#he saw them and was like hmm new little brothers it’s free real estate

[here-comes-the-moose]

Soooo…. How early do we think the Bad Batch were sent out into the war? Because it’s very sad to think about, and I’ve also seen this explored with some other clones as well (Tup and Dogma), but I also can’t erase the somewhat funny mental image of some high-ranking members of the GAR having this elite, special force team coming to help them on an impossible mission, the group succeeding, and when its time to finally meet and thank them it’s literally just some guys whose voices haven’t fully changed and haven’t even lost all the baby fat in their faces yet.

[ambiengrey]

Loitering Ch 3

Important information of importance is important: summary.

<-previous

devout hopefulness

“Losing the possibility of something is the exact same thing as losing hope and without hope nothing can survive.”

― Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves

“‘Low’ …No.

“L… ‘Loo’…

“…Hmm… Like. Boyal, spoyal, foyal…loya…t…

“Loyt. Er.

“Hm. Tim.”

“Cass?”

“This? This.”

“‘Loiter’.” Tim supplied helpfully, looking up from the laptop balanced on his crossed knees to find the word Cass was pointing at where she held the book over the back of the couch for him to see.

“‘Loi.’ …‘Loi’?”

He nodded encouragingly.

“‘Loi…ter’?” she tested it slowly, and Tim smiled.

“‘Loiter,’” she repeated with a satisfied nod and raised the book back to a comfortable eye-level. Tim returned to his research as she resumed her pacing, only to interrupt him again two strides on. “What…does it mean?”

Tim opened his mouth to reply, only for Dick to beat him to it.

“It’s that thing Jason’s been doing for the past hour,” he said derisively, from his spot next to the almost wall-length window. “Out on the porch. Just standing there.”

Tim watched his older brother’s back, eyebrows raised, “He’s still out there?”

They’d plopped down on sofas in the lounge over an hour ago with varying tasks of importance – Cass practising her reading, Tim researching his latest case (hacked into the Bat-computer downstairs through his laptop) – for Dick’s benefit.

He’d caught a nasty cold during the winter and it had carried over into spring. Gotham’s generally chilly climate probably wasn’t helping his recovery any, but he was making better progress in Alfred’s care than he would have in New York by himself.

Tim suspected Dick was actually enjoying the excuse to be at the manor, anyway – and loving it even more that his younger siblings were staying over to help him recover. And to keep him company.

Dick didn’t do cooped-up very well, and the four walls of his bedroom had started closing in despite the almost ever-present company. In search of a change of scenery thus, and only after Alfred’s permission of course, they’d moved down to the lounge just off to the side from the foyer.

Lengthy wide windows provided a view of the front yard and the gates in the distance – as well as the porch if you stood just right in front of them, or had been bundled up on the armchair nearest the windows, generally facing the rest of the room, like Dick had been. Tim had turned the seat a little for him, for a better view of the grounds, and had taken a corner of the couch facing the windows for himself; Cass pacing at his back.

The older man had sat gaping for almost a full minute before Tim and Cass had looked up from their respective tasks to notice.

Dick hadn’t believed his eyes, and, pushing blankets aside he’d wandered to the windows in what Tim could only describe as a trance.

“Dick?” he’d asked, alarmed, but Dick in his mesmerized state hadn’t even heard. He nearly pressed his nose against the window, through the lace curtain, to see.

“Dick!” Tim had snapped, bounding up from his seat and rushing to his brother’s side, wondering if they’d misdiagnosed him or something. Was his fever up again – was he hallucinating something? “What is it—?” Tim started, grabbing hold of Dick’s arm with both hands, head whipping round to look through the window as well—

His breath caught when he saw him.

“Jason.” Cassandra declared needlessly from just behind them, watching the younger boy from between Tim and Dick’s heads. She’d never actually seen him before – not in the flesh.

She’d left for Hong Kong before he revealed himself resurrected and…slightly insane, the way Tim told the story, but…watching him now, she could hardly believe it was the same boy on their porch Tim had been talking about.

He seemed more…broken, than anything else.

The anger Tim had described was still there, plainly present if residing just beneath the surface now, but…the malice, the vengeance, the blood-thirst Cassandra had imagined in him to match the stories she’d heard was…strikingly absent.

Perhaps, if she squinted, she could see where those empty spaces were, where once her imaginings had resided, after all.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Tim’s voice had been fierce, if somewhat strained, his words a mumble through grit teeth, and his grip on Dick’s arm tightening slightly.

It snapped the young man from his bewildered state – he’d thought it a trick of the light, figured he was only tired, when he saw the younger boy coming up the driveway, but…the closer he came, looking so…Dick could only describe it as “lost” – the more Dick believed he was real, and believed he really was seeing things all at the same time.

A side-effect of his medicine maybe?

Should he be asking Timmy if he was seeing it, too?

A bubble of joy had threatened to pop in the pit of his stomach and it took every ounce of his being to stop it surging through him and bursting free elatedly – this was almost too good to be true.

He was sick. Definitely sick. In the head.

Only, Timmy had seen him, too; wondering aloud why the hell he was there.

The thought had crossed Dick’s mind as well, and would again over the course of the hour, but he’d pushed it aside initially, to marvel some more at the seemingly impossible fact that his little brother was home.

His little brother was home.

And, of his own volition.

‘What the hell’ was right.

