#are they just going through the motions of getting this done now that they've ended up on this path?

[acerikus]

Someone being extremely annoying in the replies of my flowey and clover gif and I'm running out of patience 😭

[kbwrites]

Up In the Clouds Ch.4

synopsis: you're friends arguing reaches a breaking point... for you. what will you do when you find out the real reason they've been fighting?

prev ← → next

⚝content: sugusato x f!reader, sfw, satosugu arguing, but they're arguing over youuuu

⚝wc: 1.4k

Suguru and Satoru always fought. From the year you’d known the duo, that much was obvious. Petty arguments and stupid disagreements were rampant in your trio. But, at the end of the day—usually forced by you—they would make up. Today, however, there was a disquieting air around them, an unfamiliar tension that gnawed at your peace of mind.

You three were in the courtyard for lunch, a place usually filled with the sounds of your laughter. You and Suguru ate bentos while Satoru dug into a sugary donut.

But something was... different.

No annoying quips from Satoru.

No heavy sighs from Suguru.

Just complete and utter… silence.

The courtyard, bathed in the soft afternoon light, felt oddly still. The rustling of leaves and distant chatter of other students did nothing to alleviate the growing unease. You shifted in your seat, the silence pressing down on you like a weight.

“Did Yaga yell at you two or something?”

Suguru glanced up, his hazelnut-colored eyes narrowing as he finally spoke. “No… it’s not that.”

Satoru  scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically behind his dark sunglasses. “Yaga yelling would be wayy easier to deal with than Mr. Perfect.”

The raven-haired teen’s jaw clenched. “Oh, I’m Mr. Perfect now? That’s rich coming from someone who thinks they know everything,  Satoru.”

“At least I don’t try to control every little thing” Satoru shot back, his words muffled by the mouthful of donut. ”Not everything has to be done your way, Suguru.”

“Maybe if you used your head a bit more, we wouldn’t end up in half the messes we do,” Suguru retorted, his tone icy.

You sighed, feeling like a mediator between two stubborn children.

“Guys, seriously, what’s going on? This is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous is Suguru thinking he can tell me what to do.” Satoru snapped, his voice tinged with frustration.

Finally, you’d had enough. The frustration and tension had reached a breaking point. Without saying a word, you stood up, grabbed your lunch, and turned to leave. The soft thud of your bento box as you placed it into your bag seemed to echo in the silence that followed.

Satoru’s blue eyes widened as he noticed you standing. “Wait, where are you going?”

Suguru’s head snapped towards you, his expression a mix of surprise and concern. “What—?”

But you were already walking away, your footsteps brisk and determined.

“Great, just great! Now ya made her leave because you’re too scared to tell her the truth!”

Suguru’s face flushed with anger. “Me? You’re the one who turned this into a contest and made it impossible for me to even tell her how I feel!”

Satoru shot a glare at his best friend, his voice laced with bitter irritation.

 “Well… I don’t care!”

A week. Seven long days without your best friends. They avoided each other entirely, which was pretty hard to do considering how small the school was.

The hallways almost fell deafening silent without the pair’s obnoxious laughter echoing through. According to Nanami it was “The best week of my life”.  But for you, it was a slow descent into madness. The absence of your two best guys, who were always there to bug you and share in the chaos, was unbearable.

Hell, even Yaga was starting to get worried.

Shoko wasn’t much help. Completely jaded by the routine of arguments and breakups between the second years, she shrugged off the situation with a nonchalant wave of her hand. “They’ll make up… eventually.”

You were never one to just sit back and let situations play out. So you whipped out your phone to set your plan in motion.

✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦��✦ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✧✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬✧ ▬▭▬

(Y/N)                                          (Y/N) Hey, movie tn? My place.    Movie night 2nite? Sugu                                          Toru Sounds great. I’ll bring the movie.     Heading 2 the store!    You sigh in relief. They WERE going to make up today, whether they liked it or not. Your phone buzzes again. Sugu                                         Toru Hey… just us right?                    Me n you right (Y/N)?                        (Y/N)                          Yep! Just us!

✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✧✧ ▬▭▬ ▬▭▬ ✦✧✦ ▬▭▬✧ ▬▭▬

You prepared your dorm, fluffing out the pillows, grabbing your softest blankets. Hiding any sharp objects. The soft glow from the tv and your fairy lights set a cozy atmosphere. You only hoped that it would help soften the tension between them.

Knock Knock

Your ears perk up at the noise, you stood up, smoothing your clothes as if they could somehow help soothe the growing knot of anxiety in your stomach. As you opened the door you saw Suguru, leaned casually against the doorframe, his raven hair falling in soft waves around his face. His kind eyes tinged with nervousness.

“Hey Suguru!” Your voice warm as you greet him, stepping aside to let the taller boy in. He settled into his favorite spot, grabbing the blanket he’d left here one too many times. You settled next to him as he pulled out four DVDs showing you the selection.

“I haven’t seen any of these yet actually.” He says looking at you.

As you both discussed the movies, you heard another knock at the door. You quickly stood up, hoping Suguru wouldn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. 

“Hmm? Shoko Coming?”

“Not… exactly.” You laugh nervously as your hand slowly reaches for the doorknob. As the door inches open you see Satoru, his white hair slightly damp from his (never-ever missed 8pm Shower). He greets you with a smile, striding into dorm. Immediate irritation flashed across his face when he made eye contact with Suguru.

Their eyes narrow at each other, then at you.

“What’s HE doing here?”

You place your hands on your hips; side-eyeing Satoru to sit down. He begrudgingly takes a seat next to the raven-haired teen, pouting.

“We are watching a movie. And you’re both staying.” Your normally soft voice, firm as you glare at the two older teens.

They both shoot each other glares before sighing. You had won… for now. You took your place, right in between them.

You tried your hardest to just watch the movie, but it was so boring. Usually Suguru picked out pretty decent movies, but this documentary was NOT a decent movie. You stole glances at your friends; if you weren’t so pissed off at them you would’ve been blushing at the prospect of being sat between two attractive guys. 

Their close proximity made your heart race. You could feel the heat radiating from their bodies, and every small movement seemed amplified in the quiet room. Your hand reached into the popcorn bucket. As the pair saw your hand go in they both reached in with you, hoping to touch you.

Both flinching as their hands brushed each other’s instead of yours. They shot each other a glare before turning their attention back to the TV. A minute passes before Satoru speaks.

“I could’ve picked a better movie with my eyes closed.” The white-haired teen mumbles, shoving popcorn into his mouth.

“Just watch the movie, Satoru.”  Suguru replied with an exasperated groan, though his eyes never left the screen.

“This shit is gonna bore me to death.”

“That isn’t such a bad idea—”

You sigh heavily, grabbing the remote to pause the movie. You stand up, looking down at the two sorcerers.

“Alright. What the hell’s going on with you two?” You demanded

They both looked away, avoiding eye contact. Satoru crossed his arms, pouting even more, while Suguru ran his hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.

You tap your foot, glaring down expectantly.

Suguru glanced at Satoru, their eyes meeting in a brief, intense exchange. Satoru’s nod was almost imperceptible, but Suguru seemed to take it as a cue. He drew a shaky breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

“(Y/N)...”

“We’ve been acting like this because, well..”

“We’re both...” Satoru continued.

“In love with you.” Suguru finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

You blinked, stunned by the confession. The room felt suffocating, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. You stared at them, trying to process their words. Your breath hitched, struggling to keep up with the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside you. It felt like a storm was raging within the confines of the small room, each thunderous heartbeat echoing off the walls.

“You’re… what?” you finally managed to say, your voice trembling.

Satoru stood up, his piercing blue eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that left you breathless.  “We’re in love with you, (Y/N). Both of us.”

Suguru’s nod was slow, almost hesitant. 

 “And it’s tearing us apart.”

taglist: @4evahevah @angelofdarkness2 @iangeeluv

@isishsoskdjsk @yunho-leeknow @starriesworlds @hiblue123158 @n3ptoonie

[puma-riki]

No One Noticed...

Warnings: consistent cursing, kms/kys jokes, [Subject to change every chapter]

Status: Ongoing (Start: 092124)

Taglist (open!): @bee-the-loser @iaintseggsy @channieismylove @yangjungwonnie @luluvhs @nikiswifiee @kingofthekards @skepvids @sammie217 @sh0dor1 @sirens-dreams @starfallia @polarisjisung @minhosimthings @mochiwonz @jiiyen @strawberrieswithchocolateo3o @ritzy-dream-boy @roseangelxfuma @sugarikiz @stvrriki @eczlipse @ddolleri @dangerousgardenchild @roarr-ki @rikidaze @rinoosformstellation @domfikeluva @b0os-jellfyfish @wensurr @melancholy-z @brinethebean @sol3chu @luvjichang @aerijns @bananna-12 @jungwonsjellies @sumzysworld @right-person-wrong-time @rikikiynikilcykiki @pjselee @maniluvzyou @jungwonswife-real @annybah @flaminghotyourmom @vvenusoncasual @pookalicious-hq @jaykehoonist @raven-odyssey @rodelalaland @planetmarlowe @joonsprettygf

Comment on any chapter from No One Noticed... saying you want to be added to the taglist!! or send me an ask !! | bold could not be tagged :c

IGNORE TIME STAMPS !!

———————————————————————————-

Masterlist | Previous | Next

Authors Note: Heyyyy guysss... Again, so sorry this took so long, shit hit the fan and I couldn't find the time to sit down and write this chapter sooner [cry] BUT she's here now! I listened to Don't Let Me Go by Cigarettes After Sex on loop while writing this and I think you should do the same while reading cuz... whew! also, I did not proofread this I just skimmed it... Anyway enjoy!!!!!

32. I'm Gonna Eat him + written (wc:3.5k)

You would think the world would have some mercy as you near the end of your shift. It's dark outside despite it only being 5p.m. You finished breaking your back mopping up the floors that will probably end up being sticky again by morning. Most of the dishes are washed, and there are only a few customers loitering around.

All in all, the worst part of the day was done. You could return home in the freezing cold and rest your weary limbs in 30 minutes.

Wrong!

The bell above the door chimes, and in walks an old lady with the specific kind of energy that immediately sets everyone on edge. The type that scans the room with barely concealed judgment, lips already pursed, eyes already searching for something to complain about.

It starts with the menu, after she, of course, ignored your polite "Hi, how are you?", Why don't you have this? Why is this so expensive? Then the drink, which is somehow both too sweet and not sweet enough. Then the table she waits at has invisible crumbs that she makes a show of brushing off in disgust.

A typical textbook petty customer who seems to have the need to share their bitterness with everyone else. It's easy to let her disgust and attitude roll off your back. So, you nod, you apologize, you fix things. You do what you're supposed to do.

But then, as you're finally sliding her drink across the counter so she can get the hell out of here and you can continue closing the cafe in peace, her words came through sharp and careless.

"No wonder this place is a mess if you're in charge."

It really shouldn't get to you. It shouldn't.

You've heard worse. You don't even know the woman and she doesn't know you.

But something about today- the exhaustion, the stress, the weight of it all pressing against your chest- makes that one off handed remark feel like a punch to the gut.

You don't react though. You never do. Just swallow, steady your breath, and carry on.

You make it through the rest of your shift. You wipe down the counters one last time, stack the chairs, lock the register, shut off the lights, double check the espresso machine is off. You go through the motions like you always do.

Jungwon, Soul, and Eunchae hover by the door as you gather your things. They've been acting weird all shift- quiet and hesitant. You caught Jungwon looking at you a couple times, but the second you glance over, he pretends he wasn't.

Soul has just been watching. His usual sharp-edged humor is absent today, replaced by something softer. Pity or maybe concern.

Eunchae is worse. She just straight-up stares. Long, drawn-out looks like she's waiting for you to say something, except you have no idea what.

They all look dejected, staring at you as you walk to the door. A lot like puppies in a pet store window. It makes you feel guilty.

And it's a bit unsettling.

You would very much like to clear this weird tension between all of you, but you're too tired and too drained to figure out how to right now.

So, when Jungwon finally says, "See you next week?" and Eunchae echos a hesitant, "Yeah, see you," You just nod, your voice flat when you reply, "Yeah." The pair then turns and leaves first

Soul lingers for half a second longer, "Get home safe."

Then you step outside and part ways, the cold night air hits you like a slap, and the door clicks shut behind you.

The only sound outside is from the traffic in the street in front of you as you look up at the blank night sky. There are no stars or moon out, not much to look at. But you know if you were to look down your watery eyes would spill over. You feel your throat tighten despite trying to swallow so it'll go away.

Eventually, your eyes can't hold any more tears, and fat tears quietly rush down your face. Maybe you can let yourself feel bad just this once. Standing by yourself and crying silently does make you feel a bit better, it's nostalgic in a way. The familiar company of loneliness wraps around your heart and gives it a squeeze, as if to say 'Oh, I've missed you so.' Although you can't return the sentiment, at least you still have a bit of normalcy to cling to in your life.

A slow breath leaves your lips and swirls in the cold air in front of you. Just as your debating if you should stay and wallow for a few minutes or go home. a sudden grasp on your waist makes you jolt and nearly fly out of your skin.

"Boo."

You stumble forward before sharply turning around at the familiar voice. Ni-ki stands in front of you with his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his puffer jacket, grinning like he just pulled off the greatest prank of his life. Relief floods through you before annoyance can.

You let out a sharp breath, "You-" You hurriedly raise your hand to your face to wipe your tears. "Seriously? What are you doing here?" You're embarrassed by how hoarse your voice sounds

Ni-ki's grin falters. His eyes flicker over your face, his posture shifting from playful to something softer. His voice loses its usual teasing edge when he says," I thought I'd give you a ride home since it's cold. What's wrong?"

You sniffle, looking away. "It's nothing"

Ni-ki takes a step closer, "It's not nothing if it's making you cry. Come on, tell me."

You take a step back; your tears have stopped flowing for now as you wipe the last bit of wetness from your cheeks. "It's a bunch of stuff... I- I don't know."

He takes a step forward, catching you by the sleeve of your jacket. "I've got time," Your face feels hot despite the chill. You look up at him for a fraction of a second, but even that feels too long as he's practically drinking you in with his eyes.

"Please?" He says it so softly that your knees almost give out under you. You convince yourself for now that it's because you haven't sat down for more than 20 minutes today.

You're also convinced that the boy in front of you has hypnotized you in some way because you sigh and let your arms fall down to your sides, still embarrassed, and frustrated, you've been caught crying.

You press the cold back of your hands against your cheeks, sniffling again. "It's just... it was a long day, and-" You hesitate, your thoughts still tangled together. You glance up at Ni-ki again. His hand has moved from your sleeve to the hem of your jacket like he's afraid you'll slip right through his fingers. The streetlight behind you reflects in his eyes and the weight of his gaze that is solely on you, makes you nervous.

"And... There was this customer that came in— and she was so mean, and usually, I don't care. Like why would I care? What does she even know."

The whole thing sounds stupid now coming out of your mouth. You feel your throat tighten up again and your eyes start to sting.

"But— it's not even about that. Or— I don't know, maybe it was, but- I think it was just— everything" Your tears are falling freely now, you've found one spot on the sidewalk behind him that you're set on staring at. You feel too humiliated now as you're basically ugly crying in front of Ni-ki now.

"I had so much homework to do, and I finished it— at least I think I did? I feel like I can't remember anything right. And I still have to study. And I have exams in less than a week, and I'm running on like two hours of sleep because I stayed up all night trying to take a load of homework off. I also couldn't eat today because I was so busy. And then—"

A sob cuts you off and a gust of wind blows between the two of you and whips your hair onto your tear-stained and snot-covered face. Ni-ki is faster than you to move it out of the way. Tucking it behind your ears and wiping his thumb ever so gently under your eye.

"And then?" He asks, his eyebrows are scrunched but his eyes are glossed over, almost like he's about to cry too.

You suck in a sharp breath, trying to regain your composure.

"And then work," Your voice cracking. "There was this whole thing with Ricky— He was like promoting his stupid music outside and it was so bad he was driving customers away. Keeho told us to deal with it but we spent too much time messing around trying to figure out who should tell him to leave— And- and the whole thing escalated and Keeho had to step in and he was upset that we didn't do anything so we all got in trouble and things got all weird— Jungwon and Eunchae got mad at each other and then got mad at me and Soul. And-" You're rambling now as you continue explaining through tears and sniffles how Keeho was upset and has now assigned a shift as a manager to everyone.

And then, in the middle of your breakdown, you remember.

"Oh my god, and—" You groan, pressing your hands into your face. "And my mom— She keeps asking me to invite you and the others to this dumb friendsmas dinner at my house for winter break"

Ni-ki blinks. "She what?"

You sniffle aggressively. "Exactly! I was already stressed out, and she kept texting me asking if I had asked you guys after I already told her I didn't think you would be into that— but she just kept asking I know she was just excited but I was getting annoyed with everything else— and I snapped at her and told her to stop asking me and now I feel like a terrible daughter on top of everything else."

Your voice begins to give out on you as your throat tightens up again. The tears still flow faster than Ni-ki can wipe them away. He gives up and pulls you into a hug instead.

And for a second, he can’t even breathe.

Because he’s never held you like this before—has never felt how small you are in his arms, how fragile you feel when your shoulders shake against him. And it makes him ache.

Because you’ve been carrying all of this alone. Because you didn’t tell him, or anyone, that you’ve been running on fumes. Because you’re standing here, falling apart in his arms, and all he can do is hold you tighter and try to will all of your exhaustion and stress into himself.

He swallows hard. He wants to say something, but nothing feels right. What could he possibly say to fix this?

So instead, he presses his chin against the top of your head and whispers, "That’s a lot, huh?"

And when you nod against his chest, clutching the back of his jacket, he holds you closer and quietly wishes he could make the whole world kinder to you.

Minutes pass, your breathing slowly evening out, and when the silence settles between you, Ni-ki finally speaks.

“Okay,” he says simply, voice softer than usual.

You sniffle, pulling away slightly to look at him. "Okay?"

“Okay,” he repeats, like he’s made a decision in his head. He lifts his hands, gently swiping away the dampness under your eyes with his thumbs. “You had a long day, right?”

You blink at him, still trying to gather your thoughts. "...Yeah?"

“And you didn’t eat.”

You shake your head.

Ni-ki tilts his head toward the street, his usual grin creeping back onto his face. “Come get food with me.”

You hesitate. “Ni-ki—”

“Nope,” he cuts you off, gently flicking your forehead. “I’m not letting you go home and cry yourself to sleep on an empty stomach.”

A small, watery laugh slips out of you before you can stop it. You wipe at your nose with your sleeve, sniffling. “I probably look awful right now.”

Ni-ki just shrugs, watching you with something unreadable in his eyes. “You’re a pretty crier.”

You huff out a disbelieving breath. “Don’t lie.” You smack his arm, the touch fleeting, but Ni-ki barely reacts—just grins and starts walking, his fingers curling briefly around your sleeve as if to check that you're following.

“Would I lie to you?” he teases.

“Yes,” you deadpan, but you take a step after him anyway.

He laughs, grabbing your sleeve and tugging you toward the sidewalk. “Come on. Let’s go before you start crying again.”

As they got back into the car after dinner, Ni-ki barely had time to buckle his seatbelt before noticing your head start to tip forward. You caught yourself just before your forehead hit the window, jerking upright with a sharp inhale.

"Whoa," Ni-ki said, biting back a grin. "That was almost really embarrassing for you."

You groaned, rubbing your face. "I wasn’t falling asleep."

"Yeah? Then what were you doing? Praying?"

You let out a half-hearted scoff and leaned back, closing your eyes for just a second. Ni-ki glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, something about the sight of you sitting there—soft, full from dinner, barely fighting off sleep—making his chest feel weirdly light. You never let yourself slow down like this. And now, here you were, practically dozing off in his car of all places. It felt… intimate.

He cleared his throat, looking at the gas gauge, and then, because he couldn't help himself—

"Oh nooo, [Name]. Look." He exaggerated a frown, shaking his head. "We only have enough gas to make it to my place. Guess you have to stay the night."

Your eyes blinked open, moving straight to the gauge, where the needle sat nowhere near empty. Slowly, you turned your head to look at him, unimpressed.

"Riki," you deadpanned.

He immediately slapped a hand over the gauge. "It literally says almost empty right here."

"You are so full of shit."

"Okay, but think about it," he argued, undeterred. "You’re exhausted. You’re literally swaying in your seat right now."

"I’m not swaying."

"You are. And wouldn’t it be way easier to just crash at mine instead of trying to make it home half-dead?"

"I don't have any clothes or anything with me."

"You can borrow mine."

You hesitated, exhaling slowly. He could see the argument forming in your head, could see you weighing your options—your usual stubborn independence against the undeniable exhaustion pulling at your limbs.

You sighed, "I should say no."

"But you won’t," Ni-ki said confidently.

You shot him a tired glare, then, after a long pause—

"...Fine," you muttered, half-smiling. "But only because I don’t want to hear you whine about it.

His grin stretched wide. "Cool. Beware though, Heeseung sleepwalks sometimes."

You rolled your eyes, but there was something softer about it this time.

As he pulled onto the road, you shifted in your seat, letting your body relax, head tilting slightly toward the window. Ni-ki watched as your breathing evened out, the tension you always carried finally melting away.

You had let yourself rest. With him.

After he had pulled into the parking lot of his apartment, he gently shook you awake and helped you up to his apartment. You clung to his arm most of the way, not entirely in control of your drowsy body.

Not that Riki minded, of course.

He led you to his room, flicking on the light as you entered. It was clean but lived-in—posters, stray hoodies draped over his desk chair, a few knickknacks scattered around. He rummaged through his drawers and pulled out a pair of pajama pants and one of his oversized shirts.

“Here,” he said, handing them over. “It’ll be way more comfortable than what you have on.”

You hesitated, looking down at the clothes in your hands. “Are you sure?”

