#comfort and little bit of angst

[lightan117]

A Softer Gentle Touch

**Yeah, here I am again. So, my Rook is a Mourn Watcher, and I'm a little sad that when we go to Teia to help plan Caterina's funeral, they don't really have the option to ask to help them besides the generic "let me help." Mourn Watchers help bury the dead and plan funerals. It would be touching if Rook offered to help plan or give advice since both Illario and Lucanis can't do it. Teia takes it upon herself as she feels obligated, but having someone else show that they care would speak volumes.**

I also added another little scene I wanted to write, so there's that! Jacobus needs a damn hug.

Warnings: Talk of death, funeral arrangements, some small act of violence but just threats, Lucanis looking at Rook with his puppy eyes,

Spoilers for Lucanis side quest

Pairings: Lucanis X (F)Mourn Watch Rook

~oOo~

Lucanis didn't know how to approach the subject.

Teia had sent word that she needed him to come to Treviso to help plan Caterina's funeral, but he just...couldn't move his feet when he wanted to move. Spite, of course, was calling him a coward in the back of his mind, saying how much his family found him such a disappointment now that he'd been labeled an abomination. He shouldn't even be considering attending, but Lucanis knew that Caterina would beat him if he didn't. Not to mention that it was the least he could do since getting captured. Still...there was Spite to worry about now. Spite could break out and cause a bigger problem that Lucanis didn't even want to consider.

"Mierda, what am I going to do?" Lucanis muttered to himself as he paced inside his pantry room. Why are you whining? No one will care. If you show up or not. Worthless. As always. Spite hissed in his ear and that fueled Lucanis's anger. "Quiet!"

"Lucanis?" Lucanis spun to see the last person he wanted to see.

Rook, or Daisy as she preferred to be called when not working, stood in the doorway of his room. One hand was raised to his door while the other was held behind her back. Ever since the coffee meeting with Illario, Lucanis started to watch her more. See her more. Daisy wasn't built like a typical elf; she had more curves and filled in her armor much more than Bellara. The color of her hair, the color of his favorite mulberry wine, was another stark contradiction to other elves he met. Besides her looks, her personality stuck with Lucanis the most. Daisy was always cheerful and kind even when she didn't need to be. She showed empathy when they found that Caterina had died. Maker, she bought him a wyvern-tooth dagger that he kept under his pillow because she knew he would like it.  

It's not that he needed it there, but just in case.

"Daisy. What can I help with?" Coward. Always. A. Coward.

"I was making my rounds and wanted to ensure you two were okay." The Mourn Watchers were proper, and it showed in her speech. Bellara and Harding must be rubbing off on her, as it's recently become more casual. As much as Lucanis would like to not bring him up, Daisy always asked about Spite.

"I-well. I need some help. Teia wants to meet."

"Oh, it must be important if the Seventh Talon is requesting you." Daisy smiled, and he couldn't help the slight twitch in his mouth.

"She wants to plan Caterina's funeral," Lucanis said, and the smile quickly faded from Daisy's face. Her expression morphed into one of concern as she stepped closer to him. "If you don't mind, I...could use some backup. In case Spite gets out of hand."

"Of course, Lucanis. Please let me know if I can do anything else. Would you like to leave now?" Daisy asked, fiddling with her hands as she spoke. She smells of peaches and fear. Fear? Spite didn't answer his thoughts.

Daisy tried not to bother Lucanis but couldn't help but ask if she needed to bring anything. When he questioned, she said Nevarran's funerals differed from house to house depending on traditions and their practices. Most base funerals in Nevarra include food and crying, and depending on how rich you are, there are specific treatments that some families receive. Afterward, there is a celebration of their life where people are happy, joking, and telling stories of the departed. Lucanis listened intensely as Daisy explained, watching her hands move along with her words, their excitement growing with each sentence. This was the first time he had seen her so excited to talk about her past. Harding is the one person who knows more about Daisy. Lucanis has learned that there is still a lot to her, and she refuses to speak much of her past before joining Varric to stop Solas. He found that Daisy always wears ear cuffs that cover most of her elven ears and wears clothing that is worn to cover most of her body; only her face and hands show. Every time she slouches, she suddenly remembers to sit up straight with a roll of her eyes.

Lucanis and Daisy planned to leave after dinner and informed the others to see if anyone else wanted to come to the city while they took care of business. Neve was the one who asked to come, as she wanted to pick up a few items from the market. Everything seemed to be in order as they made their way to the eluvian. Lucanis was quiet, but that was expected. Neve and Daisy whispered, discussing the items she needed while they were busy with the Crows. When they arrived, Daisy and Lucanis said goodbye to Neve before entering. Teia and Illario waited for them in the common area as they approached. Teia greeted them with a warm smile, "Good! You're here."

"Thank you for making the arrangements, Teia," Lucanis said.

"For Caterina...how could I do otherwise?" The smile drifted downwards a little as she addressed Lucanis directly. "I'm so sorry, Lucanis. This must be such a blow."

She then directed her attention to Daisy, whose smile returned. "Rook, thank you for coming with him. I need one Dellamorte to plan this. His cousin has been no help at all."

"I'm sorry, Teia. This is just...too much right now." Illario said sadly from where he stood to the side of her. His eyes cast downwards at the floor.

"Don't worry, Illario, I've been through many funerals in my training as a Mourn Watcher, so I'll help as much as possible. Please let me know how I can help you all." Daisy said, clasping her hands to her chest with her warm smile.

"You're always such a dear. I hope these two are paying attention." Teia said, causing the other two Crows to shift uncomfortably.

"Teia, don't flirt with my...colleague." Lucanis had trouble finding the correct word, but Daisy didn't think much of the slip. She wondered if Lucanis was afraid to say "friend" while Teia was plotting something as her gaze flickered between them.

"Jealous I might steal her away?" Teia teased. "Fine, to business then. There's not a lot to plan. But first, I need the ashes." Teia turned her attention to Illario next to her.

"The....ashes?"

"Maker, help us, yes, the ashes! Caterina's ashes. From the crematorium?" Teia looked frustrated, and Daisy tried hiding her disdain for burning the body. If they didn't burn the body, then there would be no mix-up and no mess in obtaining them. How could someone properly say goodbye if they do not see the person again?

"Oh. Yes. Of course. I'll get them to you right away." Illario said, some of his boyish, rogue charm seeping in to hide his mistake behind a smile. Daisy didn't appreciate how little he cared about the arrangements his family was making for the dead. He should be taking this seriously.

"Illario...what happened?" Everyone turned their attention to Lucanis.

"What do you mean?"

"Caterina. How...? How did the Venatori get to her? When? Where? In the estate? In the city?" Lucanis rattled every question he had been keeping locked inside since his return. "How did they get past our people? What did they use? Poison? Blades? I need to know..."

"Cousin, stop. You can't dwell on this. It'll drive you mad." Illario answered courtly.

"I'm not dwelling! Zara killed the First Talon. I have to know how if I'm going to stop her." Daisy wanted to comfort Lucanis but clenched her hands to stop them from moving.

"I told you, I'm handling it." Illario threw back at his cousin.

"Boys! Enough of this, and in front of our guest too. We have other matters to discuss." Teia interrupted with a face that made them both quiet down.

"My apologies, Andarateia. Continue without me. I'll get you the ashes." Illario apologizes, and then he is gone. Once he was well out of earshot, Daisy spoke up.

"Does he normally act like that, or does he seem off?"

"Illario can be a handful, but this...the only time I've seen him like this was when Lucanis died," Teia spoke as she looked over at Lucanis, who seemed bothered by something. "You're worrying, aren't you? What will people say if they hear "the Demon of Vyrantium" has a big soft heart?"

"He's been careless at times, but never with this own life was on the line." Lucanis rolled his eyes at Teia. "Zara took down the First Talon. Anyone could be next. And my cousin doesn't want to think about it."

Teia sighed, "You have a point. It's not like Illario to ignore a knife coming at him."

"What do you need from me for the funeral?"

"Come. I'll get us some drinks, and we can make the arrangements." Teia and Lucanis moved, but Daisy stood where she was, not knowing if the invite was also to her. Teia looked behind her and motioned her head to follow, so she did. "You don't have to be so shy around me, Rook, I won't bite." Lucanis made a groan that caused Teia to chuckle.

"It's not that. Nevarran funerals are very private affairs, and we take them very seriously. Are you okay with me being here? I don't want to offend anyone with helping." Teia was taken aback by the thought behind Daisy's words.

"I promise you, you are more than welcome here. I've only planned a couple of funerals myself, so any advice will be more than welcome." Teia linked her arm around Daisy's and pulled her toward the table where they would discuss the funeral.

"Of course." Daisy looked over at Lucanis, who gave her a reassuring smile. "Oh, I bought you this as well. It's a tradition that I normally do when planning a funeral. Lucanis said it was alright to bring them." Daisy reached into her small pack and took out the cookies she had made. Teia opened the package to reveal a plate of simple shortbread cookies.

Teia thanked Daisy with a grateful smile before they got to work. Teia gave them an overview of what she started with, and Daisy took everything in while muttering that if there was a book on Antiva funerals she could read about, that would help her. Lucanis brought up his parents' funerals from what he remembered and how his grandmother cared for everything. Daisy, of course, said they could meld the ideas together so that it would seem like a funeral his grandmother would stamp her approval on. She gave the Crows a reassuring hand on their shoulder whenever the topic started to sour, the cookies being a great snack that helped ease the pain. The necromancer became a comforting presence on the subject of death between the Crows. Lucanis could feel the heat of Daisy's hand through his armor, each time sending the warmth to his chest where his heart would begin to beat faster. Spite was in the back of his mind, commenting on her smell with each brush against the other.

On the other hand, Teia even asked questions about what Daisy would do, to which she replied that she had already arranged her own funeral. "When you graduate from the Mourn Watch, you must make arrangements for your own end. Nothing is set in stone, mind you, but it puts you in perspective that death can happen at any time. As Mourn Watchers, we must be okay with death and the end so that we may comfort anyone when called." Daisy explained with a smile on her face that spoke of pride. "I have a phrase that I repeat to those who seem to have trouble with looking at death the way that we do. I've even told a few Watchers when they are having difficulty."

"And that is?" Teia questioned, taking another cookie from the plate. Her fifth one.

"There is always a brighter side to death. It's a side we just can't see."

"A brighter side to death? I don't get it." Lucanis spoke as he sipped his wine.

"In death, we will be reunited with our loved ones once again. Yes, the living will feel the pain of losing them, but that is not the end. We shall see them again, as they will be waiting for us once our time has expired." Daisy explained, but there was a slight sadness in her tone. Teia and Lucanis had to stop finishing the plate and enjoying the cookies to the end. They continued until everything was sorted out well enough, the funeral date set for the next few days. Daisy promises that they will be here for it.

"Our house owes you for handling all this." Lucanis gave Teia his thanks as they packed up.

"Caterina was family. Can you imagine what she would say if she saw us all like this?" Teia gave Lucanis a look that spoke volumes about what Caterina would have said.

"She'd be furious. Especially at Illario. As usual." The crow shrugged his shoulders at the thought.

"I barely know him and could tell he's the sort to get himself in trouble," Daisy spoke. "I knew a student like that in my class. I always felt like he would get nowhere with everything he did."

"Oh, he is." Lucanis gave Daisy a smirk. "I've lost count of the times I've had to pull him out of the fire on the job."

"He's a good assassin. Most jobs don't have as many fires as yours do." Teia said, and Daisy hid her giggle behind her hand. "I'll have my people keep an eye on him for you."

"Thank you, Teia."

"Go on, I'll let you know if something comes up." Daisy and Lucanis went to leave, but Teia called to speak to Lucanis alone. Daisy said she would meet him by the zipline once they were done. Behind Daisy's back, Teia gave Lucanis a look at who their topic might be.

Daisy breathed in the air outside. Treviso was alive and loud. Sounds from below filled the air as she looked down upon the people going about their night. The air was warm as it brushed across Daisy's face; the smell of something spicy filled her nose. She could never get used to this sight and enjoyed every moment she stood overlooking the city. Even if it was one of Antiva's smaller cities, it brought many new experiences. Lucanis was right to say that this city was his favorite, even if he was a bit biased. Some piece of normalcy made the world feel quiet, even if it was just a fleeting moment. There was some muttering from a few of the Crows around her, but one name caught her attention. Jacobus. The poor young crow whose cousin died while fulfilling a contract. She, Lucanis, and Harding found him captured but alive in a warehouse in the Drowned District.

Unfortunately, his cousin, who had taken the contract, did not make it. His body only lay a few feet from Jacobus, his head smashed in pieces on the floor. Daisy could only hope that Jacobus wasn't there to witness it. Since they fulfilled the Dareth contract, Jacobus hasn't been the same. Daisy could see the anger and hatred coming from within. Whispers pass through the halls, and he still holds a grudge against the Antaam. He scowls and curses their name under his breath. The crows watch them with bird eyes as if waiting for the young man to snap completely. It saddens Daisy's heart that he still has not come to terms with Dareth's death.

"Hello Jacobus, how are you this fine night?" Daisy approached the young crow who leaned against the railing in one of the secluded alcoves the casino rooftop had. His face was set with one emotion of nothing, but his eyes held the same sadness.

"Oh, hey, Rook." Jacobus glances over at her. "I'm okay. Helping the Crows?"

"Actually, I am helping the Talons plan Caterina's funeral. I'm kind of an expert in these matters." Daisy said with some pride but with a soft smile. "How was your cousin's funeral? Forgive me for not attending, but I prayed over you both."

"Didn't have one." Jacobus scoffed and rolled his eyes. "And keep your prayers. Nothing will bring him back, and the Antaam are still here. Figures."

Daisy's smile dropped as she stepped closer, "Didn't have one?! You must have one; it's to help honor Dareth's life and provide closure."

