#he mostly recruited them to help with his studies because finding someone with loose enough morals to help him is quite rare

[arolesbianism]

What if instead of posting abt the random card au characters that are actually from the medias I made the au for I just post more abt the ocs that don't matter at all and that no one cares abt. Anyways currently thinking abt the magic user that started the bond that An is a part of. Little autism creature that goes ehehehehheheeheeheeheeeeheheheheeehee

[kipkoh]

I know it’s fairly popularized that Hunter liked being the Golden Guard but there was a line in Hunting Palisman that he says to Luz that has always captivated me: “At least you can figure out your own (future).”

This (not very subtle) statement of wishing to make his own decisions coupled with the fact that Hunter was studying wild magic even while he was still in the Coven is heavily indicative of the fact that he was dissatisfied with his role in life. I’m sure he was proud of being Golden Guard and really did want to help Belos in whatever way possible, but a big part of him did wish things could have been different for him. Those desires he announced in Thanks to Them were probably not spur of the moment ideas he wished he could have experienced before what he thought was going to be his death, but rather long term wants he’d been imagining himself taking part in even before he defected.

I’m bringing this idea up mostly because I keep thinking about Hunter’s life in the castle and the rare moments when he got to witness what normal kids lives were like. If the school tours of the castle were a common occurrence, I imagine he'd be curious enough to watch them when he could. At first he'd secretly trail them and observe how the kids interacted with each other, how they joked around with their friends, and overall how carefree they appeared. He'd watch the way they'd awe at the castle in a feeling of excitement he'd never gotten to share having grown up within those walls - the castle being all he’d ever known. Sometimes he'd imagine himself in one of their places - just a normal kid whose biggest worry was getting his homework finished before it was due instead of how he might be tossed aside and replaced by the one he called his family the second he was no longer of any use to him. At some point, maybe he would start avoiding the tours whenever they happened, not wanting to feel that painful yearning for a life that was never even within his grasp and instead choosing to try and forget about it completely in order to convince himself he was content being the person Belos wanted him to be.

Sometimes on his weekend missions he would encounter parents with their children just going about their everyday lives, smiling and happy and completely juxtaposed to his own experience with familial adults. He'd watch the ease of how a child's hand would slip into their parent's as if it was such a natural and common action, without even a hint of fear of negative consequence for the touch. Hunter would look down at his own hands mummified in leather and wonder why he'd never felt the gentle press of someone's loving palm against his own.

He'd watch two young children play fight with loose branches. He'd envy how their battle was pretend and the fact that neither of them were in any real danger. He'd silently scrutinize their battle form before offering to teach them proper tactics, only to be harshly turned away and reminded of the fact that normal kids didn't care, nor have a need, to know how to fight. He'd scoff at their lackluster ambitions and comment about how they would never join a decent Coven with attitudes like that, blatantly ignoring the fact that not everyone was forced to worry about proving their worth to everyone around them.

I don’t think Hunter going to Hexside to find new recruits in Any Sport In a Storm was just a random choice on his part. While there is some evidence that kids can choose to join the Covens early, it doesn’t seem like it’s something they’re forced to do before they at least finish school. Maybe they can be forced, which is what is implied when Hunter kidnapped the Emerald Entrails, but wouldn’t it be easier to seek out new recruits who would actually be willing to join of their own accord? Otherwise there would be no guarantee they would care enough to do their job well.

Hunter did try to recruit them naturally at first but when no one seemed interested, instead of moving on to a different group of people, he just chose to kidnap a group of kids and force them. He has this intense longing for a normal life but no way to reasonably go out and get it for himself, so instead he tries to bring that life to him instead. Maybe if there were other people his age around, it could be possible for him to experience even a taste of the camaraderie he’s seen the students on tours have towards one another. Of course a bunch of kidnapped kids might not want anything to do with him, but Hunter is probably desperate enough to where he didn’t really think it through that much. Either way, even if he can’t have that life for himself, maybe he’d feel less alone if he knew there were other kids experiencing the same struggles he was. Maybe he wouldn’t feel out of place if he wasn’t the only kid being forced to train for regular battles and missions. Maybe he wouldn’t feel as bad about not having the kind of parent-child relationships he sees in the streets if there were other kids around who never got to see their parents anyway. He wouldn’t be the only kid lost in a sea of adults at the castle who refused to respect him partly due to his age.

Of course we know it wouldn’t end up being the catharsis he’s seeking, but he’s willing to try. He’s spent over a decade in a life he wasn’t sure he wanted, constantly yearning for something more with other people always (though unwittingly) waving around their happy, normal lives in front of his face. He’s sad, he’s alone, he probably feels super guilty about it because he still wants to be what Belos wants and can’t… He’s probably spent his whole life in a constant internal struggle trying to either ignore his own desires or attempt to find a balance between his personal wants and his job that never truly existed.

