#he'd like the plants and all but the thought of sending him flying through the sky over it all is very funny to me

[jsooly]

if you were the sullys' human kid / jake sully & neytiri x daughter!reader

synopsis, a baby when the na'vi forced the sky people off their planet, jake bonds with you and tries to convince neytiri to raise you as their own. she doesn't agree, unless…

+ takes place during avatar 2009

(1 - ur here! ☆) / (2) / (3) / (4*)

+ chapters with an * beside it means that it’s following atwow plot line as opposed to disconnected scenarios

"hey—who's kid is this?!"

your mother was pregnant with you during her term as an RDA corporal. she often went on missions with you in tow, safe behind squads of personnel.

you were born on the battlefield, promptly transported back to base before the worst could happen

she died shortly after, before you were even a day old.

orphaned, they powers that were let you stay in her room and put you in the care of the scientists and doctors.

months passed. you learned to walk quickly, learned to yell for attention when you needed something... the RDA base was in no way suited for a child, and no one cared to accommodate you. not when they had na'vi to terrorize and a planet to pillage!

worming your way out of supervision yet again, you found yourself in the fields where the avatars' playing court and farm plants the height of two humans.

you scurried out of the cover the tall stalks provided as an avatar came flying up the path, its knee connecting with your side and sending you flying.

"shit—!"

"jake, i told you you weren't supposed to be running!"

your body must've tumbled 10ft. down the way before you came to a stop. and once you got over the shock, your cries were definitely heard all the way in the command center.

"that's a child!" jake held his head in his hands, relief flooding through him that you were responsive after that collision.

"woah, really?" norm said in a dumb voice before pushing past him and crouching beside you.

"how old is she?! how is she just allowed to walk around on her own?"

"she's turning two soon and her mom died recently in a spat with the na'vi. frankly we don't have the time or resources right now to keep an eye on her at all times." norm cradled you as he surveyed the damage. "thank goodness you just missed her and didn't bulldoze her like an animal."

it ended up fine. you were a tough kid.

poor jake didn't leave your side as you were taken to the med bay and treated, avatar and all.

he fretted as the nurses wrapped your arm with bandages.

"hey, kid." jake offered a sympathetic smile, dusting the dirt off your clothes. his thumb rubbed over your cheeks gently, wiping off the mud that had crusted. "no hard feelings?"

you gave him a wide-eyed look and wrapped your little hand around his thumb as if you were shaking his hand in agreement.

and that was the moment you had him hooked.

sure, his primary objective was bonding with the na'vi, but the times he was on base, his mind would wander back to you. what on earth pandora could a 2 year old be doing to entertain themselves in this weird environment?

curiosity would get the better of him and he'd use the little spare time he had to peek into your room.

seeing you play all alone with your blocks and cars and makeshift dolls made him so unimaginably sad he had to reconsider why he even felt that way.

you caught his figure in the doorway. he tried to retreat, but you'd already made your way towards him.

"jake!" you chirped, stumbling on chubby legs.

"yup." he eased back into view, a warm smile on his face. "that's me." how do you talk to kids? "whatcha up to?"

you mumbled something.

"hm?"

"playing." you shrugged, kicking the invisible dirt on the ground.

"i can see that." he hummed. "is norm gonna let you watch the avatars today?"

you held your chin in thought as you'd seen dr. grace do many times. jake's lips twitched upwards in amusement.

"yeah." you finally answered.

he glanced to the side, unsure what to make of your monotonous replies. "uh... you excited?"

you pointed at him. "you?"

"me?" he asked, pointing to himself also. "am i excited?"

you shook your head. "your... avatar?"

"ohhh." he nodded slowly in understanding. "no, you won't see me much today. i'm gonna be out on a mission."

you frowned and stepped back, shutting the door in his face.

"huh." the rejection stung just as bad as neytiri's.

somewhere down the line, he grew self-conscious, as if his self worth depended on the opinions of a toddler.

the bunch had to listen to him ramble not-so-subtlety and answer all his questions about you, so they caught on pretty quick.

"jake, she's attached to you." grace said with finality. "she's upset she can't spend more time with her favorite person. simple as that."

"favorite person?" jake echoed, distressed. "i almost killed her when we first met!"

grace scoffed. "that's an exaggeration."

"a warranted one." norm mumbled under his breath.

grace whacked him. "you're not helping."

"she slammed the door in my face the other day." jake folding his hands together, resting his forehead against his fists. "you... you think she's mad at me?"

the team groaned.

grace put a hand on jake's shoulder. "don't worry about y/n. you should be focusing on your other girl." she said, referring to neytiri.

the big battle came around, all the tensions and issues snowballing into one decisive moment where the na'vi had the chance to defend what had been taken from them.

jake was over the moon when he finally did what he knew in his heart was right. he embraced neytiri after the battle and he thought he had everything he ever wanted in his hands.

but... a part of his heart was running around the base barefoot.

"ma'jake." neytiri hissed. "no."

"she has nowhere to go." jake pleaded. by the grace of eywa, he was permanently connected with his avatar. his giant hands hooked under your armpits, dangling you in the air in front of his mate.

even neytiri couldn't deny how pitiful you looked. your eyes were sunken from not sleeping enough, frame small from lack of nutrition. what were your caretakers doing?

she shook her thoughts away, retorting, "leave her with her kind! she will be better suited there."

"they're too busy to take care of her properly." jake held you against his chest, stepping towards neytiri. "she needs a proper mother and father."

neytiri growled bluntly in frustration. "i cannot—will not—raise a human child."

jake frowned, unwilling to dismiss her feelings or leave you behind. he loved both his girls too much to deny either one of you. conflicted, he stood there frozen as he tried to think up a compromise.

neytiri studied her husband's face, his brows knit in torment and lips pulled between his teeth. her heart suddenly felt heavy.

“if she matters that much to you… she may stay with us. until those humans can figure out a way to care for her.”

jake lit up like pandora under the night sky. “thank you.” he pulled her in and hugged her right, pressing his lips to her forehead reverently. “thank you.”

within a month, you grew on neytiri. i’m not even joking it was that quick.

she marveled at how light your footsteps were. there were so many times you crept in her shadow unnoticed until she heard that sweet giggle of yours.

you were her fast learner. you were a much better student that your father. being so young, you were able to catch onto the language quickly.

humans were bad. human babies….. eh. this human baby in particular… oh, she could more that spare her prejudice. affection can take its place instead.

it wasn’t bad seeing jake in dad mode either. she didn’t have any doubts, but seeing jake interact so gently with you and entertain you even after a long day made her even more confident in her choice.

a comm came in. neytiri watched jake cross the space as he answered the ringing. as greetings were exchanged between norm, max, and jake, she continued to comb through your hair.

“nga lu… brushing? my nikre?” (you are… brushing? my hair?) you sounded out.

“close.” neytiri said. gently tugging your head back to look at your face, she smiled. “good job.”

you beamed up at her. “irayo nga, sa'nok.” (thank you, mother.)

she paused, peering down at you before tilting your head down and resuming her work on your hair.

in theory, neytiri would’ve corrected you. but that would’ve meant there was something wrong with what you said.

“hey, things have calmed down around here. we can take y/n.” norm said over the phone.

jake glanced at neytiri, who was already watching him.

“they lie. leave this child in their irresponsible hands?” neytiri scoffed and hissed under breath. “she is better suited here with us.”

the knot in jake’s stomach dissipated. “yeah.” he grinned. then, turning back to the phone, “yeah, don’t worry about y/n. she’s good with us.”

neytiri fought back her own smile.

fast forward two years or so, you had a baby brother on the way.

more parts?? idk

© jsooly ‘25.

[bunny-1111]

Skiing together with Teddy ??

omg, I LOVE this, skiing and snow day with teddy:

...

Many things came along with the opulence of Theodore Nott

That included a minimum stay of two and a half weeks at his favourite ski lodge every winter.

Not just your winter, Theodore would have you both fly to the opposite side of the world for a good ski, insisting on going from England to New Zealand just for the Southern Hemisphere snow, not going to waste.

There's something so captivating about Theo in his all-black ski attire, leather gloves, and cashmere scarf. So discipline in his sport.

You watch his grip tighten on his ski sticks, and he turns a corner, or his strong legs whip through the thick snow.

His muffled chuckles behind his mask as he laughs at your occasional slip, his gloved hands helping you up and planting you back on your feet with his hands lingering on your hips or waist, his voice teasing "Gracful, Darling"

He also insists on sharing a hot tub, his excuse being that it’s “necessary for sore muscles.”

Snow angels, the print of his body on the white snow much larger than your own

Theo rolls his eyes when you force him to build a snowman, fighting back a smile when you jump up and down when its finished, to tease you he'd take a bite out of the carrot nose you jammed into the snowman

Theo is an experienced skier, so it's rare if he does fall, but he does everything in his power to not fall, just the idea of falling is humiliating to Theodore.

If you get worried the slope it too steep or high he's voice drips encouragement, "Come on ,champion you can handle this" pointing below, "I know you got this, I wouldn't let you go down if I thought you weren't able to." when you finally take of with Theo beside you he'd scream out "atta girl!" kissing you when you both make it to the bottom

He'd help you jump into your heavy ski outfit, fitting it to your skin

BONUS: someone guy bumping into you mid ski and those losing his shit

Gliding down the snow felt so natural to you, the wind that fought against your speed, so refreshing, your body aligned to the rhythm of the slope, until just as you leaned into another turn, a blur barreled into you, sending you sprawling across the snow.

Pain immediately hit your shoulder as you tumbled, skis tangling awkwardly beneath you. Before you could even catch your breath, the figure—a man about your age snapped, “Watch where you’re going, yeah?”

You stared at him, stunned and winded, your reply stuck in your throat, pulling your mask down the only thing to leave your mouth was the smoke of the cold air, from your now heavy breathing.

Theo was there in an instant. He skidded to a stop, snow spraying in the direction of the man who crashed into you, his jaw set in a way that made your stomach flip for an entirely different reason.

"You want to repeat that?" Theodore's voice cut through

“I said—” the guy started, but Theo cut him off, stepping closer, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the snow.

“You crashed into her.” Theo’s tone was sharp now, his anger contained but unmistakable, like the stillness before a storm. “And instead of apologising, you wanna run your mouth?”

"Look, man, she was in the wa-" he protests again

"you apologise before this snow turns red on your fucking account, got it?" this time Theo was interrupting him

After the chaos, Theo insisted no more skiing for the day, that he would carry you everywhere, and you could sit by the fire sipping hot chocolate, non-negotiable.

Reblogs comments and likes are much appreciated my loves x

[sunflowerzyk]

DRAGON X READER

(drable)

Contiene: Dragon X Fem!Reader, Monster Romance, Slow Burn, SFW (por ahora) .

You travel through a portal, To a stereotypical Medieval to fantasy era with all kinds of magical creatures and different mythologies, just myths in your previous life. Wonderful monsters in your eyes.

But you must continue to work even here, as an assistant to an elf apothecary who offered you work, sending you in search of ingredients where you cross paths with your next opportunity to explore new places. A dragon.

Version en Español

— Just get these plants, the map is in your bag, and there's the usual transportation.

That grumpy goblin muttered with little patience, pointing to the faucet that was a few meters away from the two of you. Sometimes-you wonder how that tiny body of your 'boss' can contain so much anger and bitterness without exploding into streamers and brightly colored paper.

— Roger that, ....

You hummed, with your boss in the palm of your hand you gently set him down on the window frame of his store. Opening the bag that hung at your side, pulling out the piece of paper, drawings of the herbs you needed to find with their names written carelessly in a language you knew very little of even now, your pronunciation was horrible.

You looked at everything out of the corner of your eye without giving it much thought next to the map<<snowy mountains>> you managed to decipher, your brow furrowed slightly.

— Will Comet reach those heights?

you asked hesitantly, glancing sideways at the griffin that was easily twice your height, before returning to your boss, who was frowning at you.

-—He will if he has a good rider.

He hissed, before turning and leaping out of the frame and into the hut. You were definitely hoping he'd explode into rainbow sparkles someday.

You let out a snort flying between amused and frustrated. Stashing the map and list in the bag again, adjusting the strap so it wouldn't fly off.

— Well boy...I guess it's you and me against this world.

You whispered, making an awkward attempt to climb into his saddle. It would be just like any other day of collecting. Just coming and going, following directions with no incidentals. Pulling on the straps of the griffin unfurling its massive wings, flying off in a northerly direction.

— She's not coming back.

Murmured your boss's wife, a little golden-haired, pointy-nosed elf with worry in her voice.

— If she's worthy to live she will, if she doesn't, it's one less burden for us, winter is near.

He muttered coldly.

— You could have given the job to someone else more capable.

— No one accepted, they're smart.

— So is she.

— But she trusted us.

Yes, a mistake, or a little nudge to a different story...

— Oh Shit!

You hiss, falling to the side of the griffin mount as you try to turn as if you were going to run away.

Everything was fine, Except for the torturous autumn winds whipping through the snowy mountains (no snow hard.

It was almost noon, there was an embracing sun that could not penetrate the strong winds at all. Although you had adequate clothing, a fur sweater, boots and pants to withstand the cold, the wind almost blew you off the road more than once.

Thanks to Comer your huge scream that broke the path of the blizzards you recorded it to sneak under it and collect those herbs you needed, too impressed with how resistant they were, hidden among the stones not to fly away.

But. a gale much stronger than the rest flanked your moaning stance as you pulled it up to take off on your return.

You were on the ground, wide-eyed.... watching him, him a fucking Dragon over four meters tall, the whole package complete with scales, teeth wings claws and piercing eyes that seemed to gnaw at your soul.

Your griffin immediately lowered its head in the dragon's presence, like a scolded little puppy. You no..... could not move and bow.

Since you arrived in this world you first asked for dragons, receiving mocking or accusatory looks from others in your direction. Everyone said they never left their territories. Caves or whatever you call them. Being extremely territorial, for you, a small human it would be better to be far away.

And now? You understood why.

Just stretching your head back painfully just to look at him.... or look directly into his eyes was uncomfortable.

You observe her features...you always had a thing for dragons in particular, perhaps a reverence or fascination for such elegantly terrifying and lethal creatures.

The Dragon. He watched you from his full height, you didn't know what he thought, he was probably like the others and was debating whether you were a dwarf, a deformed offspring of a giant or a fairy without pointed ears.

And it wasn't incorrect your guess, Because in his head, He was genuinely debating to find out your race and whether you were too stupid to understand that you should lower your head in his presence. Or very very very stupid to know that you weren't intimidating with...those huge eyes.... Staring at him.

<<What kind of a creature are you?>>

You asked yourself barking your head, leaning closer.

Immediately Comete stepped between the two of you, placing his body smaller than the grafin but larger than yours on top of you, still with his head down. But unable to be at ease without trying to protect you, the only rider who had any regard for him.

— Get out of the way.

growled the huge Dragon. It moved its huge armored paw toward Comet, wrapping it firmly around him and ripping him off of you. Throwing it over the edge of the mountain.

— Comet!

You gasped. Finally aware of your situation, seeing your transport being tossed around like it was nothing turned your stomach.

And hearing the Dragon's growl sent its considerable amount of electric shocks into you.

He turned his gaze immediately to you when he heard you speak, completely intrigued by the softer, squeakier sound of your voice in comparison to his own.

You quickly became mute without knowing what to do. Returning your attention to the huge dragon with a dry throat.

The Dragon was as anxious as you, finding a different creature wandering in its territory would merit death by incineration, but you were bold and did not lower your gaze no matter how fixed it looked at you....es interesting.

Until you break the silence,

Beginning with a quick introduction of your name, making a small bow in the mother tongue of that kingdom.

-

— I come in peace

You added with a tense jaw. Raising your hands in surrender.

<<....., little one, Foreigner with a terrible accent>>

He hummed in his head, moving a little closer to you, just a few centimeters.

When Comet comes back flapping awkwardly against the wind current that doesn't affect you because of the dragon's huge body and its wind-repelling body heat. Making you feel vapor in place.

— You are with life..... Comet!

You whisper excitedly, almost comically, prancing in its direction.

The dragon instead lets out a cloud of steam in your direction so that you shut your mouth. Glaring at the gryphon again, who stood with a firm composure, ready to protect you (try).

You didn't know you could be eaten because if Haci were the dragon he would have done it from minute one.

A small shiver ran through you as you returned your gaze to him and he to you.

The growl that came from deep in his chest and made his scales vibrate and the ground filled you completely, leaving you unable to stop looking at him again.

You left him captivated with your menacing stare.

[savior-of-humanity]

@hymns-across-the-stars -- continued from here!

--

Atreus was no stranger to being lost in a foreign realm, with little - if any - means of getting his bearings regarding just where exactly he was. It was something he was accustomed to, really, especially given how far he had traveled and how many sights he had seen in his journeys through the Nine Realms and beyond. It usually didn't take him long to adjust to a new situation, to learn how to navigate both geography and conversations with any local peoples that lived there. But the place he found himself in now was unlike anything he had ever seen in his entire life. In every direction that the Jotunn looked and traversed, Atreus was surrounded by a sprawling labyrinth of ancient, worn metal; expertly constructed, yet weathered from wind and time. Even beneath the plant life that seemed to grow from almost every single surface of the complex, he could tell that the architecture and craftsmanship was utterly alien to him. Not to mention, given just how far the tunnels and shafts that made up its depths went, no civilization he knew of could've made such a massive complex. And yet, there was no sign of any people living here...

...well, except for the creatures that called this maze home.

