#and his return to the village (where's he's expected to take on the role of hokage at the outset of the fourth great ninja war)

[panharmonium]

funniest and most heartwarming thing i rediscovered on my rewatch is when karin roasts sakura about poisoning naruto and then kakashi, who loves all of his kids very much and understands their behavior and isn’t upset with them about their choices but has also been under ABSURD amounts of stress for all of season 10, just bursts out laughing ❤️

[starsofang]

CALL OF THE SEA / PART THIRTEEN

pirate poly!141 x f!reader tw: NSFW, MDNI, heavy topics such as death, blood, and past trauma mentioned, lots of tension in this chapter masterlist

When a group of unhinged pirates invade your small village, you're whisked away from your peaceful home and thrown on to a voyage out at sea. Forced to obtain a new role as their medic, you have no choice but to accept your fate as you join their forces and aid them in their treacherous travels.

“Shadow’s Peak,” Price began, pointing to the circled island that seemed to be parted from all of its neighboring ones, “is where Graves resides when he’s not at sea. Nobody’s been to the island that’s been able to return home. It’s cursed to many, deemed uninhabitable.”

“If you have never visited it, then how do you know?” you risked asking.

Price looked up from the map, a frown on his face. “Ghost,” he answered, and you let out a sound of recognition. “You must understand that Graves is known amongst the people as a danger, same as us. People see monsters when they see pirates, but Graves lives up to the name.”

You trailed your finger along the map, studying the remote island and the ink around it. It looked as if Price had been the one to sketch it out himself, rather than a merchant selling it with the island displayed.

Monsters, you thought. For a long time, you were in the same boat as others. Pirates were never in good fortune. They were a rarity, but when they appeared on land in the public, you’d heard the stories. They almost never ended well.

“I do not think you are monsters,” you murmured quietly, more so to yourself than anything. Still, Price cocked his head, eyes locked in on you as you kept your own focused on the map.

“Even now, after everythin’ we’ve done?” he asked, watching the way your fingers flattened against the map. “You do not view us in the light everybody sees is in?”

You finally looked up at him, and you felt your breath catch in your throat uncomfortably. Your gaze flickered over his face, down to the frown lines permanently etched into his skin, and the way his eyebrows tugged together in heavy doubt.

“Perhaps at first, I did,” you admitted honestly. His expression didn’t falter, and he seemed to be expecting that answer. “I do not now. I have seen the true monster and where it hides. It is not you.”

Price blinked, softening. A look of relief passed over him. “We have done horrible things,” he muttered. “We are prepared to do more until we can no longer. I truly hope you’re aware of what you are agreein’ to, dove.”

You pressed your lips together. You contemplated, though you knew your answer and had already made it previously. You knew the moment Graves invaded your mind and filled it with parasites that he was the true monster in your world and not Price or his men.

It didn’t make their doings any better, not did it excuse it. But you knew they were trying, and that was all you could do in return.

Perhaps you were an idiot for thinking so.

“You will protect me?” you asked Price, catching him off guard.

“With my life,” he confirmed instantly. “I will not allow you to be harmed. I swear on it.”

You watched his finger cross an X over his chest. You didn’t know why it made your heart pick up its pace.

He was swearing to you, on behalf of him and his men, to keep your life as untouched as possible. It was an oath that was to be taken serious. Price was devoting his life to yours the same he did with Soap, Gaz, and Ghost as their Captain.

“What is your plan, Captain?” You gestured to the map, right at Shadow’s Peak that sat on the paper in its lonesome wake. “With Graves. What exactly is the outcome you wish for?”

Price looked at Shadow’s Peak briefly, his eyes hardening. The mood in the room shifted, and the heaviness weighed on your chest when you took a sharp breath in.

There was a protectiveness that came over him, one you were beginning to recognize when the thought of his men or you getting harmed seemed to take control of his thoughts. The idea that he cared enough for you that he placed you in the same category of priority as his men had your mind running astray.

“He has to die,” he grunted out firmly. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation or doubt in his tone. “One way or another, I’m goin’ to kill that fuckin’ beast. For Ghost, and for you.”

Your breath hitched at the pure determination he exuded, the way his fists clenched on the table and jaw tightened until it looked painfully taut. Wide-eyed, you said nothing outwardly, though your mind was a gamble.

He was willing to kill for you. He was willing to die for you.

You shouldn’t be thinking that way. It was crude even being flattered by the prospect of it, yet your heart and mind were both in unity with how you were growing increasingly flustered.

When Price’s gaze met yours, and the hardness immediately softened and was replaced with a distant tenderness filled with words unsaid, you weren’t sure how much longer your thoughts could be suppressed.

“I’m goin’ to fuckin’ kill him, dove,” he said softly, a stark contrast to the venomous words being spoken.

Your fingernails dug into your palms, fists growing clammy and restless by your sides.

“I understand,” you whispered with a curt nod.

Price’s eyes flickered over your features, the silence growing between you two. His hand furled and unfurled on the table, fighting with itself to not reach out and touch you.

“You look tired,” he murmured, tearing his gaze away. “You should go get some rest.”

You opened your mouth to protest, but quickly snapped it shut when you realized. Price seemed to be in just as much a whirl of confused emotions as you. He was giving you an out, while also expressing his desire to be alone.

You could respect that. After all, you truly were tired, given your earlier sleep was interrupted by the cruel, cold hands of death knocking at your doorstep.

“Alright,” you agreed softly. “You should rest as well, Captain. You wear yourself out too much.”

Price looked up at you in surprise, expression furrowing. He bristled, slumping with a quiet chuckle under his breath. Shaking his head to himself, he spoke. “I have never been the one told to rest. It is usually me doin’ the biddin’.”

You smiled, watching his every movement as he sat in his chair, melting into it. “Perhaps you need to hear it more often,” you reckoned in amusement.

Price smiled back, and you did your damn hardest to ignore the low ache it gave you in your chest. “Perhaps I do,” he hummed. “Go on and rest, dove. We will talk in the mornin’.”

You nodded briefly, shooting him a farewell before retreating out of his quarters and into the night. The Captain watched as you left, eyes lingering on the door even after your absence, before forcing himself to bed, only because you told him to.

Strange girl, he thought to himself, yet his heart thought otherwise.

Upon entering your shared quarters, you nearly flung up in surprise to see Soap meddling about. Your clothes were spread out on his bed, and the miniature telescope you bought for Gaz was in his hands, held up to his eye as he peered through it curiously.

“What are you doing?” you asked suspiciously, eyes narrowed in on the telescope.

Soap startled, dropping the telescope from his eye and clenching it between his hand. “Dove!” he exclaimed. “Give a man a warnin’, will ye?”

You mumbled an apology, stepping towards the bed and eyeing your clothes. “Why are you going through my things?”

“Ach, I’m a nosy lad. Ye can’t buy all these things and not expect me to go through ‘em,” he tsked, and at your side-eyed glare, he stammered. “Don’t look at me like that. Makes me nervous.”

You let out a heavy sigh, seating yourself on the edge of the bed. You carefully grasped one of the flowy dresses you bought for yourself, thumbs running over the fabric. Its quality was rich, much richer than you were used to, and it felt soft under your touch.

“It’s pretty,” Soap hummed. “Didn’t expect ye to be into dresses like that.”

“I never had the opportunity or funds,” you explained, staring down at the dress. “Gaz was very gracious with gifting me the money.”

Soap cocked his head, looking between the dress and you. “That lad never buys me anythin’,” he huffed, taking a seat next to you. The telescope sat carefully in his lap. “And here he is, buyin’ ye a whole store.”

Your eyebrows furrowed as you looked up at him. You briefly recalled Ghost seeming just as confused by the generosity. “Is this not common?”

Soap snorted, shaking his head. “Nah. Gaz is a stickler with his money. Doesn’t like to spend it unless necessary.” He sniffed, peering down at the fabric in your lap. “He clearly didn’t care to give ye some, though.”

You were surprised, to say the least. Gaz didn’t seem the type to be cautious with his spendings, and to learn that he gave you money despite that left you just as confused.

He had no reason to do so. He was simply being generous. But now, knowing it wasn’t just something he did casually, it left you wondering.

“Strange,” you muttered to yourself. Soap gave a hum of agreement.

“What’s this, by the way?” he asked, lifting the telescope. He inspected it, turning it in his hand. “Ye don’t seem the type to use it.”

You watched as he fiddled with it, growing a sense of protectiveness. You were scared he’d break it, or worse, deem it unusable.

“Gaz’s one request was to bring him back a gift,” you explained. “I know he likes to sit and watch the sky at night when it is quiet and peaceful. I got him a telescope to make the experience better.”

Soap’s eyebrows raised and he placed the scope to his eye, frowning. “I don’t think it works, dove.”

You sighed, shaking your head. “It does not work well indoors, Soap. It is meant for distance.”

“Ah.”

He pulled it away, smoothing a thumb over the gold detailing. As if sensing your faint distress, he turned to you, holding it out. “Ye gonna give it to him?”

You took it graciously, cupping it in your palm. “Do you know where he is?”

Soap nodded, giving you a toothy smile. “North end of the deck. That’s his favorite spot.”

You noted that in your mind. Gaz was always a lonely wanderer, so it came as no surprise that he was on the opposite end of the ship, soaking in the quiet. That was something the two of you had in common.

You couldn’t help but wonder. “Do you think he will like it?” you asked, uncertain.

You felt silly, stressing yourself over whether Gaz will appreciate your gift. A gift was all it was, one he specifically told you to surprise him with, yet you found your stomach in knots.

Soap lifted a hand, giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze. When you looked at him, he was smiling softly, a hint of amusement glistening in his eyes.

“He’ll love it,” he assured kindly, and he gave you no reason to think otherwise. “Though, I also like gifts.”

You felt your lips curl up involuntarily and you laughed lightly, something Soap reflected. “There is no need to be envious, Soap,” you jested, standing from the bed. “It is but a one time thing.”

Soap beamed, eyes following you as you stood. “Just a mental note for the future,” he replied back cooly.

You shook your head, making your way towards the door with the telescope in your grasp. You felt Soap watching you, and when you turned, you stilled when he seemed to be in thought so quickly.

“I really do think the dresses are pretty, by the way,” he murmured, voice much quieter. “They… suit ye.”

Your gaze flickered over to the dresses muddled behind him before returning to him. “Thank you,” you replied warmly. “I’ll be sure to try them on tomorrow.”

Soap smiled softly, giving you a nod. You returned the favor, turning back around to leave the quarters, beginning your mission to find the mysterious pirate who loved to vanish in the night.

Your nerves grew the closer you got to the North end of the ship, and you weren’t sure why. It wasn’t as if Gaz were a danger nor a stranger, yet your heart pounded aggressively against your rib cage with every step you took.

The telescope felt infinitely heavier in your hand, and you repeatedly swiped your thumbs over the gold detailing to rid it of any grimy fingerprints and ensure it looked good as new.

Gaz was exactly where Soap said he’d be, and you instantly paused your walking, staring at his back. His gaze was towards the sky, shoulders relaxed and at ease. One knee pulled towards him while the other dangled loosely over the edge.

“Gaz?” you called out quietly as not to startle him.

Gaz’s head tilted back to look at you, and a smile graced his lips. “Hey, dove. Y’alright?”

You stepped closer until you were standing by his side, peering down at the dark abyss the ocean offered below. It was black, your eyes struggling to adjust to the waves that lapped at the ship.

“Mm. Soap told me I could find you here.”

Gaz studied you, curious. “What’s the occasion?” he asked, before his gaze dropped down to your furled hand that held the telescope.

You shifted awkwardly on your feet, before Gaz gestured for you to sit beside him. You complied, letting your legs dangle with his one over the edge, knee brushing his.

“What’s that?” he questioned in faint amusement, nodding towards the telescope.

Gosh, you didn’t know why you felt so unnerved. Perhaps it was due to this being the first time you were gifting somebody something special. You feared he wouldn’t like it, and your heart kept lurching out of your chest as if it were running a marathon.

“Your gift,” you answered, slowly reaching the telescope out. He took it carefully, immediately observing the intricate detailing. “I know you like coming out at night, so I thought it may help you see the sky better.”

Your hands furled into fists on your thighs. You kept your gaze on the sea, reveling in the breeze that came with.

Why wasn’t he saying anything?

It had knots growing in your throat that you desperately tried to swallow down.

You felt foolish and silly. The entire duration of your stay on the ship, you held your ground and stalked your claim. You remained stubborn and fearless for as much as your fragile heart could possibly take, yet all it took for your resolve to crumble was a sickening anxiety over whether or not Gaz liked his gift.

It felt like you were a little girl again, fighting for approval from the other kids in the village. Wondering why you had to be different, why they couldn’t be friendly towards you.

You felt so stupid—

“Hm. You win,” he hummed, smiling faintly to himself.

You whipped your head up to look at him. The scope was pressed to his eye as he gazed up at the stars, admiring them through a new lens.

“What?” you breathed, confused.

“Our negotiation,” he recalled, pulling the scope away to glance at you. “You win.”

You stared at him dumbly, realization creeping in. If he didn’t like your gift, you were to owe him the money back for the clothes. If he did, then you were home free.

“You like it?” you asked, unsure. You thought he was messing with you. He was secretly more of a tease than Soap, and you knew it just from the day of the negotiation alone.

“Oh, yeah. This thing is a real dime,” he assured, inspecting the telescope in his hand. “You know me better than I thought. Lucky you.”

You watched as he looked into the scope again, his other eye squinting to focus. You shifted your gaze to join him in looking up while your stomach twisted and rolled in shot nerves.

“It’s a shame I lost, but I can’t deny that this is somethin’ I would’ve killed to have had I thought of it. You did well, dove,” he praised and you felt your heart leap.

Gaz turned to you before holding out the scope. You raised your eyebrows, shaking your head and throwing your hands up in protest. “No, it’s for you—”

“Look through it, dove,” he sighed. “Give it a shot.”

You paused, glancing down at the scope. You hesitantly took it, giving Gaz a quick look before lifting the scope to your eye.

The sky was pretty before, but now, it was breathtaking to look at. You didn’t appreciate it enough before.

Through the lens, the stars twinkled brightly, waving hello. They were much easier to see, and much more beautiful up close.

You could finally understand why Gaz enjoyed his time out here. It was as if lying under a blanket of warmth, shielded away from the troubles day brought and invited into a night of oasis.

“Beautiful,” Gaz breathed out. “Am I right?”

You nodded, lost in the shining lights. It truly was, and you felt calmer than ever since your first night aboard. In the night sky, there was no Graves, nor danger waiting for you. Just blissful serenity.

You reluctantly pulled the scope away, handing it back to Gaz. He was already looking at you, and when you met eyes, he grinned, taking the scope.

“It’s a nice gift, birdie,” he said calmly. “No need to beat yourself up about it. I could feel you gettin’ all nagged up before you even arrived.”

He knew you were there? Embarrassment flooded your body and you grumbled in feigned annoyance, looking away. He snickered to himself, resuming his time with the scope.

The air filled with a light silence, the only sound being the crashing waves that seemed to further the peace. It was an escape from the hands of life, and you understood enough to see Gaz in a new life.

He was a pirate, through and through, but that human side of him stilled longed for a simple life. You couldn’t help but think of the last time the two of you spoke beneath a blanketed sky, when he had confessed he was a prince, yet turned to a life of crime.

“What was your life like before?” you couldn’t help but ask. “Before you were a pirate, I mean. When you were a… prince.”

Gaz made a noise under his breath, one of thought, and he slowly removed the scope, letting his hand fall into his lap.

“I had everythin’ I could ever want,” he started slowly. He made no efforts to look at you, lost in his own world.

“Then why’d you leave?” you pushed.

Gaz glanced at you from the corner of his eye before sighing through his nose. “Everythin’ can still mean nothin’,” he explained. “There was an arranged marriage between a princess from a neighboring country and I. When I flat out refused, it caused tension.”

Gaz twiddled with the telescope absentmindedly, his focus stuck on the stars. You wondered if he was embarrassed or ashamed.

“I didn’t want a lifetime of dead romance between a woman I did not want. I wanted freedom and individuality,” he continued, growing solemn by the second. You could feel the passion in his words.

“Did you run away, then?” you asked, curious. “You left the kingdom?”

Gaz snorted through his nose, though it was more bitter than amused. “I fled like a coward,” he corrected sharply. “War broke out the moment I left. Blood and ash was the only thing left of my home.”

You gawked in surprise, feeling a tightness in your chest. It seemed all too familiar, in which your home was destined with the same fate. By none other than him, too. It was dramatic irony.

“Your family?” you whispered, and he shrugged.

“Dead, surely.” His fiddling with the telescope grew more consistent. “I wouldn’t know.”

You frowned, turning away from him when he began to seem uncomfortable. Whether it was with your questions or simply his past, you weren’t sure, but you hated ruining a decent moment. They were rare as is.

“I apologize,” you murmured lowly. Gaz perked up, throwing you a weary look.

“Hm?” He sat up straighter, shifting so his body faced towards you. “Why are you apologizin’?”

“I made things uncomfortable for you,” you replied, deflated. “It is a difficult topic, I understand. So, I apologize.”

Gaz went quiet, staring at you with eyes that felt like they’d pierce through your soul. Then, he smiled, tilting his head to the side and eyeing you down. “That is to nobody’s fault but my own,” he assured kindly. “You lost your home just as much as I. I am not uncomfortable talkin’ with you.”

You lifted your head up enough to side eye him, testing the waters. He didn’t appear upset, especially not with you, to your surprise. You’re used to Price having an easy temper to set off, yet Gaz acted as if no anguish had been spoken.

You felt relieved.

“I am glad,” you commented stiffly, awkwardly. “I do not feel uncomfortable talking to you as well.”

Gaz released a lovely laugh that filled the air, easing the previous tension you’d been building on your own. “I’m glad myself, birdie,” he retorted easily. “I appreciate the gift.”

The gift sat in his palm, no longer being fiddled and moved at an anxious rate. It sat calmly, his grip light on it, as if he was now worried about holding it too tightly and damaging it.

“Soap told me you do not normally offer luxuries to them, nor yourself,” you recalled. “Was I a special case?”

Gaz hummed in thought, a smile gracing his radiant features. You had to stifle your own beating heart and sweaty palms. “I feel bad for you,” he confessed without a moment’s hesitation. “I figured an act of kindness could go a long way with you. It seems it has.”

He shook the telescope teasingly before letting it rest back on his lap. You smiled small, happy to know he truly enjoyed the gift and not simply out of pity.

“You do not have to feel bad for me,” you assured. “I will be quite alright.”

“Will you?”

You cocked your head in question.

“It is a lot to take on for a bird like yourself. You should be out there, livin’ how you want. Now stuck on here with us,” Gaz said. His expression was unreadable, but you could sense the slight concern.

“I could say the same for you, could I not?” you replied with a shrug. “You also seem to suffer similar fate.”

Gaz quirked his eyebrows, pursing his lips. He mulled over your words, giving them a decent thought. Truthfully, he knew you were correct. Perhaps that’s why he liked you.

“You win again, dove,” he replied softly, a warm smile on his face.

You smiled back, unable to hold back the sudden burst of feeling that coursed through your veins. Gaz made you feel heard, and under the concept of moonlight and stars, it made everything feel much more of a rush.

Your eyes locking on to one another’s made you nervous, even more so that he did it so shamelessly. It seemed as if the two of you got lost in time, the world around you freezing. The sound of waves faded away, the rocking of the boat seizing to a halt.

“Thank you for the telescope,” Gaz thanked, voice soft as ever. You nearly missed it.

You fumbled for words, wanting to look away but unable to. “It is nothing,” you murmured, fisting the fabric of the old night shirt you wore and had yet to discard.

Your daze seemed to falter momentarily when you felt a finger graze your cheek, the touch gentle as it mapped out your skin. Gaz seemed just as entranced as you, and in that moment, you grew fearful.

Fearful of what?

You couldn’t figure it out.

The distance between the two of you seemed closer than ever, and you don’t recall either of you moving. The realization made you jolt, forcefully tearing your eyes away and leaning back.

“I am glad you like your gift,” you muttered, flustered. You made quick work to stand on your feet, stumbling in the process. “I should rest. Enjoy your night, Gaz.”

You didn’t stick around to see the surprised look on Gaz’s face, nor how it morphed into crestfallen. You left as quickly as you could, making haste to the shared quarters so you could lock yourself in, pray to the Gods you fell asleep before he returned, and that Soap wasn’t awake to burden you with any questions.

[randxmthxughts]

Be Mine - Neteyam x Metkayina ! reader (fake dating)

summary: the one, where neteyam pretends to court the reader to avoid all of the nagging from his parents and a group of admirers. of course, it doesn’t take long for her to fall for him too

warnings: none really, pure fluff, fake dating trope, jealousy, loak x tsireya canon, events take place five years after the battle between the metkayina and the sky people, so aged up characters

wc: >12k

a/n: now that i finished writing this, i realized that i wrote an avatar version of bridgerton, lol </3 if you enjoy this, i love getting compliments and reblogs

masterlist

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Everybody knew about Neteyam te Suli Tsyeyk'itan, ever since his family first stepped into your village. His blue skin, golden eyes, and the strange tail, were easily the talk of almost every conversation among your peers. Yet, despite the obvious physical differences, there was always something about him that fascinated you, lured you in.

Many things changed after the Battle at the Three Brothers. With the help of your soul sisters and brothers Tulkuns, and joined by the great Toruk Makto, your Olo’yektan had an upper hand and a decisive victory over the sky people. It was a victory to be passed down in stories to your future generations and to be celebrated gloriously among the clan. This year was marking its fifth anniversary, with a big celebration that would last the whole night.

Since that battle, Neteyam has truly transformed into a man, earning approving and respectful looks from all around him. His forest upbringing never held Neteyam back from growing into his place among the Metkayina: his once slim shoulders broadened, matching the most skillful divers, height increased, and his muscles started showing without even flexing. In addition to his looks, his physical appearance never betrayed his personality. It seemed like Neteyam had the purest, kindest heart amongst all, always rushing to help the villagers with their chores, big and small; whether it meant fixing up a canoe, carrying baskets of food, or sometimes even babysitting, that is if he had time. His father was reluctant to stop the training with his sons, just in case of another attack from the sky people, so Neteyam rarely had any time for himself. 

Guys wanted to be his friends, while the girls were fawning over him, hoping to become his mate. It was no secret that now, being of an age to pick the one for himself, parents’ sudden attention and admiring looks were following him everywhere. But Neteyam didn’t rush to choose.

Unlike his brother, Lo'ak seemed to have his life all figured out, especially when it came to matters of the heart. Falling for Tsireya, Lo’ak had many expectations to live up to, if he wanted to be with her. After all, she was the daughter of the chief, and a tsakarem, the future Tsahik of Metkayina. And while at first, Tsireya’s parents were hesitant of the bond she was forming with the forest boy, Lo’ak’s family spoke for himself. His father had played a significant role in the victory at the Three Brothers, providing guidance and knowledge that helped secure their win. Lo'ak also worked hard on himself to earn her parents’ approval. So the day, when Lo’ak finally returned home with Tsireya's necklace around his neck, a symbol of acceptance, was the day when Neteyam felt the weight on his shoulders double in size. 

