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sleepylixie · 4 years ago

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Only Fools Rush In

Crown Prince! Jeongin X fem! Reader

Fantasy AU, Loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

7k words, Platonic pairing, Beware of non-graphic mentions of death( only mentions, with respect to curses and dark magical behaviour ), slight violence in fight scenes (not explicit at all), NO mentions of blood.

Songs: Can’t Help Falling in Love(DARK) - Tommee Profitt // Tomorrow We Fight - Tommee Profitt ft. Svrcina

|| Prologue ||

A/N: @magicbehindwords hello, Carolyn! Tis me, your Secret Santa!! Man, you have the chillest vibes, I really enjoyed figuring out this fic for you! I had something entirely different planned, but you saying you enjoyed a good high fantasy read ended with me happily derailing and plunging into the Fantasy Woods instead xD I hope you enjoy this offering(I know it’s really late hhh I’m vv sorry T^T)

There will be one more fic joining my pair of Christmas gift fics! As a part of @hanflix With Love, Chistmas holiday collab, I will be posting a Jisung fic soon! Anyways, onto the fic!! Do let me know what you think, my ask box is open! ~

Drop me an Ask! || Masterlist

It’s been very rare to have known you, very strange and wonderful. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

1-JEONGIN

“.....Crown Princess of the Western Isles.”

An elegantly dressed young lady stood before Jeongin, her hair falling over her shoulders as she sank into a neat curtsy. He cursed himself for not catching her name during her herald. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Highness,” her voice was a smooth serenade, the words rising and falling in an unfamiliar accent . Her eyes didn’t flit away from his gaze or widen in flirtation, but maintained a steady gaze akin to his own. Jeongin’s brow arched slightly- she was brazen, playfully so.

“The pleasure is all mine, my lady.” He bowed back slightly, suppressing a sigh at the repeated action he was forced to perform. He had been meeting the multitude of ladies Ataloria had to offer for what felt like time immemorial. It was the same old thing, over and over again- bow, exchange pleasantries, have them whisked away by the herald before speaking about anything of consequence. The hall was abuzz with quiet laughter and chatter, the excitement palpable for the biggest celebration the kingdom had seen in centuries- The Rose Gala.

Ataloria was a kingdom ruled by women ever since it’s conception- queens of enormous power, wealth and cunning who turned the once tiny valley town into the biggest empire of its confederation. While a queen could rule Ataloria solo, a royal son would require a woman in wedlock to rule with him, cementing his place on the throne for him. To make sure their kingdom’s prince found a suitable wife before his coronation, the tradition of The Rose Gala was born.

In the son’s 18th year, a celebration would be held in Ataloria inviting ladies from every corner of the kingdom to the Rose Palace(his home) for a chance at the Crown Prince’s hand. Such was the fairness of the bygone queens- they believed that nobility was a reflection of character, not blood.

“May I have this dance, Your Highness?” Jeongin met the princess’ eyes, surprised- none of the previous ladies he’d met had yet to ask him for a dance, but here was this princess, her twinkling eyes matching her smile as she held her gloved hand out. A smile pulled up the side of his lips as he accepted her hand, leading her into the centre of the dance floor. She was bold, playfully so- he liked it.

The band picked up a soulful waltz piece as Jeongin swept the princess into his arms, the two of them melting naturally against each other as they began to move. She was well- trained, Jeongin noted, because she moved with fluid ease, balancing her movements with his despite this being their first dance together.

“How has the Gala been so far, Your Highness?” Her accent was less pronounced than it was before, but Jeonign shrugged it off. It was likely because he was getting accustomed to it. “It has been quite an interesting affair, my lady. I hope the preparations for your arrival and living have been up to your standards.”

“You live in a beautiful city, Your Highness” she giggled lightly as Jeongin twirled her out and back into his arms, unfaltering in their motions. “Yes, the capital of Ataloria has lived up to the many expectations that us outlanders had of it… But I wonder, Are you always this formal?” He allowed a smile of his own to creep up his face- her stubbornly casual behaviour intrigued him more than he’d like to admit. “If you insist on thinking me formal, I must insist that you address me by my chosen name and not by my title… your name, my lady?”

An amused grin lit up the princess’ face, her hand tightening almost infinitesimally on his shoulder as the music crescendoed to a high.

“Y/N, Your Highness. My name is Y/N.”

2-JEONGIN

The moon was creeping higher in the sky when Jeongin slipped into the highest tower in the north wing. It had been a struggle to slip away from The Rose Gala, a faked headache finally allowing him to rush back to his chambers and gather up his belongings so he could sneak his way to the North Tower.

His previous princely outfit had been exchanged to lighter, more rugged garments of the darkest black, embroidered with threads of silver. A snicker bubbled to his lips at the thought of the ladies in the Rose Hall, of how they’d react if they saw their sweet yet aloof prince like this- scratching a pentagram onto the stone floor with an air of familiarity he hadn’t exhibited to them.

Spellcasting had been a guilty passion for Jeongin ever since he sat in on his mother’s meeting with the silver-eyed spellcaster coven that resided just outside Ataloria’s borders, thoroughly intrigued by how they wove enchantment into words and items like it was second nature. He was forbidden from interacting with them, however. His mother told him that some knowledge was beyond the ears of an ordinary mortal and such boundaries must be respected without error.

However, curiosity had driven him to swipe a few books from the coven elders, fascinated by all the information that lay between the covers. It became a habit to steal some of the spellcasters’ books during their visits, replicate them as soon as possible and return them to their original resting place in the coven’s temporary living chambers.

Over time and innumerable incidents of trial and error, he learnt to wield the energy that thrummed in the world around him. Starting from simple levitation, he worked his way through more and more complex spells as his capabilities expanded. Not a single soul knew about the prince’s penchant for spellcasting- it was a secret he guarded fiercely, for fear that he would be frowned upon and misunderstood for communing with dark spirits.

Sitting back on his haunches, Jeongin admired his handiwork- purple candles decorating the cardinal directions on the pentagram, the flames flickering a warm yellow. 5 crystals lay in a circle in the center of the pentagram, all identical in shape but unique in shade. Sigils of protection, enhancement and power decorated the edges and also littered the floor in a circle around him.

Since most of his arcane knowledge came more from reading than practicing, he’d spent months in this very tower room, mouthing the incantations until he was fluent in the foreign language and practicing drawing the sigils until he could draw them in his sleep. There was too much at stake with this spell to get something wrong- the safety of Ataloria, to be specific.

Saying the first words of the incantation out loud stirred something wild in his veins, instantly feeling every wave of energy throbbing around him. It was darker, stronger, almost turbulent in nature, unlike the freely flowing, easily shaped energy he’d always encountered before. But he would endure, because this spell was not a question of just his capabilities, but also the country he’d one day rule.

This Winter Solstice night, he would cast the biggest spell of his short life as a spellcaster.

This Winter Solstice night, he would cast a warding spell around the Atalorian borders.

If everything went perfectly, the warding spell would need no renewal- it would transcend the life of the caster and instead be latched to the power of the kingdom’s crown.

Shivers of cold anticipation slid over his body as the energy began to swirl around the pentagram, his focus honed to a razor sharp edge as his words began to bend it to his will. It was time.

3-JEONGIN

Jeongin knew that something was wrong the second he stepped out of the tower. The Rose Gala wasn’t the quietest affair; the muted sounds of string instruments and chatter had rung through the walls until he cast a sound-dampening spell around the North Tower. Now, despite lifting the spell and stepping out… an eerie silence hung in the air, heavy and stifling. There was none of the merry-making that he’d heard before.

Keeping to the shadows, he crept down the corridor towards the main staircase and stopped short. The guards posted near the sliding doors of the north wing were fast asleep, leaning against the wall and slumped onto the floor. A shiver slithered down Jeongin’s spine. This wasn’t normal. The guards in the palace were nowhere close to lax in security, especially during nights of revelry.

Catching hold of one guard’s shoulder, he shook him hard, hoping that the jostling would wake him up. But he only crumpled to the floor, completely unaware of the world. Almost like he was….no, He couldn’t be. Jeongin fell to his knees before the man, scrabbling for a pulse at the man’s wrist- no, he was alive. Very much so. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he got to his feet, warily scanning the top of the main staircase on the other side of the sliding doors. The silence was almost deafening as he made his way towards the staircase, looking down at the main lobby of the castle-

Everybody was asleep.

It was almost like a wave of sleep had taken over every guard, guest and staff in the palace, rendering them silent and slumped on the floor the second they encountered it. A maid was leant against a pillar, a tray of champagne lying toppled next to her. A herald lay on the floor, curled up next to the skirts of a slumbering lady in red silk.

Stumbling away from the bannister, he collapsed on the top stair, a rush of panic overwhelming him- was he at fault for this? Surely he wasn’t… But what if he was? What had he done wrong? Was the timing off? How was he to fix this?? What was he going to do-

That was when he heard it.

Cutting through the thick silence was a husky, haunting melody, singing words that tore through his mind, bringing back faded childhood memories. He remembered being afraid first, finding solace next in the voice and its wistful song. As he grew up, his slumber came faster and deeper, rendering him unable to listen to the walls’ song. But he didn’t forget the words. He never did.

However, the voice didn’t echo from the walls the way he remembered- this time, it was coming from the very hall The Rose Gala was held in.

“Wise men say only fools rush in...

But I can’t help falling in love with you…”

The voice continued singing the same lines as Jeongin hurried down the staircase and towards the hall, the open doors spilling the chandeliers’ lights into the modestly candle lit corridor. The marble floor of the hall was laden with ladies’ skirts and gentlemen’s capes and cloaks, every single person including his dear parents and family fast asleep- except for one.

Y/N.

Jeongin watched as she sang to herself, her arms held out almost as if she was… she was waltzing with somebody. There was something so haunting about the sight to Jeongin- maybe it was the song that spilled so easily from her lips or the way she danced with nobody but the air to accompany her. Her skirts clutched in one hand, she swept back and forth in front of one of the windows, the only person awake amongst a sea of sleeping people.

“Wise men say only fools rush in...

But I can’t help falling in love with you…”

“You can come in, Your Highness.” her voice lacked the Isle accent he heard before-if anything, she had the exact same accent as his own. “This is, after all, your palace.”

So much for staying hidden. Jeongin cautiously stepped into the hall, eyes narrow as he marked her every movement. But she was calm as she dropped her arms to her sides, turning to face him from across the hall, her smile the exact same as before- brazen, confident, playful.

“Do you have something to do with this, Y/N?” He demanded, his voice quivering with the pent-up panic he was struggling to control. “Oh no, Your Highness,” Y/N responded, beginning to pick her way across the sleeping people towards him. “That’s the question I must ask you. What did you do to my home?”

Jeongin instantly stiffened, one hand going to his belt for his dagger and the other, encompassed in ice-cold hoarfrost. There was no point in hiding his powers, especially if he was alone with…. Whoever she was. To his shock, her eyes lit up in joyous surprise. “Oh, I see you’ve learnt to conjure the elements. You’ve come far in your spellcasting studies, Your Highness.”

“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Y/N, the guardian of the Rose Palace.”

“Oh, this sweet girl?” she raised her arm before brushing back her intricately curled hair with an uncaring flick of her hand. “ Her name is Yelina. She asked me to… assist her in courting you. I assure you, Your Highness, I’m not from the Western Isles nor do I have the need to spy on you.”

“Assist? Yelin- What are you going on about?” Jeongin’s temper finally reached a fever pitch, his voice raising in frustration. “I expect a straight answer from you, whatever your name is. Who are you, and do you have anything to do with this?”

The young lady in front of him dipped into a bow- it wasn’t the neat curtsy he’d seen at the beginning of the night. This was a deep, sweeping bow, almost mocking in nature as she nearly knelt to the floor and rose in one fluid motion.

Her eyes were silver when they met his, a stark contrast from the dark eyes that had peered out of her face before. “And you, young prince, have just caused trouble you might not be able to mend.”

“How do you know that, Y/N?” Jeongin’s voice was as cold as the ice wreathing his fingers, his jaw tightening as he struggled to keep his rising anger in check. “Do the Western Isles dare to spy on its future monarch?”

Just as Jeongin began to advance toward her, his eyes blazing with fury at her twisted answers, a velvet soft laugh from the doors cut through his haze of anger. He caught the way Y/N’s face paled, her demeanour stiffening as she caught sight of who stood behind him. Whirling around, he saw a man walk into the hall, his plump lips pulled back in a satisfied smirk.

“How very quaint of you, guardian.”

His voice was dark, almost sensual in it’s smoothness, a terrible age ringing in every syllable. His hair was a deep purple, drizzled with streaks of white that hung inelegantly over his eyes. A dark cloak fastened at one shoulder fluttered around his feet as he moved further into the hall. There was something wrong with this man, Jeongin realized as his grip tightened on his dagger. The energy in the room had taken a nosedive with his arrival, leaving him with barely a few strands to hold onto.

“Nobody nor the stars give a damn about your opinion, Chris.”

Jeongin started at Y/N’s cold voice ringing from next to him, her eyes narrowed in derision as she stared down the purple-haired man. However, the man wasn’t fazed in the least, his smile only widening in response. “Is that any way to talk to your elder, young one?”

That was when Jeongin noticed the flash of quicksilver in Chris’ eyes- identical to Y/N’s.

Spellcasters.

4- Y/N

“You’re no more my elder than that band of heathens you used to lead.” you spit, stepping in front of Jeongin. You could sense his surprise as he watched your form change- hair turning white, your forehead wreathed with icy blue flames. It probably must be quite overwhelming for him, but you couldn’t spare that much throught- Chris was not to touch a single strand of his hair, stars be damned.

“You’re not welcome here, Chris. Begone.”

“When has that ever stopped me, little one?” Chris’ silver eyes narrowed in a sardonic smile- only, it wasn’t a smile but a soulless show of teeth. “Besides,the intention of my visit was only to extend a hand of gratitude to the crown prince behind you.”

To his credit, Jeongin didn’t so much as flinch, matching Chris’s stare for icy stare. “From the guardian’s stance, I presume your hand of gratitude isn’t one to clamour for.” A rueful smile dragged your lips upward; Jeongin had never been the type to mince his words.

“I must insist, Your Majesty,” Chris’ very stance glittered with the stench of malice, your magic tingling unpleasantly around you. “Or must I call you Jeongin, for you will not remain a royal much longer?”

“I’ll stop you right there.” You growled, fists clenching as blue flames sparked alive in your hands again. “Do not speak of the crown prince that way.”

“Or what, little one?” Chris laughed aloud. “Will your sweet crown prince run his country to doom yet again?”

“W-What-” Jeongin spluttered behind you, confused and bewildered. Chris cut through his stammered sentence, his words carrying over Jeongin’s. “Your spell backfired, princeling. Instead of protecting your kingdom, you sent them all to the one place where they’d never be harmed- their sleep. If only you knew the nuances of spellcasting. Stolen knowledge can only do so much, you know. I allowed you to steal the books, foolish mortal boy. Did you really think you were sneaky enough to swipe from spellcasters??” Chris snarled mockingly at you and Jeongin. You could sense the terror rippling off your prince; taste it like copper on your tongue.

“ Your kingdom will fall to death soon, all because you couldn’t keep your sticky mortal hands to yourself and mess with power you don’t deserve to know, princeling. All of this,” he exclaimed, throwing his arms out wide in sinful exultation, “Will belong to the heathens Y/N spoke about-” And a spear of fire threw him off his feet, sending him flying and crumpling against the far wall.

Stalking towards his prone figure, you pulled him up and slammed him against the wall, your hands clutching his cloak. A line of blue blood trickled down from his hairline to your sick satisfaction, his lips pulled back in a pained snarl. A snake of your flames bound his arms together as you stared him down, silver for silver.

“This kingdom has never been yours, neither will it ever be.” Your voice was soft, icy, pointed. “It belongs to Ataloria now and stars be damned if I don’t make sure it stays that way.”

“You’re a traitor to your own kind, Y/N.” Chris spat in your face, struggling against the flames around his wrists. “Do what you wish to stop this. You and I both know this curse will be fulfilled by that foolish mortal you protect. You’ll get your comeuppance when your princeling’s folly renders this kingdom obsolete,little one. That’s a promise.”

With those final jarring words, he disappeared in a plume of red smoke, leaving you alone with a shell-shocked Jeongin and Ataloria’s sleeping citizens.

5- Y/N

“The land that Ataloria stands on is home to a lot more history than you know, Your Highness.” You bustled into the basement kitchen with the prince at your heels. Jeongin slumped in a chair at the wooden table, his head hidden in his hands. You couldn’t recognize if it was fear, regret or anger, because the only thing you could sense from the prince was a mixture of emotions too complex to gauge.

The both of you had spent the last couple of hours placing temporary warding charms over the entirety of Ataloria- If your brother could break in, god knows what else could. It was no mean feat, especially for two spellcasters and a vast country. But Jeongin rose to the task, his brow furrowed with concentration as he burned perfectly drawn sigils onto the map and spoke incantations with a clear, soulless tongue. The sun rose as you worked on the warding charms- it was bordering early afternoon by the time you led him to the kitchen. It fascinated you how easily the craft came to him; it wasn’t natural for a mortal with no magic in his veins.

“I don’t want to hear it, Y/N.” He sounded small, exhausted, shattered. The night must have been extremely overwhelming for him, you realized. The pressure of being responsible for an entire kingdom’s destruction must not be the easiest weight to carry. “If you’re guardian of this palace, then why didn’t you do something to stop me?” You could hear the blame, the self-loathing in every sentence, but you let him speak. “All these years, you watched me through the walls, sang me lullabies, but didn’t bother to stop me from digging myself a spellcaster grave.”

You gulped, pulling yourself together as you took a seat next to Jeongin. This was not going to be an easy story.

“Your Highness-”

“Call me Jeongin.”

“This story possibly holds the key to righting the wrongs of the night past. Do yourself the favour of listening, Jeongin.” A wave of his hand and straightened posture signalled you to speak, the only response you received.

“The entirety of the Southern Sphere was ruled by spellcasters, their power much greater than those of the spellcasters in your country. Then, this area was called Erus Nox. The spellcasters ruled with great pride and fairness- mortal and Spellcaster coexisting amongst each other with great peace. The capital was not too far from what you now call the Western Isles. Over the centuries, corruption began to take root as it did in any great empire. Many spellcasters did not believe that mortals deserved rights equal to their own, that mortals were the inferior race because of the magic their veins couldn’t hold.

“Soon enough, there were mortal killings in the bowels of the city.News reached my- the Spellcaster King and he ordered his cavalry to round up the perpetrators and have them publicly sentenced to the gallows for breaking the peace. That decision didn’t sit well with the spellcaster nobility, who were now driven to believe that the King.. our king favoured the mortals more than his own blood. Rumors were circulated that the royal family were weak beings, pandering to the whims of their mortal population...it wasn’t true. None of it was. But it spread like wildfire, and suddenly there were mass killings in the suburban areas and the noble circle every other day.”

“Wait, how do you know so much about this?” Jeongin asked you suspiciously, his eyes narrowed. “This clearly isn’t common information. Were you.. Were you one of the rebel forces?!”

“No, you impatient brat.” You bit out, your clenched fists creasing crescent shaped indents into your palms as Jeongin stopped short at your unfamiliar, condescending tone. “If you absolutely must know, I was the crown princess of Erus Nox. Don’t interrupt me, or I will freeze your mouth shut.” A glimmer of amusement flashed past Jeongin eyes at the barely-veiled threat, aware of how different you sounded from barely minutes ago. He nodded at you to continue, so you did.

“My father and I were particularly outspoken against the heathens ravaging the country. We did everything in our power to curb the nonsense, the fanaticism of the rabid spellcaster rebellion. Towards the final days of the… the era, my family and I rallied the mortals and sent them to the closest mortal-dominated towns in the country. By the time the last human group left, it was too late.

“The rebels broke down the wards and- and sent nearly my entire family to the darkness. My father and I fought until we were forcibly subdued. I was made to watch as my father breathed his last, strung up to the throne I was meant to inherit.”

“From his last dying breaths, my father cursed the entire kingdom to fall apart the second he passed. He cursed the land to only cater to a mortal queen when the right lady stepped up, and continue to have only queens in power- may the masses be ruled by the very race they considered inferior. But before he could complete his incantation, he passed into the darkness.”

“Because of the holes his incomplete incantation left behind, the rebel forces brought in Chris to lighten the weight of the curse.- my trusted advisor and confidant,” You shook your head bitterly, the betrayal still ice in your spine. “He was my trusted advisor and confidant, a spellcaster inferior in power only to my family.

��He had no choice but to let the mortal queens part run its course- but he wrote into existence that one day, a mortal prince with a penchant for spellcasting would be born. When he came of age, he would prick himself on the sharp edge that is the art of spellcasting and bring down disaster upon the kingdom as he knows it. At which point, the crown-less kingdom would be ripe for the spellcasters’ picking, heralding the royal son’s folly as a reason for the mortals’ inability to rule- Erus Nox would be restored in all it’s bloody glory for these savage, power-drunk hordes.”

“As for me, well,” You let out a bitter laugh. “Chris had other plans for me. He had resented being my subordinate all along, and took the opportunity to even out his petty grudge. He bound my soul to the castle that was meant to become my home after my coronation, forcing me to watch Erus Nox’s destruction from what was meant to be my chosen headquarters.”

You sighed as you struggled to keep your voice steady, bluntly ignoring the glance of pity that Jeongin sent to you. “He magically sewed my lips shut, forbade me from speaking about the curse and the crusade to anybody, destroying most of my magic reserve and reducing me to.. Well, Guardian of the Rose Palace. But it seems,” you grinned wickedly, your demeanour switching instantly from forlorn to...wild and wicked. “Chris has always had a chronic problem of underestimating me, despite having to trail after my skirts for decades on end. He weakened his curse on me in the heat of the moment back in the hall, when he told me to do what I wish to stop him.” Jeongin’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping in surprise.

“S-So, you’re free?”

“Well,” you cocked your head in thought. “As free as I can be, without a body to inhabit. This young lady’s body is already quite tired out from the exertion I put her through…. But that’s besides the point.” Your eyes glittered in thinly veiled joy, tinged with malice. “This time, he’s truly going to get what’s coming for him.”

6- JEONGIN

“Chris left a glaring loophole in his incantation. It was a possibility he didn’t entertain, because it was a sheer impossibility in his eyes.” Jeongin listened closely as Y/N laid out the information she’d gathered over the years, and the conclusions she’d arrived at from it. The two of them were still sitting at the table where Y/N told him about the story of Erus Nox. His heart was heavy from the pain he felt from her words- being a prisoner in the same castle you were meant to rule from must have been the worst kind of pain to bear.

“..He did not consider the possibility of the mortal prince being alive to right the wrong he had committed.”

Jeongin gasped, sitting up straight in surprise. “That seems like a stupid possibility to overlook.”

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Jeongin.” You chuckled. “It was quite by chance that I noticed the discrepancy, but yes. Chris’ curse will be obsolete if you undo the spell you wrongly cast.”

He shrugged, leaning back against the chair. “How do you propose we do that?”

Y/N’s fingertips pressed against each other, her elbows balanced on the table edge. “That warding spell you tried to cast- show me what you did. If we were to find out where you went wrong and undo it, Ataloria must likely be revived.”

Jeongin rubbed the back of his neck in thought, processing Y/N’s words. “How long will it take for you to find my errors?”

“Depends on how long the incantation is. ”

“Then what are we waiting for? You know where the North Tower is.”

“Stars above, Chris is a nasty hellhound for letting you swipe this book,” Y/N cursed, carefully taking the book from him and flipping it open. “This book contains incantations that even the most seasoned spellcasters of the current age can’t cast right.” Jeongin’s shoulders slumped as he took a seat on the floor next to her kneeling form.

Stepping carefully over the throngs of peacefully slumbering people, Jeongin led Y/N up to the North Tower. The room was as he’d left it- chalk smudges and bits of purple wax dotting the floor. Pulling open a dusty drawer, Jeongin picked out the book he’d taken the incantation from.

“I really should have kept my nose out of spellcasting. “He muttered softly, watching her turn the brittle browned pages carefully. “Would have saved the world a lot of trouble.”

“You’re such a self-absorbed little thing,” Y/N quipped, still absorbed in the pages of the spellbook. “This was your destiny, one that Chris wrote for you. You’d have come across spellcasting and fallen in love with its craft in one way or another. Besides, you’re in the presence of a master spellcaster- Oh, is it this one?” Y/N pointed at the page in front of her.

Jeongin nodded miserably. “Yes, that’s the one. This is the modification I came up with.” He pulled out a dog-eared, heavily scribbled piece of paper from between the book’s leaves, handing it to her.

