#THERE ARE NO MOUNTAINS IN FORT WORTH

[dont-open-dead-inside-25]

OH MY GOD

[gratefulfrog]

Happy Birthday, Townes

Born in Fort Worth Texas March 7, 1994

[myreia]

My other favourite thing about Valheim (beyond the slime situation) is that in my last world, I had this idea for a fort on an island. Because the trolls can't get to me if I'm on an island.

I even got the extra mile and raise the ground around my island so there's not just walls keeping them out, but also what's essentially a cliff. Even if they break the walls, they cannot climb the natural barrier.

So what does the game do periodically whenever a siege happens?

Spawns trolls inside my base.

[davidwowie]

Pool Landscaping Pool in Dallas

[ttheodoropoulos]

Pool Pool Landscaping

[metuere]

Pool Landscaping Pool

[shutupandsim]

Pool Landscaping - Pool

[viirinsims]

Pool (Dallas)

[styllwaters]

KNIGHT ETHNIC GROUPS, ORDERS AND CULTURES: A GUIDE

MAP OF ETTERA (Knight Homeplanet)

Standard map [continents shown]

Regional map [territories shown]

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

I have here a weeks worth of writing and art because I for some reason enjoy torturing myself! I've been slaving away at this for so long but it's finally done and polished. So! As promised, I'm gonna talk a bit about the different Knight cultures/ethnicities, territories and general social structure.

Knights are one of my alien sophont civilisations from my Vivere 44 headworld. Here are more links from my previous posts:

Introductory post

Knight deities

Knight languages and names

With that being said, worldbuilding textwalls below the cut!

____

First, an explanation of the maps.

CONTINENTS

There are three main continents on Ettera. The two polar landmasses are Thannoeh in the northern end and Nahrui in the southern end. Thannoeh is divided by east and west, and is home to the two major Polar Knight nations. Nahrui is not occupied by any, aside from explorers or scientists. For many Knights, it is a strange, enigmatic land and a topic of great curiosity. In the middle is Val-srat; the central continent inhabited by Mountain and Plains Knights. The landmass is named as such because it is often represented in folklore as a Knight, with Valazear (the ‘Host’) being the southern Plains territories and Srati (the ‘Helmet’) being the northern Mountain territories. The Ihmna Stretch is the section of land connecting the two countries - ‘Ihmna’ is the Ferhahti word for the Integrator organ which joins the host and helmet’s consciousness.

Plant life on Ettera takes on hues of red and orange.

____

Before I get into the different ethnicities, I should elaborate more on how Knight Orders are structured and the different titles; some of the clothing articles are specific to status.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Most Knights live in groups called ‘Orders’, which I talked more about in this ask.

The standard roles for an Order are as follows:

Commander - Makes decisions, protects and supports the group. Commanders lead the Order across difficult terrain, plan out hunts, and take care of their members. A Commander might be chosen based on generational succession, experience, or strength. Depending on the rules of the Order, a Commander might be challenged by a Knight who desires their position, although only an elite or lieutenant would be permitted to do this. In more traditional and conservative orders Commanders are always Pike-forts.

Lieutenant - Second in command. The Lieutenant is the Commander’s primary advisor and runs the Order when they are unable to. A Commander may train their lieutenant to one day take their place as leader, or a lieutenant might serve multiple generations of Commanders without ever challenging them.

Elites - A selection of Knight soldiers who are exceptionally experienced, strong and fast. Highly respected by the rest of the Order and carry out important duties such as organisation. They have the highest chance of being the next lieutenant or Commander. 

Soldiers - The main body of the Order, fully grown Knights who are proficient in all the skills necessary for survival. Soldiers are tasked with a variety of jobs to keep the Order healthy and running: they are also farmers, medics, entertainers, strategists, builders, etc. 

Scouts - Scouts are Knights who make reconnaissance trips for the Order. Their job is to gather information about a potential area to settle or travel through. Scouts also have a range of other responsibilities, such as acting as lookouts, messengers, and taking care of Pages.

There are two types of Scouts - temporary and permanent. Temporary scouts are Squires (16-17 years) who have completed their training and are performing Expeditions, which they are required to do before becoming a full soldier. On Expeditions two or three Scouts will travel a certain distance away from the Order, sometimes miles away, to deliver goods to other Orders or to simply evaluate an area/route. Permanent scouts are lower-ranked Knights who are unable to become Soldiers, prefer a caretaker role, or have been relegated to the position.

Squires - Knights in training. Squires learn from a Soldier assigned to teach them. They may be tutored one-on-one, or taught in a group. They learn the ways of the Order and the world around them. Squires will often be assigned small hunting trips with their tutor, or cleaning jobs. Typically aged 7-15 years.

Pages - The youth of the Order, Knights aged 0-6 years. The pages are fiercely protected by every member of the Order. A newborn Helmet or Host will stay with their birth parent/s until they have assimilated, in which care duty is passed on to a permanent Scout. The Scout raises the Pages alongside several others until they are ready to become Squires.

This structure originated from Mountain Orders and spread to Plains and Polar regions a long time ago. Of course, not every Order follows this plan exactly, and there are countless variations. Some Knights don't live in Orders at all, and may live in pairs (which is common for travelling merchants and explorers) or small groups. Very rarely, a Knight may travel alone. This is the case for exiles.

____

You may already be familiar with the Mountain, Plains and Polar Knight regional varieties, but within these subspecies are various ethnic groups.

THE ETHNICITIES

✦ MOUNTAIN ✦

��� Ferhahti [Ferhaht]

The Ferhahti Knights are an ethnic group located in the Ferhaht territory of Srati. Their thick fur is of various shades of grey and grey-blue. Their clothing styles are typically beige and tan, often complete with rectangular tassels and red accents. The Ferhahti have a ‘New Years’ festival called Khulaam in which they call upon Etteran spirits to bless them with good harvests, hunting and rain. During these festivals there is music, food, dancing and socialising with others. Allied Orders, usually 2-5, will come together to celebrate. Celebrations last five days. Alliances may be temporary or long-lasting, but the Orders will go on a hunt on the final day to bring down a large quarry. Oftentimes there will be a ‘Herald’ dancer who bears a flag on their horn, depicting glyphs of good fortune. 

Since the Ferhahti and Kaata territories are neighbouring, and have no physical borders, Orders from both lands will often meet to trade goods and information. Many Plains-Mountain hybrids are of Ferhahti and Kaata descent due to the close proximity of the nations. 

NOTE: Plains and Mountain Knights are capable of producing hybrid offspring, although they will be infertile. Neither Plains nor Mountain Knights can produce viable hybrids with Polar Knights.

✦ Fejga [Fejg]

Fejga Knights (pronounced Fej-ya) make their home in the Fejg archipelago. They are generally of a bulkier physique than other Mountain Knights, have a coat of thick fur and are well adjusted to chillier climates. They also sport a ‘saddle’ marking on their backs and are likely to have mottled/freckled patterns and blue eyes. Their Orders are partially seafaring, with many sailing from island to island in magnificent ships. Fishing is a large part of their lifestyles as the sea provides a stable source of food. 

Their clothes are frequently made from leather and wool from domesticated animals. It is deceptively thin, as their pelts already provide natural insulation from the cold. Fejga Commanders wear three silver piercings on their Helmets.

✦ Svunacht [Svun]

Svunacht Knights live within the mountain-bordered territory of Svun and the island of Naahek. Orders have a special ceremony for choosing their Commander. The next in line, usually a chosen Host and Helmet born of the previous Commander and their partner, must journey across the Asall mountain range which borders Svun. It is a treacherous, long passage, and requires the Knight to wear a mask to block out the searing winds. They must also wear a spiked collar as a traditional accessory and safety measure to deter larger predators which roam the mountains. They are forbidden from carrying firearms, only armed with a knife, their wits, and natural defences. Ceremonial garments are required, passed down through generations, and three slips of fabric are worn on their horn for good luck: representing strength, wisdom and tenacity. The journey, called the Meha, is the final step in a long series of rigorous training for future successors. 

The painting of Helmets is also a large part of Svunacht culture. It is typically only reserved for Commanders, Lieutenants or Elites. 

★ PLAINS ★

★ Kaata [Kaat]

Kaata Knight Orders inhabit the deserts of Kaat. They are perfectly suited to desert life, their tan coats reducing heat absorbed from the sun. Kaata Knights make their clothing from woven fibres of plants that are garnished with gold pigments derived from a natural mineral found in the sands. They are especially known for their proficiency in fine crafts, and often trade jewellery to Ferhahti Orders across the Ihmna Stretch connecting Kaat and Ferhaht. Kaata clothing tends to be highly detailed and ornamental, with shiny beads adorning arm cuffs, necklaces, mandible rings and horn sleeves. The many gemstone and fossil deposits in Kaat are also incorporated into their styles. Like the Svunacht Knights, Kaata also paint their Helmets, although the practice is not restricted to any particular titles.

★ Saisala [Saisal]

Saisala Knights live in and around the deltas and rivers of Saisal, the southernmost territory of Val-srat. The area is filled with marshlands and everglades, and the weather is more wet and humid than the dry plains of Kaat. Saisala forts sport a dark reddish mane that grows right down their backs and bears some resemblance to maned wolves. Their pikes have hooked horns and sloping spines, as well as more ‘splotchy’ red stripes. Their Helmet eyes also have a pale ring around their pupils.

Saisala clothing styles are characterised by draping, ovular shapes and translucent sections of fabric. The green and gold drapes in the drawing are traditional wedding garments, complete with rounded tassels and a horn extension for pikes. The hanging ‘coins’ have engravings which tell a short but sweet poem.

★ Yaemioui [Yaemiou]

Yaemioui Orders live in a similar environment to Saisala Knights, in the wetland territories of Yaemiou. Their coats are pale like Kaata, but come in a greater combination of hues such as orange, grey and vermilion. Fun fact: all Plains Host pups are born with faint spots to help them camouflage, like lion cubs. Most lose these markings as they grow older, but Yaemioui hosts retain them even in adulthood. Their patterns are similar to painted dogs. The Yaemioui have a rich storytelling culture and have records dating back thousands of years.

Their clothing styles utilise dusky, non-bright colours that are usually two-piece. The outfit in the picture is worn by an elder Pike-fort who has carried and sired many offspring. The spine extensions are an indicator of age and experience, and a mark of high respect. The scarf around their neck depicts circles symbolising their Helmet children, and the circles on the larger cloth represent their Host progeny. 

★ Balkzaiinu [Balkzaii]

On the island of Balkzaii reside the Balkzaiinu Knights, who have dark stripes on both their Hosts and Helmets and short curly fur. Unlike other Orders, Balkzaiinu communities rarely ever hunt - they were one of the first countries to develop farming and agriculture, and import a lot of domesticated animals to Saisal and Yaemiou. They are also the only country that has no Commanders in their Orders, and decisions are made by a council of higher-ups. They live in a tropical climate which receives lots of rainfall and cyclones. They are also masters in boat making and sailing, and contacted the mainland several centuries ago. Balkzaiinu have different decency standards than other Plains Knights, and in their culture it is considered proper to cover the neck area. Their clothing is generally layered and contains colourful, square designs.

✧ POLAR ✧

✧ Aikka [Ehtte Thannoeh]

Aikka Knights have domain over the Eastern section of Thannoeh. The polar word for East is Ehtte, and West Uesse. Since the country is so close to the Fegj archipelago, the two have been in contact for a long time.

Aikka have pristine white fur and a slightly bluish tinge to their Helmets. As with all Polar Knights, they are much smaller than their Plains or Mountain relatives, but are incredibly tough and hardy as a result of surviving in one of the harshest biomes. Ehtte Thannoeh is associated with scientific prowess, discovery and knowledge, and many famous Knight explorers are from Thannoeh. There are several research stations on Nahrui that are run and managed by Aikka; they have no difficulty working in the icy environment. Aikka Knights are also experts in carving, sculpting figurines and charms from the ivory tusks of marine animals. The outfit depicted in the drawing shows an Aikka Scout wearing a pendant with a carved basilosaurus-like animal for spiritual protection. These pendants are often given by parents to children. Their coat has six pockets for navigational instruments, goggles, knives, a spyglass, medical equipment and more. 

✧ Myet [Uesse Thannoeh]

Myet Orders have less contact with other regions than Aikka. Residing in Uesse Thannoeh, Many of them live further inland. Myet Hosts have a more yellowish tinge to their fur and their Pike Helmets have a tan stripe. The Helmets also have a more rounded 'snout'. They have managed to domesticate a large predator which defends their camps and is used as a mount/companion. Like the Balkzaiinu, Myet Orders have a different structure than most, having two Commanders, usually a mated pair, and no lieutenants or elites.

Myet clothing is more minimal than Aikka styles. They usually cover the back with a ‘saddle’ and manipulators with gloves. The outfit drawn is of a Commander, distinguished by the ring of fabric around their horn and eye makeup. In their backpack they carry hunting weapons, and wear a knife sheathed at their side.

_________________

And that's a wrap! Thank you for reading, this project is truly a delight to work on. I leave you with some messy concept art I did a while ago for Mountain Knight clothing styles.

[jetblack4realz]

lake days i - jake "hangman" seresin x reader

summary - when you and jake get stationed in your hometown, you decide to drag him with you to a lake day with your family - it taking a much different turn than expected.

!split into parts & takes place years and years before the uranium mission!

pt ii , pt iii , pt iv , pt v

warnings - none

word count - 5.7k

______________________________________________________________

the hawaii mission wasn't the first time you'd met jake seresin, but it was certainly the first time he caught your attention.

you both had been put in a position to compete for the mission, but in a surprise turn of events they just threw you both in. jake led, which he never let you forget, but your captain had decided that he needed you as a wingman, which you never let him forget. you knew his reputation and you'd seen it firsthand, but he was a surprisingly good partner to you. the mission was a success, of course, and you both finished out the last four months of assignment together. as your six months finished out, you found yourself hoping to be stationed with him again.

and you were.

admiral hensley called you both to his office when giving you new orders for the next 18 months and you couldn't help the small smile pulling at your lips. when you exited, hangman pulled you into his side with a laugh.

"excited to be my wingman again, sweetheart?" he asked.

"i think this time you'll find it's the other way around," you answered, winking as you laughed and pulled out of his grasp.

"we'll see about that," he said, smirking.

you both arrived in fort worth, texas with wide grins on your mouths.

"home sweet home," jake said. you hauled your bags onto your shoulders, striding off the runway and towards base. you began to walk towards the office, phone in your hand as you began typing in a local number.

"bronco," the man called with furrowed brows. "you not going to the bunks?"