Ni-ki rolled his eyes. “No, actually, I want my guest to suffer and sleep in jeans.”

You scoffed but were too tired to argue further. He gestured toward the bathroom. “You can change in there. I’ll get some water.”

You nodded and shuffled off, while he grabbed two glasses from the kitchen, taking a moment to let the reality of the night settle in. It was so casual, but somehow it felt different—like a quiet kind of trust.

As he filled the glasses with water, his mind wandered back to what you said earlier. About your mom and Christmas dinner.

"She kept texting me asking if I had asked you guys after I already told her I didn't think you would be into that"

If your mom had been asking about him and the others, then… did you talk about them to her? About him? The thought made something tighten in his chest.

And why did you think they wouldn’t want to come over? Had he ever made you feel like you couldn’t ask? Like he wouldn’t want to spend time with you outside of university?

A flicker of guilt crept in as he set the water jug down. He tried to think back—had he ever brushed you off when you talked about your home life? Had he made some stupid comment about hating holiday gatherings?

He didn’t know why it unsettled him so much, but the thought of you assuming he wouldn’t want to be there, with you, didn’t sit right.

He had wanted to ask you about it earlier, but that didn't seem like a good idea when you were crying in his arms.

But maybe now was.

As Ni-ki picked up the glasses of water, he exhaled through his nose, steadying himself. He wasn’t even sure why this was nagging at him so much, but the longer he thought about it, the more restless he felt. It wasn’t just about Christmas dinner—it was the fact that you hadn’t even considered asking.

He turned off the kitchen light with his elbow and started down the hall, feeling the cool condensation of the glasses against his fingers. Maybe he was overthinking it. Maybe you just assumed they’d be too busy. But no, that wasn’t how you said it.

"I didn’t think you would be into that."

That phrasing stuck in his head, looping over and over.

He thought about the way you had looked earlier, voice tight with exhaustion, stress pressing down on you from every direction. He hadn’t wanted to make things worse by digging into it then, but now that you’d eaten, now that you were here in his space, safe and warm, maybe he could just—casually—ask. Not push, just... understand.

He swallowed, licking his lips as he nudged his door open with his arm, rehearsing the words in his head. So, about earlier—

And then, his breath caught.

You were asleep.

The room was dim, lit only by the streetlights seeping through the curtains, casting soft shadows across your face. His bed wasn’t made properly—he never really bothered with that—but you had curled up on top of the blankets anyway, nestled into the pillows like they belonged to you. His shirt, the one he gave you to change into, draped loosely over your frame, too big, the sleeves swallowing your hands where they clutched the fabric near your chest.

Ni-ki stood frozen in the doorway, glasses still in his hands, as a strange feeling settled over him.

You looked… breathtaking.

His fingers tightened slightly around the glasses, and he forced himself to breathe, to move.

Quietly, he crossed the room, setting the water down on his nightstand. He hesitated before reaching for the spare pillow, planning to take it to the floor. But as he leaned over you, his hand brushing against the fabric—

You shifted.

A small sigh escaped you, barely audible, and then—before he could even react—you moved closer, your head resting lightly on his hand where it had been gripping the pillow.

His heart stuttered.

For a second, he didn’t dare move, didn’t dare breathe. The warmth of your skin against his sent an unfamiliar thrill up his spine, and he had the irrational thought that if he moved too quickly, you might wake up and pull away.

And for some reason, he didn’t want you to.

Swallowing hard, Ni-ki slowly, carefully, shifted onto his knees beside the bed. He could feel the faint rise and fall of your breathing, the way your lashes fluttered just slightly, lost in whatever dream had claimed you.

That conversation—about your mom, about Christmas—could wait.

For now, he just sat there, watching over you in the quiet of his room, letting the moment stretch longer than it probably should.

Now how was he going to get out of this.

Shit.

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

Portal Children AU, Pt 3

From that moment on, Kara gets her wish-- she and Lena are fast friends. Rarely is one seen without the other, even when Lena takes to the fields to run, or climb, or shoot her arrows. Kara tags along, not just allowed but truly welcome. And when Kara begins asking questions about archery, or staffwork, or swordplay, Lena finds an unexpected love she's never had a chance to indulge in-- teaching.

She teaches Kara as much as the girl is willing to learn-- which is everything. By the end of their first year as roommates, they spar on near equal footing, with Kara diligently acquiring and adjusting to the techniques Lena gives her.

In turn, Lena helps Kara understand how best to utilize her muscles-- something Kara never had to think about when flying through the air fighting monsters and aliens. There, it had simply happened, but here-- here she has earthly physics and human anatomy to think about, and Lena helps her with understanding both. With Lena's help, Kara shifts her focus from sheer strength to true function, increasing her range of motion and flexibilty, until Kara almost, almost feels as powerful as she did in her home world.

Kara tells Lena all about her nonsense world, about the joy of flying and the satisfaction of punching an alien back to Mars. She tells Lena about the sister she'd met, the friends who had become her family. She promises Lena that she would have loved them all, if she had been there.

And little by little, Lena shares her own experiences in return. Kara is shocked, to hear just how long Lena had spent in her world-- doors rarely re-opened for children after their eighteenth birthday. That Lena had been almost thirty when she was shoved back through... Kara can hardly imagine the horror of being shoved back into a child's body after living so long as an adult.

She's appalled to hear how Lena's brother had exploited their world instead of saving it, and outraged on Lena's behalf when she learns the Lena's return had been neither accidental nor by choice, but instead a cruel punishment enacted by Lex when Lena was needed most.

Kara understands then, Lena's single minded focus on finding the door back to her world.

But try as Lena might, she makes no headway on finding her door. By the time their 17th birthdays come, and graduation looms before them both, Lena has a new plan.

"I'm going back to my family," Lena tells Kara one night, as they lay in their respective beds, a shaft of moonlight cleaving their room in two. "My father wants me to join him at his company."

Kara frowns, rolling to face Lena. "But that would mean going to college. It would mean going to the city. You *hate* the city."

Lena doesn't deny it. "Lex opened the portal back here by magic," she states bluntly. "Magic is simply science we don't understand. Which means I can open the door from here."

"Does LuthorCorp have that kind of technology?" Kara asks, amazed.

Lena glares stubbornly at the ceiling, twisting her blankets with her fists.

"They will."

Kara considers the declaration, and studies Lena's profile. They've been friends for years now, and Kara knows Lena better than anyone else in the world. And she knows that if Lena says she'll do something-- she'll do it.

"Okay," Kara accepts finally. She flops back on her back. "Then I'm coming with you."

Lena's head whips towards her. "What?"

"You don't think I'd let my best friend brave the unknown alone, do you? Besides-- it's about time I go on a proper adventure again."

---

From that moment on, Kara casts herself as Lena's lieutenant. They rent an apartment together in the city, and navigate their own ways through adult life.

Kara is initially ambivalent towards higher education for herself, but allows Lena to talk her into a kinesiology and exercise science degree. Along the way she falls in love with social media, and builds a following creating content centering on body positivity and fitness done right. When she graduates, it doesn't take long to develop enough clientele as a personal trainer to open her own studio.

Meanwhile, Lena focuses on any and all science she can get her hands on, earning double undergraduate degrees and then a masters and a doctorate. Before long, she finds herself on the Research and Development team at LuthorCorp. She continues to invest not only her swordplay and archery, but also takes on new and developing martial arts, spending her evenings in dojos learning fighting styles Lex hasn't even heard of.

The most surprising thing the city has to offer is free-running. Early every morning Lena meets up with a local group and careens around the city, turning every block, wall, and ledge as their personal jungle gym. She stays quick, stays sharp, stays fearless.

Kara occasionally joins her, adept enough to keep up at a moderate pace, but her work with busy professionals trying to squeeze their fitness in before work means that the parkour remains predominantly Lena's. In the autumn, when the air is chill and crisp with the smell of turning leaves, she can almost believe she's home in the forest, her fauns and deerish friends thundering along just behind her.

But even as they build their lives, neither Kara nor Lena forget their mission. Neither of them lose the longing for their homes, nor their intent to return. Lena spends long hours in her lab, often working solo on her pet project she describes as a transmatter portal to her supervisor (and her father), but in truth will hopefully one split the fabric of reality, and admit her back to her world.

It's years before it happens. Before one night, just as Kara enters Lena's lab with dinner in one hand a keycard in the other, Lena presses a button and a tear opens. It gapes wider and wider until it truly looks like a door, a broad, tall window into another world. She knows Lena recognizes it from the way her friend's shoulders finally relax in relief, and from the immediate step Lena takes over the threshold without so much as a glance behind her.

"Lena!"

She knows the risks. The school for wayward children warned what might happen if they enter a world that wasn't their own. But Kara doesn't hesitate. She pitches herself towards the portal, squeezing through just as it begins to close, Lena already far ahead, the distance between them warped by the shifting realities.

Kara stumbles into the wooded grass on the other side. Catching her balance, she whips around to glance behind her for the door, but sees only endless forest stretching beyond. To her horror, when she turns forward again, Lena is nowhere to be found.

"LENA!!"

[felassan]

Excerpts from this IGN article, under a cut due to spoilers:

"John Epler [on the Executors & the secret ending]: These voices have been influencing events in very subtle, very light touch ways to get towards a specific outcome. As to what their ultimate goal is, we're not going to get into that quite yet. But the idea is that they've always been kind of in the background. They know how to say the right thing at the right time to nudge towards an outcome that they want. It doesn't mean that any of these characters, any of the people shown in that ending don't have free will. They all still made their choices. Loghain still chose to betray Cailin because of his fear of what the Wardens were going to do. Bartrand still locked Varric and Hawke away in the Deep Roads because of greed. But who gave Bartrand the idea that this was the expedition worth taking? Who was the soldier in the room with Loghain who maybe just casually mentioned, "oh, I'm sure glad the Wardens are on our side this time”? No one's being pushed. No one's being forced to do anything, but [the voices] are very good at knowing the right person and finding that little place where they can, with a gentle nudge, shift events in their favor. Corinne Busche: I like how you say that, John, because it's almost as if through their gentle nudgings, their whispers, they're just stoking those feelings and those desires or insecurities that these characters within the world already had. That was already within them. Loghain, Bartrand, the magisters, and the Breach are the largest figures in these illustrations. Why them? Why, for example, Bartrand versus Meredith and Orsino? Epler: Without getting into what maybe the future holds for them, their goal is to remove the elven gods from the table. Again, [the gods] are the most powerful forces on Thedas up to this point. And whatever [the voices’] plans may be, another powerful magical force on the table like that is going to pose some obstacles. And I think the other thing about the Executors, they're very risk averse. They've been playing the extremely long game because the one thing they don't want to do is leave any of their pieces in check. They're always going to go for the option that keeps them the furthest away from harm, while also advancing these goals. The gods are a big unknown for them. No one really knew just until the Veilguard what was going to happen with them. So if you look back chronologically to Dragon Age: Origins, there's definitely a chain of events that leads from then to the gods being taken off the table. Solas' dagger is the red lyrium idol from the Deep Roads. Corypheus obviously had a big part to play in weakening the veil and setting events in motion. One thing that I think is fun to think about is Thedas has been around for a very long time, but these world ending events are happening with such incredible frequency all of a sudden. Why now? Why in this age, why this specific time? You start to get a sense of why that might be – not because anyone's going in and controlling kingdoms or taking over armies. Someone is seeing the end game coming and maybe they're setting up for it. Hopefully we get to see these voices explored a bit more in a potential Dragon Age 5? Epler: Never say never."

"I know that some people were surprised to let go of the Keep this time around. Now that it's all said and done, are there more choices you wish you'd carried over or included? Busche: The big thing for us is we wanted to make this story, every single choice you make, feel relevant to it. One thing that we could have stated more clearly or maybe alluded to more clearly in the game is the idea that just because these choices from the past library of games didn't necessarily impact this particular story, that doesn't mean they're gone. This is a chance for us to really key in to what matters with these events and what's happening in Northern Thedas. I do fully expect that these choices going clear back to Dragon Age Origins will again matter. So just wanted to be on record with that. Every one of your choices that people have made throughout their Dragon Age journey, those are still your choices. And if you've seen the secret 2D ending we talked about, some of these events being quite pertinent. It's easy to see how those choices can and will be relevant into the future."

"What were ways that the Evanuris itself changed in development between Inquisition and The Veilguard? Epler: It’s funny because in reality there hasn't been a significant shift in how we perceive the Evanuris from the end of Trespasser to now. If you have the art book, if you look at some of the old visual designs from [Project] Joplin, we had this idea of this very clear distance between Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain. Ghilan'nain is the mad scientist. She's in search of creating the perfect form. She's all about experimentation. Elgar'nan is much more the tyrant. One thing that I love about Elgar'nan – he spends a not inconsiderable amount of his magic power looking handsome, looking normal, because he's also incredibly vain. I think that speaks to his character. In Veilguard, he doesn't show up until Fire and Ice because one thing he is also extremely, extremely cautious. Busche: One of the things that was really interesting in development, one of my favorite stories is we knew we were going to explore some of these themes through the regrets that the Veilguard witness together in the Lighthouse. When we actually saw those come together and we saw the potential of the Crossroads, that's when we decided, actually we want to go a little bit deeper and let people relive some of these moments through Solas' rebellion and even see Ghilan'nain before the full extent of the Blight, the corruption, the changes to her had taken shape. And I think it was just really an interesting sign that there was something there that captured our imagination as well and to be able to explain that and have players relive it was a really fun discovery."

"Can you tell us about the fate of the other elven gods like Sylaise and June? Are these gods now mortal in the Fade after the defeat of their Archdemons, or were they weakened enough to die in their prison? Epler: Yeah, I mean, so we haven't been super explicit about what happens when the gods die. In my mind, they're either dead or they're the closest thing to it. When a Warden kills an Archdemon, in Origins and DA2 and DAI, before the Gods are out in the world, there is part of that elven god's spirit that is bound to that dragon. It finds the nearest source of Blight. Now, if it's a darkspawn, a darkspawn has a direct connection to the Blight. There's enough energy there for it to rebuild a body, rebuild itself as an Archdemon. When it goes into a Warden, that connection is very different and what ends up happening is essentially the fragment of the God spirit and the fragment of the Warden annihilate each other. So nothing to go back to the god. So if they're there, they're a shadow of their former self. But obviously when Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain come out, there's not that distance. There's not that need to use the Blight as essentially an in-between medium and they can just regain that fragment of their soul. They're now mortal, but they're just as powerful as they were before. Busche: And this is part of a theme within The Veilguard. We're tackling some pretty big subject matter, some of the largest outstanding mysteries within Dragon Age lore. So we want to tie up some of those loose ends, give really satisfying answers, but we also want to leave the door open just a little bit. So questions like that, what happens to the rest of the gods? Those are themes that we want to be able to explore, but also be able to advance the franchise. We learned that the Tevinter Old Gods were just the dragon thralls of the elven gods. What are the implications for Tevinter here? Will this totally reshape how they understand their history and their culture? Epler: There's going to be a lot of people seeking power in various ways through the process of rebuilding Thedas. Because again, no matter where you are in Thedas, the war against the gods had an impact. And I think speaking of Tevinter in particular, there are going to be those who feel that sharing the truth is going to be the best course for people. There are going to be people who are motivated to lie. There's going to be people who are seeking to be proclaimed the new prophets of the old Gods and saying that that person over there is liar. In a world with so many unreliable narrators, smart and savvy political operators can use that to their own benefit. And, I mean, Tevinter is rife with people who bluntly were maybe not openly on the side of the Venatori, but certainly wouldn't have been too upset if they'd won – they're going to have their own motivations. Busche: It makes me think of the choice at the end of Bellara's arc, in fact, where you're literally taking this repository of ancient elven knowledge and choosing to share it, to make it known or not. At the time, that seems like perhaps an inconsequential decision for the moment, but when you look at the future of Thedas and what it means for the elven people, it's perhaps one of the biggest."

"After everything the team learns through Solas’ memories, Harding wonders if they’ve disproven the Maker exists. Is that the case? Or is the Maker, like the elven and Tevinter gods, real just not in the way that we think he is? Epler: That's one mystery that I personally don't want to ever give a definitive answer to one way or the other. The moment you start to try to explain it or try to provide a definitive answer, I do think that takes some of the mystery out of the world. For what Harding’s saying, the question you asked: is the Maker what we think it is? Maybe, maybe not. There could be something completely different to what the Chantry is saying. I think that's one of those wells that we are always going to want to keep open because I do think it adds some interesting context. What the Maker is to Andraste followers and what the Maker could be to everyone else could be two completely different things. Busche: I also love what it does, from a world building and storytelling perspective, to the power structures and then the more personal and intimate. For instance, there's a conversation where Rook and team are sitting around the table in the Lighthouse and Rook gets to lend their perspective: “I still believe,” or “I never believed,” or “maybe we did disprove it.” Those are questions of faith that I think are so interesting to character and world building. And then consider the power and political influence that the Chantry has. If these questions are raised, does that power go away? Well, I doubt it. Epler: In a world that's rebuilding, in a world that's just had these massive revelations occur, I can see people in the Chantry are probably going to use that as an opportunity to try to seize more power. The more we shy away from ever being a hundred percent clear, the more interesting stories we can tell there. The reveal that the first elves came from spirits is huge, obviously. Can you speak to that a bit? When do we see the shift from spirit-created elves to the elves we know today? Epler: One interesting thing about that reveal actually is originally it was going to show up as part of Bellara's personal quest. That was going to be how Anaris was able to turn elves into demons so quickly and so easily, how he's able to start creating his army. We realized maybe putting a massive reveal that changes the state of an entire lineage of the world? Probably not something that needs to go directly in a personal quest. But yeah, I mean, it is a massive reveal, it does change a lot of their history. That's something that is the theme of opening these questions about where all these groups came from and what their origins are. Busche: And I do personally really love what you just touched on there, John, which is the differences but also parallels behind the origins of each of the lineages. Taash's arc explores having dragon's fire in your veins. We know dwarves are the children of the Titans. They can hear the song of the Stone. Knowing now elves have their origins from spirits. Really fascinating parallels that, again, create some interesting storytelling possibilities."

"Speaking of the Titans: we learn Solas effectively made them Tranquil. We've heard rumblings that the Rite of Tranquility can be reversed. Do you think that's something that could happen with the Titans? Epler: I mean, in the fullness of time anything can happen. I will say that's one of those mysteries that we're probably going to keep close to the chest. Have some of these reveals always been part of the history of Thedas? Or were certain things developed as part of The Veilguard? Epler: It's a tricky question because I've been on since Origins, but I used to be in QA and Cinematic, so I wasn't as privy to the deep lore discussions back then. I will say since Trespasser, since Inquisition, these are all things that we've been talking about for at least that long. So it's part of the franchise for as long as I've been around on the lore side of things. But I mean, that's the thing, as we tell stories, as we start to figure out where we want the franchise to go, what we want to happen, ideas change. Another reason why I'm so hesitant to just drop lore into the world without a storytelling reason is sometimes something we thought we wanted to do we realize maybe isn't the most interesting way to handle that. And then we go back to the drawing board. The balancing act is always, you never want to have lied to the players, and you never want to outright contradict something you said before, but the beauty of unreliable narrators is you can twist the truth about 45 degrees to the left and do something interesting without ever contradicting your past self. Busche: I will say that I think the simple answer is that both approaches are true. There are elements that were heading through to a pretty clear conclusion. There were some that were a little bit more mysterious, but some of the most fun that, at least for me we've had are those moments when you and I are looking at these follower arcs and the impact of the stories and conceiving of how does this tie together when we revisit some of these themes. So there is an intentionality about what we do going forward. And again, we don't want to share too much on that, but certainly it influenced some of our decisions and some of the reveals along the way."

"Varric – may he rest in peace – reveals that Solas’ dagger is actually the infamous red lyrium idol. How was Solas able to restore it to its original form? Epler: Would it surprise you to know it was another ritual? Solas does love his rituals. Classic Solas. Epler: Yeah, so in the time between Trespasser and The Veilguard, Solas was able to cleanse the Blight from the dagger and restore it to its former shape. One of the reasons it was hidden in the idol was to keep it hidden. It's an incredibly powerful artifact. It's not the kind of thing you want falling into the hands of a Venatori magister or an Antaam. Obviously, at the end of DA2, Meredith tries to use it, turns it into a sword. We all know what happened there. Rest in...I would say rest in pieces Meredith because she's now a giant piece of red lyrium. But it is an artifact that is tremendously powerful. Only Solas knew how to make it its most powerful, which was the cleansed version of the dagger. As long as its red lyrium, it still has the Blight in it, which means you're always going to be susceptible to the whims and whispers of Blight. We saw it happen with Bartrand. It drove him completely mad. Even when Varric picks up the piece in DA2, he can still hear some of the whispers. So for Solas, before he used this thing, he needed to make sure it was purified, it was cleansed. Obviously, the Evanuris made their own dagger out of red lyrium. They don't care, they're already blighted. It's all the same to them. But for Solas, it was a ritual that he had to do. We talk about the elves following Solas at the end of Trespasser. It's not said explicitly in the game, but one of the things they're helping do is getting this ritual ready so we could cleanse this dagger. Busche: One of the interesting properties of the idol has always been how inherently malleable it is. That's something very unique to it that we absolutely wanted to lean into. What was so fun for us is there were theories we saw out there in the fandom YouTube videos about what was this idol? And indeed did Solas convert it to the dagger and a credit to those fans that figured it out. I don't know how they pieced it together, but cheers to them."

