#I will gladly make room at the fandom table for other interpretation

[kiwikipedia]

I think that it is important to return to that understanding and divide between Canon and Fanon again.

Yes, Canon has problems and plot holes and issues, but that is fundamentally the starting point and base for fanworks. It’s not mouldable and it’s not going to change unless the creator of said Canon— or new owner, in the wild cases of Disney and Star Wars and Amazon and LOTR (I guess?)— changes what they originally have written.

I think that it’s fine to jokingly say “oh I accept this as canon now” or “this is canon” to a Fan interpretation, but emphasis on the joke. People have to understand that Fanon Canon is not Canon.

Fanon literally comes from Fandom and Canon. It is not Canon. It should never be treated like Canon save for extenuating circumstances where Canon can no longer uphold itself to its prior standards. And even then that Fanon needs to be taken with the biggest fucking heaping of salt possible.

By treating Fanon as Canon, it restricts any creativity and further building onto the Canon base-frame and is ultimately harmful to new creators and even old ones who don’t want to adhere to some new fanon idea that suddenly barges in. You are not the first to be a fan of something, you are not the last fan of something and ultimately you are not the creator of a series that you are a fan of. You cannot change Canon and you cannot force others to accept your Fanon as Canon.

Every single interpretation of Canon is its own Fanon and that is just how it is.

Pointing at someone else’s work and saying “that’s not right!” just because that isn’t how you interpret a character, pairing, situation, location, foundation, organization, motive, narrative, or anything else is both a dick move and wrong.

You are allowed to create worlds upon worlds based on your own Fanon, but you cannot force that onto someone else. Furthermore, you cannot force a Fanon take onto someone else because, again, Fanon is not Canon and it is not your job nor even remotely OK for you to force someone to accept a Fanon take they don’t want to.

Likewise, you cannot force someone to make use of a “Fanon” Character because all that is at the very core is an over glorified OC with a cult following. That character is not Canon. 

Forcing Fanon onto someone ultimately is what drives people away from the fandom, and when you complain that there’s no more good work being put out by fans, take a moment to ask yourself why that is.

[silence-burns]

Please Hate Me //part 42

Fandom: Marvel

Summary: Based on: “Imagine having a love/hate relationship with Loki.” by @thefandomimagine​ Who would have thought that babysitting a god could be so much fun?

Genre: slow-burn, enemies to lovers, banter

"Dude, you live like this?" 

Loki moved past where you stood frozen to the spot. 

"Technically, not anymore.” He shrugged and walked into the sleeping chambers to the left. 

The rooms Loki used to live in were bathed in the rays of the setting sun, coming through large windows and the balcony overlooking the golden city. Everything was grand and coated in riches, whether it be the plush cushions laid on the floor, or the masterfully woven rugs, so soft they felt like walking on clouds.

Stumbling further inside, you walked past a large sofa. You brushed the fabric with your hand, reveling in the silkiness. There were a few carved chairs and a small coffee table on the balcony. You wanted to sit out there and watch the view. Loki's rooms were located high up over the city, and allowed you to marvel over everything laid down below. You'd spend hours there, unable to tear your eyes away if only it was you who'd been born to all this wealth and grandeur. 

Standing there, careful not to be noticed from far below, you wondered how different your life would have been then. How different would it have been to have all those rooms in a completely separate section of the palace all for yourself, and getting tired just from walking from one end to another. To have shelves so packed with books that they almost sagged, and so many places obviously created for reading them in mind. To have staff clean the impossibly high windows and the plush carpet, so delicate it felt like murder to dirty it up. Or to have a dressing room overflowing with jewels and clothing so fine it made you realise how many official meetings must've required their use. 

Closing your eyes, you smelled the soft fragrance hanging in the air. 

It would be a life of wearing too-stiff, formally pressed jackets and boots always shining as if new. A life in rooms too big and too empty, no matter how many things you packed them with. A life that would make you discover all the secret passages through the palace and outside of it. A life that would make you learn tricks and magic just to entertain yourself even in solitude. One that would make you enjoy visiting other worlds, and learning their history just for the fake sense of belonging somewhere. 

You walked over to where Loki disappeared some time ago. 

The bedroom was large and dressed in easy, pastel colors with a few darker patches of green. The enchanted bag you brought with you was laying next to the perfectly made bed. Only two familiar legs were sticking from where Loki dived underneath it. 

You jumped onto the mattress and felt it bounce with wonderful softness. Rolling over the covers, you delighted in their flowery scent. 

"I'm no longer mad about why no room in the Tower suited you," you said. 

"I'm delighted to hear that." 

Cuddling a pillow, you wormed your way to the other end of the bed, curious about Loki's whereabouts. For all the noises and curses coming from underneath the bed, it seemed as if he were struggling.

"You okay there?" 

"Reaching into my spatial storage used to be easier when I was the size of an underfed pigeon. Can you get me out?" 

Standing behind him, you caught Loki by the feet and dragged him out. The box he was clutching to his chest didn't look remarkable, but neither did his bottomless bag, so you refrained from judging it just yet. 

You plopped onto the floor next to him, watching the magic open the locks. "It’s still there after all this time?" 

"I hid it in a pocket dimension," Loki said proudly. "A similar one to what my bag uses. Now, behold…" 

The box unclasped the last of the clips. There was a golden sheer to the surface of the box, shining through the curved, strange symbols along its edges. 

Loki raised the lid, and took out… a stone. 

"I'm not gonna lie, I expected something more dramatic," you said, weighing the stone in your hand. You could easily hide it in your palm. It had a nice texture, something between polished and rough, and was not as cold as a stone ought to be on its own. 

"Not everything about me has to be dramatic." 

You looked around, to the grand chandeliers hanging overhead. And to the minute details carved upon the furniture. And to the tiles laid in intricate, deliberate patterns that must've taken weeks to plan and execute. 

"...yeah, right."

You gladly gave it back to him. There was something about the stone that just made you uneasy. 

