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lin-nin · 4 years ago

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Tribulation & Tenderness - Chapter 13

Ship: Main Technoblade x Reader, some Dream x Reader Plot: You're a princess in a Kingdom suffering a years long famine. In a desperate attempt to help your people, you accept one simple offer: Marriage to the crown prince of a neighboring kingdom. Anything to help your people survive. Surely it can't be too bad, can it? Chapter List: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Disclaimer: Cross-posted on Wattpad (discontinued) and Ao3. This is based off of everyone's CHARACTERS. I do not write fanfic based off the actual people.

Chapter 13: Until My Heart Stops Beating

< | Previous Chapter

The rest of the day prior to your wedding was spent in partial tension. You never found out what the favor Techno had called for was exactly, but you didn’t mind. Truthfully, you were increasingly more focused on your wedding. It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, and you practically had to force yourself to sleep that night. You awoke far earlier than normal because of it, moving around your room anxiously.

You eventually lowered yourself into your bath, taking care to make sure you were clean. You let the steam from the water curl around you, sighing and trying your best to relax. Thinking about today caused your stomach to erupt in butterflies and a smile to spread across your face. You truly hoped today went well. Eventually you stood up, stepping out of the tub and sliding into a shift.

There was a soft knock on your door after a few moments of you just sitting, and you called whoever it was in. Eret slid into the room, offering you a smile. A bundle of white fabric sat in his arms, and a few servants followed behind him with various things. “Good morning to our bride,” He practically cooed, motioning towards a servant to the table between chairs. She followed, setting down a tray where he pointed. She hurriedly bowed, leaving the room soon after. You watched Eret settle the fabric onto your bed, the remaining servants following in setting down boxes of other stuff. He sent them off, before turning to you.

“Morning Eret,” You murmured, returning his earlier smile. He seemed content, motioning towards the tray of food.

“Go ahead and eat, we’ll start with your hair. Are you nervous?” You reached for the cup of tea, bringing it to your lips and adjusting yourself so Eret had access to your hair.

“Very. Also excited, but I imagine it’s to be expected,” You managed to explain, letting Eret run a brush through your hair. You took your time with the food, enjoying the way Eret tended to your appearance. You didn’t normally allow yourself to get pampered like this, so you wouldn’t mind doing it this once.

“I imagine so. It’ll all go fine, though. It’ll probably go by better than you expect.” He made sure your hair was laying perfectly, humming under his breath as he did.

“Hopefully it goes smoothly, I do have some concerns though,” You sighed out the words, thinking about Dream. You hoped he would behave, truly. You would be extremely upset if he didn’t.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Eret reassured. You watched him move towards the fabric on the bed, peering at the lace he picked up. The veil. Your stomach erupted into nervous butterflies at the sight of it, examining delicate lace as he brought it over. The edges were thorned vines, leaves of white lace lying beneath light blue ribbon roses. You marveled it as he brought it close, unable to help your smile.

“You really outdid yourself,” You couldn’t stop the praise from leaving your mouth, reaching out to run your fingers along it.

“Just wait until you see the full dress. Turn your head.” You did as he instructed, turning away from him so he could start setting the pins of the veil into your hair. The lace tickled your shoulders, but you did your best to keep still. He softly grasped your shoulders once he was finished, giving them a squeeze. You turned to look at him, and he smiled at you. He disappeared to the bed once more, rustling through the boxes and bringing one over. You peered into it curiously, eyeing the roses inside. They were fresh, white ones from the garden. You laughed softly, turning to face him so he could situate them in your hair.

Eret lined them up along the edge of your veil, making sure they sat perfectly in your hair. The pins would be a pain to take out later tonight, but you didn’t entirely mind it right now. “Are you finished eating?” He questioned once he finished, moving to grab another box before you replied. You nodded when he returned, watching him pull out kohl from the box.

You instinctively closed your eyes, letting him line them with the makeup without question. He softly murmured when you were good to open them. He took his time applying a stain to your cheeks and lips, stepping back to examine his work. He sighed softly, smiling at you. “You’re going to be a vision,” He murmured, making your cheeks flush.

“You think so?” You questioned, acutely aware of the fluttering of your stomach.

“I know so. Come on, let’s get you in your dress.” He motioned you to stand up, and you did so on shaking legs. The anxiety regarding your marriage was starting to leak through now, and you couldn’t hide it. Eret offered you a reassuring look, sorting through the bundles of fabric settled on your bed. He grabbed one of sections of fabric, holding it out to you. You examined it, easily identifying the petticoat and slipping it on over your shift.

Next he moved towards you, holding out another section of fabric. The actual dress. The sleeves were made of tulle, a light blue in color, flaring out away from ribbon roses at the elbows made to match the ones on your veil. The base of the dress was simple. White, with a deep scooping neckline. He helped guide it over your head, situating it around your shift. You couldn’t help but watch as he adjusted the tulle on the skirt. Ribbon Roses decorated the scalloped edges of the tulle, exposing the white skirt beneath.

The stay was next, matching the dress with the white fabric embroidered delicately with blue roses. Eret’s brows were furrowed as he meticulously tightened the ribbons on it, making sure it sat perfectly. Once he had, he stepped back to examine you with a soft sigh. You flushed a little beneath the appraising gaze. He moved around again, grabbing a simple pair of shoes and stooping to slide them onto your feet. Moving in the dress almost felt weird, despite it not being too different in make than your most formal dresses. Perhaps it felt heavy with the meaning.

“One last touch,” Eret said, moving towards the final box on the bed. You had given him the earrings Techno gave you, as well as the necklace from Dream, for him to keep a hold of until today. You knew that was what sat within the box, watching him gingerly pick up the necklace to drape it around your neck. He tilted your head, sliding in the earrings and stepping back to give you a full look over.

“Oh, you’re gonna be the envy of so many,” He praised, and you shifted almost self consciously. The fact that you were wearing this dress caused you to fidget nervously.

“It doesn’t feel real,” You murmured, shifting around to search out the mirror you had. The rustling of your skirts felt loud in your ears, eyes roving over your appearance. It felt like something from a book, something so etherally unreal.

“It is, I promise. I’ll go get your brother,” He whispered, stepping towards the door. You watched him, before turning your eyes back to your reflection. What would today hold for you? The ceremony was straight forward, but the celebration itself felt so unsure. Anything could happen.

A soft knock resounded at your door, causing you to turn once more. George pushed open the door, carefully shutting it behind him. He stared at you for several long moments, seeming at a loss for words. It was probably weird, seeing you about to be married.

“It’s so hard to believe you’re my baby sister,” He practically echoed your thoughts, walking towards you. You laughed softly, nodding along.

“I guess I’m really not a baby anymore, am I?” You questioned, watching as he placed his hands on your shoulders. You leaned ever so slightly into the touch, a smile tugging your lips.

“No. Are you sure you still want this?” He watched you closely, looking for any change in your expression.

“Of course. Techno is kind, and his family is enjoyable. I have easily found friends here, and I know I can just as easily make a happy life. I will always miss you and Dream, but we’ll all move on.” You gently grabbed one of his hands, squeezing it tightly. George smiled, seeming almost sad.

“The castle won’t ever be the same. You’ve grown up so much.” He returned the squeeze, and you could only nod. You did yearn for the ease you felt of your teenage years in the castle. The lack of responsibilities you had felt, being able to run around and goof off with Dream. However you felt more freedom now than you had there. It was a new feeling, but a welcome one.

“I’ll miss some parts of it, but I’m excited for my future here. Everyone is so kind,” You constantly reassured him, letting him move you away from the mirror.

“Eret said he was going to check on Technoblade, but he’d tell us when everything was ready. Are you ready for this?” He settled into one of the chairs, pulling you into the one beside him.

“As ready as I can be. I’m nervous. There’s a lot happening today,” You folded your hands in your lap, legs bouncing.

“I can imagine. You put a lot of work into planning this, didn’t you?” You sat up straight, having problems trying to relax. The nerves were unbearable.

“Sort of, I just had input. Eret handled a lot of the main plans. Him, Wilbur, and Nihachu deserve more credit than I do.” You could hardly take any of the responsibility. You didn’t put in much actual work, just feedback.

“Still, it’s not everyday you get married. Everything will go fine,” George reassured, giving you a smile. Truly, you didn’t know what you would do without him. Probably fall apart, you imagined. The two of you chattered softly as you waited, George attempting to keep your nerves soothed. It wasn’t too long before there was a knock at the door, Eret popping his head in.

“Everything’s ready now. Are you ready?” His voice was gentle, and you offered a soft smile.

“As ready as I can be,” You sighed, standing up. George followed, lingering right beside you.

“You know where to go, right? I’ll go ahead and wait there, give the two of you a few more moments,” Eret spoke softly, as if anything louder would break the calmness. You appreciated it, whispering your thanks as he left. George turned to you, taking your hands in his.

“The wedding will go wonderfully, I know it. Mom and Dad send their best wishes. It’s hard to believe my baby sister is all grown up and getting married now.” The way he spoke and squeezed your hands had tears springing to your eyes. They threatened to spill as he pulled you in for a hug, kissing your forehead. You carefully laid your head against his shoulder, clinging to him.

“I’m really going to miss our garden walks,” you whispered, and he nodded.

“I will too. Don’t keep them waiting, though. I don’t want your husband to come looking for you.” George finally pulled away from you, leading you towards the door to your room. You followed, taking a deep breath. Silence lapsed between the pair of you as you wandered down the hallway and stairs. You were led through the courtyard, towards the garden. Nerves pooled in your stomach, and you hoped it didn’t show.

George gripped your hand in reassurance, walking with you down the path. Eyes were on you, and you were very aware of it. Among those eyes, though, were Techno’s. At the other end of the aisle. Hands folded in front of him, a pale cape fastened around his shoulders. A blue sash was tied around his waist, similar in color to the blue accents on your dress. The emerald rose brooch sat against the stark white of his shirt, clearly visible from the other end. The black prongs of his crown stood tall, a heavy contrast to the pink locks fanned around it. His braid was ornamented with gold chains, jewels interspersed within the chains.

In short, he was definitely a regal sight standing there. You were reluctant to let go of George’s hand in exchange for Techno’s, yet did all the same. You briefly watched your brother move away, taking a spot beside Dream. You watched your friend for a few moments, shifting beneath his gaze. His gaze was dark, and he offered you a smile. You supposed it was meant to be encouraging, but it never quite reached his eyes. You didn’t care to think too much on it, attention focusing back in on Techno.

He was staring down at you, a soft look in his brown eyes. That helped quell the nerves in your chest, and you offered him a smile as soft as the look he gave you. A moment of peace, almost to yourselves, as the Officiant was droning on beside the two of you.

“...to unite two separate souls into that of one. This braid of ribbon will signify their unity and bind them together, from now until eternity.” The man lifted a thick braid of ribbon, made of three colors: red, white, and black. Small vines of flowers were interwoven with it, and it was certainly pretty. Techno kept one hand with yours, the other taking one end of the ribbon braid from the wrinkled hand holding it out to him.

“Do you swear, on all that you hold dear, that you will protect this woman with your entire being? That you will give her everything you have, in wealth and love?” He rattled as Techno began gingerly weaving the braid around your joined hands. It caused butterflies to stir in your stomach, just watching it. His eyebrows were even knitted together in concentration, the very tip of his tongue peaking out of his mouth.

“I swear on it all, that I will care for her until I draw my last breath.” There was a warmth to his voice that had your cheeks flushing, a smile tugging the corners of your lips up further. You carefully took the braid from him when prompted, weaving it around your hands as well.

“Do you swear, to all you hold close, that you will support this man with your entirety? That through everything, injury and health, sickness and wealth, you will stay by his side?” You finished weaving the braid as he spoke, the two ends hanging loose beneath your hands.

“I swear it. I’ll be by his side until my heart stops beating.” Your voice rang clear, and the officiant seemed content with it.

“Then I will tie the loose ends of this braid. This represents the joining of your two wayward souls joining together to be one. In the presence of the sky and the earth, the trials of water and fire, you will forever be one. Even beyond mortality, you will always be with one another, through this life and the next.” As he spoke, he very carefully grasped the ends of the braid. They were tied together, locking their hands in a grasp. You couldn’t help the grin that split your face at that, turning to look up at Techno.

He offered you a soft smile, taking a step closer to you and carefully gripping your chin with his thumb and forefinger. Your stomach practically exploded into nervous butterflies. The kiss. You had forgotten the kiss. He leaned down, lips pressing to yours firmly. It was just a kiss of obligation, a part of the ceremony, but it had heat crawling over your cheeks and down your neck. He lingered, fingers gently squeezing yours. You couldn’t help but respond to the squeeze, stepping a little closer to him.

He was pulling back after a few heartbeats, smiling at you once more and turning towards the people. You couldn’t help the squeak that escaped you as he held up your bound hands, causing a few of them to cheer. Part of you wanted to hide, but you simply stuck as close to Techno’s side as you could.

“Let’s party!!” Tommy’s voice rang out from the crowd. He was clearly exhausted with all the ceremonial things, though you weren’t entirely sure you blamed him. Weddings weren’t too exciting, though your nerves would beg to differ. You felt like a frazzled mess on the inside, and you still had an entire day to go.

You and Techno stood back, watching the crowd filter towards the ball room. You glanced to the ribbon binding your hands, acutely aware of the feeling of Techno's fingers slotted between yours. You supposed that you were giving the boys time to set up for the first dance. You just accepted the silence, practically leaning against your husband.

"After the dance we'll be able to take the ribbon off. You won’t be tied to me all day." Amusement laced his voice, and you couldn’t help but laugh a little.

"It's not all bad. A little inconvenient, but all in all it's fine." You looked up to him with a smile, which he returned. Your free hand moved, toying with the ends of the ribbon. The pair of you only stood there for a little longer before you heard Tommy shouting for the pair of you to hurry up. You couldn’t help but laugh. Did he ever stop having energy? You followed Techno along the path winding through the garden, the soft chatter from the ballroom floating over the veranda.

"You did it, Big Man! You're a married man!" Tommy cheered when the pair of you walked in, slinging an arm around both of your shoulders. "Now that this is my sister-in-law," the way he said it, reeling you close to him with a shit eating grin told you this was going to be entertaining, "I can fight her now, right?"

A loud laugh bubbled past your lips at the antics, watching Techno huff and swat at his brother with his free hand. "We'll see." This seemed to be enough to placate Tommy for the time being, sending him scurrying off towards where Tubbo and Wilbur were messing with the instruments in the corner. You watched the blond pester his brother and best friend, a fond smile on your face. He was quite excitable about this all, but it's not like the pair of you had been complete strangers over the past few weeks.

Besides your common training with Techno, you would often spend time sneaking about the castle with Tommy and Tubbo, quietly helping them with all sorts of trouble that they got into. Not to mention the time you spent in the libraries by yourself, or the gardens with Eret. While in the library there were times Wilbur or Philza would visit you. You never minded it, though. Their silent companionship was warm and comfortable. Yet Techno always seemed to hesitate when it came to letting you train with his family. Surely they couldn’t be worse than him- or better, you supposed.

“Spare a coin for your thoughts?” Techno pulled you from your musings of his family, your gaze moving to him instead. You only spared a glance to the others before fully focusing on Techno.

“Just thinking about your family. How you’ve never let me really train with them. Only letting them watch. Is there a certain reason?” Your voice was soft, not willing anyone to hear your words. He paused any movement, seeming to clearly think over the answer. Or perhaps how to best frame it. You weren’t sure why he was thinking so hard, but you could practically see the wheels turning as he did.

“Tommy is reckless. Tubbo is… alright with fighting, a bit clumsy but enthusiastic. Philza is a much higher combat level than I would want you to fight just yet. As for Wilbur…” He trailed off, practically staring off behind your head. You turned, following his gaze to his older brother. The brown-haired prince was toying with the instrument, muttering to Tubbo before looking at Techno with a grin. He gave a thumbs up, and you could see Techno incline his head in a subtle nod before turning to you. “Well, Wilbur is encouraging us to dance.”

If you squinted, you swore you could see the faintest trace of pink on Techno’s cheeks. However you didn’t care to squint too hard, simply positioning the pair of you to dance. He squeezed your still joined hands, other hand hovering momentarily over the middle of your back before settling. Almost as if he had been unsure of the action. Once the two of you had settled comfortably into the position, the soft strings of Wilbur’s instrument filled the room, paired with the gentle notes from Tubbo at the piano. You were half focused on the music, partially focused on your husband. He pulled you along the floor effortlessly, spinning you with a practiced elegance you should have been expecting.

“Why not Wilbur?” You prodded again, only when you had fallen in line with the music as well as Techno. A soft sigh passed his lips as he gazed at you, eyes darting around to the people who were watching you.

“It’s complicated. Best we don’t go into it now.” His tone left no room for argument, a voice he rarely used with you- only when the pair of you trained. You responded with your own sigh, a little disappointed. You supposed you understood, but that didn’t make you any less curious. What was it that made Techno not want you to train with Wilbur?

“Later, then.” You were a little reluctant to agree. You trusted him to tell you whatever it was later. You would be rather upset if he didn’t. The two of you lapsed into silence as you danced. You were so acutely aware of many things. The gazes on you. The pressure of the ribbon braid on your hand. The feel of Techno’s hand on your back. The way you caught Dream’s dark gaze whenever he was in your line of sight. It was a lot, and truly you weren’t sure what to make out of it all.

It felt almost as soon as the dance and music had started, it was ending. Applause poured around you and you fidgeted. You were used to attention, but the attention you were receiving at your wedding was not something you could have ever prepared yourself for. Techno pulled away from you some, almost awkwardly, before reaching for the ribbon. “Why don’t we get this off and you can go dance with your brother. He looks restless.” You turned to look at George, who did in fact appear to be restless. He was shifting, eyes on the pair of you. You offered up a smile, holding up a finger to tell him you would be a moment.

The ribbon peeled from your hands after a few moments. Techno gingerly folded it, tucking it into his pocket. You smiled at him as well, rubbing your hand from where the ribbon had pressed into it. “Go, I’ll play a song. Since I’m required to.” He didn’t necessarily sound happy and you could only laugh.

“Alright. I’ll see you when I get a break. I know everyone is going to want to dance.” You slipped away from Techno to instead make way to George, grinning at him.

“Don’t look so nervous,” You teased, nudging him. He gave a shaking laugh.

“I can’t help it. There’s something almost tense about this whole thing. It feels so formal.” You understood what he meant. You knew marriages in Kinoko were different to this. They were more casual, even for royal families.

“It is strange. Almost overwhelming, isn’t it?” George had nodded in response. “Well then, Crown Prince Nofton,” you began to tease, a lopsided grin on your face. A reminder that you still were, in a way, his little sister he grew up with. “Are you going to keep me waiting?” You held out a hand, arching an eyebrow at him.

“My apologies, Crown Princess Minraelas. Would you honor me, your dearest brother, with a dance on your wedding day?” He bowed dramatically, grin matching your own. His tone was lofty, poking subtle fun at the way the courts of larger countries held themselves. You simply giggled as he took your hand, gently holding it and your shoulder with his other. “It even seems your husband will be playing a song for us.” He was struggling to contain his laughter, and you were barely managing.

The low sound of a violin drifted into the room, causing your head to turn to look at Techno. His eyes were closed as he ran the bow along the strings of the instrument, fingers moving against frets with clear familiarity. For all the resistance he had put up to playing the song, he seemed at peace with it now. You smiled, attention turning back to your brother as he pulled you into the throng of dancing people. "So it would seem," you concluded, letting the pair of you spin gently together as violin notes filled the air.

"You'll still write, won't you?" George had asked again, and you simply laughed softly.

"Always. I promise I'll tell you if I'm ever put into danger." You offered him a reassuring smile and he simply nodded. He seemed content enough, and you knew he had to be. He really was watching you grow up, wasn't he?

"If you don't write, I'm sending our entire army to rescue you." His lips quirked, a breathless laugh escaping him. You couldn't help but laugh as well.

"What makes you think I couldn't hold my own? I'm learning to fight now!" You declared, puffing your chest out just slightly. This elicited another laugh from your brother.

"No offense, but Technoblade handed you your ass. I think you might need the help of an army." You pouted at this, nose wrinkling just a little.

"Well, I doubt it'll ever come to the point of me having to truly fight." You waved it off, shooting him a smile. “I’m well taken care of here. They like me.” You twisted, looking over to where Tubbo was speaking to Tommy. The brunet caught your gaze, brightening and offering you a cheerful wave. You lifted your hand briefly from George’s, returning the wave. Your attention returned to your brother, who simply smiled gently.

“I can tell. I just worry about you being where I can’t see you.” His voice was gentle, hand once more grasping your own. Your gaze softened slightly, head shaking just a little.

“I’m not a little girl anymore, Gogy. I swear to you, I’ll be fine. Happy. Free.” The childhood nickname had rolled off of your tongue with familiarity. A sign of how genuine you were. No formalities. Just two siblings.

He had sighed in response, hugging you tight for a moment. “I know. It’s hard to not see you as one.” You could reluctantly accept that, returning the hug. “I suppose I can’t keep your company for myself. Go, dance with Dream. He probably wants to.”

The words brought your attention to the blond, catching his eye and smiling a little. His gaze seemed conflicted- caught somewhere between soft and affectionate, and hard and frustrated. You tried your best to ignore it, waving him over slightly. He seemed to hesitate, before running his hands down the front of the green tunic he wore and heading your way.

“Princess,” he greeted gently once he was close. Your eyes shone with light-hearted fondness, taking his proffered hand. He tugged you closer to him, one hand curled with yours while the fingers of the other dug slightly into your waist. You shrugged the grip off a little, free hand settling onto his shoulder, fingers fingers brushing the white fur of the cape that sat there.

“For now,” You teased, beaming up at him. Mischief was clear in your grin, letting him whisk you away along the dance floor. His eye flickered with something- too quick for you to notice. Then it was looking over your head, seemingly focusing on someone else. You almost turned to look, but he was soon focused on you. He moved way too fast for you to keep up. It was exhausting, yet you weren't sure you wanted to bother with it right now. Not today.

His fingers grasped your waist tighter. "You're really set on this, aren't you? Are you even sure you truly want to become queen to him? To this nation?" Disgust and irritation laced his words. Hell, he even sounded accusatory. You frowned up at him, squaring your shoulders.

"I've told you this before. I'm going through with this. I'm fine. You and George worry too much. Praelicentiam has treated me well," you reassured. Your fingers smoothed the fur of his cloak, praying it was enough.

He still looked disgruntled, lips tugging into a small scowl. "You know if things go wrong-" he started, but you shook his head to cut him off.

"I can return to Kinoko. I know. You and George have told me this more times than I can count." Your eyes fluttered shut in an attempt to calm yourself. His grip relaxed in the process, tugging you even closer.

"I just worry for you here. You've heard the rumors. I feel like you'd be safer in Kinoko." Where he could watch you. It was left unsaid, but definitely implied. He leaned down, pressing a feather light and affectionate kiss to your forehead. Heat rushed to your cheeks as you made to move away, saved by the clearing of a throat.

"Surely you wouldn't mind if I stole our bride for a dance?" A firm hand sat on your arm, drawing your attention to the blond man who had interrupted. Philza stood there, a kind yet unnerving smile directed to your childhood friend.

Dream narrowed his eye for a moment before he relented, handing you over to the man. "Of course not. I'll talk to you later, princess." The distaste in his voice was palpable, but you were able to ignore it.

"You were starting to look like a deer caught in the middle of a path," Philza pulled your attention to him as he moved with you to the music. You couldn’t help but laugh nervously.

"Dream can be a lot sometimes." Philza had simply inclined his head in acknowledgement as you spoke. Dream always had a way to be intense, and you never deciphered if it was good. It had been that way for the past year. You were hardly given time to dwell on your best friend, though. Instead you were being handed over to Tommy, who seemed far from thrilled. Just behind him you could see Wilbur, throwing him a very pointed look.

He didn't seem to linger with his dance, grumbling the whole time about how he hated these formal events. Much like the child he was. You would only laugh, knocking his ankles with your feet.

Then you were off to Tubbo, who's eyes were just as bright as his grin. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were enjoying my wedding more than I am." It was a lighthearted tease but he couldn't help but sheepishly laugh.

"For now I am, yeah," he acknowledged. You followed his gaze over your shoulder, where Schlatt stood holding a cup of wine. You supposed he wasn't looking forward to dealing with his father. You didn't blame him. Beside Schlatt stood Dream, his eye focused solely on you. The pair seemed quiet, thankfully. The idea of Schlatt talking too much with Dream made your stomach churn. You didn't doubt that Schlatt would be able to make Dream do something stupid- the older man was no doubt irritating.

The music faded to a new song, joined with a new dance partner. Your feet were aching, begging for a chance to sit down. Yet you supposed it was obligatory to dance with people. At least your new family seemed to believe so. Which is why Wilbur was now gliding you across the dance floor. He held himself with a poise very akin to Techno’s, a practiced poise and grace to his movements.

As if the way he held himself as he danced wasn't reminder enough, he couldn't help but joke, "If things had gone differently perhaps I would have been the one to promise you my last breath." He laughed, shooting you an amused smile. You echoed his laugh, briefly pondering how different Praelicentiam may have been.

"We'll never know, shall we? I think I prefer you my brother, anyways." He nodded in agreement, one hand softly patting your hair. It was exhausting, being on your feet this long. You needed to eat.

Eret seemed to realize this as they stepped up to you, holding a hand out. "One dance with me and I'll get you back to Technoblade. You've been dancing awhile." You let your shoulders sag a little.

"Just one dance, then. I'm exhausted." A whine edged into your voice. They laughed and nodded, seeming satisfied once you placed a hand into their's. Their movements were a comfort, in a way. You felt endlessly comfortable with them.

"Do you miss Kinoko?" They questioned after a few moments, making your steps stutter. It wasn't a question you expected from them.

You regained yourself, offering a soft smile. "Of course. It's my home, there's people I love there. It'll always be my home and I'll always yearn for it. The path laid ahead of me led me here, though. This is my home just as much." You loved Kinoko endlessly. Yet you were growing to love Praelicentiam. This was going to be your kingdom one day. You needed to learn to love it and it's people.

Eret seemed to think on your answer, sighing softly. "So long as you find happiness."

"I'll be happy here," you were quick to defend, offering a smile. They relented, and pulled back as the song came to an end.

"Fine, fine. Let's get you off of your feet." You were more than happy to follow Eret as they led you through the mix of people. As if it was even hard to spot Techno, where he stood talking quietly to a short man. You barely got a look at him before you were noticed. The man looked at you from behind glasses before smiling, seeming to disappear into the crowd before you got close. You frowned, lifting an eyebrow at Techno.

"Finally had enough socialization?" His voice called to you once within range. Eret squeezed your shoulder, muttering about how they needed to attend to other matters and disappearing.

"More than enough. Who was that?" You tried to locate the man in the crowd, but he was nowhere you could see. Weird.

“Someone running a favor for me.” It was a bland answer but you supposed there wasn’t much to expect. You simply relaxed into his hand as it settled between your shoulder blades, steering you towards seating. It took everything in your power to not sink into the chair as it was pulled out for you. You had a feeling that now that you were seated, you’d be there for a long while.

Techno settled into the seat beside you, his eyes raking over everyone else. Watching as if he expected something. You followed the gaze, trying to view things as he did. Yet you couldn’t. All you saw was people partying, enjoying their time there. Eret was conversing with George, your older brother struggling to stifle laughter. Wilbur was talking to Nihachu and two people you couldn’t recognize. One was a woman, tall with a mop of curls like you had never seen. The way her fingers curled with Nihachu’s gave you enough clue on who she was. The other was a man, currently laughing over something you wished you could hear. He seemed to be laughing hard, struggling to keep ginger and white locks of hair out of his face.

You sought out the younger two, knowing they would be joined at the hip. It wasn’t too hard. They stood with another- a boy? He looked young in the face, from what you could see given the slightly anxious expression he wore. Light patches of skin quite a few shades lighter littered him, dual colored eyes focusing on Tommy. His hair was like an extreme version of the man who was with Wilbur- yet instead of ginger there was black. As well as several patches of white as opposed to a single tuft. He was certainly a sight to behold and you swore you had never seen him before. You would have remembered him.

