#but they embraced their will and passed it down in own bloodline - perhaps to fulfill some sort of duty

[1000sunnygo]

Been thinking a lot about Oda choosing Queen of Night as Law's image flower.

Like. Isn't that really important? In a story heavily featuring sun symbolism, MC with an image flower called Sun-facer, being assigned with "Beauty under Moonlight" is a dead giveaway that the author considers his role to be complimentary to the protagonist, an alternate source of light that takes its light from the sun.

A lot of Japanese fans think the last bit of vegapunk's message, "Those of you who are toyed by that fate, I hope this message reaches you" - was directed at Law's plot. There's no other D who is currently alive and interested in their "checkered fate" other than Law. Dawn and Dusk shared an interesting observation about Law's family being the only family of D's confirmed to originate from the opposite side of the red line (x). Then there's the hidden family name, and a five billion berry devil fruit ability. The groundwork has been laid out and none of these have been properly explained yet, there's no way Law wouldn't be important to the endgame plot.

[eggtqrt]

This is a crack theory but we never meet the child of the witch who's supposed to lock holly (although originally it was supposed to be poppy) in the tower so what if instead of the role being passed down via bloodline it's randomized and when we meet the twins it's still an unassigned destiny BUT ONE DAY poppy finds out her destiny (which was originally supposed to be Holly's) is to be the witch meaning she has to lock her own sister in the tower!!

Because the twins bond is so strong, I honestly think poppy would wholeheartedly embrace the role of the witch just because she knows how much Holly wants to be rapunzel (obviously she wouldn't be cruel to her sister or anything but would just fulfill her role) but then post fulfilling her destiny imagine no matter what holly does people treat her sister horribly just because she's a villain and in the end despite poppy choosing to follow her destiny for her sister's happiness, holly ends up not even being able to be happy because she knows people are treating her sister terribly

HOWEVER because of the existence of rebels I don't think the aforementioned post destiny scenario would happen because WHAT IF holly realizes no matter how much she wants to be rapunzel she could never be happy with her sister being forced into a destiny for her sake (remember, holly is the roybel herself, literally on the fence between choice and destiny) and decides to push poppy towards becoming a rebel, even perhaps becoming a rebel herself in support of her sister

And this would perfectly tie in with Apple's character development because it would show her that someone who wants their destiny can be willing to sacrifice it for the sake of someone else which is a perspective I think she very much would need to see before being able to support ravens rebel decisions (I would also add it would be great for her to also see the perspective of faybelle who is a villain who wants her destiny who could end up deciding to sacrifice her villainous destiny for the sake of briar)

[bunnakit]

Hello! I saw that you were open to Seongjoong prompts! Well, instead of sleeping beauty, how about sleeping Joongie? Hope you have fun with this prompt! :D

GOD OP I'M SO STUPID i didn't reread this ask before starting to write this so i didn't realize it specifically said SLEEPING JOONGIE and by the time i realized i was already 1.5k words in so.... it's not finished and it's WRONG but i screwed up so spectacularly i figured i should post SOMETHING since i don't have the spirit to start over. sorry for making you wait so long for this lakjglai4slt i hope you enjoy it anyway

—

Strictland hadn’t always been so befitting of its name.

Once upon a time, the country had been a thriving metropolis filled with color, sprawling architecture, windows and displays glittering in the sunlight, plants dotting every street and planters lining every odd window. The people had been thriving and happy beneath the rule of a long lineage of Parks, the bloodline having given the people some of the kindest and benevolent rulers throughout the ages.

All things changed with time but no one could have predicted the way the city would fade away into tones of gray. It had only taken a few words whispered to the King and Queen; a hissed warning and promise of impending death to their newly born heir. The omen had been vague, insinuating that art and creativity would lead to the death of their beloved Seonghwa, which ultimately led to a culling of all forms of art across the country. Total control fell over the populace - control of nutrition, sunlight, even their very reflections. Where the royal family had once been a warm embrace they now held a vice grip around the throat of their own citizens. 

And it all ended up being for naught. 

