#anyway Zoe’s daughter looks a hell of a lot like her but is not blood related to her. Zoe found her in the woods

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

There’s just something so funny about the way playing a new Pokemon game gets me.

Like, I talk off and on about my own Pokémon ‘verse. I’ve been building onto it, in some form or another, for probably close to 15 years. Even when I take breaks from it I always circle back to my characters after a while and I keep polishing and updating them to get them better in line with what I want them to be. Legends: Arceus came out with a heap of legendary Pokémon lore for Sinnoh and I’ve been merging that together with, and using it to update, the lore I created more than a decade ago.

But then there’s also like. the fugue states I enter when I start playing some new games. I played Sun and almost made that protag the daughter of my FireRed protag by reason of “PC’s mom in Sun has a Kanto Meowth, my FireRed protag has Kanto Meowth that never evolved”. At that time I ended up deciding that my Sun PC is FireRed’s cousin; still a family connection, but I wasn’t committing to making any of my PCs parents yet.

And then Let’s Go came out and put me back in Kanto and I said fuck yeah okay, this is my FireRed PC’s daughter. It has to be.

I spend so much time cultivating this universe in the downtime between games and then I pick up a new game and nothing is off the table. There’s a period of a few days when I just start making major shake-ups to the ‘verse. My characters become parents. I would never, ever commit to giving any of my Pokemon characters children in the off-time and then I pick up a new game and my brain chemistry shifts and I’m willing to commit to irrevocable changes.

(When we first started getting news about Legends: Arceus, I decided I’d make that protag the ancestor of my main girls from Sinnoh. An hour before the game was delivered to my doorstep, I had friends starting the game and they said “this is an isekai. God picks you up out of bed in your pajamas and throws you into the past to save the world” and I flipped over my drawing board and started from scratch on my protag. I should not decide on anything but a name before a game releases, clearly.)

This is to say. This is to say, that by shitpost and chance, I’ve taken my favorite of my Pokemon protags and given her a daughter. This is not something I would ever even slightly have considered doing for her story, ever. But I just started playing this game and that is the alignment of the stars that just makes me throw shit at the wall and see what sticks. I am willing to upend anything. I say “hey wouldn’t this be funny” and then I commit to the bit.

The brief, fresh madness of a new game. And also of the fact that it’s now almost midnight and that’s why this post is written Like That. Good night.

[mickmarstookmyheart]

Family Tour pt 3 (Trust Universe)

Warnings: domestic violence

Pairing: Mick Mars x Reader

You couldn't compare the pain you were in. This pain. Not in your head but the disappointment in John. You really thought he changed, but he didn't. When you started to come back to life you heard murmuring. You could hardly make out any words but it was John's and a stranger's. The door closed and it was quiet again. You lifted your head and wanted to touch it desperately, though your hands were tied to the chair you were sitting on.

"Good. You are finally awake." He murmured while pulling another chair with himself and sitting in front of you.

"Where is she?" You inquired jerking your head sideways.

"Don't worry. She is with Heather." He sighed.

"Then why couldn't you just say that? Instead of kicking me out?"

"You would ruin my plan. And I would be pretty angry if you would do that."

"What plan?"

"None of your business."

"It clearly includes Zoe so it's fucking my business, too. John, what the fuck do you want? Why are you doing this?"

"You thought I changed? I only wanted a family with Zoe and you, whereas you didn't want that. You humiliated me in front of many people who think I'm a monster, however you are the one who cheated on me and fucked the whole family up. Our family. You managed to send me to jail, too, and you were sure you will get away with it this easily? Oh, darling, no. Then you don't know me." You heard a knock on the door. "Must be your husband." You were about to shout but John pressed his palm on your mouth. He put his finger on his lips as a sign to be quiet. "If you scream you will never see Zoe again." He threatened. You slightly nodded, tears running down your cheek. He searched in his bag for a couple of minutes when someone knocked again. "In a minute." He yelled. When he finished he walked to you with duck tape in his hand. He cut a piece and put on your lips. "Now you can scream if you want. But I wouldn't do it."

He opened the door and smirked when he saw Mick who was completely worried.

"Hey, man."

"Hi. What is it?" John asked, leaning on the frame.

"Might sound weird but have you seen (Y/N)?" He rubbed the back of his head. "She wasn't in the room and I couldn't find her anywhere."

"I saw her last night when she said goodnight to Zoe then no. She got a phone call at the reception then she ran away without saying anything."

"Speaking of. Thank you for bringing Zoe back to Heather. I appreciate it."

"No problem, man. I know my limits. By the way, if you see (Y/N), would you tell her that I'm gonna leave the town? I have some work to do."

"Yeah sure. Also, do you know who she got the phone call from?"

"I think it was her mother but I'm not so sure." Mick hummed. He knew you completely cut all your connections to your mother so it was odd that she called you. Maybe it was about your dad. "She mentioned his dad or something."

"Ok, thank you again and bye." Mick held his hand to John who shook it. After Mick left the hallway, John closed the door and went back to the room he put you in. You were struggling with the ropes on your wrists.

"My sweet wife. You are wasting time and energy. That rope won't give up. It's not that kind of rope we used back in the days. If you know what I mean." You glared at the man you couldn't believe you married to years ago. You felt a kind of rage you felt at your wedding when you had a fight with your mom. "You know, sometimes I'm wondering if that man can satisfy you. I mean, with that back, I don't think so."

John continued to piss you off. You knew it was his plan to distract you, but he wouldn't manage. You gathered all your patience and tried to stay calm and concentrate on planning. "Oh, my bad. You can't answer with this thing on your mouth. Let me take this off." He pulled down the tape surprisingly carefully.

"You fucking cunt." You spit. "You abusive, mischievous, creepy psycho."

"Wow, is that it? Come on, (Y/N). You can do better than that." He chuckled crossing his arms.

∆

After leaving John, Mick headed towards the reception to ask about that phone call your ex was talking about. "Good morning, ma'am. Last night, my wife got a phone call and I would like to know when. Do you remember or does anyone know?"

"What's her name?"

"(Y/N) Mars. She is with the band, she was wearing black clothes I think."

"Umm, I don't think I met her. Though I will ask around if any of my colleagues saw her. Be right back, sir."

"Thanks," Mick said and started to calm himself down. He was walking in the lobby in circles when Doc stood in the guitarist's way.

"Hey, Mick. Have you seen, (Y/N)? She promised me we will meet in the café this morning but she hasn't turned up yet. She has to do some calls." Doc stated with a tone of annoyance. Doc was kind and friendly until everyone does their job.

"That's my problem, too. And I'm worried sick. I haven't seen her since last night and I can't find her anywhere." He sat down on the couch and placed his face in his palms while resting his elbows on his knees.

"Don't worry, Mick. I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe she just went out a bit. A lot has been going on. The tour and the stress about John. Anyway, have you spoken to him?" Doc asked while taking a seat next to Mick cautiously.

"Just came from him. He said that she got a call and then left. But she would've written note if she went out, wouldn't she? She is not the person to go anywhere without letting anyone know. And she wouldn't have left without Zoe."

"You are right about Zoe. Would you like me to talk to the guys to help you find (Y/N)? I'm sure they would happily help."

"Yeah. That's a great idea, Doc."

∆

"NO! You don't dare. You won't take her away."

"Why not? You would've gladly done the same, no? Bringing her here...to the tour."

"What are you talking about? That was completely different! You are free to visit her, talk to her, and even take her nearby."

"No, you don't understand. You don't know what it's like not seeing her every day, not talking to her, ask about her day even if we spend it together. The amount of time I spent at the jail made me realize that the only important thing, is her. She means everything to me and you are about to steal her from me, (Y/N)."

"You are mad. You are the one who is talking about kidnapping her! It wasn't my intention to take her from you. I even let you see her, let you here while I'm not fond of that. She deserves a life, a family who loves and protects her."

"You mean a family who is always on road, tours with drugs, alcohol, and whores? A child needs a proper house with a proper background."

"Don't dare to tell me how should I treat her!"

"I do whatever I want." You huffed.

"What did you tell him?" You asked after a couple of minutes.

"Who?"

"Mick, you fucking dick! What did you tell to him?"

"That I haven't seen you since last night...."

"What more?"

"...that you got a phone call from your mom."

"Ha! He exactly knows that I cut everything from her."

"But what if it's about your dad? You would be concerned about him, no?"

"Piece of shit. Okay, now enough. Let me go, John. Stop this ridiculous game you are playing. I understand everything and I'm sorry, okay? Just let me go."

"I'm sorry but I can't do that."

∆

"Zoe, please come here," Mick called for your daughter who was climbing on the wall at the playground. She nodded and jumped down as smooth as she was a stuntwoman and approached Mick.

"Yes, daddy?" She sat on the bench and listened with all ears.

"Can I ask something?"

"Sure." She nodded.

"Did mommy said something last night while you were at...at your dad's place?"

"That she will come back to give me a goodnight kiss as usual."

"Sorry, I wasn't clear. When she went over the second time."

"She wasn't there for the second time." Mick's blood froze in his veins.

"What do you mean she wasn't there?"

"Well, she brought me to dad and then didn't come again. While I was sleeping dad brought me back to Aunt Heather and Uncle Tommy. Why? Is mommy in trouble?" She tilted her head pouting.

"I hope not, darling." He pulled the little girl closer and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Mick gulped starting to realize what happened to you. "But I need you to promise me something. I would like you to stay here and don't go anywhere. Not even with dad, alright?" Mick didn't want to say 'especially with dad' as he didn't want to scare her.

"Alright, daddy. Now can I go back and play?"

"Of course, angel." The girl set off back to her friends and Mick watched her every step.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N)!" Tommy yelled while forming a cup from his hands.

"Keep it quiet, man. My head is pounding like hell from your voice." Nikki complained as he and his Terror Twin were walking down the hallways searching you.

"Dude, I'm trying to find (Y/N). (Y/N)!" He continued.

