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narrators-journal · 1 year ago

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Part 10

With any luck, my wifi has just returned at long last, so for all of those lovely people who bother to read this here, or who just, opted to wait instead of reading it on Ao3, here's the part 10 update!! Still can't make any promises on the writing lol. And if it needs a content warning, I'll add one!

Previous part: Here

Next part: here

As soon as he got a shred of consciousness back, Minato fled. Or, more accurately, his uncoordinated, heavy body flung itself out of bed and onto a rough, knit-together rug like a marionette controlled by a novice puppeteer. Yet, the collision of his barely conscious body against the harsh flooring did manage to do somegood. It knocked enough sense into him to make the male sacrifice pause and flick his unfocused, fuzzy, grey eyes around the room.

Yet, even as he tried to focus on the rented-house-white walls, hardwood flooring, and the piled up checker-patterned comforter, the midnight-haired man couldn’t help but slur out a weak, “’yoji?…” in some drugged belief that the brunette’s round, friendly face would pop out from beneath the bed he’d been laid in. And, when he heard the approaching sound of footsteps in the home beyond his room, Minato got enough coordination to drag his legs the rest of the way off of the bed and sit up. Yet, it wasn’t a charming, chubby-bodied brunette who opened the new bedroom door, but a leaner one. Damn, how did Ryoji- oh fuck, wait. That’s not him.

Wearing a baseball cap, parka, pants, and fur-lined boots, the new man hurried over to the sedative-addled sacrifice on the rug to help him up and return him to the twin-sized bed he’d thrown himself from before his brain could even string together a thought. “Woah there. You good, dude?” He asked, helping Minato sit against the headboard as the shaggy-haired man took another look around to properly note the windows on either side of his bed, an antique-looking wardrobe, and the fact his comforter wasn’t that comforting ruby-colored comforter, but a handmade, red-and-white checkered one. “-Helllooooo,” The man beside him sang, bringing the drowsy sacrifice’s attention back to him, “Are you alright? Are you awakeright now?” “Yeah...Who are you?” Minato asked slowly, and a warm smile spread across the man’s face at that, “I’m Junpei Iori! I take it you’re Minato, right? Yukari told us about you while I was...well, carrying you out of Thanatos’ little house-nest-thingie.”

With that, Junpei stood up to try and pick up the fallen comforter. Minato, meanwhile, stared at him for a long, silent moment before his words, and the recognition clicked into place. “You’re the fucker who kidnapped me!” He snapped, the ruthless glare he threw at the man only met with an understanding nod. “Yeah, I expected that reaction. You didn’t seem too thrilled to come with us, and Yukari told us how you and Thanatos’ assistant were...close.” Junpei said, before he jumped back from the sacrifice’s second attempt to throw himself from the bed, but at himthis time instead of the floor. “Woah! Chill dude!” “If it was so clear that I didn’t want to come with you, why did you fucking bring me here?!” Minato hissed, his teeth barred at Junpei like a dog as the midnight-haired emo wobbled up to his feet to possibly attempt another lunge. “We had to! You would’ve been killed if we hadn’t. I understand that you might have enjoyed sleeping with that assistant or whatever was going on with you and Ryoji, but a body isn’t worth your soul, dude!” The brunette told him, an awkward chuckle to keep his words friendly and his hands up as a sign of surrender. Not that it stopped Minato’s evil looks, or quelled the angry fire in his belly.

Yet, the shaggy-haired man bit back the urge to try and swing another time. Instead, he forced himself to take a deep breath and just said in a measured, frosty tone, “I understand that you mean well, Junpei, but I was happy there. I was there for a fucking year, if I was going to be killed in any way, I would’ve been, a long time ago. Ryoji isn’t as big a factor as you or Yukari seem to fucking think, y’know. I just liked it there.” Possibly a bit harsher than he really needed to be, but Junpei simply sighed with a shake of his head. Apparently no stranger to such complaints from quickly-sobering kidnapping victims. “Look, I understand if you don’t want to go back to Tatsumi after they sacrificed you,” He said gently, before continuing in a brighter voice, “but you don’t have to, we aren’t gonna hand you back to them. In fact! If you want, you can stay here! If you can just…” He trailed off to think for a moment before he seemed to find the right words, “Can you just give this place a shot? At the least? Yukari told us about all the rules Thanatos had you two under, and here you’re free of those! You can leave the house freely, you won’t be locked in your room, you can eat whenever you want, all that! Plus! Here, you get to help with animals, and you’re not forced to only talk to one person!”

The man smiled as he listed the perks of Minato’s new ‘home’, and the blue-haired man could hear how truly genuine he was. His potential new friend honestly seemed to think whatever this new place was, was the best place for sacrifices. Yet, something in the emo’s gut simply didn’t sit right with the new place.

Though, of course, he didn’t say that to Junpei. He may have been the one to dose him and haul him out of his home, but he didn’t seem to have any ill intentions. So, he instead gave a bit of a sigh, “Fine, I’ll give this place a shot. But, if I don’t like it, can I go back?” Which, made Junpei blink, “Go back? To...being under the thumb of a god?” He asked, but he did put his hands back up when Minato fixed him with a look, “Right. You liked being there, for some reason. Uh, anyways!” He hummed, simply moving past the topic. “How about a tour?”

With that, the tall brunette quickly spun on his heel to go back to the door, Minato expected to follow for said tour. Which, he did do without another word. I mean, I guess if I’m gonna be staying I might as well learn the lay of the land. He told himself while Junpei led him out of the room and into a far less gothic hallway than Minato was used to.

Instead of the dark walls and fake flowers he had grown so accustomed to in Thanatos’ mansion, the walls of this new place were decorated with baby blue wallpaper. With hardwood flooring, at least six bedrooms that Minato saw while he followed Junpei, and colorful paintings that added a pop of life to the walls. As if the small collection of birds that kicked up a chaotic symphony of chirps and trills seemingly at all hours didn’t add enough of that.

All around, the home seemed rustic and comfortable. If Minato could shake the feeling of finally being trapped, he’d be charmed by how lived-in the place seemed. A sharp contrast against the gothic ghost town he’d lived a year of his life in with little company beyond Thanatos’ pretty assistant. Yet, he couldn’t shake that oppressive feeling that nagged at him. It sat in his belly like a heavy stone even as he was led out into a spacious courtyard that bustled with a crowd of people.

From a quick count, Minato estimated at least eight or so people worked with the goats and chickens that filled the air with a similar chaotic song as the birds that populated the house. At least, eight people that Minato could see. “-This is how we sustain ourselves!” Junpei boasted, and Minato was snatched away from the odd inkling of someone else being there, instead made abruptly aware that the brunette may have been talking to him the whole way through the house. “I’m sorry?” “This is how we sustain ourselves,” He repeated, “There’s also a small town somewhat nearby, but Ikutsuki said that having things to do to feel useful would help the sacrifices we rescue. I forget all of the pros he listed, but basically it keeps depression away and teaches, like, independence or something.” “That’s...kinda weird. Why don’t you guys just, rely on the town? Wouldn’t that be more reliable than a pack of ‘rescued’ sacrifices playing farmer?” Minato asked, which, was answered by Junpei’s lost expression. Seemed that while the tall, baseball-hat-wearing man was used to a sacrifice wanting to go back to their god, he wasn’t for a sacrifice that questioned their farming. But, much to Junpei’s relief, Minato was sure, a new voice took over the explanations. “I’ve found that having animals to take care of lets an ex-sacrifice feel useful and regain an identity outside of being offered up to a god. It also gives them a safe way to rebuild some self-confidence as well as teach them some helpful skills.”

And, when Minato looked over to the new voice, he found another tall brunette. Though, unlike Junpei, the new man looked a bit thin, maybe a bit sickly with the combination of his thin frame, dull colored hair, and oval glasses that seemed to emphasize his dark, tree-bark brown eyes. Though, he also looked something like Ryoji, if instead of becoming Thanatos’ assistant, he’d become a friendly librarian, with how his hair was swept back out of his face in a similar manner. Though, beyond that similar styling choice, the new man looked nothing like the brunette Minato’s heart ached for.

Ryoji was softer than this man, with eye-catching blue eyes, and, weirdly enough, never seemed to wear anything beyond his suspenders, dress pants, button-up, and vibrant scarf. This man, meanwhile, seemed to actually feel the chill of the winter day judging from his turtleneck and thick winter jacket, and had dull brown eyes instead of refreshing blue. It was...dissapointing.

”Oh! But where are my manners? I’m Shuji Ikutsuki, I’m the current leader of this little homestead you’ll be calling home for a while.” Ikutsuki introduced, his hand held out for Minato to shake, but the blue-haired sacrifice didn’t take his hand and instead simply watched as the man’s hand fell back to his side. “I take it you aren’t the friendly type.” “I’m perfectly friendly.” Minato argued, I just don’t fucking like you. Though, he didn’t say that part out loud. After all, he had spent all of that time with Ryoji curbing his venom, and in the chance of Ryoji finding him he couldn’t let that progress slip. Not that much, at least.

Though, the second brunette simply continued on with the conversation. “Well, do you have any questions then?” Ikutsuki asked, Minato’s flat tone seemingly ignored by the friendly man. “What exactly is your plan for any gods retaliating? Do you just, bank on them not caring about their stolen sacrifices?” the midnight-haired man asked, and, while Ikutsuki’s expression didn’t waver too much, his friendly aura and dark eyes lost a bit of the happy spark as he spoke. “That’s why we have so many birds around the house. Animals have a stronger connection with the natural forces that most deities embody, so if a god does come to collect a sacrifice again, they’ll react and we’ll be warned.” “Though, I’ll admit that it feels a lil morbid to rely on the birds against something like fucking Thanatos.” Junpei added with a small chuckle, his leader, meanwhile, gave his own polite chuckle while the blue-haired man took a moment to contemplate if the bespeckled brunette was the reason he’d felt like he somehow missed a moment ago. Though, how would that work? Not seeing someone doesn’t make me feel so...watched. “Annnnd, after that?” Minato asked after that moment of thought, an eyebrow raised as he looked at Ikutsuki. Who chuckled a bit more tensely that time, “Of course, that’s when we reason with them. Gods aren’t human, but they also aren’t stupid, they can be reasoned with.” He assured, though, Minato could almost feel how forced the confidence he spoke with was. Yet, neither Minato, Ikutsuki, or Junpei dared dip further into that topic, for the moment at least. Instead, Minato moved on to ask, “How long do sacrifces usually have to stay here? Can I just walk out and go to that little town Junpei mentioned?” “Sacrifices stay here for about a year. By then most gods get new sacrifices, so the previous ones are less likely to be taken back.” Ikutsuki hummed, and Minato scowled, “Does that mean I have to stay here permanently? Because Thanatos has had me for a year before Yukari came along, and as far as I know, he wasn’t planning to change that fact.” He pointed out, and watched the man’s expression darken. Able to see the thin brunette pick through his words before he spoke with caution, “I...am not sure.” He began, “For now, I have to ask you to stay here a year. After that, I suppose it depends on how things are at the end of that year.” But, each of Ikutsuki’s carefully picked words only made Minato’s expression slowly turn from aloof, to angry. “Seriously?! I don’t even get a definitive answer? Oh, could be a year, could be more. Who the hell knows!” He snapped, his exaggerated mockery worsened by the swallowed venom that now leaked back up. “As if Thanatos was going to let you go at anypoint?” Junpei argued, though he winced when the sacrifice turned on him. “Thanatos didn’t kidnap me from a rent free mansion with free food and a hot guy to keep me company! You fuckers, did! I am more than happy to be some weird sex toy trophy, not a god damned farmer!”

Minato hadn’t realized he began to yell until he felt Ikutsuki’s hand on his shoulder and realized that the other people in the courtyard had stopped their chores to watch the three. “Maybe you should get some more rest. I was informed you had to be sedated, right? You should probably be sure those have fully worn off before you start helping out.” Ikutsuki said gently while the shaggy-haired sacrifice yanked away from his hand with a snarl. His words kind and reasonable, but his voice still rang condescending to Minato. Yet, before he could bite the man, Junpei just about shoved him back inside. And, this time, Minato was far less hesitant to follow the brunette back upstairs and shut him out of his assigned room without a chance for the man to say anything else. And, once he was alone again, even if it wasn’t in the room he wanted, Minato felt a bubble well up in his belly. And, usually, the man would squash a bubble like that back into the depths of his numbed mind. He’d become well aware of what those bubbles meant in his years of misery, and it was never a fun experience.

Yet, as he flopped onto the twin-sized bed of his new room, he felt the gentle brush of a ghost’s touch over his dark hair. Such a casually affectionate movement, that it became some bitter reminder of Ryoji

And just like that. The bubble burst, and while he refrained from screaming and bludgeoning his headboard with his pillow, the grey-eyed emo otherwise let his emotions spill over into the lavender-scented lump of stuffing. Why?! Why can’t I have ONE good thing?! He mentally wailed as he sunk his teeth into the captive pillow and let it absorb the small scream of agony he let out next.Can’t have my family, can’t have Thanatos or Ryoji. WHY?! But, while the screamed questions seemed to vent off some of the painful anger he felt, they weren’t answered despite his sobs.

Through the gasps for air between full body, tantrum-level sobs and his storming emotions, Minato had no room left over to care if any of the other tenants of the farm house heard him or knocked on his door. No one dared to come inside to check on him, so if they truly did knock, they left it at that. So, the midnight-haired sacrifice was left to simply tire himself out until his battery finally ran flat for the day.

Yet, against his wishes, Minato awoke the next day not to his canopy bed and Ryoji snuggled up to him, but to the squawks and cries of the many birds Ikutsuki’s sacrifice rescue used as some crackpot security system. That, and a headache. Which, the sacrifice wasn’t surprised by, he’d cried himself to sleep the night before, his bodies cry for hydration was expected.

What wasn’texpected, though, was a duller, deeper pain beneath the throb of dehydration. The emotional equivilent of a single goat-head thorn in his chest. He wasn’t in agony from the vague sting, but at the same time, it was inconvenient at a minimum. Yet, just like a goat head, when Minato thought too hard about the dull ache and put pressure on the sore spot, it shot a far more vicious bolt through his body. Oh my- is this what it feels like to miss someone?He asked himself, only to mentally pop himself in the back of the head, Of course it is, you dumbass! I’m depressed, not stupid!

His face couldn’t help but contort at that first thought, though, while that small, dark voice he’d ignored for months now, finally piped up once again. God, I AM stupid though. I shouldn’t have gotten attached to that barstard. This is exactly why I didn’t want to! But, there he was after all of his years of avoidance. Curled up in bed while he fought back tears like a tween girl going through her first heart break. And while some darker part of Minato did want to beat himself up for it, another part of himself soothed that urge. But, I mean...it’s not like Ryoji left-left me. He’s fucking thanatos, isn’t he? If he was willing to chase me through the snow despite being ‘impressed’ by my creativity, he’ll likely come get me from here too. He’s not a bastard to hate. Yet.Granted, it wasn’t the best reassurance, but it curbed the throb enough to get the sacrifice out of bed.

Okay, so. He thought while he opened the wardrobe’s door to take stock of his clothing options. What exactly should I do? Make nice and wait for Thanatos to pick me up? Make a break for it? Unlike Ryoji, the chances of Ikutsuki being a god is low as hell, so I could probably succeed if I did. He let out a slow breath to quell the stronger pain the memory of Ryoji brought before his thoughts turned to the day before.Wait, when I came back in here, before my break down, did- He cut the thought off and shoved it away in favor of his earlier tour and the logistics. Ghosts could be thought about later.

It looks like they have a wall like Ryoji’s. And I don’t exactly have the snow to climb over with...So, I guess I’ve gotta play nice regardless. His planning was then interrupted, not by a ghost, but a knock at his door, followed quickly by Ikutsuki’s face appearing. “Oh good, you’re already awake. Good morning, Minato. Are you feeling any better?” He hummed as he stepped into the room like he didn’t feel the anger in the sacrifice’s evil look. “Junpei told me how you’re reluctant about this place, and I understand it’s not as comfortable as Thanatos’ large home, but if you give it a chance, the year should fly by.” Great, they think I’m some deity’s gold digger AND gossip. “Now, if you’ll come with me, I’ll show you where the shower is and a few things you can do for the day, alright?”

Minato sighed at the man’s friendly aura, but, he did need a shower, and if he was going to make nice with everyone he knew he had to resist the urge to snap and snarl yet again. So, he did just that, and kept his shows of annoyance to angry silence while he grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe and followed the thin brunette to the bathroom, then off to the massive farm yard that Minato still saw no real purpose for beyond torture for the newly freed sacrifices.

”So, what exactly made you want to start fist fighting gods like this?” He asked as they walked through the house, which, bustled with a bit more life than it had the other day. “Do you mean rescuing sacrifices?” Ikutsuki chuckled, “I didn’t exactly startthis little program, I simply took over as the boss when the last one retired. But, I do support it’s mission of freeing those selfishly given to gods and monsters and deprogramming those like yourself.” And, that made the dark-haired man bristle all over again as they paused their walk for Ikutsuki to get him a quick breakfast. Though, when he looked around into the nearby livingroom, his venom was forgotten.

Yukari sat in a some casual jeans and a t-shirt on the patch-spotted couch with a red-haired woman and a basket of torn up clothing items between them. The duo simply sat and chattered as they worked, no hostility or sarcasm from the brunette. She looks happy, He noted, Maybe if Ryoji comes to get me back, he’ll leave her here. If... Though, the potential spiral was paused when he realized his guide had offered him a breakfast sandwich.

With food obtained, the pair then moved on and out of the house. The sun’s weak rays and cold, crisp air one of the only reminders of it being winter despite the lack of even a single freckle of snow upon the ground between the large farm house, and the equally sizeable barn on the other end of the walled-in space. A reminder to Ikutsuki as well, it seemed, as he finally explained Minato’s first chore while they passed small gardens, goat and sheep pens, and chicken coops. All of which, had someone at work already. “Since it’s your first day of helping out, we’ll start you out on feeding the animals in the barn. Ken should be there too, so he can explain what animal gets what feed, I mostly handle the finances, so I’m a bit clueless on that aspect.” How convenient for you… Minato thought with a roll of his storm-colored eyes while Ikutsuki laughed a bit and opened the barn’s doors for the emo. Though, once he’d introduced the sacrifice to Ken, the brunette was quick to escape the animal-scented air and leave them to their chore.

Which, left Minato standing in the barn, dressed in slightly baggy jeans and an equally baggy long sleeve, staring into the unnervingly hardened brown eyes of a kid who, judging from his similarly slightly-inappropriate outfit of jacket and shorts, couldn’t be older than eleven. “Were you sacrificed to the god of the lollipop guild?” He joked to break the awkwardness he felt, but the child didn’t even give him a dirty look for the inappropriate attempt at humor. “My mom was fed to a monster.” Oh my god I’m horrible. “My friend Shinji found me a few weeks after trying to find somewhere to stay, so he brought me and Koromaru here.” As Ken spoke, Minato could see a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. The little fucker enjoyed how awkward the emo got. But, Minato simply pushed on through the conversation. “Who’s Koromaru?” “My dog. He’s dead now.”

Minato wasn’t sure what expression he made at that, but he felt a mix of things at that bombshell. At least, until Ken burst out into a giggle fit, and as if that was his cue, a grey-and-white shiba inu trotted over from one of the stalls of hay. “This is Koromaru, he’s a stray who kept me company before Shinji found me.” Ken introduced between continued giggles under Minato’s dirty look. Though, Minato couldn’t hide the urge to smile

After that bit of fun, Ken did walk him through which food to feed which of the noisy animals. And, while the shaggy-haired sacrifice still had a stubborn knot in his gut, he appreciated the lack of intentional or unintentional percieved condescention from Ken. Plus, the work did give the sacrifice something to do while he continued to think until dinner finally came. Then, he turned to conversation with the child as they headed into the farm house once more.

Which, was where he met Shinji, a tall, pissed looking man with longer shaggy hair that he wore in a ponytail while he dished out dinner. Neither him, nor Minato really acknowledged one another beyond a grunt from the chef when Ken introduced them, so the midnight-haired man instantly liked him the most out of the brunettes he’d met so far.

I saw some gates while outside, so that saves me needing to climb. He mused once he’d gotten his food, only to jump when Yukari caught his arm. “Mina! Come sit with everyone!” She prompted, the lack of hostility in her voice nearly enough to shake the male sacrifice, but he didn’t let that show. “I’d rather go to my room, thank you.” He said, only for Junpei to join the girl in her capture of the asocial man. “Nonsense! Come on dude, we’ll play cards after dinner, it’ll be loads more fun than you’ve had in your year with that god!” With that, the duo ignored Minato’s arguments and drug him into even more introductions and socialization. Though, he managed to work around the conversation prompts by devouring the delicious meal he’d been given, then worm out of the card game after only one hand for the night.

Which, like he had in the mansion, he turned into his sort of ritual. Sleep in or lay in bed until Junpei or Yukari fetched him, Trudge through whatever chores he had been given that day, ignore the occasional odd feeling or spectral noise or sensation, play nice with his room mates and not bite whenever they’d act like the smallest freedom was some improvement from his original home, study and observe the compound, eat dinner, and inevitably be dragged into a movie night or card game before bed. But, no matter how long he spent with the eclectic group in those passed weeks, he still worked on his plans.

