on my eyes I can see just how vulnerable and small he seems. Someone as tall and handsome as him shouldn’t have to be this afraid of someone as small and average as me. All of my prejudice disappears for a moment as I observe the male in front of me. Is this fear because of me?

I want to comfort him, but the only way I can think of is to hug him. That’s how Momm- she would comfort us, and that’s how Tao would comfort me. So I find myself wrapping my arms around the boy in front of me. He tenses almost immediately, so I squeeze him lightly and press my cheek against his shoulder.

Please don’t be afraid of me anymore. I think in my head.

He doesn’t hug me back, but he does relax in my arms and he lets go of the breath he had been holding in. I only hope that I hadn’t accidentally spoken my thoughts out loud. I can hear his heartbeat slowing and I exhale as I relax as well. Okay. This is progress.

The door to my room slams open and Kris’s right hand man and sidekick walks in animatedly, “Hey, it’s time for breakfast we’re having…Jongin?” His sentence changes to one of confusion, and Jongin and I break apart. 5 feet of space separate us and we both look down in embarrassment. The situation wasn’t compromising, and I don’t know why I feel as though I’ve committed some sin by doing what I did. Yet, I still feel as though I just got caught doing something wrong.

I look over to Jongin guiltily, and when pretty boy glances between the two of us as if trying to piece together a puzzle, Jongin nearly sprints out of the room vanishing in the process. I open my mouth to try to explain but he only holds a hand up with a smile that looks slightly angry and very forced. He only turns around and I run and grab on to the sleeve of his shirt to stop him. When he turns back to face me his gaze is blank.

His usually bright and flighty frame seems different, and even though he is only a few inches taller than me, I feel extremely small next to him in this moment. I forget what I want to say and blink a few times while just looking at him. He arches an eyebrow expectantly.

I clear my throat and let go of his shirt. “Is he like that because I yelled at him?” I murmur out. He analyzes my face before he shakes his head no. His lips press in to a thin line but I ask on, “Is it because he lives in the castle?” He nods hesitantly and I look out the door where the boy disappeared.

“Breakfast is ready.” He says softly before finally walking away. As he returns to the kitchen, I stay in my room with furrowed brows. Maybe it’s time that I talk to Kris to find out about…everything. A mix of sadness and anger (at who I can’t figure out) rushes through me at how scared Jongin is to look directly at me when I’m awake. He’s fine around the others, and yeah I had snapped at him but that was one time and he couldn’t/shouldn’t be this terrified just because of me. I push the fact that he was more or less watching me sleep to the back of my mind.

I’ll deal with that later.

Breakfast is lively as usual, and I stay reserved as I listen to them bicker and joke around. “Where is Jongin?” I ask while looking at the empty seat where he usually sits. I catch the pretty one glance at me before he returns his attention to fixing his coffee.

“He left to go to the castle. How’d you know he was here? He was only here for a moment.” Kris inquires.

“I just ran in to him before coming down …” I say dismissively. I fork a bit of scrambled egg in to my mouth and chew slowly. How do I even begin to ask him to explain? I don’t want to seem like I’m considering going to the castle, because I’m not even sure if I want to stay here much less go to another place full of strangers. I glance at the 3 of them as they chat enthusiastically.

Okay, it’s now or never.

I swallow my food and summon all of my courage so that I can push passed my pride. “So what even happens in the castle anyway…” I mutter half hoping that no one could hear me. When the talking stops I know that I wasn’t that lucky. I look up from my plate to see 2 shocked gazes gaping at me, and Tao looking at anything but me.

“Tao go upstairs for a minute.” Kris says forcefully. Tao quickly stands up and leaves without any opposition. Very out of character, and yet I feel as though around Kris he is usually this obedient.

Kris and the pretty guy have a silent conversation with their eyes, and they both stay seated as they turn back to face me. I look back at them cautiously and my heart pounds as I prepare for the worst. “What do you know about our society?” Kris starts.

“Nothing. I was born around humans, and after leaving the only thing I’ve learned is that there are humans and people who aren’t who can use magic. The mutt- sorry, I mean your people treat humans like shit. That’s all I know.” I tell him honestly.

