#as a reference to Gift of the Moon and trying to help Ruby the way she has for them

[misstrashchan]

In RWBY weapons are a part of a person, an extension of yourself, as Ruby puts it in V1. So, a weapon can say a lot about a person in how it appears and what it's used for.

Looking at Crescent Rose compared to our other main characters' weapons and it's immediately one that stands out from the size alone, it immediately draws our attention, it usually takes up the screen.

Like Ruby, it's striking, awe inspiring and larger than life. It's beautiful, resilient and strong, but evolves to be more adaptable during the Atlas Arc, when Ruby herself has to be more flexible and think outside the box, and her worldview is consistently challenged. It's also very easily the most intricate and complicated design, by her own admission:

"I guess I did go a little overboard in designing it..."

Which, while on the surface means it looks cool and flashy, it's also incredibly complex, just like Ruby.

And as we know from V9, a weapon like that would also be a heavy one to carry at all times too, and it weighs on her. Just like being "Ruby Rose" means to shoulder all the responsibilities and entanglements that come with being who she is, a huntress, a leader, a hero, a spark of hope and light who inspires others. In the end her resolve as a huntress and in who she is, and her purpose, is renewed and stronger than ever before, and wields her weapon once more with confidence.

That doesn't mean her burdens have gotten any lighter though, in fact upon returning to Vacuo, because of her message, all of humanity is now looking to her. No matter how strong, confident and resolved she is, that's a heavy weight for one person to carry alone.

Which brings me to Oscar's weapon, the Long Memory. Which is a cane, smaller, simple and straightforward, but has it's own hidden light stored inside. A cane is meant to take someone's weight by design, that's it's purpose. To be something that's leant on as a crutch when you're hurting to alleviate the pain by taking the pressure off yourself, so moving forward is made easier. Because everyone needs that support sometimes and it's okay to be weak, it doesn't make you lesser, it just makes you human. And it is incredibly human for us to care for and lean on one another for support. That vulnerability leads to our greatest strength as humans.

The one who carries the heaviest weapon vs The one who has a weapon that can be leant on to take pressure off yourself. Ruby who carries a heavy burden and Oscar being someone that can be leant on for support. ooooooohhhh the cymbal ism of it all.

[ku-ro-kai]

Lust at first bite

This was inspired by Trevor and sypha from the series Castlevania- personality wise so on

This is a one-shot★

Warning;fluff and angst,sexual tension, blood drinking, heat mentioned,missionary, squirting, praise kink, manipulation,aphrodisiacs, blood, multiple orgasm

He's been sneaking and stealing looks for too long, he's grown tired of it despite his small attempts at gifts he's been getting the nyphms to deliver or trying dispatch a plan in starting a conversation with you without being killed.

To his castle before the huntresses and witches hunt him down, touya was from a Royal bloodline of vampires. He's been going out every sunset in looks for his favorite huntress

She wasn’t like the other huntress’s in his eyes.

He had come to her in the middle of the night,he was looking for fresh virgin blood,he found you out on a night stroll.

He recognized you from flyers that he would come across when wondering in abandoned villages. He came to the conclusion you weren’t no ordinary boring huntress.

You were different,unique is what he would say, your family tree was dangerous to other creatures,coming from witches and huntsman.

(A month ago)

His father warned him about your family,beware of them, don’t never go by the (L/N) markings in the woods,every creature thought your family tree was killed off.

You were out getting fresh air,you couldn’t stand being in rooms with other huntresses and huntsmen, they envied your family,despite their hate for you,there was no escaping the headmasters.your family payed their debt years ago,why were they still inviting you to these silly meetings.

You heard a low groan from behind you,a annoyed sigh left your lips”At this time,show your face”.

Dabi thought you were some stuck up whore at first, “what if I don’t want too?”Gonna skin me and turn me into boots”

You turned around to face the unknown man ,he looked like a victim of fire,ebony hair that was spiked from front to back, blue eyes that sparkled like the ocean on a full moon,he was dressed down to toe in leather ,only a upside cross hanging from his neck,fingers covered in all different metallic silver rings, ones with diamonds,rubies and sapphires.

“Who exactly are you and how’d you get passed the barrier ?”

“You’re barrier is a piece of shit ,sorry darling I just don’t state my name to any stranger."

"It's like that with you vampires? Stuck up"

"Feisty, you huntsman look down on the rest of the world and expect everyone to get on their knees and praise you"

"You monsters have curses put on y'all,so you take your anger out on the huntresses and huntsman,since we hunt you down"

Dabi rubbed his chin, you weren't wrong,if anything he would do anything to take this curse off and have a normal body.

"You're a very stubborn human"

"You're one to talk"

A small chuckle came out, dabi was a man of many lies but he couldn't lie that you weren't an interesting huntress, maybe his favorite out of the ones he met in his life.

"I'll spare your life this time darling but if we come across again, there will be no mercy"

You never met a vampire like him before, he's cocky and comes with too much pride, A total prick.

"Same to you, just keep in mind that sneaking up to your prey comes with being completely silent"

You two parted ways that night and now he hasn't been able to get you off his mind

(Present)

He took you're words to heart, the sunset were his time to go see you.

Quietly hiding in the shadows, you were always out taking a stroll, did you not receive a good capture?

The headmasters have been keeping you stored away from missions,you were completely drowned out from all the drinks you spent at the tavern,only thing in that god forsaken castle was old people and moldy fruits.

You could proceed with skinning this annoyance of a vampire and receiving money

“Do you have nothing to do besides stalk me “

Dabi never understood how you could figure out how he was there,he was the best when it came to sneaking in the shadows,or so he thought.

“Your always walking around this area,I figured I’ll stop by”.

“You’ll be foolish to think I’ll believe that lie”

“Look my name is touya todoroki,first son to the King vampire Enji todoroki but refer to me as dabi for now “

That name was catching like wildfire when you were younger,it was a story of a little vampire boy playing by himself in the mountains near a peasant village ,his father made him go up there if he couldn’t make a flame change it’s color to blue.The boy was too careless with the way he would shoot his fires into trees ,as in result,he struck a branch, that caught half the village on fire ending with getting stuck under a large burning oak tree.Some say he hunted the woods looking in revenge for his father,others say he was in search of better body.

“I’m (name),how long have you’ve been living on your own since the forest fire “

“ for 210 years, it took months for my body to get used to staples"

You had guilt in your eyes,he always saw this in his victim's face when he would suck them dry,the stares he got from their cold,decaying corpse. He loved that look

"Does it hurt?"

"What do you think" he snapped.

"Hey no need to get rude" you looked at the full moon, maybe this prick of a vampire could help you with a drink "dabi wanna go out for a drink"

He looked you dead in the eye "with you? No thanks, trying to finesse me out of my money, I knew you huntresses weren't always good out if the bunch"

"I guess we are both liars than, well I'll just take my leave, if you wanna suck my blood I'll be at the blue soul lake"

You walked away into the forest

"Why that specific area- it's hunted by witches"

"Not the big bad vampire being scared of witches"

"Who the hell said I was scared, if anything I'm just concerned why that cursed part of the forest"

"That cursed place is my home"

Blue soul lake was wretched area, swarming with witches and witchcraft. The only thing is that place is good for is the glowing lake that only shines on a full moon.

"My father told about that place, used to be ritual when witches would bring kids, kill them, sacrifice them to whatever God you nut jobs believed in and kept the skulls and eyes for gross potions. What do y'all do now, pretend to be gypsies"

You chuckled at him "no we don't do anything out of that kind, I just live there because I love the way the lake shines at night and because I grew up there"

Dabi didn't understand why you would just invite a vampire to your house as if it's the normal, he could care less,long as he can be near you, you made him feel whole again, maybe because he hasn't gotten a load off in awhile, where you good at massages?, he could make you queen, give you children and regain his body back with your weird passed down powers

He wasn't thinking right, make you queen? Breed you? Spend the rest of eternity with you? He surely wasn't in love with some thorn in the side huntress,that's below him.

"Dabi why do wear the rings and what's with the silly name"

He got embarrassed, hiding his face “it’s not silly “

"It’s a little silly"

He turned back facing you,you’re warm smile brought him comfort

“The rings are from my mother, she gave all my siblings rings”

“Ah you royals always have the easy life ahead”

“You could say that , I’ll probably still have my body back if it weren’t for my father”

“I guess the stories were right”

“I hate him , I can’t stand to even look myself in the mirror when I remember I used to look like him”

Awkward silence was there for a while

“I could've easily snapped your neck when we first met"

"Why didn't you do it"

"You intrigued me"

"Not me catching your interest -what now you want me to be your queen"

"If if weren't for your cocky mouth,you could be heir to the throne of my queen"

"you like me?!"