Okay, I’ve seen two side gates so far, plus the bigger main gate. One of them is pretty close to my bedroom’s side of the house, so if I can climb out in the middle of the night, I could avoid setting off the birds. He mused one bitterly cold night while he worked a goat-scented glove from his stiff fingers. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of greenery besides grass to hide in between here and the treeline, so I’ll probably need to haul ass in case I’m spotted or they have some sort of guard duty. As he thought, he shed the heavy winter coat he’d been given for the day, and spotted Yukari making her way over to him in her own protection against the cold, a light pink sweater that bristled with stalks of hay. Which, he found didn’t annoy him nearly as much as it would’ve back with Ryoji. “Hey! how’s your day been?” She chirped, before she stepped back from the thick stench of goat that clung to his coat. “Goats.” the shaggy-haired man said simply as he offered her the coat as some form of proof, but she stepped a bit further back with a shake of her head. “Fun...I helped clean up the hay in the barn though, I’ve had enough animal smells, thank you.” she said as she pinched her nose. Which, actually got a chuckle from the blue-haired man, which got a small one from her as well. “I noticed you’re less of a bitch here,” He offered, which earned him a dirty look, “And I noticed you hide less here.” She offered back, “I don’t have much of an option here. Ryoji left me alone, Junpei doesn’t.” Once again, Yukari laughed at his words, “God, yeah he’s...something.” She agreed between giggles, “But he’s friendly at least, without the weird obligation vibe Ryoji had.”

Minato hummed at that point, Did Ryoji have an obligation vibe? Maybe I missed it. Or, maybe he just didn’t like Yukari being a bitch. But, he refrained from pointing that chance out. He may have not been innocent in their arguments and bad blood, but he hadn’t ever really enjoyed arguing with Yukari. “Though, speaking of Ryoji and Thanatos as a whole,” The woman hummed, her hazel eyes fixed on him as she continued, “You’re not gonna try to go back, are you? I know Thanatos seemed to like you, but you can’t be sure he’d…” She trailed off, those hazel eyes alight with a flurry of thoughts before she just pursed her lips and didn’t finish her sentence.

Which, was probably for the best, since Minato already felt his temper rise again. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to lash out at the woman for her words. She hadn’t said anything he hadn’t already thought of in the nights of sleepless, depressed loneliness, nor had she somehow managed to belittle or brush him off like the others seemed to do. So, instead, he just didn’t reply and let the topic die. “Minato?!” Yukari squawked when he went inside, “I’m not, Yukari. I don’t even know where the hell we are, remember?” he called back, still able to feel her eyes pry into his soul as he went to get his plate of food. God, if you’re listening, please don’t ruin my plans...

#Persona 3 #persona #persona 3 au #Ryomina #MinaRyo #au #passion project #Ryoji Mochizuki x male!persona 3 protagonist #Winter is a lovely season for romance and funerals #part 10 #alternate universe #persona 3 reload #fanfiction #Makoto Yuuki #Ryoji Mochizuki #Minato Arisato #Male!persona 3 protagonist #Ryoji Mochizuki x minato arisato #Ryoji Mochizuki x makoto yuuki

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3liza · 2 years ago

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of the four photos above, only the first photo is definitely pantless. japanese hakama for men are bisected pants, they just look like skirts when worn because of draping. they also come in skirt shape, but for women. indigenous Americans wore robes and tunics, and clothing varied quite a lot by group, but generally on top of leggings (depending on climate, both men and women wore pants). those are Cheyenne in that photo and they are a horse culture who wear leather leggings. the Saudi men are wearing thawb, which is worn different ways but most commonly with pants underneath.

the skirt/pants rule in human clothing isn't ironclad by any means but it does show up a lot and is worth puzzling over. individual cultures come up with their own "reasons" for skirts and pants but they were not to my knowledge ever related to any practical concerns, but rather justifications for the way things had always been.

the universal "reason" that pops up in the general trend could be as simple as "before washing machines and elastic underpants everyone noticed that letting your vaginal secretions just dry out and flake away harmlessly was healthier for your junk than blocking them in with pants we can't wash as much as we'd like" but this doesn't account for arctic societies where everyone wears pants and a parka, but women's parka are still longer and more "dress"-like than men's.

seen some people in the notes bring up menstruation, which is valid, but in a very general sense that varied per culture, premodern women menstruated about 1/10th as much as we did. they started menarche later, started menopause sooner, and were often too low body fat, sick, pregnant or lactating most of the time in between. they did not have a regular period every month like we do except for special scenarios like nunneries (i would love to know what periods were like in medieval abbeys and how stopping menstruation through fat loss related to religious fasting) and other rare occasions when a reproductively functional AFAB would have enough food AND not be having sex or nursing a baby for long enough to menstruate, so clothing specifically having to allow for menstruation probably wasn't as much of a cultural pressure as it is for us now.

its weird that afaik "men wear pantslike legwear, women wear skirtlike legwear" seems to be pretty common cross culturally, especially the latter part. have there been socieites with the reverse? is there some practical reason?

#long post #historical fashion #anthropology

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arrowflier · 3 years ago

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Ok how about some Mickey ha(s)d a crush on Kev action? It comes out while all the Gallaghers/Fisher-Balls are together for whatever post-series reason that makes sense (holiday?) and hilarity ensues. Thanks!!

Enough with the sappy for a bit, time for something silly!

Throw a Girl Around (also on AO3)

It’s the week after New Years, cold and snowy and slow, when the urge to start something new clashes with the desire to keep living in the timelessness of the holidays. They’ve given in enough to roust themselves from beds and blankets, packed their pajama-clad bodies into weather-resistant parkas to keep the cold at bay, and headed out from the colored lights still ringing their homes to embrace the new world that awaits them.

In other words, Vee and Kev are in town, and no one can keep sleeping through that.

Mickey tried, to be fair. Rolled right over and shoved his head under the pillow when Ian answered his phone, held it tight over his ears when his husband’s excited voice got too loud. Did his best to keep Ian there with him, pulling out all the stops, only to have the blankets thrown to the floor and his body tossed out of bed to follow.

And now he’s freezing his ass off in the middle of the fucking park, even in the three layers Ian insisted on putting him in, watching with the other significant others as his oaf of a husband runs around in the snow with a handful of kids, his siblings, and a giant fucking baby.

“Hey, no fair!” the big baby cries when Ian holds one of the Ball kids up to stuff a snowball down his coat. “We’re on the same team!”

“Not anymore,” Ian quips, dancing away once the girl is down safely. “She switched to the winning side.”

He cackles when the other Ball girl lands her own missile directly in her father’s betrayed face. Laughs harder at the way Kev blinks the snow away, half of it falling into his open mouth instead.

“My own flesh and blood,” Kev says, clutching at his chest as if it pains him. “So cruel, so unfeeling…”

His daughters only giggle, running to Ian for more ammunition, and Kev’s hand stretches out after them in a failed plea for mercy.

With Kev distracted, there’s a movement behind him. Lip, sneaking forward, the clump of snow in his hands bigger than Kev’s entire head.

He looks over the sidelines, probably trying to catch eyes with Tami, but his gaze settles on Mickey instead. He brings a finger to his lips, and Mickey nods, and then—

“Yo Kev!” he hollers, cupping a hand over his mouth to make it carry. “Behind you!”

And Kev is swinging around in time to knock the snow from Lip’s hands, chasing the other man down as Lip curses and shouts Not cool Mickey, not cool, and somehow scooping Lip up into a bridal carry without even stopping.

“Kev, put me down!” Lip yells, struggling. “It’s just a game man, come on!”

But Kev is a man on a mission, headed toward the giant mound of snow at the side of the road where the plows had gone by.

“Come on guys, help me out!” Lip tries, appealing to his audience in an act of desperation. He gets a few attempts at aid—Franny latching onto Kev’s leg, Liam jumping onto his back and clinging—but it barely slows Kev down. The rest of them are just watching, laughing and waiting for the punchline, which comes with a soft thwump as Kev tosses Lip into the snow.

Mickey huffs out a laugh at the sight of his brother-in-law flinging off snow to come up for air. He leans over toward Tami, gets ready to make fun of him—

But Tami’s eyes are still on Kev.

“Damn,” Tami mutters, eyebrows raised high enough to brush the bottom of her knit hat. “Bet he could throw a girl around.”

“The fuck…” Mickey starts, but Vee interrupts.

“He sure as hell can,” she says smugly, then thinks for a second. “Did have to walk him through it the first time, though,” she added. “Poor baby was terrified he was gonna hurt me.”

“Worth it I bet,” Tami sighs, and Vee confirms with a low, sultry chuckle.

“Definitely,” she whispers like a secret. “He goes all dumb and sweet again after, it’s cute.”

“Fucking disgusting, both of you,” Mickey interjects, only to blink when two pairs of eyes suddenly fix on his.

“What?” he asks, confused. “I got somethin’ on my face?”

“Just a little jealousy, hun,” Vee drawls. “Please, you tryin’ to tell me you never wanted to get on my husband?”

“Yeah Mickey,” Tami jumps in, “Surprised you’re not all over that.” She smirks. “Tall and strong and dumb is kind of your type, and I know how you like to be manhandled.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Mickey hisses, leaning in. His face is too warm—he shouldn’t have let Ian put that scarf around his neck.

“No, I never wanted to jump that box of rocks,” he says lowly. “I’m not the one whose man just got tossed like a sack of potatoes, Tamietti, Ian handles me just fine.”

“More than fine, I hope,” Ian’s voice comes from behind him, and he whirls to face his grinning husband.

“What’re we up to over here?” Ian asks, spinning Mickey back around so he can plaster himself to his back. He tucks freezing hands under Mickey’s shirt, ignores the sharp elbow it earns him.

“Nothin’ much,” Tami answers, grin too wide for Mickey’s liking. “Just how Mickey—”

“I will kill you, bitch,” Mickey says over her, but Vee picks up right where she left off.

“Your husband here,” she says pointedly with a nod to Mickey’s steaming face, “is lying to us.”

“Oh,” Ian asks, not concerned at all. “About what?”

“None of your fucking—”

“Having a little crush on strong man Kev,” Tami tells him, and if it weren’t for Ian’s arms around his middle, Mickey would strangle her.

“I do not,” he grits out, tense despite the patterns Ian is tracing on his stomach, “nor have I ever—”

“Oh yeah,” Ian talks right over him, directed at the women. “It was kind of ridiculous at one point.”

And Mickey stills.

“The fuck are you talkin’ about?” he asks lowly, and Ian just laughs, chest moving against his back.

“What, you don’t remember?” Ian says. “Back when you were doing business together, and Kev robbed you with your own gun?”

“Remember that,” Mickey acknowledges darkly. “But what the fuck does that have to do with—”

“He was so worked up,” Ian tells their company, “he couldn’t get over it. Said he wanted to go back there with a shotgun, but I’m pretty sure he wanted to—”

“I did not!” Mickey yells, and it’s definitely not a shriek. “That fucker stole from us, I was going to fucking kill him!”

“Uh huh,” Ian says knowingly as Tami and Vee look on with something stuck between amusement and shock. “That was definitely it. And that’s why once we got home, you practically begged me to—”

Mickey stomps on his foot, and in the aftermath, runs for the hills. He risks one look back, just catching sight of Ian’s laughing face next to Tami’s and Vee’s, before something else catches him.

“I’ve found my next victim!” Kev howls as he swings Mickey into the air. “C’mon kids, time to bury him!”

And damn, Mickey thinks as he's carried to his doom.

That guy can throw a girl around.

#daily speedwrite #gallavich #fanfic #ian gallagher #mickey milkovich #tami tamietti #kev ball #veronica fisher #assorted children #silly #humor

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lazarettta · 4 years ago

Text

Misthios III

Characters (Mother Miranda, Alcina Dimitrescu, Reader)

Word count (2k)

Rating (T)

Warning (straight zooted, none)

Countess Dimitrescu takes you home.

Any mistakes you find, blame it on the herbs.

Only taking a few steps from your holding cell, you were startled with what awaited you.

You weren't sure what to expect when you were about to meet Lady Dimitrescu but what you got wasn't on the top of your list; her inhuman beauty or her height. She was taller than tall and for a split second you actually gawked at the woman before remembering yourself and thankfully your jaw snapped shut inaudibly but she'd already caught you.

“This is (Y/n), take her to your castle and keep her there until I call.” You frowned at her words, you weren't some goddamn pet to keep and she had another thing coming if she thought that you were just going to sit around twiddling your thumbs. Miranda stopped next to the tall woman near the door and a small torch light, “Not a scratch, Alcina.”

“Of course, Mother Miranda.” She seemed amused and she clearly wasn't as human as she portrayed herself to be. You'd place a bet wagering that she is one of the myths you haven't yet tracked down...but which one?

Miranda didn't spare you another glance and she was gone within a blink of an eye, leaving you two alone, you cleared your throat bringing the woman's honey eyes to you again. “But you will refer to me as lady Dimitrescu.”

Keeping up with Alcina's long strides down the dreary pathway wasn't an easy feature especially given that the hallway itself was narrow and you didn't really have any interest in touching the walls. They were wet but it did not look or smell like water. Eventually the woman came to a stop, right in front of an iron door that turned out to be an elevator shaft—a bit like the ones used when mining was still a thing.

Prison cells in some abandoned underground mining tunnels, Miranda? Always so dark and mysterious...

The silence between you both was thick and a bit awkward and you could feel her caution and curiosity rolling off of her in waves and you knew that she was occasionally glancing at you because you were doing the same thing while you both waited for the elevator shaft to come down. This place just continued to get more and more curious—what other wonders was this village in the mountains hiding away from the rest of the world? But you were quick to chastise yourself for the thought, curiosity always killed the cat, (Y/n)...

“Yes,” her voice was low and deep this time opposed to the thunderous tone she was using earlier, “but satisfaction brought it back.”

You hadn't been aware that you spoke out loud. Having allowed yourself to be distracted with your thoughts that you failed to take notice of how much more observant the other woman became towards you the minute you both loaded onto the old shaft. Though the old thing hardly made a sound under lady Dimitrescu's weight despite the fact that in order to enter she had to duck a little for herself and her large brimmed hat.

Shoving your hands in your pocket, you turned slightly to look up at her making sure to keep your eyes above those pearls wrapped around her pale neck and accenting that decolletage—no doubt purposely done. “Ah, I haven't had that recited back to me in a very long time.”’

“Then you’re not keeping the right company.”

Your mouth twitched around a smile before you schooled it away, “That would be true if I actually had any friends...or family.”

Lady Dimitrescu raised an eyebrow, not that you’d see it because of her hat casting a shadow over a majority of her face, “Handsome thing like you without friends or family? Doubtful. Surely you have someone waiting for you? You seem like the type to have a maiden or two at your feet.”

This time you couldn’t push back your smile, you knew that she was fishing for some answers about your character—and no doubt trying to figure out why Miranda thought you were special enough to be placed under her word of protection, as if you actually needed it.

But that was all fine because you’d do the same thing, in fact you already were but you’d give her something—an inevitable piece of information that will come to light soon enough. She was already suspicious so it really was just a matter of you beating her to the punchline.

“Nope, none of the above. People just have this pesky little habit of dying on me.”

She chuckled, low and deep and you felt it a bit (and fuck was this the longest elevator ride you’ve ever been on), “Oh I know of that nuisance all too well myself.”

“Do you now?”

“Oh quite dear.” There was a bit of a sinister flare to her tone behind that innocent smile and shrug she tried to sell you. “One could even say it's my favorite pastime.”

And right as you were about to press another question the shaft came to a screeching halt, oh…how convenient. You swore you saw Lady Dimitrescu outright grinning before she ducked out ahead of you, if you didn’t know better you’d say she read your mind.

The moment you stepped out of the shaft and through the opening of the alcove, you were severely unprepared for the harsh winter wind or how well into the evening it’s become and the conversation earlier was placed on the backburner.

Less than two hundred feet away there was a stagecoach waiting with four black horses attached. The stagecoach was all black with gold trimmings, a style fit for royalty—you’ve seen enough of them in your lifetime to know.

There was a young man half frozen next to it as he waited for Lady Dimitrescu’s approach, nearly stuttering out all of his teeth to greet her but she hardly paid him any attention, gracefully ducking inside. The young man gawked at you as you entered the coach behind his employer but was quick to close the door after you.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, the tips of your ears heating up when you had to brush past her crossed legs to sit on the bench across from her and she made no effort to move, only watching you while smoking from her cigarette stick.

The stagecoach had a bigger interior than the exterior let on, accommodating the dark haired beauty perfectly. Though she was sitting at a sideways angle she seemed very comfortable and she was easily dumping the ashes outside of the cracked window.

“Is there anyway to get my things back…it had a majority of my clothes in there.” Or get back to your camp—it was probably ruined by now, either by wild animals or nature itself.

“We will accommodate you at the castle.” Her gaze was on you again but you were busy looking out of the window down at the village, now that it was nightfall everyone had their lights on—it was bigger than what you expected. “I don’t suppose you like dresses?”

As you suspected, the inside of her castle was just as massive and beautiful in it's antiquity as it was on the outside. The estate was kept in pristine condition and you were honestly impressed with what you saw. But it was really warm though not uncomfortably so. You two had barely stepped into the lobby of her castle with you mostly admiring how easily she was able to bend at the waist without batting an eye to get through a door that wasn't custom sized for her. She seemed used to it but you wondered why she didn't correct the doors.

“Hmm. Nice castle but why is it so warm? I might have to sleep with a window open.” you joked, still taking in everything and you had yet to notice how your words affected your host.

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned on you so fast you actually did run into the taller woman. Your entire face was lost in a world of firm fluffiness and your senses were filled with the very essence of Lady Dimitrescu. Though before you could scramble away with an apology on the tip of your tongue, Lady Dimitrescu was moving before you and she had reached down and she fisted the back of your parka and kept you right where you were, close and trapped.

You were forced to look up at her between her bust, or let them suffocate you, and she was already looking down at you with a hard look but you had no idea what the hell you did.

“You open a window in my castle and you won't be sleeping at all, guest to Mother Miranda be damned.” she snarled, her tone steely and you had no choice but to listen—even if she didn’t have you in a death grip, “The windows are off limits. Do not open them. Do not touch them. Are we clear?”

Your eyebrows furrowed, still struggling against her unyielding hold and against your rising temper, “What the—”

“Do you understand?” she tightened her grip on the back of your clothing, forcing the collar of every layer you wore to constrict around your throat at an alarming fast rate.

“Understood.” you gritted, your blunt nails digging her soft flesh beneath your hands that was her stomach but you doubted that your nails were as deadly as hers. You didn't bother to tell her that it was a joke and you were quick to straighten yourself out as you caught your balance when she released you with a bit of a pull against your parka forcing you away from her. You cursed her in your native tongue but her attentions were now focused on something to your left—no, on someone.

“Ah, good! Servant, come here,” a young girl no older than twenty quickly came over, bowing her head awkwardly.

“Y-yes Lady Dimitrescu, how may I serve—”

Alcina cut in quickly as if she had better things to do, and she did, “You're not serving me tonight, girl. This (Y/n). She will be staying in the guest room to the left of the wine room and you will be tending to her every need for the duration of her stay, and I do mean her every need.” though her tone was cheerful there was an undertone of a threat if her instructions went under-performed. Alcina winked at you as she hadn't almost choked you out in the middle of her foyer.

“Yes ma'am, I understand.”

The maiden nearly nodded her head from her shoulders. She was so terrified. If you were blind you would've assumed it was her first day, but a good portion of you knew that it was something else—you remembered quite well how Miranda preferred to run her own kingdom and you weren't surprised that this woman had similar tastes.

“Keep your pleasantries. Just show me to my room and leave me before I really lose my fucking temper.” you snarled at both of them, namely the Lady of the castle. You were able to physically restrain yourself from starting a brawl with this woman but your mouth has almost always gotten you into more than half the situations that left marks all over your body.

Lady Dimitrescu looked back to you, tilting her head back slightly as if she was just finally taking notice of how hard you were glaring at her. She did not know why as it could've been for a number of things that have happened within the last five minutes.

Alcina's eyes shifted from you to the trembling maiden between the two of you, then back to you again, “Are we going to have an issue, (Y/n)?” and clearly misunderstanding the reason for your ire.

You scoffed knowing when to pick your battles and how she handles her staff was not one of them. But how she handled you was, “Manhandle me again and we will.”

The maiden gasped at your audacity and flinched sharply when Alcina chuckled while setting her hand on her hip. She found more and more curious and she was starting to see why Miranda liked you so much before. There was a spirit that burned inside of you—strong and rattling in its cage, she could see it in your eyes even as you restrained yourself.

The maiden opened her eyes when she didn't feel the whoosh of Lady Dimitrescu slapping you through the wall, she was surprised to see you still standing there alive. The maiden looked at you in awe before bowing her head, “P-please follow me, ma'am.”

Alcina still stood there with her hand on her hip and another one of her cigarettes was lit, watching you follow the little maiden through one of the side doors when a familiar buzzing made itself known until Bela was standing next to her, snuggled close as she wiped the blood from her mouth with the sleeve of her black shift. It needed to be washed anyway.

“Mother, who is that? Another meal?”

“No,” Alcina answered softly, reaching down with her free hand to push back Bela's hood so she could comb out a few tangles in her eldest daughter's blonde hair, “But she is very interesting, isn't she?”

“Yes, but who is she?” Bela asked again, this time looking up at Alcina.