“You’ve got some balls trying this incantation without any formal training, that too with modifications!!” Y/N exclaimed, scanning the pages of the incantation. “I’m surprised that an eternal sleep is all you caused after ruining it.If you had cast this right, it would have completely removed the possibility of a siege on Ataloria’s borders ever again.”

“I know. That was why I took the risk of casting it. It would have been ideal to protect the borders.”

“No, you don’t get it.” She spared him a glance laden with calculated curiosity, “This spell is extremely volatile, because of the number of variables it includes- even more so with your changes. It’s strong enough to ward away any mortal or spellcaster who isn’t welcome within its borders. This could decimate the spellcaster siege, if you recast it right. It’s… It’s genius. You’re better than I anticipated.”

“It was all for naught, I ruined it regardless,” Jeongin sighed. “If you’re that good of a spellcaster, can you undo and recast the spell instead?”

“I am still a spirit, so the doors to these kinds of spellcasting are closed to me.” You frowned. “It will take me a long time and power I am yet to find to cast a body for myself, so the fastest way to revive Ataloria would be for you to undo the spell with my guidance.”

An iceberg lodged itself into Jeongin’s heart at the thought of having to cast a spell again. He swallowed thickly, the fear turning his thoughts slow and sluggish. “I’m not sure that is a good idea. I’m clearly not meant to dabble in spellcasting, I’m but a mortal-”

“Does spellcasting make your blood sing, Jeongin?”

It only took Jeongin a split- second’s thought to answer her question. “Yes.”

“Then why must you be scared of failure?” Y/N’s eyebrow arched. “Even spellcasters make mistakes. That doesn’t stop us from pursuing the craft, does it? Also..you’re not alone now, Jeongin.” She placed a warm hand on his shoulder. “ This craft was never meant to be exclusive. I knew mortal spellcasters who bent energy to their will much better than many spellcasters by blood. You’re a natural at this. I believe in you.”

Jeongin’s face crumpled as a few tears escaped his eyes unbidden. The idea of pursuing spellcasting beyond a hidden passion sent a thrill through his body despite the havoc his previous attempt had caused. The possibility of failure, as daunting as it was, only pushed him to practice more, be better- He wiped the tears away. If not for himself, at least for the good of Ataloria...

“Are you certain that this spell could protect Ataloria from future harm?”

“Absolutely. I’m sure of it.” she sounded confident; Jeongin had no reason to distrust her.

“You truly believe that I can undo the spell ?”

Y/N stood up, the book in one hand as she held out the other for him to take. “I do. Are you up for the challenge, Your Highness?” She used the title like a teasing nickname, her eyes creasing into a smile as Jeongin took her hand, hauling himself to his feet.

“As much as I’ll ever be.”

7-JEONGIN

“Do you remember everything I told you?” Y/N leaned against the door of the North Tower, watching closely as Jeongin went through the same preparations as last night. The pentagram and sigils drawn, the crystals and candles laid out, Y/N’s paper of corrections and developments on the new spell clutched in Jeongin’s hand.

“Yes, I think so.” He huffed out a breath, the air fogging in front of him. The sun had set, giving way to the twilight darkness. This night was eerily similar to the night before- the sun was high in the sky, the stars against the cloudless sky. But tonight, his kingdom’s fate hung in the balance, because a group of magical elitists couldn’t admit defeat.

“Thank you, Y/N.” His gratitude clearly caught Y/N off-guard, judging from her widened eyes and parted lips. “Oh- I-”

His thoughts wandered to the people that lay deep in slumber around the castle and the kingdom- his people. Their fate and safety lay in his untrained novice spellcaster hands. Jeongin’s jaw tightened, his resolve strengthened. He would do everything right this time around, no matter what it took. For his people.

Before she could answer, a resounding boom ripped through the tower, shaking the floor under their feet. Amidst the pebbles and tiles falling from the ceiling, Jeongin saw Y/N hurry to the window in the tower wall, her expression shifting from confusion to fury.

“Chris realized his mistake.” The words sent a chill down Jeongin’s spine. The energy-sucking feeling he’d felt in Chris’ presence was one he did not wish to encounter again-

“I’ll hold him off,” Y/N’s brow and wrists blazed in the same icy blue fire he’d seen that morning, her silver eyes flashing dangerously. “No matter what, don’t step out of the room, do you understand?”

That was when Jeongin saw the silver line etched at the entrance of the door, a flare of silvery energy encompassing the entire room around him- A forcefield. Y/N stood on the other side, her voice loud yet muffled as another explosion rocked the foundations of the tower. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND, JEONGIN??”

The energy that picked up around him was as wild as he remembered, a hurricane almost throwing him off his feet from the time he uttered the first words. If anything, it was almost chaotic, the wind screaming in his ears as he struggled to keep the incantation running. It was almost like the energy did not wish to be undone, rebelling against his attempts to right the wrong.

“YES, YES I DO!” He yelled, lunging for the spellbook that had fallen to the floor. He had no time to spare, maybe if he worked the incantation fast enough no harm would befall Y/N or his people, there were his people in the castle, he couldn’t mess up-

He could hear the distant crackle of fire and the screech of metal outside the forcefield- Y/N was making good on her word. It would only be fitting if he did the same.

8- Y/N

You dodged another arrow of ice, a hiss slipping through your teeth as you pulled yourself to your feet. “Tired already little one?” Chris called out, his fists ablaze with red-tinted ice. His eyes blazed a bright silver, almost white as he advanced towards you.

“You wish, blood traitor,” You snarled back, tossing a wave of shadow energy at Chris, but he only danced out of range. “It seems to be so!” He cackled, another gust of energy pushing you backwards on the smooth marble.

The two of you stood at the entrance to the North Tower, right outside the forcefield you’d left around Jeongin. You could only hope that he was doing everything you told him to do. You gritted your teeth, rallying what was left of your magic. Yelina’s body was strong, but she wasn’t a spellcaster. The constant magic use was taking a toll on her while the stress of inhabiting a mortal body taking a toll on you. Your magic wasn’t made to inhabit a mortal body for too long-you could only hope that the two of you held out long enough to give Jeongin the time he needed…It was time for some old-fashioned trickery.

“You can’t get through the forcefield I put around him even if you get past me, Chris. It’s beyond your capabilities.” You grinned at the way Chris’ eyes narrowed. You’d hit the right nerve. “I know for a fact you’re too proud to bring any of your heathens with you,” you taunted further, revelling in his clenched fists. “Keep your nasty tongue to yourself, Y/N-”

“You were embarrassed by the loophole you left, weren’t you?” the mocking sweetness in your tone had a growl ripping out of Chris’ throat, an angry vine of energy flying towards you. You ducked, allowing it to break through the plaster and cement of the wall behind you, a raucous laugh bubbling up your throat. Keep him occupied, keep him occupied until Jeongin completes the incantation-

“You came here alone to fix it. You’re just as I remember, Courtesan,” you exclaimed, dancing out of the way of Chris’ attacks, until one flash of lightning caught you unawares, slamming you against the wall. Chris’s purple hair was almost black in the darkness as he materialized in front of you, his snarl showing pulled back teeth ready to pounce. His hand tightened around your neck, squeezing slowly. “I should have killed you that day in the throne room-”

“ Social climbing, greedy, proud,” you choked on the little remaining air you had left in your lungs, defiantly staring Chris down. “Always overshadowed, can’t do a single thing right-”

“You little-”

Your eyes screwed shut, waiting for the final blow- which never came.

9-JEONGIN

“You- There’s no way you reversed the spell-” Chris screamed, his silvery bright eyes almost white in the moonlight darkness. He could feel Chris’ magic rebel against his own, the intensity almost enough to make Jeongin see stars, but he held on. His magic’s grip tightened on Chris, who choked and spluttered to silence.

“You’re not welcome here, Chris.” Jeongin’s voice was louder than he thought, bolts of magic bodily pulling him away from Y/N. She slumped to the ground, coughing and spluttering, but his attention was speared upon the thrashing man in the clutches of Jeongin’s roiling magic.

“Y/N told me you had a chronic problem of underestimating people.” He sounded calm, almost conversational to his own ears. How was he so calm?

“I must agree for tonight, a foolish mortal boy will be the reason for your downfall. I hope your entire association remembers that before ever thinking of laying siege upon my kingdom again. Leave, Chris. And never return.”

“I would not lay my bets on that, mortal scum.” Chris snarled, finally finding his tongue before dissolving into thin air, Jeongin’s magic letting him leave. The castle was alive yet again, with faint murmurs and loud screams. He could hear the sound of life everywhere- and it finally hit him. He succeeded.

An incredulous laugh spilled from his throat, almost instinctively moving towards Y/N as his grin grew wider. He’d succeeded, he saved them, he did it all by himself-

He knelt before her, gently helping her sit up and open her eyes.. Dark eyes that were decidedly not the silver he’d gotten accustomed to. It was Yelina that stared back at him, not Y/N- her eyes narrowed in exhaustion, the previous injuries inflicted by the fight against Chris nowhere to be seen.

“Y-Your Highness?” Yelina’s Isles accent was back in full force, and it was all he could do to school his face into a mask of bland relief. His tongue instantly cooked up a suitable lie for their location while his mind raced- where was Y/N? Why did she disappear ? Did he do something wrong again?

Until he heard it.

A husky, haunting melody that seemed to echo from within the walls of the castle, the sad melody sounding unmistakably joyous to his ears. Y/N hadn’t left, he realized. She was right here, as she always was. Her curse was weakened, she’d said- not broken. She was still a prisoner of The Rose Palace.

Jeongin smiled a secret smile to himself as he led Yelina back into the castle, a quiet promise made between him and the moon- one day soon, he’d break the curse on Y/N. And that day would come very, very soon.

Wise men say, only fools rush in

Thank you for reading! :)

But I can’t help falling in love with you..

///

Taglist: @aliceu @skzctnightnight @seraplantery @rebecca-noona @decembermoonskz @straykidsownmysoul @soya-zz @stellarmonsterr @malai-barfi @fylithia

Network Tag: @inkidz @districtninewriters @starryktown @bystay

Do let me know what you think! - Elliana.

#skznta2020 #stray kids #skz #stray kids imagines #skz jeongin #jeongin x reader #skz fantasy au #skz fluff #stray kids fluff #skz x reader #stray kids au #stray kids scenarios #skz scenarios #jeongin #yang jeongin #kpop #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #ellaskz

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estellaelysian · 4 years ago

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Out on the Ranch

7:00

The sparkle of lights seemed to fade in the background as the wind blew, rustling the leaves and blowing like musical notes through the deep grove of trees. The lake glistened under the pure white moon, the water shifting, rippling against the silver sparkle of light. They crossed the pasture toward the fence line in a comfortable silence. Alishka studied the gentle rolling landscape, the undulations of the fence line as it rode the contours of the land and Ethan marveled at how different this place was from where he’d grown up. It occurred to him that he’d just come to appreciate the quiet, almost austere beauty of this landscape. In the distance, the pines and oaks scrabbled together, forming an impenetrable scrim of blackness. Behind them, the chatter of crickets emerged slowly into the night. Despite the darkness, she knew Ethan was stealing glances at her, and he was not being subtle about it.

She smiled. This side of him had been coming out more often, and it seemed to make him an entirely different person in itself. She wondered if he noticed it.

‘So how long has your cousin been married to John?’

‘Six. Seven this year.’

He nodded.

At first when Alaya had invited them over for the weekend, Alishka was sure how it’d go. She wasn’t even sure how Alaya had gotten Ethan to come along, because this was clearly planned in her absence, she had no hint of it until that morning, when they were leaving for the ranch.

‘Do you come here a lot?’ he asked her, pulling her out of her reverie.

‘No, not a lot these days,’ she answered. ‘Everything’s been too busy lately, and she is also settling in…’she trailed off, unsure what to say next.

As the trees densely crowded on his side, he moved closer, and she felt her stomach flutter. He, although, seemed visibly unfazed.

There’s a shortcut from the next fence,’ she said, barely even noticing the words falling from her lips. ‘Then we can get to the river and round from there to the main house.’

He nodded again, not knowing what else to say or do.

The faint murmur of the river was becoming more perceptible as they transversed the pasture in silence. He observed the dark trees huddled together in the distance, looking quite like a very still crowd observing them.

Soon, they had reached the next fence she had mentioned earlier.

‘Okay, so…’

‘We gotta jump over it,’ she said.

If he was surprised by that, he didn’t show. Instead he just nodded, and putting both hands on the top railing, gracefully hoped over.

‘Show off,’ she teased.

Then considered her options.

The slats were too narrowly placed for her to squeeze through, so she climbed up, perching at the top before swinging her legs over. She took his hands as she jumped down, liking their calloused warmth.

They came to a halt on the high bank. The river wasn’t wide, but he had the sense that the slow moving water was deeper than it appeared. Dragonflies flitted over the surface, breaking the stillness, causing tiny ripples that radiated to the edge. Beyond the river, in the dark shade of a gnarled oak tree, he noticed the remains of an old camp and an abandoned fire pit.

After they left the clearing by the river, they started back to the house, dried leaves crunching beneath their feet. The walk itself was leisurely, and none of them needing to talk.

As they neared the house, he noticed Cooper, Alaya and John’s Scottish terrier darting ahead toward the water bowl on the porch; he lapped at it between pants, then collapsed onto his belly.

‘He’s tired,’ he said, a smile escaping him unknowingly.

‘He’ll be fine. He follows John when he rides out every morning.’ She tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear. ‘Would you like something to drink? I don’t know about you, but I could really use a beer. Unless you’d have some scotch with John- I don’t kn–’

‘Sounds great,’ he said, chuckling heartily at her confusion

‘Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.’

As she walked away, he studied her receding form. Who could’ve thought he’d be doing any of this? Who could make sense of it? He was still wondering about it when she emerged outside a minute later, a pair of ice cold bottles in her hands.

She handed him a bottle and they took a seat on the porch chairs. He leaned back and let out a long sigh before turning to face her.

‘What?’ she asked. ‘What is it?’

‘I don’t know… you make all this seem interesting. A lot more interesting than it actually is.’

She tried her best to resist the smile that was forming but failed. ‘What are you talking about?’

He just kept looking at her intently before smiling. ‘Nothing.’

8:00

‘Come on, Ethan, I am starting up the grill. Wanna join me outside and let the ladies hang out?’

Ethan laughed. ‘Ofcourse.’

‘Honey, can you hand me the steaks? They are marinating in the fridge.’

‘Yeah,’ Alaya said. ‘Ethan, would you like some sun tea? I made it this afternoon.’

He smiled. It was hard to keep track of things in this confusion. Alaya and John were chaotic. Very friendly, welcoming and nice, but chaotic.

‘Yes to the sun tea, and I’ll wait outside for you, John,’ Ethan said finally. That way, it’d be easier for him too.

‘Okay, go on, I’ll join you in a minute,’ John said, moving around him toward the fridge.

Alishka flashed him a good luck sign before he stepped outside the door. Alaya poured in the tea in four cups as John pulled out the steaks. She moved back to the stove nd opened a jar of peas which Alishka guessed had come from the garden.

‘Can’t believe you have been hiding such a fine man, Alishka,’ she said, not even bothering to hide the smirk on her face.

‘Alaya!’ she hissed, but she either missed it, or ignored it completely.

‘He is so in love with you! Have you seen it?’

Alishka pretended to focus on her cup of tea.

‘Oh come on! Drop the act Alishka.’

‘Alaya, stop, will you?’

‘No, I won’t. I haven’t spoken for enough time as it is,’ she said with a wink.

Alishka shook her head. She had no idea how she was going to keep up with her cousin’s excited hosting.

8:30

Whatever the two women inside were talking about, Ethan was grateful he had excused himself from it, for it contained too many giggles, unexpected bursts of laughter, and a certain few hushed whispers as well. He took a sip of the sun tea as John prepared the grill.

‘Late dinners are usually Alaya’s thing,’ John said. ‘She loves them.’

Ethan chuckled. ‘It’s the same with Alishka.’

They fell into easy conversation. Ethan responded to most of the questions and filled in the whos, whats, whens and wheres in his life, though only in broad strokes. John did the same, and at the same time, shared some details about his life on the ranch. From what John had said, it was pretty clear that he and Alaya were interchangeable when it came to the tasks, though she mostly preferred to handle the indoors and book keeping while he did the outdoor works.

By that time, their mugs were almost empty. Ethan strode inside to get them refilled and found Alishka and Alaya talking at the table. It seemed they had finished cooking.

As they talked, John held up the grill top. Although it was charred black in places, it looked ready to go. he reached for a bag of charcoal and dumped some into a grill that looked way too old, using his hands to spread them out evenly. Then he added some lighter fluid, soaking each briquette for just a moment.

‘This grill looks … rather old,’ Ethan said uncertainly.

‘Yeah, it is here from my grandfathers time.’ Then, as if he had noticed Ethan’s skeptical expression, he went on: ‘I know there are better grills now, but I like to do it the way we did growing up. Besides, it tastes better this way. Cooking on those modern day grills is like cooking inside.’

Ethan nodded, although he couldn’t relate. ‘And you have promised us the best steaks we’ve ever had.’

‘That I have,’ he said with a hearty laugh.

They let the coals soak for a couple of minutes before he pulled out a box of matches from his pocket and lit the charcoals, stepping back when the flames shot up. The light breeze made the fire dance in circles.

John reached for the thick steak fillets which had been soaking in the brandy. He had already seasoned them with some salt, pepper and garlic powder.

‘Okay, this will be ready soon,’ he announced as the coals slowly turned white under the flames.

9:00

Alishka retrieved the plates and utensils and finished setting the table. Alaya diced tomatoes, cucumber and shredded the lettuce before tossing everything together in a brightly colored bowl just as Ethan and John returned with the steaks.

‘We need to let these sit for a couple of minutes,’ John said, taking off his hat, putting the platter of steaks on the table.

‘Perfect timing,’ Alaya said. ‘Let me just get the peas and potatoes in a bowl and dinner will be ready.’

‘So what were both of you talking about?’ John asked taking a seat. ‘It seemed pretty funny, for starters, amongst other things.’

‘It was nothing,’ Alishka said with a dismissive wave. ‘It was just Alaya being nosy about my life.’

‘Or, it was me being the cousin you always loved and told everything to.’

‘Oh you are not that fascinating,’ Alishka countered.

‘There’s always hope,’ John quipped, making everyone laugh.

Dinner passed easily, punctuated by laughter and stories. Outside, the moon rose even higher in the sky, making it blush with a lovely mix of light clouds and stars.

10:00

Once they were done with the dishes, Alaya nudged Alishka in the ribs by her elbow.

‘What?’ she asked, setting aside the cloth she had been using to wipe the dishes dry.

‘Both of you should go riding tomorrow.’

For a moment, she just stared at her cousin, stunned. ‘You are kidding,’ she finally said.

‘I am not. Come on, you don’t come down here a lot these days, do you? So maybe you could just go riding tomorrow, have some fun and everything. We’ve got three horses, so it won’t even be a problem.’

‘What about John? What about all the chores – I-’

‘You don’t worry about that. He’ll finish work by one, then you both can go riding. It’ll be fun, trust me.’

‘Uh…’

Before she could stop her, she marched past her into the living room where John and Ethan sat talking.

‘Dr. Ramsey,’ Alaya said brightly.

Behind her, Alishka tensed visibly.

‘I was just telling Alishka about how beautiful the weather is these days, and how amazing it would be to ride in such fine weather.’

No.

‘I think you both should do it tomorrow.’

*********

This is me ignoring canon and creating worlds of my own while I am gone. Part two coming soon.

Thank you all for your lovely support and for reading, love you.

Taglist: Let me know if you want to be added or removed

#ethan ramsey x mc #ethan ramsey #open heart #ethan x mc #ethanramsey #openheart #choices #fanfiction

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allegedlyanandroid · 4 years ago

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Antichrist!Nines and Priest!Gavin AU for @embershx

Slight trigger warning for alluded minor character death and Gavin spiraling a bit at the end.

“Why did you do it?”

“Do what?” Gavin asks. It’s a futile question because he knows exactly what the next words out of Niles’ mouth will be.

“You left.”

“Yes.”

“Does it haunt you, your decision?”

“Yes,” Gavin says in response. The feelings welling up in his chest are raw, scorching, incomprehensible and he wishes fiercely to have never set foot back in this town. He turns his head away from Niles’ searching eyes although Gavin doubts it’ll be enough to hide him. Niles can read him too well even now. “Every single day. Every waking hour. Every time I’m left alone with my thoughts.”

“So why did you leave? Was I not- was I not good enough?” Niles asks and Gavin can’t help but catch his eyes again. There’s a fine sheen of moisture making them shine bright. The excess fluid accumulates into beads of saline which gathers in the corners of his eyes. “Is it because of what I am?”

“Oh, Niles,” Gavin murmurs and struggles to sit up despite the minor concussion warping his vision. The room spins before settling and Niles’ hand is an inch away from touching him. A privilege Gavin has selfishly offered to everyone but him. “I’m the one who wasn’t-” ‘enough.’

He bridges the last colossal gap between them and clasps Niles’ left hand in his own. “You’ve always been just Niles to me; nothing more, nothing less. You’re a far better person than I,” Gavin says with a mirthless chuckle as he leans his forehead against their intertwined hands.

The fingers of Niles’ unoccupied hand come to rest against his cheek, their pressure lighter than a feather’s.

“Then stand by my side. Be with me, please,” Niles whispers and tilts Gavin’s head up. Blue eyes like driftwood flames, alluringly beautiful, meet Gavin’s own. He finds himself mirroring the way Niles has a hand on his cheek and they drift closer, closer, closer still. When they’re almost touching, lips against lips the way they used to when they were young, Gavin moves his thumb to rest against Niles’ lips. He’s near enough for his own to brush against the back of his thumb.

“We can’t.”

“Why not?” Niles asks in a whispering wail. “Renounce your God and I’ll forsake the path laid out for me. We could be together.”

Gavin lets out a breathless sob. “I can’t. It’s all I have.”

“You’d have me.”

‘And you’d grow bored. You’d see what a mess I am. You’d regret your decision. You’d come to despise me and what would I have then? His love is extended to wretched folk like me and His grace is eternal. I’ve made a promise in exchange for forgiveness.’

“I have never once regretted loving you even when it hurt,” Niles says, low and sincere. “Even when your words are daggers in my heart. Even if you were to choose someone else in the end, I’d love you.”

“Why must you make this so difficult?”

“Because the path you’ve chosen has not made you happy,” Niles says, voice cold. But beneath the ice and jagged edges there’s a slight waver. “Because you deserve better than self-flagellation. You deserve better than denying yourself happiness for a split-second decision made in your past. You have atoned.”

“You can’t say that.” Gavin’s voice trembles and he tears himself away from Niles’ hands. “That’s between me and God.”

“Did the Son not die on the cross to wipe humanity free of sin? You feel remorse and guilt and regret. If your God is cruel enough not to forgive an honest mistake, a child’s mistake, why would you follow Him and His word?”

“That mistake got someone killed.”

“And saved another.”

“Please, please stop,” Gavin cries, weeping openly as the world spins. He’s so extremely tired. If he fell asleep now he’d wish to never wake. Maybe then he’d be free of this soul-crushing guilt.

He welcomes the dreams of pale skin moving against his own since they filter away the sight of crimson seeping into the grout between tiles, the horror he’d felt, the piercing scream of his mother.

Niles’ cold hand settles over his forehead and suddenly Gavin knows nothing at all.

#it's only a tidbit but i hope you like it #dbh gavin #gavin reed #dbh rk900 #rk900 #reed900 #the antichrist and the priest au #dbh #detroit: become human #detroit become human #mini fic #my writing

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ieattaperecorders · 4 years ago

Text

Something's Different About You Lately - Chapter 13: A Source of Ignition

Irrevocable actions are taken. CWs this chapter for eye trauma and mild violence.

Read on Ao3

---

"How about now?" Sasha asked, from her seat by the computer. "I've deleted our files entirely, surely that's got to be worth something?"

"Still no," Tim said. "Can't write a damn word."

Jon pulled away from where he'd been standing by the wall, watching Tim's face grow more frustrated as he bent over Elias's desk, trying to put pen to paper.

"Told you it wouldn't work," he said, taking a deep breath. ". . . On to plan B, then."

"You sure about doing this?" Tim asked.

"I'm not sure about any of it. But this is the only other out I know of."

He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a small folding knife, hoping it wasn't too obvious why he'd had it on him in the first place. It ought to serve the purpose he'd need it for now.

"If this doesn't work," he cautioned, "you're all going to have to do the same thing. And I doubt I'm going to be very much help after this, at the very least I'll need assistance getting out . . . ."

"So we'll help you," Martin said, coming up beside him. His voice was quiet, and despite his best efforts had a tremor of unease in it, but his gaze didn't falter. "We'll get you out, set things off, then get you to a hospital."