"I'll kill where you stand"

You covered your smile with your cape.

"you didn't say no"

Dabi turned away to hide his blushing, you were a silly little thing with the ability to have him head over heels in love with you. You were just food to him now he has to deal with red swallowing his face and this shaking feelings in his chest.

You two reached your home-it wasn't too bad, A little snags and there, he could probably fix it with a little magic, too his disappointment you didn't have nothing crazy going on- it's cozy and warm

He picks up a picture "nice place you got here darling-a little sad there isn't hearts in jars and a shit load of strange plants"

"Are all vampires like this? Assuming all witch descent are into witchcraft"

"Must be the huntsman genes"

Dabi put the picture in his suit pocket, he continued walking around your house coming across from a family tree of pictures

"Dabi what's it like living like a vampire?”

“It’s quite fun,scaring frisky young ones comes with the job,sucking blood all night long is the dream,don’t have to worry about dying since I can live for centuries also the garlic shit is a myth"

You carry a bottle of holy water out "how mad would you be if I sprayed this on you"

"Try me"

After running, what seemed about an hour, you came to a stop leaving you panting on top of the stairs"you sly bastard" your clothes were tattered and scattered all around your house

Dabi covered a burned mark of you splashing him in holy water " just wanted to mark you as mine and only mine, what do you say doll? Wanna come back and live with me"

Dabi show case devilish smile was vacant , now a show of hostile in his face

“What if I come across that corner and bite that neck of yours (name)”

His voice was calm but his demeanor was sinister.you could see red gleaming in his eyes

You saw a flash of black,now you ended up upstairs in the middle of the hallway on your back with vampire in the crook of your neck ,his keen fangs edging on your vital

"...your the devil touya"

He licked a long stripe on your neck, now placing kisses on your jaw "if I'm the devil you must be the devil's woman huh" he let out a raspy chuckle, he lifted your thighs up" your something else you know that (name),Do you get off to me to trying to kill you " he moved to the side staring at the wet mark on your neck.

He licked a long stripe on your neck, now placing kisses on your jaw "if I'm the devil you must be the devil's woman huh" he let out a raspy chuckle, he lifted your thighs up" your something else you know that (name),Do you get off to me to trying to kill you " he moved to the side staring at the wet mark on your neck.

"Dabi why is it so hot" you tried to push him off you but he wouldn't budge

"Don't worry doll, the aphrodisiacs are doing that" dabi ran his hands around your waist"those huntsman have treated you so badly, don't you wanna get revenge"

"Yes... But"

Your body was burning in the inside, how did he get his hands on aphrodisiacs? Did he sneak something on his tongue

"Dabi-please" at this point you were begging to have some sort intimacy

He took your face in his hand "but what? Together we can be unstoppable, a powerful couple, rule over kingdoms although You would look better holding my children in that stomach of yours " he ripped your tattered clothes off with ease" all you gotta say is yes darling "

"Yes, fuck yes -please dabi"

His clothes were vacant, you felt something hard press against your outer lips, you begin grinding on to his cock

Your being such a needy bitch in heat" his length closing around your walls like a fitted glove,in such a slow manner ,now accompanied by him placing a hand on the bulge poking in your stomach”your such a good huntress doll, now your becoming my prize possession, mind to ravish every night and every day" he was half way in your pussy,groaning at how tight you are "for a pesky girl, your cunt is perfect".

Dabi got closer to the stained mark on your neck, placing hickes all over it. His thoughts were clouded with marking you as his,nobody can touch you with their filthy hands again .

He pressed his fingers against your throbbing clit, soft rubbing making you walls clench around his shaft.

He pulled out, letting out a deep grunt only to plunge himself with a hard thrust, his tip pushing against your womb.

You let out a groan feeling a sharp pain,his keen nails clawing at your waist, watching your blood pouring out on to floor. The pleasure mixed with the pain sending over the edge,he went a couple thrust before cumming releases a raspy moan,dabi took his fingers licking off your blood.

"You taste just as good too" you heard coming down from your high, dabi pulled out uncovering his seed soaking out, he put your legs over his shoulders "wait dabi" you felt his fangs graze your pearl "don't order me around (name)" you jolted when his two fingers went inside your sopping pussy

He pressed the flat of his tongue on your clit with his fingers working on sending you into another orgasm. The Flicking of his tongue and the curling on that gummy spot, sucking on your inner lips with a small pop.

You couldn't hold it, your juices spraying you and dabi face. "What a slut you are doll" he licked his lips watching you pass out from exhaustion

You woke up in room that didn't belong to you, dressed in a beautiful chemist,with a robe hanging off your shoulders .there was pain in the side of your neck, two swollen puncture holes. you had a aquamarine necklace and blood red ring in your hands,the sounds of the fire popping and cracking on the side of your chair. "dabi?" you called out,hearing steps coming into the room behind you.

"Yes doll" "where are we and what did you do to me" he went over to the fire place to throw in some more wood, a navy blue half buttoned down shirt with black tuxedo pants,he was holding a glass in his hand,the liquid in the cup was too murky to be wine "If I can recall you said yes to staying with me or were the drugs that powerful to have you say anything" you remember saying agreeing to staying with but that doesn't excuse the pain in your neck

"My neck?"

"I had to for the sake of you staying with me,if you continued remaining a human I would've"accidentally" took your blood"

"What about the huntress and huntsman looking for you!"

"I killed them, you were sleep for about a month, for the remaining time I put up warnings to stay away from the castle, would hate to have humans killing our children"

Thank you for reading💖, I will be taking a small break for a while after I post my headcannons

[ythmir-writes]

onee-sama, If you could, will you write about the midcin suitors and their swords, pretty please? :) I've been seeing plenty of amazing weapons on my dash and I thought of you hehe. Stay safe and stay healthy too!

a/n: imouto – you are asking me??? to write about swords?? Ahaha! Ahahahahaahahh –  yes

do i love weapons? yes. have i been heavily influenced by growing up and seeing amazing weapons in games and anime? absolutely. did i research this? somewhat. do i have absolutely any idea how to describe swords in a fantastical way? i tried. 

any discrepancies as to timeline, i ask you dearest reader to indulge. the term sword is a broad term used to refer to all bladed weapons which are longer than knives. To properly describe a sword, one must look at the historical epoch, the region, and the intended use. Its precise definition thus may appropriately vary.

With all that done, I think we can begin.

Midnight Cinderella Suitors and the Swords they chose (or think they did)

Alyn Crawford has carried many swords to battle, but he favors a double-edged pallasch, grooved and ridged on both faces. It is a practical thing, resilient and heavy in his hands, bare of any decorations save his own Captain’s crest – the snarling mouth of a long-eared dog – carved on the knuckle guard, and twin droplets of rubies at the base of the blade.

Alyn received the sword as a gift from the Wysterian King on the eve of his acceptance into the Royal Guard select. Alyn remembers there had been no moon that night. He does not remember if the King had ever looked so sorrowful.

He carries it with him wherever he goes, sheathed, polished, and sharp, as a knight’s weapon is expected to be, ready to be drawn and used at a moment’s notice. The gleam of the silver blade does not give away its age, how many battles it has triumphed through, how much blood has been cleaned from it.

Alyn has named his sword Excidium, and tries very hard not to roar alongside it during war.

Leo Crawford similarly favors the practical and resilient sword, and carries an estoc. Much like his twin’s, Leo’s sword is bare of any decoration, save for red flames engraved and crisscrossing on the dull grey blade, from base to tip, and the Crawford crest of a bird in flight drawn on the leather wrapped around the hilt.

But unlike his twin, Leo prefers to leave space for some ingenuity. At the center of the blade is a smooth and edgeless portion that allows him to grip the weapon with his other hand to deliver a more powerful blow, or a more poignant point, thrusting and piercing into armor with relative ease and the quiet simmering rage he is careful to never display.

Leo has taken care of this sword since he was twelve. A relic, he would describe it, if he was flustered; a nightmare, if he was about to be damned. He carries it with him when he takes long and winding walks, whenever he visits the Crawford estate, and on days he thinks it would rain.

Leo will never say he has named it Ignis, after the embers stretched out in the sky on the night he had dug it from their parents’ grave. Nor will he ever say that whenever he wields it, he could, ever so faintly, hear their voices whispering to him again.

Louis Howard has never been one to participate in any degree of violence but a Duke must carry a sword, if not for practical purposes then at least, something decorative. It took a long time for Louis to truly choose a sword – until it was too little, too late.

The walloon he carries with him was not chosen so much as the only thing back then nearest to him that he could grip with his one functioning hand, to try to defend the one person he loved the most. And from then on, he had turned to it over and over again.