“Timmy,” Dick had said, Tim relinquishing his hold on Dick’s arm when the older man moved, wrapping the limb about Tim’s shoulders instead. “It’s okay. He’s not here to hurt us. Maybe he just…” Dick had waved his free hand through the air as if to snatch up the right words in passing, only there weren’t any.

“He’s…not doing anything,” Cass had observed with a frown, “Not…planning on doing anything…”

“Maybe we should—” Dick had started, moving as he spoke, hands on Tim’s shoulders, making to go around him to the foyer, to the front door – only to cut himself off when he saw Alfred through the doorway.

Weathered old hand raised at the doorknob, the other pressed properly against the small of his back. Eyes shut, the old man had sighed, resigned, before his hand retreated, was clasped firmly about the wrist with long, calloused fingers instead.

He’d turned, set in his task, and made his way from the room, his back to them, headed perhaps for the kitchen. Head still bowed.

Dick’s shoulders had slumped.

Tim had noticed the butler as well, “What – we’re just leaving him out there?” Dick didn’t know if that was incredulity or indignation.

“Maybe we should—” he’d meant to suggest something specific, but in fact, “…Maybe we should. Jason…he’ll knock, or…something, when he’s ready. We shouldn’t force him into it. He’s made it this far on his own, we should respect whatever he decides to do now,” but Dick had sounded decidedly pitiful to Tim’s ears and like he wanted nothing more than to decide for Jason. “Whatever he decides,” he’d added in a whisper.

Tim had stared at him, a little at a loss for words. Dick had patted his shoulders absently then shuffled back to his chair, snuggled up and kept his gaze on the window.

Tim had followed his movements with a frown, shot a wary scowl out the window, and retreated to his laptop once again.

Dick stayed silent. Cass returned to her muttered reading as she paced up and down in front of the room-wide bookcase, occasionally climbing the sliding ladder to pick a different paperback for perusal. Tim was so caught up in his research; he hadn’t even noticed Dick getting up to go back to the window again.

How long had he been standing there?

The lack of pounding against the front door, or a ringing bell, or angered yelling, or a myriad of echoing gunshots, had Tim of a mind that his supposed-to-be older brother had left the estate. But…apparently not so much.

“Loiter…” Cass leaned over the back of the couch, next to Tim, her eyes on Dick as well. The word had the lilt of a question at the end, but she realised it was wrong and added, “—ing?”

“Apparently,” Tim replied, deadpan, as he set the laptop aside once more and stood.

Joining Dick by the window, he crossed his arms.

Jason stood in virtually the same position as before. Definitely loitering.

“This is ridiculous,” Tim commented, shaking his head. What was Jason thinking?

“He’s…leaving,” Cass mumbled at their backs again, and Tim narrowed his eyes.

Indeed, not a moment later Jason had turned on his heel.

“Leaving,” Dick echoed, distressed, and bolted from the room at once, barely pausing to snap at Tim, “Don’t stop me, Timmy,” when the younger boy tried calling him back.

Dick had the door flung open before Jason had properly reached the steps.

“Jason – come inside,” Tim heard, and shrunk into himself, crossed arms tightening, a little. Frozen beside the window, he watched with a scowl as Dick followed their wayward “sibling” down the way, the front door swinging shut almost inaudibly behind him.

“You do not think he will…hurt Dick,” Cass had taken up Dick’s vacant spot to Tim’s right. It wasn’t a question, but he shook his head slightly and answered anyway.

“No, he…if he wanted us hurt he wouldn’t have just stood on the porch for an hour, I…think,” he sighed, deflated. “I don’t know. Jason…” an exasperated noise escaped him, he couldn’t explain it.

Cass nodded a little though – of course she’d understand. Somewhat, at least.

“But…you’re still…tense?”

Tim sighed again, trying to relax, “I just…don’t trust him, I guess. Not after everything.”

“Dick…trusts him, though.”

“Dick’s…too soft,” Tim mumbled, barely audibly, not sure if he really believed that. It wasn’t that it was a bad thing about his brother, either – being ‘soft.’

Dick cared – immensely. About everyone. Even the ones who didn’t seem to deserve it – the misguided ones, like Jason, and the ones who didn’t know better and didn’t seem to care to…like, Damian.

But Tim…couldn’t quite seem to. Couldn’t bring himself to care so devotedly, unconditionally, without judgment, or ridicule, and without expecting to be betrayed.

Don’t get him wrong – Tim did care, that way, for a lot of people – Dick, and Cass, and Bruce, Alfred, Steph—

But Jason…didn’t deserve that kind of love, and Tim simply couldn’t give it away so freely – was baffled by Dick’s ability to and felt…lesser, for his inability to manage it, too. Maybe a little envious of Dick, even.

But Tim saw no logic behind it – it was all emotional, intuitive acrobat, it was just—Dick.

All logic, all reason, pointed at Jason simply betraying their trust first chance he got if not only when it suited his agenda, taking advantage of Dick’s devoted attempts at coaxing him back into the family, and blowing it up in their eldest brother’s face – again.

That was why Tim was tense.

Tim wasn’t afraid of Jason, but he was scared by him. The lengths he went to. The boundaries he pushed. The things he did. Almost unspeakable, unthinkable things that spoke of a madman’s misguided crusade for unfounded revenge.

…

Well—mostly, unfounded.

Bruce was constant – Jason shouldn’t have expected to find the Joker buried.

As for Tim…well, Batman needed a Robin. It had been part dream-come-true, part occupation, part duty, more than anything else. As the boy who’d been watching them – Bruce – fall to pieces, he couldn’t just stand aside and let it happen. He’d thought…part of him had thought Jason wouldn’t have wanted that – wanted his…father, to break like that.