Many were just as alien as the labyrinth itself, though they held similarities to other creatures Atreus had seen before; multi-colored lizards the size of dogs, roving packs of spiders, enormous armored centipedes, and too many other little things to list off. He swore he saw a glimpse of what looked like some sort of enormous bird-like creature soaring above, but given the huge towers that reached up to the heavens and obscured the sky almost totally, it disappeared just as quickly as he'd spotted it. Survival wasn't too difficult, which was largely due to the relative abundance of both safe food and drinking water; but as the sun eventually began to approach the distant horizon, he knew he'd have to find shelter for the night. There was no telling what sort of nasty critters would come out in the dark, after all - but the abrupt noise of some distant commotion snapped Atreus out of his thoughts of finding a place to hunker down. Atreus paused and listened; normally, he'd avoid it entirely as it'd usually just be a scuffle between some big lizards, but there were no snapping jaws, guttural snarls, teeth digging into skin and flesh. What he could hear insisted solely of ghastly shrieks and what he could only describe as small explosions. Logic dictated that he should ignore it and keep looking for shelter while he still had daylight - but something about it urged him to go, to look. And look he would. It'd taken him a while given how long and winding the passages of the labyrinth's underbelly were, but eventually he'd crawl out of a vent overlooking a small ledge to spot the source of the once-distant battle. There were two creatures that were of immediate interest to Atreus; one was a huge, gaunt and avian-looking creature, much like the one he had spotted a glimpse of earlier in the day. Its hostile gaze was locked upon the other individual; a small red-furred creature resembling some strange cross between a mollusk and a cat. And, based on the way they not only held their body posture but also wielded a spear, Atreus immediately guessed that the little thing was not only intelligent, but also exhausted from a previous fight. He didn't hesitate to notch an arrow into the string of his bow, draw, and then send it flying straight at the tusked face of the bird-beast. In that moment, Atreus learned two things; the first was that the skull-like face of the "bird" was not a face but rather a mask. Through a stroke of luck, the arrow had hit at just the right angle to dislodge it from the creature's true face, sending it clattering to the overgrowth below. The second was that this also happened to piss it off. Severely.

He didn't wait for its response - already he had leapt from the ledge to the ground below, landing into a roll to minimize potential injury from the impact, before he jumped back to his feet and began to run like Hel to the closest semblance of safety. Which, coincidentally, happened to be in the general direction of the red-furred spear wielder. "GO!" He had no idea if they could understand him or if they could even speak, but he hoped that at the very least, the urgency and volume of his voice would spook the creature into fleeing as well. "RUN! RUN! I HAVE ITS ATTENTION!" He knew that because he could literally hear it coming after him with those huge beating wings. All he could really do was hope that he was faster than it was.

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Top Spies Part 2/8

Ruben and Reader are super spies, who have to pretend to be a married couple on vacation as a co-signed mission. A enemies to lovers fic, very sweet and funny!

Enjoy!

"Mr and Mrs Moreno, your room is ready!

Captain Harlow had you and Ruben fly out to Madeira the same evening that you received the mission. You and Ruben arrived at the hotel just before dinner time.

"You can have the bed, I'll take the couch." Ruben said, as you entered your neat little suit. It was a five star hotel so even the cheapest rooms looked expensive.

"Don't be silly. Housekeeping we'll be coming in and out of this room all the time. They'll think it's strange if they find bedding on the couch. It's best we don't do anything that will draw any unusual attention to ourselves."

Ruben just grunted in response and disappeared into the bathroom.

He's just mad because he knows you're right, you thought. Many men were like that. Too blinded by their egos.

You heard Ruben run the shower water. You told him not to take too long and that you'd go ahead down to the hotel restaurant and reserve a table for dinner. It was a fancy place, not just hotel guest dining there.

"Table for two Mrs Moreno?" The waiter at the door asked.

"Yes, that would be great thanks."

"Right this way."

You followed the waiter through the restaurant and towards your table. He left you with the drink menu and assured that he'd send your husband this way once he arrived.

"What's that you're wearing darling? Such a beautiful dress."

At one point whilst you were waiting, a lady accompanied by her family, leaned over from the next table to complement the dress you were wearing.

"Thank you. It's Alexander Mcqueen."

It was a sleevless red gown that hugged your shape like and hourglass.

"It's lovely. I think he likes it too." She winked.

You frowned, not sure who she was reffering to. That is, until a giant shadow was casted before your table.

"Ruben."

You looked up. His gaze was intense and no trace of a smile or amusement on his face.

"Please, sit." You said as he kept staring at you in that intimidating way. At least he dressed up, you thought. Suit and tie. And shaved.

"The waiter hasn't come by yet. He said he would wait for you."

Ruben nodded his head and disappeared behind his menu.

You rolled your eyes and prayed for the girl that would end up marrying Ruben in real life. What a pain.

Observing the crowd you noticed that there weren't many families at the hotel. Only a few young people. The youngest, seated at the table next to you, with the lady that had leaned over to complement your dress.

"What?"

You jumped as Ruben's foot nudged yours under the table. He was looking up from his menu, noticing your drifting gaze.

"The people here.....They are..."

"All guests of Alejandro Martinez." He confirmed.

"How do you know?"

A complecant smile twitched the corner of his lips. "I hacked into the front desk computer."

"How? I was with you when we checked in."

"Yes, but as you were busy with the receptionist, I planted a USB into the front desk server, downloading all the necessary information we could need."

"I see."

He couldn't have thought of that himself. Franklin must have suggested it. He was the best technician at the agency, providing all the best gear and gadgets for the missions. Of course he would give the best stuff to his pal Ruben.

"Why the long face Y/N?" He teseased.

"All I got was a watch and a gun."

"Cute."

"In which way are these people connected to Alejandro Martinez?" You asked.

"See that guy." Ruben leaned forward, pointing to a man at a table across the room. "That's Martinez lawyer and advisor."

"And the woman with him?"

"That's his wife. You see that man over there..." Ruben pointed to another party at the next table. You were trying to keep up but the smell of Ruben's cologne distracted you a bit. "...that's his long time business partner Andrés Fierro."

You frowned "Andrés Fierro, the swindler?" He was a known criminal, often charged with magnificent forgery.

"They're all special guests of Alejandro Martinez."

"Why bring them all here?" You asked.

Ruben shrugged. "Where else can they go on vacation and do illegal business at the same time?"

"Do you think Martinez encourages his guests to do that?"

"It's his own private resort. He can do whatever he wants and so can his guests."

You sat back, your mind racing with newfound ideas. The warm breeze carried the scent of saltwater and tropical flowers, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore created a soothing background noise. But then, suddenly, everything changed.

A child at the table next to you started choking on a piece of food. His face turned blue, and he began to gasp for air. Ruben, who had just called over the waiter to take his order, immediately sprang into action. He rushed over to the child's table, grabbed him by the shoulders, and performed the Heimlich maneuver. The child coughed up the food, gasping for air, and Ruben held him upright until he was sure he was okay.

The room erupted in applause, even you felt your heart swell.

Abençoe! Abençoe você e sua esposa! (Bless you, bless you and your wife.)

It was the lady that had complement your dress earlier. The boy must have been her grandson. She stood and embraced Ruben, kissing him on his cheeks. He looked flushed and slightly embarrassed by all of the attention from the crowded restaurant. The waiters sprung forwards to make sure the young boy was taken care of. They also assured that you and Ruben would be dining on the house tonight, free of charge.

"What a night." You sighed as you and Ruben arrived back into your hotel room. Ruben saved a child's life. Maybe it was pure instict but there was no hesitation when he got up from his seat to help that little boy. For some reason you had always thought of Ruben as selfish and self-centered. Hopefully tonight proved you wrong.

"Which side do you prefer?"

"Huh?"

You had been reminiscing the night when Ruben entered your bedroom, wearing nothing but sweat pants. Your eyes traveled to his naked torso, not hiding the fact that his many abs drew your attention.

"Of the bed?" He said, a smirk on his lips.

"Oh."

You looked to the bed. It was kings sized, big enough for both of you to lay in without touching.

"Left side is fine." You shrugged. However the low grunt that left Ruben's mouth questioned your decision.

"What?"

"I usually sleep on the left side."

"Um...then why did you ask me?"

"I was hoping you'd pick the right side."

"Well I didn't, I picked the left side."

He curled his lip and sighed. "Fine."

"Great."

You slipped into the bathroom to remove your make up. Once you came out, all freshened up, Ruben lay in bed on the right side, his back turned to you. You slipped underneath the covers but quickly realized that what you were wearing was too hot to sleep in. It was only appropriate to sleep with pants on, but since Ruben was comfortable sleeping half naked, why shouldn't you be?

You slipped out of bed to remove your sweats, but that's when you noticed an unusual clenching of Ruben's back muscles, as if he wasn't comfortable in his current sleeping position.

"What's wrong?" You asked.

"I....my shoulder." He grunted, back still turned to you. That must have been why he wanted to sleep on the left side, his right shoulder was hurting.

"Just turn around." You said. He probably didn't want to sleep facing you, but how silly of him if he had an old shoulder injury bothering him.

"You sure?"

"Ruben,  please turn around." You joined him in bed as he did.

His expression was tense, eyebrows furrowed.

"What happened to your shoulder. You asked laying you head down on your pillow with your body facing his way.

"A mission gone wrong." He said, a low grunt escaping his mouth as his muscles finally relaxed.

"What happened?"

"We were in a shoot out, me and my partner. I ended up getting shot in the shoulder and he..." His voice hitched, the words not able to escape his mouth.

"Is that why you don't do co-signed missions anymore, because of what happened to your last partner?"

Ruben looked to you but said nothing. His eyes were big in the night, a bit terrifying.

"Ruben what you did today, saving that kid..."

"It was nothing." He grunted, shifting his body so that he wouldn't be facing you directly anymore.

"It was amazing and brave." You said.

Eventually silence fell in the room. Somewhere the ocean met shore with it's crashing waves. The sound made you drift off to sleep, however, not before hearing Ruben's faint words being spoken back to you.

"Thank you."

[boundlss]

001. the seaside ,  as the sun is setting . (veltempest)

Vel had gone swimming, and the dried seawater visibly mats the ends of his hair in a way ordinarily displeasing to the eye. He's still breathing a little heavier than usual despite the stretch of time between him leaving the ocean and coming to join Tempest on the damp sand nearby.

He's never asked about it, and Vel has never told him. It wasn't ever something they'd needed to talk about---the way adrenaline wears into an extraordinary fatigue. Tempest had just noticed, and Vel had noticed his notice.

Even so, Vel is beautiful.

This is nowhere close to the first time he's had the thought. The first time he'd met Vel, he'd stumbled over his movements and sent an Eldritch Blast flying in the complete wrong direction, something he'd played off at the time as having been startled by the ambush. But he hadn't been a stranger to ambush. It was Vel that he was a stranger to, rough and poorly put together, and competent and strong. Alive in the midst of battle.

Tempest likes him better like this, of course---without the tiredness, he seems almost serene as he looks towards the water with a fondness Tempest used to. Almost as though he'd stay out there all evening if he could.

It was probably Tempest's fault he'd settled in slightly further up the beach, where the water only occasionally reached to brush against the furthest points of skin. No---it definitely was, because that was where Tempest had planted himself when he himself had gotten tired of swimming.

You can go back out, he doesn't say. He's afraid that if he breaks the silence, Vel will look right through him like he always does and ask something tedious like what's wrong. And he won't know how to tell Vel that everything is wrong---that he'd been so unbelievably happy since the fall of the Death March that he can no longer imagine being able to live when everyone he now knows except for Yanna Lazaros becomes nothing.

( "How do you do it?" he had asked Vesaithe. Both of their eyes were fixed on the same group of people---though he knew Vesaithe's had been flitting between Roy and Sagra in fixed frustration all night and his own were trained on Vel, as always. "Knowing they're all going to..."

Tempest hadn't thought he was owed a secret, though he had already exposed his own to Vesaithe---his identity, their past connection. Something that meant nothing to either of them anymore.

"A meaningless question," Vesaithe had answered. "I already gave 'that' up." )

That conversation floats at the forefront of his mind now. It had ended very quickly after that.

"You know, I've been thinking about the nature of sacrifice." He doesn't have to look at Vel to know what kind of look his friend must be sending him, so he carries on, chuckling. "You're giving me a look, I can tell. You don't need to. I just wanted to ask you something."

He keeps his eyes on the horizon as he speaks. Hanazira beckons from across the water, with its assassins and its beast and its unfinished business. He doubts, between them, that he's the only one with things to resolve there.

"If the one thing you've wanted most was within your reach, but you had to willingly sacrifice everything else you've ever been---not have it taken from you, but give it willingly... Would you do it?"

He allows the question to hang in the air with the soft sound of the tide and the few seabirds who hadn't settled to sleep. There was probably a time where he knew what his own answer would have been, but he wonders if he's the same person who would have answered it.

settings. / accepting.

[curetapwater]

Red. Hot. Rage. A blast of Chaos magic so massive that it hurt to leave Shadow’s body. It crushed the ice around him and sent Eggman flying so far back that Shadow was certain he’d flee to his castle and wouldn’t be returning if he knew what was good for him. A foreign, yet sickly familiar magic licked up his limbs in red sparks. His boots stood firm in the melting snow beneath them.

Sending Eggman away wasn't enough. All Shadow could see was red, and all he could think of was the furious declaration that had just torn through his throat. Death to all who opposed him, indeed. His fingers twitched. His teeth grit. He set a foot behind him, ready to pounce.

Senses blunted by rage, he did not register the rumble of the snow tumbling down on him until he was buried beneath harsh, frozen white.

Shadow’s eyes opened to empty void. The chill of that wretched frozen white was gone, but so was the heat that had just radiated from his flesh. What… was that? Had one of the Chaos Gems done that to him? A final curse before signing his death warrant?

…Would he be reunited with Maria soon?

His face fell into his hands. What had he done?

"Fuck," his voice rang out. "What have I done?"

Wracked with guilt, it took Shadow a moment to realize the cry had not come from his own throat. He looked up from his hands, but saw no one. Was this strange space tormenting him with his own voice?

"Who's there?" he called. He turned around to find a figure lying on the ground, a ways away from him.

The sobs stopped short. The stranger lifted their head.

"What the hell are... get out!" They swung their arms in the air wildly. "Leave me the fuck alone!"

Shadow stumbled back at the roar that sounded all-too-familiar to the one he had just unleashed before bringing this mess down on himself.

They turned, and scrambled up upon seeing Shadow, backing away.

Shadow stood up, too, prepared to defend himself, when he realized that the other's quills raised into a distinctive star pattern. A pattern he had only seen in his own reflection.

He stepped forward, on edge. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"Who... Who am I..." A dark chuckle rumbled out of them as they echoed back the question. Heavy boots echoed throughout the void as they stomped towards him. "Who am I?" They planted their feet in place, and stood up tall. "I am Shadow the Hedgehog!"

"Tch," Shadow scoffed. "Impossible." He marched closer to this... imposter. "I am Prince Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Lifeform. You will cease this disrespect of my name at-"

He cut himself off with his own gasp, stopped short.

The sight before him was impossible, indeed. Perhaps a cruel vision meant to torment him in the eternity that surely followed that deadly spill in the mountains. A twisted version of himself, glowering at him in the wicked red that Shadow had glowed when he'd sealed his own fate. Clad not in lavender loaned from the Moon King, but in black leather.

This… other Shadow’s red eyes flew wide just as his had. But then his tension fell. In fact, he began to laugh. "What are you, some sort of lame joke?"

Shadow's quills raised in offense. "Excuse me? Perhaps you didn't hear me the first time, but I am the Ultimate Lifeform." He shoved down the thoughts of his failure swirling through his mind at the declaration, screaming at him at just how inaccurate a title it was. "You dare mock me?"

"I'm the mockery?" the other scoffed, "You look like a prissy little princess dressed you.  There's nothing ultimate about being fragile and stuffy." He chuckled again, and clapped slowly.  "And the crowd goes wild for the most underwhelming parody of myself." His head craned up above them, a mirthless smile marring the otherwise familiar face. "Pure fuckin' comedy gold here."

The smile fell, and suddenly those red eyes pierced Shadow with malice. "So, why are you really here? Did you think you could taunt me or some shit? 'Cuz you're the sorriest excuse of a fake I've ever seen."

The ember of anger that Shadow's outburst had left burning in his heart ignited anew. His hands curled into fists. He refused this vision the satisfaction of hearing him admit what happened out loud. That his presence here – wherever "here" was – was his own fault.

"Clearly, you're either a punishment of the next world or my mind playing tricks on me," Shadow said. He couldn't hold back his growl as he spat, "And what do you know of princesses?"

"Let me think," his mirror said, voice dripping with sarcasm. He counted on his fingers, and Shadow blanched at the sight of gleaming claws. "That they're sensitive and gullible and run away at the littlest of problems." That wicked grin spread once more. "And they're so easy to take advantage of. Like taking candy from a baby."

Each word cut a new wound in Shadow, as if they both still stood there in the snow, as if that monster was kicking Shadow's limp, ice-cold sister on every insult.

He knew what this exact rage had wrought last time. But oh. To hear such vile words in his own voice. He had grabbed that faker by the collar before he could possibly reason with himself.

"You monster," he hissed.

He seized up when those calloused hands flew to his shoulders, and curved claws dug into him. But he didn't dare let his expression do anything but darken further, as that hunter’s gaze bore into him. He swallowed back a shudder.

The claws sank deeper. He leaned in until Shadow’s nose wrinkled from hot breath hissed out between bared fangs.

"That's what it takes to be ultimate."

Enlarged canines he'd always kept tucked behind pursed lips, shone as the fangs they truly were on his wicked copy. He choked on fumes of smoke and leather. He cursed his sudden habit of starting fights he couldn't finish, but he couldn't back down from this creature even if he'd wanted to.

He didn't want to.

No curse Shadow could ever learn with his faulty, untrained Chaos abilities could compare to the satisfaction of kneeing that faker in the stomach.

The blow knocked his copy back. He grunted as he hit the ground.

 "Not that you'd know, pretty boy," he growled, then stood up. He rolled up his sleeves, and Shadow realized he had dived to deep to back out of what he’d just started.

Still, he couldn’t back down. "You're one to talk!" Shadow cried. He raised his fists before him in mimicry. "All that talk of taking advantage of others... that is true weakness! What good is a supposed Ultimate Lifeform who only brings ruin?"

He was deeply unprepared for when the other punched up into his stomach. Shoved his chest. Caught him by the small of his back.

Shadow felt ill at the uncanny sight of his own face looking down at him, twisting into a nasty scowl.

"All this talk about weakness when you don't even know power," he growled before dropping Shadow to the floor. A heavy, black boot pressed down into his stomach, holding him to the ground hands-free.

