#he watched a girl prepare herself as a sacrifice to protect the weak and then get murdered before she could because her death paid well

[kawaiijellymonster]

just saw a thing on pinterest that said that getou sucks as a villain, imagine being so wrong, couldn't be me

[skyloftian-nutcase]

I am replaying BOTW right now, and the... the secret cutscene in Champions' Ballad where Mipha carried Sidon up the waterfall...

Did... she somehow know??? Did she know she was going to die!?

The tone of her voice and a lot of what she said during that scene seemed to imply she was preparing Sidon for a world without her, so that he might be ready. When asked by Zelxa why she expected a Zora as young as Sidon to be able to scale one of the largest waterfalls in the zone, her exact quotes were, "One day, Princess... I must leave him. To face my fate with Ruta."

'To face my fate.' Not to fight alongside or to defeat the calamity. She said she was going to face her fate, which, in that context, strongly implies she expected to die in the conflict. She also directly tells baby Sidon she is counting on him to protect the domain should she be unable to do so. Effectively asking him to take her place as its leader and protector if she should fall in battle.

A lot of what she says in Vah Ruta and other cutscenes also seem to imply she wasn't surprised at all about her death, merely that she hadn't had time to react. In fact, if you follow the theory that the SOS you can hear in the Divine Beasts themes can tell the story of what the Champion's final moments were and how their battle against the Blights went before they died... the fact that Ruta's SOS comes in almost as soon as the song starts with arguably only Vah Rudania possibly coming in faster (I don't actually know Morse so it's harder for me to recognize if Rudania or Ruta had SOS come in first), it paints a story of someone who knew the moment she stepped into that mechanical elephant she wasn't coming out alive

Wow... that got dark real fast

Oof. What an observation. I did watch that DLC cut scene and noticed that too, you're not wrong, I don't think she was fully expecting to die but she was definitely making contingency plans.

What an interesting thought, especially when you remember the memory Mipha's Touch where she's talking to Link and she's like "We just don't really know what we're up against." Like... of all the Champions, she definitely seems the most wary of their enemy. It's really strange, interesting, and sad how she seemed to be planning to die - was it a reflection on her opinion of her own abilities to fight? Was it because she tends to assume the worst case scenario in general? Did she think she was unworthy to be a Champion, despite gladly stepping into the role because she wanted to help?

Mipha is such a protector, nurturing and gentle and always looking out for others. It's hard to get a feel for how she feels about herself. I half wonder if she just didn't expect to come out alive because she figured she'd be the weak link, or if she was just that willing to put her all into the fight and fully expected to sacrifice herself to ensure everyone else made it out alive.

Her SOS coming on so quickly could mean so many things. Mipha strikes me as someone who lacks confidence, she was probably terrified, but bless her she still fought. I really do admire her for that. Poor girl.

[miszswan]

omg omg for jack’s sister you should do an interview where he talks about missing his family but especially his sister because he feels like he’s missing her life or something sappy and sad like that

REMINISCING RADIO SHOWS

content warnings: slight angst if you squint

Jack catches his breath after laughing once again at one of the questions, well mainly his answer.

Jack and the other two hosts readjust their headphones as they prepare for the next question.

The hostess looks scans over her notes for the question. “You mentioned that you’ve been away from home and your family because of travelling and work.” She adds on.

“Yeah I mean I’ve been to a lot of countries over the past couple months but it’s been really hard. I don’t always see my parents and it really makes things difficult. I’d have to say that the hardest part about me travelling everywhere is that I haven’t seen my baby sister in months. Damn I miss that kid.”

“We’ve seen on her stories and in her interviews that she mentions you a lot.” The host adds.

“Yeah man I mean the last time I saw her was at her graduation a couple months ago. I remember how shocked I felt seeing her walk across that stage, it’s just

so crazy to me that she’s actually a grown woman now.” He reminisces. “Like I swear she was a tiny baby the other day and now she owns an apartment in Atlanta, lives there by herself, she has an album coming soon.”

As he spoke, his mind began to replay memories from the past few years. When it came to his baby sister ( well that’s what he calls her at least, even though she’s turning nineteen ) he would become this protective cuddly bear that no one could recognise as Jack Harlow.

You wouldn’t see this charming man who made multiple people weak in the knees with his voice alone. You’d see a man who’s been missing a part of him since he moved away from Kentucky, a man who watched videos of his baby sisters earliest milestones, a man who’d text and call her as much as he could. Just to hear her voice.

The truth is, Jack had to make many sacrifices when it came to his career. At time he felt like he was drifting away from his sister. He’d often see videos and pictures of her dancing, singing or just living her life on her Instagram stories and posts. He’d smile on the outside, but frown on the inside.

He wishes he could spend more time with her but she knew, Neelam knew, Urban knew that there was just no time for that.

If there was something that Jack knew would make this aching longing feeling go away, it would be the success of his album.

That may sound a little conceited but here’s the thing. If all that time, months away from home, family, friends resulted in a record breaking album, it would all be worth it.

Sometimes Jack thought that Sage resented him for all the times he said that they had made plans and cancelled at the last minute because of a work thing, that’s the thought that Jack somehow drilled into his mind. It was driving him crazy.

Yes there were several occasions where he said that he was in town, that they’d meet up at a restaurant within the next few hours or something like that. Times where they were supposed to spend time together just the two of them. Now over the past few years often those said times would result in her being stood up or somehow having some random girl or a few of his friends accompanying them.

Urban, Neelam, Clay or their parents would often call him out on his bull shit. He knew he was a bit of a screw up when it came to spending time with Sage.

Sage on the other hand understood the situation better than her big brother realised. She herself had to live in a different state while filming Stranger Things for 6 months when she was only 13. So she knew how he felt. She never resented nor got angry at him for it. Sure it hurt sometimes and she’d get annoyed but she got over it quickly. Besides it was part of the job.

Jack didn’t know that.

“She’s done a lot this past year hasn’t she?” The hostess says.

Jack smiles before continuing. “She’s travelled across the country, she was in Australia at some point. She’s been recording an album and those songs. Wow. I mean most people wouldn’t expect me to listen to the kind of music Sage writes but I have and I do every now and then. From what I have heard, no one is ready for her album.”

“I think you’re promoting the wrong album.” The host teases making the three burst into laughter.

“The funny thing is,” he pauses to catch his breath. “Sage has an amazing voice and she can rap, like it’s crazy how good she actually is. Especially Eminem. Like when we were younger we used to listen to him almost every day. Meanwhile I can’t sing for shit.” The moment Jack finished that sentence, him and the two hosts started laughing again.

“This just in, white boy of the year Jack Harlow is a huge softie.” The host teases making Jack playfully, roll his eyes.

“You really love your sister, don’t you?”

“That kid is my whole world.” Jack responds to the hostess.

“Do you plan to spend more time with her after your album drops?” The host asks.

“Of course, the moment I’m done with all these interviews I will fly my ass down to wherever she’s filming and bring her snacks in between takes, I mean I feel like I’ve missed so much of her life and I really want to try my hardest to make it up to her.”

Little did the rapper know, the star of this story listened in the car while driving back from Target with her boyfriend in the passenger seat. An excited smile forms on her face

A/N: here’s my first run, what do y’all think?

I love sage and Jack already

lmao this isn't edited by the way

Masterlist

[monamourbladie-mb]

19 Years Later... (Darth Vader x reader miniseries chapter 1)

19 years have passed since Y/n’s husband Anakin’s death, and she has become the leading General of the newly founded Rebellion alongside her past Jedi friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, now known as Ben Kenobi. When her children Luke and Leia Skywalker gets kidnapped by Darth Vader, the man who killed her husband; her and Obi-Wan Kenobi must come rescue her. But when she finds out who’s behind Darth Vader’s mask, the truth is something she never thought she had to prepare herself for.

——————

Index:

1. prologue

2. chapter 1

3. chapter 2 [Coming soon]

wc: 2.3k

warnings: cursing

——————

Being the leader of the new Rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire had its perks. One of the things that was not a perk, however, was hiding one’s actual name from their people, and past.

None of Y/n’s rebels knew of her past as a former Jedi Knight that fought in the Clone Wars. Though she fought like a cunning warrior, the thought had never once crossed their minds, seeing as all the Jedi were dead.

She had raised her children Luke and Leia with Obi-Wan’s guidance to be trained as Jedi, seeing as both of them were very Force-Sensitive.

Watching Luke wield his father’s lightsaber brought such bittersweet feelings to both old Jedi Knights. Anakin was such a big part of both of their lives, that it was almost painful to see this without him there.

Anakin would be beyond proud of his son and daughter, for sure.

Y/n recalled the first time he and Leia held their lightsabers. They were both 9, the same age their Father was when he was brought him by Qui-Gon Jyn from Tattooine.

Luke had rushed up to Obi’s old trunk excitedly, admiring the strange silver object with big eyes as Leia crowded behind him, “What’s that, Uncle Obi?”

“This is your father’s lightsaber, my dear. He would’ve wanted you to have it,” Obi replied, a sad smile on his face as he held onto the hilt, activating its stellar blue glow.

“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster—“ Obi handed it to Luke and his eyes widened, waving it around gently so he didn’t break it. “—an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”

“Is it mine?” Luke’s eyes beamed in excitement. Obi-Wan nodded, sitting down as he picked up Leia, putting her on his knee.

“For over a thousand generations, the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice. The old republic. Before the Empire...” he trailed off, turning his head towards the window.

Y/n rushed into the room, hearing the lightsaber and fearing there was an intruder, “Obi-Wan! What’s going on, I’m—“ she ignited her brilliant (l/c) saber, holding it in a protective stance before she realized it was just Luke. She sighed heavily and disengaged her saber, attaching it back to her belt loop, “Obi, you didn’t tell me you were doing this now...” she crossed her arms.

“Mom! Obi-Wan told me this was Dad’s! Look!” he started swinging it gently, making sure it didn’t hit anyone since he knew how deadly they could be. She began to smile sadly as she remembered a young Anakin as a padawan, rushing in to show her his lightsaber he constructed the day he finally got one.

She smiled sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. “You look so much like your father, Luke,” she said sadly. Obi looked back at Luke, and for a split moment, he was reminded of the small slave his old master brought back with him. He smiled to himself remembering how he helped Anakin with his padawan braid.

“Princess, come here. I’ll let you hold my lightsaber, okay?” she handed Leia her saber gently, and she took gingerly from her hand. Leia took it and igniting it, the blade’s glow reflecting in her excited little eyes.

“Mom? How did dad die? You never answered me,” Luke asked. Y/n felt herself freeze in place, a large lump in her throat forming. “Luke, I...”

“I’ll tell them, Y/n,” Obi-Wan replied solemnly. “Your father was killed by a young Jedi named Darth Vader. He was a close friend of mine before he fell. He helped the Emperor hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father.” The room fell silent, until Luke asked another question, “So you and Uncle Obi are the last remaining Jedi?”

Obi-Wan shook his head no, “There are others, but sparse. To name a few, Master Yoda and Ahsoka Tano, your father’s Padawan learner. The last remaining Jedi are being hunted down by Vader, which is why we hide.”

Leia spoke up softly, “Is that why we don’t use our actual last name, mommy?”

“Yes, sweetheart. As long as Vader’s reign continues, we must hide our names. Darth Vader does not know about the two of you, so you are safe. For us, on the other hand...” she trailed off, and the kids understood.

“Mom... Mom,” Leia spoke loudly. Y/n blinked in confusion and turned back around, looking at her daughter, “Yeah, my love?”

“Are you okay mom?” Leia asked, frowning. “We need to look at the Death Star plans.”

“Right,” she sighed heavily, turning to face from the window out looking Yavin 4. “I’m fine, princess. I just... was remembering Anakin, that’s all.” Leia sighed and laid her hand on her mother’s back, rubbing it gently, “Dad would be proud of everything you’ve done, mom.” She began to tear up as she pulled Leia into a tight hug, “I hope so. It’s been about 20 years and it still doesn’t feel right,” silent tears fell down her cheeks into her daughter’s bunned hair.

“I’m proud of you, Leia. If you were to be trained within the Order now, you’d be the same age your father was when he became a Jedi Knight, and when he married me...” she sniffled, wiping her tears. Leia smiled softly, holding her mom’s hand, “Do you think he’d be proud of me, too?”

“I know he would,” she rubbed her fingertips against hers, “He would pull you into the tightest hug, spin you a little and say softly, ‘That’s my baby girl,’” she replied, her voice cracking slightly. Leia began to tear up as she hugged her back, “I wish I knew him...” she said softly. “I wish so too, babe, so bad...” Y/n sighed. But I won’t let his memory be in vain. Let’s go look at these plans and destroy that Death Star, yeah?”

Leia and Y/n walked to the main board room, seeing how the map was already up on display. “General Jonas, we’ve been examining the Death Star plans. They’re on screen now,” one of her commanding officers recited. “Good, thank you, officer. Have we discovered a weak point yet? Or at least some form of entry point?”

“No, ma’am. We haven’t studied long enough. There are many ways in, but all most likely heavily guarded. We will have to find a way to go under the radar without getting detected, somehow,” he replied. She nodded, walking closer to examine it. She closed her eyes and felt out through the Force for some answer. No surprise to her, she could barely feel anything at all but an empty void. Ever since Anakin had died, she had felt more distanced from the Force than ever. Maybe she and Anakin possessed a rare Dyad, or maybe she had simply lost touch with the Force; but no matter what she did, she was nowhere near as powerful in the Force as she used to be.

“Alert me if you find anything, Officer, I would love to have this Death Star in shambles by the end of the month,” Y/n left to walk out and to ask Obi-Wan on the matter. “Yes, ma’am,” he responded, turning back to his computer to get back to work.

Elsewhere, Leia was pacing in Luke’s room, grumbling to herself, “I know Obi-Wan has taught us to not let our emotions guide us, but I can’t when it comes to him. He killed our father, he should be dead!” Leia huffed in anger, collapsing down onto her twin’s bed.

Luke grunted in response, his mouth full of food still, “It’s not like you can take him on yourself. You’d die!” he said, or at least, sounded like he said. “I will not let the lives of those lost who got us the plans in the first place’s memories die. We wouldn’t be this close to planning an attack without their sacrifices. Moreover, Mom has had these plans for two days now, and she hasn’t done a single thing about it!” Leia responded quickly. Luke shrugged, “Leia. Be real. It’s not like we can steal a ship and fly to the Death Star, find it’s a weak point, and get back in time for dinner.”

Leia sat up, looking at Luke as if he had just committed mass murder. “...What?” Luke asked warily. Leia grinned, “That’s it! We’ll do just that, Luke! We’ll take one of mom’s ships, fly around the death star undetected and find weak entry points, and get back like we were never even gone!”

“Leia, you can not be serious right now!” Luke gasped, setting his food down, “We can’t do this, we could get in so much trouble! Or spotted!”

“Do you want to sit idly while our mother and uncle do nothing, whereas our Father’s murderer is out on the lose on that moon!” Leia snapped at him. He narrowed his eyes, “That’s no moon, Leia. Also, no, I don’t! But do we have a choice? No. We’re staying here.”

“No, we’re leaving. Whether I go alone is up to you entirely, but at this point, I just want the man who killed my father dead,” Leia said, glaring at him. Luke huffed, “You think I don’t want him dead, too? But we are children, we literally can’t do anything!”

“We are 19 years old and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to sit at home here and wait for Vader to kill more innocent people,” Leia frowned, crossing her arms. “I really need you with me, Luke. But I get it if you don’t go.” she stood up, grabbing her stuff to leave when Luke grumbled “Wait!” under his breath. “I’ll... go. Just to protect you. But this is a bad idea, and I don’t want to get caught,” he raised a brow to her. Leia grinned and hugged Luke tightly, “Thank you, thank you! You won’t regret this! But bring your lightsaber maybe, just in case?”

——————

“What do you mean, YOU LET THEM GO?” Y/n snapped to C3-PO, enraged. Threepio raised his hands in defense, “I couldn’t stop them, mistress! I tried my best, I swear!”

“You let my children go confront Vader ALONE? You’re so lucky I don’t shut you down for that!” she growled, shoving past him with Obi-Wan following close behind her. “Oh, dear. I’m doomed,” Threepio whined.

“We have to go after them, we... I can’t... I can’t lose my kids,” Y/n said nervously, starting to pace once Obi got close. “Y/n, calm down sweetheart. I need you to breathe and think,” Obi said, holding onto her shoulders gently. “If we go, we have an equal chance of being caught since they’ll already be on high alert.”

She sighed heavily, shaking her head, “I hate you for being so levelheaded and smart, Obi,” she frowned. “That’s my specialty,” he winked. “Now, we need to stop and make sure that we can pull this rescue off without risking our lives, too.”

Meanwhile, at the Death Star, Vader was summoned by his leading captain because of an alert of an enemy ship flying nearby. “Bring them in, search them. They may know General Jonas.” “Yes, My Lord.”

Vader turned to leave the bridge towards the docking bay, to meet his guests personally. As he walked, his mind was filled with visions and memories from his dream the night before. Of her.

He sighed heavily, picking up speed as he neared the docking bay. Passing a group of stormtroopers, he pushed past them to be in front, crossing his arms. The door opened, and two stormtroopers walked out holding a young girl and boy, yelling at them to let go of them.

As soon as Vader looked at the two, he felt something... strange. A certain presence in the Force he had never felt before. What is this? Why do they feel familiar?

Vader dropped his arms, walking forward and raising his hand to stop the troopers, “Who are you? And why were you near my Death Star?”

His unmerciful, robotic voice rumbled through their chests, terrifying them. In all their years, they had never seen something so cold and unforgiving. “Don’t be petrified, answer me if you want to live,” Vader challenged, staring right at the boy.

“You killed our father,” Leia’s voice was cold, sad, and broken. She knew this was a bad idea, but it was too late now. “I wanted revenge.”

“You’ll have to forgive me, my princess, but I’ve killed many men. Your father was just another tick on my list, whoever he may be.”

“You son of a—!” Luke yelled, rushing to jump at him when the stormtroopers all turned their weapons on him, making him stop. Vader growled, “Insolent children. I don’t think you know who I am, truly. I’d crush you in a heartbeat, but seeing as you could have something of use to me... take them away, both of them,” Vader commanded. The two shouted in disagreement, and Vader simply stood and watched them struggle.

“You bitch! You’ll pay for what you did to our dad!” Luke yelled as he was taken away. Vader rolled his eyes from under the mask and walked back to his quarters. He knelt on the floor, taking his mask off as he called out to his Emperor through the force.

“What do you want, Lord Vader?” Palpatine growled, looking down at Vader’s hologram. “I felt something through the Force a few moments ago. My new hostages... they seem to be strong with it.”

“Really? Are you sure, my apprentice?”

“Yes, Master. More sure than anything.”

“Well, you know what you must do. Kill them. They could be Jedi if they tried opposing you,” Palpatine smirked. “They’re only children, which means they’re newer Jedi. Someone had to have trained them.”

“Children never stopped you before, don’t let it stop you now. Do it.”

“...Yes, my Master.” Vader ended the holomessage, sighing.

“Who are you two...?” he asked himself, reaching out through the Force and feeling they were still there.

Strange.

——————

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[alanis-altair]

dark hallways and potions | marauders x platonic!reader

summary | Moony, Padfoot and Prongs find their best friend sneaking through the abandoned corridors of Hogwarts at night.

pairings | marauders x platonic!reader, slightly Sirius Black x fem!reader

warnings | it's actually total fluff, but mentions of wounds and bruises, domestic abuse and a little self destruction aaand English isn't my first language as you may have already noticed so I'm sorry for my lame ass writing and every mistake I did (maybe you'll find the name Alanis somewhere instead of y/n because I always write those fics with my name first, I'm sorry if so)

word count | 1910

...

It was far after midnight as the not so tired Sirius Black gave up and opened his gloomy eyes in a deep sigh. He couldn't make it to sleep; nightmares keeping him up, that caused him to turn left and right, desperately trying to find a good sleeping position to make him feel comfy. But all of his attempts didn't work.

So the black haired boy looked around. The moon was gently shining onto his covers, while soft snores came from his three friends. The loudest noise was definitely caused by James, not that it surprised Sirius. Still, the young boy kept quiet, not wanting to wake up Remus, who just had had a rough night.

Sirius started to get bored and glanced at his bedside table. Only two things had managed it onto the table; his squiggly wand and the infamous Marauder's Map. Shortly after, Sirius mumbled a 'Lumos' and illuminated the dorm a little. The spell followed another one, including some of his favourite words: 'I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good' and the Map showed him whole Hogwarts.

With curious eyes the boy watched every step of every person awake, until he stopped at a very certain name. y/n y/l/n. His y/h/c haired best friend was wandering through the abandoned corridors, well aware of the consequences she had to face if she got caught. She moved towards the Tapestry Corridor, near the Dungeons, where the potion storeroom was located.

What the bloody hell was the infuriating girl up to again? And why would she need some potion ingredients? Sirius had no clue. He felt like he didn't have a choice other than waking up James, which is what he simply did.

"Prongs! Prongs!", he screamed in a whisper, making his good looking friend mumbling and turning to the other side of the bed.

"For fuck's sake, wake up, you lad!"

"What is it, Sirius?", James replied in a screaming whisper, too. He didn't sound amused or happy to be woken around 2AM.

"Looks like Mane is doing some mischief without us, can you imagine?", Sirius shortly explained, which caught James' attention.

"Ugh, not again...", the brunette sighed.

"Well, I think we should check on her, now!", Padfoot proposed, earning a brief nod from his best friend.

"'Right...", James said and got up. Both of the Marauder's quickly dressed and grabbed their wands. They were about to leave their dorm as a raspy voice stopped them.

"You're not going anywhere without me", Remus started, "especially not if you're that bad at whispering!", he exclaimed, voice held low to not wake up Peter, too.

Padfoot and Prongs turned around surprised, but remembered Remus' Werwolf senses and that it was impossible to whisper without him hearing every single word. The two boys sighed; Sirius a little mad at himself because he was eager to grant the young wolf some sleep.

The three boys sneaked almost soundless through the Gryffindor Common Room and used some of the secret passages to avoid the open corridors.

"So, what do you think y/n is doing again?", James asked curiously and a little tired. How many times had he and his friends protected the little girl from getting herself killed? He couldn't remember.

"What she's always doing", Moony answered, "hiding something from us or preparing some pranks on Snape."

It sounded simple, but it wasn't. y/n had, similar to Sirius, great problems with her family, who was trying to make a perfect pure blood wife out of her; beating her up badly when she wouldn't listen to what her father told her to do.

The y/e/c eyed girl hid her bruises from the Marauder's every time, not that it would stop them from finding out, though. But still, she was bloody stubborn and determined to keep her problems all to herself, causing the four boys to worry a lot.

She was a loyal part of the Marauder's, too, and never hesitated to sacrifice herself if James, Sirius, Remus or Peter were in any danger. She nursed all of Remus' wounds and scars and helped him to accept his flaws, while y/n practically was Sirius' therapist and James' advisor for everything that had to do with Lily Evans. Even for Wormtail she took her time and put effort in integrating him more into the group, although Peter secretly accepted that the girl with the mane resembled more of the Marauder's spirit than he did.

Knowing that y/n creeped through the black hallways again made not only Sirius uncomfortable. The three Marauder's quickened up their pace, following every of the girl's steps on the map. Some minutes passed, when they were close to the Tapestry Corridor. Three wooden wands were uplifted; enlightening the dimmed corridor and revealing a small back, covered by y/n's hair.