Seonghwa was a free spirit in spite of all the restrictions in place since his very birth - or perhaps because of it. Rebellion shone in his eyes and ran through his blood, sparking defiance against each and every restriction. To those among the resistance - those that continued to paint murals across abandoned storefronts, performed in the dead of night beneath neon lights in abandoned pools, sang with all their heart and soul to a small and secluded crowd - it was no secret that Mars, one of the greatest graffiti artists of their time, was the very prince the laws had been erected to protect. 

The legacy of Mars had slowly crept across the country, though no one had actually met the artist in person. His works had started small, just single subject outlines done quickly in passing with the smallest signature in the form of a rudimentary star. With time they had developed into beautiful murals often depicting the freedom that was just out of their reach. His paintings were often illusions of broken down walls revealing various landscapes, all sporting brilliant colors and long forgotten scenery. His signature evolved with the paintings, the star more sophisticated and eventually crowned with the very circlet seen on the Prince during the few and far between public appearances.

Perhaps Seonghwa would have been afraid of the wrath of the King and Queen if they had shown even an inkling of the parents they used to be. The rulers had fallen victim to their own poison, losing all sense of self as well as any motivation to care about anything. As their grip on reality loosened, as they turned a blind eye to Seonghwa’s deviancy, a new figure stepped up in their place. Z, the self-proclaimed oracle that had predicted Seonghwa’s demise, had easily slipped into the role of royal advisor, all but wresting control of the country from the King and Queen’s lax palms. 

The majority of the rebellion, deemed the Black Pirates, didn’t know if the accident had truly been a prophecy fulfilling itself or perhaps something far more sinister and manufactured to instill fear. What they did know was that Mars had disappeared, all traces of his work scrubbed from every wall, billboard, or street, and none appeared to replace them. Months passed into a year and finally the Pirates grew restless. 

Seonghwa was not the only noble to lift his head in defiance and rage against the oppression forced upon them. Wooyoung and San, two heirs of nobility themselves as well as childhood companions to Seonghwa, had joined the movement early on in their childhood. The decision had forced them to distance themselves from their friend for all their safety, but they’d kept a close eye on him throughout the years. They were only just able to keep their panic at bay, knowing it would do them no good in helping their wayward friend. 

—

“Hongjoong, we don’t even know where he might be or what might have happened to him.” Jongho sighed from where he sat on a threadbare couch in the center of a long abandoned warehouse. A group of seven was nestled within the confines of rusted walls, the inside a stark contrast to the shell. It was a monument to art and comfort - a home. 

A figure of average height paced in front of a weathered coffee table, split-dyed hair disheveled as if he’d been running his hands through it or perhaps even tugging in frustration. His eyes were locked on a chaotic pile of newspapers spread across the table, all emotionless stories describing the accident that had befallen the Prince. Of course it had been pinned on the rebellion, the Prince’s fall from the rooftop labeled a message sent by the Black Pirates. 

“We know Z had something to do with this, it’s not a stretch to think he’s hidden him away somewhere. The question is where?” Hongjoong growled behind bared teeth, only just suppressing the desire to kick the table over to hide every mocking headline. 

“The only guess we have is either the palace or the bunker, but I don’t know if even Z is fucked up enough to keep a prince in a maximum security prison, especially while he’s injured.” Wooyoung shrugged, nestled on the floor between San’s legs, back pressed to the chair holding the latter. Hongjoong could only roll his eyes at the almost-purr Wooyoung let out as San ran his fingers through his hair. 

“But what if he was worried about some of the staff in the palace still being loyal to the royal family? There has to be a few left that would want to get Seonghwa out of there.” Yunho sat atop the back of the couch, legs squeezed behind Mingi’s back. 

“That’s actually a good point. When we were kids the staff loved Seonghwa, especially the cooks.” San said, fingers still threaded within Woo’s hair, fingertips massaging at his scalp. 

“Yeosang, are your drones able to reach the bunker from here?” Hongjoong gestured to the shelf where a kaleidoscope of butterflies surrounded a single mechanical blue bird, each in a dormant state resembling sleep. 

