#artekai x fross

[toxic-ship-tournament]

ROUND 4 / POLL 2

Artekai x Fross ( @artekai ) vs Lucille x Jo ( @radioactive-dragonlover )

who makes up your ship?:

Artekai (he/him) and Fross (he/him)

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

What's NOT toxic about them? Fross is an immortal space billionaire, while Artekai (also Kai) is a mortal on Earth in the middle of a corruption arc. Fross has a victim complex, Kai has a hero complex. They enable the worst in each other, but they would hate each other if they actually took the time to get to know one another. They are in love because they are both somehow equally pretentious somehow, they are in love with the idea of being in love, they are just each other’s escapism. They met because Kai fatally stabbed Fross while he was trying to steal Earth's terraforming system (long story, they are Horizon OCs). But Kai quickly regretted it, because he realized that Fross was unarmed, and it was against his moral code to attack someone who was unarmed. And so, to avoid having that weighing on his conscience, he decided to take Fross and nurse him back to health. Yes, they both thought this was the most romantic thing ever. Kai considers this a casual fling like most of his romantic relationships, but Fross would do anything to make Kai his and only his forever. From lies, manipulation, and guilt tripping, to gaslighting, kidnapping, and isolating Kai from his loved ones, it's all on the table. He’s certainly not afraid to take advantage of the vulnerable state that Kai was in when he got into his relationship (he had just had a really bad friendship breakup, so he was horribly lonely and his ego had been shattered). When the truths that Fross had been hiding from Kai finally came out, Fross snapped and tried to kidnap him, planning to drag him to space with him and make him immortal as well so they could be together forever. It was then that Kai finally decided that he was done, and so he fatally stabbed Fross again in a fit of rage, coming full circle.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship tag: Frosskai Artekai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vmQQ3oJOqItfMCpMg2Ab1?si=e61bc643276d466b Fross playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13dyyNtUismAc2LzjJdxSX?si=3b97080df1214b02 Frosskai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o5uIiOE2HEwhwT3US2KET?si=8cf3cdcd3ae74c1c

****

who makes up your ship?:

Lucille and Jo

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

Lucille is a rich woman who has nothing to do in her life, she's eternally bored and wishes for something new— something fresh to happen. Jo is a quiet woman with some repressed violent tendencies and who works minimum wage bug is struggling to make ends meets. One night, Jo decides to rob Lucille's mansion and kills her without meaning to in the process, escaping the scene anxiously thinking she's going to go to jail once the body is found. However, Lucille wakes up the next day, with the events of the murder burnt into her mind but her body spared of any wounds. Turns out getting killed is EXACTLY the spice in life she was waiting for! So she decided to track down and knock on her murder's door— not to rat her out, but to ask her to do it again. Jo wasn't really for murdering again, especially with how anxious she ended up getting in the aftermath, but begrudgingly accepts. And it seems that Lucille IS actually very fun to kill for her, too. Cue to Jo murdering Lucille on a Weekly basis, getting very Gay about it each time. Lucille get the thrill of death she wanted, and Jo gets an outlet for her violence. A relationship starting as purely transactional at first slowly turns into a murder romance. They're both kinda fucked up in isolation to one another but complete eachother awfully well. Like "you two are perfect for eachother but never pull anyone else into your bullshit" kinda deal. They keep eachother contained. You feel me.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship tag on my art blog ( nihonium-art ) : Undying love ( although fair warning for gore ) Playlist : https://spotify.link/TPbt2y12Syb

[toxic-ship-tournament]

ROUND 3 / POLL 3

Artekai x Fross (@artekai) vs Charlie Berger x John Seed (@detectivelokis)

who makes up your ship?:

Artekai (he/him) and Fross (he/him)

