#chapter seventeen

[redux-iterum]

Charred Legacy: Chapter Seventeen

(AO3 counterpart here.)

The next evening brought a welcome surprise—just as Fireheart walked out of the Barn in the early part of the night, a long, low call and the rustling of the hedge announced a patrol of WindClan cats, right before Rookstar’s angular head pushed through the shrubbery. Fireheart trotted over to greet them as several cats appeared after him and stood together, all with the default unimpressed look of the moor Clan.

“Good evening!” Fireheart said, delighted. “It’s nice to see you again.”

Rookstar’s sunlight-yellow eyes narrowed as they studied Fireheart. He fought not to wilt in self-consciousness, just meeting the stare and blinking politely. After a moment, Rookstar nodded slowly to him.

“You look well fed,” the leader said flatly.

“We are, yes.” Fireheart gestured with his tail at the Barn. “There’s plenty to eat here. Though, uh, heh, we’re a little sick of mouse and rat at this point.”

A brown molly poked her head out from behind Rookstar. “Can’t imagine the agony you must be going through.”

Fireheart snorted, before his memory caught up with him. “Oh! You’re Larkbelly, right?”

Her eyes widened ever-so-slightly. “Good of you to remember me.”

“Of course!” Fireheart skipped back a couple steps. “Sorry, I’m in your way. Come on in.”

Rookstar’s expression shifted so slightly that Fireheart almost missed it, but he said nothing. He passed around Fireheart and led his patrol towards the Barn, where several more cats had emerged to see what was going on. Fireheart trotted along after them, tail high.

“WindClan!” remarked Teaselfoot, coming outside properly. “Hope we haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Just got better eating than us,” Larkbelly replied as she passed him. “For which you’ll be put to death.”

“Larkbelly…” a very pale grey molly murmured.

“Alright.” Larkbelly nodded, but Fireheart could almost hear her rolling her eyes. Teaselfoot watched her go with a blink of surprise.

As the patrol entered the Barn, the Clan roused and circled around to greet them. Bluestar stood furthest away, squinting suspiciously at Rookstar.

“No notice, sorry,” he said. “We came to see how you all are doing.”

Bluestar’s jaw was set weirdly tight. “Is that all?”

Rookstar’s head tilted just as slightly as his expression changed. “Is this a bad time?”

“No, no—” Speckletail nearly jumped in front of Bluestar, bobbing her head apologetically. “This is a fine time. We’re not busy. We’re just taken by surprise.”

“Ah.” Rookstar’s head leveled perfectly. “Sorry. Been on dog-watch.”

“And how does it look out there?” Speckletail asked, brisk and businesslike again.

“No scent or sight of them,” a more stout black tom said, limping on a badly twisted paw up to stand with his leader. “Like they knew we’re looking for them.”

“Deadfoot.” Speckletail bowed her head to him. “Good to see you again.”

Deadfoot returned the nod silently.

Bluestar’s squint turned into a full scowl. “What is there to check on? We’ve stayed here the whole time. Your borders are untouched.”

“Bluestar—” Speckletail turned to her, hushing her with, “They know that. That’s not what they’re here for.”

“It isn’t,” Rookstar said, though his voice was a little slower and faintly uncertain. “Just wanted to be sure you’re all well.”

Bluestar didn’t look swayed—if anything, she started to look confused. At a hurried nod from Speckletail, Whitecloud came up and used his tail to gently guide Bluestar further into the Barn.

“She’s been stressed,” Speckletail said to the WindClan cats. “It’s been hard on all of us, even as comfortable as it is here. You’re welcome to stay for a bit, if you want. Would you like some mice?”

Rookstar evidently knew a prompt when he heard it, because he nodded. “Been meaning to update you on the territories anyway.”

As he followed Speckletail to where she and Bluestar had been staying most of the nights, the rest of WindClan’s patrol spread out to speak with the ThunderClanners that had gathered around to watch. Fireheart walked over to Larkbelly just as Cloudkit came bumbling around a haybale and ran to greet her.

“Hi again, fluffy little ant,” Larkbelly said—and there was that warmth once more. “You got bigger since I last saw you.”

“Hi!” Cloudkit stumbled to a stop, puffing out his furry little chest. “I’m real big now! I can eat a whole mouse!”

Larkbelly purred. “That’s awesome. Can you catch one yet?”

Cloudkit faltered. “Um… no.”

“Well, that’s the next step,” Larkbelly said, her head at his eye-level. “Catch a mouse, and then a rat, and then a squirrel, and one day you could take down a deer.”

The kitten gasped. “A deer! I wanna catch a deer!”

“You’re more likely to be caught by one at this size,” Teaselfoot said, strolling over to them. To Larkbelly, he said, “And since when did a WindClan cat have a personality?”

“Since I got the name Larkbelly,” she said, and just like before, her mirth disappeared when speaking to the warrior. “Who’re you, fuzzy?”

“Teaselfoot, lanky.” He looked her up and down with visible amusement. “I didn’t think any of you could speak beyond a monotone.”

“Surprise,” Larkbelly said, lilting her voice.

Teaselfoot chuffed with a face like he hadn’t anticipated chuffing. “Well, good to meet you.”

Larkbelly regarded him with narrowed eyes. “-foot, huh? With those legs?”

“I’ll have you know that the long hair is deceptive.” Teaselfoot stuck out his front paw, stretching his leg so it could be better seen (and it did look longer away from his belly-fur). “Take a gander at that. Spider Legs, they call me.”

“Oh, good,” Mousefur said from a short distance away. “You found someone else to be insufferable with.”

“I’m all charm!” Teaselfoot protested, giving his sister an outraged look. “I don’t know about Larkbelly here—”

“More charming than you,” Larkbelly said, still flat and quiet. “Faster, too.”

“Oh, is that a challenge?” Teaselfoot cocked his head at her, eyes glittering.

Fireheart glanced down at Cloudkit, who was watching the pair go back and forth like he was watching a bug fly around, waiting to be swatted.

“If you guys are going to race,” Fireheart said, “maybe do it outside, so we don’t trample the kits?”

“Who’s racing?” Greystripe looked over from his conversation with a tawny molly.

“Larkbelly here is asking to be humiliated in front of her Clanmates,” Teaselfoot said, and Fireheart knew he said it louder on purpose, probably to get cats looking their way, which they did.

Larkbelly did not look remotely bothered. “He thinks he’s faster than me.”

To Fireheart’s surprise, a wave of scoffs rippled through the WindClan patrol, even Rookstar.

Mousefur twitched her whiskers. “Buddy, I love you, but you’re an idiot if you think you can outrun any WindClan cat.”

“My name is -foot!” The tabby gestured wildly with a paw towards Mousefur, giving Larkbelly a look like she was supposed to be equally disbelieving. “You dare doubt me? My own kin?”

“I dare,” Mousefur said. “But race anyway. It’ll be funny.”

Now with the attention of the entire Barn on them, Teaselfoot turned to Larkbelly. “Well? Shall we?”

Some of that mirth leaked back into Larkbelly’s voice. “Don’t throw a tantrum when you lose.”

Fireheart was almost pushed by the crowd that formed quicker than he could move, cats lining up just within the doorway of the Barn as Deadfoot hobbled out with Teaselfoot and Larkbelly to find a starting point. Apprentices maneuvered to the front, with the kittens before them, and Bramblekit sat between Fireheart’s front legs to watch, his eyes sparkling.

ThunderClan must be extremely bored if they want to watch another Clan do anything, Fireheart thought dryly. Even with Teaselfoot participating.

“Start here,” Deadfoot said, standing on the far right of the Barn, almost past the house; it was enough of a distance to give them time to hit top speed, by Fireheart’s measure, and have a decisive victor. Deadfoot pointed with his tail to the hedges. “End there.”

“What do they get when one wins?” Bramblekit asked Fireheart, having to stick his head out a little so he wasn’t just looking up at his brother’s chest.

“I think they get to make fun of the other one,” Fireheart replied with a twitch of his whiskers.

“Oh.” Bramblekit looked back down. “That’s not very nice.”

“No,” Fireheart agreed, “but they’re grown-ups. They can have fun with it.”

“If you lose, you’re exiled,” a red-brown tom from WindClan called to Larkbelly.

Larkbelly slouched her head to the side in acknowledgement, but said nothing. She lined up with Teaselfoot, the pair shuffling a little to make sure they were exactly equal. Deadfoot murmured something to them, stepped back, took a breath and made a noise somewhere between a bark and a yowl.

Instantly, the racers broke into a sprint, to the shouts of their Clanmates (some cheering, others jeering). It seemed to only take a moment before Larkbelly was speeding ahead of Teaselfoot, even with the sleek tom running faster than he ever had in the forest. Teaselfoot looked thrown off, but he kept on, even when Larkbelly’s lead turned into a couple body-lengths, and it took a couple heartbeats for him to catch up to her when she hit the hedge.

WindClan did not gloat in their victory, but they did go to greet their Clanmate and congratulate her. Teaselfoot sighed, but his tail was high and curling over his back as he went up to Larkbelly.

“Guess that old saying is true,” he said with a purr. “You know the one.”

“‘The slowest WindClan cat is faster than the swiftest of any other Clan’,” a couple of the WindClanners said in unison.

“You were destined to lose,” Larkbelly said, still flat and calm, though she did look a bit pleased with herself. “Ask RiverClan; there’s legends about this night.”

Teaselfoot chuffed again and gave her a friendly tap with his tail. “Well, at least my Clan has a new source of jokes on me.”

“And I can’t outpace any of my Clanmates,” Larkbelly added. “Even the apprentices.”

“Okay, now you’re just making things up to make me look worse.”

“Am I? Ask them.”

“She’s agonizingly slow,” the red-brown tom said.

“Horrible at running,” the pale grey molly agreed.

“Snails have fled crows faster.” The tawny molly nodded.

Teaselfoot didn’t look offended; if anything, he was visibly tickled. “If you say so.”

Fireheart watched them, pleased. We can bond just fine with anyone. I hope the rest of ThunderClan pays attention.

Just then, a snowflake landed on his nose, making him sneeze. Bramblekit looked up at him and trilled as he sniffled. Fireheart responded by pretending to wipe his nose on the wide brown head, earning a squeak and nearly being knocked over as Bramblekit tried to hide underneath his belly. A couple cats looked at them. Fireheart ignored the initial discomfort in their gazes upon Bramblekit. 

“Snow’s coming,” Rookstar said. He hadn’t moved from his position next to Speckletail, at the very edge of the Barn’s door. “We should leave.”

Speckletail looked up, as did the others; sure enough, the clouds overhead were pressing tightly together, shedding white flakes with increasing intensity.

“Thank you for coming to see us,” Speckletail said to the leader. “I hope you’ll stay warm tonight, and in the morning.”

Rookstar nodded to her once. “You too.”

With that, he strode out of the Barn, his legs seemingly long enough for an apprentice to walk under his belly. He flicked his tail and his Clanmates gathered back into a proper patrol. Teaselfoot bowed in jokey respect to Larkbelly, who thwapped his head with her tail in a definitely non-accidental way before following her Clanmates. Several ThunderClan cats called out goodbyes before, one by one, they turned back into the Barn, only a few lingering to watch the last of WindClan to disappear through the hedge.

“Thank goodness it’s so warm in here,” Brindleface said, shaking out her fur like snow had gotten on it. “The nursery is nice, but I like the room here.”

“I know how you feel,” Goldenflower replied. She huffed a purr. “I love the nursery, but I’m a bit too big for it.”

One-eye chortled. “Hasn’t stopped you from being in there as often as you possibly can be, has it?”

Fireheart followed Bramblekit as he caught up to the rest of the kittens. Cloudkit was staring out the door, a contemplative look on his ginger face.

“Do we have to go back to the forest soon?” he asked Fireheart.

Before Fireheart could answer, Tawnykit said crossly, “Obviously. That’s where we live.”

“Tawnykit, please.” Brindleface touched her nose to Cloudkit’s head. “Yes, we’ll go as soon as we can. That’s our home, not this Barn.”

“Oh.” Cloudkit looked down.

“I know, it’s comfy here,” Brindleface said. “But it’s much better at home. You know that.”

Cloudkit didn’t respond to this. He lifted his head again, but his eyes were troubled in an oddly adult way, like there was something he wanted to say or ask and knew it wasn’t a good idea.

Fireheart walked past him, paused, and then gently tapped his nephew’s side with his tail. Cloudkit looked up at him and he gave an encouraging, affectionate nod. This relaxed the kitten’s face some, and he meandered away after his siblings.

Fireheart watched him go. He knew already—he was going to have to have a very difficult conversation with this kit once he became an apprentice.

[amethystskeleton]

(Excerpt from Chapter 17):

“No don’t sit there Dunbar,” Coach whined almost immediately, “it just doesn't work with eight tables in the room! This one is right in the middle of my teaching space,” he gestured frantically at the table where Liam was sitting. The nurse arched an unimpressed eyebrow.

“You teach from the back of the classroom right next to the fire safety hose?” A few snickers arose from the classroom at her point. Coach just doubled down though and stepped further under the head of the hose. 

“Yes. I actually have a very bad fear of spontaneous combustion and it makes me feel safer to conduct my teaching from here.” An amused smile spread across her face and she walked around the desks, shooing Mick to the table with Liam. 

“Well you are in luck Mr. Finstock, as a formally trained nurse, I’ll stay here for the class to ensure that should you catch fire, there is someone here to administer care.” Liam couldn’t stop the amused smirk from spreading across his face as she settled down against the back wall, preparing to go to war with Coach’s power of will. 

[coolpointsetta]

~ six sentence sunday ~

The gentle, steady beeping of the heart rate monitor makes Roy blink. The room smells of disinfectant and some cheap room spray in an attempt to mask it. The hand held tightly in his is cold, just as it was yesterday. The skin of said hand is paler than normal, and the sad, pitiful rays of sunlight leaking through the room make the body seem ghastly and not at all healthy.

Roy takes a deep breath in. Nobody else is in the room to notice how wobbly it is.

“Please,” Roy whispers as he brings the hand up against his forehead and presses his other hand around it. He grips it tightly, squeezing in the hopes of the man in the bed squeezing him back. He’s tried countless times over the past thirty hours, but the hand has never returned the gesture.

“Please,” Shaking his head, Roy lets out another shaky exhale. “Bring him back to me.”

There’s another steady beep from the heart monitor. But Jamie Tartt does not wake.

[ericshoney]

The Mafia Boss ~ Chapter seventeen

Y/n's POV

It was about nine in the evening, I was sat in Sunghoon's bedroom reading a book quietly, tucked under the covers. He then walks in, grabbing his leather jacket.

"Babe, you okay?" I question, watching him walk around the room.

"I need to go out, I'm taking Jay with me." He said.

"Okay, anything I can help with?" I offer. He sighs and sits on the end on the bed.

"I'm going to meet Lia. She was the one who sent that letter." He confesses.

"The one from this morning?" I recall.

"Yeah that one." He mumbles.

"Why didn't you tell me there and then? Was it cause Bea was there?" I ask.

"No, I thought you would worry too much so I lied. Don't worry the guys, especially Jungwon, have spoke to me about it. I'm sorry my love." He answers.

"Am I happy you lied, no, but I understand why. What did the guys say?" I question.

"Jungwon got angry and left after his mini speech, but they basically said that I shouldn't lie or hide anything from you and that I should tell Bea more stuff in case something were to ever happen." He tells me.

"I agree with them. You shouldn't keep me in the dark, its why I left in the first place. And with Bea, I know you just keep her safe, its your job as an older brother, but maybe your doing it a bit too much. She needs to know the dangers of her brother being a mafia boss, who are good or who are bad, what happens if you or any of the guys come home hurt, she'd panic a lot." I tell him.

"I know, I'll do better my love." He said softly. 

I slip out the covers and sit next to him, I turn his head to me and kiss his lip sweetly. He places his hands on my cheeks, holding my head in place. We kiss sweetly for a minute before pulling away.

"I love you Sunghoon. I'm not leaving again." I tell him. He smiles and kisses my cheek.

"I love you too my Queen~" He said sweetly.

"No go out and deal with this fake bitch. I'm expecting you and Jay home in once piece!" I exclaim, making him laugh.

"I promise." He said.

I kiss his cheek as he gets up and leave. I want him and Jay home in once piece, I hope nothing bad happens.

[balshumetsbaragouin]

Chapter Seventeen has been let loose upon the world! Inside, Valerie finally gets to hang out with Ellie, and the two chill together in the Zone for a picnic...

We are rapidly winding our way to the end of the Second Act. The next chapter is on pace for Wednesday. Next Saturday will be the beginning of Act Three and the beginning of the final stretch.

