#he looks like if you held a ferret under its arms and let it hang down 😭

[jinikaris]

HYUNJIN // 合 (HOP) TEASER IMAGES

[introductions-are-a-spook]

Tag list: @kyuudomo @kissthe-gogoat @caloroso-cosmos @omrade-echorin < You said you like the last one so added you. Let me know if you’re okay with that, and sorry if not!

Let me know if you want to be added or taken off. Reblogs and feedback always appreciated!

Fifty miles from the Chapman house and twenty years ago, rain fell over an English boarding school. Children ran from building to building, clutching their bags under hunched chests in an attempt to protect them.

Visible through a window, one student sat huddled on a library bench, nose deep in a book. And of course they didn’t see through their concentration to the rambunctious upperclassman arguing with the librarian.

“I told you before, my father tore the book, not me. I can get the money to pay for it, it’ll just take a couple days!”

“That’s ridiculous. Just why in the world would a parent do that, hmm?”

“You obviously don’t know him like I do,” he snipped under his breath.

After a moment more of this, he sauntered over to where the bookworm- maybe a grade or two below him, sat. Flopping down, he groaned.

Finally the quiet one spoke. “Mrs. Kingsley’s going to wring your neck if you don’t replace the book soon, you know.”

“Yeah, I get it already. Geez.” The older boy looked at the younger with a raised eyebrow. “Hey I know you, you’re in my chemistry class. Mary, right?”

“Er, it’s Maxwell. And yes, what about it?”

“Isn’t that a bit too hard for you? You’re what, twelve?”

“Fourteen. You?”

“Aww, a little shrimp. I’m seventeen. Andrew, by the way,” although teasing, his tone lacked any genuine malice. He held out a hand to shake.

“Nice to meet you, prick.”

Andrew laughed. “Damn right. Whatcha reading?”

Maxwell tilted the book. A collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. “I want to be a detective when I get out of school, so I’m studying now.”

“That’s cool. We better get to class though, the bell’s gonna ring soon,” Andrew said, standing up and checking his watch.

Maxwell reluctantly closed his book and nodded. “Just try to pay for the book soon, okay? Mrs. Kingsley isn’t the only one who cares about this library.”

“Oh sure. I’ll just steal the money from my dad while he’s at church or something,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Nice meeting you, Maxwell!”

“Same here. Criminal!”

Andrew laughed and walked off. Maxwell allowed a chuckle as he went the opposite way.

~*~

Six pictures were laid out in front of Andrew. All of various bedrooms. Half he recognized- Maxwell’s, Isabella’s, and his own. The other three varied. There was a rather plain, maroon themed bedroom with several camera monitors in one corner. Another was coated wall-to-wall in weapons and a bright scarlet palette. The last of which was more pink and the most homely, with picture frames full of people everywhere. All belonging to Maxwell’s siblings, most likely.

And yet, Andrew was not confused. In fact, he was quite disturbed. He sat with his ferret, Brie, in his arms, petting her in an attempt to calm down.

He had finally worked up the courage to read the letter. Mr. Antigone had left a graphic plan of all the horrible things he would do if Andrew didn’t leave Maxwell as soon as possible. He detailed all the ways he could get away with it, and included the pictures as proof of his deadly seriousnessand capability.

Well if he hasn’t killed me yet, it probably means he wants me alive. He must be trying to beat me into submission.

What a mess. Within just a few weeks of going out with Max, Andrew’s world had turned upside down. Of all the people in the world, he had to fall in love with a detective.

A knock at the downstairs door stirred him. Quietly putting Brie in her pen, he cursed himself for not burning the letter as told. Walking down to the front on tiptoe, he slipped a kitchen knife into his pocket- just in case.

Another knock. Andrew took a deep breath, prepared for the worst, and opened the door.

“Maxwell! Oh, it’s just you, thank god,” he sighed in relief.

Maxwell raised an eyebrow. “Of course it’s me, who else would it be?” He cut Andrew off before he could respond. “Nevermind, it doesn’t matter. We need to talk.”

A twinge of fear settled in Andrew’s gut. “About what? Is everything okay?”

“Given that you feel the need to answer the door with a knife in your coat,” he gestured to how poorly it was hidden, “No, things are far from okay.”

Andrew studied Maxwell’s face. His handsome features were pulled into a grave expression, his demeanor uncomfortable.

“Why don’t you come in,” Andrew said, holding the door ajar for the other man.

“Thank you,” Maxwell responded, sitting down at an empty booth in the main shop. Andrew sat down across from him, and they sat in silence for a long few moments.

Maxwell slowly tapped his thumbs together. Andrew could see how his eyes faded in deep thought.

“Andrew.”

“Yes?”

“Are you…” he took a shaky breath. “No. I know you’re the thief.”

Andrew’s stomach flipped, but he calmed himself. “You’re good. Guilty as charged. Is this my day of reckoning, then?” His tone was bitter, almost scared.

For the first time since arriving, Maxwell looked Andrew directly in the eye. “I have an idea.”

“You didn’t answer my question, but go on,” he said with a dry chuckle.

“Tell me, who is Nikos Antigone?”

Andrew stood up suddenly. “What do you mean, has he contacted you? Have you met him?”

“So you do know him. He sent me a letter- or, as it turns out, two letters. The first ‘anonymously’ telling me to run away from you, the second saying that you robbed him. Tell me, have you ever used violence in your hijinks?”

“I don’t know how much you’ll believe me, but no, I haven’t.”

“I figured as much. So it was Antigone that broke your nose a couple weeks back?”

Andrew hesitated. Was this an interview? But Maxwell seemed so genuinely worried. “Yeah, basically.”

“I’m very sorry,” he said, brushing a finger over the bridge that was still sore. Andy winced slightly, causing Max to draw his hand away.

“I’m not going to turn you in. I want to help, but to do that, I need answers. Could you tell me more?” He was now surprisingly soft.

So with a heavy sigh, Andrew spilled his guts about everything, even ousting Isabella’s involvement in the process. He also provided some insight on Jennifer. She was the daughter of a nobleman, one that rudely broke off dealings with the Antigone family’s crime loop, when she was just a baby.

Despite this, all four of them had attended the same school without realizing. She and the young Nikos were the best of friends, before they all went their separate ways, and Nikos followed in his family’s footsteps. Andrew was doing jobs for him simply to make him money and to be a jewel in his crown.

“You won’t have to be for long. If we can find a way to get him in the wrong place at the wrong time, we can pin all of your wrongdoings on him.”

“Maxwell, no. You could lose your job if you did that!”

“I’m more than willing-“

“And besides, I’m the one at the wheel, I should take the blame-“

“You think I haven’t shuffled blame before? You know neither of us have ever cared about morals and virtue.”

“That may be true, but this is still a huge risk. One I’m not willing to let you take for me!”

“Well too bad, because I refuse to allow you to keep on like this. If you don’t let me help, I’ll find a way to do something on my own.”

“Max, what the hell has gotten into you? Why can’t you let me sort out my own problems- or just throw me in jail already?”

“Because I love you, you nitwit!”

There was a long, charged silence. The tension of argument melted away, leaving something else entirely in its place.

“I… I think I love you too. And I don’t want you to get hurt. You have no idea the things this guy will do to you.”

Max held Andy’s hand, up on the table. “You’re right, I don’t. But I know with our combined minds, we can outsmart him.”

Andrew took a deep, shuddering breath. “Do you really think so?”

Maxwell nodded. “The Antigone family has done enough damage. It’s about time someone put a stop to it. I only have one condition.”

“That being?”

“For both of our sakes, you need to drop your game. Once Nikos is in prison, well…”

Andrew nodded and pondered for a moment. “I’d need something else after the fact- to keep me entertained. But yes, for you, I will.”

“Then our plot can be your last heist. Any ideas as to a replacement?”

“You could marry me, and we could run away together. Be musicians in Vienna till’ we’re old,” Andy smirked.

Max giggled. “Ask me again in three years.”

And then he gave Andy the most lovestruck look. Andy returned it. They glanced at their pose- they were awfully close.

“I’d ask if I could kiss you, but there’s a table in the way,” Andy whispered with a quiet laugh.

“Just get over here, you,” Max then pulled a laughing Andy by his tie to the nearest wall, moving close, only to be stopped.

“Hang the hell on, you’re the short one, shouldn’t you be the one-“

Max swatted Andy’s arm. “Oh, shut up.” And with that, they finally closed the gap.

Andy smelled like fresh cakes, and Max like old books. Where the thief tasted like strawberries, the detective was like tea with milk; both felt like smooth butter.

Andy’s arms were strong as he lifted Max and held him so close. They stood like that for a long time, pausing only to dash upstairs. Andrew had only one thought before his mind went blank with bliss.

Antigone thinks he can use me as a puppet. Poor man has no idea what he’s messing with.

[thestayway90]

Unexpected Attachment: Chapter 1 - Stray Kids Imagine

Author: thestayway90

WC: 2385

Warnings: None

Characters: Stray Kids OT8, OFC/Reader, OFC/Reader’s Older Brother

Summary: Setting up the story, introducing the characters. OFC/Reader meets some of the Kids... if you can get through this chapter it’ll be a lot more exciting in the next one I promise!!!

Author’s Note: Hello all! This is my first attempt at a Stray Kids Fic so I hope you all enjoy...

Not 100% sure where this is going (I have a plan but we’ll see) but it will eventually be a OFC/Reader x Felix Relationship (coz I am whipped for that boy).

I would love any and all feedback including criticisms and ways you think I can improve!!!

Enjoy lovelies <3

You certainly didn’t expect to wake up with an iguana staring you in the face. But after two months of living with your brother, it really shouldn’t be a surprise you anymore.

You glared at the unfamiliar creature digging in its tiny nails but its only response was to blink lazily back at you, unfazed by your thunderous expression.

“Joshua!” you yelled, startling Tink from underneath the bed, the white ferret streaking for freedom as Josh appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, whoops, sorry,” Josh said as he quickly plucked the green reptile off of the bedspread. “I was wondering where Dewey had got too.” He smiled widely, stroking the placid Iguana on the head.

You sighed and sat up, stretching slightly, questioning, “Dewey? Another rescue?”

Josh glanced up guiltily. “You should have seen how they were keeping him?” He replied, placing the reptile on the floor where the green creature started making his slow way down the hallway, Tink following it curiously. “Made me pay them an arm and a leg, though.” Josh commented ruefully as you hopped out of bed.

“Well luckily you just got promoted then. More money to rescue all the poor neglected animals of Seoul,” you told him cheerfully, patting his cheek as you walked past on your way to the bathroom.

You immediately cursed, tripping over an orange streak that suddenly darted towards your legs, swiping at your ankles before disappearing in a blur of motion. “Toast!” you hollered, hopping on one leg, rubbing the injured ankle. “I’m going to cook you in the fryer, cat!” you threatened the empty air, stomping towards your original destination.

“180 degrees for 20 minutes should do it,” you muttered under my breath, closing the bathroom door behind you. “Just enough for nice crispy Toast.”

It wasn’t until you had already sat down on the toilet that the feeling of being watched prickled the back of your neck. You looked up and in the gloom between the top of the medicine cabinet and the ceiling were two glowing eyes.

You gave a small shriek of surprise and then giggled at your stupidity. “Hey Meatball,” you said, as the large fluff ball ignored your greeting, curling up and turning his back to you until he was barely visible.

Shaking your head and muttering about pedantic animals, you made your way down to the kitchen.

“Honestly Josh,” you said as you plopped down on one of the stools, grabbing the cup of coffee he offered gratefully. “We should start selling tickets. Come and see the miraculous menagerie squished into a tiny apartment in the middle of downtown Seoul.”

Josh raised his eyebrows at your tone and then smiled wickedly. “Toast get you again?”

“Seriously that cat is the devil itself,” you moaned, reaching down to rub your poorly abused ankle.

Josh burst out laughing, no sympathy in your feud with the tiny orange tabby. “Whats that 3 to 1? You need to work on your ninja skills.”

“Talking of ninja skills, don’t you have to go?” you pointed to the time displayed on the microwave clock, making Josh swear and quickly grab his jacket, a piece of toast still hanging halfway out of his mouth.

“Can you put Dewey in the tank for me,” Josh shouted over his shoulder as he grabbed his bag and raced out the front door.

“Yep. Have a good day at work,” you yelled after him and received a muffled, ‘Love You’, as the door shut behind him.

It took you fifteen minutes to find the elusive reptile, leaving only five minutes for you to quickly throw on some clothes and get half way presentable before your online class.

An hour later you leant back in your chair, rubbing your temples, glad that there wasn’t another class until later in the afternoon.

You were just contemplating whether to start on one of your many assignments or not when a familiar ring echoed through the kitchen. You searched confused until you located Josh’s phone that had somehow got wedged underneath a bag of cat food.

The number flashing on the screen was labeled ‘Work’ and guessing who it was you picked up, bringing the device up to your ear.

“Why, hello!” you answered, smiling as a familiar voice echoed through the speaker.

“I forgot my phone...” Josh’s wail made your smile widen.

“Uh huh, I noticed,” you responded unhelpfully, digging Tink out from a cupboard he’d worked his way into.

“Can you bring it to me, please please pretty please!” Josh begged. “I can’t leave right now and I really need it!”

You made him suffer just a little, staying silent while placing Tink in his escape-proof enclosure.

Finally you agreed, “Of course. I’ll be there in ten.”

“Thank you, thank you Nugget,” Josh sighed in relief, using your childhood nickname in his gratitude.

“Okay, see you soon.” You hung up and grabbed your shoes and keys, making sure all the gremlins were safely locked away, before exiting the apartment.

You walked the ten minutes to Josh’s work, enjoying the blue skies and stunning weather while strolling briskly.

You arrived at your destination and tilted your neck backwards to read the large JYP displayed prominently on the side of the towering skyscraper that Josh worked in.

You entered through the lobby, approaching the receptionist while Security Guards eyed you with mistrust, alert for any suspicious behaviour.

Luckily you recognised the receptionist from the few times you had accompanied Josh to work, flashing her a wide smile as you came to a stop in front of her.

“Hello again, love,” she greeted you in heavily accented English. “Are you here to see Joshua?”

You held up your brothers phone with a rueful smile. “He forgot this and asked if I could bring it to him.”

“He’s probably only the fifth floor,” she said helpfully, signalling to Security to let you through.

“Thank you,” you told her gratefully, walking through the security turnstile that the Guard pushed open.

You crossed to the elevator and pressed the button, happy when one opened immediately. Once inside, you pushed the button for the fifth floor, watching the numbers tick over until the doors chimed loudly.

Stepping out into the hallway, you stood awkwardly for a few minutes, trying to decide where to look first.

A door opened to your right, raucous noise echoing into the corridor as a guy backed into the hallway, talking loudly and making faces at those still inside.

He turned and jumped when he saw you standing behind him, clearly startled, hands flying up under his chin, arms hugging close to his body as his eyes went impossibly round.

“Ah, hi... sorry,” you said apologetically, feeling the need to explain your presence. “I’m looking for Josh, Joshua. Do you know where he is by any chance?” You asked hopefully.

The guy immediately relaxed and smiled widely, cheeks dimpling adorably. “You must be his sister!” He exclaimed happily in a slight American accent, beckoning you towards him. “He’s in here actually.” He turned back to the room he had exited, holding the door open for you to pass by.

You slipped through the doorway and was greeted by three pairs of eyes, startled by an intruder into their space.

Josh’s expression quickly turned from surprise to glee as he jumped from his seat to wrap his arms around you in a tight hug. You held his phone out towards him, staring around at the room surrounding you.

It was a music studio, electrical equipment made up of a complicated mess of knobs, dials and switches covering a huge desk to one side under a window looking into a recording booth. The walls were clad in some type of soundproofing material and there was a large comfy looking couch accompanied by two office chairs.

“You’re a life saver,” Josh said gratefully, pocketing the precious device, as you switched your attention to the other occupants of the room. Noticing your gaze Josh quickly gave out introductions.

“This is Han.” He pointed to the kind boy who had shown you where to go.

“Chan.” The boy with the shock of red hair smiled lopsidedly and nodded his head amicably your way.

“And Changbin.” The last boy looked serious until he gave a very wide smile, lighting up his entire face, making you unconsciously smile in return.

“Guys, this is my sister.” Josh finished, his tone brimming with pride, as he squeezed your arm lightly.

“Nice to meet you,” Chan said his familiar Aussie accent immediately putting you at ease. “We’ve heard a lot about you from Josh.”

A blush immediately started staining your cheeks, wondering exactly how much your brother had told them in the short weeks he had been working with the k-pop boy group.

“I was just about to get some coffees. Do you want one?” Han was still hovering in the doorway, with an expectant expression.

You immediately started shaking your head. “You guys look busy. I should get going!” You took one step towards the door before Han blocked you, hands waving in the air.

“We’re not busy. We’re actually taking a break. Do you like milk? Sugar?”

You smiled ruefully at the persistent man. “I’ll take it black with two sugars please.”

His face lit up with genuine joy and he ducked out the door, humming as he went.

You turned back to the remaining occupants of the room. Chan patted the empty seat beside him, presumably Hans one he had abandoned in search of caffeine.

You sat, twisting side to side in the spinning office chair, as Josh took his place on the couch on the opposite side to Changbin.

