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hux-and-gay · 3 months ago

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Kylux Short Shorts Fest 2024: Day 4: Otherworldly

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pls reblog I dont have Ao3 yet

Part: 1/ at least 2

BenArmie folklore AU

(I have a lot of WIPs for the shorts fest, I know it’s late now but I got busy so we’ll see how many I get to posting)

Ben ran through the woods as fast as his feet could carry him, mud splattered across his thighs, stumbling over roots, leaves getting tangled in his thick black hair. He felt so free, the cold air assaulting his cheeks and nose, turning them rosy pink. He could smell the river ahead so he dashed forward almost laughing with joy as he ran further and further from the den, never looking back. When he came to the river he stopped only to catch his breath before wading into the water, dancing, splashing his face, not caring his trousers were getting soaked.

“What are you doing?” A quiet voice asked from the opposite shore. Ben ceased his frolicking and turned to look at the creature, a small boy with a mess of ginger hair, pale skin dotted with freckles, a mask of a fox adorning his face.

“I’m wading, it’s fun. You should join me.” He held a hand out to the boy smiling eagerly. He had never met another boy his age, and he looked so sweet.

“My father told me not to speak to strangers.” He said, looking at Ben hesitantly fiddling with the small satchel slung over his shoulder. His baggy shorts and thin undershirt emphasized his small frame, and his arms and feet were wrapped in cloth bandages. Ben didn’t think any of them, it was probably easier to run with his feet protected.

“My name's Ben. There now I'm not a stranger.”

“I- I suppose you’re right.” He smiled, taking his hand and tenderly stepping into the water. He shivered. “It’s cold.”

“Yeah but it’s nice.” Ben said, spinning in a circle kicking up spray as he did so.

The fox boy flinched, backing away from the splash. “If you say so.”

“Oh look! Baby fish!” Ben exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the water rippling around their feet.

“Oh! They're biting my feet!” He bent down a little looking at them curiously lazily following their swimming patterns with one of his thin fingers.

“Hmm maybe I can catch some…” Ben said rubbing his chin and glancing around, being careful not to move his feet as not to disturb them. “but I don’t have a bucket. Oh well.” He glanced at the water again and something caught his eye. “Wait, look, by your foot, there’s a rock!”

The boy looked back up at him unimpressed. “There are a lot of rocks.”

Ben rolled his eyes, and pointed, which admittedly wasn’t very helpful. “The flat one.”

The boy picked up the flat rock and handed it to him. “What’s so special about it, it just looks like a rock.”

“It’s perfect for skipping.” He said rolling over the rock in his hand running his fingers across the wet surface. “Do you know how to skip rocks?”

“No.”

“Oh well I’ll show you. It’s just like…” He tossed the rock and it immediately sank with a loud plop as it hit the water. “oh- I Guess I’m not very good at skipping rocks.” He snorted, laughing to cover up his embarrassment.

The boy had been watching him intently. He picked up another flat rock from the water and tossed it,“Like this?” It made three skips before sinking.

“Oh wow! That was so cool!” Ben said patting him on the back aggressively and smiling with awe.

“Not really.”

“You aren’t very enthusiastic about anything, are you?” He chuckled.

“What’s the use of a rock if you’re not going to keep it?” The boy pointed out picking up another rock from the water and briefly examining it before dropping it back.

“Oh! I didn’t think of it that way.” He thought about what the boy had said. It was pretty witty, I mean why would you not want to keep a rock? Rocks are cool. He turned back to him smiling “That’s really smart actually, you’re really neat! You like collecting rocks?”

“Special ones” He said, shrugging. “Some say there's gold in this river, but I’ve only ever found pyrite.”

“Pyrite?”

“Fake gold…” He pulled out a shiny silver stone from his satchel and held it out to Ben. “Like this”

“It’s so pretty!” Ben beamed, taking it gently in his hands looking it over.

“You can have it, it’s useless.” The boy answered dryly.

“Who cares, it's pretty!” Ben pocketed the stone feeling very accomplished to be in the possession of such a pretty gem, whether it was worth something or not.

The boy looked down at his feet, maybe he was watching the fish again, they had returned after being scared away by Ben’s failed attempt at rock skipping. “My father says it’s no use to keep useless things unless you can use them for a purpose.” He stated meekly.

“Sounds wise.” Ben wasn’t entirely sure he understood what all that had meant, but it sounded very adult.

“No.”

“Oh-“

“Where’s your mask?” The boy asked Suddenly.

“In my bag.” Ben replied, patting the sack slung over his shoulder. He didn’t like wearing his mask, it made his face sweat, and it was harder to see.

“Isn’t that dangerous? Someone could steal it.” He said, peeking around Ben to see just a tiny bit of the mask peeking out of the sack.