“Perhaps a friend, or foe, that has yet to reveal itself. But for now, go and collect your sisters dear and meet me in my study...I wish to talk to them about something more pressing.”

Bela was gone in an instant, the synchronized buzzing of dozens of blowflies disappearing quickly leaving Alcina alone with her thoughts.

Here is a link to the Ao3 version of this story...if it's easier than tumblr...

#resident evil village #mother miranda x reader #alcina x reader #resident evil 8 #mother miranda #lady alcina x reader #resident evil miranda x reader

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brockadoodles · 4 years ago

Text

endless moments that led me to you - b. boeser

AN: I wasn’t gonna post this for a while cause like, there’s so much content and I really don’t want it to get buried but @nikolajehlers asked nicely so.. please don’t let it flop. I promise there’s no angst. It’s a 4+1 but slightly different.

Word Count: 4281

Warnings: teeth rotting fluff, also babies.

You were a firm believer in the concept that all lives were a series of moments. Moments where sometimes you’d feel joy so closely that it bubbled in your stomach. Moments where sometimes you’d feel heartbreak so deeply that your chest would physically ache. Life to you, was about the little things that added up to all of those moments, and the people that you chose to spend it with along the way. Friends came and went, flings and partners came and went, and that was okay with you because they were a part of a little moment, a moment in time that you’d cherish forever. Brock Boeser was different. He wasn’t a little moment, he was what all the little moments led to, even if it took you far too long to realize it.

You stood in front of your shared vanity, the reflection of a tree filled with thick snow coming from the window that was opposite of the mirror and you smiled. You reached a hand down to your stomach and spread your fingers, the ring glistening on your left hand, another not so little moment in your love story with your best friend.

“We’re gonna tell daddy about you today, little peanut. Hope you’re ready.” You hummed, looking back up at your own reflection in the mirror,

“I sure am.” You added softly. This moment was one that felt like it was almost not possible. It had been over a year of trying, a year of doubting, negative after negative test. Each one cracking your heart a little more. Each one was a moment you wanted to forget, because you didn’t want another negative. You didn’t want to have to watch his face fall when he’d look at the test first for you, a frown on his face when he would break the news. You didn’t want another moment where you doubted yourself and wondered why your body wouldn’t work the way you wanted it to.

A soft knock broke you from your little moment in the mirror, and the man in question poked his head through the door. He was a bit older now, his hair was a bit shorter than he used to keep it, his beard now has flecks of grey mixed in, but he was still the same person you fell in love with all those years ago. Another moment that led to now.

“Are you ready to go?” He asked.

“Yeah.” You softly answered, leaning up to kiss him quickly before following him out. You grabbed your bag, knowing that the surprise was tucked safely inside for him to see in just a little while. You thought back to what life was like before getting to love Brock, and found yourself lost in a daze from the moment when he almost told you how he felt, but couldn’t quite get the words out.

“Where are we going?” You asked your best friend as he drove down the windy road. The top was off of his Jeep, the sun shining down on you as you watched the scenery pass by. It was his first summer back home in Prior Lake since starting in Vancouver. It had been three weeks since he came slowly walking out of the airport terminal, falling into your arms with a sleepy smile and a hug that lingered just a bit too long, and you had spent almost every minute with Brock since.

“My favorite place.” You tilted your head at him and wondered why you didn’t recognize where you were going. You and Brock didn’t really have secrets, you had met a few years prior, your friend had been dating his roommate at the time and the two of you clicked instantly, becoming nearly best friends overnight. You were used to him being away, but he never once made you feel like you weren’t a priority to him, and every time he came home you knew that the distance between you didn’t really matter.

“I really missed you this year.” Brock frowned. His voice was a bit softer than usual. It was shaky as you sat next to him, your legs dangling from the back of his Jeep as you admired the lake in front of you. His words sent a pang of sadness to your chest, a feeling that you had buried deep down a long time ago. You were used to missing Brock, but something about the tone of his voice had you wondering if he was trying to say that he missed you in the way that you missed him.

“I missed you, too.” Was all that you responded with, careful to guard your own heart. Things worked with Brock as they were. Every year he left, off to live out his dream that was now a reality, and you always stayed in contact, spending nearly all of your time together when he was home. But Brock always left, he had to, and while he took a little piece of your heart with him each time he went, the feeling of knowing he was keeping it safe for when he returned was enough to stop you from admitting your feelings. Because having a piece of your heart gone every fall was manageable, having the entire thing gone forever was not.

Brock had always felt like he was somewhat of an old soul, or the type of person who was always just emotionally a few years ahead of those around him. He thought often about what his life was going to look like in the future, where he wanted to settle down, how many kids he hoped to have, one girl and one boy, and who he pictured this future with. Each vision or dream he had was of you. Every girl he met, every single one that he tried to connect with in Vancouver when you weren’t there, he picked apart. Perhaps he did this unfairly, placing expectations on people who didn’t deserve to be compared to the person he was waiting for back home, but that’s what he did, until he had the realization that it was you he wanted, only you. So when he told you he missed you, it meant something more than the traditional definition of the words.

“No, I missed you.” He took your hand in his and laced your fingers through his own as he spoke.

“I realized that while I was in Vancouver, everything came back to you. All I wanted was you, all I ever want, is you. You’re not just my best friend, I don’t think you have been in a long time. I want it to be real, do you want it to be real?”

You didn’t have the words on the tip of your tongue to answer, instead you grabbed his cheek and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips that turned into something more out there on the lake, in the back of his Jeep, that answered the question just the way he wanted you to. It was a moment shared between two people who were probably too young to know what love really meant, but had the closest possible version of it at the time.

“You seem a little distracted, honey. Everything alright?” Brock asked you, snapping you from the moment back into the current one. Your hand had been frozen on top of the bag on the counter, the one containing the food you were planning to bring, not that your stomach was settled enough to eat any of it anyways. Brock had a concerned expression on his face and his eyes were soft as he tried to read your feelings.

“Just thinking about how much I love you.” You smiled. It wasn’t a lie, in a way that’s what you were thinking about and the answer seemed to satisfy Brock as he took a moment to wrap an arm around your waist and kiss your forehead gently.

“I love you, too.” He replied, kissing your temple softly before heading out the side door to where the car was parked, you walking just a few paces behind him and taking it all in.

Brock was home for Christmas and it was the first time you had seen him in almost three months. After spending the first part of your relationship together almost 24/7, the reality of long distance hit you as soon as September came and he had to leave again. The distance wasn’t easy. The time difference sometimes would get in the way and you’d just miss each other. Sometimes when he tried to call after games, he would just miss you, usually with your phone buzzing in your hand as you fell asleep. But for all of the hard moments, there were also the good ones, and you had been counting down the days, to the hours, to the minutes that you would see him again.

You waited outside of the terminal for him, your arms wrapped tightly around your chest. His sweatshirt was underneath your parka, and the beanie on your head was also his. You took whatever you could take of him when he was home, almost letting it become a running joke when in reality you used the material objects as pieces of him to hold onto. Comfort when he wasn’t there to comfort you. You watched as person after person came through the gates until you saw him. You didn’t care that people were staring as you ran into his arms, jumping into them and kissing him hard. He reacted instantly, pulling you closer and resting his hand on the nape of your neck.

“Can we go to our spot?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. You pulled back to look at him and nodded. Grabbing his hand and lacing your fingers together as you walked out of the airport and to the parking lot.

“You know, the view isn’t really as great when we can’t see anything.” You commented as you parked the car in the familiar place. Brock had been suspiciously quiet the entire ride from the airport to the familiar spot on the lake, and part of you was riddled with nerves that this was some cruel way of breaking up with you exactly where you got together, an idea that didn’t even make sense fully when you thought about it. Brock didn’t answer your question, instead he looked straight out the window at the dark now frozen lake, whose only source of light was the soft glow of the various homes surrounding it and the reflection of the moon on the ice.

“I love you.” He whispered, breathing a sigh of relief as soon as the words left his lips and hit the air. Your breath caught in your throat and you nearly cried. You had felt it for weeks now, that you loved him. And you had almost told him so many times. On nights where he felt just far enough away that it hurt, you would almost say the three words. On nights where one of you was experiencing a happy moment, you almost said it. On nights when you’d fight from the distance that felt permanent between you, you almost said it. So hearing them come from his lips, was your favorite moment you had shared together so far.

“I love you too, Brock.”

That was probably one of your favorite memories to think about. You were young and trying to navigate your entire life with a chunk of you physically in another country most of the time. But even through the time differences, the schedules, and the endless amount of FaceTimes and minutes on the phone, you always had him. And the thing about Brock was that he always made sure you knew that, even now that you were older and in a different phase of love.

Brock was undoubtedly your person. The concept you see written about in love stories and dramatized in television shows. He was the personification of that for you and as you looked over at him while he was driving the familiar route to the spot that had become your spot together, no questions asked, you were thankful that this whole new moment was going to be with him.

As the trees continued to pass by and the music softly faded into the back of your consciousness, you thought about another moment where Brock reminded you that he was the destination for you, that every other moment was just a catalyst leading you down a path of a life with him.

Brock was normally a calm person, his demeanor was relaxed and things didn’t outwardly bother him. He rarely showed his nerves, you had always supposed that it was a by product of the many traumas he has grown up with. But he still made an effort, openly talking about his feelings with you and openly loving you with his entire heart nestled on his sleeve. Brock in this moment, was anything but calm or collected.

He had driven you back to that same spot on the lake, the one that was tucked away neatly about fifteen minutes from his parents house where he grew up, where you had already had so many moments with him. He was practically shaking with nerves as he parked the car and you got out, heading straight for the back of the Jeep like you always did. He watched you for a moment, taking in each detail about you as if they weren’t already memorized and stored nearly in his head. Habits and details that he thought about more often now that you were his and he was yours, replaying the memories and moments in his head when it wasn’t resting next to yours, when he was miles away from you. You caught his eye and smiled at him, and he knew. He knew that this moment was the right moment. He knew that you were his forever, and the ring box in his pocket didn’t feel so heavy anymore the longer he focused on your smile.

Brock moved to stand in front of you, stepping between your legs as they dangled from the edge of the Jeep. He rested his hands on your thighs, using his thumb to rub soft circles into your skin. He looked at you like you were his entire world, and that was because you were. You were the only thing he couldn’t live without.

“I was thinking…” He hummed as he reached one of his hands into his pockets, never moving his eyes from yours.

“Oh boy, I can only imagine what about.” You teased with a soft smile on your lips. You were expecting a chirp back, a moment of banter like so many that you had shared before. You weren’t expecting him to just smile and drop to one knee in front of you. You weren’t expecting him to pull out a black velvet box, with a gorgeous ring nestled firmly into the cushions. You weren’t expecting the tears that fell from your cheeks as you nodded yes over and over again, unable to speak from the shock of what was happening. Regardless of what you hadn’t been expecting, your feelings after it happened were a welcomed, comfortable rush of love. The love that had been consistently pooling deep into your chest, making a permanent home there now that Brock had put a ring on your hand, a moment that up until then was the best one of your life.

As he pulled into the usual spot, you thought of another moment. One that you would in a way get to do again, now that there was a new addition coming to the family. You looked off into the distance, spotting the same house you had just come from. The deck still looked new, the paint was fresh, and the memory of what it once looked like was another moment cemented into your heart as you thought back to the moment you first saw it. Vancouver was beautiful, but this was home.

“God, I love it here.” You hummed as you stepped out of the car. It was early June and this was the first time you had been back to the lake since coming home. It wasn’t too hot yet and the sun was reflecting just enough on the water to show the deep blue color that you loved. Everything about it felt familiar as you stood there for the first time in months. Brock wrapped an arm around your shoulders and turned your body into his, pressing a kiss to your lips quickly that still had your heart racing every time he did it. You were no stranger to the feeling, having been together for a few years now, but you still couldn’t believe that you were lucky enough to still have him, each moment spent with him gave you a new understanding of love, and the engagement ring that now adorned your finger was a product of that.

“So I have a reason that I brought us here.” Brock smiled down at you.

“Yeah? Please share with the class, Brock.” You joked. His eyes rolled a bit and you leaned up to kiss the smirk off of his lips. He settled you into his chest and rested his head on top of yours, admiring the view of the lake. If he looked hard enough, he could see the property just to the left and down a few miles, the one he had come here to talk to you about. He pulled back from you slightly and looked into your eyes.

“I found this house, it’s kind of a mess honestly and would be a lot of work. But it’s here, on the lake, and it has this feel to it that reminds me of you, of us. And I don’t know, I guess I just want to make it ours, build it back up together and have a home to come back to when we’re here.”

You let his words sink in, all of the feelings about what he had just said fluttering in your heart. You had been engaged for only a few months now, you lived together in Vancouver, you came back to Minnesota with him whenever the two of you could, it felt like the most logical next step together, to figure out where to settle. Vancouver was where you spent 90% of time, and you had never really thought about it as home, until then, Brock was your home, Vancouver was just a place that you happened to enjoy. Brock however, took your moment of silence as hesitation, and for a few seconds he pulled back, letting his mind race that maybe what he was asking for was too much.

“I know we haven’t really talked about it, or about where we’d want to raise kids yet. I don’t know, maybe it’s too much, I just..” He turned to face you, grabbing one of your hands in his and running his thumb along your skin, something he always did when he was nervous.

“I don’t want to just come home to you, I want to come come with you, in a place that we build up together. I know we have the Vancouver place, and I know we’re getting married next year, but, I don’t know if it’s something about being here, but it feels right. Don’t you think?” And with a statement like that from who was most likely the greatest person you ever had the privilege to love, how could you say no?

“Let’s do it, Brock. Let’s fix a home together.” And that’s exactly what you spent the next year doing, designing each detail to accommodate into your lives together perfectly. From the kitchen you had dreamed of having since you were little, to the view of the lake you grew up on from the back deck. You had always thought you’d grow up and leave Prior Lake, and even though you did for 90% of the year, you felt a wave of nostalgia coming back to have a house here together. It felt fitting for the moment as newlyweds, and deep down you knew that it would be perfect once kids became a part of the moment.

“We’ve been through a lot here.” You hummed as Brock drove down the familiar windy road. The snow was freshly crisp, littering the trees with white. Your stomach was fluttering with nerves as you got closer and closer to the spot at the lake that had become the spot where every important moment together had happened.

Brock had taken you here one summer nearly five years ago, telling you that his feelings had progressed past friendship and into something more. He had brought you there again nearly a year later, where the moon reflected on the frozen lake as he told you he loved you for the first time. The third time he brought you to this spot, it was fall, just before you were both set to move back to Vancouver for the upcoming season and he had gotten down on his knee and put a ring on your hand, the same ring that sat securely on your left finger as he held your hand while driving. The last time he brought you here, it was a year ago, to ask you to build a home together, the same home that he thought was finished, but you’d soon be telling him about one more renovation to make.

This time, you asked him to come to this spot, you were the one that was going to change his life that day, and as he pulled back into the familiar place, everything felt calm. You looked over at the man you had fallen in love with all those years ago and subtly ran your hand over your stomach, this was real, it was the love you didn’t think you’d get to find and you got to experience it all with your best friend, every little moment had led to this one right here.

“Yeah, feels like some of that stuff was forever ago, honestly. I mean we’re getting old now, almost 30.” He joked. You just leaned your head into his shoulder a bit, silently agreeing with him. Somehow all of those moments did feel like forever ago, even if in reality it was only five years, not even half of a decade’s worth of moments yet somehow they all felt central to your survival. You couldn’t imagine life without him, and everyday you felt lucky that you never had to.

“I brought you here for a reason, though.” You mumbled as you grabbed your bag. You dug through it for a moment, buying yourself an extra few moments of time before everything would be out in the open. Before he would know what might be the best news he ever heard. You pulled out the envelope, opening it slowly in front of him and handing him the piece of paper.

Brock froze as you handed him the piece a paper. That small piece of paper confirming what you had both been trying for, for months. Months of tears, and negative results that tore your heart out each time you saw them. Months of questions and wondering if this was ever going to happen for you. Months leading up to this moment, where you got to hand him a piece of paper with a positive result on it.

You bit your lip as he scanned over the paper, his eyes welling with tears as he took in the result, your own filling just watching him.

“Are you serious? This is real?” He asked, gesturing to the paper still firmly in his hands. You nodded softly, wiping your eyes a bit. Brock quickly grabbed you, holding his hands steady on both of your cheeks as he pressed his lips to yours, smiling into the kiss. He pulled away, his eyes still glistening with fresh tears as he pressed one hand flush against your stomach, as close as he could get with your puffy parka keeping you warm in the snow.

“I can’t believe it, you’re really serious? We’re having a baby?” You could see the hesitation in his eyes, the concern about getting too excited over something that might not be real. But it was, and you smiled reassuringly as you rested your hand on top of his, nodding slowly at him to confirm what he had just read on that little piece of paper from your doctor.

“Holy shit we’re going to be parents.” He concluded, his eyes wide as he jumped out of the back of the Jeep. He nearly slipped as he landed in the snow, pacing back and forth a bit at the news and continuously mumbling something you couldn’t quite make out about being a dad. You looked out at the frozen lake behind him, snow covering the surrounding trees, the sky grey, and you thought back to all of the moments you had shared with him from this spot. From being young and stupid together, spending summer nights out by the water, to standing in a spot nearby surrounded by all of your close family and friends, with a flower crown secure on your head as you walked down the makeshift aisle and married him all those years ago. Your heart swelled at the memories out here on the lake, and you smiled thinking about how you were going to get to share that in the future with your little one.

#brock boeser #brock boeser imagine #brock boeser story #brock boeser fic #brock x reader #nhl imagine #nhl fic #hockey imagine #hockey fic #canucks imagine

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tbhsoft · 4 years ago

Text

life bar

idol!haechan x idol!y/n

summary: after the legendary interview was released, you and haechan began dating and have been getting an overwhelming sense of support.

genre: fluff

length: 2.1k

a/n: ah! i didn’t think the first post would gain any traction but it did! thank you so much for returning for a part two :)

this is modeled after the korean variety show, life bar. it’s a great show where celebrities aren’t subject to formal interview settings. please check it out! (mark did appear on the show with xiumin and changmin)

i’m not entirely sure of the hosts’ (other than heechul & yura) popularity outside of korea so excuse me for just labelling them as hosts.

if you missed part one, click here!

originally dnghycks’ gif

[the atmosphere is lively and filled with joy] host: how long have you been dating again?

heechul: oh, haechan! you’re dating someone?

haechan: ah, hyung! let’s not act like no one knows.

[heechul, dejected, grumbles to himself]

johnny (laughing): haechan didn’t fall for your bait.

[haechan winks at heechul, making heechul go into mock rage]

host: so, it’s been about 4 years?

[haechan plays with the glass in his hands, smiling to himself]

haechan (shyly): ya, just about.

heechul: are you guys still in your honeymoon phase?

host: do you still get butterflies when you see them?

haechan (nodding): of course! it hasn’t been that long.

heechul: it’s difficult to have a successful relationship as an idol. how did you guys handle it after that interview went viral?

haechan: it was very different to what i expected, you know?

haechan: first of all, we were preparing for the award shows and i was super focused.

haechan: i think it was during our water break that notifications were blowing up all of our phones.

johnny: we were so confused and thought it was from our managers.

haechan: i didn’t react immediately but i could hear the other members reacting, saying things like “no way” or “holy crap”.

haechan: everyone turned and looked at me. i felt like an imposter.

haechan: i was like “what? do i have something on my face? did someone send a meme of me?”

haechan: that’s when mark hyung showed me the news articles.

haechan: i blanked out for the rest of the day if i’m honest, barely remember anything from that day.

haechan: the only thing i remember was the pit in my stomach growing every time i stopped practicing. so, i kept pushing myself so i didn’t have time to think.

johnny: haechan actually fainted that day. he worked himself so hard that we had to rush him to the hospital.

haechan: luckily, it was just exhaustion and i could still perform. but, when i woke up, they told me to rest as much as possible.

haechan: the managers made sure i didn’t leave the house and told me to rest up.

haechan: it forced me to process what the news articles were saying.

haechan: once i did, all i was worried about was how y/n might be handling it.

haechan: was jyp going to give them a hard time?

host: did you text them?

haechan: because we were both focused on the award shows, i thought it best to avoid contact with them until it was all over.

johnny: even when it was all over, he still couldn’t text them.

johnny: i remember haechan pacing our room, trying to decide whether or not to call them.

haechan: i wanted to offer comfort but i wasn’t sure if it would aggravate the situation.

haechan: i think it was a few days after the last award show that i had an official meeting with lee sooman and the press team.

haechan: my eyes were wide the entire meeting.

haechan: lee sooman started the meeting by saying “congratulations!” and i was confused.

haechan: he went on to explain that he liked y/n for me and would support this relationship publicly as long as it didn’t affect my work.

haechan: i couldn’t really articulate my feelings so i think i just nodded.

haechan: he continued asking me about y/n after it, asking if we had made it official yet.

haechan: when i said no, he said that he would issue a buffer statement so i had time to ask them out.

haechan: the meeting concluded and, on my way home, y/n texted me.

heechul: what did they say?

haechan: “can we talk?”

heechul (dramatically rubbing his arms): oh no! the chills!

[haechan chuckles and takes a sip of his beer]

haechan: i told them we should meet in person to talk about it as professionals and adults.

johnny: when he tells it like that, it makes him seem tough. he was tearing up while he was getting ready to go out.