"But she isn't deaf." Nikki slapped Tommy's hands.

"Nikki, we have to find her. Doc is out of his mind and so is Mick. We can't perform like this."

"Both of them are always pissed off."

"Then...there won't be any more alcohol or clubs cause (Y/N) was charged with that if I remember well." Nikki's eyes went round and immediately started shouting your name.

"(Y/N)!!!"

John opened the door, peeked his head out to see if anyone was in the hallway.

"We are going (Y/N). Pack your stuff." John stated earning an odd look from you. A line appeared between your brows and you had question marks above your head.

"Where exactly? Not that I want to."

"Not so far, don't worry." He sighed as he was searching in his bag and smiled when he found the knife. He chuckled when he saw your facial expression. "Oh, (Y/N), I'm not gonna kill you. Do I look like a killer?!" He bent down to your legs.

"Honestly? Yes." You spit as he has begun to cut the ropes on your legs to free them.

"I know what you are thinking. If you try to escape somehow, you won't ever see Zoe."

"Yeah, you have told it many times now. It's about to get boring you know."

"And I'm not sure if Mick will be the guitarist in this band, too." You tried to stay calm, you did. You didn't say a word just in case.

When he finished cutting the ropes he grabbed your arm tightly and dragged you to the corridor after glancing around again. You flinched from the pain he giving you also your head still ached from last night. A key was in his hand and opened the door in front of you. As soon as it was opened he pushed you carelessly making you fall almost on your face. This time, you managed to protect your head.

"So what is your plan exactly?" You asked while picking you up in bride style and dropped on the bed. He climbed on the top of you making you gasp. "Get off me!" He pinned your hands above your head with his hands and your legs with his.

"You know, I would say that make-up sex is working for me, but it doesn't. Also, I don't have the time for that." You heard a click and you looked up to see that he handcuffed you. He was still so close you could feel his breath on your face which made you sick. "But the last kiss has a meaning..." Before you could understand what he said he pressed his lips on yours. As an answer you bit his lips hard, making it bleed. "You son of a..." He cursed while touching his lips with his fingers cautiously.

∆

"Hey, Heather!" John yelled to the actress while smiling at her. She was in front of their shared room with Tommy. Tommy and Nikki were still away walking around in the hotel to find you.

"Hi, John. What's up? What happened to you?" She raised a brow.

"Why? Oh, you mean this?" He asked pointing at his wound. "I...I just have really dry lips usually and I smiled way too much, haha." He scratched the back of his head.

"If you say so. Anyway, why are you still here?" Heather was one of the few people whom John tolerated and yet he was still ready to get her from his way if needed.

"I would like to see Zoe for the last time if possible."

"Oh pity, she is not with me. She is with Mick at the playground." She informed John.

"I see. Well, thank you and goodbye, Heather." He forced another smile and left the actress there. He rushed to the elevator and hoped no one would see him. He didn't count any change in the plan. His original plan was to take Zoe from Heather since she was with her most of the time. Well, nothing can go easily, right?! The man was stomping his feet and was angrily pushing the button constantly. When he stepped in, the door was closing and he was relieved for a moment. A foot stopped the closing door which opened again. John saw that the foot belonged to Izzy and Axl.

"Hey, man." Izzy greeted the now sweating and pissed man. Axl stood next to him and behind Izzy.

"What are you doing here? I thought you have already left." Axl glanced from the corner of his eye.

"Um, I heard from (Y/N) and I wanted to tell Mick personally." This was the only reasonable lie he could tell. He was hoping they will eat it.

"Why, what happened to her?"

"You didn't know? She left yesterday and still hasn't come back. But, now I know why. His father had an accident and since he is very important to her she left as soon as she got the call." John was quite satisfied with himself.

"So that's why those idiots were yelling all day." Izzy rolled his eyes.

"And what about you, guys? Are you ready for the night?" He tried to change the subject.

"I think so," Axl answered, still gazing suspiciously, John. Luckily, they arrived on the ground floor, and as soon the door opened John rushed past Izzy almost making him fell.

"Hey, man. Couldn't you just wait?" He snapped rubbing his arm.

"So sorry, man. I just really need to speak to Mick." Axl crossed his arms and watched John's every step. The singer's cold stare dug a hole in John's back making him walk faster. The playground was almost empty, only Zoe could John spot. He couldn't see the guitarist. It was his last chance. He ran to the happy girl who could be found in the swing giggling. "Hey, Zoe." The little girl's eyes lit up and jumped down from the swing.

"Dad!" She ran to him and hugged his legs. John felt love. Though only for his daughter. He wanted to give Zoe the whole world and he was willing to give everything up.

"What are you doing here all alone?" He asked while he picked her daughter up and glanced around.

"Daddy went to grab some chocolate and orange juice."

"Oh, I see. Well, what do you think about going to McDonald's and drink there? We could eat some burgers, too." He smirked.

"Daddy told me to stay here. I don't want to break the rules."

"But they always break the rules. And they are still here." John started to walk to the hall.

"I know. But they are adults. Dad, do you know where mommy is? I would like to play with her."

"Of course, I know. Would like me to bring you to her?" The girl's answer was nodding with bright smiles. John kept his way out of the hotel with Zoe in his arms.

∆

"I'm so sorry." Steven apologized now for the 5th time.

"Actually, it wasn't our fault. One of our so-called "colleagues" came in and smash everything. He somehow stole the key or just broke in." Duff explained while looking at the mess Tommy made in their shared room with Steven. The cleaning lady's eyes were wide and were quite speechless.

"You know, I have seen a lot of things. But this...whatever. Go down the reception and get another room. I will deal with this." She sighed and started to clean the room not even knowing where to start. TV on the floor, at least this time not on someone's car, glass all over the floor with blood. The boys glanced at the room one more time and headed to the reception. When they arrived in the hall they noticed Zoe and John rush to the exit.

"Zoe, hey!" Steven spotted the little girl.

"Popcorn!" She giggled.

"They are fucking everywhere. I can't believe..." John murmured so quietly not even Zoe heard.

"Dad put me down. I want to hug Popcorn and Duff."

"Don't you like to see mommy?" He asked nervously. Duff narrowed his eyes trying to hear what their conversation is about.

"Why is he still here?" He asked Steven who was making silly faces to your daughter.

"I don't know. Let's go and ask." When John saw that the two musicians approached Zoe and him, his jaws tightened and his breaths quickened. "Hey, man."

"Hey. What's up?" His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths and rolled his shoulders.

"Are you alright? Let me take Zoe..." Steven reached for the girl who also held his arms towards the drummer, but John pulled her away.

"Stop." He snapped. "Just stop and leave her alone. You...you are not good for her."

"Okay, you have serious problems, man." Duff pointed at John.

"Who has serious problems?" Mick asked while trying to balance the orange juices in his hands. He almost dropped them when he saw Zoe with John. "Zoe, I told you to stay there. It has been only 5 minutes!"

"I know, but dad told me he knows where mum is...and please don't be angry at me. I'm so sorry." She pouted.

"I'm not angry at you, honey. More like on your dad. What do you think you are doing?" He turned to John when they heard loud irritating shouting.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N)!" Tommy and Nikki yelled. "She is not here. I don't have any more ideas, dude."

"Me neither, man. Hey, what is happening there?" Mick rolled his eyes, Duff and Steven sent death glares toward Nikki and mainly Tommy. "Why are you staring at me like that?

"Cause you fucking blow up our room. And that's not fucking cool."

"Oh? So sorry, man. I don't remember." He chuckled. "Anyway, what is this gathering? Did we miss something?" This was the last drop for John. Without saying anything he turned around and started running.

"Dad, why are you running?" Zoe giggled. She didn't understand anything. Mick's blood froze in his veins, the other's mouth dropped open.

"What are you waiting for? Go and catch him!" Mick screamed and pushed the guys. Steven was the first one to realize what was happening and set off grabbing Duff's arm and dragging him, too. The Terror Twins hesitated at first but followed them along with Mick.

∆

"Rose, Stradlin! Where the hell is Steven and Duff? They should be here now." Doc looked at his watch and growled.

"We don't know. Though we haven't seen (Y/N) either."

"Still? Where that girl can be?" He sighed.

"Anna, can you give me the key for room 24? I will prepare it for the band's. The other one needs more cleaning but my back already hurts." The cleaning lady leaned on the counter waiting for the key.

"Sure." She turned her back to get the keys from the wall. "Umm, are you sure about the number? I can't see the key."

"Yes. Why don't you flick through in the book?"

"Good idea." She opened the book which they registered the room numbers with the guests' names. "It says it's an empty room. No reservation on it. Pretty interesting."

"Let's go and try to open with the master key." The two women left the reception and walked upstairs. "Do you hear it, too?" They heard yelling and loud knocks. Axl and Izzy were standing in front of John's room.

"Open the fucking door. Or else we will break-in." The singer shouted.

"I wouldn't advise it." The receptionist crossed her arms and glared at the two men. "Can I help you?"

"Umm, our friend is missing, for now, a day and some of our bandmates, too. We just have a strong feeling that the guy who this room belongs to knows something." Izzy murmured gesturing at the door.

"Interesting. Well, I can't help you with that but another strange thing happened. Maybe it has something to do with your case."

"Really? And what exactly?" Axl asked walking next to the cleaning lady and Anna.

"A key is missing, though it wasn't registered. And this hasn't happened in months." Anna held the key tight in her hand and turned it in the lock. When they opened it, the cleaning lady almost faint. Anna clutched her chest.

"(Y/N)?!" Axl gulped seeing you on the bed with a black eye and blood on your face and wrists as you tried hard to escape managing to cut your skin. Your mouth was still patched with duck tape. "Let me help." He started to pull the tape cautiously as Izzy tried to get the handcuffs off.

"Zoe. Umm. Zoe. John." You panicked.

"(Y/N), calm down. Anyway, what happened?"