"Right . . ." Jon breathed. "All right"

"Do you want help?" Melanie's voice was careful, unusually soft, and Jon couldn't help thinking about asking her the same question. A lifetime ago.

"No. I suspect it's important that I do it myself . . . by my own hand. A-and at this point I'm really just stalling, s-so . . . ."

He pulled just a little bit away from Martin, bracing himself against the desk. Bent forward.

And then.

A quick movement, and pain bloomed through him. The second jab was harder, and his hand faltered twice before reaching its mark. Then, darkness, and the knife fell from his hand. He felt something falter in him – a light going out, a breath released, a tooth forcefully pulled. Then he was on the floor, and someone was whimpering, and he realized it was him. He covered his mouth.

"It's worked!" Tim's voice. "Go, everyone – let's get this done."

From his place on the floor he was only vaguely aware of the others moving around him. A hand came down on his arm, and Tim said something near his ear that sounded like a question. Before he could even process the words there were hands around his waist, and he was grabbed and hoisted over Tim's shoulder. He collected his senses just in time to grip back as they started moving, making for the exit.

"Did you – did you all –" Jon muttered.

"We all left the letters, yeah," Tim assured him. "Don't worry about it. Just hang in there."

Jon's focus slid in and out, trying to stabilize himself against the pain and lightheadedness. He remembered a different late night in this place when he'd sat outside the room that Melanie had shut herself in -- back against the door because she didn't want him to come in but he couldn't bring himself to leave, phone that he'd called the ambulance with still gripped in his hand. When they took her away, the Eye filled his mind with images of transorbital injuries, lacerations, horrible accidents. How easy it was to pierce the brain, the agonies of infection, all the vivid, gory realities.

Maybe it had been trying to scare him off following her, or maybe it was just more horror to feed through him. Still, it was strangely comforting to have that knowledge now - to have medical realities and upper limits he could place on something so overwhelming, and he found himself going over them mentally as the others ran.

He was still contemplating aqueous and vitreous humors when he heard somebody shout shit. Tim stopped, and then Jon was slipping, then he was on the ground. One of his hands was on the stiff, carpeted floor, the other landed in a puddle of fluid which clung to his hand and sleeve. The smell hit his nose a moment later and told him it was petrol. He coughed once, and caught his breath.

"Wh- what's going on?" he asked. "Is there . . . ?"

He heard a familiar voice, and his entire body went cold.

"You'll want to stay exactly where you are," Elias said. "Rest assured I can keep an eye on all of you. And Jon, since you can't see you ought to know that the gun I'm holding is pointed at Martin."

Jon's breath caught in him, and the silence that followed was encompassing enough to hear the quiet, amused hm that Elias made before continuing.

"Well. It seems you've all been busy," he said. "You especially, Jon . . . sending knowledge across time isn't honestly something I thought was possible. But then, I suppose when time doesn't exist properly it makes getting around little things like causality a great deal easier."

"You knew. All along, you knew, didn't you?" Jon said softly, defeated. They'd been so close, and still they hadn't been fast enough. "You were just playing dumb this whole time."

"I'm flattered you'd think so, but no. It seems that whatever force has been keeping your secrets from me, its protection ended with your, ah, resignation. Regardless, at this point you can assume I'm caught up."

Jon heard a click, and a sharp inhale of breath.

"I said, stay where you are," Elias said. "I'd rather not finish it all this way, but I'm quite prepared to do so if necessary."

"Can't shoot all of us," Melanie's voice, low and serious. "Not before we reach you."

"You're absolutely right about that. However, I am certainly capable of killing at least one of you, probably a second as well before any of you reach me. Now, you, Melanie, you're probably not bothered by the thought of sacrificing two innocent people if it means getting your hands on me," his voice remained calm, detached and judgmental. "But I'm not so sure the others feel the same."

"As if you're planning to let us go–" that was Martin. His voice had gone high and tight, the way it did when he was frightened. "You're just going to kill us all anyway, if you've got the chance."

"On the contrary. As I see it, you all have what you wanted – you've solved your little mysteries and freed yourself from the Institute. I'd say our business with one another is more or less over. I'm perfectly content to let you all walk out of here unharmed."

"And we're just supposed to take it on faith that you won't -- I dunno, send some supernatural goon squad after us?"

"Of course, if you come after me again I will have to kill you, self defense, etcetera. But Jon down there can confirm I'm really not motivated by revenge," he said lightly. "You might be surprised how much of my professional circle has tried to kill me at one point or another."

"Pretty sure I wouldn't be," Martin muttered.

"So long as we end things here without any further firebug tendencies, you're all perfectly welcome to move on as far as I'm concerned."

". . . Until the world ends," Jon said darkly. "Until you end it."

"Well, obviously, yes. But you don't need to worry about that for a good, long while. It's evident I'll need to tinker with my initial plan considerably, going through an Archivist was clearly a misstep," he sighed. "I'll have to get back to square one, find some way of making myself the center of the ritual, ideally with a bit less discomfort than the route you took. It could take years, even decades. You might all live out your natural lifespans before things really get going."

The pounding pain in his head, the sound of Elias's voice, and the smell of petrol were all making him woozy, but his mind came back to what was still his pocket. He found his clean hand sliding into his coat, closing around the tiny store-bought thing he'd lit his last cigarette with. Slowly, he slipped it out and flicked it open, striking until he felt the heat of the flame beside his thumb.

"I see what you're doing, Jon," Elias sighed, in the tone someone might use with a teenager that they felt was ‘acting out.' "Planning to go out in a blaze of glory?"

"Hard to say," he grinned spitefully. "To be honest, I'm feeling very unpredictable right now."

"I suppose that would be climactic enough for you. But are you ready to take the others down as well? To die listening to their agonized screams as they burn?"

"Jon . . . ." Martin's voice. He sounded scared.

"It would be kinder than what will happen to them if you're allowed to go through with your plans," Jon said, but he felt himself waver. "A-and if I hear a gunshot, I'm not going to stop and find out if it hit. I'm just going to do it. So you should probably put the gun away."

"I think I'll keep it for now, thank you. Unless you're going to set us all ablaze if I don't?"

Jon was silent.

"That's what I thought. Now I'm sure you're enjoying all this attention, but let's be reasonable. You want to leave with your friends all alive, I'm willing to give that to you. Unless there's something else I can do to convince you to stifle your newfound pyromania?"

"I don't know, really . . ." Jon said honestly. "The only thing I want you to do for me is die. And I doubt you can be negotiated into that."

". . . Well. Since we appear to be at a stalemate, perhaps we should get to know each other a bit more." Jon felt the air grow heavy, felt the hair on his neck stand up as a vast and mindless power was channeled through the room. "Tim. You've always wondered what happened to your brother, haven't you? You know the generalities, of course, but the exact details . . . "

"Don't!" Jon straightened up, flicking the lighter closed. "There, all right? Just don't . . . ."

His stomach sank, and deep down he knew that they had lost the moment he'd hesitated to light the petrol. His head was pounding, and he felt himself sway. He was so, so tired.

"A wise decision. Now if you'd just place it carefully on the floor and slide it to your left . . . ."

He didn't, instead sticking the lighter back in his pocket. He stood slowly, being sure not to make any sudden movements. Elias likely wasn't pleased, but he said nothing.

"Martin?" Jon called. "Say something so that I know where you are . . . ."

". . . I'm here, Jon. Over here."

Holding a hand a few inches in front of him, Jon carefully followed the direction of the voice until his fingers brushed the edge of Martin's jumper. Martin's hand came to take his, helping to guide him. Without thinking much about it, Jon moved himself in front of Martin, folded their hands between them, and leaned into him.

"J-Jon? What are- " Martin stuttered, confused. He sounded scared . . . Jon felt sorry for him. He could still see the gun. "What are you doing?"

"If you're trying to shield him with your body, it wouldn't work," Elias sighed, sounding exasperated. "The bullet would just go through you."

"I know," Jon said softly.

"Then I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish."

"I'm not trying to accomplish anything. Not anymore," he said. "This is me giving up."

There was a thought that was cresting in his mind, just on the verge of being born. He tried not to contemplate it, not to let it fully form where it might be seen. Instead he focused on the pain, the roaring in his ears, the rough knit of Martin's clothing. The feeling of giving up, of surrender. Of letting whatever would happen next happen.

He heard rushing feet, a scuffle, and a crash, and he smiled against Martin's body. Heard Elias cry out and knew the others had moved, that they'd been brave and foolish and rushed him.

He heard the gun go off before he felt anything.

What he felt was an impact, as if someone had struck him in the back, then a tightness in his chest and warmth pooling in front of him. He heard a ragged sound come from Martin, and it was only then that he understood what had happened. The strength seemed to go out of his legs, and as he fell forward Martin crumpled under him. As his consciousness faded, he realized that Martin was bleeding too. Then his mind went out like a light.

#sdayl #time travel au #jon spends more than half of this chapter on the floor #i checked

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tradgicworks · 4 years ago

Text

Heartfelt P-3 Deeper Still

Anna, Eva and Gwyneth are trapped in a mysterious bunker, what's worse is that something might be waiting for them in the dark. WORD COUNT - 5870

Anna woke up to a painfully sore back. Bruises were beginning to form because of Caroline’s beating and the long fall. Unnaturally cold air snaked through Anna’s entire body. Anna sat up as best as she could. She searched for her phone and turned on its light. The pitch black abyss that surrounded her burned into an desolate concrete hallway. Behind her a mountain of shattered debris formed a wall. Broken and dated lights hung from the ceiling by their bare wires. A battered direction plaque leaned against one of the walls, the text long since scraped away by weathering and rust.

Anna slowly got up onto her feet. She took deep shaky breaths as she struggled to move her aching body down the hallway. She eventually found herself at a two way split. To her left was another hallway blocked by rubble. A broken window stood in place of a wall in front of her. She peered over the edge. An abandoned cafeteria stood on a lower floor, bits of shattered glass scattered directly underneath her. Decay ridden plates laid on top of the old tables. Torn apart scraps of clothing and long since forgotten accessories littered the entire room.

“Anna?!” Eva’s voice called out from below.

Anna flashed her light forward and discovered a disgruntled looking Eva crouching over a small pile of scavenged valuables.

“Eva! Are you okay?” Anna asked.

“My butt hurts from the fall, but yeah I’m good,” Eva responded. “What are you doing up there?”

“What are you doing?” Anna gestured to the pile of valuables.

“What?” Eva glanced at the pile. “It’s not like they’re being used.”

“You don’t know who that stuff belongs to-” Anna frowned.

“Goldilocks, don’t be an idiot,” Eva gestured to their desolate surroundings. “Also, I was looking for something useful. Something like this.”

Eva grabbed a lighter from the pile. Its tiny flame sparked to life and barely illuminated her face.

“I was going to use it as a light, but now I got you. Come down here, there should be some stairs to your left- wait crap uh- my left your right,” Eva said before continuing to scavenge through the cafeteria.

Anna turned to her right to find a crumbling set of stairs. She carefully made her way down to the cafeteria and met up with Eva.

Eva’s hoodie was partially torn up. Her hair was unkempt and covered with dirt. Scratch marks and tiny cuts decorated her legs. She brushed off some dust of her skirt and stood up as Anna approached her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Anna asked as she looked Eva over.

“You don’t look too hot yourself either, Goldilocks, but yeah I’ll live,” Eva responded.

“Good. Do you have any idea where we are?” Anna looked at their surroundings.

“Nope. Hella spooky though, and freezing. Honestly, this whole place just gives me the creeps. But panicking is the last thing we want to do right now,” Eva said as she pocketed the lighter.

“We need to find Gwyneth and get out of here.” Anna said firmly.

“Poor thing is probably bawling her eyes out right now,” Eva commented before turning towards the broken window. “Anything up there?”

“No, just a bunch of dead-ends,” Anna answered.

“Well, I came from over there,” Eva pointed at an offshoot to the left of the cafeteria. “I think- hard to tell in the darkness- which leaves our only option…”

Eva turned and pointed into the hallway in front of them. A plaque limply hung from a single bolt on top of the archway. It read “Living Quarters”.

“...god dammit,” Eva shuddered.

“Maybe we’ll find someone who can help us,” Anna started walking down the hallway.

“This place looks like it's been abandoned for years, Anna. Anything that was once alive in here has probably been dead for a very, very, long time,” Eva followed suit to try to stay near the light. “Though I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse.”

“We don’t have anywhere else to go and Gwyneth needs our help so we need to hurry up. Maybe you can spin kick a ghost’s head off, if one shows up,” Anna turned back towards Eva with a slightly mischievous smile.

“You are some sort of messed up if you think that’s funny,” Eva huffed.

Anna replied with a drawn out giggle before looking forward again.

“...screw you,” Eva muttered.

After walking for a few moments, they found themselves at a destroyed entryway. Deep jagged cuts tore through the concrete. A thick rusting door laid torn in half by their feet. Dark stains splattered all throughout the floor.

"What the hell happened here?" Eva asked slowly as she surveyed the wreckage.

"Something tore the door open…" Anna replied.

"No, dur. What the hell that 'something' is the question… Could have been a forklift," Eva crouched down to inspect the door.

"I don't think a forklift can split a door in half," Anna looked at her with disillusionment.

"Yeah, but I'd rather be worried about machinery gone rogue than some giant mutant abomination that can cut through us like butter," Eva stood up, forcing herself to smile. "Y'know, I'm being optimistic."

"Don't be paranoid, you said it yourself whatever was down here has long since been-" Anna walked through the door.

Rows of mangled bunk beds were thrown all throughout the room. The shredded innards of mattresses coated the floor. Several skeletons wearing tattered clothes laid against the destruction. One slumped a few feet in front of Anna, it's head missing.

"-dead," Anna barely managed to get the words out.

Eva shrieked with uncharacteristic squeamishness. She crouched away from the room and clutched herself tightly.

"They're dead! What the hell happened here!? What is this place?!" Eva yelled out.

Anna ran up to her.

"Calm down, Eva!" Anna grabbed her shoulders.

"Calm down?! How the hell are you calm right now?! Something broke into this place and killed everyone, that thing could still be alive, we could be slaughtered at any minute. What even is this place anyways? Why is it under a private all girls school of all places? I HAVE NO IDEA HOW YOU'RE CALM RIGHT NOW," Eva yelled at her face.

"Because someone has to be, we can’t afford to panic, remember?" Anna said sternly. "I'm scared too, but we need to get out of here. All of us."

Eva looked up at Anna. Anna's breaths were controlled but shaky. Her eyes were determined but fear lingered in her face. Eva noticed her faint scar. This wasn't the first time Anna was this scared. Eva's breathing steadied.

"You're right. Just give me a couple minutes to calm down," Eva said as she closed her eyes.

"We don't have a couple minutes. Gwyneth could be a danger," Anna said in a soft tone.

"Yeah, yeah! I know!" Eva held out her hand, her eyes still shut. "Lead me to the other side, I'm not good with death and stuff."

"Okay," Anna grabbed her hand and stood up. "You know you can be cute sometimes."

"Keep talking and I'll crush your hand, Goldilocks," Eva growled, her eyes still shut.

Anna and Eva slowly traversed the destroyed room. Anna led Eva through the clutter of bone, forgotten items, and broken scrap. Eva meekly followed Anna’s steps, shuddering ever so slightly everytime she thought that she brushed against a skeleton. Eventually, they made it to the other side only to find another dead-end.

"So much suspense for nothing," Eva grumbled as she opened her eyes again.

"Come on, we must have missed something," Anna said as she turned around.

"No, we didn't. The only thing that we haven't explored is all the blocked hallways."

"Then we better start digging," Anna said matter of factly.

"That would literally take forever," Eva protested.

"Better than being stuck here forever-" Anna started before being interrupted.

"Help." Gwyneth's faint voice called out from underneath them.

Anna and Eva searched around them before noticing a garbage chute partially covered by the rubble.

"Come on!" Anna gestured as she propped her phone on the rubble and started pulling rocks out of the way.

"Dammit and here I thought we could avoid digging," Eva groaned before catching up and helping Anna at a much faster pace.

"Gwyneth, can you hear us?!" Anna yelled down the chute once they cleared it.

"Help." Gwyneth's trembling voice replied.

"Stay put! We're going down to get you!" Anna yelled before grabbing her phone and climbing into the chute.

"Ugh, more crap to wash off. Great," Eva groaned as she got into the chute herself.

The two slid down the grimy chute and fell into a massive dump. Trash bags full of maggots and rotting junk made the entirety of the floor. The stench of filth mixed with the frigid air to create an overwhelming air of dread. Identical chutes lined the walls like holes that stretched into the unknown. Most were out of reach and the rest clogged by piled on garbage. Anna flashed her light throughout the room. Dark splotches of mold splattered against the walls. A slick coating of putrid violet flesh squirmed as the light washed over it. Cysts full of an unknown fluid sparked to life, lighting the room with an otherworldly purple glow. Strange human sized cocoons, about 17 in total, hung from the ceiling. They wriggled ever so slightly.

"W-What is this?" Eva whimpered.

"We need to get out of here!" Anna yelled.

"Help. Please." Gwyneth's voice called out before they could do anything.

"God dammit," Eva said with a shaky voice as she ran towards Gwyneth's voice.

"Gwyneth, we’re coming!" Anna said as she followed Eva.

"Lets quickly grab her and get out of this hell hole!" Eva climbed over a mound of trash, her feet pushing against several half empty bottles of alcohol.

A few feet in front of Eva sat Gwyneth curled up into a ball. Strange and incredibly faint cuts swirled their way up the entirety of her body. Her uniform was barely held together by tatters. Blood poured from her temple onto the trash below.

"Anna, I found her. She's in really bad shape!" Eva yelled as she kneeled next to Gwyneth.

Anna soon caught up and went to her side as well. The two of them propped Gwyneth on their shoulders and began to carry her.

"How do we get out? We can't carry her back up the chute," Anna said as they began to slowly walk forward.

"Look for an exit, there has to be one somewhere," Eva replied.

"Door." Gwyneth limply pointed at the wall opposite to them.

An old, nearly rusted over door labeled “Maintenance” stood in the middle of the wall. Anna and Eva nodded to each other before moving towards the door. The flesh on the walls began to writhe uncontrollably as it crept closer and closer towards them. One of the cocoons shook violently as something tried to force its way out.

"We need to hurry," Anna said as she picked up her pace.

"I'm trying but deadweight over here ain't exactly helping. Soft my ass, she's heavy as all hell-" Eva complained.

"GET AWAY FROM IT!" Gwyneth's voice boomed from above them.

Anna looked up at the ceiling. Gwyneth hung upside down from the cocoon that shook violently. She took heavy exhausted breaths. Her face was horrified.

"Wait, who the hell is this then?-" Eva turned to face the Gwyneth they were carrying only to get thrown across the room.

"EVA!" Anna yelled as Eva smashed against a pile of trash bags and rolled onto the floor.

Anna quickly moved away from the fake Gwyneth and grabbed a broken iron pipe from the junk. She turned around and swung hard against the fake Gwyneth's temple. The pipe snapped into two pieces as it collided against the fake Gwyneth, seemingly unharmed. Anna clutched her aching palms that hurt from the recoil of the blow. The fake Gwyneth tilted it's head to the one side.

"Help. You." It said slowly in a deep breathy voice.

The fake Gwyneth began to twitch violently. The cuts throughout its body burst open. The sound of cracking bones echoed out of it as it began to shift it's form. It's body twisted and unraveled from Gwyneth's skin to putrid purple muscles. It's limbs crunched as they elongated to their original length. Rows of fang like bones stabbed through it's slimy skin and formed a light suit of armor. It's hair melted into three squishy points that resembled a jester's hat. It's face hollowed into a mouthless, nose-less, and eyeless mask- deep indentations sitting where the eyes should be. Tendrils slithered through the cracks in its body and finished shifting everything into its place. A pitch black orb rolled out of it's stomach and up into a cavity in its chest. A slab of bony ribs slid over it as it clicked into place. The Jester hunched over Anna, it's hideous form towering several feet above her.

Anna stood scared stiff at the transformation that occurred in front of her.

"Anna!" Gwyneth yelled as the Jester raised it's arm and large claws shot out of it.

Anna's face hardened as she snapped back to life. She narrowly ducked out of the way as the claws cleaved through the concrete effortlessly. Anna hopped back onto her feet and threw her broken pipe at the Jester’s head. It bounced off it doing no harm.

"Just run! You can’t hurt that thing!" Gwyneth yelled from above.

The Jester let out a raspy howl and turned towards Anna. Anna narrowly sidestepped the tendrils that shot out of its body and past her. Before she could react, it yanked itself towards her with blinding speed and pinned her against the ground. Anna struggled in vain as the Jester’s face cracked open and numerous tendrils poured out of it.

"Save. You." It gargled out as the tendrils began wrapping around Anna's body.

Anna's breaths quickened to panicked pants as her body became harder and harder to move. She took one last shaky breath as everything around her was plunged into darkness. Anna shivered as she felt herself get wrapped in a cold, damp cocoon.

"...help me….save me," Anna heard very faintly in the back of her head.

Anna gasped in a heavy breath of air as the tendrils suddenly shriveled up around her. She looked up to see the Jester engulfed in flames. Shards of a broken liquor bottle were stuck to its face. Anna rolled out of the way and got back onto her feet.

"Now we're even, Anna," Eva yelled through gritted teeth from the top of a pile of garbage, a lit Molotov cocktail in hand.

The Jester howled in pain as the fire ate at its boney flesh.

"Shut it you ugly crone," Eva screamed as she threw another Molotov against its body.

Anna ran towards Gwyneth.

"Gwyneth, drop down I’ll catch you!" She shouted at her.

"The drop is too long, I don’t think I can-" Gwyneth said nervously.

"Don't worry, I'll catch you," Anna said firmly.

"O-okay" Gwyneth whimpered.

Gwyneth shut her eyes as she pushed against the cocoon. She shrieked loudly as she fell from the ceiling. Anna braced herself and caught her as she fell, sending the two of them onto the floor.

"You okay?" Anna grunted.

"I'm okay," Gwyneth replied slowly.

"Glad you're both safe," Eva said quickly as she ran up to them. "But on your feet, I'm out of junkyard moonshine to light on fire.".

Eva helped Anna and Gwyneth onto their feet and the three of them ran towards the door. Anna rammed it open and the three found themselves at yet another dead end.

"What a sadistic piece of crap, it wanted to lead us to a dead end to kill us!" Eva exclaimed.

"Not exactly," Anna pointed to an exposed air vent on the ceiling.

"Finally, somewhere I can get to easily" Eva said as she ran up to the vent and jumped upwards.

Eva grabbed the ends of the vent and pulled herself up.

"Your turn, Gwyneth," Eva held her hand out.

"Come on we have to hurry," Anna said as she kneeled under the vent and held her hands ready to boost Gwyneth up. "Hop on".

Gwyneth shakingly stood on Anna's hands. Together the two of them managed to pull Gwyneth up into the vent.

"Goldilocks!" Eva exclaimed as she stuck her hand out.

Anna was about to jump when the door burst completely off its hinges. The Jester forced its way in. The melted flesh on its face slowly squirmed back into place. Two tendrils shot past Anna and into the rubble behind her.

Anna threw herself prone onto the floor. The Jester pounced above her into the rubble behind her.

“That won’t work on me twice,” Anna said with a determined glare.

She jumped and caught Eva’s hand. An echoing roar coursed up to them as she climbed into the air ducts.

“SAVE. YOU.” It roared as its alcohol drenched tendrils stabbed into the air ducts.

“God damn persistent piece of-” Eva grunted as she sparked her lighter to life.

She quickly crushed it against the duct. The lighter fluid ignited into a weak flame, but it was enough to reignite the alcohol and cause the tendrils to retreat in howling pain. The three of them began crawling through the air ducts as fast as they could. Eventually they found themselves at an old vent cover.

“Well, without that lighter we can't defend ourselves. Let’s hurry and get the hell out of here,” Eva huffed with adrenaline as she kicked open the vent cover.

“We must be closer to the surface by now. Hopefully we can find out from here,” Anna said as she hopped out of the air ducts.

“Y-Yeah…” Gwyneth said quietly as she hopped out as well.

“What’s wrong?” Anna asked with a tender gaze.

“I’m cold,” Gwyneth shivered.

Her clothes were soaked in a mysterious fluid that was frigid to the touch.

“Jesus, that thing really did a number on you huh?” Eva said as she took off her hoodie.

It was cheaply made and several sizes too big. The large gash tore through one of the pockets, making it so that it barely hung onto the hoodie.

“Wear it, warm up. It’s not much but the last thing I want is to be dragging around a corpse,” Eva tossed it towards Gwyneth.