[fanesavin]

CW: Murder

𝟧𝓉𝒽 𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇 (aka everything goes to hell)

He's working in the Leaky Cauldron he's cleaning down a table and notices someone at a table. Vaguely recognises them and after a moment realises who it is - it's Lupin and he isn't sure whether he should just let him be or approach him, but ends up going over to refill Lupin's cup and HE'S SO SURPRISED TO SEE FANE.

''Stefan Savin?!!"

"Yeah" and his eyes just flicker downwards but a marginal nod is earned in confirmation. Lupin is doing Order work by now and hence can't tell Fanewhat he's up to. Fane thinks he doesn't trust him anymore when the truth is Lupin just can't.

"What are you doing here Fane?"

And Fane won't tell him either "You don't tell me, why should I tell you?”

"Fane, I --"

"Oh no,  Professor, I understand." He gives Lupin a tight little smile and moves on down the bar. Lupin keeps trying to talk to him after that but he just whisks around the tables cleverly avoiding him.

Lupin might as well be trying to talk to the wall. And that is why Fane doesn't know until years later that Lupin was killed and he finds out of course that Lupin was an order member, realises that's why he couldn't talk to him. He just beats himself up over it like crazy because that was how he left this one good relationship and positive influence on his life. Fane had a glimpse of Lupin at the battle and knew he was there  but didn't go over and say anything because he figured Lupin had quit on him too like everyone.

𝐹𝒾𝒻𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑒𝒶𝓇 (𝐻𝒶𝓁𝒻-𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒):

Working over summer to earn money to keep himself afloat is why when he gets back to Hogwarts for the start of fifth year, he officially looks nothing like the bright-eyed boy who started and you can BET Slughorn is also trying to recruit the crap out of him. Slughorn adores him.

He seems more down to earth in fifth year, a lot more grounded than he was before.

Which is why having to kill Erich at the end of this year becomes such a tragedy, because for once he seemed to almost be settling but at the end of it Dumbledore dies and everything blows up. This is the year that he and Faye come SO CLOSE to actually dating, they spend more than one Hogsmeade weekend together.

Sometimes Fane is just like "I'm going for a butterbeer, fancy coming?" And sometimes when they're down at the Three Broomsticks he's sat by the window looking out of it and sometimes during their conversations he sometimes just sort of zones into his own world for a few moments. He seems more contemplative Faye asking him about his summer, what he got up to because she was worried about where he was and what he was doing. He's always pretty vague, mostly talks about what he did rather than where he stayed, tells her about the things he saw in London. He makes it sound rather fun and adventurous and he seems to be all right, but then, Fane always does at least mostly. He's just gotten good at convincing everyone he's fine.

And once or twice Faye sees Erich giving her evil looks from down the Slytherin table but doesn't think much of it, Fane’s little brother seems a bit unpleasant to say the least, fine that's his problem, he'll hopefully grow out of it.

Fane sometimes going to the Slug Club, inviting Faye along and to the Christmas party when it happens, and yes of all people the Muggle Studies professor is the only adult Fane can confide in. Slughorn isn't entirely sure what Faye’s prestige is, but Fane likes her so he doesn't say anything. Surprisingly Fane actually quite enjoys the meetings when they happen because it gives him a chance to just relax and socialise and just talk about interesting subjects with other knowledgeable students.

Fane does wonder if old Horace would be so free with the dinner invitations if he knew that he was a disinherited and disowned Savin living at the Leaky Cauldron and bussing tables for a few sickles.

He just seems overall more happy in fifth year especially around her - his smiles seem more genuine, seem to reach his eyes which despite being more grounded look brighter and maybe even radiant every now and then especially when he's around her.

Faye is used to people asking her if she and Fane are dating by now. She doesn't quite know what they are since they have never talked about it or even acknowledged it in any way.

It doesn’t really even occur to Fane to consider it as a 'thing' he just knows that with Faye he feels comfortable and most at ease and he's happy with that. Probably because he worries on the down low that if he made it serious it would just be another thing to be taken away from him. After all everything else so far he's loved or cared for he's lost or had ripped away. If comfortable conversation and friendship with Faye keeps her safe and around in his life it doesn't really occur to him to really progress it to anything more. 

