#I love how callum is always violent when you push him I want him to snap

[eastendies]

And Keanu Taylor severely regretted pissing off callum that day

[oikadori]

A/N: No one asked for this but I really wanted to write some angsty fic...so this is the outcome of listening to Callum Scott and Conan Gray for three full days asfkasjk sorry this is the longest thing I’ve written Hope you like it!

Miya Atsumu x f!Reader

Summary: He was your best friend and she was perfect, but still you fell for him

Genre: angst, unrequited love 

Warnings: self-doubt, insecurity, swearings 

Now playing: Dancing On My Own, Heather 

WC~2,6K

You should already be used to hear it, but every time Atsumu let out a booming laugh you couldn’t help staring at him with dreamy eyes.

“Oi, Y/N!  Are you even listening to me?” his hazel eyes open, looking at you playfully.

“Yes, I’m hearing you, and no, it wasn’t as funny as you think” he frowns, pushing you from your chair almost making you fall if it wasn’t for his quick grip on your forearm, “You asshole!”

“Why so harsh on me today, sweetheart?”

Yo feel your stomach twist at the nickname, making Atsumu smile at the way your cheeks get a dark red.

“Because you were a total dick with those poor girls” he sighs, tired, stretching his arms behind his head, “You could’ve been nicer, you know?”

Biting your lip, you remember the teary eyes of those girls as they ran away sobbing after they had told him their love confession. Would you have the same luck if- No, no way you had a crush on him.

“They have a crush just on my looks, it’s annoying”, he spits, “Why do you care so much anyways?”

“I…-” he looks at you with curiosity as you carefully think your words, “-I guess I would feel horrible if I were them and confessed”

“Don’t tell me you have a crush on someone Y/N”

“Of course not, all of you ,men, are idiots”, he place his hand on his chest with a wounded look, making your eyes roll, a smile tickling your lips, “Now, hurry with your homework, you’re stealing my lunch time”

He reaches for his bag, taking out his lunch box to hand you the extra Onigiri he had. You smile fondly even if it is not the first time he brings you food during your study sessions.

He was your best friend, yet his gestures never failed to dazzle you.... Maybe you do have a crush on him.

 ///

You enter the gym with a tired look, a yawn slips pass your lips before sitting on the bleachers, you plug your earbuds and take out an unfinished assignment from your bag. The second years wave at you, Atsumu sticking his tongue out, you wave back before locking eyes with him and returning the gesture, making the setter grin.

The next time you lift your eyes from your work, you open them wide before taking off your earbuds to listen to the scene in front of you.

A girl wearing the team’s jacket enter the gym alongside the captain, making it feel as if the time stop. The team look at them in surprise as she bows.

“I’m eager to be your new manager! I used to play but-” she points at her wrist with a shy smile,” I got pretty bad injured so I hope I can be helpful here”, you advert Atsumu’s gaze, making your heart flinch a little.

“I’m Miya Atsumu, setter, I haven’t see ya around before” the girl looks at him with an eager look, leaning closer, a happy smile on her face as Atsumu stands still, the smirk on his face fades as she erases the gap between them. ‘The hell is she doing?’

“Oh, I know you! The star setter, guess what they say about you is truth-”, you wait for the usual compliments girls told him all the time, your lips curve up a little remembering Atsumu’s usual reaction at them, “-your serves are truly monstrous, your technique is impeccable”

His eyes glimmer with curiosity and you notice the light blush on his cheeks as he gives her his best smile. In all the years you’ve known him, you’ve seen him flirting with girls, hooking up with one before getting another, but this…this was different.

You stand up before properly thinking what you are doing. You haven’t felt jealous before and you didn’t have the right for it, but an overwhelming despair sets the pace of your feet as they move towards them.

“I used to be a setter myself but-“

“Hey, Tsumu, see you after practice to finish our chemistry homework?” you peek your head between them, making the girl take a few steps back, a surprise look on her face. Atsumu looks at your innocent smile and blinks.

“Y/N, I told you not to call me that in practice-” he whispers to you, hiding it with a few coughs, “Uhmm, sure” the couch calls them and he waves at you before jogging off with the new manager to line up with the rest.

Your eyes linger on them a few more seconds, he laughs with her, making you furrow your eyebrows together, noticing just now, how beautiful she was.

///

“You still look like crap”

“Shut up, Samu!

You stand between the twins near the main door of the cafeteria, watching Atsumu run his hand through his hair multiple times as he stares at his reflection on one of the windows ‘All that… for her?’

A voice that comes from behind you, makes Atsumu look over your shoulder with a nervousness you haven’t seen before.

“Tsum Tsum!”

He gasps at the sight of her, the short dress she is wearing frames her figure perfectly, and you can’t help to look at your own clothes wondering if you couldn’t have dressed more casually.

You remain silent as she reaches for his hair and ruffles it friendly, the display in front of you feels surreal, suddenly your limbs are numb and your eyes can’t seem to drift away from Atsumu’s happy smile as he grabs her wrist to kiss her hand.

“You look stunning”

“What a gentleman – Oh, hey ‘Samu and-“

“Y/N” the words come sharper than you intended, the girl just let out an innocent giggle

“I’m so sorry! I don’t get to see you a lot in school, you’re in the advanced classes, right?”

“Y/N is a genius, they wouldn’t allow me to play if it wasn’t for her”, Atsumu says pointing at you with pride while his other hand rests on the small of her back guiding her to your table. A lump forms on your throat, making it impossible for you to reply, you  manage to pull an empty smile.

On the table you are silent as ever, nodding at all the conversations the second years try to include you in. Your mind is already far away, wondering all the possibilities that could happen if you were brave enough to confess right there, right now, but the sight in front of you snaps you to reality again.

Atsumu lips gets stained by some red sauce and before you can point it out, she licks her thumb before pressing it on his lips. His cheeks turn bright red and his jaw slightly slacks open.

“How is that you aren’t already dating? It’s been almost three months since you are all over each other” Suna casually says

Three months indeed, and she entered more and more in their small circle. But how could you stop it when she was just…so lovely?

 Atsumu stayed until much later in practice but still you chatted together. Late night texts, becoming in late night calls to check up on each other.

‘I want to ask her out. Fuck, I want her so badly, but what if she rejects me, Y/N!’

‘Tsumu, you’re Japan’s top high school setter. Believe me, she won’t reject you’

Now you want to hit your head against the nearest wall, remembering your stupid words.

“Would you say yes if I ask you out?” 

“I would say yes to more than that” the table falls dead silent at her words as if they waited for the next scene of a movie.

 Suddenly Atsumu press his lips against hers with ferocity, she pulls the collar of his shirt, deepening the already heated kiss. You almost choke on your water, earning a concern look from Kita, you find yourself standing up violently before rushing to the restroom.

You close the door behind you before looking at yourself in the mirror, ‘I could have never competed with her’. You bite your lip, and shut your eyes tightly, your hands grasping both sides of the sink, you let your head fall forwards, eyes fixed on the white of the porcelain as they water.

“Y/N, are you okay?” you stiffen at the soft female voice coming from the other side of the door, “Do you need help?”, you let out an humorless laugh. ‘A sweetheart with everyone, huh?’

“I-I don’t feel good, it’ll better if I head home. Please tell the others, I had an emergency or something” your throat feels extremely dry all of sudden and your voice comes out shaky.

“Oh! I can take you home-“

“I’ll rather go alone! I don’t know if I’m sick and I’d hate to…infect you. Thank you, tho”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes”

“Okay…text me when you get home!”

When you hear the footsteps fading away, you wait a few more minutes to walk out the restroom, just to find Atsumu talking cheerfully, his eyes filled with adoration for her. He didn’t even look at your direction as you left the cafeteria, and in that very moment you realized he would never look at you that way.

 ///

“Where is Y/N, I haven’t seen her in years?”

“I think she is tutoring some first years”

“Oh” Atsumu finds himself looking at your usual spot on the bleachers, he barely got to see or talk to you in the recent weeks. 

You’ve been missing his calls on purpose. Since that dinner, you had to put all your energy to smile at him when he waved at you in the corridors as he held her hand. It had been almost a month of hearing him talking about how gracious she was and weeks of looking how they made out on the couch in the end of the library or against one of the gym’s walls.

You thought that if you put distance with him, you’ll manage to get over that soreness that felt heavy on your chest each time she made him laugh. But no matter how many extra classes you took or how many first years you tutored, your mind always came back to Inarizaki’s setter.

The sky was dark by the time you finished tutoring the last first year, he bowed at you and you gave him a brief smile before locking the classroom. You handled the keys to your teacher and walked out of the building.

The cold wind hit your face, making you shiver, you search for your jacket in your bag, finding only a scarf. Atsumu gave it to you. You haven’t used it in a while now, but the cold was too much to bear with for your thin uniform. You place the material carefully around your neck, caressing the fabric begore sighing, watching your breath fading into the air and start walking.

“Oi” his voice makes you turn instantly, and you catch him jogging to you, “It’s fucking cold out here!- Uh, you still have it?” he points at your neck with a cheeky grin.

Atsumu looks extremely handsome like this, a little pink on his nose and cheeks and the few lights highlight the hazel of his eyes. It makes you gulp before replying.

“Of course, I do. It was my first two-digit birthday!”, he laughs remembering the chaos you both made by that age, you smile a little before looking at him with concern, “What are you still doing here? Something happened?”

“No! I-I just wanted to walk home with you, like we used to” he looks at the ground and sighs, “I know you’re busy, but I missed ya” the words make your heart warm even when you can’t stop shivering, “You are freezing” he takes his volleyball jacket and place it over your shoulders

“No, I’m fine, really. You should-”

“Stubborn as always. What am I supposed to do with your freeze corpse?”, you huff, putting the jacket on as he starts walking.

“What about your girlfriend?”

“She already left, don’t worry she knows you’re my best friend, she won’t act bitchy at you” you just nod and start walking alongside the setter, not caring about the sting that ypu just felt in your heart.

The walk is long and awkward, Atsumu finally getting hit by the way your friendship had changed. Your brief answers and forced smiles make him more and more annoyed, becoming more silent with each minute.

You didn’t have the energy to keep up with his drollery, each time you looked at him you just felt the urge to be held by him and tell him the painful truth: You didn’t have a crush on him. No.  You loved him.

“What is wrong with you?” he says, suddenly stopping.

“Excuse me- “

“If you don’t want to be friends with me anymore, just say it! Jesus!”, his exasperated tone makes your eyes narrow, “-But don’t have me fooling around, worrying about you for almost a month” your mouth twitches downwards as you realize your indifference had hit a spot on his pride. 

For a solid minute you don’t hear anything, you just stare at him with a flood of thoughts rushing through your head until you manage to pull one of them out into a dry whisper.

“We shouldn’t be friends anymore- “his clenched fists loosen, and he watches your lips carefully, “I can’t do it anymore – thought I could but…is too much”,

The crack of your voice makes you stop for second, giving you time to gain a little bit more of air before feeling again as if you were drowning.

“I can’t be friends with you anymore, because I want you!… The worst part is that she is so FUCKING perfect!” your arms move in the air letting out all the feelings you had bottled up.

“I thought I could brush away the feeling, but I realize – I  love you, Atsumu” his mouth opens slightly not able to produce a sound as your arms fall to your sides, a tear streaming down your cheek.

You take his jacket off, the cold air embracing your body, but you can’t care less. He motions to you, but you lift your hand, stopping him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would it have changed anything?” his silence tells you all you needed, making your heart clench, “That – That’s what I though…It’s okay, really. I wouldn’t choose me either” your breath becomes irregular and you bite your lip, capturing a sob, “This is my fault, falling in love with you…If being friends makes you happy, I-I will do my best to be your friend, then”

Atsumu was usually selfish with the things he wanted and proud about the things he made but seeing you there, shivering with red eyes and swollen lips, made his heart ache.

And he couldn’t be less proud about the things he was about to say.

“You were right before. We shouldn’t be friends anymore. I do not want to deal with you being in love with me and my girlfriend”, you hiccup, fixing your sore eyes on his, “You made things so fucking complicated, it’s better to end this now”, he hiss, gritting his teeth, waiting for you to storm out.

 But when he feels your cold lips on his cheek, he bites his bottom lip harshly.

“Sorry, I never meant-”, ‘To fall for you’, it takes all his will power to not envelope you in his arms, so he only turns his face away, hearing your sobs. He loved you but not the way you did. “-to mess us up”

You walk away quickly, tears running down your cheeks as you press your hand firmly against your lips, drowning the uncontrollable sobs. Atsumu stands there watching you disappear into the coldness of the night, shutting his eyes tightly, understanding, he had lost his best friend.

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↳ ∴ Master List ∴

[iwillhaveamoonbase]

We Could Be Heroes

Attending a university on the border between Xadia and Katolis, Callum and Rayla have been secretly together for a year now. Coming clean to their families is one thing. Announcing their relationship to the public is another.

_____________________________________________________________

“You know, if you want to talk to her you have to actually talk to her.”  Callum was jolted out of his stupor as Claudia brought him back to reality.  “I swear, you haven’t been this bad since before we dated.  You’ve been pining after her for a year; maybe it’s time to say something.”  Claudia was smirking while sipping her hot brown morning potion; the hustle and bustle of the university cafeteria completely ignored by the pair.

“She’s an elf, Claudia.  A Moonshadow elf, at that.  You know how they feel about humans.”  Callum shifted the eggs on his plate in an efforts to distract himself from Claudia’s prodding.

“Doesn’t change the fact that you like her.  And she might like you.”

Callum couldn’t stop the awkward laugh as he began to look everywhere but at his friend.  “Don’t say things like that in public.  What if someone-”

"What, Callum?  Figures out you are crushing on a girl you’ve shared classes with since your first semester?  She’s pretty and clever, and, from what Soren says whenever he goes to the gym, really athletic.  You’d be stupid not to like her.  You’re a prince and on your way to become an archmage.  She wouldn’t be getting the short-end of the stick by liking you.”

“She doesn’t like me Claudia.  Nothing is going to happen between us.”  Claudia sighed before reaching over and patting Callum’s hand.  “Why do you want something to happen between?”

Claudia shrugged before turning her neck to look at Rayla.  “Because I want you to be happy.  You light up when you talk about her and smile more after you work together.  She makes you happy, Callum.”

Callum blushed and looked down at his own cup of morning potion.  “Don’t tell anyone, Claudia.”

“Soren knows.”

Callum nodded his head from side to side a bit.  “Why am I not surprised?”

                                           _____________________

Rayla was doing her best to discreetly look at the two humans a few tables away.  Her frequent project partner, Callum, and his friend, Claudia.  Rayla and Claudia did not get along at first, mostly due to Claudia using dark magic while Callum had somehow managed to unlock Sky magic.  Claudia still didn’t see anything wrong with dark magic and it made Rayla, and every other elf in their vicinity, wary of her.  The other reason they didn’t get along?  Claudia wouldn’t stop bugging Rayla about Callum.

“You’re looking at that human prince again, Rayla,” Bandlr, a fellow Moonshadow elf hissed.  He was just a bit taller than Runaan and covered in toned muscles.  The sloping purple marks on his cheeks reminded Rayla of the scythes used during harvest time.  He exuded power and arrogance with every little move he made and tended to have either a scowl or a smirk on his face.  

“I’m doing no such thing,” she stated absently.

“You better not or your uncle will be pissed.”

“Is that a threat?”  Rayla glared over at him and could feel the energy crackling between the two.  They lived in the same small town and had known most of the same people since high school.  For Rayla, it had been hate at first sight, finding his arrogance and knowledge of her life the biggest turn-off she had ever encountered.  He was a thorn in her side that just wouldn’t go away, no thanks to the other Moonshadow elves at the university not wanting to kick one of their own out without ‘proper cause’.  For Bandlr, it had been lust at first sight.  He spent all his time with Rayla either antagonizing her or trying to charm her.  He had once told her that he wouldn’t mind it if she came to him in a fit of rage, just so long as she did.

“Maybe.  You know how to shut me up.”

“You’re right.  I do.”  Rayla leaned in a bit, Bandlr smiling wide as she did.  He never saw the punch that went straight to his jaw.  “Try to talk with a sore jaw, asshole.  Don’t forget, I’m faster than you and I was trained by the best.”

Bandlr glared as he massaged his already bruising jaw.  The other elves at the table let the two be, already used to Bandlr’s flirts and Rayla’s violent reaction to them.  Sadly for Rayla, it only made him convinced she was a ‘challenge’ for the ‘taking’.  “To be fair, Rayla,” interjected a girl with long braids, “you spend a lot of time with this Prince Callum.  I don’t think anyone back home would approve.  Just because our school is on the border of Katolis and Xadia doesn’t mean you can go fraternizing with humans.”

“Ugh.”  Rayla looked up at the ceiling, rolling her eyes.  “For the last time, back off.  I’m going back to the library.”  Rayla grabbed her things, roughly pushed her chair in and stalked off, but not before bumping into Callum and Claudia.  “Watch it.”  Callum simply nodded as he turned away from her while Claudia raised a brow.  “Got something to say?”

“The sexual tension between the two of you is so thick I could cut it with a knife.  Just tell him you like him.”

“Mind your own business, Claudia.”  Rayla walked as quickly as she could out of the cafeteria and headed towards the apartment complexes off-campus.  She continued to look behind her and to the sides as she walked.  Rayla eventually stopped in front of a luxurious apartment building and entered the large glass doors.  The human doorman smiled and greeted her.

“Another project with Prince Callum, Miss Rayla?”

“You could say that.  He texted me that he’s on his way, so I’ll wait for him by his door.”

“Of course, Miss Rayla.”

Up the elevator she went and waited in front of a door on the top floor.  It was one of only two, reserved for important dignitaries.  ‘Fucking Bandlr.  When is he going to get it through his thick skull to leave me alone?’  Rayla’s hand grasped her bag as she bit her lip.  ‘They know I’m spending a lot of time with Callum.  Who else has noticed?’  She was pulled from her thoughts by a hand softly grasping her’s.  “Callum.”

“We going to do that project, Rayla?”

“Yeah, let’s get it over with.”  Callum nodded as he unlocked the key to his apartment and let her in first.  Rayla was always struck by how minimalist Callum kept the large space.  The base of the room was obviously expensive while Callum chose to hang his own art and art that one of his fathers had done.  Pictures of his family were dispersed among the opulence of the walls and floors.  The furniture was a different story, obviously on the cheaper end, but well taken care of.  Callum had felt guilty taking the extravagant room so he had asked for cheaper materials to make his space a home while he was at school.  “No one would ever believe me if I told them your apartment was the definition of high-low.”  Rayla deposited her bag on the chair closest to the door, grabbing Callum’s bag and doing the same right after.