You pushed it aside, for now. You sought out the few other people you knew still. Dream was in a corner, arms crossed over his chest as he talked to a guard. You could tell it was a Kinoko guard, but couldn’t tell who. You tried to look harder to figure it out- you grew up with much of the guard- but it was pointless. His back was to you. It would be more worth it to continue your conversation with Technoblade. “You seem to have a lot of people doing favors for you.”

He huffed in laughter beside you, turning his attention from the people. Instead he watched you, amusement bright in brown eyes.”I’m the crown prince. Of course I have a lot of favors being done.”

“What type of favors?” You questioned, kicking your feet just slightly. You wanted to know. As much time as you spent training with Techno, you didn’t know what he did beyond that. He was still as much of a mystery to you as when he walked into Kinoko.

He shook his head, eyes flicking towards the people again. “Things I would prefer you to stay out of unless necessary. Instead of thinking about that, think about food.” You opened your mouth to complain but he was already waving a servant over, mentioning food to them. The boy nodded, turning to go fetch the food.

You let yourself focus on the food. You’d already tried pushing Techno on one subject today and had to leave it alone, you weren’t going to try a second one. It’s not that you weren’t hungry, either. Everything that had happened today had made you hungry. At least the food was good. You were still having to adjust to the amount of food too. Kinoko hadn’t been able to eat like this in quite some time. You wondered if George and Dream felt similarly to the food- though you were sure that Praelicentiam had since begun to send food over.

It was only when you had finished you truly began to wind down. So did much of the celebration. People left the room with stomachs full of wine and good food. You’d have to thank Nihachu for it. In the morning, though. She had already left with her girlfriend. You were eager to join the crowds of people leaving. You were ready to go to sleep.

Which was a problem.

You had been taught for so much of your life what was expected of you on your wedding night. Your mom had made sure of that, unwilling to see her daughter get hurt in ignorance. Yet, it still had a weight settling in your stomach. A rock lodged in your throat. Why was it now that you felt the fear Dream was so insistent you felt? Was it because you didn’t know what to expect from Techno?

You couldn’t help but glance at him, fingers toying with your dress. You honestly hoped it was nothing like training. It made you wince, which pulled his attention to you instead. “Are you tired?” His voice was low. You hesitated, glancing towards the few people who still lingered. George and Dream had both left, as well as Tommy, Tubbo, and their tall friend. So few people were here now. You gave in and nodded. There was no point in sticking around. Techno stood up then, holding a hand out for you to take.

It was natural for you to let him lead you through the castle, despite you already knowing it pretty well. He seemed to want to make sure you got wherever you were going safely. The silence was crushing and tense. You almost felt like you were drowning in it. Could he hear the way your heart thrummed against your rib cage, or how your blood was roaring in your ears.

Yet he passed his chambers entirely, heading towards yours instead. It threw you off. Weren’t you supposed to consummate the marriage? Your confusion must have been evident, because he spoke softly, “You seem exhausted. Get some sleep.” A hand settled on your shoulder, squeezing softly. Then he leaned around you to open the door, leaving you to your thoughts and wondering why he had taken you to your room instead of his.

#mcyt x reader #mcyt #dream smp #dream smp x reader #reader insert #dsmp #dsmp x reader #dream team #technoblade #technoblade x reader #dream x reader #dreamwastaken #kingdom au #sleepy bois inc #sleepy bois family #t&t

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fullmoonremus · 5 years ago

Text

Beyond Our Dreams | Remus Lupin x Reader Soulmate AU

Warnings: None

Time/Era: Marauders Era, Aged 19

Word count: 2.3k

Summary: Remus Lupin finally gets to meet his American soulmate, Y/N, after seeing eachother every night in their dreamscape.

Request: can you do a remus lupin x gender neutral reader soulmate au where they see each other in their dreams

A/N: I adore Remus so much. He’s such a special character to me. So, thank you for the request! Enjoy! I also attached my Remus Lupin playlist, which is full of songs that remind me of this perfect boi :) Check it out if you want!

masterlist | my remus lupin playlist | read on ao3

The apartment they chose to meet at was always the same; it was a small room with a comfy, forest green couch, a cozy bed, a small kitchenette, and a door that led to a bathroom. It was rather plain as well, with dark red walls and a plush carpet below their feet. On one of the walls, there was a large window that overlooked a calm city. The normal hustle and bustle of city life was extinguished by a heavy downpour.

While most people made their dreamscapes extravagant and complicated, as it is their mind after all, Remus and Y/N found comfort in the simplicity. The pair just needed a comfortable spot to talk and get to know eachother.

“And then Lily just sort of dropped the bomb,” Remus stated, sitting on the couch opposite of Y/N. His long fingers wrapped around a white mug and he held his tea close to his body.

“I can’t believe she’s pregnant!” Y/N had her legs crossed and a plate of chocolate chip cookies situated in her lap. “We haven’t even met yet, but people our age are already having kids.”

Remus heartily chuckled, raising his mug to his lips and taking a sip. “It’ll happen in due time, darling. Besides, it’s nice to have you to myself without outside influences,” He coughs. “My friends skewing your views on me.”

“I know your friends are lovely, based on how you speak so fondly of them.” Y/N took a big bite of one of the chocolate chip cookies. It was chewy and gooey, making it absolutely delicious. “Why are dream cookies so good? Like, seriously, these things are to die for.”

“Because they’re a figment of your imagination. They can be as yummy or as disgusting as you make them to be.” Remus pulled at the collar of his gray t-shirt, making the seams rip. “Do you ever wish I was more, I don’t know, exciting?”

“What do you mean?” Chocolate smudged on the corners of her mouth.

Remus grinned and licked his thumb, rubbing it over her delicate skin to clean her face. “I mean, our dream world is a one-bedroom apartment and all we ever do is talk. I don’t know, I hear Sirius has a rollercoaster in his dreamscape. I fell dull in comparison.”

Y/N fondly smiled at her soulmate, moving so she was sitting directly next to him. “Rollercoasters are overrated. I like the comfort our little apartment gives us, it’s nice and warm in here and I have you next to me.” She set the cookies on the coffee table in front of the couch. “We don’t need to go on extravagant adventures, you seem to have enough of those when you’re awake.”

“You deserve better, though. Not a guy in his late teens that is constantly tired and would rather sit on a couch drinking tea than going on a rollercoaster.”

“I deserve you, and you are more than enough for me.” Y/N sighed, moving Remus’ hair out of his eyes. He couldn’t feel her physically, but it was still a nice gesture. “I’m not exactly itching to go on grand adventures. That’s what meeting you is for.”

“You’re only 5,437 miles away, anyway.” Remus’ mouth twitched into a sad smile. “That’s nothing.”

“Hey, it’s better than 5,438 miles.”

“You got me there.”

“What would you do if I came to London and surprised you?” Y/N laid her head on Remus’ thigh while he moved his hand through her hair, trying to imagine what it felt like.

“I’d probably get rather quiet and not know what to do if I’m being honest,” Remus observed how Y/N’s locks flowed through his fingers like water and how it contrasted against the forest green upholstery of the couch.

“Maybe let out a few cuss words?”

“Why are you so obsessed with me cussing?”

“Your accent is hot, especially when you say ‘fuck.’ I like to hear it.” Y/N smiled cheekily and watched Remus’ pupils dilate.

“Fuck,” The words fall off his tongue with his Welsh accent. Much of the Welsh had faded, due to living at Hogwarts and now London, but it was still very apparent in his speech. Y/N giggled and squirmed.

“Yeah, like that. Sometimes you just slip it into casual conversations and I have to compose myself.”

“Americans are weird, it’s just an accent.”

“No, it’s not just an accent. It’s your accent so I like to hear it. Sue me!” Y/N threw her hands up in false anguish, lightly bumping Remus’ stomach.

“You’re so dramatic, love.”

“I am not dramatic! Just every time I compliment my favorite person in the world he says I’m weird! Maybe you’re the weird one, Lupin!”

“Fine, I’m the weird one. Does that make you happy?” His voice sounded exasperated, but he was staring down at her with the fondest expression.

“Extremely.”

“Do you think Sirius, James, and Peter would like me?” Y/N sat on the counter of the dream kitchenette.

“They already do like you, dear.” Remus stood between her legs with his hands resting on her thighs. With her sitting so high, they were almost the same height. “Why?”

“Well they’re important to you, and you’re important to me, so I want them to like me. It would suck if your friends hated me.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. They even have a nickname for you,” Remus looked away, his cheeks turned slightly red. This piqued Y/N’s attention.

“A nickname? What is it?”

“Button.” Remus’ cheeks were dusted a light rose color and his ears were bright red.

“Button? Why Button?”

“Well, a few years ago we were all going around and describing our soulmates. I said that you were as cute as a button and I guess the name stuck.”

Butterflies erupted in Y/N’s stomach and she planted a kiss on his cheek. “Why can’t I just apparate to you again?”

“We talked about this, love. You’ve never been here and I’ve never been there so you can’t apparate straight here. And the plane ride between us is almost 11 hours.”

“Fucking hell.” Y/N sighed in frustration.

“Fucking hell, indeed.”

“I did something, and you have to promise not to be mad at me.” Y/N paced around the kitchenette while Remus lounged on the couch. His head shot up at her words.

“What did you do?” His mind raced a mile a minute and he prepared himself for the worst. Y/N probably found someone better than him and wanted to cut off contact.

“It’s nothing bad, relax.”

“Well if it’s not bad, why would I be mad?” Y/N sighed and sat next to him on the couch.

“Well, in the real world I’m sort of on a plane to London right now.”

Remus’ eyes bulged and he jumped off the couch. “You’re coming? Here? Really? Now?”

“Well, I’ll be there in about four hours.” Remus was now pacing.

“Why didn’t you tell me?! Mine and Sirius’ flat is a wreck!”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to back out for a silly reason like a messy apartment.” Y/N stood and reached for her boy. “I love you and I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Four hours?”

“Yes, four hours.And I need a ride from the airport.”

Y/N stood atop the escalator and looked at the crowd below, scanning all the faces for her love. Her face crinkled when she didn’t see Remus but two young men holding a piece of cardboard with her name written in black marker on it. She realized that the two were, in fact, James Potter and Sirius Black.

“Sirius and James?” She said walking up, suitcase in hand. Both were much taller than Y/N and extremely handsome, making her feel slightly uncomfortable under their gaze. Both young men grinned down at her.

“Ah, you must be Button. Nice to know Remus talks about us enough for you to recognize our handsome faces,” Sirius exclaims, putting the cardboard under his arm and nudging James. “You’re even prettier than Rem described.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Well, you aren’t exactly hard to miss. Long hair, leather jacket, combat boots, overly flirty,” Y/N turns to James. “Glasses, The Beatles shirt, tired expression. Obviously, you’re James Potter and Sirius Black.” She smiles and pulls her hair behind her ear. “Congrats on the baby, by the way.”

James beams, “Thanks! Kinda crazy considering the circumstances, but you know how it goes.” He takes Y/N’s luggage and starts walking towards the exit. “You threw Moony into quite a panic, you know. It was one of the best things I’ve seen in a while.”

“It had to be done, he’s been putting it off for years. Something about not wanting me to be disappointed, whatever that means.”

“Ah, classic moons. Glad you came though, really shakes up our daily schedule.” Sirius responds. The three make their way to a Volkswagon Beetle and James pops the trunk to put Y/N’s luggage inside.

“Why didn’t he come and get me? Not that I mind the company, of course.” Sirius crawls into the back middle seat, leaving Y/N to sit shotgun with James driving. “Woah, I forgot it’s on the wrong side.”

“He pussied out, I’m sure you know how nervous he gets,” James pulled out onto the street and down the road. “And what’s on the wrong side?”

“Your car and the road, James. It’s on the wrong side.”

“It’s not on the wrong side, maybe you’re on the wrong side. Ever think of that?” He turned his head to look at her, the thick frame glasses on his face sliding down his nose.

“See! You agree! I am currently on the wrong side!” Y/N giggled and hugged her backpack to her chest.

Sirius also lets out a loud, bellowing laugh. Y/N felt as though she had known these two her entire life; in a way, she had.

The three pulled into a parking structure and she exited the beetle. (The car, she had come to discover, was named Lennon, after John Lennon himself.) She hadn’t been nervous up until this moment, staring at the apartment door. James patted her shoulder and smiled.

“It’ll be okay. He’s the same Remus you’ve been talking to for the past however many years.”

“Yeah, if you even get him to talk,” Sirius pushes his way between the two and towards the door, lugging Y/N’s bag into the flat. He drops the luggage in the middle of the living room and flops onto the couch. “Oh, Moonbear, your lover is here! Get your fine ass out of your room, before I take it out here myself!”

Y/N cautiously pads into the house, taking in the atmosphere of the home. It was very similar to their dreamscape, very small and sparsely decorated. However, the flat seemed to have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as a few closets. The livingroom had various framed band posters hanging on the walls, as well as a big framed picture of the entire friend group. Y/N could point out who was who easily as she observed it.

“Lily is so pretty,” She said aloud and pointed between two blondes. “Which one is Marlene and which one is Mary?”

Sirius and James look at eachother and share a laugh. “Merlin, he really does talk about us.” James points at the girl with the big, poofy hair. “That one’s Marls, the other is Mary.”

“Makes sense, since I’m assuming that’s Dorcas?” Y/N’s gaze moves from the blonde to a pretty brunette next to her.

“Oi, Moons, I didn’t realize you spoke about us so much,” James says, making Y/N turn around. In all his glory, Remus Lupin stood in the living room, decked out in jeans, and a The Smiths shirt. He was perfectly imperfect, and Y/N’s entire body warmed. His gaze didn’t leave Y/N as James spoke but he allowed his jaw to grow slightly slack and his hands to pull his shirt down.

“You’re even more beautiful in person, how is that possible?” His voice was breathy and light as if he was in complete awe. The light from the windows highlighted his cheekbones and made his features look unbelievably sharp, creating shadows that danced down his neck. He looked heavenly in absolutely every way possible, and this moment made her entire travel day worth it. Y/N blushed and stepped towards him.

“Nice shirt, missed you at the airport, though.”

Remus rolls his eyes and pulls his girl close to him. “Sorry ‘bout that, sunshine.”

Y/N nestled her face into his chest, taking deep breaths of his cologne. He was even better than she expected, all the way down to the wool socks he wore. Remus’ hand came to gently stroke her hair before looking up to see his friends. Unsurprisingly, though, the living room was now empty and Sirius’ bedroom door was closed.

“You smell so good, is that weird to say?” Y/N mumbles into the fabric of his shirt. “Like pine, and candy. I don’t know how to describe it.” She felt his chest vibrate as he laughed.

“I can’t believe you’re finally here.”

“Had’ta be sneaky, catch you off guard.” Y/N looked up into his eyes and glanced down to his lips.

The soft look of admiration she had seen so many times crossed his features as he leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss.

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scullydubois · 4 years ago

Text

Only the Light Ch. 19

Fate touches Scully's life, as does her own free will.

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

Can you still call something a miracle when you could not have gone on without it? When, if it hadn’t happened, the death knell would have sounded in your memory? Is that really a miracle, or is it just what had to occur? Certainly what keeps you breathing wouldn’t be so highly esteemed if the chips fell the other way. It would be called a tragedy, and no one wants to live in a world where every moment is caught between the two.

Scully existed there for a little while, but she’s escaped. Maybe for good. Because this--the Lace’s sacrifice, her signature on the adoption paper, her baby in her arms--is no miracle. This is God realizing she’s gotten her fair share, that he owes her a break. This is her fate.

In more normal circumstances, the foster family and the adoptive parent would have no contact. Social services would handle the transition. Since those barriers are already broken in Emily’s case, the state allows the Lace’s and their son to accompany Emily as she’s turned over to Scully. The nondescript woman in the polo shirt joins them as a witness to the custody change, and so they all find themselves at Bill Jr.’s house--of all places--for one grievous goodbye and a destined hello.

Mrs. Lace passes Emily to Scully moments after the family walks through the door. Her red-rimmed eyes reveal the depth of her agony.

“Take her,” she says. “I need to start letting go while she’s still in my sight.”

Scully bites her lip, feels Emily’s pudgy hand press into her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Lace. I can’t imagine how hard this must be. I’ll make good on my promise to send pictures and updates, I swear.”

“Thank you, Dana.” She sighs. “It’ll be an adjustment.”

Her husband taps the head of the little boy by his knee. “This is Andrew, our son. He wanted to make sure Emily has the best life possible, so he made you a guide to her favorite things.”

The boy--no more than five--holds up a construction paper booklet with crayon drawings of him and baby Emily. How To Mak My Sister Smile, his stilted handwriting reads. Scully’s heart skips a beat as she accepts it from him. She kneels down so he’s level with her and Emily.

“Thank you, Andrew. This is so sweet and I’ll be sure to read every bit of it and make sure your sister smiles every single day, okay?”

He nods, but tears cloud his vision.

Scully turns Emily so that she’s perched on her knee, facing Andrew. “Tell me--what’s your favorite thing to do with your sister?” she asks him softly.

He rubs his eyes and nose. “I like to show her my cars,” he stammers.

“Your cars? Wow!” Scully effuses. It’s not often that she gets to work on her kiddie voice, and she’ll need that now.

The color returns Andrew’s face. “Yeah, yeah, my race cars! I have a mat for them, and I push them around the track, and she watches. She likes the races. They make her laugh sometime.”

“Wow! You sound like a great big brother.”

“Yeah, and I like her bouncy thing too,” he sputters. “It was mine before.”

“An activity jumper,” Mr. Lace clarifies. “From Fisher-Price.”

“Ahh.” Scully’s happy to get any insight she can into her daughter’s early life. The Lace’s offered to send some toys with Emily, but Scully will only accept a couple onesies and Emily’s beloved stuffed rabbit. She doesn’t want to take any more from them than she already is.

She adjusts Emily on her knee, looks to Andrew. “Do you wanna give your sister a hug?”

“Okay.” He moves bashfully toward her and wraps his arms around Emily. He holds on until Emily begins to fuss, then steps back like he’s been caught sneaking away from time out.

“Emily’s lucky to have a big brother like you,” Scully tells him. “Your parents have my phone number, and you can call and talk to her whenever you want, okay? I know she can’t say much yet, but she’ll grow into it, and besides, she’ll recognize your voice.” Scully offers him a spirit-boosting smile. “Does that sound good?”

He nods, hands linked behind his back. Stranger shyness has taken over.

“Good. She’s gonna need her big brother to stick up for her.”

Scully stands up, clutching Emily to her chest.

“Mr. and Mrs. Lace,” Scully addresses them, “it’s impossible for me to sum up how deeply, deeply grateful I am for you and your sacrifice. It is no exaggeration to say that you have saved my life. I can already tell that Emily is so lucky to have been raised by you--that you have done an incredible job--and I hope that the two of us will continue to be a part of you and your son’s lives as Emily grows up.”

Mrs. Lace dabs her cheeks with a tissue. Mr. Lace frowns at his wife’s pain. “That means a great deal to us, Dana,” he replies.

“We feel blessed to have led Emily through her formative months,” his wife murmurs through her tear-strickenness.

The man nods. “She’s a wonderful kid, and I’m sure some of that comes from you.”

Scully smiles tautly. “I could say the same of you. Thank you for giving her the start I was denied from providing her.”

“You’ll let us know if you need any help, won’t you?”

“Of course. I’ll have your number on speed dial by the end of the night.”

The Lace’s formal goodbye had taken place at home, they said, and dragging out their visit would only make matters worse. They leave Bill Jr.’s house after a few short minutes, advancing down the front steps like a funeral procession.

When the door shuts and Scully’s baby is in her arms, she realizes that this will be her life for the rest of her life. What joy--! What horror--!

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

The heater’s gentle sigh provides a generous rush of white noise as the girls settle for sleep. It’s the time of year when San Diego’s nightly temperatures start drifting away from perfection, when sleeping with the windows open no longer has such appeal. According to Bill, it’s not cold enough to turn on the heating system (surprise, surprise) so he pulled a dusty space heater from the closet for the “girl’s room” to share. Like a gentleman, Mulder took the couch (as if he had any other option), leaving Scully, Missy, and now Emily with the guest room. A family affair, one generation rounded out by another.

It’s a convenient arrangement, really. Bill doesn’t have a crib and it’s not worth buying one for a single night, so Emily will be sleeping on the bed like a grown-up. If Missy weren’t there as a physical barrier, Scully would be taking the chance that Emily might roll off the unattended side. Instead, the little girl’s mother and aunt will be an arm’s length away for her first sleep with her new family. A symbolic gesture of the protection they hope to provide for the rest of her life.

It’s a wonder how smoothly the transition has gone. Emily hasn’t shed a single tear since the family she knew left her in this strange house. Then again, Scully has never seen her daughter cry; like her mother, she must not be prone to it.

Tara served a ham for dinner while Scully spooned mashed carrots and peas into Emily’s mouth, her helicopter parenting beginning early. Mulder made some joke about gourmet baby food, and everybody laughed except Bill, and Scully felt that she finally understood what was meant by family--some who share your blood will never fit into it, but some who were once strangers will more than make up for that absence.

And now, as Scully lowers her onesie-clad daughter onto the guest bed, there is peace. Terror, too, lingers in her mind, but it’s the unwarranted kind. She is the mother to a healthy baby girl. Yes, there will be challenges. Yes, a person loved separately from yourself is a person you could lose. But the summit has been reached; the worst did not happen, and now everything else pales in comparison. As far as Scully’s concerned, she can never be truly hurt again. Because if anything happens to Emily, well, this is what Scully asked for, and what gives her the right to complain? Beggars can’t be choosers, and she begged God for this...The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. This happened in the opposite order for her, so she can only assume more loss is to come, and she will accept it. She will.

Scully slides beneath the comforter, snaking her arm out from under to rest a hand on the small of her baby’s back. A comfort very familiar to her, and one she will bequeath to her daughter. They have the bed to themselves for now. Missy is in the living room downing a beer with the boys and trying to compete with (or mediate?) their trash talk. In the past, a situation like this might worry Scully, but those old concerns look so small now.

Only a few hours in, and she already feels much more at home with the title of mother, much more deserving of it. The first diaper she changed rivaled some of the operations she witnessed in med school, both in its gruesome nature and in requiring multiple pairs of hands. Mulder would help if Emily was a boy, he swore, but he claimed to be “out of his depth with her plumbing” as he put it. Missy quipped that you sure are and it made even Bill laugh and life was wonderfully rose-colored through Dana Scully’s eyes.

She hopes for sweet dreams for herself, but much more so, for her daughter, and she is aware that this is how it will be for the rest of time. Having been half-asleep when she was put down, Emily lulls into even-breathed dozing before Scully can decide on a lullaby. No harm done; Scully’s vocal cords haven’t seen regular exercise since college karaoke, and she’d hate to disappoint so soon.

When she opens her eyes again (she hadn’t realized she closed them, but apparently she had), Emily is deep in sleep, her eyelids twitching to the rhythm of her unseen dreams. And Missy has joined them too, her mouth drooping like it did when the sisters shared a bed every Christmas Eve. Scully doesn’t know what time it is, and with such a picture perfect view in front of her, she won’t dare to roll over and check the bedside clock. How nice it is to exist beyond time’s constraints, even for a moment.

Scully is as present, maybe, as she’s ever been. She’s touched by the past and the future, ironically giving her a heightened awareness of now. One side of her consciousness is borne back into childhood and the many nights she slept by her sister’s side--in this very city, in fact. The other sees a path of hope unfurling in front of it, finally. She wonders whether her happiness might multiply, like a drop of food coloring unleashed into water. Might Emily be the shield that she’s needed?...Maybe the loss she expects will not be what comes.

And what that could mean...she has meant, for a long time now, to plant Mulder firmly in her life. Partner is much too fleeting--the Bureau could close the X-Files tomorrow, and then they’d be nothing but ex-coworkers. They’ve established where they stand through silences that say more than words ever could. She loves him, he loves her, and my god, neither one wants to lose that. It’s only now that Scully is realizing that they haven’t--or she, rather, hasn’t--embraced what they have, and so there is nothing to lose, and very little to cherish.

With all this change in her life, she thinks, why not add that to the list?

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

They fly back into DC on Emily’s first birthday. November 2nd. Or at least, that’s the date that was left on the note at the foster agency. Scully isn’t sure exactly what she was doing last November 2nd, but she wasn’t having a baby, that’s certain. It was around the time of Aubrey, Missouri and BJ and nightmares, she remembers that. Plus, the phantom pregnancy, and the fear. The universe has a way of echoing itself.

They’re off to Mama Scully’s as soon as they make it off the tarmac. She’s aching to see her granddaughter, as she let Dana and Melissa know through a barrage of phone calls. I even made cupcakes and bought decorations for a warm welcome home! she insisted. Neither one of them can remember their mother being this excited about anything since...honestly? Ever. And they can’t blame her; Emily is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to their family. If only their father were here to meet her.

This is the sorrow that Scully has not had time to pick at. Her hero, her role model, the blueprint for all she wants Emily to be, not around to see it happen. She can’t think further than that; it’s the loose string that would unravel the sweater.

Mama Scully opens the door before they make it up the front steps, armed with yellow balloons and a party hat for the birthday girl. What a way to meet your grandmother.

“Hello dear!” It’s unclear whether she’s referring to Emily, one of her daughters, or the three as a unit. “Look at you…” she cups her hands around Emily’s head, and now they’re pretty sure who she’s referring to. “You’re like a little princess!”

Scully smirks. She’s glad to witness her mother’s happiness, of course, but they’ve just finished five hours of travelling with a baby. “Mom, please, could you save the theatrics for inside?”

“Oh, I have a whole other set of theatrics planned there,” Mama Scully quips. She clears the way, ushers the group into the house.

She touches Mulder’s shoulder as he passes. “Fox! I almost didn’t see you there.”

“Well, I can’t compete with Emily, so I don’t blame you.”

“She is precious, isn’t she?” Mrs. Scully gazes toward the doorway that Scully and Emily have since deserted. “There’s a place for you in Emily’s future, you know.”

Mulder shoves his hands in his pockets. “Oh.” He doesn’t know what else to say to that, and besides, it should be up to Scully.

“Unless there’s another woman in your life…?”

“No, no, I just--” he chuckles. “I didn’t expect that.”

Mama Scully lays a hand on his arm. “I care about you, Fox. Your well-being is deeply connected with my daughter’s.”

“Yes, of course…” He really, really would like to go in now.

“And it’s important to me that she has a strong support system throughout this ordeal. Raising a child is a tremendous challenge, and I don’t want her to feel that the burden is hers alone.”

“I completely agree.”

“That’s why you should adopt Emily, too. Give her the gift of a father.”

Mulder’s brain short-circuits. “I--what? Mrs. Scully, I don’t know--”

She puts a hand on his back and leads him inside. “Think about it. You and Dana, forming a family for this child that needs one. It would be a little untraditional, of course, but the wedding could come in due time, no need to rush.”

Mulder’s head is spinning. This is a practical joke, right? The hidden cameras can feel free to reveal themselves any time now.

The pair stops in the front hallway, a safe distance from everyone else in the kitchen. Mulder tries to mold his thoughts into cohesive sentences.

“Mrs. Scully, your intentions are good, but I think this solution is a bit extreme. I’m more than happy to help with Emily as much as possible, but becoming her father would just make things more complicated for all involved. And trust me, even if I were onboard, there’s no way Dana would go for it.”

Mama Scully nods. “I anticipated that. I’m going to talk with her tonight, straighten things out.”

Mulder does an awkward side-to-side shuffle. “If there’s one thing I know about her, it’s that her mind is not easily changed.”

“Yes, well, I doubt this is something Dana has given much thought to. I’m hoping to get my argument across before she takes sides.”

“Mmm.” Mulder looks off toward the kitchen, where he would like to be.

