#but anyway! HBD ONCE AGAIN MEL

[akaneverse]

SURPRISE MEL, here’s a lil quick birthday gift from an editor mutual of yours @paeonie-s 🫂 ik you’d like the Akane and Momo combo deluxe (♫ Cherry - Rina Sawayama, in honor of our shared love for her music and artistry 💗)

[undercovermcdfan]

nefelibata || travlyn, Mercenary AU

AU: mercenary AU

a/n: HBD to one of my best friends that given me the pleasure of befriending. Things this year been up and down, confusing and just… (gestures) the way things be on this bitch of an earth. But what hasn’t change is that I love you dearly as a friend and you still a strong inspiration for me. Mel, this fic is for you. I kept it kinda open-ended with a lot of room to develop but man I had fun writing various of scenes and I had even more ideas but yknow. The fic had to end.

warning(s): mild hints at adult relationship

dedicated to: @sonhabem

“I still don’t know how I feel about this,” Laurance said quietly, inclining his head towards him and Travis could see the exhausted way Laurance always looked at him when he made an especially impulsive decision.

Which was often.

Travis elected, stubbornly, to ignore the look. He rolled his eyes, testing the weight of the blade. “Is trusting me that hard?” The balanced ease and effortless swings made him smile, confirming that dumping five weeks’ worth of errands and odd-jobs into a pricey commission for Cadenza’s expert hands to repair the blade was an excellent choice. The blade shined underneath the afternoon sun, sharpen double-edges practically begged for him to chop something other than the test fruits Cadenza made him practice on. His wide-grin grew even larger, excitingly looking at Laurance as he rubbed circles into his temple.

“You got to admit—it suits me,” he struck a familiar pose, awkward because it was a stance that didn’t suit the sword, but the sight made Laurance’s grimace crack a little.

Laurance shook his head with a defeated chuckle, “I guess so.”

Travis beamed, sheathing the sword.

“But—” Laurance started, holding eye contact for a moment before breaking away. His mood dampened as the tension rolled in, his hand gripping his blade as he braced for Laurance’s newest lecture on him reconsidering. Your mother’s wish wasn’t this, Travis. “Promise me one thing,” a sad smile was on Laurance’s face, as he placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a small squeeze, “you’ll remember you have a home to come back to. Freya is a woman I never want to cross, and I don’t doubt her ability to curse me beyond the grave.” He grunted, Laurance’s smile grew a little wider, “At least look into finding Katelyn. I promise you—it’s better to have a friend in this sort of journey.”

Travis kicked the dirt, shrugging, “Glorified Babysitter, huh?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that to her face,” Laurance mused, patting his back, “She’s fulfilling a favor and only going to stick around enough to show you the ropes. Her father’s an old friend and I been hearing she’s bit of a superstar in the mercenary business.” He then threw his arm around Travis’s shoulders, pulling him into a half-hearted hug and leaned even closer, “Don’t piss her off, alright? Her help is my gift to you—”

“—And you don’t want me embarrassing you.”

“Oh, I don’t care about you learning some life lessons,” his smile faltered into a grimace, “I just don’t want her banging on my door because you managed to say the wrong thing.”

Travis slipped from under his arm, waving him off with a dismissive acknowledgement. Laurance shook his head, trailing behind as the two headed back inside. “Don’t worry. I’ll look for her at that guild you told me to go to.” He pulled out his sword, grinning, “Don’t worry, old man. I’ll take your advice for now, but I’ll assure you, this ‘Katelyn’ is going to be sending her thanks instead. Once she gets to witness my awesome swordsman skills, I guran— AH!”

His sword clattered to the ground as Laurance’s hand grabbed by the collar, prevent him from meeting the same fate: fall via tripping over pesky stone jutting out from the beaten down path to the house.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you, kiddo?”

Travis, flustered, glowered at him. “Shut it.”

.

.

.

Laurance.

What have you done.

Travis.

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.

.

He didn’t see her smirking, but he could feel it.

When he looked up, however, she didn’t greet by the sight of haughty smile amused by his suffering. Rather, he saw a schooled expression, her eyes coolly watching him as he struggled to get back on his feet.

“You’re too slow,” she said curtly, raising her fist again as she fell back into her position. She barely looked as if their sparring displaced a single hair on her head. She also was scarily lacking sweat from the exercise too. Rolling onto his back, he directed a glare her way as he mumbled, “Are you even human?”

