#his last straw was her threatening his dogs to make him stop confronting her about stealing his anxiety medication

[vox-off]

brandon's brother finally (finally)(FINALLY) got out of an abusive relationship and he's an absolute mess on our couch right now

i feel so bad for him but also am trying. real real hard. to forget i have a machete and i know where she lives

[caprina-mints]

Hi again, can I please have an headcannon of (Masky, Hoodie, Kate the chaser, Slenderman, Laughing jack, Jason the toy maker) with a y/n that has a fetish for emotionally and physically, mentally pain (a pride sadistic)

Warning : People who are sensitive to the Topic of self harm and Being inflicted with Pain should NOT read this because it may trigger you and I don't want that to Happen. Violence is also present in this Head canon so again if you're uncomfortable with that don't read this because this is a low key dark head canon. Stay safe everyone.

Slenderman :

❅ Hew as genuinely NOT expecting this from you at all.

❅ At first you were the perfect motherly figure everyone needed for a sense of comfort in their lives.

❅ and everyone sees you that way too..

❅ Until One day.... You had a mental breakdown about a topic you were dreading and everything went from soft and kind to red and violent.

❅ Slenderman was petrified when you suddenly brought up the topic about being tortured infront of everyone saying it was 'Fun'

❅ Now.... Everyone in that mansion enjoy the thought of 'Torturing' but they never even have the thought of being ' Tortured ' because judging by how those victims scream it wasn't pleasant.

❅ But here you are talking about your wildest fantasies of torture . How you described every single detail of how you want to be hurt.

❅ Slenderman had to drag you away and confronted you about that but after seeing that look on your eyes he knew you were somehow fucked up in a way he won't understand for now.

❅ And soon after that little incident you suddenly had urges to 'have fun' and seeing the chainsaw in the basement was somehow tempting you.

❅ " What if... I try cutting some of my skin with a chainsaw? " You suddenly blurted out when you were with slenderman inside he's study room and he immediately paused.

❅ He thought you were joking but when he found you in the basement with the chainsaw a but too near for comfort he lashed out and it ended with you pouting and 2 of slenderman's tendrils cut off.

❅ And after that day You were Monitored in every way possible may it be slenderman or his brothers or if none of them were around the creeps would watch over you because you might attempt something you shouldn't do.

❅ You were never alone and you were only permitted to go in that one bathroom where everything is covered with rubber and nothing sharp or hard way around... Even the mirror was unbreakable for some odd reason.

Kate the Chaser :

✲ Obviously there was something wrong with you when you came home with bruises with a cut on your lip and a bloody nose.

✲ Kate tried asking you about it but you just used your Boxing classes as a cover to your injuries.

✲ She was very concerned and felt anxious every time you left the mansion.

✲ She tried following you with every attempt she had but somehow you had this weird knack of disappearing once you turned to the corner and poof you're gone.

✲ Of course she never dropped this subject and became the main source of all your arguments.

✲ But the CCTV in town showed exactly what you were doing. Kaye asked Ben to hack one of the Cameras in town

✲ It clearly caught your figure purposelu provoking thugs near the alleyway and when they did beat you up. You didn't do anythi6 but provoked them even more.

✲ That was the Last straw for Kate.

✲ When you got home Objects were sent flying your way and a raging Kate was the cause of it.

✲ Let's just say the argument lasted the whole night and nobody got any sleep and slenderman grew wrinkles because of all the furniture and objects he had to replace.

✲ In the end you clearly explained to her about your issue and she was surprisingly reasonable as long as you wouldn't get into random fights just to get beat up.

✲ Kate was fine with that but the two of you did find another way to pleasure your requests. ;).

Laughing Jack :

✗ Since the beginning Jack already knew of your fetish for pain and he thought it was very convenient for a partner considering the fact that he was a sadistic clown himself.

✗ at first he was skeptical since you looked like the type of person who gets straight A's in school, Helps old women cross the road and Feeds stray Animals on the street.

✗ But When You two 'did it' for the first time. All his doubts were washed away when you provoked him into fucking you to next week.

✗ How you only angered him just to make him hurt you, taunting him to mark, bite and scratch your body and how you'd moan in pain every time he'd sink his teeth onto your skin tearing through your flesh.

✗ Though he'd never admit he liked this freaky side of you, he did change some of his ways so he could get it inside your head that you'll only be needing this clown for both pain and pleasure.

✗ He started being rough with you and he won't hold back at all, if your said something he didn't like he'd choke you and slap you.

✗ if you did something he didn't like, he'd punish your hands to the point it'll start to bleed.

✗ There is a safeword for you incase he went to far but you have never ever used it up till now.

Hoodie :

❀ You were very open about this and told Hoodie everything from the start and he didn't know how he should feel to that.

❀ He only thought it was a mild case of masochism but boy was he wrong.

❀ You were really riled up on this certain fetish of yours it made him worry for your life more than Anything in the world.

❀ You'd break glasses and squeeze the shards for the sake of enjoyment and one time you chucked a knife right through your leg just to get off of work and that honestly terrified him to a great extent.

❀ He wanted to talk to you about this but he didn't know how to. He forced himself to talk to you when you nearly got yourself killed after trying to hang yourself to see if it was ' fun '

❀ you two had a long talk about it and even though you were reluctant, you promised him you'd stop but... Let's be honest here... It didn't stop you at all.

❀ Hoodie was on the edge and he needed to do something about This fetish of yours . So he hid every single object in the house that could possibly kill you... Hell... Even a teddy bear is dangerous when you're around.

❀ and after that he handcuffed you and placed a fucking collar around your neck so he's literally just dragging you around the house like a dog.

❀ You had mixed emotions of excitement and annoyance.

❀ Well at least Hoodie fulfilled your wishes during your time on the Bed ;) and when you see yourself on the mirror after your tickets session you knew he fucked you up good.

Jason the ToyMaker :

✮ Jason is Naturally protective (and possessive). So when he found out about this fetish of yours he was against it with every single fiber of his being.

✮ He started lecturing you about it and how it would hurt him very much if you even tried to hurt yourself.

✮ You grew up with this odd fetish and you never stopped it or even attempted to restrain this urge of yours but seeing Jason so upset about it made you stop hesitantly and it was driving you Nuts.

✮ Even though you knew he was just Manipulating you by the use of guilt. Yes you knew and you loved how this tormented you day and night. If you can't hurt yourself physically might as well break yourself mentally.

✮ But the more your restrained yourself the more serious it became. So you did something you never thought of.

✮ You wanted Jason to Hurt you. But if you straight up tell him you knew he'd immediately decline after hearing the first sentence

✮ So you did it in a discreet way, You started off by Not going to his place after you're done with your daily deeds of the day.

✮ You started sleeping at your friend's house which irked him very much and you purposely disobeyed and fought with him just to make him snap.

✮ He was blind of what you were planning but something about the look on your eyes gave him a hint.

✮ All logical thinking left him the moment you suddenly blurted out that you wanted to leave him.

✮ He was more dangerous that a Bear high on drugs. He immediately choked you raising your figure off the ground and slammed your body on the walls with threatening words escaping his lips if you were to ever leave him.

✮ He squeezed your cheeks harshly and slapped you multiple yelling at you to say it again but when a moan escaped your lips he immediately knew your intentions.

✮ He was fueled with anger at how you managed to have this effect on him that he took it out on you on the bed ;) he made sure you were left in a daze, legs shaking and body trembling with bruises, marks and obvious scratches left on you ;).

Masky :

✦ He had the most ridiculous expression when he found out about it and he obviously didn't know what to do because hey... None of his victims ever said ' Hurt and Torture me ' more like begging for their lives.

✦ And the shocking thing was.... His s/O was sthe one who told him that and he didn't know what to do so he turned to hoodie for advice.

✦ and like hoodie he did attempt to talk you out of this and stop you but you were too darn stubborn .

✦ He won't admit it but after finding out it awakened the sadistic demon inside him and it turned him on big time.

✦ He still monitors you like the stalker he is and when you tried shooting your foot with his gun shit was about to go down.

✦ Yes he punished you, and I'm talking about Whips, Over stimulation, Shaming, Slapping, Spanking, Choking, Edging .

✦ He was determined to break your body as well as your mind and he was doing a good job at it and with your tauntings it only made him rougher with you.

✦ Your Body littered with bite marks, red whip lashes, bruised neck and lips, bloody cheeks and a throbbing body he managed to claw out the inner masochist in you.

✦ In the end you were sweaty, cum covered, bloody and filled with cuts, bruises and a few wounds here and there as well as dark hickies surrounding almost every inch of your body.

✦ You have met your match and Masky felt the same way.

[lo-55]

Shattered Chains of Fate Ch. 15

A Lifting Fog

Ichigo sat patiently on the cot while Unohana poked and prodded him. He didn’t have a lot of injuries left. Mostly scrapes and bruises, but she was taking a very close look at his eyes, balance, and short term memory. .

Apparently laughing hysterically at the murder of 46 people was a sign of head trauma.

“You don’t seem to have any lasting damage,” she finally concluded. “Most of the injuries you sustained earlier have already healed.”

“That’s Hanataro,” Ichigo says with a smile. It fell quickly. “I mean, uh. I threatened him into helping me. He’s very talented.”

Unohana looked faintly amused under her serenity. “Of course you did. I’m sure you held your zanpakuto so close to his throat he couldn’t even use his shinten to knock you unconscious.”

Ichigo nodded solemnly. “Oh, yeah. Definitely. But anyways, I’m fine. Is Rukia doing better? She was really wiped out…”

“Both of Kuchiki’s are fine. I believe they’ve had a long overdue discussion, actually. That technique you used when she was fighting was certainly… unique. Who taught it to you?”

Ichigo considered his answers before he decided to tell her the truth. They were allies for now.

“I made it up on the spot.”