“I’ll let Dana know that we’ve discussed my proposition,” Mama Scully continues, “and then you two can talk it over, alright? I don’t mean to force you into anything. It just feels like a logical step. I’m sure you’d agree that your relationship is deeper than that of many married couples.”

“Sure, but it’s very different too,” Mulder mutters. This is not a topic to delve into with his partner’s mother, of all people. “I don’t know that they can be compared.”

“Perhaps you should consider it.”

Mrs. Scully holds her hardened glance for a long second, and Mulder is the one who breaks. He scoots out of her direct line of sight, then gestures for her to go before him into the kitchen. “Shall we?”

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

They celebrate Emily’s 365th day around the sun like they’ve been by her side for every one of them. Before the crew arrived, Mama Scully whipped up vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles, or as she put it, “a little bit of everything since I don’t know what she likes.” She even bought a happy birthday banner and sharpied in Emily’s name--not to mention five birthday hats and a humongous 1 candle that a single cupcake can barely hold up.

It’s a testament to Emily’s character that she’s so unbothered by it all. She lets Mama Scully slip the hat into place, shows no visible distress to the admiration she receives from the room. She prefers her mother’s arms over anyone else’s--they are, after all, the most familiar of the unfamiliar--but she’s content anywhere that welcomes her. And this is a place where she is most welcome.

Scully reminds herself to capture these little moments in her mind...Emily’s effervescent giggle as Missy tickles the bottoms of her feet, Mulder helping Mama Scully add extra sprinkles to each cupcake, the warm hug of a family’s company. Love, love, there is so much love here.

The time comes for cake and singing and blown-out candles. Well, candle in this case. Mulder performs the honor of lighting said candle as everyone gathers around, Emily nestled in her mother’s arms.

“Ready?” Mulder inquires. He conducts in time with his countdown. “One, two, one, two, three…”

The rendition is not in tune on anyone’s part (though Missy is the closest), but at least their intentions are harmonious. Scully’s heart swells. Mulder and Missy throw in a zany “and many more!” for the cherry on top of a joyous moment. Scully mourns its end; the birthday song is much too brief.

“Make a wish!” Missy chirps, and Scully leans forward and blows out the flame for her daughter. Safety, happiness, love...these are the things she asks for. These are the things that everyone deserves.

Scully’s not surprised when her mother pulls her aside a few minutes later and leads her to the library, leaving Emily at Missy and Mulder’s mercy. Her mother is fond of sentimental speeches, but not brave enough for an audience. Scully steels herself for a mushy-gushy outpouring.

Mama Scully shuts the door, turns to her daughter. “I’m overflowing with joy. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, mom,” Scully answers, tiresome already. “I’m a bit afraid this is all a dream that I’ll wake up from at any moment.”

“Pinch yourself. You’ll see that it’s not, I promise.”

Scully pinches her bicep, more for her mother’s amusement than anything. This is, in fact, reality.

“You must be very overwhelmed, I imagine,” Mrs. Scully remarks, beginning to pace. Scully follows with her eyes.

“There is a lot that I haven’t sorted out yet, yes,” Scully replies, her suspicion about her mother’s intentions growing. “Work, for example. I only have one more day off, and then I have to explain everything to Skinner, and hopefully I’ll qualify for maternity leave. But the Bureau isn’t very good about that, it’s only two weeks.”

“Just remember that I’m always available to babysit Emily if you need it.”

“I know, mom.”

Mama Scully allows herself to get side-tracked for a moment. “You have a crib though? And diapers, and a high chair?”

Scully nods. “Required for the home study.”

“Good.” Mama Scully sweeps back a wayward piece of her daughter’s hair. “I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re all alone in this.”

Her mother’s soft gaze unearths a sudden swell of emotion; tears prick at the back of Scully’s eyes. “I know, mom.”

“And I know that you’re gonna say you are Emily’s only legal guardian, and so you are technically alone, but you know what? You don’t have to be,” Mama Scully asserts. “There is someone out there who is willing to fill that void for you.”

Scully rolls her eyes, her brief emotional trance broken. “Don’t tell me you're gonna set me up with the Prizatskys’ son again.”

“Oh no,” Mrs. Scully laughs. “Besides, he’s engaged now.”

“Oh.” Scully tries to miss the patronization in her mother’s voice.

“What I’m saying is,” Mrs. Scully continues, “there is a man in your life who is loyal, trustworthy, hard-working, and in the perfect position to provide for you and Emily.”

“If you’re referring to Mulder,” Scully starts, an eyebrow raised, “I’m not exactly planning to shun him anytime soon.”

“Yes, but have you ever truly let him in?”

Mrs. Scully has aimed her arrow and hit her target, a stunning blow. The most damning parts of Scully’s inner dialogue have just been echoed back at her.

Wounded, she swallows hard. “That’s really none of your business. And just because he’s in my life doesn’t mean that he magically fills the role of Emily’s father. How would that even work? Emily would have to be shuttled back and forth...She’d be split between one parent and the other...It would make her life more hectic.”

“Dana, Dana…” Mama Scully pulls her daughter close, recognizing that she’s struck a nerve. Scully stiffens into the hug. “Remember when you were little, and your father would be gone on long deployments, and you’d draw pictures of him in his uniform, and tell your class about how your father was a Navy captain, and you were so proud? You barely had a sense of what that meant, but you knew he was doing something important.”

Scully relaxes into their embrace. “And when I missed him the worst, you’d let me wear his old sailor hat.”

“Yes.” Mama Scully takes a hearty breath. “I was there every day, feeding you, bathing you, sending you off to school...and you loved me, I don’t doubt that, but I wasn’t the one who put stars in your eyes.”

Scully nods against her mother’s shoulder. Damn, if she isn’t winding her way toward a convincing point.

“Emily’s gonna love you whatever you choose. But the fuller her life is--the more love she’s surrounded by--the more she’ll have to give, and the brighter her light will shine.”

Scully sniffles, shaken by the truth of this. God, to know as much love as she’s known in her life and resist it still. That’s not the way a life is meant to be lived.

“Thank you, mom,” she whispers in her mother’s ear. It’s an imprecise affirmation--encompassing everything and yet a specific something that she can no longer reject.

Scully pulls away, smiles at her mom. “No more meddling, okay? I’ll sort this out for myself.”

Mama Scully laughs. “You just needed that push. Now that the ball’s rolling, I’ll leave it alone.”

“You’d better,” Scully teases. She gestures toward the door. “I should get back to my baby.”

“Yes,” Mama Scully grins, “you should.”

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

The knock on the door comes at a quarter to noon, as Scully expected. She didn’t expect that she’d be scrubbing grape juice off the tile when it happened, but hey, these are the disruptions everyone in her life will have to get used to. Including--especially--her.

“I’ll get it!” Missy’s voice breezes through the apartment.

A moment later, Scully finds herself level with a pair of black dress shoes. Big ones. A twelve if she had to guess.

“Scully, if you wanna know my shoe size, just ask,” Mulder jests, and has he read her mind? She feels like she’s been caught in a compromising act, though she’s done nothing but wipe up a sticky purple mess. She cranes her neck, looks up at him.

“Good morning, Mulder,” she mumbles, running her hand over the spill area. Coming up clean, she finds her footing. The top of her head is even with her partner’s collarbone.

Scully thumbs toward Emily, who is gobbling cheese crackers in her high chair without a care in the world. “Apparently she doesn’t like grape juice.”

“Grape juice?” Mulder jeers. “She knows orange juice is where it’s at.”

Scully ignores him, but makes a mental note to add OJ to the grocery list. And apple too, just to be safe.

“Let me get my shoes and I’ll be ready to go,” she says, shuffling off in her pantyhose without waiting for a response.

They have a lunchtime meeting with Skinner to explain...well, everything. Mulder doesn’t need to be there--as his partner was quick to remind him--but he insists on advocating for her. No amount of I’m not a damsel in distress, Mulder will put him off. She’s so much more than that, he knows. Hence why he’s got to do all he can so her life isn’t defined by its crises. Besides, he’ll take any excuse to sneak down to the office on his day off.

He told Scully he’d pick her up because it’d be easier on her, sure, but also because he has an important delivery to make. He nods to Missy, and she grabs the goods off the front table. He wanted to make his entrance before the big moment. His presence known, he’s ready to go.

“Emily, Uncle Mulder brought something for you!” Missy sing-songs as she places the gifts in Mulder’s hidden hands. The girl looks up, her attention easily diverted here and there.

Mulder tries to tip-toe forward--hands behind his back--without coming off as creepy, which is harder than it seems. He takes it as a good sign that Emily doesn’t spook and wonders what it means that Missy called him Uncle Mulder. Did she and Scully have a conversation about it? Is this what he’ll be known as? Or was that just a last minute reach to fill the space?

He pushes these thoughts away, focuses on the blue-eyed girl in front of him.

“Emily,” he begins, and it rolls off his tongue like a devotion, “I thought your bunny might like some friends.”

He reveals the fox first, then the UFO. His personal mark on Emily’s budding stuffed animal collection. She lets out a peep of astonishment and reaches for the fox, fascinated with its bushy tail. She hits it back and forth so it wags like a dog’s.

Mulder chuckles, his brain lighting up in places it never has before. Missy hangs back and waits for her sister to reemerge. Sure enough, Scully melts at the sight, stopping short so she doesn’t interrupt it. She clutches her heart. She and Missy share a smile.

“My, my, look at this,” Scully saunters in, ruffles Emily’s hair. “Do you know what this is, Em?” she asks, patting the fox. “This is a fox.” She points to Mulder. “And this is a Fox, too!”

Emily doesn’t get the joke, but that’s okay.

“And do you know what this is?” Mulder prompts, picking up the flying saucer. He moves it through the air like it’s flying. Emily reaches for it, and god, Mulder knows the feeling.

“This is a UFO, Emily,” Mulder tells her sweetly. “Aliens!”

“No, no.” Scully plucks the UFO from his hand. “No aliens, Em.”

She lays the saucer on the high chair tray. “Mama’s gotta go away for a little bit, but I’ll be back soon.” She kisses Em’s temple. “Auntie Missy will be right here.”

Missy steps forward. “We can play with Mr. Fox and the al--” Scully shoots her a look. ”The UFO!” she corrects, winking at Mulder. She scoops her niece out of the high chair. “Say ‘bye Mama!’”

Emily doesn’t have that grasp on words yet, and they all know it, but Missy gets her to wave. “Okay, now ‘bye Uncle Mulder!’” Another wave. Smiles all around.

Mulder and Scully move reluctantly toward the door. Scully groans as Missy and the baby girl slip from her view.

“They’ll be okay,” Mulder assures his partner.

“I know,” Scully sighs, “but will I?”

Mulder rests his hand in the familiar spot on her back as they exit her apartment. “Absolutely. Skinner will grant you the leave, and you’ll be back with your baby in no time.”

She nods, bites her lip, and slows, suddenly wistful. Mulder stops, turns to her. “Scully…?”

“Mulder, did my mom have a conversation with you?”

He nods.

“And...did you think it was kind of crazy too?”

He nods again.

She takes a breath and rises to her tip-toes. She could pretend not to know what she’s doing, but she does. Oh, she does.

“But not out of the realm of extreme possibility…?” she coos, eyes centered on his lips.

Mulder smiles shyly. He always expected it would be this way: Scully the coquette to his boyish ineptitude. Who knew she’d be stealing his lines.

His hands find her waist, pulling her closer there in the hallway. “No, no,” he muses, “I think it’s pretty solidly in the realm…” He nuzzles her neck, breathes in her sweet smell, and nibbles her ear, all in the beat of a hummingbird’s wing. “...of extreme possibility,” he purrs into her ear, satisfied with himself.

It reminds Scully of do you believe in the existence of ~extraterrestrials~ and how she knew then that he was a little bit unhinged, whip-snap smart, and too goddamn charming for his own good. That either fate or her own unconquerable desire would bring them together. She knows now that fate conspired to keep them apart. What’s unfolding is neither an act of its hand nor a last-ditch effort of a dead-end life. It is one choice among many, undertaken out of sheer belief in the happiness it could bring.

She looks into his eyes, which look back at her with a caramel-drizzle melt. Yes, yes, this is right. She fans a hand out on his cheek, runs her thumb over his mole. She has always wanted to touch it, but could never come up with a good excuse.

They’ve delayed the inevitable long enough. Scully leans in, still on her tip-toes, and Mulder bends to close the distance. Their lips meet, and there’s no fireworks. No, it’s simple serenity. Like coming home after a long time away--though this is a house they have never walked into until now, they have a feeling they will be walking into it for the rest of their lives.

And then Scully pulls away, and it’s over but it’s just beginning.

#a moment of happiness among all the angst <3 #thank you as always for reading #kinda sorta almost done #but i have one last angsty twist cause that's who i am #only the light fic #missy and scully fic #the x-files #txf #txf fic #fox mulder #dana scully #melissa scully #mine

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letstalkaboutsebbaby · 4 years ago

Text

Related Activities - Chapter 4

The district has a new attorney and Marshall is going to learn the hard way that he should have acted sooner in pursuing his passion for Caroline.

Pairing: Andy Barber x OFC (Caroline Kline) / Walter Marshall x OFC (Caroline Kline)

Author: Deb @letstalkaboutsebbaby / @letswriteaboutsebbaby

Rating: Mature

Warnings: crime talk, smut (hi @klaine-92 - it's starting!)

Walter Marshal is a man that has little to no time to lose with useless things. His house lack decoration because he sees no need for them. A couple of frames with pictures of his daughter, some cushions that he didn’t know were uncomfortable when he bought them, and a painting in his bedroom. He has few friends - his brother and a couple of guys whom he grew up with - fewer reasons to trust new people, but he trusts Caroline. He likes her, he wants her more than he cares to admit to himself, not really confident in his relationship skills.

One of the things he needs the most is the only thing she can’t ever give him - silence. She’s always with something to talk about, a view over some case, a question about his past experiences, or a song to softly sing when she knows he’s not wanting to talk. Marshall feels like he can listen to her singing the whole discography of the Pretenders before he’ll get enough of her voice.

Waking up early after a hard day, he stays in bed contemplating his next steps to make sure she’ll understand he needs time cause he can’t start a relationship while worrying about the cases they have now. Obviously, they’ll always have to work and it’ll always have a lot of shit to deal with but at the moment it’s too time-consuming and he wants to start a relationship with the possibility to really give her time and attention. Looking at his phone, a text gives him hope that things will go as planned: Only pick me up if you bring hot chocolate with vanilla cream. It’s the closest thing to “I’ll forget you’ve been so dumb” he will get and since his apology hasn’t been so eloquent either, he’s fine with it.

After half an hour and bringing a big cup of her favorite drink, he picks her up at her apartment. From the driver’s window, he can see the pale rose curtain on her room reminding him of how contrastive their houses are; her full of cute decor items, different patterns on the walls, soft rugs, mirrors and candles everywhere. If it wasn’t Carol he would’ve said the person spent a lot of time decorating the place, but somehow it feels effortless for her. It’s like anything he finds difficult is incredibly natural for her.

As she climbs in the car, Marshal smiles at her and she smiles back, quickly reaching for her drink. He stops her hand midways and holds it between his. “Can you at least say good morning?”

“Good morning, big guy. You look better”

“I am. Look, Car...I’m not in the right mind to...to do anything other than find these fuckers. Let’s look forward to that week off, can we?” His big fingers caressing her palms and bringing butterflies to her stomach. As handsome and sweet as Andy is, her attraction to Marshall has been something growing since day one and her heart is more invested than she would like. The way he calls her ‘Car’ only adding to the entire sexiness of him.

“So let’s find these fuckers...Give my hands back, I need to drink and you need to drive.” she teases. “Any new clue?”

“No, some test results will be ready today tough, so I guess we’ll at least have something to go after. Yours?”

“Nothing either, I was just talking to Andy last night and he thinks the same modus operandi was being investigated in Massachusetts. He’ll bring the files today so I can give a look before interviewing the guy again.”

The mention of a night talk with Andy bothers Marshall and he can’t really pay attention to anything Carol says after it and she notices the change in his behavior but decides not to ask the reason.

Shortly after they get to the station, each working on their own cases, Andy gets there for the suspect interview, files ready for her to analyze.

“Hey, that’s for me?” Caroline points with a smile when she sees him.

“I believe it’ll cost you something” he replies, sitting by her desk.

“I’m ready to pay for it. What’s the price?” she plays along.

“Dinner tonight.”

“Done. Pass me the files, Sir.”

The friendly chat is something she really likes about him. A bit of flirting doesn’t hurt, right? Caroline reads the info and adds sticky notes to some of the papers while Andy talks to one of the cops. When the suspect is in the interrogation room, she calls Andy to go along with her.

“You go ahead, I’ll watch by the glass” he responds.

“You don’t want to get in?”

“Go on...I trust you, I’ll be there if you think a different approach it’s required.”

Once she’s there, with a bust in her confidence after Andy’s speech, the suspect is clearly trembling as she makes the questions but answers everything as determined by his lawyer - even though a peeved tone is always present. In the next room, Andy is watching the interrogation when Marshall enters to do the same, just as the suspect changes the subject to the previous encounter with the detectives.

“Were’s your bodyguard, Miss? Not going to intimidate me today?”

“I just need the answers, I don’t think you need to be intimidated in order to give me the truth. You’re smart enough to know there’s only one way not to be sentenced to death in a case like this and it starts with giving me information” she states.

“Are you fucking him?” the suspect challenges as his lawyer tries to make him behave. “You look like a good fuck”

The suspect enrages Marshall and he’s ready to go inside and put him in his place, but Andy stops him with a hand in his arm.

“You can’t really blame him” Andy calmly says.

“What the fuck do you mean?” Marshall verbalizes with no calm at all.

“The way you act...he knows you’re here and all he wants is for you to enter that room and give his lawyer a reason to ask for a transference.” He asserts the situation, stopping Marshall from ruining Caroline’s work.

“I better go” The detective mutter.

“Don’t worry, I got her” Andy claims, much to Marshall’s displeasure.

When the interrogation ends Caroline meets Andy to deliberate for some time. Eventually, he went back to his office, promising to pick her up at the end of the day, both concentrating on work before the time for a new date came around. They decide to have dinner at hers, dismissing the idea of going home to get ready for a formal event - buying some take-out from an Italian place she likes and finding comfort at her floor once again.

“This is delicious” he declares, the pleasure clear on his face.”Can we do this every night? I want to try out all of their dishes.”

“It’s so yummy, right? I can’t have it every night though, I would end up in the worst shape.” Caroline says kiddin’, trying to imagine if he really wants to spend more time with her, and for what reasons.

“I find it very hard to believe you could get into a bad shape, babe, you’re gorgeous.”

A bit abashed by his comment, she smiles shyly and drinks a gulp of wine. “Well, in this case…we can do this sometimes before you get tired.”

“If I get tired we can change to japanese food, or mexican…”

“I was talking about the company”

“No sense. I might get tired of air before this happens.” He smiles and gets closer to her, an arm inviting her to lean on him. “You’re like...you know the feeling when you’re little and you know a Christmas present is waiting for you downstairs?” her head resting on his shoulder turns up to look at him.

“Yeah” she whispers back, looking deeply into his baby blue eyes. “I’m not sure the wrappings would be more interesting than the actual prize…” she tries to jest, but he holds her face, his thumb pressing over her lips. The way he looks at her gives no space for misinterpretations and the butterflies in her belly are very hard to ignore.

“If you agree to a hundred dinners more I can try to find out…” Andy’s low timbre functioning as a poison that keeps her weak - no reason to leave his arms, no desire to be anywhere else but in his presence.

“A hundred?” she softly asks.

“Just to start…” his lips softly touching hers before he kisses her. “You deserve better, you know?” She wasn’t sure what he means...deserve better than what? But his lips are on hers again before she can think further about it, both of them getting lost in sweet and deep kisses. Caroline wasn’t aware of the time, only able to feel Andy and the desire he evokes; not even the fact that they’re now lying on the couch seems to register in her mind, just his scent and the weight of his body over hers. Resting his forehead on hers, Andy whispers in the most enticing way “I’ll be what you need, sweetie. Everything you need.” while his hands expertly unbutton her jeans.

That was a completely different end to her night… she’s spent months dreaming about finishing her day in this same position with Marshall but it didn’t feel wrong to be with Andy - he’s attentive and attractive, very easy on the eyes - anyone would love to have him and she’s not about to lose this guy waiting for someone that never gave her anything more than a promise of a week off together. “We should take this to the bedroom”.

“Shhh...just relax.” He before taking her pants off and lying between her legs, positioning them around his waist; he slowly slides an arm to hold her neck as she stares at his eyes, entranced by how hot he looks at this moment. “Choose me, babe. Just tell me you want me.”

She can feel how hard he is through his pants and nods unconsciously “I want you, Andy.”

He tries hard not to lose control, wanting to watch her surrender, to see her gradually becoming his. “I want you too...so much” he starts moving his hips, rubbing his covered hard-on over her panties, a hand moving to grip her butt, helping her to grind against him “You look so beautiful...take what you need to feel good, babe”.

The friction on her clit driving her wild, making her squirm and cling to him. “Andy, please.”

“You have no idea how much I want to fuck you right now...to take these clothes off and slide into you…” as he declares all he wants to do to her, she keeps grinding and kissing his jaw as if he’s going to disappear. “So fucking cute” Andy sits and brings her body with him, finding the view of her straddling his thighs the most erotic sight ever. He touches her tits through the shirt and holds her as she rides him. Caroline wants him to lose control, but all she accomplishes is to get closer to cumming, so she hugs him and lets herself go listening to his sweet praise of her.

With her body still trembling she opens her eyes to look at his proud face. “Stay.”

“I can’t. I need you to have a good night of sleep and think about what you want...then tomorrow you’ll text me let me know if you want another date.”

“A third date.”

“Yeah”

“I already know the answer”

“I’ll believe you when you’re not looking like you want to fuck so much” he jokes, standing up and putting her on the couch, adjusting his pants as much as possible with his cock still hard.

She stands up and slides her arms around his neck, bringing Andy close to kiss him once more. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”

Grabbing her hand, he takes his jacket from the other couch and walks to the door, stopping with a hand in the handle “I’ll be waiting. Have a good night, Car.” he gives her a light peck before leaving her house. She shivers when she hears him calling her ‘Car’ the exact same way Marshall does. She’s so fucked.

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duhragonball · 4 years ago

Note

For the Ask Game: Son Goku

Give me a character and I will answer:

Why I like them: Goku is the main character in Dragon Ball Z, an anime that I have enjoyed tremendously for over 20 years. He kicks aliens really fast and hard, and he eats wolves and bugs and clouds, and he’s very cool and good.

That may sound kind of basic, maybe even borderline sarcastic, but I’m not sure how else to put it. I’ve gotten so used to liking Goku that it’s hard to articulate why.

Like, okay, you know that one episode during the Cell Games, where he’s gonna pick apples from his favorite apple tree? And he does the special karate punch that makes the apples all fall out of the branches without really hurting the tree? In the dub, he says to the tree “Ready for one more round, old timer?” Or something like that, and then after he hits it, he’s like “See? That didn’t hurt a bit.” I’m not getting the lines right, but you get the idea. That’s some choice Goku right there. He’s friends with that tree!

Why I don’t: hE gAvE mOrO a SeNzU bEaN-- ha ha just kidding, but can you imagine not liking Goku? Because of something he did in some horseshit fancomic that doesn’t even count?

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of guff from people about Goku showing mercy to his enemies. This is humorous to me, because I’d bet you dollars to donuts that they’re fans of Vegeta and/or Piccolo, and that only happened because Goku decided to have mercy on their stank asses. “Well I like Vegeta because he kills people.” He only gets to do that because Goku allowed him to live. Best Green Dad doesn’t happen without Goku, period, end of sentence, new paragraph.

I’m not a lore expert like that guy on Twitter who only watched DBZ Abridged, but here’s some cool trivia for you: Cell could have self-destructed and destroyed the Earth at any time. It literally does not matter that Goku gave Cell a senzu bean before Gohan fought him, because Cell would have done the same thing no matter who beat him or how. If Gohan had wiped him out quickly, that nucleus would have survived and regenerated, and he would come back even stronger. The senzu bean just delayed the inevitable outcome, and not even by that much, because Cell wasn’t that worn out in the first place. The whole thing with the senzu bean was Goku playing headgames with Cell and no one seems to understand that but me.

But what about Moro, you ask? Hey, come here.

Closer. No, closer.

Listen to me. I love you, okay? But the Dragon Ball Super manga isn’t canon. Hating Goku over something he did in Super is like hating Superman for something he did in a Mad Magazine bit.

“Blargle blargle he doesn’t kiss his wife bad father, tournament of power--” I super mega don’t care about any of these ice cold takes. Every day I go on YouTube and it recommends me the dirt worst Star Wars commentary videos. “Maybe the SITH were actually the GOOD GUYS and the JEDI were the BAD GUYS! Huh? Did I just BLOW your MIND? Be sure to like and subscribe!” Every dope with a keyboard seems to think they can flip the script and pretend they’re some kind of genius. “Thanos was right!” “Magneto was right!” “Dr. Doom was right!” “Antifa are the real fascists when you stop and think about it!” “Masks and vaccines are bullshit, COVID-19 is a hoax, but if it were real, maybe it’s the good guy in this situation!”

I didn’t mean to go off on a rant here, but the whole point of Goku is that he’s a pretty cool guy, and the hero of his particular adventure, and you see all these people trying to outsmart that somehow, like it’s not the premise of the character. It’s like all those fan theories about how every show is really one character having a coma dream in the hospital. It’s fake-deep, like when Will Smith’s kid goes on the internet and says something like “Water isn’t wet when you stop and think about it.”

I’m not saying everyone has to like Goku, but I don’t get the hate-boner people have for him. I don’t like cole slaw, it’s soggy and insipid and I don’t understand it, but I don’t go around trying to convince people it’s not made out of cabbage.

Anyway, Goku’s awesome.

Favorite episode (scene if movie): It’s hard to choose, but DBZ #248 always fucks me up. I looked it up in my liveblog archive to get the episode number right, and the first line of that post: This one always fucks me up.

Moving on.

Favorite season/movie: In Dragon Ball terms, I guess this refers to the sagas, so I’ll go with Cell Games. Goku goes into the battle with this flawed, touch-and-go plan, and it works. He defeats perfection with imperfection, and it’s glorious.

Favorite line: “What I represent can never be destroyed,” is one of the most metal lines ever uttered, anywhere. It’s a threat and a moral lesson all in one.

Favorite outfit: Two answers for this one.

Shu’s outfit in the Fortuneteller Baba Saga was awesome. I used to wear yellow T-shirts to work, so when I put on my blue labcoat I would see myself in the restroom mirror and think: yeaaaaahhhhhh.

I’m also big into Goku’s look during the Cell Games, classic orange outfit, blue shirt, with the Super Saiyan form ready to go. That may sound obvious, since this is kind of Goku’s default look, but it takes a while to get all of this together. For me, it was a big deal to see Goku in action as a Super Saiyan in his standard fighting gear, because the whole time he was SSJ on Namek his shirt was ruined. Against Gero and 19 he was sick, but starting with the Cell Games, we get him fresh as a daisy, and it’s worth the wait. Harder to stealth cosplay, though.

OTP: Gochi. Come on. I don’t even care that much about ships, but they’re adorable on the show, and the internet backlash against Gochi only intensifies my defiance.

Brotp: I wrote a fanfic with Goku and Yamcha just joyriding in the desert, and that seemed pretty awesome, so maybe we need more of that.

I dunno, maybe I’m giving this to Bulma. They don’t get a ton of screen time together after a certain point in the show, but the bond between them is this really sublime thing. In the same fanfic, I wrote Bulma and Goku interacting, and that was just a pleasure to write.

Head Canon: I think Goku being an alien orphan matters more to him than he lets on. Early on, he knew he had parents but he didn’t know why they left him in the woods. Pretty much every interaction he has with the outside world is about him being different. Then he finds out he’s a Saiyan and all the Saiyans hate him for being weak and sentimental and so on. He can kick all their asses, but that doesn’t make him any less of an outcast.

