#Sorry Rei you’ve been forgotten

[rayman-raymania]

I shall give Remy and Manny a orange chocolates and a kiwifruit chocolates respectively.

they’d probably like it if it’s related to fruit

-kat

[sunnie-angel]

Part 7: The Friend

part 6 | series masterlist | ao3 link

jason todd x fem!reader

summary: you confront jason for disappearing as soon as he’d gotten you into bed. it does end the way you’d hoped.

tags: angst, implied sexual content, drinking as coping mechanism, vomit

rated explicit (mdni) | wc: 1.9k

a/n: this was a dialogue heavy update, so of course i struggled with it. i rewrote and reworked this a few times and i think this is as close to happy as i’m going to get. i’d love to know what you all think about it!

The diner’s too hot, warm air blasting directly onto the back of your neck. It’s the first time you’ve felt warm all weekend since stepping into Rei and Lina’s apartment what feels like a century ago. Fingers twitchy, you straighten the cutlery on its paper napkin. The minute adjustments do nothing to quell the nerves wriggling in your belly. Since the moment you woke up to a lonely bed, writhing, thrashing somethings had taken up residence in the pit of your stomach and the hollow of your throat. Your red dress sits crumpled at the bottom of your hamper, out of sight but not even close to out of mind. It’s not– it’s not just the leaving that had hurt. Everything before – the flirting, the kindness, the goddamn food – that was what stung. Jason hadn’t just been a ‘first name only forgotten in the morning’ hookup, he’d been your friend. He’d been someone you had trusted despite all your reservations with the messy bleeding parts of yourself. And he had left you behind. Fucker.

Jason slides into the booth across from you, silent. He looks...tired. Broad shoulders drooping, hair wild from fingers running through it, and bags the size of quarters heavy under his eyes. He stares back at your own dishevelled appearance. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it with a snap. You lean back onto the plastic coated cushion behind you and cross your arms. It’s hard to be angry when exhaustion is suffocating you both, but every moment that stretches out in the silence drips more venom into your veins. 

“I’m sorry,” Jason croaks, breaching this strange detente between you. “I’m– I’m sorry about Friday. You’ve been a good friend an’ I took advantage of that, took advantage of you, when you were vulnerable,” he takes a deep breath and soldiers on. “You’d been drinkin' and then the fucking mugger happened and– and that wasn’t a side of me I wanted you to see. Ever. You weren’t in the right mind for– for any of that and I knew that and I still kissed you back. I was supposed to look out for you an’ be the responsible one but I just took advantage without thinkin’. It was shitty of me to do that. I was a shitty friend and you deserved better– ” He pauses for breath and you interrupt him, incredulous that this of all things is what he is fixating on.

“That’s what you think I’m pissed about? Jason, I kissed you first so stop with whatever– ” you gesture at him “–this is. Yeah, I had a few drinks but I was already sobering up by the time we got to that alley and I was definitely sober after having a gun waved in my face. So get off your pyre of self-martyrdom because if anyone was taking advantage of the situation it was me. Jason, I’m angry because you’re my friend. You’re my friend and you left like I was just a random fuck.” Defeated you slump back in your chair. “I thought I– I thought at our friendship meant more than that to you but I guess not.” 

“Hello and welcome to Doris’s Diner, what can I get you started off with?” The waitress interrupts, cheerful voice a bucket of cold water. She looks back and forth between the two of you expectantly, pen tapping at her notepad. Her fixed smile starts to slip as she starts to notice the tense atmosphere.

“We’ll uh, just have water and we’ll let you know when we’re ready to order,” Jason intervenes. The two of you sit there in tense silence, unable to look each other in the eye but unable to look away, until the waitress returns with your drinks. Her smile is noticeably more forced. Perspiration beads on your glass, a fat droplet sliding down one side. Your fingers start twitching again and you grasp the paper wrapper of your straw. It shreds so easily under your nervousness.

“You are my friend, yeah?” He begins. “You’re maybe the best friend I’ve ever had. Us bein’ friends means everythin’. I was a coward, okay? ‘Cause I was afraid that you were gonna wake up and hate me and then I would have fucked up the only stable thing I’ve got goin’ for me.” Jason takes a breath and you glance back down at the pile of torn paper in front of you. Your heart feels about the same. “I think I fucked it up anyway.” Jason says wryly. “But if you’ll let me, I’ll do whatever it takes so we can be friends again.”

Friends. Friends. Friends. Every time he says the word another nail hammers home in the coffin of the faintly burning desire to one day mean something else. For all the little gestures and kind words to suddenly materialize into something more than platonic affection. You’re angry, now, but even that burning bile hadn’t been enough to kill that little bit of hope kept carefully safe in the recesses of your mind. When he had kissed you back, lips chapped and warm under your own, that hope had sparked, caught fire. Maybe the warmth in your chest hadn’t been one-sided after all. Friends. God, you wish he’d stopped saying that. You wish he’d told you that the real reason he ran away was because he was overcome by emotion, like the Byronic heroes you study finally feeling true emotion. You should have known better than to wish for anything you couldn’t make happen with your own two hands. 

“So what, then? Where does that leave us?” you ask, hands balling into fists in your lap. “We just forget the whole thing? Put it all behind us and just go on like we never even slept together?” Jason doesn’t manage to suppress the flinch at the reminder but his pasted on grin doesn’t slip. 

“If you’ll give me a second chance, I’ll make it up to you, make it like it never happened, yeah?” 

No matter how badly Jason wants to pretend as though nothing has happened, neither of you are good enough actors to pretend that nothing has changed. There’s an awareness of each other that hadn’t existed previously. An awkward self-awareness of your own bodies in relation to each other. The gulf between you yawns cavernous, despite Jason’s smiling attempts to paper over it. This bell can’t be un-rung. But Jason’s trying. So maybe things between you aren’t working out into the fairytale ending you had wished for. Maybe the attraction between you really is one-sided, that Jason had just slept with you out of pity and then regretted that decision. You aren’t going to get what you want. The question is, what are you willing to settle for?

“Fine, whatever, we pretend the sex never happened,” you agree, taking a perverse kind of pleasure in twisting in the knife, “But your ‘night job’? You bet I’m still pissed about you practically stalking me and using that as an excuse,” you say. 

A muscle in Jason’s jaw twitches. Good. Maybe, maybe if he grovels a little more you two can resettle the equilibrium of your friendship but that doesn’t mean your heart your ego still doesn’t feel the hurt. 

“Is it– is it gonna be a problem for you?” he asks, voice suspiciously boyish. “It’s not– it’s not something I can stop being.” 

“Okay, first of all, you’re focusing on the wrong thing again. I don’t give a shit that you’re the Red Hood as long as all that of that business stays far, far away. You don’t think I remember how bad the neighbourhood was when I was a kid? You think I don’t notice how much better it is now? Jesus Christ, at least give me some credit.” This has to be a side effect of too many hits to the head. How is he not getting this? “Two, the part that I’m actually freaking out over, is the part where you knew all the pass codes to my specific unit. You know, the part where you invaded my privacy?” your voice rises on the last word, other diners turning to stare at you. You shrink back down into your seat at the attention. 

“I do give you credit,” Jason says slowly, eyes puppy wide. “You’re one of the cleverest people I know.” 

“Oh yeah? Then what was all that bullshit about ‘ooh I’m the Red Hood an I know where everyone in the Alley lives’ huh?” you retort, throwing his words back in his face. 

“I do!” he exclaims. You scoff and cross your arms over your chest. “Okay so I don’t. But you’re my friend!” he hurries to add. “And you walk home from the bus stop late at night sometimes so I, you know, swing by sometimes just to make sure you got home safe.”

You stare at him in shock. “You know that’s both incredibly sweet and creepy, right?”

“I’m uh, I’m aware that I’m not the most well-adjusted,” he says sheepishly.  

You turn and wave down the waitress. “Hi, could we get the number eight breakfast combo for him, the blueberry brioche french toast for me, and a side order of the breakfast sausage and whole wheat toast for the table. Thanks.” You hand the menus back to her and smile sunnily at her shell shocked expression. She walks off and you turn back to Jason. “I’m not explaining personal privacy and boundaries to you on an empty stomach. And you’re paying.” 

It’s frighteningly easy to fall back into the regular rhythm of your friendship. Jason nods in all the right places and tries to make you laugh, butters your toast for you before sliding it on to your plate. He asks questions, good questions, so he’s clearly listening. All of it feels just like the time Before. Before you knew what he tasted like, the solid heat of him over you. Before you knew the full heavy stretch of him and the way his brows furrow when he comes. It almost feels likes before, except for his eyes.

Jason won’t look you in the eyes as you talk, will barely even glance at your face. Oh he’s attentive enough, doesn’t miss a word or an expansive gesture. But you notice these things, just like you’ve always noticed the little things with Jason. You had noticed that Jason had turned to you the most, out of all of your mutual friends, paid attention to you most often, yet you hadn’t noticed just how much his gaze had weighed on you until it’s gone. You miss it, that comforting weight. It also makes something clear to you. 

Your friendship will never be the same, but if you’re willing to accept that, accept that you’re not going to get what you want, you might have something close to your former intimacy. One day. So you smile and you laugh and accept the olive branch with gritted teeth. You promise all can be forgiven, forgotten, that this whole morning hasn’t cost you anything but your heart and dignity. Waving down the waitress again, you order a mimosa and add it to Jason’s tab. If he’s gonna break your heart at 11:00 in the morning, well, his wallet can take the hit. The bubbles carry you through the rest of brunch, through your goodbyes and see you laters. Jason walks away, hands in his pockets, shoulders noticeably lighter. 

You turn to walk home, breakfast churning in your stomach, and promptly throw it up in the gutter. Swiping the back of your hand over your mouth, you straighten up and stagger onwards. Fuck your weakness for Jason Todd. And to think you had been so close to just laying out your feelings on a plate and serving it up to him until he’d opened his big mouth. Friends. You scoff. Friends.

part 8

[looby1302]

I have found no Jackie and Cole fanfiction, so decided to write it myself. I hope you all enjoy. This is part one. Please be kind I’m not much of a writer ❤️ let me know if you want part 2!

COLE AND JACKIE

My life with the Walter boys.

Guilty conscience 

This carries on from the ending of my life with the Walter boys, the Netflix series.

Before Cole can say anything to Alex, in response to his question. Alex takes out his phone and Calls Jackie. It goes straight to voicemail. “ I’ve already asked you, what did you do?” Alex shouted. Cole Mumbles in response, “ I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ve done nothing”. “ I saw the teapot, I saw it in her room, and now she’s just suddenly vanished, it’s not a coincidence Cole. I know that you’ve done something, you just couldn’t help yourself could you!.. There is no way that she would leave without saying goodbye”. Alex walked out the room.

Cole lays there in his bed, staring at the note. Thinking if he had made a mistake. Did he get the wrong end of the stick? Did he make her feel uncomfortable?. And then the thought of her lips pressed against his entered his mind. And any doubt subsided. He could feel her moan against his skin. Her hand snaked around the back of his head, pulling him in closer. There’s no way he got it wrong.

He pulls out his phone, looks up New York and presses the call button, just like it did with Alex. It goes straight to voicemail. He hangs up. and typed out a text.

“Where did you go? Please call me. We need to talk.”.

Meanwhile Jackie, uncle Richard, and Danny. All arrive at JFK Airport. They get their luggage. get into Richard’s car, and head to his apartment. as soon as the key enters the door lock, Danny looks around with a big smile on his face exclaiming, “that this is gonna be awesome!”. Jackie can’t shake the feeling though, that she’s forgotten something. She hadn’t planned to leave, but after that steamy, make out in the barn with Cole. She couldn’t bear the thought of breaking Alex’s heart.

After getting all settled in, unpacking, both Danny and Jackie are sat on the couch. Danny asks “ what’s up with you?, you haven’t been yourself since we left, you ok?”. Jackie looked at him, she had an embarrassed look on her face. “Look I don’t know what happened, but you need to be true to yourself Jackie, do you have feelings for Cole?.”

Jackie started to tear up all those thoughts and feelings started to bubble inside her and she couldn’t hold it in anymore “I’m sorry, I can’t”. She stood up and walked into her bedroom. As she slumped on the bed, her hand luggage bag fell over revealing her phone. She picked it up and turned it on while her heart was beating extremely fast. The phone came to life and then beeped 11 times one after the other.

KATHRINE 4 missed calls

GEORGE 2 missed calls

ALEX 3 missed calls

COLE WALTER 1 missed call and 1 text message

As soon as his name appeared it was like a knife went straight through her. She couldn’t bare the thought of him, being left in the dark for the next three months, wondering why she left. as she’s about to get up from the Bed her phone starts ringing, on the screen it, says Cole Walter. She presses the answer button.

“Jackie” she hears in a deep relieved hushed voice.

Please let me know if you want part two, This is heavily Cole and Jackie. Romance, tragedy, smut! Lots of love.

[intcritus]

"I should have visited more, but..."

Grit teeth and curled fists tell the story of a boy who now cannot meet his mother's gaze. The cold burn of resentment and turmoil permeate Natsuo's chest, only fostered over the years as he aged and he could become jaded, innocence lost to the recognition that their family was not the norm. That happiness ought be put first, not fear and isolation, the growing sense of uselessness as time and time again he was not enough. That ill feeling is burned into his skin, festing as he aged until it lays frozen in his veins. Being in the room with any of his family members is hard, a bitter infestation to the small happiness he has managed to carve for himself in this world.

Yet he still tries. If only to see his siblings smile.

"I just hate him and this world. I hate what become of us all." I hate that I never mattered. That my closest sibling died, that I spent my childhood alternating between beign trapped in a glass bowl of a playroom or being terrified of the inferno. He stops just short at directing any of his vitrol in her direction but he cannot help but resent her too. She was just as much a victim but also an adult. There's a part of him that does not understand why she did not just take them all and run.

The averted gaze and furrowed brow are finally cast in her direction and for the first time in a long while Natsuo looks upon his mother. He's not sure how he feels but his throat is thick with emotion and his eyes sting.

"I just finally found something that made me happy. I wanted to protect it." I couldn't see it burn too.

Rei has had plenty of time to sit with her faults, with her trauma, with the harrowing and terrifying story of what came of her family. Enji is to blame but she knows that her fault is also heavy on the hearts of her children. She should have taken them and left, should have given them the love and care they deserve after living in that house. She wholly expects their censure. They were…they didn’t ask to be born anymore than she had expected to watch Touya’s downfall. And that is a hard pill to swallow. 

Natsuo…her precious son, he has every right to feel the way he does, she will never invalidate that. ❝ ━ I’m sorry, son. I’m sorry that I didn’t do better by you all, that when I should have, that I didn’t protect you. You’re right to want to protect what makes you smile, what is your little slice of solace away from us. You don’t have to pretend, Natsuo, you were dealt a terrible hand with us as your…parents.  ❞  Parents isn’t the right word. Maybe once upon a time, she could’ve been called that, but not now. Her children are growing, they are becoming adults who don’t need her. She meets his gaze, a gentleness there that had faded but grown with the time away from her family.

Fuyumi was the first one to visit her, but even that had been hard because her only daughter hadn’t said a thing, hadn’t blamed her, had internalized it all, so close to breaking even if she hid it behind kind gestures. Even Shoto, who had blamed himself for being born, who had hesitated visiting her, it was difficult for Rei not to cry at seeing any of her children.

The fact that they visited her at all ? That was a blessing that she would forever cherish. ❝ ━ To tell you the truth, if you never saw me again, I wouldn’t blame you. If you had wanted to never acknowledge me again as your mother, I wouldn’t have blamed you. You deserved better than to be thrown away, to be forgotten, to feel nothing more like an isolated creation who didn’t matter. But you matter, Natsuo,  the life you make for yourself now, what you do now, regardless of your family name ? I’m glad to see you’ve taken life with your own hands. Please continue to do that, my opinion doesn’t hold much worth, but I’m proud of you. So proud. ❞ 

Emotions sting her gaze and she looks down at her hands, cold and weathered, ❝ ━ Touya…if I’d done more, you wouldn’t have lost your brother. ❞ How many times had she tried to get Enji to see that Touya needed more than some ridiculous training regime. If his quirk was hurting him, maybe quirk counseling, maybe a support item, anything other than waking and realizing his own flames and failed quirk regulation had resulted in his being gone. ❝ ━ There’s a lot I’m sorry for, especially because I’m aware of how much you’ve suffered, but I hope going forward that you protect what makes you happy. You deserve that. ❞ 

in which she sits with her faults. | @resolutepath

[askthepsychic]

A moment later, Rey becomes aware of another mental pattern joining theirs, coming into being behind her. She quiets her thoughts to listen to the new arrival more closely.

“What? What is this? This… this isn’t just a dream anymore, is it? I feel something. Something… familiar. Like a half forgotten friend from a long time ago. Wait… is this….MAGIC?!”

Rey can’t help but smile. “That’s right. Your world doesn’t have true magic, does it?”

“No. Um, who are you. The memories are all becoming as clear as day again, but your voice isn’t in any of them.”

Rey sighs. “My name is Rey. This is the first time we have met, Megan Williams.”

Megan sighs “I see. But it’s actually Megan Richards now. Rey, can I ask… is everything okay there? I mean, it’s been a long time, but normally a surprise visit like this meant trouble. I’m perfectly ready to rush to the defense of you all again like I always did back then if I need to.”

Rey sighs. “I see. You really are that sort of person. I’m really happy to know that wasn’t exaggerated. You truly were what they needed back then.”

Megan is silent a moment. “Back then? Heh. Suddenly I get the feeling that you aren’t here to invite me for a visit or to ask me to rescue you. Rey. I… I want to know. How long ago was… back then on your end?”

Rey sighs. “I knew from the moment I was enlisted to participate in this that you would ask. Just as those who enlisted me knew I would answer. Megan. Steel yourself. Grasp my left hand if you’re ready.” When Rey feels Megan’s hand grasping hers, she says “for us, it has been… more than six… millennia since you were last here.”

Megan sighs. “I… I’m not going back again, am I?”

Rey sighs “the world you knew. The world I know. Though they are the same in terms of planet, they are still very different places. I’m sorry, Megan, but… I must be blunt and inform you that the world I know has no place for you.”

Rey can feel Megan nodding in understanding. “I get it. Some things have just changed too drastically to allow for me anymore. Then there’s just one more thing I want to ask before you tell me why you’ve contacted me. My ponies. The ones I knew back then. What happened to them after the link was destroyed?”

Rey smiles. “You would’ve been proud of them Megan. Losing you, instead of breaking them, galvanized them to find their own strength. They took that moment to heart and used it to motivate themselves so they could become stronger than they had ever been before, building the basis of a kingdom on the broken pieces of that link. They rose up and never looked down. Rushed forward and never looked back. If ever they spared a moment to think of what had been, it was only to motivate themselves to do better again.”

Megan says “enough. You’re absolutely right, Rey. I’m… unbelievably proud of them. I spent so many nights haunted by nightmares of so many different worst case scenarios. I still have nightmares now. Horrible visions of ways they could have suffered without me or… the Rainbow. Of course. That’s why this is happening tonight isn’t it? You or your recruiters have somehow crafted a method to bring the Rainbow of Light back to your world, haven’t you?”

Rey nods “that’s right Megan. But to forestall any sort of anger you might feel from that, I want to point out that along with restoring an ancient defense to ourselves, there is a consideration for you as well. Your world has no true magic of its own. The Rainbow of Light is an incarnation of pure magic. There could be… issues born of these two facts.”

Megan nods, “right. A world without true magic would have no ability to defend itself from any effects the presence of a powerful magical force could cause. But really, that’s not even a shadow of a consideration for me. You see, when the Rainbow Bridge shattered, and I was left holding the Rainbow of Light with no way to get it back to you, I made an oath to myself. Even if I could never go back, I would still, with no hesitation, return the Rainbow to you the first chance I got. And this is starting to seem like a really good chance to do just that. Tell me what to do.”

