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hellothere-generalangsty · 3 years ago

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Fives - Anchor

Pairing: Fives x reader

Word Count: 1450 words

CW/ TW: Angst; mourning/loss, death, letter, anniversary, pain, brooding, it’s very heavy and sensitive so please proceed with caution and let me know if I didn’t TW something you deemed necessary; also a bit more hopeful/ light toward the end because my heart couldn’t handle that much sadness tonight

Tags: @chaoticvampirejedi @loth-wolffe @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @tacticalsparkles @imalovernotahater @canwestayinthisdream @wakeupjackthisisntfair @namesmox @badbatch-simp24 @lightning-wolffe @maddieskywalker @for-the-love-of-clones @m-e-w-117 @99squad

@ladykatakuri @firelordillyria @andiebell2023

Notes: I guess I missed him a lot tonight… Sorry for the pain

Some elements included in this fic are inspired from chats I had with @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s ; thank you little moon for being an inspiration to me 🌙

Iridescent - Linkin Park

0000.

Happy anniversary Fives.

Though I don’t see how it could be happy, when you’re everywhere but here. I never grew used to your absence, I never could; not when you’re haunting my every move, haunting this place and this world, finding your way back to me through faint memories and thousand of faces walking up to my office every day, asking me about my day and if I feel well.

I have to look at the ghost of you, every single time, and lie.

“I’m fine. What can I do for you?”

And I hear your voice again, and again. It tells me about the pain running through your back, the nightmares hitting harder than usual, and the fear eating you alive every time you get out of your hard, cold bed.

But it’s not you. It never is. I never could be.

I stopped buying your shampoo. I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the bottle we had in the shower. It’s still there, hidden somewhere in the bathroom, waiting to be emptied and thrown away carelessly, in such a mundane way one could so easily forget about it. But I can’t throw it away; it’s not mundane anymore.

I hid the jewels too, except for the bracelet. I hate to wear it, but I hate even more to put it away. I just feel…I feel naked when I don’t have it, and empty when I do. I can’t help but see you – feel you – through the shades of blue and black. What was once the purest blessing turned into the worst curse, and I can’t break it. I almost did – breaking the bracelet. I almost did.

I could if I really wanted to; but then I would lose you again, and I just…

I gave your aprons to the boys. I couldn’t stand to see them, neatly hanging in the kitchen. They were silly anyway, and I had no use for them. I’m a doctor after all, not a cook.

I published my thesis on the clones’ rights, and it is being presented to the Senate by Senator Amidala as we speak. I told her I wouldn’t be able to be there for her discourse, and she simply hugged me. I wish she hadn’t.

0527.

It’s been a year, yet it feels like yesterday. Everyone moved on; everyone but me, and I can’t help but be mad. I am mad that they forgot so easily about you, that they brushed you off as “another collateral damage”, another…clone. It’s the way they say it when they try to comfort me.

You were more than a clone. More than a soldier, and more than a man.

You were Fives.

You were my anchor, and I was your ocean.

I miss the way you said it. Coming home to me, tired, features drained and eyes darkened by the horrors of your latest campaign; but always soft and caring through the hoarseness of your voice as you whispered it against my skin. You always found a way to be there for me; for everyone, even when you were losing yourself in your own prison.

I am mad at you because of that. Because you couldn’t stand back for once, be egoistic and think of yourself instead of trying to play the hero in the dark. They killed you because you didn’t wait, not even when I asked you – begged you to. I am so angry because I called you an idiot, and all you could answer me was “I love you too, my ocean. My anchor.”

You didn’t even let me say it back.

1134.

I am mad at myself. You trusted me enough to tell me everything, and you knew I would believe you. And when you tried to do something about it, I called you an idiot. I wasn’t even there with you; I should have been there with you. I could have saved you.

Fives…

I remember the first time you came home. At the time, it was still “my place”, but the moment you stepped in it stopped being mine only. I always told you to come by if you needed; and the one time you did, we ended up laughing so hard the neighbour had to knock at the door. But it felt good. I guess that day I gave you a part of myself, and you carried it with you ever since. I suppose it died with you, too.

I know I shouldn’t be so broody; I can almost hear you, your chuckles filling the room, your hands pressing down my shoulders as you tell me “it’s a celebration, smile for me!”; and the smell of that shampoo tickling my nose as you come close to lay a kiss on my cheek…

But now the only thing I can feel are the tears, and that twisting ache in my chest, burning my skin and ripping my lungs apart. I can’t even breathe correctly anymore, I…

1745.

I’m sorry I had you waiting.

I fell asleep on the table, and woke up because of the cold. It’s always cold in here now. I borrowed one of your old sweatshirt - I hope you don’t mind. I kept them. I almost gave them to the boys, along with the aprons; but then I thought they could always come in handy.

They do. When days like today happens; days where I feel too lonely, where I miss you too much and it just feels too cold, I slip into one and hold it so close to me it almost feels like you’re here. My arms become yours, your faint perfume comes back to me fresh and soft, and I sometimes swear I can feel your warmth against my skin. I close my eyes when I do that, and it stops being a dream for a second.

For just a second, you’re back. You never truly left.

And when I open my eyes again; when I realise what it is all about, I still feel you. I see the bracelet, smell the black tissue, watch one of these B movie we used to laugh at and somehow I feel the best and worst I’ve felt in a long time.

I wish you were here. I wish I could tell you how much I missed you and how beautiful you are; if I could hold you tight, one last time... I didn’t even get to hug you one last time. I didn’t know it would be it; else I wouldn’t have let you go.

Echo is supposed to come around today. He told me he would. He didn’t forget about you either, you know. Neither did Rex, or Jesse, or Kix. Your vode didn’t forget about you. They always make sure to keep you alive, tell everyone about you and remember them of who you were.

Echo always says you’re his best friend. He never uses the past tense. I can’t blame him; I still say you’re the love of my life whenever people ask me. I guess we know deep down these things will never change. We don’t want it to change.

Wait, someone knocked.

2226.

When was the last time we laughed like that? For once, we turned the tears into something better; lighter. I’m sure you would be proud of us.

Of course, you would be proud of us.

It almost feels good to see you through Echo; to find glimpses of you in his smile, the faint spark in his eyes when he retells your best pranks, and the way he chuckles...I almost feel at home right now. With you. Not quite, but close enough.

Enough to make me smile, for the first time today.

Echo says hi. He’s watching me writing to you. He asked me to tell you that Rex lit a candle for you this morning, and the boys had a little something for you; but I can’t know what; apparently I “wouldn’t understand anyway”. So I hope – we hope – that you liked it. We’re probably going to watch a bad movie and mock the poor acting until we fall asleep, and tomorrow we will…We’ll probably think of you again, but hopefully there won’t be as much tears as today.

I guess it’s a battle worth fighting. Not for the Republic or the Greater Good; not for the Senate or the Chancellor. Not for the Jedis or the Galaxy.

No, it’s a battle we fight for you, Fives. Let us be your anchor, for once, and rest easy now, because more than anything or anyone else out there… you deserve it.

2359.

Happy anniversary Fives.

I love you too, my Anchor.

- Your Ocean.

#star wars #the clone wars #tcw #fives #arc trooper fives #letter #echo #arc trooper echo #fives x reader #arc trooper fives x reader #fives my beloved #Sad Hour for Fives #again i am sorry for the pain #mesa writes #tcw fic #sw fic

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sunstar-of-the-north · 3 years ago

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A Date With A Plumber

Bowser gently laid white cloths on the steaming bowls of food. While doing so he noticed that a fork was crooked. Alarmed, he quickly adjusted the utensil so it matched the rest of the dishes. The koopa then took a step back to analyze the table. It was set for two, one dish adjacent to the other at the end of the table. Bowser would have liked it if they were positioned across from each other but talking would be proven difficult with how long the table was.

He took a nervous sigh and moved to the mirror on the wall. His hair was a complete mess. Bowser smoothed it to the side with his clawed hands. Once he finished, he smiled proudly in the reflection. A second later though it reverted to its default look.

He growled in annoyance. The turtle then started to fix his silver cravat. He was wearing a maroon dinner tuxedo with a double lapel. He ditched most of his typical accessories, save for his bracelets. It was the compromise Bowser made with Kamek. He glared when he remembered the overwhelming amount of advice the old wizard gave him. “Don’t slouch over the table. Don’t talk with your mouth full. And DON’T for the love of the stars lose your temper!” He began to realize that instead of fixing his neckpiece, he was gripping it for dear life. Bowser let go of it in alarm. He groaned, lightly slapping his cheeks. “Pull yourself together Bowser,” he said in aggravation. “You’re the King of the Koopas! You have no reason to be all shaken up over one silly date!”

No matter how much he tried to convince himself, Bowser still felt like there were fighter flies in his stomach. Even though this was their third date, he was still a nervous wreck. Besides this one was different. Unlike the first two, which were at her house, this date was on his turf. Not to mention there would be a chaperon. “It’ll probably be that tomato colored Mario,” Bowser grumbled. That was a part of the agreement between the three of them. Whenever they would go out, there had to be someone—which was always picked for them by Mario—to keep an eye on the two. Panic hit him like a train when he realized he didn’t make a bowl for the red suited plumber. Before the turtle had time to think, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned; smoke escaping from the sides of his mouth. “WHAT?” The koopa troopa swallowed nervously.

“S-Sir? S-She’s here.”

Like a Bullet Bill out of a canon, Bowser charged passed the troopa, sending the poor thing flying. Thankfully his other minions were able to get out of their king’s way as he ran down the halls. In moments the twin doors were in sight. He slid to a halt, nearly blasting through them. Bowser took a moment to steady his breathing before opening them. His breath was cut short when the koopa saw who was standing on the steps. It was Luciana, adorned with a simple dark green dress with see-through lace sleeves. Her brunette hair, which was normally straight, was curled. When her blue eyes met Bowser’s, he felt like time stopped.

“Hellooooo? Earth to Bowser!”

Bowser snapped out of his daze when he noticed a hand waving near his face. He shook his head and looked back at Luciana. She seemed to be worried. “Is—everything alright?” He nodded rapidly. “Yeah! Yeah, everything is g-great!” She grinned in relief, causing Bowser’s heart to pound like a drum. “Buona!” There was an awkward silence between the two. The koopa then noticed the shorter woman was staring at him. “What? Is there something on my tux?” Luciana blushed in embarrassment. “N-No! I uh—your scarf thingy is all…” She motioned to his neck. He looked down and saw his cravat was still a mess. Bowser wanted to retreat back into his shell. The plumber inched closer to him, hand slightly raised. “Um—may I?”

He raised his eyebrows in surprise but squatted down at her request. She then tidied the cravat. “There! All better! Looks like all those years helping Mario with his ties came in handy!” She said with a chuckle. Bowser winced at the mention of her brother. Luciana picked up on his shift in mood, facing falling a bit. “O-Oh uh—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—“

“No, no! It’s ok…” Bowser realized that something was missing. “Speaking of, where is your chaperon? I was expecting him to be with you.” She gave him a playful smirk. “I was able to talk him out of it!” He was shocked and somewhat impressed. “How?”

“Well I told Mario that I’m a grown woman and he shouldn’t be treating me like a little kid. Besides I can handle myself!” She then flexed her arms with a semi-serious look on her face. Bowser cracked a smile, finding her display adorable. “After a long talk we came to an understanding.” She horizontally put her finger below her nose and spoke in a deeper tone. “Alright Luciana! You can go on your date alone. But you gotta come home at midnight! Even if you’re a minute late, I’ll break down those castle doors faster than you can say ravioli! And if that slime faced koopa tries anything funny, you take care of him like I showed ya. Got it?” Bowser chuckled, clapping his hands. “Perfect impression. 10 out of 10.”

She did a little curtsy in response. “Grazie!” Bowser leaned against the door frame, feeling a sense of relief knowing it was just the two of them now. “Man, who knew the String Bean could stand up to her brother like that. She keeps throwing surprises at me.”

Luciana started rocking back and forth on her heels. The king koopa realized that she was still outside. He nearly jumped out of her way, bowing deeply. “Pl-Please! Come in!” His sudden movement made the plumber flinch but relaxed once she passed the doors. Bowser followed her in.

Soon the two were in the dining hall. Bowser sped walk toward the table. He quickly pulled Luciana’s chair out for her, causing a loud squeak as he did. He winced at the sound but still gave her a smile. She smiled back and sat down after thanking him. Bowser scooted her chair toward the table and clapped his hands. The lights were turned down low. He then lit the table candle with his fire breath. “Che meraviglia!” Luciana whispered under her breath. “Hopefully that means something good,” he thought to himself. The turtle then brought his attention to the bowls. He gingerly took the white cloths off, steam pooling out from them. “Bon appétit!”

Luciana’s eyes grew to the size of moons. The bowls were filled with cooked rice and beef, a variety of different vegetables, and a fried egg to top it all off. Bowser couldn’t help but be smug with her reaction. She turned to him, eyes sparkling. “What is this?!” He sat down, resting his hands on the wooden table. “It’s called bibimbap.” Luigi scrunched her face as she tried to say the name. “Bimbi—bimbipab.” Bowser let out a hearty laugh at her attempt to pronounce the word. The plumber’s face turned a bright red. “Say it with me. Bi-bim-bap.” She repeated after the turtle, saying it correctly this time. “There ya go!” He gave her a toothy grin. She smiled back, twirling her hair with a finger. Bowser looked to the side with a bashful smile. “This—is one of my favorite dishes. I wanted to share it with you since you shared one of your favorites with me.”

He looked at the corner of his eye to see Luciana staring at him. He blushed, coughing into his hand. “What w-was that called again? Tor-tortilla gardinata?” Now it was Luciana’s turn to laugh. “Tortellini gratinati.” Bowser chuckled, scratching his head. “Yeah, that. Oh before I forget, here’s Gochujang if you want some.” He passed her a small bowl of red paste. The woman cocked her head at the little dish. “Gochujang?” Bowser nodded. “Yeah. It’s a red pepper paste. It gives the bibimbap an extra kick!” Her face lit up after hearing that. He gave her a wink. “I know how you like things a little spicy so I thought I would oblige.”

She giggled, sending a flurry of warmth to Bowser’s chest. “Grazie, grazie!” She at first picked up a fork but then eyed the chop sticks. “You can eat it with those?” Bowser raised an eye brow at her. “Uh yeah. That’s how you’re supposed to eat it.” She let out a soft oh in response. The koopa realized how harsh his tone was. He reprimanded himself in his head. “Um—I can—show you how to use them, if you want that is.” Luciana blinked at him and then smiled. “Sì! I always wanted to learn how to use them!” Bowser got up and moved to her side. He gently guided Luciana how to hold the utensil. The turtle noticed just how small her hand was compared to his. “They’re so tiny—so—delicate.” He looked at the woman, who was staring at their hands. She brought her gaze to him. When their eyes locked, they both blushed crimson. Bowser removed his hand and they both looked away from each other.

He stiffly walked back to his chair, sat down, and proceeded to stuff his face to hide his blushing. After a while he turned his eyes to the green dressed plumber. She was able to pick up a bit of vegetables and rice. Luigi dipped the food in the Gochujang and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up as she chewed more. She looked at Bowser with a big grin. “This is amazing! Please give my compliments to the chief!” Bowser glowed by her praise. “Thanks! I was worried that I might have over-cooked the carrots.” The woman raised her eye brows in surprise. “You made this?”

“Yeah! Cooking is one of the few things I like to do.”

“Don’t…you have cooks to make your meals?” Bowser shrugged. “Yeah, but sometimes I do the cooking, especially if it’s for one of my kids’ birthdays.” Luciana stared at him. “You…made this specially…for me?” Bowser was confused by her statement. “Of course! You’re my girlfriend! What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t make food for you?” Luciana’s face was red once more. Realization hit Bowser like a blue shell to the kart once the words left his mouth. This was the first time Bowser ever called her his girlfriend or referred himself as her boyfriend. “I—um—.” He took a sip of his wine, not wanting to speak anymore. He felt a hand rest on his. The turtle looked to see Luciana, giving him a sheepish smile, cheeks pink. The king gazed at her for a moment and returned the look, intertwining his fingers with hers. Soon the two were enjoying the rest of their meal, having small talk and telling stories to pass the time.

The bowls were empty while the room was filled with laughter. Both human and koopa were smiling ear to ear. Bowser then got up and moved toward Luciana. He offered a clawed hand to the woman. She gladly took it, Bowser helping her out of the cushioned chair. “I wanna show you something.” Luciana cocked her head. “Oh? What is it?” He winked at her. “It’s a surprise!” He led her out of the room and further down the hall. A few moments later they were in front of two glass doors. Bowser opened them for Luciana, trying hard to contain his excitement. She stepped through them and gasped. The room was filled to the brim with beautiful flowers and plants, some of them the plumber had never seen before. “Oh Bowser—they’re gorgeous!”

“The ash from the volcanos makes for great fertilizer. All of our vegetables are grown here too.” Luciana turned to the koopa with sparkling eyes. He couldn’t help but crack a grin as he brought her further in the garden. They soon stopped at an elaborate stone bench. Bowser sat down, patting the spot next to him. Luciana took a seat, smoothing out her dress. She looked around, taking in all the scenery. She wasn’t the only one taking in the view. Bowser watched her, feeling lighter than air. He couldn’t explain why though. He then remembered why they were here in the first place.

“L-Luciana,” he asked softly. She turned to him, the same warm feeling from earlier hitting him harder. “Yes Bowser?” The king felt his cheeks get hotter when she said his name. Swallowing, he took something from his coat pocket. “I—I wanted to give you these.” He opened his fist to reveal a pouch of seeds. “They’re green cymbidium orchids.” Luciana gaped at the seeds. She then turned to him, bewildered. “That’s my favorite flower! How—how did you get them?! They’re so hard to find!” Bowser proudly smiled, tapping his snout. “I have my ways.” Luciana rolled her eyes playfully. Her expression grew softer as she gingerly took the pouch from his hand. “Grazie Bowser. I’ll make sure they grow big and strong.” He gave the woman a tender look. “I know you will.”

The human and koopa gazed at one another. They both felt a pull, slowly closing the distance between them as they inched closer. Luciana rested a free hand on Bowser’s cheek, making his spiked tail wag steadily. Suddenly, she had an alarmed expression on her face and placed her hand over the king’s mouth. “Aspettare! What’s the time?!” Bowser had to take a minute to process what she just asked. He then took out his pocket watch. “It’s 11:50.” They stared at each other in utter fear. The duo then sprinted out of the room and down the halls. The minions that were still awake never saw their boss run so fast before, unless it was to escape from a fight or for food. Before they knew it, they were both in a lakitu cloud and booking it to Mario and Luciana’s house.

Once the cloud stopped, the king and plumber quickly jumped out of it. Bowser whipped out his watch. Luigi watched on in anticipation. He showed her the clock. “11:58,” she gasped out in relief. Bowser wiped his forehead, feeling ready to collapse. They walked to the front door, slowly catching their breath. Bowser leaned against the wall while Luciana fixed her hair. Bowser loosened his cravat, clearing his throat. “…I hope you had a good time.” The woman nodded happily. “I did! The bi-bim-bap was excellent!” She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear with a small blush. “It was nice—to be alone together.” He agreed in silence with a small grin. He licked his lips nervously. “Also—you can visit the garden whenever you come to the castle. That way we can spend more time—alone.” The plumber was surprised but giddily replied, “I would love that.”

Without thinking, Bowser leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Good night, Luciana.” The human blushed profusely, touching where he kissed her. She looked up at him in surprise. Bowser started to sweat bullets. “Oh no. Did I go too far?! I-I didn’t mean-“ Suddenly, Luciana gave him a warm kiss on the cheek as well. He felt like his whole body was on fire. “G-Good night, Bowser,” she said with a bashful grin. The koopa watched Luciana as she opened the door to her home. Before she closed it, the woman gave him a dreamy expression. Bowser swore he heard music as she gazed at him with those beautiful eyes. He gave her a blissful grin, waving good bye. She waved back, leisurely shutting the door.

Bowser jumped onto the cloud, gushing so hard that fire was peeking out of his mouth. Once he returned to his castle, the koopa’s heart was racing. He was astonished that he was even tired that night. Regardless, Bowser got ready for bed. After he put a pair of pajamas on, the king then climbed into a large bed, pulling the blanket over his chest. He let out a happy sigh, his last thought before falling asleep being his girlfriend’s pure smile.

I wrote this like--last year. Sorry it took so long to submit. Characters (c) Nintendo

#bowuigi #bowser x luigi #bowser x femluigi #gender bend #otp #nintendo #Bowser #Mario Bowser #luigi #nintendo luigi #video games #text #monster x human #monster boyfriend #bowser x luciana #My writing

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jadedxrealityw · 4 years ago

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-Where Was She?- George Weasley x Female Reader

☼-☪-☼

Summary: Taking a trip through Diagon Alley to help your nephew pick out robes and books for her first day at Hogwarts should of been uneventful, and it was until your niece was very excited to look inside a colorful shop, with a ginger with a top hat on top.

Kody: Ha, it rhymes. I am just hilarious. Also i’m giving them names, cause i can and if i don’t i’ll get confused lmao. Also changing some plot for this story lol.

House: Ex- Gryffindor / Half blood

Possible Triggers / Warnings: cursing, George being a simp, Fred being utterly confused half the time, that good fluff

☼-☪-☼

you were currently stirring a bowl of cupcake batter when the house phone rang. In a quick haste, you drop the whisk in the sink and ran over to the living room and towards the house phone. You pick it up and press and the call button before holding it up to your ear.

“L/n residence. Who am i speaking to?” you ask in a polite manner as you wiped your hand on the pink apron you wore. “Hey Y/n, it’s me Kai. So i just got a last minute meeting and i won’t be able to take Aedyn to diagon alley to get his books, robes and such. I have money to give you and such”

you could hear the irritation in his voice, he hated missing important memory making moments with his son, but he really needed the money considering his wife dipped when Aedyn was born. You smile lightly, having not been back to Diagon Alley in year since you graduated. You missed it.

“no problem, i’ll make sure to take a ton of pictures for you. Don’t worry about it, i get to see some of my old classmates and i’m fine with paying- “ “-no Y/n, i’m paying” Kai tried to interject, but you made screeching noise with your mouth. “Sorry, can’t hear you. Your cutting out. Love you!” you quickly hung up.