“You made it up one the spot.” She repeated. One eyebrow arched high. She looked young, but when she’d healed the last of his bad injuries up earlier he’d felt the dangerous undercurrent of her power. She was at least as old as Yamamoto. It was only a shiver of fear at the idea of calling her old that kept him from asking her the same question he’d asked him.  “You really are a very unique person, aren’t you?”

“It’s not that impressive,” Ichigo argued. He could feel his face turning red. “I did something similar as a human. I just pushed my energy into her. Although, as a human I could kinda heal with it…”

“Yes, that’s similar to how healing kido works,” she mused. “ Kaido is a method we use to insert our own energy inside of the body and manipulate the spirit particles, the reishi, that make up the body of the patient so we can put them back together again.”

“That makes sense,” Ichigo taps his fingers on his leg idly. His brows furrowed. With his mystic codes he’d been able to heal grievous wounds and keep people fighting, but he’d never been very good at doing it without. He could make due, he had with Uryu, but that was just jumping his natural healing into overdrive.

Ichigo looked up at her. “I get that I was your enemy not that long ago,” began the boy, “But is there a way for me to learn to heal while I’m here?”

Unohana looked surprised. “You want to heal? I was under the impression that your expertise was in combat.”

“It is,” Ichigo said honestly. “Orihime is a good healer, better than almost anyone I’ve ever seen. But we got seperated here. If it wasn’t for Hanataro, I might have been seriously screwed. Or I might have been fine, but Ganju could have been hurt. A lot of people could have been hurt. And what I can do is very basic. Humans have to study for years to be able to-”

“Yes,” she stepped in, holding up a hand to cut off his rampant justification. Ichigo couldn't help noticing the callouses on her palms and fingers. She was a fighter. She also smiled at him. “ I can teach you.”

Ichigo offered her a half of a grin. “Just so you know, I suck at spellwork.”

“I’m sure we can make due. Now, I’m going to clear you. Please behave while you’re in my division.”

Her smile turned tight at the edges and her eyes narrowed minutely. Fear shot striaght down his spine.

“Y-yes ma-am!” He said quickly. He made his escape quickly. He still wanted to see Rukia, and find out what her and her brother had been talking about. Of all the people to try to step in and protect them he could scarcely believe it was Byakuya. Maybe he’d misjudged him?

Or more likely he’d smacked some sense into him.

Typical.

Ichigo was just trying to figure out how to navigate his way out when he stumbled into someone. Which was weird, because he should have really felt them coming.

Pink kimono, straw had, wavy brown hair.

“Oh. Kyoraku, hey,” Ichigo waved at him.

The man smiled at him. He’d barely had any malice to him the last time they’d met, and now any he’d had ever is vanished behind a kind smile. His assistant, Nanao if Ichigo remembered right, was missing for once.

“Ichigo. It’s good to see you again.”

“You too,” Ichigo nodded to him. “What are you doing here? You didn’t get too banged up, did you?” He’d been worried. Those two had spirited away a man born before the human era, one who Ichigo had been informed was the strongest person in the Seireitei.

Ichigo had picked a fight with the strongest person in the entire dimension. And then started lecturing him on his morality.

  That... sounds right.  

“Just a few bruises,” Kyoraku clapped him on the shoulder and forcefully guided him down the hallway. “I’m here visiting Juushiro. Come along.”

It really wasn’t a question. Ichigo shot him a glower.

“I’m not a dog, you know.”

“Really? You look a little mangy…”

Ichigo elbowed him in the ribs. “Fuck you. Speaking of dogs, is that one guy okay? The werewolf.”

“Werewolf? You mean Komamura? He was in nasty shape, but he’ll recover. He’s a few doors down if you want to introduce yourself properly.”

“...Nah. I don’t think I should. He seemed pretty torn up about the whole betrayal thing and I was kinda just an enemy. It doesn’t really, I guess, feel right?” He struggled to find the right words. Even if he wasn’t the most eloquent, Kyoraku nodded along with him sympathetically.

“Anyways. You said you were here visiting Juushiro, like Ukitake? What happened? You don’t look charred around the edges.” Ichigo gave him a critical once over.

Kyoraku snickered at him and they entered a room. A private hospital room, where Ukitake was sitting up in the bed. Ichigo hadn’t noticed before, he’d been too busy assessing the man’s energy and fighting for his life and Rukia’s, but Ukitake was actually very thin. His wrist bones were too prominent, his cheeks were too thin, and with the low drop the hospital provided robes he could see his collar bones starkly.

If he was this strong sick, how strong would he be normally?

If ‘Ukitake notices Ichigo’s critical once over, he says nothing about it. Only smiles when they get closer.

“Well this is certainly a surprise. Kurosaki, it’s good to see you.”

“Just Ichigo is fine,” he waves his hand. “You helped me after all, and none of my friends call me by my last name.”

“Friends,” Ukitake repeats. His green eyes gentled. “Why don’t you sit for a while with us then. We were just visiting today.”

Ichigo doesn’t know what to do with the way they’re both looking at him. It’s friendly and kind but there’s something else there. Like they’re trying to see where his sharp edges are and where he folds and what will make him change his mind.

To be fair, they’d been enemies before.

Ichigo pulls up a chair and flips it around so he can straddle it and cross his arms over the back.

“How are you, Ichigo? We heard you didn’t very torn up during your confrontation with Aizen.”

“I’m fine. He had me locked in a kido for most of the fight. The worst things I had were some burns from where I broke out of it. Unohana took care of it for me. She’s… nice. Terrifying, but nice.”

“You asked about Ereshkigal before,” Ukitake pointed out. “Why did you-”

Whatever else he was going to say was cut off by a rough coughing fit. Ichigo lurched for him immediately, with Kyoraku only twitching forwards before grabbing the water off the bedside table.

They waited for the coughing to slow down, a full minute later, before Kyoraku gave him the glass. Ichigo was frowning at him.

“Are you okay?” He asked, once he was done with the water. Ukitake nods and smiles crookedly.

“It’s been a frequent occurrence for most of my life, I’m afraid. Even Unohana can’t do anything about it. It’ll go away in a few days, I’m sure.”

Ichigo frowns at him, but nods all the same. A chronic cough could be about a billion things. If it started as a kid that might mean less. Honestly Ichigo is trained for field medicine. Emergencies and stopping bleeding. This kind of thing is beyond him.

Still, he grew up next to a family clinic.

“Have you ever tried human medicine?” he asks. Ukitake looks surprised, but shakes his head the negative.

“No. I can’t say I have. As I understand it isn’t always very effective.”

“Maybe not a couple hundred years ago,” he admits, thinking of battlefields and field hospitals, and how hard Nightingale had had to work to get people to wash their damn hands. “But it’s come a long way recently. Maybe you should give it a try? My dad and Uryu’s both run medical facilities.”

Ukitake eyes him for a long moment, the mention of his father catching his attention. Finally, he nods.

“I may look into that. Thank you.”

The conversation moves on, Ereshkigal forgotten under the feeling that Ichigo had just fucked himself somehow.

* *

Ichigo opened his eyes to grey skies and an amalgamated landscape.

Zangetsu and Nieve were leaning over him, one of them clearly irritated and the other just as calm looking as ever.

“Uh. Hi?”

“It’s about damn time!” Nieve barked at him. Ichigo sat up, slowly, and then stood. It still felt weird to be standing up on the side of a building like this. It was completely unnatural.

“Time for what? I’ve been busy, and I can’t just pop in here whenever I want you know. In case you missed it I’m still in potential enemy territory. I keep expecting to be arrested, whether they say I saved them from something or not. Which, again, I really didn’t. I didn’t even help them unearth that coup! It’s fucking stupid.”

“Are ya done yet?” Nieve asked, his arms crossed over his chest.

“... Not even remotely, but go ahead.”

“Good. We’re bored in here and you’re an emotional disaster-”

“Hey!”

“-in the making. Just look at the sky!”

Ichigo did. It was grey, and cloudy this time.

“What does the weather have to do with anything?”

“The weather,” Zangetsu said in his deep, smooth voice, “is a reflection of you, as all things here are. It reflects your emotions. When you’re sad, it rains here.”

“And ya  are sad,” Nieve poked in.

Ichigo scowled at the both of them. “Yeah so what if I am? I just found out one of my friends is now an enemy, a traitor, and I don’t even know what else right now! I lost my chance to talk to him because I hesitated, and now he’s gone full megalomaniac and he’s going to go overthrow the king.”

He paused.

“Not that I’m against that part. But I like some of these shinigami. I don’t want to see them go to war with him over a king that doesn’t give a rats left tit about any of them.”

“Next time you shouldn’t hesitate,” Zangetsu said wisely. Ichigo nearly hit him.

“What next time?! How many friends do you think I have that forgot we knew each other two hundred years ago in a timeline that’s been erased because it was the end of the world?!”

“At least three,” nieve said without missing a beat. “Maybe four.”

“Okay you know what,” Ichigo pointed at him. “I’ve decided, I don’t like you.”

“No shit? I wonder why,” he rolled his yellow eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean, huh?” Ichigo barked. It felt good though, to speak so openly with people who already knew everything about him. How messed up was it that his best conversation basically happened with himself? He stalked toward nieve, “How did you even get here, huh? I was too busy to care before but I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to have a hollow in my head. That is what you are, isn’t it?”

Nieve froze for just a second, like he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He collected himself a second later with a loud scoff and a laugh in Ichigo’s face.

“If you wanna know so bad, maybe you should ask that shop keeper. He seems to be tied up in everything else bullshit in your life.”

“Okay. So maybe he is. I’m not asking him.” Ichigo stalked forwards, effectively cornering a piece of himself against a part of a sky scraper. “I’m asking you. You were pissed that I wasn’t listening to you before. Well I’m listening now, aren’t I?”

“I-” Nieve looked over Ichigo’s shoulder at Zangetsu. “I can’t tell ya, partner.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

“Can’t!” He snapped, glaring over Ichigo’s shoulder.

