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fen-luciel · 3 months ago

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The mistakes of a Acolyte

Chapters

Summary: You are pregnant with Qimir's child and the universe is not big enough to hide you from him

Chapter Warnings: mild violence

I was momentarily stunned to see them clash. Yord glanced at me for a second before shouting at me to run again, which I did immediately.

I was terrified of turning around, afraid that the movement might reveal something about my form under the poncho. I assumed Qimir wouldn’t attack me, but the fear of being caught was enough to make my desperate run seem convincing.

I reached the corner of the corridor and saw Yord being thrown forcefully from the other side. Qimir turned toward me before running in my direction.

It was all a ruse, but I was indeed hiding a secret from him. Moreover, it would be a lie to say that Qimir’s mask didn’t scare me, especially when he was coming after me so menacingly.

I descended the first flight of stairs. On this side, there were more levels I had to cross. When I reached the last step, a familiar chirping called me. Sam was waiting for me, hidden behind a pile of stones. As soon as I reached him, he darted across the ground, signaling me to follow him. I wasn’t sure what he planned to do, as he advanced along the hallway away from the other staircases.

Behind me, the sound of footsteps made me realize that Qimir was likely about to catch up, with Yord probably just meters away. If the plan was to work, it was better that Yord didn’t see me with the Sith. After all, I was a pregnant woman, it made no sense for me to attempt to confront him.

I followed Sam through a door. It was one of the small rooms we had converted into a food storage area. I shut the door behind me, staying in the dark. A small window let in some artificial light, but with the thick material of the door and the already dim external sources, it was just a faint strip of light that didn’t even reach the floor.

I peered through the window and saw Qimir searching for me. Without my Force signature on display and with that mask, I doubted he’d even spot me. He turned toward the stairs and, peering for a few seconds, realized I couldn’t have gone that way or he would have surely seen me.

He didn’t have much time to think, though. The moment Yord appeared from the corridor, he heard the sound of his lightsaber approaching. Qimir also turned, and the two began to fight. It was clear that Yord was less trained or skilled than him, you could see it in the reactions to his parries, his rigid strikes. He was definitely at a disadvantage, and it hurt to watch them… On one side was Qimir, that I loved despite everything and for whom I was risking my cover to help us escape. On the other side, even though I had known Yord for less than two days, those few hours together had shown me a kind and caring person, one of the Jedi with a still-pure mindset within the Order.

Just as they passed by the door, I crouched to make sure they didn’t see me through the window. Sam dimmed the blue light of his eye. The sounds of lightsabers and the impacts on the stone were enough to cover my voice when I spoke to Sam.

“Why did you bring me here?” He made a few annoyed noises at not receiving the greeting he expected but then replied.

“The map?” I asked surprised.

He pointed with the light of his eye to a corner with various tools, and I immediately recognized the holomap behind it. I quickly grabbed it and stuffed it into my bag. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down, Sam. Now go ahead. I need someone to check the doors at the end of the landing area” I peered through the window and saw Sol and Jecki running toward the fight.

Kriff.

The whole plan would be useless if he got himself killed.

I turned to Sam and ordered him to be silent. “I need you to turn off the lights. We have to make a run for the ground floor” He chirped affirmatively, and as soon as he opened the door, I began my run toward the stairs. Fortunately, there was only one extra floor to cover.

Reaching the other side of the first floor, I arrived at the end of the room where the first automatic door opened. Sam approached the control panel, but I stopped him.

“Wait. I need to make sure Qimir makes it. Go to the panel at the end of the corridor and wait for me there” Sam bumped his metal head against my leg, making me hiss. “I know you don’t like it. But… I’ll explain later, okay? I need someone to watch my back. If everything goes as planned, it will be the last time we see him” He responded with a contented chirp, and I sighed.

I watched him pick up speed down the corridor, then I bent over the panel and used one of the tools from my bag to open the cover and cut the electricity wire.

In an instant, all the lights went out. I hurried to turn on the small flashlight attached to my backpack strap and fixed the control panel.

I stood up just as I received a call on the communicator. It was Sol on the other end. “Sabrina, where are you? Qimir has disappeared before our eyes” His tone was urgent, I could hear the sound of running footsteps through the device. “I’ve reached the door. Many cables are broken. I think the droid cut the power. I need to hurry” I looked up and saw Qimir jumping down the stairs. I swallowed a lump in my throat. “If I don’t catch up with him quickly, he might lock me out of the docking area. Hurry up” I ended the communication.

Qimir stopped a few steps away from me, giving a small nod. He didn’t seem to notice the bulge of my belly, so maybe the poncho was working. Or at least for those who didn’t know where to look.

“Let’s hurry before they see us. They’ll assume I’m slower than you, so don’t stick too close to me” I didn’t wait for his reply before turning away and starting to run. My hands were trembling, it was the first time I had seen him in person after five months. Maybe, with a bit of luck, it would be the last.

His presence was now impossible to ignore—his heavy breathing due to the mask, the light steps, the sound of the lightsaber partially lighting the way, and, most of all, the dark aura of his Force surrounding my senses like a warm blanket on a rainy day.

Of course, Jedi had their mark around them, but nothing compared to the reaction you felt in the presence of the dark side—a constant hand on your shoulder in a silent threat. But that was Qimir’s mark; like his physical presence, his Force presence was almost an overwhelming and suffocating figure, as if he had a hand around your neck as a warning. But over the years, I had gotten used to that smell, that warmth. I saw it more as a caress—a light touch on the side… like the first one shared years before, not painful, but sweet… almost caring.

He didn’t say anything until halfway through, when we could hear distant footsteps echoing, indicating that the others had entered the tunnel. Qimir stopped and, using the Force, bent one of the doors we had passed through and another one.

Sure, the doors were small. It wasn’t difficult to breach them once a hole was made with the lightsaber or with some force, but that was the point of the plan—slow them down.

Just as I was meant to slow down Qimir, now he was slowing down the Jedi. Even better, because if I had moved a few more meters away from him, I would have had time to close some doors behind me.

The communicator rang again, but I ignored it. Officially, I was fleeing from an angry Sith; they would understand if I didn’t bother to answer.

I glanced back at Qimir, closing another door before starting to use the Force to make the walls tremble. I stopped abruptly and shouted, “Are you crazy?! You risk making the whole gallery collapse on us!”

He turned around in silence, then let out a clear sigh and stopped. “We need to talk”

“This isn’t the time” I replied weakly before continuing to run. He was irritated, and the risk of him reacting with violence increased. My lightsaber was still at the bottom of my bag, and I cursed myself for not taking it earlier in the storage room. It would take too long to use it now, and moving the backpack risked exposing me to his eyes. Besides… would I really be able to fight him if things went bad?

Until now, I had taken for granted that I could face him and escape if necessary, but I hadn't really considered the idea of seriously aiming a weapon at him. Of hurting him.

I had been taking my feelings for granted, and now that I had him in front of me... the trembling hands, the heart in my throat... I could barely look at his mask.

To imagine his face beneath it, angry.

I took a deep breath before reaching into my pocket where I still kept the device to alert Sam. I could start to see the illuminated room in the distance with the ships ready for escape. I didn’t sense the Jedi, I imagined the jammed doors had been enough to buy us a few minutes.

I pressed the button in my pocket, and in less than a second, the doors in front of me began to close. I ran faster, passing the first two. I was starting to struggle, my feet burned, and my back cried out in agony. "Hey, wait!" Qimir didn’t waste time following me. I passed through the last door, but he was right behind me.

Great.

The plan to not get him on my back had now failed.

Just perfect.

"You could have warned me, kriff" he said behind me before removing his helmet. "We’ve closed all the corridor doors, do we have a few minutes to talk before we leave? We haven’t even decided where to go"

I struggled to respond, short of breath, my body protesting from the exertion, my head pounding.

"Can I know what’s going on with you?" I could hear him take a few steps closer, but with my arm outstretched, I sigh him to wait. Sam, who had been standing by the control console, approached and positioned himself between us, whistling angrily at Qimir.

I pulled myself up, taking a deep breath. My hands continued to tremble, it seemed absurd that I felt so bad. I was a trained woman after all. I didn’t know if my problem was physical or mental at this point.

Qimir was behaving naturally, after all, I was the one hiding a terrible secret, who had run away from him. Would he read the lie in my eyes? Would he notice the swelling of my stomach?

No. I just had to... move.

"We’ll talk when we’re away from here and the Jedi" Just then, the communicator rang again, but I turned it off. Sam, next to me, informed me that they were already more than halfway through the route, given the continuous damage signals from the doors.

I walked toward my ship, but Qimir’s hand tightened firmly around my arm, turning me toward him. "Can we talk just for a second? Can you tell me what the hell is going on?"

I winced in pain; he had grabbed me in the same spot where he’d left bruises the other night. I wriggled free, taking a few steps back, and finally looked him in the face. For the first time in months, face-to-face.

I couldn’t just close my eyes and make him disappear this time.

He looked at me confused, I felt like I was being scrutinized, or maybe I was just paranoid.

"I’m sick, okay? We need to go. Now." He took a few steps toward me. "Do we really need to keep up this act? If it’s about the archived data, we can get our hands on it again and..."

"No!" I snapped, interrupting him.

"You need to..." trust me? No, that phrase no longer made sense. "Listen to me. I’ve seen what they’re doing; it’s better this way. I’ll explain when we’re safe"

Meanwhile, Sam had opened the hatch of my ship, the automatic ramp lowering to the ground. I only had to take a few steps.

Hoping Qimir wouldn’t shoot me immediately from his ship in anger. I couldn’t afford to make him mad.

"Sure. But have you seen your face? You’re red. You’re breathing hard. What, do you want to have a heart attack while traveling through hyperspace?" He moved in my direction, but I took another step back. The instinct to shift the poncho to cover myself better crossed my mind, but the movement would only seem more suspicious, so I restrained myself.

"I’m fine. Sam is with me" He gave an ironic smile, and even in such a moment, I couldn’t help but think how handsome he was.

"Now I feel better. You’re delirious"

With two large strides, he reached me and grabbed my arms again. I flinched from the pain, I struggled. I could have used a Force push, but I risked exposing myself with the shockwave, and it seemed like an overreaction. Maybe I should just... just...

"Stop it, kriff. I’m worried..." but he suddenly stopped.

He looked at me intently, a frown on his face as he tilted his head slightly to the side.

Meanwhile, Sam was warning us of the limited time left.

"Let me go—" I began, trying to keep my tone calm, but he tightened his grip on my arms, and I moaned involuntarily, but he wouldn’t let go. It was as if he was deliberately pressing on the bruises.

"I dreamt of you the other night" He began in a low voice "You were crying and despairing in my arms. You were beautiful." I held my trembling hands on his chest trying to gain a few inches but his grip was firm and he wouldn't let go "I held you to me. Firmly. Like now. If I had been there for real... I would have left you bruised" if possible his tone became even lower, Thumbs pressing hard into my triceps.

"Qimir wait..." I hissed sensing panic forming in my stomach "Are you lying to me darling? You better say it now before I lose my patience. I've been so good to you. I don't deserve it, do I?"

Tears began to form in the corners of my eyes, I could have released myself, hit him, even shouted for help if it would have helped to get him off me at this point, but my body refused to react.

I was terrified.

I was a liar. I wasn’t able to fight him. I had lied to everyone but especially to myself.

"Please Qimir..." I whispered with trembling lips, he smiled at me, gentle, but the coldness I felt in my aching bones was a clear warning of how the dark side was stirring around us "This wasn't very nice of you. I thought you loved me. And you hide our son from me?" the grimace as he uttered the last word was one of pain, disappointment, he didn't look angry... but his eyes.

Those dark wells were cold. The hands that gripped me kept squeezing my flesh so hard I was afraid he would break my arms.

"I... can explain. P-please..." Some tears started to slide down my cheeks, my hands trembling uncontrollably as I tried to push him away.

I had to do something. Anything. But I remained paralyzed by fear.

At that moment, the distant sound of lightsabers distracted us, warning us that they were probably at a door or just beyond. It was enough for Sam, who had sneaked up and using one of his small arms, delivered an electric shock along Qimir’s leg, causing him to jerk back and release me suddenly.

"Little—" he lunged a hand toward the droid, but finally freed from his grasp, I gathered the courage to react.

Using the Force, I took advantage of his distraction to push him away from me, his body slamming against the door with such force that it created a crack.

I turned and ran with the last of my strength, tears falling freely, my chest heaving with sobs, Sam speeding ahead of me on the ramp, ready to close the door behind us.

Qimir roared my name in a snarl. I turned just in time to see him getting up. Behind him, the door swung open, and Yord, followed by Sol and Jecki, emerged into the illuminated room with their lightsabers drawn.

I stopped on the ramp, which had started to retract, locking eyes with Yord, and I swore I saw him nod approvingly, glad to see me ready to fly away. Just as the doors were closing, Qimir began to use the Force to push them away from him.

Sam was whistling next to me, urging me to hurry. I took a trembling breath and reached the cockpit, tossing my backpack into a corner and sitting in the pilot's seat. My hands were still shaking, but I managed to activate everything necessary to start the engines. Sam was helping me from the lower panel. I grasped the controls, and with one smooth motion, I flew the ship out of the cavern.

I flew over the temple in a broad arc as I left the planet's atmosphere. As I distanced myself, I noticed another small signal on the scanner, indicating that Qimir had probably managed to leave shortly after me, or maybe it was the Jedi, but at that point, I didn’t care.

I set random coordinates as far as possible and jumped to hyperspace.

The familiar blue light illuminated the cockpit as I finally allowed myself to slump into the seat.

The silence enveloping me was deafening after everything that had happened. There was a constant ringing in my ears, a headache that flooded my senses from my temples to my neck in a steady pounding, my hands almost numb from gripping the controls, and my back throbbing from the sudden physical effort.

Sam approached my leg and with a faint chirp, asked if I was okay.

I sniffed, once, twice, three times before a sob escaped my lips.

And another.

And another one.

My vision blurred with tears as I tried to wipe my cheeks with my sleeve, but to no avail.

I broke into hysterical crying, my arms wrapping around myself, the pain I felt a constant reminder of the physical and emotional torment I had just endured, my short breath giving no peace to my lungs.

I stayed there.

Crying for hours.

#the acolyte #qimir #star wars #qimir x reader #qimir x oc #manny jacinto #unplanned pregnancy #yord fandar #jecki lon #the stranger x reader

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writememysticfalls · 26 days ago

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Monster | Elijah Mikaelson

Summary: When your boyfriend Elijah finds you in bed with his brother Klaus, he turns into a monster.

Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x reader

Genre: Hot, angsty, No humanity!Elijah

Word Count: <1k

You didn't mean to sleep with Klaus. Again.

You’d think being pregnant with his monster spawn would have taught you a lesson. Also, you were dating his brother, Elijah.

But last night, you were crying for no reason, and Klaus kissed your tears away, doing that dangerous thing where he pretended to care about you. And then, it happened.

In the morning, your naked bodies were still tangled on top of the sheets, when Elijah walked in.

“Now,” he was saying, “I think I have developed the perfect cracker recipe for your sickness-”

He stopped speaking. His eyes dropped to the floor. “My apologies,” he said. “I appear to have interrupted something.”

Elijah turned and left the room. You threw on your T-shirt and jeans, ignoring Klaus, and followed Elijah into the hallway.

“Wait. I can explain,” you called.

Elijah was hurrying down the stairs. He calmly said, “You need not explain yourself,” but the wood of the banister was pulverising under his hands. Small chunks of mahogany rained down.

You groaned, moving her pregnant body down the stairs. “Wait!” you said. “Don't make me run.”

He froze at the bottom of the stairs. The slight rise and fall of his shoulders was the only sign of his distress.