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

What's NOT toxic about them? Fross is an immortal space billionaire, while Artekai (also Kai) is a mortal on Earth in the middle of a corruption arc. Fross has a victim complex, Kai has a hero complex. They enable the worst in each other, but they would hate each other if they actually took the time to get to know one another. They are in love because they are both somehow equally pretentious somehow, they are in love with the idea of being in love, they are just each other’s escapism. They met because Kai fatally stabbed Fross while he was trying to steal Earth's terraforming system (long story, they are Horizon OCs). But Kai quickly regretted it, because he realized that Fross was unarmed, and it was against his moral code to attack someone who was unarmed. And so, to avoid having that weighing on his conscience, he decided to take Fross and nurse him back to health. Yes, they both thought this was the most romantic thing ever. Kai considers this a casual fling like most of his romantic relationships, but Fross would do anything to make Kai his and only his forever. From lies, manipulation, and guilt tripping, to gaslighting, kidnapping, and isolating Kai from his loved ones, it's all on the table. He’s certainly not afraid to take advantage of the vulnerable state that Kai was in when he got into his relationship (he had just had a really bad friendship breakup, so he was horribly lonely and his ego had been shattered). When the truths that Fross had been hiding from Kai finally came out, Fross snapped and tried to kidnap him, planning to drag him to space with him and make him immortal as well so they could be together forever. It was then that Kai finally decided that he was done, and so he fatally stabbed Fross again in a fit of rage, coming full circle.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship tag: Frosskai Artekai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vmQQ3oJOqItfMCpMg2Ab1?si=e61bc643276d466b Fross playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13dyyNtUismAc2LzjJdxSX?si=3b97080df1214b02 Frosskai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o5uIiOE2HEwhwT3US2KET?si=8cf3cdcd3ae74c1c

****

art by @xbaebsae

who makes up your ship?:

Charlie Berger and John Seed

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

Well, Charlie was originally in a militia trying to take down the cult her parents were in and that John is a herald in. When she arrives at the church he sees her and chooses to enlist his brother, the leader of the cult, in helping him gaslight her into believing that they were fated to become soulmates. He eventually stalks her, convinces her to drink the cult's bliss tea so he can baptize her, and forces her into confession sessions. They both use their unhinged sexual energy against each other, but all it does is make them psychosexually obsessed with each other in the end. He may or may not baby trap her but it's fine! it's her kink and she would have eventually done it to him too! They end up getting married after he pressures her and as a lovely wedding gift they kill her ex husband together. They grow co dependent eventually and he marks her with all of her "sins", as well as his name (she does the same to him too. Equality!!!). During the cult's holy war she tries to kill her own cousin to defend John. Everyone she used to love and know grows to hate her in the end, but at least they have each other?

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

ship tag: all sins lead to you. Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/scungilliwoman/x-all-sins-lead-to-you/

[toxic-ship-tournament]

ROUND 2 / SIDE A / POLL 3

Artekai x Fross (@artekai) vs Rose Cortez x Joseph Seed (@jinfromyarikawa)

who makes up your ship?:

Artekai (he/him) and Fross (he/him)

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

What's NOT toxic about them? Fross is an immortal space billionaire, while Artekai (also Kai) is a mortal on Earth in the middle of a corruption arc. Fross has a victim complex, Kai has a hero complex. They enable the worst in each other, but they would hate each other if they actually took the time to get to know one another. They are in love because they are both somehow equally pretentious somehow, they are in love with the idea of being in love, they are just each other’s escapism. They met because Kai fatally stabbed Fross while he was trying to steal Earth's terraforming system (long story, they are Horizon OCs). But Kai quickly regretted it, because he realized that Fross was unarmed, and it was against his moral code to attack someone who was unarmed. And so, to avoid having that weighing on his conscience, he decided to take Fross and nurse him back to health. Yes, they both thought this was the most romantic thing ever. Kai considers this a casual fling like most of his romantic relationships, but Fross would do anything to make Kai his and only his forever. From lies, manipulation, and guilt tripping, to gaslighting, kidnapping, and isolating Kai from his loved ones, it's all on the table. He’s certainly not afraid to take advantage of the vulnerable state that Kai was in when he got into his relationship (he had just had a really bad friendship breakup, so he was horribly lonely and his ego had been shattered). When the truths that Fross had been hiding from Kai finally came out, Fross snapped and tried to kidnap him, planning to drag him to space with him and make him immortal as well so they could be together forever. It was then that Kai finally decided that he was done, and so he fatally stabbed Fross again in a fit of rage, coming full circle.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship tag: Frosskai Artekai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vmQQ3oJOqItfMCpMg2Ab1?si=e61bc643276d466b Fross playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13dyyNtUismAc2LzjJdxSX?si=3b97080df1214b02 Frosskai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o5uIiOE2HEwhwT3US2KET?si=8cf3cdcd3ae74c1c