When Ichigo looked over it, Zangetsu was gone, and when he looked back Nieve was too.

* * *

Ichigo was getting really, really sick of running for his life. Shoudln’t the return home have been easier than the journey to get there?

It wasn’t, and the only thing that saved the five of them from tipping headfirst onto concrete was a timely save from Urahara.

Who apparently had a flying carpet.

Because why not.

He’s not even surprised anymore.

He catches the look in Urahara’s eyes when the man starts to turn around, but Ichigo catches his shoulder before he can do whatever he was planning on doing.

“You know where everyone lives, right?” he asks, perhaps a touch too quickly. “Once everyone’s been dropped off, I wanna talk to you.”

The others are silent. Urahara regards him from under the shadow of his hat before agreeing quietly.

Ichigo bids fond farewell to his friends and sort-of-cousin before their ride takes them back to the little shop that Urahara runs. They touch down in front and walk inside, with the blond in the lead. As soon as they are inside everyone else, even Yoruichi, makes themselves scarce.

Urahara takes Ichigo into one of the back rooms before he sweeps his hat off his head and kneels on the ground before him.  

It makes Ichigo's stomach twist in discomfort.

“I know by now you heard about me. I’m really, very sorry.” It’s the most genuine the man has ever sounded to Ichigo’s ears. Some of the last threads of anger melt away.

He drops to one knee in front of Urahara and knocks his head lightly with his knuckles.

“Cut that out. I’m barely even mad at you, you know.” Now that he’s had a few days to cool his temper.

“You should be,” Urahara looked up at him, his grey eyes searching and weary.

Ichigo shrugged. “I don’t really hold grudges. If anything, you should apologize to Rukia for putting her in harms way. You were trying to do the right thing, weren’t you? And the reason you didn’t tell me anything… It was because you thought I’d run off, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. Can you honestly tell you wouldn’t have?”

“Yeah,” Ichigo stood up. “I can. If nothing else I would have still needed you to get that gate open. And I don’t run so easy, even from shady shop keepers. Now,” He offered Urahara a hand. “If you’re really that contrite you can make it up to me.”

Urahara eyed his hand before he took it and let Ichigo pull him to his feet. His hat found its rightful home.

“And would that entail, exactly?”

“Two things,” Ichigo held up two fingers. “One; next time you need my help for something, just tell me outright what’s going on. And two; I have two questions that I’d like the absolute truth to.”

“That seems fair. What’s the question?”

“In october, 1888, did you go to the human world?”

Urahara fell silent. He stared at Ichigo for a long, hard minute before he nodded once. “I did.”

Ichigo thought as much.

“Is that when you discovered your Hogyoku?”

Urahara looked like he’d been slapped with a living lobster.

“How could you possibly know that?” he asked, stepping right into Ichigo’s space. “I told everyone that I created it. Did Aizen-”

“He didn’t tell me,” Ichigo planted his hand on Urahara’s chest to keep him from coming in closer. “There were things happening in 1888 in the human world. Things that Chaldea was involved in.”

He hesitated.

“Things that I was involved in.”

Ichigo could see the gears turning in Urahara’s head. He was too smart for his own good.

“That’s impossible. Humans don’t live that long. You were only born a couple of decades ago.”

“Nothing is ever impossible,” Ichigo said frankly.

Urahara’s eyes narrowed minutely. “This has something to do with those friends of your Kon found, doesn’t it?”

Now it was Ichigo’s turn to stare at him. “Huh?”

Urahara changed on a dime. He snapped his fan open over his mouth and shadowed his eyes under his hat. “So you’re not omnipotent. I was worried for a minute there Ichigo!”

“Wouldn’t it be omnipresent? Or omniscient?” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. What were you talking about? What friends?”

“Not until you tell me how you knew about 1888. Everyone else I’ve ever told anything about the Hogyoku to I’ve always said I created it. Not discovered it. So it’s only fair for you to tell me,” he sang.

Ichigo scowled at him. “Would you cut that shit out? You’re so weird. Whatever, I’ll find out on my own.”

“Ichigo-”

“I’ll see you around, Kisuke.”

Ichigo gave his chest a light shove to get past him. Urahara didn’t try to stop him, for which he was grateful. He had too much on his mind. Was he really about to tell a guy he knew had played him like a fiddle once already a truth he’d never admitted to anyone who hadn’t been there with him?

Fuck, what was wrong with him?

He fled the shoten and made his way home under the pale light of the moon. When he carefully stepped through the front door (a trick he would never get used to ) he froze entirely.

In the living room, sleeping on the couch and up against a chair respectively, were two people he thought he’d never see again.

Medusa and Cu Chulainn.

He sprinted up the stairs as fast as he could move and without even a how-do-you-do to Kon he launched the mod soul out of his body and shoved himself inside of it. He left Kon sitting on his pillow before he bolted back down the stairs on light feet and skidded into the living room.

It was still enough noise and movement to have both of the legends up on their feet.

He stood there for a long beat, out of breath, eyes wild and bright.

“Ichigo?” Cu asked, slowly standing. They were both dressed like normal people. “Is that..?”

“It’s him,” was all Medusa said before decking him in the face.

Ichigo stumbled back but didn’t fall. He looked between the two of them. It was hard to see, his eyes were all blurry. How weird.

“You fool. You went rushing into danger without us,” she hissed. Her hair moved restlessly but he knew it was worry more than anger.

“Sorry, Medusa. I didn’t know you would be here. I still don’t. How are you here?” He searched her face. He touched his jaw. “I know I didn’t summon you.”

Cu touched his hand and turned it over so he could the red wings spread across the back of it. Command seals.

“You’re little friend did, using your body for it. We are yours again, master,” Cu said quietly. He didn’t move away when Ichigo’s head fell against his shoulders and when Ichigo’s hands started shaking Medusa’s arm draped over his shoulders.

“How?” He asked quietly. “Chealdeas and the grails supported eighty percent of your mana consumption. I thought there was no way anyone could support a servant outside of Grail Wars.”

“Ichigo,” Cu sounded amused. “How many of us did you have in Chealdeas?”

“Huh? I don’t know. Forty, fifty total?” He hadn’t been close with all of them, but there had been plenty of them.

“Right. So twenty percent of thirty servants equals the full upkeep of at least eight servants. Ichigo. You could have had us with you the entire time.”

Ichigo choked.

He’d been swallowing grief for so long, and he’d never had to.

Nimble fingers pulled through his bright hair.

“We’re here now. And there’s one more waiting for you. Kon didn’t have the fine control to summon someone so rawly powerful. But you do.”

“Tomorrow,” Medusa said firmly. “Tomorrow you can summon him, and tell us about your newest adventure. And,” her hair hissed with her, “You will take us with you on whatever your next one is.”

“Can I even do that? What I’m doing now is basically what Kyo was doing in North America. I know you have spirit forms, but that’s different from human souls. That’s-”

“I’ve never known you to think too much,” Cu mused. “You’re a creature of instinct, aren’t you? Rest. We’ll work it out.”

Ichigo still had questions, but he was such an emotional wreck he didn’t have it in him to fight when the pair bullied him up the stairs and into his old room. The bed was too soft.

The three of them camped out on the floor.

* * * *

Ichigo found, much to his amazement and amusement, that Medusa had basically adopted his sisters while he was gone.

She and Cu had told Isshin that they were Ichigo’s friends from Chaldeas and he’d agreed (much too easily) to let them stay in the livingroom while they were looking for a place to stay. Medusa explained that they’d been guarding his body for him as well.

The entire morning Ichigo felt warm and almost bubbling with excitement. He helped Karin with the table while Medusa and Yuzu puttered around the kitchen and Cu fed birds on the back porch.

It was the most surreal day of his entire life.

The trio left after breakfast and made their way towards Ichigo’s house. Once they were far enough to be overheard, Ichigo started to talk.

“Okay, so how do you expect to help me with what I’m doing now?”

“Well. You know that all heroic spirits have a physical form and a spirit form, yes?”

“Yeah. And that your spirit form isn’t the same as being an actual spirit, since your souls aren’t bound the way regular ones are. Instead of being a part of the cycle of reincarnation or the World, or even the time axis you’re connected to the Throne of heroes, and you manifest through a thaumaturgical anchor. In this case, me.”

“Yes. And it’s because you are our anchor that we’ll be able to do this. Any normal humans we would only be able to interact with them the way a regular human would,” Cu said cheerfully. “You leak power like a broken pipe. You always have. When we were in North America your influence started to take hold. You engraved a part of yourself on our souls, Ichigo. We can see the dead, we can interact with them.”

“We’re supposed to forget,” Medusa said suddenly. “We’re supposed to forget the events of Grail Wars we’re summoned to when we go back to the Throne. But you. You we remember. We all remember. You’re really something, Master.”

“Stop calling me that,” he said automatically, even while his mind turned over the information. He admitted to them. “I never knew I’d be fighting ghosts. I never thought anything like this would happen.”

“I doubt even that trouble maker Merlin could foresee this,” Cu laughed at him. Ichigo elbows his side.

“Quiet you.”

“Am I wrong?”

“... not even remotely. But he gave me back the two of your so I feel like I should be a little nicer to him than normal.”

Cu laughed at him again.

It was interesting, seeing the two of them outside of a war zone and outside of Chaldeas Cu was relaxed in a hawaiian shirt, with his silver earrings glinting in the mid-morning sunlight. Medusa looked smart in a black turtleneck with her hair braided back tightly.

The three made quite a sight.

They were about to make an even weirder one.

Ichigo let them into his house and headed for the basement, flanked on either side. He touched up the magic circle and gathered up two stones in the middle. One grey, one red.

“Is this a piece of your spear?” Ichigo asked, holding it up to Cu.

“A piece of an earring, actually.”

Ichigo’s fingers ran over the rune engraved in it.