The tinkerer turned in his office chair, his back straightening with an audible pop as he allowed his eyes to adjust to the lighting of the room rather than the bright table lamp he’d been using to illuminate the workbench behind him. 

“They’ll lose signal about a few kilometers before the bunker, we’ll need to find a way to get closer.” Hongjoong always appreciated the rare moments where Yeosang was actually listening as his responses were typically very clear and concise. 

Hongjoong sighed and nodded his understanding before instructing both Wooyoung and Yeosang to join him in the garage in ten minutes. He slipped from the communal space and into a room he’d turned into his own, shoving a few things into a backpack for the preliminary journey. The sooner they figured out the finer details of the plan the sooner they could move on to rescuing the wayward prince. 

He’d never met Mars, not directly, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone among the rebellion that hadn’t felt moved by his murals in some way or another. His disappearance had been a huge hit to morale among freedom fighters across the country, no doubt exactly what Z had intended. Mars was seen as a last beacon of hope, someone with the power to make a difference and bring light and life back to a world covered in darkness, so regardless of Hongjoong’s feelings towards him (or lack thereof) he poured his all into getting the plan in motion as quickly as possible. They couldn’t afford to lose any more of their already dwindling members. 

The trio gathered by a rusted, nondescript gray van, Hongjoong frowning as Wooyoung jogged forward three minutes late. 

“What exactly are we doing,” he sighed, arms across his chest. “And why can’t San come?” 

“Because I don’t need you getting distracted. We’re going to see how far we can stay from the bunker and still maintain a stable signal. You and San are the only ones that grew up in that part of town so we need you to navigate us, preferably to the most secluded areas.” Hongjoong explained as he tossed his backpack into the back of the van, waiting for Yeosang to climb in back and gently set his own bag down, before closing the doors with a horrible screech. 

“Couldn’t we wait until tomorrow to do this?” Wooyoung whined and Hongjoong barely suppressed the urge to kick him before climbing into the passenger’s side. He very rarely put Wooyoung behind the wheel but in this case it made the most sense and would free him up to take in all the little details of their location and any potential threats. 

“No. The longer we wait the more bullshit Z feeds the press about us and the more fighters we lose. You saw Eden’s last report, things aren’t looking good for us. We need to get the prince back and on our side now.” 

[evilzoldyck]

Fiancée II

part I

The floral scent hanging in the humid air had become particularly nauseating, the mixed flower petals that complemented the oils poured into the bathwater had all sank before you while the water itself had turned lukewarm.

Looking down at your fingers, you noticed that your fingertips had pruned horrendously. Normally you wouldn’t take much of your time disengaging with reality but recently, there was something in your mind you couldn’t quite comprehend. Just a few hours ago you were subjected to your mother-in-law’s favourite pastime which was holding a tea ceremony by the garden. Except it had a special twist, for every crucial detail that you missed, a melting hot iron would be pressed against the palm of your hands.

You didn’t miss the slight turn on the corner of her lips, her hidden smile behind the paper fan every time the torched metal would melt onto your skin, reminding you that will never be worthy enough to be accepted by her. And for every time your skin healed, your scars disappeared, your blood stopped seeping from your skin, she will be the one to make sure to replace them. Asserting her position and making sure you knew who the true matriarch of the family is.

Living with in-laws was a truly dreadful ordeal.

However when a butler with hard lines etched onto his face interrupted the unfortunate event, his sunken eyes that held the deepest sympathies only gazed at yours. He came forward with an ill-bearing news of your mother’s recent passing.

You knew this day would come, but you hadn’t anticipated it to come so soon. Though you had the resources to finance her health with the best doctor money can buy, you knew there was nothing you could offer death for an ailment so monstrous. The more times that you visited her in the hospital, the more and more different she looked. 

You almost didn’t recognise her. She looked like a corpse, barely breathing through her tube encasing her mouth, her hair you used to comb religiously every night was mostly gone. You knew that she was barely alive.