You were no different from the other girls adoring Neteyam, as you had also developed a crush on him during your teenage years. It was unavoidable, really. Before you grew out of your friendship with Tsireya, the two of you used to be quite close. So when the Sully’s first moved to Awa'atlu, and Tsireya was assigned to guide the kids, you were often hanging around them too. 

But it was easy for you to accept that you were never going to be an equal match for Neteyam. He had many admirers who were stronger than you, more skilled, more talented, and had respected families. Everything came into the play, and you were losing at every aspect. So, you have successfully suppressed this silly crush for years, before you could finally push it to the very far back of your mind and forget about it. Instead, you occupied yourself with your learning. 

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Despite not being friends anymore, Tsireya and you have always maintained a polite demeanor towards each other. Now it did feel a little strange to be paired with her for the gathering of pxorna’ fruits, but you had to follow through. As per tradition, the entire clan was divided into groups to prepare for the upcoming celebration, and you were assigned to work together. Even though climbing tall trees wasn't exactly your strong suit as a water Na'vi, protesting wasn't an option: after all, the sweetest fruits were always at the very top. So, to make the task easier, you and Tsireya took turns climbing the trees and picking the fruits, then one would lower the bag for the other to catch and store into the big woven baskets provided. This method ensured that the bag wouldn't become too heavy for you to carry back down.

Ready to lower another batch of fruits, you call out to Tsireya to catch it. But instead of a response, all you can hear is her laughter. Surely enough, when you look down, you find her engrossed in a conversation with Lo’ak, completely ignoring you. You try to catch her attention one more time, before huffing under your breath, and deciding to climb down by yourself. You clutch the bag tightly against your chest, but as you get closer to the ground, some of the fruits start slipping out of your grip. Your hand reaches out instinctively to catch at least one, when you suddenly begin to lose your balance. You can almost imagine the damage to your back muscles, once you will hit the ground, when a pair of hands help you down on the ground.

“I got you,” you hear an accompanying voice. 

“Thank you,” you blink in surprise, as you find Neteyam Sully to be your savior.

“You spilled some but they should be good,” he grins at you, as he crouches down and starts gathering the fruits from the ground.

Quietly, you empty your bag into the basket, throwing a glance at the other basket. It’s almost empty. You sigh out of frustration. There was still a lot of work to do, but Tsireya now seems to be completely distracted. At this rate, you’ll never finish. 

“Lo’ak, that’s enough,” Neteyam grabs his brother by the shoulder, interrupting his chat with Tsireya. An amused smile creeps up on your face.

“Come on, bro, let’s stay,” Lo’ak gestures to the trees around him, “At least, there is work to do here. You know the area where Ronal sent us for fruit is dead.”

“I don’t care, if we have to gather fruits from the dead trees,” Neteyam tries to pull him but Lo’ak stands his ground, “Lo’ak, you know that whatever Ronal decides is not up to discussion.”

“Bro, we spent an hour climbing those trees for nothing,” Lo’ak points to the empty baskets they brought, “If we stay here, we can help out the girls and gather for ourselves too. No one has to know.”

“Neteyam, please,” Tsireya pleads.

“Ah, what the hell?” Neteyam shakes his head before breaking into a toothy grin, “But these baskets are gonna have to be full, Lo’ak.”

“Sure.”

You roll your eyes at how easily Neteyam agrees to the empty promise. You weren’t close with Lo’ak but even you knew how often he got into trouble for not keeping his word. It doesn’t take long to confirm your suspicion: while you and Neteyam are occupied with the task on hand, Lo’ak and Tsireya disappear from underneath the trees. 

“Great,” you huffed, emptying yet another full bag into the basket.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help,” Neteyam says with a gentle tone.

You watch him empty out his bag into your basket too, instead of his. 

“You don’t have to do that,” you feel guilty. Does he always work harder to overcompensate for Lo’ak’s behavior?

“I don’t mind.”

He takes it so light-heartedly, you wonder if it’s a daily occurrence. You stare off into the direction where Tsireya and Lo’ak had previously disappeared.

“Don’t you find it annoying?” you ask him curiously. Surely, even he must have his limits.

“They mean well, give them a break,” Neteyam chuckles, nudging your shoulder.

“You know if you keep covering for him all the time, he will never learn his lesson,” you shake your head, “Lo’ak will be the only adult who doesn’t know how to take care of simple chores.”

“He’s not that hopeless,” he laughs, finding your reaction amusing, “He’s just a kid in love.”

You don’t disagree with him, instead falling quiet. There was no place for you to talk about his brother’s behavior, you weren’t close.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be discussing your family matters like this.”

“No need to apologize, Y/N,” his gaze softens, “Besides, wouldn’t you prefer a forest Na’vi climbing the trees, instead of Tsireya? I promise I am much better at it.”

“Of course you are,” you return his smile.

The two of you get back to work, with mostly Neteyam picking the fruits, and you filling up the baskets. Despite your initial annoyance with Tsireya for leaving you, you seem to enjoy working with Neteyam way more. He’s quick and attentive, and you are grateful for him overtaking the climbing part, because you were always a little clumsy when it came to physical activities.

Soon enough, the baskets are nearly full, so you decide to regain your strength and take a break. Neteyam peels fruits for the both of you, and you sit under the trees, enjoying the shade. 

“Hey, did you make that bag?” he suddenly points at the pocket attached to your belt. It was a small woven bag that you had on you all the time, in case you found beads or rocks you could put to use.

“I did.”

“It looks great,” Neteyam smiles, “I’m not surprised though. You always had golden hands.”

“That is not true,” you disagree.

“Are you joking?” his smile grows wider, “Y/N, you make the most beautiful items. I see people approaching you everyday for help. Do you know anybody else in the village who is as skilled at weaving as you?”

“Well…no,” you shake your head.

“Believe me, you really have a talent for it.”

It wasn’t just weaving that he was referring to. You were pretty handy when it came to making jewelry, also clothes, and headpieces. When you first indulged yourself in weaving, eager to learn to make beautiful pieces for yourself, you never expected that it would turn into a hobby. Your expertise soon expanded to other things too, like making resin weapons, toys, you even took up pottery. Eventually, people noticed and started approaching you with small tasks here and there, and you were glad to help out. But your clan didn’t have a name for your occupation, so you never considered yourself to fit into one. 

“Remember the ceremonial belt you helped me make? It still holds up incredibly,” Neteyam reminds you with a toothy grin.

Of course you remember. It was exactly four years ago, when one night, Neteyam came to your marui, ears pressed flat against his skull in embarrassment. He had to explain the reason for his late visit in front of your parents, saying that he had only the night to make his ceremonial belt. It took you by surprise, because Neteyam wasn’t known for slacking off. He just didn’t think that it would be so difficult to make a damned belt. Scolded by his parents for not starting out sooner, he was then too embarrassed to ask them for help, so there he was instead, asking for yours. Having a soft spot for Neteyam, your parents allowed you to help him, despite the late hour. You two barely caught any sleep that night, working on the belt, making sure that it looked special, different from the other guys’. Neteyam watched your movements attentively, eager to learn, so sometimes you would pass the belt back to him to practice.

“I see you still wearing it sometimes,” you smile.

“You really helped me out back then, I was going to get skinned if I didn’t have a belt by the time for my ceremony,” he pauses, “I still owe you for that.”

“Nonsense, no one owes me anything. Neither do you,” you shake your head, “I like helping.”

“You can’t possibly help everyone with nothing in return.”

“I mean, people bring me food here and there,” you chuckle.

“No gifts?” he quirks his eyebrow.

“Not so much. I can make my own gifts,” you shrug, “But Mateä brings me seashells sometimes.”

“Seashells? Do you like those?”

“Oh, they make necklaces and cover ups look so lovely. Of course, they’re a little tricky to work with but it’s worth it,” you explain, “And Mateä always makes sure to bring the most beautiful shells he can find… Sometimes, he even lets me have the ones he picked for himself.”

You knew Mateä ever since you were kids. He was only a year older than you, but he was very mature for his age, way more than anyone you knew. Mateä was also one of the most skilled swimmers in your clan, which allowed him to swim outside of the perimeters and discover great depths. So whenever he had a small task for you, like fixing up his spear, or making an armor for his ilu, in return he would bring you the most unique-looking, colorful shells he could find. 

“Why would Mateä pick shells for himself?” Neteyam squints.

"He probably just likes them," you shrug, "But there were times when he asked me to make a shell necklace for him, but then he would insist that I keep it for myself because he knew how much I liked it."

“So he makes you make your own gifts?” Neteyam snorts.

“Hey, that’s rude,” you give him a playful slap on the arm, “It doesn’t matter. I have many beautiful things thanks to him.”

“I’m only kidding… I just think that he might like you, that’s all.”

“Maybe.”

You don’t deny his accusation, partly because there is some truth to it. Mateä’s and your fathers were close friends, so they were quite happy with the possibility of you and him bonding some day. And while growing up there was no pressure on either side, the two of you had always felt that something might happen. You were never opposed to the idea anyway. Mateä was a good match for you: he was admired for his strength and swimming, and he was very respectful towards you. And even when you had your little crush on Neteyam, you still knew that Mateä was a more likely option. More recently though, you suspected that Mateä was eyeing you too. He just never made a move… not a direct one anyway. 

“Is he taking you as his date to the celebration tonight?” Neteyam interrupts your thoughts.

“Are we supposed to bring dates?” you ask, teasing. Sure, some brought dates to celebrations to make their bonds known but it wasn’t a requirement.

“Exactly! My father wants me to bring a date, like this isn’t a celebration of a battle.” he emphasizes the last word with his thick accent, clearly annoyed. 

“Why does he want you to bring a date?” you cock your head.

“Because I lied,” he blurts out, a guilty expression covering his face.

“Lied?”

“That I am courting someone,” he cringes, “Even though that someone doesn’t exist.”

“Why would you lie about courting someone nonexistent when you have dozens of girls ready to be swept away by you?” you stifle a laugh, “Especially Zìsmì.”

“Please don’t mention her,” Neteyam rolls his eyes, “I don’t mean to sound rude but Zìsmì is very persistent. I sometimes have to turn directions to avoid running into her.”

“That’s kind of mean,” you decide to tease him, saying that with a stern tone, like you mean it. Neteyam shifts uncomfortably. 

“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s rude of me to talk about her that way,” he begins to apologize but stops at the sound of your laughter.

“I’m only joking, Neteyam,” you tilt your head back, “Don’t worry, everyone knows how pushy Zìsmì can get. If the two of you were ever to become mates, she would dominate you completely.”

“Thank you!” he agrees eagerly, “Please tell that to my parents. They have been so persistent that I reciprocate her attention. I mean… just because she is a good hunter and has respected parents, doesn’t mean I click with her.”

“Is that why you lied?”

“Yeah… I just didn’t think it through. I only said it to get them off my back for a while,” he explains, his voice low, “But when I told them that I wanted to keep it a secret for a bit longer, they got too excited. So sometimes, they kick me out of the house to go on my secret dates.”

“Secret dates?” 

“I kind of told them that the girl I’m courting hasn’t told her parents yet, that’s why we have to hide.”

“For a lie you didn’t think through, you sure had many details to add,” you’re amused by the clear regret on his face, “So they want to meet her tonight?”

“To confirm that I am not lying. After all, it’s been going for over a month now,” he sighs.

“A month?”

“I know, I’m going to get skinned,” Neteyam hides his face in his palms.

“Skinned by whom? Dad or Zismi?” Lo’ak’s voice interrupts your conversation.

Hand in hand, Tsireya and Lo’ak emerge from the trees and sit in front of you. She throws a concerned look at Neteyam.

“Dad, of course” Neteyam breathes out, still not lifting his head, “I can deal with Zìsmì later.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Lo’ak smirks, “By the way, you owe me, bro. Zismi was going to invite you as her date tonight.”

“What?” Neteyam looks up at his brother, “How do you know?”

“Oh, she asked me in the morning. She was looking for you, and then told me that she wanted to invite you.”

“What did you say?”

“I told her that she shouldn’t because you already had a date,” he shrugs.

“Lo’ak,” Tsireya groans, disappointed, “Now your brother will have to apologize to her, once she catches on the lie.”

“I am so dead,” Neteyam grunts, “If I could only have a little more time to think about it, I’m sure I can figure it out. But it’s like she’s conspiring with my parents against me.”

“Maybe you just need to finally turn her down,” you suggest, earning a chuckle from Lo’ak, “What?”

“Neteyam and rejecting someone don't go in the same sentence. He would rather run and sneak around the village, than tell someone that they annoy him.”

“I just don’t find that type of conversation pleasant. Or necessary,” Neteyam objects.

“They are necessary if the person doesn’t get the hint,” Tsireya adds, “Remember when Nauru -”

“Please don’t remind me of Nauru,” Neteyam interrupts her with a pleading voice.

“What did Nauru do?” you ask, now curious.

“Oh, you don’t know?” a grin stretches on Lo’ak’s lips, “It was insane.”

“It’s not funny, Lo’ak,” Tsireya shushes him, turning to you, “At first, it was kind of sweet. Nauru would leave gifts for Neteyam by his marui. But there was this one time she left him flowers, and, of course, she didn’t know that some of those were poisonous. Neteyam almost lost a finger because of her. She would also follow him everywhere, even show up to his hunts, almost earning an arrow in her head by another hunter. It was getting out of hand, and Neteyam had to reject her directly and ask her to give up.”

“Enough about Nauru,” Neteyam groans, “What am I going to do now? Even if I do turn down Zismi, I’d still have mom and dad to deal with.”

“You’re right,” Lo’ak agrees, empathizing with his brother, “I’m sure you’ll like someone eventually, but we both know how impatient our parents can get.”

The four of you fall silent for a moment, contemplating a solution to Neteyam's situation. But somewhere deep down in your heart, you feel a little relieved that he didn’t have his eye set on anyone yet. You are also partially grateful to your parents for not pressuring you in the same way. It must be hard having the Toruk Makto for your father.

“I know what to do to win more time, Neteyam!” Tsireya excitedly interrupts your thought process, “Remember the time Ao’nung asked Sìlälaw to play along, as if he was courting her?”

“That was pretend?” you ask. Surely, you missed out on a lot of things by not being friends with Tsireya anymore.

“Of course,” she says, like it’s obvious, “Before finding his mate, Ao’nung was getting scolded everyday by our mom and dad. So, he asked Sìlälaw to help him out, pretend like he was following her around, and she just didn’t like him back.”

“I don’t have time for that,” Neteyam shakes his head.

“No, hear her out, bro,” Lo’ak holds up his palm, “It worked once, right? Mom and dad stopped bothering you, when you lied about courting someone. Just show up this once, with anyone, and that’s it.”

“And afterwards?”

“Just lie,” Lo’ak exclaims, “Say that it didn’t work out or something, who cares.”

“And when it doesn't ‘work out’,” Tsireya chimes in, “You can win some more time by being ‘heartbroken’ and ‘not ready’ to pursue another girl yet.”

“It seems so excessive,” you comment, considering the plan, “Isn’t it easier to tell the truth?”

“The truth doesn’t work,” Neteyam lets out a painful chuckle, then turns to his brother, “Where would I even find someone to agree?”

“Now that’s tough,” Lo’ak hums, “Half of the girls are swooning over you, you’ll never hear the end of it.”

“What about Y/N?” Tsireya points at you.

“What about me?” you raise your eyebrows, confused.

“You don’t care for Neteyam like that,” she starts explaining, “And, you’ve had Mateä running after you for years now, but he still hasn’t even asked you out yet. Maybe if he sees you with Neteyam for one night, it’ll make him jealous and finally give him the push he needs.”

Neteyam snorts, like it’s an unlikely possibility.

“Mateä is never going to act out of jealousy, he’s not like that,” you object, “What if he stops speaking to me afterwards?”

“Then we will send Neteyam to talk to him. Neteyam will tell him that he’s heartbroken over you, and that you rejected him for Mateä,” Lo’ak chimes in, “He will dig for some information, nudge Mateä to confess to you. It’s so easy, like it was written in the stars.”

You can’t really find a flaw in Lo’ak’s suggestion. Maybe receiving a confirmation about your feelings is just the thing Mateä’s waiting for.

“Still, I’m not crazy. Do you even know how much pressure it would be to face all those girls?”

“Right, I shouldn’t be putting Y/N into such a position,” Neteyam supports your point.

“Y/N doesn’t have to face them at all. You can turn down those girls easily because you’ll have a perfect excuse. They would be too embarrassed to approach Y/N.”

“I guess,” Neteyam hums, “What do you think, Y/N? I mean, no pressure, but I would owe you for the rest of my life.”

“I don’t know,” you shrug your shoulders. It just feels icky.

“Come on, Y/N, for the sake of our past friendship,” Tsireya pleads with you.

“Okay… it’s just for one night, right?” you agree. It wasn’t.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

You feel like your heart is about to leap out of your chest, when Neteyam takes your hand in his. You take in a deep breath, heading towards the celebration with him. Lo’ak and Tsireya walk ahead of you.

It feels odd to be wearing Neteyam’s necklace instead of your own. That was the courtesy of Tsireya, who was convinced that once anyone saw you two exchange your necklaces, they would be convinced that the courting was serious. 

“I’m scared,” you admit through your teeth.

“Thank you again,” Neteyam whispers, squeezing your hand.

“Come on, guys,” Lo’ak turns to the two of you with an excited smile, “Act natural, okay?”

You nod your head but you’re not sure how you’re going to survive through the night. The closer you get to the celebration, the more people start noticing you. Hushed voices and gasps is all that catches your attention, even though Neteyam walks right beside you. Why does everyone look so surprised? You almost feel offended by the looks you get. Were Neteyam and you really that incompatible? 

The four of you take a seat around a small fire, pairs of eyes watching your every moment. You can’t help but sense Neteyam’s nervousness traveling down his body.

“You alright?” you whisper.

“Not really,” he admits, “Have you seen my parents yet?”

As you scan the crowd of Na'vi dancing and singing, your eyes land on Neytiri talking to someone. Jake stands beside her but his attention seems to be elsewhere, as he occasionally looks around him. Both of them are wearing celebratory clothing that is slightly more elaborate than any of yours. After all, it was a testament to their importance in the victorious battle.

“It looks like your father is looking for you.”

“Shit,” Neteyam lets out, nervously. You can’t help but laugh at his reaction.

“Keep it up,” Tsireya says, “The more relaxed you seem, the more believable this will look.”

She gestures at the two of you, and as you look down, you notice how close you and Neteyam are pressed to each other. It’s like you’re trying to hide from the attention you’re getting. 

It’s not long before you catch Mateä watching you from afar. Your heart beats faster, when his eyes travel to your hand still intertwined with Neteyam’s. He gulps down, and you wonder if he feels jealous.

“Mateä’s looking,” Neteyam points out, “You want to take it up by a notch?”

“What do you mean?” you turn your face to him, confused. 

There is a hint of playfulness in Neteyam’s eyes before he slowly leans in, his mouth close to your ear. You shudder under his breath.

“Pretend I said something funny, and laugh,” he whispers.

“I can’t pretend to laugh,” you whisper back, annoyed, “Can’t you just tell me something funny?”

Neteyam pulls back slightly to look at you. There is an amused smile resting on his face.

“We’re really bad at this, aren’t we?”

“You think?” you quirk your eyebrow at him, earning a small laugh from him.

“Okay, this can work too,” he says. You can’t help but smile at him.

But when you check for Mateä again, he’s nowhere to be found. Your smile drops. What if you hurt him? As if sensing your sudden change in mood, Neteyam gently squeezes your hand. 

"Are you alright?" he asks, “Is Mateä still looking?”

“No, I think he walked away,” you mumble, standing up, “I’m going to get us something to drink, okay?”

“Alright,” Neteyam mumbles back, watching you leave.

“Are you crazy?” Lo’ak slaps Neteyam on the arm, “Go with her, or they’re gonna eat her up alive.”

Following Lo’ak’s gaze, Neteyam sees Zìsmì with her friends. He quickly gets to his feet to follow you but you have already disappeared in the crowd.

“Y/N,” Zìsmì’s voice catches your attention. 

Sighing, you turn around to face her. She has a coy smile on her lips, as she takes you in from head to toe. You wait for her to talk.

“The necklace, did you make that yourself?” Zismi points to your neck, pretending as if she didn’t recognize it right away.

“It looks a lot like Neteyam’s necklace,” one of her friends says, before you could even open your mouth.

“That’s a little weird,” Zismi comments.

“You have a good eye, it is Neteyam’s necklace,” you gather as much confidence as you can, watching their expressions change, “He gave it to me.”

“Why would he give you his necklace?” Zismi scoffs.

“Because I wanted to see it on her,” you suddenly hear Neteyam’s voice, as he appears next to you, “Everything Y/N touches, basically turns into a lucky charm.”

The girls stare at Neteyam, their eyes widened. Again, you feel a little offended. Why is everyone so surprised that he likes you? Before you can react, Neteyam gently pulls you by your hand.

“We have to go, girls,” he throws with his most polite smile.

Feeling their stares like daggers in your back, Neteyam moves closer to you and wraps his arm around your waist protectively, leading you away from the prying eyes.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have left you alone,” he cranes his neck to whisper.

“It’s alright, I’m not scared of Zismi,” you turn to look at him, “Unlike you.”

“Very funny,” Neteyam rolls his eyes. 

His arm is still firmly wrapped around your waist, as the two of you continue walking. The warmth of his body against yours feels almost comforting, despite the curious glances you receive. Neteyam seems to notice it too, as he tightens his grip on you, pulling you a little closer to him. 

"Just ignore them," there is a hint of annoyance in his voice. You wonder if it’s bothering him more than you.

As you get closer to the big fire, you hear a loud cheer erupt from the crowd. Instinctively, you want to find out what’s happening. A chuckle of disbelief escapes from your mouth, when you see Neytiri and Jake dancing around the fire, to the fast rhythm of the drums. While Neytiri’s movements are gracious and fluid, Jake’s are… Well, Jake is trying his best. She throws her head back in laughter, when he makes an awkward movement, but no one else dares to laugh at the Toruk Makto, except for his mate. Suddenly, he sweeps Neytiri up into his arms and twirls her around the fire. The Na’vi cheer them on and on, clapping their hands in amusement.

You join in on the clapping, caught up in their infectious joy. When you turn to look at Neteyam, however, you notice that he's cringing.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” 

“They are acting like little kids,” Neteyam huffs.

“I think it’s sweet,” you nudge him with a smile, “Loosen up, Neteyam.”

“How can I?” he rolls his eyes at you.

“If your father can relax for one night, so can you,” you push him into the circle, with a loud shout, “Dance, Neteyam!”

Neteyam stands frozen for a moment, clearly embarrassed by your sudden action. His ears lower, and he tries to step out of the circle, but Lo’ak nudges him back in. The music picks up and the crowd cheers louder, but Neteyam stands still, clearly irritated by your behavior.