It is a beautiful thing, with a polished iron guard that had punched holes in the shape of flowers, and a blade the color of the sky that glowed whenever Louis held it, and sang whenever it cut through air. Louis tries not to relish how the sword is like an extension of his arm now, that he has never been seen without it, and that he sometimes stares at it transfixed through the night.

Louis has named his sword Agonist. But Louis really need not struggle, need not resist. He only need carry it with him always – or risk losing a loved one again.

Giles Christophe’s affinity with swords had always been in his blood, in his name, in his soul – so when he had been unceremoniously disinherited by his family without having been bequeathed a weapon, Giles threw everything he had into making his own.

His schiavona is an intricate thing. Forged to be slightly lighter than most to suit his needs, and with a sharper double-edged blade and pointier tip to make up for what he does not have. The guard is a dizzying and complex black metal work in the shape of an unfurled wing, formed by thin strips bending and curving around the hilt and enclosing most of his hand. One might even notice the distinctly shaped cat’s-head pommel – if they were lucky enough to get a close look. But who can really say?

Giles rarely carries his sword with him as his duties as Chamberlain require only his wit as a weapon. Many people are thankful for this, because it never bode well for anyone when Giles appears wielding his stark black blade.

Giles has named his sword Vindicta. He longs for the day when he could finally carry it without shame. He has not had enough of its screaming.

Sid carries a claymore, a daunting thing, with a long, straight, and broad double-edged blade, serrated at the tip, that would have made anyone else look gangly while wielding it. The angled guard made the hilt take the shape of a cross, and it is encrusted with multiple sapphires on both ends which glinted like the All-Seeing Eyes of old.

But do not mention this as Sid has never been one for superstition. The sapphires were there as pawn pieces, he would maintain, not because he they had been the first thing that caught his attention when he won them in a card game, not because he had always been able to predict a blow coming from behind. Not because, and this he would adamantly insist, the Eyes help him see.

Sid never walks the streets without his sword and makes a point to brandish it whenever conducting his business. Sheathed, if he was feeling charitable; through a body part, if not. A dark blue weapon that seemed to coax even the most unwilling tongues to speak.

Sid has named his sword Attestation. It would be best to never ask him why he keeps telling you the sword knows when you lie.

Rayvis Harneit carries a sashka, the curved, narrow blade and guardless hilt an ideal weapon for the streets the Nightwatch patrols. It is a striking thing, the blade unnaturally white like bone, and was carved with fangs on both edges, making it look as if it were serrated. Rayvis is careful not to touch them – too many have bled even when hit with the blunt end.

The scabbard that holds the sword is equally striking, gray painted wood that ended in a wolf’s snarling mouth. It would have been less unnerving if not for the stubborn stains in the shape of a hand around it.

Rayvis carries his sword only during his patrols as it is the last thing he received from his parents before their untimely end. A memento precious and useful. He hopes it would not be the last thing he is holding when he meets his own death.

Rayvis has named his sword Venari. He can feel its hunger grow with every strike.

Byron Wagner’s sword is a katzbalger, with an owl distinctly etched on its pommel. It is a mysterious thing, with a double-edged blade so black it seemed to have been sculpted from ink. It would not have been noticeable in the dark if not for the dozens of tiny gemstones peppered into the blade that sparkled at the barest hint of moonlight. It is no exaggeration to say that whenever Byron took his blade, it looked as if he wielded the night in his hands.

He received the sword from his father the moment he learned to speak. A treasure, surely, and the only gift he had received from the mad king that did not outright give him grief.

Byron carries his sword in the same way as the Steiner kings have done before him: sheathed in an even darker scabbard carved with ancient, looping Steiner symbols for eternal rule; always with him even in his sleep; and held as close as possible to his person, as to replace his heart.

Byron has named his sword Kaalam, and hopes to make a world where he does not always have to turn to it to make people understand.

 Albert Burckhardt’s zweihänder is a heavy thing. It stands up to his chin, with a double-edged blade and a large diamond shaped onyx where the hilt began. The hilt, in turn, is cruciform, brown on black and brown, and had just enough space for Albert’s two hands – not that Albert needed both to lift the giant of a sword – but everyone else’s seem to be an ill-fit, their grip not quite right, always slipping, always grasping it wrong, or unable to carry its full weight.

The sword is a family treasure, passed down the Burckhardt line to the child who was to truly serve the Steiner King. Albert remembers his mother had confessed to him that it was not Albert accepting the sword. It was him who was had been accepted. No one else could hold it without cutting themselves on the blade.

Albert carries the sword at his back with a special double leather sheath, its straps running across Albert’s chest to secure the heavy sword behind him. Sometimes, it almost feels as if it were giving him a tender embrace.

Albert has named his sword Ardent, like all the wishes he does not have the courage to say.

 Nico Meier does not look as if he knows how to wield a sword, and this grossly inaccurate impression has always worked to his advantage. The rapier he keeps at his hip only added to his veneer as an attendant, looking more decorative than useful. His sword had a golden hilt and a scabbard with gold rings at the bottom, both intricately carved with falling petals. The hand guard, though only two strips of curved metal, was masterfully done and inlaid with small tourmalines.

The rest of the sword was deadly – Nico makes sure of it. He keeps the point finely polished to prick at the slightest touch, and the edges of the slender blade sharp. What looked like a strictly piercing weapon could inflict a thousand cuts. Like its master, it is a misleading thing, and the story of where he came to own it changes every time he tells it.

Nico carries his sword as he would any delicate china, lightly, playfully, and with a certain flair, able to switch from his right to his left and back again with relative ease. The duality is second nature and one must do their best to keep up, or perish.

Nico has named his sword Constante, and ironically is the only true thing he believes in in this world.

 Robert Branche would always prefer holding his paintbrushes over a weapon, even to save his own life, but he does own an old schweizersabel, its knuckle guard still intact despite the wars Robert had tried to bury it in.

The sword’s blade is long and curved without compromising its sharp edge. And though it is a slightly dented thing, its re-curved quilliones scratched in every place, it has never lost a speck of its elegance. The green hilt still had its sheen as if in its prime, the knuckle guard still glinted despite several decades of neglect, and at an angle the carved runes on the blade would even seemingly shine, as if holding in some mysterious power, as if proud that despite all of Robert’s efforts, the sword remains by his side. Robert can read them. He will never translate it out loud.

It is hard for Robert to shake off old habits – the sword will never let him – so he continues to carry it wherever he might go, even for running simple errands for his home or his art. His grip would be iron-tight, keeping it firmly in its scabbard. And though it had been lifetimes since he had used it last, he knows he can never be too careful with a sword untouched by time.

Robert has never named his sword. He is afraid of its memories.

[pilot-boi]

Blooming: Chapter One

What if Jaune bought Pyrrha flowers and maybe they held hands? Five times Jaune bought Pyrrha flowers, and one time it happened the other way around

(Or, more accurately, if the writers can have soul magic and millenia long feuds and gods that can shatter the moon, then I can have Arkos being together and happy at Beacon. And maybe beyond.)

Her

His partner was the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful person he’d ever met. So what did it matter if it was really sappy of him to just really want to do something nice for her?

AO3 LINK

Jaune Arc was absolutely capable of being very nice and is not entirely oblivious, thank you very much.

That fact showed itself, amongst other things, in him deciding that he really wanted to do something nice for Pyrrha. It had been almost two weeks since the Forever Fall Fiasco, as he’d been referring to it, and they’d been steadily growing closer over that time.

And okay, yeah, the responsibility for literally all of the remaining tension between them lay firmly on Jaune’s shoulders. Several layers of broken trust and then abandoning your team would do that.

But that didn’t mean that they didn’t care about each other, like, a whole lot. Because Jaune had grown to trust Pyrrha more than he thought he could ever trust anyone, both during and outside their training sessions. 

Half of his plans counted on Pyrrha’s back up now, knowing that his blind spots were covered and his ridiculous ideas were understood. That there would be no hit uncountered, and she would catch him when he fell. Which he did, often.

And he knew, or at least really hoped, from a thousand little fragments of evidence, that Pyrrha cared about him the same way.

But just training and studying together, exchanging notes and stupid jokes alike… it just didn’t feel like enough of an expression for that big tangle of feelings growing in Jaune’s chest. These thoughts about how he’d die for Pyrrha without question, but it was fine because she’d do the same.

It was terrifying and a little too big and sometimes it took his breath away, but it also felt right. Like those feelings were really his and he didn’t want them gone. Like there was never a doubt that one day he’d arrive in this moment, standing there feeling like this.

He thinks he’d call it love.

And so he decided, not without his usual humor and awkwardness and everything else in between, that he needed to do something special for his partner.

Unfortunately, he had absolutely no idea what that something special was supposed to be.