☼-☪-☼

the day had arrived and you wore a black turtleneck with a burnt orange button up as well as black pants. You had just arrived to Diagon Alley with Aedyn and he seemed a bit upset. “hey dude, you alright?” you asked, nudging his shoulder with your arm. He shrugged, looking ahead.

“i just thought that dad would take me shopping, i know he isn’t a wizard or anything. It’s just-” you stop walking and crouch down to height “Yeah i get it, i loved going to Diagon Alley with my parents, but let’s make the most out of this yeah? Your witchy aunt has got your back!”

your enthusiasm seemed to cheer him up as the corners of his mouth turned up “Okay, the first thing on the list is robes” he says, pulling a sheet of folded up paper from his back pocket. You smile and stand back up “Robes it is, onwards my dear nephew”

☼-☪-☼

after buying about three sets of robes as well as uniform shirts and pants, you both went to get textbooks, which was super boring. Once you had finished stacking all the textbooks, you held them all by a string. Aedyn didn’t seem to want a animal, you didn’t either when you attended Hogwarts.

as you walked with Aedyn, you felt a tug on your sleeve “Oh, can we go in there!” he says, you look to where he was pointing and saw a shop decorated in orange and hints of purple. Looking up, you saw a statue picking up it’s top hat. Oh. OH. “the weasleys wizard wheezes?” you ask, looking down at him.

he met your gaze and tilts his head “Have you been there before?” he questions and you nod your head once “Yeah. Once. It was when it first opened though, so it may have changed” you spoke, shrugging it off. You grab his head and walk into the colorful shop.

how much has changed?

as you step in, your almost overwhelmed by the variety of things in the shop. It really didn’t change much. There were kids running around and parents who seemed displeased at there kids dashing through the place. A feeling of nostalgia ran through you.

“Aedyn!”

“Luke!”

your nephew turns up to look at you “Can me and luke check out the shop together?” he asked eagerly, making you chuckle. You nod once and both of the boys run off. You sigh contently and place the textbooks down near the umbrella holder. Stuffing your hands in your pocket, you began to casually stroll around.

the Weasley’s wizard wheezes. What a cool place. “Welcome miss. First time?” you turn to face one of the ginger haired twins in the flesh, wearing a orange sweater and beige pants. George Weasley. you give him a polite smile, collecting yourself quickly.

“Thank you. Um- no not my first time. I came here with Hermione Granger when you guys first opened.” you explain, tapping your foot on the ground. He raises a brow. You seemed to have spiked his interest “You know Hermione? How come i’ve never seen you before?”

you shrug your shoulders, making a clueless face. “I’ve been told i blend into the background, so that could be why” you say. He steps closer to you, analyzing your face “How could i have missed you? Were you on any teams?” guess you were playing twenty questions now.

you stifle a laugh as you began to walk around once more, the twin sticking to your side “No, i never liked attention. I did watch all the quidditch tournaments- Oh! I started the weakly quidditch magazine for the school” you say, thinking he remember seeing it somewhere or maybe he had read it before?

you watch his honey colored eyes light up “Oh! yeah i read that. Wait- if i remember correctly you wrote one just about me” his smile turned into a grin. Oh how embarrassing. You chuckle bashfully as you use your hand to cover your mouth for a second “Yes. I did. You were a quidditch heartthrob. It sold well”

you hear him gasp loudly and watch as he places a hand over his chest, where his heart was “You used my face to sell magazines?” he said. Wait a minute. “How do you know i put your face in the article?” you question, your own grin forming. A bashful smile makes a way onto his face.

“I bought one for myself” he spoke and you burst into a fit of laughter at his confession “Oh wow, Mr. Weasley” you say, joking with the formality. You both were now making your way back to the entrance, where you two had started your journey in the first place.

“Just call me George.”

you two then talked for what felt like hours, but in reality it was twenty minutes. You both had a lot of common interest and soon enough. The Weasley started to flirt with you. It was playful and cute and you found it adorable coming from him. As he reached to push a strand of hair from your face and loud shout was heard.

“Were late! We are so late!” Aedyn came running from the top story of the shop “Dad said to be home an hour ago!” and with that he ran out the shop. You E/c eyes widen. Oh shit. You quickly grab up the textbooks, a confused George staring at you. “Wait, your leaving?”

“Yes” you force out as you quickly rushed out the shop, George following. He stops in front and watches as you run away “When can i see you again?!- What’s your name?!” he shouts, catching the attention of a few wizards and witches passing by.

you give him a quick smile before you turn the corner, leaving his sight completely. What’s the fun in that right?

☼-☪-☼

“Hey George. I’m back!” Fred Weasley called out from the shared home. He raised a brow when there was no answer and walked down the hallway, he turns the handle of Georges room and pushes the door open. He sees boxes scattered everywhere.

George was sitting on the floor, looking through stacks of old school papers “What in the bloody hell is going on?” Fred asked, looking a his brother strangely. George snaps his head towards his brother and stands up quickly. “Do you remember the weakly quidditch magazine?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know where i kept the one written about me?”

“Yes”

“Where is it?”

“...I’ll be right back”

Fred left the room and returned a couple minutes later with an tattered magazine “Your article is on page 5-” George ripped the magazine from his brothers hand and began to turn the pages rapidly “Okay then” Fred walks over to sit on George’s bed.

“Found it! When George Weasley isn’t pulling pranks. He is expertly playing the quidditch field, just like yesterday's game. Taking out both Ravenclaw beaters at the same time. Charming, good looking, funny, and skilled. No wonder the girl’s of Hogwarts are fawning over Gryffindors beater. -Y/n L/n”

George smiled brightly “Y/n L/n, that’s her name..She called me good looking. Where was she when i was at Hogwarts?” he gushed, making Fred roll his eyes “Your talking about Y/n? How is she doing, heard her nephew is starting Hogwarts soon. I was supposed to meet her today, but i got caught up”

George’s head snapped like an owl towards his brother “You know her? Did you sleep with her Freddy? You horny bastard. You just had to sleep with half of the girls at Hogwarts didn’t you? Couldn’t leave anyone for me? First Lavender brown then Hermione Granger, now Y/n. What the hell man?”

Fred waited for his brother to stop talking with a irritated expression “First of all. I didn’t sleep with her. Second of all, we kept in touch because i thanked her for writing an article about me, like she did for you. Also! You didn’t notice her, because your fucking stupid. I’m making dinner” he announced.

he stood from the bed and walked out the room. George pouted “Can we have mac and cheese?!”

“No!........Okay fine!”

☼-☪-☼

fast forward to about two weeks and Aedyns birthday was coming up. He had taken a liking to quidditch and you wanted to get him a new broom. It was a bit chilly outside so you decided on black high waisted skin tight jeans, a light grey long sleeve t-shirt, and a heather grey and a charcoal colored button up.

“Quality Quidditch Supplies” you read out loud, this was definitely the place where she saw kids get brooms. You step in and began to look around at the broom’s, wondering which was a good fit for your nephew. You were looking at the Nimbus collection when a ginger haired boy jumps out from behind it.

you jump back a bit “George?! What the hell. You almost gave me a heart attack!” you shout. He smiles nervously “So after our last encounter, i found that article you wrote about me” he spoke. You rolled your eyes and began to look at the broom’s once again “Okay” you said plainly.

“You said i was good looking and charming. Y/n L/n” he says, a twinkle of pride in his eye. “Your also friends with my brother and didn’t tell me” he said, that pride turning into slight jealousy.”You didn’t ask” you said simply said, his eye twitched in irritation.

“Anyway, i was wondering if you could go out with me- like on date. Next saturday?” he says, you saw the hopeful look in his eyes as you looked from the broom to him. Aw. “No” you said, waiting to see his reaction. He blinks mindlessly for a couple of seconds “i’m sorry, i shouldn’t have asked-”

“-I have to watch a quidditch match. It’s my job for the witch weekly. i report for the local matches. I would love to go some other time” you say, giving him a genuine smile. He rubs the back of his neck “That’s the only time i’m free this mouth! Oh how ‘bout i go with you?” he asked.

you shrugged “I’m okay with that. I’ll be distracted half the time though” you explain. He smiles happily “Wicked. Plus, i’d like to see you all focused. I bet it’s cute” he said, leaning in close, his hand placed on the shelf above your head. There goes the flirting again.

you pretend to not have heard him and reach into your pocket for a piece of paper and pen. He tilts his head curiously and tries to read what you were writing, but you shielded him away with your hand. “What’re?-” he was cut off when you walked passed him and grabbed a Nimbus infinity.

you walk up to the counter and pay for the broom. It was quite costly, but you didn’t mind. George followed like a lost puppy, until you both made it outside. You turn around and hand him the paper. George grabs the note and reads an address? “What is this?” he asked. Boys are so dumb.

“Write me sometime, Weasley. I’ll see you on saturday” with those parting words, you turn on your heels and began to walk away with a sway of your hips. George sighed deeply as a warm feeling invaded in every being “Merlin. Fred was right. I’m whipped.”

☼-☪-☼

the week spent apart was quite wholesome. George wrote you kind letters, sometimes flirty ones and send you small treats within them. Once he sent a pressed flower, a marigold. You didn’t think he have such a soft side to him. Each day a new letter came and you grew to like the Weasley boy more and more.

the day had finally arrived when you would be attending the quidditch match. You wore a black turtleneck and heather grey pants, paired with regular sneakers. You were waiting at the entrance for the weasley boy, looking up t the sky. It looked like it was about to storm. Hopefully it would clear up soon.

“Hey!” a bright cheery voice shouted. You look back down to see George coming up to you. His shoulder length hair was tied back in a ponytail, with loose strands framing his face. He wore a burnt orange sweater with white and brown plaid pants. Style.

you smile lightly and nod your head towards him “Hello” you spoke and watch as his honey colored eyes gazed at your outfit “Your looking ravishing, per usual” his comment made you snort. You shake your head and wave your hand “C’mon. I have front row seats” you say, making his eyes go wide.

“Woah! Really!?”

☼-☪-☼

you both were seated in the bleachers with an amazing view of the game. You took out a notepad along with a pen, getting ready to take notes. George watched you as the game started. You bit your bottom lip when you were ‘in the zone’ as you would call it. George would call it cute.

the match was highly eventful and George had a wonderful time watching, especially the small breaks when you would talk to him. He would occasionally feed you popcorn as your wrote. Gotta make sure you were fed. You secretly liked it.

the match came to an end when one of the teams caught the snitch and the crowd roared in applause and boos. George stood up, cheering while you politely stood alongside him, clapping your hands. The cheers began to die down as heavy rain poured out of nowhere.

people began to scramble out of the bleachers like ants so they could apparate out of there. You look at George who’s hair was damp, strands of ginger hair sticking to the side of his face. he was just staring at you “What?” you call out over the loud sounds of the rain.

“I had a great time. I wish i had met you in Hogwarts so i could of had a cool girlfriend writing articles about me. Is it okay if i make up for lost time?” he said, your heart melting a his words. How smooth. A smile grew on your face “i’d love that” you said and that was all George needed.

he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you in for a deep kiss. Rain came down on both of you and your notes were most likely destroyed, but you were too in the moment to care. You two eventually left the bleachers and apparated to your place where you gave him a change of clothes and hot tea.

the day ended with you two cuddled up on your couch, next to the fireplace and it couldn’t be more perfect.

☼-☪-☼

Kody: the sheer amount of writers block this shit gave me was insane. Anyways, peace.

☼-☪-☼

Taglist:

@the--queen-of-hell

@sonbelleame

@moonpi3

@dracosathenaeum

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ga-yuu · 3 years ago

Text

~Yoshitsune~Main Story Chapter 1~

If you haven’t read the prologue, I suggest you do that first and then start reading this. Also WARNING!!! The following story has violence and attempted murder.

-------Part 1-------

(I’m going to collect the mystical powers that are required to cancel my pact with Tamamo....and I will definitely open my own pharmacy!)

While thinking about my ordinary lovely life, I looked straight with all the courage I could muster.

Yoshino: “Please take care of me, everyone!”

Yoritomo: "If you can answer straightforwardly, that means you're doing well. ----Well, at least for now."

Shigehira: "Are you sure you should be lukewarm with her? The enemy is that Yoshitsune-san."

There is a hint of tension in his eyes as he says this.

(Yoshitsune-sama is....)

-----FLASHBACK----

Yoshitsune: "In order to defeat Yoritomo, I came from the brink of death....by surrendering my soul to an inhuman being."

-----FLASHBACK ENDS----

(Yoritomo-sama's younger brother, right?)

(But he is trying to defeat Yoritomo-sama...... even if it means that he should make a pact with the Karasu Tengu, Kurama.)

Yoshino: "Um, what kind of person is Yoshitsune-sama?"

Tamamo: "I'm curious, too. Even if Yoshitsune has Kurama's powers, he is a force that was destroyed once, and now when he's back, you guys are relying on Yoshino. Are not confident enough to take him down the second time?"

Yoshino: "Wait, Tamamo!!?"

(If you say something like that....)

The rims of Kagetoki-san's glasses gleamed and a sharp look shot through us.

Kagetoki: "It's not surprising that some pea-brain country girl and a jackass fox demon who slept inside a stone for hundreds of years, to not know."

Yoshino: "I'm not some 'pea-brain country girl'... you know what, let's just leave it like that for now."

(His words are so sharp!)

Morinaga: "Kagetoki, don't speak like that to them. They are on our side."

Tamamo: "Yes, yes. Show some respect."

Kagetoki: "I beg your pardon, did my ‘honestly’ let you down."

Morinaga: "Ka-ge-to-ki??"

Kagetoki: "......."

Kagetoki-san took a quick step away from Morinaga-san and closed his mouth grimly.

(He's smiling, but maybe Morinaga-san is actually indicating something else....?)

Shigehira: "You've gone way off-topic."

Yoritomo: "Don't get hung up on it, Shigehira. The one who knows the threat of Yoshitsune best is you. A Heike(Taira clan) who fought him directly."

Yoshino: "Heike...."

(If I remember it correctly, Shigehira-san called himself 'Taira no Shigehira'...)

Even if I'm a so-called 'pea-brain country girl', I do know well that 'Heike' and 'Genji' have been sworn enemies.

Yoshino: "Why did 'Taira no Shigehira' joined Yoritomo-sama, then....?"

Shigehira: "I would've normally brushed off that question saying that ‘it's none of your business', but I'll tell you this much. I fought Yoshitsune-san in the Genpai war and was defeated."

(eh?)

I felt a flicker of blue flame in Shigehira-san's lightly pigmented eyes.

Yoritomo: "Despite his appearance, Shigehira was considered a great general of the Heike clan. The Heiki was already on the decline at that time. It can't be said that it was simply a lack of power on the part of Shigehira that caused them to lose the war, but....It is certain that Yoshitsune kicked the Heiki to the curb and led them off with a flourish."

Shigehira: "I was supposed to be executed there, but for some unknown reason, Yoritomo-sama let me live. So, after all that, we've formed an alliance and I'm here in Shogunate. ...... Do you understand?"

Yoshino: "For now, yes."

(It sounds like a sensitive topic, but I'm not in the mood to ask.)

Shigehira: "The Yoshitsune-san, you're about to face with that confidence of yours is a heedless monster."

(If what you just said is about the time when the Genji clan defeated the Heike...)

Yoshino: "Does that mean, he's incredibly strong..........even before he attained Kurama's powers?"

Tamamo: "Are you meaning to say, that he's a 'one-man army'?"

Shigehira: "That's what I mean. He's already nasty, and now he attained inhuman powers."

Shigehira-san's frowning face had no fear, but only a determination to fight.

(All the others........have the face of a samurai.)

Kagetoki: "....At the same time, I accompanied the sovereign to battle as his valet, under the orders of Yoritomo-sama."

Yoshino: "Did you see Yoshitsune-sama in battle close up?"

Tamamo: "How was it, after seeing with your own eyes?"

Kagetoki: "As he already said, he's insanely good."

(Eh.......)

Kagetoki-san continued his words.

Kagetoki: "He is a general, but he leads the way, wielding his sword fiercely, ready to give up his life. Sometimes he pulls off what seems like a daredevil move. When the men below saw him, they ran after him as if possessed by something."

Morinaga: "There was a rumor at the time that no grass would grow after Yoshitsune-sama had stepped on it. When I saw him for the first time, I was astonished because he had such a graceful appearance and his skill with a sword in battle was superb."

(I can't believe the people who support the Shogunate are saying this much.....)

Yoshino: ".....Such an inspiring person."

Overwhelmed, I murmur, and Yoritomo-sama sarcastically lifts one end of his lips.

Yoritomo: "No matter what the crisis, Yoshitsune is a man who has the potential to turn the tide of war on his own. The fact is that without him we would have lost some battles."

(It's hard to believe that there really is such a person when you only hear about them.)

(But......)

(Yoshitsune-sama clearly had a different atmosphere to normal people.)

-------Part 2 -------

(Yoshitsune-sama clearly had a different atmosphere to normal people.)

Just the thought of those cold eyes on me is enough to make me squirm with fear.

Tamamo: "The soul of Yoshitsune is not that of an ordinary human being, as Kurama said. People like that have no ordinary life."

Yoshino: "And I have to fight such a person...."

Yoritomo: "Are you scared?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm scared.... (+4/+4)

I'm not scared.... (+4/+4)

I don't know....(+4/+4)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yoshino: ".....To be honest, I'm scared."

(No matter how much power Tamamo has, Yoshitsune-sama seems to be more terrifying than I imagined....)

Yoritomo: "You're stupidly honest. But it's better than being lying. Well, for today rest well."

Yoshino: "Is there something you want me to do tomorrow?"

Yoritomo: "Don't worry about it, you can spend your time as you like. I'll give you a room."

Yoshino: "I'm not sure if I'd like that."

Yoritomo: "If you have any inconvenience, tell the maid. If you're bored, I'll arrange a suitable entertainment for you, whether it's music or dance."

(Ehhh)

Yoshino: "That's not what I meant!"

Yoritomo: "Then what did you meant?"

Yoshino: "I just wondered if it was all right for me to wait and fight Yoshitsune-sama. And Yoritomo-sama said that “I'll hire you”, didn’t he? . I can't just sit around doing nothing if I'm hired."

Yoritomo: "......!"

(What? No, wait. I'm having a bad feeling about this....)

Yoritomo-sama stared at me for some reason, and then immediately puts on a happy expression.

Yoritomo: "Heh? If you're that serious, I'll give you a job."

Yoshino: "Really....?"

Yoritomo: "Yes. Kagetoki, if I recall, last night you received a letter from another country requesting reinforcements for the war, right?"

Kagetoki: "Yes, but it is only a skirmish between two small nations. I don't think the Shogunate will have to act."

Yoritomo: "I was tempted to leave it behind, but it's not a bad idea to ingratiate myself with the war effort. Morinaga!"

Morinaga: "Whoa, are we on?"

Yoritomo: "Yes. Take Yoshino with you and check on the situation."

-------Part 3-------

Morinaga: "Whoa, are we on?"

Yoritomo: "Yes. Take Yoshino with you and check on the situation."

(Me!?)

Yoshino: "Wait a minute! Why are you sending me to the war all of a sudden?"

Yoritomo-sama smiles at me when I raised my voice in question.

Yoritomo: "You said you wanted a job right? You know what they say---- "It's better to get used to something than to learn it."

(That's right, but----)

...........................................

Yoshino: "Isn't it a bit harsh to just throw me here, without any experience?"

I was dumbfounded by the stuffy atmosphere of the battlefield.

Morinaga: "Sorry you have to do this, Yoshino."

Yoshino: "Please don't apologize Morinaga-san."

We are in the main camp where the battle has just begun.

Morinaga-san listened to the reports from the soldiers who came incessantly and gave instructions to the troops.

(I heard that he has told the soldiers around me that I'm accompanying him as a pharmacist...)

(I feel like I'm being stared at from a while ago. It's not the right place for me to be after all...?)

I wondered if Tamamo being in the same position would be ordered to accompany me as I did.

But he was to stay at the palace because he was to teach Yoritomo-sama the details of Kurama's unusual ability.

Yoshino: "Everything happened so suddenly. ....... Is Yoritomo-sama always such a forceful person?"

Morinaga: "Except when he's wearing a catsuit."

Morinaga-san smiles with a freshness that would not be out of place on a battlefield.

Morinaga: "Hmmmm, but I don't think Yoritomo-sama sent you into the battlefield out of spite."

Yoshino: "....Then why?"

Morinaga: "The first time you fight, even the bravest warrior cowers in fear. And you're an untrained town girl. It's best to be familiar with the battlefield if you want to be able to survive if the unexpected happened."

Yoshino: "Ah....."

The memory of the night when we all first met, played in my mind.

-----FLASHBACK-----

Yoritomo: "Are you okay, Morinaga?"

Morinaga: "Yeah...the wounds are not deep...but, just be careful with that wind. They are like blades..."

Yoshitsune: "Adachi Morinaga, the fierce warrior. ....I'm impressed at how well you avoided them. It's a bit of a shame to kill you. If it hadn't been for the circumstances, I might have enjoyed playing with you more."

------FLASHBACK ENDS-----

(At that time, Yoritomo-sama and Morinaga-san were calm, even though it was the first time for them to see, Yoshitsune-sama's different ability.)

(Maybe that's because they've both been on the battlefield many times and been in danger.)

Yoshino: "It's true that on the battlefield you don't always have someone with you. So I'd better get used to it soon..."

Morinaga: "This is a small war, and as long as we are in the main camp we are not likely to be overrun. I'm sure you're was aware of that, right?"

Yoshino: "If only Yoritomo-sama had said that from the beginning, it would have made things a little easier for me...."

Morinaga: "That's who he is."

When Morinaga-san saw the next messenger rushing in, he stood up and replied as a matter-of-factly.

(Of course, I don't know anything about samurai or the people of the Shogunate yet.)

And a few minutes later....

(At first, I wondered what was going to happen, but then I realized the sun was setting...)

Morinaga: "Yoshino, Thank you for looking after the injured ones."

Yoshino: "No, please. It's the least I can do."

In the middle of the day, I took care of the wounded and moved around, and the time passed very quickly.

Morinaga: "Thanks to you, I think we're about to win."

Yoshino: "Really!"

(Good, that means we can go home safely...!)

But the joy was only short-lived-----

Soon there was a sense of unease in the main camp.

Morinaga: ".....Strange how noisy the front line is."