Everywhere ached. He knew the necessary and all, but the unrelenting force known as Katelyn was… to say the least… made him almost second-guess his decision. But he wasn’t a quitter and though he wasn’t sure, he started to think he was earning her respect because of this.

She nudged him with her foot, and a ghost of a smile appeared on her lips.

“I’m not. Now we’re either going to get this move down now or I’m putting you through some more stamina training,” she then squatted down, grabbing him by his nose. He squawked indignantly while she continued, “C’mon. Most guilds have the rigorous vetting process. Even if I and Laurance are already vouching for you—you need the skills backing it up.”

…. he sighed. “Which position are we starting from?”

Now a genuine smile, a glint of amusement—a stark change from moments before. “I can’t believe that work.” He heard her mumble under her breath but before he could question her, she helped him up and instructed him what fighting position they were starting from.

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.

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Hey, Laurance (and everybody else).

I know I’m a little late on this. Katelyn has been working me to the bone—you weren’t kidding about her being a professional! Better partner than teacher though. She took me on my first couple of assignments and stopped me from losing a couple of fingers. I got way better at this sword stuff; it isn’t like yours and it felt a little weird to find my own style, but she gave me some pointers, which is cool.

I think I’ll visit you soon after this next assignment. Katelyn is tagging along again, which is nice. She’s really nice if you get past the ‘Don’t mess with me’ vibes; I don’t think she’s actually that selective as people make her out to be. She just doesn’t like slackers. I think we make a pretty good team.

Anyways, tell everybody I said hi. Tell them I’m alive and in all one piece.

– Travis

P.S. There’s this Vylad dude who says he knows you. He didn’t stick around long though. Kinda nice in a… weird way.

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Katelyn’s mirthful laugh melted into a look of horror.

Travis, on the other hand, only brighten as his laughter climbed in volume as he pulled her hands away from her face. “No, no you don’t get to hide from this. I heard it—Katelyn, I heard it.”

“Shut up, shut it,” she said insistently, changing her tactics as she instead tried covering his face— forcing him to his back but it’s too late. He saw and with this knowledge, there was nothing she could do about it.

Without her bulky armor or enchanted gauntlets, Katelyn was still natural at intimidating people despite her shorter stature. But a year into this team up, Travis discover something: she was only intimidating if he only regarded her by the persona she put out. There was nothing intimidating by the furiously blushing person who sat opposite him; she was shuffling the cards they were playing until… she laughed a little too hard and let out an embarrassing snort.

And he wouldn’t let this go. She knew this—it was that moment, he could see it in her eyes, the realization of I lost all control. He knew her well, however, and if she was anybody else, she might’ve sulked at this knowledge of she no longer silence him with a look. If he was anybody else, she might’ve just walked away from the sight of him trying to calm down but failing every time he glanced at her and the memory of abrupt snort, her reaction, etc. came back.

“Is this why you only ever give cool smiles or just chuckle? I can’t believe—” She pinned him down onto the bed. “—you have a ridiculously—” She grabbed a pillow, lifting it above her head. “—cute laugh. The truth has been revealed.”

This was childish.

She was acting childish.

And he loved that.

Defending himself from the feathered blows of the pillow, another thought appeared.

“I love you,” he blurted between hits as he held his arms up to block the direct hits.

She paused. He froze.

A moment passed.

“Did I say that out loud?”

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Hey Laurance.

I’m thinking about telling Katelyn everything. I mean, everything.

I know I’m spouse to keep hush-hush, but it’s been a while now and I trust her. I don’t want to keep this a secret forever.

By the time you get this, I probably did so already. Depending on the follow-up letter, it might’ve gone well or I’m coming home a little sooner with a broken heart. Hoping more for the former than the latter.

Best regards, Travis

Also hey Isabel been telling me that something up between you and Vylad. Something as in not really ‘just friends’.

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Hesitation flickered in her eyes for a moment, but then she surprised him.

She pushed aside his offered palm, her hands instead opting to cradle the sides of his face.

It wasn’t the prettiest sight, nor this being the way he wanted her to see him. His gangly arms ended in sharpen claws. The way his horns twisted and stretched out. A muscular tail that swiped anxiously at the ground in anticipation. She knew bits and pieces of what he told her: about his mother, about his actual heritage, about the deal—but he didn’t tell her everything.

He considered it but every time, he chickened out.

She didn’t flinch when his eyes turn an unnatural purple. She would touch his jagged horns when it started to protrude out of his head. Laugh at the way his tail clings to her after a long evening spent together. But he didn’t look threatening then; he still looked like his ‘normal’ self, just… with an unnatural twist.