“So....” Chan drew out the syllable, his intense eyes focused on you. “We heard you’re studying to become a Social Worker? How is that going?”

“Uh, not too bad. It’s all online which is good coz I don’t have to get out of my pyjamas most days but it’s also terrible coz I have no self-motivation or control so usually end up scrambling to finish my assignments thirty minutes before it’s due!” All three boys laughed and you smiled at the welcome sound.

“Is the course through a Korean University?” Changbin questioned curiously, his English thickly accented.

You shook my head. “No, it’s through a Uni back home in Australia, thank goodness.”

All three boys eyebrows raised at the last sentiment, questioning your relief.

You quickly held up your hands, trying to wave off the misunderstanding. “No, I don’t mean that a Korean course wouldn’t be just as good or better, just that my Korean is so terrible that I would struggle even more than I am now!” You tried to explain emphatically.

Understanding dawned on their expressions and Changbin gave a small chuckle.

“You’re Korean’s that bad huh?”

You grimaced and then said, “Eotteohge saeng-gaghaseyo?”

Chan and Josh both burst out laughing, and Changbin tried to hide a smirk but failed miserably.

“It’s not the worst I’ve ever heard,” the kind rapper commented, trying to save your feelings.

“She’s been working hard on it,” Josh felt the need to interject. “She’s only been learning for two months since she came to live with me.”

The two k-pop idols turned their gaze towards you, expressions now impressed.

“Very good,” Chan complimented encouragingly.

The door opened and Han struggled through, balancing two cup holders full of cups.

Josh immediately jumped up and grabbed one off of him, the younger guy smiling at him gratefully. “Thank you, Maenijeo.”

“I’m still not used to that,” Josh admitted, as Han quickly distributed the coffees to their rightful owners.

“You deserve it,” Chan told him, as Josh and Han sat back down on the couch, squishing together a little next to Changbin. “We were over the moon when they told us you’d be our new Manager. I was just glad for the extra help with producing.”

Josh blushed a little at the praise from the Leader, twisting his fingers round the cup in his hand. You beamed with pride at him, knowing how hard he had worked to get where he was.

Aware that Josh was probably getting a little uncomfortable being the centre of attention you turned to Chan, asking, “What are you working on?” And then belatedly realising, “Although you probably can’t tell me, I guess.”

“Actually Josh was just telling us about some ideas he has for our new music.” Chan nodded his head towards your brother, making him blush even further, undermining your attempt to change the subject.

The boys started chatting about music, most of the technical stuff going over your head, but you enjoyed watching the four boys talk so animatedly about something they were clearly all passionate about.

Eventually you sighed, checking your watch and groaning as you noticed the time.

“I have to go,” you told the others regretfully. “I have an assignment to start before my next class.”

The three boys protested but Josh pointed out that they too had work that needed to be done.

You said your goodbyes, promising to return and visit the three boys you’d somehow become friends with.

Josh gave you a tight hug and offered to walk you out but you immediately declined, knowing how busy he and the boys were.

You gave them one last wave and then let the door shut behind you, crossing over to the elevator and pressing the button, waiting patiently for it to arrive.

Once inside you pulled out your phone, double checking the time for the next class, balancing your still warm coffee in your other hand.

Noticing a message regarding one of your upcoming assignments, you were too engrossed in the device in your hand to look up when the doors pinged open.

You automatically started walking but somehow managed to catch your foot on the metal grating on the floor, pitching forwards with no free hands to stop yourself

Luckily, or unluckily depending on your point of view, your fall was stopped by a solid form, as strong arms caught at your waist to stop your hectic descent.

Unfortunately for the owner of the hands, although they managed to stop your fall they didn’t manage to stop your coffee’s, the caffeinated beverage covering you both in lukewarm liquid.

[chaoticevilbean]

Wings of Flame

"What are we doing out here again?" Rainbow Dash flew back and forth across the path ahead of her friends, scanning the ground for possible traps or obstacles. Probably weren't any, but anything can happen in the Everfree Forest.

"I already told ya. We're lookin' fer the Lost Library. Chances are, there's somethin' there that can help us defeat King Sombra." Applejack gave the avian a stern look, which got an eye roll in response.

"Well, where is the Lost Library anyway?" Pinkie Pie asked as she skipped next to Fluttershy.

"Princess Celestia said that it was once the Great Library of Equestria. People came from far and wide to simply gaze at its front door. To enter the library was told to be a magical experience, filled with wonder and beauty."

"Oh my, Rarity." Fluttershy held her hands close to her chest, nervous to be in the dark forest but interested in her friend's story. "That sounds wonderful. What happened to it?"

"Well, the Great Library was said to be a gift from the Spirits of Old, and when people stopped treating the library with respect and started neglecting its books and the building, the Spirits hid it. It became the Lost Library and avians, mages, and the earth-bound have all been searching for it since."

"Don't worry, Fluttershy," Shining Armor called from where he led the group. "The Lost Library has never once been said to have traps. It's just hidden."

"He's right, y'all. Granny never once mentioned no traps or tests. If ya find it, ya find it. If ya don't, ya ain't worthy."

The group kept walking with small chatter after that. No one wanted to be in the Everfree Forest, but it held the last known location of the Lost Library. Rarity and Shining Armor led the group, using a compass spell to find the spot.

Around noon, Rainbow Dash flew in front of the two mages, effectively stopping their movement.

"Rainbow Dash, what on earth ar-"

"Shh." They all fell silent, listening.

"I don't hear anything."

"Exactly. There should be at least a breeze, but there's nothing. We have to keep a close eye out." The others glanced around warily, suspicious of the quiet.

The quiet was broken by something breaking through the trees into the center of the path.

A small dragon sat, staring at them all with golden-green eyes. Purple scales glistened without any direct light and the claws on its feet were shining in a way that made it hard not to notice them. Green spikes and scales accentuated the purple, deep and rich in color.

"Is that a dragon?" Pinkie Pie shouted, shocked. Applejack gave her a sharp look, but the dragon hadn't spooked so it was nullified.

"I thought dragons were all extinct," Fluttershy murmured, eyes fixed on the small creature in wonder. It really was small, only about the size of a ferret.

"They are." Shining Armor slowly moved in front of his companions, but it seemed that while sound didn't set off any alarms, movement signaled danger. The dragon took off into the trees on the right, a violet blur.

"WAIT!" Fluttershy took off after it, her friends rushing after her as fast as they could.

"Fluttershy, wait up!" Rainbow Dash shouted, but even with her speed, she somehow couldn't keep up with the other avian. They ran left, right, over a log, under some hanging vines, all over. The only way the group was going to find their way back now was with scouting and magic.

Finally, the group broke through a treeline to see Fluttershy frozen and staring.

Right in front of an enormous building. The front doors were ornate, made of some strange material that seemed neither wood nor metal. The windows were stained glass, the walls a mottling of greys, browns and greens. Flowering bushes and trees decorated the grounds around the building, and a few park benches sat ready for a person to rest on.

"The Lost Library," Rarity breathed.

"Well, whaddya know," Applejack mimicked her sentiment.

"The dragon went in through a little doggy- er, dragon door," Fluttershy informed her friends, turning to face them timidly.

"Should we see if anyone's home?"

"I don't think anyone would be living in there, Pinkie Pie. I mean, it is a library. Who would want to live in a library?"

"We should check to see if anyone's here anyways," Shining Armor decided. "Look, there's lights on." Sure enough, as they approached the front door, light filtered through the windows in bright colors.

Knock knock knock. A collective breath was held as they all waited. And much to everyone's surprise, footsteps and speaking were heard immediately after. The words got clearer as whoever it was walked closer, their voice loud.

"I told you, Spike! They wouldn't have been able to follow you if they weren't worthy! Now stop fretting and go get some tea! No, not peppermint, we're out! Try green! Out as well? Jasmine will work! Just make sure to not burn it!" The doorknobs rattled a little before the not-wood-not-metal doors swung in, revealing a young teenage girl.

Her hair was black with hot pink and magenta highlights, all of the colors tinged with light purple. Her skin was pale, but more of a that's-just-the-color than never-seen-sunlight. Her eyes were a bright violet, like the scales of the dragon they had seen before. She wore a matching set of loose black pants and shirt, along with sturdy boots that were obviously made with running in mind. Trimming and light embroidery matching her highlights colored her neckline and waist. A black cloak with purple and pink stars hung down her back, clinging to her shoulders like a snug blanket.

"Greetings, Worthy Stallions. My name is Twilight Sparkle. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the girl, Twilight, said with a small bow and a voice befitting a princess.

"Greetings, Library Keeper," Shining Armor responded, trying to remember what Princess Luna had told him about how to greet anyone who was in the Lost Library when they got there.

"My name is Shining Armor, Head of the Canterlot Guard. These are my companions: Fluttershy, Keeper of the Ponyville Animals; Rarity, Master Tailor of Ponyville; Rainbow Dash, Right-Hand of the Leader of the Wonderbolts; Applejack, Mighty Farmer of Sweet Apple Acres; and Pinkie Pie, Smile Finder of All She Meets." Shining Armor pointed to each of them as he introduced them, eliciting waves and blushes.

"You learned the proper introductions!" Twilight Sparkle squealed, and then suddenly Shining Armor was being dragged into a giant library towards a table in the center that was the only one without any books on it. Instead, the dragon sat next to a setting of tea, looking amused, if dragons could look amused.

"You know, it's been so long since anyone's visited and most people don't know much about here that I haven't heard someone give the proper introductions in ages. I always wanted to know if I qualify as a librarian, because no one here can really tell me. Spike doesn't count, he's not a human, but you're a mage. You must know a lot about magic. What's your specialty? You said you're a guard so probably protection magic. Rarity's a mage, too, if I'm not mistaken. Does her magic help her sew? They call them designers now, I think, not Master Tailors, but that doesn't really matter here. And those avians have such pretty wings. The only wings I get to see aren't on another human."

"Whoa, slow down," the guard said quickly as she took a breath. "I can barely understand you. You talk really fast. Maybe say it again, but slower?" Twilight took this with ease, still smiling brightly.

"Do you know protection magic?"

"Yes, I do. It's my specialty. Especially barriers."

"I knew it! Does Rarity's magic help her sew? And is she called a designer?"

"Uh, sometimes and yes." Twilight let go of him then, moving towards the tea set and pouring out seven cups with practiced ease. The others had followed the two, and when Shining Armor looked back, he found all of them holding in laughter at his situation.

"So is there anything specific you're here to learn? No, I'm not going to hide the books, Spike. I'm a librarian, I have to help. I have plenty of friends already, I'm not like that. No, I'm not. Do I need to recount the Lonely Dragon Syndrome? That's what I thought." Twilight spoke to them first, but her attention was diverted by the dragon moving ever so slightly.

"You can speak to dragons?" Fluttershy asked excitedly, though it didn't really do much volume wise.

"Technically, I can't. I never learned, but I've spent too long around Spike to not know what he's saying. Anyways, what're you here for?"

"We need to defeat King Sombra. He's come back fer revenge an' we have to stop 'im." Twilight set down the teapot, looking at Applejack with worried confusion.

"Defeat King Sombra? Why? That kid is adorable!"

"Adorable? Try evil," Rainbow Dash said, flying up a bit. "He's trying to take over and enslave Equestria."

"That doesn't sound right," the other muttered, moving over to the shelves behind her. A wave of her hand and three books floated into her arms, which she then brought over and gestured for them to all sit.

"These are the books I have on King Sombra. Or, at least, the ones I've read. I can see if there're more later, but I think these are important." She opened the first book to a specific page it seemed she had read often because she had no trouble finding it. Turning the volume around, she showed them all a picture of a young boy, maybe fifteen or sixteen. He was rather cute, in an awkward sort of way.

"King Sombra was adorable as a kid. I guess he wouldn't be a kid now, but you might understand my confusion a little better knowing this. He was also known for being extremely kind, giving everything he had to those around him. I would think the only thing that could lead to him turning villainous is his crush on Princess Celestia going wrong. She is still a princess, right?"

"Yes, she's still a princess. In fact, she's the one that sent us."

"Well, if Princess Celestia is sending you after Sombra, then he's probably-"

"Hold up," Rainbow Dash held up her hand. "Sombra had a crush on Celestia?"

"A requited crush." At Rainbow's obvious confusion, Twilight simplified. "She loved him back." The effect on the table was instantaneous. All of them gasped and drew back, sharing all kinds of confused looks.

"Are ya sure?" Applejack asked, face loose in mild terror.

"Of course I'm sure, it's mentioned in at least five different books on Equestrian history and in all three of these books. Anyways, I don't really know anything that could defeat him power wise, but I'm sure I can find some volumes that might help. Spike, could you grab The Advanced Mage's Guide to Banishment and Keep the Shadows at Bay by Solar Aura? Lumin Shadow's series would be helpful as well, but are you sur- okay, okay! I get it, you've got good balance." The dragon, Spike as they assumed, flew off towards some of the upper shelves while Twilight went to fetch some books herself. It was then that the group took a look around at their surroundings.

The library was huge, with large arches and shelves going all the way to the ceiling. Perches and balconies were situated at regular intervals, meant for avians that might come. Doors were in seemingly random places, each one with simple doorknobs and pictures on the centers. All shelves and balconies and tables and chairs and doors were ornate, carved and crafted with exquisite worksmanship. It was obvious why people used to come just to look at the building.

BOOM!

Twilight dusted off her hands, grinning at the huge stack of books now in front of Shining Armor. Spike came over with his own stack of books balanced on all four of his claws. Another boom shook table as the books were dropped down.

"There you go," Twilight chirped. "All the books in this part of the library that might contain information to help defeat Sombra."

Rainbow Dash picked up one of the books, heaving under the weight. She sighed.

"Looks like we're gonna be here a while."

[multisfabulis]

Abhorrence in the Face of Adoration

Word Count: 4461

TW: Implied abuse, self worth issues

This segment took me a little over 3 weeks to write, due to the many rewrites I had to do and the late nights I pulled while knowing I'd be waking up early, but I did it!

I've been wanting to write the idea of Ferreth realizing his love for Ven for so long and I decided to write this after publishing chapter 6 of TRFBD because, if you think about it, they're related in that you see how far he's willing to go for her in TRFBD so I wanted to show when it began. Writing this has made me realize just how much I can't wait to write more Verreth segments set after MZCR because god, these two love each other and I have so many cute ideas to write for the both of them!

Read on AO3 | Read on DA | Support me on Ko-fi!

     Ferreth stared up at the ceiling as he laid in bed, feeling frustratingly tired. His arms flared up in pain and he could only wait and beg for it to stop. It was like someone was chipping away at the embedded stones while they disregarded the agony they were putting him through. This was a hell he hated living in every time the weather turned cold because it meant sleepless nights of incurable pain till spring came around and even that wasn’t guaranteed. The only hope he had was that maybe living here instead of the mountains would make these times a little more bearable.

     A nice, relaxing stroll through town could probably help. Nighttime walks were a good pastime of his whenever autumn descended upon Thornewind and he needed a distraction from the pain. It was a time he’d let his mind wander off and wear him down enough to conk out soon as his head hit the pillow. He sighed, rubbed a hand down his face, and headed out the door into the cool dark.

     Aurora Zenith was different from Thornewind at night. There were hardly any noises, save for the distant waves of the ocean and the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees, and not a soul to be seen for seemingly miles. The only sources of light he could see came from the orange glow of the lanterns in town and the radiance of the full moon high up in the sky. It was a new place, with winter right around the corner, but it still held the feeling of peace he felt up in the mountains.

     He looked around the town as he walked. The end of Noctovka marked his arrival here 3 months ago and he was still getting used to everything. Coming from a place where there were others like him all living in a cold and constant drizzle, this was certainly different for him. He liked the warmth, missed the liveliness of Thornewind, and still had no idea what he wanted to do in life.

     He had a couple ideas in mind but there were already people working those jobs that did them ten times better than he ever could. What good was there in having an amateur come in and screw everything up? At least he was making himself useful, both in training to become Eric’s guard and being the guy to do odd jobs around town. He still had time to figure it out so there wasn’t a need to stress about it.

     He was nearing the docks when he saw her. A gust of wind blew the hood of the black cloak she wore back, letting her long snow white hair out to cascade down her back as she shivered from the chill it brought. The little skin she showed seemed to glow under the moonlight, which made eyes the color of bloomed orchids stand out even more than in the day. She looked like an ethereal fairy almost and he was absolutely entranced. This was Ven, the woman who had him dancing around the palm of her hand and didn’t even know it.

     Things had somehow changed between them now. It’s not that they had gotten into an argument or did something the other didn’t like. He wasn’t sure on where she was but things were definitely different on his side.

     There was no denying that he had been attracted to her since the beginning of their friendship but this was deeper and longer than his average “crush”. She could be so unbelievably cute at times, like the way her eyes seem to sparkle when something catches her attention or when she has the most adorable smile on her face once she gets a whiff of a delicious sweet. He was amazed at how big her heart was for someone so small and at the strength she had, both physically and emotionally.

     There were times he’d find himself thinking about her. There had been days he’d be so consumed by his self-loathing and seeing her, being around her would quiet the voices telling him he was worthless. She saw something in him that he wished he could see in himself, something that could make him believe he had worth. He wanted to be with her, stay by her side, and never let her go.

