#glad she took her kits to safe places instead of just peacing out i can respect it

[artaintfartwarriors]

Cinders design please ^_^ (yes it sol/harry mom.)

[teenyweenynightghost]

A breath of fresh air

 Chapter 2

Warnings: Anxiety, mental health issues

The summer passed slowly. Everyday my mother would drag me to a new place, either getting some medical tests done, or academic ones. She took me shopping for new clothes so that I could make her proud at my new school. As if that mattered.

I no longer managed to find myself within nature. I would get anxious when I tried to enter the forrest, or I would simply be so distracted I couldn’t even notice what flowers were around me. Same thing with photography. Nothing caught my attention, nothing seemed worth it anymore. The world was running around me, leaving me far behind, fallen on the ground.

The day I would leave finally came. The fight was no different to those I took when flying to my grandma, but this time I was scared. I wasn’t flying towards comfort and peace, but rather going to a whole new place, a land of uncertainty and doubt.

My cab pulled up in a gigantic driveway. I could see kids of all ages running around, talking and greeting new people. I started feeling anxious again, my breath was caught in my neck and i started suffocating in silence as my door suddenly opened. Outside stood an old woman, her face wrinkly and lean, looking at me with a soft gaze. “Why don’t you step out darling, I promise no-one here bites”. I tried to force a smile and push my way out. 

Now standing in front of her, I noticed that she was tall. Much taller than me. She was wearing a light blue blazer and a matching midi-skirt, with a white ruffled blouse underneath. Her hair was dark brown with streaks of gray, all tied up in a tight up-do.

“My name is Mrs Henson, i am the head-mistress of the school. You must be Aurora Gardner.”

“Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I reached out my hand and met hers in a tight shake.

“I’m glad you made it here safely. Now, there will be staff coming to pick up your luggage and taking it to your dorm. Meanwhile, I would like to introduce you to your roommate, who I’m sure will be nice enough to give you a tour of the campus.”

With that, we started walking. I noticed that the drive-way extended into a big circle, further being guarded by the surrounding buildings. It all looked old, but similar to the things you see in movies. The architecture, the atmosphere, the flowers. But I couldn’t focus on all that right now.

We made our way towards a green area, filled with students chatting. I saw a rose bush on the side, and tried to examine it. Before I realised, a girl came up to us and started talking to Mrs Henson. My attention slowly shifted to her, as she was smiling brightly at us. I think my whole face fell upon seeing her. Her bright blue eyes captured my own, her nose ring complimenting her face perfectly. Her hair was all different types of shades of blond, reaching a bit lower than her shoulders. She had a nicely kept fringe and wore large cross earrings. I would have lied If i said that was not the most beautiful girl in the world.

Caught up in my own thoughts, I felt her place a delicate hand on my shoulder. “You still here, puppy?” My face turned red at that nickname, and my mouth suddenly felt very dry. I couldn’t do anything other than slightly nod at her. Upon seeing my reaction, she smirked and hugged me. “My name is Victoria, but you can call me Vic.” She let go and fixed her gaze back at me. “I’m Aurora” I responded quietly, my mind having been shaken from so much contact. I loved hugs, but It brought back memories. It was reaction I didn’t even know I had developed until now.

“Alright” she chuckled softly, a devilish look in her eyes “how about I show you around.” Before I could nod again, she grabbed my hand and lightly tugged me towards the main entry, not letting go even after making sure I was with her. I felt red again, this time worrying about my hand being clammy as well.

The tour was not that long. She mentioned that we had the same classes so she would come with me everyday, thus not needing to show me the academic area today. Instead, she took me to the library. It was a gigantic room, lit by crystal chandeliers and torches. In the middle, there was a large staircase splitting into two, one side leading to more books, the other leading to a study area. While I was taking it all in, staring in awe at my surroundings, I caught her looking at me from the corners of my eyes, I turned my gaze towards her only to be met by her bright eyes once more. She smiled again and said “I knew you would like it here, puppy” Again, my face turned an embarrassing shade of red and my knees started feeling weak. What was wrong with this girl and why could she do this to me? I looked away quickly and made my way towards a book shelf, thinking that the only reason i felt such a spark in me when that girl talked was anger.

A few hours later, she finally took me to the Sleeping Area. We climbed up two flights of stairs, and made our way down a dimly lit corridor. She pulled out a key which clinked in her hands when it met her numerous rings. Unlocking the door, she stepped away and made me room to enter. I looked down as I passed her, feeling her hand on my lower back, guiding me inside. Once again, I was as red as a tomato. 

“I already took the bed on the left, and it surely does seem like a lot of work to move all my stuff again, so you can either sleep on the right one or sleep with me.” At those few last words, I I almost choked on my spit, and turning away so that she couldn’t see the clear effect she had on me. Nevertheless, I didn’t need to be facing her to know just how much she was smirking.

I wobbled towards the right side of the room and sat down on the bed, looking at the window above it. “This one is just fine.” I heard her snort before she retorted back “I was kind of hoping you would say the latter.” This girl had something with me. I just couldn’t tell what yet.

On the wall opposite to me, I noticed a tall wooden cabinet, next to which was my luggage. I opened it and took out my pyjamas and hygiene kit, before turning back to Vic. “Do you know where the bathroom is?” She lazily pointed towards a door in our room I had not noticed, and smiled at the annoyed expression on my face. “Well princess, now that you’re all settle down, I’ll leave you to it. I have to go practice with my friends.” With that, she gave me a wink and left the room. As soon as I was alone, the atmosphere changed. It was gloomier, and it reminded me of an empty room before you would move houses.

To my surprise, the water was warm and the pressure was pretty good. After finishing all my business in the bathroom, I quickly stumbled towards my bed and covered myself with the heavy duvet. I was shivering from the cold air trapped in the room, but I noticed it only helped me relax faster.

There were still so many things in my head, a permanent buzz plaguing my brain. I weary and troubled, but I had no place to go. I glanced up at the window, the stars barely showing, and a tear fell down my face. I missed my grandmother and her soothing words, the way she waited for me every night and reassuring me that I would never be alone. As I felt my consciousness slip away, I wished for one thing; to not be alone anymore.

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OK so here is chapter 2. I had fun writing it and I can’t wait to do the next one, where you will get even MORE vic stuff. and blushing of course.

LOve you babes and have a wonderful day

@fuckim-so-gay

[filthysweetie]

James Bond drabble

Prompt: “Dear Diary...” 

missed a day >.< this one is begging to be a longer story, but i had to cut it so i can finish packing...note that there’s a brief description of torture in this one.

Edit: This now has a sequel here if anyone wants to read it :) 

———

Dear Diary,

Let it be known this is done under duress. Apparently, not being a bloody field agent does not get you out of psych evaluations and ‘recommended’ methods to cope with ‘high stress levels’ and ‘worrying tendency to identify job performance as self-worth’. I bet they didn’t make Boothyard do this. You get kidnapped once and then everyone suddenly thinks you’re a delicate flower. 

Hell, Bond got kidnapped (I guess it’s just called captured when they’re agents…which actually is now making me quite offended that when I was taken it was called kidnapping) on 7 of his last 15 missions. I don’t see him writing a damn diary about it! (Although god, imagine that.) Besides, what’s the point of keeping a diary if it’s mandated and also!! Your psychiatrist will be reading it? Maybe I should start writing in code. 01000110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01000100 01110010 00101110 00100000 01011001 01100101 01101110 00101110 ——— “What is…that?”

Q turned, not the least bit surprised to see James standing there behind him. He had a mission coming up and was obviously ready for his kit. Q did a little ritual over the case, always so sad to see the fine pieces of machinery go when the chance of them returning was so dismal. Instead of focusing on the kit, though…Q followed his eyes to the little journal on his desk. It was covered in stickers (most of them shiny, some of them hello kitty gifted by a little one on the tube who got three on before he or her mother noticed) and attached in the pen holder was a pen with a fuzzy feather top. It was rainbow. 

Can’t blame the man for noticing it, it was a rather stark deviation from the normal color pallet and maturity level of Q’s desk.

“Oh, that old thing?” Q pat the top with a little more force than necessary, “my psych assigned diary. I figure if they choose to treat me like a child I may as well oblige.”

James took a moment before speaking, “And what, pray tell, made them think you need it?”

Q blinked, “Does that mean you’ve done it too?” That was a bit of a surprise. The double-o agents seems to thrive on their disregard of ‘normal’ coping, of medical, and of psych all together.

“Answer the question, Q.” James had the audacity to roll his eyes.

“Now I’m very curious,” Q can’t help it, “what do you write in it? About the girls you like? About more interesting ways to destroy my tech?”

“Mostly survivors guilt.” James says, nonchalant.

Well, that answers that, “Oh…” damn it, now he’s obliged to answer James’ question regardless of if this is an interrogation tactic or not. He gives a half shrug, “Dr. Yen assigned it after the kidnapping.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know, I thought it was all very much over the top as well.” Q fights a sigh, “Now your kit—”

James shakes his head, “No, wait, you were kidnapped?”

Q blinks, ignores the chill that goes down his spine; “I knew they didn’t release that on the official channels but I assumed you’d know none the less.” Q clears his throat, “Now, your kit.”

James quiets then, but there are a lot of questions behind his eyes. Who’s to say if Q focuses on his tech a bit more than he normally would. ——— Dear diary, 

I didn’t realize it had been kept quite so secret. I should have known, we are a spy organization. But I was {Q hesitates over the word, crossing out kidn and captu wishing suddenly that he was using his standard pencil instead of this purple inked mess of a pen} gone for 11 days. I guess I figured they would have told the double-os at least, maybe brought them in to help find me. Not that I needed anyone’s help, of course, I mean I got out of there myself, didn’t need anyone rescuing this damsel.

But the fact that {Ja is scribbled over fully; must remember that this will be read} there were agents I’m the primary handler of that didn’t notice at all. What excuse were they told when I wasn’t on the comms? Would they have just kept been given excuses until the forgot to keep asking?

My cats were fed, at least. Moneypenny thought I would come back, or at least held out enough hope to not sell my apartment and put my cats in a shelter after 11 bloody days. 

R had been searching non-stop—bless her, I think she needs this exercise more than me. Poor girl looked like she hadn’t slept since I’d left; keeping all the missions on track while searching for me. It was her and Riley and Sunil that found me on the security footage after I got out of that place and got me a pickup. It’s not like I was forgotten or anything. {Why do I feel forgotten? Q stares at the line in it’s stark purple ink for a long moment before crossing it out. He doesn’t want to talk about that with himself, let alone Dr. Yen.}

Regardless. R has finished debriefing me on all active missions that I’d missed some portion on, and overall everything is going well. Testing of the new laser pen fell behind during my absence but it’s to be expected. It will give me something to do tomorrow when most of my active agents are in transit. ——— “Q, Sir, we really need you in the pit.” Laila said, standing at the threshold of his office, seeming a bit more frazzled than normal. There are no alarms (auditory or silent) going off around her, so the attitude was a bit perplexing.

Q puts the soldering iron down on it’s stand and takes off the magnification glasses, replacing them with his own, already getting up and heading towards her, “What’s the matter?”

“Sir, one of the agents is being belligerent; requesting to speak only to you before moving forward with his mission.”

That’s a new one; “Alright then, transfer the secure line to my station please, Laila.”

It’s always nice, walking out to the floor, seeing his people working away. Standing at the center of it is like being cocooned within the greatest minds of London. It’s safe. 

“Yes?”

“Q”Jame’s voice is instantly recognizable, “I’ve arrived in Paraguay and will be rendezvousing with the contact at 1430.”

Q waited. Nothing.

“And?”

“That is all.”

Q blinked, glad that James couldn’t see the confusion that must certainly be coving his face, “You called me away from my prototypes to give me a standard mission update that you could have given to any one of my people?”

“Had to make sure you were still around, Q”

“Still—” it clicks, “Oh. Well. Yes, I am very much still around.

“Good.” Is that a smile in his voice or is Q projecting? “I’ll check in again after the rendezvous.”

Q’s throat clicks, dry; “I’ll be here.” ———— Dear Diary, 

When will this little experiment be over? It’s been a half month! I haven’t got much free time at all, and wasting it in this damn book isn’t helping anyone. Least of all me. ————— “I notice you haven’t actually written anything about the kidnapping?” Dr. Yen asks, looking through his entries with a clinical eye.

“I much prefer to call it capture.” Q says in leu of an answer. The sticker covered mess looks silly in her hands, but she seemed to have enjoyed his take on ‘making it his own��� even if he’d been doing the antithesis of that. Granted, some of his minions have added stickers to it too—so next to hello kitty is a ‘back it the fuck up’ sticker in fancy script with an old school desktop monitor showing the phrase, and a sparkly unicorn that Trevor insists is from his kids but Q has his doubts. If he leaves it on his desk unattended, when he comes back there are always new stickers. No one ever opens it, respecting some privacy that doesn’t really need respecting (it’s not like there’s anything of substance in there), but it’s a nice gesture none the less.

Dr. Yen smiles, “Of course,” Q wishes she were a bit more of a dick like Dr. Reynard had been—it was easier to dismiss someone when they were being an ass, “I notice you haven’t written about your capture—or escape for that matter—at all. There are some references to it, but no detail. Do you have any thoughts on why that is?”

Q takes a sip of tea. It is nice that these meetings are uninterrupted tea time—though he could do without the conversation. 

“There’s nothing important to say about it.” Q set the mug down, making sure to be gentle about it, “it’s all done, and I don’t exactly plan to get kidna—captured again.”

Dr. Yen gives an amused smile, “no one really plans to get captured at all.” Then, “Sometimes the act of writing down an experience”—she stopped using ‘traumatizing experience’ a while ago, Q did not have a traumatizing experience, thank you—“can solidify it in our reality. It may be difficult to do that at first, but once it is solidified, we can begin to process it in a healthy way.”

“It’s already written up in the after-action report.”

“Yes, but that was what happened, not how it felt to be going through those things.”

Q rolls his eyes, “do you want me to write a soliloquy on how sad and lonely it was and how I felt abandoned by MI6 and made peace with my death? Or maybe how it transformed me in ineffable ways and I have a new lease on life?”

It was so annoying to lay on that perfect level of sarcasm to have it disregarded so thoroughly, “If that’s how you feel, yes.” God she’s so earnest. 

“Well it wasn’t” Q snapped out. He picked up the mug again and took another sip. Setting it down extra soft, with barely a ‘clink’ on the glass table, “Excuse me, I must be more tired than I thought.”

“Not to worry,” Dr. Yen smiled, “your job is stressful any given day of the week, it’s certainly understandable. Please do give it a thought though as you go through this week. Sometimes putting things to paper allows our minds to ‘get it out of our system’ instead of having it linger in our subconscious.”

“Very well. I will give it some thought.” ———— Dear Diary, 

Lets give it the old college try, shall we?

I admire James Bond. He’s one of our best field agents, though his record for returning his tech is abysmal. He seems to come back from the brink of death more times than a cat and never seems to let it affect him. Always ready for the next mission.

I want to be like that. He’s been through so much, the loss of M, the burning of his home, the burning of so many false starts at a normal life, and he comes back and he may be battered but he’s still whole. Undoubtedly whole. I get kidnapped once and now I can’t even get a good nights sleep unless I’m folded awkwardly on the little couch in my office, and of course that sleep is poorer for other reasons. 

I know I’m capable, I know I can destroy countries and get myself out of most any situation that I find myself in, but I didn’t realize exactly how that situation would affect me. I haven’t lost confidence in my abilities, but maybe loss of confidence in my security? Is it just a waiting game to see when I’ll next be thrown into the back of a van, drugged, and then wake up in a windowless room, IV in my arm strapped to a chair with no fucking idea how much time has passed? When will I next find myself threatened and beaten? The soles of my feet slashed, so dehydrated that I can’t put my head up without feeling dizzy? 

Obviously I can survive it. I have. 

The thought of it happening again…it’s terrifying. And it can happen at any time. And I thought I admired James because he looked like a good lay. Maybe it’s because he seems unbreakable and I worry I’m already broken. ———— Q stared at the pages for a long time. Was he supposed to feel hollow?

He tore them out, crumpled them like a secret and then lit them on fire. This was a spy organization after all, no point in letting that level of weakness get out. ———— Dear Diary, 

Laila got a new corgi puppy. Despite being a cat person, I have to admit it’s quite cute.

[classysassy9791]

Everyone would get their happy ending. Even if she wasn’t a part of it.

Pairing: InuKag, MirSan Chapter 1 Word Count: 6,950 Can also be found here

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A torrent of rain fell from the sky and gales that rivaled a whirlwind of destruction tore through the forest, making the trees come alive. Leaves tore from their branches and spiraled to the dreary earth below. The storm raged callously, intent on bringing destruction to everything it touched.

But Kagome didn't care about the water splattering against her cheeks or the way her hair blew wildly in the wind. She didn't even mind the soil that dirtied her knees as she knelt in the wet grass. Her eyes could only stare disbelieving at the object she held in her hand. The Shikon Jewel glowed pure and bright.

The final battle had been fought. And she had finished it.

"Is it over?" her fox demon companion asked, bouncing to sit on her shoulder.

She didn't spare a glance at the kit, instead nodding her head slowly with incredible realization. After everything they had been through, Naraku's reign had come to an end. The only fatality was that of the demon himself, and no one had felt a pang of regret or sorrow. At the same time, though, tears fell from her eyes. They were not borne of pity for him and his evil ways. Instead, she wept for those he had hurt and killed; for those whose very lives had been destroyed due to his desire for power and revenge. Kagome cried for everyone who had fallen victim to his wrath. It didn't seem right that so many had to die from one creature. All because of his greed.

Footsteps fell softly upon the grass as her other companions struggled over to where she knelt. A flash of red caught her gaze and she looked up to be greeted with the amber eyes of her protector. "Inuyasha," she murmured, blinking against the falling rain.

"Come on, Kagome," he said, reaching out a clawed hand to help her stand. "Let's get you back to Kaede's."

She gave in to his command as she stood, immediately finding her place upon his back. Without a word, the heroes slowly made their way back to their safe-house.

. . . 

Sunlight streamed through the treetops and glistened off the small lake, causing a rainbow to sparkle on the surface. The storm from almost a week ago seemed like a bad dream, the aches and pains of battle now faded. Even Kagome's spiritual abilities seemed to have returned completely, originally drained after she shot the fatal arrow that caused Naraku's demise.

But she remained restless, her mind unable to quiet and allow her to enjoy the peace her companions took pleasure in. She had been thinking constantly over the past few days. Being the reincarnation of Kikyou, the sole duty of protecting the Shikon Jewel fell to her shoulders. She had long ago decided that if this day should come, she would rid the jewel from existence – or at least make a pure wish on it so that harmony would prevail over the land.

So, Kagome found herself sitting at the base of the Goshinboku, mulling over what her decision would be. A soft rustling of tree branches brought her attention from the cloudless sky to the direction of the village. Only a moment later did the old priestess appear, rather frazzled to have traveled so far from her hut. "Goodness me, Kagome," she chided upon spotting the girl. "What on earth were ye thinking, dragging an old woman out into the forest?"

She smiled apologetically, watching as her mentor took a seat on one of the tree's large roots. "Sorry, Kaede. This was the only place I could think of that would give us some time alone."

"Aye," she agreed. "Tis a wise decision, with Inuyasha working in the village today. Although, it would not sit well with him if he learned of ye little adventure all alone."