But all Jason saw was a pale imitation of who he’d been – a sorry excuse for a substitute to the partner Batman had lost. A damn…replacement.

Part of Tim had never meant to stay, would have easily stepped aside for Jason, but…Jason had never even given Tim a chance to explain.

He was surprised to discover how much that stung.

This was some sort of trick – Jason just showing up like this. It had to be.

“He’s…broken,” Cass’s quiet proclamation cut through the silence, startling Tim from his thoughts and hastening his now-lowered gaze to the window. If Dick—

But…Cass wasn’t alarmed, and, Tim realized, she hadn’t been referring to Dick.

He blinked, watching Jason – farther down the driveway now, headed for the gate even as Dick followed, hands gesturing as he spoke – and found he looked in perfect health.

“I don’t—”

“Something is…wrong.”

Tim glanced briefly at Cass with a pensive frown. Outside, Jason spun to face Dick (a second time), an angry expression on his impossibly youthful face. If Tim didn’t know any better, he’d have pegged Jason at the same age as himself. A side-effect of the Pit?

Along with the madness. If something was wrong—

Tim shifted his weight, ready to sprint out there if needed—

But, looking at the exit, he saw Alfred in the foyer again, front door slightly ajar as he peered out.

Fleetingly Tim wondered how much Alfred had wanted to invite Jason inside before. How much he wanted to berate Dick for being outside, and call the both of them in, now…

Alfred was not a fool man – if he still believed in Jason—

Or, maybe…maybe in this one regard, Alfred was being foolhardy.

The old man closed the door and Tim turned quickly back to the window less he was caught staring, in time to watch Dick wave a hand and Jason throw up his own, clearly exasperated. He bowed a mocking little bow before he smirked and turned away.

Dick let him go – if only for a beat, before he rushed after his other brother, clamping a firm – and probably unwelcome – hand onto his shoulder.

…

“What do you mean ‘wrong’?” Tim asked.

Several beats passed as Tim let her gather her words. If he was ever going to learn the truth about Jason’s intentions, his state of mind – his sanity, even – this was it.

“He’s…confused,” she said at last, voice quiet, tone filled with…sympathy. “He came…home,” she emphasized, and Tim spared her a glance, but he could hardly read her expression. “Only…to realize this is no longer…home. He is…unwelcome. And then – now…he does not know…where to go. He wants to…stay. But…can’t. Knows…he can’t.

“It…hurts,” her voice had dropped into a breathy whisper. “It’s…painful,” she turned her gaze from the window, eyes narrowed at the floor instead, “To watch.”

Tim stared, a little wide-eyed, not at all certain about how to react to that.

Jason had thought…this was home? He thought he still lived here? Was that what she meant?

…Until he came up to the door and realized it wasn’t true anymore.

Tim couldn’t imagine.

Absently, he shook his head. This…made no sense.

When Dick shuffled back into the room, he looked…forlorn. More ill than before he’d left.

“Master Dick,” Alfred appeared over his shoulder to escort him back to bed before Tim could offer the same. Dick nodded, dragging his blanket off the armchair and wrapping it round his shoulders.

“Good idea, Alfie,” he passed by Cass, and Tim, planting a kiss atop each of their heads, smile a little wan but present.

He paused in the doorway to look back at them.

He’d tell them all about it later, and he’d ask Cass what she thought of their lost brother, too – after a well-deserved nap.

In the meantime, though, “He’ll be back,” he promised them.

next->

[bolbianddolanhouse]

BNHA self insert AU

New to the AU? Start here!

Chapter 34: Road Work Ahead? Uh Yea, I Sure Do Hope it Does!

It’s been 2 months since the club meet up with Tenya and he hasn’t contacted me since. I’ve seen more of his brother than him! I start to wonder if I did something wrong or if he changed his mind about fixing our friendship. But what the hell do I know?! I’m just the fool that’s glued to their phone, waiting for the other person to respond.

“Hey I got Big Bro Ingenium on the line” Mimi whispered to me has she held the phone on her chest “he’s wondering if you can go do a house call, Pongo got some coat damage.”

I check the time, it’s almost noon “Hmm, for today?”

“Yeah, he’s at his family estate for something and needs the repair.”

“Hmmm alright I can go” I get up to stretch “ask for the address and I’ll be on my way.”

She finishes the phone call and turns to me after hanging up “Are you going home after? I know you said that you were just going to do some inspection with me then leave for the day” she got a little uneasy, like she was trying to reword what she was trying to say “because of your important-”

“Yea I’m going home after” I cut her off because I didn’t want to hear whatever she was trying to say “I do need to prepare for it, I’ll let you know when I’m heading home.” I pack the house call kit and head to the Iida Family estate. I didn’t know they had one and it was very elegant and grand in size.

“Oh you must be the CEO!” exasperated a one of servants “I didn’t know you came personally to house calls.”

“I like working closely with my clients” I warmly smile “plus the Iida sons are my friends, I’d do anything for them.”

“How warm and generous you are!” they praised “Tensei was right, you are very humble and kind. Speaking of which, he has to be fitted upstairs at the moment but he docked Pongo in the parlor for you.” they gestured me to a hallway on the right “come follow me.” When I entered the parlor, it was like something out of a book. The couches were vintage, pictures of relatives in decorative frames and it was spacious but had that cozy-homely feeling to it. “I’ll leave you to your work and I’ll let Tensei know you’re here.”