You can’t watch him anymore, so you jump to his rescue, and take his hands in yours. He tries to resist at first, but it doesn’t take much convincing on your part to get him to loosen up. As you embarrass yourself with the silly movements and faces you make, you finally coax a smile out of him. You don’t care about the others watching you, you only focus on getting him to dance with you. Soon enough, Neteyam’s confidence grows, and he starts to move more freely to the rhythm with you. You hold onto his hands, feeling the warmth of his touch, and beam with adoration as you watch him give in. 

Other couples start joining in, and the circle becomes more crowded. People start pressing closer, pushing you and Neteyam towards each other, with barely any space left. His hands instinctively find your waist, yours rest on his biceps, holding him in place. You’re not sure whether it’s the heat of the fire, or it’s just him, but you feel warmer and warmer, every time his eyes meet yours. 

“You okay?” you smile, noticing drops of sweat rolling down his face, “It’s too hot here.”

Before he can answer, you lead him out of the crowd. You catch a look from your parents’ from afar, and can only roll your eyes at them. You know they were going to question you about tonight but you don’t want to think about it for now. At least they don’t seem to be mad? 

Distracted, you turn around, nearly colliding with Neteyam's parents. They look a little lightheaded, and you suspect they've had a drink made from the pxorna' fruits you gathered earlier. Quickly, you bow low and bring your fingers to your forehead in greeting. Neteyam shifts uncomfortably beside you.

“Son… and Y/N,” Jake looks between the two of you with an approving smile. 

“Y/N, are you the one Neteyam was hiding from us?” Neytiri asks curiously.

“Mom,” Neteyam tenses up, “Let’s not make her uncomfortable, please.” 

Neteyam looks so stressed, you wonder how his parents believed his lies in the first place. Maybe they were blinded by the excitement?

“We’re just glad that it’s been her this whole time,” Jake says, smiling at you, “You’re very talented, Y/N.”

“Thank you,” you reply, shying away from the compliment. 

“We were worried that Neteyam was lying just to avoid us,” Neytiri explains.

Neteyam and you chuckle nervously, hoping that this isn’t her smart way of cracking you.

“Are your parents aware?” she asks, scanning the crowd. You quickly draw her attention back to you.

“They are now… I am sorry that Neteyam had to keep this a secret from you, that was my wish,” you lie, “It is just that my mother likes rushing into many things, and I still needed some time to get to know Neteyam.”

You weren’t completely off; your mother did have a tendency to rush into things. If she had known that you were open to dating Mateä, she would have already told him by now.

“No need to apologize,” Jake chimes in, “If anything, I feel bad for forcing your hand.”

“You should feel bad,” Neteyam grunts but you can sense that he’s holding back from saying more.

“It’s alright, I’m happy to be here tonight with Nete,” you pat Neteyam on the back.

Dropping a nickname seems to be just enough to convince them. You notice the satisfied smiles settle on their faces. 

“Ma’Jake, let’s leave them alone. After all, it’s their first outing as mates,” Neytiri murmurs, pulling Jake by his hand.

“We’re not mated yet,” Neteyam cringes, but she only finds it amusing.

“It is only a matter of time, you are your father’s son after all.”

As the two of them walk away, laughing, Neteyam takes a deep breath to calm himself down. You can sense how embarrassed he feels, knowing what you heard. But you didn’t mind it all, he has no reason to be this upset.

“Are you okay?” you nudge him but Neteyam refuses to look at you, “Hey, don’t be like that.”

“I just...I didn’t think it would be this hard,” he admits, looking down.

“What would be hard? Pretending to be in love with me?” you tease, craning your neck to see his face.

“No,” he doesn’t even crack a smile, “I’m sorry for getting you into this mess.”

“You don’t have to apologize, I am enjoying this,” you take his hand in yours, finally getting him to look at you, “Besides, we’re almost done, right?”

“Right,” he nods.

“Now, come on, pretend that I said something funny and laugh,” you playfully repeat his words. Neteyam's lips twitch into a smile before he breaks into a genuine chuckle, causing your heart to skip a beat. You love the sound of his laughter.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

“You two look so good together, I am not ready for this to be over yet,” Tsireya beams, as she plops down in front of Neteyam and you. Lo’ak follows her suit.

“Maybe you should keep it up for a little longer, bro. The way you were dancing - “ Lo’ak starts to imitate Neteyam’s dancing but Neteyam slaps him.

“Stop that, skxawng.”

“Just ignore him, Neteyam, you were great out there,” Tsireya says softly.

“Seriously, being less tense suits you,” you agree, noticing Neteyam hiding a shy smile.

“I got to admit, it wasn’t bad at all,” Lo’ak straightens up, “I just haven’t seen you dance since Naye.”

“Let it go, Lo’ak,” Neteyam grunts.

“Who’s Naye?”

“Neteyam’s first crush from back home,” Lo’ak snickers, enjoying how far he can push his brother, “Neteyam was so in love with her, he couldn't even talk to her. So this one time, during a celebration, he decided to express his feelings by dancing for her.”

“Well, what did she say?” your ears perk up in anticipation.

“She just pretended like it wasn’t happening and walked away,” Lo’ak breaks into laughter.

“That’s not funny,” Tsireya covers Lo’ak’s mouth with her hand, “It’s alright, Neteyam, we all had our share of silly teenage crushes.”

She unintentionally throws you a knowing look, for support, but Lo’ak immediately catches on.

“Who did Y/N have a crush on?” he asks. 

You stiffen, feeling their gazes intensifying on you.

“It doesn’t matter now,” you try to switch the topic but Lo’ak doesn’t seem to give up.

“It shouldn’t matter then, if you say it,” he pushes, “It can’t be that bad.”

You let out a sigh, knowing that you won't be able to get out of this.

“I used to have a crush on Neteyam,” you admit as laughter erupts.

You shoot daggers at Lo’ak, who is now rolling in the sand, while Tsireya tries to cover up her laughter. You turn to Neteyam, who looks at you with a shy smile on his face.

“Before you say anything, I feel like I should clear this,” you hold up your hand, “It was just a fleeting crush before I got to know you. And it disappeared. So please don’t feel uncomfortable.”

“So you’re saying your crush disappeared right after you got to know him?” Lo’ak asks, another wave of laughter hitting him. Shit. That’s not how you wanted it to sound.

Neteyam only rolls his eyes at his brother, while Tsireya tries her best to keep a straight face.

“I’m sorry, we just sneaked some of the pxorna’ juice,” she explains. 

“I can tell,” you grit through your teeth. You have now truly understood the embarrassment Neteyam felt a moment ago.

“Y/N, please don’t take this to heart,” Tsireya rests her palm on your thigh, “Who cares what happened five years ago? We know you’re interested in Mateä now anyway.”

“Yeah,” Neteyam clears his throat, agreeing, “It was a silly crush, right? It’s all in the past now.”

You nod, but you can't shake off the feeling of unease. You couldn’t help but wonder if Neteyam was relieved that he didn't have to reject one more girl, or if he was secretly disappointed that you were interested in Mateä instead of him.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

When Neteyam asked you to keep up the fake courting till the hunting festivities to make his heartbreak more believable, you agreed. The festivities were supposed to begin only in a few weeks, to mark the beginning of the hunting season, so you thought it wasn’t a big deal. You could wait. Besides, it seemed like things were looking up for the two of you.

Neteyam was finally getting some time for himself. His father had started to ease up on him, cutting short his training. Knowing that Neteyam was supposedly courting you, Jake wanted to give his son a chance to focus on that. 

The past few months had been so tough on Neteyam both physically and mentally, that all he wanted to do was rest and recharge. So he would often use that free time to drop by your marui and ask to take naps on your floor, while you were working on whatever project you had. Since your parents were mostly out, letting you work in peace, Neteyam’s quiet snoring was no burden. And if anyone was visiting you to ask for help with their items, they would only throw an amused look at sleeping Neteyam and leave you two alone, helping you keep up your fake image without much effort. Sometimes, you would catch yourself watching him too, admiring the peaceful expression on his face, as he slept. Of course, this didn’t escape your parents’ attention, as they were peppering you with questions about Neteyam’s intentions almost every night. But you mostly ignored their inquiries, focused on the simple pleasure of being able to help Neteyam.

Slowly, the girls who used to fawn over Neteyam not too long ago also started to lose their interest. Especially with Zismi's parents informing Neytiri that they were considering another match for their daughter. Neteyam felt relieved by the idea that he didn’t have to reject anyone anymore.

On the other hand, you started noticing more efforts from Mateä. Even though you feared that he wouldn’t act out of jealousy, Mateä seemed to be persistent in seeing you more often than he usually did. Whenever you went for a swim, he was right there with you, trying his best to make you laugh. Whenever you would carry a heavy basket, Mateä sprung to your side to help. Not to mention the beautiful seashells he started to bring you without particular reason. It seemed like any day now, Mateä was going to confess his feelings for you. Neteyam didn’t seem particularly pleased whenever he witnessed your interactions, but you only assumed it was an act. 

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

As you rounded the corner to your marui, you suddenly spotted Neteyam pacing around it. You hesitated to approach him as you could hear him mumbling something under his breath. It was almost like he was practicing some sort of speech. Instead, you carefully lowered yourself into the water and swam closer to your home, hiding just underneath. You were close enough to hear him and avoid being seen. You weren’t going to eavesdrop for long, you just wanted to find out what he’s doing before revealing yourself.

Neteyam suddenly stopped talking, and for a second, you thought that he had spotted you. That is until, Mateä came into your view, stopping by the entrance to your marui. You watch quietly, as the two of them exchange a brief greeting.

“Is Y/N here?” Mateä gestures to the marui, but Neteyam shakes his head, “Oh, I guess I thought she’d be here with you.”

“Why would she be with me?” Neteyam asks, with a slight annoyance in his voice.

“Aren’t you courting her?” Mateä asks, confused, “Or are those just rumors?”

“No, it’s true,” Neteyam seems to get his act back together. For a second, you were worried he would accidentally reveal something, “But Y/N is not tied to me every minute of the day, so…”

“So it is true that you’re not mated yet,” Mateä mumbles under his breath.

“Did you have something to pass to her?” Neteyam asks impatiently, crossing his arms over his chest. What is he doing? 

“Actually, I'd prefer to give it to her myself," Mateä matches his tone, clearly not liking the possessiveness Neteyam radiates. 

“If it’s another thing you want her to make for you, she’s been busy lately,” Neteyam scoffs. 

“It’s not a task, I brought her a gift.”

“Let me guess, more seashells?” Neteyam rolls his eyes. What is wrong with him?

“That’s right, I know how much she likes those,” Mateä steps forward.

Seemingly unfazed, Neteyam takes a step forward as well. You shift, thinking of interrupting them before things start to escalate. But Mateä doesn’t seem to be in the mood for an argument. Instead, he brushes past Neteyam towards your marui. 

"I'll leave them on her table. Tell her I brought them for her when she comes back," Mateä says over his shoulder. "Actually, don’t bother. She'll know they're from me anyway."

Neteyam watches in annoyance as Mateä disappears into your marui. You can almost hear him exhale loudly, trying to calm himself down. Maybe Neteyam’s just having a hard day today, you think. Perhaps something to do with his father? When Mateä comes back out, he leaves without a word.

Quietly, you swim to the back of your marui, and get out of the water. You pause before rounding the corner, and approaching Neteyam. Upon seeing you, he forces a small smile.

“Neteyam,” you greet him.

“Hey, Y/N,” he scratches the back of his head, nervous.

“Are you here for another nap?” you tease him, proceeding into your marui. 

“Actually… no,” he follows you in.

You hum, waiting for him to elaborate, as you start taking out some of the supplies you gathered from your bag. It’s then that your eye catches the beautiful green shells laid out on your table. Neteyam stands awkwardly by the wall, watching your reaction. 

“Who brought those?” you turn to ask him.

“Mateä,” Neteyam answers, “I forgot to mention. He was here earlier to see you.”

“Too bad I missed him,” you say, testing his reaction, “But it’s weird that he hasn’t asked me out yet. What do you think? You’re a guy.”

Neteyam has to physically restrain himself from cringing at your words. It takes him a second to regain his calmness, before putting on that fake voice he uses around his father.

“It is weird. He should have asked you out a long time ago.”

“Maybe he just doesn’t like me enough,” you turn your attention back to the shells.

“Nonsense. He’s just a coward,” you hear him scoff.

Surprised, you look at Neteyam again, studying his face. There is a mix of frustration and shame on his face. It's hard to tell if he's getting possessive over you, or if there's something else that's bothering him. 

"Is everything okay?" you ask softly, trying to gauge his reaction, “You seem to have a problem with Mateä.”

"Everything's fine. Just... he always seems to hang around you lately," he says, his voice trailing off.

“Well, wasn’t that kind of the point?” you gesture between the two of you, referring to the fake courting. 

“I guess,” Neteyam hums, you wait for him to continue, “I just don’t like that he acts like a coward.”

“Maybe if you stop scaring him away…” you mumble under your breath, but he’s quick to catch it.

“You don’t want someone who is so easily intimidated anyway.”

You don’t respond, confused by his behavior. Quietly, you start painting the pot you left unfinished last night. Neteyam falls silent too, watching you. He can’t understand what you see in Mateä. It just doesn't make sense to him. Neteyam also can’t understand why Mateä hasn’t made a move yet. Does he want you to choose him over Neteyam first? Or was he giving you other options, so you don’t have any regrets afterwards?

“You said you wanted something?” you interrupt his thoughts. 

“Um, right,” he clears his throat, “It’s kind of awkward.”

You put down the pot and turn to face him, suspecting that it is going to be something good. 

“What is it?”

“Well… apparently we’re not convincing enough,” he looks down at his feet, awkwardly, “People think that it’s just a rumor, that I’m courting you.”

“A rumor?” you frown, “But we’re hanging out all the time.”

Is he referring to Mateä’s words? Surely, if there was a rumor like that, Tsireya would have mentioned it to you a long time ago. She was keeping you updated. 

“No one ever sees us together outdoors, not after the celebration,” his voice gets a little higher, “I was just thinking that we could take it up by a notch?” 

“Well, what did you have in mind?” you tilt your head, curious. Neteyam’s eyes widen at your quick agreement.

“I take you on a date?”

“A date?” you smile, “Alright.”

A toothy grin spreads across Neteyam’s face at your response, causing your cheeks to flush with heat. You can't help but wonder if the two of you were getting too involved in this, and whether it was going to get in your way. But you can't deny the excitement you feel at the prospect of a date with Neteyam. Even if it’s a pretend one.

“What should I wear?”

“Anything pretty, and don’t worry about ruining it. I won’t take you into the water,” he says confidently, like he has everything planned out already.

“Okay,” you agree, reaching for one of the shell-necklaces you made for yourself. You raise your hand to show it to him, “How about this?”

“Hmm,” Neteyam pretends to think about it, as he leans against the wall.

You watch him with an amused smile stretching your lips. You rarely get to see a playful side of Neteyam but you love it when he acts like this. 

“I think I have to see it on, to decide,” he finally says his verdict, before cracking a smile.

You roll your eyes but comply anyway, walking up to him and shoving the necklace into his hands. As you turn around and move your hair out of the way, Neteyam carefully begins to tie the necklace around your neck. You can feel his hands shake slightly, as he takes his time. When he’s done, and you turn to face him, Neteyam is standing too close to you.

“Do you like it?” you meet his eyes, unable to put a distance between you.

“I do,” he breathes out.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

“Hey, Y/N, just dropping by for that pot. If it’s ready,” Tsireya walks into your marui, catching you off guard.

You had just put on a delicate pearly top you’ve made for yourself a while ago, and were trying to see if the ties in the back were in place. Tsireya gasps at the sight of you, bringing her hands to her mouth. 

“Did you make that?!” she beams at you, “You look beautiful, Y/N, it suits you so much!”

“You think? Not too much?” you quirk your eyebrow, pushing her for the truth. 

“Not at all,” she answers with a knowing look, “Are you going to see Mateä?” 

“No, not Mateä,” you shake your head. Tsireya looks at you confused, and you suddenly feel awkward having to explain yourself, “Neteyam wanted us to have a fake date somewhere public.”

“Oh,” that’s all she says.

It’s easy to see when something is bothering her. After all, you have been friends for a long time, you knew Tsireya like the back of your hand. 

“Just say it,” you urge her to speak.

“I just think that you shouldn’t drag this out for so long.”

“But Neteyam kind of needs me to keep playing into it,” you explain yet she doesn’t seem convinced, “Besides, Mateä has been showing more interest recently, so it works for both of us.”

“It doesn’t work for you and Mateä,” Tsireya disagrees, “You need to drop this, and Neteyam has to speak to Mateä before it’s too late.”

You don’t answer, considering her words. Tsireya is right, perhaps you should wrap this thing up. It was only supposed to be for one night, right? 

“Unless… you like him?” Tsireya looks at you, suspiciously. 

“Who?” your voice hitches.

“Seems like you’re starting to like Neteyam again,” Tsireya lets out with a sigh. She hated keeping things from you, but she also couldn’t lie. 

Your cheeks flush with embarrassment. Deep down, you suspect that she might be right. Neteyam was quickly starting to work his way back into your heart.

“I am just helping him out, Tsireya. There’s nothing between us,” you lie.

“I just think that this is not worth it… you and Mateä can have something really great.”

“The pot is ready, right over there,” you point to your table.

Tsireya throws an apologetic look at you, and picks up the pot, thanking you. She senses that you don’t want to talk about Neteyam anymore, and decides to give you time to think. 

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

“Neteyam?” you frown, as he keeps gawking at you, without a word.

It has been a few moments since he saw you walking out of your marui, and he still hasn't said anything. You begin to feel anxious about your appearance. Is it too revealing? Are the pearls too much? You just wanted to look like you were going on a date.

"You look like a beautiful syulang," he finally breathes out, admiring your look.

“You mean it?” you take a step closer to him.

“I do, you look very pretty,” he confirms, but takes a step back. You notice that he keeps his hands behind his back, as if he's trying to hide something.

"Thank you," you reply, "What do you have back there?"

“Uh, I brought this for you,” he says, bringing forward something wrapped in a large green leaf. 

You can't see what's inside, but you assume it's fragile, given how carefully he held it. As you take it from him and begin to unwrap, Neteyam observes your every move with anticipation.

"You really didn't have to bring me anything, Neteyam," you say, meeting his gaze for a moment, “It's not like a real date anyway.”

"I wanted to," he responds shyly.

As the wrapping comes undone, you see a handful of small, delicate yellow flowers. They're unlike anything you've ever seen before, petals shaped in a unique swirl in the ends. As you bring them closer to examine, you gawk back at Neteyam.

"Let me show you something," he smiles.

Without waiting for your permission, Neteyam takes your hand in his, opening your palm and holding it above the flowers, throwing a shade. The yellow flowers begin to glow with a soft, natural luminescence. 

“How come I’ve never seen these!” you beam, earning a satisfied grin from him, “This is very special, thank you.”

“I’m not a very good diver, so I can’t get you those shells you like,” he confesses, “But I saw these glowing at the top of the mountain when I was flying last night, so I went back for them this morning because I thought you might like them.”

“I don’t need you to bring me shells, Neteyam, these are very special,” you carefully pull him in for a hug with your free hand, trying not to squish the flowers. As Neteyam wraps his arms around your waist, bringing you closer, you close your eyes in comfort.

You were already thinking of ways to preserve the flowers, perhaps gathering some resin, and making jewelry out of them. Or something for your hair? Your marui? 

“I’ll put them into water, so that they don’t die by the time I get back,” you say, pulling back from Neteyam.

“Don’t worry, I can always bring you more,” he smiles.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Pretending with Neteyam had become effortless. As you strolled along the beach, Neteyam and you were just talking, catching up on the things that happened in the past years. Occasionally, you would make him laugh, and it warmed your heart to see him happy like that, carefree. Whenever you would notice someone watching you, Neteyam would ask you to hold hands with him to appear more serious. You agreed, of course, but Tsireya’s words were slowly weighing on you. You were letting it yourself get too invested, meanwhile Neteyam was only pretending.

As he walked you back to your marui, you could sense his growing nervousness.

“I think my neighbors are watching us,” you whisper with a smile, coming to a halt in front of the entrance.

“Are they big on gossip?” Neteyam leans in slightly, like he’s about to tell you a secret.

“Oh, very big,” you chuckle, “They are always asking my mother about you.”

“Maybe we should give them something to talk about,” he gulps down, bringing his face closer to you.

As Neteyam's eyes lock onto yours, you suddenly feel your heart race. You can't deny the tension between you, but you also can't ignore the possibility of this causing more trouble than it's worth. The thought of rumors spreading around the village about you and Neteyam kissing makes your stomach churn. Maybe this is too far. 

“What do you mean, Neteyam?” you manage to ask, captivated by his eyes.

“Can I kiss you?” he whispers, so quietly, like he’s going to scare you away.

“It wouldn’t be a proper date without a kiss,” you mumble. It was supposed to be a joke, a snarky comment, but you sounded so desperate, so impatient to feel him.

Neteyam only nods, his gaze fixed on your lips. He leans in, then hesitates, as if asking for one last permission. You tilt your head slightly, your heart racing in your chest. And when he finally closes the distance between you, you feel his soft, gentle lips on yours. It's so delicate and slow that it feels like a dream, intimate and special.

When you pull away, you notice a small smile resting on his lips. You can’t help but shy away from his gaze, taking a step back.

“Well, I think that was convincing enough,” you joke, trying to sound nonchalant about it.

“Thank you for tonight, Y/N,” he says, straightening up, “Have a sound sleep.”

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Your sleep wasn’t sound at all. You tossed and turned on your mat throughout the night, much to the annoyance of your parents. Your eyes kept being drawn to the bowl of flowers, casting a soft glow in the darkness. It reminded you of stupid Neteyam, of his stupid lips, and stupid captivating golden eyes that glowed the same way under the moonlight. You couldn't get him out of your head, and it was starting to drive you crazy.

Tsireya's warning echoed in your mind - this pretend relationship with Neteyam was going too far. You knew you had to have a serious conversation with him and move on with the final stage of the plan: turn him down. If not, you could ruin your chances of finding a real relationship. Without Neteyam.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Early in the morning, with a determined stride, you make your way to the beach, where you spot Neteyam, training with his father and a group of guys. You don’t think through what you’re going to do, when Jake suddenly notices you. 

“Good morning, Y/N,” he says, drawing everyone’s attention to you, “Anything I can help you with?”

You greet them, and gulp down, easily finding Neteyam’s curious gaze on you. Well, you have come so far, why not just get it over with?

“Can I speak to Neteyam for a moment? It won’t take long,” you turn to Jake.

Jake purses his lips, but nods at Neteyam, giving him a sign to go. He approaches you with a worried look on his face.

“Is something wrong?” 

“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your training,” you apologize.

Neteyam obliges, when you lead him away from the beach, to talk in private. It’s still early, so most of the clan is asleep. You feel nervous under his patient gaze but you know it has to be done.

“I wanted to talk to you about us,” you begin. Neteyam nods, encouraging you to go on, “I know there’s still a week until the hunting festivities, and I promised to help you till then, but I don’t think I can.”

Neteyam’s eyes widen slightly, but he remains calm.

“Do you want us to stop pretending?” he asks softly.