As if to affirm Morinaga-san's words, the number of injured people had increased than earlier.

(I'm managing to hold on to it for now, but if it increases any further I'll run out of medication.)

(What the hell happened.....?)

Scouts: "Morinaga-sama! It seems that the enemy has received reinforcements. The number is about a hundred!"

Morinaga: "Hundred? That's too much of a response for me. It’s almost the same as receiving a thousand reinforcement."

(A thousand.... that's how strong the enemy is?)

Morinaga: “.....Yoshino.”

-------Part 4-------

Morinaga: “.....Yoshino.”

Morinaga-san turns to me after I take a breath.

Morinaga: “Will you leave the battlefield for the time being with your escort?”

Yoshino: “What about Morinaga-san....?”

Morinaga: “I’m going to help my allies on the front line.”

(Mm.....)

Morinaga-san’s words are filled with a strong will.

(I’m anxious to leave Morinaga-san, but in this situation, I have no choice.)

(Even at this moment, there are people waiting for help.)

(Let’s at least try not to slow them down!)

I clench my trembling hands tightly.

Yoshino: “....I understand. But please be careful.”

Morinaga: “Yes. Same to you.”

.........................

I leave Morinaga-san and head for the rear with the escorts that were appointed for me.

It’s been a while since I’ve had to hold on to an unaccustomed horse and make it run...

(Huh? I think they’ve got a message.)

As soon as one of the soldiers came riding up and said something, the others began to murmur.....

Yoshino: “Um, what’s going on?”

I asked the soldiers who were nearby.

Soldier 1: “Actually..... We’ve been informed that the rear supply convoy may have been targeted.”

Yoshino: “Eh.”

Soldier 1: “If the rearguard, which keeps track of the battle and supplies the troops, is compromised, it will be a great blow to men who are fighting now....!”

(That’s....)

I think of Morinaga-san and the other soldiers I left earlier.

Soldier 2: “We can’t leave them behind. We must protect our allies. Let’s go!”

Soldier 3: “Our first priority is to protect Yoshino-san. And the quickest way is the beastly road, but it is too dangerous for those who are not used to riding horses!”

(I’m slowing them down....)

I opened my mouth out of frustration.

Yoshino: “...Um, if you can find someplace where I can hide, please leave me there!”

Soldier 3: “But....”

(My voice is trembling...but...)

(But the other soldiers are fighting for their lives. I can’t stand in their way.”

Yoshino: “If there’s a fight, it’s just as dangerous with you all, and I don’t want to inconvenience you by my presence. I’d rather have you come and get me after the fighting has died down....”

The soldiers looked at each other and kept their mouths shut.

After a short silence, one of them spoke up.

Soldier 3: “....What Yoshino-san said is true. Soon it will be night and the war will be over. Rather than keeping her with us, it would be better to hide her in a safe place. I’ll show you the way, just follow me!”

Yoshino: “Yes!”

A short walk into the forest and I was guided to...

Soldier 3: “There’s a hut over there used by the local hunters, so take cover. In case of emergency, send up a smoke signal....Please bear with us, we will come for you after everything is over.”

Yoshino: “....Thank you, please be safe!”

As the soldiers disappear, I realized that I was completely on my own from hereon.

(I’m worried....)

------FLASHBACK-----

Morinaga: “It's best to be familiar with the battlefield if you want to be able to survive if the unexpected happens."

------FLASHBACK ENDS------

(For the time being, all I can do is stay here and wait for the soldiers to return.)

(If anything goes wrong, I’ll create a smoke signal. ....So I should be fine.)

I told myself so and headed for the hut through the undergrowth.

When I opened the door----

???: “Who are you.....”

(Eh!?)

In a dimly lit corner of the room, a soldier lay in agony.

(His injuries are severe!)

Yoshino: “Are you okay....?”

As I ran up to the soldier, I noticed a flagstaff that had fallen beside him.

(This is....)

(...No doubt, this is the sign held by the enemy!)

Soldier: “Little girl...? ...What are you...doing..here...?”

Yoshino: “Me...”

(In case if he finds out I’m an enemy he’ll surely kill me.)

When I involuntarily step back, and my back hits the door.

Soldier: “Wait. .... I don’t know what town you’re from,.... but.. you can’t leave until the war is over. ....”

Yoshino: “Eh.....?”

The soldier remains limp, as if he has no energy to move, and throws out words of advice.

(This person is....)

(Even if he doesn’t know that I'm the enemy, he’s still worried about me when he’s the one who’s wounded.)

(I could save him with some medical attention.)

(But that’s not an act you can show to Morinaga-san and his friends who are risking their lives fighting the enemy.)

(What should I do....)

Soldier: “Nghh......”

Yoshino: “........”

Even as I hesitated, the blood from the soldier’s side pooled on the floor.

(I.....)

I took out a piece of cloth I had prepared in case of emergency and applied first aid.

Soldier: “Wh...What are...you...doing...?”

Yoshino: “Please stay still. I’m a pharmacist.”

(I don’t know the correct choice right now. But I’d rather be wrong than regret it....)

....................

After a while....

(I’ve stopped the bleeding for now... but there are a lot of scratches. I have to wash and dress the wound so it doesn’t get infected.)

(I’m sure there’s a river nearby, isn’t there? I have to go out for a bit....)

Yoshino: “Can you wait here for a moment? I need to get some water.”

Soldier: “Ye...Yeah...”

I left the injured soldier inside the hut and quickly headed for the river.

..................

(This is....)

The empty plains were a haunting sight.

A number of broken arrows pierced the ground, the remains of dead soldiers being burned by the fire, testifying to the fierce battle that took place.

(I’ve finished fetching water, I must get back to the hut as soon as possible...)

I pursed my lips and was about to hurry when---

???: “What are you doing here, fox princess?”

(This voice...)

From behind, a bone-chilling voice comes with a mysterious aura. I have felt this same feeling before, and I’ll never forget it.

(No way....Is ‘he’ is here...?)

It was as if the temperature had suddenly dropped and I was sweating so hard I couldn’t even look back.

Only the sound of footsteps approaching on the grass is very clear.

(....I have to run away!)

I force my stiff legs to move, and I start to run as if I were rolling---

Yoshitsune: “Stop.”

Yoshino: “Ah....”

He pulled my arms tightly, turning me around and the impact made me fell to my knees on the spot.

Yoshitsune: “It’s a much quicker reunion than I thought.”

Yoshino: “Yoshitsune...sama....”

Eyes like purple crystals looked down at me.

(...Such cold eyes...)

I tried to turn my head away in horror, but a hand on my chin prevented me from doing so.

Yoshitsune: “I joined the war on a whim, but I didn’t realise there was a hidden enemy lurking in the background.”

Yoshino: “So...the ‘enemy reinforcements’...are actually the rebels?”

Yoshitsune: “We didn’t bring enough men to be an army.”

(Speaking of which, Yoritomo-sama said....)

(.....He said Yoshitsune-sama could turn the tide of war to his favor by putting himself in any critical situation.)

(That’s why the war situation went downhill so fast!)

Yoshitsune: “Does you presence mean that the Shogunate has come to this battlefield?”

Yoshino: “That’s...”

Yoshitsune: “Is he here?”

A chill runs down my spine at the sheer intimidation.

Yoshino: “....Yoritomo-sama is not here.”

Yoshitsune: “----Really. Then it was the fault of Yoritomo-sama that he let his precious trump card slip from his hand.”

Yoshino: ‘Ahh....”

The tip of his sword was kept right on my throat and I stopped breathing.

My skin crawls with fear and my body trembles.

Yoshitsune: “.....You can resent me, Yoshino.”

Chapter 2

#ikemen series #ikemen genjiden #ikemen genjiden yoshitsune #ikemen mc #otome #cybird #cybird ikemen #cybird otome #main story translations

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rwby-necro-au-archive · 3 years ago

Text

The Kid, The Songbird, and The End.

Clover would never understand why the prisons had open courtyards for the prisoners.

It was constantly freezing, and the prisoners never had enough to wear to keep them warm. Typical.

He gracefully rushed to his hiding spot along the out rim of the open concrete courtyard, waiting. The prison break was going to start any minute, he needed to mentally and physically prepared in case the guards put up a fight.

“Sirens and Cameras deactivated, proceed.” A woman’s voice sounded through his radio. Good, at least that part was out of the way. The harder it was to deactivate the sirens and cameras, the riskier the mission.

This one was simple in comparison to the others, get everyone out, get a move on to Vale. At least, that’s what the other songbirds had to do, Clover notified his boss that he needed to go get intel from the main council building.

A dangerous and stupid move for sure, but one that would be thanked and rewarded if he managed to do it correctly.

He laughed quietly to himself “Not even a full 2 months in yet and I’m already trying to get myself killed, how typical of me huh?” He thought to himself.

He looked over to his boss who nodded and gave an ok signal to begin the raid. Clover quietly hopped down the concrete wall he had been standing on and ran up behind a pursuer.

He quickly knocked the Pursuer unconscious and moved on to the next, and the next, and the one after that, until at least 15 of them were knocked unconscious.

It was better if he didn’t look at the faces. He didn’t want to recognize anyone from the miserable life he was brainwashed into thinking he loved. And he especially didn’t want anyone recognizing him.

Clover approached the command center of the prison. After some pondering over the buttons, he pressed one and almost all the steel prison doors opened below him.

His radio sounded again, this time, the voice of his boss, “Great Job, remember, solitary confinement cells have a different control center. It’ll be harder to find that one.”

Clover just laughed before speaking into the radio “Eh, I don’t think it’ll be that hard. You know, since the whole thing that happened in my past.”

His boss responded “That is true, but with that you gotta remember to keep you head down, face covered, or they’ll recognize you.”

“Copy That.” Clover then darted down the stairs to direct the prisoners to where to leave. He couldn’t lie, he really honest to Cosmos couldn’t, he liked the job. Liked the adrenaline, liked helping people. Maybe that’s part of the reason he was so good at his previous job, being able to work quick on adrenaline.

This wasn’t that job though, and he got more of a kick doing this then he would’ve ever gotten from being a pursuer. He was meant to be here.

As he reached solitary confinement he slowed his pace. Guards. Seems there were still a few that needed to be taken care of. Clover ducked into a hall behind a few boxes, full of what, he didn’t know, nor did he want to know.

After the guards had passed, he speedily but quietly ran down the hall. He skimmed over the door labels until he saw one he almost passed, labeled “command center”. He quickly ducked into the room.

Looks like he didn’t check before he went in.

“Who the hell are you?!” The pursuer sitting in the command center chair yelled. She had a white uniform on, the female uniform. Shit. The other guards were gonna hear this chick.

Clover kept up his confidence though, nothing a few punches to the jaw won’t fix. “Nobody important.” He said as he threw her out the door of the command center and locked it. He shook his head and mumbled to himself “Cosmos forgive me for throwing a woman…” he certainly wasn’t the type to like doing that.

Now wasn’t the time for that though, he opened the solitary confinement cell doors and quickly unlocked the door to the room he was in. Time to fight.

——————————————————————————

Successful. The prison raid that is. Everyone got out, and there were minimal problems that popped up during the mission. Everyone was back on the ship and waiting to be sent to Vale.

Everyone, except Clover.

He was running and dodging Pursuers left and right to find this guy he was told about. To be honest, when he joined the whole “send me an ask thing” on the internet, he kinda meant it as a joke. Just to see what the people thought of a pursuer being on the internet.

He sure as fuck wasn’t expecting these people to be some all seeing beings or whatever, but hey, he sure as hell wasn’t complaining. Anything to make his life a little easier.

Which he could really use right now considering he was kind of getting sick of having to fight all the pursuers defending the capital.

He looked up at the signs and skimmed through them similarly to how he skimmed through the prison signs. He eventually found one labeled dorms and quickly ran in.

As he was running down the hall he was suddenly yanked into a dorm. He reached for his weapon until,

“W-wait don’t shoot! I’m here to help you!!” The shorter man replied. He didn’t look very old, maybe about 17-18 ish, fresh out of highschool from the looks of it. Light brown hair, tan complexion, all topped off with dark blue eyes and the male pursuer uniform.

Clover then realized who he was speaking to, “You’re Rory?” He was dumbfounded. This skinny teenager was the one who got the intel for him, “I mean, good for him for sneaking that shit underneath Irondick’s nose but not what I was expecting to say the least.” He thought.

Rory stuttered out an apology before quickly rustling through the dorm, pulling out three very thick, probably 200 page individually, documents and handed them to Clover. Rory cleared his throat quietly before speaking “I-I was told that you were to be trusted with this stuff…”

Clover read the names, shocked at what he saw. He grimaced down at the papers “Yeah……I know them so yeah, I think I’m to be trusted. And so are you for getting these in the first place…”

Rory looked up and gave a confused look “What’s wrong?”

“I was never really told about this…” Clover stated, avoiding eye contact.

Rory nodded solemnly “Sorry you had to find out like this.”

Clover shook his head “I’m sorry you had to read these…” he couldn’t help but stare at the photographs. They looked nothing like how they looked now. Especially Oz.

“I-I only read one…..I didn’t read the others because after I read the bottom one, I….uh….kinda had to go into the bathroom to throw up….” He mumbled, as he pointed to Ozpin’s document.

Clovers eyebrows furrowed, “Is it really that bad?”

Rory shook his head “I’d say worse.” He fumbled with his hands for a moment, “O-Oh! I wanted to ask, do you think you can take me on the boat with you? I want out of here!” He exclaimed frantically.

“Of course! I can explain your situation, but we need to go, NOW. We’ll be in trouble if we don’t.” Clover peered at the door before grabbing Rory’s wrist and running.

The two ran down the halls of the capital, attempting to make their way out. During the rush of everything, Clover’s hand slipped from Rory’s wrist suddenly.

Rory was caught by 2 other pursuers.

He didn’t even have time to think about it, before he knew it, he was outside. And Rory? Was nowhere to be seen.

——————————————————————————

Rory was shoved forward by the guards, nearly falling in the process as he looked behind him at the pursuers, fearful and confused. It wasn’t until he heard his voice that he realized why they shoved him forward.

——————————————————————————

“Shit.” Clover couldn’t be selfish this time. He just couldn’t. He ran back inside, frantically searching for the younger man.

He turned countless corners until he came into the main hall. Quickly ducking behind a corner at the sight of the one man he didn’t want to see.

He peered out to see Rory there.

——————————————————————————

“So, first, you go against my right opinion, and then next you try and run. Pathetic.” Ironwood spoke cruelly to the younger man.

“I—“ Rory attempted to defend himself, but was not granted such a thing

Ironwood scoffed, “You what? Made me look like a moron in front of the other council members? Is that it?”

There was a long silence.

Rory spoke barely above a whisper, “Is there anything I can do to get your forgiveness….sir?”

Ironwood raised an eyebrow and proceeded to feign thoughtfulness for a moment before smiling down at the young man, “I suppose there is one way you can make it up to me.”

Rory looked up suddenly, surprised at the man’s answer.

Ironwood smiled coldly, “Don’t be anymore of a stain to anyone else, as you have been to me.”

“W-what do you mean s-sir…..” Rory mumbled, confused

Ironwood rolled his eyes and scoffed “Lord, you need a lot of hand holding don’t you? I’m letting you leave, Pursuer. Go, out the door you go.”

Rory was ecstatic, he was letting him leave. Him. Of all people! “T-thank you sir!”

Ironwood smiled “Don’t mention it, I know you won’t be a pain to anyone else after this.”

He stood up straight and ran for the exit. He didn’t think he could be happier in his life. But all would soon came crashing down, and everything would go black.

The last thing he ever felt emotionally, was utter betrayal. And physically? Something wet coming from his forehead

The final thing he ever heard. Was a gunshot. From a man he should’ve never trusted.

——————————————————————————

#pursuer rory #songbird clover #necromancer au ironwood #all of you. cry with me. because this hurts me just as much as it hurts you

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thefloorisbalaclava · 4 years ago

Text

pragma - part eleven

Pairing: Frankie “Catfish” Morales x Female Reader

Warnings: none

A/N: After such a rough chapter, I decided to keep this one light and fluffy and domestic because we all know what’s coming.

Summary: You spend a beautiful day with Frankie and he gives you something to hold onto for him.

pragma masterlist

gif by @lostinmysticfalls

Having Frankie basically live with you had turned out to be one of the best decisions you’d ever made. You both made each other happy and better, in a sense. Was this what you had been missing all this time?

“Where’d you go?” Frankie asked as you two laid in bed facing each other. You didn’t notice yourself getting lost in thought.

“Sorry. Just thinking.”

“About?” He took your hand and laced his fingers with yours.

“You.” You kissed his nose.

“Good stuff I hope…or naughty stuff.” He wiggled his eyebrows and you giggled.

“I save the naughty stuff for my dreams,” you told him.

His face lit up. “You have dreams about me?”

“Have you seen yourself? You’re pretty fucking dreamy, sir.” Seeing his face slowly flush made you smile. “I always have dreams about you but I like the real thing better.”

“In your dreams I’m probably built like some Greek god or something.”

“Nope. You’re just the way you are: perfect.” You played with the V-shaped part of his shirt. “Especially in this shirt.”

“Well, good thing you’re wearing the shirt I was actually planning on wearing today, huh?” He looked down at your bare thighs. “It’s a really good thing.”

“Didn’t feel like getting dressed today but I might have to.”

“Why?”

“Gotta get groceries. I have stuff that I like but we need to get some of your favorite things.” You scratched at his beard.

“I got my favorite thing right…here!” He pulled you on top of him making you yelp.

“That may be so but you can’t…eat…I’m gonna stop myself there.”

“You walked right into that one, baby,” he chuckled.

“Shut up.” You kissed him and he groaned quietly. He kissed back for a while then pulled away, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m…only gonna be here for about another week then…” You put a finger to his lips.

“I know. I don’t want to think about it, okay? Now, let’s go shopping.” You slid off him and put your own clothes on. “You can have your shirt back now,” you joked.

“Nah. You like this shirt on me so much, I’ll keep it on.”

“That’s the opposite of what I want you to do,” you flirted.

“Keep talking like that and we’ll never make it to the store.” He put his hat on and waited for you to finish getting dressed so he could walk downstairs with you.

“You wanna drive?” you asked as he put his aviators on.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Gives me a chance to stare at you all I want.” You handed him the keys to your car and walked to the front door, opening it. “Why are you looking at me like that?” you asked.

“I just love how the sun shines down on you.”

“You’re turning into more of a romantic every day, Frankie.” You took his hand and walked outside with him.

“Is that bad?”

“Not at all.” He opened the cat door for you. “Thank you, sir.” When he gets into the car and removes his sunglasses, you take them from him and put them on.

“I could just get you your own you know.”

“I like wearing yours,” you told him as he started the car and slowly pulled onto the road.

“What’s the deal with that?” he asked. “Why do women like wearing our stuff so much?”

“I dunno. I can’t really speak for all women but when I wear your stuff, I feel…so warm and cozy. Plus, it smells like you.”

“Smells like me? I have a smell?”

You nodded. “I think it’s the soap you use. Or maybe it’s just you. It’s nice. Your pillow smells like you now too.”

“You’ve been sniffing my pillow?”

“Shut up. You make it sound weird like you’ve never smelled something that I’ve worn!” You punched his arm and he laughed. “How did I ever live without that?”

“Hm?”

“Hearing that laugh every day. Hearing your voice. Seeing you smile. Gosh…I’m in love, huh?” Yeah, you really were.

“If you don’t stop, I will pull this car over and make out with you on the side of the road.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” You looked ahead again and noticed he was driving in the direction of your favorite store. “How’d you know which store I wanted to go to?”

“You keep some of the bags from the store for garbage and stuff. Kinda guessed from that.” He shrugged like it was nothing but it was everything. Your ex-husband probably couldn’t even tell you that.

Frankie pulled into the parking lot and parked in the first spot he found. “You’re not gonna try to find one a little closer?”

“Why?” He grabbed the keys and got out of the car then walked to your side to open the door for you. “Let’s go, lazybones.”

Inside the store, Frankie refused to put anything in the cart until he asked if it was okay with you.

“Frankie, if you ask me that one more time I will scream. Just put it in the damn cart. Whatever you want!” You hadn’t realized that this might have been the very first time anyone has done something like this for him. “I wanna get you these things, okay?��

“Okay.” He still hesitated though. “I’m not used to…”

“I know.”

“I never really lived with anyone either…except for my parents and, you know, during my army years.” He grabbed a box of cereal and threw it in the cart without asking.

“Ah, you’re getting the hang of it. Can you grab me a box of-"

“Lucky Charms? Yes ma’am.” He put the box in the cart and smiled at you. “If I remember correctly, you only eat the marshmallows.”

“I don’t think I could love you any more than I already do,” you said then kissed him, forgetting you were in the aisle of a grocery store until someone cleared their throat. You both jumped and smiled shyly as you moved out of the way.

“I think we’re finished,” Frankie said, looking into the cart.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

You let Frankie drive again and when he saw you reaching for the radio he groaned.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you asked, offended.

“Just…don’t play anything bad.”

“Nothing I listen to is bad, okay?” You pushed a few more icons on the console but Frankie stopped you.

“No way. Here.” He let go of the steering wheel and you reached over to grab it and keep the car on the road. Luckily, this stretch of road was always pretty empty.

“Jesus, Frankie…you better pick something good.”

“You said nothing you listen to is bad, right? So, hush and let me…pick…ha!” The music began to play and Frankie took over driving again. You turned and looked at him in shock as he started singing along.

“Oh, she may be weary. Them young girls they do get wearied wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah…”

“Oh my God, Frankie,” you giggled. He was really into it.

“But when she gets weary…try a little tenderness… You know she’s waiting, anticipating the thing that you’ll never, never, never, never possess…”

“Oh, you possess something, alright,” you joked, shaking your head in surprise before singing along.

“But while she’s there waiting without them…try a little tenderness. That’s all you gotta do…”

You laughed and sung along but mostly watched him. You had never seen him this way and it was such a beautiful thing. He was able to be himself around you and it brought tears to your eyes. So carefree, so handsome, so…yours.

“Wait, wait…this is the best part,” he said holding his hand up and singing. “You’ve got to rub her gentle man, all you gotta do. You gotta love her, squeeze her, don’t tease her. Gotta try na na na…try a little tenderness!” He was singing his heart out.

“Woooo!” you cheered before laughing so hard tears rolled down your cheeks. You clapped as the song ended and he smiled brightly.