****

art by @wewillryes

who makes up your ship?:

Rose Cortez and Joseph Seed

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

Where do I start... They are two people that found comfort in the other. That comfort isn't always the happy and loving comfort they needed. The relationship did start with Joseph manipulating Rose, making her emotionally and mentally vulnerable. Even if Rose became self aware of what he did, she very much took advantage of her situation. Just like Joseph did with her, she too found a way to emotionally and mentally manipulate him. It became a push and pull between them, making the other worse instead of better. They encourage the horrible behavior and excused the others actions. Joseph and Rose are not just horrible to each other but to everyone else around them.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

x: hay amores que matan, joseph x rose, https://www.tumblr.com/jinfromyarikawa/705307805986570240/joseph-seed-x-rose-cort%C3%A9z-x?source=share playlist link

[toxic-ship-tournament]

ROUND 5 / THIRD PLACE POLL

Matejka x Darling Nikki (@outpost-31 & @rhaaclaws) vs Artekai x Fross (@artekai)

who makes up your ship?:

Matejka (he/him) [by @outpost-31] and Darling Nikki (she/they) [by @rhaaclaws]

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

Darling Nikki and Matejka met in 1524, after Nikki's mother's death, and got into a duel- proposed by Matejka- at the price of Nikki's soul. She ended up winning the fight, and was turned into a vampire. They stayed together afterwards due to both being immortal, and have known each other closely since then. The reason why we think they deserve to win is their extreme codependence: Matejka is extremely attached to Nikki, because she looks like his dead wife Esmé, whom he's still in love with. Nikki takes advantage of him and roleplays as Esmé during sex. This unhealthy attachment to Nikki began consuming his life, so they got into a fight and split up for nearly 100 years. This caused the both of them to become incredibly suicidal, as they'd known each other for 4 centuries at this point, and they barely knew how to live without each other. Even missing each other so dearly, their relationship has the tendency to be very unhealthy. Once, Nikki insulted Matejka's dead wife as a joke, and he almost dragged them out to the sun in an attempt to kill them. Another time, she tried to eat Matejka (due to being a cannibal), but thought his black blood was disgusting. They know each other like no one else does, but still have layer of distrust. Nikki doesn't even know Esmé's name. Altogether, their bond is an incredibly complex one due to the nature of their immortality, but their unhealthy overreliance on each other has nearly ruined both their lives.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship name: Red Flags And Long Nights Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4GJDQdhpDITspMvp9c99m9?si=29599a8e944946a3

****

who makes up your ship?:

Artekai (he/him) and Fross (he/him)