The box it was hidden in landed in the bag, just in case it was needed. Watching it disappear in the void gave you an idea that made a wicked smile blossom on your face. 

"Hey, Loki…" 

Holding his gaze, you slipped your jacket off your shoulders. 

Loki froze. 

"How much time do you think we have before anyone finds us here…?" 

He watched your jacket drop to the floor. 

"...a while, I'd wager," the words came out breathlessly. 

Blood was thrumming in his veins as you crossed the short distance between you. 

A shiver he couldn't quite control run down Loki's back as you leaned in. 

"Make me a pocket dimension - in my pocket, actually." 

Loki blinked. There were quite a lot of thoughts rushing through his head that made it difficult to focus on the jacket you held out to him with a hopeful expression. 

You saw his confusion. "It honestly never occurred to me how useful it would be, but being here, in this place, seems like a perfect opportunity. You said your magic gets weird on the Edge, but here it's free of its influence."

"That's true," Loki admitted carefully, taking the piece of clothing, still warm with life. "May I inquire what you plan on keeping in here?" 

"A sword." 

"What." 

"I want a sword. We've been sneaking around all these guards here, and they always have those really cool swords, and until today I wasn't even aware that I wanted a sword but I do. Really do. Please." 

Loki chuckled. He'd agree even if you weren't making such huge, pleading eyes to him, but it was not something he'd ever admit. 

"How do you feel about paying a little visit to the royal treasure of Asgard, then? I've heard a rumor about a few ancient swords laying there, gathering dust." 

The sheer joy that sparkled in your eyes might've been enough to stop his heart completely, were it not for the bone-crushing hug you closed him in. 

This was something he could definitely get used to, Loki thought, having his cheek kissed. Something definitely worth coming all the way back here, to this place of times long gone, despite the risk. Loki had no doubt that his life would become much more complicated were he to be discovered on palace grounds despite his exile. He could save you, probably, if he convinced everyone he had you under a spell, and had enough time to think of a good reason for that. A few guards wouldn't pose a problem, though - he only worried if they managed to set off the alarm before he knocked them out and-

A pointed cough interrupted his plans just as Loki was finishing the spell off. 

Loki looked at you. You looked at him. 

There was someone standing at the entrance to the room, poised in the final rays of sun breaking through the thin curtains. Someone with a love for dramatics. 

"I see you brought a friend, dear." 

The shiver ran down Loki's back, but for vastly different reasons this time. There were plans against the guards he could use to outsmart them. There were secret passages he might use to sneak through the palace grounds. There were excuses, lies, and half-truths that served him well enough in various instances. 

But none to be used in this one. 

"Hello, mother." 

Loki was not entirely certain why his voice came out so quiet. He was not in a very favorable position, still kneeling on the floor with you and weaving a spell over your pocket. There was little denying to be done about the fact he was supposed to be worlds away, on the very edge of the known universe and not in his old bedroom. Even if he tried, he doubted it would work. 

"It's been a while," he added firmly, with a tight-lipped smile only present for a moment. 

Queen Frigga wore a smile of her own, tugged into the corners of her rose-colored lips. It spoke of things she knew and things she could see, regardless of how hidden they were meant to be. It was not malicious, though - far from it, if one knew how to interpret it. 

She remained poised by the door, in a dress of soft pastel pink. There was little surprise on her face, despite how unusual it must've been to find her own exiled son back without any warning. She radiated calm, commandeered without a hint of doubt. Loki missed her warmth. 

"Mother, there is someone I'd like to introduce to you," Loki helped you up. "This is my-" 

"Oh, finally. If you waited any longer, I'd pay you a visit myself," Frigga cut him off lightly, embracing you gently. She smelled of roses and pine. 

Loki caught your petrified gaze, but wasn't sure what to do either. Being hugged was a better alternative to having the guards called, though. You could take it. 

"As delighted as I am to see you," Loki interrupted the moment carefully, "how did you know where to find us?" 

"Palace has eyes everywhere," the queen shrugged, looking you up and down. "Thankfully, your father only has one."

Loki connected the dots. 

"Heimdall it is then, after all. I knew that bastard would have a sudden change of heart just like that." 

Frigga sighed. Her hands were gentle and soft on your face. "Welcome to the family, love." 

"...um, thank you?" 

Loki masked his laugh with a cough. It was truly a refreshing sight, to have you rendered speechless within moments. He'd cherish that sight for a long time. 

"What about some tea?" the queen asked as if things were already settled. There was very little you would deny her, but Loki did anyway. 

"Time is not on our side, mother. We were only able to sneak out for a few hours, but every moment we risk having our little trip discovered by the Edge. The tension there is… growing." 

"Dear, that place was always full of trouble. Do you have a plan?" 

She switched her focus in an instant, with a frown set between her brows. 

"We do." 

There was pride she was not afraid to show when she stroked Loki's cheek. "I can't wait to hear about your success, then."

Loki took a deep breath. "Well, there's a tiny problem we have to solve before we go back there. There's something we need from the royal treasure…"

Your eyes lit up. 

Frigga smirked knowingly. 

"I suppose with your current status, it might be difficult to get you anywhere close to it," she admitted, already thinking about a way in. 

You nudged Loki in the ribs. "What about your bag?" 

"What?" 

"Get in the bag, and I'll get you through," you explained, sweating profusely under the queen's keen eyes. "No one knows me here." 

"That's a stupid idea." 

"I love it, though," Frigga clasped her hands. "Get in." 

"But we don't even know if-" 

"Loki."

"...yes, mother."

As much as you were proud of your idea, there was one thing that didn't occur to you. Once Loki was gone, the rooms became much more quiet. 

Holding the queen's stare didn't seem like a good idea. Avoiding it didn't either, though. 

The tension made your skin itch, prodding you to move, to do anything, and most likely something stupid. Thankfully, the woman was first to break it. 

"Shall we go?" she asked, stepping towards the door with a gentle smile. 