[haechan throws dried squid at johnny]

johnny: yo, thank you! i was hungry!

haechan (rolling his eyes): i wasn’t tearing up—

johnny: you’re right! you were sobbing. my bad!

johnny: you were so scared that you were gonna lose y/n.

[haechan balls up his fist in playful anger]

haechan: if only…

haechan: anyways, i was scared that i was going to be entering the new year without my best friend.

haechan: i asked johnny to drive me to our meeting spot so our manager wouldn’t know.

haechan: once we got there, y/n was already waiting on the bench for me so i told johnny to just chill in the car.

johnny: this is when i snuck my phone in his parka so i could wiretap the conversation.

[haechan pinches his nose bridge]

haechan: ah, hyung! privacy! no wonder your guesses were so accurate.

haechan: anyways, we sat down and talked like we always do. then, we got together!

johnny: in the end, y/n asked him out because he kept stumbling over his words.

johnny: y/n was giggling the whole time. it was very wholesome.

[haechan facepalms while the hosts laugh]

heechul (facing the camera): y/n, please take care of haechan! i know he lacks courage sometimes but—

haechan: really, now? after 4 years?

[johnny laughs while patting haechan’s head]

host: do you hold any resentment towards your interviewers?

[haechan takes a swig of his beer]

haechan: i did at the beginning? i don’t think y/n or i were ready to confess our feelings to each other’s faces just yet.

haechan: but, it’s not entirely their fault either.

haechan: i think, because we kept it a secret for so long, we wanted to tell someone and it was the first time we were prompted to talk about it under the veil of false security.

johnny (understandingly): and it’s easier to tell strangers than your closest friends, right?

haechan: for sure. i think a small part of me did hope they would see the entire interview at some point and that’s why i was so transparent.

heechul: and, because of that, you’re in a beautiful relationship now!

haechan (grinning): thank goodness for that!

host: what did they say when you told them you were coming to our show?

[haechan throws his head back in laughter]

johnny (chuckling): they told him that his taste in alcohol sucks and that they felt sorry for the hosts.

heechul: but, all the drinks you recommended are so good!

haechan (wiping away tears): that’s because they’re their recommendations. i don’t really drink for taste, only the social aspect.

johnny: y/n doesn’t like alcohol. so, if they think something tastes good, then it tastes amazing.

heechul: let’s raise our glasses to our hero, y/n!

[everyone happily raises their glass and cheers to you]

host: did you take them on a date immediately after the statements were released?

haechan: well, i wanted to… but, busy schedules and the fact that we hung out so much beforehand made it near impossible to have a good first date.

johnny: he was looking up “good date ideas” online and kept complaining that he already did those.

haechan: it wasn’t intentional. i guess y/n and i just liked to do couple things unironically.

heechul: i can’t believe you guys never got caught.

haechan: i think it’s because we were dressed so plainly without any disguises.

haechan: only a few people ever recognized our bare faces.

haechan: so, i decided to take them to jeju to see my mom after she called me.

johnny (laughing): i remember that call! she was like “now, bring my future in-law or else i’ll beat you up!”

haechan: when we got there, my mom totally ignored me and went straight for them.

haechan: she told them “i knew donghyuck liked you! he’s such a loser for not asking you out sooner.”

[haechan massages his temple and sighs]

johnny: on the record, haechan’s mom definitely loves y/n more than him.

[haechan nods in agreement]

haechan: so, after my mom babied y/n enough, i took them where you could see the stars perfectly.

haechan: i was really nervous and i didn’t really know what to do until y/n grabbed my hand.

haechan: they looked at me and said “as long as you’re with me, every passing moment is perfect. so, stop trying so hard.”

heechul: woah, y/n is so cool.

haechan: they really are. so, we spent our first real date stargazing and just enjoyed each other’s company.

[the host introduces the next dish and haechan helps set the table] heechul: why don’t we call y/n?

haechan (hesitant): i don’t know if they’re awake. they’re always taking naps at this time.

heechul: i’ll call them.

[heechul rings you up]

you (groggily): hello?

heechul: y/n! it’s heechul with the life bar crew. if you could introduce yourself.

[shuffling is heard through the phone]

you (clearer): all in us! hello, i’m y/n from itzy!

heechul: we were just talking about your relationship and wanted to hear your perspective.

[heechul motions haechan to say something]

haechan (sweetly): hi, darling. i’m sorry we interrupted your nap.

you: no, it’s okay! my alarm was about to go off anyways.

haechan: i was telling them about what happened after the interview and our first date.

you: ah, those were interesting.

heechul: oh? interesting, how?

you (giggling): if you know haechan, you know he doesn’t really cry, much less sob. but, when he showed up to talk, his eyes were puffy from crying so much and he had tear streaks on his face.

haechan (pouting): let’s not expose too much, y/n!

you (teasingly): what are you gonna do? cry on me?

[haechan sits back in his chair, frowning]

you: anyways! i vividly remember feeling bolder after the interview, not that i wasn’t nervous about public opinion.

you: however, i was actually talking to jyp when everything blew up.

you: he reassured me that he didn’t mind and he would support any decision i made.

you: just like that, he removed a whole weight off of my shoulders.

you: so, i was able to perform with confidence and complete reassurance.

you: but, whenever i saw hyuck at the award shows, he looked like he was about to implode so i thought it was better to wait for him to text me.

you: i’m sure johnny told you how frustrated the whole group was. i was the exact same.

[haechan blushes and buries his face in his hands]

you: i just wanted to be able to call him mine but he wouldn’t text me.

[everyone laughs and quietly teases haechan]

you (laughing): honestly, i was really impatient but i didn’t want to push him. so, i waited for a whole week after the last award show.

you: but, he was avoiding me really well! i even had to text johnny to make sure he was still alive.

you: so, i decided to just reach out to him first.

you: during the meeting, i tried to act like normal and tease him about his puffy face but he was having none of it.

you: “y/n, this is serious. this is our careers we’re talking about.”

you: i was scared for a moment until he was stumbling his confession out.

you: “the interview! i meant it. everything. i do. i would really like it if— i mean if you feel the same way— of course you do! you said it in the video. you do feel the same way, right?”

haechan (whining): you’re making me sound lame!

you: no, you were cute! but, also, slightly lame.

[you cackle through the phone]

you: so, i just asked him.

heechul: how about the first date?

you: he was so worried about being romantic and having that perfect first date that he forgot that i’m just a simple person.

you: when we went to see the stars, he was so nervous and was getting frustrated with himself.

you: to me, the effort he went through in itself was romantic to me.

you: i didn’t need the most spectacular first date because him being by my side was more than perfect.

you: so, i just let him know my thoughts and, when he finally relaxed, it became the most memorable first date ever.

heechul: what happened after he relaxed?

haechan: i listed all the little things that made me fall in love with them time and time again.

[everyone awes]

you: he made me feel like the most beautiful being in the universe.

heechul: okay! before this turns to sappy, y/n! thank you so much for joining us today!

you (laughing): it was my pleasure! invite me next time so i can expose haechan!

haechan: ya!

heechul: will do, bye!

[heechul hangs up the call]

host: you can definitely feel the love between you two.

haechan (in mock anger): i’m going to jump them the next time i see them.

heechul (grinning): well, i wish you guys nothing but happiness. host (raising his glass): to haechan and y/n’s beautiful relationship! [glasses clink as a bright grin appears on haechan’s face]

a/n: if i’m completely honest, idk how relationships work so idk if the way i wrote about this situation was done in a healthy way :P

pls feel free to give me feedback because i’m always looking to improve!

thank you so much for reading once again!

also, idk really know how taglists work so... @wownajaemin, hello!

#haechan fluff #fullsunnet #thekpopnetwork #haechan imagines #haechan x reader #nct imagines #nct fluff #nct dream fluff #nct dream imagines #nct 127 #dreamies #nct

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sukifans · 4 years ago

Note

Get that bread! I really miss working but I also enjoy not being on my feet all the time lol Can I ask for #10 and #16 with Sokka and a f!reader? A hello/good-bye kiss that is given without thinking - where neither person thinks twice about it. One person pouting, only to have it removed by a kiss from the other person. -🍓

DAY OFF // sokka

WC: 1.8k

WARNINGS: none

A/N: these two prompts were so cute together i love it!! thank u for the request bb. i keep writing about people being cold and i think i’m just trying to manifest some fall weather instead of the 85° days that i’m getting where i live

⇦ 𝘔𝘈𝘚𝘛𝘌𝘙𝘓𝘐𝘚𝘛

You shivered against the chilly morning air and, still mostly asleep, reached around to find the warm body that usually occupied the bed with you. When your hand found only blankets and pillows you peeked one eye open to discover you were alone. You frowned and sat up, squinting against the early morning sunlight that streamed through the window. With a huff you threw your socked feet over the side of the bed to step into your slippers and wrapped yourself in the warmest fur from your bed before venturing out into the main room of your home. You found Sokka sitting by the hearth in the center of the room, chin in his palm as he considered the scroll in front of him. He looked up when he heard you enter and a soft smile spread across his face when he saw you bundled up and eyes barely open.

“Morning,” he called to you, patting the spot next to him on the mat. You made a sleepy noise of acknowledgement as you shuffled over and plopped down next to him with a yawn. “What’re you doing up so early?”

“‘S cold in bed without you,” you mumbled, snuggling up against his side. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around you, pulling you in tight against him. Though it was still frigid, you already felt warmer in his embrace. You unthinkingly accepted the quick peck he gave you like every other morning. “Why are you awake?”

“Dad asked me to look over these plans for the new village square before the council meeting today.”

You groaned and buried your face into his neck. “I thought you said they could handle it? You promised no work for a few days so we can just lay in bed and eat and do nothing.”

“I know, but I can’t help being the most competent person around here. They need me... desperately. I mean, look at this!” He gestured forcefully at the plans. “Not even Aang’s spirity stuff could hold this building up. And the market placement just doesn’t make any sense.”

“You’re cute when you’re smart.” You pressed a kiss to his jaw and leaned against his shoulder.

“I’m always smart.”

“You’re always cute,” you giggled at the look he shot down at you.

“I think I’ve been a bad influence on you. That almost gave me oogies.”

“Almost?”

He cupped your face in his hands and nudged your nose with his. “Yeah, if you weren’t so darn cute yourself.”

You rolled your eyes and slid your hands over his, smiling. “Ew. Gross, Sokka.”

“I can’t help it, you bring it out of me.”

“Still not as gross as Aang and Katara, though.”

Sokka pulled a face and tossed his head back. “Blegh, don’t make me think about that. I was having such a nice time just looking at your pretty face.”

“Stop it,” you huffed, “you’re making me blush.”

“I know, it’s cute.” His fond, teasing grin only made your cheeks flush warmer.

“Come back to bed,” you sighed, turning your head to kiss his palm. “The village square can wait, surely.”

His regretful expression did not leave you hopeful. “The meeting is today.”

“You have to go?” He nodded and your lips turned down into a frown. “Ugh. No fair, I called dibs on you today.”

His rumbling chuckle filled your chest with a glowing warmth. “Unfortunately, the council doesn’t respect the sovereignty of dibs.”

You clicked your tongue distastefully. “Well, I don’t respect the sovereignty of the council.”

“Just don’t let them hear you say that,” he said before leaning in to give you a sweet kiss to wipe away your pout. You hummed happily against his mouth, shifting your body as close as you could and reaching into his hair to pull it free from the wolf tail he wore. His warm breath tickled across your face when you pulled away just enough to catch your breath.

“What do you have against my wolf tail?” he asked, kissing you quickly again.

“You’re so pretty with your hair down,” you murmured, “‘s not my fault.”

“Can’t argue with that logic,” he laughed. He watched you curiously as you stood again, taking his hands and tugging him up with you. You walked backwards in the direction of your bedroom, sporting a sly smirk when he put up no resistance.

“C’mon, pretty boy. Those blankets and pillows are calling our names.” He simply chuckled and shook his head but still happily followed your lead to collapse back in bed. You pulled one of the fur blankets over the both of you, thrilled to have his warm weight on top of you in bed once again.

“I can’t believe you seduced me back here,” he grumbled against your shoulder as your arms snaked around his waist.

“You know you can’t resist me,” you said, kissing his temple.

“Mhm.” He propped himself up on his elbows to look down at you. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll go to this meeting, get it over with as quick as possible. Then I’ll come home, lock the door, barricade the windows, and we won’t leave this bed for a whole day. How does that sound, princess?”

You hummed thoughtfully, tapping your chin as you considered this. “Make it two days and you’re golden.”

“Even better.” He captured your lips in a bruising kiss, tilting your chin up. You raised one hand into his hair to twirl the loose strands between your fingers. “You might give me a run for my money as far as being the smartest person here.”

“You can keep the title. Wouldn’t want to bruise your ego.” You pulled him back down to your mouth insistently. He indulged you for a few moments, gently brushing his thumb along your cheekbone while his hand pressed against your jaw.

“I really”—he kissed you again—“need to look”—and again—“at those plans.”

“I’m not stopping you.”

“You’re very distracting.”

“That’s my job.”

“Well, I have to go do my job.” He gave you one last lingering kiss before pushing himself back up to stand next to the bed. You groaned unhappily, wrapping yourself tightly in the blankets. He ruffled your hair affectionately and walked back out into the main room. After moping in the warm softness of your bed for a few minutes longer, you resigned yourself to dressing in your coziest furs in that signature blue of the water tribes. The women of the tribe had been kind enough to fashion you a wardrobe that would keep you comfortable in the arctic weather as soon as they heard you’d be coming with Sokka for his most recent return trip to the developing faction.

You followed his path out of the bedroom and went about preparing a pot of tea to hang over the fire. Sokka had become absorbed in marking up the plans with corrections and only briefly glanced up to shoot you a warm smile when you sat next to him with a cup and a book in hand. The two of you sat in a comfortable silence, leaning against one another, both completely content to simply exist in the vicinity of the other.

Eventually, maybe after an hour or so, Sokka set his brush down, stretched, and turned to pull your back against his chest in a squeezing hug around your middle, setting his chin on your shoulder. You didn’t look up from your book but still leaned back into his hold, squirming a little as he peppered kisses on the little skin of your neck and face that your clothes left exposed.

“Meeting’s soon,” he sighed quietly, lips barely brushing your ear as he spoke. “I should get going.”

You tilted your head back to gaze up at him pleadingly. “Promise it’ll be quick?”

“I can’t promise anything”—he pecked your lips—“but I’ll try my best.”

“Mmm, fine.” You turned your attention back to your book. “Go be your impressive and intelligent and nitpicky self.” He puffed up at your praise until you mentioned “nitpicky,” at which point he scoffed and pinched your cheek.

“I have to be nitpicky, they’re putting up buildings.”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I think it’s endearing,” you said absently, turning the page as you read. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“You’re distracting me again.”

“Don’t blame me.” He licked his finger and stuck it in your ear, making you recoil with a shout of disgust. You slapped his chest with your book. “Ugh, Sokka! You are such a child; I rescind my previous praises. Get out.”

He laughed deviously as he stood and made his way to the door where his outerwear hung on the wall. You huffed in irritation and repositioned yourself to get comfortable again, shooting him a glare that he returned with a cheeky grin while he shrugged into his thick parka.

“Aw, c’mon, princess! Don’t be mad at me when I’m about to leave. I could die out there and the last thing you would’ve said to me would be, ‘get out.’”

You rolled your eyes. “If the Fire Nation couldn’t kill your goofy ass I doubt anything will get you during a council meeting.”

“You don’t know that,” he postured as he stepped into his boots. “A rabid polar bear dog could burst into the building and eat us all.”

“Run faster than those geriatrics on the council and you’ll be fine.” You couldn’t help but smile a little bit at his bark of laughter.

“Your lack of concern stings,” he said, pressing his hand to his heart.

“I’m sure it does.” He walked back over to you and lifted you to your feet. His hands slid down your sides and settled on your waist.

“I’m sorry,” he pouted dramatically. “Please forgive me?” You tried your best to look bothered, but he knew you couldn’t resist that groveling look and those wide, clear blue eyes.

“You’re annoying, but I guess you’re forgiven.”

“So merciful, my dearest, darling (Y/N).” He took your hand that wasn’t holding your book and raised it to his lips, kissing your knuckles tenderly. Even though he was teasing, the gesture still flustered you.

“Oh, cut it out.” You swatted at him, hoping he didn’t notice the pink in your cheeks (he did).

“I’ll be back soon—“ he pulled you in closer so you were chest to chest “—don’t miss me too much.”

“No promises,” you said before wrapping your arms around his neck and rising on your toes to kiss him sweetly. “Don’t get eaten by a polar bear dog.”

“No promises,” he echoed with a laugh, slotting his mouth over yours once more. After stalling with kisses for a bit longer, he finally stepped away and opened the door, letting in a blast of freezing air. You wrapped your arms around yourself and shivered.

“Love you,” you called after him.

“Love you, too.” He sent you a wave and a warm smile before stepping out and shutting the door behind him.

With a resolute sigh you opened your book and settled down again, pouring a fresh cup of tea to hold in your icy fingers. The fire didn’t warm you nearly as much as Sokka’s presence did, but it would have to do for now.

ATLA TAGS: @hotgirlazula @octophopi @simpinforsukka @protect-remus @akiris @sunflowerazula

ZUKO/SOKKA TAGS: @fiantomartell @avatarayeaye @hypercakeiii

#sokka x reader #sokka x you #sokka x y/n #x sokka #sokka fluff #sokka fic #atla sokka #atla x reader #sokka #mine #requests #atla fic #avatar the last airbender

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stories-to-tell-by-lantern-light · 4 years ago

Text

Who Am I Really?

(Eyeless Jack X Reader)

Iron was all he could taste, as he hugged his arms close to his chest. The white snow that speckled the forest floor contrasted greatly with his newly acquired ash-grey skin. He could feel blood crusting under his fingernails, he could feel the sting of the cold snow underneath his bare feet as he walked. Whatever they did to him, he was no longer human that much was clear, his feet turned more animal-like and had ripped through his old shoes. If he was being honest with himself he knew that from the moment he awoke and could still see that he was no longer human.

Jack Nichols shivered as he caressed the hollow sockets where his eyes should’ve been. They were dripping with the black tar that was mercilessly poured in there by Jenny and her cult.

‘That absolute fucking bitch.’ He thought, and an animal-like snarl tore through his throat. He could feel the stretching and popping of his jaw as he ground his teeth together. Killing her and her stupid friends was therapeutic to him, remembering the taste of their blood as it filled his mouth when he tore out their throats made him feel euphoric. Pausing his steps only for a brief moment he let those memories of eating their flesh and organs consume him, it only served to make his mouth water.

What was wrong with him? Why did that memory, which happened only hours ago, make him so god damn hungry? What exactly had they done to him, as much as he tried not to dwell on that thought the hunger that ate away at him even after the slaughter was almost too much to handle. All Jack wanted when he woke up this morning was to go on a date with a cute girl, get a little drunk, and maybe get lucky (though realistically that was just wishful thinking). The true college experience one might say, even for a med student. Especially with a schedule as busy as his...that was as busy as his. He knew he should’ve just stuck to focusing on school and studying his brain out, god why did he have to listen to his friends as they urged him on the date.

‘What’s the worst that can happen?’

This. This was clearly the worst possible outcome.

What he really couldn’t believe, however, was that he allowed one of the cultists to get a hit on him, and a bad one at that. Turning his head to glance down at the tear in his thigh, it was a deep gash that desperately needed to get medical attention and fast. The only problem the former medical student faced was that whatever was pouring out of his leg wasn’t blood. It was a deep black ooze that stained the white snow that littered the forest floor. In fact, Jack wasn’t even sure if normal medical supplies would even heal his wound. Jack grit his teeth trudging onwards into the forest, a faint buzzing reverberated around in his skull like flies buzzing around a corpse that he couldn’t seem to shake.

He placed his hand against a tree the world spinning around him. Whatever the blood-like substance that was pouring out of his leg was, he was losing it fast. Jack heard the crunching of snow in front of him and a small gasp. It took most of his strength but he picked his head up and snarled. Jack bared his teeth and tried to make himself look as dangerous as possible, he felt like a wild animal that was cornered by the hunter. There was a girl in front of him, she had (h/l) (h/c) hair that was stuffed under a furry winter hat. She took a few steps back, her brown snow boots making giant footprints in her wake. He could hear the blood flowing through this girl’s veins, as her anxiety levels seemed to spike. The anxiety caused her heartbeat to quicken drastically, hearing the sound only served to increase Jack’s seemingly ceaseless hunger. Jack tried to take another step towards her, flexing the sharp nails on his hands but collapsed under his own weight, his fucking leg. He really couldn’t catch a break, could he?

“What are you?” The girl’s voice held a slight quiver to it and Jack could feel her sharp eyes burning holes into his body. He watched as she hesitantly took a step closer, her (f/c) parka standing out against the muted colors of the forest.

“I don’t know.” He responded with a raspy breath, she smelled divine but he had no strength to attack. Something in his bones told him that he was beyond human, something so much more, a god perhaps? What a silly thought that he couldn’t shake away. Through his quickly blurring vision, he swore he could make out a pair of fancy dress shoes a little bit behind the girl. He saw the girl drop to her knees and cover her ears, his vision went black and the sound of static accompanied the darkness.

