#blue streak would’ve been great but I wasn’t begging

[parasold]

all that work for the firecracker diamond relic just to get a third fire branded that I’m not gonna use. pain.

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Just A Phone Call Away

Being a single father to a young child is never easy. And it hurts more when being a rockstar has to take Calum away from his little boy.

Enjoy my masterlist.

Support me on kofi. 

No one has my permission to repost this fic, including translations. All rights reserved. Copyright © be-ready-when-i-say-go.

_____________________________________

“What do you have there, buddy?” Cal laughs, noticing his four year old, attempting to hold his hands behind his back. Calum can see it’s some kind of toy. He’s not even sure how Jaiden got his hands on it. 

“Nofing,” he replies, trying to hide the small trinket he found sitting on a shelf. 

“Jaiden, give it to Daddy,” Calum can feel the small smile on his face. The little boy is generally very sweet, but occasionally has his stubborn streak. Jaiden pouts, lower lip jutting out, before handing over the small green alien keychain. When Cal takes hold of the toy, he inspects it. The tag is still attached. It’s not something that what left behind someone else. “Where did you find this?”

Jaiden points to his left. Calum nods, knowing he paused at a rack near the jewelry after spotting some earrings he thought his mom might like. “Do you want it?” Cal asks. 

“Yes, pwease, Daddy?” His son nods vigorously. 

After double checking the price, Cal agrees, handing it back to his son. It’s only a few bucks. “Next time, please ask.”

“Okay.” Calum stares at his son, his black curls and chubby cheeks. A spitting image of himself, except for the eyes. They’re blue like his mother’s. Calum still has to fight the urge to send her a photo, call her, ask her why she’d abandon the sweetest boy he’s ever known. But he knows he shouldn’t do that. She left for a reason; she wasn’t ready, not like she thought she once was. Calum can’t fault that. Parenthood is not easy at all. He just wishes she stuck it out for Jaiden’s first word, the first wobbly run, the pleases’s and thank you’s that always fall so easily from his lips. That would change her mind, maybe. That would make her realize what she gave up on.

Jaiden kicks his feet a little, playing at the keychain before looking back up to his father. He smiles, showing all his teeth. Calum presses a soft kiss to his forehead, before rustling his hair. He hates this; Calum knows well enough. But sometimes Cal can’t help just a quick tussle of his curls. Jai likes to return the hair tussle when he can, their way of showing affection. 

“Daddy, stop!” Jaiden cries, trying to dodge his father’s hand. The two of them laugh before Calum finally stops, double checking that he’s added the soap to the basket. Positive that he has, he starts pushing the cart down the aisle before hooking a right. He grabs his shaving cream and a new set of razors. 

Jaiden points out the dog food as the pass by the section. “Duke?” he questions. 

Cal nods, grinning down at his son. “I got him a new bag last week. He’s covered.”

With a satisfied nod, Jaiden glances around the Target. Calum pauses at the produce. “Green apples or red ones?”

“Red, pwease.” With a hum, Calum finds a good bag and holds them to his son. Jai gives them a look over too before putting up his thumb. 

Grocery shopping is fun for them. Cal tries to get Jaiden to make choices about the foods, so he’s more inclined to eat the new stuff. It’s a challenge when it comes to vegetables. The staples like carrots, broccoli, and corn Jai will eat. But peas, cauliflower, and string beans have been a tug of war. Calum finally got brussel sprouts on the okay to eat list and he’s been working on that for a year now. 

Jaiden inspects the bag of brown rice. “What makes it brown?”

Calum pauses, twisting his lips up. “I don’t know actually. Let’s look it up,” he suggests pulling out his phone. Cal place a foot on the bottom rack, typing in the passcode to unlock his phone. He brings up the safari page and types in the question while speaking out loud. “What makes brown rice brown?”

Jai watches his father type deftly on the screen. “What it say?”

Calum scans over the results. “So, it looks like that with brown rice only the first layer is taken off. White rice has the first three layers peeled off when it’s collected and processed.”

Jai nods. Calum knows he doesn’t quite understand, so he attempts to explain it down further. But this leads Calum down a spiral that not even he knows not much about. “I’m sorry, bud. I’m probably confusing you even more.”

“It okay.” 

“Excuse, I’m sorry. I hate to be a bother,” a soft voice starts. Calum looks up to his left, a woman standing in the middle of the aisle. She grins. “Don’t mean to interrupt a very cute moment. I just need a grab a bag of rice too,” she laughs. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Calum rushes out.

“Brown or white?” Jaiden asks looking at the woman. 

She laughs. “What do you suggest? Looks like you like brown.”

Jaiden nods. “It my favorite.”

“Then I think I should go with brown, yeah?”

With a toothy grin and nod, Jaiden stretches to reach it. His fingers don’t quite reach, so Cal scoots it closer until he can grip it. He hands it over to the woman. “Thank you. Sorry again for interrupting,” she says. 

“No, I probably should’ve moved out of the way,” Calum says, a blush heating up his cheeks. “He asked what made brown rice brown and I got too invested answering the question.”

“That’s so sweet. Don’t worry; I heard the whole lecture. Would’ve said for a lot longer but I’m on a bit of a time crunch.” She starts pushing her basket away, still smiling at the two them as she walks. “I hope you’re little man was taking notes. It was a great lecture.” She turns back around, keeping on down the aisle. 

Calum watches the sway of her hips before he turns attention back to Jaiden. “What’s up next?” the little boy asks. 

Calum thinks for the first time in history, they’re going to make it through a Target run without making a detour through the toy aisle, considering how enamored Jaiden is with the alien keychain. But Calum remembers he needs to get another pillow, his is starting to go flat. Now he can go down towards bedding, which is right across from the toy section. Or he can sleep on a flat pillow for a couple more days until his mom takes Jai for the weekend. He’d rather not sleep on the flat pillow. However, the second Jaiden sees that toy section he’s going to beg to at least see what’s new. If he asks for a new toy, Calum’s not going to be able to say no. He can’t ever say no to his little boy. 

His neck is killing him. He refuses to go another night on that godforsaken pillow. With a sigh, he pushes the cart to bedding. If Jaiden asks for something, he’ll just have to say no. Calum can do that. Is it fun? No. But he can do it this time. Jaiden’s birthday is coming up soon. Patience is a virtue, or so that’s what he’s always been told and learned. “Can we look, Daddy?” Jaiden asks, craning to look at the toys. 

Calum glances over the plastic covered pillows, before he finds the one he’s looking for. “Only look, alright.”

Tossing the pillow into the full cart, Calum starts towards the toy aisle. Jaiden starts to get a little antsy so when Calum stops, he pulls the boy out the cart and holds him to his side. He likes being up high to see everything. Slowly, Calum walks them through the aisle. 

“We meet again,” comes with a laugh. Cal looks over to see the same woman before, the one on the rice aisle. “Can I pick your little boy’s brain about which water gun is better?” she asks. 

“I help!” Jaiden responds eagerly. “Can I?”

Calum nods, setting his son down. The lady approaches holding out two different kinds of water guns. She squats down to Jaiden’s level. “My nephew is little older than you, if I had to guess. And I’m trying to be the cool aunt, but I feel like I’m failing miserably. Which one you think is cooler?”

Jaiden purses his lips, looking between the two toys in front of him. The green and blue one is big and cool. But the white and green one has the little pump to it. “This is hard,” he mutters to himself. Calum chuckles, hearing his son take choosing the right toy so seriously. 

“Take your time, sweetheart. Thanks for helping me,” the woman encourages. She looks up to Calum again. “Thanks, again.”

He nods, leaning into his cart. “Don’t worry about it.”

“This one,” Jaiden concludes tapping the one with pumping action. 

She grins down at Calum’s mini me. “Thanks so much. You’re a rockstar, you know that? Got me my rice and helped me pick out a toy. You’re dad should be really proud of you.”

“Thanks,” he blushes, walking back to his dad, wrapping his arms around Calum’s legs. Calum can’t resist the urge to pick up his son. A grunt falls over his lips. 

“You’re getting big,” he mutters to Jai, straightening out his t-shirt. 

“Have a great days you guys,” the woman smiles one last time before exiting the aisle. 

It takes Calum another ten minutes to get Jaiden satisfied with his tour of the toy section. As the check out, he piles his items onto the conveyor belt, glancing back to Jaiden, to make sure everything’s alright. The drive back home is filled with Calum singing, on and off key, and Jai in the backseat dancing, doing his grandma’s finger wag of a dance. Cal remembers seeing Jaiden do that dance for the first time after coming back home after a weekend away. He took a video, laughing and sent it to his mom. She replied with a smiley face. Of course she’d not say anything else. 

Home, Calum gets Jaiden inside with a couple bags of grocery. Jaiden follows his dad back outside. “I help, Daddy.”

“Head back inside. I’ll be done soon, Jai.”

He shakes his head. “No, I help. I’m strong.”

A sigh falls over his lips and then looks down to his son. Yeah, Calum could never deny him. He finds the lightest bag from the trunk and hands it over to the boy. “Wait for me before you go inside.” Jai nods, holding the bag of chips with both hands. Calum grabs a few more bags into his second hand and then nods as he starts towards the front door. Jai walks in front of his dad, putting his bag down next to all the other ones. 

Jaiden walks behind Calum, helping him unpack things until Duke distracts him asking for pets. Calum watches the two of them play around a grin lifting his cheeks. For all the craziness that has happened since Jaiden came into the world, watching him grow up is the best thing to ever happen. Calum moved back to Sydney after Jaiden was born and his mother walked away. He wanted to raise a family back at home anyway. But Jaiden’s mother thought staying in the States would be a good idea. Calum, not one for arguing, decided to give it a shot. But a year after Jaiden’s birth, she left. She wasn’t ready nor did she think she was fit to be a mother at that point in her life. 

Calum tried to talk her, get her to realize that like no one’s really ready to be a parent, but the only thing they can do is give it their best. She was convinced it would be best for the both of them if she left. Calum cried to his mother. He had never imagined his child being motherless; how would he raise a kid as a single parent? Would Jaiden resent his mother? Would he ever think himself different and grow sad about it? How would Cal explain that his mother walked away and never called? She said she would but he knew that her promise to call was more for his sake than Jaiden’s. 

How would Calum explain that he never reached out to her because he didn’t want to hurt her further even though that means potential pain for him? How does Calum juggle caring for both feelings of the mother of his child and his child when they inherently conflict? “You okay, Daddy?”

Calum snaps from his daze, eyes focusing on the concern pulling at his son’s face. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure, buddy. Don’t worry. I was just thinking for a second.” Calum walks over, tussling at Jaiden’s hair. “What should Dad fix for lunch, huh?”

“Dinosaurs!” he exclaims, referring to the dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. 

“Dino’s coming right up.”

The second Calum mentions a nap, Jaiden flees. Calum knows where he always goes, under the sheets of Cal’s bed. It’s where Jaiden goes to when he wants to avoid something or he’s scared. Many times when it storms, thunder booming outside, Jaiden will knock on his father’s door, tiny hands clutching his favorite blanket, blinking up at Calum with tears in his eyes. Calum always does the same thing, scoops his little boy up, shushing him with gentle back rubs. He settles into bed, Jaide pressing into his side, head resting on his chest. Jaiden falls asleep to his father’s voice singing in low hums to his favorite lullabies. 

Now Calum watches as Jaiden zips down the hallway, shouting no to nap time. “Jai you know you need a nap,” Calum calls out to the little boy. 

Here we go, Calum thinks to himself pushing away from the table. He slows his gait, giving Jaiden enough time to curl up under the sheets. “Now where has my son gone?” Cal says loudly into the house. “He was just as the dining room table. I make mention of a little thing called a nap.” Jaiden giggles; Calum can hear it as he closes in on his bedroom. “And Jaiden has run away. Oh what am I going to Grandma and Grandpa?” 

Calum closes in on the bed, kneeling on the floor. “Is my tamatāne...under the bed?” Calum looks under the bed. Jaiden giggles from under the sheets. Duke fights to under with the boy too. “Is he….in the closet?”

“No, I’m right here, Daddy!” Jaiden pulls down the covers to reveal himself. 

“Ah there he is!” Calum laughs, “A silly little bug, aren’t you? You still have to nap though.”

Pouting, Jaiden looks up with his blue eyes, wide and blinking slowly. “Can I sleep in your bed?”

“Yes, yes you can sleep in my bed. But no silly stuff, mister.”

Jaiden nods, settling his head on the new pillow. Duke settles in near his feet. Calum tucks the sheets in around him, brushing his hair back with his palm. “I love you,” he whispers. 

“Love you too, Daddy.”

Positive that Jaiden’s fast asleep, Calum slips up front. He’s phone has been lighting up with messages for a while now. But he didn’t want to talk about work until he was sure he’d have a big block of time. Tour’s starting up in the next six months. Jaiden should be enrolled into school by that point and it terrifies Calum that he has to leave for so long. But his mom doesn’t think taking Jaiden out on the road is a good idea. Not that Calum is angry at her logic. But he’s worried he’s going to miss so much. He’s worried Jaiden will never forgive for leaving him. He’s wondering if he can hire a teacher who has some experience nannying to go on the road with him. So he doesn’t have to miss so much of his son’s life. Some days that feels like wishful thinking, a dream that will never materialize. 

When Calum first became a single parent, the boys were very willing and understanding to take a break. They helped him immensely when he felt too embarrassed to go to his mother for the thousandth time over the same concern. All he’s known for the last three year is living everyday with Jaiden, waking up to him, carting him around on adventures and Duke’s walks. All he’s known are the play wrestle matches, and building rockets out of legos and singing to along to every Disney movie. The last few years have just been daily lessons at the kitchen table in Maori and in English. Can Calum give all that up? Can Calum subject Jaiden to the constant shuffling of tour?

Calum dials his mother’s number. He knows her stance on the issue; he just needs someone to talk to, someone to listen to his fears. “Hello?” she answers. 

“Hey, how are you?” he starts.

“I know that tone. Talk to me.”

“I can’t leave him.”

“Hey, it’s going to be okay. Jaiden’s going to be alright.”

“How do I bring that up to him? He’s going to want to come along. He’s never been away from me for that long.”

She listens; she hums, she waits. Waits for him to spill his guts, spill every ounce of fear in his flesh. She knows that it’s not that Calum doesn’t trust her, or is concerned about her ability to watch after Jaiden. He’s afraid about what the distance will do to his child. He’s afraid that Jaiden will get mad, afraid that he will start to question why Dad left and why Mom’s not around. Calum’s terrified that Jaiden will compare him to his absent mother. 

It ultimately has to happen. Calum has to leave Jaiden. They have spent the months leading up to this, talking about what it means that Calum’s leaving. That Grandma will be staying at the house with him, that he’ll be won’t be going to daycare anymore but school. The first few days of school are thankfully a smooth transition. The week before Calum leaves, his mother stays over to help transition. This what he’s been dreading, being absent. He’s never wanted to be absent. 

Leaving for that flight is the toughest part of the morning. Jaiden cries into Calum’s shoulder. “Please don’t go Daddy.”

“I’m so sorry, buddy. I don’t want to leave you.”

“Take me with you.”

“You can’t miss school.”

“I don’t want to miss you, Daddy.”

That declaration breaks Calum’s heart; all the air presses out of his chest. The tears sting behind his eyes, hot and fast. He buries his face into Jaiden’s tiny shoulder, hugging his boy chest to his body. “I love you,” he whispers. “I love you so much. I’ll call everyday; I promise.” This is a promise he will not break. “When we come back here to play, Grandma’s going to bring you to the show.”

Security try to keep the schedule as best as possible. They don’t want to interrupt the tearful goodbye, but the boys need to get kicked in. So Calum place his boy on the ground, squatting in front of them. Calum’s mother stands behind her grandson; she didn’t think it’d be this hard. Calum wipes Jaiden’s face on the sleeve on his shirt. “Daddy’s going to be back real soon. Be a good boy for Grandma, okay, please? I’m only a phone call away.”

Jaiden steps into his father, hugging his neck. “I love you, Daddy,” he cries into Cal’s shoulder. 