"I've always wondered what the idol is actually to. Epler: Solas is a very nostalgic person. I'd say an idol to Mythal. It's his guilt, his regrets poured into this thing. Because, as Corinne said, it's malleable. That's the shape it took. The final act has choices with resounding consequences. Solas’ fate, for instance, can vary wildly. How did y'all land on the different endings for him? Will his fate affect future games? Epler: I can't answer the second one yet. It was the three fantasies of dealing with Solas. We have Solavellans or people who like Solas, they want to redeem him. They think he needs to come back to the good side. At the end, we wanted to make sure that those players had that opportunity, especially Solavellans who wanted their Inquisitor to have that tragic embrace in eternity with Solas. We were very vague about what happens on the other side of that, but it was important to us to make sure that Solavellans had that opportunity. I will say I was personally the one who really wanted an opportunity to punch out Solas. I was the big advocate for the fight ending way back when. I had it pictured as a big knockdown drag out fight where you and him basically fist fought. In my mind, it was very over the top. I think what we got was a better ending, but I wanted to make sure that the players who chose the option in Trespasser where they said “Solas, have I ever wanted to hear one of your big long explanations?” That's for them, that's their opportunity to say: "nope, Solas, you're the bad guy. I'm just going to beat the crap out of you. Here we go." I think outsmart is a very specific fantasy. Because here's this guy who's been kind of needling you the entire game, he's been kind of a little condescending. Even if you build a rapport, you can always tell he thinks he's just a little bit more clever, just a little bit smarter than you. So getting the opportunity to outsmart the Dread Wolf was something that we thought was important to allow players to do because what more satisfying way to deal with this smug jerk who's been in your head barking at you for the last 40 to 60 hours at the end where it matters the most, than to be the one who outsmarts him. It was important to give players that opportunity to pull one over on him. And I love the line he says at the end. Because in fight, obviously he goes off, he's screaming, he's frothing, he's angry. At the end of outsmart, he says, “And I have finally met my match.” There's just this acknowledgement of, yes, that's right, Solas. I was smarter than you, eat it. And yeah, I think there's just those three fantasies of dealing with it. Busche: Even in that moment, John, he still can't quite get over that little bit of smugness of how well he's taught you. And that one has to sting a little bit, that had to sting. I will absolutely confirm that in so many meetings, more than I can count, John would tell me about this fantasy of punching out Solas and that knockdown drag out fight. Put 'em in the ring! Busche: And, look, as the resident Solavellan, that's appalling! I could never. I will say I absolutely love that there's two variants of the redeem ending as well, whether your Inquisitor romanced Solas or not. Very important to us that you could have that satisfying ending whether you were sympathetic to Solas, even if you know he was misguided. But, also, if you cried like I did at that epilogue slide at the end of Trespasser with the Solavellan romance we knew we needed to pay that off. And my goodness, that one matters to people. It was really intimidating to approach that with the weight and reverence it deserved. I will say also, we didn't touch on the sacrifice ending."

"Let's talk about it. Busche: Everybody dies. There's a moment there that I think is one of the most powerful, where you see Solas, your friends rushing up to help you and to try and stop Solas, and seeing him unleash his powers to turn people to stone on your companions, seeing them fall in that way, that sense of helplessness, that one really rips my heart out. It does. It's such a reminder that all of these events have always been on a knife’s edge. John, like you said, these world-ending events have happened with so much frequency. It's only been because of luck, in some cases, that a person has stopped it. Epler: Well, yeah, exactly. I mean, you had the Warden who happened to fetch the treaties. You had the Inquisitor who happened to be in the right place at the right time to get the mark instead of Corypheus. And I mean, that is ultimately, I think one of the, just kind of circling all the way back to the beginning. One of the characteristics of all the heroes is they act in unexpected ways, and that's how they're able to thwart the end of the world so many times in a row is they're just the right person, at the right place, at the right time. I think, yeah, the sacrifice ending is a great example of sometimes that luck can run out. You need luck and preparedness. One of the things we really wanted to emphasize with that ending is it's still a victory, but it's more of a pyrrhic victory than the other ones. You won, you stop the end of the world, but the example that you set kind of dies with you to some degree. There's a monument set up, but Thedas is going to be in a dark place at this point. I think it's an interesting way to look at that ending in particular."

"In the final act, there are two major companion choices. First, whether or not Neve and Bellara are blighted and captured by Elgar’nan. Second, perhaps the toughest choice: whether or not Harding or Davrin will lead a distraction team and, ultimately, die. Why these choices and why these companions? Epler: So for Neve and Bellara. The two groups that have been the most directly affected by the gods up to this point are obviously the elves – it's their gods that are back – and Tevinter, Minrathous. You know, the Venatori have either fully seized power or have made some pretty big inroads in Minrathous, depending on which city you save. And the gods have come back and brought their dragons and proclaimed them as the gods of the Tevinter people. So both Bellara and Neve have a direct investment. Not that everyone else doesn't, but they have the most direct investment in stopping the gods at this point. We wanted to give you that choice between these two characters who, again, have a very personal score to settle with the gods and are both mages whereas Emmrich obviously wants to stop the end of the world, but doesn't have quite that same connection to the events that are going on. So those two made the most sense as to who would disable them. The other thing is something that shows up in the visuals. Minrathous, Tevinter in general has always been kind of...there's echoes of ancient elven magic in everything to Tevinter and Minrathous does because it's meant as almost a cargo cult imitation of what the ancient elves were capable of. The ancient elves worked lyrium into their buildings, Tevinter uses gold and jewels because they don't have the capacity to work lyrium. So it made the most sense for them. I'll say for the other choice, we knew Harding had to be one of them, and then we had to ask ourselves: we've got a fan favorite returning character from Inquisition. Who could possibly equal that in terms of making this difficult choice? It's like, well, Assan. Assan and Davrin. Davrin obviously has a direct link to this at this point because of Weisshaupt. He's got a very personal stake in it, and it made sense for the two of them to be the ones to be the choice to lead the distraction team, because again, we want to find those personal connections between the characters and the events that are going on. And, you know, the case of Harding, she has so much investment in this story because she's been living it since Inquisition. And then Davrin. Davrin's entire order just fell at the end of the previous act. He's going to have a real strong investment in stopping the guys too here. Busche: One thing that's so interesting about that choice too, the Harding and Davrin choice is it actually presented some interesting complexity and some emotional investment we could tie into, which always makes for a more satisfying, I will say harder choice to make. I'll say in one of my playthroughs, Taash and Harding were in a relationship together and I happened to be romancing Davrin. Impossible. Impossible decision in that moment."

"I do have one last question. We hear during Taash's personal quest about this “coming storm.” Does that have anything to do with the voices across the sea? Is it something we're going to explore? Epler: How do I put this? There are a lot of clues scattered throughout the game of how all these things may connect. I would say Taash's arc is obviously a good one, the end of Bellara's arc and some of the codex entries in Arlathan may be another place to start digging for clues. I'm a big fan of scattering a lot of little hints and seeing what people pick up. Alyssa Mora is an Associate Syndication Editor at IGN. Gaming & Entertainment are her lifeblood, particularly when they involve romance and/or moody vampires."

[source]

[pit-and-the-pen]

My Sisters Keeper- PT I

Summary: Rose has protected Violet for as long as they've been alive. But in the riders' quadrant, you live to be a rider or die trying.

Content warning: Cursing, canon level fighting.

WC: 6.5k

divider by @tsunami-of-tears

I stood outside of my mothers office, ringing my hands. I had stopped minutes ago. Working up the courage to walk in there and give my mother a piece of my mind. Through the thick wooden door I heard exactly what I needed to. That tone my mother so often got. The one that I fought to make sure she never used with Violet. I shoved through the doorway, ignoring the tingle it shot through my arms. 

“You can’t let her go through with this mom.” 

“Rose!” Mira scolded me immediately. But I kept my eyes locked on my mother. General Sorrengail. 

As I held her glare, I heard the faint rumble of thunder. 

“Do not tell me what I can and cannot do with my daughter.” She spoke slowly, eliciting every word,

“I will if you’re sending her off to get killed.”

“Sorrengail’s are riders. You’re a rider.”

“Brennan was a rider too.” Her face fell for a fraction of a second before she stood up a little straighter, squaring back her shoulders. 

“She is going. End of discussion.” I opened my mouth to speak. “End.Of.Discussion.Rose. Now get out.” Her nostrils flared and I clenched my hands into fists by my side. Sensing that I was about to really lose it, Mira tugged on my arm. Pulling me from the room with  Violet walking behind us. 

“Do you have a death wish?” Mira scolds me the moment we’re out of earshot from the door.

“If it keeps her safe.”

“You keep her safe by surviving the parapet, not by pissing off the general so much she kills you before you can.”

“Mira-”

“Stop. I’m right here.” Violer cuts me off and I feel shame heat up my cheeks.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t think you can protect yourself…” I grapple with the words, they come out too fast and everything sounds wrong.

“I get it. But I need you to believe in me. I need someone to think that I’m going to make it.” The words cut through me. Sobering my rage and I nod. Mira rolls her eyes at the two of us.

“Now, if we’re done being so sentimental. Here.” She reaches into her bag and pulls out two matching vests. 

“Are those…” 

“Dragon scales. Yes. Got them from Teine during his last molt. Put them on, and don’t take them off. Both of you.” She hands Violet and I the vests and helps Violets into hers. I study mine as I slide it on. A simple vest but the scales extend up higher on mine, right to the base of my head. It would completely cover my neck. Mira sees me struggling to fix the top part in place and comes over to give me a hand. 

“It ties down into the vest, that way no one could cut it or untie it if they get your hands on you.” She pulls the leather ties into two holes on the top of my shoulders. I give my neck a twist back and forth. Surprisingly, it doesn’t cut off my movement. It fits perfectly snug.  She gives me a proud nod and I try not to blush under the weight of her gaze. 

“Now, other matters. This bag weighs nearly as much as you do, Vi. What the hell is in here.”

“Just stuff that I’ll need.” Violet answers as Mira starts pulling book after book from the pack.

“You’ll still have access to the archives. You don’t need all of these.” Violet starts to protest. 

“I’ll keep these with me. I promise.” Mira continues before Violet could interrupt her. “And you need to change. Those robes will become a sail up on the parapet.”

Mira quickly shoves some riding leathers into Violet's arms. Gesturing for her to change right there. She does and I get a view of just how small my sister is. She was trained to be a scribe. She hasn’t had years to build the muscle that I have. The gray tips in her hair tell just how much the fever affected her more. 

“And if you won’t cut your hair, at least tie it back.” Mira says. I sigh and motion for Violet to turn around so I can braid it back. She finally gives her a once over and makes a content grunt. “Better.”

She looks over at me and doesn’t seem to find anything she needs to change. 

“As expected. Although you should cut your hair too.” 

“I’d have to shave half of it to get rid of it, ya know?”

I know she’s talking about the silver streak that starts from my scalp. Only about the width of my hand but enough to let people know that both twins were affected. 

“Let them know, I don’t care. It’ll just make it better when I beat them all.”

“She’s got a point.” Violet murmurs in agreement with me. Mira rolls her eyes more dramatically this time. She looks like she is about to say something before a bell cuts off her words. 

“Shit. Okay, one last thing for both of you.” She reaches into her sheathes and pulls out three daggers and slides them into Violet’s vest. Then she hands me my sword. 

“Both of them are balanced for you. I know you’re used to that sword Rose. It’s better than any stock you’ll find in the college.” I put it in place on my back and the moment it’s settled Mira sweeps both of us up in a bone crushing hug. My hands go numb but I force them to hug her back anyways. She releases us as a second bell tolls and she walks us only to the edge of the steps. 

“Don’t make me an only child. Or make me live with only one twin.”

And that’s all we get before we start climbing the stairs, watching Mira disappear around a corner. I grab a hold of Violet's hand as we start climbing, my arm out behind me. Eventually we reach the rest of the group. The others that are waiting their turn to cross the parapet. The line is longer than I imagined. 

Violet and I are sandwiched in between a girl with dark skin and curly hair tied up against the crown of her head, and a blond boy who is fiddling with a golden ring on a chain around his neck. 

“I’m Rhiannon.” She says to me, I almost flinch. Not expecting her to talk to either one of us. When I don’t respond fast enough, Violet reaches past me to extend her hand to the girl.

“I’m Violet and the grumpy one is Rose.”

“Twins?” She says, eyeing the both of us. We nod. 

“Cool.”

“I’m Dylan.” The boy behind us chips in and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Dylan goes on about the girl he’s engaged to back home. “We’re waiting until I graduate but the first thing I’m doing is marrying her. We wanted to do it before but she told me she could wait.” 

Violet nods along and I try to look interested. Don’t make friends. That was what I’ve been told for as long as I can remember. You don’t make friends here. Because it will only hurt that much more when you have to watch them die. Violet apparently didn’t get the memo. 

Violet is quiet for a little bit and I can finally see the parapet ahead of us. 

“What size shoe do you wear?” She asks the girl in front of us, Rhiannon. I’m trying to forget her name but I just can’t for some reason. 

“Eight.” She answers, seeming a little confused.

“I’m a seven and half so it’ll be tight, but you need to switch shoes with me.” I snap my head back to Violet. 

“Are you crazy?” I hiss in a whisper to her. She ignores me. 

“With those shoes, you’ll slip right off the edge.” And she’s already taking off her shoe, holding it out for the girl to take. Rhiannon does the same. Whispering her thanks. 

We finally get to the front of the line. Rhiannon gives her name before the two of us. 

“Name?” The rider at the parapet asked the two of us. 

“Rose Sorrengail.” 

“Violet Sorrengail” The rider snapped her eyes up. Studying both of us. 

“As in General Sorrengail?” 

I rolled my eyes as I looked back at Violet before I quickly nodded to the rider in front of us. 

“The one and only.” 

“I thought there was only one coming through this year?” The rider quirked an eyebrow as her gaze fell to Violet. I felt that oh too familiar bubble rise in my chest. 

“Well there's two. So are you going to let us go now?” I crossed my arms, almost daring the rider to say something back. 

“Come on, some of us actually want to get through this thing. Are you both going to keep yapping or cross?” A voice from behind Dylan calls, and I turn my head around to see glacial blue eyes filled with so much pure loathing that it almost makes me flinch. “No one cares what your last name is. Either get moving or get out of my way.” I snap my jaw shut. 

“Go ahead.” She waves Violet through, giving my sister's hand one last squeeze. . 

“See you both on the other side.” Violet says as she takes her first step onto the parapet. It goes against everything I’ve ever been taught. Keep Violet safe. That was the reason I was the rider and she was the scribe. My breath catches as she stumbles for half a second. She’s nimble but I’m scared she'll be knocked over with the way her arms are limply held out beside her. 

Finally, she’s far enough across that they let me go. 

Mira was right, the wind was wicked up on the wall. The stray bits of my hair whipped around my face, luckily I had the sense to tie it back or else I wouldn’t be able to see a damned thing. I take a steadying breath to try to calm my raging heartbeat. I’m a Sorrengail. I am a rider. I was trained to be a rider my whole life. I will not die today. The words Violet said earlier echoes in my ears. Neither of us will. I keep my eyes trained on my sister's braid, the silver hair peeking out through the woven strands of hair. She stumbles again and I bolt a step or two closer towards her. Catching up to her as much as I can while still keeping my own footing. It’s slicker than mud up here on the smooth stones. I’m close enough to Violet that I could reach out and grab her if need be. But I know she needs to do this on her own. She’ll never let me live it down if I help her get through this. But she loses her footing as a strong gust of wind blows and she almost goes over the side. 

I curse and beg my feet to move faster. I swore I heard something pop as her knee landed on the hard ground. She’s half hanging on and I can’t catch up with her. No matter how hard I clench the muscles in my core, the wind is too strong to fight against so I’m forced to sit and watch as Violet scrambles to pull herself up. 

“Come on, Vi.” I shout and I see her rolling onto her back, safely on the parapet again. Well as safe as she’s going to get up here. I let out a relieved sigh and focused on the path in front of me again. 

But before I can pull my focus back to me, I hear a curse then a yelp from behind me. I risk a glance backwards just in time to see Dylan go over the ledge. My body acts faster than I do, leaping towards the spot where his foot would have just been but I’m too slow. Too slow by a long shot and I see his panicked look as he realizes he’s falling. I close my eyes before I can see him land. Damn it Violet. 

That move wasted strength and I have to push myself off of my stomach. Wobbling ever so slightly as I lock eyes with the boy from earlier. Jack Barlow, I heard him when he gave his name loud and proud for everyone to hear. He smirks and puts his head down like a bull as he starts to charge at me. He doesn't miss a step. Doesn’t stumble for a second as he closes the gap in between us and it’s my turn for panic to wash over me. I force my muscles to work, to turn in the opposite direction and run. I can’t make out the words Jack is screaming at me over the wind but I know that look. Jack is ready to kill me and my sister. He turns around and pulls another person over the edge of the parapet as if to prove his point. 

My side hurts, my calves are screaming at me as I put my weight into my thighs, forcing my center of gravity lower as I break into a run. 

“Violet, move.” I shout as I almost catch up with her. “Move. faster.” I grit out when she doesn’t speed up. She glances backwards and I know she sees the same thing I do. Jack barreled towards us at a breakneck speed. Her eyes go wide and she, thankfully, picks up the pace. We have less than a third of the parapet left in front of us but it’s more than enough time for Jack to catch up with us. I’m basically pushing Violet along with me, my hands on her back. Praying to Z that she moves faster. 

I feel the air whoosh around me as I push her towards the other side. Towards whatever semblance of safety becoming a cadet will grant us. And I almost sigh with relief as I see Violet land on the other side, rolling on her shoulder in an unnatural angle, but safe nonetheless. My feet leave the ground to leap and I feel someone’s arm wrap around my waist. Years of training make my body move faster than my mind. I push all my weight forward. Just barely wiggling out of the grip on my waist and feeling all my breath get pushed out of me as I land on my back. I fight back the yelp as I feel a stone press into my neck. Sending a wave of pain so sharp it brings tears to my eyes. I scramble to my feet just in time to see Violet with a dagger aimed right between Jack’s legs. 

“I’ll kill you.” He spits out. 

“No you won’t. Because the way I see it. You’re still on the parapet and she’s a cadet. And she literally has you by the balls on this one.” The rider at the ledge says and I see Violet’s hand push just a little further and I see a tinge of green color Jack's face. I fight the smirk off of my face. Maybe Violet will survive after all. He snaps his teeth at her and I’m beside her instantly. 

“Let me down.” He grits through his teeth and before I can protest, Violet is sheeting her dagger at her side and steps out of the way to let Jack step down. I gawk at her, but she avoids my gaze. Keeping her eyes locked on Barlow. 

He steps up to her, chest almost touching hers. “When I get the chance, you’re fucking dead. Both of you.” I push Violet out of the way and tuck her behind me. I make myself as tall as possible as I force venom into my words. 

“She might be our fathers daughter. But me, I got stuck with my mother.” I bit out. “So if you want to fuck with her, you go through me.” My fists balled against my sides.

“Bitch.” Jack spat near my  feet. I fought the urge to strangle him right there. But Violet tugged on my arm, pulling me away from him.. 

“At least think of something original.” I  muttered under my breath, letting my sister lead us closer to the college. 

The rider at the edge doesn’t look the least bit surprised at this interaction as she asks for our names. 

“Sorrengail?” She all but shouts and I wince. Suddenly feeling every set of eyes on us. I want to wrap myself around my sister. Shield her away from the wandering eyes of the other riders. And as I look around, there's only one that shakes me to my core. The dark hair, a rebel relic snaking along his neck. 

I watch his tan skin flush with anger for a mere second before his face becomes ice cold. I know exactly who it is. Xaden Riorson. And before I can spit out anything to him. A warm hand wraps around my arm. Tugging. I go to push whoever it is off and am met with familiar brown eyes that almost make me melt. Dain. 

“Shit.” He says under his breath as he looks from me to Violet. Violet who is desperately trying to hide the way she isn’t putting weight on her left leg. 

“Dain.” I fight to keep my voice neutral. To keep the way I’m swooning out of it. And he tugs both of us over to the side, out of hearing range from the other riders. 

“What the hell are you doing here?” And I know he isn’t asking me. His eyes are only on Violet, concern laced on every feature of his gorgeous face. I shake my head, trying to calm my mind. 

He’s changed in the last year since I saw him. His hair is a little longer and stubble covers the sides of his face. No longer the clean cut boy he was before he left for the riders quadrant. And I’m shocked at how…good he looks. Dressed in rider black, a sword peeking over his shoulder. He turns to me and I know he asked me something. Something that he’s expecting me to answer. 

Violet nudges me with her elbow and it snaps me back to where we are. I just got caught gawking at my best friend. My best friend who not so subtly told me he’d be counting down the minutes until he saw me again. My best friend who I may or may not have been in love with since he started sprouting like a weed when we were fifteen. 

“Sorry. Adrenaline.” I force the words out, my mouth suddenly feeling very dry. 

He sighs but a hint of a smile plays at the edge of his mouth. 

“Did you at least try to talk your mother out of it.” His words pull a snort from me. 

“Have you met my mother?”

His hand runs through his hair and I try not to think about how soft it must feel. Gods I need to get it together if I’m supposed to join his squad. 

“Listen, there's still time that we can sneak her into the scribes quadrant. They haven’t submitted the names and I know they would take her in a heartbeat.” Violet is already shaking her head. 

“She would just drag me back by my hair. She promised me as much this morning.”

“She’ll get over it. Once you’re in she can’t make them take you.”

“Dain, face it. I’m a rider now despite you being less than thrilled. I made it across. Doesn’t that count for anything.” I see the internal war he’s fighting as he chews on her words. Letting them sink in. 

“We’ll figure out something.” He says and Violet stalks away. Ready to give our names to the rider, not so patiently waiting for them. Leaving me alone with Dain for the first time in a year. 

He smiles my smile. The one that makes one side tug up higher than the other and makes  his eyes crinkle around the edges. Fuck it. I think and launch myself into his chest. Arms wrapping around his neck. He doesn't hesitate to squeeze me back, arms wrapping around my middle tight enough that my toes are the only thing touching the ground. He smells the same, cedar and wind and something that is utterly Dain. He releases me and holds me at arms length, looking me up and down so intensely that I fight the urge to look away. 