“So it is. And this is a piece of your artwork right?” He held the grey stone up to Medusa, who smiled and nodded. That was morbid. Ichigo went to the cardboard box sitting on the table. The one he’d abandoned in his internal crisis. If he’d just opened his damn mail he could have taken Seireitei without any trouble at all.

“If I switch to my own spirit form, will you still be able to draw on my power?”

Cu hummed. “Normally I would say no. In your case? Probably.”

“Lucky me,” Ichigo said. For once he actually meant it.

He pulled out a soft orange scarf. It was tattered and torn, and utterly ancient. Over 3000 years old.

Ichigo laid it down delicately in the middle of the circle and stepped back. Medusa handed him a knife. He cut his palm across an old scar and stepped to the edge of the circle where he held his fist out and over the chalk circle. Blue light crawled across the floor and raced along the edges where it crackled and sparked.

“Let silver and steel be the essence. Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation. Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times and after each is filled, destroy it,” The blue light turned red and lashed upwards.

“I shall become all the goodness of the heaven’s. I shall embody all evils of hell. My will creates your body, and your sword cleaves my destiny. If you obey this will and reason, heed my call! Let shut the four cardinal gates and open the three-forked road winding to the Root. Appear now, thou Guardian of the Scales.”  

Romani had told him once that each war used a different summoning chant in their rituals. Participants and factions tailored their to specific desires, ancestors, and faction colors in some cases. Ichigo’s was an amalgamation of a half a dozen.

It worked. Ichigo could feel the energy of life swelling up under his skin and filling his magic circuits as he drew it out of the planet and into himself. He was a conduit. The mana of the world rolled through his veins.

He poured it through the circle, filling it until the limits were fit to burst. His blood sang with power.

The light grew, rolling over and over until it was too bright to see beyond it.

Ichigo felt the world give way and shift as the atmosphere made room for someone new. Someone powerful.

“I ask you,” came a familiar voice, “Are you my master?”

“I ask you; stop calling me that already.”

The light parted light a curtain and Ichigo found himself yanked into a sudden, strong embrace. Powerful hands clapped his back firmly.

“I thought I heard your voice!”

“You said you would come whenever I called. No matter where or-”

“When, I remember. I do keep my promises when I’m able to, master.”

“I swear to god,” Ichigo smacked him and shoved the servant away. Green hair, tanned skin.

Achilles grinned down at him.

* * * * *

Before Kyo, before America, before the dark circle was printed on Ichigo’s chest, he stood in a city bathed in fog.  

It was thick and filled with the scent of sorrow.

From the second they landed they were in a fight. Dolls, a strange girl in armor, and homunculi. It was after the last one that Ichigo finally decided they needed to find a base of operations.

Ichigo touched Mash’s shoulder gently. “Let’s get a move on.”

There was something bothering her. She wouldn’t say what. She blamed it on the environment, but Ichigo had known her too long to buy into that.

They get blitzed by a servant before they can find a safe place to hunker down, but just as soon as the fight is over Ichigo forgets what they look like. Mash and Romani are the same. It’s a frightening power. How can they fight someone if they can’t remember anything about them as soon as they’re gone from sight?

They need back up. They need to find a Ley Line so he can summon Cu and Medusa to help them.

Help comes in the form of a brash spitfire of a blonde in knights armor. The same strange girl they’d met earlier.

Her name is Mordred, a knight of the round table. She has a safehouse, and a doctor.

There’s something about Jekyll that makes Ichigo’s skin prickle. He’s a sweet faced young man, with kind green eyes, but there’s something dangerous about him.

Ichigo peers out the window while he gently chides Mordred for revealing her name. The streets are full of ghosts here, that walk uninhibited and forlorn in the mists.

There’s a lot of blondes in this city.

* * * * * *

[shirtlesssammy]

6x17: My Heart Will Go On

Then:

You never really die on Supernatural

Now:

Chester, Pennsylvania

In a Rube Goldberg-esque bit of murder mastery, a man fumbles his way around his garage, nearly dying several times, only to finally get taken out by his falling garage door. What a ride. 

Meanwhile, in Bobby’s neater than normal home, Sam and Dean watch him open another bottle of booze. They silently egg each other on to talk and finally decide on Rock-Paper-Scissors. Oop, it looks like you’re going to have to do the talking, Dean. 

Only, wait, Dean won! They think he should take some time and sleep, and process losing Rufus. Bobby’s DOING FINE. He just needs some Irish coffee. Sam suggests taking him on a hunt. Seems like different family members are dying in Chester, Pennsylvania. Bobby kicks them out of the house, so they decide to head out alone. 

They get in their trusty Mustang, and hit the road. 

...

Bobby keeps drinking until Ellen (!) shows up. 

…

She consoles him about Rufus and tells him to get ready for dinner. 

And she’s his wife. 

…

At the garage of horror, Sam finds a thread of gold. 

They split up. Dean interviews next of kin. He first meets with a Saul Goodman wannabe Shawn Russo. The guy isn’t too upset by his family members dying --he wasn’t too close with them. He also doesn’t have a lot of time for Dean’s genealogy questions. 

Dean tries sussing out any past family curse --poorly.  Shawn wants Dean to go, so Dean just comes out and tells him, “Your life is in danger.” Shawn thinks Dean’s threatening him. 

He connects with Sam who can’t find a single thing wrong with the family. 

At a travel agency, we watch Anne Witting chat on the phone, and time suddenly stops. Another woman, looking like Sam’s kind of librarian, takes Anne’s keys from her purse and throws them on the floor next to the copier. She leaves and time starts again. 

The woman gets off the phone and notices her keys are on the floor. Grabbing for them knocks a vase of flowers onto the copiers, which creates an electrical nightmare, which causes her to start slapping at it and finally reaching behind it to turn it off, which then causes her scarf to get stuck in the autofeeder, which the copier then tries to make a copy of, which strangles her. (Note to self: BE NICER TO THE COPY MACHINE.) 

The blonde woman comes back and marks a name off in a book, and drops a gold thread. 

The brothers check out the travel agency that night. It turns out that Anne isn’t part of the Russo family --so they’re not dealing with a family curse. Dean wonders what then. He then finds another gold thread. 

He calls Ellen, who reports there’s been about 75 deaths associated with this across the nation. The only thing Ellen has that connects the people is that their ancestors all immigrated to the US in the same year, on the same boat: The Titanic. Neither Dean nor Ellen had ever heard of it. 

…

Sam either. (And that’s when I call bull --unless this Sam isn’t a history nerd-- because the Titanic was a BIG deal before it became a BIGGER deal. It was the largest ship of its time. But as I typed this out, I feel like I should eat my words because there was another sister boat built with the Titanic, and I can’t for the life of me remember its name, so, yeah, chances are good it would have been lost to history for most people.) 

During their research, Sam notes that the ship almost hit an iceberg, but the First Mate, I.P. Freely saw it in time. 

Balthazar!

They summon Balthazar for answers about the boat. “It was meant to sink, and I saved it.” He hated the movie. (Boris is still one of the few and proud that’s never seen it --I cheered SO hard for Balthazar here.) He hated the Celine Dion song. Sam doesn’t even know who that is (HIS FAVORITE SINGER!) Sam points out that he thought that history can’t be changed. Balthazar points out that there’s no more rules. Anyway, only minor details have been changed --like no Impala. 

More importantly, Ellen and Jo are alive. They are supposed to be dead.

Dean and Sam focus on the here and now and point out that something is killing the descendants of the Titanic travelers. They need to find out who. Balthazar drops a truth bomb out of nowhere --pointing out that Cas is in love with Dean. Sigh. Also, he doesn’t care, and flaps away. 

They talk with Bobby on the phone and he thinks they’re dealing with Fate. How do they stop fate? Bobby suggests that they get Balthazar to re-sink the boat, but Dean nixes that idea instantly. Bobby wants to know what set him off --Dean tells him that if the boat sinks, Ellen and Jo die. Yeah, no way is that boat sinking.

The boys lurk in their iconic, uh, Mustang to follow Russo. 

They follow Russo in an attempt to keep him safe from Fate’s machinations. They manage to save him from one deadly accident, only for the guy to die under the wheels of a bus seconds later. Sam notices a woman watching over the accident. She looked kind of like a librarian. “Your kind of librarian or my kind of librarian?” Dean asks. Oh, Dean, why does it have to be a binary choice? Eyebrow waggle. Dean decides to head over and confront Fate in a shadowy building. 

Fate, meanwhile, is up to nefarious deeds. She turns burner knobs, releasing gas into the building as time stops around the Winchesters. When time starts up again, Dean’s flashlight flickers out in the dark. Sam suggests using a lighter and....

Just as the room starts to ignite, the Winchesters get yanked out of there! Cas saved them! He’s pulled them to Belarus. I will never not be able to watch this scene without thinking of the gag reel and Misha stag leaping around the woods. 

“[Fate] harbors a certain degree of rage towards you,” Castiel explains. Since the Winchesters foiled their apocalyptic fate, they’ve made it into Fate’s bad books. Cas suggests the best solution is for the Winchesters to kill fate. And they can use themselves as bait!

For CAAAAAAAS! Science:

Ellen tries to talk through the case with Bobby after Jo reports more and more dead on the West coast. Ellen suggests that the best solution would be to re-sink the Titanic, a suggestion towards which Bobby reacts...poorly. Bobby’s horrified at her casual suggestion. Ellen senses something is off with Bobby. Over drinks, Bobby spills everything to Ellen. He tells her that he needs her. 

After that solemn, emotional scene, we cut to Dean and Sam experiencing wacky near-misses. A skateboarder almost takes them out. Then a jumping BMX rider. Now a pair of aggressive dogs on leashes. (Extreme close of up Dean for extra sad jokes.)

They walk past a pair of jugglers tossing HATCHETS and KNIVES who proceed to LIGHT THEM ON FIRE - and I do love it when this show gets ridiculous. After several near-misses, a falling air conditioner finally plummets towards them. This looks like the end for our heroes!