The only times that you were allowed to visit her was once every full moon as the rest of your days were filled with torturous training all for the sake of building your strength. You were barely considered family to them and so your own Mother visiting you at the Zoldyck estate was unimaginable. Sometimes in the darkest hour of the night you could almost hear her hoarse whispers, blindly pleading repeatedly to the nurses for you, why her daughter was nowhere to be found.

She fought for your next visit, begging at death’s door to see you one last time but alas, death was cruelly fair and her time was rightfully due. And so the feeling when you completely missed her burial, when you were refused a visit to her grave to pay your respects, when you were forbidden to grieve for it was a sign of weakness. The feeling of such accumulated events…

What was it you were supposed to feel?

You knew your heart nor mind could never be so numb, you weren’t anything like the Zoldycks at all, so detached to even a sliver of morality and compassion. So then why didn’t the news of her death send you to your knees? Why couldn’t you feel anything? Could it be a temporary shock- perhaps that’s why your cheeks were dry.

Just when you were lost in your thoughts with a tight frown pursed upon your lips, your personal handmaiden politely intruded herself inside the bathroom, announcing the arrival of master Illumi from his recent mission abroad. You lifted your head from your trance as her soft voice ricocheted off the black marbled walls, a gentle reminder to you of exactly where you were before your mind took you someplace else.

Upon seeing her, she was diligently prepped with her arms open wide, holding your robe before you.

The strange family had rightfully encroached all rights that you previously held, your freedom, your dignity, pride, and even your last name; privacy was the least of your concern. Rising from the cold waters, you allowed her to tie the warm fabric around you. She was always so meticulous and gentle, as if the slightest movement of her gestures or the flicker of her gaze could potentially be taken as an affront.

There were ample times that you searched for at least some kind of warmth in this forlorn and dreary estate, some kind of companion to show a little humanity and compassion with. You should’ve known that pursuing friendship on this mountain was pointless. The myriad of maids and butlers that they have at their disposable offered no comfort to your despair as they were always sickeningly polite but never friendly, leaving a gaping hole in your chest to fend this loneliness for yourself.

At the threshold of the gargantuan door, Illumi stood impassively while one of the butlers of the estate came to lighten his load. He had come back rather early from his departure, the extensive tasks assigned to him was nothing he hadn’t done before and yet with so many undertakings he was obligated to finish he had forgone rest when it was deemed necessary, opting to continue on to the next job effective immediately. Perhaps it was his habit of having a tireless and dedicated focus during a mission or maybe it was just his overzealousness to see you again.

“Welcome back, master Illumi. I trust that you found our services to be adequate on your journey back.” Gotoh pleasantly bade a congenial welcome as he gracefully placed his right hand across his chest and bowed his head slightly before the eldest of Zoldyck’s son.

He simply hummed in reply not sparing another glance at the man for Illumi’s vacant stare was occupied, searching the premises based on his peripheral vision for any sign of you awaiting him without fail like you do every time he arrived back from his assignments. “And my wife?” he curtly inquired after seeing no sign of you.

Descending from the stairs, you face your personal demon with a pathetic palpitating heart. The robe that you adorned did little to cover the coldness of his gaze for the room froze every time he was near. Nevertheless a stretch of a satisfying smile formed across his lips as you made your way towards his arms. 

Embracing him always felt like the first time, your shoulders tensed every time his elongated thin fingers squeezed your sides as he enveloped you in a mockingly sweet embrace. If it bothered him, Illumi never spoke of it. The locks of his midnight hair brushed against your face as you placed a quivering kiss upon his cheek, uttering a small greeting for him. 

Just like clockwork he began to led you away from the foyer and into your shared quarters with his lithe hand burrowing itself into your waist. 

Though it felt like years had passed once your fate was intertwined with his, you could never get used to his presence. This saccharine coated reality could never delude you to construe this as something more meaningful than a means of escape from your financial poverty and his obligation on fulfilling his filial piety. The carefully rehearsed charade always played out the same where in the end of the night you would find yourself in a familiar predicament. 

Inside the cimmerian chamber dim flickering candle lights illuminated the tenebrous darkness around you. The satin beneath your naked skin easily shifted as Illumi handled you attentively from above. As he moved to discard of his clothes your eyes absentmindedly wandered to the same spot on the ceiling that you’ve gazed upon countless of times. However once you heard the gentle rustle of his garments join yours into the floor, your attempt to seperate your mind from your body ended in vain. 

