#even so she'd be around when everyone is gathered around the fire or something

[beensbaee]

𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒚𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 ˚ ༘♡ ·˚ ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ

summary; neteyam has always avoided y/n due to the fact that he cannot trust himself around her - but what happens when he is tasked to teach her?

pairing; neteyam!teacher x y/n

word count; 3.5k

HER BEWITCHING BOY

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

It was no surprise Y/n and Lo'ak were such good friends. Both of them had the same wild nature that always got them into trouble - and a distinctive laughter that caught everyone's attention.

Unlike Lo'ak, she was the tiniest bit more responsible. She was also more immersed in the clan too - often spending her free time playing with the younger children and asking the elders all sorts of questions - even finding new paths in the forest with Kiri to travel on.

Her relationship with little Tuktirey was just as sweet. She'd often find all sorts of ways to have the girl giggling and smiling, whether it was by making faces or telling her stories so silly that Tuk couldn't even contain her amusement.

There was just one Sully kid she wasn't close with. Neteyam was a year older than her - and he'd always kept his distance from Y/n.

She was not blind. She'd see how he'd be sitting comfortably with his family until Y/n would come. Even Jake had seen the way the boy's smile would falter as he would suddenly begin looking anywhere that wasn't towards her - giving her a curt greeting before excusing himself and leaving.

She'd try not to look hurt - but everyone saw how her ears fell in embarrassment at his behavior towards her. Lo'ak would brush it off, telling her to ignore him. Kiri herself would be confused but would always choose not to say anything as she took it upon herself to make the girl feel more welcomed and forget about her eldest brother's reaction.

Neteyam always seemed conflicted when his parents would bring up his apparent dislike for her - sometimes claiming he didn't notice he was treating her differently, and other times remaining silent when questioned why he treated her like she was something to avoid completely.

The truth was that he himself did not know either.

Well he knew, but refused to accept the fact.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Y/n was shuddering, Lo'ak howling with laughter as Kiri rubbed her arm soothingly

"It is ok, Y/n. Not everyone is perfect at aiming." Kiri said as a way to comfort the girl, discreetly kicking Lo'ak's leg and giving him a look that quickly stopped his laughter

"Eywa, I could have killed him." She groaned, hiding her face with her hands as Kiri looked at her with a frown

"But you didn't!" Lo'ak chirped up as Y/n sighed, slinging off the bow that had been on her back and holding the wood firmly in her hands

"As if he didn't already hate me enough." She mumbled, Lo'ak finally turning towards her with concern

"He doesn't hate you, Y/n. He's just... dumb?" He tried, but Y/n only sent him a sad smile

"He's a hundred times smarter than you!" She laughed, Lo'ak rolled his eyes as Kiri joined in with her own grin

"Come on, it is time to eat." Kiri said as the three teens made their way to the central part of the village where the clan gathered to eat meals together

After fighting over who sat next to whom, the lineup consisted of Kiri, Y/n, and Lo'ak in a row - everyone satisfied with the seating arrangement as they conversed amongst themselves. Jake and Neytiri sat a few rows down from them - and Y/n's eyes caught the familiar muscled back of Neteyam Sully as he sat down next to his parents and grandmother.

She winced, heart burning with shame as she looked at his bandaged leg. The same leg she had accidentally hit when wielding a bow.

Jake had insisted she'd be fine hours earlier when she refused to hunt with the weapon, handing her the bow and arrow and giving her a simple target  to practice her aim with while the hunting party was taking a break.

She'd usually hunted with a simple knife, expertly too. She'd excelled at many things - but her skills with a bow was not one of them

She'd fired it, her arm shaking with fear as her hand slipped. The arrow didn't stay true to its path at all and flew completely out of her sight. Moments after firing, they heard a sharp yell - Jake only turned towards her in disbelief with his mouth hanging open. Never had she seen her clan leader in such denial.

Her embarrassment was incomparable as she and Jake ran in the direction of the yell, only to find Neteyam kneeling over in pain as he held the gash on his leg with his hands, blood running over his fingers as he applied pressure to the wound.

Thank the Great Mother the arrow merely grazed him. Y/n had been brought to near tears as she apologized profusely for her actions. Neteyam merely bowed his head, mumbling that he was fine and clearly embarrassed himself by the situation as Jake quickly patched up the boy with his on the go medical kit.

He got up the second he was patched, insisting he was fine and leaving as Y/n finally gathered the courage to approach him

"Neteyam, Neteyam wait!" She pleaded, her voice desperate as he visibly froze in his path, slowly turning around to meet her eyes

"I know we are not friends - but please understand, I had no intention of hurting you. I am so sorry." She said, her voice was strained as she spoke, eyes pained as she struggled to convey her true guilt.

He remained silent, looking at her so intensely that she felt her back straightening subconsciously. He parted his lips as if to say something, mouth moving as he struggled to find the words before clamping it shut and shaking his head

"It is fine, Y/n. I am fine, please do not worry about me." He finally said, his voice foreign and eyes hard before he turned away from her, his muscles tense as he walked away.

She wanted to cry in that moment, her eyes stinging with shame as she turned away, unable to understand the clear aversion the Sully boy had for her.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Neteyam ate his food silently, occasionally cracking a smile at his fathers ridiculous jokes.

He couldn't stop himself from looking back to Lo'ak and Kiri, but his eyes didn't stay on them. They moved to the girl between the two.

The familiar feeling of his heart thundering in his chest returned as he looked away once again, closing his eyes while he struggled to keep himself from marching over to the trio and pulling her away.

He hated Y/n. He hated her so much sometimes.

He hated how he was reminded of her everywhere he turned. He hated how she'd braid flowers into her hair and how her clothes were always so out of place from the familiar brown and greens the clan wore - her pink and purple accessories only pulling his eyes towards her even more.

He hated how he couldn't control his heart around her. Never had he felt so out of control. He hated how easily she'd be able to have him do anything if she just asked, her voice a melody he'd listen to from afar - something similar to a drug. Something he desired so much but refused to have - the fear of addiction holding him back.

He'd promised himself it was just a small crush when he'd first seen her vibrant smile. 

He told himself anyone would have fallen in love with the way she so selflessly loved. 

He had to force himself to look away from her when she was doing simple tasks - eating, weaving baskets - even just praying - he'd find her eyes closed and content as her face was composed with eternal peace he wished to find.

He'd told himself to stay away from her completely because she wasn't someone he could trust himself to be around. The feeling of simply not understanding what he felt was what scared him so much. But her beauty - one that had his knees so weak he had to look away just to stand without faltering, was what terrified him the most.

Her beauty wasn't something unknown - she was the most enchanting na'vi in the clan through his eyes. Her delicate cheeks and round eyes with fluttering lashes had him in awe at times. But, as he watched another boy approach her as she ate - her curious eyes meeting him as he quickly struck up a conversation with the trio had him blinking rapidly.

He was seemingly talking to all three, but Neteyam did not miss the way the mystery boy's eyes would trail back to Y/n to seemingly try and catch a glimpse of her.

He clenched his jaw, looking down at the food in front of him with furrowed brows. Suddenly, he wasn't so hungry anymore.

He couldn't even be mad. He had no say over who spoke to her - and this wasn't the first time.

He'd seen numerous boys approach her before, and every time, he'd be watching the interaction from afar. Fuming with a clenched jaw as he struggled to kill the jealousy that was running through him like a storm.

The only thing that prevented him from intervening was Y/n's gently but sad smile as she rejected Every. Single. One. Nothing was more satisfying than watching her shake her head - indicating a polite no from her that had each boy walking away with slumped shoulders.

As if Y/n had felt his burning gaze, she lifted her head to look directly at him.

Her eyes - they had him swallowing the lump in his throat as he looked right back at her, refusing to break eye contact. 

She blinked rapidly as she stared back, her gaze struggling to hold the intensity in his eyes as she finally looked away.

He left dinner right after it ended, returning to his hammock with a pounding headache as he struggled to sort his thoughts.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

"Neteyam."

He slowly opened his eyes to find his mother standing over him, her eyes concerned as Neteyam quickly sat up with his brows pulled together in concern

"Is something wrong, Mother?" He asked quickly, his voice tired as she frowned

"Yes. You went to bed so early. Are you feeling ok?" She asked gently as Neteyam automatically nodded his head

"Mother - I am fine." He said, but his voice wasn't convincing enough to her. Just as she was about to say something, Jake walked towards them with hurried steps once he heard their voices

"You awake, boy?" He asked, moving to stand next to Neytiri as Neteyam nodded his head, his annoyance present in his sigh

"Why is everyone asking if I am ok?" He questioned as Jake and Neytiri looked at each other - their eyes obviously having some sort of an exchange he was not apart of

"You seem distracted lately." Was what Jake settled on as Neteyam remained silent

Quickly, Jake's eyes lit up as if he thought of something. He turned to Neytiri with a glint in his eyes that had her look at him expectedly

"Now, I need a favor from you. Think you can do it?" Jake asked, his voice firm as Neteyam nodded his head

"Of course. What do you need?" He answered dutifully, his mind still hazy from being awoken from his slumber

"I need you to teach Y/n how to wield a bow and fire an arrow."

Jake didn't miss the way Neteyam nearly flinched at his words, his eyes widening the slightest bit as well. But, he remained still and silent and gave them no further insight as to how he felt by the request 

Neytiri watched him carefully as Neteyam finally nodded his head, his knuckles pale from gripping the sides of his hammock so hard as his lips were set in a firm line.

"Yes sir."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Y/n shuffled her feet as she watched Neteyam secure the last few necessary things they needed for the next few hours they were spending in the forest together inside of his bag.

His hands moved so gracefully - Y/n couldn't help but watch him as he placed one last arrow on his back, turning to her and gesturing his head towards the exit of the tent and towards the forest.

"Come on Y/n." He said, turning his back towards her as he led her into the forest, a clear destination in his mind as she recognized a few trees with markings on them with the path he was leading her on - clearly targets previous na'vi had used to practice with their bows and arrows on.

She felt her cheeks heat up as she realized the fact that these targets were probably made for children to practice their skills on.

Hunting with a bow and arrow wasn't required - and Y/n knew from the start she wasn't very good with one, so she didn't bother ever picking up one. But now, it seemed she'd have to learn how to master it, one way or another.

She turned to Neteyam, her voice quieter than usual as she spoke her true thoughts

"Do you think I am capable of even learning how to use a bow this late? Especially after..." She asked, her embarrassment evident in her voice as he turned to her with the same intense gaze she was used to seeing in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

"Well, of course you are. Mistakes happen." He said, silence following after his words as he saw the hesitation in her eyes - maybe it was his words, or maybe it was the fact that they'd never been alone together - and that he'd never really even spoken this much to her.

Finally, he smiled. It was such a small movement on his face, but she'd seen how his eyes had softened as the smallest of smile lines appeared. It was a change.

"Come here."

She obliged without hesitation, standing next to him only seconds later as he handed her his bow and an arrow. She grabbed his bow with careful hands, her fingers running over the intricately beautiful engravings in the wood as she admired it.

He was watching her, his gaze unwavering as he saw the small twitch of her lips as they formed a smile. She didn't notice his gaze - too focused on the bow, and he took the opportunity to look at her up close.

He'd never allowed himself to be this close to her - after the last time there had been such little distance between them her intoxicating scent had been the thing to keep him up for hours. But now, he closed his eyes and could only inhale it - his tail flicking as his senses recognized the sweet smell

"Hold it like this." He instructed

He didn't even recognize his own voice - it came out much rougher than he intended it to, but he forced himself to focus on the way her hands held his bow - searching for any mistakes with the way she was positioned that might be why she was having trouble firing an arrow.

His fingers mistakingly brushed over hers - and he felt himself letting out a breath to steady himself and calm his heart - it seemed like Y/n had also been thrown off by the small touch between them as she quickly blinked while staring at their hands.

Neteyam finally realized her mistake as he noticed the way her fingers went straight over the wood she was holding when they should have curved over the slanted piece.

He didn't trust himself to say anything without his voice giving away exactly how he felt, so he wordlessly moved her fingers - cupping his hand over hers and moving it into position and nodding his head

She met his eyes once he gave her the cue to fire her arrow, and she unleashed it - the strong string snapping it forward with impeccable speed as it hit the target right in its center

She looked at the target in disbelief as she let out a victory war cry one would use in battle - startling Neteyam instantly as she clapped her hands in pure excitement

"I got it! Neteyam I got it!" She exclaimed, her eyes shining with so much appreciation that she leaped towards the boy and tackled him with a hug

He only yelped as he fell backward and onto the grass, her body on top of his as she hugged him tightly - laughter spilling out of her as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her - before tightening them and reciprocating her ecstatic embrace

They stayed like this for a few moments - both of them holding each other so close that every single previous cold and awkward encounter of the two of them before faded away - the two so lost in the moment as they laughed

Finally, she pulled away - her eyes still crinkled with joy as Neteyam felt himself quieting once again as he stared at her. But this time, it was not with the usual emotionless stare - but with a gaze so open and with no facade, she too quieted as she felt the atmosphere change.

Finally he looked away, unable to look at Y/n any longer as he began speaking

"I am sorry for how I have treated you in the past. I... it was shameful." He finally spoke, words Y/n had been wanting to hear for so long - she didn't even believe he'd said them

She knew he had one of the biggest hearts ever - the snippets she'd catch of him with his siblings had confirmed that. She knew there was a reason he typically avoided her - and she had a very good feeling she was about to find out what it was.

"It is ok." She said, the sweetest smile on her face as Neteyam felt his heart crack at the sight

All the times he'd been so awful, so cold and distant - she'd forgiven. Because she had a heart of gold - something Neteyam felt he didn't deserve. Something he thought he wasn't worthy of.

"Y/n..." He struggled to finish the sentence as he stared at her lips, parted and simply begging for him - the urge to press his lips against hers was overwhelming

"Y/n, I do not deserve someone like you. I could not look you in the eyes - or speak to you all this time because of how I felt. I feel so much for you - it is like my heart is set on fire when I look at you sevin -"

The word had slipped from his lips - but she'd heard it.

Sevin. Pretty

She felt her heart flutter as she heard his words. He thought she was pretty.

He smiled at her reaction before shaking his head and reaching for her hands hesitantly. She reached forward slowly, lacing their fingers together with sparkling eyes as he cracked a grin

He knew she felt something for him too - because of the numerous boys that had pursued her, she never held their hands the way she was holding his - nor did she stare at them with eyes so round and filled with such a tender kindness as she did with him.

She leaned forward, gently brushing her lips against his to see his reaction. But he merely pulled her back in - his mouth enveloping hers as he moved his arms around her.

He kissed away all her confusion that night, spending the hours meant for her training with her hands in his hair and his face pressed against hers.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

six full moons later ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

It was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.

The tense Neteyam who'd always been frowning was replaced by one who couldn't stop smiling. He was the one who'd be more eager for Y/n to come over then his own siblings, the one who made Lo'ak gag dramatically whenever he and Y/n did anything even remotely romantic - the one who looked forward to seeing her the most.

In the beginning he wouldn't even stand next to her - and now, he refused to be separated from her.

They'd sneak out at night to gaze at the stars - a favorite pastime of theirs now as Y/n would lay her head on his chest and tell Neteyam anything and everything that came to her mind. Neteyam would do the same - saying things that would have Y/n giggling as she nuzzled her nose against his skin

"Tomorrow, you and I will have a date night." Neteyam said proudly, Y/n tilting her head up and towards with a smile 

"What is a date night?" She asked, her hands mindlessly playing with his fingers as Neteyam grinned

"My parents have date nights all the time - they go out to have their own private time, away from everyone else. You and I could pick all sorts of fruits to snack on - climb all sorts of trees with no one to tell us what to do." He said, voice gentle with his lips set into a soft smile

She smiled, gently moving her hand to his face as she traced over his freckles that glowed in the moonlight. He looked radiant in the day - but at night, he was bewitching. There was a certain thing about him and the night that comforted her more than anything else in the world

"Well then, we should have date night every night." She insisted as he laughed, the sound a melody to her ears as she merely smiled against him - the stars shining above the two for every date night they would spend together.

i just want to tag @erenjaegerwifee for the request/idea! thank u boo for the inspo i hope you like it 🥺 took me a couple THOUSAND words to reach the part where he teaches her & they confess but i got there! 😅🤍

[suuuupernovaaa]

mong

mong [m·oŋ] vtr. depend on, rely on, trust for protection

Anonymous Request: I was wondering if you could do a Neteyam x f reader who grew up with/around the Sullys and Jake and Neteyam are protective of her. And then one day she walks into their tent or a gathering and just rushes into Neteyams arms and clings to him they are all worried. Neteyam comforts her and holds her while Jake tries to solve the problem?

1,551 words

My mother's grip on my upper arm was so tight that I knew it would leave bruises.

"You will do this," she hissed in my ear. "There is no other choice. Don't be foolish."

With much effort, I pulled my arm from her grasp and stumbled back, staring at her, horrified.

Before anyone else could speak, I ran.

--

"Was Y/N hunting today?" Jake Sully asked his eldest son as he and his family sat around a small fire, finishing up cleaning and drying their kills from the day.

"Yes," Neteyam replied.

Jake nodded, wiping off his knife. "You should have gone with her."

Neteyam sighed. He knew his father worried about Y/N, a girl - now woman - his age, and everyone knew why, but no one really said it.

Her parents were... unkind, and that was putting it lightly. He didn't think they'd ever put a hand on her, but even for Na'vi, they were harsh and unforgiving, and not for the sake of raising her right and keeping her safe in a dangerous world.

Just for the sake of being harsh. They didn't seem to like their own daughter very much, which confused the Sullys. She was kind, soft spoken, intelligent, and always supportive to her loved ones. There wasn't anything not to like about her.

Jake had watched her grow up, from a distance at first, and then encouraged his children to be friends with her. She'd latched to them immediately, and eventually to him and his wife as well, becoming almost a part of the family.

It seemed to be getting worse lately, and anytime she wasn't with the Sully family, the worry was there at the back of Jake's mind. He supposed he was really starting to think of her as a third daughter, and having her away from him for long periods of time caused him some anxiety.

He knew his oldest son felt a similar worry for the girl, but for entirely different reasons.