Something else out this week is Adoration of the Abyss, my Siren!AU one-shot. Give it a read!

Still not convinced you want to read THIS story somehow? Have a sample below!:

She checked over her list of items one last time, humming along to the Dumpty-Humpty album blasting out of her speakers. On her bed, open and bulging full of snacks, sat the messenger bag she’d take to the Zone. The curse skirmishes were dying down, incidents growing less and less frequent, as she and Phantom blanketed the town in blissful radiation. A few citizens complained, loudly on the forums and in person, about the process to cure the tech, but it was for their protection. Half of the humans inhabiting the greater Amity area were dullards, and the other half conspiracy cranks convinced the government was planning to steal their property or experiment on their bodies.

She picked up a textbook off the floor, setting it into her backpack with another hum. Unfortunately, she’d needed Phantom’s help to vanquish the machines once and for all. The gruesome specter had shown up for his meeting two weeks back, punctual if looking awkward, and held out a flash drive towards her. She had her suit scan it twice before it shot out and plucked it out of his open palm. He’d promised it only contained the waveform for the counter-signal and an algorithm to set it into some form of weapon. He hadn’t had much to say after that, likely aware their truce of convenience was on borrowed time. He’d blabbered something bland about eating, tried to make conversation and ask about her weaknesses through inquiring about her health. Phantom’s ploys were so transparent. Why had she ever worried about the simpleminded ghost? He’d need running out of Amity and back into the Zone soon enough, but she was a girl of her word. Until the machines slept the permanent unconsciousness of the destroyed or were forced back into stillness, they were still allies. 

She’d flown back to her apartment soon after, not seeing much of a point in continuing the conversation with the ghastly creature. She’d scanned it a third time, to be sure it contained no executable files, before setting it into the blank settings of an extra gun she kept in her closet. The tech took to the code nicely, the OS recognizing the language and updating itself to match the instructions inside after she gave it permission. She’d expected to need to fiddle with the settings, or break open the coding to build a bridging program herself, but whoever Phantom had as one of his resources was good at this. The gun worked wonders too, sending wigglers back into stillness with a single blast. It no longer fired something resembling ecto-weapons’ lasers, but the energy pulsing from the business end of her favorite new toy cured cursed tech all the same. As each piece of technology settled back into a blessed inanimate state, her elation grew. Every clunk and crash sounded like the ringing of a bell, heralding the end of the wigglers’ reign of terror and drawing the time of her liberation ever closer. The death knell rang for the curse and for Phantom every time the screech of metal against stone or brick sang out through the air.

The song ended, and the next one started as she triple checked her bag one last time. With the miserable little event winding down, she could finally meet up with Ellie. She’d promised the other girl a hangout session weeks ago, and now the reward was in sight. She tapped her foot against the carpet of her bedroom floor, dancing along to the drum solo for Tomorrow’s Never Coming, and forced the last plastic container inside the bag. She pushed the fabric together, forcing the bulging top close enough to zip, and patted it. “You’ll be much emptier when I get back, so just hang tight until then.” She chuckled at the idea of talking to her bag, and walked back into the quiet kitchen containing their new chest freezer. It hummed away dutiful and otherwise quiet, obnoxious creaking lid silenced. ‘Bertha’ was the first thing she’d blasted with the new gun. She couldn’t very well leave one of those filthy things moving around her front room. She reached inside the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water and walked back into her room, puzzling out how to shove it into the mesh covered side pocket where she wanted it. She carefully pried it away from the bag, and shimmied the plastic bottle inside, satisfied. 

[renee-writer]

April 15th Chapter Seventeen

AO3

Moonlight crosses the room, falling over the sleeping face of his son. His son. No matter how many children God gifts him and Claire with, this little boy will always be their first.

 

“I wasn’t your first daddy, sweet Fergus, but I promise I will be from now on. As long as I draw breath, I will be here for you and your mom. How blessed you are, that you were handed to her. How blessed we both are.”

 

The baby stretches, let’s out a sigh, , and settles down against his chest. He can feel the difference in his weight from the first time he held him on the Olympia.

 

He will need to give him back to Mary for the night soon. They are all blessed to have her. Hazel now adjusted to the presence of Fergus.  is now a loving foster sister to him.  Unfortunately, she is also attached to Jamie.

 

How they will let them go when Fergus is weaned is something they will have to discuss.

 

“Not these night though son. Tonight we can just rock for awhile.” He whispers, his socking feet pushing against the wooden floor to start the rocker up again.

[aurora-by-jacqui-natla]

15. YOU AND HER? HER AND YOU?

AS THE DAWN BROKE, IT WAS AS IF THE heavens themselves had opened up to greet us. The sun's rays beamed down upon us, casting a warm glow across the land. The sky was painted in a vibrant shade of orange, as if the gods themselves had taken up their brushes and painted the sky with their divine hands. The colors were so vivid that it felt like stepping into a painting, where every stroke was deliberate and filled with life. The horizon, tinged with hues of pink and gold, stretched endlessly, inviting us to lose ourselves in its splendor.

I stood there, awestruck by the sheer beauty of it all. It was as if the night had been shattered into a million pieces, and the dawn had emerged victorious. The darkness, once so pervasive, had given way to a new beginning, a fresh start bathed in the light of the morning sun. Birds began to stir, their songs harmonizing with the gentle rustling of leaves, creating a symphony of nature that celebrated the birth of a new day.

Ingram was still holding on to me as we watched the sunrise. I looked up at him and saw the most remarkable thing. His whole pale bearded face was sparkling, like thousands and thousands of diamonds were embedded in his skin. The sunlight danced upon his features, illuminating every crease and line, transforming him into a living testament to the wonder of the morning.

"Woah," I whispered in sweet tenderness. "You're... sparkling..."

"So are you," Ingram said with a smile. "It's beautiful."

I glanced down at my hands, noticing how they too shimmered in the early light. It was a surreal moment, one that seemed to blur the lines between reality and dream. I remembered Victoria telling me, and the rest of the newborns, to stay away from the sunlight and hating the idea of being a walking disco ball after the revelation that we didn't burn under the sun. My hands were glowing, shining, as if it were covered in tiny crystals. It was like I had just come home from a wild night out, covered in body glitter. But this was different. Ingram was right, this was beautiful.

A soft laugh escaped my lips. "I never thought I'd hear you say that," I replied, my eyes meeting his sparkling gaze. The dawn's light seemed to imbue his words with a sincerity that touched me deeply.

The world around us was waking up, but for a moment, it felt like we were the only two beings in existence. I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the comfort of his presence.

Then, I heard footsteps and Alana emerged from the window. "Oi, you guys seen Ethan?" She shouted to us and soon realised she saw our embrace. "What the—?"

"Hey, Alana," I said, reluctantly freeing myself from Ingram.

"Just to say, be lucky it's me and not Joseph finding out."

Her words were laced with a mixture of amusement and warning, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied us. Ingram and I exchanged a quick glance, understanding the unspoken tension. We knew the implications of our closeness and the potential consequences that might follow. Still, there was a defiance in Ingram's eyes, a silent rebellion against the constraints placed upon us.

"Have you checked the forest?" Ingram asked, changing the subject swiftly. "Ethan mentioned something about finding a new hunting spot since the wolves have theirs territory."

"Well, he hasn't come back," Alana replied worriedly. "My son hasn't come back."

"What?" I said, my eyes widened. Then, I thought about he said to me and Ingram.

"I've heard that the Quileutes own parts of the land, so I'm looking for a new spot."

Oh crap. The wolves must had got him, possibly reprimanded him for stepping into their territory.

The realization hit me like a tidal wave, washing away the tranquility of the morning. "We have to find him," I said, urgency creeping into my voice. "The Quileutes must have got him. That could be why he's not back."

Ingram's expression turned grave. "You could be right. If Ethan crossed into their territory, we need to take precautions."

Alana's worry deepened, but she managed to keep her composure. "You two go through the forest and stay close."

Ingram and I exchanged a determined look. We nodded in unison, silently agreeing to put our search for Ethan into immediate action. Alana's concern was palpable, and it spurred us into motion.

"We'll find him, Alana," Ingram assured her, his voice steady and confident.

Alana nodded, her eyes reflecting a blend of hope and anxiety. "Be careful," she warned, her gaze lingering on us as we jumped off the Cullens' rooftop and began running towards the forest.

As we stepped into the forest, the atmosphere shifted. The lively symphony of the morning was replaced by the muted rustling of leaves and the occasional call of distant birds. The light that had bathed us in warmth was now filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

We moved swiftly but cautiously, our senses heightened by the urgency of our mission. The forest was thick with underbrush, making our progress slow, but we pressed on, driven by the need to find Ethan.

I couldn't help but now realised that Ethan was absent more often than usual since returning to Forks. When I asked my family and fellow vampires about his whereabouts, they simply shrugged and said they didn't know. But I knew better. Ethan was out there, somewhere, doing something. Something stupid, I reckoned.

"Violet, do you think the wolves would harm him?" Ingram asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head. "The Quileutes are territorial, but they're not senselessly violent. And beside, they have a peace treaty with the Cullens. And they are on our side because of Renesmee."

As we sought refuge under the sprawling branches of the tree, the sun's rays slowly began to wane, as if bowing to the approaching clouds. Once the celestial orb had vanished, we sauntered away from the tree and onto the soft bed of leaves and dirt. The forest was alive with the sweet symphony of birds chirping and animals rustling about.

Suddenly, a wave of laughter broke through the tranquil ambiance. I recognised the sound immediately. Scanning the woods, I spotted Seth and Ayla making their way up the path. Without a second thought, I dashed towards them, eager to join in on the merriment.

"Hey, guys," I exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi, Violet," Ayla greeted me warmly.

"You know them?" Ingram asked.

"That's my half-sister and her boyfriend. Or is imprinter the right word?"

Seth's laughter, light and carefree, momentarily eased the tension that had gripped me. He glanced at Ayla, who smiled knowingly, before turning his attention back to us. "I'm Seth Clearwater, by the way," he introduced himself to Ingram.

Ingram nodded, acknowledging Seth. "Ingram," he replied, his tone neutral but polite. He looked at Ayla. "Your sister told me so much about you. And your family drama."

"Yep, I'm a Child of the Moon, a true werewolf as one might put it," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "My name's Ayla Wyatt-Baxter."

"Nice to meet you both," Ingram said, shaking their hands. "We're in a bit of a hurry, though. Ethan's missing."

Seth's demeanor shifted, the lightness in his eyes replaced by concern. "Ethan? The vampire from your coven?"

"Yeah," I confirmed. "We think he might have crossed into Quileute territory. Have you seen him?"

Seth glanced at Ayla before responding. "No, and if that's the case, Sam would have told the pack about it. Or at least inform the Cullens about it."

I was surprised by how chill out they were about the situation.

"And another thing, they're not going to hurt him any time soon," Seth added, which only made this even more bizarre. "At least they wouldn't anyway."

I furrowed my brows, trying to piece together the puzzle. What were they trying to say or imply?

Ayla's expression softened. "And aside, Ethan's probably just enjoying himself around the forest. I'm sure he'll be fine and be back soon."

"But he hasn't come back," I repeated, my voice growing more insistent. "And if the Quileutes know about him, why hasn't anyone told us?"

"Because there haven't been any vampires in our territory since their arrival," Seth explained, his eyes earnest. "And there's no way Sam would keep something like this a secret. The pack is pretty strict about communication, especially when it comes to potential conflicts."

Ingram sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So, what now? Do we keep searching the forest, or...?"

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," Ayla quickly assured him and looked over at me. "It's odd that we were just coming over to see you."

I was taken aback. "Really?" I slipped my hands into my pockets. "So, what's on your mind?"

Seth swivelled his head towards Ayla, his eyes brimming with curiosity. She began to speak, her voice laced with excitement.

"Well," she said, "I asked Charlie and Sue about it and they said it's a fantastic idea."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What idea?"

Ayla's lips curved into a mischievous grin. "As you know, Christmas is approaching—"

"Wait, what?" I said, causing both of them to look at me with wide eyes.

"You guys don't celebrate Christmas?" Seth asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Well, for me it's just a passing day," Ingram replied. "But I think covens do."

I stumbled over my words, trying to regain my composure. "I-I'm sure they do," I stuttered. "I just didn't realise how quickly time was passing."

Ayla's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Anyway, I was thinking that maybe you could come to Charlie's house for Christmas?"

My eyes widened in surprise at her request. "Wow," I managed to say.

"And your new family can come too, if they're not too busy," Ayla added. "Maybe Ingram can come too."

"I'm not sure if that's wise, considering I drink human blood," Ingram's voice sounded more shameful than of pride.

Seth smiled reassuringly. "Charlie and Sue have been through a lot, and they know more than you'd think. Trust me, they won't mind. Besides, it's Christmas—time to put differences aside and celebrate together."

I could see the conflict in Ingram's eyes. He was struggling with the idea of being close to humans, especially during such an intimate occasion. But there was also a hint of longing, a desire to be a part of something more than just the shadows of his existence.

"Think about it," Ayla said softly. "Christmas is about family, and maybe it's time to start thinking of the Cullens—and us—as your family too."

Ingram looked at me, his gaze filled with uncertainty. I reached out and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure it out," I said, my voice steady. "I'll ask them."

Ayla beamed at me. "And don't worry, Bella, Edward, Jacob, and Renesmee will be there."

I smiled back at her, not at all surprised by the news.

"Also," Seth chimed in, "Leah is bringing her imprintee with her."

I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Excuse me, what?"

"Leah has imprinted on a guy," he said, his head bobbing up and down like a buoy in a stormy sea. My golden eyes widened. Leah, the fierce and independent wolf, had finally found her match. Her soulmate.

"Who's Leah?" Ingram asked curiously.

"My older sister and it's the best thing that's ever happened to her," Seth continued, his voice filled with a sense of relief. "She was shattered when Sam imprinted on Emily, but now she can finally move on."

I struggled to find the right words to express my happiness for her. "That's great!" I finally managed to say. But then, a thought crossed my mind, and my face contorted in disgust. "Wait, he's not...?"

"No, no," he reassured me. "Definitely not a child, unlike Quil's imprintee."

Ingram fixed his gaze on him. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say," Ayla interjected with a sigh, "Quil's situation is... complicated. He imprinted on a girl named Claire, who's much younger. But it's not like it sounds," she hurried to add, seeing Ingram's perplexed expression. "Imprinting isn't romantic. It's more about protection and being whatever the other person needs."

Ingram still seemed dubious, but he nodded slowly. "I'll take your word for it."

I furrowed my brow, my tone betraying my confusion. "Alright, and how much younger are we talking about?"

Seth let out a deep sigh, as if he were about to reveal some great secret. "She's three years old," he said, as if that explained everything.

The shock was evident on Ingram's face. "Three years old? And that's... acceptable?"

Seth quickly intervened, trying to clarify. "It's not what you think. Imprinting is about a deep bond. Right now, Quil is like a big brother to Claire. As she grows, he'll be whatever she needs—guardian, friend, confidant. It's not romantic until she's old enough to make her own decisions."

Ingram seemed to struggle with the concept but eventually nodded. "If you say so."

My body went rigid, as if I had been plunged into a deep freeze. Quil's imprintee was a little child, a fragile and innocent being. This was not like Renesmee, who had the ability to mature at an accelerated pace. No, this was a human child, vulnerable and defenceless. The realisation hit me like a ton of bricks, and I struggled to keep my composure. The thought of Quil being bound to such a young and fragile creature was almost too much to bear.

"We never thought it could happen," Seth said, his voice heavy with regret.

"It shouldn't!" I exclaimed, my voice rising in anger. "She's a kid, for Pete's sake! What would happen when she grows up? Would Quil still be there for her, or would he be an old man by then?"

Seth must have sensed my unease because he spoke up. "Don't worry, we're quasi-immortal," he said, air quoting the term. "The more we phase, the less we age."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Oh great, that's just what we need," I muttered sarcastically. I turned to Ayla, trying to keep my cool. "So, Leah has imprinted on a guy?"

Ayla nodded. "Yes, and he's very mature. Perhaps even more so than Sam," she whispered, giggling.

Seth chimed in. "And older too."

I raised an eyebrow. "How old are we talking here?"

"Well, he's sixty—," Seth began.

I cut him off with a scream. "Hell no! No, no! First the children, now the elderly? This is getting ridiculous!"

Ayla laughed. "Relax, he looks like he's in his twenties."

I furrowed my brow, trying to make sense of the information they had just dropped on me. A man in his sixties who looked like he was in his twenties? It sounded like something out of a science fiction novel. I couldn't help but put my hands on my hips in disbelief.