     It honestly scared him to realize just how deep his feelings for her went. He’s never felt this way towards anyone before and it was scary. The question of her reaction to if and when she discovered these feelings weighed on his mind. Would she still want him to hang around her or would she demand he stay away from her? He wasn’t sure if he could take the latter option.

     He shook his head to stop thinking about that. He was probably just overreacting; this was probably a crush that was overstaying its welcome but would go away at some point. Besides, even if it wasn’t, who’s to say she’ll find out? He was good at deceiving others with his winning smile and charming wit. He’ll just continue on acting the way he’s always been and, eventually, things will go back to normal. He just needed to wait this out a little bit longer…

     Coming back to the present, he figured he may as well talk to her. Odds are, she was out here for the same reason he was. He began walking over to her, his light footsteps echoing in the still night.

     Her shoulders tensed up at the sound before relaxing once she saw where it was coming from. She always did that when she heard footsteps behind her and he had a sneaking suspicion of why that was. The little hints she’s dropped of her past from their earlier conversations gave him some unpleasant imagery he so hoped wasn’t the case. Just focus on the now, Ferreth, he told himself.

     “Oh, Ferret.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear to stop it from blowing in the wind. “What are you doing out here?”

     He had long since given up on correcting her with his name. It became a lost cause once the first month passed and she was still calling him Ferret. It was a better nickname than Ferra, at least, so it was fine.

     “I couldn’t sleep so I figured to take a walk and see if that’d change anything,” he replied. “What about you?”

     “Eh, same,” she said with a small giggle. “I was actually thinking of going to the beach for a little bit and just walk around, clear my mind and stuff. Do you maybe want to join?”

     “Uh, sure, I’ll go.”

     So they walked down the cobblestone steps that led to the beach. He had been there only a handful of times since moving to Aurora Zenith but this would be his first nighttime visit. The pitch black ocean served as a mirror for the moon, its white light reflecting on the water far off in the distance. He could smell the salt the waves wafted as they rolled along the shore and soaked their feet. The winds carried a biting chill that ruffled through their hair and clothes, cooling them. It was already a peaceful place during the day but it was downright serene at night.

     “You know, I think this is my first time seeing you with your hair down,” he said, looking over to her.

     “Yeah, I only really wear it down when I’m going to bed,” she replied.

     “Why don’t you keep it down more often? You look beau---nice when it’s down.”

     “Eh, I doubt it. Besides, it’s more annoying than it’s worth. It gets caught on a lot of things and I can sit on it if I’m not careful. I should probably get it cut but I’m trying out a couple new styles for it and the ponytail’s working so far.”

     “Well, I think you’ll look good either way, long hair or not.”

     A scarlet blush tinted her cheeks and he had to tear his eyes away from her. It was always cute to see her blush from his compliments but this was different. He couldn’t explain why, it was just different. Maybe because if he didn’t, he would’ve said something stupid and embarrassed himself.

     Still, he wanted to say she looked beautiful with her hair down but she might’ve taken that as him flirting with her. He did that at the beginning of their friendship and stopped when he realized she had never been in that situation before. It didn’t feel right to keep going with it after that so he didn’t.

     She was beautiful, though, even without her hair being down. Seeing it as it was now, a waterfall of pure white that stopped just at the small of her back, only added to it. He wondered what it’d be like to feel it, wishing he could run his fingers through the fine tresses, tangling the strands in-between into knots, gently tugging on the ends to draw her head up as he---

     God, he wanted to slap himself right about now. He couldn’t be thinking those kinds of thoughts about her. She was his friend/crush/some other term that could be used to describe their relationship and how he felt towards her. The last thing she needed was him daydreaming about them being a couple like a creepy weirdo. That shit would drive her away quicker than he could blink.

     In an attempt to change the topic, he asked, “So, uh, if you don’t mind, why couldn’t you sleep?”

     “Oh, um…” She paused, seemingly troubled by her answer, “I suffer from nightmares. There’ll be nights where I have trouble going to sleep and, if that doesn’t happen, the nightmares will wake me up. Tonight happened to be one of those nights.”

     …Shit. That was NOT what he expected to hear. He could understand the insomnia part but nightmares? Knowing that little bit of information now only strengthened the suspicions he had of her past. It also gave an answer as to why she had dark shadows under her eyes.

     “That…sucks.” Nice job, dumbass. He wanted to ram his face into a wall for that terrible response.

     “I’ve had them for a while now so I’ve gotten used to them. It’s not like they can show me stuff that I haven’t already seen so…”

     “Well, if you want, you can come talk to me if they start to get worse. We don’t have to talk about them if you don’t want to, we can just hang out till you feel better, you know? Again, that’s if you want to, though.”

     “...I’ll think about it.” She let out a small smile.

     He was taken aback by that. She normally refused his help with anything so her actually taking his offer into consideration was progress. He knew he couldn’t do much, short of going inside her head and removing the bad dreams. If the best he could do was lend an ear, then he’d give it to her, no questions asked.

     “Um… Oh, are you going to the Solstice Ball?” she asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

     “That’s next month, right? Uh, yeah, I’m gonna go,” he replied. “Are you planning on going?”

     “I-I don’t know. There’s gonna be a lot of people there and…”

     “Come on, it’ll be fun! There’ll be food, dancing, champagne… What’s not to like?”

     “It’ll be my first time going to a formal event like this. It may be fun to go to but I’d have to wear a really nice dress and I’ve never danced before and… I don’t think it’d be good for me.”

     “Look, think of it this way. This’ll be my first dance, too, and I’m gonna be going all out. Just imagine this handsome guy--” he gestured to himself-- “decked out in the best suit while he completely embarrasses himself with his dance moves. I mean, I’m a good dancer but this is a different dance so you get what I’m saying.”

     “Still…I doubt I’d look good in a dress.”

     “Ven, believe me when I say you’ll look stunning, no matter what dress you wear.”

     “Really?”

     “Uh, yeah. I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true.”

     He could just imagine it now. Ven arriving at the ballroom, all eyes drawn to her as she walks down the steps, wearing the most beautiful violet dress. Some of their gazes are filled with envy while others beguilement. She may not know it but everyone has become captivated with her. It’s too bad they’ll be brokenhearted to realize she wasn’t there for courtship. She was just there to have fun and if they couldn’t handle the rejection, then tough.

     Wow, she has got him messed up bad. While the stares of those who found her alluring would, of course, rile him up, it was only right they look at her like that. She was a beautiful woman and she should know it. Besides, she’d take care of anyone that overstepped her boundaries.

     “What about the dancing?” she asked. “I’ve never danced before and I’m probably gonna screw it up.”

     “Well, as I said before, I’ve never done a slow dance myself but--” he held out a hand to her-- “we could try together. Just save me the first dance, if you’re going, of course.”

     A few seconds passed before she giggled, put her hand in his, and said, “All right, I’ll go. I know it’ll be fun if you’re there and besides, I’m looking forward to seeing you in a suit, which’ll be nice, too.”

     Her hand felt cold yet soft in his. He was going to be holding it again when they danced and it only just hit him that they would be doing that. His mind began painting a picture of them slowly twirling around, dancing to the music. Their hands entwined, his other on her hip, and her fingers just at the crest of his shoulder. She was so small and delicate compared to him, he’d need to be careful when holding her. The aromatic scent of her perfume would hit his nostrils as he’d let himself get lost in her shimmering amethyst eyes and---

     For the love of god, Ferreth, stop, he begged. These fantasies of his were quickly getting out of hand. Whatever this was had become deeper than a crush and it fucking terrified him. This couldn’t be, shouldn’t be more than an infatuation but when did it grow into…?

     “Um, Ferret?” She stopped walking, still holding his hand. “Can I…tell you something?”

     “Y-yeah, what is it?” he asked, her voice ringing out like crystal amongst the cacophony in his head.

     “You’ve done a lot for me these past few weeks and I just want you to know that I appreciate it. You believe me, right?”

     “Of course. You don’t have to say anything for me to know you’re thankful.”

     “I know but I still wanted to say it. I appreciate all that you’ve done for me and I just wanna say--” she laid her other hand beside his-- “thank you, Ferreth.”

     Surprise and awe couldn’t begin to describe how he felt. That was the first time she ever said his name and it sounded so sweet and full of warmth. Her eyes looked at his in such earnest gratitude and her mouth was curved into the tenderest smile he had ever seen. She seemed to glow like an angel under the moonlight, she only needed wings sprouting from her back to match.

     Oh.

     Oh.

     That was when he understood, realized it. His fervent desire to be with her, his amorous daydreams of her, they had an answer. He was so, so stupid to ever think this was a crush. It may have started out like one but it became so much more than that in such a short time.

     He loved her. He loved her. When did it happen? When did he fall for her? When did he begin to love her? All of these questions swirled around and around as he came to terms with how he felt about her.

     He loved Ven. He was in love with Ven. He loved her.

     Then cold, hard reality crashed down upon him. Worthlessness, self-disdain, and self-loathing he tried to keep hidden away came spewing forth like a geyser. He couldn’t be with her. The moment he fell for her was the moment she flew out of his reach to the other end of the chasm that now separated them. She was extraordinary, special, one of a kind, and what was he? A no-good, worthless dragon that could never be the man everyone wanted him to be.

     Kandorinth’s wretchedly arrogant voice resonated in his head, whispering affirmations of his meaningless existence into his ears. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as biting ice filled his veins. Memories of the ice entering his arms through the open wounds the stones created flashed by his mind’s eye, wicked laughter echoing off the walls. He so desperately wanted the voice to shut up but it only got louder and louder.

     Oh, Ferra… You know you’ll never be better than you are now. You’re just a weak, pathetic worm and that’s what you’ll always be. Why not just accept how inferior you are to the world and die like the trash you really are? That’s the only worth you’ll ever have in your sad, shameful life.

     Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he choked on the lump in his throat. No, he couldn’t break down here. Ven didn’t need to see him like this, see the worst his ugly, flawed self had to offer. He needed to get out of here, back to his home of solitude, and…fall apart.

     Blinking back the tears, he put on the best smile he could muster and, resisting the urge to close his hand around hers, said, “You’re welcome, Ven.”

     The expression on her face changed and she stepped closer to him. “What’s wrong, Ferret?”

     Oh, this was simply unfair. What did he do that was considered to be so wrong to have her eyes be full of concern for him? She didn’t deserve to worry over the likes of someone such as him. He was nothing; why should she care?

     “It’s nothing!” he replied, fighting to keep his voice steady. “Nothing to worry about.”

     “Are you sure?” she asked. He hated lying to her, especially when she looked at him with such care in her eyes, but it was necessary.

     “I’m sure, Ven. I’m okay.”

     “...Okay.”

     She moved back, her shoulders dropping. There’s no way she bought his lie but she dropped the matter, at least. It was for the best; if she kept trying to pry, he probably would’ve bared his soul out to her. It was too small and insignificant of a thing she needn’t trifle with.

     “Hey, listen, I’m gonna head back and try to get some sleep,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You coming back with me?”

     “Um, yeah, I’ll go.” She turned around, ready to go back the way they came. “I don’t live very far from the docks. I’d just have to find the split in the road and find my way home from there.”

     He wanted to walk into the ocean and drown as he realized the stupidity of his actions. Why the hell did he ask her that? He knew that the more time he spent with her, the deeper he’d fall into his self-loathing. It wasn’t her fault, that he’d never blame her for, but he couldn’t be around her right now. He didn’t deserve the love he had for her and it only served to show the countless amount of flaws he kept buried underneath his mask on full display.

     Climbing up the steps they walked down earlier, they made their way through the inner parts of Aurora Zenith. It was hard for him to pretend that everything was all right when it was the complete opposite. He wished he could run past her and hightail it back home but it was too risky. If she began suspecting something was wrong or, even worse, discover she was the reason for his pain, she’d become wracked with guilt. That was just the kind of person she was and he refused to let that happen.

     Then they came upon the aforementioned fork in the road. Two paths in both directions, one leading to his house and the other presumably hers. He was so close to finally being alone. He just had to keep the charade going for a little longer and then it’d be safe for him to break down with no one around to hear it.

     “This is where I have to go.” She stopped at the foot of the left path. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

     “Yeah,” he replied, his voice at the cusp of cracking. “Goodnight, Ven.”

     She bid him goodnight, tucked her hair inside her hood, and went home. He held his wrist back to prevent himself from reaching out for her. The pain washed over him once more as he watched her figure shrink the further she got from him. Soon as she was out of his line of sight, he took off running towards home.

     He fumbled with turning the knob to push open his door. He forgot it had trouble opening from the outside as he struggled to get inside. This was the last thing he needed on top of the piling list of fuck-ups. In a fit of frustration, he threw his arm off to the side and caused a torrent of dirt to shoot out, pelting the nearby leafless bushes with upturned soil and grass. A firm enough push was able to unstuck the door and he stumbled in.

     Closing the door, he leaned his back up against it and slid to the floor. He finally allowed the warm tears to roll down his cheeks as he curled into himself. Sobs wracked his body, his voice growing hoarse from the crying. He wished the truth was wrong but he couldn’t deny it.

     He couldn’t be with her. He wasn’t worthy of being with someone as wonderful and special as her. How could he be deserving of love when he was unimportant, a nobody, nothing?

     She deserved to be with someone who wasn’t worthless. Someone who’d treat her like she was the most precious treasure in the world. Someone who’d cherish her, tell her she was loved everyday, make her as happy as she deserved to be. He couldn’t be that person, no matter how much he wanted to be.

     It wasn’t an issue of him never knowing unless he tried. He knew full well she didn’t reciprocate his feelings and she never would. Why would she when he wouldn’t ever be in the same league as her? They were of two different worlds, he’d be out of place in hers and rightfully so. It was a miracle he hadn’t been dropped yet and maybe it was by her grace he was allowed to stay with her.

     What was he going to do now? Avoiding her was out of the question, though he couldn’t tell if it was because he didn’t want her to believe she was the reason for it or his inability to handle being away from her for long. The way he looked at it, he was screwed either way. He couldn’t be with or without her and he wasn’t sure if he could strike a balance between the two.

     Still, he planned on keeping his love for her a secret. He had a few guesses on how she’d react if she ever found out but that was a big if. For now, he just needed to figure out a way he could be content with being her friend while sparing himself the pain. It’d take time and it’d be difficult but…

     He loved her and he’d be okay with never being more than her friend.

[prairiesongserial]

epilogue 10

“Operator, this is Mac,” came the familiar, bored drawl of Lady’s secretary.

Mac was a heavyset butch, strawberry blond hair buzzed to the quick. He had sweat through his white shirt, especially where he had been wearing his underarm holsters, which were now slung over the back of his chair. He was an excellent secretary, and Lady didn’t just think so because he had saved her from two hours of phone calls that afternoon.

Mac leaned back in his chair, phone cord tethering him to the kitchen table as he made exasperated eye contact with Lady.

Lady raised her eyebrows archly. Mac had been complaining - mostly through facial expression - about the very, very small Hemisphere operation they had commandeered since they had arrived this morning. It was a family operation in the middle of Alabama, evident by the fact that its headquarters was a farmhouse. By the sound of the feet pounding up and down the stairs at all times, Lady counted sixteen members of the Rushforth Family Company - which was such an embarrassingly vanilla name for a crime ring, mob, or gang, that Lady was beginning to wonder if the Rushforths were actually straight. They paid Hemisphere dues, and had immediately acquiesced their home to her upon her arrival, but Lady wouldn’t have been surprised if the Rushforths merely ran a dozen successful general stores.

Lady and Mac sat at the kitchen table with the rotary phone, but across from them, Mrs. Rushforth was composing a bolognese, dicing the mirepoix inches from Mac’s makeshift workstation. It had been a long afternoon of playing catch-up. This was what Lady got for travelling. She hadn’t phoned in to Central since Oklahoma City, and a lot of people had left her a lot of messages. Mac took notes for the less important calls, but occasionally Lady had to take the phone.

Lady watched Mac take a page of notes, scribbling down shorthand with impressive speed, then hang up the receiver.

“That’s all your missed calls, except for the Dead-Eyes, who want to know - ”

“Never mind the Dead-Eyes,” Lady groaned. She pinched her forehead, looking up at Mac with an expression she hoped conveyed martyred misery. “God, what a fucking waste of a day.”

“You’re not done yet,” Mac said, utterly unyielding. Cruel, cruel woman. He stretched his arms behind his back until his shoulders popped. “Weren’t you tellin’ me…”

Lady rolled her eyes. The real reason she had commandeered the Rushforth’s kitchen table hadn’t been to listen to her messages.

“Give me the phone,” she snapped, pulling the rotary phone over. She dialed quickly and waited for the line to connect.

“I think you should sweet talk the operator,” Mac said. “It’s Ruth on duty right now. Tell her you’ll give her a raise.”

Lady shot Mac a glare, but quickly fixed her face as her call went through.

“Hi, Ruth. It’s me. Yes, you were just on the line with Mac. Yes, I know.” She paused, listening as Ruth launched into a mile-a-minute soliloquy on just how busy the switchboard had been today.  Lady cleared her throat. “So, about your hourly rate…”

This was what the head of Hemisphere had to resort to, these days. Auntie had never had to schmooze with the girls working the phones, let alone the discontented gangs under her thumb.  Back in Constantine’s day, If a gang had a problem, they either died for it or shut the hell up.