She waved her words aside. "I asked Miroku to keep an eye on him so I could talk to you." Kaede gazed at her expectantly. "It has to do with the fate of the jewel."

Kagome held up the small pink jewel in her hand, letting the old woman catch a glimpse of it. "I see," she murmured. "So ye wish to seek my wisdom as to what ye shall do with it?"

She shrugged. "Sort of. It's more about the wish."

Kaede sighed and looked to the treetops. "When the jewel fell into my sister's possession fifty years ago, I knew little of its origin or the abilities it held. After her demise, I learned it contained great powers beyond my imagination. 'Tis why we were glad it had been burned with her body, to ensure no harm would come from it. But it seems Kikyou's efforts were in vain, for it has been brought back and now lies in yer hands."

Confused, Kagome waited patiently, expecting more of an explanation. When none came, her shoulders slumped in disappointment. "I'm guessing you have no clue as to what I should do?"

"Not in the slightest," Kaede replied honestly. She chuckled at the predicament, but was quickly silenced by the distraught expression on Kagome's face. "What troubles ye, my dear?"

"I think I know what I want to wish for. I'm just not sure if it's the right one."

The old priestess smiled. "Ye heart is pure, Kagome. I'm sure that whatever you choose will bring nothing but good." She patted the girl's knee in closure as she stood, preparing to return to the village. "Be back by sundown. Otherwise Inuyasha will be coming after ye."

Kagome smiled in response, but as soon as Kaede had vanished, gloom dwindled her happy façade. Not for the first time that week did she long for Kikyou to still be alive. A strange notion, considering their history, but Kagome felt lost in being the protector of the jewel. Kikyou had somehow always known what to do, and now Kagome desperately pleaded for her guidance.

. . . 

One more day.

Kagome finally determined that she had the right wish in mind, but it would undoubtedly change everything they knew, so during the trek back to the village, she had decided to give herself a set time in which would allow her to say her final goodbyes. She only had until the following night to say what needed to be said, and to do what needed to be done.

The campfire glowed merrily as everyone chatted quietly around it. Misery stayed far from their minds, replaced by laughter and good nature. Kagome smiled along with them, but even she could feel how aloof she kept herself; she had always been a terrible liar.

Her eyes drew to the half-demon she had unintentionally fallen in love with. His silver hair shined from the fire's glow as shadows were sent around the clearing. The amber intensity of his eyes made her heart race and his permanent scowl inadvertently filled her with delight. As usual, his arms were folded over his chest, Tessaiga propped against the crook of his elbow, as he sat with his attention on the forest, although Kagome was sure he was listening to their conversation.

Kagome's gaze turned to the rest of her companions, marveling in the minute details she knew she would miss. That's if I remember them, she sourly reminded herself. Sango's hair freely swiped at her back as Miroku took her hand in his, rubbing small circles with his thumb over her palm. Marriage had been spoken about earlier in the day, but even as Kagome fussed over the wedding plans and gave her congratulations, a sharp pang to her heart reminded her there would be no happy celebration.

"What's the matter, Kagome?" Shippou asked, propping his hands upon her thighs and looking up at her curiously.

A smile tugged at her lips at her little fox friend. Even young, he always seemed to have a keen eye when it came to details. "I'm fine," she assured softly, trying not to draw attention to her melancholic mood. She rubbed the kit's hair affectionately and gave him a comforting nod.

His bright green eyes seemed hesitant to drop the subject, but he finally gave in with a shrug of his shoulders. She could tell he knew something bothered his surrogate sister, but to him the reason would forever remain a mystery. He galloped back to where Kirara had curled up, and immediately took part in the conversation that passed between his comrades.

Inuyasha didn't miss the exchange Kagome and Shippou shared. He noted the way her hands curled into tight fists and every so often she would bite the inside of her cheek in a nervous habit. Sniffing the air around her, he could smell the anxiety coming off her in waves. He didn't understand it, though. They had just defeated their arch nemesis, and everyone remained in good health. It was a time for celebration.

His eyes flickered over her curiously, trying to pinpoint the source of her affliction. When his gaze landed on the Shikon Jewel hanging by the column of her throat, he swallowed nervously. Although he did his best to hide it, he couldn't deny the dread that had been building in his stomach over the past few days. He couldn't remember when exactly he had decided not to become a full demon with the power of the jewel - it most likely had to do with the times he had transformed into a demon and threatened the lives of his friends. However, he recalled a sense of worry that had bloomed in his chest during their last few battles as they reached closer to Naraku's end.

Inuyasha knew that once Naraku had been defeated, the jewel would be complete. It had never swayed their quest to destroy the half-demon who had caused so many a great deal of pain. But… it also meant that the reason Kagome had been brought to the feudal era, her purpose to be by his side, would vanish. He knew there was always a very real possibility that Kagome would leave them once she had completed her mission.

Could that be the reason why she was so upset?

Feeling someone's gaze on her, Kagome averted her eyes from Miroku and Sango's playful banter and peered up at her half-demon friend. She tilted her head questioningly. "You okay?" she whispered, her brows knitted in concern.

"Keh," was the only reply she received as he turned away.

Kagome frowned, but knew if it held any great importance to him he would tell her eventually. The twosome tuned back into the conversation between their friends and continued to laugh even as the shadows grew darker. Not until the last flicker of flames died down did the warriors begin to feel weary and said their goodnight's, moving into the hut to rest.

The young priestess listened to her companions' deep breathing as they each lulled to sleep, looking up at the ceiling and clutching the jewel in her hand. Please, Kikyou, she silently prayed. Give me strength.

. . . 

Kagome stepped out of Kaede's hut with a yawn and stretched her arms over her head. Her sleep had been restless and dreamless, which she was silently thankful for. She didn't need any help procuring doubt or deepening the dread in her gut. Holding a hand over her brow, she glanced up at the midday sun. It looked like it would be another beautiful day.

"Morning, Kagome," Shippou called, scampering toward her and bouncing into her arms. "You've been asleep for ages."

She shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry. I guess I'm still exhausted."

"It's okay. I was playing with my fox magic while you slept." He manifested a ball of blue fire as if to prove his claim.

"I see," she replied with an amused smile. "And where is everyone else?"

He pointed toward the village. "Miroku and Inuyasha went to help fix a roof, Kaede is bringing medicine to someone, and Sango took Kirara to take care of a small demon nearby."

Kagome scrunched up her nose, displeased that all her friends had left without waking her, but it was short-lived as she gazed down at the fox kit's carefree expression. "Well, then," she said, her chipper voice helping to push aside her dark thoughts. "Why don't we hang out, just the two of us?"

The silly grin on his face caused her to laugh as he expressed his delight for her company. He began sprinting toward the well, glancing back every so often to make sure Kagome followed. She chased after him, the wind on her face helping her to momentarily forget the concerns that kept her awake at night.

An hour easily passed as the two surrogate siblings played games. Shippou showed off his fox magic tricks and they shared the crayons she had gifted him as they drew pictures of their friends.

"Look at this one," he announced suddenly through the quiet clearing. He held up his drawing. "Bet you can't guess who this is."

Kagome peered at the picture closely, her eyes scanning over the brown outlines and tanned skin.

"I bet that one's Kouga," she smiled, pointing to the larger figure in the foreground. "And those two behind him are Ginta and Hakkaku." The two wolf demons chased after their leader, desperately trying to keep up with his speed.

"That's right!" he gleefully replied, setting the drawing down and choosing a blank piece of paper to start a new work of art.

The picture she currently worked on consisted of Shippou. His red hair shined like a beacon and his emerald eyes seemed to sparkle. She drew him in a battle stance, a wave of blue fox fire surrounding him; she disdainfully admitted she didn't possess the artistic talent Shippou had when it came to likeness. The drawings splayed out to the left of her consisted of the rest of her companions: Inuyasha with Tessaiga, Sango with Hirakotsu, Miroku with his golden staff, and Kirara in her transformed state.

A lazy breeze swept across the grass and brushed through strands of Kagome's hair. She sighed and set aside her latest completion, placing her crayon back in the box while admiring the small kit laying on his stomach across from her; his tongue sticking out between his lips in concentration as he continued to draw.

"Shippou," she spoke quietly, sitting on her knees with her back against the well.

He didn't look up from his drawing. "Yeah?"

"Come here." She beckoned him to the place beside her, and with a puzzled expression he did as she said. He sat down and felt his stomach churn with a feeling he couldn't identify. "You've grown up quite a bit since we first met you."

"Y-yeah," he agreed with a touch of pink to his cheeks, her observation catching him off guard.

Kagome ruffled his hair affectionately, her smile sad. "You know, you're going to be a great demon someday. You'll probably be deemed protector of a whole village."

His eyes shined from the compliment – too often had she found him looking up to Inuyasha, the half-demon's strength and reputation finally earning him the respect he deserved. "Really?"

"Really." She chuckled. Turning to grab her yellow bag, she dug through it until she found what she was looking for. "I want you to have these."

His eyes peered over the gifts she presented him. "You're giving me all your pocky?" He gawked.

"Yeah," she nodded. "With all the hard fighting you've done, I think you deserve it." She deposited his treasure in his hands. Kagome only gave him treats few and far between; she always lectured him about sweets making him sick if he ate too much at once. So, giving him all of her pocky not only gave him a big responsibility involving his heath, but also meant a great deal of praise.

"Thanks, Kagome!"

Trying to fight back the tears, she gathered the young kit in her arms, holding him close in an embrace. "You're like a little brother to me, Shippou. I want you to be as strong as I know you can be."

His little hands clutched her shirt and his eyes suddenly watered. It sounded as if Kagome planned on leaving, as if she was saying goodbye forever.

"Kagome," he spoke in a quiet, shaky voice. "Are you... gonna leave us?"

She shook her head and brushed the tears from her eyes. "No," she promised. "I'm not going to leave you."

How can I leave, if I never came?

Her words brought a relieved smile to his lips as he jumped off her lap. Quickly collecting his drawings and pocky in his arms, he began the trek back to the village.

"I'm going to show these to my friends!" he said, grin widening at the thought of the village children's reactions.

Kagome watched him leave, taking a moment to gather her thoughts as she wrapped her arms around herself. The wind touched her gently as it blew across the clearing, carrying along the crisp scent of autumn. Colder months would be approaching soon – just like the feeling in her chest; with each subtle goodbye, another layer of ice covered her breaking heart.

. . . 

"Hey, Sango," Kagome called as she stepped through the trees outlining the hot springs.

The slayer, having returned from her demon extermination, turned to face the newcomer with a smile. "Good afternoon, Kagome."

Kagome slid into the steaming pool of water, relishing in the slight burn against her skin. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the smooth rock behind her.

Something in her mood set Sango on edge, and she gazed at her friend curiously. "Is everything all right?"

"Oh, don't be silly. Of course it is." Even Kagome could notice the too-obvious falsity in her words, and knew Sango wouldn't believe her facade. As expected, the slayer frowned and narrowed her eyes. Eager to change the subject away from her somber disposition, she asked, "I was just wondering if you've visited your village recently."

The sudden question rendered Sango speechless. Come to think of it, she hadn't returned home in quite some time; they had been too close to catching up to Naraku and didn't have the luxury to make extra stops. Now that Naraku had been defeated for good, it would give her an opportunity for proper closure since her people had been avenged – and perhaps rebuild the village to its former glory.

"No," she finally answered with a wistful smile. "I suppose not. Perhaps tomorrow would be a good time to go."

"Yeah, tomorrow," Kagome mumbled distractedly, looking up at the clear, blue sky through the treetops. She clenched her jaw as she thought about Kohaku. His life had ultimately been stolen by Naraku and the jewel, leaving Miroku as Sango's only family.

The demon slayer moved closer and tilted her head. "Something's troubling you."

Curse a girl's intuition.

Kagome sighed deeply. "I guess." Her eyes found those of her friend. "I don't know how you do it. You've lost everything: your village, your friends, your family. And yet, you still manage to smile."

Sango hung her head in acknowledgement, but shed no tears. "You're right. The pain of losing those I love will always be a heavy reminder of the past. I won't ever forget my father, or Kohaku, or any of the other villagers. But… instead of dwelling on all that I've lost, I try to be thankful for what I've gained." She lifted her gaze to the priestess. "I have a new place to call home, people whom I can call family, and a man I would lay down my life for."

Kagome nodded sympathetically. She understood where the slayer was coming from, but still found it daunting that someone could shoulder so much. "Speaking of Miroku," she said, turning their conversation in a lighter direction. "How are the wedding plans going?"

Sango rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "I think he's more concerned with having children than he is of making me an honest woman. He's unbelievable."

"Well, his family was cursed for generations. It's no wonder he's eager to continue the lineage," Kagome mentioned. "I think you should cut him some slack."

She smiled. "Yeah. I do love him, but sometimes I wish he was less of a lecher."

"Then he wouldn't be the Miroku we all know and love."

"Would that be such a bad thing?"

Kagome pondered her words for a moment before grinning. "We definitely would've lost out on quite a few humorous situations during our adventures."

"Isn't that the truth," Sango agreed with a dramatic roll of her eyes. A sudden thought caused the humor to fade from her expression, shifting seriously as she turned to fully face Kagome. "While on the subject of love and marriage, how are you and Inuyasha?"

Vulnerable to Sango's impromptu question, Kagome blushed a deep shade of crimson. "W-What do you mean?"

Sango folded her arms over her chest. "You know exactly what I mean. You and Inuyasha have grown closer, especially during the time leading up to the final battle. It's obvious to everyone that you two have feelings for each other."

She winced. "Everyone?"

The slayer scoffed. "You didn't really believe it was a secret, did you? I'm sure I've known since the day I met the both of you. There was always an undeniable chemistry between you two, and there's no doubt Inuyasha cares for you, especially with the way he's so protective."

"Maybe," Kagome replied, turning away, finding the ripples in the water from her movements more interesting.

"No, not maybe," she argued. "It's true. You need to find out how he feels about you. If you don't, you'll never be able to make a decision."

"Decision?"

"Seriously?" Sango deadpanned. "Earth to Kagome. I'm talking about your decision to return to your time on the other side of the well. I'm sure Inuyasha plays a big part in that."

Kagome glanced over her shoulder toward the trees. "Oh, I think I hear Shippou calling," she said, rising to stand.

Sango quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the hot springs. "You're being evasive."

"No, I'm not," Kagome challenged.

"Yes, you are. Kagome, I'm your friend. You can talk to me."

Kagome stared at her for a long moment, musing over Sango's statement, contemplating the speck of doubt that lingered behind reason. She surely had the correct wish in mind – she could feel it in her soul – so why did hesitation appear?

"Do you believe in fate?" she asked quietly, glancing over at the slayer. "I mean, if you're meant to be with someone, fate will bring you together no matter what?"

Sango chuckled. "Yes, I do. My answer to that perverted monk's proposal is proof enough."

She smiled, recalling the day in which Miroku asked Sango to become his wife once their battle with Naraku had come to an end. Everything had been so different then. They were constantly fighting demons, struggling to stay alive after each encounter with one of his incarnations. Now, peace had settled quietly and Kagome knew life would move forward toward a happy ending soon enough. The only problem being, it wasn't the original happily-ever-after they had hoped for.

. . . 

The sun began setting into early evening as the day wound down to an end. Kagome lay back on a grassy knoll, watching the sky while the deep oranges and reds fade to purple. In the distance, she could hear the sounds of the village folk preparing for the night, but they were far enough away not to bother her. Closing her eyes, she drew a breath full of the woodland air, letting the sounds of birds fill her ears, the melody much more welcomed than the traffic noises of her own era. Here, ten minutes seemed like a long time and so the day stretched out like a small eternity.

Kagome had a wealthy understanding that she couldn't stop bad things from happening in the world, even if she knew ahead of time they would occur. Thinking about it only made her more anxious, more fearful, but with the wish she had in mind, she knew she could at least prevent some of the bad from happening. Even at the risk of her own happiness.

In her quiet contemplation, she'd decidedly turned her thoughts elsewhere. She thought about love, the people she cherished, and everything right in her life. She felt like a higher power's whisper drifted through the trees, assuring her she had made the right choice.

The correct path is not always the easiest.

"Kagome?"

She opened her eyes and looked up, seeing Miroku towering over her. "Oh, hey."

"May I join you?" he asked with an amused smile.

She fanned her hand out beside her, offering him a spot of grass, before turning her gaze back toward the sky. They stayed quiet for a while, simply enjoying each other's company and watching as the clouds lazily moved across the expanse of magenta canvas.

"I spoke to Sango," he finally said, folding an arm beneath his head.

Kagome frowned. "About what?"

"She's concerned about you." He peered over at her hesitantly. "She fears you will do something that can't be undone."

Curious, Kagome sat up on her elbows and gazed accusingly at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Miroku sat up, holding his hands out in a manner of peace. "Please, forgive me, I'm only trying to help. With Naraku gone and the jewel in your possession, we understand you have a lot on your mind. Sango is only worried you will make a hasty decision you will later regret. And truthfully, so am I."

"I'm well aware of the weight I have on my shoulders. I understand what my duty is to the jewel and to the future of this world. I don't appreciate you thinking I'm taking this lightly."

"That's not it at all," he assured. "We're your friends, Kagome. We only want to be here to help and support you in whatever you need. Offending you was not my intention."

Honest eyes bore into hers as if trying to convince her he wasn't lying. She silently cursed herself for giving into Sango's open nature earlier. She should've known they were keeping a close eye on her, picking up on her moods and behavior now that the battle was over. But what they didn't understand was that she still had a battle to face. One she had to face alone.

Miroku had always been so genuine and honest, so she wondered why she didn't believe him now. His warm smile begged her to trust him, her heart told her he would never deceive her, but her gut warned her otherwise.

"You want to know what I plan to do," she stated bluntly, calling out his true reason for questioning her alone like this. "You're afraid I'll make a decision that benefits others with no thought of myself. Well, I hate to break it to you, but the wish on the jewel has to be selfless. I'm not allowed to think of my own feelings when it comes to this."

Or yours, for that matter.

His face shifted to one of open concern, brows furrowing. "I understand that. I simply wanted to let you know that you weren't alone in this. We can help you make a decision. We can help protect the jewel as long as it needs to be protected."

Kagome averted her gaze and ran her fingers through the grass. Miroku was a good friend. He encompassed all of the things she didn't know she needed or loved so dearly. He meant so much to her, meant so much to all of those lives he touched. How could she lie to him? How could she pretend as if everything was okay, when in truth, it was the farthest from it?

Now she understood the cold demeanor Kikyou lived with, the constant need to keep everyone at a distance. Her life was no longer her own. It was forever bound to the Shikon Jewel.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet." She sighed, her white lie making her stomach heavy with guilt. "I don't even know what era I want to be in. Back home, I have my mom, and my brother, and my gramps. I have school to finish and friends to catch up with. I have put so much on hold in my life in order to take down Naraku and complete the jewel."

"Do you wish you had never come to this place?" Miroku asked.

"Of course not!" Kagome exclaimed, appalled he would even ask such a thing. "Everyone I've met and everything I've done… I wouldn't change it for the world. I can't imagine living without knowing of my adventures. I wouldn't be me without them."

Miroku sensed there was more to it than that, and patiently waited for her to continue.

Finally, she shook her head. "But this whole thing is so much bigger than me. How can I think of myself and what I want, when there's so much more at stake?"

"Kagome, no one can change the world in a single stroke. However, with each kind deed you've done during your time with us, you've made all the difference to the world. I feel blessed to have known you. You deserve happiness, too." He smiled.