"John happened. And listen to me! John is trying to take Zoe away! I don't how much time has passed since he left me here but I don't think he is in the hotel now." You rubbed your wrists and stood up but your knees were week and you almost fell on the floor. Izzy caught you and helped you back on the bed.

"Is that true, madam? If yes, I need to call the police."

"That's a good idea. Thank you." Izzy thanked and whirled around. Your eyes welled up and your body was shaking.

"Please, calm down. We will go and figure out what the hell is happening. Would take care of her?" Axl asked from the cleaning lady. She nodded and start to search for the first aid kit in the drawer.

"You don't have to take care of me! I'm okay. I need to find my daughter." You whimpered.

"No, you are gonna stay here. I will send someone here." Izzy assured.

∆

"Dude, I need to quit smoking. My lungs hurt!" Tommy panted as they were chasing John and Zoe.

"Stop him!" Duff yelled to the people in the street. They weren't so helpful.

"Dad, out me down! I don't like this game." She cried.

"Finally!" John smirked. He rushed to the yellow cab and hopped in. "Go!"

"And where?" The driver asked.

"Just go!"

∆

Next Part

Tags: @leatherandheels @safari-karrot @littlemisscare-all ❤️

I know. I know.

[darklydeliciousdesires]

A Fate Unimagined - Chapter Nineteen.

I’m sooooo sorry this is late, again! I spent the day lazing around with my man and didn’t have the inclining to go anywhere near a computer. I just wanted to bask in the affection of my gorgeous guy, I can’t be blamed! :D Anyway, enjoy!

Tag list - @breakmeaswitchson @madbaddic7ed @ruelf-emedam @brexfrix @ xxphoenixflyerxx @geekyweed @holyhumorliteraturelight @jinaaaannnnn @alliyjane @notso-fetch @zoe-rachel-crisp @glowien @tranquility-or-chaos @bucky-did-nothing-wrong @shileen91 @boiled-onionrings @helloitsmeaime203 @cheritzie @hm-fck @mary-ann84 @skylarmorgan1899 @alwayshave-faith @alliyjane @shyen18 @shadesofarrogance @justjulie1105 @soulmatelove96 @agniavateira @stormnightsong @xmother-mortemx​ @gamingaquarius​ @pansexualpancakeslife @jesseswartzwelder  @ayamenimthiriel​  @winchwm​ @romanoffs-heart​

Previous Chapters - One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

“How did you know?” Riley asked, hurrying into his clothes as Rin started to pace nervously. Shapeshifters were not an easy target by any means, especially when they took on the form of someone dear to you. Also, there was the fact that Geralt would be being held somewhere at that present moment, unable to escape.  

“He told me he loved me, I tested him with a question over the first time he’d ever said that and he failed. Geralt has never told me he loves me and he certainly wouldn’t inform me of such so casually either. Then I realised he smelled different, his scent wasn’t the same,” she stated, drawing her sword as she and Riley readied themselves.

“He’ll try and trick you, you know. That’s how they prey on people, they’ll use your emotions and feelings for the person they’ve adopted the appearance of against you. Our aim should be to act fast enough that it doesn’t become an actuality, because no matter how hardened we are, it isn’t pleasant. And yes, I can smell from here it isn’t Geralt,” he told her as they crept out of his room and headed back to hers.  

Reaching for the handle, she moved so her sword was concealed behind her back, creeping back into the room and once again, feeling her daughter’s power rising up, sending the same message for her to keep calm.  

She was just about to brandish her sword at the imposter when suddenly, he lunged at her from the bed, a dagger blade pressing to her throat before suddenly, a slicing noise became audible, his arms releasing her in a second.  

It was in that second Riley added to the body blow that has just gouged a gigantic gash in his side by swinging his sword again and taking his head. The task had gone a lot more smoothly than he’d been expecting it to.  

“Fucking hell, you’re competent and then some,” Rin remarked. She’d felt the sword pass over her head, missing her scalp my millimetres. He’d timed it perfectly to fell her assailant but literally not harm a hair on her head. In the dim light too, no less. She was very impressed.

“I’m probably the most skilled swordsman on the Continent. Even the real Geralt would likely admit that. So, do you recognise this man?” Picking up the severed head, the shapeshifter returned to his normal form, Rin could barely believe her eyes when she took in his face. He was the same white eyed, dark skinned man she’d killed upon their first encounter with the Sanctuary.  

“I do, but he died. I killed him when they very first ambushed him,” she stated, Riley looking at him in disbelief before suddenly, something clicked.  

“Blood magic. The fucking hypocrites,” he fumed. To return someone to life using blood magic, a life had to be taken. How fucking dare this sect be so puritanical over the fate of an unborn child when they went to such extremes to resurrect their members.  

“What’s blood magic? Does it involve Geralt’s blood?” Rin asked, feeling a little panic rise in her throat.

“I fucking hope not, or I’ll do to all of them what I just did to him. Help me with the corpse, we have to move. We have to find him.” They carried the body (plus severed head) of the man out of the boarding house, dumping him in a secluded spot before running through the street in the direction they’d last seen Geralt walking in.  

They sniffed the air, able through their sharpened senses to pick up on his unique scent, veering left as they continued around the large meeting hall and into a side street, the narrowness of the buildings making it hard to see.  

Rin lit the way with a fireball, both of them surging forward before swinging right, the alleyway narrow and putrid smelling, but Geralt’s scent growing stronger. Stopping outside the rear of a tavern, Rin looked around frantically, being able to smell him right there but not see him, before pulling over the large beer barrels by the side of the door. Within the largest, she found him.  

“Geralt? Geralt, wake up,” she exclaimed, taping his face with her hand, Riley crouching to assess him.  

“He’s okay, he’s just been stunned. Whatever the spell was, it was more potent than our Axii’s. He might be out for a while, but we have him. That’s the most important thing,” he stated, throwing him over his shoulder and taking Rin’s hand, giving it a squeeze. She was too strong and proud to admit it, but he knew a part of her had been terrified that something had happened to him.

“Why didn’t they do a better job of hiding him? This smells like a trap,” she commented, on high alert as they hurried through the streets again, back to the boarding house.

“Because I do not think they envisaged he had to be well hidden. Their plan was to kill you and the baby; all they needed was him out of the way to do that. As for why they didn’t kill him immediately too, I can only guess to rip his heart out before delivering that final blow.” He surmised, Rin agreeing that it was highly likely to be the case.  

They got him back to the boarding house, miraculously unseen just as they were on the way out with the dead sorcerer (then again, it was well after midnight and quiet) Riley putting Geralt down on the bed and going to find what he needed to get the pool of blood cleaned from the floor, so nobody was any the wiser over what had happened.  

Rin sat cross legged on the bed while he cleaned, stroking Geralt’s cheek while she waited patiently for him to come around. When he finally did, he instantly sat up and grabbed her hand, wrapping his other arm around her.  

In his last waking moments, he’d been scared she and their baby were about to be killed and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop it. To hold her, breathe in her scent and tune out everything else to hear the speedy drum of his daughter’s heartbeat made him take several sighs of relief. He couldn’t relax yet though.

“We should leave immediately. It isn’t safe for us to rest here,” he told them, getting up off the bed. A part of Rin was disappointed to hear such since she was so tired, but she knew it wasn’t safe to stay. They had to leave Salm as soon as possible.  

“Yes, agreed. I’ll gather my things and meet you at the horses.” Riley told them, Geralt turning to Rin as he exited.  

“We need to find somewhere in the next few months, somewhere remote where we can be safe and unpursued. You’re going to be too heavily pregnant to travel and fight at the rate we’re going now, I can see it’s taking its toll right now and you’re only a week shy of five months gone. At some point, we must stop, even if it does mean we hide from them,” he told her, concern etched across his face.  

“You’re right, we do. We can talk about this later though. Let’s put some distance between us and Salm.” They gathered their belongings and went down to saddle up the horses, Riley already there.  

Leaving in minutes, the witchers both drank their potion in order to see better through the darkness, Rin riding one handed as she held her other aloft with a ball of fire, moving through the streets quickly before hitting the terrain at a gallop once they reached the grasslands.  

“Where are we heading? Can I suggest Thymer Lorin? We could call upon Tayliss,” Riley suggested, negotiating a fallen tree, Ed jumping it clearly thanks to Rin’s light.

“That’s exactly where I plan on us going. Rin, we’re approaching some large, white rocks in about a quarter of a mile. Bear left just before you reach them,” he called to her, the ember slightly in front of them so she could keep the way illuminated for the horses.

“Okay and who is Tayliss?” she asked, Blanche snorting hard at the ends of her reins. It was the noise of her horse that made her firstly think she misheard the answer she received.  

“My ex-wife,” Riley said, Rin slowing her mare a little when they reached steeper ground.

“You were married? You?” she replied with dubiety.

“I’m not a bloody ogre, baldie!” he exclaimed.

“No, but you are a tart,” she stated.

“This being the reason why she’s my ex-wife. We still get along famously though, she’s a very wonderful person and extremely powerful sorceress, also hospitable. She has a small fortress for a home, she’ll allow us to stay until we figure out how to fucking deal with the Sanctuary.” He explained, before the focused their full attention on the journey ahead of them.

They rode hard across the terrain, resting for only short periods for the sake of the horses before setting off at gallop once more. It was after the fourth burst of forward motion that they suddenly all became aware of something. They were no longer alone.  

All three readied themselves for attack as they saw fire lit torches dotted around, the flames growing nearer as they were approached from all sides, pulling their horses up to a halt. It was just as Rin was ready to unleash the combined force of her and her daughter that she realised she didn’t have to.  

A familiar scent was close by, that of the man who had trained her to be all she was. Also, as she saw, the fiery torches were not that at all. They were the same fire as hers.  

“Stop, it’s okay. I know who it is, it isn’t them,” she told Riley and Geralt, watching them relax as she sent the same energies to the baby, finding it difficult as usual to rein her in.  