“I love you, Jai. I love you so much.” 

As the boys walk through the airport, they notice fans lined up. Calum can’t stop to talk to them, still wiping tears and fighting the sobs in his chest. He risks a glance back through the glass doors and see his mother picking Jaiden up. He pauses, legs desperately wanting to turn him around and run back to his son, that’s his whole life gone from his fingertips. 

“Guess what, Daddy?” Jaiden shouts, settling down in front of the laptop. 

“Oh, look at you!” Cal coos, looking at his son. He’s shot up it feels like over night. “You’re getting so big.”

“Grandma’s going to measure me tomorrow!”

“Make sure to do it when I call. Now what did you want me to guess?”

Jaiden shakes his head. “No, you have to guess!”

“Hmm,” Calum thinks for a second. “You got recess today?”

“We get that everyday, Daddy.”

“Okay, uh, you kissed Grandma today?”

Jai rolls his eyes. “You’re bad at guessing.”

Laughter bubbles out of Calum. “Help your old man out. What happened?”

“I got a new teacher today!”

“He had a substitute,” his mother clarifies from the background, fingers working out peeling something just off screen. 

“Yeah, but she’s the lady that I helped pick out a toy!”

“Oh!” Calum remembers her. She was very sweet. “Is she nice?”

Jaiden nods. “Yeah, and she remembered me too! I like her a lot. I wish she was my real teacher.” They talk until dinner is made for Jaiden. Jaiden drops his head. “How much longer?”

“Soon, I’m coming back soon. Another month.”

“I miss you,” he finally admits looking back to the screen with his eyes swimming in tears. 

“Oh, Jai, bug, I’m always a phone call away. I miss you too. You should be getting something in the mail from me soon, okay?”

He nods. “Okay.”

“I know it’s the same as me coming back home. But it’s only a little bit longer.” When the call ends, Calum rests his head against the leather couch. Why did he have to be so far away when his child only wanted him close?

The last four weeks feel like the drag on, Calum counts the seconds until he can get back to his son. He loves playing shows to fans; he wishes when he crawled into bed, he had Jaiden’s knocking on the door to get in with him. He wishes he could kiss him on his forehead, tussle his hair. His body ache just to hug his little boy. What he wouldn’t do to hold his son?

As the plane lands, Calum fights to keep his knees from bouncing. He grabs his carry on and follows behind Luke out the plane. Fans are lined up and Calum takes a few pics until a voice cries out for him. “Daddy!”

He snaps his head in the sound of the voice. Jaiden waves behind the barrier. Calum rushes over, sliding his carry on bag over his head and drops it to the floor. He sinks to his knees in front of his little boy. “Jaiden, oh,” he cries, wrapping his arms around the boy. He’s grown so much over the course of the tour. He’s a good three inches taller. His face is still chubby, but it’s almost like Cal hasn’t seen him in years. 

Tears stream down his face. Calum doesn’t care; doesn’t move an inch to wipe them from his skin. Pulling back, he laughs, through watery vision and blinks to clear it. Cal runs a hand over Jaiden’s hair. “Cut your hair I see,” he laughs. “Matching me now?”

Jaiden nods, tussing Calum’s hair in return before hugging him again. Words are lost in this throat. He doesn’t know what to say now that his dad is back. Maybe words would make the moment less special. All Jaiden knows is that he’s so elated to have his Dad back. Calum stands, holding Jai in his arms. Calum signs for a couple more minutes, but says no to the pictures. He wants to get home as soon as possible and listen to all of Jaiden’s stories, catch up on all that’s he missed. 

Jaiden smiles at the fans, waving, but mostly he buries himself into Calum’s neck and shoulder. He doesn’t care how long they stand in that airport. Because he’s dad is finally back, not on a screen, not a phone call away, but here in the flesh. He could stand in that airport for forever if it meant being back in Calum’s arms. 

[good-rwbyaus]

Uncle Crow AU - Prologue pt. 1 out of 2. - mod lilac - [ next ] 

Description: A month after Summer’s death, Yang is determined to look for her mother and takes a curious Ruby with her through the reputably safe forests of Patch. Meanwhile, Qrow chooses to check in first with Ozpin instead of visiting the girls first. As a result, a near miss turns into a true disaster. 

But he can make this right. 

He failed to save his teammate. He won’t fail to save her family. 

Characters: Qrow, Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Ozpin, Taiyang

Trigger Warning: Suicide

----------------

How could such a tiny body lose so much blood? 

He had to stay calm. Not just for Tai but for the two girls he’s carrying with him. 

“Tai. Your daughters are seriously hurt. Ruby especially - she’s hemorrhaging fast. Meet me on the main path to Patch with the medical team. Call Ozpin while you’re at it too. Shit-” The phone that was being held against his mouth fell to the ground, his hands too preoccupied with a red-cloaked bundle that looked far too pale and felt too cold to catch it. Blood dripped from her body impossibly so, more blood lost than even an adult could hold. 

Despite all that, she’s still alive. Heart still beating. But for how much longer with that deep wound in her back, he’s not sure. The normally bubbly five year-old was still like stone, her pained motions having stilled after lapsing into unconsciousness. His older niece, on the other hand, was hanging tightly against his neck as he dashed through the forest, ignoring everything but the road he needed to find. 

"I’msorry.I’msorry.I’msorry,” Yang mumbled into his back, the hot tears running down onto his back. Probably apologizing about the phone among other things, since she’s been like that since he got to them. The phone was his mistake; he should’ve expected her to drop it. She practically shook with every breath and word she took. She’s hurt. She’s in shock. More importantly, she knew her sister wasn’t in a good way. Even someone as dense as Ironwood could tell. 

“Yang, don’t worry about it. You did great. Better than anyone could expect of you. Your dad's gonna bring the cavalry now. Ruby’ll be okay. Don’t worry. She’ll be okay,” Qrow comforted softly as he passed by a familiar trail marker used by Signal Academy. “Just keep hanging in there. We’ll make it, okay? Everything will be alright.”

He needed Yang as calm as she could be too. She’s already broke a few ribs, luckily stable at first glance, but one wrong jostle... No, don’t think about it, Qrow. He just needed to be fast. And careful. But fast. 

The wind tossed Qrow’s messy hair, the sweat on his brow completely unrelated to fatigue. Ruby’s only hope now is if he took her to Patch straight away. If he returned home to grab a motorcycle, it might already be too late. He couldn’t leave behind Yang either; after all, a Grimm somehow appeared this close inland. Damn it. If Tai couldn’t meet him halfway...

No. Tai’ll be there. Tai will carry Atlas on his back if his daughters needed him to. It’s all on him to get both of his nieces to where he is. Ruby has to live. Taiyang’s family’s already suffered so much. First, because of his sister....and now with Summer’s death. He won’t let his friend and his nieces suffer anymore. He’ll make sure they won’t lose each other. 

“Ruby. Stay with me. Alright?” he whispered.  

A flickering petal distracted him from his thoughts, red like the blood that dripped from her body. A semblance. At any other occasion, he would’ve broken out the beer with Tai - a Semblance was a joyous occasion for a Hunter family. But now he couldn’t help but think that if this had been the only way Ruby could unlock her aura, he’d rather her not unlock it all. 

However, at this moment, he was still grateful. The mystery of how she could lose so much blood without dying was solved. Her Aura was pushing her body to produce more blood than was typically possible - enough to fill an adult body or two even.

But everything has its cost. Her eyes glanced at her thin limbs, looking a bit more listless and shriveled than before. The ramped production was chewing up her muscles for resources, but...as long as she lived though, though it’d be difficult, she’ll recover her mobility - she’ll be able to do what other kids did. It’ll just take time and effort. 

He felt the grip around his neck loosen.  

“Both of you. Yang, come on. Stay with me now,” Qrow repeated, acting a lot more confident than he felt. He felt the girl’s grip tighten again. His surroundings blurred as he dashed through the forest, ignoring the branches whipping across his face and arms. 

Damn it! He should’ve checked in with Ozpin later. He should’ve headed over to the house first. Maybe he could’ve stopped th-

He shook his head slightly, causing the blonde holding onto him to grip him tighter. Regret’s not going to help Ruby right now. He had to keep running while staunching the bleeding wound in Ruby’s back, all the while not jostling either child. That’s all he knew and could do. It had to be enough.

The greenery that surrounded him turned into a vast clearing, the central road leading to Patch now in full view. Qrow’s eyes caught a precession of vehicles far in the distance along with a familiar mop of blond hair.

“Tai! Over here!”  

------------------

A steady beep filled the air, the heartbeat monitor in Yang’s room being the only noise present after Yang cried herself to sleep. The sharp scent of cleaning materials made him scrunch his nose. Minutes passed in silence as the only two adults in the room tried to find something to say. 

“So you really did tell the kid the truth about Raven,” Qrow sighed, breaking the quiet. He watched as Taiyang tenderly ran a hand through her sleeping daughter’s hair. Unlike how she was minutes before, Yang was now sleeping quietly in the hospital bed, face streaked with tears but breathing evenly and softly.

The girl’s explanation about how everything came to was heartbreaking. She spoke of how Ruby wanted to come along with her, the younger girl thinking she was going to play, when in reality she was really going to ask people about her birth mom. So she tried to sneak to Signal Academy through the normally peaceful Patch forest. Only to be met with a Beowulf which struck her and shattered her ribs. Ruby, not knowing any better, ran forward to protect her sister...

That was when he found them. A blond-haired girl yelling for help while tossing rocks and desperately cheating death, luring the Grimm away from her already mortally-wounded sister. 

Yang thanked him for saving them while simultaneously begging him to make sure his sister was alright - never recognizing that he was the man she called uncle when she was but a toddler. He didn’t want to lie, but who told the cruel truth to a child who was probably holding so much guilt in her. A child who didn’t care about what happened to her - several broken ribs and a broken fibula - but only having sincere, desperate concern about her younger sister. 

They were good kids. Not like him who was a good-for-nothing. A failure of an uncle. Never could give his nieces the attention they deserved. Mostly because if they’d gotten truly attached, they’d want him to stick around. And if that happened, bad things would befall them. 

They always did. Maybe it already even happened. 

His head shook as he saw Taiyanng’s contorted face, who looked like he took a claw to the gut. Shit. Despite his gruff looks, Taiyang’s always been the most sensitive of STRQ. He cared too much about too many things. 

“Ugh. Tai. I didn’t mean it like that,” Qrow slapped his friend���s shoulder and then gripped him tightly, “You couldn’t have known something like that would happen. The forests of Patch are supposed to be safe. It was a freak acci-”

“A freak accident that nearly killed both my girls, Qrow!” Taiyang rose his hand to bash the table and stopped himself, watching his daughter sleeping uneasily, face contorted in fear and pain. A rough palm rubbed against the girl’s forehead, the tightness in her brow loosening from the touch.

“And there was nothing you could’ve done different, Tai.” he spoke softly, “Look they have Ruby in the operating room right now. Ozpin’s supervising. The best of Vale are attending to her right now.” 

“No alarm bells are going off. No yells of code Blue,” Qrow patted Taiyang’s shoulder, “That can only be a good thing, righ-”

The doors to their room slid open. A harried-looking, young man walked in with white coat and all, slightly crouched over in humility. An apologetic look was on the man’s face. All bad signs. 

“Are you Ms. Rose’s family?”

"Yeah, is she alright? Is my little girl alright?” questioned the anxious blond, caught in a pose between trying to respectfully stand while crouching to comfort his sleeping daughter. 

The doctor lowered his head and then looked up. 

“I’m sorry. I have bad news.”

_____

[ next ]

[peterparkerstarker]

Employee Benefits - Starker

Written for my lovely Crush Anon who requested trans!Peter as a go go dancer at a gay nightclub, feat. “daddy kink, praise kink, humiliation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, the good stuff !!!” 

Note: this fic uses the terms pussy and cunt to describe Peter’s junk as a trans man. I chose to use those terms because that’s what he was comfortable with as it plays into the humiliation kink, but it might not be for everyone and that’s okay. As a (mostly) cis writer, I tried really fucking hard to be as respectful as I could be about the trans experience, and make the humiliation more about Peter being desperate for Tony to fuck him than about his trans-ness.

-----------------------------------------------------

Peter was nervous about tonight.

It was his first shift at his new job, and anybody would be nervous on their first day, he reminded himself. It was normal, totally and completely normal.

Except for the fact that this wasn’t a normal job. Not in the least bit. He knew what he was getting himself into when he’d applied. But now that he was actually here, all dressed up and ready to go, he suddenly wondered if this was a bad life decision.

Go go dancer at a gay bar. What the hell was he thinking?

Sure, he and MJ had spent so many late nights practicing his moves, and Ned had lent him the money for his outfit, or at least what little clothing it comprised of. And they’d both lied their asses off to get Aunt May to believe he was safe with them, at an overnight astronomy club field trip. He was 18, so he was perfectly within his right to get a job dancing at this bar, but May would’ve thrown a fit and grounded him, so this was the best option he’d had. 

He shifted awkwardly in his outfit, a red leather chest harness that distracted from the binder he wore under it. At least he hoped it did. Ned had spent all his savings to help Peter order it online, and while Peter had insisted he’d pay him back by Christmas, they both knew there was no way he could afford to. 

He had tight blue shorts on as well, into which he’d securely tucked his packer, another gift from Ned with MJ’s help for his birthday last year. Peter glanced at himself in the mirror one last time before deciding there was nothing else he could do to get ready and would have to just go out and do the fucking job. This is what he’d willingly signed up for, after all. 

He took a deep breath and left the dressing room.

But now, as he stood there at the back of the stage, trembling, he wondered yet again what the fuck he was doing here. But something within him kept pushing him forward, made his legs keep moving until he came into the pulsing neon lights that lit up the club, the bass pounding and thrumming through his body, and with shaking hands he climbed into the cage that would be his work space for the next hour.

“We like to start the new guys out slow, so you’ll just be dancing for an hour at a time, with 30 minute breaks. We’ll see how that goes and then go from there,” the manager of the club had told him when offering him the job. An hour suddenly seemed like a lifetime now.

He let out a haltering breath, clicked the cage closed around him, and closed his eyes, feeling the music beat deep in his chest, connecting with it, letting his hips follow. 

This was the easy part, the part that made him want this so bad. It made him feel high, or drunk or something like that, he honestly didn’t know what either sensation was like, so he had to guess this was similar. Regardless, it felt so fucking good. Like his brain disconnected just enough from his body to be okay. He wasn’t Penis Parker when he danced, he wasn’t the kid at school that everyone gawked and laughed at, he wasn’t any of the shit they put him through. He was just Peter, vibing with the beat and letting his body talk for him. And he didn’t hate his body in those moments. He felt like himself, and that also felt so fucking good.

He opened his eyes, surveying the dark and crowded dance floor, and smiled. People were watching him, entranced by the way he moved, some were even copying him, trying to look cool. Some were significantly more successful than others.

One song blurred into another, faster and more erratic, and he began to let loose a little more, taking up more space in the small cage, grinding against the bars and feeling warm, sweaty hands grope him, desperate to touch him. And fuck, that felt good too. It made him dizzy, being so wanted and desired by these men. They saw him and couldn’t help themselves. And he wanted it just as much as them.

The hour passed in a flash, Peter lost in the music and the groping touch and the high of it all. He saw the light flash that signaled shift change and he begrudgingly let himself out, stopping to wink at a few of the more handsy clubbers on his way out and went back onto the main stage 

‘God, what a fucking trip’, he thought to himself. ‘I could get used to this.’

He stumbled backstage, suddenly so much more tired than he had realized, eager to sit down and take off his shoes. They hadn’t been hurting when he was dancing, but now he was so uncomfortably aware of the way they pinched his right pinkie toe and was desperate for reprieve.

The break went by quickly, shoes off, making sure to drink water and adjust himself in the bathroom, and then being whisked back on stage by the manager because he’d been such a hit that they wanted him back as soon as they could. 

This time, he stepped in with confidence, eyes locking on a gorgeous man with dark rumpled hair, olive skin, and a tight black tank shirt. His skin glistened, tight muscles in full display as he stared back at Peter.