You went round to face him, and pressed your hands to the sides of his stony face. “Elijah. It was one stupid night. It meant nothing. I swear.”

His whole body began to shake. “Please do not touch me,” he said.

“Look at me,” you said, gazing deep into his shining brown eyes. “You know I love you.”

“Klaus has murdered every woman I have ever dared to love. This hurts more than that,” Elijah said. “Because I expect betrayal from Niklaus, but I was foolish enough to trust you.”

Elijah moved so fast it was a blur, and pinned your neck against the wall. He was gritting his teeth, his face twisted in anger. Your mouth yawned for air. You saw white spots explode in the air.

Just as quickly, Elijah let go, staring at his own hands with wide eyes.

“Did I just…” he said, as if in a dream.

“I don't care, Elijah-” you tried to say, but Elijah was miles away.

“I swore to protect you, but I lost control, and I broke my word,” he said.

He staggered back, hitting the wall behind him. His eyes were filling with tears. “I broke my word.”

Klaus was standing above them on the stairs. “Dry those tears, brother,” he said. “That halo was bound to fade sooner or later.”

And then, Elijah did the strangest thing. He closed his eyes, like he was slipping into a warm bath. When he opened them, they were bright.

“Elijah?” you said. “Are you okay?”

Elijah’s mouth opened in a bemused smile. He brushed down his jacket, which was covered with sawdust. “Oh my,” he said to himself. “That was Ralph Lauren, too.”

“You're scaring me,” you said quietly. “Don't you have anything to say about - what happened?”

Elijah grinned up at Klaus. “Evidently, you two had sexual intercourse last night. It is hardly surprising. That is how we got in this situation in the first place.”

“But… I cheated on you,” you said.

“I understand,” Elijah said, flipping out a small mirror and fixing his hair. “You're a hormonal werewolf, and Niklaus is, well,” with a flourish of one hand, “Niklaus.”

you grabbed him by the shoulders. “What is this? Some kind of breakdown?”

Klaus laughed, walking down the stairs. “And we thought it couldn't be done. Elijah has turned off his humanity. He has shut off every ounce of pain and anger. Y/n, you are the first person in a thousand years to hurt him enough to enable this!”

Klaus clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Big brother, how do you feel about the fact that everyone in the Quarter is trying to kill Y/n and our unborn child?”

Elijah raised his eyebrows in comic surprise. “That sounds like - how do the kids say it - “steaming hot tea”?”

---

A few days later, you and Klaus were standing in the doorway to the living room, watching.

Elijah was naked, except for a bath towel tied casually over his hips. He was reading ‘50 Shades of Gray’. Two women were sprawled over the floor, their necks bleeding.

You found it hard to move your eyes from the sculpted planes of his chest, and the dark hair peeking out from under his arms. However, as thrilling as it was to see Elijah naked, this was a very bad sign.

“Hey, Elijah,” you said slowly. “Whatcha up to there?”

“This stuff is marvellous,” he said, not looking up. “Why did I not read it before? I seem to be swimming in an ocean of free time.”

“And who are they?” you said, looking down.

Elijah looked up. “Meet Martha and Angelique. I was delighted to find that the old New Orleans brothels are still operating.”

“Elijah!” you said in shock.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” Elijah said. “You are welcome to join us in our lovemaking. You see, Martha does this thing with her tongue-”

“Give us the details later, old boy,” Klaus said, sitting next to Elijah with a look of utter glee. “Now, about my plan to murder all those blasted Crescent werewolves in the Quarter…”

“No!” you said.

Elijah drummed his fingers on the table. “Well… they tend to hide in underground caves, but perhaps if you blocked up a tunnel, you could starve them out.”

“They’re my family,” you said. “Does that mean nothing to you?”

“Well,” Elijah said, “Niklaus is my family. He’s murdered those I love, burnt every bridge I've ever built, and quite literally stabbed me in the back. Family is overrated.”

--- THREE DAYS LATER ---

As you walked into the Cauldron, the witch hotspot of the Quarter, you were resolved in her purpose. There were only three emotions with the power to turn a vampire’s humanity back on: hatred, fear and love. If her plan worked, Elijah would feel all three. And if it failed… well, you weren't going to think about that.

“I'm the one you all want to kill, right?” you shouted to the witches. “Davina is gone. Elijah doesn't care. No one is protecting me.” You fell to your knees on the pavement, raising your head to the sun and closing your eyes. “Come and get me.”

Elijah was watching with curiosity, leaning on a wall on the side of the street.

Three witches ran towards you from the shadows.

You screamed, grabbing the sides of her head. The pain was unimaginable. Your skull felt like it was being crushed in a juice blender.

Elijah only smiled, raising one eyebrow in scientific curiosity. “What power these witches possess.”

In that moment, your bravery left you. You forgot all about your plan. You would have killed yourself, your baby, and every wolf in the Quarter to stop the pain. But it was too late.

All of a sudden, something flitted over the pavement, and all three witches dropped to the floor. It was Klaus. Panting, his eyes glowing yellow, he crouched in front of you. He let out a snarl.

You gasped gratefully for breath.

“Big brother,” Klaus said, “as much as I love playing the hero, I would appreciate your help right now.”

Already, more witches were gathering. Their eyes were milky white, their chants growing faster.

Elijah’s cheerful voice turned bitter. “Who am I to get in between you and Y/n? You know each other so well...”

Hatred, you thought. It was working; Elijah was feeling something.

You crumpled as a new pain stabbed you in the stomach. The baby.

Klaus leapt towards the witches, but they threw him onto the cobblestones.

Panting on the floor, Klaus shouted, “No, brother, I don't know Y/n. However, I do know her body. I plunged my fingers into the deepest parts of her. I made her howl.”

Elijah’s eyes turned blood red, and veins splintered over his face.

Klaus kept taunting Elijah, with gritted teeth because of the pain. “It was the same with your other women. Women are happy to let you buy them a ring, big brother. but they all come crawling to my bed moaning Niklaus! Give it to me harder!”

As he said those words, Elijah moved at inhuman speed and grabbed Klaus by the throat. That must have put Klaus out of the direct eyesight of the witches, because Klaus suddenly got to his feet and killed three witches in turn.

Now, the witches yelled spells at Elijah, trying to bring him down. Elijah’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open.

Fear, you thought. Elijah’s next crucial emotion.

However, Elijah’s fear didn't last long, because he managed to seize the heart out of every witch’s chest, killing them all.

Finally, the street fell quiet. Whichever witches remained were too scared to come out. Thanks to Elijah, the Mikaelsons had won.

You pushed yourself up onto your arms on the street, fighting the velvet darkness of unconsciousness.

“Elijah…” you said, in barely a whisper.

Instantly, Elijah was cradling your body, cupping your head with one hand and holding your hip with the other. There was still blood on his hands and face, but he didn't seem to notice.

“How is the baby?” he murmured.

You bit your lip. You were happy Elijah had shown he could feel love again - but he hadn't directed it at you, but at the baby.

“Fine, I think. The pain’s gone,” you said. Despite everything that had happened, it felt good to be in Elijah’s arms. “Is… the baby the only thing you're woried about?” you said slowly.

Elijah looked down. “Y/n, I… cannot. If I let in tenderness, then anger, and jealousy, and most of all, guilt, will flood in. I - failed you. I cannot let myself feel that fact. I will crumble.”

You said, “I failed you too, once. Twice actually.” You laughed hoarsely.

Elijah’s body stiffened. “Was my brother correct in his taunting? Is it some… primal instinct that draws you to him?”

“Hell, no,” you said. “That was bullshit. The reason why I went to Klaus is because…” You could not meet his eye. “I guess I have this thing where I don't believe I deserve to be happy. And, we're so happy, that a part of me was trying to ruin it. To push you away. I did a pretty good job of it, didn't I?”

To your shock, Elijah didn't push you away. Instead, he pulled you to his chest, fiercely. You let yourself fall against him entirely. It was the first time anything in the world had felt right in the last week.

“We have quite a talent for hurting each other, do we not?” he said, his voice almost breaking.

“I want you in my life,” you said. “Broken promises, warts and all. And I want to be in your life - if you'll have me.”

Elijah held you tighter. “I will want you always, Y/n. I will not give you my word, as evidently, it means little. Let me give you this instead.”

And he kissed you, as you slipped into sweet oblivion in his arms.

—

MAIN MASTERLIST

Let us know what you thought in the comments or on anon! 💋

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dontbesoweirdkira · 2 months ago

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Hi! Are you still writing for Mortal Kombat? I have a little thought that won't let go of me: I started to wonder what kind of yandere family Blade and Cage are? What if the reader is an extremely radical rebel, who is not affected by threats or actions? (I remember how one of my family members almost killed me, but I didn't apologize and just went to school). If the reader has my stubbornness, who will be the first to give in (if that happens at all). Maybe they will go to other yandere to deal with the reader? All this is of course platonic.

A/N: First, let me say thank you for requesting again. It always, always warms my heart when I have reoccurring readers. It means the world that you like my stuff enough to request again. second, yesss! I literally have thought about being their adopted child again and just how dysfunctionally(?) perfect they'd be. I hope you'd enjoy thisss....

Warnings: trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, toxicity, obession...ect

Characters: MK11 Johnny, Sonya, Jax, and no cassie because that complicates things lol.

Request: Always open for my babies..see masterlist

Dynamics and Motives

We all know that Johnny and Sonya have a rather rocky relationship themselves, I can definitely see them being a bit at odds with each other when it comes to parenting you. They are constantly pulling you in every direction of who they want you to be. There's so much pressure from them to be perfect that it's no wonder you started rebelling.

I think their parental dynamic is very much a good cop-bad cop situation. Johnny is the "good cop" while Sonya is the "Bad" one.

But Johnny is definitely more manipulative in his ways. Sonya is rather straightforward in her thoughts and feelings. Like if you were to ask her if she's trying to control your life, she'd answer you with absolutely no conviction. Johnny (obviously) loves pretending that he totally understands your rebellion and that he's on your side when in all actuality he's right there with Sonya.

Sonya has an authoritarian parenting style. She is speculated to have put work over family constantly while Johnny has to hold down the fort. (kind of refreshing tho because you'd expect that they'd make Johnny prioritize Hollywood and staying young over her.)

She loves you but she’s always absent. And when she is there, she's just so hard on you. She appears to mainly care about your academics, hobbies, and future careers but not really you…She has this idea in her mind about exactly who you need to be and you will be that. And that's just a mini version of her. You're forced to be an overachiever and to perfect any mistakes that she's made in her time...there's no room for error.

Johnny is a "smother mother" Johnny is a lot more involved and his drive as a yandere is to be your best friend. He so badly wants to be the cool dad. He wants his little girl to admire him and be an unstoppable daddy-daughter duo. He's also got this image in his head of who you are supposed to be. You're always supposed to stay his perfect little angel, never grow up, never date or do any wrong. WHo knows, maybe you'll become an actor just like him and follow in his footsteps. (without the womanizer claims and duis)

They both ultimately don't want their daughter to leave their supervision.. They have too much fear of letting go, you can't get hurt. They don't want you to go through what they did. Your parents don't wanna be forgotten while you go explore. Plus there's so much danger and evil lurking, why can't you just stay at home under their protection?? You'll never have to pay for anything or think for yourself. Stay their doll baby forever. Let them continue to feed you out of their silver spoon.

How it started

I think that to some degree Sonya and Johnny were always helicopter parents. You have a paranoid soldier and a celebrity with a crazed fanbase...it's not surprising that extreme precautions were taken.

But i will say things got worse as you got older and they started to realize that you no longer wanted to be suffocated in their home. You were originally an angel child, always doing what they wanted and never questioning anything....but then your eyes started opening to just how toxic and unhealthy they were.

So less and less did you spend time with them and stay away from home. I think Johnny would be the first to notice since he's home more often and closest to you. At first, he's playing it calmly. He knows all of your friends and doesn't really suspect too much. Johnny will of course pry about what you were doing and go through your things to confirm you're telling truths.

Then as you started bailing on tainings/classes they've forced you to take, switching up your style to something more edgy, and getting into trouble...some alarm bells started going off

Sonya was fairly pissed off when she found out you dropped a bunch of things and are off track of her plans for you. Johnny hates your new look and that you're getting into who knows what. Sonya wanted to readily go to some drastic measures to get you back in line but Johnny advised against it and decided to speak to you first since this all was new behavior. Maybe you just needed some gentle parenting?

Yeah..that didn't go as planned. Unexpectedly you couldn't give less of a care about anything that they said. You knew they wouldn't have taken your complaints about your upbringing seriously anyways,, so honestly, you ended up walking away when you had enough of their questioning and audibly trashed them to your friends for the rest of the night.

You just started a war

Antics

I think they would go light on you at first. Mainly because Johnny doesn't really want this to spiral so quickly. Sonya is like okay fine but only because she's slightly curious about your whole deal. How far are you willing to go and what are you trying to prove with all of this?

They're both overly critical and unsupportive of everything you do and relate it back to your rebelliousness.

They'd do small inconvenient things like removing your bedroom door, shutting off devices and wifi, taking away your car, and forcing you to drive with them.

They'd guilt trip you and threaten to take away more things if you don't behave but it'd all be tame in the grand scheme of things.

"Keep this up, Y/N and I will have I'll punish you like a real marine. You'll surely lean respect, then."

"..Come on...Just go back to how you were. This is causing such a strain on your mother and I's marriage."

yeah, they constantly blame you for their arguing and the decline of the family. Like no, ya'll been messed up.

but this grace period doesn't last long before they are crashing a hangout session with your friends, berating/embarrassing you, and then forcefully dragging you back home.

This is a common theme because it gets the most rise out of you. They'll find themselves at your school/campus embarrassing you and will monitor you and your friends. speaking of your friends/ They hate every single one of them. They're jealous of how much you prefer them over them, they're a threat. It doesn't matter that they're all on the dean's list/honor roll...those misfits have something to do with their poor little angel becoming corrupt (or maybe it's their parenting skills)

Isolation is a big thing. You wanna mess up your success by ditching the plans for your life? You wanna be away from them so badly? Fine. You aren't seeing anything. At. All

financial abuse and neglect are big things too. They are filthy rich but somehow there's never any food in the house anymore...and all your debit cards are declining. They want you to come begging for the things you need but only offer them in return for your obedience.

I don't think they'd get physical, but they'd keep going to more extremes with their abuse and threats to make you comply.

Would they get anyone else to step in?

Yes if nothing they seem to do is working. Plus they're anxious and impatient...this all is taking too long for you to break. Are they seriously going to lose their darling daughter? Definitely Jax. He's canon-ly a very close family friend to the couple and both Cassie and Jacqqui bond over their traumatic childhoods. It's implied that often they'd spent time at one another's house and that all parents were heavily involved with raising the girls. The same goes for you. You don't wanna listen to them? They're calling Uncle Jax and he's a freaking tank. okay.

Jax loves you like a daughter but he really doesn't have as much of a soft spot as they do for you. He's willing to do what they won't. Like this mf is Sonya's superior and you see how she turned out. You will be straightened out like you're a soldier, even if that means going to extremes. Jax doesn't want Jacqqui to see your rebellion and think that it's acceptable to behave like you. So he's more than happy to help his friends out. Having three parents ganging up on you and manipulating you is like hell. You're not escaping that damn house either, you are locked deownnnn.

With the help of Jax and military equipment, trackers, cameras, and government-grade security systems are emplaced. You will be knocked down, broken, and rebuilt into a whole new person.

Who would give in first?

You definitely would. I'm sorry but like you are NOT winning against them. No way a rebellious teen/young adult is conquering them. Your insults and tactics to get under their skin won't work. You will be stonewalled and denied of all civil liberties. It isn't worth it to keep fighting back, no matter how strong you are, you'd end up in asylum before you gain the upper hand.

