#anywhere heres spike with his nice leather collar

[sundayroadkill]

something something to be hers

[jinx-jade]

Secret Dreams Chapter 2: Meeting the Wayne’s

Marinette woke from the dream zone, leaving her alone in the empty bed of her hotel room. While Aunt Penny, Uncle Jagged, and herself were staying at the same hotel, Marinette had a separate room from the couple.

When she went to open her eyes the sun was shining directly in them, temporarily blinding her, which was strange since she had closed the curtains last night. Squinting her eyes open slowly to let them adjust to the bright light. Marinette tensed when she could make out the shape of a person.

“Rise and Shine my little rockstar!”

Relaxing, Marinette groaned at her Uncle's childish antics.

“It’s too early for you to have this much energy!” Marinette whined, pulling her pillow over her face.

“Nah, no such thing as too much energy!” Jagged informs her. “Besides we're meeting up with Brucie and a couple of his kids at W.E. today.”

Marinette grinds at that piece of information before quickly replacing it with a scowl. She removed the pillow from her face and glared at Jagged.

“I’m not going anywhere without having some form of caffeine first.” Marinette bargains

“Well then isn’t it a good thing that I got us both coffee?” Penny suggests as she walks in to hand Marinette her cup. “After all, not all of us wake up as energetic as Jagged does.”

“Gasp, Betrayed by my wife!” Jagged cried, placing a hand over his heart dramatically.

“Did? Did you just say Gasp?” Marinette questioned looking a lot less annoyed and more like she was about to explode from laughter.

“I know what I said, little rockstar!” Jagged exclaimed as if it would help his case. Instead of the desired effect, Penny and Marinette burst into laughter.

Penny wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes, “Jagged is right though little star” causing Jagged to preen a bit at the praise. Penny just shook her head at his antics, "We're meeting up with a few of the Waynes to discuss any final details for the charity gala."

Marinette nodded her head before taking a sip of her coffee, letting out a pleased sigh.

"Let me shower and get ready, then we can head out?" Marinette suggested. Penny agreed and dragged Jagged out to let her get ready. 

Marinette grabbed an outfit out of her suitcase that she had forgotten to unpack the previous night. Entering the bathroom and locking the door, disappearing until she was ready for the day.

"Well, today seems like it'll be a fun day, huh Sugar cube?" Plagg asks rhetorically, grinning as he abandons his hiding spot.

"You think any kind of chaos is fun, stinky socks!" Tikki argues leaving her spot as well. 

Once the kwamis of creation and destruction came out of hiding, the rest followed suit. Most of the kwamis moved towards the mini-fridge to grab their breakfasts. Some of them settled on the counter while others moved to sit on the bed or couch.

The kwamis made idle chit-chat until Marinette left the bathroom. She was wearing a high collar ivory blouse with long frilly sleeves and lace details. The blouse was tucked into her black high waist sailor shorts, with gold buttons and trim. She spends only a few minutes debating whether to wear platform heels or her knee-high black combat boots before deciding to go with the boots. 

“Which of us would you prefer to join you today Mademoiselle Guardian?” Kaalki questions with her usual grace and elegance.

“Hmm, maybe you, Tikki, Plagg, and Trixx?” Marinette considers it before nodding to herself. “Yeah, let’s go with the four of you. Unless any of you wish to stay here?”

“And miss the chaos? Don’t be ridiculous, Sugar cookie!” Plagg answers with mock offense. Trixx nodded their head in agreement with Plagg’s statement.

Tikki let out a sigh, “Someone has to keep you from getting into trouble.” Shaking her head in amusement, “Might as well be my luck.”

“As you wish, Mademoiselle Guardian. I have no issues with your decision.” Kaalki informs her.

“All right then! Let’s get going before Uncle Jagged comes to get me.” Marinette makes a face at that, making the kwamis laugh. “Have a nice day everyone. Remember, don’t be seen, and don’t cause too much trouble.”

Each kwami gave their agreement to stay out of sight and not make trouble. Marinette nodded her head, grabbing her small black backpack for her sketchbook, pencils, and the kwamis. After checking that she had everything, Marinette made her way towards the lobby. Once there, she had no trouble spotting her Aunt and Uncle. Easily making her way towards them.

“Ready to go little star?” Penny questioned

“Yup! Plus I’m much more awake after finishing my coffee and taking a shower.” Marinette smiled as they started walking out of the hotel.

Jagged led them to a sleek black car with an older gentleman standing next to it.

“A pleasure to see you again Master Jared.” the man politely clams, only to have Jagged tackle him into a hug.

“Good to see ya, Alfie!” Jagged exclaimed as he pulled away.

“You must be Mrs. Rolling and Miss Dupain-Cheng?” the man, Alfie? Questioned. Receiving a nod from both Penny and Marinette.

“But feel free to call me Marinette. My last name is a bit of a mouth full.” 

“And Penny is fine for me, Monsieur.”

“Of course Mrs. Penny, Miss Marinette. Master Bruce sent me as your ride to W.E., and anywhere else you may go during your stay. My name is Alfred Pennyworth, but please call me Alfred.”

Once introductions were over and done with, the group moved into the car. Heading towards Wayne Enterprise.

Marinette looked out of the windows of the car, watching the gothic architecture pass by. Damian had been right about the city seeming dark and gloomy. He was also right about it being the perfect inspiration for her new clothing line, Shadows. Marinette took out her sketchbook and got to work, not even noticing the time passing by.

“We have arrived,” Alfred claimed as he turned off the car, stepping out and opening the car doors for them. “Simply head to the reception desk and introduce yourselves. They have already been made aware of your appointment.” and with that Alfred reentered the car, driving off, presumably, back to Wayne Manor.

They did as Alfred instructed and were taken up to Bruce Wayne’s office. Jagged knocked on the Office door. After a few moments, Mr. Wayne appeared in the doorway.

“Jared, I’m glad you could make it,” he said welcoming them into the office. “Am I right to assume that these lovely ladies are your wife and niece?”

“That’d be a right on assumption” Jagged agreed. “This is my wife Penny Rolling, she’s also my lovely assistant.”

“It’s nice to meet one of Jagged's childhood friends, feel free to call me Penny.”

Jagged continues with the introduction, “And this little rockstar is my niece and designer, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne. You can call me Marinette, my last name is a bit of a mouth full.” 

“Please call me Bruce, there’s no need to be so formal.” Once Marinette nodded her head, Bruce started to introduce his kids. “These are a few of my children. My second eldest son Jason Todd-Wayne, my second youngest son Timothy Drake-Wayne, and my daughter Cassandra Cain-Wayne.”

Marinette smiled at them before taking a seat on the office couch to sketch. She mostly stayed out of the business conversation, only really talking when the conversation had to do with herself. Marinette took time to observe the Waynes for herself because while she trusted Damian with her life, he was their younger sibling and therefore biased.

Marinette observed Jason first. He was sarcastic and would throw in snarky comments now and then. When Jason wasn’t talking, he would be reading his book which seemed to be a classic novel. Marinette let out an amused huff when she realized that Damian’s description was accurate. He’s a book nerd wrapped in spikes and leather.

She noticed that the attention had turned to her, most likely because she had no reason to be amused. Marinette simply raised an eyebrow towards them until they went back to the previously abandoned conversation.

Her observation moved to Timothy, or Tim, who seemed to be exhausted but he easily kept up with the conversation. She noticed that he was holding a thermos for what seemed like dear life. Now the caffeine zombie made more sense. In all honesty, Marinette thought that the caffeine dependence was a “mood.”

The attention once again turned to herself. ‘Must have said that out loud’ Marinette assumed. She simply ignored the attention until the conversation started again. Once the conversation was flowing freely, she went back to her observations.

When Marinette looked in Cassandra’s, or Cass’s, direction, she found that Cass was already looking at her. Curiosity clear in her eyes. It would seem like Damian was right with all of his information on his siblings. Cass was trying to read her body language. Marinette quickly thought of an idea, tensing all the muscles in her body to slowly relax them as she quickly turned her attention to her sketchbook, pretending to be embarrassed.

When Marinette looked back up, Cass looked amused, causing Marinette to smirk. The smirk seemed to confuse Cass, who tilted her head to the side as if trying to look at her from a different angle to get a better read. Marinette simply copied Cass’s movement, making both girls seem confused. Cass continued to change her body language only to have Marinette copy it. A smile appeared on Cass’s face.

“Can we keep?” Cass asked gesturing to Marinette, which made Marinette burst into laughter.

The others in the room looked confused before realization appeared on the Waynes’ features.

“You can’t just ask to adopt people out of nowhere Cassandra,” Bruce said with a sigh.

“Keep?” Cass asked again with her best puppy dog eyes. Bruce simply shook his head, causing Cass to pout.

That seemed to be the last straw as everyone burst into laughter.

_____________________

Marinette collapsed onto her bed with a smile. Letting herself be consumed into the exhaustion from the day. She drifted off to the dream zone once again.

Tag list: @little-bluestar @redbullgivescaswings @stackofrandomstuff @meismu @maskedpainter @nyx-in-line @iamabrownfox @m0chik0furan @jjmjjktth

[solarwonux]

8. “We need to talk about what happened last night.”

25.  “It’s an office with huge windows, everyone can see.” “So?”

marketing director!mingyu x f!reader

w.c: 2.6k

warnings: a little bitt of angst, a little bit of fluff, suggestive themes like voyeurism briefly mentioned

note: ngl, I’m sorry not my best work but I TRIED. Let me know your thoughts it would really help me out a lot. Thank you for reading.xx

masterlist || prompt list

Kim Mingyu - Marketing Director

The nameplate on the door sends a shiver up your spine, knowing that the man you had accidentally pulled in for a drunk kiss the night before during the weekly company bonding dinner, was sitting just behind the door. He was pissed, had pushed you away, made a big deal in wiping his mouth with the back of his hand in disgust. Causing you to sober up quickly and regretting it.

It’s no secret that God had taken his sweet time when creating Kim Mingyu Marketing Director of GoSe Enterprises. He put all the Greek Gods you spent your free time reading about to shame. You’ve been crushing on him since he sat in the cubicle next to yours for years. The two of you had developed a nice easy-going friendship. He was sweet, funny, and always offered amazing advice, both on personal and professional matters. You were practically head over heals for him.

Then the promotion came, granting Mingyu with an office on the southside of the company building. Huge windows overlooking the city below, and the office. A nice fancy gold nameplate with his new job description underneath it. Naturally, the two of you grew apart, ripped from one another without a warning. He was no longer rooting for you and your ideas. Instead, he was the one turning down all your project proposals. He was the one assigning you the revision tasks he knew you hated doing. He was the reason for the random spikes of anxiety throughout the workday. He was no longer your friend, he was your supervisor. His soft demeanor and fleeting touches were nowhere to be found. Lost amongst piles of paperwork surrounding his desk. 

You took a deep breath holding your laptop close against your chest, eyeing the nameplate on the large dark wooden door that took your Mingyu away from you a year ago. You were nervous. He only ever called you down to his office if you had a proposal revision due, which this time you didn’t. 

The last idea you had pitched two weeks ago was turned down before you could finish your sentence during your first PowerPoint slide. He didn’t even give you the chance to improve it, simply said, “trash it, it’s not worth wasting your time when it’s not a plausible option.” So, the only other option left and the one that made sense was your slip-up the night before. He had called you down to ask for your resignation letter for breaking company policy. 

“If you keep staring at the door it won’t magically open,” Chan spoke next to you making you jump. “I’m just saying.” He shrugged sheepishly and opened the door, walking in with confidence. “Mingyu I have the copies you asked for.” 

You filed in after him, situating yourself close to the wall and by the door, while Mingyu instructed Chan on where to set down the copies. Your heart was beating rapidly against your chest, watching as the two of them laughed about some inside joke they had. The anger along with jealousy boiled with fever deep within you. 

This was the problem. Mingyu had only changed when it came to you. With everyone else he was the same Mingyu you once had the pleasure of knowing, and that not only confused you but it made you angry. “Are we still on for guys' night this friday?” Chan asked the older male pointing finger guns at him. 

“Yes, of course, drinks are on Seungcheol this time, which makes my wallet really happy.” Mingyu clapped Chan on the back and led him towards his office door. “Same bar with the cute bartender?” He emphasized, his angry gaze falling on you for a second. 

Subtle you silently scoffed rolling your eyes, holding your laptop as close to your body as humanly possible.If he didn’t make his distaste towards you obvious by his reaction last night, he surely made it painfully clear just now. 

“That’s the one.” Chan nodded, sending you a pitying look, one you didn’t need. You knew you were fucked. 

Everyone knew about your painful crush on Mingyu. Everyone had seen you grab the collar of his dark maroon shirt last night and plant a wet alcohol filled kiss against his lips. Everyone had seen the way he reacted, yanking his suit jacket off the back of his chair and walking out of the bar pissed. So, you didn’t need the various pitying looks you were getting since the moment you walked in that morning.

“Alright then I’ll see you then, don’t forget to turn in your proposal by tomorrow night, Jeonghan keeps bugging me about it.” 

Chan sighed, hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand, “shit, I’ll have it done by tomorrow morning.” He said quickly before speed walking back to his cubicle. Leaving you alone to face the problem you had caused. 

Mingyu laughed lightly, shaking his head as he shut the door to his office, “I knew he forgot.” He mumbled before straightening his back, the scowl you were used to seeing appeared on his face once again. He walked past you to his desk, taking a seat next to his name plate. You stayed put, looking down at the floor, only counting the tiny dust bunnies that were visible to your eye. 

Mingyu cleared his throat, “We need to talk about what happened last night.” 

You raised your head pushing yourself off the wall and walked to him. Stopping behind one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. “Don’t need to, It’s my fault for breaking company policy. I’ll hand in my resignation letter to Jeonghan tonight.” You kept your eyes trained on the skyscraper reflecting through the window behind him. Anything was better than looking at him right now. 

He sighed, running a frustrated hand across his face. He pushed himself away from his desk and took a step forward. “I didn’t call you in here to ask you to resign.” 

Confused, you tore your eyes from the building behind him and looked at him. The bags under his eyes that had started to form from lack of sleep and overwork were now more prominent than before. It made you wonder if he hadn’t slept last night because of you, but then you remembered the huge project he was currently working on, so you casted that thought aside.

“Oh then...I-umm, why am I here?” 

“Do you have any idea the position you put me in last night?” He furrowed his brows, placing a knee down on the chair in front of him. He leaned his forearms against the back of it, closing the distance you purposely kept between the two of you. 

You took a step back, scrunching your nose, “I don’t understand. You don’t want me to resign. If I’m not getting penalized then why am I here?” You dropped your arms in defeat. “If you called me in here to tell me you’re not interested in me, you don’t have to. I already know.” You finished swallowing the lump that had formed at the back of your throat. 

“That’s the problem.” Mingyu pointed an accusing finger at you before retreating it. “I am interested in you, more than interested in you. I have strong feelings for you and I can’t act on them because I don’t want everyone to think that I favor you, because I do.” 

I’m dreaming, you thought pressing the palm of your hand against your heated forehead. You had to be dreaming, life has never been this giving to you, “wait I’m confused...you ran out last night, literally pushed me away, disgusted. Do you have any idea how that felt? I had to sit down and face our co-workers with a fake smile on my face because I didn’t want them to see me cry.” 

Mingyu’s face softened, he gripped the back of the chair hard enough for his knuckles to almost turn white. “I know and I’m sorry but if I had stayed then I would’ve kept kissing you. You have no idea how badly I’ve been wanting to do that.” He dropped his head releasing a shuddering breath. “Every time we stayed here working over time, the only thing I could think about was how easy it’d be if I just leaned over a little more and kissed you. No one would be around, no one would see, it would just be our little secret. But the stupid company policy always seemed to find it’s way into my head and I never let myself cross that boundary.”

“Mingyu w-why are you telling me this now? Even if we have feelings for one another, my job is important to me and I don’t want to risk getting fired because we’re together.” You blinked rapidly, now was not the time to cry. You could cry later in the communal bathroom across the hall, or on the bus ride home, just anywhere but here. 

“Well,” Mingyu rounded the corner of the chairs and made his way to you, finally closing the distance. “I talked to Jeonghan -”

“Wait you told him we kissed?” You were sure your eyes were bulging out of their sockets as the realization hit you. Of course, Mingyu wasn’t going to fire you, he was saving himself the burden and having Jeonghan do it for him. 

He chuckled, placing a hand against your hip making you jump, “Just how drunk were you last night? Jeonghan was there when it happened. He called me and threatened to fire me for leaving you the way I did.” He whispered, circling his arm around you and pulling you close, making you stumble from the sudden impact. “H’said, fuck company policy and that I was stupid for following it when no one does.” 

“Wait are you saying th -” 

“Yes we can be together as long as we keep our work and personal lives separate, so, no sex in my office.” 

You gasped hitting his chest lightly, this lewd side of Mingyu was one you had never seen before. Or at least you had but in a much more subtle way. “Well of course, we can’t do that. That was never going to be part of the deal.” The thought of him pressing you against his desk after hours sent a thrilling shiver up your spine. You bit your lip, shaking your head. No, not allowed, focus. 

“Why not? I’ve slept on the couch here a few times. It's pretty comfortable.” He reassured, hooking his thumb in the belt loops of your dark slacks. “And your ass looks so good in these pants, I literally have to make it my mission to not stare.” 

“I’m flattered, I guess. But look around Gyu.” His gaze followed your hand as you waved it around in front of him. “It’s an office with huge windows, everyone can see -” 

He pulled you closer, eloping your body in both of his arms, “so?” He tilted his head to the side, a smirk playing against his lips. You had forgotten how much he liked to tease you. 

“So?” You rolled your eyes, “were you not listening to what I was saying everyone can see.” You emphasized, poking his cheek with your index finger. 

Mingyu bit his bottom lip trying to suppress his laughter. He forgot how easily flustered you could get, especially when he would say something out of pocket to you. Sure, half of the time you would ignore him, sometimes you would simply roll your eyes, focused on whatever you were working on. Other times he would leave you at a loss for words.

“Frankly, I don’t see the problem. We can just wait until everyone goes home and then give whoever is walking by a free show.” He finished raising his eyebrows suggestively at you. 

You rolled your eyes, pushing him away and walked to his door. “I can’t believe you’re already thinking about having sex with me and you haven’t even asked me out on a date or to be your girlfriend.” You pushed his door open and walked out, “the audacity you have Kim Mingyu.” 

He felt panic surge through him, his big mouth getting the best of him once again. “Woah woah wait I was getting there, you didn’t give me the chance to ask.” He followed you out the door, trying to keep up with your hasty steps. Who knew you could walk so fast in heels. 

Once you were at your cubicle you sat down, placing your laptop on top of your desk, waking it up. “Too late, company policy says we have to keep our work and personal lives separate, guess you’re going to have to wait a while.” You look at the digital clock on your desk, “Five and a half hours to be exact.” 

Mingyu threw his head back, frustrated. As much as he enjoyed teasing you, he had forgotten that you were equally as evil if not worse. He had waited to ask you out for more than two years and now that he could, he literally couldn’t wait five and a half hours.

“Friday, after work?” He whispered, covering the side of his mouth with his hand to make it look less suspicious. It wasn’t working.

“What about guys night and that cute bartender?” You smirked, clicking around your computer opening the files you were working on earlier. 

Mingyu took a deep breath and grabbed the back of your chair, swinging it around ripping you away from your computer screen. “Fuck guys night honey, I’m taking you home, cooking you the best meal you’ve ever had and then -” He stopped peaking over your cubicle. Everyone that had tuned in to your debacle, quickly scrambled to focus on whatever they were doing before you and Mingyu walked in. He nodded once before leaning down, his lips close to your ear, whispering, “then I’m going to fuck you against my window so everyone can see that you’re finally mine.” 

You bit your lip to keep yourself from moaning.You put your hand on his chest and leaned in, placing a soft kiss against the shell of his ear. “Kinky, ask me again in five and a half hours.” You gave his cheek a gentle pat before pushing him away, returning your attention to what you were doing. 

Mingyu grumbled, shoulders slumped as he dragged himself back to his office. You stifled a laugh, the butterflies you had once felt for him returning. 

“You know I heard all of that.” Soonyoung spoke, peeking his head into your cubicle, his eyes wide like he had just seen a ghost, or something utterly disgusting.

Fuck! Mingyu! You whined silently before turning to face your cubicle mate. “I’ll buy you lunch if you pretend like you didn’t hear anything.” 

He put a pensive hand on his chin before sticking his hand out for you to shake. “Deal, I suddenly have been overcome with amnesia, whatever happened in the last five minutes I do not remember, that’s only if you promise to also finish revising this project proposal for me.” He waved the large packet of white copy paper in front of you. 

You groaned, “that wasn’t part of the deal we just shook on.” 

He sucked in air, “I don’t remember that.” He pouted. “I have amnesia, remember.” 

“Fuck fine.”

[urlocalbunny]

.collaring - aaron.

i came back from the shadows with another shitty smut, hohoho.

warnings: if you don’t like some verse energy don’t touch it lol there’s no dominant part bc they’re fighting.

1.626 words. enjoy!

THERE WILL BE SOME NOTES IN THE NEXT ONE.

Eloise was in front of a pet shop's register, looking at an older man that could be her grandpa. He had a cute smile on his face.

"Sir, how much does this one cost?" She asked shyly with it in hands. "I want to use my credit card."

He held the product and showed the tag to her. "Is this okay with you, miss?" She nodded. "You must have a big dog. Are you sure you can walk with it? You seem young," he said innocently.

"Ah, yes, it is one big... Dog, indeed. But don't worry, I can do this!" She looked at the black leather spiked collar, the leash that came with it hanging on the shelf. She used the card, and he packed the items, bidding her a cute farewell.

The girl was red and full of guilt, but her feet still rushed home before it was night. On her way, she felt like she was sitting in the parlor, but soon was as if she left in a hurry. Aaron was probably rushing to meet her at the door. The girl winced. As soon as she entered the manor, she heard the quick and heavy steps coming in her direction.

"Where were you?" He asked curiously. "Kinda startled me when I felt you running home like you're mad and feeling extremely guilty." Aaron towered over her, a pleased smile on his pretty face. He was happy to see her. But she knew he was also trying to look at what she was hiding behind her back. "You won't even let me look? You truly are acting weird since last week..."

"No!" She laughed nervously.

He frowned. "What's happening to you?"

"It's Nothing," she squealed. "Why are you acting weird?"

"I'm happy to see you and also curious, is that bad? I'm not going to ask too much since you don't seem to want to talk, though," He held her waist, kissing her lips softly as a 'welcome back' gift. "Did you have a good time?" She nodded and pulled away after a long time, stepping on the stairs, one step at a time, trying to take the damn collar up. "Where are you going?" He asked, suspicious of her.

"To the bathroom. I'm, um, practically peeing on myself!" When she turned around, being careful of the pet shop bag, she saw a horrified Vladimir on the steps.

"Don't stay there looking at me!" He pointed to the hall as if she was going to pee on the floor. She ran for it, locking herself in her room instead.

Eloise sighed in relief, pulling the collar out. Now, it was just a matter of thinking. Would he be offended? How would she dress, how would he react, how would she ask? She hoped he would like it. She grabbed her bathrobe and walked to the bathroom.

The chalice knew that it was not a good idea to take a long bath, but she took it nonetheless.

She finished moisturizing when she felt him wandering around the door. She yelped, covering herself in the bathrobe and running to her room. There was nothing, but the uneasy feeling of not feeling Aaron anywhere made her suspicious. She locked herself in and sat down, looking for the collar and the leash. Finding both where she left them, she finally relaxed, sitting on the bed with her back to the door.

All of a sudden, however, someone rested their chin on her shoulder. It was him.

"So, that's what you were hiding, my beloved?" He looked smug. "A collar?"

"Hey... Aaron. How did you hide from me?" She was now lying on the bed as she got scared for a second. He crawled like a wolf would walk towards his prey, and his hips swung. He tried to cage her like he usually did before he pounced.

"You were so nervous that you didn't even realize I was here." Aaron shrugged. "Who's the pet, my beloved?" He asked, "Is it... Me?" His hand grabbed the collar. "It suits me." He seemed to be having fun with the teasing, but he was also blushing. "Were you trying to find a way to ask me to be your pet?" He said, giving the collar back to her.

"U-uh, yeah, I wanted you to let me put this on you..." She squeaked. "But if you don't want to, it's okay. I don't mean to make you feel bad. You know that, right?" When she lifted her head, he was looking at her as if in a trance. He lowered his head after a good while of intense eye contact.

Eloise slipped the collar on and kissed his head lovingly. He rested his cheek on her chest and nuzzled on her, waiting for her to fix the chain. When she pulled, he more than willingly followed, biting her neck, earning a moan from her.

"Are you going to try to tame me, or am I going to have fun as it is?" By how she opened her legs as much as she could to show him her dripping core and untied the knot in the robe, showing him her boobs, he knew it was all his for as long as he wanted. The thought made a growl rip through his throat. He went for her lips, kissing them passionately, feeling the way her hands clung to the chain and pulled every time he gasped for air. As much as he wanted to have his way, he was going to push her around a little.