All air left Shadow's stomach in one sharp oof-

Shuddering, wheezing, he lifted his arms to claw uselessly at his copy's leather boot and pant leg. He'd never felt so crushed, and he'd just had tons of snow land on his head. No, this was precise. Localized. Intentional. Unable to speak, all he could muster was a rhythmic, hopeless wheeze. The disgusting things he'd just heard in his own voice played over and over in his head.

"Awwwh," that monster mocked in a high-pitched baby voice, "look at the poor little prince, can't even handle getting stomped on."

He pressed down harder, right beneath the ribs. Shadow’s wheeze became a shocked squeak-!

"You wouldn't know power it ripped out your guts and-"

Shadow banged his fist against his assailant's shin in a last-ditch effort to get him off.

The other hissed and jerked his leg up.

Sweet, merciful air filled Shadow's lungs anew. He scooted back before that monster could right himself. He kicked out his legs, and his stomach twisted with sick satisfaction when his soles collided with that monster's shins.

The fake hit the ground on his hands and knees. He looked up, and they mad eye contact with near-identical expressions of loathing.

Shadow’s veins still stung from that burst of magic that had exploded from him before this encounter began. His muscles fought against the sparks that ignited anew in his anger. He despised the sensation. He couldn't resist it.

"You don't know my power," Shadow seethed.

A chilling sobriety washed over those red eyes. Then they sparked anew, as another sick smile curled across that faker’s face. He pushed himself back onto his feet and loomed above Shadow.

“Yeah?” he challenged. "Show me, then, Ultimate Lifeform."

The growl sitting in Shadow’s chest rumbled, threatening to escape. He shuddered on his hands and knees, nails he hadn't clipped in three days of failure poking at his gloves, clawing at the ground beneath him. He could demolish this imposter with the same power that had finally blown Eggman away from him.

...The same power that had brought that mess down on him.

The same power that had done nothing to save his sister, who surely still lay cold beside his own icy grave.

Teeth gnashing, he looked up at the monster who towered over him.  His own face, contorted in a snarl he should never have matched. That's not what he was made for.

He swallowed hard, and stood up. Princely posture restored, fists clenched with power he knew sat there, regardless of whether this broken mirror saw it. "I'll prove my power as soon as the kingdom is saved. And I'll remove all who stand in my way. Including such a weak-minded vision of myself."

That dashed the smile from this imposter’s face. He scrunched up his nose and said, "You really are a joke, huh. You're not even fucking funny. You really expect victory to be handed to you on a platter?" He threw up his hands. "You think you can just up and take the prize when you never ran the fuckin' race?"

Shadow grit his teeth once more, his fists tightening. That hunger with which this copy spoke... all teeth and sneers. He swallowed back his disgust and prayed the other couldn’t see how he shook. "You dare lecture me? A mere imitation? You speak of greatness, yet you can't have done anything worthy of my title."

That calculating gaze returned to blood red eyes. Shadow didn’t much appreciate being appraised like prey for a hunter. Nor did he appreciate the smug smirk the copy made.

“Have you?”

Shadow scoffed, and hoped it sounded more annoyed than terrified. Snow rushed in his ears, dark magic stung his veins. But you're right was the last thing that could leave his mouth.

"At least I am devoted to something," he settled on, and cursed the way his voice faltered, the way Maria's snow-covered body flashed in his mind's eye. "What are you but an ambitionless brute?"

Red eyes dulled of all amusement, but the smile didn’t fade with it. It widened, split open. An ear-splitting cackle burst forth. Such a monstrous sound, in Shadow’s own voice yet like no one he had ever heard.

It snapped to a sneer as quickly as it began. "I will put everything I have into tearing this Chaos forsaken kingdom down. Brick by brick."

Horror struck Shadow's core. The shock carried onto his face before he could try to hide it.

"Starting with you!"

The copy lunged for him.

Eyes wide, Shadow stumbled back and just barely managed to catch this monster by the wrists (were those claws at the ends??). His stance was poor, his leverage weak. But he pushed back against the raging assault. Grit his teeth right in that nightmarish snarl...

Nightmare.

This copy was his worst nightmare.

Nightmares could be woken from.

His knees crumpled under his struggle, but he grit his teeth and tried his damndest not to give in. He'd never destroy his kingdom. He'd never be this villain.

"I see now..." he growled in his effort. "You are exactly what Eggman wants me to be." With a final heave, he shoved the monster off of him. "Weak-willed and complacent," he spat.

The copy’s eyes widened. He – no, it wasn’t real – it stood there, dumbfounded.

Any satisfaction the sight brought was dashed when the vision started barreling towards him.

Adrenaline shot through Shadow's veins anew. He was paralyzed between stand your ground and RUN.

"YOU BITCH!"

He chose RUN.

The screams rang out into the empty space around them, as Shadow ran, ran, RAN and seemed to get nowhere in the expanse of nothing.

Then the copy started swinging fists at his head. "YOU'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING! YOU'LL NEVER DO WHAT IS REQUIRED! YOU'LL NEVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO GET YOUR WAY!!"

Nightmare... it's only a nightmare, Shadow repeated in his head like a desperate mantra. He's lying. It's not true, it's not true it's only a nightmare it's not true.

One of those claws whizzed right past his ear.

RUN.

The void was endless. Bare. Nowhere to hide, nowhere to stop. RUN. RUN. RUN.

Shadow's scalp stung at a sudden yank at his quills. His head snapped back.

As one claw released from his quills, another shoved into his back, knocking him forward. His chin hit the ground with a sickening clack of his teeth.

Please wake up.

That wasn't his voice.

Pressure between his back spines. Right on his spine. Down, down, down, until the air was squeezed from his lungs anew. That damn boot again.

"YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT! YOU'LL NEVER FIND SUCCESS! YOU'LL NEVER HAVE YOUR FEAST!"

Harder. Harder.

"WHY?"

Shadow clawed at the ground. His vision blurred. He couldn't breathe.

Harder. Harder. Harder. Until a leather-clad knee sat beside his head, and suddenly chapped lips were close enough to make his ears flick back with a harsh whisper.

"Because you don't get the one thing I do: Everyone else is just a stepping stone to your victory. "No person...”

Harder.

“No enemy…”

Harder.

“No authority…”

Harder.

“No so-called friend is worth anything more than what you use them for. "And anyone who believes otherwise will be shriveled under my heel."

"N-n..." Shadow tried, but the pressure was unbearable.

Please. Still not his voice.

"I am Shadow the Hedgehog.  And I cannot, never will be weak like you."

Shadow spread out his palms, tried to push up even just an inch, only to slam back down. He couldn’t tell whether he could no longer see, or if there was simply nothing to see in the void. Any protests left this mouth as pathetic squeaks.

Shadow, come on!

"Sonic?" Shadow gasped. He squirmed beneath the boot. "Sonic-" he wheezed again.

“What was that?” the nightmare teased.

He was dreaming! He was dreaming! He needed to get out! He had a kingdom to save! Teeth gnashing, he sucked the air through his teeth. Forced air into his lungs.

"SONIC!"

The pressure didn’t leave. But it became a touch lighter. For but a moment.

Then it came down so hard that Shadow saw stars.

"I DON'T NEED ANYONE!!!" the nightmare screamed. "ANYONE!!! I DON'T NEED A SINGLE FUCKING PERSON IN MY LIFE!!! NONE!!!!"

Its voice was growing hoarse from the tantrum it was throwing, Shadow thought distantly.

"I DON'T NEED FRIENDS," a claw pinned down Shadow’s wrist, "I DON'T NEED FAMILY," then the other, "I DON'T NEED LOVE," they dug into fabric and fur and flesh, "I DON'T NEED ANY OF IT!!!!"

It wasn’t real. The pain shooting through his spine, his ribs, his lungs. The screams of something he refused to become. This… thing that only spat lies.

"I AM THE ULTIMATE LIFEFORM!!! I AM EVIL, VICIOUS!  I'M SELFISH AND CRUEL!" One of those claws released its vice grip. "I DON'T NEED HIM!!"

Phantom fingers enclosed around his hand. Hardened, calloused. But not claws.

Shadow grit his teeth, and sucked new life into his chest. He needed to wake up. He would wake up.

Something thrummed from deep in his chest. It didn’t feel like the warm energy of Angel Mountain, nor the cold magic from Eggman’s scepter. It burned hot, like a flame held just behind him. Above him…

"I'LL KILL HIM AND I'LL KILL YOU TOO!!!!!!!!"

One hand free, Shadow shoved himself up just far enough to look up at that wicked sneer. Toxic green sparked in that faker's clenched palm. Shadow's eyes widened as green flames snapped into the shape of a spear.

Shadow wrinkled his nose one final time. Called out to who he knew was guiding him out of this nightmare.

"SONIC!"

He had no time to flinch back as it plunged down. All he heard was an otherworldly scream in what hardly sounded like his own voice. All he saw was green.

Then black.

His eyes blinked open to Sonic’s face melting from concern to relief.

—

Who was that...

—

takes place between Chapter 17 and Chapter 18 of Shadow and the Magic of Pegasus

art by @solitarydoomsday

Vote for Descendants AU here!

SONIC AU COLLISION: ROUND 1

click to see full image

Shadow Barbie AU belongs to @curetapwater [link to fic series]

Content Warnings: kidnapping, unethical experimentation, and mind control/loss of bodily autonomy

Descendants AU belongs to @a-dream-journalist

Creator Note: CW along all three acts include child abuse, fantasy racism, drugging [sorta], attempted murder, and suicidal ideation.

Explore each world below the cut!

Shadow Barbie AU:

Shadow the Hedgehog is the prince of a kingdom filled with magic, wonder, and danger. Born from the cauldron of genius sorcerer King Gerald to heal Princess Maria, he is dedicated to defending his kingdom from the many challenges it faces. He discovers hope, love, and the power that dwells within him.

An in-progress, four-part saga told via increasingly loose adaptations of 2000s Barbie movies. The first installment is Shadow and the Magic of Pegasus, and upcoming is the sequel, Shadow and the Diamond Castle.

Descendants AU:

Mobius has lived peacefully for nearly 20 years, but soon-to-be king Sonic is ready to shake the culture. His first proclamation: invite the children of the Isle of the Lost, erected 20 years prior to punish scoundrels and almost-innocents alike, to the mainland for a better life. Even the progeny of the most malignant Black Doom is invited, and the chance simply cannot be passed up. With thirst for vengeance and a spellbook in hand, Team Dark sets their sights on the Emerald Scepter that formed their island prison and whispers of release for the villains.

Yet this world whispers something else as they adjust to their new life. Omega isn't as quick to bare their cannons, Rouge quite enjoys her work being appreciated, and Shadow is taking way too nicely to this pestering blue hedgehog in the way of his plans. Perhaps the poison apple falls further from the tree than they thought.

Magical hijinks, familial trauma, fae politics, prissy pink princesses, and love spell cookies are a must.

[barbiewritesstuff]

Easy Peasy

-- Trigger warning for depression, mentions of suicide and physical abuse.

Sorry folks, this one is a bummer --

Jake Hangman Seresin. 33, tall, good looking, graduated top of his class at Top Gun. 

Who wouldn't want to be him?

Jake would have rather been anyone else. I mean, life was fine before The Incident. It was okay, even. There was work, then home, then work again. 

A perfectly ordinary life with a little extra spice in the form of the F/A-18E Super Hornet he got to fly on the daily.

And then, The Incident happened. Regular day, regular mission until 1.15 pm when they were attacked. They trained them for this. They trained him to press a button and shoot a thing. You know, Hangman though, no biggie.

Yes biggie. The second the button was pressed and the thing was shot, Hangman realised what he had done. The enemy plane exploded and Hangman realised he had killed someone.

Sure, they weren't on their side, but had it really been deserved?

What if they had had a girlfriend? Or a wife? A family? Kids? Who was going to feed their dog or water the plants? Did they even have anyone home to mourn them at all?

Life had been hell since. 

There were nightly nightmares, daily flashbacks. When he looked in the mirror, he saw nothing but a monster staring back at him. He was paranoid someone would know, like they could smell the rotting stench of murder right off of him.

Then, he'd been called back to Top Gun. He never thought he'd dread it, but the growing pit of panic in his chest showed him that maybe he was. Still, he went through the motions.

He dry cleaned the uniform, shined his shoes, slicked his hair and pinned the medals. He ate cereal for breakfast and washed it away with coffee. 

Easy fucking peasy.

The only reason he was still alive really, is because there would be no one to take care of the cat. Or they wouldn't do it correctly. 

They wouldn't fluff her pillow and send her to bed with a little milk. They wouldn't give her the good cat food that she liked, and they might not even make sure her water was the right temperature.

That cat was keeping him alive. The second it died he would too. It should have been a scary thought since the cat was nearing 16 years old but Jake felt oddly good about it. The end was near and it was comforting.

It almost felt inevitable.

Although sometimes he still caught himself praying for a sign or something to save him. It hadn't come yet and Jake was losing hope.

Maybe God hadn't even listened.

Maybe God didn't care.

Maybe he was all alone on a big spinning rock in space. Maybe there was no one to listen at all.

His ma would have beaten him if she'd known he'd thought that. She'd have beaten him and dragged him bleeding to church to apologise. She wasn't there now though. He hadn't spoken to her in years.

And then, there was the mission. He'd wanted to fly but they'd put him on reserve. He guessed they knew. Cyclone had recommended him to the therapy group he attended, after all. Fucker.

Maverick and Rooster went down and Jake fought to keep the burning jealousy he felt bottled up.

Maybe it was a good thing he couldn't fly. Planes were expensive, no need to damage them unnecessarily. But what a way to go. 

Everyone made it out alive. They laughed, they hugged and drank all night and it didn't make him feel any better. He felt nothing at all. 

God, he really was lost. 

He'd wandered to the edge of the boat. If he wanted, he could trip and fall. He'd had a lot to drink. No one would know.

"Now's a really good time for a signal" Jake prayed.

And, apparently, it was. 

"You need to step back. You could fall"

I sure could, he thought

"You need to step back" She touched his arm and he turned towards her. He knew her. Gone to school with her. "Okay, sorry, didn't realise" 

She smiled.

"Reckless as ever, huh, Jake"

Yeah. Reckless.

"Y/n, right?"

[marchioness-caprina]

You Like Me Not?

Pairings : Takami Keigo (Hawks) x Reader

Writing Style : 3rd Person

Warnings : Mild Cussing

Word Count 3290

3rd Person's POV

" Hawks. I'll ask you Nicely ok? Can you Please Please keep your distance from That New hero in your agency? That Foxy bimbo bitch what's her name again? " Y/n ranted narrowing her eyes towards Keigo who was casually lounging down on the couch with an amused look on his face.

" Now now Little Dove, I can't avoid her if you don't even know her name. But if I must say it then... Hmm" Keigo's eyes gleamed mischievously at the female in front of him as he uttered a word that made y/n go red with anger .

" Enchantress? "

" Keigo. " Y/n gave him a stern look and he just laughed at her face like it was a joke.

" Listen Kid. Looks like you gotta have another reality check. I can't avoid her because.... " Keigo paused his eyes never leaving y/n's angered face.

" Because? " Y/n growled impatiently as she crossed her arms.

" 1. We're Not even dating but here you are acting like you're MY girlfriend when you're clearly you're.... Not. " Keigo chuckled and y/n who knew that it was a fact flinched; feeling as if a million bricks were dropped on top of her head. The way he said it was like a harsh blow to the gut but she kept her usual strong expression.

" 2. We're working under the same agency so getting paired up with her isn't avoidable... Plus as her hero name states... She is enchanting " Keigo's smirk only grew as y/n's face became flushed with anger. Her eyes burning up dangerously as she gave a venomous glare at Keigo.

" And last but not the least... 3. I'm not interested in a first year kid. So chances of the two of us of ever dating is a Big fat No. Plus I think Enchantress is a lot more prettier than the average and if you ask me... I'd go after adults like her than Kids like you so stop acting like we're---" Although Keigo's Tone was indeed playful and the smirk on his face made it even more clearer. His words stung like hell.

Y/n who was visiting their agency and went straight up to his office to complain had taken in the harsh damages and blows. Yes she may be a first year brat in U.A but was it really terrible to love someone older than her by a few years?.

Apparently she was a little naive in terms of love so when Keigo saved her when she was still in middle school she fell in love. Who wouldn't? He's got undeniable charms, a pretty face , a well sculptured figure but most of all. He made her feel safe and protected, setting she never felt before so when she finally began studying in U.A she decided to pursue Hawks so it was very common for her to come by the agency. Almost everyone knows who she is by now.

So this was the usual; but it was the first time she walked out on Keigo who was still Talking.

Because it was honestly too much. After she confessed to him and started pursuing him, Keigo decided to be a Jerk and gave her a very hard time. When she'd come over to give him lunch he'd purposely fly away and call her to deliver it to a specific place but when she gets there he calls her again to either say that she was taking too long and left or he had 'accidentally' gave the wrong address and he needs her to send it on this one instead.

And he keeps doing that everytime. He even went as far as to go to another town to have her chasing him like a madman. Yet her determination never faltered. Something Hawks had came to acknowledge her for.

He sends her on wild goose chases and one time he gave her 3 wrong addresses even though he was only sitting in his office the whole time.

And if people think his wings are sharp then his words are sharper. He may be sweet to the media or the other people outside but when talking to her, his words are venomous, sarcastic, and over all it's just rude and pretty painful to hear.

How y/n had managed to stand strong until now was a mystery and everyone in the agency had grew to respect her for this but also carrying a little hatred for Hawks who purposely plays with her.

Keigo who was left in his office was speechless, he blinked a few times and even pinched himself to see if he was dreaming and when he found out that he wasn't he gave out a sigh.

It was quiet, far too quiet. His mind drifted off to y/n who had stormed out of his office awhile ago. Yes he was very much aware of the cruel treatment he was giving her but that's only because he wanted to see how persistent this girl was with her love for him, he thought she'd give up within the second time but when she never did he grew even more intrested and began testing her a lot more than intended and when he found out that her affection for him was too strong.