Illumi hovered above you leaving a scant space between your lips. You wished you knew why he searched for your eyes every time he began to kiss you, taking a pensive moment for you to finally look at him, to be the centre of your attention. You didn’t know why he bothered taking his time with you for every night you spent with him you had only demonstrated compliance and obedience. Prolonging such affair was only counterproductive. 

You felt him dragging his nails softly into your skin as he brought his hands up slowly from your thighs to your neck, grasping the rhythmically beating point and finally placing a soft kiss. 

Closing your eyes you unconsciously balled the sheets beneath you with your fists. The kiss was timid and placid on your lips as his hair fell and entangle with the pool of your own. Illumi finally released after a few languishing moments and began to trace wistful kisses along your neck. 

You knew better as to why an apathetic assassin that left a trail of crimson behind him for equity would give you the time of day to leave obsequious pecks. 

Illumi was a man of pure objectivity, each action he took had an ulterior motive behind it for no lift of his finger went by without it having some kind of incentive for him in the end. And so his adoring kisses and unctuous attention did little to move your amoral perception of him. 

He only indulged in such idle debauchary for he believed it was what you enjoyed, hence allowing the intercourse to go smoothly and successfully with the benefit of your arousal. Illumi was especially persistent in his countless endeavours in carrying out his bloodline with you. The details surrounding the child were kept quite vague and undisclosed, the only emphasis now was centred around the health and condition of your mental and physical state. 

Perhaps that’s why Illumi always handled you selflessly, as if he missed you terribly every time he went away for his delegated tasks. His efforts to please you easily began to grow more apparent, especially under an auspicious moon. 

Suddenly his hand encapsulated your small shivering ones, making your breath hitch just slightly as he rose up to meet you once more. “You’re still shaking, what’s the matter?” 

Were you? You hadn’t noticed the state of your body for your mind was running wild with endless thoughts. Sensing the tension in the air you quickly placated his growing trepidation with a weak smile. “Forgive me, tonight is just particularly cold today, perhaps I’ve left the window open again.” Avoiding his ruminating gaze Illumi released a ghost of a sigh before nodding, indicating that he took your word for it despite you knowing deep down that he did not. 

“Shall we go by the fireplace?” He suggested innocuously. 

You, however, couldn’t prevent the heat from rising up to your face as you couldn’t even begin to fathom engaging in such activity beside a roaring fire. Not only that but you would be rid of the protective barrier of your sheets and most of all, the wavering waves of red would cast a glow onto his face, forcing you to glance up upon him and seeing more of what you’re already comfortable with. 

A prude is the word most women back in your town would describe you as, however you would staunchly argue to such claims when the eyes of death has its attention solely on you. 

“No,” you gripped onto his hands. “Here is just fine.” 

Illumi gathered you into his arms, pulling you upwards along with him as he pressed more kisses against your lips and slowly trailed them down to your chest. You hesitantly wrapped your hands around his shoulders, careful not to tip the centre of balance he had on you as you nearly straddled his lap. 

“Very well,” he murmured before flipping you back on the bed and making you land onto your front swiftly. “Then I shall hold you instead.” 

Encapsulating you wholly with your back pressed against his chest, he held onto your chest tightly against him with one arm as the other gripped your hips firmly, raising it up to meet his. His head burrowed itself into the crook of your neck to leave more discoloured marks, and just in time as you felt the stretch commence. 

You were nowa Zoldyck, as you often reminded yourself, nothing could contain you not even pain, not even death, not even love. 

Roughly a year had passed and the same moonlight shined through the darkness upon the mountain peak once again. The Zoldyck estate was in turmoil. Nurses ran frantically from across the halls carrying fresh pristine white towels only to have them drenched in blood in the next second. 

You knew what you signed up for the moment you stood before theTesting Gate, it was just simply your time to fulfil your end of the bargain.

