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ot8xbangchansgirlsblog · 7 days ago

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𝔻ℝ𝔸𝔽𝕋 𝟙: "𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘"

A/N: So im starting a series called "Drafts" and basically i'll be dropping stories/series that i dont really like so that other authors can copy/use them, I realized i have so many ideas and stories but i do have a short attention spam so i never really finish them and i get bored easily but i've had so many people ask if they can use my works as inspo so i thought i would make a section for writers starting their blogs or if they like my work...I do have some rules tho and if you really want to use my work just DM and we can work together and figure out stuff but for today....

i started this story like an hour ago and i dont really like it so...whoever would like to finish it or use it as inspo can just dm and lmk and i'll tell you the full plot and how you should go on about it! If you steal my work i will call you out and sue you (im joking...maybe)

The sun was high in the sky, casting its golden rays over the island as the group gathered together for another monthly tradition: teambuilding. It was a day when everyone set aside the hectic schedules, the long hours of practice, and the stress of being in a band, to focus on one thing: each other. The team had gotten better over time at communicating, problem-solving, and even just relaxing together. Most importantly, it was what had helped Hyunjin and Han get along, despite their differences.

This time, the band had ventured to an adventure park on a picturesque island, with lush green trees and winding trails leading down to sparkling blue waters. The air was warm, tinged with the scent of pine and saltwater. It felt like the perfect place to bond.

The tents were set up in a small clearing near the edge of the forest, and the smell of wood smoke and cooking food was already drifting in the air. Everyone was busy unpacking their things, setting up their temporary homes for the weekend. Chan and Lee Know were outside chopping firewood, while Y/n was struggling with an air mattress that refused to inflate properly. Felix was off with I.N. near the campfire, talking excitedly about the activities ahead.

“Hey guys, the tour guide says we’re starting now!” I.N. called out, looking over his shoulder as he hurried to the others. His enthusiasm was infectious, and even the grumpy Hyunjin seemed to perk up a little at the mention of getting started.

“Okay, we’ll be there soon,” Hyunjin replied, his voice muffled as he concentrated on tying up some gear. He was focused, intent on getting everything in order before heading out.

But it was hard to ignore the heat of the day. The air was thick with humidity, and beads of sweat clung to everyone’s foreheads as they worked. Chan, still wearing his black cap, wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He glanced over at Y/n, who was still trying to manage the air mattress.

"Babe, did you pack the lighter for the stove?" Chan asked, his voice carrying a note of concern as he finished stacking the firewood with Lee Know.

Y/n paused, looking up from the deflated mattress she was struggling with. She frowned, shifting through the piles of kitchen supplies they'd brought.

"It should be somewhere here," she said, her brows furrowing as she sifted through the plastic bins. She could feel the pressure mounting—the heat, the clock ticking down, and Chan's gaze on her, his frustration clear.

"Please don’t tell me you forgot it," Chan's voice shifted, irritation creeping in. His tone wasn't as light as usual.

Y/n felt a slight sting at his words but chose to brush it off. She knew he’d been stressed lately—work stuff, maybe. "I told Felix to put it in one of the boxes, I swear. Let me look again, give me a second," she tried to reason with him, her hands digging deeper into the box of kitchen tools.

The heat was making everything feel ten times worse, and Y/n could feel the sweat rolling down the back of her neck as she scrambled to find what they needed.

Chan’s sigh was sharp. "Forget it. I’ll just go get one from the tour guide. I swear, you can’t do anything right these days." His words hung in the air, cutting through the noise of the campsite. The way he spoke—so blunt, so sharp—made Y/n freeze for a moment.

Her eyes lifted from the boxes, meeting his. She hadn’t expected that. Not from him.

"Hey… that’s not nice," she said quietly, her voice softer than usual. She could feel her chest tighten with a mix of confusion and hurt. She had been trying so hard to plan this trip, to make sure everything went smoothly, but it felt like none of it mattered.

Chan, not even looking back at her, shrugged with a careless attitude. "Yeah, whatever. Just finish up here and get to the others. Make sure to carry your water bottle; it’s too hot out." He didn’t even wait for her reply, turning and walking away, his footsteps crunching on the gravel as he left.

Y/n stood there, still holding the kitchen utensils in her hand, staring at the spot where he’d been just a moment ago. The harshness of his words stung. Why was he so angry? She knew he was stressed, but it was different today. His words felt almost cruel.

“...Okay then,” she murmured to herself, trying to keep her voice steady. She wasn’t sure if she should push him or just let it go. In the end, she decided to focus on the task at hand.

After finishing up the tents and making sure everything was packed neatly, Y/n felt a slight sense of satisfaction. It wasn’t just that she didn’t like messes; it was the peace of mind knowing that everything was in order before the real fun started. With a quick glance around the campsite, she slipped on her trainers, ready to catch up with the group. Her mood was still weighed down by the conversation with Chan earlier, but she knew that seeing Felix would help lift her spirits.

As she rounded the corner of their tent area, a familiar voice called out to her.

“Hey, I was looking for you,” Felix chirped, appearing from behind one of the nearby trees. Before she could respond, he pulled her into a quick, sweet kiss.

She smiled, the warmth of his embrace doing wonders for her mood. “I was just finishing up the tents,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her. “Have I missed anything?”

Felix chuckled, his voice light and playful. “No, not really. Seungmin and Changbin have been arguing about team captains.” He gestured over to the two of them, who were already bickering loudly as the rest of the group looked on.

“Of course they are!” Y/n laughed, shaking her head in amusement.

Felix’s giggle was contagious as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I told them to just do rock-paper-scissors, but they still end up fighting.”

Y/n sighed, rolling her eyes fondly. “Some things never change.”

Felix tugged her gently toward the group, who were all standing around watching the bickering match. Lee Know was the first to step in, clearly fed up with the squabbling.

“Okay, how about this?” Lee Know called, raising his voice to cut through the noise. “The couples stick together, and I.N. can be in charge of one group. Hyunjin will be with me and Han, and Changbin, Seungmin, you’re with I.N.” He pulled Han into his arms as he spoke, his usual mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"I ain't complaining," Han giggled, shooting a playful wink at Lee Know.

Seungmin’s eyes widened in horror. “What? I’m stuck with him?” He pointed an accusing finger at I.N., who was standing beside the rest of the group, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“Fine, but there’s no way on earth I’m letting I.N. be in charge,” Changbin grumbled, crossing his arms in a dramatic huff. “He got so lost in the forest last time.”

“Hey! That was one time! Give me a break!” I.N. pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Sure, cause it’s totally normal to get lost in the forest,” Hyunjin teased, a smirk forming on his face.

I.N. shot him a glare, and without warning, punched Hyunjin on the shoulder. “Ow! Rude!” Hyunjin cried out, rubbing his shoulder in exaggerated pain.

“As much as I love watching you guys argue all day,” Chan started, his tone already dripping with sarcasm, “we need to get this show on the road. Everyone, let’s get to the track.”

Y/n groaned, rolling her eyes as she adjusted her water bottle. “It’s too hot for this,” she complained, wiping sweat from her brow as she followed the group.

Felix, always the considerate one, frowned sympathetically. “Tell me about it.” He handed her his water bottle, and she gratefully took it, feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat. “Drink water, it’ll help,” he added softly, flashing her a reassuring smile. She gave him a thankful look, feeling the refreshing water cool her down just a bit.

The group began making their way to the obstacle course. The track looked brutal—a long stretch of muddy trails, water pits, and even ladders. It resembled something straight out of a military training course, and Y/n couldn’t help but feel a little anxious just thinking about it.

“Okay, people!” The tour guide called out, clapping his hands loudly to get everyone’s attention. “This is going to be the toughest course you’re going to run on this trip, so I hope you’re energized!” He grinned, clearly enjoying the prospect of making everyone sweat.

Y/n squinted at the muddy course ahead, already dreading what was to come. “The team to ring the bell first wins. And remember, losers get a swim in the lake,” the guide added, his tone light and teasing. Everyone chuckled, but it didn’t take long before the competitive energy started to bubble to the surface.

“Hey, Lee Know, make sure you don’t lose, or the crocodiles will get you,” Seungmin teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he noticed Lee Know’s sudden terrified expression.

Lee Know’s face drained of color. “What? Crocodiles?!” He looked around nervously, taking a cautious step back.

“Oh, please, he’d drown before they’d even get close,” Y/n snickered, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Be nice! We’re not going to lose,” Han chimed in, his arms still wrapped tightly around Lee Know. He defended his boyfriend with a smile, though it was clear Lee Know was still visibly shaken by the crocodile comment.

Lee Know shot Y/n a playful, but ominous glare. “Tonight, you die in your sleep.”

Y/n froze for a second, then burst out laughing. “What?!” She gasped between giggles. “What the hell, Lee Know?”

Lee Know was smirking now, clearly pleased with himself. “That’s what I thought,” he said, a wicked grin on his face.

For a moment, Y/n’s laughter died, and she quickly found herself hiding behind Felix, who was already doubled over in laughter. Hyunjin, too, was wiping tears from his eyes as they both snickered at the banter.

“What just happened?” Y/n asked, peeking out from behind Felix, who was still trying to catch his breath from laughing.

“That was gold,” Hyunjin chuckled, giving Lee Know a teasing look. “You’ve got to admit, that was pretty good.”

Y/n just shook her head, still snickering as they all gathered at the starting line. The tension from earlier seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and playful competition. And though her mood had been low before, the lighthearted teasing, the friendly chaos, and the easy laughter shared between the group reminded her just why she loved these moments. Even though there was no telling who would win the race, one thing was for sure—they would all be laughing until the very end.

"Okay, shall we?" The tour guide's voice rang out, cutting through the chatter and the tension that had settled among the group. Everyone looked toward him, and in unison, they responded with enthusiastic "yeahs!" A few people stretched their arms and legs, preparing for what was going to be a grueling but fun race.

Y/n, however, couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She glanced over at Chan, who was standing off to the side, arms crossed, wearing his usual serious expression. His quiet mood had been lingering all day, and it didn’t seem to be letting up.

"Channie-oppa, do you want to go up first?" Y/n asked, trying her best to sound casual, though there was a hint of concern in her voice. She wanted to make sure he was okay.

Chan didn’t look at her at first, adjusting the bandana around his bicep without even glancing in her direction. "If Lee Know is going up, then I will. He’s the only problem," he said flatly. His tone was cold, the distance between them growing with every word.

Y/n felt a sharp pang of disappointment, but she hid it behind a small, tight smile. "O-okay, baby, I’ll just go first then," Felix chimed in, noticing the subtle shift in Y/n’s mood. He could feel the tension in the air. Felix gave her a small, reassuring look, sensing how much she wanted Chan’s attention but wasn’t getting it.

"Okay, I guess I’ll just wait and see when Lee Know goes, then," Y/n said, trying to shake it off. She took a step back, allowing Felix to take the front.

Felix shot her a quick smile before positioning himself at the starting line, his nerves evident, though he was trying his best to mask it. The excitement around him was contagious, but Y/n could still feel the weight of her own emotions.

“Is everyone ready?!” the tour guide called from the far end of the track, his voice booming.

“Yeah!” Felix responded enthusiastically, his competitive spirit kicking in. Seungmin and Han moved up beside him, each of them taking their marks.

“Come on, Han! Fighting!” Hyunjin cheered from the sidelines, Lee Know beside him, grinning and clapping.

“Seungmin, if you lose, you’re sleeping outside. Fighting!” Changbin shouted, his teasing voice carrying over to Seungmin, who responded by flipping him off dramatically. The group burst into laughter, their energy slowly ramping up.

Felix stood up straighter, looking down at the course in front of him. Y/n caught his eye and gave him a bright, encouraging smile. "Felix, you’ve got this!" she cheered, her voice filled with warmth.

Felix’s face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude as he gave her a shy, nervous smile. "Thanks," he muttered, his fingers drumming against his sides.

Y/n turned her attention back to Chan, who was still standing quietly, staring at the track with an unreadable expression. "I really hope he wins," she said quietly to him, her voice soft, almost pleading. She knew how much Felix wanted this.

Chan's response was short and clipped, his eyes never leaving the race. "He will," he said, his voice flat. "Let’s just watch."

Y/n let out a quiet sigh but decided not to dwell on his mood. She wasn’t going to let it ruin her excitement for Felix. She had come here to enjoy herself, and she would.

“Felix, fighting!” she cheered again, her voice louder this time. "Go go go!"

As the sound of the starting bell rang, the group surged forward, their adrenaline pumping as they tackled the muddy course. Y/n jumped up and down on the sidelines, clapping and shouting, her eyes fixed on Felix as he navigated the first obstacle—a wall of tires.

"Oh my God," Hyunjin muttered, rubbing his face in disbelief as he watched Han slip and fall, face-first, into the mud.

"This boy is not made for sports," Lee Know laughed, shaking his head with mock disappointment, though the grin on his face said he was enjoying the chaos.

Y/n couldn’t help but burst out laughing as she heard Han’s panicked yells and screeches from behind the group. He was covered in mud, flailing his arms in a dramatic, almost cartoonish way as the others raced ahead, leaving him in the dust.

The rest of the team was already way ahead, but Han’s misfortune provided some much-needed levity. “I’m okay! I’m okay!” Han yelled, his voice high-pitched and frantic. But even through his exaggerated protests, Y/n could hear the laughter in his tone. The whole scene was absurdly hilarious, and she couldn’t stop giggling.

"Poor Han," Felix said, grinning as he passed one of the mud pits. "At least he’s trying."

“Tell that to the mud,” Y/n joked back, her laughter ringing out across the course. It felt good to have a moment of lightness, to be able to laugh and forget about the tension with Chan. For now, all she cared about was supporting Felix and enjoying the chaos of the day.

As they all moved further into the course, the rest of the group continued to cheer each other on, the banter between them only growing. But for Y/n, there was a new focus—she could feel herself rooting for Felix more than ever. The way he powered through the obstacles, his energy infectious, reminded her that no matter what else was going on, they still had this—together.

the race had ended with felix in first place followed by Seungmin then ofcourse han.

"im never doing that again," han huffed as he made his way with the rest of the group.

y/n run and jumped into felix's arms wrapping her legs around him. "you did it, im so proud!" she squeals giving him a kiss althought he was muddy.

"thank you, but babe..." he huffed and puffed, "i cant feel my arms or legs," he whined and she quickly got off him laughing once she realized she was squeezing him too death.

"Han seriously i love you but there is no way in earth and letting you touch me," leeknow was jogging away from han. The younger boy was trying to wrap his arms around leeknow.

"touch meee, im hurting. i need your love," Han teased as he caught up to leeknow and wrapped his muddy self around an annoyed looking han.

"dont worry leeknow, you'll just wash it off when you get into the lake," seungmin told him and everyone laughed as i.n high fived seungmin.

"ha ha ha real funny but you forget that's just 1/3, lets stop talking and get back to business," he rolled his eyes pushing han off.

"alright, the next members please step up!' the tour guide called once he had finished updating the points.

Y/n, who was helping Felix wash off some of the mud from his face, glanced over to see if Lee Know would be participating in the race. When she realized he wasn’t, she quickly handed Felix the bottle back and made her way to the starting block, ready to face off against Hyunjin and I.N.

“Good luck, sucker!” Hyunjin teased, sticking his tongue out at her. Y/n playfully rolled her eyes, a smirk forming on her lips.

“Just you wait, Hyunjin! I’ll show you who the real sucker is!” she shot back, her competitive spirit ignited.

“Woooo! Go Y/nnie! Make me proud!” Felix cheered from the sidelines, his voice ringing with encouragement. The rest of the boys joined in, their shouts blending into a chorus of support for their teammates.

Taking a deep breath, Y/n got onto her knees, ready for the whistle. When it finally went off, adrenaline surged through her veins, and she took off running.

She navigated through the tires and climbed up one of the shaky ladders, her heart racing as she noticed Hyunjin in the lead. To her surprise, she had managed to outrun I.N., who was trailing behind.

The cheers from the boys echoed in her ears, and it felt like time had slowed down as she pushed herself forward. She sprinted into the murky, muddy water and ducked under the tunnels, managing to pass Hyunjin, who had gotten tangled in the ropes.

“I can’t believe this! Is this real?” she thought, disbelief washing over her. There was no way she was going to win. She glanced back and saw I.N gaining on her, and her heart sank. They only had one obstacle left: a narrow, stiff piece of wood they had to walk across.

Her lungs burned, and sweat dripped down her forehead as she stepped onto the beam. Just as she found her balance, her ankle buckled, and she felt a sharp pull in her muscles.

“Ugh!” she gasped, losing her footing and tumbling to the side, hitting the ground hard.

“Ha! See you, loser!” I.N laughed, oblivious to her pain.

“It’s okay, Y/nnie! You can do it!” Felix’s voice cut through the laughter, urging her on. She struggled to her feet, pain shooting up her leg, but she pushed through, determined to at least finish in second place.

With a quick glance back to ensure Hyunjin was still far behind, she sprinted toward the finish line, but as she crossed it, she collapsed, wincing in pain as the

impact jolted through her ankle. The cheers from her friends faded into the background as she lay on the ground, trying to catch her breath.

Felix rushed over, concern etched on his face. “Y/n! Are you okay?” He knelt beside her, his hands hovering over her ankle, unsure of how to help.

“I... I think I sprained it,” she managed to say between breaths, her voice strained. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain was becoming more pronounced.

“Let’s get you up,” Felix said gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to help her sit up. “You did amazing! I can’t believe you almost won!”

“Yeah, well, almost doesn’t count,” she replied with a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood despite the throbbing pain.

Lee Know approached, his expression serious. “We need to get you some ice and check that ankle. You really pushed yourself out there.”

“I’m fine, really,” Y/n protested, but the look on Lee Know’s face told her he wasn’t buying it.

“Fine? You just collapsed at the finish line!” he said, his tone a mix of concern and frustration. “Let’s take care of you first, okay?”

Han returned with a towel and a bottle of water, handing them to Felix before kneeling down next to Y/n. “You were incredible, Y/nnie! I’m so proud of you, but we need to make sure you’re okay.”

As they helped her to her feet, Y/n leaned on Felix for support, her other hand resting on Han’s shoulder. The boys surrounded her, their voices a comforting buzz as they reassured her and celebrated her effort in the race.

“Next time, I’ll win for sure,” she said, trying to sound confident despite the pain.

“Next time, we’ll make sure you’re fully healed first,” Lee Know replied, a small smile breaking through his worry.

“Yeah, and I’ll be your personal cheerleader,” Felix added, grinning widely.

#skz x reader

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future-ghoost · 2 months ago

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The sharran in me wants 26 👀👀👀

But also: 1,2,11,17, 27

Oh hi! Surprised to see you here (I'm not, this was all part of my elaborate plan to get you inspired for Acts of Wickedness)

1. What would your Tav’s greetings be (at different levels of approval)?

Bad - "What do you want?"

Neutral - "You alright?"

Good - "What are you after?"

Romance - "What took you so long?"

2. Describe their tent setup! What’s on the outside? The inside?

Ooh that's a good one. I think it's the greatest crime that we don't get tents in the game.

It would be a good quality tent, well taken care of. Probably forest green so that it blends in with the trees when she's camping. I think she'd have a stool and tools for fletching her arrows and taking care of her bow on the outside. Since she likes bathing so much, she'd also have a good collection of soaps and creams. She'd have a comfy bed set up with furs from animals she's hunted. She's also have a little trinket spot for a moonstone for selune and anything she had of Ryn's.

11. What is your Tav’s go-to comfort food?

A thick, warm soup and fresh bread.

17. Do they have any enemies outside of the main plot? Any friends?

HAHA I know why you've asked this one. Kyra might have one friend. We'll have to wait and see.

26. Give us one of your Tav’s secrets!

I don't know if she has any! Kyra wears her heart on her sleeve and she really values honesty. I think she's willing to tell someone everything as long as she trusts them enough. (Secretly I think she wants Jahiera or Withers to adopt her, though. She just wants a parent)

27. What is the worst thing they’ve ever done/said to someone they love?

I think there are only three people she's ever really loved:

Ryn - it would have been something stupid when they were kids and she didn't really understand the gravity of their situation. Kyra relied on Ryn for everything in life and looked up to him, so I can't imagine she'd ever say/do anything truly hurtful.

Her first love - the barmaid who I can't remember the name of. (The one we know about from when she runs into Waukeen's Rest). - Kyra was much younger when she fell in love for the first time. She wasn't as aware of how her word affected others. I think she thought herself to be a burden and probably hurt (name of barmaid) because she took away her autonomy in a way? They broke up because Kyra was so scared that she'd be hurt because of the association with her, but (bar maid) never got a say in the matter.

Shadowheart - I think, she'd fall into the same patterns as the barmaid, in a way. Because of her past, she's so focused on protecting the people she cares about that sometimes she forgets they're perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. Shadowheart would probably get frustrated with this at times, but I don't think it would ever really hurt her. it would probably hurt Shadowheart more that Kyra feels like she needs to be all these things for people, rather than just be herself.

#A War of Hearts #Hand on a Dagger (Head in the Sand)#StrugglingComet

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harsh-epilogue · 1 year ago

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(What's this, Heimdall being a good parent? It's more likely than you think!)

Heimdall's nimble fingers moved with grace, sitting on a worn wooden stool, weaving the colorful strands into a fine tapestry. He is sitting outside the cabin as it helps him focus more, the peaceful forest creating a soothing atmosphere. While Heimdall was working, his thoughts wandered to the return of his beloved husband, Kratos, from his hunt.

Beside him say Atreus on a weathered tree stump, focused on sharpening his arrows with utmost precision. His brow furrowed as he diligently scraped the sharpening stone against the arrowhead, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of yesterday's argument. You see, the day before, Atreus said something in a moment of anger and frustration, and lashed out at Heimdall. Rejecting him as a parent and saying hurtful words he didn't truly mean.

A heavy silence between them, air tinging with unresolved tension from the argument.

Ever the compassionate child, Atreus was the one who broke the silence first.

'Heimdall... Can we talk?' Atreus asked. Heimdall continued to weave, and without missing a beat he replied 'Is it about yesterday? Already forgotten. I've heard worse from people, even my own family. It's alright. Goes in on one ear, out of the other.'

Atreus shifted uncomfortably, his gaze falling to the ground. 'Still... I don't think that was entirely fair of me to say. I'm sorry. It's just, I feel so overwhelmed, got a lot of feelings about everything and I let my emotions get the better of me. Life is so new and different now, you know? But that's the case for you as well and... I should go easy on you. Living a new life and all.'

For a moment Heimdall paused his weaving, looking up at the young warrior. 'I understand. Growing up brings many changes and challenges. And then you see me, the guy who was threatening to kill you and those you love a while back, suddenly waltzing in and getting together with your dad. I get why you would feel some type of way about it. I didn't see myself becoming a parent, but that changed when I met Kratos. When I left Asgard. I know I'm not at all like your mother, but it doesn't change the fact that I do care for you, as if you were my own child. I'm not who I used to be.'