As if summoned by the mention of her name, Y/N burst through the door, causing every Sully head to turn her way. She breezed past everyone and threw herself right into Neteyam's arms, crying loudly, which was very uncharacteristic for her.

Jake jumped up immediately, and Neytiri ran to Neteyam's side, placing her hand on Y/N's back as she sobbed.

"What have they done now?" Jake huffed under his breath, wondering what kind of laws were in place that would allow him to punish her parents for the way they treated this poor, sad girl.

"What is it, child?" Neytiri asked, but Y/N was too upset to speak. Her breaths were coming in shallow gasps, and Neteyam looked to his mother and then his father with wide, panicked eyes.

Kiri joined the three of them on the floor, placing a hand on Y/N's back right next to her mothers. The two women in unison closed their eyes and began taking in deep breaths, low and slow, in and out.

It took a while, but Neteyam felt Y/N doing the same as she clung to him.

"There you go," Neteyam whispered, stroking her hair as she breathed. He had never seen Y/N so much as frown, none the less cry. No matter what she was put through, her dispositioned always remained sunny and calm. Something terrible must have happened.

"Tell us what happened," Neytiri said, and Y/N finally sat up, but Neteyam would not let her out of his arms. She had to turn, settling in his lap, with his arms crossed over her chest.

--

Even though I knew the Sullys had noticed that my parents were different, I had never spoken of it to them. What was the point? I could not change who my parents were. I could only keep my head down, be respectful, and hope to escape when I was older.

And now, I had been offered and escape, and I would rather die than accept it.

"They have... they are forcing me to mate with Marek," I said finally, and Neteyam's arms over my chest tightened, pulling my back into his chest, as Kiri gasped.

I cast my eyes downward, embarrassed at my outburst, and at burdening their family with this - but I didn't know where else to go.

"Marek is awful," Kiri whispered. "He's mean, and cruel, and he's..."

"Just like my father," I whispered, tears pricking at the corner of my eyes again. I looked up to Jake, the man I'd always wished had truly been my father, and the expression on his face was dark and malicious.

"This will not happen. Neteyam, with me, now."

Neteyam frowned, holding me tightly to him, but his father demanded he join him a second time, and they left without so much as a word.

Neytiri and Kiri held me tightly as Lo'ak and Tuk stood nearby, and I wished for the millionth time that I had been born into this family instead.

--

Netyeam and his father returned almost an hour later, very quiet, somewhat relieved and mostly nervous.

When they entered, Neytiri was braiding Y/N's hair while Kiri and Tuk sang softly by the fire. Lo'ak sat nearby, looking oddly out of place.

"Okay, well," Jake said as he entered, spreading his arms to the side. "I think we should give Neteyam and Y/N a little space to talk."

Y/N furrowed her brown. Netytiri squeezed her should and Kiri patted her on the knee before the entire Sully family, minus Neteyam, rose to leave.

Jake approached before he left, and put a hand on her shoulder. "We would never let anyone hurt you, Y/N, and we did what we thought was best to protect you... but nothing is set in stone. You get to decide your path."

Y/N tilted her head to the side, extremely confused and in the dark, but Jake left, leaving just Y/N and Neteyam there.

"Neteyam, tell me what's going on!" she said, and the two of them quickly approached each other, meeting in the middle of the tent.

"My dad and I, we went to speak to your parents and..." Neteyam cleared his throat. "On the way there, I told my father the truth, Y/N. I told him that there were many reasons I want you away from Marek, and your parents. I want you to be safe, and loved, and treated the way you deserve. And I want all this because I... I have been in love with you for a very long time."

Y/N was quiet before him, her face nearly expressionless, extremely hard to read, so Neteyam pressed on.

"We spoke to your parents and we made them an offer. I asked them for your hand. I asked their permission to be your mate."

Remaining stoic, Y/N's expression did not change. Neteyam reached out, taking her hands into his.

"If this is not what you want, you only have to tell me, and we will find a safe place for you. You will have the protection of your Olo'eyktan. Of my family."

Y/N opened her mouth, and then shut it again, and to his great horror, she was crying once more. Soft, quiet tears rolled from her eyes and down her cheeks.

He was prepared to tell her again, she didn't have to do anything she didn't want to do, when she took her hands from his, put them on either side of his face, and pulled his lips to hers.

--

I was frozen as Neteyam spoke. Not only had he saved me from my parents and from Marek, but he had somehow granted me the deepest desire of my heart? A hope that I had never spoken to a single soul?

For years, I had harbored a love for Neteyam, that only grew as we spent more time together.

He was standing before me now, offering me everything I'd ever wanted, and making it clear for the first time in my life, that I had complete control over my own destiny.

Overtaken by relief, gratitude and joy, all I could do was pull him to me in a long overdue kiss.

When I pulled away, Neteyam wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Is that... a yes?" he asked, and I had to laugh.

"Of course it is. And, Neteyam, please know this is not just to escape. I have loved you for a long time. We could have both saved each other some anguish by just admitting that a while ago."

Neteyam pulled me in for a tight hug, and I reveled in how completely safe I felt in his arms. I reveled in the joy of finally becoming a Sully. I reveled in the delight of never having to see my parents again if I didn't want to.

Soon, the tent was full of Neteyam's family once more, cheering, and crying a little, and celebrating.

Jake was the first to pull me into a hug, and he whispered in my ear. "I always knew you were meant to be my daughter, one way or another."

We smiled at each other, and the feeling of calm and safety grew, settling over all of us - and it would never disappear again.

[coolcattime]

A Mianite Superpower AU I've been cooking up where the gang is split between heroes and villains. This little explanation focuses on the “villains” because I came up with the Au based around them so I'm more sure of their backstories. (More of the AU under the read more because as it turns out, I had a lot to say. This focuses on Tom, Sonja, Capsize, and Redbeard).

The universe is one where some people are just born with superpowers. Their strength grows with time, and generally it's accepted that a person with powers will have fully developed them by teenhood. Hence the heroes association has a required test for children to find those with major powers so they can be properly trained to become superheroes.

The test is controversial, and has only been growing more so in recent years. Especially as being caught ‘cheating’ the test has become an arrest-able offence. From this development a small group of villains has been forming from those caught ‘cheating’.

Tom

Powers: Creation and manipulation of explosions, creation and manipulation of fire, mild healing factor, will come back to life after dying

When he had taken the test, Tom only had minor powers. He could create tiny explosions the size of firecrackers and manipulate the flame of a lighter, but his powers weren't anything to write home about and certainly not superhero worthy. The superheroes association agreed, marking him as having minor powers and letting him remain to live his life rather than training him. It seemed that Tom was destined to live a normal life.

Then Tom died. He was hit by a car and died on the scene. Technically nothing out of the ordinary. Except, a day later, Tom woke up.

He woke up confused as hell in a hospital morgue with no idea as to how he was currently alive. What should have been a miracle was quite tainted by him getting arrested mere hours later for “hiding superpowers”. No matter how much he tried to explain that he had no idea had he come back to life, they didn't listen to him. Only made worse by the powers he had already being amplified to the point that he's pretty sure he could blow up the building he was being kept in. He didn't go that far, but he did end up breaking through a good number of walls to escape custody as, for reasons as unknown to him as the rest of his newly upgraded powers, the power-restrictor that was put on him didn't seem to work.

That night Tom was declared a super villain. And if they were going to call him a villain, Tom was going to be the biggest thorn in their side they could possibly imagine. After all, who can cause more trouble than a villain who can't die?

Sonja

Powers: The ability to comprehend all written language, clairvoyance via ink and paper, shape-shifting

Sonja's original power of language comprehension was never going to be the sort of thing that got her put on active hero duty, but it was deemed useful enough to get her recruited for behind the scenes work. She liked it well enough, even if her job seemed to mostly be being told to dispose of anything actually interesting. But it wasn't a hard job, she got training, and above average accommodation, and she was well liked by pretty much everyone in the building.

Her life probably could've just continued this way, working her way up behind the scenes until she became irreplaceable. But one day, Sonja became intrigued by one of the documents she'd be given to investigate. A set of instructions for an apparent ritual written by a newly captured villain. Now those were, at least in her line of work, dime a dozen, but the exact nature of this one was something she couldn't ignore. A ritual for an individual to be gifted new powers. And that was just too interesting for her to either destroy or hand over the document to be sat in an archive for the rest of time. So she tested it on herself.

She had no idea if it would work or how she would get to grips with a brand new power, so she set it up to get herself the ability to gather information via ink and paper. It seemed similar enough to her current power to quickly get to grips with and useful to the heroes association since it would be great for low stakes intel gathering. And it worked. She did the ritual and suddenly just spilling ink on paper could produce maps or lists of information. She was so excited to present the ritual to the higher ups, because she was sure it could help the association.

Sonja was arrested. Officially she was arrested for hiding her powers, but she knew it was really because she did something she didn't like. Her arrest was argued against by a number of heroes and association staff alike. She had always been well-liked, a bullshit arrest wasn't going to change that, but none of their arguments stopped her from being sent towards the same facility that held actual supervillains. What actually stopped her from being locked up was Tom causing the transport truck to crash. He offered her freedom, and if she was going to be deemed a traitor anyway she might as well take the road where she isn't imprisoned.

Since joining Tom, she's managed to gather the resources to perform the ritual again, giving herself the ability to shape-shift. She's also used her clairvoyance to figure out what precisely caused Tom's revival and sudden power spike. An odd heart-shaped artifact apparently sewn into his corpse. Though her powers won't say exactly what it it or who put it inside Tom, leaving them a goal to investigate.

Capsize & Redbeard

Powers: The ability to transfer their powers between each other, water manipulation (Capsize), short distance teleport of themself and others (Capsize), air manipulation (Redbeard), minor charmed speech (Redbeard)

Coming from a small coastal town, Capsize and Redbeard were very used to the idea that their powers meant that one day they would be taken away to never return. The only time heroes ever showed up was when a villain threatened to rise sea levels and honestly even that didn't make them show up sometimes. The only time they saw anything of the heroes association was once a year when a single clerk would come to administrator the power test to the of age kids. Not liking the idea of being forced away from their home, Capsize and Redbeard decided to trick the test.

With the clerk only able to administrator the test to one kid at a time, they knew that they just needed to transfer all their powers into whoever wasn't being tested and hope that they didn't get caught. By some miracle, they didn't. There was some brief questioning as to what exactly their transference power did when they didn't have powers, but seeing that nothing could be proved, they were marked down as having a minor power and left to their own devices. Given the town's less than stellar opinion towards the heroes association and the twins doing their best to help around town, they were more than happy to keep the secret.

Years passed, the two growing up with being able to live their lives and learning their powers at their own pace. As long as they hid their powers one day a year, they could continue to do so. But eventually everyone's luck runs out. It wasn't as if Redbeard wasn't aware of the day, but that thought went out of his mind when he saw a workman falling from some scaffolding. He acted on impulse, slowing the man's fall. Unfortunately the heroes association clerk was walking by and quickly Red was arrested for having hidden powers. He just about managed to transfer his powers to Capsize before the power-restricting handcuffs were put on him, but now the heroes association was aware of his powers, the power transference made sense.

Heroes were summoned to the town for the first in over a decade as a Capsize was marked as a wanted criminal and the mood of the town threatened to turn riotous. The news managed to also catch Tom and Sonja's attention who headed to find Capsize with Sonja's powers, a little surprised to find she hadn't yet left town. They found her already being confronted by a hero who was attempting to talk her into surrendering. Said hero is extremely distracted by two supervillains turning up and turns his attention towards them only to be knocked out by Capsize who frankly isn't in the mood for the heroes associations bullshit. She isn't stupid. She knows that the only thing waiting for her and Redbeard from them is prison. So she asks Tom and Sonja if they'll help her break out Redbeard. Of course, the two agree.

Capsize and Redbeard end up fleeing their home town being officially declared super villains as they join Tom and Sonja. The group counts the whole thing as a victory as the heroes association's reputation has never been lower in Capsize and Redbeard's home And, for their long term goals, Capsize and Redbeard recognise the idea of a heart shaped relic from an old story about the original three heroes giving them at least some kind of a new lead to look into.

[onceonafullmoon]

Can you please write anten x reader headcanons?? Thank you!!!!

Ofc!

Warnings for cannon typical violence and slight NSFW (mostly just slightly suggestive)

Anten x GN! Reader

You're probably friends with Kurotsuno to begin with, but you've never met many of her more... eccentric "friends" aside from Hanten

If you were to ask her about it, she'd just brush you off, although it's really because she cares about you and doesn't want you to meet any of the freaks that frequent her home

But eventually, you win her over and you find yourself a one way ticket to Kurotsuno's house

Its... definitely something... a lot more blood than you expected to be sure (see, Met had snuck into the house and Hanten was not pleased)

But somehow you manage to get yourself separated from Kurotsuno in the house, and it's there you meet Anten

You... aren't very impressed to say the least when you meet him, he's arrogant and self-centered, and he even tries to hit on you, much to your discomfort

Luckily for you Hanten grabs him and tosses him out the window, to which you thank her with a grateful smile

You think that that's the end of that and thank Kurotsuno for letting you stay

...but of course, that isn't the end of it, rather only the beginning because you end up seeing him again while on a stroll through the pitch black world

And this time, he seems to be in quite a bit of trouble. Some sort of an altercation with an angel?

Well, it seems like it, and it's getting kind of… messy, there’s lots of blood, and, oh gosh are those intestines?

Okay, normally you wouldn’t interfere, but you can’t help but feel bad for the guy, despite not knowing him well

Or, as you would soon find out, because you didn’t know him well

Anyways, you’re about to take a risk and possibly throw yourself into the direct line of fire due to your personal fault of being too nice when all of a sudden–

Wait, did Anten just get decapitated?!

Oh shit, did you just witness a murder?!

Well, while you’re freaking out about that, the angel takes their leave and Anten’s head slowly rolls to a stop at your feet

You’re about to pass out, scream, cry or all of the above when his head coldly asks you whether you’re done gawking

Oh, right, he’s a demon, you think to yourself

You would take the time to process, but your kind nature wins over your need to assess your mental wellbeing, and you do your best to gather all of his limbs and drag him to a hospital.

Needless to say, it’s a very messy ordeal, and you end up looking like a scene out of a horror movie when you’re done

But Anten doesn’t seem to care, you see, he’s not really used to people being nice to him

Much less, attractive people being nice to him 

So needless to say, after this very bloody interaction he finds himself somewhat smitten with you

It’s not anything he takes notice of at first, but with the way you two keep on bumping into each other at Kurotsuno’s place and just in general around the Pitch Black World…

Well, he can’t really deny it anymore.

Which leads us into the very embarrassing and downright depressing phase of Anten trying to woo you

It’s especially hard for him because almost everyone who knows you and knows him is trying their absolute best to dissuade this match from happening

Kurotsuno drags you away from him whenever he tries to talk to you, Hanten just punches him into a wall if he even looks at you, Maekami purposefully seats him away from you and even the people who are neutral about you do their best to interfere simply because everyone hates him

But somehow despite everyone's attempts to keep him away, his downright awful personality and his general presence causing issues for everyone…

Well, you can’t help finding his persistence… somewhat charming?

Yeah, you might be delusional, but fuck it if you’re not living your life

Enter the start of your relationship.

He’s definitely a self centered asshole by nature, but damn it if he doesn’t try his best to tone it down around you

He knows that you’re far too good for him, so you better believe he at least puts in some work

A lot of people actually find this amusing/ refreshing, and so it kind of becomes a thing that if you’re with him people are a lot more willing to deal with him

Oh, but know that Kurotsuno thinks that you’re an absolute moron

It’s like a case of a friend getting together with a shitty ex, it’s just painful for her to watch

Anyways, you two tend to get into fights a lot due to your opposing natures, so what happens a lot of the time is that he has to swallow his pride and go groveling back to you for forgiveness

Which you always grant him for reasons unknown

A lot of your time will also be spent patching him up from the various fights he gets into

Correction, not fights, one sided beatdowns that he’s the victim of

Kurotsuno is highly annoyed that you shed tears for this man, if he can even be qualified for one

Slight NSFW mention

In the bedroom, he tends to go slightly overboard, though that might be because he’s pent up from not having anyone in a long while lmaoooo

He really likes it when you pull on his hair, but don’t tell anyone that’s a secret

He also really likes it when you’re in charge and putting him in his place, cough degrading kink cough

In all, no one knows why you two are together, least of all him, but he’ll be damned if he lets you slip through his fingers

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 34

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They get as far from Gao Ling as they can, as quickly as they can. It's hard, since Toph definitely isn't taking well to flying. They have to stop a few times just so she can have a few minutes out of the saddle.

When they stop for the night, Toph flops to the ground, hugging the dirt, and pulling an Earth tent around herself. Katara frowned, seeing the younger girl not helping set up camp. She would normally refuse to feed such a freeloader, but Toph had a rough day.

"Here," Katara says, moving to sit by the entrance of Toph's tent. "I made you a bowl. But tomorrow, you'll need to help out."

"Help out?" Toph scoffs, even as she took the bowl from Katara. "What, your brother needs help unloading his weird smelling sleeping bag? I pull my own weight."

Katara's eye twitches, but she forces a smile even if Toph can't see it. "If you're going to pull your weight, then we won't have a problem."

Toph didn't stop Katara from walking away. Sokka, trying to convince Zuko to let him take seconds, took one look at his sister's face and fled. Aang made nervous laughter, and got up to 'find Momo', who was definitely in Appa's saddle. It was only Zuko who didn't flee, still at his spot by the cooking pot, using firebending to keep the pot warm without over cooking.

"Food or water?" Zuko asked, even as he ladled out a bowl for her.

"I'll meditate later," Katara grit out, though without as much bite as it would have been, and took her bowl. "I'm starving."

Zuko nodded, only serving himself once Katara had her own food. It was a show of respect, Katara had realized, a few days into their journey. Zuko had seen how she did all the cooking, and then only got what was left after making sure everyone else ate, so he made sure that Katara was never the last to be served.

"It looks like the bison might be shedding," Zuko said, conversationally. "When we have a moment, I think we should wash him. We don't want to leave a trail."