"How is that even possible?" I demanded, still trying to wrap my head around the bizarre age dynamics of imprinting. "You're talking as if he's a vampire."

"That's because he is," Seth replied matter-of-factly.

I blinked, trying to process the information. "Wait, what? Leah imprinted on a vampire? I thought she hates vampires. She called me a leech, remember?"

I heard a low growl escaping from Ingram. The revelation was almost too much to comprehend. Leah Clearwater, the fierce and outspoken werewolf who harbored a deep-seated hatred for vampires, had imprinted on one. The irony was staggering.

Seth's expression softened, sensing my inner turmoil. "Leah's been through a lot, Violet. Losing Sam to imprinting was devastating for her. But this... this is different. She's found someone who understands her, someone who doesn't age, and who can be with her forever."

Ayla chimed in, her tone gentle. "He's not just any vampire, Violet. He's a vegetarian, like you."

"Yeah, and it's not just that," Seth continued. "She's the first female shapeshifter to do that! No one has ever done that. Maybe since Renesmee's birth and Jacob's imprinting on her, it somehow breaks this... invisible wall between the two sides."

"Invisible wall?" I repeated incredulously. "Are you serious?”

"It's just a theory," Seth replied.

"But it sounds plausible," Ingram chimed in. "With gifted vampires and werewolves and shapeshifters, what other supernatural things could be around us?"

The forest fell silent as the weight of Seth's words sank in. The implications of Leah's imprinting on a vampire were profound, and it felt as if the very foundation of our understanding of the supernatural world was shifting beneath our feet.

Ayla glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on each of us in turn. "We need to approach this with open minds," she said softly. "If Leah and her vampire can make it work, it could mean a new era of peace between our kinds."

Seth nodded in agreement. "We've always been enemies, but maybe this is a sign that things can change. That we can change."

"So, who is he?" I asked, feeling like I was missing a crucial piece of information.

"Actually, you do know," Ayla said, a little smirk growing on her face. "We all know him."

"Really? Who?" I pressed.

"Who?" Ingram mirrored.

Seth leaned his head to the side and smiled. He raised his hand and waved it. "Hey, Leah. Hey, Ethan. We were just talking about you guys."

My jaw dropped as Seth sauntered past me and my face contorted into a shocked expression, frozen in disbelief. Slowly, I turned my head to Ayla, my eyes wide with confusion. She flashed me a wide smile, as if she knew something I didn't.

"Ethan?!" I whispered, my voice trembling with bewilderment. Ayla nodded, confirming my suspicions. I took a deep breath and shouted, "ETHAN?!"

Suddenly, I heard his voice behind me. I spun around to face him. There he was, standing with Leah, their hands intertwined. Ethan's grin was infectious, spreading from ear to ear. But something was different about Leah. Her usual stern and bitter expression had melted away, replaced by a warmth that radiated from her face. Her brown eyes were no longer icy, but instead, they glowed with a newfound kindness. I blinked, thinking it was just my imagination, but the warmth remained. The juxtaposition of the vampire and the werewolf was almost surreal, yet there was an undeniable connection between them.

"Ethan?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The realization slowly dawned on me, and I struggled to comprehend the implications of what I was witnessing.

"Hey, it's nice seeing all of you here," Leah said, her voice filled with genuine happiness.

I turned to Ayla, my eyes still wide with shock. "Mature and older?" I whispered, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

"Yeah," Ayla replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

I looked briefly at them and back to her. "One of those things is correct."

All she could do was giggle.

I looked back at Ethan and Leah, trying to wrap my head around the idea of a shapeshifter and a vampire together. It was like mixing oil and water, two things that were never meant to be combined. But here they were, holding hands and smiling like they didn't have a care in the world. I folded my arms, still trying to process what I was seeing.

Ethan and Leah? Leah and Ethan? The idea seemed so foreign to me, yet there they were, sitting in front of me, intertwined in a way that made my stomach churn.

"So, when you said you were 'hunting', you were actually with her?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. Leah's arm rested on his shoulder, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"Does our family know?" I asked, my eyes darting between the two of them.

"Not exactly," Ethan replied, his voice hesitant. "Only Uncle Jo and Aunt Ro."

My jaw dropped. "They knew?!"

"Wait, Joseph knows and he didn't tell me?" Ingram said, clearly annoyed that his older brother found out first.

Ethan nodded again, his eyes downcast. "Uncle Jo read my mind after I told him I was hunting, and then Aunt Ro saw my memories of me with Leah."

I shook my head in disbelief. "And you told them to keep it a secret?"

Ethan nodded once more, his expression pained. "You remember my mum telling me about how we shouldn't interact with wolves?"

I did remember.

My body recoiled in discomfort. "Ugh," I groaned, my response dripping with disdain. "Just before Dad lost it and flipped the whole damn table."

"Mmm," Ethan hummed in agreement.

"That's something I would have loved to see," Ingram added.

My gaze shifted to Leah. "So, when did you realize you were imprinted on him?"

"It was instantaneous," Leah confessed. "The moment my eyes met his, while you were busy pummeling Jacob."

A sudden recollection flooded my mind.

I turned to Seth, who gave me a reassuring nod. And then, I looked over at Leah, who was staring intently at my family... I followed her gaze, mainly focusing on Ethan, and saw the disdain etched on her face. She probably hated that more vampires were coming to stay. After all, she had called me a leech at the reception.

"You weren't just looking at my family," I said softly. "You were looking at Ethan. But I don't..." I trailed off, my head shaking and my spine curving. "Y-You hate vampires."

"I did," she confessed, nodding her head. "We were warned about them. How wicked they could be. How they held no regard for human life. And I'll admit, I did wish for Renesmee to be—."

"Don't—!" I interrupted, my voice rising, and I could feel Ingram's grip on my arm.

Destroyed. That was the word she was going to say. Leah chewed on her lip.

"But then everything changed when I laid eyes on Ethan," she continued. "It was as if time stood still. As if it didn't exist at all. And then, he appeared.

Leah gazed at Ethan, her russet complexion glowing. "I never thought it could happen to."

"And then, he appeared," Leah continued, her voice softening as she squeezed Ethan's hand. "It was like everything I'd ever known about hate and love flipped on its head. I fought against it, trust me, but the bond was undeniable."

Ethan nodded, his eyes never leaving Leah's. "I felt it too. An instant connection, something I couldn't ignore. I didn't want to hide it, but... well, you know how complicated things are."

Seth grinned. "Complicated is an understatement. But look at you two now. You've found each other despite everything."

I couldn't help but smile, albeit still processing the shock. "I guess love really does conquer all, huh?"

Ingram, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "It seems that way. And if you two can make it work, then maybe there's hope for all of us to find some common ground."

Leah nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "That's what we want. Peace. Understanding. And maybe, just maybe, a new way forward."

The forest seemed to hold its breath as we stood there, united by an unexpected turn of events. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting a hopeful glow on us all. The dawn of a new day had brought not just light, but a promise of change, of a future where old prejudices could be set aside.

"We have a lot to talk about," I said, looking around at everyone. "But right now, we need to get back and let the others know."

Ethan squeezed Leah's hand, a silent promise passing between them. "Let's get back," he agreed.

As we made our way back through the forest, I couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism. The path ahead might be challenging, but with love and understanding, maybe we could create a world where vampires, shapeshifters, and humans could coexist in harmony.

The dawn had truly brought a new beginning, one that none of us had expected but were all willing to embrace.

[nightfall-by-jacqui-natla]

17. SAD MEMORIES

AS I DESCENDED THE STAIRS, ONCE AGAIN, my ears were met with an eerie silence that permeated the living room. The stillness was so palpable that I could almost hear the dust particles settling on the furniture. My heart began to race as I scanned the room, searching for any sign of life. But alas, it was empty.

My mind raced with questions. Where has everyone gone? It couldn't be a hunting trip, for Alana and Rhona had returned earlier with a fresh kill, their faces smeared with blood. So where could they be? The mystery hung heavy in the air, taunting me with its enigmatic presence.

With a flicker of my amber eyes, I scanned the spacious living room, searching for any sign of their presence. And yet, there was none. Perhaps they were indulging in a feast of venison, which would certainly explain their conspicuous absence. As I pondered this possibility, a movement caught my attention from the corner of my vision. It was Rhona, sauntering towards me with a cup in hand.

Just the woman I needed to see.

"Hello, Vi," Rhona greeted me with a sly smile. "How's your immortal soul?"

"I'm doing quite well," I replied, my voice dripping with the honeyed tones of the undead. "And yourself?"

"I am as fine as one can be in this eternal existence," she said, handing me a cup. I took it from her, my eyes flickering to the crimson liquid within. "It's from the deer. A rare delicacy these days, as everyone seems to have a taste for their blood. But I managed to save some for you."

"Thanks," I murmured, bringing the cup to my lips.

The blood was sweet and tender, a sensation that sent shivers down my spine. It was a far cry from my days as a human, when I wore black every day and was mocked for my gothic appearance.

"Your eyes are amber," Rhona observed.

I shrugged, taking another sip. "Is that a good thing?"

"Yes it is," she replied. "It means your diet is working. Give it a couple more months, and you'll see the gold."

I continued to drink, savouring the taste of the blood. It was a far cry from my old life, but I couldn't imagine going back. The thought of being a vampire had once been a joke to my classmates, but now it was my reality. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

My gaze fell upon Rhona, and I couldn't help but wonder, "How on earth did you come across this coven? Your accent doesn't exactly scream British."

Rhona's lips curved into a gentle smile as she replied, "California, darling. Los Angeles, to be precise." Her voice was soft, yet carried a hint of sorrow. "I had to leave my home behind after I was turned into a vampire. I couldn't bear the thought of reliving that nightmare all over again."

"What happened to you?" I inquired of her.

"I was born in 1899," Rhona commenced her tale, "My mother, Sylvia, was a woman of colour who worked as a maid, while my father, John Frederick, was a white man of means. But, their union was not sanctified by the bonds of matrimony, and as you can well imagine, the life of a mixed-race child in those days was fraught with difficulties."

As she spoke, I could feel the weight of her words, and I pitied for the struggles she must have faced.

"I had a great relationship with her mother, " she continued," But my relationship with my father was estranged. I was just an innocent girl who came from a broken family. Suddenly, it changed when my father started verbally and physically abusing me and my mother; I was young. I couldn't tell anyone at the time, because it was common. The other person I felt safe with, other than my mum, was my older half-brother, Daniel. That was until I was abused by him for four years. Physically and sexually."

Rhona's golden eyes glistened as she stared at the ground, her heart heavy with the weight of her painful memories. "He said to me as he was doing this," she spoke, her voice laced with bitterness. "Since there is half-white blood in your black body, you're not my sister."

My breath caught in my throat as I absorbed the cruel words that had been hurled at her. "That's absolutely horrible," I replied, my heart aching for my dear friend. "Not to mention, completely messed up."

Rhona nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the ground. "At twenty-five, things take a turn for the worst," she continued, her voice heavy with sadness. "My ex-boyfriend, David Harker, asked me to talk to him at his family party. He admitted to me that he wanted to break up and see other people."

I felt sorry for her as I listened to her story, my mind racing with questions. "Why? Did he cheat on you?" I asked, hoping for some explanation.

Rhona shook her head, a bitter smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I wished he did," she answered, her voice laced with pain. "He admitted that his parents don't approve of their son dating a 'half-cast' and he was never in love with me."

I pitied even more for her as I watched my friend struggle with the pain of rejection and discrimination. I remembered our conversation with Joseph, and the way he had spoken about the importance of love and acceptance. In that moment, I knew that Rhona deserved nothing less than the love and respect that she so rightfully deserved.

"After that, I returned home, went into the bathroom, and with my mind went to a dark place," Rhona breathed in. "And after keeping everything bottled up for too long, I finally snapped. I went to the kitchen and took a knife. I returned to the bathroom and... I stabbed myself in my chest."

She tried to kill herself. The pain she must have felt, the desperation that led her to this final act of self-destruction, it all felt too familiar. I knew the depths of despair that could drive one to such a drastic measure, and I sympathised.

As I struggled to find the right words to comfort her, a sudden question popped into my head. "Who turned you into a vampire?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Rhona's response was unexpected. "His name is Carlisle Cullen," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The name sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but recall my own encounter with Carlisle. The memory of his words to me, spoken in the confines of his car when I was still a newborn, flooded back to me. It was a strange coincidence, and one that left me feeling uneasy.

I glimpsed up at Rhona. "Carlisle helped you?"

"It was a minute later after I stabbed myself," she retorted her statement. "He found me by smelling my blood. He immediately turned me to save my life. I didn't understand why he would save me. A mixed-race woman. I did thank him and it was there I got the ability to alter and see the memories of others.

"So, I used it on my father's family by wiping memories of me one by one, leaving my father last. I also used it on David and sadly my mother."

Rhona's eyes glistened with a hint of sorrow as she took a momentary pause. She seemed to aching with a pain that only she could feel, perhaps reminiscing about her mother. I could sense the depth of her emotional turmoil, even though her memories were nothing but a figment of her imagination. Oh, how I longed for a connection like that with my own mother. When she was alive.

"I asked Carlisle if I could be away from there," said Rhona. "If I stayed there forever, I would be torn when seeing her mother and those memories. So, Carlisle placed me in London."

As Rhona recounted her story, I couldn't help but smile. It was fascinating to hear how she had met Joseph and the coven. "That's how you met Joseph and the coven?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.

Rhona nodded, "I didn't know them until 1952. I lived in the city, where I relied on human blood. Just horrible men to feed on. I decided to take a break from hunting and came across a diner."

She paused for a moment, lost in thought, before continuing, "I entered the diner, and their eyes watched me with disgust. I walked to the back of the diner, planning to be alone. I sat by an empty table until Joseph came up to me."

I couldn't help but be curious, "Was it love at first sight?"

Rhona chuckled, "I wasn't quite sure. There was something about him. He wasn't like my father, Daniel, or even David. He was charming to me. Polite. Then, someone commented to me. I don't recall what it was, but it made Joseph angry."

As Rhona spoke, I couldn't help but be captivated by her story.

"Then, he excused himself and punched the man who spoke," she continued. "Everyone witnessed it so I wiped their memories. The reason why Joseph was there was because of my gift. He told me that he sensed my gift in the diner and found me. That's how we became mates."

I had never witnessed Joseph's wrath, not even once. But the mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine. He was like a dormant volcano, calm and serene on the surface, but with the potential to erupt at any moment. One minute he could be strolling along, enjoying nature, and the next, he could be consumed by a fiery rage that would make even the bravest of men tremble.

"He just snapped," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "One minute he was fine, and the next, he was punching the guy who spoke. It was like he couldn't control himself."

"Then, he excused himself and punched the man who spoke," she continued. "Everyone witnessed it so I wiped their memories. The reason why Joseph was there was because of my gift. He sensed my gift," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "And he found me. That's how we became mates."

As the memories flooded back, I couldn't help but recall the poignant exchange between Rhona and Joseph. It dawned on me that she was not to blame for the unfortunate circumstances that had befallen her. Her life had been plagued by malevolent individuals, saved for her mother, who had been a beacon of light in an otherwise dark existence. Yet, despite the adversity, Rhona had persevered with admirable fortitude.

I found solace in the fact that Joseph was a constant presence in her life, a source of comfort and support. The coven had become her sanctuary, a place where she could find respite from the harsh realities of the world. I was grateful to be counted among her friends within the coven, for it was a privilege to witness her strength and resilience firsthand.

As I ponder upon the future, I cannot help but wonder if the warm embrace of acceptance will still be extended towards Bella once she transcends into the immortal realm of vampirism. Will the same open arms that once welcomed her with love and compassion remain as inviting, or will they retract in fear and uncertainty? Only time will tell the fate of Bella's acceptance amongst her human counterparts, as she embarks on a journey of eternal life and unyielding thirst.

A week had passed and I had left the mansion, and now I found myself wandering through the woods. The sky was shrouded in a blanket of pure darkness, the perfect backdrop for a vampire's nocturnal stroll. Not a single light could be seen, and the silence was deafening. I never thought that walking through the woods could feel so peaceful, especially as a creature of the night. They say that the best time for a vampire to venture outside is at nightfall, and I could see why. The woods were devoid of any living creatures, no humans, no animals, just me and my thoughts.

But my thoughts were not peaceful. They were filled with memories of my old family, Gavin, Dina, and Ayla. I missed Ayla the most, and my dead heart ached at the thought of her. Why did I leave her? It was a stupid decision, and I regretted it every day. I wished she was with me, but I knew that life as a vampire would be too much for her to bear. Suddenly, I heard Gavin's and Dina's voices in my head, and my amber eyes twitched with irritation.