“You’ve been telling people that you come here?”  The slight bit of hope in his voice was clear as day.

“No, of course not.  If I did, they might think something was going on between us.”  Callum looked down at the floor, that glint of hope suddenly dashed.  “They don’t have to know anything is going on.”  Rayla didn’t give Callum a chance to nod before she had his face in her hands and her lips against his.  Callum wrapped one arm around her waist and made sure his door was locked.  Rayla backed him up to his couch and they tumbled down, with her landing between his legs and his other hand landing on her back.  “I’ve missed you.”

Callum groaned as she began to nibble at his neck.   “It’s only been a week.”

“Uh-huh.  A week of not seeing other or texting…or those naughty phone calls you seem so fond of.”  Callum gulped.  Rayla sat up and began to take off her top.  “Pants off.  Now.”

“You don’t want me to romance you a bit?”  He brushed his hands lightly against her stomach, causing her to quiver above him.

“Later.  Now, I just want you.”  Callum took off his pants and boxers and laid back.  Rayla pulled off her shirt and her own pants and underwear.  She quickly climbed on top of him and grasped his length.  “I’m gonna go fast and I’m gonna go hard.  Alright?”   He nodded, reaching to grab her hips.  She had a lot of pent up frustration in her and Callum knew by now that it was wisest to let her take the lead.  Rayla inserted Callum within her.  They groaned together as Rayla grinded on top of him.  Quickly picking up pace, she leaned back so her hands were resting on his legs.

Not fully satisfied, Rayla came back up and grabbed Callum by his shirt to pull him up to her.  She sealed his lips to hers, grasping his shoulders to give her better leverage.  Callum ran circles on her hips with his thumbs.  Rayla broke the kiss to nibble at his ear.  “Ray…”

“Almost, Callum.  Almost.”  Rayla had never been shy about what she wanted from him and she wasn’t going to start now.  She took one of his hands from her hips to rest right on her clit.  “You know what to do.”  A sharp nod led to Callum leaning forward and nibbling on her shoulder while circling her.  “Ah!”

Callum moved his head to whisper a husky ‘I love you’ in her ear.  She quietly repeated it back, locking their lips again.  A few thrusts more led Callum and Rayla to completion.  He gently laid back, taking her with him.  “I missed you, too.”        

As they lay on his couch, covered in sweat and panting together, he ran his hand up and down her back.  Rayla snuggled her face into his neck, mindful of her horns.  “Mhmm, that feels nice.”

“Why did you punch Bandlr today?”

Good mood broken, Rayla broke out into a scowl.  “Ugh, the jackass was getting on my nerves.  Threatening to tell Runaan about me looking at you.”

“Oh.  Would…would that really be such a bad thing?”  His hopeful tone had come back full swing and Rayla hated crushing it.

“Callum, we’ve talked about this.  Just because the elves and humans are no longer at war doesn’t mean that we’re at peace.”

“I don’t want us to be a secret, Rayla.  Not anymore.  It was nice, for a while, but I want to be more.”

“What more do you want?  We have dinner together, we’re exclusive, I spend the night often enough.  What more is there?”

Callum shifted so he could look Rayla in the eyes.  “I want you to meet my Dad and Ezran.  Well, you’ve met Ezran, but I want you to meet him as my girlfriend.  I want to meet Runaan and Tinker and hold your hand on campus and-”

“And what happens if it blows up in our faces?”  Rayla closed her eyes to try to keep he anger at bay.  This wasn’t the first time they had argued about this and she didn’t want him to know exactly why she didn’t want to tell anyone about their relationship.  “You do realize that Runaan could pull me out of school, right?  Just because I’m an adult in Katolis doesn’t mean that he isn’t allowed to make those decisions for me in Xadia.  The press will hound us both.  Why do you want to ruin what we have?”  She began to wriggle out of his hold, frustration making her want to move far away from him.

“Why are you scared of what we have?”

“I’m not scared.”  Rayla got up, pulled on her underwear and began to move towards the kitchen, Callum following her as he pulled his own boxers up.  She went into the cabinet and got a purple glass out as she looked back at him.  “I have my own glass here, Callum.  I have a whole drawer of my clothes in your apartment.  Anyone who looks closely enough at my texts would know that I’ve been deleting more than half of the ones from you.  I keep a freaking toothbrush in your bathroom!  Do you think I would do any of that, of this, if I was scared?”  Her arms were wide and disbelief on her face.  Why couldn’t he understand just how big all of that was?

He gave her an incredulous look as the same frustration that had taken over her began to seep into his voice.  “Yes, because you and I are the only people that know that any of your stuff is here.”

“I thought you wanted to stay out of the spotlight-”

“Don’t change the subject, Rayla.  It has never been about us going public with the world.  It’s about telling our families.  It’s ALWAYS been about telling our families.  Do you think I like telling Ezran that there is nothing between us?  I have never had to keep secrets from him before and I don’t like doing it now.”  Rayla understood that.  Ezran was understanding and had a big heart.  She couldn’t imagine anyone felt good after lying to him, least of all Callum.

“And what about your dear Aunt Amaya?  Doesn’t she hate elves?”

“She’s marrying a Sunfire elf named Janai.  Try again.”

Rayla paused as she looked at him with furrowed brows.  “Is she really?”

“It’s all over the news in Katolis.  ‘General of the Katolian Army chooses to marry a general of the Sunfire Corps.’”

“I haven’t heard anything about it.”  A rough sigh followed by a groan as she got her thoughts back to the topic at hand.  “Callum, I want to tell them.  I would love to tell Runaan and Tinker about you.”

“Then why can’t we?”

“You don’t see the way the elves look at you.  Not just the Moonshadow groups, but all the others.  You’re a human prince, even if it is by marriage.  King Harrow has not hidden how much he considers you to be his son and you have a target on your back from anyone who doesn’t like him.  On top of that, you’re learning primal magic.  There are elves that think you’re dangerous because you are the first human ever to learn how to use primal magic without a primal stone.  Do you think that you being with an elf is really going to make them think ‘oh, that Prince Callum isn’t such a bad guy?  Sure, he’s learning how to use primal magic and is trying to unlock the ability to use all six primal sources, but damn, he’s dating an elf.’”

“So, me wanting to learn magic the right way and rejecting dark magic is the problem?”  Callum’s hands were in his hair at this point as Rayla looked ready to throw her glass on the floor.  She quickly put it on the counter before she broke it.

“No, Callum.  The problem is that you’re human.  There are elves all over Xadia that will never accept you, accept us, no matter what you do.”

“Why do you care about them?”

“Because I don’t want to come home to you dead!  OK?!  I don’t want to walk into your apartment, after we went public or decided it was okay to make-out in the library, just to find your body or to have you end up dead in an alleyway.”  All of Rayla’s fears began to pour out of her.  She couldn’t stop once she started and wasn’t sure she wanted to.  Callum needed to hear why she was fighting him on telling anyone about them.  “I was trained in the arts of Moonshadow elf assassins.  I know of ways to kill you and make sure that no one will ever find out it was me.  And you can bet that I’m not the only one that knows that.  Bandlr would be first in line if we went public and if he doesn’t succeed, someone else will.  Runaan has a lot of respect among Moonshadow elves, but there are still many more elves and humans who will target you.  Your life isn’t worth it, Callum.  Us telling our families will only lead to the wrong person finding out.”  She was so furious she never saw him walk around the counter to stand in front of her.

Callum grabbed her shoulders and put his forehead against her’s.  “Do you think I haven’t thought of that?  Of course I have!  Just like I have a target on my back, you will have one on your’s.  There are people all over the Pentarchy who want elves to stay in Xadia and humans to stay in their kingdoms.  There was outrage when Dad announced I was going to school right on the border.  When I told a newspaper that I was going to learn primal magic and refuse to learn dark magic, the number of human mages who rioted…I didn’t know there were that many in Katolis alone.  And it would probably get much worse if they found out my girlfriend was an elf.”

“Then why is this so important to you?”  Callum cupped her face and stroked her cheeks.  It was getting harder to look meet his gaze when he looked at her with so much love and adoration.

“Because I love you.  And I don’t want to hide it anymore.  I know my family will love you and their opinion is the only one that matters to me.  Claudia and Soren already keep pushing me to confess to you and Ezran thinks of you as his big sister.  I never, ever would have introduced you to Ezran if I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to be with you.  I want to meet Tinker and Runaan and tell them I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.  We won’t know unless we try, Rayla.  We’ll get through this.  Together.”

Rayla sighed as she looked Callum in the eye.  The desperation in those green eyes of his let her know that he was serious about this.  “If we try, and I mean if, you’re going to have to learn a lot more about Moonshadow elf culture.  History class is one thing, but you can really, really piss Runaan off if you do the wrong thing.”

“Like what?”  Callum moved his hands up to lightly run his fingertips over the base of one of her horns, sending shivers down her spine as a gasp left her lips.  The burn in her belly she had just worked off was back full-force.

“Like that.  In any elf culture, you might as well have grabbed my ass while your tongue was down my throat.”

“Noted.  Horns are only for behind closed doors.  Anything else?”

“Stop stroking my horn and maybe I’ll be able think.”

Callum released her with a long-suffering sigh.  “Fine.  I guess I can keep my hands off you for a few minutes.”

Rayla snorted as she lightly nudged him backwards.  “We tend to spend a lot of time outdoors.  Training is outside, lots of festivals and camping trips.  It’s not unusual for families to spend nights when the moon is full in their yards.  Weddings are outside, too, as are major parties, like birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries,” Rayla counted on her fingers.  “Weddings tend to be the night before the full moon and the actual honeymoon starts on the night of the full moon.  Something about the moon granting love and fertility and fidelity.  When it rains, we go places that have large windows so we can still see the moon at night.  Think you can handle all that time outside?”

“I’m sure I’ll make it work.  I’ve had to rough it once or twice.”

“If by ‘rough it’ you mean spending time in the Banther Lodge, you are in for a rude awakening.”

[gem-quest]

[QUEST o2. - E N T H R O N E D]

(written by @bebemoon)

mentions: @ayzrules @elissastillstands & @armadasneon​

. . . Quest 2 .

A few days passed without word from Inferna, and Neddy was beginning to think she'd been forgotten.

A pair of players were marrying in the gardens the week following the meadow fair. And Neddy made an appearance out of sheer curiosity-

The ceremony was within a tumble of pale pink blossoms beneath a flowering tree, and the fae—and even all who were stuck on the level—were in attendance, surrounding the couple of Moonstone players. Neddy recognised the groom as the gleaming Moonstone jouster from the fair. The bride was a tiny Healer with hair matching the blossoms overhead and a veil of glimmering chain mail set with white crystals. They seemed blissful- so much so that Neddy wondered about them.    

Besides, was this a binding union in the real world? Probably not since Finvarra was the one to marry them, and Neddy rather doubted the Prince was ordained for such an affair. He wasn't even real.

Maybe it didn't matter to them- at any moment, any of them could be skewered with a sword and die at once in two worlds. Might as well live happily and love when possible.  

Neddy shook her head. What an outlandish situation they all found themselves in . . .

-

There was a celebration afterwards, but in Yue City. Understandably, the happy couple wanted to be able to eat together as well as remain free of the fae.

Neddy stayed behind to put her feet up on the feast table alongside some of Finvarra's tittering wives to watch the dancing for a while. The feeling of isolation began to creep up on her once again.

Suddenly, there was a familiar trilling from her rucksack at her feet, barely audible over the fairy music. It was the sound the Plexus' messaging function made when a new message was received.

Excitedly, Neddy dug into the rucksack and drew the Plexus out. She swiped the screen, and the new message appeared. It was from Inferna- "Jack's Girlfriend" [fire emoji] in the Plexus.

The message read: WYD ???

Neddy replied with a long message detailing the wedding she'd just witnessed, overseen by the Prince himself.

To which the redhead pithily replied, "Bruh xD".

Neddy grinned at her screen.

Inferna went on to ask Neddy if she was ready to take on Aydina, and when Neddy indicated that she was "ready as she would ever be", the other girl sent back:

“Btw I invited 2 other ppl to join us for dodgeball- Morningstar and Balestra if u wanted to look them up! Hope that’s okay 💖💖💖 say hi to jack 4 me!!!!”

Attached to this was a selfie of the candy-redhead eating the apricot tartlets Neddy had paid her with.

Morningstar wasn't a name that Neddy recognised- but Balestra, she knew immediately. She was another Moonstone player- a celestial knight- with a griffin mount. If Neddy wasn't very much mistaken, the griffin ate some of the garden's fae NPCs. And Finvarra still recounted the incident like some sort of disastrous Biblical tale.

Maybe it would be good to have someone like that on her side? If Balestra's griffin ate Aydina, would that be an automatic win?

Neddy replied simply to Inferna with a thumbs-up emoji, but she couldn't help feeling a twinge of doubt.

-

I C T U I U M . to . M E R M A I D . C O V E .

Inferna and her two companions were already waiting in the level 30 foyer—a wide glass room looking into the beachy landscape beyond with huge, flat screens showing players already in action on the level—when Neddy blinked in.

Seeing the sparkling sea spread out to her left, Neddy's first inclination was to start singing “La mer”.

Inferna's disappointment that Neddy had shown up sans Jack was instantly perceptible. The redhead pushed her lip out and raised one hand to her hip.

“Where’s Jack?” she said, pouting dramatically. “I even brought him a huge thing of sugar cubes! And a fresh batch of sauce.”

Neddy pulled an apologetic face. "Sorry, he's been M.I.A. for a couple of days," she told her. "He does that, I'm finding."

A slip of a girl with a crown of curls and a longsword on her hip was leaned up against one of the glass walls. She nodded at Neddy by way of a greeting.

Inferna jerked her chin at her. "That's Balestra," she said, grinning. "Moonstone rider like yourself. Maybe you know her?"

Neddy didn't want to bring up the gardens fiasco in case it was a sore spot with Balestra, and so she lied. "Oh, er, no- I-I don't believe we've met, actually," she stammered. "I'm Neddy. I swear I'm a real rider- my mount is just . . . I don't think he'd be much good at dodgeball anyway."

Three pairs of eyes regarded Neddy. She didn't know why she was so nervous, but she knew everyone could tell that she was.

At least Inferna seemed to be enjoying herself, as usual. She snorted in the silence. "And that's Morningstar over there," she said, thumbing the other player in the foyer.  

The third pair of eyes were almost too haunting to properly look into. They belonged to a ribbon of white slashed with violent red- a crown of berries, Neddy realised. Intimidatingly, a crystal scythe lay across her shoulders and her arms were draped over either side of the polearm. She looked a bit crucified.

The phantom made no move to acknowledge Neddy. However, her strange golden eyes stayed pinned to her.

Neddy merely raised her hand in a meek wave. "Hello."

Morningstar said nothing.

Inferna clapped her hands to break the bizarre tension between the four of them. "Well, let's go kick some ass!" she declared and punched the air. “I just confirmed with the other seven people who agreed to join our party. Three Ammolite, two Obsidian, two Moonstone.”

Neddy was impressed. Inferna was certainly on top of things. Perhaps more apricot tartlets were in order.

Inferna flashed them a cheeky grin. “Let’s go down to the beach?”

-

Neddy considered herself fortunate to have gotten some intimidating figures on her side for this dodgeball match- especially considering the others Inferna had rounded up. Not an inspiring bunch. But Inferna had only been looking to fill out the team.

Mermaid Cove was beautiful. The beach was blush and the sky was bright. The harbour was bustling at one end of the shore and magnificent pirate ships bobbed in the offing. Up the beach, giant pink conch shells were set upright in the sand and hollowed out into stalls that sold necessities like medi-elixirs, pep potions, and replacement gear. An old one-eyed woman with a blue parrot on her shoulder was selling fried octopus tentacles in shell-shaped baskets. A length of fishing net was draped over the market area and all manner of scavenged sea treasures and seashells were strung up, dangling over the customers as they browsed.

Neddy wanted to roam the market area for a while, but Inferna was all business. 

Inferna led them through the intro ordeal, having one of the other players activate the in-game event with the NPC shopkeeper, since Inferna herself had already completed the level and therefore could not activate it again. 

Inferna tapped her foot impatiently as the NPC ran through her whole sob story about how the mermaids had created Angel’s Breath to revive drowned humans, how the pirate queen Aydina and her eleven crew members had killed off all the mermaids to keep Angel’s Breath for herself-

Finally, the NPC said, “If you get the pirates to leave the town, I’ll show you where the last Angel’s Breath is hidden.”

“Great, let’s go,” said Inferna, then she directed the rest of the group to the shoreline.

As they stood on the beach, she threw her finger in the direction of the sea where a massive dome was rising slowly out of the water.

"Look, look!" Inferna shouted. "There it is!"

The others crowded around to watch in awe as the dome continued to surface, throwing off water and a terrible mechanical noise that scraped the ears.

"We're going into that thing?" Neddy asked, her stomach flipping.

Meanwhile, a pirate ship-complete with a skull and crossbone flag-sailed into view. Inferna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, in a sec,” she replied. “Aydina has some dialogue that we have to sit through. God fucking damn, but the NPC shit in this game gets so tedious.”

It wasn’t much longer before Aydina, the pirate queen, sauntered up over to them, her crew right behind her. With an unruly mane of fiery red curls, fierce eyes, and dressed in sheer black chiffon that billowed dramatically in the breeze, with lacy black gloves that went up to her elbows and a pair of badass black boots to match. 

Inferna cut to the chase. Apparently, sometimes you could skip the intro dialogue if you talked faster than the NPCs. “Yo, Aydina! Get the fuck out of here.”

The NPC gave Inferna a disparaging look. “How are you going to make me?”

“I challenge you to a dodgeball game,” she replied tightly, and Aydina nodded her agreement.

“Time to go!” Inferna crowed, evidently pleased that she’d successfully gotten Aydina to skip through most of the annoying dialogue. 

A narrow walkway of roped-together driftwood began to rise out of the sea. It did not look the least bit steady, and Neddy was ready to forego the whole thing just at the sight of it.

The sea is beautiful, yes. But it is also crushing and fathomless. And Neddy had always had a fear of it. The prospect of going beneath the ocean's surface was almost debilitatingly frightening. 

She hated herself for wishing Callum was there to hold her hand.

But no sooner had the thought of him crossed her mind that Inferna was taking her hand and pulling her towards the rickety walkway. 

“Come on, move your ass,” Inferna said, shooting her a playful look as she tugged her along. “Be careful during the actual game, though. Aydina can randomly let water into the court and drain it out whenever she wants. It’s the biggest pain ever.”

Neddy wanted to sink inside herself at that, but- it felt almost as if Inferna was passing some of her chaotic strength through her fingers into Neddy’s. And her feet moved to follow after the redhead. 