---

Jack was expecting to be dead. He expected to be accompanied by beautiful white light, maybe an angel or something. However, it caught him very off guard when he suddenly awoke in a rather plush bed. He threw the plaid covers off himself unceremoniously and moved to swing his legs over the side of the bed. The baby god never got far because he let out a howl of pain as a sharp sensation traveled up his thigh. Shit right, his entire upper thigh was practically ripped open. He forgot all about that, glancing down at his wound he noticed it was wrapped tightly in medical bandages and he assumed it was stitched up underneath the dressings. Whoever fixed the wound seemed to have done at least a semi-decent job, at least he wasn’t dead. Sniffing the air with his newly acquired sense of smell he could make out the distinct smell of humans and...was that lavender?

Jack felt his stomach growl and he doubled over clutching it. They smelled delicious. He could practically hear their organs singing out to him, rip open the human, steal us, devour us.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by the door opening, in the middle of the doorway stood the exact girl he’d seen in the forest. Immediately going on the defense he bared his teeth opening his jaw as wide as he could, he heard the popping sound of his jaw as it extended, he felt something swirl around in his mouth. He felt a chill run down his spine at the unwelcomed sensation.

Did he have more than one tongue?

Shaking the thought away Jack didn’t move to attack, he was never the type. He would always rather listen to rationality before getting his hands dirty, the only issue was he was starving and the girl would absolutely make a fine meal.

“Don’t try demon.” The girl scoffed eyeing Jack up and down, if he was still his old college self he would’ve gotten flustered at the gesture. A girl showing him attention? Unheard of back them. However, after Jenny, he was almost positive he’d never let that happen again. His sockets looked down at what the girl held in her hands, it was a plate, a plate that had kidneys on top of it. He was only mildly aware of the fact that he was drooling all over himself. “Oh gross.” She scrunched up her nose placing the organs on the bottom of the bed.

Without hesitation, Jack attacked the cold meat shoving it in his mouth with vigor. He knew blood was all over his face and hands but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Jack knew the girl’s calculated eyes were watching his every move, even so, he couldn’t help but let out a groan of pleasure as the food slid down his throat. Once the meal was finished and Jack was satisfied he finally felt he had enough strength to start asking questions.

“Who are you?” He rasped, whipping his mouth with the back of what was left of his sleeve.

“Really? You’re asking ME that question.”

“I’m not a fan of your attitude.”

“I’m not a fan of you bleeding out on my property.”

Jack growled low and guttural.

“Don’t make me hurt you.” The girl had the audacity to laugh in his face was she not aware of what he was capable of now?

“Nice try but I’m not scared of you. You’re not allowed to hurt me as long as you’re under my care.” She pointed to herself with her thumb, puffing out her chest a little however he could hear her pulse increase just the slightest bit.

Jack only scowled.

“What pray tell is exactly stopping me?” He raised an eyebrow watching carefully as the girl lifted up her sleeve to her sweater. Scared into her wrist was a symbol that Jack had never seen before in his life, but for some unknown reason, he felt dread wash over him. Carved into her wrist was an O with an X slashed through it. “What’s that supposed to prove exactly? That you’re into weird tattoos?”

The (h/c)-ette let out a loud sigh like this conversation was boring her. Oh he’s sorry it’s not his fault he was turned into a fucking organ-eating monster by a cult at his local college! If he still had his eyes they would be rolling so far back into his skull, yet he still waited for the girl to explain.

“My name is (y/n), I’m a medical proxy under The Operator. Currently one of the only ones he has left because we keep getting killed off by rogue killers.” The girl, (y/n), clicked her tongue in clear distaste at the mention of said killers. “Since I’m under The Operator it means if you kill me, he’ll kill you, that’s the deal Jacky boy.” That put him on high alert.

“How the fuck do you know my name?”

“You’re certainly full of questions for someone just waking up out of a coma. If you must know The Operator gave me a brief rundown of your file after we found you in the woods.” (Y/n) crossed her arms over her chest “It’s your lucky day because you just got hired to work for him.” She gave him a round of applause, but it sounded more mocking than serious and he only grew more confused.

“This doesn't make any sense to me. I hope you’re aware.”

“I’m sure it isn’t. It’ll all be explained in due time. For now, all you have to focus on is getting better so you can begin your training. Lucky for you, I’m your registered nurse and caregiver, so enjoy your stay at castle de la (Y/n). Trust me when I say you should value your time here while you still have it.” A thousand more questions ran through Jack’s mind and his little question and answer session with his self-proclaimed nurse didn’t really help.

“So you’re a med student then?” She made a noise of affirmation picking at the strings of her sweater.

“Was a med student Jack, that pretty much came to a screeching halt after I was scouted by the boss man. That, however,” He watched as (Y/n) put a hand to her lips signaling him to stop asking questions, “Is a story for another day. The first order of business now that you’ve eaten is a shower. Cause no offense but you smell like dried blood, and coming from me that’s saying something cause I smell blood all the time.”

Jack still didn’t trust this stranger fully and it got under his skin that she seemed to know everything about him and he knew next to nothing about her. Yet, a shower did seem nice at this moment, he glanced down at his hands and noticed his nails were caked with dry blood. He could only imagine what every other part of his body looked like, (y/n) clearly didn’t bother cleaning him up aside from dressing his wounds.

“A shower sounds good.” Jack nodded in confirmation and the girl gave a relieved smile.

“Oh thank God you agreed, it took me a week of convincing to get Jeff to go take his first shower.” Jack decided it was best not to ask who Jeff was deciding that that was a can of worms he shouldn’t open just yet. She reached out to touch him and he immediately recoiled back almost biting her handoff, the smile that appeared disappeared into a frown.

“Don’t touch me.” Memories of Jenny’s friends holding him down while he pleaded for his life flashed across his mind. The blade coming closer and closer to Jack’s crystal blue eyes before making contact and-

“Alright, cannibal boy snap out of it. Can’t have you succumbing to blood lust just yet. You don’t wanna injure yourself more.” (Y/n) snapped her fingers next to his ears and he couldn’t help but feel a little grateful that she snapped him out of his stupor. “I was going to help you to the bathroom because you really shouldn’t put pressure on your leg. Is that okay?”

Jack felt himself nodding reluctantly. She was right, he really shouldn’t put stress on his leg or it could cause more harm than good. Especially since he didn’t know the extent of the injury yet, for all he knew he was lucky they didn’t hit the femoral artery. Her arms went around his waist as the god and the human girl hobbled to the bathroom together. On the short walk there Jack was trying to get a feel of the house, in case he needed to make a grand escape in the future.

“I’ll put some fresh clothes outside the door for you, call for me when you’re done so I can help you back to the bedroom.” (Y/n) explained as Jack hobbled into the bathroom, he didn’t feel the need to respond to her as he shut the door in her face. He heard a faint click of a tongue from the other side of the door and listened to the girls retreating footsteps.

Jack leaned against the sink putting most of his weight on his hands. The sink creaked at the newfound pressure and Jack wasn’t sure it was because it was an old house or because he had newfound strength. He glanced up at the mirror, it was weird somewhat seeing when you had absolutely no eyes. It was the first time since the incident he got a good look at himself, he looked about as good as he felt.

Terrible.

His auburn hair curled around his now pointed ears and was caked in mud and dirt. He was almost grateful that (y/n) didn’t touch him aside from the wound while he was unconscious, Jack couldn’t imagine what he might’ve done if he felt anyone go near his face. Speaking of his face, he opened his mouth and saw his teeth were shaved into razor-sharp fangs. His stomach turned as he remembered the exact reason why they were like that, organs. They were like that so he could eat organs. The thought wasn’t nearly as nauseating as it should’ve been.

His skin was unnatural and sickly grey color, as he lifted up his shirt the color seemed to spread all the way down his body. He glanced down at his hands and saw his nails were long and black, almost like those girls who wore acrylics, except he was sure their nails couldn’t rip into people's chests with a single swipe. Continuing down his body he lifted up one of his padded feet, he was correct in his assumption from earlier. They were much more animal-like, he wondered if they made him faster, what purpose could they possibly serve other than that?

Gently letting his footfall back down on the floor he shuffled to the shower and turned it on, the water sprayed out in a burst and he patiently waited for it to heat up. Eventually, he was able to step inside, not before knocking his head not only against the curtain rod but also on the showerhead.