Atreus looked up, relief washing over his features. The tension between them eased, and he took a moment to gather his thoughts. 'Thank you, Heimdall. I appreciate it, really.'

A small smile graced Heimdall's lips. 'Don't mention it. Oh and by the way, how's Angrboda? I noticed you sneaking out at night. The very nights you're supposed to be asleep and get ready for training with your father.'

Atreus's eyes widened in surprise. He had thought his late-night escapades were a well-kept secret. 'Wait, you... You knew?'

As he continued weaving, Heimdall smiled knowingly. 'Foresight, kid. The secrets are not so easily hidden. But fear not, I won't say a word to Kratos. Just don't forget about your training, both me and your father need you to be the best warrior in all the realms.'

Atreus stood up from the tree stump, 'Thanks a lot, Heimdall. I didn't want to worry father. Angrboda means a lot to me, and I wanted to spend time with her, even if it means sacrificing sleep before training.' he shyly admits. 'Oh, and while we're here, when will I get a new sibling?'

'Why, you want to know all the details? Need some tips for your own relationship? Get out of here. Though you'll be the first one to know about your new sibling, I promise.' Heimdall said.

'First of all, ew. That's totally not what I meant. Secondly, let's end this talk here, I think I'm just gonna go now and help father.'

'Alright. And one last thing, you can see Angrboda whenever you want but don't you go do anything stupid. If something is about to happen then see Freya or Sif immediately for contraceptives-'

'OKAY THANKS THAT'S ENOUGH, I'LL BE BACK SOON BYE!' Atreus plugged his ears with his fingers whilst dashing away, completely embarassed. So much for an earnest conversation...

I love love love it! And it would be like heimdall to end a vulnerable conversation with some teasing ha. I do think it would be a very rocky relationship between Atreus and heimdall at first with a lot of arguing and head butting but after time there’s a protectiveness that all three share. Where kratos has much loss in the past, and Atreus with losing his mother. As well as Heimdall never having a healthy family, they all protect each other.

#kradall #kratos x heimdall #anon ask

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cheekygreenty · 3 years ago

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Little Witch - Part 13

The Darkling x Reader

This is more of a filler chapter, I wanted to write something where reader is in action🤭

As much as you loved to keep your personal and work life separate, the life at the Little Palace rarely allowed for such things. Rumors spread and tensions rose and much to your dismay the privacy of Aleksander's chambers only reached so far. Everywhere you went eyes followed you with a sense of interest, poking and prodding for the details of why the Deputy General had stayed in the Darkling's quarters, but more importantly why you raced out of there in the dead of the night, slamming every door possible with loud echoing thuds.

You ignored it all, you had work to do. Currently, you stood waiting in the courtyard for your horses, your recruited Grisha in tow. You had asked Fedyor for the best soldiers, ones who could be ruthless and loyal. Two Heartrenderers, an Inferni and the Squaller you now knew as Zoya waited behind you, shivering from a sudden gust of freezing wind.

The weather had gotten brutal over the past few days but this mission couldn't wait. You had gotten intel that somehow a Kerch merchant kidnapped Grisha while they traveled between camps and was keeping them in a home not far from the Palace, waiting to transport them across the Fold and use them as indentures. This angered you beyond means of explanation.

Your stableboy brought out your beautiful chestnut brown Arabian, and you quickly hoisted yourself up. You would all be going on horseback despite the weather, for a carriage would slow you down significantly.

'Zoya, I'll need you upfront with me, if it starts to snow heavily we'll clear the way.' You addressed the Squaller, patiently waiting as she got up on her horse and came to rest beside you, giving you a curt nod.

'Ready?'

You brought your horse into a quick gallop, cringing as the cold whipped past you.

******

Riding a horse was only comfortable for so long before your tailbone began to ache. It had been around an hour, but you were almost there as a small village came into view over the hill. You stopped your horse and put up your hand signaling the rest to stop too.

'We leave our horses just there, where the forest fades-' You pointed over to a place just to your right, where tree coverage would protect your horses from the cold. '-we walk the rest of the way. All intel pointed to the house being secluded, most likely right before the village grows more populated.'

The thing with these missions was there was never an exact location, which frustrated you and from the loud sigh Zoya gave, it frustrated everyone else too. You all slid off your horses and walked them to the forest, tying them securely to trees and beginning the walk, making sure to stay hidden behind the trees.

'What's the plan?' Asked the Inferni.

'I go in first, neutralize any threats I can see. Fedyor, keep to my side but be behind me. The rest of you, your main priority is to look for the Grisha. Don't kill anybody unless I tell you to.' You could see the surprised look on their faces and you knew why.

Even though Aleksander was extremely powerful and immortal, he never walked into a fight first, he was always the one to walk into a clear path, never cleared it himself. You did things differently, liked to be in complete control.

'What did the General say about this?' He spoke again.

You stopped and turned to him.

'If you have any issues with how your superior is commanding the missions, I suggest you turn around and learn how to be a soldier.' You snapped. Aleksander had these people wrapped around his finger. He stared at you with wide eyes and almost immediately his composure dropped, succumbing to your intimidation.

'I don't have time for this nonsense.' You scoffed and walked ahead to where Zoya was searching for the hideout.

'Is it that one?' She pointed to a cabin about with a man guarding the front door. Bingo.

'He's too far, I need to get closer.' Fedyor's raised hands dropped down to his sides. The other Corporalnik nodded in agreement.

You turned away from the group and concentrated on the man, feeling for his pulse and once you gathered the understanding, gently stopped The flow of blood, watching as he fell to the snow-covered ground with a thud.

'Don't take offense, I'm much older' You patted the Heartrenders on the shoulders and ran to the cabin. You saw Zoya let out a strong gust of wind to open the door, almost knocking it off its hinges.

Shouts erupted all around and shots were fired. You bled shadows into the hallway, rendering the Kerch men blind, hoping they wouldn't shoot in the dark. Simultaneously, you slowed the heartbeats you could make out, hoping the shouts died down. With luck on your side, the cabin turned silent and you retreated your shadows.

Three men dressed in fine vests lay slumped on the floor, a pistol or rifle in each hand. Fedyor automatically bent down to take the guns out of their hands and looked around for something to detain them with. You could hear the rest of your crew search the cabin, the loud squeak of the cellar latch opening. You too went to look around, opening all the doors that could open and listening for the beating of one's heart. Nothing.

You grew angry at the possibility of the intel being incorrect. You came to the last door on the far end of the home which was slightly ajar. You could feel a faint pulse and as you opened the door, ready to protect yourself when your eyes caught sight of a purple kefta. A Fabrikator? The figure didn't move from where they were standing. Their hands weren't bound and neither were their legs.

'Are you here with the Second-Army?' Her voice was quiet but steady.

'Yes. Come with me' You moved away from the doorframe and into the hallway once again to let the Grisha through.

'Who are you?'

'Deputy General, now come on we must get going' You heard Zoya indicate from the cellar that they had found the Healer.

She moved away from the wall and walked to you with her head down, showing no indication of being thankful for being saved. Doubt pooled in your stomach but you let it go. You returned to the main room and stared at the three men tied up in the chairs but quickly averted your eyes to Zoya who appeared perplexed and for once, you shared her thoughts. The Inferni walked out with the Healer behind him and what looked like a Squaller to his right but nobody said anything. What is going on?

'Is anybody injured?' You spoke first amongst the crippling silence. Nobody responded. Suddenly out of the corner of your eye you saw the Fabrikator take one of the disposed pistols and point it at you, not hesitating to take shots. You deflected as best you could, protecting the others from the bullets but quickly realized the girl was a Durast and wherever she wanted to shoot, she could definitely make the shot.

You looked around and to your surprise, your Inferni was lying on the ground as the Healer battled Zoya. Fedyor was seemingly pushed up against the wall by the Squaller. What in Saint's name is going on. These are not my Grisha. Your falter caused your shadow shield to break and you felt a cold bullet lodge itself in your thigh where your kefta peeked open.

The pain was too strong, clouding your mind and momentarily prohibiting you from accessing your powers. Saints this hurts.

You reclaimed your mind, letting the merciless Cut wander out to her. The Durast screamed in horror as her hand dropped to the ground. You ignored it, letting your eyes wander to the Squaller and knocking her out with a wind so strong it rattled the cabin. Zoya managed to subdue the Healer, tacking to the ground and holding her hands above her head. You shot out a tendril of onyx shadow and restrained her, relieving Zoya of the uncomfortable position.

You were beyond angry, you were fuming. You harshly grabbed at the Durast, slamming her against the wall by the lapel of her kefta, your thigh screaming in pain. You could feel blood pooling in your riding boots.

'What is this?!' You hissed

'You're not taking us back. You will not force us to be part of that army'

'You would give up the Little Palace for the dirty streets of Ketterdam' The venom rolling off your tongue was almost paralyzing.

'If I am to serve your kind then of course. You're probably stealing my power as we speak' The room stilled and your pain was forgotten. Zoya held her breath, even the Healer's stomach dropped.

Something in you snapped, and with nothing more than a flex of your fingers, the girl's neck snapped, her lifeless body tumbling to the ground. You didn't say another word. Zoya took that as a sign to tell the rogue Grisha they will be tried as traitors, and restrained them both, taking over from you.

Your previous words came back into your mind, Don't kill anybody. You shame Aleksander for merciless killing yet you just did the same. You broke your own rule because somebody offended you. You fool.

You wordlessly limped out of the cabin, completely forgetting the bullet wound on your thigh.

***

The ride back to the Little Palace was torturous. The two traitors had been subdued and riding with the heartrenderes. Your thigh was in excruciating pain and upon entering the gates, you had felt completely numb. As far as you knew, nobody knew you were shot. You had left them to deal with the mess in the cabin, too blinded by anger and arrogance to help and act as the leader. But now, the only thing blinding you was tiredness which you knew wasn't good.

Your horse diligently walked to the courtyard doors but you didn't get off, you couldn't. Your eyes had shut on their own accord. The tiredness washed over you again and your head spun.

You could faintly make out the sound of your name being called by Fedyor asking about the traitors, but you paid him no mind, focusing all your attention on trying not to fall off your horse. Your head bopped, but you fought to stay awake and pass the wave of tiredness so you could walk to the healers unit, but it was relentless.

You felt somebody pull the reigns of your horse and lift the cloak covering your leg, you didn't argue. Then the shouts started. You couldn't hear what they said as your head bopped again, once, twice, then you let go.

****

The immense itching sensation on your thigh was overwhelming. If that wasn't the reason for you waking up, it was the loud argument taking place at the foot of the bed.

You managed to open your eyes to see a Healer working on your leg, looking very focused. She spared you a sweet smile then went right back to work. Oh Saint's this is so itchy. It took everything in you not to itch the bloody wound. Thankfully, the raised voices dragged your attention away.

'We didn't know, she just left!' Fedyor.

'If you'd have gotten here 10 minutes later she would have been dead' Aleksander.

'We thought she wa-'

'I don't care. Leave before I do something I regret' The door opened and shut. You suspected the only people left in the room were you, the Healer and a fuming Aleksander. If he knew you were awake, he showed no indication of it. You didn't need to look at him to know he was brooding. Was he mad that I'm injured or that the mission went sideways?

Your hands clenched as the itching sensation got worse. You hated being healed, it was even worse than being injured.

'If you clench that fist any harder you'll break your knuckles' His voice carried no anger anymore, it was soft but had an edge of plea in it.

You didn't respond. You didn't know what to say. You hadn't seen him since the other night when you confronted him about Alina, and he made no moves to approach you since then.

'I'll give you a written report mission once I'm done here.'

'No need. Zoya took care of it already' As much as you had tried to convince yourself you disliked the beautiful Squaller, she had really come in clutch today. You were thankful.

'Alright, that's all I can do for now. You did lose a lot of blood, so take it easy for the next couple of days.' The young girl got up and left after you muttered a quick thank you.

'Are you ok?'

'We just got ambushed by rogue Grisha who had personal vendettas against me, what do you think' You sat up and rested your head against the headboard, reaching for the glass of water on the nightstand.

'I should've cross-examined the intel. If I knew what they were I would've given you more reinforcements.' He leaned against the wall next to the door, sensing your hostility and keeping his distance

'I didn't need reinforcements. I was just caught off guard is all'

'You killed a-'

'Please, don't say it. , it wasn't my proudest moment.'

'Zoya kept it out of the report. Said she got caught in the cross-fire.'

I love you Zoya.

'Do you want me to leave?' His question made you freeze. On one hand, you were still angry about the other night and the comment he made, but on the other Aleksander always made you feel safe and his presence brought you peace.

'You probably have work to do. I do too anyway' You got up to leave the bed, but he quickly walked over to you, pushing you back down. You grabbed his hands out of reflex.

'Take it easy for the next couple of days. Is that not the advice you got?' He cocked a smile and traced a small pattern on your hand. You stared into his eyes and tried to find a reason to not fold into his embrace, you badly needed a hug, and he gives the best ones.

'Alright, but you can leave' Your answer surprised him, it surprised you too. Apparently subconsciously you still held a grudge against him.

'Y/N, Next time you get hit, please tell someone.' He whispered as he swooped down to kiss the top of your head lovingly, letting his lips linger for a moment. Just as you were about to give in and wrap your arms around him, his warmth left you.

'It won't kill you to take a day off.' He teased as he walked out the door.

I never got that hug.

Part 14

Taglist (tell me if u want to be added to the Little Witch taglist !!)

@theonelittleone @searching-for-gallifrey @0-artemis @lostysworld @xceafh @fire-in-her-veinz @patdsinner33 @cleverzonkwombatsludge @wizardwheezes @aleksanderwh0r3 @tomhollandisabae @hotleaf-juice @justmesadgirl @exo-1204 @houseofdupree @oberonpascal @eireduchess

Here’s a masterlist where u can find previous parts of Little Witch 🖤

#shadow and bone #the darkling #grisha #imagine #the darkling x reader #ben barnes #alexander #fanfic #alina starkov #general kirigan x reader #black general #aleksander morozova x reader #alexander morozova #kefta

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hello-everyfandom · 4 years ago

Text

“I’m not very good at flirting, am I?”

Warnings: Cringey attempts at flirting?

Pairing: Remus Lupin x Reader

Words: 2k

Summary: Remus is nervous for your first study date, or date? Is it a date?

You were quite oblivious when it came to people who fancied you. Howard Lewis, from house Ravenclaw, practically had heart eyes for you and attempted to ask you out every Saturday morning whilst you drank your tea. The only response he was given was a hum and a sweet reply back,

“I’m not planning on doing anything but reading my novel,”

You frustrated a lot of boys in your year, and even in the year above. You must know, right? You must’ve known that at least half of your house and even more boys from the other houses have tried to flirt with you and received nothing back. But you didn’t. You loved blind. And, not to mention, quite peculiar as you obliviously ignored your suitors. You spent days feeling quite lonely and even longed for a handsome fellow to sweep you off your feet and into the forbidden forest. Remus Lupin thought you were peculiar as well, but not peculiar as in a bizarre fashion, instead, he thought of you strangely amazing. He found himself gifted the seat to the right of yours during Transfigurations and was kept his glances towards you to only a few per minute. He was smitten. And he was speechless when you approached him one Saturday morning, unaware of your rejection to a Mr. Lewis of Ravenclaw, and asked him to study with you.

“Hello Remus,” you said, he greeted you politely and with reddened ears, he knew he would get teased for later, “I was wondering if you were not too busy after lunch if you could help me study a bit of Transfigurations. I find it actually quite difficult and would rather McGonagall not deducted points from my house.”

Remus nodded quickly and stuttered out, “Yes, I. Where should I meet me? You? I mean, you.” he quickly wanted to slam his face into his porridge but you seemed to enjoy his response and giggled.

“There’s a tree near the lake; if you bring your textbook I can bring a blanket for us to sit on?” you offered, “I swear I have the comfiest blankets in my dorm.” Remus sent you an embarrassed smile and watched you longingly as you spun and left the Great Hall, a steaming mug of tea in your hand.

Sirius clapped his hand on Remus’ shoulder rather harshly, he’d say, and let out a bark, “How the hell did you do it?” Remus snapped out of his gaze to look at his three friends who stared at him in wonder.

“Do... what? Exactly?” Remus begged his face to go back to his original pale colour and stirred his breakfast with a spoon.

“I believe you have a date with a Ms. Y/L/N.” Sirius grinned boyishly and hooted, “Remus, how did you do it!”

“Sirius, get your hand off me before I feed it to the giant squid and leave your body for dessert, and it’s not a date,” Remus grumbled and shifted awkwardly in his seat.

“No, really, mate, how did you manage to get a date with Y/L/N? How did you get her to ask you on a date?” Peter pushed closer to Remus and jokingly added, “Oh Moony, you know love potions are illegal to give to other students, correct?” Remus shoved Peter aside and looked for James for help.

“It’s not a date! Prongs?”

James put his hands up in defense, “Not me, Moons, I can’t help you as I think you’ve just scored yourself a date with Y/N. But, what I can help you with is Lewis as I think he’s going to absolutely fuck you up by the looks of it,” James stood up and did the ‘I see you’ motion towards Howard and yelled, “Oi, Leeeeewis, you jealous? Yeah, you better be. Fix your bloody eyes, mate, you’ve got a starin’ problem!”

This time, Remus actually did slam his head into the breakfast table.

Lunch flew by and Remus couldn’t do anything but fiddle. He had run to and from the common room and dorms, a few times just to ensure he had all the right things. To say he was nervous was an understatement. Was this a date? Did you want to date him? Why him? Remus flopped down on the couch next to Sirius and buried his face in his hands.

“Alright, I give up. I need your help,” he mumbled,

“You? Ask ME for help? The god of dating and sex himself?” Sirius asked dramatically, placing a hand on his chest and inhaling sharply.

“Oh will you just- sod off will you? And just tell me, exactly how you flirt?”

“Moony we only have a few hours, I cannot possibly teach you the essence of the Black seduction in a few hours.”

“The only thing you’ll be seeing is black unless you-”

Sirius shot his head back and laughed, “Relax Moony, perhaps we should do some yoga to loosen you up. Are your buttocks in a twist? You can tell me.” Suddenly Remus regretted asking Sirius for help but took notes on his flirting technique anyways.

“Oh hello! Come join me, please!” Remus felt everything he had eaten and all of his organs drop, his tongue swelled up and he began to sweat under his sweater. Seeing you in the fall light made him internally (and externally) swoon but he attempted to take a deep breath. He began to try and mimic the way Sirius walked through the halls, putting swagger in his hips. “Remus, you’re being silly, perhaps you’ve been spending too much time with your silly boys, come sit! Don’t be shy.” You smiled again, making Remus forget the stupid stupid walk he learned from Sirius and just sat down.

“You were right,” he said in surprise, “this blanket is extremely soft.”

“Would I lie to you, Mr. Lupin? Feel free to lie on it, I’ve taken a few naps on it ‘mself, though I probably should’ve focused on my potions essay instead.” Remus would rather nap on your soft thighs and feel your fingers slide through his hair, but he chuckled and replied,

“If I did, who would study with you?”

You pouted your lip slightly, making Remus clench the book he was taking out, “I suppose you’re right. I couldn’t fathom studying with anyone else.” Were you flirting with him? You seemed to lean closer to Remus, wanting to feel his warmth. But, Remus couldn’t place whether or not you were acting flirtatious due to the immense amount of nerves in his system. The two of you began to study, Remus would provide a word and you a definition. Much to his nervous delight, your conversation ran rather smoothly and no awkward lull of silence was provided.

Might as well go for it, Remus thought and glanced at the piece of parchment he tucked away in his bag. He cleared his throat and rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants.

“So, Y/N...” he trailed off, almost getting lost again in your gaze,

“Yes?”

“You’re so cute, I think if, I think if you were, I think if you were a boggart, no,” he fumbled quickly with his words making you furrow your eyebrow.

Perhaps he is having a stroke? You thought.

“If, I think. If you were a... since you’re so cute, and if, a boggart you were, or I’d have... you’d be a.. cute... one?” If Remus could die, he would’ve. On the spot. If he could be struck by lightning and guided to the pearly gates that muggles seem to dream about, he would. In fact, he would even rather be sent to the fiery pits of hell than listen to what he was saying. His attempt at flirting had gone disastrously as he licked his lips in anticipation of your reply. He watched as you looked at him and began to blink rapidly. A wide smile spread across your lips as you let a small laugh slip out.

“Remus Lupin,” You began, sitting up, “Are you flirting with me?” You continued to giggle, almost shyly.

“What? No! I mean, yes. Maybe? Because I said, the boggart, and cute and...”

Remus Lupin, you are an idiot. He thought

“I’m not very good at flirting, am I?” he stared at your smiling face before realizing how mortifying the last minute of his life was. “Excuse me while I jump into the lake now.” You bit your lip to stifle the laughter and held his forearm.

“Remus,” you said softly, “I thought it was quite lovely actually.”

He sighed and shook his head, “you don’t have to protect my feelings, Y/N, I’m more than happy to die over his embarrassing moment. I feel like a right and foolish prat right about now.”

“I’ll say it again, I thought it was very sweet. I’ve never been flirted before, so it was new for me as well.” Remus’ eyes nearly bulged out of his skull as he became redder and shook his head.

“No no, that’s not true. I know half a dozen Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs who are mad for you! And Howard Lewis even asks you out every Saturday!”

Now it was your turn to be confused, “What are you talking about, Remus?”

“The... the!!” Remus was exasperated, “boys fancy you.”

“No, they don’t?” You began making Remus want to rip his hair out.

“Yes, they do!”

“Remus, no boy has fancied me in the entirety of my life, you must be mad.”

“Well, I fancy you!” He blurted out making you instantly blush,

“Oh.”

“Yes. And. I’m terribly and dreadfully awful at flirting but I wanted to try and show you that I do actually, um, like you.”

“Oh,” It became quiet, not silent, but quiet. “Well, I,”

“Y/N, you don’t have to say anything, we can forget about it and just study.” You tried to speak again but he cut you off, “Really, it’s okay. It was foolish and stupid and dumb and immature-”

“Don’t I get to say anything, Mr. Flirtatious?” You teased and brushed off your skirt, “I fancy you as well if you didn’t pick that up already, and truthfully, I did find your flirting, while disastrous, to be extremely and utterly adorable.” Remus blinked before an awkward, toothy smile rose. “I’m glad we got that settled then, yeah?” You nodded at Remus before he continued after you,

“Now, may I at least ask you a few questions?”

You hummed in response.

“So is, is this a date?”

“Do you want it to be?” you asked,

“Yes.”

“Then it’s a date.”