-

They marched into the dome, and the door sealed off behind them, metal clanging as the dome sank back under the sea to rest on the sea floor. The dome itself was made out of some kind of transparent material, allowing them to see the various sea creatures and coral formations surrounding the place. 

Inferna paused, causing Neddy to pause too. The redhead seemed to have noticed a throng of excited players making their way back to the foyer, where they’d be able to watch the game on the screens. 

“What?” Neddy wondered, dividing a look between the Inferna’s face and the other players. 

“If we win-” Inferna cut herself off and then winked at Neddy. “When we win, those players will be swarming all over us the second we get back to land- for the Angel’s Breath. Best to have a few ictuium potions on hand.” 

Inferna said as much to Balestra and Morningstar as well. Then, Aydina was explaining the rules of the game to them.

“If the ball-” and here she summoned the “dodgeball” out of thin air, which was an enchanted turtle shell- “hits you, and then hits the ground, you’re out. If you catch the ball, you’re safe. If the ball bounces off of you and one of your teammates catches it, you’re both safe. But, if the ball bounces off of you and someone on the other team catches it, you’re out.”

Inferna cast Neddy a sideways glance. “Don’t get hit,” she advised. “That thing packs a punch on its own, but depending on her mood, Aydina can make it stab you with barnacles, shock you, or spray disgusting gross poisonous stuff that’ll kill you before the time is up.”

Aydina rolled the ball over to where Inferna was standing. “I’ll let you guys have the first go,” she said, smirking confidently at them, looking directly at Inferna. “Since I feel sorry for you. How many brain cells do you have, to be wearing such an atrocious hat?”

“Fuck you!” Inferna shot back as she picked up the ball. “You’re such a fucking cunt.”

The pissed-off redhead gave the other eleven people a questioning look. “Well, should I go for it? Or do one of you guys want to do the honors?”

-

[ You can pick up here or back up a bit or do as you like if you end up taking this quest up ! No instructions for Neddy (but keep in mind she’s not a strong player), just do as you like and make sure they win ! ^^ And, if you need any help at all, just ask either Ayz or me~ ] 

[willdoitforher]

EXPECTATIONS + everyone

PENELOPE    my  expectations  for  penelope  were  actually  pretty  spot  on.  i  thought  that  the  confidence  wasn’t  an  act,  which  it  isn’t.  that’s  genuinely  her  personality  y’all.  and  then  that  she  had  more  than  the  capability  to  be  a  soft  bitch.  i  was  also  correct.  what  surprised  were  the  next  two  things  in  particular.  one,  i  didn’t  realise  her  insistence  on  putting  a  stop  to  josie’s  co-dependence  was  a  cue  to  her  own  co-dependent  traits  and  the  longer  she  went  along  that  path,  the  more  they  would  be  nurtured.  it  manifests  differently  than  it  does  in  josie,  but  it’s  equally  unhealthy.  this  girl  literally  died  for  her  girlfriend.  yikes.  and  two,  i  was  surprised  by  how  truly  selfish  she  is.  we  all  know  she’s  the  selfish  and  josie  is  the  selfless  and  so  on  but  she  is  a  genuinely  selfish  person.  to  her  core.  i  was  surprised  by  the  truly  relentless nature  of  her  self  interest  and  equally,  the  fact  that  her  self  awareness  of  it  doesn’t  make  her  want  to  change  it.  HOPE    my  expectations  for  hope  were  pretty  consistent  with  her  surface  level  reality.  i  always  knew  she  had  about  45  ongoing  identity  crises  and  that  most  of  them  tied  in  her  family.  adult  vs  teenager,  desires  vs  duties.  the  typical  heroine  stuff.  and  while  that’s  still  true,  and  is  an  absolutely  enormous  complex  in  her,  i  have  come  to  realise  i  underestimated  the  true  extent  of  her  damage  and  how  it  affects  her.  the  level  of  pathological  doubt,  abandonment  and  in  turn  saviour  complex  and  desperation  this  girl  has  going  on  cannot  be  understated.  i  am  truly  surprised  she  functions  as  well  as  she  does.  i  always  knew  she  loved  people  hard  and  uniquely,  as  both  part  of  being  a  mikaelson  and  simply  part  of  being  who  she  is,  but  i  came  to  realise  how  deeply  that  runs.  hope  mikaelson’s  love  is  like  no  other  and  it  is  consuming  and  can  be  overwhelming  but  it’s  also  incredibly  beautiful.  if  she  loves  you,  she’s  going  to  love  you  for  the  rest  of  her  life,  whether  she  wants  to  or  not.    i  now  think  that’s  another  reason  why  her  i’m  dangerous  to  people  complex  exists.  she  knows  that  the  way  she  loves  people  has  pushed  them  away  before  (  ie,  in  her  mind,  her  father  as  a  child  )  and  equally,  she  knows  if  she  lets  people  in  and  loves  them  like  she  can  and  they  leave,  she’ll  be  fucked.  people  are  dangerous  to  her  too,  but  she  can’t  truly  admit  that  without  admitting  why.  like  i  said,  i  was  surprised  by  how  deep  that  runs.KAI     at  this  point,  i’ve  been  playing  kai  for  a  long  time.  he’s  a  violent,  manipulative,  incredibly  intelligent  sociopath.  none  of  that  has  ever  been  a  surprise.  the  one  surprise  that  i  found,  that  entirely  subverted  my  expectations,  was  that  he  is  capable  of  something  akin  to  love  that  isn’t  narcissism.  this  first  became  clear  to  me  through  his  relationship  with  lizzie  because,  yes,  it  may  have  started  out  as  manipulation  with definitively  malicious  intent  but  it  did  bleed  into  genuine  want  to  see  her  succeed.  he  might  have  given  her  stockholm  syndrome  but  he’s  given  himself  just  as  much  of  a  problem.  he  cares  about  her  now,  wants  to  turn  her  into  what,  in  his  mind,  jo  could’ve  been.  it  didn’t  surprise  me  he’s  given  up  hope  on  jo  but  it  did  surprise  me  that  it’s  projecting,  subconsciously,  onto  lizzie.  basically,  he’s  a  made  monster  and  everything  that  made  him  is  still  very  much  there.  whether  he  acknowledges  it  or  not. ETHAN    me,  a  clown,  hasn’t  actually  written  ethan  that  much  but  i  will  give  a  few  of  my  thoughts  that  are  somewhat  relevant.  i  expected  the  fact  he’s  a  good  guy  to  be  consistent  but  he’s  also  very  selfish  with  the  way  he  feels.  he  might  not  use  it  in  a manipulative,  almost  malicious  in  some  cases  way  like  penelope  does,  but  that  doesn’t  mean  it  isn’t  real.  he  won’t  let  anyone  else  be  stepped  over,  yes,  but  he  also  won’t  let  himself  be  pushed  around.  he  knows  he’s  a  good  guy  and  there’s  a  level  of  shit  he  simply  won’t  take.  will  100%  call  people  out  on  their  bullshit  eventually.  unless  you’re  maya.  then,  well,  you  could  get  away  with  murder.  his  aggression  is  very  intense  and  genuine  (  probably  even  more  intensified  now  that  he’s  triggered  his  curse  )  but  the  lengths  he’ll  go  to  surprised  me.  he  may  have  killed  someone  without  recognising  the  situation,  but  the  will  to  do  so  was  still  there.  was  it  on  an  entirely  moral  ground?  honestly,  i  don’t  know.  unchecked  aggression  and  a  morality  complex  can  be  a  literally  deadly  combination.  CHRISTIAN    christian  has  taken  all  of  three  breaths  so  far  but,  thus  far,  everything  has  been  consistent.  major  self  preservation  down  to  brushing  truly  corrupt  things  under  the  rug.  accepts  corruption  as  a  part  of  life  and  more  so  a  part  of  his  life.  his  survival  is  paramount.  everything  else  can  burn  in  his  wake.  MAXWELL HARVEY/JACKSON ACKERY    y’all  know  the  maxwell  story.  as  a  tl;dr,  obviously  i  didn’t  expect  him  to  turn  out  to  be  a  cannibalistic,  sado-masochistic  psychopath  with  narcissistic  personality  disorder  but  here  we  are.  i  knew  something  was  wrong  from  the  echoes  of  neuroticism  and  fixation  that  were  there  from  the  start  but  when  he  started  to  turn  the  corner,  it  truly  blindsided  me.  and  even  now,  as  i  know  what  he  is  as  a  full  picture,  he  still  finds  ways  to  surprise  me  each  and  everyday.  he’s  in  a  continual  process  of  evolution  and  i  truly  have  no  idea  where  the  train  stops.  as  for  jackson,  he  was  actually  a  revamp  of  a  previous  muse,  also  called  jacks.  i  gave  him  a  revamp  when  i  brought  him  back,  basically  totally  changed  his  backstory,  and  i  knew  something  was  again  a  little  off  from  the  word  go.  he  still  cared  about  people,  however,  so  i  wasn’t  that  concerned.  once  max  came  into  the  picture  however,  who  jackson  was  in  full  became  clear  very  quickly.  jackson  is  a  very  high  functioning  sociopath  who’s  sadism  and  violent  tendencies  have  been  nurtured  well  by  max’s  intentions  and  their  symbiotic  venom-esque  relationship.  the  fact  that  jackson  is  still  a  consistent  presence  in  max’s  narrative  and  his  own  body  surprised  me,  but  it  also  has  come  to  make  perfect  sense.  they’re  two  halves  of  the  same  whole.  they  basically  wrote  themselves  into  existence  and  i  just  watched  with  rapt  entertainment. CALLUM    honestly,  my  expectations  for  callum  have  been  pretty  spot  on.  i  knew  he’d  feel  differently  once  he  killed  someone  again  and  it  became  very  clear  to  him  everything  he  remembers  is  in  fact  real.  it’s  given  him  a  sense  of  innocence  lost  that  was  to  be  expected,  but  not  nearly  as  much  as  i  thought.  he  hasn’t  reverted  back  to  the  person  he  was  when  he  was  first  alive  but  he  also  isn’t  entirely  callum,  so  to  speak,  anymore  either.  he’s  in  a  path  between  and  honestly,  that  makes  sense  to  me.  what  will  really  come  to  interest  me  is  what  happens  next.  AIDY    honestly,  point  blank,  i  expected  aidy  to  basically  be  gay  and  bored  and  not  much  else.  i  was  not  right.  i  knew  she  had  something  going  on,  which  as  you  can  tell  is  a  theme,  but  she  really  was  just  quiet  and  bored  for  a  long  time.  it  was  only  when  she  swapped  bodies  with  harlow  did  i  realise  that  her  boredom  isn’t  boredom,  so  to  speak.  max,  for  example,  is  bored  because  he’s  a  narcissist  who  he  thinks  no  one  (  sans  parker  )  can  measure  up  to  him.  that  makes  every  interaction  worthless  in  his  eyes  and  therefore,  makes  him  feel  bored.  aidy  is  simply  apathetic.  the  reason  she  was  quiet  and  bored  was,  actually,  because  she  doesn’t  feel  anything.  she  feels  one  baseline  emotion  and  sparks  of  things  that  could  be  compared  to  things  like  love,  or  excitement,  or  involvement  that  people  even  like  max  can  feel.  aidy  can’t  and  doesn’t  feel  them.  the  only  things  that  truly  enthuse  her  so  she  looks  like  she  can  are  murder,  luxury,  and  bonding  with  people  who  feel  the  same  way.  they   fill  the  void  where  her  emotions  would  be.  other  than  that,  she  exists  at  a  cool  medium.  apart  from  max,  i  have  to  say  she’s  the  muse  i  was  most  surprised  by.  pleasantly  but  still.  BRADLEY    like  with  ethan,  i’m  a  clown  and  i  haven’t  written  bradley  all  that  much.  i  know  that  he’s  a  dumb  bitch,  primarily  interested  in  the  capitalist  side  of  the  world,  and  knows  that  he  has  to  take  responsibility  for  his  stupidity.  i  don’t  think  he  always  does  stupid  things  on  purpose,  but  because  he’s  such  a  genuinely  self-serving  opportunist,  it  backfires  on  him  9  times  out  of  10.  i  think  he’s  learning  from  his  mistakes,  especially  with  the  whole  arlo  situation  that  he  feels  genuinely  bad  about,  but  i  don’t  think  it’s  enough  for  him  to  entirely  quit  cold  turkey.

[aaravos-breaks-the-internet]

【Aaravos liveblogs The Dragon Prince】Season 1, Episode 1

(Note from the mun: Probably best experienced by reading it while watching the episode yourself? Unless you have great memory of the episode’s details, I assume. I didn’t flesh out the descriptions of the individual scenes because the following text alone took me more than three hours and is 12 pages in Word already. Sadly, I forgot to add time stamps. I might edit them in later if I have the time but I hope that it’ll be possible to follow the script without them for now.

With that said, have fun!)

 *The Intro plays. Magical birds are flying over the waves of an ocean.*

Oh, oh my stars… I’m getting a lump in my throat right off the bat…I can watch Xadia everyday thanks to my arcanum’s ability to see into the beyond. Yet, this feels…different. How long has it been since I’ve walked freely in its wonderful landscape, felt the soothing breeze of the Xadian s-

WHAT THE! HOLY SHOOTING STAR! THAT IS MY VOICE. I – what

*His brain enters a state of frantic confusion.*

????!!!???!! This…this is so surreal. Forgive me but I’m – as you people say – absolutely losing it.

….

 ……………

That is- I just can’t believe it.

That Is Me! I’m in the Netflix. My voice is actually, really, in the Netflix!!

*He burries his hands in his hair with excitement. His initial fear is forgotten.*

 [“…rich in magic and wonder.”]

No offense, but I sound GOOD. I mean, technically I know that. But hearing myself like this is so different from hearing my voice from my own perspective.

*He squeals in anticipation.* This is so awesome.

…

Oh, the music is so sweet…

…

That dragon is…well, I guess I can try to ignore him…

…

…Why is he in every shot? Do we really need him to explain the arcanums? He’s not that great. Believe me.

…

Ok, the flight effect is really spectacular. I have to admit that.

Still, stupid dragon.

…

[“…a human mage…”]

OHHHHH I remember that one *he growls*

…

[“…discovered new magic…”]

Yeah, I bet you “discovered” it. I wonder how you “discovered” it. I’d really like to know. You gotta enlighten me about that “discovery” of yours.

…

In loving memory of those poor birds.

…

OH! OH! OH MY STARS! There I am!! It’s me!!! Hey, I actually look decent for a change. Sigh, I miss my old wardrobe. That scarf was my favourite. So silky and soft.

Also, not to brag, but my hair? Nice.

…

Sigh, poor humans. It breaks my heart everytime I think of the split…

…

Still forever impressed that they managed to draw an actual lava line through all of Xadia.

That’s some true dedication to the cause of hating each other. But I guess if it fuels your ambitions…who am I to judge…you idiots…

…

Oh, Thunder…my cherished…friend…

…

[“But in the eve of last Winter’s Turn…”]

*He inhales sharply*

Oh…this is where the future begins…I have yet to experience what is about to be shown…

…

Unspeakable dark magic? *He rubs his temples, visibly annoyed.* Yeah, I already have an idea what that might have been.

You idiots. All of you. Dragons, elves, humans, all idiots!

…

I’m really carrying myself with a lot of grace in this narration. Good job, future me! I can assure you, that is probably not what I have felt on the inside.

…

Welps, guess there goes your family tree, Thunder. My condolences.

…

[“Now the world stands on the edge of all-out war.”]

I’m pretty sure I smashed my head on the table after that line. Again?! AGAIN?! HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED ANYTHING? You incredible fools?!! You like this, don’t you? This is fun for you, there’s no other explanation. Why else would you imbeciles continue to fight each other like little, immature, bratty kindergarden children.

It’s –ARGHASFADADSF

The worst part is – I knew all of this from the very beginning. Why did I – why do I even bother with helping you…

*He takes a deep breath.*

Calm down, calm doooown… *he hums*

Anger is not good for your soul. You’ll just get bitter and start to come up with horrible revenge fantasies. It’s not worth it. Remember that. Caaaaalm…..

……..

Ok. I’m feeling better.

Let’s continue.

…

Is-is that boy drooling on his glow toad? Poor thing…but that begs the question, why does he let it sleep in his bed in the first place. I would not recommend that…at all. *He shudders.*

…

Oh, that’s a very impressive drawing of a drag-………..marshmallow monster? Really?...well, I guess, that’s…human imagination…very…cute.

…

Yeah no, I don’t think the glow toad was scared…

…

Oh my, that poor guard is dead. So many moonshadow elves? Not a chance.

…

Aaaaand, of course he trips.

…

I’m about to eat my cloak. She let him go.

You might as well turn yourself in as voluntary dragon breakfast now.

…

HHHHeeey!! What’s that greasy dude doing in front of my mirror?

Don’t touch it! I hate it when there are grease spots on the glass.

Well, I guess those humans successfully raided Thunder’s lair. At least I’ll have more sunshine now.

Heyheyhey, I said don’t touch it!

It’s not like you could understand any of those runes anyways.

…

What? He is the High Mage? I have foreseen that the High Mage of Katolis will be important to me. But I expected something…else.

Can I never be lucky? Is that what I get for being so kind, so gracious, so willing to sacrifice myself to help you all? Couldn’t fate be nice to me for a change?

Sigh, guess that’s what I have to work with now.

This better not be too tiring…

I mean, he slew Thunder. That’s something. I guess…

…

Noooo, don’t cover the mirror. My sunshine, remember? At least let me have that. I’ve only seen cave walls for the last couple of centuries. I’d love to have a little change of scene.

Damn.

…

*Harrow rising*

“I woke up like this.”

With perfect hair and perfectly dressed. Ah yes, very realistic. Just like me, every morning. (I’ll never tell you if that’s sarcasm or not.)

…

Oh yes, execute him!

Ok, sorry, I guess that came out a little too excited…*cough*

…

That bird’s nice.

…

That bird’s name is…well, I guess it’s a name.

…

He’s surprisingly calm considering he and his whole crew are about to be violently murdered by moonshadow assassins.

That’s some startouch-level coolness.

Impressive.

…

[“…we must find them today…”]

Yeaaaah, good luck with that…

…

Moonshadow elves are always so dramatic when it comes to their acrobatics.

Yeees, you’re very cool. A real ninja. Here, have a pat on the back. Now go back and play with the others.

…

Please don’t tell me you think veteran moonshadow assassins can’t tell the difference between blood and moonberry juice…

…

Aaaand, you think they can’t. *He slaps his forehead.*

I’m foresing that a great assassin career lies ahead of you. Yes, really.