You didn't want to. You had no idea you'd feel this awkward, even when she was giving you no reason to. Taking the bag, you followed her near-silent steps. 

"I'm afraid we'll have to put you in some less flashy clothes," Frigga mentioned off-hand, walking through a luminous hallway. "Your face might not be recognized, but you might still stand out like this." 

Watching her flowing gown, you were inclined to agree. The palace was no place for jeans. 

Your body was no place for the strange fashion of Asgard either, or at least according to your body itself. Walking in clothes cut to a different fashion was only saved by how soft their fabric felt against your skin. Still, you followed the queen to the treasury, faithfully staying a step behind as any proper servant would, or so she claimed. 

There was no hesitation in her steps as she led you through hallways with high ceilings supported by thin, ornate columns. The stained glass of the widows refracted the sun into an artfully intricate mess of colors. The guards and members of palace staff passed you on your way, but they only bowed deeply to the queen, sharing very little of their attention with you. 

"How do you like it?" Frigga asked casually when you were out of anyone's earshot. 

"I mean, this whole place is… wow. Amazing. I wish I had more time to check everything out," you answered honestly, unsure of what the right thing was to say. 

"Would you like to stay?" 

It was an innocent question, or at least it would be under different circumstances. Here, in the middle of a palace, stranded on your own without Loki by your side, it was a question asked precisely because of those circumstances. 

"I'm afraid my schedule is quite busy right now. I've got a war to stop and a murderer to find - you know, just a casual Tuesday evening." 

"And what happens afterwards?" 

She didn't seem angry, and yet there must've been a reason for her curiosity. You looked down to the bag you were still holding. "That doesn't depend solely on me." 

Frigga didn't smile, but you couldn't feel any hostility from her. If anything, she seemed quite at peace. 

The double set of high, elaborately carved doors at the end of the corridor were undoubtedly a work of art and also heavy pieces of metal, magic and gold. It took the guards a few moments of strained breathing and groans to open them for you, but any thoughts about their job vanished as you followed the queen inside. 

Rows upon rows of shining crystals of all shapes and colors crowded one of the walls. Opposite it stood the mannequins in proud poses and heavy sets of armor. High as you could see, weapons of all sorts hanged from the hooks, capable of supporting a small army. Daggers and curved swords you could recognize, as well as the lances and halberds that made you wonder what kind of monsters had they been used against in the past. 

The huge battle axes caught your eye, but there was no way for you to even lift the ones almost your own height. Beyond them, on the long tables, laid gauntlets and helmets both winged and horned or with steel fangs like a beast's, and further in - even capes made of what looked like scales or monster hide. This was a place of legends you'd never heard. 

"See anything you like?" 

Lost in your thoughts, the queen's pleasant voice startled you and brought you back to reality. 

"Everything and I'm not even exaggerating. I could live in here."

Frigga walked by the neat rows of weaponry. "It's mostly family heirlooms and loot from all the great and shameful wars of the past. There are countless stories behind every one of them, but I don't think we came here for stories. What are you looking for?" 

"A sword. Loki said we could get one from here." 

"What kind of sword?" 

"...a sharp one?" 

"I take it you don't have much experience with them, then?" she chuckled. 

"My world favors guns." 

Frigga passed the first row and walked further into the treasury. The grandeur of large pieces changed into the showcase of precision and stealth as you looked at the countless thin blades, hooks and things you couldn't really name, let alone use. You considered letting Loki out of the bag, both to have him steer his mother back to the weapons you recognized, and to check on him. Making a spatial storage was a tricky thing, he had claimed after wondering if the air would still work normally inside of it. 

Before you got the chance to do that, the queen stopped in front of a plain gray case and opened it. 

"It's a shame so many of those have to spend centuries out of use," she blew the dust off a middle length sword with a slightly curved edge. "I hope this one will serve you well." 

The blade was tinted with gray, as if melted with ash. It didn't shine, which could come in handy during sneaking around. The handle laid in your hand as if it was always meant for you. 

"Once upon a time, it was called Windcleaver," Frigga looked at you with melancholy. "It'll never dull and never break." 

"Thank you," you breathed out. Tearing your eyes off the blade felt impossible. "It's marvelous. I only hope I won't cut my fingers off before I learn how to properly use it. Are you sure I can take it?" 

"What use does it have here?" the queen shrugged, gesturing to the immeasurable numbers in the treasury. "Besides, I've heard my son promised you one." 

You carefully put the sword into your magically imbued pocket. 

"Thank you, seriously," you said again. "For everything. We knew about the risk of coming here, so… thank you for not ratting us out? And, you know, giving me this cool sword. You're awesome. I'd vote for you." 

Although voting for anyone was not a practice often used on Asgard, queen Frigga appreciated the implied meaning anyway. 

"That's lovely to hear," she said as you left the treasury and headed wherever she wanted you to go. "Especially since, as far as I could see, you plan on staying with my son, correct?" 

"I mean, I literally crossed the universe with him, twice, so I guess I do? Look, sorry if I'm not precisely who you'd prefer for your son, but I like him, and I'm not going to pretend I don't." 

You left the palace grounds through what looked like one of the main gates. The road was a wide path with olive trees growing by the sides. There was an embarrassing amount of relief you felt noticing the Bifrost getting closer instead of the dungeons. 

"Asgard is a beautiful place in many ways," Frigga broke the silence after a while. "People are happy and live in prosperity, especially on the palace grounds. But life, even here, is far from perfect. Things happen, and we can do little to control the damage they wreak upon us," she looked at you. In the dimming sun and the lanterns slowly coming back to life as you followed the road, the queen looked every bit the royal she was. "I'm glad that my son won't have to go through whatever happens alone anymore." 

Speechless, you followed her over the bridge and to the round observatory at its very end. Frigga approached Heimdall, speaking in hushed voices, meanwhile you watched Loki crawl out of the bag. With a groan, he slumped to the floor, mostly unharmed, if only a little yellow on the face. 