"Mane? Hey! What are you doing here?", Sirius addressed the girl and y/nstartled. Quickly she turned away from the door she was about to open with shaky hands.

"None of your business, Black! Could ask you the same question, couldn't I?", was y/n's rough answer.

"Well, we're not the ones sneaking through the hallways at night!"

"Well, James. In fact, you do. Right here, right now", the y/h/c haired countered.

"What Prongs was trying to say was that we're only here for you. You're the one doing stuff without informing us", Remus caught up, "and I'm sure you're hurt again by the way your hands are shaking."

y/n cursed the tall boy with the freckled face for his gift to read people like a book. He was attentive and good with human behaviour, exposing the unofficial fifth Marauder more often than she would like to.

"Ugh, I hate you. Y'all", y/n commented and catched Sirius' worried look upon her.

"No, you don't. You love us, all of us", James corrected the tiny girl and grinned.

"So, are you going to tell us what you're up to here?", Sirius demanded to know, again.

"Wanted to brew a potion, nothing more...", y/n admitted. But of course this wasn't enough of an answer for Sirius fucking Black.

"For what purpose?"

"As painkiller, certainly. Just look at how her body is all tense", Remus replied instead of y/n herself. The girl sighed resigned and leaned her aching body against the cold of the door behind her.

Almost simultaneously, Sirius tuck his wand into his waistband and stepped forward to lay a hand on y/n's waist and back. She hissed in pain, but relaxed when the warmth of Sirius' body reached her own shivering figure.

y/n leaned into his touch and was secretly more than grateful her friends discovered her; not sure if she would've made it without them. The last encounter with her father wasn't a nice one.

"What about I and James get the ingredients for your potion and brew it, while Sirius puts you to bed, huh?", Moony made a proposal and got a weak nod from the typical strong girl. Her legs started to feel like jelly, as all of the pressure left y/n at the presence of her friends.

Without hesitation, Sirius lifted his best friend into his muscular arms. Immediately y/n curled up and placed her vibrant head against his shoulder; absorbing all of his warmth and smell.

"Hold on a minute...", James suddenly interrupted, "is that Padfoot's joggers with Moony's flannel?"

This thought came into Prong's mind as his wand gleamed onto y/n's body, searching for any outer wounds or bruises. Just the moment he said it, Remus and Sirius laid eyes on the almost sleeping beauty.

"Yeah, that's definitely my joggers! Been searching them for a couple of weeks now!"

"I guess our Mane here felt free to use our closet...but we can't be mad, Padfoot. Just see how good it looks on her", Remus noticed and giggled after.

"You're probably right...", Sirius said before heading towards the boy's dorm again.

Unsure James and Remus were left alone, watching the storeroom door as if it would open just by their gaze. Which it didn't.

"Any idea what we need for the potion?", Prongs questioned and observed Remus and the door.

"Kinda...", Moony whispered, drawing attention to the correct opening spell for the door.

"I mean, we should take her to Madame Pomfrey. Her pain seems bad, so..."

"You know we can't do that", the young werwolf stated, "her parents will know and it'll get worse. I dislike this as much as you do, but look at me. I'm the perfect example that our potions do their work, otherwise I wouldn't be standing here.

Remus' calm voice convinced James and he nodded in agreement. "Fine, then let's open this bloody door."

...

Meanwhile Sirius was carrying a half asleep y/n to his bed. She didn't move on the way back, nor did she talk to him. But his eyes already found some deep blue and purple spots on the skin of her wrists, giving him an answer. He'd absolutely kill her father if it'd stop him from hurting the precious girl in his arms. Just as all of the boys would defend y/n.

James had already thought of asking Mane to move in. With Sirius and so on, so she was safe. But it was something he knew y/n would be too modest to accept; she'd feel bad after, which is why Prongs kept quiet.

"Here you go, little one", Sirius whispered as he tucked y/n into his bed. She let out a content groan because of his smell surrounding her. She snuggled into the soft pillow, looking as cute as hell.

"Hey, y/n, you need something else?", Padfoot asked softly while caressing her cheek.

"Just you", she aspirated tired. Sirius' heart grew warm at the words of her. It meant the world to him that an angel like y/n, put on the hell of earth, still managed to melt his heart and giving him so much love, even though he wasn't sure if he deserved it.

Fulfilling her wish, the boy with the long dark hair laid next to y/n and pulled her into his arms again. She let out a relieved breath and buried her head into Sirius' chest.

He was almost asleep too, when James and Remus returned from getting the ingredients they needed for the healing potion. They eyeballed Sirius and y/n position knowingly, giving Padfoot a certain look, that he decided to ignore.

Moony and Prongs made quick work of the potion, not even waking up Peter, who was sleeping as deep as a stone, while Sirius watched the sleeping girl on top of him.

"Portion's ready. You should wake her up so she can sleep through and feel better tomorrow", Remus mumbled eventually. Sirius did as he was told and started to stroke y/n's hair, in order to carefully wake her up.

"Mane? y/n? C'mon, love. Wake up and take your medicine."

"Huh?", y/n murmured sleepily, not understanding what was happening around her. Remus sat down next to her and Padfoot, holding a small bottle of glass in front of her face.

The y/h/c haired girl thanked the boy with a grateful look and took a sip without squinching up her face at the bitter taste of the liquid.

"Thank you all, boys. For wasting your time to sleep and caring for me...", y/n said with a small grin.

"Always", they responded and smiled before going to bed, this time all of the five Marauders.

...

annotations

Mane is the Marauder name for the reader I came up with because I thought it was fitting (I'm sorry if you don't like it)

[the-pen-and-the-stethoscope]

So while Six of Crows has been on my to read list for a while now when I saw that Shadow and Bone was coming to Netflix and realized they were all part of the same little universe I was like *rolls up sleeves* K guess it’s time to read five books in one month to prepare for this new series drop. (special shout out to @darklesmylove​ because it’s mostly your blog posts that convinced me I had to read this series...I give you this as a gift...) 

And now I present to you (in the order which I read them) the events in the Shadow and Bone/Six of Crows books that made me go ABSOLUTELY FERAL (wow there’s a lot more of these than I thought there were). 

- “The problem with wanting,” he whispered, his mouth trailing along my jaw until it hovered over my lips, “is that it makes us weak.” (unfortunately the last time I was seduced by the Darkling - NEVER AGAIN BAD SIR! But this was fucking hot) 

- THE. FIGHT. OVER. THE. STAG. (Just...Alina not killing it, the Darkling is here, now he’s going to kill it. NOW ALINA IS IN FRONT OF THE STAG SAVING IT. NOW SHE WANTS MAL TO SACRIFICE HER. NOW THE COLLAR IS AROUND HER NECK AND NOW SHE’S UNDER HIS POWER AHHHHH) Bonus: “Shhhh. Quiet now, or I will let Ivan kill him. Slowly.” 

- When Alina figures out the dream and TAKES THE POWER BACK!!! (yaaaaasss queen!)

- When the Darkling finds Alina and Mal in Cofton and that whole fight scene and her getting bit and then I had to WAIT UNTIL THE REST OF THE BOOKS CAME IN THE MAIL

- “From what I know of the Ice Court, whoever stole my DeKappel is exactly who I need for this job.” “Then you’d be better off hiring him. Or her.” “Indeed. But I’ll have to settle for you.” (I’m 50 pages in and in love with Kaz Bekker, someone help me) 

- “Not just yet, Inej.” The rasp of stone on stone. Her eyes flew open. Kaz. (ugh my cold cold heart is awake and beats only for them!) 

- Because I’ve been looking for an excuse to talk to you for two days. (literally like......)

- When Jordie and Kaz get tricked. (I mean all of Kaz’s back story but that was...ugh..........)

- It was because she was listening so closely that she knew the exact moment when Kaz Brekker, Dirtyhands, the bastard of the Barrel and the deadliest boy in Ketterdam, fainted. 

- When Nina runs into the guards and the alarm goes off and I realize that I’m an idiot and OBVIOUSLY THINGS WERE GOING TO GO WRONG. 

- WHEN INEJ TOUCHES KAZ’S FACE. His eyes were nearly black, the pupils dilated. She could see it took every last bit of his terrible will for him to remain still beneath her touch. And yet, he did not pull away. She knew it was the best he could offer. It was not enough. 

- He slammed his fist against the window. “Do not speak my name.” Then he smiled, a smile as cold and unforgiving as the northern sea. “Welcome to the Ice Court, Nina Zenik. Now our debt is paid.” (like FUCK MATTHIAS GOT ME TOO. WHAT A GOOD ACT!)

- I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath. It was the vow of the druskelle to Fjerda. And now it was Matthias’ promise to her. (OMGGGGGG) 

- “This is going to sting a bit,” said the druskelle holding the whip. His voice was rasping, familiar. His hands were gloved. “But if we live, you’ll thank me later.” His hood slid off, and Kaz Brekker looked back at them. 

- The sun was out for once, and Inej had turned her face to it. Her eyes were shut, her oil-black lashes fanned over her cheeks. The harbor wind had lifted her dark hair, and for a moment Kaz was a boy again, sure that there was magic in this world. (YEAH OKAY. AND THIS IS HIS LAST THOUGHT BEFORE DROWNING.) 

- WHEN THEY STEAL THE TANK. THE TANK. AND THEN DRIVE IT THROUGH THE FUCKING TOWN. 

- Nina on parem. 

- “I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.” (SCREEAAAAMS. BANGS HAND AGAINST BOOK. DIES.) 

- “Kaz knew the instant he made his mistake...in that moment of threat, when he should have thought only of the fight, he looked at Inej.” (asdlfkasgkjasglk;sdfjl) 

- I’m going to get my money, Kaz vowed. And I’m going to get my girl. (YEAH BITCH!) 

- When Alina first sees the Darkling while they are traveling the fold (I froze, I read it like four times, I couldn’t believe what was happening)

- When Mal suggests they go to that stupid party and then Alina actually agrees (I literally was like...well something bad is going to happen and I hate it here) 

- When the Darkling shows up after Alina and Mal kiss. “Another otkazat’sya, Alina?” the Darkling mocked. (sdflkajd) 

- “I can’t decide if you’re an idiot, or an idiot.” (ugh Nikolai, marry me) 

- two pages later: “You’re a spectacular actor,” I said drily. “Do you think so?” he asked. Then he leaned in and whispered, “I’m doing ‘humble’ right now.” (FUCK ME)

- “I want to kiss you,” Nikolai said. “But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.” (Am I the only one who found this cute??? Why did Alina get upset??? Do I have Nikolai-colored goggles on??? Maybe...) 

- When the Darkling came to Alina in her sleep and then PRETENDED TO BE MAL SO HE COULD HAVE HIS WAY WITH HER?!?!?!?!?! (ahhhhhhhhhh) “I missed you too, Alina.” That voice. Cool and smooth as glass. (AHHHHH)

- Nikolai stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the parquet floor. “When did you lift the blockades? How long have the roads been open?” (LSDAKLFSDLFDKASLDKLSKLKLL) 

- “Not bad looking?” said another voice. “He’s damnably handsome.” Luchenko scowled. “Since when - “ “Brave in battle, smart as a whip.” Now the voice seemed to be coming from above us. Luchenko craned his neck, peering into the trees. “An excellent dancer,” said the voice. “Oh, and an even better shot.” (And then I damn near died.) 

- There’s a whole three pages (that I will not re-type here) after they arrive at the Spinning Wheel of Nikolai just being *chef’s kiss* flawless. Some great lines include: “Everyone needs a hobby.” “I thought yours was preening.” “Two hobbies.” “Should I be offended that he doesn’t want to dine with us? I set an excellent table, and I rarely drool.” “What a filthy mind you have. I was referring to puzzles and the perusal of edifying texts.” “Last chance to run.” 

- “Alina, I’ll be back to fetch you for dinner, but should you grow restless, do feel free to run screaming from the room or take a dagger to her. Whatever seems most fitting at the time.” (asldjkasl;dkfs;lkd NIKOLAI) 

- Okay gunna skip ahead - you can assume any time Nikolai said anything I screamed. 

- Nikolia’s second proposal (THE EMERALD!!! JUST HOW HE PUTS IT ON TOP OF THE WALL) 

- Nikolai’s third proposal. Nikolai’s skin was warm, his grip gentle. I’d wondered if I would ever feel something so simple again or if the power in me would just keep jumping and crackling. (THIS is why he is perfect for her - no jolt of electricity, just warmth and comfort!!!) 

- SERGEI!!!!

- When Nikolai gets fucking taken over by a nichevo’ya (I HATE EVERYONE)

- When Baghra sacrifices herself 

- When we finally FINALLY find out what makes Mal so special (I mean....his tracking was OTHERWORLDLY I can’t believe people weren’t more fucking freaked out by him) 

- “The Darkling marched on Keramzin.” (Literally screamed: “MY HEART HURTS.” I was crying. I nearly threw the book down. “BUT THE CHILDREN!” I say with my fists in the air. I am become a blade.) 

- Nikolai visiting Alina while he is the monster and trying to make himself better (ahhhhh tears!!! THE EMERALD!!!) The words died on my lips. Nikolai turned my palm over and slid the ring onto my finger. (FUUUUCK. PAAAAIN.) 

- When Nikolai comes back and FIGHTS FOR THEM IN THE FOLD!!!! HE MAY BE A MONSTER BUT HE IS NOT THE DARKLING’S MONSTER, BITCH!! 

- “Please,” I sobbed. “Bring him back to me.” (lkadsflkj this was actually devastating even though I’m not a huge Mal fan)

- “We need more light,” he said. A choked laugh escaped me. I held up my hands, pleading with the light and with any Saint who had ever lived. it was no good. (UGHHHH. MORE PAIN.) 

- Tamar sobbed. Toyla swore. And there it was again: the thready, miraculous sound of Mal drawing breath. (and also the first time I breathed for an entire chapter!) 

- “Alina,” he said and kissed the scar on my palm, “I remember everything.” (Literally the last like twenty pages of this book I just gave up and was like actually Mal is adorable and I need to protect him at all costs.) 

- “Really I just wanted to look at the words.” (ughhhhh) 

- Once a man arrived with a fleet of toy boats that the children launched on the creek in a miniature regatta. The teachers noted that the stranger was young and handsome, with golden hair and hazel eyes, but most definitely off. He stayed late to dinner and never once removed his gloves. (NIKOLAI SIGHTING IN THE EPILOGUE MY HEART GOES ON)

- When Van Eck thinks Kaz is coming to get Inej and then he tells Inej and then she is WILLING HIM to not show up and then it is revealed he wasn’t there all along (BOOM BITCH THAT’S HOW KAZ BREKKER FUCKING WORKS.)

- “Those were my mother’s favorite flower.” 

- “Why the net, Kaz?” I couldn’t bear to watch you fall. (POETRY OKAY?)

- Jesper and Wylan going to see Wylan’s mother and just fucking everything about that chapter. 

- When Inej almost FALLS INTO THE FUCKING SILO AND IT’S THE END OF THE GD CHAPTER 

- “Pick up the pace,” Kaz said, eyeing his watch. “If I spill a single drop of this, it will burn straight through the floor onto my father’s dinner guests.” “Take your time.” 

- “We’ll fight our way out together,” Inej whispered. Nina glanced from Inej to Kaz and saw they both wore the same expression. Nina new that look. It came after the shipwreck, when the tide moved against you and the sky had gone dar. It was the first sight of land, the hope of shelter and even salvation that might await you on a distant shore. (AHHHHHH) 

- Wylan’s first thought was that this boy had the most perfectly shaped lips he’d ever seen. His second was that his father had sent someone new to kill him. (Wylan you are so adorable it’s adorable) 

- Inej was moving before she thought of it. She couldn’t just watch him die, she wouldn’t. They had him down now, heavy boots kicking and stomping at his body. her knives were in her hands. She’d kill them all. She’d pile the bodies to the rafters for the stadwatch to find. But in that moment, through the wide slats in the banister landing, she saw his eyes were open. His gaze found hers. He’d known she was there all along. Of course he had. He always kew how to find her. He age the barest shake of his bloodied head. (THESE TWO!!)

- “My leg! My leg!” “I recommend a cane,” Kaz said. (cackling) 

- When Sturmhond (aka Nikolai ***swoons***) showed up in Crooked Kingdom. (What actually happened: me reading a description of a “fox-like” man with Genya and Zoya and screaming and saying to myself “OMG WHEN I TURN THE PAGE IT WILL CONFIRM THAT NIKOLAI IS IN THE BUILDING I CAN’T” (did I mention I’m in love with him??? already??? k))

- When Jesper and Wylan FINALLY kiss FOR REAL (this was a big chapter for me) This was the kiss he’d been waiting for. It was a gunshot. It was prairie fire. it was the spin of Makker’s Wheel. Jesper felt the pounding of his heart - or was it Wylan’s? - like a stampede in his chest, and the only thought in his head was a happy, startled, Oh. 

- CHAPTER 33 - just everything, everything about the reveals in this chapter. The money being funneled to the Shu, not being able to trace even the RANSOM NOTE back to Kaz. WYLAN SHOWING UP!!!! “ARE YOU SURE THEY WERE PEKKA’S MEN?” !!!!!!!!

- “Do something,” Matthias growled at Kaz. “This is about to turn ugly.” Kaz’s face was as impassive as always. “Do you think so?” (bahahahahaha) 

- Nina’s just complete glee over the chaos she creates!!! “She was the Queen of Mourning, and in its depths, she would never drown.” 

- Jesper using his fucking power!!!!!! 

- She stared up at him. He was going to miss that look of surprise. (HE’S GOING TO LET HER GO. HE KNOWS HE IS GOING TO LET HER GO.)

- KAZ’S PLAN BECOMING CLEAR IN IT’S BRILLIANCE AS EACH CHAPTER GOES BY. 

- Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at the Menagerie.” She smiled then, her eyes red, her cheeks scattered with some kind of dust. It was a smile he thought he might die to earn again. (AHHHHHHHHHHHHH) 

- “A sedative,” said the medik. “Is that safe for a pregnant woman?” “For me.” (This is just FLAWLESS in its depiction of people who don’t do OB care regularly.)

- Matthias saw the anger there, the rage. He knew it well. But he was still surprised when he heard the shot. (NOOOOOOOO!!!) 

- “Has she at least done it before?” said Kaz. “For this purpose?” asked Sturmhond. “I’ve seen her do it twice. It worked splendidly. Once.” (NIKOLAI I BEG YOU!) 

- When Matthias DIES?!??! (I’M SORRY WHO LET THIS HAPPEN??)

- “You will meet him again in the next life,” said Inej. “But only if you suffer this now.” 

- Wylan getting all of his father’s money because KAZ HAS BEEN PLANNING THIS ALL ALONG??!

- Jesper leaned in and said, quietly enough that no one else could hear, “I can read to him.” (alksdflk;jasfl;jkd that was hot) 

- “Well hopefully the medik will be here to fix my ribs soon,” he said as he headed back into the parlor. “Yeah?” “Yes,” said Wylan, glancing briefly over his shoulder, his cheeks now red as cherries. “I’d like to make a down payment.” (OMG WYLAN?!?!?! IN FRONT OF MY SALAD?!?! IS THIS ALLOWED?!?!)

- At some point, Jesper realized Kaz was gone. “Not one for goodbyes, is he?” he muttered. “He doesn’t say goodbye,” Inej said. She kept her eyes on the lights of the canal. Somewhere in the garden, a night bird began to sing. “He just lets go.” (TEARS.)

- She felt his knuckles slide against hers. Then his hand was in her hand, his palm was pressed against her own. A tremor moved through him. Slowly, he let their fingers entwine. (I gasped so loud i literally woke my cat up from a deep sleep.)

- “Wait,” he said. The burn of his voice was rougher than usual. “Is my tie straight?” Inej laughed, her hood falling back from her hair. “That’s the laugh,” he murmured. (THAT’S THE LAUGH. THAT’S THE LAUGH. AHHHHH) 

Okay done. Gunna go stare at the ceiling until tomorrow night/whenever I finally get King of Scars and Rule of Wolves in the mail (BECAUSE YOU KNOW MY SORRY ASS IS DYING AT THE THOUGHT OF TWO BOOKS ALL ABOUT NIKOLAI) 

[kayparker20]

Inner Turmoil - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Nightmares, Rescues, and Memories

FFN | AO3

She was paralyzed as she watched the scene before her. No matter how hard she tried to move, she just couldn’t get her body to respond. Her eyes were wide as the tears streamed steadily over her cheeks. 

Kakashi was limp as the raven haired man held him by the throat. A large shuriken was protruding out of his back, one of the blades wedged in between his right shoulder blade and spinal cord. He coughed up blood as he tried to speak.

“Sa...kura.” The silver haired nin coughed. 

Sasuke’s cold gaze stared at him. “Did you really think you would keep her from me?” He seethed. 

“Kakashi!” Sakura cried out. “Sasuke, stop!”

Kakashi struggled to turn his eyes towards Sakura, his chest heaving as it became even more difficult to breathe. 

“None of this would have happened if she had just come with me, Hatake…” He smirked. “Say goodbye.”

Sakura tried to force her body to move as she watched Sasuke throw him. Horrified as she watched the man she loved die as Kakashi landed directly with the shuriken as it pulled him backwards, and finished puncturing through his body, the tip of the blade coming out of his chest. He convulsed before going still as his eyes rolled back.

“Kakashi!” She screamed in her sleep. 

The silver haired nin jumped up instantly, glancing down at Sakura. Her skin was pale and she was soaked in a cold sweat. 

He knew this state all too well.

“Sakura…” He called out softly. He gently shook her shoulder. “Sakura, wake up.” He kissed her forehead. She started trembling and tears were streaming down her face. 

“No...No!” She sobbed. “Sasuke, no!” She thrashed around, flipping over. She had flung her weight into his chest, her arms coming around him, gripping his torso tightly.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close and kissing her head. He buried his face in her neck before talking in a low, consoling, but slightly firm timbre. 

“Sakura, I love you,” He rubbed circles into her lower back. “I’m right here. Wake up and look at me…” He shook her shoulders a little more roughly this time. “Sakura, please wake up.” His voice gained some urgency as she continued to cry out in a panic.

The pink haired woman suddenly shot up out of bed, stiff as a board. Her eyes were wide and stinging with tears. A chill ran through her body as she shuddered. She raked her fingers through her hair as her chest heaved with the heavy exhales. Her heart thundered in her chest and she could hear it pounding in her ears.

“Sakura, I’m right here.” He grabbed her hands and brought them to his face. “Look at me,” He carefully and slowly brought his hands to rest over her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheek bones. He steered her gaze towards him, making eye contact her. “It was just a nightmare…” 

She looked at him, staring into his eyes. She let out a shaky breath, trying to calm her breathing. It wasn’t long before she buried her face into his neck. Her arms moved to wrap around him. She sunk into his embrace, anchoring herself to him.

She focused on the fact that she could hear him breathe. She could feel his pulse, which was slightly elevated, on his neck against her arm. She could also feel each rise and fall of his chest, feel his breath run across her messy locks on top of her head. She focused on the circles he still continued to massage into her lower back, grounding herself in everything that showed life in him. 

It had seemed so real, so vivid. And she knew deep down that it could become a reality. She didn’t know what to do, she didn’t want to see Kakashi get hurt because of her. However, she also knew he would give his life for her, or anyone else. 