Nodding, Katara felt herself relax, and fell into easy conversation as they ate. She'd deal with Toph in the morning.

Except, she found that Toph was extremely stubborn.

When morning came, everyone set about to do their morning chores. Aang and Sokka would pack up camp now, at least most of it, while Zuko helped Katara with cooking. Toph, despite being asked to help move supplies, ignored every. "Not my stuff, not my problem."

And then, they started dishing out food. Aang and Sokka got their share, Katara got hers, and finally, Zuko got his. They doused the cooking fire, and set about eating.

"Hey!" Toph said. "Where's mine?"

"Your what?" Katara asked, eating.

"My breakfast."

Katara hummed, taking a bite of her food. "Sorry, but... Zuko and Sokka hunted for meat in it last night. Aang gathered the vegetables. And I made the food with Zuko's help. And... you didn't contribute."

Toph was gaping like a fish. "What, so you aren't going to leave any for me?"

"No, Toph. If you don't pull your weight, you don't eat. There's exceptions for when training Aang during meal prep, but... Aang wasn't training this morning. He was clearing camp so we can leave once we're done."

Toph fumed, but rather than cave and try to do something now, she huffed a whatever and plopped down on the ground turned away from them. When Sokka and Aang finished, they washed their dishes, and set to washing the cooking pots. When Zuko and Katara finished, they gave Sokka and Aang their bowls to wash, and started loading the cooking supplies onto Appa.

They climbed on, and Toph joined them, refusing to talk to anyone.

When they got off, Toph was clearly starving, eager to eat, but got a repeat of that morning. Aang unloaded Appa and set up tents, while Zuko and Sokka went hunting and gathering. Katara was busy prepping dinner, rinsing plates and setting up rice, and making sure that no meat touched anything Aang would want to eat.

And Toph did nothing to help. So she got nothing that was a team effort. She could slam dirt walls up as much as she wanted, but Katara wouldn't feed her.

It was much later, when Katara was laying down in her sleeping roll, tucked into one end of her tent, that she heard it. Zuko, walking across their campsite. She heard him plop down onto the ground, around where Toph's dirt tent was.

"What do you want?" Toph's grumpy voice asked.

Katara heard Zuko hum. "Just to talk."

"I don't want a lecture."

"Even it means I give you some food?"

Katara grit her teeth. Zuko knew what she said. How dare he decide to ignore her?

"Katara mentioned you said you would pull your own weight," Zuko started, then quickly said, "Just listen for a second." He took an audible breath and pressed on. "I understand pulling your own weight when you're alone. I'm sure you could. But we're part of a team. We need to help each other, so everyone is ready for what could come next, and so camp can run smoothly. If you're fine with a dirt tent, that's fine, but there's other things to do besides setting up tents. There's cooking, hunting, washing, unloading gear so Appa can rest. There's so much that needs doing, and we all benefit when it gets done."

"Except Queen Prissy won't let me eat. So I'm not benefiting from any of that."

"Did you cook?"

"No?"

"Did you hunt?"

"No..."

"Then why should you benefit from our work?"

"Because! I'm part of-" Toph cut herself off.

Zuko, sounding satisfied, replied, "You're part of the team?"

Toph didn't respond, but Zuko must have been finished. Katara heard him stand, and heard something touch the ground. "Here. Thanks for talking with me."

She listened as Zuko returned to his tent, the one next to hers, and then the camp was quiet.

In the morning, as Katara and Zuko are cooking breakfast, Toph uses Earthbending to lift supplies and Sokka, so the boy could toss bags into the saddle. When everyone comes back to eat, Katara makes a bowl for Toph, who scarfs the food down. Katara catches Zuko smiling, and she knows there won't be any more problems.

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[shebeafancyflapjack]

Still That Boy

Some Robin angst. Enjoy (includes cameos of my ocs Elysabeth and Silver).

-

"Rogh? Rogh! Rogh!"

He hears the rustle of leaves as she approaches, knowing she'll soon stumble upon his hiding spot. Part of him wants to run, not to let her see, but what would be the point? She's one of the fastest hunters in the tribe. Even with her belly swollen, carrying the latest in a long line of siblings of his, he wouldn't stand a chance.

Then there's that part of him that wants to be found. Only by her.

"Ah! There are!" She grabs him by the grey scruff of his furs and turns her to him; "Why?! Why you make Ma worry? Rogh not care worry bad for baby?!" She frowns and gestures to her middle.

The eight year old boy winces, his own guts twisting in guilt. No. No, he's watched Ma put enough babies into the ground already, when the moonah water failed to wake them up.

He sniffs, blinking back the tears still in his eyes.

"Me sorry, Ma." He mumbles, hands gesticulating, their signs as much a part of his peoples communication as their limited speech.

The anger melts from her face at the sight of her second born son's tears. Placing the spear she'd brought with her, just in case a bear or wolf had taken her child, down on the ground, she knelt to meet his eyes.

Rogh stood still as his mother's warm but calloused hands stroked over his face, smoothing back a ragged lock of his hair. Lighter than hers.

"Me thought you play game. Too late, time to eat and gather close. Rogh love bum and story by fire. Why Rogh hide?" She asked, gentler now.

Her second boy had always been more sensitive than his older brother and sister. But he was also a happier child, always playing and joking and entertaining the smaller ones by being silly. Rarely did he cry unless something had pierced that jolly shell of his.

It clearly broke her heart to see him look so uncharacteristically down.

"Come. Tell Ma." She smiled, chucking him lightly under the chin.

He sniffed and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. His mother tutted and gave it a proper clean with a loose flap of one of her pelts.

After a few breaths, he told her.

"Rogh and Tuk go find Shaman at Stones. We ask him to tell us future."

His mother's eyes widen; "Why?! That not for you to know! Only Moonah know what to come. He deny this, yes? Yes?!"

Rogh stared at his feet.

"Son. Tell truth." She commanded.

He took a breath, helpless but to obey; "He say no at first. Tell us to train to be Shaman if want to know. But we keep asking. Over and over and over. Then he get annoyed and tell us so we leave."

The older woman rolled her eyes. As wise men of the tribe went, their current Shaman was one of the weaker touches, in her opinion.

"What he say then?" She indulged, intrigued to know what news could upset her son so.

"He look at Tuk first. Tell us to cut hand and he dab finger with blood then drink." The boy cringed at the memory; "He say Tuk grow up, find new tribe, become great warrior. Make many babies. Then babies grow up and kill him in sleep."

"Oh. How Tuk take that?"

Rogh shrugged; "He no care, he say death in sleep after being great warrior good death. Children must love him big."

His mother hummed, guessing that wasn't the message that the Shaman had hoped the boy would take away with him.

"And you?"

Rogh wrapped his little arms around himself.

"Come. What be so bad make Rogh cry? No bum in future? Eat only berries? Mammoth all disappear?" She laughed a little at that, as if those great beasts could ever just vanish off the earth.

"No Mama. It big bad." He said, trembling.

"What then?" She sat down, crossing her legs, resting her hand on her sweet boy's face; "What big bad?"

He met her eyes. Big, round, blue as the sky, brimming with fear.

"Shaman say Rogh be alone."

His mother recoiled a little; "Alone? Ha. That crazy. He say you leave tribe?"

"No. He say tribe leave Rogh. You, Ba, brothers, sisters, cousins....He say they all go. Everyone go. He say he see Rogh sat in dark. All alone."

"Ptah! Shaman be smoking wrong leaf again!" The huntress scoffed; "Tribe never leave Rogh. Family never leave Rogh."

"What if me do something bad? What if Rogh make Ma and tribe go away?"

"That what he say? He say why we leave?"

The boy shuddered, skin seeming paler than usual. He sniffed.

"Me ask. He take more blood. Then he light tiny fire on stick and hold it to eyes. He look deep....Then he scream. AAAH. Then be jump back! Drop fire, Tuk stamp on. Shaman say he saw....H-he saw...."

"Saw what?"

Rogh swallowed, meeting his mother's eyes; "Death."

She sighed and forced a smile; "Son. Ma look into Rogh's eyes now. Ma see better than silly Shaman. Rogh no have death in eyes. Rogh's eyes fill with life."

"But what if me bring death? What if...Rogh somehow make tribe die? What if Rogh curse-?"

"No!" She held his face in her hands, firmly, "Rogh dipped in Moonah water when born. Rogh clean. Rogh blessed by good light. No curse touch Rogh, never."

The boy looked away, unconvinced.

"Rogh. Look at me. Look at Ma."

He blinked. What did she know, better than the tribe Shaman? How could she fix this?

"Rogh!"

The boy wiped his nose again. He closed his eyes, a sudden pain shooting through his skull.

"Rohr? Rohr, be thee well?"

....Who was that?

He opened his eyes.

Where his mother had been crouched before him, now sat a girl. A girl not much older than his sister, but thinner, frail, wearing the strangest looking pelts he'd ever seen. Her hair shone yellow, like Sunne, threaded with violet flowers into her braids.

Who was she? Where did Ma go? And what was wrong with her leg?

He startled back, grunting in confusion.

"Woah! What has startled thou?" The girl asks.

He opens his mouth to speak, same as she, but all that leaves his lips is a weak, almost canine bark. Where's his voice? How can he understand her when she talks so different to his tribe?

When she pushes herself to stand, he gets a better view of her leg. Mauled. Most of the bone below the knee exposed, clumps of flesh held onto the dried blood. How can she stand? How can she live?! He's seen cousins die quicker from wolf bites that weren't as bad.

"Rohr? Doth thou remember mes?" She asks, gently.

He shakes his head, stepping back. She must be some sort of demon, like from the many stories around the fire. Demons that come in the form of children, appearing sweet and innocent.

Even her smile is pretty, even if her eyes show a hint of sadness.

"I be Elysabeth. Remember? Your friend."

Ely...Lis...That was a long name. Too long. Just keep it simple, one syllable, who needs more than one?

Friend? What's a friend?

There is only Good Tribe and Bad Tribe. Family and Threat.

She walks...no, limps forward, stretching out her hand to him.

"Peace. It be okay. You is just having another spell, yes? Your soul got lost again, as Clarence says, 'member? Just take deep breath. It will return and bring with it thy memories."

Clarence? Who is that?

He darts his eyes around. These woods...they look different to the ones he was in just moments ago.

Ma. Where is Ma? He wants his Ma.

When he tries to tell the girl, only more bleating sounds. Frustrated, he beats at his head, grizzling as the tears return.

Ma! Ma! Come back, Ma!

"Oh no, no, sweet thing, please don't hurt thyself..." the girl begs, then turns her head; "Godric! William! Make haste, I need thee!"

Thump. Thump. Thump.

If he hits himself hard enough then maybe he'll send himself back. Back home.

Two pairs of hands grab each of his wrists.

"Oi, oi, come on mate. None of that now. It won't help none." A rough voice chides.

Rogh grumbles at them, then takes a look at these idiots who dare to touch him. No one he knows. Not his tribe. A tall, stocky man with kind eyes beneath a wearisome brow. With him, a shorter and rounder man with curly hair and some kind of long shiny shiv through his chest.

"You 'earin' them sirens, Rohr? They find their way into dry land to mess with thy head too?" The shorter man laughed.

Was he mocking him? Rogh bared his teeth.

"Ey, ey, peace my friend, I only jest. I envy you if it be true, those creatures make many a sailor see great beauties before their deaths."

"William! He clearly not be in the mood for japes!" The girl with sunny hair berated.

"There be no better time for humor than in times of madness, little Miss. Jokes saved many of my crew from throwin' themselves overboard."

"Well he ain't in danger of killing himself when he's already dead." The larger man said, still holding Rogh's arm.

...What?

He let out a cry of shock.

Elysabeth's mouth opened; "Oh. No, Rohr...There be no reason to fear."

No reason?! Death. The Shaman had said that he saw death in his future...

"We all is dead, brother." The taller man said; "We wander as spirits now, do you remember?"

No. No. He's not dead. And he's in the wrong body. He shouldn't be taller than the girl. Shouldn't be the same height as the man with the curly hair.

"How tables do turn, ey? T'was you who welcomed us into the hereafter, now we can return the favour. What are friends for, ah?" The rounder one was still trying to laugh it all off.

Rogh whimpered. None of it made any sense. And yet there was the faintest itch of familiarity as the voices spoke to him, as the faces surrounded him.

The girl reached out her hand to take his, her thumb stroking over his knuckles.

"Wes here with you, Rohr. Wes got you. You is safe." She tried to assure.

Her touch....It felt as warm as Ma's. How can she feel like family when he doesn't know her?

Even the men are holding him gently, just keeping him from beating himself.

The taller man even cups his head and brings him close.

"Listen to 'Lisbeth, brother. Just breathe. Let it all come back."

Lisbeth. Li...

"Lyth....Lyth-bee..." He tries, rolling the sounds off his tongue. His Lys-Bee.

Yes. He...He remembers.

"Lisbeth. Lisbeth."

"Who be 'Lisbeth?"

Rohr blinks.

"I think that's Elizabeth? He's mentioned her a couple of times."

Different voice.

The world shifts. The trees are gone. He's back in a cave except...this one is all strange. The walls are too smooth, top too high and flat. Strange objects fill the cave, along with strange faces. New faces.

One the face of a woman, tall and face covered in soot, the other face....Just a face. A head. Next to her knee.

Rogh screams.

"Oh dear. Here we go again." The head speaks. It speaks! Rogh cowers back against the wall, screaming some more.

The woman is on her feet; "Be kind, head bit!"

"Sorry, sorry, I've just had a few bad experiences trying to talk him through these, back before you joined us."

Rogh covers his face with his arms. No, no, not more death. Dead heads shouldn't talk. Just like girls with eaten legs shouldn't either.

"Row? Can thou hearest me?" The woman crouched down before him.

He nodded.

"You werest just sat muttering to thyself for a good hour or more. Can you tells me 'bout Elizabeth?" She asks sweetly. Patient.

Is she a mother? She sounds like one.

"Lys-bee....Nice girl...Lys-bee...Friend." He mumbled, looking around the strange cave; "Where she go? Where men friends? Who...Who you?"

"Wes your friends too. I is Mary and that be head of Humphrey. See?"

"Alright, mate." The head called over.

Part of him wanted to laugh as the initial horror wore off. A talking head. It was...It was funny really. Like when he would put his hands in the skulls decorating the cave and move their jaws to speak. It would always make his little siblings laugh.

His fingers squeezed at the fur on his wrist.

"Gotta go home. Children want stories. Have to help."

"You means your little ones? Your babies?"

His...? He frowns. No, not his. He's...He's far too young to help woman make baby.

"Said you had thirty, right? Busy bunny, weren't ya." The head said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Thirty? How could he have....

"Where are they? Where babies?" He asked the woman. If this was true then it meant the Shaman was wrong.

If he had babies then his future wasn't just Death...

The kind woman smiles and takes his hands; "They be resting now, dear friend. Along with mine own little'ens. No need to worry anymore."

"Have to worry. Me Dad. Dad always worry." That's what his own had once said.

How can we worry so much over babies he doesn't remember? Babies he's yet to have?

"You was good dad, that why. But yous can rest now, okays?" She smiles; "Your head just needs a little rests and it be right as the rain come morning light."

"Mary..."

Her name comes to him like a stab to the head. He grips her hand.

"Mary....Are Rogh's babies dead?"

Her smile drops, eyes darkening with sadness she can no longer hide.

It's all the answer he needs.

"No...No, no, no!" He shuffles away from her and to his feet, tugging at his hair as he stumbles away. "He saw it, he saw it, he saw it!"

"Saw what? Robin, what dids he see?"

He doesn't stop. Doesn't look back.

Doesn't question why they call him the wrong name.

All he can do is stumble onward, through the dark. Hands reach out to grab him and he throws each one off before they can catch him in a snare.

He has to go home. Has to find his way home.

This can't become his future.

Not all this death. Not all this...

"Robin?! What the bally hell is the matter with you today?!" A stern voice demands after he runs headlong into a taller man.

He growls. He takes a swipe with his claw and the man in green jumps back to avoid it.

"Woah, woah, Robin, easy now, pal." A softer voice tries to calm.

He whirls around. A shorter man is behind him, a strange yellow talisman around his neck, his palms raised up.

More figures stand behind him. More strangers.

"Is he unwell?" A female voice asks, trembling with concern.

"Was he ever well is the question?" A sour, older woman's voice comments.

Rogh raises his fists up, more towards the men than the women, as nasty as the older one looks towards him.

A hand lands on his shoulder.

"Hey, mate. You wanna sit down? Play some chess?"

He flinches from the touch and grizzles.

"Ooohkay, will take that as a no." The strange man with a very short and thin pelt backs off.

"Don't think he quite remembers what chess is right now, Julian."

"Just give him some space, he'll be fine."

"A cage might be a safer option."

"Thomas!"

"I meant just until we can be sure he hasn't gone feral-!"

Rogh roars. He roars as loud as any bear he's heard before.

"See?"

Shut up! Shut up!

They're all calling after him now, with a name he doesn't recognise, not the one his mother gave him. The voices overlap and become mindless, earsplitting jeering all around him.

Can't they all just leave him a-?

He blinks.

The house is dark now. Silent. Empty.

Furniture covered in sheets. No signs of life, not even from the birds in the trees. Rogh frowns. Where did they go?

Who were they? Why did they speak like they knew him?

He can't ask them now. No one is left.

"Alone. Alone." That was what the Shaman had seen. Alone. Death.

He wanders through the halls. Not even his boots make a sound. Too quiet now. He wants the screaming and yelling to return.

Come back.

Come back.

He beats at his head. Stupid. Stupid.

"Robin?"

The voice calls from the room on his right. He turns and sees....a mother.

She sits on the bed. Yes, that's what it's called. She sits and looks at him with worry, cradling a baby in her arms.

"Is everything okay?" She asks, keeping her voice low, having clearly just settled the infant.

No. Everything is far from okay.

He pants, walking towards her; "Got lost."

"Oh...okay. Where you going anywhere in particular?" She asks, slowly, carefully.

He rubs at the front of his shift.

"Home."

"And...where's that?"

He shakes his head; "Me no know. Me....Me forget."

The mother nods.

"That's okay. It took me a while to know where my home was too."