The journey of your pregnancy was a stark contrast to the treatment you had been subjected to in your time here. Instead of poison laced meals to the verge of hospitalisation and endless hours of enhancing your strength endurance, you were finally given some form of a break. 

Those little mercies such as extra hours of sleep, the vitamins and protein back in your system and the permission to acquire rest when you needed it were like heaven to you. 

Your health along with your baby’s progress was greatly monitored, not a day goes by that your daily intensive checkup went by carelessly. 

Everyday you gazed down in front of the mirror and saw yourself grow progressively. The size of your belly began to expand with each passing time that came closer to the due date. Though despite the baby being attached to your very self you couldn’t feel a sense of attachment to it, the very kind your mother had for you. 

And so when you first heard him cry from your extraneous labour, you were stricken by a sudden powerful force. Months of him stirring inside you and it took you this long to realise the being inside you was alive. 

The obstetrician and the nurses all cheered and cooed at the successful delivery of your newborn baby, making excessive notes of how handsome he was. Their faces damped with their efforts to ensure the health of the mother and the baby was maintained paid off for the delivery was a success. 

The burden finally left their shoulders as one should feel when it was a Zoldyck’s turn to employ and entrust an imperative job such as this. 

Once the umbilical cord was cut, you were able look upon his face. Blood stained your hands and cheek as you held him close to your chest, his tiny hand already reaching out for your face, finally tempering his cries into charming babbling nonsense when he sensed that you were near. Everything about him reminded you of Illumi, his midnight hair that was twisted in tiny wisps, his complexion, his small but sharp features upon his face.

But those eyes, they were yours. 

The warmth of such gaze possessed you to crumble down before your son for it wasn’t until his arrival that your humanity was finally restored. Emotions flooded your senses to the point that you thought you couldn’t feel anything else but harrowing pain and guilt. Your separation from your only family, society, your own mother’s death, the excruciating pain that was inflicted upon you- you’ve felt it all. 

The mental fortitudes that you’ve built up over the accumulating years all came crashing down when you looked upon a face so innocent and pure. Something that was truly incapable of harnessing any  bloodshed as per the family designed of his future.

And after all this time you were carrying him like a pig to slaughter. Partaking in this corrupt pseudo-experiment to create the cold and hard perfect monster, subservient to the wills and orders of the family.

Just like his father. 

Suddenly, one of the nurses took him away from your embrace consequently making you panic at the thought of your son being alone without you. The feeling that compelled you to care for another was one that felt so familiar and yet so foreign, plucking an untouched chord in your heartstring that you’ve forgotten a long time ago. 

All your life you were living for someone else; when you lost your mother you were at a loss for your purpose was amiss, living as an empty hollow shell of a human being. Now that the birth of your child had come, an epiphany struck you like a blinding flash of lightening. 

He was your new profound purpose.

“Where are you taking him?” You gasped out, already reaching out towards the nurse who held him around a blanket. She briefly replied that she would be taking his measurements but her words of comfort fell on deaf ears for it did nothing to placate the fact that you were separated from your baby. 

“No, no- please! Give him back to me!” Now you were crawling across the maroon soaked sheets, wincing at the fact that you were still bleeding but still keeping a staunch arm out in front of you. 

Your frantic actions forced the nurses nearby to restrain you, holding you back onto the bed while urging advices to calm down. However their grip upon you nearly fell for you could see nothing but red in your eyes, there was no amount of force in this world that could withhold you from being without him. Your beseeches and tenacious struggle quickly came to a halt when you felt a sudden jolt of pain from your side. 

Looking down with your tear stricken face you saw that you were haphazardly injected with a strange transparent liquid to sedate you. Usually you could easily persevere over simple liquid anaesthetics that could even wipe out an entire five adult men but this dose was a new thing entirely, you’ve never been exposed to such a heavy medication that edged on it being lethal before.

However you knew that the fate of your son would be compromised if you stayed, if you didn’t fought for him. 

Consequently, the only necessary action you needed to take was to escape. Gathering your bearings from the Jenny that you’ve rightfully championed two summers ago, you’ve decided that the amount would guarantee him and you a stable future. 