“WEISS WEISS WEISS! Oh hey Ren! WEISS!!!”

Weiss was just trying to study in peace, because this was a school after all, even if it felt sometimes like it was only Ren, Pyrrha, and herself who remembered this. That was when Jaune burst into the common area being his very loud and hyper and all in all near overwhelming self.

She had to try really hard to hide just how amused she was, because Jaune didn’t deserve the satisfaction of knowing that right away. But whatever had him screaming for her attention with such urgency should be either hilarious, disastrous or, most likely, both.

She made a questioning noise without looking up from her books. Silently begging Ren to field whatever issue Jaune had deemed so important.

“Weiss!” Jaune yelled again, like he wasn’t clear enough on that part the first twenty times. “I need your help.”

He leaned in very close to Weiss’s face, his eyes wide. Anyone else would probably already be intimated to hell by this giant idiot with his lack of volume control.

Weiss, however, was far from being just anyone.

Weiss, to her absolute credit, didn’t even flinch as she stared him down coldly, like Jaune wasn’t twice her size in wiry muscle alone. “I’m not placating Yang for you again. Whatever she’s threatening you over, you probably deserve it.”

Jaune looked very confused for a second and finally drew back an inch or two, so Weiss guessed that maybe trying to escape Yang’s wrath wasn’t it this time. Then his expression shifted to downright offended.

He was so easy to read. Face like an open book, that one.

“It’s not anything like that! I need your, you and Ren’s help!” he said in a deeply affronted tone, waving his hands empathetically in the air as if that would help him illustrate his point better.

Weiss couldn’t help but go for a well-directed jab through the obvious opening in Jaune’s usual blustering. “So you need help with things that won’t end with you being thrown into the harbor, for example?”

Okay, first of all, rude. That was one time, okay, when Nora had the genius albeit dangerous idea to put glitter into Yang’s shampoo. No matter how much Jaune tried to stop her, and later, how much he tried to explain to Yang that it was Nora’s idea, it was no use.

Jaune ended up, one way or another, being punted into the very, very cold and unpleasant water in Vale harbor, screaming maybe an octave higher than he’d like to admit. Yang had stood on the shore, her hair glittering from the shampoo and from her rage, feeling no doubt disgustingly happy with herself all while spewing insults at him as he’d spluttered.

Pyrrha, who’d been hovering amusedly and concernedly around the entire affair, helped Jaune back out of the water and then ushered him back to the academy. 

Upon their return they’d shared a cup of cocoa, she’d wrapped him tightly in the warmest fluffiest blanket she could find, and she had softened her advice to probably not do that again with a kiss on the forehead. Jaune had suddenly found it much easier to stop whining about his definitely impending death via hypothermia.

So Jaune was about to object and clear all of Weiss’s delusions on exactly how likely he was to go for an impromptu swim no thanks to a certain brawler, not naming any names, when he realised that maybe that was a fight for another day.

He came here because he needed help, and he needed it now. “Not the point! I need you guys’ help!”

Weiss didn’t seem impressed, and even went so far as to push him away from her face. “You already said that.” 

From across the table, Ren gave her a look as he closed his own books, and she groaned as she finally gave in and accepted that she wasn’t going to get any more work done while Jaune was having his current crisis very loudly in her direct vicinity. “Fine. What is it?”

“I wanna do something nice for Pyrrha. Like get her a gift or something. I just don’t know what,” he said, finally, as he flopped down into the only unoccupied chair at the table, which creaked unappreciatively under the sudden weight.

Jaune threw his arms across the table and dramatically laid his head on them, all long limbs and hyperactivity and not an ounce of grace. Weiss thought he looked like a child who’d never really grown into his new body after a growth spurt. Like suddenly all his limbs were several inches longer than he knew what to do with.

She tugged her books out from under his arms and glared at him, but somewhere in the back of her mind she was glad she wasn’t having to play mediator in some petty fight. Ren looked over from the neat stack of textbooks and papers he was making. “That’s very vague, you know.”

Jaune squinted at him like he’d just said something insulting. “Thanks, man.”

Ren huffed out a small laugh. “Do you have any ideas? A point to start from.”

Jaune whined and slumped upright, a hint of theatrics slipping into his mannerisms. “That’s just it, I don’t know!” His voice slipped back into his normal tones, and this time he stayed upright, which Weiss was supremely grateful for.  

“Y’know the kind of sappy little gestures that she pulls a million bajillion times all the time, because she’s just like that? Like, ya know, getting Ruby flowers even though it wasn’t her birthday or anything?” He waved his hand in the air to illustrate his point. Or something, anyway. “I wanna do something like that, but for her!”

“Well, get her flowers then.”

[ericsonclan]

The Gift of Giving

Summary: Everyone gathers at Ericson's Diner to celebrate with a Christas party and Secret Santa.

Word Count: 3190

Read on AO3:

“Shit,” Violet muttered, trying her best to reach the top of the Christmas tree and place the star. Why did Louis have to buy such a huge tree for the diner? Even standing on one of the restaurant’s chairs wasn’t enough to get her to the top of the tree. “Stupid kids running around when they should be eating and shit,” Violet grumbled. It had been hard enough getting this star up the first time. Doing it again because of rowdy customers pissed her off.

Suddenly she felt her legs rise off the chair. Violet let out a little squeak of surprise before looking down and seeing her girlfriend smiling below her. Prisha chuckled. “Sorry for the scare. I figured you could use a hand,”

“Thanks,” Violet murmured, feeling rather flustered at the feeling of Prisha’s hands on her waist. She hadn’t known she was this strong. The extra few inches gave her enough height to safely put the star back in place. Prisha promptly lowered her to the ground, her hands hovering on Violet’s waist for a second longer.

“Hey, you two!” Louis exclaimed, striding into the room in a Santa costume, a bounce in his step. “Oh, Vi, you got the star back up! That’s great! Thought I’d have to ask Mitch or Marlon to do it before the party started,” Louis’ arms were full of all sorts of presents which he deposited on one of the booth tables. “Care to help me stack all the center tables to the sides? The others should be coming any minute now!”

“Where are Brody and Clem?” Violet asked, looking round the room as she picked up a chair to start stacking. “They just finished their shift too so they said they’d be sticking around,”

“They’re helping Ruby and Omar finish the final details on the party snacks. They’re gonna be delish!” Louis licked his lips excitedly. He toted a table by himself across the room before returning for another. “I’m so glad the snow slowed down outside! I was starting to get worried that half of the staff would miss out on their final Secret Santa gifts if they couldn’t make the drive in,”

“If that had been the case, we simply could have left the presents in their cubbies in the break room,” Prisha stated.

“Noooo,” Louis pouted. “It’s not the same if you don’t get to see the reactions!”

Violet cast a knowing smile her best friend’s way. Louis never changed. He always loved gift-giving most of all out of any part of Christmas. Letting out a small grunt, she lifted a set of stacked chairs and walked quickly toward the far wall. Louis had said he wanted to make a big circle with all the staff for the gift exchange so they’d need all the floor space they could get.

“Awesome!” Louis looked at their work proudly, his hands on his hips. “Now onto the music. Prisha, can you help me connect my iPod to the diner speakers? I put a special playlist together for tonight,”

“Of course,” Prisha headed with Louis over to the bar where the speaker system was, leaving Violet on her own. It was only a few seconds though before Brody and Clementine strode out carrying trays of Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. They still had the antlers on from their shift today. Violet felt lucky she’d been able to wriggle her way out of the seasonal uniform changes Louis had instituted. These two didn’t seem to mind though.

“Hey, Vi,” Brody said cheerily, setting the hot cocoa down on the next booth over from the presents. “You’re not dressing up for the party?”

Violet shrugged, tapping her Christmas nametag that was emblazoned with holly. “Got my Christmas decoration right here,”

Clementine placed the cookies down as well and joined them. “What are we talking about? Secret Santa gifts? I got my person something I’m hoping will blow their socks off!”

Brody smiled shyly. “I don’t want to brag, but I think I did pretty great too. How about you, Vi?”

Before Violet could answer, Louis came running over, wildly waving his hands. “No telling who you got for Secret Santa! It’s supposed to be a surprise till the last second!”

“Chill, Lou,” Clementine chuckled, slipping her hand into his. “Everything’s still hush hush. You make a very cute Santa, by the way,”

That got Louis distracted. His face heated up and he looked flustered, murmuring something about how Clem looked even cuter before tugging on one of his dreads.

Violet smirked. She’d tease him if she didn’t know it’d be thrown back into her face tenfold. Maybe sometime when Prisha wasn’t around to be used against her she’d bring this moment up.