You patted his cheek, waiting for a reaction. "You good? How was it?" 

"...I'm never doing that again." 

"What if I pay you? I've got like—" you fished in your pocket. "Three dollars, a stick of gum, and a sword." 

"You got a sword?" that seemed to raise his attention as he pushed himself on the elbows. 

"Your mom found me one. She's really cool." 

Loki looked over to the queen conversing quietly with Heimdall. She looked the same as the day he'd been exiled. "She is." 

As Heimdall moved to ready the Bifrost, Frigga approached the two of you, embracing Loki tightly. You were aware of what happened in the past in general, but seeing the consequences of it from up so close put a weight on your chest. Switching worlds for the sake of a mission was a very different thing from being completely banned from your own home planet and leaving it for the final time knowing that you won't be able to see your family of any of your friends and places you grew up in ever again, and even you were slowly growing homesick already. Watching Loki say his final goodbye reminded you of how strong that feeling must be in him. 

"Thank you for helping us." He stepped away. "We were lucky to be found by you."

"Actually…," you hated to step in the moment, "we kind of need to push on that luck a bit more. I really don't want to come off as ungrateful, but we really need a tiny, little visit to Earth too."

"Just for a minute. Maybe two," Loki solemnly swore, remembering your completely-not-sketchy plan. 

"We just need to grab some-… thing," you added to the rising suspicion of Heimdall. "Stopping a war is not an easy thing, you know." 

With a heavy sigh of the queen, a nauseating trip across the universe and back, a tiny case of abduction, Loki and you finally found yourselves back in the familiar mud of the Edge, its stars shining just as bright as when you left it. So much has happened since you were last in the obscure forest of gnarled trees, that it felt like weeks instead of hours. You could say that thankfully, nothing seemed to have changed during your absence, but that would be a lie.

The two of you stared at the Rift. It was still a seething wound in the fabric of the universe, and just as awfully wrong as you remembered, but also - significantly smaller.

"Do you think it's because of the Bifrost?" you voiced Loki's thoughts.

"The amount of energy released by the bridge shouldn't be enough to make such a change, but… I can't see how it can be anything else?"

"So we just ignore it and pretend we haven't been even close to it?"

"Yup."

"I like that plan."

"How about we walk a little away from this floating rip of void while we're at it? I think it would be the wisest if the boy didn't see it just yet. We don't have the time to explain everything to him," Loki gestured to the bag. 

You followed him deeper into the woods, grateful to finally reach the part where life was growing back. It was a relief to leave the muddy, dusty circle of death and despair the Rift created around itself as it sucked all the energy from whatever dared to live nearby. Further away, the Edge showed off its true colors, with wild flowers blooming in tangled masses hanging overhead from the winding branches of trees that had no names. Butterflies with three sets of feathery wings crossed your path in a shimmering cloud.

"This should be far enough," Loki judged, finally putting the bag on the moss. "I still can't believe that Heimdall agreed to this."

"I can't believe your mother agreed to this."

"If you lived in the palace, you'd know first-hand what ideas she's capable of on her own…"

Loki knelt next to the bag and reached down into its depths to bring out a boy. 

The boy was no ordinary thing, both by his clothing and his abilities you were greatly interested in. The bright blue-and-red costume hid very little of how deeply in shock he was over his sudden change of settings, world, and, apparently, plans for the evening. 

He rubbed the yellow and green moss and stared at the feathery butterflies circling overhead. 

"Have I- Have I just been abducted?" Peter voiced his confusion in a dangerously high voice. 

"I'd say so, and since he's technically an alien," you pointed at Loki, "you've got the full pack."

"This is awesome!" 

Peter springed to his feet and proceeded to jump around and touch every single thing around him, startling even more butterflies into hurried flight. 

"I told you he'd love it here." 

"I never doubted it. My only concern remains over his discretion, though," Loki smiled gently, looking at the boy freaking out over the flowers, moss, ground, trees and everything alive and currently running away from him. 

"He'll do well. Hey, Peter," you said louder, "we kinda need your assistance." 

He was at your side in a flash, with hands shaking and eyes wild. "Of course! I knew you'd come back for me, guys, thank you so much, I'll do whatever I have to!" 

Explaining your half-made plan to the boy constantly jumping between hugging both of you and getting distracted by literally everything around him took you a moment. You only hoped he'd remember your words. 

In the end, Loki took the runestone out of his pocket and handed it to Peter. 

"Ten minutes ago I was eating a kebab on a rooftop and now I'm doing magic," the boy cheered. "This is great." 

"Now, focus," Loki snapped his fingers, grabbing a churned, black stone he found in the corpse of the monstrous spider that attacked you. 

Loki gently pressed the stones together and watched them start to glow. 

"You'll have to follow the light and not be noticed," he said, pocketing the spider's remains again. "It should take you straight to the person who wanted us dead enough to cast the curse. Once you find them, you get back straight to us, do you understand? There's a castle behind you and our rooms are right there, over those roses blooming-" 

"There's even a castle? I'm not leaving this place," Peter jumped on a nearby tree to see the palace better. 

Loki sighed, appreciating the hand you rubbed his arm with. 

"I'm having second thoughts if this actually is a good plan," he admitted, too quietly for the boy to hear. 

"We don't really have a choice. You said it yourself, that we'll be closely guarded. After that fight yesterday, they won't let us just roam the palace freely. And we need to know who's working against us." 

Loki nodded, painfully aware of all that. Still, it didn't sit well with him to have the boy involved in  such danger. The Edge had always been a violent place, and with the recent events, that tendency only deepened. 

"Be careful, boy," he said, once Peter was calm enough to listen. "I know we haven't explained this plan with you, but… We really need you." 

Anyone who didn’t know Peter well would think that there were tears of joy running down his face as he put on his mask and disappeared among the trees heading to the palace. Anyone who knew him well would know it was true. 