Kagome turned away shyly, blushing at his praise. "Thank you. I just feel as if there's more that I could do."

"What's done is done," he said softly, climbing to his feet. "No one can change the past. We can only work to protect the future from our prior mistakes. Besides, with Naraku gone, I don't foresee anything detrimental happening anytime soon."

"I hope you're right," she mumbled, pulling her knees into her chest.

He held out his hand. "Now, shall we head back to Kaede's for supper?"

Kagome shook her head. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Miroku nodded and took his leave, but a little ways down the hill, he stopped and glanced back at the time-traveling priestess. She sat staring up into the sunset sky, her obsidian hair blowing gently in the breeze. She had a kind of understated beauty. Perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness and flawless, pale skin. She made things simple and easy, helping those around her to relax and be happy with what they had. Perhaps that was what caused her skin to glow. Her inner beauty lit her eyes and softened her features. To be in her company made a person feel that they too were someone, that they had been warmed in summer rays regardless of the season.

However, a sinking feeling formed in the pit of his gut. Not understanding why, Miroku had a sneaking suspicion that her rays wouldn't be there to warm them when the winter months approached. Something in his heart told him that she had made a decision that would change everything. And he knew. He knew that this would be the last time he saw Kagome Higurashi – that fiery young priestess from the future.

Exhaling deeply, and praying his conjecture was wrong, Miroku turned and continued toward Kaede's hut.

. . . 

Long shadows of the evening dissolved into the gathering darkness of nighttime. The air cooled and the cicadas sang. A canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then, but a collection of shimmering stars illuminated the dark, half-moon night. The lake glistened, mirroring the dazzling assemblage of glittering stars and the incandescence from the campfire glowed merrily beside it. Faint wind brushed against the water's surface, the ripples ruffling the stillness, and shattering the reflection of the sky.

Brown eyes turned toward Inuyasha's forest, the place in which this whirlwind of a fairytale began. There Kagome had stumbled upon this other world through an old well and had met her half-demon for the first time, pinned to the Goshinboku.

The woods always looked different at night. Everything had an unfamiliar slant to it, as if the daytime trees and flowers and stones had gone to bed and sent slightly more ominous versions to take their place. The forest became dark and uninviting, but she knew it was the safest place she could ever be.

Kagome sighed, curling her arms around her bent knees and resting her chin upon them. The fire beside her kept away the night chill, but did nothing to aid the cold that beat within her chest. Time had passed by so quickly. She dreaded what would occur in the next hour, but she knew she couldn't avoid it.

She felt like a prodigious courage pushed inside her, demanding her to be brave and strong during this climax. The decision final, she refused to change her mind, trusting that fate would take care of the rest. It had to.

"Kagome?"

Footsteps fell upon the grass and she knew who had come to find her. She took a deep breath and looked up, her gaze falling on amber eyes full of concern.

"Hey, Inuyasha." Kagome smiled meekly.

He sat down beside her, crossing his legs and sliding his hands into his sleeves. He regarded the lake for a moment, ears twitching anxiously upon his head, silver hair shifting in the breeze, brushing lightly against his cheek.

Kagome worried her bottom lip. What would she tell him? What would she say to him during what would most likely be their final conversation?

"What's bugging you?" he asked frankly, sliding his gaze toward her.

"What makes you think something's bothering me?"

He frowned. "I'm not stupid. You've been sad and moody all day."

"It's not a big deal." She shrugged.

"It is a big deal. Naraku is dead. You should be happy."

"I am happy." She smiled. "I'm glad that it's finally over."

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head, pausing, words suddenly unnecessary. One look in his eyes spoke volumes. Sorrow dwelled in his gaze as clear as if he'd spoken his thoughts and emotions aloud.

"You're going home, aren't you?" He said, finally acknowledging what he'd been dreading. "To your own time."

"What? Is that what you think?" She grimaced.

He turned away. "What else is left for you here? What reason do you have to stay?"

"Inuyasha, I have every reason to stay," she proclaimed, giving a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I have my best friends here. I feel as if I make a difference. Not to mention I have so much more to learn from Kaede."

"Keh, I guess so," he grumbled.

Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder. "Most importantly, I have you."

Dark brows furrowed and his lips parted. He turned wide eyes in her direction. "Me?" he echoed, unsure, even with his sensitive hearing, if he had heard her correctly.

"Of course. You are the most important person in my life. Haven't you realized that?" Kagome giggled.

He frowned, contemplating her words as she scooted closer to him, leaning her head against his shoulder. A heated blush rose in his cheeks as he averted his gaze, embarrassed, as always, by her show of affection.

"I don't ever want to leave here," she continued, looking up at the stars. "This is home for me."

"You mean, you want to stay?"

"Yeah, I do." She lifted her head to look at him. "I want to stay with you, Inuyasha."

"Then, why do you look so sad?" He swallowed, apprehensive.

"Like I said, it doesn't matter. I just want to enjoy tonight," she dismissed.

"All right," he growled, fed up, turning smoldering amber eyes on her. "You're really starting to piss me off."

Surprised, she knitted her brows and shifted away from him. "Inuyasha?"

"All of this talk about wanting to stay, but you still look so damn sad, Kagome. Why? What is making you so upset?"

"Drop it already, would you?" she shouted, jumping to her feet, tears welling in her eyes.

"No," he defiantly refused, standing up beside her and pointing at her accusingly. "Something's up, Kagome. I'm not lettin' you off the hook that easily."

She spun on her heel, ready to run from his barrage of questions, to run from the truth eating her up inside. A clawed hand reached out and grabbed her gently, pulling her toward him. "Damn it, woman! Just talk to me!"

Kagome bit her lip, considering her next move. If she told him the truth, she would never be able to go through with it. He wouldn't let her. So, there was really only one thing left to do, only one thing left to say.

Slowly, she turned to face him. She sniffled and took a deep breath, fingering the glowing pink jewel that hung around the column of her throat. "The Shikon Jewel has caused so much pain," Kagome whispered.

"Is that what this is about?" Inuyasha questioned, releasing her and clenching his hands into fists at his side. "Kagome, you don't have to make a wish. We'll protect it for as long as we need to."

She shook her head vigorously. "No, you don't understand. As long as the jewel exists, there will be pain and suffering. A wish has to be made."

"Then what's the problem?" He frowned.

Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around his waist in an unexpected embrace. Pink dusted his cheeks, his eyes wide with surprise before he hesitantly returned the gesture, holding her firmly against him, still frustrated with her evasive answers.

The tears flowed unchecked down Kagome's cheeks and dripped from her chin into his robe of the fire rat. Too sad to cry out or wail, she just stood there as still as a statue while the magnitude of her loss swept over her. She became lost in the vortex of the moment, and she knew that she would be forever tormented by a past that could not be undone.

Taking a deep breath and drawing forth every ounce of courage she could find, she pulled away and gazed up at him. She took in every detail: the wash of concern showing in his clear, luminous, warm, amber eyes, the tufts of silver dog-ears she loved so much, twitching upon his head, his furrowed black brows and frowning lips. She breathed in his scent, the forest mixed with the charcoal remains of a campfire. She listened as he breathed deeply, feeling his breath tickle her cheek. She felt the warmth of his embrace as he tightened his hold on her.

He happened to be everything she never knew she wanted. He was brash, arrogant, and stubborn, but he became hers. And now it was time to give him up, to trust that fate would one day bring them together again. Her heart accelerated, almost beating right out of her chest as her stomach filled with wild butterflies, and she prayed to every spiritual being that her voice would not escape her.

"Kagome?" he murmured, his eyes questioning.

"I love you," Kagome whispered, her words almost lost in the soft breeze. "I love you, Inuyasha. I have for a long time."

She watched his Adam's apple bob up and down as he swallowed hard. He seemed at a loss for words, but she'd expected that. He never was one to voice his feelings, and she knew that not long ago he had lost Kikyou. He probably wasn't ready to commit to her.

Smiling, she stepped away, out of his grasp. "I just needed you to know that. I just needed you to understand how much I care for you."

"Kagome, wait," He reached for her, desperation growing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"A wish has to be made," she repeated, clasping her hands around the jewel and holding it to her chest. "This is the way it has to be."

His eyes turned wide, fearful, and he stormed toward her. "Wait, Kagome!"

She closed her eyes, pressed her lips close to the jewel, and whispered, "I wish Naraku had never been born."

For a brief moment, the world stopped spinning. She could feel her blood rushing through her veins as her heart pounded erratically in her ears. Inuyasha's terrified expression stayed with her as he rushed forward, hoping to undo what had already been done. But it was too late.

A flurry of pink light burst forth from the jewel, enshrouding them completely.

[evabellasworld]

I Give You My Heart

Chapter 12

AO3 Link | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

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Summary:  When Riyo Chuchi’s life was threatened, Commander Fox and Jedi Knight Ava Lira and Eva Bella Young are assigned to bring the senator back to her home planet Pantora, where she will be safe from harm. But when the assassin knows her whereabouts, it’s up to Fox, Lira, Eva, and Riyo to work together and stop the assassin.

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Applying a drop of antiseptic onto a cotton pad, Riyo took a deep breath and dabbed tenderly on Lira's bare chest, much to the child's soft whimper. Lira could barely breathe as she felt her heart was about to fall off. Her ribs were on fire as her cheeks were scalding with splinters of the durasteel door.

“It's alright, Lira,” Riyo held her hand, as she reapplied the antiseptics on a different cotton pad. “You'll get better eventually, I promise.”

That's what the 11-year-old Jedi Knight has to hear whenever she gets bruised. Being prone to accidents and injuries, Lira does her best to be extra wary and watch her steps, before she would smack herself on the blank wall. She's seen with a cast more than often, and gets signatures on them, praying for her speedy recovery.

Eva would be the one who instructs her when there was a wall in front of her, or when the floor is wet. She was the only reason why Lira hasn’t even died from her ludicrous accidents, such as walking out of the window and toppling down a few stories of stairs. 

Though Lira was used to being battered, she felt that it had gotten worse. She was shot in the back with a cannon, she was trapped underneath the debris of sandstones, and was hit in the head by a sniper. She wondered why the Angel of Death never claimed her soul instead of the clones that fought side-by-side with her. 

As a youngling, Lira dreaded death as she didn't want to leave Eva all alone, but now, she finds herself yearning for her life to end. Having to watch her comrades succumbing to death on the battlefield, she frequently gets night terrors on the clones whom she has never gotten to save on time, despite her game plans. 

Grave after grave, she questioned when her time would be up. When will it be her turn to be buried and mourned by the others? She was always close to death, but death always spared her no matter how much she begged for it. To her, the world around her is already over. She doesn't know whether the war will end or when peace will prevail. She doesn't even know whether this battle would be worth it at the end of the day.

Commander Fox may not be a Jedi, but he recognizes that look that Lira gave to Riyo when she was receiving treatment. He has seen his brothers’ and sisters’ reactions whenever they lasted. Some would whimper like Lira did, some just tell the nurse to leave them alone, and others just pleaded for their miserable life to end.

“It's painful,” Lira sobbed, rubbing her eyes. “Can you make this less painful, senator?”

“It's alright, dear,” Riyo said, stroking her hair. “You will be okay, I promise. The pain will go away eventually.”

“Can't you make it go away right now?”

Fox watches as Riyo tightens her lips, shaking her head. “I'm sorry, Lira. I'm not a doctor, so I don't really know how to soothe your pain.”

He sighed as he sat beside the kid. He knows what it was like getting hurt when he was a child. His first injury was when he was just four years old. As usual, he was having physical training with his comrades when he slipped and fell from a high platform, shattering his left leg.

Usually, an adult supervising a child would rush them to the med bay, leaving them under the care of a kind-hearted nurse. But since Fox was only a clone, he was told to report himself to the med bay and follow whatever the medical droid stated to him, even though he could barely walk at all.

He didn't get the empathy he deserved when he was younger, but at least he was glad someone like Riyo would take the initiative to check on Lira and make sure that she's safe and sound. 

“We'll get you to the doctor once this is all over,” he assured her. “I promise that you'll be healed in no time, princess.”

Lira gave him a slight smile as Riyo temporarily draped her wounds with her bandage just to cover them from further infection. She may not be medically trained but at least she has the basic knowledge of the first-aid kits from her parents.

She remembered when she was around six or seven years old. Riyo was sledding down from the mud hill when she tumbled on a rock, causing her to fly from her sled and land on her face. Her body was soaked in mud and her nose was bleeding, much to the horror of her father, who was plowing the rice fields.

Her mother freaked out on her that day, giving a stern lecture on her reckless act and how hard it is to wash her stained clothes. Her father, on the other hand, just wiped her clean and taught her how to patch up her own wounds, just in case. “If you get yourself hurt, just wash your wounds, dry it, and apply some ointment on your cut before patching them up. That way, you will heal faster than you know it.” 

“Riyo?” Fox called her name, making her snap back to reality. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I'm alright, Fox,” nodded Riyo, clearing her throat. “I'm just having a moment, that's all.”

He let out a chuckle, much to her delight. “Well, can't say I blame you, especially whatever happened today.”

“Yeah, today is a terrible day. First, Bibi was hurt, then we were targeted at least twice, and last but not least, Lira got herself hurt in the process of protecting me.”

“Senator,” Lira spoke, pushing strands of her hair behind her ears. “It's not your fault. Things just happen, you know.”

“I just feel that whenever I go, I somehow bring trouble along with me, and it ends up hurting everyone around me, including you and Fox.”

“Ri,” Fox placed his hands on her shoulder. “You can't blame yourself. Our assassin is just smarter than all of us combined here. He is really hard to catch.”

Lira raised one of her eyebrows, noticing that he didn’t acknowledge Eva, who was still out there, catching their killer. “So what about Eva? She hasn't even returned yet.”

Her questions made him bite the tip of his tongue. Usually, Fox would just tell them that things won't work out, even if he knows that it would sadden them, but this was different. He isn't talking to an adult, he's talking to a child.

A child who has seen most of it, but still is inept with dealing with complex emotions. How is he going to explain that her twin sister, who shared the same womb, might not be able to make it? The last thing he wants is to hurt a child’s feelings, which he won’t forgive himself for that. But sometimes, it’s not good to hide the truth, even if it’s too painful to bear.

“Kid,” he gathered his thoughts, with a frown on his face. “I hate to tell you this but-”

Before he could tell her, the door hissed opened, and Eva staggering into the med bay. The side of her tunic was soaked in blood and her hair was disheveled. Lira's face gleamed for a moment, before realising that her younger twin was grasping onto her wound.

“Eva, are you okay?” Lira got down from her seat as she held her sister underneath her shoulder. “Goodness, you're bleeding.”

“I'm sorry, guys,” she moaned, as she clung over Lira's neck. “I let him get away. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it.”

Fox could only clench his fist tighter as he took a deep breath and approached Eva, who collapsed on her knees. He wasn't mad or disappointed in her, but towards the assassin instead. To hurt a senator he truly cared is one thing, but to hurt a child is something that irked him.

Eva may have been the one who screwed up, but he’s aware that it isn't her fault. He knows that she did everything she could to stop him, but was overpowered by his strength and agility. No matter how much they sought to protect Riyo, the killer will still find a way to take her down, even if it overstepped their moral boundaries.

“It's alright, kiddo,” Fox said, wiping the tears off her cheeks. “You did your best.”

“But I let him get away,” Eva shook her head. “I almost had him, but I let him manipulate me instead. I should have ignored his words and arrested him immediately instead. I-”

“Eva,” Riyo shushed her as she placed her index finger in her lips. “You're not the one to blame. What matters is that you're safe and sound, that's all.”

Eva sniffled as she let Riyo swaddle her arms around her. She screwed up real bad this time. Even with Fox and Riyo persuading them that it wasn't their fault, they both can't help but feel immense guilt within themselves. Now that the assassin has gotten away from their grasp, Riyo's life is still in danger, and they have to do everything they could to protect her from further harm. 

“So, what do we do now?” Lira asked.

He rubbed his temples, figuring out a way to stop the assassin. With everything he planned to safeguard Riyo failed, he had to find an alternative method that may or may not work for all of them.

The bunker is not secure for them anymore, since the assassin had discovered them there in the first place. The hospital is also not safe, since patients and nurses were affected by the attack as well. He's not even sure if Riyo's apartment would shield her from an imminent threat against her, or the girls as well.

With nothing coming up in his mind, Fox would have no other choice but to discuss it with the Chancellor, even if he hates him so much. He hates how much he made him stay up late at night just to fill up that paperwork and how he hardly cares if his siblings got hurt, but what other choice does he have? The Chancellor himself was the one who is the commander-in-chief in this war, and he is the one who runs the show in the first place, so what can he do about it?

Even if he lamented, the Chancellor would just shrug it off and force him to focus on a more important task instead, which Fox despised.

“I'll call for backup,” he answered Lira. “I'll call for backup to pick up the three of you and send you ladies back home. That's the only option I can think of right now.”

“You mean the Jedi Temple?” Eva raised her eyebrows.

“No, to Senator Chuchi's apartment,” he shook his head, putting on his helmet. “You both will be staying with her for a night or two.”

Riyo's brow furrowed as she glanced at the twins, who were holding each other's hands. To her, they both are in no good condition to fight or even get up. What is Fox even thinking? She thought.

“With all due respect, Commander, Lira and Eva need to be treated as soon as possible. They shouldn't be protecting me right now.”

“I'm not asking them to protect you,” he defended himself. “I'm just asking them to stay with you while I'm away. Besides, I'll be sending in the medic along the way as well just in case anything happens.”

“But what about the assassin?” Eva asked. “Won't he come after Senator Chuchi?”

“Commander Thire will take over my shift in the meantime so if there's any doubt, he'll be more than willing to help you. Am I clear?”

Riyo nodded as she took his hand, staring into his deep brown eyes. “Be careful, alright? I don't want you getting hurt as well.” 

“I will, Ri, I promise.”

[ma-sulevin]

It’s the respite chapter I’ve been promising ❤

Pairing: Sharky Boshaw/Female Deputy Rating: E Warnings: Canon-typical violence, but nothing particularly explicit I don’t think Word Count: 5894, chapter ten of fourteen (I think).

Read it on AO3 instead and say nice things.

—

Mattie drags Staci back to the Wolf’s Den with her hand buried in his filthy deputy uniform. He protests, quietly, not making any actual effort to pull away from her, and she doesn’t let go all the way through the mountains and to the hatch.

She hesitates before going inside, swaying on her feet, just waiting for a sign she’s allowed to be here. If they turn her away…

Well. She’ll deserve it, won’t she?

Tammy comes out to greet her personally, eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Staci ducks his head when he sees her, hands clasped in front of him, and Mattie doesn’t let go of his sleeve.

“We’ve seen more Militia members come home today than any other time you took one of Jacob’s bases away from him.” Tammy puts her hands on her hips and stares Mattie down, then glances over and gives Staci an evaluating look. “You two can come in, but you’ll have to spend the night in the interrogation room where we can make sure you won’t hurt anyone else. Deal?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mattie can see Staci nodding out of the corner of her eye, but his head is still bowed. “Whatever we need to do.”

Tammy meets Mattie’s eyes for another long moment, the two women speaking without words. Finally, Tammy nods and waves her hand for them to follow her as she turns.

Mattie pulls Staci along behind her as she follows Tammy down into the Wolf’s Den, passing through Eli’s command center to get to Tammy’s interrogation room. Mattie hesitates, looking for Eli, hoping to see him behind the table watching the monitors or looking at maps of the mountain, but… he isn’t there. The room is silent, the monitors showing grainy feeds of the outposts, and there’s still a dark stain on the floor where he fell.