What did that mean? He frowns at her. Does she know him? Is he supposed to know her?

"You wanna come sit next to me for a bit?" She pats the space beside her.

He relaxes a little. Unlike the others, she's not grabbing at him, not lying that it's all fine when it isn't. Not scared of him, when he's the one that's scared. The one that's lost.

Rogh sits tentatively beside the mother with brown hair.

"Baby beautiful." He says, peeking at her. Because it's what you're supposed to say...but it's also true.

"Aww, thanks. Hear that Mia? Compliment from Uncle Robin for ya."

Uncle.

Does that mean...?

"You....sister?" He frowned.

"Well, uhm....we're family. Aren't we." She answered with caution; "Just leave out the whole incest stuff with me, if you don't mind."

He's not sure what that means.

"....Where Ma?" He asks. If she sister then she might know.

She gave him a blank look; "Is that who you're looking for? Your mum?"

He nods.

"She here. Then she go." He explained in a small voice; "Me made her go."

"Why do you say that?" 'Sister' asked.

"It what me do. Me bring death. Me alone. My fault." He spoke the words with acceptance, sounding almost detached. Numb.

"I don't believe that." Sister shook her head; "You're not some murderer."

"Me have killed people."

"Yeah but I mean...." She waved her free hand, the other hugging her baby close; "Not like...You're not a bad man. You don't hurt people you care about. You look after them. You're kind. A little annoying sometimes...Very annoying, even, but...still a good friend."

Good. Good.

She reached to take his hand.

When he looked up, there she was.

Ma gave him her most loving smile; "Death not bad thing. Death come for all. Came for your brothers and sisters. Came for my ma and ba. It come for me too."

Little Rogh shook his head; "No, no-."

"Yes, will. One day. Because that life, Son. One day Death take Ma and Ba. One day it take Rogh too. But that why Life so precious. That why we make Life good. Because it end one day. But that not curse of Rogh. That just will of Moonah."

His eyes filled with tears again; "Me had bad dream, Mama. Me dream Shaman words come true. Me....surrounded by Death. Tribe gone. Ma....gone...."

She tilts her head, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear.

"And was Rogh alone?"

He frowned. Thinking back, flicking through his strange vision, he was barely alone. Not all the time. Not forever.

"Me had....friends. Strange, weird friends. Me had....Family. Different, new tribe...." he blinked and then smiled; "Me had babies too, Ma."

"Ha! Me tell your ba that you have many babies. He owe Ma new shell necklace." She grinned, ruffling her son's hair. "You see now? Ma tell truth. Rogh bless by Moonah. Rogh have big heart for big family. Biggest in all land. And Moonah make sure that Rogh never alone. Not forever. Not even with Death."

His lip wobbled as he looked into her face; "But...Ma leave Rogh....Ma gone."

"Silly boy. Ma never leave Rogh. Moonah is Big Ma in sky. Ma of all Mas. When Ma die, she go up to Moonah. And Moonah always stay with Rogh." She gathered her boy onto her lap and let him cling on tight, hugging her pregnant belly. "If Rogh ever alone, Rogh only have to look up, and Rogh see."

The boy nodded against her chest, tears spilling down his cheeks, chubby little hands holding tight onto her arm.

"Rogh always remember, Ma. Rogh promise."

"Promise what?"

He opened his eyes, finding himself staring up at the bright silver orb illuminating the sky above the treetops.

At his side, in the woods, sat a girl with funny pink hair, sat up on a mound of blue flowers shaped almost like a bed. She was rubbing her eyes, having just awoken from a month long sleep.

He smiled at her. His Moonah Girl.

"Welcome home."

[gliyerabaa]

....can you do 2? For that angry confession prompt?

HELL YEAH I CAN BROTHER.

2. “I can’t leave you alone for one second without you hurting yourself, can I?” “I mean, I’m fine so it’s okay—” “No, it’s not okay. Not when I feel like I’m going to go bat-shit fucking crazy, thinking you’ve hurt yourself.“

----

this is perfect because I have actually been dabbling around in the idea of an AU where glinda does go with elphaba, becoming a medic/healer for the resistance.... this is a chance to play in that world

(ALF acronym used with permission of @funghifungi) (Go read All is Fair right now its such a good fic)

I will take a slight creative liberty with the dialogue, I think, but the spirit of the prompt will surely be there, probably.

trigger warnings for mild descriptions of blood and injuries

so, without further ado, here we go...

----

Glinda bites her lip, worried beyond belief. Elphaba should have been back hours ago. It's getting dark, it's started to snow, and she worries deeply for Elphaba's safety.

The cottage they live in is little more then a temporary home, a place of refuge until they are discovered again. She lights a candle in each window, knowing that they are a beacon for friend and foe alike. It's worth the risk, she figures, knowing that it's the only way her Elphie will get home safely.

Glinda gazes out the window, where a vaguely humanoid shadow lumbers forward in the growing blizzard. She reaches for the dagger she keeps at her hip, tightening her grip on the weapon, should she have to defend herself.

The door opens, slamming against the wall with the force of the wind, and the figure illuminated in candlelight is all edges and bones, so very distinctly Elphaba. Breathing a sigh of relief, Glinda sheathes her blade, stepping forward to greet her wife.

Elphaba collapses in her arms.

"Elphie!" Glinda shrieks, sagging under the weight of her companion's limp form. Carefully, she guides Elphaba to the bed, then moves to close the door, shutting out the freezing cold. She gathers her spellbook and her medical supplies and puts a kettle over the fire, preparing for what is sure to be a long night of caring for Elphaba after whatever reckless mess she'd gotten herself into this time.

"Glinda..." Elphaba murmurs from the bed.

Glinda rushes to her side immediately, "What have you done this time, you idiot?"

"I'm fine," Elphaba coughs. There is blood on her face, and her skin is flushed from exposure to the cold, "Really, I am."

"Did you liberate the Animal camp, like you'd set out to do?"

"No," Elphaba replies, shivering even under two woolen blankets, "The mobilized unit of the ALF strike force was intercepted just north of the camp, and I couldn't save them. They were all either captured or shot."

Glinda carefully slides Elphaba's arm out of the sleeve of her shirt. The fabric clings wetly to a thick, bleeding gash. "And you were caught in the crossfire, weren't you?"

"Yeah..." Elphaba averts her gaze, not wanting to look at her own wounds as they mend themselves under Glinda's magic.

"I really can't let you go anywhere without you coming back hurt."

"This isn't about what you want, Glinda, it's about Animal liberation, it's about making Oz a place where everyone can exist in peace." Glinda winces at the remark, "Besides, I'm fine, thanks to you, so it's okay--"

"It's not okay!" Glinda snaps, taken aback by the edge in her own voice, "Every time you leave on one of your little crusades, I'm left here, worrying myself sick, wondering if this will be the time you won't come back!"

"Glin, this is something so much bigger than ourselves. You joined this fight for the same reason I did, you should know that--"

"I joined for you." Glinda says plainly.

"... What?"

"Don't get me wrong," Glinda sighs, "I care about Animals and I care about justice and I really do want a better world, but..."

"But?! There is no 'but', either you're in this fight or you aren't!"

"Elphie, just listen to me!"

A log in the fireplace crackles. Glinda can hear the water in the kettle reaching a boil. She needs to get this off her chest now, before tea.

"When you asked me to come with you, I said yes. Because I couldn't bear the thought of leaving your side. I married you because I wanted you to be mine forever, until death do us part. I didn't anticipate you going out and seeking death-"

"I'm not seeking death."

"You certainly aren't shying away from it! I swear, I'm having to patch you up at least once a week because you're just too damn reckless!"

Elphaba doesn't respond. From across the room, the tea kettle whistles, an annoyingly high pitched squeal only adding to Glinda's nerves.

"I love you, Elphie," Glinda says as she stands up, putting an end to the conversation that they have so frequently. It only ever involves talking in the same circles, spiraling in on each other, usually devolving into desperate, messy loving. "Now. What kind of tea would you like?"

[whathebeep]

Halloween at Camp

(basically just drabbles of how I think the camp/companions would celebrate). Tav/Astarion/Halsin centric romance wise

Halsin? Oh Halsin would make a grand feast for everyone. A lot of seasonal foods, kind of like a Thanksgiving meal but a little less focus on having very specific items and using things he spent the day (or past few) collecting/hunting. I imagine it's a tradition often celebrated in the grove so he was more than eager to celebrate it at camp. He would also, ofc, make sure to give the safe bones to Scratch and the OBC, perhaps even going out as a bear and getting more than a few salmon for OBC. He's more than eager for everyone to feast and eat their share when dinner time comes around. When everyone gathers for scary stories at the campfire, I imagine if Tav and/or Astarion get scared or creeped out they would scoot a little closer to him, perhaps hold his hand tight, or find great comfort overall if he puts his arms around them to keep them close.

Karlach would /love/ Halloween. She would dress up using whatever was laying around or she could get for dirt cheap in the city- I imagine she'd be fond of bedsheet ghosts and would have holes for her horns to stick out. She'd collect up some pumpkins or turnips for everyone to carve- and between her, Wyll, Gale, Shadowheart and Tav, they have more than a few pumpkins to put up around camp. I imagine Halsin also collects all the pumpkin seeds for roasting for a snack for later.

Wyll never really seemed like he got to dress up as a kid- son of nobility, Halloween was probably more a poor man's holiday when it came to dressing up. Through encouragement Karlach probably helps him dress up, even if it Is just some silly clown makeup or something small along those lines. He, however, along with Gale and Shadowheart, probably also read a lot, and knows more than his fair share of spooky stories for them to tell around the campfire late at night.

Lae'zel? Like a lot of things on the material plane she would be a little confused at this holiday tradition. Why would you waste time on indulging in scary things when the group faces more than enough scary things on the daily basis? Then again, I think Lae'zel sees the appeal of carving pumpkins, and would join in on that. She'd probably also enjoy the scary stories, even if she didn't initially join everyone around the fire at first.

Shadowheart is very fond of Halloween. I think she'd be the one who'd have a tarot deck and would have fun doing spreads for everyone. She probably doesn't dress up but she is all too eager to join everyone at the fire for stories. Has quite a good few monster stories that leave more than a few folks with chills.

Gale is the type to delight in reading spooky books during Halloween. He'd be the type to brew a good cup of tea, snuggle up in his tent for a majority of the day to read something like Frankenstein's Monster (the DBD equivalent obvi). Later in the day he would probably emerge to help Halsin cook, or even focus on making Halloween themed treats- hell he'd probably be the one to focus on making a nice pumpkin centric treat, like pumpkin bread or pie. He'd also have a good few creature feature stories to tell.

Astarion? Halloween has probably changed a lot since he was young, and I imagine Cazador would only let him and the other spawn out to focus on the plenty of drunkards out partying back to the residence. So Astarion doesn't seem too keen to join in on the festivities. Be probably spends a lot of time drinking wine, maybe with Gale, and reading a good book. Perhaps he joins Gale in reading a spooky book (or the same one, sitting close and comfy). I imagine Halsin has also collected a good variety of animal blood for Astarion to dine on come dinner time, but he, along with Tav, offer up their necks for him to comfortably dine on. He's a little hesitant to join everyone at the campfire for stories or having his tarot read, but after hearing the first story he reluctantly strolls over to join everyone, taking a seat between Halsin and Minsc.

Minsc? Oh Minsc's home probably has a similar tradition as Halsin, and he is more than eager to help in hunting. Though he spends the past few days hunting a specific boar and bringing it back to camp. He prepares it by hand, preparing a ton of meat to be dried as pemmican or jerky to last then for weeks to come. Jaheira more than likely lends a hand in this too, making sure to collect goodberries and other edible berries for the pemmican preparation. Jaheira probably keeps the tusks to make something out of at another date.

Jaheira more than likely just helps out around camp, though she also joins in on pumpkin carving. I imagine amongst her family back home she usually does so. Out of everyone she probably has the best, most practiced carving, and more than likely does a cat face, or perhaps takes inspiration from Scratch or OBC and carves them instead.

[maelstroumwaterfall]

Arbormagic Syndrome Chapter 9 | Hogwarts Mystery Infection Au

Merula felt how her mind slowly becomes dizzy and her vision blurs. It was a matter of time when she'd loose control over her body and let the knife cut her throat.

She only wished she could call for help but this disgusting creature just wouldn't let her make any sounds exept of helpless, muffled whimpers.

When she was already about to give her life up in the embrace of death that she didn't expect to come so early, when her eyes suddenly met a bright, warm light. In his exact moment she felt like the sharp blade leaved the bloody line down her hand, alongside with another wave of pain.

She fell on the stone floor, grabbing her bleeding hand and gasping for air, when she suddenly understood that she's free from Waterfall's death grip. Her mind was dizzy but she could still hear someone's scream, like it was somewhere far away but when she opened her eyes and looked up she saw the Hogwarts' caretaker terrified expression, while there, beside her, fell a coal torch and almost let the fire touch her.

The pain was burning and almost unbearable as the knife pierced right through her bones and skin, but she wouldn't drop even the smallest tear. She could bear much more than this, but the thought that she could loose her life just like this doesn't let her calm her nerves.

Her death was a matter of seconds and she could really say that she was saved by a miracle, in this case, Argus Filch. He was looking forward as the creature was rushing away down the corridor. Did the old man really scared him away? Maelstrom's strength, if it's still possible to call him that, was almost shocking.

He would for sure not spend too much on dealing with the old caretaker. She was trying to figure out a reason in her mind, but couldn't say a single word in reality.

-What happened here? - the old man mumbled, his voice was obviously terrified. He bent down and tried to pick Merula UP. He was asking something, trying to figure out if she's conscious, but she wouldn't hear. Her eyes were half closed and her breath was uneven.

Mr.Norris was nervously circling around nearby the man, as if she was feeling the coming threat, but she wouldn,t leave the caretaker's side. Merula felt like the time was countless as she was brought to the hospital wing. Filch and Madam Pomfrey were talking about something, the first one was clearly in panic, but the second only starts to understand how dangerous the situation is.

Merula layed on the hospital bed, her hand was bandaged but the blood was still coming out of the wound so she wasn't treated enough yet. She saw how Argus leaved the hospital wing, probably to warn others, and she couldn't help but also wanted to get up and rush out of the room. She was filled with rage, but was also confused and afraid. She's never seen anything like that before. It wasn't Maelstrom anymore, it was something else. She then remembered the long worms she was under his skin. That means Rowan was right about the parasite. But what does the centipede have to do with it? The thought that came in her mind after that made her feel a pure disgust.

-Everyone! Don't leave the hospital wing! Someone's attacking the students. Stay here and try not to make any noise. - Madam Pomfrey said, she was trying to keep her voice still, but she was clearly worried. Merula managed to lean her back on the pillow and took a look around. There were many other student, someone had broken his leg on the flying lesson and obviously couldn,t reach a safer place by himself, like many other people there.

Others are probably gathering in the Great Hall. She immediately spotted Penny and was shocked by how terrible her condition is as she didn't know Penny was there at all. Others were obviously trying to stay far from her, like from some kind of a psychopath. The only one who was by her side was Barnaby, yet, she noticed that he had similar to Penny's scratches on his skin. They probably both caught the same disease. Merula decided to also stay away from them, before she noticed how Barnaby got up and started approaching her.

-Don't come near!..- she exclaimed and moved a little back.

-What's wrong? - he said in a confused tone and immediately stopped, glancing at her with a surprised and questioning look.

-Just.. Stay away. - she mumbled and turned her head away. Lee looked down at her hand and carefully tried to ask if she was the one attacked by this unknown person.

-Were you attacked by this person Madam Pomfrey warned us about? - he asked and Merula turned to him with an annoyed look. She doesn't like admitting that someone had caught her off guard and caused her to end up in a hospital wing.

- It was Maelstrom! At least it looked like him..- she immediately responded and before Barnaby was ask if she was sure she was approached by Madam Pomfrey.

-You said it was Maelstrom? You mean you were attacked by the other student? - she asked in an even more tone. Before Snyde could respond she continued. - I must warn the professors that it was him. But I'm responsible for you all. I can't just leave.

She shook her head and went to check on the students in the other end of the room while trying to find a solution in her head, while Snyde already knew what she herself must do. She did her best to ignore the pain and quickly got up, aiming to leave the room before she could be stopped. The door was still not closed and it allowed her to leave the room without others problems.

She heard how Madam Pomfrey called out after her but she wouldn't stop as she already ran towards the Great Hall. As she thought, other students were also moving towards the Great Hall where they all could gather and stay protected by the professors.

She had to warn them so they could stop Waterfall before he can leave Hogwarts.. or harm anyone else. Are Ismelda and Rowan still in the Library? If it's she must probably run there first, but she can't waste time. She ran inside the room and hurried the professors. She saw Flitwick, McGonagall, and Pr.Dumbledore. Others probably went to search for the attacker of the students.

Professor Dumbledore! You need to find Maelstrom! It was him! - she yelled loudly as she ran towards them. They didn't need to be told twice, there was no point to not believe her now. She had no reason to lie either, especially in such a critical situation, she hated Maelstrom, that's the truth, but she wouldn't risk anyone's life to just bring troubles to her enemy's life.

She was almost in the other end of the Great Hall and couldn,t hear what they were talking about, but after a few seconds she saw how Professor McGonagall hurried to leave the Great Hall. It means that Pr.Flitwick and Dumbledore are staying to protect the students.

She looked around, trying to spot Rowan and Ismelda, she didn,t notice anyone else who she saw in the library last time, including Madam Pince. That's not a good sigh, she saw students running to the Great Hall from all the floors, including the one where the library was.

She let out an annoyed groan and started moving out of the Great Hall. And what can she do while she can barely move her hand? But she's not a coward, after all. What if this creature trapped them there? She's never felt so terrified and desperate as she did when it almost brought her to the death.

She doesn't want the same or worse happen to Ismelda, and even though she wasn't sure if she'd admit it in a front of others, Rowan is the last person in the world she wants such a fate to, and not just because of some of her.. personal reasons. She grabbed the weapon of the one of the knights that stayed by the wall, a sharp, iron axe. It was a little heavy, especially to hold with just one hand, but she needed at least something in case if Waterfall attacks her again.