I think becoming a Super Saiyan is a bigger deal to him than he lets on. That moment kind of serves as this unspoken proof that there’s more to being a “true” Saiyan than Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz ever knew. That maybe, if his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great granny could see him, she might approve.

Unpopular opinion:

Yukio Ebisawa is underrated.

A wish: I always wanted to see Goku style on Broly ‘93. It seemed unfair to me that they kept bringing Broly back, and even teased a rematch with Goku in Movie 11, only to not deliver on it. I wanted Goku to turn Super Saiyan 2 and Broly’d be all “oh noes!” and Goku would look at him and be all “Yeah. What now, bitch? That green shit won’t cut it anymore.”

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: I think my darkest fear about the Dragon Ball franchise is that it’ll get bastardized like Superman, where some giant multimedia corporation owns it, has no idea how to tell new stories with it, and refuses to let it lapse into the public domain. I have no idea how public domain works in Japan, but “Disney Toei’s Dragon Ball KH” doesn’t sit well with me. Hopefully I’ll be dead by the time that happens.

Like, Rise of Skywalker wasn’t that bad. But it did lead me to worry that they really have no idea how to make Star Wars work. They got it right enough, but the part where Rose is going to stay and guard the base or whatever, it just made me realize they’re only guessing, and they just happen to guess right often enough to succeed. And it’s not like you can jump over to some other studio and see how they handle a Star Wars movie.

5 words to best describe them: Ain’t nothin’ to fuck with.

My nickname for them: Geeko. Ha ha, just kidding.

#dragon ball #ask duhragonball #goku #son goku #jcogginsa

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lemonietrinket · 5 years ago

Text

Flirt ||| Wonpil x Reader

summary: wonpil is acting strange. and you have a... small theory as to what he’s doing but that would mean accepting that your feelings are mutual. and can you believe that? no. not yet. but maybe someone will help you to.

genre: flirty... fluff? i guess some attempts of (niche) humour warning(s): occasional foul language (1x s**t) word count: 2038 song(s): baby - astro an: sorry it took a little while anon! i struggled to start this one for some reason? anyway i hope you enjoy it! it’s a lot longer than i intended. again. oops.

non-idol!au

~~~

you couldn’t tell what was up with wonpil. it wasn’t like he’d been acting this way for weeks or even days—in fact, this strange air that had overtaken him had only begun an hour ago, when you had arrived at their place with another of your friends—and yet he seemed such a different person to what you normally saw of him. sure he was affectionate, and cuddly, and could often say odd phrases that could be wildly construed as meaning things he most probably did not. but not to this level. because now, catching the abnormal glint in his eye, you could have sworn he did mean it. and you were torn between wanting to shy away to save your heart the pain of bursting, as well as never wanting him to stop.

because truth be told, these displays were the boldest indicators that he actually liked you back. he wasn’t just holding onto your arm because that’s what he did with people he was close with, he was holding onto your arm because he wanted to be close to you, and his hands only drifted away gradually as if he wanted to return. he wasn’t seemingly biting his lip out of deep thought anymore either—how could he be, when he seemed to make such strong yet brief eye contact with you while he did so? he didn’t clear the corner of your lip with a napkin like he usually did if there was a crumb there, he did it with the tip of his thumb instead, with a napkin right there—

and quite honestly, you didn’t know what to do about it all. it was as if your dreams were being presented to you on a platter, and all you had to do was be bold enough to take them but in the end you could never truly be sure enough to do so.

it had continued all throughout the evening. whenever you spoke to him even on the smallest and most insignificant of matters, those deep spools of onyx stared right into your soul, and seemed to settle there comfortably, while his usual bright smile was replaced by a dimmer one. you had worried if he was upset at first, until the possibility dawned on you that that was what a wonpil smirk looked like. it unnerved you that you’d never seen one before, and you quickly shrugged it off.

though your mind continued to question what the hell he was up to.

with cheeks flushed and eyes focused on your meal, you avoided your friends’ stares, until one finally gathered the confidence to ask.

“you alright, y/n?” it was younghyun. which meant you should really respond.

plastering the most convincing smile you could muster on your face—which surely couldn’t have been too unconvincing since you were slightly delirious with the possibility of your dreams coming true—and raised your head confidently to answer him. “yeah! i’m fine, just tired!”

“right, you look a bit hot,” sungjin continued, gesturing to his cheeks to represent yours.

feeling the eyes upon you, it took you a few seconds to work out what excuse to use. unfortunately, those moments were all that wonpil needed to strike again with his sudden flustering confidence. “too right they do,” he said simply.

jae broke into laughter as dowoon subtly choked on his ramen. your friend meanwhile, having been close colleague to you for a couple of solid months (which was not long enough to know anywhere near a hundred percent of what anyone was really like), giggled and teasingly piped up, “oooh, someone’s got a crush!”

you rolled your eyes at how cringey she sounded, as well as to cover for just how the mention of wonpil liking you in that way made your face no doubt heat up even more. sungjin though spoke up quickly to clarify, whilst the others just laughed, “no no, he means like they do look hot—not hot as in attractive, hot as in genuinely... high temperature.”

with the others distracted you felt your eyes drawn to the man sat directly opposite to you, and what you found there was truly heart-stopping.

he was smiling. which was bad enough for your stability, as whenever he beamed you felt your spirits lift and the world brighten, as if nothing bad could happen, and that you were truly cared for by somebody. but this time, once again, that smile had that bold undertone. that gleaming gaze. if you would ever a simp, it would be for this man and this man alone.

however, things didn’t end there.

“you should get some water,” jae suggested, chuckles dying down as he nodded in encouragement. “it’ll help, park’s word.”

“good idea, i’ll come w—”

younghyun had begun, but before he could even put his empty plate on the coffee table, he was forced to halt in his tracks.

“no, i’ll do it!” wonpil interjected, “i’ll help them.”

within moments he was up on his feet, food practically discarded, his bandmate left to lean back in his chair, wondering what had just happened. or at least that’s what you thought of the situation.

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

absentmindedly, you had trundled after wonpil as soon as he’d offered to accompany you, simply because you couldn’t imagine not going with him. wherever this man went you would go. but no, you weren’t totally, utterly in love—pah, of course not.

reaching the kitchen, when you saw there was enough space, you scarpered around him and straight over to the cupboard to get yourself a glass. jae had been right, you really did need something to cool you down. the room remained silent as you heard the conversation in the living room pick up once again, muffled by your overwhelming heart beat. you avoiding his gaze by keeping your head towards your glass and your back turned. wonpil didn’t seem to make any attempt of moving across from the opposite stretch of counters like you expected he would. nor did he speak for the longest time, which worried you more than all of the ‘flirting’ (you weren’t sure if you should pin it as that just yet) combined.

eventually though, the quiet was broken.

“why were they all laughing?” he enquired, voice a dab closer to the usual soft pili you knew inside and out.

you figured that indicated the ‘flirting’ explanation was less probable. either way, you explained while pouring water into the glass. never did you think you would be staring at the quickly popping bubbles of a boring old drink over the most gorgeous man you ever met. “because it sounded like you were saying that i was attractive-hot, rather than hot-hot,” you chuckled half-heartedly, “don’t worry, it happens to the best of us, english sucks.”

there was another moment of peace and you figured he wouldn’t talk and expect you answer for a bit, so you took a sip of water. the ice met fire and you could feel your heartbeat begin to slow from its incessant march.

that was, before his voice returned, a lot more shy than just mere minutes prior. “but... that is how i meant it.”

you choked on your drink, and within a single second you were ready to implode all over again.

he rushed to your side and it was like your cheeks couldn’t get any redder. his hand tapped your back lightly as he repeated apology after apology. though through your coughs, you smiled—properly this time. because your normal wonpil was pretty much back. big eyes wide and shining, voice sweet rather than sultry, and at your side.

“it’s ok, i’m fine,” you urged, clearing your throat before taking another sip to help more effectively this round.

he waited for you to finish this time before speaking in a whisper, “i’m why you’re blushing, aren’t i.”

he looked so earnest, so sincere.

“n-no.” you cursed your cowardice. this would have been the moment to admit everything, to tell him of all the feelings you’d failed to confess for so long.

“its ok, i know, you’re the reason why i am too.”

not that it really mattered, as he already knew.

thoughts running along cogs in your head, it took you a few moments to gather what he was inferring.

but it was true. so focused inwardly, on keeping yourself together, you hadn’t even regarded the face of the man you liked so dearly. whipping your head across to him, you found his cheeks flushed rose just like yours, though admittedly less rampant.

“you... you know?” you stammered, forcing yourself to inhale. you needed to stay alive at least long enough to hear the rest of what he had to say, otherwise everything up to this point had been for nothing.

at this point however, he looked sheepish. guilty even, with his lips pressing firmly together as his eyes began to avoid yours, flitting around the kitchen haphazardly.

“yeah. i... kinda found out yesterday.”

“yesterday?!” you exclaimed. “how?” you didn’t let him reply as you immediately moved on. “wait, that’s what this was all about? all those lingering touches and gazes and the... the cleaning of my lips without a napkin?!”

he nodded.

“pil, you shit!” a laugh broke through your curse.

wonpil began to whine nonetheless. “look! you made me flustered this whole time! and i-i wanted to be confident to you! for once... like younghyun! he’s confident to people he likes—”

“you made me flustered too! this whole time! outside of like... whatever happened today,” you insisted. however, your voice lowered soon after as you turned away from the counter to face him fully. “wonpil, i only want you to be yourself though, ok? you don’t have to be like younghyun, i love you just the way you are.”

his head lifted to reveal that characteristic smile slowly growing upon his lips. “you love me?”

your eyes widened in horror at what you’d let slip. breath hitching in your throat and leaving you completely unable to explain what had just happened, you needn’t have worried so much. wonpil’s bright smile only continued to beam and soon, his arms were around you. you clutched to him out of reflex, inhaling deeply and letting his presence calm you at last. his hair was soft by your cheek, grip tight at your shirt as he nuzzled his nose into your neck.

“i love you too,” he murmured after relishing in the peace, and with your heart fluttering you embraced him tighter. it had been such a convoluted way to end up with your dreams right in your lap but you didn’t care. he was here now.

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

“ha! i win, hand over suckers!”

several sighs and groans merged behind you, and you pulled away slightly to see what on earth was going on. there you found your friend, stood proudly at the front, with her open palms being filled with the eventual equivalent of a wad of cash. only sungjin didn’t seem to be taking part. when her hand was pushed towards him, he shook his head.

“no i didn’t take part.”

when she looked quizzically over at him, younghyun stated, “would have been his fourth time.”

unfortunately it didn’t add much clarity. “what?”

you heard wonpil whine, arms still loosely looped round the small of your back and you offered him an apologetic smile. taking a deep breath, you pressed a chaste kiss to the tip of his nose, and laughed at how his blush began to slowly return.

“you want to get out of this joint?”

he giggled. “yeah, it’s dull. ice creams?”

“perfect. move it losers, we’re coming through,” you chucked over your shoulder jokingly, and with an arm around him you lead the two of you out of the kitchen. the small crowd instantly parted for you to make your way through but not without a couple of cheers, mostly from jae.

although as you passed, you felt the overwhelming urging hand of curiosity push you to ask wonpil, “hey, how did you know?”

“w-well—”

“to be fair, everyone knew, so it only seemed fair,” interjected a deep voice from the sidelines.

“dowoon?!”

~~~

an: i’ve just realised that this may not work in korean? so... in this world they all magically speak fluent english too yay.

masterlist

#day6 #day6 wonpil #kim wonpil #wonpil day6 #wonpil x reader #wonpil fluff #wonpil x reader fluff #wonpil oneshot #wonpil imagines #wonpil imagines fluff #wonpil oneshot fluff #day6 fluff #day6 x reader #day6 x reader fluff #day6 imagines #day6 imagines fluff #day6 oneshot #day6 oneshot fluff

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edendaphne · 5 years ago

Text

“Discordant Sonata”- Ch. 14

Sorry about the cliffhanger last chapter! (>////<) I hope you enjoy the continuation!

>>Read it here on Ao3<< >>Read it here on Wattpad<<

CHAPTER 14: RUBATO

Music glossary: Rubato (Italian: 'stolen/robbed') - Musical term for the elasticity of music, most often expressed in time, or rhythm. In essence, by 'stealing' time, or borrowing it, rubato allows the performer to achieve greater musical expression and freedom. The player may deviate from strict tempo regularity by stretching certain beats, measures, or phrases and compacting others, in a musically correct method of atonement.

(Mood Music: "One Man’s Dream" - Yanni)

Ladybug was falling. Her body felt like it was floating, yet she could see a myriad of objects zooming past her: buildings, vehicles, street signs, people, as if her world had been rotated ninety degrees and gravity was pulling her across the street instead of towards the earth. She dropped down (or was it sideways??), further into the blackness. Time seemed to have slowed down, although she couldn’t be sure. It was as if she were a stone that had been dropped into a vast ocean, its currents violently rushing past.

Where am I?

She looked up towards the only source of light, which dimmed more and more as she fell. When it was merely a speck, she wondered if she’d plunged into a complete, terrifying darkness, all alone. Was there no way out? Fear gripped her chest, and she struggled to hold in a whimper.

A sudden brightness blinded her and someone, or some thing, caught her, preventing her from falling any further. Panicking, she squeezed her eyes shut against the onslaught of lights, and she struggled to wrest herself free. She squirmed and tried to shove the unknown entity away, but it was all in vain, as she was merely squeezed even tighter. The unknown force was simply too powerful to fight off in her confused and disoriented state, and although the grip wasn’t rough or painful, it was firm and unrelenting.

“Let me go!” she cried, still scrambling to get away. “Please, somebody help!!”

She felt someone’s face lower next to hers. “Easy, easy, it’s just me. You’re okay,” a deep voice cooed, their warm breath tickling her ear.

Her struggles ceased; she knew that voice.

“Chat…?”

Ladybug forced her eyes to focus, and they traveled up to meet his. She felt her body relax a bit as she looked into the familiar green glow. Could it really be him? How much of this situation was real?

“What happened? Is it really you? Am I… is this a dream?” she asked.

Chat Noir gave her a self-deprecating smile. “As much as I’d like to joke about being the man of your dreams, you’re actually awake right now.”

Ladybug quirked an eyebrow. Well... he certainly sounded like the real Chat.

She ignored the sudden heat in her face and asked, “Where are we? How did I get here?”

She felt Chat shrug as he held her, his face mirroring her own look of confusion. “It’s… I’m not exactly sure how to explain.” His eyes looked distant as he recounted what happened. “I saved the people from the vehicle that the akuma threw, and then started running back towards you guys. But I saw that she had you cornered, and I realized I wasn’t going to reach you in time. I was so scared. But then, like…” His face scrunched as he tried to articulate what happened, as if he were still trying to make sense of it himself. “Something stopped me. I got this feeling, this urge, that I needed to go inside this building. It seemed like a really stupid idea, but it’s like I couldn’t ignore it. So, against my better judgment, I followed it. Then when I was inside, I heard Plagg’s voice in my head. He said… ‘BLACK HOLE’.”

Ladybug blinked. Black Hole? Why did that sound so familiar…?

“So I repeated the words, and just like with Cataclysm, this... power activated in my hand; one I’ve never used before. And then it was like, somehow I knew what to do next. I put my hand on the wall and I focused, thinking about you and your location. I made a hole appear under you, and you fell through it. And then you landed here.”

Ladybug’s eyes grew wide. She realized that the power he was talking about had been briefly mentioned in Fu’s writings and records about other miraculouses, but no other details had been available.

“Chat, that–that’s remarkable,” she breathed. “You discovered a brand new power when it was needed the most… That’s amazing! Thank you.”

Chat looked away, cheeks reddening. “I-it was nothing. Just doing my job.” He cleared his throat, then nodded at the Lucky Charm in her hands. “S-so, uh... I noticed that you’ve got an interesting looking lightbulb there. Got any ideas?”

Oh. The Lucky Charm… she’d somehow managed to hold onto it during her odd trip through the black hole.

Right on cue, her earrings rang out their first beep.

She shook her head. “Not yet. But let’s go back outside so I can look around and see what we can use.”

“Good idea,” he replied with a fond smile, then seemed to be waiting for her so he could follow.

Her face felt warm again, and she added awkwardly, “Uhh… you’re gonna have to set me down first. I’m fine now, really.”

Chat’s eyebrows flew up, finally realizing that she was still nestled in his arms. “O-oh! Right! H-here you go,” he stammered, quickly setting her down onto the floor. They looked at each other, wringing their hands and chuckling awkwardly.

She turned and began to walk away when she felt him gently grab her arm.

“Wait,” he said, his expression turning forlorn. “I-uh… I wanted to apologize. For what my father said. He said a lot of really horrible things to you, and you don’t deserve any of it. He wasn’t always like… like that. I know he was just trying to turn us against each other, and I wanted to argue back, b-but it’s like I’d open my mouth and nothing would come out, and I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

She turned her body around to face him completely. Was he really apologizing for what had happened back there?? She had to consciously fight the urge to step forward and wrap her arms around him, as overzealous physical affection probably wasn’t what he needed right now. Especially not after what Hawkmoth said to him about her and her… motivations.

“Chat…You don’t have to apologize. The things Hawkmoth said, the things he does… you have no control over any of it; none of it is your fault. You’re not responsible for his words and actions. The man currently wearing the butterfly miraculous isn’t your father. He’s a villain, and extremely mentally disturbed. He’ll do and say anything to achieve what he wants.”

Chat looked away, his fists squeezing tightly. “B-but… what if he’s right, about some of it? Do you really need me? Would it be better for me to just hand you my miraculous so you could wish for him to go away, or wish for his miraculous back? I’m partly responsible so I should be the one to accept any consequences. Would I be more useful if I simply disappeared? Would it fix everything? Would it... save him and make him go back to normal?”

Ladybug felt her body stiffen and a sudden nausea settled in her gut.

Chat still loved his father. He wanted to save him.

She looked up at him, her determined eyes meeting his fearful ones. “Chat… don’t ever think for a second that things would be better off without you. Take a step back and look at the whole picture. You literally just discovered a new power, in the middle of battle, to save me from an akuma. That’s incredible!”

Chat’s cheeks flushed and he looked away, rubbing his arm shyly.

Ladybug continued, “If you don’t trust yourself yet, then trust me. I don’t need your miraculous.” She slowed down, emphasizing each word clearly. “I need YOU.”

“I…” he gaped at her, at a loss for words. A wave of emotions flickered through his face in quick sequence. Shock. Relief. Affection. Hope. Finally, he replied, “Th-thank you for saying that. You have no idea how much that means to me. And... I do trust you. It’s just… I just feel so powerless whenever he’s around, almost like I revert back into being a little kid, too afraid to talk back, too weak to act. Sometimes it feels like I’ll never escape him.”

Ladybug gulped and decided to chance stepping closer. She took his hands into hers, squeezing firmly, her eyes searching his to make sure her actions weren’t unwelcome.

“I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. But I assure you, you’re doing the right thing. It’ll take time for you to feel more confident around him, but I know you can do it. We can defeat him. YOU can defeat him. I believe in you, Chaton. I believe in us. The ladybug and cat miraculouses are back together where they belong, and as a team they can bring back balance. Together, our magic is greater than his. And I’ll do everything in my power to help you be free of that man.”

Chat bit his lip, gazing at her fondly, looking like he was moments away from tackling her with a hug. Instead, he shook his head with a dreamy sigh. “I don’t deserve you, My Lady.”

Ladybug ignored the heat that rose to her face, and booped him on the nose. “Stop saying that, you silly cat. You deserve every possible good thing to happen to you.”

Chat raised her hands to his lips and left a lingering kiss. “You’re already the best thing that’s ever happened to ‘Chat Noir’. Thank you,” he said softly.

“I–I...”Her breath caught slightly, the huskiness in Chat’s voice producing a pleasant tingle that traveled down her spine. “Y-you’re welcome,” she managed to stammer out.

“Also… I know this isn’t the time, but after we defeat this akuma, I’ll tell you everything about my mother. She’s the reason why we did everything. We were trying to save her. She’s… well, at first I thought she was sick, but things are more complicated than that. Anyway, I promise I’ll tell you everything.”

Because I really do trust you, and I need you to know that , his eyes seemed to say as they bore into hers.

She smiled at him. “If she’s anything like you, I’m sure she’s an amazing person.” Chat looked down at her, his emotions threatening to spill out at her words.

He was about to reply when his ring beeped out its first alarm, and they were startled apart.

Chat walked back to her with a smile. Linking his fingers between hers, he said, “Let’s do this, Bugaboo. We’ve got an akuma to take care of.”

(Mood Music: “Never Say No” - Abel Korzeniowski)

The pair peeked out from behind a wall, locating the akuma, who was still searching for them after Ladybug’s mysterious disappearance.

Ladybug whispered to Chat, “Do you have any idea where her akuma could be hiding?”

“I think it’s in her necklace. It lights up right before she uses her powers.”

Ladybug looked around, searching for more clues, as Chat stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders, keeping guard. All the streets and buildings were so dark, it was hard for her to see anything. Occasionally she would ask Chat to read out a sign or placard, taking advantage of his night vision. Squinting, Ladybug’s eyes landed on a certain building, and finally an idea planted itself into her brain.

“So… she sucks up all the light around her, like her own version of a black hole.” She brought out the small, polka dotted lightbulb, turning it with her fingers. “But what if we give her more light than she can handle?”

Chat noticed the building she was eyeing. “Got a plan?” he asked curiously.

“I think so. You think you can lure her into that shop?”

Chat stepped away with a cheerful salute. “Can do!”

“Great! Give me a minute or so to set everything up. Once you’re inside, follow my lead,” she instructed.

Chat winked at her. “Aye aye, partner! See you soon!”

A few well-timed puns and taunts later, Chat had the akuma exactly where he wanted her. He baited and goaded her into the building (which turned out to be a photography studio), as Ladybug had instructed.

Indoors, however, the tight quarters made it much more difficult to keep the akuma occupied and stay out of harm’s way. As they reached the middle of the studio, Chat backed up into a lone tripod and lost his footing. The akuma used the opportunity to strike him with an uppercut that landed him on the ground, disoriented.

“I guess I have to put you down first before I can take care of your Lady friend,” she said as she raised her blackened palm towards Chat, the pendant in the middle of her chest beginning to glow.

Before she fired, however, she heard Ladybug call, “Hey, Night Terror! Leave my Kitty alone and watch the birdie instead!”

The woman looked around in confusion to find the source of the voice, only to be met by a cacophony of camera clicks and dozens of rapidly flashing lights. Ladybug quickly replaced the flash lightbulbs with fresh ones to continue the onslaught of light, and Chat used the opportunity to knock the akuma over with his staff. The woman shielded her eyes helplessly as she fell with a sharp cry, and Chat yanked the necklace away from her. He flung it across the room to Ladybug, who threw it on the ground and stomped on it.

“Off you go, you pesky butterfly,” Ladybug grumbled as the purified akuma fluttered away. She called for the Miraculous Cure and tossed the polka dotted flash bulb into the air, and everything around them quickly went back to normal.

The former akumatized victim sat on the floor, massaging her temple with a light groan.

“Uggghhh, where am I?”

Chat Noir knelt down beside her and asked, “Are you alright, ma’am?”

The woman turned her head towards him, opening her mouth to answer, but shrieked upon recognizing who was speaking to her. “Chat Noir!! S-stay back! Wh-what do you want?!”

Chat’s expression fell and he raised his hands to show he meant no harm, backing away with a quiet apology.

Ladybug made her way towards them, clambering over the plethora of cables and photography equipment. She placed her hand on Chat’s shoulder and explained, “It’s okay, don’t be afraid. Chat Noir works with me now. He’s here to help. You were akumatized. Can you tell us the last thing you remember?”

The three made their way out of the building while the young woman prattled at length about a group project she’d been a part of for the past few weeks that had been making her life a living nightmare. Hours before the due date, one of the group members had revealed that they hadn’t completed any of the assignment, and everything else just fell apart. Ladybug and Chat groaned in understanding and solidarity.

“Group projects are the worst,” they all agreed.

Before they could offer to walk the akuma victim home, however, a barrage of video cameras and microphones was shoved in their faces, startling them back into the moment.

Reporters.

Lots of them.

Ladybug sensed Chat stiffen beside her in discomfort.

Then the bombardment of questions began.

“Ladybug! Are you and Chat Noir working together now?”

“Is this permanent or just a temporary alliance?”

Ladybug donned her professional interviewee persona and began the tedious task of clearing up some of the events that had happened recently.

“Chat Noir and I are now allies, and we’ll be fighting Hawkmoth as a team from now on,” she stated simply.

“Why has Chat Noir worked with Hawkmoth until now?”

Ladybug answered, “Hawkmoth has been controlling and blackmailing Chat Noir for the past few years, and he’s only recently managed to escape him. Hawkmoth is the true villain.”

An angrier voice clamored, “What are you going to do to keep your cat on a leash?! He can’t be trusted!”

“Will you be taking his miraculous away as punishment?”

“Did you find out Chat Noir’s identity and threaten him to help you?”

“Did you kidnap and brainwash him with your ladybug magic?”

Ladybug fought the urge to facepalm herself all the way to Mars. This was quickly spiraling out of control. “Ugh, wow. No, that is not how magic works. Unlike Hawkmoth, I’m not threatening him or coercing him.”

A familiar face popped up from behind another reporter. “Ladybug, are you and Chat Noir sleeping together?”

Chat flinched in horror, looking quite like he’d swallowed a fly, but Ladybug managed to answer with a straight face and stern voice, “That question is highly inappropriate and I won’t be answering it, Nadja .

Nadja Chamack didn’t seem to be phased by the fiery glare that Ladybug was sending in her direction; but before she could follow up with another invasive question, a friendly voice by a certain bespectacled novice reporter chimed in, “Mr. Noir! What brought about this change of heart?”

Ladybug bit back a reprimand about how Alya should really be home at this hour, and instead, stepped to the side to let Chat handle the question. She’d been wanting to shield him from all of this intrusive media attention, since he probably wasn’t used to all the unwarranted personal questions. But she also understood both the need for him to experience this, and the fact that he was perfectly capable of standing up to them on his own.

Chat replied somewhat timidly, “I… I guess I realized that he was going too far. I was trying to help a loved one, and he led me to believe that we needed the ladybug miraculous’ powers to save them. He told me that we were doing a good thing. But I didn’t realize just how much our actions would affect everyone else, until now. I’m truly sorry I’ve caused you all so much trouble these past few years.”

Someone in the back yelled, “Simply saying ‘Sorry’ isn’t gonna fix everything!”

Chat resisted the urge to shrink away. He replied, “I know it won’t. What I did was wrong. And there’s nothing I can do to change the past. But actions speak louder than words, so I’ll just have to prove myself to you. I promise that you have nothing to fear from me. I’m here by my own volition, not because Ladybug is forcing me. I truly want to make up for all the wrongs the people of Paris have had to suffer. From now on, I’ll do my best to atone by helping Ladybug protect the city, and we will bring Hawkmoth to justice.”

The multitude murmured and buzzed with equal parts uncertainty and interest, still trying to figure out the new hero.

A sharp trill broke through the air, and Ladybug had never been as grateful to hear her earrings beep as she was at this moment.

“We have to go. Will the police please escort this young lady home?” she asked, making eye contact with the police officers nearby, and they nodded in reply.

She motioned for Chat to follow, and they disappeared into the skyline together.

Before she and Chat parted ways themselves, however, he tugged on her sleeve to get her attention. She turned her body to face his, looking up into his concerned eyes.

“We don’t have much time; I’ve only got about ten more minutes left til I transform back,” he said. “But I think it’s finally time I tell you about my mom.”