“Lovely,” Remus felt more and more joyous, “now, did you really not know that every boy in Hogwarts was pining over you?”

You quickly shook your head, “Why would I? I haven’t given a care about any of them until you came ‘round.”

“And the blanket?”

“I brought the blanket so we could read and lay on it,”

Remus was satisfied with his answers and longed to lean in to kiss you. He, and his absolutely dumb-witted nerves, decided to save it for a second date and held your hand instead. Fingers threaded and interlocked, you gave him a reassuring squeeze.

“That reminds me, do you have that extra book in your bag I seemed to have misplaced mine and I-” you reached into Remus’ bag and before he could react, you pulled out the piece of parchment with all the bloody pickup lines Sirius had fed him.

“Is this...?” You asked,

“Yes.” He quickly answered. Your eyes scanned the page in amusement.

“Why didn’t you go with ‘Are you a snitch? Because you’re the greatest catch here,’ I think that one is much better suited than ‘uh, cute, boggart, uh, you, and if I were,” you mocked him jokingly before leaning back comfortably on his chest. He could sing with happiness and leap off the face of the Earth.

“Hey, so maybe flirting isn’t my strong suit.”

“I say this as sweetly as I can, I think you better stick to Transfigurations instead.”

#remus lupin #remus lupin imagines #marauders imagine #remus lupin one shot #remus lupin imagine #sirius black #sirius black imagines #marauders imagines #marauders fanfiction #marauders #remus lupin headcanon #harry potter #harry potter imagine #harry potter oneshot #harry potter headcanon

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mayraki · 4 years ago

Text

⋆⁑lost in the MORTAL WORLD ⁑⋆

jj maybank x witch!au

~chapter one~

sequel for ⋆⁑lost in HALLOWEEN TOWN ⁑⋆

masterlist

“Return to Outer Banks”

✶ A month can go faster than a cheetah, or slower than a turtle. But for JJ Maybank, who spent the last November talking to his witch friend, Lia Cromwell, happened faster than him saying the word ‘hi’. He didn’t expect to have grown a friendship with a witch, first of all, because almost a month ago he didn’t even knew that her kind existed in the real world. And secondly, a witch that could end his life by only clapping her hands, which if he thought about it was terrifying, was also so sweet and had one of the funniest personalities JJ had ever seen.

JJ was glad that everything was going like he wanted it to go, even though, he wanted more. He wanted to know more magic, and learn more about her world by exploring and visiting. But unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. He caught himself wishing that he could do magic multiple times, hearing Lia’s stories with Jervis, her cousin, and Evanora, her grandmother, didn’t help JJ with his desire to be a part of her world. He started to have dreams, dreams about him being able to do magic, being next to Lia and her family, having the best time of his life. But they were just dreams, all he had were the once a week conversations with Lia. That day was the most exciting of his week, the night he couldn’t stop wishing that came faster than the one before. His friends, The Pogues, sometimes asked him with who he was talking, but he learnt how to avoid those questions easily, having to lie to a bunch of powerful people about being a mortal made him even more good at lying. He was happy, but suddenly, it all stopped. Lia disappeared.

The first night Lia didn’t contacted him he got confused, and sad, but then carried on in mind that maybe she got busy, since she would always be. Without talking to Lia for more days now, JJ got even more impatient while waiting for the next time to have the conversation with Lia. The moment he stepped inside the Chateau that night, he dropped his bag and quickly walked to the extra room, to close the door and grab the tiny skull from his pocket. He waited and waited, but nothing. Not even a sound or a light coming from it. Nothing.

Frustrated, JJ dropped his body to the bed and kept thinking the same thing over and over again: “What if something happened to her?” Her world was a dangerous one. She even told that herself to him. The feeling of worrying appeared on his stomach but when another horrible thought came into his head, he felt even worst than before: “What if she didn’t want to talk to him anymore?”

The moment JJ closed his eyes he fell asleep. The frustration and overthinking the situation made him exhausted, so he fell asleep even more quicker than any other day he was tired. While his body was still relaxing on the bed, his brain was fully awake, and that made those dreams he was having appear again. But this one was different. It felt more... real. Lia had her eyes closed while kneeled down on the floor. It was blurry so JJ couldn’t fully see what she was doing, but he did notice that she was holding something... a piece of paper.

He wanted to talk, caught her attention, but for some reason he couldn’t. It felt like he was opening his mouth but no noise was coming out. The moment Lia looked up his heart dropped to his stomach since he noticed tears coming down her cheeks. With strength, he tried to move and hug her, but it was like he was glued to the floor. The only thing that was working normally were his eyes. Lia got up from the floor and let the piece of paper on the couch, she took a deep breath and then turned around when Jervis walked into the living room. His eyes looked worried and sad, but the way he immediately hugged Lia, it looked like he wanted to protect and comfort her, trying to be the bigger person and not let his emotions get to him. JJ was so confused because he didn’t understand what was going on, he kept repeating to himself it was just a dream, even if it felt more real than any other dream he ever had.

The next morning he couldn’t stop thinking about it. The feeling of it being real didn’t disappear when he opened his eyes, it looked like a distant memory. He wanted to see if he could do it again. So, the next night, he closed his eyes and waited for him to fall asleep. Soon after, his body was fully gone except his mind, just like the night before. But this time, Lia wasn’t there. It was just him and the dark living room of her house. He tried to move his feet but they were still glued, but then noticed that his arms were now moving when his brain told them to do so. He took that advantage and reached over to the couch, to where the piece of paper Lia left the night before. The moment he did, he read her name in it: “Cordelia”. It was beautifully written in cursive and in red. He furrowed his eyebrows confused and then wondered why Lia was crying after seeing her name in a piece of paper. He turned it around expecting to see some type of letter, but the thing that was written was letters “OBX”. He felt more confused than before. He looked up after leaving the letter on the couch to look for Lia or someone from the house. But nothing, just him and an empty living room.

JJ was getting even more frustrated. He didn’t understand why he was having that dream, if he didn’t had the opportunity to be in that scenario again, he would’ve just thought that it was nothing to be concerned about and it was just a dream, like the ones before. But he came back. He saw the letter again. And the fact that he didn’t understand and didn’t know how to get the answers was killing him. He needed to know if everyone was alright. He needed to know if Lia was ok...

The third night it took him a lot longer to go to sleep, but once he did, it all happened like the nights before. He was there, in the living room with the feeling that it was real. He tried to walk but it was no use, he still couldn’t walk. He moved his arms to make sure they worked like last time, and they did. He was about to try and say something, but when Lia quickly walked into the living room he closed his mouth.

“Jervis! I have to go!” Lia yelled while walking towards the couch. She grabbed the letter and then turned around to see Jervis, who just walked into the living room. “You don’t have your magic back, grandma can’t transport. It has to be me!”

“Do you understand that this is illegal? We can’t go back to the mortal world without the permission of the authorities and the only way is through dark magic!” Jervis yelled. “And besides, you don’t know what you’re going to face!” JJ was trying to keep his eyes focused since the image in front of him was getting blurry because it was still a dream.

“No! I don’t! But don’t you wanna know what this means?” Lia lifted the letter that had her name on it.

Jervis took a deep breath to calm himself down. “It could be a trap, Lia.” He said more calmly.

“I have to know. And I know you want too. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”

“I...” Jervis was about to say something but then closed his mouth.

“I want to know what happened. And you won’t stop me.” Lia said. “I’m sorry, but you either help me get the portal going or move, and let me do what I have to do.” Her firm tone made Jervis look up and JJ noticed how her words convinced him. Or it was more her being right, whatever it was, Jervis seemed to be ready to help her.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Jervis said before leaving the living room and Lia behind. She closed her eyes and then opened them again while letting out a big breath. JJ saw how a single tear came from her cheek and he tried to moved one foot to get closer to her, completely forgetting he was glued to the floor.

“Shit.” He said almost a whisper and when he looked up from his feet he found that Lia was looking straight at him.

“Who’s there?” She asked looking around. “Show yourself.” JJ stayed still worried that something bad may happen to him. His heart started to beat faster when his brain processed that Lia heard him. But, how? It was just a dream.

The moment Lia lifted her hand he knew that she was going to do a spell on him, so he lifted his hand into the air before yelling: “Lia! It’s me!”

Lia widen her eyes at the surprise and then they started to move around trying to locate JJ on her house. “JJ?”

“Lia... are you real?” He felt stupid the moment he asked that question, even if she was a dream, she would still say yes.

“What do you mean JJ? Where are you? How can I hear you?”

“I- I don’t know. I’m dreaming.”

“What?” Lia asked and then waved her hands around, tying to see if she could touch him.

“I’m sleeping back in Outer Banks.” JJ said. “I don’t know how I got here, but I’ve been getting this dream thee nights in a row.”

“A dream?” Lia asked confused but then widen her eyes. “Wait, are you in Outer Banks?”

JJ quickly nodded. “Lia, I feel like I’m waking up. What is going on? Are you ok?”

“JJ, there’s no time to explain.”

“Wait, what?”

“I need your help.” Lia said worried that the time wasn’t going to be enough to say what she wanted to say.

“What is it?” JJ tried to keep his focus on Lia since everything was getting blurrier.

“I think my parents are alive, and they’re there, in Outer Banks.” She said quickly without giving JJ to react or just say anything back. “I need you to meet me in the forest, where I created the portal to come here, to Halloween Town. Tomorrow at midnight. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes.” He said but no noise came from his mouth, and then, his eyes opened again.

JJ felt so stupid the moment he started to walk through the trees behind his school. It was all a dream! Why am I following what Lia told me in a dream? I should just turn around.... But it felt so real. JJ kept thinking and thinking while walking until his memory recognised the tree he hide behind when Lia opened the portal for the first time. He stood there looking around and he felt more stupid than before, if that was possible. The flashlight that he had on his hand and the moon in the sky were the only things illuminating his surroundings and that made his body shiver, JJ didn’t remember the forest being that creepy. He watched the time of his watch before let his other hand inside his pocket while letting out a big breath. 12.00 am. He closed his eyes and the memory of Lia talking to him in his dream came into his mind. The feeling of being inside her house, having her close were giving JJ the need to go back. To see if it was real, to pay more attention to it. But he couldn’t. All he could do was wait and see if Lia was going to show up like she said. He waited and waited. But nothing. Again. He felt tired of waiting around and afterwards feeling disappointed. 12.09 am. He let out another loud sigh before locking down. A part of him was saying to him that he had to wait more, she could be delayed for some reason and if he left, he would never know if his dream was real. But another part of him was saying one thing: it was just a dream. And maybe that part was right.

12.17 am. That was it. His legs were getting tired so he turned around after giving his surroundings a little look to start to walk away. But a voice spoke behind him.

“I didn’t thought you gave up so easily, Maybank.” JJ heard Lia’s voice. He stood there with his eyes wide open but he didn’t immediately turn around, because it took him a second to properly see if his mind was playing a trick on him or not. “Oh, c’mon, don’t be shy!” JJ quickly turned around and there she was. The girl that got him excited every time they talked. The girl that would listen to him no matter what he was saying. Lia Cromwell. His dream was real.

“Lia.” JJ said with a smile to quickly walk towards her and give her a tight hug. He waited so long to do that again, that he didn’t even hesitated. But once he was close enough, he immediately wasn’t. The moment he lifted his arms he didn’t feel her. He was ready to touch her, but he didn’t. The impact of not touching anything made him take a sudden step forward and he felt a tickle on his stomach; he went through her. He widen his eyes and then turned around, since Lia was now behind him.

“What the hell?” He asked confused walking around her to lock eyes with her.

“JJ, I’m not here here.” She said. The second she said that, he realised. It didn’t look like Lia. It was her, but it didn’t look real. There was a white light coming from her body and her feet weren’t exactly touching the grass, it wasn’t even affected like a person was standing right on top of it, JJ could see it perfectly, like nobody was there. It was like Lia, at the same time, was invisible. Like a ghost.

“How?” JJ finally asked.

“You know I can’t transport myself out of Halloween Town, unless it’s October 31st, so I projected myself here. I needed to talk to you, because you can help me. Like I said before, I think my parents are alive and there in Outer Banks. I got a letter-”

“Yeah, I saw it. The night I talked to you in my dream.” JJ nodded and Lia furrowed her eyebrows confused.

“You did?” JJ nodded again. “That’s strange.”

“What is?”

“I still don’t understand how you were able to talk to me in your dream, and however you did it, you being able to touch something, that’s not normal. That’s very advanced magic.” Lia said and then looked down. JJ noticed how she started to think why all of this was happening, and felt worthless the moment his brain couldn’t even help a little bit in the situation.

“What is happening, Lia?” JJ asked after a couple of seconds in silence. “I saw that in the letter, it had-”

“My name.” Lia cut him off looking back at him.

“And OBX. That’s here, Outer Banks. Why did it say that?”

Lia looked at him in the eyes and after a taking a big breath, she said softly: “That handwriting, it’s my mom’s.”

JJ immediately noticed how her eyes were getting watery but then quickly closed them to brush her need to cry away. He wanted to hug her so bad, and knowing that he couldn’t got him feeling even worst for her. “That’s why you believe their here.”

Lia nodded. “I believe that I was sent here for my assignment for a reason.” JJ slowly nodded not knowing what to say since his brain was trying to follow Lia’s train of thought. “I mean, think about it. My first assignment out of the Academy was here, in Outer Banks. Usually the students get easy tasks, back in Halloween Town. But me, I got sent here, for a year. And then a couple of weeks later I receive this letter. It has to mean something very important.”

“Can you ask why you got assigned to come here?” JJ asked after a couple of seconds, still trying his hardest to keep up with everything.

“No.” Lia shook her head. “I can’t trust anyone right now. Expect for my family.” Lia said and then added, more softly: “And you.”

A little smile appeared on his face when he heard those words. The thought of her trusting him with such a big thing made all of those thoughts about feeling worthless disappeared from his body, from every single inch.

“That’s all I know. So I need your help so I can get there. Can you do this for me?”

JJ quickly nodded. “Of course, anything.”

“Alright.” Lia said with a smile. “But this is not going to be easy. Let me explain what you gotta do.”

⋆ ⋆

Get six candles and salt. Prepare the ritual. Concentrate. Say the words. Get six candles and salt. Prepare the ritual. Concentrate. Say the words. JJ was saying to himself repeatedly since the moment he woke up that morning. Since he said goodbye to Lia the night before, his heart didn’t stop beating faster than normal. If two months ago someone would’ve told him that he would be doing dark magic, as a mortal, with the help of his witch friend, he would’ve just laugh and yell to the person saying that that their crazy. But, he was. In a couple of hours he was going to do dark magic, with know knowledge at all, to help Lia get to the mortal world. Like Lia said, a mortal doing magic is impossible, but with her help, it turns into almost impossible, not forgetting the fact that is extremely dangerous to do dark matic, even for the people that do magic since they can walk. That didn’t help JJ to feel better and confident on his future actions.

When the hour that Lia and him said to start the ritual hit the clock, JJ made sure that nobody was at the Chateau, and luckily for him, non of his friends were around. He locked the door of his room and sat down on the floor next to his bed, he took the candles and the salt out of his backpack.

JJ made with the salt a star on the floor and let a candle in each corner of the star and another one in the middle. In the entire day that he was preparing the things to do the ritual, he forgot to prepare himself for the fact that it was almost everything in his hands. If he fucked a single thing up, it could go to chaos in the mortal world.

“Concentrate, JJ.” He said to himself before taking a big breath and then closing his eyes. The sound of his heart beating was stronger of his thoughts inside his head, so he took a couple of seconds to calm himself and think of every single word Lia said to him the night before.

“Remember these words, JJ. It’s the spell you have to say very carefully. And not mess any single word.” He thought in Lia’s voice. The moment he remembered everything he had to say, he opened his eyes and looked at the star on the floor.

He took another big breath before saying almost in a whisper: “Activate teleportation ritual.”

The second he finished that sentence, the fire on the candles became stronger.

“JJ, the moment you say those words, you’re going to hear voices. Those are people who are waiting for someone to let them through, their usually bad people, people who want to take over the mortal world. Their are going to try to put a spell on you. So don’t listen to them, do not respond, wait for my voice.”

JJ started to hear distant voices, they were whispers. Until someone spoke against his ear. “Hey pretty boy.” Their voice made his body shiver and the hairs on his arms to get up. It was a women’s voice, but it was deep and raspy. JJ felt like the voice was coming from somewhere next to him, but there was no one there. “You’re so handsome.”

JJ kept his eyes glued to the star waiting to hear Lia’s voice, trying his hardest to not get affected by the voices. “C’mon, say my name. I know you know the words.” She said against his ear almost in a whisper. JJ shook his head trying to get his heart to calm down and brush the women’s voice away. “C’mon, don’t fight it.” The women spoke again after letting out a laugh. “You’re trying so hard it’s cute. C’mon, I don’t what to do this hard way.”

His heart started to hurt strongly that he had to close his eyes once the pain started to be unbearable. “I can help you with your dad.”

The moment the women said those words, JJ quickly opened his eyes and his heart started to beat even faster. “Together, we can fight him. I can get rid of him, with a snap of my fingers. Just say the words. I’ll help you, boy.” With all the strength he had in his body, he brushed the women’s words away. He felt a tear coming down his cheek, he was starting to feel weak, like his body was going to give in to the women’s spell she was trying to put on him, but then, he heard her voice.

“JJ? Are you there?”

“Lia?” JJ’s heart started to calm down the moment he heard her voice. He quickly wiped the tear that escaped his eyes.

“Yes! I did it! It took me so long because that women claimed you first, but I won. I’m here. You’re ok.” JJ let out big sigh looking around but Lia wasn’t there, it was just her voice. “JJ, do you remember the next step?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. He lifted the candle that was in the middle of the star and the closed his eyes.

“Remember JJ, say every word carefully.”

JJ took a deep breath before saying, almost in a whisper: “Exteriore Traiciendam, Corderlia Cromwell.” The second he said those words, his room went completely silent. He opened his eyes waiting to see something, even if he didn’t know what it was, he waited. He wanted to talk to Lia, but he was afraid to ruin something and bring chaos, so he stayed quite and looked around. The candles were still lit but when a loud noise hit his ears, a strong wind made him close his eyes and the candles to turn off. Now his room was dark and the only thing that was illuminating the room was the light from outside. The wind wasn’t stopping but JJ opened his eyes with his hand in front of his face, to see what was going on in his room. Papers were flying around, the lamp that was always in his nightstand was now on the floor turning off and on repeatedly. He looked down expecting to see the salt of the floor gone, but it was still intact, it didn’t even moved one grain of salt. He got up with his whole strength since the wind was so strong, making it difficult for him to move his own body.

Suddenly, when his eyes saw the candles turn on again, he noticed that the salt was going up, forming a big circle from the floor to the ceiling. He wanted to close his eyes because salt was now getting in his eyes, but he wanted to see, so he tried his hardest to keep his eyes open every second that was passing.

The lights in his room were becoming more crazy, turning off and on even more quicker and the papers were flying more faster around the room. He started to hear a female voice from a distant, he immediately recognised Lia’s voice but he couldn’t understand what she was saying. Deep down JJ wished that she wasn’t talking to him because it was impossible for him to listen to something since the wind was blowing so strongly next to his ears. He had to squint his eyes since everything was getting unbearable, he never saw the ending coming, he felt like he had been in that situation for hours, but in reality it on had been no more than a minute.

“Exteriore Traiciendam. Exteriore Traiciendam.” Now JJ was understanding what Lia was saying. It was getting louder and louder by the second so when the voice was loud enough, to the point that JJ felt how she was in front of him, he opened his eyes normally and moved the hand out of his face. Seconds later, faster than he could let out a smile, the wind stopped and the salt dropped to the floor, leaving the room with a bigger mess than it already was before.

“Fuck.” JJ heard Lia say the moment it all went silent. She was in front of him. The real Lia Cromwell. It was not a dream, it was not an illusion, there was no white light coming out of her, it was the real deal, and JJ didn’t know how to act with himself in that moment. “Miss me, Maybank?” Lia said with a smile when she saw the shook on JJ’s face.

“We did it.” He said softly looking at her and then a smile appeared on his face.

“Yes, we did.” Lia nodded proudly.

JJ hesitated the moment the need of hugging her came into his body. He remembered the last time he tried, but also, the last time they hugged. But before he could think of something else, Lia walked closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. JJ widen his eyes a little bit surprised at her action, but then after a couple of seconds, he took the hug in and pulled her even more closer.

“You’re not writing a letter now, are you?” JJ asked jokingly and heard how Lia let out a tiny laugh.

“No, I promise.” Lia said once she broke the hug and stared at JJ’s face. “Is nice to see you again. Properly.”

“Nice to see you too, Lia.”

Even if they both had been talking for weeks they felt the awkwardness between them, like they were just two strangers who casually talked one or two times. Neither of them knew what to say... or they did, but all the courage they had it went completely away. They wanted to say that they missed each other, that they way they felt when the other one was around was something... new. Something that they never felt before. But how do you explain that without sound weird and pushy?

“What now?” JJ asked and that made Lia go back to reality and brush all the awkwardness regarding to their reunion away.

“I have to find a witch named Amethyst.” Lia said. “My grandma said that she’s going to have all the answers... or at least know where I have to go next.”

JJ furrowed his eyebrows a soon as he heard that name. “How is the witch called again?”

“Amethyst?” Lia answered confused because it seemed that JJ knew something about her.

“Yeah. I know that name.” JJ said confused at his own brain, since a couple of seconds ago he didn’t know a single bit about that name.

“What? How?”

“It’s a store at the mall, on the main land. ‘The great Amethyst.’ She’s a psychic.” JJ said those words, but he didn’t feel like he said those words, they just came to him and his mouth delivered it.

“Of course!” Lia yelled with a smile. “A psychic! That’s how some witches live here. JJ, I need you to show me where it is.”

He was about to say that he didn’t know where it was, but the image of the mall and the shop came into his mind like fast truck. He knew exactly where it was. What was happening to him? JJ slowly nodded still confused on how he knew about this witch and her store, but then brushed it away, with the thought that maybe he visited the place when he was a kid and suddenly remember it. It’s easier to believe that, right?

“You ready to go?” Lia asked when she noticed JJ was all in his thoughts. He looked at her and nodded without hesitation.

“Wait, how are we going to go?” JJ asked. The moment Lia let out a smirk JJ understood what was going through her mind. “Oh, no.”

“Yes, c’mon, I need you to show me where the main land is so I can transport us there.” The moment she started to walk out the door, JJ gently grabbed her arm to stop her.

“I’m glad you’re back, Lia.” He said with all the confidence in the world. His soft tone made him sound genuine and that made Lia let out a tiny smile.

“I’m glad I’m back too.” With her other hand, she touched her arm but he quickly walked out of the house leaving Lia behind.