“Thank you so much, I appreciate it!” I responded right as they left. I get to checking for the damage “Hmm, tears in the legs huh?” I boop the robo on the nose “have you been jumping a lot Pongo?”

“Yes, being a service companion for Tensei requires excessive jumping” responded the robo “but he is a nice person, he plays with me like a real dog.”

“How sweet” I gushed “I’m so happy you’re being well loved and cared for” I take out the sewing kit “time to get you all stitched up and ready.”

-Meanwhile upstairs-

“Excuse my intrusion, but Miss CEO is here and in the parlor for the repairs.”

“Oh good! I’ll meet up with her in a few minutes” Tensei responded as he was trying on dress shirts “thank you!”

“SHE’S HERE?!” Tenya freaked out “why didn’t you tell me she was going to be here?!”

“Because I want you to grow up and talk to her!” Tensei scolded “Tenya it’s been months since you last saw each other and you can’t just hide and ignore her!”

“But I really crossed the line” he sighed “she probably thinks I’m some sort of pervert now.”

“Will it KILL you to just go downstairs and say hello to her?” Tensei crossed his arms “and if you’re feeling bold, ask her to our estate ball tonight.”

Tenya deflates in defeat “Fine, I’ll go and face her.”

“Good! Don’t forget to make me best man at your wedding!” he teased as his little brother left the room.

Tenya was blushing hard as he made his way to the parlor, thinking of ways to apologize about the other night. He walks in to her sewing the robo’s hind leg tears “Um, hi.”

“Hm? OH hi Tenya!” I stood up, dropping her sewing needle “long time no see!”

“Yeah heh, well, about the last time-”

“Nothing happened” I interrupted him “you just didn’t want me to go home alone and you cuddled me” I stifle my laugher “then I heard you snore and realized you fell asleep on top of me! Oh it was so funny and it took me back to when I’d have to tuck you in after you threw up at the intel parties.”

“Oh that’s even more embarrassing” he cringed “I’m just as sorry though, for my drunken affection and not contacting you after the fact.”

“I forgive you” I smile “I just want to spend time with you and catch up, it doesn’t matter how or when, I have so many things to share with you.”

“So do I” he relaxes “Oh before I forget! I’d like to invite you to our family estate ball.”

“Oh when is it?”

“Don’t get mad, it’s tonight at 6pm.” 

“Oh shit!” I check my watch, it’s 2pm “hmmmm, okay I can come but I might be an hour late.”

“It’s totally last minute, you don’t have to come if you had other plans” he gets timid and gets red “heh like old times when I’d ask you to the dance.”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t have plans” I rolled my eyes “I was just going to laze about in my house without any pants and eat chips and salsa.”

He started laughing “Are you telling me that the most sought after, Millionaire and strongest woman in Japan...spends her free time without pants and eats chips and salsa?!”

“You ain’t gotta roast me like that” I nudged him playfully “those guys seeking after me just want my money and are ugly, plus I’ve already toured the country a couple times and my trainings are scheduled out...sooo I just do nothing because lo and behold! I’m single and lonely.” 

“Single? Really?” he looked at her confused “I just thought-”

“That I’d be dating movie stars other famous people?” I do that little scoff-laugh “the only flirting they do is throw money at you! I rather be with someone that knew me before the fame but after my incident.”

“I see” he fixed his glasses “well, I’ll leave you to your work and see you later tonight?”

“I’ll be here!” I waved him off “see you later alligator!”

He walks away relieved and filled with those warm, fuzzy feelings that came with seeing her being cute and friendly. The flame grew bigger and the two were happy to have had meaningful conversation. Later that night, when the ball was a buzz with a mix of family and guests, Tenya’s anxiety was getting the best of him.

“Tenya, I’m sure she’s well on her way” Tensei said as he rolled into the patio area to check on his little brother “she wants to spend time with you.”

“But what if something happened?!” the little brother chopped tensely “she’s an agent and a highly sought out person! And she couldn’t call in time to tell me!”

“Sorry to interrupt” said a servant, popping their head out of the patio entryway “but Miss CEO is pulling up to the gate and sends her apologies for being a tad late.”

“See I told yo-” Tensei couldn’t even finish his sentence, Tenya ran into the house to be the first one to greet her.

“Welcome to the Estate Ball, Madam CEO” chanted two of the welcoming servants at the door “please allow us to open the door.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” I politely smile as they open the doors. I walk in with a floor length navy and gold satin gown with flared long sleeves, grandma looking heels and a decorative water lily head piece to compliment my updo. Lavish enough to make heads turn but enough to not be over dressed. In dashes Tenya and nearly crashes into the decorative pillar when he saw her. 

“Oh oof, sorry, I MEAN” he stammered as he fixed his suit “you look stunning” he shakily holds her hand to kiss it “I’m so happy you came.”

“I can tell!” I giggled as he kissed my hand “sorry for being late though! I couldn’t decide what to wear.”

“You could walk in your UA uniform and everybody will compliment you on your fashion statements” he looked into her eyes “because you’re that beautiful and charming.”

“Oh uh thank you” I blushed because I wasn’t expecting compliments from him so soon “but tell me! who’s here?”

“Mostly family and the people they invited” he said as they lead them to the main area “come and have some cider and dance.”

The moment I walked in that room, people swarmed and separated me from Tenya for most of the night. We got one dance in but there was so many questions people wanted to ask and I didn’t want to come off as rude. I quietly slipped out to the dark part of the patio so I could catch my breath.