That is why after two moons have passed when you’ve conjured enough strength to gather yourself from your deep sleep, right before Illumi was scheduled to come back to witness the scion of the house of Zoldyck, that you would take off when the moon was at its peak. 

There was no leaving it up to chance for there was no telling when you would see you son again. There was much conviction in your assumption that Illumi would haste his training program to become an elite assassin, just as the family intended from the start. 

The Zoldycks were unrivalled in their system of securing their property. A fortress that the brave or the foolish dared to try to penetrate, though their attempts would always end up in vain; along with bruises and a few broken bones if they were smart enough to retreat soon. However, they weren’t quite as adept at keeping someone in than they were at keeping everyone out. 

Glancing back the faint sight of the distant mountain on the horizon, you slowed your pace as you decided you’ve made satisfactory progress in distance. Looking around perilously and tuning your ears to the sound of even the faintest landing of the leaves in the autumn breeze, you relievedly deduced that you weren’t followed- well at least not yet.

Releasing small huffs from your over exertion of energy, you gazed down fondly  at the sight of your son bundled up in a large cloth in which you tied tightly onto your back. You relievedly let out a soft smile when you found out he was still sleeping soundly, gripping onto some of your loose hairs unconsciously. Setting him down inside a hollow tree you figured you could take a few minutes to decipher where True North lied. 

However, a sudden change in the atmosphere made your blood freeze. Staring out into the darkness, you fixed your sights in the direction of the energy with your fists clenched in anticipation. 

You felt him before you even saw him. Your heart dropped when you sensed whose aura emitted belonged to. 

Illumi came out of darkness with an air of calmness surrounding him. This sense of composure completely shifted yours, you knew he could easily overpower you for his nen abilities reigned supreme over yours, nonetheless you couldn’t allow a fight for freedom to go unchallenged, not when you were so close to the finish line. 

His ambiguity costed you valuable time to quickly devise a plan. Should you fight or should you flee? There was no telling he would kill you and steal your son away if you opposed him and yet given his nature, Illumi was quite capable of putting up a façade to front his murderous intent. 

When he came too close for comfort, you realised you could never outrun him with this distance, thus you had to strike before he could. Unsheathing a small dagger that you carried just in case you ran into some trouble, you cursed at yourself for carrying a short range weapon. 

Nevertheless you missed his shoulder by just the width of a hair. Illumi’s speed, though something to be marvelled at, was the only aspect that you worried most about. 

As if in slow motion you fell forwards and from the corner of your eyes, you saw him shift easily from your reach. Illumi began to extend his arm out to impede your efforts, however you caught sight of his advances and immediate retreated back. 

He blinked in mild surprise before exhaling a jaded sigh. “Fighting me is futile, you know very well that you cannot defy me in battle.” He stated matter-of-factly. “This victory brings me no satisfaction.” 

“Bring the child forth and end this foolishness now.”

“You monster,” you spat out the words like venom. “You’ll kill him.” 

Lashing out in anger you attempted another strike but narrowly missed again. Gritting your teeth in frustration you were so blinded by hatred that you failed to notice his hand reaching from your blind spot to restrain your dagger. 

Wrapping his long lithe fingers around your wrist Illumi gave a warning squeeze, enough to make a grown man fall to his knees. When you refused to yield, he gripped it into a blood cutting bind until you heard your bones shift and crack. You gasped out once your hold slackened as the dagger fell into the soft green grass below.

“No, I’ll make him stronger.” Illumi confidently promised. He just broke your wrist but oddly still, you couldn’t sense any intention of harm from him as you presumed. 

Your body went rigid when he uttered your name softly, pulling your weight into him almost comfortingly. “We’re still a family,” he spoke so lowly you thought you heard a sense of betrayal and hurt from his words. “I know it’s hard, but we only have each other.”

This imitation of kindness pulled you back into reality before you could cry into his chest and take you back to the mountain. Jerking from his touch disgustedly you began to prepare to lunge at him despite your broken hand. 

“You know very well that I will pursue you even to the ends of the earth.” 