He'll make playful and teasing passes at Faye though what with Cedric gone he doesn't really have much competition in the heartthrob department except with some of the other guys but he’s not fussed about that all that much. Compliments her and finds it amusing if he can get her to blush. Even Snape rolls his eyes at any mention of whatever girls are fighting over Fane now 

"Yes, well, try not to be dosed with any love potion, I hear last time Mr. Weasley barely escaped with his life"

Fane just chuckles at that because there have been a few close calls, Faye has begun to discover twists of jealousy in her stomach every time she sees Fane with other people, though. She knows they would have to have The Talk if she said anything, though. She just wants to go somewhere else and pretend it doesn't exist whenever she sees him flirting with whoever he's dallying with now. She's glad he's happy but it still eats and eats at her.

He also doesn't brag as much in fifth year, mostly just works on his studies.

𝐻𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝑔𝓈𝓉

It is literally three days before the end of the year, before Erich, before Dumbledore, that Faye finally screws up the courage to ask him if they can talk, she has finally decided that she knows what she wants and she wants to give it a try.

And Fane’s a bit hesitant when she brings it up, but he goes with her and they sit down to talk. She stammers a bit and finally asks if he has ever considered that they might be, well, more than friends and he's just staring at her and she thinks this is a total disaster. But he seems almost speechless and... awed, almost. He doesn't seem to hate the idea, at least, and they totally end up kissing and end up breathless.

AND IT ALL FINALLY SEEMS TO WORK OUT.

Of course three days later is when it all goes utterly to hell. :))))))))))

Erich finds Malfoy up to something and tells him he wants to help because he’s fed up of Fane ignoring him and wants to get back at him. Especially since he’s put the pieces together and can see how Fane flirts and makes eyes at this unremarkable little Slytherin half blood leading to Faye just becoming the target for his jealousy. Malfoy isn't really into help from a lowly kid but he also has no allies and knows the Savin’s are fellow Death Eaters. So he agrees.

Fane happened upon them by pure chance, he couldn’t sleep that night they snuck into the castle and ended up going to walk the corridors. Which is when he came across the death eaters sneaking in, immediately his thoughts went to finding Faye and making sure she’s okay because he’s worried, all hell is starting to break loose, Death Eaters are in the castle and someone is screaming about Dumbledore on the astronomy tower. 

Fane finds Faye just as Erich was pulling out his wand and pointing it at her - Erich’s small but he is powerful and talented and gets good marks and Fane knows in an instant that this isn't just a Jelly Legs Jinx. He hears the first yell of Avada Kedavra before he’s there but it doesn't quite work because you have to MEAN an unforgivable curse and Erich is still 14 but he's gearing up for a second go and Faye hasn't even seen him. 

Fane doesn't even have to think about it, seeing the weak spark of green at the tip of Erich’s wand directed at Faye-- it's enough for him to literally just cast the curse. He doesn't even know if he says the words aloud, just that his wand is burning green and then Erich is crumpled on the floor among the chaos and his body is all Fane can see. Hence, why he feels so guilty and acts so weird the days after because how was it so easy to kill his own brother? Something must be wrong with him.

He feels sick afterwards it's part of the reason Faye doesn't see him, he ends up stumbling to an empty courtyard where he just empties his stomach because he can't believe what he's just done and he's literally shaking and clammy. And nobody notices because Dumbledore is dead and Voldemort was in Hogwarts and ultimately, everyone just figures Erich was killed by a Death Eater. Faye  tries to find Fane to tell him she's sorry about his brother and he just looks at her wildly and bolts. 

She notices he looks quite ill the next few days, maybe even weeks and Fane definitely goes into the forbidden forest all the time to think.

𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇

That summer is when the Ministry falls and Voldemort and the Carrows and Snape take over Hogwarts, so when they come back it is literally to a prison.

Faye can't reach Fane at all that summer, she sends him an owl every few days at first but he never answers and she figures she sounds desperate so she stops.

He spends the summer at the Leaky Cauldron again working to get by but this time he doesn’t explore London except for going to that little cafe every now and then. Tom by now has just made up a room especially for him at the Leaky cauldron and lets him have it in return for the work he does.

He almost didn't go back to Hogwarts but the Death Eaters were already out rounding up truants, but he knows Faye and other people he cares about will be there and after how things were left between them he feels bad. There’s no way he can leave her in that place by herself with no one to look out for her, Faye can hold her own, he knows but this is not the same school they grew up in. And he has a feeling about what Hogwarts is about to turn into.

Explaining why he spends the summer practising his magic in the Leaky Cauldron and building up his strength because he knows he's going to need it when he goes back to Hogwarts. And he does need it.

He develops some of his more powerful spells in that summer, perfects them and decides to keep them quiet unless they're direly needed.

Fane even starts working on wandless magic, because anything he can use to his own benefit is useful.

He wants to tell Faye to run away but doesn't know how to reach her in a way that wouldn't be tracked. Especially after the news of the Ministry falling but he also knows the Snatchers would pounce on her if she tried to go anyway.