“Fuck!” He snarled glaring down at the showerhead. Jack did a little double-take, okay he was also super tall, at least he got one blessing out of whatever the fuck was happening. Jack had to kneel on the ground in order to let the water roll down his body, with a deep breath he enjoyed the warm water pelting his skin. He fumbled around with the shampoo trying to figure out how to open it without popping a hole in the container. As the lid popped open he was hit with the calming scent of lavender.

~~~

“We’ll send someone to come back and check on him in about a month give or take, see how he’s adjusting and healing.” A figure spoke from the kitchen shaking a cigarette into an ashtray, as (y/n) stood across from him. The man ran a hand through his messy brown hair “Then we’ll reassess him, give him a test and see if he’s fit to come to the mansion.” Meanwhile, the girl heaved a sigh of her own and leaned against the cool tiles of her kitchen wall.

“So it’s gonna be my responsibility to explain everything that’s happening to him? Isn’t that supposed to be your job Tim?” (y/n) raised an eyebrow “You realize he’s, like, almost seven feet tall, has no eyes and eats organs right? I’m not even sure WHAT he is.” She muttered, “The rundown I got really only gave me his background and his clear trauma.”

Tim clicked his tongue like the girl in front of him was wasting his time, it made her ball up her fists subconsciously.

God, the main proxies really got on her fucking nerves sometimes.

“You won’t have to worry about that, The Operator will handle all of that throughout the coming weeks. No need to worry. You also don’t need to worry about harvesting organs for him, and hopefully, once he’s healed he’ll work on doing that himself. But for now, someone on a kill close by will be dropping off organs.” Tim’s nose scrunched up a little and the (h/c)-nette’s did the same, she normally prided herself on her strong stomach, but this was a lot even for her. “The only thing you have to do is monitor his eating, see how much he will need on a weekly basis, and obviously keep him alive.”

“Obviously.” They both seemed to have a mutual understanding about that at least, she fucks up and he dies they’re both in deep shit with The Operator. Tim reached to the side where his porcelain mask sat against the countertop.

“Don’t fuck it up.” He pointed to her before slipping out the door leaving the women alone with an organ-eating monster. (Y/n) mimicked ‘don’t fuck it up' in a nasal voice before kicking off the wall and heading back in the direction of her guest's room, she pulled out a pair of crutches from the closet and rested them by the bedside. She gently scratched at the faintly buzzing symbol on her wrist, this is going to be a long month.

#creepypasta x you #creepypasta x reader #x reader #x you #x y/n #eyeless jack x reader #eyeless jack x you #proxies #proxy reader #horror #fanfic #ej x reader #ej x you

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bluepenguinstories · 4 years ago

Text

Remoras Full Chapter XL: Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away

There’s that old saying: “things get worse before they get better.”

Perhaps that’s true. It is in most cases. But then there was also that one about calms before storms. Sometimes it could be hard to tell which phrase applied when.

Is it over? At last? I thought when the sky cleared and the frozen mashed potato landscape I came to know as snow lit up and an orange warm glow lit up in the distance.

I remember how I took what must have been the largest sigh of relief. For the rest of the day, even for a few days, it really felt like it was all over.

Scared refugees, people who once may have known a sense of normalcy, all huddled in fear. They too changed their tune once the beauty such a cold and barren place could bring. Less scared, more excited. Some were hesitant, yes, but a good few got up, headed for the door.

“Wait!” I snapped.

Two, no, three of them, looked my way. Both in confusion and horror at the sharpness of my tone. I too was a little startled even though I had grown used to it at that point.

“We don’t know how long it will last, or if it’s truly over,” I explained to them.

“Oh, come on!” An older man complained, thin gray hairs on an otherwise bald head. He looked grizzled, like someone who would have worked in a mine, or a construction site. Burly, with a wide stance, grit teeth.

He was the first, but the others began stirring up a commotion as well.

“We can’t just wait! If it’s going to get worse, we should go before it happens!”

“You can’t keep us here forever!”

Do you even think I want you here?

More was spoken, but each turn of phrase was drowned out by another. It turned into a storm.

“Go ahead and die, then, if you’re so eager to!” I was so tempted to say, but I hadn’t yet reached such a point. Instead, I turned to Wendy, who was seated somewhat toward the back, in the second booth. She looked listless, like she was staring off into space. From what I knew of her, it was more the opposite: she was gauging the situation.

“Wendy, can you take these people to the airport? After that, you can go wherever you want,” I instructed for her, as if it were some mission and I was the one at the helm.

Her face was still fixed on nowhere in particular, like it was focused on a speck of dust on a counter top. However, her eyes, ever slight in motion, turned my way. Then, a hint of a smile could have been traced upon her face.

“Are you sure that’s a risk you’re willing to take?” Her cinnamon-like voice rasped out the question.

Of course I’m not sure, but I don’t want to live without taking risks.

“Yes. If it gets bad again, I’ll reach out to you,” I answered after a moment of silence.

“How will you reach out to me?” Her voice was less husky that time, more absent, like one gets late into a tiring night.

I don’t know how. I’m in a constant state of not knowing enough and it’s too much.

“I’ll figure out a way,” I assured her.

She stood up and walked toward the door. Her arm raised and she made little waving motions in the air both as a playful gesture of goodbye as well as a motion for everyone who wasn’t Sunny, Tigershark, or I to head to the door.

“Bye sword lady!” Tigershark waved back to Wendy.

“Thanks for your help,” Sunny added in. Both of them stood beside me near the kitchen. For those precious few months where we had to scramble to deal with everything, it was Tigershark in the kitchen while Sunny and I took turns watching everyone in the dining area and passing around food. In a way, if not for the horrible circumstances, it would have been nostalgic. Like how so many years ago, I was in the kitchen while Sunny and Elodie, just a small creature, took orders and served the patrons.

It’s been too long since this place was an actual restaurant. And it may never be one of those ever again.

When everyone left, the three of us remained inside, hesitant. Even small Tigershark, with her joyous energy, was fixated on the window. None of us could pull ourselves away, and it made it hard to understand where to go from there.

Then, naive as we were, the next day came: clear skies once more. Sharp and coarse freezing air greeted us when we opened the front door and stuck our hands through as a meager test. It felt like the deepest layer of hell. In other worse, paradise.

Joyous rapture, Tigershark ran toward the back to grab her parka, then headed out the front door.

“Don’t stray too far!” Sunny called after her.

“I won’t! I just want to play in the snow!”

Again, we were so naive.

Sunny and I spent much of that afternoon in each other’s arms. Careless, we both fell asleep against each other at one of the booths, our faces pressed against the window. When we awoke, the fog had returned. At first, we thought it was just our breaths and condensation. But then we saw that void, that vapid nothingness. Neither light nor dark. Just inescapable gray blurs spilled over the sky.

We bolted out of our seats.

“Where’s Tigershark?” Sunny asked.

“Good question…” I squinted, then pulled my glasses from out of my lapel.

The two of us searched high and low throughout the diner with no success. The only place we avoided was the basement. Such a silly place to overlook, but as it turns out…

The diner’s front door flapped open and slammed against the wall adjacent. We ran in its direction and what burst forth from the door was the hooded figure of a redheaded devil, one who ran into my arms as I knelt down. There were cuts all over her face and she looked frostbitten; an uncontrollable stiffness covered her, almost blue in the face, and the only thing which helped animate her, brought her to life, were the tears which flooded her eyes.

“Where were you?” I asked, and by no means did I intend for my words to be harsh, yet the tone suggested anger rather than worry. All the same, I held her tight.

“I’m sorry!” She wailed and sniffled. I rubbed her back. “I ran off and before I knew it, the fog came back!”

“Don’t be sorry,” I tried to reassure her, “none of us knew it would come back.”

Although I had my suspicions.

“We were just worried, is all,” Sunny added, who stood beside me, and soon dropped to her knees as well. Within the minute, all three of us were huddled together.

Once Tigershark calmed herself down, as did Sunny and I, she explained everything:

“I wanted to run to Remora’s house. I thought maybe she was back there, you know, like how things were in the beginning when she would go back and forth. I know she said it burned down, but I found it, and yes, everything was burned inside, but it still stood.”

“I had no idea,” my words, a near whisper. I wonder if Remora ever revisited that house, or if she left it behind for good.

“There wasn’t a trace of her. There wasn’t much of anything,” Tigershark went on, a sniffle here and there, “I knew she probably wasn’t...but I just thought…”

“Why?” It sprung out. No elaboration. Tigershark broke away, looked at Sunny and I both.

“She saved me, right? When there was that blizzard that took my parents! So, maybe, she’d be there to save us again, and all I would have to do would be to tell her about the fog.”

I shook my head.

“I’m sorry. I wish it worked that way.”

“Hey, that was a dangerous thing to do, but I can see why you’d think that,” Sunny snapped her fingers, “now come on, try and give me a big smile!”

To demonstrate, Sunny smiled wide. Tigershark, well, she tried, but her lips shook, and it wasn’t for the cold, but for her emotions at play. When I thought she would bawl again, she instead sucked up some air, then let out a deep breath.

“I don’t remember everything and I don’t know if I ever will but I remember my name. I remember I’m Rotellina Littlewheel.”

It seemed so random for her to say, but when she told me her given name, it all clicked: the researcher couple, the Littlewheels. Mead and Ginny Littlewheel. Mead had hair like honey, always wore those stiff scrub-like lab coats and had a drunken posture to him. He always ordered the usual: turkey leg, scrambled ostrich eggs, and buttered brioche toast. Then Ginny, a sweet woman who had a preoccupied mind. Always had research on the back of her mind. Always changed up her dish, but if I had to not a common food of hers, it would have to have been biscuits and gravy with chocolate potato cake.

Those two, while not eccentric, brought me a mild interest. Especially how they mentioned anomalies, like animals which shouldn’t have existed in this environment, or caves which seemed to have sprung up from thin air. I should have known something was up when they stopped showing up, but I just figured they were busy. Maybe there was a partial truth to that, at least up to their deaths.

“Yes, I’ve met your parents before,” I told the child.

“You have?” Tigershark’s jaw dropped.

Sunny nodded and added:

“We both did. I was always just passing by, but they were neat people. I remember them mentioning having a daughter, but they never showed any pictures.”

“Indeed,” I corroborated Sunny’s explanation, “I told them they should bring their daughter sometime and Ginny would tell me that they’d love to, if they could ever find a break from work.”

“So we could have still met!” Tigershark’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, if only under better circumstances.”

She shook her head.

“Still. I’m glad Remora found me. I’m glad I found all of you. She probably didn’t think about it. I know she wasn’t my parents, she wasn’t even much of a sister sometimes, but I still care about her and I still miss her.”

“We all do,” I assured her.

“Can you guys keep calling me Tigershark? It’s important to me,” she seemed to change the subject just as fast.

“Of course, dear,” Sunny and I spoke in unison.

It’s funny to think that even that was a pleasant memory compared to what was to come. I wasn’t sure, it must have been gradual, but it didn’t feel that way. My reaction to the change in environment felt like a shoe which I already knew would fit without even having to try it on.

We went now, more than a year after such a mess. Almost a year and a half had passed and I grew to resembled what lay outside the diner. I found myself shattered, fragments, glass shards of whatever it was I once was.

Tigershark, herself, came to understand the importance of staying inside. Her injuries that day had been all the proof she needed. Ever since, she kept herself laser focused on cooking and baking in the kitchen for all of our inhabitants.

I tapped the door to the kitchen with the back of my hand. Those days, I was a man of few words, save to complain about how my life had ended up.

Tigershark stood on a stool, stirring a giant bowl of mashed potatoes.

I wished to wave to her, say something, anything, but I didn’t. I just let the door close and walk past.

“Order up!” She yelled, and even with the incessant chatter from those who took up residence, her voice rose past them all.

As I looked out among the crowd with their concerns and uproar, I wondered what kind of role I had put myself in: was I really to be a leader when I couldn’t even keep my own morale high? Sunny continued to be in high spirits, her laughing and telling stories to the folks beside her. But it must have been forced, right? There was no way to be in denial of such a situation, yet I had succumbed to the pressure of trying to keep everything together while she was her usual self. I didn’t hate her for it, but I could no longer envy her either. Like it or not, I had to be the person I became, because the one who tried to be a ray of sunshine was as good as dead.

There went Astraea, the mysterious child-like figure with the spider-silk hair which seemed to take on a life of its own with the way it flew back in every direction as she walked. She walked past me, not even commenting on my blank stare, and went into the kitchen to get the food from Tigershark to take to the others. While there was always something off about her, both in speech and action, I allowed her to work as a waitress. Child labor laws aside, it could have been a sign of either my passivity or my desperation to have something resembling a functional system.

Beside Astraea, followed the sister of silence, Sister Cecilia. Another mysterious force to which I just didn’t care enough to look into, let alone give her much thought. She insisted on working, but I couldn’t imagine why. If I was someone seeking shelter, wouldn’t it have been enough just to know that I was taken care of?

Then again, everyone is different and I can’t expect to understand the perspective of everyone I meet.

That was the first thought. Then came the second thought:

Nor would I want to know everyone.

Despite that thought, there were things that I wanted to know. Things which refused to make themselves known to me. Long hours I spent at my desk in the back, just pondering, and trying to piece together a puzzle with nary a clue in sight.

First the strange things in the arctic, then the trap in the mansion. Remora suspected it to be a cosmic entity before her dismissal. Wendy later claimed it had to be the work of a cosmic entity once she saw the fog. But she also said they had to represent an emotion. So then, what? Every act that could have been linked to this possible ‘entity’ has been random. With the mansion it was ‘consume others and drain them of their sense of self’, with the beasts that looked like an amalgamation of various animals which shouldn’t fit together, and then this fog, a still nothingness which injures anyone who walks through. If one were to stay in there long enough –

I’d shake my head at my desk.

If it was just the thing with the mansion, I’d ask myself, “is hunger an emotion?” True, hunger is a feeling, but so are other physiological responses. With all the things that don’t add up, however, it does bring to mind cosmic entities, but not the kind Wendy described. When it came to things like Cthulhu or Yog-Sothoth, the whole point was that they were beyond comprehension, beyond understanding. But in that sense, wouldn’t the thing at the mansion fit, or at least fit the idea people have when they think of such things? Some incomprehensible beast with infinite knowledge? It was like how some would perceive such a being to be.

So maybe it all came down to perception: the mansion itself was perceived to be haunted, when really there was something far worse. That there would be penguins appear in the arctic is like how some might mistake the arctic for the antarctic region. Those creatures? It was like a mash up of what was ‘supposed’ to appear. Then, the fog...maybe like a blizzard without the winds and snow, but the danger that comes with a blizzard?

Gah. That didn’t quite add up either. I thought I was on the right track, and maybe I was, but it was still just a little out of my reach.

Something that is perceived to be, but off.

There was that other thing Wendy said, and when I thought about it, something clicked: they usually possessed a human host, and that everything that happened seemed deliberate, targeted, even, then it must have been someone under its influence.

If not for their deaths, I would have suspected that ‘Cronus’ fellow, or whoever it was Remora encountered and fought in the cave. Maybe they were hosts, in their own way, but it could have been that they weren’t the main one. So if there was a main one…

There were two immediate suspects.

She appeared a few weeks after the activity picked back up and more strangers had taken shelter. It was early spring and not long after I explained the situation to Cybele. There was no warning, and in fact, she showed up with a bubbly sing-song expression and a wide grin upon her face. It would have been normal, even welcome, if not for the danger which lurked outside.

“Astraea has arrived!” She announced herself and strolled through the dining hall. Odder still was her attire: a plain white T-shirt which stretched past her knees with the characters ‘せいそ’ written in the middle and a fashionable pair of skinny jeans. She had a brown bag with a strap over her shoulder, and a plush toy of some character from something poking their head out from the bag.

One patron, despite their mortified expression from what might have been terror at the thought that leaving the door open could ‘let in’ whatever was outside, got up to close the door that Astraea had left hanging open. For her part, she turned around and swayed her head across the room.

“Wow! There are many humans here!” She remarked. Then, she turned back to face me. “And, who might you be?” She stood on her tiptoes and looked up. In turn, I looked down, scratched my chin, and grasped at straws for an answer.

“I’m confused,” I replied, “where are your parents? Why did you come alone?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head, though continued to look up.

“I have been told about those, but have none. As for why I came alone, it’s because I did not come with anyone else!”

That’s too obvious of an answer. Like asking why something was round and being told “because it’s not flat.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have come alone. It’s dangerous out there.”

Maybe that should have been a sign. Others have come alone, yes, but…

“And why is that, Confused? By the way, you have an interesting name. I have never thought to be an adjective before, let alone a mood.”

“Uh, no. My name is Ray Sunshine.”

“Ah –” She let out a sound, sure to have had more to say, but Tigershark ran out at full speed.

“Astraea!” Tigershark yelled and her arms were raised high.

“Me!” Astraea replied, and the two embraced for a hug.

“Right,” I adjusted the cuff of my suit, “I’ll leave you two to your reunion.”

“Ray! This is Astraea!” Tigershark let go and turned to me. “I told you about her, remember?”

“Yes, and now I’ve met her.”

“What have you been up to all this time?” She turned back to Astraea.

“Well...I walked to this place called Japan and I tried singing some songs and then these guys in suits found me and recorded me doing karaoke and people started calling me an ‘idol’ and some even said I was their goddess, and I think they were a little confused, so I went on record and told them: ‘There has been a mistake. Astraea is not a goddess, Astraea is a human. Therefore I am leaving. Bye.’ After that, I decided to walk around a bit and now I am here.”

“Wow! How much of that is true?” Tigershark’s arms were pressed together in joy as she stood in awe of such a tale.

“Yes,” Astraea replied.

“I’m really happy to see you, but I won’t have much time to spend with you, I’m afraid,” Tigershark broke the news.

“Why?” Astraea tilted her head and looked puzzled.

“Because I have to cook for all these people!”

“Why do you have to?”

“You don’t,” I cut in, “your friend’s right. You’re free to enjoy yourself if you’d like. I can take over.”

“No! I need to help too! I like cooking and I don’t want you to be stressed about everything!”

I took a step back and my head jerked back as well. My eyes widened, and for a second, I wanted to thank her. Instead, I pressed my glasses up, then cleared my throat.

“I see. Very well.”

“So it has come to this,” Astraea closed her eyes and smiled, then pointed at Tigershark, the tip of her finger almost at Tigershark’s nose, “if I wish to spend the most time with you, how may I do so?”

“I’ve got an idea! You can be a waitress!” Sunny got up from whatever seat she had been at. “Sorry! I couldn’t help but overhear the whole thing!”

“She’s a kid,” I pointed out, “besides, does she know how to do that?”

Astraea shook her head and smiled wide.

“I do not know how to do a waitress,” she stated, her breathy words floated out from her.

“Then I don’t see a point,” I concluded.

“I can teach her,” Sunny was insistent.

“Fine, do what you want,” I waved off, then began to walk to the back.

“Hey!” Sunny called after me.

“What?”

“You’ve got people helping out. I know this is difficult to deal with, but you’re not alone. There’s Wendy, Tigershark, and I. Hell, there’s even Aurora. Yes, our resources may slowly deplete and we didn’t expect to deal with such a thing, but isn’t it more manageable with others helping out? So one more person should be fine, yes?”

You don’t understand. I’d rather have been alone.

“Sure,” I shrugged and walked off.

Nothing has changed since then. No, that’s not true. Little has changed since then. Wendy returned once to take some people back to wherever they came from. It was a little after Astraea had arrived, and Wendy left just as soon as she arrived. It should have been a relief to see more people go, return to the safety of their homes.

It wasn’t.

More people came in, from where, I didn’t know. It filled me with questions, filled me with dread. Why? Why didn’t they take heed of the danger? What led them to wander inside? Was it of their own volition or were they just puppets and props? Unreal, yet life-like.

While things remained hectic, I persisted. We did, I meant. Or maybe I didn’t know what I meant anymore.

Toward the tail end of spring and summer crept up (seasons were used as a unit of measurement, and didn’t reflect anything on the weather we experienced), I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I was seated in the back, at my desk, and as usual, lost in thought.

“Who is this?” I answered, against my better judgment.

“Unblock Demetria’s number, you coward,” of course. That sly hiss mixed with an equal measure of dead seriousness and the pitch of a blue jay.

“Wendy? Why are you calling?” I replied, a little miffed by the suddenness of the situation.

“To tell you to unblock Demetria’s number.”

“OK. Why?”

“You need a way to keep in contact with me, right?”

Yes, but why do you have her phone? I felt like that was a vital question that was left unanswered.

“Fine,” I sighed, “I’ll play along.”

I scrolled down on my phone and unblocked Demetria’s number. I still didn’t really understand why.

When I went to put the phone back to my ear, it was silent. I checked, and she hung up. Then, my phone rang again. This time from Demetria’s number.

“Bitch,” she rasped.

“Is that all you called to say?”

“No,” her voice changed to that hiss she had when she sounded more playful, “but it needed to be said.”

“OK. I take it you met up with her?”

I reclined in my chair. I could have really used a smoke, but I resisted the urge.

“Yeah, you could say that. Her tracking skills are impeccable, it’s rather frightening.”

“What did she want with you?” I felt a hint of disappointment and dismay on the tip of my tongue. Not from Wendy, but from myself at the thought that Demetria could return, despite my worst wishes.

“She wanted to get away from home for a while, figured it would be a good idea to crash with me.”

“You didn’t tell her about the situation up here, did you?”

“I didn’t,” she stated, as simple as that.

At least I can ease my mind in that regard.

“So why do you have her phone?”

“You know how those types of girls can get: she’s at a point in her life when she keeps thinking she has to start over, be a new person. So she had it in her head that if I held onto her phone for her, it would be easier to do just that.”

Was that right? Well, I suppose from what I knew about her from her time here, it would track.

“That’s unfortunate. I hope she figures herself out one day.”

“Yeah. In a way, I think she already has, but you know, it’s like she’s always changing. Taking on a new image. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was a chameleon one day. Anyway, if you ever want me to come back to the diner, just give this number a call. I figured it would make things easier for both of us.”

“Yeah. I guess. I’ll call if I need you back.”

“Good. Hey Ray?”

“Yeah?”

“Any new ideas? Anything come to mind lately?”

“Hmm...Astraea is a bit weird,” I mentioned.

“Ah, yeah, but what kid isn’t?”

“True. In that case, no. I’ve got nothing.”

“That’s a shame. I was hoping we’d have some kind of progress.”

“It is what it is. Hope’s in short supply these days,” I couldn’t help being dour.

“Hey. Short supply doesn’t mean no supply. Talk to you later, Ray.”

Indeed, short supply doesn’t mean no supply. It means that it’s soon to run out.

There were times when I would forget Aurora was still around. Or times when I wondered if they had all but died out. Such wonders were put to rest one day when she entered the diner, not looking so proud or manic, but instead as weary as I had been. By then, it was near winter, and it wasn’t the cold that made people stir-crazy, but my adamant stance that no one was to venture outside.

So then when Aurora walked in, I knew there would be some people pointing her out, as if her entrance was a slight against them.

“Why does she get to come and go as she pleases while we’re stuck in here?!” One man roared.

She ignored his complaint and walked up to me. As for me, I leaned off to my side and addressed that man.

“Her and her crew live in the train right beside this diner. If you want to join them, you’re free to, but you probably won’t enjoy it any more than you do here.”

“Actually, Ray, that’s what I’ve come to talk to you about,” she didn’t look too pleased to be making any requests, but I could already tell what was coming. Rather than speak it into existence, however, she turned her attention toward Sister Cecilia, who happened to have been wandering around.

“First, who is that?” She pointed her thumb back.

“Some nun. I don’t pay her much mind.”

She squinted her eyes, her face turned to a scowl, then she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled.

“Hey girlie! Nunny!”

Sister Cecilia turned around, knowing that she had been addressed, and walked up to us.

“You’re a nun, huh?” Aurora scratched her chin.

“That’s correct,” Sister Cecilia wrote down and held up a sheet of paper to Aurora.

“I had someone in my crew who used to be a nun. What kind of nun are you? My crewmate was Buddhist. What about you?”

“Catholic,” she flipped one of the sheets. I take it she’s been asked that before.

“One of those, huh? So what kind of vows have you taken? Simple? Solemn?”

“Why does any of this matter?” I asked.

Aurora held her hand up to my face.

“I’m just asking questions. Don’t read into it. So, what is it?”

“I’ve taken a vow of silence,” she flipped to another page. Already written.

“What would that fall under? Solemn?”

“Nun of your business,” she wrote down and showed Aurora. That only made Aurora stare with greater intent.

“Is that so?” Aurora seethed.

“Won’t you just tell me what you came here to tell me?” My annoyance couldn’t be held back any further.

“Yes, but this is important too. Why don’t you know everyone here?” Her vitriol was now directed back toward me.

“Why do I need to?”

“It’s about trust, Ray. How can you trust anyone you don’t know? Any one of these people could double cross you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

No. It doesn’t.

“I think it would be idiotic for anyone to do that, seeing as they’d be stuck in the same predicament I am in.”

She must not have liked that answer as she lifted me up by the collar and dragged me up against a nearby wall, her other elbow against my neck.