Kakashi just held her, he didn’t know what to say. He knew there was nothing that would stop the rush of fear that was rushing in her veins right now. Nothing he could say would stop the horrors she was shown from returning. It was months before he stopped waking up in cold sweats, believing he was still being pecked away by birds from Itachi’s tsukuyomi. He felt her body slowly calm, her breath evened. She seemed to be grounded now. 

“I’m not going anywhere, Sakura…” He murmured softly in her ear.

She nodded softly. “I’m… sorry that I woke you.”

Kakashi shook his head and tightened his embrace a moment. “It’s okay, I understand…”

“Kakashi…” She sighed. “I can’t bear the thought of people getting hurt over trying to protect me…” 

He took a sharp intake of breath. “Sakura, no.” His voice was stern, but it was earnest. “You are not going to join him…” 

She frowned. “What choice do I have?” She snapped. “Ino could already be hurt because of me, and now he’s threatened you over me!” 

“Sakura, listen to me!” His voice had an edge to it. “I will not let you sacrifice yourself.”

He stared into her eyes. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. She was the embodiment of happiness. She was his happiness. This was the exact thing he feared before he let his walls down. He couldn’t lose her, like he had lost everything else. She had promised him she wasn’t going anywhere. His heart pounded in his chest as the thoughts of not having her in his arms ever again raced through his mind. Thoughts of never seeing her smile again or kissing her. He brought his hands up to gently cup her face, not sure what else he could say, knowing full well he was probably just making her angry.

“I will not let my best friend die over selfish emotions!” She hissed, trying to keep her voice low, despite her anger. He tried to pull away from his grip, her eyebrows turning down in a glare towards him.

“It’s not selfish!” He insisted. 

“Oh, yeah! We get to stay happy and together while Choji suffers knowing the girl he's loved all his life was killed in an attempt to bait her best friend!” She retorted, her eyes narrowing. “Totally not selfish!” Her voice dripped with venomous sarcasm.

Kakashi winced softly, realizing that, maybe okay, yes, it might be selfish for him to choose his love over their friend’s love. 

No one thought about choosing between them, himself included. Why did she? 

Does she ever think to take care of herself, to protect herself too? Her heart ached. She always put their team first, healing and healing until her hands burned from chakra use and it flickered out. They would have to force her to stop, or else he was sure she would pour ever bit of her life source into them if it meant they would be okay. 

So naturally, she’s more than prepared to give herself over to the snakes of the leaf if it meant her best friends lived and loved and went on as a ninja. Even if it meant her misery, or her death. 

The silver nin pulled her close once more, despite her attempts (rather weak ones, in his opinion with his knowledge of her own strength) to fight his pull. She settled for huffing in annoyance and refusing to look at him.

He gently grabbed her chin and turned her to face him and  gave her a chaste kiss to her lips. “I just got you, I’m not going to lose you, damnit. This isn’t about you or Ino coming home. It’s about both of you coming home.” His tone was resolute, no argument. “If you think for even second that anyone on this squad, especially Naruto, and me, would ever let you join those traitorous snakes, then you truly don’t see how much we care for you.” 

 Sakura’s gaze at him softened at his words, and she reached up to press her hands against his. Her eyes welled up with tears, which only angered her a little more. She wasn’t supposed to be this person anymore. People weren’t supposed to suffer because of her and she wasn’t supposed to cry anymore. “Kakashi…” She spoke softly.

He wiped her tears away softly with the pads of his thumbs. “Sakura, I love you.” He mumbled softly. He pecked her cheek, her nose. He just showered her face with kisses. “And I will protect this team and the people I care about, and especially you.”

“I don’t need protection…” She grumbled, even as she smiled at his affection.

“We are dealing with Orochimaru and Sasuke.” He chastised. “There’s a reason we have a 12 man squad.” He sighed. “And it’s not about whether I think you need my protection or not, Sakura…” He said with clear irritation.

Sakura raised an eyebrow at him. “You’ve always protected me, and me first. I’ve always been the weakest one of Team Kakashi…” 

He took a lock of her hair into his hands, playing with it. “That may have been true once.” He smiled. “But now, I’d protect you first because living life without you in it isn’t bearable. Because I care about you, and I know I can keep you safe…”

Before she could say anything back, he winced slightly before resting his head on her shoulder. He took a deep breath before slowly letting it out.

She frowned, knowing exactly where the pain was coming from. “Why didn’t you say something?” Now she sounded like an irritated nurse, Dr. Haruno coming into action now. He knew that tone much too well, and knew the lectures that usually came with it. It was the same tone she used on all of their team after hunting them down after missions to force heal their injuries, even if they were minor.

“I didn’t want to add to your stress, or have you using precious chakra on me.” He inhaled and exhaled slowly once more. “I’m fine, the pain will fade in a few moments. I didn’t always have orders to be healed regularly, if you have forgotten.”

She gave out an aggravated noise before pushing him onto the bed and straddling his hips. “How many times do I have to tell you? We are literally in the field, right now!” She scolded before raising her hand, the green glow of her healing chakra already present, and gently pressing her palm over his sharingan. “And that was before it started to effect your body in such a way, before you had used it to such extents to where it would fucking bleed.” She huffed something about ‘stupid and overly resilient men’ under her breath, but he just smiled as he gave in.

He let out a defeated sigh, and then another one of relief as her chakra worked its way into his eye. He rested his hands on her hips, before a smirk played across his features.

She frowned. “What the hell are you down there smiling about?”

“We should play doctor more often.” He said in a playful tone, before pressing his hips upwards.

Her face instantly turned a dark shade of red. “Kakashi!” She hissed, completely undignified.

He could tell his eye was fine now, so he rolled them over so that he was towering over her. “Hmmm?” He kissed down her neck, nipping softly. “I think you could use the relaxation release gives you…” He gently ran his hands up her sides and cupped her breasts. “Your entire body is still tense, and we have to be able to run today.” He chuckled mischievously. “It would be a shame if we had to stop because your muscles got too tense.”

She was still cherry red as she let out a small whimper. “Kakashi…” He used all her willpower to push her very irresistible man from her body with her hands pressed to his chest. “I… can’t.” She looked away. “Not right now.”

The older ninja instantly stopped his teasing and turned her face back to look at him again. “Okay. I understand.” He pecked her lips softly before laying back down on his side to watch her.

She turned on her side to face him. She just gazed over all of him, knowing she could never bear the thought of not having him. They had been together for hardly two weeks now, but it felt like so much longer. She gulped softly as the guilt settled in. 

“Kakashi…” She reached out to grip his hand tightly. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “Don’t be, it’s fine.” He brought an arm around her and pulled her close to his chest. “I understand.” He kissed the top of her head.

He rested her forehead against his chest and sighed. “Thank you..”

He nodded, running his fingers through her hair. He learned quickly that that calmed her and he tried to note anything that could ease her anxiety.

He knew she wouldn’t want to think about it, but he also knew she needed to talk about it. Things ate at Sakura from the inside out, and he didn’t want her to be in such distress.

“Sakura, what were you dreaming about?” He asked her quietly.

She stiffened at the question but took a deep breath. “It was just one of the many visions I was shown of Sasuke killing you…” Her hands stopped moving along his back. “I was paralyzed and couldn’t do anything but watch and scream…” She shuddered at the memory.

Kakashi nodded softly, not asking for any more details. “I’m right here. Just remember that.” 

She nodded softly, before slowly falling back asleep. She felt safe in his arms, and took the feel of his body against hers as a constant reminder that he was safe, at least for the moment.

Kakashi knew they still had a couple hours before the others woke up, well, if her screaming hadn’t woken them. Now that he really thought of it, he was sure the sounds of screaming definitely woke up a squad of camping shinobi. 

He was thankful that no one had come to the tent, she would have hated for anyone to see her in such a distraught state, maybe besides Naruto and Hinata. He also knew he wouldn’t be going back to sleep, so he just continued to stroke her hair, hoping the relaxing effect would last through the rest of her sleep.

Sai had been sitting at the fire, finding himself unable to sleep, before he heard Sakura cry out. He had instantly run over to his teammates’ tent, before he could hear Kakashi already beginning to console her. He smiled a bit, a bit shocked to hear such a comforting tone come from the legendary copy nin that would be, Kakashi Hatake. He listened for awhile, making sure Sakura wouldn’t need any other assistance. 

Soon he returned to the fire to sit and watch the flames dance in the dark. He heard another tent open and turned to see Hanabi walking towards him. He gave his usual smile and waved at her. “Hello, Hanabi. Are you well?”

The young Hyuuga watched him for a moment, fighting a blush before nodding. “I’m okay, just a little cold.” She sat next to him by the fire.

“Neji is on watch at the moment, but I haven’t been able to sleep.” Sai spoke matter of factly. 

She nodded. “I think it was Kakashi-sensei’s next, right?” She wondered aloud.

Sai nodded. “I believe so, but I may take his watch.” He said thoughtfully, thinking Sakura may need their team leader at her side.

Hanabi smiled, also having heard Sakura’s terrored screams. “So, is it true that Kakashi and her are together?” She asked.

Sai nodded. “I don’t think I’ve seen Sakura as… Happy since I met her.”

She nodded softly. “I think it’s sweet that you’ll take over Kakashi’s watch so he doesn’t have to leave her.” She scooted a little closer to him.

“The book says that building friendships is easy when you do things to help them.” He smiled at Hanabi. “I’d protect my team anyway I can, but I will also protect you if that time ever comes.”

She stared back at Sai, before kissing his cheek. “I’m glad.”

Sai watched her for a moment, before raising a hand to touch the spot her lips had caressed ever so lightly.

Neji watched the scene from a branch above their camp, a small smile gracing his lips. He could only imagine the thoughts running through the socially inept shinobi’s thoughts at the moment.  He wasn’t surprised to see Hanabi make a move. She had always been more bold than Hinata, even going as far to have disputes with Hiashi as she got older. He also knew that Sai would protect her and she would never be in danger in his presence. 

“What was that for..?” He asked the girl quietly.

She shrugged. “Because I wanted to.” She got up then and walked back to her tent.

Sai pondered for a moment, not sure what to make of her action. He decided he would have to ask Naruto and Sakura for advice on this one.

Just then the obnoxious blonde came out of his tent and stretched. He came to sit down on the log across from Sai by the fire. “Can’t sleep either, huh Sai?”

“No, not quite, Dickless.” 

Naruto scowled at the nickname. “I’d tell you to ask Hina all about that just to prove it’s wrong, but I think she’d faint.” He laughed off.

“Do you think Sakura is okay?” Sai asked softly.

Naruto’s expression turned back to exhausted, which was exactly how he felt.

It was obvious to anyone who knew her well that she was far from okay. Her best friend was just kidnapped by the guy she used to pine after. Sasuke put her through a tsukuyomi, showing her Kakashi’s death by his hands over and over again. His teammate had already been through so much emotional torment by Sasuke, and the fact it continues even after she finally moves on angered him beyond belief.

He sighed heavily. “Sakura wears her heart on her sleeve. As a shinobi, she bears many more emotions than most, as do I.” He smiled a bit. “Most people have grown accustomed to that part of us. Some still point it out as weakness. However, this time around, I think she’s trying to hide them.” He sighed. “She is supposed to be the one to save people, and right now I’m sure she has convinced herself she has put Ino and Kakashi in danger by refusing Sasuke, let alone everyone else on this mission.”

Sai nodded. “Do you still believe there is hope in bringing Sasuke back?” He knew this was a sensitive subject, having learned to not call him a traitor and so on.

Naruto was silent for a few moments before shaking his head slowly. “I would have believed it, even after him kidnapping Ino. He’s done so many things, and I tried to believe that once he got his revenge, he would come back to us.”

Sai watched him intently, knowing the story of the Uchiha clan.

“But, after finding out he put Sakura in a tsukuyomi, and doing it basically out of pure jealousy…” His expression hardened, and the firelight only made him look even more angry.

“I can’t believe he still cares for us if he would put Sakura through that. He has threatened to kill us, tried to kill all three of us many times.” He laughed coldly. “However, it was antagonized, or we were in the way of his real goal. It was able to somehow be excused. But for him to suddenly decide he was going to just use Sakura for a means to an end, not even deciding he did love her…” He shook his head. “It’s unforgivable. She’s a shinobi, not just some baby machine. I don’t even know if she wants kids at all…”

Sai nodded before glancing at the tent. “She had a nightmare…”

Naruto nodded. “I heard, but I figured I’d let Kakashi handle it.” He smiled. “Sakura doesn’t like to be seen as weak, even though she isn’t, the less people who see her in a shaken state, the better for her.”

Sai smiled genuinely. “She is quite strong, as we both know, so why doesn’t she think so?”

“Oh, she knows.” Kakashi came out of the tent and chuckled. “But it doesn’t stop her insecurities and comparing herself to the rest of her class, let alone her teammates.”

He looked up at the trees above them. “Neji, it’s time for my watch.”

“Actually, I was going to take your watch for you, Kakashi.” Sai smiled.

Naruto watched the two before smiling.

Kakashi looked at him before shaking his head. “I’ve got my watch, but thank you Sai.” Then he gave an eye crease. “Besides, I believe you have a question and something to maybe explore on your own, Sai.” 

Sai’s eyed widened before he smiled again. “Ah, yes.” He turned to Naruto. “What reason would a girl kiss my cheek?”

Naruto stared at him blankly before busting out laughing, trying to quiet himself. “Why do you ask, Sai?”

“Because the young Hyuga girl I’ve been paired up to protect kissed my cheek, after telling me I was sweet.” Sai watched Naruto, confused by his reaction.

Neji landed silently between them. “Naruto, you’ll wake the whole camp with your howling if you don’t shut up.” He turned to Sai and couldn’t help the slightest bit of a smile. 

Kakashi sighed and shook his head at his team’s antics. “Sai, are you sure you didn’t read anything in a book about this?” 

“No, I have not. Nothing comes up about kisses in friendship books.”

“Didn’t I suggest you read Icha-Icha?”

Sai frowned. “Sakura told me not to read those if I was looking for ways to build relationships with people…” 

Kakashi only raised an eyebrow. “Well, I beg to differ. You would know what a kiss means if you had read them.”

Naruto just rolled his eyes. “Pervy Sage is smiling down on you, such a loyal fan you are Kakashi.” He smiled fondly, before laughing even more.

Hinata came out of her and Naruto’s tent to see what was going on. She rubbed her eyes blearily as she approached them. “Naruto…?” She called out softly. “What’s so funny?”

The poor Hyuga fought the urge to go check on Sakura herself, remembering Naruto’s words about trying to not draw more attention to her. She wondered when her sometimes absent-minded boyfriend became so careful.

Neji looked at Hinata and shook his head softly. “It would seem that Hanabi kissed Sai’s cheek, and the former ANBU is not quite sure what to make of it.” 

Hinata's eyes widened before she smiled. “I remember a certain person who was confused when Tenten made a similar action.”

Neji’s face turned a light shade of pink before defending himself. “I knew what it meant! I was just surprised!”

Sai looked at Neji, noting that he was sure him and Tenten were a couple, and wondering why he was embarrassed by the information.

Kakashi sighed before sitting next to Sai. “Okay, Sai, let me explain this to you.” He gave his normal eye crease of a smile. “When Sakura and I got together, she kissed me.” He smiled at the memory. “Now, me and Sakura had been treading that boundary between friendship and romance for awhile, and Sakura is also a grown woman and bold about it, so her crossing such boundaries in a bold manner suits her.” 

Sai stared at his team leader with curiosity. “So, a kiss is a show of affection…”

Kakashi nodded. “Yes. Or lust, take your pick, it all depends on the situation. It can even be both…” He added the end with a sly tone.

“Kakashi!” Naruto hissed, hating the insinuation behind it. Hinata turned a little red herself now and hushed Naruto.

“In terms of the young Hanabi, Hyuga tends to be more reserved. She’s not as shy as her elder sister, but she won’t cross such blatant boundaries as Sakura would. Not to mention she’s also a young girl who tends to be more insecure.”

“So, Hanabi, is expressing romantic interest in myself?” Sai concluded out loud.

Hinata giggled softly. “Yes, and believe me I hear all about it. She’s quite curious about you.” 

Sai frowned. “But she is fourteen …”

Naruto had finally calmed down but chuckled nonetheless. “How many years are between Kakashi and us again?” He said with a smirk.

“Hey now, that was... different.”

Sai was not quite convinced. “She’s so… Young.”

Hinata nodded, and Neji showed no response. They were well aware that Hiashi seemed to kind of like the ninja, but it was never talked about in ways of now idea. 

“It would seem pretty much everyone besides our medic is awake.” Shikamaru commented as he walked up to the scene, the concern hidden somewhere in his lazy tone.

Kakashi took a look around and nodded. “She needs the rest…”

Everyone nodded, well aware of the unspoken.

“Let’s start packing up and covering our tracks while we wait for her to wake up. We need to get moving quickly in case of injury to Ino.”Yamato called out as he began taking down his tent and repacking his gear which he had already pulled out of the shelter.

Everyone followed suit, packing up their own shelters while Kakashi stood watch, keeping a close eye on the perimeter. After about an hour, Sakura came out of the tent. She had slept for almost two hours since falling back to sleep.

He glanced at her, and was happy to see she seemed much more rested and calm. The stiffness in her body was gone. Her hair was put up pulled back and she seemed just as confident as she was any other day. He smiled softly behind his mask.

“Have any of you ate since yesterday?” She crossed her arms and eyed her squad. She knew ninja had a bad habit of eating poorly on missions.

They looked at each other before laughing nervously.

She huffed. “Figures. Don’t even think of putting that fire out.” She ducked back into the tent before coming out with her pack. She always brought things to cook quickly on missions that were of actual sustenance. She fished out finding one of her storage scrolls before making the hand signs to release it as it rolled open. She started plucking around finding things she knew her usual team members liked.

“Ramen!” Naruto pounced over to her to grab one of the instant cups. “I already know where I’m going to get the water!” He whispered excitedly.

Sakura just rolled her eyes as Naruto bounded off to some stream nearby. “There’s jerky and dried fruit rations as well. Help yourself.”

She stood up and walked away. She began pulling the cots and things from the tent while everyone found something to eat from her scroll.

Kakashi came back to help her silently. They packed everything up quickly. Once the tent and the rest of their belongings was packed up she eyed Kakashi. “Did you eat?” 

He nodded and gave his normal eye crease as he held a bag of fruit and a bag of jerky. “I was going to make sure you did as well.” He said as he tossed her the bag of dried fruit.

She caught it with ease before her lips formed a small smile.

“Everyone, get back in formation and let’s head out.”

Kakashi summoned one of his ninken. “Lead Yamato and Neji to the hideout, Pakkun.” 

Pakkun bounded up to the front with Yamato and Neji, following his orders.

“What the fuck is your deal, Sasuke?” The blonde spat out venomously as he dropped her to the ground in front of Orochimaru.

“What is this?” The elder man asked curiously.

“Motivation.” Sasuke said bluntly.

Ino hands her tied behind her back but she still forced herself into a sitting position and stared back at Sasuke. “You’ve got some fucking nerve.” She spat.

Sasuke looked back at her. “I forgot how chatty you were.” He scowled.

“I forgot how painfully arrogant you were.” She growled.

“Is this the Yamanaka girl?” Orochimaru asked.

“Yes, she’s Sakura’s best friend.” He glared at the floor. “Turns out, she’s not so head over heels for me anymore. She’s slutting around with Kakashi.”

Ino fumed. “Oh wait, that’s right, she was just supposed to wait for your self righteous ass to just suddenly decide revenge wasn’t more important! Sorry, I forgot to remind her when she smiled a real smile for the first time since you left her on a fucking bench.” She seethed. “At least Kakashi has a fucking heart.”

Orochimaru chuckled. “Well, she’s terribly feisty.”

Ino turned to look at the creepy man before her. She had heard enough about him. He killed the third hokage. Tried to kill Naruto. She knew he was the deranged teammate of Jiraiya and Tsunade. 

“Ah yes, the irony. One traitor trained by another.” She retorted in disgust.

“I imagine your plan is for Sakura to come rescue her. Her joining us in exchange for Ino’s safety?” Orochimaru pondered.

Sasuke nodded. “I also plan to kill the copycat bastard, I’m sure he’ll be with her.”

Orochimaru laughed. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you Sasuke.” 

“I don’t know what the fuck he’s got to be jealous over.” Ino glared at the two men before he.

Sasuke slapped her across the face. “None of your goddamn business.”

Ino glared at him as she spat the blood from her teeth cutting into her cheek at him. “Everything about my best friend is my goddamn business, you prick.” She narrowed her cerulean eyes at him. “Then again, you know a damned thing about friendship, would you!” She continued to glare at him, her body tense and ready to react to more blows. “And if you think for a second any of us will let her join you, you don’t know the first thing about being a Leaf shinobi!” 

“How do you expect them to find us?”

“I’m sure they have a whole squad coming for us, and Kakashi has his ninken to track. I didn’t bother trying to hide myself.”

The snake shinobi frowned. “That means I’ll need a new hideout when this is all over, what a shame.”

“You’re the one who wanted Sakura in the first place.” Sasuke chided irritably.

Ino stared on in disgust. “What the fuck for?”

“To heal these wretched arms.” Orochimaru sneered.

“You think she’s going to help you?” Ino laughed now. “Sakura wouldn’t do a damn thing for you, even if her life depended on it.”

“True, but now it’s yours that depends on it.” He chuckled darkly. 

Ino glared. “Team Kakashi won’t be the only people coming, you know.” Then she smiled. “I would just bet my own team leader is itching to do some damage to the man that killed his father.” 

Orochimaru gave a sinister smile before licking his lips and kneeling down to Ino eye level. “I’ll kill him just as easily as I killed Hiruzen-Sensei, darling.”  

She glared. “Oh yes, so easily. That's why you had to call upon the first and second right?” She smirked. “Because you knew you couldn’t beat him on your own.”

Ino shivered then, the fear setting in, even as she braved against them. She hoped there would be enough people to save her, and that Sakura wouldn’t really sacrifice herself to him.

She longed for Choji’s embrace right about now, the feeling of safeness she felt in his arms. Here it was cold. Everything was, the air, the floor. Sasuke and Orochimaru just looked cold hearted as they stood there silently, just waiting.

She wondered what she ever saw in Sasuke back then. He was always cold and distant. Arrogant. He couldn’t be bothered with any of them. She remembered what she had heard Naruto tell of the story.

I’m done playing ninja.

“It shouldn’t be too long before they arrive.” Sasuke said, before grabbing a kunai and grabbing Ino roughly by the hair and raising her up. He stabbed her in the top of her thigh, not vital but enough to bleed and cause a lot of pain. She cried out in pain and thrashed, trying to get away from him.

“You sick bastard…” She growled out as she clenched her teeth in pain. 

Sasuke just smirked. “Just a little more motivation.” He chuckled darkly. “They should be here soon, I wonder how many they sent.”

Orochimaru smiled pleasantly. “Ah, well the more the merrier.” He stated with a sinister pleasantry lilting in his voice.

She groaned out in pain, her breathing ragged. It hurt so much, but she could heal it. She was trying to decide if it was such a good idea. If she healed this non-life threatening wound, would they dish out that was? Was that a risk worth taking? 

For now, she decided to deal with the pain. She’d prefer to at least be alive if her friends were coming to the trouble of retrieving her. And she knew they would, there was now way they would leave her behind.

Not Sakura. Not Choji. She knew she drove Shikamaru insane but she didn’t doubt his loyalty for a second, not one bit. She bit her lip, tears pricking her eyes, but she fought them. She growled out as she ground her teeth. If she was going down, she’d be damned if she was a little bitch about it.