"Closure?" Jacobus turned to face Daisy face to face, but his words spat out in anger. "Closure?! Nothing will bring my cousin back! He was the only family I had left in this world, and he's gone now, too! The only thing I want now is for all Antaam to die horrible, painful deaths like they inflicted on Dareth!"

"As you said before, nothing will bring Dareth back. Why do you dwell in the past in the dark?" Daisy stepped forward, and Jacobus stepped back. "You will never find the light, Jacobus, unless you step into it. Remember Dareth for who he was; his memory will live on with you. Leave his killers where they belong, in the past, like dust. Why must they take space in your mind so?" Daisy reached out to take hold of his hand. Jacobus tried to pull away, but her grip remained ironclad.

"Let go of me!" Jacobus struggled, but Daisy continued to hold on. Something inside Daisy called, urging her to hold on. Jacobus's anger and sadness overwhelmed him.

"You can scream and cry and mourn for your family, but do not allow your anger to drag you into the dark." Daisy pulled Jacobus to her, her hand cupping his face as she slowly allowed her magic to wash over the young crow.

"What are you doing?! Let me go! Some-" Jacobus gasped out as tears filled his eyes. They streamed down his face as his strength gave way, the waves of Daisy's magic washing over him.

"Let go, Jacobus. It is okay to mourn your dead. When you are done, you will move on and live." Daisy collapsed to the ground with Jacobus in her arms, his cries echoing. The mourn watcher held the young crow tightly to her as he mourned everything he had kept inside. A weight suddenly removed itself from his shoulders, allowing him to feel something besides the rage inside. He mourned the life he had before the Antaam took over Treviso. He mourned for the loss of his parents. He mourned over the loss of his childhood.

He mourned over the loss of the last remaining family.

And in his mourning, he felt love. He felt peace. He felt the pat on his head his cousin would give him when he would leave for contracts. Daisy's magic was simple and yet it worked just as she needed it to. In times of sadness, people close off their emotions and shut themselves off to others when they are in need of support. Daisy would be that support; allow them to feel warmth once again.

"It's not fair! It's not fair!" Jacobus cried into Daisy's lap. Her soft hands petted his hair while he continued to sob, slowly allowing her magic to dissipate.

"When it comes to those we love, loss is indeed not fair. We wish for more time, more memories, and more life, but when they are called away from us, we do anything to keep them. In our grief, we forget those around us that still remain." Daisy cupped Jacobus's face so that he looked at her, unshed tears in her eyes. "It is okay to be angry at those who hurt us, but we must not allow our anger to stop us from living. If we do, then we will never leave the dark."

"I don't know how," Jacobus whispered.

"One step at a time. Mourn your family. When that is done, find what you want to do, whether with the Crows or something else." Daisy's thumbs brushed away stray tears that continued to fall from his eyes. "No one will be angry. We will support you no matter what." Jacobus nodded his head and pulled away. Daisy remained where she was on the floor, watching Jacobus with kind eyes while he collected himself. Daisy pulled out a handkerchief from her pack to give to him.

"I want to stay with the Crows. It's what Dareth would have wanted." He wiped his eyes as he took deep breaths to calm himself.

"He would be very proud of you."

"I want to have a funeral for him as well. I just...don't know where to start."

"We can do something simple for him if you like. I'll take care of everything if you find a perfect spot." Daisy spoke as she slowly got to her feet. "Everything will be alright." She extended her hand down to the young crow. Jacobus took a second, looking up at the woman. It seems as if he is making a choice at the moment. To take her hand and accept help or not to take it...

He took it.

Daisy pulled him to his feet and ruffled his hair, all the while smiling. Jacobus cleared his throat and said he would send a letter once he got himself together and found a spot. Dareth deserved a perfect place. Daisy said she would gladly lend an ear when she was in town if he needed someone to talk to. Jacobus smiled and excused himself then, leaving Daisy alone. The peace was not long as Lucanis came around the corner not a moment later.

"You alright?" Lucanis asked, taking in her watery eyes and somber expression.

Daisy cleared her throat, willing away the unshed tears, "I was just chatting with Jacobus about his cousin. The mourn watcher in me couldn't help but stick my nose in his business. Even being removed, I still hold firm that I am one."

"I thought you were one?"

"Not exactly. You'll find out eventually, but I was with Varric because I was ordered to leave Nevarra. Quickly."

"They kicked you out? Of the country?" Did he hear that right?

"Not in so many words but mainly to never step foot in Necropolis until I was deemed forgiven for my transgressions. You see, there was...unrest among the undead nobility, which led to an all-out war called the War of the Banners to be born. I had led an attack on the rebellion's dueling leaders with a small group of mourn watchers I trusted. And it worked." Daisy sighed and leaned over the railing overlooking the city. "Many lives of living and undead were saved that day. However, because I killed many undead nobles, my actions were not to the strict honor of Mourn Watcher. Higher members of the Mourn Watch feared I had insulted the order's aristocratic patrons and questioned our core beliefs. So they told me to leave. They would send word of when I would be forgiven to come home."

I smell tears. Spite echoed in Lucanis's head, and he didn't need the demon to tell him that the topic was causing Daisy pain. Lucanis moved to stand next to her, looking at her face as tears slowly fell. "How long has it been since you've been home?"

"A little bit longer than yourself." Daisy chuckled sadly, wiping away her fallen tears. "Varric caught me leaving and said that if I was traveling, it would be a great idea to go together. That someone who is willing to end a war can also help put a stop to another one. So now I am here, stopping raging gods and everything else getting dragged out of the fade." Daisy turned to Lucanis with a bright smile. "And apparently saving known assassins from underwater prisons. My life has certainly been an adventure since joining Varric."

Lucanis chuckled and couldn't help but smile back at her. It was infectious and caused his stomach to tighten. Watching the tears fall, he wanted to brush them away. A strange pull to reach out and touch her, comfort her. She probably doesn't want you to touch her. Taint her with your brooding. What can she ever see. In. You? Lucanis clenched his hand into a tight fist, ignoring the demon hissing in his ear.

"It's not over yet, " Lucanis said softly. Daisy reached over to give his arm a squeeze.

"Exactly. Now, let's go find Neve, shall we? She must think we're lost or something. Or been captured but the Antaam." Daisy let go, making her way to the zipline. Lucanis stood there, his hand moving to where hers was touching him. After a moment, he composed himself and followed her, locking away the memory of the warmth she had provided deep within his mind.

~oOo~

*Before Lucanis found Daisy*

"You like her," Teia said quietly once Daisy was out of earshot.

"Like who? Daisy? No, I don't." Lucanis denied it rather too quickly, and he cursed himself for it. Teia smiled like a cat next to him as she took in Lucanis.

"It seems your time away from us has lessened your talent for lying. I saw how you stared at her while discussing plans and when she walked away." Teia nudged the Dellemorte with her elbow.

"I wasn't staring at her. I gazed, glanced in her direction maybe, but I wasn't staring."

"Of course, Lucanis. Whatever you say."

[goldetrash]

Nightmares (LMK Comic/storyboard/fake screenshots?)

Content warning: Blood, character death, sad monkeys

[starry-bi-sky]

Blood Blossom Au: before the nightingale sings

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for my batdad blood blossom au, the one where Vlad poisoned Danny with blood blossom extract and Danny ran away from him and ended up tumbling into the care of one Pre-Robin Battinson Batman :). A quick oneshot telling the tale of the tragic deaths of the Fentons

TW: Major Character Death Warning

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Not all deaths are created equal.

That is a valuable lesson in life to learn. One that Danny learns when he is eleven years old, standing in the pit of his parents’ creation; the culmination of their life’s work. The portal to the other side, the realm of the dead. To the infinite. 

He learns that when he’s eleven years old, in a hazmat suit that sags on him, and boots that clunk when he walks because the only ones that fit are his mom’s, and even those are too big. In gloves that he has to clench his fists in because otherwise they fall off. In goggles that slide down his nose even when he’s tightened them the farthest they can go. 

He learns that when he’s eleven years old, choking on giggles that harmonize with the laughter of his friends’ who stand at the mouth of the tunnel. Sam’s holding a polaroid in her hand. They’re just being kids. 

They’re not laughing when Danny’s hand hits the safety lock — the one with faulty wiring, the only one in the tunnel. The only one he could possibly hit. They’re not laughing when the portal buzzes to life, and the lights inside switch on row by row as the generator begins to rumble and hum. 

They’re not laughing when Danny dies. They’re screaming. They’re not screaming when he comes back.

Not all deaths are created equal.  

Some are poetic, beautiful. The satisfying close of a book as it comes to an end, of the hardback thumping soft against the pages like the sound of a door closing. A train run its course.

Some are violent; unsatisfying; unfair. The unexpected shattering of an egg as it rolls off the countertop when nobody is looking, the unmistakable crack as it falls to the floor. It is abrupt and messy. 

But most are just… unremarkable. Unintentional. Clumsy. 

Danny’s family dies one night in late January. He is thirteen years old, barely a month away from fourteen. It is unforeseen. It is preventable. It happens. 

It happens like this: 

Their water heater breaks one Monday in January. It’s old, sitting in the garage, and has dealt with nearly sixteen years of Fenton-grade chaos and shenanigans. Of parents tossing scraps and junk into the garage as brief storage to come back to later. Of illegal tune-ups on their vehicles that result in something exploding. Of little children running around and knocking things over, playing with poles and sticks they find on the ground, on the shelves. Of being lived and used.  

Something had to give. 

Jack Fenton notices it immediately when he comes upstairs that very afternoon — his children at school, his wife downstairs — to grab something from the garage. The very same scrap and used material they store like squirrels to use later. 

He stops what he’s doing to fix it.  

It wasn’t supposed to be permanent. 

Despite what many believe, Jack Fenton is not the idiot people make him out to be. He knows what he’s good at, he knows what he’s not. He knows he can be passionate and obsessive and single-minded about things. He knows that he is a scientist, an inventor; an engineer. 

He knows that he is not a plumber. That fixing water heaters is not something he knows how to do, not safely. And he loves his family. What he does is only meant to be temporary — a fix meant to only last a few days until they can call someone in who can fix it for them. 

So Jack Fenton futzes with the water heater, gives it a temporary stitch to last a short while, and reminds himself to call a plumber later that day to come in and fix it. He turns and leaves the garage with the part he came for —  a sheet of metal for his wife to melt down — and disappears back downstairs. 

He does not make that call; it slips from his mind. 

It is not his fault. 

One day passes, then two, then suddenly it is Thursday. The water heater has still not been fixed, the water heater has been forgotten. It is nobody’s fault.  

Danny asks his parents at breakfast if he can stay over at Tucker’s house for the night. Just one night. They’re going to study for their math test and then play video games until midnight, but he only tells his parents that first half. 

He’s been doing well in school. Really well — better than he has in a while. There’s been a delightful lull in ghost appearances for the last few weeks. The living don’t know why, but Danny does. The Winter Truce always calms the dead down for a while, something about how the Zone cleanses itself twice a mortal year and that fresh wave of ecto clears out the old and brings in the new. 

This year Danny got to participate. He’s feeling the effects of it too, and he’s been sleeping consistently well for the first time since the accident. 

It’ll never happen again. 

His parents agree under the condition that he doesn’t stay up late, and Danny harmlessly lies through his teeth and agrees. He goes and throws overnight clothes into his school backpack, and when he leaves for school with Jazz his parents are already departed into the lab. 

The last conversation he has with his sister is in her car on the drive to school. Inane, mindless conversation to fill the air and pass the time. Jazz comments on how relaxed he’s been lately; Danny tells her about the Winter Truce. She listens in rapt attention. 

She tells him that she’s glad to see him so well-rested. She thinks her little brother’s been growing up too fast these days. She thinks he’s been too tense. Too caught up with the spinning of the world around him that he forgets about himself sometimes. 

When they reach school, before Danny can get out of the car, Jazz looks to her little brother and says; “I love you.” 

Her little brother’s cheeks turn an embarrassed shade of red. He makes a scrunched up, grossed-out face, but can’t hide the smile pulling across it. “Don’t be a sap, Jazz. I’ll see you later.” He tells her, yanking his hood up over his head. She hears the bashful, ‘love you too’ before he walks away. 

That is the last conversation she ever has with her brother. 

Thursday is unremarkable, passing by in its normality as it always does. There’s one, maybe two ghost sightings; shades lurking around in curious infancy that are easily spooked away by the presence of a greater being. Danny doesn’t even have to go ghost. 

Thursday evening is even less so. Danny goes to Tucker’s house — Sam has a prior arrangement with her slam poetry club — and the two of them study for an hour before they toss their textbooks aside and reach for the game console. 

Danny sleeps in Tucker’s room with one of the extra blankets on his bed, curled across the room in one of the bean bag chairs. It shouldn’t be comfortable, but to Danny it is. He sleeps throughout the night, the portal shut down by his parents before they’d gone to bed. 

Early Friday morning, before the sun has even risen yet, before it’s even so much as a concept to grace the horizon, the water heater breaks again. It was supposed to be fixed. 

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Odorless and scentless, it kills within minutes. It fills the house like a shadow casting over the ground, creeping into the rooms. 

Danny’s family die in their sleep; painless and unaware. 

It’s not Jack Fenton’s fault. He didn’t mean to.  

Nobody wakes up with their alarms. 

Danny wakes up to Tucker Foley’s alarm on Friday morning, and he turns his head intangible and shoves it into the beanbag chair like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand. Tucker gets up before him, and throws a pillow at him as he reaches for the alarm. 

There’s laughter, messing around. The both of them get dressed, and Danny has breakfast with the Foleys that morning. He takes the bus to school with Tucker, and they meet Sam by their lockers. 

To him, everything is as normal as it should be. There are no ghosts for him to fight right now, school is as school does, and he’s on top of all his schoolwork. 