"Stop worrying," you nudged Loki. "Even if someone catches him, they won't hurt him. Besides, look at him go. He's got it. This is the perfect ground for someone with his abilities." 

"I'm not worried," Loki scoffed and crossed his arms in a very unconvincing gesture. "I just can't wait to find out who's our enemy. And if the court will side with us."

"Heimdall would see it, right? He'd help us if things go very south very fast?"

"I'd like to think so, but the only thing he can do is to inform the guards and leave the decision to my fa-... the king. I'm not sure what he'll do. This whole mission was supposed to let Asgard avoid getting any further involvement with the Edge."

So encouraging.

"I see. So how about we sneak back into our rooms before Faroq and his guards notice we're gone? Or even better - find Peter in our place, already having found that nasty spellcaster."

Loki let his imagination run wild. "...let us go indeed."

It was a good not-exactly-a-plan. Sure, it was a hasty job, written almost entirely on the go and with little thought of alternatives, had the things not worked out. But since it had taken you both to the ends of the universe and back (even with a quick stop midway for a tiny little child abduction), you wouldn't be so ungrateful as to say your not-a-plan sucked. 

A few minutes later, you were sadly forced to change your mind, as you were met with drawn out swords and even sharper stares aimed at you. The guards were posted right on the edge of the forest, where it turned into a little more tamed part of the gardens, and shedding any cover it might've granted you.

A woman in a blood red uniform stepped towards you with a scowl. "You're both under arrest. Do not move."

"That sounds a little harsh for breaking a house arrest," Loki calmly observed, moving to stand slightly between you and her. 

Your hand slipped towards your pocket and a certain gift it held.

The guard spit on the ground. "Not enough for the murderers, though."

Loki and you froze. That was new.

"Could we get some more details about what that guy just said or...?"

The woman looked at you suspiciously. She did not lower her sword, nor did she order the other guards to stand down. 

"Don't act like you haven't murdered them," she only barked out.

"As much as you don't believe us, we have no idea what you-"

"Bodies have been found a few hours ago," she cut Loki off. "A few families, living on the other side of the river. Their lives have already fed the nearby Rifts. Are you happy now?"

Far from it, you wanted to tell her and all the guards nervously waiting for the orders. If need be, they'd cut you down without a hint of regret - you could see it on their faces, in the stern looks and tense shoulders. It wasn't a question of what was the truth behind the murders. The only thing that mattered now was how well you had just been framed.

[pocket-luv101]

The Forest of Ash || Chapter 17

Fandom: Servamp Characters: Mahiru, Kuro, Licht, Hyde Pairings: KuroMahi (main), LawLicht (side)

Summary: To stop the never ending winter the gods created, Mahiru entered the Forest of Ash to steal fire and gift it to the humans. When he was caught, he thought that he would be put to death. But Kuro was far from the God of the Dead that he heard stories about. He decided to stay in the Forest of Ash with him. {KuroMahi//Greek Mythology AU}

FFNet || AO3

Ch.1 || Ch.2 || Ch.3 || Ch.4 || Ch.5 || Ch.6 || Ch.7 || Ch.8 || Ch.9 || Ch.10 || Ch.11 || Ch.12 || Ch.13 || Ch.14 || Ch.15 || Ch.16 || (Ch.17) || Ch.18 || Ch.19 || Ch.20

“Let him be, Black Cat.” Mahiru whispered to the lion and pushed its tail away from Kuro’s face so it wouldn’t wake him. When he woke up, he found himself on a warm bed and in Kuro’s embrace. Sunlight filtered through the curtains and Mahiru knew that they should wake up and discuss things. But Kuro’s strong arms were a haven after being trapped in a damp cell so Mahiru decided to stay in bed for a while.

Not long after he placed his head on Kuro’s arm, Black Cat chose to lay over their legs in its lion form. It was nearly impossible for Mahiru to stand up with its weight on top of him. He knew that Black Cat was only being protective and clinging to them due to the events of the past two days. Mahiru understood its feelings all too well and let the lion rest on him. He reached down and scratched its ear.

Even though he knew that Kuro was a deep sleeper, Mahiru was careful not to rouse him as he moved. He had to admit that his heart was pounding as he settled himself against his side again. For Mahiru, this was the first time they shared a bed. He took the opportunity to study Kuro’s unguarded expression. He looked peaceful and Mahiru wondered what he was dreaming about. Mahiru could feel Kuro’s heartbeat through his clothes. Nothing could be as reassuring as his steady heartbeat. The love he felt made his smile grow.

He wanted to tell Kuro that he loved him. On the other hand, Mahiru was uncertain. He didn’t want to overwhelm him when he didn’t know if he felt the same. They also had to worry about Tsubaki so it might be best to wait before confessing his feelings. Mahiru brushed his fingers over his strong jaw and kissed his forehead. Kuro seemed to be fast asleep so he thought that it would be safe to tell him now.

“I love you, Kuro. Thank you for everything.” He whispered softly into his ear. Mahiru leaned away from him and turned to Black Cat. “I’ll let him sleep in a little more. How about we go to the kitchen and make Kuro something to eat? Breakfast in bed will be a nice surprise for him when he wakes up.”

The lion grumbled its disagreement and refused to move off its two masters. Despite how Mahiru couldn’t understand what it said, he was able to interpret its meaning. Black Cat didn’t want them to be separated once again. Mahiru sat up as best as he could with a large lion on top of him. “We’re safe now, Black Cat. This is Iolcus and Tsubaki can’t attack a city under Lily’s protection. I want Kuro to wake up to a warm meal after everything that happened. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“Look at you two acting like newlyweds!” The voice surprised Mahiru. He instinctively clung to Kuro and made a small yelp. His cry woke Kuro and he thought that someone was attacking them again. Kuro pulled Mahiru into his arm and tugged the blanket over him to shield him. He faced the person next to their bed and saw Lily. Lily smirked at his brother’s panic because it was so uncharacteristic of him.