“You look good. And in one piece.” He puts another step in between us as I nod. “Tell the girl to put you in my squad. Flame section, second squad. Tell her this is me cashing in the favor she owes me.” He shots me a wink before he walks away, joining the rest of the riders who are looking at us with varying levels of confusion. Let them think what they want. I’m not here to make any friends. I repeat the words to the red-head taking names. And she nods. 

We wait for the rest of the rider candidates to make it across or fall. Once the formation is called, we find out that we lost almost 20 percent. The highest in the last decade. I blame the rain. 

We stand in a rough set of lines, Violet and I falling into near perfect formation as we guide Rhiannon behind us. Then I see him, staring directly at Violet and I with a look that roots me to the spot. He whispers something to the rider calling names, Nyra I think her name is. 

“Dain Aestos, you and your squad will switch with Aura Beinhaven’s.” All Dain does is nod, his face tense. Violet and I share a glance that lets me know neither of us know what is happening. 

But as we passed the next squad, I sucked in a gasp. We’re being moved to fourth wing. Xadens wing. Xaden just stands there with that smirk that makes me want to push him over the edge. But I can’t. Infighting is strictly prohibited according to the codex. Of course, unless it can be excused as training or punishment. Which is exactly what Xaden will be able to do now. Xaden nods at Nyra and steps forward towards all of us. 

“You’re all cadets now. Take a look at your squad, these are the only people who aren’t allowed to kill you, per the codex. You want a dragon? Then earn one.” 

Cheers erupt around us. Violet and I just  glance at each other. I break formation to grab my hand in hers and Dain looks back, looks down at our joined hands and shakes his head. I don’t let go as Violet goes to pull her hand from mine. 

“And I bet some of you are feeling pretty bad ass right now. You made it into your first year, right? The elite, the chosen. Invincible even?” 

More cheers but the tone of his voice makes my stomach curl. The cheers get louder but over them I can hear the telltale sound of wings. 

Rhiannon gaps besides me. I lock my muscles into place to stop from fleeing as the riot flies right towards us. Instead I keep my head held high. Forcing my heartbeat to slow. Dragons can smell a coward from miles away. 

They land mere feet from us, the force enough to shake the ground. Screams rip through the air, but I keep my gaze ahead of me. 

I hear the sound of footfalls as people start to dash out of formation. I don’t close my eyes in time as I see the curl of flame reach out. And that smell, the smell of burnt flesh is one that I know I’ll never forget. It’s enough to make me gag. Violet squeezes my hand but says nothing. 

“Anyone else feel like changing their mind?” Silence. “No? Well then, half of you will be dead by the end of this year. Another third the year after. And even fewer will make it ‘til graduation. No one cares who your mommy,” He stares right at Violet and I. “or you daddy is here. Here you’re nothing more than a cadet. So who here still feels invincible.” More silence weighs the air like a blanket. “Good. Because to them you’re not, to them you’re just prey.” 

We’re left to our own devices for the rest of the day. Dain quickly pulls Violet to somewhere deeper into the college once they dismiss us from formation. I don’t wait around for them, instead going up to the dorms to sit for a second. The dorms are already noisy. Full of cadets talking over each other and I just lay down in my bed, pushing my pillow over my ears to drown out the noise of people I don’t want to get to know. People that will most likely be dead in the next couple of months. The thought shouldn’t bother me. I was trained to be a rider. And the only thing a rider cares about is their squad and their wings. But that doesn’t stop the single tear that drips down my face as I recall the way Dylan looked at me when he realized he was going to die. When he realized he would never get to marry that pretty girl back home. I lock the thoughts away into some deep vault in my mind. I don’t have time for weakness. I grant myself the moment to feel and then sit up in my bunk. Rolling my shoulders back with a deep breath. I stretch out the tension in my neck. Feeling the nerves protest against the movement but ignore it. 

I stay in the barracks until it’s time for dinner then head back right after I’m done. Violet lingers, talking to Rhiannon and the rest of our squad. I have no interest in fighting through the awkward glances and down right hateful glares of some of our fellow cadets. 

The next morning we’re called to formation after breakfast. Then comes the worst part of the day, the death roll. Name after name is called. Not enough time to process them, let alone mourn. 

Suddenly the names just stop. And that’s all there is before squad leaders turn to talk to us. Dain only gives Violet and I a quick once over before his face takes on that neutral look that has something inside of me clawing to get out. 

“I expect to see you all alive when we get to the sparring gym later.” And I feel Violet tense beside me. Right, the first day meant we have trials. A simple way to assess where all of us are with fighting. This will determine who we are put up against throughout the year. Do well and you put a target on your back, do poorly and you get an even bigger target on your back. Either way you’re screwed. 

“Sawyer” Dain calls to the boy beside him. 

“I’ll get them to class.” 

Sawyer shouts out the instructions on how to get to the classroom and I try my best to picture the steps. Storing them in my memory in hopes that I won't forget them within twenty minutes. 

Rhiannon, Violet and I walk together. I really hoped she would let h er go after the parapet. But it seems she’s intent on keeping her around, so I’ll tolerate her for now. 

A faint bird whistle has my head spinning. I catch that familiar tuff of brown hair and hook my arm around Violets pulling us away from Rhiannon. 

He ducks into a corner, hidden from sight. 

“How’s your knee?”  

“It hurts but I’ll live.”

“Good. Did anyone try to screw with you two last night?” He’s scanning us for injuries. We both shake our heads. 

“No one tried to kill us last night, if that's what you're asking.” I cross my arms, already annoyed by his hovering. 

“Dain. Take a breath.” I snapped at him. 

“You should both cut your hair.” He points to both of our braids. 

“Don’t you start with me now.” Violet  groans. 

“Why were we moved to fourth wing?”

It’s Dain’s turn to groan. His hand went to the side of his face, rubbing the stubble. 

“Dain?” Violet presses expectantly. 

“Fine. Riorson want’s Rose dead. Well both of you. But when he heard Rose was joining this year, he never shut up about it. It’s common knowledge and you just so happen to make it even more fun for him. Two birds with one stone or something.” 

“He’ll have to get through me first.”

“And that’s exactly what he wants, Ro.” He snaps back at me. “Just try to avoid him. As best as you can. He’s a wingleader so he is personally allowed to make your life a living hell. So please.” He turns to me fully. “Please don’t give him a reason to.” 

I roll my eyes and he grabs my hand. I flush from head to toe. “Rose. I’m serious here. Don’t give him more of a reason. Please.” And it’s that hint of concern. Concern so deep it makes my face hot that has me nodding my head. 

“You’re thinking like a rider now.” Violet mutters to herself. 

“I’m still me. Promise.” he taps his shoulder, where his signet patch should be. “I just have this now.”

My eyes go wide as I realize what his patch means. Classified. What signet does he have that warrants that? 

“I can read a person's recent memories.” And it’s whispered like a confession. I feel a frisson of fear. 

“Dain, that’s illegal.”

“Not like that. I can’t hear them from across the room. I have to touch a person’s face and it’s incredible.” 

“Okay, we’re going to be late if we keep talking.” I say as I hear the noise above us grow louder. 

“Just remember, stay away from Xaden. Low profile. Both of you.” He points to us and we both nod our head before we part ways.  But as we do, I see Xaden leaning over the railing to shout down at us. 

“I knew your parents were close but this is something else.” He shakes his head. “Tell me which one of you is he fucking?” 

If I wasn’t blushing I am now. Even the tips of Dain’s ears tinge with pink.

“He can’t hurt you right? You’re a squad leader and he’d have to call a quorum?”

“Yes but he can hurt you two.”

“I expected better from you Aestos. Should learn to hide your friends better.” He locks eyes on me. He was trying to bait us and I gave him all the ammunition he needed to make my life hell. 

“Run. Now” Dain orders and I grab Violet's arm and we bolt. 

My brain is mush throughout history, but of course Violet is the star pupil without even trying. We just barely make it to battle brief. Stuck in the first row thanks to the seats Rhiannon saves for us. 

Professor Markham stands at the front of the class as Devra steps aside to make room for him. His eyes soften as he lands on Violet. Of course he would recognize her. She trained under him for most of her life and he was certain she would be the best scribe in years. And she would have been. Still is. 

We launch right into the first question. No preamble to get us ready, straight to business. My eyes cloud over as I try to study the map, trying to focus on the details. This was always Violet’s strength not mine but I fight to keep up with her as she mutters to herself. 

Markham pushes us for questions and I hear Vilet mutter something to Rhiannon who calls out loudly. 

“What altitude was the village at?”

His eyes flicker to Violet who makes a point of looking anywhere but him. 

“A little less than a thousand feet. Why?”

She shrinks into herself a little. I don’t blame her, MArkham is intense when he wants to be. 

“Just seems a little high for an attack.”

“Keep going.” Markham pushes and Violet chimes in when Rhiannon pauses. 

Question after question and my head is reeling trying to keep up. I’m trying to connect the dots that she’s already seen. Jack eventually cuts her off and I clench my hands by my side. Finding something to twirl between my fingers so I don’t choke him for the tone he uses with Violet. That self-righteous, pompous tone. The asshole has the nerve to try to talk down to her when she easily knows more than even the second years. Devra scolds him for it. And I only give him a small smirk as I turn back to the front of the room. 

We’re dismissed shortly after and we all file into the gym. Now this. This I’m ready for. Violet may have me beat in academics But I can run circles around the first years in the gym. 

We’re called to the mats in pairs. 

We all watch in shock as Jack Barlow snaps the neck of his opponent. The sickening sound of bone crunching threatens to bring up my breakfast. He lets go of the limp body as the instructor rushes forward. Shouting at him. Barlow just stands with a shrug as he looks towards Violet and I. He’s strong but he’s big. Uncoordinated. He’d go down easy but Malek help you if he gets his arms around you. 

I’m finally called to the mat after a flawless victory from Rhiannon. Stepping onto the mat, I will my focus on the person standing in front of me. I didn’t listen to their name. I don’t care about their name. I care about the fact that when they lunge at me, there's a slight twitch in their left shoulder. I dodge it easily enough. Side stepping out of the way. I catch their still extended arm between their wrist and elbow. He tries to swing out of my grip but I only use it as leverage to twist his arm behind his back, palm facing up. I don’t hesitate to bring my elbow down on his extended arm. The telltale crunch letting me know I broke some bone. He cries out and I follow him as he falls to the ground. I have to keep him from hitting me.

“Yield damn it. I broke your arm.” I grit out. But he doesn’t. Just swings widely, trying to find any purchase as I pin him on his side. And I’m suddenly more grateful than words can explain as his hand makes contact with the back of my neck. I tense for a second, expecting the wash of fire to explode from every nerve in my body. But there's nothing. Another heartbeat and nothing. I’m so happy I could cheer, but I only put more pressure onto his broken arm and he cries out again. I twist his shoulder back slightly, knee resting in the hollow of his armpit and I can feel the muscle tense under me as I place myself to dislocate his shoulder. 

“Fine. I yield. I yield.” He yells as I still my foot. Stopping just in time for me to push him off of me. My shove knocks him onto his back and I can see the way he’s fighting the urge to cradle his arm. I sigh and stick my hand out for him to grab. He shoves it away and struggles to stand, slightly off balance. 

Someone escorts him to the menders and I file back in line. 

“He didn’t even touch you.” Rhiannon gasps out when I stand next to her. I shrug. Little does she know I’ve spent my whole life avoiding that very thing. Because if they do, I’m down. If I’m down then I’m dead. And no one here needs to know that. It’s bad enough they seem to be able to sniff out Violet’s weakness. But seeing mine. That might just be a death sentence for the both of us. 

One more fight and then I tense as Violet’s name gets called. She paired up against a pink-haired second year and I freeze completely when I see the rebel mark on her forearm. Shit. 

The two circle each other on the mat, whispering to each other too low for me to hear over the sound of my heartbeat in my ears. 

Imogen is fast. Faster than humanly possible. 

“You can’t use your powers here.” Dain shouts. As Imogen flips Violet onto her back, my hand shoots out onto Dain’s arm. My fingers digging into the skin on his forearm to keep me from sprinting into the ring to pull Imogen off of my sister. A quick flash of metal makes my blood pressure skyrocket. She tried to use a dagger. I don’t feel relieved as Violet sends a punch that I know messes up her hand. Her thumb tucked in at just the right angle for the ligament to pop. 

Imogen is a blur once again and has her pinned before the instructor can scold her for using her powers. “Yield” She calls as she shoves Violet’s face into the mat. She doesn’t and I watch in horror as Imogen pulls her arms further behind her back. Further than arms should bend and I lunge forward at the same time as Dain. 

“Damn it, Violet, yield.” I call out. My voice died down just in time to hear the sickening crunch of bone again. This time followed by a cry I’m too familiar with. 

Emetterio calls for the end of the match as Violet goes limp in front of me. 

I’m rushing past Imogen, shoving her out of the way as I grab Violet. Shaking her slightly to try to get her to come back around. 

“Oops.” Imogen says in a sickly sweet tone. She walks another step before I trip her, leg hooking against her ankle. She topples to the ground and I roll myself onto her. Straddling her hips, and pinning her wrists to her sides with my knees. She thrashes in my hold but I just place more of my weight on her, pressing harder with my foot. 

“Try that shit again and you’re dead.” 

“Not if I kill her first.” She snarls at me. And I push until I feel the bone move in her hand. 

Suddenly I feel someone lifting me up by the collar of my shirt. Dain’s brown eyes stare into mine. 

“She’s in your squad. Back off before you get in trouble.” He whispers as I try to squirm out of his hold. 

“I don’t care.” I hiss back. 

“But I do. Stop. Or are you going to make me pull rank?” I stopped squirming. Pushing myself out of his grasp. 

“Go calm down. Now.” Dain hisses when I find my footing.

 Imogen is smiling up at me. Like I did exactly what she wanted. And I probably did. But as I walk out of the gym, I realize I don’t give a shit what they think. Not if it means protecting Violet.

Taglist: @ninthcircleofprythian @sarawritestories @milswrites @daycourtofficial

[snarky-wallflower]

Laws of Motion AU

I write as a way for my brain to break the Laws of Motion! And here we are...

Otherwise known as I had this AU idea nearly a month ago and it's been haunting me ever since.

So, Pulp Roleswap AU! It all started when I started actually thinking about the parallels between Samuel and Kal, how it can be argued that Kal knows where to hit Samuel hard because he's been there in the past - "still all talk", etc, etc...

And then I had thoughts of evil Samuel.

I promptly lost my mind.

(No one can say I'm not predictable.)

Now there's art, at least one published fic, songs, character arc ideas, and hopefully more to come! I have a lot of ideas for this AU. They come to me like visions from an angry god. ...I don't know how I got here either. But I am, and I've dragged a lot of friends along with me.

I hope if you read it, you enjoy it! I'll put most of it behind a read-more, because it got long. I doubt I'll even be able to sum it all up here.

All current art is done by the ever-talented @midnightnautilus!

Kallum and Alessia Peregrine

The Peregrines (last name courtesy of @starlightsparrowfox!) take the place of the Stratford twins in New York City!

Kal, a cunning chemist-turned-writer, fired from his last job pre-Sun for...reasons he would definitely prefer not to discuss. He's determined to get his name out there, feeling suffocated by what he describes as a fog that surrounds in this universe, blinding him with bitterness, willing to lash out if that's what it takes to make him be known. He feels unfulfilled, trapped in this fog. He's smug and can be callous, refusing to acknowledge those he's hurt in his determination to be known. He cares for his loved ones in this AU, but they are few and far between, with Sia being one of the only ones who has truly stuck by him.

(His solo song in this universe is called Kal and the Nebula - thank you, @tapestryoftrauma! Because there is beauty in those galactic clouds of smoke above, somehow grounding Kal. That unknowable, intangible beauty making him believe that there is more than this job, more than this lie, more than the anger burning inside his chest that won't stop.)

Sia, a woman who knows a lot of things, who has a plan for her life she’ll see through. A vision she's had since she was a child, something she feels she cannot achieve trapped at this paper stand. A former gifted child, one could say. She reads as much as she can, often mysterious about just where she's taken her information from. Clutching tight to this assumed future she planned, willing to make so many sacrifices, perhaps too many, to have it come true.

(Her solo song in this universe is called Sia and the Vision. She walks along the beach of Lincoln Island, the vastness of the universe surrounding her. She accepts that she will never be able to fully carry out her great vision, letting go of it. She cannot control the future, and it is futile to try. It isn't the be-all-end-all for her anymore, no longer constraining her--she's opening her mind and heart to new kinds of passion, joy, and love, to spontaneousness and freedom.)

Together, they've written the Hoax, though it's much more...nautical in this universe. The moon is covered by a vast, gorgeous ocean, expanding all across its surface. Sharks, squids, and whales swim through its glimmering depths, merfolk swimming through it, Atlantis-esque.

And this change is because of...

Dakkar Cavendish

Dakkar Cavendish, a brilliant inventor, feels drawn in by the words of the Peregrine twins, of the way they write both the moon and the ocean combined. He has never quite fit in with high New York City Society, finding it stifling and almost…familiar in the worst sort of ways. Being mocked, being seen as not-good-enough, valued only for what creations he can make…it stings at an old scar that he doesn’t know where it came from. Valued for his skills--but what else? He opens his home to the Peregrine twins, and clicks with Kal especially. Staring out the ocean, wondering why it calls to him so deeply.

(His solo song in this universe is called Dakkar and the Depths. The depths of the ocean hold mystery and silence, unable to be truly understood by any one person. The moon reflects off the waves, illuminating just how deep those depths run--they complete each other, make each other known. There is so much about himself that he does not know, awakening from dreams he cannot fully place. A sensation that he has made promises he cannot keep, because he doesn't know who he made them to. The ocean is constantly moving, constantly transforming, and he feels a kinship to that.)

Dame Anna Hanover

(Of course, I have to credit the amazing @faery-people-of-the-future-day when it comes to Anna in this AU! She's had so many wonderful ideas for her.)

Dame Anna Hanover, the first woman to ever be knighted by the Royal Astronomical Society, a brilliant and bright mind whose words are used to prop up the Hoax. She believes that nobody should ever lose their place in the world - that everyone has a specific role, a set of rules they must follow. And when you don't know where you are, you begin to give into the panic. She arrives at the Sun with a bright smile and strain barely hidden in her voice, while Sia is mysterious and trying to pick her words carefully. She can't help but be fascinated by this strange woman, her heart fluttering at the sight. But she has a legacy, her father's own legacy of being an immigrant and a proud man hovering over her, trying to make him see her as a scientist in her own right.

(Her solo song in this universe is Anna and the Satellite - her marvelling over her great project, her first great project away from her father, that will help guide the way. All her work, all her sacrifices, all the fear she would not be able to see this through--it vanishes. It's Anna and the stars, Anna and the sky, Anna and the Earth, all possible because of the Satellite. She has created her own place in the world, one where she will never be lost, both outside and in.)

Samullux

Samuellux, a seemingly young man with a pencil grins far too brightly, as his pencil gleams with ink, ready to take down your words, your signature, in his journal. Only your words, of course.

In this world, Samuel is a famed propagandist for Itzal, having drawn in thousands upon thousands of people to Itzal's schemes...until it was too late, blinding them all with The Light. I'd say he has Radiance and Illusion--his skill with Illusion magic and with words is what made Itzal take notice of him, to me! He's a vessel for empty words--he filters Itzal's words, but when was the last time he truly said something of his own? He may seem nice, may seem kind at first glance--but the more you speak to him, you start to realise that you have no idea whether they’re being genuine or being sarcastic and it’s a Russian roulette of trying to understand this same-y, blasé cheeriness that seems to stare unblinkingly back at you.

His new name comes from both Pollux in Greek mythology, a twin who tried to offer immortality to his brother so that they could be together, and lux, which means light!

His pen sparks with promise, a device designed by one...brilliant inventor, long ago, boosting his Ways and transforming them into something terrible and radiant beyond compare.

(Because, after all, light doesn't equal good!)

Rostelle

In the distance, a Traveller, Rostelle, with far too much behind her keeps on moving. She won't fail anyone else. Rose refuses to look back to the past, always trying to keep on moving forward. She carries the weight of everything that's happened in the past with her, but no matter what, she won't stop.

In this AU, I would say she has Radiance, Movement, Transformation, Perception and Protection. Some are more honed than others, of course, but Rose has always dived deep into learning new skills. Her Vision was something she had long ago, and she will be as reckless and brave as she needs to be to see it through. She won't let it vanish into thin air, won't lose anyone else she cares about to delusion.

Her new name comes from Stelle meaning stars, those that she adores so dearly!

Margaret

In her library on Lincoln Island, Margaret waits, staring up at the Moon, loneliness abated but never quite gone. A view of both the moon and the ocean clear and apparent.

The legacy of all she did as the Great Enchantress looms over her, and so does the brother she had to send away to keep him safe. To keep him safe from Itzal's designs on more of his devices used for conquest and war. She will see her father's reign destroyed, that Light that blinds her people erased. There is something to believe in, and she will clutch it tight to her chest as she trains, reaching out to a brother who cannot respond back yet.

Samuel's memory haunts her, a love who refuses to admit their connection will never be what it used to be again. He may believe there is geniune care there, but Margaret won't be lied to any more. She won't hear him refuse to admit that he made the wrong choice, that he is continuing to lie and commit horrors.

Margaret believes in truth, always. She won't lie to herself about what her home became, about what she did in the past, and where she is now.

(Other swaps include Benjamin with Charles, and Taavi and Ahlaam with Addison. John is, of course, playing Anna's role in this universe as well. I do have notes on them, but they're slightly less important to the series as a whole as of now!)

You can find the current fic series posted on AO3 here (I currently have a fic of Samuel and Kal's swapped version of Gunpowder and Rum up!) and I'll be trying to use the tag #laws of motion AU to organize any other posted work!

And, my asks are open if anyone reading this wants to know more about this AU!