"this is my home base," you replied. "i've got a place just a half hour out of here."

"how are you getting there?" he asked, quirking a brow with a simple smirk. "your boyfriend picking you up?"

you laughed, shaking your head. "don't got one. don't have time for one. my dad and brothers are coming, i haven't seen some of 'em in almost two years."

"glad you get to now," he told you with a surprisingly genuine smile. you nodded, smiling back.

"yeah, me too," you said. he nodded once before turning again, presumably to his room on base. "hey, hangman."

he turned, eyebrow raised in question.

"aren't you from texas too? anywhere around here?"

"odessa," he answered. he breathed a laugh. "so, no."

you watched each other for a few moments as you very openly debated something in your head. you breathed out slowly before finally just throwing it out there. "you like boating?"

your question caught him off guard. "boating?"

"yeah," you nodded. you quirked a brow, smirking slightly. "you ever been?"

"well, yeah," he nodded slowly. "like, twice."

"twice?" you exclaimed, shaking your head. "that's no good hangman. you should come with us this weekend. my family's property is just 45 minutes off of eagle mountain lake and we were gonna head over saturday. if you don't already have plans, we'd love to have you."

it was memorial day weekend, and your family always spent it on the lake. in light of your fresh transfer, your new admiral had granted you and jake both the monday off and you were definitely taking advantage of the three day weekend.

"you sure?" he asked, raising a brow. "i don't want to intrude. you haven't seen them in so long and i-"

"hangman, if you don't get to see your family, at least come see mine," you answered with a small smile. "they're very welcoming."

he debated for a few moments before huffing a breath. "you're very kind, bronco."

"so, that's a yes?" you asked, grinning. before he could answer, you began walking backwards to enter the office. "i'll take you back with me after shift friday! see you tomorrow!"

you mock-saluted him before turning on your heel and throwing open the door, slipping through it with an excited blush on your cheeks. hangman laughed to himself, shaking his head as he turned to make his way to the bunks. he couldn't believe you'd just invited him back to your family's house - but he couldn't say he wasn't glad you did.

"ready?" you asked, hand on your hip with a grin as jake approached you with his small dufflebag thrown over his shoulder. he nodded.

"as i'll ever be," he answered. "where you parked?"

you led him outside to a beat up brown subaru, pulling the driver's side door open. he quirked a brow as he examined the car, fingers running over the chipping paint.

"didn't imagine you a subaru gal, bronco," he mused, restraining a laugh. you rolled your eyes, shaking your head.

"i'm not. it's my mom's, she's letting me borrow it while i'm here," you answered.

"we gotta get you something better than that," he laughed. "for one, your mom outta want her car back and for two, i can't be seen in a - what year is it?"

"2005," you muttered.

"in a 2005, brown subaru outback," he said, clicking his tongue against his teeth thrice.

"oh, you can't be seen in it? i have to drive this thing to a naval airbase every day of my life," you laughed.

"we'll find you something better. with all this driving you're doing, you definitely need it," he told you. you rolled your eyes again.

"just get in the car, hangman," you said, slipping into the driver's side.

he laughed, tossing his bag in the backseat. "alright, alright."

the drive went smoothly, conversation with jake was never real difficult. as you pulled down a dirt road, passing under a large metal overhead sign announcing that it was the l/n residence jake watched it, a smile pulling at his lips.

"now before we get there, i've gotta warn you," you started, glancing at the man next to you. "all my brothers are in town for this and so are their wives and kids. it'll be a mad house, but it's all love i promise you. just, be prepared for a barrage of questions and kids wanting your attention."

"how many brothers do you have?" he asked.

"three older brothers - logan who's married to brynlee, barrett who's married to alice, and gideon who's thriving single, and two younger brothers - joshua who's married to kyrie, and darren who's 17 so he's single. and all in all, i think i have four, no five nieces and nephews. oh, but alice is pregnant with their first, so like five and a half," you answered, breathing in deeply after the long-winded explanation. you glanced at him with a nervous chuckle. "i told you, it's a lot."

he was smiling widely, shaking his head. "it sounds wonderful. really. i've got a big family too, just all sisters and brother-in-laws. i'm excited to have all those people around again."

your nervous smile softened and you nodded, pulling into the driveway. "i'm glad."

you both climbed out of the car, jake moving to grab his duffle from the back but you shook your head. "leave it, we'll take it back to mine after dinner."

"oh, right," he answered, forgetting entirely that you had your own place and that he was staying there, with you, alone. he trailed after you as you approached the beautiful oak front door.

you turned to him with a grin, hand gripping the door handle. "brace yourself, hangman."

with that, you threw the door open with a yell of, "honey, i'm home!" jake laughed as he watched three kids instantly attach themselves to your legs, the oldest little boy looking about five.

"oh my gosh, you guys are hug!" you exclaimed.

the little boy looked up at jake, his head cocked to the side in evident interest.

"auntie y/n, who's that?" he asked. just as you opened your mouth to answer, a teenager walked in with a teasing grin and answered for her.

"that's her boyfriend," he said in a sing-song tone. you rolled your eyes, whacking him in the shoulder.

"shut up, darren," you said. you picked up the five year old, turning to jake with a smile. "finn, this is jake. jake, this is logan's oldest, finn. he's five."

jake smiled, offering him a little wave. "hey, finn."

you gestured to a little girl at your feet. "and this is leila, finn's little sister. she's three." there was another girl next to leila. "and everleigh, also three. but, she's josh's." you whacked your little brother in the shoulder again, a wry smile on your lips as you tried to not laugh at his dramatic outburst of pain. "and my little brother, darren."

"hi," jake laughed. darren stretched a hand forward, grinning widely.

"welcome to the family," he teased as jake shook the boy's hand. jake laughed heartily.

"thanks, glad to be here."

introductions with the rest of the family continued in the dining room, the remaining two nephews sitting in their dad's lap.

"y/n!" the family chorused.

"hey guys," you grinned. you turned to let jake step forward, your brothers smirking at you as he did so. "everybody, this is jake seresin, my wingman on my last mission." he looked at you with raised brows and a breathy laugh, shaking his head slightly. you concealed your laughing with a slim grin, continuing. "he's gonna be spending the weekend with us."

your mother approached with a sweet smile on her face. "jake, how wonderful to meet you. y/n's told us so much."

"oh has she?" jake asked with a grin in your direction. he shook her hand gently, a small smile directed at the older woman.

"enough for us to be glad to have you," your dad chimed in. "we hear you're competitive. you good at water sports?"

"can't say i've tried any," jake laughed sheepishly. you exchanged grins with your brothers. you patted his arm.

"don't worry, we'll change that," you told him. you turned your attention back to your family. you took your time to point out each brother and sister-in-law, and your remaining two twin one year old nephews, brigham and beckham, who were josh's.

everyone was very welcoming towards him and he found his heart swelling at the experience of being with so much family. as they all conversed and ate, he began to realize where you had gotten all of your snark and sarcasm - he supposed that's what growing up with five brothers got you. but, as he watched the way your mother treated everyone and how your father ensured the teasing never reached a tipping point, he also began to understand how you tended to know the balances of things and always be cordial to others. it was a talent that slipped his mind some of the time, but in the presence of such kind people he made sure to do.

darren had taken an extreme liking to the 30-year-old, asking him all sorts of questions about what he flew, how he flew, what missions he'd been on (which he obviously couldn't tell him), and everything about the navy. this got finn excited too, the little one climbing on your lap just to lean over to jake to catch his attention.

"you do realize that i'm in the navy too, right?" you asked darren with a raised brow, pulling finn back to keep him from slipping off your knee as he held onto jake's arm. "everything he's done, i've done. you've never asked me before."

"you're not as cool, y/n," gideon teased you in response, darren laughing and nodding in agreement.

"i'd have to agree," jake said, winking at you as your brothers laughed.

"so, where are you from, jake?" your mom asked with a smile.

"odessa," he answered, matching her smile. "born and raised texan."

"good," your dad nodded. "your family still back there?"

"yes sir," jake said. "mom and sisters at least. dad died a few years back."

"sorry to hear that, son," your dad said, giving him a small nod.

"odessa," your mom hummed. "what did you say your last name was again, honey?"

"seresin," jake answered politely.

"your mom's maiden name?" she furthered. jake laughed, glancing at you momentarily.

"sorry, mom grew up in odessa," you told him with a short laugh, shooting your mom a look to stop interrogating him. "sure she's just trying to make connections."

"oh, it's fine," jake said. it was a common occurrence in texas. "she was a gilbert."

"gilbert," she repeated again. her eyes lit up. "alyssa gilbert?"

"yeah," he laughed. "you know her?"

"we went to high school together!" she cheered. "how about that? we're friends on facebook but haven't talked in years. i'll have to tell her i've got you over here, maybe they can come over sometime! have a barbeque, go to the lake. you got a lot of siblings, jake?"

"four sisters," he nodded, smiling at her enthusiasm.

"oh, wonderful! that would be so fun, wouldn't that be so wonderful y/n?" she asked, turning to you. from next to her alice and kyrie were about to burst into laughter, barrett winking at you. you pulled a thin smile, trying to avoid estranging jake because of your overly-enthusiastic mother.

"yeah, that'd be something, ma," you answered, returning your attention to the potato salad on your plate.

"i'm sure they'd love that," jake said, appeasing your mom.

after a few hours and several slices of pie, you were leading jake back out to your car. darren followed you to the door, grinning widely.

"drive safe!" he called as you threw yourself into your seat. "no fun allowed tonight! i mean it!"

you slammed your door shut, flipping him off through the window, though he could barely see it with the dim light in the car. jake laughed loudly, getting in his seat as darren returned inside. as soon as his door was shut you let out a breathy laugh.

"well, that was fun," you said. "i think they like you."

"i think they do too," he said with a small smile. "i really like them, y/n."

"i'm glad. they're my favorite people," you told him.

you reached around to buckle and he followed your lead as you backed out of the driveway.

"so, where's your place at?" he asked as you turned onto the dirt road, continuing further into the property.

"just a few minutes down the road," you answered. "my parents promised each of us some land if we wanted to build on it. the only one who doesn't have a place out here is gideon, he lives in houston. says he doesn't need it because he isn't planning on getting married and having a family anytime soon."

"oh," jake said, looking at you intently. "but, you've got a place out here."

"yeah, so what?"

"are you planning on a family anytime soon?"

you glanced at him, furrowing your brows slightly. "i was. saved up for my place since high school, got some of my dad's buddies to give me discounts, designed it, helped build it when i could while going to college. then, well, my plans changed. i dropped out of college and went into the navy, got shipped out two years later. my house was finished though, so i kept it."

he thought on your answer for a few moments. "you didn't answer my question."

"the answer is i don't know," you sighed, pulling into your garage. "would i like to have a family? sure. is it gonna happen for me? probably not. and hey, i have things to do, i love my job... life's okay for me."

you laughed shortly, looking back at your fellow aviator.

"what?" he asked.

"wasn't expecting to talk to you about that today. don't really tell people things like that."

"then why'd you tell me?"

"why'd you ask?"

you both paused, a small smile pulling at your lips before you turned away, pulling your door open. he followed suit, grabbing his bag and following you into the two-story farmhouse. it was beautiful, he had to admit.

"you designed this?" he asked, looking up at it while you turned the key.

"yep," you answered. "my pride and joy."

"that's such a texas thing," he laughed, following you inside. "you built your own house? if a girl i met at the bar said she built her own house i might just marry her right then and there."

"that's a weird thing to admit, seresin," you laughed, gesturing for him to follow you upstairs.

"what? i like a blue collar woman," he shrugged. he grinned widely. "they're usually way sexier too."

you rolled your eyes, sighing, "there's the hangman i know."

you approached the first door to your right, pushing it open. "this is you. there's a bathroom attached and you can keep your things in the dresser if you'd like. i'm just down the hall here."

he entered the room, tossing his bag on the white comforter. he looked around with a nod. "thanks bronco. i owe you one."

"you don't owe me anything," you said with a shake of your head. "well, except for a promise to try everything i tell you to tomorrow."

he laughed. "deal."

"you're in for it," you promised. "we need to meet at mom and dad's at 7, so be up by 6:30. i'll come and knock to make sure you're up."

"sounds good," he answered.

you smiled, nodding slowly as you stayed leaning in the doorway for a few moments. "i'll, uh, i'll see you in the morning. goodnight, jake."

"goodnight, y/n," he said. "thanks again. i'm excited."

"me too." you disappeared from his sight, the man leaning to watch you walk back to your room. he smiled slightly before turning back to his bag, beginning to unpack the few contents into the dresser next to the bed.

it was 6:35 when you finally rolled out of bed, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes. you knew you had to get up, you just desperately didn't want to.

you pulled yourself out from under the covers, walking slowly to your closet. you grabbed the navy blue swimsuit you'd set out the night before: a longline bikini top that you knew would stay secure during water sports and matching high-waisted bottoms. you pulled a pair of denim shorts over, not bothering with a shirt.

you pulled open your door and then walked into the extremely bright hallway. with a hand blocking the light from your eyes, you approached jake's door, knocking slowly.

it was swung open quickly to reveal an all ready hangman, clad in dark blue swim shorts and a white tee shirt you were sure would be coming off as soon as water was in sight. that's how he was anytime you and the crew would lounge the beaches of hawaii and you were confident it wouldn't be any different here.

he eyed your swimsuit and you eyed his, both letting out short laughs.

"looks like we'll be twinning out there, darlin'," he teased. you shrugged.

"makes for cuter pictures," you answered, smirking. "grab your things, i'll be down in a sec."

he nodded and you turned back to grab your sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat before jogging down the stairs to find jake sitting on your counter.

"ready?" you asked. he nodded, hopping down and following you out the door and to your car.

when you pulled up to the house, darren was quick to comment on the swimsuit situation.

"and you say you aren't a couple," he said with a smirk.

"well, we're not. it's just a coincidence," you said with a roll of your eyes, pushing past him to get to where your dad was loading up the jetski and canopies.

"ouch," darren said with a laugh, turning his attention to jake. "she's in a bad mood."

jake shrugged. "it was just a coincidence."

he followed your lead and took some camping chairs from your mother, smiling graciously as he loaded them into the back of the truck. as you finished strapping down the jetski, logan pulled up with a beautiful white and blue surfboat.

you were shaken out of whatever mood darren's comment had put you in as you shook jake's arm and ran to where logan parked, jake following you with furrowed brows.

"jake," you said with a grandiose expression. "this is my pride and joy, my beautiful bluey."