He didn't know what to do and began running away like a coward. It was wrong in so many levels. She was younger than him not to mention she's still studying in U.A, His job isn't necessarily designed to have a normal life and finding love and making a family IS normal, and he might die one day and he didn't want her to carry the burden of losing him so it's better to make her hate him.

But boy was he wrong when she kept coming back stronger than before. She was already forcing her way in his heart that he became distressed with his emotions.

And poof, he suddenly realized that he loved her back.

Something about her allured him to no ends and curse his animalistic instincts when it comes to mates because as much as he hates to admit it, he had already acknowledged her as a Mate. HIS mate. He can't help but be greedy and possessive of her, and the the mighty knows how many nights he had to lock himself in, restrain himself while his self control was being brutally tested on ; because with one wrong move he may have already infiltrated U.A causing a security distress, Crashed inside her dorm room , fucking bred her like a feral animal and claimed her like the pretty little mate she was.

Everytime he sees her, his control weakens and he had to hit himself and punch his face multiple times literally to remind himself that she was still a goddamn minor and he can't have his way with her yet.

She's not making it any easier for him so he developed a bad habit of taking it out on her because if his words can't do the talking then he might as well jump her bones and have her screaming his name.

Keigo groaned as he planted his palm on his forehead.

He was beginning to feel anxious. Like something bad was about to happen; something he didn't like at all.

He turned on the T.V and started reading through a few papers works but he couldn't hold himself back anymore.

He jumped out the window and began feverishly looking for the h/c haired girl.

" Fuck me and my Fucking Hormones... God.... Kid what have you done to me? " He mumbled but it came out as a growl instead. He was agitated, frantic and nervous, he couldn't get her out of his head even if he'd hit his head on a fucking billboard.

His eyes darting to every direction he knew she would take to get here. As creepy as it may sound but he knows every single route she'd take to get to his agency including the transportation she'd take to get there every time.

After some time he finally spotted her after dashing and flying at jet speed throughout the city like a mentally deranged patient he had finally spotted her .

A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he tried to regain his cool.

" Hey Kid" He yelled out once he was near enough and he got no answer.

Y/n had purposely ignored him. His words still rang inside her head and everytime she remembered. It made her heart clench in pain.

And when she heard her name being called out by the said Male . She wanted to turn around. hell she even wanted to run to him like a love sick little puppy but she can't let him see that she was crying.

So she ignored him and began walking at a faster pace.

" Oohh~ playing hard to get now aren't we? You know you gotta try harder. A little silent treatment isn't going to have me falling for you ya know" keigo casually stated with a hint of playfulness but he knew any better; he was desperate to have her attention back to him.

God, what did he do? Did she finally wake up and decided that she was sick of his bullshit treatment? Shit now what?.

After minutes of no answer Keigo began to feel frustrated and without thinking he landed behind her and grabbed her by the shoulder. only to whirl her around to face him.

" Kid---"

Keigo froze after seeing here blood shot eyes and tear stained cheeks.

He did it this time and he felt like a full blown jerk for doing this... For hurting her.

Y/n avoided any form of eye contact and placed her eyes on anywhere but him, lips quivering in a mixture of anger and sadness. She looked like a mess.

But Keigo thought otherwise though, he felt so sick of himself. The face she was making, teary eyes, flushed cheeks, quivering lips. It had disgustingly turned him on even though the situation screamed otherwise. His thoughts began to drift into the dirtiest part of his mind wondering if this face would be the reward he'd get if he'd have her under him, sprawled all over his sheets, sweaty and needy for him while crying-- no begging for him to give her more while he rearranged her guts. Damn he really was Messed up in every possible way.

He wanted to slap himself for thinking that way but a part of him couldn't blame himself because ever since she started coming over he had been so pent up it was a miracle he hadn't fucked her on the spot. And he didn't even have the guts to fuck another woman because he already acknowledged her as a mate; HIS mate.

He swallowed hard before forcing himself to speak.

" What's this? Now you're giving me a Sad and Pity worthy face? If you're making me feel guilty then it's working. I didn't think you'd stoop this low th---"

" Takami leave me alone. I don't want to see you right now, if you came here to insult me even further then just Go. " Y/n cut him off, she was unable to bring herself from listening to another one of his remarkable insults again when the wound was still fresh.

Keigo paused as his once playful stare began to change into a more intimidating and stern look.

' Leave you Alone? After what you've done to me? Oh~ what a naughty baby bird... No Never.... I'll keep this in mind when I finally claim you, I'll punish you for ever thinking of leaving' those thoughts circulated through Keigo's head as he silently stood there. Staring at her.

Y/n who was unable to handle the pressure tried to yank herself away from his hold but he had a grisly grip on her shoulders and his gaze managed to intimidate her enough to stop moving.

" Listen.... Y/n---"

" Senior Hawks! " Keigo was cut off from speaking and to top it all up he was taken by surprise and his reflexes kicked in; pushing y/n away quite harshly.

Their gazes were flung to the left where Enchantress, the new Hero in their agency was running towards them with a devious smile.

Keigo groaned and y/n rolled her eyes after seeing the pink haired female make her way towards them.

" Hey " Keigo muttered but again; he was caught by surprise when Enchantress had wrapped her arms around his while smiling proudly at y/n.

" Who's This Senior? " She asked pointing at y/n but the look on her face made it obvious that she already knew who y/n was.

" She's y/n...a fan" Keigo's persona shifted in a heartbeat and was now wearing his natural and charming smile.

" Oh? She's a Fan? Well nice to meet you. I'm the new Hero Enchantress, Say... You have a pretty face " Enchantress smirked making y/n fight back a scowl.

" Thanks " As much as y/n wanted to drop all the pleasantries and Immediately move to the part where she's ripping of Enchantress's left boob.... She can't.

So she decided to keep it neutral and gave Enchantress a small nod and a smile.

" You have a pretty face... But... Senior if you were given a chance to pick, which one of us would you choose? I wonder" Enchantress cheered innocently but her question got Hawks cornered.

She was doing this on purpose; placing him in a situation where he'd most likely fuck up and judging by the looks the two females were giving him... He can't smooth talk his way outta this. Not this time.

" Of course.... I'd pick you-- " Keigo's eyes we're settled on y/n but he pulled his gaze away from her and towards enchantress. " Enchantress" Keigo finished and The look of triumph on The pink haired female's face was floor-bash worthy.

Y/n stood in place, for a moment there she had her hopes up. Keigo was cruel enough to pull that stunt on her; giving her false hope only to bring her down and rub it in her face.

" Or course you'd pick me, miss y/n is still a kid and she's... Take no Offense in this miss y/n but Senior Hawks is a bit... Hmmm... Out of your league?" Enchantress smirk grew wider and Hawks who was already lying through his teeth was still fighting his Pride for dominance.

With a sharp glare sent towards Enchantress who didn't seem to notice only scooted closer towards him.

" Oh, Really? Ok then "

Keigo blinked at how nonchalant and uncaring y/n's reply was. He was genuinely expecting her to explode like usual but this time it's different.

Y/n was fighting back the new batch of tears, heartbreak was a real pain in the ass. Couldn't he just put her down slowly? Why is he taking pleasure in hurting her this way? Now he's rubbing salt onto the wound.

In which area did she lack in? Her face? Body? Skill? Intelligence? Now that she thought about it, Enchantress tray lived up to her Hero name. She was perfect in every angle.... Perfect for Hawks. Enchantress had a nice body, a seductive face and y/n heard of the achievements done by the Female Hero.

She can't beat her even if she tried. She's mentally, physically and emotionally drained to even give a reaction. She'd just get hurt even more.

Maybe this is a sign.

For her to finally give up, move on, shift her focus and concentration to something more beneficial.

This was hopeless and all she ever got was pain. She's not a masochist who yearns for the continuous and brutal impact of emotional pain. Heck even masochists needs a little love too.

She's tired and y/n knows better than to put herself down with her own insecurities. So she needed to make a move fast because she'll only get hurt again.

It's wise to forget him.

With a deep breath she pulled out a strong front with a genuine smile on her face as she gazed at Keigo and Enchantress.

Keigo wore an anxious look while Enchantress held a surprised expression.

" Well, you two do look compatible and you're right he is out of my league.... That's why I'll look for someone else within my reach. He's not the only fish in the pond.... I'm sure I'm holding you guys back.. Carry on with your hero duties, I'll go back now Bye~" Y/n turned around and gave them a wave before skipping away from the two.

Her tone along with her smile looked far too cheerful that it scared Hawks.

Did she just say she'd look for Someone Else?, she had the guts to say that right in front of him?.

He balled his hand into a fist, and for the first time in his life he had never felt this scared to lose someone. He was breathing heavily while throwing a mental tantrum.

" You know.... I thought you'd finally stop that bad habit of yours Hawks.... I learned from the rumors and wanted to see for myself and probably give you a hand to confess to her but now that I've witnessed it, You really are a Fucktard" Enchantress shook her head as she crossed her arms gazing at Hawks with disappointment.

" Fuck off. This was your fault to Begin with. It's not as easy as you think"

" Really? You're blaming me for all the fuck ups you're responsible for? A girl's heart is fragile Hawks... I didn't live for a hundred years buried in the shelter of naivety. Her love was true and I think you just lost your chances.... If you wanna fix it. Fix it fast because once a girl has enough, she'll leave you like you're worth nothing. "

" I... I know I fucked up but your meddling wasn't necessary "

" Really? I was getting tired of watching you hurt her. I'm a woman too and I don't appreciate seeing other men hurt a woman who clearly loves them.... I did her a favor by giving her the ultimatum to let go... Looks like she took it in the end " Enchantress chuckled while Hawks stood there, his demeanor turning darker by the passing second.

" You're saying it's better that she leave me? " Keigo muttered Darkly , a dangerous look in his eyes began to resurface.

Enchantress kept a calm expression and nodded her head.

" You're Toxic Hawks. And it's better for her to leave you than seeing her get hurt over and over again... I've been in that stage before... And it hurts more than any injury I've suffered... "

" Since you're so knowledgeable about this then why not tell me how to fix it? Before I decide to go rogue and slit your throat" keigo threatened as he plucked out a feather which turned rudged and sharp; pointing it at Enchantress .

" Hmm... You seem to Love her judging by how strongly you reacted ... But you're worst than shit in showing it... But here's a tip . If you wanna fix it then fix yourself first. Learn how to treat a woman you like as if she's greater than a queen and remember that I'm not the one who hurt her...it was you." With those words being uttered Enchantress disappeared in a puff of smoke.

........ To be continued

[ginkgomoon]

Hello there! I hope everything is going well with you. (・∀・)

I have some questions. In CH 30 & 32 the Time Observer mentioned about the "price being too heavy/dear" & he mentioned that he never expected for Victor to choose that method to prevent the crisis. I was wondering what price is he talking about & what's "the method" he mentioned? & Victor collapsing in CH 32 was not from hitting the bullet I believe. What exactly happened there?

Also...I don't know the details but I think I saw it somewhere that Victor goes through different timelines & dimensions for 10000 years in the later part of the story...? I remember reading it in a R&S that every time he crosses a dimension he'd experience soul crushing pain... The mere thought of doing it for so long honestly made me feel traumatized. I was hoping you could give me some insights as to what exactly he was doing.

I hope I'm not bothering you with tons of questions & they made sense. Thanks a lot in advance! Have a good day! <3

Hello!!

Thank you, you too! :)

I hope I helped answered your questions here. It's quite long, so enjoy the read!

I did Victor’s Time Observer analysis and I’ll be heavily referencing that post to help answer this particular ask. Big thank you to @cheri-cheri and @ey8508 for help clarifying some of my thoughts concerning Victor this chapter! Spoilers down below! ⏱

“With great power comes great responsibility.” -The Peter Parker Principle

We all know Victor bears great power, but also with that comes great responsibility. He is the sole individual who has the will and power to alter time and space, however this develops drastic consequences to his health and to history- all for his love for MC.

Victor doesn’t care about this price- he is more concerned with whether he can prevent the death of the girl in every unpredictable future.

“The person who can save the world… is not me, but her. As for myself, I know my ending line and how much pain I can bear better than anyone. I would rather take such a risk.” -Chapter 35-36 Rumours and Secrets

Chapter 30-6

Victor is seen to be flanked by bodyguards on Adagio Street. Moments later, in a pure white space, we see the Time Observer addressing Victor.

I stood in the centre of the street, looking hesitantly around, but I was unable to spot that familiar figure.

In the dead of the night, from the distant horizon, there seemed to come the sound of a mechanical little violin.

In a boundless, pure white space, the music would be at time peaceful and solemn, and at others somber and mournful. After the final note, that pair of tightly-closed eyes opened.

The Time Observer looked at Victor, neither showing surprise.

That pale white hand brushed lightly over the violin strings, and his gravelly voice spoke up with the pluck of the string.

TO: “The natural rules of operations no longer supply. This world… in memory is a turbulent past and in imagination, there is no serene future. She should have stayed in that world. Her return was a mistake.”

Victor: “If you’re still here that means we still have a chance.”

TO: “A chance that comes at such a heavy cost. Is it really worth it? You will soon understand, in some things, you are doomed to helplessness. Try with all your might, and yet, it remains out of reach.”

Victor: “I won’t let her die again. No matter when."

This will foreshadow future events such as in Chapter 32, where Victor shows a demonstration of this.

Chapter 32-6

Amidst the scattering glass shards, I saw a number of bullets flying towards me.

Only one thought ran through my mind.

Am I going to die?

Chapter 32-8

In the darkness, a crack suddenly splits open, and a blinding light appears, obscuring my sight. My heartbeat practically came to a standstill, the pain I expected never came. The blinding light disappeared, instantaneously replaced by darkness.

Time seemed to pause for a second.

The pitch black bullets, the fractured glass, the car in mid-air…

And then it fell all heavily to the ground.

And in this moment, Victor challenged “fate”, or rather, the “natural rules of operations”, stated by the Time Observer.

I reached out and grabbed the black clothing fluttering before me. Even my voice was trembling.

MC: “Victor…”

I looked in a daze at the man before me, at those fierce eyes beneath his wind-blown hair.

He was looking back at me, as if trying to etch me into his eyes with his deep gaze. But there was another emotion hidden within as well.

After confirming he was unharmed, I let out a sigh, then looked anxiously into his eyes.

MC: “What are you doing here?”

Victor: “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

But this time, his voice was flat.

MC: “I’m sorry… but I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m not unaware of the danger… I must simply stay and stop them.”

I hastily wanted to get Victor out of danger, but his feet were planted firmly. I looked up, to get a look at his expression.

His voice was steady, stopping me in my tracks.

Victor: “I see.”

MC: “You really believe I can stop them?”

Victor: “I said before, even if you don't trust yourself, always trust me. I won’t do anything I'm not sure I can handle. Go what you think needs to be done.”

He patted the back of my head lightly, with a hint of tremor in his voice. He didn’t ask me or stop me, as if he already knew the choice I’d made.

So, while the STF agents and runaway Evolvers were battling, MC was literally going to die at that moment. But Victor enters- using his Evol to stop time, ultimately stopping the bullets and MC’s death.

I whirled around, hoping to catch sight of him.

MC: “Victor!”

I wanted to tell him I’d done it, that I really had prevented this crisis.

A faint worry floated up in my chest. What about Victor?

Medic: “Someone, come quick! There’s another person here!”

I turned and hurried to the end of the bridge.

I then quickly found him.

Ringed by a crowd of people, there he was, the person I would recognise anywhere.

It was…

I halted my steps for a moment, then ran to him without hesitation.

I broke into a panic.

Chapter 32-10

Victor… What happened to him??

I pushed the crowd aside and frantically ran to him.

His face was pallid, eyes squeezed shut, his hair plastered messily to his forehead with sweat. I grasped his hand, unable to believe how icy cold it felt to the touch.

MC: "How could you… Why did you…”

Just then, those eyes shut with pain cracked open. He pursed his lips and then coughed violently, blood started trickling out. Even like that, he still chuckled weakly.

Victor: “I used to think… that your problem was that you thought you could control fate all by yourself. Stubborn, self-reliant, in over your head. Whenever anyone tried to tell you anything, no matter what they said, it was always in one ear and out the other.”

Although it sounded a little weak, his voice was unusually calm, and didn’t really even pause or halt. Almost if, if he stopped, he wouldn't be able to start again.

Victor: “But I really did learn a little something from you. You are the thing unto yourself, so only know the best what your values and decisions should be. No one can guide you. And just like I can’t hold you back, you also can’t change this decision that I’ve made. Don’t ask why, this time, just let me say my piece.”

His voice grew weaker, but he managed to lift his right hand and place it over mine.

I clasped his hand, and a feeling of suspense and dread came over me like I'd never felt before.

MC: “I know… I know… You don’t have to say more.”

He was afraid of something, but not because his life was slipping away. It was more like… something would happen.

Victor closed his eyes, completely exhausted. I squeezed his hand tighter, as if trying to hang on to those remnants of warmth.

You have to make it through this.

A man standing by the riverside swiped his hand through the fog, swiped his hand through the fog, stirring it up into an erratic vortex.

Zero: “Did he actually…”

TO: Like I said before, he is the most suitable candidate.”

Zero: “But he refused to help us open the Door of Return.”

TO: “Perhaps it’s only temporary, and he’ll change his mind. I didn’t imagine he’d choose this method for preventing this crisis. Too bad… the price was so dear.”

After Victor saves MC from death, she finds him on the ground- pale and in terrible pain. Throughout Victor’s time with MC, we slowly see the influence he has on her- and the influence she has on him. He tells her that while she shoulders everything on her own and never listens to anyone, she did teach him things in the process. With her love and kindness, she strives to defy “nature's course” and saves worlds. Literally.

You were correct, Victor didn’t suffer injuries from the bullets because he stopped them just in time but Victor is overusing his Evol, and it’s gradually taking a toll on his body. Even back before MC crossed over to the Winter World, Victor was trying to find other alternative ways for MC to live and not sacrifice herself. Unfortunately, there were none. He did also suffer immense pain whenever he time traveled, especially when it led to his time travel pocket watch cracking and breaking in the end.