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

Notes:

Chat Noir's "Black Hole" ability from this chapter was based on one of Chat's powers in the original PV version, as seen in the concept art below:

Next chapter: The first day of school! It's the last year before they graduate, and they'll be meeting up with some of their old friends and classmates.... Including a certain two-faced brunette with a penchant for lying >:3

#Discordant Sonata #Miraculous Ladybug #Ladynoir #Enemies AU #Marinette Dupain Cheng #Adrien Agreste #fanfiction #Eden writes

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baka-monarch · 5 years ago

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Vergilius

Part 2

Part 1

TRIGGER WARNINGS: ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, CHARACTER "DEATH", FORCED MUTISM, HUMANS TREATED AS ITEMS/PETS

It had been almost a year now since Paranoia became Anxiety. Supposedly he was a new side, and couldn’t remember anything from his time as Vergilis. Vergilius. The name still haunted Roman, no one was more relieved than him to see Paranoia go. Even so, Roman would never forget his years of being nothing more than a pet, just a plaything there to appease.

No one knew Anxiety’s name, he never wanted to talk to anyone about it either. Especially after they told him what Paranoia was like, what this Vergilius guy had done. Anxiety was distant to everyone, doing everything he could to not be alone with one person at a time. No one really questioned him, just keeping their distance and staying weary when around him. The others understood that he wasn’t Paranoia, but that didn’t mean that they were any less scared. Especially Roman.

The Princely character was far from convinced that Anxiety was different from Paranoia. Anyways, who was he kidding, Anxiety was a Dark Side, of course he was still bad! Roman was NOT about to just drop his guard and get trapped in the same situation he had escaped from.

At the moment Roman was just working on some future makeup designs, because a prince has got to slay. When Thomas’, his host’s, voice rang through his head.

“Prince dude!” He called out. Roman knew what to do, especially after the past couple of videos that he’d been in where Thomas had introduced him to the viewers. Roman popped up within seconds.

“Hello! You summoned me!” Roman bellowed as he rose up.

“Hey, you represent my fanciful side, right?” Thomas started.

“Right.”

“My hopes, my dreams, my creativity?”

“All that good stuff.” Roman replied with pride.

“Great, well, right now, I hope and dream to get rid of my Anxiety.” Thomas pointed to the stairs.

“Your what now?” Roman was flabbergasted. Had he seriously just been summoned to face that abomination.

“Hey there Princey!” Anxiety called out from the staircase, in the most nonchalant way that was just- so infuriatingly annoying.

“Ahhhoookay. Can’t stand that guy…” Roman muttered. All this time Roman had been avoiding the dark mindscape, just so he wouldn’t have to see Anxiety, that didn’t mean that they had never spoken before, and every time, Roman just got so ticked off.

“Tell me about it.” Fortunately, it seemed that Roman was not alone in his loathing.

“Wel getting rid of...that-” He pointed at Anxiety. “is a tall order.” One that Roman wouldn’t mind, but had tried before and failed miserably.

“What should I do?”

“Well this might be time for you to get creative.” Romoan may have failed but maybe Thomas could succeed. Travel somewhere in your mind to bring in recruitment. “

“True.” As Thomas said this, Roman could already feel his host using his creative abilities. While Anxiety just laughed.

“You would need some super heavy-” As the Dark side spoke Roman and Thomas gave each other a knowing look.-”duty recruitment.” With that, Thomas snapped and both Anxiety and he disappeared into the mind palace, while Roman stayed behind.

Roman trudged over to the couch and collapsed. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t just keep avoiding Anxiety. Roman was the only light side allowed into the dark mindscape still. Both as an affet left from Vergilius and because of his brother. Roman had, honestly, gotten used to being around the Dark Sides, they weren’t that bad, just… evil.

Ever since Paranoia disappeared Deceit had started leading the Dark Sides. Roman remembered growing up with Deceit, the only side that had almost the same trauma that Roman had from Paranoia.

***

“Hey there Princey!” The voice cut through Roman’s thoughts. Romas looked up at Vergilius from his dog bed next to Vergilius’ throne. He set down his book as the orange side approached with someone yellow behind him.

“Yes, Majasty?” The words were sour on Roman’s tongue, but he continued to force a smile anyways.

“I’m sure you’ve met Deceit before, yes?” Vergilius moved the side to show a smaller side behind him. Roman nodded, recognizing the side as the one that was usually with Remus. “Well, I thought that he could join us on our stroll through the imagination today.”

“O-oh.” Roman’s eyes widened. Vergilius wasn’t actually going to bring Deceit with them, was he? Surely he knew that if he did then the others would know about what he does, about why Roman was always so quiet. Roman could be free.

“Aw, you’re so cute when you tutter my little price.” Paranoia cooed, making both of the other sides flinch. “Of course, we won’t be able to conversate with him.”

“What do you mean?” The question left Roman’s lips before he could stop himself.

“I’ve silenced him of course!” Vergilius giggled. Roman paled, having enough experience to know what that meant, and he didn’t know how long Deceit was not going to be able to talk after this. “But we don’t need him to make noise, I just thought it’d be nice for you to have a little plaything as we walked.” At his words, Roman felt nauseous. Did he really view everyone as lesser? Roman wanted to protest so badly, but there was nothing he could do about it. Roman gave a small nod. “Great! Let’s go!” A leash appeared on Roman’s collar that Vergilius held and they were off.

Not even ten minutes into their stroll the creatures in the dark woods started to interfere. Roman and Deceit stuck together as they were pulled along behind Vergilius. They were weary as different things popped out at them, jump scaring them, and different grotesque scenes being presented to them through the trees. As time passed, Roman knew they were getting closer, and at this point he’d had enough time to decode that he was going to protect Deceit, at least from what was about to happen. It would be easy, just another person to keep away from Vergilius, right?

“We’re here!” Paranoia chirped as they entered a clearing. Deceit looked around confused, trying to figure out what he was supposed to be seeing. Roman stepped in front of the yellow side, already knowing what was coming. “Ah, it was so cramped in that castle, it’ll feel nice to stretch and practice my abilities some, wouldn’t you agree Roman?”

“Uhm, y-yeah.” Roman kept eye contact out of fear of what the orange side was going to cojour today.

“I think I’ll go for a more… primal approach.” Vergilius thought out loud. No long after that a disgusting cracking and squishing sound could be heard as the two sides watched horrified as Vergilius’s body elongated and gained an exoskeleton. Paranoia grew more and more legs becoming a terrifying fifty foot arachnid.

An orange centipede.

Roman had seen it time and time again, and hated it. The centipede crawled around and hissed threateningly at the two sides. Roman stayed in front of Deceit, and prepared to fight bare handed, not even bothering to try and summon his sword, already knowing that he wouldn’t be able to. None of it mattered though as he was knocked to the side by one giant leg. Once he got his bearings he looked up to see Deceit being cornered against a tree by the centipede. Dee was crying in fear as he backed up, and the centipede almost seemed to smile as it glowed orange, absorbing the dark emotions in the area. It lifted it’s head.

“Deceit!” Roman called out but it was no use as the centipede lunged and ate the yellow side, crunching joyously on his miniscule body. Roman watched helplessly, he knew that they couldn’t die, but that didn��t mean that it didn’t hurt any less, Roman would know, he was usually the one being killed. When the centipede finished it turned to Roman, the prince scooted back on the ground, wishing that he had been first so at least he still wouldn't know what it looked like. The centipede made a clicking sound, as if it was chuckling. Then it raised it’s head…

And lunged.

***

A sudden snap frightened Roman out of the memory. When he looked up from the couch Thomas and Anxiety had returned.

“Well that was cool.” Was really the only thing Thomas said that Roman registered. He was still shaken by the memory but decided to get back into place before either of them noticed him. Roman didn’t even start listening to the conversation until he noticed Anxiety sinking down due to some actions Thomas took.

“I did it.” Thomas whispered proudly, to, who Roman could only assume, was him.

“Indeed.” Roman would be lying if he said that he wasn’t glad to see Anxiety go.

“What the-” Thomas exclaimed. It seemed that Roman was wrong, and he had no idea who Thomas had been talking to. They exchanged some words as Thomas calmed down from the initial shock. “Okay, I forgot that you were still here.”

“Well it looked like you had that all under control so I-” Roman had plastered on his I’m okay face again by this point.

“Here’s hoping that I do… and I hope those tips come in handy for you too.”

“You can conquer this beast.” Literally, Roman left off as he thought of the memory again.

“Thanks for helping me get creative.”

“”You’re welcome!”” Roman sang as he sank out. As Roman reappeared in his room, he sighed out his emotions and let the weight of them pull him down onto his bed. He hated this. He loved acting but he hated having to hide this… but what was he supposed to do? He had no choice but to live with Anxiety, and he couldn’t just avoid him for the rest of Thomas’ life.

He would just… have to find a way to face this beast. He’d done it before multiple times, what made this time any different? Plus, Anxiety wasn’t nearly as powerful as Paranoia had been, which should make it so much easier. Also, if he was really so worried about it he could always visit De and Remus when Anxiety wasn’t there and get advice from them. He tried to see that bright side, to see the hope, but it only made his other thoughts darker and past memories more prevalent.

“If I’m going to face him more… I need to know what I’m dealing with…” Roman thought aloud, deciding to ask Thomas more about Anxiety so he would understand this villain's vile effects. With that in mind he sank back in only to find Anxiety muttering to himself and Thomas nowhere to be seen.

“He thinks he is so great! Well he is not!” The emo talked to the remaining camera. “Look, I’m just trying to look out for him. Yeah, he was invited to a couple parties, if I wasn’t there to convince him not to go who knows what bad things could have happened?” The riffed.

“Yeah,” Roman began his sarcasm. “he might’ve had to talk to some people, dance ridiculously, and have a fun night.”

“Yeah!” It took Anxiety a moment to realize that Roman was there or what it was he said for that matter. “Wait-what?”

“I don’t like you.” For more reasons than you could understand…

“You’re just mad because I just came from a My Chemical Romance concert.” Was all Anxiety said before Roman rolled his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter, where’s Thomas?”

“Nowhere, why would you want to know?” Anxiety used his own sarcasm back.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re no help anyways, as usual… “ Roman muttered the last part but Anxiety still heard.

“Hey, I can help sometimes…” Anxiety mumbled as he looked down, crestfallen.

“Help? You probably don’t even know what the word means.” Roman snapped, causing the Dark side to flinch. Anxiety snapped of his short depressed state quickly though to retaliate.

“You’re right I don’t know what it means. Maybe I should visit Morality to find out since you clearly don’t know either.” He replied, causing Roman to release a few offended noises that Anxiety decided to call, offended Princey noises.

“I know what it means, but it’s not like I’d ever tell you Virgil!” Roman snapped, forgetting for a moment who he was talking to.

“Virgil?” Anxiety raised an eyebrow at him in confusion.

“It-it’s nothing!” Roman stuttered realizing what he had said. “Just an old nickname! Nothing more!” It didn’t take long for Anxiety to put the pieces together.

“Oh… ” Anxiety had been trying to not be like them as much as he could. It seemed like he wasn’t trying hard enough…

“Ahem,” Roman cleared his throat. “well, anywho, I should get going, gotta find Thomathy!”

“Right.” Was all Anxiety said before they parted ways.

#sander sides #virgil sanders #anxiety sanders #roman sanders #deceit sanders #janus sanders #creativity sanders #tw roman angst #tw virgil angst #tw sander sides angst #evil virgil

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starwalker42 · 5 years ago

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And The World Keeps Spinning [1/2]

This is for the X-Files Fluff Exchange by @xfilesfanficexchange, which was a huge leap out of my comfort zone but I’m so glad I signed up to! My prompt was “something fluffy around Mulder and Scully spending Valentines together either as a new couple or maybe not a couple yet” from @kristinsauter, and I really hope I did it justice! Part 2 to follow x (Link to A03)

This is all my fault. Frohike would probably disagree, but he wouldn’t have been able to talk me into this if I hasn’t had those beers, so I only have myself to blame, really.

It was barely a week after New Year’s, and it shouldn’t have surprised me that with only one drink down I was already talking about that night; every morning since, I’d woken with the memory of Scully’s lips on mine, and despite my best intentions I’d found myself dreaming about it during the day, too.

Originally the guys had been ecstatic, but when it became apparent that was as far as we’d gone- and that we hadn’t discussed it since- praise quickly turned to exasperation. Frohike gave the most world-weary sigh I’ve ever heard, Langly started off on one of his lectures- dude, are you serious, what the hell- and even Byers looked unimpressed.

“You can’t kiss a lady when the world’s about to end and not take her out for dinner,” Frohike commented around his beer.

I can’t remember what exactly my excuse was- probably something about it not being the right time, about how she was my partner, not just some random hookup, and that it wasn’t as easy as ‘taking her out for dinner’- but I don’t think they listened anyway.

“You can’t leave her hanging, dude.”

“I know you’re nervous, Mulder, but you should ask her.”

“Just take her to Casey’s-”

I shot down Frohike’s idea almost before it was out of his mouth. “My first date with Scully is not going to be Casey’s.”

“Unless you get your head out of your ass I don’t think it’ll happen at all.” Langly drawled, and that did it.

“I’ll do it! I’m going to ask her out for Valentine’s.”

“Why the wait?”

In my mind, it was to leave enough time for this conversation to be forgotten and for the guys to never bring up the subject again. But of course, that didn’t happen, and last week they were the ones reminding me about what I’d said. I’d promised I’d ask her when we were out of town on this new case with the VCU.

I haven’t.

I’d meant to, several times, but the moment was never right: the words just hadn’t come out, or we’d been discussing the case, or been standing over a skinned corpse… you get the idea. So now we’re in the office, on the 13th February, having worked non-stop for seven days, and I’m trying to delay my inevitable exit my packing my bag as slowly as humanly possible while Scully finishes filling in her report. She always takes longer; she has to be precise and make sure everything’s filled in right, can’t just scribble stuff down like I can.

Normally I love that about her- today I just want her to hurry up so she can leave the office and I can stay down here in my self-created loneliness for the rest of my miserable life. The guys are going to have a field day when they find out about how badly this has gone.

“Penny for them.”

I glance up and meet Scully’s smiling eyes. She raises her eyebrow expectantly and I find myself unable to come up with a suitable lie. The words come out on top of each other.

“I was just wondering if you want to come over tomorrow night. For dinner.”

I have to look away, can’t stand to see the unavoidable pity and rejection in her face.

“Sure, sounds great.”

I almost feel the floor fall from under me. My cheeks are on fire as I feel my face break out into a smile I can’t stop.

“Uh, okay, cool.” My bag almost falls from my hand as I fumble with it. “See you at seven?”

“I’ll be there.”

Is that my heart pounding?

xXx

Mulder grabs his coat, stops briefly in the doorway to run his hand across the back of his neck, and says to the floor, “See you tomorrow.”

I stop trying to decode his behaviour. It’s been a long week. “See you tomorrow.”

And then he’s gone.

Tomorrow is Monday, which would normally mean we’d be in each other’s company for a good ten hours or so in the office, but after this past week Skinner’s practically begged us to take a few days off so I’ve threatened Mulder that on pain of death he must not step foot in this building until Wednesday at the earliest. I know it might be just as hard to keep me away.

I’m looking forward to a few days off, of course I am- I haven’t had a bath in lord knows how long- but the longer I’m away from the office, the less I can relax. Okay, that’s not true- the longer I’m away from Mulder would probably be a better way of putting it. As pathetic as it sounds, if I’m away from him for much longer than a day it just feels wrong. I feel wrong. I’m sure some would call it dependency, and while I’m not sure about that I know that when I’m away from him, even if I know exactly where he is and what he’s doing, even if he’s only a phone call away, I’m lonely. I don’t know when but somewhere along the line it became clear that I’m happiest when I’m by his side; that I’m safer, more comfortable, and somehow more whole when I’m with him. I feel like myself.

Our classic method of hiding what I’m beginning to suspect is a mutual need for contact is anything can hide behind the safe veneer of a night in between friends, more often than not in the form of a takeaway and a terrible movie on Mulder’s couch. It’s happened enough times that at this point I’m expecting it at times like this, so I’m a little shocked that Mulder thinks it necessary to have to make pre-arranged plans. Surely he knows he could call me at 6 tomorrow night and I’d be over in half an hour?

I again remind myself to stop trying to work out my partner, and try to be content with the knowledge that I understand him a hell of a lot better than anyone else. The thought makes me smile as I grab my keys and leave the office.

It isn’t until I’m driving back home and see, of all things, the Victoria’s Secret window display, that I realise what day it is tomorrow. It’s not just Monday. It’s Valentine’s Day.

It’s fucking Valentine’s Day.

My first thought is to dismiss it as a coincidence: Mulder forgets even my birthday, and it’s been a long hard week, and if I forgot then it’s likely he did too… but then I remember the way he couldn’t meet my eyes, the way his cheeks flushed, the relieved smile he gave when I said yes.

He knows what day tomorrow is.

And I’m pretty sure he’s asked me on a date.

And I’ve said yes.

Holy shit.

xXx

It’s not until the doors to the elevator close behind me that I allow myself to breathe.

Holy shit.

I just asked Scully out. On a date. A Valentine’s date. And she didn’t roll her eyes, or oh brother me, or deck me one in the face. She said yes.

Holy shit!

I don’t know how to do this. How long has it been since I was on a date? Should I book a restaurant somewhere? Is it acceptable to get takeout? What the hell am I supposed to wear? My the time I’m at the garage I’ve managed to talk myself into a spiral of panic, and I’m very close to calling Scully and cancelling before I remember that ultimately, that’s who I’m doing this for. Scully.

I don’t have to dress up or create some fake-perfect evening for her, because that’s not our thing. And tomorrow is about us.

On my way back, I stop at the store and buy a bottle of wine- one of the expensive ones that Scully never admits she has at her place- and decide to risk forgoing takeout and buying ingredients in the hopes that I can still remember how to cook carbonara. I don’t know what I’d even begin to write in a card, so I don’t even glance at them, but at the flower display I have to stop. I’ve only ever bought Scully flowers when she was in hospital, but if there’s any time to break a tradition it’s now. Red roses are too forward, and too traditional, and everything else seems to be the same shade of pink that I know Scully will hate. I’m about to give up when I see the smaller bouquets at the front- well, one in particular. It’s a beautiful mix of what look like white roses and a whole mix of others that I can’t identify apart from their colour- blue. They’re almost exactly the same shade as Scully’s eyes, so close that it almost takes my breath away.

They’re the ones.

The cashier doesn’t seem surprised by my purchases- I assume she’s used to harried customers buying last minute Valentine’s gifts- and a few minutes later I’m back in my car and driving home. I feel my face breaking out into a ridiculous grin, and don’t try to contain it.

xXx

I’ve been on edge all day. I’ve tried going for a run, having a bath, reading some of my book, but I can’t relax. It’s now 4pm and I’m judging that to be a suitable time to start getting ready, especially because if I leave it any longer I think I might scream. Also I’m likely to need another three hours just to work out what the hell I’m going to wear, and how to come across as completely relaxed about this entire situation. How long has it been since I went on a proper date? How long since I’ve been on one and actually enjoyed it?

Ed Jerse comes to mind, but deep down I think I know that I didn’t really enjoy it, that what I enjoyed was the concept. Letting go and getting away from myself in the way that no one would expect from straight-laced Agent Scully. But even at the time, I wasn’t enjoying it. I remember closing my eyes and trying to imagine it was Mulder inside me, having to bite my tongue so I didn’t cry out his name. It occurs to me that if things go to plan tonight, I might actually end up in the place I’d wished for those years ago. Mulder and I might have sex tonight. Okay, now I really need to go and have a shower. A cold one.

I can’t get the picture out of my mind, though. If I’m being honest, I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind for a while now. And our kiss on New Year’s didn’t exactly help things in that regard. I’m pretty sure it’s no longer a question of if but when we cross that final line, and if it hadn’t been for Mulder’s injuries, I think we would’ve crossed it that very same night.

But maybe it’s better this way; at least now I can prepare somewhat. I straighten my hair for what must be the third time today, and try to work out how best to do my makeup without looking like I’ve been thinking about it too hard, which ultimately means that I redo it several times before I’m happy. I second guess myself on what to wear about a dozen times as well, going between completely casual (jeans and a t-shirt) to the frankly overdressed (an evening gown I’ve had for years and never worn), and everything in-between.

In the end I opt for a V-neck sweater that Melissa bought for me all those years ago, one that I’ve only worn a handful of times and only never out of the house. It’s gorgeous material, cosy and soft, but it was clearly either designed for someone with bigger breasts or with a bigger load of self confidence because on my chest it’s somewhat loose, and definitely not the kind of thing I’d normally wear. If it wasn’t that Melissa had bought it for me I think I would’ve got rid of it by now, but I’m glad I didn’t. I can’t wait to see Mulder’s face.

xXx

There’s a knock on the door ten minutes before seven. I’m not even surprised: it’s Scully, of course she’s early. In a way I’m glad, because dinner is almost ready and part of me had been dreading the point where minutes after minutes went by without her showing up until it became clear that she was never going to.

Now as I hear her knock on the door I allow myself to breathe a sigh of relief that all of this- making dinner, buying wine, cleaning the apartment, putting on one of my best shirts- wasn’t for nothing. An instant later panic hits again. Oh god. Scully’s here, which means this is actually happening. Oh god.

I realise I’ve been frozen in the kitchen when I hear another knock, slightly louder this time, and remember that even though Scully has a key and is more than willing to use it under normal circumstances, she’s likely to not be so keen right now. Okay. Okay, I can do this.

My hand trembles as I slide the bolt across and pull the door open. I’m apologising almost immediately, too anxious to let the words take their time.

“Hey, sorry, I heard you I just had to make sure the food wasn’t-” and then I actually look at her, and- “Wow.”

It’s not exactly a new thought, not particularly different to what usually goes through my mind when I look at her, but her appearance tonight is… wow. I can’t pinpoint what it is, exactly, and can only conclude it’s some magical combination of a slightly darker lipstick than usual, the smile she’s giving me, and the fact that I can see so many more inches of her beautiful skin than usual thanks to the cut of the sweater she’s wearing. How the hell does the sight of her clavicle do these things to me?

Noticing the way Scully’s eyes glance up and down my body while I’m still stood in the doorway, I step back to allow her in and close the door behind her. My hands? Still shaking with the best of them.

“Can I take your coat?”

“Uh… yeah. Thanks.”

My hands don’t feel like they belong to me as I slide the jacket off of her, not missing the way she gasps when my fingers accidently brush the exposed skin of her collarbone. I hang it up and briefly turn my attention back to the stove, where the spaghetti is at risk of overflowing, and try to breathe. Scully is too quiet.

“I’ve got wine if you want?” I ask over my shoulder, but she’s gone. “Scully?”

“In here.” Her voice comes from somewhere else in the apartment, out of sight.

I turn down the stove and head through to the living room. She’s stood at my desk, and I immediately know what she’s found. I’d hoped I could at least get her to have a drink before she saw I’d bought her flowers.

“These are for me.” It’s not a question.

“Oh, actually they were for my other date, but she didn’t show,” I joke, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart. Were they a mistake? And did I just call Scully my date-?

There’s an indecipherable expression on her face when she turns to face me. “No man’s ever bought me flowers before.”

Somehow I find that hard to believe doesn’t seem like the correct response, especially because I know my partner, and I know this isn’t how she messes with me. She’s being honest, and somehow without thinking I find myself doing the same.

“They reminded me of you.” She raises an eyebrow. “They’re the same blue as your eyes.”

I catch the way her cheeks flush before she glances away, and hear the quiet thank you she gives to the floor before she speaks up.

“You don’t drink wine, Mulder.”

I hear the pan bubbling from the kitchen again. “Yeah, well, you’d better not go teetotal on me now, Scully, because otherwise I’m going to have to start.”

She raises her eyes and gives a smirk. “I’ll get a glass.”

xXx

I don’t think I’ve ever been as surprised by Mulder as I have been tonight. He’s bought my favourite wine, he’s got me flowers- beautiful ones at that- he’s made dinner for us even though I was 90% sure he’d never cooked in his life, and now it appears he’s had time to stop off at Blockbuster to empty the romcom aisle.

“What’re we feeling?” He spreads the VHS cases across the coffee table and looks over to me expectantly. We’re almost touching on the couch.

My head is a little fuzzy with wine and the giddiness that comes with being too close to Mulder for too long, and rather than answering immediately I find myself just looking into his eyes for a long minute. I can feel it, the familiar magnetism between us, and for once I realise that nothing should be holding us back from giving in to it. I’m tipsy, and Mulder’s been drinking beer during dinner, so I know he’s not exactly sober either. We’re here, in private, together. It would be so easy to give in. So why don’t I? With liquid courage, I lean forwards and send a thanks to whoever created Valentine’s Day and gave me an excuse to press my lips against his.

Neither of us move, I don’t think we dare to, and the outcome isn’t much different to that first kiss on New Year’s Eve- a somewhat gentle, trepidatious kiss that feels like it lasts forever and still ends far too soon.

“You choose.” I manage as we disengage, noticing how much huskier my voice has become.

Mulder doesn’t even look, just grabs a tape at random and manages to get it into the player before returning to sit next to me. I press myself against his side and smile when I feel his arm come to wrap around my shoulders, like it belongs there. The first few beats of ‘Be My Baby’ play from the TV, and I hum in approval of Mulder’s choice.

“You know, I’ve never watched this film.” His voice is low and soft in my ear.

“What? It’s a classic American movie,” I whisper back.

“That’s what every woman says. It’s a chick flick.”

“Patrick Swayze’s not your type?”

He presses a quick kiss to my cheek as we settle back against the couch. “You know exactly what my type is.”

You know what Mulder? I think I might be beginning to work it out.

#XFFluff2020 #x files fanfic exchange #xf fanfic #my writing #msr #x files #i honestly had so much fun with this one #and this challenge in general #i can't wait to see what people think of it!

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luxurylives · 5 years ago

Text

Missing Pieces Epilogue

Pairing: Logan x Ellie Wheeler

Book(s): Ride or Die: A Bad Boy Romance

Word Count: 1,741

Rating: T (Mild language)

Summary: Logan and Ellie say goodbye

Author’s Note: At first, I was going to end with Part 7, but I decided to do this instead, it’s more open-ended. Pixelberry Studios owns the characters. Thank you so much to those who read!

Tagging: @desireepow-1986 @rodappreciationweek @leelee10898 @choicesarehard @shadowycreatorpaperopera @client-327 @brightpinkpeppercorn @liam-rhys @silverofdreams @mfackenthal

“Detective Salinas”.

Javier turned around to see Captain Michael Wen approach his desk. “Yes?”

“What did we talk about yesterday?”

The gruff and exasperated tone of his voice sent a chill down his spine. “Captain let me explain— “.

“Salinas, I will only say it one more time. You are not on the case regarding the Mercy Park Crew and the Brotherhood, it was turned over to the FBI— “.

“Captain, I think there is something we overlooked”.

“Salinas, what did I just say? It’s done, now clock out and go home, that’s an order”.

Javier frowned and began to shuffle the files back into the box.

Before Michael headed back into his office, he placed a hand on Javier’s shoulder. “Listen, I know that case hits home for you because of Salazar— “.

“Emilio was like a brother to me” Javier answered sharply.

“I know, I assigned you after Wheeler left abruptly— “.

“That right there! Doesn’t that seem odd to you? A ‘Decorated Officer’ decides ‘I don’t feel like it’ and quits the investigation?”

Michael took a deep breath and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Detective, you need to calm down”.

Javier tossed a few papers aside and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I just wish I could have stopped Emilio from going down that road”.

“Salinas, he made his choice, and as far as Wheeler goes, that was his decision”.

Javier slowly turned to face his boss. “Captain, I’m aware of that but— “.

Michael held up a hand defensively. “Look, if there are any updates, I will let you know but for now, it is out of our hands. I want you to clock out, go home, and get some sleep, are we clear?”

Javier begrudgingly stood up from his desk. “Alright, see you tomorrow”.

Captain Wen gave him a polite nod and sauntered back into his office. Once the door was closed, Javier slid a few files into his messenger bag and headed out.