“Yes, I think it’s for the best if we stop now. If we keep going on dates and…kissing, it might give people the wrong idea, and I don’t want that,” you answer, trying to keep your voice steady.

He looks down at his hands for a moment, thinking. You don’t interrupt him. He’s probably just trying to come up with the best way of telling his parents. He doesn’t seem saddened that he won’t be forced to spend time with you anymore. You’re the idiot who fell for her fake boyfriend.

“I understand, Y/N,” Neteyam finally says, meeting your eyes, “Thank you for helping me so far.”

“It’s fine,” you let out a breath, “Then it is decided. And Neteyam…we have to keep our distance from now on.”

Neteyam watches, as you walk away with a mixture of feelings. You're relieved, yet also disappointed that the fake relationship is over. You can't help but wonder if things could have been different between you and Neteyam, if only circumstances were different. 

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

The following days seem to stretch with a painful slowness. You feel lost, with a constant sense of longing that follows you like a shadow. The realization that you had fallen head over heels for Neteyam and can’t be with him hits you hard. You feel stupid but you can't help thinking about him all the time, trying to carry on with your day-to-day tasks. But it seems like everything is taking more effort than it used to.

Every now and then, you catch a glimpse of Neteyam from afar, and he looks just as sad as you feel. You can't help but wonder if he's just putting on a show for the sake of the rumors, to make it believable. You wish you could just talk but avoiding him is the right thing to do for now. 

And as suspected, it doesn’t take long for rumors about you turning him down to start spreading throughout the clan. People notice that you two aren’t spending time together anymore and are avoiding each other. It is ironic, how they think that it's Neteyam going through a heartbreak, when in reality it is you. 

When Tsireya comes to congratulate you on the successful plan, she tells you that Mateä has heard the rumors and was preparing to confess to you. But you don’t want Mateä anymore. Instead of sharing Tsireya’s excitement, you can’t hold back any longer, and break down in front of her, confessing your true feelings for Neteyam. It is freeing to finally let it out, to have someone to confide in. As she comforts you, it feels like you are friends again, if only for a moment.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

You got ready a long time ago. Your hair decorated with feathers and beads, face painted with white ceremonial patterns. In a few hours you would be joining the rest of the clan, to wish a farewell to the Metkayina hunters. The Tsahik would bless them with a prayer to Eywa, and after you sing your songs, the young men will leave. It was a tradition in your clan, that at the beginning of each year, the young hunters would travel by the water to an unfamiliar land. It was a test that every hunter had to pass, to learn to adapt in every situation and be able to stand for himself and for his allies. Sometimes, it would take them a few days to return back with a prey. Sometimes, it would last a full moon. It depended on Eywa’s guidance, and the hunters couldn’t return without receiving a blessing first.

Despite the value it held, the passage was still dangerous. It was painful for you to recall the instances when the groups returned with wounded or missing Na’vi. And although you were aware that it was Neteyam’s third time going on the hunt, you couldn't help but feel worried sick for him. Tonight, with the rest of your clan, you had to show your support, but your mind was contemplating not showing up at all. You didn’t want to see his face, afraid that it might make your heart break further. 

There was still time for the ceremony, as you wandered off to the water, trying to calm down your nerves. It would be disrespectful not to go, you had to show up and pray to Eywa that she keeps Neteyam safe and sound. You’re so deep in your thoughts, it takes you a second to notice Mateä sitting down next to you. You force a small smile to greet him.

“Excited for tonight?” he gestures to the extra pieces of ceremonial clothing you’re wearing on your arms and legs.

“Just wanted to be ready in time,” you’re not sure how to respond. You knew Mateä your whole life, yet it feels awkward to be with him alone. 

“I heard that you turned down the son of Toruk Makto,” Mateä emphasizes, you hum, “I will not lie to you, at first, when I heard about it, I was relieved. I thought that he doesn’t deserve you. But seeing you like this… it saddens me. I do not wish for you to be unhappy.”

“Thank you, Mateä,” you hang your head at his words. 

“Listen, Y/N,” he says softly, “We have known each other since we were babies. And while I curse myself for not spending more of my time with you back then, I do not want to regret this chance too.”

You meet his eyes again, nervously. You knew him pretty well. When Mateä was sure about something, he confronted it head on. Whether it was a rejection or an acceptance, he wished to know the truth in order to move on. 

“I always had my eye on you, Y/N,” he confesses, “What I didn’t realize that it was not just in a way one would look after their friend. It is shameful to admit but… it took me seeing you with another man to understand the true nature of my feelings. I like you, Y/N, and I wish to know if you feel the same way.”

You gulp down, tears filling up your eyes. The man you thought you could spend your life with was finally opening his heart to you, yet you didn’t want it. Your own heart belonged to somebody else. Oh Eywa, why couldn’t you enjoy what you had wished for?

“Don’t cry,” Mateä whispers, noticing the tears rolling down your cheeks, “Your heart belongs to him, doesn’t it?”

You can see the brave face he puts on, as you slowly nod your head. You feel so guilty and ashamed for admitting it to him. Mateä was really one of the only people in your life that you valued, and you were hurting him.

“I’m sorry,” you sniff, “If there was a way for me to make this better…”

“You don’t have to apologize, just don’t cry, okay?” he reaches out to wipe away your tears, and you nod again, “That is enough for me.”

You don’t feel like you even deserve his attention right now. 

“Mateä, if I could take away the pain that I’m causing, you know I would in an instant,” you mean it.

"I know, Y/N. But you can't help who you love," he says softly, "Regardless of what you choose to do, just promise me that we can still be friends, alright?"

"Of course, Mateä, you mean a lot to me," you nod, grateful.

"Good,” he stands up with a small smile, “Now, let's go. We don't want to be late."

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

You quietly take a seat next to Tsireya, who is anxiously watching Lo’ak from a distance. Despite knowing how important it is for Lo’ak to partake in the tradition, she can’t help but feel worried for him. You lay your hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

“Lo’ak is a skilled hunter. You know that Jake takes training very seriously,” you reassure her.

“You’re right,” she nods her head, then turns to face you, “You came with Mateä... Did you talk?”

You nod, pursing your lips together. It’s not difficult for Tsireya to realize what happened. It was only logical that you would reject Mateä because of your feelings for Neteyam.

“Oh, Y/N,” she lets out, pulling you in for a hug. You feel like it’s comforting not only you, but also her.

As the rhythm of the log drums slowly picks up, everyone falls quiet. The Tsahik makes her way to an open space, and the hunters quickly surround her in a circle, kneeling down. It’s then that you see Neteyam, wearing his headpiece and armor, with bow and arrows attached to his back. You can’t help but feel a twinge of worry for him but you push the feeling aside, afraid that it might ruin his luck. 

When the Tsahik’s voice fills the air with a praying chant, the hunters begin to sway in unison, seeking the blessing and guidance of Eywa for their upcoming journey. With the rhythm of the log drums, you find yourself lost in the moment too, closing your eyes and letting yourself be carried away. 

Eventually, when Tsahik stops, the hunters rise to their feet. As per practice, they must bid farewell to their loved ones, in case they may not return. You can’t help but feel nervous because this part of the ceremony is usually long, and Tsahik allows everyone to take their time. You know that soon enough you will watch Neteyam making his way to his family, and it hurts to know that he won’t be saying goodbye to you too. With every passing second, you feel more anxious, and all you want to do is get away from there. So, when the rest of the clan starts moving, you stand up to leave without even looking in his direction. 

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

You rush through the trees, making your way into a small clearing, illuminated by the moonlight. You take a moment to breathe in and out with the sounds of nature, and eventually calm yourself down. When suddenly you hear a rustling of the leaves. 

Your heart skips a beat as you see Neteyam making his way to you, with a mix of concern and confusion. 

“Y/N, why did you run off?” he asks, as soon as he’s close enough for you to hear.

“Doesn’t matter,” you dismiss him, “Why are you here? You should be with your family now.”

“I already talked to my family,” Neteyam comes closer, and your breath catches in your throat, “But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to you.”

“Neteyam,” you’re so confused at his behavior. Did he feel guilty because you looked upset? He shouldn’t be here with you right now.

“Y/N, why did you reject Mateä?” he asks suddenly, catching you off guard, “Tsireya told me.”

You don’t answer, holding his gaze. He hated rejecting girls, you can’t burden him now, before his hunt.

“Was it because of me?” he pushes.

“It does not matter, Neteyam,” you try to brush him off, “You have a hunt ahead of you, you shouldn’t be here right now. Shouldn’t be making your night about my stupid actions.”

“How can I not make this about you?” he says, irritated, “Everything is about you now, Y/N. Every moment of every night and day, doesn’t matter what I’m doing, my mind is occupied with the thoughts of you!”

“W-what?” you stutter, caught off guard.

“So for you to tell me ‘it doesn’t matter’ if you rejected Mateä for me… Of course, it matters. It matters to me, because... Because I see you,” he lets out, breathing loudly.

You stare in confusion, as Neteyam’s eyes jump all over your face, searching for a reaction. All you can do is think about how much you wanted him to say those words to you. To tell you how much he liked you, longed for you, the same way you did for him.

“I see you too, Neteyam,” you manage to whisper, reaching your hand to cup his cheek.

A loving smile breaks on his face, when Neteyam pulls you in for a kiss. He is so desperate to touch you, to know that it’s real. You’re real. Happiness overwhelms you, as you smile against his lips, your hands gently cupping his face. 

“I’m yours,” he whispers, resting his forehead against yours.

“I’m yours forever,” you whisper back.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Did my best to upload this before my job interview tomorrow, so by the time I come back, I want you to leave your comments and tags!!! Seriously, I love that shit, it makes my heart melt. Especially when you submit questions

my 30k enemies to lovers fic (neteyam x ta'unui reader)

taglist: @ancientbeing10, @anm3mi ; @lovergirl-3000 ; @sunjayist ; @rensbby ; @okaylorrainee ; @cappsikle ; @raeeahn ; @yawneneteyam ; @oh-austin ; @midlife-crisisperson ; @teyums

[myherobkg]

THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME; dungeons & dragons au

Katsuki was born a half-giant and bred to roam the plains with his barbarian brethren. He was a foul-mouthed, ill-tempered, reckless brute adorned in fur and armor with his mighty mace hanging over his back. He was born to rule them all.

But fate had other plans, and his tribe was wiped off the face of the Earth after the King of the skies razed hellfire on them. Returning from a hunt, Katsuki arrived at his decimated home, ruined to ash and rubble.

His family—his people—were there one moment and gone the next, reduced to charred statues. After that, Katsuki wandered aimlessly until he became enthralled by the allure of alcohol.

A young half-giant, the last of his tribe, turned to mercenary work to fund his gluttony.

Katsuki's last payment came from a clean-up job, clearing out a small wooded area infested with monsters. The small village on the outskirts of the wood sent for him, requesting his help for a large sum.

It was an easy feat for a warrior of his stature, and his success wrought fruitful results—a free room at the pub and all the drinks he could ask for.

However, the offer had its contingencies, and Katsuki was forced to enjoy his pints amidst the celebration held for the village people. That's where he met the Businessman.

The Businessman kept two men at his side as he sat down with Katsuki. His companions remained standing behind him.

"Enjoying the festivities, Warrior?" The man started the conversation cryptically.

Katsuki doesn't look up from his pint. The party raged around him, but no one dared touch him in passing. "No."

Clearing his throat, the man decided to skip the niceties. "I have a job for you."

"Not interested," Katsuki gruffs out before touching his lips to the rim.

"I will pay you 100 gold," the Businessman bid.

"I want 300." Katsuki slammed his glass on the table and signaled for another. The man's jaw dropped.

"300 is outrageous. It's a simple delivery to the Earl." He laughed pathetically. "I'm sure the Earl will reward you handsomely for your efficiency."

"You pay me 300 now. I'll have the Earl pay me 500 when I get there."

"So, you'll take the job?" The Businessman clenched his hands into fists with a broad smile before remembering Katsuki's rate. "If you come with us, we can pay for the cargo. However, you must leave tonight."

Katsuki froze, lifting his topped-off drink. "Make it 400."

The man choked mid-breath. "Warrior, I implore you to reconsider your price. Think of the honor you'd receive for escorting such an important gift for nobility."

Katsuki lugged half of his drink down, spilling some down the sides of his face and neck. "It's 400, or you shut the hell up and quit bothering me." His ruby-red eyes glimmered dangerously in the lamp-light.

The Businessman shrank in his seat and waved his hand for his men. The guard on his right went off to get the payment.

"If you wouldn't mind following us as quickly as you can," the Businessman murmured nervously, avoiding direct eye contact. "We can settle you with the cargo, and you can be on your way."

Katsuki looked at the weak man standing behind his employer. It wouldn't take any effort to throw that man through the ceiling, but it somehow felt appealing for the Businessman to bring security.

With this in mind, Katsuki didn't expect any issues from a little side quest for money. Perhaps he was tired from his last battle, but the adrenaline and deep, crippling fear of loneliness kept pushing him to suppress it.

"Let's get this over with." He grumbled, disregarding his last sip of beer and pushing away from the table.

The Businessman and his guard led Katsuki outside to a barn on the edge of the village. The night was calm, and the skies were clear—a good omen for this task.

"The cargo is just inside here," the Businessman murmured, sharing an uneasy expression with his guard, which alerted a few alarms in Katsuki's head. As he led Katsuki in, the guard stayed outside the entrance.

The first thing Katsuki noticed was that there was no "cargo." Two more guards were standing inside, and you were chained to the floor. Your hair and face were dirty, and your clothes were covered in dirt and cow shit.

When you looked up at him, he took note of your cat-like eyes and pointed ears. The chains around your wrists had runes etched into them.

Magic?

"Is this a goddamn joke?" Katsuki asked loudly, making one of the guards flinch. "What do you goddamn hicks take me for?"

He turns on his heel and starts walking out when the Businessman shouts out for him.

Katsuki falters in his step, and something compels him to turn to turn around. He sees the Businessman sweating profusely—he must be desperate to get you off his hands, Katsuki thinks. He catches the two guards adjusting their grips on their weapons: a spear and a bow. The sight of them shaking in fear and regret almost makes Katsuki laugh.

He licks his lips and pulls out a dagger—decides it's expendable. When he winds his arm back, all three adversaries flinch, fearful of being the target. The knife flies through the air between their shoulders, aimed for the floor where your cuffs come together.

Katsuki's taken by surprise when you slam your wrist against the ground, breaking the cuff on your right in one attempt. You tear off the other cuff with ease. He stands back and watches you jump between each man, slaughtering them with your clumsy, desperate hands.

After the men are dead, you're left standing over their bodies with blood on your hands, panting heavily.

With his arms crossed, exuding confidence, Katsuki whistles for your attention. He knows he has it when your head turns, angling your ear to him.

"How did men like them get their hands on a magic-wielding elf?" He questions, sincerely curious.

You turn to face him fully, blood and hay falling from your tunic.

"Auction houses," you answer breathlessly, with sweat matting hair to your forehead. Wiping it out of your face, you trip on your shaky legs to the barn post and release a heavy sigh. "You would've delivered me to my sixth owner. You looked like a good one when you walked in, too."

You were still breathing heavily. Katsuki recognized it as panic.

"I'm not going back," you say quickly as he approaches you. Your eyes are wild, and your appearance makes you look hysterical.

"You aren't going back," he promises quietly, raising his hand for you. Your arm shakes when you reach for him.

When he brings his fur around your shoulders, you bat it away, spitefully refusing it.

"I want to leave," you whisper anxiously, pushing against Katsuki's arms.

"Then cover yourself," Katsuki orders firmly, wrapping his fur tightly around you. His fur, which drapes over his shoulder like a garment, wraps around you like a blanket. "There are still folk wandering everywhere."

"Where are we right now?" You ask as he ushers you out of the barn.

"A village. Heldenfaire," Katsuki answers.

"There's a town in this land. I wish for you to take me there."

"We can discuss the details of our arrangement later." Katsuki threw his cloak over his shoulders and pulled his hood over his head before steering you toward the nearby stables. "Let's first focus on getting a horse."

—please reblog & comment if you like it! do not copy or repost ©

[wing-ed-thing]

Hashirama Domestic Headcanons

Tags/Warnings: No Reader Pronouns

𓆃 What? What do you mean Hashirama can either run a unified village or be a housewife?

𓆃 Hashirama, wonderful, peace-loving man that he is, wants and loves nothing more than to provide for his family. He needs no encouragement and will go above and beyond to provide in the household.

𓆃 And providing also includes domestic labor, and Hashirama is more than enthusiastic to do laundry, dishes, and general housework.

𓆃 He has a system, you see, and is more than happy to don an apron and spend an ungodly amount of time doing work around the house.

𓆃 And, to everyone's surprise, he performs many chores better than you! You'll come home to find the spices organized and labeled and the everything drawer that had become a catch-all for all of your miscellaneous junk miraculously showed wood at the bottom again.

𓆃 He's equally— if not more— passionate about the tasks he doesn't know how to do, like repair work or a complicated recipe. You're bound to come across some failures like a poorly hung light fixture or a terrible variation of what should be a simple recipe, but Hashirama will persist until he gets it right.

𓆃 For better or for worse.

𓆃 Although, Hashirama tends to start with the most abstract tasks first, sometimes emptying out the pantry or some obscure closet or box, only to leave right in the middle or his reorganization process.

𓆃 He is a busy man, after all, and practically has a country to run. Hashirama is prone to letting work distract him, and insists on constantly being on call.

𓆃 He's at work, even when he's not at work, and is even more terrible at delegating. And so, sometimes you'll come home or pop your head into the next room to check on him only to find the room looking like a wind jutsu blew through it.

𓆃 In a similar vein, Hashirama is easily distracted by nostalgic things, finding items in his cleaning efforts and getting distracted by them before he inevitably has to take off.

𓆃 Despite his love of making his home, Hashirama tends to have an unpredictable schedule when it comes to actually tending to it. He'll usually have a period of time when he's constantly cleaning paying attention to things, before an acute village emergency occurs and he leaves your home in disarray.

𓆃 Other times, he'll finally return from a long bout of working and stress-cleans for hours and refuses help.

𓆃 In fact, he'll sweep you up in his chore rush, thoughtfully adding running you a bath and making you a dessert or dinner into his mental list of tasks.

𓆃 And for all the chores he performs at once, Hashirama always knows where everything is. Although, this doesn't mean he tells you where he's relocated your kunai or other working tools, but he never tires from fetching things for you.

𓆃 You, however, certainly do.

𓆃 And as nice as it is to come home to a clean house or a series of thoughtful gestures, they aren't very consistent and can oftentimes lead to Hashirama spending less time with you than he already does.

𓆃 Hashirama is already booked more hours than he isn't. He rises before sunrise each morning and works into the evening on most days. Not to mention that the time he does take for himself is often interrupted by people who call upon the hokage for help.

𓆃 Hashirama cares deeply about the village, and isn't very good at drawing boundaries when it comes to his role as hokage. Even so, given that he's the very first person who has even been in such a position (he did make it up after all), there is no guideline for his performance— only his own internal, high expectations.

𓆃 And so Hashirama seems almost absentminded in the time he spends at home, rushing off with little notice or being forgetful when it comes to plans.

𓆃 The worst part is, is that you know he doesn't not care. And every time you bring it up, Hashirama is so genuinely sorry, promising to do better and creating an actionable plan to do so.

𓆃 And it works for a bit. You have consistency for perhaps a few days, until there's another work emergency and he's gone again.

𓆃 He insists he can do both, and yet, it never seems like he can strike a balance. You know he means well, but it takes more than a few attempts to get your points across to him.

𓆃 You don't think he really sees what the problem is, and you're not oblivious to the weight that's on his shoulders. Part of you battles with the other, debating on what amount of criticism is really fair when you knew what struggles you would face in being with the hokage of the newly established Hidden Leaf Village.

𓆃 One moment it feels like Hashirama loves you more than anything in the world, and then the next, the village is all that matters.

𓆃 You wonder which one Hashirama is going to land on in the end.

Thank you to all who liked, reblogged, followed, and supported. Your support means so much and is greatly appreciated.

@rahatake

[inkmonster21]

I re read your Noa story like all the time. It's soo good. 😌 But I was wondering if I can request something, I hope it makes sense to...

Where reader and Noa have like mated but an attack happened on the village and they got separated for some time, and after like maybe a year later Thier CHILD comes wondering across their new buit village and then leads Noa to his mumma. Where they reunited and Noa's like 'ima father?'

I pretty sure the baby apes grow quickly, but I don't know how fast.

Thank you so so much! We’re getting close to wrapping it up so I’m so glad I’m getting some requests in! I hope I met your expectations! Enjoy!

~o0o~

The Lost is Found

The early months of life with Noa were a period of bliss. You were warmly accepted into the clan, and your place by Noa's side felt natural and purposeful. Dar, in her role as the clan's mother, took you under her wing, teaching you the ways and traditions of their community. You blossomed under her wisdom, and she was immensely proud of how you embraced your role as Noa's mate and the clan's emerging mother.

Noa trudges in after a long hunt with the young apes, exhaustion clear on his face. His horse carries three of them, while Noa walks alongside, his steps weary yet determined. Despite the exhaustion, a weary smile graces his features, evidence of a successful and fulfilling hunt.

As you watch Noa and the young apes return from the hunt, a warm sense of joy fills your heart. You can't help but imagine the future and the children that you and Noa will have someday. The sight of the young apes learning and growing under Noa's guidance is both a comforting and hopeful image, a vision of the future you and Noa would build together.

Noa proved himself to be an exceptional leader amongst the Eagle Clan, and you did not doubt that he would also be an incredible father. His strength, wisdom, and compassion would undoubtedly translate into his role as a parent. You envisioned him nurturing and guiding your future children with love and patience.

Noa leans his head against yours, taking a deep breath and inhaling your scent. "I have… missed you," he says, using your own words and making you laugh with the echo of your term. The genuine affection and longing in his voice are evident, as he communicates his feelings in his unique way.

"I missed you too," you reply, the words coming effortlessly and filled with genuine affection. There's something special about the simple exchange between the two of you, a subtle reassurance and connection that deepens the bond you share.

Noa's eyes soften at your words, a sense of comfort and contentment settling within him at the sound of your voice. He wraps his arms around you, wanting to be close and to hold you tight after spending the day away. "I've been thinking… about you all day," he confesses, his voice filled with a mixture of tiredness and affection.

“Well, here I am.” You smile. Noa's lips curve into a warm smile at your words. "Here you are," he agrees, pulling you even closer. The simple statement carries a sense of relief and contentment as if your presence alone is enough to soothe his weary soul.

“Noa…. Come on… show us how to skin!” Noa glances towards the young apes, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as they excitedly holler for him to come and show them how to skin the kill. He sighs, a mixture of weary and fondness on his face. "Alright, alright," he responds with a hint of humor, reluctantly untangling himself from your embrace.

You stand back and watch with a smile as Noa begins to show the young apes how to skin the animal. There's a sense of contentment and satisfaction in your heart, knowing that life is good and that you are truly happy. Watching Noa engage with the younger ones, passing on his skills and wisdom, fills you with pride and contentment.