Victor would normally be practical and very principled in how he executes his plans, but this time around, it was him. This- he- was the plan. That's it. This is similar to how Victor opened a time rift to send MC away in Chapter 18- to somewhere and sometime in space. He waited for her to come back with the help of the Time Observers to confirm her safety. Only someone with his powerful Evol could do that, otherwise they’d risk losing consciousness in the “Time Rift”.

Additionally, he held onto that hope that MC could and would be saved in the end, like how he tried to find her for 17 years after the orphanage incident, not knowing whether she was dead or alive. Victor wants to wield that control, denying “helplessness” and “winning all the bets” he had with MC prior to her “death” in Chapter 18. Victor stated that if she couldn’t trust herself, then she should trust him and his decisions to protect her. Even if it’s detrimental to his health. Life-threatening, even. Because in the end, Victor knows he will always win. He just does.

And since he knows that he won’t be able to stop MC from doing what she wants, we now see him fully embracing then acting upon it. He accepts that she’s her own person and he has grown to have so much faith in her, seeing how she successfully survived Winter World then coming back home safe. It’s almost like- “okay. It’s you and me against the world”.

On the sidelines, Time observer and ZERO both observe, surprised that Victor will pay such a high price to avoid MC’s death from occurring- with the risk of his own. Could they have lost their most powerful time Evolver from this incident?

Though, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Time Observers think that Victor would be so foolish to use his Evol up to the point where it would actually kill him just to save MC. It's literally in their name- “Observers''- they haven’t and aren’t even allowed to actively participate in the events that happened in Loveland, let alone the different histories and worlds that existed, other than claiming to “correct it” by influencing other people who can. They don’t appear to have this kind of empathy in understanding Victor and why he wants to save MC’s life, or how important she is to him.

“You misunderstand. We never alter, we are correctors of history. We want you to join us, your power’s scope of influence has already surpassed the dimension of this current world. Before you are rejected by it…”

Victor: “I will not leave this world.”

“Even if you’ve seen the future of what is all to pass?”

Victor: “No matter what happens, the person I’m seeking for is right here.” -Black Curtain: Chapter 6

Also taken from my Time Observer Analysis-

Since Victor’s Evol is strong and has the capability to do more than “observe” like the Time Observers, he is the one who is deemed the most suitable and more responsible for “grasping the time in the past and the future”. Ever since STF found out about Victor’s Evol, they wanted him to cooperate with them too. Every time he stops time, certain surrounding energy and space changes.

The organisation also entertains the idea of fate, and how things should be refused to be changed. Since they have “seen the future of how the world ends”, they want Victor to cooperate with them in making it stop. Nobody can rewrite the ending among them, except him. Victor refuses to join because he doesn’t adhere to this idea.

“QUEEN’s return has brought unexpected consequences; the entire collapse of the world is ahead of schedule. The world’s line has come to an end, no matter through time or space, we can no longer interfere in this world.” Was there a difference in letting each world go to the end alone to close all the world lines in the future directly? Although we found a breakthrough, this situation really caused us a lot of headaches: she who should not have survived and she should not have been sent to other worlds. As a result, it would seriously interfere and disrupt the timeline. No one had done it before, and no one except Victor could do it.

In disbelief, we weighed it and threw the olive branch- as long as he is willing to cooperate, we will help him find her. As decisive as he was to refuse a few times before, this time he had promised me without thinking. And for a moment, I didn’t know if his decisiveness was good or bad. -Chapter 33-34 Rumours and Secrets

Victor "travelling ten-thousand years in the future" was mentioned in his Chapter 35-36 Rumours and Secrets. The Space and Time Administration (who the Time Observers were under) could "repair his abilities", after he stopped the bullets from hitting MC. He would have to stay there for the Space and Time Administration's time duration of ten-thousand years. Victor accepts. (BIG THANKS TO @cheri-cheri FOR CORRECTING ME LAST MINUTE WITH THIS ONE, YOU AMAZING HUMAN!!)

[museincarnate]

It was at her retort, that his amused, sickening smile would crumble away and snap into a much more tired, disinterested expression; the Luparian's verbal counters and attempts at bold claims t rile him up failing to particularly agitate him into making any sort of faulty first move. Despite her sudden shift of tension, into a more relaxed, almost stress-free state of being, the Scorched Saiyan remained unfazed by the entirety of her presence, and the reality of their approaching battle against one another.

Ghost, himself, hadn't found himself caring or concerning himself enough to feel the need to strategize against an opponent that wasn't up to snuff with what he was used to willingly pitting himself against, but the lingering anticipation between the Saiyan and the Luparian grew heavier by the second, as Tazz was obviously trying to think of how to take him down.

The sudden, distant noise of concrete hitting the ground would break any silence between the six warriors, and simultaneously cause the Scorched Saiyan's gaze to, for a mere second, shift in its direction; instincts failing him, and making him think that a fourth opposing fighter was waiting to ambush Ghost and his allies, despite his ability to sense other energy sources. In that second of vulnerability, alone, the burned man would miss the detail of Ki covering the aforementioned parts of Tazz's arms, but not the incoming right hand swiping towards him.

Reflexively, Hakkona's attacker would coat his own left arm in his fiery energy, and swing it outwards, to counter the presumed force of the wolfish woman's own attack, and minimize the damage to any other part of his frame. However, that left Ghost right where Tazz had wanted him; falling for her feint, and leaving himself more open than he would've been otherwise. With his oculars focused on her upper half, and off to the side of the feigned right-side attack, the uppercut from below had struck his jaw, and caused his head to snap back slightly; not quite, however, earning a pained noise from him, as if he didn't feel the impact or punishment from the attack.

Thereafter, though the Luparian wouldn't see it, an immediate smirk etched itself back onto the features of the Scorched Saiyan, as he'd realized just how capable his non-Saiyan opponent could be; his lust for battle, as a Saiyan, awakening like never before. Though, in reveling in that feeling, Ghost hadn't focused on the possibility of the wolfish woman continuing the assault so readily, and found himself getting hit again; this time by a hellish roundhouse kick, that threatened to distribute the momentum, and send him flying... If his feet weren't planted on the ground.

They were, luckily for him, and yet... Willingly, the Saiyan would, only after reaching to take the same leg that Tazz had kicked him with, and holding onto whatever clothing he could, or gripping into her ankle or calf with his own hand, launch himself in the direction of where the kick's momentum would take him, and hopefully take his foe with him. Had his plan worked, Hakkona's attacker would immediately begin focusing Ki into the same hand that gripped Tazz's leg, in an attempt to burn her with his energy.

While that offensive measure would only last for a second, it would precede the act of him attempting to twist his flying body, mid-air, to use the momentum to his advantage, and throw the Luparian ahead of their own trajectory, towards what looked a large gym building; hypothetically using enough force to launch her through the glass entrance door, which would hopefully give him enough time to balance himself, and touch solid ground again. A counter for a counter, he thought, would help him even the playing field, and distance the both of them from their battling allies, respectively.

Why, however, was selfish, in its own right. Had Tazz been rendered incapable of preventing his countermeasure, the Fiery Fighter would aim both of his hands towards her whereabouts, building and all, and unleash a gargantuan wave of hellfire, to engulf the structure in flames, and perhaps even attempt to scorch or burn the wolfish woman, before running towards her and attempting a full-on, double-legged dropkick to her chest, to knock her backwards, or off her feet.

Though, in the back of his mind, he did wonder how his allies were faring.

While Tazz had only truly given visible and audible attention to Pholomena, it only gave that same opposition the reasoning to give her any further focus, as a disappointed whine escaped the green-haired woman's form. Even if that meant that she could surmise who her own opponent would be, the Saiyaness was almost disappointed that she didn't get the unique member of the do-gooders, while Castor remained agitated at the very notion that someone would be so bold, as to declare that he couldn't cull them on a mere whim.

While Ghost's arrival would allow the Luparian to focus on the very same Scorched Saiyan, a wordless, fistless war was waged between The Cure and the Prodigal Son, as their glares towards one another built further, culminating tension that would inevitably, and eventually, rise to a breaking point; both Saiyans staying their hands, so that their respective allies could exchange barbs at their proposed foes.

Oh, how the wolfish woman's counter to Ghost's own honest words and feelings towards her would keep that sickening smile etched on his face, as he listened; occasionally rolling his eyes and glancing at Hakkona... Much to her own disgust and discomfort. For her own wellbeing, Yujin would nudge her, and remind her that her attention was to be kept on Pholomena, who was almost giggling at the insults and taunts thrown between her ally, and the only non-Saiyan of the six warriors present.

When she was done talking, that almost carefree, smiling expression of his would remain, as he scoffed at her own retorts. "Oh, on the contrary... I was giving you the option of which of you I get to roast alive, while Castor and Pholomena get to have their own fun with the other two. Killing you goes against my goals, but if it's because you picked me? I'll gladly take you head on, and make you regret ever getting in my way. Honestly? You're beneath me, and just an inconvenience." Flames would burst into his palms, as the Scorched Saiyan readied himself to do battle with his self-appointed opponent; his own allies, as well as Tazz's friends, taking their own respective stances, while the tension threatened to reach a tipping point.

If a first move was to be made to even separate the trio, then and there, or after one more exchange, if either side was daring enough, then the moment would be crucial to determining the beginning moments of Tazz, Hakkona and Yujin's defense of not just the immediate area they occupied, but anywhere in the universe that the trio of terrible Saiyans could travel to, to enact their ambitions upon!!!

[echo-three-one]

Chapter 25

Make some dentist appointments after this chapter. (I'm not sure it applies to all)

Sorry for being late. It's my little sister's birthday today and I opted to eat food.

Table of Contents

Off the Grid

"Alex"

MacTavish Residence, Glasgow, Scotland

The worst part of being stomped on the face is that at the end of the day, your girlfriend would end up seeing it. This was what Alex was worried about the moment he heard the helicopter approached their location. But a part of him wanted to just lay down by the bed under Samantha's care. 

Alex expected Soap to be the first one greeting the women, but he wasn't around. He guessed that after all the chasing and the climbing, he opted to take a rest instead of facing them tired. The house was very accommodating on it's own. He didn't need to worry about entertaining everyone else.

Just as he expected, he already saw the frown on Samantha's face as soon as her eyes met his. The same frown from his imagination was manifested before him.

"Alex, Are you okay?" she ran towards him and touched his bruised cheek. Alex tried to look okay but he couldn't help but hiss at the pain.

"A little. I couldn't lie to you now, can't I?" he managed a chuckle. Samantha held his hair and that signaled Alex to lower himself a little so she could kiss him on the forehead.

"Let's get you healed up." She muttered.

"Not until I'm done helping unload these." He suggested. Samantha wanted him to skip out on helping but Alex's face was eager and she didn't want to argue with that.

"Fine."

"My room is the third door by the stairs… that is if you want us to stay in one room together."

"Of course I do, Alex." She smiled and blew a kiss on the air as his lip was too bruised to receive it.

Alex couldn't help but smile. He could feel his insides do a little dance of joy while he's carrying luggage to the second floor, placing both their bags beside each other. Inside their room, that they're going to share.

He knew they'd done this before, but the idea of getting the room all to themselves was different. They are able to move freely without worrying what they might do. And he wanted to hug her, kiss her and whisper soft words in her ear without making everyone else around them all judgy.

Dinner flew by and Roach took the girls out for a tour, Alex took this time to shower before Samantha would come nurse his wounds. He stood in front of the sprinkling hot water, his face looked up, letting the warm shower revitalize his tired muscles. It was no doubt relaxing as he closed his eyes, cleared his thoughts and let his mind ease a bit.

They're safe, Samantha's got her memories back, and they're together now. The New York attacks were over and both Shepherd and Nero were off the grid. They're planning something big and all they could do was prepare for the worst. He doesn't have to shoulder anything as of now and he should rest and recover.

After a few minutes of meditation, Alex was interrupted by a smooth touch that embraced him from behind. He could feel her skin sink against his as she tightly held him, her cheek leaned on his back.

"Alex." Samantha whispered, he couldn't barely hear it against the sound of the shower.

"I'm… I'm sorry…" she sobbed. Alex raised an eyebrow and held her hand, turning around to meet her beautiful face.

"What's wrong?" he asked, the question echoed against the glass walls and bounced to the rest of the bathroom.

"On the ride here. I took a nap… then I remembered something. Before I even got to that Russian hotel I…" she sobbed. Alex pulled her closer and hugged her, she didn't have to worry. They're going to fix this together.

"I gave them the I.P. Address…" she cried. Her tears mixed with the sprinkle of the shower. Despite being already wet, Alex still wiped it off with his thumbs.

"You didn't do anything wrong… You didn't give it away… They forcibly took it from you." Alex told her, his face was angry toward Shepherd. One day he'll finally get his revenge.

"B-but…" she tried to retort, but Alex cut her off by kissing her soft lips, his tongue immediately entered her mouth as soon as she gave him permission. He kissed her hoping it would soothe her worries away, making her feel that he was there no matter what. Her moans made him comfortable that he's doing the right thing, that he's telling her that he's going to be there. So he pushed her toward the cold bathroom wall, tilted his head and showed her what he really felt towards her.

The next morning Alex and Samantha were tasked to fly Nikolai back home. The guy was missing the colder environment and since they didn't have anything at the moment, it'd be best to let him go for now. The team still owed him a cargo plane which was left back at the S.A.S. base. They'll have to deal with that after all of this is over.

Alex didn't have anything to do regarding this task, Samantha just made a few special calls and the next thing they knew, they were already waving goodbye to the Russian.

"Glad we have him on our side." Alex chuckled, hovering his arm as it reached her farther shoulder. Samantha leaned toward him as soon as she caught him doing the gesture, as they took short steps, Alex's leg clumped against the cement.

"You okay with that leg?" Samantha wondered, looking down then back to Alex.

"I got used to it, really. It's not much of a bother once you get used to it." He smiled, wiggling the fake leg, almost showing off at how good he was using it. 

"Is there something wrong with it?" He asked. Samantha's cheeks started to blush red and Alex had no actual idea what was going on in her mind.

"No no. I'm just curious. That's all… Still… it must be hard walking like an incomplete part of a whole." She consoled to which Alex replied with a laugh.

"What's funny?" She asked as Alex used his already clinging hand on her shoulder to pull her closer for a kiss.

"You already complete me, Samantha." He said. His face was too serious to be joking and yet Samantha laughed.

"You know what?! All these corny and cheesy dialogue is my thing. You complete me too, Alex. I…" she paused, staring at Alex's eyes. Alex quickly saw through her gaze, there was a particular sparkle in her eyes. The same sparkle he'd been noticing every time they got intimate. It made his heart beat so fast that he could almost predict what she's going to say next.

He placed a finger on her mouth to stop her from talking. He wanted to say it first. He wanted to be the one whose life changed because of her and not the other way around.

"I love you, Samantha Coleman." he said. Tears. Tears were the first thing he saw once he let out those words. 

"How dare you… finish my sentence." she croaked. She had the idea of cracking a joke between the sweetest of moments. He really liked that about her.

"I wanted to say it first." He whispered, inching his face closer once again. Samantha's eyes were already half closed and Alex knew what he needed to do. He planted another chaste kiss on her soft lips, but this time, Samantha surprised him by gently biting his lip, making the former CIA flinch. He chuckled and kissed back once again, pushing her toward the gazebo until they found her pinned on one of its tougher beams.

"Oh." She giggled as Alex's hand trailed on her side, squeezing her soft skin gently. Alex's smile beamed wide as he knew her reaction. 

"Are we really going to cause a scene here? Mr. Alex-?" She teased, her train of thought paused after not knowing his last name.

He chuckled in a lower register, low enough that he could feel Samantha react to it.

"It's Alexander Collins. But please, just call me Alex." he muttered, planting a kiss on her neck, Samantha moaned inappropriately, sending Alex on an excited rush.

"All right Mr. Collins. I think we should stop now. Our audiences are feeling a little uncomfortable right now." she turned to France, Maxine and Roach, who were watching 'respectfully'.

Alex waved and smiled apologetically, noting the almost embarrassed expression on Maxine's face, the slightly smirking Francine and Roach's hidden thumbs up.

"I'm sorry guys. We'll be off now." he said, escorting Samantha back to the house.

The day went by and Alex was more than happy that he got to spend the rest of the day with Samantha. Hell, even the thought of waking up spooning her was more than heavenly. 

Now, he lay gently on his bed while Samantha was out to cleanse his bruises.

"Ow. Careful nurse, I'm quite vulnerable..." he winced playfully.

"Now, now, my little patient. This will just hurt a little." She played along, wiping a soft cotton ball on his bruised cheek.

"Will there be any sort of injection? I hate injections." he groaned, fake sobbing.

"Oh? You hate injections? I personally thought you were amazing administering them?" She teased, slightly blushing at her green joke.

Alex quickly caught wind of her joke about injecting and immediately burst out laughing.

"I can't believe you said that." he said, laughing in between his words, almost choking.

"Kidding aside… I almost forgot something…" She said, setting aside her medical tools. She got up and gently straddling on his body, making Alex groan a little and hold on to her waist.

"What could you have possibly forgotten?" he asked, his face full of curiosity.

She leaned in closer to him and whispered three words that made Alex smile in delight.

"I love you." she whispered and a kiss followed. Alex knew from that moment on that he was more than willing and ready to spend the rest of his life.

Next Chapter : What's Behind Door Number Two?

Notification Squad my Beloved

@samatedeansbroccoli @smokeywhalee @enderio @whimsywispsblog @ricinbach @beemybee

[throwaway3844893]

Imagine: An old Newt Scamander hears of the birth of a former student, James Potter’s, son.

July 31, 1980. Owls arrived at nearly every doorstep in Godric's Hollow, but one owl had a much more strenuous journey. It was to fly all the way to a little cottage in Dorset for an old author to receive. It was a particularly sunny morning, only a few clouds dotting the sky, and the grass around the home was green as ever. Flowers planted ever-so-carefully by the woman who resided in the cottage bloomed and decorated the pathway in brilliant purples and reds, and a lone tree towered over the home, a small swing attached to a branch swaying gently in the breeze. Through a window, the owl saw the woman scrubbing a number of dishes, the window open to let the cool summer air in, the small curtains dancing. The owl hooted, and the woman looked up, smiling before sidestepping to allow the bird in. He flapped in quickly, perching on a mantelpiece to allow the woman to untie the strings attached to the letter from his foot. She did so carefully, the thick envelope set aside as she strode over to a jar and pulled out a few treats for the owl. She fed them to him carefully, whispering her thanks as he took off and flew back out, journeying back to the mailstation where he'd deliver more letters.