"Fuck me, just- skip the foreplay." She whined. He pretended not to listen and lowered his head, ignoring the pulls on the leash. He wanted to see how far she would go without acting like an animal herself. He pulled the robe off, sucking a nipple in and squeezing her other boob. At this point, she already realized what he was trying to do.

His hands gripped her ass, stopping her from pulling his shirt off. She groaned, punching his chest lightly. He went for her other boob, this time, sliding a finger on her slit, collecting a bit of what she had to offer. It was almost too tentative, but he kept going.

"Listen here, you little tease." He smiled, looking at her with, ironically, puppy eyes.

"Don't be mean to me." He said, smiling a stupid little grin she was going to wipe out of his face for sure. Eloise pulled on the chain, crashing her lips against his once more. Her tongue tasted a little bit like iron. He knew the bite she gave him drew blood. She rushed for his shirt, pulling it and tossing it to the side.

This fight went on for several minutes after Aaron was bare, but Eloise wouldn't lose now that he was with the leash on. Their kisses weren't enough, and soon he had two fingers buried inside of her, curling and twisting just the right way. She squeezed his wrist with her hand, trying to make him pump faster, a little quicker than that. But he wouldn't budge. She was getting angry, and if she knew of one thing is that if you're unsatisfied with something, you do whatever it is yourself.

She pushed him to the side roughly, making him beam and show his white fangs. She let out a breathy laugh, straddling him and gripping his length with a firm hand. He sucked a breath in as she pumped him slowly. "That's it... Good, good boy." He growled at that. He was a wolf, not a puppy. That was a warning. She giggled. "You're so cute." He was about to protest, but it turned into a loud moan and unconscious thrusting when Eloise guided him inside her until there was nothing out.

"My, my, you are quiet, puppy. What happened?" Her hips rocked back and forth, and as much as she wanted to keep the strong facade, his dick was too much. She started losing herself just as much as him as soon as she got what she wanted. For a long while, the only sounds they'd make were harsh thrusts, breaths, and the sudden pull of his leash when Eloise felt herself clenching around him too dangerously.

"Stop fucking edging yourself on my cock." He growled, flipping her and speeding up. Her hands pulled on his hair instead of the leash, earning an approving hiss from him "my beloved, I'm telling you..."

"You're so full of warnings, aren't you?" She teased, making him pull her legs to rest on top of his shoulders. His nails scratched her ass when he gripped so tight, and she didn't waste any time in biting his neck. He whined. At this point, her headboard was snapping against the wall. Their moans were too needy, their sex too good to stop. Her first orgasm washed over, making her legs tremble on his shoulders. He looked at her like he was winning.

"God, I don't give a fuck, just- more, more!" He looked smug even when her hands pulled roughly on the leash for a kiss that he would keep as one of his favorites. Her hips moved so nicely under him that his vision was getting blurry.

"Hm, gonna cum, gonna cum." He whined.

"Me too." She squeaked, arching her back prettily for him. Aaron couldn't resist the urge to cum inside her, so that's just what he did.

He kept himself buried to the hilt, a deep groan slipping through his gritted teeth.

The sweethearts laughed when they looked into each other's eyes, feeling their heartbeats speed up again, basking in the high and kissing each other's cheeks and hands as the daylight rose behind the curtains.

[crystalgirl259]

The Flame and the Dragon Ch9

Chapter 9: The Boy in the Castle

Kai's amber eyes remained fixed on the huge castle before him. The structure stood dark, curved, and magnificent with an unearthly quality that invited doom, but drew unwary travelers to it like ships to a beacon in a raging storm. The two towers boarding the main castle and the multiple spikes, towers, and spires created a jagged line against the sky. Every gargoyle, every window, every arch, and balcony is a perfect mirror of the castle in Kai's mind.

"This is.." He trailed off, the words dying in his throat; his hands gripped the iron bars of the gate so hard the rust of the iron dug into his hands. The only difference between the two castles was this one was dark and foreboding, while the one he was used to was white and rich with life. "This place was only supposed to be a dream! It can't exist." He tried to tell himself and yet there it was. A perfect dark, mirror-image of the castle he saw every time he closed his eyes.

This was where Lloyd and Nya were trapped?

Shaking his head free of the trance once his gaze fell back on Nya's coat, Kai released his grip on the gate then took a few steps back. With a mighty kick, the gates swung open with a loud screech.

"Come on Flame." He called, but the second his foot stepped through the gates a chill ran through his body, either from coldness or fear. The stallion followed, though was much more cautious in his steps and a look of trepidation in his eyes. Kai scowled to himself. Even the horse thinks coming here is a bad idea. But he ignored his own apprehensions and bolted to the entrance.

"Stay here." He told Flame, before cautious climbing up marble steps. He approached the massive doors of the enormous castle, cautiously. The decoration was more lavish than any Kai had seen. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it must've been like centuries prior without age and weather to wither its contents. Swallowing a lump of hesitation, he pulled on the door knockers. The doors open just as the gate did, and once again, the second he stepped through the doors it was like he'd entered another world.

Despite the castle's outwardly withered appearance, the inside was nothing short of magnificent.

With slight hesitation in his step, the teen took a step down the stunning red carpet. Walls of glass were at both sides of him, hazy from years of neglect and caked with dust. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. He could only imagine how lovely the crystals and glass looked in the sunlight. He came to another set of enormous doors, much nicer and more elaborate than the ones outside. Vines and roses were elegantly carved into the fine oak wood, climbing up the sides of the door and surrounding the stunning carving of what looked like an enormous dragon.

Kai shook his head again, forcing himself to stay focused.

The doors flung open with a mighty shove and again he found himself within the depths of the castle. His eyes widened in shock. He had never imagined the inside, nor had he ever dreamed it, but even he had to agree it was far more magnificent than he could have possibly imagined. The front hall alone was huge and alight with enormous iron and crystal chandeliers filled with burning wax candles. Brass candle holders lined the inner hallway.

The small candle flames bathed the entire front entrance in a pale glow.

A majestic marble staircase spiraled in one direction leading above the first staircase to what looked like a balcony-hallway. The hallways were like crystal-lined marble chambers that could lead anywhere. The ceiling seemed to go up and on forever like a giant cathedral. The chains holding the chandeliers vanished in the darkness. Gargoyles and statues embedded in the huge walls above him were in scattered locations. The darkness and years of dust draped the entire castle in an eerie atmosphere, but the history of the castle itself spoke more than a hundred ancient tomes.

"Hello!" Kai called, hearing his voice echo against the empty hallways. "Does anybody live here? Hello!" He called again. His own voice boomed around him, the only drop of sound among the room of silence. "I'm looking for my brother and sister! Hello!" He tried for the third time but still got no answer. Confident that the castle was indeed abandoned he turned to the left towards the first corridor. He started calling Nya and Lloyd's names, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching him in the main hallway...

****************

"What on earth were you and Tox thinking, Jay?" The white and black-haired man in disappointment. He also had a goatee and black eyebrows that looked similar to Kai's. He wore a gray and tan robe-like attire with a leather collar and belt. Jay was currently lying on his back, atop the dining room table, since it hadn't been used in well over a century. Ronin was pacing around in front of them. Zane was in the other room talking to the castle's seamstresses to pay them any attention.

"I know! I know! I'm sorry!" Jay apologized but it was muffled by his hands covering his face. He sat up and braced himself on his arms. "Look me in the eye, Neuro, and tell me you could've left them freezing to death in the middle of a storm?" He asked as his dark blue orbs met Neuro's brilliant onyx ones. Neuro sighed, running a hand through his hair. The white and black wings he adorned in his Tengu form flexed and flapped in thought. Even long before he'd come to the castle, it was rare a single dark thought filled his mind or he wished malice on anyone.

The very thought of him leaving two innocents alone to fend for themselves and being able to cope with such a choice was nothing short of laughable.

"No, I couldn't even if I wished to." He sighed, turning his teacup in his hands. Jay slid off the table, and gulped down his cold tea in one gulp, hoping the mixture would ease the stress barraging his mind. Sadly, it did nothing.

"He shouldn't have been so harsh though; if he had only given me two seconds to explain..." The ginger-haired teen muttered as he gripped the table so hard his nails dug into the wood. Rising to his feet, Neuro placed and comforting hand on Jay's shoulder. He knew Jay blamed himself for what happened the previous night and felt guilty.

"I won't deny his decision was and is a dreadful mistake, but you know he has his reasons; he suffers more a day than any of us could ever understand." He said as Jay collapsed in a chair, and crossed his arms.

"Doesn't mean he has to be so harsh!"

"I warned you." Ronin snapped. "Didn't I warn you? I told you he'd react that way!" He exclaimed as he ran his hands through his brown hair and gripped the locks tightly. "What were you thinking, Jay! Bringing them inside is one thing, but what were you thinking! Changing their clothes, letting them sleep on the master's favorite couch, playing with the boy!" He ranted, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, excuse me for trying to be hospitable!" Jay retorted. Neuro sighed in annoyance, doing his best to tune out the two boy's argument, if only for his own sake and sanity...

****************

In the other room, Zane had just finished speaking with the castle's seamstresses by the time Nelson burst into the room, wild with excitement. Nelson was a young boy around Lloyd's age with light brown hair combed to the side. He was wearing a purple sweatshirt with white printed on the back and light blue pants. The seamstress was in her true form, a stunning woman with elegant waves of bleached white hair tied in a bun. Her stunning sharp emerald eyes radiated fierce independence but softened when she saw Nelson.

She always had a soft spot for the younger members of the staff.

"Where are you off to in such a rush?" She asked, sweetly.

"Harumi, Zane, you're not gonna believe this!" Nelson practically bounced with excitement. "There's a boy in the castle!"

"We're aware of that, Nelson; he's in the tower with his sister," Zane responded, without taking his eyes off the clipboard.

"Not them, Zane!" Nelson corrected. "There's another boy in the castle! He's here looking for them!"

"Are you sure?" Harumi asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"I'm positive!"

"That's enough, Nelson!" Zane scolded. "We all have work to do including you; no time for stories."

"But Zane—"

"Enough Nelson!" The yeti snapped, but before Zane could say another word, another servant burst into the room with a wide giddy grin. It was a woman with long black hair that was tied back in a tall ponytail with pale, almost grey skin and violet eyes. She wore a dark purple biker outfit. Harumi jumped in surprise at her sudden entrance.

"Ultra Violet! You'll give me a heart attack!" She scolded her wife. Though Harumi and Ultra Violet were the same age, Violet always acted so much younger.

"What is it, Ultra Violet?" Zane asked, sternly, clearly not in the mood for any more surprises since the previous night.

"THERE'S A BOY IN THE CASTLE! AN ACTUAL BOY!" She shrieked, almost bursting with happiness. Harumi's jaw hit the floor. Zane's eyes bulged out of his skull.

"I told you so!" Nelson screamed with a glare and a wide smirk...

****************

Neuro's hand clenched the teacup and plate so hard it almost shattered. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes in frustration, unable to decide if he should yell at the two arguing boys in front of him or drag them upstairs by their ears.

"I don't care if the Master is being unfair, that's already been established! Fact is you put them in danger!" Ronin accused.

"Well excuse me for trying to be nice!" Jay retorted meeting the man's angry gaze.

"Figures, the first two people to enter this fucking place in a hundred years, and we get them both imprisoned in a tower for the rest of their lives!" The troll snarled as he turned away and started pulling at his hair in frustration. Jay growled in anger. Neuro slammed the cup down on the table.

"Silence the both of you!" He scolded them both, causing both of them to turn their heads. They knew full well of the temper that was hidden behind Neuro's polite and stoic appearance, but it was still a shock when it surfaced. "If you two do not refrain from arguing this very second, so help me God I will—"

"Nya?" An unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed nearby. All three servants froze and bolted towards the source of the voice, their anger was forgotten. A flash of red passed the dining room entrance. Jay and Ronin met eyes before throwing themselves up and gripping the side of the wall. Their eyes widened and their mouths gaped in shock.

"It's a boy!" Jay announced.

"No, ya think?" Ronin retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What is he doing here?" Neuro asked as he blinked in shock, bewilderment, and worry. A giddy smile crossed Jay's face, and he started bouncing up and down in happiness.

"I knew it! I knew it! Don't you see?" He explained dancing around a bewildered Ronin. "He's the one! The one we've been waiting for! The one who's going to break the spell!"

"Jay, we've been through this, you're optimizing again!" Ronin said extremely patiently and panicked as if he were talking to an insane asylum patient.

"And it's paid off!" Jay beamed before he suddenly bounced before dashing to catch up to their guest.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!" Neuro called, then cried out in shock when a purple dash crashed into him and another dove over him.

"Sorry, Neuro!" Nelson apologized over his shoulder. Tox bolted after her smaller friend in her naga form, before transforming back into her own human form without halting in her step. Before Neuro could voice a protest, several gusts of wind bolted past him, sending him to the floor again. The first one came from a small glowing pixie with purple wings and a familiar, giddy grin. She was followed by a stunning woman with long white hair, pointed ears, talons for hands and feet, and jade green feathered wings growing from her arms.

Another fairy and a purple naga followed closely behind her.

"Sorry, Neuro, we're in a rush!" The purple pixie, Ultra Violet, called over her thin, amethyst wings.

"What the hell is going on?" Neuro demanded.

"They're a boy in the castle!" The fairy paused in mid-flight to respond, before following the others. Neuro remained sitting on the floor, his jaw slacked in shock, and his eyes bulged with confusion.

"Has everyone lost their minds?"...

[crystallized-shadow]

Chapter: 1/1 Rating: Explicit Pairing: Madara/Tobirama Word Count: 3987 Warnings: Teacher/Student Roleplay, Dom/Sub elements, Office Sex, Hair Pulling, Rough Sex, and Collars Summary: An unfortunate situation leads to Tobirama discovering a side he never knew about his chemistry professor.

For @madatobiweek Day 7: Something Kinky

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

It wasn’t fair, Tobirama thought to himself as he watches the sleek black hair trail behind the immaculately dressed man stalking across the front of the room, no man should be allowed to be so visually captivating. The older man could have been explaining the meaning of life or the nuances of how paint dried; Tobirama wouldn’t have any idea, all he could think about was how perfect the other’s lips would look wrapped around his cock. Professor Madara Uchiha, head of the Chemistry department at Konoha University was not only very passionate about his subject but also drop-dead gorgeous to boot. If Tobirama was a man of lesser intellect he would be failing the class due to the constant distraction strutting across the front of the room everyday. Professor Uchiha had an air of confidence that was absolutely intoxicating to the Senju, he just wanted to bend the man over his desk and fuck him until he begged for mercy. Unfortunately the professor didn’t even know he existed; in fact he didn’t seem to realize the effect he had on his students.

After a particularly trying day, Professor Uchiha had worn his hair up in a high ponytail that Tobirama just wanted to wrap around his fist, he decides he needs to blow off some steam. Normally Tobirama would avoid the bars, drunk college kids were the absolute worse, but the one his brother ran was a bit classier and tended to cater to the dom/sub culture. With any luck he could find a sub looking for a rough fuck.

“Tobi! Thank god!” Of course the universe had other plans for him.

“What is it Anija?” Tobirama sighs, writing off his previous plans as he walks over to the bar where Hashirama is waving frantically at him.

“I need you to do me a huge favor!” Hashirama pleads, pressing his hands together and doing his best to look like Tobirama had kicked his favorite puppy again.

“Fine,” the younger Senju grumbles, knowing it’s pointless to argue with his brother.

“Thank you!” Hashirama grabs his brother and drags him back to the office before he can change his mind.

Figuring Hashirama messed up the bar’s books again, he really needed to stop trying to help Mito while she was away, Tobirama’s not prepared for the sight of his chemistry professor passed out on the couch Hashirama insisted on having in the office. “What happened?”

“Madara came here to have a celebratory drink with me,” Hashirama explains, making Tobirama’s brows furrow in confusion, “we are old friends and he just got a huge grant for the department. Anyway we got a bit wrapped up in reminiscing and someone spiked his drink.”

“What?”

“I dealt with it.” The serious expression coupled with the dark tone makes Tobirama pause. That was usually a telltale sign that he shouldn’t ask questions so he just nods.

“So what do you need me to do?”

“I need you to take him home with you.”

“Absolutely not,” Tobirama states with a frown, “I can’t take him anywhere he’s my teacher.”

“Oh…” Hashirama deflates for a second before he suddenly breaks into a grin. “Take him to my house then! It’s off campus and no one will know!”

“He probably shouldn’t be alone right now,” Tobirama points out as he glances at the unconscious man, “doesn’t he have a girlfriend or something?”

“Mads is single and his brother is out of town,” Hashirama says and Tobirama can’t stop the snort at the stupid nickname. “Can you just stay with him until I get home? I close tonight, but you can always spend the night and I’ll take you back to your dorm tomorrow morning.”

“Fine,” Tobirama sighs, knowing it would be quicker to just agree with his brother and get it over with.

“Thanks! Here are his keys, just go out the back door,” Hashirama shoves the keys into Tobirama’s hands and darts out the door. “I have to get back to work!”

“Idiot,” Tobirama mutters under his breath as he crosses the short distance to the couch. “Professor, are you awake?” Shaking the older man gets zero response so Tobirama carefully picks his professor up and takes him out to the car that flashes when he hits the unlock button on the key fob. Cars might not be his thing, Kawarama was the car nut of the family, but Tobirama has to admit Professor Uchiha’s ride is very nice.

When Tobirama gets to Hashirama’s house, he parks in the garage and carefully moves his professor to the couch.

“Professor?” Tobirama tries again as he places a waste basket next to the unconscious man. Getting no response the Senju sighs and flops into the loveseat across from the couch. This was not how he’d planned on going home with someone. He didn’t even have any classwork with him for something to do, but his brother did have a decent movie collection, so he resorts to that to avoid just staring at Professor Uchiha.

Tobirama manages to make it through two movies, more like one and a half as he wasn’t sure when his eyes had strayed back to his professor, before he can’t take it anymore. “Fuck it,” Tobirama grumbles as he crosses the room and shakes the older man again. “Professor!” Barely getting more than a groan, the Senju huffs in irritation as his eyes stray back to the ponytail that had taunted him throughout class today. Surely it would be more comfortable to rest with his hair down, Tobirama reasons, he only cared about his favorite professor’s comfort; it had nothing to do with how he was dying to know what those luscious black locks felt like. He wars with himself for another moment before he finally gives into the temptation and carefully removes the tie from the Uchiha’s hair.

As it turns out the older man’s hair is not only as soft as Tobirama had thought it would be, it is remarkably tangle free and felt like the finest silk between his fingers. Gods how he wished he could run his fingers through these locks again. Lightly digging his fingers into the professor’s scalp, Tobirama is surprised to hear the older man let out a content hum. Who would have guessed Professor Uchiha liked having his hair played with? Perhaps Tobirama could use that in the future to get what he wanted.

“Where...?” The groggy voice snaps Tobirama out of his pleasant daydream and he quickly, albeit carefully, pulls his hand back.

“Professor, are you awake now?” Tobirama asks, brushing the older man’s bangs out of his face so he can check how dilated the other’s pupils are.

“Senju?” Madara mutters, confusion clear in his tone as he struggles to remember what happened. “You...drugged me?”

“No!” Tobirama yelps, not wanting the gorgeous man to get the wrong impression, “I did a favor for my brother!”

“Hashirama drugged me?” Madara questions, carefully sitting up with his student’s help.

“No,” Tobirama sighs, running a hand through his hair, “someone else drugged you when you went to have a drink with my brother. Hashirama dealt with the person, but he was worried about you, so he asked me to bring you to his house and keep an eye on you until he got home. How are you feeling?”

“Confused,” Madara admits, running a hand through his hair, “didn’t I have my hair up?”

“The tie came loose when I got you here,” Tobirama lies, handing the strip of leather over to him, “I tried to tie it back but it has a mind of its own.”

“So you’ve been watching over me then?”

“Yes, is that okay?”

“Sure,” Madara shrugs, looking at his student thoughtfully, “you’re one of my more responsible students.”

“I didn’t realize you knew I existed,” Tobirama admits and the Uchiha chuckles, a grin lighting up his face.

“You’re Hashirama’s little brother, I recognized you the second you walked into my classroom,” Madara says, grin still fond, if not amused, “thankfully you’re nowhere near the disaster your brother was when we were in class together.”

“I’m insulted you thought I was,” Tobirama huffs, “Hashirama is an absolute buffoon. Though at least he knows when people are flirting with him, unlike a certain professor I have.”

“Oh I know when my students are flirting with me,” Madara snorts, rolling his eyes, “none of them are worth getting fired over.”

“Well there goes my shot of fucking you over your desk,” Tobirama jokes, flushing when he realizes what he’s just said. He’s about to quickly retract the statement, until he sees the blush dusting his professor’s cheeks and the considering look in his eyes.

“Does it have to be my desk?” Madara blurts and the Senju’s eyes widen, this night just kept getting better and better.

“You were drugged and unconscious for who knows how long,” Tobirama points out, “that would be taking advantage of you.”

“How noble of you, stupid, but noble,” Madara sighs, slumping back against the couch, “how about you come see me at the end of my office hours tomorrow? It’s Friday so no one will try and bug me and you can’t say I’m still being influenced.”

“You’re serious,” Tobirama mutters, and Professor Uchiha nods, making the Senju smirk, “as long as you wear your hair up.”

“Deal.”

Tobirama contemplates not showing up to Professor Uchiha’s office the next day, still not entirely convinced the professor had meant what he said, but decides it would be silly to pass up such a chance. Worst case scenario he’d pretend he was checking on his grade for the semester. As the Senju makes his way to his professor’s office he notes that the rest of the science department have either left for the weekend or are packing up. That wasn’t too surprising, Madara was one of the few that made his office hours Friday afternoon; most professors wanted to start the weekend as soon as they could.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d show up,” Madara comments as Tobirama shuts the door behind him, the Uchiha’s hair once more tied up in a high ponytail.

“I wasn’t sure if you were serious or not,” Tobirama admits with a shrug as he drops his backpack into the seat across from the older man, “for all I know this is a set up.”

“I hardly need you to come here to set you up, all I would need to do is tell Hashirama you took advantage of me inside his home.”

“I did no such thing!” Tobirama growls, slamming his hands down on the desk as he glares at the Uchiha, who just smirks.

“Who do you think Hashirama would believe?” Madara challenges with a raised eyebrow, “me, his best friend who was unconscious and drugged, or you, his brother with known morality issues?”

“The corpse thing was one time!” Tobirama snaps, grinding his teeth together to prevent anymore stupid confessions.

“My point stands,” Madara chuckles, “I have the advantage in this situation.”

“If you were just going to blackmail me why wait until today?” Tobirama forces out, the words bitter across his tongue.

“One, I didn’t want to jump you at Hashirama’s house, and two, you’re no longer one of my students now.”

“Wha-?” Tobirama’s eyes widen before he even finishes the question. Of course, this was a shortened course and the final project was due earlier in the week. Tobirama was willing to bet his final grade was already submitted to the university so, in the unlikely event they were caught, Madara wouldn’t lose his job. Suddenly all of Madara’s taunting made sense, he was waiting for his office hours to officially end. “So how are we going to do this Professor?”

“Fantasy for a fantasy?”

“The noble Professor Uchiha has a dirty fantasy about fucking one of his students?” Tobirama teases with a smirk, “I can’t wait to hear it.”

“You want to fuck me over my desk, I want you to blow me under it,” Madara mutters, pink dusting his cheeks.

Tobirama pretends to give the offer some thought, he would pretty much do anything to bend the Uchiha over his desk, so while blowjobs weren’t his favorite thing, it was definitely worth it. Not to the mention the thought of opening Madara up and fucking into a second orgasm was too good a treat to pass up. “I suppose that’s doable.”

“If only Hashirama could see his baby brother now.”

“First, I’m not his baby brother that’s Itama,” Tobirama states as he crawls under the large wooden desk, “and second if you bring Hashirama up again I’m going to bite you.”

“If you bite my dick you’re not going to fuck me,” Madara warns as he slides his chair back into place, trapping Tobirama between the back of the desk and his legs.

Tobirama rolls his eyes, Madara was leaving this room limping one way or another, only to frown when he realizes he doesn’t have the leverage to unzip Madara’s pants. “Are you going to whip your dick out or do I have to do everything?”

“So needy,” Madara chuckles even as he frees his already hard cock, revealing just how much he wants the Senju under his desk.

Instead of responding verbally Tobirama leans forward and takes Madara’s cock to the base, dragging a startled moan from the Uchiha. Just because this wasn’t Tobirama’s favorite technique, didn’t mean he wasn’t good at it thanks to his lack of a gag reflex.

“Oh fuck!” Madara snarls, thrusting forward as he grabs a fistful of white hair, “of course you’re good at this too.”

Tobirama chuckles at the comment, loving the whine he gets from Madara, before he slowly starts to bob his head. Just when Madara has a chance to adjust to the pace, Tobirama hums, curling his tongue around the underside as he pulls off with a wet pop. “So glad you approve of my skill,” Tobirama purrs, lightly nibbling on the older man’s length, “Professor.”

“Fucking tease,” Madara whimpers, trying to tug Tobirama back to where he wants him, but the former student just smirks as he continues his slow pace.