As Javier walked to his car, his thoughts drifted back to all of the testimonies he read, security tapes he watched, and evidence he poured over. There was no way he was going to let this go, his cousin was dead, and the FBI was moving at a snail’s pace. The Brotherhood and the Mercy Park Crew must be held accountable.

Logan awoke, gulping, and desperate for air.

“Logan? What’s wrong?”

“Huh? What?” he asked worriedly.

“Are you okay?”

Logan rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. What the hell? Was that a dream? Or a nightmare?

“Logan?”

“Sorry I…I had a dream”.

Ellie sat up in bed and gently rubbed his back. “About what?”

Logan hesitated for a moment; his heart thumped rapidly.

“Here let me get you something to drink,” Ellie said.

Logan gently grabbed her arm and shook his head. “No it’s fine…it’s just…the dream felt so real…”.

KNOCK KNOCK

“Who is that?” Logan asked worriedly.

“I’m not sure…it’s pretty late” Ellie reached for her phone to check the time. “Wait here”.

Logan absently ran a hand through his hair while Ellie slipped on a hoodie, slippers, and left the bedroom to answer the door.

“Hi, can I help you?”

“You’re Ellie Wheeler, right?”

“Yeah...what’s going on?” Ellie defensively folded her arms across her chest.

“My name is Vanessa Kingsley; I’m an R.A. at Edwin Hall— “.

“Wait, what does this have to deal with me? I’m in singles housing— “.

Vanessa held up her hand as a signal to let her finish. “I understand that, but I’m here because someone filed a complaint about a parked car without a Langston parking sticker”.

Ellie nervously bit her lip; she could tell where this was going.

“Also, this isn’t the first complaint because that same car was seen at Stein Hall in the President’s spot and at Foredale. Now, I know this isn’t your car because I saw you talking to the driver and so did campus security”.

Ellie anxiously picked at her nails

“Not to mention— “.

“Look, I’ll talk to my friend about it” Ellie interjected quickly.

Vanessa pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at her.

Ellie started to back away and close the door. “Sorry, I’m just a little tired, I have a huge exam coming up”.

“Listen, I wasn’t going to say anything, but people talk, and I’ve heard a few rumors about you”.

“Rumors?”

“Just that you got mixed up in something with some people”.

Ellie bit her lip; it was obvious someone knew something but how? She quickly schooled her features and refocused on Vanessa.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is if you are hiding a ‘friend’ who is in trouble with the law, it probably isn’t a good idea to bring them to college. Especially with you being on a scholarship”.

Ellie started to speak, but immediately closed her mouth.

“Have a good night and make sure that the car is moved, preferably now. Normally campus security deals with this so…consider this a favor”.

Before she could respond, Vanessa turned on her heel and disappeared into the night.

Ellie sighed as she closed the door, as soon as she turned around, Logan emerged from around the corner.

“I should go,” he said quietly.

“Yeah…” Ellie said as her voice trailed off.

Logan shook his head and walked back into the bedroom with Ellie on his heels.

“Let me give you some money for a motel room”.

“No need, I’ll figure something out”.

“Logan…”.

“I will figure something out” Logan asserted as he took a few steps forward and planted a kiss onto her forehead. “It will be okay”.

Ellie wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly. “I’m just worried since…you know”.

“I know” Logan answered quietly.

After a few minutes had passed, they pulled away from each other. “I need to pack so you don’t get any more trouble”.

Ellie shook her head and took a step back; her eyes began to water. “Right”.

Once Logan finished packing, he and Ellie exited her house and trudged across campus towards Edwin Hall. Despite the situation, they reflected on the memories they shared with the crew and theorized what the gang was up to.

“So this dream you had earlier…”.

Logan paused as he and Ellie reached Langston’s quad. “What about it?”

“You were pretty freaked out…what happened?”

“Um…”.

“I can tell it’s bothering you, so spill”.

Logan sighed and took a seat on a bench. “Well…it all started after the crew split up…I was working in a bar with someone named Javier who helped me get in touch with my foster parents and then there was this girl— “.

“Girl?”

Logan froze and swallowed nervously. “Listen it’s not— “.

Ellie laughed heartily and rubbed his knee. “I know, I’m just messing with you”.

Logan smiled and wrapped an arm around her. “There were parts of that dream that made me question things”.

“Like what?”

“My family”.

“You know whenever you want to try and reconnect with them…I’d be happy to help”.

Logan gently squeezed her and smiled. “I just might take you up on that offer”.

Ellie reached for his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “It’ll be okay, trust me”.

Logan leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “What would I do without you?”

Just as Ellie leaned in to kiss him, both of them turned to see a security guard strolling nearby.

“We better get going” she cautioned.

Both of them rose from the bench and walked down a nearby path, hand-in-hand.

“Do you think Teppei has done stuff we don’t know about?”

Ellie pursed her lips; it was a valid question and something she thought about too. “I guess we’ll never know”.

After a while, they arrived at the Edwin Hall parking lot where a silver 2012 Marconi LX was parked underneath a tree with multiple tickets on the windshield.

“It’s so weird seeing you drive a sedan”.

“Can you imagine what Colt and Mona would say if they saw this?”

Ellie laughed heartily. “I can only imagine”.

Logan grinned as he pulled out his keys to unlock the door.

“Seriously, I hope this car isn’t giving you any trouble, I read that Marconi Automotive was sued a few months ago”.

Logan opened the backdoor and tossed his bag into the backseat. “I’ll be okay, besides Toby hooked me up with this one and did some work on it before I drove out here”.

Ellie sighed gratefully. “I hope all of us can get together again…someday”.

“We will don’t worry” Logan affirmed as he closed the door and walked back towards her.

Ellie wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. “If you say so”.

Overhead, a series of claps rolled across the sky.

“It’s about to storm” Ellie cautioned. “Do you think you’ll be okay about driving in the rain?”

Logan grinned as he enveloped her into his arms. “Yeah, I’ve been through much worse”.

After they held each other for a moment, he planted a kiss onto her forehead and pulled away. “This isn’t goodbye, its ‘see you soon’”.

Ellie reluctantly took a step back. “Promise?”

“Promise” Logan answered firmly and kissed her once more. “Talk soon Troublemaker”.

The tears steadily flowed down her cheeks as he slid into the driver’s seat and started up the car.

Above them, another round of thunder bellowed across the sky and raindrops began to fall. Logan sighed as he adjusted the rear view mirror and slowly pulled out of the parking lot.

Ellie wept as she watched the sedan turn a corner and disappear from view. While she trudged back to the house, a small smile appeared on her face. Logan was resilient and something told her he was going to be just fine.

Once Logan got on the highway his thoughts drifted back to the Mercy Park Crew. Even though they weren’t blood-related, they had a special bond, something that was unmatched and unique. However, there was something about his dream that bothered him—everything felt so real…almost like a premonition.

“Did Teppei ever…no…but…? No, it’s impossible” he mused and quickly purged the thought from his mind.

After cruising for a while, he noticed an exit coming up on his right. Logan wasn’t sure where it would lead to, but he had all night to find out.

#rodaw #ride or die: a bad boy romance #choices fanfic #choices fanfiction #ride or die #choices rod

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silvana-fangirls · 5 years ago

Text

Good Mourning [KogKag] 2

Fandom:

InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale

Relationships:

Higurashi Kagome/Kouga

SUMMARY:

After they destroyed Naraku and Kagome wished for the Shikon no Tama to disappear, it not only took the sorrow, pain and loss with it.

But something Kagome thought was genuinely hers.

Chapter 2

(PLEASE READ NOTES AT THE END)

READ IT IN [AO3] [FF.Net]

Link to Chapter 1 [X]

or below the cut

Sunsets, sunrises

Livin' the dream, watchin' the leaves

Changin' the seasons

Some nights I think of you

Relivin' the past, wishin' it'd last

Wishin' and dreamin'

- 'Birds' Imagine Dragons.

Kagome had to actually dust off her old yellow backpack.

It was hidden under several boxes in the far corner of her hut, getting unintentionally covered up by many and certainly most useful stuff over the course of three years.

She hadn’t need it again after defeating Naraku, there were no more exciting journeys ahead, so why would she keep it in hand anyways?

While dusting it off, it broke her heart a little to notice that its yellow color wasn’t as bright as it was when her mom would pack up bento boxes for her adventures in ‘the past’.

It was a worn out, dull yellow now.

Kagome turned her eyes off of it once she felt memories trying to creep out. She already has a lot of them to deal with at the moment; she definitely didn’t need to deal with the memories that reminded her how she was basically possessed by the soul of someone else.

She was packing everything that she thought could be necessary, and even more so. Her mind was running miles per second, drowning any other possible thought with hundreds of case scenarios of how this insane decision of hers could go.

‘Would he want to see me?’ ‘Is he still mad?’ ‘Would he still be the same?’ ‘What if he changed?’ ‘What if he doesn’t miss me like I do?’ ‘What if he hates me?’

‘What if he found someone else?’

Her thoughts were cut off when someone entered the hut.

“Kagome” Sango called out to her making her turn to her direction.

It was really early in the morning, the sun just beginning to threat coming out, so it was still considerably dark out, but Kagome could still see tears threatening to escape her friend’s eyes.

That’s all it took for Kagome to jump up to embrace her.

They both sobbed quietly, holding each other tightly, not wanting to let go.

For three years they’ve been together every day. Holding each other up during difficult times and besides the other during the happy ones.

Kagome didn’t have any family left. Her biological one 500 years away from her, unreachable; and Shippo also far away in distance.

Sango was her sister and now she was leaving her as well.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Sango” Kagome sobbed out.

She wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure about anything and she was so, so scared. She wanted nothing more in the whole wide world than to see him again, to see his icy blue eyes other than in her mind, but she was so nervous, so scared. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to take his understandable hatred towards her if that were the case.

Sango gently separated herself from her, still holding Kagome’s arms to then look at her with warm, reassuring eyes.

“Yes you can, Kagome. Of course you can” Sango reassured, rubbing her friend’s arms.

“W-What if he doesn’t want to see me?” Kagome hiccupped between a sob. “What if- What if he found someone else?”

Sango’s smile dropped and looked at her with concern and sympathy at her last question. She bit her lip and struggled to find an answer for that as Kagome watched her helplessly.

Kagome knew that Sango wanted to tell her that there was no way Kouga could’ve ever taken another one for mate. She wanted to tell her that he loved Kagome so much, that there was just no way. That he loved her and was waiting for her. But if she did, that wouldn’t be the truth.

Because Sango didn’t know. She didn’t know if Kouga wanted to see Kagome or not, and three years was still a long time even if he was a demon. He could’ve found another one to be his mate, a lot could’ve happen.

“If that’s the case then…” Sango said carefully “You’ll go there and apologize to him, and try to befriend him again” Sango said with a sad smile. “You owe him that much, don’t you think?”

Tears streamed down Kagome’s cheeks at her friend’s words, but she knew she was right.

It was her fault they were in this situation anyways. She was the one that didn’t even listen to him in the first place, and she also was the one that never moved a finger towards his direction to find him knowing fully well she was in the wrong, always hoping he’d come to her instead, like her saving grace… sweeping her off of her feet, like he always did. He told her he wouldn’t, and she still let three years to pass to react.

Anything could’ve happen in three years.

“C’mon” Sango said tenderly after a moment. “Kirara’s ready and waiting for you outside. It’ll be better if you leave before the first villagers awake”

Kagome collected some last few things, including the fabric she was working on yesterday, to the finally slung the backpack over her shoulder and following Sango out in the still dark chilly morning towards the entrance of the village.

Kirara was waiting for them just beside the large wooden column that marked where Kaede’s village started, already in her largest shape, observing the surrounding forest.

Kagome let out a shaky breath.

“Here” Sango whispered, intentionally being as quiet as she could to not disturb anything that might be hiding in the forest nor the villagers.

She placed a small makeshift fabric bag on Kagome’s hands.

“Just some dried meat, berries and nuts. Just in case” Sango whispered, and smiled sadly at her. Kagome felt like crying all over again. “Don’t worry, Kagome. I’ll take care of everything around here”

Kagome couldn’t help but feel worried still.

“What are you gonna tell Kaede?” She asked, feeling her voice wavering and tears prickling her eyes again.

“That you got something to do” Sango said, as it was just so simple.

“But what if she needs me? What if the villagers need me? What if there’s a flu growth with the upcoming winter?” Kagome babbled, and Sango cut her off by grabbing her by the arms again.

“Then there’re a lot of trainees that will help her just fine” Sango reassured her again.

“Yeah, but what if there’s a demon-“

“Kagome!” Sango exclaimed as quietly as she could, but she smiled at her friend once she finally shut up. “We’ll take of it” She said, and Kagome sighed.

“It’s my duty, though” Kagome said with guilt in her voice.

“It’s not” Sango said. “You never wanted it, you never liked it.” She cited. “They told you what to do and you were kind enough to do it but it doesn’t mean it’s your obligation, Kagome.” Sango continued. “You’re allowed to do what you want”

“I’m leaving you” Kagome said finally, unable to held back tears.

Sango let out a sad chuckle, and she hugged her again.

“And I wish you wouldn’t” She said in complete sincerity, while also crying. “I really wish you could stay. I wish you could be happy here” She added, and broke the hug. “But you aren’t” She said. “And that’s okay, Kagome” She assured. “And while I want you to stay here, there’s nothing else I want more in the world than for you to be happy, truly happy” She said with sincerity. “You need to get rid of that burden you’re carrying, Kagome. It’s crushing you” Sango pleaded. “And this is the way to do it”

Kagome bit her lip, and nodded.

She understood what she meant. Regarding of what could happen, or how he would react when he saw her, or if he would forgive her, she needed to apologize. She needed to let go of this guilt and regret that were consuming her, even if things didn’t go the way she wanted them to.

Kagome hugged Sango one last time.

“I’ll miss you” She whispered, and felt Sango smiling over her shoulder.

“I’ll miss you more” Sango replied, and they both broke the hug.

Kagome gave her friend one last nervous but decided smile, to then secure her backpack over her shoulders and hop on Kirara.

She simply caressed Kirara just behind her ear as a signal to take off, because she didn’t trust her voice right now.

Nostalgia washed her over as she felt Kirara leap up to the now shyly clearing skies for the first time in who knows how long.

With her sight set on the still barely visible Eastern Mountains, they took off and Kagome didn’t turn back her head once.

She forced herself to look ahead of her instead, for the first time in three years.

The sun rose completely just as Kagome and Kirara disappeared from Sango’s view.

She stood the whole time there, capturing the every last bit of sight she could of her friend. After all, who knows when she would see her again? It could be tomorrow, it could be in a few weeks or months, it could be never.

Anything could happen beyond this point, and she wouldn’t blame Kagome if she never returned.

It did pang her heart a bit when she didn’t see Kagome turn around once to her as she left, but she also understood. Everything was just so painful as it was, if she could help it, she won’t have anything hurting Kagome any more than she already is. It took a lot of courage to do what she was doing, because like she stated before: anything could happen beyond this point. This could go very well, or terribly wrong.

She trusted Kouga enough not to be a complete dick head, even if he had every right to be still angered and hurt.

Even though she couldn’t help but always be a little wary of the wolf demon because of what he was (mostly because she fought with her family wolf demons before) she also acknowledged that a part of her squealed a little at how sweet Kouga was to Kagome during all of those years hunting shards and trying to defeat Naraku ever since he met her. She also took a note at how much Kouga was willing to change or give up for her friend.

It was almost impossible not to favor him against the rude hanyou.

Still, Kagome chose InuYasha and while Sango was not very convinced (even less so since Kikyō also managed to return after the jewel was gone) she respected the decision. If Kagome was happy, who was she to complain?

Except, Kagome wasn’t happy anymore.

She wasn’t happy, not even after they mated.

Then, she lost her family. The gate to her home locked her out and she was absolutely devastated.

Then, in the midst of her grieving, Kagome revealed something bewildering to Sango. Something that was so unbelievably shocking that Sango at first thought it was all just a plot.

Kagome told her about the conversation she had with the wolf demon prince, before he exited out of her friend’s life.

At first, Sango thought that Kagome was just grieving temporally. She lost her family and she lost a dear friend. It was all at once so it just hurt her so bad. But she’ll get through this, she’ll get better, she’ll be happy again… with InuYasha by her side, just like she always dreamt of. But, she didn’t.

Kagome looked just like a withering tree, green and pretty at first sight, but rotten and sick once you got close enough. It was like she was dying from within.

It still was almost unbelievable to Sango that she finally was able to figure everything out. It took her years, but she did it, and she managed to pus Kagome towards the only thing that could bring happiness to her again.

Sango sighed, sending one last silent prayer to her friend while she turned back to the village, with one last thought in mind.

It was curious; how Kagome was so worried about everyone else she was leaving behind, but hasn’t mentioned anything that remotely regarded InuYasha while she left.

Not even once.

Kagome didn’t understand how she was able to see the Eastern Mountains from Kaede’s village even when they were actually far away.

It was around 3 or 4 p.m., and it was only now when she could actually say they were arriving.

They only stopped once during their way, around 12 p.m. to eat some of the dried meat and berries Sango gave her which she shared with Kirara, but that was it.

Even flying, the trip was taking them a good amount of hours. Kagome couldn’t even fathom how long it was gonna take her if she instead chose to travel on foot or even in a horse.

But at last, the Eastern Mountains we’re close enough to cover the entire horizon that was in front of her. Still, there was a thick forest they had to cross to finally be at the foot of the mountain.

Her heart was almost leaping out of her chest by now, nervousness consuming her entirely. So, she thought she’ll just lean over Kirara to relax just a bit, but before she had a chance to do so, Kirara started growling.

Every single hair on Kagome’s back stood up as her body went rigid while each of her senses went to high alert mode.

Kirara was growling at something just below them, so Kagome carefully as she could looked down.

Something was moving in the trees.

They were pretty high up still, so Kagome was certain that they were considerably out of reach. Unless it could fly.

Big was her surprise when she saw wolf demons surfacing in the very top of the crown of the trees.

They were indeed looking and pointing at her.

She considered going down to them. After all, most of Kouga’s pack knew her. Surely someone would recognize her.

She was about to tell Kirara to lower herself down a bit before she growled again, louder this time.

Kagome’s attention turned once again below her.

The wolves on top of the trees were still there, staring at her. But now, she could also see wolf demons coming out of the bushes, running through the forest towards her direction.

Hundreds of them.

She’s never seen so many wolf demons before in her life. Not even during the many battles they shared in the past.

Her trail of thoughts distracted her; she almost didn’t notice the deathly sharp spear that was coming at her at an unbelievable speed.

She let out a loud gasp and dodged it miraculously, leaning her entire body to the opposite side in a brusque movement, causing Kirara to tumble as well. It wasn’t enough for her furry friend to avoid the hit, though. Kagome instantly felt splutters of something hot over her, and the scent of iron and Kirara’s loud grunt was only confirmed her fear. She got hit.

“Kirara!” Kagome cried out in despair. Moving instantly to check on the spot the spear came in contact with.

She felt instant relief when she noticed the wound was superficial, just a scratch. But her relief was short lived when she chocked down another gasp in fear when Kirara made a sudden, forceful movement to the right causing her to almost lose her grip on the cat demon. Instants later, another spear ripped up on the air where Kagome’s face was just seconds ago.

She was barely able to let out a shaky breath before Kirara continued to dodge the reverse showers of spears that were aimed at them.

‘What the hell is going on?! Why are they attacking us?!’

She cut off her thoughts shorts, though, because they weren’t important at the moment.

They were being attacked and if they didn’t get away from here now not only she was going to die but so would Kirara.

But, where to go? All around was just thick forest and they couldn’t get down to the ground or hope to get to the mountain because for all she knew this demons were everywhere!

“Kirara we need to go higher!” Kagome cried out, trying to keep her head from being a target.

She was almost certain these Kouga’s wolves, they were in his territory anyways. Maybe they just didn’t recognize her. Maybe if she explained who she was they’ll cease their attack and lead her to him. But she’ll be dead before she could manage to get an inch lower from where she was.

The attack wasn’t ceasing. If anything, it was becoming even stronger.

They needed to get out of here.

It was getting increasingly difficult, though. Kirara was dodging as fast as she could, but some of the spear managed to scratch her pelt still. They were just so many, one false move and it’ll be deadly.

There was just no other choice. Kouga’s wolves or not, they were being cornered and out of time. This could make the situation she was in even worse, but she’ll be damned if she let Kirara get seriously hurt because of her.

Still with one hand gripping Kirara’s pelt for her life, she tried to turn as she could without losing her balance and reached for her bow and arrows that she had the good sense to bring with her. As soon as she positioned herself to take a shot, though, she only noticed the fast coming spear coming right at her when it ripped over her miko attire and deep through the skin of her arm, causing her to instantly drop her bow down the forest.

Kagome screamed in pain instantly, feeling her entire arm on fire and all the right side of her body getting soaked in hot, thick red liquid.

Kirara turned to her as soon as she heard the ear piercing scream, regretting it almost instantly.

Kagome felt Kirara’s entire body tremble while she let a heartbreaking cry, before they began to fall.

The only thing Kagome was able to make out of it all was the wind hitting on her back, as she saw through blurry eyes how the clouds got further and further away while a trail of blood tailed her as she fell.

Did it really end like this?

It was the only thought that she could make out as she continued to fall, almost already feeling the harsh, unforgiving ground that awaited her.

Did it really end like this? Was this how her life would come to an end? After three years of doing nothing but drown in despair, and just when she decided to go after the one thing she wanted, she was to die, her body collapsing on the ground, while taking out one of her friends as well? Just when she was close?

Tears prickled in her eyes, escaping them and tailing her too in the air as she could feel nothing more than regret.

She supposed the only thing left to do now was beg for forgiveness.

She closed her eyes, just waiting the inevitable; but just as she did so, something pulled her extremely forcefully by the back of her clothes.

She chocked a gasp, feeling how she was moving to the side now, rather than diving for the ground.

Kagome tried to turn, and while her hair was a tangled mess, moving all over her face now she managed to make out Kirara’s snout, gripping securely Kagome’s clothes as she tried to maneuver their way down.

Kagome didn’t have a chance to feel relieved.

Quicker than she could’ve ever dream of, they crashed.

Kirara was quick enough to drop Kagome before she crashed to the ground, avoiding the possibility of getting crashed by the immense size of the cat demon. Still, they crashed hard, and the considerable time they rolled over the ground did nothing good to their wounds.

Kagome grunted once she finally stopped rolling over, and shakily pulled herself up just using her good arm.

She was dizzy, her vision was blurry and her body hurt all over, but she still snapped her head up to look for her furry friend through the black, messy curtain that was now her hair.

“Kirara!” Kagome shakily exclaimed once her eyes found her. She tumbled her way to the cat demon that was still lying on the ground.

Kagome gasped when she saw her.

Kirara got hit, and while Kagome was thankful it wasn’t a slash that she would had to puncture or could make her lose blood (like Kagome’s own wound), the spear shot through one of her back legs and was still inside, poking through both sides.

Kagome dropped to her side, clutching her wounded arm to her that she could still feel bleeding.

“Oh, Kirara” Kagome cried out. What was she supposed to do now? Sure, Kirara’s wound wasn’t fatal or anything just yet, but Kagome doubted she’ll be able to fly or even move. Kagome’s wound, though… she didn’t have much time, at least not if those wolf demons where still at them.

Sure enough, before she could even finish that thought, they were surrounded.

They were fifty or even more. All around them in the small spot they landed, looking at them like they were prey, eyes wide open in excitement, mouth almost drooling and spears pointed at them.

Kirara growled from her spot, attempting as hard as she could to get up but failing. Kagome stood up to her feet and positioned herself in front of the cat demon, clutching her arm to her as hard as she cloud to stop it from bleeding to much.

“Ya know? I find it so funny how humans think they above anythin’” One of them said, stepping forward while he chuckled, making Kagome’s attention turn to him. “Ya been told the rules, girly, yet ya still here”

“So ya ours now!” Another of them exclaimed from somewhere, making the crowd exclaim in delight.

“I’m Kagome, from Kaede’s village” Kagome said loudly, hoping to ring a bell in any of them but still looking at each of them challengingly.

They all remained quiet for a moment before the first one that spoke chuckled out loud.

“I don’t care who ya are” He said and several of them chuckled as well. “Ya can be empress of some important human place for all I care. That all went to shit the minute ya entered this woods, love”

Kagome was confused, to say the last. Had Kouga’s pack grew so much in the last years that absolutely none of these wolves recognized her? Because it wasn’t even like they knew who she was but didn’t care, no. Not even a dust of recognition flashed them when she said her name.

Still, she didn’t back down. She needed to get out of here or at least she needed them to leave her alone for her to treat her wound and Kirara’s as fast as she could.

“I’m looking for Kouga” She said then, and it was only then when the demons reacted. The one that was speaking blinked once and then clenched his jaw, looking straight at her.

“Kouga, huh?” He said at first, ogling her up and down. “Yeah, I can take ya to him” He added, devilish smirk growing from the corner of his lips.

Kagome considered for a moment, still unsure of what to do. Sure, she knew most wolves consistently had this wolfish attitude (no pun intended) and looked dangerous all the time. Kouga always did, no matter how sweet he was being to her at the moment. It was just an aura they had, making you feel like a helpless, naïve, chubby sheepwhen you were with them, like walking hand in hand with the devil. Knowing they could easily just snap your neck with a snap of fingers if they were bored enough.

Still, something was off.

Firstly, they were tons of them. Fifty or sixty wolves all surrounding her and not a single one of them recognized her. It’s been three years, yes, but they were almost immortal, living hundreds and hundreds of years… Surely three years wasn’t much for them, and most of Kouga’s pack knew her.

Secondly, they were hiding in the forest before, even up in the trees. All coming out once they saw her to begin a merciless attack. Why would they do that? She knew that it was like that when climbing up the mountains but never in the forest; and even if it was Kouga’s territory why would hundreds of them be hiding so far from the mountains? There were still a few miles away from them.

And thirdly, and something she only just realized, instead of the earthy brown furs Kouga’s pack used to wear… they were all in jet black furs.

Something was definitely off.

“Um, that’s okay, I know the way so don’t worry” She said, trying so hard to sound casual about it but failing. There was no way these demons wouldn’t pick up her desperate scent and the erratic beating of her heart; it was foolish of her to think they would.

“Don’t ya worry, girly” The same wolf spoke, as he slowly stepped towards her “I’ll make sure to send some of yer bones to Kouga”

The wolf leaped right at her, and Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs, instantly closing her eyes, bracing for the unforgiving impact, but it never came.

Instead, what sounded what could be two enormous rocks clashing against each other was heard.

Kagome peaked through her eyes before snapping open both of them widely.

Another wolf demon, cladded in an earthy brown armor tackled the one in black, and before she could even continue to watch a fierce fight between the two, lots of brown armored demons and actual brown wolves invaded the scene, attacking ruthlessly the ones in black.

Screams, grunts, and cracking bones could instantly be heard, while Kagome watched pale faced blood splutter all over.

She didn’t know what to do, because while everyone was ignoring them, they were still both wounded and in the middle of a battle with nowhere to go.

Her breathing was coming in raged breaths as she was just about to start hyperventilating when someone grabbed her from her good arm.

Kagome jolted in her place and turned to the offending person instantly, only for her heart to leap to her throat at she stared in disbelief.

“Ginta!” She gasped in shock.

Ginta delivered a flash of a smile before turning serious again and ushering her towards the woods.

“C’mon, we need to get you out of here!” He said hurriedly. It was only then when Kagome returned back to reality momentarily.

“Kirara is hurt! I can’t leave her!” She exclaimed.

“Don’t ya worry, we got it covered!” Ginta instantly said in return, and only then Kagome turned to her furry friend to watch as several brown armored wolf demons began to pick her up. “Hop on!” Ginta exclaimed, turning for her to get on his back.

Kagome hesitated only for an instant before hoping on his back. It’s been a while since someone carried her like this, and it was something she didn’t want to repeat, ever, but at least this one someone she was fond of.

Ginta was out of the battle field before Kagome even realized.