…

*Cough* Wh-who is this very good looking fella, holy shooting star…

I mean.

Who is this?

He looks important. Like an important elf. Probably their leader.

Yes, that must be it. I just deduced that. I’m very smart.

*The coughing intensifies.*

…

*He sees the necklace.*

Nooooooooo, he is betrothed.

Whyyyyyyy fate. Won’t you let me have anything?

…

Did…did he just fall for the moonberry trick?

You’re very beautiful but forgive me, that was very dumb.

…

This face…my stars…

……………………..

 ………………….

………..What on earth is going on with me? Focus you dumb, old startouch elf.

It’s not like you to be so easily impressed with others. There’s absolutely no reason for that.

He’s just a boring, average moonshadow elf.

Whatever those weird, inexplicable, mushy feelings in your stomach are, we are done with those.

No more silly touchy-feely emotions.

Ok, let’s get back on track.

Ha, see, you have no power over me, you ridiculously pretty moonshadow elf!

Glad we sorted that out.

…

Yeah, he can see that.

…

That human village looks pretty sweet actually.

I wonder if they sell bread.

I’d love to have some bread now.

Wait, what?

…

Ah, jelly tarts. I remember those. Never liked them. Not enough chocolate. How can they make pastry. Without chocolate. I will never understand.

…

Those are…some impressive lashes.

Apparently modern day humans in Katolis like to put make-up on their pets?

Isn’t that animal cruelty? Is nobody concerned?

…

That toad is definitely smarter when it comes to this whole jelly tart stealing business…

It’s a bit sad to watch.

Well, at least it helped the human kid out.

Enjoy your tarts. Your sad, little, chocolate-less tarts…

…

Ah, that knight looks like a very smart person.

  Not.

…

He seems as enthusiastic about teaching the artist boy as I am about working together with the greasy wizard.

I relate to you, not very smart but at least good-at-your-trade knight.

…

Geez, this sword fighting lesson is a tragedy.

I’ve read startouch law books that were more uplifting.

…

Love amongst the dragons? Sigh, really? Such an overrated book. Too many dragons.

Ok ok, the love story part is kind of cute.

I guess.

Not that I would know.

As I have never read it.

…

I want to take a moment to thank the universe for not having siblings.

…

I mean, 300 years is nothing. So she’s kinda right? It’s pretty new?

…

*Slaps his face*

No you can’t do it now. That was a bad idea.

You’re noticing that yourself, aren’t you?

…

Is this how you humans court each other?.............

That explains….a lot….

…

Oh? What? He didn’t really stab you? You don’t say. I thought you were dead for real. What a shocking twist of events.

…

Hehe, pushing around those little figures was always the best part of any political meeting.

…

This conversation is off to a rocky start. Don’t do your children dirty like that.

You are evidently muddying the mood of your kids.

…

We have visitors from Xadia…unwanted visitors…look at mee…I’m the human mage…I’m so important…with my condescending voice…I’m so powerfuuuuul…for I am the human mage…

I feel the sudden urge to throw myself from the highest bookshelf in my library.

…

Yes. Yes, I think you’re an idiot, Soren.

…

[“…You’re saying they’ll kill the king?”]

Yeah right. As if Callum could have heard that down there in the courtyard.

He has human ears, not elf ears. *wiggles them in annoyance without noticing*

…

[“…’unstoppable: is just another kind of ‘stoppable’.”]

That’s…not…what?

My head hurts.

Is this the future of dark magic in Katolis?

I’m very concerned now.

…

14 and three quarters?

……………………………

This kingdom doesn’t need any enemies. It’ll take itself down all on its own.

…

[“Think fast.”]

As fast as you, three-quarter-boy?

…

Ah yes, the moonshadow elves. Their leader is talking. He sounds very distressed.

I mean. They murdered the dragon. I understand. I would be very distressed, too.

…

Uh-oh, no, please don’t bind your lives to-

Sigh……………moonshadow elves are so, so very dramatic. It’s painful.

Really annoying a thousand years ago, still really annoying today.

…

Yes, life is precious. Very good, very well observed. So why do you idiots throw it away with stupid binding curses like that? Your assassin career would be just fine without your silly, theatrical honour codes, that you cling to in order to give your life a deeper meaning but that are ultimately very useless and very dumb.

…

You really had to flex your arm like that just to illustrate the binding of the ribbon, didn’t you, moonshadow leader? That was totally necessary. Sure.

…

Ah….Runaan…that is…a nice name.

Which I just assessed factually, neutrally, in a very matter-of-fact manner.

I just noticed. Nothing more.

…

[“What if they know we’re coming?”]

That’s the face of somebody who messed up big time.

…

[“No, I don’t want a stupid jelly tart!”]

Ah, yes. Finally somebody who gets it!

…

Ok, I have to admit…I feel for them though… Poor children.

…

[“…closet full of moon sweaters.”]

*Bursts into laughter*

Closet full of moon sweaters!! That’s-OHHHH Curses! *he growls*

You got me there. Shame on me. Won’t happen a second time. I promise you that!

…

Flopflopflopflopflop

You know…the sound of the moon moth’s wings…right?

…

Yesssss, dramatic horse chase. Follow the moon sweater moth!

…

Well, guess he just…broke off that engagement.

…

Ohhhh, pretty sparkles!!

See? We’re perfect for each other.

He likes sparkles. I sparkle.

A match made in heaven!

…

Soren, they-they’re right in front of you!!

Is this the amount of effort you put into protecting your kingdom? When it is at the brink of freaking war?! Forget the moonshadow elves, you’re the biggest threat to Katolis’ safety…

God, I’m getting a headache.

I hope your father is a bit...brighter or I might have to let the elves and dragons win this thing.

…

[“You lied to me!”]

Ohhhhh, he’s so fierce when he’s angry…

I would never lie to you! *hums*

 Well, because I can’t lie. Which is very annoying sometimes…

…

[“Runaan, I’m sorry!”]

Something tells me that this won’t convince him.

…

[“You let him live but you’ve killed us all!”]

Whoa, Runaan, calm down. She’s a kid. I’m sure that’s not very good for her mental well-being. Cut her some slack.

If this was so important then maybe you should have taken out that soldier yourself. Didn’t occur to you back then? Nope, I don’t think so. Don’t blame her now because you were so bad at planning ahead.

*Shakes his head*

Moonshadow assassin leaders…

…

 Oh, that was it? Already?

That was…surprisingly fun. Not the soul-crushing existential crisis I was anticipating.

What does it say here? Next episode in five seconds? Well, I won’t say no to that…

Maybe I should get myself something to eat…

*He gets up, humming cheerfully.*

[zrtranscripts]

Season 8, Mission 23: The Way We Were

Skin Of My Enemies

~

TOM DE LUCA: I know Janine wanted me and Five to keep a lid on things in the town, but I don't know where to start!

SAM YAO: Just... just try and calm people down. We can't have a riot on top of everything else.

TOM DE LUCA: This is hopeless, Sam! It's five days until the king of the rocks ceremony. Paula says Janine won't... that she won't last much longer. And we still haven't located the Edda. Amelia's threat to nuke the island has caused nothing but panic.

SAM YAO: I mean, you can't blame people for not wanting to be blown up, can you?

TOM DE LUCA: This behavior is making that outcome more likely. Unless that's the whole idea. We know there are nine skincoats on the island. A secret society who consider themselves the guardians of tradition. For all we know, they'd rather destroy the island than see it change. They've already tried to kill Five and Jody, and Janine's marked for death in the cave paintings you found.

SAM YAO: Paula's with her in the cottage. She's too ill to leave, but Jody's debriefing Rory. Maybe he'll turn out to know something useful. Although so far he's just going on about legends that the skincoats can see through each others' eyes, and that's how they know everything that happens on the island.

[footsteps]

MORAG BROWN: Tom. Runner Five. Can I have a word?

TOM DE LUCA: Uh, it's Morag Brown, isn't it?

MORAG BROWN: I know you don't trust anyone on this island. I understand that feeling. I don't know who to trust on this island, either. But I have something I need to share. You're outsiders. That's good. The skincoats wouldn't have you. And you helped the lad Rory. Oh, I remember him when he was a sweet wee bairn. I woke up this morning and thought to myself, if there's anyone you can trust on this cursed isle, Morag Brown, it's the Abel folk.

TOM DE LUCA: That's flattering, I suppose. But do you have any actual intel?

MORAG BROWN: You're a hardnosed whatsit, you know that?

TOM DE LUCA: It's been said.

MORAG BROWN: I know things. There's something rotten on this island. They call the skincoats the guardians of Mor, but there's other legends about them. My mum used to scare me with them when I was a lass! [imitates her mother's voice] "You behave yourself, Morag, or the skincoats'll come for you!" [using her own voice] She said they got their coats by skinning their fallen enemies.

SAM YAO: That's... so weird. I've dreamt about that. People wearing human skins. But I'd never heard the legends.

TOM DE LUCA: I've had that dream, too. Dreams where their coats were red.

MORAG BROWN: They've been in my nightmares all week. But I saw them first in the flesh about a decade ago, and I wasn't alone. Lachlan Jones saw them, too. Please, come with me out of the town into the cover of the woods, and I'll tell you everything.

~

TOM DE LUCA: All right, Morag. We're in the woods. Tell us what happened with Jones a decade ago.

MORAG BROWN: You knew him once he'd been warped forever by what had happened to him, but he didn't start out bad. He couldn't rub along with people, but he wasnae violent. Everything changed on that terrible day 10 years back. The memory’s still so vivid.

[flashback]

[door opens, bell rings]

MORAG BROWN: The bakery's not open yet.

LACHLAN JONES: It's Lachlan. Are you working?

MORAG BROWN: Just as I am at 3 PM every day. We can't all be layabouts.

LACHLAN JONES: I'm an environmentalist! We don't keep regular hours.

MORAG BROWN: You shouldn't have dropped your studies, lad. Especially after your parents...

LACHLAN JONES: I need your help, Morag. It's Laird Callum.

MORAG BROWN: Oh, Lachlan, not again. He's entitled to shoot grouse on his own land.

LACHLAN JONES: It's not that! An oil deposit's been found under Mor, and Callum wants to drill it. They're starting a test drill tomorrow.

MORAG BROWN: I know. The equipment came in on yesterday's ferry. Let me guess, it'll upset the crested [?].

LACHLAN JONES: Atlantic puffins, actually. It'll destroy the entire colony!

MORAG BROWN: So what do you need me for?

LACHLAN JONES: I've tried warning Callum an oil spill will ruin the ecosystem, but he won't listen to me! No one does.

MORAG BROWN: And why do you think that is?

LACHLAN JONES: I know, all right? I know how people see me. You're the only one who's ever given me a chance. Come with me. Look at the site, and explain the stakes to Callum! Please!

MORAG BROWN: Well, it's the king of the rocks ceremony tonight. I've 20 batches of shortbread more to finish!

LACHLAN JONES: That's another thing! The drilling will wreck the ceremonial cavern.

MORAG BROWN: Oh, that'll upset some folk.

LACHLAN JONES: Unless we stop it. Please, Morag!

MORAG BROWN: Ach, fine. But only because if I don't, you'll go on your own and you'll do something you'll regret. You're too young to ruin your life.

LACHLAN JONES: You're an angel.

MORAG BROWN: And take some bread to eat on the way. There's nothing of you, lad.

LACHLAN JONES: To the caves! Hurry!

~

LACHLAN JONES: This is the cave where they light the bonfires at the start of the parade.

MORAG BROWN: I know, lad. I'm just glad to be out of the drizzle. Oh, there's always so much rain this time of year.

LACHLAN JONES: Look, in the distance! Callum's moved the drill in already. Oh, he'll be nearby to oversee it all.

MORAG BROWN: You think he'd wait until after the ceremony. King of the rocks is no more than a bit of fun, but a whacking great tractor really spoils the mood. Oh, he could have at least hung a garland on it.

LACHLAN JONES: So you'll talk to Callum?

CALLUM REID: Talk to me about what?

MORAG BROWN: Callum Reid, good to see you.

CALLUM REID: Morag, likewise. I trust you're escorting young Mr. Jones away.

MORAG BROWN: He means no harm, Callum. It's the wildlife, you see. Lachlan wants -

CALLUM REID: I know very well what he wants, Morag. I can't open my door for all the leaflets he's pushed through it. RSPB, WWF, Greenpeace. Not to mention that little gift he left on my porch. I had to buy new shoes.

MORAG BROWN: Oh, Lachlan.

LACHLAN JONES: I was making a point about what you're doing to this habitat!

CALLUM REID: Lachlan, Mor Island needs money badly. There aren't any jobs, and young people are leaving. Ideals are all very well. God knows my brother's gone and off about wind farms. But they're not realistic. I love this island. I love its history, and it hurts to do this, but I have to. It's the last resort.

LACHLAN JONES: You think just because you inherited some title, you can go around destroying everything!

CALLUM REID: The lairdship's a burden, no privilege. An ancient tradition that's bigger than me.

LACHLAN JONES: Tradition? Ha! What about king of the rocks? That's a tradition, too. But you want to move it to Niomh. You'll regret it.

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, stop.

CALLUM REID: Morag, take him home.

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, we tried.

LACHLAN JONES: It's not over yet.

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, don't go near that drill! Oh, for heaven's sake. I'm coming after you!

~

MORAG BROWN: Oh Lachlan, what have you done to the drill?

LACHLAN JONES: I didn't do this! I was just going to slash the tires! I wouldn't paint weird symbols on it. Look, that one's from the king of the rocks.

MORAG BROWN: Oh, they've been daubed on with... surely that's just paint. And the control panel's smashed to bits. Oh, poor Callum'll never get the deposit back.

LACHLAN JONES: He'll never believe I didn't do it.

MORAG BROWN: Hmm...

LACHLAN JONES: I can see from your face even you don't believe me. You're just like the rest of them!

MORAG BROWN: Calm down. Let's find Callum together and explain.

LACHLAN JONES: I'm going on my own. I don't need you. I don't need anyone!

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, come back! Oh, he's heading for the king of the rocks cavern. Oh, Morag Brown, what have you got yourself into? Ach, better get after him.

~

MORAG BROWN: Lachlan, please don't go into the cavern. If you ruin the king of the rocks, you'll make it all worse.

LACHLAN JONES: The laird doesn't care about tradition, so why should I? I'm going to tell him someone's trying to frame me for destroying the drill.

MORAG BROWN: Well, you'll certainly have an audience. Half the island's here.

CALLUM REID: What's this about the drill?

LACHLAN JONES: Nothing. I came to tell you -

ISLANDER: He destroyed the drill.

LACHLAN JONES: That's a lie!

CALLUM REID: Has the equipment been sabotaged?

LACHLAN JONES: Yes, but I didn't do it!

CALLUM REID: You expect me to believe that after what you said to me just now? Do you have any idea how much that equipment cost, you stupid lad?

LACHLAN JONES: I'm telling you, Callum...  laird... please! It wasn't me!

ISLANDER: Aye, I saw him do it.

CALLUM REID: This is the last straw, Lachlan. You've no respect for this island or its people. Tomorrow, we'll discuss your punishment.

LACHLAN JONES: I'm the one with no respect? After what you tried to do? You know what? I'm glad someone ruined your filthy drill. I only wish they'd gone further. Smashed your face in along with it. Someone should!

[present time]

SAM YAO: Ooh. Yeah. Well, after that, you can sort of see why everyone thought he murdered Callum.

MORAG BROWN: I never believed Lachlan killed the old laird. He was doing better after he left the island, you know. He used to write to me, told me he'd met a lovely girl. He was over the moon when she said she'd wed him. But then she died, and all the good in him seemed to die with her. He stopped writing soon after.

TOM DE LUCA: You have something more to tell us, don't you, Morag?

MORAG BROWN: I do, aye. But we must keep going. The skincoats... [laughs] Lachlan warned me in one of his letters that they'd know my thoughts.

TOM DE LUCA: Jones was paranoid. How could they possibly see inside your mind?

[zombie moans]

SAM YAO: Look, I think we'd better have this discussion later. There's a zom on your tail.

MORAG BROWN: Ach! It's all crispy around the edges, like a bridie that's been left in the oven too long.

TOM DE LUCA: It must have been burned in the fire. Its eyes have burst!

SAM YAO: It's gaining on you. Run!

~

SAM YAO: Yeah, you've lost the zom. But you're way off the beaten path, literally.

MORAG BROWN: Mind your way on the rock steps, Runner Five. A few stones are loose.

SAM YAO: You're heading for uh, a tall stone tower. A bit like a windmill without any sails.

TOM DE LUCA: A grain silo.

MORAG BROWN: Don't say it. Don't even think it loud. Not if you've had the dreams.

SAM YAO: You're serious?

MORAG BROWN: I am.

[door creaks closed]

MORAG BROWN: Climb these stairs with me to the top of the grain store. This store has been here a thousand years in one form or another. It's deep and wide and I've worked with it, making bread for the people. Runner Five, open that little hatch. And Tom, bury your arm full in the grain right down.

TOM DE LUCA: There's an iron ring here. I can just touch it with my fingertips.

MORAG BROWN: There's a rope attached to that ring. Haul it up.

TOM DE LUCA: A leather bag.

MORAG BROWN: The skincoats will kill anyone who threatens the ancient rites, who wants to use the Edda to stop this madness, not make it worse.

TOM DE LUCA: Morag, you helped Jones before. He trusted you. So when he had no one else to turn to, he gave you the Edda. And this bag in my hands...

MORAG BROWN: Yes, laddie. It's the Edda you hold.

~

[discordandglory-blog]

Collateral Damage || Cat, Callum, Jax and Fergus

Cat, and Jax try to stop Fergus from doing something stupid. Callum arrives and things go awry.

Fergus was marching with intent, like he was a man on a mission and he was. Though probably it was a mission to ruin his own life. By the way he walked right out of Camp Jupiter and heading to the city, shoulders squared and lips pressed into a thin line no one would be able to tell he was shaken to his core. That his breathing was shallow and under the layer of fabric and protection there were iridescent scales taking over his arms and crawling up towards his elbows. He was cold sweating, terrified of coming with the truth but unable to sit back and watch things unfold slowly. Fergus had never considered himself some moral crusader or whatnot but even someone as neutral as him knew the difference from blatant right and wrong. Or at least he thought he knew. He crossed his path intensely, fists balled up - not even barking to those who crossed his path. He regretted texting Jax, Cat and Callum but he wasn't in his best state of mind probably - he couldn't deal properly with loss and guilt. He had done everything by the book and still ended up causing a mess he didn't know how to fix, but he had to try.