“What are you doing here, Lily?” Kuro groaned. He felt Mahiru move in his arms and let him go so he wouldn’t be smothered beneath the blanket. Mahiru sat up and righted himself. He tried to fix his bedhead after the blanket had dishevelled it. He paused when Kuro reached over to help him smooth it down and Mahiru leaned into his hand. Kuro absentmindedly brushed his hand through his brown hair as he spoke with his brother. “Did something happen with Tsubaki?”

“No, Tsubaki has been quiet. I am here because of my duty as the God of Love! At first, I merely came to check on you but then I heard that someone wanted breakfast in bed.” Lily clapped his hands and his servants entered the room. They placed trays of food into the bed. “Mahiru, this is my thanks for everything you’ve done for my brother and Misono. I never seen Kuro like this before. If there’s anything else you want, just tell me.”

“You’ve done so much for us already. Actually, the only thing I need is a moment alone with Kuro. Can you make sure no one bothers us for a while? I just want to be with Kuro.” Mahiru blushed as he spoke. Even though they were pretending to be married, he meant every word. Lily nodded in understanding and ushered his servants out the door. Once they were alone in the room again, Mahiru faced Kuro. There were so many things they needed to discuss that neither of them knew what to say first.

At the same time, they said: “I’m sorry.”

Mahiru gave him a small smile and took his hands in his. “You go first, Kuro. But, if you’re going to apologize for Tsubaki capturing me, I don’t want to hear it. I already told you that it wasn’t your fault and I don’t blame you for what happened. We’re together again and that’s all that matter to me.”

“I do have one more thing to apologize for. It must’ve been a shock for you to wake up and see me in bed with you. I’m sorry. Lily would’ve questioned why we don’t share a bed when we’re married.” Kuro explained. He hoped that Mahiru couldn’t tell that he was somewhat lying. Honestly, he wanted to hold Mahiru after being apart. He needed to reassure himself that Mahiru was safe and sound in his arms.

It wasn’t the first time he slept next to Mahiru. The night they stayed in Atsushi and Lucy’s home, they shared a bed. Kuro doubted that Mahiru realized it then. He was asleep when he carried him to bed. Also, he made sure to leave before Mahiru woke up to not make things awkward in the morning. This time, Kuro stayed by his side and held him close.

“So, you stayed because of our façade.” His brown eyes lowered and he looked down at their joined hands when he spoke. Kuro thought his voice held a hint of disappointment but he didn’t know if he imagined it or not. Mahiru looked up at him after a moment and said. “I was going to apologize for troubling you. It must’ve been an uncomfortably hot night for you because Black Cat and I were sleeping next to you. Black Cat, change back and let’s eat breakfast before it gets cold.”

Mahiru set the tray of food on the bedside table so it wouldn’t spill on the covers. As Kuro moved his right arm, he winced a little. His arm was numb and tingled slightly because Mahiru had been sleeping on it. Mahiru noticed his discomfort despite how he tried to hide it. He took the plate of tagenites from the tray and placed it on his lap. Then Mahiru cut off a portion of the pancakes and held it to Kuro’s lips.

“Open up, Kuro. It’s my fault that your arm fell asleep and I want to make it up to you. Let me feed you,” Mahiru said. His brown eyes persuaded him more than his words did and Kuro nodded. He opened his mouth and Mahiru slipped the treat between his lips. While the pancake was sweet and warm, it wasn’t as good as the ones Mahiru made him. After he fed him a few more pieces, he said. “We should talk about what to do next. Tsubaki’s too angry to listen to reason. I tried to speak to him but it was pointless.”

“Did he tell you about…” Kuro trailed off. He knew that Mahiru deserved to hear everything and he tried to think of the best way to tell him. He was afraid that Mahiru would leave him once he knew the truth.

“It’s okay. He didn’t tell me anything more about the war or your human friend while I was in the tower.” Mahiru said softly. He gave Kuro another piece of the tagenites as a comforting gesture. His shoulders didn’t relax much though. “The things he said in my house… They don’t make a lot sense to me but I want to understand your side of what happened. You accepted my past so I won’t judge you for yours.”

“What happened with your mother was a mistake. I can’t hate you for something like that. My actions started a war and I don’t know if telling my siblings the truth will stop it.” His gaze dropped. Mahiru put aside the plate of food and cupped his cheeks. He hated to see the person he loved filled with regret. Moreover, he understood how painful memories could be. He lifted his face and kissed his forehead.

“I didn’t think that it was just a mistake for a long time. I still don’t. But talking with you helped me move on. Will you let me do something like that for you? I lov— I care about you a lot and you’re important to me.” Mahiru squeezed his hand and rubbed his thumb over his palm tenderly. “No matter the weight of your burden, I’ll help you carry it and make it less heavy for you. Tell me when you’re ready. Let’s discuss how to stop Tsubaki and his winter for now.”

“We can’t simply give Tsubaki what he wants.” Kuro was grateful that Mahiru was patient with him. He chose his words carefully and said, “It’s too dangerous to hand Tsubaki the human’s soul. There are secrets connected to Sensei that are better left buried. I already told you about his experiments but there’s more. I was uncertain if even Tartarus could keep those secrets safe. It would destroy Lawless if he knew.”

“Fighting him directly might not be any better of a solution. Tsubaki’s immortal and he’ll merely recreate another storm when he regains his strength. Also, a battle between the God of War and the God of the Dead will mean…” Mahiru shivered at the thought of Kuro being hurt and how the humans would be caught in the crossfire. When Kuro wrapped his arms around his waist, he gladly shifted closer to him. “You weren’t injured after I left, were you?”

“Just a few cuts and bruises. Nothing you need to fret over.” Kuro drew circles onto Mahiru’s back to ease the tension he felt there. “You don’t need to make that face. No matter what happens, I will always return to you. Tsubaki is strong but he does have his weaknesses and constantly making his winter drains him of his strength.”