“I really need that A Professor,” Tobirama mutters, his lips brushing against Madara’s shaft as he speaks, “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Goddamn,” Madara curses, tightening his grip on Tobirama’s hair; he hadn’t expected the Senju to play his part so well. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Pretty please Professor?” Tobirama pushes his lips out in an exaggerated pout, “I’ll lose my scholarship without it.” He slowly takes the Uchiha back into his mouth, hollowing out his cheeks obscenely as his lips meet Madara’s pelvis.

“Fuck!” Madara snarls, bucking his hips up without meaning to, Tobirama looked like he belonged on the set of one of those cheap pornos.

Tobirama hums in encouragement, picking up speed as he does. Madara barely lasts another minute before he yanks Tobirama down harshly and his release crashes over him. The Senju jerks slightly, but he quickly recovers and swallows the cum, wiping his chin on Madara’s pant leg once he can move.

“Goddamn Tobirama,” Madara pants, leaning back in his chair, “that mouth of yours shouldn’t be legal.”

“You better not make me wait for my turn old man,” Tobirama teases, nudging the chair back until he can crawl out from under the desk. His knees and back ache a little from holding that position so long, but the arousal coursing through his veins makes it easy to ignore.

“Fuck you,” Madara grumbles, waving a hand thoughtlessly in a ‘get on with it’ motion.

Tobirama smirks as he lets his eyes trail over them man he’s desired for half a semester. When Madara’s eyes slip closed for a moment, Tobirama strikes, one hand grabbing that damn ponytail. Before Madara can react, Tobirama yanks him out of his chair and pushes him down on his desk in one swift movement.

“Damn!” Madara hisses, tired body protesting the sudden movement, “what the hell Senju?!”

“You’ve been very naughty Professor,” Tobirama mutters, draping himself over the older man’s back so he can whisper directly into his ear. “Always looking so fuckable in class...I should punish you, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Tobirama-!” Madara’s words are cut off by a moan when his hair is yanked, hard.

“Hush now Professor, this isn’t one of your lectures,” Tobirama continues as he straightens up to look at the enticing sight before him. Madara looked even better spread across his own desk than Tobirama had thought he would. “You have no idea how distracting you are, do you? I think it’s about time someone fucked some sense into you.”

“This isn’t funny Senju” Madara states, getting his arms under him so he can push back against his former student. “You need to leave.”

“None of that now,” Tobirama tuts, yanking the Uchiha’s arms behind his back. Realizing Madara wants to play that kind of game, Tobirama smirks as he uses the man’s own hair to tie his wrists in place.

“Bastard,” Madara grumbles, tugging experimentally at his arms, only to moan at the burn in his scalp; his hair would hate him for this later, but at the moment Madara didn’t care.

“That’s better,” Tobirama purrs, leaning forward to suck a hickey on the back of Madara’s neck; it would be easily hidden by the man’s hair, but that wasn’t the point. “Now let’s get to the real reason you’re everyone’s favorite teacher,” Tobirama mutters, removing the older man’s belt and shoving his pants to the ground. “No underwear, how risque.”

“Fuck you,” Madara mutters, whimpering when his student’s hands roughly grope his ass, “I’ll fail you for this you brat.”

“Unlikely,” Tobirama chuckles, leaning over the professor to grab his backpack and drop it behind the desk. He lets Madara wonder what he’s doing for a moment before he slips a now lubed finger into the Uchiha. “I’m going to fuck you so hard Professor that you’ll be addicted to my cock.”

“You’ll be expelled for this,” Madara spits, even as he moans and thrusts back, impaling himself further on the invading finger. “You’ve just ruined your life, hope it’s worth it.”

“It’s so cute you think the university will take your side,” Tobirama chuckles, quickly working a second finger into Madara, “when the Senju family are their biggest donors. The only one that will get in trouble is you, Professor.”

“I’m not the one fucking his teacher over his desk,” Madara groans, biting back a whimper when a third finger slips in almost too soon, “the department head no less.”

“Titles mean nothing to the university as long as they get paid,” Tobirama chuckles, curling his fingers until the older man cries out, “you’re mine and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“Bastard,” Madara whines as the pale fingers slip free.

“I’ll make it good for you,” Tobirama promises, freeing and coating his cock in lube before he roughly thrusts into the bound man under him. Madara practically howls, but the Senju knows it's more from pleasure than pain.

“Fuck!” Madara snarls, body jerking as Tobirama immediately sets a brutal pace. Instead of getting him away from the cock sawing him in two, all Madara manages to do is tighten the knot of hair around his wrists, forcing his head back at an awkward angle.

“You feel so good Professor,” Tobirama moans, digging his nails into Madara’s ass, wanting to leave behind as many marks as he can. “I think you missed your true calling in life.”

“I swear-ah!” A particularly hard jab to his prostate has Madara choking back a sob of pleasure, “I’m gonna kick your ass!”

“Are you threatening me Professor?” Tobirama chuckles, grabbing at the base of Madara’s ponytail and yanking until he’s sure the older man can’t breath, “I’m sure I misheard you.”

“Senju…!” Madara gasps, stars dancing behind his eyes as Tobirama pulls him back to meet his next thrust.

“Say my name Professor,” Tobirama growls, picking up the speed of his thrusts.

Madara tries to fight it, but between the abuse to his prostate and the lack of air, his brightest student’s name tumbles out. “T-Tobirama…”

“Such a good boy,” Tobirama purrs, returning both hands to Madara’s hips so he can yank the older man back to meet each increasingly brutal thrust.

Madara greedily sucks in air as his head lolls forward as far as it can. The chemistry professor knew he wouldn’t last much longer, no one had managed to play his body as well as Tobirama was in a long time. “Tobirama...please...I-I...need…”

“Is this what you need Professor?” Tobirama mutters, shifting one hand to grab Madara’s leaking cock in a firm grip. “Do you need to come again?”

“Please!” Madara begs, too far gone to care how pathetic he must look.

“Anything for my favorite professor,” Tobirama chuckles, stroking the hard flesh in time with his thrusts. Madara makes it half a dozen thrusts before he comes with a wordless cry, his release splattering the top of the desk. Tobirama moans as the muscles around his cock grip him like a vice, pressing in as deep as he can before his orgasm hits.

“Shit,” Madara pants, whining as he is pressed down harder into the desk, his own cum staining his shirt.

“Your ass is even better than I thought it would be,” Tobirama chuckles, using one hand to keep Madara pressed down while his other hand rummages through his backpack again. Finding what he’s looking for Tobirama smirks and carefully pulls out of Madara. “I brought you a present Professor.”

“Wha-?!” Madara has to bite back a sob of pained pleasure as he feels something hard stretch his entrance open farther.

“I would hate for you to make a mess in your office,” Tobirama continues like Madara hasn’t spoken, firmly pressing the glass plug the rest of the way in. The Senju hums as he admires his handing work, one finger lightly tracing the edge of the toy.

“Enough,” Madara whimpers as the sinful finger pushes inside, his over sensitized nerves burning at the new stretch, “please.”

Tobirama just hums in agreement as he retracts his hand and fixes Madara’s pants for him. Carefully freeing the older man’s wrists, Tobirama runs a soothing hand the tangled locks of hair. “Hush now Professor,” the Senju mutters, enjoying the whimper when he gently sets Madara into his office chair, “I’ll take care of you.”

Madara can only grumble in response, too tired to offer much of a complaint. He’s vaguely aware of Tobirama cleaning off his desk as he drifts in and out of consciousness. A sudden weight in his lab draws him back to his office with a pained grunt as the plug is forced deeper. “What are you doing?” Madara demands, glaring at the younger man straddling his lap, “our deal is done.”

“I wasn’t kidding when I said you were mine now,” Tobirama says, bringing a collar into view, “now the question is, will you accept it?”

Madara stares at the collar for a long moment, realizing that Tobirama wanted him for more than a one time fling. That thought shouldn’t warm his heart nearly as much as it did, but it had been so long since he’d had a good dom. Instead of responding verbally, Madara just tilts his chin up, offering Tobirama free access to his neck.

Tobirama grins as he carefully fastens his collar around Madara’s beautifully pale neck; he’d never given out his collar before. “Thank you,” he mutters, using the collar to pull Madara down into their first kiss.

“No, thank you,” Madara chuckles after Tobirama pulls back just enough that their lips brush as he speaks. When the Senju grins stupidly like his older brother, Madara rolls his eyes, tugging Tobirama back in for another kiss.

[shadowphoenixrider]

A Meal to Remember

(Finally managed to get this fic out after periods of writer’s block and, well, all the anxiety and nonsense that comes with buying a house. But! It’s here now! This is a fic full of lemons, so discretion is advised. Tagging my lovely, patient crew: @galleywinter, @sigurdjarlson, @elfgirl931, @fer8girl and @highpriestessbriyanna!)

“I can’t believe Malfurion made you an archdruid.” Draggka said, stepping out into the sunset drenched streets of Dalaran.

“You’re telling me!” Dranka replied, running his hand through his red mohawk. “I’m standing here holding the teeth of a Loa and going ‘oh okay, if you really think so. I guess’.” He shrugged as they wandered down the street. “Talk about pressure.”

“Exactly what happened to me. First ‘go and fetch Thas’dorah, legendary bow of Alleria Windrunner’, then ‘ta da! You’re Huntmaster of the Unseen Path now’. Wait, what?!” Draggka gestured. “I think I might be jealous of Aiya and Cay, dodging all this responsibility.”

“Yeah, but if all their friends seem to be getting promotions but them? That’s gonna hurt.” He reminded the hunter, coming to a stop by the well near the Legerdemain Lounge, peering briefly down it.

“Fair point.” Draggka nodded, petting Spike as the raptor rubbed by her side. “Hey, you thinking about a bite to eat? Fighting all those naga made me hungry.”

“We’re not allowed to eat the naga, Drak.” Her brother grinned, folding his arms. “No matter how fish-like they are.”

“Oh shut up, you know what I meant!” She exclaimed, shoving the druid hard.

At that moment, Draggka felt a familiar ripple of magic trace over her spine, and Spike tensed, uttering a low warning growl. They turned slowly to see the pink, bulbous shape of an arcane elemental, the pair of lights serving as its eyes boring into the hunter.

“Looks like the Archmage is after you.” Dranka said, the humour gone from his voice. Her brother could be an asshole, but after she’d told him of what had happened in Azsuna, the druid had kept his teasing strictly work-related.

“Mmmm.” She hummed, resting a hand on the back of Spike’s neck. “What do ya want?” She asked the shimmering blob.

“The Archmage has invited you to come to his quarters for dinner this evening.” The elemental ‘spoke’ inside her head. “He has emphasized that you do not need to bring anything other than yourself and your companion.”

“How is de Archmage?” Draggka asked, internally grimacing at the outwardly one-sided conversation.

“His condition is stable.” The elemental replied. Dranka watched on, tilting his head expectantly at the hunter.

“Looks like I won’t be able to join you for dinner,” she relayed to him. “Khadgar’s made plans for me.”

“Plans?” Dranka grinned. “Interesting. Sounds like he’s feeling better already.”

“Yeah. Said I don’t need to bring anything but Spike, so I might just be getting whatever he can conjure, though.” The raptor perked up at the sound of his name.

“He might wanna give you another taste of his strudel.” Her brother gave her a shit-eating grin.

“Drank!” She swatted at him. “He’s had a concussion - there’s no way he’ll be up for anything like that.”

“Uh huh.” Dranka sounded as unconvinced as her gut felt. “Anyway, good to hear he feels better. We need him back in action.” He shrugged again. “Shame we’ve gotta catch up another time. I’d like to hear about what happened in Highmountain.”

“I’ll find time, don’t worry.” His sister nodded, reaching out to clasp his shoulder. “Take careful of yourself, big guy.”

“You too, little sis.” The druid smiled back at her, resting his hand over hers. “Go and enjoy time with mage before it all kicks off again.”

A quick squeeze to her hand (and a pet to Spike’s head), and they parted ways, Dranka sauntering off into the Lounge. Draggka turned back to the elemental which had been silently awaiting her answer.

“I be accepting his invitation,” she said. “But how do I be getting to his quarters?”

“I will escort you to his chambers.” The elemental replied. “You will not be challenged. Please, follow me.”

Without much warning, it turned and drifted off towards the Violet Citadel, Draggka having to jog to catch up to it. She and Spike exchanged a look between one another, and decided it was best just to follow the magical construct and hope for the best.

The troll did get some puzzled looks her way as she followed the arcane servant through the Citadel, but true to its word, no-one made a move to intercept her. That said, she did have a scarred raptor by her side, meeting the eye of any staring at her.

The elemental stopped at a door that Draggka found vaguely familiar, and without a knock, or any indication of their arrival, it opened, revealing the Archmage.

“Draggka!” His eyes were as bright as his smile. “Come in, come in!”

His elemental entered first, floating off towards the kitchen. Draggka and Spike followed behind, the raptor sniffing the air intently, uttering an excited grunt. He smelled cooking food, and good food at that - Draggka’s stomach gurgled eagerly.

The mage locked and warded the door, the hunter noticing he had stripped out of his armour into something more comfortable - his robes were still the long light blue as usual, but they lacked the brown leather trimming and looked softer, tied around his waist by a darker blue cloth belt, edged with gold. He was still wearing his collar, however, and was also missing something very important.

“Khadgar, where ya bandage be?” Draggka asked, giving him a stern look.

“Ah heh, yes.” He gave her an apologetic smile, running a hand through his silver hair. “The Council all but forced me to see a healer, despite your impressive handiwork. Said healer wasn’t amused when I told her I was fine, and healed me anyway. After threatening to hit me with her staff if I tried to ‘wriggle out of it’.” He turned around. “It felt like she did a good job.”

“Yeah.” Draggka nodded, parting his hair to inspect the skin beneath. “She closed it nicely. Tink it be leavin’ a scar though.”

“Another to add to my collection.” The wizard commented. “The Council has also ordered me to stay in Dalaran until I recover. As did the priest who healed me.”

“Good.” Draggka said, folding her arms. “So ya should. You coulda got into a lotta trouble down dere.”

“I am aware Huntmaster, but confining me to my quarters seems a bit much.” He shook his head, waving a hand. “Anyway, enough about that. I invited you for dinner, not to complain about the Council.” He blinked. “Speaking off which...” The mage hurried off into the kitchen.

“Ya actually cooking something?” She asked, her eyebrows raising. Spike padded over to the kitchen, stopping at the threshold to peer in.

“Yes, I am. Not often I get the time to.” Khadgar called back. “I, it’s nothing fancy, just a simple Pandaren dish, some noodles and a sauce. I figured I should try not to burn the Citadel down on my first go at this.”

“Dat be a good thought.” The hunter replied, glancing at Spike. The raptor was deeply engrossed in what the mage was doing, nostrils flaring wide with each breath - clearly he thought he was doing a good job. “Where do ya want me to put my stuff?”

“Anywhere out of the way is fine!” Khadgar replied. “Remember that my quarters are every bit yours as mine now.”

Draggka’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt her face colour. It still hadn’t sunken in - first that she now had a stationary place to call her own, but also that it was with someone else. Who just happened to be Archmage Khadgar, Leader of the Kirin Tor, and legendary Alliance Hero of the Second War.

She found a clear spot in the main room, and dropped her pack and quiver there, before unstringing Thas’dorah, wrapping it in cloth to keep it safe. The troll hesitated for a long moment, feeling her armour become heavy and unwelcome. The Archmage was in casual robes, so it seemed a bit much for her to stay like this.

Decision made, she quickly shed the mail armour that protected her, stripping down to just the leathers on top of the simple fabric clothes she wore to stop them rubbing, piling her armour up to one side.

“Draggka, are you alrigh- oh!” The hunter jumped, whipping her head around to see Khadgar poking his head into the room, a blush starting to glow on his cheeks. “S-Sorry, I didn’t expect that’d you, um...”

“I-It just be my armour.” She replied, feeling her own face heat up. “Ya not be in ya battle robes, so...I thought I better...not be in my gear.”

“O-Oh yes, of course, you wouldn’t want to be o-overdressed.” He smiled shyly. “I-I just wanted to let you know that it’s ready, if, if you want to come through?” He gestured for her to join him. “I hope it’s alright.”

“Well, only one way to be finding out.” Draggka smiled back.

---

“Mmmm.” Draggka hummed contentedly, wiping around her tusks. “Didn’t know dat being a good cook be another one of ya skills.”

Khadgar laughed shyly, his face flushing red.

“Oh, well, I was only following instructions. I don’t tend to cook for myself.” He smiled. “I’m very glad you enjoyed it.”

They were sitting at a small table in the kitchen, just big enough for the two of them, and neatly laid out with a tablecloth and shiny silver cutlery, a candle glowing between them. The troll had felt more than a little scruffy, sitting at it in her battleworn leathers, but Khadgar’s presence and the good food had helped smooth away any concerns.

Said wizard tilted his head.

“Did your friend?”

Draggka looked down to see Spike lying under the table across the cool floor tiles, his eyes closed and a contented rumble rising from his body. The end of his tail curled slightly, the raptor looking utterly replete.

“I’d be taking dat as a yes.” She chuckled. “Where’d ya get the meat?”

“Connections.” Khadgar smirked, lifting a shoulder. “They don’t ask many questions.”

“Uh huh.” The hunter let the conversation settle briefly, eyeing the candle flickering between them. “So, dere be a reason you be making for dinner for us?” She asked. “N-Not dat I be complaining at all!”

Khadgar chuckled.

“Always to the point,” he said, smiling warmly. “Well, I recall that you mentioned about making some time for the both of us after recovering the Pillar of Creation. And since the Tidestone is now secured within the Chamber of the Guardian, I suppose the time is now.”

Draggka blinked.

“You remembered dat?”

“I did.” Khadgar gestured with his hand, eyes briefly lighting up with magic. His servant sprouted up beside them, taking the plates away. “I spent the night in the Azurewing cave thinking about it. About holding you, being with you, whiling away the day together...” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Regardless of our present circumstances, I could have stayed like that forever.”

Draggka couldn’t help but smile back - she’d felt similar when she’d woken before him. Enough to delay her morning hunt.

“Yeah. Thought da same when I be wakin’ up next to ya.” She replied, stretching her legs out under the table, brushing against his. “We be goin’ from one crisis to another. I- we need time to breathe.”

“Absolutely. Consider this the beginning of the time we can scratch out from the outside world.” Khadgar spoke, resting a hand lightly on her knee. “And also me paying you back for your...service a couple of days ago.”

The archmage’s smile went for warm and loving to dark and mischievous, wiggling his eyebrows. The troll’s eyes narrowed.

“Surely dat not be a good idea afta ya just had a concussion, right?”

“The healer did advise me not to undertake any ‘vigorous’ exercise whilst I was recovering.” His grin became downright devilish. “However, that doesn’t mean I can’t pleasure you in other ways.”

Spike groaned loudly, too full to do anything but voice his displeasure at the young-old wizard’s flirting. Despite her companion’s complaints, Draggka felt her face heat up. Khadgar seemed content to let her stew for a moment, taking a sip of the red wine he’d poured himself.

“To be honest with you, my dear,” he said. “I intended this night to be a memorable in that we would have a romantic night in. A candle-lit dinner, wine, good food, and even better company. Whilst I do intend for our evening to have a pleasurable conclusion, said conclusion need not involve any carnal relations.” Khadgar’s smile warmed, becoming loving, and his eyes twinkled in the candlelight. “Merely sitting and holding you would be enough for me, if that’s what you would prefer.”

The troll was sure she was blushing now, feeling rather charmed. The wizard was so effortlessly suave and she...was not.

“I, I’d like both of dose tings.” She replied shyly, not for the first time cursing that Common was a second tongue. “If, if ya wanna mate wit me...I’d like dat.”

Spike seemed to summon enough energy to haul himself up with a groan, and he walked off out of the room.

“Your raptor disagrees.” Khadgar commented, hiding his smile behind his wineglass.

“I tink he be havin’ enough of us flirting.” Draggka said, before she smirked. “Wait. Did ya get rose petals for da bed dis time?”

“Only one way to find out.” The mage replied with a wink. He took another sip of wine before he climbed to his feet, offering his hand. “Shall we?”

The hunter nodded, taking his hand. Khadgar helped her up with it before bringing it to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Her heart did a somersault, and she almost melted on the spot. Spirits’ grace, I feel like I’m in a dream.

The Archmage escorted her to the bedroom (past Spike lying on the couch and pointedly ignoring them), pushing the door ajar, and gesturing for her to go in first.

The room was dark, yet lit by a host of glowing lamps, hovering serenely in the air with their orange flames flickering behind their protective glass cases. The bed was immaculately made up for two, with white pillows and sheets, and covered with a generous scattering of red rose petals.

Draggka glanced back to look at Khadgar, hovering shyly behind her as he closed the door.

“Do...do you like it?” Was his tentative question.

“Yeah.” She smiled wide, nodding. “Yeah, of course I do.” Her heart swelled in her chest, yet she managed to put on a grin. “Looks like ya got dose petals afta all.”

“I did.” Khadgar grinned back, stepping closer to her. “They might not be Gilnean, but I doubt it will be an issue,” he said, lifting an eyebrow at her.

“Roses be roses to me.” The hunter admitted. “Ya not gonna get questioned on dese, I hope?”

“No doubt gossip will swirl amongst the merchants, but gossip has started for more trivial reasons than this.” The mage said. “If they wish to read too deeply into an order of spell reagents, that is their business.”

He shook his head, moving up behind the troll and gently sliding his hands around her waist.

“Enough of that talk. What matters now is you, and you alone.” Khadgar murmured, his voice caressing her ears. “Shall we get you out of these leathers?”

She turned her head enough to regard him.

“Ya not joining me?” She asked. There was a flash of anxiety in his eyes, a chink in his armour.

“I...I’d rather not.” He replied, glancing away from her. “A-At least, not right now.”

Draggka carefully nuzzled his face with her own.

“I’d like to see more of ya if I can. But you do whatever ya feel more comfortable doin’,” she said softly. “I be happy if you be happy too.”

A quick, shy smile flashed across Khadgar’s lips.

“You are too kind.” He murmured, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Light, I love you so much.”

With that, he cupped her cheek, turning her head so they could kiss properly.

It was like two puzzle pieces coming together with how well the fit felt. The longing that had quietly sat on her shoulders - ignored due to other, more critical concerns - was finally being sated, and in that moment the doors to the outside world were locked and barred. All the fretting, worries, and responsibilities associated with it were quickly filed away for the night, leaving her free to focus on her mate, her love. The man she adored.

They pulled away slowly, as if lost in a dream. Not far, however - their noses were still close enough to almost touch, their breath mingling. Khadgar’s eyes were soft, gentle and warm, as blue as the ocean on a calm day. Draggka was all too content to be washed away.

“May I disrobe you?” He asked in his deep, rich voice.

“If ya know what to do, yeah.” She nodded.

“I shall ask you for aid when I need it.” He replied, a smile playing on his lips.

The mage’s hands were gentle, nimble and precise as he helped the hunter shed her clothing, leaving it in a neat-ish pile by the bed. With every item that was removed, he smoothed his hands over the newly revealed section of bare skin, tracing lovely over the scars he found, and muttering compliments just under his breath. He touched her as if she was the most important person on Azeroth, as if being able to touch her was a blessing he was frightened to lose.

“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” Khadgar asked, when Draggka just stood in her breastband and underwear.

“I don’t remember ya telling me in great detail.” She admitted, watching his eyes twinkle.

“I would be delighted to tell you,” he said, smiling. “Though I confess, I hardly know where to begin. I trained as a scribe, not a poet. But I can try.” He cleared his throat, coming to stand in front of her.

“You are the epitome of a hunter - sleek strength and powerful agility, as one with the jungle as any druid.” He began, eyes tracing over her as he spoke. “Your eyes are a lovely shade of amber, and always remind me of fire - like candlelight. I could spend hours staring into them, and...I like to think I could feel their warmth if I gazed deeply enough.”

The mage reached out, tenderly touching one of her hair braids that held two of his raven feathers in the cloth band. “I am honoured that you decided to keep me close to you, so to speak,” he said softly. “I long to find something of yours I could keep with me like this.” He ran his thumb over the tuft of hair at the bottom. “If you would allow it, I’d like to see how your hair looks like down. N-Not that’s not gorgeous as it is now, I-I’m just curious.” Khadgar smiled nervously, and Draggka couldn’t help but giggle.

“I know, Khadgar. Maybe another night I’ll show you,” she said.

“I’d like that.” His smile was bashful even as his eyes roved over her face, settling on her mouth. “I...I like your tusks too. I find it difficult to understand why people would dislike them, aside from the obvious physical limitations.” A blush began to darken on his cheeks. “I...I like the way they feel. When I feel, feel them against me.”

The archmage glanced away, his bravado having fled and left his shyness nakedly apparent. The hunter's grin was that of a predator.

“You like dat, do ya?” She was delighted when his blush deepened, and he smiled nervously. “Why, Archmage, I didn’t know ya had dat in ya.” She leaned over to purr: “Maybe when you be better, I can be doing some more of dat for you...”

“Ohhh, you tease.” He shuddered. His bravado suddenly returned, however, with a grin. “And not just with your words as well...” Khadgar moved closer, his eyes dark and hungry, and his voice creeping into much lower registers.