When she looks up again, Tammy’s staring at her with an expression too sympathetic to be real. She holds out a hand and Mattie takes it.

“I’ll bring you some food and water,” she says, squeezing Mattie’s fingers. “Maybe a first aid kit too, yeah? You can call us if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Tammy. Really.”

Tammy nods like she knows and pushes the door to the interrogation room open.

It’s empty of its usual equipment, the chair and the kiddie pool and the battery moved somewhere Mattie can’t see. Instead, there are two mattresses on the floor with blankets and a single flat pillow each. The door shuts heavily behind them and Staci flinches at the noise; when Mattie turns around he’s standing with his eyes squeezed closed, his muscles locked tight.

“Staci, hey, we’re safe here. They won’t do anything to us here.”

He takes a slow deep breath and then meets her gaze. “Are you sure?”

She gives him what she hopes is a comforting smile. “Yeah, of course. We’re just going to rest here until tomorrow and then I’ll take you to Fall’s End. Joey can’t wait to see you.”

His face lights up, life coming back to his eyes and a small smile lifting his lips. “Joey’s alive?”

“She’s alive and grumpy as ever.”

Staci doesn’t quite laugh, but his smile grows a bit. Mattie lets go of him and lets him walk deeper into the room on his own power, no longer limping, arms loose at his sides.

She draws in a shaky breath and digs her knuckles into her breastbone, pain bursting from the still-healing scar on her chest. Jesus, the second she gets somewhere alone or with Sharky, she’s going to fucking lose it. She’s just going to cry until she can’t anymore, get the stress out, figure out how to get some goddamn peace before she heads into the Henbane for Burke.

The door opens again and Wheaty sticks his head in. He looks grumpy, still closed off and upset at what she did, and she can’t blame him. He has an armful of supplies, a couple of MREs and a canteen and a first aid kit and what looks like some fresh clothes, and he thrusts them into her arms without saying a word.

He slams the door on his way out. The lock clicks behind him.

“Staci, here.”

He’s at her side in an instant, ready to help, and together they sit on the floor between the mattresses and sort through their supplies. They eat silently, side by side, then Mattie lets Staci have most of the water before using the rest to wet a cloth from the first aid kit.

She dabs at his face, wiping away layers of dirt and sweat and blood while he sits with his eyes closed, unmoving, patient. She allows herself a few silent tears while she works, mourning everything Staci went through while she struggled to save him.

“I’m sorry, Staci.” Her voice is low as she daubs antibacterial cream on a cut across his cheek, picturing how the scar will look when it finally heals.

He opens his eyes and meets hers. “Me too.”

He takes the cream from her and squeezes some onto his fingers before applying it to the still-bleeding graze on her arm. 

“We shouldn’t have let Burke make us go to the compound. We should’ve waited for the National Guard in the first place. I don’t know if they’d do a better job, but at least none of this shit would’ve happened.”

Staci nods as she speaks, taping a piece of gauze to her wound. “Sometimes I think… we didn’t survive that helicopter crash,” he says, whispering like he’s admitting a secret. “And we’re just… stuck in Purgatory to atone for our sins.”

“Yeah,” Mattie says, whispering too, thinking about all the times she’s found herself back in place, struggling to figure out what it all means, the overwhelming sense of try again that’s been pushing her forward. “Yeah, sometimes I think that too.”

They finish bandaging each other in silence, pull clean clothes on over still grimy bodies, and climb onto one of the mattresses with their pillows and blankets. Mattie wraps herself around Staci and he collapses into her, each drawing comfort from the other as they struggle to find sleep.

---

Mattie doesn’t know what time it is when she wakes up again, confused by being underground and the general lack of schedule she’s had since the crash. Staci’s stirring in her arms, murmuring something in his sleep, and from outside the door…

Someone’s playing the guitar.

Staci’s hair is greasy where she cards her fingers through it, but she keeps working it until his murmuring stops and he wakes up naturally with a soft sigh. He presses closer at first, squeezing her, then he seems to remember where he was because he sits up too fast and nearly headbutts her in the nose.

“We’re in the Wolf’s Den,” she says, speaking fast but sitting up more slowly so he won’t spook. “We’re okay.”

Staci doesn’t turn to look at her, just sits very still with his head tilted up to the side to listen to the music.

It’s not a song she recognizes, but it’s played well, the notes filtering through the door and filling the cold spaces around them like a caress. The song speeds up a bit and Staci starts to laugh, a low sound that he smothers with one hand.

“Stace?”

It takes him a minute to answer, but she can hear the smile in his voice when he says, “I know this song.”

He stands, slowly, like it hurts, stumbles a little like he had back in Jacob’s bunker, but he doesn’t fall. He makes his way to the door and tries the handle; it’s unlocked and the knob turns, the door opening as he pulls.

The music gets louder, then cuts off as Staci steps out into the command center.

Mattie scrambles to her feet and follows him, slamming her still-sore shoulder into the door jam in her haste. She clutches it, pushing her fingers into the source of the pain, and opens her mouth to call out for Staci, but she snaps her jaw shut at the last second.

Staci’s standing just a few paces away, barefoot and in ill-fitting pants, motionless as they both watch Jude prop his guitar against the wall and stand to his full height. He doesn’t even look at Mattie, a wide smile lighting up his face.

“I should have known you’d be here,” Staci says, finally, breaking the silence and making Jude choke on a laugh.

“And I should’ve known you’d sleep in until the last possible second,” Jude says, voice shaking, and that’s all it takes to get Staci walking again.

He crosses the rest of the space between them in an instant, arms up and around Jude’s neck as Jude catches him around the waist. They fall into each other’s arms, laughing wetly, swaying a bit with the force of their affection. 

Mattie stands and watches, relief at seeing Jude still alive so strong that she forgets she should give them privacy.

She doesn’t know what she would have done if Jude hadn’t been here. 

She doesn’t know what Staci would have done.

Jude looks up and catches her eye, smiling at her to include her in their moment. “Thank you,” he says, voice cracking. “Thank you.”

She has to wipe her eyes at that, clear her throat so she doesn’t start crying too. She’s not sure she’ll be able to stop if she does, and they have more to do.

“You’re okay? You’re okay?” She’s not sure why she’s repeating herself, but she can’t help it. She just… she needs to make sure.

Jude nods at her, still clinging to Staci. “I wish I could’ve been there to help, but I’m glad you brought him back.”

Oh, he doesn’t remember.

That makes sense.

“I have to take him to Fall’s End. We can’t stay here.”

Jude nods and Staci pulls away to stand up straight. He doesn’t step back, though, hovering in Jude’s space as he wipes his at his face. “I’ll come with you. Whenever you’re ready.”

 “Okay, I’ll just… uh, I’ll get ready.” Mattie turns to go back into the room, bumps her other arm into the door jam, then finally makes it into the room to find her shoes.

Jesus, she misses Sharky. She’s going to have to radio him to make sure he meets them in Fall’s End before she goes into the Henbane. She needs to check with Dutch about Jess too, just double-check that she’s fine after everything.

Based on everything Mattie knows, she should be.

But… it doesn’t hurt to check.

Tammy finds them before they leave, intercepting them with Wheaty at her side to ask them to take out the wolf beacons. Mattie agrees right away — really, what else can she say? — and makes a mental note to send Grace and Jess after them, and then Wheaty asks her again to look for records.

She agrees to that too.

They only have to walk a couple miles south before they find an abandoned car on the side of the road, the keys still in the ignition like they almost always are. Mattie climbs in the driver’s seat without asking, Staci sits in the back next to Jude’s guitar case, and Jude gets in next to Mattie and slides the seat back as far as it’ll go.

They keep the radio off for the entire drive.

Fall’s End is quiet, warmer than the mountains with almost cheerful yellow sun and businesses actually open to the public. The Spread Eagle’s sign is lit against the bluest blue sky she’s ever seen, and Joey lets out a loud whistle when she sees them driving up to the bar’s parking lot.

“Mary May! They’re here!”

Joey heads for them at a jog, slamming into Staci just as he’s stretching from being cramped in the backseat. They stumble back a step, Joey’s laughter joined after a moment with Staci’s.

Joey takes a step back and holds him at arm’s length to examine him.

“You look like shit, Pratt,” she announces, a fond smile on her face.

“Fuck you, Josephine,” he says, smiling right back.

She claps him on the shoulder and turns to Mattie, pulling her in a tight hug. Mattie squeezes her back hard, making up for the lost opportunity after rescuing Joey from John’s bunker, happy that she’s open to hugging again.

It’s not really a surprise when Joey whispers, “Is this the park ranger who warned us about the wolves in the spring?”

Mattie’s nodding as she pulls away. “Joey, you remember Jude Wright? Jude, this is Joey.”

They make their greetings while Staci glances between the three of them with growing apprehension — Mattie gets it; Staci hadn’t told them about Jude for a reason, and now they all know, but no one’s going to give him shit for it now.

The sharp bark of a small dog interrupts them, and Jude swears roundly as he drops to his knees to greet Moose. The little white creature is wagging his tail so hard his body is vibrating, jumping up into Jude’s arms to cover his face in kisses. Mary May appears behind him, eyebrows high, a smile on her face as she greets Mattie with a hug too.

“Uh, you two know each other?”

Jude looks up at Mary May as he stands with Moose in his arms, cradling the dog almost the same way he had Staci.

“Jacob’s men burned my house down when they started the reaping,” Jude says, smiling and talking through enthusiastic dog kisses. “I came back and it was totally destroyed. I couldn’t find Moose anywhere so I thought… How did he end up here?”

He’s looking at Mary May when he asks the question, but it’s Mattie who answers as he stands back up to his full height. 

“I found him in John’s ranch when I kicked the peggies out of it?” She pitches her voice up at the end of her sentence like it’s a question, the actual inquiry going unspoken.

Staci looks sharply up at Jude, whose face reddens a bit.

“Oh, uh. Long story. I’m just glad he’s okay. Did you have a nice vacation, buddy?”

Moose barks like he’s answering, then rests his head on Jude’s shoulder and heaves a heavy sigh that shakes his whole body, another answer that makes Mattie smile, the reasons behind Moose being at John’s house, and Staci’s reaction to the news, rendered unimportant now.

They all have some catching up to do.

---

Mattie makes herself at home in the same house she and Sharky stayed in last time they were in Fall’s End, a little tipsy and full of Casey’s cooking. The bedding is cold but still smells like Sharky, sweat and soap and gasoline. She buries her face in the pillow and breathes deeply, the deep ache in her chest spreading until she can’t do anything about it. She cries slowly at first, fighting it even though it makes her throat ache, then she just… lets go.

She sobs into the pillow, releasing stress and tension and loneliness, and she squeezes it tight like she would be holding Sharky if he were there with her.

She hates this. Hope County had felt so much more like home than any place she’s ever lived before, and now all she wants to do is escape it. This isn’t fair. 

This isn’t fair. 

She cries herself out until she’s exhausted, then she curls up on her side and tries to steady her breathing from little gasps for air to something steady enough for her to sleep. She just wants to go to sleep and not wake up until things are fucking normal again. Is that too much to ask?

She’s pulling this county back together piece by piece — Jacob’s gone, John’s gone, Jude is back with Staci and Joey is back living near Mary May, just the way she likes it — and what does she have to say for it? Perpetually bruised ribs, sore shoulders, muscles and scars that aren’t quite healing right, a goddamn scar on her chest that still itches as it heals? 

Her daddy’s ways told her life isn’t fair, but this is fucking ridiculous.

She’s rounding the corner from grief back to anger, working herself back up instead of easing herself to sleep, the faint scent of Sharky gone from the pillow now that she’s rubbed her tears into it, and she’s just about ready to get up and see what liquor she can find to help her when her radio buzzes from the bedside table.

Fury flares in her, bright and hot at the idea that someone’s begging for help in the middle of the night, then guilt flows in to extinguish the flames. 

They need her. They can’t do this without her.

What would she do if someone permanently died because she was too grumpy to answer their call?

She rolls over to grab the radio, rubbing her eyes with her free hand, fumbling a bit to turn up the volume. 

“...you there, Dep?”

Oh, holy shit. She clicks the transmit button before she’s sure he’s done talking in her excitement, calling out an urgent, “I’m here, baby. Over.”

There’s a pause before his voice crackles over the line, but it nearly makes her melt with relief. “You somewhere I can get to ya?”

She waits until she’s sure he’s done talking, an awkward pause filling the radio waves while she waits for him to say over. “I’m tucked in at our place in the valley. Only thing missing’s you, over. ”

He’s not laughing when he speaks again, but she can absolutely hear the smile in his voice when he says, “What would you do to me if I was there too? Uh, over.”

She is laughing when she replies, “Why don’t you come over and I’ll just give you a practical demonstration? Over.”

God, she hopes no one she knows is listening to this channel. She likes the teasing and the flirting — it’s pulling her spirits right back up, just like Sharky always does — but the idea that Staci might hear and bring it up tomorrow morning? While she’s looking at him?

No thanks. Hard pass.

“You’re the boss! See you in a few. Over’n out.”

Mattie smiles and puts the radio back on the nightstand, half expecting one of her friends to come online next to rib her for scheduling a booty call over the open airwaves, but nothing happens. It stays silent, the house stays dark, and she draws her knees up to her chest as she sits by the headboard to wait.

Sharky doesn’t take too long to show up; he must have already been on the way into Fall’s End when he called. She hears the sound of his Jeep parking out front, hears him barging into the house like he doesn’t know how to be quiet — the door bangs against the wall then slams shut, his footsteps are loud on the kitchen floor, something falls with a thud and is followed by his full-volume curses.

She bites her lip to hide her smile. He’s excited to see her, and that warmth in her chest helps push out more of her earlier despair. All that she needs now is…

The bedroom door opens with a little more grace, Sharky sticking his head in through the crack with a wide grin. She smiles back at him, finally happy, and holds out her hand so he’ll stop staring at her and get in bed with her.

He kicks off his clothes on the way to the bed, finally sliding in behind her in just a pair of (hopefully) clean whitey tighties. She lets herself laugh at the image and lays down on her side so he can curl around her back. He holds her tight, burying his face in her hair, and just breathes her in.

“You wake up in the hotel?”

There’s a little pause, then Sharky shakes his head behind her and tightens his hold on her. She huffs out a heavy breath so he’ll relax, but he doesn’t until he says, “Boshaw Manor. I died again? In the hotel?”

“Yeah. You and Jess both.”

Sharky makes a considering noise and presses a kiss to her bare shoulder. “Guess I should start keeping track too, huh?”

She shrugs, bumping her shoulder against his face. “I’d rather you didn’t have to.”

He doesn’t answer her, just presses more kisses to the place where her shoulder meets her neck. It feels nice, so she tilts her head to the side and lets him continue as his warmth starts to lull her to sleep. She’s exhausted after everything, and now that he’s with her, it’s like her body has full permission to relax.

She’s almost completely asleep when his hand starts to wander, down down down her body until she grabs it before it can get all the way between her legs. She pulls it up to her mouth and kisses his knuckles, then replaces it where it started.

“In the morning?” It’s hard to get the words out, tired as she is, and when he doesn’t respond right away a little lance of fear runs through her. What if he’s annoyed that she turned him down after he drove all the way over here? What if he gets mad and wants to go back home?

She’s opening her mouth to apologize when Sharky just hugs her tighter, curling around her until even his feet are tucked between hers, one more kiss pressed to the back of her head.

“Yeah, sorry.” His voice almost disappears into her hair, nearly lost before they reach her ears. “Get some sleep, shorty. Love you.”

She finds his fingers with hers and tangles them together. “Love you.”

She’s asleep before he has time to move again.

---

She wakes early, despite her best efforts, but Sharky’s still snoring behind her. He still has one arm under her pillow but he’s turned flat on his back, mouth open, face so relaxed the lines around his eyes have almost, but not quite, disappeared. She watches him sleep for a while, propped up on her elbow, as the room slowly lightens with the rising sun.

They’ll have to get going soon, head into the Henbane to track down Faith through the bliss haze, but until then…

She snuggles a little closer, puts her hand flat on his bare chest, just where the hair is thickest. His next snore catches in his throat, and she waits to see if he’s waking up, but his breathing steadies and his eyes stay closed.

She runs her fingers over his skin, trying to tease him awake, first circling one nipple until it hardens and then pinching at the other. He shifts, turns his head toward her, snores a little louder, and stays sound asleep. She smiles and pinches him again, glancing down his body as his cock starts to take notice of what his brain hasn’t figured out yet.

She runs her fingers down her stomach next, then scratches her nails back up, and that’s finally what does it. He opens his eyes as he moans aloud, whole body jerking in surprise. She laughs at the expression on his face, the confused arousal, and then laughs more when he pulls himself together and rolls them over.

He settles between her legs and she kisses him back while she holds her breath. He rubs against her with a moan, fully hard already, and she lets out a surprised cry when he hits her just right.

She pushes at him and he moves easily, falling onto his back and yanking at her shirt as soon as she straddles him. He looks so sleep-ruffled and turned on, eyes dark and cheeks pink, that she can’t help leaning down to give him another soft, lingering kiss.

He kisses her back but pulls at her hips at the same time, grinding against her in silent desperation. She obeys his unspoken request, falling into an easy rhythm before sitting up and bracing her hands on his chest.

“Mornin’, shorty.” Sharky’s voice is sleep-rough and deep, the calluses on his fingers rasping against her thighs as he slides his hands up to grab for her panties. “Guess you had a good sleep?”

She pushes up onto her knees just enough for him to pull her panties to the side, then she’s reaching down to pull his cock free of his underwear. 

“It’s always good when it’s with you,” she says, voice sweet, and his little laugh is swallowed up on a moan as she sinks down onto him. “Feel good, baby?”

“Yeah,” he gasps out as she gives her hips a slow roll, both hands back on his chest. “Five stars.”

She leans a little more weight on his chest as she giggles. She rolls her hips again and again, falling into an easy rhythm that does little more than just tease both of them. Sharky holds onto her thighs and smiles up at her, It’s almost overwhelming, being on the receiving end of that much adoration, but she can’t look away from it, just lets it ratchet her pleasure higher and higher.

Christ. What would she do without him? She never would have looked at him twice before all this, but now? 

He’s perfect.

She moves her hips faster, more sharp thrusts than slow rolls, and Sharky groans like she’s punched the air right out of his lungs. He releases his hold on her legs so she can move freely, moving his hands up to the headboard instead, gripping tightly as he tries to match her rhythm.

He keeps his eyes on her even as his flush crawls down his front, as he bites his lip and groans from deep in his chest, heels pushing into the mattress to give himself better leverage. It’s a heady feeling, seeing him like this, and she chases it with a heady laugh that makes his eyes roll back in his head.

“Mat, please, I can’t, you feel too good, please, I need to…” He’s babbling, on the edge, and that pushes her higher too. 

“You’ll wait your turn or I’ll stop,” she says, still kind of laughing, leaning forward even more to change the angle. “Can you hold on for me, baby?”

His only response is a long, drawn-out fuck that sounds like it’s been dragged forcefully from his throat, and Mattie shivers all over when she hears it.

“Yeah, Sharky, fuck !”

She comes hard, just like that, with Sharky under her and still moving inside her until he grips her hips and refuses to let her move another inch. She comes laughing, head tossed back, her fingernails digging into Sharky’s skin to leave little half-moon imprints behind.