“Don’t tell me you believe those stories about “whoever steals your mask owns your soul.” He laughed with his hands on his hips.

“Don’t you?” Ben could tell he was genuine.

Ben shook his head. “Of course not, parents just tell their kids that so that they get scared.” He insisted, patting the shorter boy on the head.

“I guess…” he stated hesitantly trying to fix his ruffled hair as if it hadn’t been needlessly tangled prior.

“So What are you doing out by the river on your own?” Ben asked, tilting his head.

“Foraging, for dinner.” The boy answered, holding open his satchel to show various mushrooms, roots, and plants inside.

“Oh right, Foxes are Omnivores.” Ben nodded remembering what little he knew of the other creatures.

“Yes. My father is hunting.” He nodded, closing his satchel and securing it on his hip again. “What about you?”

“I’m running away.” Ben admired nonchalantly.

“Running away? Won’t your parents be angry?” The boy questioned.

“It doesn’t matter if they never find me.” Ben added smirking.

“They won’t hunt you down?” The boy seemed confused.

“Maybe they’ll try. But I’m good at hiding.” He smiled confidently. “You could run away with me if you want.” Ben wouldn’t mind having another boy his age with him on his travels.

“I can’t.” The boy answered, scratching at his bandaged arm as he looked down again.

“That’s okay.” Though Ben had to admit he was slightly disappointed. They stood in silence for a few minutes before Ben asked. “You know you can take off your mask, right?”

“No thank you.” The boy answered simply.

“What? Afraid I’ll steal it?” Ben chuckled smirking.

“I’m just being careful.” The boy added, instinctively placing hand on the intracuite fox design. “I could easily steal yours if I wanted to.” He pointed out.

Ben smirked, “Oh alright then, try!” He pulled his mask out of his bag and held it behind his back.

The boy didn’t even wait a second he lunged at Ben who just barely side stepped away trying to stay facing the fox at all times. They chased each other in circles around the river splashing up water, running, jumping, growling, laughing, soon the sun was setting. Ben held the mask above his head. “You’ll never get it now!” He laughed, “You’re too small!” He added teasing. The boy grunted but instead of trying to jump for the mask like Ben had expected he dove for his legs, knocking him off his feet and tacking him, pinning him down in the water.

“Woah-“ Ben exclaimed breathlessly looking up at the boy who sat on his chest with amazement. He yanked the mask from Ben’s hand and held it in the air triumphantly. Then he brought it down to look at it and froze. Ben could see the goose bumps on his skin, but maybe it was just the water, they had been thoroughly soaked now.

“you’re a wolf.” He said quietly. Ben couldn’t read his expression mostly hidden behind the mask, side his mouth.

“Is that a problem?” Ben asked, confused.

“I suppose not.” He answered, feeling the mask over in his hands. “We’re both predators.”

“Yes but I’m the Apex predator!” Ben said proudly, sitting up in the water and flexing his muscles. “That means everything is Prey to me.” he snarled jokingly.

Suddenly the boy shoved the mask back into his arms. “Take it back!” He insisted urgently.

“What? But you stole it!” Ben exclaimed, confused.

“ I don’t want it! I don’t want your soul!” He seemed distressed.

Ben shook his head. “Those are just Myths, it’s okay they don’t mean anything.” He smiled trying to reassure him.

“But I don’t want it!” He reinforced.

“No, you stole it fair and square and you should keep it.” He retorted, sounding slightly annoyed that he wouldn't accept the prize he rightfully won. “I’m sure your father would be proud you stole a wolf's mask.” At the mention of his father the boy seemed to make a face Ben couldn’t quite read. He then dropped the mask into the water beside them, purposely.

“Well, I dropped it so that means you can steal it back!”

“You really care about this mask thing don’t you?” He asked rhetorically, shaking his head laughing.

“Well, if it is just myths as you say it is, then it wouldn’t make sense for me to keep it. Remember, I’m not supposed to keep useless things.”

Ben thought about it and nodded to himself before speaking. “I don’t think anything is completely useless.”

“maybe…” he looked like he would say something more but he was cut off by a voice calling from the distance.

“Armitage!”

The fox boy turned to the sound quickly and scrambled up to his feet. “I have to go” He rushed out of the water and grimaced at the sight of the wet stain on his satchel.

“wait!” Ben called out to him.

“yes?” The boy said, turning back.

“If you're not going to take off your mask, can you at least tell me what color your eyes are?” Ben asked curiously.

“green.”

And with that he turned back and walked into the trees disappearing from view.

I had been listening to Harpy Hare, by Yaelokre and I found a Picrew where you could make a Yaelokre OC I got bored so I decided to use the fox and wolf mask to make Hux and Kylo and from there I got the idea from this AU. It now has a whole bunch of lore, so we’ll see how far this takes me.

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