“Rin, thank the very flames. We’ve found you,” Omnir Kalflax spoke as he pulled his horse up in front of them, looking relieved. Along with him were Omnir’s Wessin and Hafdan, as well as two members of the Order, Antel and Helvenna.  

“Word reached us of your current situation and the danger you are in because of it. We’ve come to take you home; give you shelter away from the Sanctuary. Your companion and babies’ father are of course welcome too,” Antel spoke, riding towards her and opening an arm to hug her. “It’s so good to see you.” He then added, Rin nodding. It still felt strange even after so long, to receive affection from these people who had treated her so coldly all throughout her formative years.  

“What do you think?” She asked Geralt, unsure whether she wanted to take them up on their offer or stick with the plan to visit Riley’s former wife.  

“I think Rholkrhaden Island is perhaps our safest bet. It’ll give us breathing space, to decide where we go from there. It also means the Sanctuary have to cross water to reach you and any would-be attempts at such I’d like to think would be thwarted by your fellow embers,” he replied, Omnir Kalflax interjecting quickly.

“Oh, absolutely. This goes without saying. She will be well protected, you all will. We have a safe house about ten miles from here. Let us hurry, even with our extra fire power it isn’t safe for us to commune like this in the open. We all have targets upon our backs.” With that the horses were turned and the embers all lit the way, pleased to have finally found the one they’d spent weeks searching for.

Although she knew it made the most sense, Rin felt uncomfortable with the idea of being rescued by the people she’d left behind her five years ago. She’d wanted to prove she didn’t need them or their praise of her, yet now here she was, having no choice but to fall under their protection.  

Rholkrhaden was likely the safest place for her at that time, though. If any boats attempted to come ashore, they’d be fire bombed before their passengers could even reach the black shale beach.  

Once they reached the safe house, Rin was so weary she could have slept on her feet. Such was not necessary though.  

Their hosts were two members of the Order she only vaguely remembered, who had lived on the Continent so all embers travelling there had some kind of representation away from the stronghold of Rholkrhaden, servants taking their horses from them and others showing them to their assigned rooms after they’d crossed the threshold of the large homestead.  

“We’ll all meet early in the morning and have a proper discussion then. You go and rest for now though, I’ve had the servants provide some water and fruit, in case you’re hungry.” Omnir Kalflax told them, smiling kindly before turning and leaving.  

They both drank heartily, Rin eating a few strawberries before tiredness took its toll, undressing to gladly climb into bed with Geralt.  

“Perhaps now we can relax for longer than a few hours at a time,” he told her, stroking her back as she snuggled against his chest, feeling relieved at the prospect.

“Yes, it would be preferable to the constant game of cat and mouse. It means you don’t have to be on your guard so much either,” she told him, stroking his neck.

“I always will be when it comes to you and her, but tonight, I happily rest knowing that I don’t have to be.” They fell asleep soon after, not waking for many hours.  

When Rin’s eyes did flutter open though, she was cold, smelling the sea air all around her and realising she definitely wasn’t in the same place where she was when she fell asleep. She was just about to sit up as panic flooded her, calling for Geralt when someone pressed a cloth to her face, her eyes searching around and seeing Antel holding it there.

“I’m so sorry we have to do this, we needed you on your own though. Don’t panic, I promise we shan’t hurt you and we haven’t harmed your witcher. Don’t fight it, Rin, just sleep.”  

This was all she remembered before her vision became fuzzy and she lost consciousness again, the sleeping potion-soaked cloth working as swiftly as it was intended to.  

[thegreaterdcuniverse]

A Mercenary and a Father (A Deadshot Solo)

(Written by Khabib Tarantino on The Greater DC Universe Discord Server)

The Narrows, Gotham City - Sunday, 11:49PM

The infamous Narrows. When you’re a long-time citizen in this hellhole called “Gotham”, any word that resonates with filth automatically falls into the Narrows’ category. Poverty would also be another. This... horrid territory of Gotham’s hell was its inner sanctum, if anything. The center of hell itself. Drug addicts, thieves, psychopaths, and their victims. If a person had to list off the categories of the Narrows’ residents, that would only be some of it. The conditions they lived under here furthered the chaotic reputation this city had. Gotham was notorious for being a “mad city”, as some would say, but when it came to this part of town... it was like they’ve never even seen a glimpse of what this city really could bring to the table of chaos. The fact that nobody decides to be a helping hand is what drives these people even madder, but it’s not like heroes last that long anyway. Due to the city’s corruption, the idea of someone being “good” was out of the picture, ultimately leaving a place like the Narrows a victim to all of the criticisms it got, and the harsh words were nowhere near enough to describe this place. 

It was a rainy night in Gotham, with its cold winds only worsening a resident’s annoyance. The weather on top of the smell of this dreadful place? Not a great combination. It only causes one to go even more psycho. Although, one man could not be distracted by much tonight... 

And that man... 

Was Floyd Lawton.

Another night, another contract for a mercenary, a hired gun like him, right? Wrong. No matter what the public saw in a man like Floyd, they seemed to forget that there was a human being behind the fancy headgear. In the ‘Deadshot’ costume was a person with feelings, a man that still had everything to lose. A man with a breaking point, a weakness. The wonders of being a father brought a lot into this cruel world of killing for the right price. 

Let’s wind the clocks back, shall we? 

At first, no man would hesitate to put their great skills into good use, whether if it was good or bad. Having a purpose is the single most important thing in this life, and nobody could argue against that. This was all a fun time to him in the beginning. Easy kills, easy checks. Occasionally, there’d be a challenge, but the price behind it would only motivate Lawton even more. Nothing was ever going to stop him from making a fortune in this dark, cold business. Whether if it was blood money or not was irrelevant to him. Floyd was blinded by the fact that his bank account was getting loaded, and the fact that he could do so many things with this kind of status in this city. All that money did have its pros and cons, though. Providing for his wife and daughter, buying cars, watches, suits, all that. Floyd Lawton hit the fucking jackpot. Of course, being able to buy anything and supporting your loved ones with that money was always a joy. Giving back to people was a respectful thing, an honorable act. But now... we get to the cons.

How Floyd obtained that money started to tear his life apart... slowly. Again, he was so blinded by his success, that he never got to think of the consequences. When Susan, his wife, found out all the nasty little details about her husband’s fortune... well... you could say shit hit the fan. She was disgusted by Floyd’s methods, ridiculing him for being so ignorant that he provided his innocent family with blood money. All it took was a slap across the face, a good hour of yelling, smashing furniture, spitting, and Susan divorcing Floyd and taking their daughter Zoe with her. The poor little girl had no clue what was happening. Her life had turned upside down with the snap of a finger, just like that. She had no choice in any of this. All little clueless Zoe got to do was sit there, and let life do its thing for her. Though... it was only a matter of time before she grew up to find out about the truth. For the time being, she was left with a “your father is not the man we thought him to be, honey.” 

Floyd had realized the toll his criminal life had taken on his life as a father. He had realized that it was time to burn his legacy down, and put an end to his life as a mercenary. Floyd Lawton finally put a stop to his crimes, but nothing was going to stop him from fighting for his daughter, to redeem himself. Although his income had come to an end, Floyd was obviously willing to spend what was left of his fortune on good lawyers, and every other fee he had to pay for the court of law to hand him his daughter back.

While in the process, he had forgotten about one thing that would still haunt him for the rest of his days. An entity that wouldn’t forget about his past like many citizens, even the GCPD’s own officers might have. Not him... not The Dark Knight of Gotham himself. Batman never stopped trailing the likes of criminal scum like Deadshot. Even if Floyd left that cold character behind him in the past, Batman never saw it that way. It was only a matter of time all the pieces of evidence fit together, Floyd slipping up and revealing his whereabouts to the Caped Crusader without knowing. 

After Floyd’s apprehension, thanks to Batman, he had received a life-sentence. It was blatantly obvious to Floyd Lawton now; life had come crashing down on him, completely. First the divorce, now jail... forever. What else could’ve happened to him? What else could’ve added on to his misery? It couldn’t have gotten worse, right? 

Oh, was he so naive...

After a few weeks in Blackgate, Floyd finally had the chance to reach out to the right lawyers. If he was going to spend the rest of his money, he was going to spend it right. They cost a shit ton, but he was careless. All he wanted was to get out of this hellhole, and get his daughter back. Well, the daughter part wasn’t really possible... yet. But the getting out part was easier than expected. The lawyers were to get him out of there in less than a year. Of course, it was going to take some effort to feed that money to the court of law... but the corruption that became the new definition for the term “law” made it much easier. 

Upon spending his millions, Floyd was not only freed of all charges, but was also proved innocent after spending almost a year in Blackgate prison. Unbelievable. The wonders of corruption, eh? No matter how into the idea of redemption Floyd was, the perks the city handed to him were always of use. He couldn’t give something like that up. Now that his short vacation in federal prison was history, it was the right time for Floyd to continue his fight to get his daughter back.

Suffering wasn’t left behind along with his goofy headgear and wrist cannons. This was only the beginning. Finding out about the trauma his daughter had went through made him seek answers from his ex-wife. How could she had left her daughter in a bottomless pit of childhood trauma at the worst time of her life? It was a time where Susan was supposed to hold her daughter’s hand, to keep her chin up, to keep a smile on her face no matter the cost. She had to be willing to sacrifice everything to be a good mother at a time like that. Almost a year back, she had ridiculed him. Now, it was time for Floyd to say a few words back before he moved on to a better life with Zoe. 

That same week, after patching things up with Zoe, convincing her that he has left his past behind, and continuing his righteous path of being a good father, he drove to Susan’s filthy slum of a house, wanting to ask her why she couldn’t be a good mother to Zoe while he was gone. What went wrong? He wanted answers, and he was willing to be as civil about it as possible. Pretty surprising for an ex-husband to be civil at that point, yes, but he was intolerant to chaos. Floyd just wanted dialogue.