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

What's NOT toxic about them? Fross is an immortal space billionaire, while Artekai (also Kai) is a mortal on Earth in the middle of a corruption arc. Fross has a victim complex, Kai has a hero complex. They enable the worst in each other, but they would hate each other if they actually took the time to get to know one another. They are in love because they are both somehow equally pretentious somehow, they are in love with the idea of being in love, they are just each other’s escapism. They met because Kai fatally stabbed Fross while he was trying to steal Earth's terraforming system (long story, they are Horizon OCs). But Kai quickly regretted it, because he realized that Fross was unarmed, and it was against his moral code to attack someone who was unarmed. And so, to avoid having that weighing on his conscience, he decided to take Fross and nurse him back to health. Yes, they both thought this was the most romantic thing ever. Kai considers this a casual fling like most of his romantic relationships, but Fross would do anything to make Kai his and only his forever. From lies, manipulation, and guilt tripping, to gaslighting, kidnapping, and isolating Kai from his loved ones, it's all on the table. He’s certainly not afraid to take advantage of the vulnerable state that Kai was in when he got into his relationship (he had just had a really bad friendship breakup, so he was horribly lonely and his ego had been shattered). When the truths that Fross had been hiding from Kai finally came out, Fross snapped and tried to kidnap him, planning to drag him to space with him and make him immortal as well so they could be together forever. It was then that Kai finally decided that he was done, and so he fatally stabbed Fross again in a fit of rage, coming full circle.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship tag: Frosskai Artekai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vmQQ3oJOqItfMCpMg2Ab1?si=e61bc643276d466b Fross playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13dyyNtUismAc2LzjJdxSX?si=3b97080df1214b02 Frosskai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o5uIiOE2HEwhwT3US2KET?si=8cf3cdcd3ae74c1c

[toxic-ship-tournament]

FINAL CONTENDERS / THIRD PLACE CONTENDERS

FINALISTS:

CEO x Arowana (@owo-whats-bliss) vs Lucille x Jo (@radioactive-dragonlover)

THIRD PLACE CONTENDERS:

Matejka x Darling Nikki (@outpost-31 & @rhaaclaws) vs Artekai x Fross (@artekai)

[toxic-ship-tournament]

ROUND 1 / SIDE A / POLL 1

Artekai x Fross ( @artekai ) vs Elliot Kane x Yuri Gallagher (@cocainecowgrrl )

who makes up your ship?:

Artekai (he/him) and Fross (he/him)

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

What's NOT toxic about them? Fross is an immortal space billionaire, while Artekai (also Kai) is a mortal on Earth in the middle of a corruption arc. Fross has a victim complex, Kai has a hero complex. They enable the worst in each other, but they would hate each other if they actually took the time to get to know one another. They are in love because they are both somehow equally pretentious somehow, they are in love with the idea of being in love, they are just each other’s escapism. They met because Kai fatally stabbed Fross while he was trying to steal Earth's terraforming system (long story, they are Horizon OCs). But Kai quickly regretted it, because he realized that Fross was unarmed, and it was against his moral code to attack someone who was unarmed. And so, to avoid having that weighing on his conscience, he decided to take Fross and nurse him back to health. Yes, they both thought this was the most romantic thing ever. Kai considers this a casual fling like most of his romantic relationships, but Fross would do anything to make Kai his and only his forever. From lies, manipulation, and guilt tripping, to gaslighting, kidnapping, and isolating Kai from his loved ones, it's all on the table. He’s certainly not afraid to take advantage of the vulnerable state that Kai was in when he got into his relationship (he had just had a really bad friendship breakup, so he was horribly lonely and his ego had been shattered). When the truths that Fross had been hiding from Kai finally came out, Fross snapped and tried to kidnap him, planning to drag him to space with him and make him immortal as well so they could be together forever. It was then that Kai finally decided that he was done, and so he fatally stabbed Fross again in a fit of rage, coming full circle.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

Ship tag: Frosskai Artekai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vmQQ3oJOqItfMCpMg2Ab1?si=e61bc643276d466b Fross playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/13dyyNtUismAc2LzjJdxSX?si=3b97080df1214b02 Frosskai playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o5uIiOE2HEwhwT3US2KET?si=8cf3cdcd3ae74c1c

*****

who makes up your ship?:

Elliott Kane & Yuri Gallagher

why does your ship deserve to be considered the most toxic?:

First off, the cringe: Yuri is a SoundCloud rapper. He buys and sells crypto, and also spent what was supposed to be rent money for his starving and impoverished family on a crypto mining rig. He has genuine skills in hacking and IT but refuses to get a real job and instead works for a manipulative drug dealer because he gets free drugs and is convinced that one day he'll make more money mooching off this millionaire and his drug cartel and posting on r/antiwork about it. Going back to the SoundCloud rap, Yuri has no followers, not even his boyfriend Elliott, and has instead dedicated his time to running a network of botted sockpuppet accounts claiming to be his own diehard fans and blowing up the comment section of anyone who disagrees that his objectively shit mumble rap is not straight fire. He definitely has a video made about him by at least a commentary YouTuber he's pissed off in a fit of Percocet-fueled rage. His number one idol in life is Lil Xan. He uses the word "yuh" to a questionable degree. Now, the toxic: Elliott throws his laptop out the window instead of telling Yuri he sucks at rap and doesn't want to hear it. Elliott also only fell in love with him because he looks similar to the object of his childhood affection, his only childhood friend named Mattie. Mattie sees Elliott as a little brother figure, Elliott is obsessed with him and cannot draw a line between platonic love and refusing to let go. He also has major abandonment issues that have been triggered by said childhood friend leaving him behind, and continues to be obsessed with bringing him back while being in a relationship with Yuri. Has definitely called Yuri Mattie's name before and Yuri laughs it off because he also got toxically attached to the first person he felt actually wanted to be around him and loved him. Yuri is willing to overlook Elliott's sadistic tendencies and willingness to hurt people who he claims to care a lot about so he can get attention. He fantasizes about torturing the people that wronged him because he thinks it will make them crack and apologize for everything wrong they have done to him. They do not. <3 Elliott has never been to school a day in his life, sure, but he is absolutely a theater kid. The way he behaves is so theatrical and over the top there's no way he was not a Broadway Twink in a past life. Would listen to Lemon Demon if he knew how to use Spotify, make of that what you will. Elliott may not know how to use an ipad but he is an ipad kid at heart. Important character fact about this pairing, neither of these characters are above 5'5", they're toxic manlets but they're in love and can see each other eye to eye on toxicity and neither of them will ever get better or be good for each other until they understand who they are as people and learn to stand on their own before getting back together <3.

ship tags/playlists/pinterest boards?:

[toxic-ship-tournament]

Okay today I'm bringing you PART 2 of Fross's receipts! With more subtly manipulative things this time!

Fross genuinely thinks Kai is stupid, when being perceived as stupid is one of Kai’s biggest insecurities. Fross constantly makes references to things Kai wouldn’t know about (because there was an apocalypse), but he never bothers to explain any of them, instead using Kai’s confusion to reinforce his own sense of superiority over the people of Earth.

Whenever they fight, Fross downplays Kai’s feelings by saying things like “he’s just having one of his tantrums” and generally trying to convince himself that this is what their relationship is like, and Kai will come running back to him once it passes, because they’re nothing without each other. He especially says this to outsiders as if to paint Kai as irrational and childlike and Fross as mature and patient enough to put up with him. It works on Kai, too, because of his fear of being irrational and childlike and a terrible person.

Fross turns down Kai’s every attempt at reaching out and getting to know each other better, in fear that Kai won’t like him anymore and will leave him if he gets to know him for real.

Kai doesn’t know that Fross is monogamous and Fross doesn’t know that Kai is polyamorous. They both just assumed. They never communicated about this. I don’t think either of them has figured it out yet tbh. Their relationship is whatever they want it to be

Fross only ever acknowledges his own trauma if he can use it to appeal to Kai’s sympathy, to stop him from leaving, to convince him that he must stay because he is the only one that Fross has left and he needs him to survive. Fross only ever acknowledges Kai’s trauma if he can use it as proof that only Fross understands him and everyone else is out to get him.

.