Rey smiles. “You may have noticed I specified that you grasp my left hand to let me know you’d braced yourself. I specified the left because the right is enchanted with a powerful transportation spell, capable of carrying one thing from one world to another. If you place the Rainbow of Light in my right hand, that’ll be it. It will leave your world and return to this one. However, you do realize that doing this will mean surrendering the last link to this world that you have, correct?”

Megan is once again silent for a moment, then says “it doesn’t belong to me. I may have wielded it the most often, but it belongs to you. It always has. I’ve come to terms with what fulfilling my oath would mean. Rey, hold your right hand out to me.”

Rey does, then feels something get placed into her hand. When she looks, she can’t help but marvel at how some of the greatest powers in existence can manifest in such simple items.

As Rey looks at the locket holding the Rainbow of Light, a small burst of light emits from her hand. Nyx says “with that, the Rainbow should now reappear in your hand back in our world, Rey.”

Megan, hearing the other voice, chances a look around and smiles, seeing the two ponies. “You never really know how much you really care about someone or something until you realize just the sight of them is enough to make you happy. I don’t recognize either of you, but just seeing ponies again even if it’s the last time still makes me smile.”

Luna bows to Megan “Megan. We have much we owe you for. This act of prevention against eventual calamity isn’t nearly enough to repay you, but I fear it will be all we will ever be able to do. Please, forgive this poor show of gratitude.”

Megan smirks, tilting her head and crossing her arms. “Okay, you have got to be some sort of princess or something. The way you talk, dead giveaway. Although, I’m not quite sure what kind of pony you are. I remember ponies with wings and ponies with horns, but not ponies with both.”

Nyx smiles “we are alicorns. Speaking in terms of attributes, we are a unified form of the other three pony tribes. Pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies all in one.”

Megan tilts her head. “What about sea ponies? Flutter ponies? Has something happened to them?”

Luna sighs. “I believe it may now be time to reveal to you that at some point in the past, earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi began feuding with each other. This was eventually resolved… but the cost of the feuding eventually consumed Dream Valley. The kingdom we live in now, Equestria, is in an entirely different region. Much was lost when Dream Valley was consumed by the Wendigo’s curse, the flutter ponies included. As for the sea ponies, it had been some centuries since our last open communication with them. They have become a secretive tribe, allowing only occasional visits to their undersea domain at the best of times. As we must wait for them to contact us in order for communication to begin, diplomacy proceeds at a slow crawl at best. I don’t begrudge them their secrecy, but I would hope we could be more united in the future,”

Megan nods. “I’m with you on that. But I can’t help but notice this group dream deal seems to be getting less defined. I think I better let you go before you hurt yourselves.”

Luna nods. “Once more, I want to apologize that we can’t do more to thank you, Megan. That being said…”

“WAAAAAAIIIIIITTTTTT.”

(Picture found on deviantart. Artist https://www.deviantart.com/starbat )

[violettduchess]

I simply considered myself tagged because I love this idea @the12thnightproject

What creation or accomplishment from 2022 are you most proud of? Actually posting my first public piece of fanfic despite the anxiety I was feeling. I was scared I wouldn't be "good enough", no one would want to read anything I write, etc.

Cut and paste some of your favorite reader/viewer comments on your work. We’re celebrating, people, and comments on your work is your champagne. It’s New Year’s, live a little.

This reaction from my Cozy Sweater (Clavis) fic

What stretched you creatively? Headcanons because I did not know how to approach them. I avoided them for a long time until I found my own way to handle them and now I love them!

What was the most difficult thing you created and how did you get through it? My Ikevamp fic with a trans male MC because I wanted to be respectful of the topic and make sure I really did it justice. I spent a lot of time talking to a former student who is trans and reading through Tumblr posts on the subject.

What’s one thing you’ve never tried to create that you might challenge yourself to create in the next year? Content for characters I have never fully written before like Dazai, Vlad, Jean, Vincent, Shakespeare, Yves, Jin, Nokto (sorry, no Rio and Charles-Henri😆 )

What new fandoms did you discover over the past year? Ikemen was new to me!

What fan-works created by someone else inspired/excited you? I have already listed my favorites from this year but I really need to mention the absolutely beautiful art work by @batteryrose @thewitchofbooks @ana-thedaydreamer @atelieredux @ndoandou

What did you read or see that made you go, “I wish I had written/painted/created that.” I really appreciate everyone's work but I will say I admire and strive for @aquagirl1978 and her wonderful dialogue writing and @scorchieart and her perfect characterizations

Who did you discover? Literally everyone in the Ikemen fandom because it was all new to me!

Spread the fandom love – who makes you smile? [Yes, it is totally valid to write “everybody” in this space] I want to take a moment to thank the blogs that have been quietly and steadily liking my writing since the very beginning (excluding my taglist because you guys are loud and supportive 😉). A heartfelt thank you to @ikemenprincekeithhowell @iheartgirlymcs111 @namine-somebodies-nobody @mcofthemansion @nad-zeta @alby-rei @herbal-tea-and-manga @thegeekcloud @sky-drgn @ez-brrreeze @whitelittlebunny @ranhanabi777 @vivifucksthevillian @milk-leaves @cilokgoang @nani-nani-nani @moonpawprints @iamsimp13 @randonauticrap @toshipingu @ozalysss @madarlingcherie @luna-the-moth @littlewitty @wenddegbear (please forgive me if you read this and feel I have forgotten to mention you! 💜 Throw an ask at me and say hey me too so I can thank you!)

Content Creators...

Thinking about 2022 as we wave it goodbye and send it into the past. Let’s do a little bit of navel-gazing and patting ourselves and each other on the back and realize just how much we’ve accomplished over the past year.

So, for your blog, please answer (all or some) of the following questions. I’ll be working on my own answers over the next day or so.

What creation or accomplishment from 2022 are you most proud of?

Cut and paste some of your favorite reader/viewer comments on your work. We’re celebrating, people, and comments on your work is your champagne. It’s New Year’s, live a little.

What stretched you creatively?

What was the most difficult thing you created and how did you get through it?

What’s one thing you’ve never tried to create that you might challenge yourself to create in the next year?

What new fandoms did you discover over the past year?

What fan-works created by someone else inspired/excited you?

What did you read or see that made you go, “I wish I had written/painted/created that.”

Who did you discover?

Spread the fandom love – who makes you smile? [Yes, it is totally valid to write “everybody” in this space]

Tag yourselves in! Share the love! Party! Toast! Hugs! Rainbows! Unicorns! And a box of kittens!

[factorydefaultlu]

Pt 2 of Sansa/Reader Jon/Reader

Sansa watched as you walked away after giving Jon a hug. Even after all these years since she’s last seen you, since she’s left you alone in Winterfell you’re still just as beautiful.

She follows you silently observing as you continue to help the people around you the same people she heard refused to acknowledge you as a Stark by name after Robb passed. She wondered how someone treated so poorly could still be as kind and generous as you. How you’ve still managed to keep an air of serenity around you despite what you’ve been subjected to.

Part of Sansa wishes she could do what you’ve done, how to remain graceful through the grief.

“It’s rude to follow someone and not make your presence known Lady Sansa” your voice broke her out of her thoughts.

“I am sorry for that Lady y/n”

“How many times have I said Y/N my people have never done titles surely you haven’t forgotten already.”

A small smile appeared on her face as you spoke, she remembered how when you arrived all those moons ago you never wanted to be referred to as lady y/n just y/n. Y/n daughter of Hari and Dina Reis of the southern most land of Westeros close to the Free Lands. Y/n never cared for titles and wished to live life at sea and travel the lands just as Corlys Velaryon had. Sansa knew part of the reason that y/n came to the north and was quickly married off to Robb was never to an alliance but was to keep y/n from running off and what better way to keep her safe is to keep her in an area that she doesn’t know. But she wasn’t safe and Sansa felt guilty

“Y/n I’m sorry.” Before y/n could question what she meant Sansa continued. “I’m sorry for you loosing Robb, for loosing little Robb and Sanaa and Adnan. I’m sorry that you were left alone and sorry for what you endured under Ramsay.”

Y/n smiled softly and walked over and gave Sansa a kiss on the forehead. “There is nothing to be sorry for. There was nothing you could’ve done to stop it.” Sansa went to argue against the fact but was stopped. “What’s done is done and grief passes like the wind the only thing we can do is prevent more suffering from happening.”

(This reader is loosely inspired by Arabic culture but yeah y’all please add more like I already have how the children die planned but I also want some of y’all input)

[midnightbrushandquill]

Linear Alternator - Chapter 3

Linear Alternator: Chapter 3

Tags: non-graphic injury, PLA protagonist is not DPPt protagonist, Gaslighting, its not done on purpose (except maybe volo) but it does happen, Tags to be updated as we go, Free-range POV    

Summary: When Ingo disappeared, Emmet lost his spark. Elesa was doing her best, but it wasn't enough. Even as close as they were, she wasn't his brother, and Emmet needed his brother. So she was going to get him back, no matter what.

With the rift closed, Rei really thought things were starting to get better. He hadn't seen Ingo for three weeks now, which shouldn't have been abnormal, given the circumstances, but then, normal circumstances didn't include everyone seemingly having forgotten his existence, did they? And if Ingo had never existed in Hisui, then who is the real warden of Sneasler, and how come Rei is the only one who cant remember her?

First || Previous ||

On AO3

The evening sun draped the Alolan landscape, painting it with bright swatches of yellow-orange, accentuated by the deep shadows that claimed where the sun's gaze was obstructed. In a small cottage on Melemele Island, the west-facing window of a small study provided the perfect target for the sun's light to change from a brush to an arrow. Tiny packets of energy, crossing 152 million kilometers to strike with what could almost be mistaken for a vengeance, if their current target hadn't been sure she had done nothing to anger the legendaries of Alola in her time there.

Reaching forward, the occupant of the study twitched the curtain more firmly in place and returned her attention to the laptop in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Akemi, you were saying?”

The figure on the other end of the call frowned. "It's not too late where you are, is it? I should have caught you before you headed back to Alola."

"Sun's still up here. How was it you thought I could help? You understand fashion is far from my area of expertise."

Akemi nodded enthusiastically. "I suppose it is a good thing, then, that fashion isn't what I need help with! I had hoped, instead, that you would be willing to consult on the history instead."

"Oh? Any particular period?"

"My current collection is focused on the late-Sanshyuu, early-Shinpi period, particularly the intersection between the mythology of the clans and the birth of Jubilife during the period."

"I understand now why you're reaching out to me."

Another nod. "Well, you are 'the Researcher of Myths', are you not?"

Cynthia leaned back in her chair and smiled. "Indeed I am. Colour me intrigued at the very least Akemi. Send me some more details and I'll look over it. Even if I can't commit, I might be able to direct you to some descendants of the clan themselves."

Akemi's eyes positively sparkled at this news. "Would you? I actually have heritage from the Diamond clan myself, but I've struggled trying to find an expert for the Pearl clan. It's almost as though they scattered to the winds as Sinnoh developed."

Cynthia made a non-committal noise of acknowledgement and tapped her fingernails against the desk. Akemi's observation wasn't far off from the truth, but if what Cynthia had found over the course of her research was correct, the Pearl clan likely wouldn't have agreed with the implications of the why.

On the other end of the call, Akemi finished typing something and gave a definitive nod. "There, I've sent you the overview package. Let me know when you've had a chance to look over it."

On cue, Cynthia's computer pinged with an incoming email. She leaned forward to click the notification. "If you give me a moment, I can skim over it now."

Akemi nodded their agreement, and Cynthia navigated to open the attachment on the email.

Briefly, as she flicked through the images in the attachment, the ghost of a thought crossed her mind. In particular, an image of a young woman playing a vertical flute twinged at her concentration. Hadn't she had a conversation about something similar recently? Something about Hisuian mythology surrounding the association between the flutes used by the clans (and the Celestica people before them) and some other, far more ancient artifacts? It had been a rather extensive one, she was pretty sure, and yet…

The thought slipped her mind, whatever conclusion it was hinting at refusing to go any further than the tip of her tongue. Shaking the thought away, she continued to flip through Akemi's well-thought out proposal. While she didn't linger on any particular details, it still took her several moments to flick through the entire document. At the end of it, she sat back in the chair at the desk.

Despite her attempts to dismiss it earlier, that ghost thought had refused to stay gone, constantly pulling at her attention, but frustratingly, refusing to ever manifest into something concrete. She privately thanked Arceus that years as the Sinnoh champion had taught her to school her expression, especially to hide frustration that was entirely internally directed. It wasn't fair to challengers, who wouldn't necessarily be able to discern, when faced with the frustration of a powerful and accomplished trainer, that it wasn't them that frustration was aimed at. The skill came in handy now as Akemi's face waited patiently for her verdict.

"This looks quite good, as a base," she finally decided, once again pushing that aggravating, yet persistent thought to the side, "I'll have to check with the Legends about my schedule here, but if you're fine managing the timezone difference, I believe I can offer my assistance with this project."

Akemi's face lit up with delight. "Oh good! Thank you Cynthia!"

"Thank me when we've actually made this official. I'll let you know as soon as I can."

Despite her protest, Akemi rained several more instances of thanks, before their on-screen movements telegraphed that they were about to hang up. "I'll just get out of your hair Cynthia, thanks again."

"Akemi, wait." Cynthia said, her mouth moving faster than her brain. "Out of curiosity, do you have any ideas on models you'll be working with?"

Akemi hesitated and a frown flickered on their face. "Nothing concrete. The usual suspects,  I imagine. My agent wants me to bring in someone with a little more presence in the industry, especially outside of Sinnoh, but I don't really have those kind of contacts yet." They paused. The frown shifted into a hopeful smile. "I did get lucky to swing a meeting with a model from Nimbasa though." They laughed, "It would have been around the time you were in Sinnoh, actually."

"Elesa?" The name was out of her mouth before she could properly think about it, but this time she knew why she had said it. Elesa had been in Sinnoh recently. She had stayed longer than Cynthia had, but they'd had the opportunity to meet with her while they were both in the same region for what had felt like the first time since Cythia had officially succeeded the Championship to Dawn.

She… couldn't quite remember what they'd spoken about. A bit odd, for such a recent event, but she had been very busy on that trip, and their meeting had been more chance than planning. The details must have slipped her mind among the myriad of work meetings she'd had with Palmer and the other Frontier Brains.

On the screen, Akemi looked confused. "Elesa? I… don't think I'm familiar, no."

Hmm… Elesa had been on vacation she supposed, and while she was undoubtedly the most famous, she wasn't the only model who lived in Nimbasa. She would have thought Akemi would have recognized her name at least, though. "Who then, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, sure. Ingo. He hasn't actually committed yet."

Cynthia felt as though her mind had just skipped a beat. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

They were only too happy to oblige. "Ingo? He's a gym leader too, if I remember correctly."

It was now Cynthia’s turn to be confused. “In Nimbasa?”

“Yes? I thought you knew most of the Unovan gym leaders, Cynthia.”

Cynthia’s experience as an ex-Champion (this time, experience in dealing with reporters) saved her once again. “Only about a third of them, actually, although I’ve likely met many of them in passing at conferences, or world tournaments. I just didn’t realize Ingo was also a model." She flashed a smile. "I’m not exactly up-to-date on the world of men’s fashion.”

Akemi nodded in understanding. “Yes, it does tend to draw less attention outside of the industry itself, doesn’t it? This time I’ll really get out of your hair though. Thanks again!” They hung up, and Cynthia deflated into her chair.

Scrubbing at her face, she desperately tried to make sense of the strange turn the (otherwise completely ordinary) conversation had taken at the end.

She hadn't been able to visit Nimbasa on her first trip to the region, and had not spent much time there on subsequent visits, but she knew the Subway Masters by reputation. Everything she had heard about them suggested that them being a pair was part of their whole shtick. Like the Battle Chatelaines, much of their facility marketing (whether on purpose or by serendipity) painted them as a set. It wasn't an uncommon approach for facilities with more than one Frontier Brain at the head (the Battle Tree did something similar, with the Legends), but it seemed more prevalent when those facility heads were related. It was especially egregious in Unova though, where twins were so deeply entwined with local culture and history.

Ingo and Emmet had always seemed to lean into the depiction, so why would one of them…

But Cynthia didn't know them personally, for all that they were friends of a friend. There was always the possibility of there being much she wasn't seeing, and if there was, she never would have heard of it from Elesa.

She tried to think of the last time she had heard any news about the Subway Masters. Even if news of one (or both) of them leaving the Battle Subway hadn't made news outside of the region, it should have at least spread throughout the battle facility community fairly quickly. A facility head change going unannounced, within the community, would be like a league not communicating a change in Champion.

She couldn't remember any such report. Had it only gone out to the facility heads (of which, she was not)? The news had to be public, or Akemi wouldn't have mentioned it, but maybe they were saving the industry announcement for inclusion in an official newsletter?

But… what about Elesa?

Were they sharing the gym?

Had she retired her position?

If the news was public, why hadn't Elesa mentioned it those few weeks ago? Or had she, and Cynthia just couldn't remember?

Why  couldn't  she remember what their conversation had been about?

Why…

Akemi hadn't seemed to have recognized Elesa's name at all.

The pace of her fingers tapping against the desk accelerated as Cynthia drew closer and closer to a conclusion she already knew she was not going to like. Her stomach felt as though it had oriented to a gravity different from the one she lived in, and a feeling hovered menacingly over her shoulders. One that she hadn't felt since a disillusioned man had blown up a lake and tried to conquer two gods.

Something was terribly wrong.

The door to the office creaked, and the firm weight of a dragon was soon pressed down on her shoulders, while feathers surrounded her from the other side. A gentle aroma infused the room, replacing the sour taste filling her mouth.

The fingers stopped tapping and reached up to stroke at the pokémon surrounding her instead.

Several moments, a few deep breaths, and a fortifying glass of ice-water later, Cynthia returned to her desk and leaned over her laptop. Thinking you knew the facts was not the same as actually having those facts. She needed proof, evidence. She was a researcher, and a researcher didn’t stop researching just because they thought they wouldn’t like what the truth was.

She started with the Unovan league and Gear Station staff pages.

Just as Akemi had said, Ingo was listed as the gym leader for the Nimbasa Gym, but the dates reflected that he would have been a gym leader during both incidents with team Plasma. He wasn’t on the Gear Station page at all. There was another figure as the second Subway Master instead, Cilan. She put him aside for the moment, the base information she could see about him remained accurate to her recollections.

She dug a little deeper. Eventually, she found record of Ingo at Gear Station, but only as part of promotional events, and exhibition matches, or in social media posts where he posed as a challenger. The characteristic coat was lacking in most of the images she found.

She couldn’t find Elesa on either site. She wasn’t on the Nimbasa Gym’s direct site either. Her online portfolio didn’t exist, nor did her social media.

It was as though the stars had gone out, and Elesa had ceased to exist.

How long ago had this happened? If Cynthia had let Akemi hang up the first time, how long would it have taken Cynthia to find out? She considered Elesa a good friend, but they were not in constant contact with each other.

Whatever was going on, it would take more than some cursory research to get to the bottom of.

The next step, or one of them, would be to reach out to the other Unovan gym leaders; to figure out just who did and didn't remember things as they should be. She would have to figure out exactly how to ask that question first though, and she did not have the mental fortitude to dive into that at the current moment. Besides, her instincts told her that something like this had a legendary (or mythical) pokémon involved, and if that was the case…

She needed to talk to someone else who had experience and exposure with such beings.

Hopefully she wasn't in a match right now and would be able to take the call.

Cynthia was in luck. The call rang only twice before the stock phone image on the screen was replaced by the view of a camera pointed at a young woman's face. "Cynthia! Hi!" She smiled, "One sec, I'm going to have rotom float."

Sure enough, the view quickly shifted as the phone re-oriented itself, providing a better view of the scene.

Dawn was currently kneeled next to a Luxray, flanked on the other side by a second. Beside the second Luxray, a man with spiky blonde hair was applying a potion to it. "As you can see, Volkner is here. We were just doing some one-on-one work with our Luxrays."