“Do you know how or why things got this way? How things were before?” he prods. I open my mouth ready to tell him ‘what part of I don’t know anything don’t you fucking understand you absolute fucking mango?’ but I close my mouth and opt to just shake my head ‘no’ instead. His face hardens and his mouth turns in to a line as he prepares to dictate the history that I never learned.

“Okay…well where do I start?” Kris thinks aloud. He sits back in his chair, crosses his arms and looks thoughtfully at the ceiling.

“Probably at the beginning, you know where most stories start.” The other male says sassily. I smile for a fraction of a second at his statement before forcing a neutral expression. It was funny, but now isn’t the time for me to suddenly seem friendly. Kris glares at the other before turning his attention back to me.

“Hundreds of years ago the world was run by humans. Mainly human men for that matter. They didn’t know how to take care of the things and people around them. They weren’t able to put aside their own ideas and pride for the sake of the whole and ended up pushing the earth to a point where it was no longer healthy. So the world began to reject them; it began to reject all life.

“They damaged the planet beyond repair and sent it into a kind of reset mode. With all of the radiation caused by the humans, the genes of some of the women began to change. It turned on some kind of gene that was before dormant in your kind, and when they had daughters their daughters inherited the gene. I don’t know why it was passed down maternally, but only girls were experiencing this change at first. They found themselves able to manipulate the elements and their surroundings. These were the first Gaia…or I guess the first female mutants as you so frankly call them.” I flush at his statement.

“The Gaia were hunted, discriminated against, and feared by the human men. They tried to kill them off because they couldn’t understand how people were suddenly able to use magic. They thought they had disproved that theory years before, and that along with the rapid deterioration of the planet caused them to become even more afraid. The human women however, they protected the Gaia while their male counterparts tried to eradicate them. The women put their lives on the line to prevent the Gaia from having to experience a history and past that human women had experienced centuries before.

“The first Charmer came along when the first born Gaia mated with a human man and had a son. This son was able to manipulate the elements like his mother, but not quite as strongly. Other things happened over the next years, but they aren’t that important.” He waves his hand around and then skips forward in his story. “After a century or so The Cleansing happened and almost all of humanity was wiped out. The Gaia and Charmers were hardly affected.” Sensing my confusion Kris shakes his head. “We’ll talk about The Cleansing another day.

“Afterwards the Gaia took over. They used what few human men they could find left as sex slaves for a while, to procreate and repopulate the Earth, until there were enough Charmers to compensate for their needs. Human men were then demoted to the lowest slave status while Charmers took on servant status and took on the brunt of Gaia sexual favor.

“Human women became rare since the human men were taken in as slaves and were unable to raise families with your women. So your people went in to hiding. They formed societies separated from the Gaia so that they could live in solitude away from the new social order. Human women became more valued by the Gaia as their numbers dwindled due to their help before The Cleansing. Many people, human men, Charmer, and Gaia included, didn’t like how high up human women were on the social ladder since there were so few of you.” Scenes of my own life flash before my eyes as I connect his words to my experiences. I had only met one other human girl while at the orphanage and I just assumed it was because not many were on the streets; I had female friends before the fire. The girl at the orphanage vanished a year after I arrived. I was a toy to many of the people I dealt with when I was out on a run. The boys at the orphanage experienced more or less the same treatment, but it was obvious that people took more satisfaction in buying from me, abusing me, or forcing themselves on me.

I never assumed that it was because I was a girl.

“Because of where you came from, people in the 3rd ring were able to manipulate and abuse your ignorance. They would never have been able to do that to a human girl who was aware of the social order. When it comes to human boys they’ll kill or throw them out without much hesitation…but because of what your ancestors did they like to…torture human girls. In the castle males experience the same as they would on the outside more or less, whether they are Charmers or human their status doesn’t change. Humans are used for physical labor, and Charmers are used to attend to the household, to fulfill sexual gratification, and to carry on the race. Other than that we serve no higher purpose to the Gaia…” he says while gauging my reaction. I can’t respond. I don’t know how. I stay stone faced and let him go on. “Most Charmers are abused by their Gaia. Beatings are normal for the Charmers. They are sometimes starved for making mistakes, and they are injured for following the orders of someone who they don’t belong to. A lot of Charmers are tortured for any number of reasons…it really just depends on the Gaia…or human over them.”