[toxic-ship-tournament]

As today’s Frosskai propaganda, I bring y’all Fross’s receipts! 👏

Fross once tried to blow up Artekai’s qpp with a bomb, out of jealousy. His excuse was that he was just getting revenge in Kai's and giving him some closure, because her falling out with Kai had hurt his feelings, and Kai still loved her too much to “make her pay” for it. He failed.

Fross will not take Kai’s word for what his relationship with his qpp is like, because his jealous ass has decided that “he loves her too much” for it not to be romantic. So he has taken to try and gaslight Kai into thinking that he’s wrong about his qpp, must’ve mistaken romantic attraction for something else, and therefore he must be "emotionally cheating" on Fross, in order to guilt him into distancing himself from his qpp.

When Artekai has unchecked anger issues and violent intrusive thoughts about his qpp, Fross tells him that his anger is warranted and that he should just kill her.

Oh yeah, did I tell you Fross bugged Artekai’s Focus? It’s a futuristic personal device that exists in the Horizon universe, much like a phone but tiny and constantly worn over your ear. So Fross can track Kai’s location and see and hear everything he’s doing from his neural implant at all times. (In a modern AU, he does the same thing to Kai's phone)

Fross is always invalidating Kai’s feelings of hurt when he is to blame, but trying to add fuel to the fire when someone else is to blame. He’s always trying to convince Kai that all his friends will abandon him (playing on Kai’s pre-established fear of abandonment), that they only stick around for his qpp and not him, and that they will inevitably take her side and leave him to rot when push comes to shove, and so he is the only one he can rely on (because his qpp is the specialest girl in the world and Fross is the only one who doesn't like her)

In a crossover AU, Fross betrayed Kai and their team by trying to stab his new elderly mentor figure as a last resort. Long story short, Fross was spying for the enemy because he thought that, if his plan to brainwash the whole world went through, Fross and Kai would be able to get their happily ever after together - nevermind that the last thing Kai wanted was to sacrifice his freedom for comfort.

Kai is the genetic clone of a guy who lived a thousand years ago. In an AU where said guy survived, Fross kidnaps him instead, knowing he’s an easier target than Kai, and tries to brainwash him into becoming more like Kai. They’re made of the same genetic material, so hey, if he gaslights him the right way, he might be able to coax something like Kai out of him, right?

.

[artekai]

Would you vote Artekai in the @original-character-championship for the sake of his toxic space boyfriend who is trying his hardest to be supportive the only way he knows how? 🥺👉👈

(don't worry about him lol, Fross barks but very rarely bites. rarely)

[artekai]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Horizon (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Original Male Character/Original Male Character Characters: Fross van der Meer (Original Zenith Character), Artekai (Original Banuk Character), Original Male Character(s), Erik Visser Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt No Comfort, Whump, Misgendering, Cissexism, Murder, Begging, Erik Visser is His Own Warning, AI-less Whumptober 2023, Original Character-centric Series: Part 8 of The Fourteenth Zenith, Part 9 of Artekai's Song

Summary:

Two forbidden lovers sneak into the Zenith launch tower and things only go downhill from there.

@ailesswhumptober 2023 Day 23: Begging / “Take me instead” / Forced to watch. I’m pretty late but it’s the thought that counts!

[artekai]

Survive, prevail, have gay sex ❤️

[artekai]

"February 2nd in the Gregorian calendar." Artekai sighed, checking the date on his Focus, in the dark, through narrowed eyes. "Big day for assholes with a god complex."

"Why?" Fross asked, barely prying his eyes open. "What happened?"

"On a day like today, Ted Faro killed the Alphas and deleted APOLLO. And Takuto..." Artekai scrunched his face, cringing at the mere thought. "Well, he did a bunch of stuff, I don't feel like explaining." He then paused, as his voice became quieter. "May the Blue Light guide your spirit, Goro Akechi. I'm sure you fought until the triumphant end."

Fross was already in the process of falling back asleep, but he still had the presence of mind to mumble a response. "Who's that?"