Ginta run amazingly fast, and while it wasn’t near as fast as Kagome remembered Kouga running, it was still something that impressed her. She supposed it was something she should have expected anyways, since Ginta and Hakkaku were always only minutes behind Kouga back in the day.

They stopped a few minutes later, the rest of the wolves carrying Kirara stopping besides them just a minute later. They were closer to the mountain now.

“Here” Ginta said carefully dropped Kagome off on the trunk of a fallen tree where she could sit.

Kagome grunted a bit when she sat down, clutching her still bleeding arm. Ginta looked down at her worriedly.

“Thank you” Kagome still said with a sincere smile. “I don’t know what would’ve happened to us if you hadn’t come”

“Don’t thank me yet” Ginta said, eyes not leaving the wounded arm. “I have no idea what to do about that”

“Maybe we can take her to the nearest village for them to heal her?” Another wolf chimed in, walking towards them, and Kagome’s heart fluttered in happiness again.

“Hakkaku!” Kagome exclaimed smiling from ear to ear. She couldn’t believe how happy she was, or how much she’s truly missed them as well. Hakkaku smiled warmly at her, but quickly turned to her arm with a worried expression. “Oh!” Kagome said and turned to her arm. “Don’t worry about this; I can take care of it.” She assured. “I just wasn’t able to before because we were surrounded.” She explained, while carefully removing her backpack from her shoulders and then began rummaging through it with her good arm. “I’ll take care of Kirara as soon as I heal this”

She began taking out some tools and medicinal ointments out of it, while watching from the corner of her eye how the rest of the wolf demons separated themselves from them while muttering among them. Only Ginta and Hakkaku remained by her side as she focused on her task.

“Can you help me with my sleeve, please?” Kagome asked Hakkaku.

“Oh! Do you want me to?” He said and made a motion with his clawed finger of ‘slashing’. Kagome nodded.

Carefully, Hakkaku slashed Kagome’s miko uniform sleeve for her to have a clear access to the wound.

Kagome began working; while both wolf demons silently and awkwardly observed her ash she cleaned, disinfected and stitched her wound while they assisted her with her tools. It was only when she began placing some ointment on it that Ginta awkwardly cleared his throat.

“So, si-Kagome. What are you doing in these woods?” He asked and Kagome paused instantly. Not due to the question, but because of the fact that not only Ginta has called her by her name, but he corrected himself from calling her sister.

It tugged at her heart.

“I mean don’t get me wrong, but…” He instantly said, hoping to not offend her. “… Hasn’t any of villagers nearby warn you not to walk through these woods?” He sounded in disbelief, and Kagome was a bit confused, but regardless, she didn’t voice it out.

“Kirara and I” She said and turned to her still wounded friend. “We were flying. So, we didn’t really stop in any of the villages” She explained. They could’ve, but she refused to. Kagome was basically unable to visit any nearby villages or any village at all due to the fact she was a priestess and again, she didn’t have anything else to wear, so people easily recognized what she was and showered her with favors and pleadings and she was just sick of it.

“Still, haven’t you heard about anything? We just can’t understand why you chose to travel through it, even if it was flying! Its crazy dangerous, not to mention reckless!” Hakkaku exclaimed now, and Kagome chose to ignore the part that sounded like they were chiding her like a little kid.

“What do you mean ‘haven’t I heard’? Heard of what?” She asked, now confused.

Both of them looked at her bewildered.

“Kagome” Ginta said pointedly. “There’s a wolf demon war going on” He said, as if was the most obvious thing in the world and she was just dense.

“What?” Kagome asked not so convinced. “You’re at war?!” She asked again and both nodded at her with ‘duh’ faces written all over them “Since when?!” She asked still in disbelief.

“Almost three years or so now” Hakkaku answered. “Seriously, though. Has your village heard nothing of it? I know you’re kinda far away, but still!”

“Yeah, every village nearby is warned that no human should enter the woods. We can’t promise protection here. While is our territory, it’s basically a no-man’s land now, at least till the war’s over and we win” Ginta explained.

“Protection?” Kagome asked sounding dumbfounded. While she knew Kouga’s pack gave up humans in their menu and stopped attacking humans wandering around near by the mountains, they never went as far as protecting them.

“Yeah, is the only treaty we could make them accept.” Hakkaku sighed. “The western tribe hadn’t given up on eating humans and it was the only way we make them agree to stop raiding human villages for a meal. So, basically: If a human gets into the woods is considerate suicide and available for them to eat since they’ve been warned”

“You came to a treaty like that?” Kagome said, and while it was still awful and not at all convenient because they could be humans unaware (example: her stupid self) it was still impressive and kinda heartwarming that the Eastern wolves decided to come to something like that.

“More like Kouga imposed them, but yeah” Ginta said and Kagome froze.

It was the second person that in three years mentioned him, but for some reason it affected her so much more hearing the name coming from Ginta’s mouth than from Sango’s.

They both took notice on how her body tensed and her demeanor changed, and Hakkaku sent Ginta a chastising glance.

Kagome ignored them and stood up to quickly move to Kirara and began working on her.

Ginta and Hakkaku followed her clearing their throats awkwardly.

“So, sis- I mean Kagome” Hakkaku said and it was now Ginta’s turn to chastise him by elbowing him without Kagome notice him. “Once you both are good to go we’ll escort you to the edge of the woods so you can resume your trip surrounding it” Hakkaku added with a nervous but sincere smile.

Kagome stopped her stitching for a moment and turned to them with a confused glance.

“My trip?” She asked with an eyebrow lifted.

Hakkaku blinked.

“Or are you returning home?” Hakkaku offered instead, and Kagome looked at him like he couldn’t possibly be serious.

“Whatever it is-“ Ginta interrupted them instead. “We’ll escort you out of these woods because you can’t continue your way here it’s packed with Western and Nothern wolves and not to mention just crazy dangerous...” then, it looked like he suddenly realized something “Come to think of it, where the hell is InuYasha?”

Kagome stiffened rigidly at the question and she wasn’t able to hide her deep frown.

“Yeah... you’re right” Hakkaku said, agreeing with him and pointedly looking and sniffing for him.

“It’s just Kirara and me” Kagome said icily, but none of them got the hint to drop the subject or noticed a change in her demeanor.

“How the fuck has InuYasha came to the decision for you to travel alone? Has he lost his mind?” Ginta exclaimed, in complete disbelief and sounding actually offended.

“Now that I realize... there’s not a single trace of...” Hakkaku trailed off awkwardly once he realized what he was gonna said. He shared a look with Ginta and it was almost as if they communicated by telepathy, because Ginta instantly looked at him in shock.

Kagome knew exactly what Hakkaku was gonna say. ‘There’s not a single trace of his scent on you’

Thank Kami. She hoped they could put two and two together following that revelation, but that still didn’t lighten up her mood. She was absolutely done talking about this shitty subject.

“Kirara and I traveled here alone.” Kagome said with finality, emphasizing in the word traveled, hoping they’ll finally realize that she wasn’t traveling anywhere else nor returned home. She has, indeed, arrived to her destination.

Ginta was probably going to continue his rant towards InuYasha, when Hakkaku realized what Kagome was implying.

“Wait a minute s-Kagome” He said, correcting once again what he was going to say, making Kagome shut her eyes tightly in order not to react as she paused tending Kirara once more. “Traveled?” He asked, as if to check if he was the one who misheard.

“Yes, Hakkaku, traveled” She said, as she finished patching up Kirara with some herbal ointment. “I’m not traveling anywhere, I’m not going back to the village, nor I’m just passing through here” She could swore he heard Ginta mutter ‘Oh, fuck’ under his breath “I’m here to see him” She said, caressing Kirara’s fur to let her know that she was done and getting a lick on her hand in return before she turned little and jumped to her arms. “I’m here to see Kouga” She said while turning to them.

While she definitely expected some sort of awkwardness, because she knew they would certainly be somewhat aware of what happened between them if not completely aware, she was definitely not expecting the near horrified look on their faces.

No one spoke for several moments, and Kagome vaguely realized that the other wolf demons got quiet as well.

“Uhm…” Ginta was the one who started, visibly struggling with words. “I think, sis… I mean, Kagome” He corrected again making Kagome inhale sharply “I think that you should just… go back home” He finished in an almost defeated tone.

“Yeah, you just… should go rest your wounds and…” Hakkaku added. “Go back to your… you know, family” He meant mate. He meant InuYasha.

Their words weren’t ill intended nor even angry, but rather defeated and almost sad.

They crushed Kagome’s heart in a billion pieces.

“Why?” Kagome asked almost whispering, her voice close to a tremble as she tried to blink back tears.

“It’s… It’s just a bit complicated right now” Ginta said with a sympathetic eyes.

“Because of the war?” Kagome tried to say as casual as she could. It didn’t stop her voice from wavering.

“It’s a bit hard to explain” Hakkaku replied. Kagome’s mouth turning into a thin line.

“Try me” She pressed on. She refused to just give in to whatever they were saying without at least an explanation!

They both shared a conflicted look, as if they weren’t sure they were even allowed to tell her. But then, Ginta bit his lips and gave up.

“Uh, Kouga kinda… forbid us from letting you get anywhere near the mountains” Ginta said nervously.

Kagome stiffened at the words, hardly believing her ears.

“Forbid you?” She parroted, and they both nodded. “I’m not allowed in the mountains?” It was as if she was asking if the rule went specifically for her or if it was for humans or whatever.

“You and your friends… and InuYasha of course” Hakkaku said.

Kagome tried to swallow the knot that was in her throat.

“Why?” She said breathlessly. The two shared a look again.

“Well… Ever since what happened” Ginta said, rubbing the back of his neck, and Kagome knew he was talking about that day and that conversation. “He ordered us not to let you, uh…” He didn’t really wanna repeat it. “He said he was just respecting your wishes” He said finally, letting go of the breath he was holding.

It was like Kagome’s heart was pierced. She knew what he meant. ‘Whatever you wish, Kagome’ He said, to then point out that when she realized he was right, he won’t be coming back for her.

The thing is, he also wanted to make sure she wouldn’t be coming back for him, either.

“That’s too bad” She said then, and both looked at her in surprise, probably thinking that she was accepting this decision and turning back to go from where she came. “I’m not leaving this place until I see him” She added then, causing both of them to look at her in shock. “And even then, I won’t go back to the village until we talk”

Sango was right. She was never one to give up that easily, and she sure as hell won’t give up now.

“Uh! S-eriously, s-Kagome you don’t want that!” Hakkaku stammered in alarm.

“Y-Yeah, Kouga was very serious about it! N-None of us can help you! Each wolf in the pack was ordered not to ever let you in and if we defy him…!” Ginta added in total panic, while the wolves in the back started muttering between each other as well.

“Pity” Kagome said, not acknowledging at all their panicked state. “I guess I’ll just have to deal with the other wolves myself”

She knew the position she was placing them in was completely unfair. She was wounded, and they knew that… so was Kirara. She didn’t stood a chance without at least some bow and arrows to deal with the savage foreign wolves, and they knew that. So, she figured it came to them dealing with Kouga’s rage or the guilt it was gonna come if she died.

They pleaded her for about ten minutes straight, but she maintained her posture. Arranging her stuff as if she was getting ready to continue her suicidal journey.

They pleaded, begged, turned down to their knees…. But, in the end, they did exactly what she knew they’ll do.

“Fine! We’ll take you!” Ginta finally said, somewhat pissed off but Kagome didn’t blame him. “We’ll take you to the den and hope Kouga’s not gonna be too vicious. But let me tell you, don’t be surprised if he refuses to talk, alright? Or if he kicks you out! We warned you!” Ginta rambled in complete and total panic while Hakkaku paced around, grabbing his head with both hands, muttering ‘We’re so fucked’ over and over.

“Alright” Kagome said with a smile, one neither of them returned.

Both of them turned in direction to the mountains while muttering to each other how fucked they actually were as they began to walk without another word to her.

Kirara snuggled deeper in Kagome’s arms, and she scratched behind her ear before beginning to follow the two wolves.

The only time she actually became somewhat worried about them both was when she heard one of the wolves behind her say ‘Those two seriously have a death wish’

It took them about an hour to finally arrive up to the den, and the only words Ginta and Hakkaku exchanged with her during the trip were questions about her wounds and if she was keeping up okay. Which she replied she was fine, since she’s learned how to use her reiki to heal her wounds quicker, almost as quick as a demon.

Once they finally made it to the den’s entrance past the waterfall, she almost froze in fright.

Several things caused that state.

Firstly, it was how every single wolf demon stopped whatever they were doing to look shocked at her.

Secondly, how everyone started looking at Ginta and Hakkaku like it was their last day on Earth.

And thirdly, how the place was even more bloody and gross than before, but to her horror, it was not due to poor and disgusting eating habits this time, but because of the war.

They were several wolf demons laying on the floor with wounds that were probably the worse she’s ever seen even including all the fights they had with Naraku, poodles of blood that rather looked like bottomless lakes, and corpses. Wolf demon corpses laying around.

“Oh my God” Kagome gasped breathlessly, as she tried not to be seek from the gruesome sight.

“Yeah” Ginta said, having listened to her reaction. “War’s not being kind to us… But if it’s any consolation, its being way worse to them.” He added, leading her deeper and deeper into the main den.

Once they got to a little secluded area, that thankfully had no puddles of blood or corpses near sight, they both motioned Kagome to sit down if she wanted to. She did, and they sat down next to her.

It was only then when she was fully affected by the attention she was getting.

Most of them looked at her horrified, just like Ginta and Hakkaku did when she told them what her true intentions were. Others, were laughing. Laughing at the fact that Ginta and Hakkaku were in deep trouble. The rest, were muttering together curiously, wanting to know exactly what was gonna happen when their Alpha appeared.

Only now Kagome started to feel truly nervous and beyond terrified.

She tried to ignore everyone but focusing on petting Kirara that was resting on her lap.

Ginta and Hakkaku both let out a defeated sigh.

“Is he around?” Kagome asked timidly, and Ginta let out a dry chuckle.

“Oh, no” He said leaning back on his arms. “Trust me, if he were here you’d know” He said, and began to look at nothing, pointedly ignoring everyone else and Kagome.

“He’s on his way, though” Hakkaku said, eyes nervously turning to the entrance.

Kagome’s heart thundered in her ears.

“How do you know?” She asked nervously.

Hakkaku gave her a funny look, and snorted.

“Because you’re here” He stated, and Kagome gulped but looked at him confused.

“But why would he know that?” She asked.

“Are you kidding, right? Of course he knows” Ginta said.

“How?” Kagome asked, desperately curious now.

“Well, first of all, he’s an alpha” Ginta said as if it was obvious “Second of all, you’re his-“ He stopped himself abruptly, making Kagome frown in confusion. “You’re you” He decided to say instead. “Of course he knows. He knew the moment you set a foot on the mountain.”

“Yeah, it’s only a matter of time before he-“ Hakkaku stopped abruptly, and Kagome watched as his ears moved to find a sound and his nostrils flared.

Kagome then turned to Ginta to watch him look white as a paper.

They both jumped on their feet then, and suddenly, loud muttering and even panicked looks came from every single wolf demon in the room.

Kagome jolted up as well, keeping Kirara tightly in her arms.

And suddenly, she could feel him. She could feel his aura. Not that ghostly-like feel her mind made up for three years, no. She could feel him… Sun on her skin, warming her up while chilly winds caressed her skin. The first day of Spring. Just as he described it.

He was here.

The muttering, while not completely ceasing, it quieted down… And, suddenly, people were moving from her line of sight, almost as if they were making space for someone to pass through.

Then, right at the edge of the entrance, just in front of the waterfall, there he was.

He looked just as she remembered him, or almost.

His towering heigh, that made her toes curl. His god-like sun kissed skin, so unlike anything she knows. His luscious, jet black hair, cascading down his signature high-ponytail. His unbelievable masculine features, almost sculpted like.

His icy blue eyes, that made her feel un top of the world, breathing pure-crisp air, floating in sky-high.

Her knees felt like they were about to give up at one moment, and she was pinching herself, forcing her to stay awake, take in this moment fully.

The way he was looking at her. Ever so all-consuming and and almost adoringly, yet like he couldn’t believe his eyes… like she was a ghost, or a figment of his imagination.

So many years, so many days begging to see him, to explore this feelings that were concealed for years by the feelings of another.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

“Kouga” She whispered, yet it rumbled all over the den.

And just like that, whatever spell had him looking at her that way, broken.

He seemed to snap out of his stupor, take the reigns back to reality…

His entire body stiffened, almost as he was face to face with an incredible danger.

He frowned at her, sending her the iciest, most intense glare she’s ever received in her life, piercing right through her heart.

His blue eyes left her, and darted between Ginta and Hakkaku.

With that, he turned on his feet, without so much a word, and walked through one of the tunnels.

Ginta and Hakkaku sighed and followed him right behind.

A.N.:

Oh my GOSH!!

This gotta be the longest chapter I’ve written in my entire elfin life!! I can’t believe I’m posting a chapter THIS long! But oh well, it didn’t feel right to cut it in half, plus, I’m kinda making up for leaving you hanging for months (I’M SORRY!!)

Worry no more, though. This gotta be the best story I’ve ever written (at least in my opinion) I just LOVE this plot and this characters and where this is going!! I don’t think I can’t wait enough to finish the next chapter. Plus, we’re seriously lacking KogKag content. HELP.

I also wanna point out that I’ve had an issue while writing throughout this ENTIRE thing. I kept on writing ‘daemon’ instead of ‘demon’ because I’m so obsessed with His Dark Materials. It’s SO GOOD!! And it’s literally my childhood! I’m so happy the books are getting such a wonderful and worthy adaptation.

Also, next chapter we’re gonna have a bit of Kouga’s pov. so stay tuned for that!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I have. Thank you for the previous reviews by the way! I LOVE them and they help me so much when writing so don’t be shy and tell me what you think :)

And just one more thing! I don’t know about you but besides comments and love/criticism from readers, the other thing that inspires me to write is music! So, if you know of a song that makes you think of KogKag please let me know! :)

ALSO

If you wanna be added to a tag-list for the next update, hit my [Ask Box]

Thanks for reading and till next time!

Silvana

#silvana writes : good mourning #kogkag #kogkag fanfic #koga x kagome #koga kagome #kouga #kouga x kagome #inuyasha #Kagome Higurashi #fanfiction #fanfic

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theunluckiestchat · 6 years ago

Text

Remembrance 5

CHAPTER 4

Marinette was frantically digging through her all her jewelry and sock drawer at the same time while Alya watched her with an amused smile.

“No this necklace doesn’t match the earrings and the earrings are totally the wrong color for this dress so maybe I should take the necklace anyway? Do I need stockings? No, it’s summer, of course I don’t! But maybe it’ll get cold when the sun goes down, are we even going to be out that long? What if he gets bored with me and goes home early? But what if he wants to take a walk afterwards? I’m not prepared for this! Alyaaaaa help meeeee”

Alya laughed. “Did fourteen-year-old Marinette somehow take the place of twenty-one-year-old Marinette?” she asked and walked over to Marinette, putting her hands on her friend’s shoulders and turning her towards her. “Mari, you look great and he’s not going to get bored of you” she said and then picked up a pair of simple, silver earrings. “These go perfectly with your dress and you don’t need stockings because, yes, it is summer and it’s hot outside”

Marinette nodded slightly and grabbed the earrings. She really didn’t know what happened to her. Adrien asked her out and suddenly it was like she was fourteen again, like Alya said. It was as if the confidence she had gained as she got older went out the window and she was a nervous wreck. But she knew Adrien and she knew that he wouldn’t have asked her out if he didn’t like her. There was no need for her to be this nervous.

After a few minutes of calming herself down with the help of Alya and putting the finishing touches to her outfit, she finally felt like she could breathe again.

“I can’t believe it took him so long to ask you” Alya said and took a sip of her tea. “He’s obviously liked you for a long time”

“He’s had a hard time since his dad… you know” Marinette looked away. For some reason she almost felt guilty for what had happened with Adrien’s father, even though she knew that she had nothing to do with it. “It’s not strange that he needed time to get over it”

“I guess” Alya responded and was about to say something more when the doorbell rang.

The girls looked at each other and Marinette could feel her heart picking up speed and her hands shaking. Alya had to practically drag her out of her seat and over to the door. She took a deep breath before opening the door and seeing Adrien.

He was dressed slightly fancier than usual and his hair was combed in a different way, similar to when he was younger and more time was put into his appearance. In his hand was a small bouquet of roses that matched to color of his flushed face.

“Hi” he squeaked out and Marinette could have laughed if she wasn’t just as incapable of speech at the moment.

“Hello” she squeaked back, almost hearing Alya roll her eyes behind her.

For a short moment they both just stared at each other before Adrien remembered the flowers in his hand and held them out to Marinette who wordlessly took them, all too aware of how red her face was right now.

“You look great” Adrien said, the red of his face matching hers perfectly.

“Thank you” Marinette replied and then they went back to quietly staring at each other.

They were lucky Alya was there.

“Ooookay, so I’ll take those” she said and grabbed the flowers. “And you two, go!” she pushed Marinette towards Adrien and made sure she grabbed his arm.

“Let’s go then” Adrien said and tried to pull off a charming smile.

Marinette was actually very happy that she wasn’t the only one of them to be so nervous, even though she’d never really imagined that Adrien could get like this. She supposed it was kind of flattering that she was the reason for him being so flustered. It also gave her some more confidence.

“Let’s” she agreed and they started walking down the hallway.

“Be careful, kids!” Alya called from behind them and Marinette decided to glare at her while Adrien just laughed. “Don’t be out too late!” she continued, clearly thinking she was very funny.

“We won’t!” Adrien called back, also thinking she was very funny while Marinette just groaned.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it!”

Marinette shook her head at her friends antics and pushed Adrien in front of her to get him down the stairs before they could continue.

“Bye Alya!”

She heard her friend laugh and close the door as she followed Adrien. He waited for her at the bottom of the stairs, all traces of the highly amused expression he had while joking with Alya gone. Instead the nervousness seemed to have returned, along with the blush. Which, of course, made Marinette remember that the two of them were going on an actual, real date.

She giggled nervously.

“You really do look great” Adrien said as he held the door open for her.

Marinette blushed fiercely

“So do you” she tried her hardest to keep her voice sounding normal but it still ended up more high pitched than usual.

Adrien just smiled and led her to the taxi parked outside the building. The ride wasn’t very long and they would probably have been fine walking but seeing as she was wearing heels Marinette was grateful. What she really didn’t like was how they barely said a word to each other the entire ride. Going on a date with Adrien had been a dream ever since they first met when they were fourteen, now that it was finally happening, she shouldn’t ruin it by being awkward! She hadn’t had trouble talking around him for so many years, in fact he was one of the people she found it easiest to talk to. But actually being on a date was a whole new situation, and it seemed like neither of them really knew how to navigate it.

Adrien turned to her and opened his mouth and - oh finally - they were going to start a conversation when the car stopped, indicating that they were at their destination. They stepped out of the car, Adrien looking a little sheepish as he did so, and crossed the street to get to the restaurant that they had a reservation at. He had picked it so Marinette knew practically nothing except that it was not way too fancy and it had good food, so when she finally read the name of it she couldn’t help but snort.

“Really? You chose a restaurant with a pun for a name?” she asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Adrien grinned back. “That’s how you know it’s good quality!” he said. “And the food and service are good, I suppose. But the pun is very important” he did a faked serious nod and Marinette burst out laughing. She had always loved Adrien’s humor.

By the time they were seated at their table however, the awkwardness was back at full force. They had a rather stilted conversation about what food they wanted to eat before ordering. By the time their beverages arrived they still hadn’t made much progress.

Marinette was sipping on her water trying to cool down her blush when Adrien slumped in his chair and sighed loudly.

“Why am I so nervous? I’m always comfortable around you!” he said with a groan and Marinette put down her glass.

“First dates are always weird” she tried to reason, even though she was asking herself the same thing.

“What do you even do on a first date?” there was a slight frustration in his voice even though he said it in a joking manner.

“I guess you usually try to get to know each other” Marinette was very well aware of how uncertain she sounded.

Adrien hummed and nodded, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. Then perked up, leaned forward of the table and looked at her intensely.

“So, Marinette, have you always wanted to be a fashion designer?” he asked and Marinette immediately grinned, joining the game.

“Oh, yes, ever since I was a little girl” she said pursing her lips in fake seriousness. “What about you, Adrien. Was becoming a teacher your childhood dream?”

Adrien leaned back in his chair again. “No, no. I always dreamed of becoming a dinosaur” he said, his eyes gleaming with delight while he kept up his acting.

“Mm, very interesting” Marinette said, silently wondering if it was true and finding it adorable.

“Yes, it was big passion for me. But alas, it is impossible” he placed one hand on his heart and wiped away a fake tear with the other as Marinette gasped.

“Don’t say that, nothing is impossible! You must follow your dreams!” she exclaimed rather dramatically.

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment, and then burst out laughing. They laughed for maybe a bit too long and only composed themselves when their food arrived.

From there conversation flowed easily. They just needed a bit of ridiculousness to break the dam. They talked about everything between heaven and earth, from classes to best picnic spot in Paris to if the Gorilla ever actually used words. And seeing as they were on a date and it was confirmed that they did both like each other, some flirting and compliments were peppered into the conversations.

Marinette was over the moon. So much so that she chose to ignore the slight tickling in the back of her brain that appeared when Adrien said some things and when he made certain expressions. It was as if it was urging her to remember something. The same thing had happened at Adrien’s homecoming party when they were on the roof and looking over Paris. She knew the feeling was connected to her accident and her missing memories, it had appeared at random times throughout the years but had never really led to anything. Which is why she had started ignoring it most of the time. She couldn’t focus on it when she had such a wonderful date.

But she wasn’t the only one who seemed bothered about something. She could notice Adrien getting a faraway look or frown at times during their conversations. This wasn’t anything new, it was a common occurrence ever since the whole thing with his father went down, everyone had noticed it. It was as if some certain things reminded him of something, though they could never figure out what exactly and he would never tell them. Nino thought it had to do with his father but Marinette couldn’t help but wonder if it was related to The Girl. He had talked a little about how he felt about his father after all, but he had never said anything about the girl except that she existed. It made Marinette wonder if he was really over her, if he really was ready for this date and starting something with her or if he’d rather be with his mystery girl.

“I…” Adrien said, slight blush on his cheeks as he looked at her. “I’m so happy I asked you out tonight. I really like you, Marinette”

And his smile was so soft, his eyes so fond and his voice so sincere. All her previous thoughts were forgotten. She believed him.

“I really like you too” she answered with a fond smile of her own.

————————-

They ended up not leaving the restaurant until the sun was hanging low on the sky. They walked slowly towards Marinette’s apartment with their interlocked hands swinging between them. She had even surprised herself when she in a moment of bravery grabbed his hand, but she also figured that she had waited long enough to hold Adrien’s hand. Luckily, he didn’t object.

“So, did you really want to be a dinosaur when you little?” she asked after he finished up a rant about how some new movie adaption of a book he liked got all the characters wrong.

He chuckled a little before answering. “Yeah, I did. I think it’s because of The Land Before Time” he said.

“Oh, well that makes sense. Those leaves looked really tasty” Marinette answered with her own giggle.

“I know, right! I even had this dinosaur costume that I would wear all the time”

Marinette almost squealed, but managed to keep it down. “That is so adorable!” she said instead.

Adrien grinned. “Thank you. I was a really adorable Apatosaurus now that I think about it”

“Apatosaurus?”

“Long neck in the movie. I was really into it”

Marinette snorted at that.

“Yeah, I was really crushed when father told me that you couldn’t become another species” he said and seemed to try to stay lighthearted but as soon as he uttered the word father his smile turned bitter.

Marinette hated seeing him like that but also didn’t know what to say, so she just squeezed his hand in silent support. It seemed to snap him back and as soon as he looked at her his smile became real again.

“It was okay though, I found a new passion pretty fast” he said, all happy again.

“Oh yeah? What was it?” Marinette asked and raised her eyebrow.