She stood there looking at JJ walk away. She let out a tiny sigh when something came to her mind. ‘I can help you with your dad.’ Lia remembered the phrase the women said moments ago to JJ, and his face. Lia felt like she would never forget his eyes, and the tears wanting to come out.

Was something going on between him and his dad?

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆taglist ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆

let me know if you want to be added!

@amberritonicole @pink-meringues @sortagaysortahigh @mdlyncline @sweetlysilent @ifilwtmfc @thisismynerdyself @acvross-the-universe @dmonchld @cordeliascrown @outerbankslut @chouetteschaussettes @lunaticlua @x-lulu @5sosbands @goldensk-es @behind-the-bleacherss @badbitsh13 @kenzie-rivers101 @raconteuxr @katy-barrett @allcopsarebussies @adiaryofasimpykid @beeeee06 @ilovethiswitchytimeofyear @nuwanda-greaser @crazyforsnow @ayo-its-vicki @dharma-babe @but-nice-butt @rudysbay @gryffendorqueen011 @angel-earth @noturpoet @purerepelsdirt @tmbquirky @idealmai @blueegansey @bloodthedevil @laurendaruler @cilorawr @sunneedazze @bhadlatina @xmmxlxlxtrx @ciarajoanna @makebank (+)

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bitter-sweet-farmgirl · 4 years ago

Text

Satf Ulkhud

Part 9 of ‘A Deep Misunderstanding’. Who know how many more parts are going to follow… Link to Series Masterlist.

Thorin falls for a Dwarrowdame raised by Elves, and tries to make know his feelings, but accidentally offends her, which leads to another and another misunderstanding between the two.

Based off of @immawriteyouthings ‘Falling Stars’

MASTERLIST

OC(s) Used: Estel

Word Count: 1,612

Warning(s): Blood, minor injury.