Suddenly the front doors burst open and a flurry of wind and snow whoosed into the restaurant. Mitch strode in, bundled from head to toe, Marlon following close behind him. “We made it!” Mitch announced, stomping the snow from his boots before heading into the main part of the diner. “It snowed a shit ton today, but the roads are still clear enough to make it through. Are we late?”

“Nah, we’re still waiting on the twins, Renata and Aasim,” Louis walked forward to greet his friends only for his eyes to widen in excitement as he noticed Rosie beside Marlon. “No way! You brought Rosie?”

“Yep! I hope that’s OK. I made sure she went to the bathroom before we left so she should be good for the whole party,” Marlon chuckled as Louis was already on his knees before Rosie, laughing as she licked his face.

“This is gonna be our best party yet!”

“Now that we’re here it will!” Renata’s voice was heard from the service hall before the double doors burst open and she strode through with a proud smile, Sophie and Minnie walking side by side behind her. “Let the fun begin!”

“Awesome! So we’re only missing Aasim then. Hope he won’t be long,” Louis took out his phone to check for messages,

“Oh, you don’t have to check, Sug,” Ruby said, coming out from the double doors with Omar by her side. “He gave me a call about a half hour ago, said he’d be a bit late. But he’ll be here in time for presents.”

“Well, ok then. With everyone else present, let the festivities begin!” Louis did a dramatic twirl before tossing his Santa hat high in the air. “First game of the night: the limbo!”

There were plenty of games to be played at the Ericson’s Diner Christmas party. Those who wanted to like Louis and Renata participated in all of them while some of the quieter staff members stood off to the sides and enjoyed the music, conversation and snacks. Sophie found herself constantly torn between games and snacks and could be seen running back and forth, her mouth full of treats before she joined in on bowling for snowmen or blindman’s bluff.

Eventually once everyone was full of cookies and cocoa and the Christmas games had reached a lull it was time for Secret Santa. Aasim had snuck in at some point during the festivities, giving Ruby a quick kiss before settling into a booth with Omar to chat. Louis called everyone to sit in a circle and place their gifts in the center. He then stood by the pile of presents, making sure everyone was seated before clearing his throat. “Now that everyone is present, we can enjoy all the presents! Now, let me just reach into my handy dandy Santa cap which I’ve filled with everyone’s names, and the first one to go is… Clementine!” Louis held up the name proudly, displaying it to everyone before flashing a grin his girlfriend’s way. “And whose secret Santa were you, my sweet?”

“I was Aasim’s secret Santa,” Clementine gave a nod to her friend, sharing a smile before she stood to grab his gift. “I hope this isn’t something you already have and I just didn’t know. I thought it was pretty cool,”

Aasim took the present and unwrapped it, his eyes widening with interest as the gift was revealed. “An electronic notebook!” He squinted as he read the text on the back of the box. “Save digital versions of your planner pages to popular cloud services like Google drive, Dropbox, Evernote, box, OneNote, Slack, iCloud, email and more,”

“I figured this way you won’t have a ton of notebooks to look through if you want to reference something. You can just have all your information in one place,”

“Thank you, Clem. What a thoughtful gift,” Aasim looked down at his new notebook happily, clearly intrigued by it.

           Louis reached into his Santa hat, giving it a dramatic twirl. “Next up is… Sophie!”

           “Oooh, that’s me!” Sophie exclaimed, jumping up from her spot and scurrying over to her gift. I was Ruby’s secret Santa!” she dropped the gift into her friend’s lap with a bright smile.

Ruby let out a little grunt as the package plonked down on her legs. “Oof, heavier than expected,” She unwrapped her gift and revealed an unusually shaped baking tin. “Now what do we have here?”

“It’s cookie shot glasses!” Sophie exclaimed, bouncing on her feet excitedly. “So you bake the cookies in the shape of teeny shot glasses then instead of alcohol you do shots of milk!”

“Why, that’s quite the unique gift!” Ruby chuckled, setting the tin beside her. “I’ll be sure to put it to good use this Christmas,”

“Yeee, you like it!” Sophie did a happy little twirl before sitting back down.

“Two secret Santas, two awesome gifts! Let’s keep up the trend!” Louis declared. Shuffling around the cards in his hat, he drew the next name. “Oh, Minnie! Right after your twin!”

“And my twin’s the recipient of my gift,” Minnie replied, calmly rising to grab her gift.

“I knew it was you!” Sophie exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I just knew it!”

“Bet you don’t know what I got you though,” Minnie quipped, handing over the gift.

It was an album of photoshopped pictures of the twins and their family and friends. The once normal photos were now crazy pictures of them on the moon or as cats or with everybody at Ericson’s Diner but the twins were huge and held the rest of the staff in their hands. Sophie gasped and giggled at each and every picture as she flipped through the book. She cradled the album in her arms, her smile vibrant. “I love it! You’re the best, as always!”

Minnie shrugged, a small smile on her lips. “Knew I had to nail it considering I should know you better than anyone else,”

“Ahh, sisterly love. Is there anything better in the world?” Louis wiped a mock tear of his own from his eye before continuing. “Next is... Clem! Oh wait, that can’t be right. One sec…” Rummaging through the hat, Louis tossed out the names he had already drawn. “Ok, we’re all in the clear. And next is… Mitch!”

“I got Renata,” Mitch stood up and snatched his gift, tossing it over to the brunette. “Don’t know what sorta shit you’re into but I thought you’d like this,”

Renata tore into her present excitedly, tossing the wrapping paper dramatically to the side. She let out a loud gasp. “It’s henna!” She held up the henna kit for everyone to see. “This is awesome! I’m gonna put tattoos all over my face!”

“Hell yeah,” Mitch nodded in approval.

“Please don’t,” Ruby said, looking concerned.

Before Renata could come up with a retort, Louis had moved on to the next secret Santa. “Violet! It’s your turn to shine!”

Violet silently shuffled to her feet, silently grabbing her gift from the pile and handing it to Omar. “Here. I hope you like it,”

Omar carefully undid the wrapping paper. His eyes lit with interest as he unveiled his gift. “Texan Cooking: 101 Recipes. Thank you, Vi. I don’t have anything like this in my collection yet,”

A small smile alighted on Violet’s lips. “I’m glad,” Without another word she returned to her seat next to Prisha but a second later Prisha’s name had been called.

Prisha rose and took her present from the dwindling pile. “I was Louis’ secret Santa. I tried to pick something I think you’d quite enjoy,” Prisha carefully handed over a small square present.

Louis opened it with care, finding a cardboard box inside which he also opened with caution before his eyes lit up in wonder. In his hand he held a tiny silver piano. Intricate silver details decorated its entirety. Turning it over, Louis rotated a small lever. “La Vie En Rose” began to play softly. Louis’ eyes welled up with unshed tears. “It’s beautiful, Prish,” He stared at the gift for several seconds, long enough to make it clear he was utterly distracted.

Clearing her throat, Clementine gently took the hat from her boyfriend’s hands. “How ‘bout I take a turn, babe?” Louis nodded silently and took a seat in the circle, still lost in admiring his gift. Prisha was practically beaming with pride at the success of her gift.

“Alright, guys,” Clementine went digging in the hat and pulled out a new name. “It’s Brody’s turn!”

Brody bounced up from the floor, looking excited and nervous as she picked up a rather large present. “I was Mitch’s secret Santa,”

“No way,” Mitch exclaimed, his eyes large. “Then that time you were asking for gift ideas…?”

“I was shopping for you,” Brody nodded, smiling proudly. “Here ya go!”

Mitch ripped off the wrapping paper and let out an impressed whistle. “Dr. Gross’ Candy Lab Madness. No way! You get to make your own candy?”

“Yep! I figured you and Willy would have fun working on it together,”

“This is the shit! You’re totally coming over to make this with us too!”

“I can’t wait!” Brody leaned over to plant a kiss on her boyfriend’s forehead then took her seat beside him once more, blushing as Mitch softly wrapped an arm round her waist.

Clementine smiled over at her friends having their moment before continuing. “Next is Ruby!”

“I had Prisha,” Ruby declared, rolling onto her feet and picking up her gift before walking over and gently placing it in Prisha’s hands. “I hope I got the right size,”

Prisha looked intrigued by the statement. She opened the present to find a pair of crimson faux leather gloves inside. “Why, Ruby, these are extraordinary!” She pulled one on, admiring the craftsmanship. “And they fit perfectly! Thank you!”

“I’m glad. They look lovely on you,” Ruby smiled warmly before returning to her spot.

“Alrighty, next up is Renata,”

“I got Marlon!” Renata shouted. Crawling forward, she grabbed her gift and chucked it at the blond’s head.

Marlon caught the package with ease, opening it quickly. His face lit up with excitement. “Matching sweaters for me and Rosie!” He immediately got to work helping Rosie who was laying between him and Sophie get hers on. “Thanks, Renata! These are the best!”