(Writing something on the laptop is so painful :'( and also very uncomfortable ( also, I'm not a professional in editing pictures on the computers :'> ) I felt really bad for not posting new chapters so tried to write it as quickly as possible and check on mistakes.

The big and bright screen is so confusing when I look at it and it barely lets me concentrate on the text.. But I still managed. I only need to wait a month, the masters I gave my phone to said they can't fix it, that's sad cause it was a really good phone even though it was old and couldn't bear many programms.. But my mum said that she'll buy me a new phone when she and her husband will get their salary so I'll be able to comfortable write and draw for you again! :))

(Btw I wanna include some of the romance lines.. They will not cover the main story, of course, cause I've already put a lot of time in creating an interesting storyline and the lor of the infection. I'm really happy that someone likes my works and wanna do my best in writing this! Love u guys, ty for reading! Hope you have a good day :))

[luverofralts]

Arkhelios Adventures

Adam sat at the piano, mindlessly playing any song he could remember. He wasn't in the mood to learn a new song or scale, just looking for some familiar comfort.

His physical wounds were healing quickly, though his emotional wounds continued to fester. Adam had rejoined classes with his peers. It wouldn't have been so bad if the other students weren't constantly staring at him with pity. He had probably lost the boyfriend he had paraded around the school, announcing their intentions to marry. His eyes seemed to be healing, but the last of the scarring refused to leave, changing his appearance forever. He almost always felt cold, even in the harsh sunlight or next to a roaring fire. Adam had changed, and now everyone felt sorry for him.

The last thing that Adam needed was the pity of the entire school. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about his relationship with Theo that he didn't want to hear. The rumour mill had decided that Theo wasn't ever coming back, that he was incarcerated somewhere a million miles away or that Theo was living happily in the Void with a full blooded demon, completely abandoning the guy he'd almost killed. Adam never corrected any of these rumours, extending their lifespan. Why bother correcting people when Adam didn't know the truth anymore than they did? What did it even matter in the end? Theo wasn't here, and Adam couldn't bear to see his own reflection, let alone talk to Theo about it. He was stuck in limbo, waiting for something to make him feel again. Nothing in the school felt like it could shake the dead feeling squeezing his chest.

Most of the times that he wasn't in class, Adam would sit on the stairs that he and Theo had liked to sit on and stare blankly ahead. The view overlooked the end of Pleasantview and the entirety of Crystal Cove and Theo had loved to stare out at the endless green. Growing up in a tiny desert made him consider even the most mundane views of nature with awe. Truthfully, Adam had always taken the beauty of Pleasantview and Crystal Cove for granted. Sitting with Theo had been like seeing the same old hills and trees for the first time, every time. They would often sneak out at night to watch the stars and cuddle under the majesty of the natural world. Ever since Theo left, nothing had looked the same. Everything was just grey and dull.

"I see what you mean, Ewan. How long has he been like this?"

Ewan G Maricourt and Alicia Toyonaga watched Adam through a window, helpless to change his condition. Alicia had been assigned as an ambassador to the Arkhelios coven, so she had seemed like the perfect candidate to guide Ewan's son past this incident with an Arkhelian boy. Alicia didn't really care for her assignment, but it was better than living in Strangetown with her royal father in law. Ewan had asked her for tips on dealing with the Bellamy family and she'd only laughed.

"At least a few weeks now," Ewan answered solemnly. "He's seen doctors and healers and nothing ever changes."

"Well, of course not!" Alicia exclaimed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He's grieving. You can't make a potion for that and call it done. He needs time to process what happened."

"It's been months since the accident. He's safe here with us. Hasn't it been long enough already? I just want him to be happy again."

Alicia sighed.

"Well, obviously you want him to be happy, but you can't rush it. Has he talked to Theo yet? Roman's just starting to calm down in public, so I gather that he must have talked to Theo recently. He keeps going on about a birthday party that Theo's going to come home for. Maybe Adam could attend this party? It's somewhere private, but with capable magic users should something go wrong. It sounds perfect. At least according to the gossip around town. Arkhelios really is the most tedious place."

"Theo won't be there," Ewan replied. "I've gotten his latest progress report, and it's not what we hoped it would be. He's too unstable to risk in a crowd like that, especially if Adam is there. Can you imagine if something Theo does accidentally triggers the same reaction as before? I'm not risking my son's life so he can talk to his boyfriend in a crowded room filled with potential innocent bystanders. The Sovereign agrees."

"Well, you can tell his parents that," Alicia scoffed. "I'm not getting involved with the Bellamys and their drama. it's bad enough having to endure Wanda every day. Why is the boy not meeting the requirements? I thought he was some kind of prodigy?"

"A prodigy in chaos only," Ewan sighed. "From what I gather, it's all very complicated. You don't know how many reports I've gotten over the last few months with the word 'curse' repeated through them. I don't fully understand the problem, but my knowledge of demonic magic is rather limited. From what I do understand, young Theo has an inert curse that gets summoned to him when he tries to use magic. The Sovereign thought that detaching it from Theo would protect him, but he hasn't found a way to use magic without bringing it right back to him again. Apparently, they're trying to reattach it to him for some reason and it's much too delicate a process to let him return home. If something went wrong, the results could be disastrous."

"Reattach? Like surgically?"

"I have no idea. Who knows with demons? I'd assume it would be some kind of ceremony or series of spells, but I don't know the way of demons or blood magic. My mother would have hit the roof if I studied any of that in school."

"Adam will feel isolated from Theo if he has no idea of what's happening with Theo," Alicia pointed out. "This whole thing he's experiencing isn't going to get any better if he hasn't talked to Theo since the accident and Theo comes back completely changed magically."

"What am I supposed to do then? You tell me that I need to give Adam closure, but I don't have the clearance to bring Theo here even if it was safe. If he's getting calls to his parents, that's the first I'm hearing about it. They won't grant one to the person Theo could still injure through their connection, no matter what I say. I can't share these notes with Adam, even if it would help, without failing to uphold my oath as head of the coven."

"Then all we can do for Adam is support him and give him the space to grieve. I'm sorry, but I don't see any other way. Has he spoken with a counselor about this? That might help speed things up."

Ewan shook his head.

"I tried to get him to see the school counselor, but apparently, he just spent the hour in silence, staring at the wall. He won't see anyone else and I can't make him talk about his feelings. Even Remy seems to have hit a wall with him and she's the only one to have gotten close. I just want to see Adam want to live again."

"Maybe a change of scenery would help," Alicia suggested. "We could take him in Arkhelios, or if that's too painful, send him to Strangetown with his mother."

"No, that won't happen," Ewan quickly replied. "The last thing he needs is to let his mother stomp all over him. I may not be the most sensitive parent, but Edana will only make things worse." He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I understand the pain the Bellamys must feel, because I feel the same way at the thought of sending Adam away. He's my child. I need to be here for him where he's comfortable and safe. To not know when I could see him again would be agony and I won't let the pain the Bellamys are feeling now be in vain. Theo will return here when it is safe for him to do so."

"And Adam?"

Ewan groaned, unable to see an easy solution.

"I don't know. Maybe Miruna can take him in at the palace on weekends. It's not too far away and it's a decent change of pace."

"Not bad," Alicia agreed. "A change in roommates might help as well."

"This is the worst thing to happen all week. I can't believe I have a share a room with my little brother. We haven't had to share a room since we were kids. It's so unfair. My old roommate was almost never in the room and knew when to be discreet. You never leave your room."

Remy was about as excited to share a room with her brother as Adam, though she tried to downplay it after seeing the look on his face. The last thing she wanted was for Adam to feel resented. At least he didn't have a boyfriend to try to sneak into their room. Adam wasn't going to fight for the bedroom if all he was doing was moping. He could still do that downstairs.

"So, which bed do you want? I'm rather partial to the one by the window, but you can choose."

Adam lifted his head, only to see pieces of Void attach to his twin. She, like everyone else, seemed to be oblivious to what Adam could see. He'd stopped taking the many potions prescribed to him, but still the unsettling images of the Void remained. At this point, he just assumed that this would be his new normal. He'd forever be the unsettling prophet just like Theo's little sister. Rien seemed to enjoy her eerie reputation, but it wasn't how Adam wanted to live. At least he never heard from the "spirits" Rien spoke to. Maybe this oddity could be corrected in time.

What did he tell his sister? "Hey, I noticed that you were glowing various shades of pink all of a sudden. Are you feeling okay?"

"You can have whatever bed you want, Rem. I don't have anyone to share mine with. It doesn't matter."

"Adam, I can find you a hook up, you just need to let me know," Remy insisted. "Are you done with Theo? I have a few people who might want to date you. If you just want a meaningless booty call, I can name two guys who would respond, no strings attached."

"Thanks, Rem. I'm good though. I'm dating Theo and he's going to come home and we're going to be happy again. Unless...what if he comes back different? What if I don't like how Theo is when he's stable? What if he's cheating on me wherever he is? I wish I could talk to him."

"Look, just try one date with someone," Remy urged. "Anyone. It doesn't even have to be a date. You could just go for coffee with a sexy friend. Get some experience so that you do know what you want when Theo comes back."

"I thought you were Team Theo," Adam accused. "All you've said since he's left is that he loves me and to follow my feelings for him."

"Adam, you have the social life of a rock. You spend all day crying or moping and it's gotten to the point that Dad made us roommates and wants Miruna to babysit your walking corpse. Of course I know that Theo loved you when he left and he's a great guy, but you're miserable. You're fourteen for God's sake, go find some way to be happy. Your star-crossed love isn't the center of the universe. Go find a way to be happy and I'll help you deal with Theo when he comes back...or deal with rebound guy if you choose Brand New Theo again. Just get out of this school for ten minutes, that's all I ask."

"You're right," Adam sighed, giving up on the conversation so that he could return to moping. "I have no social life. My boyfriend almost killed me. My body doesn't work the same way as it did before the accident. I haven't seen Theo in months. Thank you for the reminder. If you don't mind, I think I'm going to try to sleep."

Adam curled onto his new bed, pulling the covers over him to block out the world. Beside him, Remy fumed.

"Adam, this is my room too. It's only 7:30 pm. Why don't you go downstairs to mope? I had plans for tonight and it would really help if you were somewhere else, not being a buzzkill."

"You go downstairs," Adam mumbled from under his blankets. "I don't need to see you reminding me of everything I've lost with Theo. My class work is finished and I have nowhere to be until classes tomorrow morning. It's perfectly fine for me to go to bed early, no matter how that cramps your style."

"I'll tell Dad," Remy threatened, sounding just like she had when they were kids.

"Tell him what? That you won't let me sleep because you want to party in our shared room?"

"I'll tell him that you're too depressed and you're making me depressed too. That I need my own space to clear your psychic negativity."

"That doesn't make any sense," Adam replied, peeking out of his blankets to childishly stick his tongue out at his sister.

"Made you look," Remy laughed, pointing at her brother's exposed head. "It's way too easy to manipulate you."

Adam groaned and retreated once again into his blankets.

"You're the worst, Rem," he grumbled. "You don't understand my problems at all. It's not a game."

"Never said it was," Remy replied happily. "I'm going to go hang out with actual people, but I'll be back to bother you later. I'll bring you a snack, since you ate pretty much nothing at dinner. See ya later, roomie!"

Remy skipped out the door, leaving Adam alone once again in his misery. It wasn't like he was starving himself or anything, food just didn't seem appealing to Adam. Nothing did. If only Theo was there to talk things through with. He wasn't just his boyfriend, Theo had been his best friend since they were six years old. Adam had some other friends, but no one like Theo. Except...now he might not have Theo at all anymore. He may not even want Theo to come back. He hadn't decided yet. His life would hang in limbo until he could talk to his boyfriend and see how they could possibly move past this.

Until that time, Adam buried himself deeper into his blankets, praying that Remy had just been joking with the threat of her return.

[noxtms]

IN CHARACTER DATE : late evening, may 2nd, 2024. TRIGGER WARNINGS : assault, blood, body imagery / horror, bruises, death, graphic descriptions of death, graveyard imagery, gore, knives.

AND EVERYONE WAITS, HOLDING THEIR BREATH, for something that doesn't come. that never will. he drinks, deeply, and nothing happens. inhales, deeply, and nothing happens. closes his eyes to the world and doesn't open them, again, as alive as he was moments before, as dead as he's been for the last ten years - an empty husk she cannot fill, no matter how hard she tries. the storm around the graveyard begins to die down and the anticipatory silence stretches onward until- "YOU!" bellatrix screams, the word wrenched from within. she is upon them in the blink of an eye, her poise abandoned in a fit of transcendent rage. there's a brief scuffle - rodolphus lets go of her arms and she tries to take the opportunity that this presents to get away from them both, kicking and scratching and wriggling this way and that as she grabs at her and he blocks her exit - but it ends with her breathless, crouched at a pitiful angle, her hair knotted in bellatrix's good hand. she isn't gentle, now, and her grip is like iron. fresh tears stream over her cheeks when she is jerked upwards, close enough for bellatrix to venomously hiss into her ear, "you did something. it has to be you-" 

it's nothing short of baffling that, despite everything that's happened, she manages to smile. wide & true & completely savage, her teeth fully bared ; it only serves to infuriate bellatrix all the more and the rough tug that she gives her earns a gasp of agony that still doesn't quite wipe it from her face. "i'm sorry," she pants, streaks of bubblegum pink beginning to weave their way through ginger hair, "i'm sorry, auntie. i just had to see it for myself."

the noise that bellatrix makes isn't human. it isn't even close - is, instead, as haunting and as surely deadly as a banshees wail - and she reaches for her knife, again, the sharpened blade glinting in the moonlight, and nymphadora tonks, refusing to cower, thinks of her son but braces herself for the end : 

an explosion of red sparks. everything happens so fast : the knife soars into the sky, clattering into the underbrush. bellatrix, catching the brunt of it, lets out a strangled yelp and loosens her hold. rodolphus careens backwards, an arm pulled protectively over his eyes. the silence is deafening, and lucius malfoy - wand held high, shoulders back, expression clear - does not need to raise his voice to be heard when he says, firmly, "enough."

it's the bravest and stupidest thing that she's ever seen, all the more impressive because of who it comes from. outnumbered the way that they are, he buys them moments. bellatrix, bemused by this unexpected show of courage, actually laughs, high and mighty, so sure of her own imminent victory-

and then, the order descends.

TONKS doesn't waste a single moment. taking advantage of the utter chaos of their arrival without pausing to see if they're friend or foe, she tears herself away from BELLATRIX'S slackened grip and - for good measure - makes sure to push back into her, once free, knocking her to the ground. she goes down, hard, reaching and grasping and trying to tear, her fingernails like claws only managing to harmlessly graze the others skin as she puts distance between herself and the duo. she'd still only be a sitting duck if it weren't for LUCIUS, but there has never been a truer case of better late than never - by the grace of some higher power, she actually manages to catch her wand when he throws it to her, just in time to stun the first of the death eaters to gather their wits about them and try to grab her. 

"TRAITOR-" RODOLPHUS roars, firing a killing curse that flies so close to LUCIUS that it's a miracle it misses entirely. he ducks beneath the next, throws a quick protego up against the red tinged hex that the other tries after that, and then throws his own curse back at him - a vicious dance that the two continue as the moonlit graveyard, once so terrifyingly quiet, explodes into a world of neon and noise. 

a masked MULCIBER is a bit behind when it comes to wands but doesn't hesitate to go for brute force when GRACE materializes at his side - caught immediately off guard, she lets out a high pitched scream when he wraps his arms around her middle and lifts her entirely off the ground, a round of forceful kicks earning her a couple of swears but little give to his grip. she's lucky that dumbledore's army have also made their debut and that MOIRA is there to help with a quick thinking petrificus totalus! forcing the man's limbs to immediately snap into place at his side - and slightly unluckier that she isn't able to stick the landing, tumbling roughly to the ground. 

she is dragged up to her feet again by the scruff of her shirt as ARTURO rushes past, managing to stun another death eater before they have time to react and finding himself almost immediately engaged in a duel with ALECTO. she goes in for the kill, too, quick & deadly, but the curse she fires towards him collides with a headstone and forces the two girls to duck and cover when the granite explodes in a heavy shower around them. he isn't given even a second to check that they're alright, forced to parry three more jinxes that she shoots off in quick succession before he gets a chance to counter with just one of his own. his jelly legs jinx isn't exactly ministry sanctioned, but it lands true - she goes down, still firing off erratic curses that fly wide & dangerous, and he is freed to jump back into the fray. 

MOIRA is clipped by a piece of falling debris. it's a fairly gruesome - and horribly dazing - head injury and she goes down, too, though GRACE is there to return the previous favor. she drags the other in behind the cover of another headstone and puts immediate pressure on the gash, deciding that it might be better if they both sit this one out. 

"i didn't think you were coming!" TONKS calls to KINGSLEY, catching the death eater that bears down on him from behind with a stunner to the face. he responds in kind, grabbing her by the arm and tugging her out of the way of a vivid purple jinx before making sure that the caster is tongue tied & leg locked, left helpless on the spongy, hallowed ground. "we almost weren't," he tells her, grimly, though not even this can wipe the smile off her face - her sheer relief so joyous that she just can't hide it. 

quickly scrambling to her feet and already clutching the elder wand tight in her five fingered hand, BELLATRIX finds her path ahead blocked by ABERFORTH. she knows from experience just how fearsome a warrior the most unassuming dumbledore can be, so she doesn't even give him a chance to prove it - the knockback jinx she throws towards him is so powerful that it sends him flying back by several yards, knocking him out cold when he collides with the wall of an ancient mausoleum. she doesn't have time to savor the victory. her only goal, now, is to get to VOLDEMORT'S resting place - nothing else matters. 