Translation(s): Satf Ulkhud: Step Light

Harkulul: Enough

Gadra allâk; Mahal hefsu binhas: Against stupidity; Mahal himself is helpless

~~~~

Why did everything have to be so complicated? Was it too much to ask for just a simple, easy answer to just one of my questions?

In the days following my forced chat with the Company, I tried to delicately feel out Thorin and see if I could see what everyone else supposedly saw.

To put it simply, it wasn't easy; nor was it going well. So far, I had found out that Thorin really didn't like me very much--no surprise there. But even through that, I thought I saw those little hints of affection that everyone talked about.

If I looked hard enough, I could see his steely blue eyes--thikilkhagal in Khuzdul according to Balin when I asked him--soften whenever I spoke to him; and his voice would change just the tiniest bit when he spoke to me.

There were other instances in the past that I could remember as well. The time I had dragged him out to go stargazing and had grasped his hand within mine; a blush had sprang to his darkly bearded cheeks. Or when he had offered to teach me Khuzdul.

But even with all of those hints, I still couldn't bring myself to believe Balin's words. As I studied Thorin, I grew more frustrated than before; and all that pent-up energy had to be expressed somehow.

That's why I accepted Fili and Kili's challenge to spar with them. I figured it would be a harmless activity that wouldn't invoke any of Thorin's anger towards me.

"Parry left, and strike!" Kili called to his brother as he crouched on the ground a few feet away from where Fili and I were dueling fiercely.

Fili shot Kili an annoyed glance; the split-second distraction allowing me to land a flat-edged blow to his dominant arm. Fili yelped in pain and dropped his sword, holding his arm as he swore loudly.

"Harkulul, Kili! You're distracting me!" He said angrily, glaring at Kili as he gingerly rubbed the sore place.

Kili just grinned and hopped up, dodging his muttering brother as he walked forward, swinging his sword in preparation to duel me. "Prepare to be beaten, Miss Estel." He laughed, and I rolled my eyes, grinning.

"I wouldn't be too sure, Kili... Cockiness doesn't get you anywhere but in trouble." I said wisely, darting forward only to have my jab blocked by Kili. "As your uncle would say, gadra allâk; Mahal hefsu binhas."

My words had Kili grinning widely, shaking his head. “Actually, that’s something Lory would say."

Within minutes, him and I were engaged in a swift flurry of jabs and parries; neither of us willing to let the other win. I had to admit, even with his lack of experience, Kili was a better swordsman than his brother. There was a finesse to his movements; more grace. Perhaps it came from his interest in archery.

Sweat began to bead on my forehead, dripping down and into my eyes as I focused intensely on gaining ground on Kili. It was only a matter of time before he would make a wrong move and I could score a hit.

"Hey, watch where--” Fili’s voice vaguely penetrated my concentration, just as I stumbled over something. My stroke went wide to the left, leaving me open.

Silver flashed by my face, and pain erupted across my left forearm as Kili's sword grazed my skin. I let out a hiss of pain, dropping my sword as I brought my right hand to clamp over the shallow cut.

Crimson oozed between my fingers as I clenched my teeth, wavering on my feet as I tried to keep the pain from overwhelming me. It wasn't a bad wound, but the superficial ones tended to hurt the worst.

"Estel! I'm sorry, are you alright?!" Kili's panicked voice broke the silence, and I heard a scuffle as he and Fili gathered beside me, gentle hands prying away my fingers so that they could look at my wound.

"I'm fine, Kili. It's superficial." I said through clenched teeth, taking in a deep breath as Fili's calloused fingers prodded the sensitive area. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when you do that!" I said quickly, and Fili drew back, his blue eyes concerned.

"Fili, Kili, what is going on here?" Thorin's voice rumbled ominously from behind me, and I could see Kili's brown eyes widen as he gulped. "Is everything--"

Catching sight of the scarlet staining my hand and arm, Thorin cut himself off, hurrying to grab my arm and look at my injury. Once he assured himself it wasn't life-threatening, he raised his dark-haired head to look at Fili and Kili. "Which one of you did this? I thought I would have taught you better to not gang up on people." He said quietly, and Kili raised a trembling hand.

"It was my fault, Uncle. I didn't mean to hurt her, but she tripped over a rock and I couldn't stop my stroke..." He mumbled apologetically, shrinking underneath Thorin's furious stare.

"It's not his fault, Master Thorin," I began, and he shot me a look, raising an eyebrow. But that didn't dissuade me from plowing onwards. "I should have been watching my footing as well. It was an accident. Besides, it's just a superficial wound." I tried to reassure him, pulling my arm out of his grasp, but he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Miss Estel, there is rarely such a thing as a superficial wound, and even if it is, that doesn't change the fact that Kili hurt you." He said, and my brow furrowed with confusion.

"What difference does that make? Kili accidentally hurt me and he apologized. What else needs to be resolved?" I asked, and Thorin avoided my gaze.

"Things are different in our culture, Miss Estel." He said, dodging my question, and a quick glance at Fili and Kili told me that his words were confusing to them as well.

"Alright, if you say so. Now, I'm going to go get this cleaned up." I said, glancing down at my forearm.

Without waiting for a response, I turned away to go locate my bedroll and find the spare roll of bandages that I kept there for this sort of purpose. Once that had been taken care of, I headed off in search of Dwalin. Perhaps he would have answers for me; after all, he was Thorin's closest friend.

Much to my relief, I quickly caught sight of him lounging at the edge of the forest, brawny forearms crossed over his equally brawny chest as he scanned the horizon. Heading in his direction, I watched as his gaze slid over to me as I approached.

"Miss Estel," he nodded to me as I moved to stand beside him. "Ye look as though ye need something."

I managed a soft laugh. "That I do, Master Dwalin. A listening ear for my complaints." I said, taking a deep breath as I tried to cool my rising temper.

Dwalin turned his body towards me, raising a scarred eyebrow as he looked down at me. "Complaints, ye say? They wouldn't happen to be about Thorin, would they?" He asked, and I nodded sullenly.

"Right on the bullseye, Master Dwalin. Even after spending days observing Thorin, I still don't see what you all talk about. Perhaps there might be some affection somewhere, but I haven't found it yet. Although, he has made it easy to get close to him... He hasn't seemed to have wanted to leave my side ever since I walked into that tree in the dark..." I grumbled, and Dwalin chuckled.

"The Dwarrow has every right to be protective of ye..." His voice trailed off as he glanced at something over my shoulder. "I mean, the way he feels about ye--"

"No. Don't give me that utter rubbish about his feelings for me. I've tried my hardest to find a hint of it; of anything! But there's nothing!" I said, glaring at Dwalin. " You also forget that I'm raised by Elves, Thorin can't stand Elves. In his eyes I'm just as bad--if not worse!" I exclaimed, ignoring the way Dwalin's gaze grew solemn. "Ever since I said it, he's been horrible to me. Even more so than usual!"

Dwalin raised a hand as if to try and calm me. "We've told ye, Lass, Thorin's trying to protect himself from getting hurt. He just needs some time to process--"

I cut him off, breath coming in deep gasps as I struggled to hold back the tears brimming in my eyes. "But if he really loves me, he wouldn't care about my past. That shouldn't matter to him. You are all blind; seeing something that isn't really there. Perhaps he loved me once, but that all changed the moment I said I was raised by Elves." Swallowing hard, I looked straight into Dwalin's dark amber eyes that shone with confusion over my sudden change in emotions. "I cannot return his affections if they do not exist." I whispered in a shaking voice.

"Miss Estel--” I didn't wait around to hear what he had to say and bolted away, brushing past the approaching Thorin and fleeing blindly into the forest as tears streamed down my face and sobs shook my body.

I ignored the familiar voice that called after me; asking what was wrong and where I was going. Thorin was the last person I wanted near me right now.

For a moment, I thought I had found answers. But then I realized they were only questions in disguise.

Questions whose answers persisted at being elusive.

#thorin #thorin oakenshield x oc #thorin oakenshield #thorin x oc #fanfic #fanfiction #a deep misunderstanding #the company #dwalin #frustration #angst #meddling company #oblivious oc #the hobbit

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crawgluvr4 · 4 years ago

Text

(warnings: flashbacks of csa, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.)

ana invents the drift within a year of the start of the crisis, contracted by first the egyptian military and then the american, to help them chase a pipe dream.

something as big as the kaiju to defeat them. something out of a movie, a giant robot capable of safely dispatching the monsters. a familiar tale. they do not say why they need human pilots but it has a lot to do with human judgement and also propaganda. she obliges because the world is on the line.

ana invents the drift, allowing two people to share the neural load of piloting a machine hundreds of times their size. concurrently, the US government plows through five hundred disposable soldiers and get two worth using. she meets them once before the test and she is surprised at how immediately she finds herself caring about their wellbeing. she tells the doctors that the drift will not discriminate between current and past thought, that all memories and thoughts will be shared, and the two soldiers must be aware of this. it’s a huge risk to their health. the doctors nodded their heads and agreed with her and said of course and yes and they fully understand the risks. and she, young, foolishly trusted them to put empathy before efficiency. to put care before brute force.

neither man enters the drift knowing the burden of it, neither are prepared for the overwhelming surge of memories that will occur. telepathy is a vague concept. you tell a soldier desperate to save the world, one of two of five hundred that survived a procedure designed to make them untouchable - you tell him they’ve invented a telepathic method of controlling something capable of destroying the monsters decimating the world and he will go for it. they both do. no matter what, they would have agreed.

but it would have been nice to know what was coming.

gabriel takes right and jack takes left. the helmets have not been refined yet and the neural gel is sickening and it takes jack longer to learn to breathe in it than they would like. ana is as ever the only one concerned for them and uses all the threat she can muster to give them time to adjust. she knows if this is successful she will have much less weight because she legally will have to sign over her research, but they will still need her. for efficiency.

they’re both nervous but this is before they know anything, so gabriel comes across as cold and focused and jack comes across as confident and a bit arrogant. it's the surface personality each will maintain throughout the rest of their lives until the jaeger explodes in the mediterranean sea. gabriel does it because he wants people to trust his judgement, and jack does it because he wants people to believe in him. it's a roundabout method to the same goal; something they always manage to do.

jack gets used to breathing and gabriel cracks a smile through his otherwise stern facade, which makes jack nervous in a better way, because he’s not quite acknowledging that he’s basically in love with gabriel. which is fine, because in the past three months since their briefing on the jaeger mission he has been practicing deflecting his thoughts so gabriel wont read them, something he is now uncomfortably good at. this will later be a fatal flaw of his - deflection. not thinking about what needs to be thought about. when drifting becomes refined jack will immediately master the ability to deflect and wall off thoughts and memories, and as such become a template for an ideal drift partner. but for now he is twenty-one and still really truly believes that despite how the government has treated him in the past year that they are telling the truth right now.

ana's hands tremble as she sets up the machines for the handshake. she has no idea what is about to happen because she is nearly twenty-four and probably the most sensible person in the world right now but her mistrust is not yet enough either. she will regret ignoring the voice that tells her that, despite barely knowing these men, she should talk to them herself about the danger.

gabriel gives them the all clear. jack watches him and follows suit a moment after. ana inputs the command to initiate neural handshake and says “neural handshake initi-” and doesn’t get to finish it before the computers go wild.

when you enter the drift there is two seconds of silence as the minds sync. if two pilots are incompatible enough the drift will drop and nothing of importance will be shared, just a moment of disorienting silence. when pilots are compatible, this period is the calm before the storm. after the drift is developed properly people will be trained to think slowly. when overwatch scrabbles itself together years after its fall the training will be largely abandoned in lieu of efficiency and jack will think about the irony of this first and pass the thought onto gabriel. as it stands they have two seconds before jack suddenly thinks “what-” and the memories follow like the tail of a comet.

what happens is this; two decades of memories, of things neither had ever intended to share, of memories forgotten to their mind, are shared in the span of twenty seven excruciating seconds.

gabriel sees:

his father come in from the fields and he’s angry so angry because one of the machines broke down today and he won’t take it into town to fix it because he has some sense of pride or something and he knows by the look on his mothers face what his father is going to do, to vent his frustrations he takes a knife and starts cutting up the trees in the forest but then feels so bad he breaks down and cries. the way his fathers hands are only ever used to hurt to scar and to molest. the way the fields look like when it’s night and you stare from the crack of the barn door and try try as you can to leave your body and leave what is being done to you here. his sister’s silhouette on the porch. don’t forget to write.

which makes no sense because as long as he remembers gabriel has lived in the city.

jack sees:

a loving family that accepts their son when he comes out as their son and cannot understand why he tries to kill himself when he's sixteen, and when he leaves for the military they still dont understand but its the same thread. don't forget to write. he doesn’t write and he doesn’t talk about his relationship with the much older girl his mother was so fond of because she was so polite to her face despite the cruel things she would say to gabriel about her. about how nobody in his family was really there for him, just her, and when she tells him he’s so mature for his age and how good he is in bed for his age he can only take it as the compliment a child feels it is. and he can only blame himself so desperate he is for a different kind of validation and then the guilt of not finding his family’s support enough and seeking it elsewhere drives him off the edge and he can still feel it, the horrible drag of metal through skin and muscle and veins. the way his mother had held his hand and said please don’t die, and two years later the same words as he leaves california behind because how can he tell them he can’t bear to be around her?

which makes no sense because jack has never visited california and has never even seen the sea.

this is what the drift is. the holder of each memory loses ownership of it to the space between them, involuntary, unbidden, every scrap of pain they have ever felt flitting back and forth between them until they aren’t sure who started with what. in twenty seven seconds both receive the others lifetime of trauma imparted without will or consent, and unable to look away. and worst of all are the things that they had tucked away, forgotten long ago but still stored in some unreachable part of memory -

gabriel holds his mothers hand at his grandmother's funeral. in whispers he hears his uncle say: why is she here, she isn't even her real kid. and his mother stiffens and goes silent but gabriel is aware she is crying, quietly. but he is young and knows nothing and she is just mourning, after all, mourning her mother. he doesn't see that uncle aside from at big family gatherings and while he is ostracised loosely otherwise in this memory nobody disagrees with him just tuts and tells him to stop that it's not the time or place. his mother is the youngest child and always was the odd one out of her siblings.

jack remembers before his mother stopped caring and before his father turned to sexual abuse of them both; and they’re at some shopping centre he never did learn the name of and there’s a manmade river cutting through the the centre. there are swans with their babies and jack is holding his sister's hand very tightly and his mother has one hand on his shoulder and says honey you have to learn when to be gentle and when to be firm. know when you're hurting other people. and he loosens his grip and she does not tumble into the river and there are two cygnets and two parent swans and jack thinks what a happy family. the next day his father will push him up against the wall in anger because he is seven and forgot to tidy his room and his mother will argue with his father but also tell jack to try to behave more.

so what happens is: gabriel sees what jack saw, and jack sees what gabriel saw, and it takes twenty seven seconds before ana hits the emergency desync (because she does not understand what a random access brain impulse trigger is yet) during which time it feels like they are both reliving an entire lifetime.

jack's first coherent words once they desync are “please, i'm so sorry, please, please forgive me” although it takes a lot of effort for the medical staff to parse this.

gabriel understands immediately - because now he knows exactly how jack reacts after panic - and jack knows gabriel’s silence is not cruelty but dissociation and that he can't say anything when he is barely in his own body.

a week later gabriel will ask jack for his forgiveness as well. years later they will almost find it absurd. something to look back on as the start of something better, maybe, just handled so poorly its almost comedic. they understand then that neither of them needed to apologise to the other for what was done to them and that at least they learned good things too, at least they learned how to protect other people from ever experiencing that again.

but right now jack is retching and the medical staff are checking gabriel for brain hemorrhaging because it's the only real risk they know to check for. physically, he is fine, though pulse elevated and breathing somewhat shallow. the trauma is mental. ana is screaming at the chief medical officer who is fired on the spot despite receiving direct orders to push the pilot testing asap. ana will feel responsibility for this for the rest of her career, going above and beyond friendship for the two men whose trust she feels she irrevocably broke.

they don't even think about her, in this moment, all but alone despite the swarming medical and military staff. they are still thinking another man's thoughts. for twelve seconds after the end of the drift the psychic link remains, and though it's a messy swirl of disgust and panic and horror, there is one coherent thought: i'm so sorry you understand.

#reaper76 #hi r76 tag im back with pacrim au and trauma! hope u missed me #pacrim au compliant #you can really tell i was like Fuck structure i gotta do stream of consciousness right now immediately

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little-lily-w · 4 years ago

Text

Modus operandi

A/N This story is inspired by the roleplay I’m doing with @asa-emory-the-collector (mun: @slassher-addict ) and my muse Eve @hisbluemonarch

This didn’t happen in the story, it’s just a possible future I imagined out of Asa’s mun bringing an option of Asa making Eve forget him.

Words: 3k

Warnings: well this is Asa Emory with SO... angst, stockholm syndrome, bruises

Eve was looking at the lagoon in front of her. Sitting on the grass was one of the most satisfying sensations for her, especially with a light breeze creating goosebumps all over her bare arms. At least life had a good side after these three months.

The first one was the crudest of them all. After the incident at the hotel where she basically saved his life, Asa had told her that she wasn’t needed any more. At the beginning she couldn’t understand. Why. Why did he want her to leave after she fought three men for his own integrity? Was it because of some stupid ego thing? She claimed for a reason, with tears running down her cheeks, a weak jaw and trembling lips. A big metaphorical darkness consuming her eyes. She begged to stay, to be back in her old room if that was what he wanted or at least to kiss him goodbye but none of that happened. Asa was cold, distant, he was committed to get rid of her. She was supposed to forget, even to accept the whole matter as a second chance in life, but it was meaningless for her.

When the second month arrived, the whole day crying was replaced by sporadically tears under the shower. It felt like an attack, as if someone was throwing an arrow to her chest out of nowhere. She decided to start visiting her parents again even if she couldn’t tell them anything. Even if she had to excuse herself and leave because memories became too overwhelming. But she pretended.

By the time the third month came, her life was little by little organized again. She started to think about getting a job because her few savings were running out. But where would she go for an application with two horrendous dark circles under the eyes? She was a living breathing human being but she wasn’t a persona anymore. Soulless. But despite the pain and the nights she spent awake missing him, upset at him, feeling destroyed, that was the time when Xavier came into her life. He was different from Tomas and different from Asa too. He was kind and decent yet he didn’t carry that Roman god aura that made Eve fascinated with the Collector. But he warmed her days a bit. They met at the familiar square, the one that Eve frequented again and again in hopes to find Asa like she did when out of the hospital. She was crying on a bench like that one time and Xavier reached to her.

With the following weeks they started to hang out, it was obvious he was interested in her but it wasn’t out of a physical attraction neither an intellectual one. It was about her story, her past, something she wouldn’t tell to him but that was clear had positioned her as a reborn person. Well, as a reborn person who didn’t want rebirth.

The first time he kissed her was unexpected for Eve yet she didn’t feel anything. Not love, not sexual energy, not even comfort. The only thing she felt was the cold blue pendant she still kept in her neck moving slightly as Xavier held her face. She didn’t say anything. He just excused himself. After that day, Eve was the one who took the initiative and kissed him, trying to feel normal again like she once attempted to do with Tomas but this time there was urgency to forget. They kept going on dates which mainly consisted on walks through the forest, because Xavier knew she loved it. He was falling in love with her. She started to feel at the burial of an old Eve.

But this particular afternoon she was at the forest alone with the intention to meditate but also to do this task that was still connecting her with her past. After what seemed like an eternity, she removed her necklace and took it in her hand. Fingers fidgeting with the blue butterfly. Her other palm went to her forehead, supporting the weight of it as she cried. She was trembling, already knowing what the only step left was. Standing up, she gave a decisive look at the pendant and moved her arm backwards ready to throw it to the lagoon.

But the action never came.

She screamed. Mad at herself. Mad at Asa Emory. Mad at this silver piece that was burning her skin. She tried a second time without avail. But then a flash of her memories being locked inside a blue box appeared in her mind. Him kicking the box, throwing water and bleach at her, carving the butterfly pattern in her arm she was always going to have.

-You took this choice away from me – she whispered in regards to her scars – I have the choice for this one – she took a deep breath, reaching braveness – Goodbye, Asa Emory.

She was about to finally throw the necklace when she heard the sound of some branches in the distance. Eve turned alert, her hand instinctively going to her pocket where she carried the small knife. She wasn’t the helpless woman anymore. Not after Tomas kidnapped her. Not after Asa trained her on how to fight. And if someone was planning on taking advantage of her being all alone, she certainly was going to defend herself.

-Hello? – she said lowly, making a few steps but suddenly feeling something by her foot. Looking down, she realized it was a spider. Not the kind of small ones she would find in a forest but the big black ones she’d find… at his lab. Eve tried to think it was a simple coincidence but as soon as she saw three more on the ground, the fact that he was somewhere near was obvious. She felt the urge to scream, not out of fear but out of pure anger, but she knew keeping silent was the best option to have a chance for whatever he was planning on doing.

Taking the knife out, she held it tightly at her side, elbow protecting her ribs as she had learned. She only had to walk the path from where she came from and she’ll end back on the road. Just about half a mile.

Her brain switching into an old mode. She had lost the habit of walking slowly but she gained it back very quickly, afraid that there could be any traps. Eve felt her heartbeat galloping in her ears, her cheeks turning furious red. What did he want? And again: why?

Again she heard the sound of the branches for a mere second Eve turned her head to the direction of it but it was enough for her to step on a big leaf. Even though there weren’t any visible threads, something automatically caught her foot and moved her upside down carrying her a few meters away till it stopped between a few trees.

This time Eve screamed. She was out of her mind, disorientated, frustrated. Almost like a savage horse which was waiting for the tamer to come. But no one was able to hear, her vocal chords weren’t strong enough to surpass the trees. No one except him.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”, she yelled at him, wherever it was he was hiding. “FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU!!!”, she let out as loud as she could, dizzy from the position, not even minding how rare it was from her to be using strong language. But still, Asa wasn’t visible.

Trying to recover her breath, she decided to take action. Still with knife on hand, she tried to reach for a strong branch to help her find support and reach the rope attached to her ankle. Thanks to her new level of fitness, she was able to actually cut it falling heavy on the ground just to get trapped into a large fishing net, knife falling off of her hand.

“NO!”, she yelled again realizing it was almost a joke he put on her. She tried to move her fingers out of one of the tiny holes, trying to reach the knife but out of nowhere a black shoe stepped on it, kicking it backwards. At the sight of Asa, Eve started squirming violently on the floor, trying uselessly hard to get free. Asa just leaned down, watching her without saying a word, enjoying the view for a few seconds before picking her up and walking towards a blue box that was waiting for her a few meters away. Even with her angrily moving her arms for him to release her, he managed to get her inside and lock the cover.

The trip to the hotel was quick but it was filled with Eve’s yells and kicks to the box. God, she knew he could hear her. She wanted to exasperate him. It wasn’t about asking for help or being heard from the outside of the van. No. It was about making him feel the same way she felt all those days if that could be possible. But Asa didn’t react. He knew what he was going to get, just as he knew she’d free herself from the disguising trap.

Eve became dysphonic after 20 minutes. She stopped her frenetic movements too. She also knew he wanted her to be tired so she decided to preserve some energy although she didn’t know for what exactly.

Back at the hotel, he pushed the box to the lab, smiling at how light she was, as if he was remembering the first day he met her. The room was empty of people although with the typical stretchers, torture utensils and jars with spiders. He unlocked the cover and before she could even move or yell at him again, he grabbed her neck through the fishing net and squeezed. Asa knew Eve’s body to perfection. He stopped exactly at the point when she didn’t struggle anymore, when the little black eyes started to lose their shine. Hearing her cough once he released her, he took advantage to cut the fishing net with his knife and get her out of the box to handcuff her to a bar below the roof. He grabbed her chin and gently shook her head, knowing she was awake but still dizzy. As soon as Eve focused on him again, she started to pull from the handcuffs, only hurting her wrists in the process. She screamed at him, even growled with clenched teeth while Asa observed her with curious arachnid eyes through the mask.

“What?!”, Eve spitted with a disgusted face. “This isn’t your modus operandi so what do you want?”

The Collector stood still.

“Oh God, I can’t believe this”, Eve looked upwards like demanding a divine justification. “You are just going to stay silent?”, Eve faced him again. “Three months, Asa Emory. Three months. You told me to forget you”, she said furiously to him, a tear running down her cheek. “Why am I here again?”.

The Collector turned around and started walking to the door.

“That’s all? You are just going to walk away? What’s worrying you, Asa Emory? That you can’t face me? That you can’t fucking watch me in the eyes and give me an explanation you fucking pussy?!”

Asa stopped all of a sudden. Eve knew it was a weak key in him yet she decided to press it. Maybe without thinking, maybe fully conscious wanting to risk it all or at least to get a reaction from his iced temper.

Turning around and walking to her, he grabbed her by the jaw forcefully, black eyes meeting black eyes, none of them blinking. His fingertips were digging into her flesh, her pulse was beating under his gloves. Asa took the knife out once again and moved it to her face. Eve eyed the weapon with a slight fear but quickly turned her attention towards him again. She was face to face with a serial killer yet if he wanted to end her, at least she would be out of the loop. Asa brushed the edge slightly against her cheek, wiping the tear off. Then he let go of her and finally exited the lab.

Eve kept struggling with the handcuffs. She reached her hair and took off her clip, trying multiple times to unlock them with sweaty fingers and a neck that hurt from looking upwards and from Asa’s grip. Once she was free, she touched the area. Another bruise. Of course. Usual coming from Emory. She walked to the door and started to pull from the latch. Obviously with no avail. She kicked the door with frustration before looking around. Everything looked exactly as she remembered. Locating the cameras on the roof, she walked to the short furniture where he kept the jars and took one of them to free a tarantula. With the animal safe on the floor, she showed the jar purposefully to the camera and let it fall from her hand, getting it smashed into pieces with a thunderous sound. She took another one, repeating the action. Oh, Asa Emory, you are certainly going to come back.

As soon as she heard the keys, she grabbed one of the scalpels, getting away from the door. The Collector eyed the mess on the floor, then the nervously wrecked woman in front of her. Since she walked backwards, a mistake she should have been smarter to avoid by now, he started to move towards her, predatory instincts kicking in.

“Stop”, Eve said with a shaky voice. What did she actually want? She had made him come back, now she wanted him to stay frozen in place. She felt dizzy again, overwhelmed by his alpha presence. “I’m going to use it. I know how to”, she warned him when even if she was trained, he could never beat him. Asa took his knife out, enjoying her little jump at the abrupt motion, but surprisingly, he left it on the stretcher, showing her his empty gloved hands.

“Stop”, Eve whispered, back now against the wall with a trembling scalpel.

Asa removed his mask, messy brownish hair and a slightly sweaty forehead. Eve started to pant. His face seemed taken out of one of the many dreams she had had about him, missing his body, craving his kisses, desperate for his manly scent. Tears started to run down her cheek but this time non stopping.

“No”, she whispered almost unintelligible when Asa finally stopped in front of her, trapping her body and delicately moving his hand to her wrist. Eve wanted to scream but nothing came out of her mouth. Asa took the small weapon out of her hand without her even opposing resistance. Instead, Eve broke in a painful cry. The Collector stayed still for a moment, then put the scalpel aside and removed his gloves. He grabbed her chin one more time, moving the messy hair out of her face, and wiped her tears.

“Why?”, she sobbed with a bouncing chest.

“This was your final test, butterfly”.

“What are you talking about?”

“You are ready to go home with me. Well, after your anger has washed away”.

“Washed away? You threw me away for three months. You told me to forget you, that you didn’t need me anymore. You didn’t care about me, neither you minded my pain. I loved you”

“I spent the whole three months tracking you. That little air you felt? That little noise that made you turn around every other time? But I needed the three months. I needed to see what you would do after you mourned me. But you didn’t betray me.”

“And you needed to check that making me go through all of that?”, Eve asked pitifully. “After I gave you everything that I was, after I stayed by your side with full compliance, after I saved your life?”.

“I know it hurt you. But I won’t do that again to you. I already know what I needed to know. And you are going to be part of my social life even if you talk in a past tense because I know it’s not true”.

“Oh yeah? And how are you so sure? You said you were tracking me, how are you sure that I hadn’t forgotten you?”

The Collector took from his pocket the necklace pendant that was thrown away when the trap caught her ankle.

“Because of the tracker”, he smiled.

Eve didn’t know what to say. She was frustrated but it was actually true.

“Well but I met someone”, she said.

Asa chuckled.

“I know”.

“And you don’t mind that? I mean, I was forgetting you, as you see”, Eve said wanting to hurt his ego for being so cocky.

“Really?”, he asked obviously faking being worried.

Eve shrugged her shoulder gesturing proudly with her face.

“So you are telling me… he makes you tremble like I do?”, he teased her sliding his nails very subtly down her arm. Eve inhaled deeply to control herself. “He manages to caress you like I do?”, he gently caressed the bruise on her neck with his thumb. “He is able to kiss you like I do?”, Asa moved his face very close to hers. Eve’s sobs turned into little gasps. “He gets your lady-like being thrown out of the window when he is intimate with you?”

“M-Master”, Eve moaned, pronouncing that term after a long period of time. She couldn’t resist the truth anymore.

“Does he make you feel like I do?”, Asa asked and finally grabbed her by the nape to kiss her, roughly, almost painfully, mostly because he had missed her violets-scented body as much as she had missed him.

Unable to control herself, Eve reached upwards with her arms, surrounding his neck before he harshly moved her to one of the stretchers, getting on top of her. He reached for the knife, cutting her clothes in half, continuing to devour her mouth, coming down to bite her bruised neck while caressing her exposed body.

In bliss of pain and pleasure, Eve felt alive again. That was certainly going to be a long long long night.

#asa emory x reader #the collector x reader #the collector #asa emory #the collection #the collected #asa emory fanfiction #the collector fanfiction #asa emory smut #the collector smut

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crystalgirl259 · 4 years ago

Text

The Flame and the Dragon Ch2

Chapter 2: The Dreamer

"Shit! Fuck! Dammit!" Kai growled as he once again reached the last page of the leather-bound novel he had been reading. He turned the last crisp leaf only to find the last page, telling that the Dragon Lord still had to find his true love, so yellowed with age and stained that it was beyond readability. No matter how many times he read his favorite story, it frustrated him to no end that the ending remained a well-kept secret. With expert care, he closed the antique book, being extra careful with the antiquarian treasure.

Gold claps and hinders lined the corners so the leather would not wear out too quickly.

Red, orange, white, and blue jewels were embedded into the twists of each corner, while a gold clasp with a leather strap kept the book locked when it wasn't being read. Gold patterns adorned the exquisite cover while faintly glowing letters spelled out the title. The spine was equally studded with gold corners binding it together and studded with dully-glowing jewels. The pages were aged and yellowed but worn in a way that made it clear the book was not only well-used but well-loved.

Running a hand through his spikey brown hair, he gently placed the book back in his bag.

Then he interlaced his hands behind his head before leaning back against the trunk of the tree he currently occupied in a laidback manner before gazing at the clear blue sky above him. The teen had tall, thick spiky brown hair, shaped like fire, and bright amber eyes that shined like burning embers. He had a focused expression on his face, with a scar visible on his right eyebrow and a bandage above his left. He wore a red half-zipped-up jacket over a white shirt with some kind of Japanese symbol on the back of the jacket and brown pants.

Nineteen-year-old Kai Smith closed his eyes with a contented sigh before happily trying to drift off to sleep.

He wanted to escape the shackles of life outside the wide acres of land and forest surrounding the small home he occupied with his beloved sibling. If only to escape for a moment.

"KAI!"

"AHH!" He cried out as the sudden noise caused Kai to bolt from his serenity, and momentarily forgetting where he was, he maneuvered to see what it was that had woken him. The sound of giggling from above forced his eyes open, and he came face to face with the adorable face and sweet, innocent smile of his younger adopted brother. He had long, blonde tousled hair, and brown arched eyebrows with bright emerald green eyes that many people would state could sometimes glow in the dark.

He wore a dark green jacket with a white t-shirt and black pants and black and dark green sneakers.

"Good morning!" Twelve-year-old Lloyd smiled down at his older brother with a wide, bright smile and innocent eyes cutely shut. "Sleep well?"

"I did," Kai smirked with a tone of mock irritation. "Until a certain someone conspired to kill me by knocking me out of a tree." He answered with a mock glare, but his brother simply burst into laughter before taking a step back. Recognizing the game, Kai smirked and took a step forward. Lloyd took another step back, but Kai was quick to follow him until finally Lloyd turned and sprinted. The chase had begun. Letting him have his fun, Kai let his little brother win for a moment before putting on a sudden burst of speed and tackling the child to the ground.

The two rolled around for a few minutes before finally collapsing in a field of colorful flowers in a heap of laughter.

"You have been a very, very naughty boy, Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon-Smith." Kai scolded playfully, wagging his finger in front of Lloyd's face as if punishing a small child. Lloyd pouted at this, succeeding only in making himself look cuter, but Kai had helped raise him and was immune to his little brother's tricks to getting out of trouble.

"Perhaps I should ask Nya if she could cook a veggie casserole for dinner instead of pizza?" He mused thoughtfully. Lloyd's reaction changed in an instant.

"No!" The younger boy squeaked in pure panic and quickly jumped to his feet. He tugged harshly on Kai's arms and ran around him to push him to his feet when that didn't work. "Let's go, please! We can go right now! I'll even carry everything home, I promise." He started saying quickly and desperately. It took all of Kai's willpower not to fall to the ground laughing at his brother's response.

"Alright, alright green bean, we'll go." Kai chuckled at his brother's relieved smile while reaching to retrieve the bag that he had lost during their play. "But you have to promise to behave." He added and Lloyd groaned in defeat but nodded, his love of seeing the town outweighing his pride. The siblings had moved to the sleepy town of Ignacia when Lloyd was eight and Kai and Nya had just turned fifteen. They had instantly begun rebelling against the role society had dictated for him.

The trio's father Ray, a retired blacksmith, had settled his family in the small town not long after the family lost their mother to illness.