“We aren’t supposed to make eye contact with or touch the Gaia…or the human girls that are ‘aware’ of the social order unless explicitly told to do so. If we disobey…” the pretty one looks me in the eyes, “…let’s just say that we don’t disobey our orders.”

“He’s right. You and Tao are just examples of the naïve humans who don’t know about how things are run above you. A lot of people will and have taken advantage of that, so they take their own anger out on you. As for the Gaia, when they find a human girl they usually take her in and treat her like a pampered pet or a spoiled daughter. It doesn’t take long for the human girl to start to treat Charmers and other humans the way that their Gaia ‘mothers’ do. They become just as bad as the Gaia who oppress those under them.” I stand up in shock and my breathing hastens as if I am about to hyperventilate. The blood rushes from my head and I collapse back in to my chair. What…this has all been going on and I’ve had no clue? It feels like I’ve just been given a huge piece of the puzzle that is my life. I didn’t understand why these things were happening…I didn’t realize the reasons were so…petty.

The pretty boy rushes over to my side and forces me to drink some water. He stands guard as I finish it and then makes no move back to his seat. I guess he wants to make sure I don’t stand up again just to pass out. Kris looks tentative about finishing his story after seeing me in the state I’ve suddenly fallen in. My heart is pounding. My head hurts. I feel like I’m not taking in enough air and the sharp inhales are doing nothing to help. “Maybe we should continue later.” He offers. “You should lie down for bit.”

“Wait. Does Tao know about all of this? About why the both of us have been treated the way we were?” I ask shakily. I stand up on wobbly legs and the pretty one grips my arm to steady me. Kris shakes his head. They must be trying to “protect” him from the truth. A quick mental image of Jongin pops up in my head. “Is this why Jongin is so afraid of me? Does he think I’m going to hurt him like they have?” Kris only nods and my legs buckle. They must think the same then…

I feel like shit…and weak…and helpless. The tears start to pool and I’m guided to the stairs so that I can lie down. My limbs feel like steel as the weight of my situation fills my veins. I trip going up the first stair and I’m barely being held up by the hand around my arm. He lets go as I let my body kneel on the ground and it starts to shake as my body goes through the motions of crying, but no tears fall.

The pretty boy hesitates before he decides to just pick me up and carry me to my room. He cradles me to his chest as he treks back to my little safe haven. My hand clutches the light blue fabric of his shirt and I feel like this is the only thing keeping me grounded in reality. Like it’s my last slip of sanity. He sets me down on my bed but I can’t get myself to let go of his shirt. He looks into my eyes unguarded for the first time and all I can see is pity and confusion swimming in his large dark irises.

“Have you been through that same stuff when you’re in the castle?” I ask him. He doesn’t answer as he wraps his hand around my own and softly pulls it off his article of clothing. His deer like eyes show a damaged man and he holds eye contact and my hand for a few seconds. He doesn’t need to verbalize what his eyes are confirming. He pats the back of my hand uttering a quiet, “Rest up.” before leaving the room.

My body wants to shut down. To sleep. To stop being conscious. But my mind is wide awake and I end up staring at the all too familiar ceiling for God knows how long. All of my thoughts start to piece together; each thing Kris said pairs with a memory of my own.

“Many people, human men, Charmer, and Gaia included, didn’t like how high up human women were on the social ladder since there were so few of you.”

The fire set on my village. He wanted to kill all of us in one shot…there were a lot of women and girls in my home. The people in the third ring treated me like I was the source of all of their issues, and I let them because I thought that I deserved it. Maybe I did deserve it. I didn’t do anything to them, but there’s no telling what they’ve experienced because of the Gaia and because of other human girls.