MARIETTA doesn't belong on the front lines, never has & never will ; she was meant to be there in a healing capacity, as agreed, but the death eaters are non discriminative. a wild killing curse cast by ALECTO earns a fearful shriek when it narrowly avoids hitting her, and the safety she finds cowering behind a gravestone doesn't last. the crucio that hits her in the back knocks the wind right out of her lungs, the pain she feels so excruciating and so singular that all she can do is whimper and curl in on herself, every bone in her body breaking, every organ failing, every-

"expulso-" her salvation comes not a moment too soon, the death eater that held her beneath his wand sailing through the air with the force of DRACO'S expulsion curse and crumpling at the base of a tombstone in the distance. they don't get up again. he moves as if to offer her a hand but doesn't get the chance to make good on the motion as another death eater, seeing what just happened, attempts to hit him with a purple jinx that neither are familiar with. he throws a shield up to deflect it and then throws himself into the duel, his wandwork enviable, but MARIETTA stays hunched down on the ground, desperately trying to catch her breath. 

the WEASLEY BROTHERS are not a well oiled machine, exactly, but they're doing their best. back to back, they clearly aren't on the same wavelength - both of them trying to look out for the other, throwing up a shield at the same moment, knocking a stunner from one that might have sailed true with well intentioned expelliarmus from the other - but all it takes is for one of their combatants to drop like a sack of potatoes for them to be able to turn their full attentions to the other. THORFINN is one of the best the death eaters have, but luckily enough, they finally find their rhythm. he catches NED along his wand arm with a ribboning curse, but ARTHUR takes advantage of that momentary victory with a tongue tying curse that soars beneath his arm and hits the intended target. he's long perfected wordless magic, of course, but the next crucio is sidestepped with ease, the next stunner sent wide with a well timed shield, and NED hits him square in the chest with a spongy knees curse that ARTHUR immediately follows with a stunner of his own. 

elsewhere, JUSTIN stumbles and falls over the edge of an ivy covered grave as he backs up and attempts to put distance between himself and one of the masked death eaters. his clumsiness might've doomed him if it weren't for MINETTE throwing a protego between him and his assailant, the yellow hex hitting the shield instead of him and - against all odds, a freak and most opportune sort of accident - hitting the caster in the chest. they both watch in amazement as the silver mask that the witch had worn is forced off of her features by the insect mandibles that begin to grow in, her skull painfully growing and shifting before their very eyes. her wand falls to the floor and she reaches up to touch her changing face, letting out a terrified scream that quickly turns into the frantic chkchkchk of a beetle as she realizes what is happening. 

the errant spells that fly this way and that have miraculously avoided it to now, and no one else seems to be paying it any mind, but LUNA makes sure to douse the fire beneath the still bubbling cauldron sitting on makeshift altar and, after only a moment of deliberation, pushes it over. the thick, black liquid inside is stubborn and doesn't initially seep into the soft ground below, but when she is forced to take momentary cover beneath the table as LUCIUS & RODOLPHUS duel their way past her, she coaxes it into doing so with a simple auguamenti, correctly deducing that whatever it is, it's best they don't have to deal with it later. 

SEAMUS catches the red sparks of a stunner directly to the face. his nose instantly breaking and squirting blood everywhere, he's dazed before he even hits the ground. NELL uses a tripping jinx on the death eater that hits him and then proceeds to physically kick him in the face - knocking him out with a sickening crunch - as they rush past and fall at his side, deciding that it's better to ask forgiveness than it is permission when it comes to a mid battle episkey. 

a not nearly incapacitated enough ALECTO, still struggling with the countercharm for her legs and making sure to keep firing at random every now and again, hits ROSHANA with a curse that causes her skull to instantly balloon when the auror gets a little close for comfort. she gives up entirely when she realizes that AMYCUS is feet away, redirecting her efforts into attempting to break HERMIONE & VIKTOR'S focus while he works on taking them both down, relentless in his approach. it's a mark of how skilled the two are - and how good of an unexpected team they make - that they manage to sidestep curse after curse thrown at their feet and deflect the hexes and jinxes that AMYCUS employs, though they realize how much of a game it is to them both when he succeeds in circling them out of his way. all he'd needed was a clear path to his sister, now achieved, and with an almost bored flick of his wrist he shoots off a blasting curse that breaks VIKTOR'S arm on impact and reaches to grab ALECTO'S outstretched hand. for what it's worth, HERMIONE accepts the defeat. instead of rushing the carrow twins in vain she rushes to VIKTOR'S side, instead, hunkering down to try and set his arm and protect him from the curses flying around their heads. 

"THERE-" MCGONAGALL cries, holding her own against two of the masked figures but making little progress forward beneath their onslaught. he's right there-" she shouts, neatly avoiding the sickly green of a killing curse and hitting the witch who cast it with impedimenta, using the opportunity she now has to lift her free hand and point towards the gravestone of merope gaunt, "someone-"

whatever command she was about to give never comes. ex pupil RABASTAN makes sure of it, and MCGONAGALL crumbles with an anguished scream beneath his crucio. he holds her there, buying time, as BELLATRIX cuts through the wix that apparated in with a near clinical precision, each one that falls heavy to the ground another step towards the dark lord and towards their escape-

"EXPELLIARMUS-" too late. by the time she realizes that the disarming charm is aimed at her, the elder wand is already arching through the air. the shadows swallow it whole, same as they did her knife, and her hand stings from where the spell collided with skin. she cradles it close to her chest as she turns - wide eyed, wandless, but never helpless - to face GINNY.

"you," she spits, so much cold hatred injected into her tone that it makes the real weasley shudder.

"me," she quips back at her, features devoid of the levity her words call for, "sorry i'm late."

she sees the differences, now. too few freckles / too muddy an eye color / too flat an accent. the imposter wasn't a perfect copy. just good enough to fool her. GINNY adjusts her grip on her wand, slowly, and BELLATRIX works her jaw. 

her fingers ITCH to wrap around her slender throat. to hell with the potion, to hell with it all, she'd give it all up for the chance to squeeze the life's breath from this blood traitors lungs and watch the light dim behind her eyes and she takes a half step forward, just a tiny step, far from fearful of the wand that she raises a half inch higher, sure that she can reach her before she finds it within herself to speak the killing words or before the rest of them know what's happening, sure she can end this gnats existence before anyone can even try to stop her-

"BELLATRIX," RABASTAN yells, a warning, and they look, as one, towards him. 

MCGONAGALL is still down - not a threat, not anymore, but the rest - the majority, at least - are winning. the last of the death eaters, the ones who haven't apparated away, are falling, one of by one, easily dispatched. they're going to azkaban. they'll be rounded up by dawn and transported with armed guard to the prison, and BELLATRIX realizes with a start that this will include them, too, if they don't do something. their attentions are turning. she has seconds. 

her mad gaze flits back to GINNY who realizes, too slow, what is about to happen. she pulls back her wand arm, fires a leg lock, a body bind, a jelly legs, a bat bogey hex - everything and anything that she can think of, the neon of the spells hitting the ground at her feet, soaring past her head, clipping the outcrops of stone as she takes off running and GINNY pursues. she dodges and weaves through the last of the tombstones that lay between them, throwing herself towards the dark lord with no care of the landing and bundling him into her arms. RABASTAN reaches down to grip her shoulder, turning on the spot, and they disappear with a pop as GINNY, cursing, comes to a skidding halt. 

it's over. except…

just two continue to battle, blind to the fact that it has already been won. LUCIUS & RODOLPHUS are locked in a dangerous game, each of their moves carefully calculated to avoid a deadly disaster. each curse is thrown without a word utter between them ; a flash of red, a gleam of green, every now and again an explosion of purple that sparks at their feet or a streak of blue that sails past their ears, each one spelling out the end. they're holding their own. evenly matched. they have been, the whole time. 

it all happens in slow motion. RODOLPHUS' eyes flicker to where he last saw his wife and widen, imperceptibly, as he realizes that she is gone. this minor distraction is a golden opportunity that LUCIUS takes full advantage of, his killing curse almost, almost sailing true - though it misses by inches. it hits another gravestone which in turn becomes another inanimate casualty of the fight, erupting with flames of green. RODOLPHUS reacts instinctively. LUCIUS, so confident of his win, has left himself open and vulnerable ; the deep red of the spell that flies beneath his arm and hits him square in the chest is nothing like the crimson of stupefy or expelliarmus. it's nothing like anything that any of them have seen before but he staggers under it all the same, his expression clouding in his confusion. he tries to gather himself. visibly struggles against some unseen consequence of the curse. holds his wand up - his arm quivering - and opens his mouth, but instead of words, what spills out is a gush of deep, dark blood. 

he crumbles, instantly. RODOLPHUS takes only a second to admire his own handiwork before he disappears with another pop. 

DRACO reaches his father first. untouched by the horror of what he's witnessing, he operates purely on adrenaline and rushes forward, falling heavily to the ground and dragging LUCIUS into his arms. he lies at an unnatural angle - his legs twisted uncomfortably, half of his body now propped up by his son - but he doesn't seem to notice and certainly doesn't protest, if he does. "no, no, no-" DRACO mutters, so unsure of what to do with his shaking hands. he looks for a wound to cover, a place to apply pressure, anything at all to tell him where he should be focusing his efforts, but there's nothing to be found. GINNY kneels beside them and he looks to her, helplessly, insists, "he's okay. he's going to be okay." her eyes two shining saucers, her face draining of color, he doesn't need her to respond to know what she's thinking and he turns his focus back to LUCIUS, trying to prompt him into agreeing, trying to make him tell her, "do you hear me, dad? you're going to be okay. tell her you're fine. tell her you're okay. you're alright, aren't you?"

it's horrifying. it's unending. he coughs and he splutters, blood pouring from his orifices, each breath a pained and desperate gasp as he tries and fails to fill his lungs. he struggles to speak. doesn't make words, not as they know them, anyways. whoever created this curse wanted the person hit by it to suffer, plain & simple, and suffer he does. "HELP HIM," DRACO shouts, turning his attention to the frozen wix around them when it becomes clear that his father cannot reply, the despair in his voice spurring a few of them into action while the rest just watch on, glassy eyed. KINGSLEY & MARIETTA join them on the ground but neither of them know what to do or where to begin, either, even with all of their field training. they exchange a hopeless look that DRACO sees and with a noise of dissent, he picks his wand up from where he let it clatter to the ground and begins to recite every healing spell he's ever heard, one after the other. it's a miserable chant.

"i'm… sorry…" LUCIUS rasps, so quiet that they can barely hear him. he smacks his bloodstained lips together, his adam's apple bobbing as he tries, in vain, to swallow down the blood that fills his throat. DRACO stubbornly refuses to look him in the eye, goes so far as to flat out ignore the way that LUCIUS reaches out, his whole body trembling, now, and scratches weakly at his arm. he's so desperate to fix it that he won't allow himself to experience it, either, stumbling over the word of a spell an going back to the start of them all, trying his hardest to hold his wand steady as he goes. GINNY, her lashes wet with tears, can't stand to watch. she takes his searching hand and holds it tight with one of her own and his bloodshot eyes flicker towards her, look at her, through her, see only what he wants. her heart clenches when he babbles, "nymphadora… i'm sorry…"

it's no use. there's nothing to heal. no torn skin to try and knit together again, no broken bone to set and mend ; this blood flows from somewhere deep within, much too deep and much too devastating for DRACO'S magic to reach, now. his chest heaves. the effort that it must be taking for him to draw in breath is unimaginable, but he fights to do it anyway. tries to clear his throat, again, with a thick, wet cough, his next inhale accompanied by a sickening rattle turning over at the back. 

"DRACO…" she murmurs, reaching for his wand. he fights it - bottom lip trembling, his eyes shining, he refuses to even look at her as she forces his hand to still and continues to mutter healing spell after healing spell beneath his breath as she coaxes it from his grasp. she gives LUCIUS' hand one final, comforting squeeze and then presses it into DRACO'S. he clasps it between both of his own and finally, finally, forces himself to actually look at his father ; his gaunt cheeks, his ashen skin, the vivid crimson of his life's blood starting to slow.

"please…" he begs, directly, a mournful plea, "please."

"i'm… proud…" the ground, the three of them, they're all soaked in red. he must be running out. he has to be. but he forces himself to speak anyways, to bare his bloody teeth in a sad and woeful smile, to use the very last of the strength in his body to lift his other hand and graze DRACO'S cheek, a loving gesture that he's too weak to follow through on. "proud of… my son…"

his whole body shudders. one last, heaving breath pushes past his gorp lips and his chest sinks, his eyes dimming, his hand falling to his side, his grip slackening. peace, at last.

DRACO, still clutching his fathers hand, sobs in spite of himself just the once. it's all it takes. GINNY doesn't hesitate. she wraps her arms around his shoulders, refusing to be shook off even when he tries his very best, even when he tells her, firmly, "no," holding him tight and holding him close until he's finally ready to give in, entirely, and buries his face into the curve of her neck. they stay there like that, his father between them, until her shoulder is wet with warm, fresh tears and his whole body stops shaking. they stay entwined until they're forced apart, the protective wreath of her arms a shield between him and the rest of the world, the reality of which he doesn't know he's ready to face-

and slowly but surely, the last of the storm clouds hanging high above them drift away, allowing the moon to shine bright over the end scene.

ROUNDUP OF DAMAGES, INJURIES & FATALITIES :

the graveyard is destroyed. the department of magical accidents & catastrophes have their work cut out for them once the sun rises on the scene between the repairs and the need to explain - in terms that muggles will understand, of course - what happened to the local council. there were no witnesses despite the close proximity to a small town, so no need for the obliviation office to step in, but the lightshow and damage being the result of a group of rowdy teenagers setting off a box of fireworks will take more than mere suggestion to ingrain in their minds.

the death toll sits at four - lucius malfoy and three death eaters. bellatrix, rodolphus and rabastan lestrange, amycus and alecto carrow, thorfinn rowle and mulciber junior managed to escape the scene, though the reinforcements managed to incapacitate and subsequently round up six additional death eaters who were transported to azkaban in the early hours.

aberforth dumbledore, no longer a spring chicken, suffered serious injury at bellatrix's hand. he's transported to st mungo's immediately and will remain there only until he checks himself out against all advice to the contrary.

arthur weasley is shaken by the days events but thankfully unscathed.

arturo de la rosa sustained some minor injuries and is advised to recover at home, but proceeds to work anyways.

draco malfoy suffered some minor injury during the battle, but nothing nearly as devastating as his loss. he follows to st mungo's, anyways.

eleanor diggory is badly shaken but relatively unscathed.

ginny weasley is shaken, but unscathed.

grace moody sustained some minor injuries but will be able to recover at home.

hermione granger suffered some minor injury over the course of the battle but can rest and recoup at home.

justin finch-fletchley sprained his ankle when he fell but has his choice of heading to st mungo's or having this seen to by emergency mediwix on the scene. either way, a few shots of skele-gro over a few hours should see him right.

kingsley shacklebolt is unscathed and leaves arturo and a trusted team to take care of the apprehended death eaters - he has bad news to break.

luna lovegood suffered some minor injury over the course of the battle but is welcome to return home after a once over by the mediwix on scene.

marietta edgecombe is badly shaken by her time beneath the cruciatus but can be treated for shock on the scene. per usual, a stiff drink once she gets home is the best medicine they can prescribe her.

minerva mcgonagall is badly shaken by her time under the cruciatus but has a school to take care of. she takes the advice of a strong drink but returns to hogwarts in the early hours of the morning.

minette merrythought suffered some minor injury over the course of the battle but is welcome to return home after a once over by the mediwix on scene.

moira graves will need stitches for her head wound and is advised to stay at st mungo's for observation purposes - the worry is a concussion, and the mediwix will feel better if she's under their watchful eyes.

ned weasley suffered moderate injury in the form of the gash along his arm but refuses treatment from the mediwix that arrive on scene and instead heads home. he'll take care of it himself.

nymphadora tonks crashes once the adrenaline of the fight wears off and is taken straight to st mungo's despite her protests. the gnarly wound on her hand and the other injuries she managed to pick up along the way are easy enough to deal with, but she'll have to stay overnight for observation.

roshana cresswell will need to spend a few days in st mungo's following her ordeal ; the emergency mediwix that arrive on scene countercharm the curse that she was hit by but are concerned by the long term effects it may have, even if she's up and walking within the hour.

seamus finnigan's nose was set right by eleanor diggory, but he should probably have it seen to be an emergency mediwix anyway, to be safe.

viktor krum suffered serious injury in the battle when his arm was broken by amycus carrow's blasting curse. he is transferred to st mungo's immediately and the damage done will require quite a lot of skele-gro administered over a few days, so it's best he stays in.

[jack-in-the-dark]

The Ch'katik Danger Assessment Scale

It had taken Ch'katik a long time to become acclimated the new chief engineer.

He didn't mind that she was human. The ship's previous chief engineer had been human, and Ch'katik had quite liked John.

It wasn't that the new chief was female, either; after all, his eusocial species' societal structure was based around matriarchy, and while he had left it hadn't been because of the leadership.

Nor was it because he had been "passed over" for promotion, as a crewmate had implied. Ch'katik was a worker caste. It's true that when given clear instructions or goal, a sh'vth worker is almost unparalleled in the speed and efficiency of a task. But, as Ch'katik was all too aware, his caste was not particularly adept at dealing with crisis situations. Heading off an unexpected power surge during repairs before it exploded was simple - but without a leader, a worker caste would stand in paralyzed confusion during the attack that necessitated said repairs.

It was the stark difference in personality that had given Ch'katik trouble. John was a kind, soft-spoken elder. He smiled a lot and was very friendly, and his breadth of knowledge was truly astounding! Ch'katik had always admired that about him. The little tug they called home was centuries old. Her various systems had been replaced, upgraded, modified, refitted, bypassed, repaired, and shenanigans'd by dozens of engineers from dozens of worlds with dozens of species' tech. By the time John retired, the tug was in better working order than when even Ch'katik had been brought on board.

This new engineer, this Becky, shared John's intuitive understanding of the ship's inner workings, but otherwise she couldn't have been more different. He knew most species mellowed with age, but the contrast in age made the differences all the more stark. She was often abrasive, sarcastic, cynical, and, as another crewmate had put it, "starts the day looking like she was done with everyone's shit a week ago." Ch'katik couldn't imagine John had ever been like her.

And her language! Ch'katik considered himself familiar with most species' profanity, but working under Becky had been a learning experience. She used some of humanity's most offensive words like punctuation, and she wasn't quiet about it unless she was snarking at something.