Night has fallen, and the world outside is quiet. Wrapped in each other’s arms, you find comfort and safety in Noa’s embrace. Your breath is steady and even, having been completely drained of energy by Noa’s previous activities. In the quiet of the night, he gently traces your body with his calloused fingers, an intimate and soothing gesture.

Exhaustion finally takes over, and both of you drift off to sleep in each other's arms. Noa's breath is slow and steady, his body relaxed as he dozes off. The peacefulness of the moment washes over you, and the weariness of the day fades as you both surrender to sleep.

Noa is awakened by the frenzied shaking and whispered words of Anaya. With a groggy and disoriented expression, he rubs his eyes and sits up. The urgency in Anaya's voice immediately captures his attention, and he listens intently, trying to make sense of the hurried words. "under attack," Noa quickly turns to you, his voice urgent as he gently shakes you awake. "Wake up, my love… wake up," he repeats, his hands cupping your face tenderly. The worry and concern in his eyes mirror the seriousness of the situation.

As you slowly open your eyes and see the worried expression in Noa's eyes, your focus sharpens in an instant. Concern mixes with adrenaline, and you instantly understand the seriousness of the situation. Your heart begins to race, your mind clearing and readying for whatever challenges you may face.

Noa stands quickly, his movements purposeful and determined. "Go with Mother," he instructs. "Gather the young... find somewhere safe." The mysterious threat hangs in the air, a constant tension that demands immediate action. Noa's voice is firm and resolute as he readies his battle weapons, preparing to face the unknown danger.

Noa pulls you close, pressing your body against his as he claims your lips in a searing kiss. The heat and intensity of the moment convey both his passion and his worry. The kiss is filled with a sense of urgency and possession as if he's expressing his love and protectiveness in a single gesture.

You look into his eyes, your voice firm and unwavering. "Come back to me," you say, the words carrying a mix of love and worry. There's a silent plea in your gaze, a silent entreaty for him to return safely. Noa's eyes soften, and he takes your face in his hands, his touch gentle yet strong. "I will," he promises, his voice filled with determination and love.

With Dar by your side, you lead a group of young apes through the dense woods, seeking a safe hiding spot from the mysterious threat. The females form a protective circle, huddling together with worried expressions on their faces. You can feel the tension in the air, the fear and uncertainty palpable in the young apes' quiet hoots. As you press forward, the only thing on your mind is ensuring the safety of the young ones in your care and finding a secure place to hide.

The sound of Noa's yell pierces through the night, freezing the blood in your veins. "Noa," you gasp, your voice filled with worry. Without hesitation, you turn to go back, intent on reaching Noa. However, Dar attempts to grab your arm, trying to hold you back. But your determination is strong, and you quickly shake off her grip, turning to run back in the direction of Noa's voice.

Running through the dark forest, driven by your worry and instinct to reach Noa, you trip and stumble down a hill. Unarmed and vulnerable, you roll several feet before finally coming to a stop, the impact knocking you unconscious. The sound of your fall echoes faintly through the forest, swallowed by the silence of the night.

The once-thriving Eagle Clan lies in ruins, reduced to ashes and charred remains. Noa, Anaya, and the other members of the clan had put up a fierce battle, but the threat had left nothing behind, leaving only destruction in its wake. The sight of your home reduced to rubble and ash fills your heart with a mix of anger, grief, and emptiness.

Noa and the remaining survivors of the Eagle Clan gather together, their faces grim and determined. They begin to scour the area, searching for any signs of their lost friends and family, hoping to find anyone who may have escaped the wrath of the attack. The silence is deafening, the only sounds coming from the shuffling of feet and the occasional call of an ape as they look through the rubble.

The surviving members of the Eagle Clan have gathered in a cave away from the ruined settlement. The apes huddle together, seeking comfort and safety in each other's presence. The tension is high, a mix of fear and uncertainty in the air. They hope for the best, but the recent attack has left scars on each of them, and their future is uncertain.

Noa enters the cave, a weary yet relieved smile on his face. He had searched through every inch for you, his heart heavy with worry until he caught sight of your figure in the cave. Dar's eyes soften when she sees him, her expression filled with both relief and sorrow. She understands the gravity of the situation and the devastation the attack has brought upon the clan.

Noa's voice is soft and trembling with worry as he asks, "Where is she?" There's a mixture of fear and hope in his eyes as he scans the faces of the apes surrounding him, searching for any sign of you. The other apes look at each other, their expressions a mix of worry and uncertainty. They know the truth, but the news is difficult to share.

Soona speaks up, his voice is soft and regretful as he informs Noa, "She went after you... We couldn't find her." The words hang in the air, confirming Noa's worst fears. A wave of worry and despair washes over his face, his heart clenching in his chest.

"No." Noa mutters, more to himself than to the others. The mere thought of you being lost tears at his heart. Without another word, he turns urgently to leave, determined to go back and search for you. With the first light of dawn, Noa continues his relentless search, combing through every inch of the burned settlement. But despite his fervent efforts, he finds no trace of you. The hours pass and the sun rises higher in the sky, but Noa persists in his search, his determination fueling him forward.

You slowly awaken, the warmth of the sun gently coaxing you back into consciousness. Groggily, you lift your head, blinking as your senses slowly come back to you. Looking up, you get a glimpse of the steep drop you had fallen from, and the realization of your fall sends a wave of shock through you. It's a miracle that you are alive.

Your heart sinks as you climb back up to the top, finding the once-vibrant Eagle Clan now reduced to ashes and empty land. Smoke still rises from some of the structures, a bitter reminder of the destruction that has taken place. The silence is heavy, a stark contrast to the usual noise and activity that filled the settlement before.

You call out for Noa, desperation and hope in your voice, but your calls are met with only silence. No reply comes, no signs of life or movement. The settlement remains eerily quiet, devoid of any presence. The absence of Noa and the other members of the clan, as well as the missing eagles, leaves a heavy sense of emptiness and uncertainty in the air.

Tears stream down your cheeks as you search the area with increasing desperation, your heart heavy with worry and grief. Every step you take, every direction you turn, seems to bring only more emptiness and despair. The hopelessness of the situation weighs heavily on your heart, but you continue to search, refusing to give up until you find some sign of Noa or the rest of the clan.

The realization of your solitude sinks in, settling heavily in your chest like a cold, hard stone. You are alone, the once-boisterous commotion and laughter of the clan silenced. The only sound is the wind rustling through the trees, and the only company you have is your fear and uncertainty.

Sitting amidst the ruins, you give in to the grief and sadness that overwhelm you. Your tears fall freely, mingling with the ash and debris of the once-mighty Eagle Clan. The pain is raw and heavy in your chest, as you mourn the loss of Noa and the clan that was your home. The world seems to have turned cold and cruel, and the future feels uncertain and bleak.

Despite the overwhelming despair and loss, you found a spark of resilience within. One day, the realization came to you that there was a life growing inside you. A flicker of hope ignited in your heart, and determination filled your being. You knew that you couldn't let your circumstances break you completely. You were carrying a precious new life, a symbol of hope and a chance to rebuild.

As your hand drifted to your stomach, you made a silent vow. If you couldn't have Noa by your side, you would do everything in your power to raise his child. You would honor his traditions, keep his memory alive, and give your child the strength and wisdom he would have passed on.

With each passing day, a cave became your sanctuary. You diligently worked to make it a haven, carving out a space for yourself within the stone walls. The cold of the winter months added an extra layer of difficulty to your solitary existence. Sustaining your own life was a constant challenge, especially while dealing with the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy.

Despite the hardship, you channeled your determination and resilience. You foraged for food, carefully avoiding the attention of predators and other dangers in the wilderness. As your belly grew, you felt a sense of purpose in looking after the life growing inside of you, a purpose that kept you going despite the odds.

The pains of labor came upon you like a storm, and you were painfully aware of the fact that you were alone. The thought of dying during childbirth filled you with terror and dread. There was no one to help you, no one to offer comfort or guidance. The loneliness of the moment weighs heavily on your soul, as you brace yourself for the struggle ahead.

Despite the terror and uncertainty, your body demonstrated a strength you never knew it had. Like the opening of a dam, your birth canal opened, and with a final push, you gave birth to your son. The pain and exertion washed over you like a wave, but the moment your son was born, a flood of relief and joy surged through your being.

With each passing day, your son grew stronger and more vibrant, and the role of motherhood became your entire world. Every moment was spent caring for, nurturing, and bonding with your child. The solitary life you had built for yourself slowly faded into the background as motherhood consumed your existence.

A full year had passed since your son's birth, and time had flown by in a blur of love and dedication. You could see the resemblance to Noa in your son, but there were also distinct human-like traits that undoubtedly came from you. As you watched him grow and develop, you couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions - pride, love, and a bittersweet sense of longing for Noa.

"Not too far!" you call out as your son swings from tree to tree in an elaborate game of monkey business. As you tend to the laundry, you can't help but keep a watchful eye on him, making sure he doesn't venture too far or put himself in danger. The combination of pride in his agility and worry for his well-being fills your heart in equal measure.

Despite your best efforts to keep him nearby, your son's natural curiosity and adventurous spirit led him to stray a bit too far. In his eagerness to explore the world around him, he unintentionally wandered further away from you than you would have liked, without even realizing the distance he had covered.

Your heart races in a panic when you realize your son is out of sight, vanished into the foliage. Without a moment's hesitation, you drop what you're doing and start running in the direction he had gone, calling out his name urgently. The fear and worry in your voice are palpable.

You huff and shake your head, a mix of worry and frustration on your face. "You can't ever listen," you chide gently, knowing that you should have been watching him better. Despite the sternness in your tone, you understand that his curious nature is simply part of who he is.

Your son drops from the trees, his small voice calling out timidly, "Mother." He looks around, searching for your familiar face, his expression a mix of curiosity and a hint of guilt for straying too far. As soon as he realizes the gravity of his actions, a flash of fear flickers across his face. He knows he's done something he shouldn't have, and the realization fills him with guilt and worry. He stands there, staring at you with wide eyes, waiting for your reaction.

"Mother!" he calls out again, his voice trembling with worry and fear. But his call is met only with the sounds of nature, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional bird chirp. The silence is deafening, and the realization that you are not within earshot sinks in.

Three young teenage apes amble across the path and come to a halt as they spot the lost child. Their faces contort into expressions of confusion and surprise at the sight of him. They have never encountered a being quite like him before. The child is a strange hybrid, a mix of ape and human traits, which piques the curiosity of the teenagers.

The female ape crouches down to his level, her voice dripping with kindness and concern. "Are you... lost, little one?" She speaks slowly and softly, trying to communicate with him in a way that he might understand. The other two male apes hang back, observing the interaction with mild interest and confusion.

Despite the kindness in the female ape's voice, the child is still frightened and unfamiliar with the presence of others. He nods timidly, confirming that he is indeed lost. In response to her question, he points to himself and repeats, "Lost." The child looks around anxiously, searching for his mother, the only companion he has ever known.

The female ape glances at her companions, a silent agreement passing between them. "We have to help him," she declares, her voice firm and gentle. Extending a hand towards the child, she smiles reassuringly. "Our leader will help you, little one." The other apes nod in agreement, their initial confusion giving way to a sense of responsibility and protectiveness.

The three young apes carefully lift the child, supporting him as they make their way toward the newly constructed village of the Clan. They walk quietly, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any potential threats. The fact that the settlement is hidden from view indicates that the Clan has learned the hard way to stay out of sight.

The three young apes enter the Eagle tower and find Noa working diligently on nests, preparing for the coming season of the eagles. Noa's presence radiates strength and leadership, and it's clear that his attention is focused on the task at hand. There seems to be an air of expectation and excitement in the air, as the transition to adulthood and bonding ceremonies approach for the young apes in the Clan.

Since your loss, Noa has dedicated himself to his duties, single-mindedly focusing on the tasks at hand. Koro, the former leader, would surely be proud of the way Noa had stepped up and taken charge. However, Dar, the wise and maternal figure within the Clan, was worried. Noa's dedication to the work was impressive, but it came at the expense of his well-being, and she knew that he was stretching himself thin.

Noa looks up from his work as he hears the young ape address him as "Master." His face is marked by a flicker of recognition, and he sets down the materials he is working on, giving the young ape his full attention.

Noa moves towards the young ape, his demeanor calm and composed. There's a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but his expression remains neutral, showing no hint of emotion. "Yes?" He questions, his voice steady and even.

The ape's tone is uncertain as he relays the news to Noa. "We found a young… child?" Noa's eyes widen slightly at the unexpected information, and his expression becomes guarded. "A child?" He repeats, his voice barely above a whisper, his attention fully focused on the young ape. Noa's voice takes on a more direct tone as he clarifies, "A human child?" The thought seems to spark a mixture of surprise and curiosity within him. He glances at the young apes, silently questioning the validity of their claim.

The young ape's response is uncertain, adding to Noa's growing curiosity and confusion. "No... we… don't know." Noa's brows furrow as he tries to make sense of the information. "What do you mean, you don't know?" His voice betrays a hint of skepticism.

The young ape steps aside to reveal the young child, and Noa's eyes widen in surprise as he takes in the sight before him. The child was unmistakably a mix of human and ape, challenging the notions of what Noa believed to be possible. The revelation stirs a mix of curiosity and disbelief within him, and he approaches the child, studying him intently.

Looking at the child, Noa felt a pang in his heart. The possibility of what could have been with you and him weighed heavily on his mind. The mixture of human and ape features in the child served as a reminder of the connection he had lost and the potential that had been stolen away.

Without wasting a moment, Noa approaches the child and asks softly, "Where is your clan, young one?" His tone is gentle, but there's an undercurrent of curiosity and wonder. Noa's eyes never leave the child, studying his features and trying to piece together the circumstances that led him to be alone in the wilderness.

The child's voice is soft and hesitant, but the words “mother” and “lost” are clear. A pang of empathy and concern washes over Noa as he absorbs the child's reply. He understands the depths of loss all too well.

Noa lets out a soft sigh and lowers himself to the child's height, maintaining eye contact with him. With a gentle yet firm tone, he asks, "Do you know what direction your mother is?" Noa's gaze holds a mixture of compassion and a hint of hope that the child might have some clue as to his mother's location.

The young ape chimes in, adding to the conversation. "We found him near the river," he mentions. Noa turns his attention to the young ape, his mind processing the new information. The river could be a valuable clue, a starting point to search for the child's mother.

Noa's mind is set on finding the child's mother, and his hand instinctively reaches out, gently grasping the child, feeling a powerful connection to him. With determination etched on his face, Noa declares, "Let us find her." His decision is unwavering, driven by a protective Instinct that has been ignited within him.

Noa mounts a horse and rides off into the forest, the young child securely held in his arms. The forest path stretches before them, and Noa's heart races with a mixture of hope and determination. He scans the surroundings, his eyes searching for any signs of the child's mother.

Noa gently sets the child down from the horse, and the child dashes forward, scaling up the terrain towards a nearby cave. "Mother!" The child's voice echoes through the area, calling out fervently. Noa watches intently, his heart racing as he wonders if the child's mother might be inside the cave.

As if on cue, Noa found himself ambushed, tackled powerfully to the ground. His world spins for a moment as he struggles to right himself, only to find a spear pointed directly at his face. Noa's heart races, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he assesses the situation.

Suddenly, Noa's eyes widen as he gazes up at his assailant, a mix of disbelief and recognition filling his mind. His voice barely above a whisper, he utters your name, the sound of it bringing back a flood of memories.

As you toss the spear aside, your voice trembles as you call out, "Noa!" Your heart skips a beat as you lay eyes on him, your thoughts racing. You had believed him to be dead, and now here he was before you, very much alive. Relief washes over you, overpowering the shock of the unexpected reunion.

Your son's voice echoes through the air, "Mother!" as he rushes into your embrace. You gather him in your arms, holding him tightly against you, the mixture of emotions coursing through you. Seeing Noa alive has made your heart both race and yearn for explanations.

Noa observes the heartfelt reunion between you and your son, his eyes widening as the truth becomes evident before him. Noa's mind races as he absorbs the implications. You had a child... he hadn't seen you pregnant. His emotions tangle within him.

His eyes flickered between you and the child in your arms, a myriad of emotions passing over his face. Finally, he found his voice and posed the question that weighed heavily on his mind. "Is he... mine?" Noa's voice was a mix of confusion, hope, and a hint of possessiveness.

You meet his gaze and nod, the love in your eyes telling more than words ever could. Your voice quivers as you speak. "I thought I lost you," you say, tears welling up in your eyes. The weight of your words hangs in the air, conveying the depth of the loss you had felt. The reunion with him has brought a sense of wholeness, filling your heart with an overwhelming sense of joy and relief.

Noa couldn't believe his eyes. You were alive and well, and the child in your arms was his. Overwhelmed with emotion, he wrapped his arms around you and the child, pulling you both into an embrace. The feeling of your body against his filled him with a sense of profound relief and love.

With a gentle squeeze, Noa breaks the embrace and gazes into your eyes, his voice filled with a mix of determination and tenderness. "Come... we are going home." The words held a promise of protection and a longing to return to a place where they could be together, as a family.

[moonrisecoeur]

heheheheheh re6 vampirehunter!leon meeting vampire!user and he’s like so cocky and arrogant only to be absolutely ruined and submissive to vampire!user i’m giggling n twirling my hair

omg anon sorry this took so long to answer i had to wait until my brain was working again but like. wow. love this concept!! i feel like i might have seen this before i think it might have been a cai bot??? not sure but whatever the case u are so big brain

i lowkey kinda hate this but i hope u don't lol

his whole life he's been taught to kill a vampire on sight, no exceptions. they kill innocent people!! and steal their blood!! so obviously being the selfless hero that leon is, he takes up the role as a vampy hunter and tries to keep his village safe. he's killed dozens of vampires in his life, keeping his family and friends safe. he doesn't care that it's a risky profession. he has people to protect.

but when he hears rumors of a vampire living on the outskirts of town, in an abandoned building that no one dared to enter, he knew it was his job to take care of this vampire.

and yet he goes to find them and they are just absolutely not what he expected. most vampires try to be all sultry and seductive to distract him, or some become violent right away. but this one, you, just spoke to him like a regular person.

"stay where you are," he says, his silver dipped knife to your throat.

'come now, human boy. let's not good too ahead of ourselves' the last one had said to him. they taunted him, tried to seduce him.

"i don't understand why you are after me. i haven't killed a human in... hundreds of years," you say to him, letting him keep you in a vulnerable position. there's this air of arrogance to you that leon can't help but despise.

"you're a vampire."

"and yet, you humans only seem to come after me."

"i am not going to be swayed with words," he scowls, "you're a monster."

"then why haven't you killed me yet?" you tilt your head back to gaze at him, glaring to be more precise, but you weren't planning on him being so attractive. when did human men get so pretty?

he blinks, almost confused. he expected a bit more effort to get away, but it almost seemed like you knew he wouldn't.

and, for some reason he can't describe, he eventually releases you, and you immediately struggle for the knife, throwing it to the other side of the room, and within a millisecond he's underneath you, your glaring red eyes peering down at him. he's not showing it, but he's petrified.

"this is... much more comfortable," you chuckle.

"wait, shit, i'm sorry, please don't..." he stuttered. poor thing, he's actually scared.

your fangs are inches away from his neck and he seem to be begging with his eyes for you to please, oh god please have mercy on him. he looks so ripe for the taking, it would be so easy to pierce his skin with your fangs and just... just ruin him. leave his body a lifeless corpse... or potentially make him like you. that would be a perfect irony, wouldn't it? a vampire hunter being turned into a vampire? how tragic.

he can't help the sob that escapes him, "please, i- i don't want to die.." he cries.

and you know what? maybe he's doing it to get your guard down, feed your ego. i mean, he obviously knows yours is large. and yet... some part of you thinks it's not an act, that he's genuinely scared. but whatever the case, it does feed your ego.

"will you be good, human?"

he nods, desperately, afraid for his life. and when you get off of him, and offer him a hand to get back up, he doesn't know whether to be wary or grateful, or both.

your arrogance makes you... hard to get along with, but leon can tell you're much more powerful than any of the vampires he's killed in his entire life.

but he supposes you're not completely awful. you didn't kill him. you let him escape the first time, clutch his sliver knife to his chest as he ran out of your home. you eye him cautiously. something in you.... liked that human boy.

he returns again, this time to apologize. he felt the need to kill you because you were a vampire even though you weren't threatening anyone. you were oddly docile for such a scary, and insanely powerful vampire. you were truly nothing he'd seen before.

this time, though, he doesn't hold a knife to your neck, instead just nervously wandering around the place you have made your home. it's almost sad to him how lonely you must be.

in any case, even a human man trying to kill you counts as company, so you haven't been completely against his presence in your life.

plus, when you finally do end up seducing him, as he knew you would. he's incredibly pliable, somewhat nervous, and while obedience doesn't seem to come easy to him, you make it easy for him.

andddddd then u proceed to fuck his brains out until he can't do anything but lie there uselessly while you suck the blood out of his body but i digress.

you obvi try not to kill him when you take his blood but he's so yummy!! how could you not!! such a delicious little human.

[odyssean-flower]

The Winding Path of Fate Chapter 5 - Spring: Long-Distance Observation

Masterpost Pairing: Neuvillette x Female Reader Summary: You move into Neuvillette’s (surprisingly modest) house Warnings: None except for restrictive gender roles, also for some reason Fontaine’s regency england (sort of) now? Note: I update this story on AO3 first so please subscribe to the fic there if you’d like to read it faster Note 2: If you want to be on the taglist for this fic, please make a reply to this post, send a message or send a private ask

Have a pic of Neuvillette hanging out in the place where they tried to prevent his birth (or something like that). Also I used him to kill his family member who was hanging out here :(

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"Good evening, Monsieur Neuvillette, I would like to ask some questions of you, if you don't mind."

Upon arriving home from work, Neuvillette found himself confronted by his new wife. She had been sitting in the armchair in the entryway as though lying in wait for him. There was a notebook and a pencil clutched in her hands. Her shoulders were tensed up, like she was squared up for a fight.

Worries crowded into Neuvillette's mind. Was the room not to her liking after all? He knew he should have consulted with her before hand. Or was it the food? He had assumed that she was the type of person with no particular preference, but perhaps that was too presumptuous of him as well. Once again, he dearly wished that he had done more preparations.

Having a wife, he realized, perhaps belatedly, was a surprisingly nerve-wracking endeavor.

Neuvillette cleared his throat and gestured towards the parlor. "Shall we discuss your questions in the parlor? I believe it will be a more conducive environment than standing in the entryway."

His wife blinked, then looked away to the side, as though embarrassed. "O-Of course. I apologize for, er, ambushing you when you just returned from work."

She followed him to the parlor. Neuvillette settled down into his usual chair. Next to it was a little table, on top of which a silver goblet was placed. The goblet was filled with spring water from Qingce Village, a soothing and refreshing balm for a long day of work. Today hadn't been grueling unlike some days, but he suddenly a strong craving for the water.

"Please, feel free to take a seat anywhere," he said.

His wife inspected the various couches and chairs with a cautious gaze. Then at last, she picked the couch that was next to his chair, perching herself right on the edge of the cushion. Neuvillette inwardly sighed. Making people feel comfortable wasn't his strong suit.