He does not see Jazz at all that morning, he doesn’t notice. Their schedules are so different, their routes on different paths, that it’s not uncommon for Danny to not see Jazz until he gets home some days. That’s if there’s no ghost attacks. 

At lunch, he gets approached by her friends. Worried creases between their brows, they ask him if he’s seen Jazz. She hasn’t shown up to any of her classes. She’s not answering their texts. It’s unprecedented of her; unheard of. 

Danny doesn’t admit to the concern that swells in his gut when they tell him this. He shrugs at them, and says he hasn’t seen her either. But it was probably nothing to worry about; she might just be sick and sleeping it off. 

He offers to text her and let them know if he gets a response, and that seems to ease her friends enough that they shuffle away in uncertainty. He keeps his word, and does exactly that. He pulls out his phone and opens her contact, and shoots her a message.

‘Where are you?’ 

He doesn’t get a response back, Danny is left on sent. He puts his phone in his pocket, and with a sense of unease creeping in the back of his mind, goes on with his day. He gets no response by the time the final bell rings; and he tries not to be worried. 

The house is quiet when he opens the door. Unusually quiet. He drops his backpack to the floor, it lands with a hearty thunk, and begins to take off his jacket. “Mom! Dad!” He yells. He hangs it up, and slips his shoes from his feet. “Jazz skipped school today!”

A laughable untruth that would get his sister all riled up normally; she should be able to hear him from the front door if she was in her room. The house just stays dead silent. 

He can’t even hear the usual banging and crashing from the lab. His unease returns. He reaches for the intercom that leads directly down to the basement, and presses the button to turn it on. A burst of static, and then he speaks;

“Mom? Dad?” 

Danny lets go, and waits for a response. He gets none back. That never happens, not when the house is this quiet. Not when he knows they should’ve heard him. 

Something sickly and fearful borns in the pit of his stomach, and begins to snake upward. He heads for the lab. The cool metal of the door is familiar in the grooves of his hand, and he doesn’t even need to think about the code as he punches it in;  he simply lets muscle memory guide him. It’s been the same since he was little. 

The door hisses as the pressure is released, and he swings the door open. He takes the stairs down two at a time. Something is wrong. His parents aren’t answering him. His feet pound against the metal. 

“Mom? Dad?” He calls again, more worried, more frantic. More scared. His voice echoes down the stairwell, and he reaches the bottom before it’s fully faded. The lab is empty. The portal is still shut down. 

It was four in the afternoon, they should still be down here. 

Danny races back upstairs, fear-raised nausea coiling in his throat. “This isn’t funny you guys!” He yells when he reaches the top, shoving open the door with more force than necessary. His head swims, his voice cracked. 

He checks the garage, the car is still there. 

“Mom!? Dad!” His voice bellows out throughout the first floor, loud enough that it bounces back at him and rings against his ears. He’s never raised his voice this much — mom would scold him if she heard him. But she doesn’t show up. “Jazmine!” 

Finally, he goes upstairs, and he can’t tell if what he’s feeling is anger or terror. Something is very, very wrong. 

He swings the door of his parents’ rooms open first, and there they are, with the lights still off and the curtains still drawn. As if they hadn’t left their bed all day. Some of Danny’s fear lifts from his shoulders just by the sight of them, but he’s still trembling. Something is still wrong — the room smells… off. Not good, not bad. Just… off. 

He swallows dryly, his throat still thick, and steps into the room. “Mom, dad?” They do not stir. “Didn’t you guys hear me yelling?” 

There is only room static. Danny’s heart shrivels in his chest with a tenfold return of terror, he feels ill. He remembers, just now, that they’re not heavy sleepers, and his dad should be snoring like a freight house. 

Danny reaches their bedside in seconds, hand outstretching for the covers, “Momma? Dad?”

Not all deaths are created equal. 

But many of them are accidental. Unmeditated. Shocking.

Danny Fenton finds his family dead in his childhood home. He runs to his neighbors in hysterics, inconsolable, in tears. Nine-one-one is called, but there is nothing that can be done. They were dead for hours by the time Daniel Fenton returned home. 

He sits on the front steps of the neighbor’s house beside FentonWorks, his jeans slowly becoming wet from the snow that was unable to be scraped off, and watches the paramedics cart out his family beneath white sheets. There are police cars blocking off the street, yellow tape blocking off his house, red-blue lights lighting up the block, an ambulance on the scene. He is wrapped in a shock blanket, and he is missing his jacket and his shoes. His tears are freezing onto his face, he can’t feel the chill. 

Not all deaths are created equal

But all of them are unforgettable. 

[nomstellations]

"Aren't you excited? After this you're going to be a real predator like the rest of us!"

I look down at your trembling form, curled up in my palm. I'm not too sure where they found you, but I'm sorry that you were found at all. I never asked to be a part of this, but being born into a family of people-eaters isn't something anyone asks for. I have no interest in eating anyone alive, but traditions are traditions...and I worry that if I don't, someone else will definitely hurt you. The expectant, excited looks on everyone's faces are mirrored by my reluctant expression, and I study you again. I'll try to make this quick.

When I lift you up to my mouth, you don't make a sound. Even when my warm breath washes over you and you touch my tongue, you don't kick or cry out. Have you already accepted your fate as my food? I nearly choke on you when I swallow- you're so small, yet you're bigger than anything I've ever eaten. Cheers and applause ring out from my peers, but I can only focus on how strange it is to have something living sliding down my throat. It feels good, which makes a pang of guilt stir up within me. I was made for this, but I don't like it.

I can feel you slide into my stomach, still shaking out of fear. My peers congratulate me, but all of my attention is on you. I couldn't apologize then, but when I am left alone I will free you. Neither of us asked for this, and I can only hope you'll forgive me.

[nburkhardt]

😇 🎄

With winter coming up that means holidays and that means, he’s going to be alone for a long period of time and truthfully?

He’s not ready.

He’s not ready to be at a house that isn’t a home, that his go-to escapes are busy with their families and traditions.

Busy going away to visit family and enjoying the warm of homes.

Steve’s been dreading this month, not just for the bad memories from the upside down. But because since the age of fourteen, he’s been on his own. Before fourteen, it was being shipped off to grandparents and as a child he loved it.

Holidays with his grandparents was fun and loud, full of life. He’d get new toys, shoes and even a bike! Then his parents decided he was old enough to be alone, that they didn’t need to spend money to ship him off to another state and back.

Now at nineteen, he could technically travel by himself. With his own money even. But every time he thinks of buying a ticket or starting to pack an overnight bag, his hands shake and there’s a whisper about how it’ll all come back the minute he’s gone.

So, he stops and continues to move around a lifeless house and pull a smile on his face around his friends. Lies to their faces about how his family will come by and not to worry about him.

But as he waves Robin off, he realizes maybe he should’ve figured out something else. Because now, now with his soulmate going out of state for the holidays, he’s actually alone now.

Oops my bad, had some thoughts and this popped out 😇

A fluffy and sappy follow up

Permanent tag list under the cut

@spectrum-spectre @itsfreakingbats @mysticcrownshipper @artiststarme @thereindeerlady @justforthedead89 @ronniescontinuum @freyaforestafay @littlewildflowerkitten @gregre369 @zerokrox-blog @flustratedcas @carlprocastinator1000 @marvelmwah @solliesolesito @navnae @i-less-than-three-you @grimmfitzz @estrellami-1 @cartercaptainofthemoon @strangersteddierthings

[whump-in-the-closet]

My congrats on the follower milestone. For the whump ask thing, perhaps this dialogue?

“My dear Leader, you think you have all the choices right now but really you only have two. You or them? Choose carefully.l

thanks im continuously surprised by how many people put up with my shenanigans <2

cw: creative license was used for this prompt oops, branding, forced to choose, creepy whumper, prisoner whump, team whump, mentions of past torture, implied flogging, restraints and manhandling

Leader had stopped caring. About anything, really. So when the guards chained his hands above him, he let them.

He was past caring. He stared at the tiles with dead eyes. His heart pulsed slowly, each moment dragged out. It was funny, how quickly, everything could fall apart.

Very human fingers brought him out of his mind, grabbing his chin and forcing his face upwards. 

Leader stared at Supervillain. Once– it felt long ago, but it couldn’t have been that long– he would have jerked away from the touch. Snarled a curse. But now he simply couldn’t bring himself to care. So, he took it.

Some of that sentiment must have betrayed itself in Leader's expression because Supervillain's grip tightened, nails breaking skin. “Tired, hm?" They dropped the young man's chin and ran a hand through the strands, the touch deceptively soft before tightening. Supervillain yanked Leader's head up by his hair, forcing him to look straight ahead. "Pay attention."

Two guards brought in a cauldron of burning coals, an iron ominously sticking out. Leader again felt its phantom pain, his side throbbing under its memory. He winced. He couldn’t help it. That– that had hurt. For days. 

There was a brief flicker of sarcasm.

Been there, done that.

It had been a while since Supervillain had resorted to anything so violently painful.

He could take it. 

He’d taken worse. 

Still, Leader did not look at the iron. Or the coals. He stared straight ahead and tried to remember how breathing worked. 

Supervillain smiled down at him like they knew something he didn't. Once the thought appeared, he couldn’t get rid of it. Something was different. Bile worked its way up his throat.

Something was wrong. 

Leader suppressed a shudder.

Before he could take another breath, the other shoe dropped.

A fourth guard carried a bleeding figure into the room. She dropped her burden unceremoniously onto the cold tiles before the cauldron with the branding iron.

The captive's head hit the floor with a sickening thud. They didn’t move. 

Supervillain glanced from the new arrival to Leader, wondering idly when he would make the connection. 

Leader's eyes widened in horror.

Supervillain's smile lit up the room. "Ah, yes. Took you long enough to put two and two together." They leaned in to whisper in Leader's ear. "I found them...oh so alone. A shame, really."

To Leader, the world was spinning and it wouldn’t stop. His vision blurred. 

Surely the captive, with terrible lacerations down their back, barely conscious, visibly shaking– surely, that wasn’t, of all people, Whumpee. 

God. 

Leader made a strangled noise in his throat– a silent scream– like someone had punched him. 

Supervillain stepped back, more than pleased with themself, and beckoned to their guard. They whispered something and the guard nodded. 

Leader couldn’t rip his gaze away from the shaking form that was left of Whumpee. 

Oh.

Oh god.

Leader hadn’t realized he was crying until the tears blurred his vision. He had failed his team. He had failed at the one job he had.

Leader threw up then. His throat burned. Then again, so did his eyes. “Whumpee?” he whispered, the name barely loud enough to be heard. 

No response. 

“What did you do to them?” This too, was whispered. 

No one answered that, either. 

The guard grabbed Whumpee, hauling them to their feet roughly. They cried out when the guard's hands dug into the lashes on their arms.

Leader stiffened. “Let go of them.” Some of the old command worked its way into his voice. 

Supervillain lit a cigarette and flipped the lid of their lighter closed with a flick of their wrist. They nodded to the guard, ignoring Leader.

Immediately, two more guards grabbed Whumpee, shoving them to their knees and bending their arms to awkward angles behind their back. 

Whumpee flinched, shrinking away from their touch. "Please-- P-please don't---"

And Leader snapped. 

That was Whumpee they were manhandling. One of his team. Someone who had stood by him through thick and thin. Someone who had, once, trusted him.

Leader lunged forward. “Don’t touch them! Don’t–” another lunge, the chains digging into his wrists, “Touch them!” 

Supervillain exhaled a breath of smoke. “What an unusual display from you,'' Their voice was sharp, “Pull yourself together.” 

Leader did not pull himself together. He continued to yank against the restraints, all semblance of aloofness gone. “Supervillain, let them go! I’ll do anything. Please!” 

And he meant it. 

Supervillain crouched down beside Leader to exhale another breath of smoke. This time, in Leader's face. “My dear Leader, you think you have all the choices right now but really you only have two." They lowered their voice. "You or them?"

Leader paled to the color of bone. “You– you can’t be serious."

"You remember the branding iron, don't you?" Supervillain's smile was shark-like, bright in the darkness. “You know what that’s like.” They pressed a cold hand against Leader's abdomen, their nails digging into the sensitive skin.

The brand’s phantom pain spread through his entire rib cage, lacing around his bones and coating them, again, in fire. 

Leader stiffened, blood turning to ice in his veins. Fuck. His mouth went dry as he looked from Whumpee, limp in the guard's grip, to the branding iron, red-white against the coals. Again, the floor dropped out from below him, leaving him spiraling.

It took all of his strength to find his voice. "I'll take it."

Supervillain stood up. They grinned. "You know what? You've managed to fuck up my plans so many times...yes, I think I'd like to watch you fuck up for once."

Leader didn't understand. "W-what?"

Supervillain ruffled his hair, patchy and bloodstained. "You never had a choice, dear."

Leader lunged against the chains. “No!” he shouted. “No! I said I would do it--”

His wrist made a snapping sound even as he threw himself again, and again. His voice gave out, cracking into a sob. "Fuck you--"

The guards chained Whumpee to the wall, tightening them to the point until stones dug into Whumpee's raw back.

Leader cursed every foul name when Supervillain picked up the branding iron.  "Don't-- Don't you dare!"

But when Whumpee screamed his name, begging him to make it stop, please, Leader went feral. He struggled frantically-- uselessly. He had never been more useless. The chains did not relent and the hand that held the brand was steady. Crimson blood traced a silky path down his arm, dripping to the tiles.

Whumpee's pleas fell on deaf ears. 

There was the horrible smell of burning skin. 

And a scream.

Leader would never forget that scream. 

Supervillain pulled the brand away, and Whumpee slumped forward, unconscious. Supervillain undid their restraints and let them collapse to the ground, stepping around them with a flicker of disgust. 

They ordered the guards to undo Leader's chains. “There’s not much damage he can do in here," they said.

And they left Leader alone with the battered captive, their still form twitching under the curling remnants of agony. 