“The shape of you, the way you move - I can’t keep my eyes off you.” He spoke, slowly circling behind her. “You bewitch me, enchant me. I long to feel your body against me, to find all the scars under your fur, to listen to what you sound like when I run my hands over your skin...” He purred in her ear, and the troll couldn’t resist the shiver that ran up her spine.

Khadgar pulled back slightly, pleasantly surprised.

“Oh?” She could practically hear the devious smile spread across his lips and the glint in his eyes. “Is something exciting you, Huntmaster?” He crooned. “Tell me, is it the thought of my hands on you, or my voice?”

Draggka blushed deeply, a part of her doing a peculiar little wiggle. Sure, one made her heart quicken with anticipation, but the other...

“Ya...your voice.” She admitted, the weird feeling becoming some sort of combination of shy embarrassment and arousal as she finally acknowledged the thing that had been simmering in the background for a while.

“My voice, hmmm?” The infuriating wizard was definitely capitalizing on his effect on her, wielding his voice with disciplined practice. “You know, I had a feeling that might be true. Certain things I’ve said, the ways I’ve said them, and you with some very...interesting reactions. Subtle ones, yes, but I’ve noticed them...” He finally circled back in front of her, running a finger under her chin. “I think we should explore this further...don’t you?”

Draggka was pretty sure if she kept blushing this hard, her face was going to get stuck that way. She nodded to answer him, managing to get a tentative; “yeah, I tink so too” response out. Khadgar softened immediately.

“O-Of course, if you, you don’t feel comfortable with it right now, we can schedule those e-explorations for another night.” His smile was genuine in its warmth, but also in its nervousness.

She gave a short chuckle at the thought of him as the effortlessly suave seducer, whilst also still worrying he would upset her at the slightest thing.

“No, it be alright.” She smiled, moving his hand to cup her cheek. “Ya just took me by surprise, dat’s all.”

“The good kind of surprise, I hope?”

“Yes.” She pecked him on the lips. “So, ya be saying someting about putting ya hands on my body...?”

Khadgar blinked at her before the coin dropped.

“Oh, yes, your body!” His gaze darted up and down her. “Did I mention you’re gorgeous? I mean it. I confess, back on Draenor, I would watch you train with the other archers.” His eyes hazed over as he spoke.

“Such grace in your form, such power. I think that must have been the beginnings of my physical attraction to you.” A blink, and his gaze was clear again. “Not to mention when you saved me at the dam.” He traced his cheek. “Your arrow came so close I think I felt its feather.” A nervous chuckle. “You...didn’t happen to see my face afterwards, by any chance?”

“I don’t really remember.” Draggka shook her head. “It were a hectic time. Why?”

“Oh, nothing.” Khadgar grinned bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck. “Probably me staring at you like a lovesick initiate, that’s all. Like how Turalyon looked when he first clapped eyes on Alleria...” A brief far-away look, and then it was gone.

“Anyway. Your hands.” He took one. “They fit perfectly into mine, and your touch...I long for it. Pine for it when I cannot have it. I play back the days and nights when I’ve had your hands on me, hoping to soon have stronger memories.” The mage pressed a kiss to her knuckles, looking up at her through his eyelashes. “Anything else you would like me to praise?” He asked.

“No...no, I tink ya made ya point.” The troll giggled, both pleased and also hoping her blush wasn’t trying to stain her face purple.

Khadgar chuckled, a deep sound low in his throat, and gently tugged her closer by her hand. He glanced to the bed, then back to her.

“Shall we?”

She nodded, still a little too charmed to speak, and followed him over to sit amongst the red petals. When the hunter noticed Khadgar stayed standing, she used a little tug to get him to sit beside her. When she reached towards his robes, he froze for a brief moment, hands slightly lifting as if to stop her.

“I just want to be feeling ya,” she said softly, meeting his anxious eyes with her own calmer ones. “Is dat okay?”

He glanced down, thinking for a second, before he nodded, taking a deep breath and resting his hands back on his lap.

“Okay.”

Draggka reached out again, untying a lace on the neck of his robes so she could slide her hand underneath. He felt as she remembered: warm, soft skin, chest hair that was slightly wiry yet still nice to run her fingers through, and the valleys and knots of scar tissue that belied his prior battles and conflicts.

Khadgar was tense at first, but he relaxed at her touch, yet she could still sense the nervous energy buzzing around him. She plucked another lace free to catch more of a glimpse of her lover’s bare skin as her other hand continued to wander, before their gazes met.

“May I see a little more?”

A quick smiled flashed across the archmage’s face.

“Of course.”

He undid the last few laces of his robes and the cloth belt around his waist, shrugging the fabric off his broad shoulders and onto the floor below. A blush darkened his face, despite himself, and Draggka leaned forward, giving him a brief kiss.

“Dat’s better.” She purred, her eyes leisurely taking him in. “It won’t be a memorable night if I don’t be getting to see ya gorgeous body.”

“You’re flattering me.”

“I not be one for flattery, Archmage.” She smirked at him, arching an eyebrow. “You know dat as well as I do.”

Khadgar chuckled, shaking his head.

“You are a wonder,” he said, almost to himself, before he leaned in and kissed her properly. There was barely a hesitation before he deepened it, cupping the back of her head and opening his mouth so their tongues could meet. It kindled the need that had been patiently and quietly humming in the background, waiting ever since it had been suppressed in the Llothien forest. This time, there would be no distractions.

Hunter and archmage broke away for air, but soon they were kissing fervently again, fumbling closer to one another in a twist of limbs and torsos and the occasionally clack of over-eager teeth and tusks. Draggka grasped for Khadgar’s hair, but her unconscious mind thankfully thought better of this, and her hand went to his back instead, finding the extra folds of skin he possessed quite useful to hold onto.

They parted again, only this time Khadgar moved down to her neck, feathering kisses down it that made her breathing heavier and her head tilt back to oblige him. He hesitated a moment, and then Draggka felt the tentative nip from his teeth. Surprise, both from his action and its resulting effect on her made her gasp, and Khadgar quickly recoiled at the sound.

“Are you alright?” He asked breathlessly, eyes wide.

“I, I be fine.” Draggka flashed him an earnest smile. “Jus’ surprised.”

“Yes. Sorry.” A weak smile.

“No need to be sorry.” She told him. “I, I liked it.” A bashful smile. “Jus’ don’t be leaving a mark dat others can see.”

“I won’t. Though, I think your regeneration would help eliminate any trace in quick order.” Khadgar mused. “I will err on the side of caution for now.”

Draggka felt she should probably remind him of their situation, but he was already back to kissing her neck, dropping little bites every now and again to make her breath hitch and heart skip a beat.

As he did this, she felt his fingers creep over the lip of her breastband, stopping just short in a move both polite and teasing.

“Do you want this?” The mage drawled softly by her ear, his breath stirring the fur just behind it and sending ticklish tremors down her back that made her want to squirm.

“Yes.” Draggka nodded, hands going for the tie behind her back, yet Khadgar merely tugged the fabric down to free her breast, taking a moment to ogle and trace a finger lovingly over them.

“You are so beautiful.” He murmured admiringly, dark eyes briefly glancing up to meet hers, full of love and desire.

With that, Khadgar bent down and pressed kisses to a breast, whilst his hand moved to gently fondle the other, occasionally squeezing to coax a moan out of the troll. He experimented with his mouth, alternating between open mouth kisses to the furtive lap of his tongue and the occasional scrape of his teeth to see what the hunter found more appealing. Similar experiments were occurring with his other hand, mostly concentrated on her nipple and what she found arousing, using her gasps, sighs and moans to gauge his success.

After a couple of minutes, he switched breasts, putting his new found knowledge to the test - including mimicking what his fingers were doing with his mouth, running his tongue over her nipple and tentatively pinching it between his lips and sucking. These ministrations sent hot bolts of arousal straight into the apex of Draggka’s thighs, and it was all she could do not to squirm and rub her legs together.

Their first time had been awkward and fumbling, taking advantage of a rare peace to make love. Their second time had been pure, unadulterated lust and a desperate need to steal some time before they would be separated once again. This was finally some time to breathe, put real life aside and explore one another, to tease out how best to please their lover.

At least, Khadgar would do that to her; with his recent head injury, Draggka would have to learn her mate a little later. But she would, and she would make him feel just like how he was making her feel right now; utterly aroused, immersed in pleasure and not wanting it to stop.

With a soft, insistent urging, the archmage encouraged Draggka to lie down, although they had to part briefly so they could scoot a little further up the bed. He continued his kissing and caressing, utterly engrossed in his task, whilst his other hand slid under the troll to cup her backside through her underwear, giving it a little squeeze.

A low moan uncoiled from the hunter’s mouth, her eyes fluttering open and shut as she warred between watching her lover at work, or just basking in the sensations like a lizard in the morning sun. Either way, it was bliss.

Content that he had thoroughly lavished Draggka’s breasts with affection, Khadgar slowly began to meander down the troll’s body, kissing his way to her pale scars that he traced with his lips and tongue (excluding the large scars over her belly, which he also ran his fingers over), until he reached the hem of her underwear.

After a kiss to her pelvis, the mage looked up at her, one finger hooked into the last piece of clothing she wore.

“May I?” He asked, voice deep but his eyes earnest.

“Yeah.” Draggka nodded, lifting her hips off the bed to help him slip them off to join the pile on the floor.

The wizard sat back for a moment, taking in the scene in front of him, which made warm arousal and a slight tingle of shy/nervousness rise within her. His pupils were wide with lust, and the large bulge in his trousers certainly underlined his desire, yet his smile was fond and his gaze was almost reverent.

“Beautiful.” He breathed the word like a sigh, his hands lightly drifting down her legs. His lips moved a couple more times, but either Draggka couldn’t hear what he said, or his words eluded him like a panther on a starless night.

“Khadgar?”

He smiled up at her, his expression warming her heart.

“Forgive me, my love. I had forgotten how gorgeous you are like this.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what or who to thank for bringing us together, but I would sing their praises forever if I did.”

“Even if it were Garrosh?” Draggka chuckled as his brows furrowed.

“Mmm, maybe not. But you know what I mean!” He waved a hand dismissively. “I do believe I have more important matters to take care of. Something about a reward for my valiant saviour?” A dark, teasing grin grew over his lips, eyes flashing with mischievous intent. Draggka rolled her eyes.

“Really?”

“But of course! A rest from her duties, a candle-lit dinner, and a thorough worship of her wonderful body - a perfect reward for the brave hero who saved my life, don’t you think?” He grinned, slowly sinking down between her thighs.

“I’m not sure ya should be offerin’ dat to everyone who be saving ya skin. Dat be a quick way to be makin’ a lotta people jealous.”

“Yes, of course. Good thing it’s a reward exclusive to my Huntmaster, then.”

Before Draggka had a chance to retort, Khadgar dipped his head, his breath passing her moist folds and sending shivers up her spine, before his finger began to delicately trace through them, exploring them thoroughly with a light, teasing touch.

“I’ve been dreaming of this.” Khadgar said, voice deep and hungry. “But as vivid as they may be, they never compare to this...”

He found her clit then, and a gasp escaped the troll, tapering off into a moan as the mage started to play with it under his finger. His touch was firm yet delicate, experimenting with what he could do to elicit the most pleasurable reactions from his lover, whilst his other hand rested on her thigh, a warning not to crush him between them (though that idea was very appealing).

Draggka had only just gotten used to that tease when she felt his lips trace over her own, then his tongue, and the troll couldn’t help the Orcish curse that escaped her, and the subtle lift of her hips to chase him. This was her third time experiencing the archmage going down on her, but it was just as shockingly erotic as the very first. If the hunter didn’t know better, she’d swear to her Loa that Khadgar had done this all his life, even from her limited experience. It just felt so good; his lips, fingers and tongue moving over her, in her, around her in some sort of dance that just brought pure ecstasy to her with almost every movement.

For the first time, instead of resisting and struggling against the waves of pleasure to watch Khadgar work, Draggka closed her eyes and let herself bathe within it, focusing instead on not doing anything that could jostle or hurt the man buried between her thighs.

The sensations moved her, literally so as she writhed and arched as they pulsed through her, causing a litany of moans and breathy words in all the languages she knew to come tumbling out of her mouth. Curses at how unbelievably good it was, praise for the mage and his talents and begging for him not to stop and deprive her of this heavenly ecstasy he was giving her.

Khadgar did murmur things, deep, dark and low that most of the time she didn’t hear over her own noises, but what she did hear was praise about her, what she sounded like, interspersed with curses of his own, as arousal became as strong and hungry as hers.

As the building heat within Draggka’s abdomen had started to solidify and tighten, her fingers grasping at handfuls of sheets and rose petals, Khadgar must have lifted his head just enough to let her hear his words.

“Light above Draggka. You taste so good.” The words were thick and rough. “I could stay here forever.”

The shiver that shot up her spine was electric, especially when Khadgar returned to his work with renewed fervour, a desperation to his ministrations. It was all Draggka could do to stay still and resist the urge to grab him by the hair and hold him there until he gave her her sorely needed climax. She was dimly aware that she was begging now; for more, for less, certainly for him not to stop, though whether or not he could understand was another matter entirely. He could definitely understand the cries of his name, however, which was becoming the easiest thing for her overloading mind to grasp. The few brain cells that could string a sensible thought between them dimly wondered if someone could hear them despite the soundproofing - to hear that their archmage was causing these cries, giving her this ecstasy beyond anything she’d ever known.

Finally, she could take no more, and Draggka came with an arched back and a loud cry of his name, every ounce of tension within her body suddenly released in a surge of ecstasy and relaxation that left her boneless, exhausted and ultimately satisfied.

Several minutes-long seconds passed before she felt the bed dip around her, and she opened her bleary eyes to see Khadgar gazing fondly down at her.

“Are you alright, my love?” He asked in his soft, deep voice, brushing her hair from her face. “Was that good for you?”

The troll managed a tired chuckle.

“Dat be more den good, Ba’la. Dat was...” She reached for the word in her foggy mind. “Wonderful.”

He smiled.

“I’m glad.” He shifted to lie beside her. “I was worried it wouldn’t be perfect, what with my current condition.”

“Maybe.” She reached up, lacing her fingers with his. “But it were perfect for me.” She smiled up at him. “Good food, you, and sex. Dere be nothing else to wish for.”

“You’re right.” Khadgar leaned down to kiss her, gentle and brief. “Draggka...what does ‘ba’la’ mean?”

The troll blinked, a blush starting to grow over her face.

“Oh...’Ba’la’. I tink in Common it means ‘beloved’” She glanced away shyly. “It just...slipped out.”

“‘Beloved’...” Khadgar murmured wistfully, surprise coating his words. When she plucked up enough courage to look back, the mage was blushing too, a bashful smile on his face. “Looks like it’s not just me with the pet names.”

Draggka giggled, swatting playfully at his face.

“I mean it, ya know. Ya be my beloved.”

Khadgar blinked widely.

“You do?”

“‘Course I do.” The hunter reached up to cup his cheek. “I love ya. You be my mate. Derefore, my beloved.”

“Well, when you put it that way, how can I deny it?” The mage chuckled, looping an arm around her to bring her closer.

Fatigue began to creep over the troll, her previous adventures and prior excitement finally arriving to take their toll on her. She stretched out, stifling a yawn.

“Tired, love?” Khadgar rumbled softly.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Tink ya tired me out.”

“I think our adventures down in Azsuna did most of the work.” He smiled. “Do you want to clean up before you sleep?”

“Mmm...” Draggka frowned. “Suppose I should.”

“You can stay here if you like, love.” Khadgar said. “Leave it until tomorrow if you wish.”

“Alright, you win.” She murmured, rolling out of his grip. “If dey be needin’ anyone, dey can be getting another champion to be dealing wit it.”

“I quite agree.” The mage grinned, changing down to his underwear before joining her under the covers, pulling her up close to him. “Good night, darling. Sweet dreams.”

“You too, Ba’la.” Draggka smiled, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. It wasn’t long before sleep overtook her. As Khadgar also slipped into blissful unconsciousness, the bedroom door was slowly pushed open.

Spike nosed his way inside, and his muzzle immediately wrinkled in disgust at the scent of sex in the air. He would have left, if not for the sight of his two pack-mates curled up together.

Deciding it was best to let them sleep, Spike padded over to the foot of the bed and curled up to watch the door.

[rainbow-neko-main]

Freedom in Different Places (Ch. 1)

An AU given to me by a good friend. Featureing some good fluffy Biker Chase x Librarian Henrik. ~♡♡♡ (if i like this enough i might make more parts ;D )

===========

"What do you mean you can't fix it?!" yelled a man wearing a black lether jacket with a red baseball cap, bright yellow and green strands messily stuck out of the hat. He seemed to be shouting at a teenager, decorated in body piercings with a red tatto across his neck, his hair unlike the other was died a dark green. He was holding a box of tools and coverd in oil. Chase never thought he'd see the day where Anti, their gangs mechanic, wouldn't be able to help him with his motorcycle. He was beginning to think there was not one thing the teen couldn't fix...

I guess he finally found one.

"Exactly what I mean Chase. You can't just bust up your motorcycle that bad and expect me to be able to fix all your mistakes. This is way out of my league!" Anti states back. He hated when Chase shouted at him. It's not his fault the man ran his ride into a wall trying to escape from one of their recent jobs.

"Settle down you two, no need to fight." Another man steps out of the shadows, his hair is normal brown and spiked up. The black leather he wore matched his two companions except he had a green eye printed onto the back with white text across it reading 'BOSS'.

"Chase you can't get upset at Anti for not being able to fix your bike. Anti you need to calm down. You know you can't blame him for what happened last night." Jack says accordingly. "We don't even know where you were on that heist..." Anti mummbled before continuing at his normal volume while ignoreing Jack's glares. "Chase if you want me to fix your bike, get a computer or a book or something for information." Chase seemed to pale at the mention of going somewhere and staying inside. But he knew just as well as them that they couldn't get it fixed anywhere else...

"Jack loan me your bike so I can go to the library..." Jack tossed Chase his helmet and made a gesture to take off his hat before riding. Chase returns it with a smile and heads out the door, missing the mutter of concern that escaped him

"How the fuck am I gonna do this..."

-One Quick Ride Later-

Chase stops and park his motorcycle out front of the large building, the dark black was in high contrast aginst the buildings nice tan walls. Any resonable person would have thought a biker walking into a library was the most ridiculous thing they've ever seen...at least thats what Chase thought. He walked into the building, noticing the little bell on the door. He breathed in and could smell the freshness of new books, hear the absolute silence of the small library. He sighs lightly and reminds himself to keep his volume down. "Lets get this over with..." he mutters.

Chase starts to roam the isles of books and shelves. He noticed fantasy and science fiction, he even found a couple historical texts. Yet not a single "how to" book or mechanics guide. How the hell does anyone navigate-

His thought was cut short when he accidently bumped into someone. He heard a few thumps followed by a pained voice curseing in what seemed to be...German? He looked over quickly to see who he had knocked over and felt his words get stuck in his throat.

There on the ground was a small man surrounded by fallen books, a small bandage rested across his freckled nose and soft floppy bright minty green hair rested on his head. He was wearing a white sweater over a collared light blue shirt and khaki pants. He was rubbing his head but when he looked up Chase could see his blue beautiful eyes were framed with an adorable pair of square glasses. He wore a nametag that read 'Henrik' which meant he worked here...and Chase had knocked him over.

"Oh! D-dude im s-o sorry! Let me help you!" Chase exclaimed as he finnaly returned to his senses, leaning down to help pick up the fallen books. The man, Henrik, responded quickly. "No no thats alright. I should have been looking where I was going." He says as he starts to also pick up the books. They were almost done untill the last one where they both reached for it and ended up with entwined hands on the book.

They looked up from the book at eachother and stared. It felt like this for an eternity when in reality it was only a few seconds. Henrik pulled away and stood up with Chase, brushing himself off lightly.

"Again, i'm so sorry dude. The names Brody, Chase Brody." Henrik smiles and Chase swore he felt his heart melt. "It's fine. Henrik Schneeplestein. I'm the librarian here." Librarian? Oh! Librarian of course! "You work here? Would you mind showing me where I could find some mechanic books?" Chase asked excitedly. Henrik blinked in surprise and nodded. "Of course. There right down this shelf and-" he gave Chase a small step by step instruction on where to find what he needed. Chase thanked him and turned on his heel, but not before shooting a smirk over his shoulder at Henrik. "Hope to see you around." With that, he turned the corner towards Henrik's instructions.

Little did they know that as soon as he turned that corner they both feel into a blushing hysterical mess. Henrik hid his face in a book and happily bounced from one foot to another, glad to have not made a fool of himself infront of someone that handsome. Chase on the other hand coughed inti his rolled up sleeves, trying to cover up his blushing face.

Chase quickly gatherd the books he needed and waved a small goodbye to Henrik at the counter. Listened as the bell on the door rang a little and closed behind him before he took off on Jacks motorcycle to their shared house.

In that moment both Henrik and Chase had a similar thought, like their souls entertwined and had a shared moment of hope...

"I hope hes there tommorrow..."

[jackalopegirlteeth]

He Who Gazes

Some notes before we begin: Parts 1 and 2 can be found here (part 1) and here (part 2). I would recommend checking them out first. Secondly. Some content warnings for you all. There is quite a bit of violence near the end. Which contains some descriptions that some viewers might find upsetting. Depictions of some pretty graphic injuries and also eldritch body horror. But with that out of the way. Lets begin.

The question of what exists beyond the physical world has been one that has captivated humanity throughout the ages. Gods, demons, spirits, angels. Giving animus and soul to the mundane in the hopes of learning something valuable about the world we inhabit. An indescribable craving to not feel alone, to be noticed, even if said notice brings malign intent. For humans are driven to find an external source for the cruel and wicked. Demons that corrupted the once pure, curses laid down by the capricious fey and the eldritch machinations of beings both alien and ancient beyond measure. We are so preoccupied with our attempts at fantastical vindication we so rarely notice the evil staring us in the face. We crave the ignorant bliss that Cthulhu, Lucifer or the Titans are the cause of our ills. Blinding ourselves to what lies in front of us.

A lesson that a young elf is just about to learn. Something that will stick with her for the rest of her life, as long and eventful as it will be.

As a simple act of respect. Elana had for the longest of times operated a no portals rule when it came to her mother's home. She had no desire to startle her and even less to desire to be admonished for ‘letting the cold in’ as Gwen would say. Noting an extra car next to her mother's, a black sedan. She would knock twice before entering. A little habit the pair of them had picked up to let each other know that whoever was coming in was a friendly face. She wasn't expecting her mother to come and greet her and she certainly wasn't expecting what came next while halfway through removing her shoes.

“Elana, Escher. We're in the sitting room. We have a guest, an old friend of your father's he says.” The voice was definitely her mother's. But a guest? Was that who the car belonged to?

Her world crystalizes, freezing in place for a moment. A sudden anxious spike, there and then gone within the blink of an eye that leaves the pair of them swimming in a stew of conflicting signals. Elana knew where they were coming from. And she couldn’t exactly blame her symbiotic twin either. Things had been strange the past few months and she had a feeling they were merely at the tip of the iceberg so to speak. People had noticed the pair of them. And attention being brought to bear upon them was something neither truly relished in.

When the courage once more finds her, she finally follows the voices and opens the door into the room before her. As expected, her mother in her usual chair is the first thing she notices. The wheelchair at her side should she need to rise. The family resemblance is clear, save for the strange skin or eyes. Perhaps a glimpse of what Elana might have been like in the absence of interference of the cosmic sort. And of course we could hardly forget the smile.

But what is unexpected is the man sitting opposite her. Shaved bald head, dark skin, expensive suit and a cane sitting at his side. Almost a complete opposite to what she’d expect from a friend of her father’s in many respects. She only knew him as the well meaning house husband. A kind and gentle man, down to earth. Already little niggling sensations of doubt were beginning to form in the elf’s mind. There was something odd going on. She just had no way of measuring what just now.

“Elana, Escher. This is Dr Joshua King.” Gwen indicates towards her guest and then back to the duo who had just entered. “Joshua. These are my daughters, Elana and Escher. The latter of whom is usually rather shy.”

Pushing himself to his feet with some apparent effort and the help of the cane, Joshua takes a step towards Elana. Offering a hand to shake. “Please, just Joshua. It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss.”

It takes a second to break through the barrier of hesitation before she takes his hand. Some people like to claim you can tell a lot about a person from just a handshake, and in this moment Elana might be inclined to agree. The impression she was getting was much more gentle than she had been expecting. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

Elana, his cufflinks.

Not a second passes before she realises what Escher is talking about. Her gaze snapping to them in an instant. It was as if the sound of people dropping from helicopters had once more resurfaced. A small shield like sign. The insignia on the man’s cuffs and even tie clip were the same ones she had noticed that day with the Void Spawn. A heartbeat later and her hand pulled away from his in a flash.

He notices the recoil from her, the hand that had once held hers doesn’t go for her. Instead of becoming a pair of upheld palms. He clearly knows how jumpy she can be, his first instinct to attempt to accommodate for that. An effort to show he didn’t mean any harm. “Elana, it’s okay. We don’t mean you any harm.”