"bluey?" he laughed. "you named your boat?"

"technically, it's our boat," logan corrected.

"right, but still," you shrugged. "a beautiful, 2014 cobalt surf boat, one of the first they've ever made. way better than the crappy mastercraft we used to have."

"what's wrong with a mastercraft?" jake asked, realizing very quickly that he was incredibly out of his element. logan laughed, shrugging.

"it's the honda of boats," he answered.

"ah," jake said, understanding as he nodded his head.

"alright everyone, pack it up!" your mom yelled.

as everyone piled into the two trucks and one ford explorer, jake looked at you, wondering where to go.

"there's some more seats in josh's," your mom told you, but you shrugged.

"too cramped," you answered, instead stepping onto logan's back tire and sitting down in the bed of the truck. jake grinned, following quickly and plopping down next to you.

"we got some nice privacy back here," he mused, winking at you jokingly.

you laughed, rolling your eyes. "oh yeah, take advantage of it, seresin."

"i might just," he said.

when you all pulled up to the lake, you and jake hopped out of the back.

"i'm gonna drive the boat out," you told him, "as logan backs it into the water. do you wanna just get in with me?"

"sure," he agreed, walking with you a few steps until you were at the back. "need a hand?"

you were, in fact, slightly too short to be able to get on it while it was still on the trailer. you nodded. "that'd be great, actually."

he held his hands down and boosted you up as you stepped on them, the man quickly following.

"shoes off," you instructed, slipping off your sandals and throwing them under one of the seats, jake following your lead. as you stood in front of the seat, you slid the key in and gestured for logan to back it up into the water fully.

jake watched in awe as you worked the boat expertly, yelling instructions and giving hand signals to direct your brother as far back as you needed, eventually having jake jump out to unstrap the sides and give you a little push off until you were able to turn the boat and blower on and push it out yourself. as he pulled himself back in and came up behind you, he watched the way your hands worked the steering and throttle.

"impressed, hangman?" you laughed, glancing back at him. "i'm surprised - i fly planes for a living, you think i can't drive my own boat?"

"no, i'd be disappointed if you couldn't," he laughed, sitting in the passenger seat as you pulled off the ramp and started towards your previously decided beach spot. darren was on the jetski, following you from a distance.

"just wait until we really get going," you told him with a grin. "you can be impressed then."

"counting on it, darlin'," he said.

when you found your family you let logan grab the larger anchor and tie the boat to the beach as you and jake exited the boat, your shorts and his shirt coming off before you dropped in the water.

you glanced at him before slipping into the water, refusing to blush at your friend's abs. you knew he was attractive and you knew he was toned - you'd been to the beach with him before. but still, you couldn't deny that jake seresin was a sight to see.

on the flip side, he couldn't deny that you looked good. like, really good. he'd seen you in a swimsuit before too, but he always found it difficult to keep his eyes off. you were drop dead gorgeous, he'd admit that to anyone, any day of the week - except for your family, right this moment.

not that they needed to ask. they could tell. or at least, a few of them could.

"how do you spend time with him and not just fall in love?" kyrie asked you in a hushed whisper as you dropped into a camp chair next to her. you laughed.

"he's... hangman. he's just hangman. we're friends," you shrugged.

"any chance you want to be more?" brynlee asked, wiggling her brows as alice and kyrie giggled.

"oh, keep to your own lives," you said, leaning back in your chair.

"our lives are boring, we've already got our men - you're still working on yours," kyrie said.

"i think you've already found him," alice said with a small smile. she nodded to where darren was punching around with jake, jake finally shoving him into the water where the boy tripped back and soaked himself. jake laughed loudly before getting attacked from behind by finn, turning to pretend fight the boy off.

"aw, he's so sweet y/n," brynlee said, grabbing your arm with a smile, effectively shaking you out of your trance. he had been so good with your family so far, you wondered if this was how he was normally - without all the bravado required for aviation.

"yeah, i guess he is," you mumbled. you cleared your throat, looking back at your sister-in-laws. "he's usually a lot louder and cockier than this. you'll see later while we're playing around. he's a tease."

"i think you're the tease right now," kyrie laughed. "you didn't see the way he was looking at you when you were walking up to the beach. you looked hot and he knew it honey."

"no way," you said with a shake of your head. "we're just friends."

"you might've started the weekend that way," brynlee said, standing up with a teasing smile. "but you won't end it that way."

your mouth fell open in shock as she walked to logan, scooping leila up in her arms and laughing as the three year old did. you shook your head, turning your attention to the other girls.

"she's right, you know," alice said. "don't look behind you."

and so you didn't, instead watching as the grins on their faces grew and grew until someone had grabbed your chair, lifting it from behind and making you stand. you landed on your feet, turning quickly to find jake with a grin.

"what?" you asked.

"come one, your dad's decided that me and you are going first," he told you.

"on what?" you asked. he paused.

"don't know. just, come on," he said, grabbing your hand and dragging you over to where your brothers and dad had made a group.

"what am i doing?" you asked with a laugh as you approached them.

"kneeboarding," josh answered. "easy."

and "easy" is what you told jake when you were in the middle of the lake, life jackets on, with kneeboards in your hands, just finished with giving him instructions.

"yeah," he nodded. "i got this. easy."

"you got this," you agreed with a laugh.

"but, when do i pull up on it?" he asked.

"after the boat starts going but before it gets up to speed. just - i'll tell you when," you told him, earning a nod in return.

the look on jake's face as you yelled "ready!" to logan was priceless. he was focused - so focused. maybe even more focused than you'd seen him in a jet. and as logan began moving, his face only hardened that much more.

"okay, pull yourself up!" you yelled, sliding your knees onto the back of the board and shimmying your way all the way up. you strapped the velcro strap over your thighs, settling in as the boat pulled you along before looking over at jake.

his entire board was shaking as he tried to move his knees up, his hands clutching the side desperately. eventually, he managed to get up, leaning back with a sigh and finagling with the strap.

"got it?" you called.

"yeah!" he called back as he secured it. you leaned forward, hands gripping the wide handle. before you pulled it off its knob that kept you attached to the boat, you looked at jake for affirmation. he nodded, grabbing his own and watching you as you pulled yours off, leaving just your hands on the rope keeping you to the boat.

"lean back! relax!" you said over the sound of the water, laughing as he leaned back, causing his board to twist a little and his eyes to widen as he regained balance. "good!"

he looked at you with a grin, holding his hand up in the 'hell yeah' sign, or really just 'aloha' surfer sign. you laughed and did it back. you leaned to the side, skidding up next to him.

"wanna try some tricks?" you asked.

"yeah, you go first," he said, nodding at you. you grinned.

"alright, first we'll get you to go out of the wake," you told him. "you just gotta get some momentum and lean hard. don't twist your board, just lean. watch, and if i wipe out just let go, k?"

you leaned back to your side, your board catching speed and exiting the wake. you did his little hand signal back to him with a laugh, hanging out of the wake for a while. the waves were a bit choppy that day, but you decided to still attempt what you've been wanting to since you knew you were going kneeboarding.

"watch!" you yelled, but jake's eyes had been on you the whole time anyways. you moved one hand to the side of the handle before quickly leaning, flipping around and reaching around the back to grab the handle again.

your brothers whooped in the boat as you grinned, leaning back in to enter the wake.

"pretty cool, huh?" you asked.

"i bet i could do that," he said with a shrug. "easy."

"alright then, go for it," you said teasingly. you were sure he wasn't gonna get it.

but, as he leaned out and successfully got out of the wake, which was a struggle for first-timers normally, your confidence faltered. he slid his hands to the side like you did and turned sharply, then again, and suddenly he had accomplished the goal it took you three summers as a kid to achieve.

"screw you," you laughed as he came back in next to you.

"got anything else?" he asked with a smirk.

"jump the wake," you said, nodding to the side. "get some height, seresin."

"do it at the same time," he replied.

you agreed and you both broke for opposite directions. you tried to get as much speed as you could, but just as you reached the break of the wake, your board caught and you were down.

you found the surface with a cough, glaring at the boat as it turned around to come get you. a little ways away jake was holding his board, a cocky grin on his lips as he waved at you. you rolled your eyes, grabbing your board and trying to not let him see your smile as it formed.

"what was that y/n?" josh laughed as they pulled up next to you, grabbing your board.

"i'm out of practice, okay?" you answered, pulling yourself up onto the surf deck on the back. gideon grabbed jake's board as he swam over to you.

"yeah, well he's had no practice and he still got it," your brother laughed as he set the board next to yours. jake pulled himself up next to you, grinning at you.

"you okay, sweetheart?" he asked.

"you got it?" you asked with raised brows.

"i thought you said it was hard?" he asked. your eyes widened and you searched for words, causing the man next to you to bust up laughing, as well as gideon.

"who's next?" your dad asked.

"me!" darren cheered as he jumped into the water. josh laughed and followed him in. you laughed at the boys before standing, pulling off your lifejacket and hanging the dripping wet thing off the side of the boat, gesturing for jake to give you his own. when you had buckled them to the side, you offered jake a hand which he took, letting you drag him up and to the bow of the boat. you sat back on the front, facing jake as he took the seat opposite to where brynlee was laying out with full intention of tanning. you tucked your legs by his to keep out of her way, but the man didn't look bothered.

you grabbed a towel from the compartment behind you, wiping your arms and hair before tossing it to jake. he dried his chest before balling it up and leaning on it like a pillow, laying out like brynlee.

you sat there for a few moments before standing and approaching the glove box, grabbing yours and jake's hats and glasses. you walked back up, dropping his glasses in his lap and pulling his hat down backwards on his head.

he grinned at you as you sat back down, tucking your legs to the side of him again. you pulled your hat on backwards too with a teasing grin his way.

"twins, right?" you asked. he laughed as you leaned back, settling your glasses on the bridge of your nose.

afterwards, you stared at him, eyebrows furrowing after several moments. he quirked a brow at you, finally asking, "what?"

"your glasses are cooler than mine are," you told him, jokingly pouting like finn whenever you didn't give him his goldfish crackers. you both had basic black glasses on, but his were cool, classy aviators that he definitely spent more that $15 on as opposed to your walmart ones.

this caused him to smile and he leaned forward. "here, sweetheart."

he pulled your glasses off your nose as he pulled his own off, dropping yours in his lap for a moment so he could situate his 'cool' sunglasses on your face. he pulled yours on and leaned back again, patting your leg. "better?"

"much," you laughed. out of the corner of your eye, brynlee was smirking at you both, turning back to grin at her husband when neither of you would look at her.

she pulled her phone from the cupholder next to her, flipping to the camera. she waved her hand at you guys. "scoot in, i wanna get the glasses."

you rolled your eyes with a smile, scooting from your position at the front to be perpendicular to where jake was laying, the man moving to the side to let you in before leaning towards you, an arm wrapping around your torso so as to give you more room. you looked at him briefly, his wide grin with your slightly girly glasses on his face making you laugh, your smile more legitimate than it had been before as you looked at brynlee. he rested his cheek on your head after a moment, your smile unintentionally widening again.

when she lowered her phone, you leaned over to see the picture - and it actually was really cute. the only pictures you had with jake were in your flight suits or decently drunk at a pool table, so you were kinda glad to have one normal, decently cute one now. even though you were just friends, of course.

"send that to me," you told her with a smile. you slid back to your original place, pushing jake's legs out of the way to give yourself space. he rolled his eyes at you, scoffing, but you knew he was just teasing.

you pretended not to notice how jake's hand fell back onto your leg, instead just letting the wind blow your hair around with a smile as you watched your brothers get on the kneeboards. you also pretended not to notice how the entire time they did so, jake's eyes never once travelled back to them, instead resting on you.

this was gonna be one fun trip.

[tenderleavesbob]

They didn't talk about their adventures. Warriors understood. Sometimes, though, he wished they did.

They were in a stable in Wild's era. It was pouring rain outside, so it was hard to see beyond the entrance. Inside, most of the boys were mingling. Wild was introducing some of the heroes to the locals. Warriors knew he was just waiting for the rain to settle so he could get to the cooking pot outside. Four was reading in bed. Twilight was watching his protégé. Time was walking toward Warriors.

Warriors looked away from Time to the washed out world out of his sight. If the rain stopped before it got dark, he knew they would be able to see the ruins.

"You're quiet tonight, Captain," Time said. He dragged a chair behind him so he could sit next to Warriors.

Warriors hummed and didn't look away from the rain. "Just feeling thoughtful, that's all. I blame the rain."

Not far away, there was a destroyed fort. A fort that would live and die far after Warriors's own death, but it made him ache.

He told everyone that he hated this era due to silly, stupid things. The random lightning storms. The multiple times the portals dumped them in the snowy mountains. The sheer number of times he left this era covered in mud.

This era haunted him even after they left it. Warriors knew it would haunt him even after their journey ended and he went home for good.

"Rupee for your thoughts then," Time said quietly.

If Warriors looked at Time then, he knew he wouldn't see a scarred man older than him. He would see Mask. His tiny boy with the too-big sword and fierce eyes. He knew from the start who the little boy was: the Hero of Time.

It was only during the war that Warriors realized the timeline had been split up. There was a reason they had no history of a great flood, after all.

It was only after the war that Warriors realized what had caused the split.

Warriors stared out into the rain. Instead of seeing the downpour, he saw the destruction which would be his future.

The chain didn't talk about their adventures, and they didn't talk about all of the secrets they had learned along the way.

"They're not even worth that much," Warriors said.

[thebaffledcaptain]

The incredible view from Mount Defiance this weekend at the 1777 Brown’s Raid Reenactment at Fort Ticonderoga. We set up a bivouac camp Friday night and woke up at 5 to trek all the way up the mountain and seize the guns—I’m not going to lie, that hike almost did me in before the British did—but it was worth it to emerge from the woods and see the red sun rising over a sea of clouds, the Fort entirely obscured in the distance.

[nomie-11]

Chapter 20 - The Silent Clash Before the Fall

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“What do you think our assignment is going to be?” Liam asks from Violet’s right as they stand in formation in the center of the courtyard, along with the rest of Fourth Wing. “Deigh thinks we’re on the offensive. He won’t stop going on about getting to kick Gleann’s ass—” He pauses, as if listening to his dragon. “Guess dragons hold grudges,” he finally whispers. 

Leadership is gathered ahead of them, getting their assignments from Xaden, who can feel Genevieve’s barrage of hate and annoyance through both of their shields. It was rather unfortunate that she had figured out how to talk through the bond right before it all blew up, because now he can’t hear everything she normally would be saying. 