“Thank you…” Gwyneth looked at it for a few seconds before putting it on.

The three of them surveyed their surroundings and found themselves in a nearly empty room. A large vault gate took the place of the wall farthest to them. Eight massive deadbolts lined each side of it, locking the gate more than securely in place. A small cubicle hugged the corner of one of the rooms.

“I think this is our way out,” Gwyneth said as she walked into the cubicle.

It was a cramped thing with barely enough room for the chair and computer that sat in it. The computer was incredibly dated. It had an LCD display and a clunky keyboard that was covered in a thick layer of dust. Latched onto the wall was a broken in half shotgun. Gwyneth sat down and turned the computer on, its screen hummed to life.

“What are you doing?” Eva raised a brow as Gwyneth began clicking away.

“Seeing if there is anything useful on this thing,” Gwyneth squinted as she wrote command after command.

“So... are you like hacking it?” Eva said with a tinge of meekness.

“No, I don’t know how to do that. But I have some friends that love computers and they taught me how to use old operating systems like this one. They also taught me how to fiddle with radio signals, that's how I was able to mess with Warden 06’s radio before,” Gwyneth’s voice turned slightly somber. “They taught me that stuff just to annoy me, but who could have known that it would turn out to be useful…”

“You’ll see your friends again and once we regain our strength we’ll save Sophie too,” Anna said in a comforting tone.

“Yeah… Thanks, Anna,” Gwyneth said before continuing to tap away at the keyboard.

Eva stared at the two in silence. She averted her gaze, guilt washing over her face.

“Okay, okay!” Gwyneth’s face lit up as she finished typing. “I think I can unlock the gate”.

“That’s amazing to hear,” Anna sighed in relief.

“Okay, if I run this…” Gwyneth tapped a few times.

The sound of screeching metal echoed through the room as the deadlocks creaked out of view. A guttural roar emitted out the last one as it suddenly stopped.

“One of them jammed,” Gwyneth frowned. “I can’t open the gate without all of them being unlocked.”

“It’s almost all the way in,” Eva grabbed the stock end of the shotgun. “A little elbow grease should do it. Come help, Goldilocks”.

“Sure,” Anna said as she followed Eva to the stuck deadbolt.

“Here, whack it,” Eva handed the shotgun half to Anna.

Anna grabbed it and focused. She smashed the stock against the bolt causing it to inch slightly. She took a deep breath and smashed it again. With every bash the bolt moved closer and closer to being unlocked.

“My turn,” Eva held out her hand once Anna had exhausted herself.

Anna handed her the shotgun and Eva smashed the deadbolt with a hearty thud. The deadbolt lurched forward, a mere inch from being unlocked. Eva grit her teeth and rammed it as hard as she could. The shotgun split into broken parts as the deadbolt fell into place.

“Doors unlocked, hurry up and open it!” Eva yelled towards Gwyneth and then turned around.

Gwyneth stood in front of them with a furious face. She clenched the barrel end of the shotgun tightly with one hand, on the other she held an ID.

“What’s wrong?” Anna asked as she noticed Gwyneth’s erratic breathing.

“What is this doing in your hoodie’s pocket, Eva?” Gwyneth held out an ID.

The image of Sophie’s lint covered ID barely peered through the darkness. Anna turned towards Eva in shock. Eva simply stood with her fists clenched.

“Why do you have this?! Did you do something to Sophie?” Gwyneth stomped closer towards the two of them.

Eva remained silent.

“Answer me!” Gwyneth yelled.

Eva clenched her fists until her knuckles went white.

“I knew your name sounded familiar, you’re that Eva. The Eva that blackmails and harasses students until their lives are ruined. The Eva that every freshman is told to stay far away from. The two faced, spineless, worthless piece of human filth, Eva Moore!” Gwyneth howled at the top of her lungs

“Shut the hell up you effing brat, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” Eva roared back.

“I know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re the reason why Sophie is always so depressed. You’re the reason that everyone avoids her. It's because of you that she’s in this place. It’s because of you that we’re in this mess in the first place. All because you’re a bully that can’t live without terrorizing others.” Gwyneth’s eyes began to water as her words quickened.

“It’s not my fault her dumbass got captured by that thing. Yet, here I am forced to crawl through this murder den and deal with you- a pathetic weak child- so that Sophie can go back to being pampered by her psychopath parents. Y’know what, I’m glad she’s in this mess. All I did was give her what she deserved,” Eva said coldly.

Anna looked at her with disbelief. Gwyneth’s mouth gaped open in shock. Her breaths quickened as she sprinted forward.

“You monster!” Gwyneth yelled at the top of her lungs while swinging the broken shotgun at her face.

Before Eva could react Anna stood in between the two and grabbed the shotgun.

“Anna?!” Gwyneth and Eva said in unison.

“Enough, both of you! Fighting now isn’t going to get us out of here, it isn’t going to save Sophie either,” Anna glanced between the two of them. “While we spend time arguing, that thing is catching up to us. We need to work together or else we will end up in cocoons like the others.”

“But-” Gwyneth started before stopping at the sight of Anna’s glare.

“Like hell I’m calming down, that brat called me an effing-” Eva stopped as Anna roared in a surprisingly loud voice.

“Eva you are smarter than this, stop wasting our time! What, are you trying to get yourself killed by that thing?!”

Eva and Gwyneth looked at her with anger and dejection respectively. After a few moments the two relaxed a little.

“Good, I’ll get the gate open and you too start making your way out,” Anna walked towards the computer. “We’ll talk about what you did to Sophie later, Eva.” Anna turned around and stared directly into Eva’s eyes.

“Whatever,” Eva spat as Anna walked away.

Anna looked at the computer screen.

“Press enter to continue”, a simple prompt read.

Anna pressed enter and the door began to churn to life. It slowly slid down into the floor, revealing stairs that led up to an exit. Anna’s head snapped towards the air duct as the sound of something shattering pierced through the concrete.

The Jester’s body poked halfway out of the air vent. Its neck split open and a tentacle shot out piercing the gate and stopping it from lowering further. Anna sprung out of the room and brandished the barrel of the shotgun. She smashed it against the tendril, causing it to unhook from the door and slightly bend the barrel. A massive crash roared out as the gate fell down. The Jester’s mouth gaped open and shot another tendril. Anna reacted in time and swung the barrel against it, causing the tendril to pierce into the ground behind her.

“Anna!” Gwyneth yelled as the gate finally lowered and allowed access to the stairs.

“Hurry up, Goldilocks!” Eva screamed.

Anna turned around and ran towards them. The sound of another part of the Jester’s body snapping open clicked behind her. Anna turned around to see two more tendrils shooting towards her. Anna narrowly stepped out of the way as they zoomed past her and towards Eva and Gwyneth. Eva managed to duck in time but Gwyneth yelped in pain as it grazed her side. The Jester began pulling itself out of the duct, its body contorting unnaturally to force its way through. Anna attacked the two tendrils, causing them to detach and erasing the progress that the Jester made.

“Just go, it’ll force its way out if I don't stop it!” Anna yelled at Eva and Gwyneth before turning back towards the Jester.

“No, we’re not leaving without you,” Gwyneth pleaded.

“Yeah, Anna. Hurry up, we can outrun that thing-” Eva said.

“JUST GO!” Anna hollered at them.

Eva stared at Anna as she held her bent, nearly broken, makeshift weapon in her hands ready to swing at any other tendrils that shot out. She noticed Anna’s firm stance, her calm and steady breaths. Anna glanced towards her with eyes filled with a furious determination.

“God dammit,” Eva muttered with a pained face before grabbing Gwyneth and dragging her up the stairs.

“What the hell are you doing?! We can’t leave her there on her own, we have to help her!” Gwyneth yelled in a panicky voice.

“We can’t help her if we’re dead, she said it herself we regain our strength and then we can save the day,” Eva grunted as she struggled to hold Gwyneth back.

“No, I’m not leaving her!” Gwyneth kicked and screamed as she tried to break free.

“We don’t have a choice!” Eva yelled into her ears.

The two slowly made their way up the stairs. Anna gave a relieved smile as she saw them approach the exit. She turned towards the Jester.

“I. Save. You.” It groaned as countless holes split out of its mouth.

“So you’ve said,” Anna braced herself. “Got anything new?”

Numerous tendrils shot out of its mangled body. Anna weaved in between them and deflected as many as she could. Pain surged through her body as the tendrils grazed her arms and legs. The shotgun’s barrel shattered to pieces as a tendril impaled through it. Anna fell onto the floor overwhelmed by the Jester's attacks. The wall crumbled into debris as the Jester yanked itself through. Its twisted and broken body stretched into a set of quadrupedal legs. More flesh burst out of its back and formed a makeshift torso. Flesh shifted into place as it carried the black orb to the center of its new chest. The tendrils retreated back to the main body, each carrying a chunk of concrete. They wrapped themselves into a set of arms. A massive cobbled together concrete lance reinforced with bone was wedged within the stringy flesh of one of them. A new head shaped itself at the top of the abomination of muscle and bone. The Jester turned grotesque Centaur howled with such ferocity that it shook the entire room.

“Save...” The Centaur stomped towards Anna as she tried to stand up and run, causing her to lose balance and fall back onto the ground.

“...you.” The Centaur cleaved the lance towards the gate and completely destroyed it.

Anna looked in fear as her only exit became nothing more than a pile of rubble. She turned to face the Centaur that towered above her.

“Take. You. Home.” It said slowly, its stomach opening up to an endless sea of tendrils.

Dread began to set into Anna. Her vision became slurred from the tears that began to well in her eyes as the tendrils inched towards her.

“I’m sorry, dad,” Anna whimpered as her hope vanished.

“Don’t be sorry yet...” Caroline’s voice rang from behind the rubble.

Two bright flashes of dark green light cut an X through the rubble, destroying it instantly. Caroline shot towards the Centaur brandishing two ethereal green sickles. She swung upwards at the Centaur. Its arms were cut clean off as the sickles effortlessly burned through its flesh. The lance shattered onto the floor as the Centaur tripped backwards in hollering pain. Pitch black smoke billowed out of its wounds.

Caroline stood in front of Anna. The green in her Warden’s uniform glowed the same shade as her sickles. Her coat fluttered in the air from how fast she moved. An emerald green crystal heart took the place of the sigil that was sat on her badge.

“...there’s still much more pain in store for you,” Caroline gave Anna a cold look before removing her coat and letting it fall to the floor.

The Centaur roared again as more tendrils shot out of its body and reformed its damaged arms. Bit of its chest became exposed, revealing the black orb.

“There you are,” Caroline rolled her shoulders before readying her sickles once more. “I hope you're a fighter.”

Caroline swung forward in an X pattern. The Centaur hopped backwards and avoided the attack. Chunks of concrete shot from the ground as it landed. It quickly grabbed them and threw them at Caroline with blinding speed. Caroline effortlessly avoided them and cut one chunk in half before it hit Anna. She pirouette forward and swung downwards with her right sickle. It hooked onto the Centaur's back causing it to yelp in pain. The Centaur swung its free arm towards her. Caroline cut through it, causing it to fall onto the floor as a lifeless stump. Before the Centaur could even scream in pain, she spun her free sickle and cleaved its chest wide open. The Centaur attempted to stomp on her legs in desperation. She hopped over its legs and pushed against its body. The sickle wedged in its back cut through its entire torso and hooked into the black orb as she did. She leaped off of its body, the black orb stuck to her sickle, and landed a few feet in front of the Centaur with her back towards it. The Centaur gave out a blood curdling battle cry as its body unraveled into a mess of coiled tendrils ready to spring towards Caroline.

“Hmm,” Caroline said as she hooked her other sickle into the orb. “Apparently not.”

Caroline turned around to see a wall of tendrils speeding towards her. She gave a sadistic grin as she pulled her two sickles apart cutting the orb in half. A ghastly wail echoed out of the Centaur as its tendrils fell limp. Its body began to dissolve into a dark violet smog.

“...save...me…” Anna heard faintly as the Centaur’s body dissipated into nothing.

Anna sat up as best as she could and looked at the remains of the orb. Its obsidian like form glistened with a faint light that rapidly snuffed into lifelessness. Anna looked up at Caroline through her pain and exhaustion.

"Sorrow neutralized," Caroline said into her radio. "Moving to extract the intruder."

“What are you?” Anna could barely manage to ask.

“The time for questions will come later. For now you and your friends have to go to pay for all the damage that you all have caused,” Caroline crouched low until she was face to face with Anna. “Welcome to a world of Sorrows, Miss Anna. I wonder if you’ll survive.”

A slight grin stretched across Caroline’s face as Anna’s vision faded to darkness.

…

Beatriz blew on her tea as she finished stirring it. She took a sip and stared peacefully at the sunny day that surrounded her. Her black hair had a few white strands and was tied into a braided bun. Her face was slightly wrinkled but her emerald green eyes burned with an eternal youth. She wore a uniform similar to Caroline's, but instead of having a gaudy coat she wore a simple scarf. A woman holding a folder approached Beatriz as she continued enjoying her tea.

"Lovely day is it not, dear," Beatriz smiled at the woman.

"Good morning, Mrs. Reine," The woman opened the folder and began reading from it. "An incident has occurred at Central Station, the chief is currently busy addressing issues in the D.E. Atham's academy and has requested your aid in alleviating the issue."

"Oh my, what could have occurred that would require my help?" Beatriz asked.

"Three intruders discovered the abandoned sections of the Central Station and unearthed a Sorrow nest. Two managed to escape to the surface before being captured by Caroline's team, the other was saved by Caroline herself."

"I see," Beatriz lowered her tea onto a small dish below her. "Why was the other saved by Caroline?"

"According to the mission report, it seems she stayed behind to stop the Sorrow from attacking her accomplices."

Beatriz looked up at the woman with a slight awe.

"What is her name?" Beatriz asked.

"Anna, Anna Hjarta," The woman replied.

"Anna…" Beatriz took one last sip from her tea. "What a pretty name".

#oc #ow #writing #mystery #thriller #horror #action #anime inspired #female protagonist #cw violence #cw body horror #cw gore #cw language #finally I get to show off why anime inspired is in the tags lol

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neo-culture-mafia · 6 years ago

Text

NCT Dream Reaction to Someone Disrespecting Their S/O

Hello my lil’ beans,

Haechan’s is under the NCT 127 and 2018 post. I posted that a while ago, and thank you to the amazing reader who reminded me I still needed to write this one. Thank you, again. You know who you are :)

Also...I got carried away with some of these...and you can tell which ones.

Love, ~J

HUANG RENJUN [2k words]

You were both in the getting ready phase for a mission. You were both in an escape room that Chenle had custom designed to simulate the mission room where you and your boyfriend would lead a group of students through their first mission. Taeyong entrusted you and Renjun and to this effectively: complete the mission, but also make this a learning experience for the students.

Everyone made it out of the simulation fine before the ‘bomb’ detonated. Now, you all got ready for the real thing--

127 and the rest of the Junior Forces Units were sitting in a van about 3 blocks away, ready to aid in back-up if needed. You and Renjun both lead the individual groups into the compound through two separate entrances. Your groups both met in the room where you needed to destroy the files and get files for Taeyong. Once Renjun closed the door, the alarm went off as expected and prepared for. The door locked and the windows were shut with metal sheets; as planned for. You tapped into Chenle. “Chenle, where are the files supposed to be?” You asked as Renjun guided the students to where to stand and protect his and your weak points. All students were hesitant but obeyed their head leader for the mission.

“They should be in the north-west corner, 5th filing cabinet from the left, 3rd row up, labeled under ‘November, Charlie, Mike’ -- American Military Coding.” Chenle read off and you ran to the cabinet. Renjun was right behind you. You broke the cabinet handle and ripped open the drawer.

You searched in the dark and found the correct one. Renjun lit the lighter and burned the folder. You let it drop to the floor and was about to close the cabinet. “Wait...these are all labeled ‘November, Charlie, Mike’.” You said taking a folder out. You flipped through it. These are the papers you needed and came for. “Put that out, it’s a trap. These are the papers we need.” You said grabbing the files as Renjun stepped on the flaming paper with his combat boot. “Mission Compromised.” You said to Mark’s earpiece. “Backup request?” He questioned. “Not necessary.” You mic’d.

The banging on the door made the students scream, even the men who wanted to be a part of the fixed units and bragged about their fearlessness. “We have to leave the files.” You and Renjun both mic’d into the units. “Backup Request. Raw’s are cracking.” (Raw - inexperienced person/people. Cracking - breaking composure/freaking out.) “Got it. Move raws to the inside corner. Stay on post till all clear.” Mark voiced over the com and you buzzed over. “Raws. North-west corner. Now.” You called and you began moving the students over to a more protected position.

You and Renjun posted near the door. It was locked from the outside, so you didn’t know why the other men weren’t walking in. Yet, the other’s weren’t trying to get in, they were trying to keep you in. The quietness brought fear and stillness within the room. You all heard the ticking from the air vents but were never prepared for what would happen next.

The sweet smell of what seemed was lilacs were carried in through the vents. Then turning into a garlicky, sweet, and spicy mix. You and Renjun realized what was happening. The other’s were gassing you all without an escape. Mustard gas: an evaporated mixture that doesn’t kill you quickly, but you wish it did. It is lethal if you don’t escape quick enough though; blisters form along exposed skin, and blisters form in the lungs and throat if breathed in too much.

“Code Red: FM. Code Black: Unseen. Code Brown: Colonel M. Code Grey: Black-out. Code Green Major: Obstructed from external.” You calmly mic’d to Chenle and Mark at same-time. Chenle answered back first. “Class of Red and Brown?” He asked. “High.” You said as you covered your stinging eyes. “Stand by.” He calmly received. “Everyone! Put on your bandana across your mouth. close your eyes and sit still.” Renjun yelled once he saw the kids start itching. Your hands and neck start stinging from the harsh fumes.

It was still silent behind the locked and probably barricaded door. You saw some of the students start to cry out of probable fear. “I don’t wanna die.” One of the younger boys said. “You’re not gonna die.” You reassured. “Back in. Taeyong and 127 are entering South wing. Junior Forces outside Nort-east wall. Prepare for detination in next 5 minutes.” Chenle answered. “Copy.” You calmly replied. “Mouthguard going on both heads.” Renjun mic’d, after seeing you clearing your throat and coughing. Renjun grabbed his bandana and tore it down the middle. He went behind you and tied one around your mouth and the other around his. One of the students grew restless. “Can you guys do something?! We’re basically sitting ducks!” he said moving around all too much. “Don’t move too much. The gas will eat your skin faster.” You blinked, your eyes beginning to become irritated.

Everyone except him became as stiff as a board. “Don’t tell me what to do.” He said pushing past the others so he came face to face with you. You stood there, not wanting to fight right now. “In position. Now.” Renjun coldly said, not looking at the boy. Your skin was itchy and on fire. “Now.” Renjun finally snapped his head toward the boy. Blisters were already forming on the younger boy’s face -- not listening to orders or not to move.

“No. She got us in this mess and she’s not getting us out. She’s being selfish.” The boy grabbed your shoulder, pushing you a little bit till your shoulder hit the concrete wall. “Don’t touch her.” Renjun said, not moving from his position and standing as stiff as a plank of wood. “Or what?” The boy asked, his skin popping a new blister by the second. “You won’t want to have survived this. I can promise you.” The wall next to you blew a hole the size of a single body. And of course, the same boy pushed others to get out first. You and Renjun calmly walked to the hole. Renjun walks out to where Mark, Jaemin, and Jeno stood with disinfectant fluid, clothed in thick work jackets and gas masks.

You held your finger up, motioning it in a circle, signaling you would be doing a walk-through to make sure no man was left behind. Jaemin saw and nodded. You slowly walked around as your skin was burning for fresh air and a release from the stinging. You walked with your head in one position and your body in a relaxed stance, careful not to move too quickly. Your body kicked a lump. You backed up and looked to see a body. It was of a girl in her first year. She came today to prove she was worth it...and you were going to make sure she lived to tell her story of being passed out in a mustard gas-filled room and surviving.

You quickly reacted, even though your brain told you not to do that, your heart said otherwise. You ripped your bandana off, immediately coughing up a red substance. Your head became dizzy as you tied it around the younger girls mouth, and scooped her into your arms. You walked through the rest making sure no one else was left behind. You ran quickly to the entrance where Jeno was all ready to take her from your arms. You passed her off and literally jumped onto the ground outside of the building. Your skin was in an automatic relief but still burned.

Renjun came over, picking you up by your arms, and guiding you over to the vans where some of the other students were sitting. Jaemin and Mark came over as Renjun took your shirt and ripped it off your body. Your skin needed to breathe and not be encased in the mustard dust filled cloth of a shirt. You were in your sports bra and the next thing to go was your pants and you were left in spandex shorts. Renjun had knotted your hair into a bun on the top of your head. He helped you stand and the two boys sprayed you with the disinfecting cold fluid. Then Jeno came over with the high wind and blew the dust from your hair and face. “Are you okay?” Renjun asked and you nodded. You coughed and your body recoiled onto the ground. You threw up at your own feet. Blood mixed with nasty remnants of yesterday littered the ground.

“She’s infected. We need to get Kun from China.” Renjun yelled to Chenle who was still in the van, directing the last of 127 and Jisung Unit through the foreign compound. “Already on the phone.” Chenle responded. “Where is the girl?” You asked Jeno, still too tired to get up, merely looking at him through hooded eyes. “She’s being taken care of. She’ll be okay.” Jeno said coming over and wiping your mouth and face of the blood you had just spilled.

“Her! It’s all her fault! She’s the traitor!” Someone yelled. You looked up, ready to see something worth seeing. Yet, you see the same snobby boy dragging Taeyong through the crowd of students. “She knew we would be in there, and she did nothing when the gas came in!” He said and everyone looked to you on the ground.

Taeyong just cocked an eyebrow at you and the rest of the small group caring for your weak figure. “She's not a traitor. She was the first one who realized something was wrong and called it in.” A student piped up from the back. “She put us in a safe position and guided us on what to do.” Another one said. “But you didn’t listen and wen and pushed her.” Another boy said and everyone was now staring at the snob who tried to taint your name. “I recall that once the hole was blown, you went and escaped first. You pushed others back just so you could save your own ass.” Renjun said walking closer to the stupid kid. “When everyone else was out, she went back in to save one of your friends. And you have the nerve to sit here and call her selfish?” Renjun asked.

Taeyong sent death glares towards this student, as did everyone else. “...and what did I say when you put your hands on her?” Renjun questioned. “I don’t care. You won’t do shit. Taeyong is standing right here.” The student sassed. Tae looked to Renjun who’s face was practically the color of a tomato. “Chenle, let me help you in the van.” Tae said and ran to the other side of the space and into the van.

Once the door closed, the boy tried backing up and explaining himself as your boyfriend took steps towards him. Yet, the younger student hit a wall made by Jaemin’s and Jeno’s bodies. Mark held your arms comfortingly. “Here, let’s go back to base. You’re too injured to stay.” He said picking you up by the arms. He picked you up bridal style and started walking you to one of the vans to take you back to base. Yet, even through the tears of the gas, you saw Renjun lay a hard blow to the student’s face, getting on the ground and laying a bitch slap against the already stinging face of the student. He grabbed the hair of the boy, craning his neck to make him look at the cold eyes of anger he possessed.

“You mess with her, you mess with me. You call yourself a man? You don’t even have a general respect for no one except yourself. You are so lucky I don’t end your sorry ass right here. There are too many witnesses...see you later, asshole.” And with that, Renjun spat on the student and left to Mark and you.

(“Code Red: FM (Code Red - Fire, Flames, Fumes [FM]). Code Black: Unseen (Bomb). Code Brown: Colonel M. (Internal or External incident involving hazardous matericals[Colenol M - Mustard Gas]) Code Grey: Black-out (Loss of Utilities). Code Green Major: Obstructed from external (Facility Evacuation - Can’t escape because something is blocking escape from the outside).” Here are the codes for the scene where y/n was reading off codes.

LEE JENO [1k]

You didn’t like when he got violent. He was your big cuddly bear of a boyfriend, and you didn’t want anything to make you think otherwise. But, sometimes he just couldn’t help himself. He needed to get his anger out, but it was always away from your sight. Yet, once stepped too far...no one could stop his rage.

You were both sitting at a very important dinner. It was with Neo Culture and one of the other mafias in the surrounding area. Taeyong was trying to expand inventory (even though it was not needed). Yet, once you all showed up to the event, you all wanted to leave. This group was nothing but a joke. Running around with semi-automatics, women would be bossing around some of the Neo Culture men as if they were servants, some of the men on the opposing side would speak rudely to the women of Neo Culture...it was a mess.

Yet, once someone messed with you, the whole hierarchy within Neo Culture became pissed and protective.