Cynthia eyed the electric-type specialist, giving him a wave. He nodded back. "Good to see you both. Do you have a moment, Dawn? I know it's peak season for league challenges right now."

Dawn shared a glance with Volkner, who had pulled out his own phone in response to the question. He gave her a thumbs up. "Current challenger just lost to Flint." He stood up, taking the unspoken hint, and returning his Luxray to its ball. "I should probably get back to work myself. Dawn, let me know if the League ever changes its mind on letting me remodel."

Dawn laughed, waving him off from her spot on the floor, but waiting until he was gone to speak again. "Everything okay Cynthia? You have that serious look on your face."

"Yes-" Cynthia cut herself off, and pursed her lips. "No, actually, but I don't want to burden you until I'm more sure of exactly what I'm dealing with. You already have a lot on your plate."

"Hey! I'm the champion, I can handle it! I handled Cyrus and Team Galactic, didn't I?" Her tone was jovial, but her expression belied something far more stressed, and almost desperate.

"I know. You're very capable Dawn." As she spoke, Cynthia studied the Sinnoh champion. She looked stressed, she decided, but no more so than when they had spoken last. "Once I'm sure, I'll tell you. And I promise, if I think you can help, I'll let you know."

Dawn smiled sadly before turning to press her face briefly into her Luxray's fur and muttering something that sounded like "at least  someone  will."

Cynthia decided not to press on that. Yet. "I do think you can help a bit now, actually. That's why I called."

Dawn perked up and turned to look back at the camera again, gesturing for the rotomphone to hover closer. "What can I do for you?"

“How much do you remember of what happened at Spear Pillar?"

"Given I was ten at the time? Probably more than you'd like."

"So you remember the feeling then, just as Giratina showed up?"

A shiver ran through Dawn. "When the world started to shift? How could I forget?"

"You haven't felt something like that recently, have you?"

Dawn gave the question several moments of thought before she slowly shook her head. "No. You don't think Cyrus…?"

Cynthia shook her head. "I'm not sure, but no. I don't think so."

This news seemed to be of no relief to Dawn. "Do I need to be looking for someone else chasing after them?"

"If I find anything that suggests so, I'll tell you, but right now it's only instinct that a Legendary is involved in what I'm researching." Cynthia's fingers tapped at the desk as she tried to decide how much she could share without pulling the Champion into the same rabbit-hole that she found herself in. Dawn looked stressed enough without adding this to it. "It may not even have happened in Sinnoh."

Dawn's expression turned thoughtful in a way that had little to do with the current conversation. "Legendaries acting outside of the region… Do you think they would do that? It's not like Dialga, Palkia or Giratina are bound to Sinnoh exclusively."

The tapping of Cynthia's fingers paused. "Legendaries are called such for a reason. They don't act very often - with some exceptions - and it can be hard to determine which tales were actual events they had direct involvement in, which were just tales, and which fall somewhere in between, but…" The tapping resumed, "I don't see why they couldn't. Other legendaries in the area would likely prevent it, depending on the specific ones involved, but they may also avoid each other to minimize the risk of conflict. Even resting, as many Legendaries have been until recently, I'm sure their presence holds weight to those who can sense it."

Dawn nodded along with her explanation. "But a region without any significant Legendaries…"

This definitely wasn't about the conversation Cynthia had started anymore.

"Dawn, is everything alright there?"

"Yes-" Dawn made a strangled sound that may have been a laugh as she realized she was mirroring Cynthia's earlier response, "I mean no, but I'm managing it."

"Anything I can help with? You didn't mention anything when I was there."

Dawn ran her fingers through Luxray's mane, shaking her head in dismissal of Cynthia's concerns. "It's a million little things that I technically can't tell you about since you're not league anymore." She sighed, long and heavy, and turned away to press her face into Luxray's mane again. Her rotomphone had to drift closer to catch her next words. "Mostly I'm worried about Lucas and his sister."

Ah. "No news then?"

Dawn shook her head. "Not that I've heard. I wish I could help more, but my offer of assistance was already politely declined by the local police." She pulled her face away from her Luxray's side, her eyes going wide. "If a Legendary is involved though…"

"Dawn." Cynthia let the warning tone fade from her voice. Dawn was responsible, and besides, wasn't Cynthia heading down the same route herself? "Be safe, okay? Try to leave the impulsive decision making to Barry."

"Hey!" Dawn protested on behalf of her best friend, "We're not ten anymore Cynthia!"

"Of course not. I should let you go. I'm sure you're busy."

"Okay. Is there anything else I can help with?"

Cynthia weighed her options. Anything she said here would surely lead Dawn to her own searches, but…

Cynthia needed to know.

"Is the name Elesa familiar at all?"

Dawn's expression looked like genuine consideration, with no sign of recollection, and for a moment, Cynthia felt her heart plummet.

Finally, Dawn spoke.

"I… think I heard the name when I was doing the contest circuit? She's a… model? I don't remember where from."

The relief Cynthia felt was an escape rope, pulling her from the pit. "Yes. She's a friend of mine, from Unova. She had been visiting Sinnoh, although I think she would have left by now, and I couldn't remember if you had a chance to meet her."

"I don't think so." Dawn grimaced, "there's something else, but it's sitting just at the tip of my tongue."

"I'm sure it's not important," it was enough for now that she remembered Elesa at all, "but do let me know if you remember. Good luck on any upcoming matches!"

"Okay, thanks Cynthia, bye!"

Cynthia clicked the disconnect, and the video screen went black.

Instantly, she deflated into her chair, her team pressing into her on all sides for support.

Someone else knew who Elesa was, if even only slightly. Cynthia was right, something terrible  had  happened.

Flipping the laptop closed, Cynthia looked out the window, where the sun had fully set.

'Elesa… by Arceus, I swear, I'll get to the bottom of this.'

                                                ⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

The closing of the rift above Mount Coronet had swept a sigh of relief across Hisui. The tear in the sky had brought no one comfort, and as such, its mending had filled everyone with a profound measure of relief.

Everyone except one.

Stepping up to the entrance of Galaxy Hall, Volo gave a cheery wave to the guard outside, and slipped through the doors.

He was immediately greeted by the hushed sounds of a terse argument coming from Professor Laventon's office.

Pointing an ear in that direction, he tried to make out what was being said, but the argument had not yet risen to the volume of being easily overheard. Even if he couldn't make out the words, what he could hear sounded like Rei and the Professor, from their voices, but any others that were involved remained quiet in the brief span he listened.

Humming low in his throat he flashed a smile at a Security Corps member milling by the stairs. "Is Captain Cyllene not in?" He gestured to her empty office.

The man followed Volo's gesture with his gaze. "She should be." His eyes flicked, briefly, in the direction of the Professor's office. Volo noted the movement with interest, but did not react. "Are you looking for her in particular?"

"Oh, no," Volo shook his head, "I was simply surprised, I'd gotten used to her always being so diligently at work when I stopped by!" The man gave an understanding nod, so Volo pressed on. "I've actually come to see if my favourite-"

He was cut off by Rei's volume jumping to the point of making any decision on the subject of eavesdropping moot.

"Cripes, Professor, you're not my Dad!"

While that seemed to be the extent of the outburst, the voice that responded was undoubtedly Cyllene, which gave answer to where she was.

“Well,” Volo finished, flashing the guard another grin, “I can tell they’re busy. I should check in with your esteemable Supply Corps while I wait.”

The guard nodded, still frowning in the direction of the arguing Survey Corps, but made no moves to stop Volo as he set off in the direction of the voices, and, ostensibly, the stairs down to the basement. He was careful to walk softly, so that his approach wouldn't be heard by those in the office. He didn't have to try particularly hard, the carpet lining the halls of the building already muffled much of the noise of those passing through the space, likely by design.

The door to Laventon's office was mostly closed, giving Volo only the briefest glance inside as he passed. What he was able to make out in that glance was Rei, drawn up and defensive on the Professor's couch, and said Professor hovering to the side of the kotatsu, as though he was afraid to approach any closer. Akari and Cyllene were completely out of sight, but their presence was assured by their voices filtering through the doorway.

“You really overdid it yesterday Rei, and I know you said you didn't get hit by a psychic attack, but I really think you did."

"You should be resting Rei, don't make me make it an order."

"I told you Akari, I didn't get even close enough to a Stantler for one to attack me. And I did rest Captain! Have been resting! I just-" Rei cut himself off and made a strangled, frustrated sound that definitely wasn't helping whatever case he was trying to make.

Volo paused his steps and cast a glance over his shoulder. With the argument fading once again to reasonable levels, the guard by the stairs had turned his attention away. There was no one else in the hall. Good.

Settling against the wall, Volo pulled his guild logbook out of his pocket, and flipped it open. With a stick of charcoal clutched loosely in the fingers of his other hand, he pretended to work, while zeroing in on the conversation happening in the room behind him.

"Rei, my b-” The Professor cut himself off, stuttering, “Rei, you likely wouldn’t have known, given the apparent effects. It is not as though-”

“Apparent effects?” Rei’s harsh, biting, tone, accompanied by the displeased chirp of a pokémon, indicated that the Professor had chosen the wrong thing to say. "There's nothing apparent because there's no effects. I didn't get hit by anything.  You should know that,  you were there. Almost the entire time."

"I feel like almost is the key word there Rei."

"Really Akari? You what, think a Stantler ran up, attacked me, and then ran off, all in the span of the, what, five minutes I was away from camp on my own? And Ka just let it happen? Or the rest of my team? And then what? I didn't show any symptoms for the rest of the day? Or knew it happened? Is that what you-"

"It was more than five minutes Rei."

"It was more than- Do you hear yourself?"

"Well something happened Rei! You keep talking about someone who doesn't exist" Rei made a strangled noise of protest, which Akari buried by speaking above it, "and you can't remember anything about-"

"Enough."

There was another displeased squawk from a pokémon, and a low, persistent grumble, followed by several murmured apologies from Rei, the only sound in the silence of the Captain’s interjection.

Interesting.

Volo wasn't quite sure what was going on yet, but he was absolutely intrigued.

Intrigued or not, however, whatever was going on was clearly going to pose a problem in getting Rei to collect the remaining plates unless he found a way to do damage control. Push come to shove, he was fairly sure he could convince the boy to sneak out of the village in pursuit of this task, especially given the current conflict evident within the Survey corps, but such a course would also burn some bridges he could not yet afford to, should the origins of the action be traced back to him.

He needed more information.

Thankfully, as the displeased squawking gave way to chirps, Cyllene continued. "Rei has made some poignant points. He is not un-defended, even without a guard nearby. Is that not part of the point to the invention of pokéballs, Professor?"

"Well, yes. Yes, that is true. But if one managed to sneak up on him? Before he could release one of his team?"

"A Stantler though? I fought literal gods. Two  of them, and you think a Stantler got me?"

"You're not invincible, Rei. I know you're capable, but you don't always have the greatest situational awareness when you get focused on something."

"Better than you, I bet, miss got-"

"Rei." The warning was evident, even in the captain's flat tone.

"Sorry. I had Ka out with me, okay? The entire time. He can sense-" Rei paused, stuttering, before seeming to find his stride again. "He would have noticed if I got attacked." An acknowledging bark told Volo that the Typhlosion was currently loose in the room.

Professor Laventon sighed audibly. "Even as a Cyndaquill, he  was very vocal. If Rei had gotten noticeably injured, it is unlikely we would have missed it. I must concede, it is unlikely Rei was attacked by one of the wild pokemon who live between here and the Heights camp."

"Thank you."

Cyllene ignored Rei's muttered outburst. "It is undeniable, however, that Rei has been afflicted in some way. Professor, you're the expert. What else within Hisui might have been responsible?"

Laventon was silent, except for a slight, pondering hum, for several moments. "Well, given Rei's unfortunate pre-existing situation regarding his memory, it could be related to the rift. Perhaps an effect of it closing, or of his being in such close proximity?"

"Only manifesting a week and a half later Professor?" Akari sounded incredulous.

"Ah, yes, well. I was thinking more we hadn't noticed? It does sound rather preposterous, saying it out loud, doesn't it?"

"Any other options?"

"Have you all considered that maybe my memories aren't the issue here?"

After a beat, Laventon continued as though Rei hadn't spoken. "We've made quite significant progress on the Pokédex, but it's certainly far from complete. None of the current pokémon we have listed would be capable, at least not without being noticed doing so, but…" He sighed, "I have been struggling with knowing how far to go in pursuit of some reports. Certain pokémon  have only been mentioned in Hisui’s legends, after all.”

Volo straightened up and quietly closed his book. An opportunity.

Akari’s sigh was far quieter. "With how little we know about Hisui’s history and legends, it seems a tall order…" as she trailed off, Volo checked if anyone was watching (they weren't), strode lightly towards the stairs, turned, and walked back with a heavier gait. "but if there are any other pokémon here like-"

Volo knocked on the door.

There was a beat of silence as the conversation dropped, before the door swung properly open to reveal Laventon. "Oh, Volo!"

Volo took in the rest of the scene quickly. Rei, slightly hunched on the couch, had Rowlet in his arms; Typhlosion lounged at his feet between the couch and the kotatsu. To his left, Akari was seated on the ground in front of a chalkboard filled with Galarian writing, Laventon's no doubt. Captain Cyllene stood with her usual stiff posture across the kotatsu from Rei, although her gaze was currently fixed on Volo at the door into the hall. Her Abra floated next to the tank containing the creature Laventon called an Oshawott, giving all indication of being asleep, even as the Oshawott clung to the side of the tank and watched the scene with interest.

Volo gave the captain a nod, and flashed the entire gathering his brightest smile. "I had heard rumours that my favourite customer was properly back on his feet! So of course, I had to come verify! Couldn't help but overhear though. If it's Hisuian history and legends you want, then I'm your man!" Wagging a finger, he pressed onwards, leaving no break for objections, "Why, I've spent plenty of time studying such things instead of-" no, reorient, too honest, especially for someone with Cyllene’s work ethic, "Ahem. I mean while also tirelessly doing my work for the Ginkgo Guild. And I've visited many of the ruins and whatnot here in the Hisui region already! I imagine I could teach you a thing or two about any pokémon of legend in these parts!"

Laventon was immediately enthusiastic about the idea. "Oho! Music to my ears my good fellow!"

Cyllene was clearly more hesitant as she considered. Akari and Rei appeared to have no comment, although both of them watched the three adults with cautious expressions. "If your knowledge of legends is as extensive as you claim, perhaps you can solve a quandary for me."

"I would be more than willing to offer any assistance I can!"

"Is there any creature, pokémon or otherwise, within Hisui that would be capable of altering one's memories? Without their knowing?"

Well, that was easy, but he made a show of considering it anyways. "There is indeed! And one we know exist without question, even! Rei has met it after all, when he was forging the Red Chain. The stories certainly don't say anything about it changing memories - only erasing them, but it is said to be the guardian of human knowledge, so why limit itself?"

"Uxie…"

Cyllene’s sharp eyes turned to Rei and he cringed. "Why was this not mentioned before?"

"I- wh- I did!" Rei sputtered, "I told Akari and the Professor all about meeting the lake spirits! All it did was ask me about eyes anyways! It didn't-" He sucked in a breath, straightening up in a defiant posture. "My memories aren't the problem! Something is wrong, and I'm the only one who can see it, apparently! Ingo is real. He is. He's supposed to be okay! You all- you- you told me he was okay, and I believed you and-" Rei's voice, which had been steadily increasing in volume as his tirade progressed, suddenly fell silent, and even from the door, Volo was hard-pressed to make out what he was mumbling. "He- he was like me. He was the only one like me, and he-" his breath caught, hitching, but Rei pushed on, "-he understood. I had time to think about it, all last night, and- And maybe she would too, but it’s like you’re keeping me from so much as talking to her."

From the look exchanged between the rest of the Survey team (minus Cyllene, whose expression remained unchanged), this was exactly the case.

Cyllene turned back to Volo. "And where exactly do the stories say this 'Uxie' lives?"

"Why Lake Acuity, of course. Right by Snowpoint Temple."

The captain shook her head. "I cannot condone sending Rei on a survey to the Icelands yet."

Rei's head twitched up at this. "I have the star rank!"

Cyllene ignored the outburst "Nor am I comfortable sending someone else if this pokémon may be responsible for his condition."

"It's not a condition!" A displeased chirp accompanied this statement, as Rei put Rowlet aside to rise to his feet. From the floor, Ka voiced his support with a loud call, although the Typhlosion's fires remained un-kindled. Crossing his arms firmly, the skyfaller glowered at Cyllene. "And, okay, fine, I don't actually want to go to the Icelands right now. Moving across the ice on my ankle sounds terrible actually, but there's still survey work I can do in the fieldlands, since apparently I'm banned from the training grounds now!"

"Rest is important, Rei." Akari didn't rise from her spot on the floor, but she did lean forward to try and catch Rei's eyes with a pleading gaze. He twitched, and turned away. "I got pulled from the field too after I got electrocuted. Remember? I couldn't go help the Professor with his pokémon because I was just coming off of bed rest."

Rei continued to avoid her gaze. "You were fine the next day. During my trial."

Akari flicked her eyes between Cyllene and Laventon. "That's not the point." Her intonation was flat, but Volo could read the hidden plea of 'later, not here'  being passed to the other teenager.

Rei seemed to read between the lines just as well as Volo did. He deflated, flopping back down on the couch and finally twisting to look at Akari, Rowlet hopping back onto his lap as he did so. "You could at least let me battle… what was her name? Elsa?"

"Elesa." Akari corrected, "Warden Elesa"

Rei wrinkled his nose, muttering something too low for Volo to catch, although he noted Laventon twitch in response. "Okay, yeah. Elesa. I was fine enough to be in the field yesterday, and yes, fine, I overdid it, but I've rested! I can at least manage a pokémon battle!" He paused and huffed an annoyed sigh, his fingers smoothing over Rowlet's feathers. "I'll stay at the league approved safety distance and everything! I won't even-"

Ka sat up silently, partially crawling onto the couch to place a paw on Rei's knee, and bury his head into Rei's side.

Rei suddenly took on what Volo thought was a rather haunted look, and his eyes flicked between the four other people in the room, and the two doors.

Oh.

Volo blinked, carefully schooling his expression so that none of his immense curiosity at what had just happened bled through.

Rei was looking for an escape route.

Subtly, Volo shifted to the side, widening the gap between himself and the now-open doorway.

When Rei's eyes met his, Volo smiled, and after a moment, Rei returned it.

Laventon seemed the first to recover from the moment. "Rei, my boy, are you able to expand on that thought?"

Rei shook his head. "No," he said, voice strained, "it's gone." Dropping his head in his hands, he muttered something that sounded to Volo like a foreign language. It was a little like the Galarian he sometimes heard Laventon speak, but with something different to the pronunciation that Volo was not knowledgeable enough to distinguish. Beside him, Laventon drew back, clear surprise on his face.

Taking note of the Professor's response, Volo stepped further into the room, pushing the door fully open on its hinges and clearing the doorway entirely. As much as he wanted to press, on either Rei’s strange statement about a ‘League’, or Laventon’s response to his speaking of a foreign language, Volo gathered his patience, and waited. He had learned, in his acquaintance with Rei, and particularly while they had travelled together with a red sky overhead, that despite his apparent lack of memories otherwise, the skyfaller would sometimes seem to act or say things instinctively. No amount of pressing in these moments - despite Volo’s certainty that they proved some remembrance of the world beyond (and within) the rift remained in the boy’s mind - would draw forth any explanation or continuation.

How cruel, of Arceus, to leave its chosen hero with only a fractured recollection. To dangle fragments in front of him without ever revealing the full picture.

Even if he could not save Rei from it, it was another thing Volo would ensure never happened, in his new world.

Ka pressed his head once again, firmly, into Rei's side. It was an action Volo had seen from the pokémon before, when he was looking for affection, but it seemed far more insistent in this moment, not pulling away or properly leaning into Rei's touch as Rei lowered his hands to scratch behind the pokémon ears.