“You know something? I make it a habit to know everyone in my crew. I’ve dealt with situations like this before: us stuck inside, rationing just to get by. I keep telling myself I’ve been through worse, and maybe I haven’t. Maybe this is the worst it’s been. But at least I’m struggling with others, at least we’re all still fighting, because lemme tell ya, I don’t want to be in this mess forever. What about you?”

Of course I don’t.

I said nothing, however.

She let go and I just about dropped to the floor. I knew I could have held up my own, fought back, but I didn’t.

“You’re not a leader. If you wanted to be one, you’d accept help from others. You’d put your trust into others. Not blind, but because you know who they are.”

“What do you think I’m doing?” I wheezed out.

“You’re being passive. Do you think that’s an honorable trait? Just letting everyone do what they want while you isolate yourself. Is that helping anyone?”

“Why do I have to get the lecture from you? You’re a ridiculous person most of the time.”

“And so are you. The difference is that I don’t have a magical weapon or any of that bullshit to help me and my crew out. We’re holding on by our pride alone.”

“That woman’s right!” Yelled that same guy who raised a stink when she walked in. “You do nothing while you tell us to stay inside. Why do we listen to you? You’re probably downplaying this whole thing right now!” He got up and in a huff, reached for the door.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I growled at him.

“Or what?”

“Leave it, Ray. If he wants to die, let him.”

“I bet I won’t! I bet you’re all just making shit up!” He continued to throw a fit, and as he was about to pull open the door, I darted for it and grabbed the back of his collar.

“You’re not leaving,” I ordered.

He thrashed about and then elbowed me in my stomach. As I reeled back, he turned and his fist flew into my face and all of the color around the room vibrated, faded, until black. I fell to the floor, my glasses shattered.

“I don’t know about any of you, but I’m leaving!” The man announced in a huff and jerked the door open, then ran off.

It was more than a simple injury this time; a few seconds passed, followed by a minute or two, and then echoes of screams could be heard in the distance, sounds of blades swinging every which way.

I pulled myself up.

“I’ll have to find his body and bury him later…” I muttered under my breath. Everyone looked out, and although they could see nothing, I heard collective gasps.

“You think I’m joking?” I raised my voice and looked around at everyone. I groaned my eye that got hit turned swollen. “Maybe some of us get lucky, it’s a few cuts. But that is also likely to happen. From the inside it may look like nothing, not a big deal. But it’s either be stuck in here or risk serious injuries, even death, just for the crime of walking outside. Do you think I like that either? Do you think I want to be stuck with any of you good-for-nothings? I don’t.”

My head swayed. I definitely needed some ice, or something, but I wasn’t finished.

“Maybe to you guys it looks like I do nothing. Even if that’s true, then that still puts me in the same situation as all of you. I’m just another good-for-nothing, myself. Not everyone has the strength to help out, and I don’t ask anyone to. I’m still going to take anyone in, they’ll still be fed, and I’ll tend to anyone’s wounds that I can, but if you value your lives, then you would stay inside.”

I was beginning to get a headache. I needed to get away. Astraea, for her part, started to clap.

“I didn’t understand any of that, but it sounded good!” She commented. Wendy put her hand on Astraea’s shoulder and I heard her say, “this isn’t the right time.”

As I began to walk away, Aurora put her hand on my shoulder.

“That’s what I came to tell you about: I want our crew to join you guys in here.”

I turned to her.

“Really? There’s already so little room as it is.”

“Yeah. I know. And a few members of my crew have died. Some of them we’ve had to bury twice.”

“What?”

“Yeah. The first time is hard enough, but the second time, when you have to put them down yourself, that just seems cruel. I’m not saying it’s a zombie situation, because even then, they’ve got some kind of life in them,” Aurora shook her head, “I had to bury Russell. We woke up one day, unable to find Russell until I looked outside, and there he was, on his back, torn apart. We suffered the injuries and buried him. There was also Chet, and Morgan.”

“My condolences,” I replied.

“Do you know what this tells me? This thing, whatever it is, doesn’t care if you’re indoors. It just can’t enter your place in particular. We’ll do whatever we need to. I just don’t want to suffer any more losses.”

I sighed.

“Very well. But understand that things aren’t as lax as I make it out to be. There are scheduled shower times. Scheduled eating times. You may not have much of a choice as to where you sleep, and it may not be comfortable.”

“We’re used to not sleeping comfortably.”

After that was settled, I went to the kitchen, grabbed a towel and a few blocks of ice, and pressed it against my face.

It was a few days later when I came back from burying the man who ventured out. He was more or less a mangled mess, chopped up, no delicacy to it whatsoever. While I was burying him, I received some scratches of my own. The sleeves of my suit were all torn up, yet I pressed on, digging up dirt, digging out until there was enough space. Once I laid his body in, I shoveled the dirt back over.

“For the record, I don’t hate you. You were an idiot, yes, but I don’t blame you, either.” I wanted to say more but winced as some invisible force cut into my side.

I gasped out and coughed on the suffocating air.

I better go. Shame I had to cut it short, but I shouldn’t have been performing any eulogies in a danger zone, anyway. Now, I better hurry or I’ll join his same fate.

By the time I returned to the diner, I was a bloody mess. But still alive somehow. If that meant anything. Sunny was seated nearby and gasped.

“Where have you been?” She asked.

“Mind your own business,” I groaned.

“I thought you said none of us were to go outside! You know how bad it is out there!”

“Damn it!” I snapped. “Of course I know how bad it is. I get myself hurt just so I can bury someone. It’s not the first time I’ve had to do that, either.”

“I never knew that. You never told me.”

“Why would I have? If I’m hurting, that’s on me.”

“It’s not just you. Whether you like it or not, we’re all hurting. You’re not alone.”

I huffed and shambled on past.

“And therein lies the problem,” I replied.

“You’ve grown cold!” She called after me.

“I’m this way because I have to. This situation hasn’t gotten any better.”

“But I have to have hope that it will,” her voice warmed up, and I couldn’t see why.

I just continued to walk into the back.

“You’re being a real asshole, you know that?” She yelled after me. “Come on, Sister Cecilia! Back me up here!”

Huh. That nun must be sitting across from her. No concern of mine.

I went into the back and knocked on the bathroom door in the hallway. No one answered. Usually that place was under constant occupation. I went to the sink and splashed some water on my face. I closed my eyes and refused to look at myself in the mirror. It was bad enough that my vision had become so terrible after my glasses broke. They were such an expensive pair, too.

From behind the mirror, I grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol and poured it on my wounds. When the inevitable sting came, I bit down on my lips. It would pass.

I sat down at my desk and pulled out a cigarette from the drawer underneath.

If Sunny knew I was smoking...well, Sunny and I seldom speak these days.

I flicked my lighter and took a puff.

Out of the corner of my eye, the shape of Astraea began to take hold. I just about jumped from my seat.

“What are you doing back here?” I asked.

“No one’s ordering right now and Tigershark said I could take a break,” she explained.

“I see. Go on and take a seat, then. I’ve been meaning to have a talk with you.”

She sat as instructed.

I inhaled another puff, then blew out.

“I’ll cut to the chase: you’re the cosmic entity, aren’t you?”

“Ah,” she smiled, “so that’s what you’ve been meaning to ask. The answer may surprise you, as I am human.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t need to hide anything from me. Who are you possessing?”

She tilted her head from one end to the other.

“I don’t possess anyone. I possess a Nintendo Switch and a Sothis plushie.”

I really wasn’t approaching this well.

“Look, it’s fine if you are. It’s not fine, because if you are, then you’re responsible for the misery of many lives. But it’s fine, because if you are, there’s nothing I can do about it. Apparently your kind can’t be harmed.”

“Ah! But I can. If you want, you can punch me. I’ve seen other humans get hurt, so I know I can get hurt too. Amen,” she continued her usual mannerisms. It could have just been her form, but I couldn’t imagine myself punching a child. Then, she added, “also I wouldn’t want to cause misery for others. I don’t find misery to be very interesting.”

Ah. So that’s what it is.

“It was either you or Sister Cecilia. Those were my suspects.”

“Suspect of what?”

“Of being the entity among us.”

“Amog...us?”

She needs to work on her enunciation.

“I suppose when I think about it, Sister Cecilia, while mysterious, isn’t as unusual as you, so I figured it would have to be you.”

“Why would it have to be either of us?”

“Because both of you showed up here unharmed.”

“Wendy did too,” Astraea pointed out.

“Yes, well, her weapon apparently wards off the threat outside. As for you and Sister Cecilia...”

“Well, I know it’s not Sister Cecilia, because she has a mouth and humans have mouths!” She answered, all gleeful, too. Then, she put her hands over her mouth, “I wasn’t supposed to reveal that!”

“You have a mouth as well,” I pointed out.

“Yes. Because I am human.”

“Anyway, I don’t think that was much of a secret. Everyone has a mouth. Most animals, too.”

“Then why would she hide it?”

I shrugged.

“Beats me. Maybe there’s something she’s hiding on her face. But I didn’t once think she didn’t have one. Anyway, it doesn’t make much of a difference to me. I’ve got bigger things on my mind.”

“Like what?”

“Like what I’m going to do. Our food supply is starting to run low. Even if we combine with Aurora’s, we won’t hold out for much longer.”

“Oh!” Astraea shot her hand up. “I know what you should do.”

“What?”

“Apologize to Sunny.”

Even you would think so, huh?

“Yeah, you’re right. It wouldn’t really change the situation, but I still love her and she didn’t deserve that. It’s just...her and Sister Cecilia both have said that I’m not alone, but it’s like they don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“I would rather be alone. Because then nobody else would get hurt. If everyone else could just stay away, I would be the only one that would have to endure this.”

“Mm...and you’re sure they don’t understand that?”

I took another hit. Maybe they did. It just didn’t make much sense to me why they would insist that, then.

“It sure seems like they don’t,” I replied.

“I don’t know, it sounds simple enough to me. If you’re the only one getting hurt, then others wouldn’t be. Still, I don’t know why others wouldn’t be. Humans are capable of being hurt.”

“So why do you think Sunny would insist to me that I’m not alone, like I don’t already know that?”

“Hmm...because it’s true? There’s other people around.”

I wasn’t sure why I thought I could take advice from her. Someone I was convinced was some all-powerful space alien.

“I wonder if things will work between us…” I leaned back. “You know, before Sunny, I only dated men. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to go back to seeing men.”

“Don’t you see men all the time, and women, and children, and dogs and cats?”

This child really is tiresome.

“That’s not really...not like vision, like, relationships. Like, romance. Love. Things like that.”

“Oh. Those kinds of things.”

“Yeah. You know, I used to have a curious mind like yourself. I used to wonder about all these little things and chase rumors. Now, it’s like I have none of that left in me.”

“That’s not true. You said you wonder about Sunny and wonder about men. Anyway, I’m going to go now. It’s almost time.”

“Time for what?” I was a little struck.

“There’s an event in Animal Crossing. That’s what Tigershark said the game is called.”

She walked off after that and into her room. Well, the room Tigershark slept in. It still felt weird thinking that she slept there. Maybe I still had some hope that all of this would be temporary.

I put out the cigarette and tossed the butt into the nearest trash can. I tossed a mint into my mouth and chewed down.

I guess I’ll take the kid’s advice, was a thought I never imagined I would have.

Still, I caught Sunny, still seated, and seated alone. I couldn’t really see Sister Cecilia anymore, either, but the place was so crowded that she could have been anywhere.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked. She seemed surprise, shivered in place, but then looked up and smiled.

“It isn’t.”

I sat across from her. It was easier to see her eye to eye that way.

“How are you doing?” I initiated.

“Oh, you know,” she smiled and moved her head about, all sing-songy. “It’s difficult, both dealing with such an adjustment, and watching you become like this. But I remain hopeful that it won’t last forever.”

“How do you remain hopeful? I’d like to believe that this will come to an end, but I don’t see any end in sight.”

“I never said it was easy.”

“So how?”

“Because I have to. If I have nothing else, I still have that.”

“So it’s like that, huh?” I nodded.

“You know, I went outside the other day,” she began to mention.

“What? Why would you do that?” I protested, but she put her index finger up to my mouth.

“I’m not the type to let a little bit of danger stop me.”

“That is one of the reasons I love you,” I couldn’t help but say.

“You do realize that getting into danger means risking being hurt, right?”

I kept my mouth shut. She chuckled.

“I went up to our mailbox. It’s still standing, intact and unharmed. Of course, there’s been no mail delivery, but that doesn’t matter much to me.”

“So why did you do it?” I asked.

“I wrote a love letter with no address. I wonder what those words will mean when the letter is returned to sender. It’s for that reason that I have hope. Because I want to know what kind of people we’ll be once you get a chance to read it.”

I spat out. Caught off guard, I couldn’t help but let out a little laugh. Even if my voice still sounded dry, void of passion, she managed that much.

“Why couldn’t you have just told me the stuff you wrote in person? Why do something so ridiculous?”

She laughed right back.

“It got a reaction out of you, didn’t it?”

“That it did,” I smiled. It felt unnatural, yet it wasn’t a conscious decision, either. “You know, when you would tell me that I wasn’t alone, I thought you were being ridiculous, because when the fog began, I didn’t want you to come back. I didn’t want any of these people here, I just wanted to take it all on and protect everyone else.”

She nodded.

“I could tell. It was stupid of you, but it’s not the first time you’ve done such a thing.”

“What? How’s it stupid? I would be protecting you.”

She grabbed a napkin from the napkin holder against the wall, folded it up, and hit my hand with it. It didn’t hurt at all.

“It was stupid. You don’t think I wouldn’t be hurt if you were the only one? I’d share that pain with you. In a heartbeat.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

“Nor should you have to keep it to yourself.”

I gazed down at the table.

“Maybe you’re right,” I muttered.

“Louder for the people in the back,” she cupped her ear.

I looked up.

“I’m sorry,” I said, since I couldn’t find any other words. “Everyone’s been trying to tell me, but I’ve just been so focused on keeping everyone alive, and I couldn’t even manage that.”

“But you’ve still managed a great deal, and you wouldn’t have managed nearly as much if you didn’t have help.”

“Yeah. You’ve got that right…” I looked around. Wendy was at the other end of the dining hall, chatting with the sailor. I could tell that sailor guy wasn’t a real sailor, but I didn’t bother to consider who else they could have been.

“Hey. Do you think that there could be someone here who isn’t who they appear?” I turned back to Sunny. Her eyes shimmered, so radiant to the point that I had to avert my gaze, lest I go blind.

“Maybe. Wouldn’t it be fun to think about?”

I shuddered.

“I’m not sure if fun is the right word…”

She laughed.

“Maybe you’re right this time,” her hand waved over her mouth, then she leaned in, her eyes fluttered, “you know, there would be times when I was on my adventures and I would wonder if you missed me. I know, carefree me, wondering such things. It was just how you would be so casual, and wave it off, it was like you didn’t mind me being gone.”

Maybe that was true in a sense.

“I do like my alone time, but yes. Always.”

“Really?”

“But that’s why I was okay with it, because whenever you returned, it was like I had found a treasure. So while I always awaited your return, I was at ease at the same time, because I knew wherever you were, you were smiling.”

“What about here? Right now?”

I pressed my palm to my head. I felt about ready to weep.

“I want to enjoy our time together. I just wish things were simpler. Remember when we used to take on requests? Now everything’s so complicated. I mean, there’s this fog, our food’s running low, and hell, even if by some miracle, this all gets solved or goes away, what then? I wish we could go back to how things were.”

“You can’t. Those times are gone. But they were fun while they lasted, right?”

I smiled and nodded.

“Yeah.”

“There’s gotta be some beauty in that. Yes, maybe it’s gone, and we can’t get those times back, but who’s to say something new won’t come from it, something similar?”

“You’re right,” I placed my hand over hers, “so, here’s to the unfamiliar?”

“To love,” she nodded, “and whatever form it may take.”

She leaned in and I met her halfway. Our lips were about to meet as well, the distance could have been measured with a microscope, but before they could join each other –

“Ugh, get a room you two!” Shouted a disgusted and squeaky voice.

We opened our eyes and looked around. That voice, it must have reminded us both of the same person.

“Did you hear that?” Sunny asked.

“No way…” I uttered.

“It sounded so familiar, don’t you think?”

We let go of each other and looked around. At first, nothing stood out, but then I saw someone with a black hoodie tied around her waist and wearing black slacks. Covering her face was a book, upside down which the title read ‘How to Sneak Into Diners For Dummies’.

“You know, I spent over a year away, and do you know what I learned?” She paced about and drew near us.

“Demetria?” I couldn’t help but ask. In response, she set down the book and that’s when I noticed her hair, shoulder length and wavy, dark green. She pointed at Sunny and I and shouted:

“I learned that none of us are smart!”

Sunny and I looked at each other, then back at her, and laughed. I couldn’t even be mad, as much as I didn’t want her to be in such a mess with us.

“That’s your big epiphany?” I asked.

“Yes,” she tossed the book behind her. “I had a whole hero’s journey while I was away. I went and got my degree which means I could be a marine biologist, but then I realized: degrees meant shit. I’m most likely to work at a coffee shop with such a degree, so I figured, you know what? If that’s the case, why don’t I just come back here?”

“Is that really your motivation?” I couldn’t say that I disagreed with such an assessment, but it seemed a little...out there.

“Not really. I also heard about what’s been going on. I won’t reveal my sources, but I can say that I know how to deal with it.”

“You do?” I didn’t believe such a thing, but who knows? I’ve been surprised already.

“That’s right!” She put her hands over her hips and smiled all proud.

“Demetria!” Tigershark just about tackled her as she ran and dived in for a hug.

“Whoa, there,” Demetria turned around. “Careful, you won’t believe how many knives I’ve got in my pockets.”

“You have knives in your pocket?!” Tigershark exclaimed.

“Yeah,” Demetria dug into her pockets and pulled out a couple of throwing knives. “This one’s named Hilda, this one’s Marianne.”

She then pulled out another, a black and gold switchblade knife.

“This one’s called Death Knight,” she held out. Tigershark jumped back.

“Why such a scary name?”

“What? Don’t like it? How about Mercedes, then?”

That switchblade knife, it’s just like...ah, I see. So that’s how she got in. I’m impressed.

“I missed you!” Tigershark cried into Demetria’s hooded sweatshirt around her waist.

Now that I think of it, that black hoodie…

“Aw, I missed you too. You know I couldn’t keep myself away for too long. You’re like family to me.”

“Yay! Speaking of family, while you were gone, I got another sister! Her name is Cecilia! I’ll find her and you guys can meet each other!”

“Uh, sure. Good luck with that, kiddo,” she snickered.

Tigershark ran off. That poor kid.

“So what made you reveal yourself now of all times?” I had to ask.

“Eh. It seemed you were starting to get back to better spirits, and to be honest, I was tired of keeping quiet for months on end.”

“Still, I’ve seen better days…” my right eye was still swollen.

“And you’ll see better days again,” she sounded so sure of that.

Tigershark ran back over, looking distraught.

“I can’t find Sister Cecilia anywhere!” She pouted.

Demetria whistled, or at least, it was an attempt at a whistle.

“I’m sure she’ll turn up. Let’s not worry about that right now,” she told Tigershark.

“Aw, but –”

The lights went out before the kid could finish her sentence. Soon we were met with pitch darkness, then gasps emitted from the crowds in their seats.

“I see it’s begun,” Demetria muttered.

Others’ voices flooded the room:

“What’s going on?” “Will we be OK?”

Were just a couple of things I heard among the commotion.

“Quiet everyone!” I raised my voice to a shout. “We’re going to go downstairs and check the breaker!” I couldn’t see her in the dark, but… “Wendy, Aurora! Make sure to protect everyone while we go down, OK?”

“Aye-aye, boss,” I heard from Aurora.

“No need to tell me,” was Wendy.

“I’m, uh, going to use the restroom,” chimed in Captain Acab.

“...OK? You’ve been here how long?” I didn’t understand the need to be told that.

“I swear, that sailor guy’s been giving off weird vibes ever since I’ve been here,” Demetria commented.

“Whatever! Let’s leave Captain Crunch to do his business!” Sunny’s cheer was unparalleled.

The four of us felt our way around to the kitchen, then crawled down on the floor until I found the hatch.

“Okay, down the hatch. Watch your step, guys,” I held open the hatch and the first to climb the stairs down was Sunny, followed by Tigershark, then Demetria.

“Why do you have your breaker underground, anyway?” She criticized on the way down.

“It was actually my idea!” Sunny answered. “I thought it would be neat!”

Once down, it was just a matter of feeling around on the wall until...aha.

I opened the door to the breaker box and flicked a flame on my lighter to help me see.

“Yep. Central lighting was tripped,” I noticed. I flicked the switch back and within seconds, everything lit up around us. All lights were blinding and it took several seconds of blinking before mine adjusted. Even then, my vision was blurred. How could it not have been?

Once I adjusted to the light, the shapes of the giant kegs of ale surrounded us.

“You know, I’ve never actually been down here before,” Demetria noted as she looked around. “It’s a little cold down here, actually,” she began to shiver, and so put her hoodie back on. It really did look more like a cloak than anything.

“Well, we got the lights back on, let’s head up,” I motioned for them.

“I just realized something,” Demetria walked forward instead, “it’s cold down here.”

“Yeah?” I wasn’t quite sure what the deal was, but then…

Wait. I get it.

“We can get everyone else down here and smuggle them out through the airport. There’s a tunnel down here and –” I began to formulate my plan, but Demetria stopped me.

“No. I’m sure the enemy knows about this path as well. I say we press on and end this, once and for all.”

“How can you be so sure?” I asked her.

“Because I’ve faced our enemy before. I’m willing to be this is no mere oversight. Hell, if we keep down this path, we’ll probably be in for a fight.”

Great. I was unequipped and in bad shape. I wished I had time to prepare.

“How fitting, too...a fight in a basement…” She scoffed.

It felt weird having her lead, yet she was so sure about moving forward. As we took a few steps, I stopped her.

“Wait.”

“What?” She turned back, a look of disappointment upon her face.

“Listen.”

There was a creaking sound from nearby, something like screeching metal. It must have come from the safe beside the tunnel. Then footsteps.

“Be on your guard,” I advised everyone.

“Tigershark, get behind me,” Sunny added.

She nodded and we stood in place until the figure emerged into view from behind the last keg at the far end of the hall: someone tall, black form fitting clothes, and a with short, blue hair.

“Remora!” Tigershark cheered, but Demetria held her arm out.

“Not quite,” Demetria warned.

Whoever she was, she smiled and began to walk up to us, then waved.

“Hello. Nice to meet you all, I’m Rhea Flection.”

My heart thumped against my chest. There was no way. Of course not. It was all wrong. Even as her voice matched Remora’s, it still made little sense.

“Yes. Nice to meet you, as well,” I greeted her, or whoever she was. “But I heard you died.”

“That’s right. I faked my death and have been hiding out here, in your safe.”

Of course you have. Oooof course.

“Do you know what’s been going on?”

“Nope!” She grinned. “But I’m sure we can all figure it out together! Follow me!” She began to walk toward the tunnel and I looked over to everyone else. Sunny and Demetria alike nodded, and it was a sort of telepathic communication of “let’s follow for now.”

We began to walk toward her and Demetria shifted beside me.

“Remember, Ray: some people aren’t who they say they are,” she whispered.

“I know, but what other choice do we have at the moment?” I asked in turn.

Demetria scoffed, then let out a loud, audible groan.

‘Rhea’ turned around and beamed.

“Hm? Did you guys say something?”

“Yeah, actually,” Demetria spoke up. “I’ve got a question for you that only the real Rhea would know the answer to.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“What color panties am I wearing?” She asked, deadpan, despite the crude question.

“Demetria! You can’t just ask someone that!” Tigershark protested.

“Easy! Green!” The figure who was supposed to be ‘Rhea’ answered.

“Ah, that puts my mind at ease,” Demetria replied. “Thank you.”

“No pro –”

Demetria in one swift motion reached into her pocket and flung a knife the stranger’s way; the knife landed square in the middle of her forehead and blood began to trickle down.

“Demetria! You just killed her!” Tigershark flailed her arms about and began to panic.

“At this point it’s like beating a dead horse, isn’t it?” Demetria remarked, then turned back to the stranger. “The real Rhea would have answered something like, ‘how should I know?’ Or ‘why would you ask me that?’ I would have also accepted, ‘no clue. I don’t go looking at people’s underwear.’”

“That’s just common sense!” Tigershark scolded, still flailing her arms about.

“Yes, which is why I know you’re not who you say you are.”

Whoever, then, the stranger was, as blood ran down her face, she formed a crooked toothy grin which stretched her face wide.

“Clever,” the figure uttered in a low, guttural sound.

Demetria, meanwhile, slipped on a pair of fingerless gloves and brought her right arm forward, her palm spread out. Then she made a pulling motion and the knife in the figure’s forehead flew out and the hilt landed right back into Demetria’s palm.

“I had Hephaestus put magnets into my gloves. The blade of the knife is more dull, while the hilt is actually more metallic, and I’ve practiced with my aim.”

“Wow, magnets! How do they work?” Tigershark was astonished.

“Miracles, dear,” Sunny replied and pat Tigershark’s head.

Once the knife was pulled out, blood began to spray from the figure’s forehead, and then their head split in two, like a banana peel and hundreds of vines emerged and the flaps which made up the upper half of the creature’s body had rows of jagged teeth. The creature took a step forward and all of us stood back. Their arms changed into several thorny vines as well and spun in place in a circle.

“Any more bright ideas?” I turned to Demetria as we all continued to back away.

“In fact, I do. Lemme see your lighter.”

“Why?”

“I’m thinking I can throw one of my knives at one of the kegs, then when alcohol pours down on the floor, I take your lighter, strike a flame, then toss it into the alcohol.”

“No, no way,” I shook my head with a violent force. “You’d burn the whole restaurant down!”

“Damn it, Mr. Krabs! Is this restaurant more important to you than our lives?”

Are you really comparing me to a crab?

“You don’t get it! If the restaurant burns down, we’ll all go down with it. I can’t take that risk.”

“Oh. Yeah. I didn’t consider that.”

“Anyone else? Any ideas that do not involve arson?”

The three ladies shook their heads and I was a little disappointed.

As whatever it was that impersonated Rhea drew closer, I really began to think that the end might be upon us all. That was, until the crackle of a rifle sounded and I watched as a bullet flew into the creature and the creature’s parts exploded onto the floor.