When the Smiths first arrived in Ignacia, Maya, the trio's mother and a fantastic artist who was very talented with watercolors, and their father Ray shared a love of adventure and traveled around a lot, studying the different cultures they came across. They continued their adventurous life after they were married. They had settled down for a short time when they received the joyful news that Maya was pregnant with Kai and Nya. After the twins were born, the couple decided they wanted to adopt another.

It wasn't long before they adopted a one-year-old Lloyd.

Once Lloyd was old enough to travel, the family continued their adventurous lifestyle. Unfortunately, news of her mother's illness sent the family rushing back to Ninjago City for treatment, but sadly no medicine was enough to save her. Maya's dying wish to her children and husband was for them all to be happy and to never stop following their hearts. Shortly after, the remaining family members moved to the sleepy, provincial little town of Ignacia.

The town of Ignacia was built in a large glade of a mighty forest and was truly an ancient phenomenon.

Its appearance was matched by the backdrop of giant mountains which have helped shape the city into what it is today. The materials that these mountains brought were of great importance. The village itself looked elegant. With its seagrass rooftops, redwood walls, and native bird species, the place had a pleasant atmosphere. The main attraction in the town was the fountain, which was built thirty-nine years ago. Ignacia had an unhealthy economy, which was mainly supported by fletching, wood-crafting, and armorsmithing.

But their biggest strengths were sustainable hunting and advanced medicine.

In the town of Ignacia Ray set up a small shop selling glass objects, paintings, sculptures, and anything he could craft in his forge. Even though they were quite wealthy compared to the rest of the small town. It hadn't been too difficult for the family to settle into small-town life after almost four years of traveling. Nya, like their mother, adored all forms of art around the world, but she found the Japanese style of their home inspiring. Soon her own art flooded the shop.

As long as Nya had her art, she was happy.

Carefree and fun-loving, Lloyd found a new adventure in everything he could find and delighted in the woods and the fields around his home and the town and the many buildings. If he wasn't exploring, he was plotting to steal candy from the grown-ups. Kai, unfortunately, hadn't adjusted so easily. He missed those days. Traveling and seeing many exotic places and cultures, and learning about the world ever since the morning they came to this provincial, backwater town.

It was already mid-morning and the streets were alive with bustling people, carrying out identical routines to the rest of the week.

The smooth cobblestone streets lined the city, identical massive stones corbelled together. Identical red and brown houses on batches of dirt or elevate on hills lined both sides of the streets with windows for houses on top and shops on the bottom. They were smushed close together while stone chimneys lined each roof. An enormous wall surrounded the town, separating it from the lush woods and fields, already starting to change color in the late autumn.

Kai noticed every morning just the same.

The baker carried his tray like always, the aroma of baked goods filling the crisp autumn air as people opened up shop and carried out their daily routines. People were gathering their goods and running errands, the same routine, saying good morning and asking how they were and how their families were doing. Even though the Smiths were different, they were no exception.

"Good morning, Lloyd! Good morning Kai!" The baker called, carrying a tray of bread and rolls.

"Good morning!" Lloyd chimed and rushed over with Kai behind him. The child bounced from shop to shop, delighting in his favorite past time while Kai tried in vain to strike up a conversation with the baker.

"Where you off to?" The baker asked.

"The library," Kai answered. "I just finished the most amazing book about a spellcaster and–"

"That's nice." The baker replied, having clearly stopped listening after Kai said library and called to his assistant to finish making the croissants for the day. Kai rolled his amber eyes and called for Lloyd. They continued their stroll to the only real place Kai felt at home in the dull, little town. Already, townspeople began to gossip about them as he walked by.

"That boy is strange, no question." A group of gossiping old ladies muttered amongst themselves.

"He's always distracted."

"He's never part of any crowd." An aristocratic woman pointed out. "He's always by himself reading books."

"His head's in the clouds, all the time." An old man grunted.

"No denying he's a funny boy that Kai." A group of shoppers conversed amongst themselves, while men running shopped, bowed, and tipped their hats respectively to any woman who came by. Kai growled in annoyance as he heard the gossip. A caravan drove by, ignoring the two boys after the driver said the usual good day, while three teenage girls giggled like school girls when the brunette walked by.

"That boy is so peculiar."

"I wonder if he's feeling well?"

"He's too wild." A man said to his wife. It took all of Kai's will to not growl in frustration.

"He always has a dreamy far-off look on his face."

"If his nose isn't in a book, he's scribbling away in a notebook."

"He's so strange but special; it's a pity he doesn't fit in."

"Oh yes, he's ravishing isn't he?"

"Quite, he is a funny boy though."

"A beauty, but a funny boy."

"Very different from the rest of us."

"FSM take me now if I ever become part of this life!" Kai growled to the heavens, stomping his foot in frustration. His fists clenched whenever the words odd, strange, funny, or peculiar were mumbled over and over just like yesterday and the day before that. Every day was the same thing and he had half a mind to turn around and tell everyone in town to piss off and mind their own business. But he forced his tongue in check. He cared nothing that such an outburst would only warrant more disrespect from the town and they'd treat him even worse than he already was.

It was solely out of respect for his family that he kept his cool.

Kai had adored and respected both his parents. He, Nya, and Lloyd had been devastated when age robbed them of their beloved father. Shortly after the disease killed their mother, their father's broken heart followed her in death less than a year later. The town could say whatever they wished about him, but Kai would never forgive himself if he accidentally tarnished his parents' good name because of his inability to control his temper. That and he knew the only thing losing his temper would accomplish nothing.

Except the residents marching up to his house and complaining to Nya about how her twin brother was too wild and lacked discipline.

Quite frankly, Kai loved Nya too much to let her put up with their nonsense simply because she was Kai's twin. It simply wasn't worth it. Kai had never denied he was different from everyone else, even in his own bizarre family. But after years of traveling and seeing so many different cultures and places, his own mannerisms seemed minor in comparison. However, in this backwater town so pedestrian and old-fashioned, those simple characteristics were all the town seemed to care about.

Unlike most boys, he wanted to become a writer and travel rather than marry and inherit and run a vast estate.

Kai loathed the mannerisms that many considered normal, and as headstrong and outspoken as he was, wasn't afraid to voice it and for that, he was considered odd and freaky. Not that Kai cared, he'd long since ceased caring about what others here thought of him. But despite that, he truly wished someone would look beyond his looks and accept him for who he was. An individual and not another handsome boy bound for a wealthy marriage and was simply just too headstrong for his own good.

His sharp eyes barely caught his reflection in the glass of one of the shop windows when he and Lloyd stopped to gather the groceries on Nya's list.

He turned to meet the lovely boy staring back at him. People always said the twins were lovely like their parents. Nya possessed their father's charcoal black hair and their mother's ocean blue eyes. Her brother had their mother's brown hair, even though his hair was a lighter shade, and he had his father's burning amber eyes. Lloyd may have been young but Kai could already he was going to become a handsome young man. Kai was fully aware of his appearance and what others thought of him.

But in his mind and his normal standards, he wasn't beautiful or even handsome.

To be beautiful you had to be tall and lean like his mother or Nya, and you had to have a perfect tan and look like prince charming. Compared to Kai, Nya was a gorgeous princess and Lloyd was an angel, while Kai looked more like a damsel in distress masquerading as a boy. Yet while Kai didn't see the beauty in his appearance, everyone else in the town saw nothing but his fair facade. They made no attempt to look behind it and considered him odd, peculiar, and strange.

Though he couldn't care less what others thought of him, it saddened and frustrated the fiery teen to no end, not one in town could accept him for who he was.

"Kai?" A sweet voice broke the older teen from his thoughts, and he diverted his attention from his reflection to his worried little brother, holding two large paper bags of already paid for food. "You okay?"

"I'm fine bro," He smiled, "Just lost in my thoughts." He replied following his reflection until the glass faded into the wood, they continued on their way...

#ninjago #ninjago zane #ninjago cole #ninjago kai #ninjago lloyd #ninjago nya #ninjago jay #The Flame and the Dragon #lavashipping

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smileyoongle · 5 years ago

Text

Yours Insanely (Yandere! Jungkook)

Summary: Lovers can be the most dangerous people. You learned that a little too late.

Pairing: Yandere Killer! Jungkook×Reader

Mahogany. Smoke. Leather.

That's exactly how the air smelled, even though it was suppressed by the stench of blood. You gazed at the scene before you with empty and defeated eyes, the lights from the siren illuminating your face in the dark forest. A yellow tape was secured around the crime scene, locking you within the perimeter, just metres away from the dead body.

It was a woman around your age, her mouth wide open and eyes staring at the night sky. Her pale skin shone in the moonlight, her hands splayed out on either side of her cold body. You let out a shaky breath, your eyes moving down to her abdomen which wasn't quite...together. Her skin had been slashed open, her organs having been pulled out in heaps of bloody masses. Your stomach lurched, bile rising in your throat before you clamped your mouth shut and ran to the side, emptying the contents of your stomach beside a large tree that towered over you. You breathed heavily, wiping your mouth with the sleeve of your brown overcoat that shielded you against the cold wind.

Four months and twenty three murders.

Twenty three murders and not one piece of evidence.

For someone who had been a detective for seven years, you were doing a very shitty job. Every time you thought you were close to catching the killer, you found yourself back at the beginning. It was as if things were going round in circles, and this time you had fucked up. You were focusing on the wrong person, which ended in another woman being murdered ruthlessly. If only you had paid attention to the details….

You closed your eyes, leaning against the bark of the tree and rubbing your forehead with your fingers. The sound of camera shutters fell deaf to your ears as you groaned in frustration.

All your fault.

"You okay?" You slowly looked up, Namjoon's concerned face being the sole focus of your vision. His eyes mirrored your emotions perfectly, the same amount of defeat and sorrow lacing his irises. For the first time in forever, you saw sympathy and softness in his eyes, all directed to you. You still remembered how Namjoon had stated his distaste when he had been paired with you for the case. Both of you were the best in whatever you did, that's why your seniors had decided that it would be best if you worked together. You didn't have any objections because the case seemed like that of a deranged killer, one whose psychological condition was beyond your understanding. Namjoon had a history of working as a forensic psychiatrist and that was definitely a good thing. Especially since you weren't in the right mind due to your breakup with Jungkook, your overbearing ex-lover.

"No. I'm- I'm not okay, Namjoon. If I had just listened to you, none of this would have happened." You tried to keep your voice steady but Namjoon could tell you were so close to breaking down. All hope had been lost, every all nighter that you pulled had been for nothing. No matter what anyone said, you were always gonna believe that it was your fault.

"Agent Kim, I'm telling you, that psycho's a florist or something. All we found is a bouquet of withered lilacs." You pushed yourself to stand beside Namjoon as your department's forensic scientist nudged the bouquet towards you both. You glared at the dead flowers, a small red card peeking out from between the petals. You knew what was written on it because it was the same sentence every single time.

'You can stop this.

-Yours Insanely,

You'll find out someday.'

According to your research, the killer was some guy who had been rejected by his love and was now taking it all out on every woman he saw. The dead lilacs signified dead love and that was the only thing you and Namjoon knew confidently. Everything else was a mess, seeing as the killer had you running around in circles. You had truly given up, the lack of sleep finally catching up to you.

"I'm gonna head back to the office. Detective Choi probably has a suspension order ready for me." You announced, rushing towards your car while Namjoon called after you. You didn't turn. You couldn't. His face was just gonna make you feel more guilty. He was right since the beginning. You weren't a good enough partner. The least you could do for him was convince Mr Choi that Namjoon didn't know anything about your theories. The leaves crunched under your feet as you unlocked your car. You could hear the faint noises of people from the crime scene, biting your lip harshly to hold yourself together. You entered your car and sat in silence, your head resting on the steering wheel as you stared at your lap in the darkness.

There was a sudden ding from your phone, your hand already fishing for it in the pocket of your coat. Your face lit up as you saw Jungkook's name on the screen.

Jungkook: Heard about what happened. Are you okay?

This was a routine by now. You knew Jungkook was just looking for opportunities to text you since you told him off for begging you to come back. But you couldn't blame him. A relationship of three years would certainly take time to get over. You still thought of him everyday and you swore you'd probably be running back to him if it weren't for this case. Nobody had loved you like Jungkook. His love was consuming to the point of suffocation. Suffocation that felt sweet and desirable, until you figured out that he was becoming a little too possessive. Even though your relationship was over, you were still bind in his clutches. Because Jeon Jungkook knew you like the back of his hand. He understood.

He always understood.

____________________________________________

"You look like her."

He stated, dragging the edge of the axe across her arms, grinning in satisfaction upon seeing the scared look in her eyes. He didn't know who she was but all he knew was that this woman wanted him. The seductive smile on her red lips had told him that the second he had stepped into the club.

Unfortunately for her, it made him angry. It made him angry that all the women he didn't care about, wanted him but the one he cared about, didn't even look at him.

She left him...like he meant nothing.

Jungkook yanked the woman's head up by pulling at her hair, the dirty rag around her mouth preventing her from screaming. For a second, Jungkook saw her face morphing into that of yours. But it was gone just as it came.

"But you're not her." He seethed, gritting his teeth and pushing her back to the ground. Sure, this woman was dying before Jungkook's five day count but he was overwhelmed. He was growing restless with each passing day.

Why weren't you coming back to him?

It was risky to put his name out there but he thought you'd understand. Did you forget about him already? No. That couldn't be. Not when Jungkook texted you almost everyday. Then why?

Kim Namjoon….

Was that man holding you back?

Jungkook yelled in frustration, lifting the axe above his head and bringing it down. He watched the blade slash through the skin of her face, disfiguring it completely. His chest heaved as blood splattered onto his skin, his eyes wide and crazed. Jungkook's fingers loosened across the handle, his head tipping back to the ceiling as he closed his eyes.

___________________________________________

"Y/N, I think you need a break." You didn't react, your eyes fixed on the dark wooden table which stood inches away from you. It was late at night, the new addition to the victims list having taken away everyone's peace and calm. Not that there was any, considering the fact that there was a killer on the loose.

"I hope you know Namjoon had no idea what I was doing." You mumbled monotonously, receiving a sigh from Mr Choi. He lost count of how many times you had said that, but he couldn't bring himself to say much. His best officer had been destroyed completely. He never thought he'd see this day but maybe it was a sign of the times. You needed to be put off from this case.

"Yes, I do, Y/N. Another team of officers are on their way here. They have been appointed by the state and Namjoon will be working with them. You take good care of yourself." He replied, pushing the white envelope towards you. You didn't even have to open it to know that it was your suspension letter. All you wanted to do was go home and forget about this. Even though it wasn't possible. You pursed your lips and took the envelope in your hand, nodding at Mr Choi who was looking at you with sympathetic eyes. You mustered up a small smile, trying your best to show him that you were still strong. But who were you trying to fool? The man who pushed you up on your feet and stood by you during your struggles to become a detective?

"I'll do that." You said, turning around and leaving his cabin, your eyes burning with the onslaught of tears. Your shoes clicked against the stairs as you stepped out of the building, the cold air fanning your face. The parking lot was empty but there were plenty of people running here and there. For once, you weren't involved in it. You didn't have to worry about it but your mind refused to relax. You were gonna spend sleepless nights even if you weren't working on the case anymore.

You heard the crunching of gravel as a car pulled up in front of you, Namjoon's panicked face coming into your line of sight. His eyes frantically darted around the yard until they landed on you, a relieved expression settling down on his features. He slammed the car door shut, approaching you in a hurry.

"Y/N, what did you do?" He snapped, walking towards you with anger in his eyes. Your confusion grew deeper, your lips parting in question. Namjoon exhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring as he clenched his jaw.

"You lied to him. This isn't how a partnership works. I am supposed to get that suspension with you!" He argued, your brows relaxing in understanding. Namjoon glanced at the building behind you, his hands resting on his hips as he looked back at you.

"You don't deserve this, Namjoon. You were against it and it was my idea to go ahead with the plan." You explained, glancing at your shoes. Namjoon was just being righteous, you thought. But it wasn't that. Namjoon's words had a deeper meaning to them.

He was mad at you for doing this, of course. But he was even more mad at you for being so ...good. He didn't see this coming but you now held a soft spot in his heart. And once in a while, Namjoon found himself thinking, what it would be like if he wasn't just your colleague. Maybe if he hadn't been so harsh towards you since the start, he would have stood a chance. Especially since you didn't have an annoying boyfriend anymore.

"This..- I'm gonna talk to him about this." You immediately held his arm, Namjoon's heart rocketing to the sky upon feeling your warmth. He pursed his lips, looking into your eyes and seeing the pain. He wanted to hold you and tell you that you were gonna be okay but he couldn't. Too soon.

"Namjoon, please. Let me feel like I did something right in this entire ordeal." Your voice cracked, your fingers tightening their grasp on his arm. The night air was crisp, the smell of dead lilacs still alive in your senses. You swore it would be with you for the rest of your life. Or at least until this was over.

Namjoon nodded, his lips pressed against one another as he willed himself to look at you without having his eyes waver.

"I'll do everything I can to find him. For you."

You saw it. You saw the flash of affection in Namjoon's eyes before he buried it deep inside. Your heart plummeted as you shamefully looked at the gravel, knowing that you would never be able to reciprocate what Namjoon felt. Because you were still in love. With a man you shouldn't even think of anymore.

You cleared your throat, covering up your saddened state with an encouraging smile. You pulled your hand away from Namjoon, taking a step towards your car and looking at him over your shoulder.

"I'll wait for that day."

___________________________________________

Jungkook had just put on his sweatpants when the bell rang, his eyes immediately falling on the wall clock. 1:50 AM. He frowned, tossing the towel on the bed before making his way towards the door. The cool air hit his bare chest, his damp hair falling over his forehead in soft curls.

The day had been eventful. This was the first time he had committed two murders in a single day. The body of the second woman was still in his basement but he wanted to catch people off guard. He wanted to tell the world that he was getting angry and impatient. His insanity was reaching its peak and he needed you to break.

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair, pulling the door open, only to have his breath taken away. There you stood before him, eyes heavy and hands tucked into the pocket of your coat. Your lips were chapped as you licked them, glancing around nervously with red rimmed eyes. Jungkook could tell you had been crying, his heart aching on seeing what he had done to you. But you deserved it.

You deserved it for breaking his heart.

"Y/N…" he whispered, his lips begging to display the happiness that was coursing through him. You bit your lip, eyes glued to Jungkook who stood fresh out of the shower in front of you. You inhaled deeply, summoning back your confidence because this was Jungkook. You didn't have to worry about being a wreck before him. Without a word, you pushed your way inside his home, your shoulder brushing against his as the warmth of his house engulfed you. Jungkook stared at you in awe, praying for things to be okay again. Maybe you did break? Maybe you were back for him?

He pulled himself out of his head and shut the door, watching you with his doe eyes as you hung your coat on the rack and rushed inside. He was quick to follow you into the living room, his gaze dancing around to look for anything he had left out.

No. It's all in the basement.

With a nervous feeling in his chest, Jungkook leaned on a wall, his fingers fiddling with each other as you stood with your back facing him. Your hands rested on top of his mini bar counter, a heavy silence looming over you both. Jungkook opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't think of anything. Not unless you told him why you were there.

But you couldn't answer that question yourself. Not when you were wondering why you were there. His house was not even on the way to your house, so why were you there? Was it because your head was too free and now you wanted to see if Jungkook had changed? Was it because you wanted him to make you feel like you're worth all the trouble in the world? Hell, that was probably it. You felt so useless that there was nothing anyone could say to make you feel better.

"I got suspended." You blurted out, your voice piercing through the atmosphere. Jungkook's breath hitched, a little too loud for his liking. All this time, he had been thinking he was the puppeteer of this game. But he didn't see this coming. How could someone suspend you? Your voice had despair lacing it, Jungkook feeling guiltier with every passing second. He knew how important your job was to you.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Are you...okay?" He asked cautiously, scared that he'd break you. He still didn't know why you were at his place in the middle of the night but it brought him a sense of relief that he was the one you confided in. You suddenly turned around, a tear falling down your cheek as you threw your hands up.

"No. No, I'm not okay. In fact, I don't even know why I'm here. All I know is that I- I- fuck! I should go." You stammered, walking past him to leave. This was probably the most embarrassing thing that had happened between you and Jungkook. You were simply making a fool out of yourself. It was wrong to be wanting him when you were the one who left. But Jungkook, clearly didn't think that.

His hand shot out to hold your wrist, pulling you back towards him. Your hands rested on his chest as he cupped your cheek with one hand, holding your waist firmly with the other. Your heart was racing, your skin burning under his touch and you realized just how much you had missed him. It wasn't just about how he made you feel. It was also about the way your body ached for him to make you feel right. Jungkook's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his eyes flickering between your lips and your widened orbs.

"Don't walk out on me again. Not when we both still want each other." Jungkook begged, caressing your skin as he leaned down. Your nose brushed against his, lips only an inch away. No matter how much you wanted to pull away, you couldn't. It was a risk you were taking. You knew that Jungkook wouldn't change. He'd still come to pick you up from work. He'd still ask you to take days off again and again. He'd still ask you a million questions if you hid something from him. But you loved him. Underneath all of that, was the Jungkook you had first met and fallen for.

You broke the ice by standing on your toes and pressing your lips firmly against Jungkook's. His reaction was immediate, hands tangling in your hair and pulling your body flush against him. His tongue glided across your lips, slipping in your mouth when you parted them. The muffled moan escaping your mouth was inevitable, especially with Jungkook's fingers coming up to wrap around your neck. He made you feel so... delicate at times. He made the world better, instilling the thought of needing to be protected in your mind. Your suspension may have something to do with your stupid decisions but you were simply acting upon your feelings. Those that you had suppressed for months.

You gasped when Jungkook pushed you onto the couch, positioning himself between your thighs as he propped himself up on his hands. You were a sight for sore eyes, lips swollen and hair a mess. Chest heaving and eyes clouded with lust. There was nothing else Jungkook could ever ask for. His fingers grazed the skin of your thighs, your skirt riding up on its own. It felt so right, yet so wrong. Your body was on fire, aching for Jungkook to just have his way with you.

"Jungkook, please. I want you…"

Your voice was needy and desperate, boosting Jungkook's pride. You did love him, then. You still loved him. He caught your lips with his own, rolling his hips against yours to let you feel what you were doing to him. You closed your eyes and arched your back, trying to create more friction before Jungkook harshly pushed your hips back on the couch. He nipped at your neck, enjoying the way you were squirming and whining beneath him. But you weren't gonna get it so easily, were you? Not after what you did to his poor heart.

"Oh, I know, baby. And I will fuck you hard. All night…" he trailed off, getting off of you and standing inches away from your laid out body. The sight of his body made your mouth water, your mind recalling all the times Jungkook and you spent in the bedroom. His hair was longer than you last saw and you were smitten with how he looked. You clenched your thighs shut, his eyes raking over your entire body.

"..but only when you tell me you won't leave me again."

You stared at him with surprise written all over your face. It was a statement. A demand. If you didn't know any better, you'd think Jungkook was cruel for doing this. He was using your sexual needs to get you back in his arms, permanently. But there was also a chance of you regretting this night. That is if something ever did happen.

You didn't want that. You didn't want to wake up in the morning and hate yourself for this.

Liar. This is the only thing you'd never regret.

At your lack of response, Jungkook leaned down to your eye level, his hand brushing your hair away from your face. "What's it gonna be, baby?" He purred, kissing your jaw. If you weren't so drenched in arousal, you would have pushed him away but for now, the smallest of touch was doing things to you. Jungkook's lips continued to pepper kisses on your skin, your neck craning to give him more access. Jungkook knew what he was doing, his smirk would have told you that if you had seen it.

"I'll never leave you." You breathed out, and for a second, it seemed as if you caught a whiff of that scent. The one from the forest. The one that had been holding you captive all these months.

Dead lilacs.

Your thoughts were interrupted when Jungkook threw you over his shoulder, your heart pounding in excitement for what's to come. He took you up the stairs, the same old cherry wood greeting you until you were in his bedroom. You were laid on the bed gently, your hands gripping the sheets beneath you as Jungkook's mouth latched onto your shoulder, his hands busy with taking off your shirt. "I'll remind you how big of a mistake it was to leave me. I own all of you, baby. You'll always come back to me. Always."

You whimpered when he softly dug his teeth in your skin, sucking and leaving marks that you won't be able to cover up.

___________________________________________

You were awake. Call it the unsettling feeling in your gut that was continuously nagging you, but you were awake. There was a sliver of light on the horizon, telling you that soon it was gonna be bright and early. You fingers played with Jungkook's hand that was on your stomach, his rhythmic breathing sounding like some sort of calm music. Unfortunately, you couldn't go back to sleep. Your thoughts were haunting you. You wanted to ask Namjoon if there were any new developments but you stopped yourself. You really should try and utilize your days of suspension productively. You sighed softly, lifting Jungkook's hand and placing it away from you. You glanced at his face as you stood up, noticing the way there was a hint of a smile on his lips.

Because of you.

That made your heart flutter, your own lips stretching slightly as you picked up his t-shirt that lay on the chair in the corner of the room. You put it over your undergarments, walking out of the room and down into the living room. You needed updates, really. You took your phone that you had left on the counter a few hours ago, unlocking it to see a message from Namjoon.

Namjoon: Hey, Y/N? Uh...I just wanted to let you know that we're keeping the new discovery away from the people. They are scared and we don't want them to think that we're doing nothing. So, I hope you didn't tell anyone. Cause no one knows about it. Feel free to call me anytime and...take care:-)

You cracked a smile at the addition of the little smiley at the end, shaking your head at how traditional Namjoon was. However, your smile didn't last long.

Jungkook….

Realization dawned on you like a ton of bricks before a beeping sound echoed through the house. You clutched your phone tightly, your head jerking towards the source of the sound that seemed to be coming from the basement. You narrowed your eyes, your feet taking you forward towards the door to the basement which was slightly open. There seemed to be no other noise from any other corner of the house, indicating that Jungkook hadn't heard this soft pitched beeping at all. You inhaled deeply, pulling open the door and slowly descending down into the darkness, your hand searching the wall for the light switch. Once you were sure that the steps had ended, you felt the switch on the wall, flicking it on to illuminate the room.

The way your heart plummeted wasn't pleasing at all, your eyes wide as you gazed at the patch of soily land on the harsh gray floor in the corner, lights falling upon blooming buds of the flowers you recognized very well.

Lilacs.

Your blood ran cold, a faint smell of blood hitting your senses. With clammy hands, you gasped and leaned against a wall nearby, eyes fixed at the horror Jungkook was brewing in his basement. You breathed heavily, sweat beading on your forehead as you went over the possible reasons your ex ...no, boyfriend was growing lilacs.

The beeping sound was still alive, your gaze moving to the small clock that sat near a computer at the other side of the room. You closed your eyes, willing the negative thoughts to go away. No. There has to be another reason for this. Maybe he just happened to like lilacs a lot, lately.

Then why the basement?

Because he must have been scared! With the murders going on, he must have thought that he'd be blamed for it. That's a good enough reason, right?

Right?

Your detective instincts were kicking in, your eyes opening as you managed to calm yourself down. You glanced at the door of the basement, hoping Jungkook wasn't up yet. Your feet shakily dragged you to the alarm, shutting it off as your eyes darted around the room for anything else. Anything that could make him look like a murderer. Even the thought was bitter. Your Jungkook? A murderer? Unfortunately, you couldn't bring yourself to say that it was a crazy accusation. You knew very well what Jungkook was capable of. Right then, you saw the big white freezer at the side, the little trail of blood at it's edge sending you into a spiral of shock. But you were too scared to just stand and cry about the decisions you made. For instance, getting back with Jungkook.

Now it all made sense.

'You can stop this.'

You somehow managed to open the door of the freezer, immediately regretting your choices upon seeing the bloody woman lying inside. Her face was absolutely unrecognisable, every inch of her skin covered in blood. The stench was stronger, your throat constricting with every breath you took. You inhaled sharply, your vision becoming blurry with the tears that found home in your eyes. You harshly wiped them away, narrowing your eyes to see the tally marks on the inside of the refrigerator door. Without a doubt, that was the number of women who had been found dead. You gritted your teeth, stumbling back and falling on the ground as you tried to stop your crying. You were sure you heard your heartbreak, a searing pain shooting through your head. Finally, you were facing the consequences of not getting enough sleep along with the new discoveries about your boyfriend.

Stupid Y/N.

"I knew I should have locked the door."

Your emotions were heightened on hearing his voice, bouts of anger and fear pouring over you. You turned around, still finding it hard to stand as Jungkook loomed over you with an unreadable expression. You sniffled, crawling backwards and away from him.

From the murderer who stood before you.

You saw the look of pain in his eyes but all your love for him had been pushed away by the sympathetic feelings for those who lost their lives to him. All you saw was a cold blooded killer. No more a lover.

"Don't come closer. You know I can take you down." You threatened, your voice shaky but stern. You were trying your best to hold yourself together. The only thing you had to do was get to Namjoon. Jungkook cocked an eyebrow, his eyes moving over to the opened freezer door. He fixed a deadly glare on you and moved to close it with a bang, your body visibly flinching at his action.

"I know you can. But tell me, Y/N, do you think this is my fault?" You frowned at his words, the tears on your cheeks now drying in the thick air of the basement. He sighed in distress, crouching down before you as you shifted further away from him. Jungkook pursed his lips, holding your gaze for a minute before speaking up again. "Remember how I had told you that this breakup will have consequences. This was it, baby. This was my message for you to come back."

Your head was spinning at this point, goosebumps rising on your skin as your brain processed all the information. All these months, you had been looking at the wrong place. Your killer was right in front of you but you let him get away. Knowing that you could have stopped everything was a heart wrenching thought. A sob escaped your mouth, your head buried in your hands as you let your frustration out.

Jungkook didn't know how he felt, it was all a mess up there. He certainly wasn't enjoying the tears on your cheeks but he also loved seeing you so...ruined. Weirdly enough, it made him feel powerful. He cautiously reached out towards you, his fingers landing on your hair when you suddenly jolted away from him, a murderous look in your eyes.

"Don't touch me."

Jungkook felt like his heart had been torn into pieces, his brows furrowing as he clenched his jaw. You breathed heavily, holding back your tears and glaring at him with sheer intensity. Your eyes fell onto your phone that lay behind Jungkook on the floor. When you had dropped it, you didn't remember. You really had to contact someone to tell them you had found the lilac killer, only if Jungkook wasn't in front of you. But Jungkook's patience was wearing thin. He waited for so long and killed so many people. He even had you back in his arms, only for this to happen?

No. Not this time.

Jungkook lunged at you, pushing you back on the floor and straddling you while pinning your hands above your head. You screamed for help, eyes clenched shut as you tried to get Jungkook off of you.

"This is because of that detective, isn't it? You don't want me to touch you? But you let me do everything to you last night, baby. Don't fight me now." He growled, eyes narrowed to slits as he mocked you. His words only fuelled your anger, reminding you of last night and how you let him touch you. Every single thing about your life seemed to be a regret, at this moment. You really had to fix it. You took deep breaths before bringing your head up and hitting Jungkook in the nose. He let out a loud scream and clutched his nose, falling back on the floor as you scurried away from him. You caught a glimpse of blood on his face, a wave of satisfaction passing over you. With a hopeful exhale, you crawled towards the staircase, your knee scraping against the rocky floor. Just as you reached the last step, you felt a hand wrap around your ankle, yanking you back as your chin slammed against the broken wood. Your teeth dug into your tongue, drawing blood as your jaw went slack and you cried out loud.

Jungkook gritted his teeth, pulling you back to him. There was nothing in this world that would convince him to let you go. You kept his sinister thoughts at bay. Or that's what he assumed. Jungkook grunted, your cries falling deaf to his ears as he dragged himself closer to your laid out form.

You gasped for air, your lungs burning until you kicked Jungkook in the stomach with all the strength you could muster. When you saw him doubling over in pain, you pushed yourself into your feet and took off. You grabbed your coat from the rack and unlocked the door, crying and running outside into the dawn. Your hands reached out to unlock your car but you realized you didn't have the keys at all. Your eyes widened and you turned back to face the house, Jungkook's figure approaching the door with a gun in his hand. He raised it at you, showing you his pissed off expression as he held out his other hand. Your car keys dangled from his fingers, a broken sob escaping your mouth.

Jungkook cocked his head back inside the house, clearly wanting you to come back. But you weren't gonna do that, were you?

"Come back, Y/N. Or I promise I'll shoot you." He threatened, earning a shake of your head in response. You clenched your fists by your sides, your lips quivering as you struggled to form your words. "You won't. My Jungkook wouldn't shoot me." You stated firmly, watching his expression soften.

Jungkook's heart fluttered, your words clearly having left an impact on him. He fingers struggled to hold the gun, letting it fall as he stared at you longingly. Jungkook didn't wanna let you down. If you believed that your Jungkook wouldn't do this, then he was gonna live up to your fantasy.

You were shocked when you saw him drop the gun to the floor, a hopeful feeling brewing in your heart. Maybe someday you'd get to see the Jungkook you always knew. But for now, you couldn't stay. You needed to tell someone. You needed to fix your lover.

Jungkook stood still, his eyes watering as he watched you turn on your feet and leave. He watched you run away onto the asphalt, your body turning to enter the forest. He knew where you were going. You were afraid of him. You believed that he'd come for you.

And you weren't wrong there.

So I'm actually alive. I was finally able to write something. Things haven't been great lately so be patient. I'm working on come back home, hopefully I'll update it tomorrow. Also, this is a Jungkook birthday special, if you can't tell already. Hope you liked it.

-XX

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paladin-tauren · 4 years ago

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Repose

Hey, my hunter needs some time with his brand new gay dad, so he gets to spend some time with Theirnax.