Leader dropped down beside Whumpee, knees hitting the floor with all the force of a guillotine dropping. He worked quickly, taking off his own shirt and ripping it apart– first bandaging the brand and then trying to stem the blood from the flogging. It was a messy job and he did it poorly, with only the expertise of having previously done the same work on himself. 

Whumpee's eyes remained closed. 

Despair crouched inside Leader and it smiled. It smiled like Supervillain. Leader cried then. Hoarse sobs that ripped his vocal chords to shreds. 

Whumpee stirred. They exhaled softly– a small groan escaping their lips. They squeezed their eyes shut like they were still hoping this was some nightmare they could escape. 

Leader's voice was gone. He could say nothing. Provide no comfort. No reassurance. It was with hesitant movements that he moved Whumpee's head onto his lap, shielding them with his body as much as he could.

Please tell me you’re alright. 

Tell me we’ll be alright. 

Whumpee's entire body shook.

Nothing was alright.

[gilded-gheists]

My feelings towards ao3 this morning.

[bamboobooshark]

DIN DJARIN X READER

☆⋆.𖦹° ANOTHER TIME : 2.2K WRDS

<RATING: PG-13, PRIMARY CLUB SETTING, “TOUCHY” & PROTECTIVE DIN DJARIN>

A/N: If you read my update/notice post, you know I mentioned Star Wars fics coming up, and I had a Din Djarin fic planned. Here’s something for him! I’ve only watched a bit of season one so this may be out of character; bear with me! !!Also, reader is not part of the Mandalorian, but calls Din cyar’ika (darling) several times!!

GIF CREDS: PEROTOVAR

The Mandalorian, Mando, Din Djarin. He goes by many names, but you call him cyar’ika just as he does to you. Sure, you two will call each other by your actual names, but that’s reserved for being around Din’s friends or family, or when you need to have a serious discussion. Otherwise, that precious Mando’a term of endearment is used in place of your names.

 

Unfortunately for you, Din had accepted to go out with his friends, but he considered them “our friends” if you’ve done as little as met them. With him being protective, he did only accept to attend on the condition that he could bring you with him. It might be odd to see you of all people next to him, but Din could care less. He prefers to see you next to him and feel you to help his mind assure itself that you are real and you are safe.

Din sighs as he steps off of the Razor Crest, holding your hand tightly in his. Both of you give each other a knowing look that says, “We probably don’t belong here.” “Did your friends really invite you to a club?” you ask with bewilderment. “It seems like it,” he replies, sounding annoyed that they’d assume he would genuinely enjoy going here. You try to look on the bright side of things and give him a nervous smile. “It’ll be a new experience for both of us! Maybe it’ll be fun too,” you hum as you press yourself to his arm. As much as Din wants to stay negative about this situation, he sighs and gives in. “You’re right, cyar’ika. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try something new,” he replied. You give him a now genuine smile before tightening your grasp around his hand. “That’s what I like to hear,” you praise, gaining a somewhat bashful noise from Din. He looks between the control panel and you hesitantly. “Are you ready? Are you sure that you have anything? I do not want you to get worried,” he questioned with seemingly more concern for you than you had for yourself. You let out a huff while smiling and nodding. Your fingers cup and squeeze his reassuringly. “I’m absolutely sure I have everything, cyar’ika,” you inform him after mentally checking off that you genuinely did have everything.

“Mando,” he states before clearing his throat, the sound of his voice louder from the modifier in his helmet. “You must remember to call me Mando around our friends,” he reminds you as he turns to look at you. You let out a mix between a whine and dramatic groan. “I know, Din, trust me. I was just calling you cyar’ika one last time before I won’t be able to for a while,” you hum in response. His chest falls noticeably before he nods. “Let’s go, then,” he says as he moves his hand from your hand to place it on the small of your back. This is one of those moments where Din is endlessly grateful for his creed because the most proud smirk crawls onto his lips. He knows you’d do anything for his hands to guide you somewhere—do anything for him to have you in his hands protectively. A shakey breath slips from your lips at the way his gloved fingers press against your back in such a possessive manner. “Mando,” you murmur under your breath before he pushes you forward a bit. “I said we should get going. I’m sure our friends are waiting for us,” he tells you. You nod your head in agreement as you two walk into the club.

 

The second you two step in, it definitely is a new experience. This place seems like the most popular spot in the galaxies. However, you know Din Djarin. You know that he’d never let you leave his sights, let alone his grasp. Despite your confidence that he trusts you to stay near him, he leans close to your face for extra precautions. “You can wander around, but you’re staying near me the entire time,” he whispers, the modifier in his helmet making his voice crackle slightly. You nod your head in understanding before starting to walk slowly, trying to take in the scene before you. There’s booths and tables of to the side of a large dance floor in the middle of the club, two bars on either side, and a restricted section in the back. Mando notices your eyes drawn to the closed-off area in curiosity and quickly moves his hand to pinch your hip, causing you to yelp and smack at his hand. “Din! Stop that,” you grunt to him. He chuckles softly before grazing his thumb against the bit of skin his pinched. “We already discussed that you don’t need to wander off. I’m simply making sure you don’t get too curious,” he explains truthfully, though jealous of what you could’ve been imagining. You roll your eyes before his hand returns to your back. He gently guides you over to a more secluded-looking booth. “Better,” he grunts when he sits down against the plush leather, his armor clattering against itself as he does. “Much better,” you agree as you slide onto the spot next to him. He moves his arm up against the booth to wrap an elbow over your shoulder. His hand lovingly caresses your shoulder and neck. A few moments of lacking banter is anything but quiet due to the loud setting. The tension is still silent and thick, though. “You said your friends invited you here. Where are they?” you ask curiously as you tap your foot against the sleek tile floor. Din sighs in response to your question. “They’re our friends. I’ll make that clear right now,” he says sternly before softening his tone. “And they said they'd come find me eventually. They may be getting drinks or something to eat right now,” he assumes as he moves his leg, resting his free hand on his thigh. You can’t help but glance down at his hand. Your own moves to the opposite thigh, and you squeeze slightly, earning a praising chuckle from Din. “Don’t get too touchy. We’re still out right now, cyar’ika,” he mumbles, calling you that sweet name for the first time in public. Your muscles tense at the entire interaction—his tone, the whispering, the slight distortion of his voice, how cocky he sounds. When you let yourself breathe again, your body slightly slumps down along the leather of the booth’s padding. “You said we can’t call each other than when we’re around others,” you grumble to him. Din rubs your shoulder in attempts to soothe your pout. “We’re not around our friends or any family. I doubt anyone here knows me or heard me. I was quiet; that was an exception,” he excuses with a good point in his words. You groan while running your hands down your face. “Fine. Have it your way,” you accept before leaning close to Din’s helmet. Your hand moves to caress the side of his helmet before you get close to him. “I like it when you call me cyar’ika somewhere so crowded,” you murmur to him. He grunts, moving to get comfortable as his muscles tense. “I know you do,” he replies while moving his hands to sit you back down. “Stay there,” he demands as his hands cross against his chest. You sigh but accept his command, unintentionally mimicking his figure.

“Mando! There you are,” one of friends, Bion—an older man with dark skin and wrinkles that’s complimented with salt and pepper hair—greets with a smile. “How’ve you been, man?” he asks while leaning down to hug him. “Same as usual. Doing bounties. Traveling with my partner,” he shrugs while facing the man. Bion leans forward to look past Din and wave at you. “Hey, kid! I hope you’ve been good too,” he says sweetly before moving to sit across the two of you in the circle booth. You nod and smile in return, “I’ve been well. Just accompanying Mando as usual!” Another one of Din’s friends, Agni—a rather pale man with freckles, dirty blonde hair, and scars that litter his body—joins Bion in the booth. “Greetings,” he says quietly while waving to you and Din. Agni is pretty similar to Din personality-wise. Though he’s more reserved and shy than stoic like Din.

Once all four of you are settled in and caught up, Agni and Bion order some drinks for themselves while you and Din opt for something to eat. It’s been a long day; you and Din ended up skipping lunch because you two believed you got to the bar sooner than now. Once the food and drinks arrive, you all absolutely scarf down and chug what you ordered.

 

The rest of the night has been pretty fun. You and Din ended up dancing to some horribly loud music after lots of encouragement from Agni and Bion. You were stepping on each other's feet, almost tripping with each step, but you two were enjoying yourselves. As the song you just danced to ended, you and him shared a moment of silence and admiration between each other. Your chests fall and rise unevenly together, bodies sweating, soft chuckles being shared. “I wouldn’t have ever expected you to dance. Espically not in public,” you lightheartedly tease. “You danced with me. It made it less humiliating than I expected it to be,” he explained genuinely. He quickly slipped his hand around your waist and moved you away from the crowd. Both of you look around in search for Bion and Agni. After a few seconds of searching, you point over the two heading to the restricted area that caught your eye earlier. “Oh my god,” he sighed, his hand unintentionally squeezing you tightly for a beat. “I have no clue what they’re doing over there, but I don’t want to know,” you think out loud to him. He nods in agreement before clicking his tongue. “Do you want to go home? I’m tired, and I don’t think I can take anymore of this straining club,” he groaned. You hum a quick yes, and he has the two of you at the Razor Crest in no time. He presses a few symbols into the control panel at the door while you stand at his side, your head resting on his shoulder as he does so. A welcoming beep comes from the piece of technology, and your heads turn to watch the hatch open slowly. Din yawns, his muscles tensing and stretching under your touch. “Don’t do that or else I’ll—“ you paused as a yawn of your own leaves your throat. “Damn it,” you grunt as he silently laughs.

 

Around an hour later, you and Din are full, fresh, and clean. Your head rests comfortably on your pillow as he lays next to you. His hand roams to absentmindedly rub your thigh, causing you to sigh in relief. “You’re so clingy,” you tease him. “You like that I’m clingy. Don’t lie to me, cyar’ika,” he retorts. You give him a mix of a groan and a laugh—groaning because you don’t want him to be right, but laughing because he is. “You win,” you accept quickly. A comfortable silence lies between you two. However, a question soon surfaces in your mind. You look over at Din and caress his skin. “Do you ever think I’ll get to call you cyar’ika around your friends? I hate not being able to get as affectionate, and I want to be able to gush about how amazing of a lover you are,” you explain to him. He releases a deep sigh, giving your thigh a squeeze. You decide now would be a good time to ask more about the affection between the two of you. You sit up and place your hand on top of his. “When will I finally get to feel your lips on mine? When will we get to bump our foreheads together? When will I finally get to gaze into your eyes like you say you do to mine?” you question, getting breathless at the end. Din sits up with a grunt. He beckons you to his arms, holding your head to his chest. His heartbeat soothes you as he caresses up and down your arm. “Not tonight, cyar’ika. Another time though. I promise,” he assures you. He pauses before confessing something he’s wanted to for a while. “I’m willing to break my creed for you. I love with my entire being, and I’m willing to show that love with every part of my body,” he tells you. Tears prick your eyes, causing a few hiccups and strangled breaths from you. “Din,” you mumble softly. “Don’t cry, cyar’ika. I’ve got you. I love you,” he says in attempts to comfort you. Your tears that threatened to break free subside from his words as you press your cheek against him. “I love you too, Din. I’m sure I’ll love your face too,” you add with a chuckle. You move from his arms, grab his helmet, and kiss the metal that had slightly warmed from his blushing. He shakes his head before beginning to rub your back. “I’m glad you think that highly of me.”

[lightan117]

Come back to me

**I needed my angst fic. Yeah, once again, I have no idea what is going to happen, and this is just what has been replying in my brain before I go to sleep, as I lie in bed. Angry and worried Lucanis over my Rooks well-being**

***Anyone else questions what happens when the healer is down in your party? Do you scream oh fuck or just chug a shit ton of potions until you notice there isn't any?**

**Btw, italics is Spite talking**

Warnings: Blood/Injury/Getting impaled/Angst/Near-death experience/violence/Necromancy coming in handy

Pairing: Lucanis x (F)Rook Mourn Watcher

~oOo~

Everything happened too quickly.

Hardly any time to react at all.

If anyone questioned Daisy after all was said and done, if she did it again, she would answer with a smile and a yes. There would be no guilt in her answer, as she wholeheartedly believed that the life of someone she cared about was worth ten times more than her own life. During times of war, there are always casualties. You never know when you will have a final breath or moment. Daisy promised everyone she cared about that she would do her utmost to keep as safe as possible to ensure everyone could still smile at the end of the day. There was enough sadness in the world. At the time, she didn't understand why fear had crippled her for just a moment. Lucanis can take care of himself along with Davrin, but she worries when her eyes notice the hidden mage. A feeling tickled the back of her neck, her hair stood on edge, and this wave of uneasiness washed over her like a cold bucket of water her bullies used to pour on her. What followed was a faint whispering she heard as a child while learning how to commune with spirits. Like an itch at the base of her skull, the words she couldn't make out, but it was a warning.

A warning that something was going to happen.

Two of her skeletons were already engaged, so she was the only backup for her team. With a wave of her hand, she sent a barrier over her comrades before sending a shockwave toward the hidden mage. He was flown back a few feet before suddenly he was pouched on by one of her skeletons. When she heard a shout, she turned to see that Lucanis was having a little trouble. Daisy moved in closer when suddenly a shadowy figure appeared a few feet behind Lucanis. The whispers she had heard were not about the mage—she wasn't listening—they were about the rogue. Now, they were yelling at her to move. Emmrich would scold her for not listening to the spirits, telling her how important it was to pay attention; such an apprentice move on her part.

Without thinking, she ran forward.

There was a sharp pain in her stomach. Daisy could make out a wicked grin that was moving, but the world went quiet. This loud hush deafened the world around her as this blooming pain continued to grow. She slowly looked down to see a dagger impaled through her.