She couldn’t tell how much time had passed as she watched her blood pool around the floor. It seemed to be forever, just sitting in silence. She turned and wretched around to try and not so much pressure on her arms. She could feel that there were rope burns on her wrists at this point. They were burning and she could feel an extra sting of pain everytime she moved. It was agonizing. She had just let her eyes slip closed when something brushed against her.

Mice? She glanced around before she realized it was an ink creature. 

Hope rushed through her veins as she realized it was the same scouting mice she heard Sakura tell her Sai used. She heard the angry voice of one certain blonde knucklehead echo through the corridors. 

“SASUKE!” 

She saw wood penetrate the floor around and create a cage over her body. She wanted to panic at first, before she sensed the chakra signature.

Or rather, signatures. Her eyes widened as she realized how many of them came. Some of them were even unfamiliar. 

Sasuke jerked his head to somewhere down the hall, she supposed the entrance.

“I expected them… Later.” His eyes narrowed. “Surely they had to rest.”

Orochimaru laughed. “Ninja from the lead are persistent, don’t you remember?” He looked over at Ino, distaste clear in his yellow eyes. “Of course, my experiment is here. Tsk.”

“Ino!” Sakura called out, the distress clear in her voice. 

Panic rose in the blonde's heart. Why the hell is she out in the open! She should have been somewhere safe, stayed back. Not right here with them. No, no, no. That’s not how this is supposed to fucking work, damnit.

“Sakura…” Sasuke called out in his distant, but deep lilting tone.

She heard the footsteps hasten. So many steps. She was shocked. What were there, maybe 9 people? No, there’s more…

“Sasuke!” 

“Naruto, get her out of here!” Ino screamed.

They came running into the room where she could see them now. Yamato, Neji, and that one little pug of Kakashi’s. They were followed by Shikamaru, Choji, and Temari?! Another Hyuga(is that Hanabi?) and Sai? And then there was Asuma, Sakura and Kakashi, followed by Naruto and Hinata. 

Twelve people. All for her. She knew she was the next head of one of the five main clans, but she didn’t think they would risk so many of their best ninja against Orochimaru, even for that length. 

Tears flowed down her cheeks. “Choji, Shika!” She sobbed, not able to seem so strong anymore. What good would she have really done for herself? Her hands were tied, she couldn’t have made a single hand sign if she wanted. She wasn’t Sakura, she couldn’t channel chakra into strength to break the ropes.

“Shut it!” Sasuke snapped. His eyes landed on Sakura. “Have you made a decision then?”

Her eyes were dark emerald and angry as she met Sasuke’s gaze. Her eyes slid over to Orochimaru, the same disgust lying in them. “Let Ino go.” 

Ino couldn’t ever remember a time when her pink haired friend sounded so dangerous.

“I believe there was an arrangement in order for this to happen.”

Kakashi had his sharingan uncovered and activated. He stood tall and foreboding, ready and waiting for someone to make a wrong move. Him and Asuma on either side of Sakura, Asuma had his chakra blades out, ready to attack.

She felt something wrap around her wrist. She looked down to find a shadow circling her arm. 

Sakura took a step forward. “You will release her before I do anything.”

“I’m afraid that’s not how this works…” Orochimaru said sweetly.

Sasuke’s eyes didn’t leave Sakura. He grabbed his katana, moving to weave it through the wood limbs surrounding her to stab her once more.

Suddenly the wood moved and wrapped around his wrist, and shoved him out.

“Now!” Shikamaru called. She quickly ripped the ropes with his shadows.

The wood dispersed from Ino before she jumped up and heaved herself in their direction as she sent a burst of healing chakra to the gash on her thigh. 

Orochimaru went to stand before finding himself paralyzed. His eyes narrowed deeply. “A Nara.” Before he shot out his snake sword toward Ino.

Hinata was in front of her in an instant. “Protecting Eight Trigrams Sixty Four Palms!”She continued to block the blows of the sword from Ino. 

She lurched towards them once more, before Choji ran for her and brought his arms around her. “I’ve got you.”

“Ino! Are you alright!” Temari ran over to her, immediately cutting the fabric around her wound. “I’m so sorry, we didn’t get to the village in time to warn you!” 

Sakura ran to heal her, knowing Shikamaru could only hold Sasuke and Orochimaru for so long. “Oh my god…”

“Motivation…” Ino grumbled. “It wasn’t fatal, just painful and lots of blood…” She huffed.

She turned to Temari and offered a smile. “It’s no problem, really.”

After Sakura finished she turned around. She channeled chakra into her fist as she ran towards Sasuke and punched him straight in the face. She heard the definitive crack of his jaw breaking. Temari hurriedly bandaged the wound properly.  

Shikamaru let the shadows go as his arms began shaking and he couldn’t hold them anymore, and the part of the plan was done now. 

“I will never fucking be a part of this.” She seethed. Orochimaru was on her in an instant, but not before Kakashi and Naruto were at her back. 

“You won’t lay a finger on her!” Naruto growled.

She shot another chakra laden punch into his chest, knocking the breath out of him just as he was about to perform his fire jutsu. 

She was the distraction, using the main target to keep their attention. She hoped it worked.

Sasuke's eyes became activated just before Neji’s hit landed, neutralizing his chakra use. Another hit, and he’s unconscious

Sasuke fell to the ground, another thump following Orochimaru’s body doing the same from Hanabi’s gentle fist.

Everything held silent as they held their breath, ready to attack, just in case it didn’t work.

Naruto was the first to loosen. “I still don’t understand why!”

Yamato sighed. “This mission to retrieve Ino, and it was supposed to be before she got here.” 

“We need to go, they won’t be out for long.” Neji said distantly, his byakugan active. “The chakra is already breaking the barriers. Hanabi needs to leave now.”

He retained a fighting stance as Yamato nodded.

“We all need to leave now.”

Kakashi watched Orochimaru carefully. “How many of you have emergency transfer scrolls?” 

Yamato, Asuma, Temari, and Neji indicated they had them. 

“My scroll is for my village, but I need to report back there anyway…” Temari explained.

Yamato nodded. “Everyone divides up into groups of three then.” He stated matter of factly.

“Hinata and Hanabi can come with me, ours is set in the Hyuga compound unlike the rest.” 

“Asuma, take Choji and Ino. Take her straight to the hospital after.” Sakura said in her medic voice, an order not a request.

“I’ll take Sakura and Naruto.”Kakashi said plainly.

“That leaves Sai and Shikamaru for my scroll.” Yamato smiled curtly.

Temari gave Shikamaru a chaste kiss on the cheek. “I’ll contact you as soon as I can.”

He nodded before returning a discreet kiss on her forehead before she made her signs with her scroll and disappeared.

The four with scrolls quickly made the signs over them as their pairs held onto them in some way. Just as Sasuke’s eyes opened, the air around them swirled and went fuzzy as their surroundings changed.

Sakura felt her stomach turn, this particular jutsu was harder on the body, which is why it was for emergencies. She felt dizzy.

They all appeared at the gates, with the exception of the Hyugas. 

She instantly grabbed onto Kakashi’s arm as the world continued to spin. She closed her eyes as she waited for it to fade away. She felt hands on her hips, steadying her.

She heard Naruto whine. “I hate doing that.” He huffed.

“Agreed.” She groaned. 

Kakashi chuckled. “Nausea and dizziness is much better than being mortally injured or dead.”

Naruto straightened and nodded. He watched Sakura before taking a deep breath. “You need to go to the hospital too.” 

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at him, surprised Naruto was going to be the one to address this further.

“Why does Forehead need to go to the hospital?”

Everyone went silent, looking at one another, deciding who would tell, if they would tell. If it was worth Sakura’s wrath to tell.

The blonde narrowed her eyes before setting them on Sakura. “You had better tell me.”

“I’m fine.” Sakura tried to insist as she opened her eyes and stood straight. The world was no longer spinning.

Kakashi frowned. ��Sakura…”

Naruto groaned. “Stop that! You can’t get mad at us for not taking care of ourselves if you won’t do it!” 

Sakura wanted to knock him upside the head, but she knew he was right. And she was trying to get a hold on her anger issues these days. 

“Sasuke used his genjutsu on me when I refused to go with him… Before he abducted you.”

“Sakura!” Ino stood up with effort and stomped over to her, well as much as you could stomp with a limp. “Let’s go. Infection check for me, psych eval for you. You idiot!” The blonde simmered. “What the hell were you thinking going on that mission! Did you even tell Tsunade!”

 “I was saving you!” She huffed as Ino grabbed her arm and started dragging her towards the hospital.

“They could have done that without putting you at risk, damnit!” 

“I’d be damned if I wasn’t on the rescue squad when I was the reason you were kidnapped in the first place!”

Ino stopped and looked at her seriously. “You cannot seriously be blaming yourself for this.” She frowned. “Sasuke being a traitorous and unrightfully jealous bastard is not your fault.” Ino sighed exasperated. “So help me, Forehead, if you ever risk yourself for me again, I’m going to knock you into next month, you hear me!” Ino shrieked at her. 

Sakura grumbled as she crossed her arms. They walked on to the hospital for a minute, before Sakura stopped and hiked Ino up onto her back, insisting she only worsen the damage by toughing through the pain, telling her she did stop the bleeding but nothing else.

Shikamaru came to stand by them. “Sakura is just as troublesome as Ino isn’t she?” He smiled softly.

“I wouldn’t call her troublesome, but stubborn is definitely a word that comes to mind.” Kakashi smiled and laughed before it died out.

“She really would have given herself to them if there was no other way, wouldn’t she have?” Asuma stated.

Naruto frowned. Kakashi nodded.

“Why! She just got with you. She's the head medic of the village! She’s supposed to be my advisor, alongside Shikamaru, when I become hokage!” He emblazoned. “Why would she give all that up, to become miserable, a missing nin, and Sasuke’s personal baby maker!”

The entire thought made Kakashi ground his teeth, but he understood. He couldn’t be too mad at her for it, because he would have done the same for any of the current Team Kakashi.

Shikamaru shook his head. “Naruto, if you really think about it, it makes sense.” 

“Her and Ino are the same in a lot of ways. Rivals all the same. Ino and her both take care of other people, long before they take care of themselves. Ino checks us over herself, even after mandatory mission return check ups. She makes sure we eat, go out and socialize.”

“She makes us live a little, not just be a ninja. It’s bothersome but it’s necessary.” Shikamaru laughed. “Let me guess, Sakura chases you down and heals you all herself? I know you have a habit of avoiding hospitals at all costs. Kakashi. Naruto, you think you’re invincible. Sai, you just follow the suit of the other males in the team, right?”

Yamato nodded. “Even though I go for my visits, Sakura always comes to check and make sure everything was healed correctly.”

“Sakura blamed herself for this, she blames herself for a lot of things. She felt responsible for Ino’s safety as her friend but also because she feels like if she had agreed to go, she wouldn’t have been hurt in the first place.” Kakashi sighed.

Everyone began to go their own ways as Kakashi began walking home, sure that Sakura would come to his place after she was done at the hospital. There was a dreadful feeling in his chest, the very feeling he was so intimidated by before he finally let himself love her fully. That fear of losing her, the thing he would have to get used to living with. 

She wouldn’t always be safe within the hospital, within the walls of the village. Sometimes her medical capabilities would be required on missions. Sometimes she would go on missions with her team, just like the past couple days.

He couldn’t stop protecting her, but he couldn’t expect her to put them first. He started to realize why most couples aren’t on teams together.

But he’s loved her before and it worked, it had to keep working. 

He steered away from the path to his apartment, towards the grave stone. He found his way there easily. He weaved his way through the village and it’s people with ease. 

He stood at the cenotaph once again, like a stone. Silent and sad. His shoulders were hanging. Relationships of any kind have always been difficult. Everything seemed like it would be easy with Sakura. Now he feared this need for her would start to interfere with that. She didn’t like being treated like she was fragile. 

She seemed so mad at first, was she still mad? Did she understand? Was he actually selfish like she said, or was she just angry because he wasn’t going to let her sacrifice herself?

He knew she didn’t have any less value for him, but it didn’t make it hurt less that she was willing to give him up so… Easily?

Could it really be that easy, to choose saving Ino over having a life with him? To save Ino and have to be demeaned to nothing more than a homemaker by Sasuke everyday?  Something she didn’t want, or at least not at this current point in her life?

There’s no way that was an easy conclusion, but how could she just accept it so well?

Then he thought of every time he’s thrown himself to her protection, the exact same thoughts flowing in his mind as hers for Ino

As long as she will be okay...

“God, I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to do this…” He sighed out loud. “Sakura takes the protecting ones she cares for to such an extreme degree… How is it I was able to let myself love her now, but fifteen years ago, I couldn’t let myself love you? Even when I tried? I don’t feel healed. I don’t feel any less… Pain.” 

He ran his hand along Rin’s name on the stone. “She’d make the same decisions you made without a second thought. She’s so much like you, Rin…” He smiled. “Falling for the distant team mate and being such a caring person, never giving up on people. She believes in Naruto just as much you believed in Obito. Falling for me.”

“Why do they parallel us so much? Our team and the sannin, in so many ways. In some ways, it’s so painful to watch.” He frowned behind his mask. “But in so many ways, they are so much better. I believe in them.”

“I have to believe in them. Not because I love them, not because they’re my team, or because they are the first genin I ever passed. Because they are the ones to lead the next generation.”

He smiled, looking up at the sky. “I can see it clear as day more and more as I spend more time with these jounin and chuunin. The Third had such a big flame, and it burns within each of this class, the ones who witness his death.”

“I come here to talk to you and Obito often, always after missions. This one scared me, the simple thought to lose Sakura, even if she still lived, wretched at my heart. It was so different. It was terrifying, really.” He laughed.

 “Ah yes, so funny, something scares the legendary copy cat ninja, the cold blooded killer of ANBU. He’d fall apart if he lost one little ill tempered medic. Sounds kind of cliche in a way?” He pondered. “I bet Jiraiya knew we’d be together long before it was a thought in our hearts. He probably would have written an Icha-Icha novel with the main characters in love resembling us in subtle ways.”

The copy nin stared at the stone. “Things are different now than they were back then. After Minato-sensei passed…” He tensed a bit. “I was… I couldn’t take it. It was too much. I couldn’t see Naruto without it bringing everything back. I just went back to ANBU, a deadly tool for the village. It wasn’t until Kurenai and Gai pleaded to the Third that I got out.  Feeling anything hurt too much, so I didn’t let myself feel.” He smiled wide. “And then they put that little brat on my team, except now calling him that is a term of endearment.”

“I remember how uncanny it was when I first saw them. Naruto instantly reminded me of Obito, acting like a fool and spewing about being hokage. Absolutely in love with Sakura and cared so much for her.” He ran a hand over Obito’s name on the stone. “Sakura was just like you, open and caring, and head over heels for the other teammate. Sasuke was a spitting image of me; cold, dutiful, and distant. A prodigy, the last of his clan. When they passed the test, I couldn’t refuse them. I tried to be what Minato was, but I’ve felt I never filled that expectation. Sasuke never listened to me the way I listened to him…” 

Kakashi huffed and looked at her name again. “How were you able to love me, how is she able to? I’m no good at this. I like being in control of things, but now it feels like everything is slipping from my grasp. I had steeled myself, told myself no matter how I felt, I would never act on my feelings. I’d never be able to be what she needs anyway, I couldn’t be that for you…”

“How did I know I’d find you here, sulking like always?” 

Kakashi turned to the voice of the senbon user. “What do you need?” He tried to sound bored.

“I think the real question is, what do you need?” Genma looked at his hand on the stone, placed over Rin’s name. “We all know she’s like her, you know.” He chuckled. “It’s part of how we could tell you fell for her. I bet they would have been best friends. I can see it now, Rin taking Sakura around the hospital as an intern. Welcoming and cheery. Ready to teach her the entire medic nin way.”

Kakashi smiled and chuckled a bit himself.

“You know, talking to your dead friends about advice is counterproductive.” He drawled past his senbon. “They can’t answer you, and tell you’re acting like an idiot, like a completely normal man. ” 

Kakashi glared at him slightly. “Just how am I being an idiot?” 

“You’re not going to mess it up, and you think you will. You’re staring at Rin’s name, thinking about how you couldn't love her, even when you tried at first, so how can you possibly love Sakura?” The brunette deadpanned.

Kakashi stared at him. “That wasn’t exactly… What I was thinking.”

“Sure it wasn’t, but it is in between the lines of your thoughts. I’ll tell you the answer. You refused to feel anything back then, we all knew it. We all seen it, and it started to look like our arrogant bastard friend wasn’t coming back, those three went to the Hokage.” Genma smirked. “You still tried to be distant but we, I drug you out of the house.”

He bounced his senbon. “You refused to teached anyone until the angsty mix of two failed team become one come across you. Nostalgia hits and something in you turns and you wonder many, many things and suddenly decide it’s worth trying life again. I’ll let you think back on what some of those thoughts were.”

What is Minato’s son really like?

Can I help Sasuke not become like me?

Will Naruto become Hokage like Obito wanted to, or will he tragically die too?

Sakura reminds me so much of Rin, it hurts. 

She also seems to act like a lovesick teenager, not a shinobi.

They actually passed, they cared more for their teammates than rules…

“What brought you here today? Besides the guilt of surviving yet another mission past them. What’s really the stress here?”

Genma had always been blunt, he learned a long time ago it did no good to tiptoe around the silver haired man. Just get to the point, it’ll irritate him either way.

Kakashi stared at him a moment before sighing. “It didn’t strike me just exactly how similar she was to Rin until today. Sure, she was caring and outgoing like Rin, but she was also ill-tempered. Today, when she was willing to sacrifice herself to save Ino, she had accepted it openly. Willing to give up everything she has, everyone she has. Her job, her future as the medical director, being by Naruto’s side, being a medic. Being a kunoichi.” There was a shudder that went through him as the memory came back, one he tried not to recall ever. “Just as Rin gave her life to my chidori without a second thought to save the village… Sakura was ready t give up everything if it meant we would be safe from them...” 

“Give up you, and your relationship.” Genma said plainly, not beating around the bush like Kakashi was. “Kakashi, you do realize it’s acceptable to not be okay with that? You’re her man, of course you’re not okay with her throwing herself to the fire. Or to feel even an inkling of doubt when you witness something like that.”

“But I understood it!” Kakashi defended. “I couldn’t be mad at her, because I would have done the same thing for her, for Naruto, for our team or even you! Asuma, Kurenai, or Guy!”

“You can accept something, and still be hurt by it.” Genma said dryly. “I thought you of all people would understand that? Or is that why you have your hand on Rin’s name? Even though no matter how many times we tell you it’s not your fault, you still don’t believe it. She loved you, and she loved this village, and it’s people. So does Sakura, and I guarantee you she would have done the same damn thing if she had been Rin instead of Sakura. But that’s one thing you love about her, isn’t it? Her sense of duty, even past her emotions?”

 Genma’s gaze flickered over his shoulder and then he smiled. “Kakashi, we’re ninja. Our lives hang by a thread and things change every day. No one expects you to let go of the one person you let in completely. Not even her.” He winked before puffing away in a cloud of smoke after a series of hand signs.

Kakashi felt her chakra before he heard her. He couldn’t turn to look at her, what if she’s still angry? Angry that he wouldn’t have let her do it if it came down to it? 

He felt her hand on his shoulder, and it squeezed. It trailed down his back, before she wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face between his shoulder blades. He took a deep breath and let alone but it didn’t release a single bit of tension. His hand was still over Rin’s name, it wouldn’t even be the first time she found him like this.

He felt her chest expand against his back, but she said nothing. He tried to keep breathing. Her presence calmed him, even just the tiniest of bits. She would wait until he was ready to talk, she always had waited. 

Why was she able to be so patient with him? Would she ever tire of it, of him? 

How much did she hear? Is she mad that he was here, comparing her to the girl he might have loved and married if life wasn’t so cruel? He couldn’t love her then, but would she be like Sakura is now if she had ever made it to adulthood? Patient, caring, never giving up. 

He was sure she would have. 

He sighed. “Sakura… I’m s-”

“Kakashi, are you really about to apologize for comparing me to Rin, for seeing parts of the girl you loved in me?” There was a touch of humour and affection in her voice and it surprised him.

He turned around to face her, glancing down at her face, and caught the happy glimmer in her eyes.

“I…”

“You’re not the first or only one to see it, or tell me. We learned about her in the academy you know, it’s even taught that she had loved you.” She placed her hands on his face. “And there is no shame in realizing that if given the chance, you would have loved her back. That you love her now. I’ve known that for forever.”

“And it doesn’t...bother you?” 

“Why would it?” 

“Uh… Most women don’t like comparisons.”

“Most women also have types and so do men. I don’t think it’s insulting to know you fell in love with another medic who insistently took care of you, even if you were indifferent and distant.”

“Damaged.” He said softly.

She frowned, before pulling him to start walking back to his apartment. “We’re all damaged. That’s part of our lifestyle.”

“What’s it with you medics being overly understanding.” He chided.

“Empathy makes the job worth it.”

He smiled sadly. “Life’s unfair, you shouldn’t have to bear burdens such as emotionally stupid men like me.”

“Stop that, you deserve someone who cares for you, you’ve spent the last however long sacrificing yourself and feeling guilt over people who cared for you. You’re far from a burden. You’ve more good than harm to me.”

 “But now I have you… who frets about her teammates' health. Who believes in her idiot best friend, falls for the distant and damaged boy, and is more than ready and willing to give her life to save someone else’s. However, I can’t say Rin had a temper or loved our sensei romantically... ” He cracked a smile under his mask.

“Hey, my temper is usually justified...And she loved you, which is similar enough.”

His eyes softened. “I think you both have this incessant need to take care of people. Or the whole village itself.” He sighed. “And it scares me that I’ll lose you to that, just like I lost her…”

“And to take care of you.” Sakura said before kissing his masked cheek. “I’ll bet she’s up there, happy that you are happy, that there’s someone that cares for you as much as she did.”

“Maybe…” He kissed the top of her head. 

“I can’t promise you that I wouldn’t do the same as her, because we both know it’d be a lie.” She sighed. “But I would never expect you to agree with it…”

“Were you mad at me this morning?”

“No. I couldn’t stay mad anyway. I can’t be mad at you for loving me, Kakashi…”

“I still think you deserve better. Rin deserved better. So much better…”

Sakura nodded. “But so do you, now let yourself be happy this time.” She squeezed his hand before he nodded softly.

“I came here today because I remember barely surviving mentally after Rin died, especially from my jutsu, even if it wasn’t my fault, her blood was on my hands…” He squeezed her hand, hard. “Minato-sensei was the reason I made it through that, and when he died… It was you three that brought me back, and at first it was just pure curiosity. But now you’re my family, my precious people, and I love you. I don’t know if I could survive losing that again.”

“You better not be blaming yourself for Sasuke again…” 

Kakashi shook his head and glared at the ground. “No, not for this, Not for how far gone he is. I blame myself from not being able to stop him from leaving. Not for what… Not for how he is today.”

“You know, he won’t stop.” 

“Neither will I.” Kakashi looked at her as they entered his apartment. “I will die protecting you before I ever let him take you from me unless it was of your own desires to be with him, not go be a martyr to save the village from his wrath at the cost of your happiness.”

Sakura went to open her mouth to argue against before snapping it back shut. She remembered Ino, Tsunade and Shizune telling her one time a long time ago.