Volo saw the moment, in Rei's face, when he raised his head and registered that, with Laventon having drawn back, and Volo moved out of the way, there was a clear path (once he rounded the corner of the kotatsu) to the door.

Rei stood with such speed that Rowlet was dumped off his lap, the small pokémon squawking in protest before fluttering up to roost on his shoulder. "I need some fresh air." He announced, stepping past his Typhlosion and beelining for the door to the hall. Ka followed in his wake, small purple sparks collecting at his neck as if to threaten anyone trying to stop them.

No one did.

As they passed Oshawott's tank, the small pokémon scrambled up the side, and took a flying leap, landing on Ka's neck, and immediately digging in claws to stop from sliding off. The Typhlosion flattened his ears, but didn't shake the water type off as the group of four escaped into the hall.

The sound of Rei’s steps, muffled against carpet, faded; silence descended on the room, and was just about settled before Cyllene turned her eyes to Akari. The teenager scrambled to her feet.

“Right, I’m gonna- I-,” she stuttered, “I’m going to go make sure he’s alright, Captain!” She managed something that resembled a salute before she, also, took off into the hallway, her steps hurried.

With both teenagers gone, Cyllene let out an almost-imperceptible sigh, before collecting herself and turning to face Volo.

“As you can see, we’re dealing with a situation here.”

“Indeed! I knew Rei had gotten injured while quelling the Pearl Clan’s almighty Sinnoh, but I had thought they’d only been physical!”

Laventon sighed, shaking his head. “Right you are, my good fellow. We’re quite unsure what to make of it all. Rei is convinced there is no problem,” he paused, his mouth twisting, "or, well, as you've seen, he sees there is a problem, but does not believe it is with him."

Cyllene nodded sharply. "Under normal circumstances, I would not hesitate to ask Rei to work with you for the sake of the pokédex, but these are hardly normal circumstances."

"How long, do you think, until he recovers?"

"That is a question better posed to our medical corps." It was also, Volo knew, a question they would not answer.

It was interesting, however, how the two adults were obviously so reluctant to divulge more of what was happening than Volo had already seen. In fact, if he knew captain Cyllene at all - had it been entirely up to her - Volo would have been kept entirely in the dark, her question to him a mere hypothetical.

He didn't worry about it. Rei clearly didn't feel the same.

"Well, I would be more than happy, as a friend, to impart my wisdom to my favourite customer, but it really is a topic that requires a visual. It would be much better if he could accompany me to some of the ruins. I'm afraid I'm a terrible artist." He kept his tone casual, himself a third party in whatever argument was going on. The convenience of his presence would be called into question if Cyllene even caught a whiff of his ulterior motives.

Laventon shook his head. "Oh, well I don't know."

"He won't be alone, certainly, if that display by his Typhlosion was any indication. If his pokémon partners could handle Dialga and Palkia, I'm sure they can take on anything else Hisui might have to offer."

The Professor turned from defensive to considering. "My little Cyndaquill has grown to become quite protective of the lad once he took over his care…"

Volo nodded a swift agreement. "Precisely! And I myself am not defenseless! I can't possibly hold a candle to Rei's prowess, but my two partners can hold their own."

"The strength of his partners may mean little if he gets surrounded." Cyllene cut into the conversation, and Volo watched as her words patched Laventon’s crumbling resolve. "Having a partner pokémon does not guarantee safety out there. Rei may be skilled enough to manage a large number of pokémon, but I have never seen him actively command all of them at once."

Volo was tempted to point out that this hadn't seemed to be a concern when she had allowed the Commander to exile Rei, but doing so would earn him no favours, even if pointing out the hypocrisy would be immensely satisfying.

"Between the two of us, I'm certain that wouldn't be a problem! Besides," Volo smiled, directing the force of his argument on Cyllene, "Rei has the approval of the Clans' blessed pokémon! One of them would be more than willing to help, I'm sure. In all our previous travels together, I never once saw them deny him aid."

Laventon jolted in a way that said he hadn't considered Rei's connection with pokémon that usually only worked with the clans. "Volo does make a point, Captain," he said after a moment, "We should have thought about it yesterday, really."

"I'm not sure about letting him roam outside the walls without someone close by."

Captain Cyllene didn't quite look convinced, even if Laventon was all but ready to argue Volo's point for him. His next argument was, perhaps a bit of a low blow, but, more importantly, Volo expected it to produce results.

"Are you sure being outside of Jubilife isn't exactly what he needs, Captain? I don't mean to be untactful, but other than yesterday, from the sounds of it, he hasn't left since the rift closed! And after the relatively free-range to come and go he had before that? It must be terribly frustrating for a boy with so much energy. Stifling. Imprisoning, almost." Volo shook his head, and let out a sigh that was only partially preformative on his end. "And then to have the people he's closest to in Jubilife all but tell him they don't trust him. I'm a little surprised he hasn't tried to climb the walls yet."

Laventon looked struck, and Cyllene's already stern expression immediately darkened. His words hung in the air, balancing their outcome precariously on a razor's edge. For a beat, it seemed one of them would ask him to leave, but then the moment fell in his favour, and Cyllene raised a palm to press at one of her temples. She didn't quite lose her firm stance, but her shoulders did seem to droop slightly.

"I'm going to speak with Pesselle. Professor, tell Volo what he needs to know, if he will be travelling with Rei."

Lowering the hand, she regained her stance and spun a tight circle to march out the door to her office.

The moment she was gone, Laventon deflated, espousing something morosely in Galarian. When Volo turned to him with an inquisitive smile, he switched back to the Kantoan used among the Galaxy Team and Ginkgo Guild. "It's all gone to pot, hasn't it?"

Volo deciphered Laventon’s turn-of-phrase based on context, and shook his head. "Come now Professor, surely it can't be that bad!"

Laventon shook his head. "Let me put together the list of things you need to know and you may very well change your mind, my good fellow."

He shuffled over to his desk, picking through the array of papers on it. "Now where is it, I know I wrote it down…"

Volo followed the Professor over as he trailed off, watching him until he let out an exclamation of "aha! Here it is!" and brandished a page.

Setting the page back down, Laventon pulled an ink-well and quill over, and fetched a blank page from one of the desk drawers. He spoke as he began to write, entirely forthcoming now that Cyllene had given the okay.

"He seems to be moving fine this morning, but he should be keeping weight off that ankle of his. If the Captain says you're clear to head far afield, or you have to traverse any difficult terrain, do your best to have him wait for one of the ride pokémon to assist?" Laventon shook his head, "I can't believe I didn't think of that yesterday."

"No need to be so harsh on yourself Professor, they are rather prideful creatures when it comes to those outside of the clans."

"I suppose so. The bigger concern is what came up yesterday. The poor lad seems convinced that Sneasler’s warden is, in actuality, a man named Ingo. He has extensive memory of the man, but not a single recollection of Warden Elesa. Described him as wearing a strange, rather frayed striped coat and hat. It is not a name or description that any of us have any familiarity with…" he trailed off, his tone taking on a hopeful edge.

"Ah, entirely unfamiliar to myself as well, I'm afraid."

"Of course, of course. Thus far, this confusion with the Warden seems to be the extent of it, but if he exhibits any confusion or uncertainty about something he should be familiar with, you are to remove him from the cause immediately."

Laventon finished his note, and after applying the ponce to dry it, handed the sheet to Volo. He skimmed over it, and tucked it away in a side pocket. He would read it more thoroughly later, but it did not appear to contain anything substantially different from what he had just been told.

It was not lost on Volo that the subject of whatever was afflicting Rei happened to be the other person who had been, Volo was certain, drawn into Hisui by his and Giratina's machinations. Even if that one did not bear any indication of Arceus's favour.

Instructions completed, Laventon sat heavily on his couch. Volo remained standing.

"I'm mucking it all up with the dear boy, aren't I?" The Professor lamented, "I thought we were protecting him this time, but you're right, my good fellow, he probably thinks we don't trust him."

"I'm sure you'll make it up to him, Professor. He already thinks highly of you, or well, he did. He was very concerned for you and Akari when we were traveling together."

Laventon looked up from his dead-eyed gaze at the table. "He was? Oh. I hardly think we deserved it."

"Deserved or not, that's just the kind of person Rei is, isn't it? Besides, I'm sure you tried your best. You must be close, if he's picking up on your Galarian." Volo smiled down at the man. "That was Galarian earlier, was it not Professor?"

"It.. it was. I didn't know you spoke it " Laventon's hesitance to answer told Volo there was definitely something the professor was leaving out.

"I don't, unfortunately. It doesn't come up much in these parts. But I've heard it a few enough times, and I figured there weren't many other places Rei could have learned another language. After all, other than the Celestica the Clan Leaders have been teaching him, he only speaks Kantoan, I thought?"

"You've been cleared to head out into the field." Cyllene's voice from the doorway cut off any response Laventon may have had. "Be sure you inform the Security Corps when you head out of Jubilife, as well as when you depart one of the base camps."

Volo turned, keeping his smile even to hide the disappointment at the interrupted conversation. "Wonderful! We'll keep to the fieldlands today, to ease your esteemable medical corps concerns."

Laventon rose, and began gathering supplies. "Well, if you're headed out there, I'll at least come to the base camp with you. Could I trouble you to find Rei and let him know, Volo?"

"Oh," Volo adjusted the straps of his bag and offered one last brilliant smile on his departure, "I assure you. It's no trouble at all."

[narrans]

A Tall and Small Collection | S2.4 | Reunited

It had been years, but it was undeniable. Ashlynn was standing in the home they once shared. Rey could see the flicker of confusion as Ashlynn slowly recognized him.

“Rey?” she asked hesitantly as a smile spread across her face. The inviting brightness in her stormy blue-grey eyes returned and, suddenly, Rey’s excitement got the better of him. It had been so long since he had seen their human companion and finally, after all this time, she came back.

“Ashlynn!” he cheered as he ran freely across the counter, leapt over the stove, and charged directly at Ashlynn. Ashlynn knew what was coming. She had seen the Borrower boy, now teen, do this before. Instinctually, she stepped forward and raised her right hand, laying it to the side, as Rey ran forward and crashed into her palm.

“Rey,” she said, voice barely above a whisper, as her throat continued to constrict. She had missed this.

His impossibly small arms wrapped around the base of her index finger, one above and one in between her fingers, as he hugged her with all of his might. Ashlynn had almost forgotten what it was like holding their miniscule forms. It was like the brush of a feather against her palm that held a weight of its own.

Ashlynn carefully curled her fingers around Rey’s Borrower form and simultaneously with great caution rotated her hand to lift him fully into her palm. Her hand, now cradling Rey, glided over to hold the teenage Borrower to her chest.

“I missed you,” said Rey, voice evidently also tremoring with emotion as he continued to clutch onto Ashlynn’s finger.

“I missed you too. I’m so sorry I’ve been away for so long,” said Ashlynn. She closed her eyes, remembering for a moment the fear he once held for her and the apprehension of being held. How easy it was now for him to approach her, his devoted trust unwavering even through the years of absence.

Ashlynn hadn’t realized that tears gathered in the corners of her eyes until she felt Rey squirming around to face her. Ashlynn wiped her eyes with her free hand as she pulled her hand away from her chest while rotating her hand, palm up, and uncurled her fingers to reveal the Borrower inside.

Rey had rolled around to sit cross-legged almost in the center of her palm and was gazing up at her. His heart was hammering in his chest and he hadn’t felt this happy to see someone from the past in a very long time. He couldn’t believe it. Ashlynn was here – she was back!

A million questions whirled around his head, leaving his mouth open and an unending smile on his face. Finally, he found his voice after running his fingers through his hair a couple of times to snap him out of his stupor.

“Gosh, Ashlynn. It’s been years! Where have you been? What’s new? What brings you back? How are you? You look good. Wow, I need to get a hold of myself. I’m freaking out,” asked Rey in rapid succession. Ashlynn couldn’t help but laugh at her handheld companion.

“No, you’re fine. I think you spoke for both of us,” she chuckled as she turned slowly and propped herself against the counter. “I’ve been good. Nothing too crazy happening, which is always a good thing. I have a new apartment and I’ve been working as a realtor.”

“Realtor?” asked Rey, cocking his head to the side, reminding Ashlynn of a confused puppy. She had forgotten how animated Rey was when he talked.

“Yeah,” said Ashlynn. “It’s basically me going into peoples’ houses to sell them to other people.” Rey felt his jaw slacken.

“What? You can just go into houses as you please. Ha! You said you couldn’t just get into other peoples’ homes years ago. Look at you! You’re a Borrower after all,” smiled Rey. Ashlynn rolled her eyes and shook her head, unable to pull the smile from her face.

“Sure, if that’s what you want to call me. I’d be the tallest Borrower who ever lived. Speaking of which, when did you get so tall? Here. Stand up. I’ll hold still. I want to see how tall you’ve gotten,” said Ashlynn.

Rey, feeling his cheeks warm, looked away bashfully as he steadied himself and stood at his fullest height, which still only came around four inches or so. To show off, he even managed a little flex of his muscles.

“I’ve gotten a lot taller since you saw me last,” said Rey. “Tall and strong.”

“And still no match for the fingers of death,” teased Ashlynn. Rey couldn’t move fast enough as Ashlynn flexed her hand and bumped him from behind with her index finger. He staggered forward a couple of steps before he flashed a grin at her.

“Hey! Not fair!” called Rey as he whipped around and grabbed at Ashlynn’s fingertips and began shoving to get them away. Ashlynn was surprised at the pushback the teenage Borrower gave, but played dirty and snuck her thumb behind his leg, tripping him. She closed her fingers over Rey, all in fun, and rotated her wrist so he was hanging upside down and facing the ground, completely pinned by her grasp.

“Give up yet?” she asked to the struggling Borrower.

“Oooff! Never!” cried Rey in defiance. Ashlynn loosened her already lax grip and watched, amazed, as Rey managed to grab a hold of her fingertip and slip out from her palm. He dangled from her slightly bent finger for several seconds until she rotated her wrist and was once again cupping him.

“Okay, okay. Sorry. You’re right; that wasn’t fair,” acknowledged Ashlynn. “I just can’t get over how grown up you look now.” She reached forward with her free hand gave him the gentlest tap on the top of his head with her index finger. She carefully ruffled his mess of blonde hair on the top of his head.

“Hey!” said Rey bashfully. “I haven’t changed that much. I mean, I’m almost as tall as Soren now; and I’m gaining on Dorian so that has to count for something.”

Ashlynn felt her heart skip a beat as she heard the names of the other Borrowers.

“Dorian and Soren are here too? I mean, how are they? Are they around?” asked Ashlynn eagerly. Rey smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah, we’re all doing well and we’re still here in the same place in the rafters. The place finally looks really nice. We even had a few other families come and stay… for a time.”

At this, Rey got quiet for a moment. It was a silence that Ashlynn had known from Rey a few times in the past – and it usually was when he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how. She was right. In an instant, Rey thought of a hundred things that Ashlynn needed to know, but wasn’t sure how to say. How could he tell something that wasn’t his to share?

“Everything okay?” Ashlynn prompted gently, fingers naturally curling in on the tiny person sitting in her hand.

“Huh?” Rey seemed to snap out of his stupor as he looked up to Ashlynn. “What? Yeah. Oh yeah, everything is okay.”

“You sure? You got quiet. Is the new family not… good? I mean, have they been mean or rude to you?” asked Ashlynn, feeling her instinctual protectiveness over the Borrowers surge once again.

Rey, hearing Ashlynn’s tone shift subtly, immediately shook his head and waved it away with his hands.

“No. I mean yes. Everything is fine. It’s just there’s a lot to catch you up on; that’s all,” said Rey. Ashlynn, still slightly bristled, decided not to press the issue at the moment. Afterall, there was stuff she needed to talk to them about – all of them.

“Yeah? Well, there are some things that I need to talk to you guys about too. I know this technically breaks the rules and stuff, but I need to know if there are any other Borrower families in this house or this area,” said Ashlynn. Rey thought for a moment, now picking up something in Ashlynn’s tone.

“No, not that I know of. We’ve been the only family for a while since the old lady and her cat are the only ones left. We’ve seen a lot of humans moving out and not a whole lot moving back in. Makes for bad borrowings. Why?” Rey watched as Ashlynn’s brow furrowed and then bit her lip while nodding slowly.

“Because something really bad is coming,” replied Ashlynn.

“Bad? Like, a storm?” asked Rey. Ashlynn shook her head.

“No, not like that. I’d rather explain it once just in case you or Dorian or… Soren… have any questions,” said Ashlynn. “The overall gist is that you have to move – immediately.”

“Move!” said Rey, jaw dropping and heart sinking in his chest. A hollow feeling hit him in the gut. “Seriously? Move? Now? It’s the summer months. You know what that means? Creepy crawlies and bugs and predators. Why on earth do we have to move?”

Ashlynn felt like her mouth was filled with cotton. She hated seeing the distress on Rey’s tiny features. She wanted nothing more than to tell him that he was going to be safe – to keep him safe. Still, it was their choice.

“Look, I need you to spread the word to Soren and Dorian and anyone else here that I need to talk to you and that you need to prepare to move as soon as possible,” urged Ashlynn, taking a breath to calm her pounding heart.

“But why? What’s going on? They’re going to ask me,” said Rey.

She needed to tell him why, even if it hurt. “This entire area is getting demolished by Monday. They’re building new houses for humans, but they’re going to completely destroy the area before that happens. You all are in danger if you stay.”

Rey felt his heart sink. What was once a heartfelt reunion was now filled with a hopeless dread. He felt his entire body shiver nervously as he absorbed the information.

“Destroyed? Demolished? This whole area? By Monday? How many days away is that?” echoed Rey.

“Yeah,” muttered Ashlynn. “And it’s less than three days at this point.”

“Three… but… wh… but… what are we…” Rey couldn’t help but feel his mind racing. What were they going to do? Rey let himself go limp and lean backwards onto Ashlynn’s hand which was soft and curved perfectly with his body. His mind was reeling, speeding faster and faster with all of the things they needed to do. He closed his eyes to keep from watching the ceiling spin.

Supply gathering was the least of their worries. What about all of their belongings? Protection gear. Tents and survival material? There was no way they were going to get it done in time. He remembered the first time his family had to move – immigrating from one massive set of buildings to the next.

Rey remembered being cold and hungry for days. He remembered the fear of the unknown and what little they brought with them. He remembered the stress it put on Soren, taking care of him, his brother Dorian, and their father – Brady. Rey vowed after they settled that he would never try and move again, even if he was seen. It was too risky – too deadly – for Borrowers to be out in the human world.

“Rey? Rey, stay with me. I have a proposition, but I don’t know what you’ll think of it,” said Ashlynn.

“Oh? What do you have in mind?” asked Rey. “Except a miracle. There’s no way we can get everything taken care of on our own in time.”

“Come with me,” said Ashlynn calmly. Rey opened his eyes and looked up into Ashlynn’s stormy blue-grey eyes.

“What?” asked Rey.

“Come with me. I can bring you and anything you want back to my apartment. You can make a new life for yourself there. Okay, yeah, I know how it sounds and that Borrowers aren’t supposed to…”

“You’d really take us with you?!” asked Rey, suddenly invigorated and hopeful. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt; but are you being serious?” Ashlynn couldn’t help but smile as she nodded, bringing up her other hand under the one holding Rey to steady them and keep them from shaking.

“Of course! I want you guys to be safe and, honestly, I’ve missed you all so much. Plus, and I don’t know entirely, but I think there might be a few Borrowers living in my apartment complex. You wouldn’t be starting from scratch,” said Ashlynn.

Rey couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This was better than he could have ever imagined! Getting to live with Ashlynn again and meeting new Borrowers with the added bonus of not having to move all on their own was a dream come true.

“I mean, you don’t need to ask for my vote. Let’s do this!” cheered Rey.

“Hold on there little big man,” chuckled Ashlynn. “I need to ask Dorian and Soren what they think. I mean, do you think they’ll agree? Do you think they’d be, I don’t know, willing?”