Jax had gotten Fergus’ text immediately after Leo had left, and after his heart had been broken by the departure of his older brother and the words that had accompanied it. So once again, he had no time to process emotions, and was instead in a somewhat state of shock. But what he knew was that he couldn’t lose both his elder brother, and the man he thought of as his little brother in one day. Whether it be of their own free will or to the Senate. So he’d somehow picked himself up from Leo’s leaving, somewhat resembling an empty husk as it was harder than ever to pull his polished mask onto his features. It didn’t come to him this time, and he was not the perfect picture he always strived to be as he finally found Fergus. “Fergus, don’t do this.” He should have said something more eloquent, something more meaningful, but his break with Leo had left him devoid of much ability to function at his normal level.

There hadn’t been the strength to face both Leo and Fergus. Not for Cat. Fergus needed her. Leo knew what he was about to do, he didn’t question it for a moment. Of course not. He suddenly became the perfect hero whenever Bobbi was involved. The irony was beyond anything she’d experienced. Jefferson would be loving this. “Fergus,” she said, making it into the square that she’d tracked both Jax and Fergus down to, sweat trickled down her face. She’d slipped two revolvers under her jacket, the cult had arranged for the pommerian line to disappear and she didn’t know why but she wasn’t about to ask questions. “Look, I know things are difficult right now, but going to the senate won’t do what you want,” the streets of this part of town seemed deserted right now, “the cult owns the senate at this point, did you think it was a coincidence that they voted the way they did? Stop and think this all through. Please.”

Fergus knew he was a turning point - not a good one at that but he had been used for political maneuvering, that much he could see. So maybe his actions wouldn't reverse the situation but maybe removing himself from the playing field could change something. For a strategist, he wasn't thinking all that well, the mix of sheer betrayal, anger and despair at the loss of Leo and Percy had him out of his wits. So when Jax found him followed by Cat he stopped on his tracks. All he had done so far had been out of love, out of devotion. To New Rome and above that, his family. He had lost one brother to the fates, Leo was now leaving, the harsh words in his mother's voice resounding like she was right there over his shoulder. He didn't want to let down - to hurt - his cousins that were practically siblings. They didn't share names but they shared a lifetime together. Gathering up strength he finally turned to them, fists balled up so hard his knuckles were going white as the scales crawled to cover the back of his hand. “Then I'll tell the city--- I can't stand here and watch this happen, this isn't protecting New Rome this is--” He waved to the buildings standing behind himself. “Leo’s leaving!” He blurted out. Maybe it was the upbringing or a matter of age but as Fergus stood, the age he was now and he felt like he didn't know a thing, with his emotions taking the best of him.

At Fergus’ outburst, Jax nearly flinched, his tense words with Leo all too fresh in his mind. Flatly, Jax spoke once more to correct Fergus. “Leo is gone. He already left.” With his brother gone, Jax’s perfect composure had begun to slip, still wondering how it was that he’d been fighting for the right side and somehow lost his brother. Still, he somehow managed to have something of a encouraging word for his practically little brother. “If you tell the city or anyone else, it’ll only throw the city into more chaos. Some will believe you, and some won’t. And the divide will only be made greater.” But wasn’t that what Jax wanted? Was he telling Fergus this because he thought it the best way to manipulate Fergus into not confessing, or because he was beginning to question whether seeing New Rome crumble was truly the best way to build it back up?

A single tear trickled down Cat’s face as she realised that Leo had left. She couldn’t believe that she had lost her brother. Swallowing the lump that was forming in her throat, she shook her head. “You swore an oath to protect the people, right now, telling them the truth, telling them what you know doesn’t protect anyone. It just puts more people in danger. Until we can replace the senate with something better we still need someone to leave us.” She pointed to the plume of smoke rising from Camp Jupiter. “The Greeks are still a threat, whether you want to believe that or not. The Greeks are out there and they’re dangerous. We can’t leave New Rome without leadership.” There was more to it. The cult was so clearly behind all of this that Cat couldn’t believe either Jax or Fergus were even questioning the order of events. They had a duty. A duty to protect New Rome from Greek scum. She’d wavered before. But she would not waver again.

Fergus didn't jump when the sound and smoke reached them but he almost did. It felt like a well placed emphatic point but at the same time it was absolutely surreal. It was like his city had come down with some illness and there were sores all over, bleeding out. Leo is gone, he already left. That sequence of words had him seeing red around the edges, his head pulsing painfully. He shouldn't feel so self important but this all somehow felt like it was his fault. Maybe he should've questioned things then, maybe he should've disobeyed. But he had trained over and over not to, he should've been perfect but clearly perfect didn't do anything. How could perfect be wrong? He looked at Cat only in time to see the tear trickle down her face, then reached out and stopped on his tracks. Sinking his head into both of his hands Fergus wanted to shrink into himself. “I'm so sorry.” Sorry didn't fix things but he didn't what would either nor if things could be fixed.

Callum had dropped everything and left his room, sprinting through the Cohort and into the open. He then headed towards the Second Cohort, a place he had visited often. As he approached, he saw Fergus on his way to the city. It wasn't hard spotting the Irish giant that was his friend.  And was that Cat and Jax? Had they also come to stop him? With a boost of stamina, he headed straight for Fergus. “Fergus!” He shouted a few seconds before he tackled the other at full speed, knocking them both to the ground. “Don’t do it!” He grunted.

Of course, just as it seemed that Fergus was calming down Callum had to tackle him to the ground. For the first time since Leo’s leaving, Jax felt something other than despair. Irritation. “Get off him, Callum. You’re only going to make things worse.” He couldn’t help but think that Fergus would be particularly pleased with being thrown into the dirt, especially when they were all in rather fragile emotional states. The smallest semblance of Jax’s normal self was back, the need for action beginning to overtake his pooling grief for the loss of Leo. “We’ll figure it out, Fergus,” he said as he offered his cousin an outstretched hand to help him up, and for a moment he was thrown back to a rather similar and startling picture of helping Fergus up from the ground after a particular rousing game of childhood tackle football. But so much had changed since then.

Fergus stood there for a silent moment, holding his head in his hands and feeling the headache install he still had to consider what was important. He took a deep breath and for a whole minute the world seemed to readjust a little - and then Callum’s body collided with his without warning. Well there had been a second of warning, his name being shouted, before he went down with his friend. He had absolutely forgotten about challenging Callum. He went down with a thud - his head hitting the ground and for a second his sight went black. To anyone watching it was nothing but a second and then he was lying there, toppled by Callum. But what looked like nothing felt like that very world he had just quieted was thrown out of its axis. Fergus pushed Callum violently from him and rolled to the side as his headache turned searing. Stop it stop it sTOP IT. “SHUT UP.” He shouted at nothing and no one - but at the voice in his head that threatened to take over. It had worked sometimes. He made it stop and things calmed down but not now. Not when the scales crawled up to his neck, face and arms. He was hurting and the other part of him wanted the hurting to stop. The monster that shared his body clearly had some strong opinions on everything as his eyes changed from green to red and he could feel and hear his human bones cracking and shifting into paws and claws. There was no arguing while he tried to fight to keep conscious.

Cat watched in horror as Callum collided with Fergus. Wincing gently as they hit the ground and holding her breath full of hope as she watched Jax try to fix things. But then everything seemed to go wrong. A grotesque transformation took place and Cat pulled both of her guns out as she heard bones snap and crack, she watched claws and talons rip through scales and swallowed back fear as she realised that this was, once her cousin Fergus. Whatever was left of him however was a grotesque perversion of nature. But what if it was actually still Fergus. She wasn’t sure she could fight against her cousin. Not if he wasn’t a threat to anyone. Anxiety wracked her as she tried to pick a target. She didn’t want to fire, but she had to protect her brother and Callum.

Callum had good intentions. He was not about to let his friend turn himself in. But when he had tackled Fergus, the last thing he had expected was for his friend to transform into someone else, something else. He quickly backed away, still on the ground, using his arms and feet to clear the area of the monster before quickly getting up. “What’s happening?” He asked the other two Centurions, but the look on their faces suggested that they had no idea either. Callum was in shock as he continued to watch. “Don’t shoot it Cat, it might still be Fergus.” He sprinted round to them, staying clear of the thing. “Maybe I can try and calm him down. But maybe -- maybe he’s past being calmed down.”

About a million curses flew through Jax’s head as he saw Fergus transform. Thus far, he didn’t seem to be hostile, but already there were Romans sprinting towards the monster, swords drawn and at the ready. “Stay back!” he commanded them, wielding his power as a Centurion. But if he was being truthful it was more for Fergus’ safety than their own. He’d already driven away Leo, he wasn’t going to watch Fergus get hurt as well. “Of course it’s still Fergus,” he hissed towards his sister and Callum. “We literally just watched him transform into it. If he can become this...we can get him back too.” There was no way to be sure of his words, but he had to keep hope if he wanted to keep Fergus.

The last thing Fergus saw were the faces of Cat, Jax and Callum - their horrified eyes and expressions and all he could do was stare back. Help me. And then his consciousness was gone, changed for something else, the other inhabitant of his head decided it was done with the dread and the pain. Fergus bones’ cracked and twisted, his skin ripped to give way to the emerging beast. Six copper eyes stared down on to the three Centurion as Puff stood above them, well above twenty feet and claws flexed feeling the dry ground beneath its feet. It wasn't the ocean and the beast couldn't sense water anywhere near, not near enough. The beast stood there and opened its mouth, remembering Percy Jackson. “Percy Jackson, I demand Percy Jackson.” Though what they all heard was nothing like words - only a loud roar. They did not speak the sea language and Puff did not speak human language either. The beast swayed its massive tail around, breaking some of the concrete underneath - and it was the roar that set fear into the hearts of the Roman footsoldiers standing around and against Jax’s orders one of them charged to uselessly try and stab through the armored carcass of the beast. Puff roared back in offense,  trying to remind the words of Percy Jackson. “BRING ME JACKSON.” It demanded, slapping the soldier away with a massive blow, killing the man as he hit a near building and through a wall.

Cat ran forward to try and stop the Legionnaire from attacking Fergus. She tried to move as fast as she could, but she was too slow. The Legionnaire’s shield slammed against Cat and she crumpled. The feeling of pain spread through her head, she spotted Fergus writing around and felt as blood trickled down her top lip. Springing to her feet, she stared at the Romans nearest to her, there were three of them who were threatening to attack the monster. “Don’t move,” she whispered, clicking the hammers into place on her revolvers as she motioned for them to move away.

Callum was expecting a fist fight maybe, but not for other people to die. Guilt instantly struck him as he watched the beast attack Innocent civilians. He stepped back, he wasn’t even supposed to be here. Elara and the rest of the Cohort were going to be heading to the armory soon and he was supposed to go with them. But he had caused this mess, and there was no way that he was just going to leave his friend like this. He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind, like he used to back when they were much younger. He had helped Fergus with his anger before, maybe this time it would work. He concentrated on a calm feeling, like swaying on a hammock or sitting on a peer as the water slowly moved beneath you, glistening in the sun. He thought of hot summer afternoons underneath a large oak tree or reading a good book by the fire in the middle of winter. He then tried to amplify these feelings, sending them straight to Fergus, or what used to he Fergus. He had no idea if it would work, but he may as well try.

Jax dodged the flailing of the beast, but his jaw set into a grimace as he saw Fergus kill the man that had attacked with a flick of his tail. He couldn’t allow Fergus to get hurt, but he couldn’t also let him kill everyone in the proximity. Trying to clear the square he yelled out once more. “Everyone, get back! Find shelter far from here!” He hadn’t the slightest clue as how to get Fergus to calm down. How was he meant to deal with an enormous beast that he couldn’t and wouldn’t kill? Still the Romans surrounding them hesitated to flee, their training not to question Jax fighting with the conditioning to kill any monster on sight.

Puff recoiled as well - not like an animal ready to pounce but like a cornered one. And it was a bad, bad idea to corner a beast like that. It remembered Percy Jackson's words, that attacking the Romans meant death and that even a mighty Titan’s child couldn't beat the Roman army. But cornered and threatened, thinking logically was almost impossible. The beast was there so the hurting would stop but everything was loud and hurting still. Though for a moment Callum’s strategy almost worked and then Puff realized that it didn't know that man. He wasn't Percy Jackson, he was a foe. The raised weapons from the Romans was enough to send Puff into an enraged frenzy, launching itself to get Callum and a handful of soldiers standing around, massive claws reaching for them as Puff roared in offense. Their swords weren't enough to penetrate the thick metal-like scales and the beast’s only weak points was soft tissue inside the mouth and the six eyes.

Callum opened his eyes again just in time to dive out of the way of the beasts paws, performing a roll before getting back up to his feet. How were they supposed to calm the beast down, calm Fergus down. With legionnaires being hurt left right and center and Jax and Cat trying to hold back the ever growing masses of legionnaires, there wasn’t much they could do. “Any ideas?” He called out to the Karavadra siblings. “Because I just tried mine and it didn’t work.” He would would have drawn his gladius from its sheath if it wasn’t for the fact that it seemed their weapons were useless anyway and that it was probably making things worse by scaring the monster.

Cat dived out of the way as a tentacle cleaved through the paving stones where she had previously stood. Rolling back to her feet Cat pointed up the street. “Move!” she snarled at the Legionnaires who she had been holding back. Without a word they began moving towards safety but more soldiers were appearing and Cat didn’t know how much longer they could keep the situation contained. She didn’t want to hurt Fergus but at the same time she wasn’t about to let a giant sea monster destroy the city. Taking aim, she spotted over a dozen targets that she could’ve probed. The eyes. The armour. The claws. The maw. Everything needed testing because she hadn’t gone up against anything like this before. Swallowing nervously, cat held her stance for a second before lowering her guns. She couldn’t do it. She’d seen the misery in Fergus. She recognised it. She felt that same misery with her father and his relentless inability to appreciate her. She knew it was worse with Olena. “We need to isolate it,” she said trying to think of anything they could possibly do, “someone get its attention and maybe we can draw it away from the city?”

Jax was ready to work on Cat’s suggestion as he picked up a branch from the ground and threw it towards the beast, sending a mental apology Fergus’ way. Inciting the attention and ire of the beast was most likely not the smartest thing to do, but making himself a threat was likely the most foolproof way of gaining the beast’s attention. “Hey!” hey yelled up towards the hulking monster, before throwing another piece of rubble at the side of his cousin. “Come and get it!” He spread his arms wide, as if inviting the monster to attack as he began to sprint in the direction of the lake. Whatever beast this was, it looked to be decidedly water related, and he couldn’t help but think it might be calmer if it was in its element.

Puff’s massive tail swayed violently as the beast recoiled for a moment, like a feline ready to pounce on its attackers. The beast was terrified at first but what was dread slowly morphed into rage. They didn't understand! Puff didn't want war, it wanted to be left alone! The sea! And then one of the Romans was throwing things at him so the beast charged, roaring in outrage. HOWDAREIKILLYOU But that moment only served to cause further havoc in the hearts of the present demigods and many legionnaires drew their swords, with some throwing javelins. Most of them bounced back but one sword successfully managed to slash a small space between the monster's talons only enraging it more.

Callum watched as Jax waved his arms to gain the beasts attention, drawing it towards the lake. He decided to work with the male, shouting orders at legionnaires and trying to gain control of the messy situation. The sooner they moved the beast from this area and away from New Rome, the better. Callum watched as a legionnaires sword punctured the monster and caused it to let out a roar of rage. He made a mental note of the spot Incase things got worse and they couldn’t contain the situation. He stayed clear of the monsters vision and advised legionnaires to do the same so that Jax could have the beasts full attention.

Holstering her weapons, Cat raced after Callum and Jax. She really hoped that her little brother knew what he was doing, because if he didn’t then she wasn’t sure that she could cope with losing both of her brothers in one day. But she trusted him. He knew what he was doing and she wasn’t going to baby him. Swallowing, she tore down the street, cutting through every shortcut she knew in an attempt to get level with her brother, but he was too fast, and whatever Fergus had become was too much of an obstacle right now. Swallowing, she slid underneath a bit of debris that blocked her path and sprung to her feet. She’d lost Callum, but she had to trust that he was alright. Even if he had been the one to start this mess.

Jax only managed to avoid the beast’s charge, ending in an evasive roll before he recovered his footing and continued to try and draw the monster towards the lake. With a thought that was most likely out of place during battle, he couldn’t help but be annoyed that he didn’t have any alluring monster snacks on hand. Not that there even were such things as monster snacks...unless you counted demigods. But it would have been far easier to lure Fergus to the lake if he had something the beast wanted to eat or something of that like. After yelling at the Legionnaire that had punctured between Fergus’ claws to stand down, he had the realization that perhaps they could use the gathering Legionnaires to help herd Fergus to the lake, and gave the command to group up and push at the beast from behind, but still gave the express order not to harm the beast. Then he was still taunting Fergus once more to follow, and sprinting towards the lake.

Callum was only the Centurion of the Third, and out of respect he followed the 1st Cohort Centurions orders and rallied with the other legionnaires to taunt the beast from behind and chase it towards the lake. The only problem was dogging the beasts massive tail. Callum just missed the monsters tail the first time, but he wasn’t prepared for the tail to swing back so fast. Fergus’s tail now swooped and the end catching Callum in the side, sending him through the air and onto the ground. Lucky nothing had broken, but he was badly winded and dazed. A legionnaire rushed over to help him up and then raced back to join the others. There was no way Callum would be able to keep up with the crowd and beast anymore, not in his current state. He trusted that Cat and Jax would be able to handle the issue and began to hobble over to the infirmary for nectar and then head to his Cohort to prepare himself to be stationed at the armory. He suspected that Jax and Cat wouldn’t be pleased that he had disappeared halfway through the fight, especially since he had caused it, but it was just something that he’d have to deal with later.

Puff didn’t seem the least concerned for having put Callum out of commission - or anything that wasn’t pursuing Jax at that moment. The swarm of legionnaires that suddenly were running between the beast’s legs had it angrier and confused, trying to swat, stomp and eat them, Puff kept being led towards the lake… until the smell of blood and the screaming from Camp Jupiter snapped its attention. Like a moth drawn to a flame, Puff absolutely disregarded Jax and the legionnaires, making a turn and then marching with intent away from the lake and towards the fortified walls.

Cat paused for a moment by Callum’s side to make sure he was okay, as soon as he staggered of towards the infirmary she shot after Fergus and Jax who were heading towards Camp Jupiter at an alarming rate. Struggling to keep up with them, she tore towards the Camp. Pulling her phone from her pocket she dialled the number of her lieutenant. Praying Ella would pick up before it was too late. As her phone rang uselessly, she could imagine the soldiers on the wall spotting a giant monster coming their way. Protocol was to use any means necessary to kill it, which included their special monster killing ballistae that she wasn’t convinced that Fergus would survive against. “We’ve got to stop him from getting to the Camp!” she shouted, worry wracking her body.