“How was that?” he asked.

“I had no idea you had it in you.”

“I’m full of surprises, huh?” he smiled over at you.

“You sure are.”

He pulled up to your place and turned the car off sitting there quietly for a minute. You wanted to pick his brain, but you would let him talk when he was ready.

“I need a picture of you,” he said suddenly.

“You have some on your phone…”

“No, I mean like an actual picture that I can hold and…I want one to carry with me when…” His hands dropped from the steering wheel.

“I’m sure I can find one.” You tried to think of a way to cheer him up again. “I hope you know that whatever you leave here is mine for the taking. I’m wearing all of your clothes! I might even drive your truck.”

“Hey, you break it you buy it.” He smiled then took your hand and kissed it. “I miss you already. Is that weird?”

“Nope. I miss you too.” You got up on your knees and leaned over the center console to kiss him.

“Can I have my shades back now?”

You pouted and took them off. “Fine.” He gave you another quick kiss before taking the glasses from you, putting them on, then getting out of the car. You followed and grabbed what few bags he left to carry into the house.

“Show off,” you called to him as you walked to the door to unlock it. “You know I could’ve carried more.”

“I know but I didn’t want you to.” He walked into the house, kicked his shoes off, and carried the bags to the kitchen.

“Are you trying to be my prince charming or are you just like this naturally?” you asked as you wrapped yourself around him as he put the groceries away.

“Treating a woman the way she’s supposed to be treated is not some fairytale shit.”

“You’d be surprised, my dear.” You helped put the groceries away then lounged on the couch. “I’m tired.”

“Go upstairs and rest,” Frankie said taking his hat off and throwing it on the coffee table.

“Come with me?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”

You’re not sure how long you had been asleep by the time Frankie joined you but by the time you woke up, he was wrapped around you sleeping. You couldn’t move and felt hot. If this had been anyone else, you would’ve shrugged them off or woke them up to give you some space but it was Frankie and you never wanted him to move. He held onto you as if you might float away if he let go. His quiet snores made you smile.

He moved his arm for a minute to scratch at his beard so you turned quickly to face him before he wrapped it around you again. God, was he handsome. You kissed his nose and a hint of a smile appeared on his lips. He smiled in his sleep? Now you were positive he was your prince charming.

You laid like this for a while until you realized you had to use the bathroom. You hated to move and risk waking him up but you had to go. Carefully and quietly, you wriggled yourself out of his arms and rolled off the bed.

It wasn’t until you were standing at the sink washing your hands that you noticed something. You looked at yourself in the mirror and there was a chain hanging from your neck. You dried your hands and turned the water off before getting a better look at it.

One of Frankie’s dog tags.

When did he put this on you? You ran your thumb over the metal, feeling the etchings of every letter. It was a little worn and bent, but that made you love it more. It showed you what he had been through. He was also worn, tattered, beat up even, but he stood the test of time and pain. A tear fell onto it and you wiped it away.

“It wasn’t supposed to make you cry,” Frankie said standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

“When did you give me this?” you asked, sniffling.

“While you slept. I wanted you to have something from me.” He walked into the bathroom and stood behind you, wrapping his arms around you.

“You’ve already given me everything I could ever want, Frankie.”

“You deserve the world though and I’m gonna try my best to give it to you,” he kissed the top of your head and closed his eyes.

“Don’t you know? You are my world.” You turned to him and kissed his nose. It was your favorite thing to do now. “You smile in your sleep.”

“I do?” he asked and you nodded. “Must’ve been dreaming about you then.”

“I think it’s because I kissed this cute little nose of yours.” You poked it.

“My nose is cute?” He looked at himself in the mirror. “You might need glasses.”

“Gimme yours then.”

“I meant prescription glasses. Nice try though.”

“I’ll get ‘em one day.” His grip on you loosened and you inched away from him. “Maybe today.”

“Don’t even try it…”

“I’m faster than you.” You were standing in the doorway now.

“Yeah, probably, but I can pick you up and throw you over my shoulder and stop this before it even happens.” He walked towards you and you kept backing away.

“Oh yeah?” He nodded and you continued. “But there’s something you gotta do before that happens.”

“Is there?”

“You have to catch me first!” You ran as fast as you could out the room and downstairs with Frankie not far behind. Just as you reached into his jacket pocket, he grabbed you with a growl and spun you around. “I got ‘em!”

“Drop them and I’ll let you go,” he said, breathing heavily.

“Maybe I don’t want you to let me go,” you teased as you wiggled against him and put the glasses on. He started to kiss your neck and you relaxed. “That’s…you’re cheating.”

“Deal with it.” He took the glasses off you and put them on before letting you go. You looked at him and pouted. “Like I said: nice try.”

You stuck your tongue out at him and laid down on the couch.

“Did you just…”

“Maybe I did.” You pretended to ignore him, turning your head so you wouldn’t look at him but suddenly he was on you, kissing your face and your neck but tickling you at the same time. “Frankie!” You squealed and laughed and tried pushing him off but he didn’t budge.

He eventually stopped but stayed on top of you. He pulled the glasses down his nose so he could look into your eyes. “You started it.”

“Whatever.” You grabbed his face and kissed him. He laid there with you for a while, catching his breath before rolling to the side so you could move if you wanted. You played with the dog tag he gave you.

“Keep that safe for me?” he asked.

“Always.”

He put the glasses on you then kissed your nose this time.

[twelve]

Tags: @cable-kenobi @saltywintersoldat @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @pedrosdoll @psychobillybunny @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @keeper0fthestars @mrsparknuts @thinemineours @huliabitch @synystersilenceinblacknwhite @lavenderl3mons @mrscrain-x7 @fioccodineveautunnale @gooddaykate @themilkface @tiffdawg @ms-dont-care @mus1caln0tes @awesomefandomsunited @seawhisperer @virtualxjournality @badassbaker @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @lokiaddicted

#Frankie Morales #Frankie Morales x Reader #Francisco 'Catfish' Morales #Triple Frontier #Pedro Pascal #headcanon

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mostlycompetentwriter · 4 years ago

Text

You can STAY- Part Three

F/M Pairing: Y/N x Lee Felix (side pairing: Y/N x Stray Kids)

Word Count: 5.2K

Warnings: Language

Genre: Fantasy AU; Scarlet Heart AU; OT8 SKZ

Previous Parts: Part One, Part Two

Summary: Y/N has another unexpected confrontation with Prince Felix. But he’s also not her biggest problem, especially when she uncovers a potentially devastating plot that could completely unravel the royal hierarchy.

Taglist: @angelphantomlove @moonlightracha @staycarat0801 @jjabbur @pinkchcn @smolchild-lol @straykidbaby @moonnstars90 @choisaemi @dru-shadow @skzooyeet

It was still early that morning when I woke-up to the sound of someone knocking on the door to my bedroom. For a moment, I was too disoriented to respond, but the sound grew louder with the force of whoever was insistent about coming inside. Finally, I gave in and walked over to answer the door with a nonchalance that I’m sure reflected my drowsiness.

“Jeongin?” I questioned, surprised to see the younger standing on the other side.

“Hi, Y/N,” he said, and it was a timid greeting as he shuffled anxiously in the doorway.

“Did you need something?” I asked, wondering why one of the King’s sons had went out of his way to visit me in my small dungeon bedroom.

“I, uh, wanted to make sure you weren’t busy today,” Jeongin said. “I'd like to visit the market again and try to sell my paintings.”

The request took me off-guard, and I didn’t know which I was more surprised to hear: that Jeongin wanted me to accompany him, or that the King’s youngest son made trips to the market to sell his artwork like he didn’t already have enough money. “I guess I can go with you,” I said.

“It’s mostly for protection,” Jeongin said. “Cuz’ of your powers and stuff...”

I grinned at his awkward conversation because it was strangely adorable to hear him stumble over his request. “I’d love to, Jeongin,” I said. “Let me get dressed and I’ll meet you outside on the bridge.”

Jeongin nodded in agreement and I gently closed the door to prepare myself for an impromptu trip into town.

It certainly sounded like a better prospect than resigning myself to another day of medicinal experimentation - searching for the cure that would alleviate Ella’s suffering. Ever since my encounter with Chan’s wife, I had been relentlessly searching my manuals and the records kept neatly arranged in the Castle’s library. However, despite my efforts, I was no closer to finding the answers than I had been during our first meeting.

Yet, I could never give-up on something that might help someone else in need, so I maintained my confidence that I just needed to look harder. But one day out of the confines of my bedroom couldn’t possibly hurt, especially since I had experienced an excruciating headache during the previous night after spending all afternoon hunched over my desk.

I nodded in self-determination, swiping my brush through my hair one more time before I left my room, walking upstairs alone with the company of my thoughts as I tried to focus on the task at hand. If Jeongin trusted me enough for protection, then I would do my best not to disappoint him. I had worked hard to fine-tune my powers for any case that might arise while I served the royal family, and I considered my fighting skills to be an enormous source of pride.

“You should feel privileged to walk so freely without care.”

I paused at the top of the staircase at the sound of an all-too familiar voice, and I frowned when Felix came into view while wearing an arrogant smile. “Forgive me, miss,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of a proper introduction.”

“Then what do you consider our last meeting?” I asked him. “If I recall correctly, you insinuated that I would bring ruin to this Castle.”

“Of course not,” Felix said. “It was rather premature of me to base my opinion on a foolish disagreement with Seungmin.”

“I agree,” I said, keeping my tone neutral as I watched him come even closer. “Do you not believe such things anymore?”

“I find you perfectly elegant, Y/N,” Felix said. “You seem to prioritize your morals above everything else, and I can sense a profound loyalty for my family despite only just arriving a few nights ago.”

“Not so much your family,” I corrected him. “I serve the kingdom, and that means honoring those who lead it.”

“How righteous,” Felix said. “Consider me impressed by your character.”

“I wish I could the say the same,” I said, and I was pleased when Felix’s smile vanished.

“Have I done something to offend you?” Felix asked. “I apologized for my actions. Please don’t tell me that you intend to hold a grudge?”

“Consider it more of a casual suspicion,” I said, watching his green eyes narrow. “I’ve learned a lot about you since my arrival.”

“Is that so?” Felix asked, and I could tell that he was not appreciative of my comment.

I nodded as I remembered my conversation with Chan on the same afternoon when I met his wife - how he willingly opened up to me about his red-haired brother in exchange for a tentative promise to help his wife.

“I know that you aren’t wanted here,” I said. “I was told that your own mother tried to kill you when you were merely a child.”

“Where did you hear this?” Felix asked, but his tone wasn’t angry like I had been expecting; instead, he seemed unusually morose while he looked at me with sad green eyes.

“Does it matter?” I asked him. “How else should I look upon someone whose own father hated him so much that he sent him away to another kingdom?”

My words triggered a brief silence between us, and it seemed like they had a great affect on Felix, but I was still stunned when he reached out to grab my wrist - directing my hand over his heart. “Do you feel that?” he asked, and I slowly nodded. “I’m human, Y/N,” he continued. “This opinion you have of me matters because it’s made you forget that I’m flesh and blood like you. And I expected someone with your moral integrity to know better than to treat an equal as lesser, or to believe nasty rumors without understanding the whole story.”

I could feel my mouth fall open in shock, and I looked at Felix for the first time without a single ounce of judgment. But I still couldn’t help but remain stuck on one word in particular: “Equal,” I repeated.

“Do you not consider that accurate?” Felix asked. “As far as I’m concerned, we both live and breath and share the same experiences. And to address your other offense against me, I’d like you to understand that my mother is a wicked woman who has always favored her eldest son. She held him to the utmost regard while I was nothing but a mistake that she always regretted...Yes, my mother did try to kill me, but it wasn’t out of a sense of righteousness to rid this world of a perceived evil. And when she wasn’t successful, she gave me this scar that I hide from the rest of the world.”

I swallowed hard when Felix removed the black mask obscuring the left side of his face to reveal a diagonal line of jagged edges. “In actuality, she would’ve done anything to ensure that Chan had no competition to stand in his way of the throne. But look at how well that worked out for them both. Chan decided to marry a peasant girl and defy our father, and he deserves his lowered status because he needs to finally understand that his actions have consequences that can last for a lifetime.”

He finished his tirade with a heavy exhale before securing his mask back into place. “Look at us, Y/N. We’ve both decreed presumptive judgments of one another, and they’re entirely inaccurate.” He then lowered his gaze when he infiltrated my personal space - far closer than what might be considered appropriate. “Forgive me for all that I’ve done that forced you to seek these lies. Perhaps in the future, we can hold a civil conversation together.”

I closed my eyes, reeling from the onslaught of his confession. “Why are so insistent on defending these perceptions, Felix?”

“Because you came here with no outside bias against me,” Felix replied. “I refuse to see these royals feed you misinformation just for you to turn against me as well.”

“I suppose it almost worked,” I said. “But I’m still confused after listening to an entirely different side.”

“It’s my side,” Felix insisted. “Seek the truth for yourself, but keep in mind that the people in this Castle are all looking out for their best interests.”

“Aren’t you doing the same?”

“Yes, but you’ll hopefully come to find that I never speak untruths,” he said. “My mother is an insane liar, and her clever tongue managed to keep Chan in this castle after his marriage, even though the king decided to deny him the opportunity to take the throne. I’ve seen her behave this way for my entire life, and I once vowed to never be anything like her.”

He finally stepped away, and I was able to inhale without restriction. His grin returned as he observed me. “Despite what you’re thinking, my return to the castle was not predicated on ill-conceived intentions. There’s no reason to doubt me, Y/N, and for the record, I’d like you to know that you’ve fascinated me from the moment I saw you at the choosing ceremony.”

His final declaration rendered me speechless, and I found myself trembling when he offered me a discreet wink before returning in the direction from which he had arrived.

By the time the sun was at its highest point in the sky, Jeongin and I were carefully walking around the outskirts of the market - searching for the perfect place to set up his paintings. “I do this all the time,” Jeongin reassured me with a cute smile that was impossible to deny.

“Okay,” I agreed, admiring the usual bustle of the market as eager patrons searched for the best prices on the goods they required.

“Over there,” Jeongin suggested, pointing to an empty stall, and I followed him with a selection of his paintings secured under my arm. “Let’s organize them,” Jeongin said, and I carefully followed his instructions while also admiring the beautiful creations that he had crafted.

“These are gorgeous,” I said, and he brightened at the compliment.

“Really?”

“Of course,” I said, tracing my fingertips across the texture of an oil painting. “They look so real.”

“My mother thinks it’s a waste of time,” Jeongin scoffed, gaze hardening for a moment as he stepped back to admire our efforts.

“I think it’s creative,” I said. “It makes you stand out from the others.”

“Exactly,” Jeongin agreed. “Everyone else already has something that makes them unique, and I wanted my own thing.”

“Well, you certainly found it,” I said, pausing when I noticed an elderly woman approaching our collection.

“How much for this one?” she inquired, indicating a rather gorgeous recreation of the surrounding mountain range.

While Jeongin started negotiations, I took my time perusing the remaining pieces that he had brought with him. I could tell that he had put his heart and soul into faithful adaptations of the most random subject matter: everything from scenic portraits to little drawings of his family members. It was a fascinating dynamic to his character, and I wondered how long the prince had been painting because these looked far too advanced considering his young age.

“Are you serious!?” a hostile voice growled, interrupting my musings with a tone that alerted me to possibility of an impending confrontation.

“What’s going on?” I asked, coming to stand next to a fuming Jeongin as he glared at the man who was holding one of his paintings.

“This little brat thinks he can swindle me out of my money!” the man said. “The cost of this shit is worth more than my house!”

“Oh, I’m sure he’d reconsider the price,” I said, stepping closer when I sensed an opportunity to appease the tension.

“I won’t!” Jeongin declared. “That piece is incredibly valuable!”

“Of course, the bastard thinks that his royal blood makes everything he touches turn to gold.”

“That’s enough,” I said, lowering my tone. “You can look elsewhere if you can’t afford his price.”

“For your information, bitch, I’m looking in exactly the right place,” the man said, and I noticed him reaching for the sword secured at his side.

I took a deep breath when I noticed that the men he had traveled with were also advancing on the two of us - raising their own weapons into the air. I narrowed my eyes and willed their swords to fly out of their hands - shocking both of his partners. “You might want to reconsider your stance,” I said to the first man, but his accompanying smirk caught me off-guard - like he wasn’t intimidated in the slightest by my magic.

“Maybe you need a lesson in manners too,” the man said, and I could barely formulate a response before I heard Jeongin shriek my name while a pair of arms wrapped around my waist. I could feel the breath escape my lungs, and then there was a hand over my eyes, preventing me from seeing what was happening, and I started thrashing around in the limbs holding me hostage. “Let me gut this stupid girl first,” the man said, and I could hear Jeongin calling for help as the sharp point of a sword teased the side of my throat.

But the man never followed through on his promise, and I only realized a moment later that he had been compromised when I fell to the ground with a grunt. My hand went to my throat because I could still feel the phantom effects of the sword’s blade, and my eyes blinked rapidly as I saw two figures standing at the front of our stall - waving their swords with impressive skill and growling out insults. Apparently, Jeongin’s call for help had actually been answered, and I was relieved to see both Prince Chan and Prince Felix warding off the opposition.

“Your business here is done,” Felix said, appearing nothing short of intimidating with his mask and sword.

“They should be so lucky,” the first man snarled, but he knew better than to continue a fight that he was destined to lose.

I watched him walk away before I realized that Felix and Chan were both hovering over me with matching expressions of concern. “Y/N?” Chan asked with a gentle tone.

“Thank you,” I managed to respond, flushing when I noticed that both Felix and Chan had outstretched their hands for me to take. But instead of forcing myself to make that decision, I rose at my own autonomy, glaring at Felix when he chuckled.

“They might not be so lucky next time,” one of the men called back, and he must’ve still been riding the waves of adrenaline when he chanced a step back in our direction.

“Get the hell out of here,” Chan snapped at the burly man who had helped attack us, and he grumbled in complaint but obeyed nonetheless. “Y/N,” Chan repeated, shoving Felix out of the way as he came closer. “Are you okay?”

I nodded while Felix scoffed. “What the hell were the two of you doing causing trouble like that?”

“We weren’t causing trouble,” I said, and Felix smirked.

“Good,” he said in response. “After our conversation earlier, I would hate to discover that you had lied to me, Y/N.”

Chan frowned at that - glancing between me and Felix with a curious expression. “Let’s just get everyone back to the castle,” he said, and I agreed with one last glare in Felix’s direction.

The next morning, Anna woke me up early with a bright smile. “Good news,” she said, starting for my wardrobe. “The King has requested your presence at the tea ceremony today! They’re honoring Minho for his selection.”

I groaned around the exhaustion holding me captive. “Is this a request or a demand?”

Anna hesitated as she laid a dress across my bed. “Well, I wouldn’t ignore the King.”

“Of course,” I said, forcing myself to abandon the comforts of my mattress. “When will it take place?”

“This afternoon,” Anna said. “You should hurry and get dressed.”

I nodded quietly in easy compliance, watching Anna leave me to my own volition as I forced myself to put on the dress that she had left behind for me. It was fairly modest, but the sleeves had a very delicate lace lining them. I also spent a few moments in front of the mirror to check my appearance, which I never normally allowed, before I left my room to walk upstairs.

It was suspiciously quiet in the corridors, and I found it strange because I remembered that the King’s wives lived in this area of the Castle. But it was pointless to assume anything, and perhaps they were already waiting at the ceremony with their sons.

However, my senses went on high alert when I heard two voices intermingling towards the end of the passage, and I pinpointed the noise coming from a single bedroom. Subsequently, I paused outside the room, glancing through the space between the door and the entryway to see Changbin and Queen Seo speaking together in low voices.

“You’ll be next to the King,” Queen Seo said, and she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she examined Changbin’s outfit. “Do you remember the plan?”

“Of course,” Changbin replied. “I shall look for the handmaiden.”

“I’ll have her deliver the tea,” Queen Seo explained. “Once Minho drinks it...” She trailed off with a maniacal grin, reaching out to adjust Changbin’s hanbok. “My son looks so handsome,” she remarked. “Like a true leader.”

Changbin sneered at her words. “He thinks that Minho could possibly do better than me?”

Queen Seo shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it either. “Don’t trouble your mind. Tonight, we shall change his perception after we kill that little bastard.”

The promise held dangerous implications, and I stumbled backwards from the door in surprise. It was my sworn duty to protect the rulers of this Castle, and I had barely given the plot any further consideration before I was returning to my quarters.

Because I would ensure Minho’s well-being, even at the cost of my own position.

I was late to the tea ceremony as a result of my efforts, but I only received a stern reprimand from Ms. White before she escorted me to my seat next to Seungmin and Jisung. It also offered me an appropriate vantage point of Minho who I kept within my sights as everyone spoke around me with joyful tones. I had nearly forgotten that it was a celebration, and I found myself narrowing my eyes at Queen Seo and Changbin as they laughed together with the King like there was nothing wrong.

“You seem distracted.”

I slid my gaze away from Changbin - locating Seungmin as he leaned in closer to be make himself heard over the noise. “What did you say?”

“You know, Y/N,” Seungmin said, propping his chin against his hand. “I happen to like this color on you.”

I was surprised by his strangely flirtatious tone. “Excuse, me?”

But instead of replying to my query, Seungmin shot me a discreet wink and turned to Jeongin who offered his brother a friendly smile. The whole encounter was decidedly unusual, and I wondered if everyone in this Castle was startling to lose their minds.

“Don’t concern yourself with him,” Jisung said while nodding at his brother. “He’s a rare breed.”

I found myself smiling at the jest in spite of my concerns. “What can you possibly mean by that, Prince Jisung?”

“It’s his way of impressing you,” Jisung said.

“Impressing me?”

“He’s convinced himself that you only fight with him to hide your true feelings,” Jisung revealed. “Seungmin thinks you’re harboring secret affections.”

“I might’ve helped,” Hyunjin added from across the table, and I grimaced at the idea before reclining back in my chair.

“How remarkable,” I said. “He didn’t seem to like me.”

“Seungmin always acts that way around strangers,” Jisung said. “But he warms up to them eventually.”

“Don’t take it personally,” Hyunjin said. “And try not to hold it against him. He really does like you.”

“But why shouldn’t he?” a new voice contributed, and both Jisung and Hyunjin flinched when Felix suddenly entered the room - pausing at the end of the table. “Y/N is very interesting.”