He took a sip of his water, feeling its coolness seep through his body. He felt his wife's gaze boring into him as he did so. Neuvillette had often been told that his eyes could unnerve people, something that he had never quite figured out how to fix. He now had an inkling of what those people meant.

"What are your questions, Madame?" Neuvillette said, after settling down his tense nerves. It was strange. He had never felt nervous at all the trials and official functions he had to preside over, but something about this woman, or perhaps this entire situation, made him overthink even the most mundane things.

"Yes, sir. Please tell me the names, titles, occupations, and other pertinent information about all the associates in your circle. Don't worry about talking too quickly. I'm good at taking notes."

"Pardon?" Neuvillette was completely caught off guard by the question.

"Please tell me--"

"No, I've already heard your question the first time. What I mean is, why do you wish to know?"

"Well, as your, you know, wife, it's expected that I would be accompany you to any functions you might attend, considering that you are the Chief Justice. I know we are keeping this marriage discreet, but secrets like these do have a way of spreading among the nobility, and in the case that you entertain visitors, which I am sure is relatively often, I have no desire of putting you in an awkward position with your close friends and associates. Which is why I want to prepare in any way that I can."

His wife's voice was steady, but Neuvillette noticed that her hands were tightly clenched around her notebook. He felt a terrible guilt for not putting her at ease sooner, and some awkwardness. She, like most people in Fontaine, had an impression of him that was very different from who he actually was.

"There is no need to worry about any of that, Madame. Once again, I will give you my word that as few people will know about our marriage as possible. I do not have many personal relationships with others, and as I rarely appear at public or private gatherings, nor entertain guests at home, you will never be pressured to be in any uncomfortable situations."

"Really?" she put down her notebook and stared at him in surprise. "You don't even go to any top-secret noble galas or anything like that?"

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you on that."

"I see..." his wife's expression seemed to relax just the slightest bit, and her shoulders slackened. She began writing down something in her notebook, though Neuvillette didn't have the slightest idea what she could be writing. "What about Lady Furina, then? Since she's the one who pushed you to get married, surely she'd want to meet me sooner or later?"

Neuvillette felt another headache coming on at the thought of Furina. He took another sip of water. "You need not worry about her. I will do everything in my power to prevent her from disrupting your peace. I doubt your paths will cross as well."

"But what if she makes an unannounced visit here?"

"That will never happen." His answer was curt.

"Okay then..." his wife wrote something else down. What is she writing? Neuvillette wondered, but didn't try to lean over to see. That would the height of rudeness, after all. "So, do you have any expectations for me at all as your wife?"

"Madame," he said, looking deep into her eyes. One aspect of human behavior that he learned over the years was that eye contact denoted sincerity, which he hoped was conveyed in his words. "I know that this arrangement isn't ideal or the most comfortable for you, and that I seem terribly high-handed to you, but I want you to trust me when I say that I only want for you to be at ease here so you can pursue your goals without any worry. That is all I want and expect from you. There is no need for you to change your behavior in any way."

His wife's eyes stared back into his own. He couldn't gauge what emotions they contained. "Very well, then, sir," she finally put down her notebook, but remained seated at the edge of the couch. "I'm sorry for coming off like I don't trust you. I just tend to get a bit worked up when I'm in an unfamiliar situation."

"No, the blame lies with me for leaving you in such an uncertain state," Neuvillette said, even as he felt a stirring in his heart upon hearing that she trusted him. Why was that? He was used to shouldering the trust and expectations of all Fontainians, but something about hearing it from her felt different.

She simply nodded, and her gaze wandered around the room. There was a brief silence before she asked another question.

"Who else knows about this marriage...and its circumstances?"

"The only people who know are Marie and the Melusines who work in the Court of Fontaine. Of course, the clerks who work at the marriage registration office also know, but they are sworn to secrecy."

The less people who knew, the less fuss there would be when the eventual divorce was finalized. Furina might pester him about it for a while, but she would forget all about it by the time of the next trial or scandal, neither of which were in short supply in Fontaine.

His wife nodded, looking relieved. She wrote down some more notes in her notebook. Neuvillette suppressed a smile as he gazed at her serious expression. She had said that she was good at taking notes--she must be the type to make meticulous notes about everything.

It was then that she looked up, and he averted his gaze. "Do you like your room?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, it's lovely," she said, fidgeting slightly. "The whole house is, really. And so is Marie."

Neuvillette let out a small sigh of relief. "I'm very glad to hear that."

There was another short silence. His wife fiddled with the spine of the notebook, staring at the low table in front of them, seemingly in deep thought. It suddenly occurred to Neuvillette that he should have offered her some of his water. He rarely entertained guests, so what seemed obvious for others didn't come so naturally to him at times. But still, he needed to make a better effort to make her feel at home, particularly as her husband. Would he ever see that relaxed smile again?

"Sir?" she suddenly spoke up, interrupting his thoughts. "Do you feel comfortable about this arrangement?"

He hadn't expected that. People rarely asked about his feelings on anything, and he had to admit he was glad for that. "To tell the truth, it will take some getting used to," he said after thinking about it for a while. "But it's not uncomfortable for me."

"I see," she said after staring at him for some time. "I will do my best to ensure that there is no disruption to your life as well."

There was a knock on the door, making them both jump. "Pardon me, dinner is ready," Marie said.

After a delicious but somewhat awkward dinner (in which you sat at the very end of the very long dining table), you excused yourself and returned to your room.

Lying on your bed, you mulled over Neuvillette’s words. He said that all he wanted for you was to be at ease here so you could fulfill your goal. Was he that invested in you becoming a governess? A woman who he barely knew, who he wasn’t even friends with? Perhaps it was just your deep-rooted cynicism, but you felt like there had to be something more to this.

However, Neuvillette didn’t seem to be giving up his hidden intentions, if he had any, any time soon. He seemed shockingly genuine, in fact. So there was no point in dwelling on it.

Fulfill my goals, huh...

Your goal was becoming a governess, which you had technically accomplished already, so what was there to do here? Study even more? Well, they did say that changing the environment one studies in was beneficial to retaining information. But in all honesty, you were somewhat sick of reading almost nothing but textbooks (history ones not included) for more than a year, so perhaps it was time to change course.

You passed all your exams of course, but there was room for improvement in some subjects, like music and drawing. You had a piano at home that you used to practice daily, but it was difficult to get access to one in the city. You hadn’t found one in the mansion either. Painting, then? Hmm, but I don’t know if I have the money for new paints and canvas, and I’d rather not spend too much of what little I have...

Once again, you had to laugh at the absurdity of this marriage. But in some ways, it was a relief to hear that there was no need to pretend.

You would of course keep your promise to make sure you didn’t create any disruptions to Neuvillette’s life. But, that didn’t mean you couldn’t indulge in your new trappings, did it?

Thinking about that big bathtub and that array of bath products, you got up and headed to the bathroom.

The days in Neuvillette’s house went by at a slow, peaceful, nearly idyllic pace. It was both something you longed for and something surprisingly chafing.

For one thing, you were used to hearing the bustle of activity when you woke up, whether it was back home or in the boarding house. You never realized how much you found those sounds comforting until the absence of them from your life. The house was too big for sound from downstairs to travel all the way upstairs, so you sometimes felt like you were the only one living in this house until you went downstairs.

The garden quickly became your favorite spot in the house. It wasn’t especially grand or lavish, but it had a little lookout that gave a great view of the sea. You liked to sit on the veranda seat and read or do embroidery occasionally.

Living with Neuvillette was a bit like having a roommate who you rarely saw. There were girls like that back at the boarding house who worked long hours. Like them, Neuvillette woke up in the early hours and got home late when you were already in bed. Though you were married in name only, you thought you should at least see him off and welcome him back home every day, but on the other hand, he had told you that there was no need to change your routine for him…

The days when Neuvillette did come home early were as quiet as the days without him. After you greeted him and asked about his day, he would answer and reciprocate the question, which you would respond in kind. After which there would be a lull of silence before both of you excused yourselves to separate rooms.

To outsiders, your interactions seemed cold. But personally, you thought that there was nothing wrong with being cordial and polite and nothing more. And Neuvillette seemed fine with it as well. Since he rarely associated with others outside of work, he probably didn't care much for meaningless small talk either. At least, that was what you told yourself.

So why did he keep looking at you like he wanted to say something more? And what was with that hollow feeling in your heart as you watched his back turn away with you?

Until that evening at the ball, you had never given the figure of the Chief Justice much thought. You knew what everyone knew, and you had done some brief readings on him as part of your governess training, but now that you were living with him for a year, you should make an effort to learn more about him, after he went out of his way to help you.

You decided to not spy, but simply observe him while maintaining a respectful distance.

He really liked his drinks. You didn’t know what kind of drink it was, but it seemed to be quite refreshing for him. You sniffed it once, but it had no discernible scent. It wasn’t stored in the kitchen either. Apparently, there were different varieties for each day, but you couldn’t tell the difference. Was there a wine cellar around here somewhere? You asked Marie about it, but she told you there wasn’t, and that Neuvillette wasn’t much of a drinker. Maybe some sort of special brew for immortal deities?

One time, late at night, you sneaked down into the kitchen to get some water. You noticed that the parlor door was cracked open and peeked in to see Neuvillette sitting in his chair, drinking from his silver goblet. Unlike before, he had taken off his long coat and cravat, lounging in his waistcoat and white shirt. His gloves were off as well, and you could see the glint of his wedding ring as he stroked it with his thumb. His legs were crossed, and there was gentle music coming from the gramophone. He seemed relaxed in a way you had never seen before, but also a bit...lonely.

You didn’t know how long you were there watching him, but he seemed to glance your way, so you hurried back upstairs as quietly as you could, your heart pounding rapidly in your chest. He didn’t address it the next day, and you decided to bring a glass of water to your room before going to bed.

After spending a few weeks in Neuvillette’s house, you couldn't help but notice that the meals served here were generally...liquid based. There were a lot of stews, soups, meat covered in sauces, and other dishes with a lot of water-content. They were all delicious, of course, but you also craved something drier sometimes, like bacon. When you told Marie that you’d like that for breakfast sometimes, she looked like she was about to laugh and cry at the same time.

You mulled over his odd dietary choices and briefly hypothesized that perhaps Neuvillette didn’t have teeth. You had an elderly neighbor who had lost all his teeth, so his food had to be all mashed up so he could eat. You attempted to (discreetly) stare at his mouth during a rare dinner together to see if your hypothesis was correct (it was not), but you must not have been discreet enough, for he looked at you with a strange expression and asked if there was something wrong. “No, sir,” you said, then devoted your attention to your meal, trying to ignore his stare. He couldn’t read minds, right?

One time, when he got home and closed the door behind him, he suddenly grimaced, then opened the door again before quickly closing it. You then realized what had happened: his coat tail got stuck in the door. The same thing would happen with his hair at times. You also witnessed him almost trip on the stairs once when his spats got caught on something. His expression barely changed during these times, like he was used to it.

Being fashionable sure isn’t easy, you thought as you watched him adjust himself in his chair at the dining table after sitting on his hair again.

On the very rare occasions when Neuvillette came home during the day, he would go to the garden and stand at the lookout for long periods of time. Sometimes it would rain, but he would remain standing there. The first time that happened, you tried to run outside with an umbrella, but Marie stopped you. She explained that Neuvillette enjoyed being in the rain. You couldn’t really understand it, but accepted it as one of his quirks. You returned to your room and watched him from the window seat. You felt an urge to paint this gloomy, strange sight, which was strange as you weren’t particularly artistically inclined.

Then, he turned his head, as though sensing your gaze, and you fell from your seat in your panic to turn away.

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Taglist: @just-simping-over-genshin, @xalphafox, @jqnehr, @favficdump, @thetwinkims

[zukosdualdao]

stage kiss

zutara month, day 8: actors au, @zutaramonth

summary: katara just needs to earn enough to make passage to the northern water tribe, so she begins working as a seamstress for an acting troupe in ba sing se. fine enough work in theory, until the leading actress is out sick and katara is asked to step into the role.

other notes: au in which the avatar never returns, and the war is still going on. katara is 16 and just left home, zuko is 18 and let go of his search for the avatar two years ago.

Katara doesn’t believe this is happening.

Well, alright, she mostly does, but. Come on.

All she’d wanted when she came here was to find work that let her earn enough to book passage to the Northern Water Tribe. She had known it would be difficult—her own tribe hadn’t had contact with them in many years, for much longer than she’d been alive—but she hadn’t expected there would be no official transport there when she got to Ba Sing Se. 

It had quickly become apparent that her options were to either book passage through a sketchy crowd of characters—sketchy mainly in that she didn’t like the way they looked her up and down, so she’d have to decide which ones she ‘trusted’ the most—or to… purchase a ship herself. And get a crew. And probably learn how to steer it.

She’s still figuring it out.

In any case, she had to earn one way or another, so she was relieved to find the acting troupe when she did, as the director seemed eager for a seamstress right away. Apparently, the last one had quit with barely a word.

Guiltily, Katara does not mention her plans to leave as soon as she has enough money to make passage.

It goes well for several weeks. A lot of the troupe is friendly, if a bit rowdy for her tastes—one earthbending boy has broken so many props she doesn’t know how he hasn’t been fired for it yet—but she’s met some really wonderful people too. Some of the girls her age have taken to talking to her about things like boys and far-off places they’d like to see and makeup and fights with their families, and it makes Katara feel a little choked up. She’d had Gran Gran, of course, and Sokka, and all the little kids she adored and the elders she respected, but she’d never really had someone who was a friend her own age.

The one person she hasn’t made much headway with is a boy a tall boy with dark hair and a scar that clearly came from a burn over his left eye. She’d come to understand quickly that most of the war refugees were blocked off in the lower ring, and they’re in a sort of in-between state, where artisans and food stallers live—it all makes her feel sick to her stomach if she thought about it too hard—but she can’t help but wonder if that’s how he got it. 

Zuko, the girls tell Katara his name is. He’s quiet and snappish and glares a lot, only seeming to come alive, to become softer, in those moments on stage when he’s being someone else.

Katara finds herself a little fascinated, despite herself, but it’s nothing to pay any mind to. In the weeks ahead, she’s just got to focus on her work.

It goes well. Until it doesn’t.

“Xiu Bao has fallen ill,” the director says as he implores Katara to take the lead’s place. “We would be ever-indebted to you.”

“But I’m not an actress!” Katara exclaims, feeling her heartbeat grow ever faster.

All she’d wanted was to learn waterbending. Now, she’s being asked to join an acting troupe. Temporarily. But still.

“It’s no matter,” he says. “You’ve seen the play many times over by now—and you don’t have to say the lines exactly,” he adds, a bit urgently. It is, after all, only a few hours until the show is meant to begin. “Just… to the best of your memory.”

Katara purses her lips. She’s not an actress, but her storytelling was well-regarded in a way that always made her proud, if a little squirmy—just like your mother, the elders in her village used to say—so maybe that could translate.

“And I’ll be paid?” she asks.

“Of course,” he assures her. “Yes—thank you, Katara,” he adds, turning heel before she can point out that she hasn’t technically agreed yet. 

Probably smart of him.

When she finds herself on stage that evening, made up and in Earth Kingdom robes, she tries to tell herself it’s just like telling a story. Mostly, it works. She remembers the lines surprisingly well.

Something else surprises her, too—the way it barely feels like acting as she stands across from Zuko. His role is still quiet, surly, a romantic lead of few words, but there’s a charm to him, an openness, and she doesn’t know where she possibly draws it from.

It’s near the end of the thing when she remembers with sudden clarity—they’re supposed to kiss here. 

How did she find herself in this situation?

When he strides toward her, placing his hands on her waist, Katara’s breath stutters, and that… that isn't acting.

He looks at her searchingly for a moment—does the scene always take this long?—and when she gives a slight nod of her head, he leans forward. Their lips meet, and it feels like the world around them just… stops. His lips are soft and gentle against her own, and from this close, Katara can tell he smells of firewood and cinnamon. 

When he pulls back, they rest their foreheads together. Katara breathes in shakily. Zuko is supposed to have a line, Katara’s pretty sure, but he's looking at her with a swell of emotion. The director clears his throat from the front row, and it's only then that Zuko remembers this fact as well.

Katara smiles to herself a little as the scene goes on. Maybe acting wouldn't be such a bad way to earn her keep and save for her travels while she stays here in Ba Sing Se.

[loycspotting]

9. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Brassed Off (1996)

We made it to our last movie of 1996 and boy, is it a good one!

Some fun facts before we begin!

Pete Gunn has a minor role in the movie as the character Simmo. You might remember that he worked alongside Ewan in the movie "Blue Juice"!

While the movie takes place in the village Grimley, the story is actually inspired by the mining village Grimethorpe whose pit was closed just three years before the movie released.

The Grimethorpe Colliery Band performed all the band numbers in the movie.

Ewan's character plays a tenor horn in the band. I think it's a fun fact because when Ewan was a teenager, he played the French horn!

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Rating: R

Director: Mark Herman

Starring: Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald, Ewan McGregor

Synopsis: "Brassed Off" is about the 1980s pit closures in the United Kingdom. It takes place in Grimley, a coal mining village, that is next on the chopping block to have it's colliery shut down. The village is also home to the Grimley Colliery Band which has existed for 100 years and the characters are all part of. But with the possibility of the pit closing comes the possibility of the end of the band for good. Band leader Danny (Pete Postlethwaite) challenges the men to fight one last time to win the National Brass Band Competition in London. When Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), a former resident of Grimley, makes a surprise return to the village, she joins the band and sets out to bring hope to the weary miners.

Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Andy Barrows, a coal miner and member of the local band. Andy is initially excited to be reunited with Gloria as the two had a former romance. However, when he learns why Gloria has been keeping her return a secret, he becomes unsure whether he can trust her or if they were ever meant to be. Ewan wears an earring in this role and speaks with a Yorkshire accent. His character is broody so expect a lot of scowls which is a change of pace from his many smiley characters. He has an implied sex scene and a makeout scene. His acting, along with the rest of the cast, gets an A+ from me!

Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 26/107 minutes making his SP 24%.

To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? No. He already doesn't have much to do in this movie and he's part of an ensemble cast so the story is spread out over several different characters. Honestly, I found myself more interested in other storylines than his. He's good when he's on screen and is nice to look at but this just isn't a Ewan content heavy role. Is the movie worth watching in general? Absolutely! This movie has an amazing story, the actors have great chemistry, the music is phenomenal, and you get to learn in an intimate way about an important time in history. I can tell you that before watching this movie I didn't know anything about the miner strikes or pit closures. Now, I'm reading up on the history!

Warning before watching: There is a suicide attempt scene.

Where to Watch: "Brassed Off" is available for rent on YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. You can also watch it for free on soap2day.

Closing Thoughts: This movie so creatively weaves together a story of anger, depression, and hope. The characters are fleshed out and feel real. You hurt for their plight and root for their fight. The movie has a bittersweet ending. I applaud the director, Mark Herman, for sharing with the world the harm done to the miners of the U.K. and their perseverance through it all.

[highfantasy-soul]

NATLA - Episode 1: Aang (3/4)

[Masterlist of my NATLA thoughts]

An explanation of what I'm doing here and my history with ATLA.

Of course, full spoilers ahead.

<previous/next>

I like the change from Sokka being ham-fistedly sexist (though I would argue that in the animated series, it's a defense mechanism due to his feelings of inadequacy and him belittling girls is a cultural side-effect of that rather than the root cause) to him being strict in his leadership role and wanting Katara to 'fall in line' for everyone's safety.

As I saw another post explaining: Sokka is really shown to be the one holding the physical aspects of the village together - defense, food, shelter, order. Katara isn't only focusing on that - she's of course helping out (helping Sokka fish for instance), but she's also concerned about keeping the culture/spiritual/emotional side of the tribe alive.

Sokka thinks that his physical survival focus is the most important, which is where their clashes come from - not him just being sexist. Yes, he does have sexist tendencies, but he justifies them with 'real' reasons that aren't just alluded to like they are in the cartoon: Katara isn't taking the dangers of the world seriously and he feels like it's his job to protect her and if she gets hurt because of that perceived 'naivetee', then he feels he's failed.

It's a much more nuanced exploration of his sexism and machismo - something he and Aang both share in the sense that they both feel like it's their job to protect everyone and that protection, they first try to accomplish through control - Sokka learns against this as he sees how capable Katara is in the world and it comes to fruition in the Northern Water Tribe - where he shares this revelation with Aang. (I've written a little piece about people complaining that Sokka's sexism was 'erased but not erased' here - and there's another really great analysis by another person here).

 This is something they argue about right off the bat - Katara not backing down as she insists on the importance of her role, too. Her anger at the way things are and passion to fight as well as keep bending (and strange bald people falling out of icebergs) alive is front and center.

We see Katara taking a mothering leadership role already even though many of those gathered are older than her when she ushers everyone out of the igloo where Aang is passed out and tells them they need to let him rest. Even Gran Gran respects her role as a caretaker.

Zuko's introduction here gives more hints at how much time has passed without outright saying it. Iroh doesn’t want Zuko to get his hopes up to be dashed again, Zuko is steadfast in hunting down every last trace and rumor - even if it takes another 3 years so that he can return home and take his place as next in line to the throne.

I think this insistence of his that his goal is to take the throne, despite his uncle trying to sway him otherwise, is a great set-up for his future arc - him realizing that it's not the throne he really wants - or needs to attain, that it's ok that his real goal is to just have a family and it's ok to put aside the expectations others have set out for you.

I've seen many people writing off the show 'as soon as Zuko said he wanted the throne' since that's not where his motivations END during the story, but I think it would have been a weaker choice and undercut Zuko's story if his motivation off the bat is explained to be his desire for a family, not the throne. Here's another instance where the show isn't holding your hand and telling you explicitly what's going on in Zuko's mind: at this point, even HE thinks that his goal is to capture the Avatar to go back and take the throne. Those who've watched the animated show know that while that's the surface goal, it's because he thinks that's what will get him his family back. His motivations are nuanced and he verbally states things we know aren't entirely true - this is part of his character.

Aang waking up and immediately wanting to play with the kids is a great homage to him immediately asking Katara to go penguin-sledding. It shows he's just a kid who isn't scarred by this war yet and shows everyone that he really does have a whole bunch of joy in him that hasn't been stamped out yet.

Plus, Aang's immediate concern for where Appa is sets his character up just as well as it was in the cartoon

I like Gran Gran being the one to recite the animated series' opening monologue - positioning it as a story that everyone knows and presumably tells/talks about often - but it's new information to Aang - and the watcher who is just now realizing how long he's been in the iceberg.

Aang and Katara's chat about growing up fast is an homage to her saying 'I haven't had this much fun since I was a kid' and him replying 'you still are a kid'. It's a different tone the conversation takes, but the sentiment is the same: when threats loom, kids don’t get to be kids, they have to grow up fast.

Aang explains the theory of bending to Katara - I like how intrinsically they're weaving the spiritual aspect of bending into the world - Katara has no idea what she's doing and has been muscling through it, overthinking how to get water bending to work.