“We’re definitely on offense,” Rhiannon answers from Genevieve’s left. “Otherwise, we’d already be in the field. I haven’t seen a single rider from First Wing since lunch.” 

“Go figure they’d pit us against First Wing.” Genevieve grumbles, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 

Liam’s gaze flickers to Genevieve’s now uncharacteristically hard face. She was like this months ago. She wasn’t like this yesterday. He follows her hard glare to where the leadership has gathered. Xaden. 

“I think she’s right,” Violet tells Liam, struggling not to fidget as the sun bakes her through the black leathers they’re all forced to wear. “Why do you think riders wear black anyway?” 

“Because it’s badass,” Ridoc answers from behind her. 

“So it’s harder to see when we bleed,” Genevieve says, her words lacking any hint of sarcasm. 

“Forget I asked,” She mumbles, watching for any signs that the leadership meeting will be over soon. A few quiet, tense moments pass, and Dain makes his way back to the squad with Cianna in tone. He’s practically beaming, his hands clenching and unclenching with nervous energy. 

“Which is it?” Heaton asks. “Offense or defense?” 

“Both,” he says as the other squad leaders report back to their riders. “First Wing has taken a defensive position in one of the practice forts in the mountains, and they’re guarding a crystal egg,” Dain tells them, and the older riders in the squad murmur with excitement. 

“What are we missing?” Ridoc asks. “Because you guys seemed thrilled about an egg.” 

“From past years, we know that eggs are worth more points,” Cianna says, grinning enthusiastically. “Flags have statistically been the lowest, and captured professors rank somewhere in the middle.” 

“But they like to switch it up,” Dain adds. “The same way we could be going for a real objective on the line only to discover it’s not as valuable as we thought.” 

“So how is this both offense and defense?” Genevieve asks. “If they have the egg, then clearly we go and get it.” 

“Because we’ve also been given a flag to defend and no outpost to do it in.” He grins. “And our squad has been assigned to carry it.” 

Genevieve’s eyes flare, she slams her shields down. 

“What in your right mind would give you the idea to give our squad the flag to defend!?” She practically yelled over their minds. “You know damn well that Jack Barlowe is going to try and kill Violet. Now I have to also defend a flag?”

“Now you all have to also defend a flag. You need to learn that you can rely on other people.” 

“Funny.” Genevieve continues, her mental voice icy. “You act like you trust anyone when all you do is make decisions in secret. Don’t talk to me about relying on others.” 

And then she slams her shields right back up. 

“And who is going to carry this flag?” Imogen asks. 

Dain somehow manages to smile even wider, which freaks out Genevieve just a little. “That’s going to be the fun part.” 

The next twenty minutes involves Dain drilling the squad in strategy during the walk to the flight field. It’s obvious that Dain was actually paying attention to what Mira was saying, and wasn’t focused on the fact that somehow his best friend knew his darkest secret. The more you know when you actually listen. 

The plan is simple: play to the squad member’s individual strengths and pass the flag often, never giving First Wing a chance to spot who is carrying it. When they arrive at the flight field, there are dozens upon dozens of dragons filling the muddy field, all positioned as though they had formations among themselves. It’s easy for Genevieve to spot Tairn, though, his head rising above the rest. 

“We’re definitely going to win,” Rhiannon says, linking her arms between Genevieve and Violet as they approach their section of the field. 

“What makes you so sure?” Violet asks, looking up at her friend. 

“We have you, Astrape, Genevieve, Tairn, Riorson—” Genevieve visibly tenses, and Violet casts a side-eye at Rhiannon who has also caught on to Genevieve’s shift. “Sgaeyl. And obviously—me.” She grins. “There’s no way we’re losing this.” 

“You are certainly—” Her words die as Astrape comes into full view. 

She stands tall and proud right behind Tairn, not bothering to give way to Cath as Dain’s dragon, but it’s not her position that steals Violet’s breath. It’s the saddle strapped to his back that has her gawking. 

It’s a saddle, but not just any saddle. Sleek and streamlined, made of reinforced leather and metal plating that gleams under the sunlight. Dark vines and what looks like lightning bolts—a testament to the name Astrape—are subtly etched into the material, reminding anyone who looks too closely that this is not an ordinary piece of equipment. Astrape, fierce and formidable, looks oddly regal with it. The saddle is custom-fitted to her unique size and strength, almost as if it always belonged there. Violet’s mouth falls open in awe, and Ridoc lets out a low whistle from somewhere behind her. 

“Holy shit, you actually did it,” he breathes. “You got a saddle made for her.” 

“You… you got the saddle made?” Violet stammers, staring at Genevieve in disbelief. 

Genevieve shifts uncomfortably under her gaze, crossing her arms tighter against her chest. “Yeah. With a little help,” she admits, glancing at Liam, who offers a small, supportive smile. “It took weeks to get it right, but Astrape’s special. Needed something that worked for her.” 

“A little help?” Violet repeats, raising an eyebrow. 

Genevieve exhales sharply, her irritation barely contained. “Fine. More than a little. I forced Xaden to get it made.” The words come out with a bitter edge, and there’s no missing the tension that rises off of Genevieve. 

“And he did?” Violet asks softly, not pressing but clearly trying to gauge the full story. 

“Don’t look at me like that. He said that wherever you go, I follow, so he needed to make sure you don’t die. It doesn’t mean anything. He was just… being helpful.” Genevieve’s voice grows colder. “Besides, I still had to get it onto Astrape by myself. Well, Liam helped with that.” She nods toward him, and he shrugs modestly, though a faint flush rises to his cheeks. “Astrape’s a handful, as you can imagine.”

Rhiannon thumps Violet’s back before heading to her own dragon. “That’s cool, that’s what it is. And it looks way more comfortable than Feirge’s bony spine, I’ll tell you that. See you up there.” She walks past her and to her own dragon, the rest of the squad following suit. 

All that’s left is Genevieve and Violet, Tairn and Astrape, and the beautiful, practical saddle that taunts Violet. 

“It’s beautiful, but you know I can’t use that.” Violet immediately says, shaking her head. 

“Violet, I almost got burned to a crisp wrestling that onto your dragon. No one tells you how hard it is when they won’t speak to you.” Genevieve says, her eyes boring into Violet’s. “Please use it. Astrape needs all of her powers to use, not to hold you in place.” 

“This just shows everyone that I can’t hold my seat, I can’t use it.” 

“No offense, but everyone knew that already.” Genevieve sighed, exasperated. “Let me be nice and do something for you for once, you always are doing so much for me, and use the saddle.” 

Violet opens her mouth to protest, but the sincerity in Genevieve’s gaze stops her. She hesitates, glancing over at Tairn, who watches the exchange silently, his massive form imposing even at rest. She hesitates, glancing over at Tairn, who watches over Genevieve’s every move, his massive form imposing even at rest. Astrape shifts from beside him, her dark blue scales shimmering under the sunlight. 

“Genevieve,” Violet begins, softer this time, “It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but—”

“But what?” Genevieve interrupts, her tone sharper than intended. “You’re afraid people will think you’re weak? Newsflash: they already underestimate you. But what matters is staying alive.” She steps closer, her voice dropping so only Violet can hear. “I made this for you because I need you to survive. Don’t you get that?”

Violet blinks, taken aback by the raw intensity in Genevieve’s words. There’s a beat of silence between them, the noise of the flight field fading away as Violet processes what she’s hearing. Genevieve, the girl who swore to take her life when she was strong enough to fight back, needs her to survive. 

“Fine,” Violet finally relents, her voice quiet but resolute. “I’ll use the saddle.” 

Genevieve lets out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, nodding stiffly. “Thank you.” 

“Mount up!” Xaden’s voice echoes across the field, signaling for the battle to begin. Geneviev casts one last glance at Violet, who quickly moves to mount Astrape. Astrape drops her shoulder, making a ramp for Violet up to the saddle that Violet now straps herself into, secure in the black leather Genevieve had hand selected. 

She mounts Tairn, and with a loud roar, the dragons take to the sky, Fourth Wing soaring in formation.

——————————————————

An hour into the afternoon of flight, Genevieve is wondering if this is actually some cruel punishment for her, and not some honor for Dain. The thirteen riders in second squad are split into two tight formation formations of six, one group has seven, if you count Andarna, and a middle solo flier. 

Genevieve had the pristine honor of being the middle solo flier. 

In theory, it should have been fun to give Tairn his proper wing space, but this was painting a huge target on her back. The wind buffeted her from all sides, making it difficult to maintain balance on the saddle. She cursed under her breath as Tairn angled his wings slightly, catching an updraft that sent them higher than the rest of the squad. She could feel the burning weight of her position—not just the literal exposure, but the watchful eyes of everyone, especially Dain, flicking back occasionally to check on her. Or was he checking on Violet?

She could never tell anymore. 

”Just focus on your flight,” she muttered to herself, though Tairn’s amused snort reverberated through their bond. His dry voice followed swiftly. 

“If you didn’t insist on dwelling on the fact that you draw a lot of attention, you might find this enjoyable.”

Genevieve scowled, gripping his back tighter. “I’m not the one with wings that could shade a small village.” 

Tairn rumbled in laughter. “You could be a little grateful for the advantage.” 

Dain has the flag in his group, just ahead of Tairn and then Violet’s group, when they reach another peak in the range and banks right. Tairn banks to the left, Violet’s squad in tow. 

There used to be a fear in Genevieve’s mind every time Violet took a hard turn that she would go tumbling down, and Astrape would finally decide that it wasn’t worth it to dive down and save her for the nine-hundredth time. Now, that fear is gone. 

Now it was replaced by the fear that Violet still hadn’t manifested her signet, and the clock was ticking before she combusted under the weight of unreleased power. 

Tairn begins to climb again, and Genevieve’s heart sinks, Up high on the western ridge is a gray tower that almost blends into the cliff side. Genevieve would have missed it if not for the—

“Is that what I think it is?” There’s no real fear in the energy that prickles Genevieve’s skin. There’s a crackling fire surging in her veins, her signet simmering with the need to release power. 

Tairn’s head is already turned to the cliff side. “Dragons.” 

Tairn must have relayed the message, because Violet’s formation broke left, covering Tairn’s left wing. Dain’s squad took right, passing the flag between the six of them as they flew. 

Three dragons launch from the cliffs above them, diving in different directions, two focusing on the side squads and one dead on Genevieve and Tairn. 

A hail of ice pellets strikes Genevieve’s skin, bouncing off of Tairn’s scales, and he tucks his wings in tight to avoid damage, as do the rest of the squad. Her stomach launches into her throat as they free-fall, the valley rising at an alarming rate. 

Genevieve is so grateful that she got that saddle on Violet. 

Heat and energy consume Genevieve’s entire body, and her muscles feel like they’re on fire. 

“Tairn!? What is happening!?” She called out, panicked. 

Tairn’s response came as a low growl, reverberating through their bond, his voice steady despite the chaos. “Hold on tight, Genevieve. I’m not sure what’s happening.” 

The ground rushed up to meet them as Tairn extended his wings again, catching a thermal that sent them soaring back into the sky. The ice pellets fell away, harmlessly dissipating against the rocky cliffs below. Genevieve’s heart raced, a wild mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins. She could feel Tairn’s confidence radiating into her, his strength anchoring her as she struggled to regain her composure. 

Tairn left the ice-wielding First Wing cadet in a dive, cringing as the dragon barely controls the descent, banking to the opposite direction as Tairn. 

“That's where they’re guarding the egg!” Violet yells out to Genevieve, who nods. 

“I’ve got it!” She yells back, taking in the other three dragons that have been placed on the cliff, ready to launch. 

Train barely has a second to tell Genevieve to hold on before a dragon flies out of the valley to the right and blasts a stream of fire at her. Train banks, taking the blast straight to his belly, shielding Genevieve from the sizzling heat that surrounds them. 

She lets out a shaky breath, another dragon is close on their heels, opening its mouth and curling its tongue. 

Genevieve raises a hand, power surging through her as vines shoot up from the crust  of the earth and tangle around the offending dragon, dragging it down to the cliffs. The other dragon roars as Tairn’s tail makes contact with its side, falling sideways as it loses altitude at an alarming rate. 

Genevieve uses the opening of the fallen dragons to scan the mountainside for the outpost Violet had spied earlier. Her heartbeat quickens as she spots it peeking out from the ridge, only one remaining dragon guarding it. 

In spite of herself, she lowers her shields. “Xaden! The egg is here!” She relays. 

“Already on my way. We’re twenty miles out.” She can hear the proximity in his words, he’s far away and his voice sounds distant, but the edge of fear in his voice puts a knot of panic in her throat. 

The knot only grows as Genevieve spots Deigh and Liam locked in battle above her with a familiar Orange Scorpion Tail. Jack-fucking-Barlowe. 

Violet immediately joins the fray, but there’s not much she can do. “Tairn! We need to help Violet and Liam.” 

“On it.” Train accelerates, and Genevieve hunkers down on his neck, giving Tairn less air resistance to fight as they climb faster than ever before. Wind yanks at her now shoulder-length hair as she keeps her eyes locked on Liam. 

Baide snaps her tail at Deigh, the venomous bulb perilously close to Deigh’s throat. 

“His scales are thicker than you think. It’s Liam who’s in danger,” Tairn warns, climbing higher. 

The air is a blur of motion and chaos, the wind whipping around them with a ferocity that matches Genevieve’s internal storm. Train soars through the sky at a terrifying speed, the tower looming ahead as they race to catch up. But she sees Jack unsheathe his sword, her heart lurches with dread. 

He leaps from Baide’s back with a fluid, calculating motion, landing on the back of Deigh’s neck with a thud that reverberates through the air. Liam barely has time to react, shock flashing across his face as Jack moves with deadly precision, his sword plunging deep into Liam’s side with a sickening sound. The world seems to slow for an agonizing moment. 

“Liam!” Violet’s scream cuts through the chaos like a knife, raw with desperation. Genevieve doesn’t think–she acts, her body moving before her mind catches up. She leaps from her seated position on Tairn, landing on the opposite end of Deigh with practiced grace, but her heart is pounding in her chest, each beating a violent drum in her ears. 

Jack sneers, pulling his sword free from Liam’s body, the blade slick with blood. He kicks Liam off the blade without hesitation, his boot connecting with Liam’s stomach in a brutal motion. Liam’s body crumples, tumbling off Deigh’s back, falling through the air toward the unforgiving ground below. 