I turned away from him, fanning my hand across my chest because my heart was doing something peculiar inside my chest.

The King, however, was furious. He stood and glared down at Felix with narrowed eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“Why shouldn’t I come?” Felix returned. “I’d like to celebrate Minho’s ascension to the throne. It’s what a good brother should do.”

“It’s alright, father,” Minho said, and I’m sure his words were shocking to most of the people at the table. “He can sit with us.”

“Very well,” the King relented, but he never took his eyes away from Felix as he sat down next to Hyunjin. “We shall begin.”

The King’s command summoned several handmaidens who brought inside the ceremonial tea for our consumption. Because of what I had discovered earlier, I kept a close eye on the handmaiden who served Minho - it was poisoned tea, and I had taken a potion earlier that should stop its effects. Since the potion contained a powerful chemical that was effective against all the traditional poisons I had studied, everything should be fine.

But there was a small risk that the queen had chosen a poison that could defy my potion, but I doubted that she would go to such great lengths.

“In honor of my son, Minho,” the King announced. “We shall drink to his health and vitality.”

I held my breath when everyone lifted a tea cup into the air, and I chose that precise moment to make my move.

“Your highness,” I intervened, coming around the table to grab Minho’s cup - ignoring the gasps of horror that echoed from the queens. “Shall I try it first?”

Minho blinked in surprise, looking at me like he couldn’t believe that I was standing over him. “I-I suppose.”

“In your honor, of course,” I added hastily before lifting the rim of the delicate cup to my lips.

I could taste the poison as it slid down my throat, but I emptied most of the glass before wiping the remnants with the back of my hand. I sat the cup back on the table, swallowing hard when I felt the effects swim through my system. Thankfully, they were quickly assuaged by the potion that still lingered in my bloodstream. It worked just as I had imagined, and I reached out for Minho’s chair to overcome a brief bout of dizziness.

Everything was silent around me, but I forced a smile as I bowed to the King who was regarding me with a peculiar look. In the meantime, I was determined to finish the rest of the tea so that I could pour Minho something untainted. But I never anticipated further interruptions:

“I’d like to have the honor as well,” Felix said with a smirk, and I glared at him when he rose from his seat.

“It’s not necessary,” I insisted, but Felix jerked the cup away from me with an acute speed.

“But I insist,” Felix said, and he gave me a knowing look - one that said he was aware of the situation.

“Felix-” I tried again, but he had already lifted the rim to his lips - downing the rest of its contents with a sigh.

“Is this funny to you?” the King growled, and Felix simply chuckled.

“I’ve caused enough mischief for one afternoon,” he said, and he stumbled on his way to the exit.

“Fool,” I whispered because I knew that Felix could potentially die without treatment. Thus, I bowed once again to the king before running out of the room in search of him.

It didn’t take me long to find him - collapsed in the remote corridor outside of the room.

“Prince Felix!” I gasped, and I ran the remaining steps before dropping down next to his crumbled form. “Are you insane?”

Felix rolled over onto his back, chest heaving, as he fixed me with a familiar smirk. “How is it fair that you get to have all the fun?

“You knew,” I hissed, cradling his head on my lap as I reached into my robes for the extra potion. “Drink this,” I insisted, holding the vile up to his pale lips.

Felix obeyed, consuming the potion before grinning up at me. “Are you furious with me, Y/N?”

“You absolute fool,” I said, resisting the urge to jostle the prince too much while he still fought to recover. “Why would you do something like that? It was poisoned.”

“But nobody would’ve ever known,” Felix said. “I do admire you, Y/N, but is it wise to stop the efforts of one plot when the same person might conceive of a dozen others?”

I sighed when I realized the wisdom of his words. “It’s a complicated matter,” I said, and the Prince narrowed his eyes.

I didn’t like the suspicious gleam in his gaze, especially when he leaned most of his weight against me for a closer examination. “You know who it is?” he asked, and his nose brushed against mine.

“Don’t do this,” I pleaded with him because I knew that we were teetering precariously over dangerous ground with consequences that went beyond what either of us were prepared to face. It was a personal mattered that involved one of the King’s wives and her son - an issue that would lead to radical conflict.

“You won’t tell me,” Felix stated simply, and I thought I was in the clear until the prince opened his mouth again. “It must be very sinister. I’ll have to assume that it involved someone in that room.”

I swallowed hard and Felix smiled because I had just inadvertently given him the confirmation that he was seeking. “You shouldn’t meddle,” I warned him, shivering when his fingers traced along my lips.

“What I wouldn’t give to see inside that beautiful head of yours,” Felix said, and we both continued to stare at one another in awe.

But the moment was broken by the sounds of approaching footsteps, and I moved away from Felix just in time to see several guards running in our direction. “What’s wrong with him?” one of the guards demanded, and I hesitated because I had also noticed that most of the princes were arriving on the scene.

There was every opportunity to stick to my original plan and keep everything incognito, but then Felix gave me a meaningful look, and I reluctantly relented. “He’s been poisoned.”

“Poisoned!” one of the guards exclaimed, and there was only chaos that followed. Just as I had suspected. But there were also Felix’s green eyes, and they managed to anchor me to the moment, even amidst all the noise and screaming.

They were somehow reassuring, and I clung to them desperately when the King demanded my presence in the Throne Room.

It was an intimidating sight: kneeling before the King as he leered down at me from his throne. “Do you understand that you have no right to decide the fate of this Castle?”

I shivered at the underlying threat in his tone. “Your highness,” I said. “Forgive me. I thought it was best to solve this issue on my own as deemed by my duties.”

“Is this an admission of guilt?” The King asked. “Did you know what would happen before stepping inside that room?”

“Yes,” I said, closing my eyes and wondering if this would be my last day in the Castle.

“You knew of this plot but refused to speak up?” the King growled, and I lowered my head before him.

“Forgive me,” I once again requested softly. “I was afraid that revealing the complexities would cause the perpetrator to act out far more rashly.”

“My son almost died,” the King said, and I could see Minho shift in his seat from my peripheral vision.

“My intention was to save him,” I said. “I wanted to let the assailant know that their plots will never work while I’m around to protect the royal family.”

The King was silent for a moment after my confession, and he considered me with a strange look. “I see,” he finally said. “I cannot punish you mage because your efforts saved Minho, but I must also give you a warning: the next time you learn of something so consequential, you will come to me and reveal everything.”

“Yes, your majesty,” I said, and I stood once more at his command. “I shall remember your words.”

“Very well,” the King said with a dismissive hand. “You may retire to your quarters.”

I made sure to offer him a polite bow before I was rapidly making my way out of the Throne Room - mind working a mile a minute. The brief intervention had allowed the the rare chance to speak to the King without his wives - one of which remained guilty of the plot to kill Minho. I could’ve spoken out against her, but there were far more complications to such an innocuous action.

Who would really believe me over the word of the Queen?

More importantly, would Felix say something about my hidden knowledge? Because he had somehow figured out that I was aware of the guilty party involved, and I had no doubt that he would question me in the future.

Yet, there were also more pressing matters to consider, such as the unexpected arrival of Minho who had somehow escaped the King’s notice. “Mage,” Minho interrupted, stopping me outside the throne room. “Could I have a word?”

“Of course, your highness,” I said, and I followed Minho as he led me further down the corridor to a quiet enclave.

“This is more private for our conversation,” Minho explained, and I was struck by the smile he gave me.

“I’m all ears, your grace,” I said, but Minho surprised me further by laughing, and he crowded me against the wall.

“I know you drank the tea to save me,” Minho said, and I startled when he reached out to touch the side of my face.

“Your highness,” I said, flushing at the unexpected contact. “W-what do you mean?”

“You don’t have to be coy with me, Y/N,” Minho said, and I gasped because it was the first time that he had ever used my real name. “I may not understand love, but I can tell when someone is trying hard to catch my attention.”

I nearly spluttered around my words when I caught onto his implication. “Y-you misunderstand-”

“Please don’t hide anymore,” Minho said, and I faltered at the desperation in his tone. “Perhaps when we get to know one another, I’ll consider bringing the prospect of marriage before my father.”

Marriage!?

“You’re serious,” I said, and I struggled to form a single coherent sentence following Minho’s passionate declaration.

“Shall we start tonight?” Minho continued as if I had never spoken, and his fingers burned a trail down the side of my face.

It was obvious that he was lost to whatever perception he held of me, but I glanced to the side when I heard a noise that had not originated from myself or Minho. My eyes scanned the darkness, and I froze when I found myself caught in the snare of an intimate gaze. But I hesitated when I realized that those green irises belonged to Felix, and the look in his stare was impossible to discern.

#skzwriternet #stayverse #skz fanfic #stray kids fanfic #skz imagines #stray kids imagines #skz scenarios #stray kids scenarios #stray kids series #skz fantasy au #scarlet heart au #lee felix fanfic #slow burn #felix fanfic #mostlycompetent

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jokertrap-ran · 4 years ago

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Disney’s Twisted Wonderland: Dorm Uniform Jade Leech SSR【 Place your foot over here 】Chapter 2

*Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *One hell of a butler SEBASTIAN IS THIS YOU

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3

Commissions are OPEN!!

⊱ ──── Pomefiore Dorm- Lounge ──── ⊰

Vil: Finally back to the dorm, it seems.

Jade: I've returned as well.

Rook: Welcome back, Vil! It seems like the splendor has increased in the dorm upon your very return!

Rook: Welcome back too, Jade-kun. I'm sure you now know just how wonderful of a role-model Vil is after spending a day by his side.

Jade: Indeed. He has training in the mornings, writes columns during his break time and has model shooting right after classes...

Jade: And he still has the job of being the Dorm Leader to handle above all that. I must say that I'm truly impressed.

Vil: I can't help but to feel that you're a little off-putting for an attendant who's only on his first day.

Vil: You managed to get on such friendly terms with the stuffy and straight-laced people of the industry in such little time; and you were also perfect when it came to helping out with the shooting. You've worked much harder than I thought you would.

Rook: And that Vil's saying so! How nice, isn't it, Jade-kun?

Knock knock

Azul: Good evening. Is Vil-san in toda...Oh? Jade.

Jade: Azul...

Vil: My~? Whatever is the Dorm Leader of Octavinelle doing here in the Pomefiore? Interested in how your ex-vice's doing?

Azul: No; I simply came to deliver the documents that you require for the Dorm Leaders' Meeting tomorrow. I bumped into the Headmaster earlier and he entrusted this task to me.

Azul: ...But, of course, I'm relieved to see that Jade is doing well here.

Azul: I could hear the commotion in here all the way from the other side of the door.

Azul: Floyd and I were worried about you too, you know? About whether you'll be alright in another dorm.

Jade: Your worry is un-needed. I'm currently living my days of fulfillment right here in Pomefiore.

Rook: ...Is this a fight I see? How exciting!

Vil: ......

Azul: That's good to hear. Don't worry about me either, for I'm doing well even without someone like you.

Jade: I am not worried.

Azul: Is that so?

Azul: ...Very well then, it is best if I don't overstay my welcome. I've already handed you the necessary documents, therefore, I shall be taking my leave.

Jade: Goodness gracious...It seems like he has finally left.

Vil: You two should have just taken to the lounge instead where you can talk to your hearts content, however loud you wish if you had grievances to share.

Jade: No, we're simply passing acquaintances; that's all...Therefore, there are no speak-able grievances.

Rook: Weren't you and your brother Floyd childhood friends with Azul, if I remember correctly?

Jade: Indeed. There aren't as many Mer-folk out there as there are humans.

Jade: That's why we were all naturally in the same classes starting from Elementary School itself.

Jade: That being said, however...I myself, personally, have never taken much notice of Azul even back then, so I suppose you can say that I don't exactly remember him from those times.

Vil: So that's how all three of you turned up here together. I wonder if there's catch to this all?

Jade: I wonder? I don't remember, myself.

Vil: Right. So you're saying that you don't remember or know any of the things that play the real importance here.

Vil: ...Well, whatever. I'll let things slide, for the fact that you're apt at what you do still stands true.

Vil: I expect you to perform as well as you did today, tomorrow.

Jade: You have a party scheduled after class tomorrow held by a Jewelry Brand. And as for your your attire...

Vil: I've already decided on which suit to wear, the shoes however...

Rook: How curious? It isn't like you at all to leave the shoes to the last.

Rook: I bet there was a hold up somewhere and you didn't manage to obtain the pair that you planned on wearing on the day itself, m I right?

Vil: You're as sharp as always when it comes to matters concerning me, aren't you?

Vil: The Mirror Shoe, calling from a particular brand called "Tenebreu"...A pair of shoes that is said to have to mirror the beauty of the wearer!

Vil: I had originally planned to wear that to the party tomorrow, but unfortunately...I didn't manage to obtain it.

Rook: But wouldn't you have plenty of other options if that plan never stood since you're such a famous model?

Vil: Tenebreu only sells their products to those who they deem worthy of their designs.

Vil: It something like a myth, since their designer almost never makes an appearance anywhere. Even someone like I, have never gotten a chance to meet them.

Vil: It's something of a phantom shoe, since it never made it out to the market.

Vil: I didn't have enough time to acquire it this time round, but next time for sure...

Jade: I have obtained this "Mirror Shoe" that you wish for.

Vil: ...What?

Jade: Here. this is the shoe you were speaking of, is it not?

Vil: The sophisticated yet spongy foam, the sparkling mark of it's brand on the insoles, high heels that are seemingly made from mirrors...!

Vil: I cannot believe my eyes...This is the "Mirror Heel" indeed!

Rook: Très Bien! What magnificent crimson heels these are!

Vil: When did you...? No, rather than that, how did you know that I wanted these?

Jade: You made a note in the Fashion Magazine that had an article on the very same designer of this particular brand.

Jade: I thought it unusual for you to be doing so, therefore I took note of it.

Vil: Still, you had somehow managed to obtain one of this on your own accord...

Jade: Heh, they did some at the cost of a bit of trouble. No matter, how about you try these on instead of dwelling on the matter?

⊱ ──── CG ──── ⊰

Jade: Please excuse me. Place your foot over here.

Vil: ...It's still a surprise.

Jade: I think it suits you perfectly.

Rook: How magnificent. His foot isn't simply being seated atop the heel...

Rook: What beautiful height! These high heels; what a stunning calf-line he possesses!

Rook: Healthy, indeed! It's really stunning, Vil!!

Vil: Well done, Jade.

Jade: It is my honor to see you as elated as you are.

⊱ ─────── ⊰

Vil: I've come to feel like testing out the bounds of which you'd go to in answering my expectations.

Jade: I wish to slot in a calf massage in light of my Shoot that will be taking place tomorrow.

Jade: Certainly. I shall schedule you an appointment with your regular Spa immediately.

Vil: You've got to remember the names of those in-attendance during the party as well, it'd be rather rude otherwise, don't you think?

Jade: I've already had a list made. I've also remembered them all, thus, am able to secretly tell you whoever you're speaking to in the case that you're unaware.

Vil: I think a change of make-up is required to fit this new shoe I've just received. I think Felicite's new lipstick would be great for this occasion.

Jade: Yes, I knew you'd say that and have therefore already obtained it in advance. I shall deliver it to you later.

Vil: ...My throat's parched!

Jade: I have prepared you an iced drink.

Jade: Of course, it is the beauty drink that's being sold in the school with plenty of collagen.

Vil: Then-

Jade: Shall I take a picture of you? I'm sure it's time for you to update your Majikame, isn't it?

Jade: A sip, of the "#beautydrinkIlike" ...I'll take it in a way fitting of that caption. Please leave it to me.

Vil: How regrettable it is that I cannot think of anything else to refute you with...You're truly incomprehensible, indeed.

☪⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆ 𝔗𝔬 𝔟𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔲𝔢𝔡 ☆⋅⋆ ────── ☪⋆

#twisted wonderland #twst translations #Jade Leech #Vil Schoenheit #Rook Hunt #Azul Ashengrotto #Octanivelle #translations #Disney #ツイステッドワンダーランド #ツイステ

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myheelsdontmatchmysweatpants · 4 years ago

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Manifest Part 2

Warning: mentions of panic attack

A/N: I finally did it.....Here is part 2! Made this part a little longer cause..... I can? Let me know what you think! Part 1

You let go of Denki’s face and back away towards the bedroom. “This…. this doesn’t make any sense; I can’t understand what you’re saying. This is supposed to be a dream, why are you speaking Japanese?”

“Dream? Why would you think this is a dream... wait do you not know Japanese? Is that why you’re only speaking English?” Denki is still sitting in the love seat while Bakugo and Kirishima are making their way towards you slowly.

As you are in the middle of trying to stop an oncoming panic attack, all three of the guys look at each other. They did not hire you; and since its clear Denki did not somehow find someone to hook up with him last night, they are gonna get to the bottom of how you managed to get into their apartment.

“Let us all stay calm. Why don’t you tell us your name?” Kirishima has his hands up, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. Shit, I really feel like I should know her name; she looks so familiar.

“Screw that shit, she broke into OUR APARTMENT shitty hair! You grab her and make sure she doesn’t get away; I’ll knock her ass out if she tries anything.” Bakugo did not like the weird déjà vu feeling he got looking at this chick. I just want to slap her upside the head for thinking I would let her cook in MY kitchen, not attack her. NO DUMBASS GET IT TOGETHER.

Denki is looking between the three of you feeling like something is very wrong with this situation. He can tell that you are trying awfully hard to calm yourself. Have I seen her before? Why am I remembering playing video games together? Did I short circuit myself one to many times?

Thoughts are running rampant in your mind. What is going on? I’ve had this dream dozens of times, but this is new. I only recognized some words, but I know they are dead ass speaking fluent Japanese. I just need to wake myself up. Wanting this to end as soon as possible, you pinch the inside of your arm.

Hissing in pain you rub the spot you just pinched “FUCK that really hurt…. wait… nonononono, why did that hurt?”

Looking up incredulously, glancing at the three men slowly surrounding you, panic gets its fat ass comfortable on your chest and you start to sweat.

“Did you just pinch yourself and ask why it hurt? You really are a dumb ass, aren’t you?

“Takes one to know one Kaachan.” This has to be a dream… maybe I just need to try a little harder to wake up.

“What the FUCK did you just say to me!?”

“I know you heard what I said” an idea pops in your head and before you can think more about it you look at Bakugo. “Now do me a favor and hit me.”

You clasp your hands behind your back and tense up in anticipation.

Not one to hesitate Bakugo throws one of his hands out, curling his fingers in to the keep the blast concentrated on just you but not so much that it kills you.

Snapping your eyes shut right before the impact you feel the blast hit you square in the chest, sending you flying, right into Denki. He lets out a yelp as you both topple over into the loveseat that he had been previously sitting in. The seat flips and you both fall to the ground; Denki is under you trying to catch his breath and you are somehow still conscious. As you are groaning in pain and trying to get off Denki without hurting him further you can faintly hear Kirishima trying to calm down Bakugo through the ringing in your ears.

“Bro! What are you thinking? She clearly isn’t trying to attack us; she looks like she really doesn’t know why she is here. You can’t just blast a someone that can’t defend themselves!” He stands in front of Bakugo keeping him from causing any further damage.

“Can’t defend themselves my ass Shitty hair!” Bakugo points at you accusingly. “Oi! Why are you gonna ask me to hit you and then protect yourself against it?!”

The ringing in your ears goes away fairly quickly after a cold feeling passes over your body.

“Okay everybody, don’t PANIC. I am clearly not dreaming and…. Holy shit what am I wearing?” With most of the pain gone you had opened your eyes only to see you were no longer wearing the clothes you had walked into to the living room in.

Your body is covered in all black leather armor with a hood and a black mask that covers your face. A strange glow receding from your gloved hands. It seems like the attack from Bakugo caused what your assuming is your quirk to activate on instinct (self-preservation is pretty handy). The armor looks vaguely familiar and it takes a moment before it clicks in your mind.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me. Out of all the quirks I dreamed of having THIS is the one I end up with?” You flex your hands, and without taking your eyes off of Kirishima and the still yelling Bakugo you reach behind you to touch Denki.

Heal him, just heal him, don’t think about anything else.

The glow returns to your hand (thankfully) and you hear him take a deep breath and start sitting up. Once it’s clear he has recovered you stand and back up so that all three men are in your field of vision

“Alright, you obviously don’t know me, and I really have no FUCKING clue how I got here, but I know I have information that might help trigger your memories of me if I’m guessing correctly.” You bring your hands up similar to the way Kirishima had a moment ago. “Will you at least let me try to explain myself?”

“Why don’t you take the stupid mask off your face first shitty woman and then you can talk.” Bakugo was still in a defensive stance but you could tell that he was slightly interested in what bullshit you had to say.

You shrug your shoulders and put your hands down.

Not wanting to be in this obnoxiously cliché outfit any longer you try and think of how to get it all off at once. It can’t be hard if you easily were able to shift into it in the first place.

“Alrighty then, well I’m gonna try to shift out of the whole outfit at once and with my luck I’m gonna fuck it up.” You pointedly look at the red head and explosive blonde. “You are more than welcome to keep looking but if you don’t want to see me in my birthday suit you might want to turn around. You on the other hand- “turning your gaze to direct it at the still sparking blonde. “- you can keep looking if you can handle it.” You wink at him before you take a deep breath and focus.

Okay, just imagine you are in the video game and you are changing out your armor.

It takes a moment, but after searching your memory for the correct RPG a small screen shows up in front of you. Hovering just below eye level. You spare a glance at your companions to see their reactions.

Denki is turned towards you with a blank look on his face (probably from short circuiting). The other two have not turned their backs on you, making sure you don’t sneak attack them or try to run away. However, Kirishima is so focused on the ceiling you would think Michelangelo painted it. Bakugo was looking into the kitchen, mad that the ingredients you pulled from the fridge were still sitting on the counter. Clearly you were the only one who could see this, or you were the only one who was excited about it.

You reach out to touch the screen only to find that your hand goes right through it. I know I won’t be able to do anything by just looking at it… how do I work this thing? Looking around in a panic you notice the gaming console under the tv with a couple of controllers on the coffee table. You can NOT be fucking serious. Not wanting to drag this incredibly weird situation out you walk over and grab one.