“If only there was a way to bring back spring or at least lighten the storm he made.” Mahiru sighed. As he spoke, a realization came to Kuro. The small sun Mahiru created the previous night was able to quell Tsubaki’s winter long enough for him to cross the sea. If…

Kuro bit his lip and shook his head. He couldn’t ask Mahiru to bring back Spring with his sun. Being able to calm the storm briefly was one thing but ending it was another. Mahiru was a mere deity and he didn’t have the endurance of an Olympian. Summoning enough fire to stop Tsubaki could destroy Mahiru’s immortal body. He knew that Mahiru was foolish enough to try so Kuro kept the idea to himself.

“Your forest is gorgeous and I love your garden. I wish the humans could have flowers once again.” Mahiru sighed. “At least the gift of fire will help them survive his winter while we find a way to defeat Tsubaki. I need to work harder so I can give them fire as soon as possible. Until then, we should talk to Lily. Maybe he has an idea for what we should do.”

Mahiru started to move off the bed but Kuro caught his hand. He gently guided him back onto the bed next to him. There was a hint of hesitation in his red eyes so he wondered why he stopped him. “Wait, I need to ask you something. Before I woke up, I thought I heard you say something to me… ‘I love you, Kuro.’ Did you say that or was it just a dream?”

“I…” Mahiru’s heart began to race and his words got caught in his throat. He thought that Kuro was sleeping when he whispered that confession. He planned to wait until Tsubaki wasn’t a threat anymore and then he would tell him how he felt. Kuro was silent as he waited for his answer. He couldn’t lie to him and say that he dreamt everything. Mahiru fiddled with his hair and he couldn’t meet his eyes. “Kuro, I…”

“I love you too.” Hearing Kuro’s words, his eyes widened and his cheeks became a bright pink. Mahiru looked up at him and found that Kuro was blushing as well. The shy expression he had warmed Mahiru’s heart. “You said you loved me but I don’t know what I did to deserve that. I just know that I was terrified when I thought I lost you two nights ago. I need you in my life.”

“Oh, Kuro.” Mahiru loved Kuro and he couldn’t be happier that he returned his feelings. He was unable to contain his joy and he threw his arms around Kuro. He buried his face into the crook of his neck. “What did you do to deserve my love? I fell in love with you because of everything you are, Kuro.”

Kuro returned his embrace and kissed the top of his head. He would do anything to protect the god in his arms. When Mahiru came to the Forest of Ash to take his fire, he also stole his heart.

“I thought the God of the Dead was a lazy bastard. How is he able to travel so quickly from one place to another? We’ll never save Mahiru at this rate!” Licht ranted as he threw up his hands in frustration. He appeared so angry that even Hyde felt the need to keep a safe distance from him. Gil lead them to an island where Mahiru was spotted. But when they arrived, another bird that served Hyde told them that Sleepy Ash had taken Mahiru away from the island. “Where do you think Sleepy Ash is now.”

“I can’t even guess where he could be. My brother hasn’t left his forest for centuries so he doesn’t know anyone on Earth very well, let alone someone who would house the God of the Dead. What I don’t understand is why they would be on this island to begin with. This country has a lot of shrines and towers dedicated to Tsubaki. Sleepy Ash wouldn’t come here and risk facing him.”

“I feel like we’re flying in circles and going nowhere.” Licht groaned and rubbed his temple. He looked over the sea and hoped that Mahiru was safe. He folded his wings behind him so the sea water’s spray couldn’t damage them. Behind him, Hyde draped his wool chlamys over Licht’s shoulders to keep him warm and further protect his wings.

“We should go back to the mainland. The longer we stay on this island, the more likely it will be that we’ll have to fight one of his followers. His phoenix is his strongest warrior but there are others almost as strong as him. I would rather not fight them.” Hyde placed his hand on his shoulder and guided him away from the shore. The waves weren’t large enough to reach Licht’s wings but he still wanted to be cautious.

Licht hated to admit that Hyde was right. He was confident that he could defeat gods and their mythical creatures easily but he would be wasting his time. His goal was to rescue his friend and he couldn't care less about the Olympian’s petty war. Unfortunately, he had to rely on Hyde’s servants to help him find Mahiru on Earth. He didn’t know when they would be able to find him again.

“We should ask people if they’ve seen Sleepy Ash when we return to the mainland. Gods are easily recognizable because of their distinct features. Surely someone must’ve spotted him with his ghostly hair.” Licht said decisively. He knew that dwelling on the issue wouldn’t help anyone so he spread his wings.

Licht also held the chlamys tighter around his body as best he could without it hindering his ability to fly. The chlamys still held Hyde’s body heat so it was extremely warm. He tried to tell himself that warmth was the only reason he held the cloth close to him. But his reasoning was unconvincing when his own heart argued with him. “Let’s go before the storm gets worse.”

They flew into the air to cross the sea. Hyde controlled the wind and redirected them so the snow wouldn’t fall on Licht. He knew that he was strong and prideful but Hyde still felt the need to protect him. Even if it was from something as insignificant as the cold. His gaze wandered to Licht’s hand and he debated if he should hold it. Hyde doubted he would let him take his hand.

“Shit Rat, I’ve been thinking.” Licht said and pulled Hyde out of his thoughts. “The ferryman insisted that Mahiru and Sleepy Ash are in a happy marriage. It’s hard to believe him with everything I know about Mahiru. He went to steal fire and others would punish such a severe crime. Also, Mahiru’s morals wouldn’t allow him to marry a cruel god either.”

“As much as I hate my brother, I can’t call him a cruel god. He certainly has his vices like how unmotivated and distant he is. But we were a close family once and he helped me. That was why it hurt when he shut us out without an explanation. He knew how I felt yet he wouldn’t tell me where she was. He was the same with Tsubaki when he confronted him.”