I heard the patio door slide open and saw Tenya “Oh you startled me! I thought you were somebody else.”

“I thought I might find you here” he said as he took a seat on the stone bench I was sitting on “it’s a nice night.”

“It is!” I responded as I looked up “summer is just around the corner too, expect the nights to be even nicer.”

“It reminds me of those talks we’d have in the tree” he turns to her “remember those nights? I missed having them.”

“Why? All we did was stargaze and talk about random things”

“Yeah but I felt very cherished when we’d have those talks in the tree” he partially put his hand on her hand “the wisdom you shared with me are things I’ll never forget. And the way you looked at me when you listened to me, it brought more out of me because it felt nice to have the full attention of somebody.”

Before she could say anything, her phone alarm went off “UGH! that’s my reminder alarm” I switch off the alarm to stop the sound “I wish I could stay longer and I feel bad because I wanted to spend more time with you.”

“You have to go? Well I suppose so, you’re a busy woman” he sighed “guess it’s hard to get a hold of you and I’m very fortunate that you spend what little free time you had with me.”

I get up and get an idea “Say, what are you doing this weekend?”

“Nothing, it’s my weekend off.”

“Lets go to the beach! Like that one time in 1st year” I get excited “please?! I really want to spend time with you and really close the gap of lost time.”

“The beach? Well we could go to the one we went to last time” he pondered “okay, lets BUT I’m driving this time. I got a license and car on my 20th birthday heh.”

“Oh wow look at you!” I teased playfully “such a gentleman! Lets go on sunday, I’ll text you the time and place to pick me up” I hug him good bye “I don’t care if this is out of line, I missed your hugs.”

The flashbacks of when she hugged him in the intel work room flooded back when she pressed her body against his. He hugged back “I forgot how small you are” both of their hearts were beating fast “and how soft and warm your embrace is.”

The two part ways and as Tenya turned to go in the house, big brother was waiting in the entry way. “WELL, WELL, WELL! Looks like things went well...”

“I don’t even care about your teasing right now” Tenya rolled his brother back a bit to go upstairs “my friend and I made plans for Sunday and I’m happy that she wants to spend time with me and just me.”

“Say what you want little brother” Tensei turns to the other direction “I still want to be best man.”

-Sunday, 3pm at the gated community-

“Hello, I’m here to pick up Miss Palma” Tenya nervously said to the guard at the gate.

“And your identity?” asked the guard as he looked at his tablet.

“Iida, Tenya.��

“Oh shit she wasn’t joking” the guard gasped “she is friends with Ingenium! Go right in, her place is the 2 story house on this middle lane, you can’t miss it.”

“Thank you!” he waves as he pulled forward. He drives a while and finally sees the house, it was a very sleek and modern looking house with a wide garage and tiled walkway. She walks out of her house and waves bye to the little dog standing behind her, “Hey, ready to go?”

“Yeah, just gotta wait for Muffin to activate the security field” she said as she walked quickly to the car. Seconds later, metal shields drop down on the windows and door. “all set! Did the guard give you a hard time?” she got in the passenger side.

“No they were really surprised that it was really me” he rolled up his windows “do you get guests often?”

“Not really, Bakugo and Kirishima come over every once in a while, Jin is my neighbor, Mimi lives in those condos two lanes behind mine” I start to recall “some of my trusted employees come over for dinner parties and my family when they visit, stay with me for a few days” she looked out to wave at the front gate guard “but other than that, I’m alone with Muffins.”

“Well, it’s a nice house and big too” he complimented “wish I could live in one of those communities, how much do you pay to live there?”

“I get my rent paid for because of the protection program I’m in” I put on chapstick “I bought the house about a year ago and made adjustments to it, so all I pay is electric and utilities, which is around 3,000 to 8,000 depending on if I had guests stay at my house that bill cycle.”

They talk about their living situations and work until they arrived to the place. Hiking to the top of the twin coves to see the unchanged scene from years ago, hand in hand, like they never separated. Same thing were Ita coaxes Tenya to jump in with her and the water is freezing cold. It felt more and more like they were friends again as they talked and laughed...they sit at their little set up on the sand to watch the sunset.

“I know that face” he said to her “what’s got you in deep thought?”

“Hm? Oh hehe I was just thinking” she faced him “that it’s been years since we were here together and that I’m super grateful that you want to repair our friendship” a smile spread on her face “thank you for filling that missing piece of my life, I’m happy again.”

He looked into her eyes and the flashbacks of all the times he wanted to confess to her and kiss flooded back. How could he waste another moment? He takes a deep breath “Actually, I have something else to say” he looked at his can of orange juice “something that has been on my mind for the longest time, it’s been eating away at me.”

“What is it?” I asked concerned “you can tell me anything.”

“I- um I’ve cared about you since the day I met you and I’ve tried to understand why you do things the way you do. We basically grew up together and you make me feel so included in your world that it feels surreal when I go back to the routine of my world.” his hand inches toward hers “I really thought I was someone special enough to experience that, but then you started to date and have casual intimate interactions with others. And for whatever reason that I didn’t understand at the time, I got jealous and sad that they were in the mix when I just wanted to be you and me. I got overprotective, almost possessive of you when somebody entered your interest.” He looked over to see her tentatively listening and sitting closer to him “The thought of somebody taking you away from me and making you smile, it hurts me because you make me so happy. So when Shinso told me that you asked him to move in with you, my heart shattered that you let him into your world when I’ve done so much more to be worthy of that spot.” his hand held hers, eyes locked “Ita, I fell in love with you and I never meant to hurt you all those years back, my anger was misplaced and I took it out on you. I took the time to realize that I was being irrational and I wasn’t worthy of your kindness. But here we are, and I’ll say it again, I love you and I want to be with you always.” 