But he couldn't deny her skill - Ch'katik was fairly certain that for all his experience and talent, Becky was noticeably the better engineer. And while she certainly was rough around the edges, she'd never offended Ch'katik. Colorful language aside, she was one of the more respectful leaders he had worked under. Every other chief engineer he'd known had practically babysat him for the first few weeks, but Becky had simply immediately assumed that he was reliable and knew what he was doing. Ch'katik appreciated that.

And over time, her propensity for swearing had actually become quite useful for Ch'katik. He could now reliably gauge the danger and seriousness of a problem by paying attention to the volume and intensity of her profanity.

Which lead him to the current situation. The ship was under attack by pirates. Or so it had seemed, but from what Ch'katik could gather from the engine room, the pirates were pursuing them even though they'd decoupled from their cargo and were fleeing at best speed.

They were taking fire, and the two of them were were barely keeping up with damage control while she argued with the captain over the intercom.

"It's our only chance! We stay here, we're dead!" the captain urged.

"It's goddamn suicide!" Becky countered, before briefly putting a wrench in her teeth so she could use both hands to fit a replacement power coupling into place as the ship rocked around them. Taking the wrench back in hand, she continued her counterargument. "The drive housing's damaged, we jump without securing it and being fucking dead might end up being preferable! And that's assuming our hull even survives the goddamn jump in the first place!"

She held the wrench out to Ch'katik, who was already reaching for it with one arm and handing her the needed plasma torch with another. Becky was very upset, and by his judgment of her language, the ship was in worse shape than he thought.

Becky immediately set to welding the coupling into place. "I like this ship, cap, but I don't like it well enough to phase half my fucking mass into a random bulkhead!"

With the arms not holding tools, Ch'katik finished up repairing the wiring the coupling had fried when it blew. Listening to the captain and Becky argue, he again thanked the universe that he was working caste. He did not envy these decisions, nor could he even say which option he preferred. Certain immediate death did not seem much better than probable horrible, painful death.

"We're making the jump, Becky! That's an order!"

"FUCK!" Becky exclaimed, punching the bulkhead. Ch'katik winced, but not at the action. Her outburst was a very bad sign.

He didn't need her to tell him to follow her back to the engine room, and so she didn't. A particularly bad hit nearly sent them reeling - having only the two legs, the chief engineer was nearly thrown to the deck. Ch'katik helped her steady herself before they continued on towards their goal.

Becky bee-lined for the main control console, only needing to briefly point to the power distribution console to tell Ch'katik what he needed to do. As beat up as they were, making sure the drive received steady power was paramount. Ensuring it was protected from any surges was equally as important, but if that happened at least no one would be left to complain.

"Spinning the drive up!" Becky announced, and Ch'katik heard the increasing, shuddering whine of the machine preparing to do the impossible. Unfortunately, that might not be metaphorical.

Ch'katik focused on his job. The reactors were stable, which he thanked the stars for. The real trouble was making sure there was uninterrupted power flow from them to the jump drive - at any moment, a shot from the pirates could damage the distribution systems, and if he wasn't fast enough it would cause a power dip and the drive would fail.

"Now or never, captain!" Becky yelled over the steady din of the jump drive.

Ch'katik felt it happen. It was like suddenly going very fast in every direction while someone put his organs in a vice. An instant later, it ceased.

Unfortunately, also an instant later, a loud unpleasant noise rang out and the ship shuddered. The lights flickered and went out, sending them into complete darkness for a moment before the orange emergency lights kicked in.

Ch'katik hesitated. It was quiet. Much too quiet. Nervously, he turned to look at Becky, to gauge the gravity of their situation.

Becky leaned against the console, staring down at the readouts, and let out a quiet sigh. "Ah, beans."

Ch'katik fainted.

Author's note: I first posted this on r/hfy about a year ago, so if it's familiar that's probably where you read it. I figured it was about time I posted some OC to tumblr, so I thought, why not some of the stuff I've written?

[possumsandprose]

Elriel Part 3: Solstice

This was so far my favourite of the prompts to write for, and I had so, so much fun writing this. I hope you all love it!

TW: angst-ish? nothing really

Word count: 1.9K

The snow was falling yet again, fire was crackling in the hearth, and everyone was gathered around in the main room. Elain was very tired, since she had been up since dawn. She remembered with a small smile the hours she'd put into making doughs, cooking jams, chopping vegetables, and all the hours she'd spent in her kitchen. The kitchen was her happy place, because it was hers. While Nuala and Cerridwen did sometimes help her, she knew that they respected her privacy. In the kitchen, she could lose herself in her work, the methodical slicing of the herbs, and the rhythmic kneading of pastries. It had paid off, too, when dinner was served, everyone had complimented her on her skills, remarking on the delicious taste of the roasted chicken, seared vegetables, sweet pies, and all the other delicacies she had created. Best of all was the cake, a gorgeous layered cake even better than the previous year's, covered in stars and small pearls, with deep indigo frosting. In Elain's opinion, it was her best work yet, a labour of love, and while it had been exhausting, Feyre's excited squealing when she saw it had made it all worth it.

But now, dinner was over, cake had been eaten, and now everyone was breaking in the wine, "My good wine," said Rhys in annoyance, which was quickly met by Cassian and Mor's shushing. Soon, Rhys snapped his fingers, and all of the presents appeared in a pile. Even bigger than last year, we really went all out, thought Elain. She really had put a lot of thought into everyone's gifts. Lucien was not here this year, something about celebrating with the Band of Exiles, but everyone else was here, and she loved it that way. She loved that Mor had returned from the continent, Amren had found the resilience to come and spend an evening with the "little ones", as she called them, despite the fact that most of them had a good two feet on her. Elain loved that Rhys and Feyre had managed to clear their busy schedules and spend time with the family, and of course Nyx, who was babbling excitedly on Feyre's knee, little wings beating in glee. She loved that Nesta and Cassian had come down from the House of Wind, from Nesta's ceaseless training and Cassian's instructing and duties as general. But most of all there was him. Azriel. She turned her eyes to him now, where he was opening up a leatherbound journal from Mor. "Spring Court leather, made from a special kind of animal, it's very rare," Mor was explaining. Azriel had made himself scarce in the last year, throwing himself into work even more than usual.

But Elain suspected Rhys had all but ordered him to return to celebrate Solstice with the rest of the family. And, truth be told, she was glad that Rhys had, because Azriel was who she wanted to see most. After the disastrous last solstice, Elain could hardly blame Azriel for his desire to stay away, but tonight she was determined: she would go to him, and make her true feelings known. Elain was not known for her courage, but people often underestimated her. And she would not allow it to continue.

Tonight, her resolve was firm: she and Az would talk, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. She had even gotten him a very special gift, one that had taken her many hours to think of, and even more to create. She wondered if he had gotten her anything. Probably not, after last Solstice, she reasoned, and with Rhys right here it would be a risky move. But Elain didn't particularly care what Rhys thought, and a small part of her hoped against hope that he had still gotten her something.

"...and this one's to you, Azriel, from Elain." Elain was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of Amren's voice, where she was crouched in the present pile, and she looked up just in time to see the dark haired female toss a large, square box covered in golden paper. Azriel looked momentarily stunned, but then caught it with his usual agile reflexes.

"Open it," Elain said with barely concealed excitement. She was anxious to know what he thought. Interestingly, as his attention became focused on her and the present, one of his shadows snuck over to her, curling through her golden hair, seemingly without his knowledge. She did not fear it, however, and in fact relished in its presence. Then, Azriel tore off the paper, and opened the box. Inside was a cloak, the same deep blue as his siphons, lined with white fur. Elain had recently been getting into weaving, and when she had seen the thread and wool at the local market she had immediately known what to make.

"You mentioned that you would be going on a mission in the Winter Court, and I thought you would like a new cloak. I wove and sewed it myself." She wrung her hands, wondering now if perhaps this had been a bad idea, trying to determine whether he was pleased or not. But then he smiled, and Elain's heart danced, as his shadows were currently doing.

"Thank you Elain. This will be invaluable. It is lovely work, too, your skills at the loom have developed very well." She smiled at him, a big, genuine smile, and though nobody else noticed as they were all busy opening their own presents, they shared this moment of happiness together.

Many hours later, after presents were opened, wine was drank, and even more sugar was consumed, everyone was beginning to drift apart, Feyre and Rhys back to their room, Nesta and Cassian going into one of the guest bedrooms since both were too drunk to make it home, Mor asleep on the couch, and Amren having slunk off a long while back. That left just her and Azriel, and he approached her.

"Would you come with me? I have something I wish to share with you." Elain nodded, and they walked over to the edge of the balcony, where Az scooped her up in his arms and they shot into the sky.

Elain realized she would never tire of this, of flying through the sky with him. The first time, even when she was still in a period of mourning, the joy of flying in his arms was enough that she managed to enjoy herself for the first time in a while, even beginning to smile. And since then, she had jumped at any chance to take to the skies again.

They landed in a huge garden Elain had never seen before. It was old, but still looked very lovely, although things had grown rather wild due to the lack of proper maintenance.

"Where is this?" she asked curiously.

"These are the gardens of Rosehall. My mother lives further that way, but she isn't able to look after this area. I thought you would enjoy it," he explained, looking hopefully at her to see if she was happy.

"Az, I love it, it's so beautiful," she gushed, and she meant it. She drifted over to a wild crop of roses and admired them. She loved this place very, very much, and Az smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

"There was another reason I brought you here. I wanted to give you something, away from prying eyes." He held out a small box to her, and Elain was suddenly taken with how much this felt like last solstice. Last Solstice, she remembered, and it seemed to hang unspoken in the air between them.

She took the box with shaking fingers and opened it. Pressed inside were several bags of seeds.

"You mentioned that you had been looking for seeds of a rare kind of lily, and I decided I would find them for you. I did eventually, but if you do not wish to receive a gift from me after last time, I would understand," he said, his voice filled with barely contained nerves.

"No, I love them so much. I-I can't believe you remembered. It means a lot to me that you remembered," Elain said, inspecting the seed packages under the moonlight. They were of the exact kind she had mentioned wanting, plus several more.

"About last solstice...I wanted to speak with you about that. I understand what happened. I know Rhys ordered you to stay away. And I know you haven't wanted to go against him, and I would guess you have been avoiding the house and our family because of this. And I understand. And I don't care. I choose to be with you regardless of this bond with Lucien, whatever it may be. You are the only person who has ever truly seen me, listened to me, understood me, made me feel like I'm worthy of being alive and taking up space. Like my hobbies were worth pursuing, however mundane and unwarriorlike they might be. I want to be with you."

Elain finished her speech, knowing that how ever Az responded, she would be happy, because she would have spoken up at last, rather than allowing everything she believed to be trod on. She had spent most of her life doing that, between Nesta and Feyre's ceaseless bickering and her family's expectations for her to grow to be the perfect lady: passive, docile, and unopinionated. But when she had become fae, she learned to find her feet, and to stand up for herself. She learned not to let her feelings be ignored simply because everyone expected her to be quiet. And with Azriel, she knew she could express whatever opinions she wanted. He would never belittle her, shame her, make her feel unworthy, or as though she didn't deserve to think her own way. All of these thoughts swirled in her head as she waited with baited breath for his response.

"Elain...yes. I want you as well. I have wanted you for the past year, have wanted nothing more than to fly to you and hug you and take you away with me to a place where Lucien and the others can never find us. It has killed me to stay apart from you, not only because I love you, but because you've become my best friend." Az's voice was laced with pain, and she could tell every word he spoke was the absolute truth, and she couldn't bear it any longer.

She rushed forward and kissed him, and he didn't even hesitate to kiss her back. They stayed like that, under the moonlight, kissing for a long time, sharing all of the feelings they didn't yet understand how to articulate through words, but in time would learn. Eventually, they broke apart, though they sat in companionable silence together, Elain resting her head on him, watching the famous Velaris stars twinkle above.

When they eventually arrived back at the townhouse, they settled down together, not wanting to be separated now that they had finally been able to come together. As Elain slowly drifted off to sleep, she felt Az press a small kiss to the top of her head.

"Happy Solstice, my love."

Please leave a comment if you enjoyed, it really makes my day. Much love to you all!

Taglist:

@elriel-month

[randoimago]

Request:

Seteth, Shamir, Ignatz & Ingrid notice a crowd of people forming a ring around something. Becoming curious, they decide to walk over & check out what everyone's looking at, only to find their S/O in the middle, doing some VERY painful-looking contortionist poses with absolutely no difficulty whatsoever.

(They had no idea their S/O was a contortionist, just so there's no confusion in what I'm asking)

Learning that S/O is a Contortionist

Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Character(s): Ingrid, Seteth, Shamir

Type of Request: Headcanons

Note(s): Contortionist are crazy and I love them, I hope they never get any cramps. Contortionism (?) is just so wild and just watching it hurts

Ingrid

Honestly was very curious with the sudden crowd. She was trying to do some shopping and now there was people in the way. Doesn't even think about being annoyed because she very much wants to see what's happening.

And then she gets closer and has to hold in a gasp when she sees you literally bending over backwards and moving your upper body between your legs, yet still keeping balance.

There are a thousand questions running through her mind at seeing you like this. The first is if you're okay, but judging by the smile on your face you seem fine.

As much as Ingrid wants to stay and watch, she still has things to do. She does do her best to make eye contact with you - which is pretty difficult since your poses make it so she'd have to crouch to get your attention - but she tries to get your attention just so you know she saw so hopefully when you're done you'll find her to talk.

Seteth

With how long Seteth has lived, he's seen many different types of performances. He's seen people juggling fire, he's seen circus's with elephants balancing on giant balls (which he tried to explain the trick to Flayn, but she kept shushing him).

Seteth has seen some contortionists in his time, but that doesn't stop the surprise when he sees you it's you doing the performing.

He had wanted to talk to you about something or other, but it ended up leaving his mind when he joined the crowd gathered around you. Some people were throwing some coin to tip you for your performing and that gave Seteth some amusement, but he mostly stayed silent.

Is a tad upset that you didn't share this talent with him before. This is something that is very interesting and he knows you put so much work to pull off some of these bends and stretches. But he doesn't want to scold you and instead gives you a smile should your eyes connected and continues to watch.

Shamir

While she hasn't lived long enough to see a bunch of things like Seteth, she's still well traveled and so she's seen many things thanks to that.

Shamir is perceptive and so she caught on to you being more flexible than most, she just didn't realize how flexible until she ended up being pulled along by Catherine to the group of people watching some performance in town.

Does raise an eyebrow as she watches you bend and perform. She couldn't decide if some of your bending made her wince in pain or fill with envy because she really could use some good stretching.

Shamir doesn't linger in the crowd long, this is a talent you have that you didn't tell her about so she figures there might be a reason it hadn't come up. So she's not going to let you see that she saw so you can bring it up when you wish to.

[pockavas]

Halsin - trusting your fears

Part 8

Finally, Thaniel was saved. The search for clues for his location, anything that would help Halsin find him took some time, and be fraught with countless new dangers. The Shadowlands were like nothing known, unseen anomalies, the land itself had degenerated and the creatures that inhabited it were either dead or consumed by the darkness.

The defense of the portal that Halsin had gone through to take Thaniel out was brutal, wave after wave of enemies coming. No one was allowed to pass through the portal, it was vital to Halsin's return, and Ross was determined that she would let no one pass through it,she would not allow Halsin to be isolated somewhere, alone among countless enemies, and possibly lost forever.

And so the awaited moment arrived as Halsin crossed the threshold of the portal with Thaniel in his arms, a small tormented child bearing the decade's curse within him. Halsin laid him gently on the ground, looked at his comrades, who were exhausted and covered in blood, who were doing their best to guard the passage and help him accomplish his goal. Ross was there, she'd given him her word that she'd stand this ground at all costs, and she'd kept her promise, another thing he'd owe her for the rest of his life.

In the evening everyone was in high spirits, gathered around the campfire, eating, drinking and talking, Thaniel resting at Halsin's place. It wasn't a celebration in the full sense of the word, but it was an achievement that deserved a few drinks and some rest. The hours passed, the atmosphere heated up with each next glas.

Ross was in a good mood as well, she was happy with her performance in battle, every arrow had hit its target, almost like before, and she was definitely happy and she showed it. They told Halsin how the battle went, they spared no details. Ross also boasted to him about her regained skills. Halsin's soul had also relaxed, perhaps not as much as the others, but he joked and laughed with them. He admired Ross, who did not spare the wine, but he knew that she usually always remained the most sober of the others, it was just that when she let go of her inhibitions, it was as if she were intoxicated. She had gotten so warm that she had removed the top of her armor, plus her shirt, and was left in a tank top. The fire glinted off the small beads of sweat on her body, orange-red hues played across her figure, and her eyes shone like her smile. If only he could see her like this more often. He liked every part of her, his mind toying with him, imagining him removing her straps one by one, revealing her tattoos, examining them, memorizing them.

He felt himself staring at her, but was glad to know she didn’t notice it. When Halsin came to his sences, the sight before him, well, shocked him a bit. Ross, sipping red wine, almost as fiery as her, but the liquid spilled from her mouth, running down her chin, down her delicate neck, down her collarbones, reaching the neckline of her tank top. Halsin hungrily followed each flowing red line and swallowed with a dry mouth. And to make it even 'better', Ross pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and began to sip the wine from herself, it felt so…intimate. Halsin clenched his teeth, exhaled loudly through his nose, but over the noise around him, no one understood, or so he hoped. Soon the companions began to scatter, wanting to rest, hoping that the hangover would have mercy on them in the morning. In the end, only Ross and Halsin remained, the fire burning down, she kept repeating how accurate she had been. Like a small child who received a favorite gift and never stops bragging about it. She wondered what it had been like on the other side of the portal, how he had found Thaniel, but Halsin remained sparing in his explanations, other things in his mind.

"-Stay here, I'll be back in a bit, I'm going to change this dripping tank top and... I have something to bring here." Ross informed him.

"-And if I'm not here when you come back?" Halsin asked with a smile.

"-If you're not here, I'll find you, I'll catch you like the big teddy bear you are." she winked at him, and ran to her tent.

Halsin laughed heartily. She was perfectly capable of following him anywhere, but he had no intention of staying here, he wanted a change of scenery.

Ross came back after literally a few minutes to find the fireside empty, sulking in displeasure, but she had a goal, a task she had set herself, and she wasn't going to leave it like that.