“...Now Ruth, would you mind connecting me to Marc Waters?” Lady said saccharinely.

Mac rested his chin in his hand and smiled up at her, clearly amused that this was one call Lady had elected to make personally. He was lucky he was such a good secretary. The line made a satisfying click as the call went through.

“Bonjour, bonjour!” Marc crowed over the line. Lady held the phone away from her ear. “My, if it isn’t a treat to hear from you. How’s Central lately? How’s Mac, is he around? I was so sorry I had to miss last year’s gala, but as usual business comes first - I don’t have to tell you, of course! It seems like forever since I’ve been out of Texas, and now I’ll probably have a teensy war on my hands, what with all that unpleasantness with Las Realezas. Oh, I should tell you about that, but where to begin…”

Lady stared down at the receiver for a moment.

“Marc, I called you,” Lady growled.

“Oh, and so you did! What did you want to talk about? My goodness, you wouldn’t believe the rumor I heard lately about a Vegas gang - Oh, what was their name, there are so many of them…”

“Marc,” Lady said. “I need information. Since you love a rumor so much - ”

Marc laughed, and the sound came and went as he apparently moved his receiver around. There was some scuffling over the line, and the sound of a closing door.

“Don’t mind the noise, I’m just getting in the bath,” Marc yelled distantly, and the sound of running water was all Lady could hear for several long seconds. She held the receiver away from her ear and glowered across the table. Mac refused to commiserate, his attention utterly distracted by Mrs. Rushforth’s cooking. Mrs. Rushforth had given him a spoon to lick.

Lady returned her attention to the receiver just in time for the middle of something or other about La Salle, for some godforsaken reason. This summer had been one thing after another. The Vegas gangs were breathing down her neck about their wrecked city, La Salle was toast, Whist hadn’t checked in and was probably dead, and every gang within 50 miles of the Dead-Eyes’s path of destruction wanted assurance that she was going to take care of it before Ethan came for them, next.

Watching Ethan die hadn’t solved one damn thing. She should have killed him herself. She should have scooped him up when she’d had the chance, locked him away, and then publicly executed him in the middle of the ballroom at Central headquarters’ yearly gala. Then no one would have said a damn thing about how much spine she did or didn’t have.

The only way to recoup her lost face was to ferret out the four who had beaten her to it. Cody Allison. Friday Wilmot. Valerie Lecter. And the silent travelling companion who it had been very, very difficult to get a name for, and even then, she’d only gotten “John.”

“Listen, Marc,” Lady interrupted. “I need to know more about Friday Wilmot and Valerie Lecter.”

“Who?” Marc said.

“I don’t know what the connection is, but they were at the riverbank where Ethan died,” she explained. “What do you know?”

“Ethan’s dead? Ethan Rouse?” Marc whistled. “You’re kidding! Who killed him, the rest of the Dead-Eyes? You know, they gave me a very hard time a few weeks back. They drank three barrels of my water, and in return for my hospitality, they took my men captive! And then - ”

Lady had heard this one before. Yet another Hemisphere gang seeking reparations for the Dead-Eyes.

“Marc. Friday Wilmot and Valerie Lecter. What’s the connection to Cody Allison?”

He stopped short. He was thinking before he answered. Great, that meant he was coming up with a lie.

“You know, I can’t say the name rings a bell,” Marc said with a theatrical sigh.

“Which name?” Lady said, grinding her teeth.

The phone beeped at her, and Ruth’s voice cut into the conversation.

“Lady, um, Johannes Madsen is on the line,” Ruth said. “I wouldn’t interrupt, except you said that I should put Mr. Madsen through with priority, and…”

“Marc, hold on a second,” Lady said. “Put him through, Ruth.”

A cacophony of sounds assaulted Lady’s ears. She held the phone a little ways away as the rumble of an engine, one or more shouted songs, about a dozen barking dogs, and Johannes’s own shouted voice blended into one dissonant orchestra.

“Johannes, I’m on the line,” Lady said, bracing her arm against the table and resting her head in her palm.

“My God, Lady, are you at a construction site?” cut in Marc’s voice, just as the sound of a window slamming shut on the other end of the line silenced the major part of the racket.

Ruth must have done this on purpose. Lady held the receiver away from her ear for long enough to mouth “Both of them,” to Mac.

“You should have offered maternity leave with the raise,” Mac said flatly.

Lady glared, and returned her attention to the phone.

“Lady? I got through?” came Johannes’s lyrical voice. “Those operators of yours are all business lately. Usually the Hemisphere lines are a good thirty minute wait for the likes of us. Did you put in a good word for me or something?”

“Who is that?” asked Marc before Lady had the chance to say anything. “That’s not Mac.”

“Who’s on the line?” Johannes echoed. “Well, anyway, if they’re with you, I guess it doesn’t matter. Listen, I picked up the…”

Marc started speaking at just the same time, clearly aware that Johannes was speaking, and yet also clearly unconcerned with whether either of them could be heard.

Lady held the receiver away from her ear once again, waiting for the two of them to reach some sort of harmony. It was like listening to a brass band of only trumpets. In fact, Lady was pretty sure she could hear a distant trumpet over the phone, probably on the circus end of things. Not that she would put it past Marc to pick up an annoying instrument.

“ - so Lady calls me out of the blue to ask about some so-and-sos, and I’m sure I’ve never heard those names in my life,” Marc prattled on. “And you’d think I would remember, too, meeting someone named after a day of the week, as you don’t see that every day. But honestly, as if I don’t have better things to do! She does have information brokers, doesn’t she?”

“Marc, I’m still on the line,” Lady snapped.

“Yes, dear, and there’s your answer for you,” Marc continued, just as Johannes interrupted.

“Look, I’m blowing through electricity here, and - Oh, Ezra, good timing, I’ve got Lady on the phone. Anyway, you didn’t fucking tell us that you were gonna make this a competition. How am I supposed to make nice on my delivery if every schmuck east of the Mississippi looking to make a few thousand silver is gunning for these four?” Lady heard his hand slam down on something. “God’s sake, Lady, you know I had to shoot someone? Some random bounty hunter out of New Orleans. What a waste! For all I know, he was one of your guys, and you better not make it a whole to-do.”

“Who are you, again, sweetheart?” Marc said. Lady could envision him twirling the phone cord around a finger in the tub. She squeezed her eyes closed.

“None of your business,” Johannes returned cheerfully. “Listen, we got your four troublemakers, we’re heading to Everglades City next, and that’s all I got. Except, you know, a hearty fuck you for the bounty hunters. Ezra, was there anything else?”

In the split second of precious silence while Johannes Madsen waited for his brother to give his input, Marc Waters interjected.

“Lady, is this really necessary?” Marc drawled. “I mean, you called me, remember? And here I am, made to feel like a snoop while you discuss who has and hasn’t been murdered with a gentleperson whom I can only assume to be a common vagabond! Lady, are you listening? Am I an eavesdropper at the window? I mean, far be it from me, but Miss Manners dictates…”

“Marc, shut the fuck up,” Lady said stiffly. While Marc was speaking, the cacophony had joined up on Johannes’s end again. The competing voices and whoops of laughter and the goddamn trumpet - all on top of Marc’s drawl - were making her want to pull her hair out.

“Johannes, was that all?” Lady asked. “Because if you’re finished, please hang up.”

Johannes didn’t answer. He had evidently put down the phone to engage with some circus-related problem - Lady could hear his voice from a distance, and possibly his brother’s, bickering in a language she wasn’t sure was English. Marc was still speaking, undeterred.

Lady laid the receiver down on the table. She was going for a walk. And so help her God if a member of the Rushforth Family Company so much as even glanced her way.

10.14 || 11.1

[feargender]

what have i done with my heart on the floor

written for @jupeterweek day 3: AU

read here on ao3 

Peter hasn’t pulled off a job in months. He’s had multiple opportunities, of course, he’s heard tappings and gotten tips from contacts. But his heart just isn’t in it, he finds it exceedingly difficult to don the mask. His fingers slip on his lockpicks, grip clumsy in a way it hasn’t been in decades. 

He can’t help but blame himself for his misfortune. If he had just turned his back on Hyperion City, the entirety of Mars, like he had sworn to himself he would, this wouldn’t be happening. But Martian elections are always frightful things and he couldn’t help but feel… concern. Juno always manages to land himself directly in the middle of frightful situations and Peter knew that if he kept his ear to the ground long enough he’d hear the detective’s name. And he had. 

Following whatever it was that occurred in Old Town Hyperion following the landslide election, Mars was plastered on every news stream for a week. 

Peter remembers the sound his comms had made when he threw it against the wall of his hotel room. The screen cracked, but the report continued out of the tinny speakers. “This election week was not without its casualties, however,” the news reporter said. “Former Mayor Pilot Pereyra has been reported missing and presumed dead somewhere in the Martian desert, along with Private Detective Juno Steel, local investigator in Hyperion City.” The comms shattered easily under Peter’s sharp heel, but the words still rang in his ears. 

His stomach dropped straight into the floor, and kept plummeting. It’s been almost half a year, but he can still feel his heart ache with the pain of it. A keen sense of loss he hasn’t experienced in twenty years. He doesn’t remember it hurting this much, the hollowness inside. A genuine, physical pain he can’t break free from. His hands shake most of the time, these days, and his words escape him. He finds himself stumbling over the details of his aliases, even when alone, never mind what might happen if he was actually in the middle of a job and needed to remember the information. 

One does not have a lucrative career as a master thief without ferreting some savings away, however, so Peter is not rendered immediately destitute. However, the well is running a little dry, so when he is put into contact with a group of thieves looking to expand their number, he’s hardly going to say no. Especially not to Buddy Aurinko, living legend that she is. She seems to know that he hasn’t taken a job in quite some time, but isn’t bothered by it, if he can assume by her voice over the comms. But he assumes very little about her, so it’s hard to be sure. 

She made contact with one of his more broad aliases, Adrian King, more of a placeholder name than anything. He has to have something of a professional reputation, but cannot use his own name, so Adrian was born. He’s very similar to Peter in most aspects, mainly in that he doesn’t share much personal information, so it will be a simple enough guise. And, if Peter is being honest with himself, he could use the company. Perhaps in working with a group he’ll regain whatever it is he lost along with Juno. 

He comforts himself with this thought as he follows the broad back of Jet Sikuliaq across the bustling Venusian spaceport. This, in and of itself, is a bit disconcerting. He’s never met Sikuliaq directly, but when the RUBY7 went missing right out from under his own nose a few weeks after his and Juno’s… departure from one another, he had assumed it had been the original owner come to reclaim her. 

Jet is not a talkative man, which suits Peter just fine. The fifteen minute walk to the rather unassuming ship is silent, save for the moment that Jet pointed the ship out to Peter. The gate to the cargo bay is open, hanging open like the bottom jaw of a great yawning mouth, and Peter can see several figures standing around just within it. 

He slaps an easy smile on his face and affects casual posture, hauling his rolling luggage behind him. His eyes take in the distinctive red hair of Buddy Aurinko and a narrower, green haired woman standing next to her, like a shadow with teeth. The RUBY7 gleams a slightly sickly shade of lime in the harsh lights of the spaceport, but this is not what makes Peter stumble over his own feet. 

The lady leaning against the car is short, and stout. His hair is dark and in tightly coiled curls, a bit longer than Peter remembers. His face, too, has more scars, particularly around his right eye, which is made of glass. But his tan trench coat is the same, Peter is sure of it. He can see the tear in the left lapel that was there the last time he saw it. 

Juno’s mouth quirks into a slightly surprised smile. “Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?” he asks, jokingly. But his eyebrows are pulled down worriedly, and Peter distantly knows that he must look like the universe’s biggest fool. In that moment, whatever disguise he had managed to cloak himself in slips away, leaving him utterly exposed, visible to the naked eye. 

“Juno,” he chokes out, mounting the ramp up to the ship and dropping his luggage, throwing his arms around Juno tightly enough that he almost topples them both over. But Juno catches them on the side of the car and then wraps his arms around Peter, who has his coat held fast in two tight fists. “I thought you were dead,” Peter hisses into the side of Juno’s head, face nestled against his temple. 

The part of Peter that is a thief more than he is even human knows that they’re being watched, but he doesn’t care. If he lets go of Juno now he might die, or worse, he’ll cry. The only thing keeping him grounded, and the tears from flowing, is the feel of Juno’s hands on his back, one of them shifting a little as if to comfort. 

Juno shifts his face so his mouth his hidden from view and says, “I’m fine, Nureyev.” At that, Peter pulls away far enough to look at him, really look at him. He looks healthier than Peter has ever seen him. The dark bags and deep lines under his eyes are absent, like he’s been resting, and the shoulders under Peter’s hands are stronger, a bit more packed with muscle. For once, he isn’t injured. No scrapes, no bloody bandages, no broken bones. 

Peter sniffs, trying to regain a bit of dignity. “So you are.” 

“I didn’t know you knew Adrian, Juno,” Buddy says, eyebrow arched. Peter feels hot embarrassment flood him, but she only looks curious, and a little sympathetic. 

Juno deflects that, saying only, “I didn’t know how to get in touch with him after Hyperion,” to explain away Peter’s reaction. Buddy’s mouth quirks, and Peter knows she noticed, but she only nods. 

“I take it you can handle the tour, then,” she says, already taking the hand of the green haired woman and walking away. Jet claps Peter on the shoulder hard enough that he nearly topples, and follows, leaving them alone in the cargo bay. After a moment, the great yawning door closes, the silence ringing. 

Peter is at a complete loss of words, simply staring at Juno, waiting for him to disappear. Juno takes Peter’s luggage in one hand, and Peter’s hand in the other, leading him out of the cargo bay. His skin is warm and calloused, and Peter revels in the contact. Juno begins talking, rambling about the ship as he leads them on a rather stunted tour before heading to Peter’s assigned room. “It’s small, but it locks. Rita can override the lock, obviously, but you know,” Juno stops in the doorway, shrugging. “Uh, you’ll have to get creative about storage.” 

Peter nods dumbly, following Juno inside, sitting on the bed when Juno indicates it to him. Juno sits beside him, the door hissing closed behind them. “I’m… I’m really sorry, Nureyev. I would have told you, if I could,” Juno finally whispers. Peter suspects this is an apology for more than one thing, but what happened between them is a conversation for later. 

“I saw on the news that you died,” Peter says hoarsely. 

“Yeah. A lot of stuff happened with Hyperion, more than anyone really knows. It was too much, I decided I needed to disappear. Before Mars killed me for real,” Juno says, shrugging again. 

“I missed you so much,” Peter says, and it feels ridiculous and childish to say aloud, but it’s the truest thing he can think of. Every day since he saw that news stream, he had missed Juno. As if the very universe was darker and more bleak without his presence somewhere within it. “It was horrible, I. It’s been horrible, Juno.” Now, it seems, Peter’s body has finally rebelled against him completely, the first hot tears leaking from his eyes. 

Juno reaches over and gathers Peter against him, holding onto him tightly. Peter mashes his face into the side of Juno’s neck. 

“I’m sorry,” Juno says again and again, until they lapse into silence. Then, once Peter looks up at him, bleary eyed and face wet with tears, he smiles. “You changed your cologne.” 

Peter gives a wet laugh. “And you kept this stupid coat,” he plucks at a loose thread in Juno’s sleeve. 

“It’s comfortable,” Juno protests. 

“It’s hideous,” Peter replies, voice rough. 

“I’m so sorry. For everything,” Juno says. 

Peter shakes his head, wiping his face before settling again into Juno’s side. “Can we not do that conversation now? I think I need some time.” 

“Of course, Nureyev. Whatever you need,” Juno agrees quickly. Peter kicks off his shoes, leaning more firmly into Juno until he shifts and they both lay back on the rather narrow bed, folded against each other.

Juno sheds his own shoes and goes to take off his coat, but Peter grips him tighter. Juno smirks. “I thought you said you didn’t like it.” 

“I said it’s hideous. There’s a difference,” Peter disagrees. 

Juno laughs softly. “I really missed you, too, you know,” he says quietly, leaning his cheek against the crown of Peter’s head. Peter sighs, scooting a bit closer, clinging in a way that will no doubt be slightly mortifying in hindsight, but he can’t help it. He doesn’t want to help it, even. He wants to hold Juno so tightly, until his poor heart has a chance to put itself back together again. Until the pervasive ache in his stomach eases. Once he has that, he’ll consider letting go. 

[fantasyfandommaiden]

Adrien’s Mentorship: Groceries And Glamour

Adrien gets to go to the Farmers market with Carmine well they gather supplies for the linage spells! Having never been to the farmers market before, he is in for some interesting expirencese, including his first expierence seeing glamour outside of his super suit.

Part one Here

[[MORE]]

Adrien insisted that he accompanied Carmine to the farmers market the next time she went, which happened to be the next day. Carmine asked if he really wanted to spend a majority of the weekend with her, seeing as he could hang out with his friend, but he just stated that he had lots of free time now, so he could hangout with his friends whenever he pleased.

Nathalie gave the ‘okay’ with the plan, however Adrien would have to wear a disguise since a new ‘Gabriel’ commercial came out starring Adrien, and that meant that his fans would be more frantic than usual.