It’s beautiful and glorious and she collapses onto his chest the moment her muscles start to relax. His arms wrap around her like he’s just been waiting for her to be close enough, one hand in her hair while the other presses on her lower back, keeping her flush against him while he makes aborted little motions with his hips, like he desperately wants to fuck into her but is afraid it isn't his turn.

She catches her breath quick as she can, pushes herself up with her hands flat on the mattress on either side of Sharky’s head, and smiles at him as she brushes her nose across his.

“Doin’ okay, Shark?”

He doesn't quite open his eyes to look at her, his expression pinched in an expression caught as he is between discomfort and euphoria.

“Please?” His voice is barely a whisper, barely loud enough for her to hear. She has enough time to realize it's the quietest she's ever heard him speak before he adds, “I’ve been good.”

She shivers all over again, accidentally clenches around him, and then she begins crawling her way down his body, down toward the foot of the bed.

He lets her go, covering his face with both hands when he realizes what she's doing, groaning into them as she finally slips his underwear down his legs and drops it on the floor.

She takes his cock in her hand, stroking it with a loose grip, then tightens her fingers a bit around the base when he pushes hard up toward her.

“You have been good, baby,” she says, mostly just to get his attention, then when he makes eye contact with her, she adds, “You can come now,” before she leans down and takes the tip of his cock into her mouth.

It only takes a minute of licking and stroking until he starts to beg again, calling her name and shaking all over, legs shifting restlessly on the bed but hips strangely still as though he's afraid she’ll change her mind if he thrusts too hard into her mouth.

He doesn't warn her before he comes, but she’s ready for it, eyes on his face and ears burning as he calls her name together with all manner of praise that devolves into heartfelt groans as he spills across her tongue.

She swallows because it's faster, crawls up the bed and collapses next to him, curling against his side. He pulls her even closer, still gasping for breath, and she kisses his chest because it's closest to her mouth.

“Holy shit , Mat.” 

She giggles and presses her face against his side. “You liked that? Wasn't too much?”

He huffs out a breathless laugh. “Fuck, Dep, you can do whatever you want to me and I’ll die a happy man. Guess I always did like a hot chick bossing me around.”

She rolls her eyes and laughs again, kissing him once more, then just relaxes into his embrace.

They've earned this. Everything else can wait.

 ---

Just like last time they were in Fall’s End, they don’t manage to drag themselves out of bed until after noon, emerging sated and sleepy and starving to see what Casey’s able to cook up at the Spread Eagle. Joey’s already there, leaning against the bar with her chin in her hand and a beatific smile on her face as she talks to Mary May, an expression that shutters and then shifts into an amused smirk as soon as she spots Sharky and Mattie’s entwined fingers.

Staci and Jude show up when Mattie’s halfway through eating Casey’s burger, grease smeared across her face because she can’t peel herself away from it long enough to remember her table manners. She’s half in Sharky’s lap in one of the booths, Joey across from them, and Mattie’s first to see Staci walking in the door with Jude trailing behind him, ducking just a bit when he passes under the door frame.

They don’t look much different than Mattie and Sharky, tired but happy, if a little more reserved. They bump their shoulders together as they lean against the bar to talk to Mary May, then leave an appropriate amount of space between them as they order food.

Mattie returns her attention back to her burger to distract herself from the sudden knot in her chest. This is almost like it was before, how it should have been before, the three deputies and their partners hanging out together at a bar on the weekends, having fun without the threat of the cult hanging over their head.

What would their lives be like without the Seeds here to fuck everything up?

Maybe next time she dies, the black white black will dump her out in an alternate universe where the only problems Hope County has are the usual drug use and domestics.

“How long are you going to stay this time?” Joey’s beer is empty but she’s still playing with the bottle. The bruises from her time in John’s bunker have faded, the light mostly back in her eyes, and she smiles almost as easily as she did before. “You look like you could use a week of solid sleep.”

Mattie snorts and rolls her eyes as she finishes chewing and then swallows. “I’d like to get to the jail before nightfall. I don’t want to be moving around the Henbane after dark.”

“It’s hard enough to tell your ass from your elbow even when it’s bright as hell,” Sharky supplies, earning himself an amused look from Joey. “I wouldn’t want to run into Faith in the dark. You know, one time, I saw her at a gas station and I just gave her twenty dollars? No reason, just wanted her to have it.” He pops a fry in his mouth to punctuate his sentence, and Joey turns her amused look to Mattie.

“So we’ll probably head that way after lunch. Y’all gonna join me this time?”

Jude’s wide-eyed, panicked look is enough of an answer for her, even before he looks silently at Staci for confirmation. Staci somehow looks worse today than he did before they made it into town; the grime and dirt is gone, but the shadows and bruises look deeper. He doesn’t even look like himself in scavenged clothes, even if they seem to fit. The only thing familiar about him is the wooden beads on his wrist.

“That’s… probably not a good idea,” Joey says, forehead wrinkling as she takes in Staci’s state. “We’re not really used to it like you are.”

Mattie suppresses an eye roll. She knows what Joey’s doing. It’s just so close to only you can help us even though we’re perfectly capable that she’s annoyed by it, but that’s not Joey’s fault, and she’s not leaving for the Henbane after fighting with any of her friends.

Staci draws in a deep breath and for a moment Mattie’s afraid he’s going to launch into a diatribe about being weak, and based on Jude’s wince, he thinks that’s what’s coming too. Instead, Staci just heaves a heavy sigh and rests his elbows on the table.

“We’re going to stay here and help with rebuilding,” Staci says instead, and he sounds exhausted down to his bones. “We should shore up defenses here in case Joseph decides on a more direct attack. Anything that happens in Faith’s region needs to be smaller, directed at the bliss production. If you can stop that, you can stop her.”

“Do you know where we should start?” Mattie licks her fingers clean, and Sharky stares at her while she does. Her cheeks heat, but she ignores it even though Joey makes a disgusted sort of noise.

“The Water Treatment Plant,” Staci says, no hesitation. “The Jessop Conservatory, too. That’s where it started. The distribution system. Any of the plants — anything you can do, really.”

Mattie wipes her hand on her napkin, finally, and reaches across to squeeze Staci’s hand. He lets her, turning his wrist so their palms are touching.

“Thank you, Stace. We’ll come back as soon as we kill the bitch.”

Slowly, Staci smiles. It’s the cheeriest she’s seen him when he’s not touching Jude, and the coldness in his eyes is chilling. Mattie tightens her hold on his fingers as he whispers, “Good.”

Silence falls on the table.

It’s time to go.

[angelinwhy]

Never Going Back

Description: Y/N leaves her abusive boyfriend, covered in bruises and cuts, and goes to her best friends house - Harry. He cleans her up, and looks after her.

Warnings: mentions of abuse!

It hadn’t always been that way.

Y/N hadn’t always lived her life in complete fear that she could be hurt at any given moment. She used to be so carefree, so happy and bubbly. A true beacon of happiness that beamed everywhere she went. She travelled a lot and found new places, and in those places she found happiness. For most, finding good things in bad situations was like a needle in a bloody haystack - not for Y/N. It was like a hidden talent.

But it all changed when she met her boyfriend, of two years, Jake. He was good to her at the start, like really good. They were a model couple for every other couple on the planet. Always hosting dinners for their friends, spending every given day with each other, always smiling and always laughing. Sure, they had arguments, and got over them within a few days. But didn’t every other couple? Jake was a lad, in honesty. He had his reputation on the streets for being a man who slept about a lot (a man-slag basically) and just dumped the girls the day after. That stopped when he met Y/N though, as she completely grounded him. Made him a different person, but over time, things had started to change, and it wasn’t the best change.

It had all started during an argument one nice. Jake wasn’t one to be insecure about things, but when it came to the megastar Harry Styles, who happened to be Y/N’s best friend of 5 years, that was his deepest insecurity.

He wasn’t insecure because he wanted to be like him.

No.

Jake was insecure because of his friendship with Y/N and the ‘alarming amount of time they spent with one another’. He always thought that something was going on whenever Y/N went to see Harry, because she came home all giggly and happy and wanting to talk about what they did together. Jealous, Jake was, but very insecure too. So they argued about it, and no matter how many times Y/N told him that nothing was going on between her and Harry, he just didn’t believe her. The fight had escalated and became a screaming match, and Y/N was almost sure that the neighbours were going to phone the police on them. God, Y/N wish she had, as Jake just got more angry at Y/N, to the point when it scared her like a little lamb. Then, out of the blue, Jake did the unthinkable.

He hit her.

Jake had hit her, multiple times.

To him, he thought it established dominance, as after he did it, Y/N was sweet to him. Like she always was but to Jake it seemed unnatural for her to be nice.

It all carried on from there - she spent countless nights being scared that her body would be covered in bruises and cuts after he got home. Y/N spent most of her mornings covering up the marks with makeup, because she went out. As it happened for so long, she became rather good at it and no one had suspected a thing. But, after living all of her life in happiness, it was flipped upside and down she just lived in terror that one day, she would end up laying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life.

Tonight was the worst.

It was the night she feared the most.

He had got so angry, so fucking angry.

Jake had got that angry that he worn himself out, so ended up passing out in bed, that’s when Y/N slipped out the house to leave for a while, to find somewhere safe to go. And although Jake knew where it was, her first thought and destination was Harry’s house.

She had got a bus down to his house, as they were on opposite sides of the city to one another. Y/N had narrowly avoided an elderly couple giving her an odd look, or fussing over her when she stepped onto the bus. Her eyes caught theirs straight away and before they could get a properly good look at the state of her face, she pulled up the hood of her jacket and pulled it down over her. It shaded her face in all the right places so no one could see, and she kept her head down the whole time, occasionally looking up to see where she was. Her body ached the whole way and she just wished for some paracetamol to ease the pain for a while. Y/N knew she’d be able to get a couple at Harry’s house, but she needed them then.

The walk from the bus stop to Harry’s house was quiet, despite the shuffling of her feet on the concrete and the occasional car that drove past her. It was all so peaceful and silent, and the cold, fresh air was helping her cuts slightly.

And there here she stands.

Outside of Harry’s stunning residence, looking up at it like she was debating on whether to go inside, or to just turn around and go back to him. The devil.

She knew this was the right thing to do. So, she reaches out and pressed the intercom button as his security is tight, and he needs to speak the person before they enter the building. Within a few deafening buzzes, she hears a quick. “I can see you through the security cameras, Y/N. I’ve unlocked the door for you,” he tells her shortly before it goes quiet again.

Y/N reaches out and pushes open the door, before closing it behind her and hearing the mechanical whirring as it locks again. His house is lovely, and it’s only his front garden she’s in. It was an impressive, so to say it, mansion and although many of the large rooms were vacant, Harry didn’t mind. It was home. Once she is at the front door, she pushes it open and the first thing she hears is Tame Impala blasting through the house, so she immediately took a guess that Harry was just chilling, or singing. She closes the door behind her and kicks off her shoes, before pulling down the hood of her jacket. Her hands shook slightly as she began to wonder what Harry was going to say when he saw the state that she was in. It was the thing she was scared of the absolute most.

His house is warm and it provides her some comfort as she walks through it.

“I’m in the kitchen!” A voice then yells.

Y/N sighs in relief at the sheer sound of his voice, because although he was yelling, he wasn’t using the same tone that Jake not, not just an hour ago.

As she walks into the kitchen, she spots Harry facing the stove, cooking pasta. When he turns around and his eyes land on her bruised and cut face, his pales and he can’t even find the right words.

“What the fuck has happened to you?” He asks in a rushed tone and he moves towards her, not caring for the pasta now. Y/N tries to shrug him off gently as he tries to grab her face, and he almost frowns at her rejecting his touch. She shoves her hands into the pockets of her jacket, shrugging as she takes a seat on the breakfast bar, Harry just stands in front of her as he watches her intently.

She sighs. “I got jumped by two girls on the way here, they were looking for get my phone and purse off me, but it was fine. I fought them off, kinda,” she lies straight through her teeth, not wanting to tell him the whole story. She couldn’t. But she needed him, she needed him to be her safe haven for the night. Somewhere where she could hide. “It was just as I got off the bus, they pushed me to the ground and like kicked me and that. I’m fine - I mean it hurts like a bastard, but I’m fine,” she fake smiles and Harry sighs, going towards his stove and turning off the hob. He needs to clean her up before he can think of his dinner. Y/N watches him as he opens the cupboard under the sink, and pulls out a green box.

A medical kit.

“You need to be more careful when you travel here at night,” he tuts as he comes back over and sits down next to her. “You know what the streets of London are like.” He scolds her like a child.

Before he starts to clean her cuts and tend to her bruises, he helps her take off her jacket, which he places on the chair behind him. So she was left in her thin white, noodle strap top that wasn’t providing her any warmth. He then asks her if she could tie her hair up, so she pulls the bobble off her wrist and ties it up into a messy bun at the back of her head.

“You should’ve called me.”

She sighs. “I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it just all happened so quick,” she lies again like it was the easiest thing in the world, to lie to her best friend.

“Bus stops normally have CCTV so we can ask for the footage to be checked, see if we can find them,” he says as he gets a little cotton wool bud and puts some rubbing alcohol onto it. The first face he looks was her face, which seems to be the worst. He felt sick to his stomach that two random girls could do this to someone so harmless. “This is going to sting a little bit, okay?” He tells her gently, and she nods her head before clenching her fist. Harry puts the cotton wool on her face and she feels that horrible burn on the places that were already hurting so much. He apologises quickly, before wiping off that cut, as it was the one that had the most blood on it.

He looks at her, and sees the pain on her face, and frowns slightly. He hated seeing her in a lot of pain.

“Were you coming over here anyways?” He asks as he takes out some wipes.

She nods. “Yeah, I was feeling pretty bored.”

“Was Jake not in?” Harry asks harmlessly.

Y/N tries to hide it but her breath hitches when Harry says his name, so she plays it off like one of her cuts was hurting, just so Harry gets confused. “Uh, well he was. But he had been working the whole day and was tired, so he just ended up going to sleep. I was going to watch Drag Race, but remembered that it had been a days since we last seen each other.” She tells him, not all of that was a lie. Jake was asleep, but she waited until he was asleep so she could sneak out of the house without him knowing. If he had woke up when she was leaving, then God, there would be all hell to pay for. Harry smiles at her lightly.

“Well, I’m glad you’ve come over. Your room is made up again so if you want to stay then you can,” he offers up and she wanted to throw her arms around him and thank him, as she was too scared to go back.

But he couldn’t know that.

So instead she just nods her head with gracious (yet fake) smile on her lips. “That sounds great, Haz.”

After a few minutes, Harry had cleaned up the most of the cuts on her face, given that some of them were a lot worse than the others. He puts away all of the dirty stuff, before getting some clean ones out so he could move onto cleaning her hands. He had put some cream on the cuts on her head, so he decided he needed to do the same for the ones on her hands so they didn’t get infected. Harry puts down the cotton wool, and grabs her cold hands gently. But his brows furrow in confusion when he notices that they are perfectly fine. Surely she couldn’t of fought back and not got any marks on her hands? He asks himself as he continues to inspect her hands, so he wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

When she notices him inspecting her hands like they were the most interesting things in the world, she yanks them away from his grasp.

Then it all clicks in Harry’s head.

If she had really fought back like she said she did, and given the state that she was in, her hands would definitely be all busted and cracked, with dried blood on them. He watches her face, as he displays a bunch of different emotions. Since they had been best friends for so long, he could basically read her like a blood book. Plus, she was terribly at hiding her emotions sometimes. Harry leans back in his chair as he looks at her again, but her eyes avoid his ones.

“Fought back, huh?” He asks, doing the ‘fuckboy nod’ but in a more angry way. He knew that she was lying to him now.

She doesn’t even look at him. “Yep.”

“But you don’t have any marks on your hands?” He pushes.

But this time, he doesn’t get an answer.

Y/N felt her heart beat getting faster when she knew thag Harry was onto her, and she chews nervously on the skin around her thumb. Harry notices that and immediately notices it as a sign she did when she was nervous or scared - and judging by the look on her face, Harry knew that she was feeling a mixture of the both of them. He didn’t want to make her sad by pushing the subject, but the more he went on, the less he believed that she had been jumped at the bus top. Then he remembered how her breath hitched when he said ‘Jake.’ He didn’t want to believe what he was thinking in that moment, so he remains calm as he looks at his shaking best friend. She looks so terrified, and it was making Harry slightly anxious.

“You didn’t get jumped,” he tells her softly, looking down at her to try and catch her eyes. But he fails. “Who did this to you?”

She shakes her head. “The girls at the bus stop.”

“There was no girls at the bus stop.”

“Yes there was.”

“Y/N, don’t lie to me. I know there was no girls, so tell me who did this and why they did it.”

“It was the two girls.”

This time, she was a little more hesitant when she responds to him, and that’s when Harry notices that she’s starting to crack. He felt like a terrible best friend who questioning her when clearly she was not feeling great, and feeling uncomfortable, but he knew that if he wanted the truth, he had to do this. It was all starting to come together now. Harry was just wondering why she lied about who hurt her badly, and who was she covering for?

“You’re a liar.”

She shakes her head. “I’m not.”

“Well I’m your best friend and sometimes I like to think I know you better than you know yourself. And right now I know that you’re bullshitting - there was no girls and you didn’t get jumped. So tell me, who did this to you?”

“Harry…”

“Y/N. Tell me.”

“I don’t want to say it.”

“Y/N…”

“Fine!” She then snaps, and Harry is completely taken aback by her sudden yelling. Y/N looks right at him with tears in her eyes, and her hoarse voice managed to yell out. “I lied to you, okay?! There was no girls at the bus stop, it was all a bullshit cover up for my boyfriend who beat the shit of me tonight. I had to leave when he fell asleep because I was scared that if I tried to leave when he was awake, he’d hurt me again. You were the only person I knew I could come to and your house could be my safe place from him. So there, Harry! Now you know. My boyfriend hates my fucking guts and I’m in an abusive relationship! Happy now?” She scowls as they tears fall down her cheeks, and she collapses back into the chair, a hand coming to rest above her eyebrows.

Harry didn’t know what to say.

He had just found out that his best friend was being abused, and he had no clue on how to even approach a situation like this.

There was going to be no remorse when he saw Jake, but that was the last thing on his mind at that moment. His mind was on his best friend, who was sitting in front of him, sobbing quietly, too scared to even move. Harry tries to put a hand on her thigh to soothe her, but the sudden action makes her flinch and pull back from him.

The sadness grows in Harry’s eyes. He’s fucking broke her.

“Bab, I am so sorry,” was all he manages to get out, as he didn’t have a clue what to say to her. She just nods, a sob passing over her lips as she had finally managed to tell someone. Maybe all of this can be put to rest after all of this stuff with Harry. He didn’t know what to do - was he to phone his mum and ask her what he was to do, or maybe Gemma? Both of the women in his family were super smart, and maybe advice from a woman about a woman would be the most helpful thing. But he knew that it would only worry Anne and Gemma, as they treat Y/N like she was a daughter and a sister. Like she was one of the family. There was something he wanted to do, but was too scared to ask Y/N. “Is it just on your face?”

She shakes her head. “Nearly e-everywhere.”

That was like a punch Harry’s gut. Nearly everywhere. God those two words were like ice cold daggers to his heart, and he could only imagine the things he was going to do to Jake for doing this to his best friend. What would possess someone to hurt another human being in this way?

“Can I see?”