“...when they find a human girl they usually take her in and treat her like a pampered pet or a spoiled daughter. It doesn’t take long for the human girl to start to treat Charmers and other humans the way that their Gaia ‘mothers’ do.”

Momma.

She took me in willingly, but I had seen how boys would beg to work for her and how she would kick them out without hesitation. I’d seen countless boys be beat and then cast out for being caught while running an errand for her…and maybe that’s why I was so shocked when she actually sold me off. I thought that I was different. I thought that…I deserved better. Somewhere in my mind I knew that she wanted me more than the others. With as much as I fucked up, I should have been long sold off or killed or something. The first time being caught should have been my last and my only…

*8 Years Prior*

“Yah! What did I tell you about getting caught?” She spat as she held me by the collar of my worn t-shirt.

“You said not to.” I replied back simply.

“Are you being smart with me you little fucker?” Her grip had gotten harder and my nose was almost touching hers. I shook my head quickly and she scowled before pulling back her hand and striking me across the cheek with the meat of her palm. I was almost sure that I had been given whiplash and the stinging in my cheek was growing stronger with each passing second. I reached a hand up to cradle the tender flesh and everything in me was in flight mode. I was ready to make a run for it. As soon as I made an indication that I was going to move, I was stuck in my spot.

My head turned back to face her and I found myself kneeling on the ground. My mind was doing all it could to fight, but my body wouldn’t listen. It was as if she had control of my limbs. When she knelt down to my new height she gripped me by the chin and dug her nails into my cheeks.

“If you get dragged back here because someone caught you again��expect much worse than this.” She whispered. She spat next to me and then let go of my face. Once she was out of the room my body suddenly became mine again. I fell onto my side and swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall. I wouldn’t let her see me cry.

That first time should have been the last time, but I did get caught after that, and every time would be worse than the last. She tortured me when she could have easily killed me off…

“You and Tao are just examples of the naïve humans who don’t know about how things are run above you.”

Tao has no issue looking people in the face, especially not me. The boys in the orphanage either. Skinship and eye contact was the only thing we had when it felt like the world was trying to kill us off. And they were. We just didn’t know why.

We aren’t supposed to make eye contact with or touch the Gaia…or the human girls that are ‘aware’ unless explicitly told to do so.

Jongin…

He hadn’t looked me in the face at all in the month I’ve been here except for today when I more or less made him. That poor boy. Kris and that other guy would look me in the eyes, but they always looked apprehensive. Like I’d explode…like I would suddenly turn in to the other human girls. And wow the way that I was acting at first did nothing to help. How negative a view do they have of women after all they’ve been through? My home was often attacked by their kind and I was never told why people kept bombing and raiding our village. They said it wasn’t important, and I didn’t care then because I was young. They hated us and they killed my family…but while we lived happily in the woods we were the reason that they had their own shitty lives.

Just as I had grown up to hate them, they had grown up to hate…me. All of the boys at the orphanage were there because of me and my ancestors. All of the boys in this house are in pain because of me. It’s all my fault.

And here I was acting like they owed me something while I sat here and did nothing. Refusing to help. Being an enormous asshole. I was the only one who could save them, and maybe if I can’t save them…I can do even just a little to help.

The guilt is eating me up, and yes I know I don’t owe them this because I didn’t choose to be born a human girl and I didn’t personally put them in the positions that they’re in, but I kind of do owe this to them. I can help.

I could die in the process…

But I could help them. No one deserves to be treated like filth regardless of what they’re born as and no one should be entitled to abuse their privilege. Watching others suffer is my own kind of personal hell, and I can’t just sit here and let the Gaia treat boys like shit when they don’t deserve it. When there are shitty Gaia out there like Momma. When there are kind hearted human’s out there like Tao.

And I can’t go around despising all of the Charmers when there are kind ones like Kris. And suffering ones like Jongin.

I won’t just stand by knowing this is all happening.

It’s about time that something around here changes, and I think I might just be willing to jump in to help.

#exo #exo fanfiction #exo stroy #exo reverse harem #reverse harem #tw

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