“Absolutely! I’ll go and get them right now. I mean… you’re not leaving right this second, are you?” asked Rey.

“No, I’m here until you tell me to leave,” she replied. Rey felt a thousand weights lift off of his chest.

“Well, put me down so I can go rally the fam,” said Rey, heart fluttering with excitement. Ashlynn obliged and carefully lowered her hand back down to the counter. “Just stay right here and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Will do,” said Ashlynn. Rey started to head off back across the counter to the hole in the wall when he stopped and spun around.

“Ashlynn,” said Rey before he ran back into the walls. Ashlynn kept her hand still as she watched Rey run back and throw himself onto her palm, arms reaching as far as they could in an effort to hug her. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“I’m glad too little big man,” smiled Ashlynn. “I’ll see you soon.” Rey beamed up at Ashlynn before vanishing back into the walls. Ashlynn watched as Rey slipped behind the electrical cover and into the wall. The moment he left, Ashlynn couldn’t help but wonder what it was that Rey was having a hard time saying. Of all the things she thought, however, what Rey wanted to tell her was something she never would have guessed.

~~~~~

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A Tall and Small Collection | Soren

[starlightsearches]

can we perhaps get a lil fic where the reader used to be a first order medic who crushed on Hux and used to treat Hux’s injuries when he was thrown around, but has now defected to the resistance. Hux survives TROS with injuries from, well, everything that happened, and is rescued by the resistance and taken to the reader (now the resistance medic) to be cared for. Cue them remembering eachother, and perhaps lots of touch starved hux who isn’t used to being looked after, and the two finally admit their feelings for eachother?? Sorry if this is so long and confusing, you can change or shorten any bits you don’t like or understand 😅💕

Hello friend! Thanks for the request. I’m sorry it took me a thousand years to write it; I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I hope you like it!!

Requests are open ✨

Armitage Hux x Resistance Medic! Reader (GN)

Warnings: Language, an injury, angst and some medical care! (and non-canon compliance if anyone cares about that)

It’s the middle of the night cycle when Poe’s voice crackles through the speaker on your comm link, calling for you. Lurching from your doze, you search for it with both hands, brushing through the piles of records and empty caff cups before you spot the little cylinder.

“I’m here,” you hold the comm close to your mouth, using your other hand to gather up needed supplies, shoving them in your medkit haphazardly. Poe never commed you before a landing—not unless things were bad. You push the panic away, steeling yourself for the worst case scenario. It wouldn’t be the first time you had held a friend’s life in your hands, but it never got easier; you just got stronger. You could be stronger now. “What do you need?”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing too bad this time,” he clarifies, and you let out a shaky breath, offering your thanks to the universe, “we picked up a, uh, new recruit. He’s pretty banged up, having some trouble walking. I know you can get him feeling better; can you meet us at the landing pad?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” you shove the comm in your pocket, brushing a hand over your hair. There’s a soft hint of disquiet resting on your shoulders, a crawling over your skin. Poe wasn’t usually this cryptic. Something big must have happened.

You decide to leave your medkit—since the mystery patient’s injuries don’t sound too serious — walking swiftly through the sleeping base. Your footsteps echo quietly against the stone walls until the sound is swallowed by the night melody of Ajan Kloss. The warm humidity kisses your cheeks when you step out into the open, a gentle breeze pushing it away before it can linger.

The landing pad is dormant, rows and rows of sleeping x-wings keeping you company as you watch for any sign of the Falcon, and soon enough you spot it, tracing its path through the night sky.

You spy Poe's boots at the mouth of the hatch as soon as it opens—Rey must have been piloting, which meant Finn would be in the cockpit with her. Strange. Poe doesn’t usually give up control of the pilot’s seat so easily. A shiver travels up your spine despite the warm night air.

"Hey, sweetheart, can you give us a hand?" he calls out to you, and you're about to tear into him for being so fucking cryptic, stomping up the loading dock. That's when you notice the shiny pair of boots near Poe's, blacker than the night around you.

You can't move anymore, frozen mid-step half-way up the ramp, heartbeat pounding like a warning siren as your eyes trace up the boots, the battered, black uniform and you don’t need to see his face to know that you're not dreaming this time. It’s him.

You keep your eyes on Poe—only on Poe—and your distress must show in your features because the look he gives you in return is full of concern.

"Everything alright, sweetheart?"

You glare at him. "What the hell is this?"

It has to be a joke. Poe is trying to be funny, calling him a recruit instead of a prisoner—but the general isn't handcuffed. He has an arm slung over Poe's shoulder, leaning heavily against the pilot. There’s a tear in his pant leg, white skin stained red with dripping blood, the wound sore and angry. Out of the corner of your eye, you notice the purpling bruises along his cheeks. It’s sad how familiar he seems when he’s broken, more recognizable to you now than he ever was in any holovid.

“See, Hugs, I told you,” Poe clears his throat, voice light with humor but he watches you carefully, a warning in his eyes. You can see enough of the general to know he’s not looking at you, his gaze fixed on some point in the distance, his jaw set.

You cross your arms over your chest, letting your expression settle into a scowl. “Told him what?”

“That you hadn’t forgotten him.”

Damn him. He had asked about you? Your heart softens in spite of yourself, and you turn automatically to Hux, the last shreds of your anger falling from your chest. He still won’t meet your eyes, shoulders slumped, his breathing a little labored and you’re sure it’s not just from the pain.

How many times had you been with him, just like this? Hidden together in forgotten corridors or tucked away in his quarters, the threat of his father looming over you while bandaging wounds and feeling for breaks and ignoring the way his chest heaved underneath your fingers. There was no word for that kind of despair, seeing someone you loved so quietly and so desperately wrecked so completely. It snakes under your skin again, finding it’s old favorite cracks left unhealed; if you’re not careful, it will swallow you whole.

There’s only one thing to do in a situation like this: fix what you can.

You shift your weight from foot to foot before heaving a sigh, “fine, let’s go.”

“Yes! You’re the best; I owe you one, sweetheart, really—” he’s already moving out of the general’s grip, waiting for you to take his place and you look at him in alarm, stepping back.

“Wait,” your adrenaline spikes, and you have to force yourself to take a breath, “you’re not coming with us?“

He shakes his head, “Rey, Finn and I have some, uh, unfinished business. We only stopped by to drop him off.”

Well shit—you take a few steadying breaths, hoping your anxiety doesn’t show too plainly on your face. You hadn’t thought you’d be alone with him so soon. You don’t want to think about why that makes a difference to you.

“Oh, okay.” You nod, force an unconvincing smile to save face. Poe wouldn’t leave if it wasn’t important. He furrows his brow—not yet convinced.

“You’re gonna be alright?”

“Yeah . . . yeah. I’ll—we’ll—be fine.” Your smile tightens at the corners but still doesn’t reach your eyes, and he squeezes your shoulder reassuringly before walking past you to the cock pit.

And now you’re left alone.

“Let’s go,” you slide into place under his arm where he’s propped himself up against the wall, gripping him tightly around his waist, fingers holding him steady at the ribs.

He flinches, pulling away slightly, and you loosen your grip.

“Did I hurt you?”

He shakes his head, eyes examining his reflection in his boots, and you place your hand with a little more care, hoping he can’t feel the way your heartbeat echoes through your body.

It’s been too long since you’ve last touched him; it still makes your heart race.

The trip back to the medbay is slow and arduous. It’s not just the gash in his leg that’s impairing his movement—his ankle is very clearly broken, based on the way he winces whenever it makes even the slightest contact with the ground.

He’s certainly not heavy, by any means, but supporting his weight gets more difficult with each step, and you’d rather not see him sustain any more injuries if your grip on him doesn’t hold.

“We can rest here for a moment.” You stop near a pile of rocks by the entrance to the base, lowering him down into a sitting position before finally taking the chance to catch your breath.

It's a dead night, a still one. Any breeze you'd felt earlier had faded long ago, and the air sits heavy on your skin and heavier in your lungs.

The general doesn't seem to mind, taking long deep breaths. If it weren't for his furrowed brow, you might believe he was asleep.

“How did you know I’d be here,” you whisper, and when he looks at you, there's hurt in his eyes.

“The Order always keeps track of their defectors—especially when they run away to join the Resistance.” His tone is bitter and biting, and it hurts you more than you like.

“I didn’t run away to join the Resistance," you respond, trying to tamp down a sneer, angry at yourself. For letting him get to you so easily, for caring so much about what he thinks.

For missing him every day since the last.

Still, it was true, what you said. When you left, you only wanted to get away from the Order—it didn’t matter where.

The Resistance was the only place you were welcomed.

You had wanted it to feel like home, and parts of it did—eating late dinners with Poe in his quarters, watching over your patients, celebrating with the rest of them after every success, the same belief that they had for the cause beginning to burn in your chest.

But something was missing, in every one of those moments. And now that he's here, you wonder if the space you'd left empty for him is too large to be filled.

"Did you—" he shifts, groans, and your veins flood with anticipation, hanging on to some foolish idea of what he might say next, "did you ever . . . think of me?"

He looks at you with half-lidded eyes, surprisingly earnest; the pain must have gone to his head.

"We should get you to the medbay," you move again, no longer comfortable with staying still, "I'll go find you something to lean on while you walk, I'll be right back—"

His fingers wrap firmly around your wrist, pulling you back with surprising determination.

"I thought of you," he says, and you're looking in his eyes, so dark they're almost black in the low light, "every cycle since the last, and every cycle before that."

Your breathing grows shallow as he fits his hand against your waist, without pulling you closer or pushing you away.

"If you want me to leave, after . . . when it's all over, I'll do it. But I—"

He jumps when you press your lips to his, shaking like he's scared, but he leans into you as best he can.

"Neither of us are leaving again," you demand, and you think you might feel the ghost of a smile against your jaw, feel the slight grip of his fingers at your waist, "not if I can help it."

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[liyue-harbour]

𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨

sakuma rei

“here you are, my dearest, didn’t we agree to meet outside my practice room?” a hand ruffles your hair.

you look up to meet with a pair of crimson red eyes and a smile. smiling back, you placed your book into your bag. the boy takes a seat on the bench next to you. having just finished his idol practice for the upcoming SS competition, rei was exhausted. he leans on your shoulder and closes his eyes while you stroke his black hair in return, a common gesture you've had with him since you were kids.

"ah, sorry i must have forgotten. did something happen today?" you questioned gently while playing with his hair, tucking any lose strands behind his ears when they fell over his face.

rei knew that you had to stay back after classes today to attend a student council briefing and since it was planned to end around the same time as UNDEAD’s practice, he told you to wait for him. how he knew that you had to attend a meeting? you didn't know, you only knew that rei knows everything about the school. you told him that it would be fine walking back to the dormitory building, besides, the other stu-co members would be with you but he insisted.

“mm, i might have pushed us too much today. i must say, i am exhausted...couldn’t really breathe. i might actually die soon.” rei replied with a sigh.

“is it the literal meaning or...?” 

“both”

“i thought vampires were immortal? do you need me to take you to a doctor?”

“yes and no, i only need you by my side. i’ll feel better this way.”

“cheesy”

“you know you like it,”

he's not wrong though, you do like it. he remains in that position for a good three minutes before standing up suddenly, shocking you a little. during that time, you thought he had fallen asleep, and everyone knows how tough it is to wake him up once he’s asleep. rei must’ve been really exhausted, since his energy levels were fairly low, despite the sun setting below the horizon, allowing the moon to rise.

"shall we head back?" he offers his hand.

you gladly take up his offer and nodded but before you could take a step forward, rei took off his blazer and draped it over your shoulders.

"how careless.” he whispered into your ears. “honestly, who would wear the summer uniform in the middle of october? indeed, it is not as chilly in the afternoon but everybody knows how cold it gets once the sun sets. what do you suppose would become of me had you gotten a cold? who’s going to help me discipline the kids? who’s going to keep me comp–” ah, rei’s grandpa antics. muttering a couple of sorrys, you smile and thank him.

cute.

“understood, grandpa.” cutting his worry-wart talk, you walk in front of him. rei catches up with you in no time, a smile on his face and ruffles your hair once more.

“good.”

the walk to the dorm buildings from the campus was a little distance away and both of you conversed a lot (as usual), with you sharing your thoughts on the meeting you had earlier and rei talking about how his practice went, occasionally throwing in some more of his lame pick-up lines. although the female dormitory building was further than the male’s one, he insisted that he’d walk you all the way to the female dormitory building gate. you thanked him for walking you back although you would have gotten back earlier if you hadn't met him and returned his blazer.

"good night, princess. see you tomorrow." he bows.

princess, that nickname he gave you years ago..

"good night, rei." you wave and watch him walk into the direction of the male dorms. once you can no longer see his silhouette, you head into the dorm building.

[multifandomhoodies]

Whump Day 2: Choking

Force choking, mostly the aftermath of it, a little bit of hurt/comfort, Finnpoe, and Finn to the Rescue. I’ve actually got plans for a second chapter of this if there’s any interest! 

@mssr-mcknickers

Intangible Hold

It was the second time he’d been captured. Poe didn’t even have any information that Ren needed. He was just playing with Poe. It was like his worst nightmares brought to life once more. At least he wasn’t rooting through his brain again. The force chokehold and the outstretched hand of Ren’s, Poe screamed until he couldn’t. He felt like he could feel his windpipe cracking, nerves and tendons and veins being pushed to the extreme. 

He must have passed out. From blood loss or the drugs they gave him, or the fact that they’d given him something that was making him horrendously space sick. He came to, head strapped back, throat bared. They must have done something, or the Force effects of Ren’s hand caused damage or pain because every breath was agony. It set his throat and lungs on fire and not for the first time, Poe wondered if he was going to die. 

Poe tried to shift, trying in vain to get more comfortable. His teeth were grit against the pain of his head and neck. Sweat or blood or something dripped into his eyes and he groaned from the pain. His head and throat and lungs were all throbbing, and he just wanted it to stop, he wanted to be out of here, he wanted to be back home, safe, comfortable, with Finn.

The door opened, drawing Poe’s panicked attention away from his misery. With blurred vision, he saw someone darting towards him. He made a noise of fear, but the person brought their hands up in a disarming way, shushing him quietly. Poe gasped, and it hurt. The person reached towards him and Poe couldn’t stop the flinch despite the restraint. “Sssh, it’s okay, just breathe. Just breathe, baby, it’s okay. Deep breaths.” 

“Finn.” Poe gasped out. The figure at his head, undoing the restraints, rewarded him with a smile. “That’s it, it’s me. I’m getting you out of here.” The band around Poe’s head loosened and he felt his head drop forward. But Finn caught it, gently holding it, but letting go when Poe coughed horribly. The coughs hurt, and the gasping after it only worse. “It’s okay, I know it hurts, deep breaths.” The gasping subsided, and Finn’s gentle hand was under his jaw, cradling his head, the other hand running through his hair in a soothing motion. “I’m sorry. I’m gonna get you out of here. It’s gonna be rough but we’re gonna get out, okay?” 

Poe couldn’t nod, but Finn seemed to understand. He made quick work of the rest of the restraints and hauled Poe to a semi standing position. Finn dropped Poe’s arm around his neck and supported him, trying not to hurt him. Finn and Poe hurried down the corridor and out into the hallway, Finn whipping around, looking for trouble. They didn’t see any, so Finn darted into the next hallway. “I’m really hoping they haven’t noticed.”

The clatter of stormtrooper boots immediately proved Finn’s point wrong. He shifted them back into a corner, pulling out his lightsaber with his free hand. Poe weakly grabbed for Finn’s blaster. Finn gave him half a glance, “Are you sure you can handle that?” Poe met his gaze and took it. 

The leader of the stormtroopers noticed them. Finn with his lightsaber deflected blaster fire towards the troopers, and Poe picked off what he could. The squad was down soon enough, and Finn tightened his grip around Poe again and off down another hallway they went. Finn stopped them under a roof vent. He threw something up against the ceiling and the vent opened, above it another, connected to a ship. That too spun open to reveal Rey, grim expression on her face, saber lit. Her face dawned into one of relief when she saw Finn and Poe. “C’mon!” She dropped a ladder and Finn bodily shoved Poe onto and up it. He forced himself to climb, collapsing on the floor of the ship next to it. Finn shouted from below, but he started coughing again, and Finn was suddenly up the ladder, closing the connector to the ship and shouting to Rey to go. 

Poe rolled onto his side, coughing and gasping. Dimly he was aware of Finn rummaging and searching for something. A bottle of something was set to his lips, and Finn was trying to tilt his head and neck up so he could drink. Poe drank what was offered, spluttering some of it. He got enough and half sat against Finn, gasping. Finn capped the bottle, putting it within arm’s reach of Poe. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you run like that but we had no other option. Deep breaths, love. Deep breaths, I know it hurts but it’s better than what you’re doing.” He gently ran his hand through Poe’s curls. “Deep breaths, it’s okay.” 

It did hurt, but it was better than the coughing. Poe reached for more water, and Finn handed it to him. “I’m gonna check you out, make sure you’re alright other than your throat, okay?” Poe nodded slightly. 

Finn checked his pupils, assessing for a concussion, and then Poe zoned out as Finn continued checkover. “You’ve got some blood loss but I think you’ll be okay. I’m gonna get some bacta patches and I’m going to get something to help your throat.” Poe squeezed Finn’s hand and Finn smiled at him, tight with sadness. Finn gently maneuvered Poe’s head off his leg and gently to the ground and he got up. Poe closed his eyes against the lights and everything going on, focusing on the sound of the ship flying and of Finn rummaging through a medkit. It occurred to Poe that he didn’t know what ship they were on. It didn’t look like the Falcon, it didn’t look like one he was familiar with at all. Finn sat down next to him. “This is gonna sting.” He wiped the cuts and it did burn, but as soon as Finn put the bacta patches on. Poe shifted up to sit properly. Finn handed him a small tablet. “It’s for your throat. Don’t chew it, just let it sit in your mouth.” Poe popped it in his mouth. Finn finished bandaging his cuts and looked at him, concerned and relieved. The ship shuddered as it moved to hyperspace, and Rey was poking her head in. “Finn, is he okay? Poe, are you alright?” 

Poe tried to respond, but all that came out was hoarse grating. He nodded. Finn glanced up at Rey. “Ren did some Force stuff to him, the scanner didn’t show any lasting damage.He was all tied up when I got there.” 

Rey’s face was grim. “I’m not surprised. I’m glad you’re all intact.” 

Poe snorted. Physically, at least, he was fine. He knew the second he tried to close his eyes, he’d see Ren again. Rey ducked back into the cockpit, and Finn looked at him again. “Let’s get you more comfortable. You can sleep or rest until we get back, it’ll be a few hours.” Poe nodded. Finn helped him to his feet and supported him as they walked across the deck to the bunk. Poe dropped heavily onto the bed, barely withholding the urge to just flop down. He attempted to untie his boots until Finn gently pushed his hands away and undid the fastenings. With his socked feet free, Poe shifted to lay down. His body ached everywhere, and his head was starting to hurt. It was probably the blood loss he’d somehow forgotten about. Or exhaustion. Or something. 

Finn sighed next to him. “I wish I could give you something to help, but the scanner said you had some drugs on board already but didn’t say what they were and I don’t want to make things worse. We’re gonna have to wait until we’re back.” 

“It’s okay.” Poe tried to say. But the rasping noise he made didn’t even come close to forming words. He cleared his throat, ignoring the pain. “I meant -” he stopped again. Finn stroked his hair. “I’m sorry, love. I can get you a datapad if you want to talk, but it’s probably best not to try to talk right now.” 

Poe nodded, hating how tears filled in his eyes. He was miserable. Everything hurt. The throat medication had helped a little, but not enough. And he couldn’t talk. He shifted onto his side, curling up. He still felt a bit of a phantom pressure on his throat, a phantom gloved hand gripping it.

“Nod if you want me to stay with you.” Finn asked softly. Poe immediately nodded, dropping his arm back, looking for Finn’s other hand. He closed his eyes as Finn took his hand. He felt the bunk dip under Finn’s weight. “It’s okay, Poe, you can rest.” He ran the hand not holding Poe’s gently down his back as Poe shook with silent cries. 