What are you waiting for? Don’t be scared of the dark. That’s where the dreaming starts.

[starryeyedjanai]

drifting past the fog

steddie | explicit | 4.1k

It’s a shame, he thinks, that he’s waking up, and it’s a shame that Steve doesn't have more time on his hands. Otherwise he might- Heat rushes through him so fast, it makes his head spin. cw: somnophilia, orgasm denial, dom bottom steve, sub top eddie, good boy eddie, creampie, breeding kink, transmasc steve (full tags on ao3)

Happy Birthday, @steves-strapcollection 🥳

read on ao3 or under the cut

They've talked about it before, both whispered into each other's mouths desperately as dirty talk and while discussing things they want to do together - the idea of Steve fucking Eddie while he sleeps.

He thinks about it sometimes, the idea of waking up in the middle of the night and having a strap ready so he could fuck into Eddie where he's still wet and sloppy from being fucked the night before. Or waking up and getting Eddie nice and hard before straddling his hips and sinking down on his cock, his cunt or his ass clenching around him, keeping him hard and warm until he wakes up.

He likes both ideas - they both do - and it's something they want to do one day.

He wants to wake Eddie up on one of his dicks, fucking him good and deep until he's blinking awake and coming untouched from the stimulation.

He wants to feel Eddie come inside him when he isn't fully awake, feel his hips jerk with abandon as he breeds him full.

It's something they both know they want, something that Steve is going to plan out and execute one day, but the whispered mentions of it as they get each other off is good enough until he can figure out how he wants to do it.

He's not even thinking about it when he gets up before Eddie one morning.

He goes through the motions of his morning routine, brushing his teeth and showering.

He steps out of the bathroom with a towel slung around his waist and stops short at the sight before him.

Eddie must be having a good dream - or maybe his body is just catching up to the fact that Steve hasn't let Eddie come in a week - because the pillow Steve was sleeping on has somehow ended up between his hips and the bed and he's grinding down against it, making these delicious little sounds that go directly to Steve's dick.

He watches as Eddie's hips rock against the pillow, stuttering a little as he slowly starts to wake up.

It's a shame, he thinks, that he's waking up, and it's a shame that Steve doesn't have more time on his hands. Otherwise he might-

Heat rushes through him so fast, it makes his head spin.

He doesn't have time to do what he'd like, to slip inside him where he's still soft and open from last night or even just get behind him and get his hand around his cock so he has a tight fist to fuck into as he comes. He doesn't have the time right now and Eddie's waking up anyway.

But he can spare a few minutes to play, he thinks.

He climbs onto the bed behind Eddie and puts his full weight on him, stopping the motion of his hips.

Eddie makes a noise, low and confused, at his pleasure being cut short.

Steve runs his hands up and down Eddie's arms and he can feel Eddie come awake and become more alert and it sets something inside him on fire.

He knew he'd be into it, just talking about it even when he's never done anything like that before, but he didn't know just how much he'd like it.

"Steve?" Eddie asks, voice sleep-heavy and raw.

"Morning," he says, his right hand sliding between the pillow and Eddie's hips to cup his hard cock.

Eddie hisses and says, "What a way to wake up."

Steve snorts. "You were humping my pillow when I came out of the bathroom."

He grips Eddie's cock in his hand, but he can't really stroke him like this - there's no room. He just keeps his hand around him and feels the velvety soft skin of his cock in the palm of his hand.

"I was?" Eddie asks, trying to shift his hips and get more stimulation. He's stuck between Steve's body and the bed with nowhere to go, though, no way for him to chase his pleasure.

Steve rolls them onto their sides, sneaking his left arm under Eddie's body to hold him close to his chest so he can feel the muscles in his stomach underneath his hand start to tremble as he starts to stroke his dick with a tight fist.

He strokes him quick and dirty like he's in a race to make Eddie come. The glide of his hand is so smooth with the amount of pre-come leaking from the head.

Eddie draws in a sharp breath as Steve uses his thumb to play with the head of his cock and Steve knows that he's close already, not having come in a week putting him on a hair trigger.

Steve squeezes his fist around the base of his cock and whispers, "I hope you didn't think you were coming today," in Eddie's ear.

He smiles at the whine that escapes Eddie's mouth and kisses his neck sweetly in contrast.

"Please," Eddie whines, his hips twitching like they want to keep going, even though Steve said no.

"Did you really think I was going to let you get away with rubbing your needy, leaking cock all over my pillow?" Steve asks, condescension seeping into his voice.

"I was asleep," he says, his breath hitching.

"I know, darling, which is why I'm not going to put you in a cage today," Steve says magnanimously. "I'm trusting you to listen and not touch yourself when I leave for work in a couple minutes. Can you do that for me? Or do we need the cage today?"

Eddie's cock pulses in his grip.

Steve strokes it gently another couple times while Eddie thinks it over.

"I can do it," Eddie says after a moment. "I, I'll be good."

"I know you can be good," Steve tells him, pressing a kiss to his jaw.

He takes his hand off Eddie's cock and Eddie tries so hard to not make a sound, but he does anyway - just this soft, affected noise - and Steve can't help but grin at him as Eddie looks up at him when he gets up from the bed.

Eddie flops onto his back and Steve takes another minute to appreciate how fucking good he looks with his hair all messy from sleep, with his cock red and hard and leaking.

Steve turns his attention to getting dressed because he really does have to leave and get to work soon.

When he looks back at the bed, Eddie's pouting and giving him puppy dog eyes. Steve rolls his eyes and walks back over to the bed to lean down and kiss him. Eddie presses up into it immediately, always so enthusiastic to get Steve's mouths on his.

He pulls away after a minute and goes back to getting dressed.

He's almost out the bedroom door when he turns back around and says, "Don't worry, I have something planned for you later."

Eddie immediately launches into questions about what it is he has planned, but Steve just smiles at him and shuts the door.

--

Eddie practices with his band on Wednesdays, so it's usually late when he gets home, sometimes past dinner and closer to bedtime. Steve waits for his text - because he always texts when he's on his way home - and then he starts undressing.

He spreads himself out on their bed and idly touches himself, his fingers stroking along his dick, rubbing slow circles and jerking his cock with two fingers and dipping lower to gather slick on his fingertips to do it all over again. He's not looking to come right now - he'll save that for when Eddie's home.

At the fifteen minute mark following the text, he's caught up in the fantasy of what's about to happen, his fingers working his cock a little faster.

He hears the front door open and tries to time it right, with two fingers on either side of his dick, jerking himself faster as he listens to the familiar noises of Eddie shucking his work boots off and making his way to the bedroom to greet him.

The bedroom door opens and Eddie starts his usual greeting of, "Hey, babe," but abruptly cuts himself off sounding like he swallowed his own tongue upon seeing Steve.

The stilted greeting makes Steve grin as he looks at Eddie and the way he's openly staring at his fingers on his dick.

He's been thinking about this all day, worked up from the moment he saw Eddie humping his pillow, so it doesn't take more than a handful of seconds before he's coming with a shattered moan, his cunt fluttering under Eddie's watchful stare.

He works himself through it, reveling in the way the flush spreads on Eddie's dazed face, the way he can't pull his eyes away from him, the way he sucks in a deep breath, like he's somehow feeling the same pleasure just from watching Steve come.

He brings his fingers up to his mouth and licks at the slick clinging to them, Eddie's eyes flitting between his mouth and his spread thighs.

"Cat got your tongue, sweetheart?" Steve asks as he lowers his hand, still a little breathless.

"Hi, Stevie," Eddie rasps, stepping further inside and closing the door behind him. "That's a little mean, don't you think?"

"Mean? Me?" he asks with a teasing grin. "Strip for me."

"You didn't let me come earlier," Eddie says as he peels his shirt over his head and pushes his pants off his hips, going for efficiency and whatever will get him one step closer to coming, it seems.

Steve hums. "You're right, I didn't."

Eddie stands in the middle of their room, naked, waiting for Steve to tell him what to do next. His dick is already twitching with interest, getting hard, from watching Steve come, from staring unabashedly as he is at Steve's dripping cunt.

Steve only makes him wait a few more beats before he rearranges himself on his knees and says, "Come here," because he's been keyed up all day too, thinking about it, thinking about what he's going to do later.

Eddie scrambles forward and onto the bed, letting Steve push him flat on his back.

He straddles Eddie's hips and presses their mouths together, licking inside as Eddie parts his lips for him.

He reaches down and keeps Eddie's cock still with his hand as he grinds his cunt against him, getting him slick with how wet he is.

The keen that falls from Eddie's mouth is intoxicating. It makes him grind his hips down harder, makes him want to pull those sounds right out of his mouth and taste them on his tongue.

He licks into Eddie's mouth as he keeps grinding, feeling the muscles in his stomach start to tighten again already. There's no way he could last long hearing the sounds pouring out of Eddie, feeling him so pliant beneath him as Steve rubs their cocks together.

The head of Eddie's dick is riding up against his as he works himself against him, leaking, getting Steve's dick wet with it.

Steve comes like that, sudden and sharp, as he grinds his dick against Eddie's, even the hand holding his cock still getting wet with the way he's dripping.

He rides the wave of his orgasm and feels a deep satisfaction at what's about to come.

He slows his hips to a stop and he's still breathless as he says, "I got you all wet. Do you want to taste it?"

Eddie's pupils are blown wide as he looks at him with hooded eyes. He nods and says, "Yes, please," like the good boy he is.

"You're so polite tonight," Steve says, slipping down Eddie's body to take him in his mouth.

He knows he wasn't expecting it, was expecting Steve to reach down with his hand and slip his fingers inside himself and then put his fingers in Eddie's mouth. Or for him to sit on his face until Eddie licked him clean.

The startled gasp he hears is worth the mouthful of salt he gets from tasting his come on Eddie's cock. He licks at the slick coating his cock and bobs his head, sucking noisily as he does so. He pulls off after a few moments with an audible pop before climbing up Eddie's body again.

He presses his mouth to Eddie's and licks inside when Eddie opens up for him. The slick sounds of their mouths sharing the taste of Steve's cunt almost makes Steve want to throw his plan away and just slip onto Eddie's cock right now, let him come inside him and make him watch as he tries to finger it back into himself futilely as it leaks out of him.

But he has a plan and he's going to stick to it.

Their tongues slide together so sweetly as Eddie chases the taste of him. He pulls back from the kiss after a minute of letting Eddie lick and suck on his tongue and he doesn't resist the urge to roll his eyes at Eddie's whine.

He drops one more kiss to his open mouth before sitting up.

He runs his fingers over Eddie's swollen lips and says, "It's time for bed now."

The betrayed look on Eddie's face is almost enough to break him, but he holds strong.

"But- you said-"

"I said 'I hope you didn't think you were coming today', or did you forget?" he asks, climbing out of Eddie's lap and heading to the bathroom.

He hears Eddie sputtering behind him and he grins.

They get ready for bed and Steve's body is buzzing the entire time.

When they lay down for bed, he almost doesn't think he'll be able to fall asleep, but wrapped up in Eddie's arms, he falls asleep between one blink and the next.

When he wakes up, his apple watch buzzing on his wrist, he's a little disoriented because the sun's not even up yet.

The minute he remembers why he's up so early, his entire body flushes, the want hitting him hard and sudden.

He lets himself wake up a little bit more, sinking back into Eddie's embrace, his arms still snug around him.

He reaches behind him and his hand finds Eddie's cock. He strokes his hand over it a few times, relishing in the soft whines Eddie makes in his sleep.

It doesn't take long for Eddie's cock to start hardening in the soft grip of his hand. He keeps his strokes light and gentle at first, gauging how Eddie reacts to his touches.

When Eddie's hard in his hand, slipping his cock inside him is easy, his cunt is wet and his dick is pulsing at the thought of Eddie waking inside him. He just hitches his leg up and slides him inside, luxuriating in the stretch.

Eddie sighs in his sleep, an airy noise escaping him as he wraps his arm around Steve tighter, nuzzling his face into his neck.

It's good - Eddie's cock always feels good in him. The way it stretches him out, the way it hits deep inside him when he presses back enough to get him to bottom out, balls deep.

Eddie's hand is soft and lax where it lays on Steve's stomach. His blood boils with the urge to take Eddie's hand and use it to get himself off - just press his fingers against his cock and grind against them while Eddie sleeps peacefully behind him.

He has Eddie completely at his disposal, can do anything he wants with him, to him.

He's flushed all over, the feeling in his chest is intense and heady like the one he gets when Eddie is so fucked out he can barely speak - whines and gasps and groans falling from his lips but words seem to be too hard for him.

Eddie shifts behind him, his hips jerking forward and Steve pushes back into it and shudders, reaching down to rub his fingers over his cock quickly, not drawing it out.

He's using Eddie's body like this, like a toy, like one of his dildos, and he's going to come all over his cock before he wakes up and it's got him hurtling towards the edge so fucking quickly.

He's going to plan this better next time. He's going to open Eddie up on one of his cocks the night before and slip back into him the next morning with a different one, a bigger one, to test the limits of how deep Eddie sleeps. He's going to make Eddie come on his cock as his eyes are fluttering awake, still dazed and cloudy from sleep. He's-

Fuck- he's going to come.

His mouth drops open in a silent moan and he comes, his cunt clenching around Eddie's dick, getting his thighs wet with how much slick is leaking out of him.

Eddie groans behind him and it just pushes Steve further into it. He rocks back onto Eddie's cock, his release making everything so much wetter.

Eddie's hand on his stomach twitches and he starts humping forward in his sleep, chasing the warm heat of Steve's cunt and Steve can't help the groans that fall from his mouth.

He gasps as Eddie's cock grinds in deep and says, "That's it. Take what you need, baby."

Eddie murmurs nonsensically and Steve knows he's going to wake up soon, probably can't hope that Eddie will come in him while he's asleep, but his cunt pulses at the thought anyway.

He reaches down behind him to caress Eddie's balls - they're heavy and full and he's going to fucking flood Steve's cunt with his come. Steve is almost trembling with how much he wants it.

"Mm, fuck," Eddie groans and Steve doesn't know if he's awake yet or mumbling in his sleep still. But he pulls at Eddie's balls, holding them just a little bit tighter, as Eddie continues to fuck his hips forward into him.

Steve feels like his entire body is tingling, wisps of heat rushing through his veins as Eddie grinds in and in and in.

He feels like he could come again, could slide his fingers over his dick and immediately come again, but he wants to hold off, wait for Eddie to get there before he does.

Eddie's arm around him tightens and the rabbiting of his hips gets faster with the single-minded focus of coming and he knows Eddie's awake now.

He says, "Come on, come inside me, baby. Breed me," now that he's awake because he knows how those words affect him. They affect Steve the same way, make him desperate and wild with want.

Eddie whines in his ear - this broken, desperate moan - as he slams inside and comes, grinding his hips as he empties inside him.

Steve massages Eddie's balls in his hand, clenching his cunt around him like he's trying to milk every last drop out of him.

Eddie pants against his neck as he comes down and presses kisses against Steve's shoulder as he wakes up more fully.

He reaches his hand down and starts to stroke Steve's dick, but Steve stops him.

"Want your mouth," he says into the quiet of their room, Eddie's heaving breaths the only noise now that everything has slowed down.

Eddie's cock twitches inside him just like he knew it would and kisses Steve's shoulder again before he pulls out slowly, carefully, and starts to slide down the bed.

Steve rolls onto his back and spreads his legs, shivering as he feels the wetness between his legs - on his thighs, in his pubes, leaking out of him - exposed to the cool air.

Eddie doesn't leave him cold for long. He lays between Steve's thighs and puts his mouth on him, sighing contentedly at the first taste of his come leaking out of Steve's cunt.

Steve's breath is hitching immediately at the feeling, at the languid way Eddie licks his way inside, still sleepy and slow and so fucking good.

Eddie dips his tongue inside him, chasing the taste of the come he fucked deep inside him.

It's always so good when Eddie takes his time like this, just happy to have his tongue on him, in him, pressing inside and tasting the slick and come that drips out of him, not yet touching his dick because he wants to savor it.

He gathers Eddie's hair up to keep it out of the way so he can watch him eat him out, can see the look on his face as he sucks on his folds and licks over his hole with broad strokes.

This is always the part that gets Steve so fucking hot - the way Eddie enjoys his body. The way he would spend hours between his legs if Steve let him, just slow and gentle and sweet between his legs, lapping at his cunt like there is absolutely nothing else he wants to be doing.

"God, you're so fucking good for me," Steve sighs as Eddie tucks two fingers inside and keeps licking around them like he can't get enough of the taste.

Eddie hums and opens his eyes to look up at him.

"You gonna suck my cock, baby? Gonna make me come?" he asks, because he's been ready to come since before Eddie came inside him and he wants it. He knows it's gonna shatter him.

Eddie nuzzles his thigh for a moment before moving to put his mouth on Steve's dick. He sucks it into his mouth, gentle at first, pulling it into his mouth and lapping at it with the flat of his tongue.

"Fuck, sweetheart," he groans, rocking his hips up, encouraging him to suck harder.

Eddie sucks and licks at him, still too languid and gentle, so Steve tightens his grip in Eddie's hair.

"Let me-" he says and Eddie keeps still, holds his tongue out flat like he knows Steve wants him to and Steve grinds his dick against it.

Eddie curls his fingers inside him, pressing on his g-spot with such precision it makes Steve's eyes cross, makes his thighs shake where they've come to clamp around his ears.

He bucks his hips against Eddie's face, fucking himself on his fingers and rubbing his cock on his tongue and he knows he's fucking done for when Eddie groans against him, the vibrations reverberating up his spine, his scalp prickling from the feeling.

Eddie fucks his fingers into him roughly, nailing his spot, and Steve is coming. He's tensing up and his ears are ringing as he feels himself gush, feels himself loose the plot, loose his fucking mind with the pleasure.

His hips stutter and Eddie hungrily sucks his cock into his mouth to work him through it, tonguing at his dick.

He feels like he's going to fucking die with the way he stops breathing.

He's gushing and his cunt is clenching around Eddie's fingers as he keeps sucking him through it.

He shivers through it, making these embarrassing little hiccuping noises as he does, utterly unable to control the noises that escape his mouth.

He drops back onto the bed, exhausted, cunt sore and aching, dick pulsing in time with his heartbeat as Eddie's mouth on his cock gentles.

Steve sinks into the mattress with loose limbs and pushes Eddie's head away after another minute of letting him lick at his oversensitive dick.

Eddie climbs up the bed to lay his full weight on top of Steve.

In the time that he was licking him out, his dick has gotten half hard again, but Steve just kisses him softly, moving his tongue against his, tasting the combination of their releases on his tongue.

Eddie sighs into the kiss and grinds his hips against Steve slowly, his cock pressing into the warm space between Steve's spread thighs.

He pulls away from the kiss and Eddie stills his hips and nestles closer, resting his head on Steve's chest.

He runs his hands up and down Eddie's back and they lay in silence for a few moments, coming down as the world wakes up around them, birds starting to chirp outside, the first signs of the sunrise peeking through the curtains.

Eddie presses a soft kiss to Steve's chest and says, "I don't think I can even articulate how fucking hot that was, waking up and immediately coming inside you."

"Yeah?" Steve asks, a smug smile on his face. He moves Eddie's hair out of the way to kiss his forehead, content to lay here for at least a few more minutes.

Eddie hums in agreement and asks, "How long have you had that planned?"

He says, "Just since this morning when I saw you humping my pillow in your sleep."

"Thank god for me being horny in my sleep, I guess," Eddie says around a yawn.

Yeah, thank god for that.

[thatkippycat]

Hi! I'd like to ask for a Rocky x reader oneshot (female or gender neutral works), where him and the reader were childhood best friends, and still are close. Basically since he joined Lackadaisy, he's been talking the reader up, and telling the group about the amazing stuff they've done, and telling them about how he'd like to take you on this date, then laying out said date.

Basically, he's simping hard. Then the reader comes down to Lackadaisy for a drink

How it ends could be up to you. Maybe the crew asks the reader outright, or states that he likes them, or maybe they force him to confess. Whatever you feel is right.

Aye aye cap'n!

Rocky Rickaby x GN!BestFriend!Reader

A little tired today so I will keep my little prelude short. Hope yall enjoy!

     Today was rough. Work sucked, the rain sucked, etc.,etc. Everything was just...blah. Luckily, you had a surefire way of cheering yourself up.

     Rocky Rickaby was an odd guy, to say the least, but you grew up with him. You knew him better than most other people, and that made being around him for extended periods of time fun instead of life threatening. Sure, you played the straight man in this comedy duo, but it felt good. Plus, Rocky's a sweetheart. Well, at least when he's not causing property damage.

     The Cafe was empty, which was pretty standard. The crew was probably down at the bar. Maybe Zib and the band were playing. Maybe Rocky was up there too. First thing first though, you needed to dry off. It was pouring rain outside and you were drenched. Plus, you could always sneak something from the kitchen.

     After a while of drying off and raiding the cafe's fridge, you headed down to the Lackadaisy. Horatio was sitting down by the door. It was more common for him to sit down when business was slow. Oddly enough though, the door was cracked open. Horatio put his finger to his lips, telling you to keep quiet, before motioning to sit down by him. You were confused until you heard Rocky's distinct voice carry through the opening.

"--and then I'd take Y/N on to the bridge overlooking the Mississippi and serenade them long into the night. I'd get down to them and finally ask Y/N out, and then we'd cuddle by the tracks until the sun comes up and the crickets go home."

"...wow Rocky, that's, um..."

"Excessive? Agreed. Just tell Y/N you love them and stop going on for hours about how you would ask them out."

"That's not what I was gonna say Zib, but I do agree a little. Why not just make ot simple."

"Oh Ms. Pepper, you know I can't do that. I just have to wait for the perfect moment, and then..."

     That was...a lot to take in. You wouldn't deny that you did have some feelings for Rocky, you just weren't sure how to act on them. Although now, you had a few ideas. One definitely stuck out to you.