The will to just portal out was strong, the power at the very tip of her fingers demanding to be used. It would be so easy to flee, but could she risk leaving her mother with this stranger. Phenomenal cosmic power and yet, not much use in this situation. “Who are you really?” The situation was clear, the demands of the world around her fresh in mind. A touch of confidence returns to her voice and posture. Fighting back the urge give into fear.

“I haven’t lied to you. I am Dr Joshua King. And I did know your father. The only detail I have concealed is this.” Slowly, his right hand reaches to the cuff of his left sleeve. Undoing the cufflink and slowly rolling the shirt back up his arm. Though not of the same contrast as it would have been on someone like Elana or Gwen, the black streak up his forearm was unmistakable. The Voidling opens single yellow eye, lazily rolling its focus around the room. “I’m with a very particular group. We study The Void, we hope to better understand people like myself, like Gwen and most importantly. You too. I know I have precious little to offer and I ask much. But I need you to trust me.”

He was right, there was a lot to take in. In the blink of an eye the world seem to fold inwards and a sharp bang rings out. She was no longer in front of Joshua, but now between both him and her mother. A joint surprised exhalation was shared between them. Gwen reacting the least due to familiarity with her daughter’s capabilities. Joshua on the other hand utterly dumbfounded, unaware something like that was even possible. It was clear he expected her to be different, but not this different. Was there a mild touch of fear in his eyes too?

“What is it you want?” The hackles were raised, Escher’s tendrils sliding out from sleeves and collar of her shirt. She may not be the most formidable of opponents. But she had the home turf advantage and was fairly certain she had the upper hand. The truth is she didn’t want to fight. She wasn’t even sure she could fight. But as far as she knew, he didn’t know that.

“We saw your goons descend on a Spawn.” The disembodied voice of Escher calls out. It was time to put the chips down, at least tip her hand and see what would come of it.

Shifting forward in her chair, Gwen makes an attempt at standing, but doesn’t get very far. 

“Is someone going to explain what in the sweet hells is going on here? All of you.” Her attempt to stand is once more renewed, this time being much more successful. If only for the few steps to get into her wheelchair. Landing heavily on the chair padding.

“You’re right, they approached it. But not to cause harm or anything like that.” With careful and precise movements, he sets his cuff right again. “Reality is a strange and confusing place for such a being. We only intended to do as you did. Open a Void Tear and allow it free passage beyond. That's all.”

Slowly Joshua removes a card from his shirt pocket. Setting it down on the table with a kind of care not usually see used on such an innocuous item. “You have no reason to trust me. But if you wish to talk about all this. My number is here for you. I will see my way out.”

After what felt like an age, he begins to leave. Backing away from the pair of them as calmly as he could. “Good day to you ladies. I am sorry for any inconvenience I have caused.” And with that he was gone.

“Elana what ha-” The beginning of a question cut short by the bang of air rushing to fill a void. The young elf vanishing in a heartbeat without a word of explanation where she was going. “And she's off… Great. You and I were never this rebellious were we Dali?”

There isn't a comprehendable response. Merely an eldritch gurgle from the Voidling bonded to Elana's mother. It's meaning lost to all those who might hear it, except for Gwen. Or at least she was fairly certain she could get a rough idea.

________________________________

Some time later, a soft pop is all that announces her arrival. The location was… Well she had been teleporting in blind against the better judgement of her conjoined friend. For all she knew it could have lead her anywhere. Into any sort of danger or  And the where? An office seemingly. Rich dark hardwood, brass lighting fixtures, bookshelves with leather bound books and even an ornate writing desk. Behind which a familiar face sat, opposite the chair that Elana had appeared in.

Joshua is startled almost immediately. Stumbling to his feet with the support of his desk. “Miss Symwright! What is th- How did you- This shouldn't be possible. We have fields and-” His face seems to scrunch up, the gears of his mind working over all the possible explanations for this fingers pressed into his brow. Finally sighing and shrinking back into his chair once more.

For a heartbeat he his eye seems to catch something. Lingering on the edge of his desk, contemplating whether or not to overreact. How effective would that be against someone who can apparently appear and disappear on a whim. “So why have you come here?”

Elana's strange eyes fix upon him. Not an angry or mean stare, but unusually focused. An intensity seldom seen in one like her. “You knew my father. I want to know everything.” The determination in her voice so clear, it would take an army to dissuade her from this course of questioning.

A heavy exasperated exhalation follows. Pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright. I'll give you answers. But. I expect some from you too.” His statement hangs in the air for a moment before he continues.  “It all started as we were going through University-”

________________________________

“Joran! We're almost ready to begin. We can't hold off too much longer.” The young man calls out, hands cupped around his mouth. A rudimentary bit of amplifying. He was certainly the Joshua Elana knew, albeit much younger and still in possession of a full head of hair. “The other two are setting up. We'll have the gate opened in just under half an hour.”

The sound of shuffling is heard. As if some wild animal had managed to wander and taken up residence inside the storage closet. Wandering around in some confused daze. The sounds get steadily louder. It was of course just his imagination providing such scenes, beyond was nothing more than a very tired and overworked graduate student wrapped in a blanket. In his current state, you'd almost never recognise him. The usual charismatic handsome rogue looked a little worse for wear. Shaving had been abandoned about a week ago resulting in the beginnings of a patchy beard. And the dark circles around his eyes evidence to how little sleep he was getting. Unusually lethargic, that is until a quick peck on the cheek has him perking up.

"Today's the big day." He says, leaving the side of his lover. "Make yourself presentable. This may not be the demonstration. But might as well make the practise as close to the real thing, right?" With a sly little wink he's gone once more.

Leaving the awakening Joran time to consider the exact implications of what was about to be undertaken. So many years spent picking apart the threads underlying the seemingly impenetrable conundrum before him and his team of three. "Yeah, big day today. Should shower."

Every fibre of his being had been telling him not to get out of the shower once he had managed to convince himself to get in. A problem that stacked itself on top of the desire to delay shaving and even worse the hurdle of picking out presentable clothing. Even the post waking coffee was something his body seemed determined to put off. But this was far too important to set aside now.

By the time an hour had passed he was finally making his appearance. Looking significantly better than he had been having just awoken from what had intended to be a power nap in a supply closet that ended up being longer than anticipated. The half finished second coffee of the day currently in hand as he surveyed the room before him.

All in all, it was the culmination of several years worth of calculations and attempts at wooing the wallets of both investors and the university itself. The amount of kit that was on display was staggering, a significant quantity of it a complex blend of the most sophisticated arcane workings and some of the finest technology produced since the great war. And at the centre of it all. The Gate. What they were all there for. Officially it was Project Egress, a name he hadn’t been especially in favour of. But Malcolm insisted on it. Not that it really matters, the results would speak for themselves. The first attempt to create a tear in reality, to enter the nebulously defined Void beyond the boundaries of this universe and into another. A scary prospect, but one that may end up providing valuable insights into the world. At least that was what Malcolm seemed to believe.

Speaking of, the man in question is standing front and centre. Gazing up at the culmination of the work he had both collaborated on and so fervently encouraged. Compared to the man Elana had met that day on that fateful intersection. He was significantly younger and this time in possession of both his arms. The left that should have been missing currently occupying the shoulder of the woman beside him. Against all logic, the pair of them seemed to be faring significantly better than their other colleagues.

“The wonder couple observes the work of the tired masses I see.” A playful barb, enough to announce Joran’s presence to the rest of the room, even if that was just three other people. An attempt at witticism was about all he could do to mask the apprehension gnawing at the back of his mind. There was much that could go wrong, and he knew enough of them to ensure unease.

The woman, to Malcolm’s left peels herself away from the centre of attention. Closing the gap and embracing her eleven friend. She was about on an equal footing to Joran, making them the joint tallest of the group. Long silky smooth auburn hair, a detail he’d been meaning to ask her about, his own could certainly use the same treatments. She was hardly a soft featured woman by any stretch of the imagination. “Was beginning to worry that you wouldn’t be joining us sleepy head.”

Joran smiles, exchanging brief friendly kisses on the cheek. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Turning to face them, a devil’s smile across his face. Malcolm has the look of a man watching every detail of his carefully orchestrated plan falling into place without the tiniest hint of friction. “We’re all here, time to get this show on the road.” An excited clap follows a dramatic inhale. “We’re at the edge of the map here, time to trespass in god’s domain.”

“Or create a black hole.” The response is kept low. Only Katherine, the woman beside Joran, would have heard it. Something evident as she follows after him as he approaches the protective suits that had been designed specifically for this endeavour. A minor tremble of the hand breaking through the mask as he goes to reach for the one that had been fit for him.

A tremble that is calmed as her hand rests upon his. “Is something the matter?” Her voice kept low so as to not alert the other two this conversation was going on. For all her fervour towards the machinations of her husband, a certain concern was unmistakable.

“Just lack of sleep.” His other hand lands upon her’s. “Been…” A hushed exhale that had been a suppressed chuckle. “I think everyone’s just a little stressed. Been so many all nighters this month. I don’t know how we’ve made it through this. But we’ll see it to the end.” He pulls away from her, getting ready to suit up. “You got to admit, there’s a certain… electricity to it? The ultimate edge to the unknown. The poet says let the edge be mysterious and beautiful. The scientist demands the answers. And here I am playing a balancing act between them.”

The donning of suits was about as awkward as one might imagine. They may have access to some of the most sophisticated technology, but in the early 30s that didn’t really amount to a hell of a lot. Mostly repurposed diving equipment reinforced in whatever additional methods they could realistically think of. At the end of the day, they performed their function even if they were a little clumsy to operate. And as students that was all they could really hope for. Well it was all they could manage to squeeze out of their funding, which was close enough.

Standing before the inactive gate, Joran couldn’t help but feel a little foolish. A little voice in the back of his head telling him that in spite of all the theory work, math and preparation. There was always the chance this wouldn’t actually work and that when the switch was eventually flipped the three of them would be standing before a very fancy looking metal ring for absolutely no reason.

His breath misting up the cold glass as Joran looks ahead. Only breaking his gaze to catch the eye of Joshua sitting by control consoles. A gauntleted hand raising give the thumbs up. “Alright people. Comms check, are sending stones functioning?” “Loud and clear.” Is the response, one after another.

“Oxygen is steady, starting up primary generators.” With a roar generators rev up. Power now flowing steadily through the network of sensors and fail safe devices and most importantly. “Beginning primary puncture drive charging in three. Two. One. Engage.” An electric whine as the centrepiece to this entire show comes to life. The kind of device one might expect in a period science fiction movie. All coils and wires, lights coming to life across panels with safety warnings.

“I guess it’s now or never huh. Mr King, the honour is yours my friend.” Malcolm, being the one to take charge, seemingly unaffected by the mounting tension.

Unlocking the safety cover on the big red button. Joshua sets his hand upon it. “Firing puncture drive in. Three. Two. And one.” With a click, history was made.

All the arcane and electric energy they could muster focused on a singular task. A tortured whine as the drive capacitors prepared to discharge. The thunderous boom echoes, shaking the walls with such magnitude as a thin line of high intensity thaumic radiation that hurts the eyes to look at tears. Impacting the point within the designated ring. An event over in the blink of an eye, leaving the ears of those present and indeed most of the building ringing.

Knocked to their knees, the scientists present take their time to get to their feet. Hearing and sight gone for a brief few moments. What they see as the dust settles is what they hoped for above all else. A single point hovering in the centrepoint of the ring contraption. Not simply black, but a true absolute absence of colour. The three of them knew at once what it truly was. The hole in reality they had been chasing, the Void Between Worlds.

As sense comes back to him, Joshua is quick to slam the containment switch. An electric crackle running through the ring as static arcs between electrodes set at equal intervals across its circumference. Unseen forces pulling at the tiny point, stretching it’s resisting form wider till at last before them stood a yawning portal to the beyond. A sickening hole in reality that demands the beholder to look away as it strains at the mind to comprehend it. And yet it commanded the most focused attention any single thing had gained in it’s brief existence.

The first to react to their shared success. Malcolm is rushing the portal with barely  contained glee, expression hidden from direct view by his suit but all too easy to read. Stopping only inches from stepping out beyond the boundaries. “We did it.” His open palm coming to rest a millimeter away from the portal itself, feeling the cold radiating from the empty expanses beyond.

The second to react is Joran, not as quick as his comrade. Only managing to cross half the distance by the time Malcolm was nearly crossing the threshold. “Careful, we don’t know what’s out there.”

Shaking his head at the readings before him. "We're getting no radiation emissions, nothing on the thaumic spectrum either. As far as I can see it looks about as safe as we can determine."

Looking back at Joran, the vindicated young man gave him a smile before pushing off. "To boldly go." The last words that can be heard before he leaves this world. Now adrift in the endless cosmic nothing beyond the stars.

Although the last to react. Katherine is the second to make the intentional trip out into the Void. Passing Joran as quickly as the bulky suit would allow her to move.

Realising he's being left behind, the apprehension he feels eased as he catches a glance at the smile on Joshua's face. A very brief pause to give a thumbs up before bounding onwards. "Wish me luck."

Space was a place far out of the reach of men at this time. But if he had to guess, this would be how it felt. The cold hitting almost immediately. A constant freefall rendered alien by the lack of rushing air. Although it felt livable now, he knew that removing his helmet would mean death. Likewise lingering here too long would more than likely erode the mind beyond repair. He could already feel a sense of unease creeping over him.

"A whole lot of nothing huh." Joran remarks, gazing into the endless black around them.

"Damn, and here I was expecting endless riches." The first man to enter the Void intentionally, the lack of anything to see hadn't blunted his enthusiasm. On the contrary it had ignited it further.

“Peaceful, in a kind of everything’s dead sort of way.” A playful punch on the shoulder from the elf to his human friend before pushing off deeper into the abyss. The weightlessness a unique feeling for a world in which humans hadn’t left their own planet yet and wouldn’t do so for close to another thirty or so years.

But several minutes in, their silence would be interrupted by Katherine. Who has drifted out ahead of the other two. An adventurous soul more so than the boys. "Guys, we were meant to be alone put here right?"

Hearing that over the sending stones, attention was gained. "What is it?"

The world has returned to tense. A complication arising as new was thrown into the mix, Joshua at the overseer seat of this fateful mission. Faithfully monitoring both vital signs, oxygen and potential threats in the way of radiation or wayward magic. A collection of gauges and dials that for the most part were sitting in amongst the safe zones, twitching only occasionally. It started with the subtle crackle of the geiger counters on suits that escalated into needles swinging wildly.

Somewhere out there, a headlamp flickers on. For the first time in an age, something is illuminated. Shape indeterminate, shifting in ways that the human eye cannot follow. Titanic on a scale hitherto unseen by mortal eyes and likely would never be fully comprehended. The owner of the light floating out far beyond the others, Katherine reaching out to lay a hand on this leviathan entity before her. Curiosity of the unknown overriding the instinct towards caution that she had attempted to drum into herself when preparing for such a mission.

A wave rippling out through The Void around them, something deep and primal beyond understanding, a tongue that predated all creation and would in time outlast it. The world on the opposite side of the gate shaking violently, cracks in the solid concrete tearing through the laboratory floor. Lights flickering as the whole building and beyond felt the overwhelming reverberations of a single colossal utterance.

Finding his balance and upon seeing the gate containment failing, the only response that made any sense to him was to hit the recall. The whir of the winch attached to each of the explorers hidden under the deafening ring in the wake of such a sound. The cracks above him unnoticed before a fateful chunk of ceiling drops.

The hiss of one of the safety cables meets an end to the encroaching lip of the portal. A mere two of the three brave explorers landed heavily on the hard stone floor. The arm of Joran’s suit charred and the arm underneath scorched where it had grazed the edge of the gate.

He only barely manages to get to his feet in time to see the man who had orchestrated this all rushing the slowly closing gate. With little time on his side, the only path before he could stand to entertain was clear. With the only good arm left grabbing Malcom’s line and one foot anchored onto cracked floor, a herculean effort to save a cherished comrade. Pulling him back into reality as the portal closed. At first he thought in time, only for his heart to sink as he beheld the sight of Malcolm laying on the ground clutching at the stump of an arm.

________________________________

There was no denying that this was all a lot to take in. The baited breath look of shock and surprised the only thing she could manage, the effort to change that all tied up with comprehending what any of this new information could mean. Escher herself silent to the point Elana herself might come close to forgetting that her Voidling even existed at all.

With a nervous swallow, she mentally prepared herself before asking. “...How can I know you’re telling the truth.”

Rising from his chair seems especially painful for the old man, the memories coming with a mix of nostalgia and bitterness. The cane at his side a small comfort to the man who has evidently lost much. “The truth.” He sighs. “The truth is that you can’t. If you want a second opinion you can ask Malcolm himself. I have some things I need to discuss with him too.”

Deciding on whether or not to catch up with joshua was hardly a difficult feat, but it takes Elana a minute or two. The pause as she debates on what to do giving him a decent head start. Leaving his office was a hell of a reveal. The office had seemed to imply some kind of older office building, but the outside was almost the polar opposite. Light and airy, metal, plastics and glass. As if stepping out of an elderly victorian gentleman’s study out onto the deck of the starship Enterprise. The great cavern of a room was likely on the scale she thought she’d only see with the biggest football stadiums. The catwalk she was making her way across several dozen feet above the floor of such an enormous room. This Aegis group certainly had money on their side. Government or private would be the big question on her own mind.

Catching him just at the lift that operated on this floor, she doesn’t have to wait long before it arrives. Allowing her host in first before following. “So… Government?” A weak attempt at conversation. Hoping to start something up to fill the void that is a trip in the lift.

Though it would soon turn out to be almost entirely unnecessary as the sound of quick heavy footsteps make their approach. A pair of fingers only just managing to slip in and stop the door from completely closing.

What steps in definitely changes up the atmosphere. Elana was often used to being the odd one out. The strange person among the more normal seeming folks. And yet now it would seem that she’s the norm and Joshua the outlier. From the waist up they seemed perfectly human, barring a pair of small antlers and an odd nose. But the waist down, well that really wasn’t human. More accurately deer of some description. Their clothing, lab coat, shirt and shorts, suggested scientist. But the slight disorder to it all screamed applied thaumic sciences. Hair was messy too, but in a way that suggested it had been purposefully styled to be so, a little faded green dye yet remained at the tips.

“Ah boss, ben lookin fer de aul day. Got t’ bills fer the waas that came doon last night. Yer prob’bly gonnae cringe as ye see ‘em but hey. Progress an a’ that right? Solid ten minutes the gate held, lik a fuckin’ record or summit. Gotta be. Shid be. Just need yer scribble an’ we’re gold.” The clipboard under their arm is rather enthusiastically handed over, or is partially handed over. Only getting halfway before they stop, only in this moment noticing that Elana was there, and importantly that they didn’t know who she was. The realisation was slow, probably the only thing slow that had come from them in the few seconds since they’d intruded. “Oh.” The clipboard is forgotten in a flash, dropped without a care as the target sights have been moved. A rather enthusiastic and energetic handshake given. “Put ‘em there newbie. Am Robin, the auld fella’s geen ye the lay o’ the land, engineerin’s me own wee country aal me ain. Come doon some time, bangin’ place tae be. In a the right places a’course. So who’re ye and where’s he aud codger sentenced ye?”

Arm hanging practically limp in this strangers grasp, Elana could do little but nod along. Maybe only understanding one word in twelve that had been said.

Thankfully for Elana, she’s saved from the awkwardness of having to answer a question she never fully comprehended. The clipboard that had been dropped is now being handed back. “Please, Mx Finlay, some space would be appreciated. This is Elana, she’s a guest. Anything more is classified.” The button for the next floor is pressed.

Handshaking begins to slowly fade till once more Elana is free from the binds of Robin’s handshake. The faun staring confused at their boss. Accepting the clipboard and pen. “Riiiiight… Toodles.” As the lift doors open, they make a quick dash exit. Vanishing from sight with all the speed one can muster post realisation they had just blundered into something important.

Silence reigning once more as it is now just Elana, Escher and Joshua. A cough as their downward journey continues. "Former government actually. Convinced parliament to fund a Void defence department in the sixties. Lasted till the eighties before we were defunded. Picked up a private investor and managed to keep much of our equipment in the swap over."

Another minute or so passes. The floor of the cavern cone and gone and they continue to descend to levels even deeper. "So what happened between you and… Well my dad?"

The silence made Elana think she had struck a nerve. As if the split had been something that still was healing nearly a century onwards. It's only just as she's about to apologise that he speaks up. "Things were a little strained after Katherine's death. Malcolm was kicked out not long afterwards. Joran refocused, became a nurse. We tried to keep in touch but it never worked. Last I'd heard he'd taken a position in a military hospital after the war started. Until Malcolm informed me, I had no idea he had passed away. You have my condolences. He was a good man."

The silence once more reigned. Elana had come for answers and she had got them, but wasn't sure if they were the answers she had been hoping for. Part of her was unsure he was telling the truth. But her mother seemed to buy into what he was saying. Her father really was the good person she had always been, but how many secrets had he kept from her. How much had he kept from mother? She would have to ask.

The sudden shudder as the lift comes to a stop at the bottom of the shaft. A small pause and then the opening of doors. The reveal of an expansive room. It certainly didn’t hold a candle to the massive atrium that Elana had seen on the way down from her guide’s office. It was just open space, two doors either side with fortified emplacements at the far side. But all this for a single person?

With heart threatening to escape the clutches of her body, the walk across the room felt an eternity. The looks of those sitting by the door, weapons at the ready. A gun was something she had never been comfortable around. And that wasn’t going to be changing anytime soon if this encounter was going to be any indicator.

The hiss of a door sliding out of the way was almost too much for her. Jumping though feeling stupid for doing so a moment later. As far as cells go it wasn’t the most flush, but comfortable in it’s own little way. He certainly wasn’t being mistreated. The man seated at the opposite side of a small table Elana almost instantly recognised. The one she had saved from that Void Spawn. 

Now getting a better look at him. There wasn’t anything that suggested a need to imprison him. Well aside from the arm composed of writhing black tentacles where there had once been nothing. He didn’t look old enough to fit Joshua’s story, maybe 40 at a push, not nearing a hundred. But then again Joshua looked a similar age, so who could really say.

There was something about the way he sat that unsettled the elf. Amidst all this effort to keep him in place, he still had an irritating arrogance to him. As if he ruled the roost, not lay in some cell hidden away from the world. His first reaction to lean forward, hands resting upon his knees as a smile appears to greet his new visitors. “Oh Josh, spoiling me today aren’t you. Not just my bested of buddies, but a new friend. You are too kind.” His focus laser precise on the man leading Elana. He seems for a split second to want to rise from his chair as he looks to Elana, a moment that doesn’t last before he decides against it. “You two, you must be Elana and Escher. I’m so sorry we didn’t get acquainted the last time we met.” The look on his face says apologetic, but Elana had doubts. “I’d rise to shake your hand, but I’m under strict watch. I’m Malcolm. My partner, is Mobius. He and Escher have a fair amount in common. But as much as I adore him and the team we make. I must say we’re barely a spluttering match to a radiant star like yourself. What you did, simply breathtaking. Your daddy would be proud of you.”

As Joshua takes a seat. Elana tries to follow, body seizing up. Another attempt and fail before she finally follows seat. A pregnant pause that seems to swallow all descents, broken by Escher of all people. “What do you know?”

“I had suspicions. But…” The grin of a man who has finally had that one troublesome piece that had confounded him for an age dropping into place washes over him. Hands under the table. She couldn’t see but would have guessed fidgeting to some degree. “Well I know a hell of a lot more than I did ten minutes ago. That’s for certain.”

“And that would be?” A question that has Joshua practically on the edge of his seat.

Shaking his head, Malcolm chuckles. “Can I get a raincheck on answering that?”

Anticipation becomes confusion in elf, man and Voidlings. Joshua the one to ask again. “Why? You’re not exactly going anywhere.”

“I only really stopped by to pick up something of mine- THAT YOU STOLE!” The flash of anger like a lightning bolt, there and gone. “Really do need to make my exit about now. I hope you’ve been treating Kat well. For yo-”

Were Elana not already oddly pale, she would be white as a sheet. Stuck to the chair like a deer in the headlights. Not a single thing she had seen in this world or any other had frightened her quite like this. Demons, gods, elder things. She’d fraternized with them all. Nothing could come close.

“She’s dead Malcolm!” Forcing himself to his feet through no small effort of his own, he towered above the other two. “When will you realise this. We made a mistake and she’s dead now. Nothing we say or do can change that.” His shoulders sagging visibly, the weight of years hanging heavy on him.

“Katherine and I. Are leaving now.” Malcolm raises his one remaining good had. Showing off a thin trail of red blood across his palm. Intricate lines and circles painted with the help of a tentacle finger. “Just try to stop us.” A single word more and a tentacle pressed into the centre. The invisible wave of power cascading outwards.

Eyes widening she realises now too late what he has just done. A circle of unbinding. Dispelling an enchantment previously placed from a distance. Had she realised just a few moments later, a counterspell might have been possible. But she hadn’t. He’d let something loose, and as the sirens began blaring. The earth shook and Elana knew it wasn’t something good.