So Adrien had left the house were a baseball cap and a pair of aviator sunglasses. He alway wore a simple white tee shirt and a pair of jeans.

~~~~

The Gorilla had parked outside of Carmine’s building, but said woman was already standing on the side walk, typing away in her phone. She smiled and opened the door, sliding in to sit in the back with Adrien. She looked up towards the Gorilla and smiled “Thanks again for driving us there. I really appreciate it.” She said.

Gorilla gave a slight wave back, a clear sign of ‘don’t worry about it’ before he started to drive.

Adrien looked over his magic teacher, noting that she was wearing a white tank top with a soft violet chiffon cover up overtop. She, like him, was also wearing blue jeans and as well as a pair of sandals, she also wore a hat however unlike him, she wore a small brimmed sun hat. She was also carrying a large purse with her and several cloth bags, no doubt for the ingredients they were going to gather at the farmers market.

Adrien was bouncing in his seat, and brought out his note book again, flipping through it to find the spot where they and left off with his questions when he noticed movement coming from Carmine’s bag. He looked at it with a raised brow, looking at Carmine who hadn’t seemed to notice.

“Umm... Mlle Carmine?” He said slowly, Carmine looked towards Adrien with a small smile “Is there something in your bag? Something... moving?”

Carmine blinked slightly looking slightly confused, before opening her purse to look inside she scowled slightly “... I told you to stay in the apartment.” She stated in a slight scolding tone.

Adrien was really curious about what she was talking to, forgetting all of his lessons about never looking into someone else’s bag without permission, he leaned over and peered inside the purse to see... a ferret?

Adrien blinked several times as the white and brown ferret stuck his head out of the purse, letting out a chattering noise as he looked towards Carmine, who continued to scowl at the small animal. “No. I remember distinctly that I told you to wait in the apartment, it was just to be me and Adrien today.” The ferret let out another chatter sound, seeming to raise one of its brown brows at Carmine. “Plagg doesn’t count, he is always with Adrien.” She countered.

Adrien’s eyes widened as he smiled widely “Oh my god... you can speak with animals?!” Adrien asked in an excited tone, both Carmine and the ferret looked towards Adrien with a raised brow each.

“No, I can speak with this ferret and that’s it.” Carmine stated before sighing “Well, I was going to do this after but might as well do it now.” Carmine held out her hand and the ferret scuffled onto it than up her arm TIL he was draped over her shoulders, seeming to almost looking smug about it “Adrien, this is Gladiolus, he is my familiar.”

“Your familiar is a ferret?” Adrien asked curiously. He had did a bit of research about different aspects of the occult and witch craft. He knew that familiars were usually animal helpers, like black cats, who would help magic users with their spell making.

���Not always.” Carmine stated, giving Gladiolus a small scratch on top of his head “He shape shifts once every ten years or so as to not draw suspension. When I first arrived in Paris to study when I was 19 he was a mouse.” Carmine explained, giving a soft smile to the ferret. “... Gladio and I have been together since I was 13 years old. He is my oldest friend, confidant, and helper. I would be lost without him...” she than gave the ferret a slight scowling look, remembering that he wasn’t suppose to be in the car with them “Even though doesn’t always listen.” The ferret let out another smug, chattering sound, which caused Carmine to roll her eyes.

Adrien’s eyes were still wide as he looked at the ferret on her shoulders “So...

Is it like Harry Potter?!” He asked excitedly, looking at her “Is there a familiar shop? Will I get a familiar?! An owl would be cool, but I don’t know how father would react to that!”

Carmine looked at Adrien with a deadpanned stare, and a raised brow “... Adrien sweetie, that’s not how it works.” She said to him “One, those were not familiars but pets, not entirely the same. No, a familiar is not bought but summoned through a ritual, and even than it can be a hit or miss.” She informed the teen as she glanced towards Gorilla. She knew he was listening, she also knew he could keep a secret. “A familiar is summoned when a fey, or in some cases a demon, wishes to come over to this side, and form a contract between themselves and the magic user, this bonding them to that person TIL the day the magic user, or in some cases the familiar, dies.”

Adrien looked at her, nodding slowly “... So, if I wanted to summon a familiar, I would need ingredients for a ritual right?” He asked, looking at her.

Carmine gave him a playful smile, before tosseling the top of his head where the hat was “Let’s gather the ingredients for the linage spell, than worry about familiars, alright?”

~~~~~~~~

The farmers market reminded Adrien a lot of the different movies and anime he had seen growing up (and still watched to this day). It was outside in a large area, with multiple stalls all around with tents over top of them for share.

Adrien’s nose was assaulted with all the different smells, and all the different sounds of people trying to pilfer their wares was so different from what he was use to and it took him a few minutes to get use to it, which Carmine graciously lead him to a bench a little ways off to help him adjust.

“Is... is it always like this?” He asked, looking at Carmine who looked at the boy with a concerned expression on her face.

“Yes it is. I’m sorry Adrien. If I had known you had sensory issues I would have warned you.”

“It’s fine, the sensory thing is new, What with...” he gestured towards his ring before looking towards Carmine. “... so, what do we need?” He asked curiously, looking at Carmine.