For Looney Tunes Quality Science:

Time freezes the Winchesters under the air conditioner, and Castiel approaches. He greets Atropos, the Fate who’s after the Winchesters. She complains about the fallout of the recently averted apocalypse. 

Cas tries to argue for freedom. It’s a bold new world! But Atropos isn’t buying what he’s selling. The last straw for her was the unsinking of the Titanic. Cas tries to shift the blame to Balthazar, but Atropos calls him on that too. That wasn’t Balthazar following a whim. Cas needed more souls for his war machine, and sent Balthazar back to unsink the ship. She’ll make Cas a bargain: if the boat stays unsunk, then she’ll kill his “two favorite pets.” She may not be strong enough to escape Cas’s retribution, but her sisters will take the Winchesters down after she dies. Cas contemplates Sam and Dean.

Balthazar shows up, ready to kill Atropos, when Cas stops him. Cas is ready to take the deal. Balthazar gets Cas’s new order: it’s time to save Sam and Dean! I mean, it’s time to sink the Titanic. 

Sam and Dean wake up to Sam’s favorite singer belting “My heart will go on” on the radio. They talk about their weird, shared dream. Cas flaps in to greet them. He tells them that he had Balthazar re-sink the ship to ensure Sam and Dean’s safety. 

Sam and Dean try to process the balancing equation Cas dealt with, where their lives were more important than 50,000 people (who were never born, Cas hastily points out). Dean asks about Ellen and Jo, and the answer is NOT GOOD. What could have been! 

Dean asks if that whole alternate timeline was erased when the boat sank again. “More or less,” Cas says. EYEBALLS EMOJI. Cas wants the Winchesters to remember the alternate timeline. “You can make your own destiny. You don’t have to be ruled by fate. I still believe that’s something worth fighting for,” Cas tells them. Can I get a HELL YEAH? 

While it seems for a short while like Cas is edging towards telling them the truth of his war, he ultimately plays off the Titanic as only stemming from Balthazar’s hatred of the movie. “Titanic didn’t suck THAT bad,” Dean says. There’s my soft boy. Cas flaps out, and the Winchesters head inside to check on Bobby. His house is back to cluttered, gloomy chaos. Bobby’s asleep on the couch. Sam and Dean vow never to tell Bobby what he could have had.

It is Your Quotedany:

Accidents don't just happen accidentally

"What's an Impala?" Trust me, it's not important

You have me confused with the other angel. You know, the one in the dirty trenchcoat who's in love with you

Can’t avoid fate

Who do we gotta kill to get killed around here?

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive! 

[cosplayparental]

I'll be home

For: @justheretobreakthings

@voltronsecretsanta2k18

You're my giftee for the VLD Secret Santa! Happy Holidays my friend!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

Please have snow and mistletoe

And presents under the tree

Chapter 1

Keith sat in the hospital bed, sniffling and crying. The police officer had just told him he couldn't see his dad because he was really hurt and needed help. He didn't know what was going on, all he knew is that he and his dad were in the hospital, he had his toy hippo his Momma had given him before she got sick and died and that their home was gone. Doctors poked and prodded at him, did multiple tests and had him drink lots of water. Finally a nice nurse too him to see his dad and the eight year old was quick to crawl into his father's arms.

“Dad, when can we leave?” He asked softly. He felt his dad's deep laugh and the warm press of his father's lips against the top of his head. “When the doctors are done making sure we're okay we can go stay with Grandma and Grandpa while we find a new house. How does that sound?”

“Can we get a dog?”

“We sure can buddy.” Keith smiled and closed his eyes. It was late and he was tired. As he was about to fall asleep he fleet his father's arms tighten.

“I love you so much Keith.” His father whispered.

“I love you too Dad.”

In the morning his father was dead. Keith became a ward of the state and a social worker came to take him to the orphanage. His grandparents fought to take custody but were ruled incapable dude to their old age. Keith thought it was dumb but they wouldn't listen to him. A week later his father was buried next to his mother and Keith was alone. He didn't like the orphanage. The kids were mean and it was too cold. Some of the staff was really mean and would make him go to time out just for sticking up for someone. When he first became a foster kid it was because they didn't have room for him anymore. Keith hated being a foster kid. Some of the families were awful, others were neglectful on accident because the adults already had their own kids to take care of, sometimes he got sent to live with elderly people and then had to leave because they just were too old to take care of him. Keith swore up and down that as soon as he could age out of the system he would strike out on his own and never rely on anyone again. As he grew Keith became closed off and bitter. He got into fights at school, never did his work despite being one of the smartest kids in his class and was constantly being threatened with expulsion. He passed from foster home to foster home, from orphanage to orphanage, from social worker to social worker, nothing in Keith’s life was a constant anymore except for his old toy hippo and his dad’s red biker jacket. On his fifteenth birthday Keith’s social worker, a kind woman name Jenny Miraz, knocked on his bedroom door at the foster home he was at.

“Keith, may I talk to you?” Keith didn’t say anything, not even a protest when she walked in. Miss. Miraz set a box in his lap, smiling.

“Happy birthday Keith.” Keith smiled a little, thanking her softly. Miss. Miraz was the only social worker who bothered to remember his birthday, the only person he gave a little room in his heart for these days. Keith opened the gift, gasping softly at the dagger inside it.

“This was one of the things left to you in your father’s will. Your mother’s knife. I think you’re finally old enough to have it but you have to promise me you won’t hurt anyone with it, okay?” Keith nodded, setting the box aside and leaning against Miss. Miraz.

“Thank you Miss. Miraz, I love it.” The two sat in silence before she began to talk to Keith again.

“The state has agreed to put you in a big brother program. Now that you’re going to the Garrison they and the state feel it’s best if you were part of it.”

“What’s a big brother program?”

“Well, it’s like moving to a new foster home but instead of that person being like a parent they’re more like a sibling. You’re going to be assigned to one of the boys who take the role of sibling and move in together. It’s his job to help you through life and teach you how to be able to support yourself after you age out and are an adult. Of course if we put you in the program you won’t have a social worker popping around as often.”

“Oh.” Keith was quiet for a while, fiddling with the dagger.

“Miss. Miraz, do you think I’ll do okay in the program?”

“I do. You’re a good kid Keith, I can tell.”

“Will you still be my social worker?” Jenny Miraz was the only person Keith felt close to and he didn’t want to lose her.

“I will. Promise.” She holds out her pinky and the two shake on it, smiling at each other. Keith would be meeting his big brother that weekend and moving in too.

Chapter 2

Keith sat in the small plastic chair, his leg bouncing. He was waiting for his new brother to pick him up so Keith could get a feel of the apartment before he moved in and Keith was nervous. Apparently a lot of star students at the Garrison were in the program, including the Garrison Golden Boy Takashi Shirogane and Keith was sort of scared Takashi was going to be who he was paired with. Takashi was his hero but he knew if the other students found out about the program and that Keith was Takashi’s “little brother” then both of their lives would be ruined. Right as he was going to cal Miss. Miraz to let her know he wanted to back out a familiar voice called out.

“Hey! I’m sorry I’m late! I had papers to help grade.” Standing before him was Takashi Shirogane and Keith felt his heart sank.

“I’m Takashi but you can call me Shiro. I’m your new big brother.” Shiro held out his hand for Keith to shake, smiling brightly. Keith took a deep breath and shakily shook Shiro’s hand, glad he had worn his gloves so Shiro wouldn’t feel his sweaty palms.

“Keith Kogane.”

“You’re in Professor Holt’s physics class! I was just grading your report! Holy crap dude, you’re like a mini genius! Don’t tell anyone but you definitely got an ‘A+’ on this one Keith!” Keith stood there in shock, his mouth ajar as Shiro praised him. Shiro chuckled softly and closed Keith’s mouth by pushing on the underside of his chin.

“Close your mouth Keith, you’re going to catch flies. Come on, Adam is excited to meet you. He’s my flight partner, we live together but he’s always so busy so you probably won’t see him much.” Keith nodded, following after Shiro who had started leading Keith out of the orphanage. It was only until they were halfway down the hall that Keith realized Shiro was still holding his hand.

‘Just like a big brother would.’

Chapter 3

Keith was starting to regret joining the program. Not only was Shiro constantly checking up on him at school but he couldn’t catch a break at home because he lived with Shiro and Adam now. Adam wasn’t around as often but Shiro was constantly there. Always asking about his classes, pestering Keith about if he needed anything and was always trying to pry into his past. Keith decided that instead of confronting Shiro about a bit of space being needed he would just try to avoid Shiro. He didn’t talk, he always dipped out of things before Shiro saw him, hell Keith would climb up the fire escape to his room so Shiro didn’t know he was home yet. It had been almost a year of living with Shiro and Keith just kept pushing him away. He thought it would be easier in the program but he was wrong. So so wrong.

Keith was heading to his class when he bumped into Shiro, who he was trying to avoid. Shiro smiled brightly and tossed an arm around Keith’s shoulders.

“Hey little bro! Didn’t expect to see you down this hall! How’s class going, Sam told me you’ve been pretty distracted lately and I want to make sure you’re doing okay. Do you need help with the material?” That was the last straw for Keith.

“Get away from me! I am so sick of you constantly asking me questions and hovering over my shoulder! ‘Keith do you need this, Keith can you do that, Keith don’t forget to take your medication, Keith make sure you finish your homework’ damnit Shiro I can do things on my own! I’m a foster kid, not a fucking fragile baby! The only reason I was offered a spot in the program was because the foster program couldn’t handle me anymore! I was put in the foster program because they had no room in the orphanage! I can take care of myself so just get away from me! You’re not my brother! I don’t need you! I don’t need anyone!” Keith hated that his voice was shaking, tears falling down his face and that he was hyperventilating. The rest of the people in the hall had stopped when Keith started screaming, everyone in shock. ‘How dare he speak to Shiro like that?’ Keith knew that’s what they were thinking. He rubbed his arm across his eyes and turned away from Shiro.