The woman observed the parchment, pressed carefully with a seal she didn't recognize. It was addressed to her husband, Newt, who was resting in a rocking chair in their sitting room, a mug of tea in his hand. "Darling," She started, scanning the name of the sender. "You've received a letter."

Newt chuckled in disbelief. "A letter? At my old age? Dear, you know those ended ages ago when Rubeus and I chose to conduct our meetings at Hogwarts." Rubeus Hagrid was an old admirer of Newt, and he'd received excited letters from the boy ever since the early 1940s, when he'd started school. Newt was particularly fond of him, because like him, Rubeus was expelled from Hogwarts for something he couldn't control. Newt was ecstatic when Rubeus started working at Hogwarts, happy that Albus Dumbledore, his old professor, had shown the student mercy and welcomed him back to the school.

His wife shook her head. "No, it's from an, erm, James Potter."

Newt sat up abruptly, a few papers falling off his lap. He recognized the name: James was a former student of his. A rambunctious pupil, he was always stirring up trouble, but Newt admired the spunk of the boy. He'd graduated from Hogwarts a few years prior, taking residence with the muggleborn Lily Evans. Newt was particularly fond of her. She was the top of her class and a rather sophisticated girl. Her and James were a perfect match. Lily straightened him out, while James encouraged her to let loose. They complimented each other perfectly. "How strange," Newt mused, staring at the fireplace. "I've not heard from him since his graduation. What does it say?"

The woman passed over the letter, and he appreciatively took the paper. "Thank you, Tina," He mumbled. Breaking the seal, he slid the top of the thick envelope over and withdrew the loose parchment inside. The letter was long, but the handwriting was scribbled hastily, providing a sense of urgency. Newt wondered whatever the matter must be. He saw that the text at the top changed with who was reading it. Newt marveled at the excellent charm that must've brought on. It had to have been Lily's idea. Unfolding it, he read:

Professor Scamander,

I am pleased to inform you of the birth of Lily and I's son, Harry James Potter, on July 31. Everything went smoothly, Lily and Harry are resting as I write this. Harry is perfect. He has Lily's eyes, but my hair. I'm sure it'll be as unruly as mine, though Lily won't admit it... perhaps her intelligence will pass onto him. We both know I wasn't the greatest student!

I can't possibly explain the happiness that accompanied the birth of my first son. It was as if I fell in love all over again, but twice. I didn't think I could love Lily any more than I already did, and Harry, he's my entire world. I will do anything I can to protect him from the evils we face.

My apologies I didn't tell you sooner. I was troubled with the idea of even sending this letter out. You-Know-Who is out there, and I don't want to endanger our son. Padfoot is here to protect us, as are Wormtail and Moony, but caution is to be taken with every step.

Harry is already showing signs of the magic in his blood. It's astounding. Of course, he bewitched us as soon as we saw him, but I'm talking about true magic. I half-believe he sent something flying across the room when he was taken out of Lily's arms for the first time. He feels safest with her and I. There's also his seemingly unharmful devotion to Padfoot. Lily and I are more than pleased he's comfortable with him, but Lily is a bit apprehensive. She knows about the trouble he and I got into back in the day. She worries we'll pass that on to Harry... (We will). The day he lays his hands on the invisibility cloak, well, that's something I do look forward too. We'll be unbeatable during hide-and-seek.

Times are uncertain, but we are doing everything in our power to protect Harry. He has given us a little hope in these dark times.

I wish you well,

James Potter

Newt set down the letter and wiped his eyes. He'd gotten a bit misty-eyed following the news from a prior student. He was surprised James had thought to write to him. "What was it about?" Tina asked, placing a hand on Newt's chair.

Newt placed the letter on a side table and sighed. "James Potter and Lily Evans had a child, Harry. He was born only a few days ago," He explained, and his wife looked at him appreciatively, remembering the birth of their own children. She kissed his forehead and squeezed his shoulders.

"Well, I suppose you should write back and congratulate him. It would mean a lot to hear from a professor," Tina suggested, and Newt nodded, removing a quill from its holder and producing a piece of parchment. Tina walked to their bookcase and pulled out an old, dusty novel, sitting in her own chair and beginning to read it. Newt leaned over the side of the chair and began writing a response to James.

James,

Tina and I congratulate you and Lily on the birth of your son! What a wonderful boy he must be. I don't doubt he will do great things. Having taught both of you, I know the talents you passed down to him. He will be rambunctious, sure, but witty as well. He'll have the best of both worlds.

You and Lily will make wonderful parents. Cherish the small moments, because he'll be grown in an instant. Soon you'll be running him to King's Cross and receiving letters from his first Hogsmeade trip.

Though I will not be his professor, Rubeus Hagrid makes an amazing teacher. He is just as knowledgeable as I, with a heart pure as gold. I hope Harry shares the same compassion for magical creatures as we do.

Stay safe and stay well.

Newt Scamander

[troublesometrollhunters]

Dawna's Journey

A/N: Guys this took so long XD. Please give me feedback/comments/reblogs if not on the post than anon. Look I proof read it so much now I'm sick of it lmao. I know theres grammer mistakes but If I didn't post it tonight it was never getting posted. Anyways please enjoy this!!! :D

~~~

Dawn stood at the edge of the kingdom. The night was still as the guards had retired for the evening and she was left alone with her thoughts. Standing at the gate she stared beyond the iron bars into the foggy night where the woods were.

 She was steps away from what could be the biggest mistake of her life. By doing this, by going out into the woods to find the cure for one of the dying trolls in the dungeon, she was betraying her families name and their status along with the throne. Her uncle, her mother, her sister, Merlin, Lancelot. All of them would tell her this is wrong. That trolls were the enemy.

 Swallowing thickly, hands glowing to illuminate the night she touched the cold stone of the castle's defense wall before brushing her fingers against the iron bars that kept the trolls and fae at bay. Hissing she pulls her hand away, shaking it to make the sting disappear. Frowning as she stares out at the woods they seem to beckon her. Walking away from the gate and along the wall she goes towards a thick patch of ivy. There hidden behind the plants was a small crack. One she found as a child and still used for situations like this. 

  Slipping into the greenery rough material scrapes against her catching on her clothes but she stays determined scooting through the stone. As Ivy brushes past her face, her boots sink into the soft grass and she edges herself away from the protection of Camelot. Looking back at the castle her hands shook as she stared at her room that overlooked the very land she stood on. She'd wandered the woods many times and explored their wonders but this time was different. This time she wasn't visiting peaceful territory or exploring her magical studies in secret, this time she was going straight to the Gum Gums. She was risking everything and what made her the most nervous about it, was she didn't care. It was the right thing to do. No matter how many people said it was wrong she felt in her heart it wasn't.

 Backing away from the wall, away from her home, she realizes this could be the last time she sees Camelot if she fails. Taking it in, etching every small detail into her mind she sighs. Things used to be different. When Arthur had Gwenivere she breathed life into him and the castle. She made people hope and kept the kingdom together as the war against the Gum Gums raged on. But now the kind queen was gone and Dawn felt keeping the peace fell on her. However, as much influence as she had in the kingdom and over her uncle, Arthur never really listened after he lost his wife. He was too lost in his grief to hear reason. He banished most magic and as Dawn felt the cool air ruffle her hair she knew soon she'd be next. She couldn't fix Camelot. Not by herself but she could try and make her uncles wrongs right. Starting with the trolls he'd locked away.

 Taking one last look, the moon shines silver light over her kingdom protecting her people inside the wall. Clutching her cloak tightly Dawn closes her eyes and runs into the woods, leaving no trace that she'd ever left. She feels the grass squish beneath her feet and the whistling wind almost knocks off her hood as she runs. 

 Magically summoning her silver and gold armor the chainmail echoes in the quiet woods. Her uncle had banned magic but that never stopped Dawn. Her sister did parlor tricks for fun but Dawn craved more. It was in these woods she learned the meaning of magic and through Merlin's notes she taught herself the way of the fae world. The elements were her teachers and she hoped they'd give her mercy tonight. 

  Running faster each step she takes makes a resounding clank that bounces through the trees. Pushing past snagging branches, brambles, and thick underbrush she keeps going only one thing on her mind, getting that troll cure so her friend would survive. What an absurd notion, that she princess of Camelot was friends with a common troll. Smiling as she thought of him she kept pushing on, chest heaving as she thundered through the woods. Stepping over small streams and avoiding roots. 

  White puffs left her mouth as she pushed on. The cold kept her awake and alert even as her legs burned from running so long. Dawn stops, armor now silent as the night returns to its previous stillness.

 Killahead.

The girl swallows nervously and takes a cautious step forward. The bridge was old and full of divine energy, she could feel its power radiating from where she stood. It acted as a divide between the world of trolls and Gum Gums. Gunmar said he owned the whole woods but that was a lie. However, past the bridge there was no doubt that was his land. As she took in deep breaths chest burning she studied Killahead. Cracked stone, worn carvings from centuries ago, and overgrown moss greeted her. A bridge that once ran over a flowing river had been dry longer than Dawn had been alive. She knew this place had power. It held generations of knowledge and stories. It could be the rise or down fall of civilizations.

But unlike the trees and forest Killahead did not talk. It just listened. Cracked stone keeping the secrets of all those that walked past it. Closing her eyes she steps away from the safety of neutral territory and towards the tarnished stone. 

 Reaching out, her hand tightly clutches the side of the bridge. As she rubs her thumb over the side the stone feels smooth from years of being worn down. Stepping onto the Killahead bridge it's uneven with patches of grass slowly taking over the stone. Dawn feels the slickness of moss and dew under her boots and tightens her grip on the side she's holding as she trudges forward. 

 The moon shone above her through the leaves and pausing she tilts her head taking it in as darkness was soon to come. Listening closely, closing her eyes to hear the forest around her it was too silent. She realized someone was following her, that the GumGums knew she was here. Refusing to give up just because she felt fear she stood tall as she crossed the bridge. The branches overhead now choked out any light and it was a miracle she could still see as she made it to the end of the bridge. Standing there taking a deep breath her hand grazed the moss that had taken over Killahead. This was her last chance. To turn back and run. To go back to the castle and ignore her uncles troll business. To allow him to continue what he was doing. But... she could not.

 Filled with determination she takes her first step off Killehad. Heading away from the bridge and into the deep woods she was officially in Gum Gum territory. Her weapon wasn't drawn and it was clear she wasn't an active threat. Though Gum Gums never were ones to pick up on hints, if she had to fight she came prepared but she'd rather leave the woods unscathed.

  Venturing deeper into Gum Gum territory her chainmail echoes through the dense foliage. Low hissing and rustling could be heard from the bushes as scouts watched her. Golden and green glowing eyes all around her as she boldly kept walking. Her hand was now on her hip weapon ready to draw but she hadn't felt the need yet. She was hoping to speak to a general or a higher-up GumGum and somehow barter for the cure but as the growls got louder Dawn knew she'd have to fight. She was waiting for someone to come and address her and the soldiers watching her seemed to understand her silent demand as they kept their distance.

 Hearing something Dawn reacts quickly. Turning boots sinking into the mud as she grouds herself her blade made a distinctive swish before it clanked loudly striking against Gunmars sword. Sparks fly and the temporary bright light causes her green eyes to shine under her cloak. The brute growled in her face and she growled back surprising the GumGum King.

 "You wonder deep in our territory Knight." He hisses. Dawn responds by pressing her sword harder against his. Remembering what the knights had done, she leans back before she puts all her effort into her sword pushing the blade against his forcing him back. Stumbling Gunmar catches himself. His blue eye stares at her cloak as he pauses surprised by the human's strength. Tightening her grip on her sword showing no hesitation that she'd strike again he chuffs unamused. 

  His dark blue eye scans her form but all he sees is a long cloak and the shine of her sword in the dim light. Sniffing the air he chuffs surprised. It was a magical blade. A mage? Hadn't Arthur murdered them all?

 "I don't want to fight. I come seeking your aid." Dawn states tilting her head to look at the GumGum king. He couldn't see her face but he could feel her stare, those green eyes haunted him. This was no normal human. No normal mage. Chuffing he sneers tilting his head.

 "Oh? And why would I help a fleshbag morsel like you?" He snarls beginning to pace around her. Dawn followed his motions watching him closely. He admitted he was curious at what this knight could want at how someone could be so stupid and bold. They were foolish to come here but from the sword skills they showed he could see why they assumed they'd be safe. 

 "Because one of your own is dying and I'm trying-" Dawn starts but Gunmar growls bearing his fangs at her. 

 "SILENCE!" He roars. Dawn closes her mouth and waits. He comes close and sniffs her before huffing hot air in her face unimpressed. She reaches up to keep her hood on not wanting him to see who she really is. If he knew she was Dawna Noble of the PenDragon line it'd be over. He'd send her corpse to Arthur and her friend's life would be lost before she had a chance to win it.

 Rolling his eye, he turns annoyed by her insistent presence. "Go home whelp." He orders. "Humans speak only lies and when it isn't lies it's stupidity. Get out and don't return and you may tell your friends at the Round Table you survived. You are no meal and you're not worth the effort." He huffs waving her off. Dawn stands shocked as he begins walking away. She just ran from the safety of her home to try and save a troll's life and Gunmar doesn't even acknowledge her? He pushes her away like she's just a confused child. Grip tightening on her sword she grits her teeth shaking. She had come too far to turn back now.

 "I'm not going anywhere!" She snaps. Running to stand in front of the Gum Gum king she spreads her arms blocking his path. She's shaking making her chainmail rattle. She'd come so far he couldn't deny her now! "I came here to Gum Gum territory at night! It's important please at least listen to what I have to say." She begs. He looked annoyed and she frowned, lowering her arms. "I need something… and I know your people are the only ones who can give it to me." Stepping closer to Gunmar unafraid and praying for the life of her friend he growls at her. She's about to respond with a growl of her own when a sharp tug from her cloak made her stumble back from the King choking. She was so distracted talking to Gunmar she forgot to watch her back. 

 Tilting her head clawing at the clasp around her neck the Gum Gum prince was behind her and his claws had snagged her cape. He ripped at the fabric chuckling as she gasped for air. Unclasping the cloak knowing it was her life or her identity Dawn turned eyes blazing. The grip on her sword tightened making it glow as her green eyes glared into his red ones. She sneered at the Prince of Darkness teeth bared. He stumbled back in surprise eyes wide as he stared at her armor before staring at her face. Dropping her cloak he stepped closer curious as he sniffed her. Her amor bore Camelots symbol and stepping closer he clearly saw the Noble clans markings in the carvings of her amor. Dawn pushes Bular's face away when he gets to close and he chuckles. 

 "... Dawna? The King's niece? A child?" He laughs but Dawn stays undeterred. Her grip remains on her sword as she points the end at him. He chuckled amused. It seemed she was braver than the rest of her family or stupider. 

 "This child." Dawn says slowly eyes narrowed into slits as she feels anger course through her veins. Her hands burn coursing with energy and suddenly the trees begin to shake as the branches above them shift. Distracted she pushes Bular over with the butt of her sword forcing him against the wet grass. The Moonlight leaked through the trees as leaves swirled around her. Had it been the day she surely would've killed him. But that wasn't her intention.

  She wanted him to see her. To fear her and as her armor shone as bright as the moon GumGums hissed backing up at the glare. "Is not one to be triffled with. I seek something and I'm not leaving till I get it." She states glaring down at Bular. He growls at her, angry she'd knocked him down but she seems unaffected by his silent threat.

 "Like we'd ever help you." Bular huffs pushing her sword away from his face. Dawn puts it back in her sheath and sighs. As she took a deep breath she could see this wasn't working. She needed to switch tactics.

 Thinking back on everything she knew of Gum Gums she paused, she'd need to choose her next words wisely. "I'm not asking for help. That's weak." She hisses. "I'm asking for a fair trade." Dawn finally says. She holds out her hand for the Prince but he snarls, snapping his teeth at her fingers. She pulls her hand away to avoid the bite and rolls her eyes. Turning away from Bular she looks back to Gunmar.

 "You have nothing we want." The troll states uninterested. Dawn hums. No she didn't, did she? What was she expecting? The Gum Gums to reach into their darkened hearts and present her the cure like a gift? This was doomed to end in a fight. 

 Hand on her sword she hums as Bular shifts behind her. The brute huffs as he gets up, bumping her aside as he walks by to get to his father. Both the beasts now glared at her. Dawn wishes she could say she was without fear as they stared at her but she'd come so far she wouldn't turn back now.

   "Leave your wasting our time." Bular says uncaring of her achievements or her power. "Your so skinny we'd choke on your bones." He adds. His father laughs head bomping his son but Dawn shakes anger radiating through her. Eyes turning a dark green she feels the grip on her powers loosen. In a perfect circle around the three of them the grass dies. The two trolls watch as the plants around them begin to wither, roots twisting and cracking as wood split and leaves fluttered down. Then it all turned black rotting away. Facing them her eyes burn with a need to prove herself. The moon shines on her and Dawn's armor reflects it's light showing her power as she stood in the dead grass.

 "Then fight me. In a duel." She demands standing her tallest as she looks at them.

 She wasn't leaving without that cure. She may fall here but she falls with more grace than either of these so called warriors.

 Gunmar leans in close his horns jutting out like a crooked crown as he snarls at her. Dawn snarls back. She. Wasn't. Leaving. Without. That. Cure.

 "... Fine. You wish to die? I will not stop you." Turning Bular and him begin to stalk away. Soldiers surround her and as she draws her blade eyes wide she sees Gunmar pause. The soldiers don't advance or go for an attack. Dawn turns and Gunmar stares at her waiting. She realizes she is supposed to follow. Taking one last look back at Killahead and the safety of the forest beyond she picks her shredded cloak off the dead grass before reclasping it around her neck.

 It seems she got what she wanted.