For a split second, Genevieve’s screams to go after him. The sight of Liam’s body, falling, helpless—it tears at her soul. But she doesn’t have the luxury of giving in to that panic. She forces herself to focus, to ground herself in the present. Her eyes lock onto Jack’s and all the noise—the roar of the dragons, the rush of the wind—fades from the background. It’s just him. Just the man responsible for the blood spilling from Liam’s body. Her own body tenses as the world around her blurs, her vision tunneling on the enemy in front of her. 

Jack stands there, grinning, his eyes alight with the thrill of violence. The wind tosses his hair as his lips twist into something feral. Genevieve meets his gaze with cold fury, her pulse pounding in her ears. Time seems to slow, and all that matters is the man standing across from her, taunting her with every breath he takes. 

“Genevieve,” Jack drawls, his voice barely audible over the wind. “Thanks for coming to me. You’re next on my hit list.” 

Her grip tightens on her dagger, knuckles white, the surge of power rising inside her. The familiar black vines twist and slither through the air, responding to her command. They burst from the cliffs below, they bloom from her skin, dark and wild, flowers blooming in a grotesque parody of beauty. They wrap around First Wing dragons, dragging them to the earth as if the ground itself is rising to protect her. 

“No,” she replies, her voice steady. “I’ve come to end you.” 

And with that, she lunges, arms outstretched. 

The air crackles with the raw energy coursing through her, hot and electric. Her signet flares to life with terrifying intensity, the black vines racing toward Jack, ready to consume him> The power feels like an inferno in her veins, pushing her to the brink of control. 

Jack dodges to the side, his sword flashing as he parries her strike. But he isn’t fast enough to avoid the creeping tendrils that slither up his legs, the vines pulling tight with a force that makes him stumble. His grin falters for the first time as he realizes the danger he’s in. 

Genevieve presses forward, her entire body vibrating with the desire to suck his life out of him and consume his entire force. The cliffside seems to draw closer with every heartbeat, Deigh’s frantic movements growing more erratic as the dragon senses the danger, his wings beating out of rhythm. But Genevieve is beyond caring. She moves with deadly precision, each step bringing her closer to Jack, her arms outstretched as she prepares to steal at contact. 

The vines writhe at her command, tightening around Jack’s limbs, drawing blood where they pierce his skin. His sword slashes through the air, but he’s caught, struggling against the power that binds him. For a moment, Genevieve sees the fear in his eyes, and it fuels her. 

But then, everything happens at once. 

Deigh crashes into the tower with a bone-shaking impact, the force of it knocking Genevieve off balance. Her vision spins as she’s thrown from Deigh’s back, the world a blur of stone and sky. 

She hits the side of the tower hard, her breath leaving her in a painful rush. Her fingers scramble for purchase, nails scraping against the rough stone as she barely manages to catch herself, her legs dangling over the abyss. 

She glances down, her heart seizing at the sight of Liam’s body plummeting toward the ground far below. In the same breath, she sees Violet dive after him, her dragon pushing every limit of speed to close the distance. 

“No,” Genevieve whispers, her voice a choked gasp, but she can’t tear her eyes away. The moment stretches impossibly long, the sickening inevitability of the fall heavy in the pit of her stomach. 

But then, in a blink, Astrape’s claws wrap around Liam’s falling form, catching him in what seems like an inexplicable feat of speed. Relief floods her, so powerful it nearly takes her breath away, and she watches as Rhiannon and her dragon swoop in to gather him into her arms, pulling him to safety. 

Violet changes her direction, frantically climbing higher and higher, and Genevieve’s body feels like it’s on fire as she grips the tower with everything in her. There’s no way Tairn can get close enough to grab her with all these dragons, and Violet is chasing Jack so quickly she doesn’t realize that Genevieve is still trapped on the tower she’s trying so desperately to reach. 

Astrape charges the tower, her wings beating faster and faster, and Violet throws her hands forward as though she can project the power surging through her to the enemy who tried to kill her boyfriend, who has done his best to kill her at every opportunity. 

Genevieve feels a sizzle of magic grow to a lethal, swirling vortex of energy, and as though she’s using her own signet, the power crackles above her, swirls around her, wraps her feet below her. 

A scream rips from Violet’s throat as lightning splits the sky with a terrifying crack of thunder, the bluish streak of silver death slams into the tower, and sparks flare as it explodes in a blast of stone. Astrape banks from the tower to avoid the blast, and she pivots in the saddle. 

Jack falls down the mountainside in an avalanche of rock that she knows he can’t survive, from the way Baide cries beneath her, she knows it too. 

As Violet watches Jack descend, her eyes catch a familiar blur of white hair falling as well. 

Genevieve. She was on the tower. 

Genevieve’s heart lurches as she realizes the familiar blur of white hair tumbling from the tower is her own reflection in the chaos of the moment. She barely has time to scream before the air rushes past her, the jagged cliffs looming below. Every instinct in her screams survival, but the overwhelming surge of power Violet unleashed leaves her disoriented and paralyzed. 

“Tairn!” she screams through their bond, her voice a frantic plea. 

But even Train, with all of his speed and strength, is too far to reach her in time. Panic grips her chest, each heartbeat a deafening drum. She reaches out, her hands flailing as if she could grab the air itself. The vines surging from her power tear through her body, shooting from the cliffside with all of her strength, twisting and writhing in her subconscious, desperately searching for anything to anchor her to the cliffside, but it’s too late. 

The fall seems endless. For a moment, everything goes silent, the roar of the wind replaced by the eerie calm of imminent death. Genevieve’s mind races through a whirlwind of regrets, flashes of faces she’s failed—Quinn, Violet, Liam, Xaden. 

She slams her shields down in one last desperate attempt to reach him. 

“I love you!” Her thoughts thunder, and she’s not even sure if he’s heard her, his own voice barely reaching her in a panic. 

And just when she’s about to surrender to the darkness of the drop, a force catches her mid air. 

Her body jerks painfully as her arm is ripped from its socket, Tairn’s claw mercilessly tearing through her left arm and torso, talons digging into her through his jacket. The sudden shift leaves her gasping for breath as the dragon’s powerful wings beat against the wind, lifting them higher once more. Her pulse thunders with pain as she grapples with the fact that she’s alive. 

“Tairn–” Genevieve manages, but the words come out ragged, barely a whisper. 

“I’ve got you, little soldier,” Tairn’s voice rumbles through their bond, though his usual confidence is tinged with concern. “But next time, maybe don’t take a flying leap off of a collapsing tower?”

Genevieve can’t help but let out a strangled laugh, her eyes fluttering shut. “Wasn’t exactly the plan.” 

As Tairn carries her away from the crumbling mountain, Geenvieve’s eyes scan the battlefield below. Violet’s form is a blur of motion, her signet finally manifesting in a torrent of power as Astrape swoops and dives to avoid the First Wing cadets. Lightening streams across the sky, a force of nature barely contained by Violet’s will. The air crackles with raw energy, and Genevieve can feel the weight of it pressing down on her, a reflection of the power she wields within herself. 

She watches as Jack Barlowe’s body disappears beneath the avalanche of rock she was almost under, Baide’s desperate roar echoing through the mountains. The sight brings no satisfaction—only a hollow sense of inevitability. He had alway been headed towards destruction, and now it had come to claim him. But that doesn’t change the ache in her chest for everything that’s been lost. 

—————————————

Genevieve lands in the flight field a solid 20 minutes after the rest of Fourth Wing. Everyone else is celebrating around Garrick who holds up the egg and the flag, stolen from the grasps of First Wing.

She can barely dismount from Tairn’s back. 

In the flight back, she discovered that in the explosion of the tower from Violet’s lightening, he right ankle and right shin was definitely broken, and her left arm was torn from the socket, already severely torn and then mended muscles giving way to the overwhelming force of being ripped from free fall. Her body was covered in deep cuts from flying debris, her leather soaked with blood, although you could barely see it in the black flight jacket she wore. 

Genevieve managed to slide off Tairn’s back, her legs giving out beneath her the moment her feet touched the ground. Her right leg throbbed with excruciating pain, the bones cracked from the force of Violet’s explosion. Her left arm hung uselessly at her side, the muscles torn and her shoulder dislocated from the brutal way Tairn had caught her mid-fall. She felt as if her entire body was made of glass, one wrong move, and she’d shatter completely. 

But none of that mattered. None of it. She needed to find Liam. 

With a low grin of effort, she pushed herself off of her lean on Tairn’s side and stumbled forward, each step sending jolts of agony up her leg. The cheers of the entirety of Fourth Wing sounded distant, muffled like she was hearing it through a thick fog. Their victory, the flag and egg held victoriously in Garrick’s hands, felt like a cruel mockery. 

She hadn’t won. Not really. Not when Liam was out there, possibly dying. And she was out here, literally dying. 

“Liam…” Genevieve rasped, her throat dry, her voice barely audible over the cacophony around her. She squinted through the pain and the blur of movement, her eyes catching on the figures of Violet, Dain, and Xaden in a heated discussion nearby. “Is Liam alive?”

Her question came out strained, her voice raw from the panic that had never quite left her since that fall. No one answered her. Not one even noticed her. 

Not until Ridoc’s wide-eyed shout pierced the air. “Holy shit! Are you alive?”

The sudden sound jolted Genevieve, but also seemed to draw attention to her from everyone around. The entire squad stopped what they were doing. Ridoc’s gaze was glued to her mangled arm, his face twisted in horror, his usual cheeky grin nowhere in sight. Rhiannon was at his side, her hand covering her mouth as she took in the sight of Genevieve—bloodied, broken, barely standing. 

“Genevieve—” Rhiannon started, but her voice wavered, unsure whether to approach or back away. 

Genevieve waved her off, wincing as the movement sent another wave of searing pain through her shoulder. “Don’t. I’m fine,” she lied, though she could barely stand without feeling like her body was falling apart. 

Her vision was narrowing, darkness creeping in at the edges, but she fought to keep it together. The dizziness in her head warred with the urgent need clawing at her chest. “Liam,” she demanded again, more forcefully this time. “Someone tell me if he’s alive. I need to heal him.” 

Xaden, standing closest to her now, frowned, his sharp eyes scanning her up and down. There was no missing the way his jaw clenched, the barely-restrained anger and concern flashing across his face. “Geneveive, you’re in no condition to heal anyone,” he said quietly, but his voice was firm. “You need healing yourself.” 

“I don’t care!” She snapped, and the ruts of emotion caught everyone’s attention even more. “Is he alive or not?” 

Violet’s hands went up in an almost defensive gesture, her face a mixture of guilt and fear. “He’s alive, Genevieve,” she said softly, her voice tight with emotion. “I caught him when you jumped onto Deigh. I’m so sorry I didn’t catch you, I was just so—”

Genevieve’s body sagged in relief, her knees nearly buckling under her. The fear that had gripped her heart eased slightly, but it didn’t stop the tears that were already threatening to spill from her eyes. She blinked them back furiously, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. 

“Thank you,” she whispered. She tried to turn away, hoping to hide the rising panic, the emotions she couldn’t contain any longer. She felt so small, she wasn’t supposed to fall apart. Not like this. Not in front of everyone. 

But she couldn’t stop it.

“Gen, sit down before you collapse,” Xaden’s voice came again, low and filled with a gentleness she wasn’t used to, the nickname she had told him to drop. He stepped forward, hands outstretched like he was preparing to catch her if she fell. 

“No…” she murmured weakly, running her good hand through her hair. Her head was spinning, breaths coming in faster and faster, until her chest burned with every inhale. “I’m fine. I’m— I’m just…”

Genevieve could barely form the words. “I’m just tired,” she managed, but it sounded hollow, even to her own ears. She felt like a shadow of herself, and the denial was just as painful as the physical agony. 

“Genevieve, you’re not fine.” Sawyer said, his voice low and comforting. “You look terrible.” 

His honesty hit her like a blow, the gravity of it swirling in her mind. For a moment, the cheering of Fourth Wing faded entirely, leaving only the sharp sound of her racing heart. She wasn’t used to this. No one besides Xaden had ever seen her like this, broken and bleeding, stripped of the strength she usually exuded. 

The camaraderie she had built with her friends over countless battles and training sessions felt like a fragile veneer, threatening to shatter under the weight of their concerned gazes. She could see the disbelief on their faces, the way they processed the stark reality before them, and it made her feel exposed. 

The world spun for a moment, her breathing ragged. Liam was safe. She collapsed to the floor.  

The moment she hit the ground, it was as if the world shifted beneath her. The cheers of her wing faded into a distant hum, the adrenaline that had propelled her now completely drained. Pain danced through her body like wildfire, and she was suddenly all too aware of the broken arm hanging uselessly, her injured leg screaming for relief. 

She just sat there, blinking up at the sky, the brilliant blue above swirling into soft hues of gray as darkness threatened to pull her under. Faces hovered around her, concern etched in their features, but she couldn’t quite make out their words. Everything felt muted, like an echo of a world she was losing touch with. 

“Genevieve!” Violet’s voice broke through the fog, sharp and urgent. “Someone get a healer! Now!”

Xaden could feel the strain through their bond. Gods, Genevieve was in so much pain. It felt as if someone had slammed him into a stone wall at full speed, and then used his body as a punching bag for five hours. And he was only feeling it by-proxy through Genevieve. It was muted for him, muffled through his strong shields that could keep any normal emotions and feelings at bay. 

“Am I dying…?” her words were soft, slurred with the state of her body, drunk on exhaustion. 

Xaden’s stomach clenched at the sound of her voice. Am I dying? The question cut through him like a blade, sharper than the pain he was already feeling through their bond. He moved toward her, kneeling beside her crumpled form on the ground, his hands hovering over her as if he didn’t know where to start. She was a mess of blood and broken bones, and every part of him screamed to fix it—to fix her—but he can’t. He doesn’t even know how to. 

“No,” Xaden murmured, though he could barely believe the steadiness of his own voice. He gently pressed a hand to her good shoulder, trying to ground her with his touch. “You’re not dying, Genevieve.” 

Her half-lidded eyes flickered toward him, unfocused and hazy. “You’re lying again,” she whispered, her voice cracked and barely audible. 

Xaden’s jaw clenched. He could feel her slipping, the edges of her consciousness dimming as her body succumbed to the trauma it had endured. He had to keep her here, now, tethered to something real before the darkness swallowed her whole. 

“Stay with me, Genevieve. Please,” he said, the words coming out harsher than intended, as if force alone could keep her from slipping away. “I need you to stay.” 

Her breath hitched, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before she forced them back open. “Liam’s alive,” she whispered again, her words softer now, like she was trying to remind herself. “Violet’s alive.” 

“They are,” Xaden confirmed, his voice steady, but inside, he was unraveling. “And you’re going to be fine too.”