Hungry. That was the look the man was giving him. 

Hunger. 

It made him shiver with need, and god, he wanted to be pressed up tight against this man’s hard sweaty chest, grinding and kissing and nipping at his neck. He kept staring, never letting himself lose sight of the man, dancing just for him this time.

Other hands ghosted across his skin, streaking him with glitter, but he didn’t pay them any mind. He had his sights set on one conquest, and he’d be damned if he lost tonight.

Peter didn’t really have experience with sex, but he didn’t intend to let that stop him. He knew what he liked, knew all the fucked up, degenerate things he craved, and he would be damned if his inexperience was going to hold him back tonight.

He danced out the rest of his second set, eyes locked on the man, daring him silently to come closer, but the man was playing his own wordless game. He never came close enough to touch, never seemed to pay mind to the hordes of man grasping for any skin contact they could get with Peter’s soft, creamy skin. 

He seemed almost… amused now. Like there was a joke only he was in on, and that only made Peter want him more. He wasn’t begging for Peter’s attention like these other men, he knew in no uncertain terms that he deserved it, and was going to get what he wanted. 

It made Peter need him all the more.

His second set finally ended, and as he was climbing out of the cage, pushing away clingy hands of strangers, he lost sight of the man. He’d turned his back for a minute and suddenly the man was gone.

Fuck. 

So much for that…

It was the end of his trial shift and he’d been hoping to sneak onto the dance floor to get up close and personal with the stranger, but try as he might, Peter couldn’t spot him anywhere.

He sighed and hurried back to the dressing room to peel off his sticky clothes and clean up. Tonight had been good, great even, but he was sad about the missed opportunity.

He walked into the dingy backstage room and blinked at the bright light, confused.

The man, the one he’d the past hour eye-fucking while he grinded mostly naked against metal cage bars was sitting there, looking calm and expectant. 

Peter blinked again, confused and speechless. The man smiled a half-cocked grin and extended a hand as if to shake. “I’m Tony. And you are?”

Peter just kept blinking. ‘Jesus’, he thought, ‘Say something!’

He stuttered out his name and felt a blush rising hot and fast to his cheeks. Why was this guy back here? No one but staff was supposed to be back here.

“Bucky didn’t tell me he’d hired a new kid, and I’m gonna have to give him extra hell for not telling me just how incredible you look up there.”

Peter cleared his throat, working up the courage to say, “It’s my first night.. I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Tony. I thought we just went over this?” he said, grinning again and leaning back in the dressing room chair Peter had used earlier.

“No, I know your name’s Tony, but why are you back here? Only staff is allowed, and I don’t want to get in trouble with the manager. He looks like he could kick my ass,” Peter said, finding the courage to square his shoulders and face this man head on.

“Calm down, geez. Bucky isn’t telling anyone shit apparently. I’m Tony, the owner of this bar. Bucky works for me, he’s the bar manager, and he oversees the scheduling and hiring when I’m away for business trips, but this is my bar, I can do whatever I want. And to be quite honest,” he said, looking Peter up and down slowly. “What I want to do right now is you.”

Peter felt like his brain had short circuited just a bit.

This gorgeous man wanted him. And not just in an across a crowded room way. He’d come back to proposition Peter. 

And fuck, did Peter want him. His body was aching and sore, but he wanted to do whatever this man asked of him, his need for this stranger overpowered any need for rest after hours of dancing on display.

Tony quirked his head to the side and added, ”Of course, if you’re not interested that’s perfectly fine, no harm no foul, welcome to the Iron Man team, we’re glad to have you and it’ll be strictly professional from here on out. But I get the sense that’s not what you want, is it?”

Peter shook his head no, maybe a little too eagerly, if Tony’s bark of a laugh was any indication.

Tony gestured to him to come closer, and Peter did, getting close enough to touch, but he refrained.

“I want you to kneel for me.”

And Peter did, falling to the ground wordlessly, entranced by the sheer power this man held over him with a look and a few simple words. He would do just about anything to feel Tony's touch, but that wasn’t the game they were playing, and he was more than happy to play this one out.

Tony stroked his cheek, gently, warm and sweet and never broke eye contact. Peter felt himself practically panting, needy and desperate for more.

“I’m probably twice your age, you know?” tony whispered

“I don’t care.”

“I’m old enough to be your father.”

“Well, I never knew my dad, so what does that matter?”

Tony grinned devilishly at that. “Daddy issues huh? I can most certainly work with that.” He unzipped his pants, pulling out his cock, and letting Peter stare doe-eyed at it in excitement. It was just as gorgeous as him, long and thick and just slightly curved up, cut and defined and glistening at the head with pre-cum. 

A wet dream come to life.

Peter’s mouth watered, he needed so badly to get his tongue on Tony's cock. Needed to taste and feel and suck and swallow. Needed to fuck him and let Tony have his way with him. Needed to be used.

Tony nodded, ever so slightly, and Peter took that as a sign to start, licking up the length of him gently, ever so gently, and smiled as Tony let out a deep groan. He’d never done this before, but he’d watched enough porn to know the basics. 

He knew it wasn’t the best head of Tony's life, but he didn’t care. He was sucking off a stranger on a dirty floor of a gay bar where he was now a gainfully employed go go dancer. Peter wasn’t going to waste a second worrying, he was too lost in the silky texture of Tony’s cock sliding in and out of his mouth, the way his hips thrust to meet Peter’s lips, the panting breaths Tony let out, the little moans of pleasure that encouraged him to keep going, let him know he was doing good.

“Ah, that’s it, such a dirty slut, on your knees for a man you just met. God, you’re gorgeous, lips wrapped around my cock. I wanna wreck you with it, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Tony asked.

Peter eagerly nodded, still too focused on licking the head of Tony's cock to properly reply, and Tony grabbed his chin sharply, pulling his face up to look up into his eyes.

“Such a cockslut. You can’t even focus enough to tell me that’s what you want. Bet I could lift you up and fuck you on this table right now and you’d be begging me to fill you. Is that what you want? Me to fuck you till you can’t take any more? Of course, I wouldn’t stop until I was done. I’d keep fucking your tight little hole, make you scream and cry. Do you want me to make you cry Peter?”

And Peter let out a moan ripped from somewhere deep in his chest. He’d never wanted anything more. He could feel himself dripping wet, his shorts were probably soaked through already. 

He needed Tony to pound into him until he came, screaming and crying and begging for more. He needed to be tony’s fuck toy, humiliated and used. His whole body ached with the need to be wrecked by Tony's huge cock. 

Tony saw the desperation in his eyes, the way his lip trembled, and suddenly lifted him up off the floor and onto the cluttered table top. Items clattered to the ground to make room for Peter’s slim body, but they didn’t pay attention to them, too caught up in kissing frantically, biting and sucking, Tony working his mouth down Peter’s neck, hard enough to leave bruises. It hurt so bad, but the minute he lifted his mouth from each spot, a wave of endorphins crashed through his body, like a high he’d never imagined before. He wanted tony to hurt him, keep hurting him enough to make him cry out, anything to keep feeling this fucking good.

Tony unceremoniously pulled down his shorts, packer and all, and stared in wide eyed hunger at Peter’s uncovered skin. 

He suddenly felt so shy, so self conscious. Humiliated. A searing flash of heat worked its way under his skin. No one had seen him like this. Peter didn’t even like to look at this part of himself, but the way Tony looked at him, like an animal ready to pounce, starving and greedy. He pushed those feelings aside. He needed tony to fuck him, needed tony to know how much he wanted him, how wet he got for him.

And Tony did touch him, rubbing his swollen wet clit, gentle circles at first, getting a feel for Peter's body, and then faster, harder, brutal and wonderful all at once. As soon as Tony knew Peter could take a little, he would go full force, overwhelming him with sensation. It made him shake with need. He needed Tony to stuff his cock into him.

Peter let out a whine, grinding hard against his hand, and Tony grasped onto his chin again, holding him  tight with the hand that wasn’t pumping away. 

“Daddy doesn’t like greedy boys, you understand? You'll take what you're given and be grateful for it. Cum sluts don’t get to set the pace. You’re mine right now, and I say when you can come, understand?”

Peter looked away, embarrassed to respond, and Tony clinched harder onto his chin, grip tight enough to bruise. At the same time, his fingers slipped into Peter, two, maybe three? Peter wasn’t sure. All he knew was that Tony filling his pussy up was the best goddamn feeling in the world, and he needed more.

He nodded feverishly, letting out a breathy “ Yes daddy,” and was rewarded with Tony's fingers curling up inside him, hitting a spot that made his vision blur a bit.

“Good boy, such an obedient little thing when you want to be. Daddy’s gonna train you so well. I’ll have you coming all over my hand on command soon enough. You’ll be begging to drink my cum after I'm through with you.”

And as he said that, he took out his fingers, held them up for Peter to see his own pre-cum dripping and glistening in strands between his fingers, and then he was thrusting himself deep into Peter's cunt, the head of his cock hitting deep inside him. He was going to be so sore tomorrow, and the thought of feeling a reminder of tony’s cock deep inside him tomorrow made  him shiver with excitement.

Tony pounded into him, a brutal pace that left him breathless. All the while, he bit and sucked bruises up Peter’s exposed collarbone, the waves of adrenaline hitting even harder with Tony buried deep inside him. He could feel it building, like waves of heat crashing over him. 

“Fuck, Tony, I’m gonna… I think I'm gonna…” 

“That’s it baby boy, come for daddy, want you to come all over my cock, wanna feel you tighten around me, you can do it, come for your daddy.”

And he did, clenching and wet and screaming out Tony's name. He hoped the pounding music from the dance floor was enough to drown out his yells as he came.

And then Tony was yelling along with him, spurting deep inside him, coating him with sticky wet cum, marking him, claiming him. 

They lay there for a minute, Tony's heavy body pressing him down hard against the top of the table, sweaty and panting and grinning at each other like fools. Tony leaned down to kiss him. Gently, ever so gently. A tender kiss that made Peter fall in love that much more.

As Tony pulled out, Peter could feel his cum squelching inside him, oozing out of his gaping hole, cooling as it trickled down, a messy reminder of what they’d just done.

Tony helped Peter up, helped him clean himself up as best as he could, and gave him another kiss, turning Peter’s bruised chin up to stare into his eyes.

“Tomorrow night I want you here an hour early for your shift. We’ve got some extra hands on training to do… understand?” Tony asked, and Peter early agreed.

He collected his stuff, only just now starting to wonder how the hell he was going to hide these bruises from aunt may. He’d just have to tell her he was staying the night at Ned’s tomorrow, and ask MJ to help him conceal them with makeup.

He was about to leave, still floaty and out of it on how good it felt to be fucked like that, when Tony called out, “Make sure to tell Buck thanks from me on the way out, will you?”

Peter stared back, confused.

“He’s been trying to find me a new boy for a while now, he must’ve taken one look at you and known how badly I’d want you.”

Peter flushed, pride and shame swirling into each other. 

“Don’t forget, an hour early tomorrow, and be ready to make daddy happy, understand?” he added, with a wink that made Peter wet all over again.

‘Not too bad for a first night on the job,’ he thought. He could certainly get used to these benefits.

[tonks32]

Aiden Trevelyan X Cassandra Prompt “Hold On to Me”

There was no point in struggling or screaming. Logically, Casandra knew that, but it didn’t stop her from fighting against the metal shackles or crying out till her throat became raw. She’d be damned if she were going to be idle while these deranged blood mages bled her dry for some Maker forsaken ritual. They would not kill her in the same way they had her brother.

   “Silence!” One of the masked mages commanded. “I told you before no one can hear you. No one will find you.”

   Wrist bleeding from the metal biting into her skin, Cassandra starred at the man through the dim light. They had her bound on a stone alter in nothing more than a swash of cloth surrounded by flaming black candles. Their glow was the only light source since they blacked out the windows. “Fuck you!”

    Wrapping a hand around her throat, he slammed her head back hard enough to leave the warrior dazed. “Such a mouth for a Chantry woman. This all would’ve been so much easier if you agreed to help us.”

    Cassandra fought to clear her vision. If she passed out then she was good as dead. She had to hold out until her companions found her. Surely, they would have started looking for her when she didn’t return from bathing down by the stream. She’d let her guard down and now was playing the price. “I will never willingly help a blood mage.” Though she couldn’t quite see her mark, she spat in the man’s face. “Especially ones that murdered my brother.”

   The man let out a long sigh and motioned for another in the room to flank the altar. He swept his finger over the streak of blood leaking from her raw wrist. “He could not see his true purpose. He failed to see the tremendous power within his blood.”

   “Look at her struggling.” A third man stood at the foot of the alter. “Look at how she’s wasting that power.”

    “We must hurry before she throws away more.” The first man rubbed his blood coated finer over the bridge of his nose making his eyes glow red. “Tell the others to come inside and we will begin.”

   Cassandra became paralyzed by fear the moment the cold steel of a blade touched her throat. Just like the night her brother was killed, she could do nothing to stop the actions about to happen. They were about to drain her blood to appease some sick dragon ritual She was going to die bound and helpless. Her greatest fear.

    Chanting filled the dark room, filling her veins with ice.

    Would her brother be waiting for her on the other side? Would incomplete actions in life follow her into the Fade? Would the Maker remind her how foolish she’d been in playing it safe when the risk was worth the reward?

   The knife gleamed in the candlelight as it was raised and poised to strike. She closed her eyes on a prayer to the Maker to bring her a swift death.  

    If only she had more time.

   There was a grunt and Cassandra felt the warm thickness of blood spatter across her face. No pain, she silently mused waiting for the heaviness of death to take her. Thank Andraste for that.

   Something whistled through the air before there was another grunt and something heavy fell against the alter, scattering the candles and casting the room into total darkness.

   “Cassandra?”

    Odd, she thought. To hear his voice on the other side of the veil. Or was this the Maker’s way of providing comfort? To ease the transition of death by hearing the one voice she wanted the most in her last moments.

   “Someone find the damn keys!”

   “I can’t see a fucking thing!”

    “Open your eyes. C’mon, Seeker.”

   Feeling the familiar touch on her cheek, Cassandra’s eyes shot open to find Aiden’s glowing blue orbs staring down at her. Cassandra’s heart leaped. He found her! Tears burned the back of her throat leaving her incapable of speaking.

   “Stand back, Boss,” Bull Commanded. After throwing a lifeless blood mage to the ground, the Qunari raised his massive sword above his head and came down hard against the link holding her chains together. “We need to move. More are coming.”

    “Up you go, Seeker.” Aiden snaked an arm around her bare shoulders and lifted.

   “You will not take her from us!” The leader roared charging forward through the darkness.

   Only Aiden could see the blade going for Cassandra’s heart. Cursing, he dove across the alter, dragging the Seeker along so the blade dragged across his back and not into her chest.

   “Get her out of here!” Dorian shouted.

    “Hold on to me,” Aiden whispered against her ear. “Don’t let go.”

    Cassandra latched her shackled arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

   Not known for his strength, Aiden called on all his adrenaline as he pushed to his feet and waded through the small battle raging around the pitch-black room. “Hold on.”

   Sun blinded her when they stumbled outside. She had no bearing to where they were or where Aiden was taking her. All she knew was that with him she was safe. And that’s all that mattered. Aiden had come for her. It seemed the Maker was listening to her please after all.

   Once he was sure they were safe and no one was flowing them, Aiden fell to his knees, holding Cassandra against him. “Are you okay?”

   Cassandra couldn’t seem to find her voice. The man who was beyond terrified of the dark breached its depth to save her. The man, who detested being touched or making any physical contact of any kind, was clutching her for dear life. Overwhelmed with emotions, she buried her face into his scarred throat.

   “Are you hurt?” Drawing away, Aiden began to search, needing the reassurance before he went mad with worry. All he could think about was the knife against her throat and the utter terror he felt at the thought he’d been too late.

   His hands seemed to be touching her everywhere at once. His warmth and reassurance were the only things keeping her from falling apart. “I’m okay.”

   Aiden skimmed his fingers along her throat. “There is blood.”