After a few knocks on the door, calling out to Susan, explaining that he just wanted to talk, and expressing that he’s not there for any other reason, Floyd had realized something; it’s been minutes of waiting. At first he thought that maybe she was working during these hours, but that wasn’t possible. If she were to be working, she might’ve actually had a chance of keeping Zoe. After a few more minutes, Floyd took the liberty of checking one of the windows... and the sight of the woman he once loved was something that still haunted him to this day. 

A revolver, a whiskey bottle, and a corpse was all that was left of her......... 

To think that the suffering was over with. The child’s been through enough. Floyd’s been through enough. Sure, she hadn’t treated her with great motherhood, but to learn that your mother had passed at such a young age… trauma on top of trauma. Of course, she couldn’t be let known of the way of her passing... no point in giving the child more nightmares, but none of that really mattered. The fact that a little baby had to watch her parents, the two people that she was supposed to look up to the most in this life had separated in such a cruel way, on top of the fact that one of them had left her permanently... it was hell on Earth without a heaven in the sky.

After a year of spending time supporting his daughter through these dark times, the conditions have only been worsened. What was left of Floyd’s money went for Susan’s funeral, leaving him with barely anything. He was in massive debt, barely able to afford their dump of an apartment located right outside of the Narrows. Not like they were able to return to their old luxurious apartment. All of that luxury was taken from him the moment he was charged with a life sentence, and they weren’t intent on giving it back. On top of almost an empty fridge, debt to make up for, and barely being able to live a functional life, Zoe ended up developing cancer. 

Floyd was left desperate, without any options. As a father, this was his breaking point. Even after selling most of his possessions, he had realized that it would be nowhere near enough to make up for his daughter’s treatment. Yet again, the child, clueless of what was going on, was left with many questions, but very few answers. When would this all end? When would his past stop making him pay for his mistakes? When could he continue his life as a normal person? A human being? A father? How much more did he have to endure for his redemption? What more could he lose?

He was left with one choice... 

His daughter begged him. No matter what happened to her, that his father could not become what he once was to provide for his daughter. It didn’t matter to her if the sickness took her at that point. All she wanted was her father by her side, not a mercenary. Zoe had lost her mother already, and she did not want to lose his father to Gotham City yet again. All she ever wanted was for her father to continue being her father, no matter what dirty money brought her. Blood money or not. For her own health or not. It was all meaningless. She needed the only person she looked up to, right beside her. 

But Floyd would not let this stand. He could not lose his daughter. As much as he dreaded it, as much as he wanted to leave it behind... he was forced to return to his old roots to save the one thing that mattered to him, even if he had to risk his fatherhood. Redemption was something beyond what Floyd was facing. He had to force himself to be blinded to the righteous path that he had walked, and face the harsh reality... 

He’d always be a monster.

It took a lot less than gear to go back to who he was. All it took was the will, the determination of getting the job done, no matter what. A pistol and a cheap disguise could’ve done the job.  Of course, the jobs he’d get nowadays were nowhere near the quality as before, due to the fact that the criminal underworld had lost its respect for Floyd over the past two years. A small-time mission, but he had to start somewhere: 

Fifty grand, an elderly man, the Narrows. 

Seemed simple enough. It was time to get it done, and save his daughter. 

 “This is all for you, honey.” Floyd muttered to himself, walking on the sidewalks of the repellent slums of the horrid Narrows. He took his slow steps towards his destination, not allowing the hideous, lowlife criminals to distract him at all. Whether if it was the exchange of hateful, meaningless terms of toxicity between individuals, or an all-out physical battle, it did not bother Floyd at all. What truly bothered him was his internal conflict. His morals clashing with the mission. Floyd wanted to just turn around and go back to his daughter so badly, but he knew that would mean that he’d sacrifice the opportunity to save her as well. The two options continued their battle in head, not allowing the bottles being thrown at his direction, the slurs, nor the threats distract Floyd.

As the internal conflict had continued, he had finally found himself in front of his destination. Another typical home that was barely standing on its two feet in this slum, so nothing new. As he stared at the fourth floor, where his target was present, shivers were sent down Floyd’s spine. It wasn’t just the weather, no. It was fear. It was fear... of what he might’ve turned into. The fact that he might’ve not been the same man upon exiting this building, several moments later. As he gazed at the damaged architecture in front of him, Floyd had been interrupted by a typical resident of the Narrows that was... under the influence, as he attempted to tackle Floyd from behind while roaring at him like a maniac. This caught him by surprise, but not without a physical response. As the idiot’s attempt at a tackle turned into a shove towards the steps that led to the entrance of the building, Floyd retaliated with a kick in the groin, pushing the man back. He did not want to take this any further, he already had a life to take, and he didn’t want to dirty his hands with blood before the deed. “Get the hell outta here, now. I don’t have time for this.” 

“HA! FUCK YOU!” The lowlife piece of trash would not give up. As he attempted to charge Lawton yet again, he only got a right hand decking him right across his jaw as a result. “Stay down.” Floyd demanded. But of course, the stubborn man had to try again. “I TOLD YOU TO STAY THE FUCK DOWN.” Having drawn his pistol, Floyd aimed it right at the man’s head, in an attempt to finally scare the lowlife off. “OKAY! Okay! I ain’t got no quarrel with you. I apologize-“ he pleaded, running off, never to be seen in front of Lawton ever again. He hoped it would’ve stayed that way. He didn’t know what he’d do if he was faced with a man like him again, at a point like this. The monster in him almost escaped at that very moment, and almost unleashed its fury. That was exactly what Floyd feared would return to his life, but it was inevitable. 

 Holstering his pistol and covering it with his jacket, still in shock of what he was about to do, Floyd’s steps toward the building became slower, more stressed. Was that what it was going to look like in there? A gun being drawn, but this time a different ending? The ending that would unleash the beast inside of him? He feared it, he quivered at the thought of it. But it was time to accept it, to at least try to embrace the obvious, inevitable outcome. With that locked into his mind, and a deep breath, Floyd calmly shoved the door in front of him, walking towards the staircase. He had four floors to go, and four floors to ponder over this decision. He couldn’t help but burst into tears, even kneel down. Sounding his agony through a grunt, he pounded the wall beside him, causing a dent. Hell, he could tear this whole building apart with his fists, that’s how much of a poor condition it was in. But anger wasn’t an emotion that he could let take over right now, not on top of everything. Finally, after his episode of dreadful agony had come to an end, Floyd faced the door in front of him. The door that had “the night is not over yet” written all over it. The door that would lead his life into a path he so feared. Sniffling, he took a moment to agonize over the sight of the ski mask that his trembling hands pulled out of his jacket pocket. He had stared his past right in the eyes. After a brief moment of flashbacks to all of the crimes he’s ever committed, to all that’s ever happened because of his past mistakes, Floyd embodied his past with great pain, putting on the mask with dread, but also with determination. 

Floyd bumped the door open with ease. The door’s creaking made its condition woefully apparent, staying true to the rest of the building. He had realized that the home seemed very isolated. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t receive that much of a profile on this target, other than the fact that he was an elderly man. Now, that could mean two things: A. The guy is innocent, or B. He is as demented as they come, staying true to the Narrows’ reputation. This caused Floyd to stay more alert, and made him realize that he shouldn’t really be questioning it anyways. He was a hired gun. He took this job, it was his choice. He needed to get the job done, regardless of who the guy was. As he came to his senses, his moment of thought had been interrupted by a loud thump.

The noise made itself very apparent in the room that stood a few steps away from him. Proceeding with caution, Floyd checked the other open doors in the tiny corridor of the home, peeking into each tiny room they led to. The noise might’ve been bait, and he couldn’t risk that. He had to make sure that everywhere else was clean before proceeding. After he ran his check and secured that the other three rooms were clear, Floyd kicked the door of the room that aroused suspicion right open. Aiming at the darkness that filled the entirety of the room, the only light he could find was the window that allowed the moon’s, to shine down on the Narrows. As he tried to seek out his target, a voice from behind called out to him: 

”Who are you?” 

The voice was tired, and it seemed to be let out with all of the energy a person had left, just to utter those desperate words. 

This caused Floyd to turn immediately at the direction the voice came from. With his pistol still aimed, he sighted an elderly man laying down on a bed. “Please, don’t do this.” The beginning of the old man’s pleading, added onto the sight of a wheelchair near his bed caused him to lower his gun. That explained the thump he heard. The man’s legs had to be paralyzed. The creaking noise the door made more than likely caused him to react instantaneously. He had to fall, and crawl back to his bed while Floyd was checking from room-to-room, right? Well, Floyd couldn’t risk the assumption. “Sorry about this.” Warning the man of the incoming strike to his leg, Floyd wanted to see if the man was faking or not. After the hit, it was terribly obvious the elderly man didn’t even feel it. He wasn’t faking. 

 Things got real worse for Floyd.

“Look, I don’t know what you want. M-money? I don’t have anything here... you came to the w-w-wrong place... for a robbery... o-o-or you might have a problem with me? I am just an old man... I’ve done nothing to you people. I mind my own business i-i-in here... please. I’ve done nothing to you... take what you want but please... don’t hurt me.” The begging had caused Floyd to turn around, to hide his burst of emotions. “I’ve seen enough suffering from you all... I can’t even feel my... my legs... anymore... please. Just let me be...” Floyd didn’t have a single clue... he didn’t have the slightest imagination of a moment like this. The thought of murder alone was what was tearing him apart already, but the task of taking an innocent life that was begging him to show mercy... it was unbearable. Floyd had truly reached his breaking point. This was it. He was no longer living life, he was living a nightmare. No matter what he did, the outcome would doom what was left of him all the same. If he turned back, or took the shot.... it would haunt him for the rest of his days. 

One would guarantee the death of his daughter, there being no fighting chance for her. 

The other would lead to the downfall of Floyd Lawton. The downfall of a father.