[ships-and-saints]

Moonlight Escape at Adarlan University [Celaena x Rowan magical AU]

So... this is what i’ve been dreaming up while working on PSaOE :) I’ve been thinking of writing a Celaena x Rowan modern AU fic set in a magical/futuristic world. it’s just bulletpoints right now, but here’s a drabble that may or may not be featured in the future story, or I may pull some parts out and work them around. It’s probably slightly OOC, I don’t know, I wrote it for fun and to be more casual so pls don’t take it too seriously~

Sorry if there are some mistakes; haven’t looked it over too carefully since it’s somewhat of a drabble! Feel free to leave feedback if you liked it/want to read more like it :D

Word Count: 2630 [ read on fanfiction ] | [ read on ao3 ]

It was nearly midnight on a Sunday, and she couldn't fall sleep. Celaena Sardothien growled as she leapt up from where she had been slouched on her lush satin bed, and she paced the floor restlessly. She was in her dormitory room at the prestigious Adarlan University of Magic and Research, and she had had a particularly rough day.

She hadn't woken up feeling like the day was going to be shit. Everything had started off fine; she had gotten crepes for breakfast with Elide, lounged around procrastinating for a bit, and then finally gathered her notebooks and books to study in the sprawling campus library.

There, she had run into Rowan-rutting-Whitethorn, a gods-damned know-it-all and an arrogant fucking prick. He was just a third-year student but he was a teaching assistant for one of her first-year magic courses, and he acted like he was above all the rest of them. At the library, he had caught her idly doodling on a library book and arrogantly reminded her that she was damaging school property. And she basically told him to fuck off and not talk to her until he had removed the stick up his arse.

Rowan was a teaching assistant for the beginner magic course, Laws and Limiters of Magic. He was from the reputable Whitethorn household in the country of Wendlyn, so he had been trained in magic since he was old enough to read and write, even after his parents had been murdered. The Whitethorn house had served Queen Maeve faithfully for many years, and perhaps Rowan had appeared particularly gifted because she recruited him into her service when he turned 16, and he, of course, had accepted with honor.

Rowan had lived at his Uncle's estate with many of his other cousins and wanted to escape his often-insufferable family for a while, so he requested Maeve to give him a research mission in Adarlan while he enrolled at Adarlan University.

Queen Maeve didn't say anything at first as she considered his request. This might be a good way for her to keep an eye on the happenings across the ocean... She agreed to send him, as well as Lorcan and Fenrys, to enroll at Adarlan University. She also mentioned offhandedly that her niece Aelin Galathynius may also attend the university in the future.

Rowan recalled a conversation he had with Maeve. "When she arrives… Make sure she doesn't get into any trouble, will you?" Maeve's violet eyes flickered to Rowan's face, who was kneeling on one knee in the center of the room.

She drifted over to inspect one of the many poisonous and rare plants she was cultivating in the throne room. "She doesn't look anything like me. You'll know her when you see her. Those teal and… gold eyes. Ashryver eyes, like her mother's." Maeve waved her pale hand dismissively.

Bright turquoise irises and rings of gold around the pupils. Until recently, it hadn't clicked that Celaena Sardothien and Aelin Galathynius were the same person.

Perhaps he was annoyed that she was going by a different name, tricking people into believing she was someone she was not. In the hushed library, he had revealed to her how he worked for Queen Maeve, like it was supposed to scare her into submission or awe or something. And he acted like Celaena, even though she was a blood relative to Maeve, was beneath him because he had been recruited to work for the bitch-queen of Wendlyn and she hadn't.

Celaena's perfectly arched eyebrows raised higher and higher, and after he was done with his little tirade, she just snorted and drummed her fingers on the table. Her mother, Evalin Galathynius, had cut contact from Maeve before Celaena had been born. So she had never met Maeve, and she vaguely remembered her mother saying something about how Maeve used people to get what they want.

In fact, she went by Celaena Sardothien and not her real name anymore, because people often tried to get close to her, either to take advantage or curry favor with her, to try to gain access to Queen Maeve. But it turned out that even using a different name wasn't enough to avoid people like Rowan, who thought the gods-damned sun shone out of that woman's arse.

She stopped drumming her fingers and leaned forward to sneer at him. "I pity you for being bound to someone else's will and for being a brainless soldier playing an arrogant student. You don't know anything about me, Rowan Whitethorn, and you can't scare me by being a kiss-ass."

Rowan's checked anger had slipped at that, and a small gust of wind picked up. Students nearby began shifting uneasily. Nevertheless, Celaena had thrown her own defenses up. She never turned down an excuse to brawl.