   “Not mine.” Tears began to burn again and this time she let them fall knowing with Aiden she was safe to do so. “Hold me a little bit longer.”

   He pulled her tightly against him. “I got you.” Aiden felt her fingers twist in his hair almost as if she was anchoring herself. There was no flash of discomfort or any sickening sensation that hit whenever someone touched him. There was only the overwhelming relief that she was safe and unarmed. “Maker, Cassandra.”

   “What took you so long?”

   A strangled laugh worked up his emotionally clogged throat. He wasn’t used to feeling so much. To his astonishment, Aiden felt tears prickle at the corner of his eyes. The face she believed that he would come to save her left him breathless. “Had to make the save as dramatic as possible for when the dwarf writes about the grand tale.”

   “You cut it a bit close there, Trevelyan.”

   “I’m sorry.” Taking her face in his hands, Aiden pressed his brow against hers. “I’m so sorry.”

   “I’m okay,” She reassured hands drifting over his shoulders. Her brows scrunched together when she felt something damp against her fingers. “Andraste’s light, Aiden! You’re bleeding!”

   Aiden twisted trying to catch a glimpse of the wound. “It’s nothing.”

   “I’ll be the judge of that.”

   “Everyone okay out here?” Dorian asked pushing through the thick brush they hid behind.

   “Blood isn’t hers.” Aden shifted, taking her shackled hands carefully in his. “Did you find the key?”

   The mage tugged it from his belt. “Bull and Varric are ensuring no one else is lingering. We need to move out if everyone is able.”

   Seeing the great care Aiden was taking in assuring he didn’t cause any more discomfort as he unshackled her nearly made Cassandra weep. He thought of himself as a broken man with nothing by rough edges, yet here he was showing her all the gentleness and comfort in the world. “I can walk.”

   “Good.” Dorian handed her a healing potion. “For your wrist until I can heal them properly.”

   Once the mage walked off, Aiden shrugged out of his hunting coat and bundled Cassandra in it. “Take the potion,” He softly commanded.

   She pushed the vial into his hand. “You need it more than me.”

   “I beg to differ.”

   “Well, you can’t see your back.”

   Aiden shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

   “That does nothing to make me feel better. Especially since you sustained a wound meant for me.”

   “I couldn’t… Couldn’t…” Aiden brushed his hand along her blood stained cheek. How could he begin to explain that losing her was a pain that he couldn’t bear when he was still struggling to understand the sheer importance of her in his life.

   Seeing emotions flooding his gaze, she clamped a hand over his scarred wrist pleased he hardly flinched. “Aiden.”

   “We need to move out,” Varric called out. “In case they have any friends nearby.”

   “Drink.”

   “We’ll split it.” Cassandra downed half the vial and shoved it back into his hand before he could protest. “Don’t argue, Trevelyan. You’ll never win.”

   Chuckling, he swallowed the rest of the potion. “I have no doubt.”

[yeet-imma-skeet]

The Sky Is Falling

(Loosely based on @starr-fall-knight-rise 's universe)

A thunderous rumbling shook the gathering area, causing frightened screams to yell out in shock. Metallic silver pillars periodically placed around the mansion sized room held the looming ceiling aloft before they started to groan dangerously as if feeling the dangerous pressure around them. Lights flickered before dimly coming back on again, the glasslike gems hung from swinging chandeliers, barely emanating a yellow glow. The smell of a pungent gas filled the air along with the faint whiff of spilt blood. Another thundering boom echoed once more, making some unseen children bawl uncontrollably.

"Please! Take the children!"

"There's no more room, lazeir, I'm sorry!"

"Then make more, caldat!"

"Yes, please! I'm begging you! Take them!"

"Lazeir! Don't leave me, lazeir!"

"Caldats!! Please save us!"

"Save us!"

"Protect the dolmiers!"

"Come back for us!"

The noise was suddenly quieted as an oval door shut soundlessly into place. The small room brightened slowly, revealing three beings sitting by the opposite wall. They breathed heavily, not because of their lengthy run to their compartment in total disarray, but of the intolerable pressure set on their heads.

One whispered, "There’s room in here... We can take some children and—"

"There is not enough supplies to support us and them on the dolmier quaster, Al. We'll barely make it past the galaxy with them if—when we escape." Another voice interrupted logically, their voice shaking.

"B-but we can try! There's still—"

"My prince." The third being said firmly, "My... friend. I am in charge of both of your safety and wellbeing. Even at the cost of others. Your existence will be a saving grace in the future so I cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself now."

The being stood up, their stance showing fatigue but with great determination, "Let's go... May Matradais guide our course to somewhere resourceful and safe."

The being got the first part right, but was most certainly wrong about the latter.

———————————

It all started on that day. That one damned day. It was all perfect before their majesties came to find their heirs...

The Three Rivers Home was a homeschool like any other. There were a few gentle yet strict lazeirs, non-binary caretakers, who watched over the usual litter of fifty children though they were a variety of different subspecies. The Home stood in between some rivers, the edge of a savanna, and few giant Hollow trees, causing the diversity. It was beautifully built home with plenty of rooms, wings made for school rooms, and multiple obstacles to play on. Laughter could be heard at all times of the day, making any passing adult smile in nostalgia. The white, marble walls stood gleaming and true as messily painted streaks of blue ran around the blank canvas like snakes. A small symbolic prank the lazeirs found endearing. A few children were rare hybrids from the locations and garnered a lot of attention from other kids, welcome or not. One of these children was a small female who had sleek body shape made for speed but her hair curiously a muted purple, a clear sign of someone different than the norm. Besides that, she could climb almost as well as any Sky Dweller though her tail was much clumsier at holding branches. She fell from that mistake that one fateful day.

"Galia you're going to fall."

"No I'm not. See these claws?" She flexed her six fingers, sharp curved claws extended from her fingertips menacingly, "Matradais gave me them for a reason. You're just mad you can't join us up here, flipper face."

The giant Farrisan below lashed his tail at the comment but did no more than just exasperatedly stare above at her. His artic blue eyes seemed to be pinprick lights from fifty feet up in a tree. She giddily hopped on her beastly hind legs, her reptilian toes clawing the tree. Another Farrisan alighted on her branch, swatting her shoulder lightly with his long tufted tail.

"Don't tease him, Gale. He can thrash both our hides if he felt like it."

She tussled his vibrant orange mane of hair, "Only if he catches me first!"

With a whoop and a shout, she launched off the branch, bark flying from her clawed toes' grip. With the grace of a clumsy monkey, she made her way down to the ground as her friends yelled at her for multiple reasons. The orange haired Sky Dweller egged her on while the Sea Dweller below yelled about some dead branch. Dead branch?

Her tail wrapped around a particularly dry branch before she realized the warning.

"FUCK."

"SHIT."

"DUMBASS."

"LANGUAGE!"

As Galia fell, their heads turned towards their lazeir coming at them at full speed. It was a terrifying sight to behold. An angry mane of frizzy red hair plus a set of pissed crimson eyes made them truly wish they hadn't sneaked out during role call and instead crawled into a deep hole to cower in. The Sky Dweller easily maneuvered through the grove of trees, clawed feet digging into bark and tail expertly balancing their form as they grabbed Galia in the nick of time before skidding to a halt on ground. They instantly searched her body, looking for any cuts or bruises before flicking her folded wing-like ear with a finger.

Her arial rang as the sharp sound bounced along her hearing, "Ow! Okay! I get it! That was dumb and I'm sorry."

"You should be! What were you thinking? You're not Sky Dweller enough to do acrobatics like that!"

Galia felt a sliver of familiar heat build up within her. The other two who arrived to check on her immediately knew what she was thinking as they plucked her small form from their lazeir's arms.

"She won't do it again!"

"We'll play something else next time!"

They both looked expectantly at her golden eyes, silently telling her to confirm.

"Yes," She looked away, "I won't."

Their lazeir scrutinized her for a second as they sighed in relief, "Good. I’m just glad you're safe, but we have to get you back in for the gathering. The Sea, Sky, and Land Royals are coming. We can't have anyone missing."

They ushered them towards the homeschool, looking quite frazzled at the past events. Unlike their regular personality, they didn't pay any attention to the trio of young adults silently seething at their past comment. It was a sore spot to mention Galia's shortcomings as a hybrid. Never being one or the other created quite a strain on her expectations and if it wasn't for her two friends, she would've been alone, sad, and angry since the beginning. Now she’s just livid with two other people to keep her in check.

A gust of wind pushed against the group, ruffling the yellow leaves above them and swaying boughs of gray branches. Opening their folded arials curiously, the trio heard the familiar sound of dolmiers, flying pearlescent vehicles, whir closer and closer. Their lazeir ushered them faster as three giant torpedo-shaped dolmiers landed gently onto the open field of trimmed cream grass of their front yard. It was a sight to behold, three uncommonly large and armored dolmiers sat gallantly under the emerald sky, shiny and mysterious.

"Dolmier quasters!" The Sea Dweller whispered, amazed.

"What?"

"Dolmiers made especially for Royals."

The orange hair teased, "Pfft, Wace is all nerd."

"Aleyo, I would've asked for your opinion if I wanted it."

Both young men were thwacked with a red-tufted tail.

"Get. Inside."

They flinched, "Yes lazeir."

Galia chuckled as they walked indoors, Wace combed back his black mane sheepishly while glaring at Aleyo. Al opened an arial, pretending to hear something else.

"Don't ignore me you overgrown monke—"

"No really! I hear something."

Or maybe not.

Low muttering could be heard over the ambient halls. Countless doorways lined the white yet homey halls stretched at their sides, dotted every now and then with pieces of artwork or holographic announcement boards. The doors to gathering space made for meetings were propped opened in the front entrance, revealing rows of whispering young Farrisans staring their way. A rainbow of eyes gazed at them, most with curiosity, some with glee, and a few with exasperation. Every one of their litter mates knew the trio were a special group of friends.

Aleyo was the most gullible of the group, quite trusting in an adorably funny way. Al once got his head stuck in a Stoll tree hollow trying to drink its special sap from the source while, somehow, Galia had convinced him to get her a cup of the bubbly water before he went for it. However, he always helped around with a kind hand no matter how many times he's been tricked. Nobody had the heart to keep screwing with him for long. Especially when they know that both his friends would find ways to unmake them.

Wace was the smartest of the bunch yet just got into a lot more of their shenanigans than he should have. He found robotics and engineering to be his forte which allowed his other two litter mates to have a swell time with his inventions, whether purposely made for shenanigans or not. The Rocket Orb Incident was a tale to tell for the ages. Despite the fact that his partners dragged him into trouble, he found himself the happiest when watching over their antics.

Lastly, Galia was the most willful of the trio and the cause of almost all their shenanigans. Whatever temptation came her way, she would do whatever she could to accomplish it. Climb that dummy high tree? Up there in no sweat with some help from Al. Want the best sun spot to lay in? Make a convoluted plan with Wace to maneuver a littermate out of the spot. Craving for the last piece of steak fruit? Sprint through litter mates and if she failed to get one, beg with wide eyes to close friends. Those glittery golden eyes always gained her delicious meals though Wace and Al were somewhat immune to the charm.

Everyone knew they were stupidly close and no doubt knew that they planned to stay close even when their territorial urges come. They couldn't imagine them in any other way.

The trio joined the lined ranks, muttering a few apologies for brushing against tails and exchanging a few knowing stares. They found their spot among the first rows facing the back of the room where a podium stood. Switching into a more polite mindset, they stood respectfully in place like nothing had happened. Especially incidents involving falling off trees. Their watchful lazeir sighed at the sight as they stood with other lazeirs to welcome their now approaching guests.

The first thing the litter noticed was the sudden pressure in the air. Some feeling made their arials twitch, their bodies tensed, and their eyes lock onto the entrance.

Tall, muscled adults stalked in, looking relaxed yet attentively alert. Each had a weapon in hand, some with pearlescent gauntlets, few with kinetic guns, and fewer with gleaming tridents. All of them wore a gray tailcoats over armor, both leather and metal plated. The intimidating atmosphere they created chilled the younger Farrisans to the core. Never have they met such adults armed to the teeth.

A giant Sea Dweller stood forward, faintly smelling of salt, "Stand at attention for his majesty of the Land"

A chorus of moving occurred as the litter and their lazeirs bowed their heads, curled their tails to their backs, and opened arials wide to tilt downwards in respect. Quiet footsteps echoed through their arials along with swishing of loose clothing.

"Greetings young ones." A Plain Dweller stepped forward from the guards. His sleek form, though small, subtly demanded attention. His tailcoat was exquisitely bright cream, matching the most vibrant of savanna grasses. A wreath of golden vines adorned his tawny mane, a crown proving his identity as a king as did the rest of his extravagant clothing. The litter grew curious of another wreath held within his hands, a smaller and daintier version of his own until they remembered what happened years ago. His mate had died due to an emerging disease. As it was new and is currently still incurable, she died after laying the heir's egg. As did another king's mate.

He suddenly stood in place, knocking everyone out of their thoughts. His deep sage eyes stared ahead at one of the litter, a young Plain Dweller known as Kial in the middle of a row. Though he had shadow gray hair, his confused eyes were the same as the king's. He nervously shuffled in place under his majesty's gaze.

"You... What is your name?" The king asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The young man stuttered, "Uh— K-Kial, your majesty."

"Kial!" His arials quivered with joy, "My heir! He's here!"

Disbelief filled the room as the king ran to him, ignoring all etiquette and precautions. His guards scrambled to reach his side as he happily introduced himself to the shocked man.

His litter mates broke into whispers, "Kial!"

"Him?"

"The playboy?"

"The clown?"

Some giggled as they were shushed by their lazeirs.

They silently watched as the king gently touched the man's face, turning him this way and that.

"You look so much like your mother."

"I do? She must've been hot."

The king laughed, a gravelly yet wholesome sound, "You also have her humor! You are definitely our son!"

The guards who arrived acknowledged the words by bowing their heads with open arials. Though his litter mates were still in shock, they also followed along in showing respect to a newfound prince.

Galia flicked an arial towards the entrance, hearing a few more heavy steps entering the room. Too curious to ignore the noise, she cast an eye at the doorway and did a double take. How the heck does Wace and Aleyo have grown twins? With armed guards. Wearing fancy crowns... It was like looking into grumpy and wrinkly pictures them using a cheap photo filter but one of them's a female.

Her eyes grew into golden saucers as she nudged both her friends in their bow.

Al nudged back, "Gale what the hell?"

"Uh—"

Wace whisper-yelled, "I swear to the goddess if you two are playing tailsey at this time I will—"

"What the fuck? No ther—"

"Language." Their frizzy haired lazeir hissed quietly.

"Fine. Why the fuck—"

"Gale! They're still our lazeir!"

"—do their majesties—"

"There’s only one here?"

"—loOK LIKE YOU GUYS?!"

Her angry voice slashed through the silence, causing heads to shoot up at her.

"What?" They asked.

She exasperatedly motioned to the door. Their gazes followed then stopped, stuck on the two towering adults at the door with guards at their tails. Both were ginormous for their species, making both of them duck under the doorways by a large margin. The Sea Dweller queen gathered the most attention as her imposing figure cast a long shadow onto the floor. Scars of past duels and battles dotted her tail and her body under the embroidered navy tailcoat. A silver crown of coral adorned her short black tresses as her piercing blue eyes seemed to look throughout the room yet not at the same time.

Her gaze first landed on Galia for her outburst, making her feel like an insignificant bug under her chin. She did not like the aura around her. She felt sharp, pointy, and worst of all... cold.

The other king stood forward, his arials perked up and his sky green eyes glimmering with some hidden emotion. Light danced off his bronze crown of thicket vine, illuminating his orange mane like a bonfire. A similar wreath of metal was held in his claws. A sure sign that he had also lost his mate. He held a warm yet regal atmosphere, motioning for someone to come closer. But who?

He locked eyes with Al, "You. Come closer."

Aleyo looked at his friends, both of them sending comforting gazes before he tentatively stepped out of the row. He paused at a few steps, still bowing his head in nervous respect.

"What is your name, young man?"

He gulped, "Aleyo, sir. Al for short."