The words that were thrown at me like daggers were meant to hurt, to break me down. But I refused to let them. I refused to believe that I was unlovable, a burden, a disappointment. I refused to be compared to others, to be told to act a certain way, to be made to feel like I was always doing something wrong.

It was a constant battle, trying to prove myself to them, trying to fit into their mould of what a daughter should be. But no matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. I was always the black sheep, the one who couldn't quite measure up.

But then there was Ayla. She was the light in the darkness, the one who saw me for who I truly was. She didn't judge me or try to change me. She accepted me, flaws and all.

And when I ran away that night, it was her face that I couldn't forget. The way she looked at me with concern and love, the way she hugged me tightly and whispered that everything would be okay.

I didn't know where I was going or what I was going to do, but I knew that I couldn't stay in that toxic environment any longer. I needed to find my own path, to discover who I was without the constant criticism and negativity. And as I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder if they would ever realise what they had lost. Would they ever see that their words had pushed me away, that their actions had caused me to flee?

Nightfall had descended upon Forks, and the town was either tucked in their beds or out gallivanting. But I was neither sleep nor frolicking. My home had become my personal purgatory. As I gazed upon Gavin's slumbering form, I noticed the absence of his partner, Dina. The room reeked of sweat and an unfamiliar scent, leading me to believe that Dina was out philandering. I couldn't blame her, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were true.

I grabbed my backpack from the coat rack and made my way towards the door. Suddenly, a gentle voice called out to me.

"Violet?" The voice inquired, causing me to turn around and face her.

Ayla stood before me, clad in her lavender pyjamas, her sorrowful baby blue eyes fixed on me. Her hair was a tousled shade of blonde, cascading down her neck, and her skin was porcelain smooth. She was around fifteen years old at the time.

"What are you doing up so late?" Ayla asked, her voice laced with melancholy.

"I have to go," I replied, my heart aching.

"Why? Did I do something wrong?" Her voice quivered with emotion.

My head shook in a frenzy as I approached her, my heart heavy with the weight of my emotions. I reached out and placed my trembling hands on her shoulders, locking eyes with her in a desperate attempt to convey the depth of my pain. "No," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the sound of my own tears. "It's not you. It's never been you. It's just that..." I trailed off, my words choked by the overwhelming sense of despair that had taken hold of me.

Ayla's gaze was steady, her expression one of concern and compassion. "What is it?" she asked softly, her voice a soothing balm to my shattered soul.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confession that was about to spill forth. "Gavin and Dina," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "They hate me. They always have. I'll never be good enough for them. I can't be pretty enough, or hard-working enough. They think I'm worthless."

As the words left my lips, I could see the pain in Ayla's eyes, and it only served to deepen my own sense of despair. But then, without warning, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me close in a fierce embrace. And in that moment, I knew that I wasn't alone. That no matter how dark the world may seem, there would always be someone there to hold me up and help me find my way back to the light.

"I understand where you're coming from," Ayla spoke softly. "My mom told me that before I was even born, she had been with so many men that she couldn't feel love for most of my life. But that all changed when she met your dad. Love has a way of changing a person, for better or for worse."

I couldn't help but let out a sniffle. "I suppose you're right," I replied, pulling her in for a tight embrace. I didn't want to let go. "I just need to figure things out for myself. Find a place to call my own. And once I do, I'll come find you, okay?"

Ayla nodded in agreement, and we parted ways, our eyes locking for one last moment. "Good luck with everything," she wished me.

"Bye, Ayla," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"See you soon, Violet," she replied, her voice just as soft.

I stepped out of the door and I walked away. My feet carried me faster and faster, until I was running at full speed...

My memories of Ayla were like a wildfire, burning bright and fierce within me. I couldn't shake the image of her from my mind, her face etched into my memory like a tattoo. I longed to find a better home for us, a place where we could be together without fear or danger. But as a vampire, that dream was impossible.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the pain of my past mistakes. I wished I could see her one last time, to hold her close and tell her how much I loved her. But that was a fantasy, a dream that could never come true.

I sat down on a tree trunk, my heart heavy with regret. My amber eyes flickered with emotion as I thought about leaving Ayla behind. Why did I have to abandon her, leaving her in the hands of Gavin and Dina? I knew what life was like there, and it wasn't a place for a child.

I should have taken her with me, but I couldn't risk it. It would have been kidnapping, and I knew that Gavin and Dina would have called the police. They would have seen it as a victory, a way to get rid of me once and for all.

The memory of Bree burned within me like a hot coal. She was just like Ayla, innocent and naive, and yet she was used as a weapon. The Volturi didn't give her second chance, and Bree's life was cut short because of it.

The rage within me boiled over, and I wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. But I knew that wouldn't change anything. All I could do was keep moving forward, hoping that one day I would find a way to be with Ayla again.

As I lay on the soft bed of leaves, the rustling of the trees and the chirping of the crickets filled the air. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps broke the peacefulness of the night.

Shadow Man.

He was near me.

I sprang up, my amber eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. But then, I saw her. Rhona. Her mere presence was enough to calm my racing heart and soothe my frayed nerves.

With a concerned look etched on her beautiful tan face, she walked over to me and sat down beside me. "I was just looking for you," she said softly. "We told you walking out at nightfall is perfect."

I couldn't help but smile at her words. "Yeah, it sure is," I replied, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me.

As she looked at me with those piercing eyes, I knew what was coming next. "So, what are you thinking about?" she asked, her voice gentle yet probing.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to reveal the turmoil that was churning inside me. But Rhona was always able to see through my facade. "Nothing much," I lied, hoping to brush off her question.

But she wasn't fooled. Rolling her gold eyes, she said, "Come on, Violet. Really? Even I know that's a lie."

I sighed, knowing that I couldn't keep my thoughts hidden from her. Rhona's hand landed on my shoulder with a weighty thud, and I turned to face her. But something was different about her. Her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, yet they were blank, as if she was looking through me. Her smile, once warm and inviting, had faded from her face. I remembered then that Rhona had the ability to see other people's memories. She was seeing mine.

I watched helplessly as my memories played out before her. "Please, stop it," I begged silently, hoping she could hear me.

As if in response to my plea, Rhona's hand lifted from my shoulder, and I continued to stare at her, my heart heavy with sadness.

"Was she your sister?" Rhona asked, her voice thick with tears. "Ayla?"

"Half sister," I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.

Without hesitation, Rhona pulled me into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her words barely audible. "You must have missed her so much."

"I do," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I can empathise with your situation. My mother was the one I had to leave behind. It was a difficult decision, but bidding farewell wasn't the most challenging aspect of it all. It's the realisation that you're leaving them behind, and you'll never return." She loosened her embrace, allowing me to step back. "We should head back inside," she suggested. "Gabriel has something planned for tonight."

"What is it?" I inquired.

"Games night."

"What kind of games?"

Rhona grinned mischievously. "Oh, just wait and see."

And with that, we made our way back inside, leaving behind the weight of our shared memories and embracing the promise of a fun-filled evening ahead.

[lostonloan]

[steele-soulmate]

Princess of Candy Coated Lies, Modern Royalty AU- King Peter Steele & Single Mother OFC, Soulmate AU

Chapter 17

SUMMARY: Single mother Molly Anne Harper does the best she can do, given her circumstances- since she broke up with her ex-boyfriend by sending him to jail, she’s been struggling to be the best mother to twin daughters while working barely minimum waged jobs. But when she meets her soulmate- King Peter Thomas Ratajczyk of Brooklyn- she quickly finds herself falling heads over heels in love with the guarded, battle damaged ruler. Likewise, Peter finds himself with a family of a women and two little girls who call him daddy. But what happens when their father gets out from behind bars and starts to cause mayhem?

A Soulmate AU where you never know what the first words your soulmate says to you until they say it

CHAPTER WARNINGS: none applicable

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORESS: This fic is dedicated to SkullWoggle on AO3 and @rock-a-noodle on Tumblr.

WORD COUNT: 1251

“Oh wow, look at this dress, Molly Anne!” Princess Annette said as she pulled a dress off from the dress rack and held it up. “Isn’t it pretty?”

“Uh…” I eyeballed the giant, poofy dress which honestly reminded me more of a heavily frosted cupcake. “It’s a bit too much for my taste, for certain.”

It was the next day, and the five Ratajczyk princesses- Annette, Pamela, Barabra, Patricia and Cathy, had treated me to a day at Brooklyn’s top bridal salon. The eldest sister had told me that as a wedding gift, they were contributing two hundred dollars each for my dress.

I was staring blankly at a random dress when a bridal consultant came up to is. Dressed in a smart black skirt and a sweet smile, she automatically made me feel beautiful.

“Hello, your highnesses!” she greeted us in a cheerful tone of voice. “Who’s my bride?”

I raised my hand timidly, Annette gently pushing me forward.

“I’m Molly Anne,” I meeped, shaking her hand.

“Hello Molly Anne, I’m Britney,” she introduced herself. “Tell me about what your dream dress looks like.”

“I just want to feel pretty,” I explained. “I don’t want a white dress if you can help it, though. Something I can wear again, most definitely! My budget is a strict thousand dollars- I cannot afford to go over not want to go over even by a penny.”

“Where will you say your vows?” was Brittney’s next question.

“The king and I will be saying our I do’s in a garden,” I answered vaguely- the king had told me to be secretive about where we would be getting married as to keep myself and the twins safe.

“Okay, I think I have an idea of what you’ll want to try on!” Brittney took me off into a room to wait while she went and pulled some dresses for me to try on.

When she came back ten minutes later, she was hauling five or six different dresses over her shoulder, which she hung up before asking me which one I wanted to try on.

“Surprise me,” I told her, smiling when she pulled out a soft bubblegum pink tea length dress with a tulle skirt and fitted bodice.

“Do you have shoes picked out?” Brittney asked me as she laced me into the corset styled back.

“I’m possibly going to do embroidered flats, like maybe Converses,” I told her, blanching at the sight of me in the mirror. “Uh, no. this dress clashes horribly with my hair.”

Brittney just laughed as she helped me out of the dress and into a second, this one being a soft baby blue with glittery tinsel.

“This one is pretty, but…” I trailed off, unable to put my finger onto why I didn’t care for this bridal dress.

“It doesn’t match your wedding aesthetic?” she finished for me as she helped me into dress number three.

Dress number three was a pale green mermaid with white lacey sleeves. I told her that I liked the color, but not the fit. Finally, it came down to the final two dresses.

One was very clearly a wedding dress, a soft white color with colorful embroidery scattered across the full trumpet shaped skirt, the fitted bodice and the slightly poofy sleeves. The second dress was simpler, also a soft white in color, the skirt coming to my knees with elbow length sleeves and bright colorful flower embroidery on the skirt and bodice.

“The second one,” I told her with an excited squeak, stepping into the dress and then promptly bursting into tears of joy when she zipped it up. “It’s perfect!”

Brittney just beamed at me as she handed me a tissue to dry my eyes with before opening the door and letting me sweep out into the area that the five princesses occupied.

“Oh, you look so gorgeous, Molly Anne!” gasped Barbara, wiping at watering eyes.

“I do think that this is your dress!” smiled Cathy as she clapped her hands together.

“I thought you would pick something a bit more,” Pamela said before letting out a shrug. “But this is a good surprise!”

“I love this dress,” I sniffled happily, giving the princesses a twirl. “I think this is my dress- what says you royals?”

I was met with a chorus of agreements and I smiled as the sight of me in the mirror. I ran my hands down the sides and froze.

“And I found the best part about this dress!” I announced with a giggle before showing them my finding. “Pockets!”

Everyone laughed at my childish discovery, Brittney glancing at the price tag.

“This dress is seven hundred and seventy nine dollars,” she announced. “So that will leave you with two hundred twenty one dollars to spend!”

“Do you want to get anything else?” Cathy asked me in a kind voice.

“No, I don’t think so,” I was unable to wipe the please smile from my face. “I think the dress is honestly enough as is.”

“Are you sure? I can get the veil that has been used for the past nine generations, if you would like,” Princess Patricia offered me.

“You mean the lace cathedral veil that’s on display at the Brooklyn historical museum?” I asked, automatically blanching. The legendary Ratajczyk royal family cathedral veil was a beautiful thing of history, a delicate thing that I knew would cause ever more anxiety over me making sure it wouldn’t become dirty or torn. “Honestly, I’d rather not. The king and I are to be wed outside after all.”

“Ah, good point,” she smiled. “But do you at least want to wear any of the displayed family jewels as your something old?”

“I’ve always liked those simple blue sapphire ear studs,” I confessed.

“Yes, with that jeweled flower pendant?” she grinned. “Perfect! I’ll bring them with me when I meet you and Peter and the girls beforehand, alright?”

I smiled before turning and returning back into my assigned dressing room to change back into my jeans and turtleneck sweater.

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[redux-iterum]

Burning Hearts: Chapter Seventeen

(AO3 counterpart here.)

Fireheart was taking deep breaths all the way to the Gathering’s end and ThunderClan’s march home. It still took until he was half-asleep in his nest for his mind to let go of its worry and discomfort, and even then it was just because he didn’t have the energy to stew over it anymore. His sleep was dreamless, at least.

When he woke up—earlier than everyone else, of course—he stretched and rose with a shake of his pelt. A glowing warmth spited the cold of the fog outside and granted him a brief reprieve. He stepped carefully around his Clanmates, silently hoping his fur would at least get a little thicker to keep up with them this winter, and headed out into the dense murk.

Sand stuck to his pads as he made his way across the clearing, and his fur was quickly moist on the tips of each hair. The warmth depleted rather quickly; he was shivering by the time he made it to the loose, scattered collection of stale prey. Not wanting to leave poor food for anyone else, he picked up a stiff dove and sat down with it in the earthiest spot of camp, near the nursery. He bit down and made a face with a snort; the dove was cold and weirdly dry on the inside, with the outside being wet from the fog.

“Alright, honeymouse?” came a sleepy voice. Fireheart turned his head to see Goldenflower, halfway out of the nursery, looking like she hadn’t shut her eyes once the entire day.

“I’m fine!” Fireheart chewed and swallowed quickly as he fought off a grimace, standing and hurrying over to bump his head on hers. “It’s just a little old, it’s not bad. How are you tonight?” He pulled his head back to look her over. “You look exhausted.”

Goldenflower purred wearily and hauled herself completely out of the nursery—which, as usual, took a little effort with her size. “Brindleface was having some trouble this morning. I was watching over her so she could sleep.”

Fireheart tilted his head. “Was she upset over something?”

“A little kitting anxiety,” Goldenflower said with a yawn. “She started thinking she was in danger—a fox was coming for her. I stood guard for her until she woke up just now.” Fireheart turned his eyes to the nursery’s dark entrance and she quickly added, “Don’t speak too loudly. Hearing a tom’s voice now would upset her all over again.”

“Sorry,” Fireheart murmured. He backed up a bit to give Goldenflower room to stand. “Does that happen a lot? Kitting anxiety?”

“It’s common enough.” Goldenflower sighed, which broke off into another yawn. “Sometimes, the fear that comes with being out in the forest alone decides to visit when a queen is in the nursery. Even with it being the safest place in all the world, I suppose instincts are instincts.” She blinked blearily at Fireheart. “I envy kittypets. They never lose a kitten, and they can make a nest anywhere without worrying about their litter being in danger.”

Rosy’s gleeful announcement of her own pregnancy flitted through Fireheart’s mind. “I guess so. I’ve never really interacted with a kittypet mother.” He paused, then added hesitantly, “Do kits die a lot, too?”

Goldenflower gave him a sad, fond look. “I’m afraid so.”

“Oh…” Fireheart’s ears went back as he looked down at the ground. “That’s… that’s awful. Why?”

“I wish I knew,” Goldenflower hummed unhappily. “Sometimes they just don’t wake up, or they’re stillborn, or they get sick, or they stop eating.” A nose touched Fireheart’s head, making him look up to a kind, maternal face. “StarClan always takes care of them, though. They guide them up to the heavens when they leave their bodies. And kits who never had hope to survive get the chance to come back and try again in a new form.”

Fireheart’s woe gently released its grip on his chilled chest. “That’s good, at least. It’s still sad that they die at all.”

Goldenflower nodded, glancing back into the nursery with an expression Fireheart missed. She turned back to him and opened her mouth—

“No!”

Their eyes shot to the rustling ferns by the stump, which were shaking so violently that it was a wonder they weren’t ripping off their stems. Cinderpaw, dark grey fur messy and puffed out, came rolling out of the shelter and jumped to her feet, looking around wildly.

“No—” she started, then faltered when her eyes settled on the only cats out in camp. Without pause, she scuttled over to them, almost tripping over her own feet in her rush. “Where’s Bluestar?”