[paper-n-ashes]

sparks and embers - chapter 13

Characters: Kylo Ren x Original Female Character, Poe Dameron x Original Female Character

Story Tags: Explicit (18+), Canon Compliant/Divergent (Set after TLJ), First Person POV, Love Triangle, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Porn with Plot, Hurt/Comfort, Kylo Ren hates Poe Dameron

Chapter 13 - Exposure

Words: 5.5k

Chapter Tags/Warnings: Descriptions medical procedures

Read on AO3 or Start from the beginning

~

“Alex! You’re okay!”

“So are you!” I burst, eyes already wet with tears of relief. My gaze darted over the holoprojection of Poe’s face, his brilliant smile beaming through from lightyears away.

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” he grinned, leaning closer into the holo. “We’ve been trying to make this contact for weeks.”

A dazzling joy surged in my chest, so happy that my assumptions of being forgotten were baseless. “Did you complete your mission?”

“You’re talking to the best pilot in the galaxy here.” He shot me a charming wink, maintaining his smile. “Actually made it back a few days ahead of schedule.”

Tears continued to dribble out, attempting to calm myself with a shaky exhale. “I’ve been so worried.”

Poe’s expression turned earnest. “I was going to say the same thing.” His expression fell, looking down. “I didn’t want to leave you there. I’m… I’m so sorry Alex. We’re all sorry.”

“It’s alright,” I soothed. “It was the right thing to do at the time. Did you all safely make it back to the base?”

“Left just in time to avoid their tracking systems. So your sacrifice wasn’t for nothing.”

“Indeed it wasn’t,” a woman’s voice agreed, her instantly recognisable image appearing in front of me moments later.

Leia Organa.

“I’m so glad to finally put a face to the person who saved my best fighters.”

I was awestruck at the sight of the entrancing older woman, with kind yet determined eyes looking right at me. “Well… uh… They were the ones who protected me against the Death troopers. I really didn’t do anything.”

She shook her head, smiling warmly. “We all know what you did, what you’ve endured because of your selflessness.”

“What I’ve endured?”

“We have recently gained a Resistance spy within the First Order, the one who directed you to this holoprojector,” Poe started explaining. “They’ve been keeping an eye on you. Sending us intel about your condition.”

I thought of the blonde, curled hair I glimpsed a few minutes ago, not recalling ever seeing it before. Whoever it was had obviously done his reconnaissance at a distance. “The cell stay wasn’t exactly easy,” I conceded, looking sincerely to Poe. “But I’m managing better now.”

A glaring lie.

“One thing they couldn’t tell us Alex,” Leia started, her expression now troubled. “Is why exactly they’re keeping you on the Finalizer. Our spy hasn’t been able to collect any information about the subject. To me, it seems a little... bizarre you’re being forced to work for them.”

I was stuck on how to begin to formulate an answer when a commotion from behind the two figures made them turn around.

“I heard you finally made contact!” Rey’s voice excitedly cheered from somewhere in the room, her image quickly arriving into view, displaying an enthusiastic grin as she huddled in next to Leia. “Alex! I’m so glad to see you!”

I returned a warming smile, her sunny disposition difficult not to mirror.

“Oh thank the maker,” Finn heaved, sliding alongside Rey, the four figures now pressed closely into the outline of the holo, Poe seeming faintly annoyed at the intrusion. “If I had to live through one more day of Poe ranting about this stealth signal not getting through, I was gonna go insane.”

Poe was already looking to me when I glanced at his face, an unspoken understanding exchanging between us. “Well now since apparently we’re all here,” he huffed, “Can we actually get back to the issue at hand? We’ve only got a limited amount of time before this signal becomes compromised, and the hard-lock on Alex’s comm-room door overrides.”

Leia nodded in agreement and looked at me again. “Do you know why they’re holding you there Alex?”

I was weighted with a heavy dose of terror in giving my answer, my stare shooting immediately to Rey. Her smile had faded, instead she wore an expression of reassurance.

She hadn’t told them.

“I… I… uh…” I stammered, a flurry of emotions spinning in my brain. I was so sure she would have exposed me.

“It’s okay Alex,” Rey insisted, her tone calming. “I know why you’re scared. I completely understand why you kept it a secret. But we won’t harm you because of it. I promise.”

All eyes darted to Rey, each face breaking into confusion.

Poe was the only one to say what they were all thinking. “What are you talking about?”

I felt my chest begin to tighten, oxygen becoming a little harder to grasp onto. “I’m not ready,” I whispered.

Rey’s appearance was comforting, yet serious. “It’s time. You may not be ready, but sometimes we don’t get the choice.”

I inhaled deeply, scrunching my lids closed, trying to build some sort of confidence to reject the instincts and rules I had been abiding by all these years. A lifetime of keeping my gift undisclosed, hiding it away, never getting too close to anyone, had left me more attached to my secret than anything else in the galaxy. Fear had always kept it’s hold, guiding my actions, and it was pulling at me again now, trying to warn me of the danger once more. But if I didn’t tell them, Rey would be forced to.

And above anything else, I wanted Poe to hear it from me.

“I can… use the Force,” I said slowly, most likely out loud for the first time in my life. “I taught myself… how to heal others with it, when they were close to death.” There was an excruciating silence as Poe, Leia and Finn comprehended my answer, each wearing a different expression of realisation. My stare was only focused on Poe, trying to properly gauge his reaction to my admittance of lying. “I didn’t want anyone to find out, so I’d also learnt how to hide it - to prevent other force-sensitive people from feeling my energy, from hearing my thoughts.”

“Why?” Leia asked gently. “Why were you so afraid?”

“My parents were distrustful of those who were attuned to the Force after living through a time where Darth Vader wreaked havoc on the galaxy. They told me old stories of little children being taken away from their families to be trained as Jedi, only to have all of them massacred, even the younglings. They made it seem like the most dangerous thing in the world was being someone with that gift. So even as a child, when I felt the power growing within, I pushed it down, hid it away. I didn’t want to fight in any wars, and I didn’t want to be killed. I just… wanted a normal life.”

Both Rey and Leia were nodding with me as I spoke, seeming to understand my decision.

“That’s why you were on Raxus. So isolated,” Poe murmured, not looking at me.

“Yes. I kept it a secret for as long as I could, all through my training, only using this power sporadically through the years. But I was too close to being caught whilst working in a medical camp on the Inner Rim, during a skirmish the First Order instigated on a planet because of their resources. A Stormtrooper noticed me healing one of the planet’s inhabitants, one whom he was sure he’d rendered on the brink of death. He wanted to take me to his leader, claiming he would have good use for someone with my abilities. I managed to escape him and ran, giving up my job, my home, all without telling anyone where I was going. I settled on Raxus, built my clinic, rarely having to use my power, never really worrying about being caught again. Until... Poe crashed on my doorstep.”

“And you had to use it then, didn’t you?” Rey assumed, obviously a question she had been waiting to ask. I nodded.

Finn’s eyes sparkled. “I knew it! I knew there was a reason he healed so quickly.”

The death stare Rey shot to him was severe in intensity, and under any other circumstance I would have thought it was funny. But my focus was centred completely on Poe’s expression as he remained engrossed in deliberation, his eyes still not reaching back to me.

“Is this why they’re keeping you held on the Finalizer? They wish to utilize your power to heal?” Leia guessed.

“They don’t know about it.”

Each of their expressions turned to disbelief.

“How? Surely Kylo Ren would have rummaged through your mind the minute you got on that ship,” Finn burst, turning to Rey. “That’s what he did to you right?” She nodded in agreement, still looking to me for my answer.

“I was able to keep him out, like I did to you Rey,” I replied.

Rey seemed impressed, and a realisation clicked behind her eyes. “That’s why he won’t let you leave. He hasn’t figured out why."

I became uneasy, suddenly worrying about the blame I’d been placing on her. “He thinks it’s because of you, that you’ve somehow placed a block around my mind. And I... didn’t exactly correct him.”

Rey let a sly smile form on her lips. “Well that would be a valuable thing to make use of, if only it were true.”

Finn appeared dubious. “I still don’t understand why you agreed to work for them.”

“I didn’t really have a choice,” I subtly scowled. “It was that or rot in a cell until Kylo Ren managed to infiltrate my thoughts, learning of my sensitivity to the Force, leaving me in a lot worse situation.”

Finn appeared understanding of that answer. It had been Rey’s own powers that made the man obsessed with capturing her. Leia, who had seemed more troubled while we conversed of the Supreme Leader, finally spoke up again. “How long do you think you can hold yourself against… him?”

“I don’t know.” My heart thumped with anxiety, reminded of his last attempt to penetrate my barrier. Thinking about it, with Poe’s image right in front of me, made a familiar sickness bubble in my stomach. He still refused to meet my gaze, his face pained, making an ache begin to surge in my chest.

“Well we have to make some kind of plan right? To rescue her before that happens? Poe?” Finn insisted, somehow rustling Poe out from his inner turmoil.

“Right. Sure. Of course,” he agreed, only the slightest glance in my direction. I had to clench my teeth to hold back the tears wanting to form in my eyes, his indifferent response causing a wave of guilt to wash through.

Leia could sense the tense energy exchanging between us, even through the holo. “Finn, Rey, let’s start discussing our next move. Away from the holoprojector.” She looked firmly at the two, an unspoken communication. Rey shot me a look of both support and sympathy, understanding exactly why Leia was leading them away.

“Hang in there,” Finn added before standing to leave. “We’ll get you out real soon.”

I tried my best to reply with a grateful smile, but it was hard to form through the nervousness I felt at being alone with Poe after my revelation.

One by one their figures receded from the flickering blue picture, leaving Poe alone once again. I couldn’t bring myself to speak first, unsure of what to say. He felt further away than ever, his touch a memory that continued to fade.

Time was running out, the seconds ticking away as we both waited in stillness for the other to break the strained silence. When his eyes finally drifted to me again, I was wounded by the hurt in them, still acutely obvious in the artificial image.

“Why couldn’t you tell me?” he whispered. “You had all that time.”

I dipped my head, conceding. “I was scared.”

“Scared of what?” he shot with unrestrained exasperation. “Scared that I would continue to be grateful for you saving my life?”

I looked back up, stunned by his angered tone. “I didn’t want anyone to find out, let alone someone who had ties with the Resistance.”

“What did you think I would do, what the Resistance would make you do?”

“Pull me into a war I didn’t want to fight! Lead me into a life I didn’t want to lead!”

I could see his jaw tighten, an attempt in calming himself. “The fact you assume I’m the type of person that would force you into anything, let alone war, even after everything I told you, is insulting.”

“That’s so unfair,” I retaliated, my bottom lip on the edge of trembling. “I didn’t even know who you were when I decided to heal you. I chose to risk everything to keep you alive. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

Poe exhaled hard, the sound crackling in the holo. “I will always be in your debt for what you did. But you still lied to me Alex. To my face. You assumed the worst of me, of all of us. You hid the truth because you thought we would take advantage of your power, not caring about what you wanted, what you could choose.”

“You haven’t lived my life Poe,” I argued, a ferocity beginning to rise. “You haven’t lived with the same fear I have all your life.”

He stared at me through the staticky blue light, silence once again taking over. We were locked in each other’s eyes, even through all the distance separating us.

“You pushed me away because of it, didn’t you?” he asked, the sting of his tone now gone.

I didn’t have to respond for him to know my answer. Suddenly there was a loud click of the door behind me, the hard-lock releasing.

Our time was up.

“I’m sorry,” I implored, only a moment before Poe’s face was snatched from my view, the holoprojector powering down into darkness.

My throat felt tight, a new kind of shame gripping tightly. I’d always been so afraid of sharing my secret, but not for this reason. Not because it would make me a liar in the eyes of the one I longed to be reunited with so badly.

*

I stayed in the darkened comm-room long after the hard-lock was disengaged. No one came to open it. Even if they had, they would have only found my figure sitting against one of the large data configurators, stuck in a motionless trance.

I wasn’t entirely sure what kept me from crying, because there was certainly a hollow sadness sitting on my chest, yet the emotion never seemed to manifest into anything. It was possibly due to the stark realisation that my power, my use of the Force, wasn’t a secret anymore.

And nothing bad happened.

They hadn’t been afraid, judgemental, desperate to use it for their own benefit. They had wanted nothing. Rey even kept it to herself, waiting for me to expose the circumstance in my own time, supporting the decision I’d made long ago to hold the power deep within.

Alongside the sadness, there was an intense shame thumping with my heartbeat. Poe had been right, once again highlighting my selfish and distrustful nature, even to those who didn’t deserve it. He’d always been unconditionally honest, and I had given him lies in return. He was right to be offended, to feel slighted by my deceit, our whole encounter now coloured with my dishonesty.

The only comforting part of the holoprojector discussion, apart from knowing for sure Poe with how we parted, was there was a plan being formed for my rescue. There was still a chance I might make it off this ship, escaping before Kylo Ren saw through my weakening façade. He had gotten closer than ever before in the preceding morning, and it couldn’t be long until he figured out another way to tug at my emotions hard enough to unravel me completely.

My only hope was that it wasn’t my attraction to him, the way he undeniably ignited the fire inside that he continued to toy with in his endeavour to push past the veil over my mind.

*

When I slipped back through the doors of the Prestige ward I was bombarded with questions from Risha and the other staff concerning the incidents of the night, most of them somewhat impressed with my boldness. While the others thought nothing of my return, assuming that for once justice had prevailed and I’d been seen to act in self-defence, Risha was obviously astonished I wasn’t still sitting in my cell. She followed me to the isolation room, where my intubated patient still lay in critical condition, but fortunately alive.

“How did you manage to convince them to let you out?” she questioned. “I thought I’d be visiting you in that cell.”

I read over the observations, the patient’s vitals seemingly stable during my absence.

I would need to thank Irwin later.

“I didn’t have to convince them of anything. My retaliation was considered appropriate by the Supreme Leader, so he allowed my release.”

Risha physically recoiled in disbelief. “There are like, 20 things wrong with what you just said.”

“It was a surprise to me too,” I agreed, continuing to perform my own assessment of the ill man in front of me.

“Alex, I don’t think you comprehend how unusual it is for the Supreme Leader to involve himself with matters like this.”

“I think we can both agree nothing about my situation is usual.”

“I mean, that’s true.” She folded her arms, still doubtful. “But for him to punish the Colonel instead of you. That’s just…bizarre. Snoke would never have been called to make a decision like that, let alone given any care for your wellbeing.”

I stopped, giving Risha’s answer more than a few seconds of thought. “Maybe he wants to be a different type of leader.”

She snorted. “We all know Snoke was the one who seduced him to the dark side, who turned him into what he is today. You think he would cast away his teachings, suddenly show compassion?”

“You’ve obviously given this a lot of thought,” I murmured.

“Well there’s not a lot else to talk about working on this ship. All we debated in the days after Snoke’s death, and Kylo Ren’s appointment as Supreme Leader, was whether his rule would be the same or significantly worse. No one even had the slightest notion he would be… like this.”

I shrugged, walking back to the progress notes and typing my assessment out. “Maybe he thinks if I owe him one I’ll be less likely to cause anymore issues. Maybe he hopes for me to like it here so I won’t attempt an escape.”

Risha tugged at my arm, making me look to her. “Is that something you were considering?” she whispered.

I didn’t want to give any kind of verbal confirmation to that intention, knowing now the ears always listening into our conversations. I also refused to implicate this sweet person in any of my future plans, knowing it was safer to give an overly dismissive answer. “Of course not. I wouldn’t even know how if I wanted to. I’ll just keep waiting it out. I’m sure they’ll grow bored with me eventually.”

Risha certainly wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t dictate that stance. “So how are you feeling? After… you know.”

“I’m alright,” I reassured, which was a blazing lie. “Better now knowing the Colonel won’t be back on this ward again.”

“Me too,” Risha breathed, showing me a small smile. Mild irritation sizzled knowing what it took to finally have someone to act on a predator like Colonel Wynver, still wishing his punishment would have been more severe. But I had to be appreciative that Risha, and the other women who worked here, could have some comfort due to his hopefully permanent absence from their life.

*

I farewelled Risha after making sure Irwin had given her an adequate handover of the nights new admits, noticing that more beds were now filled with those who had contracted the heavily contagious illness. There was a part of me that worried about the situation I would return to at the start of my shift this evening, but I was too exhausted to fret for too long.

I made sure to pick up a meal from the mess hall before returning to my quarters, horrendously starving from a whole shift without a chance to eat. The shower I had after ravenously devouring my food was just soothing enough to put me in a better state of mind before settling under the bed sheets to sleep, even with the ache beating slowly in the background of my mind at how Poe and I had parted from our transmission.

My only hope was Rey could make him see sense in the way I had kept my power hidden, maybe make him understand how harsh the fear was that drove me to lie.

Sleep arrived effortlessly this time, only minutes passing with my eyes closed before I was pulled into slumber.

*

When I felt my eyes open again, it was obvious I was dreaming, standing on a deserted beach, the horizon a flat line against the evening sky, a lone sun close to sinking past the ocean. It felt peaceful, a melting glow spreading through my body, relishing the sunset scene. But soon I realised I’d never been to a place like this before. I’d never even stepped close to a beach in my short life.

It was then I sensed the presence with me, the strange energy hovering far behind my figure. I went to turn, to face the mystery aura, but I was chained to where I stood, my eyes still viewing the yellowed skyline, the faint sound of small waves lapping against the shore. The energy shifted, my focus trained on its movement as it edged closer, finally taking a position just beyond my right shoulder.

“You’ve been doing spectacularly well,” a familiar voice mused.

I sighed. “I wondered when you were finally going to disturb me again. You’ve been unusually quiet.”

I felt a smile cross the figures lips, although I was unsure exactly what its face would appear as.

“You seem to be managing perfectly fine without my assistance. I didn’t feel the need to intrude.”

“As opposed to back on Raxus, when I couldn’t avoid your constant warnings?” I grumbled, recalling the many interruptions the voice had made concerning my growing attachment to Poe.

The energy moved again, my eyes darting to the space beside me, still unable to turn my head to that direction. I was only able to capture the image of a hooded figure stepping into my periphery, its face almost completely hidden by darkened brown fabric. I could just make out the shape of their lips. Human. And feminine, matching the tone I had heard in my mind for almost my whole life.

“You were making poor decisions,” the hooded woman stated. “Decisions that would bring about damaging consequences.”

“Maybe if I knew the consequences you seem to be so concerned with, I would make the right choices.”

She laughed, a low breathy chuckle that was oddly musical. “That’s not how this works. I can’t interfere with your free will.”

“Can you at least tell me what ‘this’ is? Why you’re inside my head?”

I could see her lips purse, a deliberate silence between us. “It’s not time yet. You’re not ready.”

An unwelcome shiver pulsed, irritation swelling once again. “I would ask what exactly I need to be ready for, but I can assume you won’t tell me that either.”

The woman smiled again, white teeth peeking through her lips on the edge of my vision. “I’m glad you’ve come to that understanding quickly.”

I exhaled hard, growing impatient with the interference of my much-needed sleep. “Is there a reason why you’re here now, deciding to show yourself for the first time?”

“I wanted to ensure you knew you were playing your part well, in the hopes it would encourage you to stay on this path.”

I creased my eyebrows, contemplating how any of my actions in the last few weeks would have been appropriate on this journey I was apparently walking. “And I’m assuming you’ll let me know when I might divert from this destination you’ve got in mind?”

“Indeed,” she nodded, her head lifting in time to watch the sun finally fade completely past the horizon, plunging both of us into darkness. “But I have faith you won’t require my help for the foreseeable future.”

I could only hope such a notion was true, this woman’s voice always having been a horrible strain on my thoughts. But without knowing exactly what I was doing so well, I was unsure if I could keep her intrusions from appearing again. I watched with the woman as stars began to glitter through the sky, reflecting on the stilled ocean, making an even bigger vision of night envelop the landscape. A delicate breeze of wind then brushed against my skin, and she was gone, her energy fading instantly, leaving me alone on the beach once again.