Realization kicked in that she had taken the stab for Lucanis, the rogue standing in front of her with his other armed hand coming closer to her. When the second white hot, searing pain came, she quickly took hold of the rogue's arms, eyes locked with anger. The venatori, at first, was gloating about driving his daggers deep into her, but that gloating quickly wore off once he could start to feel the prickling of the air around him. "Despair." Purple, ghostly hands floated from around Daisy; fingers outstretched toward the man as waves of decaying stench flooded his senses. Fear gripped the man's chest as he released his hold on his weapons, cowering back at the sight. Strange laughing could be heard inside his head, causing him to scream, drawing the attention of Lucanis, who took the chance to throw one of his daggers into the man's eye socket.

Daisy fell to her knees as her breath came out in short huffs. There was a scream, and maybe someone shouted her name before Daisy felt her body suddenly go cold momentarily. The daggers stuck out of her as she continued falling to the floor. Her cheek met the ground, and the taste of iron flooded her mouth.

Sounds came and went as she continued to lie there for what felt like forever. Her thoughts drifted back to her life, her mothers, her friends, the spirits she's helped, to him...oh...why was she thinking of him like that now? Why could she see his face so clearly in her mind, this frown on his face for being so careless? He'd warned her countless times before to be careful, but why did it hurt so much now? He always said she should wear more armor under her robes or at least carry a dagger, but Daisy always said she didn't have to worry if he was around. Daisy's following thoughts were of her mothers with the same frown; they had told her to watch after herself and to contact them should she need anything. They would be so upset to learn how she died. She was dying, right? This is how someone dies?

"Daisy!" The voice was clear and harsh as she was brought into someone's arms. Above her was Lucanis, cradling her closely to him while being mindful of the blades sticking out of her. "Mierda...why did you do that?! You shouldn't have done that; I could have taken the blow." He hissed and tried to decide on the best course of action, but deep down, he was panicking. Lucanis Dellamorte doesn't panic. At this moment, he was. Oh, now you're worried about her? You keep denying that you don't have feelings, but here you are, losing your head. She's going to lose her head, too. She's dying. She's losing too much blood. Lucanis growled at the demon, its thoughts weaving around in his mind.

"I didn't want you to get hurt...just..moved when I saw the rogue appeared behind you." Daisy huffed out as she tried to calm her breathing as much as possible, but panic started to set in. "I've been impaled...spirits, it hurts."

"Lucanis!" Davrin had just finished the last vint when he made his way over to the pair. "Shit. Maker, that's not good."

"You think?! Give me a potion and some bandages." Davrin knelt and retrieved a health potion and bandages from his pack. "Drink this; it will slow the bleeding." Lucanis directed Daisy, practically forcing the liquid into her mouth. She struggled and fought him for a few moments before her brain caught up to what was happening before choaking what she could down. "We must get her to a healer or back to the Lighthouse. I cannot help her here." The blood from her wound was starting to seep between his gloved fingers as he did his best to stem the bleeding. Maker, it was everywhere. Lucanis worked desperately with the bandages around the daggers until Daisy found the sudden surge of energy to move her arms.

"Just pull them out; I can heal myself," Daisy said, but at a sudden movement, she cried out. Tears blurred her vision as she could feel the steal shift inside her. "Pull them out! Please!"

"We pull them out, and you will bleed faster." Lucanis cradled her jaw in his hands so that she would look at him. "Focus on me; you will be fine, yes?" Daisy nodded her head. Spite appeared on the other side of her, the demon glaring at Lucanis, his hands clenching and unclenching. Help her! YOU should have been watching her! Why weren't you paying attention, this is all your fault! "Quiet you!"

"There is a healing house not that far away. Do you think she'll make it?" Davrin asked as Lucanis got to his feet, jostling Daisy in his arms until he had a better grip on her. He winced at every cry that came from her mouth as he moved her but continued to push on. Spite was beside him, yelling at him to move faster.

"She must. I'll follow you." Lucanis nodded at Davrin to lead on; the pair took off. "Keep your eyes on me, Daisy."

"Not like there is anything better to look at. You're at least pretty to look at." Daisy joked with a huff that turned into a cough. Blood slid down her chin, her one free hand confirming it when she wiped what she thought was spit away. "That's not good, is it?" Lucanis said nothing but tried to pick up the pace behind Davrin, who was shouting at people to make way. "My head feels heavy, Lucan..."

Lucanis looked down to see Daisy's eyes start to close, so he gave her a good shake, even if it made her cry out in pain. "I'm sorry, Tesoro, but you need to stay awake. Talk to me." What's the point in saying such soft words to her? She's not going to make it. She's dying, you fool.

"What about? Noth' to talk about..." Daisy looked up at him; he looked so worried. She's never seen that worried look on his face except when they returned from his rescue when he learned about Caterina... "Why do you look like that?"

"Like what?"

"You look so sad." Daisy reached out with her free hand to touch him, her fingers slightly grazing his cheek before a sudden jolt caused her to cry out in pain. "You always look tired or angry, or you have this look, but you're never sad. When you smile...it's so much better."

"I am not sad; why do you think I'm sad?"

"'Cause I didn't listen. I even heard them warn me, but I didn't listen...shoulda listened...now you're sad." Daisy muttered as she looked up at him. "Spite probably is angry at me too...don't like making people upset."

"We are not upset, Tesoro, I promise you. He's yelling at me for not watching you."

"You were busy not getting stabbed as well. Not your fault. Spite...needs to back off for..." Daisy coughed another bloody cough, the iron taste making her want to throw up, "What does that mean?"

"What does what mean?"

"Tes, tes-o-ro-o? Tesro? Never heard that before. Never called me that." Lucanis tried to hide the shock with a smile and a cough.

"Maybe I will tell you once you are well enough to remember this conversation?" Lucanis smiled. Davrin called back to them, pointing to a door before rushing ahead. "We're here, Daisy; they will help you."

There was a flurry of shouts and demands that followed shortly afterward. Daisy was crying out weakly at every jostle of her body; the blades were barely staying inside her. The bandages did the best they could, but there was just too much blood. Daisy could feel the cold steel shift and move inside her with every twitch and movement. She thought someone was speaking to her, but her head felt so lightheaded and heavy that she couldn't understand some words. Daisy screamed when she was finally released from Lucanis's arms, one of the blades sliding out, followed by the other before they rolled her onto her side. There was more cursing and shouting, of course. Daisy just wanted the pain to stop.

"Please...someone...make it stop..." Daisy cried out, tears now freely falling as she struggled to breathe. Lucanis knelt next to her, taking her hand in his tightly. There was that look again; the panic and the worry all rolled into one behind his eyes. "Lucanis..."

"Hush, Tesoro. The healers will take care of you now. Please keep your eyes on me." Lucanis almost sounded like he was pleading with her, but that didn't sound right to Daisy. Why would he plead with her? She's the one causing the issues currently. He should be angry. Davrin should be angry, too. They all should be angry with her. Daisy could make out Davrin talking off to the side, but it was so much harder to hear. There were too many hands on her, pulling and tearing at her, fingers poking and prodding. A sudden rush of fear washed over her as her childhood memories replayed in her mind, the memories of the beatings she used to take as a child. The fear made her afraid, so she clenched her eyes tightly shut, trying to wield everything away, to make everything disappear. All the screaming they did, all the teasing and harmful words they told her. All the time, they would rip her clothing and call her a dirty whores daughter. "Daisy!" There was a call of her name so loud that she looked to see Lucanis even closer to her now. "Eyes open."

"I'm scared, Lucanis." Daisy whimpered as she gripped his hand tighter. Lucanis reached over with his free hand to brush back her hair, ensuring her ear cuffs were firmly in place so they couldn't fall off.

"I'm here." He gently whispered to her. "I'm here."

The poking and the prodding went on for what felt like forever. Daisy could lightly feel the healing magic wash over her, but she could barely feel it. Lucanis stayed by her side while Davrin was busy talking to the proprietor of the healing house, but they were getting a little bit heated. One of the aids to the healers suggested to Lucanis that he might want to step in before they would be forced to stop, whispering that the man in charge was a greedy bastard who didn't care if people lived or died here. Daisy squeezed his hand and told him to go. Lucanis nodded, asking the aid to take his place while he sorted out what was going on.

Daisy felt Lucanis leave, and a part of her wanted to call out, to tell him not to leave her, but she couldn't find the strength to. Her fingers and toes had long since gone numb, and she just felt so heavy. The bed beneath her was so soft and inviting that she didn't notice her eyes slipping close. The aid holding Daisy's hand looked at the healer with a grave expression before they turned their heads towards the doorway where her companions were not far away.

In the other room, Lucanis was going to murder the proprietor.

That is, if Spite doesn't gain control, does it. The rat-face man Davrin and he were talking to couldn't be the real person in charge; there wasn't a caring bone in his body from where Lucanis stood. Corruption was everywhere in the city they were in, but he didn't expect even a local healing house to charge people help before, let alone charge such prices. Davrin was starting to lose his cool when the comment of elves and other backhanded comments. The rat-face man went on about how, in these challenging times, they never knew if someone wasn't going to make it, so they 'changed' their policy that payment needed to be made upfront before anyone helped them.

"Our friend is dying in the next room, and all you care about is coin?!" Davrin got in close to rat-face, fits clenching as he stood firm like a brick wall. Davrin's gray warden stance towered over the man. "If she dies, you will not see tomorrow."

"You see, threats like that will only ensure your friend receives no help. Now, before I must kindly ask you to leave, do you have payment or don't you?" Lucanis could feel Spite beside him, the anger radiating off him like the pulsating headache coming on. If Sunshine dies, it will be on him, not you, which is no fun. Tell him to help her; he needs to help her. Lucanis glanced at Spite behind the man and felt a mutual agreement that should Diasy die, it would give him an actual reason to kill the man.

"You will receive payment once she is stable," Lucanis taking hold of one of his arms before he punched the man. The Crow moved silently in front of the rat-faced man, getting nose-to-nose with him. "And should she not survive due to your neglect, then I have no problem taking yours for her life." Before Lucanis could continue, there was a crash and scream from Daisy's room. The rat-faced man was pushed aside as Daisy's companions rushed to her side.

What they were welcomed to was the healer, standing over Daisy at the foot of the bed, healing her with a worried, scared look on her face. The aide was on the other side of the room and was getting talked down to a ghostly-looking woman. The woman was see-through like a spirit but didn't appear to be one. Another ghostly woman sat next to Daisy, her hand placed over Daisy's as if she could touch it. Daisy's face was paler now than it was when Lucanis left the room. "And who are you two?! Why is this hack healer not doing all they can for my daughter?!" The aide cowered and ran past the two men. The woman who shouted was a tall, heart-shaped face woman who held a certain coldness, but there was something...deeper to her. She was concerned, and her eyes betrayed her with how much. The woman kneeling next to Daisy was of a softer complexion.

"Who are you?" Davrin asked.

"I am someone you will do best not to continue to anger, young man. Now tell me why my daughter's heart stopped and what she is doing lying in such a state!" The woman moved closer, the stool in front of her passing right through her as she walked. The healer went to make a sound, but the woman rounded on her, telling her that until she was spoken to, she was not to stop.

"Her heart stopped?"

"I wouldn't be projected here if it didn't! Now, where is that rat-faced man I was told about?" The woman walked right through them and into the next room. Davrin went with her while Lucanis stayed behind, standing on the opposite side of Daisy. Looking at the woman, Lucanis could see that she was crying silent tears as her thumb stroked the back of Daisy's hand as if she could feel it.

"I thought she was silly putting that stone on Daisy's gift before she left. She told me that I would rather have her body back than get no notice. Seeing her like this...my sweet baby." The woman softly spoke, not really to Lucanis but not really to Daisy either.

"You are her mother?" Lucanis asked.

The woman chuckled sadly, "I helped raise Daisy. Valentina, the woman who just walked out, can be a bit standoffish regarding children and is not the warmest person to know, but she loves Daisy. It doesn't matter if they are related by blood or not." The woman moved to try brushing some of Daisy's hair to the side, but of course, she couldn't. Lucanis saw this and did it for her; the woman gave him a grateful smile. "What happened?"

"We were...fighting, and she stepped in front of me. She shouldn't have done that; I would be the one lying here, not her." Lucanis said. He could feel the guilt start eating him away as he continued to look at her, pulling his hands away. You always hurt others; it's always your fault. Look at her, dying.

"You must be important to her if she did that. I agree; she shouldn't have done that, but Daisy always puts others before herself. It doesn't matter if she gets hurt as long as everyone else is fine." The woman smiled softly at Lucanis. "Don't blame yourself. Just give her a stern talking-to once she wakes. Please sit; there is no need to stand." If she wakes, suppose she decides you're not worth talking to anymore. You almost got her killed.

"If she wakes," Lucanis whispered as he returned to the spot he was once at.

"She will; Valentina will make sure of it. Daisy never asks for help from us anyway; it's the least we can do for her." The woman watched him, her eyes flickering to the healer who stood firmly at the foot of the bed, arms stretched out. "Are you Lucanis or Davrin?"

"What?" This is interesting.

"Daisy sends me letters. Keeping me up to date with whatever she's doing. She mentions meeting...friends recently. From the list of names, I'm guessing you must be either Lucanis the Crow or Davrin the Gray Warden. I'm leaning more towards the Crow now that I'm looking at you." The woman softly smiled.

"Ah...yes. I am Lucanis Dellamorte. Davrin was the one who walked out." Lucanis could start to feel his heart hammer in his chest. "She's written about us?" Why is your heart beating so fast? She's talked about everyone else, not just you. You're not special; why would she find you any different than everyone else? Davrin at least showed that he cares, unlike you. Coward.

"Of course! Daisy hasn't stopped writing about you! Ah-I mean all of you! I am not too pleased about elven dead gods returning, but hearing about the friends she's made helps that she's looked after." The woman reached over to touch Lucanis to reassure him, and he swore he could feel some heat in her spectral hand. "Please don't blame yourself. Daisy will feel worse if you did."