When someone decides they will take care of us, because we absolutely refuse to do it ourselves, don’t fight it. Just let them, because it’ll be useless to fight it anyway, because they love you and won’t sit back and watch you destroy yourself. 

One of these days, some hot ass shinobi is going to make you sit down and be cared for instead of being the one doing the caring, and you had better let him. 

Sakura kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She felt his strong hands grab her waist and hold her close. “I’ll be counting on it, cause someone has to, and I’d trust no one else but you…” She whispered into the kiss as he picked her up from the ground. “I love you, too…”

[myblueeyedbuggers]

My Boys

Chapter 5

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14

Pairings: Reader x Steve Rogers (best friend) Reader x Bucky Barnes

Word Count: 1402

Warnings: Slow Start, Language.

Summary: After being abandoned by her parents in Brooklyn in 1929, y/n makes a living for herself by working for the Црни лабуд gang until she meets two boys in a back alley and her life slowing begins to change

Hi all, so this one is more of a filler chapter, I couldn’t leave it out and skip straight to my next idea cause to be honest the story wouldn’t of made sense and we would of been confused XD. But luckily for you all, because this ones so short I’m gonna upload chapter 6 tonight as well :) Enjoy Everyone!

-Third person POV

Pure terror filled with atmosphere the minute the little girls body hit the floor, blood seeped out of the wound and stained the floor as the two boys fell next to her, calling her name in a panicked frenzy. The police pried the two boys away from the younger girl, carrying her over to the nearby paramedic as the pair watched helplessly, guilt crushing the both from the inside. Different people flocked to her side, one placing a mask on her face while another lifted her shirt and applied pressure to the wound.

Everyone’s gazes followed her, watching with sad eyes as the ambulance crew frantically packed her into the van, suddenly the young girl started convulsing and thrashing around as a crew member rushed to the door and slammed it shut as the ambulance pulled away, the sirens echoing off the buildings as the van disappeared from view. The two boys left behind were inconsolable as they turned away from the scene and followed the path of the ambulance, ignoring the calls of the police officers attempting to console them.

-Time Skip

The doors of the hospital flew open, Mrs Barnes flew across the floor, her two sons in tow as her daughter and husband followed them, her eyes were red from all the crying she had done, her heart heavy with dread and worry for the sweet girl brought to her a few days ago. The news of her boys being involved in something so horrifically violent nearly gave her a heart attack, knowing that if it wasn’t for the young girl, then both of her sons would have died for no reason.

The amount of gratitude she felt her the younger girl’s actions was indescribable, her disbelief that this girl was so willing to sacrifice herself for a pair of boys she hardly knew was baffling Mrs Barnes brain in more than one way. She had to know that the girl was okay, not only for her sake but for the two boys behind her, neither had said a word since they told her what happened, both too consumed by their own guilt.

The rapid pace of her approaching footsteps grabbed the attention of the nearby doctors and nurses, all watched with wide eyes as she neared the reception desk, the look on her face implied that she meant business. “Excuse me, but could you tell me which room y/n is in? the little girl brought in with the gunshot wound? Please she a very good friend of my sons and I’m worried sick about her” desperation laced her voice as the receptionist glanced at the woman wearily, “That all depends if you’re inquiry as a family member or a family friend Ma’am”.  A shaky laugh passed through the lips of the older woman as she stared at the receptionist disbelief, “ I’m not related to her, but she hasn’t got any family coming to see her, we’re the closest thing she has to that, please she saved my sons life today, I just need to know if she’s okay” the older woman’s voice faded into a whisper as she fought back the tears, Mr Barnes stood next to her and wrapped a arm around his wife in an attempt to comfort her.

Seconds passed before the receptionist replied, “Y/n’s in surgery, the bullet shattered, the doctors are trying to find all the pieces, she’s suffered a lot of blood loss due to internal bleeding, but all our best doctors are in there with her. She’ll be okay Ma’am. Room 296 has been prepped for her, I’ll put you all through as family for tonight, but only tonight.” The older woman grasped the hand of the receptionist, whispering her thanks before following her family down the corridor to the little girl’s room.

-Bucky’s POV

It’s all my fault… if I hadn’t of been so stupid y/n wouldn’t be in this situation. Her eyes were haunting my mind, the way they glossed over as she fell, the amount of pain that showed in them was enough to slowly send me insane. What the hell was I thinkin’?! she was fine before I decided to play hero! she was safe, alive and well.

She could die because of me, that’s the worst part. Because of me and my stupid ego she could die, I’d promised to protect and all I’ve done is hurt her, she’s better off without me near her, why didn’t I listen to her? She told me time and time again to leave her alone, that it was too dangerous for us. If only I’d listened…“Stop it Buck” Steve’s voice broke me outta my pity party, my head turned towards him as he began to talk, “Stop blaming yourself, it’s not your fault how were you to know that this would happen? Hell, how were we both supposed to see this happenin’? I knew she said she was in some kinda’ trouble but I never thought it’d be this bad. This is on me Buck, I was the one who followed her into that fight, not you, me. It was my idea to go and save her, my idea that got her shot, not yours.” Steve’s eyes shone with tears, his head was facing the floor in shame, “No Steve, this is on both of us, I was the one who brought her back home, the one who wouldn’t leave her on her own, and if you’re gonna try play that card, I didn’t stop you when you walked into the middle of that fight, I followed you in. So, if anything it’s on both of us”.

We both shared a look, each of our faces mirrored each other as we came close for a hug, my hold on him tight and firm as shared my strength with his.

I hope to god Y/n has it in her heart to forgive us both

-Time Skip

Third person POV

3 hours later, the sound of approaching footsteps woke Mr and Mrs Barnes from their sleep, the 3 kids still sound asleep on the sofa, quietly both parents stood up and made their way outside. A team of a doctor and nurses were rolling the bed currently occupied by y/n towards them, the young girl was a pale as a sheet, the dark bags under her eyes practically glowed in the low light, bandages covered most of her midriff and dark bruising covered her nose. Mrs Barnes clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her cry, her head turned into her husband’s chest as he fought to hold back the tears at the sight of the young girl, the doctor approached them with a sympathetic smile as he held his hand out to Mr Barnes.

“Good Evening Mr Barnes, my names Doctor Miller, now y/n has lost a lot of blood, the bullet nicked the aorta artery, but we managed to stop the bleeding. We had to put her under some sedatives for the time being, she’ll be very weak for a few days and unfortunately, she’ll have to remain in the hospital for the next few days while we monitor her progress, y/n will need lots of rest while she’s recovering so anything you can do to help her would be apricated. Besides from a broken now and a few bruised ribs, she’ll be okay, just give her a few days to come around.”

“Thank you for this doctor, there’s no words to say how grateful we are” Mr Barnes then offered his hand to the doctor and shook it, his eyes reflecting the gratitude for the doctor’s actions and his relief for the little girl being okay. With one final nod, Doctor turned and joined the nurses leaving y/n’s room, both parents glanced at each other as they prepared to walk back into the room, neither wanting to see the young girl in such a horrible state.

Both parents opened the door and made their way to the young girl’s side, sparing a glance to the other children on the sofa and checking to see if they were still asleep, luckily all three were still out for the count. More tears slid down the face of Mrs Barnes, her hand gently grasping the little girls as her husband pulled her back into his chest, him too struggling to fight off his own tears.

So that’s chapter 5 outta the way, kept it short and not to sweet (Pardon the poor play on words there). Hopefully you all enjoyed :)Thanks for Reading!

Rose xxx

[captain-tch]

All That I Can Give

summary: kiko is a struggling business owner thrown into the chaos of the borderlands. when she makes a mistake that will threaten her life, she learns just how far she will go to keep herself alive. 

chapter 12: never underestimate a spark

previous chapter

Morning came faster than she wanted it to. Kiko woke up against the wall, her back begging to be cracked and her neck aching. All of her joints protested as she clambered to her feet, with holding a yawn. 

Her gaze darted around. Her brain struggled to comprehend why she hadn’t woken up in a nest of blankets, a ragged sofa with a snoring Tetsu nestled within it. 

Tetsu! 

She scrambled to his side, holding his face in her hands. His bruises were a shade darker today, smaller cuts having crusted. He still hadn’t shown no sign of waking, still in the same position he was in when she brought him in last night. 

Last night. 

The days events rushed towards her like a tsunami. They shot her, but then they patched up her wounds. They kidnapped them, and then invited them to join their so called utopia, as if they had a choice. They gave her a room, with a bed and shower, but with the lock glued open. 

An uneasy feeling settled deep in her stomach. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this place brewed misery, and she was about to get sucked into a whirlwind of it. 

Looking at Tetsu, she knew this couldn’t happen soon. He hadn’t woken up yet. She imagined when he did wake up, he would have trouble moving at all. As much as her mind begged her to flee, she had to stay here. They needed a support network whilst both of their wounds healed. When they were in a clean bill of health they would escape. 

Kiko breathed deeply. The day to leave couldn’t come soon enough. 

She pulled Tetsu into the rolling chair, pushing him out of the room. She started to retrace her steps from last night, trying and desperately to find Ann. As she was rolling Tetsu down more corridors, rolling past curious onlookers she brushed off, it became apparent she had no fucking clue where she was going.

Turning a corner, her heart dropped out of her throat. Niragi was walking down the corridor, his gun casually slung over his shoulder. He was talking to the man with the katana. 

Kiko pulled Tetsu’s chair back, cursing as he started to slip out of the seat. She quickly ran around the front of it, pushing him back into the chair however she could. The footsteps got closer. Kiko panicked. Her gaze shot to the door nearest to her. 

She reached a frantic hand out, pushing the door open and wheeling Tetsu in. 

“Well, well, well. What are you doing here, little firecracker?” 

Kiko gulped. She spun around, discreetly closing the door shut behind her. She prayed no one was in the room. It would take a lot of explaining once this was all over. 

“Niragi, as unpleasant as always.” 

He snorted, elbowing his friend. “Last Boss, do you hear this? She’s as feisty as ever.” 

The man only stared at Kiko. She tried not to focus on him too much, crossing her arms across her chest and glaring at Niragi. The bullet wound on her shoulder ached. “I don’t have all day. What do you want? 

“I want you,” Niragi leaned closer, his mouth mere centimetres from hers. His friend continued watching intently. It was clear this was something he was very accustomed to witnessing. “I want you underneath me as I-” 

Kiko raised a hand, placing a silencing finger over his lips. “I get the picture.” 

He only smirked under her finger, his gaze on her as he parted his lips. His tongue grazed along her finger. Kiko withheld a shudder. She snatched her hand back as soon as she could. Niragi chuckled. 

“Where’s your little friend?” 

Kiko stiffened at the mention of Tetsu. She forced a smile on her face, practising her well rehearsed script. An iron wall was built in front of her features, cemented by her solid stance. “I’m not his keeper.”

“Didn’t seem that way yesterday.” Kiko tried not to let the events from the kidnapping play over in her head. If she even thought of how Niragi threw Tetsu to the ground, how she knew in her bones he caused that gravel rash on his cheek, she was certain she would snatch the rifle from his grasp and fill him full of lead. It wouldn’t achieve much - she’d probably be skewered by Last Boss before she could hit anything major - but the satisfaction of seeing the red blossom on Niragi’s shirt? Euphoric. 

“Not everything is as it seems.” 

“Know that from experience?” Niragi lifted his rifle, pointing the sights directly at Kiko. Immediately she pressed herself into the wall, her heart racing a million miles a minute. From the short time she’d been at the Beach she knew Niragi and the militants weren’t the kind to be messed with, and staring down the barrel of his gun right now drilled that into her mind. Her hand discreetly found the handle of the door behind her, ever so slowly turning it downwards. 

The barrel moved downwards. Kiko couldn’t hide the sigh of relief that passed her lips. Niragi laughed darkly at her, swinging his gun around carelessly. “I knew it. You look like a firecracker, but you’re not even a spark.” 

Niragi nudged Last Boss’ shoulder, gesturing for them to carry on down the hall. They started to disappear from sight, Kiko trying to hide the fact she was leaning on the door for support. She had felt the bony fingers of the Grim Reaper about to tear her away from this world. She could feel the imprint of them on her skin. 

As much as her legs still shook, her jaw was set. Niragi’s words swirled in her mind. He thought he was weak? He had barely met her. He didn’t know the damage she could cause with her own hands, the very hands she was both proud and ashamed to look at. He didn’t know that she took down the demon haunting her existence with something as simple as a paper weight. He didn’t know that she intended to sacrifice others to survive. 

She might be a spark. But when a spark is left ignored, it can very quickly turn into an inferno. 

A smile curled onto her face. Niragi didn’t know shit, and one day he was going to find out the hard way how badly he had underestimated her. One of the few joys she found in life was proving people wrong. She would love to prove Niragi wrong by smearing his blood all along the walls. 

Shaking off the residue fear, Kiko opened the door behind her. Tetsu was miraculously still in the chair. He was nestled against the wall and besides him, a woman with dreads smiled up at Kiko. 

Kiko watched her warily as the unknown woman got to her feet, sticking a plastic stick in her mouth. Unconsciously, she took a step back. 

“I’m assuming you’re the one who pushed him in here?” The woman queried, gesturing to Tetsu behind her. “He’s pretty beaten up.”

“Game.” Kiko answered her unspoken question. She moved towards Tetsu, maneuvering herself behind him and preparing to roll him away. “Sorry about that.” 

“You two new around here?”

Kiko nodded. 

“You’ve made quite the impression. Niragi’s taken a liking to you.” 

“He’s got a strange way of showing it.” She could still feel the ghost of his tongue along her finger. The desire to plunge her whole hand in acid was overwhelming. 

The woman’s gaze moved to Kiko’s bandaged shoulder. It seemed like she put the puzzle pieces together, eyes lighting up in recognition. “You’re the pair they brought back from the supply run?” 

Kiko nodded. She was starting to feel uncomfortable under the woman’s probing gaze. She seemed to be assessing every curve of Kiko’s body, taking in all the bruises, cuts and bandages covering her body. 

“We better get going.” 

The woman nodded. Just as Kiko was leaving, the woman jumped in front of the chair. Kiko considered using the chair as a battering ram, but the thought of the extra effort made the decision for her. 

“Going anywhere special?” 

“To see Ann.” Kiko halted, looking at the woman. “Can you show us where she is? This place is a maze.” 

The woman agreed, sending Kiko a bright smile. The woman, whom Kiko quickly learned was called Kuina, was very talkative, filling the space between them with mindless chatter. Kiko didn’t mind it too much. It was a great distraction from the constant whirring in her head. 

Kuina showed them where Ann’s medical office was, standing by as Ann redressed Kiko’s and Tetsu’s wounds. She gave some pain relief, sending them on their way. 

By the time they’d left the medical office, the light through the windows was starting to fade. Kiko’s worried gaze fixated on Tetsu. His visa ran out tonight, and he wasn’t even conscious. She had a few extra days on hers since she played early, but the thought of sitting it out was ludicrous. She wasn’t going to let Tetsu enter a game and not even be aware. 

She would be his body guard. 

 Kuina noticed Kiko’s heavy eyes. “Does his visa expire tonight?” 

Kiko nodded. 

“What are you going to do?” 

“Protect him.” 

Sensing Kiko’s resolve, Kuina led Kiko down to the main lobby. She explained on the way that before the games, Hatter would give what he deemed a ‘motivating’ speech, and then people selected a number at random. This number assigned them to a car, and that car of people would go to the game arena. 

Kiko drowned out Hatter’s words, gaze curiously moving throughout the room. She saw quite a few familiar faces, her eyes wandering. They stopped on a face she couldn’t quite recognise. She was a young girl, dressed in a bikini and shawl covering her legs. She was talking animatedly with her friends, laughing hard. As if she felt Kiko’s gaze on her, she turned around. 

The colour instantly drained from her face. 

The memory came rushing back. The paper weight. The mess of Ryuk’s head underneath her hands. And the girl shying away from Kiko’s bloody hands. 

This girl had witnessed her commit a murder. 

Kuina passed Kiko a number. “This is Tetsu’s car.” 

Not fully processing what was happening, Kiko took the number from Kuina’s hand. She started to move Tetsu in the direction they needed to go in. She carefully lifted Tetsu’s body off of the chair, pushing it into the car. She put his seat belt on before diving in next to him. 

The car ride was a blur. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, consumed with anxieties over the girl, and Tetsu’s unconscious state. What if the girl told someone? She wasn’t familiar enough with the Beach yet to know if murder was something that would slide. What if this was a spades game? She wasn’t sure how far she could carry Tetsu with her screaming shoulder. 

The car pulled to a stop outside a high school. All of the cars occupants left the car, them all leaving Kiko to struggle carrying Tetsu’s body weight. She stumbled behind them as they entered the school, arrows directing them further into the building. They stopped once they reached the canteen, a single table placed in the middle of the room. 

A pile of phones was set up in front of it. The Beach members all grabbed a phone, Kiko shoving hers into her pocket and holding the phone over Tetsu’s face. Her breath halted in her throat as a nerve wrecking thought dashed through her mind - does it register someone when they’re unconscious? 

She didn’t have to worry too long as the screen quickly filled with his details. 

Kiko frowned, looking around the room. There was only six of them altogether from the Beach. She looked around the room to see if anyone was hiding. She looked again at the central table. On the table laid six glasses of clear liquid. 

“GAME: CUPBEARER. DIFFICULTY: EIGHT OF DIAMONDS.” 

Kiko swore colourfully under her breath. In her arms, she felt Tetsu’s body begin to dip. She gripped him tighter, pulling him upright. 

“Kiko?” A voice mumbled. 

Kiko’s head snapped in the direction of the voice. One of Tetsu’s eyes was swollen shut; but the other was fluttering open. A huge surge of relief washed over her. 

“What’s going on?” He rasped. 

“We’re at a game.” 

“But, how...” Tetsu trailed off. 

Kiko opened her mouth to explain as the bodiless voice boomed through the room. 

“REGISTRATION COMPLETE.”

Kiko prayed that Tetsu gathered his wits soon. If he didn’t, it might kill them all. 

[toloveawarlord]

Sheep Among the Wolves (Ch.1)

You can find my masterlist in my bio!

Characters: Karina, Diavolo, Barbatos

Tagging:  @plumpblueberry  @starry-starry-night24​ @youreawizardharr​ @gay-noodle-clan​

A/N: Day 12 of the 12 Days of OCmas! A lot late and out of order but here it is! Diavolo becomes a dad, basically, to a half-angel.

The ritual had gone wrong.

Searing pain radiated from the branding on her chest. Creaky bones were stretched to the brink of their breaking point. Sour, metallic taste of her own blood dripping into her mouth from the wound on her forehead was nearly too much for the child to bear. Once pure white wings stained crimson on her back.

Her entire being begged for release, battered to the edge of death but not granted that mercy.

No, she lived in utter agony as her body tried to heal itself.

“You are not valuable to me dead, child.” A witch cut her binds, leaning over the girl to check all her injuries. Utterances in foreign tongue removed the sense of feeling, leaving only a comforting numbness. “Your natural healing will soon relieve you of the major wounds.”

And so it did.

A creature of her lineage regained its natural state quickly. Merely an hour had passed, and her ability to move her limbs, stand and walk were returned to her. The pain dulled but ever present.

The scene around her caused only by her hand. A release of strong power had massacred the coven of witches. Their mangled bodies strewn about the room, splattered blood over the walls. The girl couldn’t remember how it had happened, only screaming in agony for it to end.

What did this witch want with her?

“Don’t think me as weak as these.” The threat given with narrowed eyes of a powerful being.

A portal to another realm opened. The witch tugged her along, no concern for the poor state she was still in. Blood caked into her skin, myriad of blue and yellow bruises littered across her body. All that was needed was to deliver her to the Demon Prince for the witch’s pardon.

The air was heavy in this place. Atmosphere darker than that of the human realm she’d been used to. Yet, a glittering castle stood before her, growing ever closer with each stumbling step took as she struggled to keep up with the witch. It was taller than other buildings and even grander on the inside.

Two awaited them in the throne room. Their forms were one that the girl had only read of in stories and seen pictures in books.

Horns. Dark, bony wings. A serpent tail.

Demons.

“Artemisia, I began to think you’d not return.” His voice deep, sounding nothing less than absolute authority as he sat upon the crimson throne. Golden eyes cast an intimidating gaze down upon the witch, muscular arms folded across his broad chest. 

Her head bowed, and she replied, “I promised the nephilim child, Lord Diavolo. I wouldn’t dare attempt any tricks or to run.”

The child wanted to flee. Body so tense it ached. A spell actively keeping her under the witch’s control.

Diavolo assessed the girl from afar. “And you bring her to me in such a pitiful state?” The power that ebbed from that small body astounded him. Quite useful, indeed. His attention moved away to the other demon. “Barbatos, escort the nephilim to her chambers and see to it that she is made presentable.”

“As you command, my lord.” Steps silent as he approached. Barbatos knelt to get a better view of her, assessing how stained and bloodied she was. Mismatched eyes of violet and mint were trembling with fear. “I’ll ask you to release your spell.”

Her body became her own again. The instinct to run, to preserve her existence flared. Yet, her legs refused to move. Being in the demon realm snuffed out any escape. She couldn’t control her powers enough to open a portal back to the human world, and even if she did, she’d only be hunted by humans, witches, and angels once again.

She tired of it all.

“Please allow me to escort you, miss.” Barbatos offered her a gentle smile, holding out his gloved hand. It wouldn’t do to force her, as she already feared them. If they ever wish to have her cooperation, her trust would first need to be won.

A room had been previously prepared in anticipation of her arrival. The prospect of a living nephilim, especially a child, had truly intrigued the demon prince. Barbatos could agree that her power could be useful, but raising a half-angle that was no older than eight or nine physically would prove challenging.

He drew a bath, watching her fidget from her spot next to him. If what the witch Artemisia said was true, a coven had tried to sacrifice her for power. “It’s prepared. I shall take care to clean your wings as well.”

The girl complied, the bite of the near scalding water turning murky red as it eroded the blood from her skin. The silence broke with a meek question. “Why are you...”

Aren’t you going to kill me too?

Her true question unable to pass her lips.

“The young master has no such intentions. You are now the ward of the future King of Devildom. My lord has placed you under his protection,” Barbatos answered, delicately removing the crimson stains from her wings. Her head bobbed, lashes fluttering against her cheeks. His statement like permission for the child to allow herself to relax.

Heavy exhaustion fell over her body. Though healed nearly completely, the aching lingered in her mind. Too many days had passed since her last opportunity to rest. The young girl fell asleep right there in the crimson bathwater.

Barbatos took expert care of her. Drying her off, dressing her in clean clothes, and tucking her into bed. Her features showed the most peaceful expression he’d witnessed since her arrival. “Shall I wake her?”

“That’s not necessary. I expected this after the tale the witch gave. We’ll have plenty of time to welcome her properly after she’s rested,” Diavolo answered in a whisper. She was quite an adorable child, now that she wasn’t drenched in dirt and blood. Truly one with angel blood coursing through her veins.

He expected her to be quite useful, indeed.

*****

A lavish dinner had been prepared and set elegantly on the table. Even from the doorway, the little girl could smell the delectable aroma. She shielded a yawn with the palm of her hand. Even after a peaceful nap, the tiredness continued to plague her body.

Her clothes were new and not worn as the ones that she had been used to. A muted gold dress that fell to her knees and a pair of silver flats that were properly sized. Blonde hair brushed and tied back in a loose ponytail.