Aang is able to explain a different approach and this is what unlocks Katara's skill - she needed to change the way she viewed it in order to succeed - changing from focusing really hard to connecting to the ability with her feelings and the energy around her - as an extension of herself.

Because while Katara knows one of her primary roles is to keep alive the culture and be nurturing, there is still the warrior side of her that she tries to use waterbending to tap into - though we know she will be a great fighter with waterbending, how she goes about that, contrary to what she's been taught a warrior is, is the key to her success.

Just as in the cartoon, once Katara is shown something, especially the basic moves, she picks them up incredibly quickly. I like the choice to make her even worse at waterbending in the live-action than she was in the animated because it makes sense to me: she's never seen anyone waterbend before, she's the only one, there's a ton of danger surrounding bending, and she has a traumatic memory tied to her bending. All this adds layers and more space for her to grow in the season.

Condensing the three episodes into one, it makes sense that Aang doesn’t leave Wolf Cove (btw, LOVE that they gave 'the southern water tribe' and 'the norther water tribe' settlements actual names), but rather he stays and when Zuko comes with his warship, he's already there. In the animated version, he sees the village being attacked and comes in to stop it - in the live-action, he lets Sokka try to talk the fire-benders down - after all, he doesn't actually know what kind of threat they are and how quick they are to violence.

Aang's desire for peace and to avoid direct conflict is coming out and obviously he doesn’t want to be captured, so letting Sokka try his diplomacy is a way to keep the peace. He watches as Sokka defends the village, and when it's clear that he doesn’t stand a chance, Aang jumps in to stop the violence.

I don't think this undercuts Aang's character at all - letting Sokka try diplomacy and then a little bit of fighting isn't Aang hiding from conflict, it's him believing there was another way than him fighting - in the animated version, Zuko is already burning down the village, so there's no place for Aang to wait for diplomacy.

Katara's point about 'hope is just as important to keeping people alive as food and shelter' was such a great reinforcement of the themes throughout the series: after 100 years of war, people are beaten down and tired of fighting - having the Avatar come back gives them the strength to carry on and fight harder - a theme that's a connecting thread through the season both for the good guys and the bad.

It shows that, though Sokka doesn't understand the spiritual health Katara is always going on about, he still respects her opinions and is able to be swayed by her arguments. He still is angry that Aang lied to them and brought danger to the village, but his sister is able to talk him down into finding another way

Katara stands her ground and her empathy, hope, and anger all swirl together in her confronting her brother who is ready to turn Aang in to the fire nation in order to save the village - in the animated series, Aang isn't there, so Sokka doesn’t have to make that choice.

Katara's argument to Sokka also pushes home another major theme: kids have to grow up too fast - she acknowledges how hard the responsibility has been on him rather than dismissing it wholly as 'playing soldier' like she does in the animated series. Though they both think they're still right and think their contributions are more important, they have the emotional maturity - beyond their age - to be able to acknowledge the strengths of the other.

Without that compromise, Wolf Cove wouldn't have survived.

This gives Sokka his character developing moment where he faces down the Fire Nation army alone and stands his ground to protect his village and everyone in it - he does 'try' diplomacy, but then challenges Zuko to an honorable duel - just as Sokka would do in the animated version - using his brains to get any advantage he can.

I love the addition of the child defenders fighting back as well once Sokka is defeated - they don't take their invasion quietly, they try to fight back the best they can.

I think this section of the episode was phoenomenal at setting up the characters, their motivations, and flaws they might have to grapple with in a compelling way.

[yuurei20]

Vil Info Compilation part 7: Epel (pt2)

After being admonished by Vil, Epel runs away and explains to Deuce how Vil has forbade him from speaking in his natural dialect and forces him to wear “frilly uniform shirts”.

As he vents his frustrations to Deuce he receives a phone call from his mother, who reveals that Vil has promoted the apple juice produced by their village on his Magicam, saving them from a financially unstable situation.

Epel returns and tells Vil that while “Deep down, (he’s) always looked down on people who care about being cute or charming” he finally understands what Vil meant when he talked about power.

Vil responds, “There is one form of power that can bring people to their knees. It is more overwhelming than violence, more eloquent than word. I speak, of course, of beauty…You were fortunate enough to be born with the weapon called ‘charm’. Whether you sharpen that weapon into something useful or let it rust away is up to you.”

Epel says he wants to get powerful enough to beat both Neige and Vil himself.

By the end of Book 5 Epel is asking Vil to allow him to take center stage, saying that he is “a legit poison apple now” and he wants to take Neige down, not see Vil embarrass himself in front of an audience by performing post-overbolt and running out of stamina mid-show.

Vil refuses Epel’s offer, saying that he stills expects Epel “to captivate the hearts of the audience”.

While event timelines can be kind of vague, by Halloween it seems that their relationship has improved: we see Epel try to protect Vil from Magicam monsters who would have uploaded his picture without his consent, which earns him Vil’s gratitude.

During the Phantom Bride and New Year’s events we see that they are still butting heads—though perhaps less violently than before—and in Epel’s dorm vignette Vil assigns him the task of designing a blastcycle for a film club project, knowing that Epel is passionate about them.

When Vil admonishes Epel for his initial design and bans him from the dorm Epel responds that the situation is only so frustrating because Vil is exactly right.

Epel manages to create a blastcycle design that is unique to himself and Vil rewards him with the task of driving it to the film club’s location, to Epel’s delight.

At the conclusion of the vignette, however, Vil strong-arms Epel into lead role of the film club’s next movie, despite his protests, with Rook insinuating that such a result was Vil’s intention from the start.

Vil comes up again in Epel’s school uniform vignette, where he impresses Seek with a bird carved from an apple at Vil’s behest, as Vil said he wanted to try one at its most beautiful.

[shadowy-suitcase-herring-neck]

Well, I suppose the most natural question about your new dragon AU is: What role do Nightmare and the gang play? Give me all the most likely tragic details.

tragic indeed. it gets rather dark. they are cursed. literally.

Nightmare was among the very first to ever get the curse (dream was cursed after Nightmare) so he has been around AWHILE. wasn't very nice at first after being cursed aka kill every living thing in sight from rage. He was trying to prove himself to the other hunters in his village via hunting. should have been more suspicious that he was offered to slay the last dragon of the nest. considering he was not very well liked... the hunters tried to kill him before the curse took hold by thhunrowing him in a frozen lake. long story short. Nightmare ended up emerging from the lake several weeks later in his draconic form and decimated his old village. part of the reason hunters think "phantom dragons" (false dragons/cursed dragon form) are omens that appear after a tragic accident during a hunt.

Killer and Dust came from the same outpost, they were sort of frienimies as in they where the only ones that could tolerate each other. where friends but acted like they couldn't stand each other. Dus is older than Killer and was able to go on a hunt before him. Killer would often jokingly complain that they wouldn't be able to have their first hunts together. Dust promised to bring him back a scale. that hunting party never came back. He was able to bring down the last dragon in the nest when separated from the main group of hunters. because of this the curse had time to take effect and he entered the crazed state that comes right after getting the curse and attacked the other members of his party. dieing afterwards from wounds and then reviving in his new skeletal body When Dust never returned from the hunt and it was reported that the entire party had most likely been killed by dragons Killer threw himself into training even harder. He would be the greatest dragon hunter alive. revenge drove him. Killer actually went on several dragon hunts and it quickly became clear he was good at it. too good. he was becoming a danger to the higher ranking hunters. they made a plan. all the higher ranking hunters know about the curse is that it drives an individual to insanity and eventually death. they do not know about the whole reviving part. or shape shifting. the plan was to simply make everyone else think Killer had snapped. this backfired immensely. Killer is very dangerous. Killer was eventually slain and revived a few weeks later. he wandered for a long time. but eventually he found Dust. not that they recognized each other at first.

Horror came from a hunter camp that had been newly set up so it was less supplied. one winter they got cut off from their supply route and they began starving. Horror found a lone dragon out in the woods. It just so happens to be a lone survivor of a nest that had about the same fate as horror's own camp.Horror was hungry and all he could think was dragon=food. and the curse claimed another soul. The dragon and Horror ended up killing each other.

Horror got a head injury from a hunter after being newly skeletonised and not releasing the hunter just saw a living skeleton.long story short horror has a hole in his skull and his draconic form is missing one of its horns. 

As For Cross. I was honestly debating if i should make him a part of the gang. Cross was the son of a high ranking Hunter. It was expected for Cross to take his place and it was never intended that he would get the curse. Like Horror Cross found a dragon in the woods. Likely a survivor from a recent hunt that hadn't had time to find a new nest yet. Cross was found a few hours later stumbling around the woods and immediately attacked the search party. someone was able to knock him off a cliff and into a river where Cross awoke on the shores of several weeks later. Cross is coincided the youngest of the cursed ones as no others have been made yet after his revival.

[msweebyness]

Miraculous Barbie: Nathaniel as Rapunzel

Here it is, the first entry in my Barbie movie adaptation series, with Nath in the lead role! Enjoy! @artzychic27 @imsparky2002

"Love and imagination can change the world."

CAST:

Nathaniel Kurtzberg as Rapunzel

Marc Anciel as Prince Stefan

Alix Kubdel as Penelope

Petra Markov as Hobie

Cash as Gothel

Phillipe as Otto

Alim Kubdel as Hugo

Penny & Alyssa Anciel- King Frederick/Stefan’s Mother

Kiran Anciel as Princess Katrina

Aya Kurtzberg as King Wilhelm

And so our story begins…

In a manor deep in the woods, there lived a young man named Nathaniel, fair as they came with long, beautiful red hair that reached to the floor.

The manor was concealed from the outside world, not only by the dark and monster-filled forest, but by a magic wall that stretched high into the sky, so high you couldn’t even see the top!

It was here that Nathaniel lived, working as a housekeeper for Cash, a callous and cold nobleman who was skilled in dark sorcery. Nathaniel was expected to keep the house in perfect order, with every nook and cranny spotless and a boatload of chores every day.

Nathaniel had been told by Cash that he was abandoned at only a few days old in the woods, and had been raised by Cash as his own since then, and that it was for this reason that maintaining the house was the least he could do. (Cash also had his sleazy pet ferret, Phillipe, who was a constant nuisance.)

Nathaniel had lived most of his life as a servant, but at the very least he had his art supplies to pursue his greatest passion: painting! His room was filled with beautiful images he had created with his brushes, many of the kinds of places he wishes to see someday. He also wasn’t lonely, because he had his two best friends. Alix, a young dragon who would one day be bound to serve Cash as her father, Alim did. And Petra, an anxious but well-meaning rabbit.

Daring and restless as she was, Alix longed for nothing more than to fly over the top of the magic wall and soar over the lands beyond. But Alim forbade it, positing that his daughter was too young and too inexperienced a flyer, which frustrated Alix to no end. Petra would often use her sensitive hearing to alert Nathaniel when Cash is returning so he can put his painting away, as the man often derides it as a “waste of time”.

One day, while Nathaniel is preparing Cash’s tea, Alix, while trying to use her still developing fire-breath to assist, accidentally knocks into a statue, which opens a passageway to a secret lower level of the manor. Nathaniel goes down to explore it, followed by an eager Alix and a nervous Petra. While down in the foreboding cellar, they discover invitations to various balls addressed to Cash…and an old painting of him with a red-haired woman, whose face has been slashed out.

But their most intriguing discovery by far, is an old ornate box containing a gorgeous and intricate silver hairbrush. What’s most striking about it is the inscription on the back: “Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved. To our dearest son, Nathaniel, on his first birthday. With love forever, Mother and Father.” This confuses Nathaniel as it conflicts with the story he’d always been told by Cash.

He’s interrupted from considering this further when Cash calls for him, vowing to return later and investigate the room, as Petra and Alix work to get the room back in order, placing things back where they found them. But Nathaniel takes the silver brush with him. It says it belongs to him after all!

When Cash lays down for his afternoon rest, Nathaniel returns to the secret cellar, still thinking about the message on the brush. But when Petra accidentally startles Alix, causing her to punch a hole in the floorboards with her foot, Nathaniel discovers a secret tunnel that seems to lead away from the manor! Assuring his friends he’ll return soon, he goes to investigate.

Emerging from the tunnel, Nathaniel finds himself just outside a lovely little village that sits by a beautiful castle. Deciding to explore, he meets many of the villagers and is surprised by how friendly everyone seems to be. He almost feels at home here, even though he’s never left the manor before, and he finds himself wanting to stay and see more!

Meanwhile, back at the manor, Alix and Petra are worrying about their friend, waiting anxiously for him to return. Alix is contemplating flying over the magic wall to go try and find Nathaniel, when Petra alerts her that her father has arrived and is looking for her. Alix goes outside to meet him, and the two have the same argument they have many a day about her being too young to fly over the wall, leading Alix to storm off angrily as she’s still worrying about her best friend.

As Nathaniel goes for a walk by the river, he happens upon three children playing in a grove, the young Prince Kiran, and his two friends, Chris and Manon. But when Kiran goes over to fetch some apples from a tree for their horse, he falls into a pit trap in the ground, dangling above a deadly tangle of briars! Nathaniel rushes over to help, while Chris and Manon ride to find help as well. Nathaniel gets ahold of Kiran’s hand and manages to pull him up, only to lose his balance and nearly fall in himself! But someone catches him just in time…

It’s then that Nathaniel meets Prince Marc, Kiran’s older brother, who thanks him for helping the boy. While the children ride off to continue playing, Marc and Nathaniel begin to talk. Nathaniel states that this is his first time in the village and it’s certainly been exciting. Marc then asks if he comes from the kingdom of Queen Aya, explaining to a curious Nathaniel that she was the one who had ordered the pit trap to be set, going on to explain the years-long feud between her and the rulers of this kingdom, Queen Penelope and Queen Alyssa, who Aya claimed had done something unforgivable to her. Nathaniel asks why they can’t just talk and clear the air, but Marc sadly posits that they seem to be long past the point that that’s a possibility.

Hearing the three children begin to argue, Marc goes to check on them, as Nathaniel hears the clock in the village chime and realizes he needs to hurry back to the manor! Marc returns to find that Nathaniel has already left, wondering if he’ll get to see him again and realizing they never even exchanged names, but unbeknownst to them both…Phillipe happened to be wandering the village that day, and spotted Nathaniel, ready to report to his master!

Meanwhile, back in the manor, Nathaniel tells Alix and Petra all about the village and how wonderful it was. He tells them about the man he met, but when Alix asks his name, Nathaniel comes to the same realization that Marc did…just as Cash enters, inquiring if he had a pleasant trip today. Nathaniel asks the man why he never told him about the village, and is told that it was for his own safety, to protect him from the ‘evils’ there.

Cash then demands the name of the young man Nathaniel met in the village, but when Nathaniel tells him he doesn’t know, Cash accuses him of lying. When Nathaniel repeats that he doesn’t know because he didn’t have time to ask, Cash uses his magic to demolish Nathaniel’s paintings and his art supplies. When Alix and Petra try to defend Nathaniel, Cash threatens to harm them with his magic until Nathaniel insists they don’t know anything, and quickly sends them away. He tells Cash that he can’t keep him locked away forever, and in response, Cash transforms Nathaniel’s room into a tower, with no door. He calls for Alim, who he instructs to guard the tower, and tells Nathaniel that when he returns, he expects to be told the name of that young man.

Back in the village, Marc is returning to the palace, promising to help Kiran with his archery once he finishes speaking with their mothers. He enters the throne room where Queen Penelope asks if he’s had any luck finding the young man who saved Kiran, as they would like to express their thanks. When Marc reveals he hasn’t seen the redhead anywhere, Queen Alyssa wonders if he could be one of Aya’s spies. Marc doesn’t believe so, or else he wouldn’t have risked his life for Kiran. It’s reported by a page that there was no sign of Aya’s forces. Alyssa prepares to lead her own raid and tells Marc to be ready. He agrees, but something is clearly on his mind…

Returning to the manor, Nathaniel is still trapped and is now suffering from nightmares. But as he wakes from one, he reads the inscription on the back of the silver hairbrush, and resolves that one day, he will be free. But as he’s sleeping that night, the hairbrush is magically transformed…into a paintbrush.

The next day, Cash visits the village in disguise and learns that there is to be a ball for the elder prince’s birthday, while the knights of the kingdom report to Marc that they still haven’t had any luck finding the young man with the long red hair. Just at that moment, Marc and his mothers ride into the village to discover the aftermath of a terrible attack by Queen Aya’s men. Unbeknownst to them, Cash faked the attack with his magic, wanting to hurry a declaration of war along.

Back at the manor, Alix and Petra are using berries, vegetables and leaves from the garden to make new paints for Nathaniel, while contemplating how they could possibly help him escape. They bring the new paint to Nathaniel, who is incredibly grateful and discovers the transformed brush. But when he goes to use it on the wall, he discovers that it creates the images in his mind, without him even needing paint! And when a butterfly flies out of the image he painted of the village, and then Petra seems to fall through it, that’s when he discovers that this magical paintbrush can create portals…

When Nathaniel passes through the painting/portal, he ends up in the same grove where he met Marc…who just so happens to be there eating lunch, and is ecstatic to see him again! It’s then that Marc finally learns Nathaniel’s name, but Nathaniel insists that it’s better if he doesn’t learn Marc’s just yet. The prince is confused but agrees.

Nathaniel then shows Marc the paintbrush, asking if he can help find out who made it, in the hopes that that person may know who his parents are. Marc takes him to the silversmith, who recognizes the brush as the work of his brother, who unfortunately lives in Aya’s kingdom and who he misses terribly, as no one has gone between the two kingdoms since the beginning of the feud. Nathaniel is disheartened, but resolves to keep looking.

Back at the manor, Petra hears Cash approaching, and Alix panics, knowing that it he comes to the tower to discover Nathaniel gone, her father will pay the price! Petra goes to stall Cash while Alix travels through the painting to find Nathaniel.

Back at the palace gardens, Nathaniel gives Marc an invitation to the Masked Ball in honor of ‘the prince’s’ birthday, and Nathaniel agrees to come. Just then, Alix appears in the garden, through the painting/portal, and Marc draws his sword, thinking she’s dangerous because, well, dragon! But Nathaniel assures him Alix is his friend. Alix pleads with Nathaniel to return to the tower at least long enough that Cash won’t punish her father, and Nathaniel agrees, promising to return for the ball. He paints a portal back to the tower, arriving just in time.

Now back in the tower, Cash demands once again to know the name of the man Nathaniel met, and once again is told he doesn’t know. Angry, Cash tells the boy he can rot in the tower for all he cares. Nathaniel tells Alix that they all need to leave that night, and Alix must convince her father to come too.

Back at the palace, Marc is taking a stroll with Queen Penelope, and hesitantly asks if he might be permitted to invite Queen Aya as a gesture of good will, a step toward ending the feud. Penelope refuses, telling him peaceful resolutions are impossible with all that’s been done. This was the answer Marc had feared, and he doesn’t know what to do.

Back in the tower, Nathaniel uses the magical paintbrush to create a beautiful violet gown for himself, with Alix and Petra presenting him with an intricate mask to match the dress. But just at that moment, Cash appears and compliments Nathaniel, only to cut his long red hair off, and destroy both the painting/portal and the magical brush. He then casts an enchantment on the tower: "Tower, tower, do your part, never release your prisoner with a lying heart! Here for as these words are spoken, this fearsome spell can never be broken!" Blaming Alim for allowing Nathaniel to escape once again, he chains the dragon to the tower with magic. He then leaves to attend the ball, disguising himself as Nathaniel using the hair he sheared from the boy.

Back at the palace, Queen Aya has arrived in secret and is planning to launch an attack to make Queens Alyssa and Penelope pay for what she believes they’ve done, once and for all!

It’s then that Cash arrives at the ball, disguised as Nathaniel, and is spotted by Marc. Marc follows him and is led into the castle’s hedge maze, only for Cash to reveal himself, letting Nathaniel’s long red hair fall to the ground. Marc demands to know what the man has done with Nathaniel, but Cash only fires at him with his magic, forcing Marc to flee.

Alix goes to visit Alim, and begs him to help her help Nathaniel, explaining how the boy came back to prevent Cash from killing her father for letting him escape. Alim theorizes that if Nathaniel hasn’t been lying to Cash about knowing Marc’s name, then the spell shouldn’t keep him in the tower. So Alix flies up to Nathaniel, and sure enough, he’s able to pass through the magical barrier. While Alim is still apprehensive about his daughter being ready to go over the wall, he understands it’s what must be done, and Alix flies over it for the first time, carrying Nathaniel and Petra to the palace to try and stop Cash.

Back at the palace, Cash continues to pursue Marc, being sidetracked by Kiran and the other children. He fires a spell at Kiran, only for Marc to pull him out of the way, stalling Cash by dropping a banner on him. Meanwhile, in the ballroom, Queen Aya arrives and engages in a battle of swords with Queen Alyssa, while Queen Penelope evacuates all the guests.

Cash then enters the ballroom, and Aya recognizes him, with Marc questioning this. Aya explains that she knew him many years ago, they had been good friends. This infuriates Cash, who proclaims that they were more than friends, that they had been in love. Aya states that she was never in love with him, she saw him as a brother, and Cash states that she will pay for this ‘once again’, which confuses Aya.

Instead of explaining, Cash asks Queen Penelope why she and her wife despise Aya, with the Queen stating that Aya attacked their kingdom and people without cause, which is furiously refuted with the claim that they had stolen her son, which Queen Alyssa angrily denies. Cash then reveals that Alyssa is telling the truth…he stole the young prince. A furious Aya demands to know where he took Nathaniel, with Marc immediately recognizing the name. Cash states that where he is doesn’t matter as she will never see him again.

Only for Nathaniel himself to arrive with Alix and Petra just as Cash is about to blast everyone with his magic, demanding that he stop making everyone suffer. Cash refuses and blasts the chandelier, setting the ballroom ablaze, with Marc helping Nathaniel to escape. The two, along with Alix and Petra, lead Cash into the gardens, tricking him into entering the painting/portal of the tower Nathaniel left behind earlier.

With Cash now imprisoned forever due to all the lies he has told, the battle has been won. Nathaniel reunites with Aya, who apologizes to Alyssa and Penelope for all the trouble she caused them. The Queens accept her apology, knowing they would have been just as distraught if Marc was stolen from them.

Speaking of which, Nathaniel and Marc got to know each other better and started a beautiful relationship that lasted for five years before they were happily married and moved into their own castle by the sea, with Alix, Petra and Alim all living the good life there.

And they all lived happily ever after!

Their love will be Constant as the Stars Above! Leave your thoughts in the comments and reblogs, and watch for the next installment!

[middleearthpixie]

Living Proof ~ Chapter Twenty-One

Summary: When he puts himself between the Uruk-hai and Merry and Pippin, Boromir knows it means sacrificing himself. But it also means redemption for his near betrayal of Frodo and the Fellowship, and so it is a price he is more than willing to pay.

Kaia has been on her own for as long as she can remember, having escaped a terrible life in a village not far from Mordor. When she hears the sounds of battle, she knows what it means and when she ventured forth and finds a gravely wounded man lying amongst the leaves and debris, she takes him in, not knowing he is actually the son of the steward of Gondor.