He looked threatening now.

He knows he looked threatening.

She pulled his face closer to hers', her eyes shut as she lightly pressed her lips to his. And when she pulled away, he could only warily study her form as she looked on softly. They were both in pretty bad shape after the ambush—the reason why he was even about in his form was his body’s way of recovering the immense damage he took after entering a flight or fight response. He could shut his eyes and still picture the faces of those men who looked at him in horror, the words ‘demon’ and ‘monster’ in their shouts as they directed their blades to him.

In the situation, he could only do one thing: run. Like how he did when he was young.

But unlike the time back then, where he would leave everything and everybody behind in his wake, he grabbed the one thing that mattered: Katelyn.

“Travis,” her voice was soft, a sort of tenderness she reserved for private moments. He met her gaze, albeit meekly, and she held it strong.

In a grating voice, one that he hated in this moment, he responded: “I haven’t been honest…”

“You saved my life, I don’t think I can get angry about…” she shook her head, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” she asked, “That’s all that matters.”

“I’m… okay. The cuts weren’t that deep—I’ll eventually go back.”

“So, we wait this out? We should take some sort of cover until then,” she looked around, “maybe a cave or—”

“—You don’t have to... wait… um…” he shrunk against her glare and fell silent as she stood.

She placed her hands on her hips, lips pinched as her eyes narrowed, “We’re partners. We’re guildmates. I love you.” She placed a hand on his bowed head, running her fingers through his unruly curls, as she continued, more gently, “I’m staying with you. You’re hurt. I’m going to help. There’s no way for you to convince me otherwise.”

He shut his eyes, leaning into the touch, sighing.

“Fine,” he said. He felt drained, but relief thrummed in his heart, “Just… you don’t find this scary?”

She raised a brow, then quirked a small smile. “You know it takes more to scare me.”

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Hello Laurance,

So, a little birdy told me that Vylad retired and moved in with you recently. As well as the fact you two eloped it. I feel kind of betrayed, and I’m sending this letter to inform you that when I tie the knot with Katelyn, you ARE NOT going to be my best guy or whatever. Man. Best man. That’ll go to uh… somebody else. Not you. Probably Zenix if I bribe him with some food.

Anyways, I wanted to say, that I’m bringing Katelyn to the town and this will probably reach you before we get there.

See you soon, Travis

P.S.  By birdy, I mean it was Isabel.

P.S.S. Don’t tell her I told you that she told me.

P.S.S.S(?) Hey also Katelyn congrats.

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He woke up to her humming. Underneath her breath, barely audible humming—but it was there.

“Hey,” she whispered almost when she noticed his eyes were trained on her now, watching curiously as she traced her fingers along the cluster of freckles that dusted his shoulders.

He smiled, matching her tone with an affectionate, “Hey.”

It’s strange, to lay in the quietness of their house.

But as sunlight crept in through the window, they couldn’t stay there forever.

As much as they wanted to.

“Hm,” Katelyn splayed her hand against his chest, and caught his eyes, murmuring, “We should head in today for another contract. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Uh, yeah it has been.” He paused, squinting as he tried to jog his memory. “Four months?”

“Well, the last one was a bit of a… let down,” her fingers tap against his chest, as she mulled over it as well.

“Not necessarily,” he yawned, gathering her close as he turned more towards her and embracing her warmth, “We got paid for our troubles and got to exact a bit of revenge with Ivy. It just wasn’t as exciting as the usual.”

“Hard to get excited when you nearly died.”

He let out a bark of laughter. “I didn’t die—it was a couple of scratches, love.”

She scowled at him, “I hate it when you’re so…” He grinned, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She sighed, and tucking back a loose curl back behind his ear, she said in a serious tone, “I love you. You know that, right.”

He nodded, giving her another kiss on the crown of her head. “Of course, I do. If you’re willing to kiss me like a big ugly monster, I think you earn that.”

There’s a pause. “…Why do you call yourself ugly? I mean… you shouldn’t assume I would find it as such, Travis. I can make my own opinions.”

He blinked. She glanced away, a tinge of pink on her face. He opened his mouth, then shut it.

“Do you have—”

“Actually, can we go back to talking about love—”

“—a thing for—”

Covering his mouth with her face turning bright red and she said, a little too loudly, “Don’t think too deeply into that—it’s too early for this conversation, hahaha.”

He grinned behind her hands.

“You’re my partner—a little less judgment, please.”

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Hey Laurance.

Actually, I was kidding before. Do you still want to be my best man?

From kiddo himself,

Travis.