"What does she say when she writes about...us? If I can ask?"

The woman's grin made heat rise to his cheeks. "Nothing grand, little bits of information. She's asked for advice on talking to...friends, but she's nervous about speaking out about certain feelings. Daisy has had a rough beginning, so connecting with others raised alongside the dead hasn't always been a strong suit here. It doesn't help that her mother never really gave her a talk about what to do in these situations. Spirits knows if I did, she would kill me." A wicked smile graced the woman's face. "Just don't tell her I've said anything to you about this. She hates it when I try to meddle."

"I promise, my lady, I will keep your secret."

"Good. I feel more at ease now that I've met you, Master Dellamorte. I know our girl is in good hands. When you can, you should talk to her about how you feel. You might just be surprised." The woman smiled a motherly smile at Lucanis, which caught him off guard. Caterina was never a caring woman; that is undeniable, as she never showed any caring affection towards him growing up. The woman in front of him helped raise Daisy, who has been nothing but kind and understanding since they met. Lucanis could see where she learned to smile so softly at others. Valentina then returned to the room, stating that nothing would impair Daisy's healer now that everything was taken care of. The woman looked at Lucanis and Davrin, saying that should the rat-face man give them any trouble, they were to contact her through the sending stone that was hidden in the charm Daisy attached to her ear cuff.

Then she was gone.

The other woman stood, gave them a bow, and then disappeared.

"Well...that was strange," Davrin spoke before turning towards Lucanis. "Who was the other woman?"

"A friend of her mother's, but she never gave her name. The other woman was Daisy's mother if you didn't figure that out."

"When she said daughter, I assumed so!" Davrin protested, his eyes then moving to Daisy. Some color had returned to her face, but not much. The healer, who had remained in the room the whole time, stopped healing to say that the immediate danger had passed. Daisy would still require healing in a few hours, but she would prepare a paste to put over the wounds in the meantime. "We should get washed up then now that she's stable."

"You go first; I will remain here until you do." Lucanis didn't even bother looking at the Gray Warden, his eyes never leaving Daisy's face.

"Alright. I'll also send a message to the others to inform them of what happened. Emmirch or Bellara could lend the healers a hand so that Daisy could be moved back to the Lighthouse sooner." Lucanis nodded his head, and Davrin left.

Now that it was just the two of them, Lucanis moved closer to Daisy. As his hand moved towards her, he noticed he was still wearing his gloves, stained with Daisy's blood. He removed them quickly, tossing them to the floor without a car. Lucanis double-checked that her earcuffs remained secured while gently brushing away stray hairs from her face. Her hand felt clammy on his own but didn't feel as cold as before, which was a good sign. He gently moved her hand to his lips, kissing softly on the back before resting his forehead.

"Come back, cara mia." Lucanis whispered softly, "Come back to me. Please ask me again what that word means. I wish to see you smile again at me, as greedy of a man I am." He kissed her hand again, eyes clenched shut as he felt the sting of tears. "Come back to me, I beg you."

~oOo~

*Some weeks later at the Lighthouse*

"I'm tired of this, grandpa!" Daisy yelled from where she lay on the sparing ring. Davrin and Lucanis are watching with amusement on either side of her, not even breaking a sweat from their training session with her. Emmrich was sitting not that far away, sipping tea while Manfred was standing behind him.

"Unfortunately, my dear, that is too bad. You are the one who decided to get impaled and worry everyone with your near-death experience." Emmrich said to her with an amused smile. Once Daisy was back on her feet, everyone had officially put their foot down, with Daisy not wearing more armor, let alone not carrying a secondary weapon. Davrin and Lucanis both volunteered to help teach her.

"They're going to kill me!" Daisy said, getting to her feet with a huff.

"Not if you don't keep your arms up!" Davrin shouted before rushing at Daisy again. She screamed before turning around and running away, taking shelter behind Lucanis.

It was going to be a long training session.

[strandedtoodeep]

okay so.

i don't know HOW to explain but this, this is so poolverine coded ??? the lying, the fooling, dancing around each other, the wrong/right etc ... like this song is so good and idk i NEED NEED to write something with this vibe ? or read it ? i'm not good at drawing but damn, DAMN.

(song is Tonight, tonight, tonight by Low Roar btw)

[amberjazmyn]

home sweet home 🫶💔

pairing : pierre gasly x gasly!fem reader & f1 grid x platonic!fem reader

summary : delilah gasly had been stationed in america for the last seven years as a training paramedic. she is also pierre's younger sister and hasn't seen him during those seven years. the last time she had seen her brother was just after pierre had made his f1 debut. since then, it had been seven years since pierre had been in f1 and so many things that delilah had missed had happened. so, with the help of the rest of the f1 grid, she surprised her older brother. 

warnings : dodgy french to english translations, sweet reunions between siblings, swearing, happy crying

a/n : a couple of flashbacks will be in this and written in italics like always, even though it's happy, it'll be written in lowercase and i'm gonna apologise once again for the influx of depressing one-shots so i hope this makes you forgive me! 

present time | pierre's pov

chilling in the alpine garage before media day was always the thing that i did during each grand prix week when i first started in f1 and it was something i even did now, in my seventh year on the grid. except for the occasional run-in from one of the engineers, it was quite quiet which led me to find an old message between me and my younger sister. i tilted my head in confusion but, i sat in my chair properly, my feet off of the desk, and read the message from delilah.

delilah

hey, pierre. i know we haven't spoken in ages, since i left being the "ages" but, i just wanted to text you to let you know i love you, i miss and i am so proud of you.

it makes me so excited that you have finally made it into formula one and i only wish that i could be there to see you continue to smash it! i know you and the rest of the team will smash it out of the park! love you!

hey delilah, i miss you too and i love you too. and thank you, i'm also excited to have finally made it into formula one, only charles needs to enter next! see you soon, whenever that is! 

i really am sorry that i can't be there to see any of the races. and i'm sure charles will make his debut soon, pierre. and congrats again and biggest hugs to you! okay, i need to go but, we can talk later. i love you pierre and stay safe. bisous. 

read

i felt my eyes water as i reread these messages. especially when i noticed that these dates dated back to around, 2017ish when i had first made my debut into formula one and i remembered i'm no longer the rookie like i was back then. my heart broke as i realised i didn't even respond to delilah's last message she sent me back in 2017, i only read it and never responded. even though it was a very short conversation, it was still a nice conversation to have with my sister as i hadn't talked to her at that point in a couple of years. and that reason is that delilah, basically the day after i had signed the contract and got given the call i was making my debut into formula one, she was over in america as a training paramedic, travelling through all the states to teach families and young kids about the importance of first aid. and the day i got the call about my f1 debut was the last time me, the family and our friends had seen her before she jet-setted off. 

"you alright, pierre?" i suddenly look up to notice charles, had snuck his way into the alpine garage and joined me, resting himself against the table as i smiled at him, nodding my head

"yeah, i'm alright char, just...thinking..." i trailed off as i placed my phone down, forgetting to turn it off as charles catches a glimpse of what i was looking at

"...delilah te manque, n'est-ce pas?" charles softly responded, switching to french as we both caught eye contact as i nodded my head you miss delilah don't you?

"ouais, je le fais. i don't even know how i came past that conversation, i must have been absentmindedly scrolling through the messages...wow, seven years ago we had that conversation..." i trail off, looking back down at the date we had that small conversation, realising ultimately that it was almost eight years ago, not seven yeah, i do

"...eh bien, as-tu essayé de l'appeler?" charles sincerely questions as i sit up properly again as i tilt my head - have i? well, have you tried calling her?

"je... je ne pense pas avoir..." i space out for a second until i bring myself back into reality as charles places a soft touch on my shoulder i...i don't think i have

"...bien well, when was the last time you tried calling her?" charles asked, pulling himself back to his original position as i relax my shoulders down as i think properly

"i think the last time i tried calling her was a week after the f1 debut was announced when she had been gone for maybe a little close to a week at that point..." i was shocked at myself as those words came out my mouth, charles giving me a comforting smile

"...well, do you maybe want to try calling her then? i'm sure it won't hurt to try," charles whispered in english, giving me a small smile as he then climbed off the table leaving me to call her. however, it kind of scared me to call delilah

"i guess so..." i mumbled as charles gave me one last smile before it was just me left in my dressing room again

well, here i go. i decided that i'd try to call delilah for the first time in seven-ish years. it gave me anxiety hearing the phone call ring as for all i knew, maybe she forgot about me due to how much of a workaholic she was when it came to her job as a paramedic. maybe that's why she never came home when she had the chance to... because she was too focused on her job she forgot about me. i mean, it sounds plausible i guess.

"hé, c'est delilah..." hey, it's delilah

"...delilah me manque--" delilah i miss--

"--désolé that i couldn't be there to pick up the phone and talk to you. i'm most likely either in the office studying, out watching pierre race or i am purposefully ignoring you. please leave a message and i'll get to you as soon as i possibly can. love you so much to whoever has rung me and i'm sorry once again for not picking up. okay, au revoir!" sorry & bye-bye

my heart broke as i heard her voicemail. she still hadn't updated it from the day she first made it, at the airport before she was about to leave for america after my f1 debut call back in 2017. i remember holding in my giggles as she made it. as soon as the recording stopped, i burst out into laughter and caused the entire airport to stare at us. delilah also finding the funny in the situation. i was then interrupted by the sudden beep meant for my message.

*beep*

i jolted as i then spoke up, giving my message to delilah. my voice shaky and a little bit teary as i sniffled.

"...salut...delilah, it's been a while since we last spoke. around seven years to be exact but um, i...i just wanted to ring in to check on you considering it's been seven years or so since you've been in america and since we've talked. and...i was just wondering how you're going. i hope you're staying safe and, please come home soon, i love you and i miss  you loads. okay, umm, please call me back when you're able to listen to this, okay, au revoir." 

i gulped as i ended the call, placing my phone back down on the table that charles was sitting on earlier. i then moved out of my seat and rested against the wall, sliding down it as i felt as though i was going to start crying. thankful my door was closed and locked so no one, even the engineers, could come in.

five minutes later | charles' pov

since leaving pierre to attempt in ringing delilah, his younger sister who has been a training paramedic in america for the last seven or so years, i was slightly worried about leaving him alone. especially considering it's been those seven years since they last communicated and we were hours, if not minutes away from the media interviews in prep for the grand prix.

i was walking back down the way a little back to the ferrari garage when i heard what sounded like soft cries. it piqued my interest as the alpine garage and pierre's room was always on a diagonal from mine. i softly walked back in the direction of the apline garage and softly knocked on the door. before hearing a click, letting me know the door was just unlocked as i walked in, closing the door behind me straight away. 

he was resting against the wall, no longer sitting near his desk and my heart broke, "...pierre, qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?" i softly questioned, sliding down the wall next to mark as he slowly looked over towards me pierre, what's wrong?

"elle...elle n'a pas répondu, c'était juste sa messagerie vocale," pierre whispered as my heart shattered for him she...she didn't answer, it was just her voicemail

"oh, pierre, i am so sorry. did you try again?" i asked in english as i brought his fragile but taller frame into my smaller one as i felt his head shake against my shoulders

"no," he mumbled against my shoulder as i bit my lip, not knowing what else to do

"pourquoi pas?" i simply respond as pierre sniffles why not?

"hearing her voicemail from seven years ago makes me miss her even more...since that's the last time i heard her speak so i don't even know if she still sounds like that..." he trails off as i nod my head - yeah, i get the same feeling when i miss my own mum and i try to ring her and it goes to voicemail, making me not want to try again even though i know her voice wouldn't have changed that much

"that's fair. have you gotten in contact with her superintendent to make sure she's okay?" i questioned as i remembered that as a grid, we had talked about it, all wanting to stay in the loop about delilah

"yeah but, they...they haven't really been giving me any updates recently so i don't even know what's going on at their end right now," he mumbles as i nod my head

"that's not fun but i'm sure delilah isn't ignoring you on purpose. just, be as positive as you can and just know that one day, delilah will have to come home since she wasn't even meant to be in america and with this job for this long anyway," i smirk as pierre gives me a little smirk back which makes me happy, we all hated to see pierre upset

i then decided to give him a hug before leaving him on his own, knowing he needed it this time and now, i knew he'd be okay.

seven years ago | pierre's pov

i had never hated anything more than what was happening right now, and last night, i had just gotten the amazing news that i was making my formula 1 debut. right now, my younger sister delilah was getting ready for her new job as a training paramedic somewhere in america. i say "somewhere" because i completely zoned out as soon as it was mentioned that delilah was being sent away in the first place. i just had the impression that she'd be sent to england or somewhere else in europe. i didn't want to hear about the fact that she'd be across a whole damn ocean, six or so hours away. and i'd rather not be told that she's that far away from me if anything was to go wrong, i can't just be there in an hour or two. 

"...allez pierre, dis au revoir à ta sœur car elle sera partie pendant quelques années avant que tu puisses lui parler à nouveau. ne sois pas de mauvaise humeur, s'il te plaît," dad kindly spoke in french as i rolled my eyes, i sluggishly moved off the airport seat, uncrossed my arms and slowly walked over to delilah who was waiting with her arms open for a hug - to which she knew i could never say no to come on pierre, say goodbye to your sister as she'll be gone for a couple of years before you can speak to her again. don't be moody, please

"bien, mais ne me blâme pas quand je te crie dessus tous les deux jours de ne pas me permettre d'être à une heure de delilah juste au cas où elle se blesserait parce que ce ne serait pas de ma faute!" i growl out in french, half of it mumbled by delilah's tight squeeze as i rested in her hug, mum and dad shaking their heads at me in unapproving ways fine, but don't blame me when i yell at you every other day for not allowing me to be an hour away from delilah just in case she gets injured because it won't be my fault!