“Worth every penny,” Renata grinned proudly.

Clementine grinned as they all admired Rosie in her new Christmas sweater. “Cute. Alright, Aasim is up next,”

Aasim grabbed a slender rectangular present from the pile before clearing his throat. “Minnie, I was your secret Santa. I hope you enjoy what I selected,”

Minnie took the gift that was handed her and calmly unwrapped it. A smile came to her lips as she held up the gift inside. “It’s a collection of Disney songs arranged for the guitar. Thanks, Aasim. These’ll be fun to try out,”

Aasim nodded in approval, clearly satisfied that he’d chosen well as they watched Minnie flip through the different songs with interest.

“Next is Omar,” Clementine declared, dropping the slip of paper to the ground. “We’re down to the last few,”

“I was Brody’s secret Santa,” Omar rose to his feet and carried a small present bag over to his friend. Brody reached inside and pulled out a CD. “Oooh, you got music for me to listen to on my drives?”

“Not quite. It’s actually music to sleep too. I remember you mentioned sometimes you have a hard time getting to sleep so I figured a collection of nature sounds would be nice,”

“That’s so sweet, Omar! Thank you, that’s really thoughtful,” Brody’s smile was warm as she got up quickly to hug her friend. Omar returned the hug warmly before walking back over to his seat on the floor.

“OK, last one, guys,” Clementine said, looking at the small present wrapped in dark blue, star-filled wrapping paper. “I bet we all know who that goes to. Louis, take it away,”

“My secret Santa giftee was Violet!” Louis chirped. Leaning forward, he got a hold of his gift and slid it across the circle to his best friend. “Go ahead, Vi. Open it!”

Violet opened the gift with caution, not wanting to mar the wrapping paper but feeling self-conscious of all the eyes on her. Inside was a jewelry case. She opened it to find a delicate charm bracelet with two charms upon it: a golden sun and a silver moon.

“I know you don’t like dealing with jewelry, but for this I figured you’d make an exception,” Louis explained with a grin.

A small smile was on Violet’s face as Prisha helped her put the charm bracelet on. “It’s really cool, Lou. You’re right. I will wear this,”

“Yipee!” Louis threw his arms up in the air in celebration. “And with that everyone- wait a minute,” He paused, counting out the presents on his fingers before looking toward his other best friend. “Marlon, we missed you! And the one person who hasn't gotten a gift is..." Louis' eyes widened in horror. "Clem! Oh shit, did we forget Clem? Was she here when the names were drawn? There's no presents left! What are we gonna-"

"Lou, chill!" Marlon said, jumping up to his feet and walking toward the bar. "I didn't add the present to the pile since I didn't want it to get damaged. It's right over here," He emerged from the bar holding something in one hand behind his back. Walking over to Clementine, Marlon raised a finger. "Close your eyes and carefully hold out your hands,"

Clementine did as instructed, her eyes squeezed tightly shut in excitement.

Marlon placed the present into her hands then quietly returned to his spot. "OK, now open them,"

Clementine opened her eyes and looked down and her hands, oohing in excitement when she saw what was there. "Is this a venus fly trap? I've never seen one in real life!"

"Yep!" Marlon grinned proudly. "I heard you and Violet talking about how badass they were in the break room a few weeks ago and I knew it'd make the perfect gift! Had to be careful with it though - it needs to keep warm and have lots of humidity if possible so I didn't want to wrap it and have it wilt. I hope it's not too hard to take care of,"

"I'll take the best care of it ever!" Clementine declared, her eyes shining with determination. "Thanks, Marlon!"

Louis' smile was soft as he watched his girlfriend tenderly trace her fingers along the leaves of her new plant. “Alright, and with that the secret Santa gift exchange is over. But the fun continues!” He jumped to his feet, grabbing his Santa hat from Clementine and putting it back on his head. “Who’s ready to party?”

“Wooo!” Renata cheered, joined quickly by Sophie.

The party picked up again quickly, everyone resuming their previous roles of joining in games or participating in snack-filled conversations. The party would continue for as long as they all wished. They enjoyed each other’s company, so knowing the staff it would probably go on for quite some time yet. That was fine though. They were all energized by the presents and fun, each of them feeling their own excitement as Christmas grew ever nearer. It was another successful Ericson’s Diner Christmas party to close out a great year.

[takemedancingmaine]

Home

The sun was still warm as it sank lower and lower toward the horizon, and the festivities were only just beginning. The candles were lit, the string lights glowing softly as twilight snuck upon us, and there was music already playing when we stepped through the doorway to the barn. 

Mehar and Andy were beside me, my sister’s eyes light with wonder as she took in the scene before her. Her maroon dress matched Andy’s pocket square, tie, and socks, as she'd pointed out to me four times already today. Andy took it in stride though, went along with it all and even seemed to be enjoying himself.

The ceremony had been filled with humor and love; Liam had done the officiating. Harry had cried, but then again, every single one of us expected him to. It was considerably warm for October, and the outside wedding had gone off without a hitch.

It was a miracle the Cubs weren’t playing tonight, otherwise, we would have had to have set up a TV somewhere so we could all watch while we danced. We got lucky; they were playing the next night. 

“Are you going to be boring and dance by yourself?” Mehar asked.

I rolled my eyes. She wasn't being subtle at all. It was not as if subtlety was a strong suit of Mehar’s to begin with, but it appeared as if she abandoned it entirely today. Many times in the span of a few hours my sister had commented on the fact that Niall looked rather handsome today in his navy suit and royal blue dress shirt. It did bring out his eyes, and she was right that he was handsome, but for five months now Niall and I have operated as simply friends and it's worked out really well. We were both really happy with our current normal.

“Drop it,” I chuckled at the face she made. “Let's get drinks and find Louis and the others.”

Andy’s cheeks turned pink at the mention of Louis. “Oh, you mean the man that isn't me that my girlfriend is casually in love with?” Andy hadn't met Louis yet, not officially even though they'd seen each earlier today, but he did know about her old crush and would join me in my teasing whenever he could.

I laughed and Mehar smacked me lightly on the arm. “I am not in love with Louis,” she told us both.

“Thou doth protest too much,” I continued through my giggles. Andy worked hard on not laughing, but a few chuckles left him when Mehar attempted to glare at us. Andy and I had gotten close over the last few months. He'd called me while he was preparing for my sister’s birthday, asking if we had any traditions, what kind of sweets she liked, and what he thought I considered the best plan of action. He even FaceTimed me when she opened the gift I'd sent him to give to her during the scavenger hunt he had set up. Since then, he'd send me the occasional meme or photo of my sister cooking or hiking or even kayaking. He was a good guy, and I could see how despite being completely different people he and Mehar fit together.

“Are we getting drunk tonight or what?” Cleo asked as we strolled up to her where she was at the bar with Liam. “Our lovely couple has decided to bestow upon us the gift of an open bar. Well, Ana’s parents have. It counts.”

“Have you dipped your toes in already?” Mehar asked, gauging my friends with a knowing smile on her face.

“Liam here brought his flask.” Cleo patted Liam’s chest and we could hear her rings clink against the metal flask in his sport coat pocket through the material.

“We may have had a few sips already,” Liam informed us.

“When? You were beside you the whole ceremony,” I gasped at Cleo. “And you were literally standing in everyone's focus!” I pointed at Liam, my eyes wide.

“Before,” Liam’s face was slightly flushed, “and after while everyone was walking over here.”

“You idiot. You were drunk when you were officiating our friend's wedding?”

“Buzzed at most.” Liam seemed unaffected and shrugged with a wide smile. Cleo giggled beside him.

I smirked and shook my head before I caught the bartender's attention, ordering for myself Mehar and Andy. I handed back the whiskey sour to Andy and the Prosecco to Mehar before I got my craft beer and took a sip.

“Is four drink Ruby going to come out to play tonight?” Louis came up behind us, Niall beside him, both men smiling wide.

“She might.” I shrugged. “My friends got married today and my boss gave me a three day weekend so who knows what might happen.”

Louis smiled and pulled me into a hug. “What a generous boss you have,” he said before kissing my head and disentangling from me to order a drink for himself. I caught Andy’s eye as he took in Louis and then raised his eyebrows at my sister, a smirk pulling on his lips.

“I, for one, am stoked about the possibility of meeting four drink Ruby,” Liam said, pulling my attention.

“Let’s just go find some seats,” I said. “They'll probably be coming in soon to do their first dance and I don't want Cleo stealing their thunder.”

“Why me?”

“Out of the seven of us, you'd have the best shot at being a crowd pleaser.”

“Fair assessment.” She smiled wide.