~~~

  An hour or two must have passed making Dawn fear she wouldn't get back before Daylight. If her bed was empty when the castle awoke they'd send a search party and she'd never be aloud to leave again. Arthur would watch her every move and Merlin… she'd never be aloud to learn another spell. Trudging on through the darkness of the woods fearing that Daybreak was near she felt weak. Her legs were tired from the long trek but she knew it was worth it. She watched as they passed trees with scratch marks in them and trollish sayings and carvings she couldn't decipher. Dawn pauses touching one of the trees and tracing the carving it flashed green and the words changed allowing her to read it. Tilting her head she squints.

 "Home…?" She mumbled seeing the deep groves in the tree. Dawn felt she knew this language from a distant memory as if it had been murmered once before as if it'd been read to her. Trying to remember how she knew it, a jab to her back made her hiss.

 Poked with a guards spear she walks away and observes her surroundings closely. Seeing more trolls watching from the bushes, standing guard Dawn realized they had led her into the heart of their territory. Her eyes are wide in wonder as she looks around enamoured. She'd heard such dark stories about the GumGums home but standing here she could only feel the warmth of fellow warrior spirits.

   Tents were set up and huts made from the surrounding trees and rock. Everything was handcrafted in a way Dawn never knew trolls were capable of. Woven branches and carved rock shielded families from the cold as they laid together. Fires raged in pits and the flames made the GumGums eyes reflect as they watched her follow their king.

   Younglings ran around the camp jumping into bushes only to leap out at their friends causing squeals of joy to ring through the camp. Mothers and fathers sat and chatted as they groomed their newborn whelps, licking them clean as they made little squeaks of protest wiggling in their parents grip. Soldiers sparred and played chuffing at one other as they rolled around and smashed their helmets against each other, kits cheering them on. The more she saw the more she began to question her faith and allegiance to Arthur.

 Was this any different than home? They wove intricate baskets of grass that held food and supplies just like the weavers and potters of Camelot. There were some differences such as how and what they wove but the patterns told a story just like her people. Warriors brought back what they'd hunted putting them in piles for all to share similar to the town's trade center. Children played games with each other running around as adults took turns to watch. Was this not exactly like Camelot? Was the way the soldiers behaved any different than Camelots knight barracks or the teens copying the soldiers exactly like young squires? She could almost imagine the GumGums as humans in this light, as a thriving tribe deep in the woods who wanted nothing to do with Camelots culture.

  As she was pushed forward by GumGum spears to keep pace, she stumbled lost in her own thoughts. 

 Stumbling forward trying to wrap her head around the fact that the GumGums weren't all evil she stared up at Gunmar. From this angle walking with his son he almost seemed... human. He could've eaten her or mauled her when they first encountered each other but instead he listened to her pleas and now he was giving her a chance to fight. That was more than what Arthur ever did for her. More than Lancelot believed she could do. Who was the real monster in this war? Was there even a need for war?

 Turning Gunmar meets her gaze and she looks away. She decides to study his camp as this may be her only chance. Looking around taking in the dense foliage and how they'd made it a home she felt eyes on her. Turning whelps watched her curiously blinking owlishly at her. She wonders if they've ever seen a human. Well a live human. Bending down and pausing to wave they ran off squeaking to their mothers. Staring at the troll families who held their children close and their harsh gazes as they glared at the princess, Dawn realized she was the only monster here.

 Bular chuffed amused, making Dawn blush. Of course they'd be scared of her. After all she was the enemy. Getting up and pulling her cloak closer plants nervously bloomed around her and nearby crystals glowed reacting to her emotions. She flushed embarrassed at her lack of control and quickly followed the King of Darkness, curious eyes watching as they left. 

  ~~~

Lead to an arena Dawn pauses in awe. She was standing in the fabled GumGums battle room, she'd only ever heard stories. She never thought she'd see this place. Looking out at the various weapons placed around their training space. There were axes, swords, spears, javelins, maces, and other weapons she didn't recognize. Her green eyes widened in amazement studying the colosseum from the balcony they stood on. It overlooked everything and she was determined to write this down and document it later. The arena was large and wide carved out from the center of the mountain, hidden deep in the core. She could see statues of fallen warriors decorating the rims of the arena. Stone steps carved from years of work circled the colosseum allowing trolls to watch as others spared. She also noticed dents in the walls and wondered about the battles that caused such scars. 

 Running forward Glowing Green crystals jutted from the ground and tapping one, it glowed brightly reacting to her touch. Her heart swelled at the magic in this room, the history. She felt an ancient power in this place and could feel the souls of thousands of trolls who had fallen here. It was exhilarating unlike anything she'd ever experienced. Unlike anything in Camelot.

  "Our rules are simple fleshbag." Gunmar states demanding her attention. Turning away from the balconies edge and focusing on him he snarls from his place on his throne beginning. Skulls decorated his seat and Dawn swallows before meeting his gaze listening closely. "Rule One. Always finish the fight and never hesitate." He states slamming his hand onto an old skull crushing it. Dawn nods aware of this troll custom despite how much she despised it. "Rule Two it must be your blade that ends the fight it can not be your enemies." Holding her sword tightly Dawn understands this. If she lost her weapon she could not use her opponent's to end them.

   Gunmar smirked, leaning forward on his throne of bones as he chuffed in her face. Hot air sent her hood back and made her long hair shift as he leered down at her. "And Rule Three young mage. No magic." He instructs.

 Dawna chokes hearing the last demand. No magic? Since when was that a Gum Gum rule? She was never informed that would be part of the deal. Looking over at Gunmars son she brings her sword close. 

 Bular was at least twelve feet tall and Gunmar fifteen. She was a third their size, maybe half at best.

 Without her magic it would be impossible to defeat either of them. She could fight but she didn't have proper training in dueling only practice from when she copied Lancelot. Not to mention the split swords she'd brought were magic. She'd only have the weak weapon she swiped from the knight hall which to a troll was barely a dagger. She wasn't even sure it could go through a trolls skin. As they watched waiting for an answer, Dawn's hands clenched beginning to glow. She supposed magic would be an unfair advantage but wasn't it unfair to make her fight without it? Magic was apart of her, apart of this place. To deny her such a large part of herself… Trembling she felt sick. Perhaps Gunmar and Arthur shared more than she assumed.

 "Well princess?" Gunmar sneers the title like an insult before smirking, licking his fangs. "What is your decision? Do not waste our time." Dawn shakes. He thinks her a coward, a cheat but she would always keep true to her word. She came here. She had to finish this. Looking at her hands before closing her eyes she takes a deep breath. The glow dies and their left in the dull light of the green crystals. 

  Looking up and nodding Gunmar chuffed staring at her. Sighing, she looked down at herself allowing her armor to fade away. She felt naked without her protection but If they considered magic cheating then she would respect their rules as she was on their land.

  "I do not cheat. I do not need magic to win. And if I fall there's no one to go back to anyways..." Closing her eyes thinking of home she knows either way she wins. She either dies and meets Gwenivere in Avalon or she returns to the castle and saves her friend's life.

  Whispering a prayer to her family and hoping this was not her last night alive Dawn nods. She stands before the King and Prince unarmored and defenceless cept a small blade she held. Gunmar turns and not a moment later an attendant walks in carrying what Dawn feared most. Ravenstone.

 Rare and made from the dust of fallen magic users ravenstone blocked any magic from being used, containing the energy and even stealing it if a mage was around it too long. She holds the stone in her hands when the attendant passes it to her and pauses seeing they were cuffs.

  She swallows as they watch her and closing her eyes she slips them on wearing them as bracelets. Shivering Dawn could feel them working, they would not only block her magic but drain her energy as well. She'd have to be smart in this battle or she'd surely fall. 

  Rubbing the cuffs nervously she feels the intricate runes carved into the stone. They told the story of her kind, the origin of magic. A  zap of electricity goes up her arms making her feel more powerful despite the impediment. "I do not intend to lose." She states boldly. Bular chuffs sword dragging against the ground. Neither did he. Turning towards the arena she begins walking down the stairs, the brute following her.

  It seemed Bular had decided he would be her fighting partner and Gunmar their witness. 

 Waiting at the bottom she paused. Spinning the sword in her hand she stared into the steel looking at her reflection. If she died today she died a hero. If she won it wouldn't be long lived. Dictatuous was running out of time. He needed the cure. Now. 

  Attacking her while she's distracted, Dawn quickly focuses back on Bular, on the battle. Their swords clash against each other creating sparks as they glare at one other. She was tired, had less fighting experience, and was weaker. Smirking Dawn pushed Bular back, she guessed that made this a fair match. 

  Clawing at the ground gaining his footing he snarls and charges at her. Dawn thinking quickly jumps up and flips over him as he swings his sword where she had just stood. Landing she turns holding up her blade as his crashed against hers. He sneered pushing down and she cries out feeling the increasing pressure as he pushes down. Huffing she kicks him back making both of them skid.

 She breathes deeply grip tightening. The battle had just begun and she knew she was outmatched. Shifting her position she glances up at Gunmar. He sat on his throne overlooking their battle, watching amused. His eye met hers and she stares wondering what he must think of her, of his son before Bular crashes back into her, sending her backwards. Hitting the ground she rolls rocks digging into her skin. Her shirt catches and she hisses as the cloth rips open and slashes her flesh making blood spill. The first blood drawn from battle.

  Getting up she stares at Bular. She couldn't get distracted. This wasn't like home, if she lost here she wouldn't get back up again.

  Bular stalks towards her grinning as he dragged his two swords. Taunting her as they scratched deep groves into the floor. In the green light of the jagged crystals his eyes glowed and Dawn saw a blood lust she'd never seen before. Ducking behind a rock as he slashed his swords at her she inches around it before she rolls forward going under his legs aiming at his ankles. Making contact she quickly scrambles up also hitting him in the back right above his kilt. Holding her sword waiting for a counter attack the Prince roars. Snarling he turns, swords hitting her with so much force she's slammed into a wall. Making contact she drops her sword, gasping as she grabs her side. He'd gotten her. Twice now. But so had she. They were even. Grimacing in pain eyes wide in fear she stares up at the warlords son.

 "Look at you. Tiny and weak human. You thought you could best me? I am the son of Gunmar! I am a conquer! And now for your ignorance you shall fall." He states raising his swords above her head. Eyes darting around Dawn smirks. Kicking him in the grocknuts as hard as she can he roars, dropping his swords and whimpering. She grabs her own weapon before charging. Kicking him backwards again she slashes at his chest causing black blood to spill.

 "Miserable human your death will be painful for that!" He threatens as he smacks her away with his arm. Falling back sword clattering as it slips out of her hand once more Dawn groans.

Her breathing is rough as she shakes. Bular picks up his blades and as she kicks back trying to reach her sword his claws dig into her ankle pulling her towards him. He huffs hot air into her face keeping her pinned and she stares at him. He raises a sword but moving her head the blade simply sinks into the ground next to her. He snarls and she snarls back, body burning with pain but brimming with determination. She could not fall.

 Smashing her head against his he hisses in pain, stumbling back as she stands. Blood drips into her eye and her ankle burns from the deep cuts but she still stands tall. "I don't intend to lose." She sneers and he growls at her. Tackling her to the ground Dawn grunts but smirks. He'd pushed her closer to her blade.

 Smiling Bular stared down at her ready to smash her head in right as her sword pierced his side and went straight through his ribcage. She missed his heart intentionally though she wonders how his face would've looked if he had been beaten by such a "weakling" as herself. Smiling as warm blood dripped onto her hands from the wound she'd inflicted she forced him back before climbing on top of him straddling him. Grabbing his horns and pushing his head down she glares down at him huffing.

 "You you you!!!" He roars thrashing but Dawn keeps one hand on the sword threatening to push it all the way through if he didn't listen. The other rested on his horn keeping his head down.

 "Yield Bular. You've lost." Dawn snarls. Their battle was intense and she almost fell but Bulars cockiness had been his downfall. Her hair falls onto his face as she breathes deeply staring into his eyes. Bular chuffs growling at her but her hand remained on the hilt of the sword reminding him she could end him if she chose. She'd done it. Bloody but not broken she'd beaten Bular the Butcher.

 "MY SON!" Gunmar screeches from his throne ready to charge. Dawn turns holding out her hand that'd been on Bulars horn. The GumGum king paused snorting at her boldness. 

"I'll make a deal." Dawn states. "Declare I've won and I'll take off the raven cuffs, I'll heal him, and we never speak of this. And..." She takes a deep breath in blood still dripping from her wounds. "You give me what I desire." Dawn offers. Gunmar chuffs staring at her then Bular. Bular who was covered in blood and beaten by a mere mortal. His son. His legacy. Who was this girl? 

There's a long pause where the only sound is Bular and Dawns wheezing breaths. Dawn and Gunmar stare at each other and finally Gunmar chuffs looking away. 

"You have won." He growls lowly.

"Father!" Bular snaps before roaring at the movement. The pain from the inflicted wound was unlike anything he'd ever felt. Dawn turns eyes wide as she holds the sword still to keep it from hurting him further.

"Silence! You have lost Bular let the witch work!" Dawn nods and ripping off the cuffs she takes out the sword before placing her hands against the wound. His stone was warm despite being rock something she wasn't expecting. The texture was rough and marred threatening to slit her hands open if she didn't work carefully. Black and red stained her hands their blood mixing together and as her eyesight blurred she prayed that after the battle her magic was strong enough to heal him. 

Closing her eyes focusing Bulars breathing and chuffing gets louder as electricity courses through his veins. Dawn feels the wound close under her fingertips slowly and putting more energy into it, more thought the GumGum Prince stares amazed as the rock melts and melds before becoming a small scar against his chest. Almost as if she'd never struck him in the first place. 

Dawn pulls back still straddling him and he stares at her. This small human who just put him on the brink of death only to save him. Who was this human? This Dawna Nobel? 

"... Can I please get the troll cure and go home now?" She begs falling off the dark prince to lay on the ground besides him. They both lay still after their battle, taking deep breaths in.  

~~~

 Gunmar held the potion as Dawn smiled. She had a small cut above her eye from headbutting Bular and a gash on her arm and leg from rolling on the ground but she'd done it. She got the cure to save Dictatious. Taking the bottle into her hands Gunmar leaned close.

"Do not let me see you here again." He chuffs. "And do not take this potion lightly. It could destroy my people but I put my trust in you as you've been the only honorable human I have met in some time. You bested my son and for that you will not be underestimated again." Holding the bottle close, feeling the warmth of it's magic through the glass Dawn looks at Gunmar and nods. That was the closet to a compliment she'd ever get from the GumGum King. 

"You have my word Gunmar." Smiling she turns facing Killahead before she fades into the shadows disappearing. 

Sputtering as she falls into one of the many castle halls, Dawn can't breathe as she lays flat on the carpet. Breathing deeply her hands dig into the lush fabric as her eyes go blurry. Groaning light leaks from a nearby window onto her face and she sees it's sunup, sometime in the early morning. Grunting body burning in pain as she slowly gets up she begins to limp down the hall sweat and blood dripping down her face. But holding the potion close she can't bring herself to care about her pain. Heaving in air, she could feel the night and the toll of magic finally catch up to her. However she couldn't quit rest yet. Clawing at the wall as she continues walking she pulls herself forward cradling her prize close. 

~~~

Dawn paused looking around the corner. The guards that were usually stationed for prison duty were gone on shift leave, giving her a window of opportunity. Opening the door that led to the dungeons quietly she sneaks inside to the staircase before closing the door. Staying in the shadows and avoiding the torches she creeps down the stairs careful not to make a sound. Peaking, her head out she sees most of the trolls were resting or trying too. Hacking could be heard and she winces, listening to Dictatious as he continued to cough.

 Walking quietly across the stone floor, trolls don't pay her cloaked form any mind. Standing near his cell she holds the mug of tea and potion close. She'd changed her clothes to look more presentable. She'd also slipped into the kitchens when no one was looking to grab a few things. Holding the potion and tea in her hand she pauses outside his cell. She could study the potion Gunmar gifted her, reverse it. Make a weapon and wipe out the GumGums once and for all. Magic would finally be respected. Arthur would respect her. But...

 Hearing his loud pained coughs Dawn closes her eyes as she pours the potion into the tea. She sticks the cup through the cell bars allowing Dictatious to take it. The hacking stops and Dawn slowly opens her eyes. Dictatious looks at her untrusting and she frowns her hand with the tea shaking.

  "Please it'll help I promise..." She begs him. He blinks before looking at Dawn through the bars that seperated them, all six eyes peering into her soul through the darkness of the dungeon. 

 "... why?" He asks voice barely above a whisper as he forces it out of his raspy throat. He had gotten worse while she was gone but she believed Gunmar had fulfilled his deal as she had hers. That his sickness would be cured once he drank what she'd fought for and that he'd live just as she had.

 "Because this is wrong and I'm sorry. Please..." Dawn continues to offer the cure, cloak hiding her face but Dictatious knew her. She was the King's niece. She was Camelots jewel. She was that girl who would sneak into the woods to learn magic and come down into these dark dungeons to hear the stories he told other trolls to keep their hopes up.

  He sniffed the tea, it was a spicy moss blend that Dawn found many trolls enjoyed. The ingredients in the kitchen were slightly different from what trolls used but she hoped it'd appease him. Dictatious and her were by no means close but she wanted to amend that. They'd met in the woods when she was small, he'd helped her home. And once more he'd seen her practicing magic and had gifted her a troll book about ancient spells. She'd hated trolls for months after Gweniveres passing. She'd hated her magic but then she remembered. She remembered her aunts love and kindness. Her passion for the arts and her interest in magic. She would not let Arthur get away with this if she was still alive. But she was dead so it was Dawn's responsibility now. 

  It helped that Dictatious told stories whenever she came down to explore the dungeons. Although they never directly interacted he showed her not all trolls were evil. Before he got sick he spun tales of his world explaining magic in a way Dawn had never heard before. He was not a beast like Arthur described and she couldn't bear for him to die when he became sick and could no longer tell his stories. She couldn't stand that these trolls were trapped, that so many had died here. But for now all she had to beg for forgiveness was the potion. 

  "..." Dictatious studies Dawn humming as he looks her over. He takes the cup, his hands touching hers. She smiles and he looks grateful as he takes the warm mug. Looking at the princess with glazy eyes he snorts amused. "You are not like your family. You are different..." Dawn tilts her head but he doesn't add on as he chugs the drink. Once done he hands the cup back before curling into a ball on the dungeons cold floor. Dawn stares at him panicked. Had it been poison? Was he dying? Had she killed him? Had Gunmar lied to her?

 "Dic…?" Going to open the cell bars she paused watching his chest slowly rise and fall. Sleeping. The troll was just resting. Sighing and letting out a laugh Dawn falls against the bars exhausted. Chuckling she hugs her knees close. As she looked at Dic slumbering and listened to the rumbling trolls around her, her eyes fluttered. Yes she could use some of that too...