"Aleyo..." The king whispered, "So you were also here, my heir."

Al looked up in surprise, both his friends even more so. The room filled with loud barely concealed gasps. The other two felt dread crawl into their hearts. Every heir found had to go with their majesties the day they're found and chances of ever meeting them again were slim to none. Would they ever see him again?

The Sea Queen rose a stiff hand, silencing the room in an instant. Her head slowly turned towards Wace as she also motioned him to come forward. Gale's heart dropped to her tail. It aches and cried as he escaped her reach. It couldn't be. It can't be.

Finally, the brawny queen asked him the dreaded question, "What is your name?"

Wace stood silent. He bowed to the authority but did not say a word.

The queens's close guard thudded his trident on the ground, "Your queen asked you a question, youngling."

Al felt growing fear as he watched him stay quite. Gale only felt sorrow but soon mustered up bravery.

She stepped forward and bowed her head lower, "His name is Wace, your majesty."

Both her friends stared in disbelief, seeing unbelievable acceptance in her cowed form.

"Hmm," She heard the queen hum, "Is that your name? Will you answer me this time instead of your halfbreed littermate?"

Galia gritted her teeth in rage, internally wrestling herself to stay bowed, to stay cowed, and stay in her place. Memories of past adults whispering behind her back crawled their way back into her mind. A poor soul. An incomplete being. A halfbreed. What good is a Farrisan who isn't the fastest? What good is she if she's not the best climber either? She loathed their comments. Hypocrites, the lot of them but she couldn’t help feeling the same. What is my worth? Why do I exist? Emptiness replaced her fury as she felt more hollow than ever.

Seconds past until she began noticing her friends openly glaring at the Sea Queen, unafraid of her power and strength. Oh boy. Those two amazing yet daft litter mates.

"Yes my name is Wace, but don't you dare call my friend that again." His stance stood wide, unyielding to the giant’s scrutiny.

Al growled, an unexpected sound coming from the kind person, "What he said."

The air felt chilled, suffocating the room. The rest of the litter and the lazeirs looked on in horror as the Sea Queen's face turned sour and her guards grow in hostility. Tension grew but nobody flicked an arial.

The Sky King quickly stood between the glaring pair, "Apologies on the behalf of my heir. I'm sure they don't mean to cause harm, Warina. They're clearly close."

"But father I—"

Al was shushed by a stern look by the king.

Narrowing her eyes, the Sea Queen eased her guards with a swift raise of a tail. The air loosened as the litter and lazeirs shuffled uneasily. Galia let go of a breath she never knew she held. She wanted nothing more than to sink to the ground in relief until she felt a sliver of fear stab through her body. Though it was quick, she felt someone staring through her soul with hatred. Behind. It was behind her. Quite unexpected since she thought the Sea Queen the culprit but she was clearly in front of her. Odd...

"Before I was rudely interrupted," Her silky voice cut through the room, "It seems that all of our heirs have been raised here."

No amount of guards or, in fact, royals could quiet the astonished din the litter and lazeirs made.

"All of them!"

"We had all princes here the whole time?"

"A first in history!"

"Poor Galia..."

Poor Galia indeed. Her world felt like crumbling apart. Not them. They have been through everything. They planned to be neighbors. They wanted to be together til the end, even if they found mates and grew withered with age. Instead, she will stay they way she is as they will grow wise, grand, and famous. Rulers of the Sky and Sea, leaving her behind. Unless...

She stepped between her royal friends, arials open in reverence and tail painfully curled further upon her back as she put her heart out. Please let her come!

"Your majesties, may I be trained under your vigilance?" She asked.

The room gawked as the Royals found themselves surprised at the rarely asked ageold question. Her friends even more so. Galia had directly asked their royal highnesses to be a Vigil, the highest caste of warrior especially trained under royal guards. They were known as mysterious yet deadly soldiers who were constantly forced to always do missions on and off world for Royals. In other words, Farrisans who volunteered to be without a territory, thoroughly destroying any chances of them ever having a home and most importantly, a mate.

"Gale no!"

"If this is for us then—"

Another voice cut through, "Can I have her?"

The Land King walked away from the rows of the litter, a confused Kial and guards in tow.

"You have plenty of Vigils from my given forces. Might I have this one serve me?" He asked again.

Galia felt the stab of fear again, staggering a step away from the king. Hate. She felt hate emanate from his very body. How nobody noticed was beyond her. Why? Why does he feel like rotten intent when he looked like he was having the best day of his life. Wait—

"Very well."

"We have no need. Train her well."

Wace and Aleyo prepared to dissuade their parents when they were gently knocked behind the knees with Galia's tail. She shook her head, sending the most determined gaze instead. The guards readied weapons at her preposterous treatment of their new princes when the Land King raised a tail.

He cheerfully said the malicious first words of many to come, "No need. We'll train our new Vigil quite well..."

Without hesitation, they left their separate ways before anyone could process what truly happened. The trio barely met eyes as they were torn apart. That fateful day was only the first before their world would truly fall apart.

(Part 2: https://yeet-imma-skeet.tumblr.com/post/613800854138552320/the-sky-has-fallen)

[c-atm]

Bittersweet meetings pt6

*November 7th..Night of Connie's birthday.*

Steven slightly turned the knob of the burgandy door at the back of the house; stepping into the kitchen of the Maheswaran household as he did many times. In his hand a small cobalt blue box with a gold ribbon, a gift for his closest friend on her birthday.

The kitchen itself was empty for the moment, but in the living room he saw some people not much. Most were already engaging in conversation near a wall or on the couch playing the gaming system. Though Steven could hear the music blaring from underneath them; the basement. He looked  to the southern wall, saw the table where the gifts were being held and decided against adding his. He look towards the stairs and smirked as a plan formed in his mind.

He took to the stairs greeting people as he did and climbed up to the second floor. He walked to the second door on the left and entered unnoticed. A third of the room glowed in a natural light from outside; including Connie's bed and desk. He's been in this room many times before, but this time he felt different. There was a swell in his chest.  

“it's been a few weeks since I've been in here. Still as orderly as ever.. and still smell of jasmine.” Steven let off a chuckle before taking notice of a slightly old picture of the two on her desk. the picture was taken during one of their group excursions, a karaoke bar. Steven and Connie was performing, mic in one hand and the other connecting them.  He couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked in that pic, despite it being mid ‘belt out’ of ‘Partners in Crime’

‘But she always do...ok enough fawning over her. I'm here for a reason.’ He scolding thought before turning to the bed he gently laid the present on the blue pillow on the bed with a card next to it. Happy with his work, the teen  left the room discreetly. as he was walking away from the room he felt two strong, feminine arms wrapping themselves around his shoulders and a very womanly form pressed behind him. He froze, feeling the person breath in his ear.

“Oh my. you've grown haven't you, Lil Stevie?”

His eyes widen at the sultry, accusatory voice before turning around and looking down at a 20 year old beauty, who was smirking at him. They had lighter mocha skin than Connie, slightly smaller nose as well. They shared the same hair color and length, though there was a streak of pink in it. They also shared the same black pools for eyes as Connie.  He hugged the ;person and gave them a twirl.

“Stevonnie! Oh my gosh, when did you get in? How’s college? ”

The surprised person laughed a bit at his antics before tapping his shoulders. “ A week ago and it’s good, it's good. Hey, can you put me down big guy, you'll mess up the outfit.”

“Oops, Sorry.” He placed them down and stepped back at his older friend and alumni. “You’re looking great. You must be beating people away with a stick on campus.”

“Well yeah, that because I don't have my little protector...Though you’re not so little anymore.”

He watched them straighten out their skirt of their burgundy hoodie dress before shooting him a look. Stevonnie walked around Steven looking him over as they did, causing Steven to feel self-conscious as they poked and gripped his arms approvingly.

“What?” Steven watched them as Stevonnie stopped and whistled, hand on their cheek.

“Where all this man come from, you didn’t have all this when I saw you last”

“That was nearly a year ago, I did, and you still saw me as you ‘kid-brother’.”

“Then maybe i’m blind. Sheesh, you all growing up and becoming attractive young adults.”

“Your only what, two to three years older than us.”

“Where's the twelve-year-old who gave me and Connie chocolate every time he visited?”

“Oh god, you still remember those days?”Steven scoffed with an embarrassing smirk at Stevonnie's jest.

“How I'm supposed to forget my first confession; you were such a dapper little tween with your tuxedo and pompadour."

“Stop. Please stop mentioning my old crush.” Steven flushed red as stevonnie giggle at his protest as they ruffled his head fondly.

“You've really had grown since I've been gone, kind of sad really.  If I knew my cute admirer would have such an upgrade, I would've accepted your proposal."

"Well too late, you sibling-zoned me. So you get to admire me from afar." Stevonnie rolled their eyes at his playful boast.

"Sure,sure probably for the best; last thing I want is to wake up to a rabid Connie...Speaking of, what are you doing up here?"

Steven looked at them sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "Just came from the bathroom."

Stevonnie arched an eyebrow and gave an accusatory smile as they folded their arms under their breast. "There's one downstairs where the party at and I just came out of the one up here, try again sweetie."

"Uhhh..Psssh..got lost."

"Really in your ‘home away from home’ Steven...Now tell me, Why did I see you come out of my little sister's room?"

Their authoritative voice froze the boy into submission. it sounded just like their mother and sister, same effectiveness too.

"I was just dropping of my gift, didn't want it to get lost in the chaos that is the gift table. That’s all.”

Stevonnie gave him a quick side eye glance before adopting a mischievous grin. “Sooo….What you got herrr?”

Steven shook his head and pulled his index and thumb across his lips. “Lips are sealed, Vonnie.”

“Oooo, it must be something good if you can’t share it with me. Which makes me \want to know even more.”

“I bet, but I ain’t saying anything...It’s a personal gift from me to her. That’s all”

Stevonnie lifted their arms in surrender at the serious tone of Steven.” No problem, far be it for me to pry in your two relationship...can I ask one thing though.”

Steven nodded towards his friend, who looked at him with a bit of sympathy.

"Is everything ok with you and her?"

Steven gave a faux smirk before shrugging his shoulders. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"You’re dropping off your gift.”

Stevonnie watched as a Steven nostrils flared ever so slightly and his persona was a bit more somber.

“Nothing is wrong. Me and Connie are alright.”

Stevonnie squinted their eyes in a small glare, hands on their hips. “Uh-huh...So are you going to stay then?”

“For a bit.”

“Glad to hear it and since that is settled, how about we go downstairs to the party, huh?“

“Wait a minute, Vonnie” Steven started to protest as stevonnie latched their arm around his.

“Nope, you’re my date for the moment and as such I want a dance. Maybe it’ll help you with that disposition of yours, yeah?”

Steven knew he couldn’t argue with as they dragged him down the stairs and smiled a slightly mischievous smile at him. Steven bit back a groan as Stevonnie sighed with mock melancholy.

“You know how to make a person feel wanted, Steven. Here I am dressed in one of my best, hanging on your arms, begging for your company and you don’t even appreciate it.”

“Stevonnie, come on..Just not in the mood for a party..that’s all.”

Stevonnie groaned as she led him to the kitchen away from everyone and pointed to a chair near it’s island. Steven sat, looking a mixture of bored and annoyed as Stevonnie sat across from him. Stevonnie glared deeply into his eyes before speaking.

“Does this have to do with the guy hanging around Connie lately?”

Steven tensed for a quick moment, tightening his fist  before answering. “I...don’t know what you mean?

“The guy who introduced himself as Connie ‘boyfriend’.”

Steven eyes widened at that before standing up, lip in a tight frown.“Really, is that so?”

Stevonnie guided him back to his seat, holding his fist in a calming way. “Geez, relax lil’ Stevie, It’s ok.”

Steven breathed deeply but his demeanor didn’t change. “I’m fine..She can date whoever she wants. No skin off my back.”

Stevonnie giggled at his claim before answering. “Uh huh..Is that why you look like you’re ready to cause WW3 though 5.”

Steven blushed embarrassingly and bit the inside of his cheek. Stevonnie shook their head at the surprising stubbornness of the otherwise easy going lad. “It’s ok to be jealous, Steven.”

Steven scoffed with a mirthless laugh. “I’m not jealous...just feel some sort a way. mean..I wasn’t even aware that she did or would want decide to date anyone. Then she got with some no name while I was out sick and it was one of our close friends  that set up the meeting and i’m the last one to find out.

Stevonnie nodded in agreement but before she could open her mouth, the door leading to the back yard open revealing  Priyanka and Doug Maheswaran holding two string handled bags and a decorative cake respectively. The two on the island rushed to assist the couple, Steven helping Doug with the cake placement on the island, and Stevonnie taking the surprising heavy bags from their mother upstairs. Priyanka shaked and flexed her fingers and hands in relief before taking Stevonnies’ seat as Doug went and got his wife something hot to drink before giving the boy a small, motherly smile.

“Thank you for the assistance Steven.”

Steven waved the gratitude off .“Anytime Dr.Priya, you seem a bit tired though.”

”Priyanka nodded in agreement “Been up since early this morning getting all this together.”

Steven watched as she took the cup of dijong tea from her husband, giving him a tender kiss and a bright smile..It reminded him of Connie’s.

“how are you doing this evening Steven?”

Steven shook his head and blushed in embarrassment after being caught daydreaming. “I’m sorry, what did you say.”

Priyanka and Doug shared a quick glance before Priyanka spoke. “ How are you this evening, everything ok, Sweetie?”

Steven nodded his head and smiled at appreciatively at Priyanka. “Sorry yeah I’m ok..Just in my thoughts a bit.”

Doug smirked as he sat next to Priyanka and casually massaging her left hand.

“Well, we’re glad you found time to celebrate with us,Steven. For a minute, we thought you wasn’t going to show.”

Steven gave a slightly strained chuckle. “Yeah, I really can’t stay long though..Just long enough to drop off my present.”

“Oh and where exactly is the present,young man?”

Just a Steven was about to answer, a voice beat him to it.

“He sneaked into Connie’s room and left it on her pillow..he was very delicate as well.”

While Steven turned to see Stevonnie walk in, smirking at the now red faced teen; the Maheswaren shared a secret smirk between each other. Priyanka cleared her throat gaining the attention of the two..

“Steven that’s quite charming, though it begs the question...What did you get her?”

“Nothing, just a PMP she had her eye on for awhile and some other things.”

“Other things, hmm?”

“What other things, Son?”

Steven groaned at Doug and Stevonnie teasing; causing Priyanka to snicker before assisting the teen.

"Ok you two, leave the poor boy alone."

With a chuckle and scoff the daddy-child duo eased off Steven, who gave an appreciative nod towards the house matriarch.  

"Gifts aside, I hope your sporadic appearances will become more frequent like it before. It's been a little off without your visits."

"You know, my parents said the same thing about Connie..."

Doug nodded with a smirk. “It has been a while since you stopped by..thought you abandon us, son.”

Steven gave a mocked scoff. “Nothing of the sort, Mensiour Doug..Just been busy, school, clubs and stuff.”

"He doesn't like Connie's new guy very much."

Steven eyes widen at the older person exasperatedly as Stevonnie took a seat at the other end of the island. "Really Stevonnie."

"Am I wrong?"

"Can't dislike someone I have never met…Can I ask, what is your opinion of him,Good guy?"

Stevonnie sighed. " He's a nice kid, but the 'relationship' seems kind of jokey."

Priyanka looked at her eldest with a slight disdain "Rude".

Stevonnie shrugged "But true. What you think Dad?"

Doug hummed with his eyes close before  giving an answer. "Seems like a good guy, but I am in agreement about their relationship seeming kind of  rehearsed."

Priyanka shook her head at her child and husband before turning to Steven, who was looking expectantly. "He's a nice guy, Steven."

Steven sighed. "That's good and Connie is happy."

"She seems to be,There's no big change in her demeanor. "

"Seems to be?"  

The Maheswarans heard the irritation in his question.

"There seems to be a strictly platonic tone when she talked about jim. " Stevonnie chimed in causing Priyanka to begrudgingly nod in agreement.

"His name's Jeff, 'vonnie."