Hyde looked up at the sky but his eyes didn’t focus on anything. A comforting warmth engulfed his hand and he realized that it was Licht. “Keep flying forward, Shit Rat. You should be able to manage that no matter how aimless you are. If you keep going, you’ll find the answers eventually. Maybe you’ll also find a new dream instead of staying trapped in the past. My father always said that ‘it’s always the now that matters most’.”

Licht tugged on his hand. He kept his eyes forward and on the shoreline. Hyde couldn’t see his expression. But he could easily picture his determined eyes.

“Will you stay with me when I fly forward? With you by my side, I’ll fly anywhere you tell me.” Hyde let go of his hand and then hugged him from behind. He kissed his cheek quickly and his eyes beamed at him. He continued to cling onto his back as he said, “You always act like you hate me but you’re still here.”

“You’re as delusional as you are irritating! Get off me, Stupid Olympian! I can barely fly with you on my back like this. If I fall out of the sky, I’m going to drag you down with me and drown you in the sea.” Licht vowed as he struggled to fly. He was tempted to force Hyde under the water but he didn’t want to get his wings wet. He didn’t know why he put up with the man, even before he learned that he was a god.

Hyde floated above him slightly so his full weight wouldn’t be on his back. Though he did keep his arms around him and rested his chin on his dark hair. He like how well he fit in his arms. “Trust me, Lichtan. I’ll catch you if anything happens to your wings. Of course, I would rather you restrain yourself and not fly too high. Why do I always get attached to the crazy dreamers?”

Hyde whispered the last sentence but Licht heard him because they were so close. He reached up and patted his blond hair without a word. Licht knew that he was likely referring to Ophelia. A hint of jealousy entered his heart and gripped him. He wanted to ask him about the woman and her village but he knew better to. It was unlikely Hyde would tell him anything. There was something else as well. While he knew he loved her, hearing the words out loud was surprisingly difficult.

“Are Olympians actually capable of love? They’re so selfish and frivolous that it’s hard to believe. Is it possible that Sleepy Ash and Mahiru fell in love like his letter said? The more I think about it, the less things make sense. If Mahiru has escaped the forest, why hasn't he contacted me for help? I’m his friend so he should ask me for help.”

“He probably wanted to keep you out of danger. We both know you’re strong but people naturally wants to protect those close to them. Even Olympians feel that way. You’ve given me no less than ten heart attacks since we started this journey because you insist on running into danger. I can’t take my eyes off you for a minute.” There were a lot of reasons Hyde couldn’t take his eyes off Licht. Aside from worrying about his safety, he was simply spellbinding.

“You don’t need to worry about me when you’re the hopeless one. This angel can protect himself.” Licht reminded him. “You won’t have to worry about me after we save Mahiru. We'll go back to how we were before.”

“You should know that you’re always on my mind. Now more than ever. With your wings, you’re a part of my sky. It’s my duty as the God of the Sky to protect you. Even after everything is over, I’ll watch over you.” Hyde let go of him and turned him so they were facing each other. “I know you don’t like Olympians but you did say you’ll forgive me for tricking you. Can you let me stay by your side too? Maybe we can be friends.”

“Do whatever you want. Just understand that I’m not going to change my opinion of you if you continue to annoy me with your pranks.” He said firmly. In spite of his harsh tone, Hyde smiled because he had a chance to be with him again. He had always liked Licht but he felt closer with him after everything they’ve been through together.

A smile played on Kuro’s lips as he watched Mahiru playing with his dogs and the children. They went to the market to buy supplies and stopped in the plaza to play. Mahiru threw a stick for Black Cat to chase and Kuro chuckled at how it tripped over itself to fetch it. Black Cat was enjoying the attention Mahiru and the children were giving him. It trotted to Kuro with the stick.

“You want me to play catch with you?” Kuro took the stick from the dog. He tossed the stick a few feet from him. He sat next to Mahiru on the ground and waited for Black Cat to return with the stick. As he settled himself on the ground, Mahiru leaned against his arm. He moved towards him naturally as he created clouds for the children to play with.

“Can you show us your power too, Sir?” A child asked. After the festival, humans were becoming less afraid of him. Kuro could still feel the parents watching him distrustfully and he knew the children were simply curious about him. He moved slowly so he wouldn’t scare the cautious humans around him. He made a flower grow out of the snow.

“Kuro can control plants and shadows. They’re both majestic and beautiful in their own way.” Mahiru praised him earnestly. He sensed that Kuro was hesitant to show the children his powers and guessed that Kuro didn’t want to scare them. “His forest is filled with beautiful flowers. I wish you children could see them all.”

“There are flowers that can grow and survive in this snow.” Kuro changed the flower in front of him into a camellia. He gave them a brief lesson on how to care for the rose-like blossom. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Mahiru smiling proudly at him. He felt himself blush under his tender gaze and looked down at the flower. He picked the camellia and used his powers to turn it into a flower crown made of daisies.

“Here. You look like you wanted a flower too.” He smoothly slipped the flower crown onto Mahiru’s head. His face brightened like the sun even though most wouldn’t think much of the small gift. The picture of Mahiru smiling with a flower crown on his head was like a refreshing spring day.

“Thank you, Kuro! When we return home, maybe we should—” He couldn’t finish his sentence before he sensed a strong presence quickly approaching them. Kuro felt it as well and pushed Mahiru to the ground. He covered him with his body to protect him. He narrowly dodged the attack and he could feel the ground shake slightly from the force of the attack. Only once the snow and dirt had settle, did Kuro move off Mahiru. He kept his arms around him though.

He frowned at the stranger that attacked them. Lily said that Tsubaki and his followers haven’t left his island so he let down his guard. The man raised his leg to kick him again and Kuro created vines around him.

“Stop!” Mahiru screamed as he forced his way between the two before the fight could escalate. He was relieved when Kuro and the man stopped. He stood straighter and faced the man. “Licht, what are you doing here?”

“I’m saving you!” No answer could confuse Mahiru more.

I wanted to have a lighter chapter after the previous chapter with the tower escape