"Okay, okay...you win. I'll go back to being who you want me to be just chill out.."

See..that wasn't so hard.

They are overjoyed to hear this and waste time destroying all your horribly edgy clothes and rearranging your classes. It's insanity because they act like none of this ever happened and Johnny instantly proposes a family movie night with takeout. You're back to being their perfect child and they're family is "healed". but just know some of their implements are staying and they will continue to keep a tight grip on you should you ever decide to pull a fast one again.

"See, you made this so difficult when all we really wanted was our happy family back..."

#headcanon #oneshot #imagines #x reader #yandere imagines #yandere headcanons #mortal kombat 11 #mortal kombat x reader #sonya blade #johnny cage x reader #yandere mortal kombat #mk11 #yandere sonya blade #platonic yandere #yandere family #mk11 johnny cage

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neo-zone · 5 months ago

Text

Sweet Home 3 Teaser Personal Breakdown

youtube

As what I feared, Sergeant Tak and Sang-won collabed (for the lack of better word). The people showing symptoms, instead of being isolated in certain place outside the stadium until they die (if my memory is correct), will be taken to wherever the Neohuman gang intended to further undergo monsterization process and if some are lucky enough, will be Neohumans (since we know not all people become Neohumans, some turn into pure full monster form)

Dr. Lim is pretty much alive, doing the announcement on the beginning of the trailer (well I thought Sang-won gonna give him double amount of karma for the torturous experiment he volunteered, apparently a too high expectation my bad). My assumption is after the encounter in the last episode of season 2, he made an agreement with Sang-won (probably to save his ass) and let him to the stadium

Yi-kyung's daughter is also inside the stadium now. Hm, wonder how and when she get in 🤔 What is she gonna do in season 3? Whose side she's on? Or she's still on her own side with the non-Neohuman monsters like the ones she has befriended (notice that none of them are Neohumans)? We shall see

Now I remember why the high school shaman girl in Exhuma felt familiar, turned out few months before the movie, she played the monster girl Sergeant Kim met in the last episode of season 2 where his platoon went inside the facility (now she's outside with the others). Yeah, definitely a polar opposite role. Strange I didn't saw her actress name in the SH2 cast list, I wonder why

Some glimpses of tragedy and doom that will happen to the soldiers (and if my memory is correct there's the sick woman with military boyfriend as well). It's not pretty, I know

We got action duo Eun-yu and Chan-young obviously fighting the monsters (and probably Neohumans too). His fans on twt pointing out in an understandable fear because of the genre that this little sneak peak might be summarizing his final appearances (as in death flag), but let's see when the season is released. I'm positive he's gonna survive, but if he got the Ji-su treatment, welp won't be surprised again this time

The scene where everyone (including Hyun-su and not just the stadium survivors) gathered outside, I wonder what was that for? 🤔 There are some monster cocoons as well

Only Kim and one of his crew who survived Bamseom?

Where did Hyun-su get the cool black suit? Did he go to another shopping mall like at the early episodes of season 2? Have he consider wearing a sleeveless cloth because it's a shame the expensive sleeve got ripped again

My bad feeling and paranoia is skyrocketing again with that Eun-hyeok only scene 😶 Yeah I know he literally walked with Eun-yu and Hyun-su on the first official teaser pic back in February. But better safe than sorry, I never trust that kind of blank sinister look and head tilting

Hoooo, Hyun-su is talking about taking out and killing Sang-won? 👀 Can't wait for the unlimited stabbing and flirting between them (featuring Eun-hyeok if the battle royal gonna be real)

We (I mean Hyun-su) gonna fight a bigger protein monster?

Who does Sang-won refer to with the "we'll meet soon? Hyun-su? His biological child?

Good luck with your family drama and inner monster struggle, Yi-kyung. Wish you all the best

Please do correct me if I'm wrong or add what you noticed but I didn't on the reply. Thank you

#sweet home #sweet home netflix #sweet home 3 #sweet home season 3

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lightlycareless · 2 months ago

Note

i was re-reading the naomi meets toji fic and i'm just imagining naomi seeing toji and calling him toji-sama but she is with naoya instead or toji sees naoya interacting with naomi

Heya!!

Awww I'm glad you liked it!! And yes, I think I was due writing their interactions :> Naoya could not have a child and not introduce them to Toji, the #1 person he admires in the whole world. Though I think someone here would not appreciate it as much...

Anyways, here are the warnings: none. it's nothing but silly domestic stuff. Though I kind of feel bad for Toji. Also, he might be ooc; I don't really write them but I hope it's still good!! You and Naoya have a baby girl named Naomi. Also, please read this first if you want to get context behind the Toji-sama thing.

Happy reading!!!

The moment Toji sees Naoya and Naomi interact is when everything just makes sense to him. Where he realizes that not only she really is his daughter, but that she actually takes a lot from him.

From their physical appearance to everyday habits, there is no doubt in his mind that Naomi, indeed, is Naoya’s child.

Specifically with that endless yammering the two seem so fond of partaking in.

Toji was conflicted. In one hand, he knew what to expect from kids. They were naturally irritating, so for him to demand otherwise would only gather him with the likes of his ignorant family (and he’d rather die than to do so).

But another part of him hoped that she would take more after you, you know? He’s seen you interact with others, heard the rumors too, how everyone once thought it impossible for someone like you to be with someone like Naoya. You were just too… different. Nice, even.

Yet, here you were, married to an arrogant brat and having kids with him—children that were on route of being chibi Naoya’s, bringing in more havoc than there already was.

And there would be no one to know better than him, after all, since he got a prime example of that after being caught in the middle of their antics one unsuspecting afternoon.

“Toji-kun!” A bright-faced Naoya exclaims while bringing along his equally excited daughter to greet the mysterious, brooding man who just had his plans of passing undetected effectively ruined. “When did you return? You should’ve let me know; we could’ve gotten something to eat together!”

“It’s not like I’m you to be announcing my arrivals and departures…” He murmurs under his breath, yet Naoya still manages to hear it, enough to laugh along.

“I can change that, if you like. Give you the treatment you deserve.”

Toji’s left eye twitches; looks like even after settling down, the ungrateful kid he saw grow up continued to be as ridiculous as ever.

Though it seems your husband now faced competition, and from his own daughter no less.

“Hi, Toji-sama!!” Naomi cheerfully greets, waving her chubby little hand at the man and making both her father gasp, amused by her unforeseen reverence, and Toji chuckle, glad to see that the antics he fueled many days ago still stood strong.

"Hey, kid."

“Toji-sama?” Naoya repeated, genuinely surprised. “How come I never thought of that?”

“That wasn’t an invitation to call me so.” Toji warns.

“Hmm, I guess so. Toji-kun seems to be more fitting anywa—”

“No, papa! It’s Toji-sama, Toji-sama. He wanted to be called that!” Naomi protests with a pout, tugging at her father’s hand to further highlight her words. “Papa…”

“Alright, alright.” Naoya chuckles. “Toji-sama it is—"

“What? No, only she can call me that.”

Because it would be nothing less than obnoxious to hear such words coming from a grown-ass man, specially one as Naoya who was already too much by his own merit.

A type of inner-joke where only Naomi was participant; Naoya could try his luck somewhere else.

“Papa, papa, can I play with Toji-sama?” Naomi would suddenly suggest, making Toji’s heart sink.

Thankfully, your husband wasn’t the jealous type. No, wait, let’s rephrase that. He wasn’t the jealous type with his daughter. Willing to let her go if it meant getting something even better in return!

“Of course you can!” Naoya encourages, enthusiastic at the prospect of two of his favorite people spending quality time together! More so if he was there to see it. “What would you like to play, mochi? Hide and seek?”

“No, papa always wins…” Through cheating, that is. Using his cursed technique to quickly catch up to her, barely giving her any time to hide—it’s safe to say that he’s effectively ruined the enjoyment out of it.

Unless…

“Toji-sama, you seek, we hide!” She offers instead. “But no peeking! No cheating like papa…”

“Now, why would I even agree to—"

An important thing to remember is that for all of his life, Toji considered Naoya to be, deep beneath his arrogance, a coward. The type of man that would throw a rock then hide his hand just to see the chaos he could evoke. But always free of accountability, of course. Doing so countless times just for the laughs of it, careless of who he affects with his actions.

A threat to never take seriously, just a wimpy kid he had the misfortune of sharing blood with.

But that seemed to change with his daughter. In fact, what transpired succeeded even his own expectations. When he once believed him a devoted follower of Naobito’s footsteps, he now presented a certain… overprotectiveness towards little Naomi, subtly growing frustrated at the prospect of upsetting her—and thus, willing to do anything to keep her happy.

Now, isn’t that interesting?

Consider him… not intimidated, never. But rather… intrigued. Enough to indulge your daughter, letting her grab him by the hand and guiding him to whatever garden she concurred to play in, coincidentally, your personal favorite—where you’d often rest after a long day of tending to duties, or simply wanting to bask in its tranquility.

Though as of lately there appeared be a unusual heaviness looming over your body, making everything far more difficult that it really was. A part of you wanted to blame it on the universe, accept that sometimes things happens because they do! Nothing more to it.

But another side of you wants to consider what your staff has been playfully teasing you about: Hinting that your sudden change doesn’t come from fate, but rather… another bundle of joy on its way to you.

And it made sense if you thought about it too! You were presenting the exact same symptoms of your first pregnancy!

Yet, that wasn’t possible. Because you and Naoya had been very careful when intimate, having long planned to have a second child once Naomi was a bit older.

…

But you wouldn’t mind hearing another set of footsteps following you everywhere. Another baby for you to cherish, Naoya to spoil, Naomi to play, and Toji to—

Wait, Toji?!

“What in the—” you breathe, eyes wide as you observe the unusual image of your family playing with the man that often kept to himself unfolding before you. And apparently willingly as well! … Kind of, you were still able to perceive a slight annoyance coming from him, undoubtedly overwhelmed by your chattery daughter and pleased husband—the habit of showing off what he’s proud of is something that followed him since he was a child, and always, Toji had to be in the receiving end.

Good to see that some behaviors are never truly gone.

“You found me, Toji-sama! You found me!” She giggled, the opposite reaction of what one would expect.

“You weren’t that hard to find…” He raises an eyebrow.

“It’s my time to look for you now!” Naomi cheers, this is certainly turning out to be much better than she expected! For her, at least.

“She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Naoya boasts. “Nothing seems to stop her!”

“She reminds me of you when you were young.” Toji quietly perceives, Naoya’s eyes glisten.

“Really, Toji-kun?” After being given the greatest compliment yet, there’s no way he wouldn’t be over the moon. “Well, she is my daughter, aren’t you, little mochi? Naturally, you have to be as talented as me.”

“Yes!” She nods, blushing when Naoya gently patted her head. “But let’s play, papa! I wanna play!”

“Only after giving Toji-san a small break.” You eventually interject, walking over to the group and standing by Naoya’s side, who immediately wrapped his arm around your waist, as usual. “I hope my husband and daughter haven’t exhausted you much.”

“Ah, we could never, right Toji-kun? We were just having fun!”

“Mama, are you gonna play with us?” Naomi asks. “Come on, mama, Toji-sama said he’s going to seek us this time!”

“Really? I thought I heard him say he wanted to eat…” You tease, Naomi pouts. “Also, don’t call him that, pumpkin.

“No, he didn’t.” Naoya responded in defense of his daughter. “He just—”

But you quiet him by gently elbowing him, letting know he was overextending his cousin’s tolerance, much to his dismay.

“I mean—he did mention he was tired” Toji raises an eyebrow, confused by the words that were randomly put in his mouth, though he won’t deny he thought them. “We’ve been at it for a while now, pumpkin. Aren’t you tired… or hungry?”

“No.” Naomi frowns. “I wanna play!”

“Really? Not even for your favorite? Mariya-san said she was going to make it for you…” You insist, forcing Naomi into a predicament you knew she wouldn’t be able to deny. “And we wouldn’t want to keep her waiting, right?”

Naomi’s eyes widen, licking her lips at the thought of her favorite meal.

“Ok mama!” Naomi chirps before looking over to Toji. “Goodbye Toji-sama!! Let’s play later!”

“Naoya, take her please, I gotta do something first and then I’ll join you.”

“Alright.” Naoya kisses you before leaning close to your ear to whisper… “We’re not really eating, are we?”

“We’ll talk about it later.” You smile, kissing him back.

“Bye bye, Toji-sama!!” Naomi says once more, taking a hold of her father’s hand soon after and disappearing into the hallways.

Once alone, Toji takes this moment to sigh, take a breather from doing things that weren’t really on his itinerary, and probably head back into whatever isolation he had planned for the day—right after dealing with you, that is.

“I’m sorry about that.” You say, taking a step closer to him. “Believe me, I know all too well what it is to be overwhelmed by them.”

“As if one Naoya weren’t enough… They’re exact carbon copies.”

“I’ve been told.” You laugh. “Sometimes I wish Naomi looked a bit more like me. If just a tiny bit, you know? I did carry her for 9 months!”

“Well, she’s likable compared to Naoya, I’ll give you that.”

“Hey, Naoya can be likeable too!” You jest back. “He has his charms.”

“I’m sure he does.” Toji responds, suddenly reflecting on Naoya’s overprotectiveness towards his daughter—a trait that no person would expect from him after seeing him grow up.

Yet, he was proved wrong. And not only in the realms of parenthood, but those of marriage as well. Naoya showing that people can change, even when coming from a hideous background as his, if given the right motivation.

A small hope for the Zen’in clan, he supposes, all thanks to you.

And perhaps… a purpose for himself, too?

“You have a good kid; you should be proud.”

“Oh, I… Thanks.” You blush, taken aback by his compliment. “We try our best.”

“For my sake, don’t tell Naoya I said that.”

“Never. My lips are sealed.” You smile. “But… only if you promise to do something for me.”

Toji raises an eyebrow.

“Don’t encourage my daughter to call you by that honorific.” You ask. “I fear someone of the family has begun to feel… offended by it.” Though jealous would be the most appropriate word.

“Why? It’s only deserving.” He laughs.

“Well, maybe you can try it out when you have kids of your own.” You chuckle. “See if you like it.”

“I don’t think I’ll—”

“You’d be a good father, Toji-san. I now have no doubt about it in my mind.”

Toji blinks, speechless and confused by your words, but most importantly, unable to demand an explanation for you’d begin to retreat soon after, leaving him behind to deal with his doubts by himself.

“Well, I gotta go now, I’ve accidentally burdened Mariya with my daughter and I can only imagine the reaction she’ll have upon learning we’re not having her favorite good!” You say, waving him goodbye as you walk away. “See you around Toji-san!”

Maybe he should’ve run after you, stopped you and demanded justification behind your outrageous accusation. Or maybe he should’ve refuted your ideas without consideration in the first place, catalog them as silly, for there is no way in hell he’d enjoy entertaining a child, and all that it took to get there…

… Though an exception could always be made if it was his child. He’d definitely like to do things to tease them, annoy them; get them to pout and whine, just like brats often do, and get a laugh out of it.

But most importantly, give them a life worth living. One vastly, greatly different from his, like the one he deserved at one point, and save them from all the suffering in the world.

Toji laughs, shaking the idea out of his mind as he heads somewhere, far away from the estate, it doesn’t really matter as long as he’s alone…

To eventually admit that perhaps… he would like to have a bit of that happiness you shared with Naoya—

If there even was someone for him out there.

Imagine being the reason Toji has baby fever hahahahahaha omg that is so sad. But hey, he deserves to be happy too :')

Also, my favorite thing here is that as much as Naoya simps Toji, he'll always put his daughter first. Not sure if someone was questioning this, but here is my answer. I mean... I would hope his family goes first... 🤨🤨 if not, we're going to have a problem lol.