Outside the soldiers could be heard frantically in their radios, or at least trying to use them. Panic, pure and simple. Malcolm had all but been forgotten, Joshua having given up attempting to get through using his own communications equipment. Opening the door and only seeing men ready to defend him. An eerie stillness that is threatened by the door to the lift buckling outwards before a gout of flame tears it open sending shrapnel flying.

Reacting quickly, Elana is at the door with her palm against the scanner. A harsh error tone blares before the door slams shut. Great dents smashed into the steel coming a hair’s breadth from Joshua’s face.

Gunfire and screams, sounds neither Elana or Escher would ever forget. In short, hell. Then silence.

The screams of tortured metal and then a crash. Smoke pouring in from where the door had once been. Blood pooling on the floor and other things Elana wished she could unseen. A dark shape looming in the doorway. Human, a woman covered head to toe in blood, concealing most of her features. Her posture unnatural, as if she were somehow only vaguely acquainted to how a human should stand upright. Huge foot long claws slowly retract as she locks eyes with Malcolm. A moment of recognition before a colossal clay fist seizes her, wrenching the woman from where she stood like a ragdoll.

Hitting the far wall, the steel plating cracks and crumples. The gore soaked woman sliding off and landing heavily on the floor. Motionless, limbs jutting at odd angles and half a face reduced to a red ruin.

The perpetrator of such violence standing in the middle of the killing room. Sweat and soot staining her face. Her head topped with messy black hair and a pair of curved horns. In place of arms were two large clay prosthetics, one stretched long but quickly retracting. The sleeveless leather jacket she wore currently showing signs of damage, she’d been fighting this thing probably since it had escaped. And wasn’t about to let it get away. “DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S RUDE TO WALK AWAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO YOU?!” Cracking her knuckles, she approaches the downed combatant. Glyphs appearing around her wrists as her hair catches ablaze. The formerly clay arms superheating and transmuting to become molten rock. “Now you’ll see why they call me the all consuming flame!”

Although initially still, the woman begins violently twitching. Limbs flailing and bones cracking as joints are reset and breaks repaired. Her journey to her feet disturbing, like a spider with many of its legs fused together. A messy sprawl of limbs that in time finds its feet. A reforming head lolling to one side before snapping back into place. Slowly advancing on the door once again, as it nothing had happened.

Rushing her opponent, the tiefling opens with a right hook. Catching the intruder in the chest, staggering her backwards. Heat scorching flesh that knits itself back together again. Each hammer like blow gaining less and less ground.

Till at last a fist is caught. Comparatively tiny human hand holding back a molten fist near three times its size. Flesh sizzling and repairing at near equal rates. Seemingly blank black and yellow eyes locking with the tiefling’s own green ones. A moment of contemplation before the strange woman’s chest erupts into a mass of repulsive black fleshy tendrils, strands of exposed muscle and tendon. An eldritch strength that overwhelms her opponent.

Amidst crushing flesh, the tiefling is finding breathing difficult. A tentacle forced down her throat and cutting off her air. Vision slowly blurring, her mind racing as she begins looking for a way out that wasn’t presenting itself. Till instinct took over, jaws clamping shut. Tearing flesh between jagged fangs. The taste of eldritch flesh nearly gag worthy but she swallows. A primal scream and she ignites, white hot flame engulfing her for a few seconds. Tentacles whipping furiously as they crumble into ash.

Collapsing to one knee, smoke pours off the exhausted quasi-demon. Each breath a labour in its own right. Even as green blood dripped from her nose and a gash above one eyebrow, she forced herself to stand once more.

In spite of her efforts, her opponent once more regenerates. Looking no more worse for wear than she had to begin with. For her efforts, the tiefling merely gets a backhand blow from her assailant. Crashing into the wall, landing heavily on the ground and out cold.

Entering Malcolm’s cell finally. The mystery woman takes survey of her surroundings.

Elana and Joshua scattering at the sight of her. The latter finding his leg caught on his chair and landing heavily on the ground. The former making it to the far corner. Nigh inconsolable at this point. Tears streaming from her eyes.

Looking as if beholding the most beautiful thing imaginable. Dr Richardson is in motion near instantly, embracing the blood soaked woman. Seemingly either unaware or uncaring of her lack reaction to being hugged. “Come my love, lets be out of this dreadful place.”

“Thank you my dear, you’ve given this world hope. Hope for a better future.” His eyes locked on Elana. A smile she would never forget. Still with one arm around his supposed wife, a series of gestures and words sees the pair of them vanish in a brilliant light.

“No… Why this…” A thunderous clap rings out as air rushes to fill the empty space left by a terrified elf. Leaving Joshua alone amidst smoke and ruin.

________________________________

Bleak and cold, at least to all but Elana and Escher. The lights of far off universes filling the sky, glittering through great dust clouds filling the Void. And the song of Titans. She knew what to listen for now. A month by their reckoning had passed. Neither had spoken in that time. What was there to say? That people could be the most terrifying monsters of all. It was all she could really think about of late. Staring out into the Void with little else on her mind. And she knew Escher was the same. The bleedthrough of their minds enough that even her mightiest attempts were like blocking the light of a bonfire with a scrap of tissue paper.

“What can we do Esch.” The first words she had spoken in what seemed like forever. She didn’t expect an answer. She knew Escher didn’t have one.

The sky split as the Titan looked down upon the child. Her heart swelling in her chest as the world around her became almost electric. Charged by the presence of a being vast beyond limitation.

“Be you.”

[taesbetch]

To Own A Hybrid P.3

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: Angst, Fluff (eventual smut) Hybrid!AU Cat!AU

Summary: The hybrid world was one y/n never really involved herself in; however, after certain events, she is tossed into a world of uncertainty in the company of a particularly rude hybrid.

Word Count: 5k +

WARNING: Mentions of abuse, emotional torment, and prostitution

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5

“I like this one”

You sighed as you shoved more red liquorice in your mouth. It had been three hours of you and Jungkook surfing the store sites to try and find clothing style.

“stop sighing! You said we had to do this” he said defensively as he crossed his arms with a pout.

“yer but I didn’t expect you to be so picky” you shot back as you passed him the bag of heavenly goods.

Jungkook hissed at you as he rolled his eyes and started angrily eating.

“how about we just go to the mall? That way we can see what size you are and get the clothes in person! It’ll also be way quicker” you suggested as you closed your laptop.

A small whine emitted from his throat as his ears flattened against his head.

“I hate the mall” he mumbled before silently agreeing to go.

—-

You sat in your car staring at the large crowd joyfully entering the mall.

“Let’ s just go back, I can wait” Jungkook stated quickly as he stared at them in disgusted.

You were really tempted to just agree and go back home. The bright colours and possibility of running into people you know was turning you off but you knew it would be better this way.

“I don’t even have a collar!” Jungkook chirped up excitedly “guess we have to go back, or I have to stay in here…aw what a shame” he said sarcastically.

You smiled devilishly before turning towards him.

“good thing there’s a collar stand here! We’ll get it first!” you said matching his previous tone.

His small smirk dropped as you jumped out of the car, staring at him through the window expectantly.

As the two of you shuffled through the crowds of people you continuously looked behind you to check that Jungkook hadn’t gotten lost or into a fight with anyone.

Your eyes scanned the big signs on top of the shops, finally landing on your much-needed destination.

“there!” You exclaimed as you pointed to the collar shop “I’m not really a fan of the whole collar thing so let’s just try to find one that’s subtle and comfortable”.

There was a range of collars in the shop. A shocking range to be honest.

“hi! Do you need any assistance!”

you turned around in shock as the perky female employee smiled widely at you.

“er…hi” you said backing up a little before tapping an intrigued and confused Jungkook on the shoulder.

“were just here to find a collar for him” you said pointing towards him as he turned to face the both of you.

“sure! What were you thinking! We have some fashionable leather ones is you like!” she said pulling a black leather collar from underneath a draw.

The collar had long black spikes sticking out of it and a tightening device on the back…if anything…it was a little…kinky.

You and Jungkook exchanged looks before the both of you shook your heads.

“that’s okay! What about a stylish silky one” she said pulling a long pink silk ribbon.

“pink isn’t really my colour” Jungkook said coldly as the lady swayed the material in front of his face.

“oh come on! Don’t you think it’ll be nice!” she squeaked before trying to tie the ribbon around his neck.

It was almost as if everything was happening in slow motion, you remembered what happened last time someone had tried to touch Jungkook without his approval…it didn’t go so well.

Before you knew it you had grabbed the ladies hands harshly causing both her and Jungkook to look at you in shock.

“err…he doesn’t really like to be touched” you said awkwardly as you retracted your hands from hers.

You felt Jungkook’s eyes watch you intensely as your eyes searched the shop. In one of their display windows you saw a black earring, something you had never seen in a collar shop before.

“what’s that?” you asked softly causing the excitement to refill the sales lady. Her dark brown hair swept of her shoulder as she jumped happily.

“it’s the newest design for collars. The black and simple earrings act as a collar and sends the hybrids information to any device that swipes past it. It’s great isn’t it! No suffocating material around the neck, no itchiness! It’s even waterproof!” she exclaimed.

You turned to Jungkook who seemed just as interested as you were.

“what do you think?” you asked him as he looked back at you.

“I’m down” he shrugged non-chalantly before scratching his head.

The employee yipped happily before motioning for the tow of you to follow her into a back room.

As she told Jungkook to take a seat and ran him through the protocols you looked at all the cool designs of tattoos and piercings on the wall.

“you guys do tattoos here?” you asked in amazement as you flipped through drawing books.

“yep, we do all kinds of things here, mainly for hybrids as they can’t get the same ink tats as human do” she said as she prepared jungkooks ear for the piercing.

“interesting” you whispered as a certain picture caught your eye.

The tattoo on the man’s arm was a singular circle with a line going straight through it, the ends sticking out slightly.

You don’t know where you’ve seen the tattoo but your brain started fogging up as it dug through folders of your memory.

‘shhh, it’s going to be alright. Your mothers going to take care of you now okay?’

“all done!”

You shook your head as the ladies chirpy voice broke your concentration.

“alright! Just put your hybrid number in here, pay here and your good to go!” she stated as she brought you back to the front desk.

You smiled at her warmly before filling out the details needed for his piercing to be activated and using pay pass to finish it off.

You waved goodbye as you and Jungkook made a hasty escape from the way to happy employee.

“I didn’t think I would last” Jungkook said with a sigh of relief.

Due to lunch being over the crowd had dwindled, but that still didn’t stop the uncomfortable pushing of people.

“to the clothes we go” you stated as Jungkook played with his new earrings. You had to admit it did add to his whole ‘I hate everything’ vibe but in a good attractive way.

“Revival!” he exclaimed excitedly, spotting the shop he had liked so much.

You rolled your eyes before following the excited kitten through the doors of what would be your hell.

—

“Jungkook I’m dying” you whined as you added another pair of pants to the over flowing basket on the floor.

“you’ve actually tried on everything in the shop” you added as he continued to move around in the changing room.

“help” he said opening the curtain to reveal another white shirt…

“oh wow, doesn’t look like any of the other 40 white shirts were buying” you said sarcastically as you shook your head in disbelief.

“you’re useless, I’m going to get a different colour” he stated before making a b-line for the racks.

You sighed tiredly as you decided to look through different hats he could get.

“Don’t touch me!”

You recognised that pissed off voice anywhere. You instantly dropped the hats before rushing to where Jungkook had gone, it had only been like a minute! What could possibly happen in a minute!

“filthy dog!” Jungkook spat at the equally angered dog in front of him. The two of them held onto the only black shirt that you could see on the rack, both determined to get it.

“pesty cat!” the dog growled back. The dog’s turquoise hair and pale skin were quite the contrast compared to Jungkook.

The dog was noticeably shorter than Jungkook but gave the same ‘I hate everything’ vibe with his ice-cold gaze and leather pants.

“oh god! Jungkook please stop!” you said as you hovered behind him not exactly sure how to intervene.

“I had it first!” he hissed, his eyes still connected with the other hybrids.

“Yoongi!”

You were too busy hissing at Jungkook to let go to notice the other hybrids owner join in.

“Yoongi! We’ve talked about th- y/n?”

Your head shot in his direction as you stopped your arguing with Jungkook to see who had called your name.

“namjoon?” you asked in shock as you took in the appearance of your co-worker, his hands trying to tear the hybrid away from the black shirt.

“your y/n?” yoongi asked as he dropped the shirt to take a better look at you. As yoongi’s eyes scanned over you Jungkook hissed loudly before stepping in front of you, shielding you with his body.

“jungkook, it’s okay. This is namjoon!” you said stepping away from his shield.

Namjoon smiled widely at Jungkook who just hissed as he proceeded to hide behind you.

“hey, I’m really sorry about my whole robot incident” he said nervously before scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“just almost killed us, but whatever” Jungkook sassed as you rolled your eyes.

“its fine, were alive” you stated causing namjoon to chuckle.

“so, this is the hybrid you were talking about? What was your name? Jungkook?” he asked sweetly as he tried to connect gazes with Jungkook who just continued to look away.

“mhm, and this is yoongi?” you asked as you smiled at the dog hybrid who gave you a smirk and a head nod in response.

“yep and…taehyung!?” namjoon called out as he turned beside him to find a missing hybrid.

You heard a small yelp of fear before arms were wrapped around you and you were being used as a human shield.

Little did either you or namjoon know, as you were conversating taehyung had approached Jungkook like a predator would his prey, only to get violently shoved away.

“miss y/n, your hybrids mean” he whispered softly in your ear before joyfully sniffing your face.

Jungkook looked lost and confused. He watched in panic as the dog hybrid continued to remember your scent.

“okay taehyung that enough” namjoon said pulling him away by the collar leading taehyung to whine in disapproval.

“are you on night shift?” he asked you as yoongi held the hyper boy tightly.

“yer! Will I see you there?” you asked as you fixed your hair that had been messed up. He nodded happily and picked up his shopping bags he had to drop earlier.

“great, see ya!” he said before vanishing off with the two hybrids.

As you sighed as turned to Jungkook you watched happily as he hugged his new black shirt.

“Alright, let’s go pay for these. Go put one on so you don’t have to wear these anymore” you said as you pointed to the shirt and sweatpants he was currently wearing.

He nodded his head before quickly making his way to the changing rooms as you made your way to the till.

—-

“fuck, fuck, fuck” you chanted as you waddled your way to the car, Jungkook lifted the boot and chucked his bags in with ease whereas you struggled to hold them.

Jungkook wore one of his new outfits, the white shirt, blue jeans and tim’s simple but stylish.

“that…was exhausting” he whispered more to himself but you hummed in agreement.

“Oh! Before I forget!” you said searching through the many bags residing in your boot.

“here, I got you a phone so we could communicate whenever I’m not there” you smiled as you passed him the box.

“my..own phone?” he asked as he stared at it in amazement.

“yep! Now come on, I don’t know about you but I’m starving” you groaned grabbing your stomach.

As you started the car Jungkook was strangely quiet.

“you’re leaving tonight…what time are you coming back?” he asked softly. You took a moment to glance at him. His eyes glued to the phone you had just given him.

“I’ll leave around 8 and be back at around midnight, it’s a short shift and don’t worry ill cook your dinner before I leave” you smiled cheekily at him.

He hummed as an answer but you could tell something else was worrying him. Not wanting to press him any further you rode in a comfortable silence.

“were here” you said drawing jungkook’s attention to the little café you had just parked in front of.

—

“question” you said as you handed the menus back to the waitress after the both of you had finished ordering your food.

“are you by chance allergic to anything? Or like do certain scents irritate your senses?” you asked seriously as you played with your hands.

“other than that wretched perfume you wear, nothing really” he sassed.  

You gasped before scoffing and letting out a small chuckle at his snide remarks

“well, id rather smell like this than wet dog” you snapped back causing him to have the same reaction as you did.

“I am a cat! That was just rude” he hissed causing you to laugh at his angered yet cute state.

“sorry kitty” you teased with a pout, angering him even more.

“now I know why your single” he said shaking his head in disbelief.

You took a breath of refreshing air as your eyes traveled to outside of the glass window. You watched with joy as an older looking hybrid got on his knee and proposed to his owner, or so you thought.

“aw, Jungkook isn’t that sweet” you swooned as you watched on with gleaming eyes, Jungkook, however, did not share your enthusiasm.

“it’s not going to work out” he said bluntly, crushing all your hopes and dreams for the two lovebirds.

“what. Why not?!” you asked clearly upset at his sudden declaration.

“just watch” he said softly, his eyes never tearing from the scene.

Your heart broke into two as an angry female marched up to the two of them and broke them from their kiss. The girl proceeded to scowled the hybrid and gave him a harsh smack on the cheek before storming away.

The human girl was a sobbing mess as she watched the love of her life follow the angered female away. that’s when it clicked. He wasn’t prosing to his owner…

“owners are usually very possessive of their hybrids and don’t allow them to pursue relationships outside of the house. It’s fine when a hybrid and their owner fall in love but it’s a completely different story if that’s not the case” Jungkook shrugged before the waitress arrived with the drinks you had ordered.

As you thanked her Jungkook sighed and returned his attention back to you, but your eyes were still glued on the broken-hearted girl who remained in her spot.

“I’m going to go see if she’s okay” you said as you grabbed your drink and tried to figure out how you were going to approach her.

As you walked towards her, you noticed she still held the ring on her finger.

“hi” you said sweetly as you sat yourself next to her “look I’m not going to ask if you’re okay, cause clearly, you’re not…here drink this” you said passing her your cola.

“I’m sorry” the girl cried as she took your drink without hesitation.

“why are you apologizing? Dude that was rough” you said as you looked off in the direction they left in.

“I’m solar, by the way …that..that was my boyfriend jin…well, I guess ex-boyfriend” she explained as you nodded your head.

“I’m y/n and don’t you mean fiancé?” you asked happily trying to cheer her up.

She looked at you in shock before shaking her head “didn’t you see what happened?” she asked in confusion.

You smiled before giving her a friendly slap on the shoulder. “don’t let some bitchy owner get in between you and your lover!” you chirped enthusiastically, solar looked at you in utter shock as you ruffled her hair caringly.

“you love him, right?” you asked.

“of course…we’ve been together for 5 years actually. Always dodging and diving and avoiding his owner. I… I just want to be together…that’s all I want” she sighed as a couple more tears rolled down her face.

“I’m not really a believer in if the world wants it to happen it’ll happen. I’m more of a ‘you have to do it yourself if you want it done’ type of person. So, what I’m about to say to you really contradicts my beliefs but…don’t give up if it’s meant to work out, it will. Let’s look at your odds, she didn’t look that rich so she can’t just up and leave with him, she can make him not leave the house but surely she has a life and can’t watch him 24/7, she could always kill one of you but she doesn’t strike me as a murderer” you stated.

Solar wiped her tears as her eyes turned from sad to determined.

“your right! This relationship is five years of my life! I can’t imagine it with anybody else…” she exclaimed, her voice growing stronger than before.

“that’s the spirit, try your hardest…ya’ll know when its time to give up, but now isn’t that time girl, go get your man!” you whooped encouragingly.

She shot up from her seat with a sudden energy boost.

“I hope we met again y/n” she smiled at you as she started walking backward.

“me too, and you better have that guy on your arm when we do!” you shouted out to her. She laughed before nodding her head and running in the direction that they left.

You smiled happily as you rested your head backward at stared at the blue sky above you.

You closed your eyes as you enjoyed the warmth of the sun mixing with the cool breeze.

Oh, to be young and in love.

“filling people with false hope is a bad thing”

You opened your eyes to see Jungkook leaning over you, he’s ears standing upright and a plastic bag in his hand.

“oh, you pessimist” you said as you lifted your head forward and motioned for him to take a seat.

“I prefer the term realist” he replied as he took a seat next to you.

“you took too long so I got our food to go. So…lets go” he said plainly as he looked around.

“Jesus Christ Jungkook, not everything has to be so rushed. Take a minute to enjoy the scenery” you stated before resting your head back into its previous position.

You could literally hear jungkook’s protest but instead, he just copied you and took a long breath of relaxation.

Suddenly feeling jungkooks relaxed state beside you, you took the opportunity to peek an eye open and enjoy it while it’ll last.

You almost drooled at how beautiful he looked. His skin was glowing underneath the suns beams and his soft hair ruffled in the wind, his lips were parted slightly and were a welcoming shade of pink.

“I can feel you staring at me”

“it’s not my fault seeing you like this is as rare as seeing a shooting star”

—

“jungkook!! Dinners ready!” you shouted out as you tided your hair ready for work.

“I cooked four steaks just in case, I know how hungry you can get. Do you remember how to use your phone?” you asked as he sat himself down at the dinner table.

“where did you put the iron man 2 disk?” he asked as you grabbed your bag off the table.

“it’s under the first one in the lower drawer. Call me If you need anything! Bye be careful!” you shouted as you ran to the door. You heard a soft goodbye before you shut the door.

You were hesitant to leave Jungkook by himself but you knew he could handle himself, he’d been doing it for a long time before you met after all.

As you entered the building you wondered how long Jungkook had been alone before you stormed into his life…

“Y/n? you okay?”

You snapped out of your thoughts as you sheepishly locked eyes with jimin.

“Hey! yer sorry I’m okay I promise, just…a lot on my mind” you giggled nervously.

“mmm I can see that” he chuckled before passing you a folder “here, this will help you with that new assignment Mr. So gave you” he smiled.

“oh my god! I totally forgot about that! Jimin I don’t know what I would do without you! Thank you so freaking much” you thanked him before frantically typing away on your computer.

Jimin let out another hearty laugh before going back to his desk.

The assignment was a strange one. You were to organise a route through the cities center in order to keep the transaction private and away from the public eye. You had to take into consideration things like security cameras, closing times of shops and police activity.

You didn’t even know what was being transported and the whole ordeal was weird but Mr. So is high up the power chain so it must be important.

You continued your work but couldn’t shake the feeling of being stared at.

You turned next to you to see jimin staring at you with an extremely worrisome look but as soon as he saw you had caught him he smiled nervously and continued with what he was doing.

You decided to shake it off and continue your work.

“y/n! just the person I was looking for!” namjoon chirped as he rolled over on his chair from his desk.

“you say it like I’m not here behind you every time we have a shift together…which is literally all the time” you chuckled at his strange choice of words.

He ruffled his hair in confusion at his own sentence but shook it off when he remembered why he came over.

“I’m glad Jungkook is settling in nicely” he stated as you continued to type away.

“you think? He’s still a little hostile. Then again, I think that’s just his personality. Not sure yet” you said as you swapped eye connect between namjoon and your computer.

“he’s become more territorial, it means he’s becoming used to things being his” he answered causing you to scrunch your eyebrows in confusion.

“you didn’t notice? When tae and yoongi got a little too close for his liking he started getting protective and unsure of the situation. It means he’s starting to settle” he smiled at you.

You stared at namjoon in shock before punching the air enthusiastically. “yer boy!” you exclaimed but quietly due to your professional atmosphere.

“but be careful, I don’t think you should have come to work. Due to his sudden change of safety, he may be a little paranoid and get scared easier” namjoon stated worriedly.

Instantly your mood dropped to a sudden sense of sickening worry.

Before you could ask what, he meant by that your phone started ringing and the pop up of jungkooks name almost gave you a heart attack.

“hello? Jungkook what’s wrong?” you asked worriedly, your stomach dreading the answer.

“y-y/n, I think sh-hes here to get m-me” a panicked hybrid on the other side of the phone whispered. You could hear the silently sobbing he was trying to hide.

Your heart broke as you stood up immediately.

“where are you now I’m on my way” you said as namjoon started saving all your work. You grabbed your bag and ran as quickly as you could to the elevator.

“I-I’m in your room, i-i-n your closet” he stuttered pure fear seeping through his voice.

“okay, I’m in the car right now, whose there Jungkook? Are they knocking on the door? What’s happening?” you asked worriedly as you almost sped down the streets.

You tried to stay focused but the shaky breaths and sobs that you heard were not just terrifying but hurt your heart.

“they keep knocking, t-t-they won’t go away. it’s her, she found me!” he said sacredly.

“Jungkook I’m in the elevator, I’m going to hang up now okay, don’t worry I won’t let anyone hurt you” you reassured as the elevator moved painfully slow.

As the doors opened you were ready to fight a bitch but instead were met with a persistent Krystal banging at your door.

You sighed in relief before grabbing her hand, stopping her from traumatizing your poor hybrid anymore.

“Oh! There you are! Hey I was thinking we could all watch the new-“ she started but you stopped her kindly.

“Actually, I was going to suggest that we all go to the movies next Thursday! We can’t do tonight sorry” you said as quickly as possible.

Thankfully she noticed your rushed pace and moved out the way of the door nodding. “sounds like a plan” she said before turning to walk back to her apartment door.

You ran inside, turning on all the lights you possibly could.

“Jungkook!” you called as you ran into your room. The darkness leaving an eerie and sad feeling. You turned on the lights and followed the sounds of whimpering as you approached your closet.

“Jungkook? Sweetie its y/n” you said slowly opening the doors.

You gasped as the tortured hybrid pulled you in a massive hug. “what happened!? I thought s-s-she got to y-y-ou!” he cried as you shuffled to the bed.