"I don't know." Artekai knit his brows. "Maybe, if Ted Faro hadn't deleted APOLLO, I would know for sure. All I can make out is that he and Ren were star-crossed lovers." He flashed a small smile at Fross. "Just like us."

Fross pouted. "So?"

Letting out a sigh, Artekai averted his eyes. "I dunno. It makes me wonder if anyone will still speak our names and sing our song a thousand years from now."

"Does it matter?"

"It does to me." Kai smiled sadly. "I want to do something big, something that keeps my memory alive for as long as I can...! But I don't want to be remembered like Akechi and the Alphas - as nothing more than the victim of some asshole that held my life in his hands."

Fross gave Artekai something of a pitiful look, reaching out to cup his cheek in his hand. "Aww, love. This Goro Akechi is only being remembered as a victim because you chose to remember him as such. He's just some guy to me."

"And the Alphas?"

"The Alphas signed their own lives away when they joined Project Zero Dawn." Fross caressed his face with his thumb, as Kai leaned into the touch. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it, alright? Let's go back to sleep."

[artekai]

OC-tober (late) day 5: Relationships

I may have gone overboard, but I've been wanting to fill these out for a long time, so have a few OC x canon x canon x canon x canon, OC x canon, and OC x OC stuffs :D

Templates under the cut ^^

[artekai]

hokay

*rubs hands together*

kiss prompt. any pairing. whoever is calling you now. whoever you think of first for:

29. hushed conversation in-between kisses

Heheheh, great pick! *cracks knuckles* let's see what I can do! Thank you!!! :D

(I'm so sorry about the wait btw! ;-; I started writing this when you sent the ask, but then I had to go to sleep and after that shit irl hit the fan so I was creatively blocked. But it's here now!! I hope it's still enjoyable regardless haha!)

This ended up even longer than the last one, tumblr didn't even want to let me post it 😭

Kai's lack of consistency, and the uncertainty he was subjecting Fross to, were a stark, but surprisingly welcome, contrast to the safe and predictable monotony of life on the Odyssey and in the Sirius colony.

There were patterns, of course. Kai's morning routine, for one, was always the same — he woke up early in the morning, did a few stretches, served himself and Fross a full breakfast, and kissed him goodbye before he parted, with a spring on his step and a bow on his hand. But Fross could never be sure if Kai would come back at night to sleep here, if he would check in, leave him more food, and be on his way again, or if he would not come back that night at all. Fross had no idea what Kai was setting out to do until he came back and told him. Or didn't tell him, depending on whether he came back loving or hating Fross. To be honest, that was enough to keep him on his toes.

It was an insignificant source of delight, when compared to everything Far Zenith had given him — but he sure did delight in the feeling of domesticity, in the anticipation he felt as he glanced at the door throughout the day, and in the relief that washed over him when he finally saw Kai's pretty face again, always safe and sound. 

That last part was the most important of all. Fross only felt at ease because he knew that Kai was never gone for too long. Even at times when he hadn't yet arrived by the time the sun started to come up, he managed to arrive at the nick of time, just before the prickle of anxiety on the back of Fross's neck became painful and unbearable.

This was one of those times.

Fross was fighting sleep, waiting anxiously, since Kai had been gone for nearly two whole days with their nights, and he was getting very hungry. The wound on his abdomen hadn't healed enough to get up painlessly, and, even if he tried, he didn't even know where he was or how to find something safe to eat. He could always attempt to find some locals and steal their food, of course, but he was sure that kind of strain wouldn't be good for the healing process...

The silence was interrupted by the sound of rustling as Kai finally peered into the tent. Even in the dark, Fross could see a relieved smile of his own spread upon his face as the dim light of the stars fell on Fross's face.

"Hello, captive." He whispered, not wanting to disturb the peaceful night, though he had a playful look on his face. "Did you miss me?"

"Of course I did." Fross pouted. "How am I supposed to feel better without my fix of good night kisses?"