A monster was still a monster in nature, even if Puff was reasonable, logical and able to talk (to anyone who could understand sea language) most times, it was still a beast. The fear and rage drove it towards the most eastern wall of Camp Jupiter and it didn’t think or knew about the ballistae. That is, until the first heavy spear hit it - right on the left shoulder, breaking the armor-like scales and piercing the skin, Puff steered to the side, roaring in pain and outrage. It wasn’t enough to kill it but it was enough to send a stream of iridescent blood down. A number of heavily armed legionnaires also ran off the Camp. Puff couldn’t retreat or go forward so it simply swung the massive tail to wipe the field, one paw breaking off the part of the spear and throwing it back against the wall, damaging it some. Roaring again, the monster stomped over a handful of legionnaires.

Jax’s heart was pounding in his chest. Fear wasn’t something he often felt, but it was easily making itself known now as Fergus continued his beeline for Camp, and a spear pierced him. His little brother’s life was on the line, even if that pseudo little sibling was currently not entirely himself. He tried to make himself the target once more, to lure Fergus away from camp Jupiter and the countless weapons and Legionnaires that were there, ready to slay any monster than might come their way. But it seemed to be of no avail. At that moment, the vague thought that Jax had pushed for the extermination of possibly the only person who might be able to help calm Fergus crossed his mind. Percy Jackson had been banished with the rest of the Greeks, and with him had most likely gone any hope of containing Fergus. After all, a son of Poseidon would most certainly have some sway over a monster of Oceanus, wouldn’t he? But there was no time for regrets or worries. Jax sprinted ahead of Fergus, his mind very much on the same track as Cat’s when it came to the ballistae. He needed to warn those behind it not to shoot, but their post was far and high above, hard to access specifically for the reason that those in charge of it would be hard to eliminate in a hostile situation. Still, there was no question of what he needed to do as he made his way there.

Cat pulled her revolvers from her belt. Realising now that distracting Fergus was of the utmost importance. Firing off a round, she winced as she heard it ricochet off of his scales and ping into a wall. Emptying one clip, she emptied the other revolver, sending a spray of bullets in Fergus’ direction. Bullets bouncing left and right as she did her best not to hurt him. But it was of no avail, obviously the giant bows that were firing giant spears at her cousin was something that she couldn’t distract away from, trying Ella again, she once more got no reply as she watched the ballista reload and take aim once more. Fear surged in the pit of her stomach and she wondered if this were to be the first casualty of a war that was as worthless as it was apparently foolhardy, yet apparently inevitable.

Despite being a monster, they weren't going down without a fight and taking as many as possible along. Clearly the child of a Titan wasn't going to be taken by bullets or swords - and when Puff realized it was better to retreat than attack, it might have been too late. The confusion of attacks and people and smoke and blood was too much sensory information for a sea monster that wasn't in the sea. The next shots from the ballistae didn't really do much for the monster - But while the spears didn't pierce through the armor of scales, they broke and exposed the flesh beneath. Petroleum-like iridescent blood still oozing from the wound on the shoulder, Puff roared outraged again and decided to charge against the watchtower.  

Jax was nowhere near accepting that Fergus might not make it out of this as he continued his ascent, fervently climbing to the ballistae deployment station. To no avail, he tried to yell to those firing the giant spears to cease fire. However, he was still too far for his words to carry. As the blood seeped from Fergus, Jax’s determination was renewed though his fear grew greater, knowing that losing Fergus to this freak accident was not something he would allow, especially when he’s already been counting Leo as a loss. The faintest idea to have Nashira fly above to notify those shooting Fergus entered his mind, but the odds that anyone up there would be able to understand her were slim to none, though the inky speck of a bird jetted off at his request anyway. If anything, she might at least be able to distract those responsible for launching the weapons by dive-bombing them.

The click of an empty barrel attempting to chamber a bullet that wasn’t there echoed through Cat’s head as she angrily reloaded. Firing at Fergus wasn’t helping, and she didn’t have the accuracy at this range to disable the weapons that were attacking him. Fear gripped her as she saw Nashira shoot off, she didn’t know what Jax was planning but she hoped that it would work. She was running out of ideas and she could see the protective scales that covered Fergus starting to fall away. As black ichor covered the grass and scrub beneath Fergus, she rolled out of the way of a writhing tentacle and sprinted towards the gates of Camp Jupiter, praying she’d make it there in time.

It was a fraction of a split second - the moment right before Nashira landed on the wall to warn a shooter not to fire, that the ballistae launched another round of spears against the monster. They didn't have that many imperial gold spears left and to those guarding the wall, it was their last hope. For Puff however it was its last moments. One spear pierced through the skin and buried deep in the beast’s shoulder, another hit an uncovered side of the belly and the last one went straight through the front eye, all of the wounds sending jets of black-iridescent ichor- for a whole moment, five emerald green eyes fixed on Jax and Cat. Help me. Before the monster exploded into a cloud of golden dust and what was left of a demigod once, was a single green-and-silver scale.

[imagineclaireandjamie]

There is a song by The Fast Romantics called "Why we fight" and ever since the first time I heard the song on the radio, I always thought it really fits Jamie and Claire's passionate relationship, and would make a really good AU prompt or fic. Do love all the mod's writing! :)

In our bedrooms we are freedeep in the guts of meI love you violentlyuntil the dawn’s early lightThis is why we fight

Cool, fresh air whipped Claire’s face, the mad curls ofher hair pushing free, her whole body thrumming with *life.*

Still she urged her horse to go even faster, gallopingacross the open field, leaping over streams and shearing the tops offwildflowers. Chasing the horizon.

So alive – and free – and full of joy.

Especially because of the man racing on his horse besideher – his red curls whipping around that fine, strong jaw she ached so deeplyto touch, his blue eyes smiling in disbelief at her antics.

For she trusted him with her courage, and her daring, andher thirst for life. And he cherished them for the rare gifts that they were.

—

They hobbled the horses in their customary spot – a gladewithin the trees, on the far edge of the estate. Very private.

Three years now they had raced their horses – challenged eachother. Always ending up at this same spot, which he had discovered by accidentand which she loved as the one place she felt safe.

For here it did not matter that she was Lady ClaireMacKenzie, wife of Lord Callum MacKenzie, an intimate of the King’s and one ofthe largest landowners on the border with Scotland.

It did not matter that he was Sir James MacKenzie Fraser,nephew of the Lord (via an acknowledged bastard line), an outlaw from hisnative Scotland come into the service of his feeble-bodied uncle. Who protectedthat which was valued most dear – the Lady Claire, sole heiress of theBeauchamp lands that had been subsumed into the MacKenzie holdings upon theirmarriage five years previously.

In this glade – cut off from the manor, and Court, andthe stables, and everyone who constantly sought to isolate them and mold theminto people they did not want to be – he was Jamie, and she was Claire, andthey found refuge in each other.

“Tell me again,” she whispered, watching him play withthe fingers of her right hand. Settled against a live oak whose trunk was wideenough to cradle the both of them – miles from prying ears – they dreamed.

“We’d sleep in my parents’ room,” he began, “in the bed Iwas born in. I’d wake ye wi’ the dawn – just when it’s light enough to see yerbonny face – and love ye, quiet, as the sun came up.”

She swallowed, and he dug his nail into the lines of herpalm. She gasped.

“And ye’d ken in that moment just how much I love ye,Claire.” His voice rasped hot against her neck. His face turned against hercheek, nuzzling. “I’d freeze that moment in time, if I could – if it meantforever. Forever wi’ ye.”

She squeezed his fingers – watched his knuckles pop white– wanting. Wanting so much more than she could ever offer him.

“And then I’d hold you so close to me,” she swallowed. “Notbelieving what we have is real.”

Claire inhaled deeply – then released. “And then we’dneed to scramble for our clothes because the children would come in.”

She felt his smile. “Aye – all of them, all at once. Theeldest holding the youngest by the hand – settling into bed wi’ us.”

“And we’d hold them, and love them – let them know howmuch they were wanted.”  

“Because they are a blessing from God. And they will havechoice over everything in their lives – how to live, where to live. What to do.Who to marry.”

Jamie undid the button at her wrist, snaking one largefinger to trace the fine blue veins there. So soft.

“And then breakfast – and then you’d be off to tend tothe animals, and check on the fields.”

“Aye – and then ye’d come wi’ me, bringing all thechildren, and yer wee basket of herbs too. Because ye never ken when ye’ll findsomething ye can use for yer healing.”

They knew this story – what would, could, would never betheir story – by heart. It was woven from so many hours of loneliness – longingfor the life they may have had, had dreams been reality.

Claire didn’t realize her eyes were shut – or that shehad been crying – until Jamie began kissing her tears away.

She swallowed down a sob – but he knew, he always knew.

“Will we still be dreaming of this life when we are oldand grey, Jamie?”

He kissed the tip of her nose.

“Is this – this moment now – all we will ever have?”

He kissed the edge of her mouth.

“Why do I keep dreaming of a life with you, when I knowit will never come?”

He untied her bonnet, gently setting it on the grass,caressing her temples, gathering bunches of her curls into his capable hands.

“Ye keep me alive. And I ken I do the same for ye.”

He brought her brow to his, fingers tangled in her hair.

“That’s why. Even if it crushes yer heart, *mo nighean donn*.I canna live in a world wi’out ye in it.”

“But I want you to be my *whole* world.”

Fresh tears spilled. And he kissed them away again.

“Ye are, for me. Nothing matters more to me than yerhappiness.”

Bravely he settled his hands on her hips – or where herhips would be, had she not been covered with so damn many layers of skirts andpetticoats.

“Callum is no’ much longer for this world – everyone kenshe marrit ye so that ye could tend him. You know as well as anyone – he’s no’getting any better.”

She swallowed. “No.”

“So – when he dies, then that is our chance.”

“And what if he does not die soon?” Now her eyes opened,whisky eyes – the eyes that could get him drunk with just one glance –flashing. “He has already outlived all expectations. And then there’s Dougal – ”

“What about him?”

“You know that he’ll make a claim on me the instantCallum dies. And he’ll force me to accept him.”

“No’ if I have any say in it!” Jamie drew back, suddenlyflushed. “Ye are no’ a plaything, Claire! Ye are a person – a whole, beautifulperson – and – ”

“With the Beauchamp lands hanging around my neck,” sheinterrupted. Bitter.

“It’s my job to protect ye.” His voice was careful –measured – anger kept barely in check. “I love ye, Claire. I will fight for ye –Christ, I’d gladly *die* for ye, if ye’d let me. And if I canna protect ye atthat moment – when ye’d need it the most – then I canna protect ye at all.”

He turned away, back hunched, head in his hands.

She knew better than to touch him.

“That’s why I’ve never even kissed ye, Claire. When thetime comes, I want there to be no doubt. No whispers about yer virtue – no stainson yer character. For I may be many things, but I’d never play another manfalse. No’ where his wife is concerned.”

She crossed her legs beneath her voluminous gown, handsfolded in her lap. Wanting so badly to comfort him – but damn him, he wasright.

“And between now and then?”

Slowly he sat up – then crawled over to her – and tookher hands in his.

“We race – and we dream – and we plan. We’ve neverdecided on names for the children.”

That got her to laugh – and his heart leapt at the soundof it.

“I do love you, you know.”

He kissed the back of one hand – and then the back of theother.

“I hope our son has a heart as selfless as yours.”

He smiled at her – and the world stopped.

“I hope our daughter will be as strong and confident asher mother,” he whispered.

—

The race back to the manor house was long over – and bothhorses slowed to a trot as they glided through the main gates.

Jamie was just behind her – befitting his station.

The stable lads were waiting to help her off her horse.

She slid to the dirt – and they bowed.

“Thank you, Sir James,” she called up to her knight,sitting quite still atop his mount.

He nodded in deference to her station.

And then she disappeared into the manor.

Jamie balled her handkerchief – which she had used to dryher brow after their race this morning, and then pressed into his hand as hehelped her tie on her bonnet before leaving the glade – in his fist.

Through the upstairs window, he watched Claire enter Callum’sstudy and curtsy before his desk.

He said a quick prayer, then stepped out of the saddle,and led the horse to the stables to be cared for.

[wildroseofarran]

Roses || Bretan & Pete

Brett: Brett knocks on Botan's bedroom door. He's well-dressed, his hair is combed, he smells of cologne, and there's one hand behind his back.

Bo: "Housekeeping?" teased a tired voice on the other side of the door.

Brett: "Room service. Sort of."

Bo: The door was opened. Bo was still in his pajama bottoms, there were three books open and face down on his bed.

"Wow. What are you dressed properly for?"

Brett: Brett smiled, offering Botan the rose he had hidden behind his back. "I have a very special night planned for us."

Bo: A hand clung to his gray long sleeve shirt, the other took the rose. "What have you done, sheriff?"

Brett: "Something very special."

Bo: "Yes, you said those words already." The rose was breathed in. "How long do I have to dress?"

Brett: Brett checked his watch. "Twenty minutes."

Bo: "May I have a kiss?"

Brett: "You can have as many as you like," Brett said softly, offering his lips.

Bo: The lips were taken with feathery affection, rose caressed over Brett Parker's cheek. "Going to watch me dress or wait outside?" It was his first time offering.

Brett: He gave a content little him. "Appealing as that sounds, I'll wait outside." There were preparations that still needed tending to.

Bo: That was fine. "Alright." The last thing Brett would see was Bo's smile as he held the rose blossom to his nose again. His options were limited in fashion. His best dress pants and a pale yellow button down were chosen, keeping it simple and clean. He hadn't expected anything today, so he had no idea what he was preparing for.

Brett: As soon as the door was closed, Brett (quietly) dashed back into the kitchen. The table he'd set up in the living room was already set, the wine was breathing on the counter, a fire had been lit in the fireplace, and the food was almost done.

All that was left to do was light the candles and bring the whole thing together.

Twenty minutes later he was at Bo's door again. "Close your eyes."

Bo: Bo was reluctant to leave the rose. It was tucked in bed, resting against his pillow. "Alright." One hand to Brett's shoulder, eyes closed. "You didn't have to do whatever it is you've done." But he was secretly in love.

Brett: "I wanted to do it," said Brett, guiding Botan into the living room.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he would see were the roses. Dozens and dozens of them spread out all over the room, in small arrangements and large ones, in every single color it was possible for them to come in.

Dispersed among them were candles and in the center of it all was a table just big enough for two, decorated with more roses and candles.

Bo: Bo could hardly find the words to express himself and the overwhelming joy he felt by Brett's romantic gesture. He wished he could remember if anyone had ever done anything like this before, but he also believed remembering would have killed how greatly he appreciated.

"This must... have - when did you - how did I not hear you do any of this?"

Brett: Brett laughed softly. "It took a lot of planning ahead. Plus I was creeping around like a bank robber in a silent movie, tip-toeing and poised for any indication of your door opening. Helped that you immerse yourself so much in your books. Do you like it?"

Bo: "I don't notice when I do that." He was surprised that Brett had taken such notice of the details. Then again, this was the same man who came to visit him every day for an hour at the Harrak mansion. "I love it, Brett. Thank you." The hand on the sheriff's shoulder moved to the back of his neck, pulling him into a hug.

Brett: He could feel his chest swelling with joy as he wrapped his arms around Botan and hugged him tight. This was exactly the reaction he'd been hoping for. It made everything worth it.

"You are absolutely welcome," Brett murmured, kissing Botan's shoulder. "Let's sit down before the food gets cold."

Bo: "What did you make us?" By now at least Brett understand what he did and didn't like. It only made Bo appreciate him more having his decisions respected. A kiss was stolen before taking at seat at the table.

Brett: "I made us a lovely salad with raspberry vinaigrette and pasta with vegan chicken, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes. And to go with it, a nice smooth Chardonnay."

Bo: "Vegan chicken?" How romantic could one man be in a single setting? "What can I do to help?"

Brett: Brett poured their wine. "You can sit back and enjoy. Food's all ready to go."

Bo: It was almost unfathomable for Bo to comprehend that he was Brett's first. All of this romance, how long had the good sheriff been deprived?

"Brett..."

Brett: "Yes?"

Bo: "Du betyr så mye for meg."

Brett: A soft, doting smile curved Brett's as he bent to kiss Botan. He still didn't know what those words meant, but the look in Botan's eyes when he said them told him everything he needed to know.

"I love you."

Bo: "I love you." He sighed, content but curious. "I have a question and it borders on inappropriate."

Brett: "Go ahead and ask." Brett brought out their food and took a seat. "It's just you and me."

Bo: A sip of wine was taken first. "Have you ever done this for anyone else?"

Brett: Brett shook his head. "Never."

Bo: "No girl you tried to ... be with? No man ever?"

Brett: "I've only ever dated one woman and back then I was...well, even more shy than I am now if you can believe it. I tried my best to do nice things for her but this? The roses and the dinner? Only you."

Bo: "Is this how it's always going to be? Where did you get all of these roses?"

Brett: Brett smiled. "It can be, if you wish it. And I got them from the nursery." He would've gotten them from Callum, but with the holiday coming up he was low on roses.

Bo: "I don't know if I'd want it all of the time, but today, absolutely." The pasta was twirled over his fork. Was the pasta vegan? He wouldn't push it. This was already picturesque. "This is delicious. What do you think of the 'chicken'?"

Brett: Everything on the table was vegan and made with Bo in mind. "I really like it. I tested out every brand they stock at the market and this is by far the best one."

Bo: "When did you do that?" He laughed. "I'm missing so much."

Brett: "You know how I've been going out on patrol more than usual this past week? I've spent the extra time experimenting in Peabody's kitchen."

Bo: "Peabody knows what you've done?"

Brett: He nodded. "He does. I tried to get him to taste test but he refused. No surprise really. Most of his diet consists of burgers."

Bo: "We should use trickery. He'd like it if unaware."

Brett: "Maybe we should," Brett chuckled. "Peabody could stand to eat less red meat."

Bo: "Has he always been prone to illness?"

Brett: "Yep. Gets a violent flu every single year, lots of things in between."

Bo: "He needs to be healthier. That, or he needs an equally unhealthy woman."

Brett: "He's got one. Which is ironic because she's a nurse."

Bo: "That's...contradictory."

Brett: "You'd think so right? I don't think I've ever seen her drink water."

Bo: Bo made a face. "This is delicious, Brett. Thank you." He'd already said that, but he didn't remember.

Brett: Brett smiled. "You're very welcome. Wait until you see what I got for dessert."

Bo: "What did you make? You actually made something or did you buy it?"