“I’ve yet to learn your name. You may call me Diavolo. I am the Lord of this domain, although I’m sure Barbatos has already told you that.” He folded his hands, elbows leaned against the table, and rested his chin on them.

Her gaze fell away, only peeking at him out of the corner of her vision. Although no one had harmed her, the girl would not trust demons so easily. The stories passed down from the humans painted a grim picture. She muttered quietly. One word.

“Karina, huh?” Diavolo pondered for a moment, and chuckled. “A fitting name, as you are the purest thing in Devildom.” He’d amused himself.

Inviting her to eat whatever she wished, Diavolo simply observed. Such strong power locked inside that small body. A timid child. Mismatched eyes darting around the room to find the source of the smallest noise. Yet, the ghost of a smile on her lips as she nibbled at the warm food on her plate showed her innocence.

What he knew of nephilims was that they aged quicker than normal angels until they reached maturity, although it still took a significant amount of time. Their powers were hard to control, but not too much was known as their kind had been hunted down and killed. 

“This place will be your home. I do hope you’ll come to be more comfortable.” She was adorable, petite like a little doll. He awaited the day that he could show her off to everyone, let them bask in all her cuteness. Patience was necessary but not what the young king was used to. “Should you need anything, do not hesitate to ask myself or Barbatos. Anything at all. Books, toys, clothes. Whatever you wish for, it will be yours.”

Without his wings and horns, he wasn’t as intimidating as before. The authoritative gleam behind those golden eyes had disappeared, replaced with.. something she hadn’t received from anyone is so long...

Kindness.

He meant his words. She sensed no deception, no manipulation. It wasn’t clear what he wanted from her, and they all wanted something. 

“I suppose words don’t mean much to you after all you’ve been through. Take all the time you need.”

His smile almost made her feel safe, like she might be able to trust him. Karina had thought those feelings to be lost to her, security and assurance; comfort and warmth. How did a demon make her feel what angels could not?

Diavolo excused himself from the table, having a late meeting with some lesser demons. He’d much rather spend time marveling at his new ward, watching her expression brighten with each new dessert she snacked on.

Barbatos cleared away the dishes, careful not to make sudden noises that startled the young girl. She’d slowed her eating, clearly full but wanting to indulge more in the delicious sweets in front of her.

The girl, however, took the next opportunity alone to sneak out of the large dining hall. Glancing down the seemingly never ending hallway stretching in both directions, she tried to remember the way back to her room, but she ended up wandering endless.

The pictures on the walls moved, some even sounded as though they were trying to speak. Anxiety rose up within her, creeping over her body. Her defense rising.

“Hey there! Are ya lost?” The little round, black creature with horns spoke with pep but it hardly mattered.

She screamed, releasing her angelic power in a huge burst. Wings erupting from her back, mismatched eyes glowing with the immense power. The floor quaked and the castle shuttered. She’d lost control, or what little of it she’d ever had.

All she saw was pure white. A color she detested nearly as much as herself. 

[coeurdastronaute]

Single 8

previously on Single

The city was dingy, dull with the weight of the winter, crispy and sullen, swollen with the long nights of rain and the overcast skies that refused to let anything melt. Buildings were obscured by the low clouds and the world was weary, so very weary from the chill and the perpetual mist that made everything slick. 

The day was heavy for many reasons, the weather included but not the worst of it, by far. Too much distracted the hero as she sat atop the Landmark building. Too many thoughts caught up with her, dousing her in the rain and the fear that she had no more control over her life. And when she found herself feeling this way, Kara did her best not to act without thinking. 

Often, her sister accused her of being rash, but she had a problem and she had to fix it. There were only so many options. But she needed time to think. It was all too much and her entire world was about to change, whether she wanted it or not. 

Kara placed her hand on her stomach and thought about her entire being, both of her sides-- the reporter, just getting the world figured out, getting her writing published, getting everything she wanted under Cat’s guidance because she worked constantly. She put in long days and ran all over town, with no one to answer to or for. 

The hero. Kara felt like she was finally figuring out how to be effective, how to save, how to balance it all. She was tired and she was growing and now, the city would go to hell because there was no way she could do all three. Two lives was barely manageable. 

And now this.

All at once the plan formed in her head. It came with an alarming clarity the moment someone punched her in the stomach and sent her flying. Her hand pressed against the slight bump there as she freed herself from the wreckage and she knew. There was a flutter there, almost constant now. 

Slowly, Kara made her way to her apartment, taking a leisurely fly, despite the weather, enjoying the freedom of her city. She needed the feeling of being unrestrained, sometimes, to keep her centered, to help her remember. More and more, Kara felt herself becoming solitary despite the wealth of people around her. She needed a little bit of self-reliance to do what was coming. 

She took a warm shower and had a large dinner, all while working over the words in her head. It was late by the time she sent the text and asked Mon-el to come over, met with winking emojis and hearts. 

“I just got back from the ship,” he greeted her, happy and kissing her cheek then neck then jaw as he entered the apartment. 

He wasn’t terrible. That was the best part. He was easy, thoughtless, a friend and a comfort, understanding her in ways that many others couldn’t. The customs of his planet were close, but never quite right. His unease on earth never quite going away. But he wasn’t the fulfillment of the prophecy. He wasn’t the love of her life, but now he was in it forever. As childish as she felt, craving bedtime stories and believing in things her mother told her, sometimes she was certain of the veracity of fairytales.

“I can make this quick--”

“I don’t have to be back until tomorrow night. We can take our time.” 

Hands moved to her hips and lips moved to her neck and for a moment, Kara let her eyes drift back as she melted into the feeling before ripping her back to reality as his hand ghosted on her stomach. 

“No, no. I have-- I have to talk to you,” Kara insisted, creating some room. 

“That sounds… not good,” Mon-el furrowed, cocking his head enough that his smile faltered slightly. 

“It depends on how you take it.” 

“Well that makes me nervous.” 

“I don’t want you to be nervous,” Kara offered, moving toward the kitchen. She poured him a stiff drink and handed it to him. “Take a seat.” 

“This is a kind way to break up with me,” he offered with a weak laugh. “At least there’s booze.” 

Kara stood there, wringing her hands and staring at the man she loved-- but wasn’t in love with-- the kind man, the human man who tried to live up to the ideal that Kara and her cousin put on for the world, the man who wasn’t human but was so human and flawed. He was one of her favorite people-- prone to fits of anger, prone to bouts of righteousness, prone to trying his best. 

“I’m just going to say it.” 

“Yes, please.” 

“But I want you to not react. Just sit with the news. I don’t need an answer or anything-- in fact I have a plan. I just can’t tell anyone else until I tell you.” 

“Kara, please. I just need to know. You’re kind of scaring me.” 

“I’m pregnant.” 

The quiet of the room was so loud that Kara couldn’t hear anything else. Her boyfriend stared at her with disbelief, his face blank and processing. His eyes moved to her stomach where her hand protectively rubbed. He furrowed and saw the bump when he knew what he was looking for. 

His drink was downed in an instant and he hissed against the pain before getting up to refill his glass and down it again. 

“You have to say something,” Kara finally managed. 

“You said I didn’t have to say anything.” 

“Well yes, initially, but I need--”

“I’m going to be a father?” he asked, the joy settling on his face finally. It was slow to form and it was through much effort, but it was there. 

“Yeah. In about six months. I just found out--”

Mon-el scooped up Kara and hugged her tightly, excited and growing to understand the news more and more. It took a beat to sink into his mind that it was about him, that he was going to do it and it was him that made this possible. 

“I can’t believe it,” he whispered, hugging her tightly. “A prince to continue the line.” 

Kara froze at the words. 

She hadn’t thought of him at all when she came up with her plan. 

XXXXXXXXXX

Increasingly pregnant and hormonal, Supergirl sat on her couch, furiously tucking into a rather large tub of her favorite ice cream while a movie hummed to itself on the television. The old black-and-white movie tried to keep her entertained, but failed as so many other things distracted her. 

Everything stopped though as her phone started to ring with multiple alerts, followed by the inevitable buzzing of her watch. It didn’t matter about the fight she’d had with Mon-el, and it didn’t matter that no one was listening to her when it came to the plans she was making. The only thing that mattered was helping. 

But by the time Kara made it, it was too late. 

The world would never be the same. 

Before anyone could comfort her about her cousin’s death, Kara left. 

XXXXXXXXXX

“You are perfect,” Kara whispered. 

Tiny toes wiggled. Tiny fingers grabbed at nothing and everything while perfect pink cheeks cried slightly. Eyes staring blankly and seeing the entire world for the first time, the infant didn’t know what to do, and so allowed herself to be coddled and swaddled and sniffed. 

“You are absolutely perfect,” Kara smiled, tears streaming down her face as she ran her nose along the small tuft of hair. 

The perfect baby smelled warm and sweet. In the hospital bed, the new mother cried as she held her new daughter, alone in the fifth floor room at the end of the hall. The baby girl made tiny noises, yawning and fighting the feeling of being born. 

“You are going to be very happy here.” 

“Are you ready to call your family?” the nurse interrupted the quiet moment. 

“I suppose I should.” 

“You can take a few more minutes.” 

Kara wanted to argue, but she really couldn’t come up with any reasons why she should delay except that she selfishly wanted to freeze this moment in time, where everything was okay and her heart didn’t hurt. 

Instead, she just nodded and kissed her daughters cheeks before letting her squeeze her finger. 

XXXXXXXXXX

“On the day you were born, the skies opened up,” Kara’s mother explained as she hugged her daughter, kissing the top of her head. “The entire city was a party.”

“Because it was Confluence Day!”

“Yes, darling,” she smiled and held her daughter tighter. 

They sat on her bed in the twilight, remembering and preparing to sleep. It was a favorite story of Kara’s to hear because it was her story-- only her’s and no one else's. In a world that shared everything, she was grateful to be her own thing entirely. 

“On the day you were born, the lanterns joined the stars with our greatest hopes and wishes, and music played so loud--”

“Even the moons were dancing.” 

“And they danced for days to celebrate.” 

“That’s a lot of dancing,” Kara realized.

“It is. And on the day you were born, the world wrote a poem--”

“Tell me the poem, Mama.”

Alura squeezed her daughter and closed her eyes, remembering the feeling of receiving her newborn, the joy she felt when she first looked into her eyes, the warmth of the tiny body and how amazed she’d been each day since as she grew into a person with her own thoughts and ideas. 

“On the day you were born, the clouds sang a song, and they told of your life, and how wonderful you would be.” 

“And the fairytale,” Kara giggled, as her mother moved, tugging up the blankets to tuck her in for the night. 

“You, my darling, are meant to unite worlds. The stars wrote it out and I read the story myself. You are going to--”

“Be full of love.” 

“Even when it is hard, even after your loses. You will love someone who can take it all from you, but you have enough faith and love to save them.” 

Kara stared at her mother, wide-eyed despite knowing the story by heart. It blew her away everytime, despite it not making much sense to her. The child didn’t know anything about love and sacrifice, but she felt the weight of her mother’s words and it motivated her. 

“Love can do that?” 

“Love is the most powerful thing in the entire universe.”

“Stronger than an atom?” 

“Stronger,” Alura promised, kissing her forehead. “Sleep well. Sweet dreams.” 

“Goodnight, Mama.” 

Despite the lights being turned out and her mother’s story, Kara didn’t sleep. The child sat on her windowsill in the dark and stared out at her sky, at the view of the planets and rings and moons and stars and the sleeping city beneath. She pressed her forehead against the window and she sighed, trying to figure out how to love so hard. 

XXXXXXXXX

“Don’t be stupid, Kara!” 

“Don’t raise your voice at me.” 

Calmly, Kara finished washing the bottles and setting them to dry on the counter. The baby slept in her room, unaware of the heated words exchanged outside, unaware of her place in the universe as the heir to the throne of Daxam. 

“My daughter is meant for more than this place, and you know that.” 

“She isn’t yours. She’s her own person who will make her own choices.” 

“My daughter will be more than just this. She is greatness and destined to lead my people as I was destined. I fought it, Kara, and look at what happened. There must always be--”

“You will not drag her into your politics.” 

“I won’t let you keep her from--”

“You will not take her,” Kara said, her teeth gnashing together as she gripped the counter tightly. “You will not make her into what you want.” 

“Kara, she is destined--”

“She will make her own decisions, and I will not have you around if you’re going--”

“You can’t keep me from her!” Mon-el yelled in his own frustration. 

“I will to protect her, and if that means keeping you away, then I will.” 

He clenched his jaw, his eyes on fire. 

“We’ll pick this up another day, when you’ve thought about it.” 

“There’s nothing to think about.” 

“There are many things we will have to figure out, but I won’t ignore what my daughter is meant for, and neither will you.” 

“You are choosing to leave and go back to Daxam,” Kara reminded him as he snatched his coat and stormed toward the door. “You are leaving her behind.” 

“To hell I am.” 

XXXXXXXXXX

“On the day you were born,” Kara began as she kissed her daughter’s forehead and snuggled up with her in her bed. 

“I was born during storms,” Katie offered as she adjusted in her bed. 

“On the day you were born, the skies were celebrating, and lightning danced and thunder played songs for everyone to sing along with.” 

“What a party,” she whispered, earning a smile from her mother. 

“On the day you were born, the entire universe celebrated, because you were born to be happy. You are a shining star built from the best parts of the sun.” 

“What does that mean?” 

“It means you are the best part of the entire world to me, and the universe knew that I needed you. You are my gift.” 

“Wow.” 

“On the day you were born,” Kara continued, tucking in her daughter, careful to wrap up the sheets nice and tight. “The trees danced, and the animals sang, and the moon as bright because you were here, finally.” 

“All of that, for me?” Katie grinned as her mother kissed her forehead.

“Sweet dreams, darling. I love you.” 

“I love you too. Goodnight, Mama.” 

Kara paused as she watched Katie hug the stuff whale Lena got her, careful to make sure her nightlight was still on. She closed the door quietly and made her way back into the living room where her girlfriend sat with a glass of wine, flipping through the specs from some of her most resent research results. 

There were not many better sights in the world than her daughter nearly asleep and a beautiful girl on her couch. 

“She’ll be out in a few minutes,” Kara promised as she poured herself a glass and took her seat beside Lena, kissing her cheek and neck as she did, earning a giggle. 

“Good. Now you can finish telling me about the prophecy.” 

“I’m sick of bedtime stories,” Kara shook her head and reached o toss aside the folder Lena was looking at. “I’d rather just spend the evening with you.” 

“My, my, Kara Danvers,” Lena smiled and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend’s neck. “You are very persuasive.”

[crystalk17]

Rise(G/T)

This is a One-shot for a character that I created along time ago. His name is Zecoran. He is a giant witch doctor who usually doesn’t take well to humans...except this one in particular who is now his apprentice.  I am starting to get back into writing with him, so tell me your opinion. He has reddish short hair. An all black ensemble including a black vest and black long boots. He has tattoos all up and down his arms. Only color on his clothing is a red bow tie made from a strand of cloth and red gloves. He even has black glasses he constantly wears. I wonder what he’s hiding? 

A tiny tries to desperately to help her giant friend. Problem is...is he gone...like deceased. His little apprentice must use all of her skills to bring him back. Even though most of the time she doesn’t really want him around 

Warning: OLD WRITTING!!!!!

Warning: mentions of ritual summoning and death

The forest was quiet. There were no birds hopping around in the winter night. There were no deer trying to find food last-minute. There wasn't even wind to make the branches of the eerie bare black beaches of trees to move. There was nothing. The snow was glistening because it had just recently fallen to the earth from the heavens and no human has walked through to make any footprints or crunching sound.

That was until one single human dared disturb the stillness. She ran around watching the pink and purple sky. It was that time of day that the sun was just reaching the ground and turning the sky dark preparing for the moon. She was in a hurry. She only had a set amount of time to accomplish her mission. If she slipped up or waited too long, she could never again have this chance again.

The sixteen-year-old girl ran around collecting pieces of weed grass, purple flower petals, web from a spider, and lastly white petals from a giant flower. She climbed up the stem trying to tear off and cut the glistening pure white petals yelling at herself because this took the longest. All the other materials could be from humans, but this ingredient had to be from the giant realm.

It took her 5 minutes just to climb up and another 5 to cut-off what she needed. She stuffed the huge petal she collected into her brown satchel and cautiously climbed down. She lost her balance from the rough edges on the stem, but she caught herself once she started to slide.

The girl ended up leaving time and jumped off the giant flower and landed, not very gracefully on the ground. She had to catch herself with her hands before her whole body tumble to the ground.

Once she landed she took off turning towards a clearing as quick as she could.

She slowed down once she got to the perfect clear spot and started to shove the snow, so she could see the ground.

" Ok Zecoran. This has to work." Chell took out a bowl of animal blood and made the shape of a pentagram with a skull in the middle. Chell then sprinkled all the ingredients she collected on the pentagram lastly sitting in the middle.

" This has to work. This has to work," she repeated to herself. The red-headed sly and just rude giant helped her out to no end. She hated him when they first meet because he had to make sacrifices of her kind to a Goddess every month. The catch is Zecoran is over a thousand years old. That's what over 10,000 people in a lifetime? She didn't even think that was possible. All those helpless people who were just murdered to keep one man alive and powerful that was the most selfish thing she ever heard of. She hated him for it. She honestly did not care if he was her protection and shelter.

See the catch was she would be his apprentice. He would teach her magic, protect her, give her a place to stay, but in return she was his apprentice. Being an apprentice meant helping him with the sacrifices.

Chell had to admit to herself though, she's been with this man for 2 years now, and she was starting to see past his flaws. Don't get her wrong, he was a pompous, arrogant, jerk wad that did what he wanted, but...he had his moments. Like when his Goddess came to earth and instructed him to sacrifice her. Zecoran became careless and showed too much interest in Chell and her training, so the Goddess instructed him to sacrifice her.

Chell thought if it came down to her or Zecoran, of course, he would choose himself. She was an insect on this earth to him. Literally. She was a 16-year-old human. Chell could fit into Zecoran's palm, and he still had room to wrap his hand around her body and still had room to apply pressure without thinking about it, but he did the unthinkable. Zecoran told his master no.

This was Chell's only chance. She had to bring her friend back to life using a resurrection spell. The Goddess took his life ending it abruptly, but she had to return the favor and bring Zecoran back.

Chell sat in the circle and closed her eyes. " Hanc perditam referantur. Quid referam nocte periit. Et haec materiae offerre tibi in commutationem pro anima. Afferte huc illum ad me!" She chanted this spell over out loud twice. She opened one eye to peek and nothing happened. " What the Hell. Your suppose to glow! Glow God dame it!"

She hit the ground twice in frustration, but that's when it started to glow purple. The surrounding pentagram started to glow and turn a shade of lavender purple then turn sky blue.

Chell ran out of the circle as fast as she could. " Come on. Come on work." she started to pray to the very Goddess that took her friend's life.

Chell fell to the ground and images of Zecoran's death and torture flashed into her mind. She saw him all bloody and yelling for help. He was on the ground and looked weak. Her giant friend 50 times her size reduced to rubble and curled up on the ground begging for the torture to end.

The light subsided and abruptly ended. Chell looked around and saw nothing. "Zecoran!...Zecoran you there?"

She heard no call. She heard no reply. Chell allowed her body to fall to the ground and curl up. " This was my only chance...I'm sorry" She looked up towards the sky and started to cry. " Why can't I be more powerful. I can't even do a basic resurrection spell. I can't bring my friend back to this earth...I wouldn't say this to him, but I actually miss his snarky remarks, how he abruptly picked me up for intimidation, or how he showed small amounts of kindness to me... Why did I misplace his frail trust?" Chell was actually in tears for the vest-wearing, smoking pipe giant.

" Well, I didn't know you cared that much?" Chell lifted her head up at the deep and smooth voice that was directed at her.

Leaning against a tree that was his size he had his arms crossed and one leg tucked behind the other. He was wearing his stupid all back ensemble with vest and red bow tie. He was smoking that freaking pipe like he was standing there all along.

" Well, I don't. So get over yourself." She wiped a few tears from her face, so he would not see.

Zecoran walked over and plucked her off the ground by her clothing causing her to dangle in the air and come level to his face. " How many times to I have to tell you! Don't do that!" she squirmed trying to release her body, but all she accomplished to do was cause herself to swing in the air.

Zecoran smiled at her frail attempts then placed her on his shoulder. Before continuing on his way he took a finger and wiped her eyes getting the rest of her tears off her face. " You did good kid...I even came back intact."

Chell shook her head in agreement and got close to the giant's neck like she was hugging him. " I missed you."

[heartofsnark]

Can You Feel The Sun? (Prologue)

Notes: Been working on this and chapter one for a while now, uhhhh, Aidan has changed a bit since her porny one shots. But still the same clusterfuck. For this fic, I wanted to do something a little different and did a short little prologue. The first chapter is much longer I assure you. But uh, take an appetizer. 

Word Count: 1075 

Warnings: Death, Mourning, Blood, Murder, Ableism (ableism is a big aspect of Aidan’s childhood), Like her dad nearly murdered her as a child, so thats pretty fucked. Hitting a girl in the head with a branch, because that’s occasionally the vibe. 

“Below the willow tree

Is where I hide the darkest parts of me

They're hiding underneath

The broken lies that I just still believe”

The bark chips away under Aidan’s knife, the seventeen-year-old carving out an epithet. Her mother’s ashes scattered along the roots of the towering tree, hours after she’d watch the body burned on pyre before the clan. ‘Aoife Becker’, jagged and uneven are the first two words to engrave the weathered trunk. Aidan’s eyes sting, burning with unshed tears and her hand shaky as she carves out the next words; ‘Time Will Not Dim Your Sacrifice’. She cuts her hand on the ‘y’, a sharp pain as the blade slices her palm, blood staining the tree, marking the words she’s left for the dead.

Aidan runs her stinging palm along one of the branches that bend to meet it’s roots, her mom’s words on the importance of weeping willows fresh in her mind. The Herd burns their dead, ashes to ashes. City folks don’t bother burying their dead anymore, but use to be everyone would. Then capitalism ruined it all, as it so often does according to her mom, but with the dead being returned to earth it was the weeping willow trees that grieved them. They bow their branches in somber remembrance, taking the weight of mourning off the shoulders of the living. The trees will remember even when the living can’t, they’ll take the burden and allow the living to move on, knowing the deceased will never be forgotten by nature. 

Its silly, she knows, a tree can’t grieve or feel her pain. It’s bowed branches bare her no mind and do not pity her; they could never lift this hurt from her heart. But one day…she’ll be gone too, so will her father, her sister, and everyone who’d ever known her mother. And perhaps, the tree will remain, maybe a memory can live forever even when none of them can. 

There’s a movement in the dark, illuminated by the distant campfire. Ava, a girl a few years her senior, with long dark hair and blue eyes looking at her with furrowed brows. Aidan called her out here and her hands move before Ava can question her. 

“Run away with me,” she signs, voice spilling out unintentionally, cracked and broken from a combination of emotion and lack of use. She stands before her best friend, the girl she loves. 

Ava’s blue eyes widen, chewing her lips, before she sighs and looks at the ground. It’s not the reaction Aidan wanted, she was hoping for Ava to jump at the chance the way she did three years ago. She was hoping for a smile, bright eyes, excitement; but all she’s met with is a resigned exasperation. 

“Don’t be stupid, Aidan.” 

“I’m not being stupid!” She’s never been this loud, her voice hurting her throat, and her signing hands slapping together with the force of her frantic gestures. 