“Couldn't help but notice you're drinking a beer,” Niall said to me as Louis turned and handed him a dark beer of his own and we started our way over to find a table for ourselves.

“Do you remember that one pizza place we went to that had a wall of specialty taps?” I asked. That was back when we were together; it had been just the two of us. It wasn't awkward to bring up anymore. It had seemed like it might be at first, whenever one of us brought up things we'd done or places we used to go, but it wasn't.

“Where you had that dark chocolate orange stout?” Of course he remembered. I wouldn't shut up about it for months.

“The very same.”

“They got that for you?”

“Well, Harry and Ana are wine drinkers, so they did that selection themselves and then let Liam choose the beer and he refused to incorporate any boring beer, so there's this, your Guinness, a mixed berry sour, an IPA for himself, and something lighter from Belgium.”

“Remind me to thank Liam,” Niall said, taking a generous sip of Guinness before he took a seat beside me as we found an empty table for the group. Mehar sat on my other side, trying to be casual about observing Andy and Louis having a conversation while they took their seats as well. The two of them seemed to be getting along well so far.

“I will whenever we get him back.” I shook my head at the fact that someone had stopped Liam on his way over to tell them how much they loved the ceremony and how well he had done with it. 

“He's loving this attention,” Cleo said as she plopped down one seat away from Niall, saving a space for Liam.

“He probably thinks this whole day is about him,” Niall agreed.

“Look at him,” Cleo pointed, “working the crowd and attempting to look humble about it. He's a natural born super star. He knows exactly what he's doing.”

I laughed. 

“His head is going to be massive by the time this night is over. He might just float away from all that hot air. Someone should go get some twine or ribbons so we can tie him down.”

That got Niall laughing too, that contagious laugh of his with his head falling back and the sound echoing in the rafters of the barn around us. We could tease our friends better than the best of them, and Liam knew we meant it endearingly. Or at least he would know if he could hear us.

“All I’m saying,” Louis leaned over and whispered to me not so quietly while we watched Mehar and Andy dance goofily together, “is that he seems like a good kid. He seems to bring a lot out in her.”

“I have a feeling she brings a lot out in him as well,” I conspired right back. “He looks at her like she hung the moon.”

“It’s what she deserves.”

“It is.”

We sat there in silence for another minute or so and when a slow song came on I looked over at Louis and grabbed his wrist. “C’mon. We’re dancing.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded seriously and let me drag him out to the dance floor where we found ourselves wedged between Liam and Cleo and my sister and Andy. Harry and Ana were wrapped up in each other on the other side of the dance floor, her head on Harry’s chest as they swayed back and forth together.

It had been a long, almost exhausting night of dancing at this point. After the speeches and the food and the many, many drinks our feet began to hurt, our legs began to grow tired, and we’d all just settled into the winding down of the night. For my own part, my shoes were off and I was barefoot standing on Louis’ feet as he took point and moved us slowly back and forth. 

“Hard to believe it’s been a year since Niall’s been back in my life,” Louis said now. “I cannot believe it’s been over a year since Harry proposed, or since your incident, since you got Moggy... “ Louis sighed and I pulled my head back just far enough to meet his eyes. 

“Are you getting all sappy on me, Tomlinson?” I smirked as he glared down at me, but there was no malice in his eyes. “Weddings make you sappy. Good to know for future reference.”

He snorted. “I have three sisters,” he grumbled. “Of course weddings make me sappy. Do you think I’m not in my head right now thinking about the day when I have to give each of them away in turn? Just the thought itself is going to make me vomit.” 

“Okay.” I nodded. “Well, could you give me fair warning before that happens so that I can step back and get safely out of the splash zone?” 

I felt him laughing rather than heard it and then felt him shaking his head. “You’re a piece of work, Rubes.” The amusement was clear in his tone.

“I’m your piece of work,” I told him. 

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

“Hey mate. D’you mind if I cut in?” 

Louis looked down at me rather than at Niall and I gave him a subtle nod before he looked up and smiled. “Of course,” he said. “I was just about to go get the sparklers ready anyway. I think it’s about time we send those two off.”

“Thanks, Louis.” Louis stepped back from me and before heading off he leaned down to kiss my head.

“I love you, Rubes,” Louis whispered in my ear and then he stepped away and turned toward where I knew he had stashed the farewell supplies earlier in the day. Why the lot of us had decided that Louis would be the one in charge of the lighters and the sparklers I will never know, but it was something we had all unanimously agreed upon.

“You look sleepy,” was all I could think to say as Niall stepped up and wrapped his arms around me, waiting patiently while I stepped onto his feet and wrapped my own arms around him.

“I would say so do you,” he smiled down at me, “but my dad raised me better than that, and I don’t have a death wish.”

“Good call, Horan.” I reached up and ruffled his hair a bit–not that it wasn’t already messed up from dancing all evening. I took a deep breath and the familiar smell of him comforted me as we swayed back and forth slowly.

It was odd, being this close to him again. We’d hugged countless times and he’d given me many piggyback rides since we’d agreed to be friends again. We’d even squished up against each other while ride-sharing and there was the time we got stuck on a particularly crowded, slow train for an hour and a half together. 

This though felt different. 

This was reminiscent of what we used to have, almost a year ago. Felt like one of the many times we’d danced around his kitchen after cooking dinner together or like when he took me out to the beach late one night and we danced barefoot on the sand despite the frigid temperatures. It felt like ‘us’ back when there was an ‘us.’

It felt like I was dancing with a ghost. 

“Does this feel weird to you, too?” He asked suddenly. He laughed it off, but I could sense his nerves. I knew him well enough. 

“I was just thinking that,” I agreed. We kept moving though, neither of us pulling back from the other. I settled into him, my head against his chest, his heartbeat thrumming in my ear as his hand drew circles on my back.

“Mehar thinks you looked very handsome today,” I said finally. “She said that your shirt brought out your eyes. I think it was all some ploy to make Andy jealous, but that’s just me.” 

“Mmm,” he hummed. “That was the plan. I know my assets, Singh. I have to work with what little I’ve got. Blue eyes are one of my few traits I can flaunt.” I snorted. “You look stunning,” he added.

This time I stayed silent, biting my lip, forcing back whatever was about to come out, a bit unsure of what that just might be.

“Sorry,” he said after a moment. “If that was weird we can just pretend I never–”

“S’okay,” I cut him off. “Just caught me off guard is all.”

“You’ve always caught me off guard,” he said now. “Ever since the moment I met you, you’ve always kept me on my toes. Whether it was getting more tattoos or spouting rap lyrics out of nowhere or that you dropped everything at a moment’s notice and flew across the country to go hiking with your sister over the summer. I’ve never known what to expect when it comes to you.”

Suddenly I wasn’t dancing with a ghost anymore. 

“Niall, I…” I trailed off, biting my lip as the words jumbled incoherently in my head.

“Are you happy?” he asked, his voice quiet again.

I took a deep breath. I knew the words now. 

“I’m always happy when I’m with you,” I told him truthfully.

“I don’t mean because of me,” he said, but I heard his breathing hitch. “Are you happy? Are you whole?”

“If you’re asking whether or not I need you, or anyone in my life in that capacity to make me happy,” I took a deep breath, “the answer is no. I’m very happy with my life and where I am within it. I feel complete and strong and I love myself. I’m not ashamed and I’m not hiding from my own mind.”

He stayed silent. Just as he always could, he sensed there was more to be said and was waiting patiently for me to say it as the song drifted out and the lights started coming up around us. 

“The thing is though, Niall,” I stepped back from him, my bare feet giving him a little added height as I looked up at him, “I never needed you. I didn’t use you to complete myself. Even when I was lost and broken, I didn’t need you. It was never about that.”

He took a breath and held it. 

“I wanted you,” I said slowly, making sure he heard me. “I still want you.”

I watched as he released his breath in a huff and his eyes searched my face, made sure what I was saying was absolutely true before he reached forward and laced his fingers through mine. A small smirk was pulling on his lips.

I squeezed his hand.

“God,” he sighed. “I’ve missed you.” 

“Me too.” I smiled up at him. 

There were a thousand ways that life can lead us, and sometimes the universe puts people in our way just to teach us lessons or help us grow. Sometimes people are constant, like Mehar and Louis and Cleo, like Liam and Ana and Harry. Sometimes those people are fleeting. Sometimes those shooting stars across our sky are so pretty to look at that they’re painful when they’re gone and sometimes they’re so blinding that their absence leaves us shrouded in darkness, even though we’re glad they’re gone. 

 There are those people still that are just in our orbit, coming back around every once in a while, and bringing light and warmth that we know will always be close by. Occasionally, the universe needs to test us though. It puts people in our path that knows we need to decide on our own if they’re going to be fleeting or constant. I had to go through what I did in order to fully appreciate who I was and who the people in my life were. I had to struggle and pick up the pieces and battle myself, fight against my own mind.