“I’m packing my things and I’m going back to the orphanage.” Shiro didn’t speak the whole time Keith yelled at him but in that moment Shiro reached a hand out and set it on Keith’s shoulder.

“I get it. The world turned its back on you and you’ve grown up believing that the only one you need is yourself but that isn’t true Keith. You have me and Adam, you have Commander Holt and Matt and little Katie, yeah he’s tough but you have Commander Iverson. You have a family now Keith and we’re not going to leave you alone when you’re hurting. I check on you as much as I do because I want to see you soar Keith, I know you can be the best pilot to ever come out of the Garrison and I want to help you become that person. You’ve been handed a shitty deck in the card game of life but you’re not the only player now. You have all of us and we’re always going to be there for you because family doesn’t leave each other no matter what. I am not giving up on you Keith. You’re my baby brother.” Keith tried to hold it back but he began sobbing, quickly turning around and burying his face in Shiro’s chest. Shiro held Keith tightly, kissing the top of his head and running a hand through his hair.

“It’s okay buddy, I’ve got you. I’ve got you. I love you little bro.”

Chapter 4

Keith got out of bed excitedly to the smell of cinnamon rolls and hot coco. He dashed down the stairs and into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Shiro tightly.

“Merry Christmas Shiro!” Shiro laughed happily and moved the pot of coco of the stove, turning the burner off before hugging his brother back.

“Merry Christmas Keith. Go wake up Adam and brush your teeth, breakfast is almost ready.” Keith nodded and ran back up stairs, busting into Adam’s room and jumping on his bed. Adam jerked awake and groaned softly.

“I’m up, I’m up.” He muttered.

“Good! Breakfast is almost ready, let’s go.” Keith darted out of Adam’s room, quickly brushing his hair and teeth before going back down stairs. He walked to the kitchen and sat at the table just as Adam came downstairs and Shiro pulled the cinnamon rolls out of the oven. The food and drinks were passed out and the small family ate happily, Keith humming christmas songs under his breath. As he helped Adam clean up he thought back to what had happened that got him to where he was now. He still missed his mom and dad but thinking back on it Keith would never regret joining the big brother program that brought Shiro into his life. Once the dishes were done the three gathered in the living room and passed out presents and stockings, giving each other hugs and tossing the wrapping paper. The gifts weren’t the most expensive things and there weren’t a whole lot of them but they were nice and Keith loved each one dearly. Right as Keith was about to unwrap his last present Adam got up to answer the door. Shiro turned to Keith with a smile.

“Before you open that and before Adam gets back I want to give you these.” He said, handing a small folder of papers to Keith that he had pulled out from behind the TV. Keith frowned when he saw his name on the folder, opening it up. They were his records from the foster system.

“Shiro I don’t understand.” He said. Was Shiro sending him back? Shiro pulled out the last sheet in the group, one Keith hadn’t looked at yet, and set it in the front. It had a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo but Keith did understand the end.

‘By signing these papers Takashi Shirogane recognizes that State Ward Keith Yorak Kogane is now his legal charge. Takashi Shirogane will become the legal guardian of Keith Yorak Kogane once these documents have been signed and notarized by a court of law.’

Keith’s head shot up as he finished reading the document.

“Is it-are you-I’m-” He couldn’t get what he wanted to say out of his mouth but Shrio just smiled and nodded.

“They’ve been approved, signed and notarized. I’m your legal guardian now.” Keith felt his eyes fill with tears as he scrambled into Shiro’s arms, sobbing happily. Shiro held Keith tight, kissing the top of his head.

“Welcome home baby brother. Welcome home.” Just then, a soft bark echoed in the apartment and a tiny ball of black and white floof came barreling into the room and to the two brothers, Adam following in after. The husky puppy wiggled it’s way into Keith’s arms, barking and licking his face. Keith sat there in shock.

“A puppy?” Shiro smiled and nodded to the last unwrapped present that Keith quickly tore open. Inside the box lay a blue collar with a dog tag on it. The tag had Keith’s name and information on one side and the puppy’s name on the other.

“Kosmo.” He whispered. The puppy’s ears shot up and he barked again as Keith laughed and clipped the collar on him, picking him up and hugging him tight as Kosmo covered his new owner’s face in kisses. Shiro snapped a photo, sending it to all their friends before pulling Keith into another tight hug.

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the love light gleems

I’ll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

[saralaurensmagalona]

The Embassy  A Thorki Fanfiction by Magalona

Loki knew that moment would come. Almost all his life, he knew that, one of these days, he would be confronted to his own blood. It couldn't be otherwise. They were too set against one another... If only he had had a little more time...

They looked both like rabid dogs, only with more constraint. They knew that if Thor's warrior bodyguards suspected any aggression towards their master's new paramour, they would immediately take action. They were giving them tiny infuriated peeks, hoping they would get the message and get lost. Helblindi and Býleistr had momentarily forgotten that they were not in their own palace and that they would not be attended to all their little whims in this place... When they realized the bodyguards were not to leave, they looked uglier in their growing, powerless rage. “Don't think this is over...” Helblindi growled. “You have ruined everything and now you will face the consequences.” “I have ruined nothing, brother.” Loki hoped his voice wasn't too trembling. He had to remain perfectly serene. “The plan goes as it is. I have the Crown Prince's favor and...” “His FAVOR ?!” Býleistr shrieked and then lowered his voice from fear of being spotted. “What use is his favor to us, damn it ?! You were supposed to ...” He stopped. “To what ?” Loki coldly asked. “To seduce him, sleep with him and then scream rape so that our parents could impose their conditions to the treaty ?” “Exactly !” Helblindi snarled. “You were supposed to be a good little bitch and nothing more ! And now, we are set with a big load of NOTHING ! Just because you refused to do our duty to us like some stupid slut ! Open your legs and shut your damn trap, is that so difficult for you to understand ?!” Loki heavily breathed. This was the last straw. Had they been a little more patient and a little more calm, Loki would have still believed them. He would have still forgiven them. He wanted to believe, he wanted to forgive. He still wanted to think that he always had a family after all, that they cared for him deep inside... That all of this was Asgard's fault. That they were acting like this because of their fear of the Aesir. They wanted out of this war and they were desperate. They were not doing this to him because they didn't love him but only because they were scared for their homeland.

Their attitude indeed reflected fear. But only for themselves. Not even for their parents or Jötunheim. They wanted to save their sorry asses because Frost Giants were not holding the stronger hand in this game any more... Nothing more, nothing less.

What Helblindi really wanted was to secure his position as future Jötnar King. And Býleistr probably wanted the same because he knew Helblindi had no brains and would be permanently dependent on him. Meaning HE would be the real King behind the curtains. Until Helblindi probably got himself killed (with a little help...) and the throne would be Býleistr's. This was more than a simple theory to Loki.

All this time he had hoped but hearing how little they cared, that hope was gone. And Loki was left with nothing but anger and emptiness.

“Charming, brothers...” Loki said, with a voice he barely recognized as his own. “I didn't know you only saw me as a 'bitch' or a 'slut' or other delicate nouns you use to refer to me... I didn't know that my sole purpose in life was to 'open my legs' and 'shut my trap'... Thank you for the enlightenment...” The two Jötun took a step back, looking dumbfounded, taken aback. The wretched crippled runt dared to talk this way ? Unbelievable ! Loki never discussed anything, never raised his voice, never stood up to anything. This was new. Unexpected and unacceptable. Helblindi lost his temper first. Again, he was the hot-bloodied one. Things went very fast. He raised his fist in an obvious attempt to strike his insolent younger brother. Býleistr tried to prevent him, not out of brotherly affection (he had none, not even for Helblindi), but for fear they would create a scandal. The Einherjar bodyguards, being no fools, were already drawing their swords and Loki was about to throw a dangerous explosive spell when a voice cut through all the mess.

“What is happening here ?!”

All stopped, frozen in their tracks. It was Frigga. Her son was standing next to her and she had to grab his wrist. Thor was about to let Mjölnir speak its brutal, universal language. Once again, Frigga had to be mother, queen, headmistress, diplomat, coach, and soldier all at once. Sometimes, she wished her son would marry so that she could retire. And sometimes, she knew he was capable to choose someone as childish and vain as he was and it would be a catastrophe...

“Your Highnesses, you are supposed to join the All-Father in the Realm Gathering. Not to fuss around the halls like children !” This was pure diplomatic hypocrisy. All of them were about to go at each other's throat, even Frigga was barely containing her mouth-frothing son, and she was keeping a playful tone, as if scolding unreasonable children. When in fact, everyone knew she meant : “ Everyone is going to go their own way and forget the incident. If not, consequences will be dire.” And if Odin was the most powerful male being in the whole universe, Frigga always made sure she was known as the most powerful female. She never let the Frost Giants forget that she had a considerable amount of their own passed through her sword in her days as shield-maiden and Valkyrie. Those two, with all their machismo and bravado, knew it. Býleistr made his best obsequious smile. Loki had seen it many times without thinking more about it. Now, it just made him want to vomit. “We are on our way, Almighty All-Mother.” And he curtsied. And what he meant was : “We're going so stop fretting, you meddling old cow.” Not something you say to the queen, in front of her thunderous son. They went both their ways to the Great Hall. It could have ended like this, but Helblindi, being Helblindi, couldn't let it go this way... He made a threatening glare to Loki who was careful not to let anything be seen on his face. It was discreet enough but Thor didn't miss it. He did a silly gesture of male dominance. A long time later, Loki would be still mad at all this display of testosterone at his expenses.

Thor grabbed Loki by the waist and literally snogged him the most indecent way possible, making Loki bend backwards.