Anyways, thank you so much for sending in this ask!! It was such a joy to write Naoya boasting about Naomi, and Naomi following Toji like her papa did when he was young hahahahaha really, they're identical twins; what a nightmare for him 🤣🤣🤣 owww I wan't to write more about them 🥺❤️

Now, take care, and hope to see you soon!!

#ask #naoya zenin #naoya zen'in #naoya x reader #naoya zenin x reader #naoya zenin x you #jjk naoya #naoya zen'in x reader #jjk x reader #jjk fluff #jjk x you #prompt series: jujutsu kaisen #toji zenin #toji fushiguro #toji x reader

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stargirlfics · 2 years ago

Text

B U T T E R F L Y

Joel Miller x Black Latina Reader

Summary: Sometimes the path to healing starts with a reminder of what’s been lost

Warnings: 18+ ONLY, death tw, child death tw, some TLOU spoilers but doesn’t follow canon, post-outbreak!Joel, angst, hurt/comfort, trauma and violence mentions, fluff, slow burn vibe, mutual pining

Word Count: 5.6k

My mind has been stuck on the butterfly imagery connecting Sarah and Joel in the show, and in the game too! I grew up hearing from my abuelita that monarch butterflies are symbols of loved ones who’ve passed and I thought that would fit well here! This fic explores grief and pain but also finding hope through it too 🦋

To be soft-hearted at the world’s violent end, that’s where you’d decided to make a home for your heart with all its fragile beating.

Doomed is what they all said you were, surviving the outbreak this long sooner or later came with a price and they had been right, but still, half out of spite, half out of needing something to hang onto, the tenderness of you remained.

Surviving was a miracle and most could go on just grateful to wake up another day, but you’d seen how void life was lived here in the ruins of a former world, and as doomed as it all appeared, you tried your best to find pockets of light where you could, fighting the urge to shut yourself away.

Because maybe one day those pockets of light would be abundant where they were once scarce, maybe one day, if you kept yourself open to it, there would be a sign of a changing tide to let you know you were finally safe.

How strange signs could be, in plain sight but unseen until your brain could catch up with what your soul was feeling, and rarely did they ever come without complexity.

In your case, that complexity came with a stern scowl that belonged to one Joel Miller.

The first whispers you’d ever heard about Joel were that he was grumpy, stubborn, and not the kind of man to be messed with. He was the muscle behind trades done in shadowed alleys here in the QZ, illegal substances, weapons, extra ration cards, you name it.

He was intimidating to most people, even you; having a reputation for being a man of few words and an even shorter fuse would do that but you knew there to be sorrow there too, etched deep in the lines of his face, reflecting like moonlight in his eyes.

You’d never spoken to him, not in all your time in Boston, always seeming to narrowly avoid crossing paths, but you often saw him from afar. In the town square, catching glimpses of him waiting in line to collect a job’s earnings or in the pit, hauling bodies to the acrid cremation pyres smoldering hot throughout the day.

If you thought about it, that’s where you saw the sorrow most.

That old, faded bandana he wore over his nose to block out the stench of burning gave you the clearest view of his eyes; sad, angry orbs fixated on the task like it was penance for him.

All those hushed whispers told you he wasn’t a good man, that he had hurt people to get what he needed, and that wasn’t a surprise, you’d seen it enough to understand the grim nature of the wasteland you were in, how people often turned against each other if they thought it meant they’d live to see another day.

Maybe that understanding was how it happened that day, the first time you’d meet, something in your soul already well tangled with something in his yet neither of you knew it yet.

You’d been expecting someone else at your door that evening, a friend of yours with a bag of good soil snuck in from the outside in exchange for a radio of yours that was in decent shape.

Instead, you were greeted by Joel Miller, bag in hand, a frown already on his face as he explained the switch up, even pointing to a note on the bag in your friend's handwriting to vouch for him.

His voice had caught you off guard, a low, gruff bass in his careful cadence, Texan accent making the words go down smooth.

“Okay, no problem, she did tell me she wasn’t sure if she would really make use of it. You can step in if you want, I’ll just be a second.”

Maybe you shouldn’t have been so trusting.

That’s how people got robbed, taken advantage of, murdered and you weren’t going to get any sympathy from neighbors or any FEDRA soldiers in the area if something were to happen but despite that, and his reputation, you didn’t feel unsafe.

Quite the opposite.

Joel was certainly the grumpy type and you didn’t doubt he was capable of hurting you if he wanted but as you returned with the radio you found him just where you’d left him, his body filling your doorway in a way that reminded you of a guard dog.

Something had caught his eye in the time it had taken you to walk back, gaze fixed somewhere behind you.

It took you a second to realize what exactly he was staring at, eyes tracking him and following until they landed on the butterfly figurine hanging from the makeshift curtains of your kitchen sink window.

Golden hour light warming the window had bathed the glass winged butterfly in its rays, casting fractals of color across the wall and the worn wooden floors.

You studied his face for a moment then, a familiar kind of sadness reaching his eyes, the darkened circles underneath them a little more noticeable now.

You wondered when the last time he got any proper sleep was.

“I made it…” interrupting his thoughts gently you gestured towards the window when he looked at you in question, “La mariposa...took me ages to fit the glass and wire together right but I think it came out ok.”

He grunted in response, finally handing over the bag of soil when you noticed the slightest tremble in his hands.

Oh…so he’d been caught off guard too.

Something about your butterfly had shaken him up and you were curious, who could blame you for being tempted to cross what you were sure he would say was a line, but you pretended not to notice, trying to offer him some privacy, a second to collect himself.

You’d appreciate it if he did the same for you in his place after all.

The exchange was completed swiftly after, a palpable silence settling between you before he was leaving almost as quickly as he arrived, taking the fading summer sunset with him.

–

Joel barely slept that night, woken by nightmares again, a routine he was familiar with, haunted by the same old ghosts but it was different this time, the barbed wire around his heart digging in just a little extra, memories of her surfacing.

Sarah. His Sarah.

He didn’t realize just how long it had been since he was reminded of her this way, of what it felt like to be her father, shutting himself off to that years ago, unable to think about his life with her before because that pain was nearly unbearable.

There is only after, the after in which she doesn’t exist, where he searches for her in his sleep and wakes knowing he won’t find her.

Because he watched her slip away, had pleaded and begged to the skies to bring her back, had held her in his arms, hands stained red with her blood, and had to accept that she was gone and he was granted no time to say goodbye.

Days turned to weeks, months into years and he had learned to operate on a certain level of numbness, just focused on surviving, never getting too attached, acting cold and angry, just a dead man walking.

Until now, his chest nearly caving in with the truth that he was still breathing even after so long spent closed off.

He wasn’t even sure why he’d considered your friend’s offer to complete the exchange at all, he knew he shouldn’t have, the radio you traded wasn’t in as great a shape as he would have liked, he knew that upfront and still begrudgingly agreed, not expecting to feel so exposed, so upended by a simple encounter.

That butterfly shining in the sunlight of your kitchen made his heart stop the second he saw it, flashes of memory surfacing, almost like his little girl was pulled to the surface of his skin again, like if he stepped inside he could reach out and she’d be there.

A dreadful reality had washed that away after a moment, grief swallowing up the hope just as he knew it would, like it always had, but something was undeniably different this time for Joel. A difference that left an ache in his center.

Because for those few fleeting seconds, he had felt alive again.

–

The second time you met Joel was intentional, another bag of soil in exchange for some instant coffee this time.

It was still early morning when he knocked on your door, quiet, hands tucked in the pockets of his jeans and a sleepy kind of softness that you hadn’t seen before around the edges of his eyes which made you wish he didn’t look so inviting then.

It wasn’t so hard to look at him as unapproachable as he made himself seem, he was handsome, the streaks of gray peppered in his hair and along his beard lending to his rugged look.

“About the coffee, it’s not as strong as it could be but it’s the best I’ve got,” you handed over a jar, watching him open the lid and sniff its contents.

“That’ll do just fine.”

Relief arrived at his approval, you gathered it’d been a while since he had any and you were glad your stash wasn’t a disappointment.

You watched as he knelt down to set his backpack on the floor, stowing the jar inside and handing you the bag of fertilizer mix you had inquired about.

It wasn’t long now before he’d be out the door again, these things were best kept short and simple but as you thanked him for the exchange and moved to store the bag with your other garden supplies, you noticed a moment of reluctance.

Joel didn’t plan on lingering around now that you both had what you came for but then he was reminded of what he felt the last time he’d been in your space and his mouth was moving with the thoughts that were swimming in his head before he could bite back the words.

“That’s a good amount of soil you have, got some sorta secret garden FEDRA don’t know about?”

Suddenly you felt very silly for wanting to smile at his curiosity but also recognized the significance of him asking.

“Something like that, yeah. I…actually found a spot of flowers growing through one of the QZ fences and I’ve been tending to it. It's no garden but the flowers are in bloom now, first time I’ve seen real butterflies in years.”

You watched him perk up at the mention of real butterflies, furrowed brows hiding the flicker of emotion mere seconds later but it was too late, you’d seen it already.

Up until now, your little patch of greenery had been a private endeavor.

Something for you to put some love and effort in, and just a quiet, secluded place to be, to clear your head or be alone for a while, away from some of the chaos in the streets, and yet here you were, now, carefully asking him if he’d like to see it too.

You thought just maybe, bringing him there would do him as much good as it had done you.

And it’s there, in that moment when he says yes that you see all that hard exterior start to slip just an inch.

It’s an inch you can work with.

–

Early morning dew still clings to the soft blades of grass sprouting up near the fence line, the section where you’d been taking care of the vegetation noticeably more vibrant with color and growth.

Slowly, you’d been replacing the dirt, had saved as many roots and sprouts as possible, taking care in replanting them, and from there, a shabby little makeshift garden bed had formed.

This would be your third week caring for it and now Joel was trailing behind your steps to see it too.

His body language was tense like he couldn’t quite be sure you weren’t actually taking him to some secluded corner to ambush him, but you get it.

Being wary was smart, but you couldn’t lie that it was satisfying to let him take it in without explaining anything first, the tension in his shoulders easing, sagging when his eyes fell upon the dusky blue flowers and rich green leaves and vines growing up from the ground, searching for the sun’s nourishment.

Joel couldn’t be certain whether it was the day’s first tendrils of summer heat making him feel warm or the fluttering orange and speckled black wings of a butterfly nestled atop a marigold.

He glances at his wrist, at the memento that never leaves his side, a broken watch, and there’s a moment of clarity in the silence where Joel can feel it, all the shattered parts of him spilling out, and there isn’t any way he can catch it all, he’s already too late and he knows it.

Panic works its way into his bloodstream, causing his hands to shake, not used to being so disarmed, so flayed open.

His fingers curl into a fist, trying to steady himself, needing a moment to catch his breath, to process.

And there you were, your gentle voice cutting through the noise in his head and that tidal wave of emotion.

“They’re monarch butterflies, which means they’re special,” you’ve moved a little closer now, watching another one land next to its friend on the flower.

“What makes' em’ so special?” Joel takes a deep breath and you do too.

You thought for a second he might shut down and walk away, there wasn’t anything keeping him here after all, he had the coffee he came for and yet still took you up on your offer. That in itself was difficult not to attach yourself to immediately but there was no denying it felt good to know you’d earned maybe an ounce of his trust.

“In Mexico, my abuela used to say they were a sign of the dead coming to visit the living, loved ones, our ancestors, the monarchs carry their souls to us. I think they’re good luck too.”

The smile working its way onto your lips is fond, sad, one you knew he’d recognize, the silent but shared knowledge of loss was a heavy burden to carry. There was no mistake about it, but being here, amongst your flowers and your butterflies made it easier.

Orange and gold halos shimmered around the plant life softly swaying with the wind, your own features now warmed with the climbing sun, brown skin shining deeper under the light.

Joel was looking at you now, following your words. The meaning of what you were both looking upon hitting him square in the chest when that feeling blooms behind his eyes again, that itch of something alive, something beautiful growing again amongst concrete ruins.

And it's there, standing next to you, watching you water the soil while butterflies float around you that he works out what that feeling must be.

Salvation.

–

After that morning, trading goods with Joel became a regular occurrence.

Soil for another stash of coffee or a packet of seeds for a hunting knife in need of experienced hands, neither of you quite sure how it happened but eventually the trades became more like friendly favors to each other than practical transactions.

Your ‘garden’ also became a frequent place for you both to go, so much so that on any given day you could bet he was there, a quick stop on his way back home, or in the morning before the day started, it became an unspoken shared refuge.

Joel helped you fix up the makeshift garden beds when it became clear your tender care of the plants called for an upgrade and you were grateful for it, dismissive at first, not wanting him to feel obligated.

You could handle yourself around a hammer and a few nails but he insisted and you relented, the two of you knelt under the setting sun, working on the task together.

It didn’t matter that it was closing in on curfew time, or that you didn’t really have anything to compensate him for his time because, the moment itself, the small inklings of trust building between you were actually far better.

That’s when you started to see him nearly every day, sitting against bomb-scarred concrete, always facing those marigolds, the ones the monarch butterflies you’d told him about always flocked to.

At first you kept your distance, knowing better than to pry.

It was clear he’d been through a lot, most his age-if you were guessing correctly-had, old enough to have lived a good portion of their lives before the outbreak, the last witnesses of an old world. You wanted to respect that and as long as he was finding some sort of peace here, you were content.

You didn’t mind his company either, he wasn’t much of a talker, but his presence was comforting and familiar and you felt safe with him near.

Eventually though, keeping him at a distance became impossible, both of you stumbling through the uncertainty of what to say to each other yet not giving up on trying at the same time.

And Joel had resisted too, had tried to keep his words short, always residing somewhere in between neutral and aloof but the more he watched you in your element, amongst the seedling sprouts and vines and moss, the more it made him want to talk.

It was easy to find his voice around you.

You were soft-hearted, he could see that and it wasn’t easy to get used to the way you looked at him, like you cared, like you understood something about his brokenness right away, had let him sit here day after day watching the butterflies because somehow you knew it’s what he needed, but he didn’t mind the learning curve either.

His usual annoyance and reluctance to speak about feelings couldn’t keep up this time surrounded by reminders of Sarah, coaxing the small part of him that hadn’t died with her out of its state of numbness, softening him again.

‘You were never gonna do it for yourself’ rings in his ears.

He’d never been much good at that, doing things for himself, and Sarah was always so clever about calling it out, even now, nudging him awake again after all these years.

It’s why he decides to tell you when you ask one day, sitting next to him on sun-warmed stone.

He merely came by to sit for a little while and clear his head and found you already sat in his usual spot, butterfly watching, your eyes telling your secret, that you had been crying before he arrived, his first instinct carrying him forward, to your side.

He offered you some water, even sliced an apple in half to share with you, pleased with himself when he got a smile out of the gesture but remained as quiet as you were, wanting you to feel like you could just be.

“Who do they remind you of?” your voice was small, unsure of how he’d react to the question, overexplaining in hopes it would make him recoil less, “It’s okay if you can’t talk about it, I understand. It’s just that…what I told you about the monarch butterflies, I really do believe in it you know, the people I’ve lost…they feel so close to the surface, like they’re watching over me and I think you feel the same.”

Joel nods after a moment and you’re exhaling a breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

It takes him a moment but he finds the words.

“My daughter…her name was Sarah. They were her favorite, actually, since she was bout old enough to talk. I used to call her my little butterfly when she was a baby which, yeah, got real old when she started middle school but I liked to remind her anyways, just to see her roll her eyes at me. Just as long as she knew I loved her, you know, that I never stopped, not since the moment I held her in my hands for the first time.”

It broke your heart to hear.