You were dancing with Jeno in the dance floor. Taeyong had sent you and Jeno to dance while sending some of the other junior forces to dance with the ladies of the other group. Taeyong was trying to give the feeling of elegance and good manners. The music played as you and Jeno laughed and talked about random stuff while spinning around in circles.

Yet you abruptly stopped once feeling someone’s hand grope your rear-end. You could tell it wasn’t Jeno because since when did he have 3 hands...and why was the 3rd hand so scrawny, cold, small, and not nice to the touch? You turned around and was met with 2 men who were giving each other high-fives. “Damn, that thing jiggles.” He said and you scoffed. Jeno grabbed you and put you behind him. “Wanna say that again?” Jeno asked grabbing one of them by the collar. “No. Jeno, stop.” You said grabbing his wrist, but he wouldn’t budge as the 2 of them began yelling at each other and getting everybody’s attention.

“Jeno. Stop.” Jaemin and Renjun ran over. “Not the time or place for this.” Donghyuck said moving you away from the situation and possible violent altercation. “What happened?” Hyuck asked, leaning in so you can speak in his ear. “One of them grabbed my ass and Jeno flipped out.” You said and he nodded, an uneasy and mean face set in instantly. “They touched you?” He asked and you nodded.

He sighed and walked back over to help the other boys drag Jeno away.

_______________

You all sat, eating dinner in the silence of a ballroom filled by 1000+ people, and no one dared to speak. Jeno had cooled down and almost became 100% okay with the situation. Something smelled fishy though.

All of a sudden, the man who touched earlier was now foaming at the mouth and shaking uncontrollably on the floor. “Underboss down!” Someone yelled and people around him along with his boss swarmed around him to help. When everyone was out of earshot, you turned towards Jeno with a scowl. He had a devious smirk on his lips as he sipped his champagne. You swatted his upper arm as the other Junior Forces and Taeyong stifled a laugh.

“Seriously? All of you?” You asked and they all hid their smiles and giggled with the bubbly alcohol. “Seizure, he’s having a seizure!” Someone called. You saw Jaemin give Jeno a fist bump under the table. You scoffed and rolled your eyes. “Unbelievable.” You said getting up and walking off the high-rise of tables. “Especially you. You should be telling them no. Not encouraging it.” You looked to Taeyong before walking off.

You walked outside the venue to get a breath of fresh air. You were eventually met with a breathless Jeno who ran after you. “For a woman in heels, you sure cover a lot of distance in a short time.” He said and you rolled your eyes. “Listen, I’m sorry. But, I wasn’t just gonna let the dude get away with it.” He said tracing his fingers from your shoulder to your elbow.

You ignored him, looking at the shops around the venue. “Please. Forgive me?” He asked and you ignored him more. His lips met your bare shoulder as he pressed kisses along the length of your shoulder. Goosebumps were present but you didn’t want to give in so easily. “Please?~~” He asked, setting his head down on your shoulder.

You looked at him and he was using his eyes as a trap for you to forgive him. “...you need to work on your temper...” you said looking out into the road again. He groaned and threw his arms around you. “I said I was sorry. He touched you...and you’re mine. No one can touch you like that.” He said kissing your cheek.

You just looked at him. “Try again.” You said and he sighed. “Fine. I got jealous and became too overprotective. I let my temper get out of hand and let it go too far. I am sincerely sorry I put you in that position where you felt uncomfortable.” He said and you actually began to believe him. “Even though I always say it, I will actually try to work on my anger starting from tomorrow.” He said and you smiled. “That’s all I ask. You can get revenge and get angry...just not around me.” You said straightening out his blazer. “You scare me when you get angry.” You fix his hair.

“I’m sorry and I’ll work on it. I don’t want to scare you.” He said kissing your forehead. “I know.” You smiled. “But let’s go. We have to get back in there before the other ones notice we’re gone.” You said and you both walked in hand in hand.

You all ended up having to go through questioning that you all didn’t put something in the man’s drink. Jeno was first to be called out and you knew he was gonna explode with rage in the span of 5 seconds. You grabbed his thigh comfortingly under the table to calm down.

“Even though I would have every right to hurt him because he touched my girlfriend, which is mine and you don’t touch what is mine because I get very touchy and mea-” You shut up his babbling with a kick to his leg. “I mean...no...I did not put anything in the man’s drink.”

NA JAEMIN [2k]

He was a pretty chill guy, usually. He always held you close to him in fear of losing you to someone else. He wasn’t afraid to let you see his anger. He also wasn’t afraid to act out on anger. He deemed consequences were unstable and probably wouldn’t hurt him in any way.

You had come back from a long day of school. You had gotten in a fight and were trying to go to sleep and escape everyone and everything. You just wanted an escape at the moment.

You walked into the quiet apartment, holding your cheek and ribs as you quickly and quietly took off your shoes. You swiftly ran to the bedroom where you were going to shower and change -- taking the longest nap of your life afterward.

Your clothes sat on the counter as you scrubbed your body gently. It was painful but needed. You let the water carry your tears down the drain and into the ocean or wherever the pipes took it to. The door opened and you could feel the cooler air contrast with the hot steam. “Hello, my beautiful princess.” Jaemin cheered as the door closed again.

It was almost like a ritual as one of you showered that the other would come and keep company. It wasn’t weird to you guys...it was comforting and wanted by both. You guys had some of the best conversations while your washed conditioner from your hair. “Hi Jae.” You tried to sing-song.

“You okay?” He asked as he opened a couple cabinets. “Yeah...just had soap in my eye.” You said as you gently washed the cuts along your cheeks and collarbones.

“Be careful princess~~” He whined and you laughed a little. “I will.” You called and he cut the small conversation off. “I’m just gonna shave so if I’m a little quieter, that’s why.” He said while yawni ng. “Okay just be careful. Don’t cut up your face.” You warned and he chuckled. “Of course, princess.” He agreed.

You hummed a little, rubbing soap into the cuts and noticing the bruises that have been left behind. You bit your lip; wanting the pain to stop for a moment but nothing was working or being answered by a higher being.

“How was school?” He asked and your breath caught in your throat. “It was...fun...I guess.” You questioned. “What’s up with you today?” He asked and you just gave him a small sound to make him continue speaking. “You usually talk my ear off about projects or the latest gossip.” He said and you just sighed. He was going to find out eventually...just do it now and he’ll be pissed but will calm down; too tired to do anything in the moment.

“Y/n...what’s up?” He asked and you peeked an eye out and saw he was finishing up shaving. “Just when you’re done go sit on the bed. We need to talk.” You said and he nodded. He finished a little faster than usual.

He exited the room but not before grabbing you a towel and handing it to you gently.

You got dressed slowly and prayed the bruises would magically zap away in the next 30 seconds...but as soon as you looked into the mirror before leaving -- they looked worse than before the shower. Your cuts were more prominent and you knew that he was going to flip his lid.

You went to the door and opened it a little. “Jaemin.” You called and you saw him sit attentively. “Yes?” He asked and put on a smile. “You have to promise.” You called and he chuckled. “Anything.” He called and shrugged. “Promise on everything and no matter what...you will not get mad.” You shuttered and he nodded, his award-winning smile only faltering a little.

“Of course...” He said. “Are you okay, princess?” He asked and you took a breath before opening the door slowly.

You stood in the doorway, the steam wrapping and hugging your skin perfectly. You watched as his face dropped and the look of fatigue and want of sleep disappear from his face. Anger was what it was replaced with.

“Who?” He asked standing up. You shuttered and backed up a little. “No. You promised you wouldn’t get mad.” You said and he became angrier. “Tell. Me. Who. Did. It.” He said and you shook your head no.

He came closer and grabbed you harshly. You winced at the suddenness and he realized how tight he was actually gripping. He let you go and grabbed your face gently.

“Baby...who did this to you?” He asked and the tears started building up faster. You shook your head, grabbing his wrists gently. “No. You’re gonna get angry.” You said and you saw his eyes turn black.

“Who.” Was all he asked. “It was my fault-” You cried a little. “Who.” “No. I’m okay. It doesn’t even hurt.” You shook your head, trying to calm him down.

“Baby. It’s okay. I’m not mad.” He shook his head, soothingly rubbing the tears from your cheeks. He grabbed your face comfortingly, laying kisses all over. “Can you just please tell me how it happened?” He asked as he wrapped his arms around you.

“I said something about this couple that had been- they had been bothering me and my friends.” You said, hiccuping between your sentences. “And...and the dude got super pissed.” You shook your head, trying to play it off like it was nothing.

“My friends tried running off to get help after he pushed Nayoung. He pushed her again and I stood in the middle. Then-” You hiccuped once again. “Then he slapped me and his friends showed up.” You said and Jaemin was still comforting you but inside was working a highly devised plan on how to make this guy’s murder look like an accident. He broke the hug to look at you again.

“Wait...is it the dude on the soccer team?” He asked and you stupidly nodded. “Wait! No it’s not...Jaemin!” you started crying more and Jaemin just chuckled at your worriedness. “Baby. Stop crying, it’s okay.” He said and held you again as you cried. “Please don’t do anything.” You pleaded. “Awe baby.” He cooed as he held you...you knew it was too late.

~~~~~~~

You sat at home eating breakfast 2 days later. Your schoolbag right next to you, and you mindlessly scrolled through your phone. The news was on in the background as some of your friends ate their own breakfast around you.

Thanks to the apartment not being on base, you could always have friends over. Jaemin never wanted to seclude you from having guests to the home. Speaking of the devil, he walked in and removed his shoes. “Hello, ladies.” He waved to them and they gawked at him per usual. “Good morning, princess.” He kissed your cheek. “Hello, Jae. Jeno’s not with you?” You asked and he shook his head. “At tr-” He began but he realized the other girls staring at him. “At a meeting. The boss wants the progress report...you know how he is.” He rolled his eyes and walked over to the fridge. He pulled out the water and poured himself a glass.

“Is that a new tattoo, Jaemin?” One of your friends pointed out. Jaemin cocked an eyebrow and looked down to his arm where your birth flower laid in newer ink. “Oh...yeah.” He chuckled and finished the rest of the water. You got up and put your dish in the sink. “It’s y/n’s birth flower. And then I got her birthday on my ribs.” Jaemin motioned to his ribs. “I wanna see!” they all said at once and you turned to them quickly. “No.” Was all you said and they all whined.

Jaemin laughed and pulled you back so your back was to his chest. His arm was across your collar bones so he held you close. The girls blabbed drama and stuff while you had your little moment. “Don’t get so jealous, princess.” Jaemin chuckled quietly. “I’m not jealous.” You defended. “...they were just being thirsty...” you shrugged and he laughed a little.

“Well I’m going to go shower then go back and teach my class then I’ll come to pick you up from school and we can go-” “We’re late!” Nayoung screamed. You looked toward the clock and you were 10 minutes late.

“Oh no!” You said and ducked out of Jaemin’s embrace. You ran around, throwing your shoes on and getting your hoodie on. Jaemin held your backpack and lunch in his hands. You passed him and grabbed it. “Forgetting something?” he asked and you walked back to peck his cheek.

“Thank you!” You called. “Have a good day, love you princess.” He called.

~~~~~~~~~~~

You walked into the teaching hall where Jaemin was on break right now. You were fuming and just...hurt.

“SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY SOCCER STAR FOUND BURNED AND DEAD IN DITCH. APPARENT SUICIDE.” Was all you heard all day. Yet you knew it wasn’t a damn suicide. It was Jaemin.

You walked in and directly to the break room. Some of the students gawked at you in your uniform as you angrily stormed past. You hit the teacher break room and literally kicked the door in.

You got everyone’s attention as Jaemin’s eyes ballooned at the sight of angry you. “Told ya.” Jeno said as he took his seat at his own desk. “Nope. I know you helped too!” You pointed to Jeno and he guiltily looked down. “And you. And you. And you.” You pointed to Renjun, Haechan, and Chenle. Jisung was still clueless about everything and you could tell the poor child didn’t want to be mixed in with the troubled ones.

All the guilty ones sighed once they realized they were figured out. You marched towards Jaemin who sat in his desk chair, a devilish smirk plastered on his lips. His glasses pulled down to the tip of his nose.

“Jaemin.” You acted innocent. “Yes, princess?” He played along. You leaned against his desk. “Would you mind having a discussion with me about today’s front page headline?” You chuckled.

“I’m actually kind of busy-” “You wouldn’t mind? Great!” You laughed as you pulled the newspaper from under your arm. He leaned back in his chair and threw his feet up on the desk. Everyone in the office tuned into the spectacle happening before their very eyes.

“Seoul National University Star Goalie Found Mangled and Burnt in Roadside Ditch In Apparent Suicide,” you concluded and he shrugged. “you wouldn’t a clue on what I’m talking about would you?” You asked and he shook his head no while having the same smirk on his face.

“Not a clue.” He sweetly said and you just nodded. “So when I tell you people are giving me shit at school saying I’m the reason for his death...how do you think that makes me feel?” You asked putting the paper on his desk.

He looked guilty. “The girls told me to delete their numbers and not talk to them.” You continued and you saw the weight in his shoulders drop. “The soccer team told me not to show up at school unless I want another beating.” You said and he looked completely gutted.

“So I want to thank you. But not only you but everyone else that helped.” You looked around at the other guilty boys. “And I want to thank you for making school a death wish for me. Because I can’t even go get withdraw papers anymore.” You shrugged, starting to get misty-eyed.

“You should have told him to calm down and not have encouraged him. Because I know your guys’ relationship and I know damn well that you told him it was a good idea.” Jeno looked down at his class’ homework in guilt and shame.

“So once again. Thank you, everyone.” You said getting up and walking out of the door where students were crowded. “Get the fuck back to class.” You bellowed and they all scattered like mice.

ZHONG CHENLE [2.6k]

He didn’t care if they were your parents -- he didn’t like anyone coming close to you without their intentions. You were his precious baby-like girlfriend who always needed his help...in his eyes. You were always spoiled by him and his love...and his overprotectiveness.

So, when you guys went out for a cute little date and had an unexpected visitor on the way out -- he bugged out and lost his composure.

“Lele...over here.” You called and grabbed his hand; dragging him over to the highest ride you could see. “Calm down, y/n.” He laughed and pulled so you were basically going nowhere. He pulled you closer and threw his arm around your shoulders. “I wanna go before the lines get too long.” You said and he understood. You both walked over to the line and stood still. Well, he did...you bounced up and down in anticipation.

“Calm down, bunny.” He said holding his hands on your shoulders to make you stop bouncing. “Okay okay fine.” You started babbling and he listened but his eyes drifted a little. His eyebrows furrowed a little as he suddenly brought you closer and held you there. “Oh...okay?” You said as you accepted the sudden affection. The dude who was once staring at your body now looked away; Chenle’s strong stare proving to be too much for the foreign feeling boy.

“Everything okay?” You asked and you heard him hum. He turned you around and you both began walking in the line again; his arm holding you close to his side.

“Le...calm down.” You said and laid a hand on his torso to get his attention. “Huh?” He asked as if he had missed something. “Angry. You look angry.” You said sadly, not wanting his jealousy to get the best of him today. “Oh...I’m not angry. Don’t worry, baby.” He said changing his face and pinching your cheek lightly.

“NEXT!” ~~~~~~~~~~~ “Ooooo! Cotton candy!” You screeched, seeing the huge balls of fluff being wound and wound like little clouds of hopes and dreams. It sent you over the edge one you saw the assortment of sprinkles being placed on top. “Pink or blue?” Chenle suddenly popped up next to you. “Oh...you don’t have to buy.” You said fishing into your backpack to pull out your wallet.

“Thank you, come again.” The worker said. Your bag was taken from you and replaced with a huge blue cloud of sugar and sparkly sprinkles. Chenle started walking away with your bag now in his hands. “Chenle!” You said as you caught up to him.

“Oh...hello...glad you could join me.” As he quickly booped your nose. “Why did you pay? I could’ve paid.” You whined as you ate a small bite of the sweet treat. “Because. I took you out on a date. You take me out -- you can pay.” He declared while putting his arm around your waist, where it usually stayed while walking.

“Fine. Deal.” You nodded, stuffing more candy in your mouth. “Oh my, you’re so adorable.” He kissed your cheek and took some candy from the paper cone. He put the candy in his mouth and then stopped. You also stopped to see what he was staring at. “Y/N?!” A boy called from the other side of the small quad.

“Minhyuk?!” You called, walking over to the boy with arms wide open. You both hugged and the anger in Chenle’s body rose to his ears. He deemed the boy a non-threat, but still, all he could see was red.

He walked over to you both, arms crossed and jaw clenched. His face was ever so slightly positioned downwards so his eyes seemed more frightening to the foreign feeling boy.

“Chenle this is Minhyuk. An old childhood friend.” You introduced, subconsciously holding onto Minhyuk’s arm. Minhyuk’s hand came out to Chenle. Chenle looked at it as if it was a contaminated specimen.

He hesitantly shook your friend’s hand and hated every second of it. Chenle looked at your hand still stuck to your friend’s arm. You quickly caught on and took your hand off. You returned to the side of your boyfriend and kept a hand in his back pocket. “Nice to meet you, Chenle.” Minhyuk smiled but Chenle only put on a fake smile as he gripped the other boy’s hand tightly.

You only noticed how much the pain was forcing its way through a smile when you saw the veins in Chenle’s arm pop out and run under the band of his watch. “Nice to meet you too...I guess.” Chenle murmured the last part.

“Let. Go.” You said quietly and Chenle releases the boy’s hand obediently. Minhyuk stuffed both of his hands in his sweater pocket as you could see him rubbing his hand in pain.

“Well...I have to get back to my friends. But, I’ll see you around yeah?” He smiled at you, and only you. You nodded, totally oblivious to what was about to happen next. “Of course! We should make plans sometime.” You smiled but Chenle grasped your hand. “Of course, y/n.” Minhyuk smiled at you. He began walking away as you turned towards your temperamental boyfriend.

“Lele...you should be nice more,” you said as you picked at the sugary treat once more, “you scare me when you get like that.” You said munching down. Yet, you didn’t see how Minhyuk looked back and gave an evil glare to Chenle.

They already knew eachother...and you both had very limited time to get out of this park before there would be a shoot out.

“I’m sorry. My stomach hurts so I’m a little moody.” Chenle gripped your hand and started to drag you along. “Lele. Stop pulling.” You whined, trying to stop him.

“I feel like I’m gonna throw up, so I wanna go home.” He said stopping and looking at the overhead signs pointing towards the closest exit. “Then hurl in the bathroom and we can just take it easy for the rest of the day.” You tried compromising, but he was not having it at all.

“No, I feel more comfortable going home.” He pulled you down a crowded section. “Uuughghg I told you not to eat lunch then go on the ‘Stomach Shaker’!” You groaned, feeling ‘right’ at the moment.

“I’m sorry, babe. You did tell me.” He confessed, but he felt perfectly fine -- guilty, about ending the day so early -- but other than that, he was fine.

“Well, at least we got to have some alone time.” You said finally walking fast enough so you were beside him. You jumped a little and kissed his cheek. His cheeks turned rosy as he slowed down a little bit and came to the exit finally.

He put you in front of him a little, making sure he could see you and see anything coming. You walked, taking bouncy steps and Chenle had fun watching you. You would make games as you walked, only walking on the parking lines on the ground. “Wait. My shoelace.” You said, handing him your cotton candy and crouching down.

You took your time tying your shoe and holding a small conversation with him in the meantime. Chenle looked over and around you. He spotted someone, in a parked and run-down car watching both of you. “Babe. You done?” He asked and you made a sound of approval, standing up.

As soon as he felt your presence and your hand on his arm, he saw the man put a walky-talky to his mouth. “Babe, run.” He said shoving the keys in your hands.

You didn’t question and ran as fast as you could to his car. You leaped past some backing-out cars and past some people walking back to their own car.

“She’s running.” You heard what you thought was a normal mom say. You looked back and saw her talking into her watch.

You then stopped once you saw there were men who were already hiding around the car.

You tried running back towards Chenle, but arms grasped onto your body. “Get off!” You yelled, trying to remember everything you learned in the defense classes you were forced to take. You looked back at the attacker for it to be Minhyuk. “Minhyuk?” You breathed in disappointment.

He scooped you up under your arms and started running towards a van. You were left in a no-choice situation: You had to survive.

You brought your head forward and back quickly. Ringing in your head bounced against your skull as he dropped you. “Y/N!” You heard Chenle yell as he ran from where you tied your shoe. His gun out and ready to be used. “Get up!” He yelled but it was all gibberish to you. Your head was hazy and still ringing.

You tried to decipher the words he yelled but only came up with unreasonable sentences.

Some normal civilians yelled and ran away from the not so normal situation. You felt another set of person’s hands drag you a little bit; the rough gravel tearing up some skin in the process.

Pop

You squeezed your eyes shut and remembered what Chenle told you about being caught in the middle of a shoot-out

You both sat at dinner in the living room. Jisung was out with his friends and you both had the night alone. You both ordered food and sat on different sides of the coffee table, food laid across space between you.

“So what about you having questions?” Chenle asked as he took a bite of food.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just wanna know what you do more.” You confessed and he nodded, mouth full of food.

“Have you ever been shot?” You abruptly asked and he choked on his noodles. You grabbed a drink and handed it to him. He waved it off as it was okay.

“Sorry. I crossed the line, didn’t I?” You asked and he laughed a little once he chewed and consumed his food successfully. “No, it’s totally fine.” He waved it off again. “Honestly, no...but I’ve been involved in shoot-outs.” He said as if it was no big deal.

“Oooo, tell me what happened.” You shifted and laid your head in your hand. “Can’t, honey. Classified still.” He said as he took another bite as you were let down.

You nodded as you understood.

“Can I join your work?”...and he choked again. He helped himself this time and looked at you. “That’s cute...but no.” He said coldly.

“My job as a boyfriend is to protect you, not put you even closer to danger.” He sighed, taking a bite of some sweet and spicy chicken. “Well...then give me some advice...something you learned from experience.” You asked and he thought for a moment.

“...In a shoot out...If you’re defenseless...don’t go towards anyone. Not the other guys, or your guys...” He said and you tilted your head. “...go towards a small place and cram yourself under or against it and have your back towards the action...” He continued. “Because in the heat of it all, you see red and your closest brother won’t recognize you even if you have your name tattooed on your forehead...wait it out, and wait for them to find you...”

You snapped your eyes open and rolled towards the parked car to your left. Shots popped through the air and you could see Chenle’s shoes under the car. He was crouched down and reloading.

You crammed yourself so far under that car, and you laid there in the tiniest ball you could form. You heard bodies hit the ground and bullets hit surrounding cars. You counted the bullets once they hit the glass above you. You were caught in the direct middle of it, and you realized it once you saw Chenle’s feet and Minhyuk’s feet move closer to the car you were under.

You prayed to anyone of anything that you would fall asleep to one of Chenle’s goodnight texts and not fall asleep forever in the back of an ambulance.

“Where is she anyway?” Minhyuk asked and your eyes widened. “Doesn’t matter.” Chenle said from his side of the car. “Yes it does. I’ve had a crush on her since we were young.” He confessed and you actually cringed.

Not lying to yourself, he was cute and sweet...and you loved him like a brother...but he wasn’t your type -- he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed at some points.

“I’ve imagined everything I would say to her.” Minhyuk fantasized, not even 2 feet away from you; crouched down on his respective side of the car. The van was long gone by now and it was just the 2 boys.

“I would shut my mouth if I was you right now, honestly.” Chenle said and you could tell he was getting angrier by each word Minhyuk spoke.

“How much she means to me...how much I want to love her endlessly...”

“You are talking about the wrong girl, buddy. She’s happiest with me...not you.” Chenle confirmed all the words you told him before; the words you would say during dates, during special occasions, and secretive nights of slipping away from the base.

“You don’t love her right. I can tell. You’re too controlling, she doesn’t like tha-”

“She’s scared of being in control. She’s scared of power.” Chenle said nonchalantly as he wiped the side of his gun with his shirt.

“I bet she likes all the power.” Minhyuk tried correcting the person who knew you best. You still shook under the car and could see very little under the car.

“She really doesn’t.” Chenle fought back and forth; something he didn’t like doing besides with friends.

“You talk about her like you really know her--but you don’t. I do. And how dare you act so cool with her.” Chenle finally blabbed his emotions. “And you have the nerve to stab her in the back like this? You seriously picked her up to get her into a van when you were her supposed friend?!” Chenle was getting heated at this moment.

“She would’ve been fine, dude. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” Minhyuk said sarcastically. “No. Because you hurt her. She probably trusted you and you totally fucked it up.” Chenle said and it was silent for a moment.

“She’s probably really good at a lot of things,” Minhyuk said in a dreamy voice. “Yes, and you’ll never get to experience any of it, you sick freak.” Then there was a weight on the car.