“shhh it’s okay it was just Krystal, no one’s coming to get you” you soothed quietly as you managed to lay him on the bed.

You sat up as his body tucked closely too yours, his hands clutching the material of your work pants as he continued to cry.

You hesitantly brought your hand up and trialed a stroke of his hair. Before you could pull away he nuzzled his head into your hand letting you know it was okay.

With that, you soothingly stroked his hair earning soft hums as his crying softened to a few sniffles.

“would you like to sleep in here tonight? We can watch the new Spiderman movie?” you asked softly as you moved to play with his ears.

A soft meowl escaped his lips before he nodded his head and moved his head closer to your lap.

“yes please…don’t leave me” he whispered. His voice vulnerable and weak, a state you had never seen Jungkook in before.

You moved his hair out of his eyes before nodding your head. Even though he couldn’t really see it. The nod meant so much.

You vowed to protect the seemingly stubborn hybrid with anything you could. He deserved more than the world had given him and you were going to give him it.

“I won’t, I promise”  

[elasianstar]

The World on a Turtle’s Back Chapter 8

RAPHAEL’S POV

My brothers were setting up for a movie night when Elasia came into the living room. Instead of being in the pajamas we expected her to be wearing she was in her training leathers, she threw a shiny gold top over it and was wearing a studded leather jacket over that. Her hair was styled and she was wearing bold makeup.

“I'm going out with my brothers for the night on flock business, I want you guys to just stay put while I'm gone. I'll be back around 2AM, don't stay up for me.”

We waited until we heard the sounds of their motorcycles leave before stealing the keys to the van. In our defense they were right on a hook in the kitchen. Donnie had snuck a tracker on her bike the last time she had brought it to the lair and we followed at a safe distance into the depths of the city.

They were in what looked like an old warehouse district, ancient factories with busted windows and graffiti tags line either side of an abandoned railroad line. One of the buildings stood out from the rest, it was about 10 stories tall and painted with an alien landscape. It was just like one of the drawings in Elasia’s sketchbooks. In the foreground however was the beastly figure of a troll with clownish face paint, leaned over the form of a scantily clad woman with a knife held behind her back. The neon sign over the door called the place the dark carnival.

Donnie pulled the van into an alleyway nearby and we took to the rooftops sneaking into the building via the air conditioning vents. Club music echoed through the vents and as we followed the sound, lights and fog let us know we were on the right track.

“Aww no fair, Angelface went partying without us!”

“Like we could go with her blockhead, we'd be shot down as monsters before we got to the door.”

“I don't think so Raph, look through here.”

Donnie was peering through the vents with his goggles as he waved us down.

The whole place was one central room with walkways going around it all the way up. On every level mythicals and humans danced and drank and had a good time while on the stage below a man with hands that looked like bird feet and aviator shades scratched records with another man with the tail of a snake instead of legs. People with colored skin and bug wings danced and performed aerial acrobatics from long silks hanging from the ceiling while furred folk showed off on the lower dance floor. A large twisted tree grew in the center of the building and glowed strange colors in the blacklights.

“Sick, we should totally be down there!”

Leo stopped Mikey from opening the vents by pulling him back by the edge of his shell.

“Hold back, there's a reason Elasia wanted us to stay at the farmhouse. We scope that out first.”

“Well then let's at least find a vent with a dance floor view, I wanna watch Time Reaper and Union Jack drop fat beats!”

“Time Reaper and Union Jack?”

“You didn't see the big shiny sign on the DJ booth man? Crow dude and snake man, Leo!”

“Fine Raph you take him down while donnie and i stay up here.

but we stay put until I give the signal, got it?.”

We found a nice grate just to the left of the curtained stage so Mikey could watch the DJ’s work. On closer inspection the crow man also had a bird’s feet and tail, his body giving off the same smoke as the nightmare back at the farm. He had a broken sword hanging on his hip from a heavy gold chain and his band t-shirt had a hole in the center where red stained bandages wrapped around his scrawny chest. The snake man had bright green scales scattered over his shoulders like freckles and was wearing a tank top bearing a British flag. Around his throat he wore a spiked dog collar and sharp yellow claws tipped fingerless gloved hands that shot across the turntables. His wild blonde hair was streaked with the same acidic green as his scales and his slitted yellow eyes were ringed in thick black eyeliner.

There was a man with frosted hair and glowing blue eyes working the bar, when the hand that wasn't wearing a white silk glove touched the glasses they would become frosted over with ice. He wore a baby blue suit jacket over a slightly unbuttoned shirt, a black bow tie tied around his bare neck.

Two women with grey skin and orange horns worked the bar with him, each wearing different shades of blue. The smaller one in teal wore bright red shades and a bright red leather jacket that ended just above her midriff. Her hair was cut in a bob, the ends curling upwards and streaked with teal. Her “sister" had longer hair streaked with cobalt and she wore a heavy bikers jacket covered in studs over a dark blue tee. Her shades had been broken on one side leaving a sharply winged eye to gaze bitchily at her patrons while the other side glinted with 7 red gemstones pressed into the glass.

I couldn't see Elasia or her brothers anywhere.

After a while of watching the club patrons having fun the lights went out and the music stopped dead. Signaling for mikey to stay put I moved a little further down the vent shaft to try and regain a visual. The sound of the curtains on the stage rising was all I could hear until the crow DJ started speaking in low smooth tones.

“Ladies and Gentlemen and Beings of all configurations, the dark carnival is proud to present to you, Furie and the BFT!”

The scaled DJ was lit by blacklight on the left of the stage, a union jack guitar hung from his shoulders over a white button up shirt that was unbuttoned halfway down. As he started to play a familiar melody the lights faded in on the bass player, a tall young man with shoulder length blonde hair, a single curl hanging in front of swirling blue and violet eyes. He was meek but the notes from his sparkling white bass guitar were strong and deep. A pair of moose antlers stood proud over his skull as long bony fingers plucked the strings. The crow DJ came up behind him to compliment the bass with cool smooth piano notes, his shades were gone and his skin had turned to shadow behind bright red eyes. Finally the drummer came into the light, he looked a lot like the bassist but his skin was California tan, thick muscle peeking out from under a ripped Tee instead of his brother’s sinew and bone. his shorter hair was honey blonde instead of pale cornsilk, a single cowlic stuck up from the front over deep blue eyes the same shade as the blacklight. He had an American flag the shape of a star painted on his right cheek.

the guitarist slithered up to the mic.

--”On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair,

Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air.

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim

I had to stop for the night.”

The dark empty stage was lit by a single amber spotlight through the mist. Elasia stood there, wings slightly spread, her outfit had been replaced by a sheer dress that shimmered, metallic gold outlining every dip and curve. Underneath she wore a skintight black leotard.

--”There she stood in the doorway;

I heard the mission bell

And I was thinking to myself,

‘This could be Heaven or this could be Hell’”

Her bare arms moved like water, tangling themselves in her hair and winding around her body

with the flow of the music. Her wings shifting around her body to show a flash of skin here and there as she danced.

--”Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way

There were voices down the corridor,

I thought I heard them say…”

The other members of the band joined in the chorus as three dimmer lights revealed the trio, each one wearing dark tights, their colored shirts unbuttoned and their wings high and strong.

--”Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)

Such a lovely face

Plenty of room at the Hotel California

Any time of year (Any time of year)

You can find it here”

They stood in pose as she wound her way through them, delicate hands touching skin as she practically used them as stationary objects to flip and twirl off of before spinning away. once again solo in her spotlight as they came to life in the background.

--”Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz

She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends

How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.

Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.”

She worked with each one of them in turn, first in waltz, blue light overtaking her form and hiding it under an elegant ball gown. Second in a bouncing fox trot, her dress turning the same rich plum as her lips under ruby light. Third she danced a scandalous tango sparked with twirling gold bathed in rich emerald. Each dance held a spark of intimacy, a strong hand holding the wide-set hipbones of a bird, the other cradling the lower back as if in an embrace. Slender fingers entwined in gold, white, and chocolate hair, she caressed their faces as if they were lovers before spinning away leaving them forgotten. i felt a knot tying itself in my stomach while something in my chest was practically trying to shove me through the vent toward her.

--”So I called up the Captain,

"Please bring me my wine"

He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine"

And still those voices are calling from far away,

Wake you up in the middle of the night

Just to hear them say…

Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)

Such a lovely face

They livin' it up at the Hotel California

What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)

Bring your alibis.”

Dropping to the floor she spread her body long against the smooth dark floor, obscured by the smoke. A flash of a limb or the shadow of an impossible pose being the only sign of her as the three males danced in an acrobatic tandem, wings spread like fallen angels if the faces of nearly every woman watching were any indicator.

--”Mirrors on the ceiling,

The pink champagne on ice

And she said ‘We are all just prisoners here, of our own device’”

Rising up onto her toes like a long silk scarf lifted by a fan she pointed her leg straight up into the air, arms wrapped around it as if chained. Her wings were spread straight out behind her, sparkling with golden stars against a deep velvet night as she spun slowly around her makeshift post. Her skin was dyed gold in the light, only to be broken by her markings and scars, a silver spiders web tempting those watching to edge closer. I lent against the vent, the light squeak of protest causing me to hold back. I wanted to see more of her.

--”And in the master's chambers,

They gathered for the feast

They stab it with their steely knives,

But they just can't kill the beast!”

The trio surrounded her as she faked struggling against her “restraints” each one drawing back as if raising a knife only to bring empty fists down harmlessly against her body. She arched her back in fake pain, eyes having been nearly closed the entire time flying open wide, mouth open in a silent scream before dropping once again to the floor.

--”Last thing I remember, I was

Running for the door

I had to find the passage back

To the place I was before

‘Relax,’ said the nightman,

‘We are programmed to receive.

You can check-out any time you like,

But you can never leave!’”

Her movements changed now, crouched low against the floor. her eyes glowed with hunger and her dance took on a predatory stance. moving sharply and pausing in positions mimicking a wildcat stalking it's prey from cover. The amber light turned blood red and her dress took on a similar appearance against her snow white skin. Emerging from the fog, her golden halo of a spotlight gone, she encountered each man again in turn. Instead of her varying dances of seduction from before she danced a sharp and violent pasodoble. claws raked skin harmlessly, carefully practiced to avoid hurting her partners. As she finished her mouth fell to each one's throat as they fell back into placid compliance.

The Snake man's hypnotic voice faded to the music as each of the men lifted her in tandem from behind, her arms and legs held back as her wings spread wide. She looked like a goddess ruling over her subjects as they twirled her gracefully through the air. Trading her off between them in spectacular acts of timing and skill. Finally she was passed to Francis as their wings mingled in perfect contrast, sunlit white to rich black, spinning together as all the lights faded out.

My hands balled into fists against the jealous fire in my belly.

…

When the lights came back on the dancefloor was empty, each of the dancers placed nonchalantly amongst the crowd and redressed in their clothes from earlier. The crow and snake were back behind the DJ table and the audience exploded back to life with the opening to The Monster by Eminem.

I heard the light crackle of my radio as my brothers chattered across the airwaves.

“Did you guys see that, talk about hot, i can feel my shell tightening!”

“ Mikey show a little decorum, those are her brothers and Elasia is our friend.”

“Those acrobatic maneuvers were impressive though, who knew her body could bend and twist like that. could prove to be a significant combat advantage in close quarters.”

“Now we know why she didn't invite us along.”

“Yeah yeah we get it, now is this little recon mission over? I'm heading back to the fuckin van”

“Somebody has a crush on Elasia!”

Mikey’s teasing tone had me gritting my teeth as i rounded the corner of the vent, when he saw my face his mouth snapped closed and he started crawling away through the vents as quickly as he could and remain silent. I chased him through the tunnels back toward Leo and Donnie’s scout point, making threatening lunges for him to get him to move a little faster, put a bit of fear back in him. When we got to the last corner of the vent though we heard the sound of rending steel before the floor of the vent fell out from under us.

The impact of my shell against the concrete floor knocked the wind out of me so hard that i almost didn't see the glowing tree twist around on itself to break Donnie’s fall, The entire room was silent as every eye was on us. When i got back on my feet and shook off the sheet rock and concrete dust i looked up to meet Elasia’s eyes. Her face was twisted in anger and in something i couldn't place. there was a smudge of something red on the corner of her mouth.

The crowd started to murmer, a single word forming, Golem.

I looked behind me to check on my brothers to stall. The glowing tree was bending down to the floor to gently set Donnie on the ground. leo was helping him out of the tree because his legs were shaking, his eyes were wide behind his glasses where they had been knocked askew on his face during the fall. The chant of the crowd was getting louder, the same word over and over.

“Golem.”

Elasia brushed past me, her wing grazing my arm as she went to Donnie. She grabbed his hand turning it over before wrapping him in a hug. She lifted his arm into the air like the victor of a boxing match for everyone to see. In dark black was a triangle tattoo similar to Leo’s except his was marked by another line that sliced the tip off of the triangle pointing down toward his elbow.

“The Golem has returned!”

Leo grabbed donnie’s other hand raising his arm to show his mark, the word Undine joining the murmurs of the collected creatures.

“The Undine! The spirits of the West and the North live amongst us once again!”

Her brothers and the band members surrounded us to hold off the swarming crowds as Elasia wrapped us in her wings, shoving us through a door behind the stage.

“You four are in so much fucking trouble when we get home, I TOLD YOU to stay at the house and now all of Elasia knows your faces! Splinter is going to kill me!”

“You are the one who just started announcing us to the crowd!”

“I had to, one of the guardians of myth just fell through the fucking ceiling and willed a diamondwood tree to bend! If i hadn't spoken there would have been pandemonium!”

“My scans should have caught the weakness in the vent shaft, this is my fault. I didn't intend for this to happen…”

Donnie’s anxiety was ramping up into high gear, as he rocked gently, running his fingers over his straps to try and calm himself. It hasn't been this bad since we were kids. Mikey got to him first, putting one hand over his chest and one on his shell.

“Its ok Donnie, bro, just breath. That's right in and out, what's the 28th digit of pie... 34th.... 14th.... 65th? Just keep breathing.... steady.... You good Don?”

Donnie nodded, pulling on his mask tails to ground himself. Elasia knelt in front of him careful not to do anything that might trigger an aftershock.

“Donnie, Donatello look at me hun. It wasn't your fault, your soul was merely responding to the danger, just like how Leo shoved us out of the lake. Do you understand?”

Donnie nodded, pushing his glasses back up on his beak.

“You were born with a gift, it would have manifested itself sooner or later. This wasn't your fault, don't ever be ashamed of being who you are.”

She turned his hand over and traced the mark on his wrist, it glowed bright green.

“Donatello Hamato, You’ve been chosen as the Golem. Your soul will survive the test of eternity, your body and mind will be as steady as the ground, your soul one with the plants and the stone of the earth. Be proud of who you are as the mountain never bows to the pressures of the sky.”

Elasia’s pov

I followed the van home on my bike, inside i could see three of the brothers souls huddled together while Leonardo drove. Donnie took a little to pull out of his panic but his brothers were quick to act, even Raphael stopping his brotherly bullying to comfort his hatchmate. I had hoped that the brothers would take their awakenings with more and more ease as each took on their new abilities but it seemed that the mixture of the unexpected fall, the overwhelming attention, and my own outburst had triggered Donnie’s anxiety. I had suspected he had some minor anxiety issues stemming from being the quiet and often overlooked brother but he had gone into a full panic attack. I would have to apologise when things leveled back out with the brothers.

When we got back they all headed to their rooms without a word but a few minutes later I heard all four voices coming from the morning suite. They would probably end up sleeping in a pile, they usually ended up doing that when one of them was overly stressed or injured.

I was dressing down for the night when I heard a light knock on my door.

“Come in Leo, it's unlocked.”

When he entered his eyes immediately scanned the space for potential escape points before landing on me with an ice cold resolve. I gestured for him to sit on one of the four plush cushions on the floor around a short card table.

“Tea?”

I gestured to the black teaset in the center of the table, it was painted with the ethereal forms of running animals in bright silver. After regarding the set he nodded, watching as i poured two cups before taking a seat on the cushion opposite from him at the table.

“You wanted to talk with me?”

“What are you doing Elasia?”

I set my cup down with a sigh.

“Honestly i'm not doing anything, i simply wanted to give you four a week out of the city, a chance to see that you don't need to keep yourselves hidden in the shadows of those sewer tunnels all your lives. I mean i had my suspicions about your latent abilities after handling your souls, but if my radiant magic energies didn't trigger your awakening in the month i've spent with you guys i was convinced that my suspicions were false. The events of today were not a part of my plan in the least.”

He sipped his tea slowly before speaking, his voice taking on his “leader tone”

“So you did have a plan, i suspected as much, watching you train, you never fail to have some hidden trick in place when you would get into a tight corner.”

“Yes, though the main plan was to simply get you four some much needed down time, i was also hoping that through the course of the week i would become closer with one of your younger brothers.”

he sipped his tea, contemplating the swirling tea leaves in the cup as his face subtly twitched through his thoughts..

“You're good for him, since you started your secret training every week, he hasn't been as prone to his usual outbursts. Something about you is almost taming him.”

“So you noticed… i haven't been doing anything to change Raphael, i've only been showing him how to deal with his own abilities. I showed him how to deal with the overwhelming influx of emotion he felt on a daily basis and over time what started as simple acts of compassion, turned into more.”

“I don't understand, you say that Raph possess some sort of supernatural sensitivity to emotion?”

the cup was on the table now, half finished.

“It's called Empathy, it's typically a rather common skill, even humans can become skilled empaths with the correct training. What you interpreted as an extremely brash and aggressive nature in Raph was simply him becoming overwhelmed by the influx of emotions he was naturally feeling from the people around him. Once i taught him to block out and deal with those ambient emotions his true self started to shine through, he really is quite a kind and caring person, he just has a skewed way of expressing that.”

“Yes, chasing mikey through the vents with threats to rip his shell off is definitely affectionate.”

“Well that explains why you fell through the ceiling, but think for a moment, has Raph ever seriously hurt any of you?”

He thought for a moment.

“Not Donnie or Mikey but he has left me with a few good cuts and bruises over the years.”

“That is mostly because you fed most of his intrusionary emotions, he was compounding your anger on top of his own. But truly think, Raphael bench presses 1000 pounds as a basic workout. If he really wanted to hurt you, don't you think he could?’

The look on leo’s face told me everything i needed to know, the young man literally wears his emotions on his face. He had never thought about Raph pulling his punches, he was only thinking of the surface emotion of his interaction with his next eldest sibling. Interpreting the words coming out of his mouth as his intention instead of looking any deeper.

“A good leader understands how his charges think.”

He nodded, eyes returning to the cup, his face so muddled with emotion that i had trouble reading him.

“I think i understand what you had meant now.”

“I didn't tell you any of this, i promised Raph that this information wouldn't get out. But i don't lie to my coven. You four are as close to me as my own brothers.”

“They aren't even your real family.”

“The blood of covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. When you've lived as many times as i have you come to realize the truth of that statement, you will as well someday.”

He stood to leave, bowing slightly in thanks before turning to go,  stopping in the door though he turned to me.

“You said you had suspicions, did that include all of us?”

“The Sylph and Salamander will wake in their own time. For now i believe your brothers may need your presence, there is a storm on the horizon.”

[batteredmettle-archive]

“They’ll never see anything again,” she reiterated. “You can’t stare at the Sun that close and expect to keep your eyes.”

Prologue--Oct. 11, 1523 AD

The sun had risen high in the sky by the time Sabah Goldschmied found her destination. A dusty little village lay at the bottom of the hill, half-darkened by its shadow. It felt like the wind was guiding her along, making her clothing wave in the slight breeze.

The girl wasn’t very tall, wasn’t very skinny, but she was dressed like a fighter, in pants and armor despite her gender. Her long, wavy black hair was tied up with a rawhide cord, all but the bangs that now curtained around the sides of her golden-brown face and a braided lock that fell over her left shoulder. Her eyes were bright green and sparkled in the light. A sword hung at her back, golden hilt curved into spikes that looked like sunbeams, a pommel set with a sunstone, the handle wrapped in red leather that matched its scabbard. At the middle of the hilt, facing outward, was an engraving of a sun.

She set off down the hill, certain it was here she was supposed to go.

Johne walked down the dirt-paved road toward home, a parcel of bread in his arms. He kept his head down, black bangs hiding his brown eyes lest he accidentally make eye contact with someone higher-born.

Which, in his experience, was just about everyone.

His father ran the inn, and boasted loudly over pints of ale that he’d served lords and knights over the years since he’d inherited the property from his father. The words managed to attract travellers, but were complete lies. One of these days, Johne hoped someone would call him out on it, but no one yet had.

“Six elements there are, and six holding their powers will rise up,” he was murmuring, an old story that no one thought of as legend anymore except the old woman who had told him. “These empowered few will swear their lives to the protection of beings everywhere, whether human or otherwise. There is the Sun, bright enough to chase out the fear in the hearts of men. There is the Moon, dark but welcoming, to shield those running from harm. There is the Earth, steadfast and never-changing, to hold true the traditions humankind has upheld since the dawn of time. There is the Wind--”

Lost in his recounting, he didn’t notice he was on a crash course until he collided with a wall of fat. The boy stumbled backward, yelping an apology as he began to skirt around.

But the man wasn’t letting him off that easily. He towered over the twelve-year-old. His shirt was stained with dirt, sweat, and ale, and that was most of what Johne saw before a thick, calloused hand swatted him aside. He fell in the dirt, dropping the parcel.

“Watch where you’re goin’, lad!” he growled as he turned back to his friends and resumed guffawing with them.

Johne rubbed his aching jaw with a wince, looking around for the bread. It couldn’t have gone far, he thought, but he couldn’t see it anywhere around him--and if it wasn’t near him, it was as good as out of sight.

He’d resigned himself to going back to the booth and getting another loaf with what little money he had left when he noticed it being waved around in his vision. He took the bread and looked up into a pair of bright green eyes.

“Here ya go, meine Kleine,” said a foreign girl’s voice. “Hang on a moment and I’ll walk you home, ja?”

Her eyes turned angry as she turned on her heel and stomped over to the fat man. She tapped on his shoulder, and he whirled and bellowed, “What now, ye wee--lassy.” The last word sounded confused. He waved a hand at her and started to turn again. “Go on, girly. I ain’t yer master, an’ I don’t have time for ye.”

“I’ll be your master in a second,” she growled, prompting the man’s hackles to rise.

“Excuse me--”

“You’re a drunk and an idiot and you should have apologized for standing in his path like that. It’s not his fault you’re more fat than man.”

“Why, you!”

He moved as if to swat at her, too, but she was ready. She bent her knees and his hand whistled on its way over her head, hitting nothing but stray hair. She pushed herself up again, easily jumping about a foot in the air, and drew her sword in a fluid motion. She brought the huge blade up, but when she brought it back down, it was the pommel that came down on the surprised drunkard’s head.

She landed on her feet while he crumpled on his back. The two men he’d been talking to stared at her. Johne saw their eyes flick to her sword, an almost royal-looking artefact, in the split second before they turned to run.

The woman scoffed. “Cowards.” She turned back to Johne, and her angry look turned into an amused smile. “I would’ve thought you would have gotten up by now. Are you okay?”

She held a hand out to him, and he took it to pull himself to his feet. “I’m...er...yeah, I’m okay.”

The girl blinked as he took her hand, a look of mild surprise on her face, but it had vanished before he could think about it. “You know, you should be more careful. It may have been mostly his fault for standing in the middle of the road, but you weren’t looking where you were going. And an adult has never really taken blame for his own actions, in my experience.”

Johne nodded, giving her a wry smile. “Are you from out of town?” he asked. It was kind of obvious, but he thought he’d ask. There weren’t many girls, not to mention dark-skinned ones, that were able to walk around where they pleased.

“Ja, I am,” she said, smiling. She shook his hand. “Sabah Goldschmied, at your service. Come, I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d walk you home.”

“Oh. It’s this way,” he said, gesturing down the road. “I’m Johne. Johne Byrne. My dad runs the inn.”

“Well, that’s convenient,” she replied with a grin. “I’m looking for a place to stay the night.”

“He, um...he won’t like that.”

“What, because I’m a girl?” She rolled her eyes. “He won’t care if he cares about money. He does care about money, right?”

Johne frowned. Mostly because coppers fill his mug with ale, he thought, but nodded. “I guess we can ask,” he acceded.

He looked over at her. She was more than brave, he thought. Most people would call it impudence. But he couldn’t think that when that “impudence” knocked a man who deserved it into the ground. He didn’t have high hopes for her being able to stay at the inn, but he hoped his father was at least nice enough to consider it.

Luckily, Thomas Byrne was more than nice when Sabah flashed him a couple of silver coins. He’d put her up, albeit in the worst room he had available (but she insisted she preferred the hole in the ceiling, as it made her feel like she was still sleeping under the stars, and at least it wasn’t raining).

Johne left the loaf of bread in the kitchen with the cook, who was napping with her wide-brimmed hat over her face. He’d been hoping she was awake so he could ask her to tell another story, but he didn’t want to wake her for such a trivial request. He turned in for the night, knowing he should get back to his room while his father was still in moderately good humor. After all, the alcohol never really made him happier.