Y/N’s eyes then shoot up, as she looks directly at him. “I don’t think I can, they’re everywhere, Harry.” She tells him, her voice quiet, but he just gives her a soft look. She knew he meant well and he only wanted to help, so that’s why she stood up so she could show him.

The first place she went was the hem of her leggings. Her fingers hooked around them and she pulled them down, just enough so Harry was able to see the top of one of her thighs - his breath hitched in his throat when he saw it. A massive bruise on her thigh, that had a few bits of dried blood on it. She looks down at her and a tear fell. Once she pulled the leggings back up, the next item of clothing she grabs is the shirt she’s wearing. Hesitating slightly, she pulls it up just below her boob, and this was the one thag shocked Harry the most - all over her stomach and side were bruises and cuts. It was like she had taken a million tiny knives to her stomach. One man had done this to a completely defensless woman.

Y/N then turns around, and lifts up the bun which had slightly fallen out, revealing her bruised back. It was worse than the front.

“That’s the worst of it,” she tells him, as she turns back around to face him.

“There’s more, as it was just relentless. Most of them are like on my legs, some in other places. I think if I had fought back, it would’ve been a lost worse, so I just lay there and let him do it.”

Harry felt the tears prick in the corner of his eyes as he realises that she was literally letting him do it to avoid herself getting hurt more. He tries to fight the tears back, but in the end, one of them slips and rolls down his cheek. He sniffles slightly, looking at his best friend who was in so much pain. “How long has he been doing this to you for?” He asks, wiping his nose as it had started to run, due to him crying. She pauses for a second, and Harry could literally see the cogs spinning like madness inside her fragile mind. “About 6 months.” Harry felt his heart stop again. All of this had been going on for six months and she had managed to keep it to herself and not tell anyone? He almost felt like throwing up right there and then.

“I got pretty good at covering everything with makeup,” she informs him like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Harry shakes his head. “Is there any reason he does this to you?”

“Yep,” she sighs. “He’s insecure about me being friends with you, as he believes that when I’m with you, I’m sleeping around with you. That was the first argument we had when he started doing this to me, and from then on that’s what it all seems to be about. I try to tell him that you’re only my best friend and that I would never do anything like that to him, but if anything that just makes him more mad as he thinks that I’m lying to him again. It’s become easier to deal with - argue, take the beating, go to bed, wake up and watch him be nice, cover everything up. It’s just a huge, repetitive cycle. As I said I thought it was becoming easier to deal with, but that all changed as of tonight. Tonight was definitely the breaking point.”

This was so much for Harry to register that he didn’t even know what to say. He kept on going back to the same thing though and that was getting his hands on Jake and teaching him a fucking lesson.

“I am so sorry that this is happening to you, Y/N,” he apologises again. “You’re never going back to him.”

“He’ll find me if I don’t go back.”

Harry shakes his head, “he won’t find you, because firstly, I have my security around the house and if I need to I can call in my actual security. Two, once you are all sorted out, I’m going to ring the police as I’m not letting him get away with this. I want to be the one to beat the fuck out of him, but I know I’ll get done for battery, so it’s best if I just let the cops handle this one.”

“No, Harry no you can’t!”

Y/N moves away from him, like she was ready to run from him. “If you phone the police everyone will get involved and I don’t want everyone to know!” She yells at him, beginning to cry again. His heart aches for her as he stands up and cautiously makes his way over to her shaking frame, not wanting to frighten her any further. “Please don’t phone the police Harry, as your best friend I’m begging you.”

“Y/N, bab, please listen,” he says gently as he stops in front of her. “The police are our best hope. If I don’t phone them, and let you go back then God knows how long this will go on for. If we get the police involved, they were take him to court and get a restraining order, or better yet put him in fucking jail. Yes they’ll ask for statements from you but when you do it you have to remember that the police are some of the most trustworthy people, and they’ll do all they can to help you, okay? You know I love you, and I know that you’re scared but I’m going to be phoning the police shortly. I can’t let you live like this. I don’t want you to live in fear because of him.” He couldn’t even bring himself to say Jake’s name. Y/N nods.

“I’m scared,” she sobs.

Harry opens out his arms for a hug, and she doesn’t hesitate before moving straight into them.

He wanted to squeeze her so hard that all of her broken parts mended, but he knew that she was so fragile and hurt. So instead, he hugged her lightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“Right, here’s what we’re gonna do okay? Me and you are going to go upstairs, and I’ll give you some of my clothes to wear for the night as I don’t want you sleeping in the stuff you came here in. I’ll make us a cup of tea and then we can do whatever you want. Whether that be sleep or watching the TV, but while you’re just getting settled I’m going to ring the police, okay?” He legs go of her and slightly bends so the two of them were eye level. As she nods her head, Harry kisses her forehead, and lets the kiss linger for a second. Once he pulls away, he grabs her hand and starts to lead her towards the stairs.

As they were halfway up the stairs, Y/N stops and Harry turns to look at her. “Can I sleep in your bed with you, tonight?”

His face softens, and he nods at her.

Once they were in his large bedroom, Y/N sat down on his bed and watches as he goes through his drawers to find something that she can wear. He pulls out a plain white t-shirt, and a pair of jogging bottoms. She then asks if he had a hoodie that she could wear also, so he pulls out one of his own merch hoodies. He hands the clothes to her, but waits a second. “I’m going to make the tea, and to ring the police, okay? You sure you’ll be alright up here alone?” He asks, and she nods her head. Harry smiles slightly before leaving his bedroom and closing the door behind her.

Y/N gets up from his bed and starts to get undressed so she could put on some warmer clothes. His clothes were big for her, so she had to pull the strings of the jogging bottons extra tight so they didn’t come down when she was sleeping, but other then that, it was all good. Once she was dressed, she tosses her dirty clothes into the washing hamper in the corner of his room, before climbing onto his bed. She settles onto ‘her side’ (the right side) as it was her favourite. Although it wasn’t her bed and was Harry’s, she first night she slept in it she had claimed her own side. It didn’t really bother Harry about the side that she had chose, as he preferred the left side. She buried herself under the heavy quilt, before looking around the room. It was complete silence, and she hated it.

But, she was more than thankful to Harry for tonight.

When she first arrived at his house, she was scared that he was going to notice, which in the end it did. But it was the build up to it. Having him realise that she had been lying all along to cover the tracks of the person who she wasn’t going to call her boyfriend anymore, so she didn’t hurt herself. Unfortunately, Harry was too smart and had found out, and having to tell someone that she was being abuse was one of the hardest things she had ever done. But, she was proud of herself for finally managed to tell someone.

She was just scared for what was going to come next.

About twenty minutes later, Harry came back up the stairs with two cup of teas, and a packet of chocolate digestives hanging from his mouth. He dangles them in front of Y/N so she can take them from him, which he does, and then she takes her boiling hot tea. Harry comes around the other sides of the bed and climbs in next bed, leaning back against the headboard. “The chocolate biscuits have been in the fridge, because I know you don’t like them when they’re warm and all the chocolate has melted,” he tells her, and she cracks a small smile at him remembering her habit. She opens the packet and offers it to Harry, and he takes a couple before putting them on the coasts that was on his bedside table. He looks at her.

“Did you speak to the police?”

“Yeah,” Harry nods after sipping his tea. “I told them about how you came here and what you told me - about how long it’s been going on for and stuff. They said that they’re going to go to your house, and I told them that you’re scared, as they were going to come here tonight to speak to you. So instead they said that you can some to the station tomorrow and give them a statement, and they can also have a nurse take a look at your bruises and that. Is that alright?” He asks and she nods her head with a small smile.

“I’m scared, and really nervous, but yeah that sounds good. Will you come with me?” She asks softly.

He nods. “Of course I will.”

Y/N takes a sip of her tea, before dunking her biscuit into it and eating it, as she watches Harry turn on the TV. She notices him flick through the channels until he finds the right one he wants, and when he clicks on it, the familiar elf with long blonde hair and the dwarf with an axe comes onto the screen. Y/N smiles as she instantly realises it as her favourite film - Lord of the Rings. She was a complete nerd for stuff like this, and just being able to wind down and watch this with Harry after such a hectic night is the best thing.

“Thank you, Haz, for everything you’ve done for me tonight. I honestly don’t know how to thank you for it all,” she tells him softly.

He looks at her and smiles. “I just want to make sure that you’re okay and that, y’know. I don’t want you to ever feel like you can’t come and talk to me, even if the situation is something on this scale, okay? I love you,” he tells her and she grins.

“I love you too.”

As the two of them sat in bed and watched the film, occasionally laughing at Gimli yelling at Legolas over who could kill the most orcs, Y/N couldn’t help but feel thankful for Harry. He was truly the kindest person on this whole planet, and she knew that she was so lucky to have someone as amazing as he is in her life, because she knew that if she didn’t have him, the outcome of tonight would’ve been different. And she didn’t even want to think about it. She knew that there was going to be way more stuff to come after all of this, like telling Harry’s family and her own family, but throughout it all, Harry was going to be with her every step of the way. He wasn’t going to leave her to deal with this alone. And she knew that, and that’s why she’s so glad that they’re best friends.

“Hey! Stop dunking your fucking biscuits into my tea, you have your own, and I’d rather not drinking biscuit crumbs!”

[mamabearcat]

The Importance of Ramen 6

This chapter was brought to you by avoiding jobs around the house that really ought to have been done instead torturing imaginary characters. Now, back to your regularly scheduled program...

Inuyasha startled awake from a sleep he hadn’t planned on taking. It was still dark outside, but he could feel a shift in the temperature, the cooler air drifting under the reed mat in the doorway signalling that dawn was not too far away. Sniffing the air, his pointed ears at full attention, he tried to sense what had woken him, and had his answer when he heard a faint whimper from the girl curled up against him. Sometime during the night he had slipped down the wall a little, and she had nestled her head onto his stomach, legs still in the sleeping bag curled up into her chest, fists tucked up under her chin. Her dark hair was fanned out over his legs, and he couldn’t help smiling at the tiny damp curls fixed to her forehead with perspiration.

 In the dim light, he studied her face, trying to work out why she had made that noise. Her eyebrows were furrowed, mouth turned down at the corners, and the fists under her chin tightened until her knuckles showed white. If she was dreaming, it wasn’t a happy one. Inuyasha reached down his hand, smoothing the damp curls off her sweaty forehead. 

“Shh, ‘gome, it’s just a bad dream. You’re safe”, he whispered, not wanting to wake the others. Her eyelids flickered, the lashes dark against her still pale cheeks. He frowned, feeling her forehead again. It was warm, not overly so, but enough to concern him a little. She whimpered again, rubbing the back of her head into his stomach, the sounds of her distress getting louder. Whatever this dream was about, it had gone on long enough. He leaned forward; ran the pads of his fingers over her cheeks to wake her gently. “Kagome, wake up.”

Kagome’s eyes flicked open suddenly, and she pushed out with her hands, hard against his chest. Blinking rapidly, taking in her surroundings as she became more awake, she relaxed against him as she breathed out a relieved sigh. “Woah. That was scary. I’m glad that wasn’t real.” 

She started to sit up, and Inuyasha helped her lean up against the wall so she was sitting next to him. The early dawn light was beginning to filter into the hut, the soft sunbeams stopping their march towards them just under the doorway. 

“Are you feeling okay, Kagome?”, asked Inuyasha, taking in her wide-eyed expression. 

“Much better, now I’m awake”, she sighed, running her fingers through her tousled hair. “That was one freaky dream!” 

Inuyasha watched and waited. Knowing Kagome, if she wanted to share, the story would come tripping out of her mouth with no extra prompting from him. All he had to do was provide silence. He smirked toothily as she began describing her dream a few moments later; she was so predictable. 

“I was in a hut like this one. At first, I thought I was alone, but then this guy leaned over me.” She shuddered. “I was pretty sure he was human, but something wasn’t right, it just felt like he was surrounded by this aura of… of… wrongness. I knew what he was going to do, and that I needed to get away, but I couldn’t move. It was like I was screaming inside my head for my body to move and it just wasn’t listening. He was reaching out to touch me and then… well, you woke me up.” Kagome rubbed her arms and shivered involuntarily. “Anyway, it was just a silly dream. Help me up please, Inuyasha?” 

“What for?” 

“Nature calls”, she yawned. “Just help me to stand up and I should be able to do the rest myself.” She unzipped the sleeping bag and held her arms out, wriggling her fingers at him. Lifting her to her feet, he watched as she gingerly put weight on her injured leg. 

“You okay?” 

She breathed out slowly. “I don’t think I’ll win a race anytime soon, but it’s not too bad”. Hissing just a tiny bit, she limped her way over to the door, Inuyasha hovering behind her in case she fell. 

“Where do you think you’re going?”, she asked, one eyebrow raised, as he pushed the screen out of the way, so she could move out of the doorway ahead of him. 

“Just makin’ sure your clumsy ass doesn’t end up stuck in a bush”, he grinned teasingly. 

Kagome blushed a little. “I really don’t need an audience for this”, she pouted. “Go back inside and do something useful, like lighting the fire for breakfast. I’ll be fine.” 

“Keh, don’t blame me if you fall on your face!” Inuyasha went back inside the hut. The others were still asleep, but he cleaned out the firepit, replacing the slightly damp logs from last night with fresh kindling. He had the fire going and Kagome’s kettle filled with water for tea by the time she returned. One look at her face had him realising that something was wrong. 

She was leaning against the doorframe, sweat beading on her forehead and upper lip. “Sorry… I’m… okay. I’m okay. Squatting down just hurt my leg a little more than I thought it would.” Without a word, he walked over to her and picked her up, carrying her back to the small nest made by her empty sleeping bag. After seating her carefully on the softly padded surface, he placed his hand on her forehead again. 

Kagome tried to weakly bat his hand away. “Stop fussing Inuyasha. I told you I’m fine. It’s the first time I’ve walked on this leg since yesterday; it was bound to hurt a bit.” She plastered a smile on her face. “Look, I’ll even drink more of that disgusting tea if it will stop you making a big deal out of nothing.” 

Inuyasha, ignored her hand, taking in her sweaty face and pale complexion. “You’re not fine, wench. You had a slight fever when you woke up this morning, and it’s a little worse. Let me look at those wounds of yours to make sure they’re not infected.” 

The commotion had woken Mirokou and Sango. Mirokou brought the first aid kit over, while Sango mixed more of the herbal tea that Kagome had drunk last night. Kagome rolled her eyes and sighed but decided it would be less trouble to let everyone fuss. 

Inuyasha carefully unwrapped the bandages on Kagome’s upper left arm, being cautious of the still healing bruise below her elbow. He gently slid his clawed forefinger underneath the tape and gauze on one side of the wound and then the other, cutting through so he could lift the gauze off her wound. The skin around the deep cut was pink, but he could see that the wound was healing nicely, beginning to knit the muscle back together. He gave it a good sniff, just to make sure. “This one’s okay”, he said. He moved aside so Sango could rub some of the healing cream from Kagome’s first aid kit around the wound and redress it. 

He moved towards Kagome’s thigh on the other side and was surprised when she placed a defensive hand in front of it. “Kagome, I need to check.” 

“Sorry”, she flushed, moving her hand out of the way. “I’m being a big wuss. This one just hurts a little more”. 

He placed his hand on the bandage and immediately knew the news wasn’t good. “Kagome, this one’s infected”, he sighed. “I can feel the heat coming through the bandage without even looking at it.” 

“Dammit”, muttered Kagome. “I was sure the saline would combat that.” 

Inuyasha removed the bandage even more gently than he had the previous one. Kagome kept herself as still as possible, making no sound, but her lowered brows and tight expression told the story of how much pain she was actually in. Inuyasha lifted the gauze away from the wound and drew in a deep breath. 

“Fuck Kagome, no wonder it was hurting”. The skin around the deeper puncture wound was bright red and shiny, the swelling spreading outwards around her thigh, pulling against the edges of the gash. Red lines at the edge of the swelling streaked upwards on her leg. Inuyasha barely had to sniff to scent the smell of infection in her leg. 

Sango peered over Inuyasha’s shoulder at Kagome’s thigh, and her face grew grim. “Take her back through the well, Inuyasha. She needs to get to a healer in her time as soon as possible.” She gestured towards the red streaks travelling up Kagome’s thigh. “These marks are a sign of a deep infection. I’ve seen them on other Taijiya who have been injured. Some of them recovered, but most …” She took a deep breath. “The infection grew rapidly worse no matter what our healers did. All they could do was ease their pain. Once they became confused and lost consciousness, we knew that they would never recover.” 

Kagome looked at them both, wide-eyed. “Don’t you think you’re being a little overly dramatic, Sango?”, she chuckled weakly. “I mean, I just got back, and we need to get back on the jewel shard hunt. I’m sure if I just rest for today, then tomorrow, I’ll be fine.” She took in Inuyasha and Sango’s serious expressions and looked towards Mirokou. “Mirokou, tell them that I just need some rest, and then we can all get going again.” 

Mirokou squatted down next to Kagome, holding the mug of herbal tea that Sango had prepared a few minutes ago. “Now, Kagome”, he said, his usual calm smile a contrast to the anxious grimace on Kagome’s face, “what sort of elder brother would I be if I counselled against a course of action that would have you healing faster?” He pushed the tea into her unwilling hands, smiling encouragingly as she forced herself to sip the bitter liquid. “If it’s just simple rest that you need, surely a rest in your own time in a comfortable bed under your mother’s loving care will speed your recovery. And, if as Sango suggests, a trip to a healer is required, that should not trouble you if you know it will bring your family here peace of mind. I’m sure if Inuyasha puts his mind to it, he could have you home before dark.” He looked questioningly at Inuyasha, who nodded brusquely. Mirokou leaned closer to Sango, who was still leaning over Inuyasha’s shoulder. “Do not trouble yourself about the rest of us while you’re gone, we will muddle along together just fine.” A sudden resounding slap, as Sango backhanded Mirokou across the cheek, startled Kagome then had her giggling. Obviously, his wandering hand had been unable to resist the temptation of Sango’s pert derriere as she leant forward. 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the pair’s familiar antics, but didn’t move from his spot beside Kagome, as Sango knelt to begin the process of rewrapping the wound in Kagome’s thigh. He removed the tea from Kagome’s tense hands and placed the mug on the floor, so it would not be spilt, and held her hands in his own instead. His ears drooped and laid flat on his head at the quiet whimpers escaping through Kagome’s clenched teeth as Sango cleaned and packed the wound with fresh gauze. 

“Looks like we’re goin’ on another run, wench”, he said quietly. He cleared his throat, trying to force a cheery note into his voice. “Maybe if I get ya home early enough, your mother will have time to make that crunchy chicken stuff. The one Souta likes so much. What’s it called again?” 

“Karaage” muttered Kagome through compressed lips. She really wanted to smile at Inuyasha’s attempts to take her mind off what Sango was doing, but her leg hurt so badly, worse than when the beetle had first gouged the hole in her leg. She tried her best, gasping a little. “It’s a shame she doesn’t know we’re coming; she might have bought steak for you.” 

He grinned. “Now that would be worth runnin’ back for.” He tried not to wince as Kagome dug her blunt fingernails into his palms as Sango tightened the bandage on her thigh. 

“All done”, said Sango, using some of the special cleaning gel on her hands after she had rinsed them in the water pail as Kagome had taught her. She repacked the medical kit, as Mirokou and the now awake Shippou bustled about making breakfast, cooking rice and making tea. 