Brett: "I have zero baking skill outside of baking a cake out of cake mix, so I went to the bakery and ordered something special from Laura."

Bo: "Oh. What did you get?" Eyes returned to his dish, twirling a forkful and sighing. "This is delicious, Brett. Thank you."

Brett: "Fruit tart, and I brought some rice dream ice cream to go with it."

Brett's brow furrowed ever so slightly. That was the third time Bo had thanked him. "You're welcome..."

Bo: "You don't have to eat this way just because I prefer it. I still appreciate it though." He wondered if that was normal. Of course he wouldn't know.

Brett: "I know I don't but I actually like it. And it's good for me. Win/win."

Bo: "I haven't been looking into getting new papers. I haven't been doing anything to go home."

Brett: "You've had a lot on your plate," Brett said softly.

Bo: "I know, but...it's no excuse. I work for you here in America. I'm not from here. How long can this last?"

Brett: "Maybe we should talk to Luke Graham. He's a lawyer. He can probably help get you new papers, and soon."

Bo: Another sigh. "Alright." At this point, being caught by whomever it was that had taken them in the first place was on the backburner of his mind.

Brett: "Hey." Brett reached across the table, holding his hand out for Bo's. "I love you."

Bo: There were no tears in his eyes, but there was a sniffle. The sheriff's hand was clung to.

Brett: That hand was kissed. "I love you very, very much. We're going to get through this."

Bo: "You don't know me. What I am with you now can't possibly be what I was with my memories."

Brett: "I'm starting to. I'll love every version of you there is."

Bo: "What if what I was before wouldn't have looked twice at you?"

Brett: "I would've won you over with my pasta cookery and many many roses."

Bo: Bo bit his lip and smiled. "Maybe." Another sniffle, but this time it was a relief. "I want to speak with Torsten again."

Brett: Now that was a surprise. "Do you feel ready?"

Bo: "If you're there with me. Keep me...in check. You've heard what I can do to him."

Brett: Brett gave Bo a gentle smile. "Of course I'll be there with you. I always will be, for whatever you need."

Bo: "Can we do it today or tomorrow? Please? I'd rather do it while I'm still in good spirits."

Brett: He nodded. "Absolutely. We can go see him tomorrow before work if you want. I heard he's staying at the Wayside."

Bo: "You've been keeping an eye on him?"

Brett: "A while back he was standing across the street staring at me. Thought it would be best if I at least knew where he was living."

Bo: "I could have told you. I was there with him."

Brett: "You were? Ohhh, that's right." He'd forgotten than Botan hadn't always lived with him.

Bo: "The day in the rain, the day with you at the station, I was keeping him at a distance. Despite what happened...he was just there."

Brett: Brett nodded. "I remember seeing him. He's been pretty determined to check up on you."

Bo: "It's not fair."

Brett: "What do you mean?"

Bo: Another squeeze to Brett's hand. "Nothing. It's just... it's not fair and it's fair. That's all. I'm here with you and I'm happy. That's all that should matter."

Brett: Well now Brett had to come around the table and kiss Botan.

Bo: The kiss took him by surprise, hands unsure of themselves as they wrapped around Brett's neck, fingers curled into fists.

Brett: "You make me happier than you can possibly imagine," Brett whispered, nuzzling him.

Bo: "That sounds accurate, as I can't imagine it."

Brett: "One day you will." Have another kiss.

Bo: "Are you finished with dinner?"

Bo: Little kisses were given to his nose.

Brett: Brett smiled at every single one of them. "Just about. Ready for dessert and your Valentine's day present?"

Bo: "This is the present."

Brett: "I might have added one more little thing."

Bo: "If it's a wedding ring I might hit you."

Brett: "Don't worry, it isn't. I wouldn't spring something that big on you without us talking about it first."

Bo: "I thought the point of proposals were the surprise?"

Brett: "They still can be, even if you talk about it beforehand." One last kiss. "I'll be right back."

Bo: Bo waited patiently, looking at all the various colored roses and absorbing the moment. He wanted a photograph of his flowers before they wilted.

Brett: "Surpriiiiise..." Brett sang out a few moments later, presenting Bo with a bear. And even more roses.

Bo: His boyfriend laughed. "Why are you giving me a bear?" He couldn't tell him no. It was adorable, and it had his hair color. "I like him."

Brett: "Because it's Valentine's day, and one's beau deserves an adorable teddy bear on Valentine's day."

Bo: "That's just an American rule?"

Brett: "It should be."

Bo: "Then I need to get you one."

Brett: "Only if you want to. What are you gonna name him?"

Bo: "They get names?" He stared into his teddy. "Igor."

Brett: Brett nodded. "I like it. Very dignified."

Bo: "I want to get your bear today, after dessert. I know just how I want him to look."

Brett: "Oh yeah?" Brett grinned. "You gonna tell me or do I have to wait?"

Bo: "Of course you have to wait!"

Brett: He chuckled and kissed Bo again. "Then wait I shall. Ready for fruit tart and ice cream?"

Bo: "Yes." Ready for ice cream and ready to take this walk with Brett Parker. Ready to be out in public with the sheriff; ready to stir trouble.

Brett: Being seen with Bo wasn't even a concern for Brett. On the contrary; he was excited to take a romantic post-Valentine's day walk with him.

"Here we are," he said a few moments later, bringing out their dessert.

Bo: Bo ate his dessert quietly, often staring into one of the bouquets of roses while he chewed. Everything he had wanted to say he had, so there was nothing left but pleasant company.

Brett: While Botan stared at the roses, Brett stared at Botan, wondering how he could be so blessed as to have this man in his life and in his home.

Bo: "I know every time you do that."

Brett: He smiled. "I can't help it."

Bo: "You can, you just won't," he smirked.

Brett: "Fair point."

Bo: "I don't mind."

Brett: "You sure?"

Bo: "Mhm. You're mine."

Brett: Ah, it wouldn't be Valentine's day if Brett Parker didn't blush.

Bo: And Bo's daily goal was achieved, smiling in triumph.

Brett: "You enjoy that far too much."

Bo: "You're making it more and more difficult."

Brett: "Am I?"

Bo: "Mhm. I can kiss you without your face turning red."

Brett: "I turn red on the inside every time."

Bo: "I need to tally when you say things like that."

Brett: Brett laughed. "I've got a whole bank of things like that in my head."

Bo: "That's funny. I don't think I'd like it from most people."

Brett: "I try not to overwhelm you with it. Sometimes it just explodes out of me in the form of flowers."

Bo: "I like those gestures," he said, looking back to the flowers. "Words are different."

Brett: "Yeah. Sometimes they don't say exactly what you want or feel."

Bo: "Actions speak louder than words."

Bo: "Unless you're Torsten Glockner," he mumbled.

Brett: Botan's hand was taken and squeezed again.

Bo: "You've yet to scold me over that incident."

Brett: "What incident?"

Bo: "The bar..."

Brett: "Right. That incident."

Bo: "I really don't want to have...one of those moments where you need to...steady me, but I do feel you've neglected your official duties as far as that matter is concerned."

Brett: "Pete never pressed charges. Once I considered asking you to apologize to him but with everything he's been through recently I'm reluctant to bring it up."

Bo: "Is he aware of...our world?"

Brett: "He is--was--involved in relationship with a vampire so yes, he is."

Bo: "Hmm..."

Brett: "I doubt that's what's on his mind right now though."

Bo: "Hmm?"

Brett: "He had very unpleasant moment in his bar recently and now several people--including my mother--are calling him Mary Magdalene."

Bo: "Why not something more up-to-date? This town is very strange. I have nothing to compare it to and I know that."

Brett: "Oh it is. This is a very strange place. There's no understanding some of the people who live here."

Bo: "Just call him a slut and be done with it."

Brett: "That would probably be more straight-forward but it is also meaner."

Bo: "I think the former is."

Brett: Brett thought back to his most recent sighting of Pete. He looked tired and a little unkempt and very thin. Too thin.

"Fair point on that as well."

Bo: "I'm going to see him today."

Brett: "Be nice to him, okay? He needs it."

Bo: "You're not leaving me alone with him."

Brett: "I don't intend to, but still. He needs someone to be nice to him."

Bo: "Are you ready to go?"

Brett: Brett nodded. "Yep. Mind helping me blow out all the candles?"

Bo: "Of course." While doing so, he would gather roses, one of each color, wrapping them with a rubberband.

Brett: "Putting together another bouquet?"

Bo: "For him, yes."

Bo: Bo blinked. "How do you know he was associated with a vampire?"

Brett: Brett melted. Bo was putting together a bouquet for Pete using his own roses.

"I used to be his ghoul."

Bo: "Mm." That had yet to sink in. Three. Two. One. "I beg your pardon?"

Brett: "I'm not clear on exactly who, but a while back someone made the decision that I should be MJ Calloway's ghoul. No idea why. It lasted for a couple months and then he left and my...ghoulness? to him broke."

Bo: "You...and the bartender's vampire? Are you the "other man"?"

Brett: "I never had a relationship with him, Botan. Being a ghoul was forced on me."

Bo: "How forced?"

Brett: "I was screaming and crying and praying and begging them for mercy because I thought they were going to kill me and I'm pretty sure a spell was put on me to get me to stop so they could feed me their blood."

Bo: "... Min Gud."

Brett: A small, humorless smile tugged at Brett's lips. "Definitely not one of the highlights of my life."

Bo: "All vampires need to burn."

Bo: The roses were brought to chest and inhaled. "All of them."

Brett: It was hard to argue that point when he'd spent so much time envisioning Gertrude Draegan bursting into flames under a midday sun.

And while Guildias had been very good to him--and Bo, with his negotiation for his freedom--bringing him up was the wrong move right now.

"Ready to go?"

Bo: Guildias had done much for Bo without ever really caring. He had saved his life with his vitae; he had put effort into his release for the sake of his ghoul's happiness. Despite his good deeds, if given the chance there was no doubt that Bo would push him out in daylight.

"Ready if you are, yes."

Brett: "Want some gloves and a scarf? Temperature's been dropping all day."

Bo: "You're coddling me again, Brett."

Brett: "Sorry, I promise I don't mean to. I just don't want you to be cold."

Bo: Still, the gloves and scarf were applied, and the same treatment given to the sheriff. "Should we get him a bottle of wine, too?"

Brett: Brett smiled, letting himself be bundled. "Couldn't hurt."

Bo: "Do you know what he likes? You two play that sports ball together."

Brett: Only Botan could call soccer 'sports ball' and be so amusing. "He's a red wine kinda guy. The drier the better."

Bo: "Dry liquid," he mused. "What exactly makes a wine dry?"

Brett: "When alcohol isn't sweet, it's considered dry. Never made any sense to me either."

Bo: "But a merlot is sweet?"

Brett: "I think it's meant to be dry, but it probably depends on the region and the age."

Bo: "Well, this is why I like white."

Brett: "Same here."

Bo: Once at the liquor store, Bo made a beeline for the wine section. Trying to make sense of the red wines - all white wine tasted the same to him, so it never really mattered - he held a Merlot and a Malbec and stared at the dates.

Brett: Brett peered over Botan's shoulder. "The Merlot's older than the Malbec, but the Malbec says it's sweet and the Merlot doesn't. The bottle's nicer too. Should we get the Merlot?"

Bo: "Alright. Merlot. Is it in poor taste to give a bartender alcohol?" Did he really care? No.

Brett: "I don't think so. If anything he probably has a more informed appreciation for it."

Bo: "So we'll drop these things off, distract him, and then you get your bear. What else are we doing?"

Brett: "That depends. How would you like to spend the rest of our Valentine's day?"

Bo: "... I want to learn how to dry flowers."

Brett: "Looking to preserve your surprise?" Brett asked with a smile.

Bo: "Is there a wall we can use? Make it blank. Use twine to hang them in rows. Let it be the art. I want that."

Brett: "There's that wall between the living room and the kitchen. Nothing but a calendar on there."

Bo: "You would help me with this?"

Brett: Brett smiled. "Of course I will."

Bo: At Peter Graham's door, Bo leaned his weight against Brett Parker's chest, using him as a kind of mental and physical cushion as he waited.

Brett/Pete: In an effort to spare himself any unpleasant moments, Pete had decided to take Valentine's day off. People could say what they wanted; he'd much rather have them talk if it meant he didn't have to watch any happy couples.

"I think our takeout is here, buddy," he said to Midas, tucking the kitten into the crook of his arm as he went to answer the door.

Except the Thai delivery guy wasn't who was waiting on his porch.

"...Oh. Hello, sheriff. And Mr. Nowicki."

Bo: "I'm supposed to apologize for my behavior, but right now all I want to do is kiss you because I feel like that would make this even somehow. It would certainly distract you and from the look on your face and how pathetic it is that you own a cat perhaps I should. I might. Just not right now." Norwegian was coming in handy right now, because none of this was in English.

Brett/Pete: If possible, that little speech had Pete looking even more confused. He glanced at Brett, who in turn gave Botan's arm a little squeeze.

"In English," he said gently. "And remember what we talked about."

Bo: "What had we talked about?" he whispered.

Brett: "Being nice," he whispered back.

Bo: The flowers were offered, along with a lopsided smile. "Jeg beklager," he uttered.

Brett/Pete: He'd been so focused on the strangeness of this visit that he hadn't even noticed the flowers. They were taken cautiously, another look given to Brett.

"He's apologizing for what happened with Torsten Glockner at the bar. He didn't mean to hurt you."

Pete blinked, expression more surprised than ever. "Oh. Well...thank you. For the apology and the flowers." A tiny smile emerged as he inhaled their perfume. "They're beautiful."

Bo: "Brett chose the type. Rosaceae befitting of Valentine's day, aren't they?"

Brett/Pete: Pete nodded and inhaled the roses again. Callum was the only person (other than Fletcher) who ever gave him flowers. Getting them from someone else was making him oddly emotional.

"Yeah. They are. Thank you to you too, Parker."

Brett gave Pete a gentle smile. "You're welcome. We brought you something else, too."

Bo: Bo moved out of the way so that Brett could offer the bottle of wine. "Is Merlot acceptable?"

Brett/Pete: Well hell, today was just full of surprises.

"It's very acceptable," he said, transferring the flowers to the Midas-holding arm so he could take the bottle from Brett. "Thank you again, but you guys really didn't have to do this."

"It was Botan's idea."

Bo: "Distraction," Bo explained to the bartender. "Everyone needs them."

Pete: "No truer words," he sighed. "Thanks."

Bo: Bo looked to the sheriff, waiting on what the next move.

Brett: "Well, we'll get out of your hair. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

He squeezed Botan's arm again, as if asking if there was anything he wanted to add.

Bo: Bo tried to think of something. He imagined his speech would have been in English had Brett not been in their presence. All he could think to do was smile and wave, clutching to the sheriff's hand.

Brett/Pete: Brett nodded at Bo, offering Pete another smile. "You take care of yourself, all right?"

Pete nodded. "I will. Thanks again."

"You're welcome. Come on, Botan." One more quick nod to Pete and Brett was leading his boyfriend off the porch.

Bo: Botan took a breath and squeezed their fingers together. "I did terribly."

Brett: "You did very well. Pete appreciated the gesture."

Bo: "I'm still the man that sicced an animal on him."

Brett: "And today you started to make it up to him. Do you think he was expecting anyone to bring him flowers today? Or give him a kind word?"

Brett squeezed Botan's hand. "You were kind to him when he needed it most. That goes a long way."

Bo: "I suppose... This is meant to be like rehabilitation, isn't it? For my misdeeds?"

Brett: "You could look at it that way," Brett said with a nod.

Bo: "I don't know if I want to."

Brett: "Then this could just be you making amends to one person."

Bo: "It's Valentine's, one is enough. Now! For your bear!"

Brett: "Ah yes! To the gift shop."

Bo: Bo was on the hunt for something specific, a bear in a cop uniform. A bear with darker fur to match Brett's hair. He was beginning to pout when he couldn't find it.

Brett: "Wanna try the toy store?" Brett asked, trying to nuzzle the pout away.

Bo: The nuzzles forced a smile on his face. "Alright. If you give me a kiss."

Brett: "Well then c'mere." Brett pulled Botan close, kissing him sweetly.

Bo: Someone didn't approve of their public display of affection, but Bo wasn't paying them any mind, smiling into the pull and then into the kiss.

Brett: Whoever it was could disapprove all they wanted; Brett wouldn't deny his Botan affection. Old Brett might have, but not the Brett that was trying to be a better man. A freer man.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," he murmured, holding Botan tight. "You'll find what you're looking for."

Bo: "It's not life or death, but my bear will be lonely without his own Brett."

Brett: "Then we better get him his own Brett. Come on." Another kiss. "The toy store is just down the block."

Bo: Again he looked around, clutching a dark brown bear in a navy blue officer uniform. It wasn't the right color, but it was close enough. "Found him."

Brett: Brett smiled. "You wanted a bear dressed like a cop."

Bo: "How did you not figure that out?"

Brett: "I just figured you wanted one that was a specific color."

Bo: "That, too." He held the bear up to Brett's head. "He matches."

Brett: Catching a glimpse of his reflection in a mirror mounted on the wall, Brett nodded. "He does. So he's the one?"

Bo: "I named Igor, you name this one."

Brett: "Hmmm..." He considered the bear. "Let's name him....Danny."

Bo: "Danny and Igor." Bo sighed. "This is childish..."

Brett: "So what if it is? It's a cute thing that we're doing for each other."

Bo: "I keep getting that feeling that I'm not being what I used to be."

Brett: "Does that bother you?" Brett asked softly.

Bo: "A part of me, yes. It won't let me enjoy the moment entirely."

Brett: He kissed Botan's cheek.

Bo: "Can we go home now?"

Brett: Brett nodded. "Sure. Let's just pay for Danny."

Bo: Bo could feel his chest tightening, that warning a warmth burning a hole in his stomach. There were things he wanted to say, things he knew would worry Brett. It was the same as his first week in his new home, held tightly the sheriff's arms reminding him to breathe.

Brett: He noticed the change in Botan's demeanor the moment he turned away from the register. "Botan?" His voice was gentle, concerned. "Is everything okay?"

Bo: "I don't...know. I don't know. I don't know, Brett." His face was warm, his eyes hurt. He could feel that rage returning. He was trying his best to temper it because he had promised Brett he would try.

Brett: "Okay, that's okay. Let's go get some fresh air." Brett guided Botan outside, steering him away from any people and toward home.

"Nice, deep breaths. We'll be home soon."

Bo: "I made Torsten... I used him for my entertainment and you're here with me, buying me teddy bears."

Brett: "I'm here with you because I love you. What you made Torsten do was wrong, we both know that. But we also know why you did it. It doesn't condemn you."