"oh please, pierre, that's never going to happen, buddy! i won't let it happen!" delilah whispers in english as dad, mum, our brothers and the f1 grid that had shown up had left the two of us alone

"and how in god's name are you so sure of that delilah celine-josephine gasly, huh?" i respond in english, with a full-on passive-aggressive attitude as she rolls her eyes, squeezing me tighter as she tries to prove her point

"i'm so sure of that pierre jean-jacques gasly because i was trained exceptionally well and there is no way in hell or god's name that i'm leaving you on your own! nah-uh, not until i surprise you at one of your f1 media days, whether that's when you change teams or what then i'm leaving you, even then, i'll always be here for you, okay?" delilah roughhoused me, in the airport yes, as she tried to convince me, leaving me to roll my eyes this time

"nah-uh, i'm still not letting you leave, nope! nope, nope, nope, NOPE!" i growl as i squeeze delilah even tighter than before as she softly chuckles, scuffing my hair up, to which i had no care about really

"i hate to burst your imaginative bubble pierre but, i'm still leaving. i have to otherwise i could be fined a lot of money for not going..." delilah trails off as she tries to remove herself from my grip, to which i refuse and hug her tighter

"...i.don't.care! i'd rather have to help pay for your fines for not leaving to work in america as a stupid paramedic than be told that you got injured or died in a fucking school shooting over the phone whilst i'm potentially in a different country at a grand prix or racing and then having to cry and grieve over you two months later when they finally bring your body home!"  i growl, still mad that mum and dad even allowed delilah to consider her choosing this weird training paramedic job in america, delilah sighs loudly as she brings her arms back around my torso, hugging me even tighter

"i'm sorry pierre but, i do care. and, whilst i also don't want you guys to get a call saying i died or got injured in america and wait two months for my fancy-schmancy funeral, i'm willing to do this job in america if it means i'm teaching life-saving skills. i don't want to argue with you, i know you don't either so, be reasonable and let me leave," delilah says in a matter-of-fact way as i roll my eyes again, a small whine leaving my mouth as if i was about to have a full-on tantrum, to which, i most likely was, in a public airport with my future f1 teammates behind me and the rest of my family

"why are you so proud of this job? i'd rather you be with me travelling for formula 1!" i whine, smacking my head on delilah's shoulder as she chuckles

"i'm proud because i've always been proud of everything i do and that includes my job as a training paramedic in america. and you know i'd love to go to all of the grand prixs with you but, i can't so, it looks as though you're just going to have to survive with me being away in a different country to you," delilah said with a smile as we both simultaneously squeezed each other, causing us to both squeal and giggle

"well, if i have to let you leave then, when will i talk to you next?" i question, pulling back out of the hug as delilah grabs ahold of my hand

"umm, i think i have a couple of days where i have off that i can ring and communicate with those i didn't get to farewell but, yeah, i think that's the next time i can talk to you," delilah smiles which makes me smile, making me feel slightly better

"okay, nice. when will i be able to see you again? like, when will you be able to come home?" i then ask as i entertain myself by fiddling around with delilah's fingers which were intertwined with mine

"it...it'll be soon i'm sure pierre," delilah smiles, pulling me into another quick hug before grabbing my hand again as i nod my head sadly

"how soon is soon?" i ask with a shake in my voice, looking up at the clock knowing her flight was about to be called to board soon

"pierre soon will be as soon as i am able to leave. i promise, now, i really need to leave, my plane's about to board!" delilah said as i pouted and my eyes grew sad as i huffed loudly

"ok, but promise me you'll come home safely, please?" i whimper my voice breaking as delilah smiles softly

"i promise pierre, but, i gotta go," she whispers as she gives me one last hug before giving her last hugs to everyone else

okay, maybe what i said before was mean, i am awfully proud of delilah that she chose this as her job. it was wrong of me to say that i'm mad at mum and dad for allowing her to consider and then choose it eventually. i then saw my soon to be f1 grid mates, daniel, lewis, sebastian, carlos as well as charles, who was not yet making his f1 debut, give their final hugs and farewells to delilah. watching that whilst it broke my heart, also made it feel warm that even though i'd be competing against these guys every grand prix, i could still trust them with my personal life since this was how they were treating me saying goodbye to my younger sister and i'd do the same for them. even though i was farewelling one major thing in my life and starting a new one, my younger sister and formula 1, i knew that i would eventually be okay again. 

we then watched on as delilah and her fellow training paramedics boarded the plane. we waved, cheered, and hollered, making the biggest scene of all time as she then vanished into the plane where it became silent again.

"...et bien, maintenant elle est partie pierre," dad came up from behind me, wrapping his arm around my back, i huffed and rolled my eyes well, now she's gone pierre

"merci de me l'avoir rappelé papa, ce n'est pas comme si je ne regardais pas cela se produire," i huff as dad pulls me down to sit on the airport floor with him - knowing something was wrong thanks for reminding me dad, it isn't like i wasn't watching it happen

"d'accord pierre, qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ? tu as été comme ça toute la journée, pourquoi ne peux-tu pas être fier de ta petite sœur comme elle est fière de toi pour avoir atteint la formule 1 ?" dad muttered kindly as my lips started to tremble okay pierre, what's wrong? you've been like this all day, why can't you be proud of your younger sister like she's proud of you for reaching formula one?

"je suis fier de son père, c'est juste--" i am proud of her dad it's just--

"--c'est difficile de la voir partir après avoir réalisé votre rêve de formule 1?" he interrupts as i nod my head, a small whimper coming out of my mouth, dad's face softens, noticing the tears welling in my eyes and pulls me into his lap, his knees bracing my head it's hard to see her go after you've just been given your formula one dream?

"mhm," i mumble as i feel the tears pool in my eyes as dad softly ruffles his fingers through my hair

"oh, pierre, ça va fils," dad whispers as i feel a tear stream down my cheek onto dad's knee as i attempt to wipe it away whilst laying awkwardly on the airport floor halfway on my dad's lap oh, pierre, it's okay son

"non ce n'est pas," i whimper, covering my mouth with my arm that rested across dad's lap so my whimpering would be quieter no, it's not

"bien, je vais reformuler ma réponse *pierre softly chuckles* it will be okay pierre, delilah will be okay. she's going to come home and she'll message and call us when she's able to, okay? you've got nothing else to worry about other than what you're going to do now that you are debuting with formula one, okay? i know you and delilah always envisioned on being with each other when you joined f1 but, now that's not possible, but use that grief of your sister being so far away as your fuel to have you push, okay? you'll be perfect pierre!" dad smiled as he continued combing his fingers through my hair which was starting to really calm me down fine, i'll rephrase my answer

"thanks, dad," i mumble with a small smile on my lips as i look up to see him also smiling

"no worries pierre, i get how you're feeling. trust me, i wasn't too rapt about delilah being a training paramedic in america either but, i made her promise me she would come home and, she promised. i'm holding on to that promise so if she breaks it, i'll never forget it and i would've wished i made her come home when i had the power to, but, right now, i've made peace with her decision and, i'm proud of her," dad was always so wise and inspirational and it made me giggle

"that's a fair deal. anyway, how are charles and arthur taking this? charles especially since he adores delilah," i ponder as i just realise, i've only really interacted with my immediate family, not with my soon-to-be teammates and the leclercs 

"that's a good question, pierre, last i saw of charles and arthur, arthur was trying to calm charles down as he wasn't taking the thought of delilah leaving well either," dad said, shrugging his shoulders as i awkwardly nodded my head that still rested on his lap

"aw, i hope they're both okay," i mumble softly, feeling the exact same way as charles and arthur

"i'm sure they are. but maybe they just need their best friend to comfort them and make them feel a little better," dad coaxes me to get up as i giggle softly

"okay, fine, i'll go find them!" i giggle as i lift my head up off dad's lap, giving him a hug as i then walk over to charles and arthur, noticing just how upset charles and arthur were 

present time | pierre's pov

after maybe about five minutes of just thinking and allowing myself to go back to that day seven odd years ago, i could smile again. after being so upset that i wasn't just losing one thing in my life, delilah, but gaining something new at the same time, it didn't make me so upset anymore because i was still with formula one but with a new team, alpine. even though delilah hadn't come home yet and i still miss her all the time, i remembered that she's just working hard all the time to give out life-saving first aid skills and at some stage, she'll come home.

"...pierre, we're next for the press conference," charles calls out, popping his head into my room in the alpine garage as i giggle

"thanks char, be there shortly," i giggle as charles also giggles, hesitating to move out of the way

giggling, i ask him to move, "oh mon dieu, bouge, charles ! je ne peux pas quitter mon garage avec toi là!" i chuckle as charles smiles, apologies and leaves quickly leaving me slightly confused oh my god, move, charles! i can't leave my garage with you standing right there!

twenty-ish minutes ago | delilah's pov

trying to hold in my laughter was the hardest thing ever, especially watching charles forget to leave after telling pierre that it was five minutes to stage for their press conference for media day. little did pierre know, after seven and a bit years, i was finally retiring from my job as a training paramedic and decided to relocate back home to france. with my transfer back to the french ambulance service, and some good-looking time off, i'd be able to go on the road with pierre during the rest of the season and be there right through to the world championship at the end of the season. 

i had snuck into the conference room in monaco pretty quickly, out of my uniform completely and just waiting for the right moment to surprise pierre. whether that's just before he goes on for the press conference or whilst he's in the middle of the press conference. 

charles, max, lando, daniel and esteban hugged me tightly. as the other drivers joining pierre for the press conference as we waited for the right time but had a quiet conversation as we all waited for pierre to leave the alpine garage to make it to the press conference.

after asking and catching up with the guys who me and pierre grew up with and watched form into the amazing formula one racers they were now and how they'd all been, inlcuding pierre, we then mentioned how we think he was going to react to me finally being home. 

"...honestly, i genuinely think pierre's going to freak when he sees you, delilah..." charles smiles, his arms crossed over as max rolls his eyes before jumping in

"...he's not just going to freak, charles, he's going to cry when he sees you, delilah!" max says dramatically as we all giggle, especially when charles' annoyed face makes an appearance

"and as i was going to say before max interrupted me, he is absolutely going to lose his head when he sees you, he is absolutely going to cry. i mean, seven years, like, no sir, i couldn't even do that, especially without contact, nah-uh, nope*giggles*," charles huffed as we all giggled as we all agreed

"yeah, i couldn't do this job again, especially in a different country for seven years without breaks," i mutter with a shake of my head as we all have another group hug

present day | charles' pov

max, lando, daniel, esteban, pierre and myself were now on the couch at the monaco grand prix for the press conference and getting ready to surprise the absolute crap out of pierre. delilah, his younger sister as we all know, just came back from a seven-year paramedic job in america. the first time she's been home and seen pierre since she left back in 2017 and, he has got no clue whatsoever and is absolutely clueless about it. 

we were laughing, answering questions and quite honestly, having a really fun press conference for once since they were usually so boring when i watched carefully for the moment that delilah would make her apperance for the surprise. i suddenly received the all-clear from the moderator of the press conference so i then gave the signal to delilah and, she ever-so sneakily just slid right on the couch next to pierre. 

pierre had just finished answering a question when he lowered his microphone to then mindlessly begin zoning out again until another person had a question for him. that was until he turned his head as though it was slow motion and his eyes widened as delilah giggled, her smile wide. 

watching the way pierre slowly realised what was going on was priceless as the grip on his microphone was gone. the microphone sent to the floor, "delilah? what the fuck are you doing here?" pierre was in so much shock that it was as though he was in a different universe completely 

"did you forget the promise we made to each other seven years ago?" delilah giggled as the crowd along with me and the others erupted into cheers as we watch the siblings pull each other in for a hug

"oh my god, you...you're home!" pierre whispers shakily, his body leaning into his sister as they didn't move from the couch as tears fill his eyes 

"home sweet home, pierre!" she whispered back as me, max, lando, esteban and daniel watched on as the siblings reunited after seven long years

"that promise was from seven fucking years ago!" pierre cried out as he smacked her which made everyone tearfully laugh now that almost everyone was in tears at this point

"still didn't break it, pierre! i'm here, am i not? now, get back to work, you and the guys have a press conference to finish!" delilah giggled as pierre rolled his eyes, reluctantly moving from the hug to let daniel, lando, max, esteban and me give her hugs again awkwardly on the couch even though we were the planners of the surprise

"so, for those who are not aware, this is delilah, pierre's younger sister and she has been away in america for the last seven years as a training paramedic. where in which she has been basically going around from state to state teaching and training underfunded and young kids very important and life-saving first aid skills. she left the day after pierre got the call that he would be making his formula one debut all the way back in 2017. she has now returned so, the guys on this couch decided that after some words on the grapevine that she was coming home that this surprise would be planned for pierre," i explained to the press conference, pierre smiling 

the crowd of interviwers and photographers cooed as pierre went to speak again, "awe, thanks for the surprise guys! very sweet of you, thank you!" pierre smiles, leaning into me to thank me as he then hugs his sister again

"no problem, if we could, we'd do it all over again," delilah called out making all of us laugh

delilah had then left the press conference so we could finish it even though pierre was very against it at first, we managed to convince him. then, at the end of the press conference, i watched as the brother and sister spent more time together, it was the sweetest thing and that wasn't me just saying that. i would genuinely do this surprise all over again just to see that shocked look on pierre's face when he realised it was delilah that had surprised him.

but, the best part of overhearing that conversation was pierre's reaction when delilah told him she'd be joining us for the rest of the season.

fin

this was loads of fun to rewrite and it's my first pierre gasly one-shot too! so, hopefully it was good enough lol. but, anyway, i've never been the biggest fan of this ending but it's fine, i won't like every ending to every one-shot i publish and that's okay. also, i'm back from my surgery and i'm finally starting to feel better and glad to live without pain again! turns out i had a cyst near my left ovary but not in which is not normal as it's usually in the ovary as well as the smallest bit of endometriosis on the right side so in three weeks i'll be getting the full results of the surgery so hopefully the medical mystery will finally be solved! 