“Don’t at me alright… I’m just gonna see if this works.” You don’t even bother checking to see if the guys were looking at you. Using the controller, you select your “character page” low and behold your armor shows up and underneath it is the lose t-shirt and shorts you were wearing. You remove your gloves, bracers, boots, hood, and mask first, leaving only your chest piece and pants. Taking a deep breath, you remove both and immediately select the normal clothes. You look down and your naked body shows for a moment and then your clothed. Putting down the controller you feel the hot red blush creep up your neck and envelop your entire face.

You look up and notice that Kiri is still staring at the ceiling, Bakugo has left the living room. The sound of the fridge being opened let you know that Bakugo is in the kitchen, putting away the food you took out. Turning you can see Denki doing what looks like breathing exercises to recover from short circuiting.

“Alrighty then, I hope you guys remember because the only information I have that might help you remember me is that if I actually made it here then you guys dreamed about me.” Not wanting to give anyone a chance to interrupt, you turn to Bakugo as he is walking out of the kitchen.

“You had a dream about losing a baking competition to a woman who laughed at you because you didn’t realize that the judges would be children and you decided to make cream cheese cookies with habanero icing.”

“I DID NOT LOSE ……. Wait- “

You turn to Kirishima next, “You had a dream about practicing close quarters combat with a girl. You accidently punched her tit, so she threw you to the ground and then profusely apologized after doing so.”

Kirishima’s face goes red and eyes go wide.

Lastly you turn to Denki, not wanting to embarrass him you walk closer and whisper.

“You had a sex dream about me.” Seeing the disbelief on his face you lean closer.

“You gonna be a good boy for mommy and cum in this pussy?” His face goes so red you can feel the heat radiating off of him.

You pull back and look at all three again hoping that this information worked for everyone. Considering all of their reactions you are betting that they do remember.

“Samantha?”

Kirishima is the first to say something, bummed out that it wasn’t Denki first you give him a sad smile and nod.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out.”

@angelofdarkness1020 @insertcooluser55 @cujoatemyhomework @dynamightslittlehotpocket

#denki x reader #bhna imagine #kaminari x reader #bhna x reader #lillith masterlist #lilliths writing #lilliths masterlist #lillith writes

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be-ready-when-i-say-go · 4 years ago

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A Little Bit Like Home

You moving to school has been tougher than Calum would like to admit but there are some moments that make it easier to bear, there are small moments where it’s not so bad.

A continuation of these two blurbs (Blurb 1 and Blurb 2) Again it’s hella self indulgent. Inspired what really happened to me in my DnD campaign, see this post.

**Contains spoilers for the Waterdeep Heist from Dungeons & Dragons if you are currently playing that module!!!**

Enjoy my masterlist!

Support me on Ko-fi

___________

“Can I make a perception check on the walls? See if there’s anything else funky in this room?” you ask, clicking over in your browser tab to the dice roller. The DM allows you to make that call and you click on the d20.

“Your the only one rolling well on those things tonight,” one member of your party, playing an Orc sent out to learn magic and getting packed in with your ragtag group, notes after their failed attempt to pick the lock. You managed to pick that that too, but you chalk it up to you being a Drow Rogue and lock picking being one of your skills.

“18,” you call out, looking back at your character sheet to make sure you’ve done the math correctly.

“18?” The DM asks, just to be sure. You nod. “Okay, so you look around the room and there’s not really anything worth noting besides some dirt and blood. But no traps, no buttons in this room.”

“This room,” the entire party echoes laughing. The six of you have just survived barely a lightning trap. Which you still refuse to admit to setting up, but it was definitely you since as the marching order had you in front.

“We’re going to have to go back to that mimic room,” the paladin of your group declares. Your party was warned that the room at the start of your adventure in this hell of a magic maze could be a trap and a mimic could be in the depths of it. But there was a chest still yet to be opened. However, you took the advice of your Orc and backed out of that room to avoid a fight just yet.

Your previous encounters in other rooms leaving some of your party is better shape than others. This early in your adventure together the five of you didn’t really want to risk loosing anyone just yet. Lightening and your pirates love of ale seemed to be your only foe at the moment.

“We should maybe just see what’s in here first,” Calum, playing as a Druid, counters. “Though it seems like if we find yet another key to a door that’s already been picked, it’s might be useless.”

You know the tease is directed at you. “Hey, look here buddy, I will not hesitate to shoot a quiver into your ass. I see a lock I’m going to pick it,” you defend.

“Besides,” your party’s pirate starts, “we’ve ducked a lot of rooms afraid of getting into another fight. If they pick a lock or two and we find the key later, at least we can add to the Bard’s collection.”

“Thank you,” you laugh.

Soon your party’s able to direct their attention back on the adventure and magic maze you’ve found yourself in. You and Calum end up smashing mirrors in a room to avoid any sort of magic in them that would cause your party to fight your soul doubles. This leads to a five minute debate of how to leave said room that didn’t involve shoving the unicorn that your party was tasked with finding up someone’s ass due to a riddle unveiled, Everything you see is mine.

“Wait,” you say, laughing at the argument about who can fit the unicorn into their mouth. It was deemed to be more dignified. Your pirate waits outside the room, still naked thanks to the magic that rips all the clothes, weapons, and armor off of anyone that attempts to leave the room. “Everything you see is mine. If the mirrors are smashed, then nothing can be seen right?”

“No, shards can be face up, so technically things can be seen,” the party’s Bard counters.

“No, no, you’re onto to something,” the pirate starts.

“Oh my god, we’re so fucking dumb,” the orc hollers. “Someone cover their eyes. You means us. Anything we can see can’t leave the room.”

Thankfully, you’re still dressed having only attempted to leave the room and letting others continue with their naked escapades. “Holy shit,” you shriek as you direct to your DM how you cover your face with your hood and hold it tight around your eyes so you can’t see anything and step through the door. You’re able to cross completely clothed, swords, crossbow, and pack still in tact.

“We’re so fucking STUPID,” you laugh.

Calum’s giggle cuts through the speakers of your laptop. “How were we so prepared to just be fucking naked through the rest of this maze?” He directs to the DM that he redresses, having also attempted several times to brute force the magic door with no success.

“We never speak of that,” the orc demands through their own laughter. “Never.”

The party comes to a stopping point about another hour later, saying goodbyes before leaving the Zoom meeting. Not even thirty seconds later after ending that call, an incoming FaceTime call comes from Calum. You answer it, wiping at the corner of your eyes. He’s grinning as the call finally connects. The weekend that Calum came up to visit, a friend in the cohort asked you if you’d be willing to going a beginner’s campaign. You had wanted to give the game a whirl but you knew it would be a time suck and asked if it was okay to bring someone else along too.

After getting a yes from the DM you know you had to convince Calum to join in. It took less effort than you thought for him to join in and the two of you spent a couple hours the night before picking out your characters before you emailed the information back to the DM. Now every Saturday night you and Calum spend about three hours in a Zoom getting into all sorts of trouble. He settled easily on the Druid but spent forever trying to find an artist rendering of his character, Okolian, that felt right. Long black hair with streaks of white was a must along with a single braid as well, which he stole from your character’s look though your hair is all white.

Slowly, it was decided that Okolian would have blue skin muscular, but not overly buff and refused to wear sleeves in order to wear leather arm bands around his biceps which could easily be mistaken for tattoos or markings of his people. Okolian prefers his staff but is also armed with a sickle and mace. The Calum touch of course was to add ferns rather than feathers.

“I can’t believe you were going to let me be the one to have to figure out the unicorn,” Calum teases.

“Hey, it was only six inches. Not that bad.”

He sputters his laughter. “Is that payback for calling you out for picking all the locks?”

“I would never do such a thing but maybe.”

“Anything else on the agenda for tonight?”

“No not really. Whatever work there is out in the world, I’ll get to it tomorrow. What about you? The night’s still young.”

Calum shrugs. “A friend was supposed to get back to me about drinks tonight, but I haven’t heard anything yet. If he gets back within the hour or so, I’ll probably tag along but if not, it’s not a big deal. But you never did tell me about last night. How’d that go?”

You cover your face for a second, remember how many drinks were consumed the night previously. Calum laughs at the slightly panicked look that crosses your face. “There was two drinks too many past my usual limit and I felt it. Big time,” you answer.

He’s glad to hear you getting out more. It’s in turned made him feel a bit better about getting back to his normal routine, getting dinner more with the guys or other friends. Missing you doesn’t hurt so bad anymore for Calum. He feels most often right before he’s going to bed, when he’d normally curl up into your side and open his arms wide for you to curl up into him. But it hurts less during the day.

Getting used to the cohort and getting out a couple Friday’s in the month has helped you as well. You don’t feel so chained to your phone, don’t feel so beholden to being there for every text right away. It’s still hard when you start to cook dinner and almost reach out for a second plate still by habit. And in the morning when you’re fixing your cup of coffee your brain still wants to pull down a second cup. Sometimes you do. Sometimes you just give in because you need it. Need to let yourself sit with those feelings.

“I’ll be sticking with cider after last night,” you tease. “Wine makes me myself too much. Never doing that again.”

Calum’s been privileged to see you wine drunk a couple of times and he can already imagine the type of trouble you nearly got yourself in. “Is your picture on the wall at the bar?”

“Not that bad, but close,” you giggle.

“What am I going to do with you?”

It’s just a joke but for a moment it makes you pause--what’s going to happen when you go back for break? Are things going to be different? Most of your clothes and things are still there though slowly more and more has been shipped to you. Is Duke going to remember you? Miss you too?

“Promise me the house isn’t too different?”

Calum furrows his brows, head titling just a little to the side. “What do you mean, baby?”

“Like without me, is it all going to be different when I come back?”

“It’s all pretty much the same here. Duke’s the king of the castle. Still have plenty of hoodies for you to steal and your side of the bed still misses you. I still miss you.”

“No, I--I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like I don’t want you to find ways to cope but I don’t know. What if it never feels right? Like so much has been missed that I just won’t ever fit in again?”

Calum shakes his head. “Babe, no. You still belong. Your shoes still have space in the closet. Your mugs still sit in the cabinets. There is so much of you still here--it’s how I get through the days.”

Maybe that’s what’s rough for you. There’s not much of Calum at your place. There’s none of his dirty laundry that’s halfway hanging of laundry baskets and there’s no bass rumbling and there’s snoring next to you at night. It’s all you, which is nice. But you wish you had a little bit of Calum too.

“There’s none of you here,” you say softly.

“I can fix that.” It’s a steady confidence, a nod of his head at statement. “Don’t you worry.”

You two steer the conversation to something lighter before you call it a night. And it’s harder to get up the next morning, to peel yourself out of the sheets. But you do it, you push up with a grunt and get your day started. Coffee, a quick bowl of cereal and fruit. You call Calum right before lunch to check in and then get back to work.

As the days pass, the conversation the ache gets buried in some stress. However, you get a text about a package to get from the lockers at the front of your complex so shuffle down the path thinking it’s the new mattress pad you ordered. It shipped late last week but you hadn’t expected it to arrive this soon.

As the door swings open to the locker you spy Calum’s handwritten on the label of the package. What the hell had be gone and done? You pick up the box and kick the door close with your foot before taking it back up to your apartment. Setting the box down on the kitchen counter, you find the scissors and cut into it. Right on top is a small envelope with your name scribbled across it.

You said you didn’t have anything of me. So I knew I had to correct that. I hope they help. And a little thing from the old man, well not from him. But you’ll understand when you get to that.

Love you.

Digging into the box, you notice a few guitar pics, a couple extra t-shirt and then a long thin box. You pick it up, noticing it looks like a necklace. But with Calum you never can be sure. As you crack it open, you laugh, finding a gold chain staring up at you, attach to it is a tiny locket that as a paw print on it. You crack it open though and find a tiny picture of Calum and you inside of it and your eyes well with tears. It’s from your last vacation before you left for school, just two of you reclined on the beach and Calum kissing your temple.

You draft a text to Calum. Tell Duke it feels like home now.

#calum hood #calum hood blurb #calum hood fanfic #calum hood angst #calum hood fluff #h writes #5sos #calum 5sos #calum hood x reader #calum hood x reader insert #5 seconds of summer

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thatmultifandomhoe · 4 years ago

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Their S/O Has Selective Mutism

Requested:

Word Count: 2,763

Pairing: Members x Reader

Rating/Genre: Fluff - Rated G

Warnings: Mentions of Anxiety and Selective Mutism

Summary: BTS react to their S/O struggling with selective mutism.

Selective Mutism = (According to Google) Also known as situational mutism, is an anxiety disorder in which a person normally capable of speech cannot speak in specific situations or to specific people if triggered. Selective mutism usually co-exists with social anxiety disorder.

A/N:To my sweet anon who requested this, I hope you enjoy and I hope that I correctly portrayed SM. I did some Googling on my end to try and understand it, as I’ve never personally experienced SM myself. If this appears to be wrong, please let me know that way I can better portray a case like this in the future.

Master List

Seokjin:

All you wanted was food. More specifically, the variety pack of cheesecake that you had been eyeing in the bakery section of the grocery store for the last ten minutes. Except you had other things that you needed to pick up and the area wasn’t busy, so you had gone off gathering everything else, having even split the list in half with Jin to make this quicker.

However, you hadn’t expected that by the time you arrived back to the bakery, there would suddenly be a crowd of people standing around the baked goods, and multiple adults placing orders for birthday cakes. There were so many older people standing around, leaving no space for anyone else to walk through, and you could see the cheesecake that you wanted too.

It was right there. All you had to do was go up, say excuse me to them until they let you through to get it. Except the thought of them staring at you, for having to disrupt them from their own conversations nagged at you. What if they got frustrated? Annoyed? Those thoughts alone had your throat closing up, even forcing you to take several steps backwards with the cart, moving it to the nearest empty aisle so that they wouldn’t think you were just standing there and doing nothing.

“Baby, I got everything...what are you doing over here?”

Glancing up, you watched Jin frown as he reached you, setting the basket he carried inside the cart. But your voice was gone and instead, you nervously glanced at the bakery section that seemed to have even more people than before.

A look of understanding crossed his face. “Ah, it’s okay. I’ll get it.”

Without another word, Jin began to make his way through the crowded area, successfully getting the cheesecake that you had wanted. Your body relaxed when he returned with it, but it didn’t bring your voice back.

“Don’t worry,” Jin said, reassuringly placing his hand on your back, the two of you walking away from the crowd. “I’ll be there for you, I promise.”

Yoongi:

For the last month, you and Yoongi made it a point to get coffee together every Friday. Whether it was in the morning, the afternoon, or even ten at night, as long as the two of you got coffee together at some point. Which meant that sometimes getting coffee could be at a cute cafe, or even at the gas station where the store was open late at night for truck drivers.

This also meant that the two of you knew each other’s order like the back of your hand.

It had been a chaotic day for you, and everything around you seemed to feel like it was enhanced to a hundred, making your anxiety more stressful than usual.

Coffee?

Having your thumbs dance over the keyboard, you chewed on your bottom lip, trying to find a way to explain to Yoongi that, with your anxiety, you also dealt with selective mutism. Right now, the idea of placing an order to someone was the last thing you needed, but you didn’t want to miss out on your coffee day with him either. Sighing, you sent a thumbs up. His response was instant.

Usual cafe?

You wanted to say no, that a place where you could make it yourself would be better, but again, you sent the thumbs up. By the time you arrived, dread clung inside your chest at the idea of having to force yourself to speak, maybe you should have said no, or even suggested just going to either his or your place and making it yourselves.

When you walked in though, you glanced around for Yoongi in the line, only to not see him waiting for you by the side like he usually did. Instead, he was already sitting at a table with two mugs, and as you approached the table, you were able to recognize your usual order.

He looked up from his phone when you arrived, the corners of his lips curling upwards briefly as he gestured for you to sit. “You know, I struggle with anxiety too.” Turning around his phone, he revealed the thread conversation, showing the thumbs up that you had sent.

But instead of saying that you should have just told him, like you thought he would have, he simply turned the phone back around and tapped on the screen for a moment before setting it down in the middle of the table. The notes app was pulled up, and he had already wrote a message.

Thankfully, we have technology on our side.

Hoseok:

Hoseok was supposed to have the day off, but he was once again working late in the studio. Their next comeback was huge considering they were producing the album and doing everything themselves, having even distributed specific roles to each other to help with the work load and organization.

While you were used to his crazy schedule, you were still proud and happy for all of his accomplishments.

Checking your bags for the millionth time, you smiled when seeing that all the containers where there. Glancing up at the building, you shakily inhaled as you walked inside, giving small smiles to the receptionist as you hurriedly made your way to the floor that Hoseok’s studio was on.

He should have been home hours ago, but like you knew him to be, he wasn’t going to leave until the job was done, despite the fact that he had come in on his day off. Which meant that he would have eaten all his meals at the studio as well, and being the supportive girlfriend - despite wishing that he was at home for once - you had decided to kill a few hours by baking cookies.

Reaching his floor, you took a deep breath as you walked down the hallway, stopping at his door to knock, hoping that he would be able to hear you. Luck appeared to be on your side when it opened shortly afterwards, an excited noise escaping Hoseok upon seeing that it was you. Instantly you were engulfed in a hug, his embracing swaying the two of you back and forth as he waddled his way back into the studio with you.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” he’d say, kissing your cheek. “I know I said I’d be home, but we’re so close to getting this part done.”

You’d smile and nod, glancing over his shoulder to see Namjoon and Yoongi sitting around with amused grins, along with some staff members who’s faces you recognized from brief introductions.

Hoseok, not hearing you say anything, would lean back to look at you, suddenly understanding why you weren’t speaking. The two of you had been dating long enough for him to recognize what was happening, and so he gently squeezed your shoulders before taking the bag filled with enough cookies for the staff.

“Don’t worry sweetie,” he murmured, kissed the side of your head. “I’ll be your voice for the day. I promise it won’t be much longer, then we’ll get to go home soon.”

Namjoon:

“So, when you’re having anxiety, it sometimes makes it hard for you to speak?” Namjoon asked.

You nodded, pressing your lips together while looking done at the floor. This wasn’t the way that you wanted to tell him about it, but he had been raving about introducing you to his best friends this weekend, and all you could think about was having to stand in front of them, their eyes solely focused on you and judging you as Namjoon’s girlfriend, that it made your palms sweaty at the thought of having to meet them.

The idea of it had been so overwhelming that you had been unable to say anything as Namjoon continued to talk about it, how you would fit in right away with him and how much fun it was going to be. It was only when you hadn’t said anything for five minutes and was staring at the ground, that Namjoon realized that something wasn’t right.

Which only solidified when instead of speaking, you typed out the reason for why you weren’t as excited about meeting his friends as he was.

You didn’t see the way that he chewed on the inside of his cheek, or the way that when he looked at you, his features softened when he saw the way you wouldn’t meet his gaze. All he had wanted was for you to meet the guys he considered his brothers. The last thing he ever wanted to do was make you feel uncomfortable or cause you anxiety over it.

“Hey,” Namjoon softly said, slipping his arm over your shoulder to pull you close. “I should have asked you how you felt about meeting them. I can always reschedule it, and you don’t have to meet them until you feel ready, whenever that may be.”

Jimin:

This was perhaps the most important meeting of your life. More important than any work meeting or interview that you had ever gone of. Tonight, you were meeting Jimin’s parents for dinner.

Clothes were strewn about the bedroom, your hair was currently tied up in a messy bun and you were still wearing the tank top and shorts you had worn to bed, pacing back and forth between the closet and the full length mirror in an attempt to find the right outfit.

You wanted to make the best impression tonight, but it seemed like nothing you pulled out was good enough. His parents meant the whole world to Jimin, the last thing you needed was for them to not like you. Having been worried about this since you woke up, the butterflies in your stomach felt like they were on their tenth espresso, leaving you antsy and without words as you tried to find something to wear.

“Baby, where are you?”

Jumping at the sudden voice, you clutched your chest as Jimin walked into the room, two coffees in hand when he suddenly stopped at the doorway, unsure where to go considering that the floor was nearly covered with clothes.

“Spring cleaning?” He asked, carefully stepping into the room to set the drinks down.

You pressed your lips together though, slipping the dress you had been holding over your arm. The closet was almost empty and the drawers were all open, resembling a mini hurricane.

“Is this about tonight?”

Opening your mouth you tried to answer, but the words wouldn’t form. Instead, you just nodded and went back to the closet, this time hanging the dress up. Maybe by putting things away, you’d be able to find something suitable for dinner.

You barely glanced at Jimin as he left the room, focusing on whether or not the green blouse complimented your features. Like you had decided earlier, you set it back on the hanger and closet, reaching out for another piece when a hand covered yours.

Looking up at Jimin, your shoulders dropped as you walked into his embrace, wanting that comfort that he always gave to you.

“Dinner isn’t for several hours,” he softly murmured, gently rubbing circles on your lower back. “I drew a bath for you and put in one of your bath bombs. Go relax and I’ll pick this up.”

Leaning backwards, he smiled and cupped your cheek upon seeing your eyes water up. “It doesn’t matter what you wear anyways. They’re going to love you.”

Taehyung:

Puppies.

There had to be over a dozen puppies in the cafe that Taehyung had taken you to for a date, and as much as you loved him, you were pretty sure you were in love with the puppies just a little bit more.

Only a tiny bit more of course.

At the moment, the two of you were sitting at the table with your desserts, taking a moment to breathe from the overflowing cuteness that came from the puppies who ran around like mini battery packs, and to enjoy the cakes and brownies you purchased.

But it didn’t take long for you to want to cuddle and play with another puppy, making Tae chuckle as he watched your eyes bounce around in search for another. The only issue, was that right this moment, the puppies were gathering together on the other side of the room, and the idea of going over there and asking for one was daunting and made your anxiety act up, leaving you speechless for the time being.

Which resulted in you staring at the puppies as they jumped and played around, unable to stop the smile that was growing on your face.

Stretching in his seat, Taehyung smiled as he walked the short distance to where there was a particular group of puppies that you had eyeing. With eager eyes, you watched as he pointed to a yellow lab that had been laying down and spoke with the person who was nearby, his deep voice easily reaching your ears. After only a few seconds, he was carefully scooping the puppy up with both hands, cradling it to his chest as he walked back towards you.

You held out your hands for the sleeping puppy, silently cooing at how adorable it was and stroked it’s back. He shifted in his sleep as you placed him on your lap for the time being.

Looking up at Taehyung, you leaned against his torso and slipped a free hand into his to gently squeeze it. He squeezed back immediately and laced his fingers together with yours, no words needed to express your gratitude and love for him.