“Quiet, of all the times for you to be loud, I fucking swear…You want someone to hear?” 

They away from camp, sleeping friends and family a ways off, but not unreachable. And as angry as Aidan is, she knows Ava is right. 

“I can’t be here anymore. I can’t do this, you saw what he did…” Aidan chokes up, emotion catching in her throat as she thinks of her mom, “it’s only a matter of time before it’s you or me.” 

“He did what he had to, it’s what was best for The Herd, you know that. You can’t break down every time you don’t get your way. You’re stronger than that Aidan, fuckin’ act like it.”  

And she goes to walk away. 

A million things rush through Aidan’s mind, she wants to yell at her that she’s not being a child, this isn’t her throwing a tantrum because she didn’t get her way. Her mom is dead and her dad pulled the trigger. And she’s supposed to just be okay, because her mom was hurt, because her mom was never going to walk again, because she was weak, it was okay? It’s not and how an entire clan of people can say it is, it’s not fucking right. 

But, right now, this is about Aidan. The already “broken” child of The Herd leader, she barely proved herself as a child, nearly put down at ninefor losing her hearing. Her mother was the one who protected her, she had thought her mom was untouchable, the one person able to melt the ice around her father’s heart. And now she’s gone and it’s only a matter of time before Aidan is too. 

Aidan’s hands move before she can give it another thought, grabbing a heavy willow branch off the ground, she can’t risk anyone coming after her. Not right away at least, she’ll need a head start. So, she swings, knocking the branch into the back of Ava’s head.

There’s a hitch in Aidan’s throat as  Ava falls to the ground. Not hard enough to kill, she could never do that…not to Ava. The older girl’s chest still rises and falls with her breaths, knocked out and incapacitated. 

She swoops up her body, cradling her bridal style as she carefully packs her back to camp. Everyone is still asleep, or at least tucked away in their tents without any concern for what’s going on outside. Aidan moves carefully, preparing herself to tell anyone who does come out that Ava drank too much. But no one stirs as she clumsily opens the tent she usually shares with her sister and friend. 

Aidan puts Ava down on her sleeping bag, more comfortable than the dirt. A soft snore picked up by her hearing aids, the other body here, actually sleeping. Eira…

Her sister sleeps in her own sleeping bag, none the wiser to the way life is changing around her, that she’ll wake without a sister. But Eira is safer here, the only person who is. Their father’s last chance at continuing the bloodline. The “unbroken” child. He wants grandchildren, healthy ones without autoimmune disorders, Eira is his best and only chance at that. He won’t throw that away. Aidan’s fingers twitch to touch her sister, a final hug, a final goodbye. 

“I love you, Eira, stay safe,” she signs instead, voice trapped tight behind closed lips, it’s all she can offer before she grabs her duffle bag and swings it over her shoulder. 

And she runs.

[lisinfleur]

Incomer

The Request:

Author’s Notes | Notes Universe | Vikings Pairing | Ivar x Reader, Ivarsðóttir x OC!Einar Info | Viking Age AU, requested by @justanawolf​ for 5CW7 Words | 2762 ⁑ Warnings: Some cursing. Mentions to violence, death, and blood. Insinuations to rape.

"Ivar Ragnarsson!"

Ivar sighed in his throne. You were once again disturbing his mind with that inconceivable idea of marrying his beautiful daughter to that boy...

That thin and weak boy that invaded his life years ago, playing with his precious daughter as if he would grow enough to become the raider he pretended to be in their imagination.

Your daughter and he used to play together all the time and Einar, who was the son of a local farmer, was a good boy in your sight. He never tried anything improper, always playing like a good boy, respectful, a good worker, well educated... The fact was that the stupid boy had grown into adult life and became a man, for Ivar's disgust: it would have been easier if Hella had taken him as Ivar thought would happen. And now, you were there, for the hundredth time in that year, remembering him your daughter and that thin thing were starting to get involved... That he should prepare to discuss her marriage to that annoying remembrance of Sigurd's bardic traces walking through his Hall after his precious daughter's skirts. He was even good with the oud! The oud!

Sigurd was a damn plague in his life and Ivar could bet he was laughing at his face from Valhalla, celebrating with toasts his curses becoming true under the skin of that infamous boy his daughter was so in love with.

"He's weak," he insisted, sighing bored when you started again the whole speech.

He knew what would come, but even then, there you were, speaking, and speaking...

"...And strength is not everything! Nor is stamped in his face, Ivar. If it was like this, then my father should have denied your pledge for my hand," you said, catching his attention and an angry glare in his eyes.

You wouldn't dare to compare that thin little boyish thing to him, right?

"You were a cripple weak rag of a boy in his sight, but he gave you a chance to prove yourself and you did it! You owe Einar a chance as well!"

You would.

And it infuriated him - of course! What would infuriate Ivar the Boneless more than messing with his ego?

"I'm nothing like that boy and I owe him nothing!" he said with his powerful voice, looking at you with sharp blues. "Well, he wants to marry my daughter? So, if you want so badly to compare the two of us, tell him to do what I did! Tell him to conquer kingdoms and kill kings, to gather an army and have lands under his control! Tell him to become a commander, a successful raider, and a king! And then, I'll gladly offer my daughter's hand in marriage and maybe an alliance!"

You crossed your arms. He knew he was going too far, but Ivar never knows when to stop...

"As long as he's standing under my boots on our society, then he'll have no chances to have my beautiful Freya bearing his children!"

"You rather sell our daughter to a foreigner king for an alliance, I suppose... Right, King Ivar?"

He drew back. It was a slap on his face, and you knew it. You did it on purpose, just to see that frown in his forehead.

The subject was over. None of you wanted to speak about that anymore. You turned yourself to leave and his voice echoed, calling your attention.

"I'll be leaving on a short trip at the end of this moon..."

"Don't you dare to suggest taking the boy with you, Ivar," you said, immediately looking back.

"I won't get him killed on purpose! For the gods' sake, woman, what do you think I am?" he answered, offended by the obvious concern in your sentence.

But you stood on your position, looking straight inside his eyes.

"A father, Ivar," you answered, slapping his face without your hands one second time. "One disposed to do anything for what he thinks is his daughter's safety. Einar stays. Our daughter loves him too much for me to allow your concerns to hurt this innocent relationship. I rather see them as friends forever than hold my daughter's cry if her heart goes with him."

Wise words... For his disgust once again.

Damn him for marrying a woman able to outsmart his plans and, sometimes, see forward in his steps. He had no intention to harm the boy, but you were right: his raids weren't for a farmer and if Einar didn't come back, his precious Freya would suffer twice: for the future love never built and for the friendship lost.

"Fine. We'll solve this when I come back," he stated.

Something you could accept. With a heated head, nor Ivar or you would think straight and it was the future of your daughter in your hands. Freya's happiness was more important than anything.

"Baldur will come with me. Such as Tyr," Ivar declared about the raid and you sighed.

Your children were growing so fast... Last night you were waking up for Tyr's nightmares, and now there he was, a young man, walking around with Hvitserk, drinking with Baldur, looking the skirts around.

Going to raids with his father and brother...

"I'll make the sacrifices to provide you a safe trip and safe return, husband," you said, looking at him.

Sometimes words weren't necessary.

"I'll take good care of them, my love. Not that I really have to once Baldur fights like a beast and Tyr honors his name, but I'll take good care of them, don't worry."

It didn't really matter for you and Ivar knew that. They could fight like his best men and be greater than his father, and yet, Baldur and Tyr would always be your little boys.

Boys you thought you would never see one more time when those men invaded your home. Ivar's self-confidence was a mistake and sometimes, a few times, it would really cause a disaster.

This time he thought his fame and name would be enough to keep small invaders away from his lands. He thought they wouldn't dare to threaten his kingdom, nor his wife, nor his daughter...

"Mother!"

Your heart crushed in a thousand pieces when you had your daughter brutally ripped from your embrace. Those men touching her, holding you, trying to lift your skirt, speaking offensively about how your husband would hunt them if he ever knew who fucked his wife and daughter to death the way they were planning.

"Or else I could put a child on her belly and leave the crippled king a boy with my face," one of them boasted touching your lower belly right before you spat on his face.

"I would rip my own womb before bearing your child, you bastard!" you cursed and he slapped your face, throwing your body on the ground, starting to rip your dress.  

His curses and words, telling you how he would give you the taste of a whole man before you could prove his sword, were cut in the middle when someone crossed his chest with a sword. You felt the blood spatting on your back and the weight of the dead body, but your instinct screamed louder and you stole that dead man's sword, getting up to help whoever was the man fighting to get your daughter free.

You were no shieldmaiden. But you were a mother and somehow Frigga imbued your heart with her strength and you sunk that blade on the shoulder of one of the bastards while your savior was trespassing the third one.  

Quickly, he ran to lock and block the door and so, as your daughter was falling on your embrace, crying like a child, your eyes could recognize your savior coming closer, fully worried about his beloved princess in your hands.

"Einar..." you mumbled as Freya threw herself into the boy's hug.

You watched in relief as he held your child in his arms, hiding her completely into his embrace, mumbling sweet words into your daughter's scared ears.

There was so much love between them... How could Ivar deny he was the perfect husband to your sweet daughter?

As Einar's hands consoled your crying daughter, slowly lulling her into his embrace, you straightened your dress, trying to keep yourself covered and see if there were wounds beyond the scratch bleeding on your face. The sounds of battle could be heard outside and somehow, they became stronger in your Hall.

You couldn't determine if someone had arrived to kill the invaders or if the raiders had backup now, but the cries of battle were closer and higher, and so, Einar showed his bravery once again.

"No... Einar, please no!" your child cried as the boy delivered her into your embrace.

She wasn't calm anymore. Instead, she was terrified of seeing him holding that sword.

"Please!" she begged, but Einar just touched Freya's face with a gentle caress.

"Don't worry, my princess. I'll be fine. And if I fall here, then I wasn't worthy of your heart, my love. What man can desire a woman he cannot protect?"

Wise words. A wise man... You held your daughter and touched her face.

"The gods know how much you love each other, my child. Don't worry... If we fall into this place, I ensure you'll find him again," you said, having nothing but some more tears from your crying daughter as Einar straightened himself, holding the sword like a true warrior, waiting for the small barricade of the door to fall.

It didn't take too long until the sounds reached your room and Freya yelled when a strong impact broke the door open. But despite prepared for a huge fight, Einar's shoulders relaxed when Whitehair came into the room followed closely by the king and his men.

"Father!" your girl cried and Ivar came closer, embracing you and her as Baldur and Tyr were looking around searching for any other invader at the room.

"My child... My love... Are you wounded?" Ivar asked.

His heart was hammering his chest like a midsummer drum.

"We're safe... Thanks to Einar," you said, causing the eyes to turn towards the boy that was still holding his sword, tiredly.

Baldur sheathed his own blade as Tyr came closer, to touch his forehead to yours. The older brother and Ivar were focused on the boy who was now panting a little less, relieved the king was back.

Before they could say anything, Freya released herself from Ivar's arms, throwing her own arms around Einar's waist, hiding her crying face in his chest, causing the young warrior to release his sword in order to hold her against him.

"Did you protect my daughter and wife, boy?" Ivar asked, not sounding so hostile towards the boy now.

"Not as good as my king would have done, but I tried my best to keep them safe, King Ivar," he answered, respectfully.

But you didn't lose your chance.

"He's being modest... The boy saved my life and our honor," you spoke, soothing your husband's glare towards Einar. "He came into this room with bravery and faced three enemies in order to get us free from their hands and blades. Two of them he killed by himself. One with my help. And to keep Freya's safety and mine, he was disposed to keep on fighting whoever would come through this door, husband." you testified.

Einar lowered his head, touching his nose in your daughter's hair, trying to keep her calm as she was slowly stopping the loud sobs.

"Then, you learned what I taught you," Baldur said, kinda proud, surprising both of you when he turned himself towards his father. "Einar has been training with me and Tyr for some lessons with the sword, father," he said.

"He said he wants to prove you he's a good man... For Freya's hand," Tyr completed, kinda exposing the boy, causing Einar to look at your husband insecure and scared.

"It's not that I believe I'm worthy, I just..." he started trying to justify himself, but Ivar raised his hand causing him to shut and you to prepare your arguments to defend the boy.

But this time, there weren't bad words.

"I would never question the value of a man that offered his chest to protect my most precious treasures. You know you could have died into this room, don't you, boy?" Ivar asked.

To what Einar looked into his eyes, seeming to create the courage to face your husband for the first time.

"My king doesn't fear the death for Valhalla awaits him in the end. Why should I fear if I want to be like him?"

Words that sounded like a huge surprise, causing Ivar's barriers to crumble.

"What did you just say, boy?"

"That I know I'm a farmer, with poor origins and thin blood. And I know I have a long way to prove my value under your eyes, King Ivar. But such as you fought the whole world and proved yourself despite all your obstacles, I want to make me worthy of Freya's love and your trust. I love your daughter, King Ivar. I have been loving her my whole life and I would die for her without a single question if it was necessary to keep her safe."

Baldur smiled, Tyr giggled and you slapped your younger son's shoulder for the sounds, reprehending him like a boy for laughing of another's feelings.

But Ivar looked right into Einar's eyes. Freya was still hidden into his embrace that somehow Einar was managing to sustain longer than you could imagine he would in front of your husband.

"You have strong words. And a fierce heart. You said you want to be like me, so I'll teach you what is missing in your speech, boy."

For a second, you thought once again that Ivar would destroy Einar with his words, but your fears did not become true one more time. Instead, Ivar touched the boy's shoulder with a tight grip.

"Know that you would die for her makes me proud. See that you will fight to live for her makes me relieved. Die for your wife if this is your fate, boy, but love her enough to fight to live for her until your last breath. Did you understand me, son?"

Son...

You and your sons smiled at the sound of that word.

Your husband was accepting Einar as his son-in-law and you knew that in that discrete change on the way Ivar was calling him.

"Yes, my king..." Einar answered, with his eyes shining.

And Ivar sighed. It was easy to see the loyalty and strength into that boy's eyes.

Maybe the gods had permitted that invasion to give the boy the chance you said he should have. And Einar had proven himself to him, despite the fact that Ivar would never admit it with all the words in his mouth. The best he could do was to stop trying to scare the boy to the bones away from his daughter.

But for now, it was time to negotiate details...

"We have to fix this Hall and get rid of the bodies. It will take a while... Tell your father to prepare his guest room... The king's family will dinner at your farm tonight," Ivar spat, draining Einar's color completely before Ivar started walking out of the room.

This time you couldn't avoid smiling as Baldur patted your soon-to-be son-in-law and Tyr giggled jumping the bodies, just like Hvitserk used to do, to follow his father out of the door.

"Tell your mother to make that chicken, brother!” He said before crossing the door starting to speak with Baldur. “Boy, Einar's mother's chicken is the best I ever ate!"

And there was your Tyr, thinking on food despite the fact that the hall around him was made into pieces… You should talk to Ivar about the huge amount of time Tyr was passing with his uncle... But for that moment, you walked towards Einar, caressing your daughter's hair in his embrace.

"Don't worry, child," you said, touching his face. "He likes you... Such as I do. Take care of my princess. I'm sure she's in the best hands," you said, before seeing Freya smiling between her tears towards you.

Maybe the gods had messed things up for a reason. Maybe all the suffering had a purpose. The fact was that Einar would have his place in your husband's Hall and you were satisfied to see your daughter's eyes glowing with love once again.

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[poppy-pelican]

Strictly Taboo (fic)

Rating: Explicit

Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist

AU: Lust has a gift that is a little more like her namesake... 

And don’t take it too seriously. :P

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25416481

Havoc’s new girlfriend was sex on legs—to the point Falman almost fell out of his desk chair getting a good look at her. Roy was less interested, allowing a cursory glance and nothing more. He watched as Hawkeye rolled her eyes at the men, but her lips twitched in amusement when Havoc stumbled over his introductions and accidentally called Breda, “Second Lieutenant Breast.”

Roy returned to the paperwork in front of him, pretending to work as he listened to Solaris flirt shamelessly with Havoc. Roy smiled to himself, grateful Havoc had found a new girlfriend already. He’d been unbearably sulky about having to leave his old one behind during the move to Central.

During a drawn-out reenactment of the Lieutenant Breast flub, Hawkeye stepped out of the office. For some reason, her absence felt more palpable than usual. Roy’s eyes kept flickering to the door, waiting for her to enter. When she returned, a tremor went through him as she focused warm brown eyes on him. He found himself fighting not to stare at the natural sway of her hips, his mouth watering.

He swallowed thickly when she approached his desk, an irrepressible hunger growing as his eyes dragged up her body back to her face. Her brow crinkled in concern at his expression. He hoped she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She held out a stack of papers.

“These are the visitor records from Hughes’s office. Do you want me to go through it first, or do you want that honor, sir?” she asked.

Right. The investigation. Nothing like grief to destroy the pleasant thoughts about the way his lieutenant filled out her uniform. Disgusted with himself, he took the papers.

“I’ll go over it first,” he said. He was sure it was a dead end, but he owed it to Hughes to look at every possibility. He would put everything—even his ambitions—on hold until Hughes had justice.

 *

 Lust had never had such a hard time bending men to her will before. Jean Havoc had been so easily snared by her figure she thought the secrets of his team would come pouring out of him. But after a week, Jean had fucked her sideways—never saying a word about his job. It was infuriating.

Having already infiltrated the group as Jean’s girlfriend, it would be tricky to seduce one of the other men of Mustang’s team without raising their suspicions. If she failed again, she would lose her chance. So she’d approached it from a different angle. Mustang was focused purely on the investigation into Hughes’s murder, and like Hughes, was close to the Elric brothers. Lust knew seducing him would be challenging, if not impossible. The man had barely looked at her the first time she met him—unheard of in Lust’s experience unless the man was truly devoted to something else—a wife, a religion. In Mustang’s case, it was his obsession with finding his best friend’s killer.

Lust prepared for failure but remained optimistic Mustang’s more base instincts would overpower that drive for vengeance. If he threw himself at her, it would divide Mustang from Havoc, or if he set his eyes on any other women, he’d at least be occupied with something other than his nosy investigation. It wasn’t ideal, but it would prevent Father from losing a potential sacrifice if she succeeded.

She’d flirted with Havoc while watching, waiting for Mustang to crack under her influence. For a moment, she thought she had him when his stoic lieutenant walked toward his desk and it looked like he forgot how to speak. It was exactly the look Lust wanted from him.

Then he’d smoothly recovered, averting his eyes dutifully from his subordinate. Well, perhaps a few more days would wear him down…

 *

Riza knew Havoc’s girlfriend had entered the office without looking up from her work. Havoc leapt out of his seat faster than he would if the fuhrer himself had appeared. Sure enough, Solaris strolled in with a liquid gait, dripping with confidence. Riza remembered what she’d overheard Havoc telling Breda and a blushing Fuery about her. Something about coming so hard he’d blacked out. Morbid curiosity had Riza wondering how she’d done it.

Riza’s gaze slid to the colonel who was on the phone, too enthralled in his conversation to acknowledge the office’s visitor. With the others all holding court with Solaris, and the colonel facing away toward the window, Riza grabbed the opportunity to study him. The colonel had been incredibly tense the past couple of days. Every time she went near him, he was either tapping his pen or grinding his teeth. Today her fingers itched to massage the tension from his broad shoulders, but that wasn’t professional. Even considering their long friendship it would be too intimate to touch him that way.

All of their touches had been accidental, or necessary for work. Even at Hughes’s funeral when she had longed to hug him, comfort him in any way she could, there had been nothing to do but stand by his side. How inappropriate it would have been to offer comfort when he hadn’t asked for it. How inappropriate it would have been for him to ask. She bit down on her lip, giving his back another once over.

It was then she realized someone was watching her. Solaris. Her piercing eyes made Riza feel exposed and reckless—like Solaris knew exactly what Riza was contemplating. Holding back a blush, she opened a new file with more gusto than necessary.

As she read through the file, the words began to blur, her eyes heavy. Solaris left, blowing a kiss to Havoc which Breda jokingly pretended to intercept and put on Fuery’s cheek. Everyone else laughed, but Riza was too groggy. A wave of heat rolled through her muscles, and when she checked her reflection in the restroom, her cheeks were rosy. She returned to her desk feeling restless, suspicious she had caught a bad cold. Terrible timing because they were busier than ever. Hopefully she wouldn’t need any sick leave.

She powered through, slogging through everything much slower than usual. Her body also seemed more attuned to the colonel’s than usual. She could admit she was always aware of him, partly because of her duty to protect him, partly because of the attraction she’d felt toward him since she was a girl. Still, this was more intense, like his body was a powerful magnet and she was helplessly resisting the pull.

A ball of pure want twisted in her belly, and she gave up and laid her head on the desk. She must have a fever. That was the only explanation.

“Hawkeye? Are you awake?” Havoc whispered.

“Yes,” she said dully. She sucked in a breath, hoping her head would clear.

“Maybe you should go home early. You look like you’re burning up,” he said, no longer whispering.

The colonel heard that. “Lieutenant.” Her eyes flickered to him through heavy eyelids. A jolt of desire ran through her as he looked her over in concern. She was immediately very wet between her legs, like she was by herself in bed, fantasizing about—

“Sir, permission to leave early? I’m not feeling well,” she blurted, staggering to her feet.

The colonel studied her quickly, and she clamped down hard on her lip, trapping a moan before it could escape as she imagined his hands where his eyes were looking. Or better yet, his tongue.

“Permission granted. Get some rest.”

Something was very wrong, but she’d rather die than explain it to him. Or anyone.  Her hands trembled as she gathered her things.

“Forgive my bluntness, but you look terrible. Can I walk you home?” Havoc asked.

Riza hesitated. She hated to look weak, although it was too late for that. The sweat was gathering at her temples.

“You might need someone to walk your dog for you,” he said, providing an excuse for her to accept his assistance.

Black Hayate would need a walk. Shouldering her bag, she shuffled out of the office, disturbed by the increasing ache as she walked away from the colonel. She’d endured worse, as a memory of flames on her back scuttled briefly to the front of her thoughts. This would be a walk in the park.

 *

 Hawkeye was sicker than Jean had guessed. She’d willingly let him help her home, which had been alarming enough, but then she periodically stopped to lean against buildings for support, gasping like she was short of breath. He thought he heard her whimper.

This was bad.

“Maybe we should head to a doctor instead,” he suggested.

The look on her face was deadly. “No.”

“I could have Solaris come over and—”

“Definitely no. I’ll be fine.” Then she slumped to the ground, panting. “I’m not sure—I don’t think I’m actually sick,” she said, voice hushed.

Jean squatted beside her. “If you’re not sick, then what the hell is happening?”

“I’m not sure,” she repeated. “I just know—alchemy can do strange things, and something happened to Hughes. And now…” she trailed off. “This is different. I feel…compelled.”

Unnerved, he reached to light a cigarette. “Compelled, huh? To do what?”

Hawkeye looked away from him. “I…don’t want to say.”

He suddenly remembered a week ago when he’d felt off himself. Not to the degree Hawkeye was suffering, but he had been uncommonly insatiable. He looked at her again with a more critical eye. What he’d mistaken for a fever certainly matched his experiences in bed with a woman. He recoiled as bile rose in his throat. How was it possible to influence people this way? Even the resilient lieutenant in front of him.

“I’ve had that feeling myself, just last week,” he said lowly.