     Getting off the ground and dusting yourself off, you headed towards the door, shooting Horatio a sly wink on the way out. Carefully, you maneuvered through the entrance, careful not to make a sound. Rocky was too busy talking about you to notice everyone looking over at you. Luckily, none of them said a word, letting you get up right behind him.

     You tapped him on the shoulder, making Rocky turn around. As soon as you got the chance, your grabbed him by his lucky tie and pulled him in for a kiss. A mix of quiet cheers and exasperated "finally"s accompanied the two of you as Rocky wrapped his arms around you. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Zib handing over some cash to Viktor too, losing a secret bet betweenthe two. As your lips parted, Rocky leaned into your ear, and whispered to you.

"Y'know, I think this was better than my idea."

[blue-lollipops-and-ice-clouds]

Sleep Token's "The 100 Songs That Changed Our World" Article.

(Source - photos courtesy the lovely jawsofeden)

Transcript:

100 - Sleep Token

The Summoning

(Take Me Back To Eden, 2023)

The meteoric rise of Sleep Token caught us all by surprise. At the start of 2023, the mysterious masked band were one of the metal underground's buzziest names. Led by enigmatic vocalist Vessel, they were a band to watch, for sure, but firmly attracted the niche passion of a cult following.

Then came the song that would change everything. On consecutive days in early January, the band released two singles from their third album, Take Me Back To Eden: the burning, crashing Chokehold, followed by The Summoning - and it was the latter track that would turn them into an Earth-conquering, expectation-shattering phenomenon.

Veering between depraved tech metal, soulful vocals and shimmering electronics, an enormous, hymnal chorus gave way to an Earth-shifting breakdown and screams. Intricate and groove heavy, The Surmoning was more like three songs seamlessly crafted into one genre-fluid modern masterpiece. And it still had its trump card to play: a bendy, thirst-trap, funk outro that went viral on TikTok, turning the internet intoalusty Take1 puddle. Suddenly, Sleep Token were the most talked-about band on the planet.

"THERE ARE HINTS OF EARLY SLIPKNOT THERE."

COREY TAYLOR

"It took me three listens of [The Sumroning] to realise that when they do that whole psychedelic section at the end, that it's actually the same chorus as it was before, only in a completely different way," Evanescence's Amy Lee told Revolver. "And I love it even more that. I thought they just went a whole new direction and wrote a new part, and then I was like, 'Wait, that's the same...but not at all'."

Sleep Token weren't the most obvious choice for a commercial breakthrough. The success of The Summoning, an unconventional, seven-minute, brutal shapeshifter, bucks just about every music industry trend there is.

"It's going to a lot of different places, and I think there isn't any other band out there right now that's able to do that," Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford said earlier this year.

The Summoning set a chain reaction in motion that was unprecedented in modern metal. In just a few weeks, the band saw their Spotify figures jump from the thousands into the millions. To date, the track has been streamed more than 123 million times on Spotify and 19 million on YouTube. On release, Take Me Back To Eden went straight in at No.3 in the UK and was the most streamed metal album of 2023. When the band announced a show at Wembley Arena, tickets sold out in 10 minutes.

Earlier this year, they left the metal-heavy roster of Spinefarm Records for RCA, the home of mainstream megastars Justin Timberlake and rapper Doja Cat.

"In heavy music, or even in just rock, even in the last decade or 15 years, there's so few stories of bands ever breaking through," says Health bassist and producer, John Famiglietti, who supported the band at Wembley and sees Sleep Token's success as proof metal still can resonate on a massive scale. "This is one of the few times I've seen a band go from a fucking club to an arena in six months. And I don't know the last time that happened."

It's worth pointing out that in the social media era where celebrities and artists are more accessible than ever, Sleep Token have achieved all of this on their own terms. To date, they've barely done any press, while their masked mystique is all part of the allure. Last year, fans reacted with outrage when bassist III's identity and birth certificate were allegedly leaked online, seemingly leading to a decision to wipe the band's Instagram.

"There are hints of early Slipknot there," Knot vocalist Corey Taylor told The Allison Hagendorf Show in 2023, thinking back to the early internet days before Slipknot removed their masks. "At first, we were like, 'Nope. You get nothing. This is what you get, you figure it out. We'll let the music speak for ourselves.

Today, Sleep Token are being mentioned in the same breath as potential future Download headliners Ghost, Gojira, and Architects. The only difference? Sleep Token have managed to ascend to the same level as those bands in a fraction of the time. Metal needs new superstars who will push things forward, innovate and keep the scene relevant - and with Sleep Token we have a band we can believe in. DL

[ceaseless-rambler]

Gunpowder Tim vs The Moon Kaiser is so good, and I needed to write something about it

There are many things that can be said about the setting, but for simplicity's sake, we'll leave it at a war story. And isn't that all that matters? Another war, just as meaningless as the rest. Another set of people, far too young for what they've been made to do, far too young to understand the propaganda they've been fed. So they enlist, not knowing any better. And now we have Tim, and he has Bertie, and they're just trying to survive. Death on all sides, masked by the suffocating darkness, the fear pressing in on every sense from every direction. But they can do this, because they have each other. Until they don't. Until Bertie dies. And Tim, poor, poor Tim, left with nothing but the smell of blood and the whine of alarms and the endless darkness, snaps. Of course he does. There wasn't anything else he could have done. But he will not go down alone. If he's going to lose Bertie to the war, and lose himself to that loss, then he will take everyone else down with him. He singlehandedly cuts down enough of the opposing army that their leader notices, but his massacre must end eventually, and he's captured. Brought in front of the leader of the opposing opposition, sentenced to execution, but he refuses to die here, he won't, he can't. He fights and he reaches a cannon and blows up every person in the war and burns his eyes out but the war is over. The war is over. The war is over and the story ends here.

But Tim's story doesn't. Tim is found, smiling through burned and blackened eyes, floating through the cosmos. Tim is pulled from the wreckage of the war, his eyes replaced with metal and machinery, and he can see again, and he can live again. But why does he get to live? Bertie is still gone. He's killed so many people. Bertie is still gone. He's ended the war. Bertie is still gone. He was saved because he damned so many others. And Bertie is still gone. Tim couldn't save him. Tim is alive, and Bertie is dead, and when sobs wrack his body, his mechanical eyes do not water. Though this Mechanism may grant him sight and grant him life, it will not grant him his grief. His body shakes, and liquid finally, finally spills onto his cheeks, but it is not tears. A thick, viscous fluid runs down his face, and as he tries to scrub away the horrid reminder of his situation, he feels the metal on his face. Around his eyes, a patchwork of skin and steel, shifting with the motion of gears grinding beneath his skin. A sense of revulsion floods him. He still lives, and yet so much of him is dead, lost with time and war and Bertie. The anguish rises and it is all Tim knows.

[galaxy-fleur]

Warm comfort after a job well done

Some soft Aruna/Chris because they've been brewing on my mind lately. Nothing like a huge, burly man being a massive little spoon at heart.

Aruna info-post!

Additional one-shot bellow <3

Chris lets out a long, weary sigh as his legs drag him up a route he now knows by heart, smooth, automatic doors sliding open with quiet hum to let him through. His haggard appearance doesn't fit among the squeaky clean lab environment, making him stick out like a sore thumb. He never really did look appropriate in here, though. Even on a good day. He's far too big, too rough around the edges for this pristinely tidy place. And yet, against all glaring contradictions, this was also a place to call home.

It wasn't a surprise to find Aruna right where she usually is, her back turned to him, and her hands far too busy with whatever overcomplicated project that was on her plate this time around. In their own right, they were two workaholics through and through, both living their jobs rather than just going through the motions.

Perhaps that explains how they flowed together so well.

As soon as she looked over her shoulder at her visitor, a broad smile spread across her face. He's been out on an assignment for almost a full week now, and even though that was a tried and true routine for them at this point, it always filled his chest with pure relief whenever he came back to see her safe and sound in his time away. Or, well, mostly safe and sound. While Aruna wasn't deployed out in the field nearly as frequently since her primary responsibilities were mostly limited to the lab, that didn't mean she wouldn't get herself into all kinds of bizarre incidents. Whether it was her natural carelessness or her scientific inclination, he sure didn't like just how frequently she'd get another strangely shaped bruise or a charred hair here and there.

In any case, he was far too tired out of his mind to make any remarks on her being up late for work again. He'd be a major hypocrite if he did. Truth is, he was glad she was still on the job. That meant he could come up here and see her like this.

"-You're back! I figure the mission was a success?"

He virtually collapses into the nearest lab chair with a muffled grunt after dragging his body there. Fatigue is evident in his weary eyes, his shoulders slouching as he rests his hands on his knees. Despite his efforts to project a strong exterior, his typically stern and intense gaze looks even heavier and darker due to sheer tiredness pulling him down. In here, he wasn't a tough leader, carrying the responsibility to be everyone's strength, no matter how dire the situation is. In here, he was just Chris. And Chris was so, so tired.

"...Yeah. We got the job done," he replies with a sigh, his gruff and deep voice sounding rougher and hoarser than usual. He knows he comes off as a little curt, but that's mostly because he doesn't want to discuss the job at the moment. The job is all he thought about for days on end. He had to. He needs to rest his thoughts.

Aruna's smile softens into a more understanding one as she briefly scans his body from head to toe to determine what injuries she could already pinpoint without giving it a closer look. Chris was always plagued by injuries. A few new cuts and some sporadic burn are a familiar staple, and that's on a good day. Neither of them would make a big fuss about it. But that doesn't mean they didn't give a damn, either. There was simply no point in dwelling on something that is utterly inevitable in this line of work. Thankfully, aside from utter exhaustion and a pulling ache in his bruised shoulder, there wasn't anything major to worry about this time around. He's here in the first place in part because of that.

She sets her equipment aside, swiftly removing her gloves, and approaching him in a few quick strides. One of her hands rests on his shoulder, her voice soft as she tilts her head down at him: "...You need rest. Not to be rude, but... you look like hell. Did you even go to medical for a checkup before coming here, hm?"

She knows him too well.

He lets out a trembling breath, his tired eyelids fluttering shut, his body starting to relax at her presence. Chris leans against her touch slightly, responding to her, admittedly, very valid question with a slight, stubborn huff.

"I told the rest of the team to go to medical and get examined while I went straight here. I’ll go to medical later," he mutters out with a slight dismissive wave of his hand that felt as though it took half of his remaining energy to even lift his arm up.

Aruna just sighs in clear disapproval, giving him a light, playful nudge that makes him sway in his current seat in spite of all the muscle supposed to keep him steady. Although she's usually all for consideration and understanding - sometimes a bit too much for his liking - she is also well aware that he's not all that good at taking care of himself properly. Everyone needs rest, and she, unfortunately, knew better than to trust him solely on his word.

"Alright, fine, you can rest here. But you're going to medical later, even if I have to drag your hunky butt up there myself," she hums, beginning to comb through his untidy hair, brushing off some dirt and gunpowder that had become tangled in the short locks. Probably not the most appropriate thing to do in a laboratory of all places, but they could allow themselves to break the rules sometimes. They did that far too many times to count at this point, after all.

As he leans into Aruna's hand, silently savoring the sensation of her touch, he can't help but chuckle. She may grumble, but she's still as soft and caring as ever.

"Hunky, huh?" Chris raises an eyebrow at her, a small but playful smirk pulling at the corners of his lips as he eyes his fiancé. She rolls her eyes at that, grinning down at him knowingly. Slowly, he raises his better arm and wraps it around her middle, bringing her closer to him and into his lap. Aruna just follows his lead and settles against him without protesting or even teasing him on it as she usually would. He doesn't waste much time to bury his nose against her chest, nuzzling his face against her warm skin, and wrapping a muscular arm around her back to keep her close.

Even though he's now indoors, the cold he's had to endure these past several days still bites at his cheeks, and her body heat feels like a divine escape from it. With a tired and heavy exhale, he slumps against her, resting his body on hers, even as he keeps her in his lap. At this point, it almost feels like he's using her as a personal teddy bear because of the way he eases up against her smaller frame.

Her nails lightly stroke his scalp as her hand returns up to continue combing through his hair mindlessly.

"Hunky, handsome, ridiculously stubborn... Hey, that last one seems to be true even now. I'm kind of scared what you're gonna be like when you're sixty," she adds with a playful smile, her other hand resting upon his shoulder, her thumb rubbing small soothing circles into the fabric of his turtleneck. "I'm gonna be dealing with one stubborn old man."

A warm feeling of affection fills his chest as he grins at that. God, he missed her.

"Ah, but you still fell for me anyway," Chris responds with a tired but teasing tone that comes out sounding muffled against her chest, his warm breath rolling over her skin. His muscles gradually relax as he rests against her in silence for a few peaceful minutes, before letting out a small, tired groan. There is a clear difference between her soft and mostly clear skin, which is usually untouched by direct combat or violence, and his hard and calloused body, which has seen far too much action over the years. He sighs: "...I just want to enjoy your company a little longer. The others got it a lot worse than me. Hell one of ‘em got a bullet go straight through his shoulder so he definitely needs that care way more than I do."

Aruna's smile softens a bit as she continues to silently caress his head. Despite him probably being way too heavy on her like this, she doesn't protest or complain to him one bit, taking all of his - admittedly, rather hefty - weight like a true champ. If anything, it's a clear sign of his tiredness, as he is typically very protective and careful about not being too heavy on her.

"...You should rest," she murmurs quietly. "You really need it."

He leans into her touch with a low hum. Almost like a touchstarved tomcat would, practically melting at her simple caresses.

"I just... need you right now. I need you more than sleep… can I be selfish, just this once?" Chris mumbles out faintly, his voice coming out sounding gruff and vulnerable. He is more than aware that it is far from ideal to be covered in sweat, dirt, grime, and the faint remnants of dried blood, especially when he is holding on to his fiancée like this. He is also well aware that he should probably take a shower and go up to the medical to get examined out properly. But even though he's a filthy, unkempt mess, he's far too exhausted, and all he really wants right now is to just be near her, even if it's only for a minute or two. "…I promise I’ll shower after I get some rest, I just… I need to hold you first."

Aruna leans down and kisses the top of his head.

"You can be selfish as much as you want right now," she assured softly, her hand still stroking his hair. "Just rest. I'm not going anywhere."

He nearly melts into Aruna right then and there. He exhales again, his tense muscles unwinding, further relaxing against her. The adrenaline from the mission is gradually fading from his system now that he's at home and in his fiancé's company. He wraps his arms around her waist and buries his face in her chest again, his eyes fluttering closed and his voice dropping to a gravelly whisper.

"…I’m so damn tired." He lets out another trembling sigh, soothed by her presence and the sensation of her soft hands caressing him and petting his hair. The exhaustion seeps into his bones fully, both a relief and a curse in one. "Missed you."

She lets out a quiet 'mhm' in acknowledgement, silently running her fingers through the dried out locks. He guesses his hair is probably far from the softest variety right now. But Aruna didn't mind. She never did. She was always there for him whenever he returned, through the good and the bad, willing to provide any consolation and assistance she could. After all, she understood first hand the cost he had to bear to protect the rest of the world from the bloodshed of bioterrorism. She has never once asked him to stop, even though she was probably just as worried about his safety while he was away as he was about hers. Neither did he.

This was their life, their fight, their purpose. Regardless of how hard and exhausting it was at times, neither of them could see themselves in any other place.

"How about this, big guy… I’ll let you nap here for a bit, but you will be getting your butt up to medical after you wake up. I want you to be properly checked out and treated. And you'll change out of your gear. I’m sure as hell not letting you into our bed smelling like a war zone. You stink," the scientist says sternly, but the hint of a smile can still be heard in her soft tone.

As she relaxes against him, he sneaks in a small and weary smile onto his face. Despite his reluctance to leave her arms, he does admit that she is very much right. He is not willing to argue over something so silly.

"I guess you win. Again." All his senses are now completely relaxed as he holds her against his body, breathing in the scent of her perfume lingering on her skin. Lemon grass and geranium. He nuzzles his nose against her collarbone. "-You better shower with me after all of this is said and done then."

He hears her laugh at his muttered demand, making his smile widen against her.

"Uh-huh, alright, you got yourself a deal, Redfield. Shower together it is," she agrees, her words laced with light playfulness that was like a balm to his battered body. As she lowers herself down, she swiftly pecks his forehead. "Now rest, you big, stubborn idiot."

Another shiver of delight runs down his spine at the simple affection she was spoiling him with. Despite the tiredness and exhaustion he's feeling, the thought of having her warm body pressed against his own in the shower later makes him almost excited about the idea. That's certainly one thing to look forward to, at least.

"I’m your stubborn idiot." With a tired sigh of relief, he presses his face into the soft skin of her neck, practically burying it there, the stubble on his jawline scratching at her slightly, to which she giggles lightly. She can make him completely pliant and docile in her arms, even though he is known for being intense and gruff on the appearance. He whispers against her skin, his voice weary and gravelly: "I’m all yours."

He may have a tendency to appear tough and guarded, but in quiet moments like these, when his body is pliant and docile in her embrace, it became openly clear just how tired and weary he really was under his front of responsibility and leadership.

"You're mine alright," she replies, her fingers slowly massaging the back of his neck, slowly tracing small, soothing circles on his skin. "That means I get to protect you, too. Now rest. You're safe here."

That's all the words he needed to hear.

[sandewich]

NANNO x FEM!READER // CONFUSION AT ITS' FINEST.

-- WARNINGS :: GORE, smutty/dirty topics, arguing, profanities, g a y.

" Y/n has been... influenced by Yuri, and now Y/n has somewhat became like Yuri, Y/n likes to tease Nanno - However, this time, Y/n had brought out a side of Nanno. "

" ...I can already tell that she must've manipulated you for her own gain... So how about I do the same thing that she did to you, hm?~ "

" Nanno...? What are you-? "

nanno with blood is so hot ngl

- INFO

✧ angstish then smut ;; OOC Nanno?

✦ gxg // Nanno x Fem!Reader.

✧ Nanno and Reader are enemies and has an enemies to lovers trope.

P.S :: y/n is the same height as yuri :3

P.P.S :: this is the liberation EP (S2:E6)

- REQUESTED?

yes! somewhere else!

-- y/n's POV

" You did the job I told you, right? " Yuri looks at me with one of her mischievous smiles as we walked, the job I had was something for Yuri's plan to be motion. It wasn't hard really, all I had to do is wait for Nanno to bring some printed secret school documents to so I could get them and throw them off the railing for everyone to see (and also maybe push Nanno off the railing and then resulting a flag pole impaling in her chest) but Teacher A stole the documents away from me so I recorded Teacher A for her to pass the documents which I successfully did.

" Yup, and I might've pushed Nanno off during it. " I spoke confidently like I was proud of what I've done in the past several minutes. Yuri's mischievous smile turned into a smug smirk like she liked it too, the student riot outside is loud and noisy as they protest for freedom and wreak havoc to the school staff for their lies. We continued to walked through the school, enjoying the view of chaos as the student chase down every school staff member, Yuri even made a member trip with Yuri's foot. Yuri's smirk became an indescribable smile that could only be described as crazy, it was no lie that Yuri loved chaos. We were now in the school's quad where the pole was...

" Sorry, Nanno, but if I want to end the game, one needs to be sacrificed, right? " Yuri somewhat apologized to the Nanno on the pole as she looked up to see Nanno with a ton of blood still drying on Nanno's uniform.

All of us were in the basketball court now but I don't see Nanno in sight... Yuri walked closer to all of the tied up school staff, all of the students had a weapon for self defense of course. Teacher A was looking at Yuri intensely as if to scare her off but it doesn't work anyway.

" Dear revered teachers, " Yuri started to speak to the staff, the students are looking directly at the staff as Yuri continued to speak. I was somewhere else, close to the exit (or I guess entrance to the court) so I could be the first to leave.

" We'd like to announce that we're no longer subject to the school rules from now on. " Yuri announced, and after her sentence, the armed audience roared as if agreeing with what Yuri had spoken. They continued to roar as Teacher A spoke too.

" How dare you? " Teacher A uttered as she continued to look up at Yuri sharply, Yuri just looked at her with a crazed grin as they maintain eye contact, the roaring stopped slowly a few seconds after Teacher A spoke. A student looked at Yuri before asking a question.

" So what are we going to do next? " She asked, looking at Yuri with anticipation before looking back at the school staff. Yuri thought for a few seconds before answering that good question.

" Right. What shall we do? Shall we force them to write their confession about the wrong things they've done in their lives? " Yuri suggested for everyone to do.

" Then, we'll expose them to outsiders. " Yuri finished off, Teacher B looked at Teacher A with a fearful expression before looking away again (gays). The students agreed to what Yuri said again and they began doing exactly what Yuri had suggested for them to do. They held the members tightly so they couldn't escape and only write their confessions on the paper.

" Go on! Make them pay for what they've done to us. " Yuri encouraged as they continued to force the authority people to write down what they wrongfully did. Teacher A rebelled though, she wrote down " You will all repent and pay for what you've done. ", the male scholar crumpled the paper with one hand a little bit before letting it drop to the floor. Teacher A looked at the pupil with a growing and twitching grin like what a psychopath would probably look like. It was like she was holding back a crazed laugh, New had enough of of the Teacher A's bullshit at this point.

Long story short, New ended up suffocating the somewhat educator by accident. The other students went to New, they were shocked to see a not breathing Teacher A on the floor, laying on her back as she remained unresponsive. They ridiculed New for his sinful action, I mean, he did make someone die because of short supply of air.

Suddenly, a loud bang was fire, it was a warning gunshot that fired behind Yuri (it hit the ceiling), it was the school principal, dressed in his usual eye attractive pink principal attire because... Well, he's the principal of course. The school pupils were shocked once again, they were surprised to see him free.