Jungkook:

Laundry day was never fun.

It used to be when you lived at home. You were able to take your time, blast your favorite songs, maybe even dance a little as you tossed a a load in the dryer and started up a new one to be washed.

After moving into an apartment with Jungkook however, that changed. The rooms were small, the kitchen floor wasn’t even so the right side of the room was slightly elevated compared to the left, and with the king sized bed there was just enough room for the two of you to walk around each other. It certainly forced the two of you get creative when it came around to creating storage and decorating the place - thus creating the general rule of if it didn’t have multiple uses, then it wasn’t worth having - but the absolute worse was perhaps the largest inconvenience. There was no washer or dryer.

Unless you were feeling bored and decided to wash the clothes in the tub, Jungkook and you would load up the car and head to the nearest laundry mat and spend the day doing laundry together, because there was absolutely no way you were getting stuck with it all by yourself.

Sighing, you ran a hand through your hair and glanced around the large room, wondering why it appeared that every single person who lived in the city was doing their laundry here right this second. Craning your neck, every machine was in use...except for the one on the end. But to get there meant somehow walking through the crowded area that contained not just other people, but baskets of laundry and various other bags.

You nervously looked around at the crowds, taking a slight step backwards and into Jungkook.

“Babe?”

He had set his basket on the ground for the moment, choosing to wrap his arms around your waist as he tilted his head to look at your face. Instead of speaking, you pointed to the empty washing machine in the back.

His gaze followed the path and quickly connecting the dots, released you to grab his basket in one hand and took yours with his other.

“Excuse me,” he politely said to every person, even patiently waiting when they made a fuss over having to make room for the two of you. “Coming through...thank you...”

With Jungkook leading the way, when he was close enough to do so without worrying about breaking anything or hitting anyone, he slid his basket on the floor until it stopped right in front of the washing machine. He turned to look at you with a triumphed grin. “Look at that babe. I’m a winner of your heart and a washer.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled, letting him have this win, despite the fact that you had been the one to find it in the first place. Laundry day may not be as fun as it used to be, but Jungkook certainly did make it entertaining at times.

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willsimpforanyone · 4 years ago

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Hiiii🥰🥰 could I get a tony x reader where the reader is related to Peggy Carter in some way. He always flirts and annoys her until something goes wrong at the lab or at SHIELD and they end up getting sent back to the 40s so they have to find Pegs and Howard to help them get back. And while there they realize how much they actually like eachother and all. Pleeeaassee. I really like this idea and I can’t wait to see what you might do. Thank you 🥰🥰

my goodness that’s a complex request! a brilliant idea, i’m honoured that you want to know what i’d write, thank you so much <3

okay lets see how this goes...

_____________

I was tapped on the shoulder with a screwdriver. “Thanks James, I was jus- oh, it’s you.”

Tony Stark’s grinning face was above me, his hand was the one with the screwdriver I’d asked my assistant James to get me. I rolled my eyes, snatching the tool from him and turning back to my work. “Wow, so cold for someone so hot,” Tony hummed behind me.

“You’d think with how much money you have, you’d be able to buy some class,” I bit back. I heard him thump against the wall, and in the corner of my eye I saw him slide down to sit next to me, hand on his heart.

“You wound me, gorgeous,” he groaned, picking up a couple screws and fiddling with them.

Snatching the screws away from him, I began to fix a panel to the wall of the contraption. “My apologies, Stark, I didn’t realise you gave that much of a shit.” I was hoping that he’d leave me alone, but apparently my hopes were too high.

“Carter, I’d hope you’d know by now-” He was cut off by a sudden shudder in the machine. “The hell was that?”

I lifted myself from the floor to look out of the door to the machine, only to see that it was shut. Nothing too alarming in and of itself, except James’ face was struck with panic. Tony seemed to realise this at the same time, and we both raced to the door. “James?! What’s happening?” I yelled as the machine shook again. Tony stumbled and I caught hold of his arm to steady him.

“I-I don’t know!” James’ frantic muffled voice barely travelled through the thick glass of the door. Suddenly, Nick Fury came sweeping into the room, heading straight for the outside control panel.

“Stark, Carter, can you hear me?”

We both nodded as he looked up at us.

“Can you turn off the machine from the inside?”

Tony looked at me hopefully, but the hope died as he saw my expression of terror. I took a shaky breath. “No, sir. The controls in here aren’t finished, I was working on them just now.” Fury looked grim.

Without any warning, the machine rumbled and both Tony and I were thrown to the floor. The room outside seemed to be phasing in and out of reality. Fury seemed to make a decision, hitting a couple buttons on the outside control panel. “Okay, we can’t stop you going, but we can control where you go.”

Tony looked at me wildly. “What the fuck kind of machine is this?!”

I turned to see panic in his eyes, his breathing laboured. I had no idea that Fury had kept him in the dark about this, but I’d have to tell him the truth. “Tony, this machine is capable of transgressing the natural order of time, allowing S.H.I.E.L.D. to traverse the expanse of space and time in a few seconds. Or at least, it will be once I fix the internal control panel.”

His expression briefly morphed into one of fascination. “This is a time machine?!”

“Yeah, if you wanna call it that.” I turned back to Fury. “Where are we going?”

It was difficult to make out the next few words- “Late 1940s...you both...Stark...Carter...”

And all of a sudden, with no preparation, we’d moved. Fury was gone, James was gone, the whole outside lab was gone and replaced with what looked to be a basement, and it was just me and Tony in, essentially, a large box. I could hear Tony’s breathing get faster and shallower, so I pushed my own panic down and spun to take his hand in mine.

“Tony, look at me. We’re gonna be okay, we’re gonna get out of this. But I need you to take deep breaths with me, okay?”

It took a couple minutes, but Tony’s breathing began to even out, and in helping him, I managed to calm myself. We were sat on the floor, his hand still in mine, when I very faintly heard voices coming from the door of whatever room we were in. There was nowhere to hide, and I made a mental note to include cloaking in the hardware of the machine if- no, when, we got back to S.H.I.E.L.D.. As it was, we could just stand and prepare to meet whoever was coming to investigate the noise that came from us landing.

The door flung open, and two men ran in. The first man was about 5′9″, maybe 5′10″, with a smart suit and slicked back hair; he looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. The second man was taller, maybe 6′, a towel flung over his shoulder and also wearing a smart suit. They stopped short on seeing us and the contraption we were contained in, surprise evident in their faces.

I looked over at Tony to see him staring at the first man intently. It was clear that no one else was gonna talk, so I stepped forward. “Hi, excuse the intrusion, could you tell me where and when we are? Please?”

The two men focused their eyes on me. The second man spoke. “Uh, yes-” he had a strong Queen’s English accent “-you’re in Mr Stark’s basement, and it’s 1947. May I ask, what exactly are you doing here?”

My mind was whirling trying to think of a plausible excuse and coming up blank when Tony moved closer to the glass wall separating us all. “We time travelled. We’re from your future, kind of.”

I hit him. “Tony! What the fuck! You aren’t supposed to tell peopl-”

“Okay,” shrugged the first man. I blinked and stared at him. He laughed. “I’ve seen stranger things, doll.”

I raised my eyebrow at Tony and he shrugged; and I knew where I’d seen the first man before. “That’s...that’s Howard Stark? Your dad Howard Stark?” I hissed at Tony, low enough so the glass would block the sound. He nodded and I detected a slight glassy quality to his eyes.

“Um, excuse me?” The second man seemed hesitant to talk. “Are you alright? Are you... stuck?” I moved towards the door and hit the ‘open’ button on the right. There was a hiss as the door opened. The journey must’ve knocked the mechanism and fixed it. Howard Stark reached out to help me out the box, and in a few seconds both Tony and I were on 1940s ground, breathing 1940s air- it was surreal.

The two men introduced themselves, finally. Of course, I knew who Howard Stark was, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the second man was Edwin Jarvis. I shot a slightly confused look at Tony, and he winked back- yes, he had named his AI assistant after his dad’s butler.

My ears perked up at the sound of heels on wooden floors coming from upstairs. “Mr Stark, do you have guests over?”

He winked at me, much like Tony did. “Call me Howard, beautiful,” he moved his gaze to the door of the basement which was still open, showing a staircase. “And I think, if I remember the sound of oxfords correctly, that will be the lovely Miss Peggy Carter,” and he started back up the stairs, gesturing for the rest of us to follow. I was frozen. Peggy Carter? Like, the founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. Peggy Carter? Like-

“You’re aunt Peggy Carter?” Tony murmured into my ear as he passed me, grabbing my arm and gently pulling me along. I nodded slowly. Were there any other notable Peggy Carters that Mr Stark Senior knew?

Sure enough, at the top of the staircase, stood one Miss Margaret Carter. “Hey English, what’s going on?” Howard went to give Peggy a hug, which she fluidly side-stepped in favour of shaking Jarvis’ hand.

“Howard, I did tell you I needed to speak to you, where have you been?”

“Sorry Peggy, I was distracted by the stowaways in my basement.”

“The...what in your what?”

Howard gestured to me and Tony. “These two time travelled into my basement. I believe them.” Peggy rolled her eyes, and Tony looked pointedly at you as if to say ‘you do exactly the same damn thing, what the fuck’.

Peggy breathed out sharply. “Then what are they still doing here? I assume something is wrong with their machine- no one would intentionally time travel in non-period specific clothing, why haven’t you fixed the issue yet?”

Howard blinked as Peggy pushed past him. “Hello, my name is Peggy Carter, a pleasure. My apologies for Howard, particularly to you-” she locked eyes with me “- as I’m sure he’s already tried to flirt with you, no doubt unsuccessfully.”

I laughed. Even I could see the similarities between me and my aunt. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” I smiled back at her teasingly, and she laughed lightly. “But, we do need to get back to... where we’re from as soon as possible.”

Peggy turned abruptly to Howard. “See? Let’s take a look at the problem, shall we?”

He gestured to the stairs. “Lead the way, English.”

With the combined effort of two Starks, two Carters and a Jarvis, the internal control panel was up and running. It was interesting to watch the relationship between Peggy and Howard. There was an intense fondness between them, and I saw a lot of their relationship in my own interactions with Tony. Perhaps...perhaps there was more affection for him than I had allowed myself to feel.

It seemed as if all too soon Tony and I were ready to go back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base. Howard and Peggy stepped out of the machine, followed by Tony, and then me. Having spent some time with the aunt I’d never really known left me feeling nostalgic, I knew her better now than I ever would. I looked over at Tony who was looking at his father, who in turn was quietly conferring with Jarvis.

“Time to go, I guess,” I turned to Tony, who nodded, still somewhat fixated on Howard. I gently tugged at his hand, and he allowed himself to be pulled into the machine. He stopped me just before I shut the door.

“Uh, Howard?” He asked. Howard stepped closer. “This is gonna sound weird, but... I love you. I should have told you that a lot more.”

Howard looked taken aback. “Uh, thank you?” Then it was almost as if he was compelled to speak further- “...I love you too.”

I went to face Peggy, and was about to open my mouth when I noticed her smiling at me. She reached out for my hand. “Before you say it first- I love you,” she whispered.

My eyes were wide. “But, what?”

She laughed and squeezed my hand. “You and I are a little too alike. As are those two,” she said, nodding towards Tony and Howard. “I know you’re part of my family, I’m not as dense about these things as Howard.”

I smiled and squeezed her hand back. “Thank you, Peggy. I love you too.”

We let go, and she closed the door to the machine. I reached out for Tony’s hand, and he twisted our fingers together. The controls were already set for the correct time and place, and together, Tony and I pushed the button.

Howard, Peggy and Jarvis’ faces phased out of reality, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. base came back into view. I was so relieved I jumped on Tony and hugged him tight. He was surprised and stumbled slightly but caught me and hugged me just as tight.

“Well ain’t that just sweet. We been waiting for an hour and you two won’t even say hi?”

I flushed and Tony put me down as we turned to see Fury still at the external control panel. I tapped the ‘open’ button and to my joy, the door opened and Tony and I jumped out of the machine.

“I take it the damn thing works?” Fury asked. We both nodded vigorously. “Alright, rest of the day off, both of you, go home.”

We didn’t need to be told twice. We were out of the base within ten minutes.

Tony stopped me before we went our separate ways home. “Hey, um, would you maybe... wanna come to dinner at Stark Tower? It’s just- you’re really pretty and really smart and I kinda maybe like you a lot,” he stuttered, and I could feel the hand holding mine shaking slightly.

I didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, Tony, I would love that.”

Because hey, we just went back in time together. That bonds people.

______________

wow this took me a good couple hours to complete! i really hope you like it and it didn’t ramble on too long. thank you so much for requesting <3

#tony stark #iron man #tony stark imagine #tony stark x reader #tony stark one shot #avengers #iron man imagine

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calligraphist-artemisia · 4 years ago

Text

Just Another Cinderella Story (Chapter 2)

Once upon a time, there was a boy who was left in the care of his uncaring stepmother. Raised in a life of servitude and seeing his stepbrother lavished with praise and given everything he desired, the boy knew there was only one way he would ever be free. If their dreams of marrying into a life of luxury came true, then he would be left with his childhood home and he would finally be able to turn his life around.

Of course, Fate often has other plans in mind.

Also posted on AO3 under the username Kishirokitsune

- - - - -

2. Rosa canina

Pidge woke to sunlight streaming in through the window and the scent of fresh bread warming in the oven. She pushed back the linen blankets, slowly stretching as she swung her legs over the side of the bed before standing. Her borrowed nightgown fluttered around her ankles as she walked to where her riding clothes were waiting, cleaned and folded in a tidy pile. She smiled as she stripped out of the gown and began to redress.

The soft scent of honeysuckle washed over her as she pulled her blouse over her head and tucked it into her breeches. Her green bodice went on over that and laced up in the front in a crisscross pattern. The last thing she had to do was tame her hair, smoothing it down so she could weave a braid to drape over her shoulder. She tied it off with a spare strip of fabric and then headed out to find the source of the delicious smelling bread.

Curtis was in the place where she saw him most, preparing his baskets to take down to the market. All of his pies were carefully wrapped so they would survive the long journey intact.

“Did you sleep well, princess?” he asked.

“I did,” Pidge replied. “Is Shiro in the garden?”

Curtis nodded. “Could you take breakfast to him and let him know I'm leaving?” He gestured to two bowls with equal portions of bread resting on top.

Pidge agreed and wished him luck in town before gathering up the breakfast and heading out into the garden. Birdsong filled the air and a gentle breeze glided over her skin, providing a little relief under the heat of the rapidly rising sun. After a bit of searching, she found Shiro among the roses.

“Curtis sent me with food,” she said as she approached.

Shiro clipped one last bloom and placed it into his basket before setting everything down. He wiped his hands on a cloth he kept specifically for that purpose and then joined her on a stone bench near a trellis of climbing roses. He took the food with a grateful smile and then they both began to eat, letting themselves get wrapped up in comfortable quiet.

Pidge loved it in the gardens. They were so different from the ones back at the palace, which were all uniform and well-kept. Shiro's were well-tended as well but allowed to grow more freely, not quite wild but not hard edges either. It was a place where she could shrug away her duties and responsibilities to just be herself and not Princess Katie.

She slowly ate, content to spend as much time as possible among the thorny plants, but there was only so long she could keep that up before the bowl was empty. “So, I guess you know about the newest royal decree...”

“I may have heard a few whispers about a royal ball. And of the King's wish to find an appropriate suitor for his daughter,” Shiro responded. “How do you feel about all of that?”

Pidge clenched one hand into a fist. “I- I don't know. Angry? Upset? Matt was able to wait until he was eighteen before he made his choice, but I'm only sixteen! I should have two more years just like he did! I mean, I know dad's getting older and he wants to know that I'll be taken care of, you know, even though I can do it myself, but that doesn't make it less frustrating. How am I supposed to pick someone after one night?! I'll be expected to socialize with everyone there, it's not like I'll have time to actually talk to anyone long enough to know that they'll be good for me.”

She appreciated that Shiro let her rant on without interruption, letting loose all of the frustration she felt after weeks of keeping it pent up. And once she was done, Shiro had nothing to say about her lack of ladylike manners or that she should just go along with it all because it was her duty as the princess.

Shiro pulled her into a one-armed hug. “You have always been a smart and capable young woman. I have no doubt that your heart will guide you to the person who is best suited to stand by your side.”

But what about falling in love?

She didn't voice her question out loud. It was a silly desire. A wish not meant for a princess, who was so bound to her duty and her people that matters of the heart were inconsequential. The most she could hope for was a partner who was kind and genuinely wanted to rule by her side. She could wish for friendship.

“Don't suppose you have a spell for that,” Pidge muttered, leaning against him and soaking up the comfort he was offering while she could.

“I don't think you need something like that,” Shiro told her. “But maybe there's something I can do to help.” He moved his arm away as he stood up and gathered his dishes before gesturing to the cottage.

She had meant it as a passing comment; something that didn't need a response and was simply a reflection of her emotional state, but hearing that there was something that could help her was enough to spark her interest. Could he really help?

They cleaned up their dishes first and Shiro asked a round of questions, trying to figure out if she would prefer a perfume or a tea to drink, while also musing to himself which one would be more effective. Pidge listened in fascination. It was rare that she had the chance to listen to his thought process play out and she enjoyed the moment while she could, following him with some amusement to a side room she'd never been allowed in before.

Pidge jumped as a fire flickered to life in the center of the room, unaided by anyone. She watched as Shiro waved his hand toward it and it died down, leaving only the faint glow of orange embers.

“Do you need me to do anything?” she asked.

Shiro shook his head. “Stand there for a moment. I've been thinking about the best way to approach this... How will you wear your hair during the ball?”

Pidge shrugged. It was never really her choice, but she assumed it would be styled into some sort of fancy up-do, so she told him as much. Shiro nodded as though he expected that answer and retrieved a few stones from a nearby shelf before holding them out for her to take a look.

“Pick one.”

Pidge took her time looking at them and spent some time debating between one that was a smooth green and another that was a crystalline dark purple before selecting the purple.

“Excellent!” Shiro exclaimed, putting the others back. He then browsed through his collection of herbs, selecting a few of them as he went. “Caraway, carnation – ah! Celandine! What else? Perhaps fern? No, wait, hawthorn would be best in this case. I'll have to go out and harvest a branch. Ivy may work as well... Yes, celandine and ivy. Something colorful as well. Vervain to match the amethyst? Or lavender? No, something else. Rose.” He paused, eyeing his collection, and then spun to place it all across the table.

Pidge watched, a little bewildered, as Shiro wordlessly sprinted from the room. She could hear a door shut and shifted her feet, unsure if she was meant to follow him. He returned before she made up her mind, clutching a vine that had thorns and pink flowers. He set it with the others on the desk and then gestured her closer.

“This is a trickier bit of magic than I normally perform and if I've chosen everything correctly, it will hold for several years,” Shiro said. “Amethyst is a multi-purpose stone, known for promoting good energies. In this case, it's going to help increase your innate awareness of those around you. Celandine is used to escape imprisonment and in this case, it will work superbly to keep you safe from anyone wishing to use you for your crown. Ivy is protective. And lastly, the dog rose.”

Pidge tilted her head as she looked at the pink flowers, so different from the roses she was familiar with. The center was yellow and the five petals surrounding it were almost heart-shaped.

“Roses are most often attributed to love,” Shiro continued in a softer voice. “But they are also attuned to friendship and have been used for protection. Dog roses are a wild variant. Curtis gave me a seedling as a gift when we first started seeing each other and I've kept it growing ever since. Of course, they are only tools meant to boost the magic. What really matters is the intent behind the spell.”

Shiro arranged everything on the table and then asked Pidge to step back. She couldn't see exactly what he was doing, but she could hear him speaking in a language unknown to her. A soft glow lit up that side of the room, sending out a pulse that rustled her hair and clothing. She could almost feel the energy tingling over her skin.

And then it faded.

When Shiro turned to face her, he held a delicate hairpiece in his hands. Pale purple crystal, so translucent it looked white in some places, formed the vines and leaves of ivy, looping in on itself to provide the base for the rest of the piece. A slightly darker purple jutted out to form the leaves of the celandine, and an unexpected yellow-orange crystal provided bright spots of color for the small flowers. The deepest purple was reserved for the leaves of the dog rose, the thorns tipped in red, and the flowers themselves reflecting their natural coloration of pink petals with a yellow center, all wrapped to one side.

Pidge accepted the hairpiece and found herself surprised by how light it was, despite everything that went into it. “Shiro, this is incredible.”

“Wear this on the night of the ball and you'll gain an awareness of what your suitors want from you. It will be subtle, so trust your instincts,” Shiro advised her.

A tingle of thrill ran through her. It was so much more than she expected. She'd known for most of her life that she was unlikely to truly have a choice in who to marry. The ball was an unexpected surprise; she was still angry about being forced to choose earlier than expected, but it still allowed her a choice, and that was more than she ever dared to ask. With Shiro's magical influence, she could rest more easily.

She cradled the hairpiece gently in her hands, silently vowing to wear it no matter what anyone else said. It could clash in the worst way with the gown they were preparing for her and she would still insist.

“I... I don't know what to say. Shiro, thank you so much!” Pidge said.

Shiro smiled softly and patted her on the shoulder before turning to clean up the few snapped leaves and other debris from the table. Once he finished cleaning, they went back out into the main room of the cottage, where Pidge put the hairpiece with the bottles of soap Shiro gave her the night before.

It was as they sat down at the table that Pidge realized someone was missing. “Did Keith go with Curtis into town?”

“Ah, no. He left last night once you went to bed,” Shiro replied. “I'm glad the two of you got along. He could use a friend.”

A flash of disappointment rushed through her, leaving her feeling hot in its wake. She barely knew Keith. She shouldn't be so bothered that he left without saying goodbye. “He was nice,” Pidge said.

“You two spent a long time outside after dinner.”

Pidge wanted to retort that they wouldn't have if not for the fact that Shiro had all but shoved them out the door and locked it behind them, but it seemed rude to bring it up when she had such a good time talking to Keith. “We were stargazing and telling stories. I thought I knew most of them because of all the stories dad used to tell, but Keith knew some that I've never heard before.”

And one that she knew was from their neighboring empire, Daibazaal. Her dad had picked up a few when he traveled there as a prince and had told them to her and Matt as bedtime stories. Few others would know them well enough to recite them, but for some reason Keith did.