Hawkeye narrowed her eyes. “I don’t remember you having to leave the office.”

“Well, that could be because I had a willing girlfriend to take my, uh, urges out on.”

“I see,” Hawkeye muttered.

“You’re not dating anyone, are you?” he asked hopefully. “Or have any…potential partners who could…be of service?”

Her face wrinkled in disgust. “No.” She looked ready to reach for her gun. “And don’t you dare offer yourself.”

He laughed, despite everything. “Well, I could ask around the team—"

“No,” she said firmly. “I’ll take care of this myself.”

“I suppose you have to, if you aren’t going to ask for—"

He didn’t see her foot until it had knocked him on his ass.

 *

 Jean left Hawkeye at her apartment, bullying Black Hayate to come with him. The dog whined, trying to head home until Jean stopped and shared a chicken sandwich with him. When he made it back to the office, Mustang was the only one left at his desk, the others all absent for lunch.

“Black Hayate?” Mustang asked, more to Jean than the dog.

“I’m now his babysitter until further notice,” Jean said, feeling betrayed when the dog ran to sit by Mustang’s side.

Mustang reached down to scratch the dog’s head distractedly. “The lieutenant is that sick?” It was obvious he wanted to sound light, but the undercurrent of worry snuck through.

Jean debated how to approach this with Mustang. Hawkeye had very reluctantly given permission for him to explain it to the others—only because it could relate to their investigation. She’d also promised violence upon anyone who brought it up in front of her.

“About that…Hawkeye isn’t sure she’s sick in the traditional sense.”

Mustang was unamused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’ve taken to calling it the Plague of Frustration, sir,” he said, unable to help himself. “Sexual frustration, that is.”

Now his superior’s expression had gone flat. “What the hell does this have to do with Hawkeye taking a sick day? Are you saying she left because—she was—” He looked like he was short circuiting.

“Maybe let’s talk about it over coffee, yeah?” Jean suggested, wanting to be away from prying ears. “That café with the terrace seating—so young Mr. Hawkeye can come,” he added, gesturing to Black Hayate.

Mustang agreed, although Jean could tell the colonel was skeptical and on a short fuse.

Jean didn’t know much about Mustang and Hawkeye’s past before the military. It was understood amongst the team that it wasn’t talked about. He knew Hawkeye’s father had taught Mustang alchemy, and through him had met Hawkeye at a young age. Jean didn’t get the impression they were especially friendly back then, but he knew they were close now—protective of one another. As superior and subordinate, they were professional in every way, particularly Hawkeye. Outside the office, he knew they occasionally met up as friends, mostly with other members of the team.

Yet even with their strange, ineffable friendship, they never spoke of anything that would reveal deeper intimacy. Which was why Jean wished he had suggested a bar instead of a café while bringing up the lieutenant’s shocking display of “frustration,” as he was going to refer to it. There was no way he could say, “Hawkeye was too horny to work, sir.”

Well, he could say it. He just didn’t want to add another bruise to the one Hawkeye gave him. He couldn’t imagine Mustang taking this well.

 *

 Roy held his mug halfway to his mouth, where it hovered, unmoving. He processed what Havoc told him. On the one hand, he wasn’t sure if he should take it seriously or not. He’d never heard of such a thing, and yet three of them had already been hit with the illness, or whatever the hell he should call it. Maybe it was contagious? Could be nothing more than a bizarre prank. But what benefit would anyone get from Havoc fucking his girlfriend’s lights out? Roy’s bout with it, if that’s even what it was, had been nothing like that. Maybe he’d needed more personal time with his hand than normal—or a lot more than normal—but he’d still been able to go to work and function.

He’d seen the lieutenant that morning. Her cheeks were rosy, lips pouty and swollen. She sounded breathless as she spoke. What had seemed like an illness, now with his perspective changed…He discreetly adjusted himself. He didn’t need to see his lieutenant like that. He shouldn’t think about what she was doing back at her apartment, all alone…

Havoc coughed loudly. “Colonel?”

“What was that again?’ Roy asked, finally taking a drink of his now lukewarm coffee.

“I asked if you had any of your girlfriends help you out, if you know what I mean.”

“I got through it on my own, thank you very much. I’m not a slave to my baser needs.”

Havoc scoffed. “Oh! But me and Hawkeye are?”

Roy couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that Riza Hawkeye was dealing with—frustration—with less fortitude than Jean Havoc. “Right. Well. Hawkeye will get through it. Maybe it’s just…harder on women?” He felt absurd even saying it aloud.

“I have a theory,” Havoc said, leaning forward conspiratorially. “See, you and me—we go out and enjoy ourselves. Even when Hawkeye joins us at the bar, she never gets drunk, never gets too flirty with the bartender. When was the last time Hawkeye even had a boyfriend around?”

“Not since what’s-his-face who turned out to be afraid of guns,” Roy said thoughtfully. Maybe there was something to the theory. Of course, Roy had some inkling as to why the lieutenant was so hesitant to let loose. While he’d done his best to cover her secrets to flame alchemy with scars, he knew she was afraid it wasn’t enough. She chose her partners carefully.

“She just doesn’t give into her wilder side. And whatever this is, she seemed to be in agony. I wonder who did this?”

Roy also wanted to know, but he was caught up by the first part of Havoc’s words. Was Hawkeye really at home in agony? He looked down at her dog, curled up at his feet. To send away Black Hayate, she had to be in a bad place. Against his will, his mind began to supply ideas of what her agony might look like. He erupted with jealousy that Havoc of all people took her home, watched her so overtaken by want that he said she’d practically collapsed on the way home.

“I suppose the first thing is to ask the others if they’ve had any symptoms.” He scratched his head, at a loss. He really hoped it was nothing more than a prank. If it wasn’t…he’d have to kill whoever had brought down his closest subordinate.

 *

 For so long, Hawkeye was off limits. First as his master’s young daughter, then her father had just died. Roy wasn’t going to consider her when she was so vulnerable.  Then they were both in the military and before he knew it, she was completely unattainable as his subordinate. It seemed simple to keep her in that category of unavailable women—like women in relationships. He never let himself go there. He kept Riza Hawkeye in a neat little box on the shelf: friend, confidante, his compass. Not lover.

Now that box had broken, opening up a slew of fantasies he’d been suppressing. If their enemy had wanted to distract him, they were thoroughly succeeding. This was almost worse than what he’d been feeling the past few days on his own. That had been mindless want—this had a target. A very forbidden target.

After work, he drove straight home and stormed into his shower. He set the temperature to cold. Once he felt thoroughly doused, he dried and dressed before giving into a lesser temptation than the one he had in mind. He picked up the phone and called Hawkeye. He told himself it was just to make sure she was okay—not to give her the opportunity to ask him for help. Help he shouldn’t give her.

It took several rings for her to answer. When she did, he was rewarded with a breathy, “Hello?”

“Lieutenant. Just—calling for a wellness check.” He was an idiot. An idiot who was already so aroused he was going to need to take an ice bath to get through this.

“Colonel?” Did she just whimper? His thighs flexed, fighting to relieve the tension building in his groin. “I’m surviving. Thank you for your concern, sir,” she said, as polite and distant as she could sound while panting into the phone.

“So far, it seems just you, Havoc and me have been hit with—the Plague of Frustration, as he calls it,” he said, hoping he sounded calm and teasing, and not desperately turned on.

“It happened to you?” she asked, disbelieving. Then he heard her, muffled like she had covered the mouthpiece, but it was there: a primal moan.

Keep it together, he warned himself. “Uh, yes. Though to a lesser degree than you and Havoc. We are trying to figure out why that might be.”

“Mhm, I might know why.”

He waited for her to answer, hanging onto the phone like it possessed the key to becoming fuhrer. The lieutenant said nothing for a moment, simply breathing unevenly.

“It’s just been far too long since I’ve…been with anyone.” She laughed humorlessly. “Havoc put the idea in my head, but seeing how you and him have been able to work and function…”

Roy’s free hand had finally stopped listening to his brain and stroked himself through his pants. He was a little disgusted with himself, but a bigger part of him was hoping that on the other end of the phone, his lieutenant had her hand between her legs mimicking his strokes.

“I could—” He coughed as his throat went dry. He shouldn’t ask. She would shoot him. “I mean, if you wanted—just as one friend helping out another friend. I could. Help.”

She was quiet. Either planning how to kill him, or…considering his offer.

“I hate to think of you suffering when I could do something about it,” he continued. Not to mention how much he wanted to help rather than her ask someone else.

“What about the fraternizing laws, sir?”

“Forget about them. These are extraordinary circumstances.”

“I don’t want—” His heart stopped. “It could ruin your career. And mine.”

His grin stretched painfully across his cheeks. “That’s not a no, lieutenant.”

“It’s not a yes either. We both know it would be a bad idea.”

“Or it could simply help you through this difficult time.”

“And what do you get out of it?” she countered. “I don’t want…a pity fuck.” The last part was a whisper.

“Oh, lieutenant,” he was near ready to come in his pants. “I’m not offering myself as some kind of sacrifice to you. I plan to thoroughly enjoy it.”

“I need to think about it,” she said, unceremoniously hanging up on him. Crippling disappointment flowed over him. He hoped he hadn’t screwed everything up between them. Maybe he’d pushed her too far.

Roy had barely returned the phone to the receiver when it rang.

“Hello?”

“Come over. Now,” Hawkeye said, and it ended with a wanton moan.

Roy didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be right there.”

 *

 Riza spent half the day waiting for a reprieve from the damning ache. Her own hands and fingers could satisfy her only for a moment, then the inferno was back with a vengeance. Her appetite was nonexistent, reading a book was futile. She wanted only one thing, from one man.

Now, knowing the colonel was on the way to her apartment to have sex with her…she was ravenous. She stepped into the cold shower for the third time that day, attempting to gain control of herself. As it stood, she feared she would leap on him the moment he arrived at her door.

Realizing how pointless dressing was, she slipped on a silky, floral robe—a feminine indulgence she self-consciously hoped the colonel would like. She was fretting over putting on underwear or not when she heard a firm knock on the door.

All of her nerves left her as the otherworldly desire took hold again. How many years had she wanted this man? Her legs trembled beneath her as she rushed to let him in.

Riza didn’t know what she expected—maybe the colonel posing with carefully crafted cockiness against the door frame, ready to tease her for wanting him so badly. Instead, she had hardly gotten the door ajar before he pushed it aside and gathered her in his arms, slamming the door shut with his foot.

She sighed in relief as his lips found hers, his tongue eager and seeking. He tasted like tea and what could only be him. Her knees buckled as he pressed her back against the closed door. Oh god. He was already hot and hard, and her core squeezed tight, impatient to have it inside her.

“Lieutenant, what are you wearing? I—fuck—” His hands were frantic, fluttering down to her hips, over the curves of her ass. He bunched the silk in his hands, gasping.

“There’s nothing underneath,” she hissed as his mouth trailed down to her neck.

“Fuck. Let me—I didn’t come here just to maul you,” he muttered, almost to himself. He dropped to his knees, then his dark eyes looked at her meaningfully. She knew what he was asking.

“Unnggh, please.”

She was already swollen and ready for him, and the touch of his mouth to her clit made her scream in pleasure. Her thighs clenched around him as he supported her legs with his shoulders, unable to stand up herself any longer. His tongue glided back and forth, his pace matching the sharp gasps escaping her. She should’ve known he would read her in bed as well as he did in the office. Not fair.

Her orgasm hit hard and fast, aided by whatever spell she was under, her eyes teared up from the pleasure rushing through her. She slumped back against the wall, chest heaving.

“Better?” He asked, smirking up at her. He looked so insanely sexy with her legs wrapped around him. Like he belonged there.

“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully, allowing him to put her down on her feet. “I may need one more thing from you though.”

Maybe it was the confidence of seeing how openly he was lusting after her, from his eyes raking over her to his unmistakable erection, but she felt like a powerful temptress.

She nudged him toward the wall, keeping him at arm’s length as she untied the robe and let it puddle to the ground. She delighted in his hungry stare, winking as she twirled around and sauntered to the bedroom. She didn’t worry about him seeing her back like other lovers. Her heart swelled at the thought of finally having Roy as a lover.

He was right behind her by the time she entered the bedroom. “You are going to kill me, lieutenant. And here I always thought it’d be with a gun,” he said as she turned to grab him by the tie.

Her fingers began to make quick work of him. “It’s not fair I’m standing here naked in front of my superior while he’s fully dressed.” She let her hands trace down his chest, dipping into his waistband and tugging his shirt free with more groping than was required, but she needed to feel his skin, was addicted to the ragged breaths he took with every touch of her body to his.

“We need an equivalent exchange, you say?” He fastened their mouths together for a moment. She could taste herself there. “I recall being on my knees earlier,” his voice was husky.

Wordlessly, she slithered to the floor at his feet, before letting her mouth caress his cock through the fabric of his pants. She purposefully moaned against him, letting the vibrations tease him.

His hands went into her hair, which was loose and damp against her back, gently wrapping the strands between his fingers as she nimbly undid his belt and shimmied his pants out of the way until his member was free. She watched him watching her as she ran her hand up his thigh and around to the base of his cock, holding it steady as she guided him past her lips. He throbbed against her tongue as she worked him deeper into her mouth. She couldn’t get all of him in, so she used her hands for the rest. His pupils were dilated wide, his eyes rarely blinking while she worked his erection, memorizing the grunts he tried to hold back. It was a marvel to see the colonel falling apart under her command. Her body spiraled with heat again until she had to reach her hand between her legs.

“Ah—ah—lieutenant. Maybe. Hold off. Unless you—”

She retreated slowly, making sure to drag her tongue across the head before she leaned back.

“No, I want…” she didn’t finish, challenging him with only her eyes. If she was only going to have Roy for one night, she wanted him inside her.

“You do want this, right?” he asked, adorably uncertain. She stood, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I wouldn’t have called you back if I didn’t,” she said.

“Then why did you hang up in the first place?”

“Just because I think we shouldn’t, doesn’t mean I don’t want to. And the regret I felt not taking you up on the offer—I instantly knew I had to call you back.”

“I’m so happy you did,” he murmured, leaning to kiss her. He pulled back again. “But—I know what Havoc said about himself, but if you wouldn’t usually go down on your superior officer…”

Now she understood. Her cheeks flushed. “I’ll admit, my inhibitions are a lot lower. My tastes haven’t changed though.” She ran her hands along his broad shoulders, skimming down to his biceps. “You really haven’t caught me looking at you before?”

He groaned. “No. How long have you been looking?”

She smiled, aiming for coy and flirty to cover her nerves. “I don’t know. Always? Even when you were my father’s student, I remember being secretly pleased his apprentice was so good looking.”

Roy chuckled softly. “So you’re saying…I’m your type.”

“I’m saying, I’ve wanted to have you in my bed since I was a teenager.” She rubbed her naked body against his, relishing the feel of him. “And if I don’t have you inside me soon, I’m going to shoot you.”

It was easy from there to fall onto her neatly made bed, legs entwined. She inhaled the smell of his hair, clean and with a little hint of his natural scent. So good. She hugged him closer, letting his mouth worship her breasts while she rubbed her folds against his erection, slippery and hot. The ache was building again, much like it had been all day, an emptiness that needed filled.

“Colonel, hurry up,” she begged, struggling to bring their hips together with the way he had her pinned.

He glanced up at her, and what he saw reflected in her eyes made his burn even brighter. Rearing back, he hitched her legs around his hips and guided himself inside her, the wide head sending waves of rapture through her as he pushed past her opening and into the fluttering, swollen softness. Once connected at their most intimate parts, she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of completeness. Did she ever think she could have the colonel like this? Even once?

Now she finally knew what it was like to have his body, to have him trembling with want as he began to thrust steady and passionately above her, what he could do with his tongue twisting with hers while she met his thrusts back with fervor. Her core clenched down, a torrent of pleasure building with each slam of his hips. She was close to the edge, watching him fight with himself to hold out—denying himself for her—

She pressed their mouths together, one hand lost in his thick, dark hair, the other encouraging him as deep inside her as he could go. Then she tipped over into blessed oblivion, moaning into his mouth.

It was easy to ignore her drowsiness when she was still so eager to take in everything she could of him. He leaned back, arms shaking. She caught his desperate, searching look—needing guidance.

Her lips curled. Oh, it would be best if he didn’t finish inside her. It was stupid.

It didn’t matter. She wanted him with every fiber in her being. She wrapped her legs around him, giving him permission.

The tortured whimper he gave her was worth all the risk as he lost himself in her at last, restraint dissolving as he pounded into her with abandon. He grabbed her hips and angled them so that when he came, she felt every inch of him pulsing inside her.

He rolled off her, leaving a warm, delicious ache behind. He stayed close, but not as close as another lover might—as if he were uncertain of where they stood. The feeling was mutual. How do you go from colleagues—friends—to one night stand?

“How do you feel?” he asked, after several minutes of comfortable silence. “Less…frustrated?”

“Yes. But I’m starving,” she said, her stomach growling quietly. “I couldn’t eat—before.” She wondered if the break would last, now that she finally felt sated.

“I see. I’m glad you took me up on my offer then.”

She turned to catch him grinning boyishly. Ridiculously charming. It almost had her telling him the truth—that she had been ready to call him. But however amazing being with him was, they could never be together officially, so what was the point in bringing it up?

“Me too,” she said, pulling the blanket up to ward away the chill.

She must have dozed off because the colonel nudged her awake, and she half-wondered if he wanted another round but instead, he was holding a plate with a sandwich and fruit.

“You should eat before you go to bed,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, sitting up and taking the plate. It was then she noticed he was completely dressed. “Are you leaving?” She prayed she didn’t sound like a clingy girlfriend.

His cheeks reddened. “You want me to go?”

“You’re the one who looks ready to leave. And it’s getting late.”

“I just stepped out to the market on the corner because you were out of bread,” he said defensively.

Oh. Oh. She couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her face. “Well, once again I’m completely naked and you aren’t, sir.”

“I took the liberty of making myself a sandwich, too,” he said, pointing to her nightstand where another plate sat. Her heart felt light. He had planned to stay. And eat it in bed with her. “Have to keep everything equal, you agree?” he asked, loosening his tie.

“Hmm, I think that’s a good idea.”

 *

 Roy hadn’t known eating sandwiches naked in bed with Hawkeye would be more intimate than coming inside her. The mix of scars and tattoos on her back were carelessly exposed through a curtain of hair, and she had crumbs on her chin that he refused to mention. His chest felt tight, as it often did when he was alone with her. While she had always been off limits as a romantic partner, any lustful thoughts quickly shoved away, he had never censored himself to feelings of friendship…which had long, long ago turned to love. Having her as a lover, though…it might make him too greedy. He’d want to have it all.

 *

 “Mustang left that woman’s house this morning while it was still dark,” Envy reported. “He had that look humans get when they did something bad but they liked it.”

Lust felt triumphant. If this didn’t keep the colonel distracted from his investigation, she didn’t know what would. Though a small part of her felt proud of the lieutenant, woman to woman. It must have been something to bed a man like Mustang.

“Thank you, Envy. I’ll keep getting what intel I can from Havoc. He could still report any rifts between his superior and his favorite subordinate.”

“Heh, I hope it’s this simple to keep from killing a sacrifice candidate,” Envy’s words were both skeptical and hopeful. “You’d think it’d be easier to find five.”

[fierce-little-miana]

Thoughts

Second entry for Day 2 @saitofest​ 2020. Following the alternative prompt Dirty deeds done dirt cheap (Saito the enforcer) but if you squint it could work for the actual prompt Shadows (Past / Present) | Heartache. Once again thank you @impracticaldemon​ for organizing.

An alternative title to this fic could be Local member of political militia reflects on his duty while, unbeknown to himself, he is starting to fall in love.

(PS: this takes place after Hijikata and Sannan are back from Osaka but before Chizuru is allowed to leave the compound with the patrols)

 A teacup crashed on the floor and just like that Saito realized that he would be the one that would have to kill Yukimura.

He could hear her in his back as he was chopping vegetables neatly. She was apologizing profoundly to Heisuke about the cup. Saito didn’t know which one the two had dropped it and he didn’t care, but Yukimura was taking all the blame upon herself. As usual. Heisuke was apologizing too. Saito sighed before grabbing something else to cut. He was working quickly and efficiently and was very much tempted to tell Heisuke to leave him and Yukimura alone to prepare the meal. She was the most practical one when it came to chores. Saito didn’t say a thing.

Anyone would have blamed this all situation on the meals. They had started to grow attached to her when she had been allowed – by Souji, Heisuke, and him! – to join them for eating, but Saito would have to disagree. No-one had been pleased by the prospect of having to kill her when they had all realized she was a sixteen years old girl.

From there on it was quite evident that Heisuke would not have been able to hurt her. Saito was wondering about Harada. The man was a true warrior with the inflexibility of character it entailed but it didn’t always extend to women. Harada would never have called that a weakness, but Saito did. The incident when Harada had punched Heisuke showed that he was indeed looking out for Yukimura. This was a good thing of course, except his quick anger had proved that he cared for her probably too much to take the role of executor upon him.

Of course, there was Nagakura but Saito had to dismiss the idea. Not that the Shinsengumi couldn’t rely on the man, quite the contrary, but Nagakura had clear morals and didn’t like to be forced into doing something that went against them. He had a political head but wasn’t ready to sacrifice everything to his ideal either. Saito had experienced that first hand. Yukimura seems to have warmed up to him too. That left Souji and him. He couldn’t let Souji do it. First, he was sure that the man was less hostile to the girl than he so openly declared. Souji probably didn’t realize it himself and Saito was worried of what would happen if he was faced with a direct order to execute her. He would proceed without a doubt, but he might do things to try to compensate for what he wouldn’t undoubtedly perceived as a failing toward Kondo. Souji could be cruel when scared.

Heisuke left. Yukimura had probably convinced him that she really didn’t need his help at the moment. The kitchen wasn’t really made to have three people in it at the same time anyway. They were left alone. They worked in a comfortable silence only disturbed by the rhythmic sound of the utensils.  

So, it would be down to Saito. Kondo was too romantic, Sannan couldn’t use a katana well enough anymore. It could be Hijikata but he was one of their leaders and he wasn’t supposed to act as executioner. It meant that he would only step in if all of his subordinates failed to accomplish their duty. Saito would not let that happen.

Yukimura came next to him and took part of the vegetables in order to prepare the miso. She left the green onions on the board.

“You can use some, if you want,” he said to her.

“But I think Okita-san doesn’t li…” she tries to answer but started blushing when Saito raised his eyebrows at her comment.

“Put some in, they are good for the health.”

She smiled shyly at him and went back toward the pots. Saito followed her with his eyes. This was another issue. Yukimura best protection was her ignorance and despite what Souji liked to claim – that she was slow – she was quite perceptive. Too much for her on good. She noticed a lot of things and did so even more considering that she cared. It would take only one misstep for her to understand the reality of the fury corps and then everything would be over.  

Saito watched her work, he liked seeing her doing so. She was very neat and precise and looked much better. When left idle she tended to grow worried. He found her determination to stay afloat and not to drown in despair remarkable. He wished he could guarantee her that she had nothing to fear.

Yukimura looked up and caught his eyes. She was startled and maybe a bit intimidated but after only a moment she earnestly smiled at him. It surprised Saito and he didn’t know how to act. He quickly nodded to her as an acknowledgement and then went back to his chopping.

Yes, Saito would do his best to make sure that Yukimura remained ignorant and safe. It was the best course of action for everyone.