Carmine gave him a small smile, before digging into her purse and brining out a list “Let’s see... first we need pomegranate, and than some ginseng root...”

~~~~~

They spent the next half hour touring to he different stalls, finding the best ingredients for the ritual... although, to Adrien, it sounded more like they were making a really elaborate tea with all the different but odd ingredients, like bay leaves, sage, one really large apple... were they making a tea? He wouldn’t put it past Carmine.

“Where is he...” Carmine said, looking around in search of something.

Adrien looked at Carmine with a raised brow. He had offered to hold the bags for her, seeing as that seemed what a lot of apprentices did in movies and such “Who?”

“Well, I have someone here who I always buy from because he always has the good stuff, but I can’t seem to find hi- OH there he is!” She said excitedly as she briskly walked over to a stall that was a little off to the side “Théo!” She called, making her way over to the stall.

Adrien followed closely after however froze momentarily upon seeing WHO was manning the stall. It was Théo Barbot, the artist who became CopyCat a few months back. Adrien felt a scowl come onto his face at the memory of that Akuma but quickly made it go away into his ‘model smile’ as he approached with Carmine.

Theo looked up at his name being called and smiled brightly “Oh, hey Carmine! I was wondering when you were going to show up around here.” He said, placing another of his small sculptures down on his table, it was a sculpture of a sword in a stone, however it was made out of wood. Adrien noted that there were several wood or stone carvings on the table, as well as statues and boxes, most likely all hand made. Théo glanced at Adrien as he approached and stood beside Carmine, his brow raised slightly “... you baby sitting today?” He asked in a playful manner, grinning as he brought up more sculptures.

Carmine smiled proudly, placing a hand on Adrien’s shoulder “No, no babysitting. This is Adrien,” she explained, before giving Théo a pointed look, a knowing smile on her lips “My student.”

Théo’s eyebrows almost went up to his hairline as he looked at Adrien with new found interest, standing up slightly straighter as he looked him over “Really?” He asked, looking Adrien over appraisingly “... isn’t he kind of old to be your student?”

“That is for me to decide Théo.” She chided him softly, as Adrien made a mental note to ask Carmine what he meant by that later. “Did you manage to get the items I asked for?”

Theo smiled brightly “For the most part, it’s all in my car. Can you watch stall well I go get it?”

“Of course.” Carmine replied easily, as Théo made his way to the parking lot.

“... I don’t like him.” Adrien muttered slightly under his breath.

“Why ever not?” Carmine asked him, with a raised brow.

Adrien froze up slightly, looking at Carmine “Uh, he imitated me when he became CopyCat, remember?” He said, giving her a nervous smile. It was a half truth.

Carmine looked at him with a raised brow, and Adrien could tell she didn’t believe him fully. “... and what else?” She asked him. Adrien remained quiet for a moment, looking down at the ground. “Adrien, either you tell me or I ask Théo about it.”

“He has a crush on Ladybug...” Adrien finally muttered under his breath. Carmine raised a brow at the statement, giving Adrien a VERY unimpressed look as Théo returned holding a cardboard box.

“Théo, you still admire our city’s lovely superhero’s correct?” Carmine asked, looking at the artist. Théo in question looked at her with a raised brow, clearly not expecting that question as he placed the box on the table and began to open it.

“Of course I do, who doesn’t. Although Chat Noir could stand to do some growing up.” Théo stated, causing Adrien to blister slightly “I was talking to the guy, saying how I was disappointed in the fact that Ladybug hadn’t shown up to the unveiling of my statue, and he began insisting that they were a ‘thing’ and were like ‘this’” Théo said, demonstrating his fingers being crossed, but than rolled his eyes “I wanted to express my gratitude towards our city’s hero, not confess. However I got so mad at the insulation that it caused me to be Akumatized.” The man shuttered at the memory, and didn’t notice the extremely guilty look on Adrien’s face, or the look of extreme disapproval on Carmine’s as she looked at her student.

“Well, I’m glade that Ladybug and Chat were able to deal with the situation properly.” Carmine stated simply, giving Adrien a pointed look that expressed ‘We are talking about this later.�� As she looked at the box in front of her “This it?”

Théo grinned widely “Yep, have to say Carmine, some of this stuff wasn’t easy to find. Doing something special with it?”

Carmine gave a slight shrug, opening the box to look inside “Something like that. You mind if I check to make sure it is all there?”

“Be my guest.” Theo said, leaning back against one of the poles holding up the tent.

Carmine smiled and pulled out one item at a time, before placing it in one of her cloth bags “Japanese maple leaves from Japan, grave yard dirt, vines and ivy...” she murmured Softly, brining out a small glass bottle to examine the insides “Pinkie bone of a long dead priest...”

“I’m sorry, a WHAT?!” Adrien asked, his voice somewhat shrill as he looked at the glass bottle she was holding. He did notice inside what looked to be a bleached white bone.

“Oh don’t worry.” Théo told him, grinning “No one mourned this idiot. He burned down half of Paris supposedly.”

“As well as killed a previous fox chosen and her unborn child.” Carmine spoke in Mandarin to Adrien quietly as she examined the bone closely “The Ox Goddess dealt with him however...”

Theo looked between the two, eyebrow raised “So... everything up to your standards Carmine?”

Carmine looked up at Theo, placing the pinkie bone into her cloth bag “Of course, here is your payment.” Carmine said, digging into her purse and brining out a small hemp braided bracelet “Charged and ready, should last you another three months.”

Adrien looked very confused as Theo graciously took the bracelet than quickly put it on, taking off an identical hemp bracelet off his other wrist and handing it over “Just tell me what other goods you’ll need and I’ll start looking for them.”

“What does the bracelet do?” Adrien asked, curiousity finally getting the better of him. Carmine looked at Theo wit a raised brow and he looked back at her with one of his own, a silent conversation happening between them before Theo finally shrugged “He was bound to find out eventually, if he is sticking around as your student.”

Carmine gave a slight nod, before looking at Adrien “May I borrow your sunglasses Adrien?” She asked him, looking at the blonde model. Adrien, still very confused, slowly handed her his aviator sunglasses, which she took. She than examined them, murmuring softly under her breath, Adrien only being able to hear because of his experience as Chat Noir. “Of soft moon glow, and suns ever light, bless this item I hold with mystic sight.” Her eyes flashed ember in colour as she breathed onto them, the glasses flashing a similar ember colour before she wiped them with her shirt.

Gladiolus, seeming to sense his mage using magic, poked his head out of the purse looking around at their surroundings as if to make sure no one was watching.

She than handed them back to Adrien, smiling “Try them on and not cause a scene.” She warned him.

Adrien looked at her with a raised brow, placing them on and looking around however stopped when he looked at Theo in front of him, who had his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, but Theo looked anything but human.

His skin had turned a deep purple colour, his hair a darker shade of purple and his eyes were a deep scarlet red. A pair of ram horns on his head, and a long devil like tail that swished back and forth.

“What... How... who..”

“Teifling. Glamour, still Theo, at least that’s what they call me now.” The devil creature explained, Theo’s voice escaping its lips. “Carmine makes me a really strong glamour spell in exchange for collecting hard to find items for her, which is easy considering all of my connections.”

“And I appreciate everything you do for me Theo.” Carmine said to him smiling “And I would love to stay and chat but there is more I have to do today before I get ready for a ritual later.” She explained to him, however Theo just gave a wave of his hand, still smirking “Ah, don’t worry about it Carmine, I’ll catch up with you later!”

Carmine had to lead Adrien away from Theo’s stall, he was still in a daze “So... that was a thing.” He said as they walked towards the limo. Carmine smirked widely, looking down at her student.

“Oh Adrien, trust me...” she smirked at him as they walked, Carmine’s arm around his shoulders in a parental way almost, Gladiolus looking at Adrien with almost a smirking expression as well “This is only the beginning.”

[thesidesareamess]

This was a writing prompt about a person who sold their first born for magic but ends up falling for the witch/wizard.

Warnings: mischievous ferret, magic? I don't really know tell me if I need to add something.

Pairings: Logan x patton (logicality)

Logan knew he shouldn’t have taken Patton up on the offer. How was he supposed to know that Patton was completely helpless when it came to romance?

“She was a huge flirt. With everyone!” Patton paces Logan's living room describing just how terrible the latest date had been.

“Patton” Logan holds up his hand rubbing his hand over his face.

“You only needed to get laid. You don’t have to have an actual relationship.” Humans with their weird need for human connection.

“What do you even plan to do with a baby Logan?” Patton stops his pacing putting his hands on his hips reminding Logan of an upset mom.

“It’s not your concern but if you must know I plan to keep them and raise them.” Logan stands from his seat adjusting his glasses.

“Well, why don’t you get laid then Mr. So-Great-With-Romance.” Patton glares at Logan. It would have been comical if his eyes didn’t sign with a hint of his own magic.

“You’re the one who made this deal Patton. Don’t forget that.” Logan snaps as he storms out of the room.

“Logan wait.” Patton chases after Logan.

“What is it, Patton? You know what you signed up for. I told you up front.” Logan glares at the wall letting his anger crash into him.

“I’m sorry.” Patton places his hand on Logan's shoulder startling the wizard.

“If you want a kid so much why don’t you adopt a kid?” Patton tilts his head the hostility from earlier completely replaced with curiosity.

“I can’t get a significant other and adoption is a mess for everyone involved,” Logan says simply taking a step forward letting Patton's hand fall.

“Okay. I’ll try harder.” Patton sighs looking at the ground.

“Patton?” Logan turns to says something just as Patton teleports away.

“I knew I shouldn’t have given him so much magic.” Logan sighs his lips tugging into a smile.

“I guess I’ll see him tomorrow.

Tomorrow came a lot sooner than Logan had planned.

“Logan!” Logan groans rolling out of his bed.

“One moment.” He groans levitating a comb through his hair as he gets his night clothes to vanish in its place a simple dark button up and a tie with some pants.

“Hurry!” Logan can feel Patton's impatiens as he finishes his morning routine.

“Calm down!” Logan groans rubbing his eyes before having his glasses fly to his face.

“Logan!” he almost growls as he walks hurriedly to the door Patton's winning not helping his mood.

“What?” He opens the door pulling himself together to greet the unwelcome guest.

“Guess what I found!” Patton basically vibrates in his spot his hands behind his back.

“I have no clue Patton but I am positive that you will show me.” Logan rolls his eyes a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You’re no fun.” Patton pouts. “I found this!” He happily pulls a bundle of fur from behind him.

“Patton, what is that?” Logan looks at the creature in question his eyes wide.

“It’s a ferret!” Patton happily lifts the creature up.

“Why?” Logan leans back away from the thing.

“Cause it’s adorable.” Patton hugs the creature to him.

“It looks like a snake rat.” Logan crinkles his nose at the ferret.

“Don’t be mean. He’s beautiful.” Patton glares at Logan holding the ferret closer.

“Where did you even get it?” Logan almost wants to reach his hand out to poke the fleshy noodle.

“Pet store. Isn’t he just the cutest?” Patton gushes.

“Yeah sure.” Logan shakes his head.

“You coming in or what? It’s cold out here. Logan steps aside leaving room for Patton to enter.

“Okie dokie.” Patton laughs as he slides through the door. “Logan almost blushes as Patton slides close enough for him to smell the strawberry shampoo. He doesn’t know why he was the one who suggested the shampoo to Patton after all.

“I see you’ve been using the shampoo.” Logan watches Patton's face explode with color.

“Yeah, I like it.” He shrugs looking away from Logan.

“It smells nice.” Logan walks to the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

“You can’t just say things like that and walk away!” Patton shouts from the other room.

“Looks like I just did.” Logan chuckles to himself as he grabs the pot.

“I’ll get you for this Logan Morgan Berry!” Logan winces.

“I regret giving you that information.” He fills the pot of water before placing it on his stove.

“Don’t care.” Patton strolls into the room the ferret still being held helplessly in his grasp. Logan almost feels bad for it.

“Do you have anything to eat?”

“you tell me. You’re the one with his head in my fridge.” Logan rolls his eyes as he grabs two mugs.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like you have much here.” Patton pulls his head from the fridge a small grapevine hanging from his lips.

“Yay tea.” Patton mutter around the grapes.

“Yeah now get over here.” Logan sits at the table levitating the pot over to the mugs.

“Two cubes of sugar for you and some honey.” Logan carefully places the ingredients into Patton's mug.

“One cube of sugar and cinnamon cause you’re weird.” Patton hands Logan his cup as Logan levitates Patton's to him. Logan almost chuckles at how in tune they have grown after a month of failed setups.

“So any more date lined up?” Patton leans against the table blowing on his cup.

“Not at the moment. I’m afraid your visit is in vain.” Logan adjusts his glasses setting his own cup down ready for Patton to just up and go.

“Alright cool. I’ll just chill with you then.” Patton takes a sip of his tea letting out a hum of satisfaction.

“Patton?”

“Hmm?” Logan glances around.

“Where's the ferret?” Patton's eyes widened to that of plates.

“Uh oh.” Patton places his cup down.

“You lost it.” Logan shakes his head.

“I didn’t lose him I just’ Misplaced him?”

“very convincing.”

Logan stands from his seat letting his magic drift throughout the house.

“Come here you rodent,” Logan mutters as a levitating ferret comes floating into the room.

“What am I going to do with you, Patton?” Logan groans letting Patton pluck the creature from the air.

“You know you love me.” Patton teases his focus on the ferret.

“Falsehood!” Logan shouts pointing an accusing finger at Patton.

“I do not have the capability of loving someone.” Logan almost shouts his posture returning to a stiff contrast of the relaxed one earlier.

“I’m sorry.” Patton stares at Logan in a mix of shock and hurt.

“I should go.” Patton hurries towards the door the ferret swinging limply.

“Wait, Patton.” Logan tries to call out only to be met with the closing of the door.

Logan doesn’t know why he should care. He shouldn't. Patton was basically a business partner in a way. Logan shouldn’t care if he had hurt his feelings and yet here he was sitting on his couch his mind replaying the event that had scared Patton away. Logan looks at the steaming cup that Patton had left. Logan brought it with him to the living room in hopes that maybe Patton would come back.

“I don’t have emotions.” Logan tries to shake off the small voice that was saying falsehood in the back of his mind. It’s not like Logan actually cared for Patton. Definitely not. It’s not like Patton stumbling on the cottage was the first time Logan had contact with anyone in over a year. Nor did Patton's smile always seem to warm him in some way. Patton's laughter clearly did nothing to him. Neither did Patton use of the shampoo Logan had told him to get. Logan definitely didn’t feel a twisting in his stomach at seeing Patton coming in his door after another date. Who was he kidding Logan had somehow grown infatuated with the man with the strange hobbies.

“Illogical. Emotions are illogical.” Logan places his head in his hands groaning.

“I can’t just sit here he might not come back.” Logan stands from his seat and walks to the door.

“Logan?” Logan pulls the door open to be greeted by a bright red Patton. “Um hi.” Patton waves.

“Hi.” logan is a useless gay.

“May I come in?” Logan nods stepping to the side. Patton doesn’t brush against him nore get close enough for Logan to smell his hair. Logan tries not to let that hurt him.

“May I talk to you?” Patton twists his hands together his chewed nail almost gone.

“Yeah.” Logan walks to the couch robotically.

“I’m sorry for running off.” Patton sits in the armchair. Again Logan feels a slight pang in his chest.

“I should be the one apologizing. I was the one who yelled.” Logan sighs his body relaxing slightly.

“I didn’t run because you yelled,” Patton mutters almost to low for Logan to hear.

“Run that by me again.”

“I didn’t run because you yelled. I ran because I love you.”

Patton looks logan in the eyes before looking away again. Logan stares at him his face turning a dark shade of ready.

“I should go. I only came to explain why I ran.” Patton quickly stands almost running to the door again.

“Patton!” logan grabs his wrist.

“I’m sorry. I know you said that you don’t have feelings. I know.” Logan stares as tears cascade down Patton's cheeks.

“I was wrong,” Logan whispers tugging Patton towards him careful not to hurt the man.

“What?” Patton wipes at his eyes looking at Logan confused.

“I was wrong. I’m sorry. I was so so wrong.” Logan pulls Patton into a hug earning a shocked gasp from him.

“Can I kiss you?” Logan pulls back enough to look at Patton.

“You want to kiss me?” Patton looks dubious.

“Yes.” Logan wipes his thumb under Patton's eye stealing a few escaped tears.

“Yes.” Patton leans forwards locking his lips with Logan.

“So what are you going to name him?” Roman looks over at the baby in Patton's arms.

“Virgil.” Patton bends down letting the child look at Virgil.

“That’s a strange name.” Roman reaches his hand out poking the baby on the cheek.

“Roman.” Roman steps back looking over at his mother. “It’s okay Valerie.” Patton waves her off handing Virgil to Logan.

“Here honey.” Patton gives him a peck on the cheek earning a dramatic groan from Roman.

“Mom they’re spreading cooties.” Roman sticks his tongue out at them.

“Oh shush you goof.” Patton ruffles his hair.

“Hey!” Roman shouts trying to fix his hair.

“Patton.” Logan rolls his eyes at Patton as he continues to mess with Roman. If you had told Logan that after only a few years of dating Patton that he’d be starting a family, making friends, and having a good time all at the same time he would have laughed. Now he’s married to Patton and they have adopted a small bundle of joy.

The loud wailing of Virgil from the other room is a bleak reminder of the lack of sleep Logan seems to get.

“Patton it’s your turn.” logan mumbles shaking his husband.

“You bought him you deal with him.” Patton gives a sleepy chuckle as he curls under the blanket.

“I regret ever making that deal with you.” Logan can’t help smile slightly as he rolls out of bed.

“You love me.” Patton yawns looking at him with tired eyes.

“Yeah, I do.” Logan walks out of the room to deal with the balling baby.

“Hey what's wrong Virg.” Logan lifts the small creature into his arms rocking him softly.

“Don’t look at me like that you’re the one who woke me up.” Logan chuckles as Virgil glares at him with his tiny face.

“You and Roman will definitely get along. You’re both overly dramatic.”

[quantumsnipers]

Mnemophobia

     A body frozen, breath gasped in while orchestral music drifts around him mixed with the quiet chatter and bustle of people. The equivalent of his life flashing before his eyes, the choices that led up to this point in a split second as he could only stare wide eyed in shock….

     Neil’s lips ticked up into a small smirk as he heard the sharp click of a weapon cocking behind his head.  His hands came up next to his head from where he had been closing his front door, at the familiar nudge of a barrel at the base of his skull. He was hardly surprised, returning to a mercenary life as a sniper after Celestial Being had turned his existence on its head, he had up heaved the existing hitman hierarchy overnight. And he had kept it in disarray ever since by failing to align himself with any one side after all this time.  He took only contracts that he saw as fitting with his personal code and since he was the best at his job, he could name his price.  He had a list of people who would love to see him gone, but only a few of the names on that list had the guts to try.  Even fewer who could have gotten in his place without him realizing.

     “Lockon Stratos.”

     The smirk quickly dropped into a frown as his back went ramrod straight. That title and voice efficiently cut straight thru the mental list to a very specific set of people.  None of whom he was particularly looking forward to seeing. He turned his head to glare over his shoulder, disregarding the dangerous press of metal to his head.  Sure enough, a form familiar from memory of fluffed up black hair and tan skin coolly met his gaze from behind the silenced small caliber barrel. His lips thinned in a tight line as he drug his eyes back to the door, knocking it fully closed with his hip before his hands dropped; he pulled the padded strap of his rifle bag from his shoulder and settled the weight of the bag in the corner, wedged between the wall and side table.  

      “That’s not my name anymore, Setsuna.”  He moved farther into his apartment, disregarding the other male tracking him with a steady weapon arm. He pulled the fridge open and grabbed a beer, cocking the bottle questioningly at the younger, and being met with nothing more than his normal impassive stare, shrugged and closed the appliance door. He tapped the lid of the bottle against the side of his counter, popping it off and ignoring the small spilling of carbon fizz as he leaned back against the sink and took a swig.

     “I’m here to bring you back to Ptolemy.” Setsuna’s voice was as bland as Neil remembered, and his lips quirked in a sardonic half smirk against his will at the nostalgia, even as memories flashed behind his eyes of things that ripped the wounds of his mind and heart fresh open. Memories of aubergine and crimson, cold and calculating overlaid with flashes of curious gaze and tentative touch.  

     “Ptolemy was destroyed.” Screams and explosions, decompression and alarms blaring...quiet, distressed words over a com... Things that still haunted his nightmares and that even alcohol couldn’t dull on the worst days.  “And even if it was rebuilt, I left her “crew” and I’m not going back.”  He let his inflection speak for the reference to Celestial Being. Setsuna hadn’t said it, and he may not be planning on going back, but damned if he would turn over a prior ally by lack of discretion.  Never knew who was listening.

     The gun may have already been on him, but the hardening of Setsuna’s gaze at his denial was more concerning, making Neil’s fingers twitch with desire for his own weapons concealed around the apartment.  He took another swig of beer both to appear nonchalant to the other, keep his own concern hidden. He almost froze as Setsuna reached for his pocket but slowly lowered the bottle as he only pulled a piece of paper from an inner pocket.  One handed, Setsuna flicked the folded paper open, and Neil’s eyes narrowed at the picture that was almost like looking in a mirror. He would have assumed that it was his own image, if not for the stats listed underneath.   “Is that a threat, Setsuna?” His voice had gone cold and he was tight as a bowstring, this was a ploy he thought Sumeragi would have better sense than to risk. He knew it had to come from her, Setsuna wasn’t devious enough for this, he’d rather have just shot him.

     “We need a pilot speced to the Dynames class. You are still alive and Sumeragi’s first choice since we have lost contact with Veda’s analyzing process. If you refuse, I have orders to retrieve your twin as he is the only other valid choice that won’t require alterations that take time we don’t have.  He is part of Katharon and will make a suitable replacement.”