I was sure though, looking up at Niall now that he wasn’t just in orbit in my universe. He wasn’t a shooting star that burned too bright and left my sky darker after he left. Nor was he a painful memory as he burned my retinas for looking too intensely at him. Niall was one of my constants, of that I was sure. We had been tested, but what relationship wasn't tested? 

So when I smiled up at him and his blue eyes lit up as he smiled back down at me, I knew that his place in my universe was balancing itself out, that there was room for him all along and that I could have my own happiness and I could have him. Niall had helped me grow and that connection we shared wasn’t severed because we weren’t together anymore. Like the tide, when I’d left it had pulled me back in and I was settling in beside him. 

With my world settling it only made sense that I fell back into place beside Niall. Someone to share my completed world with. Someone to share in his world as well.

[petite-neko]

Forbearance - 04

Fanfiction: Chained Shadows || > Forbearance Story Summary: He was old enough now - by the laws of a Sheikah anyway - to be making his own decisions. To start carving out his own life. No longer was he a child in the Lost Woods, or an adult in war-torn times. A young man by the name of Lyrkiel must find his path in life. Friends. A career, and perhaps even a lover. Even that said - he was bound by the laws of the Sheikah, and the confines of his own blood… Characters: Link, OCs, Impa, Zelda, Sheik, Kafei Pairing: Link/Sheik and Link/OC Rating: M Story Warnings: Violence. Universe Alteration. Fluff and probably smut.  Past mentions of: Eye Injuries. Swearing. Dissociation. Chapter Warnings: None. Author Notes: Please note. You must read Typhlosis before reading this or the story won’t make sense.

A reference to pre-existing characters:

Lyrkiel = Link

Iarma = Impa

Kilfa = Kafei

Ao3 in source!

Like my work? Consider buying me a ko-fi!

Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5

Lyrkiel fiddled with the earrings that Srekhi had gifted him. It was almost fitting - now that he thought about it - that Srekhi had chosen them because of his eyes. His eyes were the reason they became friends after all. They met because Srekhi wanted to know this strange boy that took his place in life. Jealous. Angry. Curious. But then, then this strange Sheikah from Hyrule had realised that the other needed help - help with his Sight, with his eyes.

...What were the words he had spoken back then? Told ya I’d make a good doctor.

And, despite his own quip in return, Lyrkiel knew that, yes, his friend would. The only question that remained was could he?

.+++.

He thought back to the conversation he had with his parents, and he was coming closer to a conclusion. An answer.

He was seriously considering on remaining in Hyrule. That, even if Srekhi became a Guardian despite his efforts to stop it, Lyrkiel could, at the very least, try to make his friend smile again. Try to make the days bearable. Try to keep his friend’s spirits up.

Try to keep whatever happiness that was here for them.

.+++.

Lyrkiel glanced up at the moon and was reminded of Termina, of the Skull Kid, of Navi. His search for his dear friend ultimately brought him here. It was poetic in a way how in his search for his family brought him just that, albeit not in the way he had anticipated.

And yet now, despite his hopes otherwise, he might never be able to resume his search for her. He had… more pressing matters at hand. It wasn’t that he didn’t miss her; it wasn’t that he didn't care for her, but… Navi was only a maybe. And, he couldn't waste potential probabilities over a pale possibility.

Of course, he would never truly give up. If the opportunity ever arose, and there was nothing to lose? He would jump on that ship immediately.

Was this what being an adult was? He supposed he never really had the choice all those years ago. He was just a child, following orders blindly. And, even then, if he hadn’t done what he did, well… he’d probably be dead. Now, he was putting the needs and wants of others over his. But, he was okay with that. Because, well…

He didn't want to see that torn and tormented expression in Srekhi’s eyes again. The one on that day he arrived in Hyrule…

But - dun’cha know what that means? I must be her successor!

Perhaps, there still was a way to change that…

.+++.

Always, it was always Iarma who found him first.

“I have heard you were looking for me again?”

He tried not to look nervous, tried not to shuffle his feet, tried not to avert his gaze. She intimidated him, ever since that moment he snuck into the royal gardens. Of course, the reasons were vastly different. Then, he was a child caught in doing something ‘bad’, and now? Well, she posed a threat to him. (And, if Kajiit’s warnings were true: Multiple threats.)

Threats that he was exemplifying with his current course of action.

But, it was worth it.

Idly, he noticed how similar their height differences were to when he had met her in the Sacred Realm. Certainly, he still had a little bit to grow but…

Well, it wasn’t awkward for her when she placed her hand at his back any longer.

“I can see that something heavy weighs upon you, shall we go to a more… private setting?”

He could only nod.

And she guided him away from the village, off to a small clearing. “So, what would you like to talk about? If I may hazard a guess – is this, once again, about Srekhi?”

Once again he nodded. “Yes. In the utmost essence it is.” He took a deep breath. “And, I know, at first, you will more than likely disagree with what I have to say but, this is not something I have taken lightly. Much deliberation has gone into this. I have weighed the options, the positives, and the negatives, and I have come to the conclusion that this is an action that I truly wish to take.”

When she nodded for him to continue he did.

“I want you to consider making me Srekhi’s replacement, and allowing him to continue studying medicine. I am certainly most capable. I know that, yes, I am still far from his equal in many aspects, but I have rapidly improved in this last year and a half, and will continue to do so given further tutelage. I want you to give me a chance. To train me, and tell me if I am capable of taking his place, of taking your place when the time comes.”

She exhaled, and Lyrkiel paused, watching her reaction. It seemed that she was at least taking this into consideration. That she was allowing herself to allow this option.

He wouldn’t push her. He wouldn’t insist that Srekhi would serve better as a doctor than as a royal guardian even though he truly believed it.

“…Do you know what this job entails?”

He looked up, meeting her gaze once more. “I know not the specifics, but… one can take guesses. It would mean to put my life on the line for the royal family of Hyrule. It would mean placing them before myself. It would mean that I could not return to Termina.”

“It would also mean ostracising yourself from others. While, normally, I would decline, considering you are doing this for another, but Srekhi is now in the same boat you are in, and I know if he knew what you were doing, he would tell me to not consider this. That he would tell me that he would make the same sacrifice you are making. However, he, too, knows the specifications of the job. If anything, he would become an asset as opposed to a hindrance.” She sighed. “You have put me in a rather precarious situation Lyrkiel.”

He… what?

Apparently, his apparent confusion was enough for her to continue. “By befriending Srekhi, you have made the both of you less than ideal ‘candidates’ for the job, and yet, the two of you really are the only options.” She rubbed at the bridge of her nose now. “And yet I am hesitant to give up Srekhi, as much as I am to take you up. You are from Termina, and do not have the same… ideals that those raised in Hyrule would have.”

“I am a Sheikah, am I not?” Lyrkiel looked her straight in the eyes with his own. “The duty of the Sheikah is to protect the Royal Family, no matter our secondary jobs. I know my duty, and I will obey it if it is necessary of me.” This, he spoke with absolute truth. He had done this before. Twice even. “If it is required of me, if I am the only one capable of the job, I will do it.” Granted, he might complain about it every now and then. He might moan and whine, but he would do it.

He had protected Hyrule and her monarchy once before, so why not again?

Something in her eyes flickered. “��That look in your eyes… it reminds me of a look a small Hylian child once gave me.”

Lyrkiel felt himself bristling at those words, but she only smiled softly.

“In fact, he would be your age now… and his word was not only spoken truly, it was proven true as well. I wonder if you can do the same Lyrkiel.”

And when she nodded curtly, Lyrkile wondered if he could relax. Did she not... Consider him to be that very boy? That the very expression in his eyes looked the same because it was? Was the look when he promised to return with the ruby and the sapphire?

“Very well, prove it to me Lyrkiel. Prove to me that you can be as good as you say you can, and if so, I will allow Srekhi to pursue his studies.” And she did nothing but hold up her finger. “But, on one condition. Srekhi cannot know of this. At all. Until I say otherwise, Srekhi is, and will be, my replacement. If any questions are asked, you may tell him you asked me to give you advice and pointers.”

Perhaps, was she not as much of a threat as they originally thought her to be…?

No, he could not let his guard down.

And when she nodded, elation filled him, and he bowed lowly.

“I will not disappoint you.”

“Lyrkiel, your parents do not know about this either, do they?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “No. Nor would they approve of it.”

“If everything goes as you planned, you will have to bid them farewell, you know that, right?”

“A bird must leave the nest, sometime, right?”

She smiled again. “Go on then, I shall meet you when Srekhi has his next appointment with your father.”