"For real?" Stevonnie flushed in embarrassment as both her parents and Steven nodded. "Don't that be all."

Steven shook his head at Stevonnie a small smile on his face when he felt Priyanka squeezed the teen shoulder gently before speaking. "Steven, she never told you about him?".

Steven shook his head again as Priyanka took a sip of her tea before continuing. "Don't let it get to you, Steven."

Steven shrugged "I'm not...Just felt like she ghosted me. Wouldn't she want her Biscuit  to meet her boyfriend?"

Priyanka couldn't help feeling bad for the boy she saw as a son, but also feel a little giddy at the apparent jealousy.  "Which is why you don't have to worry... Now, while I hate to come off as criticizing, if she has not introduced you to him, it may be a casual thing and not anything important. Which is believable, when you compare their interactions to yours, which are MUCH more intimate in nature."

Steven allowed a small smile on his face.It wasn't  the first time he heard someone state, one way or another, that Connie and him seemed like a romantic couple. It got to the point that they would jokingly flirt with each other; calling each other silly pet name like 'Hubby and Wifey' and over-exaggerate seeing each other.

Though there were times when the flirting was very sincere and full of affection. Times when they referred to each other as ‘Biscuit’ and ‘Berry’. Times when they unwittingly found each other hand during their outings. Their joy rides on 'lion', where despite having a passenger sidecar,she always opted to sit behind him; her reasons being she feels more secure holding him and it’s comfy. Times when they watched a movie together and would end up cozying up together, one head on the others chest while the other held them close enjoying the warmth. didn’t matter if they were with their group or not.

“Looking kind of relieved there ,Stevie.”

Stevonnie teasing voice caused the teen looked up at the family who each member held a knowing grin.

"I have nothing to be relieved about...That being said I'm going to wish the birthday girl a happy birthday before I head home. He gave them an appreciative smile before he got up and walked out of the kitchen and toward the basement stairs. The music was loud even before he opened the familiar green door and for a quick moment blared as he opened and closed it.  As he walked down the stairs the high paced rock music changed into a fusion of slow r&b and pop.

He opened the door darkened by the stairwell and entered the basement that resembled a small party hall; more than enough room for the 20+ people that currently resided in it. The basement was dimly lit with multicolored strobe lights, but not so much that it tempted unwanted attention. He could see everything clearly; from the mini kitchen on the far east complete with fridge,sink and refreshments. The DJ booth at the back with a good friend of theirs, Sour Cream, manning the one and twos.

He spotted some people from school as well as some from around the neighborhood. It was a sea of dancing and conversing `seventeen thru nineteen year olds...With a few twenty-one year olds they knew playing chaperone. All in all looked like it was a good time. He walked his way through the crowd saying his greeting to all who happened to spot him, giving the smallest of talks when he needed as he tried to find his berry, only to stop as his lungs got caught up in his throat as he saw her.

Forest green crop top sweater zipped down with a light green collarless shirt underneath, a pair of black Jean's that gently hugged her hips yet were baggy legged and a pair of small heeled copper boots. Her dark brown hair was in neat ponytail that stopped right at the center of her back. She had on the smallest amount of her signature lip gloss giving a slight but noticeable gleam to her lips and no other makeup

"Not that it's needed." Steven couldn't help his stare and the feelings within as he drank in the newly minted 17 year-old form. Her ever confident stance and gentle smiled as she conversed with the rest of their friends. The way her clothes showed off her figure respectfully and the gloss. Not the first time he saw her wear it and yet it made her more adorable. Yet he couldn't take a step towards her.

He was nervous. He was nervous to speak to Connie, something he hasn't been since the first time he met her. ‘The hell are you doing, Universe? It's Just Connie. Your bud, friend, confidant. Your Berry..The hell are you afraid of.' Steven breathed deeply trying to silence pounding heart. With clenched fists and determination he took a step towards her and their friends..

Only to see another slightly taller guy with a matching color scheme stand beside her. Very lightly tan skin, slim build, slightly messy brown hair, brown eyes. He had a small smile as he took her hand and introduced himself to the group .Steven watched as Connie was lead deeper into the crowd, seemingly not minding the hand on the small of her back.

Despite having a quite a few people between them, Steven felt he was right there with her. Her scent of jasmine and chai found his nose easily. Her unique giggle vibrated in his ear despite the music of ‘Tee lopes Yourniverse’ playing at a thundering level. His eves couldn’t leave his berry as she danced. The lightness of her steps, the small rotative movements of her arms, the sway of her hips and waist. It was all intoxicating, melodic and hypnotizing respectively.

He watched her date grabbed her hand and danced in away that was complementary to her own and despite being a visible distance away from each other, sans their hands, Steven couldn't  help the heat in his chest and the small growl in his throat. As he was about to step towards them, he felt someone whispered gently and coolly in his ear from behind.

"Aren't you gonna wish her happy birthday?"

Steven turned in surprise as he came face to face with shining deep blue eyes looking up at him; familiar ocean blue hair was in a stylized bang-bob combo, and a slightly freckled face that held a sly yet sad smile.He found himself blushing under the gaze of one Lapis Oceana lazuli.

[robertfrobisherslover]

The Depths of the Ocean 

...

Jaime smiled at her, and though it was all but an echo of the ones he had gifted her in the past, it warmed her better than any fire.

“I wanted to die in the arms of the woman I loved,” he said softly, and Brienne pursed her lips together to stop herself from breaking in front of him. His hand loosened its grip on hers, and traversed up her body to her face. She thought she could see the reflection of her tears in his eyes before realising they were his own. “And I thought that after… after everything I’ve done… or everything I’ve done to make amends for everything I did, that I deserved to.”

He didn’t say it like a fact, instead like he was asking her permission. The man who had killed a king, who had betrayed the throne many times over, who had fought the dead by her side, asking her permission to die in her arms. And it was more than that, she realised – it was a plea for her to tell him, to finally let him go knowing that he had redeemed himself. The look on his face betrayed his fear that she would reject it.

She breathed in heavily.

“You do deserve it. You deserve more.”

He closed his eyes and inched across the sand, pressing his lips against her forehead. In a brief moment of madness, she laughed a little at the thought that had they been standing, she would’ve had to have ducked for him to reach. But the laughter died in her throat when she realised that Jaime Lannister would never stand on his own two feet again.

He couldn’t die lying down.

Brienne pulled herself up into a sitting position, and, with all the delicacy and grace that she had never mastered, she managed to get Jaime up from the sand too. He immediately slumped onto her shoulder, pressing all of his weight against her side, and Brienne knew she would’ve carried every pound of it for the rest of her days if it meant he would survive this.

But the gods were not that forgiving. Nor were they that cruel.

(From the top - that bit was just an excerpt, not the beginning!!)

“Ser Brienne. It’s him.”

Two words. Two words that she had both longed and dreaded to hear. Her hands did not shake – she had trained herself out of that a long time ago (it was no good to be a knight whose sword-hand shook at the first sign of danger) – but she could not stop the tremble in her lips, nor the sudden pain in her chest as if Oathkeeper itself had been forced through her heart.

The days since he had ridden away from her at Winterfell had become unbearably long. The sun dragged across the sky as if it did not wish to pass, and the night settled in almost begrudgingly, the moon and her stars uncomfortable and hesitant in the sky. It felt as if her whole life had come to a grinding halt; her mission complete, the war over, no battles left to fight. The righteous light she had followed ever since she first picked up a sword at six and put it down thirty years later… it had been extinguished. Directionless and lost she had returned home, hopeful to find some semblance of a purpose. And perhaps to leave the memories of what had been – and what could’ve been – behind her, locked away in another land where she could not touch them anymore. Where they couldn’t hurt.

“Where?”

The words snapped like icicles falling from a branch, and she regretted them, seeing Podrick’s blanched reaction. He stared down at the floor of Evenfall hall and directed his answer towards the stone there instead.

“By the beach, Ser,” Podrick replied, “He ran aground but a few minutes ago.”

Brienne dropped her head into her open palm, her elbow propped up on the armrest of her throne. Not quite one made of a thousand broken swords, but one that gave her rule over this land all the same. She was sure this one was just as cold as the one in King’s Landing.

She anticipated Podrick’s next words before the squire even had the time to put them into a sentence, and she blinked away tears that she could not afford to shed in this hall. Not that she would deign to waste any more on this man. Even if he had broken her heart. Even if he had left her in the snow. She clenched a fist. No more.

“He’s asking for you.”

She rose from her makeshift throne and stood high above all the noblemen left to serve her house. She towered above them, ants beneath her, men who had scurried away during the Great War and hidden on the isle. She hated keeping company with them, hated that they had abandoned their oaths at the time for which those oaths were written, but it would not do to banish subjects. Not when there was so much to be repaired. And it was not as if she were not used to the company of men who had broken their promises.

She had heard some of them talking about her. When she was a child, they had called her naïve. Now, still carrying the weight of all that she had done to keep herself and the people she was sworn to alive, they had the gall to call her bitter. And it wasn’t bitterness. It wasn’t. It was that she finally understood the pain of losing: not of being defeated in a joust, or the constant rejection she had faced her entire life. The pain of having something so beautiful in the palm of her hand, and it falling from her grasp. She understood the pain of having gold, and having to give it away.

She gave Pod a tight-lipped smile.

“Of course he is.”

Jaime Lannister was not in good shape. She hadn’t expected him to be, but even so it was clear. This was not a man returning to her begging for forgiveness. He was here to die.

She was accompanied down to the beach by a few members of Tarth’s council – men eager to get a look at the man who had bedded the first female knight in the history of the Seven Kingdoms (which was perhaps a kinder consideration than she had expected, though still not one that she cherished) – and her loyal companion Podrick Payne, who had refused to stay in Winterfell without her. But the moment she caught sigh of dirt-blonde hair set against the wet sand and the deep blue sea, she banished them all. This was not a moment she wished to share with anyone else than him.

If the contrast of his hair against the shore was noticeable, then the carmine streaks of dried blood up the sides of his boat, moored nearby, were moreso. There were wounds in his sides, both infected beyond the skills of any master living or dead. His face was pallid, bearded and thinner than she remembered: the face of a man who had been drifting out at sea for far too long.

If he had been half a god before, then surely now he was Icarus, brought down from the heavens to her feet.

And yet, as he turned to look at her – with visible effort, and a deep groan that seemed to resonate through the sand to rattle her bones – the mere sight of him, of the green eyes that had consumed her on so many nights in the North, began to stitch together the mess in her chest that had festered for too long.

She lied down in the sand next to him, too close to the ocean so that every wave that made its way inland soaked through her boots. She barely noticed.

His voice was a rasp. It hearkened her back to the last time she had seen him so ill, to that bathtub in Harrenhal all those lifetimes ago, the first time she had looked at him and saw a man worthy of her respect. He had fallen so much further since then. And yet he was still the most beautiful thing Brienne had ever seen in her life.

“I’m sorry,” he said, quiet enough that she could have mistaken it for the breeze. They were coming to the end of winter now, but Tarth always caught the end of the season worse than the rest of Westeros. The sky above them was clear and brilliantly blue, but there was a chill in the air that should’ve made her shiver. And yet…

“I’m so sorry,” he repeated, reaching for her hand and bringing it to his cracked lips.

She knew then. She understood. He had not left for love – or rather he had, but not love for his twisted sister. Love for her. And at the end of it all, he had come back to her.

“It’s okay,” Brienne murmured back to him, shifting on her side to look at him. They latched onto one another’s gaze and the rest of the world fell away from them for a few moments at least. It felt as if they had dropped off the edge of existence. And she wished with all of her heart that they could stay that way, just for a little longer.

Jaime was struggling with his breathing, so Brienne took the reins of the conversation.

“It’s okay,” she said again, even though it wasn’t, even though nothing about this was okay, “You came back. It’s okay.”

He gripped her hand as tightly as he could in his left. She noticed his golden hand was nowhere to be seen. It was probably destroyed in the dragonfire that had left King’s Landing nothing more than a burnt out crisp, a hollow shell of a kingdom that had once been the envy of all the world.

Jaime smiled at her, and though it was all but an echo of the ones he had gifted her in the past, it warmed her better than any fire.

“I wanted to die in the arms of the woman I loved,” he said softly, and Brienne pursed her lips together to stop herself from breaking in front of him. His hand loosened its grip on hers, and traversed up her body to her face. She thought she could see the reflection of her tears in his eyes before realising they were his own. “And I thought that after… after everything I’ve done… or everything I’ve done to make amends for everything I did, that I deserved to.”

He didn’t say it like a fact, instead like he was asking her permission. The man who had killed a king, who had betrayed the throne many times over, who had fought the dead by her side, asking her permission to die in her arms. And it was more than that, she realised – it was a plea for her to tell him, to finally let him go knowing that he had redeemed himself. The look on his face betrayed his fear that she would reject it.

She breathed in heavily.

“You do deserve it. You deserve more.”

He closed his eyes and inched across the sand, pressing his lips against her forehead. In a brief moment of madness, she laughed a little at the thought that had they been standing, she would’ve had to have ducked for him to reach. But the laughter died in her throat when she realised that Jaime Lannister would never stand on his own two feet again.

He couldn’t die lying down.

Brienne pulled herself up into a sitting position, and, with all the delicacy and grace that she had never mastered, she managed to get Jaime up from the sand too. He immediately slumped onto her shoulder, pressing all of his weight against her side, and Brienne knew she would’ve carried every pound of it for the rest of her days if it meant he would survive this.

But the gods were not that forgiving. Nor were they that cruel.

They sat in silence for a small time, clutching onto each other, both aware of how little time they had left.

He was so close that she felt his voice on her neck.

“This is a nice island you’ve got here wench. I saw it once, from a distance, a long time ago.” He stopped for a moment, reminiscing, stuck in a memory of the past. “Back when I thought I was never going to see you again.”

The pain laced through his voice in that exclamation lanced through her like poison. It wasn’t like them to be so sincere with one another. It hurt more than if he were insulting her.

“Well unfortunately for you…” Brienne murmured into his ear, trying to lighten the mood, despite knowing it would do little.

Jaime bit back almost immediately, “Never unfortunately. Never. I had the luck and grace of all the gods to have met you.”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she held him closer.

“Well now I know that you’re dying,” she said, her voice rattled, the words coming out in a broken fashion, like she had forgotten how to speak, “You’ve never been so complimentary of me in all of your life.”

“Not out loud, anyway.”

She couldn’t listen to this. It was a war inside her head. She knew… she knew this was where Jaime would draw his last breaths, and she couldn’t deny him the chance to tell her what he felt. But hearing him say all of these things – had he told her that he loved her? How was she supposed to ever come to terms with that? – confirmed that he knew his time was up too.

She couldn’t listen to it, so Brienne changed the subject.

“I heard from Lady Sansa that the Red Keep was all but destroyed. You didn’t have to go there. You didn’t have to do this to yourself.”

She tried to keep the anger out of her voice, not wanting their last conversation to become an argument. Although it maybe would’ve suited them both – maybe it would’ve been the perfect ending for them. Or even better, a way to keep him alive – Brienne knew Jaime would never allow himself to die before he had bested her in a fight.

“I did,” he replied, and the conviction in his voice was enough to convince her there and then. “I caught up to her as she was clambering into that sailing boat, with some of the finest Lannister jewels in a satchel alongside her. Enough for a whole new life across the Narrow Sea, where they would never know the evil passing through their midst. Euron Greyjoy was accompanying her – she could never go anywhere without a suitable bedfellow, I suppose. And it wasn’t going to be me.”

The deep wounds penetrating his torso were then explained. At least his being here meant that there was one less tyrant unaccounted for. After the devastation wreaked in King’s Landing, the statuses of many people was just unknown.

Brienne bit her lip to keep herself from cursing Cersei Lannister. After everything she had done, she had the gall, the nerve, to try and just run away from it all. And yet, her brother was here in her arms – which could only mean than the Kingslayer had added another count of regicide to his name.

She looked at him and decided Queenslayer suited him rather well.

“You could’ve let her go,” Brienne said softly.