Halsin was sitting on the ground with his back against a large fallen log, enjoying the night sounds of the forest, or what was left of it. Earlier in the evening he had managed to snatch the handkerchief that Ross had used to clean the wine off herself. An atypical action for him. Ross approached him from behind, with light and quiet steps.

"-Nothing can get away from me, you know?"-inserted Ross-"I didn't like that you weren't there. I have something on my mind.”- Ross knelt down next to him, lifted his left arm, threw it over her shoulders, sat down next to him- “May I?”she interjected the question afterwards.

"-Everything is permitted for you, honey." He wrapped his large arm around her even more.

Ross was not just under his "wing", she absorbed into him, pressed herself as much as possible, leaned her head on his chest, wrapped her arm around his body.

"-Just like this, just a little, to rest, to snuggle, to sit with you, to feel you, to soak you up," she murmured, "let your scent stick to my clothes before you send me away again" - she whispered a little sadly. She rubbed her face against him, like a cat rubbing against the hand of her beloved owner to mark him as her property and show her love, only now she wanted to mark herself with his musky forest scent. Halsin's heart sank, he felt so guilty for what he was doing to her, and yet so pleased,  by the way Ross had snuggled into him. Nothing was left of the Ross who drank and laughed by the campfire.

“-You can stay with me as long as you want. For me, there is no greater happiness that you feel good with me, dear. Just a little while longer, until we remove the curse from this land, I promise that I will repay you for everything." Halsin spoke quietly, and his words pierced Ross's soul, she tried to press herself more and more into him, without holding back. Halsin could feel her small, firm breasts against him, through his clothes and her thin tank top. The gentle tickling of her hair. The grip of her arm on his waist, that was barely enough to wrap around him. His nature did not remain indifferent to the signals coming from his senses.

"-I'm bringing you something"- Ross barely lifted her head, reached into her waist bag and pulled out a chalice-style horn with a wooden cap decorated with vines-"especially for my favorite ever-sober druid."-she smiled and offered the gift to him.

"-Thank you, but you know every drink goes straight into my mind, then I fall in love with everyone I see."

"-Halsin, you're hopeless sometimes!"- exclaimed Ross lightly, she opened the cap and took a sip of the liquid-"it's mead, it's made of honey"-she pressed her face closer to his. The characteristic aroma of honey from Ross's lips reached the druid's nostrils, tickling his palate. How sweet were her lips, even if they weren't covered in mead? How soft were they? What could they do for him?

“-Do you know what negotiations I had with the harper who guards this treasure? It's like I wanted him to hand over an entire city to me," Ross pouted jokingly.

"-You...did you specifically look for the mead for me?" Halsin asked, as if he didn't know the answer to this question. "You still take care of me in your own unique way." -he thanked her.

"-As soon as I found out that they had mead in their reserve, I immediately thought of you and your weakness for the golden liquid."-she winked at him.

Halsin took the horn, inhaled its aroma with his broad chest, took a slow sip, held it in his mouth, savoring every sensation on his tongue. Divine. The thought floated to the surface of his mind of him dousing Ross with the lovely liquid, from her neck to her thin shoulders, letting it flow down her tight body, taking every sip with his lips, licking every drop. The sight of this affected his groin directly, his pants felt too tight, he shifted to get more comfortable.

And Ross was still clinging to him like that, pressing herself as hard as she could, rubbing herself. And it didn't help him at all.

"-Halsin, is that my handkerchief?" Ross asked pointedly, raising one eyebrow.

"-Huh? Yes. It fell out when you left for your tent and I put it back for you” Halsin cleared his throat “in case you're looking for it.”

“-I'm sure it is. Like my jar of body and hair mousse…”- she winked at him- “or you just need something to remind you of me when I'm gone, like me.”-a moment of silence- “I guess now is the moment when we must separate for the evening and lie alone in our beds, for we still have a dangerous enemy to defeat,” Ross sighed sadly. She pressed her face into his chest one last time, wanting so badly to take his scent with her, a small moan escaped her chest, she got up and left.

Halsin remained thus, sitting, looking after her, mead in hand and her handkerchief in his lap. He could still feel her warmth on him, her touch on his waist. Sipping the sweet liquid, sip after sip dried the horn. The excitement was still in him, his imagination filled with a lustful idea, with a prowess that protested his restraint. He took the handkerchief, pressed it to his face and inhaled - wine, fire, sweat, Ross, desire.

Just a little longer, it was a matter of days, a week at most, until they staged an attack on Moonrise tower, and if they could win, survive, restore balance to nature, he would seek her, claim her, give her everything . And now? Now his imagination haunted him, the heat in his body refused to go away. The tension below was maddening. Nature wanted its own, it wanted to be tamed.

And he was ready to answer that call, it wouldn't be his first time. Ross was constantly in his dreams, at least there they were together, as one. So real and voluptuous that he woke up with a hand on his groin.

Being physically with someone was usually preceded by being with them in your mind, already subjugated by the object of your desires. So it was with him. And when nature summoned him, who was he to contradict her. His bulk was still swollen in his leather pants, it wanted to be relieved, to pour out the accumulated tension. Halsin made himself comfortable, rested his head on the trunk of the tree, closed his eyes. He imagined her, naked as nature intended, hot beneath him, twisting like a young vine calling his name. He put his hand on his mass, rubbed it with his large palm, unbuttoned his pants and brought it out into the light, wrapped it around him. The size of his penis corresponded to the dimensions of Halsin, there was something to grasp even with his large palm, he moved. Halsin knew best exactly what he liked, how much to squeeze, how to move, he knew his body, what it needed. His breathing quickened, he licked his lips, he arched his body, the image of Ross so vivid, as if she were real, as if she was touching him, never stopping to pleasure himself, it wasn’t about indurance, but a momentary relief. Just a few more thrusts up and down, just a few more times, the eruption pumping along his length, a low moan rising in his throat, a growl even, how good it was. Up and down, up and down, until it finally exploded, the warm fluid spurting out from the tip of his cock, in sync with his moans, heavy breathing. Blissful relief took over his body, he knew it was inevitable that it would build up again soon, but now this moment, it was sweet. He relaxed, his hand still on his pulk. The world came back around him.

Oooh, the things he was going to do to her, everything he would give her, over and over again, until he had no strength left or she said she couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to hear his name in her moans, and he was going to make her moan at the end. Just a little more. He was sure they would survive, they had to survive. Everything in its time.

[cookiewoli]

Moon's whisperer chap 4

It was a very long night for Cassius; following his argument with Elsie, he couldn't sleep a wink. He replayed the scene over and over again, thinking about what he should have said instead. Every time he thought about it, he couldn't help saying "I screwed up."

Midnight.

One o'clock.

Three o'clock.

Five o'clock.

The sun rose at last. Cassius had black and red marks under his eyes. It's hard to pull an all-nighter after crying for who knows how long.

He'd thought about the previous argument, but not about how to reconcile with Elsie. She still had to forgive him after all he'd said. He shouted in anger when he said he had no friends, and didn't want any. No doubt he didn't mean it. He'd been alone all his life, if you omit his years enlisted in Duvos's army. Imagining that someone might be interested in him in terms of friendship was like something new. What a strange feeling... friendship. Of course, he gets on well with Panah, but that's only because she's the camp leader. He's sure he'd be totally alone if she weren't here.

The locals could be heard waking up and coming out of their tents to join the morning gathering around the fire. Cassius usually never goes. He just goes to the evening gatherings, which is enough... But he thinks Elsie might be there. Maybe this would be a good time to... Apologize. Ah, that's something he never usually does. It's a public admission that he was in the wrong. And he knows he was. He filled up his pockets with lollipops, and left his tent to go to the regrouping.

He suspected Elsie was there. And she looked like she'd had a bad night too, from the look on her face. What was he do now? How should he go about it? Come and talk to her as if nothing had happened and broach the subject like nothing happens?

After a very long time, he took courage in both hands and headed for Elsie. Elsie also leapt to her feet when she noticed him, and was off like the day before in a fraction of a second. She was clearly avoiding him. Understandable... Panah seemed to notice the situation, as she reached out to grab Elsie's hand as she fled. She cast a look of incomprehension at Cassius, silently asking an explanation.

"Um... I... Screwed up yesterday."

She sighed, thinking hard "as usual". It's not like he messed up with everyone. But right now? With Elsie? Yet everything seemed to be going... "Pretty well" between them. They just stood there, staring into each other's eyes. The mood was awkward. Panah clapped her hands on her thighs as she stood up, a sign of annoyance. She motioned for Cassius to follow.

They arrived at her tent. It was highly decorated, with various relics found during her travels. She had displayed photos of her travels, but especially of Atara, where she was from. The locals seemed adorable, all smiling and welcoming. Unlike the other tents, she had a large desk, covered with a variety of papers. These could be maps, quick drawings to occupy oneself for 5 minutes, newsletters, or even reports on life in the camp. To tell the truth, Cassius was already familiar with the place. He'd spent evenings here a few times...

"Well, tell me what happened."

Panah sat on his bed, waiting. Cassius crossed his arms and tapped his feet, nervous. The situation resembled an interrogation.

"I had an argument with Elsie. I mean...

He searched for words. You could tell his pride was about to take a hit. His foot tapped harder and he rubbed the space between his eyebrows with a finger, annoyed.

-I said things that hurt her in anger, when she was just being nice.

-So you admit you're at fault?

Panah smiled. It was rare to see Cassius like this.

-Hmm... Yes, maybe so... But!

He still wants to keep a modicum of pride obviously.

-She was at fault too."

Obviously, when you're talking about a fight, at least two people are involved. You can't fight on your own. Panah quietly poured herself a glass of water to keep the suspense going. She was waiting for the rest. But Cassius remained silent.

"What did she do to make you angry?"

He was getting more and more nervous. He couldn't stop fiddling with her side braid of hair, or fiddling with her earrings. His posture was wobbly, head down and eyes searching where to look. Her foot was still tapping the floor.

"Last night, she spotted me in my tent. Doing... You know.

Panah imagined the worst and turned red. She let out a groan of laughter. Seeing the reaction and the misunderstanding, Cassius resumed:

"Nah, not then! Not when I was in my tent with someone! She saw me... afterwards. By myself.

The tension had eased after this amusing misunderstanding. Both exchanged small laughs.

-So she's aware of your emotional... Condition now?

Panah twisted her smile. She wasn't sure what words to use to talk about it.

-I didn't tell her. That's where it all went wrong. I DIDN'T WANT to talk about it. I was too ashamed."

At least admitting it was a good thing, they thought.

They remained silent for a few moments. Panah resumed:

"Cassius, you know I'm not always going to be there for you. You need to make friends with other people.

-What if I just want to be alone?

-You can't be alone forever. Just because you've always been doesn't mean you have to stay that way.

He let out a grunt of frustration.

-I'm sure you and Elsie could be good friends.

-I'll just have to talk to her again.

Panah sighed.

-Do you know that arguments between friends are normal?

Cassius opened his eyes wide, looking as if he didn't understand. He thought that friends never argued. That everything was lit up with flowers and rainbows, silly.

-The difference with people who aren't your friends is that friends forgive you for your mistakes. If you're willing to apologize to them."

Panah laid his hand on Cassius's, amicably. He seemed troubled. Long before, when he fought with someone, Panah would force him to go and apologize. But surprisingly, apologies were never accepted.

"I'll arrange an opportunity with Elsie if you like. It may not please her, but if it will help you make up..."

Cassius nodded, grateful.

The next day, Elsie joined the combat training arena at Panah's request. It had been a while since she'd trained, and she felt she'd already lost her skills. She warmed up as she'd been taught, stretching. She took a few sips of water, before seeing Cassius coming towards her.

"Oh no, not him..." she thought hard. She thought it so hard she even said it out loud.

There was a great unease when Cassius arrived right in front of her. This was the moment he'd been waiting for: he had to apologize. But how to go about it?

"Hi...

He began.

-...

-About the other day...

-Hmm hmm.

-Sorry."

Silence.

It didn't seem enough. And certainly not convincing... Elsie crossed her arms, pouting. She'd expected more from him.

"Um... I got... I got carried away.

-No kidding.

-And I... I hurt you.

-You sure did.

Elsie answered curtly. Still sulking.

-I didn't mean what I said.

-Hmm.

-Sorry I acted... Like a freak."

Cassius lowered his head. It didn't really show, since to talk to Elsie he basically had to look down because of their great height difference...

Elsie looked away, thoughtful. As if she were thinking about how she should react. Forgive him? Ask for more? Send him packing? Leave quietly? Angry? She tapped her feet rapidly, a sign of frustration. Her arms were still crossed, and pressed tightly against her.

Cassius resumed the conversation:

"Panah put me in charge of today's training... So let off steam.

Elsie nodded slightly, curious.

-Let off steam?

She repeated.

-You must be mad at me, so... Let off steam.

Cassius spread his arms, standing up straight.

-Why would I take it out on you?"

Panah had asked Cassius to suggest this workout to Elsie. What better way to get her emotions out than through intense exercise? The aim was for Elsie to say whatever was on her mind, while getting some physical exercise. It would help her let go.

"Okay, let's do this another way."

He went away for a few minutes, before returning with a piece of chalk in hand. He showed it to Elsie quickly, and drew a small circle on the arena floor, before standing in the center of it. He was just getting into it.

"Go ahead, get me out of this circle any way you can."

Elsie thought it was a joke at first. How, from the height of her 5'10", could she get a giant 6'8" hunk of muscle to move?!

She spun around, thinking of a strategy. She returned to face him, before giving him a big kick in the crotch. The problem was, she heard a snap, and it was she who felt the pain in her foot, as if she'd hit concrete.

"I was sure you were going to do that first. That's why I put protection there."

Elsie felt foolish, and held her foot to ease the pain. At least she'd tried...

She tried many stratagems. Pushing, sweeping, tickling, blackmailing with a lollipop... Nothing worked.

"Come on... Fatty! Move!"

Elsie pushed with all her might, before punching him in the stomach. Cassius felt nothing. He opened his hands and placed them opposite Elsie's.

"If you want to punch to let off steam, punch here."

He didn't need to repeat, Elsie began to clap frantically into Cassius's palms. Left, right, left, right...

"Raaaah! It's frustrating!

She cried.

-I want to... Revenge for yesterday! You stupid...! I hate you...

He says nothing. This is it, she's going to let loose. Panah was right about that technique.

-All you've got is a lump of muscle! You don't seem to have a brain, let alone a heart! Freak! Freak!

-Do you call me that all the time because I really am one, or is it because you only know that insult?

-Y-you! Dumbass! Idiot! Scumbag!

Elsie kept on punching, over and over again. Sweat was dripping from her forehead.

-Didn't you feel anything for saying what you said yesterday? You never react! Words can really hurt! Stop acting like nothing matters! Like feelings doesn't matter!

Drops of sweat met tears.

-It matters.

He said curtly. Elsie stopped to catch her breath and look Cassius straight in the eye.

-I care that I hurt... A friend.

His lips trembled. He seemed sincere in his words, and his gaze didn't lie.

-I'm sorry I scared you, yelled at you and said I didn't have any friends, and I didn't want any.

It looked like he'd blushed slightly at that point.

-I just... I don't deserve to have any."

There was silence again. No one knew what to say. Elsie wondered if it was Panah who had asked him to repeat that, or if the words really came from the heart. She very much wanted to believe the second option.

"There has to be a first time for everything, I suppose..."

After a long hesitation, Elsie timidly extended her hand towards him in friendship, hoping not to regret her act later. Cassius hesitated for a few moments, then grasped her hand in a fistful.

"Friends?

-Hmm."

Elsie knew that little "hmm" wasn't a sound of disinterest in him. She'd noticed he did that when he didn't know what to say, without malice. But in any case, it was an acquiescence. She noticed in passing how tiny her hand was compared to Cassius's; she stared intently at the size difference between them, without letting go. This went on for several seconds.

"Um... Can you let go of my hand now?"

Cassius tried to step back.Elsie flinched and let go of his hand suddenly, as if in disgust. In truth, she was just embarrassed that she'd never held hands with anyone for so long before. If you omit her parents... Staring at the ground to avoid his gaze, Elsie let out a cry of delight. Cassius didn't understand at first, but then lowered his gaze to the same level. His foot protruded a few centimeters from the circle he had drawn. Ah... That wasn't planned. And like an idiot, it was he who had stepped back without realizing it.

"I did it!"

Elsie jumped for joy, despite having realized that it wasn't thanks to her that he'd made it out of the circle. This infatuation made Cassius smile; it was better to see Elsie laughing than crying. He was already feeling better, and so was she.

Panah arrived a few moments later, to see how things were going. She didn't need to get any closer, seeing the reconciled duo in the distance. She turned back to go about her business and leave them alone.

"Congrats."

Cassius pulled a lollipop from his pocket and handed it to Elsie. She accepted it gladly and wondered how many he had in his pockets all the time...

"One day...

Elsie had just put the lollipop in her mouth. It was a new perfume, never tasted before.

-I'll explain.

-Explain what?

He hesitated a moment.

-Why I was crying in my tent.

He cleared his throat, embarrassed.

-I at least owe you an explanation for my behavior."

His lips were trembling again. Elsie nodded, understanding that it's hard for him, just to admit it, that he's having difficulties and needs to talk about it. His curiosity was peaked, but it's too early for explanations. It's up to him to feel ready to talk to her. When he is, Elsie will be there to listen, just as he did sitting on the edge of the oasis.

"Training's over. You can go back to what you were doing."

He turned around and took off at lightning speed, his coat flying in the wind.

It had been quite a day, and previous evening. So few and so much had happened. Elsie felt she'd made progress in terms of her relationship with Cassius, and subconsciously he felt the same. Making new friends was something new for both of them; Elsie had never, despite her great desire, had the opportunity to make friends (except with a certain new person) with anyone at Sandrock, since there were never any new arrivals. Conversely, Cassius has always refused friendship, as it was against Duvos' morals in general. Solitude is the only way not to be hurt by others; that's how he resonated. The mere idea of having a friend (besides Panah) made him feel all weird. How was this supposed to work?

This was a new step for the duo; a step towards a new social experience.

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