©⠀amberjazmyn's original work. do not translate or steal any of my fics. 2024

[gay-poet-gabriel]

first chapter out!!!!!!!!!!!

its actually very good please read

by @marmaladedcroissant and @stay-gold-ponybro

After so long, the gang starts to drift apart. One bad thing after the next brings them all closer than they had ever been before, even closer than after the Church. The worst part? The Curtis' have another tragedy on their hands, and this time, they don't know if they can fix it.

do read.... @crow2222 @calix-amini @soctherapy

@fictionalcharactergraveyard @ididdedurmom

@s0dap0p-curt1s @foxdemon-loser

[aychama]

Just had an awful idea for my royal au...

Should I turn up the angst like 1000° more or should I scrap the idea...

Hmmmm....

[imaginativeworks]

Writing Prompt (with a Hero and Villain)

“I just want someone who accepts me for who I am. Who sees me as human and doesn’t fault me for my shortcomings. Someone who doesn’t expect that I can carry the world when I can’t even care the moon.” They try to wipe their tears that trail down their face like waterfalls, to no avail in stopping them. Another momentous task that they feel they are unable to, at the expectation and behest of others. But The Villain leans down beside them and just holds them, just letting them be. The Hero is left stunned with a gasp because they realize to them, to The Villain they are enough.

[artingstarvist]

...

[shadowphoenixrider]

Over a Bowl of Gumbo

(Direct sequel to Sins of the Past, where Gambit makes good on his promise to Shadow, and they Talk. More fluffy than the other one, but about the same amount of talking! At least we know where all the X'Men's 'talk about your feelings' budget went.)

Gambit made his way down the dormitory hall, following the voices that floated up from the dorm with its door ajar, keeping careful hold of the bowl in his hands.

Almost as soon as he'd crossed the mansion's threshold Shadow had been taken from him, bundled away into hot towels and towards the medbay, Beast rattling off orders in Medical-Speak that Gambit had no hope in understanding.

He'd not seen her since, and though he knew full well Beast would take care of the mutant, Gambit had found his mind loud with chattering worries. He couldn't silence them, but he could busy himself the only reliable way he knew how - something that made an even grumpy Scott forgive him. A bit.

As he approached the room, the voices became clearer; a warm southern drawl and the quieter accent no-one could place, talking casually. Gambit smiled warmly, gently drumming his knuckles on the door before pushing his way in.

Shadow was sat up in bed, propped up by pillows and in soft long-sleeved pyjamas, whilst Rogue sat at her feet.

"Hope Gambit not interruptin', mes amies?" He asked, glancing between them.

"No, we're fine here, sugah." Rogue smiled, eying the bowl in his hands and standing up. "There any more of that gumbo of yours?"

"Some, if ya quick. Hopefully Wolverine ain't ate it all." Gambit replied. He noticed the two women share a glance and smile, before Rogue began to take her leave. "She ok?" He asked lowly as she passed him.

"Doin' better now." Rogue nodded. "You did good, Remy."

They shared a smile before she left, and Gambit made his way into the room.

"What've you got?" Shadow asked, shifting to sit more upright.

"Gambit do believe he promised you a bowl of his gumbo when we got back. Careful, it still hot." He smiled, gently passing it to her. Their fingers brushed, and both had to resist the instinct to recoil. "No shrimp, only de chicken."

"And enough spice to kill?" Shadow raised an eyebrow, setting the bowl in the dip of her crossed legs. Gambit chuckled richly - he hadn't realized how much he'd missed her ripostes.

"Need a little spice to warm ya up!" He grinned, sitting where Rogue once had. "Beast would agree!"

"Uh huh." Shadow stirred the stew, taking a conservative taste. Gambit found himself watching her face carefully, gauging her reaction.

To his relief, she smiled, uttering a pleased hum. "Mmm! I can see why Rogue wants to get more."

Gambit beamed at her praise, not quite sure why.

"Glad ya like it, petite." And with that, Shadow dug in - her hunger clear.

Gambit turned his attention to her room, letting her eat in peace. Despite her still being at the X-Mansion as a guest, Shadow was already making her dorm her own. Large posters clung to the wall, one of a sci-fi show Gambit was fairly sure Beast also liked, another that listed all of the raptor birds that could be seen in their area, and yet another with all of the constellations in the night's sky. Books and textbooks were propped up haphazardly together, ranging from the expected subjects of cell biology and biochemistry to a variety of sci-fi and fantasy reference books, one about cat behaviour and another with a title Gambit was sure was there to embarrass people snooping in her room.

Another pile of books sat on the desk by the window, conspicuously kept separate from the others - one Star Wars novel, another about dragons and the last about bird migration. A model of one of the ships from the sci-fi show sat in pride of place in the window, along with a small black resin Egyptian cat, painted with colourful jewellery. Gambit smiled to see it.

"I told Rogue." Shadow's voice broke the Cajun from his thoughts, and he looked back to the young woman. She was stirring the gumbo thoughtfully, having devoured a good half of it already.

"'Bout what happened with your powers?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah. I figured that of everyone here, including you, she'd know what it's like..." Gambit nodded.

"That she does, petite. What'd she say?"

Shadow smiled.

"Oh, sugah." Rogue reached forward, gently taking Shadow's hand in her gloved one. "Ah'm so sorry."

"Yeah. When I saw it happening to Wolverine, even on purpose..." Shadow shook her head. "I panicked. It brought everything back, and I just...bolted."

Rogue squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Ah know that feelin', sugah. Did it myself when mine came in too." She smiled sadly. "Folks 'round here have similar stories, though. You're not alone."

A small smile pulled at Shadow's lips.

"I...yeah. I guess you're right. I just...I didn't know how you'd react. I was scared-"

"That we'd treat you differently." Rogue finished for her. "Oh hun..." Another gentle squeeze. "We all have our demons in our past. If we turned you away for yours, all the X-Men'd have to disband!" She smiled softly, kindly. "You're safe here, Shadow. They'd understand."

Shadow's smile trembled, eyes stinging.

"I, I hope so."

"Gambit brought you in like a bedraggled kitty cat he found in a storm drain." Rogue chuckled. "You're not gonna get left out in the cold like that here."

Shadow took a shuddery breath, trying to regain her composure.

"Thank you. I...I'm still not looking forward to telling the others about it."

"Don't worry about that. You can tell them today, tomorrow, or never at all, if ya like." Rogue said. "No-one needs to tell their stories if they're not ready or don't want to." She smirked. "And if they start buggin' you? They'll have to go through me!"

That made Shadow giggle.

"Thank you, Rogue." She squeezed the other woman's hand. "I really appreciate it."

"No problem, sugah."

Gambit smiled fondly.

"Rogue always better than me at sayin' the right things," he said.

"I dunno." Shadow said, a shy smile playing on her lips. "I think you did alright."

"You're very kind, petite."

A comfortable silence settled between them, the young woman finishing off the last of her meal. Gambit noticed that the teal-clothed pyjamas she was wearing were patterned with sleeping cats, one curled into a ball prominently stitched over the shallow swell of her right breast.

Lifting his eyes to her face - least he be caught staring at that area - he noted that whilst her eyes were still a little red, that was the only evidence of her previous sorrow and distress. The colour was back in her face (perhaps a little intensely thanks to the spices), brightening her nose and cheeks. Her hair had mostly dried, curling tightly in on itself - she seemed to have lost an inch of height, but her brunette curls were now defined, almost like ringlets. He could just glimpse her pale ear lobes hiding behind the thick curtain of her hair.

"You're staring." Her voice snapped him back to reality, and to Gambit's surprise, he felt heat rise into his face.

"Ah! Jus' admirin' the scenery, petite!" He said, scratching the back of his neck. She raised an eyebrow at him, that same unconvinced look as she'd had when they first met. "I...Ya look much better, Shadow."

"I am." She nodded. "I should be better tomorrow, but Beast wants me to take it easy until then. Says it's better not to tempt fate after a shock to the system like I had." She paused for a moment, spinning the spoon in her fingers. "I don't know if he told you, but...I was entering a bad stage of hypothermia."

"Yeah." Gambit looked away, out of the window, where the rain still hadn't let up. His gaze drifted to where they had been. "Said that it were lucky I found you when I did. That..."

"Shadow's hypothermia symptoms were progressing fast." Beast said gravely. "She was displaying one of its most insidious symptoms; confusion. If she had been left alone for much longer, Shadow might not have been able to rescue herself, either under her own power, or to have enough wherewithal to call for assistance."

"You mean..." Gambit's heart felt like it stopped in his chest. The doctor dipped his head.

"Yes. We could have lost her, if not for your intervention."

"Yeah." Was Shadow's soft assent. A long pause, before she made a little 'hah!' "I guess that's two I owe you, now."

"Two?" Gambit raised an eyebrow, looking back to her.

"When you saved me in that alley, remember? When we first met." Shadow smiled. "Now you can add this to the list."

"Hah! You don't owe Gambit anythin', petite." He chuckled. "Gambit just happy you're safe. Besides, ya did pay me back for de first save. Healed me, remember?"

"Oh, yeah." She chuckled. "Well...I guess this gumbo makes two, then. It was fantastic." True to her word - aside for the last remnants of brown liquid at the bottom, the bowl was cleaned.

"Ah, only too glad ya liked it, mon amie." Gambit smiled proudly. "It be a Gambit special."

"It certainly was special. Thank you." Shadow's smile was warm and reached her eyes, making his heart trip over one of its beats. She reached to put the bowl on the bedside table, and Gambit leant over to help. Disappointedly, there was no accidental contact between them this time.

"How mad was Scott?" Shadow asked.

"Very." Gambit chuckled ruefully. "Guess most of it were out of worry for you, be fair. Did kinda disappear without tellin' them and didn't have my comm on. After what happened wit you, makes sense."

"Not mention you have that ability to magically disappear and appear without anyone hearing you." Shadow smirked, folding her arms.

"Hah! So ya keep tellin' me." He chuckled. "Didn't even me a chance to get outta my gear 'fore he be givin' me de lecture 'bout always keepin' my comm on, not disappearin' when he talkin' to me, all de usual." He leant back, stretching his long legs out. "Heard it all before."

Shadow raised an eyebrow at him.

"I dunno Gambit, if he has to keep saying it..."

"Don't! Ya as bad as Rogue!" He laughed. "Least he be keepin' it shorter dis time. Worried 'bout ya. Though, Gambit did manage to sweeten him up by promisin' to do his gumbo for dinner."

"Aw, and here I thought I was special!"

"Hey now, Gambit did promise ya first!" He turned his head, and noticed Shadow's eyes were roving down his body, specially down his legs. He gave no indication he'd seen her. "Gumbo take a while to cook anyway, so might as well do a big batch for de team too, non?"

"That's fair, I guess." A thoughtful pause. "Hey, Gambit?"

"Mmm?"

"...Why did you turn your comm off?"

Ah.

"Well..." Gambit rubbed the back of his neck, feeling traitorous heat start to crawl up his face. "If I knew you were in the state you were, woulda kept it on. But..." Why was finding the words so difficult all of a sudden?

"Gambit thought ya needed time. Scott can be pushy, even when he mean well, and...Gambit didn't think dat was what ya needed right den. So, he figured if he find ya first, you would have the time ya needed...and not be alone."

Shadow fiddled with the bedsheet, winding it around her finger.

"How did you know I didn't want to be alone?" She asked quietly. Gambit tried to ignore the sting in his chest at the insinuation.

"Let's jus' say Gambit have some experience wit this," he said. "De types of alone ya wanna be that nearly kills you...That's when ya need someone more den anythin'."

Shadow opened her mouth. Closed it. Just stared at him for a long couple of seconds, before she glanced shyly at her crossed feet.

"Thank you, then," she said softly, raising her head to look him in the eyes. "For...not just rescuing me, but being there for me." A smile grew across her lips. "For being my friend."

Gambit smiled back, feeling warmth blossom in his chest.

"De rien, petite." He replied. "Any time. You make it easy."

He was pleasantly surprised to see her blush slightly, and more so when she reached over, taking his hand. Though her hand was much smaller than his, her fingers were long and delicate-looking - surprisingly elegant for a woman who presented herself more as scrappy and laissez faire.

"I mean it, Gambit." Shadow said, her gentle voice full of deep-hearted conviction. "Thank you."

The Cajun found himself lost for words for a good few moments, before he clasped her hand in both of his, encompassing her with warmth.

"I feel de same, Shadow. Merci."

Her smile was like a sunrise, and Gambit found himself lingering, staring into blue eyes that reminded him of aquamarines, enjoying this quiet, peaceful moment.

That was until Shadow yawned widely.

"Urgh. Mmm, sorry Gambit." She rubbed her eyes with her spare hand. "Guess I'm more tired than I thought."

"It ok, mon amie." He smiled, squeezing her hand with his. "Ya been through a lot. An' de gumbo probably makin' ya sleepy too."

"Yeah." She looked at him from under regretful hooded eyes. "Sorry to chase you away."

"Non, don't be. Gambit happy to stay an' watch over you, but ya probably get better sleep without him." He smiled sadly, reluctantly getting to his feet.

"Depends on how loud your card shuffling is." She smiled, settling back onto the pillows. "But yeah. I think I need a kip. Thank you again, Gambit. For the save and the food."

"No problem." Gambit replied, taking the bowl. "Get some rest now, ok? Don't go sneakin' out again."

"Hah, rich coming from you." She chuckled, her tone light. "Alright. I'll see you when I see you."

"Sleep well, mon amie." Gambit said, stepping away. Shadow's light went off behind him.

Just before he left the room however, he stopped, glancing over his shoulder. Shadow had her back to him, only her wild messy hair visible above the sheets bundled around her.

"Fais de beaux rêves...chère." Gambit whispered softly, before he closed the door behind him.