Loki wanted to pull him away and slap him but deep inside his seething anger, he knew Thor was trying to do the right thing. He was actually protecting Loki. What made Loki mad was that the one that was saving him from his family's selfishness was the very one that terrorized him not so long ago. That it was this very mouth that had insulted his brothers on the battleground, calling his kinsmen “cowards,” “monsters” and “brutes” that was now plunging into his own, making him open his lips against his own will and was forcibly exploring it. That those hands burning on Loki's waist held the hammer of death that destroyed those of Loki's race.

And to Loki's shame, he was almost glad for it.

Only Frigga's furious voice made them break the spell and go back to their senses. But Thor had made his point. Any gesture against what was to be considered as his would be fatal. Loki owed him now. He owed the creature he feared most than his own terrible family. Curiously, he both liked and disliked it.

****

The rest of the day was really busy and Thor and Loki had barely a second to be alone. In fact, it was better this way because Loki was in a massive rage against Thor, not knowing if he had to strangle him or kiss him... Loki was still afraid of him, his eyes that had been lit with a crazy fire that day, his hands that were tainted, that monstrous thing he kept carrying around... And in the same time, he knew he owed his life to him. There was no mistake that his brothers went from simply discarding Loki's existence to wishing for his death. Loki was conscious he would be now fighting for survival. And without Thor's help, it would be far more difficult.

At the end of day, there was the customary banquet. It was starting to wear Loki down, all these futile ceremonials. Being sat next to Thor and having his hand inside of Thor's large grip was tearing him between the need to hold on it for dear life and rejecting it with disgust. It was exhausting. Luckily there would be no ball afterwards and Loki would have a chance for privacy and calm. But what of tomorrow ? The treaty was to be signed and the Embassy was to leave the same day. What would happen then ? Would they let him back to Jötunheim like this ? Or would they likely execute him for treachery and bury his body in the Icy Moors where no one would find him ever ? Loki felt the cold sweat dripping down his back and unconsciously pressed Thor's hand, the only warm, reassuring thing in his life right now.

The feast went on. Loki heard a huge barking laugh. Helblindi. Drunk already. He was waving his cup as if it was a flag of victory and making silly jokes to embarrass the servants and nobles that were sitting next to him. Loki noticed that Býleistr was not making any move to remind him to behave, as he usually did. He was actually indulgently smiling, as if Helblindi was a big kid, goofing around... That was particularly unusual. They both looked fairly at ease... In control in a way. That was when Loki knew they were up to something.

By the end of the feast, everyone was expecting Odin to say the closing speech, wishing all good night and see you tomorrow, as he was supposed to do. When Býleistr stood up in the middle of the room, demanding attention. Loki felt his heart stop. Now was the time he would know of his fate. Of this he was sure.

“Almighty All-Father...” Býleistr started embracing the whole room in a display of pretended respect. “ On the behalf of my noble brothers, my royal parents and our beloved country, let me say our deepest gratitude and respect for the many kindnesses you had offered us. We want to publicly proclaim our delight and great relief for the peace that is about to settle down between our realms....” Býleistr was exasperatingly appreciative. He was making a show and Loki knew no one believed it. Yet all had to play the part... “... And to make sure this peace will be an everlasting one, a crow came today from my royal father. It brought amazing news of wealth and prosperity for both our countries and will ensure our long going fraternity for centuries to come !” Býleistr made a theatrical move of his cape. Loki wanted to rip his head off. “My noble father has learned of the Mighty Thor's sentiments towards his younger son, the delight of his realm, and has agreed to give his hand to the powerful God of Thunder ! May they be blessed with many healthy children !” Having dropped the bomb, Býleistr raised a golden goblet of wine as a mockery of a toast to Loki and Thor, turned into stones.

****

The rest went in a fast forward and confused blur. People had made quite a ruckus but Odin kept them still. The All-Father had gone all red and his wife had palled as much. Loki thought the walls were crushing on him and he didn't dare see the look on Thor's face. All he knew then was that Frigga dismissed the whole assembly, pretended to rejoice and reassembled the concerning parties in her private salon. Loki remembered he had been almost dragged to it by Thor who was holding him up...

Once Odin, Frigga, Thor, Loki and his brothers were on their own in the middle of Frigga's beautiful golden boudoir with its inner fountain and birds, the tension was palpable for this comfy room was supposedly made for the peace of mind. The presence of two scornful Frost Giants in it was completely out of place. Loki was back to his senses, hearing Odin's stern voice. “I want an explanation and I want it now.” Býleistr smiled, his attitude no longer deferent and obviously insolent. “My, All-Father. My King is accepting your offer for your son and heir to marry the flower of Jötunheim, of course ! There is nothing more to explain!” Odin clenched his teeth. “I made no offer of the sort !” Býleistr exploded laughing. “Of course, All-Father ! But your son provoked it with his outrageous behavior !” Thor jumped, teeth bared, but Frigga prevented him from causing another massacre. “He has made quite a show in defiling our precious little brother. As pure and innocent as he was, he had been probably thinking that pleasing the Heir of Asgard was a good thing to do... Except that the rules of our country are strict and that any royal showing off that he had had carnal knowledge of another royal, must marry said royal...” Loki was about to shout that there was no such laws but he wanted to hear it all out. “So, the only honorable thing to do is to make our little brother, the shiniest jewel of our beloved father's crown, his very own Royal Consort... and mother to his heirs.” Býleistr was barely containing his laugh. This was a last taunt. Being a male, it was impossible for Loki to give birth. “My father is ready to agree to any terms your Majesties would demand tomorrow. No one will make any objection... At the condition that Prince Thor and Prince Loki's marriage will be celebrated the same day !”

A long silence followed this piece of news. Odin gave a look at Frigga whose neutral face was impossible to read. And then came the answer Loki both feared and hoped. “So, be it.” Odin said. Loki closed his eyes. It was over. Thor wanted to protest but Frigga silenced him with another look. They were all proceeding to go. Loki stepped forward, stopping his brothers and looking at them right in the eye. “I wanted to thank you first, brothers, for I think we will have little time to talk on our own tomorrow. So I thank you now, for this amazing turning point in our lives...” His brothers were smirking, though not understanding the meaning of those last goodbyes. Loki was sparing his effect. They were thinking they had done a pretty trick on their bastard brother, on the Scourge, his mate, his offspring and his damn hellhole of a realm. Forcing on the prideful Thor a useless barren marriage with his worst foe's son and making the runt live a life of misery near that monster. What a good joke ! That would teach them a valuable lesson. “I will endeavor myself to be Asgard's best Royal Consort, under Queen Frigga's guidance... I will bring my knowledge as a sorcerer worthy of us and my new homeland.” Býleistr immediately stopped smiling. Helblindi looked at him then Loki, not sure he heard right. “For a start, I will bend my body and change my gender. Just long enough for me to bear the next Asgardian Heir. That child will be formidable having both Asgardian power and Jötunn's strength ! Not to mention my magic and Thor's might. The next Asgardian Royal will be the conqueror of all !”

Loki could laugh out loud at his brothers' shock and horror. They had totally forgotten it. Loki's powers. They have just sold their biggest asset to their worst enemies. Well, the biggest asset after the Casket of Ancient Winters that is... Except that Odin had laid his hands on it and it was now sealed in his damned vaults. Useless to Jötunheim. That was the reason of the forced treaty. The day Loki had seen Thor for the first time had been the day it had been stolen. And with Loki's gone, the Casket gone, their only sources of magical powers were also gone... And if Loki said the truth, if he was able to breed, thanks to that same magic... Býleistr didn't know if he had to laugh or cry, or scream...

To put it in a straightforward way, he had fucked up big time.

Loki took no little comfort seeing the maelstrom of conflicted emotions on his brothers' face. Býleistr then exploded with a terrifying laugh. It was both unnerving and thrilling. It didn't sound natural at all. “Well done, brother mine !” Býleistr exclaimed, calming down. “You have positively swindled us all ! Good luck with your new life, you'll need it if you are to be made a breeding mare.” He put a hand to Loki's shoulder. It felt like a cruel serpent on Loki's skin “Well, let me give you a first wedding present. Remember the two little runts you used to fool around with ?” Loki took a quick breath. Memories of Sigyn, Angrboda and him, playing chess in the snow garden with pawns made of ice assailed him. “Well, they've been disposed of the day they left. They didn't have your luck, being a royal bastard. No one was here to protect them. They were useless sluts since their births. So what was the point of letting them live ?” Sigyn trying a green silk dress Loki had made for her. Angrboda, crying with happiness on her birthday because Sigyn had given her her favorite gold bracelet. “I slashed their throats myself. Don't worry, it was quick and painless...” Sigyn's crystalline laugh. Angrboda's sarcastic smile...

The last thing Loki saw and heard before passing out were his own screams, Frigga's and Thor begging him not to kill those two miserable scums.