~~~

 Dawn feels a hand on her shoulder. She startles awake looking around confused before she remembers visiting Dic in the dungeons. Groaning she isn't sure when she dozed off but apparently she had.

 "You stayed?" Turning Dawn takes off her cloaks hood and pauses seeing Dictatious look at her. Smiling she stands, excited the potion worked as he looked much healthier. 

 "You're up." She states ignoring his previous remark. Studying him he seemed to be in good health despite the terrible circumstances. Dic hums in response reaching his hand through the bars to touch Dawns face. "Are you well?" She asks ignoring as he poked her.

 "I am but what of you? What happened to you?" Dawn blushes remembering the bruises and cuts all over her face from the duel. She didn't have the energy to deal with them last night. Letting out a chuckle she shrugs it off.

 "Don't worry about it." She responds, muttering a quick spell to heal her injuries. Dictatious watches with wide eyes as the cuts slowly close and the swelling goes down. She still had some light bruising but she looked much better. He had not seen her last night in the darkness of the dungeon but he'd recognized her scent and voice. Plus she was the only human who really came down here other than the Knights. 

 "You are a very strange human." He states crossing his arms. Chuckling Dawn nods. She was indeed different than her family. 

 "Can you walk? What about run?" She questions suddenly. Dictatiouses face scrunches as he tilts his head. What was she planning now?

 "Yes I feel fine now but why?" He asks. Dawn nods at him before she summons her armor. If she'd fallen asleep against the cells in the morning than it had to be dark now.

 "You've been here long enough. All of you. It's time you go home." She states. 

 "Dawna what are you doing?" Dictatious demands grabbing at her arm but she was already walking away from his cell to the center of the room. Making the torches burn bright, light fills the room showing Dawn.   "... You don't know me!" Dawn addresses them and the sound of grating stone can be heard as they turn and shift towards her. Eyes of all shapes and sizes watching the girl speak. "But I believe Trolls aren't evil. And I promise you, neither are humans. I do this because what my uncle Arthur did to all of you was wrong. I do this to show we're not all like him." Dawn fueled by saving Dic holds up her hand and all the cadges glow. Trolls gasp backing away before the locks suddenly click and the doors swing open. They… they were free? "Follow me and I'll lead you home!" Pulling her hood up Dawn runs out of the dungeon towards the castles entrance and the trolls, goblins, stalklings, and gnomes follow. Dictatious pushes past other trolls and rushing out of his now opened cell runs to be in the front right next to her.

 "Dawna this could be your title! This could be everything. Your very life! What are you doing?" He demands pulling on her arm but she just smiles, winking at him. 

 She leads a charge, directing the various creatures through the castle. Bigger creatures pick up smaller or sicker ones to help them keep up. The freed trolls follow behind her trusting the emboldened mage who had saved them. Their thundering footsteps echoing through the castle.

Making it to the front entrance she bursts the door open with her magic, leading everyone out of the castle and through the labyrinth of Camelot cobblestone streets before finally arriving at the gate. Focusing and saying a spell she hoists the iron bars open and they nod at her in thanks before they run. 

 It was early morning and the sun slowly begins to rise but for now there was enough shade for the night creatures to travel safely. Dawna can hear commotion coming from the castle as knights scurry around trying to find the escaped trolls and missing princess. Laughing as she watches the trolls flee, seeing them return home to the woods her chest flutters in happiness. She'd done it. She'd used magic and she'd freed them. 

  Feeling a pull Dawn stumbles almost dropping the gate and pausing she turns.

  "Lets go." Dictatious states yanking at her hand. She blinks surprised before staring at the troll.

  "What?" She asks softly. He pulls again wanting to drag her into the woods with him. With all of them. Some trolls pause on the bridge looking back and waiting for her decision.

 "Come with us. Please." Dawn blinks before she stares at Dictatious. Tilting her head she gazes outward, to the woods and their lush forest. With the freshest of fruits and gorgeous flowers. With friends. With Safety. With Magic. With sparring. And Freedom. She'd have freedom. She feels another pull and hesitantly she takes a step back so she doesn't go running away with them. 

 "My family is here..." She mumbles but she longs to leave with Dictatious. To go to their troll safe haven and explore the troll world. Too read endless books and immerse herself in their culture and magic. Too see what she'd only heard stories about. To become what she could only dream. 

 "You don't belong with them." Dictatious lightly bumps her head with his before squeezing her cheeks. Dawn is confused but laughing she smiles realising he had just given her the equivalent of a platonic troll kiss. He saw her as kin and he wanted her safe. She didn't belong in Camelot anymore did she? Her home was the wild surrounded by trees and magic not cobblestone and iron. But if she stayed she could help and maybe someday she would ascend to the throne and she could fix things. She could repair the damage done by Arthurs anger and she could rule with Gweniveres love. 

  The loud clanking of armor gets closer and Dawn hugs Dictatious feeling his rough stone against her before she pushes him to flee. He runs understanding her decision but at the end of the bridge he hesitates sending her a hopeful glance. He waits but Dawn simply bows a last goodbye and he nods taking off into the safety of the woods. Looking up again about to bring the gate back down Dawn pauses. 

  Gunmar stood at the edge of the woods watching. Tilting her head he nodded slowly at her. He did not trust humans and the Royal Family was at the top of that list but Dawn hoped she had earned his respect. If she ever fell by his hand she hoped it would be a quick merciful death. Something he granted few.

 The iron bars slam down as her magic burned out, separating her from the woods and all that lied beyond. Dawn signs looking away. Once again she was trapped.

~~~

 Gunmar stood at the woods edge peering into the Humans putrid village. He had come to scout and see if Dawna would keep her word. If the potion she won truly was for a troll or if she was lying and planned to use it against them and slaughter his troops. His single eye widened as the gates opened. He growled ready to tear open her throat but paused as a flood of magical creatures poured out rather than the army he was expecting. He could see trolls of all kinds, stalkings, gnomes, and goblins and amongst them stood an unafraid Dawna. They towered over her and had ten times her strength and yet she didn't fear them. They all left and Dawna was alone. Going to turn and leave he paused. Some trolls remained. A cloaked troll had stayed back and now they were clinging to her. Even from the distance he could see they were small and sickly, barley recovered despite the potion it seemed. The troll pulled at her as the others encouraged her to leave with them. Gunmar snorted enraged at the notion they'd invite her into the woods. 

  The girl simply nodded no, trying to urge them to leave. A wise decision on her part. The troll looks up and saw he was running out of time, the light was coming and with it his death if he didn't hurry. He leaves but Gunmar watches him hesitate. The trolls look back and Dawn smiles before bowing goodbye. The trolls run to the shelter of the trees and the princess watches them leave. The gate is about to drop before her green eyes lock onto him. Their gaze meets and she slowly nods to him. The gate slams down separating them before he can respond and he hums watching her run off as knights come. Perhaps if things were different. If she was born a troll or even a GumGum in another life they could've been allies. Maybe even friends. He turns feeling saddened that she chose to remain imprisoned when she clearly could be free. What an odd human.

[blankticket]

Vash's bold declaration is proven in motion soon afterward; taken completely off-guard by the other's cryptic concession, he's left momentarily dazed by the breakneck rush past him. A severed arm rolls down the steps. The sound of it coming to a stop at his feet galvanize him to move, already, cursing his hesitation as he gives chase.

It's the unmistakable whistle-shriek of a Plant's soul when they're set to be Run out. While the Engineer can recognize it in an instant from over a century of listening, he's never been numbed to the way that it pierces his heart.

A barbed string of knives jab forth, knock Peace Bringer out of his grip. It goes flying behind him. His stride yet unbroken for it, Vash dives forward to secure his arms around his predecessor's waist. Boots shift position to set up a stable hold, and finally he presses his forehead against his back. Senses link.

From how hot it runs and how quick it catches onto him, Vash is trying to hold onto the heart of a crown fire. His head reels back.

There's heat—and light—and screaming. A surplus of pain, experienced in new ways he hadn't felt before. The younger Plant can feel his own dark hair follicles and his face pattern singe flush upon his flesh in his intent to heal, and yet for how intensely bright it all burns, his sight is not blinded. Feather-touches from his other iteration ignite vivid memories and feelings comprising the hurt; the burden of it is shared, now, but it is made no less real. Through heated orange lenses he can see the mist-warped fusion of their twin grasping onto Vash's face, happy to play into their role of calamity instigator.

He's disgusted, to use the older Vash like this—as though this were a sick game of tug-of-war, with his decaying body as the rope. Between contact-sent thoughts of Wait, wait, please, stop, PLEASE, and I'm sorry—I'm so sorry, the healer struggles to think of what else to do.

What he's doing is potentially extremely dangerous for its unknown consequences; this attempt to heal the other Vash now might expedite the charge, burn them both up, leave the older Plant's heroic act worse than nullified. The wicked shape in front of them flickers, glitches, reminds all of their unstable nature. ...Vash decides he's willing to take on these odds, together. They're up against the flickering form of an amalgam that never was—while his presence, and his predecessor's presence, remain separate and corporeal.

The Plant healer shuts his eyes, returns his forehead press against the other's back to amplify connection. Remembering the timeless reassurance he'd offer to every pained Plant he could reach, he knows what else to send through to Vash: I'm here. I'm right here. I'm with you; it's okay, I'm right here.

Was all this faith and trust and love enough to anchor reality away from this mist-cloaked nightmare? Or was reality and nightmare seamless—destined—unstoppable? Vash's hold tightens. He's remembering words he'd thought to the other, previously unspoken, and unconsciously transferred now from how loudly he believes it: (if there were anyone who could stop us, it'd be us).

★ --;; The younger's words cut through the cacophony ringing in Vash's ears all at once, eyes widening, the realization hitting him in one big wave.

He's not me.

Even if they go unnoticed by his counterpart, Vash's keen eyes pick up on the blades rising up behind him instantly. His eyebrows set, mouth in a hard line-- even if he didn't have any idea the full extent of what Naï was capable of, Vash was intimately aware of the power Knives could wield-- of the way his own body could be used against him. What he does know is that his hair is black, and the other has yet more of that well of energy left within him- a trickle in comparison to a great flowing river.

One of those is a lot less capable of erosion.

"You're right," he says, voice tight. "You've still got a whole lot left in you."

The pause is infinitesimal, determined look in his eyes mirroring that of his other self, before Vash is taking off at a sprint up the rest of the stairs- if he goes any slower, he knows the other will catch up to him in a heartbeat. It takes only one bound, two, three before he finds himself at that familiar precipice, and it's there. The shattered bulb of their Sister, her body discarded, the dark black essence of her dripping from jagged glass edges; the exposed elements of the downed ships are replaced with yet another building of steel, punctured and torn, and then back again, until the two images are molding into one another completely. Black blood pools on the ground, and the droplets sound like waterfalls.

And Legato is there too, inevitably, the ghosts of the Guns flashing in and out of existence; Bluesummers joins them, stands upright, crumples to the floor, is gone, is there again, as if his entire being were glitching in and out of existence. For all Vash knows, it may as well be. Just this once, he doesn't feel like the drowning abyss of fear he always does- if only because Vash knows he can't do anything. Not here. Not yet.

It's Knives-- then what can only be Naï, then Knives, then back again, until the two of them begin to overlap entirely; cropped hair and no drapery warping into long, curly tendrils falling over his shoulders and endless blades stretching outwards and upwards. Sad smile and manic grin keep replacing one another in tandem as well, and when his- their voice finally comes out, it feels just as warped as the image in front of him.

This is not his brother-- not the one in this city, not the one who'd finally spoken to him on even footing.

"Oh, Vash," they half croon, half monotone. "Long time no see."

There's no speech, no argument this time; Vash hardly has the time to grab his gun out of the holster before they're in his face again, blades piercing the ground around him with great sharp thrusts, hand jammed into his face, and he knew this is what would happen (the blood splattered on the ground, the screaming, like a movie rewound yet again played out in stunning high definition instead of on a blurry CRT)--

Better it him, in the end, he knew.

Pain shoots through him like a lightning bolt, but it's old and doesn't scare him any more, not as it once did-- even with what can only be his own screaming reverberating in his ears and white hot radiation burning his veins from the inside out, he doesn't feel fear. Just a sadness, that this all has to happen again. He can feel black blood oozing out of his ears. His arm flays open, expands, becomes whole, and he isn't scared because he knows exactly where to point it, even as his mouth is flooded with the acrid taste of metal and burning molecules, C17H19NO3, C12H16N2, Pb(C2H3O2)2, Pb(NO3)2--

Better a spark than a bomb.

[vangoddamn]

Antheia

Y/n is a florist, van comes in regularly before going home, just randomly cause he fancies you eek🌼

"hey Cas, what you ringin for?" You asked wondering what it was this time and what gossip she was about to spill.

Y/n is a florist, van comes in regularly before going home, just randomly cause he fancies you eek🌼

"hey Cas, what you ringin for?" You asked wondering what it was this time and what gossip she was about to spill.

"woah...so a girl not allowed to call her best friend anymore?!" You could tell by the tone of her voice she was being sarcastic and she definitely would have the face on.

"no, I just know you and you have something to say" you let out a chuckle between the words, knowing her too well.

"well, fine but I guess you'll never know what it is" she sneered, but you didn't even have to try to get her to reveal all.

"Cass..."

"fine, so I was in town and guess who I saw?!" You heard her squeal down the phone, pulling the phone away quickly with shock.

"for god sakes, I'm gonna go deaf. Who did you see?"

"flower boy" the tone of her voice now was a mix between smug and complete amusement. Of course, you were shocked at the least if not from the out of the blue context but because most days you sat around in your little shop wondering if he’d pop in again. He hadn’t been in for months now, and you had been starting to think he’d not come in again.

“I think your visually impaired hun, he’s not been in for ages, he’s probably forgotten about my stupid lil shop anyway,” You tried to defend yourself, you didn’t even know why you needed defending, it wasn't even like you knew him.

He’d started coming in a year ago, just when you had been starting out. You could remember every visit he made to you over the year and had grown quite fond of his visits. He was the type of guy you’d never expect to see in a florist, but my god, you weren’t protesting to the rare event. Your mystery flower boy was tall, kind of lanky and had the sweetest crooked smile you’d. ever laid eyes on. He usually, wore black, but it definitely suited his aesthetic.

You had never learnt his name, although he knew yours, but that had never stopped you both from indulging in sweet conversation. His first visit he was particularly clueless, needing flowers for his mother ‘Mary’. You had guessed then, by the fact he told you all about his mum with no hesitation, that he loved his family. On particularly quiet days you and Cassy would sit coming up with stories for him and make up secret lives you thought he would live.

Sometimes he’d be some kind of James Bond character and whenever he was off duty he’d fly over from wherever fancy country he lived would visit home. And others he was just a humble guy with a soft spot for his mum. You never expected the true reality of this.

 There was a soft ring at the door, indicating a customer had just walked in. Smiling at Cassie's rambling of your flower boy you turned around to be shocked at the truth behind your best friends announcement. At your silence, she started bombarding you with questions before you hurriedly hung her up.

“Hey,” The boy grinned, his lazy smile making your stomach squirm with nerves and anticipation to the word you’d eventually have to use.

“You alright y/n?” He chuckled, walking up to the counter in which you currently stood behind.

“Um..Yeah aha- Haven’t seen you around here in a while that’s all.” You finally released the scramble of words in your head, feeling your cheeks show off your embarrassment.

“Oh yeah, sorry, me band, we were on tour.” He explained sincerely. “Didn't miss me did ya!” His. smile was infectious at the best of times and had now made you bite your lip, suppressing the truth that, yes actually you had missed him. You noted his confession, looking forward to tell Cassie of his profession.

“I don't even know your name, it’d be a bit weird if I missed ya wouldn't it?” You internally cringed at the words, processing how strange it really was that in fact you had missed his charming personality even though all encounters were always very short lived.

“It’s Van love, see now you can miss me.” he was cheeky and although he didn’t even say much, his words still made you fidget with nerves on the spot. 

“Van,” You said deadpan, turning the attention to him and his somewhat questionable name. In the space of what felt two minutes you had learnt more about him than you had over the year he'd kept popping in.

“Well, Ryan but-”

“So, Ryan,” You cut him off hastily, “What can I help you with, more flowers for Mary then?” 

“Actually no, I wanted too take you for dinner tonight.” He grinned with satisfaction, throwing me off once more.

“Oh,” Was the only reaction you could think of, completely flummoxed with his proposal. “Yeah?”

“Here,” He explained taking one of the cards that was on the counter and a pen, scribbling a number out before looking up at you. His eyes were pooling with hopefulness and practically made your heart melt. You were lost for words for a start, you couldn’t really reply unless you wanted to throw up a bunch of incomprehensible nonsense.

“Thanks, I’ll text you then!” You blurted out, watching as he leant forward, touching distance to your body, planting a sweet kiss to your cheek. It was simple and soft but managed to send shivers through every nerve of your body unable to process his actions. 

“See you soon y/n,” He whispered before turning and walking out of the shop, leaving you to slowly slide down the wall behind you as your knees grew weak and unsteady. 

“Shit.” you groaned, realising how awkward you had been, to the possible love of your life. You quickly grabbed the phone from above you, sitting back down and redialing Cassie’s number.

It only took a matter of seconds for her to pick up. Questioning almost every question under the sun, eventually letting explain the conversation you had just been apart of.