Kai made himself comfortable, letting down his spear and bow on the ground, dropping a large pouch. There were bandages around his arm, and he winced whenever he moved too abruptly, but, before Fross could express any concern about it, Kai was already on top of him, pressing his lips against Fross's.

"Wow, you're so needy." He muttered, keeping his eyes closed as he gave him another peck. "I guess it's like you Old Ones used to say. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, yeah?" 

"I don't think that applies to this situation." Fross whispered back, placing his hands behind Kai's head to pull him into another delicate kiss. "I don't want us to be enemies, Kai. Even if I did, I can't see what you could possibly be getting out of this, other than my heart."

"Info. I'm getting info." He traced Fross's jaw with two fingers, teasingly, kissing him again. "I'm tearing down your defenses for Zenith intel."

"Really?" Another kiss. "What kind?"

"Well, uh. I know all the Zeniths' names. That's more than Aloy can say for herself, right?"

Fross's smile widened. "God, you're so stupid. I love you."

He moved to pull Kai in for a deeper kiss, but he met resistance. He vaguely saw Kai frown in the darkness, as he distanced himself a bit, making a sound between a whimper and a protest.

"That's really mean." Kai said, voice small, not only because he was whispering. "I know we're enemies and stuff, but. You know."

There was a pause.

"Do you really think I'm stupid?"

"No, no, dear, you don't understand. I mean it in a good way." Fross said, moving his hands to Kai's cheeks to gently stroke his face with his thumbs. "Have you ever heard that one Old World saying? Ignorance is bliss?"

"No." Kai said, his tone switching from hurt to irritated in the blink of an eye. "It's a stupid saying. It sounds like something Ted Faro would've told himself to justify the things he did."

Something stirred inside of Fross's mind. His nose scrunched at the sensation.

"Ted Faro." He repeated. It sounded stilted, as if he were tasting the name on his tongue for the first time. "I haven't heard that name in centuries."

"Good." Kai leaned in again. "Do you remember who he was?"

Trying to gain more info, huh? Unluckily for Kai, Fross had no interest in unearthing those memories. The world that Fross had left behind a thousand years ago was long since gone and wasn't coming back. Keeping that shit alive would take more effort than it was worth. It was best to let the past die.

"No. It doesn't matter." Fross grasped the back of Kai's head, pushing himself up in desperation. "Kiss me."

This time, Kai granted his request, letting him deepen the kiss as he kept Kai's head in place with both hands. However, they were  interrupted when Fross's stomach growled way too loudly, making Kai pull back to laugh.

"Haha, okay, okay, I get it!" He grinned from ear to ear, his hand brushing against the bandages on Fross's belly. "Food first. And then... sleep. We'll pick this back up some other time, okay?"

Fross wanted to whine and demand more attention to make up for the long absence, but he couldn't bring himself to complain once Kai leaned down to give him one last peck on the lips. Who knew he'd end up being so weak to the intimacy of sharing a home with who should be a sworn enemy? Not him, that's for sure.

[artekai]

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: Horizon (Video Games)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Original Male Character/Original Male Character

Characters: Artekai (Original Banuk Character), Fross van der Meer (Original Zenith Character), Original Male Character(s)

Additional Tags: Unhealthy Relationships, Secret Relationship, Mentioned Aloy (Horizon), Past Erend/Original Male Character(s), Past Avad/Original Male Character(s), Past Relationship(s), Jealousy, Abandonment Issues

Series: Part 2 of Artekai's Song, Part 4 of The Twelfth Zenith

Summary:

Fross wouldn’t disappear like Aloy did — not after he had sworn he wouldn’t. He had promised never, ever to leave Kai’s side. He was different.

[artekai]

“Kai, dear, I love you,” Fross said, wiping his mouth with a piece of cloth. “But this is the most disgusting lobster I’ve ever had. How did you cook it?”

Kai raised a brow. “With fire?”