He could feel her fighting. Not just him, but herself. Pushing against the instinct to let go, to surrender to the pain and exhaustion that was pulling her under. She was always like this—too stubborn, too strong for her own good. 

“Let me help you,” Xaden whispered, his hand tightening on her shoulder. Where the hell is that damn healer!?

Genevieve’s head lolled to the side, her gaze fixing on him, her brow furrowed as if trying to process his words. Her body sagged even further, the fight visibly draining her. “I’m… just so tired” she whispered, the words almost drowned out by the sound of the wind. 

Xaden’s heart pounded as he watched Genevieve’s eyes flutter shut again, her strength failing with each passing second. He felt helpless, the storm of her pain crashing through their bond with a ferocity that made it hard to think. Desperation clawed at him. He knew how much she hated feeling vulnerable, how much she resented the idea of being saved, but this wasn’t the time for pride.

“I know you’re tired, but you can’t quit,” Xaden said, his voice softening, though the urgency remained. He leaned closer, lowering his head so his forehead was almost resting against hers. “You’ve been through worse. You’re stronger than this. Just hold on.”

Her breathing slowed, and for a terrifying moment, he thought he might actually lose her. The world felt like it was narrowing, their bond taut with the strain of her injuries. 

“You’re not alone, Gen,” he continued, his voice low but fierce. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

She blinked slowly, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. Her body was limp in his arms, and the weight of her fading consciousness pressed against his chest like a boulder. 

“Genevieve!” Xaden growled, his grip on her shoulder tightening. “Don’t you dare leave me like this. Fight it, dammit!” 

His mind raced, panic building with every heartbeat. He had to keep her awake, keep her here, grounded in reality. She was a fighter, always had been, but right now, she needed a reason to fight. Reason to fight, come on, Xaden! Think! Why does she-!

“Look at me,” he demanded, his voice cutting through the haze around them. His hand gently cupped her face, forcing her to focus on him. “I know you’re tired, but this is not how you go out, Genevieve Hale. You’re the strongest damn rider in this entire school, and you’re not quitting now. You hear me?” 

A flicker of recognition flashed in her eyes, a tiny spark of life that made his chest tighten. She was still in there, still fighting, even if she didn’t have the strength to show it. 

“That’s my girl,” Xaden whispered, his voice thick with emotion. The words came out before he could stop them, but he didn’t care. Not now, not when she was barely hanging on. He’d say whatever he had to, anything to pull her back from the brink. 

Genevieve’s lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile, but it quickly disappeared as another wave of pain hit her. Her body tensed, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.

The healer finally arrived, rushing over with supplies, but Xaden didn’t move. His grip on her hand remained firm, his gaze locked on her face. 

“You’re going to be okay, Genevieve,” he murmured, even as the healer began their work. “You’re going to get through this. I need you to stay with me.”

She gave a barely perceptible nod, her body trembling under the healer’s touch, but her grip on his hands tightened ever so slightly. 

And in that small moment, Xaden knew—despite the agony, despite the exhaustion—she wasn’t giving up. Not yet. 

----------------------------------------

Surprise!!

okay... I may have lied about coming back on wednesday with an update. i'm back today! and i will be back on wednesday, too, I just couldn't wait to start getting into the meat of the action in war games. there's so much fun stuff coming and OMG i CANNOT wait.

anyways, genevieve almost died! isn't that nice. There's a few hints in this chapter at something occuring between genevieve and violet that i also hinted to in an unnamed previous chapter. i need to know if anyone caught onto this. please, let me know if your catching the foreshadowing. I want to know~

as always, thats it for today! we will be back to scheduled uploading on wednesday with chapter 21! if you liked, please leave a like, comment, or kudo, and I'll see you all soon!

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taglist: @awkardnerd , @hannraumari , @minjix , @glaciuswduo

[sehtoast]

No Time Like the Present [For a Present] - (parentified!OC, Ryan Butcher)

mild s4e7 spoilers, ben gives ryan a present, ben being the cool parent, ben x homelander, spidersona oc | Fic Directory

It’s a soft, breathy laugh that gives him away.

Ryan whirls around, picture frame held tight to his chest.  He’s like a child protecting a toy he knows he shouldn’t have.

“Relax, buddy.”  Ben says with a sympathetic smile.  “I ain’t gonna take it from you.”

“I don’t–”

“And I’m not gonna tell your dad either.  I’m not the Grinch, y’know.”

It’s a Christmas miracle in and of itself to see the boy’s eyes light up and a joyful grin settle into place.  A real smile, not the ones he fakes for cameras these days.

Ben reaches out and ruffles Ryan’s hair.  “He’s out anyway.  Lemme see ‘em?”  

Ryan tilts the frame his way and he takes in the full sight.  Butcher, before becoming, well… Butcher, and Becca.  His heart tugs at the sight of her, remembering the times they’d spoken.  Back when he would help Ryan with his physics homework at the kitchen table while Homelander pouted over getting less of the boy’s attention.  Ben always felt so terrible for how on edge Becca was around Homelander, but somehow she never seemed to hold it against the bug for being involved with him. Kind, caring, genuine…  

Just like her son.

“You’re a good kid, y’know that?”  Ben murmurs.  His eyes sting and he looks up to find Ryan’s lined with tears as well.

For as much as the world has tried to rip it out of his chest, Ryan’s heart was practically made of sunshine.  Ben’s already sworn up and down to whatever cosmic forces may be that he’ll preserve that light in the dark as best he can.

He sniffles and swats at his own fallen tears.  “Man, Christmas is somethin’ else.  I got one for you too.”  He scans the mountain of gift boxes and fan packages, shooting a web at one in particular wrapped as if someone gave tape and paper to a jackass who’d never wrapped a present a day in his life.  “Sorry about the outside.  The day I figure out wrapping paper is probably the day the planet explodes.”  He gestures for Ryan to sit, then hands it off.

As soon as he lifts the flaps on the box, Ryan goes silent.

Benjamin just waits while he processes it.  It was no easy feat, and finding someone talented enough to both sculpt and paint it perfectly without anything more than a few satellite images and classified Vought records had been… well.  The look on his face is all the bug needs to know it was worth it.

Ryan lifts it out and sets it on his lap, fingers running over the edge of the roof.  He seems almost baffled at the intricacy of detail, right down to the mailbox at the edge of the lawn.  “S’my old house…”  He murmurs, thumbing gently over the front door step.  “I almost forgot what it looked like.”

“Mm, well we can’t have you doing that.”  The bug’s voice cracks with emotion.  “I just– I figured you still do your legos and you could, y’know…”

By the time Ben’s gaze rises, Ryan’s already thrown himself into a hug, squeezing so tight the bug practically can’t breathe.  Except he can, because he’s learned how to weather those embraces.  It’s the same way Homelander hugs him when it’s all too much or when he needs a rock to cling to lest he become a castaway in his own sea of miseries.

“Sorry,” the boy mumbles as he pulls back.  The shame on his face is the worst part.  Watching him apologize every time he forgets his strength, becoming stronger with every passing day while the world remains unchanged, has been nothing short of heart wrenching.  “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Get back in here.” With a huffed laugh and a roll of his eyes, Ben pulls Ryan in for another hug.  “You didn’t, and I know you never would.”  

They spent some time chatting after Ryan hides the photo in his room.  The clickety clack of VS5 controllers fill the air while they duel in Tournament of Heroes, and Ben groans as he loses for a fifth time.  Things like this used to be his forte as a kid, but he’s probably in for another loss anyway. 

But that was fine.  Homelander would be back soon and the three of them could spend Christmas Eve together as a family.  Even though that family is small and just a liiiittle bit messy, it’s still good.

“That makes six!”  The boy hoots, rising to his feet with a beaming grin and excitement in his eyes.  “I don’t think you’re cut out to play as dad’s character.”  He teases.

Nevertheless, Ben picks him again.

Yeah.  Still good.

[lamemaster]

Return of the Traitor

Request: Literally no one. Not a single soul.

Pairing: Maedhros x Reader

Genre: fluff, fix it-ish?

Summary: You have returned to Himring, to him, whom you are no more than a traitor.

AN: This has been in draft since Himring fell...

"With all due respect," the realtor squeaked, his voice a strained octave higher than usual. "This property has been on the market for centuries. Every venture initiated here has ended in heavy losses, not to mention the…spectral reports." He shot a nervous glance towards the crumbling ramparts.

A grim smile played on your lips. "Losses are one thing," you drawled, tracing the rough stone of the wall with your fingertips. "But some things are worth the risk, wouldn't you agree?" The realtor, a man whose immaculate suit seemed woefully out of place amidst the decay, coughed nervously.

You were back in Himring, the once-proud fortress of the first Feanorion. Centuries had passed since the ocean reclaimed it, but time seemed to hold no sway here. The wind howled through shattered windows, carrying whispers of a forgotten past.

The ancient craftsmanship still held. "Damn elves and their unrelenting craft," you muttered under your breath.

Ignoring the realtor's stammering protests, you strode purposefully into the dark halls. The halls of your dear nemesis. Wondering if you would have the pleasure of stumbling upon his wraith.

Hope, a fragile thing nurtured by years of longing and yearning, flickered in your chest. Perhaps, just perhaps, you would find him here. Maedhros, your nemesis, your lover, the ghost who unknowingly haunted your every waking moment.

You came looking for the unfairly handsome elven lord, who remained the most charming single-handedly, you snickered at your joke imagining the eye-roll Maedhros would have rewarded you with had you uttered such words in his presence.

The past. A time when love bloomed effortless and potent, strong enough to lure you across the vast expanse from the Eastern lands to stand at your lord's side.

But was he still your lord? The guilt gnawed at you, a constant companion. After everything you'd done, such a title felt like a cruel joke. Not a lord, not a friend, not even a lover could you ever deserve after causing the fall of Himring.

You, Ulfang the chieftain, became the fall of Himring. You, who was the cause of estrangement of the firstborn and secondborn. The idiotic chieftain who lost everything in one gamble. The weight of that choice, the burden of countless lives lost, pressed down on you like an invisible mountain.

Now you stand, entrapped in the gray area of past and present. Even death had failed to take Maedhros away from you. He lived still in your mind, body, and soul.

"I am here Maedhros," you whisper to the winds that rush through his fort. "Try not to kill me." You add as a second thought.

Day one started with a bang. Or, more accurately, a clumsy stumble. Despite a surprisingly good night's sleep (considering the freezing halls and the weight of the past), you woke up way past sunrise.

Stumbling outside, you squinted at the sky, a canvas of swirling gray. Rain, fantastic. Just what you needed. But a frown did little to deter you.

With a disgruntled sigh, you hefted the "saplings" you'd dragged all the way to the fortress. "Saplings" being a generous term for the small, but decidedly unyielding trees you clutched in your arms.

These weren't your typical saplings. No sir, these were chosen with meticulous care. Flowering Jasmines, delicate Gardenias, and yes, even a tangled mass of Rose vines – a blatant nod to Maedhros' preferences.

If Manwe had rain planned then you might as well make use of it.

Of course, you hadn't forgotten about practicality either. Tucked amongst the fragrant blooms were a healthy assortment of vegetables – you weren't about to starve to death while playing gardener.

Perched precariously on the crumbling balcony, you busied yourself adding some delicate periwinkles to the mix. That was, until your foot met a rogue root with the grace of a drunken bear. With a surprised yelp, you went sprawling – a tangle of limbs and saplings tumbling down towards the damp earth below.

The first sensation that registered was the bite of freezing rain stinging your face. Then came the thrum of pain, a low ache traveling from your shin all the way up to your hip. You lay there for a moment, the rain drumming a steady rhythm on your body.

Suddenly, the air seemed to shift. A new sound, a soft rustling perhaps, or a presence that settled on the world like a heavy cloak. Your breath hitched in your throat. Maedhros had finally graced you with his… attention.

A slow smile spread across your face, a blend of sheepishness and something else – a spark of defiance, a hint of something you hoped wasn't misplaced hope. "Well, hello there," you murmured, your voice barely audible over the rain.

Falling from the balconies, getting trapped in musty rooms – these became your daily routines. The aches and pains were starting to accumulate, a dull throb in your ankle a constant reminder of your latest tumble. Despite the new collection of scratches and a growing limp, your spirit remained defiant. You were, after all, the same old you.

"By eru! Auugh-" You spit your soup coughing unrelentingly in the lonesome dining hall. "Oh my, that almost took me out," you panted, your tongue feeling like a desert after a sandstorm. "Soup of death, or perhaps a bowl of salt with a reluctant splash of broth?"

"Did not know death made trolls out of elves..." you chuckle giving up on the idea of dinner. "Or is it just you, my love?" You speak to the empty room. Bemused that the idea of Maedehros' antics.

Pushing the offending dish away with a grimace. Giving up on dinner, you surveyed the desolate hall. A flicker of sadness crossed your features as you noticed a chipped teacup lying forgotten on the floor. It was a simple thing, but it reminded you of a brighter time, a time when laughter filled this room.

A sigh escaped your lips. Why torture yourself with such memories? With a determined glint in your eye, you pushed yourself up from the table, ignoring the protest from your injured ankle. You were here for a reason, and a little soup-induced near-death experience wasn't going to deter you.

"Do whatever you must," you declared, a hint of bravado lacing your voice. You addressed the empty room, a bemused smirk playing on your lips. "I will not leave." As if on cue, a sudden crackle erupted from the fireplace behind you, sending a shower of sparks dancing into the air.

"I have nowhere else to be," you continued, feeling a familiar warmth bloom in your chest. He was here. He had to be. or you were having some very personal conversations with a random spirit.

A cold gust of wind swept through the hall, extinguishing a nearby candle with a hiss. You shivered, a flicker of vulnerability replacing your bravado.

"And if you think killing me will rid you of my presence," you continued, your voice gaining strength with each word, "you are sorely mistaken. This time, I will not leave. Not even in death. So pray to your Valar that I do not die and join you as a wraith, forever tethered to this accursed place."

You declare with borrowed confidence from your stupid past self.

Maedhros loathes you. He despises you. The way you are different yet achingly familiar, the way your body moves in a similar fashion, yet your hair shines differently in the sun – it is a constant torment.

He despises the wretched hope that blooms in his chest at your sight. Hope before, resentment. A racing heart before a broken one.

But he is not unchanged either. Times have worn him into a resentful sprite. A wraith instead of the elven lord you remember. A bitter existence opposite of what you remember.

At least that's what he tells himself as he watches you passed out in the rain or when he sees you throwing away another inedible dinner.

He wants you gone. He yearns to be free from the constant reminder of his failures, the embodiment of a love that has brought him nothing but ruin.