A choice had to be made, and quickly. The pain that he was going through trying to make a choice was torturing him, mentally. Every time he tried to lift his pistol up, it was his daughter’s words replaying in his head, over and over that prevented him. The words that wanted him to turn back. 

“I just want to see my daughter again! Please! I... I beg you! I just want to hold her again... God, please...”, the old man pleaded, reminding Floyd one thing. 

He had someone to fight for. 

“I’m sorry,” Floyd let out, in a voice that would tell anyone how much pain he was going through. Even though the odd were stacked heavily against his favor, even though he had to take a father away from a daughter... 

”But I have a daughter too.”

He could not afford to lose her. 

This... was the fall of a father... 

The fall of Floyd Lawton.

This... was the return of the mercenary...

The return of Deadshot.

[flutteringphalanges]

                                          Mirabile Visu

Summary: Sister Agatha Van Helsing discovers she’s in over her head when a competitive game of chess ultimately results in her becoming pregnant with the child of her worst enemy, Count Dracula. Now tied by a bond deeper than blood, the two must learn to coexist and adapt in a world that could be potentially hostile towards their offspring. Parenthood has never looked so batty.

Characters: Dracula/Agatha Van Helsing

Chapter: 12/?

Read on FFN and AO3

A/N:  So we had to put my seventeen year old cat down early this morning. I've had him since elementary school. While I was writing this chapter, he came up to the table and sat with me one last time. This chapter is special, not due to the content, but because it was our last time together. Anyway, thank you so much everyone who read and left a review for the last chapter. It means the world. -Jen

                                           Chapter Twelve

                                     Zoe Van Helsing's Residence

                                                Present Time

As the sun began to set in the west, the orange glow of the day spilled past the open curtains of Sorina's window. For hours now, the young woman had remained tucked underneath her covers, finally getting the sleep her body so desperate craved. Agatha sat in a chair close by, her eyes still fixated on her unconscious child as they had been since the beginning. Over a century had passed since she had witnessed Sorina sleeping, and though her heart ached for her, she took comfort in the sounds of her soft snores.

"How is she?"

The former nun turned her head to see Dracula standing in the doorway. He'd been downstairs watching the news as reports broke out about the mysterious fire that had started in the Jonathan Harker Foundation. Numerous bodies had been found, too burned to immediately identify. Everything inside had been destroyed too. Machinery melted. Records turned to ash. As it turned out, not much was known to the public what the institution was or stood for. From what he gathered, nothing could be traced back to them.

"Still asleep," Agatha sighed, watching as her husband drew nearer. "And Jack?"

"Passed out on the couch," and she could tell from his voice he still wasn't too keen on the other man being here. "Why don't you let me take over. You need to rest."

"I'm fine," she assured him. "I'd rather stay here with her." Despite the many hours they'd been there, neither she nor Dracula had spoken much. "She looks so peaceful. I can't help but think back to when she was just a little girl." Agatha rested a hand on her stomach, still far from looking pregnant yet. "It still hasn't set in that we're going to have another either. Not like we've had much time to process things as it is."

Dracula touched her shoulder lovingly and she leaned against him. Sorina shifted underneath the blanket, but didn't wake up. Everything felt so surreal. One moment she had been on the burning deck of The Demeter, the then tiny Sorina clinging onto her for dear life, and the next she was standing on the sandy beach of Whitby over a century later. Her mind was reeling, trying to process it all. And yet, everything felt so slow, so calm as she gazed at her daughter.

"How are you feeling?" The count's voice pulled Agatha from her thoughts as her attention flickered to meet his eyes. "You need to feed. I'll contact Frank and see how soon he can retrieve some blood."

"I don't want anyone else to die, Dracula," his wife sighed tiredly. "There's been enough death today, some of which I am responsible for. I don't believe in killing, you know very well about that. I'm done with the suffering."

"I know," and she was slightly taken aback by how sympathetic he sounded. Especially when it came to their disagreements on obtaining blood-well, when it only involved his feedings in the past. "I promise you that anything Frank does will be legal and humane. I'll make sure of it."

Agatha merely nodded, turning back to focus on Sorina. The uncertainty of how she would be once she woke up felt unsettling. As the minutes wore on and the sky became darker, the former nun finally stood up to stretch her legs. She walked over to the window with the intention of drawing the curtains closed when she heard the bed creak softly.

"Mum?"

The vampire turned to see that her daughter was now sitting up, comforter pushed aside. Sorina blinked wearily as Agatha hurried back to her side. Though she was trying her best to hide it, the halfling could tell her mother was trying to mask her concern, her lips forming a forced smile.

"Hi, darling," she murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind the girl's ear. "You've been asleep for quite awhile."

"Where's Jack?" Sorina mumbled, rubbing the side of her face.

"He's okay," Agatha assured her. "Downstairs sleeping with your father."

Sorina's eyes grew wide. "You left him alone with Dad?!"

"Easy," the vampire grabbed Sorina before she could stumble out of bed. "He's fine, I promise. Your father hasn't done anything to him. He knows better than to do that."

Her shoulders slumped and the halfling let out a heavy sigh. The more alert she became, the faster the memories of today resurfaced in her mind. Zoe. The woman that had grown up with her. The only family she thought she had left until just a few days ago. Gone. The anguish was still there, but now trapped under a layer of numbness. To feel anything was exhausting, so she tried not to.

"I want to see Jack," Sorina finally said, breaking the silence.

Agatha didn't object as Sorina rose to her feet. She followed from behind, noticing her daughter tense as she walked past a closed door. It could only have been Zoe's room. Who knows how long it would be until the young woman would be able to muster up the courage to go inside. That didn't matter right now. Sorina would do what she wanted when she was ready.

The television in the living room was still on, but the channel had changed to what appeared to be some antiques show. Towards the front door, Dracula was busy talking on the phone, his brow furrowed as if he was in a heated conversation. Perhaps Frank wasn't being as helpful after all. She turned to see that Sorina had already found her way over to Jack. The young man's eyes opened as the girl knelt down in front of him.

"Hey, Sunny," he gave her a weak, crooked smile. It was evident that he was still in a lot of pain. But he did his best trying not to worry Sorina about it. "Nice to see your face."

"Goofball," she smirked, but the amused expression faded when she noticed him wince. "Are you okay? Where does it hurt?"

"I'll survive," Jack assured her, grunting a little as he moved to sit up. "I've had worse. Remember when I told you about the time I fell out of a tree and broke my arm? This is nothing compared to that."

"You really need to work on your lying," Sorina frowned. "You've at least taken something for it, right?"

He seemed to hesitate, mouth pressed into a thin line. "Your mum found some painkillers in a cabinet for me. I took a few of those."

Sorina knew by the way he was acting what medication he was referring to. It wasn't your average, over the counter pill. No. It was one of Zoe's prescriptions. Something that had been prescribed to her for whenever she was feeling particularly ill. She bit her lower lip and merely nodded. At least it was going to good use.

"I don't see why my request is coming off as difficult to you," Dracula said coolly, pacing back and forth. There was a pause that seemed to only deepen the vampire's frown. "I'm not asking, Frank, I'm kindly telling you what I require and what my family requires. After everything I've experienced as of late, I'd highly suggest you avoid getting on my bad side." Another pause and the vampire's nostrils flared. "Yes, yes, I suppose that would do. Inconvenient, but better than nothing. I'll see you in a few hours."

He ended the conversation before the other man had a chance to finish. Exhaling, Dracula slipped his phone into his pocket.

"Frank said it'll take him a few hours to obtain some blood, but rest assured it will be done." His eyes flickered over to his daughter and the young man on the couch. "Micul mea liliac, I'm so glad you're awake." Ignoring Jack, who clearly reeked of nervousness, he went to Sorina's side. "Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?" Dracula could almost feel Agatha's stare. Her silently nagging him to extend his hospitality to the boy. "Or you?" He asked in a very flat manner.

Both vampires were very new to the modern world. The fact that her father alone had adapted so fast to using a cell phone was surprising enough. Sorina wasn't even sure her mother knew how either a stove or an oven functioned. Hell, she still struggled with it. Zoe had always been the one to cook, the halfling nearly burning the house down a few times. Not that she was really hungry anyway. As she opened her mouth to turn down his offer, Jack cut her off.

"Pizza," he said, looking directly into her eyes as he said it. "With extra pepperoni."

                                                             XXX

The doorbell rang and Sorina shuffled over with a wad of cash she'd retrieved from one of the chest drawers. Three pairs of eyes watched as she twisted the knob, pulling the door open to reveal a rather scrawny looking teenage boy. Somewhat thrusting the money into his hands, muttering he could keep the change, she took the box.

"Exactly what is pizza?" Her father inquired, curiously eyeing the cardboard square as she set it down on the coffee table. They decided it was best not to make Jack move around.

"Cheese, dough, tomato sauce," Sorina stated, mumbling off the ingredients. "Sometimes pepperoni. It's pork."

"You always did have a taste for pig," the vampire remarked fondly. "Though certainly not in solid form."

"I haven't consumed blood for decades," the girl stated with a grimace, grabbing a slice. "It isn't exactly accepted by society-I mean, I don't have to survive off of it. But," out of the corner of her eye, she saw Agatha's soft frown. Something that reminded her of her mother's rebirth and new dietary needs that she was still coming to terms with. "I guess we do what we can to live."

The room fell quiet as both Jack and Sorina began to eat. Her appetite still wasn't where it normally was,and the halfling found herself picking at the toppings. At least pizza seemed to fare well if stored in the fridge.

"I never got to officially congratulate you," Jack said, putting an end to the silence. "On the new baby. I was an only kid myself. It'll be nice having a sibling, I bet," his gaze flickering between Agatha and Sorina.

"Thank you, Jack," and the vampire's smile was genuine. "Dracula and I haven't really had the time to process it. We'd always planned-well, desired another child. But didn't quite realize how quickly it'd happen."