" I'll give you all one last chance. If you're willing to stop, I'll forgive you all for what you did, including the murder of Teacher A. " He said in a monotone voice as his expression is nonchalant but you can sense the disappointment from a mile away. Everyone, except the principal, dropped their weapons, the wood making a clanking sound as it fell on the hard floor.

" Don't give up just yet, guys. Isn't this the path we've chosen? If we give up, we'll become like these teachers. Take a look. " Nanno's friend or whatever her name is spoke, trying to encourage everyone again. I never focused on what Nanno was doing in class, mostly because of the boring classes I had to sit through.

" I think it's enough, Mie... " New said, giving up and dropping his weapon and it makes a sound when it hits the floor. The principal ordered the guards and trual patrol to take the one who didn't repent, the ones that didn't repent were tied up and forced to sit on the floor like what they did to the school staff. The headmaster started to talk about their "peace", and "lovely rules", he even called Yuri "new student who brought filthy thoughts to the school".

" You all were brainwashed by the new student, weren't you? " He said when he inched closer to Yuri, they look at each other sharply (well, Yuri looks more like "lmao get good" type of stare). The principal asked if Yuri was the one responsible for the big riot then they had to raise their hands, all of them raised their hand as New hesitated for a few moments before raising his hand too. The principal said that they're going to " eradicate the provocateur " or whatever he said, I wasn't listening at this point.

" Have you forgotten that the one who started all this was Nanno? " Yuri uttered, looking at the principal with her head tilited slightly.

" That's a lie, Nanno's dead now. Why are you still blaming her? " Mie said, her tone sounded like there was a pinch of anger and sadness in it. I could sense that something was going to happen and I couldn't tell if it was gonna be bad or good... Or maybe both?... Just as I finished that thought, the lights went out row by row, the place was almost pitch black, almost. The students were surprised and confused, did they not pay the electric bill or something? Surely, it didn't mean anything... Right? The headmaster yelled for everyone to remain calm, and just after that...

There was footsteps, and a familiar person doing those footsteps.

" Hey, it's Nanno! " Some people spoke as their gaze averts to Nanno who was on the balcony, watching everyone from above with a smug expression.

" Greetings teachers, and beloved fellow classmates... Did you miss me?~ " Nanno said, her eyes looking cold yet not as always. Her menacing aura was still there, though I can't help but feel another pair of eyes on me... Suddenly, there was... Another Nanno? The purple haired Nanno with bandages wrapped around her mouth? There were two Nannos' now?-

Some teachers tried to escape but then there was, again, another Nanno with pigtails that had green ribbon on them (my favorite sillie nannaur fr). I was confused, sure I knew Nanno was somewhat supernatural but to what degree? Was Nanno more powerful than me and/or Yuri?

" Right now, it seems like there are more Nannos' than what you can handle... " The Nanno with a big wound in her chest spoke to the headmaster as she stepped closer to him, you know, the one I pushed off a railing - which I probably/maybe regret??? Though, I thought Nanno was on the balcony? There's no way you could get down that quickly?

" Have you forgotten that I have a gun? "

" I want to know... If your gun has enough bullets to shoot all of the Nannos'. " Nanno spoke with a smug tone, looking at the principal with anticipation like she wants to know if he actually has enough bullets - which I know the gun doesn't since I "accidentally" used up a bullet when I was secretly raiding the principal's office for some extra cash. The principal raised the gun at the Nanno in front of him, Nanno had an indescribable expression on her face but you can tell that she's still expecting him to shoot her.

" We do have weapons too, Headmaster. " Mie said, pulling out her phone with the flash on, recording the principal and Nanno. The headmaster turns, his gun pointing at Mie now.

" Right now, we're live from Pantanawittaya School. And this is our school's headmaster. " Mie continued to speak, her voice a tiny bit shaky but you can tell she's confident despite the gun being pointed at the camera. Everyone started to pull out their phones too, recording everything about the situation. The principal turned again, looking at the bright line of phone flash, recording his every move. The headmaster doesn't say anything but you can tell that he's panicking with his grip on the gun shaky as he points the gun at everyone like he's trying to intimidate them.

" Hey, it's me, my lovely students! " The principal spoke in a calm tone, the happy voice sounded fake of course, his hands were up (not his arms though) as the weapon looks up at the ceiling now.

" Put them down, my love. Put them down. It's me, put them down. " His voice was starting to be desperate as his innocent facade was slowly fading, I mean, he's technically getting caught in 4k, no?

" I fucking order you to put them down! I fucking order you to stop! " The headmaster shouted and repeated, his tone took a whole 360°, now it sounds angry and mad at the people who had their phones up for the outsiders to see. The shining flash filling up his sight as he tries to intimidate them once more.

The principal turned back to Nanno who was a tad bit closer now, Nanno walked closer again, her hands going on the gun as she forces it to touch her forehead, nonverbally wanting the principal to shoot her brains out. Nanno lets go of the gun, letting it touch her forehead as she makes intense eye contact with the headmaster to make it harder for him to shoot.

" Shoot. " Nanno simply said, a crazed smile growing on her nonchalant expression as her eyes can only be described as evil because that's what she is, exposing evil with evil. The principal's grip on the gun was getting shakier as he looks at Nanno with a angered face but he finds it hard to pull the trigger it seems.

" Shoot me! " Nanno cried out, her voice loud and clear as it echos throughout the basketball court. People were recording the principal, Nanno looking at him with a expecting look-

! ! !

" Wh- " Before I could even say a word, my mouth gets covered, I was pulled out of the basketball court which was weird, wasn't the entrance closed earlier...?

" You're quite the... inspector, huh? Sitting there, watching everyone. "

Nanno spoke - except it wasn't the one with the green bow tied ponytails, instead it was the Nanno with smudged red lipstick on her lips, the lipstick was smudged to her right cheek it seems. Nanno's hand on my mouth gets away while her other is gripping my wrist quite tight.

" Wha-? Nanno, let me go! " I said, Nanno's grip on my wrist tightens as her eyes narrow slightly. Her eyes look at she's... Observing me like she's trying to figure out what I'm thinking. Nanno gets closer to me, her grip softens before she suddenly pins me to the wall with both of her hands on mine...

Nanno holds me against the wall and leans in close, staring at me directly in the eye. It's very much clear that her intentions aren't pure as you think - Well, I still knew that before obviously. She kept getting closer to my personal space. At this point, any closer will press our bodies together.

" Oh come on now, don't be too startled. I just wanted to play a little game with you. " Nanno whispers into my ear, her breath hot against my skin, her expression unreadable. I was... Somewhat scared...? Normally, playing games with Nanno would always resulting to her winning with ease.

" A game? Really? " I scoffed, trying to be tough and cover up the fear that was building up inside of me. Nanno smirked smugly, I'm pretty sure she's seeing through my facade... Nanno laughed - it was more like a bit of a humane laugh more than a forced and uneasy laugh like she always does - at my attempt at trying to disguise my own fear and then she leaned closer, her face just inches from mine.

"I could see right through it, darling. How you wish that you were somewhere else, anywhere else instead of here with me. But you're not." Nanno whispered as Nanno pushed her body against mine, her lips almost touching mine. This close proximity is making feel... Things, things that could only be described as desire and arousal. Some things I definitely didn't want to admit.

"It's just the two of us here, alone together. So why don't we get... acquainted?" Nanno's smirk turns into something suggestive, I wanted to push her away but I can't find myself to do so. It's like there some sort of force that's blocking me to do so.

" You and me together? Please, as if. " I spoke, and it sounded like in a mean way which I didn't even mean to do (or maybe I did, maybe I didn't). I could tell it ticked Nanno off as one of her eye twitches gently and her smug expression falters slightly, her grip on my hands softens.

" It's more fun when you're with me... Just give it a chance and you won't regret it. " Nanno's face got closer, she was invading my privacy as leaned in closer. I thought she was about to kiss me but she just... stays there.

" Like I ever would, Mara. " I fired back, and I had no idea why I even said Nanno's real name when I know how much it pisses her off.

" Now you're calling me by my real name Such a brave, brave soul... " Nanno spoke, her eyes just looks intimidating... Like there's nothing but a black void. She lets go of me for a second before pinning me against the wall again — except, her right hand was on my neck, squeezing lightly like she's giving me a warning.

" Oh, what? Getting upset over your own name, Mara? " At this point, I was just saying her name so I could stall and Yuri could somehow show up and save me. Nanno's eyes narrow at me, she doesn't say anything though.

" What? Are you just gonna be silent? Not only are you slow at your job but you're slow at responding too~ " I teased Nanno, and Nanno definitely didn't like that despite her body unmoving and her expression unchanging. She seems mad somehow? I didn't know Nanno could  feel human emotions.

" ... " Nanno continues to be quiet. Her eyes studying me like she's some sort of predator about to pounce on their prey. It felt uncomfortable to be sitting in awkward salience. Finally she speaks up.

" ...I can already tell that she must've manipulated you for her own gain... So how about I do the same thing that she did to you, hm?~ "

" Nanno...? What are you-? "

" Let's see... How would you react if I did this. " Nanno suddenly leans in and presses her lips against mine roughly, her arms firmly pinning me against the wall. The lipstick was staining my lips now, her arms slither down and goes near my waist, her hands grasping my waist gently. My eyes widen that the sudden escalation of the situation, I mean, did I expect Nanno to kiss me in the middle of a argument? No, not at all.

We continued to kiss like this, and I had no choice but to give in. Our bodies we're pressed against each other. My back touching the cold wall behind me... I wonder what the people inside think? Can they see me, can they see us?

Nanno pulls away, a growing smirk plastered onto her face as she looks at me of what seems to be lust, lust of power and control over me. I accidentally let out a whimper as I looked up at Nanno who's looming over me. A blush grew in my face out of embarrassment and flustered-ness, and Nanno's hands on my waist tighten

" You enjoyed that didn't you? Of course you did. You think about me all the time. You even fantasize about me. How about I make it come true? " Nanno spoke, her tone full of mischievousness as her eyes bore into mine. I didn't say anything else, the blush on my face just grows more obvious as time passes by.

" You're so cute when you blush. I wonder what you'd look like when I break you. " Nanno spoke as she lets go of my waist like she's trusting me that I wouldn't escape — and she was right, I didn't escape. Nanno's hands had another idea though, they went to unbutton my skirt... And it falls to the ground, leaving me in my undergarments.

" Nanno, we can't- "

" Who says ' we can't '? We definitely can do this. I'm not leaving you wanting like this, what kind of friend would I be? " Nanno's smirk turns into a crazed smile like she's thinking of all of the possibilities of what we can do alone at this time.

" ...Fine. " I completely gave in and submitted, letting Nanno do... Whatever that wants to do to me.  You can tell that she's happy with my response. Her hands went onto my thighs before her right hand started to move up in between my thighs, rubbing at my clitoris through the thin panties. Her left hand went up and caressed my cheek as her eyes look at me, trying to see my reaction.

" S- shit... " I moaned gently even though Nanno was rubbing lightly, she was talented enough to make me fall into her trap. Nanno pulls her hand away before sliding it into my underwear, gently inserting two of her fingers inside of my warmth.

" So wet... I wonder who made you like this?~ " Nanno teased as she started to move her fingers in and out. She bites the inside of her bottom lip as she hears my pleasured noises come out of my very own mouth. Her fingers move faster at that, needing to hear more of me like she needs to pleasure me. Her left hand was still on my cheek as her other skilled hand kept doing it's job.

I moaned out her name, trying to be quiet as possible since there's a whole lot of people in the gym behind me but it was too hard to keep it in when Nanno's fingers desperately tries to push me off the edge. My heart was pounding because of the intense pleasure coursing through my veins. Nanno's lips went close to my ear, she started to degrade me...

" Don't you know how much anger and rage you've been making me feel over the past few days? You know I don't like it when you keep hanging out with Yuri. That brat, she's just trying to take advantage of you. I won't do that to you ever. Be a good little girl for me unless you want a worse punishment than this. " Nanno spoke roughly yet quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, her hot breath on my neck as she continues to whisper into my ear. Her slender fingers reaching deeper as she repeatedly curls and uncurls them more quicker.

The noises escape my lips, it was getting more and more harder to control them now. Eventually, I gave up trying to be silent, letting every sound get out. Nanno's fingers were pounding and ramming into me at this point. I felt like I was about to explode any second, Nanno's lips went down to my neck, kissing it softly as her fingers rub against my g-spot.

" Yes, yes... Let it all go, my good girl. Let me know how much you needed me since the start... " Nanno spoke like she was getting pleasure too, pleasure from seeing me be this obedient when I was trying to act all tough earlier. I couldn't hold on for much longer and released all of my tension onto Nanno's fingers. Nanno pulled her head away from my neck as her fingers slow down to mini thrusts as I try to catch my breath.

" Such a good girl, you're all mine now. "

Nanno pulled her fingers out of me and sliding it out of my underwear, she brings her two fingers to her mouth, her tongue tasting the sweet nectar. She lets out a hum like she enjoyed it, she loved the taste. Nanno kissed my lips one more time before she pulled her body away from mine.

" I'm expecting good behavior from you, don't let me down, darling~ " Nanno spoke, her arms crossed as she stares at me before winking at me and walking away, leaving me alone now.

I was so confused.

Do I like Nanno or do I like Yuri?

Should I be on Nanno's side or Yuri's side?

This was truly Confusion at its' Finest...

author ;; sandewich!

I love haerin

byeee :3

- WORDS ;;

3937

-- PROOFREAD?

Nope!

[tillychmo]

S1-Izzy's Foreshadowed Road to Redemption in s2

(And me slightly gushing over Con O'Neill's acting on the way.)

Right-o. We need to talk about our man Izzy Hands. More specifically we need to talk about Izzy in ep110 and through to the second series, because I have yet to see anyone else comment with this particular angle, so here's my hot take:

(This will include obvious spoilers for all of the current two series of Our Flag Means Death)

I've seen some people talk about Izzy's character change as something that happened 'way too quickly' – I've seen others talk about Izzy not being a bad guy in series 1 at all – and I've seen a lot of people come away from the scene in ep. 110 where they're throwing out Stede's books and Fang/Kevin asks Izzy what happened to his foot with an understanding that Izzy's reaction to that question is one of gloading satisfaction, and because I kinda disagree with all of these takes (but especially the latter), here's my wee take on the lot – with particular emphasis on that 'smile' in ep. 110:

Jumping right in: The second 'Krackbeard' cuts off Izzy's toe Izzy knows that he has f*cked up and finally pushed Ed too far. Sure, Izzy has been used to Blackbeard cutting the toes off of other crew members and make them eat it "for a laugh" for years and years – but Blackbeard/Edward has never turned his violence on Izzy before.

Izzy wanted Blackbeard back, yes, and all the way through s1 he pushed and pushed and pushed him, even though Ed clearly didn't want to be 'Blackbeard' anymore.

We see this in the 'soft' manipulations – like him saying "My boss would like a word with you" to Stede, but telling Edward "I explicitly told him 'Blackbeard desires his company'" – and we see it more and more prevalent as Ed grows closer to and more and more fond of Stede – like Izzy ordering Fang/Kevin and Ivan to back him up in his demand that Edward kills Stede (based on Fang's & Ivan's reactions in the previous scene "This is the most open and available I've ever seen him", I feel OK with surmising that Izzy probably ordered them to back him up here) so that Edward will 'lose face' or even be looked at as weak if he refuses to do it; like insisting on a swordfight with Stede – directly against his captain's orderes – and choosing to not just banish Stede from the ship when it looks as though Izzy is going to win, but actually going in for the kill; like selling Stede (the man Ed loves) out to the English, while also basically treating Edward as a commodity, by making him the 'price' Izzy will earn from the British, when they've captured Stede.

The latter of which – and this is equally as important to note – literally sets the whole trajectory of Ed's fall into Krackbeard in motion.

Ed is the one who returns to the Revenge – not Blackbeard. And Izzy is continually at his wits end, because he has now done nearly every single manipulative thing he can think of (Izzy obviously doesn't think of these things as 'manipulative' – in his eyes he is still doing the 'right thing') to get Edward to 'snap out of it'. But Ed is still refusing to act the part of Izzy's preferred understanding of what masculinity is. In fact, after his return Ed slips even further into the kind of 'feminine'-masculinity that Izzy despises.

And Izzy finally cracks – insisting that 'Edward' and 'Blackbeard' are not the same, and then taunting Edward with his percieved weakness of being heartbroken. This finally goads a reaction out of Ed.

And for the glimmer of a second Izzy thinks he sees 'Blackbeard' in Ed – and you can see the sheer satisfaction on his face:

But Ed doesn't want to be Blackbeard. And the moment Izzy touches his face (other people have written brilliantly on Ed's reactions to physical touch – if I can find it, I will add a link to it here), Ed doesn't go in for the counter attack. Instead, he pushes Izzy's hand away, let's go of Izzy's neck, and takes several steps back. Even here, when he is being actively threatned, he is still refusing to 'act the part' of overt violence that Izzy is demanding of him.

And because Con O'Neill is an actor's absolute dream (side-note: seriously, I cannot get enough of watching his micro-expressions when a thought changes and you can see it so clearly in his eyes) we can see the split-second where Izzy realises this:

(Seriously that thiny change of his eyes is so easy to miss and yet it speaks VOLUMES for Izzy's character and character arc – Con O'Neill you brilliant bastard.)

So at the point where Ed is at his absolutely most vulnerable – because the crew has made him feel safe to do so – Izzy goes for the final 'trick' he has left: He threatens Ed on his life.

And this brings us back to the beginning of this post: Krackbeard cutting off Izzy's toe. Supposedly this should have been an indicator to Izzy that 'Blackbeard' is back and is "himself again" and Izzy even says this himself:

And here we arrive at the whole reason for why I've made this post (yeah, sorry, I know it took a while) :

Izzy is telling us that he finally got what he wanted: "Blackbeard is himself again". In other words: "I WON. YAY."

BUT – and I cannot stress this enough – look at the reaction that follows those words:

"I WON ... YAY?"

THIS is the look that clued me in on where Izzy's character arc was heading. Because there is only one reason to allow the antagonist of your story to crack even the flicker of an inch and acidentally show their true feelings like this – and that is if they are on their way to redemption. And with redemption more often than not also comes their inevitable demise.

THIS is not the face of a man who is happy. THIS is the face of a man who knows damn well that he just cosmically f*cked up and now has to live with the consequences.

Which is why we see him, immediately after this accidental facial honesty, putting on the face of a man who actually got what he wanted. Because he is suddenly finding himself in unchartered territory: Izzy knows who 'Blackbeard' is – but he has no clue who 'Krackbeard' is or how to handle him, because 'Krackbeard' is born from the lack of Stede, the heartbreak that followed, Ed's self-hatred, and the threats from Izzy. And Izzy didn't understand this ... Until he suddenly starts to realise it, when it is seemingly already too late.

So when series two started and we see a completely broken down Izzy, I was not surprised at all. Because not only did Izzy realise in ep. 110 that he had finally pushed Ed too far – he has, in the intervening weeks and months, seen Edward (the man Izzy was/has been/is coming to realise that he loves) deteriorate, doing more and more drugs and abusing alcohol and becoming more and more depressed and suicidal. Izzy has finally realised what antagonising Ed actually costs: Ed's attachment to life – Ed's willingness to live. And the reason why we see Izzy change his tune towards Stede fairly/incredibly quickly in s2, is because Izzy has realised that the only way to save Ed, is to accept that Stede is what brings Ed to life. Not 'Blackbeard', or 'Krackbeard', or any other performative persona, but "just Ed".

Which is why mirroring the 'attack' scene in 110 with the words "There he is" in Izzy's final words to Ed is so damn beautiful.

IZZY: "Just be Ed." Ed breaks down crying. IZZY: "There he is."

(An afterthought: Writing this I'm realising that Izzy's final scene with Edward in 208 actually beautifully mirrors their scene in 110 in more ways than "There he is". In 110 we see Izzy being pinned against the wall; he is 'finally' being touched by Edward, but it happens with violence and agression and with no hint of care or love – but in 208 Izzy asks Ed to sit with him, and not only does Ed stay with him, he is literally holding him, caringly and lovingly in his arms. No agression and no violence. Just care and love and familarity and warmth. Not telling Izzy that he loves him, but showing him. And I think that's quite a nice thought to end on.)

[butterflyintochains]

A Norris and A Masterton

Up for two prestigious NHL Awards, Kris and Erik come back together after a rough but historic season apart. Their plan well into motion now, if all goes their way, this should be the last NHL event they attend as opponents. The end of one era, perhaps twelve years too late. But, all going well, the ceremony in Nashville should mark the beginning of another. Twelve painful - but happy - years in the making.

They didn't get their usual All Star weekend together, but they're getting Awards Week together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Masterton, his third time being up for the comeback of the year award. Not quite the Norris or Hart, but it's an amazing accolade in and of itself. Kris quietly hopes he'll actually win this one, he will admit to few that he felt cheated about of the last two he was up for. It's been a long and difficult season, and he's glad it's over for now. He finds his hotel room in Nashville, and gets inside. Hoping a certain someone is already there waiting for him, but he's clearly not here yet. Kris hangs his suit bag up, and unpacks for the week while listening to some Pirates highlights. Once he's done with that, his phone finally rings, and a smile breaks out across his face. ''Hi, Erik. You here yet?''

Erik says. ''Got stuck in traffic, what room are you in, Kris?'' Kris looks on his room key. ''28, I'm in, just come up.''

Erik says, sounding excited. ''Will do, see you in a minute, I guess.'' Kris smiles, their first day together since his dad's funeral. ''See you in a minute, Erik.''

It isn't long until that knock on the door comes, there's a small flashback to that beautiful night in San Jose. Kris lets it all wash through him, and goes to get the door. Erik, a beaming smile on his gorgeous face, says. ''Miss me, sweetheart?''