Fireheart blinked. “Um… probably still asleep in her den. Why?”

Growling out a groan, the apprentice’s feet jerked her sideways and she began pacing back and forth.

Goldenflower shared a concerned look with Fireheart before asking, “Did you dream something, dear?”

“Yes!” Cinderpaw stopped her pacing as suddenly as she had started, turning almost pleadingly to Goldenflower, like she had the answers she wanted. “But it was worse than before! That stupid puddle of water—”

“Bluestar’s reflection again?” Fireheart asked, still keeping his voice down for Brindleface.

Cinderpaw nodded hard enough to blur her face. “And that rippling again, but this time the water turned murky and– and I think there was blood in it! And then I got such a feeling of pain and fear—”

The ferns rustled again, this time revealing Yellowfang, her eyes squeezed into a squint as she limped up to her apprentice. “Girl, you ought to tell me first.”

Cinderpaw whirled around to face her tiny mentor. “I thought you were asleep! And you don’t have an answer, do you?”

Yellowfang snorted. “Well, they won’t, certainly. Come. We discuss this as seers, not as kits wailing over Yrrun in their nightmares.” She beckoned with her long, matted tail and marched back into the ferns. To Fireheart’s relief, her apprentice followed after her, her own fur still sticking out and her tail jittery with stress.

Fireheart looked up at Goldenflower silently.

“They’ll get to the bottom of this,” she said soothingly. “Let’s leave that to them.”

“We shouldn’t wake up Bluestar?” Fireheart asked. “I mean, this is about her…”

Goldenflower shook her head. “It’s up to them to tell her if they decide to. For now…” Her eyes crinkled. “Why don’t you find anything better to eat than that stale prey?”

Fireheart perked up. “Actually, I can go out and get you food too, if you want. Something fresh?”

“I’d love that, thank you.” Goldenflower settled down in front of the nursery, gathering her limbs underneath her as her eyes slipped shut. “I’ll just rest for a moment. Don’t be gone too long, you’ll make me worry.”

Fireheart snorted affectionately. “I’m a warrior, you know. I’m out all the time.”

“Sorry,” Goldenflower mumbled. “Brindleface must have gotten to me. Go ahead, honeymouse.”

With a bump of his forehead to her cheek, Fireheart rounded and trotted out of camp. Her breath slowed and deepened into a soft snore before his tail had left through the entrance tunnel.

---

The fog did not let up as the night went on. If anything, it just got thicker and thicker, until the other side of camp was impossible to see and there was no chance of the moon shining through. Conversation mostly remarked upon the weather and how it confused prey with its dense scent—the single benefit to fog, evidently.

Cinderpaw’s aggravation went about the same way, until she was doing circles along camp’s edges at various speeds and muttering to herself at various volumes. Yellowfang watched her go, her tattered ears flicking now and again.

“Shouldn’t you help her stop that?” Fireheart asked her at one point.

“Ach.” Yellowfang stuck her jaw to the side, her yellowed and broken teeth still somehow brighter than anything else around them. “This is her first truly troublesome dream. We all figure them out differently. Walking helps her think, oft enough.”

Fireheart nodded thoughtfully. “And how do you figure out dreams?”

Yellowfang smirked her frog-mouthed smirk at him. “Never have to. They’re clear as day to me.”

“Right…” Fireheart twitched his whiskers. “You’re just that good, huh?”

“Straight right, I am,” Yellowfang said with a proud nod.

Fireheart copied her one-eyed squint. “Yet that puddle with Bluestar remains a myst-”

“Agh!” came Cinderpaw’s voice through the fog, and a pawful of sand splashed out from their left, nearly hitting Lizardtail.  

Yellowfang got to her feet and croaked, “Girl, cease your kicking. This isn’t the dirtplace.”

“I’m sorry,” Cinderpaw said, now coming into view. She looked nearly as frumpy as her mentor. “I’m just frustrated! I know this is important, I can feel it to the stones in my soul!”

Fireheart squinted at this and turned to Yellowfang.

Yellowfang waved a paw. “ShadowClan seer’s phrase. Child, your mind is steaming. Think less and feel more. Stars know you’re better at that already.”

“Be nice,” Fireheart chided.

Yellowfang stuck her tongue out at him just as the briars of the camp entrance rustled. They all looked to see a dewy Darkstripe stomping his way in, nose wrinkled as he seemed to be fighting a sneeze.

“Where’s Bluestar?” he asked, loud enough for the entire camp to hear. “She’s not in her den.”

Fireheart blinked. “I don’t know, actually. I haven’t seen her all night.”

“Great.” Darkstripe huffed and shot Fireheart the stink-eye. “Your own mentor, huh?”

Fireheart didn’t rise to the bait, just kept his tone friendly. “What do you need her for?”

“Tigerclaw wants her,” Darkstripe said, and sneezed. He shook his head with a grunt of annoyance. “Something’s up by the road near the clearing of Fourtrees—”

Cinderpaw jumped in place, her fur now sticking out straight enough to double her size. “There! That’s it!”

Everyone gave her a confused look.

“Bluestar’s in danger!” Cinderpaw shouted. “I have to warn her!”

Without giving anyone a chance to respond, she bolted out of camp, shoving past Darkstripe hard, making him stumble.

Yellowfang bristled, her eyes clouded for an instant, then burst out in an alarmed cry, “Someone catch her! Trouble’s ahead!”

Fireheart jumped up. “I’ve got it. Darkstripe, the road near Fourtrees, you said?”

Darkstripe sneezed again and nodded, not stepping out of Fireheart’s way, leaving him to duck around the dark grey tom and charge into the forest.

The fog was painfully dense, but Cinderpaw was making enough noise for Fireheart to follow her. All the same, her rustling and panting were swiftly fading away, leaving Fireheart running as fast as he could go without tripping over something. A pitter-patter of rain started up around him, dimming Cinderpaw’s already faint movements. Fireheart forced himself to ignore the fear of tripping and hunkered down into a sprint.

As luck would have it, this blind running did reward his bravery with a well-placed root that came into sight too fast for him to do anything but trip and stumble over it. Fireheart shouted a pained grunt as he hit the ground, his momentum rolling him a few times. He wasted no time in getting back on his feet and starting off after the direction he had heard Cinderpaw going before.

The pitter-patter, as if to taunt him, drummed itself up into a buzz. Fireheart had to stop again and swivel his ears. He had no idea how far he’d gone; in this weather, nothing was familiar. The road’s stench was vaguely present, so he picked the direction it was coming from and ran that way. His plan was to intercept Cinderpaw by reaching the road first and running along it until he found her.

Then, through the noise of the rain, a familiar rumble… and a familiar light, turning the fog a pale yellow and blinding Fireheart enough to make him turn his head away…

There was a screech of tires, then a scream, then a stomach-churning crunch. A car-shaped thing roared past Fireheart.

His mind wanted to freeze up; it had a very good idea of what just happened. His feet independently carried him at another sprint, leaping up the gravel and racing alongside the black road.

“Cinderpaw!” Fireheart shouted, praying to whoever could hear him that she’d answer.

A weeping creak, then a stuttering sigh. Nothing else.

Fireheart found her all too quickly, skidding to a halt in front of her. She was half-curled, her limbs bunched together, save her left back leg. It was stretched out behind her, and it was hopelessly crushed. The end of her tail, close behind it, was just as broken. Blood, puddled, leaked out of them both from several places.

What was he to do? What could he do?

Fireheart looked around, desperate for someone to find him. He raised his head and yowled as loud as he could, sounding more like a terrified kit than a warrior.

Bush below him rustled and he turned frantically to face whoever was approaching. Please don’t be a badger…

Out of the forest emerged Tigerclaw. His eyes immediately caught Cinderpaw’s limp form, and they stretched wide as an owl’s, his mouth open but no sound coming out. Horror colored his face.

“Please help,” Fireheart said shakily. “I don’t– I don’t know what to do.”

Tigerclaw shook himself and ran up the gravel, coming to a stop at Cinderpaw’s head. He lowered his nose to her mouth. Fireheart shivered, ignorant of the rain at this point.

“She’s alive,” Tigerclaw said. He and Fireheart sighed with relief at the same time. “I can carry her. Come.”

Fireheart almost leaped forward as Tigerclaw bent into a crouch. Working together, they lifted Cinderpaw up and hung her over his back. Cinderpaw dangled listlessly, unconscious.

“Stay by her head and tell me if she’s about to fall.” Tigerclaw carefully made his way down the slope, Fireheart diligently at his side, eyes on Cinderpaw’s open mouth and shut eyes.

“Will she be okay?” he asked, his voice wavering.

Tigerclaw didn’t answer for a moment. When he did, it was so quiet that Fireheart almost didn’t hear him. “I hope so.”

Fireheart swallowed, fighting the urge to be sick and letting his fear out through his trembling tail. He couldn’t muster up a response.

It was a very painful, very silent walk the whole way home.

[dichromaticdyke]

17! not much to say regarding this one, we’re in the fun tension building part, bridging acts 2 and 3.

After the firing of Dick “Magic Ears” Knubbler, Abigail Remeltindtdrinc becomes Dethklok’s newest producer. Her unorthodox approach to her job and her stance as one of the few women in the industry worthy to work with Dethklok as an equal sets her apart and puts her on an unexpected path. With nearly no way to move past the constant media assault that comes with being associated with Dethklok, she seeks solace with Devon Amalgamedle, a bartender with a passion for death metal, flowers, and romance—and whose past is even more shrouded in mystery than Abigail’s. And as she deals with both her developing trauma and her blossoming romance, the apocalypse looms overhead, bright as a blazing star. An Abigail-focused, OC-heavy story, taking you through the untold narrative of the Record Cleaner, from her first moments as Dethklok’s producer and past her last moments with the band. See her life unfold and adapt beyond the legacy of the death metal gods.

RATING: Explicit (Mature for most chapters, Explicit chapters will be marked in the notes) WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault WORD COUNT: 64,671 (for now)

ohhhh my god okay it's happening. everybody stay calm. stay fucking calm!

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Far Away Soul, White Cold Star 💫

Chapter: 17 p.5 “Cataclysm and World Ender Forgone..”

Past the MidWay Point of the Second Arc

Forgone..

(Mini Author Note: personal recommendation, listen to Pierce the Veil while read in this whole chapter it makes it so much better)

The Forest trembled from the sheer entity born from a horrifying transformation, standing so far above the trees and head in the clouds the monster stood forth, body seeming made of plant matter and rigid metal like materials became what is known as V. Dark glowing neon eyes pierced its shadowed face, long white tendrils resembling hair rested upon its head, grey mask of death, blood red tentacles ripping through her flesh, and armor near impenetrable, V was the ultimate killer of soul and life. Once a giver and protector of life, now corrupted and given new purpose, Kill and Kill and Kill and Kill..

Footsteps so heavy the ground crumbled, the boys now so small they seemed like ants to this things sheer power, within the giant entities heart stood V, fused with the being granting her immeasurable strength, agility, and speed, regardless of its size. How could one ever best a threat such as her..Goddess of Fate, Daughter of Mother Fate or foretold to be, and final known family member of her kind remaining on this planet..

I wish Hèr'La was here..I miss..Her..

  Mere moments before the rapture something horrible snapped within V's mind, Forgone..such a strange saying, yet everyone says it all the time like we're all supposed to understand it. Forgone with nothing left, Forgone with all lives saved, and Forgone you've brung back such Joy..what would it even mean to me- the sight of that..the clone, was it projecting perverted thoughts of mine? The path remains the same..same as always..straight line in an endless abyss of darkness..shine of light going deeper and deeper in until there is nothing else but me. I-I can't feel my s-Skin..I..I'm cold..? Warmth is an obsolete feeling? Wait no..No! What am I doing? Break out of this cycle we have to- she mustn't be too far from here I'm sure I could save H- You've stepped this far into the darkness my love~ You've performed perfectly! I'm so glad of how far you've come..your helping us with your sacrifices- once this is all over you'll get your wish of a large family all together. Don't worry little daughter of mine- Rest, close those worn down thoughts..Let Your Mother make this swift..

"W-wait..I..I- Shhhhhh..I don't want h..It's okay Baby~ Let those emotions onto me I'll give you the peace you oh so deserve.."

  V's body would begin to tear itself apart as she stopped chuckling and began to hold her torso in agony, writhing in pain she would jerk around as large bursts of flesh grew off her skin causing expansion, swiftly moving her hand to cover her mouth she would yell out only muffled by her hand until the sound of choking promptly came. Hijìn and Kÿr setting on the foothills of the rubble mound would catch a glimpse of this, Kÿr aiming a small powerful rifle in his hand would target her, but as he watched on he would slowly drop it getting incredibly distraught by the sight. Hijìn wiped his face from the dirt and dried blood would see this and take a step back, "Something isn't right here Kid..", murmured the voice in his head as he watched this, going out of his way to plant his hand on Kÿr's shoulder and softly tug them to back up. V's covered mouth would belch out near gallons of black tainted blood from her throat, the tar-like blood going through her fingers all over her neck and body, her gasps for breath being stopped immediately by another surge in said liquid. She jerked back nearly falling off the platform of debris as something stabbed from within her very stomach, holding in her screams as much as possible it would all end when a strange growth would slowly tear its way up her throat, it bulged out her throat to a point it broke the skin on her neck as it rose. Eyes rolled back from the pain and body near limp from the shock V collapsed onto her knees. Tearing its way out of her mouth a odd bulbous plant-like monstrosity slid off her lips, Kÿr gagged in disgust from the sight soon turning around to not watch any further as Hijìn watched on still agitated but also curious as to what the hell is going on.

  Slithering it's way down her face, down her neck, and to her back this growth was covered in the tar-like liquid would slowly shed the protective shell it had around itself, it's body now exposed it was revealed to be that similar entity they saw in the desert that attacked their campsite. Hijìn's eyes widened in shock as the red and black spotted tentacle parasite slithered its way under V's dirtied white hair to her spine, "Rafflesia Haffela?! What the fuck is that doing in that bitches body?! Kid we need to get the fuck OUT OF HERE NOW!", the voice yelled at Hijìn who grew panicked now knowing the name of that parasite. Kÿr spitting out after gagging would turn around and just for a glimpse would see a strange eye filled flower slowly creep its way into V, Kÿr jolted over and hopped onto Hijìn's arm up to his shoulder, "ThThtHThtHhhhhHTHATS THAT THING AGAIN!!! IT SAID THERE WAS MORE AND NOW IT HAS HER OH FUCK!!", Kÿr screamed out while he held Hijìn's head jerking it about wanting to escape this. Hijìn took a step back one after the other as he could barely tell a cackling voice ringing in his head..just...that..this one isn't his parasite, it was faint and almost sounded like the echoing screams of millions shouting out at him, Hijìn clenched his head in pain as the screams grew so loud so quickly it overpowered the other voice in his head. Kÿr seeing this would try to yank the man back up so they could ditch this only to no avail, Hijìn felt crippled from the pain being transmitted to him through the screams in his head, enough was enough and just as he stood back up feeling weak from this all as the injuries he sustained are catching up to him. His parasite taking the initiative and controlling his legs, Hijìn yelled out in pain from the loss of leg control before he began to turn heel and begin running, "I'm not helping you I'm securing my survival..That BITCH..she believed she was so high and mighty but sucking that ethereal whores dick she got infected by the literal be all end all disease of death, Rafflesia Haffela, Kid if we don't get far enough away from this we will all perish I promise you that!" Parasite managed to echo out to Hijìn whom was still trying his best to recuperate, "O-okay..We..Go..", Hijìn responded mumbling to himself as he gripped his head with one hand, holding Kÿr with his other hand.

  V sat there with her mind barely even able to process what had just happened, her mouth hanging open as blood and tar dripped off her lips onto her lap, her hand twitching she felt hollow and at this point not even alive. The wet ripping sound of the parasite creeping down her spine was the only sensory feeling she could even capture at this point as she had lost all her strength in an instant, her lips and nails still black she sat and took the forefront of this things abuse, "I-I should've listened..H-Hèr..LrÀ..", V silently murmured to herself in her mind. The Boys were running as fast as they could traveling vast expanses of destroyed forest from the previous battles in an attempt to escape this things wrath, sweat pouring down Hijìn's forehead and beaten down body as he pushed on still carrying Kÿr like a parent running off with their child after a long school day, while Kÿr faced back he would analyze the situation to try and figure what could they possibly do, "If..If I think what I think is gonna happen..I'm..I'm scared..", Kÿr mumbled to himself as his hair blew in all directions from the ash filled air around them blowing past them. "Coward..", the voice echoed out of Hijìn's lips as the parasite blurted out the phrase as a tentacle swayed left to right from Hijìn's shoulder right by Kÿr, Kÿr turning around would kick the ever living crap out of the parasites tentacle and aim a small pistol-like firearm at it, "and YOU! Don't you dare Fuckin speak to me..your inside my friend but that doesn't mean your included as Well Motherfucker! Disgusting filth when we're done here I'll be sure to find a way to kill you!", Kÿr exclaimed out at the parasite tentacle which slowly retracted into Hijìn's shoulder, his face growing more and more concerned as the ground would slowly begin to shake.