"I suppose one might say I have very impressive and potent seed," the elder vampire smirked, earning him a smack on the arm for his wife. "What? I was only being honest."

"Our daughter doesn't need to hear about your capabilities," Agatha glowered as Sorina tossed her plate onto the table. Even if she was hungry before, she certainly wasn't now. "Your social skills leave much to be desired." She shook her head letting out a long sigh. "Anyway, Sorina was a lovely baby. I must admit I didn't have much experience around children. Nuns don't exactly have a family life besides their fellow sisters."

"Your life was truly dull until I came along," Dracula stated simply. "Tragic, perhaps."

"Yes, our introduction was certainly a positive one," his wife rolled her eyes. "You showing up unannounced, quite indecent I should add. You made quite the impact, I'll give you that."

"And you loved me for it," he grinned.

"No, I believe at the time I wanted to kill you," she mused. "I found myself feeling that often in the beginning. Especially when you practically kidnapped me and locked me away in that castle of yours."

"Now backtrack just a minute," the vampire held up his hands in seeming defensiveness. "Firstly, you willingly came-a trade off between you and Mina. That isn't kidnapping...more like mandatory you come with me, or I'll make you regret not doing so."

"A true romantic," Agatha snorted, unable to hide the small smile that graced her features. "And then there was chess."

"Ah, chess," he nodded fondly. "Now that was interesting."

"And something we won't go into detail with in front of our child," the former nun added quickly. "Anyway, where was I? Oh! That's right! Sorina. Yes, she was a good infant. A little nippy though. Inherited her teeth from her father."

"A fine trait indeed," her father added, his gaze meeting Agatha's. "Fond memories."

The vampires' eyes stayed locked on one another until their moment was interrupted by the doorbell. A look of annoyance briefly flashed across Dracula's face as his gaze broke away from Agatha's. Muttering about Frank he made his way over to the door.

"I'll put the pizza away," the former nun said, lifting the box up. "It's rather amazing how far ice boxes have come."

As she walked away, Jack's attention turned to Sorina. He looked off. Uncertain. And as he waited until both of her parents were out of sight, he took a deep breath.

"Sunny," he began. "Today was...well, I truly am sorry about Zoe. She was a good woman."

"Thanks, Jack. That means a lot coming from…"

"When Dr. Bloxham pointed that gun at you and it went off, for a moment I thought I'd lost you," the young man swallowed hard. "Sorina, you're the most important person in the world to me. And I know I'm not really all that special, or incredibly good looking…"

"Jack."

"And you're beautiful, Sunny. Like, I've seen the way other men look at you. And I know you could probably have any one of them you wanted…"

"Jack."

He exhaled. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…"

"Jack!"

Finally, the young man stopped his rambling. "Yes?"

"Just shut up and kiss me," Sorina smiled, leaning forward so their foreheads touched. "Took you long enough."

From the shadows, Agatha and Dracula stood quietly watching, the male vampire's grip tightening around the sealed container of blood he'd been given. As their lips met, anger and an urging sense to protect bubbled in his chest. His eyes darkened, and as he stepped forward with the intention of stopping the two, his wife grabbed his arm. He turned to look at her, the woman's gaze firm.

"Let them," she said gently.

"But," he began to protest. "She…"

"They deserve to be happy," Agatha continued. "She's not a little girl anymore."

Of course she wasn't. How could he have forgotten that? He watched as his daughter giggled, her eyes brighter than he'd seen them since they'd been reunited. He wasn't fond of the idea. To him, no one deserved Sorina. She was, after all, the most precious thing to him. But Agatha was right, as much as he hated it. She was. As always.

"Come," she smiled, reaching down to grasp his free hand. "Let's go have a drink and give them some privacy. Then we can rest. I'd like to watch the sunrise tomorrow with you."

Dracula nodded his head, giving his wife a grin. "I'd like that very much."

[leejrdans]

       you can try to conceal your heart with red and gold titanium,        but you can never truly hide from your demons.

Merlin’s beard, what is ( LEE JORDAN ) doing out at this hour? For a ( HALF BLOOD ) who is ( 19 ) years old, ( HE ) really ought to know better. You know, I hear that they’re aligned with ( THE ORDER ), but that could be just a rumor. I do know that ( HE ) is ( A CIS MAN ) and a ( GRYFFINDOR ) alumni though. They’re very ( FORTHRIGHT ) and ( CAPTIVATING ) but also quite ( IRREVERENT ) and ( BIASED ), which could be why they remind of ( LAUGHING TO FEEL ALIVE AND SPEAKING UP TO STAY ALIVE, A RESTLESS FEELING IN THE PIT OF YOUR STOMACH THAT ALWAYS DEMANDS MORE MORE MORE, HONESTY AS YOUR NATIVE TONGUE ). Some people say they’re the spitting image of ( TREVOR JACKSON ), but I’ve never heard of them. 

LINKS: pinboard. stats page. wanted plots is COMING.

CHARACTER PARALLELS: will be added one day when my brain does work

HEY GUYS, it’s mar again. lee is a new muse. as in NEW. completely fresh. i am Nervous! but i love 1 man!!!  note: lee is quite a Social Man, so i kind of went ahead and assumed some stuff about his position at hogwarts ( like, popularity & how the slytherins receive his biased commentary ) but i’m not trying to generalise at all and say that THIS IS HOW YOUR CHARACTER SHOULD FEEL bc i hate that LMAO take it all w a grain of salt its just how i?? ig imagine things went but if they went differently that is Okie

history.

lee is born in st mungo’s, to a halfblood mother & a muggleborn father. they’re not married. hell, they’re barely in love, but she still squeezes his hand during it all, and he cries, and for a moment they think that - maybe - they can be happy. ( someone should have told them that a child is never the solution, that it doesn’t work like that. )

lee’s mother moved into his father’s place -- a tiny flat, in peckham, but it was bigger than her own place -- and brought only two suitcases and a backpack ( warning sign one ). they tried, hard, for a while. lee’s father worked and his mother was at home, most of the time, looking after her son and making empty wine bottles appear ( warning sign two ) and then staying away during weekend nights ( warning sign three ). 

she leaves for the first time when lee is nearly one, taking one of her suitcases and her backpack and slipping away in the death of night. lee’s father is lost -- for a while, but finds help in neighbours and sisters and his mother, mainly. and that’s how it went for years --- his mother coming back, and leaving, and coming back, until she didn’t come back again, not really. lee’s dad said it was enough, one day, and lee’s mother retreated to her own place. his father tried to get full custody and got it, eventually and then there was his mother, not cut from his life completely, but only semi-there, appearing when she could and - most importantly - wanted to.

he doesn’t really get it, in all honesty, as he’s five when his father tells her mother she can’t live with them any more, and most of his life after that is him and his dad and his aunts and his grandmother. plenty of family --- plenty of reasons to be happy, but an inexplicable gap, still.

lee grows up in peckham, london, and attends muggle elementary there. he goes to diagon alley on afternoons after school and weekends, with his dad, and later alone. he likes gazing at brooms ( wistfully ) and hanging out with fellow wizarding kids and magic, magic, magic. there’s magic at home too, of course, but his grandmother and aunts are all muggles, so there’s not much, but in diagon alley there’s so much of it. he likes the muggle world, sure ( especially video games & music ), but it’s nothing compared to the wizarding world.

i mean --- it’s not like he���s bored, because everything is excitable for young lee, and there’s fun to be found in everything, but there’s just more in the wizarding world - more mystery and excitement and ways to wreak havoc. because that he does love --- pranks, innocent and less innocent, hijinks and shenanigans. getting on his teachers nerves with bad jokes and cursewords. 

lee doesn’t grow up with a lot of the things that some might consider crucial -- financial stability, a stable family life, a nice neighborhood. but it’s good and it’s whole in its own way. there’s plenty of people lee loves and plenty who love him back and it’s good, and when he’s off to hogwarts he’s both mad excited and secretly a bit scared and sad to leave his fam behind.

hogwarts, though, is a BLAST. lee is sorted in gryffindor ( because where else? ) and finds friends, fast. in his own house, outside of it, in his teachers, kind of ( he personally is convinced that minerva mcgonagall adores him, despite her disapproving glares ). he’s okay at his classes -- he has the skills, sure, but not the concentration and focus -- and better at everything else. 

lee starts commentating on quidditch matches after he doesn’t make the team. he’s not broken up about it, in all honesty --- he sees how hard the team has to work and laughs at his mates who have to sweat while he gets to sleep in. commentating is more fun, anyway. it gains him some popularity, some enemies in slytherin, maybe, because he’s not very unbiased in his commentary. he loves his time at hogwarts, in all honesty, even more when he gets that gig.

his father meets his current girlfriend when lee is in his fifth year. they marry in the summer after his sixth year and have their daughter -- zoe -- about a year later. lee loves them. he’s conflicted at first, but he’s happy for his dad, and his baby sister is CUTE AF.

lee jordan is a rebel. in tiny, fun-loving ways ( pulling pranks, cracking jokes, being a bit of a class clown ), but also in a political, angry way. it doesn’t show in his earlier years, but as the war starts, and he grows older, too, he finds his priorities shifting. lee knows injustice. he’s dealt with prejudice his entire life --- at muggle school, at hogwarts, even. and as prejudice and bigotry gains the upper hand in the wizarding world, he grows angrier. restless. 

the DA is a way to rebel more effectively, he supposes. protesting when he’s not in school. cracking open history books when he’s supposed to be practising for his NEWTs ( and he is not taking history ). lee looks at the world and he’s angry, he’s restless, he wants to do something but he does not know what---- because where do you start when so much is wrong?

right now.

lee has graduated hogwarts ( believe me when i say that those last months without fred & george were fucking boring, but he at least got to focus a bit more on his NEWTs ) by now and he’s floundering around. i like to think that he’s working for/with the twins, helping with inventing stuff and marketing kind of things for the www, but if this doesnt mesh with any potential fred/george players, i can 100% alter this skjsdf. 