Both of their magical energies elevated enough that they were scolded and thrown out of the library soon after. Celaena had been docile and cordial, blaming Rowan for instigating the fight. Rowan had acted ever the gentleman, bowing his head and promising it wouldn't happen again. The library woman on duty agreed to let them go as it was their first offense and as long as it didn't happen again.  

Celaena simpered sweetly at Rowan when she heard that, and they parted ways outside the library without further incident. She loved books, and a quickie brawl with Rowan certainly wasn't worth getting banned from the library. But she didn't get any studying down after their run-in. Instead, she went for a run outside and trained at the gym until she worked off some of her pent-up energy.

And then wasted time up until now. She had to get up early for morning classes, too.

Dammit. Damn it all. Celaena was still pacing in her dorm room, which was quickly becoming too small to contain her rising fury as she continued to think about what had happened earlier. She needed to do something, or she was going to break everything –

A glass of water exploded on her nightstand, and Celaena nearly screamed in frustration, but she worked on calming herself down. She didn't bother with the glass shards strewn all over the nightstand and ground. Instead, she focused on her breathing and cast her mind to find a goal for her to focus on, to keep her mind occupied. To keep her vast magic from slipping the leashes and going out of control, and setting fire to the gods-damned drapes again.

Celaena pulled on a black zip-up hoodie over her turquoise V-neck and combat boots over her distressed jeans. Maybe a walk would help clear her mind. She looped her blonde hair into a loose bun atop her head.

Her fingers brushed against something in her hoodie's pocket, and she fished her handheld device out and stared at it for a second before casually tossing it onto the bed and walking out. She didn't want to talk to anyone, and she didn't want anyone to find her. She silently slipped out of her room and down a back stairwell to exit the building.

As soon as Celaena felt the cool, fall breeze sweep over her face, she sighed in relief. The leaves were starting to turn autumnal hues, and the weather had started to turn chilly. She began walking with no destination in mind but ended up in front of the ancient music building. The wind hummed and leaves rustled as she stared up at the intricate columns.

Well, she might as well go in. It was unlikely anyone would be here past midnight on a Sunday. She reached into her pocket to grab her –

Dammit. She had left her handheld, which doubled as her ID, in her room. Not that it mattered too much. She shoved her hand into her back pocket and pulled out a flat device, shaped like a card. She pressed a button and the screen flickered to life, scanning her face to unlock the facial recognition screen. As soon as the device recognized her as the owner, it unlocked and revealed a menu with several settings.

Squinting, Celaena peered at the bright screen and modified a couple options before holding the device up to the electronic scanner on the front doors. The scanner beeped in recognition and flashed green, allowing her to haul the doors open and slip in.

She wandered down the lonely halls, the sound of her boots reverberating off the walls. On impulse, she peered into a dark room at the end of a hallway, slipped inside, and flicked on the light.

It was a small practice room, with a piano, a piano bench, and a music stand. There was a stool tucked in one corner and scattered sheet music was stacked haphazardly on a narrow bookshelf. Celaena sighed and dropped her hoodie on the floor.

She briefly adjusted her seating on the piano bench and then began warming up on the keys with scales. Celaena noted that the keys were mostly in tune, and she took a few minutes to learn the piano, to learn the shape and sound of its keys before she really began to play. The music and her anguish twined together, flooding the room with sound and pure emotion.

She played the lullaby her mother used to sing her. Then a few of the bittersweet songs of the people. And then the ballad she had composed when she was 15, in honor of her friend Nehemia who had died long ago in a freak accident. Celaena had never understood why the gods hadn't taken her as well, back then.

She played continuously for twenty minutes before finally pausing to take a break. Sweat dripped down her face from the effort, and the tears that had streamed down her face earlier had already dried. She moved her hand to brush stray strands of hair from her face –

Somebody coughed intentionally behind her.

Celaena jumped, slamming her hands down. The keys rang out in discord, and the wind of her movement sent some of the pages stacked on top of the piano fluttering down. She hastily wiped the mascara tracks from her cheeks and whirled around.

"Are you spying on me?" she accused, embarrassment creeping up her cheeks as she realized she had been so lost in her music that she hadn't noticed gods-damned Rowan had been standing there for gods know how long. She hurriedly began gathering the fallen pages up to keep her hands busy. Rowan bent down to pick up a page that had landed near him and she snatched it from him, smoothing it out and adding it neatly to the stack.

Rowan had silver hair that nearly reached his broad shoulders, and he was wearing a simple, black v-neck. A wicked tattoo curved up his neck and creeped up the side of his jaw. He shrugged nonchalantly, but his green eyes were unfathomable as he watched her. "No, I just happened to be walking by."

Celaena's turquoise and gold-rimmed eyes narrowed as she snorted, trying to keep the mortification from her face.