You were smushed for a quick second before a ringing shot was heard and you saw Minhyuk’s gun hit the ground. His body hit the ground soon after and the pool of red liquid began forming. Chenle’s feet padded back over to his first side of the car.

He got on the ground and was laying down so he could see you.

“Are you okay?” He tried giving a warm smile.

You shook your head ‘no’ and he pouted for a moment before a car screeched to a halt right in front of your hideout.

“The guys are here.” He said softly, putting his hand out gently to grab yours. You held his hand because you truly did trust him. “Just when you get up, I’m gonna close your eyes and help you to the car.” He said and you nodded.

You shimmied yourself out and stood up and before standing fully, his hands were already over your eyes. You felt another pair of hands hold yours and guide you. Yet, when first touched, you retracted back into Chenle.

“It’s just Jeno.” Lele reassured you and you felt the hands again.

In a matter of no time, you were in the back of the van with Jaemin driving, Jeno in the shooter seat, Jisung in the back, tracking and on the phone with Taeyong and Mark.

Chenle held you close, your back to his chest as you sat between his legs. Your head still hurt from the first hit but you were going to be okay.

“It’s going to be okay.” Chenle reassured once again, holding you close and resting his head on your shoulder.

“You’re gonna be okay.” He said kissing your cheek lovingly.

PARK JISUNG [2.9k]

No one ever thought you two were going to last. It was always seen as ‘puppy love’, and soon to fall apart. Yet, you both agreed that you guys didn’t want anyone but each other. You both were young, not even out of school yet -- but both didn’t want to go through the societal routine of trying to find a partner when you were both more than happy off with one another.

You guys had your childish spit-spats...every couple did. But, once someone messed with you the wrong way; he would drop everything and make sure that person never crossed the line again. It once happened with Chenle, and now Chenle never forgets to greet you with a smile and a warm welcome.

Jisung was always babied by his members, so having a s/o, he got the chance to baby someone else. That includes: making sure you were always comfortable, safe, fed, nurtured, and welcomed.

You were both in tier 1 at the on the base academy and were the tops of your classes respectively. Jisung had been with the original members first so he always had this high level of respect given to him. You, on the other hand, always had to prove yourself. You didn’t mind, but it was annoying at some points.

You were walking with some younger tier trainees on the way to the cafeteria. You were giving some pointers on how to pass some of Jeno’s tests. He was an amazing friend...but a ruthless teacher. “But like...he drones on forever.” One of the girls said. You laughed light-heartedly at her statement. “He does that so you don’t miss anything.” You defended his unfun class lectures. “Working with chemicals is hard. A truth serum could turn into a deadly poison, easily. He just wants all of you working with chemicals SAFELY.” You said and they nodded, finally understanding.

“And if you really don’t want to listen to him that day, bring up cats...he can’t resist talking about his own.” You said and they laughed. Yet, a huge smack was heard throughout the courtyard. A wet substance was leaking through the back of your training shirt. It was a lukewarm liquid that still made you shiver as it slid down the crevice of your back.

You turned around slowly and saw the culprit: Oh Minki...number 2 in your class. He laughed with his small group of friends. The missing head of the mop laid at your feet, while the pool of brown, smelly, and dirty water sat at their own.

No one dared to make a sound at the huge ordeal. You would’ve walked off and let it go if he hadn’t started talking. “Awe. Is crybaby gonna cry?” He asked, moving his hands and wiping imaginary tears. “Gonna go get your big bad boyfriend?” He asked and you shook your head ‘no’. He was on a mission today, and you weren’t gonna call him because some asshole threw a wet, stinky, dirty mop head at you.

“I don’t find a reason to call on anyone when I could easily take you on myself.” You spoke and everyone ‘ooo’d’. “You can’t, though.” He said and you both began walking heavily towards each other.

“No! Stop!” The younger students said, not wanting two people who could easily kill each other going head to head. You both met in the middle and he laid a fist. You turned and grabbed his arm with your hand and twisted it up so he fell on his back.

He kicked your knee out from under you and you fell on your hip. You both wrestled for a moment on the ground until he pinned you down for a quick moment. “Get off of her!” Some other students yelled; not allowed to break it up without a mentor around. He pinned your arms next to your head and you started kneeing his lower back. “Stop! Get off!” More kids yelled, not wanting this to go any further. “Help me.” He called to his friends once he realized you were going to damage his back if you kept kicking.

“Move!” His friend yelled, getting closer. Minki rolled off of you and you couldn’t do anything.

You had no time to move out of the way, as the only thing that protected you was your arms in front of your face.

The whole mop bucket was emptied onto you. You coughed as some chemically tasting water got into your nose and mouth. The water seemed never-ending as the heavy bucket was then dumped onto your stomach. Little particles of what looked like toilet paper floated near you and you wanted to throw up. You needed to. You swallowed chemical water.

“Hey! You!” Someone bellowed at the top of the quad. A small bridge linking some of the academic buildings together was used as look-out over the quad for security purposes.

Taeyong stood there along with the whole of Neo Culture; still dressed in mission uniforms.

Taeyong looked right into Minki’s soul with the anger of a million devil’s. Jisung’s eyes were unreadable as you met his eyes next.

You were sitting up, weight on your elbows as you were still dripping wet and smelly. “Shit. Run.” Minki said and all of his friends took off. Taeyong turned towards Jaemin, Jeno, and Mark who then ran off the bridge and probably towards the student dorms.

You were stood up by some of the male students who wanted to help from the beginning, but couldn’t. They were some of Jisung’s friends you have come to meet, but not remember their names. “Miss. y/l/n. You have to purge. You have chemicals in your system.” One of them said and you hazily nodded. They dragged you over to the grassy section.

“Go into the cafeteria!” Taeyong shouted and all the other students hurried along. “

Jisung was quietly and annoyingly begging to be released from the position so he could go help you. “Please. Please. Please.” He kept saying discreetly from next to Taeyong. “You wouldn’t let me get the dude-” “Yeah because you would’ve killed him.” Taeyong fought back and Jisung sighed heavily. “Wait till everyone goes into the cafeteria, then go help her,” Taeyong said and Jisung just wanted everyone to poof...in the cafeteria already.

They were supporting your upper body. Your lower half laid on the grass, and they held up your upper body under the arms, leaving your head facing straight down to the blades of grass. You started getting light-headed, eyes feeling like were going to pop out, and chest feeling heavy.

“Hyun-Ah! Get some water and towels!” One of the boys yelled from above you. You were trying to support your body but their arms kept you up. “Y/n. We need to take your shirt off, is that alright?” One of them politely asked and you nodded. You heard snipping and the warm air hits your back. Medical student.

“She’s experiencing chlorine contact irritant dermatitis.” The boy whispered, taking out a pad of paper and a pen. “Chlorines compounds wouldn’t make a rash that severe.” Chemicals student.

“On the contrary. Mixed with other cleaner chemicals, chlorine mutates.” The first guy said again. “Jisung is gonna be pissed.” Another boy said and you could hear him chuckle.

“Not the time, dude.” The Chemicals student said and footsteps were heard coming closer. “Here are your towels and water. What are you doing?! Tie her hair up!” A girl said coming closer and taking your hair. She tied it in a knot with an elastic and left again.

You heard constant and fast coming steps. “You need to purge now or you’re going to have complications.” The medical student said and you only groaned lightly. “Do you need help?-” He asked and you nodded.

“I’m here. I’m here. I’m here.” Jisung said as he slid on the grass in front of you. “She needs help purging. Her pulse keeps fluctuating.” The Medical student said and your nose began dripping blood onto the grass. All this? From swallowing a couple mouthfuls of water? “Okay, come on, y/n. It’s okay.” Jisung said grabbing your face gently.

His panic was hidden with smoothness and calmness. Yet, his heart rate was reaching a new high and he was already getting a headache from everything happening at once.

“Alright. She needs to purge now or she’s gonna need her stomach pumped.” The Chemical student said. Everything was still hazy as your throat and neck were on fire, figuratively of course.

Jisung’s hand came under your chin, lifting your head up a little. He stuck his thumb in your mouth to pry it open. He took his fingers and shoved them as far as they could reach. You gagged and released all the foul-smelling chemicals that were entrapped in your stomach. Jisung held the strands of hair that escaped and rubbed your back for support. “It’s okay.” He would say and once you were done, you just hung there for a moment. “Honey, where is your shirt?” He asked and you shrugged. “We had to make sure there were rashes forming to make sure the chemicals made it to her stomach before she purged.” The medical students said and Jisung nodded.

Jisung was still dressed in his mission uniform but it was dirty with dust and stains. His hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, as the hot sun beat down on both of you. “Here, you guys take my uniform back and I’ll take her...?” Jisung trailed off. “Medical center. Teacher Jeno can come in and determine if any more is in her system.” The Chemical student said. “Then I can come over later and make sure her levels are stable and we can possibly get Teacher Kun on the phone to make sure he doesn’t need to come up?” The Medical student said and Jisung nodded, “Xiao-Jun is here to gather some documents, so I’ll ask him to look over her before he leaves.” Jisung said as he began taking off his layers.

He first took off his utility vest, then his jacket, then his first bulletproof vest. He handed it to the Chemical student and removed his shirt for a moment, taking his undervest off, throwing it to the boy, and putting the shirt back on his body.

He grabbed you under your arms and pulled you up. He put you on him so you were basically koala-hugging him. He wrapped your legs around his waist and you laid on his shoulder.

He began walking towards the medical building with you in his arms. “I’m cold.” You complained and he laughed a little. “I know. We’re almost to the building. Then I can get you some blankets.” He concluded.

He walked into the air-conditioned building and you automatically groaned at the coolness. “Backroom. Xiao Jun is already in there.” Renjun said as he was walking out with a cup of tea in hand.

Renjun followed both of you to the back room where Jisung sat you down on a bed. You curled into yourself. “I’m cold.” You said again and as if on cue, a blanket was thrown on you. “Jeno said to drink this. It will help with dissolving and stopping the chemicals.” Renjun took your hands and put a hot cup of what smelled and looked like tea in your hands.

You shakily took some into your mouth and it soothed the burning there. You drank mouthfuls and became sleepy. “She’s gonna fall asleep in a little bit, and you can stay here to look over her or you can go wash up and change and I can stay here,” Renjun said and I automatically wanted to take a nap.

“Will you be okay if I go wash up really quick?” Jisung asked, his hand lingering on your cheek for a moment. You nodded, the warmth of his hand feeling amazing. He chuckled, kissing your forehead and walking out; his work boots clinking with every step.

“Alright, time for a nap, y/n.” Renjun said softly, standing up and taking the almost empty cup away from you. “Do you want a sweatshirt? Jisung left it here a couple of days ago while working the late shift?” He asked softly. You nodded softly. Renjun padded out of the room to the reception area and came back moments later.

He helped you put it on, and ley down. He laid a blanket over you and stood next to you for a moment. “If you need me, hit this button. I’m gonna be out there doing some work.” He said and you nodded. He walked out softly and you heard him sit down in the chair.

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

Jisung knocked on the door softly. The door swung open and a gasp was heard. Jisung’s fist automatically connected with the first face he recognized in the group: Minki.

Minki tried closing the door after pushing Jisung backward into the hall. Jisung faltered as his back hit the wall on the opposite of the door. Some other students peered out of their respective dorms with curious eyes. “Help! He’s crazy!” Everyone heard Minki scream from inside his dorm along with his friends who acted so tough before. Jisung could hear the chain lock be put into place, but it had no use.

“Don’t try to run now. Face me like a man.” Jisung said and at the last word, his foot went through the flimsy door. He continued kicking till there was a big enough space to crawl through without ripping him to shreds.

Jisung only saw red with cloudiness as he gripped the first dude's shirt.

He body slammed him into the table and the guy gargled before his eyes shut.

The other boys of the dorm tried throwing stuff at Jisung to distract him and keep him away. The next guy Jisung caught tried throwing punches on his face. Jisung threw the guy into the was roughly and a satisfying crack was sounded through the walls. Minki tried running into the kitchen to grab a knife...as if that would possibly stop Jisung.

Students crowded around the door to look into the messed up dorm.

Jisung threw his hand up as Minki wielded a steak knife around like he was set for life.

Then as everything was going downhill...a shout broke the murmuring of students. “Park. Ji. Sung.” Mark screamed from the break-in the door. “Come unlock this door right now.” Mark called and he finally saw Minki with a knife pointed towards Jisung. “OH MINKI!” Mark yelled even louder, coming into the actual dorm himself.

He walked over, disarming the stupid boy. Minki ran behind Mark but Jisung was going to get to him eventually. He couldn’t run forever.

“Get out from behind me.” Mark said venomously. Minki cowered. “But he’s gonna hurt me.” He said pointing at Jisung. “He’s crazy.” Minki concluded. “No. You’re crazy for touching what was his. What he cares about.” Mark said walking back to the unconscious boys in the living room.

“M-mark.” Minki tried saying as Jisung stalked closer, looking at him as if he was a prey. “It’s Mr. Lee to you.” Mark corrected the boy, taking the pulse of the injured.

“Listen...we can talk this out.” Minki said as he put his hands out towards Jisung. Jisung smacked his hands away and grabbed Minki’s throat. Jisung slid the by over the counter, clearing everything off that was once on it.

Minki clawed at Jisung’s hands, gasping for breath. Jisung got close and made his promise very clear. “I’m not gonna kill you...I’m not even gonna hurt you.” He said and Minki’s eyes got wide as he started struggling more.

“I am going to make your life a living hell.” Jisung said and Minki stopped moving. “You messed with someone you shouldn’t have even touched. Now you have to go through me.” Jisung spat and Minki nodded.

“I don’t want you to come close to her at all; because I promise on my grave: I can make your death a slow and agonizing one that will have you wanting me to kill you right now.” Jisung vowed. “Now, I’m gonna leave. And I don’t want to see your ass come close to me or any of my friends; especially y/n, again.” Jisung said and Minki nodded quickly. Jisung let him go, standing up straight again. He spat at Minki before leaving.

“See you in class. Bitch.”

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

It had been 2 weeks since the incident and Jisung hasn’t left your side during classes.

You both walked towards the cafeteria with your group of friends. Jisung was distracted by Minki and his friends watching both of you from their side of the quad.

Jisung threw his arm around you and pulled you close. He winked to Minki who looked away and towards his friends.

“You okay?” You asked Jisung who looked down at you and smiled. “Couldn’t be better, honey.” He kissed your cheek. “Ew.” Your friends said and you laughed as Jisung attacked you with kisses to annoy them. “Get a room.” One of his friends said. “Not allowed to do that, yet.” Donghyuck shouted as he walked past with a group of other teachers.

“Aye, hyung don’t be jealous!” Jisung yelled and Hyuck just looked back at all of you. “Oh shit, run.” You said and you all ran into the cafeteria to avoid a lecture.

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dragonrajafanfiction · 5 years ago

Text

Dragon Dancer III: Blood Joy

I faced my friends for what could be the last time.

“You’ll let us know if anything happens?” Johann said.

I looked him in the eyes. “You’ll know before anyone else.”

Chisei had finally sent me the photo of Erii’s hospital room. It was 8 pm in the evening an hour before my scheduled shift. Lu Mingfei had joined us in the Takamagahara I’d hugged him for a long time. But now, I was leaving.

Chisei could very well kill me. Tachibana could be lying in wait. But this was the beginning of what could be our best chance to get out of here.

Johann stepped forward and gave me a lingering kiss, the back of his gloved hand running down my cheek. “Be careful.”

I nodded, my emotions rising in my throat, rendering me speechless. I stepped away from him, glancing at the picture of my phone, orienting myself to face the correct direction and closing my eyes. Erii’s room seemed imaginary at first, then solidified into a sort of semi-reality that told me that the path to teleport was clear and correct. I stepped forward and vanished into the dark.

Three seconds later, I stepped out of the shadow.

The Takamagahara suite was replaced by the woman’s bedroom covered in exquisite paintings and smelling of sandalwood. The sight of my friends was replaced by a potentially very dangerous person. Chisei startled as I appeared suddenly in the blink of an eye. His hand unconsciously went to the hilt of his sword, but then relaxed as I didn’t move.

I smiled and waved, hiding my slamming heartbeat. “Hello!”

He took a breath to relieve his own nerves.

I looked at Erii. She’d been sedated at my request. She was hooked up to what appeared to be a modified IV. One tube was siphoning away her blood and running it through a machine that collected a blue-black fluid in a canister before returning it to her body. The fluid in the machine gave off an eerie feeling. I stared at it, hairs standing on end.

Chisei crossed his arms. I cleared my throat and looked at her with dragon eyes.

Even with the treatment, her body was in what I could only describe as a process similar to oxidation. She was in constant exposure to high levels of dragon DNA that spread like fire and rust and would start to eat away at her the moment she got off the machine. This dragon blood would need to be burned away, cauterized by my speaking spirit. And it would hurt.

“She’s well sedated?” I asked.

He nodded.

I sat down at the side of her bed. “Wow... I’ve never seen it... this powerful. Well... actually I take that back.” I blinked away the dragon eyes. “Do you have a syringe?”

“What are you planning to do?” He asked.

“Give her an injection of my blood as a primer. It’s hard to explain but my speaking feels like a pushing, a throwing back of the dragonblood. Right now, hers has a momentum that is hard to push back against. The injection will give me a boost that will make things easier.”

He turned to a small rolling cabinet and found a few syringes. I watched him, relaxing a bit more. He was serious-faced. I could tell he cared a lot about his sister. He was upset and didn’t want to talk. He had reason.

He handed me three syringes and I accepted them. “I’m not really versed in drawing my own blood. Can you do it?”

He sat next to me as I held out my arm. His hands were rough in the same places as Johann’s. I could feel myself start to blush and mentally kicked myself. I shyly avoided his eyes. I told myself to stop it. But I couldn’t stop it.

I was happy to see him. The same happiness I imagined feeling when I hadn’t seen a friend in a long time.

He tapped on my arm to find the vein and I tried not to flinch. I watched my blood fill the hollow glass tube. He removed the needle and handed it back to me.

There was a thing called Blood Cry, the inherited loneliness that one feels as a hybrid in a human world. But being with Chisei, I felt something different, a strong desire for trust. A kinship. I wanted to be with him no matter what the danger.

I felt the same way with Lu Mingfei. What would be the opposite of Blood Cry? I wondered.

I turned to Erii. “Can you inject it into her?”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I did the same to Johann Chu. So I know it works.”

He raised his eyes to me at that, but then lowered them and took Erii’s arm.

The heart monitor showed a quickening in her pulse after the injection. Chisei moved aside. I took her hand. In my father’s language, I spoke the words ‘Release’ and felt my Spirit howl against her dragon blood like a strong wind against a cloud. It pushed and twisted against it, hobbling it, confining it, dampening it.

Erii’s mouth opened and she gasped.

I closed my eyes and spoke again. “Release.”

This time, the combination of my blood and the speaking spirit started a cascading and collapsing of her corruption. The tide had turned. The corroding influences were brought to heel as her human DNA was bolstered by my Spirit manipulation to be just as strong as the dragon blood in her.

I opened my eyes. “Okay. I’m done.”

I looked at him. “She’s going to be really sore when she wakes up. But she won’t descend into a monster any more. However... she’s about halfway there still. She’ll still need to be careful not to use her Soul Skill too much or she’ll relapse.”

Chisei’s shoulders relaxed, his head lowered. He seemed to be a man lost, a bewildered.

“It’s really over, Chisei. She won’t ... have to do this any more.” I gestured to the machines. When he still didn’t respond, I asked, “What is it?”

“I found something, in a Kabuki theater where Ruri Kazama was hiding out.”

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a photo. It was clearly him, a boldfaced young man and another one with a softer, kinder expression. “Oh! It’s you and your brother!”

Chisei continued to stare at me and I stared right back. “How did you know he was my brother?” He asked in a soft whisper.

“I used my speaking spirit to subdue him when he tried to kidnap me. He’s the one who told me about the village in the mountains. Where he used to live. He told me you were his brother. I saw his memories. It was about a year ago....” My voice trailed off in confusion. “I thought you knew Ruri... was your brother... he told me he was your brother...” I repeated, growing more bewildered.

He didn’t answer.

“You know I was wondering why you asked me about Ruri on the call. I guess this explains that.”

We were silent a moment. “Can you take me to that village?” He asked.

“Yeah! I still remember the way. Erii will be okay.” I held out my hand to him.

He took it.

“It’s going to feel very dark and cold for about three seconds. Don’t let go.” I closed my eyes and focused on the room that Ruri Kazama had showed me. We disappeared. We reappeared in the pitch black and the rain and part of me panicked, wondering if I had gone back in time to the night of the Raid. But no, it was just that there was a hole in the roof of the room now and water was pouring inside.

“The Earthquake must have damaged it.” Chisei said, pulling me out of the rain. We looked outside. The town appeared like something out of a horror movie, with collapsed buildings, rubble and debris strewn all over. I looked up at him. This place used to be his home, but his face was expressionless. “There’s something I need to show you.”

We stepped outside, heedless of the steady rain and the mud. “This town was built around a Shrine. We rarely got any visitors outside monks and tourists. So it was quiet.”

“Ruri Kazama’s real name is Chime Gen. He’s the second son of the Gen clan. Chime had a talent for the dances and the etiquette. So he seemed to be destined to care for this shrine after the death of the original priest. But... he died.”

“I never mentioned his name to anyone. I never told anyone about this place. The only person who knows about it is Tachibana. When I saw the news about the performance at the theater, as soon as I saw the pictures, I knew it was him.”

He continued to walk again until we came to a clearing. A raised stone circle was in the middle of the plaza. A couple of crows sitting on it squawked at us, flying away on dark wings. He strode forward. It was a well, covered with a padlocked metal lid. “It looks like its never been opened...”

Chisei wasn’t speaking to me. He was in his own thoughts. I hung back in silence.

He drew his sword and neatly severed the lock in a single stroke. I flinched as a piece of it landed near me. A warning reminder. I took a step away, realizing I may have made a mistake.

He pulled the lid away and peered down, his eyes flashing yellow, using his dragon sight in the dark. Even from this distance a gasoline smell came from it. Chisei took a lighter and shone inside.

I didn’t know what he was looking at. Something told me I didn’t want to know..

He dropped the lighter in and it ignited the fumes inside, the light of the flames illuminating his grim expression. I gathered my arms about myself, shivering. He mumbled himself. “He filled the well with fuel. He knew I would come back.”

“What happened?” I asked.

We’d been standing outside so long even his trench coat was soaked. “Years ago, I joined the Execution Bureau of the Japan Division with the intention of clearing the unstable hybrids from it. They were multiplying rapidly and the crimes they were committing were getting more and more brazen. It wasn’t long before these same murders were being committed right here. Several of the victims were friends of mine.” He sat at the edge of the burning well.

I wanted to approach, but I was too scared.

“The murders shocked the entirety of Japan. Because it was so close to home, I was ... especially eager to get back here and take care of the perpetrator. It was a perfect time for the murderer to strike again. He targeted very young girls. And it was the time of year of Miko Matsuri, where girls from the city visit the country to experience old Japanese culture.”

“One girl in the crowd was especially beautiful and I followed her, thinking she would be the likely target. When night fell she and a group of other girls gathered together to have some ... fun with witchcraft. The girl was singing an ancient song in a beautiful voice as part of a ritual. Her dance was hypnotic. The girls... they were entranced and so was I.”

“Then I realized... the smoke. There were drugs in the building.” He looked up at me. “That beautiful girl started taking the other girls and kissing them. The other girls started kissing each other... and then... I saw the blood coming out of the mouth of one who had been kissed by the singer.”

The fire was starting to lick it way up to the top of the well, smoke was curling out of it.

“She’d been killed by a blade in the beautiful girl’s mouth.”

My hand moved to my throat and I cringed.

“That’s when I realized the girl I thought would be the victim was the murderer. She wasn’t even a girl. She was a man. I ran into the building sword held high, but he was faster. He used an innocent girl as a shield. I killed her instead. But I got close enough to recognize him. He was my brother. That’s why... he was killing the people I knew. Because they were the people who trusted him. We had the same classmates.”

“I knew exactly where to find him. A hiding spot only he and I knew. When I got there, I saw the bodies of my classmates turned into wax figures, wearing kabuki costumes. I caught him in the act, with the body of his most recent victim. Part of me wanted to run, but... I was there because I needed to save the next victims.”

“So I just called his name. When he turned around, it was like he was ... waking from a dream. He was surprised to see me. He walked up to me... as if to hug me.”

My mouth opened. “You... you killed him.”

He nodded once. “Right... his last words were... you came back..”