The soothing power of the twinkling scene soon made an overwhelming fatigue encircle my brain, and I was unable to prevent my eyelids from drooping closed.

*

It was obvious I’d been rustling in my sleep when I awoke again hours later, sheets twisted haphazardly over my limbs. I’d finally managed a full 8 hours, feeling the most rested I’d been in days. Although waking to an impossibly long list of questions I couldn’t get answers to didn’t exactly make me feel relaxed.

I laid on my back, wishing I could will the woman’s voice back into existence, only wanting to know why and how she housed her spirit inside my mind. The spoken warnings and guidance had always been there, pestering me with advice, sometimes threatening. But I always assumed it was a form of my own conscience, born from an unknown area of my brain that battled its morals against my decision making. Knowing now it was something more than that, that it was something or someone keeping a close watch over my actions, was oddly comforting.

Maybe I hadn’t been alone all of these years.

*

My last overnight duty before returning to the day shift was chaotic to say the least. Almost all beds of the Prestige ward became filled with viral patients, a large portion of the Finalizer Command leaders now in my company. A dark humour would have mentioned to the Resistance yesterday that this sickness was probably more incapacitating than their assaults had ever been, but I honestly didn’t want to place the idea of biological warfare inside their heads.

While my intubated patient had already improved from my last visit, I was now dealing with three more who’s health was extremely critical. I had never been so appreciative for the medical droids who worked here, their ability to recognise deteriorations in vitals being much quicker than my own.

I’d been given a status report from the rest of the ship earlier in the night, which implied the other wards were in much the same position. Although, it was interesting to note the slowing occurrence between Stormtrooper personnel, their armour and helmets seeming to provide an amount of protection that the Command leaders didn’t utilise.

The Bio-med lab had assured they would have a cure and subsequent vaccine within the next couple of days, pressing us to keep as many patients alive in the meantime. Which was easier said than done. Bacta didn’t help in eradicating the virus or it’s symptoms.

Fortunately for my own health I had already been afflicted with a strain similar during an assignment to Lothal in my training days, the illness sweeping through most of our workers, spread by one of the wounded soldiers. Luckily, none of us had been struck down too harshly, and it had left most of us somewhat immune. In knowing this however, I began to feel a looming dread for the medical staff of this ship who most likely had never been exposed before. It couldn’t be long before they themselves would need to be treated, and I prayed it wouldn’t leave me as the sole doctor still well enough to keep working in the time before a cure was found.

In the morning I handed over the night’s events to the day shift, giving strict instructions for the care of the four intubated patients, offering to return if I was required to at any time. I’d been afforded a full day cycle before returning to normal working hours, a day off of sorts, but with little freedoms being afforded to me on this ship to utilise my free time, I was quite comfortable in being called back to ease the load on the Prestige staff.

No such request had been made by the time I’d taken care of my daily routine, sleeping soundly through another 8 hours, this time without the interruption of vivid dreaming. It was early evening, which was only ever evident by the chronometer in my quarters, and I’d found myself too anxious about how the ward was coping to focus on the literature I was attempting to read.

The unease eventually caused me to change into the mundane set of informal clothes the First Order had allowed, wanting to pay a visit to the ward to ease my worry. A pair of black pants hemmed tight against the outline of my legs and a grey sweater which wrapped around my torso, leaving a bow at the back. I hadn’t pulled my hair up, assuming my visit wouldn’t actually require me to do any work. I wanted to appear as casual as possible, hopefully not implying they would be desperate for my assistance.

I was about to slip around the corner of the small lobby outside my quarters, pondering over the fact I’d never seen anyone enter or exit the two other doors, when I was disrupted by the sight of General Hux making his way down the corridor. He was alone, without his usual entourage of Stormtroopers My eyes narrowed, watching him suspiciously as he closed the space between us, noting the stressed expression he wore, his porcelain cheeks slightly red.

“What have I done this time?” I prodded as he stopped in front of me.

“I’m afraid I’m not in the mood for your juvenile mockery Miss Jago,” he snapped. “Come with me, I have a task you are required for.”

I folded my arms. “This is meant to be my day off.”

“You’ll find that I don’t particularly care,” Hux grumbled. It occurred to me how unwilling he seemed to be here, most likely a stern order behind his reason for being in my presence. “You don’t have a choice in this matter. Now follow me.”

“Could you at least tell me what you’re hauling me away to do?”

He didn’t stop his exit. “You’ll find out soon enough. I’m not going to ask you again. Follow me.”

It was curiosity that made me obey his demand, beginning to step behind the irritating man as he led me to an unspecified objective. When we started veering towards a familiar turbo-lift, noting him pressing the floor I’d memorised from the previous day, my whole body pulsed with anger.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I seethed, looking to Hux with a burning contempt.

“It was an order,” he replied sharply.

“It always is,” I fumed, leaning into the durasteel wall of the turbo-lift.

What did he want with me now?

Hux stormed ahead when the doors opened, my shorter strides barely able to keep up as we walked through the darkened hallway. With a simple wave of his hand on the security panel the blast doors opened to the room I had previously been forced into, the huge open view of endless space still taking my breath away.

Hux didn’t stop in the lounge area, instead swerving to the door at the far left, pressing a code quickly into the lock, waiting for me to enter first once it opened. I looked at Hux quizzically before moving past, taking a moment to register the scene I’d been made privy to.

My eyes scanned over Kylo Ren’s figure, now hunched into a ball underneath the sheets of his bed, a sheen of sweat noticeable on his forehead even from the doorway. He was asleep, however it didn’t appear even close to restful, his breaths loud and heaving.

“The Supreme Leader appears to be afflicted with the virus,” Hux stated in a hushed tone, still emotionless as ever. “He requires the care of a medical professional until his health returns to normal. I think you can understand the confidential nature of the task I’m giving to you.”

I nodded slowly, still stunned at what I’d walked into. “But why me? Surely there are other doctors who could do this. Ones who aren’t his hostage.”

“That is most definitely true,” Hux agreed. “But he asked for you.”

~

Next Chapter

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[twink-appreciation-posts]

Put On A Show - Spencer Reid x Reader

chapter two of “all bets are off”

Working at the BAU is fun!! Woooo!!

slightly nsfw below

Okay. Let's reassess the situation. You're about two "shots" into the night. Thank God the bartender was discreet about making them water. Up to this point, you had still been finding your rhythm, making some attempt to relive your college days. But the flashy lights and the loud music were slowly becoming more familiar. You were sat at the bar next to Reid, who was sipping his own glass of water quietly. "Reid," you addressed him over the music. "You look miserable!" You grabbed his hand like he had grabbed yours before and gently rested it on your thigh.

He smiled and moved his barstool closer to yours, his hand moving upwards a bit. You could feel yourself tense up. He tilted his head at you intuitively. "Excuse me, Mr. Bartender. I'll have 4 more of the usual, please!" You piped up cheerily. You downed them, faking a cough, and turned to Reid again. "Dance with me?" You asked genuinely. "Of course." He smiled.

So, you dragged him to the dance floor, deciding to add a bit of stumbling to your walk, and you let out a long exhale. You turned your back to him, mentally preparing. "Mmkay, so, your hands go here." You instructed playfully, placing his hands on your hips.

'Okay. Just do this.' You thought to yourself. You pressed yourself onto his body, hands over his, and began to move along to the music.

To your surprise, he quickly began to move in synch with you, his hands wandering up and down your waist and hips. Your eyes fluttered closed. "Reid?" You mumbled, and he bent his head down to rest in the crook of your neck.

"Yea, y/n?"

Oh god. You could feel his breath. He was so close. So close. You never expected this to happen with anyone from work, but especially with Reid. Were you shaking?

"I know I said I wouldn't get too wild, but we need attention on us. He needs to notice."

Reid nodded. While you were busy trying to come up with your next move, he spun you around. Your arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. "Let's put on a show then, right?" He gave you what almost seemed like a smirk. You nodded, but before you could open your mouth to respond one of his hands was on your ass, pushing your body flush against his, and the other was tilting your chin up to meet his gaze. "Rei-"

His lips crashed onto yours. You held back a squeak of shock, your lips meeting his in a frenzy.

Jeez, who knew he was such a good actor?

One of your hands moved down his torso, his chest, grazing down his body. You stopped just shy of below his belt. You had no clue how long he had been kissing you when he eventually pulled away, but fuck did he look good.

The lipstick that JJ had so carefully applied was smudged onto his face, proof of just how messy the kiss had been. You couldn't look away. You heard a few people holler in your direction. Well, if attention is what you wanted...

"You're so hot." You exhaled breathlessly. "Oh fuck, I think I had too much to drink." You added quickly. Yeah. That line was totally in character.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." Reid replied, the hand he had resting on your ass hadn't budged. In fact, you could feel it tensing. Squeezing. Massaging.

"We could do a lot more than that tonight, you know." You chewed your lip. Why were you getting nervous? This was a false reality. You were just being as convincing as possible. "But I don't know if you'd be able to handle it." You shrugged, turning to walk back towards the bar. Before you got very far, he grabbed your arm. You gulped. That was a bit aggressive.

"I don't know why you're so worried about me. You're the one who seems flustered from a bit of kissing." He shot back. Could he really tell?

He checked the time on his watch. About 15 more minutes until you were scheduled to separate from each other.

'Might as well make them count, right?' You thought to yourself. 'Just to ensure you attract the unsubs attention. Of course.'

You opted to ignore his comment, pulling your arm away and running back to the bar, bumping into different people as you went. Reid followed, intrigued. "Reid!" You exclaimed, slurring your words. "Help me up!"

You pointed to the bar. He looked from you, to the bar, and then back to you. Oh. Okay.

He arrived at your side, hoisting you up. You stumbled a bit, wobbling onto the surface.

"Hey! You can't do that!" The bartender exclaimed.

You "shhhh"d him, beginning to dance outrageously. The bar shook beneath your feet to the bass. Reid watched you, amazed. He looked at you as if he was memorizing your movements, memorizing your body. You blushed. A majority of the patrons had turned to look at you, the drunk girl dancing atop the bar, and you hollered incoherently. Reid laughed. "C'mon, get down, baby. You're gonna get yourself hurt." He yelled to you, seeing the angry manager of the bar making his way through the crowd.

You pouted. "You're no fun." But, you took his hand anyway, returning safely to the ground.

"That something you've pulled before?" Reid questioned. You just smiled in response.

A glance at his watch. 8 more minutes.

"You looked pretty interested when I was up there." You teased, closing the space between you two again.

"Oh, did I?"

You took a step forward. He took a step back.

"Mhm." Another step.

"Well I was just-" Another. His back hit a wall. He raised a brow at you, and you leaned forward, lips meeting his again.

His body reacted quickly, pulling you closer, you could swear you felt something hard pressing against you. You wished you could murder your imagination. Your lips moved down a bit, trailing a few kisses across his jawline. You hadn't really noticed how defined it was before tonight. He let out a shaky breath, which only fueled your confidence more.Maybe you weren't drunk, but you sure as hell felt like you were. Body, your hand slid down between your bodies. No. You definitely hadn't been imagining things. Immediately Spencer pulled away.

"I-I'm so-rry." You began to stutter out. He didn't even react. His face was focused as he grabbed onto your hand. Guilt overtook you. Had you just done that? "I'm so sorry." You repeated. He let out a huff of air and pushed your hand up against him, causing you to palm him through his pants. Your gaze shot up to his face, eyes wide. "Spencer." You said seriously. He hesitated. Let go of your hand. "Spencer.." you repeated, feeling warmth grow between your legs.

"What do you want, y/n?" He asked. He tucked your hair behind your ear, trailed his touch down to your neck, running his fingers over your collarbone."

"I want..." you looked at his watch. Fuck. "I want to go outside and take a smoke break." His hand fell bad to his side. Was there disappointment in his eyes? If there was, he hid it pretty quickly, smiling. "I'm gonna head to the bathroom, then. See you soon."

And just like that it was over. You made your way through the crowd towards the exit, stumbling all the way, head racing with thoughts about what the fuck had just happened. You were grateful to inhale some fresh air once you made it outside.

"Excuse me."

A voice came from behind you as you took a cigarette out of your purse.

"H-hi!" You hiccuped. "Have a lighter?"

The man came into view, holding a lighter in his hand. You grabbed it. "Thanks!"

"You're awfully pretty." The man mused, his hand lingering on yours just a bit too long to be comfortable as he took back the lighter. "I saw you dancing inside. You like to party, huh?"

You gave a shrill giggle, nodding.

"How about I buy you another drink. A thank you for that little show earlier." He offered.

"Oh I'd love that!" You exclaimed. "Could you bring it to me out here? My head hurts when I go inside."

He agreed, disappearing back into the bar. Right. You were here for work. You had almost forgotten.

He came back out, handed you your drink. You thanked him.

"What's your name, Mister?" You slurred.

"Doesn't matter, sweetheart. Drink up." He grinned darkly.

From behind him you could see two cars pull up. You smiled at him sweetly, pretending to mix the drink with your finger. "Thank you for this."

A few moments later, the familiar sounds of your colleagues shouting began. You pulled your gun out of your purse, gripping the drink tightly with your other hand.

Derek cuffed the offender. He was brought back to the police station. A few moments later Reid appeared, lipstick smudge mostly wiped off of his face.

"How are you feeling, y/n?" Hotch questioned.

"Feeling perfectly well, Hotch. Everything went to plan."

"You two seemed pretty in character." Derek coughed out. Emily averted her eyes from yours as she began to disconnect the wire inside of your dress.

The wire. Oh fuck. The wire.

"It was pretty loud in there. I doubt that the wire did much help." You stuttered awkwardly, praying someone would confirm that they hadn't hurt much.

"No. Yeah. We didn't hear much." Emily reassured you, giving Derek a look.

He turned to Reid. "You still got some lipstick on your face, champ."

You both turned bright red with embarrassment.

"As if we're any worse than you and Garcia." Reid spit out quickly.

You couldn't help but laugh. Right. Just like Dereck and Garcia. That's what you guys were. Chances were, you'd never even talk about tonight again. It was just another day of work. Nothing more, nothing less. Right?

[straybreeze]

GX MONTH 2021

Day 1: “Hero Signal”

We’re kicking things off with everyone’s favorite hero Judai/Jaden Yuki’s birthday! Show the fluffy boi some love!

Yay, this is my very first time participating in a Tumblr event! Thank you @gxmonth for making this, I'm so excited!

I tried my best to include my OC as well, I hope it won't be too cringe lol.

Also, I would like to remark here, that I'm not a native English speaker, so if I made any grammatical errors or other mistakes, please let me know!

Word count: 2475

Pairing: implied spiritshipping

Warnings: slight angst

Happy, happy birthday Judai.

The sun was already high on the endless blue sky, showering the small apartment room in golden light when a big, orange and round thing pushed the door open with its head. The cat made his way through the mess and straight to the bed, where his owner was still sleeping. Confuting his own respectable weight, he jumped easily into the bed and snuggled up to the sleeping boy’s side, purring loudly. The quiet snoring suddenly stopped as the boy slowly opened his deep brown eyes, his hand automatically searching for the cat’s fluffy head.

“Let me sleep, Pharaoh! Just five more minutes!” Judai pleaded and covered his eyes with his free hand.

But it had been proven to be an unacceptable answer to Pharaoh. If he was hungry, nothing was an excuse for being late for breakfast. And in fact, it was almost lunchtime.

“Meow!”

However, Judai still didn’t seem willing to move, so he had to try harder.

“Ouch! Pharaoh, I know you are hungry, but I’m not your food! Don’t eat me!” Judai moaned as he sat up reluctantly. He squinted in the vivid lights, reaching the phone on the nightstand. The screen was showing 11 AM and the date below: 31th August.

31st August. The last day of summer. And his birthday.

Judai almost forgot about his nineteenth birthday. But to be honest, this day is going to be just like any other of the past week. He had nothing to do besides sitting at home and feeding Pharaoh occasionally. There was no real difference from what he did ever since he arrived from his last journey.

In fact, he was stuck in Domino City and had to stay there until he would eventually get a phone call from Chancellor Samejima. In the past one year of his life, an incoming call from his ex-headmaster meant one thing: a new job is on the sight. Not that Judai minded that. He loved travelling around the world and solving intriguing cases with his dueling skills. He didn’t continue his studies in a college, nor joined the Pro Leagues like his other friends. No, he just did the same as in his Academia years: slacking and occasionally saving the day. That is the duty of the heroes after all.

…And at least he could be useful in something as well.

Judai spent the last two weeks in this apartment, which he and Johan were renting together. In the first days, it wasn’t so hard to stay put, but Johan went on a holiday to his family in Sweden more than a week ago. He promised that he will get home before the end of summer, yet he messaged his roommate that he had to stay for a few more days. So in the end, Judai was left alone for his birthday.

Okay, not completely alone. At least Pharaoh was there for him, he thought as he strolled out to the kitchen to find some breakfast for his hungry cat. And for himself.

One year had already passed since they graduated from Duel Academia. A lot of things happened to everyone and it appeared that nobody had the time to greet Judai on his birthday. At least none of his friends told him that they would like to see him today. No missed calls, no unread messages yet.

Have they already forgotten him?

No, that was nonsense. They might be just… busy.

Sho and Manjoume have joined the Pro Leagues right after their graduation, so they were already living their restless life just like his other pro friends, Edo and Kaiser. Well, in his Academia years Judai already got used to that Edo is as much unavailable as the Emperor of Japan himself, but it appeared that Kaiser is that kind of celebrity too. Since he more or less recovered from his heart condition, he started a Cyber Pro League along with Sho and they both attended various events actively in the country and lately overseas too. Of course, Kaiser was told that he must not overstrain himself and stress too much in general, but Judai would bet that he disregarded all of those rules anyway. Especially because he hadn’t talked to him in months, so he must be busy as hell as always.

On the other hand, as far as Judai knew the Tenjoin siblings still lived in North America – Asuka was still studying in Duel College for sure while her brother, Fubuki-san was… doing something too, he assumed? Judai hadn’t heard much of them lately, but he knew that Fubuki-san followed his younger sister to chase his dreams and become an idol abroad. Judai didn’t know much about the school system of America, so Asuka might have classes at this very moment, maybe that’s why she hasn’t called him yet.

For his younger friends, Kenzan graduated from Duel Academia this summer, while Rei is going to start her last year in October. Maybe they are both on a vacation right now, enjoying themselves on a beach or something. It was still summer anyway, Judai couldn’t blame them for that.

And oh, there was Aurora, too. She was the roommate of Edo (and maybe his stepsister as well? Or something more? Who knows. She was a mystery anyway), who befriended him less than a year ago. Judai supposed she doesn’t even know that this day is his birthday.

After he gave some salmon flavored cat food and fresh water to Pharaoh, he decided to grab a bowl of cereal for breakfast and lunch at once.

As much he wanted to act like his birthday was nothing, if it was just like any other day, it made him hurt deep inside that nobody, even his closest friends haven’t paid attention to him on his day. He already got used to that his parents don’t care about him, but he thought he found a new family in his friends.

Maybe he was wrong.

But hey, it was him who abandoned them in the first place, Judai reminded himself. He was the one who left the Academia without saying goodbye and ran away from them straight to another country. He shouldn’t feel sad, because he knew that their friends would be estranged from him sooner or later. And he was the only one to blame.

Judai was so lost deep in his thoughts that he didn’t even realize that the milk was long overflowed the bowl and it was already spilling down the table. Pharaoh didn’t waste a single second: he leapt to the white liquid dripping from the edge of the table and licked it with such joy as if he had never tasted it before in his entire life.