And it hurt him too, to speak about her and then remember that he had lost her, that twenty years had passed and he couldn’t remember what she smelled like anymore, and he hated the nightmares but without them, he was afraid of forgetting her face, her eyes, the coils of her hair, the sound of her voice calling out to him.

It was only now that he was seeing how deep he’d pushed it all down, bottled up tight out of fear, and then somehow you’d entered his life, Molotov aimed straight at his heart, stunning him into remembering her the way she deserved to be.

“I’m so sorry,” you extend all the comfort you can, knowing there weren’t any words that would ever make it right but you wanted to try anyway.

“Yeah, me too. But you’re right, she feels close, and I know you’ve put it together by now but it’s why I’ve been sittin here every day, I see those butterflies and I see her, I remember her and it feels...good. I didn’t want it to; don’t really trust things that feel good but it does and I wanna thank you for that, for letting me have that.”

He worries he’s said too much, or said the wrong thing, wanting to kick himself because he was never much good at words either but the sight of your lips pulling up into a small smile came as a relief.

“She’s with you, Joel. And there’s no need to thank me, it’s been good for me too, doing all this. I think it helps.”

He nods again, agreeing before asking you the same question, extending an opportunity to open up too; a big step when keeping personal histories to a minimum was the lay of the land around here.

And it wasn’t easy, to talk about the things that hurt, baring your grief to Joel, and trusting him with it but you did and he had held it so gently, understanding it for what it was.

Looking back you think maybe it’s there that things started to change, where your life and his started to merge.

Sometime after that conversation you gifted him one of those glass winged butterflies like the one in your window, showing it to him one evening in the garden, earning you the first real smile you’d ever seen from him.

It was after he told you more about himself, about Sarah, his brother Tommy, recounting happy memories; like the time he and Tommy surprised Sarah with her own soccer ball for her birthday one year, how he’d caved almost immediately the time she begged him to get her a polaroid camera, and you shared too, thinking on good times you’d had with the people in your life.

It meant a lot to Joel that you spent time crafting the ornament, knowing just how deep the symbolism of it went for him.

You were always doing that, looking out for him, planting tiny seed after tiny seed, slowly working your magic on him, ensnaring him deep, making him want to look out for you too.

Under the fading sun again you sat with him, watching the marigolds, the calm, slow fluttering of wings, and it’s in that same spot that you find your hand in his for the first time.

No words needed to be said, this was far better.

A little while later you saw your gift hanging from the window in his living room, right next to the radio you had first traded him for.

The two of you had found yourselves escaping the heat here after some time tending the garden together, pulling weeds, clearing new soil of rocks and rubble, now sharing his couch, a rusty old fan that still somehow worked cooling the sweat prickling the back of your neck.

Curfew hour was nearing and you knew you would have to start making your way back home but Joel warned that he’d heard from a FEDRA officer he did trades with that they were patrolling the streets early the next few nights.

You knew why, it was hard to forget the hail of gunfire last night, a group of Fireflies going after a group of officers on patrol, a fight that neither one had won.

Tensions in the QZ had been high all day since then and Joel suggested that you stay here with him for the night, saying he didn’t want you dealing with anything that might be going on out there.

He was being protective, a disapproving frown on that handsome face of his when you told him you didn’t want to intrude on his space but he was right, things had already started looking a little dangerous on your way back from the garden and you appreciated that he was trying to keep you safe.

So you stayed.

Curled up on Joel’s old, worn couch with a blanket that smelled like him tucked around you, the white noise of the fan still blowing and the knowledge that he wasn’t far, just in the next room over, carried you off to sleep.

–

One night had turned into two and then three and somewhere in the last couple months of summer that were left, you spent most of your days and nights with Joel.

No label had been applied to whatever your situation was with him, you knew better than to ask, this all needed time, and you were okay with that, just content on holding onto this good thing with him.

Because you liked being around, like sharing a space with him and sitting in the garden together, opening up to each other more and more every day.

It was nice watching Joel come out of that hardened shell of his, watching him find it easier to talk about things, noticing him trying to live life more, not as reluctant to connect.

Things were good, not to say that there hadn’t been bad days amongst all the progress made, there were plenty of them in fact.

Days where old patterns became default again, stretches of nights where the nightmares returned, both of you trying to wade through it.

When the aching of old wounds came knocking and the walls came back up again.

You hated to fight with Joel when that happened, and you hated not being on the same page but he was so stubborn it wasn’t always easy to bite back your frustration.

He had told you about his past, about the people he hurt in those early days and it’s something he wrestled with, believing in the goodness you saw inside him when all he could see were the bad things.

It frustrated you sometimes, how he preferred to shut himself off, to you, to Sarah’s memory because he felt like his hands were too dirty, too blood-stained to even try.

“Que, no entendes?! Please, Joel! Stop trying to be something you aren’t. You think you aren’t a good man but bad people don’t get upset about being bad. Do you think you can just turn it off, the part of you that was always a good man, a good father? Well sorry, but you can’t, that’s who you are to your core, I saw it the first moment I met you and every time since then.”

“I’ve killed people,” his tone was mean, and venomous, another attempt at pushing you away. “Goddamnit, it’s not as simple as-”

“I get that! Look I know that you’ve done bad things but you’ve also spent every waking moment punishing yourself for it, do you realize that? All these years you’ve been paying your penance any way you can and I’m trying to tell you it’s okay live well, that you don’t have to torture yourself anymore because we have to try and make something out of all this pain.”

It wasn’t easy to get him to see what you saw but you didn’t back down, even when it would have been easy to, Joel knew it too, guilt washing over him as you looked at him then, tears brimming in your eyes.

“You’ve endured enough.”

It’s those final three words from you that makes him ease up, a reminder you nudged him with often, that he could rest already, could make amends by making a choice to find the light.

He lets you take some space from him, coming to find you before bed because he doesn’t want to fall asleep without fixing things.

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair, talkin to you like that. You’re just tryna help my sorry ass and I haven’t thanked you enough. I’m gonna get better at that.”

It’s the first time you ever hug him, noticing the tremble in his hands as he says the words, feeling the sincerity in his voice, unable to stop yourself from all but barreling into his arms.

He’s still for only a moment before his arms wrap around you in return, the two of you bathed in moonlight, that butterfly still hanging in his window, pushing you towards each other again just like it had when you first met.

–

Eventually, the day comes when the monarchs leave, the approaching fall and winter seasons carrying them to warmer places, a solemn change in what had been yours and Joel’s routine.

The absence of the butterflies that had provided so much hope the last few months was felt, but the world was also a lot more open and wide now too.

You no longer slept on Joel’s couch, you slept pressed against him now, and woke with your limbs tangled with his, a quiet partnership forming.

It scares both of you, knowing that you had grown to care for each other so quickly, knowing that was dangerous and reckless but also feeling stronger because you were a team.

You think that’s why you make the decision together, one rainy fall evening when Joel comes home with a message from Tommy.

They had gone through a rough patch recently, being apart from each other for some time and still not seeing eye to eye on Tommy’s choices but slowly, they’d started talking again and there was news that Tommy and the group he was with had gotten a hydroelectric plant that had once belonged to FEDRA up and running.

There was electricity and a place to stay if you and Joel were interested, plus Tommy wanted you to meet Maria, said she did him a whole world of good and this was some of that good in action.

It hadn’t been a hard choice to make even knowing how difficult the journey would be.

This was the chance you’d both been waiting for, and had talked about, a far off dream of running away from all the violence that was inescapable here in Boston, searching for something better out there, and now it was within reach.

So you’d left your garden in the care of a friend you knew would understand its importance, and you bide your time with Joel, making deals, doing jobs, collecting and saving up supplies, and helping him map the way to Jackson.

And then the day came when you left the QZ behind for good, watching the city fade away in the rearview mirror.

Making it to Tommy hadn’t been easy, there had been one too many close calls for comfort but the trust you and Joel had in each other didn’t waver, and here you were, finally on the other side.

Settling in hadn’t been the easiest, especially for Joel, his guard still up but little by little, you both sank into a new way of life.

You quickly learned how to ride a horse and hunt in the woods surrounding the power plant, even making friends with some of the families in the community.

Joel had taken to things a little slower, but even he couldn’t hide for long, helping some of the men in the group with repairs on things that needed fixing, even cautiously attempting to make friends with you.

Small pockets of peace started to open up the longer you stayed and the threat of raiders loomed over that peace at times, keeping everyone on alert for attacks but you all had Joel and Tommy now, always amongst the first to be out there protecting, defending fiercely.

You knew they wouldn’t let anything happen to you here.

As spring arrived again you found a nice spot for a garden, pointing out sprouting flower buds to Joel one day, almost missing the fond smile forming on his lips, both of you knowing what this meant.

You were happy here, and happy being with Joel, the two of you building a new garden together this time, until finally, as the chill spring breeze transitioned into summer heat and sunshine you were sat next to him like you had been what seemed like ages ago, watching the butterflies circle the flowers in bloom in what had become Sarah’s Garden.

Joel made you a promise; to keep going for family, the family you, him, and Tommy were now. And you promised the same, not scared of how much you cared for the man by your side anymore.

It wasn’t perfect, the world was still rotten and the broken parts of you all were still raw, still healing, but this time her light was guiding the way through it and that made it all worth it.

---

A/N: When I saw that butterfly hanging in the window of his place in Boston I just couldn’t resist writing something about how he got it and here we are! This world is so dark and tragic and while this fic doesn’t change those facts, I hope it plants some gentle, hopeful little seeds of healing, because Joel deserves that and so do you as the reader! thank you for reading this, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it! 💌

some tags no pressure! @inklore @allaboardthereadingrailroad @yelenas-lova @ozarkthedog @amethystwonders11 @blkmorticia @moreofem @eupheme @obiknights @tarrenterror25 @superhoeva @buckyhoney @plumbits

#amalia writes #joel miller x reader #joel miller x black!reader #joel miller x woc #joel miller x black reader #joel miller x latina reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x black latina reader #joel miller imagine #the last of us fanfiction #joel miller angst #joel miller fluff #joel miller fanfiction

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yannights · 9 months ago

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Thoughts

Am I the only one surprised about the lack of Yandere Wriothesley content?

Upon his first appearance in the "Ouverture", i was deeply excited to see his full appearance, and when the drip marketing arrived I was bouncing off the walls.

I had always been a fan of Yandere content with the Genshin men, like Childe, Diluc and even Alhaitham, but i had finished most of the fics concerning these particular characters and upon laying eyes on Wriothesley, i knew that he would be added to my favourites. I couldn't bare a day without looking forward for the version 4.1 and meet the character and all the stories following with him.

However, despite the amazing fics out there, I was surprised to not see as many as I expected, because most of the fics leaned towards the "smutty nfws" side of things, and while that may please a lot of people, I thought it was kind of sad.

I think it is a missed opportunity, he has the prison, the isolation, the handcuffs and a unique personality setting him quite apart to the yandere genre.

This ultimately made me one of the people who sent out the most requests for Yandere Wriothesley. While I didn't force I did hint with a sledge hammer that he is indeed quite the interesting character in that kind of setting. Upon having a lack of it now this also pushed me to become a writer here so I guess you could say it's good somehow for me right.

I understand that portraying him like this is quite off upon further inspection on his personality. If he were to be real he would never do such things, but goes the same for the other characters and I find Yandere genre being like a AU, so that the way he acts in those kind of things is entirely up to the writers. (I'm also noticing quite the lack of genshin yandere lately so yes, you could say I'm also growing a little desperate myself.)

You guys cannot imagine how much I thank all the people who have created fics on Yandere Wriothesley. There are so many good, that I recommend and I think Yandere Genshin writers a should give him a try even if it's short. There are so many things about the character himself that digs deeper than the ocean.

I'm not forcing anybody to write about him just for my entertainment, if people want to write about him they do, and if they don't then that's fine too but it was just to say that I was actually quite surprised to see that not many people wrote about him. Even though he has quite the audience I still actually think he's quite underrated.

So yeah hope you enjoyed

(Also, he is sooooooooo handsome )

#genshin #genshin imagines #genshin impact #yandere genshin #yandere imagines #wriothesley #yandere #yandere x reader #yandere wriothesley x reader #genshin x reader #yandere oneshot #y #thoughts #yandere thoughts #yandere themes #yandere x y/n #yandere genshin x reader

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angelynmoon · 1 year ago

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Eldritch Steve

Part 11

Eddie stared at Wayne, Wayne stared back, for several long moments neither one blinked but Eddie was human and so eventually he had to.

"Arg, remind me not to get into staring contests with Eldritch beings!" Eddie yelled as he rubbed his watery eyes.

"You never once won a staring contest with me boy, no reason to start now." Wayne said with a shrug, "You want coffee, Steve?"

"You're not mad at me for telling Eddie?" Steve asked, nervously.

"Surprised it took so long." Wayne handed Steve a mug, all of them had been replaced with the new two bedroom trailer.

Steve also knew that several soldiers had gone missing when they insulted Eddie in Wayne's presence, Steve had claimed he'd overheard them talking so he'd eaten them, which had the confronting soldiers cringing back and Owens blanching and making a quick escape.

"It wasn't my secret to tell, but he needs to know what being Mated to one of us means." Steve said, holding his mug in both hands.

"He is right here." Eddie reinserted himself into the conversation, "And I know what I'm getting into, Steve told me about spawning."

Wayne looked at Eddie and then at Steve, "How much did you tell him about spawning?"

Steve blushed, "As much as I know."

Wayne stared at him and then sighed, "Settle in, the both of you, we've got a long night ahead."

Because Wayne knew just how much about Spawning Steve knew or more exactly how little he knew. Spawning alone was different than Spawning with a Mate, and with the species difference, well, there were reasons that Wayne had yet to Spawn himself, and it wasn't just Eddie appearing on his doorstep.

As Eddie's adult he had a duty to prepare him, as the last Adult of his kind he had a duty to Steve too.

For all that Steve had killed their race he was, in fact, still considered a child of their race, not much older than those kids he'd claimed as his, if Wayne wasn't slightly afraid of Steve killing him like he'd killed all the others, he'd forbid them to even think of Spawning, but Steve was dangerous, though he did not appear so and Wayne doubted Eddie's affection for him would protect him for long if he stood in Steve's way.

So, Wayne would prepare them.

Because Spawn only appeared as eggs when one parent was involved, the embryo forming inside the parent and forming the protective shell on it's journey to the outside world.

Spawn that had two parent were born live and hungry, if Steve and Eddie Spawned they would need meat, raw and the fresher the better, ready for when their babies clawed their way into the world.

Eddie would have to distract them with the meat so Steve could heal, otherwise they might feast on his flesh, they ate their own for strength, afterall.

And Wayne would not be allowed near once Steve was expecting, Steve's instincts would see him as a threat to him and the eventual young, and Wayne couldn't say he wouldn't be tempted to eat the possibly runts, it wouldn't be the first time he'd eaten the newly born, he'd eaten several of his Spawnmates when he'd clawed his way out of his birth parent and his secondary parent hadn't been quick enough to fill his belly.

Wayne didn't remember Steve's Spawning parents, it was likely they'd abandoned him early on, expecting him to die quickly, some Spawning parents would eat their defective ones but others felt the need to let the other creatures have a taste of them. It was a testament to Steve's strength that he'd survived so long on his own.

Their race wasn't kind, not even to their young.

But maybe, Wayne thought as he looked at a waiting Steve and a trying to escape Eddie, he could change that, or at least Steve and Eddie could.