  Whistling from the smoke shooting outside of V's body through small holes burning through her would be the only movement she inhibited, it was like she was truly dead, but as the smoke began to settle her legs would slowly begin to shake in weakness. Legs jolted left and right before her feet snapped outwards and clasped at the rocky floor beneath her, body raising up with each vertebrae popping as she rose unnaturally, her whole back arching like a U as she rose up to a side ways lean. V would jitter in her stance for a second, forest went absolutely quiet all around her, sounds of Hijìn's feet gripping against the forest floor as they pushed against leaf litter and rocks, panting of Kÿr as he scanned the area for V to reappear, and the gouging sounds of Hijìn's parasite crawling amongst his organs and skin, it was all a sensory overload there was no way she could even tell anything apart..just that..it wasn't her. In an instant those same large red tentacle ripped out of her spinal chord and stabbed into her back, arms, legs, and back of her head into her brain, V's weak barely standing body would jerk around in all directions almost as if rejecting the absorption of the parasite consuming her as it took control. Skin fading from the light green it gained a dark pigment like burnt wood, hair turning a darker shade of grey, eyes rolling all the way into her skull, and mouth getting sealed shut with her over growing skin, her mumbling screams could only be heard as she began to get torn from the inside out. Ribs exploding out of her chest along with her organs pouring out onto her knees she faltered in her stance, tentacles tearing their way out of her neck and into her eyes causing bursts of blood from her imploded eyes, and lastly her skin getting pealed off inch by inch by serrated tentacle blades coursing through her muscle fibers. She turned into the very thing she did to other people, unconscious of her own mistakes now she had to pay for the consequences of her actions and faults of her own decisions, foresight clouded by the darkness haunting her every step it was no longer V it was all parasitic.

  Out of her torn apart mouth she would clench her fists with her inverted fingers and scream out into the abyss only for her cries to he shut off by her nonexistent mouth and destroyed vocal chords, skin cracking inch by inch from her feet, up her thighs, around her gored stomach now filled with tentacle growths, and up till her eyes, her screams rang in her head one last time as she stood there in the center with the tentacles writhing all inside of her body before her mouth was ripped open with a serrated tentacle showing off endless eyes inhabiting her insides causing a massive explosion of light as her screams finally escaped her soul within. "You have no need for pain..that soul of yours oh so strong and oh so beautiful- is the ultimate catalyst for my work..wouldn't you agree..Vìrkä~". The voice rang out in her head as her screams caused a massive explosion of energy sending a shockwave of black energy going so far it killed off all the plant/animal life for dozens upon dozens of miles till it went so far that it chased behind the boys running up ahead. Kÿr hearing the crumbling of rocks coming at them he turned back around to see the very fabric of the atmosphere get shredded behind them he would scream out, "OH FUCK! HIJÌN RUNN!!!!!!!!", Hijìn turning around he would scream out in fear as the parasite went into high gear and tried to run as far as possible with the shockwave right at their heels. Ground getting vaporized behind them Kÿr stared our into the abyss of white light and felt the ever soul gripping sensation of death pass over them as it grew nearer, final gust of wind and the flash came upon them and it went dark, all but the large wasteland visible from space present in this torn world was all that you can sense.

Standing in the center of the blast was a mutilated corpse of a used to be Goddess, abilities futile and attempts redundant she was left as nothing but a showing of her wrought consequences, stillness in the air as ash from the blast slowly blew by her cold bloodied face. Small pieces of ash gracefully dancing in the wind settling upon her dark body like snow, each fragment of ash carrying the remnant of those now dead from her rapture, weak wheeze-like breath escaping from her exposed ripped out lungs now on the ground barely connected by veins. Out from her arm a bundle of muscle fibers and thorned tentacle ripped out mutating it into a gigantic arm ever so growing, the left side of her chest blew off as the same happened to her other arm, head slumping down as chunks of her flesh fell down on the dead ground. Those small pieces of her hitting the ground and immediately sprouting new blades of grass and patch of flowers, but as her body fell apart her mutating limbs killed off any attempts at sprouting new life, her hanging head getting yanked up harshly causing a loud snap in her neck. Her revealed face had no eyes only deep gored holes, deep slits nearly ripped her lower jaw off as her teeth were fused together leaving giant holes in her cheeks that seemed like holes right through her face, and finally her face began to grow horns from beneath her very flesh as the new spiked black horns sliced though her skin breaking bone as they raised all the way up. Face cracking off the bulbous plant growth within her chest screeched out as her body began to rapidly grow big, larger than anything in her surroundings her clawed mutated hands now had black claws of night and heavily armored, it plowed through the soil leaving the same black tar poisoning the very world beneath her.

Heaven would cast this amalgamation of death and sin aside, it's proportions being so large the ground crumbled underneath its very step. Dark mask with hollow green glowing eyes pierced the veil of the world around it, it's heel like feet slammed into the ground underneath it sending an earthquake in all directions. Everything else seemed like nothing to this things size, it's arms moving up to its face as it analyzed itself like this it's first time ever seeing itself in this form, white flames burning out of its silky white hair that rested upon its face. Moving forward the creature shook the whole continent underneath its steps as it began to walk on forward, everything in its path crumbled as its heels stabbed into the earth, walking in a straight line towards those who opposed it before, arms to its sides as dust and burnt life forms fell from its armored hide. Was could this thing even Be? Could it be V? Her true final power? This has yet to be explained and we're in the hitlist.. what could we even do..?

  Far off in the distance as the tremors grew nearer rubble began to quiver, underneath a large piece of sheet rock something would slowly raise it up overturning it till it fell over and crumbled. With small cuts all over his body and random bits of leaf litter all over it was revealed to be Kÿr, Kÿr would pant out in exhaustion as he held his knees trying to calm down, his body over heating due to a lack of nitrogen when they were submerged in the wake of the blast. Sniffling one last time Kÿr stood up properly looking about sensing out for his friend, out of the rubble a black tentacle slithered from underneath another layer of trees and rock tapping Kÿr on the side. Kÿr jerked back in disgust and slapped the tentacle off, "Ugh it's you again..Fine..Thanks- I guess..", he muttered to himself annoyed before planting his two feet down and grabbing the tentacle with both hands. The tentacle would be rugged yet slithery in his grasp, disgusted from the sensation he would gag for but a moment until he got a firm grip and ensue with the tugging, while he was yanking Hijìn out from the ground the tremors would grow nearer and nearer to their location. Shaking of the world around them managed to bounce some of the rubble off Hijìn's body, Kÿr pulling with all his strength launched the remaining trees and boulders off his friend until the man was fully out, Hijìn's rested face made him scoff in annoyance as Kÿr began to slap his face with both hands trying to wake him. "Hey..Hey..Hey..Hey!..HEY!! Idiot wake up AGhhhhhhhh- damn you!", Kÿr remarked out as his senses began spiking in gtfo of there energy with the shaking basically toppling him over a few times. About to smack Hijìn again the Parasite would slip a vine from Hijìn's ear and smack his face like a whip slightly cutting him with a leaf blade, but with that the man woke up and began to cough out in discomfort. Kÿr ignoring the parasites assistance he would reach into his pouch and pass a small wipe over his friends bloodied face, "Y-you okay? The blast didn't do any real harm to you right?", the feline-like creature beckoned to try and get a response. Hijìn wincing at the tapping of Kÿr at his face with the wipes made him exhale in annoyance, "Yes..yes..no more..", he said softly moving his hand over his friends to try and push the wiping down. Kÿr would throw the wipes off and stand back up wanting to try and help his friend stand whom at this point was just laying back on the remaining crap all over the floor, Hijìn would blink a few times in confusions as the ground would shake violently practically bouncing Kÿr and himself in the air before falling back on the solid ground, he would hop back onto his feet in an instant as Kÿr fell back soon bouncing back up, "AGhh..Damn It what's with this-..", he would immediately silence himself as the final tremor made him fall on his back allowing his head to lay down and see what the true cause was.

  Hijìn took a step forward looking around as dust and ash of dead life flowed all around them in remembrance of their fight, through the smoke with the final step the entity made itself known, towering over them as if they were little ants- it was like a insect tackling a canyon in terms of scale. It stood above them staring them down like the weak pests that they were, with a clench of its fists all the dust and ash would be blown away in a violent surge of energy, winds so strong it was like facing down a hurricane head on. Tentacles shot out of Hijìn's body and plunged into the very earth beneath them, Kÿr flying back for a second before he thrusted his hands out and formed a large wall behind himself with a thin barrier to block the wind so he doesn't go flying off, winds so strong they started cutting at Hijìn's skin as he blocked his face with his arms. Brown filthy hair blowing around in all directions he couldn't even hear Kÿr's yelling through the thin barrier as the winds just got so damn intense, but out of nowhere he was sucked in and fell to the floor of the altered barrier with Kÿr. "You okay man?", Kÿr would ask holding his friend in concern, Hijìn nodding would look out the thin barrier to see nothing but the dust flying all around them, facing back he looked at Kÿr with a near scared look on his face. Kÿr seeing his friend so distraught would seek out into the abyss of flying debris hanging against the barrier, passing his hand against it he would ask to himself, "What the Hell has she become..that thing- now it's in her and only the one above knows what it did to her sick demented mind. Think Kÿr think..what could we even do..tch what am I saying..", Kÿr's hand slid down the barrier as the winds began to die down, "This is probably the end..again..", his demeanor changing so badly even Hijìn felt the depressing reality ahead of them.

The winds died down till a halt and their surroundings were clear, Kÿr opening up the barrier and disassembling the wall would face around investigating the now flat wasteland-like plains that was now their surroundings. It was expansive- so expansive the horizon seemed like the same thing for lifetimes, not a single spec of life apart from them was present here and it send shivers down his spine. Hijìn stepping out would sense the area and get a strange tingling feeling creep up his spine, his senses getting alerted he couldn't even react to what came next as he faced up. From the skies above them in the now black colored skies erupted the huge entity, clouds parting as it circled the entity as it began to fall down right on top of them with fists clenched about to crush them. Kÿr in an instant imploded the skin covering his eyes and illuminated the now dark surroundings with his gift, Eyes of the All Father, the Entity shooting down so fast at them the whole thing caught ablaze mid air as the fist traveled beyond super sonic speeds soon slamming right down on top of them causing a several thousand foot hole into the crust of the planet sending planetary earthquakes which shook all the ground around them uprooting everything everywhere.

Breathing heavily, Kÿr would be standing in a distant place a few good hundred miles away from the initial attack with sweat dripping down all over his face while holding Hijìn over his shoulder, eyes wide open Kÿr would look around scanning for that thing to reappear. "T-th..Fuck!..Thank the all Father I reacted so damn fast- if it wasn't for my quick thinking of using jet propulsion we would've been toast..", Kÿr said as he looked towards the weakened Hijìn. The man was slumped over his friends shoulder, having several degree burns on his body, cuts, bruises, broken bones, and drained of all his energy, this was a losing battle on his end and if it wasn't for his friend he would've perished with the blast. The parasite sending a sticking signal to his nerves made him stand upright and keep going, wincing at the pain he clenched his teeth looking onwards to the horizon, the shockwave of the initial blast long since passed over and bounced around the planet's atmosphere several times. "Kÿ..rU..", Hijìn would mutter from his weakened state staring at the thing slowly rising in the horizon, Kÿr turning to him hesitantly, "If your thinking what I think your thinking the answer is NO!", Kÿr yelled out at his friend stomping his foot down and firmly gripping his wrist. Hijìn would smile softly as his eyes lost some color almost as if he was dying from his wounds internally, planting his hand firmly on his friends head he would clench his other hand into a fist and hold it out to Kÿr, "Re..gard..ress..of what Happen..I..will never stop- fighting for you..Kÿr..u..", his smiling fading face behind the only sense of strength he had remaining trying to give a final message to his friend.

Kÿr would watch this and would slowly clasp his friends fist and slowly moved it down, his face distraught at his friend giving up already to sacrifice them to this monster, softly patting the fist he would face back up, "I'm gonna fight for you too..but maybe there is a way we can stop this- what could we do we have to try something, but one thing is for fucking sure I will not sit around and watch you die again I swear on my life I won't!", Kÿr demanded at his friend to understand as Hijìn moved his hand back and stared off into the distance with the same somber look in his face. However, just as Hijìn was about to respond the entity for the split second it was seen in the horizon would vanish and reappear right in front of the two boys fist fully jerked back ready to hit them again with a devastating attack, their black claws plowing the ground down into nothing as they gripped the floor to reach their height better. Like a fool Hijìn would jerk his hand back using blood to try and clash fists, but Kÿr saw the idiocy in this and would vanish once more, using his awakened power to create giant jet thrusters at full power connected to his back as his grabbed Hijìn and blasted them both off at the same time just as the fist ripped through the earth and it's thrust knocking the two off course sending them toppling through the sky.

Gripping onto his friend Hijìn would be yelling out in panic as they fell around in the air with the jet thrusters malfunctioning mid flight, Kÿr clenching the man and the side of the thrusters would kick them off and send them flying through the air randomly. The Entity crushed the jet thrusters as it assumed to be them only to discover the two flying about in the air, Kÿr creating a paraglider and attaching it to Hijìn would kick him off his small body and safely back down to the ground. Hijìn yelled out in objection to this as he wanted to try and get back to his friend so they both can move on, while this happened Kÿr would create a smaller version of the thrusters and connect them to his back and stayed floating in the air. Right in front of Kÿr the whole face of the entity would break through the dust of the previous attack and stare him down, Kÿr floated there and stared down at the large entity clenching his fists as he heard Hijìn's screams behind him. The Entity grabbing the attention of said screams would ignore the feline-like creature for the time behind and choose to move around to kill its main target first. "Hèr'La wouldn't want this you know..", Kÿr would mutter out as the Entity took a few steps right by him, the small feline-like creature so unimaginably small compared to this thing he wasn't even a spec in the sky to this things massive size, but to his own dismay the thing kept on walking without even recognizing or reacting to the message and that was all he needed to confirm his suspicions. Punching his right hand into his right palm Kÿr sighed in disappointment, he wasn't able to fulfill the goal of living a more peaceful life especially with the only person he could say he began to truly love, not as a friend but more than that and now she's gone. Swiping his hand away Kÿr brushed his hair to the side and just as he did so a unprecedented amount of weapons of all calibers from rifles, detonators, missiles, to even blades and other assortment of deadly weaponry would form out of his very arm extended a few dozen feet. "Eat..Lead..", Kÿr muttered out in a monotone tone of voice to the entity before launching a massive barrage of attacks so large it illuminated the dark sky with hellfire, missiles and bullets rapidly shooting out as blades and other weapons blasted out his arm hitting the entity head on. However, to his surprise they didn't even make a dent in that things movement and only made it ignore him even more, but that was just a taste of what he could truly do- instantly vanishing Kÿr would bring out the power of the Eyes of the All Father and appear above the entity looking down its flame like white hair, as he released his power the whole sky would instantly start raining Rajòz in all directions randomly which now caught the Entities attention. It turned around instantly looking up to where it had all began as now the entities presence would cause the Rajòz to worsen so badly they seemed like endless walls of super charged plasma striking at anything around them, Rajòz struck the entities body but it was unfazed as the energy rippled over their body back down into the ground. Out of literal nowhere Kÿr would come through the skies so unimaginably fast that his speed caused an air vacuum to form so strong it vaporized the air around him, rain starting to fall from all the ash buildup in the clouds he would whizz by the entity multiple times moving faster than the Entity just was prior and with an extension of his arm out Kÿr launched a hyper charged slash of pure Rajòz energy while using a small katana to unleash said attack. The Entity roared out in pain as it sliced right into its back making it falter forward, it scanned around as Kÿr flew by multiple times slicing at it over and over again as Rajòz struck the feline-like creature at light speed making his attacks more potent. Swerving between the fingers of the Entity, Kÿr blasted off after Hijìn as Rajòz stuck all around them, the Entity turning on a dime and charging after him on all fours.