Jaime turned as well as he was able and looked her in the eyes, and shook his head like she was a young child.

“You and I both know that I couldn’t.”

Brienne felt tears falling down her cheeks, and this time she made no attempts to stop them. She couldn’t stop the desperation in her voice when she choked out, “She wasn’t worth your life.”

Jaime kissed her then, and she found the salt and blood on his mouth, and decided it was the best thing she had ever tasted. His breaths were laboured now, and it was not a long embrace, but she took it. She would’ve taken anything he was willing to give her in these moments.

“Maybe not. But the lives of all the people she hurt… when she destroyed the Sept of Baelor, the hundreds of Lannister men sent to die in her stead,” Jaime said, and now his voice was strong, almost as strong as it had been in Harrenhal, and the devastation and rage he surely felt overcame the pain his body was in, “My own son. Giving them justice… for what she did to them. That was worth it.”

Brienne could never forget how much Jaime had truly lost. For all of his teasing and jokes and comradery, there was a veil she had hardly dared to touch, a part of him she knew could never be fixed. Behind it was the agony of a man who had learned that he did not belong to his own family, and the unbearable pain of losing them a hundred times over, in a hundred different ways. The last of the Lannisters, one of the most noble houses in the Seven Kingdoms, and here he was, in her arms instead.

“I couldn’t have lived the rest of my life knowing she was out there, alive, unpunished,” he carried on, but the anger dissipated, and the next words were soft, “Not even if it meant I got to live it out with you.”

“I… Ser Jaime…” Brienne protested, but he cut her off, as he was so prone to doing.

“If it had been another way… I think you and I could have been happy for many great years.”

In his mind, he had seen them on Tarth, far away from the feuding and bickering and obsession with ruling. A quiet life. A peaceful one. A life where they would spar in the courtyard and then later in their chambers too. Maybe they would’ve had a babe or two. He knew he would’ve liked that – to have had the chance to truly be a father.

Brienne smiled at him then, despite it all. “We had many great days,” she said to him, and he mirrored her smile, knowing that she was right.

One day there would be stories of the two of them, and songs and ballads written too. There would be literature in all the realms of the Kingslayer and the Fair Maid, of the Golden and Sapphire Knights, of Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth.

“And perhaps even years would not have been enough,” he murmured.

And despite knowing that they would both live on long past their deaths, the weight of what could’ve been hung over them, a heavy shadow cast by nought but the destruction of a dream they had both been chasing all of these years.

“Jaime,” was all she managed to say before he cut her off again.

“it’s a shame wench,” he whispered, “I should’ve quite liked to have grown old with you.”

If leaving her at Winterfell had broken her heart, then that speared her soul.

“Stop it,” she gasped through tears, pleading with him. He kissed her neck, or maybe he just rested there, unable to move anywhere else. “Please don’t,” she said, and her words must’ve hurt him too for he closed his mouth and said nothing for some time.

Brienne could feel his breathing slow further next to her, and she knew that the hour was coming. It wasn’t fair. They had slew the dead during the darkest hour of history and lived to tell the tale. They had fought bears and dragons and all the shit that this life had thrown at them. Did they not deserve a happier ending? Did they not deserve some peace?

But she knew that for Jaime, perhaps this was his peace. For a man who had survived so much, maybe it was his time. It wasn’t for her to decide. She would plead to the gods but she knew they would not listen. Maybe she just had to let him go.

His coughed loudly and specks of blood landed in his beard. He slumped down from her shoulder back onto the sand, laying down on the beach where she had played as a child.

She had never seen this coming then. She had never even imagined that all these years later, she would be here with him, watching the world end.

“Brienne,” he managed to say, though the air was escaping from his lungs, the infection and rot and sepsis sprinting to finish him, “Please look at me. Look at me.”

She acquiesced, and to her surprise, his face was the very image of serenity. She lied back down next to him, knowing that this was the last time she would hold him. He closed his eyes, exhausted at the price of still breathing

“I love you,” she told him, quietly, gently, like it was a balm that would soothe all of his ills, “After everything that we went through, everything that we had to do. I love you.”

She stroked his cheek, held him in her hands the way she had when she had begged him not to leave her. She wouldn’t beg him now. There was nothing she could do. She kissed his hand, his forehead and wrapped him in her arms.

“You made me a good man. You saved me. You are the most wondrous creature I have ever encountered. My life… would’ve amounted to nothing without you,” he murmured, finally overtaken, the words taking a lifetime to come together into a sentence.

He felt his body slowing to a halt. It was indescribable. He had always expected he would die on the battlefield, and that it would be quick. He had never imagined he would take weeks to slip away. When he had clambered into that boat – having disposed of its two greedy occupants – he had set a course for Tarth, despite realising that he might never get there. But he had known that he had to try. If there was even a chance he could see her again, it was worth it. And maybe the gods were merciful then, that they had given him this last hour with her.

Jaime opened his eyes for the final time, and looked to Brienne, to the woman he had made a knight, the woman he had loved for the best part of his life, the woman who had given him back his honour and made him whole. If the gods offered him the chance to live until his ninetieth nameday if he gave her up, he would spit at their feet. All his life was worth it, for the joy of having known and loved her.

“And your eyes…,” he mumbled, staring up just as his last breaths escaped from his lips, “Like all the depths of the ocean brought to the surface, in your eyes…”.

Read here on AO3. 

[lastbluetardis]

A Parent’s Worst Fear, Round Two

This was written for @doctorroseprompts‘s Soulmates September

Ten x Rose, Soulmates AU, Teen, ~2000 words

This is part of my Perfectly Matched series, as part of my outtakes collection. This outtake takes place within the epilogue of And Baby Makes Four.

James turned his back for just a second, but it was long enough for Ainsley to try to share her cereal with her baby sister.

Choking trigger warning

AO3

“Daddy! Daddy Daddy Daddy Daddy Daddy!”

James dropped the pan into the sink and grabbed a towel to dry his hands as he turned around at Ainsley’s frantic cry. His heart stopped at the scene in front of him. Sianin was sitting in her high chair with a little pile of what James recognized as Ainsley’s cereal in front of her on her tray. Her arms were flailing and her face was pinched in a cry but no sounds were coming out of her mouth, and her chest was heaving as she tried to gasp in a breath.

“What happened?” he shouted. He rushed up to Sianin and yanked her out of her chair before he began smacking her on the back. “Ainsley, what happened?!”

“I was sharing my cereal!” she sobbed.

James felt dizzy and his ears were ringing as he continued working to help his daughter breathe. He flipped her so that her belly was against his forearm and he angled her body slightly downwards, hoping gravity would help him as he continued to beat his hand against Sianin’s back.

“C’mon, darling,” he growled, hitting her harder to dislodge what she was choking on. But she still wasn’t breathing and when he flipped her over again to look at her, he saw her cheeks were bright red but her lips were turning pale blue. “Oh, Christ! Fuck! Please, no. Please, please, please!”

He begged to any higher power that may be listening to save his baby, or to help him save her.

“Sianin, breathe! Please breathe. Oh, God, don’t do this to me. Please, darling!” he cried, his eyes burning with tears of fear and frustration.

He saw her eyes were beginning to roll back into her head as her eyelids drooped. James’s heart was a heavy weight in his stomach as his baby began to lose consciousness and go limp in his arms. She was dying in his arms. She trusted him implicitly to keep her safe, and yet she was dying in his arms…

He stuck his fingers into her mouth and pried her jaw open, hoping he could see what was blocking her airways. A small, white, circular object was in the back of her throat. He stuck his pinkie into the back of her mouth and when his fingertip touched against something hard and slimy, he frantically scooped at it.

It moved, and he heard Sianin gasp in a breath. He flipped her over and pounded on her back once more. She gave a great cough as she spat out the chunk of cereal in her mouth, then she began screaming.

“Oh, God,” he gasped. His knees shook with relief and he collapsed onto a chair, bringing Sianin to his shoulder for a hug. “Oh, God, thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. Oh, God. Shh, darling, shh. Daddy’s got you. Daddy’s here. You’re safe, my darling, you’re safe. You’re all right. Oh, God, you’re all right. I love you so much. Yes, I do. Daddy loves you so much. I’m here. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

He continued repeating his mantra as tears fell down his cheeks. He nuzzled his nose into Sianin’s hair as he rejoiced in the feeling of his baby squirming in his arms and the sound of her crying into his ear.

But another cry was also in the room, and he opened his eyes and saw Ainsley sniffling on her chair, with tear streaks and snot covering her face.

A fierce, righteous anger—an anger hotter than he’d ever felt before—welled up inside of him, and he wanted to scream at Ainsley that she very nearly killed her sister, but he forced it down just in time. Yelling at his almost-four-year-old wouldn’t help anything, not when she was already so obviously distressed.

He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, held it in for a few seconds, then let it out again.

“Ainsley, come here, darling,” he said softly. He opened an arm, and Ainsley flew into it. She scrambled into his lap, and she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder as she began to cry in earnest.

“I’m sorry!” she wailed, her shoulders shaking. “I’m sorry, Daddy! I’m sorry!”

“I know,” he whispered, rocking her gently. “I know you are, darling.” He pressed a kiss to her hair, then pulled back to look at her. “But Ainsley, you cannot give Sianin your food. She’s a baby. She can’t eat big girl food yet. She’s only used to Mummy’s milk and soft foods. She barely has any teeth to chew, and she has never eaten anything crunchy.”

“I wanted to share,” Ainsley whimpered.

“I know,” he said, stroking his fingers through Ainsley’s hair. “And I’m so happy you wanted to share with your sister. But Ainsley, she could have been seriously harmed. Promise me that you won’t share any more of your food with her until Mummy or I tell you it’s okay. Promise me.”

“I promise,” Ainsley said with a sniffle. “I’m sorry Daddy.”

“I know you are,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He reached across the table for a napkin, and he used it to blot at Ainsley’s eyes and nose.

When her face was relatively clean, Ainsley shifted on his lap until her head was closer to Sianin’s.

“I’m sorry, Sianin,” Ainsley whispered, resting her hand on the baby’s back. “I won’t share my food ‘til Mummy and Daddy say I can. I love you.”

James pressed his lips to both Ainsley and Sianin’s hair as he tried to calm his racing heart. He’d been so close to losing his little girl. Another few minutes… If he couldn’t get her breathing… Or if Ainsley hadn’t recognized something was wrong…

James clenched his jaw and swallowed thickly. Rose never should have left him alone with their kids.

But as soon as he thought that, he was overcome with guilt.

Rose had been having a hard enough time as it was without him adding to it. She deserved to have a day to herself.

But she had trusted him to take care of their daughters, and he had very nearly failed. How would he ever have explained to Rose that he held their daughter in his arms as she choked to death, and he hadn’t even had the wherewithal to phone for an ambulance. How could he have looked her in the eye day in and day out and still live with himself. How could she ever live with him after what he had done. Oh, God, she probably would have taken Ainsley away from him and left him and he never would have seen his family again…

No, he told himself firmly. No, no, no. Don’t dwell in the what-ifs. Don’t. Don’t do it. My daughters are safe and healthy. No more what-ifs.

“How about we take a walk to the park?” James suggested to distract himself from his dark and spiraling thoughts.

“Okay!” Ainsley said enthusiastically. “I’ll get my coat!”

James bundled his girls up and enjoyed the rest of the morning outside in the cool, crisp, October air.

There were no other incidents that day, and James had half a mind not to tell Rose about the panic-riddled five minutes of his morning. But then Sianin spluttered and coughed a little while he was feeding her her evening bottle.

“Oh, Jesus,” he whimpered, dropping the bottle to the side. He was shaking as he brought Sianin to his shoulder and smacked her on the back, even as she began screaming and crying in his ear.

“James, stop,” Rose said. She reached out and grabbed the hand that was beating against their baby’s back, and she gave it a squeeze. “What are you doing?”

“She’s not breathing,” he said helplessly, his mind’s eye showing him his blue-lipped baby.

Rose furrowed her brows. “James, look at her. She’s breathing. She’s fine. A bit of milk must’ve gone down the wrong pipe, is all. What’s the matter?”

“I…” He looked up at her, then over as Sianin who was writhing angrily in his arms, and he felt his cheeks burn. “Can you finish up?”

He stood up and passed the baby to his wife, and handed her the bottle he had dropped before he stalked out of the nursery and to the master bedroom.

Despite the earliness of the hour, James began getting himself ready for bed. He washed his face and brushed his teeth and put on clean pants and a t-shirt, and when he stepped back into the bedroom, Rose was perched on the edge of the bed.

Her face was drawn tight as she asked, “Want to tell me what the hell just happened?”

James turned away from her. He couldn’t bear to see the look on her face when he told her about that morning.

The words tumbled without pause from his lips until he told her everything.

By the time he’d finished, tears had fallen down his cheeks and Rose had gotten up off the bed and had wrapped him in a tight hug. He clung to her and shuddered as he tried to compose himself

“Our baby almost died and it would’ve been my fault!” he cried, still feeling the raw terror bleeding through from his memories. “My fault!”

“No, love,” Rose said gently, stroking her fingers up and down his back. “Nothing happened. She’s fine. Everyone is fine. You helped her, James. You saved her. She is perfectly healthy.”

“What if I’d—”

“James, what am I always telling you?” Rose asked, pulling back to look at him.

She cradled his cheeks in her hands, and she swiped at his fallen tears with her thumbs.

“Don’t dwell in the what-ifs,” he answered softly.

“Exactly,” Rose said. “Just don’t. Everything is fine now. And I know you were scared, and I know that when you’re scared, your brain gets the best of you and it tells you all the ways it could’ve gone wrong. I know that. But please, love, you’re already hurting so much, and you already feel so guilty. Please don’t add fictitious guilts to your burden.”

James sighed, and nodded.

“Let’s lay down,” Rose suggested, stripping down to her knickers and a t-shirt.

He followed her into bed and when Rose opened up her arms for him, he cuddled into them. He draped a leg over hers and wrapped his arm around her waist and rested his head against her chest, content on taking the comfort she was offering.

“I feel like a failure,” he murmured in the dark after a few silent minutes.

“How?” she whispered, stroking her fingers through his hair.

“I’m their daddy. I’m supposed to keep them both healthy and safe. But I turned my back for just a second and I almost lost my baby,” he whispered. “I’d never felt so helpless. Or more useless.”

“I know,” Rose whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I know, and I’m sorry. But believe me when I tell you that you are the best daddy anyone could ever want. Our girls are so lucky to have you as their father, James. Just as I’m so lucky to have you as my husband and my soulmate.”

James smiled against her chest, unable to help the warm feeling in his chest at her praise.

“And I’m lucky to have you as mine,” he said, nuzzling closer.

She pressed a firm kiss to the top of his head, then asked, “Are you feeling a little better?”

“A little,” he said. “I think it’s going to take a little more time for me to be completely okay again. Like how it took me until Ainsley’s head healed after that dresser fell on top of her. Can you be patient with me while I process my way through this?”

“Of course, love,” she replied. “That’s what I’m here for.”

James drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to get his body to relax and his brain to let go of all of his lingering anxieties.

He hummed when he felt Rose’s fingers in his hair, rubbing away the tension headache that had built up over the course of the day.

“I love you,” she whispered. “Ainsley loves you. Sianin loves you.”

“I love you, too,” he murmured. “I love you all so much.”

Rose continued playing with his hair and massaging his scalp until James eventually felt his muscles unclench and he was able to drift off to sleep.