“Drink your tea Kagome”, encouraged Inuyasha, letting go of her hands to pick up the mug. 

She flapped her hand at him. “Gimme a minute”, she panted. “I feel like I’m gonna… gonna…” Her eyes suddenly widened as her palm slapped over her mouth. Inuyasha had the good sense to let go of the mug and grab the almost empty water pail next to Kagome, tipping the water out and thrusting it in front of her face just in time. Sango padded back over to scoop Kagome’s long hair out of the way into a tail over her shoulder, rubbing her back comfortingly as Kagome hurled what was left of last night’s dinner into the pail in front of her. 

“Hnn, that was so gross”, moaned Kagome. “I’m so sorry.” She spat one last time into the bucket, then wiped her mouth with a damp cloth offered by Sango. Embarrassment flooded her face, and she hung her head. Inuyasha dipped his head down sideways until it was almost perpendicular with the floor, so he could look see her expression. 

“What’s with that face, wench?” he questioned, looking at her narrowed eyes and downturned mouth. 

Kagome looked up. “Do you really have to ask?”, she fired back. “I got targeted by a demon again, got myself injured, and now you’re gonna have to babysit me and take me home. And to top it all off, I just ruined everyone’s breakfast by chucking up in front of them while they were eating.” 

Inuyasha grunted. “First of all, the beetle was after the shard, not you, and the way it grabbed you took everyone by surprise, me included. Second, yes, I am takin’ you home, but you ain’t no baby and if you sit me on the way there, I will not be happy. And” he said, glancing over his shoulder and taking in Mirokou sipping tea while Sango served herself rice and Shippou and Kirara continued chewing, “breakfast don’t look ruined to me.” 

Shippou’s wide eyes took everything in as he continued munching on his rice ball. “Ish Kagmee gna be ok?”, he asked Mirokou, barely coherent behind the large mouthful of rice he was still chewing. 

“She will be fine. Inuyasha will make sure of it by taking her back through the well and letting healers in her time assess her injury”, replied Mirokou comfortingly, patting the kit on the head as he continued to drink his tea. 

Inuyasha sat down with them and began shovelling rice into his mouth, sculling hot tea as quickly as he could. Sango’s assessment of Kagome’s wound had him worried. Put an enemy in front of him that was threatening Kagome, and he would give his all to take it down, no sweat, but infection was a battle he couldn’t fight for her. His mind went back to an image of long ago, his own hand tiny in the sweaty clasp of his mother’s, her eyes closed as she struggled for every breath while the infection in her lungs fought to defeat her. He pushed the thought away. 

“Mirokou, Sango, you may as well go back to Kaede’s while we’re gone. That way I can come back through the well and let you know she’s okay.” Mirokou and Sango nodded. “I’m gonna go over the mountain instead of around, that should take about two hours off my time.” 

“Over Mount Mitsumine?”, asked Mirokou. Inuyasha nodded, tapping his foot impatiently as Sango tied some extra rice balls and water into a cloth for him to carry in case Kagome grew hungry or thirsty later. Mirokou was puzzled – his mind was tickling him, trying to feed him information pertinent to the shrine on Mount Mitsumine, but he couldn’t quite remember. He made an angry tsking noise; it was just out of reach, and he was sure it was something of importance. 

Inuyasha squatted down in front of Kagome with his back facing her. She had done her best with the tea, taking a few more sips, but looked sweaty and tired, and Inuyasha felt his concern for her rising. He pushed it down again. “Okay Kagome, the faster we leave, the faster you can be home sleepin’ in that girly pink bed a yours” he teased, as she slowly eased herself forward, draping her arms over his shoulders. Instead of holding onto her thighs as he usually did, he created a seat under her bottom for her by interlocking his fingers behind his back. He straightened himself up slowly, bouncing her slightly, getting her into position. Kagome buried her face in his hair, whimpering in pain at the pressure his forearm put on her swollen thigh. “Shit, this ain’t gonna work”. He was going to have to carry her in front of him again, but it was hard on his arms, and would slow them down as they went over the mountain. 

Shippou’s worried face brightened, and he whispered in Sango’s ear. “Wait, Inuyasha, Shippou’s had a really good idea!” Sango spoke to Mirokou and he dropped a few coins into her hand. She bolted out the door and came back a short time later with a long piece of thickly woven indigo fabric. 

“What the fuck’s that for?” Inuyasha grunted. Sango motioned for Inuyasha to bend down again, then motioned for Kagome to climb onto Inuyasha’s back. She put the top centre of the piece of long cloth over Kagome, up near her neck, and tucked the rest of the width underneath Kagome’s bottom, creating a pocket for her to sit in. She drew the long tails of fabric up over Inuyasha’s shoulders, wrapping them under his arms, and then under and over Kagome’s legs on each side, pulling the tails firmly back around to the front. She held onto the fabric and motioned for Inuyasha to stand. He did so cautiously, worried that Kagome would fall, but to his surprise, she was held in tightly to his back by the fabric and felt lighter than she usually did. “You ‘kay Kagome?”, he asked, trying to look over his shoulder at her. 

Kagome rested her head on his shoulder. The fabric had her snuggled in tight against his back and was supporting her leg without pushing on the wound too much. “Yeah, I’m good”, she murmured. Sango tied the long tails of fabric around Inuyasha’s waist, being careful to make the knot above the Tessaiga so he would still be able to draw it if required. 

“Now you have your arms free if you need them”, she grinned. “It was Shippou’s idea – he reminded me how busy mamas carry their children when they need to get stuff done. I used to… to carry Kohaku like this when he was little, when my mother and father were away on a raid and I needed to practice my drills”. She smiled a little tearfully at the picture Inuyasha and Kagome made. “He always seemed very comfortable that way – he usually went to sleep when I wore him like this.” Sango tucked the small sack of food into the top of the wrap near Kagome’s shoulder. “Now you’re all set to go”.

“Thanks Sango. Thanks runt – you did good.” Inuyasha paused to ruffle the fox kit’s fluffy red fringe and Shippou beamed under the rare praise. After a final nod to Mirokou, Inuyasha ran out the door, slowly at first, until he grew to trust that Kagome wouldn’t fall. He sped up and was soon out of sight. 

Sango and Shippou finished up their breakfast and began tidying everything into Kagome’s gigantic backpack. Sango looked sideways at Mirokou, who was still muttering to himself. “What’s up?”, she asked. 

“There was something about the shrine at Mount Mitsumine”, muttered Mirokou, “but I can’t quite…” Suddenly he stopped, looking apprehensively at Sango. “Oh no. Hidarugami! I remember hearing from a traveller that they haunt the trail near the shrine!” Sango stared at him, open mouthed. 

Overhearing the conversation, Shippou nodded, familiar with this particular entity. “Ah, hungry ghosts. Good thing they took some rice balls with them.” 

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

 Inuyasha ran like the wind, his feet pounding the ground as regular as a heartbeat. He could feel that Kagome had dozed off, the gentle sway of the fabric hammock she was supported in easing her pain a little. Inuyasha smiled. The runt did have some good ideas occasionally. He would just keep going until she woke, get as much ground covered as he could. They were already nearly up the mountain, the zig zagging trail no match for the sure footed hanyou. 

The dappled light under the trees kept away the summer heat, and the splashing water from the little waterfall they were currently passing was refreshing. Brightly coloured finches flew overhead, flying through the spray in an effort to keep cool. He could keep going for a few more hours yet without needing to take a break. He could see the brightly coloured gate of Mitsumine Shrine up ahead. They just needed to get through this narrow-wooded part first and then the path down the other side of the mountain would open out, as more travellers from Edo used that road to make a pilgrimage to the mountain shrine. 

Suddenly he felt like he’d hit a wall. Weakness caused his limbs to tremble and he dropped to one knee, staggering, trying to keep his balance with Kagome on his back. What the fuck was going on! His throat felt dry and cracked, his stomach clenched in on itself like hadn’t eaten in weeks. He lurched to his feet and forced himself to keep moving, but each step dragged like something was siphoning off every ounce of energy he’d ever possessed. Inuyasha growled in outrage. He would not let whatever this barrier was beat him. He would keep going. Kagome needed him to keep going. He heard her moan softly behind him, and it gave him the will to take a few more steps before his legs faltered and he slammed into the ground face first. 

“Gome”, he whispered, turning his face away from the sandy dirt of the mountain pass, his sandpaper dry throat cracking what was left of his voice, “you ‘kay?” She moaned softly again, and against his will, Inuyasha’s eyes rolled back in his head. The cheerful birds continued their twittering, splashing in the puddles left by the side of the waterfall, paying no heed to the pair collapsed on the path beside them.

[yuki7900archive]

Movie!Nya x Female Reader Part 3

It’s like, past midnight, I should really go to bed.

You had tackled your mom into the biggest embrace possible upon seeing her, and she hugged back just as hard. "Oh (Y/N), thank god you're safe!" She exclaimed and pulled away, cupping  your face and stroking your cheeks. "I was so worried. Are you okay? You aren't hurt are you?"

"I'm okay, mom! A friend of Lloyd looked after me and got me to a safe spot." You told her, remembering what your friends had asked of you back at the Destiny's Bounty.

"You gotta keep this a secret. We can't have people knowing we are a part of the Secret Ninja Force. For protection reasons, ya' know?" Cole had muttered as you and Lloyd got ready to depart. "If your mom asks, Nya took you to a safe zone. Don't specify. There's a lot of safe zones in Ninjago so she'll just assume it was a different one to wherever she ended up."

You understood what he meant for protection. It wouldn't just compromise their safety but also all their loved ones. It was definitely for the best to keep this a secret. The only reason they'd told you is because, with how frequent Garmadon attacked, they couldn't keep doing this every time. It was easier just to come clean and tell you from the start and save a whole lot of drama. You'd all seen enough movies to know it never ended well when things were kept secret.

"I'm glad you're okay mom, I was so scared." Your mother had hugged you again before turning to the ginger haired woman stood nearby. She too was hugging her son. She stopped and rubbed his back, ruffling his hair briefly before. The boy had smiled tiredly at her. She looked at you both.

"Would you two like to stay for dinner tonight? I figure you are probably shaken from today." You looked up at your mom and tilted your head with a small smile, shrugging. You weren't opposed to spending the evening at Lloyd's house. Your mom nodded at Koko.

"That sounds wonderful. Thank you so much."

It wasn't much of a dinner, but dumplings were still delicious no matter what occasion. You ate them quietly as your mom and Lloyd's mom discussed general things with each other. They talked about work, the weather, anything to take your minds off the attack from earlier. It was still fresh in your mind however. You couldn't stop thinking about it. Everyone was used to this, but they shouldn't be! This shouldn't be a common occurrence and yet it was. It sickened you to your core. All those people, living in fear, fleeing for their lives. All the screaming and suffering pained your heart to even think about. And yet you were just another one of these civilians, waiting to be crushed.

"School probably won't be open tomorrow," Lloyd spoke to you, grabbing your attention. "Do you wanna hang out with us all instead?"

You thought about what Chen had said to you. You had finally found out about Lloyd's dad, the evil warlord that terrorised everyone in the city. He'd said to come see him when you'd realised the mistake you'd made but...what was the mistake? It just became clearer to you now how wrong Chen was about everything, how wrong everyone was about everything. His father was the one doing the damage, not him. He was keeping the peace!

"I'd love to Lloyd." You smiled wide at him and he smiled just as hard back.

You didn't see it, but Koko had heard the chirp in your voice and felt her heart swell up. Her son hadn't made a new friend in such a long time, it was nice to see at least one other person was on his side and not everyone else's.

"Awesome!" He grinned, showing off his little fangs before digging into his food. He had fangs? That was so cool, not to mention cute.

You really couldn't wait for tomorrow to come.

- - -

Whilst you had lied and told your mom you were just going for a walk around the city, you'd actually headed for the Destiny's Bounty again. Everyone else was there upon your arrival, all kitted out in their ninja gear and doing stretches to warm up their muscles. They greeted you and Lloyd when you approached them, and you greeted them back.

"I'm gonna go change, I'll be right back." The blonde jogged off to get his gi and change. You went and sat on the sofa, simply watching the ninja warm up and get ready for training. You observed all of them, but your eyes kept finding their way to Nya until eventually they just remained locked onto her. You felt your heart buzz when she smirked at the others, laughing with them as one of them had shared a funny joke or story. You stared long enough to noticed she had a dimple. It stood out to you in a weird way. It just...suited her. Everything about her just fit together perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle. Her hair, her clothes, her personality. Everything. You wished you could be like that. Instead you just a mess.

You couldn't do much as the Ninja did their training, left to just sit and wait for them to finish. You weren't complaining though, it was quite interesting to watch them do their thing. Wu had come over after giving them instructions to get into pairs and start sparring each other. He came and sat beside you, chatting with you.

"Are you okay Wu?" You had asked him as he grunted upon sitting down.

"Yes, I just need a little break from standing." He told you, sighing and relaxing into the sofa. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just watching." He hummed as you turned to look back at your friends, just catching Nya slamming her brother into the floor. They had both laughed, Kai sitting up and scratching the back of his neck as his sister ran a hand through her hair. She noticed you were looking at her and smiled, giving you a small wave. You had waved back shyly, feeling your cheeks go red.

"I've been thinking about what you said yesterday." You furrowed your brows and looked back at the old man beside you. "When you felt you had to apologise to Nya."

"I..." You bit your lip and slumped into the sofa. "I just feel bad that I couldn't fight back...I felt helpless. Like I was getting in the way. Even more so when I found out Nya was a ninja, and she had to put her job on hold just so she didn't have to leave me alone."

"Why do you feel guilt about this? It is a part of her job to protect, and that is what she did."

"I dunno." You shrugged and averted your gaze to your fingers as you fiddled with them.

"Maybe it is because you feel like you can do something." He suggested. "There is something inside of you, a fight. You want to be able to do what Nya and your other friends can do, does that sound about right?"

You internally snorted at the rhyme in that sentence, but after that you thought about what he'd said. Maybe that was the case, maybe you did want to fight. But what if you weren't enough? What if you weren't cut out to be a ninja. These guys had been training for years so for you to start now...you'd be so far behind. You'd only get in the way of them. But weren't you getting in the way now? One of the ninja would have to keep staying behind to make sure you got to safety, and that put everybody else in the city at risk. That was too much guilt to hold on your shoulders. But if someone died because you failed to save them, what would be worse to deal with? You supposed if you tried to help you couldn't say you hadn't done all you could. Ugh, your head hurt just thinking about it.

"I don't know." You responded, burying your head in your arms. You had groaned a little as the thoughts ran through your mind. "Do you think I could fight?"

"Anyone can be a ninja, (Y/N). It is not an exclusive thing for elemental masters." He spoke softly to you, placing a hand on your shoulder and squeezing gently. "It is a dangerous job, and I understand if you are afraid. I am not going to force you into it. But I believe in you, and I can sense the want inside of you that wishes to protect."

You glanced back at the old man, seeing that same old, comforting smile on his face. You gave him a small smile back and lifted your head up. "I'll think about it."

He nodded and used your shoulder to help push himself up off the sofa. Without saying anything more, he headed back over to his students to observe how they were getting on. Your gaze landed back on Nya (yet again). You watched her beat up her brother and thought about what Wu had said. He seemed to want you to do it. Or perhaps he had just read your mind and decided it would be for the benefit of others. Not because you'd be helping, but because at least then you could defend yourself on the ground and your friends could get on with their job. Or maybe, just maybe, you were seriously overthinking everything, and you needed to just go for it.

For the next hour your mind flopped back and forth between what to do. You went from ready to kick butt to being on the verge of a heart attack every five minutes or so. You just couldn't make up your mind. You were still debating what to do even when you all went out to lunch together. You had just ordered your food and were were all sat in a big booth just waiting for it to arrive to your . Your friends were chatting with one another and sipping their drinks as you sat and messed with your fingers, your pupils focused on your hands as pros and cons flickered through your mind.

"(Y/N)?" You heard a distant and blurred voice call your name, which made you snap out of the trance you were in and look up at the six who were all staring at you with concerned frowns. Had they been calling your name? You hadn't even heard, you were too busy stuck in your own thoughts. "Are you alright?" Cole rested his head in the palm of his hand and raised a brow at you.

"Ah, yeah." You nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I'm just thinking 'bout stuff." You crossed your arms and rested on the table, the others still looking at you in worry. They had momentarily peered at each other, having a one of those telepathic conversations that close friends sometimes had when they needed to discuss something without others knowing what they were talking about.

"What's bothering ya' girlie?" Nya scooted closer to you and rubbed your back, which aided in soothing you, but also helped in raising your heart rate. You couldn't look her in the face for more than a few seconds, as that caring expression upon her face caused you to turn red. "You can tell us."

With a hum you sat up and focused on the table top in front of you. Your arms were still crossed, your fingers digging into your arms skin as you hugged yourself tightly.

"Wu talked to me earlier when he came and sat down with me." You began to explain. You wondered what they would think of the situation. "He thinks I want to be a ninja like you guys, and he thinks I could do it, even when I don't have any powers. I said I'd think about it but...I dunno if I have the courage to do it."

"Woah, Wu wants you to fight?" Kai muttered with slightly wide brown eyes.

"He said he won't force me to. He just said that he believes I could do it." You shrugged a little.

"Well," Lloyd inputted. "My uncle is wise. Everything he says has meaning. So if he believes in you then he must believe in you a lot."

"Like with us. And you should've seen us when Sensei first started training us." Jay laughed a little, as did everyone else.

"Yeah, we were pretty awful." Cole blew the fringe out of his face and grinned as he recalled the past. "Jay couldn't stop tripping up over his own flail."

You snorted but covered your mouth and tried to contain your giggles, apologising to Jay for being rude. He wasn't bothered too much, simply laughing along with you and the rest of the team.

"I think you could do it." You heard Nya say once the laughter had died down. You looked at her as she grinned at you, her arm around your shoulder. There was definitely a blush across your face now. She was so close to you. "It's a lot of hard work, but its fun too! And if Wu thinks you're up for the challenge then I don't have a doubt in my mind that you can do it too."

Your heart was ringing in your ears as she spoke to you, your mind becoming dizzy. You couldn't think straight in that moment, entranced by her voice and the look in her eyes. Just looking into them you could see the faith in you she had, the genuine belief that you could achieve what she and her friends had achieved. It gave you that extra bit of confidence and hope. If she believed you, then you thought you could do it too.

"Y-You really think I could be a ninja?" You had to hear her say it again. Just one more time to give you that final push.

"Yeah! Don't worry, I'll look out for ya'. I'll be like a second mentor." A second mentor? You liked the idea of Nya mentoring you. You'd get to spend even more time with her that way! You'd train together and fight together, look out for each other. Just imagining all the fun times you two could have together made you giddy.

The boys all smirked between one another and chuckled, causing Nya to huff and stare at them all with a raised brow and a grin. "Why are you all giggling? What's so funny?"

"(Y/N)'s face." Your eye's widened as the girl beside you examined your face. "She's blushing~" Cole teased you and everyone else (except Nya) said "ooh", making you blush harder. The ravenette laughed and rubbed your shoulder.

"Ha-ha, you're so cute!" She hugged you tightly, squashing your body. You didn't care, grinning like crazy. She'd just called you cute. She thought you were cute. You couldn't have been happier.

"Sis stop before she combusts! Look at how red you're making her!" The grey ninja pulled away and laughed even harder. She covered her mouth with her hand for a few moments before running a hand through her beautiful, black locks of hair.