"You just happened to be walking by the music building? Oh yeah, I forgot about all of the music classes you take," she drawled and pursed her lips at him.

Rowan couldn't help but chuckle at her dripping sarcasm and how fast she had caught him in his lie. "Okay, you're right. I just wanted to… make sure everything was all right after earlier." His gaze pinned hers, as if he could read the answers directly from her face.

Celaena narrowed her eyes at him and schooled her face into a smooth, emotionless expression. She didn't know what magical powers he was keeping secret, so she double- and triple-checked her mind's barrier. She blinked at him.

"I'm fine. And even if I wasn't, it would be none of your business," she replied coolly.

"That's –" Rowan inhaled sharply through his nose and then exhaled. "I've been harsh on you. And I… said some things I didn't entirely mean."

"I don't expect any special treatment," she snapped. What was his problem? After what happened earlier in the library, now he was following her around like a lost puppy? Celaena could feel a headache coming on from the mental whiplash.

"But still… I should have been more understanding," he admitted. Celaena just stared at him as if she were weighing his words.

"As far as you know, I'm just another, first-year student that goes to Adarlan University. Young. Hopeful. Uninteresting." Her sharp, perceptive eyes bored into his as she enunciated every word with a clipped tone. "I don't care what you do outside of school or whose employment you've weaseled your way into, as long as you stay out of my business. And as far as Maeve goes, I've never known my Aunt Maeve, and I don't care to know her," she ground out, defiance burning in her eyes. She was honestly considering punching him right in the nose if he was stupid enough to challenge her.

Rowan held his hands up palms facing her, trying to pacify her aggression. "I'm not – I wasn't trying to convince you to or anything. I just wanted," he took a deep breath, "I just wanted to say that I'm here if you wanted to talk about it. I know what it's like to have… family troubles."

Celaena just blinked and raised her eyebrows at him in disbelief. She rolled her eyes up at the ceiling and sighed. "Thanks. That's nice of you, but I don't want to talk about it. Goodnight."

With that, she grabbed her hoodie from where she had dropped it on the floor earlier and tried to storm out. Unfortunately, Rowan was still in the doorway. He moved to fully block her exit and her anger nearly snapped then, but she inhaled through her nose and waited.

"Get out of my way," she hissed through her teeth.

"You don't want to talk about it with me, or with anyone?" Rowan asked seriously. His pine-green eyes were scanning her face, assessing her near-feral expression, and she idly noticed how long his dark eyelashes were. The question caught her off-guard, and the rage on her face smoothed out somewhat as she considered.

"You, maybe, or with – with anyone, I suppose." Celaena placed a hand on her hip and surveyed him. She did have Elide, but they hadn't talked about… this. About what Celaena suspected, with her aunt. "Are you going to move?"

Rowan turned to the side and Celaena breezed past him without another word. She didn't care about him. She didn't care about his stupid, piercing green eyes, or about that wicked tattoo winding its way up his neck. She had dropped her guard earlier, sinking into her music to escape, but her escapade tonight had only led her to feel more confused about everything that had happened.

Rowan could only think about that burning pain he had seen in her beautiful eyes, after she had whipped around to face him. Her eyes had flickered with hurt before she carefully smoothed out her expression. He watched her stalk away from him and didn't try to follow this time. He had a feeling she wouldn't let him go without a real fight next time.

She turned down several hallways and slipped down one of the stairwells to exit out of one of the building's backdoors. Celaena was annoyed that Rowan had followed her so easily in the first place, and she made sure he hadn't tailed her again.

She walked aimlessly for a while, before swiftly scaling a tree and tilting her face up at the moon. At least the moon was the same, no matter where she went or how lost she was.

[invisiblesoulink]

No Smoking

A peek into Hiro’s past

“Hey!” The voice came from the other side of the counter, and made Wesley bristle hard enough to break the toothpick between his teeth. He raised an eyebrow as he turned and saw a gruff man standing at the counter, piles of junk food and sodas laid out and ready to be rung up-- no different than any other customer. But the cash register was unattended. It was odd-- enough for him to stare, perplexed for a moment before the man scoffed and banged his hand on the counter.

“You just gonna stand there? Is my money no good here or somethin'?” He hissed.

Wesley spat out his toothpick, fixing his mouth to snap back, but business had been slow today. Slow enough that he hadn't even heard this fool come in and rummage around. He lumbered over without a word, rang up the snacks and bagged them up.

“Ain't you got some workers in here? Shit, I had a hard enough time findin' everything I was lookin' for.” The man muttered as he fished through his pockets.

“Usually.” Wesley lifted a broad shoulder. “Money's no good here if it's invisible, by the way...”