He will never offer you the solace you crave, the forgiveness you desperately seek. Love, absolution, even a semblance of the tenderness he once held for you – these are things he has long since locked away, burying them deep beneath the layers of his self-imposed exile.

At least that is what he tells himself.

He wants you gone, yes, but the thought of you suffering gnaws at him like a persistent ache.

He will never admit it, but he finds himself drawn to you. Following you into his own, long-abandoned chambers was an act of… what? Curiosity? A morbid fascination? Whatever it was, the sight of you dusting the ancient tomes he hadn't touched in millennia sent a jolt through him.

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to warp. You were both in the same room, you dusting the shelves, talking in your usual way, oblivious to his presence.

And for once, Maedhros allowed himself to simply look at you. Not with the burning hatred he has cultivated for so long, but with a… a wistfulness he can not explain.

He even finds himself replying to your nonsensical chatter about fearing toads. It is a small indulgence, a rebellion against the prison of his own making.

The illusion is shattered with a deafening crack. The rickety bookshelf groans and then collapses, a cascade of heavy tomes raining down on you. Maedhros reacts on instinct, a desperate lunge forward that would have been pointless given his form.

As expected you pass through his outstretched arms, a wisp of smoke, landing with a surprised yelp on the dusty bed. A cloud of dust erupts, momentarily obscuring the room. When it settles, his breath hitches in his throat.

Your eyes are wide and startled, fixed on him. Your mouth is agape, and your eyes, glistening with something other than dust?

A tremor runs through Maedhros, with something he dare not name. Could it be…? No. It had to be just the dust. Just the dust.

[lamaenthel]

Milkies

[read on ao3][Rexsoka Monthly: May '24 (Slice of Life)]

Rex and Ahsoka have happily settled on Medeina, far from the eye of the Empire, choosing to let go of the past and look to the future and take care of what's most important: their two children, Rajni and Jesse. But when Ahsoka is called away for some emergency repairs, Rex is left to wrangle their two teeny Togrutas without backup. He used to oversee hundreds of troopers. Two babies shouldn't be too hard, right?

Characters: Captain Rex/Ahsoka Tano, Rajni Tano, Jesse Tano Rating: Gen Wordcount: 5,114 Note: Buir is Daddy (Mando'a), Iibu is Mommy (Togruti)

"It'll be two days at most." Ahsoka still rolled up her socks and panties together like she used to when she packed for a field mission. "I wouldn't go if it wasn't important."

"I know." Rex bounced little Rajni on his hip. The white dot on her forehead was still stained weak blue from her birthday hunt. Jesse lay swaddled on the bed, kicking and watching his mother pack with adoring eyes.

"Reikka hired a mechanic to fix the solar panels but he scammed them. If that firewatch tower goes dark…"

"I understand, ner cyare." Rex stepped forward and pulled his wife into his arms. "I don't want to get swept up in a wildfire any more than you do. We'll be fine."

"There's at least a week's worth of milk deep frozen in the garage. Warm one unit at a time, thirty seconds in the nanowave at 35% power. Any faster than that and the sugar will boil."

He took a centering breath. "I know. You already wrote it down."

"I know, I know, I just…" Ahsoka backed away, curled over their son on the bed and kissed his nose. "Jesse hasn't left my sight since I crawled out of that tank," she whispered. Her left lek curled around his neck. "Neither has Rajni, except when you take her fishing. It feels so wrong to leave them. My instincts are screaming at me right now."

Rex eyed her twitchy rear lek, rolling like it wanted to smack. "I can tell." Truth be told, he didn't like the thought of her leaving either, but she wouldn't sleep a wink from the guilt of not helping their community unless she fixed it. At least this way she wouldn't be on her own; Reikka, the village elder, was going up the mountain too, and she'd volunteered her husband and son as protection against both the wild felinxes that roamed the peaks and any scrappers they might encounter. Rex wouldn't want to go up against just one of the burly Togrutas in his prime, let alone in his current shape.

He had to admit, Ahsoka wasn't the only one walking around with an empty baby bump, but he couldn't blame his new belly on growing one of the kits. They ate well on Medeina: Ahsoka's mechanic skills were valued far more here than on Daiyu, and between the garden and the fatty zizibi stew Lyotri down at the bar doled out in exchange for him chopping her firewood, these last few months they'd gone to bed with bursting stomachs instead of the growling ones they used to after splitting a bowl of nuna stew for the third day in a row.

Rex rubbed her back. "I'll hold down the fort until you return to us. Trust me, my love."

"I do." Ahsoka kissed Jesse one more time. "I do. It's not that, I promise. You're the perfect father."

He blushed. Rajni mewled sweetly and patted his burning cheeks. "Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not. It's not that I think you can't handle them for two days. It's my own dumb hindbrain insisting that I'm abandoning my young. It had nothing to do with your capability as a father."

"I get it, I get it."

"Ugh." Ahsoka pressed her forehead to his. "Two days, and I'll be home. And I'll be with my mate and my babies and we'll all be safe from wildfires."

"Yes we will."

"Yep."

"Yep."

"Yep." Ahsoka buried her face in his chest and groaned.

Ahsoka left before dawn; it all went to hell by noon. First Rajni, who had never in her life shown the slightest inclination of wanting to stick her head through the narrow railings on their dinky porch stairs did just that; then, while Rex was frantically sawing through the wooden bar that held his wailing daughter's head captive, Jesse decided that it was the perfect time for a total diaper blowout. Thankfully milk-fed kits didn't make much of a smell, but it was very yellow and… everywhere.

"I was a Captain in the Grand Army of the Republic. I oversaw over five hundred men. But somehow—Raj'ika, my love, hold still—the two of you manage to cause as much trouble as a whole platoon of clone troopers, right under my nose no less. How does that happen?"

"Boo!" Rajni wailed pathetically. "Boo–ooo–ooo…"

"Almost there, Raj'ika. Almost, just one more second—" Rex wrenched the railing free and carefully lifted her, trying to avoid getting too much of Jesse's osik on her. "You're alright, my baby. You're fine. See? You're free. No more trap."

Rajni pawed at him, desperate for the reassurance of a hug. "Boo!"

Rex sighed and gave in. He couldn't resist that pathetic little cry, not for anything in the galaxy. "Let's go wash," he mumbled.

Jesse, tied on his back, cooed happily and chomped his ear with his blunt milk fangs.

"Raj?" Rex called as he finished toweling off Jesse. "Where are you, my baby?"

"Huh?" Rajni peeked her head around the door, still naked and as slippery as a freshly-caught rocktrout from the sanisteam.

"Come dry off."

"Nuh!" Rajni grinned and bolted.

"Rajni!" Rex hastily tied the towel around his waist before following her out to the living room. "Raj'ika…"

All he heard was a high-pitched giggle. He followed the line of tiny wet footprints with his eyes, tracking the circle around the sofa, behind the bookcase in the far corner, through the kitchen and finally back to his overstuffed chair, a wet smear indicating where Rajni had crawled underneath it.

Rex sighed. "Rajni, come out of there. Please don't get dirty again."

He received no answer, just another giggle. He rolled his eyes and fetched Ahsoka's jar of tea eggs from the kitchen cooler. "Mmmm, eggs," he said loudly. "I love eggs."

The giggling stopped, replaced by an inquisitive chirp.

"Especially Iibu's special eggs. Mmmmm. Jesse, do you want one?"

Jesse chirped, eyes wide.

"Nuh!" Rajni dragged herself out from under the chair, covered in a gray streaked layer of dust. "Nuh! Boo!"

"Oh hello, Rajni," Rex said calmly, making a mental note to get Ahsoka to repair the damn MSE droid on her workbench. He split a marinated egg in half and smeared a little yolk on his finger. Jesse was still too young to eat anything but milk, but he could have a taste. "Did you want an egg?"

Rajni stomped her foot. "Muh!" Her infantile rage at seeing her brother tasting her egg was hilarious, though Rex kept his face as neutral as he could. "Boo muh! Muh! Muh!"

"Hmm?" Rex tilted his head. Jesse held onto his finger for better leverage as he licked off the spicy-sweet yolk.

"Muh-huh-huuuh!" Rajni wailed, collapsing in despair.

Jesse grunted and his eyes crossed. Everything between Rex's abs and his knees suddenly turned very warm. And yellow.

"Guess we're all going back in," he mumbled, snatching up his sobbing daughter before she could escape again.

The sun was down. The living room was dark except for the glow of the viewscreen, where Kento Koi's heroics held Rajni absolutely captivated. She watched the Nautolan superhero lift up the giant rock and save the Quarrens with big, unblinking eyes as she sucked on her cup of milk, absently petting Rex's arm with a soft hand.

Rex held his son's bottle with one hand and transferred a chewed nuna nugget to his daughter's mouth with the other. She never looked away from the viewscreen, too enchanted by the yellow Nautolan to do anything but release the sippy cup and open her mouth when Rex tapped her jaw.

"You look comfortable." Ahsoka's hologram reclined on her side, propping up her head on one hand. She looked sad. "I wish I was snuggled up with all of you."

"So do we." He smiled and tapped Rajni. She yanked away her milk with a loud pop! and a small gasp for air and opened up obediently.

"Are they being good?"

"Well, I had to do an emergency renovation on the stair railing." He laughed at his wife's look of confusion. "Rajni shoved her head in there and got stuck. Had to cut her out."

"Oh no!" Ahsoka exclaimed, dismayed.

"She's fine."

"Why did she do that?"

"As much as I'd love to have insight into the brain of a toddler…"

Ahsoka grunted. "I know, I just mean—what was she trying to accomplish?"

"Only she knows." Rex lifted his arm so Rajni could readjust and crawl underneath it.

"Iibu!" she squeaked, grinning.

"Rajni." Ahsoka lowered her voice. "Rajni, prrishk'ti Buir. Nahma kufuntha."

Rex's Togruti was far from perfect, but he recognized the words for listen and no mischief.

Rajni's face fell. She looked away with a pout identical to her mother's.

"I was looking right at her, too," Rex said. "She was crawling down the stairs, and then she just… did it. Couldn't even stop her."

Ahsoka snorted. "She needs a leash."

"She's just being a curious little kit. No harm done. I'll cut every other railing in the morning so she can't do it again." Rex accidentally swallowed one of Rajni's nuggets. He popped another one in and hoped she didn't notice. "And then Jesse sh—" he caught himself, glanced at Rajni, "pooped down my back."

Ahsoka barked out a laugh. "Oh no."

"Oh no is right. It got all over all of us." He relinquished the nugget to his daughter. "How're the repairs going?"

"Well the good news is that the solar panels themselves work perfectly fine. The problem is that some critter chewed its way into the conduit and munched on the wires between the panels and the batteries, so it can't collect any of that electricity."

"Uh-oh."

Rajni tossed her empty sippy cup. "Uh-oh!" she sang.

"No throwing." Rex snapped his fingers and pointed, fixing Rajni with a stern look until she got up with an annoyed grumble and retrieved it. "So you'll be longer?"

"No, thankfully. I just hate rewiring. I always cut my fingertips up."

"Poor thing."

"Precisely. Feel sorry for me. I'm all alone up here with owie fingers."

Rex snorted and hoisted up Jesse to burp him.

"Is he taking a bottle okay?" Ahsoka asked anxiously.

"Took him a second, but he figured it out. It's making him gassy though."

"He's swallowing too much air, then. He isn't keeping proper suction."

"That's what I figured. Anything I can do to fix it?"

Ahsoka shook her head. "I don't think we have any other nipple tops. You'll have to go to the general store in the morning."

Rex jumped; Rajni had stuck one cold hand up his shirt and grabbed his nipple. "That won't work, little one, mine aren't as talented as Iibu's." He removed her little vise fingers with a wince.

Ahsoka burst into laughter. "Do you remember the week after we settled here and he bit your nipple in the middle of the night thinking it was me?"

Rex would never forget the trauma of that chomp. "I almost launched him across the room jumping up so fast. He was still attached."

"Luckily we're sturdy little things." Ahsoka's hologram flickered a few times as she settled fully on her side, pillowing her head on her arm. "I miss you."

Jesse belched in his ear and ejected half of his dinner down his back. Rex just sighed. "And I miss you." He barely caught Rajni as she launched herself up and onto the back of the sofa, eager to lick up the milk. "I've, ah…"

"You've got your hands full. I'll let you go." Ahsoka smiled sadly. "I love you. And I love you, Rajni, and you, Jesse."

"Iibu." Rajni beamed at her from air jail.

"We love you. Goodnight, ner cyare." Ahsoka's hologram disappeared, leaving them with only the viewscreen's light. "Let's clean up," Rex said wearily, hauling his son to the fresher once again.

The clock on Rex's bedside table said 02:40—way too early for this banthashit—when he opened his eyes to the sound of a crash. The lamp on Ahsoka's side was on the floor, and while Jesse was still sound asleep in his little pillow lounger, Rajni was a flash of tan and orange as she streaked across the room.

The pink bantha jammies her mother had made for her had been flung to parts unknown in order to give her more freedom of movement. She zipped in circles on all fours on the floor, not giving a single damn about the lamp she had just sent flying. Her brown eyes shone with eerie green in the moonlight as she did her best impression of a wild tooka.

"Rajni," Rex groaned. He sat up, confirmed the lamp wasn't broken and therefore not a danger, then laid back down. "Please no zooms tonight."

"Zoom!" Rajni bounced off the headboard at the speed of sound and did a backflip across the room. "Zoom! Zoom!"

Rex knew there was no stopping her once she started. She just had to wear herself out. He curled around Jesse protectively, wondering how he was going to survive both of them doing this once Jesse learned how to crawl, and waited for it to be over.

Rex thought that if he had Rajni tied to his front and Jesse strapped to his back, he'd be avoiding chaos at the general store. Both of the kids loved being carried in their wraps. He didn't anticipate Rajni thrashing and screeching like a thimiar in a snare, acting for all the world like she was being tortured.

"No down," he said firmly, giving apologetic looks to the other shoppers. "You're being naughty."

"Doh!" Rajni squirmed, trying to shimmy loose.

"I said no, Rajni," Rex said, busting out the Captain baritone. "You can't get down right now. You don't have shoes." Neither of them ever did, so it was a ridiculous excuse and he knew it. Rajni did too, throwing him the same venomous look her mother used to give him when he'd tell her to stop doing backflips off of the B2's.

She may have had his eyes, but that attitude was all Ahsoka.