They exploded through the ground, which was now covered with Kÿr rigged explosives making them falter for a quick second, shooting out the smoke cloud the entity clawed out to Kÿr as he flew through the air on his pseudo jet pack boosted by said Rajòz energy, Eyes coursing with the lightning in his system as he flew between all the attacks. Slicing at the wind making the clouds part the Entity lunged forward landing in even more explosives, Kÿr was laughing as he flew on trailing on after Hijìn who made it a pretty good distance away chucking more high level explosives everywhere as the Entity took chase. Vanishing instantly the Entity tried to backhand the feline-like creature only to no avail as Kÿr swerved right and chucked a barrage of missiles straight into its face forming another cloud of blast smoke in its way, jumping through and using both hands the Entity cupped Kÿr in. The small man's flying through their hand as it began to slowly close around him, tentacle growths shooting at him from all directions as his tail swung around slicing off all that came in his way, shooting out just in time a massive explosion happened in between the Entities hand causing it to stagger back and land on his hands and knees, their nails digging into the ground once more as they looked onward. Kÿr flying through the sky would see Hijìn and instantly attach his booster onto his paraglider, Hijìn was about to question it before they shot forward at such speeds they nearly disappeared from its sight, yet just as they vanished so did the entity whom now gave chase. Zipping all around through canyons and rock formations they blasted through it all at unimaginable speeds, Kÿr shielding Hijìn with a protective thin layer barrier to ensure he doesn't fry his friend from all the Rajòz hitting them mid air only boosting their speed. Turning back the Entity was hot on their trail as it smashed through everything to try and reach them, their attacks being dodged only to be met with more staggering explosives made them more and more furious, but shooting so far ahead Kÿr would swerve back facing the incoming entity in front of them. The entity charging at them at full speed with claws neared out at them Kÿr would float Hijìn down to the ground safely with the remaining fuel in the paraglider as he charged one final move, "Ohhh Ho Ho I've been practicing this for a long time..and with some ideas your Fuckin toast you amalgamated WHOREEE!!!!", Kÿr screamed out as he clapped his hands together making time slow down for a fraction of a second. Water droplets slowly falling down by him his arms would slowly fuse together, metal pieces merging more and more growing larger and larger, wires connecting into perfect tubes, energy filling in the main chamber until a giant several hundred foot long laser was formed. With a cocky smirk spreading across his face Kÿr would spit out some blood as the Rajòz came down upon him supercharging the attack, Entity catching on to the time skipped would be met face to face with said laser and with no time to dodge it Kÿr would yell out, "ROT IN THE ETERNAL AFTERLIFE YOU USURPED FILHTY RAPING PARASITIC WHORE!!!!!!", before the laser blasted out faster than light itself striking the entity with full strength.

  Hijìn falling back would witness a giant explosion of red energy strike down at the Entity, Illuminating the dark sky in a violent red piercing light, as he tumbled onto the hard ground with his paraglider absolutely destroyed all he could see was the dust before the worst thing he could never imagine happened. Kÿr disassembled the laser beam gasping for literal air as the energy flowing through his was so much it made him hyperventilate, just that one thing cemented a horror into his mind as the dust cleared from the surrounding area. The Entity stood there unfazed from the blast literally unharmed and as it vanished faster than the all seeing eyes could predict at the Entity thrust it's arm at full strength backhanding Kÿr out of the sky out in the distance over the horizon, Hijìn screaming out in bloody murder as he saw this happen- trying his best to run over only to no avail. Looking up at the sky to realize said destroyer was staring down at him with those same cold dead eyes. Kÿr could barely scream out as he couldn't even react to such an attack so quick, he was overwhelmed and nearly obliterated by the attack, his lungs punctured by his shattered ribs stabbing into his organs, right arm shattered, and a fracture in his right arm the feline-like creature flew off never to be seen again as his blood exploded out of his mouth. "I..I...failed you..H-hiJj..in..", Kÿr muttered under his breath as the color in his eyes faded and soon closed, clothes coated in blood and pieces of metal in his very body- Forgone..

A massive eruption of energy surged as Rajòz struck all around as the Entity full force kicked Hijìn in the side almost ripping him in half with one kick, Hijìn screamed out gasping for breath as the parasite held his body together except for the large hole blown into his side, "YOU WHORE IM NOT GOING DOWN IM TAKING YOU WITH ME!!!!", screamed out the parasite through Hijìn's mouth. The shock nearly instantly incapacitating him as blood burst out of the hole in his side and his mouth, blood dripping from his eyes just as the Entity came crashing down on top of him about to punch at him again. "BLOOD!!!!!!", screamed the parasite as hard as it could from Hijìn's mouth, as through the whole in Hijìn's side the parasite used almost all of its mass to make a giant fist not as large as the entity, but enough to defend itself that when the entity came down on him the fist sticking out of the hole in Hijìn's body extended itself and clashed with the incoming fist. The strength of the entity forcing Hijìn deep into the ground rendering the attack useless, vanishing just as they did this the Entity teleported back with its bow in his hands copying it straight from V's arsenal, but now covered in the parasites red and black vines, it would pull back the bowstring arming a giant arrow shot in its hand. Hijìn slowly got up the crater he was forced into staring out to the entity stranding incredibly far, the arrow shot making the world around them glow the distinct green always tied with V just now the energy surged and the now green turned into a pulsing black and red energy. Hijìn instinctually dodged thinking he's got out of it as he faces up only to be met with the Fate V predicted all that time ago, the blast crossed the wasteland instantly heading straight for Hijìn- it would split in two mid air forming into two strange dragon-like projectiles that spun around one another before colliding and forming a larger creature of darkness that struck Hijìn plowing him straight into the ground vaporizing the wasteland instantly.

No reaction not even a chance to fight back, could it be they were holding back this whole time? There would be no way right? Kÿr is sent off and Hijìn is nothing but bits and remnants of his remaining body trying it's best to reform as the parasite within him wanted to survive, a arch angel of death jumping up through the clouds so high they reach the upper atmosphere, horns blazing through the stars for a moment before they plummeted at full force slamming both feet on top of the barely alive man. The next three miserable days was the Entity full force pounding it's sharp knuckled fists into the man making his body a bloody pulp further and further, parasite barely even able to withstand such attacks just stayed there limp, the final day the Entity would arise from the hundreds of mile deep hole it dug itself when punching Hijìn into nothin but a shit stain on the ground. It would roar out from its deep carapace neck, it truly was the pinnacle of all life..nothing to compete against it a small spec would be blasted out of the entities back as it began to walk in the same direction as Kÿr went all that time ago. Where could it be going? What fell out of it? So many questions and the only remaining piece of it all was one of Hijìn's eyes and fragments of his skin gripping onto bare life on the ground from all the beatings, somber faded white, glistening faded sight, nothing but a husk of itself fell onto the ground not so far away- Look at all you've done.. "I'm so proud of you Vìrkä (Vír-Ka) you've made your mother so proud...now that you and that pest of a creature are out of the picture we can move onto our next goal, Love you Honey~ may I see you floating around in the afterlife till you fade into nothing my darling~"

Look what you've done, your mistakes were always present yet you did this all in the pursuit of true family, your jealousy of wanting the same as everyone else resulted in the demise of everyone around you don't you see th-

I do! Yes I do! I swear! I do! Just believe Me! I-i do..I-I would give up my foresight- my healing, my strength, my all! I would I truly would just so I can hug her again..I...I don't even know if she's even alive..my emotions are wrought in all directions and what can I even do any longer? This is all my fault..ever since they landed she wanted me to pursue her goals with the promise I'll get the family I always wanted for us ignoring the fact me and Hèr'La were perfect as sisters..See my sins and condemn me for them I'll take them on the stake as I burn for all eternity..just give me one last chance..your glowing white ethereal horns of the depths, shadowed eyes revealing the night sky, and grace so heavenly I bow only to you..

All Father..I beg of you..Bless me this once with your love..just..one..more..time..

One final chance..so I can Hold Hèr'La one final time..

If she still beats her beautiful heart to the world..

I'm sorry..

I love you too Sis..

(Authors Note: the image up above is a concept of the entity in question, a heroine transformation which corrupted the woman named Vìrkä otherwise known as V, Rafflesia Haffela returning after its promise from the desert finally showing its true colors in full in this fate full final chapter of the V vs Hijìn mini arc. Sorry this took a bit long to upload I wanted to refresh my mind with new ideas and like I announced a few days ago rewrite the initial arc of this series. With that said I hoped you enjoyed the story so far and shared it with your friends, there is much to do and more adventures to go upon which will carry the fate of the world on its very shoulders. Any questions be sure to message the official Far Away Soul, White Cold Star Instagram for more details, with that till the next chapter- Forgone and Many more lives to live ✨)

[ericshoney]

Thrill Ride ~ Chapter seventeen

Lottie awoke with a groan and a dizzy head. She felt a slight burn in her wrists and as her vision focused, she saw she was tied to a chair in a basement. She looked around and noticed Juyeon tied to a chair opposite her, the male awake, as he gave her a small smile.

"Hey baby." He called.

"What's....What's going on?" Lottie called, her voice groggy.

"We got kidnapped, sunshine." Juyeon answered with a chuckle.

"I...Wait...The guys..." She mumbled, remembering what happened.

Juyeon nodded as the door opened. Lottie recognised one of the guys from the diner when she was with Younghoon and the other being Mark. She gave the familiar male a glare, as he gave her a sorry look.

"You...I saw you when I was with Younghoon." Lottie mentioned.

"That you did, angel. I'm Taeyong." He said, introducing himself.

"She doesn't care, now let us go." Juyeon called, fighting his ropes, making Taeyong laugh.

"She will. If she cares for all of you." He said, before leaving, Mark remained still.

"Hey um...Lottie..." He called.

"I don't want to hear it. Get out." She said, turning away from him.

"I-"

"She said get out." Juyeon said, cutting him off.

Mark sighed and left the room. Juyeon looked over at Lottie, seeing her eyes tearing up.

"Hey, hey baby look at me." He cooed gently.

Lottie looked over at him, a small pout on her face. He gave her a small smile.

"Don't believe anything they say okay. We're all going to live and get out of here." He told her.

"What was he talking about anyways?" She asked.

Juyeon sighed and began to explain.

"NCT are a group of wanna-be racers and drug makers. We crossed paths with them just as Jax moved in with us. They would turn up at races just to cause trouble and try to sell drugs. We never bought anything of them, knowing it was seriously messed up. But at one race, they tried to convince Jax to race for them, they knew he was a good driver and as he was still new to everything, they thought they could poach him. Jax being Jax didn't agree obviously and they didn't like it. They didn't like no as an answer. So Jax gave them a deal. If one of their drivers of his choice won, he'd join NCT. If he won, they'd stop going to all the races." Juyeon started.

"Jax won right?" Lottie called.

"One hundred percent. Jax was still new to the whole racing world, but we informed him of all the regular racers. He picked one of their weakest drivers and won by a mile. They didn't like that either but a deal was a deal." He continued.

"He played dirty." A voice suddenly called.

Both Juyeon and Lottie glanced over to see Taeyong walking back in. A cold look on his face.

"No he didn't. One thing Jax never did was play dirty." Juyeon responded sharply.

Taeyong laughed and walked over to Lottie, cutting her free from the ropes. She felt slightly confused but very worried as she rubbed her sore wrists. She didn't dare move, not knowing what he was capable of.

"Right. It's us who play dirty. That's why I paid Stray Kids to get rid of him." Taeyong confessed.

"You what?" Juyeon called, as Lottie was frozen in shock.

"You heard me. I paid Stray Kids to take him out." He repeated.

Lottie suddenly felt a wave of anger flood over her. She stood up from her seat and walked over to the smirking male, standing in front of him.

"Your....Your the reason my brother is dead?" She questioned.

"Correct little one." He said with a laugh.

Lottie screamed and suddenly kicked the male between the legs. Hard. Taeyong fell down to the floor with a groan, but Lottie wasn't done yet. She jumped on the leader and started to punch him, blood was being spilled but she didn't care. She just screamed and cried as she beat up the male. Crunching of bones were heard and Juyeon could only watch as he struggled against the ropes. He finally managed to get free, rushing over to Lottie and pulling her into his arms. She struggled for a moment, until she realised it was Juyeon.

"Hey, hey it's okay. I'm here." He whispered, rubbing her back as she cried into his chest. 

Juyeon looked over at Taeyong, seeing him unconscious and blood all over his face. He sighed and after a few minutes, gently pulled away from Lottie, having her sit down again. He walked over and searched Taeyong's pockets, soon finding what he wanted. His phone.

"What are you doing?" Lottie called quietly.

"Calling back-up." He answered.

Juyeon managed to dial Sangyeon's number, hearing his voice after two rings.

"Hello?" He called.

"Sangyeon Hyung, it's me." Juyeon said.

"Juyeon! Where the fuck are you both!" He shouted.

"Long story and no time to explain, but get over to NCT's place now!" Juyeon replied.

"Already on our way." He said before hanging up.

Juyeon sighed again and threw the phone down, knowing his boys were coming to help. He walked over and hugged Lottie again, knowing she was going to need more time to heal.

[balshumetsbaragouin]

Bittersweet Future: Chapter Seventeen

Excited to post about releasing chapter seventeen! It's been a hard year for this fic, and it's nice getting it back on track. I will see you Saturday for Chapter Eighteen.

In the meantime, you can find chapter seventeen here!

Not convinced? Have a sneak peek below!

Agent R strode back to his deck, coffee from the cafeteria warming his hand. The recycled air in the D.C. offices held an unreasonable chill to ward off the humid press of the Virginia summer heat. That left him, and other agents, shivering in their regulation spandex. He was already missing the insulation of the ones they used to explore the Zone. Make no mistake, he was happy to do a rotation back on Earth, he missed the pale blue of the sky more than he thought possible, but God he did not miss A/C. If he told his partner he preferred the energized chill of the Zone over the snowy cold of Earth’s winter…well, he didn’t want another argument about quitting again. That was why he was riding a desk right now, in fact, arguments about safety and living in the ‘Realm of the Living’. He loved them, but they were just so stubborn, and-

“Heya Agent R,” the chipper Greenless greeted at her cubicle across from him. How she was this excited this early escaped him.

“What’s up, Agent P?”

“Oh, well, nothing I suppose um-”

“Huh, you forgot what we’re doing this morning already?”

“Sir? Oh, no sir I, um-” Maybe he took too much pleasure in wringing that anxious scrunch to her brows out of the usually stoic Greenless, but desk duty, thrills when you could get them you know?

“At ease, Agent P, I’m just yanking your chain.” He could be benevolent. “You wouldn’t have gotten the message. Don’t have the clearance yet.”

“Clearance for what?”

[1988-fiend]

Man now I wanna eat some eggs and get a flirty Matt on the phone (love this progress)

Also I feel as a fandom we need to market extra extra soft Matt Murdock T Shirts for all of us to have comfy time wearing (seriously I would steal all his shirts )

All These Years [Part 17: "Bridging the Distance"]

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem!Reader

[You can find the full series summary and masterlist of installments for All These Years here.]

Warnings/tags: 18+ for this series; contains emotional hurt with no comfort until the final installments, angst, pining, friends to lovers, slowburn, and eventually smut

Word Count: 3.8k

a/n: This installment is mostly some sweet fluff, but there's a bit of angst, because this is ATY and there's still that physical distance between these two. Enjoy some charming Matty though! Feedback is always appreciated!

Tag list: @acharliecoxedfan @theetherealbloom @rotscinema @magnumstyles @roseallisonparker @ofmusesandsecrets @readerhead @paracosmic-murdock @v4leoftears @why-always-me-gosh-please @redbircl @keepingitlokiii @yarrystyleeza @mattkinsella @ms-murdockswift @margoo0 @1988-fiend @lockleywife @strangeobsessed @justalittlebitbored @am-3-thyst @buckybarnes-1917 @thora-jane @lionalsowrites @cloudroomblog @prince-tassel @danzer8705 @yourlocalbentspine @harperdoodle @hollandorks @mattmurdocksstarlight @yeonalie

Taking a sip of coffee from the mug in your hand, you shuffled through your kitchen and over to your fridge, pulling the door open. You stood there for a moment, eyeing the contents of what was inside and trying to decide on what to make for breakfast. Eventually your eyes landed on the carton of eggs on the top shelf and you grabbed them before sluggishly making your way over to the kitchen counter. 

You set your coffee mug and the eggs down beside your phone before bending over and pulling out a pan from the cabinet below you. As you made your way over to the stove, you heard the telltale vibration of your phone receiving a text coming from behind you. An excited buzz of nerves struck you as you hurriedly set the pan down on the stove top before turning back around. You rushed back over to your phone, desperately hoping the text message you'd just received was from who you thought it was from. When you opened the notification on your screen, your face only further lit up at the sight of Matt's name. 

It was exactly who you'd hoped had messaged you this morning.