The man huffed at him and smacked a crumpled twenty and a few loose coins down in front of him. “Keep the change. You need it more than me.”

Wesley just raised an eyebrow. “You're short eight cents, friend.”

Flustered, the man scrambled to find another dime, snatched his bag and stumbled out. A trucker, most likely; one who had been drinking on the job. Wesley was sure that he should report that to someone, but there were other matters to attend to.

Where on Earth was his employee?

It took a few minutes to check around; that knee injury hadn't healed up like the doctor's had promised, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, he was getting old. His hair was like steadily burning wood; a dulling brown that was beginning to crumble into ash gray, even more so in his beard. He could retire at any time, he supposed; but this gas station on the edge of town was all he had, and he no one to give it to.

It took even longer to look around as he had gotten distracted with his own thoughts, but as luck would have it, he didn't have to look too many places. He poked his head out back and found him there, hunched over a book with a notebook one his knee and a cigarette in his mouth.

Wesley cleared his throat and the kid bristled, much like he had before. He was a daydreamer too; or maybe he'd gotten lost in all those numbers in that book.

“You're a smart kid. I get that.” Wesley stepped out to prop the door open. “But I'm beginning to wonder if you can read.” When he received a blank stare, he tapped a sign just above the boy's head. “No smoking. See? Even got a little picture on it.”

Color rushed to his face and he took the cigarette and ground the ashes out. “Sorry. I never noticed that...”

“This is a gas station. You wanna blow us both into next Tuesday?” Wesley laughed and sat in the chair that for some reason the kid had decided not to occupy. “What are you even doing out here?”

“I uh...” He hesitated, prepared himself to lie; but Wesley was sure to give him a hard look and it did the trick. “...Homework.”

“Homework.” Wesley leaned back in his chair. “I didn't know 20 year olds still had homework. You in college, son?”

“...No.”

“Oh. So I'm guessing you're not 20, either.” Wesley chuckled. He had known all along, but it had been a few months. He had hoped that the kid would have wanted to come clean by now. But it was such a nice evening out, and he didn't imagine anyone else coming in for a while. It was about time they talked.

“No,” came the inevitable reply, and he shut the book. “I'm 15.”

“Fifteen and smoking?” Wesley glanced over at him. “But studying hard and working here almost every day.” He raised an eyebrow. “Something about that don't add up.”

He wasn't looking at him now, but Wesley could see the pain in the way that his shoulders slumpled. He waited for a few moments before he cleared his throat.

“How long have you been on your own, Hiro?”

“I'm not on my own.” Hiro drummed his fingers against the book. Calculus. Wesley had only heard about that. Smart kid. “I have a brother... He stays with the neighbors until I get home.”

Wesley studied him for a moment. “So you go to school and you work. You're not old enough to drive... and you're taking care of a little one.”

“It's not that far of a walk... only an hour and a half.” Hiro shrugged and opened his book again. “I don't mind.”

Wesley had to cough to cover the sputter that he almost let slip. “You mean to tell me that you walk here and back every day you work?”

“Yes sir.” Hiro glanced up at him. “I run track at school.”

“Mm. I'd forgotten what it was like to be that young and full of energy.” Wesley offered a little smile. “But... you know, there are people to help when--”

“No.” Hiro's fingers clenched slightly around his pencil. “They'd take Yuki, and I'm not letting that happen. He's almost old enough to take care of himself. ...Almost.”

Wesley scratched his beard. “It's awfully noble of you to give up your childhood, just to keep your family together,” he murmured. “Is that why you call yourself 'Hiro?'”

Again, his pale face colored and he sat up straighter to look at him. “That's my name.”

Laughing, Wesley raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, I wasn't sure. I'm learning all kinds of things about you today.”

“It's Japanese.” Hiro looked back down, trying not to look embarrassed. “Not a complex.”

“All right, all right. I wasn't gonna assume.” Wesley tipped his head. “Anything else you think you might need to tell me?”

Hiro didn't respond until he finished writing-- it might have been an equation, but Wesley couldn't be bothered to ask. Math had never done him much service past counting money. But, the young man looked up at him again once he had tucked all of his things away.

“I really need this job...” His hands were laced in his nap. He was nervous. “I didn't think you'd hire me if you knew that I was  just some kid still in high school. But I have to take care of Yuki. He's all I have left, and I'd do anything for him.” He looked at his bag. “Even if that means doing things I don't want to. It's not his fault any of this happened.”

“I'm assuming it's not yours, either.” Wesley raised an eyebrow. “What happened to them?”

“It's not important.” Hiro shook his head. “You're not gonna fire me, are you?”