A/n: like I said Ao3 is down and well, I still have nothing better to do, so enjoy.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48500452?view_full_work=true

Ao3 is back, so here's the link, I didend up calling it From the Rot, for now at least, thank you for all you suggestions though. <3

@addelyin @merricatty @lesbiabrobin @apuckishwit @0o-mushroom-o0 @starlight-archer @darkwitchoferie @just-a-tiny-void @swimmingbirdrunningrock @intergalactic-president-awesome @vampireinthesun @goodolefashionedloverboi @adhdsummer @purpleanimeoverart @space-invading-pigeon @lilaclilyroses @nohomoyesbi @plantzzsandpencilzzs @korixae @subversivecynic @flusteredcas @persnicketysquares @freddykicksasses @little-trash-ghost @cupcakesnwhiskey @cats-ate-all-of-my-pasta @planetsoda @paintsplatteredandimperfect @irregular-child @daydreamsandcrashingwaves @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @steddieassheg0es

#steddie #eldritch monster steve #upside down creature steve #mpreg mention #wayne is the real mvp here #the birds and the bees talk #mentioned cannibalism #mentioned child abandonment #infantcide of sorts #culture building #if i can't read fic i will write it instead #ao3 is down #part 11 #From the Rot

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theetwinkleboy · 4 months ago

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i've been ruminating for about 18 hours now so here are my ch 429 thoughts:

i think, looking at some of my mutuals, i'm having a....weird reaction maybe lol. like i guess a benefit of this not being like a formative fandom that i've been in for years means that my emotional attachment to these characters is a little different to people who have literally grown up alongside them. but like. i still haven't watched the spn finale so i totally get the emotions people are feeling even if that's not my specific experience with this specific fandom. frustration is valid!

i just feel like, before the end of izuku vs shigaraki i would have expected a much different epilogue, but after the way that horikoshi ended that battle i feel like everything has been...pretty much what i expected? like reading through my reaction to that fight i was like 'i hope deku stays quirkless and he spends the rest of his life fighting for the promise he made shigaraki' and so in some ways my hopes have been met. like, did i want a different outcome? yeah. did i have to drastically readjust my hopes for this series over the course of the epilogue? also, yeah.

but like, a lot of this is the best i could have hoped for from izuku based on the ending we got to the fight in 423.

as for the rest of the league of villains--i keep thinking about what pikahlua said about the league of villains specifically being modeled on different japanese ghosts. so in a way, they 'achieved' what they wanted and then they were 'exorcised' via death. like. intellectually, i get the trope. i know i've said this but it just. it sucks and it's really bleak that that's the direction horikoshi decided to go but like. i get what he's trying to accomplish there.

so after that really long ramble, actual reactions to 429. i've read it a few times now, so i feel a bit more equipped to give thoughts rather than first impressions. and i may pull some of this out from behind a read more later, we'll see

i mentioned last week that i wished horikoshi had given us some other indication that the general public's attitude was changing toward people with mutation or villainous quirks--that they were willing to jump in to help people who couldn't help them in return, and not just to lend a hand to the heroes--and the wrap-up of the unknown child storyline this chapter did a lot of that, so i guess he was probably saving the reveal for now. it is important to show that it's not just izuku reaching out, it's all of society chipping in because that was the whole point, that society was complacent and judgemental and rotten and needed to change. so like! that makes a lot of sense and i did feel a little silly for being surprised by it because of COURSE this would be the avenue for showing that anyone can be a hero.

that being said, i'm a little...on the fence about the decentering of izuku from this narrative. because the reveal that none of his classmates know he's losing his quirk kind of threw me for a loop. on the one hand it makes sense bc izuku is, well. he's izuku. but on the other hand, nagant mentioned 'will society learn from what deku showed us' but really, when i think about it, what did deku show them if no one knew he was losing his quirk? they didn't see inside the mindscape with shigaraki and izuku--they didn't see him take his hand, or the fist bump later. what they saw was a bloody fight with a kid with a powerful quirk. a kid who kept getting up, yes. a kid who needed the help of everyone to get to the villain, yes. but also a kid who by all appearances used his powerful quirk to vaporize a powerful villain. what are they learning from this if they don't know izuku gave his quirk away? and how did they learn shigaraki's story later? did izuku share it? i don't know! i can't think too hard about it or it falls apart.

i did appreciate the shift from 425-now, where when izuku first woke up, he specifically said he couldn't save tenko. and then he was unsatisfied and visited spinner and said he'd never forget tomura shigaraki. and then here in this chapter he started to say tenko and then switched to tomura. it really feels like this--tomura's personhood and life and experiences--has been something izuku's been ruminating on ever since the battle, that this is something that his understanding of is evolving. even if we only get the barest notion of it when he expresses to uraraka that he feels similarly to her.

speaking of, uraraka. man. i appreciated izuku's tribute to her, and him calling her his hero and taking her hand was really really sweet. i literally don't care about ships so seeing some people being nasty about these guys comforting each other in a scene that has been narratively set up since their first talk was like...come on. come onnnn guys take your ship goggles off long enough to at least recognize that these two are important to each other and needed to have this talk.

also, the evolution from uraraka going off alone, feeling alone, feeling like she has to be okay because her friends aren't, telling izuku not to look at her, and then ending that scene with the whole class supporting her and telling her she could lean on them and she didn't have to smile in front of them was really heartwarming. like. she is a character that hides behind a smile a lot so this was deserved.

i think hawks just. expanding the billboard to add heroic figures completely misses the point, because the billboard was a symptom of the rot, and the hounding for higher spots on the billboard was literally a symbol for the superficiality of the hero industry. like. BARE MINIMUM i would have hoped for the billboard to be thrown out altogether, so this solution seems really dumb. the whole 'i don't want to not celebrate them and only punish them' also makes no sense. you don't have to rank people to celebrate them doing their job well. there's more to say but like. y'all get it.

aoyama's goodbye party, specifically eri headbanging on stage, made me smile. our kids deserve to not have to worry about the world for a moment, and i was glad to see the twinkle boy one last time.

there's still the epilogue next week so who knows what will happen then. in the meantime, i think i need to think some more about what the role of a hero has been in this story, and what horikoshi is telling us it should be/will evolve into, and also what i think it should be. because i think those may be different things. idk we'll see!!

#a long rambly post as usual #bnha 429 #bnha spoilers #tt reads bnha

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harus-simp · 2 years ago

Text

Gunwook as a boyfriend

-Gunwook x reader-

Warning:none

Requested: Henloou!! I really like your writing but I realized there’s not many gunwook content :( can you write a headcanon of him as a boyfie or something fluffy?? (Anonymous)

Author's note: sorry for the long wait anon, I hope you really like it ;))

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How would gunwook act as your boyfriend?

Okay our gunwookie pookie will be the sweetest boyfriend ever I assure you

Your first meeting would be at school

You were a new transferred student so when you got to the gates you were kinda lost on where to go

As he was walking through the entrance he saw a student that seemed to not have a clue on where to go, so you figured out you weren't from there

So he approached you confidently wanting to help you

"Excuse me,are you lost?"

"Ah yes actually, do you perhaps know where class 1A is?"

And he indeed knew where it was, he was part of it

So he guided you there asking about you (he found you really cute, but he wasn't gonna say that 🤭)

After classes he offered to give you a tour around school as he was part of the school council and was actively participating in a couple of clubs and associations

You thought it was really kind of him to do so

So you exchanged numbers and become friends :D

At first some classmates found it quite strange because he was kinda intimidating at first, and meeting you was the first time he approached someone so brightly

You heard about gunwook's first impression according to your peers, and was totally shocked to hear he coukd appear to be like that

Like he treated you so well?

Anyways

After a couple of months you were having an internal conflict

You had started to develop feelings for him after one day you were staring at him in class

You started to notice little things in him like his soft silky hair

His warm and gummy smile

His soft plump lips-

Wait wait wait

Hold on there cowboy 🤠

And now you were wondering how to properly confess to him :))

So you decided that it was best to write a letter and leave it on his desk

When gunwook received it let's say he didn't even open it 💀

He was so hopelessly in love with you that he didn't want to focus on anything else

So next day when you saw him treating you the same way you were confused

Was he rejecting you?

So you questioned him

"Umh, wookie, did you read my letter?"

"What lette-?Oh" yeah he definitely had fucked up

"Oh?"

"I didn't open it"

Now you were disappointed, you laughed awkwardly and started to excuse yourself

But he stopped you grabbing your wrist

So at his action you encouraged yourself internally and confessed to him, to which he accepted gladly bringing you into a hug

His favourite dates were walking through the park or going to the countryside

He enjoyed the feeling of walking with your hands interwined tightly, or sitting on a bench eating ice cream

You had this plushie that he had won at an arcade for you and you treated him as your child

You brought him literally everywhere and you both swayed it from side to side

He loved to shower you in compliments, words of affirmation was his love language so it was not a surprise

He expects you reciprocate his energy once in a while

Which you did of course

You told him how talented he was and how an amazing boyfriend he was

You don't need anything else to make him happy and all blushy and smiley 😁

He is a hugeeee baby

So he'd get all happy and excited when you get cold, throwing you one of his hoodies to wear

That sight was enough to make him whine at how adorable you were

He also loved hugging you, his bear hugs bringing you to another level of comfort

Laying his head on your lap was part of his daily routine

You caressed his hair grabbing small locks and massaging his scalp in soft motions

It really helped him to calm down and not stress so much

It was a soothing moment for him

More than jealous I'd say he is really overprotective of you

He'd be your personal bodyguard for sure

He'd use his first impression intimidating privilege to scare people off 😈

And he felt so proud of it

However if you asked him to stop he would in an instant

He is a big softie, like he could talk about how good he was at being an idol

But he definitely cries when you remind him on Mufasa's death 😢

He'd be someone reliable you can count on when you want to have fun and when you want to have more of an intimate moment (like talking about your problems and difficulties)

A big baby bear 🐻🤍

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#zerobaseone headcanons #zerobaseone drabbles #zerobaseone fanfics #zerobaseone imagines #zerobaseone reactions #zerobaseone x reader #zerobaseone gunwook #boys planet #boys planet drabbles #boys planet fanfics #boys planet reactions #boys planet headcanons #boys planet x reader #park gunwook #gunwook #zerobaseone #zerobase1 #zb1 #kpop

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gliphyartfan · 2 years ago

Text

@yandere-linked-universe @stars-for-thought @imprisioned-in-the-hole @screaming-until-god-hears-me @crestfallenmermaidan @ice-cream-writes-stuff @linked-heroes @Justanerd1

Oh hey! Another post!

What could it be this time?

crimeboys

He hadn't expected this turn of events.

He had expected something bigger involved, something that would shock him, maybe something that would even leave him breathless. What he never imagined was this.

He supposed he did receive that and so much more.

Looking up from his place, entranced by familiar concerned eyes. He was silent, whatever words he could have said now lost.

“You okay?” He could listen to that voice for the rest of his days, and he would never grow tired of it.

Never.

“Uh, yeah…” Legend murmured and inhaling deeply, attempting to keep his voice steady as Her scent drifted by him. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

More than fine now. So much more than fine.

----

There was a level of adjustment when it came to experiencing many things.

Moving to a new area, mourning the loss of someone, whether they still lived or didn't.

Having to say goodbye to the routine you were so used to, to the people you've met along the way, and making way for the unfamiliar. It was understandable that an adjustment phase was an necessity.

Eventually, you find a new norm, a new area, new people, a new routine that all becomes equally as familiar as the old.

You learn to try new things along the way, take up new hobbies, or learn to adapt the old to the new environment.

It all rounds up to adjusting to the new and settling into it as if you always were there.

Living in an entirely new world was an adjustment of a massive scale.

A new world with new history, way of life, form of governments and societies. It was all so different, so very new.

And the adjustment period was also similar. Similar to when you take off old shoes and step into a new pair, eventually the new pair become as comfortable as the old. Though the time it takes for that to happen is different for everyone.

It helps when some of the familiar comes along with you, especially if the familiar had the time to adjust first, to know where they’re going and how to help you navigate through the new areas in which you yourself were discovering.

Legend did not envy Time for the solitude he had been forced to endure before the first of them appeared.

In a way, he respected him greatly. Time was left to survive in a world that was so utterly alien to their minds, reverted as a child and forced to make a life for himself in a place that would eat him alive in ways their own home wouldn't. Left alone without any contact from anybody or anything that was remotely familiar, besides what he himself could manage by his own power and what items followed him here.

To eventually make a place for himself, to adapt to a world that tried to consume him, grew from the trials that had helped him prepare for the arrival of the others. Time became the kind of man, that was feared and respected, someone who was better able to protect what was his. Who could stand alongside his sword brothers and look at the life they continue to crave in this world with pride.

To prepare that life for the one person they all missed dearly.

It was a great adjustment indeed, one that needed patience and great trust. If not in others, than in one's self.

So Legend was not bothered by their leader's inquiry over his sudden request.

"I'm not against a meeting, but coming from you?" Time spoke softly. His gaze soft as it rested on him. "As I recall, the last time you announced for a gathering, there was a brewing gang war headed our way. " He added.

Legend scoffed lightly and shook his head. "I suppose I should be glad that means you take my call seriously." He stated,"And I promise, no surprise territorial disputes."

He hated those things anyway.

"Yet you seem distressed" Time remarked back."Oh, believe me, far from it." Legend smirked crookedly. "This is going to be good."

Time nodded, though curiosity flickered in his eye at those curious choice of words said, he turned his attention to the opening doors of the meeting room.

"Really Vet? Just had to pick today for a meeting??" Wind grumbled loudly, throwing his hands up,

"Couldn't you have at least waited another day? There were some wares at the docks I wanted to look at-damnit blacksmith, stop shoving!"

Four was unphased by the daggers being directed at him as he kept shoving the sailor into the room.

Seems the sailor tried to sneak away as per usual.

Four nodded to the two in greeting as he led the younger boy to his seat, which happened to be right next to him. The table was quite long enough for all of them, and it seemed the rest of the Links weren't too far behind as Twilight walked in, Sky close behind.

"Sky! How's business been?" Legend asked after he sat. "It has been quiet." Sky answered as he looked up at Legend before returning his gaze back to the table as he sat down.

Twilight looked around the table with curious interest as Hyrule and Wild arrived and took their seats. "I thought another meeting wasn't for another month?" He inquired.

"Patience rancher, the meeting won't start until dear old captain arrives anywa-oh look who the devil let out to play!" Warriors glared at the other Hero as he entered the room.

"Well..." Time taps the tip of his pen on the table and looks at Legend, motioning to the others.

"We're all here." He eyed his advisor with curiosity.

The others turned, watching as Warriors sat down and Legend stood.

"First of all, sorry for the abrupt call." Legend apologised with a nod. "Now I'm aware no one really knows why I wanted you all here so badly. "He explained."But I assure you that you will leave this meeting very satisfied with the information I'm going to reveal to you."

He paused and watched everyone's faces intently. "Now allow me to first announce this doesn't involve any of our businesses." He stated, pausing again to gauge their reactions. "You don't need to concern yourselves over any potential fights or interlopers." They simply nodded, some relaxing as he continued. "Next, I want to make this as transparently clear as physically possible," He leaned forward and looked at each of them,

"Our every action from this point on, will have drastic consequences if we make even one mistake."

Everyone sat in silence as Legend took a deep breath,"I trust no one will talk about this outside of this meeting. Honestly, I doubt you would risk doing such a thing, right?" Everyone nodded, not sure what they were agreeing to, but trusting Legend completely. "Good."

Was all he said as he pulled out his phone and began tapping away, only looking up when he was done.

And simply waited.

Waited for the world to change for all of them.

Legend couldn't help the spark of anxiety within him. He couldn't help it. There was no way he would miss the significance of what is about to be revealed. This moment of revelation.

What they have waited so long for.

He knew exactly where this is going and he's not about to let any of them waste a chance like this. Not after the amount of work they all put in. All of it for the sake of a future they desperately craved.

So he was quiet as the first phone began to ring.

As all their phones began to ring.

He watches the eight of them look at each other, reaching for their phones to check what was sent to them.