“Dammit!” Judai moaned, then hastily wiped the milk off from the table and the parquet.

Oh well. He hadn’t been awake for ten whole minutes yet, but he already knew, birthday or no birthday, this was not going to be his day.

As the day continued, Judai climbed back to the bed and chose to do nothing today besides watching silly TV shows. He could have gone out at least for a walk, that’s true. He lived in Domino City after all, the city he loved the most. If you are a duelist, this is the best place for you in the entire world, especially if you live in downtown. The coast was not too far, Kaiba Land and other fun places were within easy reach too. But nothing was entertaining enough if you had no friends around.

“I feel like you’ve forgotten something,” Judai heard a familiar voice from all of a sudden. Slowly, the television screen became blurry as he was still staring at it, and a demonic shadow appeared at the end of his bed.

“Yubel,” he spoke their name aloud as he closed his eyes. “What did I forget?”

“Me,” came the obvious answer. “Why do you feel so lonely?”

“I’m not lonely. I’m just…” Judai began but then realized that the sentence had no continuation. “No, Yubel, everything’s good.”

“You sure?”

“Uh, yeah! I’m glad you’re here. It is enough for me.”

“You are a bad liar, Judai. You know that?”

“Hey, I mean it! I’m glad you are here, Yubel.”

“… I know.” Yubel smiled, gentler than it was imaginable from them. As they took a short break, their heterochromatic eyes curiously scanned the boy who was bound to them for an eternity. “But I still don’t understand, what is the matter with you?”

Judai didn’t answer their question. At least with words. He thought it was enough for an answer that he checked his phone every five minutes if someone messaged him already. But sadly, nobody had searched him so far.

It was already late afternoon when he finally heard the standard ringtone of his phone. He almost fell asleep again, and the vibrating sound made his heart pound in excitement. He immediately grabbed his phone, but when he checked the screen, he had mixed feelings.

The caller was Aurora, Edo’s roommate. And the last one who Judai thought would call him on his birthday.

“Hello, Rory! What up?” he greeted her, a soft smile unintentionally crossed his lips. But it had soon vanished when Aurora didn’t answer immediately. “Rory? Is something wrong?”

“Judai,” she spoke finally. Her usual melodic voice was trembling somewhat as if she was nervous. “I’m glad I could reach you!”

“Yeah, I mean, you could have totally called me all day! I had nothing to do, you know.” Maybe he shouldn’t have hinted things like these, but still.

“I see. Sorry, Judai, but may I ask you something?” Aurora’s voice still didn’t sound too firm.

“Sure, anytime!” Judai’s eyes sparkled at thought of the adventure. “But you’re fine, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yeah. I just… need to talk with someone. With you.”

“Really? Well, I’d gladly chat with you, but if you wanna talk about some… girlish thing, you know I’m not your man.”

“You will be completely fine. I wanna talk about something else, not girlish things.”

“Something happened with Edo maybe?” Judai guessed.

“Not at all! Ahw Judai, stop asking questions! I will tell you everything if I see you in person. So get ready and come!”

“Come where?”

“I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance of Kaiba Land in fifteen minutes.”

“Why there? You’re not even a duelist—„

“See you later, Judai!”

Before Judai could remark that he may not be there in fifteen minutes, Aurora had already hung up the phone. Surely, she became weirder and weirder. Maybe it was Edo who was a bad influence on her.

When Judai arrived at the said place, he was nearly jumping out of his skin. He was curious about what Aurora wanted to talk to him about, and at the same time, he was glad that he finally had a reason to leave the apartment.

Though it was still a bit unexpected that he would spend his birthday with Aurora, but why not? They were friends after all. He should have thought about her sooner.

“Judai!” Aurora shouted and waved him from the distance.

As he came closer, Aurora silently turned around and headed into the Park. It was almost sunset, the monstrous structures of Kaiba Land were glowing in orange.

“Okay, would you tell me now what are we doing here?” Judai asked while he barely could keep up with her.

“You will see, I promise!”

“Come on, Rory!”

“No worries, we are almost there!”

And that was all she told him, no matter how hard he tried to get more information. But the sparkle of hope ignited in his heart, that something bigger was standing behind this weird invitation.

Kaiba Land was slowly emptied out as the closing hour was coming, so they didn’t meet too many people. Especially as they got deeper and deeper into the amusement park.

They were nearby the rollercoaster when they finally stopped.

“Judai,” Aurora turned to him. “I know that this whole thing came from all of a sudden, and I’m so happy that you followed me without a question anyway.”

“Well, actually—”

“I hope you know that it means a lot to me. Not just me. To all of us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Judai, you have amazing friends. And you are the best among the best for all of them.”

“Rory, I’m not sure I understa—„

“SURPRISE!!”

Shouts were coming from everywhere, and suddenly a shadow of a whole crowd appeared in the dim lights of the setting sun. Before Judai could have the time to react, a short figure stood out from them and started running towards him.

“Happy birthday, Aniki!” Sho shrieked as he bumped into Judai and embraced him closely. Shortly after, he found himself surrounded by people. Surrounded by his friends.

“Happy birthday, Judai!”

“Judai-sama! I wish the bestest birthday in the world to you!”

“Nice to see you, loser! Where the hell have you been for this long?”

“Yeah, Judai, we were all waiting for you!”

“Happy birthday, Aniki-don!”

“Damn, I missed you so much!”

Everyone was there. Asuka and Rei. Manjoume, Fubuki-san and Kenzan. Sho was still holding onto him, almost crying.

“Hehe, surprise! I came back from Sweden today just because of your big day!”

Even Johan was there. He came home finally! Judai couldn’t help, but sudden warmth flowed through his body as Johan hugged him along with everyone else. Even Manjoume was in the crew.

“Hey guys, you flatter me…”

“See, Edo? We almost missed the group hug because of you.” Another familiar voice came from the distance, and when Judai glanced up, he saw Kaiser Ryo and Edo Phoenix’s silhouettes were approaching them.

“Don’t blame me because Kaiba Seto himself wanted to talk with me. But I assume you can still join the group hug if you’re really that desperate.”

When the pros reached the crew, they greeted Judai in unison.

“Happy birthday, Judai!”

“You two…”

“In fact, these two were the masterminds for this plan,” Aurora joined the celebration too. “Happiest birthday for you!”

With suppressed tears in his eyes, Judai looked around his friends. Yeah, Aurora had right. He had the best friends in the world and now he felt terrible guilt that he had ever questioned them. Yubel were right after all, for not understanding what was his problem. Now he didn’t understand too.

“Okay, who wants some cake?”

“WAIT, we have cake?” Judai asked in shock. How the hell did they bring it to here?

“Of course! I mean you have it, Judai,” Asuka corrected him.

Before Judai could shout in happiness, his phone started ringing again. To his surprise, Chancellor Samejima called him.

“Happy birthday, Judai! Are you ready for your next adventure?”

Judai couldn’t help but smile again.

“Ready as I’ll ever be!”

[thirstyforcharacters]

4. From the Coldest Winter to the Hottest Summer

Part 4 of 4 of the Winter Storm Warning Series

Summary: You and Poe are finally getting along. It leads to something that neither of you really expected.

Notes: And it’s finally here! Sorry for the wait, for some reason, I couldn’t get any inspiration for the smut scene, but it finally hit me today! If this is the first time you’re seeing the Winter Storm Warning series, you can catch Chapters 1, 2, and 3 here! You don’t necessarily have to read the first three chapters to read this piece, but it’ll give you the context you need for the backstory! I hope you enjoyed this winter inspired series! (use of she/her pronouns, no y/n)

Warnings: smut! 18+ only! dry humping, spanking, sir kink, soft dom! poe

WC: 2.8k

When you woke up the next morning, Poe was already gone.

This wasn’t really a surprise to you, but you couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. You were hoping to wake up with him still cuddled into your side; unfortunately, life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. You rubbed the remainder of the sleep that was still clinging to you from your eyes and stood up from the bed, stretching your achy limbs. You felt your nose and found that though it certainly wasn’t perfect, it was beginning to heal. Good. You didn’t fancy having a messed up nose. You folded up the raggedy blanket and placed it on the bed, since you didn’t know where Poe got it from. You made your way back to the hangar, where Poe was talking to someone on his holo.

“Why did you leave her in the bed? That’s prime snuggling time!”

You realized that voice was Finn at the same time you realized that most likely, they were talking about you. You ducked back into the hallway, but still listened in on the conversation.

“Because, Finn, I can’t. We hated each other not 24 hours ago (yeah, they were definitely talking about you).”

“And? You’ve always found her attractive, haven’t you?”

Wait, what? Is that what Finn and Rey had been whispering about yesterday?

“Well, yeah. Doesn’t mean I didn’t hate her. You can find someone hot and still desperately want to punch them in the face.”

You heard Finn chuckle, “I guess not. But I don’t think she hates you anymore. And clearly, you don’t hate her either. So what’s the big deal about a little early morning snuggle?”

“I just… didn’t want to assume, I guess,” Poe mumbled back.

You could practically hear Finn rolling his eyes, “You’re a grade-A dumbass, Dameron. You should’ve just stayed in bed with her.”

“Whatever. I’ll see you soon, Finn.”

“See you two later.”

You waited in the hallway to a few minutes, listening to Poe humming a Yavinese lullaby under his breath. He had a nice voice. Eventually, you revealed yourself, though you knew you couldn’t say what you had just overheard. You tried to play in casual.

“Morning,” you said as you walked through the entryway.

He waved back, “Looks like the storm has finally settled. Think it’s about time we head home.”

“Agreed,” you replied, taking out one of your ration bars and chomping on it, “can’t wait for some real food.”

He nodded in agreement, “Yeah. Though the stuff we have back at base isn’t too much better.”

The two of you continued to make some small talk as you trudged through the snow back to the Falcon. It was nice, pleasant almost. It was a complete 180 from what your relationship was merely 24 hours ago. You had hated each other as long as you knew each other, but now, it almost seemed like you were friends. You knew that you had agreed to be so, but it still surprised you that the turn around was so quick. You weren’t complaining, though. It was nice.

It wasn’t long before you made it back to the Falcon. As he went to the cockpit, you made your way to the heating system and turned it up high. You definitely earned it. After that, you walked to the cockpit yourself, where Poe was already preparing for takeoff.

“Thought I’d turn on the heat,” you told him, plopping down into the co-pilot’s chair.

“Thank goodness,” he joked, “thought I was going to turn into a wampa.”

You chuckled softly and assisted him with the takeoff sequence. Soon, you were hurtling into space. Once you were in hyperspace, Poe turned on autopilot and the two of you enjoyed some relaxation time. The silence was comfortable, which was new, but certainly not unwelcome. The heat of the Falcon was starting to lull you to sleep, but you realized that you had forgotten to take off all of your winter gear. You knew you would start sweating buckets if you left all of that on, so you stood up to take it off.

“Where are you going?” Poe questioned, turning his head toward you.

“Oh, I’m not leaving,” you answered, “just taking some of this off.”

He nodded and returned his gaze to the window. You removed your gloves first and stuffed them in the pockets of your coat. You then went to take off your jacket, but the zipper was stuck. You tugged on the stubborn article, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Poe?” you asked sheepishly, “could you help me with this? The zipper’s stuck.”

“What, the big, strong admiral can’t unzip her jacket,” he teased.

You rolled your eyes, “Oh, shut up. Just help me, please.”

He rose his hands in surrender, “Alright, alright. I’ll help you.”

He stood up and came over to you. As soon as he was in front of you, you were regretting all of your life choices. You were staring directly into his deep brown eyes, his lashes framing them perfectly. His chest was almost pressed to yours, and you could feel both his body heat and his scent permeating your senses. You had never been this close to him, except for last night when he was asleep. This was definitely worse.

He seemed to notice the tension as well, because he immediately broke eye contact and looked at the zipper. He started messing with it, toggling it up and down in an attempt to get it unzipped. While he was working, you couldn’t help but notice the furrow in his brow as he concentrated, or when he subconsciously licked his lips while he was focused. You could feel your heart rate rising, but you tried not to let it show. Since when did he affect you this much?

“Ah, there we go,” he murmured quietly as he finally was able to tug the zipper down.

“Thanks,” you whispered breathlessly.

Even though the problem was taken care of, neither of you stepped away. Instead, you shrugged the jacket off of your shoulders; it fell to your feet, revealing the thin undershirt you had on underneath. You heard him swallow; if you didn’t already know he felt the tension, you certainly knew now. Almost subconsciously, his hand drifted upwards, and his fingers gently ran across your cheek. The contrast of the calluses on his fingers and the smooth skin of your cheek made you shiver. You took his hand and tilted it toward you, pressing a soft kiss to the palm of his hand. You felt him shudder, and your eyes moved up to meet his. You both seemed to have the same realization at the same time; there was no coming back from this. And you knew you were okay with that.

“Can I help you with yours now?”

You hated how small your voice sounded, but you were nervous. This was uncharted territory for both of you, a place that the two of you had never been in together. You weren’t sure what exactly was going to happen, but you knew that you wanted it. You just hoped that Poe was on board, too.

“S-sure,” he stuttered in reply while removing his gloves.

You reached for his zipper and tugged it down. His wasn’t stuck, so it glided down smoothly, and he removed the jacket, revealing his undershirt. Both fortunately and unfortunately, the shirt was clinging to his torso from the sweat. You didn’t want to stare, but you couldn’t help yourself. Luckily, Poe seemed just as distracted by you as you were by him, so he didn’t comment on it.

You could feel his eyes on you as you bent down to remove you snowboots. He watched your fingers as you deftly untied the laces and slid them off your feet. You sat on the floor and took off your heavy pants, leaving you in a thinner, tighter pair of pants and a soft pair of socks. You looked up at him, and you could feel his eyes wander up your legs, staring at your strong calves and supple thighs. You knew now was as good a time as any to go for it.

“Would you like me to take yours off, too? While I’m down here and everything.”

His eyes widened slightly, “Alright. Might be easier to do the boots while I’m sitting down.”

You nodded in agreement, and he sat back down in the pilot’s chair. You kneeled in front of him, lifting one of his feet on your legs. You untied the laces and slid it off, repeating the motion with the other one. You could hear his breath hitch when your fingers began trailing up his calves.

“I could take off your snow pants too, if you’d like.”

He nodded eagerly, and your fingers wandered from his calves to his thighs. You could feel the muscles clenching beneath your touch, and you knew he was a goner. You were too; just the feeling of his thighs beneath your fingers was getting you aroused. Your fingers moved further upward, and you undid the clasps holding the pants up. You beckoned for him to lift his hips up, and he complied, allowing you to slide the outer layer down his legs and onto the floor, leaving him in the same thinner, tighter pants you were wearing underneath your uniform. Now, your eyes widened slightly as you saw a slight bulge in his pants.

He saw where you were looking and gulped, “Sorry, I didn’t mean-”

You cut him off, “It’s fine. Promise. I can take care of that if you want me to.”

“Only if you want to,” he replied, “I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything.”

You smiled softly at him, “Of course I want to. I did offer, didn’t I?”

He blushed slightly, “Yeah, I guess so. But I don’t want you like this. I mean, I’m sure your mouth feels great, but I want to get you off too.”

“How gentlemanly of you,” you quipped.

“Oh stop,” he groaned.

“Sorry,” you replied, “can’t help teasing you every once in a while.”

“Wouldn’t be us if we didn’t,” he responded, “why don’t you come up here?”

You listened, rising from your knees until you were standing before him. You looked at him, pretending you didn’t know what he wanted; even though you did know, you still wanted to tease him a little.

He patted his thighs, “Have a seat, Admiral.”

The dominance of his tone combined with the use of your title made you weak at the knees, and you complied immediately, straddling his thick thighs and just hovering above the place you needed each other the most.

“Wasn’t exactly planning on this happening, so I don’t have any sort of protection on me, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have a little fun,” Poe murmured, “come closer, darling.”

You quirked up an eyebrow, confused, “I don’t really know how I can get closer.”

He smirked and yanked your hips down so your core was flush against the outline of his cock, “Like this.”

“O-oh,” you stammered, your face growing warm from the feeling of his hardness against you.

You never realized that badly you wanted this, how badly you needed this. Maybe all of your arguing had been sexual tension this entire time. Maybe you never really hated him after all.

Your train of thought was interrupted by Poe moving your hips against his. Soft whimpers fell from your lips as you began to grind down on him in earnest. Though you knew you were turned on, you were almost embarrassed by how wet you were before you even started grinding on him. Now, you were almost sopping wet; you’d be shocked if you didn’t start soaking through your thin trousers.

Poe’s hands gripped your hips harder, forcing you to speed up your actions. Your hands splayed out on his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath your fingers. More moans spilled from your pillowy lips as he began sponging wet kisses down your neck. The juxtaposition of the rough way he held your hips and the gentleness of the kisses he was giving you made your head spin. Though you wouldn’t say you were sexually inexperienced by any means, you knew that no one you had been with before made you feel like this. Maybe because you had never truly submitted to anyone. The people you had slept with were too afraid to dominate you since you were their boss, but the way Poe was being gentle, yet commanding at the same time made this the best experience you had ever had. And he wasn’t even inside you.

A small nip on your neck made you squeak and brought you back to the present. You hadn’t even realized that you had stopped moving until his fingers dug into your hips harshly.

“Stay with me, darling. Keep zoning out on me,” Poe told you with an air of authority.

“Sorry,” you whispered, resuming your motions.

“Don’t stop until I tell you to,” he commanded.

You murmured a quiet “yes sir,” before rolling your hips onto his again.

He groaned softly into your ear, “Say that again.”

You smirked a little bit, “Oh, you like it when I call you sir?”

A smack landed on your ass, making you cry out in surprise.

“Don’t be a brat, now. Want you to be a good girl so I can make you feel good.”

“Sorry, sir,” you moaned when his hand landed on your other cheek, “I’ll be a good girl, I promise.”

You ground on him a bit faster to prove your point, allowing one of your hands to thread between his curly locks. He moaned at the feeling and moved against you, your hips moving in tandem with the common goal of getting you both off. His cock twitched against you, and you knew it wouldn’t take him too much longer to get there. You knew it wouldn’t take you much longer either; you could see your wetness beginning to soak through your think pants. Poe could too, apparently, because he removed one of his hands from your hips and ran it overtop of the wet spot on your trousers.

“So wet for me, darling,” he nearly growled, “think you’re gonna come soon?”

“Y-yes sir. Please,” you whined, raking the hand still resting on his chest down his abdomen.

He cursed under his breath and slammed his lips against yours in the first real kiss you two had shared. It was messy, but that didn’t mean you didn’t enjoy it. His tongue licked into your mouth as his hand travelled from the outside of your pants to the inside. His fingers quickly found your clit, and rolled the nub between his fingers. You whimpered brokenly into his mouth, so close to your release. He released your lips and tugged on your earlobe with his teeth, making you whine again.

“Please sir,” you begged, “need to come, please.”

“Such a good girl,” he murmured, “so polite. Go ahead, Admiral. Come whenever you need to.”

All you needed was his permission, and you came the hardest you ever had. Your orgasm washed through you in waves, and you cried out desperately as you continued to grind against him, both to help you ride out your orgasm and bring Poe closer to his.

“That’s it, darling. Fuck, you feel so good against me. I’m so close. Gonna make me cum,” Poe groaned.

You were barely coherent from the intensity of your orgasm, but you still managed to say, “Want you to, sir. Want to feel you cum against me.”

That was all it took for him to spill into his pants. You could feel the cum pulsing out of him through the thin layers separating your bodies. For a while, you just sat there, breathing together. His arms wrapped around your waist and your arms wound around his neck. You laid your head on his shoulder, nuzzling into his neck.

After a bit of silence, Poe broke it by saying, “Well, that was nice.”

“Yeah,” you replied, “that was good.”

“Would you want to do it again sometime?”

“I’d like that a lot.”

You had gone from enemies to friends to lovers within a day, but you didn’t regret a thing. Not when you returned to the Resistance base hand in had while everyone stared at you, not even when Finn, Rey, and all of Poe’s pilot friends teased you mercilessly, and especially not when three years later, Poe presented you with his mother’s wedding ring, asking for your hand in marriage. The only thing you regretted was not falling for him sooner.