It had been a couple of weeks since Karen had left after her week-long stay with you. Ever since that first text Matt had sent when Karen had left for the airport, he had been texting you more frequently. He often sent you messages on and off throughout the week, but on Saturday and Sunday mornings he had started sending you a text around the time he’d come to learn you woke up at. And every weekend morning now you had come to look forward to that text of his greeting you for the day. Usually you’d both message each other on and off as the day wore on, clearly wanting to feel connected to each other despite the physical distance.

You'd inevitably begun looking forward to your weekends even more ever since this had started. 

Though you didn't exactly know what any of it meant. You'd both confessed feelings for each other months ago now, and while that hadn't been discussed yet, it seemed like he still felt the same way. As did you. You weren't sure what to make of that, especially being on the opposite side of the country from him now. 

But for the moment, you pushed those thoughts to the side. All you wanted to do was bask in that giddy feeling because Matt had yet again texted you. Because he was still thinking of you.

8:35 AM  MATT: Good morning, sweetheart. I hope the weather by you is vastly warmer than it is here. It's snowing again. Temperature is in the single digits.

You internally melted at the term of endearment he'd once again slipped in. On occasion he'd seemed to work that into the texts more and more frequently you’d noticed. As you reread the message, you imagined him making a coffee in his apartment, dictating the text to his phone as he hovered around his laptop working on something for the law firm. Possibly with a smile on his face as he thought about you. 

Grinning yourself, you were quick to type up a response to his message.

8:36 AM  It's going to be sunny and sixty degrees here today. Far better than snow.

Still smiling to yourself, you set your phone back down and reached up into another cabinet. You pulled down a bowl and began to crack a couple of eggs into it, washing your hands in the sink afterwards. Pulling out a fork from a nearby drawer to whisk them together for some scrambled eggs, you heard the buzz of your phone come minutes later on the counter beside you. Immediately you dropped the fork and picked up your phone, eager to read Matt’s next text. 

8:42 AM  MATT: Sounds like a perfect day. Maybe if you come back to visit Hell’s Kitchen you can bring that warmth and sunshine with you. 

Before you had a chance to even respond to that message, you saw another text from him come through.

8:42 AM  MATT: Though if I'm being honest, you always brought warmth and light to my life without the help of LA.

For a moment all you could do was stare at his last text, your jaw dropping as you reread it over and over. You could feel your heart hammering in your chest, the feeling of those nervous butterflies fluttering in your stomach. Your fingers hovered over your phone as you tried to think of a way to reciprocate the sentiment back to Matt, but you were so stunned that you were drawing a blank. You were not remotely as smooth as he was.

Something that had quickly surprised you over your texting back and forth with Matt these past couple of weeks was how incredibly sweet he had been. He had always been a good friend to you–outside of the big lie about him being dead when he wasn’t, which was meant to protect you, and anything involving Elektra. He’d often said nice things to you over the years that you assumed were never meant as anything more than friendly. But now you’d often found him being charming towards you. And it only made you want him physically here with you even more despite how incredibly nervous you would feel with him saying these things to your face.

Drawn out of your thoughts by the vibrating of your phone in your hand, you saw that Matt was actually calling you now. Your eyes widened in shock–besides the two video calls with Karen the other week, neither of you had talked on the phone in months. He’d always only sent texts. Why was he calling you now? 

For a moment all you could do was stare at his name on your screen and internally panic, but then you reminded yourself that if you didn’t answer, you wouldn’t get to talk to him. Nervously you swiped your finger across the screen, answering the call before you lost it. Holding the phone up to your ear, you did your best to push down your nerves.

"Hey, Matty," you greeted him shyly. "What's–what’s going on?"

"Hey, sweetheart," he greeted warmly, your stomach somersaulting at his voice and that term again. "I just figured I'd call and see if you'd rather chat this way. Dictating texts is a little difficult for me. And also, if I’m being honest, I missed hearing your voice.”

Heat crept into your cheeks, your lip slipping between your teeth as you tried to fight back the giant, stupid grin forming on your face. He’d missed hearing your voice? He was too smooth, it truly wasn’t fair.

“I uh, I missed hearing your voice, too,” you admitted, trying to sound bolder than you felt.

Because honestly, it was hard to feel bold with Matt. The thought of flirting with him still had your stomach nervously twisting into knots and your palms sweating. The times you’d been interested in literally anyone else, you were able to at least moderately navigate your way through a few flirtatious comments. But with Matthew Murdock? In a situation outside of just being friendly with him? It was a miracle you could even breathe while you talked to him. Flirting was something you couldn’t fathom succeeding at when it came to him.

"How's your morning coming along?" he asked.

"Good," you replied. Shouldering your phone, you continued to work on making your breakfast, trying to ignore the nervous trembling of your hands. "I'm just waking up and making some eggs. How's your morning, Matty?"

"Cold," he answered with a chuckle. "You know I’ve always hated winter.”

You laughed lightly, remembering every single time Matt used to complain about walking around on campus when it snowed. Foggy used to tease him about it whenever you met up with them to go to the dining hall or to the bar near campus. 

“Is the cold that much worse with your senses?” you asked him curiously, heading towards the frying pan and getting it ready. “I guess I never thought about that.”

“I don’t quite remember what the winters felt like before my senses became what they are,” Matt told you. “That was far too long ago to recall something that particular. But I do feel like it’s vastly more uncomfortable for me than it is for others, considering I’m more sensitive to minor temperature differences.”

“Mmm, true,” you mused, grabbing the bowl of eggs from the counter and bringing it over to the pan. “Suppose you need to bundle up and bury yourself in a pile of blankets more than others do in the winter.”

Matt hummed out a noise over the phone that almost sounded like a throaty purr. It had the hair along your forearms raising and your eyes momentarily closing. You’d almost poured the eggs out of the bowl and onto your stove top instead of into the pan with the effect it had on you, the noise rumbling directly into your ear. Eyelids fluttering back open to pay attention to the breakfast you were making, you were grateful Matt wasn’t here to pick up on anything your body was doing just now. Especially with what he said next.

“I’d much prefer to curl up with you to keep warm,” he said, tone teasing.

Your mouth fell open as you straightened in surprise at the implication of his words, a tiny surprised gasp slipping out of you. Had he meant something innocent by that? Because with Matt and his history of women, you had a feeling he might not have.

Unfortunately in your shock, your phone had slipped off of your shoulder and began its inevitable descent to the floor. With a yelp, you rushed to set the empty bowl still in your hands onto the counter beside the stove as your phone clattered loudly to the floor. Swiftly bending over and picking it back up, you held it back beside your ear. Instantly you were hit with the resonate sound of Matt’s amused laughter and you flushed.

“Don’t laugh at me, Matt,” you pouted.

You grabbed a spatula out of a nearby drawer, focusing on cooking the eggs in the pan. Over the line, Matt was clearly trying to fight down his laughter. Your cheeks only further flamed in embarrassment. 

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, a smile apparent in his tone. “I’ve just never had the opportunity to flirt with you–and believe me I’ve always wanted to,” he confessed. “But I wasn’t expecting it to fluster you so easily. Truly makes me wish I wasn’t missing out on all of your reactions to me right now.”

“I’m sort of glad you are,” you grumbled. “It’s embarrassing.”

“I think it’s cute,” he countered. “I've always thought you were cute.”

You frowned, your eyes glued to the eggs cooking in the pan before you. He thought you were cute ? You'd always wanted him to think you were far more than that. Frustratedly you poked at the eggs, scrambling them further in your silence.

“Did I…say the wrong thing?” Matt asked hesitantly when you didn’t respond.

“It’s nothing,” you muttered.

“Okay,” he said slowly, “Well, I know I can’t hear your heartbeat over the phone–my ears unfortunately aren’t that good–but I can still tell that was a lie. What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to say things like that?”

You sighed, running a hand across your forehead. Truthfully it seemed ridiculous to be upset about Matt calling you cute. He’d never said that before. It should have given you some warm, fuzzy feelings in return, but in reality, it had only made your heart drop into your stomach. And the reasoning felt stupid. But still, you felt how you felt and you couldn’t control that.

Matt said your name over the line, concern in his voice. “Can you talk to me?” he asked, almost pleadingly. “I’m sorry if I said something out of line, I can–can stop flirting if you want.”

“No!” you replied instantly, wincing at how desperate and pathetic you sounded. 

“Well, I can’t read minds,” Matt stated. “I need a little help here, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”

“I just–” you broke off, feeling awkward as you tried to figure out how to word what you were feeling. “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time, Matt,” you eventually began. “And I’ve–I’ve had to watch you with countless women.” You paused, inhaling a deep breath as Matt remained silent on the line while you spoke. “And for years all I wanted was for you to see me as something other than your friend. To, you know, be attracted to me,” you confessed shyly, embarrassment flooding you. “And I just–I don’t–” you fumbled for words, “–don’t want to just be cute to you. Puppies are cute. I don’t want to be on par with puppies, Matt.”

Matt said your name lightly, a small chuckle coming from him when you’d finished. Frowning at his response, you roughly scrambled the eggs in the pan even more.

“I assure you, you’re far from being on par with a puppy to me,” he told you. “I find you very attractive. And I do, in fact, find you sexy.”

Your eyes went wide and you immediately froze at his words. You had not been expecting him to say that.

“Please don’t drop the phone this time, either,” he continued cheekily, a smile once again apparent in his tone. “Because I want to make sure you hear me. I’ve wanted you for a long time. Longer than you even knew I existed. And I think you’re adorable when you get flustered or when you crack a joke. But I also think you’re beautiful. And incredibly sexy. Do you know how many times I had to refrain from making a move on you over the years?” he asked. “How many times we’d gone to that bar by campus and I had to hear the way your body moved when you drank enough to actually dance and I had to fight to keep my hands to myself? Or how many times I'd wanted to grab you and kiss you all those Saturday nights when Foggy fell asleep and it was just you and I on my bed?"

Your breath felt like it was coming in sharp and shallow. Because no, you did not know any of that.

"I–I had no idea," you answered breathily. 

"I have wanted you in more ways than one for years," he admitted softly. 

You felt dizzy at his admission as you reached out a hand to turn off the burner, your eggs finally finished cooking. Exhaling a long breath, you turned and leaned against the kitchen counter, a hand landing on your chest just over your racing heart.

For years that was all you'd wanted to hear from Matt. You’d always wanted to hear that he had feelings for you. That he wanted you. That he’d felt all these things for you all those times you were feeling them for him. And now here he was saying everything you'd ever wanted, but he was all the way on the other side of the country. He was over two thousand miles away. This was not the way you'd always pictured this happening–over the phone and with him out of reach.

"Matt," you whispered, feeling tears abruptly stinging at your eyes. "What are we doing?"

You heard his heavy sigh loud over the phone. The sound didn't help alleviate the burn of tears welling in your eyes.

"What do you mean exactly?" he asked.

"I mean," you began, wiping a hand at your watery eyes, "we–we care about each other. That's been established. But Matt, you're in New York and I'm in LA. Why are you always texting me? Calling me now because you miss the sound of my voice? Why are you flirting with me? What's the point of it all?"

"The point is that I'd like to give things a chance between us," he answered earnestly. "I have wanted you for so long. Literal years . I don't want to lose you. I–I can’t,” he said, his voice breaking on his words. “I can’t just ignore these feelings I have for you anymore. They won’t go away, no matter how far you are from me. Especially now that I know you feel the same. So I'm open to seeing if–if things could work. If you want that, too?" he asked nervously.

"But what about the distance, Matt?" you asked back.

"I'm hoping things will calm down at the firm in a few weeks," he told you. "I've been looking into flights and planning things with Fog so that he will be fine without me when I leave for a bit. I wanted to come out and visit you.” He paused, nervously adding, “If you still wanted me to, of course."

Your eyebrows shot up onto your forehead in surprise. Matt wanted to come out to LA? For you ? He'd been making plans to do that already? 

"I–I would love you to come visit," you replied immediately, still stunned. "Of course I would, Matty. But I–I thought you'd never left Hell’s Kitchen before? I thought you said you never would?"

"I haven't," he said. "And I have said that. But I'd leave it to come see you."

"But–but what about what you do at night?" you asked. "I thought you refused to leave the city unprotected?"

"It'll be fine without me for a few days," he assured you. "There’s others here who can look after it for just a few days. I want to come see you. I just wish I was capable of heading out there sooner, but I can probably work on maneuvering my schedule around in the future so that I can occasionally make time to come visit you out there." He laughed lightly over the line. "I suppose that’s the bonus of working for yourself."

Running a hand through your hair, you nervously gnawed on your lip. There was something you hadn't told him yet because you hadn’t finalized things, but now felt like a good time to bring it up.

"I–I was planning a trip soon, too," you confessed. 

"You were?" he asked, his tone full of restrained excitement which had you smiling. "When? You never told me that."

"Well I need to finish out the rest of this month at work because there's a lot going on now that it's the end of the year," you explained. "But some of my time off is rolling over to next year and I was thinking about taking a few days off for a longer weekend in Hell’s Kitchen. I'd briefly mentioned it to Karen, but since it wasn't a definite thing yet I hadn't mentioned it to you or Fog."

"So I might see you in a few weeks?" he asked, that excitement creeping further into his voice.

"Yeah, maybe," you answered, your smile growing. 

"Can I take you to dinner?" he asked immediately. "Or lunch? Or–or out for coffee? Or all of the above?"

You couldn’t fight the giggle that escaped you. He'd sounded so eager to take you out already. You'd never heard him like that with anyone before, not even Elektra. And you'd certainly never had someone so excited to take you out before, either. 

"I'd like that, Matt," you told him. “I still need to finalize everything with my boss first. Make sure they can spare me for a few days in January. And as much as I want to see Karen and Foggy, I’d…really like some time with you, too.”

“I want that, too,” he assured you. “I want to take you out. And I mean that as in a date. Just so–so we’re clear this time. Unlike the time I tried to ask you out before in unclear terms the night you came to my dorm. I’m not letting that happen again.”

You laughed, unable to help yourself. Matt’s own laughter soon joined yours, the sound filling you with so much joy. You wished he was standing beside you right now so you would be able to see the bright smile that was surely lighting up his face at the moment. 

You definitely missed him.

Eventually the laughter slowly subsided between the pair of you, your eyes gradually glancing back at the pan on your stove. Your breakfast was now most likely cold, but truthfully you didn’t care.

“I should let you have your breakfast,” Matt said, almost as if he was reading your mind. “I’ve got to finish some things for Fog before he gets mad at me. I promised they’d be done before this afternoon and I’m admittedly running out of time. I just really wanted to talk to you. I miss you.”

“I miss you, too,” you whispered, wishing he didn’t have to go already.

“Maybe I’ll call you later tonight?” he asked hopefully. “Or tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” you told him, a small smile on your lips.

“Great,” he replied. “So I’ll talk to you later, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later, Matty,” you told him.

Both of you hung up and for a long moment afterwards you just stared at your phone, your shoulders sagging. You were torn between feeling excited at the prospect of an actual date with Matt coming up in a few weeks, and that sad, lonely feeling that hit you like a ton of bricks the moment you’d hung up. You wished he was here.

Ignoring your pan of eggs for a moment, you set your phone onto the kitchen counter before you turned, exiting the kitchen. You made your way down the hall and towards your bedroom. Heading straight to your dresser, you opened the top left drawer and reached inside. Your hands landed on the lone shirt of Matt’s that you’d taken from his place so long ago, back when you were paying his bills hoping he wasn’t dead. You’d never given it back to him, too embarrassed to admit you’d stolen it, but also too attached to it to give it up. 

The material was so familiarly soft as you ran your fingers along it. Bringing it up to your nose, you inhaled the scent of it, eyes closing. But unfortunately after all that time of it sitting in your dresser beside your clothes, it now smelled exactly like your own fresh laundry instead of Matt’s distinct, clean scent. That hollow ache hit you right in the chest as you lowered the shirt from your face, your fingers still running along the fabric. But at least this time the ache was markedly less painful than it had been in the past.

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[END NOTES]

Yes, more end notes. Because I really enjoy them 😅

So in this installment we find out that Matt has been texting Reader ever since Karen left, but now he finally called her!! And he was finally flirting with her which got her all flustered!! Though we did see Reader was feeling a little insecure when he called her cute, especially with the knowledge of the plethora of women he's slept with, but Matt was quick to make sure she knew just how much he's attracted to her. And ohhh! He was apparently thinking of heading out to LA? And Reader might be flying to Hell's Kitchen in a couple of weeks? Does that smell like the next installment or what? Because it is. It is the next installment and it's tentatively titled "A Series of Firsts." I haven't decided if it'll get broken up into two different installments or not yet, but I have started writing it. And there will be more sweet Matty in it when they finally reunite!