“I decided that I would become a knight who saved damsels in distress. That’s why I started fencing”

The idea of a little Adrien running around in a dinosaur costume had been adorable but it couldn’t top the picture of little Adrien with a toy sword wanting to be a hero and save people that popped into her mind. Marinette supposed that Adrien must have always been cute, at any age and no matter what he did.

“Well, then I know who to call if I’m ever in a ‘damsel in distress’ situation” she teased him, although her giggling might have ruined it.

Adrien pulled his hand away from hers to do an exaggerated bow. “I’ll be your knight anytime, princess”

The tickling turned into pounding. There was something so familiar with those words, as if she had been told something like that before. This was stronger than any other time it had happened. Like there was a memory right at the tip of her brain trying to break through but not quite making it. It was a strange feeling and if it was any other situation, she might have curled into herself and tried to force it out. But right now, Adrien was in front of her being goofy and sweet and she didn’t want to think about anything other than that.

“Why thank you” she said and curtsied as a response.

They continued their walk and she did all she could to push the feeling away. She focused on Adrien’s voice as he talked and managed to almost forget about it.

It wasn’t long before they reached her building, stopping in front of it to say goodbye for the evening. At this point the sun was gone and stars had started to show up above them.

“I had a really great time tonight” he said with a slightly lopsided smile and wow, had he ever been more attractive?

“So, did I” Marinette replied and leaned up to softly kiss his cheek. “Thank you”

She looked into his eyes trying to ignore how his cheeks had gone red, just like she knew hers had as well. She was starting to lean back again, happy with her accomplishment of a cheek kiss, when his hand found its way to her neck and he pulled her back and leaned closer himself. He gave her every chance to pull away and break it up but, dammit, this was gonna happen.

She pressed her lips against his, trying to not seem as desperate for this as she was. He responded immediately and deepened the kiss. It was slightly sloppy but it was so real and it made her entire body vibrate. The feeling of kissing Adrien was so new and exciting and familiar. It felt like coming home. She decided that it was her new favorite thing.

They broke apart rather quickly because it was late and they were tired and also out on the street. But Marinette knew that this would be something that would happen a lot after this. She could feel it in herself and see it in his expression.

She smiled.

“Goodnight”

And opened the door to her building and slipped in. She could just catch Adrien’s happy and lovesick grin before the door closed and she made her way to her apartment, feeling like she was walking on clouds and all thoughts of forgotten memories gone.

#mine #miraculous ladybug #miraculous ladybug fanfic #ml fanfic #ml #fanfiction #remembrance #adrien agreste #marinette dupain-cheng #adrinette #love square #my stuff #alya cesaire #there is so much blushing and giggling in this chapter

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ronniesqueen · 6 years ago

Text

A Journey To Find True Love

We start off with Archie as the bachelor, Ronnie is in his season. The story progresses, and she becomes the next bachelorette after he finishes his season. Both of them go on their journey to find true love.

I will be writing this AU in the form of a tv show. Since, we all know that “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” are reality tv shows.

Previously on “The Bachelor”

Archie met the Coopers.

Arche met the Lodges.

Archie met the McCoys.

And, Archie met the Blossoms.

After realizing he and Josie wanted completely different life paths, Archie broke up with Josie at the rose ceremony.

Oh, and Archie isn’t great at ice skating.

Next up, is the iconic three-on-one date that most bachelors and bachelorettes typically do, when they’re close to choosing the final two.

Veronica, Cheryl, and Betty remain.

Who will Archie propose to?

Who will get Archie’s final rose?

Okay.

Without further ado,

Buckle up, buckaroos!!!

Week Five.

(setting: Confessional Booth)

Archie sat down in front of the camera.

“I’m not ready for this.”

He put his face in his hands. “Last night was really hard. I hated knowing that I hurt someone, who was falling in love with me. And it’s even worse that I was falling for her, too. I’m just scared...of what it’ll be like when I finally choose someone. Josie was all in, until she realized how real this was. What if Betty, Veronica, or Cheryl suddenly wake up and don’t want this anymore?”

He crossed his arms. “What if I get down on one knee for one of them, and they leave me completely blindsided? I went into this show, thinking that I’d find my person and there wouldn’t be any problems. But...”

“Nobody said this was easy,” he groaned to himself.

(setting: Bachelor Mansion)

“I can’t believe Josie got sent home,” Betty said, genuinely shocked.

“Did you think it was gonna be me?” Cheryl chuckled.

“No, of course not! Honestly, I thought it was gonna be ME,” Betty clarified. “I was the first hometown date. Out of four. My chances didn’t look good. People tend to forget about the first one.”

“I thought it was gonna be ME,” Veronica sighed. “My dad really freaked him out. I wouldn’t have blamed Archie if he sent me home.”

“Archie called your name first, V” Betty said, encouragingly. “He genuinely likes you. I don’t think your dad would stop him.”

Veronica smiled, and hugged Betty.

“There was a moment, before Archie called my name, that I thought it was going to be ME,” Cheryl said. “Mother was overly eager. It could’ve scared him off.”

“But it didn’t,” Betty said, rubbing Cheryl’s shoulders. “You got a one-on-one. And a hometown date. He seems like he really likes you.”

Cheryl smiled wholeheartedly.

“One of us is going home tonight,” Veronica whispered.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Betty added.

“Do you two feel okay about your relationships in general?” Cheryl asked.

“I do feel good about where Archie and I stand,” Betty confirmed. “But.. I could be wrong. You never know how the other person is feeling. Maybe he could blindside me, the same way he blindsided Josie.”

“Same,” Veronica agreed. “I can’t go into this week thinking that I have it in the bag, when none of us know what’s really going through his head.”

“I feel...” Cheryl whispered. “I don’t know. Like it’s all or nothing. He’ll either decide he still wants to give our relationship a chance, or he’ll send me home.”

(setting: Andrews Household)

“Who are you leaning towards?” Jughead asked causally, taking a bite out of his pizza.

“I don’t know anymore dude,” Archie responded, taking a sip of his beer.

“What? Come on.”

“Any of them could turn me down if I propose.”

“No shit. But isn’t that part of this whole process?”

“I mean, yeah. But-”

“Did you think you were the only one who could end the relationship?” Jughead laughed.

“When I agreed to becoming the bachelor, I did not picture this ending badly. I didn’t think it was possible.”

“Ah. I see,” Jughead said. “Ten women who want to marry you. Competing against each other for your attention. Every man’s dream. Why on Earth would any of the women change their minds?” he chuckled sarcastically.

Archie laughed. “I guess when I put myself in their shoes, I do get how this whole thing can be hard for them.”

“Trust me, it’s just as hard for you as it is for them. They’re probably really scared of the same thing you are. Rejection.”

Archie raised his eyebrows. “I guess I never thought of it that way.”

“Yeah. So lighten up,” Jughead said, patting his back. “You’ll do great. Just trust your gut. Whoever you have stronger feelings for, she has to make it through.”

(setting: Three-on-one date in a fancy restaurant a little ways out of Riverdale)

Betty, Cheryl, and Veronica were sitting at their table when, Archie arrived.

There were two roses on the table.

“You all look stunning.”

All three women giggled and blushed.

He sighed. “I’ve given this a lot of thought. And I want to establish that, I’m really struggling here. This is really hard for me. And I can only imagine how hard it is for the three of you. So I just...I just...”

He took a deep breath. “I wish I could stop the hurt. I wish that we could go into this without any hearts being broken. But, I know that’s inevitable. And we all signed up for this. So...that’s where I’m at, right now.”

Veronica smiled. “We came into this knowing the risks of it all, Archiekins. You’re worth it.”

“We’ve talked about it between the three of us, and, we just want you to be happy,” Cheryl added.

“As much as we want for you to choose us, we’ll still be happy knowing that your hearts in good hands even if you don’t,” Betty said.

Archie grinned. “I could not have asked for a better group of women.”

After several minutes of wining and dining, Veronica reached for his hand. “Can I steal you away for bit?”

“Of course, Ronnie.”

As the two walked away together, Cheryl glanced at Betty. “And so it begins.”

Betty laughed.

(setting: Lobby.)

They kissed softly for a moment.

She looked up at him. “You okay?”

“I wasn’t when I first got here. But you guys turned it around for me. I really appreciate that.”

They sat down on the couch.

“How are you?” He asked. “I didn’t really get a chance to talk with you after the rose ceremony.”

“I’m good. I just want you to know that what we have is strong, and you don’t need to worry.”

He kissed her forehead. “Thanks Ronnie.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “You were the strong one for me when my father came back. Now, let me be the strong one for you.”

He sighed as he reached for her hand. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

“You don’t have to.”

“But..” he began. Then paused. “I just don’t like knowing that there’s a possibility, that this could end badly.”

“Of course there is, Archie. Life doesn’t work like that,” Veronica said, chuckling. “That’s why it’s so important to focus on this. This moment. Right now.”

He smiled. “Moments like these make me sad when they end.”

“Well they shouldn’t. Because,” Veronica said, kissing his cheek. ”You need to make them last.”

He pulled her close. “I felt that spark and connection when we were together.”

“As did I,” Veronica said, snuggling in his chest.

He smiled, and stood up from the couch. “Ronnie. I’ll be right back.”

(setting: Dinner Table.)

“And then I said, if you excuse me, I have a date to go to. Then I just stormed out of Pops,” Cheryl laughed.

“Wow,” Betty reacted. “I cannot believe Valerie talked to you like that. And I can’t believe Ethel just threw you guys under the bus. That is so unlike her.”

“Eh. She apologized to me afterwards. So we’re good. But that whole situation was really annoying.”

“I bet,” Betty agreed, taking a sip of her wine. “I can’t even imagine. Poor Josie. It must really suck when you have to take time away from your date, to defend yourself from what someone said about you.”

“Exactly! It was completely disrespectful to Josie. Thankfully, Josie had my back, and she explained everything to Archie. So that I wouldn’t have to take time away from my date.”

“That’s so sweet of her,” Betty commented.

“It was. But honestly Betty, when Josie called me on the morning of my hometown date to tell me what Valerie did, it really pissed me off. Like what the hell? Who does that?”

“Valerie struck me as jealous when Archie took you shopping. But I mean. We all were. It’s normal.”

“Yeah it’s normal to get jealous. But at the same time-”

“It doesn’t justify her trying to sabotage you guys.”

“Exactly. Thank you, Betty.”

Archie walked over to the table, picked up one of the roses, and walked away.

“Oh...” Cheryl whispered. “My. God.”

Betty’s eyes grew wide. “I just...wow.”

The two looked at each other in a panic.

One. Rose. Left.

(setting: Lobby.)

Archie entered the lobby, holding the rose.

Veronica gasped.

“When we first met, Ronnie, I was excited about you. And I still am today. Meeting your family last week was really amazing because I got to see where you came from. You always push me to be a better man. And I want to, not just for you, but for myself. You brought that out of me.”

She giggled.

He laughed. “Ronnie. Will you accept this rose?”

“With gratitude, Archiekins,” she laughed.

(setting: Restaurant entrance.)

“I called you the limo to come get you. But I promise I’m not sending you home,” he laughed. “I’m sending you to the mansion to pack your things so that the next time I see you, it’ll be in our fantasy suite.”

She blushed. “I could not be more excited. I can’t believe this right now!”

They kissed for a few minutes when the limo arrived.

Veronica waved at him as the limo drove away. Smiling, Archie watched. Then sighed. He walked back inside the restaurant.

(setting: Dinner table.)

“So I know this must feel kinda...” Archie began, as he sat down with Betty and Cheryl. “Tense now. I just sent Veronica back to the mansion. And, while I do feel good about that, I also feel really nervous. Because I do really enjoy my time with both of you. And I’m just hoping to have fun tonight and get some clarity with how we all feel.”

The two women nodded.

“Betty, can I steal you away for a bit?” Archie asked.

“Of course,” Betty said, smiling coyly.

Cheryl smiled briefly as they walked away together.

(setting: Confessional Booth)

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Veronica cheered, popping open a bottle of champagne. “I’m going to the fantasy suites with my Archiekins!”

She laughed as she put the bottle down. She took a deep breath. “Who do I think is going to make it? I don’t know. I can’t say. I grew close to both Betty and Cheryl. I’m not rooting against either one of them. But..whoever Archie chooses, they’re both incredible women.”

(setting: Lobby.)

Betty sat down on the couch when Archie immediately took her hand and led her away from the couch.

“Oh, you didn’t want to sit and talk?” Betty asked.

“Not really,” Archie said, pushing a button that was on the fireplace. The lights grew dim.

She laughed. “Smooth, Arch.”

He pulled her close. “I just wanted to dance with you for a bit.”

“Awww,” she whispered, kissing him. “What brought this on?”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to you after the rose ceremony. And I just...really needed you, Betty.”

(setting: Lobby.)

“I know I told you that you remind me of home. And I think I told you the reason why,” Archie began. “You’re my safe place.”

“You’re my safe place too, Arch.”

“I always feel...such a comfort around you. I never thought I could trust anyone this much.”

She blushed. “I feel, really honored that you do.”

They kissed softly for a moment.

“Everything about our relationship feels genuine. It’s like...the feeling of finally getting some fresh air after being underwater too long. Or the feeling of getting off a rollercoaster and that relief when you know, you can finally breathe again.”

Betty smiled. “I feel the exact same way. I’ve never had a connection like this before. You always make it so easy. I know I keep falling for you more every day Archie.”

“So do I,” he said. “And this process so scary. Because I look at you, I look at the others, and I just...”

She looked at him, patiently waiting for him to continue.

“I get so worked up. Being the bachelor isn’t...simple like everyone said it would be. I get so nervous, so riled up. And just a complete wreck. But then.. I look at you. And then I feel, like everything’s going to be fine. I feel comfort, I feel happy, I feel like me again.”

She kissed him. “I love knowing that you feel so sure of me.”

“I’ve never doubted you, Betty. And I never will.”

(setting: Dinner Table)

Betty sat down at the table next to Cheryl. Archie walked over to them. “Cheryl, can we sneak away for a bit?”

“I’d be more than happy to.”

(setting: Confessional Booth)

Betty was smiling widely. “I feel good.”

She sighed. “If I get the rose, I’ll be thrilled. But, if Cheryl gets the rose...I can still be happy knowing that the man I’m falling in love with, has two really great girls who won’t hurt him.”

She looked down, and bit her lip.

(setting: Outside in the garden.)

“I was hoping for some fresh air,” Cheryl said, leading Archie to the garden.

“Whatever you want,” he said, with a grin.

She turned to face him. “Our relationship has been sooo…”

“Amazing,” he finished.

She giggled. “I feel like we get each other better.”

“We do get along really well,” Archie chuckled.

“I think that there’s something you should know about me, if we make it to the fantasy suites.”

“You can tell me anything.”

She took a deep breath. “Before I agreed to come on this show, like many years before I signed up for this, I did have a past. But we all do. And so, in mine,” she began. “I did experience falling in love for the first time. And her name was Heather. We were best friends in middle school. One night, mother caught us sharing a bed during a sleepover, and she lost it. She destroyed us.”

“I didn’t know you were..”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But, I wanted to explore my sexuality when I signed up for this show. But then, you just made it so easy to get caught in the moment with you. And I meant everything I said to you, one hundred percent. But I just wanted you to know every part of who I am.”

He hugged her. “I’m really honored that you were willing to share that with me. And I’m really proud of you. Cheryl, I think you’re so brave and so beautiful. I always knew how strong you were since our first date.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you Archie. When you were talking with Betty, I was reflecting quite a bit. And while I do feel ready for an engagement, I think that...”

“You might need a little time.”

“This isn't me saying I don’t want to be with you. I was genuinely falling in love with you, Archie. And I still think we can get there. So, if you choose me at the end of this, I propose that we date for a while, and then get engaged.”

He smiled. “I don’t mind taking things slow. As long as they’re going somewhere.”

(setting: Dinner Table)

Betty and Cheryl were sitting at the table, talking among themselves. Archie had decided to take the last twenty minutes to make his choice before the end of the night.

“That rose is just taunting us,” Cheryl laughed.

“Do you think it can sense our fear?” Betty laughed.

“Oh yes. It can.”

Archie walked over to them and sat down. He took an extra long, deep breath. “This decision....has been, the hardest one yet. Because I’m saying goodbye to someone who, not only was I falling for, but also...”

He shut his eyes for a moment. Then opened them. “I’m saying goodbye to someone who I feel would be much happier with someone else.”

“Just know that this isn’t me abandoning you. This isn’t me giving up and walking away. This is me, following my heart. And looking at the situation from every angle.”

He picked up the rose.

Cheryl and Betty held hands under the table, as they waited.

He bit his lip, and breathed heavily through his nose.

“Betty.”

Betty gasped lightly.

“Will you accept this rose?” Archie asked.

“Without a doubt, Arch.”

They stood up and gave each other a hug.

Archie looked over at Cheryl, and whispered. “Can I walk you out?”

“I’d be insulted if you didn’t,” Cheryl chuckled.

The two walked towards the entrance of the restaurant.

“I’m so sorr-” Archie began.

“Don’t be. I completely understand.”

“This wasn’t me not wanting to be with you. I really saw a future with us. I just really think you might be happier-”

“I agree with you.”

“You do?”

“I do. Ever since my relationship with Heather ended, I haven’t...truly...explored that path. And I feel like I owe it to myself to figure out what I want. Figure out who I am.”

They hugged for a moment.

“But I did enjoy my time with you so much. Thank you for everything. You opened my heart to all the possibilities out there. I’m hopeful.”

“I’m really grateful that I could help you that way.”

She got inside the limo. “Goodbye Archie.”

“Goodbye Cheryl.”

(setting: Dinner Table)

Betty was sitting at the table by herself, with the rose in her hand, smiling widely. She turned around at the sound of Archie’s footsteps.

“Come here,” he said.

She ran to him excitedly as he picked her up, and spun her around.

“FANTASY SUITES!!!” They cheered in unison.

He pulled out his phone.

“What are you doing?” Betty laughed.

“I want to remember this.”

-------------END CREDIT--------------

#barchie #varchie

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blueboxesandtrafficcones · 6 years ago

Text

The French Connection - Chapter 6

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony. Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday. Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

Masterlist | AO3

---

“Ellie.”

The soft whisper of her name stirred her, making her whimper and hide her face in her pillow. It was soft, warm, and altogether heavenly; she didn’t want to get up.

“Ellie, we’re here.”

She grunted, swatting halfheartedly in the direction of the voice, wondering dimly why her pillow was speaking. This is the strangest dream I’ve ever had.

“Miller!”

Eyes snapping open she bolted upright, blinking rapidly as she tried to take in her surroundings. She was seated on an empty coach, against the window, alone but for Hardy who sat next to her – worryingly in the direction she’d just leaned away from. Was I asleep on him?

“Wha’?”

He stood, settling his hands on his hips as he waited for her. “We’re here,” he repeated. “Time to get off the bus.”

“Did I sleep the whole way?” She rose as well, turning her back for a moment to discreetly wipe at her mouth, grimacing at the crusted drool before sliding her purse over her shoulder. “Sorry.”

“S’all right.” Stepping back he let her lead the way off the bus, alighting onto a sandy carpark where dozens of other tour buses were parked, a steady stream of people walking past.

They fell into step, Hardy gently guiding her towards a vaguely-familiar looking woman wearing a fashionable scarf and holding a clipboard. She gave them a severe look as they joined the rest of the group, before beginning to speak.

“Bienvenue a Versailles. Originally a modest hunting lodge built by Louis Thirteen, he and his successors through Louis Sixteen built it up to what you see today, when the family lost it during the Revolution. What you see in front of you is le Cour d’Honneur, or the Royal Court. Then we will pass through the Gate of Honor, where we will meet our guide. Please, follow me.”

Eyes wide Ellie followed the group, breathless as she stared at the gates. The fence along them was gold, shining brilliantly in the morning sun. It would be imposing on its own, were it not for the gate itself, double the height and topped with beautiful scrollwork and, at the highest point, a crown.

“This is beautiful,” Ellie whispered to Hardy as they crossed in front towards the entrance. “I’m so happy I’m here.”

When she tore her eyes away to glance at him, he was smiling softly. “I’m glad. C’mon.”

“Oh, wow,” Ellie murmured, as they stepped out of the Palace into the gardens.

Hardy hid a smile by fussing with his sunglasses, situating them firmly on his nose to combat the bright sun. She’d been saying some variation of that for the last hour, all through the tour of the Palace. Even he had to admit that it was, maybe, somewhat impressive, despite his thoroughly-Scottish Presbyterian austerity. Of course, it’s no surprise they went bankrupt. “We’ve got an hour before we’re to be back at the bus – what d’you want to do?”

“Can we walk through the gardens?” She turned to him, smiling hopefully as if he might actually say no.

“If you like,” was all he said, waiting patiently while she pulled out her own sunnies and fussed with her camera. “Ready?”

They headed straight, and he let her choose the path, listening with one ear as she chattered on, recapping the tour as though he hadn’t been beside her the entire time, highlighting the parts she’d liked best.

“-oh, but that bedroom! Can you imagine? And who could possibly need all that staff! I mean, I wouldn’t turn down someone to do the cooking and cleaning, I’ll admit, and I suppose it’d be nice to have someone else do the laundry, but still! How do you live like that and take yourself seriously? Did they honestly believe that they had been chosen to be treated like gods, that they were so much better than anyone else? Not to mention-”

“Where are we going?” he cut her off, as they angled off past the third pond. “I mean, d’you have a direction in mind? Because if it’s a stroll to take in the gardens you’re after…” He gestured vaguely.

Ellie blinked at him before glancing around. “It’s nice,” she shrugged, “but actually, I was heading for le Petit Trianon. It was Marie Antoinette’s bolthole when court pressures got to be too much.”

He stopped dead to stare at her, before shaking his head and sighing. “It must’ve been very hard to be Queen of France.”

“Oh, don’t be an arse.”

“What?” he protested, as they continued down the tree-lined path towards the mansion appearing in the distance. “I’m just saying, not exactly like she had to work for a living!”

Ellie scoffed. “Clearly you were never a teenage girl, because if you had been, you would not be saying that. D’you know how vicious women can be?”

“You kidding me?”

“No, I’m not kidding! She was under tremendous pressure to be perfect. The other women at Court expected her to have the best of everything, the latest of everything, while the average citizen saw her as an unapologetic spender, wasting money on clothing and parties while they starved. She was a victim of the French court, and it cost her her life! It’s easy for men, the expectations of them are minimal at best, but women are expected to be happy and light, a perfect hostess… witty but not too smart, knowledgeable without knowing more than the man she’s talking to, loyal and obedient to someone who doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her dignity or reputation! We’re supposed to just forgive any transgression, no matter how big, any humiliation or belittlement and just take it with a smile! It’s utter bullshit, it’s a ridiculous standard, and it’s not fair!”

Hardy stared at her, taken aback. Her chest heaved, eyes leaking tears, her expression heartbreakingly lost and small. This isn’t about Marie Antoinette, he realized, watching her lower lip tremble. “I’m sorry, Miller,” he said quietly, sighing. “You’re right, it’s not.”

“Don’t patronize me,” she warned, wiping angrily at her cheeks. “I don’t want your pity.”

“It’s not pity,” he rolled his eyes, before checking his watch. “Now, we’ve got forty minutes, and it’ll take most of that to get back to the bus. Let’s go see her hideaway, then get back to the group – I don’t fancy being left behind.”

“My father used to have affairs,” Hardy said apropos of nothing, making Ellie’s gaze snap towards him.

They were seated on a riverboat, the last leg of the tour being a boat ride up the Seine, getting on at Sèvres and sailing up towards the disembarkation point near the Musée d'Orsay, which was only a few blocks from their hotel. They’d claimed spots at the very back of the boat, and given the light load of the group, were practically alone, most people congregating at the front.

Ellie had been lost in her thoughts, wondering about any deeper symbolism in her desire to look back at where they’d been rather than forward towards where they were going.

“What?”

“My father,” he repeated, staring determinedly out the back window, “constantly made a fool of my mum. She always tolerated it, looked the other way, and I’m sorry to say I always thought less of her for that. That she should’ve gotten out when she could, that she shouldn’t have let him put her- put us through that.”

She tilted her head, trying to wrap her head around her words even as she marveled at his openness; he’d never discussed his home life before. “I imagine she had no easy choices,” she said diplomatically.

“My point is,” Hardy sighed, glancing her way, “that I’ve seen what happens when a woman just takes what her husband gives her-” his face tightened, suggesting things Ellie didn’t want to unpack at that particular moment, “that it will destroy her. If your family’s upset in the moment, that’s one thing, but don’t let them carry on too long about if you should’ve handled it differently. You have to take care of you – your ex isn’t your responsibility. If they try to tell you to make it work with him once you get back, tell them to get fucked.”

“They’re the only family I’ve got,” Ellie scoffed wryly, shaking her head. “I mean, I won’t have anything to do with him, but not sure I can get them to stop talking about it.”

He shifted on the bench to face her, pushing up his sunglasses in a surprising display of vulnerability. “Ellie. If they’re more concerned about him than they are about you, they’re not worth your time and effort. Hell, I’ll be your family if you want, or whatever. Just… don’t let them carry on about it. The one time my mum tried to leave, tried to get me away from him, her family made us go back. I never forgave them for it.”

“I’m sorry,” she offered, looking down at her hands. “That’s an awful thing to have happened. Thank you for… trusting me with that, I suppose.”

“She was like you, far as I can remember, when I was little. Bright and cheerful, always looking at the silver lining. And over time, he and her family dulled the sparkle until nothing was left. You have to make you a priority, because you can’t trust anyone else will.”

“Thank you.”

Her mobile rang while they were relaxing before dinner, the screen lighting up in time to the jaunty tune it played, vibrating on the desk.

Ellie grimaced, staring down at it. “Unknown number. What d’you think?” She was seated at the desk, inches from the device, but made no move to reach for it.

Hardy shrugged, sitting up from where he’d been sprawled on the bed flipping channels on the telly. “Send it to voicemail? Could it be work?”

With a grimace she answered it, holding it to her ear. “This is Miller.” Almost instantly the blood drained from her face, hand shaking, and his gut knew who was on the other end of the line.

Springing off the bed he eased the mobile from her hand and put it to his own ear, barking, “What?”

“Who’s this?” a confused man’s voice came to him, and Hardy bared his teeth.

“Alec Hardy, I’m a friend of Ellie’s. Who’s this?”

“Joe Richards, her fiancé. Can I speak to Ellie, please?” He said tersely, rather rudely Hardy thought for someone charged with child pornography.

Hardy raised an eyebrow at Ellie, who shook her head violently. “No. In fact, she’d prefer to never hear from you again.” That got him a double thumbs up. “I strongly advise you never contact her- or her family- ever again.”

A pause on the line had him waiting with bated breath, and when the other man spoke, his words were entirely unexpected.

“Did you say Hardy? As in her uni boyfriend?”

Boyfriend? “Uh, yeah, that’s me.” Despite the situation, the corners of his mouth tugged upward, earning himself a confused glare from Ellie. “What’s it to you?”

“Now listen here, prick, Ellie is my fiancée, and as soon as I beat these charges-”

“If such a gross miscarriage of justice were to occur,” he cut Joe off, “you will leave- wherever it is Ellie lives, and you will run as far away as possible. Just know that no matter how far you do go, it will never be far enough, and you will always be watched to ensure you harm no one. Do you understand?”

After a moment, the line went dead, his face tightening as it occurred to him that he might have overstepped. Handing the mobile back to Ellie, it took all he had not to flinch when she pushed back from the desk and stood.

She stared at him, eyes searching his, and he held his breath, waiting for a verdict.

“Thank you,” was all she said, before closing the distance between them and throwing her arms around his waist, holding him tightly and resting her face against his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

Slowly, scared she might bolt if he moved to fast, he returned the hug and held her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. “So am I.” It was nice, having her in his arms, and he felt a vise in his chest loosen.

I don’t want this trip to end.

#bbatcfic #broadfic #Broadchurch #HardyxMiller #Alec Hardy #Ellie Miller #AU #The French Connection #platonic honeymoon fic

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