Angry at himself and faced with a long road to recovery, Boromir does not make things easy on Kaia and it is only through her own sheer will that she does not give into the urge to hit him over the head with something on a daily basis. That refusal to give up brings about changes neither one of them could have foreseen.  She just wanted to save him. She never thought he would save her in return…

Fandom: The Lord of the Rings (AU, Boromir lives)

Pairing: Boromir x ofc Kaia 

Warnings: None

Rating: T 

Word Count: 4.2k

Tag List: @sotwk @heilith @fizzyxcustard @evenstaredits @way-too-addicted-to-fandoms @emmyspov @finnofamerica @lathalea @ass-deep-in-demons @quiall321 @mistofstars @justfollowtheroad @guardianofrivendell @glassgulls @doctorwhump @kmc1989 @estethell @emrfangirl @emmanuellececchi

If you’d like to be added (or removed) to the tag list, please just let me know!

Previous chapters can be found here.

“Are you warm enough? Ioreth will have my head if you catch a chill that lands you back in her infirmary. Especially when I tell her I’m your child’s father. Her lecture will go on for days and I am not at all certain I can tolerate that.”

His expression was so grim, she didn't think he was joking about any of it. But, then, his words sank in and she turned to look up at him. “My child? I think you mean our child.”

“Well, obviously. But does she know I’m his father?”

“No,” she shook her head, “I said nothing about who her father might be.”

He offered up a grin. “A girl?”

She grinned right back. “A boy?”

His arm tightened about her. “Twins, perhaps?”

“Bite your tongue, Boromir. I am not having twins.”

“You don't know that.”

“I think I would, though, if I was.”

“How?”

She shrugged. “I cannot explain it. I just think I’d feel it.”

A low chuckle rose to his lips. “You’d feel it, would you? And how would you know, when this is your first child?”

“Oh, don't ask me such questions. It’s just an intuition sort of thing.”

The chuckle became a full blown laugh.” An intuition sort of thing, eh? Very well, I will trust your… intuition… but if we do have twins, I will say I told you so.”

“Do you want twins?”

“Two babies at one time? Love, I’m scared witless at the thought of one single baby, never mind two.”

That was not what she expected him to say and lifted her head to gaze down at him. “You’re scared?”

He nodded slowly. “A bit, yes. It’s a great responsibility, and not one I’ve ever had before. And… well… my own father was not so great a role model for how to be a good father.”

“I’m sure he loved you in his own way.”

“Spoken as a woman who was obviously cherished by her own parents, not for what you could do for them, but simply for being.”

He said it with no self-pity in his voice, only a soft matter-of-factness that made her heart hurt for him. “Do you believe your parents did not cherish you for simply being?”

“My mother did, I’m sure. She’s been gone so long, though, it’s difficult to remember much from those days. And perhaps Denethor did as well, before her death. All I know is that is not how he acted afterwards.”

Remembering Gandalf’s words to her about Boromir’s mother’s fear where her son and Denethor were concerned, she murmured, “Your mother worried for you, worried that Denethor’s influence would lead you down a lonely path.”

“It might have,” he replied softly. “In fact, I believe it absolutely would have, had I not walked into almost half a dozen arrows not too long ago.”

“You should not joke about that,” she told him, shaking her head. “Have you any idea how close you came to losing your life that day?”

“Trust me, I am all too aware of it. The wounds have not healed entirely, remember. But, know this, I would not change a thing about how this all happened. Except, perhaps, I wouldn’t bungle my reaction to you telling me this news the way I did.”

“You bungled nothing. You were surprised, is all. And I can certainly understand that. I was just as surprised and it’s entirely possible I snorted in Ioreth’s face when she told me.”

“What?”

“I told her she was mad. That there was no way I was possibly pregnant. Which was nonsense of course, since you and I had slept together, but that did not matter. I was convinced she was wrong.”

“How convinced?”

A hint of heat came to her cheeks. “I told her she was stark raving to think I was having a baby. But, if I irritated her, she kept it to herself and simply gave me a long look that suggested she knew I was full of nonsense. Still… I thought you had been killed and the very thought of raising a child on my own terrified me. But then…” Her throat tightened at the unwanted memory and she swallowed hard against the sudden lump in her throat. “Then I thought that I would treasure that piece of you I now carry, that it was as if I’d been given a gift of your immortality. You would be still be here and I would cherish that for the rest of my days.”

“You would have gone through with it, had I been killed?”

“I would, yes,” she replied without hesitation. “Just as I would have, had you walked away from me when I told you.”

“That will never happen,” he told her, a hint of ferocity along the bottom of his words. “You are mine, Kaia. And I am yours.”

Kaia smiled even as she snuggled closer to Boromir, draping her arm about his waist as she tucked her head against his chest. That last remnants of the chill that gripped her on the riverbank had finally faded and now she just felt cozy. She was exactly where she wanted to be, curled up in Boromir’s big, comfortable bed, heavy warm blankets tucked around her, and his arm snugly about her shoulders. 

Several candles lit along the mantle gave off a soft golden light and she let her eyes close as a sense of utter peace settled about them. Time seemed to stop for them, as they lay there in comfortable silence. Boromir’s fingers swept lightly along her upper arm, and every now and again, he pressed a kiss into the top of her head. “Are you still cold, love?”

“I’m fine,” she told him, letting her hand come to rest against his chest. “Are you going to fuss over me for the next eight months?”

“I might, yes.” A hint of laughter wove into his voice. “I can do precious little else, remember.”

“You’ve done quite enough already.”

A chuckle rumbled up from his chest. “I was not alone, you know.”

“This is true.”

The sheets rustled softly and she found herself on her back, gazing up at him as he said, “We are having a baby, Kaia.”

“Are we?”

“Forgive me, but it hasn’t quite sunk into my thick skull as yet. That something so wonderful should come of so much darkness…” His eyes softened and a hint of a smile played about his lips. “Something so wonderful, indeed…”

There was something about the tenderness in his eyes that melted her heart right then and there. She reached up to brush several wayward tendrils of honey-gold hair away from his forehead. “It doesn’t seem quite real to me just yet.”

“Me, neither, actually.” A slight smile accompanied his words. “But Ioreth was certain?”

She nodded. “Absolutely certain, yes.”

He met her gaze and his smile widened. “I do love you.”

With that, he dipped toward her, his kiss soft and tender and when he drew back, she murmured, “We have much to do, you know.”

“We do, but we also have plenty of time.” He eased off her, stretching out alongside her once more, and she smiled as his hand came to rest on her stomach. 

“It will go by fast.”

“I know.” His thumb swept in a gentle arc along her. “But I think, before we tell anyone, we should marry. I’d rather not have anyone gossiping about you or the state of our relationship. And the last thing I want is any labeling our son or daughter a bastard or even hinting that I’ve married you out of a sense of duty.”

“Is that what would happen?”

“I honestly cannot say, for I have never been in this spot.” He smiled over at her. “And with Aragorn having returned—”

She rolled onto her side, tucking her hands beneath her cheek. “You’ve mentioned him before, but you’ve not said who he was.”

“I haven’t?”

She shook her head. “No. You asked for him when you were first wounded and with fever, and as I said, you’ve mentioned him in passing, but I still don't know who he is.”

“He is a Ranger.”

“And that matters here?”

“Ordinarily, no. But he is no ordinary ranger. He is the heir to Gondor’s throne.”

“What?”

“He is the true king of Gondor. 

“Is that what you meant when you said you might be unemployed?”

He nodded, also rolling onto his side to face her. “With the king’s return, Gondor has no need for a steward. I will speak with him of course, and offer my services to Gondor as I’ve always done, but I’d not be in the same position of power.”

“You say that as if it should matter to me. Should it?”

“I’d hope not.”

“Good, for it doesn’t. I love you for you, Boromir, not for what position you hold or what power you might wield. I am a simple farm girl, after all. I care not for such things.”

“A simple farm girl.” He chuckled, his eyes glittering in the low light. “Kaia, you are anything but. You are a mix of elf and Númenorean and that makes you anything but simple. You are more suited for a position of power here than I am.”

“But, you’re of the same, aren’t you?”

“Númenorean, yes. Elven?” He shook his head. “No. And your bloodline would be far purer than mine, I’ll wager.”

“I care not about that, either, you know. Bloodlines and the like. My stepfather was just as worthy as my mother was, even if he was only of man.”

“I know. And it was not a slight.” 

In the soft golden glow, the scars on his chest were plainly visible, raised and darker than the rest of his skin. Without thinking, she reached out and traced lightly along the perimeter of the scar just below his collarbone. “Do you know how amazed I was, when I happened upon you in the clearing and saw that these had not killed you.”

“Not more amazed than I was, I’ll wager.”

She smiled. “Probably not, no.”

“Much of it is a blur to me,” he murmured. “I saw Merry and Pippin in trouble and got between them and the orc army and then… I only remember hearing you whisper, ‘There there. I’ll not hurt you.’”

“Do you recall my dragging you back to my cabin?”

He nodded slowly. “You dropped me. Twice, I think.”

“It might have been more. You were heavy.” 

His hand came up to cover and still hers. “Did I ever thank you for not leaving me there?”

“I need no thanks, Boromir. I couldn’t, in good conscience, leave you there. Not when I could help you.”

“I deserved no help. I’d brought it upon myself.”

“Stop that. You’d tried to protect your friends, your companions. You of course deserved it. You’re but a man, Boromir, and bear the same weaknesses as any other man. And you were given a second chance, so make the most of it. With any luck, your companions will return, and your halfling Ring Bearer will have done what he set out to do and when that happens, we will all celebrate and in time, you and I will have a little one and you can be the father you wished your own to be.”

She smiled then, and leaned over to brush his lips with hers. “And I cannot wait to hear the bedtime stories to tell her.”

He shifted, easing over her once more, whispering, “Him,” as his lips came down to claim hers. 

****

Thwock!

Boromir’s eyes snapped open as the first arrow struck him and the breath left his body in a mighty whoosh. He steeled himself for the fire that would follow, for the agony that made breathing nearly impossible.

Only they never happened. 

He was not in the clearing at Amon Hen. Merry and Pippin were not on the ridge behind him, watching in frozen horror as he put himself between them and the Uruk-hai without hesitation. 

No, he was in his bedchamber, in his flat, in Minas Tirith, his wounds no longer fresh and furious, but healing and fading into memory. 

He lay there, flat on his back, staring up into the grayish first light of dawn and for a moment, wondered if he’d imagined all of it. The hobbits. Gandalf. The balrog. Lothlórien. Galadriel. The Uruk-hai. Amon Hen. What if they were all but vivid machinations of an overworked and exhausted mind? Perhaps he wasn’t in Minas Tirith after all, but his chambers at Rivendell, awaiting the Council of Elrond.

For a moment, he thought perhaps that was true. He’d just imagined all the rest. 

But then he heard the soft snore.

He felt the warm leg pressed against his.

Looking over, he smiled at the sight of glorious dark red hair spread across his bed linens, at the full lips slightly slack in sleep, at the rounded curves of absolutely perfect breasts that rose and fell with each drawn breath.

Kaia.

He sat up, then eased to edge of the bed to rise. The chill air bit into him, spurred him to move as swiftly as he could to his wardrobe, where he hastily dressed. It took a few minutes for the chill to leave him, despite his trousers and heavy tunic, as the cold weather always seemed to find a way to seep through the stone and mortar holding his flat together. He frowned as he settled along the wide windowsill, where it was warmer thanks to the sunlight breaking over the horizon. 

He sat back against the window and gazed over at Kaia once more, who mumbled something in her sleep as she rolled onto her side toward him, tugging the quilts up to her ear as she did. She sighed softly and slept on while he sat there, trying to imagine what the coming days would hold for them. There was much they had to do, no matter how much time they might have.

With a smile, he moved from the windowsill to the bed, bent to press a kiss into her temple, and as he straightened up, she opened her eyes to peer sleepily at him. “Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine,” he murmured. “Go back to sleep. It’s barely dawn.”

“But you’re up and dressed.”

“I know. I’m going to go and look in on Faramir.” He sank onto the edge of the bed, his fingers moving lightly about the shell of her ear and out along her hair. “So, go back to sleep, love.”

“Are you certain everything is all right?”

“I’m positive. I want to look in on my brother and go and speak with Aragorn. I’ll return before you know I’ve gone.”

She nodded slowly, her eyes closing once more, sleep thickening her, “If you say so.”

“I do. You need your rest now.”

“Don't start with that,” she muttered. 

“I will insist upon it no matter what,” he whispered, still stroking her hair. “And you will do as you’re told, lest you really wish me to nag you.”

“If you do, I will find a bow and arrow and make use of them on you.”

He chuckled, bent to brush her temple with his lips once more, and whispered, “I do love you, Kaia.”

“I know,” she whispered back, now smiling even if she didn't open her eyes. “Now go away and allow me to sleep, won’t you?”

“As you wish.” 

He pushed up and away from the bed and moved to the doorway, where he paused and smiled as she murmured, “I love you, too, Boromir.”

“I know. I’ll see you later.”

She waved him away and so he turned to let her sleep as late as she wished. He had the feeling it had been a while since she’d been able to simply rest and do just that and now that they were back in his city, in his home, he would make certain she absolutely rested, no matter how annoyed she grew at him. She’d cared for him all those weeks, it was his turn to do the same for her. 

So, he left his flat without another sound and made his way to the Houses of Healing, where Ioreth stopped him the moment he crossed the threshold. “How is Kaia?”

“She is fine.” 

“Might I speak with you a minute? Away from the others?”

“Of course.” His belly fluttered slightly, as he had the feeling he knew exactly why she wished to speak with him privately.

Still, he had nothing to hide and so had no qualms about following her into her small study off the main infirmary room. She closed the door behind him, then gestured to the desk in the far corner. “Take a seat.”

“What is this about, Ioreth?”

“Kaia is a lovely girl.”

“That she is, yes.”

“How did you come to know her?”

He smiled, sinking into the chair opposite her desk, and waited for her to seat herself before replying, “She saved my life, at Parth Galen. What has she told you?”

“I did not ask her. I know her not nearly well enough.” Ioreth’s gray eyes were direct and her slight smile was very maternal. “With you, on the other hand, I feel quite comfortable broaching this subject.”

He sat back, his hands folded, fingers laced, against his belly. “So, broach it. I keep no secrets from you.”

“So you know then?”

“Know?”

“Ioreth… I know you almost as well. Ask me.”

She shook her head. “I know not what you mean.”

“The baby. I know you know about it. You’re the one who told Kaia. So, go and ask me if I am the father.”

“Will you deny it?”

“Not at all.” He couldn't hold back his smile as he shook his head.”I’ll not deny her or the child she carries. They are both mine. And before you ask, yes, I have already asked Kaia to marry me.”

Although her expression remained neutral, he knew her well enough to see the relief in the depths of her dark gray eyes. “I expected no less from you, Boromir.”

“You asked if I’d deny my own child.”

“And I’d have been gravely disappointed in you, had you done just that, for no honorable man does such a thing.”

“Did you ask her who the father was?”

“I thought to, but something told me not to. She seemed quite sad at the time, and then told me she believed him dead.”

“I was at Osgiliath,” he reminded her softly. “And all anyone knew was Faramir was but the lone survivor. She had every reason to believe me dead.”

“I assured her she would be welcome to remain here with us.”

“I expect no less from you, Ioreth. But, if you would, please keep this news between you and I for the time being. I’d rather she and I were married before anyone else knows of her pregnancy.”

“Of course. I’ll not say a word until either you or she gives the word.”

“Which I appreciate,” he told her. 

“Tell me, though, how you met her.”

“I was wounded by orc arrows. She found me when I was very near death and at great risk to herself, took me in and cared for me.”

“She certainly did.” Ioreth’s eyes glinted with a hint of mischief. 

To his surprise, a hint of heat crept into his cheeks even as he grinned. “It was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Much like the child she now carries.”

“Denethor would be seeing double at the thought of you, his warrior son, settling down with a wife and child.”

“Probably. But, it would not change my mind. If anything, it would only reinforce my decision to marry Kaia. Even Denethor could find no fault with her.”

“Oh, he could, although he’d have to create said fault. He would not be happy with losing you this way.” A hint of wistfulness came to her eyes. “But, your mother would have been overjoyed.”

“Would she? I remember so little of her.”

“Oh, yes. Her great hope for you and your brother was that you’d not become cold, hard, shells of men. She loved Denethor, but she saw his weaknesses as well and tried to prevent them in her boys. I daresay you will do the same, should the child Kaia carries be a boy.”

“Do you have any way of telling? Whether the baby is a boy or girl?”

“I do not, I’m afraid. I’ve heard tell the elven healers have the capability, but alas, I do not.” Ioreth’s smile grew maternal once more. “You will have to wait with the rest of us.” But then, her eyes narrowed. “Will you be disappointed, should the child be a girl?”

“No. All I care about is that Kaia and the baby come through delivery safe and sound. Boy. Girl. I will be over the moon regardless.”

“Good. Now, you should go and sit with your brother a while. He grows antsy to get out of here, but I think another day or two of rest would be in his best interest.”

“And you think I might convince him of that?”

“No. But you are bigger than he is. You can pin him down if need be.”

“Ioreth.”

“He listens to you. Far better than he has ever listened to me.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

When Kaia opened her eyes, it took her a moment to remember where she was, and then she smiled. Boromir’s bed. The only place she wished to be and one she would hopefully never have to leave.

She lay there for a moment, cozy beneath thick, clean quilts that didn't smell musty or sour, atop smooth linens, her head cradled by fluffy pillows. A far cry from her shack in the clearing. 

And best of all? Boromir came with this place. 

She sat up then, and slid from the bed to move to where Boromir had set her pack in the corner, and dressed quickly, as the room was chilly and frost gathered in the corners of the windowpanes. 

After dressing, she tugged on her boots and made her way down to the level where the Houses of Healing were. She thought she might find Boromir there with his brother, but as she came into the infirmary, she saw Faramir’s room was empty. 

“They left a short while ago.”

Kaia turned at the unfamiliar female voice and saw the woman with the long golden hair now sitting up, her arm wrapped and resting on a pillow on her lap. “I’m sorry?”

“The brothers. They are brothers, aren’t they?”

Kaia nodded. “They are.”

“I thought so. The resemblance is quite strong.”

“I know.” Kaia came into the woman’s room. “I’m Kaia. It’s nice to have another woman here to talk to. Someone my age.”

The woman smiled. “I’m Éowyn and likewise.”

“What happened to you?”

Éowyn let out a soft, almost silvery laugh. “I challenged the Witch-King. I won.”

“Good on you. That took skill.”

“It took not being a man.”

“You were with the Riders of Rohan?”

“I did. Tell me, do you know what happened to the halfling who was with me?”

A shiver ran along Kaia’s spine. “A halfling?”

Éowyn nodded. “Merry. He rode with me, but I lost sight of him on the battlefield.”

“I don’t know, but we can ask. Someone will know.” 

“I do hope so. I was to watch over him, but in the heat of battle…”

Éowyn’s voice trailed off and Kaia smiled, reaching out to cover one of Éowyn’s hands with her own. “I understand that all too well.”

“You’ve seen battle, haven’t you?”

Kaia nodded. “I have. Osgilliath. And I was also at Amon Hen, but that was in the aftermath of battle, so I saw no fighting myself. But, to confront the Witch-King… I am in awe of you, Lady Éowyn.”

“Please,” the lady smiled back, shaking her head, “Éowyn is fine and I insist upon it.”

“I am still in awe of you, though,” Kaia told her. “The Witch-King.”

Éowyn let out a soft, almost silvery laugh. “It did not sink in at first,” she admitted, a hint of color rising along her cheekbones. Her features were bold and strong and her smile rendered her stunning, but she was also warm and friendly and as she said, “And when I realized it, my knees went to jelly. It was a sight, I’m sure.”

“My lady, you did what no man could ever do. A little jelly-knee is to be expected.”

Éowyn laughed harder this time. “A little jelly-knee? Kaia, I sank like a stone.”

“Very well. A lot jelly-knee then.”

“A lot, indeed.”

Kaia laughed with her and as their chuckles died out, she said, “Are you hungry, my lady? We might be able to find breakfast of some sort somewhere.”

“I think that sounds like a fine idea. Let me find my slippers and then we can go look.” Éowyn slid down from her bed and crouched to peer under it, where she did find her slippers. Then, slipping her arm through Kaia’s, they left the Houses of Healing in search of food. 

[erictmason]

“BOUND FOR FREEDOM, YEAR FIVE, DAY TWO: “Decorations”

“Decorated in Duty”

Long flowing robes, sharp glimmering crown, tall imposing staff...Sally could remember seeing her father don them all with confidence and clarity. But looking at herself in the mirror, Sally could see how poorly they fit her...could feel how leaden their weight really was.

Yet still she had to wear them.

Ordinarily, Sally was loathe to put her Royal status forward; not only did it make her discomforted, it made her ability to lead the others more difficult for how sharply it reminded them of the lines that had once separated them. But this was to be Knothole's first trial, a case of theft between neighbors. The state of things in the village was tenuous; the Freedom Fighters had only been active for a few months, and tensions were high as many wondered if this new Resistance against Robotnik could work. Which meant that the judgment rendered would be critical in keeping the peace. Which meant that she would be critical in keeping the peace. So regardless of her personal feelings, she would step into the Role. She would bear the Weight. She would-

"Bit of a new Look for you, isn't it?"

The princess startled at the unexpected comment. "Sonic?" she yelped (despite her best efforts to keep some dignity in her voice). "What are you-? When did you-?"

"'A hedgehog', and 'just now', in that order," he replied slyly.

She whipped around to face him, finding the hedgehog leaning confidently against the wall, arms folded in front of his chest, looking at her with an odd sense of expectation in his eyes. "Cute," she groaned. "You really shouldn't be here right now, you know."

"I'm thinkin' this is exactly where I should be," he replied, even as Sally pointedly turned away from him to return her gaze to the mirror. She tried to focus on straightening her robes back out after her surprised reaction had ruffled them, but she could not miss Sonic drawing closer in the reflection. "You looked about ready to puke when you came in here."

"I'm fine."

"Forgive me if I'm unconvinced." He was side by side with her now.

"I just...I hate having to wear all of this stuff," she sighed out. "How it makes me look...how it makes me feel...."

"...how does it make you feel?" His hand had slipped over her shoulder.

"Like...like I'm not me anymore," she answered. "Like all anyone will ever see anymore are these...decorations covering me up."

She straightened her posture then. Her hand tightened on the staff. Yet she saw how Sonic had a knowing little smile on his face even so. "Well...that's the nice thing about clothes, right? You put 'em on..." he said, and then his hand quickly snagged the crown from atop her head, "...and you can take 'em back off again."

It ruffled her hair, disturbed her stance just a little...but it also let her focus a bit more on her own eyes in the mirror. It let her feel just a bit lighter. "So when this is over," Sonic said, voice now taking on a surprising but welcome warmth. "don't worry. We'll all still see you just fine."

Then the crown was back on her head. The weight came back with it. But Sally did not straighten her stance again. She let her free hand rest in his.

She was ready now.