She supposed it wasn't the weirdest thing.

Besides, it was really nice to hear new star-based legends, especially from someone who, despite his clear lack of ease with talking, was really good at telling them. It could have been the fondness in his voice. Maybe the way he smiled when she saved her questions for the end, rather than interrupting.

Pidge wished he'd been there when she woke up so they could talk some more, but she was sure he had his reasons for leaving. “How did you two meet, anyway?”

Shiro's response was just as vague as Keith's answer had been when she asked how long they'd known each other. “He needed my help, so I gave it.” He paused a moment to regard her seriously. “It's not really my story to tell, princess. You'll have to ask him if you want to know all of it.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” Pidge asked. She knew nothing about Keith except his name. There was no hint about where he lived or who his family was. Sure, he knew legends from Daibazaal, but all that really told her was that he likely knew someone who was from there.

“Fate made sure your paths crossed once already. I have little doubt that they'll cross again.” Shiro's answer wasn't much of one, bringing with it new questions and even more confusion.

Pidge didn't try to convince him to tell her more, recognizing when Shiro was determined to be cryptic on purpose. She crossed her arms over the table and changed the subject, which Shiro happily went along with.

For a while they talked about how nice the weather had been and her own luck that a cool breeze had blown in for her journey from the castle, preventing her from baking under the sun. Shiro's mentioned how his gardens were equally as appreciative of lack of blistering heat and then segued into the newest additions he raised from seedlings and rooted cuttings. He was in the middle of describing the young sandalwood he planned on making the star feature to a new section of the garden when the sound of horse hooves clopping down the path caught their attention.

“Curtis shouldn't be back already,” Shiro murmured as he stood and walked to the window. A glance out of the window confirmed that it wasn't his partner returning, but a small patrol of guards decked out in royal regalia. “It appears your escort has arrived. They're a little later than usual.”

Pidge tried not to groan. She had honestly hoped it would take them a little longer after she hid half of their tackle, but she must not have done as good of a job as she thought. Either that or they had to borrow someone else's.

She stood as well, knowing there was no use in trying to hide.

Shiro helped her gathered the jars of soap and her new hairpiece, which they carried outside to where Pidge's horse, Jasmine, was getting looked over by one of the guards, all of her tackle in place. Jasmine calmly bent her head down and yanked up a patch of grass, happily munching the tender greens.

“Princess,” breathed out the Head Guard, relief in her voice. She pulled off her helmet, revealing stark white hair, and rested it against her hip so she could take a better look at Pidge as though she needed the reassurance that she was alright. “You know it's dangerous to travel without one of us.”

“I was just visiting Shiro,” Pidge said, a little petulantly. She knew Allura was only looking out for her but was it really asking too much that she have a little time to herself? The roads were safe so long as she kept her head down and traveled without any symbols signifying her royal blood.

Allura rolled her eyes skyward the way she did whenever she needed to pray to the heavens for patience without vocally expressing it. “Just get on the horse. And we will talk about this during the ride back. You will ride by me. Ina will take the lead. Veronica and Nadia will follow behind.”

The three women nodded in acknowledgment of their orders.

Pidge made sure her gifts were carefully stowed away in her saddlebags before allowing Shiro to help her up onto Jasmine. She carefully gathered up the reins, refusing to look at Allura as she took her time getting settled. She glanced down at Shiro instead. “I know you don't like crowds, but will you attend the ball? I... I could use a friendly face.”

“I will see what I can do, princess,” Shiro said with a bow. He straightened up and nodded to Allura. “Take care on your journey back.”

Allura inclined her head and then slide her helmet back on before giving the order to move out.

- - - - -

“Boy!”

Keith winced as his stepmother's voice cracked through the hall like a whip. Ever since he returned to the estate, all he'd heard was “Boy, do this!” or “Boy, do that!” as his stepmother worked herself up into a frenzy over something. He didn't think she knew about his late-night visiting Shiro, especially with the way he heard her snap at her precious Lotor once or twice, but he decided it was best to not risk another trip out to “gather herbs” in the forest.

He kept his head down and didn't speak unless he was directly asked a question, obediently following every order to the letter. Whenever she called for him, he set aside whatever he was working on and hurried to her side, bowing low and announcing his arrival if she wasn't facing him.

Honerva's golden eyes were sharp as they raked over his form and Keith felt as though she could see into his very mind, picking through his memories in search of some new weakness to use against him. He stood as still as he could, staring somewhere near the floor at her feet.

“My son has suggested that you be allowed to attend the royal ball in three days,” she said derisively.

Keith blinked in surprise, but otherwise showed no sign that he was affected by her words.

A royal ball? The only reason he could imagine Lotor wanting him to attend would be so he could watch Keith make a fool of himself. Either that or he liked the idea of having a servant all to himself. Was that even allowed? It didn't seem proper.

Honerva continued, her tone scathing and harsh. “He believes that since the decree stated that all eligible men in the kingdom are welcome to attend, they are including the serving class. It is utterly ridiculous. You are not fit to gaze upon the marbled halls of the palace, let alone be allowed within the presence of the royal family.” She paused for a moment. “However, I am loath to dismiss one of Lotor's requests. Should you continue to keep up with your chores and find suitable wear for the ball, you may attend with us.”

Keith could help but look up, knowing his shock was evident on his face. He opened his mouth to speak and quickly shut it before any word could escape, knowing that punishment would swiftly follow for speaking out of turn. He bowed instead.

“Go now,” Honerva said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I will have a chore list prepared for you.”

Another bow as he backed out of the room and hurried back to his cleaning.

His mind whirled with confusion as he tried to figure out what Lotor hoped to gain. What was the point? There was always a point when it came to the things Lotor did, especially when he tried to involve Keith. It was likely to be another cruel game where Lotor tried to get his hopes up, only to crush them beneath his heels in the harshest way he could muster.

Keith wouldn't fall for it again. He would complete his chores as quickly and efficiently as he could; to do any less would result in more punishment than simply not being allowed to attend the ball. But that was all he could do.

He tried to ignore that curious part of him that tried to wonder what it would be like if he was allowed to go, but he failed miserably at keeping his thoughts in line. What was the palace like? The princess was said to be a beautiful young lady and even Keith had heard the rumors that she would one day rule as queen, while her brother was set to marry Princess Romelle of Polluxea and rule the lands to the north as king. If they were calling for all eligible men to attend the ball, it was likely they were searching for a suitor for the princess.

A servant was hardly a suitable match.

Keith forced those thoughts from his head and set to work on his chores, focusing solely on scrubbing every last mark from the floors. He was nearly finished when a pair of shoes appeared in front of him and an elaborate cane jabbed at his chin, forcing Keith to look up.

Lotor stood there with a smirk on his face, his clothing as immaculate as ever, and his hair tied back in a tidy ponytail. “You should show a little more gratitude, little brother. Was it not kind of me to tell mother you should be allowed to attend the gala at the palace? Well, under certain conditions, of course. Nothing in life is free, after all.”

Keith breathed out through his nose and fixed his gaze on the silver buttons on Lotor's waistcoat. “Thank you, sir. I am grateful.”

“As you should be,” Lotor said, lowering his cane and striking it against the floor with a satisfying clicking sound. He stepped away and Keith half-hoped his stepbrother was leaving, but Lotor casually leaned against a nearby wall instead. “I am not such a cruel man that I would deny you the chance to find a new opportunity for work.”

Keith began to scrub the space where Lotor was just standing to cover up his confusion. A new opportunity for work? What was that about? As if his “family” would ever let him go.

“Ah, but you don't know, do you?” Lotor asked in a tone that was likely meant to convey condolence towards his poor, ignorant stepbrother. “In three days, I will be the one to win the hand of Princess Katherine. I am, after all, the obvious choice. Once we are wed, mother and I will move into the palace and we will have no further use for this... hovel.” He sneered in distaste.

Keith scrubbed a little harder.

Lotor tutted at the lack of reaction. “Of course, that leaves us with a tricky question, does it not? Whatever shall we do with you? Obviously, you are too much of an embarrassment to move to the palace with us, even as a servant. You are a blight on the family name. I had considered leaving you here, but it's hardly a property worthy of being owned by royalty, now is it? No. Mother and I have decided that the best thing we can do is tear it all down and offer it as farmland for the peasants to use. Perhaps you could find a job caring for their hogs? You do resemble them on most days.”

There was a dark spot that wouldn't go away no matter how long Keith worked on it. He wondered if anyone would notice if he gave up on it.

Lotor's chuckled darkly as he moved away from the wall. “I would take this opportunity that I have graciously given to you. It is your only chance.”

And with that, he struck out at Keith's bucket with his cane, tipping it over and spilling filthy suds across the floor and onto Keith. Lotor walked away without another word.

Keith did his best to clean up the water with what he had on hand. He tossed his rags onto the puddle, letting them soak up what they could before wringing them out over the bucket. It was a slow process, but if he left it alone to go retrieve something better suited for the task, he would undoubtedly get in trouble for leaving such a mess behind.

He thought about everything that Lotor said as he worked.

For so long, he held onto the thought that maybe they would leave behind him and the estate, allowing him to freely run it while they were away. It wouldn't be true freedom, but it would be better than the way he currently lived. But Lotor just ripped all of that away from him, the same way he planned on tearing down Keith's childhood home.

There had to be something he could do to save it. Maybe if he went to the ball, he would find someone interested in preserving the estate? Would there be such a person who would listen long enough to help him?

He thought of Pidge, who was so clearly of noble birth, and the way she listened with rapt attention to the stories he told that night under the stars. Would she listen again if she knew who he really was? Not even a peasant but a servant, trapped by his own family to work himself to the bone day in and day out.

It was worth the chance.

Keith breathed in, held it, and then slowly breathed out. He would do whatever he needed in order to attend the ball. Hopefully, Pidge would be there.

#voltron #fanfiction #kidge #kidgemas #Cinderella AU #did you know amethyst turns yellow-orange-brown when heat is applied to it?#I probably had too much fun figuring out how to balance the magic in this world

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spacecakes20 · 4 years ago

Text

Begin Again

(Chapter 4)

Chapter 5: Luna, Pool Night

Friday came so quickly; Luna barely had any time to even notice. All her days were starting to blur together now that she wasn’t in charge of scheduling meetings and appointments. Looking through her planer, she had nearly forgotten about the plans she made to meet Sam and his friends at the Stardrop Saloon. Well, she didn’t make any promises, but she was still planning to go. She just didn’t want to commit just in case she chickened out and didn’t show. First things first; she needed to wash up and change. She wanted to look more presentable; her current mud crusted overalls didn’t exactly scream “Friday Night Out with Friends.”

Friends. Would she consider them friends? Acquaintances perhaps. She’d only been living here since the start of spring, and summer was fast approaching. But despite her short amount of time in Pelican Town, everyone seemed to welcome her with open arms. Well, almost everyone. Some were warmer than others, but Luna didn’t really blame them. She still considered herself a stranger here, and it’ll probably take a while for her to find her footing.

After a nice warm shower, Luna went through her fresh clothes. It was surprisingly hard for her to find anything casual that didn’t scream “business party” or “important meeting.” Most of her wardrobe consisted of dress suits and cocktail dresses. Only at the very bottom of her unpacked boxes of clothes did she find her more casual wear. Zuzu University shirts that were way too big for her, sweats, and short-shorts that were way too short. Luna made a mental note to go shopping in the city sometime soon for more casual wear.

Don’t overthink it, Luna. I’m sure no one’s going to pay attention to how you’re dressed. Unfortunately for her, overthinking seemed to be one of Luna’s hidden talents. Working with the higher-ups at Joja HQ, she had no choice but to be self-conscious about how she was dressed around other people. Especially if she was with Charles...

Luna shook those thoughts away, and decided fuck it, she’ll wear what she wanted; and decided to put on the tee-shirt and shorts. It was supposed to be a relaxing and fun night after all, and Luna was tired of overthinking herself into oblivion. Throwing on some socks and her favorite pair of high tops, she grabbed her keys and was off to the saloon.

The sun was still up, but it was still comfortable outside, despite summer being just around the corner. Her stroll wasn’t too long, but she took her time to enjoy the soothing sounds of spring. She made it to the saloon, already able to hear the music and chatter from outside. Upon entering, scanning the inside, she noticed there was more than just a few people in here.

She noticed Leah off at her own table. She had a glass of wine in hand, tapping her foot to the beat of the music playing on the jukebox. Pam was seated at one of the bar stools, nursing an ale while holding a conversation with the bartender, Gus. Next to Gus was a blue-haired woman. Emily, if Luna remembered correctly. She was conversing with a man in a worn-out blue jacket with a five o’clock shadow. Shane, right? Marnie’s nephew? Before she even had time to think about it any further, she heard her name being called. Searching the room for the source of the voice, she saw Mayor Lewis seated at one of the tables near the entrance. She smiled and made her way over to him with a small wave.

“It’s nice to see you out and about Luna.” Lewis smiled kindly, “Your grandfather could be quite stubborn, I feel like he rarely ever took breaks.” His smile turned bittersweet.

Luna couldn’t help her own sad smile gracing her features. She remembered how hard-working her grandfather was. Remembered the pride and joy that always decorated his face whenever he spoke about his farm. How frustrated and heartbroken he was when his old age started to slow him down and keep him from his work… Shaking those sad thoughts away, she decided to try and lighten the mood, “You’re speaking too soon!” She chuckled, “According to my dad, I’m just as stubborn as my grandpa. I just haven’t shown you my fullest potential yet.”

That got the amused response she was hoping for. Lewis simply shook his head, a light laugh escaping him, “Of course. Just be sure not to overwork yourself, okay? Your grandfather would haunt me for the rest of my days if I let anything happen to his granddaughter.”

Luna smiled warmly at that, “Don’t worry sir, I’ll take care of myself.”

Lewis took another sip of his drink before shooing her off, “Don’t let me keep you. Grab a drink and relax.”

“Will do,” Luna nodded. She did another quick scan of the saloon before she noticed the game room that was off to the side of the building. She made her way over to one of the arcade machines. Reading the cabinet, she realized it was Journey of the Prairie King. Luna was suddenly hit with a strong wave of nostalgia. She remembered she used to play that game with her dad. Lola wasn’t too good at video games, so she’d usually just watch. It was how the three of them would spend time together on the rare occasion their dad wasn’t too busy with work. Before her parent’s split…

She was mercifully brought out of her thoughts by the sound of someone clearing their throat. She froze for a second, unaware someone else was here too. Turning to the source of the noise, her heart stopped at the site. A familiar tall man in black high-tops ripped skinny jeans and a black hoodie. But what caught her most off guard were his eyes. Of course, she wouldn’t forget those eyes. They reminded her of quartz. So cloudy, like a rainstorm, yet crystal clear and cool, like filtered water. And they were looking right at her.

Sebastian mumbled out a, “Hey.” Before getting back to chalking the end of a cue stick. That was when Luna noticed there was a pool table in the middle of the room.

“Hey.” Luna returned the greeting, slowly making her way to the said pool table. “I’m sorry, did I show up too late?”

He shook his head, eyes never leaving the table, “Early, actually.”

That did make her feel relieved, but also a bit nervous. This would be the first time Luna and Sebastian were truly alone together since the door incident. Sure, they made amends at the Flower Dance, but they had Sam and Abigail there with them as a sort of buffer. Come to think of it, had she ever been alone with Sebastian before? There was their first meeting at the docks, but she hadn’t even known his name and they were only together for a second. Did that even count?

“Do you play?” His question caught her off guard.

“Huh?”

“Pool.” He finally looked at her, “Do you play pool?”

“Oh.” She was a little surprised at the fact that he was the one trying to start the conversation. Was he trying to make her feel more comfortable? This was probably awkward for him too, so perhaps this was just his way of breaking the ice? “No, I’m afraid I haven’t.”

He hummed out as a response, and the room filled with silence again.

“What about you?” Luna asked, trying her best to fill the stillness, “Do you play?”

His eyes never left the pool table as he smirked to himself. Something about it looked cocky and she had to admit; it looked good on him. “Yeah, I play. Me and Sam play every Friday. He still hasn’t managed to beat me.”

Luna hummed, amused by his slight change in demeanor. She decided to humor him. “How do you play?”

“Huh?” He blinked at her, the confidant gleam in his eyes now replaced with genuine surprise.

She smiled up at him and asked again, “How do you play?”

He stood there a while, still as a statue. For a minute, she wondered if she might have said something wrong. Her mind was set at ease however when he grabbed the other cue stick and handed it to her. She graciously took it and watched as he took the balls from the table and organized them in a triangular rack.

“The goal,” He said, giving the rack a light shake, “Is to pocket all of your designated balls, and then the eight ball.” He pointed out the round black orb with an “8” written on it in the middle of a white circle.

Luna nodded in understanding, but her brows were furrowed, “That sounds… simple…”

Sebastian just chuckled. What a wonderful sound. She wouldn’t mind hearing that again.

“Simple huh?”

“I mean…” She looked away, distracting herself by looking at the pool table, “What’s to stop me from just, getting the eight-ball pocketed on my first try?”

“You’re not allowed to do that.” He said, “You’ll have to sink all of your designated balls first,” He explained simply, “I’ll go first.”

“Okay…” She fiddled with her cue stick and watched Sebastian’s form closely. He gracefully knocked the white ball, crashing it into the other colorful round orbs. They rolled around the pool table easily, but none fell into any of the pockets. He bit his lip, eyes focused, brow set in concentration before looking over to her.

“Your turn,” Sebastian said simply.

“Huh?” Luna looked to him and the pool table in confusion, “Wait, how do I know which balls mine are?”

He gave a soft lazy smile, “Just pick stripes or solids. I’ll take whichever you don’t.”

She nodded silently, walking around the ends of the table, searching for an advantage. Finally, she decided on solid colors, leaning over the table and knocking the cue ball into a red one. She missed the pocked by a mere inch.

“Close.” Sebastian sounded almost impressed, and Luna couldn’t help but feel a little proud. The two went back and forth like this; analyzing their moves, looking for strengths and weaknesses. It was a surprisingly strategic game, and Luna felt a little silly for underestimating it.

It was nice seeing Sebastian look so relaxed. Which was an amusing thought, because Luna also noticed he seemed to have a bit of a competitive streak. But it wasn’t like she didn’t have one herself. She did enjoy problem solving and challenges, and he felt like the perfect opponent. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was holding back.

“Not bad.” Sebastian’s voice took on an almost teasing tone, as he hit the eight ball into the closest pocket, “But looks like I win this round.”

Luna shook her head with a hum, “I can’t help but feel like you went easy on me though.”

He gave her a half-smile, and she could have sworn he had a dimple, “Do I seem like the type who does that?”

She didn’t know if she could believe him or not. Sure, he really didn’t seem like the type that would hold back in a game, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was showing some restraint.

“You don’t look so sure.” His expression was unreadable, “Want to play another round?”

She agreed to it without a second thought. She watched him closely this time around. He seemed to be in his element; much more at ease here then he seemed to be at the Flower Dance. Perhaps if they had met someplace as relaxed as the saloon, their first meeting might have gone a lot smoother.

“Hey, Seb!” The new familiar voice caused Sebastian to lose his focus, making him overshoot his target. The cue ball missed the pocket, deciding instead to roll off the table, hitting the floor with a thud and a roll. Sebastian sucked the air between his teeth, eyes darting in the direction of the new voice.

Sam and Abigail had finally made their way to the saloon, entering the game room with a tray of drinks at hand and a pizza. Sam had seen Sebastian’s missed shot, and gave him a sheepish look, mouthing “sorry” under his breath.

Luna tried to stifle a giggle, drawing the attention of Sam in the process. “Luna!” He sounded surprised, “You made it!”

“Yeah,” She smiled a bit sheepishly. “I did.”

Sebastian had picked up the fallen cue ball, placing it on the table. He gave Luna an embarrassed smile, “Looks like you win by a technicality.”

Luna wrinkled her nose, “That’s an anti-climactic win.”

He simply shrugged, “Wanna play another round?” He offered.

“Wait!” Sam interrupted before Luna could give her answer, “You two were playing pool together?” His eyes looked almost pleading, “Please tell me you won, Luna?”

She shook her head with a grimace, “Nope. He’s just too good.”

This answer must have amused Sebastian because he let out a very light chuckle.

“Don’t encourage him, Luna!” Sam said dramatically, “His ego’s already big enough as it is!”

Luna just shook her head with a giggle. Looking up to Sebastian, she said, “I’d take you up on your offer, but I know when I’ve been beat.” She smiled simply. Her innocent smile seamlessly morphed into a teasing one, “But I promise, I won’t lose next time.”

That got her the reaction she was looking for. His lazy smile melted into a smug smirk, “Don’t get too cocky.”

Abigail cleared her throat, interrupting the playful banter. She grabbed Luna by the arm, surprising her in the process, “Alright,” Abigail said, “You guys can finish this later. I want to get to know our new farmer.”

Come to think of it, out of the three here, Luna did feel like she interacted with Abigail the lest. They had run into each other a few times in town, only to give out a “hello” in passing. She hadn’t even realized she was a friend of Sam’s, until the Flower Dance.

Abigail’s bright blue eyes looked over to Luna’s green ones, “Have you ever played Journey of the Prairie King?”

That earned her a lopsided smile from Luna, “I used to play it a lot as a kid.”

Abigail’s smile seemed to have brightened upon hearing this. “Think you could help me out than? I’ve been stuck on this one level, and this game is so much easier with two people.”

Luna looked over to Sebastian and Sam with an apologetic smile, but Sam just waved her off. “No worries Luna.” He said, “I’ll avenge you in pool!”

Sebastian let out a snort at that, “I highly doubt you can.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Sure,” Sebastian answered dryly, without missing a beat, “I could use the extra cash.”

Luna couldn’t help but giggle at their banter.

“Try not to lose all of your money, Sam,” Abigail added while placing some change into the arcade machine. The screen blinked to life, and Abigail stepped aside to make room for Luna.

“You two have no faith in me.” Sam whined dramatically, before pouting at Luna, “You’ll root for me, right?”

Luna bit back a laugh, “Sure. I’ll cheer you on.”

Luna was happy she didn’t place any bets by the end of the night. It turned out Abigail and Sebastian weren’t joking; Sam truly was just that bad at pool.

(Chapter 6)

#Stardew Valley #stardew valley sebastian #stardew sebastian #stardew fanfic #sebastian x farmer

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