~~~

Theirnax snorted as he watched the new souls, romping and playing in the hollows surrounding the Heart of the Forest. There were so many now, brand new and bright, their lights flitting through the branches and finding nestled places on the ground. They brought life back to the groves, and with it, a chance.

One, however, caught his attention. Where many of these mortal newcomers to Ardenweald flickered from soul shape and back, this one stayed still. He took the form of a large cat, but he had developed a habit of lying still, out in the open, for hours on end. That might have passed for normal if it had not been for the heavy melancholy that descended on him whenever he cast his eyes up to the starry sky.

Theirnax took several steps forward, toward the spirit, until he was close enough to recognize him as Andillon, a hunter who had been particularly interested in a specific few spirits, Theirnax himself among them. This one had been of special help when the spriggans had cursed Qadarin, practically jumping at any remotely helpful suggestion in breaking it. Now, however, he seemed lost.

"Is something wrong, young one?" The dreamrunner tipped his head curiously to the side as he spoke.

Andillon tensed before him but otherwise barely moved. "No, nothing... Nothing new."

Theirnax huffed at that. Avoidance. He knew it well. "Qadarin insists I should speak about my troubles, you know." He bent down to nudge the hunter with his snout. "I suggest you do the same."

A long, quiet moment settled between the two of them, then Andillon rolled onto his side with a frustrated sound. "It's my husband, he's... not here."

"Not here?" Theirnax repeated, curious. It is true, he had barely seen Andillon with any other souls, more focused on his duties to the Court than spending more than the briefest time with other mortal souls. "Have you lost him?"

"No. Not yet, at least." Andillon turned over onto his back and allowed his animal form to fade, shifting back to his living self. These mortals were becoming more familiar to the more native spirits of the great wood, so the change back to a young blood elf barely drew attention. "We arrived in Oribos together. My path led me here, but his took him to the Venthyr of Revendreth. He says it's important and that there's no way he would fit here, and that is exactly what worries me."

This felt serious. It was the source of the weight around his soul. Theirnax laid himself down beside the elf, his whole body shielding Andillon from view. A little privacy sounded appropriate. "He has you for a partner. To be tied to someone like you, he must have some connection to nature."

"Some," Andillon laughed, but it sounded hollow. "He used to run through the woods with me, but I think that was more to watch me than for the trees. He has always believed in his duty to our home above all else. He was a paladin, and it fit him. And I almost lost him for it..."

Theirnax nodded, dipping his head to barely touch Andillon's shoulder. "From what I have heard, the way to Oribos is open for the both of you. You should take some time to see him."

"I have." Without looking away from the sky, Andillon lifted his hand to brush Theirnax' snout. He sighed heavily. "He says he has found our lost prince in the castle, and I know he feels an obligation to help Kael'thas. He finds the work of the Venthyr rewarding, I think. Or maybe he is looking to the future like I am."

"The future?"

"We aren't dead, Theirnax." Now, Andillon turned his head up to meet the old soul's gaze. "The Arbiter has not sorted us, we have not been given our afterlives like souls that actually belong in these realms. He might be aiding the Venthyr to prepare himself for what he thinks he deserves after our lives are actually over. And I- I worry about so much more."

A small, sympathetic sound rumbled out from Theirnax's chest. He thankfully never had to worry about this sort of thing; even if he had known the workings of the Shadowlands before, he would have had no doubts that Qaradin would be by his side. "It must be difficult for you, not knowing."

"It is." Andillon pushed himself up and back enough to lean against Theirnax's side. "What if he ends up in Revendreth after all? I don't want him to suffer for his life forever. And- and what if he decided to stay there? He would change his name and his whole self and... and I would never see him again."

"And if he doesn't choose to stay?"

"Then he ends up where, Bastion?" He sounded even more distressed by this. "He would deserve it. He... He's one of the most selfless people I know. He puts himself between others and danger. But in Bastion, they give up their memories of their life. He wouldn't be my husband anymore. He would forget me. On purpose." He rolled over and buried his face in Theirnax's fur. "The worst part is knowing, I think. Knowing and not being able to change it."

A long silence fell over them both. Theirnax laid his head down beside him, uncertainty creeping into the edges of his mind. Qaradin would be better for this; he was the one who knew emotions better. But he was not the one Andillon had at the moment. "You are special, small one," he said at last, and Andillon perked up just enough to meet his eye. "You may not be able to change the course of fate on your own, but I do not believe you are as alone in this as you think." "You think it can be changed?"

"I think it could be swayed, with the proper persuasion. But-" His voice grew heavier, more serious. "-this is not something you can simply do. Your husband's fate is as much in his own hands as it is the Arbiter's. Talk with him. Share your concerns. If he should choose it, help him to walk the path before you both." He shifted to stand, pausing long enough for Andillon to move without dropping him. "There would be a place for him, if that, too, is a concern. The Wild Hunt would gladly accept such a lauded defender of the realm."

The elf shifted position, pulling his knees up to his chest to hug himself close, but the weight of his worry seemed to have lessened. It still drew around him like a cloak, but it felt less oppressive. "Do you really think that will work?"

"It may." His words carried a sigh, but he meant it. "Only time will tell."

#world of warcraft #warcraft #world of warcraft fanfiction #theirnax #ardenweald

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divineluce · 4 years ago

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An Impasse || Solomon & Luce

Timing: November 13th

Location: The Outskirts

Tagging: @shroomsbysolomon & @divineluce

Description: Solomon and Luce officially meet for the first time. It goes about as well as you’d expect.

For the third night in a row, Luce laced up her shoes and exited the Vural home. Her homecoming had been… rocky at best. A shitshow at worse. And, what with all of the bullshit she’d found out regarding Nadia, Remmy giving her shit for leaving, and the goddamn menagerie of animals in her room, sleeping was pretty much out of the question. Which left her with two options-- hit up Soul and risk running into frankly Frank again, or go for a run. It was a no-brainer. Jogging into the woods, she made her way through the familiar trails that wound their way behind Bea’s home. She’d run them so often that, even after spending a month out of town, she still remembered every curve and turn in the path. It was easy, it was simple, it was going through the motions. She could do that, right? And then, once she could do that, maybe things would get better. As she ran, Luce noticed a figure off the path, illuminated in the waning moonlight and she slowed to a stop. “You lost there?” She asked, squinting through the darkness.

Solomon had a bad habit of losing himself in whatever he was doing, hyper-focusing to the point that he’d forget the world around him until something demanded his attention. In this case, it was an unexpected voice, jarring him out of whatever reverie he’d fallen into and urging him to whip around, clasping his hands behind his back to hide their wooden appearance as he stammered and stalled. “Oh! No, I, uhh…” His struggle to find the right words seemed to lose importance as he took in the visage of the woman on the trail, and something inside of him got all twisted up. It took a few beats for him to be able to place the sudden rush of emotion, not knowing who she was or why he should suddenly feel… fear? But then it came to him, and all at once, that fear was intermingling with anger. “You,” he grumbled, standing up from his crouch and taking a step toward her. He’d seen what she had done in the forest… and the only reason she still stood was because he had also witnessed her pitiful attempt at making amends. It was enough to stay his hand, but the bitter tang of resentment never left his tongue. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, burning the woods like you did.” His typically soft voice was harsher now, still low in volume, but it carried a distinct edge. “I’m still trying to repair the landscape. What’s your problem?”

As the man stammered for a moment, Luce rested her hands on her hips, waiting for him to finish his sentence. It was a bit too dark for her to get a good look at him, but she could tell he wasn’t some lost hiker. For one, no one came hiking around here, not at this time of night. For another, if he wasn’t dressed like one. No backpack, no water bottles, nothing like that. But, then he rose and took a step towards her. Instinctively, Luce’s hands curled at her side, the flames that danced in her blood ready to be called at a moment’s notice. “What the fuck is your problem?” She shot back, startled. Burning the woods? For one thing, how did he know about that? For another, which time was he talking about? One of the many rainy nights when she’d hiked out into the middle of nowhere, to practice her flames? Or when she and Anita had run from the shitty moose creature and she’d lit the brush aflame to escape? Or was it the time she’d razed the ground around her and Adam in the wake of Bea’s death? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Luce lied smoothly.

“Ooohhh, yes you do,” Solomon snapped, his dark eyes narrowing. “I saw you… fleeing the scene, leaving the poor forest in such a state…” It made his heart ache as he recalled the pain he’d felt that night, the sorrow that rose from the ground as it mixed with ash and embers. He was so in tune with the familiar landscape, so very much a part of it, that any damage it suffered bled over to him. It’s why most things never escaped his knowledge, and why he’d had to bloody his hands over the centuries, stopping men from cutting deeper and spreading further. What he couldn’t mention was how his fear had held him back for the first time — seeing that the woman was controlling the fire and not merely setting it free had stopped him in his tracks. If he died, who knew what would happen to the woods? It was too risky, and the damage had been done, so he’d decided to let her go and tend to the charred earth. Letting out a shaky sigh, Solomon appeared to be trying to calm himself, eyes closing while he regained his composure. “But… I saw you trying to make amends, too, so… I suppose it’s a start.” Peering at her once again, the disguised Leshy lifted a finger to point it at her. “Got my eye on you, though…”

As the man glared daggers at her, Luce kept her gaze level. She didn’t give a shit who this guy thought he was, she’d make his night real fucking bad if he decided to try and pull something. But, when he started yelling at her about fleeing the scene, she blinked in confusion. Was he talking about when she’d blown up the Ring with Erin months ago? Or when she’d tried to blow up the shitty mime restaurant? Christ. She really needed to narrow down her arson attempts. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And, even if I did, you’re gonna have to narrow it down.” She said with a shake of her head. The man seemed to be… restraining himself? Like he wanted to move against her? Which would be a bad idea on his part for sure. “What the fuck are you talking about? Are you some kind of stalker? Because you picked the wrong girl for that.”

Stalker? Oh. Solomon drew another weary breath, shaking his head as he pushed his anger aside. “The specifics don’t matter, what does matter is your lack of care when it comes to this place.” He gestured vaguely at the trees that surrounded them, letting his gaze slide away from her for the quickest of moments. “Look, I’m just… all I’m asking is for you to please stop burning it down with your fire… hands.” Whatever you’d call that, he wasn’t sure. He’d never really encountered anything like it before, and he didn’t exactly want to make a habit of it, either. “Lot of things live around here, you know, myself included… and we’re not exactly keen on having our home scorched on the regular.” Truth be told, it was something that half the damn town seemed to need to hear, given their track record. It was exhausting work, trying to keep up with every new threat.

“Uh, it sure fucking does if you’ve been following me around like some kind of creep.” Luce said as she continued to stare at the stranger. As he waved around at the forest and then mentioned her firehands, her eyes narrowed. Had he seen her use her magic before? No, he couldn’t have. For one thing, she covered her bases pretty fucking well. And even if he had, why the fuck was he only just now stopping her. “My fire hands? I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about, dude.” She said, shaking her head as though he was speaking nonsense. “I don’t know what you think I’ve done or what you think you saw, but you’re mistaken.” She replied. She wasn’t sure what this guy’s deal was, but it was easier to deny this than to deal with the repercussions that came with someone finding out she was magically inclined.

“I’m not following you, I live here,” Solomon grumbled in return. “I see most things that happen, whether folks want me to or not.” Her continued rebuttals only made him growl in frustration, hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You make fire. I don’t know how, but you do it in a way that… normal people cannot. Your denial does not change this fact.” He considered for a moment that perhaps she was like him—inclined to keep that aspect of herself secret. “And personally, I’ve nothing to gain from knowing that, I would just like to formally ask you to please stop setting fire to my forest. Take your flames someplace else.” Exasperation radiated off of him, but his gaze was steady. A hundred and fifty years ago, he’d have just slain her on the spot. But… he was trying to be a little kinder about it in this case, especially since she’d come back later to plant seeds. The gesture warranted recognition.

He lived here? In the fucking woods? Because that was any less creepy than the fact he’d watched her here. Luce bristled a little as he continued to speak. He’d seen her conjure the flames. How? She’d had run-ins with people before, but she’d always been careful to make sure there was nothing that could ever tie her to the blazes she started. People could look for the ignition point, search for the match or the lighter that didn’t exist because she was the spark. And yet, this fucker seemed to know exactly what she could do. “Let’s say I can do what you say I can do.” She said before gesturing around to them. “Where else would I do shit? If I could make fire, I’m not exactly going to just light up the Common.” She said, though the corner of her mouth turned at the idea. That would be funny, if only for the irritation it would no doubt cause her mother.

Solomon was, by every account, a very calm and level headed creature. That being said, there was one thing he had almost no patience for, and that was the petulance of a young firestarter. His entire existence revolved around a singular purpose, and he could only bargain for so long with people like her. His anger flared at her casual, careless remark, dark eyes widening slightly in disbelief. “Anywhere else, girl. Have some respect for the natural world — you’d be dead without it.” He’d taken another step toward her by this point, and something in his body language had changed. He moved less like a man, and more like… well, it was hard to say in the dark of night. “Stop killing things and find a way to be useful with your talents, won’t you? You came back to plant seeds, so I know you must feel some amount of remorse. Hold on to that, remember that, and do not light another blaze in these woods ever again. Do you understand me?” He was being rather generous, he thought, but if she pushed him further still, he couldn’t see himself keeping his composure.

At the sound of the word “girl,” Luce’s eyes narrowed. Who the fuck did this guy think he was? Folding her arms across her chest, she felt the heat of her body begin to grow and rise with her increasing anger. “Respect for the natural world? You think I don’t have respect for it?” She said with a growl. “Fire is just as natural as anything else here. What happens to a forest that’s overgrown with brush and shrubs? What happens to the trees when they get overcrowded and parasites begin to take over? Overgrowth saps the life right out of the soil just as much as my fire does.” She said before shoving her hand into the soil beneath their feet. Pulling up a handful of loamy soil, she let it sprinkle from her fingers back on the ground. “Ash feeds the forest, makes space for new things to grow. I planted those seeds because it was what should have happened. Death. Rebirth. Life. And death again.” She spat.

“Fire may be natural, but you are not,” Solomon snapped in return. “Forest fires at the hands of humans are anything but natural.” His relationship with humans had been… a bit tumultuous, over the years. While he found them to be an interesting sort, it was true that they had, time and time again, shown him that they cared not for the earth that had so lovingly lifted them from their evolutionary cradle and taught them how to walk. “It is not for you to decide when that cycle will happen, purely because you have no place else to play with your magic. Insolent… insolent, the lot of you!” His voice had raised in volume and boomed unnaturally around them, anger rushing to the forefront as he relived the countless times he’d seen the land ravaged by humans. All across the continent, as he moved from home to home, he’d encountered ones like her. Or at least, the picture of her that was piecing together in his mind’s eye. He’d slaughtered a whole village for poisoning the nearby river, and while that level of unhinged rage was rare for him, it was far from impossible. His glamour flickered, his focus waning as he became more irate with the woman standing before him. “Humans have been nothing but a blight on this world—you’re parasites, feeding off the land while you expand your rotten towns and cities, razing whole forests to the ground without care! That is not the life of someone who has respect for it.”

Unnatural. Yes, because she was unnatural. Who was he to say these things anyways? Obviously not human, but what was he? “You think I play with magic?” Luce said, temper flaring once more. Magic wasn’t a game, it wasn’t some toy to be played with, something casual to be used and forgotten. “Oh, you couldn’t be more wrong about that.” Magic lived in her, it breathed in her, it was a grounding tether of power that challenged her and demanded her to rise to that challenge. His voice rang through the woods, but Luce held her ground. This man-- no, not exactly man, obviously not. Whatever he was, he yelled at her and she resisted the urge to let her flames ignite. It would be so easy, so, so easy to let the blue flames lick the ground and spread. But. It would only be proving him right. Watching him, Luce caught the shimmer to his appearance, saw it shudder and caught a glimpse of what looked like… mushrooms? She couldn’t be sure, because the image disappeared almost as soon as she saw it. “If I’m a parasite, then what does that make you? If I’m so beneath you, what are you?” She asked, goading him on. What did he think he was, some kind of god?

Upset as he’d become, it didn’t matter to Solomon whether or not he’d accurately judged her entire character; he’d seen what he’d seen, and she seemed to think that setting his wood ablaze was a perfectly acceptable way to kill time, so he had no further words for her. His gaze was fixed steadily on her, eyes narrowed into slits as he stared her down furiously. It wasn’t until she called him out, questioning the authenticity of his appearance, that he faltered. Well, it wasn’t so much that she’d seen something—that was happening increasingly often, as of late—but it was her question that had him tripping over his own tongue. “I don’t—that doesn’t matter,” he growled. He didn’t rightly know, since he’d been forced to live alone as little more than a sapling and had never met another of his kind. “We’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you…. and how you really ought to find a better hobby.”

Quirking her eyebrow, Luce heard the misstep in his voice, the falter in his words. “It doesn’t matter?” She repeated, incredulity mixing with venom in her voice. “Oh, so you can dish it but you can’t take it? You can go around, accusing me of being unnatural, calling me out for ‘playing with magic’ but when it gets turned back around, suddenly it doesn’t matter?” She said, nodding. “Well, now, we’re talking about you. Who made you holier than thou? Who crowned you king of the forest? You don’t know anything about what I am, who I am, or what I’m capable of. Because, if you think that me coming out into the forest and setting fire in the middle of thunderstorms is a hobby, you don’t know me as well as you think. Fucking creepy forest stalker or not, you don’t know me.” She shot back.

Frustration was coming off Solomon in waves, brought to life by both his anger with the individual yelling at him, and his own personal battle of not knowing who—or what—he truly was. He always told himself it didn’t matter, but in situations like these, it certainly seemed to. She was right, he didn’t know anything about her, and he’d never allowed himself the patience to try and change that before judging someone. Perhaps… perhaps he ought to give it a try. New millennium, new Solomon, and all that. Waiting until she was done, his gaze averted for the first time since their heated exchange had begun, Solomon interjected with a wavering voice. “If I had a word for it, I’d tell you,” he muttered, the defeat in his tone barely masked by indignation. “All I do know is that I’ve been alive for almost a thousand years, and I’ve always felt compelled to protect my home and my innocent neighbors from people like you.” On the last, accusatory word, Solomon flicked his dark eyes back toward the woman, brow furrowed. “So tell me… why shouldn’t I see you as a threat to the forest? Why should I give you a pass, when I’ve cut others down for smaller offenses?”

“Sounds to me like you should figure your shit out before you go around throwing words like “unnatural” around.” Luce fired back, not giving up any ground in this verbal sparring match. She really didn’t give a fuck who-- or what-- this guy was. She was tired of being used as someone else’s punching bag. She was tired of being the who had to make amends, who had to apologize, who was wrong. “A thousand years? Well, it seems you’re hardly a judge of character if you’ve been around this fucking long and can’t tell the difference between a pyromaniac and someone who gives a shit about this place. Because, this is probably really fucking surprising to you, but I do. I actually do give a shit about this town and this forest and the people who live here. I know these woods, I know the forest, I know the animals who call it home. Maybe not the way you do, but I know them.” She held up her hands, an innocent gesture. “I owned my shit. You saw me plant those seeds, you said it yourself. I destroyed that part of the forest the night that--” She caught herself. This person, creature, whatever. He didn’t need to know why she’d burnt the forest down. Why it had been grief and fear and sorrow that had turned her flames blue, that kept her flames blue. “It happened. And that wasn’t right. So, I went back to make it better as well as I could.”

She was a persistent one, and Solomon could feel that it was wearing him down. This conversation was exhausting, and not doing much more than running in circles, so he caved. Deflating, the fae brought a hand to his forehead and let himself slump against the tree behind him. “Fine. Fine,” he muttered in annoyance, shaking his head. “While I can’t imagine that something would ever drive me to hurt this place like you did, I suppose I’ll have to just accept that fact and deal with it. Just… try to refrain from doing it again in the future, alright? It really does take a lot out of me, trying to fix messes like that.” Heaving a sigh, Solomon waved his free hand in the direction she’d been running when they first encountered one another without looking up at her. “Get out of here, go finish your run. You’ve given me a headache.”

“Yeah, you can’t. And, honestly? I hope you never do.” Luce said, remembering the grief that had overwhelmed her that night, when she’d thrown herself into the forest and done her best to run away from the reality of her situation. She’d started running that day and she’d never really stopped, not even now, when it was over. But, it wasn’t over, was it? Shaking her head, Luce focused her attention on the man who was waving her away. While she was glad that this guy was at least giving up with the whole “protector of the forest” act, she wasn’t a fan of the fact that he was telling her what she should do. Hands still up in the air, she flipped him off, the triangle tattoos on her knuckles a nice added touch of irony. “I’m not in the business of making promises to people. I do what I want. But,” She lowered her hands, and offered a single nod, “noted.” With that, Luce turned and continued on her run, not caring what he thought of their encounter. As far as she was concerned, all this meant was she’d discovered a new self-righteous neighbor.

#p: ai #p: solomon hawthorne #chatzy #wickedswriting #//does luce piss off a forest god? we just dont know

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bonesaldente · 5 years ago

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Caliginous I Darth Maul x Reader

ca·lig·i·nous

adjective Dark, dim, or misty.

summary: You are a contract killer. After one particular job for somebody who you think is a Sith lord, you unwillingly get caught up in his quest to rid the galaxy of the Jedi and establish total domination for the Sith. The more time you two spend with each other, however, the closer you get. Complications ensue - can you fight them while giving in to passion?