     Neil’s gaze flickered from the paper to Setsuna a few times, judging his resolve and, sadly as expected, finding it solid.  He wasn’t bluffing. Neil had his suspicions about his twins extra curricular activities, but lacking the ties he’d had when with Celestial Being, and not wanting his current clients to ferret out any outside attempts to gather intel, lest it be used against him, he had only clung to the hope he was mistaken.  Silently cursing his impulsive estranged sibling, he pushed aside memories of quiet conversations about introducing him someday with “this is classified information” being hissed at him. He quickly failed to hold his stoicism under the memories and new information, all but snarling at the younger male as he cursed and hurled the half-empty bottle against the kitchen wall. Setsuna was holding his weapon two handed, stance steady, when he calmed down enough to turn his attention back to him. Neil scoffed at him, and threw open a cabinet, dragging out a bottle of unlabeled poitin alcohol. He gulped a few swallows of it straight out of the bottle, ripping it away just to gasp a breath and drag the back of his wrist across him mouth.

      His glare was hard as he stalked out of the kitchen, bottle still in hand, stalking straight past the shorter meister.  He didn’t even give the weapon following him a second glace as he slammed open his coat closet and dragged out a duffle bag, throwing a coat, belt-pouch with clips, a couple small ammo boxes, and a .357 torn out from under the coffee table into it, despite Setsuna spiting his code name again in warning. He merely took another swig of the alcohol and stuffed a shirt, pulled from its place hanging over a chair nearby, on top and shoved it all down into the bag. He dragged the strap diagonal over his chest, hauled his rifle bag out of the corner and up on his free shoulder, chugged the remainder of the poitin and slammed the bottle on to the side table as he turned the glare on Setsuna.

     “Put that shite away and take me to Sumeragi.  Your just the messenger boy and I wont let you near my brother, I’ll make her understand myself.”

      The trip back spaceside went without incident physically, though the memories of the last times he had been in space weighed heavily on his mind. Neil kept himself under tight control, all he needed was for Setsuna to decided he was psychologically unfit and make the call to go with his twin after an unfortunate accident.  He held himself together thru the trip to rendezvous and back to the ship.  He left Setsuna behind as he floated thru the halls toward the bridge.  He was met by Sumeragi before he got there, and he followed her without comment to a briefing room.  By the end of their “conversation” there was a minor crowd around the doorway, even Setsuna not willing to intervene despite the random sounds that could easily pass for a knock down drag out fight punctuated by screaming.  When the door finally slid open, and Neil staggered out (a feat considering zero-g weight), he was bleeding from several places and clutching a dislocated shoulder. Sumeragi was worse for wear but it was clear his re-acclimation to zero-g had put him at a sever disadvantage.  He was medicated and returned to his room.

      This, unfortunately, turned out to be a bad idea.  With his body and mind already stressed, he lapsed into the memories of the day they lost the Virtue and he had a minor mental breakdown resulting in the room being trashed.  He was found later by his mech’s Haro and eventually was coaxed out of the room due to re-acclimation training for an upcoming mission while they repaired the suite.  He has never fully readjusted to sleeping in the room, frequently suffering from extreme nightmares, insomnia, and other issues. He, just as often as actually sleeping in the room, was found passed out in a surplus storage room, that in the original Ptolemy had been designed for a certain computer system interface. However, with Veda out of reach, the rebuild design deemed the inclusion of the interface a waste of resources, and as such the space was allocated for extra storage.  

       Having been basically strong armed into rejoining the organization, Neil was much more subdued in his interaction with the crew. Instead of the warm big brother he had been, he was more prone to his mercenary personality being prominent. He secluded himself outside of missions and started to rival Sumeragi in drinking. It didn’t significantly affect his piloting abilities, but it made him distrustful and distant from the others where he used to be a binding front for the crew.  He was always having to be ordered into missions he would have easily done without any prompting before.  As such, when the infiltration mission for the A-Laws ball came up, it was a scene to get him to agree. He eventually relented to the logic that he was the best option for the mission despite his being out of practice.  And, under duress, found himself in a tux and schmoozing with the upper echelon of the government that wanted to keep their own law enforcement in power, as he searched for this elusive ESF leader.

[dorthyanndrarry]

Stealing Sweaters (Part 4)

( ❤ I do consider this a series now ❤ )

Draco frowned at his wand. The defensive shield they were practising was one of the most difficult and most powerful. Draco managed to cast it about one out of five times and he had no idea what he was doing wrong. He couldn't possibly be more annoyed.

“Oi, Malfoy, you having trouble with this shielding spell?” Weasley asked.

Draco was wrong, he could be more annoyed. “I'm fine, Weasley,” he said, straightening his back and pretending he was perfectly confident. He didn't want help, especially from a giant carrot of a human being.

Weasley cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted across the room, “Harry! Over here!”

Draco felt his cheeks start to flush and glared furiously at Weasley, hissing under his breath, “What are you doing?!”

Weasley gave him a jolly grin that was absolutely the most infuriating thing he had ever seen.

“What is it?” Potter asked as he edged around Seamus and Dean.

Weasley threw an easy arm over Potter's shoulders and steered him over to Draco, “Our good friend, Ferret-face here, could use a little help, can't quite get the hang of this spell.” He smiled like a jackal, smacked Potter on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble and then hurried back to Granger.

Draco very much wanted to strangle Weasley with his own tie.

“You're having trouble?” Potter asked.

Draco frowned, “No, of course not.” He nervously adjusted his grip and carefully cast the shielding spell. Nothing happened.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Potter tilt his head slightly to the side.

Draco gritted his teeth and quickly tried again. The shield poured from his wand in a haze of blue light at circled him in a sphere. He smirked triumphantly, “There, see? I can cast it perfectly fine.”

Potter was still looking at him in that curious puppy sort of way that made Draco want to blush.

“Can you do it again?” Potter asked.

He did not know if he could do it again. He really, really wanted to. He was fairly certain he'd die of embarrassment if he couldn't. Draco practically held his breath as he tried the spell again. His wand made a rather horrifying fizzling sound and spat out a few blue sparks. Draco felt his face go hot.

“I see,” Potter said in a rather amicable teachery sort of way that indicated the hadn't realised in the slightest how utterly mortified Draco was at that moment.

Then before Draco could say something, blame it on a headache or a stumbled syllable, Potter moved behind him, wrapped his hand around Draco's wand hand.

He gently held onto the back of Draco's hand, moving his wand in the small sharp movements the spell required, “I noticed that this spell work best if its cast as quickly as possible, so all the movements have to be very compact but still precise. Like this-”

Draco could feel Potter's chest pressed to the back of his shoulder, their arms pressed perfectly together all the way down to his perfect gentle hold on Draco's hand. He couldn't focus on a single word coming out of Potter's mouth, he couldn't see his wand move, just the seam where their two hands met. Draco's face felt so hot he couldn't stand it.

He pulled away from Potter and practically ran out the door, mumbling something about being sick.

Hermione bit her lip, watching the furrow on Harry's brow as he turned on his heel to watch Draco leave. “It was a good try,” she murmured out of the corner of her mouth, touching Ron’s forearm briefly, “I think we need a different tactic.”

Ron frowned, “What do you think then?”

“I have an idea, just let me talk to Harry, okay?” she said.

Ron nodded, “Alright.”

Part 1 ~  Part 2 ~  Part 3 ~ Part 4 (you are here) ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6 ~ Part 7  ~ Part 8

[nurturingflame]

Week in Review - 59

Welcome back! After a long and unexpected sabbatical we are bringing you new installments of the continuing adventures of our favorite ladies. (and yes, Splinter too, cause we all love him, he lives forever in our hearts.)    

Aww, Rats! 26-30

The Rat King roared, but then fell backward his back hitting the table.  “No!” he cried.  “You are mine!”

“Not so fast, Rat King,” Mikey popped out of nowhere, carrying a cooler.   He opened it, and out came a pink, brown and cream thing, flopping on the Rat King’s face with a wet splat.  “Ice Cream Kitty, away!”

He screamed, his burned, shrivelled arms flailing in the air as the sound of a cat filled his ears.  In desperation, he managed to grab the thing, and fling it off of him.

“Was that April’s cat?” Donnie asked, as Splinter sprinted forward.

“Absolutely not,” Mikey crossed his arms indignantly.

The Rat King ran to a garbage shaft, gripping the handle of the rusted machine, he cried.  “Take her,” he pointed to The Phoenix, still struggling on the floor.    “Destroy them all!”  He pulled the lever, and the floor dropped out from under him.

Phoenix screamed when a giant rat bit through her chains, freeing her wrists.  She brought her hands up to the beasts bony face, but it did no damage, as it grabbed her in its mouth and bounded after it’s master.

Splinter, not far behind, plunged down the shaft, until all of them were lost from view.

Eliza could hear the sounds of struggle occurring below and for once in her life she was itching to join in the fray. Then all at once huge rats bounded onto the upper level that they had forced her to wait at. Well, she thought as she flexed her claws before standing up, I guess this is my cue.

The rat must have noticed her movement because it turned towards her with a hiss and immediately she responded in kind, hunching lower to brace herself for it’s attack. But before she could engage a turtle shell blocked her view and she could hear the shink of Leonardo’s blades.

“Stay back.” He threw at her as he engaged HER opponent in battle. “You need to take cover Mrs. V.”

If she had the inclination she would have rolled her eyes but she was distracted by the screams of the humans down below. They were scattering everywhere and had almost cleared from the chamber. Then she saw it, on the second level, making an exit into the tunnels, one of those monstrosities was dragging Gwyn, her Gwyn, behind it.

A blood lust like she had never felt before bubbled up inside of her and she saw red. Dropping to all fours she ran across the broken concrete till she found an opening that would get her down to the level she needed. Ignoring the cries behind her to wait, she launched herself off the edge and into battle.

Falling down the shaft, following The Rat King, Phoenix had trouble getting her breath with the force of the fall.  She was wedged in the large rat’s mouth like a dog with a bone, her legs sticking out of one end and her head and shoulders out of the other.  The quickly approaching floor, just past the Rat King himself, made her stomach flop.  A small burning on her neck made her look up, to see sparks falling about her as Splinter followed them, all fours against the metal shaft, his claws causing a shower of sparks in his attempt to slow his fall.

Her body jerked hard as the rat hit the floor, immediately breaking out in a run.  She reached with her hands still bound to each other for the creature’s nose, to try and steady herself, as the hopping run of the rat made her body lurch this way and that like a rag doll.

She managed to use an upjerk to complete a sit up and grab onto a bony protrusion on the rat’s muzzle.  With the insane shaking finally subsiding some, she was able to concentrate a little more on her surroundings.  Splinter was following them, on all fours and to her surprise, he was catching up!  He and the Rat King were having some sort of discourse about control.  “I would like some more control over my life, please!” she shrieked.

As if her request was a magic spell, a sea of rats crashed down in a turn in the sewer tunnel, filling her with horror.  “Not good!” she cried, but like her previous request, it seemed to go unnoticed.

What was not unnoticed, by her at least, was that the sewer suddenly turned into the old sewers of the original city, ancient and pretty, with brick work decorating tunnel heads and junctures.  What kind of civil engineer decorates a sewer? she wondered errantly, before the rat leapt into the air, dropping her on an outcropping, leaving her alone on a little island of what was once an aqueduct of some kind.  

A few islands away, The Rat King laughed, looking down the side at Splinter, hanging on by only his claws, the ground many stories below hidden in fog.

Eliza’s trajectory landed her on the back of the massive rat and she instinctively dug her claws in. The effect was immediate though the outcome was mixed. The beast roared its displeasure, releasing it’s hold on Gwynevere in the process. It then immediately started bucking and Eliza bared down, attempting not to be thrown like a rookie at the rodeo, even though that was a fair estimation of her actual fight prowess. She lasted her eight seconds but not much farther beyond that before she was thrown into a nearby wall.

“Mom!” Gwyn was at her side and the ferret embraced her with a fierceness born of fear, ignoring the ache that was now present in her right hip.

“Are you ok?” She exclaimed as she patted the girl down in a frantic effort to see if anything was broken.. “How’s your le..” The mother daughter moment was short-lived as the massive rat was in front of them again, pinning them between itself and the wall at their backs. “Stay behind me.” She said as she stood and shielded Gwyn with her body.

Time seemed to slow as Eliza crouched down. Air left her lungs slowly, becoming a growl as it passed through her throat, her snout curled and quivering as the sound reverberated off the roof of her mouth before the breath finally left her to steam in the cooler air of the crumbling underground. With her next inhale she could smell the rat, the dampness that clung to its underbelly from traveling in the sewers, the rankness of it’s breath from feasting on garbage and the irony sweetness of the blood from the puncture wounds she had given it. Eliza shifted her body forward, sniffing the air with greater boldness and the rat slinked back half a step. She could smell something new now. Fear.

The small retreat sent a trill of anticipation up Eliza’s spine that was foreign to her mind but seemed very right in her body. Was she actually looking forward to mixing it up with this giant rat? Apparently, yes. But she couldn't forget the reason why she was about to fight.

“Gwyn,” she said without looking away from the creature's beady red eyes. “get away as soon as you see a chance. The turtles are here along with April. Find help and stay safe.”

“But mom…” She felt her daughter press against her back, seeking comfort. Eliza could smell her hesitation, and so could the mutated rat. The ferret’s advantage was disappearing as the rat stepped forward again with renewed confidence.

Eliza pressed the girl away with one hand, launching herself at her enemy in the next instant. She was only able to push the giant back a few feet, with her best effort at a football tackle, before it's snapping jaws caught her arm and threw her to the ground. Her own mass kept her from being flung about like a rag doll but she was seriously concerned about her shoulder staying in it's socket with the monster tossing its head with that much force. She was thankful when it let her go but horrified when it turned it’s head to track Gwynevere as the girl tried to make her escape.

Now trapped underneath the beast, held down by a massive paw on her chest, the ferret had few options to counter as the rat stretched out it’s neck, snapping towards Gwyn in an effort to keep the girl near the wall. And if the terrified high-pitched scream was any indication, it was working.

Rational thought left Eliza, but the void was quickly filled with rage and instinct. Stuck underneath the mutant she had little maneuverability but an excellent view of the rat’s neck, the arteries prominent and pulsing just beneath the black fur, as it’s massive jaws snapped at her offspring. It had not taken into account Eliza’s own long, flexible neck, forgotten about her pointed canines and, most damning,  underestimated the danger of a mother’s wrath.

[lanternsraised]

CxM: The Twilight Ward Ch 4 - (draft,WIP)

Draft, unfinished chapter. WIP, more to transcribe as I mostly write this in meetings because ADDchild is ADD.

In which Kitsune realizes that she doesn’t have enough for Takeru to do, so a separate plotline in which Mikuni realizes Zero assassinated him and reveals that Takeru’s deal has been broken ensues. Takeru’s side will focus on Takeru, Mikuni, Shiraishi, Akito, and 19(anOC who hates Shiraishi/14 for damn good reason).

Angsty will occur after Shiraishi’s side as Okazaki is about to have a VERY bad day.

Side: Takeru Sasazuka

Akito Sera spent a lot of his time in the room Sasazuka used as an office. As far as companions went, he was far less irritating than Mineo. When the boy did speak, the questions were often semi-intelligent, usually about different hacking techniques. Today, the high school student was silent, face pale and drawn.

While Sasazuka noted this, it didn’t particularly trouble him. He had little intention of getting close to his new Adonis co-conspirators unless they were of some use to him.

That said, he could practically hear Ichika’s voice in the back of his mind. “Please take care of Akito. He’s really a good kid, and Kazuki is worried about him.

Right, a “good kid” prone to blowing up buildings at the behest of a terrorist organization.

 He scoffed at the very thought, somewhat surprised when Akito jumped in response to the sudden noise. The teenager had knees drawn up to his chest as he watched a television broadcast. The drone of the newscasters, background noise while Sasazuka worked, came to the forefront. Flashing banners and red warnings littered the screen, and the faces of those on the screen seemed grim. A burning shell of a building displayed on the screen, and with a start he realized the metropolitan building had been attacked.

He sauntered up behind Akito, “Ah. Did you attack the metropolitan building?”

Akito slouched his shoulders, pulling his legs even closer to his chest. He didn’t respond, and the tv droned on, “The death count is confirmed at 30 and rising. It is feared that the diet members that were there to speak did not survive the attack. Again, Rei Mikuni and four other local politicians…”

“It was after hours. I didn’t know he was there. It makes no sense for Mikuni-san to be there. He’s one of the executors, the one that tells us Zero’s orders. If I knew…” Akito’s look was one of horror.

“If you knew, would you have had a choice to disobey that order?” Takeru asked in response, emotionless as usual when dealing with problems.

It took a moment for the words to sink in, and Akito sighed, “No, I would be beholden to Zero’s orders, as we all are. That’s how it works here, isn’t it?”

“You would know better than I. For the most part I avoid any of them.” Sasazuka shrugged. It was true. He had demanded a quiet environment, and been placed in a dark hallway in the back of the compound. For the most part, only Akito and the Adonis handlers came to visit.

The silence continued for a time, and Sasazuka returned to typing. As time went on, the death count climbed and the questions about Adonis’ involvement were asked. Looking at the guilt on Akito’s face, the answer was already obvious to those in the room.

As if his earlier thoughts had cursed his peaceful isolation, the door to Takeru’s office flew open and a young girl slipped inside. Her flame-red hair was tied back from her face, the smell of burning followed her and with it he noticed the singed ends and scrapes on her palms. Small cuts smattered her face and arms, and bruises were already starting to form on pale skin.

This girl looks like she’s been through hell. Still, this isn’t an infirmary - so why is she here? He mused, eyes narrowed.

The girl scanned the room with grey eyes like thunderclouds, taking in the state of the scene before her. When her gaze fell on Akito she let out a short bark of laughter. “How Ironic. You wait here, Sera-san. Who’s this with you?” She pointed at him, an angry jab before opening the door a crack. “Sir? The room has been repurposed as an office. Akito Sera is here with another individual I don’t recognize. Orders?”

“It’s Takeru Sasazuka!” Akito said, voice louder than it had been all evening. It wavered slightly, as if afraid of what would come next.

A voice came through the opening, tired and muted. “That’s fine, Juukyuuban. I have questions for Sera.”

The girl opened the door with a sharp tug in response, ushering in a man in one of Adonis’ tan cloaks. She stuck her head out after he passed through, sweeping the hallway for any witnesses.

The scene put Takeru on edge. While he hadn’t met them, Akito had explained the numbered agents to the hacker shortly after he started hanging around. Apparently they were elite forces trained from an early age to support the cult. The concept made his skin crawl, and he didn’t want to consider where Adonis got these people from.

So why was such an elite agent acting like she was under attack in her own base of operations? Had the police found them already? Unlikely with the chaos at the metropolitan office. Satisfied that no one was watching, the girl sighed before locking the door and leaning against it.

While she was trying to seem tough, it was clearly more of a slump. She was more like a kitten than a tiger, if he was being honest. So far he wasn’t impressed with the elite agent. He’d seen some folks go through more punishment than that.

Her companion pulled the hood away from his face before stepping forward, revealing the face of Rei Mikuni. Akito jumped to his feet in shock, “Mikuni-san. Thank goodness you’re alright. I’m so sorry. I didn’t-”

“It’s fine, Sera-kun.” Mikuni held up a hand, offering an exhausted smile in response. His state was similar to Juukyuuban behind him. “I’m sure that you weren’t privy to the plan in its entirety. Even I was unaware the attack would be taking place.” The statement hung in the air, implications unspoken but clear as day in the subtext.

Someone had tried to assassinate Rei Mikuni. That someone was the leader of his own organization. This meant a split in Adonis’ leadership, and the sloppy job would divide those loyal to the organization. He couldn’t help but feel grim satisfaction at this turn of events. Hopefully the stupid cat would be able to take advantage of this turn of events.

“I see the news of your death was exaggerated.” Sasazuka said blandly, continuing to type on his keyboard idly as he watched the scene play out before him.

The politician nodded, running a hand through blood-matted hair. “Yes, thankfully. So you’re Takeru Sasazuka. Good, I wanted to speak with you as well. What are your thoughts on recent events?”

“I think that I’m here because your organization freed someone important to me. I’m waiting on Zero to fulfill the second part of this bargain.” He kept his tone even, though somewhat impatient. “I think you don’t pay pawns like me to give opinions, let alone spend time talking to us.”

That elicited a laugh from the powerful man, “This is true, for the most part. Would you say that our methods are extreme?”

The hacker narrowed crimson eyes, wishing that the soft-spoken man would just get to the point. “I think most sane people would think so, though some of us wish so desperately for revenge the how of the operation has been put aside.”

Mikuni gave a satisfied nod, then parried again with his next sentence. This method of saying so much with so little was Takeru’s least favorite part of navigating the social structure of the police force, but at least he’d learned a lot from those days. “Would you believe me if I told you that the depths of depravity of the X-day incidents were not originally planned as such?”