Tears poured from her eyes “Tenya, how long have you felt this way?”

“Since 1st year, when you told me you had a car” he said as he wiped her tears “I know it’s a lot to process and I understand if you don’t feel the same! I’m not saying I don’t want to be friends, I just wanted you to know.”

“Oh I’m so stupid!” I yelled and cried harder “Tenya, I feel the same way about you! I’ve had the biggest and dumbest crush on you since the car secret too. And I keep burying my feelings away because we’re friends and I don’t want to ruin the one friendship I had but there’s these moments that pop up where I just want to kiss you and not care if you don’t feel the same way. Your actions back then confused me because they read one way but you say something else, so I didn’t know how to feel sometimes. I’ve subtlety dropped hints that I liked you but you showed disinterest and I’d cry because I wasted my time assuming you did. All this time, I thought you were that close to me was because you pitied me because I was alone. When we were apart, I hoped that maybe one day you’d show up to apologize and I’d kiss you and tell you how I really felt.” she rubbed her eyes “you have no idea the amount of times I wished you’d ask me to be yours and hold me in your arms as I fall asleep. I’ve always wanted you Tenya, and I’m the fool that still did even after you hurt me.”

That confession shocked him to the core “You...feel the same way?” she nodded and looked away embarrassed “oh Ita, I’m the fool who deceived you! Don’t feel bad, look at me.” she turned her head and looked at him “better late than never” he held her hands up to chest level “wil-will you be my girlfriend? With the intention of being my life-partner? Because I am fully convinced that you are my soulmate.” before she could say anything, he interrupted with a secondary thought “wait, its that too bold to ask? It’s been years but we just reunited”

“Tenya”

“I mean I do feel that way but with how soon it is-”

“TENYA!” I yelled to get him to shut up “I’d love nothing more than to be yours. I accept your courtship.” 

His eyes widen and time felt like it stood still, it was nothing like he imagined it but he was over-joyed “You mean it?! Oh Ita!” he hug-tackled her onto her back “I thought this day would never come! I’m so happy.”

“I can tell, I can’t breathe”

“Oh sorry!” he quickly lifted his torso from her and looked at her laying there, under him. With no hesitation, he feverishly kissed her and she reciprocated, lingering on each other. “Your lips are so soft, just like I’ve imagined them” he said after breaking the kiss “you’re my first.”

“Kiss?”

“Everything.”

“That’s the saddest shit I’ve ever heard” I giggled as I sat up “doesn’t matter now, we love each other and that’s all we need.” I shook the sand out of my hair and put my arms around his shoulders “hold me as the sunsets, like in the books.”

He held her as they watched the sunset, marking the end of their slow burn love. They couldn’t stop kissing each other or smiling, even on the ride home. 

“Sooooo?” Mimi and Jin portaled into her house the moment she came home.

“Okay so you’re going to hate me” I started “we sort of... loved each other since 1st year and now we’re girlfriend and boyfriend.”

“AHHHH OH MY GOD YOU SOFT ASS BITCH!” they screamed as they squeezed me with their bodies.

-Meanwhile at Tenya’s apartment-

“How was it?” asked Tensei as his brother walked in.

“Tensei, became a man on that beach” he tossed the keys on the counter “I told her I loved her and she loves me back, we cried and I asked her to be my girlfriend.”

“Did she?-”

“She did and I had my first kiss as the sun set” he leaned on the wall “I still can’t believe that happened! We’re together at last.”

-The next day at RoboDog Inc, boss’s office-

“...and that’s the debriefing for the past month, production is slowed a bit due to the high volume of new client orders coming in.” Beizu was finishing his point when he noticed a slight change to Ita’s desk “Also not to be that person but what is with the new desk clutter?”

“Hm? Oh! I just wanted to put some pictures up on my desk” I responded as I wrote some notes on his debriefing “this weekend lowkey fucked me up on the way I was going about things.”

He looked at the pictures and saw some of family and one of Tenya and I “Isn’t that Ingenium? You two fixed everything?”

“Yeah, things are more than okay now” I smiled “also, about that scheduled sessions, they won’t be needed any more.”

“Woah you’re cancelling me?! What happened yesterday?”

“He said it, he’s always loved me the way I did” I looked at the picture he gave me on my 18th birthday “now we’re dating and I’ve never been so happy.”

“Well it’s about time he did” he laughed “we should all go on a double date! Mei is going to flip!”

To be young and have everything fall into place is a wonderful feeling. Even if the past comes back to haunt me, I won’t care because I finally got what I’ve been longing for and then some. No where to go but upwards from here.

-Chapter 34, End-

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[mysdrymmumbles]

Kaitrith Disapproves - Antiva City - SFW

One of my readers on Ao3 suggested this prompt, and it actually works better as an end, so...

I guess this is the last chapter?

Pairing: Josephine Montilyet x F!Lavellan

Word Count: 2256

Kaitrith Disapproves

Antiva City

Kaitrith took in a deep breath as she walked through the crowded docks, hand entwined with Josephine’s. It felt odd, not carrying at least some of their luggage, but the Chargers had come with them and followed with everything, and every time Kaitrith pointed out that she could carry something, one of them would make a big deal about how their esteemed ‘Lady’ need not do so much.