I looked from the direction of the fire to see Remora, also with blue hair in much the same fashion, and wearing a sailor’s uniform crouched down in a corner of a hole in the upper wall.

So now they’re both here.

She swooped down and split her rifle into two smaller guns.

“So, you’re Rhea, huh? You have got to tell me how you do that thing with your face,” teased the coy voice of Remora, something I wasn’t used to from her.

Nearby, the scattered pieces of the creature’s form slithered around and piled up against each other until it reformed, back into the shape of a person.

“And now you’re here too,” the impostor Rhea creature snarled.

“That’s right,” Remora smiled a sinister smile as well. “John. Jacob. Jingleheimer. Schmidt.”

She did a flip in the air and blasted away with the two guns, then landed and took cover between the giant keg barrels.

“She always has to show me up,” Demetria scoffed. “I could do that too, if I wanted to.”

“By the way,” Remora turned to us and winked, “they’re purple, right?”

“That question wasn’t for you!” Demetria shouted.

“OK. But did I guess right or nah?”

“That’s not the point!”

“I’m pretty sure they’re purple.”

“I’m wearing boxer shorts!” Demetria was fuming in protest.

Remora whistled, then replied, “didn’t need to know that, but OK.”

Her face then turned more serious, much more like the Remora I was familiar with.

“Sorry to cut this reunion short, but you guys should go on ahead. I’ll take care of this fashion disaster.”

We all nodded, then ran on ahead. As much as I wished the five of us could go on together, I at least had confidence that Remora could handle such a fight on her own. Once into the tunnels, the light began to grow dimmer and dimmer, but I just hoped that we could all find a light at the other end of this tunnel.

#ray #ray sunshine #despair #arctic #drama #action #astraea #tigershark #sunny #diner #boxer shorts #among us

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jaxsteamblog · 4 years ago

Text

Healing

Click here to read the entire fic on AO3

The day after the eclipse, Katara still felt weak. But even as she struggled to walk very far on her own, she was still shoving Zuko to leave.

“You are the Fire Lord. You can’t be spending all of your time in the North Pole.” She snapped angrily. Her quilt was piled on top of her but still dragged behind her as she pushed against Zuko’s back. While he was a slender man, he was still taller than her and had been trained to not be pushed around by an invalid.

“Katara, I can’t leave you like this.” He said.

“I have my family here, plus the palace staff, and the oasis. I’m fine.” She stated.

“That’s all well and good but I, your intended husband who will be caring for you the rest of your life, cannot leave you like this.”

Katara stopped pushing and rested her head against his back.

“They’re going to overthrow you and, I don’t know, put Azula on the throne and I do not need that pain in my life.” She said.

“You make a good point and I am slightly conflicted.” Zuko said. He craned his neck to look at her behind him. “I want to talk to Sokka first.”

“Fine.”

“And you go back to bed.”

“Zuko.”

Katara yelped as Zuko turned and picked her up, walking her over to the bed and dumping her onto the pile of blankets and pillows.

“The doctor put you on bedrest.” He said.

“I am the greatest healer in all three tribes!” Katara said.

Zuko turned and started to walk out of the bedroom.

“I healed my own wounds in an active battlefield!” She yelled after him. “No one can tell me what to do!”

Zuko said nothing as he left, shutting the door behind him.

“I bet he’d change his tune if he were stuck in a bed.” Katara muttered, nonetheless burying herself in the warm nest they had constructed over the past few days.

She must have dozed off, because the next moment had her startle upwards as her door slammed open.

“Shush!” Zuko’s voice was sharp.

“She’s going to kill you regardless.” Sokka said angrily.

Sitting up, Katara pulled her quilt back over her head like a hood. Sokka stood in the doorway with Zuko’s arm around his neck. Her brother held onto Zuko and Katara looked down.

His right leg was in a cast.

“Spirits above, what on earth happened?” Katara asked.

Sokka grumbled incoherently as he staggered forward, supporting Zuko, and led him to the bed.

“I broke my leg.” Zuko said, easing himself onto the bed as Katara moved over.

“I can see that, yeah.” Katara retorted, annoyed.

“This idiot got into another fight with our father, tried to do something stupid to prove a stupid point, and fell off a wall.” Sokka clarified.

“You did what?” Katara exclaimed.

Zuko looked calm as he got comfortable on the bed. He then turned and looked at her, seemingly unbothered.

“I broke my leg.” He repeated.

“Zuko!” Katara grabbed a pillow and hit him with it.

“Tui’s gills and La’s fins, I hope she beats some sense into you.” Sokka grumbled.

“I can’t heal you right now!” Katara said. “I’ll exhaust myself resetting a bone.”

“As you can see, the bone has already been set and I am in a cast. I can heal like the normal people that aren’t engaged to the greatest healer of all three tribes.” Zuko said.

Katara hit him with the pillow again.

The palace, remembering Zuko’s previous unannounced visit to the North Pole, was more prepared for his stay this time. A temporary space was made for him in Katara’s office, and Zuko made a call back to Caldera.

The prime minister, having an irascible relationship with Zuko at best, inquired how long he would be away. Katara had forced Zuko to say three days, as she would have her full strength back and be able to heal his injury at that point.

His assistant Toyo, a man Katara couldn’t totally pin down, was on a chartered flight that night with all of Zuko’s accumulating paperwork.

In the North Pole, Arnook was doubly displeased. He had kept to himself after Katara’s coronation, but after Zuko’s own crowning, something had set him off again.

Katara wanted to assume the former king would be pleased with the results, all things considered.

Sokka kept Arnook away, yet Katara knew that stressed him out. Things had already been tense with the eclipse, and now it was getting worse.

“What did you two fight about?” Katara asked as she helped Zuko get ready for bed.

“It was something ridiculous, and not at all the point.” He said, moving awkwardly to assist more than he needed to. Katara swatted his hands away and gently pulled his pajama pants up over his cast.

“What do you mean?” She pressed.

“Well it’s obvious they don’t trust me.” He said.

“Sure, but I do and so does Thuy. And we can beat you up if we need to.”

Zuko gave a bark of laughter and Katara sat back to let him adjust his waistband.

“Your dad isn’t worried about me hurting you, though that’s what he says. He’s worried about my people.” He said.

“They won’t do anything to me.”

“They already tried.”

“That was your father, you know that.”

“Katara, come on, you know what they’re saying.”

“And? They’re saying the same things about you here.” Katara laid back and Zuko held her awkwardly, the rough cast bumping into her legs.

“Yeah but-” He started and she clapped her hand once firmly against his chest.

“You matter, stop it. You’re going to be my husband. You are going to be part of the tribe.” Katara stated.

Zuko held her hand against his chest and looked up at the ceiling.

“I just want them to know I’m not planning on taking you away. That I want to be a part of the tribe.” He said. Turning his head, they looked at each other.

“They’ll get it.” Katara said.

Toyo arrived bright and early, immediately putting Zuko to work. Arnook, grumbling about the growing red stain, shut himself in his rooms with his wife.

Suki and Thuy showed up with Rohan, mostly to make fun of Zuko. Whale Thuy and Rohan pestered both Zuko and Toyo, Suki slipped off to wherever Sokka was hiding.

As she felt better, Katara wandered through the palace, wondering where her family had gone.

Unfortunately, she ran into Malina.

“Oh! Katara!” Malina said, smiling brightly after the surprise. “Are you feeling better?”

“Much.” Katara replied, slipping her hands into her sleeves like a muff.

“Are you looking for your father?”

“Sokka.”

“I think they’re together actually.”

“Wonderful.” Katara croaked and Malina’s smile fell.

“You know, your father misses you terribly.” She said.

“He seems to be filling his time just fine.” Katara shot back.

Malina sighed but didn’t fight back.

“I think your father and Sokka are in our rooms.” She said and walked away, leaving Katara to make her way alone.

Her family and Arnook kept their private rooms close to Katara’s and it wasn’t an arduous journey by any means. But as she approached the door, she saw Suki outside, leaning against the wall.

“Hey.” Katara called out. Suki turned and stood up.

“How are you feeling?” She asked as Katara approached.

“A lot better. I might be able to heal Zuko tomorrow.” She replied.

“Don’t push yourself.”

“I won’t.”

The conversation died and Katara tilted her head.

“Is everything okay?” She asked.

Suki sighed and rubbed the back of her neck; a gesture she borrowed from Sokka.

“Sokka hasn’t been here since before we all went to the Swamp. It’s making him anxious.” She said.

“What about you?”

Suki shrugged.

“Is Sokka with my dad?” Katara inquired.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t bother them right now.” Suki said, glancing at the door.

Katara followed her gaze and frowned.

That night, Katara tested her bending as she washed under Zuko’s cast. It didn’t tire her as quickly as she feared, and Katara knew she’d be able to heal him at the Oasis.

“How does it feel?” She asked as she dumped the dirty water.

“It aches, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Zuko answered, hopping backwards onto the bed.

“We’ll get the cast off tomorrow and you’ll be back on your feet by the afternoon.” Katara said, joining him under the blankets.

“Are you sure that’s not too soon?” Zuko asked.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.” She quipped and Zuko grumbled in annoyance.

“I don’t want to leave you.” He said.

“It’s only a few more months until the wedding. Then I become Fire Lady and I’ll be in Caldera all the time.”

“No you won’t.”

“Watch me.”

“No one here is going to let you be in Caldera for very long.”

“No one else here is Queen of the Water Tribes.” Katara snuggled close to Zuko and she smiled as he kissed the top of her head.

The next morning, the doctor arrived to cut away Zuko’s cast. He brought a wheelchair and Katara pushed him down the halls toward the Oasis. Thuy and Rohan joined them, chattering about the Oasis and other spiritual places in the world.

To her surprise, a lot of other people were waiting for them at the entrance. Arnook and his wife, Hakoda and Malina, plus Sokka and Suki.

“This is a sacred place, Fire Lord.” Arnook said before Katara could ask about his presence. She frowned but Zuko nodded.

“Of course.” He said.

Katara ignored them and wheeled Zuko in, careful not to jostle his leg as they went over the bricked path. Stopping before the bridge, Katara walked around and started to take off her parka.

“What’s going on?” Zuko asked.

“I’m getting in.” Katara replied.

“I thought we were going to the pond.” Zuko said.

“No need.” Katara said, dropping her outer layers on the grass. “I’m close enough to La I can practically hear its weird, fishy thoughts.”

Walking to the edge, Katara touched her foot to the water. It always surprised her when she found it warm. She continued into the water, slipping a bit on the slick mud under her feet.

When the water reached to her waist, she turned and looked at the gathered audience.

“Can someone bring him to me?” She asked.

Sokka stepped forward but Zuko held up his hand.

“Wait, I need you to promise me something.” He said.

Katara crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him.

“What?” She asked.

“You only heal the leg.” Zuko said.

“What?” Katara repeated, confused.

“Not the lightning and not the burn.” He said.

“Zuko…”

“Only the leg.”

They stared at each other and Katara sighed when she gave up.

“Fine.” She said.

Sokka helped Zuko up and steadied him as he hopped to the bank. He sat at the edge and put his legs in as Katara held out her hands.

“Only the leg.” He said again.

“I promise.” She replied.

Zuko pushed himself off the bank and Katara caught him as he sank into the water.

Having him close and being in the Oasis, Katara felt her heart hammering in her chest. With every beat, light shimmered over the top of the water. Joy filled her and Katara squeezed Zuko. He hugged her tightly and they both started laughing. As he was still trying to hold himself up on one leg and with the mud offering nothing in return, they both slid as they held each other.

Katara gasped when she went under but Zuko hauled her back up, sputtering and trying to shake her hair out of her face.

Blinded by her hair, she jumped when Zuko suddenly kissed her. Still, she relaxed and kissed him back, pushing her hair back after he pulled away.

“I love you.” He said.

“I love you.” Katara murmured.

“You’re soaked.” Zuko said and laughed again.

“Well you’re…” Katara gasped and pushed on his chest. “You’re standing up!”

“Yeah, you healed me.” He said.

“I didn’t!” She exclaimed and Zuko frowned.

The glow on the water dimmed and they both turned to look back at the grass.

Everyone was looking at the pond past the bridges.

Sokka suddenly sat down and Suki crouched next to him, rubbing his back. Arnook and his wife held onto each other, while Hakoda and Malina walked to the water’s edge.

Hakoda held out his hand to Zuko.

“Welcome to the family.” He said.

Zuko hesitated but took the offered hand and Hakoda pulled him out of the water. As water streamed from his clothes, Zuko pulled up his pant leg to look at his injury. The skin was smooth and unbroken, without even a bruise to hint at the break.

“What happened?” Katara asked, pushing herself onto the bank and looking around.

“When you went under the water, a black circle glowed where you had been.” Malina said and then looked back at the pond. “And the pond glowed white.”

“Yue?” Katara asked anxiously, taking a step toward the bridge.

“No.” Hakoda said. “But, it was Tui.”

“It was her.” Sokka said, his voice thick. “She.”

He cut off and lowered his head, putting his hands on the back of his neck while Suki hugged his side.

“She told him he didn’t need her forgiveness.” Suki said.

“She said we shouldn’t seek forgiveness for falling in love.” Arnook corrected, finally turning around. “Still, I feel I should apologize to you, Fire Lord.”

“Oh.” Zuko said, moving to stand beside Katara. “It’s okay.”

“Katara.” Hakoda said and Katara glared at him.

“Don’t ruin it.” She said. “I’m not Tui.”

Holding onto Zuko’s hand, Katara used her bending to remove the Oasis water from their bodies. After returning it, she bent down to grab her clothes and walked off.

She had done the healing she had come to do and that was enough.

“Hey.” Sokka said, grabbing onto the parka under her arm and forcing her to stop.

Katara looked down at him and Suki.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

“Can I have a hug?” He asked in reply.

Katara dropped Zuko’s hand and her clothes, falling onto Sokka. They hugged and Katara pressed her cheek against Sokka’s.

Then again, she’d do anything for her brother.

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#zutara #fanfiction #jax writes #zutara month #modern au #the fic that prompts built

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the-haven-of-fiction · 4 years ago

Text

Not A Christmas Movie

Genre/Rating: Fluff and Sweetness of the holiday variety, T

Summary: Tom and Astrid find themselves in a unique situation on Christmas Eve.

Author’s Notes: My first sappy romantic Christmas one shot, y’all! Move over, Hallmark! I tried to cover some of the best cheesy themes, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you to Pillow Talk and Lolo for proofing.

The sound of the wind and snow raced through the trees and whipped against the walls of the cabin, the remote mountainous location devoid of any welcoming lights from neighbors. The two travelers dropped their luggage upon crossing the threshold and rushed to push the heavy door shut behind them.

“When we get through this, neither you nor my sisters are ever allowed to make fun of my emergency preparedness again! We’d be in major trouble without it!” Astrid declared, brushing snow off her jacket and holding up the lantern from the referenced emergency preparedness with her other hand as Tom attempted to lock the door.

“I think I can safely and assuredly,” he paused to run his tongue over his perpetually chapped lips in concentration, “give you my word as an Englishman that I shall never,” a grunt of effort, “allow either myself or your sisters to utter a syllable of criticism on that score.”

She couldn’t help but giggle at his struggle with the lock.

“Remember when you had the brilliant idea to build a set for one of our backyard holiday productions? Was that when you played Scrooge? Your word as an Englishman may be good as gold, but your complete lack of skill with anything slightly mechanical is something I wouldn’t swear by.”

Even in the dim light of the lantern, the slight twitch of a smile was visible on his face, the vision of the pathetic attempt so vivid in his memory.

“No one is going to believe this,” she sighed, shivering and looking around for a light switch.

“Truth is stranger than fiction,” Tom quipped. “The best intentions of a Christmas surprise, a series of unfortunate events, a comedy of errors…”

“I blame my soon to be ex-mechanic, the weatherman, Anya and Arlyss and their crazy idea about trying to organize our families into coming out here to the wilderness to have some kind of storybook Christmas,” she huffed, fumbling along the wall, but finding the switch and flipping it to On in relief.

They both groaned when nothing happened. No electricity, no heat.

“They must have disconnected the electricity during renovations, fantastic.” He followed close behind her as they made their way around the cabin. Although the snowstorm was in full force and there weren’t any outside lights on the driveway, they could see evidence of construction as they had pulled up a few minutes earlier.

“Well, at least there’s a fireplace and I think there is actually a pile of wood next to it,” Astrid pointed as she spoke. “How about that. Must have been stocked by the same person who left the door unlocked. Remind me never to hire this company, whoever they are.”

“I could go outside and check for the…uhm…the…” Tom stuttered and gestured, making what she assumed was meant to be a square shape of some kind.

“The breaker box?” she asked dryly.

“Exactly, yes,” he answered in a tone of false bravado, clearing his throat. “I was merely waiting to see if you knew the name.”

“Santa doesn’t bring presents to little boys who lie, ya know.” She set the lantern on the mantle next to a small glass dish of matches. “Especially little boys who grew up in a centuries-old estate and have servants who take care of locking the doors and fixing the electrical problems.”

“They are not servants, they are staff, Miss Sassy, and I doubt Father Christmas knows we are here, no one does,” he replied. “Add the one forgotten mobile and the other with no service to the list of things that won’t be believed.”

“Well, anyways, Professor,” she went on in an exaggerated manner, “I may have a First Aid kit in my emergency supplies, but I am not equipped to perform any surgery on wounds you would most certainly incur from trying to play Electrician.”

He knew she was correct and they both smiled, cheeks rosy with cold.

“I suppose it was fortuitous that I ended up teaching Classics rather than embarking upon a career in carpentry.”

Astrid got a fire going and they were able to scope out their surroundings more thoroughly. A last-minute change of plans had allowed the visiting Tom and originally scheduled-to-work Astrid to join their families in the mountains for Christmas, but a quick succession of unforeseen events had brought them here, stranded close to midnight in a semi-livable cabin during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.

The owners must have been undergoing some kind of renovations. The cabin obviously had been inhabited previously, but half the interior wasn’t complete, including the kitchen.

“The toilet flushes!” she shouted from the bathroom. “And there’s running water in the sink!”

“Unfortunately there is no sofa or chairs of any sort and only one bedroom,” he reported when she came back into the main room, “No fireplace, but it does have a bed with linens.”

“Well, my kit has extra batteries so we should be okay with the lantern in there,” she assured him, completely missing his point about the issue of a single bed.

He noticed that her shivering wasn’t decreasing as much as it should, looking her up and down in concern. She was wearing an ankle-length corduroy skirt in a shade that matched her eyes, with a long-sleeved but thin sweater.

“I think we should go through our luggage and put on a couple of more layers. That centuries-old estate was a bit drafty, so I am accustomed to an indoor chill,” he informed her with a tinge of that irritating blend of both humility and privilege.

She rolled her eyes, but went over to her suitcase and started sifting through her clothes.

“You and the twins have always been bossy. It’s a wonder how I have managed to get through life as an adult without the three of you hovering over me like you did when I was a kid.”

He pulled on another shirt and grinned at her.

“I still remember the day you were born. I was visiting Dad and Roberta that year for Christmas,” referring to the alternating schedule their families had of who went to which country for the holidays. “And your sisters and I were old enough to be excited rather than jealous of a new child coming.”

Astrid turned away from him, hoping he wouldn’t see her reaction. Why did it please her so much to hear him speak of her birth with such affection? It must be this ridiculous situation. And the holiday. And her birthday. And this sparkling blue-eyed man whose place in her life she had never been quite able to define. Not a blood relation, but as close as a family member, certainly more than a friend. But more than a friend, in that sense? College and adulthood had made the unanswered question less important, as the shared summers and holidays of their childhood had grown fewer and fewer. She didn’t let herself ponder why he hadn’t married and had a dozen children to help him keep up that manor. Any woman would be elated at the prospect of sharing her life with him; she knew he had a string of casual relationships, just as she had, but their age difference had made her sure years ago that he would be a distant memory by this time.

“Born on Christmas Day to parents named Joseph and Mary, merely the beginning of my life’s trajectory of ‘You won’t believe this!’ events, continuing to this bizarre night that has practically every plot point needed for a cheesy holiday movie except that we aren’t secretly pining for each other.” She zipped up the windbreaker over the thicker sweater before reaching for her parka, not seeing the brief flicker in his eyes.

“Did you know that Arliss wanted to call you Snowflake and Anya’s choice was Mistletoe?” Tom picked up her scarf and hat that he had placed on the hearth so they would be toasty and walked back to her.

“I hear that story every year, along with all the suggestions from everyone to aunts and uncles to the postman. Thank God my parents went with something on theme, but not silly.” She pulled on her boots after a second pair of socks and looked up at him.

His expression changed and he drew in a short breath.

“Do you like your name?”

The inquiry was brimming with something that sounded like hope to her.

“Oh, yes, I’ve always loved it. In fact, I love it as much as I’ve disliked having a birthday on Christmas because it is beautiful and unique and it made me feel beautiful and unique.”

A wave of pure delight lit up his face and something clicked in her mind. Her parents’ version of where her name came from was always that someone had mentioned it to them and they couldn’t remember who it had been.

“It was you, wasn’t it,” Astrid said. And it wasn’t a question. “It was your suggestion.”

He worried at his lower lip, a tic she’d come to know years ago that was a sure indication of him being both pleased and embarrassed.

“Yes,” the soft affirmation punctuated by the crackles and pops from the fire. “And your description is precisely how I thought of it then, thanks to having just started Latin in school, and,” a heartbeat of silence, “it is how I think of you now.”

He was standing directly in front of her and paused to survey her face for a few seconds before tapping lightly under her chin.

Without even thinking about it, it seemed, she looked up at the ceiling so he could wrap the heated scarf around her neck. The warmth felt wonderful, although the feeling caused by this stunning revelation about her name and the look on his face was already warming her up in a way she tried to herself wasn’t happening.

He tucked her hair behind her ears and pulled the hat down while she argued with herself that he was simply being affectionate in the manner of a friend.

“Well,” she said, a little too loudly, stepping back from him, “That down comforter is calling to me, I guess we should be getting to bed.”

Good heavens, the bed, she thought. As in one bed.

As in here, as in they were stuck with a snowstorm swirling around them.

In a cabin that was being renovated. With no power or heat.

On Christmas Eve.

This couldn’t be real, it was not a Christmas movie.

“I suppose we should,” still in that soft voice.

A distraction. She needed a distraction.

“Oh! I just remembered! I have my favorite Christmas movie downloaded on my phone, we can watch it before we go to sleep.”

Less than two hours later, David Niven was giving his sermon and Loretta Young was gazing up at him while Cary Grant walked away in the snow. Tom was propped up a bit against the headboard and had insisted on holding the phone so she could stay under the blankets. Somehow she had ended up almost pasted to his side as the story progressed and his arm was around her. About halfway through, they’d had a little tussle about whether or not he should leave the warm cocoon of the bed and get them another candy cane from her Snack Pack. He argued that they had already brushed their teeth, but a sincere plea from her with an affectionate “Be naughty with me, Professor!” addition was something he simply couldn’t resist.

She sighed and closed her eyes, contented and drowsy and finally no longer cold, too tired and confused to attempt to figure out what was happening, how years of ignoring what was just below the surface had nearly bubbled over. It was impossible. He wasn’t interested. He was just being Tom. Typical Tom. Caring, attentive, making you feel like you were the only person in the room. She wouldn’t think about this anymore right now. Maybe tomorrow. Or not.

Tom closed the app on her phone and noticed the time.

“Hey there, it’s 12:01.”

“Mmhhmm,” she murmured, feeling herself about to drift off. He was so familiar, so comforting, so exactly like Christmas itself should be. She wanted to enjoy this moment before she went back to being the little kid and he the older…the older what?

“Happy Birthday,” he said and dipped his head to kiss her forehead, his breath sweet from the earlier candy cane.

She turned upwards toward him without opening her eyes to give him a peck on the cheek, almost without knowing what she was doing in her sleepy state, but she miscalculated and missed his cheek, her mouth landing on his.

He didn’t jerk back in shock. Or horror.

It’s now or never, she thought, suddenly wide awake and ready to throw caution out the window that was probably frozen shut by now.

Ten seconds later, ten minutes later, she wasn’t sure which, he pulled back breathlessly and she opened her eyes.

“What are you doing?” he asked in bewilderment, in surprise, but not in accusation.

“I’m kissing you, do you mind?” she responded, quickly pulling off her mittens and his beanie so she could sink her fingers into his curls.

“I, uhm…”

“Have no fear for your virtue, Thomas,” she teased in a low voice, tugging on a fistful of those ginger locks and causing a sharp gasp from him that thrilled her and gave her courage. “We are wrapped up like a couple of stuffed sausages in this icebox and there is a foot of clothing between us.”

His gaze narrowed and focused on her lips.

Another kiss, sweet and shy, but sure.

“I thought we weren’t secretly pining for each other,” he quoted her words back to her.

“I lied,” Astrid admitted while placing a string of kisses down his nose and nipping the tip.

The gasp changed to a growl, his grip on her upper arms tightening.

“Santa doesn’t bring presents to little girls who lie,” using her words against her, again.

She kissed him, again. Longer, lingering.

They were side by side now, the blankets becoming tangled.

“Did you lie?” she whispered, not knowing what to do next if he denied it, but also feeling like she couldn’t let another minute pass without settling the matter.

He propped himself up on an elbow and raised an eyebrow at her.

“I don’t recall either confirming or denying your assertion at the time,” wanting to tease her in return.

“But,” he rushed to continue upon seeing her immediately crestfallen, “I will make it absolutely clear now,” each word followed by a brush of his lips across her jaw and down her neck, “that you,” lifting his head to smile at her, “are the one I desire.”

Tears of happiness welled up and slipped down her cheeks.

“Happy Christmas, my starshine,” he whispered against her lips.

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston fan fiction #tom hiddleston fanfiction #christmas story #christmas fanfiction #the haven of fiction

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