****

Loki woke up and recognized Thor's velvet canopy. Thor himself was standing near. He looked very worried. “You're up, Little One ? Are you all right ?” Loki tried to swallow down the tears that threatened to spill... He remembered everything in one second. All the blissful oblivion was gone. “Where are my brothers... My intended ?” Loki calmly asked. Loki had decided to be a proper spouse to Thor for many reasons. This marriage was not a bad idea after all. It gave him a certain amount of respect and freedom he had never known. Being of Aesir size, he would never be a runt in Asgard. People would fear him, as he was still a Jötunn, but being the Royal Consort of this country, they would be forced to give him proper respect. Once Thor would be on the throne, Loki would be second only to him. Particularly when he would turn female, get pregnant and deliver the Heir, making his position definitely secure. And then, he would plot his revenge on Jötunheim and his brothers, the swines. It would be slow and painful... To the bitter end. “They are gone to Father's Office Hall, beloved. They want to set the last details of the treaty made. After our... After the ceremony, tomorrow, they will leave and they will never bother you again...” Loki simply nodded. He had all the time in the world anyway. They would pay, whatever the cost. But not right now. Loki had a sad flash of Sigyn and Angrboda singing and laughing on their favorite sunny spot in the snow garden. He had to stifle a moan. He would not show any display of emotion in front of his future husband. He was intended to be the perfect consort and that implied not revealing any weaknesses. Thor sighed and took Loki's hands in his. “I am sorry, Little One.” Loki forced a calm smile and not to betray any jolt of disgust or unease at Thor's touch. “I don't understand how we got into this... I can't say I am unhappy having you at my side but...” Loki accentuated his smile. “There is nothing to worry about... My intended. I look forward to tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Thor raised his head to meet Loki's eyes and Loki's heart skipped a beat. He looked very angry. Loki couldn't see why. Wasn't he compliant and docile ? “Stop this.” Thor said, not very calm. “Stop this, right now.” “What ? My intended...” “I HAVE A NAME !” He yelled. “Why can't you say my name ? Do you hate me that much ? We are stuck in this, both of us, and we have to make the most of it. I know that and you know it too so why can't you simply trust me ? Why am I so repulsive to you ? Don't you dare thinking that I am so stupid I wouldn't notice how much you don't like me !” Had things been a little less hectic, Loki would have not lost his temper. But the day had been terrible since the beginning and Loki was exhausted. “Do you really have to ask ?” He sighed. “Do you know in what circumstances I saw you the first time ? Do you really want to know ?” Thor nodded firmly, though this question didn't bode well. “I saw YOU...” Loki hissed. “The day your armies invaded our palace ! I saw everything, Thunderer !” Thor looked at Loki, obviously at lost, trying to understand what Loki meant. “Oh, you are not stupid, THOR ?” Loki raged. “Well I am not either ! I saw you, or have you conveniently forgot what you did ?” “What in the name of the Norns are you talking about ?” Thor asked. “What am I talking about !?” Loki could have strangled him. “ With that damned hammer of yours, you BURNED an entire hall with Jötnar soldiers and civilians in it ! You burned them all to the crisp and then you LAUGHED about it ! You LAUGHED as if it was the funniest thing of all ! You were totally insane ! And I am now bound to a murdering MADMAN !”

Thor was mouthing the words “hammer,” “burn,” “hall”... Trying to make sense of it. Then, while Loki was biting his tongue in anger and self-disgust (he had simply and purely ruined his tiny chances with Thor), Thor's expression went from puzzlement to realization. “You... You saw that ?” Thor said, seemingly amazed. Loki nodded without speaking. He didn't dare to say more. He had done it too much already. “Oh, beloved...” Thor said it in a very sorry tone. “It wasn't me who destroyed that hall... And it wasn't my thunder, nor fire...” Loki was all hears, barely hoping for his answer. “YOUR kinsmen did. They used that weird blue box to stop me from entering... Except that they didn't seem very skillful with it and it simply exploded. It killed everything within its range and I was spared because I hid underneath the window... Later, I told Father about that weird box and we took it away. It seemed so dangerous, even for your people... I was laughing for the cruel irony of it. Certainly not because I was on a bloodbath ! It wasn't me, Little One I swear !”

Loki took a long time to realize what Thor was saying. It made sense. There was only one “weird blue box” that could “explode” and “kill everything within its range.” It was the Casket of Ancient Winters. It had to be. Loki has studied the Casket for his apprenticeship in magic and he had discovered that the device could be out of control and so, had to be handled carefully. But, of course, who would believe the royal cripple ? They had used it in an inappropriate manner, despite all his warnings, and that had provoked this horrible butchery. And finally, Thor's only crime had been to be there. Thor was a soldier and a soldier fights in battle, nothing else. Yes, it made sense. Or instead, it made none. This whole war was a farce. In the end, Loki was glad it was over and done with. Even if it was with a marriage with a complete stranger.

“I am sorry Thor, I didn't know...” Instead of overburdening Loki with guilt, Thor made the most joyous smile Loki saw on a face. Except his dear dead friends, no one smiled at him that much... Loki started to notice the waving blond hair, the blue eyes, the pearly teeth... He was already handsome when Loki thought him to be a psychopathic killer. He was even more when Loki discovered he was none of this. “Let's not talk about this, Little One. We should think about what to do next...” “What to do next ?” Thor smiled sadly. “You don't really want to marry me, right ? You want to be free, from your family, from your brothers, from me...” Loki thought quickly. “Thor, we cannot step away from this wedding. The peace depends on it now. Trying to snake our ways out of this would only deepen the conflict and start a new war.” Thor cast his eyes down. “But I don't want to be married with you for that... I don't want you to hate me for that. I only want your happiness.” “I am not hating you, Thor.” Loki sincerely said. “In fact, I am really grateful. I had no future in Jötunheim, except being a commodity to sell to the highest bidder. Here, at least, I will have a goal, a purpose in life.” Loki tried a brave face. “I'll do my best, Thor. I won't disappoint you, I promise ! First thing, after the wedding, I'll change into a female and I will...” He had no time to finish his phrase for Thor kissed him the same way he did in front of the brothers.

A moment passed. Loki lost his sense of time. It was easy to give up his control. Thor knew how to kiss and please. For the first time in 48 hours, where his life had been totally upside down and changed forever, he felt very good. He felt heavenly in fact... Needless to say, the only one to make him fly that high with touches had been Thor all the time. But when Thor broke the kiss, Loki realized he was crying. The reason for it was simple. He was safe, warm, almost happy... While his dearest friends were dead, the Norns knew where, rotting under the earth or devoured by the ice beasts... It broke his heart to be alive, instead of them. To be savoring life while they were gone forever. Sigyn and her gentle soul. Angrboda and her bright mind. They had deserved a life. He wasn't sure he had the same merit. It had been unfair since their birth. They had been doomed since the start. Such short lives and for what ? He felt Thor's gentle hands on his face. He was drying his tears. That kind gesture made Loki felt weak in the legs. “We will avenge them.” Thor quietly said. Loki looked at him, totally taken aback. “I don't know who those people your brother killed were but he has slain innocent lives only to make you miserable. Treaty or not, he will pay for what he had done.”

In that instant, Loki's heart melted. Thor was not a monster anymore. He was more sensible and kind that many that Loki knew or had met. Maybe he had inherited more of his mother than people thought. For these kind words only, Loki was ready to do anything for him, this very minute. He then took Thor's face with both his hands and kissed him on his own. Thor let him do it with a surprised jolt. Still holding Thor, he made him lay down next to him. Thor was all red with confusion. “Do you wish to anticipate on our wedding night ?” Loki asked as a half-joke. Thor opened his mouth that has turned wet and red. “But... Little One, are you sure ? It seems a bit... We are in no hurry, I can wait...” Loki caressed his face. It was the first time he touched someone like this. All his fears were gone. He was more confident than he ever was... Or so he thought... “I've never been so sure...” Loki smiled.

****

He wasn't that much sure of himself once he was totally naked and he had to behold the sight of the Thunderer stark naked. He had actually seen male and female nakedness many times, even Sigyn and Angrboda when they went to the royal baths together but he wasn't attracted to nudity or to anything else for that matter. Even his own body felt dirty. He had been so shamed about himself he couldn't even imagine what could be shared between two people. And Thor's presence was overwhelming. He was sculpted to perfection, every muscle marvelously defined and toned. He was so different from any Frost Giant and yet so close to Loki, though bigger. Loki was lost. He had no idea about his own wants and feelings. Thor shook his head, embarrassed by Loki's confusion. “Little One, you are not ready for this and we have plenty of time...” Loki, on his back, grabbed Thor's shoulder to pull him towards him. “No, Thor, my intended, my Lord, my husband, my whatever you want me to say...” Loki held Thor close. It was warm, though very heavy... “I do not want to wait right now. For all you've done for me, you deserve this...” Thor was unconvinced but complied. Everything his beloved wanted, he would get

Thor's mouth was as hot as fire. Loki heard noises he didn't know he could make. Sensations he had no idea they could exist. He came first in Thor's mouth and apologized profusely. Thor only laughed and told him there was other things to discover.

Loki almost screamed when Thor put his tongue in.... THAT place. Loki shivered for what seemed like centuries when Thor used to slowly abused that soiled entrance with his tongue. Loki managed to warn him with a shaking voice that he was not going to kiss him until he cleaned his mouth after he was done. Thor laughed again and told him this was just a necessary beginning. Loki shouldn't make promises he wasn't sure to make...

Thor used his fingers. Loki was paralyzed. It took him several minutes to be sure Loki was ready. He asked again if he was really alright with all of this. Loki wasn't certain of it but he wanted Thor. As surprising as it was and though he was embarrassed beyond words at his newfound lewdness, he wanted to go all the way.

When Thor slowly took him, it felt like an internal tear at first. It made Loki cry despite Thor's gentle care. When Thor managed to move, it was a little better but not that great. Until Thor touched something deep inside and that made Loki tremble from head to toe.

When they fell asleep together, at the end of this insane day, Loki felt lighter than he had ever felt. In body and mind, he wouldn't be the same anymore.

****

The wedding took place in the morning. Loki's brothers had insisted on it. It was a very quick, formal and private thing presided by both Asgardian and Jötunn justices of the peace. It had to be so the wedding contract could not be compromised. It was a depressing absence of grandeur and protocol. Thor was a little sad. This was not how he had pictured his own wedding. Not to mention that the wedding night occurred before... Nothing was done properly. But as his mother had promised him there would be something more public and dignified later, that this was only for diplomatic reasons. It was a relief for Thor. Loki deserved better than this depressing affair. The treaty was quickly signed afterwards. It was made as fast as the wedding. Loki felt like a knot in his chest that has been there for centuries was being slowly untied, letting in a smooth and clean air.

But only as he saw his brothers disappearing on the Bifröst, as he felt Thor's heavy and tender arm on his shoulders, he felt truly and well free.