They were being asses, but she couldn’t stay mad at them when their antics let her hold Josie’s hand. To be in such a foreign place, with so much going on around them, was a little trying on the nerves.

Her inability to stay cross with the Chargers wasn’t just about being able to stay close to Josephine, however.

Bull had said something about having one final adventure before the mercenary group split ways with them, though Kaitrith had brushed him off. In truth, she didn’t want them to go. They were her first real friends outside of her clan—and even in her clan she’d had very few—and she didn’t want to part ways with them.

Seeing as she’d always adjusted to change rather well, she was a bit surprised at how torn she was with this imminent parting of ways.

When she felt Josie’s hand squeeze hers, she looked over in time for her lover to peck her cheek.

“Come now. With a frown like that you’ll scare father away, and then mother will have to duel you for his honor.” Josephine arched her eyebrows with mock worry. “And she’s quite handy with a throwing dagger.”

“Your mother uses throwing daggers.”

With a sigh and an eye roll, Josephine tossed her free hand in the air. “Mostly, it is just for show, however, it does not hurt one to know how to use a blade, considering assassins are…everywhere.”

Her gaze wandered the crowd idly as though to drive home the point, and Kaitrith abruptly wondered if Fen’harel would ever stoop so low as to hire the Crows.

After all, it had to hurt that whatever he’d wanted was gone from his reach, again thanks to Kaitrith. He’d shown up in one or two dreams, glowering from a distance, but she hadn’t seen him since, and hoped dearly that she wouldn’t.

Josephine nudged Kaitrith with her shoulder. “I jest, dear lady. Come. I should think you would know by now that I would not walk you into a trap unprepared.”

“Says the woman who just thought to mention her mother has throwing knives.”

“Only for duels for family honor,” Josephine clucked, again squeezing Kaitrith’s hand. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see.”

Even as Kaitrith tried to muster the bravado to make a believable lie that she believed it would turn out fine, a voice cut through the chatter around them.

“Josie!”

She’d barely heard the voice before a tall, lithe man was wrapping Josephine in a bear hug and twirling her out of Kaitrith’s grasp. She stood there, hand moving to the hilt of her blade, though Josephine’s laugh made her stop before she could draw it.

When the twirling finally stopped, Josephine’s hair was a tangled mess, and her cheeks were flushed with laughter. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she found Kaitrith, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her side. “May I introduce you to one of my younger brothers, Laurien. And Laurien, this is Kaitrith Lavellan, savior of Thedas and love of my life.”

Heat rose to Kaitrith’s cheeks at that introduction, despite herself. How many times had they said ‘I love you’? It still made her heart flutter.

The man appraised Kaitrith, cocking his head to one side as he looked her over. He was so similar to Josephine, with the same long, wavy hair, the same nose, the same swarthy complexion. However, there was a mischief in his eyes that she rarely saw in Josephine’s and without meaning to, she found herself narrowing her eyes, lips twitching a little lower.

With an abrupt bow, the man smiled at Kaitrith. “It is a pleasure.”

Kaitrith offered a bow back—through her time in Skyhold, Josephine had helped her get accustomed to such traditions, even if she didn’t usually do them. She’d been practicing them on the voyage to Antiva, as well, mostly with Krem, and only because Krem had happened to catch her when she thought she had found some privacy.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Her voice fell a little flat, but neither Montilyet seemed to notice.

Instead, Laurien gripped Josephine in another tight hug as she tried to smooth out her hair and rocked her back and forth a few times.

“I’ve missed you dear sister.”

“By that, you mean you’ve missed my being around to clean up your messes,” Josephine quipped when he finally let her go again. With that, the two fell into playful banter, catching up and exchanging stories. Laurien was quick to ask Kaitrith to join in, though she had a bit of trouble finding her voice until after Bull offered to tell a few stories on her behalf.

Once they’d made it to the carriages, and everything had been packed away, Laurien looked over their motley crew and grinned. “How would you all like a tour of the city, hmm?”

“Laurien, we’ve just gotten in,” Josephine protested, though she quickly turned to Kaitrith, assuring her, “There is so much to see, and I would not have you do so with weary eyes. I would not want your first impression of Antiva City to be a bleak one.”

At that, Kaitrith couldn’t help a small smile for the first time in what felt like days. She’d told Josephine before that she didn’t care where they were, so long as Josephine was there with her, but Josie had simply shaken her head, declaring it was no good if they didn’t both like where they lived on top of one another. After all, they could live anywhere, so it might as well be somewhere pleasant to them both.

Even as Laurien protested that the carriages would give them time to rest between stops, Kaitrith found herself eyeing him again. “I thought there was going to be a party.”

Laurien straightened up, looking almost offended. “My good lady, I’ve no idea what you mean.”

“Antoine already told us.” Josephine sighed when Laurien scoffed something about a traitor. “Let me guess, You or Yvette were in charge of making sure everything was ready on time, and you forgot?”

Trying to look refined, despite being called out on his folly, Laurien tugged on his vest. “To be clear, Yvette was in charge of it, and I did my parts wonderfully. She’s just…trying to get a few things rounded up before the party.”

“Things,” echoed Josephine, brow furrowed.

“Don’t expect those skills of yours to get any more out of me. Unlike Antoine, I can keep a secret.”