If only he could truly find the words to describe the stillness that filled the room, a silence that could be heard despite no sound being made. A silent wait that was as palpable as an ache within one's chest. No one spoke for a while. No one dared move as they all stared at the image that was on their screens. No one breathed, as if to prevent this moment from breaking.

As if to prevent what they were seeing from being an illusion.

Shaking hands, widened eyes, choked breaths, yet none reacted until someone broke the moment that the veteran brought them.

Legend supposed he should be grateful for the captain, as he brought his fist down on the table with a resounding bang, jolting everyone that had been frozen in stillness.

Though he did admit to not appreciating how the good captain gripped his shirt and pulled him up to his face.

"Well aren't we responding violently..." Legend hissed as the collar of his shirt tightened around his neck.

"You have some nerve..." Warriors seethed, pulling Legend into closer proximity and raising his voice, the anger apparent in his face and tone. "You think this is funny? Huh? Has this world distorted your sanity that you would taunt us with this?!??."

Legend remained silent, though he felt his grip on his collar becoming harder and tighter by every second. He scowled as he realized there was nothing he can do to get the captain to release him from his grasp.

"Answer me!!!" Warriors snapped, and before anyone could stop him, he shoved forward until he was slamming Legend's body against the wall, the sound and feel of his body making contact causing the veteran to wince in pain from the impact. "Is...this really necessary..?" Legend gasped, hands reaching up to grip the one holding him in place.

"Stand DOWN captain!" Time ordered, hands on the table, half way out of his seat.

The entire room fell silent as all heads turned to watch them, some out of their seats, others gripping the table, some not even looking away from their phone. Warriors didn't care to notice. His whole attention was fixated on the young man in his grip.

And Legend, his eyes locked with those blue ones; burning with anger as he struggled against the Captain’s hold. He tried to pull at Warriors' wrist. He didn't budge. The only response he got was a glare that made him pause momentarily, before a small smile found its way onto his lips as a thought sparked in his head.

"Dear gods..." He breathed, "You're jealous..."

It was barely audible but everyone heard the words regardless."What?" Warriors growled, but Legend laughed despite his position, leaning towards the captain as best as he could as he whispers once again, this time slightly louder.

"You're jealous," He grinned, it was not kind, "Because I was the first to find her."

He smirked at the growing anger directly him before continuing, "And you don't like that I was the first one to be near her again."The blond laughed even as the captain pulled him forward and slammed him back against the wall, the back of his head hitting the wall behind him, and he grinned smugly, "I guess I would have felt the exact same if I had been in the same boat as you," He remarked, chuckling despite his position.

"To have to accept that I wasn't the first one to be blessed with her presence. To know I wasn't the first one who would hear her beautiful voice, to hear her beautiful laugh, to have her eyes focused solely on me even if for the briefest of moments! and to see her beautiful smile... why..it would have been just so unfair!" Sharp laughter echoed throughout the room, as the group tensed at both his words and his tone.

"But I'm NOT you!" He gasped through his laughter, either uncaring or unaware of Warriors' slacking grip on his shirt.

"I get to say I was first to see her, hear her! I get to be blessed by having HER eyes look at me and ONLY me, even if it was just for a mere. moment." He bared his teeth in a mockery of a grin, exhaling through his nose as he stared down the paling, angered. trembling captain.

"So I suppose I can forgive your behavior this once. After all, it's not everyday you learn that our darling was found." Legend said, expression calming as he looked at everyone, with a faint grin, teeth just visible, before looking back at Warriors.

"However if you ever attempt to manhandle me like this ever again, I'll begin to consider a severe level of retaliation against you." Legend threatened, tone quiet.

Silence followed as they stared each other down. No one moved.

"You can't be this lucky..." was all Warriors could utter as he stared at Legend.

"We searched...for so long..." He came out as a whisper as his eyes seemed to stare through Legend.

"We searched for so long..." He repeated, "and you find her...by pure chance..." His body trembled, shaking his head as if in denial.

"Captain," Tone softening as he reached up and placed a hand on a trembling shoulder, "I would never begrudge you for wishing you were in my place, and for hoping that you were the first that found her again. Would you begrudge any of us for feeling the same if the roles had been reversed?"

He continued softly, eyes full of understanding as he spoke, his hand moving so it was gently rubbing circles into the others shoulder. A slight shudder ran through the captain, his own hand releasing it's hold on the other's shirt and coming up to grasp Legend's own, gripping tightly.

"No," he whispered hoarsely. "Not after everything we've experienced."

"Then taken my warning to heart, but know you are forgiven." Legend replied before taking his hand away from Warrior, and returning to stand by Time, clapping his hands to divert attention away from the captain.

"Taking her appearance in the picture into consideration, she's roughly about the same age she was when wandering into our world." Legend started, everyone slowly settling back in their seats, "from the lack of personal items, other than some textbooks she had on her, it's safe to say she lives in the general area." He paused for a bit before continuing, "Which means her typical hangout spots are close by as well, perhaps a side job if her schooling allows it." Legend nodded, looking around. Everyone had their eyes trained on their screens where (y/n) was smiling so cheerful at friend offscreen.

To see her again, even through a photo, was enough to leave them lighthearted in all the best ways. A warm coursing through each of them as they drank in the sight of her beautiful smile.

"She looks so happy..." Sky murmured quietly to himself, leaning forward a little, eyes filled with longing. Twilight smiled kindly at him next to him, placing a comforting hand on Sky's shoulder. "Yes," He agreed quietly, "So happy and carefree. She looks exactly like how I remember her being," He paused and laughed. "No, she looks even more beautiful, doesn't she?"

"Do you...do you think she'll accept us?" Hyrule asked, tone quiet as Sky and Twilight looked up to meet his gaze. "I mean- I just...wish to not make the same mistakes again." Twilight grimaced but hummed in agreement, returning his gaze toward the screen.

They all stew in their thoughts. Guilt, shame, hope and joy. All of it twisted inside them.

"You know...I'm kinda glad it took this long..." Wind admitted, his eyes latched on to the picture.

"I mean, not that I enjoyed having to wait so long but...we're more settled in this world now compared to a few years ago, we're more prepared for anything."

"Curious choice of words." Time chuckled, "but nonetheless yes, in a way, you are correct sailor. This is a good opportunity for all of us." He stated. bringing the attention to him. "We need to start anew, to make amends for what we have done. And hopefully, in the process, we won't lose ourselves down that dark path we once traveled," He frowned. "I don't wish to consider the possibility of us failing, but...anything could happen-"

"Plan for possible failure but aim for success." Four interjects, looking relaxed yet eyes gleaming with energetic resolve.

"Plus we'll keep each other in check, won't we?" Wind asks, turning his attention back to the rest of the Links, a smile bright in his face. He turns to look at Sky, who's eyes have stayed glued to the screen ever since he stopped on Wind. His face remains stoic. "Sky?"

"...We should bring her here..." That sent confusion coursing through the group.

"Huh-?" Sky looked up, grimacing at the attention on him.

"I-I mean...we have the facilities, power, influence and capabilities to keep her safe and cared for." He continued, nervous yet with eagerness shining in his eyes.

"It seems now is the right time to-"

"We can't." Legend shaking his head as he quietly replied, frown on his face.

Sky flinches, the phone in his hand creaking as he gripped it tightly.

"I just..believe that now would be a good time to bring-" Legend raises a hand to halt his argument.

"We. cannot. bring her here." Sky stared back at him, jaw clenched, knuckles turning white.

"She is safer with us." He states again, tone deep and firm.

"We. Cannot. Take. Her." Legend repeats as slowly as he could, eyes focused at the skyloftian with warning.

Sky glares daggers at him while clenching his fists even tighter. A tense silence fills the air between them as no one dares to move a muscle. Sky stares defiantly back, daring Legend to disagree with his plan. Legend stares back, silently debating if he should even humor this argument.

"Why do you believe we should bring her here?" Time's voice breaks the heavy atmosphere, drawing the attention away from the tension that's permeated the room. He did not look at Sky, attention focused on the phone in front of him.

"A-Are we not fully prepared? Determined? We all want to keep her safe." Sky answers, eyes still focused on Legend,"I just..think we've established ourselves enough to provide for her. I'd rather not put her life in danger by leaving her somewhere exposed-"

"So you believe her safety relies on us." Time interjects, it was not a question. "That she is currently vulnerable and exposed without us there."

That wasn't much of a question either, but it seemed to cause further unease amongst the others. There was no response. Not from Sky and certainly not from any other of the Links. Legend understood they were worried. Worried about (y/n), worried about the future. They didn't dare to ask for reasons why.

Sky straightens his shoulders.

"She is not safe out there." He reiterates.

Time nodded in acknowledgement, fingers tapping the surface it rested on.

"She is not safe out there." He repeats back to him. Sky nodding firmly.

"Tell me then, how is she safer here?" Sky seems to be thrown off by the question.

"P-Pardon?" Time finally looked up at him. Sky swallowing.

"How. is she safer. here? He repeated for emphasis. It seemed to catch Sky off guard.

"I...um..." Sky trailed off. Time's gaze did not soften, it was unreadable.

"Well, you see-" he began."The thing is..." His lips thinned as he glanced towards the others. but only seeing the same confused, uncertain looks.

He felt lost.

"We..-" "We lost her due to greed Sky knight."

Sky flinched at the rough voice that spoke out.

Time nodded at Warriors as he approached and took back his place at the table.

Warriors clasped his hands and looked at Sky with hooded eyes.

"We lost her because we were consumed with our own wants and desires." He continued. "So blinded by our addiction to her presence, we never considered what she wanted." His eyes looked down at his hands for a brief moment before returning to stare down Sky.

"We drove her away due to our arrogance and greed, plain and simple." He ran a hand through his hair, pausing before looking up.

"Tell me veteran," Legend raised an eyebrow at the acknowledgment. "How did you react when you first realized she was there?"

Well... that certainly was a curious question wasn't it.

The room was quiet on the heels of the man's inquiry. It was a contemplative silence.

"You want to know?" Legend broke the silence, his voice deceptively light.

He nodded to himself, not waiting for a response from anyone.

"Let me tell you then." Legend clasped his hands under his chin. He leaned forward, Sky swallowed thickly.

"I had merely gone to class without a single thought of anything special happening." He started, looking to everyone. "I had not once thought about my actions, nor had I taken the slightest note of where I went. I simply chose to play the part of student for one day, minding my own business. Sit through an orientation video, pack up and head back here." He continued "Sitting through it all without an ounce of emotion. Only apathy."

He paused, watching Sky. He looked away. "Until, of course, my mind was captured by thoughts of her. Understandable really, she means much to us all. My thoughts being so focused on her that I completely disregarded the words the teacher spoke in front of me." He continued. "At that point, I was more focused on my own thoughts then the real world around me." the corner of his mouth twitch before he caught himself.

"She had already arrived before I realized it. Her voice immediately catching my attention."

He leaned back, sighing. "I had always genuinely thought I would have had a better grasp on my reaction should I ever see her again. But in reality, there was no preparation for the sight that met my eyes at that very moment." He smiled softly. "My heart felt like it jumped out of my chest, my palms grew sweaty, and my mouth went dry." He sighed again.

"When I looked into those familiar eyes, I felt like my whole body turned inside out. It was like every fiber of my being was trying desperately to find the most beautiful sight in the entire universe. Even though my mind was screaming to do something. Say something, Run to her, yet I felt so stuck in place." His eyes were cast downwards, reminiscing the memory. "There was absolutely nothing I could do. Nothing whatsoever." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I could feel my heart constrict at the mere sight of her and all I wished to do was hold her again."

He sighed, his hands resting on his lap."But alas I didn't know what to expect." He laughed bitterly. "I saw her and all my rationality died that very second. For whatever reason, I couldn't take my eyes away from her. So I sat and watched her even when the room darkened." The last sentence was spoken quietly.

"She sat right in front of me, did I mention that yet? I couldn't tell if that was a blessing or the sweetest form of torture. To be physically so close to her, yet still be so very far. to be close enough that all I had to do was lean forward and I could possibly catch her scent. Legend exhaled through his nose and frowned, staring intently at his hands.

"I reached my hand out to her." Everyone was staring at him, silent. Legend's expression blank.

"I was so consumed by..." He shook his head, as if the words were lodged in his head. "I was desperate to want her HERE. with US. I wanted her here so badly, at that moment, I genuinely did not care how badly she would have reacted to my actions."

"I wanted to hold her again, tell her how sorry I was. To make up for every failure and mistake I committed against her."

He stared at his shaking hands. "And I think that's what scared me into stopping." Legend closed his eyes, breathing heavily, his head hung low. "To risk losing everything over the mere chance of forcing her here by our side." He choked on the last word, his eyes shutting tight. "I couldn't do it. I couldn't let myself destroy what we worked for, before we even had a chance to start ...So I pulled back and did nothing."

Legend lifted his head and opened his eyes, they were filled with pain."I just...couldn't bring myself to ruin her happiness for my own sake...." He looked at each and every one of the Links before focusing his gaze on Sky.

"Not again. I'd kill and be killed before I allowed myself to do so again."

It was a silent battle of wills, between the veteran and the pale knight, as Sky stood his ground. One staring at the other, each trying force the other to submit.

A long silent standoff, each refusing to give way until, eventually, Sky slowly lowered his gaze.

A victor was chosen.

Legend closes his eyes, his shoulders unnoticeably relaxing.

Time broke the tension once more as he tapped the table with his pen.

"Your words have been heard and strongly acknowledged Veteran." Time said calmly and evenly while gazing towards Sky who remained still, his head lowered. He took in a deep breath before continuing.

"What would you suggest we do?" Legend sighed and rubbed his neck.

"Gather what information we can is a good start." Legend answered as he rose to his feet. "We'll start with finding her general information. Whereabouts, schooling schedule, whether or not she has employment."

He looked at the group."We need to be discreet however. As much as we wish to be near her, we don't want anyone noticing us around her." He gave each of them a pointed look."Understand?" Nods were stiffly given.

Legend turns away, signaling the end of his participation.

Time eyed him carefully and returned his focus to everyone.

"Captain, take Wild and begin obtain her general details." Warriors nodded towards him and looked to the cook, who acknowledged the order.

He turned to Twilight and nodded."Send a scout to rummage through the school files and I want you to look up the teachers in charge of her classes." Twilight gave him thumbs up in acknowledgement.

Twilight looks thoughtful and towards Wind who was staring at his phone again, seemingly lost in thoughts."Wind, can you and Hyrule get together and talk to some of your informants? Put a word out?."

Wind and Hyrule jumped at being called upon but nodded and stood up, turning to face the older male."Do you want us to inform you if she's spotted by any chance?"He asked, his blue orbs glancing back and forth between Sky and the leader, Hyrule wringing his hands next to him.

"Yes, please." Wind nodded and left, Hyrule following close behind heading down the hallway.As soon as he disappeared, everyone took that as a sign to end the meeting.

"Four, with me." Twilight calls out, motioning Four to follow him.

Warriors nods to Time and Legend as he rises from his seat, his eyes lingering a bit on Legend as he walked past. Legend scoffed and punched the passing captain on the arm.

Warriors scowls but says nothing, understanding what wasn't said.

All forgiven given the circumstances.

"Sky..." The Skyloftian twitched and looked up at their leader.

"Go gather yourself," Time ordered softly,

"I will send someone out after you once I've received a response from one of my sources. I will need you with me for some business. In the meantime, you are dismissed." Sky nodded, slowly turning and making his way out of the room, his frame still tense. Leaving Time and Legend alone in the large room.

"...Well...that was quite a show." Time remarked, leaning back in his chair.

Legend sighed loudly, rubbing his forehead tiredly, "We're gonna have to watch that one until he settles down." he muttered under his breath, his eyes glued towards the phone screen in front of him. "Not like this isn't a delicate matter at all."