Both of the kids missed her desperately. He knew it was why Rajni was acting out, and poor Jesse was so gassy from the bottle that he'd had to massage his tummy and bend him in half until he finally tooted for almost ten seconds straight. Rex couldn't figure why he was having so much trouble with the bottle when Rajni never did, but his poor boy was miserable.

He found two different nipple tops that advertised themselves as preventing colic and paid for them, a jar of pickled tamtam feet and shahar candy for Ahsoka, and a marrow bone for his teething daughter.

"Here." Rex waggled it in her face once he was back out on the dirt road.

Rajni tilted her head. Her eyes narrowed right before going in for the chomp.

The bone kept her busy until they returned. The first thing he did was try out the new nipples for Jesse; he outright refused the first, but the second one he reluctantly accepted after Rex rubbed it on his lips for a few minutes, coaxing him to at least try for Buir.

Rajni cried the entire time, toddling aimlessly around the house in search of Ahsoka, chirping pathetically like a lost kitten.

Rex put Jesse down for a nap after he drank his fill and he was fairly sure that he wouldn't regurgitate it. He settled on the porch, sitting on the pillowed bench with Rajni and a holobook.

"Moo, moo goes the…" He glanced down at his squirming daughter. "Rajni, what animal goes moo? Show Buir."

"Iibu," Rajni said miserably, eyes still red from her earlier crying fit.

"I know, Raj'ika. I miss Iibu too." Every time she chirped for Ahsoka, Rex's heart shattered anew.

"Iibu." She buried her face in her hands and burst into tears again.

"Udesii, ner Raj'ika," Rex cooed, putting aside the old holobook and pulling her into his embrace. "Iibu will come home soon. She had to go help fix something that is far away."

Rajni continued to sob and shake in his arms. Her sweaty, teary face was jammed so tightly into his neck that he wasn't sure how she was even drawing air to cry. Her normal sunshine smell was soured by her grief. "Ii…Iibu…"

"I know." Tears stung Rex's eyes. "Let's go take a nap with Jesse, 'lek? Buir is sleepy."

"Nuh," Rajni whined, burrowing deeper. "Boo. Iibu. Geh Iibu."

"I can't go get her. She's fixing something very important that keeps us safe." Despite her protests, Rex hoisted Rajni up and toddled down to the bedroom where Jesse was fast asleep. His belly was so round; the poor little guy hadn't had much luck with the first nipple, but the second one did the trick, and now he was stuffed and milk-drunk. Beside him was a zizibi plushie that Ahsoka had crocheted, insides thumping away with a gadget that sounded like her heartbeat.

Rex kicked off his shoes and crawled on top of the covers. "Nap with me." He kissed Rajni and tucked himself tightly around her, one hand resting on Jesse's belly.

"Iibu," Rajni whispered. Her swollen eyes fluttered shut. "Ii…"

Rex kissed her between her montrals until she purred herself to sleep.

"Oof. It has been a day." Ahsoka's hologram lay reclined tonight with her shirt pushed up over her swollen breasts, a pair of hard-working pumps relieving her pressure. Almost every fingertip bore a little white bandage.

"Iibu!" Rajni squeaked, diving for the holoprojector. "Iibu! Iibu!"

"Hello, ner Raj'ika," Ahsoka said warmly. "Say hi to Iibu!"

"Hah! Hah!" Rajni bounced in place.

"She really misses you," Rex said, tearing his eyes away from Ahsoka's chest. "She's been a handful all day."

"I'm sorry, baby," Ahsoka cooed. "Are you being a good girl for Buir?"

"Lah!" Rajni reached through the hologram desperately. When her hands connected with nothing, her excitement quickly drained away to horror. "Ii… Iibu?" Her lower lip quivered. "Iibuuuu…" She burst into tears.

Ahsoka scrambled to sit up, nearly losing one of the pumps in the process. "I miss you too, sweet baby. I'm coming home tomorrow!"

Rajni buried her face in Rex's shoulder and continued to bawl.

"Please don't cry, Rajni!" Ahsoka begged. "Iibu's right here! Look at Iibu!"

"Poor thing. Betrayed by the holoprojector." Rex rubbed her back.

"Rajni, I'm right here!"

"Nuh-huh-huuuh." Rajni melted against his chest.

"Rex, do something!"

"She's been like this all day," Rex sighed. "There's nothing to be done. She misses her mother." He tilted the optical sensor to include Jesse. "Look, Jess, look at Iibu."

Jesse beamed at the hologram. He wiggled in his tight swaddle like a happy little silkworm.

"Is he upset too?" Ahsoka asked, her lip quivering just like Rajni's.

"He's… well, he knows you're missing, but you know how quiet he is." Rex couldn't help but glance at the busy little droids whirring on her ample chest. "He's taking the new nipple top I bought this morning a lot easier. But he still looks at me every time I give him the bottle, like 'what's this bantha poodoo?' He misses you for sure."

"I miss them too." Ahsoka wiped her eyes. "Rajni, Iibu loves you so much. Can I read you a book?"

Rex fetched the picture holobook he'd tried to read with her earlier. "Come on, Rajni, Iibu is sad too. Let's help her feel better."

"Nuh!" Rajni smacked him.

Rex touched his cheek, shocked. "Trooper!"

"Rajni, no hitting!"

Rajni drowned them both out with an ear-piercing scream and melted into a puddle of tears.

Ahsoka sighed. "I think I'm doing more harm than good."

"It's alright, cyare. She just misses you."

"I feel so guilty." Ahsoka sniffed and wiped her nose. "I'll… I'll let you go. I've only got a little bit of soldering to do in the morning and then I'm done. It took me six hours to get up here, but down the mountain will go faster."

"It'll be alright." Rex tried to redirect Rajni into his armpit to muffle her crying. "We'll see you tomorrow. You're doing a good thing."

"Yeah." She didn't sound like she believed him. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Rex turned off the holoprojector. "Alright. Bed time."

"Nuuuuuh!" Rajni screeched and tried to escape his hold by bending backwards.

"Yes," Rex said, exasperated, and carried her to bed.

For the last month, Jesse was in the habit of only waking up once for a feed, usually around 0300. He wasn't drinking as much in one sitting with the bottle, so it made sense that he would wake up more often, but by 0400 he was on his sixth bottle. Rex fed him in the kitchen, bouncing in place just to stay awake.

"Come on, Jesse." Rex patted his son's back absently, swaying back and forth. "Finish this one. We don't want to waste." He wasn't sure if he could reuse the leftovers from before but he was unable to bring himself to dump Ahsoka's hard work down the drain, so he had taken to pouring out whatever was left in Jesse's bottle into a mug he kept in the cooler. Rajni could drink it in the morning.

Probably. He'd check on the holonet once his eyes uncrossed. He spared a moment to wonder what Ahsoka was doing with whatever she'd pumped out on the mountain.

Jesse released the bottle and squirmed, grunted a few times, then unusually—for him, at least—started to cry.

"Udesii, ad'ika, udesii. Ur'takur laam, ner ad'ika. Ner vutyc jag'ika. There you go, good boy." Rex settled him on his shoulder and patted him until his sobs turned to hiccups. "What's the matter, hmm? Do you miss Iibu too?"

At just over three months Jesse was far too little to nod, but Rex had a feeling he was right. He hummed as he swayed and patted his back, waiting for a burp that didn't want to come.

"Boo?" At just over twenty pounds, Rajni's thumpers had no right to be as loud as they were as she thundered down the hall. She turned the corner and slid to a stop, her purple nexu-striped footie pajamas slippery on the wood floor. "Boo!"

Rex shushed her. "Jesse was hungry."

"Gee." Rajni batted her eyelashes at him. The brown in her eyes disappeared, swallowed up by her pupils.

"Is Rajni hungry too?" Rex asked, smiling.

She pointed at the abandoned bottle. "Peez?"

"Of course, my baby. Especially since you asked so nicely." Rex dumped almost two ounces into her sippy cup and handed it over.

Jesse finally let out a burp louder than a tank shell. Rex tied him to his front, sat on the couch with Rajni snuggled against him, and fell asleep before her cartoons hit the first advertisement break.

"Why did you do it again?" Rex asked, frantically sawing through the railing he'd forgotten to take down yesterday.

Rajni scream-cried, bright red and miserable, stuck in the railings like a nerf in a squeeze chute. This time her brother joined her, screeching directly in his ear from where he'd been tied onto Rex's back.

"Alright, there we go, there we—gotcha." Rex swept her up in his arms and glared at the stupid rails. "Listen to Buir. I'm going to take them down right now. If you stick your head in there again before I'm done, I'm not pulling you out until I'm done with the other ones. Suvar, trooper?"

Rajni arched her back and did her best to escape his hold, still screaming.

Rex took a deep breath in, let it out, counted to ten, then went back inside for her wrap. He didn't trust the little troublemaker for a second, especially since she'd looked him dead in the eyes before shoving her head through the railing a second time.

Marrying a carnivore meant that Rex had to make a few adjustments to his diet. He was used to eating meat for every meal now, but to Ahsoka, cooking meant holding whatever chunk of raw meat she was holding near a fire until it was body-temperature warm, so it was a job that he had taken over for all of their sakes.

The cooler was full of nerf steaks marinating in a blend of jogan juice and nose-tingling Shilian spices. A dozen eggs—hard boiled, peeled, and stuffed full of spicy pickle relish—sat beside them, plus some crispy rock peppers filled with soft paneer cheese that Lyotri had traded to him in exchange for their wooden railings and a bowl full of cheesecake filling.

"Rajni!" Rex called, standing at the stove. He spooned up some bright-red mahkani gravy to taste. "Raj'ika, come here and taste this. Tell me if you like it."

Rajni toddled around the corner with a doll in each hand. "Huh?"

"Here." He blew on the spoonful before letting her sip.

She made a face and gagged.

"That bad?" Rex tasted it again, frowning. "It tastes alright to me. You don't like it?"

"Buh!" Rajni spat on the tile floor.

"Thanks a lot, kid."

"Patoo." She fled the kitchen, making vroom vroom noises as she made her dollies fly.

"You like Buir's cooking, don't you son?" Rex patted his son between his little green montral buds.

Jesse grunted and wiggled in his wrap. He was antsy. What he needed was a nap, but every time Rex put him down he started crying, and he couldn't seem to stay asleep for more than a few minutes at a time.

Ahsoka had already commed to tell them she was on her way home. Rex had started cooking almost immediately. He just didn't know what else to do; he had a dozen projects to work on around the house, sure, but he knew Ahsoka as well as he knew himself, and she was always starving after a long march.

Maybe he wasn't crying and chirping for her, but he missed Ahsoka as much as their children did. He missed the way her lekku smelled when she was out in the sun all day, the soft weight of her head on his chest in bed, the way she hummed absently as she worked on droids and farm equipment. He wanted her to know that he missed her too, and cooking her a feast to welcome her home was the best way he figured he could do that.

Well, the best way that he could show her in front of the kids, anyhow.

Rex turned off the burner, put the gravy aside, and took out the turu rice toasting in the oven. It went into the turbo-blender with cinnamon and sugar, then into the bottom of a pie plate once he'd thoroughly pulverized it.

"We're making Iibu a cake," he informed Jesse. "A special cake made out of cheese. I made it for Iibu's birthday last year and she loved it."

"Teez?" Rajni poked her head around the corner again. "Boo teez?"

"Yes, my baby, cheese." He let her lick a little of the creamy filling off his finger. This time she didn't gag.

"Boo." Rajni patted his leg, beaming. "Teez peez?"

"You want more?"

"Peeeeez." Rajni blinked until her pupils expanded.

"Oh, you little stinker," Rex chuckled. "Fine."

He gave Rajni the spoon to keep her busy while he poured the filling into the pie plate, then slipped it into the cooler to chill and harden.

Jesse wiggled in the wrap and whined.

"What's the matter, Jes'ika?" Rex freed him and sniffed his rump, but he smelled clean. "Did you just need your legs free? Hmm?"

"Maybe he's excited for cheesecake."

Rex spun at the sound of his wife's voice. Ahsoka grinned at him; she looked exhausted, dirty, and her hands were covered in bandages, but she was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, grinning. "You sneaky little—"

"Iibu!" Rajni chucked the spoon over her shoulder and darted across the kitchen, flying into her mother's arms. "Iibu! Iibu!"

"My Rajni." Ahsoka's left lek wrapped around Rajni like a hug as she rubbed her head on her daughter, scenting her thoroughly. They both purred loudly enough to make Rex's liver vibrate. "My sweet baby. I missed you so much."

Rajni buried her face in her mother's neck, rumbling like the happiest little tooka in the galaxy.

"How was the walk down?" Rex relinquished Jesse, stifling the laugh that threatened to erupt at the sight of Ahsoka's other lek wrapping him up in a twisty embrace. His high-pitched cricket purr joined his mother and sister in a joyful, subsonic song.

"I hustled as fast as I could. Weather held out, but it's going to rain any second." With both of her arms—and lekku—full of babies, she had no way to hug him, so she pressed her forehead against his in a kov'nyn and sighed happily.

Rex took a deep breath, relishing her familiar sweetspice smell. "I missed you," he murmured. He wrapped his arms around all three of them and held them close. Her heartbeat drummed against his chest, matching the beat of his own.

"And I missed you. They weren't too bad, right?" Ahsoka laughed and leaned back; Jesse was already squirming his way into her shirt in search of milk.

"They were a little spicy, but nothing I couldn't handle." Rex ran his thumb across the wing on her cheek before he kissed her.

"Nuh!" Rajni said crossly, pushing him away. "Muh Iibu!"

"Your Iibu?" Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We will all share Iibu," Ahsoka laughed, "because Iibu missed everyone and wants to see you all. Come on, let's go sit. My legs are tired, I've been walking since the sun came up."

"I've got dinner ready whenever you are. Just need to throw the steaks on the grill." Rex followed her to the sofa and let her get comfortable before he slid in beside them. Jesse was already latched on to one breast. Rajni yanked down her mother's shirt and shamelessly claimed the other side.

"That sounds amazing. I should hop in the sanisteam first, but first…" Ahsoka adjusted so that her head rested on his heart. "My babies." She kissed both of their foreheads. "My mate." She looked up with her big blue eyes, so full of adoration that it took his breath away.

"My mate," he rumbled, meeting her lips in another soft kiss that Rajni squealed in protest at. "My babies. Ner aliit."

"Cuun aliit," Ahsoka said softly, chasing his lips. "Our family."

MANDO'A TRANSLATIONS Udesii, ad'ika: Easy, son Ur'takur laam, ner ad'ika: Chin up, my son Ner vutyc jag'ika: My special little man Suvar: understand Ner/cuun aliit: My family/our family

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