Josephine rolled her eyes again and leaned toward Kaitrith. “In other words, he doesn’t know what Yvette was after.”

Even as Krem offered that it wouldn’t hurt to take a bit of a detour through the city, Bull let out a laugh. “Let’s crash this party before they’re done setting up.”

“C’mon, chief, give them a break.”

Bull narrowed his eyes, straightening to his full height as he looked down at Krem, making a point to show he was suspicious. “Josie, Kaitrith. You’re the ladies of honor. What do you think?”

Josephine crossed her arms and then brought one hand up to tap her chin, eyeing Laurien and then looking toward Kaitrith. “I think I am curious to see what my siblings are up to, though if you would like to take a break before madness ensues, perhaps a detour in the city would be for the best after all. What say you, love?”

Glancing from face to face and then around the street they stood beside—the carriage drivers waiting patiently for news on where to go—Kaitrith finally allowed another small smile as she arched a brow. “Let’s see what your family’s up to.”

“Ah, I see how this is. The two of you are quite wicked together,” Laurien murmured, though he quickly grinned again. “Very well, but do not come to me if you do not like what you find.”

Josephine simply scoffed as he turned and opened the door to the carriage, bowing for the ladies to enter. As he straightened up, helping Josephine and then Kaitrith into the carriage, he paused, looking past them. “You, come with us. It will likely be a tight fit in the other carriages with your large friend.”

And with that, Krem awkwardly climbed in, joining them.

At first both Kaitrith and Krem were too fascinated with the scenery—with Josephine excited pointing out places that she recognized and Laurien commenting on places that had changed—but as time went on, Laurien began to ask Krem questions about himself, always listening carefully to his answers and appraising him as though he were the one courting Josephine.

Despite the fact that Kaitrith had been corresponding with most of the Montilyets via letters for almost a year now, she still felt like she was walking into some sort of trap. They had seemed quite friendly in their letters, save for Josephine’s youngest brother who very rarely had much to say. Still, words on a paper were quite different from speaking with one face to face.

However, as the carriage ride continued on, winding through the city, the four of them fell into a more comfortable conversation, with Krem and Kaitrith teasing one another much as Josephine and Laurien did.

By the time they’d reached the Montilyet estate, the tension had passed, though it seemed to hit both Krem and Kaitrith as they stepped out to the front steps of the mansion.

Leaning toward her, Krem whispered, “Skyhold was better,” before straightening back up and pretending he hadn’t said anything.

Kaitrith found herself missing her left arm, as she would have liked to elbow him for that, but instead she pretended she hadn’t heard anything and gladly took Josephine’s hand again as they walked up the steps.

They were led quickly through a yawning foyer and upstairs to rooms where they could put their belongings and have a chance to freshen up.

Kaitrith had just come out of her room to find Josephine and Laurien already there, catching up, when a familiar voice interrupted the friendly banter.

“You!”

Looking up, Yvette stormed up, heels muted by the carpet going down the hall.

“Hello dear sister,” Laurien began, though when Yvette reached him, she shoved him.

“You were not supposed to bring them here yet!” Even as she readied to yell further, Krem and Bull came up to join them and her voice faltered a little as her hands went to her hair, as though she feared some of it might have fallen out of place. “Cremisius, Iron Bull, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

At that, Josephine straightened up a little, glancing back at the others. “Oh? You are friends?”

Yvette fidgeted a little before shrugging. “Krem was quite the gentleman while I stayed in Skyhold. I simply could not remember how to navigate that old castle, and he was always very kind and helpful, showing me to wherever I needed to go.”

True to his nature, Bull was spinning puns with Krem’s name with impressive speed that had Krem holding his head in his hands to hide. When Bull was finally done, he smacked Krem on the back, laughing at his own jokes.

Krem rolled his eyes, though he stilled when he saw that Kaitrith, Josephine, and Laurien were all watching him. Coughing into his hand, he shifted a little uncomfortably before Bull caught him in a headlock and tousled his hair. “You be good to my boy, you here?”

Well.

That explained Laurien’s interest in the carriage, didn’t it?

Realizing that she wasn’t the only love interest being vetted by the family made Kaitrith feel surprisingly better.

“Oh, you really did lose your arm,” Yvette murmured. She was standing in front of Kaitrith now, her earlier embarrassment either gone or well concealed.

It crossed Kaitrith’s mind that she was just trying to change the subject, but she simply nodded. “It was a liability.”

Josephine sidled up beside her, slipping an arm around her waist. “So then, where is Antoine?”

“Out,” both Laurien and Yvette responded in unison before glancing at one another. “He’s…handling some things with Father. And mother is off rescuing our last dear brother from his latest mishap. I’m afraid they won’t be back for a while.”

“All four of them?” Kaitrith asked.

“Just the latter two,” Laurien assured her. “Mother adores you, though, so expect another party when she returns.”

“Antoine and Father should be home tonight,” Yvette added, casting glare toward Laurien.

Even as the siblings had a silent conversation through glares and minute facial expressions, Josephine leaned toward her. “I told you it would be madness.”

“And yet,” Kaitrith couldn’t fight back the smile that towed her lips up, “I’d take this over darkspawn magisters and trickster gods any day.”

Beaming, Josephine tugged Kaitrith closer, pressing a quick kiss to her lips, though she was quickly rolling her eyes as both her younger siblings made teasing jests about how sappy the two of them were.

Being in Antiva was strange, but at the same time, Kaitrith had never felt more at home in her life.