*set before the events of the Phantom Menace

warnings: violence, eventually smut (one scene that can be skipped)

(you can also read this on ao3 here)

Chapter 1: The Hitwoman

ca·lig·i·nous

adjective

Dark, dim, or misty.

------

You hold your breath. A good 20 feet before you stands the target, an insectoid from Geonosis, its wing adorned back turned to you. You are far out in the forest, nobody close enough to witness the crime that is about to happen.

Rule number 1: No witnesses

The creature now bends down to pick another mushroom - they have been in high demand recently because of their freshly discovered effects on the brain, and the insectoid is just one of many spice traders who are trying to profit off it. It’s the reason you have been hired, you think.

Rule number 2: No questions about the motive

Slowly, careful as to not rustle any leaves, you lift your dagger. One quick slit through the throat and it will be over, as the rules demand. You are about to jump forward and finish the job, when a bird behind you decides to break the silence and cry as if it were being murdered itself.

The Geonosian spins around and immediately spots you as you lunge forward to try and keep your advantage, but it’s too late. He jumps aside and you just barely miss him, cursing under your breath as he starts running away.

You run after him, slowing your steps as you realize which way he is going. Subtly grinning to yourself, you put the dagger back into its holster, taking out the machete that’s on your back.

He is running towards the river. The insectoid, from the planet that’s basically a desert, is unknowingly running towards the only source of water in a 100 miles radius.

You pick up the speed again, not wanting to lose sight of it. The sound of water flowing is already in your ears and you can see the target again, still running towards the water. Running so fast you could almost think it knew how to…

...swim.

You very nearly cry out in anger as you watch it jump into the water without hesitation, breaking into a full sprint to catch up to it. Geonosians can’t swim, right? Their bodies aren’t made for activities like this, unless…

Your jaw clenches as the realization hits you. There is exactly one subspecies of Geonosians that knows how to swim, and it makes up less than 5 percent of their population, a detail that the client certainly mentioned, but Magnus chose to deem irrelevant for you.

Rule number 3: No unfinished jobs

You sigh as you jump into the water as well, letting it pull you into its cold, all-encompassing embrace. Diving, you can see the target that’s been underwater for well over thirty seconds, indicating it -unlike you- has some kind of device that supplies it with oxygen. You start swimming towards it, all the while holding your breath and trying to calm your quick heart rate to increase the time you get before you need to come back up. The Geonosian is too focused on swimming away to realize that you are following it and getting closer with every second. You reach out with one hand, so close to grabbing the little device in its mouth, when it suddenly turns its body to face you and punches you in the face, the water slowing down your movements too much for you to block it. You see stars, both from the impact and the fact you are slowly running out of oxygen, but nevertheless you face it again and try to move its attention away from protecting its face and on the little blade you pull out with your left hand. You try to get a slice at its guts, and as it grabs your wrist in defense, you reach out with your right arm again and manage to rip the device from its mouth, immediately moving to get back to the land.

Air streams into your lungs as you break through the water surface, a gasp leaving your lips while you pull yourself on land on the root of a tree that has grown half into the river. You don't wait, but position yourself on one knee and take out your blaster, watching the rippling surface attentively.

It will have to reveal itself from the security of the tainted water soon, now that its breath is running out. It can only be a matter of seconds…

There. Bubbles appear on the water surface, and a few seconds later, that weird, bony head follows.

You take the shot and it goes straight through its skull, blue blood mixing with the brownish water around it.

At last you allow your body to relax somewhat, flopping down on the forest ground and leaning your back against the trunk of a tree.

“I better get paid extra for this,” you mumble as you unlock the beeping comlink on your wrist. It must be Magnus, wondering why it’s taking you so long to check in.

“Yes?” You answer the call annoyedly, still angered that he forgot to tell you something so crucial.

“You need to come to Felicia’s. Right now”

“Can’t this wait? I only got done just now and I-”

“No. Meet me right away. This is important.” He hangs up before you can retaliate.

You pull your drenched hair in frustration with one hand while bringing down the pointy tip of your dagger on an unsuspecting bug crawling over the leaves beside you. A string of curses leaves your mouth before you pull yourself up again and head back through the forest to where your speeder is hidden.

The ride to Felicia’s is shorter than one might think. The shady cantina is located just at the edge of the city, easily accessible from most places, but far enough away from where the action happens to be relatively empty most of the time - which is why the Concinnity chooses to do its business there quite often. Seeing as you are a guild of contract killers, you do need to switch locations frequently, but occasionally you still come back there. And today appears to be one of those occasions.

While you jump off your speeder, you wonder why Magnus would want you to come here. Usually, he meets with the client ahead of time and just assigns one of you to do the job at your headquarters, providing you with the information necessary (or not, apparently). It is rare that you even get to meet the client, which is more than fine with you. You value your privacy, and it’s not like the type of people who hire the likes of you make for the most pleasant company.

The wind and constant heat of Kessel did little to dry you off: You are still soaking wet, your hair clings to your face, and with every step you take, water drips on the ground.

Fuming with anger at Magnus for withholding important information and not even giving you time to dry off at your apartment, you push the door to the cantina open, squinting to make out the figures spread out across the dark room, the only fleck of color the reddish wood that makes up the floor. You hardly even notice anymore how the cantina folk tenses up and quickly looks away from you once they see your attire; it is a known fact that around these parts, people who wear more than two blasters are not to be messed with, because they are most likely professionals. It takes you a moment, but then you spot Magnus sitting at a table in a corner, a cloaked figure accompanying him. Your anger boils up again when you see his face. Sometimes he seems to forget whom he is ordering around like a dog. You are a trained killer, yet he treats you like his employee, somebody who runs errands for him - an inconvenience at times, nothing more.

Maybe he could use a reminder of how easy it would be to dispose of him. Hell, he didn’t even notice you entered the building, it is a miracle he is still alive in this field of work.

He definitely needs a reminder.

You move just a little bit closer and pull out one of the short throwing knives that you keep hidden on your backside, strapped to the inside of your belt. You study the roughly 4-inch weapon in your hand before adjusting your grip on it and aiming. Right at this moment he is dangling a chain from his fingers in front of his hooded partner. It’s the Concinnity badge, a proof of your reliability, a promise to integrity.

You calculate the strength and throw the knife.

It bores into the wooden wall behind them with deadly precision, pierced through the leather band of the chain that he had hanging from his fingers seconds ago. Even from your distanced position you can hear his yelp, which is satisfying but still doesn’t quite still the anger in you.

Both heads whip around to face the attacker, but when Magnus recognizes you, the look of fear turns to sheepishness. Your jaw clenches and you stride towards them.

“There you are!” He claps his hands together in his usual, eccentric demeanor.

“You!” You press out. “You said the target was Geonosian. You didn’t mention it was that type from the north!”

He raises his eyebrows in confusion. “I’m not following. What kind is that?”

“The kind that swims!” you spit out. There is a puddle forming where you are standing, and your wet gear, which is already heavy as it is, feels about ten times heavier now that it’s wet. You are pretty sure all of the detonators on your belt are completely busted, and only the maker knows how many gadgets you have lost in the river water. But most of all, you hate, hate, Magnus more than anything at this very moment, dry and comfortable, a pouch with credits set in front of him.

“That is unfortunate.” He merely says, while attempting to pull the knife out of the wall. “Take a seat.”

You grab a chair and position it at the table. Magnus hands you your knife, which you promptly sink into the table as a last outlet of your fury.

“This is your next client. My lord, this is her, she is our best… asset,” he grins conspiratorially. You give him an irritated side-glance.

Then, for the first time, you actually face the client. His hood hides most of his face, but you can see red skin and black marks that cover at least the lower half of his face. He moves his head ever so slightly in acknowledgment.

“The target is Galenos Tallav,” Magnus continues. Your breath catches in your throat, a spark inside you ignited again. How dare he - “and the time is pressing. You need to finish this job in a week, the sooner you can do it, the better.”

You stare at him, silently cursing him in every language you know. That bastard wants to test you and your loyalty, he is mocking you with this obvious-

“Now, I know what you think,” he lowers his voice, “but I only chose you for this assignment, because the time is so pressing, and I know you can do it in the time frame. Also, the pay well compensates for it, trust me.”

You look at him darkly, the name of the target still reverberating through your head and bringing up sore memories. Memories he knows of.

“Fine.”

“Perfect!” He looks overjoyed, way too eager to accept this task. This client, the man with the hood, truly must be paying very well.

“Let’s get to the details, then. You are of course in charge, but I suggest you try sneaking in disguised as a slave, you know how many-” You interrupt him with a curse in our native language, which you assume the client does not speak, judging by the fact we have been speaking Basic up until this point.

With the characteristic hissing of your own language you remind him that he made sure many years ago you would never, ever be able to be disguised as a slave. Back then, when he decided to punish you by having all these marks etched into your skin- skin you would have to show as a slave.

How could he forget all the cruelties you had to endure under his watch so easily?

He shrugs, yet another infuriating habit of his, and raises his hands defensively. Switching back to Basic, he says, “A different plan, then. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He gets up from the chair, grabbing the pouch on the table while leaving. “I have business to attend to”. He turns his back to you, about to head out, when he spins around again. “That is, if you’ve finished the job?”

What a stupid question. “Of course I finished the job!” you snap. “But that wasn’t thanks to you and your unreliable distribution of information. We’ll talk later.” You try to make the last part sound threatening, but he is not impressed. That’s what happens when your boss has basically raised you since you were a toddler.

Once he is completely out of earshot, you abruptly turn to face the man in front of you, taking in his appearance properly now. He is wearing many layers of clothing, which, considering Kessel’s hot climate, clearly makes him an outsider. You can see the beginning of a wide belt, but it’s not a utility belt like the one you are wearing. The only thing clasped to it is… A silver handle?

You narrow your eyes, staring where you presume his eyes are.

“What are you?” It’s hard to tell whether he is taken aback by the bold question. You suppose there are other reasons why you typically have minimal client contact. “The Jedi are not welcome here, you know,” you say, slowly moving your eyes back to where you spotted what you are sure is a lightsaber.

“I am no Jedi.” His voice is surprisingly soothing, but his face is scrunched up into a snarl. You wonder how else he would have acquired a lightsaber, but remember that the Concinnity possesses one too - locked up in the weapon chamber and not cleared for taking on missions, but they have one. It was taken from a Jedi in a fight by one of their own a few years back; you remember getting to try it out before it was confiscated.

You don’t push the matter any further and lean back in a more relaxed manner: his reaction to being called a Jedi is all you needed to hear.

“Are you going to require any kind of proof when the job is done? A finger, toe, hair, ear,...?”

“Your memory of the deed will be sufficient.” You nod slowly, ignoring how weirdly he phrased his answer.

“Do you mind any additional deaths in the name of the mission, such as guards and or witnesses?” You rattle down the standard procedure for setting the frame for missions.

“No. Do what you must.”

“Good.” This makes it much easier, no pesky requirements in the name of a clean conscience.

“How fast can you do it?” He asks, his tone pressing.

You ponder for a moment.

“Considering I will most likely only get one shot at this, I want to tail him for a day or two, assess his security situation, both guards and housing, then I will need at least one more day to prepare, if not two. It all depends on what I can find while shadowing him. So, figure four days, if all goes well.”

He nods, seemingly satisfied with the answer. Reaching inside his cloak, he pulls out a little device, equipped with only one button.

“Press this when it is done, and I will meet you outside this cantina.”

You hold the small machine between your fingers briefly before putting it in a pocket inside your jacket.

He gets up from the table, giving you a small nod as he leaves. You remain seated for another minute, then take your leave as well. You have a mission to prepare for.

____

next chapter

#darth maul #maul #darth maul x reader

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especially-in-heaven · 4 years ago

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HOW TO TAME AN OUTLAW - Allan A-dale/OC Fanfic

FANFICTION LINK | CHAPTER 1 |

Prologue: A Girl with a flower crown

8th September, In the year of our lord, 1183.

Wrap. Tuck. Pin. And hope for the best. Be careful not to prick your finger.

Or at least that was the advice Elaine had learnt to making a flower crown. Actually, choosing the flowers was the hard part as the colours needed to work together. Yellow daffodils for the base, Elaine Walker smiled with satisfaction, and for decoration, a bunch of lilac's threaded through. Once she tucked the last pin in place, she held it out to herself, turning and twisting to admire her work. The girls were already playing in the field. If she waited any longer, she'd miss the travelling festival through the village, going onto Knighton and with her mother's strict rules, she wasn't to leave the boundaries of Clun.

Three solid raps on the door followed. Sarah was outside. She always made the best crowns. pink roses intwined with ivy. Elaine was meant to ask where did she find such beautiful flowers inside the village?

"'Lainey, are you coming?"

"Just two seconds." She called back, firmly placing the crown on her head and twirling. Before she left, she caught her reflection in the edge of a kitchen knife. Lovely.

She was just about to leave when her sister hobbled up behind her. With sticky fingers, she grabbed the ends of Elaine's white cloak and begged in a whimper, "Can't I come?"

"That's up to mother." She dismissed.

"Mumma says I can come if you'll look after me."

"Ugh, Meghan. I just want to go to the festival. I don't have time to make another crown."

She could see Sarah waiting outside. They planned to go together; she didn't want to keep her waiting so shoved Meghan aside and fled. The festival music chiming from the hills where the cherry trees grew. In the soft wind, the air infested with a confetti of pink petals. For once, Clun Village was charmed with banners and music.

Arms wrapped between one another, her and Sarah giggled together until their legs beat their heads and they started racing to the top. Elaine won, only because Sarah's dress held her down. They joined the fray of other girls dancing merrily to the tunes. The long grass not fazing them, nor the mud already worn down on her white silk dress. Sarah was quickly dragged by the elbow, a nice man with a nice beard twirled her around. Elaine continued to clap to the beat, forgetting completely -as the band continued through the village, up past the cherry trees and into the trees - her promise to her mother.

"This is brilliant!" Sarah found her again, beaming merrily. Her face red from dancing with the stranger, and new addition of rose flowers prickled in her hair. "Why don't we have festivals every day like this."

"Because not every day is Prince Richard's birthday."

Flutes played - Oh god, how she loved flutes. Dancing to its mellow tune until she'd spun so much the world did also. Nothing felt better than the forest pines under her feet, watching as the leaves twisted in circles as she moved her body.

The trees parted and Knighton hall appeared on her left, Elaine jolted to a stop. She'd only just realised how far she'd gone.

Never had she travelled this far without her mother or father. They'd sometimes come to trade her father's crops for wool here. She recognised the market stand. The Apple tree looked familiar. And Maid Marian of course, everyone knew her. Rosy cheeked and gorgeous, merely thirteen years of age. She didn't join in with the dancing, simply observing with a smile until a young boy took her hand. Sir Edward, her father, rolled his eyes and she giggled, already swept away by the boy into the crowd.

Elaine turned her attention back to her current predicament. She hadn't meant to leave the village, but the music and dancing spun her thoughts away until it was too late.

Needling through the crowd of white, she found Sarah. Two men in either hand and spinning so fast it hurt Elaine's eyes.

"Can I steal her for a second?" She asked, fighting back the panic swirling through her head.

Sarah escaped and Elaine pulled her aside. She urged quickly, "How are we going to get back?"

"Back?" Sarah gaped, "I'm not going back, I'm staying with a friend in Nottingham once this festival ends."

"You never told me that!"

"I didn't realise you needed to know."

Elaine slammed her leg down, in a tantrum of frustration. "Well what am I going to do now? I told mother I wouldn't leave the village and I completely forgot! I don't know how to get back to Clun."

"It's easy. Just follow the path back." But the festival was already moved so far past Knighton hall that the forest edge had disappeared around the corner. "Or come to Nottingham with me and we'll travel back tomorrow with my friend's family."

"Mother won't like that."

"She'd rather you be safe," Sarah reasoned sensibly. Rather rushed, Sarah looked back at the festival. It's music and colour radiating the air, and Elaine knew she wanted to get back to it.

"I should start walking," Elaine decided. Already, she'd held Sarah back and her many suitors would be waiting to twirl her around again. The girls were moving fast into the age of trying to find husbands, and for Sarah it was paramount with her recently deceased father to secure financial safety.

"If you want to do that. Just please be careful."

Be careful. Yes – outlaws and beasts lived deep in the heart of Sherwood forest. Elaine wasn't sure what was worse. The tales of yellow eyes monsters, with fangs, leaching on the innocent. So many bedtime stories, that she didn't know if they were tales supposed to be about outlaws or animals.

Sarah was quick to dance back to the party, and Elaine turned with Clun in mind. The forest loomed closer with each step and so did the spike of her heart. Beating. Pumping. The image of outlaws with fangs and patchy skin came to mind. She was sure she saw one or two peeking around the edge of trees – no, that was just her imagination.

They hadn't turned any corners during the dance, had they? She truly couldn't remember and decided to carry on straight with each turn in the road. The forest grew in an arch above her and she couldn't even make out where the sun was to work out her direction. God. Was she lost? Breathe, breathe, breathe… the skies darkened, trees became silhouettes. The constant thought that her mother must be so worried about her, kept her moving. Every whistle of wind, rustle of leaves and owl hoot sent Elaine reeling. She surely hadn't been dancing this long, so why was she walking so far?

"Tom!" Someone hissed. A human voice. An angry human voice.

Elaine jumped. She hadn't heard anything but animal noises for the past hour. She spun, trying to work out where it had come from. She could only see trees. Green blurred around her as he eyes pricked to hear anything even slightly differently-

Something moved. Startled, Elaine stepped back. Without a plan, her body on instinct dashed to the side of path. Maybe if she got to the trees she could hide. Whatever it was, heavy footsteps followed after her. Pinching her eyes shut, preferring not to see whatever it was. Suddenly, a great weight slammed against her. She tumbled forward, head moving faster than her body. Rush of blood swam to her head. Barely managing to catch herself with her hands before she hit the mud.

Roughly, she was pulled around and something hard pushed against her throat. She wanted to scream, but a strange stillness took over her muscles, paralysing her in place.

"Give me all your money!"

"I don't – I don't have any money. Please."

The boy pushed the object harder into her neck.

"I said give over the money!"

He was only a boy, no older than Elaine. His hair ruffled and dirt smudged into his face. If he was an outlaw, he certainly didn't look like the pictures Elaine had painted in her head.

Behind him, another figure approached. I'm outnumbered, she thought in a stir of panic. Thump, thump, thump – was that the sound of another person approaching. No – Just the sound of her heart. She needed to think clearly. Scrunching her nose up to stop the pulsing, she focused on the scene in front of her.

The approaching figure looked similar to the boy, but older. Muscles more defined and beard growing through. Most noticeably, his eyes were a piercing blue. A brother, perhaps?

From the scruff of his neck, he tugged the younger boy on top of Elaine up, like a dog would their pup.

"Tom," the older one growled, "What are you playin' at?"

"What was I playing at?" The boy – Tom – echoed, "I was thinking about getting a decent bed tonight. Or do you wanna sleep on this floor again?"

"Oi, you were the one who ran away from home. I just followed."

Tom jabbed a finger at Elaine. It was then she noticed a knife hadn't been in his hand, but a very blunt stick. She'd been afraid for nothing. "Allan, we wanna live this way, we gotta steal from the people."

"I didn't want to live like this." the older one snapped, clearly irritation by his younger brothers' behaviour. "But she clearly don't have anything. Do you see a purse?"

Whilst they fought, Elaine considered crawling away. However, as the conversation turned to her on the floor, so did their eyes and soon both of them were staring back at her.

"We don't need money, maybe her cloak'll sell for something?"

"Tom, are you thick?"

"What?"

The older one groaned, his eyes popping from his skull. "She's a girl. How's it going to look if we go into Nottingham with a girl's muddy cloak and try and sell it."

Elaine clung the cloak around herself. Her mother had hand stitched this herself and was the most lavish thing she owned… but if it came to it, she'd gladly take it off and give it to them if it meant saving her life. Grabbing at the ties, she undid it and shook it from her shoulders. With trembling hands, she offered it to them.

Neither of them noticed for a minute, still bickering amongst themselves the way siblings do. Then, slowly Tom frowned and took note of the cloak offered to him. Viciously, he snatched it from her grip.

"Ah, see, the girls got some sense. She knows we'll kill 'er otherwise."

The older one snatched it back. "With what? A stick… here, take it." He offered it back kindly, his voice smoothing out as he spoke to her. "We don't want your cloak."

"Allan. That's good money there!"

Elaine shivered, "You're – You're not going to kill me?"

"No," Allan puffed a laugh as if the very idea was ridiculous and was now crouched in front of her. "My brother's the biggest wuss I know, I doubt he'd be able to hurt you."

Tom heaved a huff, "Shut up will you."

"Maybe don't go around, tackling teenage girls then, you idiot."

I just want to go home. Her father's warm embrace was waiting for her, as was her mother's carrot soup. She promised she'd keep it steaming for her. Edging up, she felt confident enough that they wouldn't harm her again, at least while the older brother was there. She made sure to keep him in between them as she rose from her knees.

But as she went to stand, her heel caught the back of her dress and she tripped again. Expecting the hard thud of the forest floor, Allan's arms instead caught her wrists and she remained standing.

"Uh – thank you."

"Look, I'm sorry about my brother. He's a right pain in the arse." Tom rolled his eyes and sulked off into the darkness of the trees. Elaine hoped to never see him again. "Just – uh, please don't tell anyone about this."

If she got out of here without getting killed, she'd be thanking them. Instead of saying this pathetic line, she simply nodded.

Allan mumbled a quite thanks and turned off the forest path to find his brother.

Almost alone again, Elaine spun in confusion. The fading light had gone now and all that was left was a shimmer of moonlight and stars seeping through the trees to guide her way. She didn't even know what way she'd come from.

"Do you…" Finding her voice, she tried again, "Do you know which way Clun is?"

Allan shrugged but looked around as if he'd find a sign that would give him the answer. "I'm sorry, I've got no clue. I'm not from around here. But there was a village just a bit down there that had these pink trees in it."

Delight sprung through her and every ounce of fear she'd just felt immediately evaporated. "Thank you so much!"

"Uh- don't mention it," Allan shrugged, his face darkening in shadow the further he backed away, "Good luck."

"You too," She sung happily. Not bothering to wait around to be attacked again, Elaine sped off, the wind ripping a thousand miles per hour across her ears. She had no intention of being attacked again.

As Clun Village sunk into her vision again, she looked to the sky and said a little prayer for Allan, the blue-eyed wanderer. His brother would surely get him in trouble if he wasn't careful.

#robin hood bbc #bbc robin hood #robin hood #allan a-dale #httao #fanfiction #myfanfic #myedits #how to tame an outlaw #elaine walker #alliene #aka my otp

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