“I can easily see this operation getting out of control, depending on who was at the helm.” He responded, casually. Mikuni clearly wished to lead him to a certain conclusion,and if it got him more information he was willing to play along for the moment.

“True. I’m afraid that’s where we find ourselves now, you see.” Mikuni tilted his head to regard Takeru, then winced slightly at the motion. “I’m sure he won’t fulfill his end of your deal until he no longer has use for you.”

If he does it at all, of course.

“I will be frank, if you don’t mind. Are you really both here to support Adonis, or do you do it through fear? Fear that your loved ones will be harmed if you don’t comply?” Mikuni asked. “Do you stay here hoping for scraps that will help turn the tide against our plans?”

Akito started, the truth plain on his features. Sasazuka just scowled, “What do you think, Mikuni? And why would even answer that? How do we know this attack on your person wasn’t a ruse to ferret out those that might be having second thoughts?”

“This entire time, I have been a voice for reason against Zero. Tonight, he tried to silence that voice. I love him, but he’s consistently proven he’s gone too far.” Mikuni sighed, brow furrowed in thought. “I also wish to see the world reborn anew. That goal hasn’t changed. Just...not like this.”

The man started to pace, a stiff limping gait. “I have no proof to give, other than we will all go down together if it came to it. I don’t have much time. Once Zero finds out that I survived, I will be either under close watch or killed. This task will mostly fall on the three of you to execute. That said, they will come from me so my head will also be sacrificed as well. I beg you, please help me set this right. I would see our course corrected before we’re too far gone to save.” He bowed deeply to those he pleaded with.

There was a high chance that Mikuni was full of shit. He was a politician after all. As Sasazuka pondered the options, Akito spoke up. The young man pushed his glasses up, and took a shaky breath, “I would like to help, Mikuni-san. It’s the least I can do for the trap I helped set, even unknowingly. I… don’t want people to suffer anymore. My life is forfeit for my crimes, but I want Kazuki and Isshiki, even Kazuki’s nee-san to live on happily.”

Mikuni nodded, satisfied. “And what about you, Juukyuuban?” He turned to look at the girl behind him, who seemed shocked at the attention. “I know you were only assigned as my agent recently, but I’m asking a lot of you.”

She scuffed one of her trainers against the ground, frowning. “Mikuni-sama, this is not how it’s supposed to work. I am here to follow your orders, after all.”

He gave a very uncharacteristic snort of amusement in response. “19, I’ve known you long enough to know you’re much more clever than you’re acting. You were there tonight. Do you truly have no thoughts on the events that took place?” He paused, as if hesitant to face an unpleasant truth. “ I … understand we try to take a lot of that away, but the dossier mentioned this has been a “problem” for you in the past.” His lips quirked into a smile, “This assignment was frankly considered by our leadership as  the last chance to redeem you. Zero felt your graduation from the program must have been a mistake.”

The girl’s face flushed with shame at that, “I--” she cut herself off, as if biting off her own words, “Mikuni-sama, on top of this assignment I owe you my life for tonight. I… appreciate your vision of the future. You have my loyalty, but I’m sure you’re aware of my limitations.”

A lot seemed to go unspoken between the two, and Takeru found the exchange curiously notable as a result. Mikuni smiled, pleased by the response the girl gave regardless. “Thank you, Juukyuuban-chan. I think that we can find strength in what the others felt was weakness. I appreciate your support in this.”

Then all eyes present turned on Takeru. He sighed, cursing how troublesome this organization had become. “Look-”

He was interrupted by a soft hiss, “Mikuni-sama, there’s someone on the other side of the door.”

The room fell silent, and the handle ceased jiggling in response. From the other side of the door, Sasazuka could barely hear an annoyed voice.

“Eeeh? It’s locked. That won’t do.”

The agent shoved herself off the door in response, moving quickly. “Sir, they’re picking the lock. I can handle --”

“No need, 19. I invited him. Please let him in.” Mikuni gave an apologetic smile. In response, the girl flicked open the lock and opened the door, standing behind it as if ready to initiate a surprise attack if the new individual tried anything.

Shiraishi kneeled on the other side, lockpicks in hand. His eyes flicked up at those present and he gave an easy smile in response. Takeru felt himself start, seeing his old investigations teammate. Who knew the profiler was part of Adonis? How had he  not seen that coming?

“Juuyonban, please join us.” Mikuni waved Shiraishi in. “I have something important to present to you as well.”

Mikuni calls him 14? Oh, shit. Let this be a joke, already.

But unfortunately a lot made sense with that information in mind. How the letters from Adonis had been planted so easily, for one.

Shiraishi sauntered in, “How’s it going Takeru-kun?” The damned smile never left his face,as if he was greeting the hacker at another day at work.

On the other side of the door, 19 seemed to puff up like an angry cat as she stared at Mikuni in horror. “All will be explained in a moment, 19. First, Juuyonban, can you explain how Zero has broken his word and contacted Ichika Hoshino?”

“Of course. I came right away, once you called me.” The spy turned, grabbing the lip of the steel door and slamming it shut. The knob wrenched out of Juukyuuban’s hands and she clawed for it almost comically in desperation, far too late. With a flick, Shiraishi had it locked before his eyes settled on the girl behind the door and he paused like he’d seen a spectre.

Mikuni interjected then, voice soft. “Juuyonban, this is the thing you needed to know going forward. This is what Zero, and the rest of us,  kept from you.”

If Takeru wasn’t so impatient to hear about Ichika, he would take more pleasure in the look of shock on the profiler’s face. It was so rare to see him thrown off his game, and he was certain Sakuragawa would want to be a fly on the wall if she could.

Shiraishi’s green eyes continued to stare at the girl in front of him, face pale. “Kagura...chan?”  Something in the profiler’s tone made the hacker pause, however. This wasn’t Kageyuki Shiraishi’s normal mischievous reaction in the slightest.

Fire ignited in the girl’s eyes in response, as she spat back venomous words. “Kagura Tsukigami is dead, Juuyonban. You killed her years ago.”

I did not sign up for this drama, dammit. Sasazaka groused internally as he prepared himself for a long night ahead.

~Side Shiraishi~

The supernatural did not fit into Shiraishi’s paradigm, and horror movies had never held any interest to him. Still, he would swear that a vengeful ghost stood before him in the moment. The girl that stared up at him with hostile eyes looked like she wished to rip him apart and feast on his heart.

It was a pity the agent no longer had one to sate his old friend.

Years of training kept the turmoil from his features, but inside his thoughts raced faster than light. There are very few possibilities which could result in this outcome logically. The last I checked, the supernatural is right out no matter what cultists and laymen may believe. Mikuni mentioned this was kept from me. Was there a way to fool my training back then? Despite my programming, I admit being far from composed during the final exam…

Still, Mikuni expected an answer and the Adonis executive waited with half-lidded eyes. Takeru stood with arms crossed, as annoyed as always by the world around him. The girl he used to know was grown up, and doing her best impression of a spitting cat in his direction.

Part of him wanted to pet her like a kitten and risk the claws, but now was not the time for his usual mischief.

Instead, he did his best to shove aside any emotion, and be Juuyonban instead of Kageyuki Shiraishi. “If Kagura is dead, who are you now?” He asked calmly.

When stony silence was her only response, Mikuni stepped in to dig the knife deeper, “She is known as Juukyuuban now, the 19th agent. She was placed in the program after your graduation, though the results were not nearly to the satisfaction of the elders and executives.”

Alarm shot through him, but he remained still as stone as the other man continued, “Did you think that they would keep their word to a small pawn? The organization never had any intention of sparing the others around you as requested. It merely delayed their suffering for a time. They were put through training once you left, starting with 19. Most of them didn’t make it out the other side.”

As a child, the thought of such a fate for his companions caused him agony. Years later, he couldn’t even be surprised by the numb reaction. Of course this was the outcome, one he witnessed first hand when other children dropped like flies as part of the churning of Adonis’ machine.

“Will you debrief me on this information at your convenience?” He inquired, voice even. “If you wish me to know about what was hidden from me, it would likely assist in my assignment.”

Mikuni’s lips twitched into a small smile, both men aware that the information had little bearing on the current assignment. Still, the man wanted the agent to know this truth to some end, and Shiraishi wanted to know why.

In all likelihood, Mikuni would reveal that reason before the talk actually occurred.  The agent gave a slow nod, looking away from 19 in front of him. “Right. I was delivering the report on the target’s actions.”

Shiraishi briefed the group on the struggle with Hana, and the events of the past few days. When he mentioned Zero contacting Ichika, the profiler noted Sasazuka sucking in a sharp breath. Almost in response, Mikuni’s lips curled up. Of course, the pair were leading Sasazuka by the hand to a pre-ordained conclusion. The trick would be doing so without the notice of the hacker. He wasn’t a fool.

The profiler paused long enough for the silence to linger uncomfortably. Long enough to spark the hacker’s impatience. The green haired man crossed his arms again, words snapping like firecrackers, “What happened  next, Shiraishi?”

Shiraishi hummed to himself, pleased to get the desired rise out of former teammate. “Well, Ichika forze for a moment, and then she responded. She was always stupidly brave, you see-”

~3 hours Earlier~

There was a phrase “like a deer caught in the headlights” that appeared frequently in Western literature. Having seen pictures of this phenomenon, Shiraishi found that this occurred a lot less in humans than authors would have readers believe.

That said, he had the rare pleasure of seeing this reaction in Ichika. He could easily imagine the conflicting emotions within the girl. Did she feel horror or disgust at hearing Zero’s voice so soon after her hard-earned freedom? Relief that this turn of events meant that she could get an inkling to her precious Takeru’s whereabouts? He wished he could crawl into the corners of her mind to see her reactions in real time.

Slowly, he watched the tension drain from the rookie’s form and she took a deep breath before speaking, voice loud and clear. ‘What do you want?” Such a simple question, with an undoubtedly loaded answer.

“We wished to see if you still sought truth even with the collar removed. We wish to see the strength of your resolve.” The creepy voice’s monotone emanated from the speaker like a cold wind. Shiraishi thought it was believable that he shiver in response, even if it was not for the reason that Ichika would think if she noticed.

She frowned at that, “My resolve won’t change. It may continue to grow now that you have stopped stifling it. I no longer have to fear the sword you held over my head.”

“Ah, are you sure we don’t have that control over you?” Zero’s voice held a hint of amusement. “Your partner is among our numbers now, and we still know everything about your life. Why do you think we chose you in the first place?”

The profiler watched several emotions flicker across Ichika’s face in short succession;  terror, anger, acceptance, perhaps tinged with a hint of disgust. Kageyuki Shiraishi filed them all away in his memory. Alone they weren’t particularly interesting, almost running parallel to typical stages of grief. However, Zero would want full details of the girl’s reactions in the spy’s report.

Mikuni had recently expressed interest in the girl as well. That alone reignited the spark of curiosity inside Shiraishi. Sure, the collar had been removed, but Ichika was foolish herself if she believed Adonis would let her go free so easily.

When she did respond, her voice was more even than the profiler anticipated. His lips quirked into a smile at that. Perhaps his new assistant actually paid attention to his earlier lessons.  Only small tells betrayed Ichika Hoshino’s true feelings and they were unlikely to travel across soundwaves to Zero himself.

“So, you’ve resorted to threatening those around me now that my life is no longer in your hands?” The girl bristled at that, visibly, despite her calm delivery.

A cold laugh came in response, “Awfully brave words now that the SP agent is guarding you, Ichika Hoshino. Where is Kei Okazaki now?”

“I feel like telling you would be counterproductive,” the rookie replied, frowning. Good thinking, really. To point out her bodyguard was not around invited more danger.

‘Where is Zero going with this?” she seems to be asking herself. Zero was about to destroy any sense of safety his target felt. Typical tactics in psychological warfare, but Shiraishi supposed Ichika was too good-hearted to see this particular play coming.

“We can tell you. Kei Okazaki hides behind you in the darkness, having followed you after the latest incident. He shirks his personal duties to do so, out of anger caused by your recklessness. Tell us, Kei Okazaki, how is Ichika Hoshino to trust a Security Police agent who ignores his own mission?” The voice from the speaker was openly mocking, a stark difference from its usual neutral pronouncements.

Almost on cue, her new bodyguard  stepped from the shadows, face devoid of his usual smile. In that moment, he almost seemed like a different person entirely. At this, Shiraishi couldn’t help but smile. While some of those at Yanagi’s agency might underestimate the cheerful man due to his carefree demeanor, the Special Police did not hire just anyone out of training. Even those like Ichika with her sharpshooting skills were not viable candidates based off a single strength.

Truthfully, even if  a candidate excelled in several regions, they would likely not be selected. To excel wasn’t enough, one needed a certain personality to be molded into the ideal bodyguard.

Shiraishi could relate, and knew much about crafting a persona to hide his true face. To finally see the SP Agent unmasked before him was a delight. The fact that Ichika seemed taken aback by her friend’s sudden change only made the situation that much more amusing, “Kei-kun?”, she asked uncertainly.

“Ah, Ichika-chan? I told you know to get into trouble.” While he offered her a smile, his words were still a gentle rebuke.

Curiously, the chiding seemed to rattle her more than Zero’s disembodied voice. Perhaps the critique of someone she cared about meant more than that of an enemy. Given how she excelled at her job in the SRCPO, she was able to empathize with those in her community. This trait made her highly effective at her job. He mentally filed this away in his dossier for the girl.

~more to transcribe from the notebook soon~

[threesmallfliesdippedinhone-blog]

The Reaper Next Door Chapter 2

The metal clip keeping my apron held up around my neck tickled as I adjusted it and made the next customer's coffee. He took the coffee and handed me some monopoly money.

"Keep the change." He said, grinning. I looked down at the money and back up at him.

"Sir this is monopoly money. You can't pay with this." I said. All expression and colour left his face. He turned on his heel and bolted out the door. I sighed and paid the extra money. I glanced down at my watch and legitimately smiled for the first time today. Five minutes until I could leave, catch a quick bite at the Mexican restaurant and go home to my cat.

I served the next customer their drink and cake pop and put the money into the register. Two more minutes left until my shift ends. I began to walk towards the staff room door to take my apron and visor off. The bright yellow colour of the two items burned me internally. Yellow was such an ugly colour after seeing it and wearing it every day for three years.

I pushed the doors of the Mexican restaurant open and began walking home. My heels clicked against the pavement and my jacket fluttered ever so slightly in the wind. I cracked my knuckles and popped my neck to give me something to do on my walk home. I felt the wind blow softly against my face. I wrinkled up my nose at how cold it was.  

I was at least three buildings down from my apartment by now and the cold had grown annoying. It wasn't too terribly cold, it was just annoyingly chilly. Kind of like a small itch somewhere on your body. It wasn't too itchy, just annoying.

As I passed an alleyway I glanced over and saw a figure crouched over a large lump of something on the ground. The lump looked like- like a body maybe. My eyes widened and I took a step towards the alley. Of course, because I could never win, I stepped on something that made a noise. The person whipped their face around and stared at me with a mix of shock and horror, a look that mirrored mine. The alley person stood up. It was Arti. My neighbor. His blue jeans were stained with something dark. I began to back away.

"Wait! It's not what it looks like!" He shouted at me. I turned on my heel and ran towards the apartment complex.

 "I swear!" He shouted again at me as he ran after me.  

I threw open the building doors and ran as quick as I could up the stairs to my apartment. I could hear him cursing behind me, struggling to run after me. I jammed my keys through the lock and forced my door open and locked it behind me. I pressed my back to the door and slid down. I sighed with relief.

And then he began banging his fist against the door.

"Please! I swear I'll explain! Just let me in!" He yelled and continued hitting my door. Eventually, his incessant banging stopped. I felt him slide down against the door.

"Please. I know you're there. I swear it wasn't what it looked like. If you'll just open the door and let me in, I can explain." He said quietly. I sighed. His tone didn't seem threatening. I guess the moment I caught him in wasn't the greatest. So I stood up, unlocked the door, and opened it.

I guess he wasn't expecting it because he fell back onto my feet. He looked up at me, red-faced and wide-eyed. I looked away and giggled. I stepped back as he got up and dusted himself off. He stepped into my house and looked around, seemingly taking in the sight of my small and unkempt home that could probably be described as a nest rather than an actual home. My cat waddled up to him, sniffed at him and began rubbing against his legs. A sure sign that he was welcome.

"So explain yourself. And it better be good, because I'm serious. I will not hesitate to call the police." I said, crossing my arms.

"Oh okay uh... You might want to sit down for this..." He said scratching the back of his neck. I sat down on the couch and gestured for him to sit next to me.  He cleared his throat and began talking.

"So just to clarify, I didn't kill that man in the alley. He was dead when I got there." He stopped and searched my face.

"Go on, you obviously have something else to say," I said. He looked at me for a moment as if he hadn't understood what I said and then continued.

"So you know those little things you picked up along the way through life? Little tidbits about reapers, and about angels and demons, some stuff about witches and vampires and werewolves? It's all true." He stopped talking again to read the surprised and confused expression on my face. He had to be joking. He had to be. I began to laugh nervously. A mix of confusion and embarrassment crossed his face as he watched me laugh at his statement.

"I-I'm not kidding. I'm a reaper. Amya you have to believe me. That man? He was dead when I got there. Someone severed his spine and took his wallet. I was only there afterward to collect his soul to send off. Look, I can prove it to you." He said,  getting up from the couch to stand in front of me. He showed me the inside of one of his arms and on it was a black tattoo of a scythe.

"What's a tattoo going to-" I stopped short when the tattoo began to glow red as he pulled an entire 5-foot scythe from the tattoo.

"Did you just- DID YOU JUST PULL A FUCKING SCYTHE FROM YOUR ARM?! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!?" I yelled at him. The scythe disappeared and he looked at me.

"Yeah, I know right? And just think, things like witches, werewolves, and vampires exist too." He said, looking excited. I stared at him, horrified.

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE MONSTERS THAT I FEARED WERE LIVING UNDER MY BED ARE ACTUALLY REAL?" I yelled at him. It was all so surreal. His face fell and the 'shit I fucked up' look crossed his face.

"Okay. Okay. Um? Let's see what we can do to fix this... Uh?? I got it!" His face lit up and he snapped his fingers. "I'll take you to Queenie! She'll fix this." He walked over to me and helped me up and basically carried me out my door, down the stairs, and through the building doors. He set me down on my feet and grabbed my wrist and began dragging me up and down streets, through alleys and finally up a fire escape.

He stood outside one particular window on the fire escape, still gripping my wrist. He knocked on the window and waited. After a minute, a ferret poked its face between the curtains, observed us for a moment and turned around. A couple more minutes passed and a woman pulled the curtains from the window and opened the window. She beckoned us inside. Once we were inside, she frowned.

"Artorius Cassius, did you seriously fuck up again? What happened this time? Did she see your scythe while you were on the job?" She spat. His face became a rush of embarrassed red as he looked down at his feet like a scolded child.

"I had just found a newly dead guy and well, I bent down to make sure he was dead and not just unconscious and well... She... justsohappenedtobewalkingdownthestreetasIwasmakingsure." He took a breath and continued. "I mean- okay. She saw me, so she ran to call the police because I think she thought I killed him, so I ran after her and tried to explain, she didn't believe me, so I showed her my scythe... And she freaked out. So now here we are." He said quickly and looked away from Queenie. Queenie sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose.

"So a quick memory potion, correct?" She questioned. He nodded.

"Get the cauldron?" He asked, turning away.

"Get the cauldron" She replied, walking towards me. I froze up. She walked past me and began rummaging through a spice rack hanging on the wall. I breathed a sigh of relief. And then she began speaking to me.

"So sugar, what's your name? You look like maybe an Emma or maybe an Olivia? No?" She questioned, still rummaging through her stuff.

"Amya... My name is Amya." I said, feeling strangely embarrassed to admit my own name.

"Amya. The last time I heard that name was many moons ago. It was this little family from Spain I think I heard it from. Maybe. Maybe not. It was a surname that sounded something like Amya though. You're name's still very pretty though." She said in a voice that held so much memory. There was a brief moment of awkward silence. I cleared my voice and spoke up.

"So... Is it gonna hurt? The uh, memory spell?" I asked nervously. Queenie laughed.

"It's a potion and no, not really so much. Just a bit but I promise it won't be anything too painful... That is, if you choose to go with the needle method rather than just straight drinking the damn thing. Dammit where is that boy with that cauldron!?" She huffed and walked past me with an arm full of various bottles, wooden boxes, and candles. She dropped everything on the coffee table before me and turned around to face where Arti had gone.

"Artorius! Where's that cauldron?" She yelled into her house. Artorius poked his head out a door.

"Yeah um... Medium... or Small..." Arti asked, holding up two cauldrons.

"Small, please. Hurry up and get over here." She said, looking over at him and then at me.