he wants to do something more, though. tell stories. speak up. journalism has always pulled at him --- not written, but on the telly or radio. he likes music too, of course, and the truth, especially --- and an idea is starting up in his mind. he’s slowly working towards setting up an underground radio, gathering equipment and figuring out ways to organise it. potterwatch is coming, and once the ministry is taken over ( if -- of course, that’s where this rp’s plot takes us ) it will be there, the urgency bigger. i don’t know exactly --- i’ll probably discuss this w sarah too but i think right now potterwatch is just an untitled work in progress.

lee’s not an official order member, but i do think he’s alligned, in one way or another. he’s willing to do what’s right, keeps his DA coin on him because of it, but also tries to take the world with a grain of salt, still. laughter is what makes him feel alive, and everything else he does to stay alive, to still make this world a livable place. 

rebel boi.

personality & tidbits.

lee is a dank meme lordt who would be an icon on social media, if we had it. he just likes dumb ass humour. a bit of a class clown --- he just likes attention, but he also likes making people laugh and having a good. fucking. time.

lee is hilarious and it’s the truth.

he rly loves his fam!! is worried abt them!! he still lives at home its  a blast but he wants to move out tbakjdsf. 

his mother doesnt rly ... idk he does think of her as his mother but not rly as part of his family, bc family is not blood anyway. he’s had a few good talks w her since he’s grown older tho but it’s a sore, complicated spot.

lee loves music a Lot. hip hop, trip hop, some punk here and there ... bonus points if it’s a political bop!!

has the mouth of a sailor and now that he’s out of school he doesnt even try to fight it. no mcgonagall around to tell him off after all!!!

enjoys smoking pot & drinking beers w his buds. just -- letting go, having a laff and relaxing to the fullest. likes watching muggle tv when high especially, such a hobby!!!

idk!!!!!!!!!!!! will add more mayhaps???

[ili-akkaman]

Happy birthday, Adri!!

For our dear daughter on her bday. We wish you a happy day, and hopefully, we will meet in a close future to celebrate all this together. From mama and papa with love to you @eien-no-tsuki

@mrsstampede and I created this for your bday. :peepo_love:

A day not to forget

Pairing: Eruri (with a hint of Eremika)

“Ok, I'm on my way. Thanks, Pieck.”

Levi hung up the phone. His daughter's teacher had called him to tell about the fight his 4-year-old little girl had gotten into, and that was something he wasn't willing to allow. Not again.

“Hey, Moblit, could you take charge while I'm gone? I'm going to Mikasa's school,” he said quickly, walking out of the kitchen of his tea shop while taking off his apron. His blond-haired partner nodded, cleaning a coffee pot.

“Is your little lady in trouble again?” Moblit said, giggling. Levi frowned. “Hey, I didn’t say anything. It's ok. I'll take charge.”

“Thanks,” Levi wasn't slow to get out of there and get into his car. This wasn't the first time Mikasa's teacher called him for this, but it seemed that this time it had been worse. Miss Pieck talked about blood and bruises and scratches, letting him know it was urgent. He drove, as fast as the traffic allowed, because he knew his daughter's fists could be quite dangerous.

Well, after all, he had taught her how to fight himself. So it wasn't entirely her fault.

.

“Papa!” Mikasa's little and high-pitched voice made him look at the spot where she was, her dress ripped, hair a mess and fists stained with some bloody marks. Next to her, four little boys also stood; the first and littlest one: a blond, skinny little boy with his round face all beaten. The second one, a green-eyed, messy brown-haired boy with his face swollen and a look of anger. The other two were much worse: their noses bleeding and their skin all scratched and beaten, much, much worse than the blond one's. Levi couldn't help but gasp at the sight. He wasn't the only adult in the room: Miss Pieck, Principal Zoe and the other boys' parents were there too.

“May I know what happened, Miss?”

The tale was told. The two other boys had bullied Armin, the little blond boy, Eren wishing to defend his friend jumped in, ending up all beaten, until Mikasa came to their rescue and punched the bullies, taking them out of game. Her teacher was as astonished as she was indignant to see all this little girl's strength, while the other parents were trying to ask what was up to her...

Levi just picked her up, trying to clean her face.

“You should teach your daughter some manners, sir. And how to be a lady!” yelled the mom of one of the bullies, making Levi get mad.

“At least I can teach my daughter something. I honestly doubt your thuggish son can even learn how to write his name down.”

The outraged mother was about to reply back, but Principal Zoe intervened before a hell could break loose.

“Well, we aren't here to fight but to solve this. So if any of you have some -” The Principal's voice was interrupted when someone opened the door. A tall, blond and blue-eyed man approached them, taking off his coat and hat, as if he had just run a marathon. Armin's little voice rose over the place when he screamed to his papa to pick him up.

“Oh, good Lord, Armin! What happened to you?” Erwin said, all worried. And the story was told to him too, but an argument broke out, finishing as soon as Miss Zoe put an end to it by punishing all the five children. The bullies' parents quickly took their kids, yelling in disagreement as they made their way out. Carla Jaeger, Eren's mom, couldn't be more ashamed and annoyed, but Erwin tried to calm her down the best he could.

“Mrs, this isn't your son's fault. I guess my son needs to learn how to stand up for himself.”

“I’ve told him several times, not to solve things this way, but he never listens,” Carla said with a harsh voice, ironing her son's clothes with her hand. “Anyway, at least I could finally meet Eren's friends. He talks a lot about them. See you soon, gentlemen. My son and I have to go home.” she stated, grabbing Eren's arm. But his other hand was tightly enclosed in Mikasa's.

“I don't want him to go, Papa,” the little girl said, not letting go of her friend's hand. She looked at her dad with puppy eyes, while Eren did the same with his mom. But their looks had no effect on their parents.

“You'll see him tomorrow, Mikasa. Now let go. Eren needs to go home.”

With sadness and tears staining her dark gray eyes, Mikasa set Eren free, as he did to her. Eren waved her and Armin goodbye, trying not to cry until his friends were out of sight.

“Bye, Armin. Bye, Mika,” the little boy said. And he didn't stop looking at her until she disappeared behind the wall when his mom turned right to leave the building and take him home.

Erwin sighed, staring at his little boy's harmed face, worried.

“Honestly, I don't know how a child can do this to another. Makes no sense to me.”

Levi walked out, followed by the blond man and his son.

“I guess some people were just born stupid. I won't scold my daughter for doing what should be done,” Levi said scornfully, a deadpan expression marking his eyebrows. Erwin laughed to himself at how tough this little man seemed to be, despite his height. “And you're right, you need to teach your son how to defend himself.”

“Well, he's just four. I didn't think it was necessary.”

“For Mikasa, it is. You never know when our little shits can find some assholes who thinks they can mess with them. She knows she always has to be one step ahead.”

Armin covered his mouth, amazed at all the bad words he just heard from the black-haired man's speech. Erwin winked at his son, not making a big fuss about it.

“Now I see why my Armin talks a lot about your daughter. She's like a hero to him. And I'm glad for it. My son is not good at making friends.”

“Yeah, Armin is my best friend and Eren too. Right, Armin?” Mikasa said, her little chubby and pale hand trying to catch his friend's. But Levi made her stay in her place in his arms. Armin nodded, his face too hurt to smile.

“I think your son needs medical attention, and these pair of shitheads a good slap. Tch. What kind of parents do they have? Good-for-nothing assholes?”

Armin covered his mouth again. Erwin tried not to laugh. His son wasn't used to hear all these curses in a row.

“Can you, please, curse less? For the children's sake...”

“I think children need to learn the rawness of the real world as soon as they're born.” Levi replied. He was never a kind man, and he never gave a damn about other's opinion. But Erwin never seemed annoyed. On the contrary, he thought that the short man's roughness was quite respectable and amussing.

“I wonder what your wife says when she hears that, Mr...”

“Ackerman. But you can call me Levi. And no, I have no wife. It's just my daughter and I.”

“Oh, I see. Single dad. I'm sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.”

“Mama died,” Mikasa said, giving zero damns  if her father scolded her or not. Armin said his part too.

“Mama left us. She never came back,” the boy commented as they all made her way to the highway.

“Better this way: just the two of us. Right, my little prince?” Erwin kissed his son's forehead, making him wince slightly. It started raining. Levi walked with Mikasa to his car, while Erwin decided to wait for a taxi in the edge of the sidewalk.

“Hey, you two, get in,” the steel-eyed man said, waving at them. Erwin hesitated, but he walked to the vehicle too, getting Armin in the backseat before going to the passenger's. Levi could be a rough man, but he wasn't a bad one. “I own a tea shop and we're going there. You can treat your son's wounds when we get there and I'll give you two something warm to drink. The little man will get better soon.”

“Thank you for this,” Erwin said, staring at his profile. Meanwhile, Mikasa and Armin seemed happy to be next to each other, inside her dad's car. “It seems you don't need a wife at all. You have a strong young lady back there.”

“You don't need a wife either. Your brat seems to be a nice one.”

Erwin smiled, the blue of his eyes shining when he looked back to watch over his son. Levi turned right and the corner of his eye couldn't help get caught in that smile.

Damn smile. In a way, Erwin's thick eyebrows made him look less kind than he really was.

But pretty handsome. Levi Ackerman cursed himself for thinking like that about a man he had just met.

Erwin thought that he didn't need a wife, but maybe, maybe, a husband wouldn’t be bad. Possibly one like the man who drove them. He shook his head at his thought, laughing on the inside for being so hasty.

Honestly, none of them could imagine that this was just the beginning of a peculiar journey, where Mikasa and Armin could end up being siblings.

This little was the world, and these crazy circumstances could turn out to be.

They made their way to the tea shop with subtle smiles drawn on their lips, their children soon forgetting the skirmish they had gotten into before.

A day not to forget.