"Aw, I'm sorry! I'll stop." She let go of you and you mentally cursed. You were enjoying that hug. And you must've made it clear to the boys because they were still piping up and making comments.

"Look at that expression!" Lloyd had picked up his drink and swirled the cup a little before sipping.

"You look so upset." The black ninja agreed with the green ninja, Jay and Kai both nodding their heads.

"My scanner also indicates an increase in sadness." You were quickly becoming a mess as the teasing continued. You hoped they cut it out soon before you exploded in embarrassment. You hadn't even thought about the possibility of you having a crush on her. Thinking about it, it was actually really obvious now that it had been pointed out to you. The constant blushing, the racing heart, the dizziness. How did you not notice sooner? Oh god it had only been two days and you had fallen for somebody. Was it possible for that to happen? Apparently so, as it had just happened.

"Come on guys!" Your crush drank her own drink as she ruffled your (H/L) (H/C) hair. "Leave her alone!"

They did (thankfully) just as your food came at the same time. A new conversation started, one between Lloyd and Jay where they discussed the latest episode of some anime that had been airing on TV recently. Meanwhile Cole and Kai were rolling their eyes and shaking their heads as they smirked at one another, having their own conversation about something entirely different. You guessed they weren't really anime fans. You, Nya and Zane were just quietly eating and enjoying the noodles you'd ordered. You had to admit, these were the best you'd had...well, ever. You could see why they came here often.

Occasionally you glanced beside you and saw Nya slurping up her noodles. She was focusing on the bowl rather than you, so you managed to get away with the odd look in her direction without her noticing you. You were pretty sure the boys spotted you though, not that you really cared. Whatever, there was no harm in taking the odd look here and there. So long as you didn't give off a creepy, stalker vibe, then everything was just dandy.

You couldn't wait to start training with her.

- - -

"Again!" You got into the same stance as before and did ten more side kicks, hitting the pad's on Nya's hands perfectly every time. "Don't forget to breathe out! Stop holding your breath!"

Dang, you forgot. You were getting so caught up in getting the kicks right and not looking stupid in front of the girl that you kept holding your breath. You began doing what she had taught you, gritting your teeth and making a small "ch-sh" sort of sound. Nya had said it made it easier to breathe as you fought. You had to agree that it did really help.

"You're a fast learner (Y/N)! Those kicks of yours could knock someone's teeth out, heh." She lowered her arms and slid her hands out of the pads, putting them to the side before she put her hands on her hips. "Got a lot of pent up anger?"

"Heh, I guess so." You shrugged and smiled at the girl ninja. "I don't really get the chance to get my anger out."

"Well, Spinjitzu is a really good outlet for it." She explained and walked to the bench a few steps away, picking up your water bottle. She quickly span around and threw it at you, making you yelp. You accidentally bat it as you went to catch it and began doing some weird water bottle juggling with your hands until you finally managed to grip it. Nya had laughed as she picked up her own water bottle and took a sip. You had done the same, raising the bottle to your lips and drinking the water inside.

The boys were taking a break, sat on the side and chatting to themselves as you two had decided to keep going for a bit longer. You knew that taking breaks was important, but since you were doing basics you felt like you needed to push yourself that little bit further. Wu certainly didn't mind, and neither did Nya. The ninja sat on the sidelines, watching the pair of you as you prepared for the next kick.

"Alright, so," The ravenette placed her bottle back on the floor. "I'm gonna show you how to do a down kick. I want you to walk as you do them, like we did with the other kicks. You do a kick, take a step forward and then do another. Yeah?" You nodded with a determined smile and she chuckled. She got into the stance before lifting her leg up high and striking down. She did ten kicks in total before turning to you and telling you it was your turn. You always hated doing things for the first time in front of people in fear of screwing up, and it was worse now that the boys were watching you and not doing their own training, but making a fool of yourself in front of Nya was not an option.

And yet, your body did it anyway.

Your foot betrayed you as it clipped the concrete whilst you walked forward, causing you to lose balance. You thought you'd be able to rectify yourself but unfortunately not and you nearly smacked into the floor. Key word, nearly. The thing stopping you from falling was Nya, as she rushed over and caught you before you ended up hurting yourself. You face had gone bright red as she had taken your hands and pulled you up. The reason for your blushing though was, not only how close you were now, and not only because she'd just saved you from a concrete face-plant, but also the fact she was still holding your hands. In fact her thumbs were rubbing your skin softly.

"You alright? Had a little trip there." She joked with you. "Wouldn't want your pretty face to smash into the floor, huh? That wouldn't be fun." You didn't utter a word and instead shook your head, averting your gaze to the ground. She'd just said you had a pretty face. Did you really look pretty? Did she think you did? Why else would she say it if she didn't think it? To be nice? Maybe she didn't really think it, she was just saying it because that's what friends did. But since when did friends just say that so casually in a conversation? Most girls you knew only brought it up if you had called yourself unattractive or they were talking about body types, or maybe when you'd go out shopping for clothes and they tell you how great you look in a certain skirt or something. But she'd just slipped it in nonchalantly, like it was a throw away comment.

"T-Thanks Nya." You stuttered and gave a nervous laugh, swallowing the lump in your throat. You could hear the small snickers coming from the benches where the boys sat. They were obviously laughing at you and your failing attempts to be calm around the girl. Damn them.

"No problem." Her hands slipped away from yours, much to your dismay. "You did some good down kicks. Let's do some more and then combine all the kicks we've learnt, yeah?"

The training continued for another ten minutes or so, and as you and Nya went to sit down for your break, the boys got up to continue their workout. They had smirked and nudged you as they walked past, Cole even giving you a wink. It was times like this you really hated them. You didn't even have to tell them you were gay, they already knew. Clearly you being gay for Nya was more obvious than Cole being gay for Jay. But that's because he could keep a poker face, stay cool and collected. People had no clue that he liked Jay, only you and Nya did. And you swore, he only told you just to irritate you at how easy he made it look to act natural whilst all you could do was get flustered and screw up. There wasn't any point in you pretending now either, as you'd made it blatantly obvious to the entire group that you liked Nya. Hell, you were pretty sure even Wu knew about your crush. And Lloyd's mom. And your mom (unfortunately).

"Come on sweetie! Just tell me who it is!" She had pleaded to you a couple of nights ago, you both seated on the sofa and watching TV together like you did every night after dinner. It was some game show your mom loved to watch, but tonight she was more focused on the new information she'd received from Koko during work earlier that day. "I promise it'll be our secret!"

"No!" You had laughed and crossed your arms, trying to deny it. You were determined not to tell her who it was, but she was slowly wearing you down the more she begged you for an answer.

"Please (Y/N)!" She hugged you tightly. "If you don't do it I'll kiss you in front of all of your friends." She tried to threaten you. You gave a singular, mocking laugh.

"Jokes on you, Koko does that to Lloyd anyway! And Edna with Jay too! You cannot shame me." You had smirked triumphantly until her face darkened. Oh no, that wasn't good.

"Then I'll show them your baby photos." You widened your eyes, your face dropping immediately.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I, dear daughter." She had grinned. "Wouldn't I?"

You gave in, knowing that this was a very serious threat indeed. With a sigh you had uttered Nya's name, making your mother squeal in excitement. She had shaken you as all you could do was crack a smile and roll your eyes. She was more excited then you were, going on about how cute she was and how she was already thinking of ship names (you wished Koko had never explained it to her). She had begun texting Lloyd's mom that instant and started discussing it, and you didn't know whether to laugh, be embarrassed or be creeped out. At least your mom was happy, you supposed.

"Can't believe how fast these past few weeks have gone. I feel like I've known ya' for years, but we've only known each other like, less than a month." The black haired teenager crossed her arms and closed her eyes.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." It went quiet again for a few moments as you both just sat there in silence.

"We don't hang out enough. Just us two." The girl leaned forward and looked at you. "We should hang out without the guys sometime." Yes. That sounded like heaven to you.

"Are you free this weekend?"

[embklitzke]

Awakenings - Book Six - Chapter 3

The world ended on an August Sunday.  This is the story of some of those who survived the end of everything.

Three

               “It won’t be long now,” the woman’s voice hissed, the sound of it scraping against the fibers of his nerves.

               Standing at the edge of the tarn, staring into its inky depths, J.T. spun, vainly seeking the source of the voice in the darkness that closed in around him.

               “Soon,” the voice crooned.  The hairs on his arms and the back of his neck began to rise and J.T. shuddered.

               “Show yourself,” he demanded, his voice calm and commanding, belying the queasiness and panic rising in his gut, threatening to choke him.

               The voice laughed.  “So demanding for one so young.  Do you think seeing my face will change what is to come?”

               “Show yourself or begone.”  J.T. turned a little more to his left.  He thought he saw a flash of white in that direction.  “I have no interest in your vague threats from the shadows.  Come out and speak to me in the open if you want to talk.  Otherwise, leave me in peace.”

               He knew this was more than a dream—had known it as soon as he opened his eyes to find himself standing in front of the dark, ancient tarn.  It was the one she had drowned herself in centuries ago, before he could stop her.  It was an act he understood now, but then...

               “Show yourself,” he said again, more quietly this time.  “Or I’m leaving.”

               Her laughter sent chills down his spine and made him want to cover his ears.  It was like claws against slate, like something sharp scraping against glass, and set his teeth on edge.  He fought the rising urge to strike whoever she was, to break her jaw just to make the sound stop.

               It was a dream that wasn’t a dream.  What he did here and now would have some kind of consequence in reality—the question was what and when that would come to pass.

               He hadn’t quite expected her to show herself, but she did, stepping out of the shadows he’d turned toward.  She was slender and pale-skinned, her dark eyes sunk into hollows, her blonde hair hanging in a hundred braids around her face.  She wore a tattered gown, its ermine-trimmed hem stained with mud and blood. When she smiled at him, it sent a fresh shudder through him.  Her smile was a predator’s smile, a sociopath’s smile.

               “We are coming,” she said softly.  “We will have our justice for what was taken from us.”

               She blew him a kiss.

                 J.T. woke with a jerk, breathing hard and shaking from head to toe.

               He was alone, the bed cold next to him.  Carolyn hadn’t come.  He hadn’t expected her to, but he’d hoped.  Things had been awkward between them since he’d asked her to marry him. She still hadn’t given him a straight answer.  They’d stopped spending their nights together—she’d started staying with Jacqueline, not that the healer had been sleeping in her own bed, anyway.

               At least Carolyn said that she still loved him. That had to mean something, at least.

               J.T. squeezed his eyes shut for a few long moments, trying to catch his breath and settle down.

               Who the hell was that?

               He pressed a hand over his eyes.  He was still shaking.

               Just can’t catch a break, can we?

               His breathing calmed after a few moments and once it had, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, intending to get up. Instead he perched on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall for a long moment in the shadows.

               Get up. You need to have something to eat and then you need to check on Hecate and make sure infection hasn’t set in on that wound of hers like it seems to with everyone else.

               The fact that Matt had trusted him with Hecate’s care—even given him the key to their room—had surprised J.T., but perhaps not as much as it should have.  After all, Matt had long been aware of his communication with Ériu, and while he hadn’t confirmed that he remembered Cíar ever telling the girl about Hecate, J.T. was willing to guess that he did.

               Why else would he have trusted J.T. the way he was?

               Still, he didn’t move.  He turned the dream over in his brain again.  The face, the voice—both had been familiar, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why, and that annoyed him more than he was willing to admit.

               It wasn’t just a dream.

               He wished it had been.  Life would have been easier if it had been.

               With a sigh, he got up and got dressed, trying to mentally prepare himself for his day.

               The dream, he decided, would have to wait until it started to make sense.  Maybe if he stopped thinking about it, something would fall into place.

               He was almost afraid that it would.

               Matt was just coming out of his cot when J.T. stepped out of his.  The younger man looked tired, perhaps a little worried, and J.T. frowned, glancing toward the door Matt had just come through.

               “She okay?” J.T. asked, gesturing toward the door.

               Matt startled slightly, then let out a little laugh and shook his head.  “Scared me. I think she’s okay, all things considered.  She’s asleep right now.”

               J.T. nodded.  “Want me to take a look?”

    ��          Matt shook his head again.  “I don’t want to wake her.  I know it seems like she’s sleeping a lot but that’s a good sign, right? You need sleep to heal, right?”

               “Right,” J.T. said, giving him a reassuring smile even as he made a mental note to check on Hecate sooner rather than later. There was something about the way that Matt described it that made him nervous.  It was probably just paranoia, but it was far better to be safe than sorry--that was a lesson they’d learned far too often.

               “Are you okay?” Matt asked, jarring J.T. from his thoughts.  “You look a little rough around the edges.  Something happen?”

               J.T. waved a hand as he started walking, Matt falling into step with him.  “Yeah, but it’s probably not anything to worry about,” he said.  “I didn’t sleep well.”

               “Didn’t sleep well as in just had trouble sleeping or didn’t sleep well as in something’s fucking with your sleep?”

               He’s as fucking perceptive as his sister.  Must run in the family.  J.T. exhaled a sigh.  “Both,” he admitted.  “I had a fucked-up dream.”

               “Something tells me it was more than just that,” Matt said.  “What was it about?”

               “I think it was a warning.”

               Matt stopped walking and J.T. was three steps beyond him before he turned back, blinking at the other man.

               “What?”

               “What kind of warning?” Matt asked, his voice quiet.

               J.T. felt a flicker of alarm.  “Why are you asking?”

               Matt shook his head a little.  “What kind of warning, Jay?”

               “Someone’s coming,” J.T. said quietly.  “But I have no fucking clue who it is.”

               “I was afraid of that.”  Matt took him by the sleeve.  “Come on.  I’ve got something to show you.”

                 The dream he’d had weighed more and more heavily on his thoughts the closer they got to the barrow.  Matt hadn’t given him much detail on the way, only that he and Marin had discovered something at the barrow that had been a cause for concern—more than a little concern at that.

               It’s not that, is it?

               He had the sinking feeling that whatever Matt and Marin had discovered at the barrow had more than a little to do with his dream.

               “Damn fog keeps getting thicker,” Matt muttered as they passed the ruins of the Shakespeare garden.  “It wasn’t this bad this morning.”

               A slight shiver worked its way down J.T.’s spine. “How long have you been up?”

               “Just after first light,” Matt admitted. “Probably too long.  Couldn’t sleep because something was bugging me. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I was talking to Marin.”

               “That something was going on out here.”

               Matt nodded, his expression grim.  “Yeah.  That.”

               “Have you told anyone else?”

               “I haven’t,” Matt said.  “I thought about telling Hecate, but the last thing I want is her getting worried about something she doesn’t need to worry about right now.  She’s got enough on her mind and getting her to stay here is a precarious proposition as it is.”

               J.T. suppressed his wince as they started down the hill.  “Did Marin—”

               Matt smiled weakly.  “She’s okay with it.  Now I just have to get them in the same room together and pray it’s not as awkward as I’m afraid it’s going to be.”

               J.T. clapped him on the shoulder, spirit momentarily buoyed.  “It’ll be okay,” he said.

               “I sure as hell hope so.”  He glanced away from J.T. and down toward the barrow, stopping dead in his tracks.  This time, J.T. stopped too, following his gaze.

               “Shit.”

               Phelan sat on the ground next to the barrow, blood dripping from his nose, holding his head between his hands.  J.T. broke into a jog down the slope, suddenly glad that he’d grabbed his kit on the way out the door this morning.

               “What the hell, Phelan?”

               Matt came on his heels, looking as concerned as J.T. felt.  Phelan’s eyes snapped open at the sound of J.T.’s voice, though it took a few moments for him to actually be able to focus on the other man.

               “Marin told me,” he rasped, his eyes wide.  As he and Matt got closer, J.T. could see that Phelan was shaking.  “I came out to have a look.  Someone had to.”  He squeezed his eyes shut, pressing the heels of his hands against them.  “Fuck me.  I didn’t expect it to be that bad.”

               J.T. mumbled a few choice words under his breath as he dropped to one knee next to his friend, already digging around in his bag for some tissues to shove against Phelan’s nose.  “Did something show up and smack you in the face?” he asked, his tone a little more caustic than he intended.  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Matt wince.

               Screw it. Too late to apologize now. “Move your hands, Phelan,” J.T. said as he found the tissues.  “Here. You’re bleeding all over the place.”

               “I know, I can taste it.”  Phelan obediently took the tissues and held them against his nose.  His voice came out muffled, still raspy, as if he’d been screaming—though he couldn’t have been, since J.T. hadn’t heard a sound.  “It’s them.  They’re coming.”

               J.T.’s stomach dropped.

               Matt was the one to ask the question.

               “Who?”

               “Her sisters,” Phelan said.  “The hamrammr were here, but who the hell knows where they are now.  They were digging here and they were here on their orders.”

               J.T. rocked back, his head starting to ache. He sat down in the grass, earning a strange look from Matt, whose gaze shifted back to Phelan a moment later.

               “Whose orders, Phelan?”

               “The sisters,” Phelan said.  “Vammatar’s sisters.”  He sucked in a breath.  “The tune is called and it’s time to pay the piper.”

               “I thought—” Matt’s jaw tightened as he broke off, his brow furrowing deeply.

               “I guess they finally got off the false trail Daniel and his pack were leaving,” J.T. mumbled, still trying to gather his wits. His stomach felt like it was crossing the English Channel on a bad day while the rest of him was still firmly on dry land.  He rummaged around in his kit under the guise of looking for something, though in truth it was just familiar action to buy him time to think.

               It must have been one of them that I saw.  A warning from one of them.

               Playing with their food, I guess.  What the hell else could it have been?

               “They bought us months,” Phelan said, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment.  “That was time enough to deal with a lot of bullshit.”

               “I guess, but why were they digging here?” Matt gestured toward the barrow. “It doesn’t make any sense, not unless there’s a larger purpose.”

               Phelan winced, his eyes opening again.  “Her sisters are goddesses of death and disease and worse.  I’m not sure exactly what the reason was, but whatever it is, I’m pretty sure I don’t like it.”  He pulled the tissues away from his nose to check if it was still bleeding, then jammed them back into place.  “Could be anything with them, honestly.  They were always pretty unpredictable.”

               “That’s bloody reassuring,” J.T. muttered.  “So what the hell do we do?”

               “Tell the others,” Matt said.  “Make a plan.  Pray like hell Leviathan or the remnants of Pluton’s army don’t show up while we’re in the middle of dealing with this.”

               “I don’t like our odds,” J.T. said, then closed his bag.  “Did they do any damage out here, Phelan?”

               “Not that I can tell,” Phelan said.  “I’ll send Seamus and Thordin down for a second look. You might want to tag along.”

               J.T. nodded grimly, offering Phelan his arm. Phelan grasped his hand and pulled himself to his feet with a groan.  He wavered for a moment, then shook his head, still holding the tissues against his nose.

               “Jac’s going to murder me,” Phelan said.  “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.”

               “We’ll keep this part a secret,” J.T. said. “Just hope that nose stops bleeding before we get too close.”

               Phelan managed a weak smile.  “When have I ever been that lucky?”

               There’s a first time for everything.

               J.T. just shook his head and started heading back up the hill, unable to shake the growing feeling of dread that had arisen the moment Phelan had mentioned Vammatar and her sisters.

Awakenings is a fiction serial written by Erin M. Klitzke.  It updates three times a week at http://awakenings.embklitzke.com.  Full chapters will be released here on Tumblr once a week.

Copyright 2008-2017 Erin M. Klitzke.

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