Time chuckled lightly, "As if an easy road was ever a choice for us." Chuckling louder as Legend proceeded to flip him off.

"While I didn't expect it to be so...intense," Legend waved a hand to the empty room as if to remind Time of the chaos of a few moments ago.

"I do hope this meeting was satisfactory in your eyes?"

Time gazed down at the phone screen in his hand, his eye taking in the smile that was captured in the image within.

"Yes..." He answered softly.

"Very much so." He couldn't help the quirk of his mouth, amusement shining in his eye.

"Well worth the wait."

Legend's own chuckles filled the empty room.

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whisker-biscuit · 5 months ago

Text

Sonic Big Bang 2024

Close Encounters of the Grim Kind: Chapter 3

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

Through the next few days, Tails discovered three things aside from his alternate dimensional research.

It took about six hours for the probe to make a round trip from him to his new pen pal and back when they tested it.

His pen pal was extremely intelligent and just as interested in the state of the Shatterverse as he was. They did not, however, want to talk about anything else, and especially not themselves.

Sonic was still refusing to share the full picture of what happened during his adventure.

Only one of these things was technically a problem, but the fox was a scientist first and foremost, and a very curious child on top of that. So, he set out to “solve” each and every one.

The first one was easy, relatively speaking. The device had been built to travel indefinitely, collecting data at manageable speeds to be analyzed later. Now that it wasn’t being used as a probe but as a simple messenger, it was no issue to redirect some of its power output away from its memory banks and towards its speed instead. He let his pen pal know what he was doing, and wasn’t surprised when they offered their own assistance, claiming that they had worked with Paradox Prism energy to know how to make movement almost instantaneous. Working off only a fraction of that power instead of the entire prism meant it would still be slower than that, but any upgrade on that front would be an improvement.

Together, they were able to drop the travel time from six hours to two, which helped immensely. It also made Tails debate crossing “Sails” off of his list of potential people, because Sonic never mentioned the pirate ever getting close enough to the Prism to learn how to do that. In the end, he kept the name on because the evidence against its presence was still flimsy.

Additionally, his unknown collaborator sent equations that would allow Tails to duplicate his own technology with Prism energy, which he used to make several more probes to send out across the Shatterverse. None of those devices were intercepted and fed data at a constant rate to his computer for him to observe and report back to the pen pal.

By the end of the week, it became routine for a familiar flash of light to appear in the fox’s shop every few hours. He’d pause in whatever he was working on to read and respond to the message as though it were an overly detailed texting app instead of the intricate probe that he’d built it to be.

[ have you found any interdimensional cracks or signs of decay? ]

– No. So far, none of my probes have registered any anomalies. –

[ good ]

[ i was unable to check for that since losing access to the shards ]

[ was worried it might return even though the paradox prism was reformed ]

– What about you? –

– Did you see anything concerning appear in your own dimension recently? –

[ none so far but ill keep you posted if that changes ]

The second problem took a little longer to work around, and Tails wracked his brain for ways to approach it without raising suspicion. He desperately wanted to know whether he was working with an Eggman above all else. It was hard to think about how their minimal exchange exploring and discussing the Shatterspace’s state of being was beneficial to any version of the mad scientist, but he’d been caught off guard by a convoluted evil scheme before and had no intention of kickstarting another with his own help.

At first, he tried to gauge his mystery partner’s interest in technology.

– I’m sorry my last message was delayed for so long. –

– I was caught up in a new invention idea and lost track of time. –

[ theres no expectation for a prompt response ]

[ im not offended ]

– That’s a relief. Do you ever get tunnel vision with your own projects like me? –

[ yes ]

– Glad to see I’m not alone! –

– What kind of projects do you like to work on? –

Asking that last question led to him being ignored for nearly half a day until one of his probes completed its semi-scheduled data returns, in which his pen pal finally sent the device back asking about its findings. There was no mention of the original inquiry; Tails got the message and didn’t bring the topic up again.

It did make him cross out Mr. Dr. Eggman’s name on his list, however – from what Sonic had told him, the man never would have been able to pass up the chance to brag about his own genius, no matter how obvious the trap.

His second attempt was more roundabout – disguising it as idle curiosity about the Paradox Prism and the Shatterverse.

– There’s still so much we don’t know about all of this. –

– My memory is a bit hazy about what happened when the dimensions split. What do you remember? –

It was admittedly a dangerous gamble. He didn’t know how many people Sonic had told about the Prism being from Green Hill, or that he himself had no recollection of the dimensions breaking apart. Someone as smart as his pen pal might be able to deduce who exactly he was – and by extension, where Sonic was – if he made a single misstep. The last thing Tails wanted was to put another target on his brother’s back even if it was from a source that probably wasn’t much of a current threat without a way to cross dimensions independently. Eggman ingenuity was never a thing to take lightly.

[ i didnt personally notice anything different until sonic first appeared ]

[ he was the catalyst for the changes in our dimension and across the shatterverse ]

Tails couldn’t help but laugh when he received that message.

– Yeah, that seems to be a constant for him. –

– He mentioned he had Prism energy inside his body that allowed him to traverse the dimensions –

– Did you ever see that in action? –

[ yes. it was remarkable to experience ]

[ the first time he used that power, he briefly shut down power in all the machines in a significant area ]

That little tidbit gave the fox pause. He remembered very well Sonic’s description of that event – and how it had happened when he was a captive of the Chaos Council. Without immediately replying, the fox instead found his notebook of names and finally removed Sails from it. Then his pencil hovered over Nine’s name for a solid minute. Sonic had mentioned that dimensional counterpart had been captured at the time as well, but had he actually been there to witness the explosion Sonic had caused?

Asking outright was likely going to go ignored again. He tapped the pencil to paper and stared at the probe as he considered how to react to this new revelation without his pen pal shutting it down.

– What was that power output like? Was it a visible phenomenon? –

Receiving a response within the average two hours made him heave a sigh of relief.

[ extremely visible ]

[ the best way to describe it was a giant rainbow hued shockwave that extended outward from his body ]

[ it was pure unfiltered prism energy with no direction or goal ]

– That sounds incredible. Did the Paradox Prism ever do something like that independent of Sonic? –

[ yes, but it looked a bit different ]

And so, the inquiry turned back around to their research without any further fanfare. As grateful as Tails was for the new hint and frustrated that it was still too vague to fully confirm his pen pal’s identity, he left those follow-up questions alone for the time being. Patience was going to be his best friend in this careful investigation.

Speaking of best friends…

Sonic had finally started to lose his manic energy regarding his friends. He wasn’t pestering them for hang-outs as often, he wasn’t spending most of his time loitering around outside Tails’ workshop anymore, and his daily runs were taking him far enough away again that sometimes it would be more than a day before any of them caught even a glimpse of him. Both Amy and Knuckles expressed their relief to see him settling back in after his solo adventure, and even Rouge made a passing comment about it when they crossed paths.

The fact that he still hadn’t told Tails about everything that had happened wasn’t as worrisome any longer, and probably would have just become idle curiosity if not for how he stumbled onto something he was obviously not meant to see.

He’d been on his way back from Amy’s house and decided to take a quick detour towards the waterfall he had first met Shadow at, hoping to tell the hedgehog that Sonic finally seemed to be doing better again. He’d flown up the cliff from the hill’s side until he reached the very top, but found himself to be the only one there today.

Then the familiar sound of a sonic boom made his ears twitch and he looked out at the landscape.

A blue streak was approaching, followed by a yellow one that was keeping pace but not gaining it. Tails watched, surprised, as his brother came to a stop at the shore of the lake below the waterfall. What was even more surprising was how Shadow caught up a second later and stood beside him instead of challenging him to a spar or another race to even the score. They began speaking, too far away for him to hear, but even from up high he could tell by their body language that it was a tense conversation.

Getting close enough to eavesdrop wasn’t an option. Both hedgehogs had hearing that would pick up his flying immediately, and he was almost certain that whatever they were talking about it would stop the instant they noticed his presence. Feeling a twinge of guilt that wasn’t enough to assuage his interest, the fox pulled out his Miles Electric and began tuning it to amplify the sound waves from below to a frequency he could hear and understand.

“….fine, Shadow, honest! Man, I had no idea you were such a mother hen.”

“It’s not about ‘mothering’, Sonic. It’s a legitimate concern.”

“Aww, you’re concerned about little old me? Never thought I’d hear you confess it outright.”

The sound of their banter made Tails’ shoulders relax when he hadn’t even realized they’d been raised. It meant that whatever they were talking about probably wasn’t all that serious after all. Or it meant…

“Stop deflecting. It’s not going to get you out of this conversation.”

…His brother was avoiding a discussion, again.

Sonic sighed so visibly that Tails didn’t even need his device to see the action. He put his hands on his hips and turned towards the lake, kicking a rock into the water as he did so.

“I really mean it, Shadow. I’m fine. I feel fine. Nothing about that has changed since we returned to Green Hill. I get why you’re worried, but there’s nothing to be worried about anymore.”

“Your brother seemed to think differently.”

“Tails?” His head whipped around so fast to stare at Shadow that all his quills bounced in sync. “What do you mean? You’ve been talking to him? What did he say?”

The other hedgehog crossed his arms, looking irritated even from far below. “Contrary to whatever belief you might hold, we keep in contact when the situation calls for it. He has expressed worry that you aren’t behaving like yourself.”

Tails’ eyes went wide. What was Shadow doing? Hadn’t he been the one who insisted that they keep Sonic out of their arrangement? And now he was blabbing about a private conversation!

“Oh, well, if that’s why you’re suddenly up in my business, don’t worry. We talked it out a while back.”

“Did you?”

“Yes, Shadow, geez. He noticed I’ve been a little…clingy, and I told him it was because I was thinking a lot about the dimensional counterparts we had to leave behind. Plus, y’know, the whole “all my friends became shadows of themselves that I thought I’d never be able to piece back together” part? Pretty obvious why I’ve been off my game the last few weeks.”

“Did you tell him about –”

“No, I didn’t, and I don’t need to.” Sonic’s tone took on a hard edge. “I’m not about to put that on his shoulders. It has nothing to do with him and he’d still feel guilty about it.”

“What happens if you ever start to deteriorate?”

Deteriorate?!

“I’m not going to, Shadow! There’s literally been no reason to worry about that! You are literally the only one worrying about that.”

“Of course I am, Sonic!” The hedgehog closed his eyes. A pained expression flashed across his face and his voice grew softer when he spoke again. “Of course, I am. You were…dying in my arms.”

Tails felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He backed away from the edge of the cliff and clutched the Miles Electric in shock, hoping he’d misheard what had just been said. The long silence that fell between the two down below was enough of an answer. Too much of an answer.

“Listen, I’m really sorry about that,” Sonic finally said, sounding more somber than he’d been in a long time. “Truly, I am. I wish I could go back and do things differently so you never had to experience that. But I mean it when I say that I haven’t felt any different since we got back. No weird energy, no sparks, no teleporting no matter how fast I’ve been running. Nine said he pulled all of it out of me and I have no reason not to believe him. Especially not after…all of that.”

More silence. Tails curled his namesakes around himself to try and soothe his sudden shaking.

“…You really trust him that much, huh?” Shadow’s voice was unreadable, and so quiet that it was barely audible even through the device.

“Absolutely. Just as much as I trust Tails. We’d all be wiped from existence if it weren’t for him.”

Another long pause.

“Shadow, I get why you’re worried, and I promise I’ll tell you if something changes. We both said we’d be better about communicating after this, didn’t we?”

“We did.”

“Then trust me when I say I’m okay. Please?”

“…Fine.”

“Thank you.”

“You really should tell someone else about this, though. If not your brother, then one of your friends.”

“I’ll think about it. You up for a race to the ocean?”

“Perhaps another time.”

“Alrighty, then. See you later.”

A blue streak zoomed off, visible for only a few seconds before disappearing beyond the horizon. Tails found the ability to move and peeked back over the side of the cliff. Shadow was still at the lake shore, staring in the direction Sonic had run off in. His back was turned to the waterfall and so the fox couldn’t see his expression. After nearly a minute of standing there like a statue, his rocket shoes kicked into gear and he dashed off as well in a different direction.

Tails sat down right where he was, completely stunned by everything he had just heard and struggling to process it. Sonic had almost died. Sonic had been dying and hadn’t told anyone about it. How had that even happened? They’d mentioned something about “weird energy.” Was that because of the Chaos Council? The Shatterverse breaking down? Him being displaced from the dimensions in the first place and physics had finally caught up to his body?

And why on Mobius did he think Tails would blame himself if he knew?

Thoroughly shaken up, the fox flew straight home. He was still so blindsided by the information he’d unintentionally learned that he didn’t even notice the probe hovering above his desk until he collapsed into his chair after almost an hour of pacing his workshop.

He picked it up almost on autopilot, staring at the latest messages there without really reading them. It was some theory about why the other dimensions still existed with the Paradox Prism reformed, but he couldn’t wrap his head around the words no matter how he tried to distract himself with them. What did pointless theories matter when his own brother had nearly died – might still be at risk of it if Shadow’s concern was valid?

Tails needed answers and he needed them now. Screw Shadow’s terms, screw whether this mystery person was a friend or foe, screw everything that wasn’t going to tell him what he needed to know. If it ensured Sonic’s safety then he’d take any risk.

Instead of replying, the young scientist shut the device off and pulled out its blueprints, along with the notebook he’d used to parse out the equations for how to make it travel faster between dimensions. Additionally, he recalled all of his probes that had been out collecting data. Two hours between messages was too long to wait for each reply. He needed this to be as instantaneous as his pen pal had claimed the Prism energy was capable of, and he was going to use all the energy currently at his disposal to do it.

A preliminary glance at the time told him it was early evening. He turned off or flipped over every clock and time-keeper in his space, knowing this was going to be a long haul. From the kitchen he retrieved a full pitcher of water, an entire half-pan of lasagna leftovers, and three unopened energy drinks. As each probe returned one by one in small flashes of rainbow light, Tails cracked his fingers, stretched his arms once over his head, and got right to work.

It took most of the night. By the time he shut the final panel on the device, finished charging it with all the other probes, and turned it back on, the nearest clock read nearly 3 AM when he dared to look. The fox cradled the device in his hands, thoroughly exhausted. For all the work that he had just accomplished, he knew that was technically the easiest part of this entire thing. The rest hinged entirely on his mystery collaborator.

Tails drank the rest of his last energy drink, then spent the next five minutes crafting a message that would get his intentions across without scaring his pen pal away forever.

– I know we agreed to keep this as solely a research venture but this is urgent. –

– Do you know what happened to Sonic before he returned to Green Hill? Is there a chance it could happen to him again? –

– Please. I need to know. –

He sent it out before he could second-guess the wording. Then he waited.

Nothing came back.

The fox gave it ten minutes. Thirty. An hour. Just like the very first time he’d activated the device, he was left in limbo, waiting and wondering if everything he’d worked so hard for was about to go up in flames. He knew it wasn’t just about technological limitations anymore. There was a small chance that his pen pal was asleep, but their time zones were very different and they seemed to have just as odd a sleeping schedule as he did. The radio silence was most likely an intentional one.

Eventually, out of lack of anything better to do, Tails began cleaning up his work station just to get rid of some of the nervous energy jittering through his body. He glanced at his desk for any sign of flashing lights so often it was quickly becoming a compulsion, and so he forced himself to leave the room entirely. Crawling into bed had him feeling conflicted; he was so tired and on the verge of a crash, but he was terrified that any minute the device would return and he would miss it for hours.

In the end, physical needs won. Tails passed out the moment his head hit the pillow and he drifted off into restless sleep.

#sonic big bang 2024 #sonic the hedgehog #miles tails prower #tails nine #sonic #shadow the hedgehog

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