[sneezerodent-blog]

It's been a while because I've been on vacation, but here's chapter three! People in the Void Chapter three Warnings: none Word count: about 2.3k “Just fall off the edge. Simple.” Tumblr wasn't as comforting as it tried to be. “It's a lot scarier than that!” Jillian responded. “It's not going to stop being frightening. Don't worry, Jilliancares, I will catch you.” “Just… give me a second to think.” Jillian sat back down on the small blue patch of space she had to use. Tumblr didn't speak to her as the thought, leaving her with the feeling of loneliness again. On one hand, Jillian wanted to fall into the darkness and trust Tumblr. But on the other, what if she was talking to a virus or something that wasn't actually Tumblr? What would happen to her then? Jillian decided to just do it. If she suddenly lost her artistic abilities, or writing abilities or whatever, she would know what happened. And if she didn’t….? “Okay. Are you still here?” Jillian asked the darkness. “Of course.” “I've decided to trust you.�� “Thank you.” Jillian rose back up to her feet, and looked over the edge. It was just as dark as everywhere else. She took a deep breath, still terrified, and just let herself fall off the edge. Only when she landed did she realize she closed her eyes. “Here you are, Jilliancares.” She had landed at the end of a long hallway. Behind her the edge was cracking just the like the dash had, long streaks of black reaching towards her ankles. She stepped away from it just in case it decided to break. “What is this place?” Jillian asked. “This is my storage area.” Jillian walked forward, looking at all the doors. They seemed to have names of users on them, arranged in alphabetical order. After walking for about five minutes she found one labeled Anonymous. “What are these doors?” “This is where all the old posts went, when the dash could no longer hold them. I've still worked on finding those that have fallen into the darkness, but I'm afraid most of them are too far gone.” “Where are they?” “..... I'm not sure. I can sense them somewhere in here, but all the information is muddling my sensors.” “Does that mean I have to find them?” “I'm afraid so.” “Well, if it'll help.” Jillian walked forward, looking at every door. She didn't stop to look in any of them, but she told herself she would if she didn't find them anywhere else. Jillian's patience began to run out as she walked through the “j” sections. “Oh hey, there's mine!” she exclaimed. The door had her name engraved on a plaque in a swirly font. She was so tempted to go and look through everything that had crossed her dash. The memories from them would be interesting. “Jilliancares, I beg you…. There is so much information there that you can get lost in…. Please do not enter….” “Why not?” “You could be there for hours, and I assure you that they will not be in any of these doors. They are waiting for you.” /You can save them, you know./ Jillian shuddered. She didn't know why that sentence scared her so much. “Fine, but only because I want to get out of here.”  Jillian said after thinking for a moment. She trudged on, passing door after door. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. “Jilliancares, I can feel them close to you.” “What?” “They are nearby.” Jillian spun around, looking for something different. There! Instead of the door being grey like all the others, that one was blue, and wooden instead of whatever other material was used. 'Them’ was painted on the door in golden swirls. “Is that it?” Jillian asked, no longer wanting to take a wrong step on her path. “I am not sure. I cannot see in this area.” “Then how did you build it?” “I am not sure of that either. It has been quite some time.” “Uh…. I guess I'll try it then.” Jillian stepped towards the door. The handle was golden as well. She carefully turned it and looked into the room. It was another hallway. “Ugh, what's with the hallways in this place?!” Jillian exclaimed. When she didn't get an answer, she grumbled and walked forward. The door slammed shut behind her. “What?!” She tried the door, pulling on it and even kicking it for good measure. But nothing worked. The golden door handle had left sparkles on her hand that she rubbed off on her shirt. “Great. Now I'm stuck in yet /another/ hallway, with glitter all over my shirt, and I don't know what I'm doing!” Jillian complained to no one. Or who she thought was no one. “Who's there?” Someone asked, making Jillian jump. She hadn't noticed a person peeking out of one of the doors that lined this hallway as well. It was a girl, who looked like a mess. Her hair looked like someone had tried to straighten it but gave up halfway through. Her glasses were partially off of her face, as if she had fallen asleep with them on. “Who are you?” Jillian asked. “I asked you first.” “Uh… I'm Jillian. People here sometimes call me Jilliancares, but most people just call me Jillian.” Jillian felt kind of uncomfortable sharing this with that girl. “I'm haleykinz, but you can just call me Haley.” The girl stepped out of the doorway. “What are you doing down here?” Jillian questioned. The girl looked confused for a moment. “.... the first time I came here, this was where I was. I dunno, it's weird. There's a few other people around, but they don't really talk much. “..... What are you doing here?” What was Jillian supposed to tell her? That she was there to save them? “I'm…. I'm here to save you.” “....... Me? From what?” “This place.” “Tumblr isn't that bad. From what I heard it was supposed to be better, but it's not bad.” “This isn't Tumblr.” “It's not?” “Tumblr isn't this grey. Normally it's blue, the color of that door--” Jillian turned to point at the door, but nothing was there. “There's never been a door there.” Haley said. “But that's where I came in from!” Jillian exclaims. “That's weird….” Jillian walked over to where the door was. She could hear Haley walking up behind her. Through the wall, she could barely hear someone else talking. It sounded like Tumblr. “Let us out!!!” Jillian yelled at the wall, and she punched it as hard as she could. “Chill! There's nothing out there!” Haley told Jillian. But the door appeared, and knocked Jillian onto the floor with how quickly it opened. “Whoa….” Haley walked out into the hallway. “Hey… will you be fine if I look in these other rooms? Are there even people in them?” “Yeah…. Go look…” Haley didn't even look back when she answered. She was too enthralled by the hallway full of doors, even though it was basically the same as the one she as in before. Jillian rolled her eyes before turning and walking to one of the doors. The door that Haley came out of was open, and seven other doors were in that hallway. When Jillian first heard Tumblr’s story she had assumed that there would be a lot more people. Jillian tried the first door only to find that it was locked. The second one was as well, and the third. The fourth was strange; it was full of golden cages, and each of them had a bird in it. “What?” Jillian asked when she saw it. She also realized that she had been saying that a lot lately. The fifth was locked, and the sixth had more birdcages. The door at the end of the hall led to another hallway. “Ooookay, I'm done looking through hallways. Haley, are you sure there are other people here?” Jillian walked over to where Haley was still wandering around. “Yeah, but only they can open their doors.” “That would've been nice to know.” “They don't though. I've tried before.” “Maybe another time, Jilliancares.” Tumblr said. “Even saving one is alright.” “Who's that?” Haley asks. “That's Tumblr. It's a little confusing, but Tumblr is a place and a being.” Jillian tried to explain. Haley still looked confused. “This way.” Tumblr said. Where there had once been only darkness was a new path, although the walls were still missing. “Jilliancares and haleykinz, this path leads to the exit. I'm afraid I cannot rebuild all of myself with you in here.” “Alright!” Haley responded brightly. “Will you be okay?” Jillian asked the other girl. “She will be fine. What you see of her is only a fraction, after all.” Tumblr reassured Jillian. “The real haleykinz has never been in Tumblr, only that fake part you were just in.” “If you say so.” Jillian stated. She and Haley walked along the strip of blue path they had, until they reached a blue wall: the exit. “It was nice to meet you. Maybe when the real Tumblr is back we can be friends?” Jillian asked. “Hmmm…. Sure.” Haley replied. Jillian stepped through the wall after saying goodbye. --------------- Haley woke up on a regular morning. She baked a regular batch of pancakes, and at with her family like she regularly did. But she didn't feel regular, something was different. She felt like drawing, which she hadn't in years. And something in the back of her mind wanted to used her computer. There wasn't a reason, it just told her to do it. Haley's mom wanted her to go shopping. Haley's sister was visiting, so they were all going to go together. Haley hated shopping, except for if she was getting ingredients to make something tasty. While they were out, she saw a mural that she wanted to replicate for some reason. She had seen it so many times, why did she want to replicate it then? Alexis, Haley's sister, always liked to talk about the art museums she had been to recently. Normally, Haley zoned out, uninterested. This time, she paid close attention, and pictured what the art would look like. What was wrong with her? “Haley. Haley!” her mom was trying to get her attention. She had been staring out the window at their dog, picturing a thing she could draw from it. Under her breath she was humming one of her favorite songs. “What's up?” Haley replied. “You seem off today. What's up?” Alexis butted in. “I dunno. I think I'm just tired.” Alexis looked satisfied with her answer, but Haley's mom studied her carefully. She didn't say anything, but just looked a little upset. “I think I'm going to go sleep.” Haley excused herself. But instead of sleeping, she grabbed her computer and sat on her bed. The interior of her computer was blue, with a black lining. One of the walls was lined with all her applications; Google chrome, her drawing program, Tumblr and all her other social medias. She had a few games as well. “I haven't been on Tumblr in a while. I can't remember why.” Haley mumbled to herself. She stepped inside, and looked around. It looked so different compared to how she remembered it. People were wandering around, the walls were blue, and a dash filled with posts scrolled beneath her feet. Before it had just been empty grey walls whenever she tried to enter. And when she left she always felt… empty. Someone waved at Haley, probably looking at someone behind her. She turned and no one was there. The girl ran over to her. “Hey Haley!” she beamed as if she and Haley were best friends. Haley just felt lost. “Uh… how do you know my name?” “Do you not recognize me?” her face dropped a bit. “No… sorry.” “It's alright, I just thought you would. I have a lot to talk to you about!” the girl's face brightened a bit again. “My name is Jillian.” “I'm Haley, as you apparently knew before.” “Come on!” the girl dragged her by her wrist down across the dash. She stopped to talk to a few people, and introduced them to Haley. “Anon, ~Red, this is Haley. She's the one I told you about!” “You told them about me?” Haley thought this whole this was so weird. “Yeah! Technically you and I have met before. You just don't remember it.” Jillian said. Haley may have remembered something like that in the farthest depths of her memory, but she didn't want to admit it. “Can we come with?” the one called ~Red asked. “Not this time, maybe later.” Jillian replied before dragging Haley forward more. They walked down the dash, the number of people walking by growing smaller as they moved forward. Jillian was silent the whole time they walked. “Here we are.” Jillian said, dropping Haley's wrist. They had reached a point where the blue walls and white dash were crumbling into a darkness that had absolutely no light. Haley took a step forward, and heard a small crack. “Be careful where to put your feet, haleykinz.” a large resounding voice spoke. “Who are you?” Haley said, once she calmed down from jumping nearly a foot backwards. “I am Tumblr. You are one of my users, so I must protect you.” “She doesn't remember.” Jillian faced the darkness, speaking boldly to the thing Haley was terrified of. “I can fix that.” Haley felt something weird in her ears, like how they felt when she swam too deep in a swimming pool or if she was in an airplane. Then the memories came flooding back. How she had her sense of creativity torn from her body as she fell, how devastated she felt before she left this place the first time. How she had tried to talk to everyone else, how she met Jillian, how she escaped. How Tumblr had led them through the impossible darkness. How could she have forgotten? Haley was forced off her feet, and she fell to her knees. Her chest felt like she was being crushed when she lost her creativity, but she had gotten over it and forgotten when she left Tumblr. All of a sudden she felt lighter, and she knew why she was acting weird that morning. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to think. So she just laughed.

[drakkarijaimari]

*Folded up inside the book is a letter that appears to have been opened and refolded many times.*

My Darling Jaimari,

            I write this while you are out as I worry that this fever shall claim my mind and recude my ability sooner than I had expected. I've taken to writing to you like I did when you were a child, and for the reason of this is that I have one last story of Nalak to give you.

           Now, be aware that this is a little different, as the story here begins with a girl.. a woman actually, many years past the age to mate.. She was never wanted by any male for she had no strength to give, she was a mid wife, a wondering one at that. Helping others from all over. She was a commoner whom fell in love with the wise warrior Nalak we've enjoyed stories of. Back then, he was a simple guardsman, and much much younger than she. She admired him for his kindness, and he admired her due to his love for her... they were later mated.

           They lived together for the better part of a year, where she grew full of belly with his heir. She never showed signs of this pregnancy however, not physically. But the loa looked down upon her and gave her a still born child.. Nalak returned home to see his first born son was not joining them in the world of the living.. other trolls then began to shun her, but Nalak refused to do so.

           He went that night to a Noble Drakkari, a great warrior named Zazuni, and requested to join him within his warband. Zazuni agreed and brought him in as a claimed brother and as a brother at arms. This was not the extent of the woman's bad luck however, as within a month of the child's death, Zazuni's Warband was trapped within the ahn'qiraj's many tunnels... Nalak fell that day, along with all others of the band..

           Yes my child, this is Nalak's ending.. his death.. but this is not the end as you may see it, as it was just the beginning... Even the noble would've died that day if it wasn't for the lone huntress that ran ahead of the pack and saved his life, her name was Naraani... and Naraani and Zazuni gained the Gron Naal Sos Sizaan.. (Bond by blood lost)...

           When he returned he was wounded heavily, and very much in love with the Drakkari girl.. He came to the Mid Wife, knowing she and Nalak had a special bond and how Nalak would not wish for his wife to be put into the slums of the city. He offered her a home and a chance to always have a profession, to become his Hut Wife and help him and any mate he had give birth to children and raise them. She agreed. She was sad, but proud when Zazuni took the Lone Huntress into his furs and she aided with his first born child. A child, an heir, a babe that would hold his name and lead the family after he... a child.. born female. Her name was Zaziria. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean but with light streaks throughout like a bolt of lightning danced across the water's surface, and her fur was wavy and soft.

           Within the next few months after, Zazuni took Naraani to his furs once more and gave yer yet another babe. However his extent of his fertility. Months later, he grew drunk off another's victory in battle and mistook a winterfang girl for his mate and took what he thought had belonged to him. Naraani was stricken with shock when she found her mate brought home another woman she gave birth two months earlier than she was suppose to.

           This child was yet another female, and her small statue and weak body made all think she would die within the first month. The Drakkari woman, Naraa, worked to keep the baby alive as much as she could and the child survived with both one blue eye and one velvet, because of this her name was Daran'ji. Two Soul... and yet again her hands were put to work for the winterfang after this. She helped with again a girl, Khjorza... and the winterfang was nearly sent away had she not promised to give a male next birthing..

           For that reason alone, Zazuni kept her.. but he was wary of this.. he knew of one female that gave birth to a son, even if that son was claimed by the death god. He came to the Hut Wife when she was alone the next day and gave her a child... one she denied actually conceiving in her fear, but over all things she already cherished and loved this child. The one thing she wanted most was being hand gifted to her by the Loa themselves, they had answered her prayers and given her a good man’s child. She bore this child to term, but just short of it she found sorrow. In pain, she birthed a white furred child that was soon taken from the world of living, within mere hours of being born. Grief wrapped around her now, as now and worse yet, she was forced to help Naraani with the third of the woman's lovely children…

            Naraani grew sick in the days before her pregnancy, her body having weakened from the constant birthing of young, and yet still she birthed a healthy, strong, white furred child… but the Loa seemed to spite this woman too, as the child did not cry nor breath in any air, but lay limp in the Hut Wife’s arms. She looked to the two older sisters, hope in their eyes as they watched her and she took the bloodied child away into the other room to clean. As she did so, she saw the body of her own young, and in anger she cursed the Loa and began to work quickly to revive that child, and revive the babe she did.

            The young girl gasped for breath and the Hut Wife was the first to meet the girl’s brightly shining eyes, eyes full of life, full of love. Her heart sank when she heard Naraani call out her name, begging to see the child. What would she do? What could she do? She spited Naraani, she had so many children, so much good to be had, and the Mid Wife had nothing.. she wrapped the child in new cloths and hid her within a basket, then taking her own young, she wrapped the bloody rags around the babe she had seen die after being birthed from her.

           Naraani’s tears stung her heart, and at first, she felt bad for her doings, until she left her people of her own free will, knowing she’d be cast out… and she did so, with the living babe wrapped in cloths, hiding within a basket.

           That child my dear Jaimari, is you. You are not my child, but you have always felt like mine. I know you now feel betrayed, like your entire life was a lie. but I assure you it is not. You were raised to read, raised to write, taught herbs better than any herbalist I ever knew, and even more still you have a cautious but warm heart. You have your mother’s eyes. Her gorgeous and wonderful eyes.

           The reason for breaking this fairytale of a life you have lived thus far is because, I will soon leave you on your own, and I cannot bare to do so without you knowing this:

Your sisters and mother, yet live.

           My dying wish for you, Jaimari is to seek out your lineage, I know they will accept you now just as they would have then.

            I… know it is selfish to ask after telling you this but, please my dear.. do not forget me.. write to me my beloved, write to me the story of your life. I won’t be able to answer from this point on, but I will always be with you, if you’d only give me the story you make yourself. No more of Nalak my love, this story… is yours.