He turned back to the burning well. “You can’t imagine Carli. That’s why you keep insisting that things will be different with whatever Herzog has created now with us. You keep hoping that the end will work out someway. That your Soul Skill will save you and I from the heartache of having to kill the ones we love, to save the ones we love. I... already know what’s going to happen...”

My eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me what I can or cannot imagine,” I snarled.

My strong response made him sit up.

“Lu Mingfei, someone dearly love, had to kill my mother right in front of me after she turned servitor. So don’t tell me that I’m naive. I’m not.”

Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance. “Where I come from.... there were children like me who grew up and had successful careers. And there were children like me who grew up and were killed in gangs. Or were found killed as prostitutes or... were murderers themselves and ended up in prison before they were eighteen.”

“I’m just not willing to stand in judgement based on my prior experience. I’m telling you not to as well.”

Chisei sighed, frustrated. “We have no idea what Herzog has created. It will take years for Cassell to reverse engineer his research to even guess what he’s done!” Chisei stood up. “You’re risking your friend’s lives if you take them back with you!”

“No, I’m not! I have a friend. Isaac Comemnus, the heir of the company who sold me in the first place! He can tell us what Herzog did... and maybe how to fix if needed.”

He looked away from me. I took another step back, wondering if he was going to attack me. “You’re making a mistake.” He said.

“Did you intend to kill me if I didn’t agree with you? Because I’ll leave you here,” I threatened.

“No... I thought you’d see things my way. History will repeat itself Carli. But... we have an agreement. And... you did save Erii.”

“So you’re not going to stab me and throw me down the well?” I asked.

“No.”

“I’m glad. I really like you. But there’s nothing I can say to you to make you feel better. We’re just going to have to be patient and see how things work out.” I approached him carefully, ready to leap away at any moment. “Let’s go back, Chisei.”

I finally got close enough to hesitantly curl my hand around his. I paused, tense, shaking, barely able to speak out of fear. “I have to close my eyes for this to work. Please don’t hurt me.” My voice broke.

“We’re back to where we were before?” He looked at me with sad eyes.

Looking at them, part of me wanted me to relax. I leaned my head against his arm, closed my eyes, and visualized Erii’s room. “Not quite.”

#Chisei Gen #Chime Gen #Ruri Kazama #Erii Uesugi #Dragon Raja #Fanfiction #Writing

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percussiongirl2017 · 6 years ago

Text

See Who, C U

Title: See Who, C U Part 2

Pairing: Former Dean x Reader, Sam, Castiel, Jack

Summary: A simple vengeful spirit case takes an unexpected turn when someone from the WInchesters’ past shows up.

Word Count: 1794

Warnings: Swearing, Dean’s kinda a smartass, Case work, Slight Angst

A/N: (Put in the queue 6/1/19) This work has been queued. This is the last fic I’ll put in the queue. Please enjoy and any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated. (Title is based on a cheer at my college.) Tags are below the cut.

Buy Dean’s Scent Here!

******

You stormed across campus to the Learning Commons and headed for one of the vacant study rooms. Your next class wasn’t for another 2 hours, but you needed an excuse to get away from them. You closed the blinds and locked the door before sitting down at the table. You needed to finish this case quickly before the boys got too involved. Working through your notes, you narrowed down what the spirit could be attached to before comparing it to the classrooms on campus. Checking your watch, you saw that you had 30 minutes to get to your last class. You packed up your bag and headed for the door when you saw the handle start to turn. Immediately, you stopped and pulled the gun that was hidden on your boot and ducked behind one of the tables. The door slowly opened.

“Dean, you just can’t pick the lock to every room and hope you find her.” Sam chastised.

“Watch me.” Dean said.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” You snapped as you stood up. “I could have shot you.”

“Told you she would have a gun.” Sam smirked.

“What do you want?” You sneered as you put your gun away.

“I wanna talk.” Dean answered. “We have some explaining to do.”

You picked up your bag. “I’d love to stay and chat, not really, but I now have 20 minutes to get to the art complex.”

You pushed past them and headed down the hallway when someone grabbed your arm. Instinct took over as you tucked yourself in and threw the person over your shoulder.

“What the hell?!” You yelled.

“You still got it.” Dean coughed from the floor.

You scoffed and stepped over him as you continued out of the building. You crossed the street and walked behind the boy’s dorms towards the soccer field. You walked to most of your classes, so you had found shortcuts to get around faster. After going around the soccer field, you crossed over to the church parking lot and then over to the art complex. You headed for the building in the back as everyone else showed up. The Band room was chilly as you stepped in and placed your stuff in the corner near the guard equipment.

“Don’t worry about instruments.” Your director, Wayne, announced. “We’re just going to talk today.”

You grabbed your chair and flipped it around before sitting down and crossing your arms over the back. Wayne started discussing the plan for next year as you picked at a loose thread on your chair. The door opened behind you causing everyone to look except you.

“Can I help you, gentlemen?” Wayne asked.

“Yes.” You heard Dean answer. “We need Y/N to come with us.”

“We have a few questions for her.” Sam added.

Wayne nodded to you as you rolled your eyes and grabbed your things. You could feel everyone staring as you walked out. People already thought you were weird and this was going to add fuel to their fire. Once you were out of eyesight of the Band Room you spun around and glared at the boys.

“What the fuck was that?” You snapped. “You can’t just show up and pull me out of class. I’m not a kid.”

“I see your attitude hasn’t changed.” Dean attempted to joke.

“Fuck you.” You sneered. “I’ve got this case just fine so do me a favor and get the Hell out of here.”

“Y/N, just talk to us for a minute.” Sam pleaded. “We haven’t heard from you in almost 7 years.”

“Who’s fault is that?” You asked.

“Just give us five minutes.” He begged.

You thought it over. “Let me finish this case and maybe I’ll talk to you.”

“Fine.” Dean agreed. “You have to let us be your backup though. We won’t intervene unless you need us to.”

“Whatever.” You rolled your eyes. “Meet me in the main building at 9 tonight after classes let out and don’t get in my way.”

You turned on your heel before they could answer and headed back to the main campus. You found your truck with ease and started the drive back to your small house. You didn’t want to live on campus just in case you had to disappear quickly. You pulled your duffel bag out and started throwing clothes into in. After the case was done you’d have to skip town. Sam and Dean knew you were here and there was nothing stopping them from coming to get you. You had lived here almost 4 years and now you were going to have to start over again. You didn’t have many possessions, but it still pained you to have to pack them up. Thankfully, most of the professors were doing reviews for the upcoming finals and weren’t taking attendance. You could come back and take finals then have your diploma mailed to your P.O box. You set aside everything you needed for the case and put the rest of it by the front door. It wasn’t much. A duffel bag full of clothes, your weapons bag, and a box of small trinkets was all you had to represent the last 4 years of your life.

Nine o’clock came faster than you thought as you headed for the main building. You caught a glimpse of the Impala behind the building and shook your head. Of course they were already here. You waited as the night classes cleared out and made your way up the steps.

“Took you long enough.” Dean said as you walked in.

“I said wait until classes cleared out, dumbass.” You snipped. “You guys stick out more than I do.”

“Coming from the chick with multicolored hair.” Dean fired back.

“Knock it off.” Sam elbowed Dean.

“Fuck off, Winchester.” You said as you headed for the stairs. “Stay out of my way.”

You heard them follow behind you as you swept the second floor and went to the third floor.

“How do you know the spirit is here?” Sam asked. “There’s a lot of buildings on this campus.”

“This is the oldest building on campus.” You whispered as you watched the EMF reader. “It was burned down during the Civil War and was rebuilt in the same spot. The mascot’s a phoenix for a reason.”

They fell silent as the air turned cold. You pocketed the EMF reader and pulled the shotgun out of your bag. You needed to get to one of the science labs to find what you needed. You headed right as the room grew colder. You opened the lab door and were immediately thrown backwards against the wall.

“Y/N!” Sam yelled.

“I’m fine.” You said as you stood.

The spirit came at you again but you were prepared this time. You fired a salt round and watched it vaporize before running back into the lab.

“What are we looking for?” Dean asked as he and Sam came in.

“Chalk.” You said.

“Wait, what?” He turned. “This thing’s connected to chalk?”

“Like I said earlier,” You started. “this place was burned down during the Civil War. Professors used chalkboards and this is the only room that still has a small chalkboard.”

Beakers and other items started flying off tables and breaking as you torn cabinets apart looking for the pack of chalk. You heard Sam and Dean cursing as they fought off the spirit behind you. You moved the chalkboard over and saw the pack peeking out under a stack of papers. You grabbed it and threw it in the sink as you doused it in lighter fluid. You were lighting the match when one of the beakers hit the back of your head. It shattered and you felt something warm trickle down your neck. You swore as the match finally lit.

“Class dismissed.” You said as the sink went up in flames.

You watched as the spirit burned and eventually disappeared. You put out the fire in the sink and made sure it was cleaned up. The back of your head stung as you attempted to clean up the broken glass.

“What are you doing?” Dean asked.

“They have a class in here tomorrow.” You said. “I’d rather avoid having the police show up again.”

“Cas and Jack can clean up.” Sam said. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine, Sam.” You stated. “I’ll deal with it when I get back to my place.”

You walked out of the room and let them clean up the mess. You made sure the halls were empty before going downstairs. You were almost to the exit when a hand stopped you.

“I thought we were going to talk.” Dean said.

“I said maybe, Dean.” You reminded him. “I appreciate the help, but I don’t wanna talk.”

“Why, Y/N?” He asked. “Just answer that. Why won’t you talk to us?”

“Because I’ll do something stupid like forgive you.” You tried to laugh.

“Y/N, I…” He started.

“Don’t.” You cut him off. “I’m sure you’ve been fine since I left. You have Sam, Cas, and Jack. You’ll be fine without me.”

You pushed the door opened and ran before Dean could say anything else. You tossed your bag in the passenger seat and headed back to your house. You dragged your bag inside and left it by the front door as you went to the bathroom. You stripped your shirt off and used it to clean up most of the blood on your neck. You positioned another mirror so you could see the back of your head. There were still a few pieces of glass caught in your hair as you cleaned out the cut. It wouldn’t need stitches, but it was going to be sore for a while. You took a quick shower and retreated to your room to get dressed. Once you were clean and comfortable you emailed your professors letting them know that you would not be returning to class. You were going to come back for finals, but you had a feeling Sam and Dean were going to try and stick around. Hopefully, your professors would understand. You popped a couple painkillers and crawled under your blanket.

Your alarm went off and you rolled over to shut it off. You sighed and climbed out of bed so you could start your day. After a quick breakfast you finished packing up the last of your things and putting them in your truck. You did a final walk through and left first and last month’s rent on the counter for your landlord to collect later. You eased out of your driveway and made your way to the interstate with a heavy heart. The last four years of your life slowly disappearing in the rear view mirror.

******

Tags:

@impala-dreamer @feelmyroarrrr @mariekoukie6661 @latishiante1001 @ellen-reincarnated1967 @prompt-and-circumstances@ellie-andthemachine @spnbaby-67 @mersuperwholocked-lowlife @meeshw777 @rideandwritethings @sleepylunarwolf @moose-and-sqruille-lover @youre-acting-like-a-psycho @waywardasfudge @amotleyworld @fallenangelsneverfade @claitynroberts @wingedcatninja @dean-winchesters-bacon @death-unbecomes-you @arses21434 @lonely-skys @mannls @internationalmusicteacher @theloudkilljoy @closetspngirl @sandlee44 @polina-93 @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce

#queued post #see who c #part 2 #former dean x reader #dean winchester x reader #past relationship #sam winchester #castiel #jack kline #former dean x reader insert #reader insert #spn fanfiction #supernatural fanfic

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queen-of-deans-booty · 6 years ago

Text

It’s Just That Magical

Characters: Dean Winchester x Reader, Sam Winchester, Castiel, Jack

Word Count: 2,035

Warnings: fluff, minor angst

Summary: After a salt n’ burn gone wrong, the only thing that can heal you is time... and maybe Dean’s cooking.

Squared Filled: Salt N’ Burn // Amnesia AU

Author’s Note: This is for @spngenrebingo and @spnaubingo and this is unbeta’d and any and all mistakes are all on me.

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

“Would you hurry it up?” you yelled at the brothers as you ran up the stairs in an empty house.

“We’re trying! The bones aren’t anywhere!” Dean yelled back, rushing the search to kill the spirit.

There have been rumors of a spirit haunting this creepy house at the end of the street. Whoever moved in encountered the ghost and then move right back out. People, mostly teenagers, have gone to try and stay the night but ended up leaving in screams. It was only when someone died when they decided to stay all night that it caught yours and the brother’s attention.

“Preferably before I die!” you yelled as you ran away from the ghost. Your gun was all out of rock salt, and there was no iron anywhere since the house was naked on the inside.

“We got it!” Sam yelled, taking out the lighter as Dean got the fluid and the salt. The bones were buried in the wall since someone wanted to cover up a murder. The thought their problems were over, but it only caused more for you.

Turning around, you didn’t see the ghost chasing you anymore. The house was silent except for whatever noise Sam and Dean were making. The room was so freezing that you could see your breath. The ghost was near, and you didn't have anything to protect you. Something moved out of the corner of your eyes, and then you saw the ghost rushing at you with a snarl on its face.

Before you could move, the ghost pushed you over the railing, watching as you plummeted to the ground.

“Dean!!!” you screamed right before your back hit the ground. Your head mostly took the fall, and when it made contact with the ground, all that could be heard was a sickening crack. The ghost flamed up as soon as you landed, gone forever.

“Y/N!” Dean yelled, rushing over to you with his brother hot on his heels. Blood started pooling around your head, and Dean was scared to lift you in case it made the situation much worse.

“She isn’t waking up!” he panicked, shaking your shoulders.

“Dean, we have to get her to the hospital,” Sam rationally said. He was scared for you, but he needed to stay calm. Dean didn’t answer his brother, all he could think about was you and all the things he never got to say to you.

“Dean!” the younger Winchester exclaimed, breaking the other one out of his thoughts.

“Yeah,” Dean whispered before he carefully scooped you up in his arms.

Moaning in pain, your head throbbed as you opened your eyes. As far as you can tell, you were in the hospital, but why? What happened to you that required medical attention? The room was empty, but you did see painkillers and a glass of water on the side table. Grabbing them, you downed them pretty quickly before placing the glass where you found it.

Placing your hands on the back of your head, you winced when you found the soft spot, and it made you wonder if you hit your head. But, again, from what? Before your thoughts could get away from you, the door opened and two tall men came walking in. Who were they? What did they want with you? Were they the reason you are in here?

“Hey, you’re up. How are you feeling?” the shorter one asked as he took a seat by your bed. Maybe they were your nurses? But they weren't dressed as one.

“My head hurts. What happened?”

“You took a nasty fall. The ghost pushed you over the edge of the railing before we could burn the bones. I’m so sorry, Y/N, I should have worked faster.”

“Dean, we did all we could do,” the taller one sighed.

“Ghost? Burning bones? Who the hell are you guys?”

“Y/N don’t play with us like that,” the one called Dean said seriously.

“I don’t know who you are,” you scooted away from them to show how uncomfortable you were with them.

“I’ll get the doctor,” the tall one said as he left the room. Dean stood up with nothing but heartbreak written all over his face. Two men returned to the room, and you were glad one of them was a doctor.

“I’ll have to ask you two to leave,” he said when he checked your wound. Dean and his friend nodded and did as they were told.

“Now, can you tell me what the last thing you remember is?”

“Well? What happened?” Dean asked once the doctor left the room.

“When she fell, she hit her head in a spot that caused her to have amnesia. I explained this to her and told her who you were, but she still needs time to process.”

“Is she ever going to get her memories back?” Sam asked.

“Hopefully with time. I have cleared her to go home, and hopefully, the familiar setting will trigger a response. All I can say is just give her time and space and surround her with things that she might recognize.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Dean sighed.

“Oh, and I always tell this to families with someone who has amnesia. Sometimes memories stay locked away. There might be a chance she may not get them back at all. Just so you boys are clear on that.”

“Thanks,” the younger brother whispered, watching as the doctor walked away.

“Come on,” Dean said before he and Sam walked into your hospital room.

“So, I guess you are my boyfriend and he is your brother?” you said, looking at them. The doctor had a lot to explain, and it was a lot to take in, but you believed everything he told you.

“Yeah,” Dean said, taking a seat next to you. You two were never dating, but your emergency contact list said that as a cautionary tale.

“I’m sorry for freaking out earlier. Um, when can I go home?”

“Right now, actually. We have your discharge papers.”

The fact that you live in an underground Bunker made you think of two things and two things only. What was the job that made you have to hide underground, and were these men who they say they were?

“Home sweet home,” Dean said as he guided you inside. None of this looked familiar, but if they were going to try, so were you.

“How long have I lived here?”

“For about 9 years.”

“Are we the only three who live here?”

“No, we have two other people. Castiel and Jack. But they are currently out right now, but will be back in the morning,” Sam explained.

“Oh, okay. So, what do we do for fun around here?” you asked, not expecting the truth at all.

All day, Sam and Dean have tried to get you to remember who you were and where. They took you to the gun range since that was your favorite place to be when you were bored. The fact that they had a stock full of guns scared you, but you somehow trusted the two men. They took you to the library where they showed you the kinds of things they read to see if a certain monster would trigger a memory.

When you started freaking out about all the monster book, they told you about what they do in case the hunter inside of you decided to make an appearance. When Castiel and Jack came home, Dean hoped that the sight of them caused you to remember, but nothing happened.

Dean has been trying for days to get you to remember but was failing miserably. He didn’t know how much longer this would take if you would even get your memories back at all. Instead of trying to get you to remember through materialistic things, he tried a different tactic. Food. Tomato and rice soup was your favorite, and maybe it would trigger a memory.

“Dean, you need to slow down,” Sam said when he saw his brother making your favorite food.

“No, Sam, she has to remember.”

“And she will. You’re thrusting all this information onto her, it’s overwhelming. You can’t force this upon her, she has to come to terms with it on her own.”

“Sam, if she doesn’t get her memory back, then…” he trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. He loved you so much, and if you lost a part of yourself, then so would he. “She has to remember.”

He poured the soup into a bowl before putting it on a food tray. He brought that to your room where you were looking through a photo album that Jack had put together of the family.

“Hey, how are you doing?” he asked as he set the tray over your legs.

“I don’t remember any of this,” you said, looking at each picture with you in it.

“Here, why don’t we take a break from that,” he said as he took the album away from you. “I bet you’re hungry. I made you some soup, something light to take the edge off.”

“This smells really good,” you smiled, taking the spoon he placed into the bowl. Taking the first bite, the flavor exploded on your tastebuds. One taste and your eyes widened as you saw memories come to the surface in your brain.

“Here you go sweetheart,” Dean said as he placed the bowl of soup in your lap. Coughing manically, you took the soup and let the warm taste of tomato and rice sooth the back of your throat.

“Thanks, Dean,” you said in a nasal voice.

“Would this make you feel better?” Dean asked as he presented you with your favorite soup. Making sure to keep your broken leg on the couch, you twisted your body to see him approach you with the food.

“Yes! How did you know?” you asked with a grin, accepting the food.

“I had a feeling,” he smiled.

“Dean! There is nothing to eat in this house!” you complained to the older brother.

“We just went shopping. There is a lot of food here.”

“But I don’t want to cook anything. Please, satisfy my hunger,” you whimpered, giving him the puppy eyes that you learned from Sam.

“Damn it,” he muttered, not being able to resist them for much longer. “Want some soup? That’s all I’m willing to make.”

“Yes! Please!”

It was that time of the month again, and you always got sad no matter if you were the happiest person on earth. Your emotions were high, your hormones all over the place, and the only thing that could make you smile was Dean’s soup.

He knew when you were having your period because days before it happens, you start getting frustrated with everything around you. You’d yell at the brothers for no reason, and you took a lot of baths. He knew that he could make you some of his soup, and you would be alright.

“You’re the best. I love you so much!” you smiled through the tears, accepting the bowl of soup from Dean.

“Don’t mention it,” he said in a soft tone.

“You know this will never fail to lift my spirits. Speaking of spirits, I hope you taught that ghost a lesson. He fucking pushed me over the edge. What a bitch,” you said as you took another bite.

“What did you just say?” Dean asked, halting by the door.

“That the ghost we hunted last week was a bitch.”

“You remember that?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I? It just happened. Geeze, thanks for making me feel old, Winchester.”

“No, when you hit your head, you got amnesia. The doctor said it might be a while until they came back, if at all.”

“I guess it was the soup,” you declared, taking another bite. “It’s just that magical.”

“Glad to know you’re back to your normal self. I’m going to tell Sam the good news. I’ll check up on you in a bit,” he smiled as he left the room. If this whole thing taught him anything, there’s no better time like the present. He needed to tell you how he feels.

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chyrstis · 6 years ago

Text

Just roll with it

This was really just an excuse to draft up an odd occurrence in-game (How many ways can a hostage van rescue go wrong? Many), and to have Sharky continue to be his lovely self. It was also time to write some Faith, and everything fell into place from there.

Rating: T Word Count: 5.9K

Link to AO3!

___

The plan was to hit Boshaw Manor before heading north. Grab some supplies, a working car, and figure it out from there. Sadly, her plans never seem to survive the first draft.

____________________

Her truck was toast.

Hana had known that riding in, and now with Sharky with her, the two were faced with a new dilemma; needing some serious wheels to get from point A to point B.

With most of his supplies back at his place, it meant backtracking there first before heading further north. Sharky’s own truck had gone up in a fireball a day before she’d found him, but it hadn’t phased him at all. It’d been his third that week, mostly due to cultists constantly patrolling the open roads, and he kept on trading them up as they became available. …While the others were reduced to flaming wrecks.

Neither she nor Sharky had actually been able to keep their hands on a working vehicle for longer than a week so far in Hope County. At least not since things had well and truly gone to hell in a handbasket. She wondered what that said about the two of them.

The fight back at Moonflower had been hell on both of them, and even if he wasn’t anywhere near as wiped as she was, she did see some of his energy starting to flag. Having to lug around his flamethrower plus the fuel for it without having a place to stash it otherwise was a full-on endurance sport.

That did not stop his ability to talk her ear off, however. It was strange not being the one to fill the silence for once, listening to him tell her about anything and everything that caught his fancy.

How down by a creek he’d found a cool lizard that had given him a rash on his junk for a week after he’d hid it in his pants so he could show it off to his classmates. How another had a killer area for skinny dipping – and he’d nearly froze his ass off after cannonballing into it. Or how this other time he’d burned his eyebrows off for nearly a month after dropping a match into a pile of dry brush. The lighter fluid hadn’t been needed, but did amp it all up to eleven, while also torching part of a nearby corn crop.

All stories were told with his hands, framing each expression that crossed his face, along with a series of mimicked sounds and added commentary. It was tough not to watch him, and every time he scored a laugh, or a “no frigging way” from her, she got a pleased smile from him in return before he dove into another tale.

She hadn’t been left alone with herself for once. Left with her thoughts buzzing, questioning everything, and it’d been…nice. Really damn nice, actually.

Lord knew she’d done enough of that since getting here. But a moment where she didn’t have to think about Joseph or how the arrest had gone to shit on her watch was a reprieve she’d gladly take.

“We aren’t there yet, are we?” she asked, fiddling with the strap of her bag.

“We’re about two shakes out. Could probably find a quicker way if we ambush any of the Peggies waiting around, but you’ve got to deal with their shit taste in music first.”

“Oh, amen to that,” she muttered. “Before I came out here I was stuck on John’s playlist from hell. At least Faith’s is kinda soothing if you listen to it long enough. John’s is really…self-focused.”

It was only the one song that was, actually, but when his people wanted to blast it, it was everywhere. And for someone so determined to remind everyone that he was the face of Eden’s Gate, he’d gone above and beyond the call of duty in that department, with every sign, note, and broadcast.

With every yes, which he was set on staking his claim on.

God, even now she was still bitching about John. It was probably time for a break, all things considered.

“John? What with that whole cleansing shit? Some beefed up swirly from hell? I’ve had better times out back getting the old spray and pray with the firehose. All without someone really pushing for me to get into it. Like really into it.” He thought it over a bit. “Fucking Peggies, man.”

Okay, scratch that. Cheap shots were totally still on the table. “Yeah, I think he’s going to need to do a real spin-cycle on me before that’ll take. He was kinda pissed during mine.”

Sharky nudged her. “I heard the Pastor totally blew the whole thing sky high getting people out of there. That was you too?”

“I wished I’d done half of the shit he’d been able to. John had-“

A chill rolled over her at the memory of the water, how cold it’d felt as he’d held her down, and she floundered for a second.