Bo: "Something has to. You just let me do whatever I want."

Brett: "If I did, I wouldn't have told you to be nice to Pete today. I wouldn't be going with you to see Torsten to make sure your temper doesn't get the best of you."

Bo: Right, they were going to see Torsten. He wasn't sure he wanted to with this temper. He had promised Brett that he wouldn't maim and kill. "Was letting me go condemning me?"

Brett: "I don't know," Brett said quietly. "I think you're the only one who can decide that."

Bo: "You don't know about something /you/ did?"

Brett: "I begged, Botan. I begged and I prayed and one day, she found something she wanted more. I don't think it was ever about you for her. I think she's always been after something specific."

Bo: Staring down at his gift, sniffled. Why did he have to act like this?

Brett: Brett offered Botan his hand.

Bo: He shook his head; he couldn't do that right now. Touching him would only set him off more, he just knew it.

Brett: He nodded. "Okay. Do you want to go home or just...walk for a while?"

Bo: "I just..." want to be left alone. That wasn't an option. He took a breath. "Home, please."

Brett: Another nod before he began to walk.

Bo: Bo made a beeline home. The moment in the door, Bo began to gather the roses on the kitchen table. He was still sniffling, refusing to look Brett in the eyes.

Brett: While Bo saw to his roses, Brett saw to the rest of the clean up. He put the leftovers away, did the dishes, and did whatever else needed to be done while at the same time trying to project an aura of 'I'm here, you're not alone, everything's okay'.

Bo: The only interruption given was in asking where the scissors and twine were. Things he should have known, an excuse given just to hear Brett's voice. Eventually he tried again. "Should I do...a row of one color, or multi scatter?"

Brett: "Drawer under the coffee maker." Brett knew that Bo probably knew, but he answered anyway. Comforting the man he loved cost him nothing.

He glanced at the mostly empty wall when Bo spoke again, smiling softly. "Scatter. It'll be like your very own garden on the wall."

Bo: "I need your help." No, he didn't. He could get on the step ladder and hammer in a few nails, pull the twine in place all without the sheriff's help. The rage was subsiding, pulled back from his panic. He had to do it on his own, on his own time, and he had succeeded.

Brett: The smile got a little bigger. "I'll go get the step ladder and a hammer."

Bo: Bo was fiddling with loose rose petals when Brett returned. Without word he wrapped his arms around the sheriff's waist and squeezed.

Brett: Brett wasted no time in setting aside his cargo so he could hug Botan back.

Bo: "I'm sorry."

Brett: A kiss was given to Bo's temple. "It's okay, sweetheart. We're okay."

Bo: "I don't know if this is because of my condition or because of the other condition. Either way, I really am sorry. I know I'm rude and that's fine when it's not because of...this."

Brett: Brett held him just a little tighter. "I know you are, Botan." Another kiss. "Whichever one it is, you're forgiven."

Bo: "I don't want you to just forgive me, Brett."

Brett: "I'm not a man that holds grudges. If I forgive, it's because it means something to me."

Bo: "Sometimes I miss being there..."

Brett: "...In the Harrak house?"

Bo: "Yes."

Brett: "Why?" Brett asked softly.

Bo: "I could...accept it."

Brett: "She took away your hope." Once you lost that, Brett imagined it became easy to accept all manner of horrors.

Bo: "So," he sighed. "These roses..."

Brett: He let the subject change stand. "How would you like to arrange them?"

Bo: "As you said. Color coded. Blue, white, yellows and orange, pink, then red at the bottom."

Brett: "Then that's how it'll be." Brett kissed Botan's cheek. "Want to start stringing them while I put some nails in place?"

Bo: "Alright..." At least it would keep his hands occupied, and therefore his mind.

Brett: "Hey, Botan?"

Bo: "Hmm?"

Brett: "I love you."

Bo: Botan smiled at his roses. "Thank you." He blinked. "I mean, I love you, too."

Brett: Brett just smiled and kissed Bo's cheek again.

Bo: "Stop that."

Brett: "Smiling or kissing you?"

Bo: "Those kisses are distracting."

Brett: "Then I better let you focus on your roses."

Bo: It would have taken nearly an hour to complete. As much as he said he didn't want affection, whenever Brett wasn't looking it was offered. Tiny stealth kisses to the sheriff's neck, shoulders, back.

Brett: Brett didn't comment on the kisses but they were appreciated nonetheless, and each one prompted a smile and a warm feeling in his chest. Botan could sneak in as many of them as he liked.

"What do you think? Does it look the way you wanted it?"

Bo: "It does." Bo crossed the room to admire from a distance. "We've made art, and I can't even draw a tree. I've tried."

Brett: "Then our drawing skills are pretty much even. I can draw a stick man and that's about it."

Bo: "Do you have a sketch artist?"

Brett: "Peabody."

Bo: "Really?"

Brett: Brett nodded. "Yep. Could've gone to art school if he'd wanted to."

Bo: "Has he always been a goody two shoes?"

Brett: "Not even close. The goody two shoes is me."

Bo: "What was he, then?"

Brett: "The guy who streaked across the football field at halftime during his senior year."

Bo: "How was that man allowed to be a deputy?"

Brett: He chuckled. "Because the sheriff let him off with a warning."

Bo: "That was...generous of him. Was that typical of the sheriff?"

Brett: Brett nodded. "It was. He knew how to crack down when it was necessary but he had a sense of humor, too. Didn't think high school foolishness was worth condemning."

Bo: "Seems like something people would condemn as the worst crime. Nudity is so shunned in this country."

Brett: "Some of the more conservative people around here condemned him enough for everyone. Including my parents."

Bo: "Your father doesn't like anything. How could he love a woman enough to marry her?"

Brett: "I don't think he ever has. At worst I think he tolerates her. At best I think he's....fond of her."

Bo: "Just existing, going through the stages of life without thinking about it. It sounds like Hell."

Brett: "Maybe that's why they both seem so miserable."

Bo: "That won't be you."

Brett: "I hope not."

Bo: "You won't let it, Brett. I won't let you let it."

Brett: He smiled. "Thanks for that."

Bo: Bo looked around the kitchen, grabbed a bag and began to collect the trimmings. "How is that?"

Brett: "How's what?" he asked, helping.

Bo: "Your father?"

Brett: "He's still making snide comments at me whenever I see him."

Bo: "I'm sure they're colorful."

Brett: "Not really. Just passive aggressive and vaguely religious in tone."

Bo: "Mm, religion. Because that's been helpful so far."

Brett: "In his world it's the answer to all. He just ignores the fact that you can twist the bible a million different ways to back all manner of bullshit causes."

Bo: "It hasn't gotten to you." Just an obvservation.

Brett: "Always gets easier to tune him out."

Bo: "Before or after you told your mother who the flowers were for?"

Brett: "Before."

Bo: "And now?"

Brett: "Now it's becoming second nature to tune him out, especially when he starts going on about the bible."

Brett: // -scooches it up-

Bo: // hehe

Bo: "I want to hate religion, but a part of me...a part of me is urgent to believe it. Things like vampires exist, religion, faith...it's a way to kill them."

Brett: "I hate what people twist it into. Religion itself, when one chooses it, is very...comforting."

Bo: "It's a weapon." Difference of opinion it would seem.

Brett: "An actual weapon?"

Bo: "Against evil creatures, against each other. Yes."

Brett: Brett nodded thoughtfully. "Good point."

Bo: "You don't disagree?"

Brett: "No, it makes sense. Although I think there has to be faith too. Otherwise holy water and things like that wouldn't work."

Bo: "I know it exists, isn't that enough for it to work?" He wanted to test this.

Brett: "I don't think it does. It's one thing to know something exists but it's another to believe it, you know? To feel it."

Bo: "I'm not sure where knowing and - I believe it works, therefore it should?"

Brett: "That might fall under faith. Hard to tell where that line is."

Bo: "We've gone very deep for Valentine's day."

Brett: Brett chuckled. "We've had a little of everything today. Makes it that much more special."

Bo: "I don't know about that."

Brett: "Nice dinner, roses, an apology, an outing, art, philosophical discussion. No one is having a Valentine's day like ours." Brett offered his hand.

Bo: Of course he would list the positives, not the little episode from an hour before. Not the lapse of memory Bo was oblivious of. He took the proffered hand and squeezed.

Brett: Brett smiled and squeezed back. "And then there's Danny and Igor. Are we all sleeping together tonight or should we give them some privacy?"

Bo: Brett was stared at for a moment before his boyfriend laughed, shaking his head. "You want to sleep with me again?"

Brett: There it is, he thought. "I do. My bed feels too big without you in my arms."

Bo: "Why give me a guest room if you're going to steal me away?"

Brett: "Because I wanted you to have your own space and I didn't want you to feel rushed or pressured."

Bo: "Do you want me to keep it?"

Brett: "If it makes you feel more comfortable, yes."

Bo: "...I'll keep it, for now."

Brett: "Okay." He nodded and kissed Botan's cheek. "Would you like to stay with me tonight?"

Bo: "I would, if that's alright." So formal, but it felt appropriate with Brett.

Brett: "Absolutely." Another kiss was given. "I'm just going to finish loading the dishwasher and lock up."

Bo: "You're so..."

Bo: Brett was pulled closer. "Why haven't you asked for sex?"

Brett: The question made him blink. "Because...I haven't really thought about it."

Bo: "Why haven't you thought about it?"

Brett: "I've only been with one person. Sex isn't really a high priority for me."

Bo: "You don't feel...anything?"

Brett: "For you or...in general? Well, that doesn't really make a difference." There was that blush again. "Answer to both is yes."

Bo: "What do you want?"

Brett: "I just want you in my arms, Botan." He took a deep breath. "Do I feel things? Yes, I do. But I'm not going to act on those feelings until this is something we both want and feel ready for."

Bo: "But why haven't you mentioned it at all?"

Brett: "We've had some pretty heavy things on our plates. I didn't want to pressure you or make you think that's all I'm after. And this...area of conversation doesn't exactly come easily to me. Until recently I was extremely shy, remember?"

Bo: "I...I've been assuming that this reluctance to speak about it was because I'm a man."

Brett: "Oh, Botan, no. No no, it's not that."

Bo: "I don't...I don't think I want to, but I...I'm not going to assume you to be - to be some sort of eunuch."

Brett: Brett gave a small chuckle. "I appreciate that."

He took another deep breath and kissed Botan's hand. "I'll never push you into this. If we go there, it'll be a mutual decision and if we don't, that's okay."

Bo: "What are you going to do with your disgusting animal urges until then?" Bo smirked.

Brett: "How about we keep some mystery between us?" Brett said as his blush darkened.

Bo: "You - Have you been...touching yourself in the next room, sheriff?"

Brett: "I most certainly have not. Now that dishwasher really needs seeing to."

Bo: "Sooo many dirty dishes. Dirty as your mind!"

Brett: "Go put on your pajamas, Botan!"

[girlmeetsminter]

strength in you (wroetoshaw)

prompt: i wanted to start a preference series in which each boy reacts to you (the reader) being admitted into hospital. [1/7]

warnings: trauma relating to car accidents, minor swearing.

note: inspired by and dedicated to the victims of the tragedy that happened last week in the melbourne cbd. praying for all those involved and recovering. ❤ __________________________________________

harry’s pov y/n was my other half, and i sure had a knack for knowing when something was up with her. it had been a few hours since y/n had left to go out shopping with sarah.

i just had a feeling that something was wrong. they had been gone for quite some time and neither had called to say they’d be late coming home.

the awful feeling kept growing inside as i raised my arm to knock on callum’s door. “cal” my voice cracked slightly with nervousness as i stepped inside his room.

he looked away from his screen briefly to make eye contact with me. cal had been editing for quite some time now, and the girl’s whereabouts clearly hadn’t crossed his mind.

“harry, you look distressed. what’s wrong buddy?” cal’s voice is calm, not showing a hint of anxiety. he moves his chair to an extent away from his desk. i take this as an invitation to discuss what’s bothering me as i sit across from my roommate on the edge of his bed.

i play around with my fingers, out of habit. i stare down at them hoping it will make my worries disappear. realising that cal was waiting for me to speak i voice my concerns to him.

“the girls left around lunch time, and it’s beginning to get dark out..i haven’t heard from y/n and i’m worried.” looking over my shoulder and out the window it’s evident that the sun has well and truely set, and night was setting upon us.

cal reaches forward to pat my shoulder in a comforting way. “don’t stress mate, i bet y/n is out looking for the perfect present for your birthday next week and has just lost track of time. if something was up we would know by now.”

after reassuring me that everything was alright cal insisted he got back to work and suggested i did the same to get my mind off of things.

if only it was that easy for myself to reciprocate cal’s calm aura. i slumped down in the desk chair only being able to half heartily work on editing. i was somewhat distracted by the voice in my head suggesting that ‘something was up’ which seemed to only get louder.

time had barely past when callum burst through the door not wasting time knocking.

“sarah, baby calm down” comforting his girlfriend through the phone. he quickly pulled the phone away from his ear in order to switch to loud speaker. “i’m with harry. now please, just tell me what’s wrong.”

sarah was lightly crying into the receiver which made my heart drop, throat run dry and caused my hands begin to sweat.

“y/n” i tried to express, but my voice got lost somewhere along the line meaning it could only faintly be heard, if at all. another sob let out from sarah affirmed my assumptions.

“ha-harry” she choked. “it’s-it’s-it’s y/n. there was an-an acc-accident and she-she’s in the hospital.” even with sarah’s constant stuttering while she attempted to catch her breath, it was clear to me what she had just said.

i couldn’t respond, i didn’t know how to react. “okay, calm down gorgeous. just stay where you are and we will be there soon. try to take deep long breaths, we’re on our way” cal says before hanging up the call.

“harry c'mon, let’s get tobi to drive us to the hospital. neither of us are in the right mind to do it ourselves” he admits while inching closer to me. his hand rests on my shoulder -like it did earlier- making me flinch.

i’m angry, i’m upset, i’m disappointed all in myself. i’m experiencing so many different emotions and yet at the same time i feel emotionless.

i grab anything in arms reach and begin to throw it. callum’s doing everything he can to stop me but it doesn’t work. i’m not even worried about freezy in the other room or our neighbours. i want to scream, and i do. although my voice betrays me as it turns into myself violently sobbing. my knees give way as i fall to the floor and curl up in a ball.

my world, my everything. taken away from me just like that. i feel so powerless and somewhat responsible. i shouldn’t have brushed it off as nothing, i should have rang to check in on her. i regret not being able to hear her sweet angelic voice for i may never hear it again.

“harry” callum all but shouts to get my undivided attention. “i’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you need to man up a little. you need to be strong for her. your the one who’s going to help y/n through this. sitting here crying is doing fuck all, now c'mon buddy get up. tobi’s agreed to meet us by his car.”

true to callux’s word tobi was standing by his car, keys in hand.

i disregard tobi’s greeting and his sympathetic apology for what has happened. i know he means well but i’m in no state to care. in fact, if he had material items in the back of the car i would probably be throwing them at him by now.

-

we pull up outside the hospital and i’m torn between running right past the nursing station to sit next to my love, and staying in the car to continue crying and pretending nothing happened.

“i’ll keep her in my prayer haz” tobi turns to face me in the back seat as he fondles his cross -that hung loosely around his neck- in between his fingers. i try to return a weak smile but it almost seems impossible. “i’m going to go park the car in the car park, the others should be here soon” is the last thing tobi says before i exit his vehicle.

sarah instinctively runs up to the two of us wrapping her arms around us both. cal pulls her in separately to comfort her, while running his hand along her back soothingly as he whispers ‘it’s okay’ repeatedly in her ear.

my mind drifts to my princess located somewhere behind the doors leading into the ICU. my eyes fall back to my best mate and his girlfriend and i can’t help but think that i might not ever experience anything like that again.

“harry i’m so sorry” sarah sympathies with me, bringing me too into another hug.

“can i ask wh-what h-h-happened?” my voice trembled, terrified of what her answer would be.

“we were on the main street mall, and a car illegally came speeding down the lane. people were running everywhere screaming, trying to hide within the stores. y/n, she saw it first. she um,” she hesitates for a second. “she pushed me out the way. y/n saved my life. i’m sorry i didn’t do more to save her in return” she explains once again getting emotional.

“it’s not your fault. it sounds exactly like the thing y/n would do. of course she would put someone before herself” a weak smile finds its way on my lips, even if it won’t reach my eyes. i swallow the lump in my throat hoping it will stop the tears threatening to fall because i know i need to be strong, for her.

“can we see miss y/l/n?” callux asks the lavender lady on my behalf.

the elderly woman looks up from her paperwork, evidently tired from a long shift and a rush of patiences coming in from the same accident y/n had been involved in. she holds up one finger signalling that she will be with us in one moment, before dialling a number on the desk phone.

after hanging up she turns back to the three of us. “she’s just gotten out of emergency and is currently in a critical state. i’m only permitted to let one person through at a time, what relationship do you have with the patient?”

“boyfriend” i step forward my heart continuing to pace with every second the two of us are apart.

“room 15, it’s one with a nursing station at the end of her bed. my deepest condolences sir” she says offering a sad smile.

“good luck buddy” cal and sarah say bringing me in for a final comforting hug.

i don’t look back as i step through the intensive care unit doors, sanitising my hands and sauntering off to find my princess.

i find her room, the sight making me drop to my knees beside her bed. i’ve never seen her so broken. i can no longer be strong for the both of us, for i need her to comfort me and tell me everything will turn out just fine. she was always good at keeping me calm, especially with a temper like mine. it’s hard when the roles are reversed and i have to be the optimistic one.

she’s covered in a number of cuts and bruise, and i’m almost sure she’s suffered a couple of broken bones. “y/n” i whisper softly, although i’m left disappointed when i’m not met with her beautiful eyes.

“i’m sorry sir, i don’t know if you’ve been notified but miss y/l/n has entered a coma. the impact of the car knocked her out instantly, she suffered cuts to the head amongst other places. she potentially has internal bleeding, but we’re still waiting for her scan results to come in” the nurse informs me.

“how long until she wakes up” i say taking her cold hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. it sounds stupid but i hope by doing this, i’ll get some sort of response from the girl who’s almost lifeless body lies before me.

“it’s hard to tell. it could be a few days, it could be months.”

i bring her hand up to my lips as hot tears run down my face for what feels like the millionth time today. “i promise i’ll never leave your side. i’m not giving up on you or us. your in everyone’s thoughts and prayers. in mine, your family’s, in sarah’s, in tobi’s and even the rest of the guys. none of us are giving up and you can’t either, your too precious and we’d all be lost with out you.”

i talk to her for hours, hoping she will respond, but she never does…