You lurch out in a punch at his direction but Illumi hastily blocked your attacks. Dodging your strikes he only ever defends, hardly even trying to challenge you. An approach that was more pacifist as opposed to practical.

“I’ll stop at nothing to bring you both home, there is nothing you can protect him from. The boy will watch many deaths before him. He will know the true meaning of threats and violence, they will fall under mine. He will never know peace.” 

You almost cried when you heard him spoke of your son’s future in a manner that was so casually cruel. Forcing yourself to block his torturous lies and vitriolic taunts, you eyed for your weapon inconspicuously. 

Catching a glint from the blade of the dagger in the tall grass, you reached out to briskly seize it. Before you could even get close, Illumi kicked it swiftly to the point where it was no longer visible to you. Looking up at him with a gaze gaunt with pain and humiliation as he said your name once more.

“Listen to reason.”

In a fit of rage you blindly fought him with your moves only consisting of attacks and albeit not very coordinated for you could barely even see your hands in front of you. You could sense that Illumi willingly took some of your punches as he winced a little when one of your attacks coincidentally targeted his weak points. 

You hadn’t realised you were crying until he balanced you upright just as when you stumbled forwards due to your eyes stinging with blurry vision. Why had you expressed yourself at your weakest point in the midst of a fight? Were you really this weak? After such gruelling years of training did they amount to nothing when you couldn’t even compare to the man you willed yourself away to? 

You already lost before you even began. 

Locking a grip around his neck you managed to successfully pinned him to the ground floor. His eyes blankly looked up at your dishevelled state raw with pure emotions in contrast to his cool and composed self. It took you this long to register that he wasn’t fighting for your submission but for your sake. 

Illumi easily reverted to being the dominant position when he was about to receive a lethal strike from you. Pining both of your hands to the ground as he restrained your legs with his knees.

Illumi studied your trembling form underneath him, appearing like a feral cat caught in a cage, ready to lash out from any sudden actions even one out of kindness. 

“What can I do to get you to stay?” He persuaded exasperatedly, as if he was tired of you looking at him like he’s the enemy. Meanwhile, you glared at the ludicrous question. 

“I want a normal life for him. I want him to see the world, I want him to go to school, to make friends.” Your throat tightened when you brought him up. Proposing your wishes in vain knowing truly he could never fulfil what you desired. “You’ll have to kill me first before you could ever get to him.” 

“An unnecessary sacrifice.” He quickly corrected, as if such a thought had never crossed his mind.”How could I endanger the one I love most?” 

Your face twisted in detest at his hypocrisy. “What do you know about love?”

Illumi merely blinked at your question, in which the answer was one that he thought was already apparent 

“I love you.” 

And yet a thousand needles could never the change the way you feel for him. You only saw darkness within Illumi, death was the only thing drilled into his mind for his purpose was designed only for murder. 

But then why couldn’t you see any deception in his eyes? Why did he possess such sincerity when he declared his feelings for you. In the midst of constant exposure to inhumanity was it truly possible for hope and love to endure for Illumi?

At the cold realm on top of the mountain you have gazed at numerous celestial wonders of the universe, but none could compare to what you saw in his gaze. You recognised the fragments of humanity inside him and it was far more powerful than anything that you had ever witnessed before. 

To have seen compassion for another being in a state of infinite chaos, Illumi was truly a wonder.

“We can have that, you know,” Illumi gently said. “A house for our own far away from here, school, friends, whatever you want.” 

“But... not for him?” Your breath stopped when he nodded slowly, sympathising your disappointment at your speculation. 

“His siblings may lead the normal life you intended for them, but it’s critical that the eldest Zoldyck carry on the family’s name and status.” 

Like an echo through history, you really can’t stop the Zoldycks’ legacy. Nevertheless, the question still rang in your head alarmingly.

Could you do it? 

Doom your firstborn to save the others? 

After what you’ve been through was it the only logical choice?

“You can’t hurt him.”

Alas, the only natural rational course of action was to naturally comply. Illumi graced a genuine smile as he closed the distance between you and sealed the deal with a chaste kiss. 

“Never.”