The boy laid in his bed, his cat curled up on the pillow by his head. He looked up at the ceiling, wondering about the strange woman. Where had she come from? Why was she able to wield such a huge weapon? Had someone given it to her, or had she bought or stolen it?

Why had she helped him?

Eventually his wondering turned into dreaming as he fell asleep to the sound of his cat’s purring.

--Oct. 12

Johne woke with a start as he heard a loud pounding on the door. Not again, he thought with a sinking feeling. Maybe his father would leave him alone this time if he just didn’t answer--

“Yew git out ‘ere, boy!” the man bellowed. “Ye got somethin’ ta answer for!”

Johne bit his lip and slid reluctantly out of bed, looking around for Rosie. The gray-spotted feline was nowhere to be seen, which could either mean she was on the far side of the room or had run out the window when Thomas had almost broken the door down.

He waited until Thomas had finished assaulting the wooden door before he pulled it open, keeping his eyes downcast. “Yes, Father?”

“Recognize this brute?” Thomas said in a dangerously low voice. Johne looked, and his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as he realized he did recognize the fat drunk. It was the one Sabah had knocked out in town yesterday.

“Aye, that’s him. Him and his tinker lass.”

Tinker lass? Johne thought. He yelped when his father grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up from the ground.

“This’s my drinkin’ mate,” Thomas said. “And the two o’ ye assaulted him. That’s an insult to yer own da, laddy. The man who fed an’ housed ye for goin’ on thirteen years now.”

“Who isn’t your drinking mate?” The words were out of Johne’s mouth before he could stop them. He regretted it even before Thomas slammed him hard against the wall.

“I’ve about had it up ta here with your insolence, pup!” he snarled. Johne could just barely make out the fat man’s cruel grin, but he turned his eyes back to his father’s face. “Ye’ve been a thorn in me backside since yer mother refused ta drown ye!”

He’d heard this before. Thomas had never liked him. His mother had lain with another man--evidenced, Thomas insisted, by the black hair on his head. Thomas’s hair was reddish-blond, same as Johne’s mother. When he was born, Thomas insisted she kill the bastard immediately. But she’d refused--apparently, because Johne was still here listening to him screaming obscenities at him.

“I could drown ye right now,” Thomas said now, scowling. Johne wriggled, trying to break free, but the man’s grip was too strong.

“He amen’t gonna be much use for anythin’ else,” the fat man agreed with what Johne could only assume was a nod. “Ye got a bath I can draw up fer the lad?”

“You hold him,” Thomas said, swinging the boy around at him. The man wrapped an arm around his neck, making him fight for air. The oxygen he did manage to intake smelled like armpit sweat and ale, which made him wonder if breathing was worth it right now.

“No--no, let me go!” Johne gasped out, kicking as he was lifted off his feet. He held onto the arm around his neck. Thomas started leading them down the hall despite Johne’s feeble protests.

Then the fat man almost collided with him, squishing Johne between them. Thomas had stopped abruptly, but Johne, unable to see around him, didn’t know why until he heard a new voice.

“If the kinder is that big a problem that you had to wake me up,” a girl’s voice said, “then maybe you won’t mind an alternative.”

Johne could hear the growl in his father’s throat. “Git outta me way, lass! You’ll git yer turn!”

“Put Johne down and we’ll see,” she challenged. Johne still couldn’t see, but he heard the singing of metal being drawn from leather. “If you don’t, you won’t see anything ever again.”

The two men laughed. If anything, the fat arm circled Johne’s neck even tighter.

Sabah sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Johne, close your eyes.”

Suddenly, the hall was filled with a light so bright Johne could see it through his closed eyelids. He heard twin screams of pain and he found himself on the ground a moment later. He resisted the urge to open his eyes and look, but he didn’t have to resist for much more than a couple of seconds. The sound of a blade resheathing met his ears among the screams, and the hallway dimmed along with it.

A hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him upright. He opened his eyes to see Sabah’s crooked grin.

“I did warn them,” she said before taking him down the hall.

“Did you…” he began quietly, but she shook her head.

“They’ll never see anything again,” she reiterated. “You can’t stare at the Sun that close and expect to keep your eyes.”

[whatthisfemsheplikes]

G/t Story: The Chase

Hey hey hey! So... a little bit of info before we get into the story:

I know that I said that vore and mouthplay and all that would be in the next story... but it’s not. I had the story already written from the main timeline of these stories, and I realized that it revealed some pretty major spoilers about the storyline. That being said, I PROMISE THAT VORE WILL HAPPEN! Just not right now. Once I start up a new sideblog to just post my stories in, then you’ll see the vore story there for sure! For now, I hope that you enjoy this story, but before you read it, I’ll leave you with this:... Tori and Wesley will be okay...

ON TO THE STORY!

The Nightmare (First story)

The Aisle of the Lost (Second story that you might want to read before this one)

WARNING: LANGUAGE, FEAR, FLUFF AND SAD STUFF! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

SETTING: Two days after The Aisle of the Lost

The Chase

“Thanks for coming to the park with me, Wes,” Tori smiled up at the borrower that sat on her shoulder. They were sitting on a park bench, looking out into the vast, green, sunlit landscape of the city’s public park. The sounds of conversations and the laughter of children filled the air as they soaked in the atmosphere. To Tori, it made her relax. To Wesley, it sounded like too many humans. “I know that you’re not that great with being outside, so I was surprised that you wanted to come at all. I’m glad that you did, though!”

“Y-yeah,” Wesley nodded as his eyes darted around nervously. At the moment, they were sitting in the fenced-in area the park that was designed to let dogs run around. Tori could see her own fluffy, white-and-copper-furred mutt, Kipper, sniffing at a Boston Terrier a few feet away, but all Wesley was thinking about was how any one of those dogs could take him out in a single bite. Then again, he’d considered this to be his best option at the time that Tori had offered the chance to come with her. “I mean, this is better than being back at the house by myself.”

“You’d be safe at the house,” Tori said assuredly. “You know that, right? Not that you’re not safe here with me, but I just mean that if you wanted to be by yourself then you’d be alright.” “I know,” Wesley mumbled. “It’s just that the house is so big… and I wouldn’t know where you were, or when you were coming back. I just feel safer around you since I’d know those things.”

“Well, I’m glad that I can make you feel safe, Wes,” she beamed at him. “I know that it’s not easy for you to trust humans, and believe me, I understand why, but it’s nice to know that we’re making some progress.” “Yeah,” he said giving her a shy smile back. “It’s definitely a different experience, but… I’m happy with how things have worked out.”

“Just think,” Tori sighed as she leaned back and stretched her arms across the back of the bench. “It’s been less than two weeks, and already so much has hap-” “Hey! Get back here with that!”

An older woman’s shriek cut off their conversation as they both searched for the source of the alarming noise. When they looked, they saw a woman chasing Kipper around the park, hopelessly falling behind as he zoomed around. As he raced past them, Tori was able to see that he had a thick, plastic bag in his mouth that clearly had some kind of food in it.

“Aw, shit!” Tori gasped as she instantly got to her feet. “Kipper’s taking food from people… again!” She turned her head slightly and looked down at Wes, who seemed amazed at the sight of Kipper moving so fast. “Wes, would you be okay with staying here for one second? I’m gonna have to wrestle that bag away from Kip, so I don’t want to risk you getting jostled around while I chase him down.” “Y-you want to leave me here? Alone?” Wesley stammered nervously. “I would only be gone for a second,” Tori assured. “And this park is known for being really safe. There are people patrolling the park twenty-four-seven, so if anything were to happen, just call out and someone should be able to come and help you if I can’t.”

“B-but, Tori…” he mumbled, even though he knew that he’d rather be on the bench rather than close to Tori while she raced around the park. “I’ll keep you in my line of sight,” she promised. “I won’t go anywhere where you wouldn’t be able to see me. If Kipper runs off that way, then I’ll just ask a patrol officer to go after him so I can stay with you, okay?”

“Okay…” he sighed, then let Tori carefully scoop him up in her hand and set him down on the rim of the bench’s back. “Here,” she said as she took off her black, leather jacket and placed it next to him. “This can keep you warm while I’m gone, and you can hide in it if you want.” “But, won’t you be cold?” he asked as he glanced down at her purple, V-neck t-shirt. “I’ll be fine,” she chuckled, brushing his question aside. “It’s only sixty degrees. That’s not a big deal. Now, I’ve got to go catch Kipper! I’ll be right back! I promise!”

With that, Tori dashed off to go chase down the dog, who was still running from the older woman, while Wesley plopped himself down on the wood of the bench. He pulled Tori’s jacket towards him with great effort and then wrapped the collar of it around himself to fight against the chilling breeze that would occasionally float through the air.

He was able to spot Tori sprinting behind Kipper as he zigged and zagged to get away from her however he could. It was comforting to know that nothing was around to block his view of her, so she would be able to see him no matter where she was. Still, it made him uncomfortable that he was surrounded by humans while Tori’s attention was elsewhere.

He tried to distract himself by letting himself laugh at Tori’s struggle to catch Kip. She would dive towards him and wind up landing in the dry dirt, or they would have a stand-off until one of them dared to take the first move, resulting in a new chase. The older woman was now standing off to the side, watching the scenario play out instead of participating anymore. Both she and Wesley were left to wait for the back-and-forth to end until, suddenly, Wesley’s view was blocked by a large, muscular man towering in front of him. He looked up… way up, to see the face of a young man, probably in his late teens with short, crimson hair and brown eyes that clearly hid mischievous intentions. “Well, what do we have here?” he said in a sly voice. The boy bent down to look Wesley in the eye as the borrower cowered away, shaking in terror at the scrutiny of his gaze. Once their eyes met, the boy looked off to the side and waved someone over.

“James, come here!” he called. “Check this out!” In a flash, another teenaged boy was next to the first one. This boy had spiked, jet black hair and piercing blue eyes that instantly locked onto Wesley when he reached the bench. “Wow, Zane,” the new boy, James, gazed in awe. “He’s really cool. You don’t see that many borrowers around these days.” “Well, not many by themselves anyway,” the first boy, Zane, replied. A slimy grin spread across his face as he raised an eyebrow towards his friend. “Maybe we should give him some company.”

For a moment, James looked confused, but after a while, he started to nod. “Ooooh,” he smiled, raising his eyebrows in understanding. “Yeah, dude. Let’s help him out.” Without hesitation, Zane began to reach for Wesley before he could even react. He was instantly snatched up in a tight fist and he was whisked through the air until he reached the boy’s face. “What should we do with him?” he asked James, not even reacting when Wesley started to struggle furiously against his thick fingers. “How about we take him to the greenhouse?” James suggested. “They have a Venus Fly Trap in there. We could see if he’ll fit in it!”

“Great idea,” Zane chuckled as he started to walk off towards the park’s large greenhouse that seemed like it was miles away. “What?!?” Wesley screeched in horror as he started to double his efforts to get away. “No! Let me go! Tori! Help!” “Aw, he wants help,” Zane laughed. He looked behind him to see if James had a reaction, but he noticed that James was running to catch up with him. “What were you doing?” “I snagged that cool jacket,” James smirked as he held up Tori’s jacket. “Maybe whoever that borrower’s owner is will be too busy worrying about getting their jacket back to worry about him.”

“Nice, dude,” Zane cheered as he high-fived James with his free hand. “Now, let’s hurry up and get out of here before the owner comes back!” With that, the boys started to run, not caring that Wesley was being jostled around. “Tori!” he managed to scream out as his stomach did backflips from the shaking. As his eyes danced about, blurring his vision, he managed to make out the dark purple color of her shirt and her dark brown hair in a ponytail, but she wasn’t getting closer to him to rescue him. Instead, she was fading away until he couldn’t see her over the bushes that surrounded the fence around the dog park.

By the time Wesley felt like his lunch was about to come up, the boys finally slowed down as they pushed open the door to the dirty, old greenhouse. The grim of it seemed to darken the atmosphere in the building, making Wesley feel even more uncomfortable than he already was. The fact that nobody was around made it even eerier. “Alright,” Zane huffed, feeling accomplished. “Where’s the Venus Fly Trap?” “It’s in the back section,” James answered as he pointed to the dirt area that was surrounded by stone to hold in a large number of different plants. Most of them were tall plants with long vines that pointed in each and every direction, and the bright, colorful flowers seemed to be reserved for the sides of the greenhouse.

With an unsettling giddiness, the boys practically skipped to the back of the greenhouse and crouched down to look for the desired plant. All the while, Wesley’s body felt limp in Zane’s fist. He’d been shaken up so much that his head was still spinning and he felt like his strength had been sucked from his body. “Ah! There it is!” James cheered as he pointed to the rather large, menacing looking plant that raised up to knee-height for them. “Wow! Looks pretty menacing,” Zane chuckled evilly. His wicked gaze turned to Wesley. “It looks pretty hungry, too,” he teased, but Wesley didn’t seem to hear him. He felt like everything sounded far away and muffled. What was happening to him?

“Tori,” he managed to groan in a weak voice. “This ‘Tori’ person isn’t going to find you, little guy,” Zane sneered. “Heck, I doubt that there’ll be anything left for you to find.” He let out a laugh that sent a chill down Wesley’s spine as he was shifted to be just above the hungry plant. “Let’s see how fun it would be to go in head-first,” James suggested, to which Zane nodded and shifted his grip on Wesley. He pinched the borrower’s ankle so that he was dangling from his fingers, and the new position only made Wesley even dizzier. He could’ve sworn that he heard Tori calling for him off in the distance, but at that point, he couldn’t tell if it was real or if his mind was playing tricks on him.

“Oh? What’s on his stomach?” James asked as he pointed to Wesley’s middle. His shirt had lifted up to reveal the scar that he’d gotten from his escape attempt at the shelter the day that he’d met Tori. With curiosity, Zane ripped the rest of Wesley’s long-sleeved, green shirt off of his body to get a better look. He threw the shirt in the dirt absent-mindedly while he stared, leaving Wesley to feel the freezing air against his skin as blood kept rushing to his head while he hung upside down.

“Well,” Zane smirked, giving Wesley a cocky attitude. “It seems like your owner isn’t too great after all for doing that to you. If you ask me, I’m doing you a favor by doing this.” He instantly started to lower Wesley down towards the Venus Fly Trap at what felt like an agonizingly slow pace. He was building suspense. He wanted Wesley to beg and plead for his life so he could savor the moment, but Wesley felt too weak to put up a fight. He tried one time to reach up and fight against the fingers that held him, but he couldn’t even lift his arms up past his knees. Just as he started to hang limp and accept his fate, he suddenly heard a familiar, yet angry voice coming from behind the boys.

“Hey, assholes!” Before he could even look to see who had spoken, Zane’s body was forcefully yanked into the air, taking Wesley along with him. Wes felt like he was flying as he left Zane’s grip and soared away from him, but he didn’t get that feeling for long. A soft, almost spongey surface stopped his fall before he could get too far away, and he felt himself getting wrapped up again. He was in another hand, one that held him tightly, but not in an uncomfortable way like Zane had. This grip felt safe, like it was for protection, and Wesley instantly knew who the hand belonged to. “Tori,” he let out a breath of relief as he repeated her name.

“Hang on, Wes,” the girl told him in a serious voice that prompted the hand to move again. He felt himself being deposited on a nearby wooden table, allowing himself to sit up and try to orient his vision. Though his sight was still slightly blurry, he managed to make out the shape of Tori next to the two boys. She was now holding both of them up by the collars of their shirts with an enraged look on her face… one that sent a chill down Wesley’s spine. He’d never seen her so angry in his life! What was she going to do?

“You two think that you’re funny?” she said accusingly through clenched teeth. He could see her knuckles turning white around their shirts. “You think that you can just waltz right into the park, steal my shit, and kidnap my friend? Are you out of your minds!?” “P-please!” Jason begged, clearly terrified as he looked up at Tori with fearful eyes. “Please d-don’t hurt us! W-we d-didn’t mean to u-upset anybody! W-we were j-just messing a-around!” “You were ‘messing around’ with someone’s life!” Tori roared, making Wesley’s ears ring from the volume. “Are you proud of yourselves for that? You were trying to kill him! What’s to stop me from doing the same and ending you both right here for what you did?”

“Whoa, hey!” Zane stammered, holding up his hands in surrender and trying to put on a charming smile. “We weren’t really going to do anything to him! We were just kidding, lady! Chill out! Think about this for a second!” “You know what I think?” Tori growled, holding Zane up a bit higher and closer to her face. To, Wesley, she seemed like she had grown a few inches with anger, but he attributed that to his blurry vision. “I think that you need to shut the hell up! If you even say one more word, I swear that I’ll-”

“Tori, stop!” The girl’s glare snapped over to the wooden table where they met Wesley’s pleading eyes. “Please… don’t hurt them,” he said in a feeble voice. “Just let them go… I don’t want anyone else to get hurt today.”

Tori stayed frozen for a moment, looking like she was thinking extremely hard about whether she should listen to him or not. However, after a few moments, she let out a frustrated sigh and relaxed her arms. She still kept a scowl on her face and her hands gripped on their shirts as she looked them in the eyes, making sure that they were listening. “If I ever see you around here again,” she snapped at them. “I will show you no mercy for what you did. Now. Get. Out.” With that, her hands released them, and the boys were off running in terror the instant that they were free.

Once the door to the greenhouse had closed, Tori let out another deep sigh as she approached the table. “Let’s go, Wes,” she said flatly, bringing a hand to rest near him on the table so that he could climb up. “We need to get you back home so we can patch you up.” Instead of the sensation of tiny feet against her palm like she’d been expecting, Tori was met with the sight of Wesley flinching away from her in fear. The sight of him so terrified… of her… it made her feel like someone had just stabbed her in the heart.

“Wes, come on,” she was pleading now, not wanting to believe what she had seen. “I’m not going to hurt you. We just need to go home.” “Tori…” Wesley mumbled as he scooted himself away from the hand a bit more. “You… you got too angry… just like I said you would.” “Wesley, they were about to kill you!” Tori emphasized. “Why wouldn’t I have gotten angry? Don’t you know how much I care about you? What would I have done if they had succeeded? Huh? What would I have done without you?” “It doesn’t matter, Tori,” he replied, sadly. “You were about to hurt somebody. What if they had still been holding me? Would you still attack them?”

“Of course not!” Tori assured, a hint of desperation in her voice. “I would’ve gotten you away from them first, just like I did this time! I’d never put you in harm’s way!” “You mean like you did when you left me alone?”

Silence fell over them as Tori stared at him with her mouth agape and Wesley turned away to look at the wooden table below him. “Wes…” Tori sighed, breaking through the quiet after a while. “I’m… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you alone. I should’ve just asked a patrol officer or somebody else for help with catching Kipper so that I could stay with you. I don’t know what I was thinking and I-” “It’s fine, Tori,” Wesley cut in, still refusing to look at her. “I get it. I’ve only been around for over a week, and you had Kipper around long before I was ever in the picture. Family comes first and I’m just not the favorite pet.”

“Dammit, Wesley!” Tori growled in frustration as she stepped away from the table and started pacing back and forth. “You’re not a pet! How many times do I have to say that before it goes through your head?” The outburst had shaken Wesley up a bit more, but the fear subsided slightly when Tori removed herself from the table. He didn’t want to be close to her when she was like that.

“Tori, you can say that all you want, but the truth is that I’ll never believe you!” More silence settled in the air like a blanket that was suffocating them. Wesley hadn’t meant to shout, but he felt like all of his pent up insecurities and frustrations were just flowing out of him in that very moment. He didn’t care what Tori said. He knew how he felt, and despite how well she treated him, he knew that he’d always be a pet. She might’ve treated him like any other human, but that nagging reality that she could send him back to the pet store at any moment kept tugging at him. You couldn’t make a return on a human, but you could return a borrower… because all they were good for was being pets. At least, that’s what he’d lived his life believing.

“You know what, Wesley?” Tori said in a serious tone as she stared down at the stone floor and clenched her hands into fists. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that you believe me. There’s not a day that will go by that I won’t care about you as a friend instead of a pet. There’s not a minute that will pass that I won’t be thinking about how to give you a good life and make you happy. I don’t care if you fight me on that until the day I die… because I’ll know the truth… and deep down inside… I know that you do too.”

“I’m sorry, Tori,” Wesley mumbled. “But, I don’t.” For a moment, they both were frozen until Tori suddenly bent down, picked up her leather jacket off the floor, and started to walk away. “I’ll have Kipper take you to the car,” she said flatly. “Since you apparently can’t stand to be around me.” “Tori…” Wesley sighed as he started to feel guilty about what he had said. He could see that she was hurt, but in the moment, he hadn’t cared. She needed to know how he felt… right?

Tori didn’t stop at his words. Instead, she opened the door, looked down at something outside, then spoke soft enough that Wesley couldn’t hear her. After that, she propped the door open and left just as Wesley saw the top of a fluffy white tail pass through the doorway. The clicking of nails was all that could be heard in the greenhouse until Wesley was able to look down and see Kipper coming towards him. When he was close enough, the dog jumped up to prop his front paws up on the table and rested his head in between them. Usually, his ears were perked up, showing that he was excited and anxious for Wesley to climb up his nose to sit on his head as the borrower had learned to do after living in with Tori for a few days. The dog was his best form of transportation besides riding in Tori’s hand or on her shoulder, so Kipper had become quite attached to him in case he was ever needed.

This time though, Kipper’s ears were lowered and his eyes looked especially round as he gave Wesley a forlorn look. It was almost as if he had known that they’d had a fight, but Wesley just sighed as he slowly stood up, fighting the slight dizziness that hadn’t yet faded away. “I know, buddy,” he said as he took careful steps to reach Kipper’s nose. “She’ll get over it… I think. Let’s just go home.” Since Kipper could see that Wesley was clearly struggling to move still, he gently scooped him up onto his nose instead of letting him climb up himself. In return, Wesley gave him a pat against his fur to show that he appreciated the assist, then began to carefully crawl up the rest of Kipper’s snout until he eventually reached the somewhat-level top of his head.

“Let’s go,” Wesley signaled as he held on to the fur around him to steady himself. With that, Kipper took his time hoping down from the table to make it easier for Wesley before he started to head out the door. Barely any humans paid attention to them as they exited the greenhouse and made their way to Tori’s slightly-beat-up, navy blue van. In this case, Wesley was grateful for the lack of attention. He felt like he’d get snatched up again if a human started at him for too long. It made him even happier that it seemed like Kipper made it to the van relatively quickly to avoid everyone.

By the time they’d gotten close to the van, Tori was already in the driver’s seat, and she’d pushed a button in the car to open the doors to the backseat. Without hesitation, Kipper jumped inside it and hopped up one more time so that he was standing on the backseats. The doors were already closing by the time Kipper had finished circling around on the seats to find a comfy spot, so he decided to lay down with Wesley still sitting on his head. The borrower didn’t really mind, though. At that point, he couldn’t even imagine requesting to be in the front to be anywhere near Tori. It was too soon. They needed time to cool off.

With curiosity as to why she hadn’t spoken yet, Wesley looked up at Tori, only to see that he had her head resting on the top of her steering wheel with her hands wrapped around it on either side. She looked so incredibly lost, but Wesley didn’t know what to say to her. He didn’t think that he could say anything. He didn’t want to start another argument, and he felt like anything that he could say would do just that. However, he didn’t have to worry about breaking the silent tension, because Tori did that for him.

“You should know that Kipper was the one who sniffed you out to find out where you were,” she stated dryly. “But even if he hadn’t… I would’ve looked for you for as long as it took. I’d never stop. I’d come back every day if I had to.” “I know, Tori,” he sighed, turning his gaze from her to the fur in his hands. He knew that she was telling the truth about that. He believed her. He just didn’t want to talk. He didn’t have the right words.

Still, she continued as she closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, keeping her hands on the wheel. She still hadn’t even moved the car, but something told Wesley that they wouldn’t be moving for a while. “I mean it, Wesley,” she went on. “I don’t even want to think about what I would do if you went missing for good, or if someone really hurt you… or if you were just gone forever. I couldn’t live with myself. I hope you know that. I hope that you know how much I care about you, and that I’d never do anything to hurt you.” “I know, Tori,” he said again.

A few seconds passed where neither of them said anything before Tori slowly sat up, opened her eyes, and finally started up the car. She had just placed her hand on the gearshift when she paused and took in another deep breath. “I love you, Wesley,” she stated, her voice sounding like it was hiding desperation. She was desperate for him to believe her. She was desperate for him to know that he wasn’t a pet. Maybe she was desperate for him to say it back. Instead, Wesley felt tears starting to brim in his eyes, so he decided it’d be best to lay down on his side on the soft fur of Kipper’s head.

He wanted to believe… but every fiber of his being was telling him that she was lying. She’d almost hurt those boys in the greenhouse. She’d threatened to kill them, and maybe she would have. What was to stop her from ever doing something like that to him? Nothing. Nothing but words and what felt like false hope. So, as she waited to see if she’d hear a reply, Wesley let out a sniffle and wiped a tear away before it could drip onto Kipper. Unfortunately, that one tear seemed to open the flood gates, so he let himself cry silently, no longer caring about keeping up his composure. She was still waiting. He didn’t know what she wanted, and he didn’t have anything good to say, so he said the only thing that came to mind.

“I know, Tori...”