For a moment, he considered it. Not because he didn't like him; he was a hard worker, even moreso than he realized, apparently. He came in and did what he was supposed to, for the most part, though he knew now why he'd sometimes have to summon him from the back. But if someone found out he was working a kid like a grown man, he could get into a lot of trouble. But in truth, no one had come to check up on his little business in a while, and as much as Hiro needed this job, Wesley needed him there, too. He had been glad to put that “HELP WANTED” sign away; it had begun to collect dust in the window.

“I'm not gonna get rid of you.” Wesley reached over to pat him on the back. “If you weren't so damn good at everything I ask you to do, maybe. But you sweep better than I ever would these days. I still can't figure out how you lift half the shit that you do.” He chuckled. “But you gotta keep from lying to me from now on, kid. You're gonna need somebody on your side, you know.”

Hiro nodded a little, slowly relaxing a bit. He was relieved, though Wesley couldn't exactly imagine why. It seemed as the this kid was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he had somehow managed not to complain. No wonder he smoked.

“Listen...” Wesley looked back out at the setting sun. “If you need to change some things up... work a little less to make time for... I dunno-- homework, or driving lessons ,or something... I can work with you. You're doin' a good job here, you know. I think you could use a raise.”

“Sounds like you're doing it because you feel sorry for me.” Hiro murmured, rubbing his neck.

“Well, yeah. Sorry for feeling sorry? I ain't exactly human but, shit. I got a heart still.” Wesley laughed. “And I know you ain't exactly human either, so don't act surprised.

Hiro did not have a very good poker face; he looked up at him with surprise. “How did you--”

“You might have a few legs up on me when it comes to books, but my nose'll tell me more about this world than your head would ever tell you.” Wesley grinned. “That, and I can see your ears in that fancy up-do.”

Hiro set his jaw a little and reached up to take the soft band that kept his ears and hair tied up atop his head. “I lost my hat on my way here.”

“Don't people ever ask you where your ears are?” Wesley asked.

“I can wear a hat at school, too.” Hiro winced a little as he rubbed one long lop rabbit ear. “I have to get better at hiding them before someone notices.”

“Don't tell me you're trying to pose as a wolf, too. Because let me tell ya', son. You're not scaring anybody.” Wesley chuckled.

“No, just... human. For now.” Hiro looked back at his bag.

“Somethin' in there?” Wesley tipped his head.

Hiro hesitated again, but this time he needed no encouragement to tell the truth. He reached over to search through his things and held up a newspaper article for Wesley to see. The article was small, but from the local city  nearby where non-humans like the two of them were living freely. Wesley squinted at the small print, then raised his eyebrows.

“The Army?”

“Special Ops, from the sound of it. If they're looking to do a Therian unit, I want to be a part of it.” Hiro's voice had an air of confidence. “But the recruiters aren't looking for just anyone. So I got into this high school with better credentials. It's human... mostly. Some of my friends have an easier time hiding what they are than me.” Hiro raised his shoulders. “I've never been able to shift all the way. Yuki can't either.”

“It's one of those things.” Wesley chuckled. “Some of us can, and some of us can't.”

“You can.” Hiro sounded almost admiring. “I had no idea.”

“You're out of touch. Probably because you're trying too hard to be human. But if anything, you should know a predator when you smell one.”

Hiro's brow furrowed a bit. “What do you mean?”

“I'm a coyote, son. If you and I couldn't walk and talk the same, pretty sure we wouldn't be talking period.” Wesley chuckled.

“Everyone eats rabbits.” Hiro murmured, looking up at the sky. “Humans do too. It's just how things are. If that was the case, everyone would smell like a predator.”

“Still. If you're looking to join some... 'special ops' army thing, and they're looking for Therians, they're gonna want you to know how to be a Therian.” Wesley stretched out and cracked his neck. “They probably ain't lookin' for many bunnies. So you're gonna have to be the best damn anything they've ever seen. And then you also let them know that you're a bunny.”

Hiro's expression hardened a little, but in a way that Wesley recognized as someone who was taking words to heart. He was a smart kid, after all.

“So now that that's all squared away, get on up to the front. I don't think anybody's come for a visit, but if they are, I don't want them thinkin' they can get things for free,” he said. “You've had your break, so I reckon it's about time for mine.”

“Sorry...” Hiro climbed to his feet and grabbed his book bag. He paused before he headed in though, and turned back to Wesley. “Thank you.”

“Any time, kid.” Wesley gave him a toothy grin. “Just remember... no smoking.”

Hiro rolled his eyes, but went inside to take care of the shop. Wesley stretched out in his chair, kicked back and enjoyed the breeze for a while. His wife might have laughed at him, if she'd been around to hear about what he was doing. She would have called him a soft-hearted old pushover. And maybe he was; he felt good about it.