Kris, grinning ear to ear, takes his partner's hand, and pulls him inside the room. ''Like you'd not believe, darling.'' Erik tosses his bags on the bed, and pulls Kris in for a passionate kiss. Their first in ages, even after all this time, that rush never wears off. The fact that they're the same height only makes it all so much better. Kris runs his fingers through Erik's shorter hair when they come up. Erik notices the furrowed brows instantly. ''Anything wrong, skatten mitt?'' He asks, his voice playful.

Kris narrows his eyes, and says. ''You cut your hair, mon coeur.'' Erik laughs, they've always liked each other's hair longer. For multiple reasons. ''I did, do you like it, sweetheart?''

Kris smirks, biting his lip. ''You know me, darling, I like a new challenge.'' Some may wonder when this fire they lit in Raleigh all those years ago will die down, when they become a relaxed older hockey couple. The answer for that is: never.

That evening, Erik unpacks, and they order dinner up to the room. Kris asks, once they've eaten. ''How far along are we on the plan?'' Erik pulls his phone out, and hands it over to his partner. ''Have a look.'' Kris looks at the texts between Grier, Erik, and his agent. All seems to be going well, it seems as though this might just go their way. ''Grier's gonna wave your no-move clause?''

Erik nods, taking his phone back. ''Yeah, as soon as free agency hits, I'll be pursuing a trade or move to you in Pittsburgh.'' All they've ever dreamed of, for twelve years, could be coming true this summer. Kris leans over to kiss Erik again. ''I love you so much, you know that, right?''

Erik tucks some hair back behind Kris' ear. ''I do, and I love you too, so much it hurts sometimes.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Media Day seems to go on forever, especially with them both up for awards this weekend. Erik getting endless questions about possibly beating two much younger players to the Norris at 33 years old, and Kris getting asked about how much getting this Masterton would mean to him after all he's been through. No one seems to know about the plan that's been in the works since last November. That this will be Erik's last Norris as a Shark, and that Kris will be sharing the Pittsburgh ice with someone at long last. Or that the Penguins are likely soon to have two power couples on their roster, after so long of just having the one. Some sick and twisted part of Kris halfway wonders how Sid and Geno will feel having some competition for best power couple on the team. Erik whispers in his ear, slipping his hand into Kris' during a moment where the Calder finalists are being interviewed. ''Alskad, I can feel you thinking, what's up?''

Kris mutters, squeezing his partner's hand. ''Just thinking about how Sid and Geno are gonna handle us next fall, amour, that's all.''

Erik chuckles, and says. ''I suppose we'll have to wait and see, won't we? Do you think they're ready for us?''

Kris says, after a moment to think. ''I don't entirely know, all I know so far is that I'm ready for us.''

Erik confesses, lightly kissing Kris' cheek while no one is paying attention to them. ''So am I.''

After the circus of media, they head back up to their room, Kris suddenly remembers something. He goes into his backpack, and fishes a team hoodie out of it. He always travels with one, so do the others, he holds it out to Erik. ''I couldn't smuggle a jersey out of the city, but I have this. Can you try it on for me, Erik?'' Erik gives him a charged look, clearly thinking this is some kind of roleplay thing he's asking for. ''Head out of the gutter, darling. I just wanna see how you look in black and gold.''

Erik nods, and blinks a few times to clear his head. ''Oh... okay, sweetheart, just... you had me going there.'' He takes the hoodie, and slips it on, not caring one iota that it's not his own team yet. He's been a Penguin-by-marriage for so long anyway. He looks himself over in the mirror, wondering how he ever pulled off the red and cyan when this was right in front of him. ''Well, what do you think, hjartat?'' Kris wraps his arms around Erik's waist from behind, and presses his lips to Erik's neck. ''Can't wait for your jersey, amour.''

Erik says, leaning himself into Kris. ''Neither can I.''

That night, they relax in bed together. The big day looming large tomorrow. ''Can't wait to see you with that Norris tomorrow, you know?'' Kris says. ''Fox and Makar are good, but you deserve it so much more. I'm biased as hell, but you just do.''

Erik gives his other half a sleepy smile. ''I'm glad you think so, mon coeur. For what it's worth, you're a shoe-in for the Masterton. And, I'll hear no one say otherwise.''

Kris utters, not wanting to tempt fate. ''Alskad...'' Erik cuts him off with a kiss. ''That includes you, Kris. Nobody could've survived what you've survived. Not even me.'' Kris is too tired to argue, so closes his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As predicted, the two best dressed defencemen in the league have pulled out all the stops to receive their awards tonight. Erik arrives in a lilac suit and black tie, bright and visible for the cameras. Kris has went above and beyond, arriving in a three piece tuxedo. They share a held gaze as they're shown to their seats. They'll not be sitting together. Perhaps that's for the best, Erik muses to himself as he takes his seat with the Sharks personnel one last time. Kris is a few rows behind, sat with the other Masterton nominees and winners.

After the usual fanfare, they announce first the winner of the Rocket - Connor McDavid. After his speech, they get to the Norris finalists. ''The James Norris Memorial Trophy goes to... Erik Karlsson.'' Erik goes up to receive the replica. Which will, hopefully, end up in Kris' house in Pittsburgh with the others soon. ''All this time, and I still get nervous up here. First, I'd like to thank the San Jose Sharks for taking a chance on me, and giving me four incredible seasons in California. I'd also like to thank the Ottawa Senators, without them I'd not be here at all.'' He pauses to gather himself. ''All the credit to Cale and Adam for their seasons, and keeping me on my toes at 33, I need that.'' That gets a good laugh. ''Danny and Jason - thank you for helping me up in this sport. And, my family in Vetlanda for the love and support.'' Erik looks to Kris, they somehow always find each other. ''Finally, I'll not name names, but je t'aime toujours, mon coeur, tu m'inspires.'' The crowd gasps at Erik's effortless command of french. They'll never know why he knows it, that's between him and Kris. ''Thank you.'' He proudly returns to his seat.

After the Art Ross is given out, PO and two others take to the stage to plead the cases of the three Masterton finalists. PO telling the story of Kris' second stroke, foot injury, and losing his father. Relaying the impact Kris has had on him and the team at large. Kris dries his eyes. ''The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy goes to... Kris Letang.'' Kris takes a deep breath, and goes up on stage. He holds the replica in his hands. ''Gonna admit, I always wanted to be up here, but never thought it'd be with this one - because it means something bad happened.'' Kris carries on his speech. ''Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Clayton and Anthony for their comebacks, we play a hard game, but we still stand here. UPMC and Jon Chaimberg, for helping me get back here after the pain of it all.'' Kris takes a moment. ''My family back home in Montreal, this is our award. Sid, Geno, and Flower - I love you dearly, and wish they were here tonight.'' He takes a second to compose himself. ''I'd also like to thank Mario and the Penguins - you took a gamble on a third round pick, for which I am forever grateful.'' Kris finds Erik, and says to him. ''Finally, before I cry up here. Jag alskar dig av hela mitt hjarta, alskad mitt. You know who you are.'' He finishes his speech. ''Thank you!''

After press and photos, there's a little gathering for the award winners. Erik and Kris are content to let the press speculate about why a Swede speaks fluent French, and a French-Canadian speaks Swedish like he was born there. They don't get that story yet, Sid and Geno get it first. ''I told you, Linus, I'm not telling anyone why I speak Swedish yet.'' Kris says.

Linus runs his thumb over the Vezina. ''That's fine. I just find it impressive, learning a whole new language on top of leading your team's defence, the PA, and those three cups.''

McDavid adds, joining their little chat. ''Not to mention the health issues you've had! Where have you found the time?''

Kris chuckles, still cradling the replica Masterton. ''You make the time, Connor. You ever thought about picking up a language?'' Connor thinks for a second. ''German would be nice, for Leon, y'know?'' Kris nods, spotting that look in his eyes that he and Erik get sometimes. The worst kept secret since Sid and Geno, clearly. Erik joins them, Patrice not far behind. ''You wanna learn German, Davo?'' Patrice asks.

Connor nods. ''Yeah, Erik's french and Kris' swedish have kinda inspired me, y'know?''

Linus asks. ''Think I could convince Sway to let me teach him Swedish, Karl?''

Erik laughs. ''I think so, he'd do anything for you, so, you'd not have much convincing to do.''

After a while, Kris and Erik head back to the hotel. Heads aching from the noise tonight. They ready themselves for bed, their trophies on the coffee table. Erik has to admit, those trophies look as good together as their winners do. ''Can't believe I actually got that, you know?'' Kris says, getting into bed.

Erik says, it's never exactly landed with him how underrated his partner is in this league. What with Sid's accolades, Geno's awards, Flower's Vezina, and his now three Norrises. ''You've earned this, sweetheart, and so much more. And, I've never been prouder of you.'' Kris leans over to kiss his cheek. ''I'm proud of you too, darling, we both know how hard being in our position is, especially in our thirties.''

Erik asks, tracing his beloved's tattoos. ''How do you think they'll look in our home?''

Kris' eyes gloss over, he smiles brightly. ''I think they'll look pretty good. God, our home, I can't wait already.'' Erik laughs, any other season he'd not want to get their hopes up. But, he feels as if this might just happen at last. ''Me neither, I mean, we've been wanting this for ages. I think it might just happen.''

Before they fall asleep, Kris asks. ''Is there anything you need from me on my end?'' Erik yawns, trying to think of anything Kris can do that isn't too stressful. ''Aside from the house, maybe put a word in your management's ear about me? Everything else is on my end.'' Erik is dead set on not having them in this holding pattern for too long.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They decide to spend a couple of days in Nashville, even after everyone is gone. If this is going to be their last NHL event as opponents, they might as well get as much out of it as possible. Kris has his Masterton on the coffee table still, sitting side by side with Erik's Norris. They are pristine silver, and look so good together. It hits him, in seven weeks, they could both be Penguins at last. They've left the press with quite a story, at any rate, speaking each other's languages in their speeches. ''Wonder how the media will take you speaking french all of a sudden.'' Kris says, reading a book Sid gifted him for his birthday. Erik looks up from his phone, a cheeky grin on his face. ''They'll probably hound Danny first, then Jason, and drive themselves nuts when they don't get anything. How about you speaking swedish?''

Kris chuckles, taking a mouthful of his smoothie. ''I'm sure our media has already called Horny and Hags. Good luck to them, I told Horny not to tell anyone.''

Erik says, seeming proud of them for causing some chaos this week. ''Wouldn't be us without some chaos, would it, hjartat?'' Kris shakes his head, lacing his fingers with Erik's. ''No, amour, it wouldn't be.'' Good to know that's not changed at least. It's gonna be fun having someone to annoy Sid and Geno with next season, it's been way too long. ''Which of the Two Headed Monster will Sully put me with?'' Erik asks.

Kris doesn't need to think, he says. ''Geno. You'd do well together.'' Kris also says, seventeen years means too much to him. ''I'd hate to leave Sid, it's just... how things are with us.''

Erik says, completely understanding ''I'd hate to take him away from you, the numbers you've put up together speak for themselves.'' Kris nods, and returns to his book. It might be premature, these conversations about what the team will look like with the four of them on it, especially after Flower left. But, there's something in the air that tells Kris that this is the one time this plan works out properly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They pack up the following morning, they'll not be going to Sweden or Montreal together this summer, there's too much work to do. Erik has a team to leave, and Kris has to somehow get his house ready without alerting any of the boys as to why, and get his team to ask for Erik in the first place. Some part of Erik is pissed that they won't get their usual summer together, but, if all goes to plan, they'll be getting way more than just summers together for the rest of their careers. So, it all balances out. They pack their trophies into the cases they were given. And, that's the last of it. Their flights are in a couple of hours. ''I guess we'll be Penguins next time we see each other.'' Kris says, taking Erik's hands in his.

Erik smiles, and nods. ''Yeah, if all goes well, I should be in Pittsburgh by early August.''

Kris says, the possibility of all they've ever wanted not happening still being too big for his liking. ''That's still a long time, darling.'' Erik runs his hand through Kris' hair, which he so wishes was longer. ''I know, sweetheart, but, I'm optimistic about this, aren't you?''

Kris takes a deep breath in, inhaling the doubts they've had over the years, and lets them go on the exhale. ''Yeah, so am I.'' Erik kisses him, a promise lingering in it. ''Good, I'll keep you informed about everything. I hope my 65 is available.''

Kris kisses Erik, wanting to savour the time they've got left together. Something Sid and Geno will never fully understand. ''It is, and it's waiting for you, so am I.''

Erik promises him again. ''I'll not make you wait long, trust me.'' Kris nods, and says. ''I trust you.''

They leave for their flights, hopefully flying home apart for the final time. Erik to San Jose, Kris to Pittsburgh. One going west, the other going north.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It doesn't take long for the news of Erik hitting the free agent market to spread like wildfire. Sid and Geno constantly texting in the leadership group chat, practically foaming at their mouths about the possibility of Erik coming east. Kris has to rein himself in, the plan has only just begun. His end is done, now Kyle has to get the rest done. In the meantime, Kris is getting the house ready for Erik moving in, he's put the idea to Kyle already. One evening, he gets a call from Erik. ''Bonjour, mon amour.'' He says.

Erik laughs. ''Hej, hjartat mitt. I think I made off with that hoodie you had me try on.''

Kris shrugs, they've always shared clothes. ''That's fine, I've got loads of them. How's it all going out west?''

Erik says. ''Good, my contract is done now, Grier has given me the permission to talk to other teams. I'm just waiting on Kyle's offer, then, we're good.''

Kris downs some water, and informs him. ''He said he's working on a contract for you, I'm surprised he's not wondering why I want you here so badly.''

Erik asks, a lightness to his voice. ''What about our forwards? Are Sid and Geno talking to you at all about this?'' Kris laughs, if only Erik could see into their group chat right now. ''They're convinced you're coming here, if only they knew how long we've been planning this.'' Erik also laughs. ''They'd freak out!''

After their call, Kris gets an idea. He finds his most recent jersey, from his 1000th game, framed in his office. He shakes his head, and moves it to above his side of the bed. Erik's will go next to it, 58 and 65 will hang side by side. Just as their Norris and Masterton will be displayed. Then, hopefully, their cup rings. If Sid and Geno could do it, why not him and Erik? Kris wants to tell himself not to think too far into the future, not to get his hopes up. But, they're so close, so... fuck it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The offer sheet sits on Erik's coffee table. Signed by Kyle Dubas, co-signed by Jason Spezza and his agent. He specifically told his agent not to even entertain offers from any other team. Sure, Toronto have Matthews and Marner. Carolina have a good team. Sure, he was a senator once upon a time. But, the Penguins have Kris, and that's all he needs, before even a cup enters his mind. The contract is good, he'll retire with the man he loves, get his number, and minutes second only to Kris himself. So, in the easiest decision he's ever made, he signs it. It's not the binding contract, not yet, but it's enough for now. ''I've signed the offer sheet, Kris.'' He says on the phone that next morning.

Kris is silent for a few moments, but says. ''Really?'' Erik confirms, he'll not be going to Pittsburgh for a couple of weeks yet. ''Yeah, yesterday evening. I'll need a few weeks to sort things out here, but I'll be in Pittsburgh soon.''

Kris sounds overwhelmed. ''God... this is actually happening. We're really doing this.''

Erik says, relieved more than anything. ''This is actually happening. We're almost there, after twelve years, we're just about there.'' Kris asks, seeming to need a few moments to process it all. ''Were there other teams?''

Erik says, because he'd never lie to Kris. ''Three: Toronto, Ottawa, and, you're never gonna believe this... Carolina.'' Kris laughs softly, of course the city where this all began for them came knocking. ''Typical.''

Erik nods, smiling to himself while looking at his three Norrises, soon to be displayed with a Masterton. ''Yeah, if only they knew what we got up to that weekend.''

Kris adds, sounding altogether too proud of himself. ''And: in Ottawa, Nashville - twice now, and San Jose.'' They don't talk about Tampa, that weekend of their five All Star breaks doesn't deserve talking about. ''Anyway, shouldn't be much longer. I'll see you in a few weeks. I love you, Kris.''

Kris says, sniffling from his end. ''I'll see you soon. I love you too, Erik.''

Three more weeks, and then this long distance thing finally comes to its end. Perhaps twelve years too late, who knows? But, they don't particularly care. It's ending, and they'll likely retire together now. It's been a long time, but Pittsburgh are about to have a quartet again. Two married forwards, and two married defencemen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God, I've missed writing for my guys! Best With Three has consumed this past week for me, but I've missed these two and their little marriage so much! In my head, the NHL Awards in 2023 coincides with Kris and Erik's plans to get Erik over to Pittsburgh so they can finally start playing together. They definitely had Erik's trade planned, and Kris absolutely does not miss the teammates he lost in it. That summer was 100% just about getting them both on the same team after over a decade.

Also, the english petnames are finally appearing! Kris calls Erik 'Darling', and Erik calls Kris 'Sweetheart' whenever they use english for their petnames.

Anyway, enjoy!

[dragonmasterhiccup]

Stoick's voice snapped her back to reality, blinking widely as she stiffly watched the Chief or Berk march towards her. 'Oh..' Immediately throwing Eret's sword down, Freya hastily went to retrieve her and Ragnar's dagger before quickly straightening herself up again.

A spark of vexation coursed through her as he told her to 'get going', brows furrowing as she tightly gripped the weapon in her hands. "I'm not sure if I'm done making my point.." She muttered moreso to herself. Thankfully, Hiccup came between them before she could start to get even more frustrated, using all of her strength not to say something she'd later regret - especially to the Chief.

Reluctantly walking away from the group that was now behind her, she began to murmur complaints under her breath, not paying any attention to whether or not Hiccup heard it: "Those guys injured Blaze, they caused my dad to throw a dagger right at your head, which almost would've resulted in another horrible incident...they nearly made me drown and Stoick says to let him do his job..!?"

The Sand Wraith followed his rider, shaking himself off from his tense form as he grumbled. Heaving a sigh, Freya began to take off her gloves and stashed them inside the small pouch on her belt. "I couldn't just let them get away with it, knowing who they are and what they've done.." Turning to face her pretend boyfriend, she frowned slightly, "They're the whole reason you had to deal with my dad threatening you with a dagger."

Looking away for a moment, she mumbled her next response: "..To be frank, I wouldn't let anyone who harms the ones I care about to go freely and not see the consequences of their actions." Her eyes found his, speaking the unsaid words that told him she did care for him, that he did matter to her. However, wanting to enlighten the mood a bit, she released a breath through her nose and lightly shrugged. "At least they got the hint that they shouldn't do it again.." Gesturing towards Ragnar, the corner of her lips briefly pulled upward in a faint smile. "I should..probably give my dad his dagger back.."

Going to take a step to where her father was, she suddenly paused, glancing at the Chief's son. "And, uh, Hiccup!" Pushing past her awkwardness, she gave him a grateful nod. "Uhm, thanks for..intervening earlier..I don't know what would've happened if you didn't.." Tapping Blaze's neck, she then walked off.

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

After the whole fiasco of confronting the dragon hunters and returning Ragnar's dagger, Freya returned home to her hut, needing to spend time with Ayla in hopes of relieving her solemn pensiveness. It worked slightly, but her thoughts would always travel to Hiccup yet again, wondering what he could possibly be doing. Was he with his dad, interrogating the group? Were they still there? What if he needed her help somehow?

Where even was he?

That was the driving question as she now peeked and scanned throughout all of the forge, her brows creasing once she couldn't find him in there, much to her surprise. 'He's usually in here almost every day, where else could he have gone..?' She didn't see him anywhere with Stoick or the group, leaving her more worried. '..Is he okay..?'

"C'mon, buddy, let's go to the cove.." Freya tapped Blaze's neck as she swiftly mounted him, her eyes darting around the scenery of the woods when they finally came closer to the territory of the cove. Upon landing, she didn't entirely hear anything, but the Sand Wraith definitely did. He flicked his tail gently at her, motioning towards the clearing ahead of them as he got her attention. Both of them were hidden behind a thick covering of trees, bushes, and shrubs, the leaves practically enveloping their figures as they stood a good distance away. 'Is that..him..?'

Hiccup didn't want Freya to be on the receiving end of Stoick's wrath, so he stepped in as fast as he could. His father didn't budge, though, just stayed quiet as Hiccup led Freya away.

"To be fair, dad doesn't know about the dagger incident. All that aside, he needs to make sure we're not picking a fight we can't win. We've been at peace for a while now, he wants to try to keep it that way."

He stopped, blinking in surprise as he registered her words. Anyone I care about...

No, don't, he thought, don't do this to me... it's hard enough to keep my feelings for you in check as it is...

His heart beat a little faster, but he broke the gaze they held, looking at the ground instead, nodding at her comment. "Yeah, that Eret guy sure learned his lesson."

Looking back at her, he tried to be casual. "Oh, yeah, he probably needs that..."

At her thanks, he gave a small nod back. "Anytime."

Watching her walk away, he hopped on Toothless and flew off towards the cove.

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

The boy and his dragon laid in a small clearing, surrounded by trees and foliage. It was one of his favorite hiding places, a great place to be when one needs to think.

Hiccup had his dagger in hand, whittling a stick as he tried to work out his feelings.

"I--I don't know how much longer I can do this, bud. I know it was my idea, but...I didn't realize how hard it would be..."

Sensing his rider's conflict, the dragon warbled soothingly.

"I know. These last few days, I really had to keep reminding myself that this relationship that I have with Freya is fake, because all I want...is for it to be real."

"I mean, h-how do I even breach the topic? 'By the way, what if we date for real because I can't stop thinking about you?' She'd think I'm crazy..."

The Night Fury grunted, as if asking a question.

Hiccup set the whittled stick down, sheathing his dagger. "Toothless, I'm falling in love with her--no, I am in love with her...and I don't know if she feels the same way."

At that moment, Toothless whipped his head around, hearing something nearby in the brush. "What is it, bud?" Hiccup stood up and looked around as well, fear bubbling up at the notion that someone might have heard what he said.

And then he felt his body go cold. "Freya?" Oh gods. No, no, she--she couldn't have heard any of that, could she??