“…Dammit. Sorry, the uh, motherfucker was really persistent when it came to loading the few of us up and into a van, so my hands were literally tied when Jerome found us. It was a Die Hard-level type of intervention and I’d never been more jealous in my life.”

He gave an approving nod. “Dude’s a total badass.”

“No joke.”

The high-pitched whine of an engine approached, and the two ducked into the nearby brush to avoid it. Traveling along any of the roads was a risk, so they tried to stick to the smaller paths Sharky was more familiar with once they had cleared the trailer park. That didn’t stop those opting for ATVs, however.

One ambled up and over a nearby hill, with only a single rider, and the man swore loudly as the vehicle’s wheels rolled into a muddy patch. A few loud revs tried to get it to budge, but it wasn’t doing it, and after nearly a minute of fighting it he cut the power to the engine.

She traded a look with Sharky. “It’s not the most roomy of rides, but-“

“I can sardine it up, no problem. You can fit five people on one of those things if you try hard enough.”

“Sure, man,” Hana said, lining up the shot with her rifle. “Good thing we’re just sticking to two.”

She pulled the trigger. The man pitched forward, falling over the handlebars to the ground below. They both hurried over after that, keeping an eye out for anyone that might’ve been tailing him.

Slinging her rifle over to her side, the two got to work shifting the ATV out of the hole it’d made. They hefted it over to the side, clear of the mud it had kicked up, and once it was free she popped onto the driver’s seat, and patted the seat behind her.

Sharky had just settled in when she revved it, and he swore loudly as the ATV shot forward, both of his hands flying around her waist. The shift made her yelp, and when she responded by hitting the brakes his weight hit her squarely in the back, nearly bowling her over as well.

“You want to ease up on that, Dep?” he wheezed. “You want both of us to make it over there in one piece, right?”

Her face burned as she took her hands off of the controls, and took in a deep breath before touching them again. “Goddammit. I’ve driven all of one of these before, and forgot how bad they kick.”

“Sure you don’t want me up front?”

She actually kinda did, but the thought of hugging two cylinders of propane as they sped along just screamed, ‘bad idea’. “Nah, I’ve got it, hon. Just give me a second.”

His grip was tight on her, a fact that wasn’t lost on her one bit as she revved the ATV gently, hoping the damn thing wouldn’t try to boot them again. This time they were able to stay on, but it took more than one controlled turn for him to finally ease up and sit back.

Soon enough, they rolled up to their destination. Boshaw Manor – as Sharky affectionately referred to it – was a single-story house that was remarkably intact considering who the owner was. Surrounded by just enough trees to give it cover, the property was littered with items that were either for burning, or had been in the process of being burnt.

Even from where she was standing she could see propane tanks stacked along the outside wall of the house, and as the two tucked themselves behind a nearby tree, she checked for any signs the cult had been there.

A large SUV was parked out front, and it was the furthest from what she’d imagine a guy like Sharky would drive. Still, it was worth asking.

“Does that look pretty much as you’d left it?”

Sharky studied the area, and shook his head. “Hell, no. I left with the only truck I had, and what’s left of it’s back at the trailer park.”

“I was afraid you’d say that. Watch my back while I check it out?” She handed him her rifle, and started creeping forward.

Drawing her handgun, Hana slowly approached the vehicle. Circling around it, she noted the word “SINNER” painted along its side, the letters all in stark white. The windshield had been blown out, and when she moved around the open driver’s side door she winced at what was resting on the ground beside it.

The woman wasn’t wearing any of the clothes favored by the cult, and had likely been just about to duck into the house ahead for shelter or help. Too many people in the county had been left like this, curled up and afraid just before the cultists got to them, and anger began to curl in every inch of her body as she kept on moving towards the front door.

A flash of white sprung up on her left. Bright lights weren’t dancing on the edges of her vision like before, but as she saw someone dart around the corner of the house, she rubbed at her eyes just to see if the image faded.

That was the only way to explain-

“You see any Peggies?”

Every hair stood on end as she whirled around to find Sharky behind her. “Fuck, man! I told you to hang back!” she hissed.

“I didn’t see anything back there, and wanted to check with you.” His voice traveled even in a whisper, and she held up a finger to her lips. “Uh, yeah, working on that.”

He was still louder than needed, but she chalked it up to the pitch of his voice. That, and the excitement that seemed to spring up whenever trouble was waiting. She gave him a small pat on the shoulder and gestured towards the door.

He stuck with her this time as they approached, tucking close to the wall. She inched down the way, passing the signs nailed by the entrance, each of which mentioned propane or fire in some fashion, and she remembered both the propane canisters…and the flamethrower on Sharky’s back.

Someone loved to live dangerously. But at least he put up the signs?

She nudged the door open, wincing at the creak. When she didn’t see anyone waiting in the doorway, she crept inside. Between the two of them, they quickly went through the small house, poking in every corner, even giving the other half of the yard outside a once-over before meeting back by the doors.

“It’s looking pretty damn clear,” she said after a minute, still crouched down low. “Uh, unless you can think of any other places a Peggie might want to hide out here?”

“Most of my stuff’s in the bunker below. Gasoline, enough antifreeze to float a fucking boat, and a bunch of other shit that…”

He paused, worry suddenly crossing his face, then broke away to head outside, his run turning into a sprint.

“Sharky, what the hell?”

“Gotta check on this real quick, chica!”

She watched him stop right next to a spot outside, one she’d missed completely. Brushing a bunch of leaves and twigs away from it with his hands, he reached down and popped a hidden hatch open. He was gone a second later, sliding down the ladder to check out whatever waited below.

Hana stood there, holding the door to his house open as she stared after him. Curiosity soon got the better of her, however, and she approached the hatch, couching down next to it. Below she couldn’t see or hear much, but when it didn’t look like any Peggies were really waiting to ambush the two, she called out to him.

“Hey, Boshaw! Didn’t fall in down there, did you?”

His voice didn’t carry all the way to her, but he did appear at the bottom of the stairs a moment later. He’d set his flamethrower down, but was sporting a shotgun instead.

“Nah, just had to make sure none of the Peggies have been nosing around in my shit. A man’s stash is a special thing, and having them come over here with their fake-ass paperwork only to claim it just ain’t right.”

“So, everything’s still good?” she asked as he climbed back up to join her.

“Nothing’s moved, still got all of the antifreeze, though it’s looking like it’ll go soon so I’d better get on using it for something. …I was looking to get on crossing off things on my bucket list anyway, and no time like the present.”

She didn’t ask for any extra explanation, but figured if he wanted to, he’d tell her. “So, what do we want to try and shove in that SUV over there if it’s still running?”

He rubbed his hands together. “Depends on just how high you want to blow up ol’ Joe. And the sky’s the fucking limit.”

That really came down to how comfortable they’d feel driving out on the open road one accident away from a violent explosion. He could work with it. Her, not as much, even when she tried to tap into the same brand of gusto he’d come at the idea with.

Still, they didn’t need to have a river of propane and propane-type products to do a ton of damage, and when she talked him into dialing it back to whatever they could fit in the trunk, he pouted a little, but said that Hurk could pick up the slack from there.

Lucky for them both, the SUV had its keys in the ignition, and when it did start, they quickly cleared the rest of the vehicle out, removing the shattered glass and the debris in the back. She followed his lead after that, grabbing anything he rattled off to her off of his mental checklist, and they loaded it up fast.

He spent some time securing the place as well, hiding the hatch to his ‘stash’, and setting up parting gifts for anyone that came poking around. Every spot he marked, she made damn sure to note. She would be the one to accidentally blow her own foot off for being careless, and really didn’t need to raise her chances by playing an impromptu game of minesweeper later on in Sharky’s yard.

From this spot out front they could also keep an eye on the road. It’d been quiet so far – almost too quiet, and Hana tried not to let her nerves have a field day with that one – but she couldn’t help the deep breath that left her the moment they were able to climb in and hit the road.

She handed her map off to Sharky and immediately turned on the radio. Static filled the vehicle at first, but once she found the right station, she was greeted by the sound of a guitar.

“Hell yeah,” he replied, bopping his head once the music came on. “Crank it while you’ve got it. Now, Hurk and Hurk are all the way up by Wishbone Lake.”

“Hurk and Hurk?”

“Yeah, his dad didn’t gamble like mine did. So, Hurk Sr. and Jr. it was.” He drew a line out on the map with his finger that she tried to follow, and held the map up so she could get a better look. “Huge lake, great if you like fishing, better if you’ve got some moonshine and a boat full of dynamite. But we’ve got to drive by the Marina first, and that would be one kickass detour.”

“Why’s that?”

“That’s where my Aunt is. You’ve gotta meet her. Aunty Addie’s just…” He struggled with his words for a few seconds, and Hana raised an eyebrow. “You know how the Pastor’s a badass? Well, she’s certified.”

She grinned. “Sounds like one hell of a lady. Think she’d love to take a potshot at-” Her next few words died in her mouth as she saw Peggie trucks ahead.

The two formed a small blockade, both trucks turned to keep anyone from cutting around them, and when they spotted the SUV coming up on them, they pointed towards them in surprise.

“Aw, fuck.” She eyed the road up ahead, noticing how it sharply curved, leading to a drop off that likely meant their imminent demise. “This is not great.”

“We bailing or making this the biggest improvised fireball I’ve ever seen?”

“We’re improvising, that’s for damn sure!” Pressing her foot on the gas, she pushed her bag towards him. “Molotov!”

He quickly dug for one, and proceeded to light it. “You’re pretty fucking cool for a cop, you know that?”

The Molotov flew, Sharky’s aim on point even as she turned the wheel to skid off of the road, and both cultists immediately had a lot more to worry about than the dark blue SUV bearing down on them.

She hit the brakes, throwing out an arm to grab for Sharky’s hoodie when she saw him lurch forward, and once they skidded to a stop, she grabbed for the first weapon she could get and aimed it out of the driver’s side window.

The two Peggies had separated, one overwhelmed by the flames, the other ducking behind the truck, and she took a few shots to see if she could tag him. All they did was make him tuck further behind it, and she barely ducked to avoid the spray of bullets that tore into the driver’s side of the cabin.

Curling her arms over her head, she looked to her right at the vacant spot next to her.

A loud whistle cut across the gunfire. “Yo, dipshit! Over here’s a real party!”

Hana shot up from her hiding spot in record time.

With a middle finger held high, Sharky dropped it to quickly ready his shotgun, firing twice. Both shots went through the truck’s side windows, any scatter leaving fiery holes in the seats in their wake, and she swore under her breath.

Her gun was in her hand and shooting at the cultist before she could think to do anything else, and she didn’t stop once until they hit the pavement.

“Now that’s fucking teamwork,” he said, his feet shifting into the loosest interpretation of the moonwalk she’d ever seen.

He was still dancing when she walked up beside him and both surveyed the flaming wreck. The fire had crawled up and over the top of one of the white trucks, smoke climbing up towards the sky. It didn’t look like it was going to get to the engine, but she wasn’t keen on sticking around to find out.

A horn went off. The noise came from behind her, and continued to sound off as it closed in.

She turned, and spotted a white van in the distance, quickly closing in. The same make and model as the one used that night by the lake to cart her and countless others off.

That realization set her next decision in stone as anger welled in her chest.

They weren’t slowing down. No, they were speeding up, and she started firing, aiming for the driver as she planted herself directly in the middle of their path on the road, set on getting as many shots off as possible.

Twenty feet.

Ten feet.

Five feet.

Almost. Almost…!

Sharky slammed into her, his arms holding onto her as they hit the grass. She yelped, her gun flying off into the boonies, and she was only idly aware of the roar of the van as it passed straight through the spot she’d been standing.

“Jesus H. Christ,” she breathed, her blood pounding. “I had it.”

Sharky, still half on top of her, raised himself up onto his forearms. “Dep, now I like curly fries, but you were looking to be the only hamburger in the county with a badge. That, and uh…” He noticed the stiff way she was holding her hands up, and her pinched expression, then scrambled to get up and off of her as quickly as possible.

“Seriously, I had it!” He offered her a hand to get up, and though she felt her irritation rising, she took it. “I was going to…”

Her head had swung in the direction of the van, watching it scrape by the flaming mess they had made of the roadblock. But once it was past it slowly coasted to a stop, coming to a rest right at the very edge of where the road curved.

It rocked, forward and back as Hana stared at it dumbly. Then she was on her feet, running full-tilt towards it.

“No, no, no, no-“

The rear came down to touch the grass, holding in place for what seemed like eternity. That’s when it pitched forward, the back of the van jutting right into the sky as it fell over the edge, disappearing from sight.

She barely caught herself when she reached the road’s edge, slipping on a patch of dirt as she came to a stop. Below, she hadn’t been sure what to expect, but as she watched the van slide straight to the bottom of the ravine unharmed, she couldn’t even muster a word. Just stunned silence as she stared down at it.

When Sharky joined her, he lifted up his baseball cap to run a hand through his hair. “Now that’s a motherfucking miracle if I’ve ever seen one. You fall like that, and usually you’re ten different kinds of toast.”

“God, you’re that sure they didn’t…” A voice yelled from below, and she gasped. “Holy shit.”

Jumping down the steep decline, she didn’t even think about what a wrong step would mean, only that she needed to get down there. Now.

“Hey! Dep, hold on a sec – shit, don’t fucking boogie down the thing!”

She didn’t chance a look behind her, but figured that Sharky wouldn’t leave her alone for long. Even if that meant skidding like her straight to the bottom.

The white flowers appeared in her path too fast to dodge them. The twinkling hit as everything slowed down, throwing her off for a second, but she didn't lose her footing. Just collided with the van as her vision swam, and she held herself in place as she regained her bearings.

The person inside called out again, of all things reassurances, and she quickly reached for the doors to the back. The fall had mangled the frame of the van, but only enough to wedge the doors out of place, and she struggled with it until Sharky managed to reach her.

With his help, the two pried it open, revealing one very jostled, but grateful man. “Thank you. I’m okay, just…thank you!”

Hana cut the zip-ties binding his wrists, and shook her head. “I, uh, really should be thanking you for being a good sport about that. Sure you don’t need bandages, water, or shit, even a drink?”

“No, no, I’m just thankful not to be going back. Not to any of them.”

She made her way back up the hill to get her canteen regardless, relieved to the bone that things hadn’t gone entirely pear-shaped. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she flashed Sharky a thumbs up, and wanted nothing more than to flop down in the grass for a serious breather.

That’s when she noticed the figure leaning against the side of the van. Clad in the same delicate white dress, Faith’s eyes were closed, a serene expression settled completely over her. This was the second time she’d seen her, only this time the vision hadn’t vanished yet.

She hadn’t touched the bliss in hours, not since the brief brush with it back at the jail.

But the flowers had done the trick in its stead. Messed with her enough to question what was sitting in front of her, and Faith was no exception. She couldn’t have been real, couldn’t have been out here, waiting for them.

Hana approached her, angling her head to get a better look, only for Faith’s hand to dart out. Her fingers wrapped around her wrist, the hold gentle, but firm.

Everything went white.

The next time Hana opened her eyes, she was no longer down in that ravine. She was in a place of sunlight and tall grass, trees stretching towards the sky as the breeze ruffled her hair. There was no place more peaceful than this, and when Faith smiled at her, she couldn’t help but smile back.

Faith took her hands, tugging her into a slow spin as they danced in place. “I’ve been waiting for this,” she said, lights twinkling in her hair. “It felt like ages. Waiting for you to finally find me, but that’s all right.”

Hana let her pull her close, and felt a smile tug at her own lips as Faith did.

“I have so much to show you. Will you let me?”

She nodded, her voice lost, but not missed. She floated here, felt weightless here, and would follow Faith wherever she wished.

“Good.” She let go, and turned away, walking forward with her hands outstretched over the grass. “There are some that will tell you I’m a liar. That I will tell you only what you want to hear, what I want you to know. This isn’t true.”

Hana followed, mirroring her motions, feeling the grass tickle the insides of her palms.

“A young woman was lost once. Alone."

Faith turned again, still backlit with a halo of light, but somber, grounded. She held out her hand, one finger raised, and as she spoke, a butterfly came to rest there. "There was little to ease the pain she felt as she watched others connect, and find comfort.” The butterfly spread its wings, taking flight.“She wanted to escape, to leave behind the abuse she suffered from those she trusted. When she begged for help, they ignored her. So she used. The press of a needle became her comfort. It helped her to forget. To feel something, anything other than what she knew to be true.”

Faith closed her eyes, and placed her hands on Hana’s shoulders as she leaned in, standing up on her toes to whisper in her ear.

“That she was a burden. To both them, and to herself. That life was not worth living, not like this. Not as she was.”

Hana watched as Faith touched her cheek, gentle, but so faint she’d have questioned it if she hadn’t been looking right at her.

“That’s when he found her.”

Faith darted back, her face lit up in joy, and grabbed for Hana’s hand, tugging her into a run.

They ran through the glowing field, past the flowers, through the haze until she could see what was waiting ahead. Their path through the grass came to an end, leading to the edge of their little pocket in the bliss. If she jumped, there was nowhere to fall below. Only wisps of green waited there, hiding the bottom from view.

Faith raised her hand towards the clouds dotting the sky, and with a wave, brushed them aside, revealing what was hidden beneath.

“The Father welcomed her,” she said, gazing up at the statue of Joseph. “He gave her a family, love, and purpose. They didn’t reject her. He didn’t reject her, and promised he would never leave her. And with this promise she found…she didn’t want to die anymore. She wanted to live. But this was not the end.”

The green fog wrapped around Faith, giving way in a flash of light to a set of wings, large and dazzling.

“No, the Father had something to ask of her. A test.”

Faith took her hands again, but this time she flew high, lifting them both.

“If she had faith in him, if she showed that she would do anything, even die for him, he would return that faith. He would return that devotion. All she had to do was take that leap. To show him she believed.”

Hana held on tight, a rush flowing through her as she kept on watching the world below them pass on by. But she looked up, let Faith carry her, and relaxed.

Faith’s smile had eased, however, replaced with one of hesitation. Doubt.

“But she was scared. She wasn’t sure, and when faced with that choice, she hesitated. Anyone would’ve. She wanted to live, had found a reason to after so long. Why give it up now?”

The statue drew closer, and as Faith brought them up alongside it, she gave Hana a warm glance.

“Still, he was patient,” she said, her words soothing. “She saw this, and took a chance. Trusted him, and leapt.”

Faith set her down, Hana’s feet coming to rest on top of the open pages of the book held in stone hands, and Faith slipped away. Her wings caught the sunlight, glinting with each flap as she rose up higher and higher in the sky.

Faith’s voice echoed in her ears, called to her, even as Hana looked right at her.

Follow the path.

Trust in us, and show us your faith. Take the leap.

And after, once you wake, we will welcome you with open arms.

A figure to her right caught her eye, their eyes on Faith as well.

Burke. The fuzzy feeling in her mind, in her bones, struggled to clear as she watched him take one step forward, then two.

Stop.

Each step Hana took was as through cement, dragging them forward one by one. The words caught in her throat, stuck even as she opened and closed her mouth.

He approached the edge of the book, unafraid. “Follow the path,” he repeated, opening his arms wide.

“…B-Burke.” The effort shredded her voice, but she forced herself to keep going, to keep pushing. “Burke, don’t-“ She reached for him, wanting to scream. “Don’t!”

Her fingertips brushed him as he fell, grasped him only for a second, before they curled into her empty fists.

Down he fell, through the fog, down to nothing.

Now it’s your turn.

Hana looked down, down at the curling wisps of the bliss.

Take the leap. Be free.

She rocked forward, feeling her balance give, her breaths coming quick as she felt the ground below her feet give way.

Don’t be afraid.

Her arms flew up in front of her face as the wind whipped at her, the ground rushing up to meet her.

---

A breeze tickled her cheek. Brushed a few strands of her hair across her face, the tickling sensation only growing in intensity as she stared ahead.

The grass moved, the white flowers in front of her twinkling as they swayed, and she drew in a breath.

Real. This was real. Solid ground, the grass underneath her fingertips. Hana gripped onto it tight, increasing the pressure until it tore free from the ground, only then did she let herself collapse back down onto it.

Her eyelids remained heavy as she rested there, her mouth dry as she wet her lips, and she closed her eyes.

“Dep!”

Her body tensed.

“Yo, po-po! I know you’re out there! Holler once if you hear me, and holler twice if you can’t! Or three for Peggies, we’ll figure it out!”

Flipping over, she groaned as she pushed herself up. Sharky. It was Sharky, and she thanked whoever was watching over her above that he hadn’t run off on her.

“Shark? Hey!” That alone put a strain on her, drawing a rough cough, but she yelled again. “Boshaw, over here!”

She could hear him running towards her now. That was a good sign, but still felt sluggish, her eyes adjusting to a world that wasn’t built by the bliss for her. She’d moved on to lightly slapping her own cheek when Sharky sprinted up, looking a mix of shocked and relieved.

“Hey shorty,” he said, crouching down by her side. “Not gonna lie, I thought they’d grabbed you.”

“They did. Kinda?” Hana paused as she looked over at him, the last few flits of light still dancing in front of her, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight before opening them again. “Ugh. It was the bliss. That and Faith. I don’t even know what the hell happened after she reached for me.”

“You were there ‘til you weren’t.” She stared straight at him, and he held up his hands in defense. “I’m not yanking your chain or lying, man. You fucking ninja-vanished, like poof, except with no smoke, no nothing.”

“That doesn’t even begin to make any sense. How the hell did you know to come here then?”

“I, uh, heard humming.”

“Humming.”

“And, uh…” He scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. “She might’ve pointed me along. Led me through a few of those fucking bramble-bushes too, which’ll stick me when I least want it – probably when taking a piss, but- yeah.“

She blanched. “God, Faith’s everywhere. Or wants us to think that exact thing.”

“At least I got to keep my twenty dollars this time.”

“What?”

Sharky shrugged. “She looked like she needed a beer or something, so I gave her the cash out of my pocket.”

“You gave a walking acid trip twenty dollars?”

“That’s-you don’t just leave someone hanging when they’re in need, and Faith’s just smoking hot, man. You don’t know what it’s like to have those eyes set on you, and if she'd asked, I’d have given her my shirt, shoes, and pants too. No questions asked.”

Hana recalled the touch of Faith’s hand, her soft words. It wasn’t a stretch by any means, and she pinched the skin on the inside of her wrist to keep from slipping back into the haze she was still struggling to shake off.

“Okay. I meant it before, but I really want to put it out there this time. No more bliss. None. Not even a whiff.” She reached behind her head, trying to stretch out the mess that happened to be her cramped muscles, and failed, lying back on the dirt instead. “Say, where’d the truck go?”

“Uh…about that.”

She sat up and aimed a look right at him.

“It might be back there. Alone. Not on fire, but uh, I ran after you all the way here, and now we need to run back all the way there.” He squinted at her for a few seconds, thinking as he looked her over. “Could probably carry you if you want. I’m solid. Laps ain’t nothing with my flamethrower on me, and that's back in the truck, so I got you covered.”

He patted one of his biceps, grinning, and she rolled her eyes. “You do not want to carry me all the way back there.”

“Hey, an amigo in need is an amigo indeed. We shoulder each other’s burdens and shit.”

Okay, so she didn’t want to have to worry about him carrying her, and she made sure to get up before he could see the blush trying to work its way onto her face.

“Come on. We’re walking.”

#far cry 5 #far cry #deputy hana #sharky boshaw #faith seed #fanfiction #these keep on getting longer #what the heck #fic series: you'll be okay I promise

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objectsdeconstructed · 5 years ago

Text

Tales Of War: “104.”

TRIGGER WARNING: Object War Violence, Object Body Horror, Object Death, Regeneration Horror.

Reading of this particular story is optional.

_____________________________________________

104.

Lawrence awoke with a start. He panicked as he felt his own face, body, and limbs, confusion setting in as he realized that they were, in fact, still there. The panic diminished when he finally remembered what exactly had happened to him. He realized that he was getting sick of this.

He was sitting on what seemed to be a slightly modified hospital bed, in a strangely quiet barrack building, wearing a loose undershirt, and a pair of boxers. Confused and agitated voices whispered all around him, from all the other objects in the room. Most of the inhabitants in the room were unconscious, smouldering, while being treated by field nurses and doctors. To his left, a worn-out looking pair of stethoscope was cauterizing a very large wound on an unconscious glass jar’s body - melting the glass and sealing it shut again. Lawrence watched on, slightly repulsed - yet intrigued, by the process. Rubbing his temples as he turned away, he heard a voice.

“Rough go, Larry?”

Lawrence turned his thin, wooden body to stare at the piece of coal to his right. They were part of the same squad, and they’d been through this way too many times to care anymore.

“Yeah, Joe. Just like last time, and the time before that.”

“God, I don’t think I’m ever getting used to this.” Joe chuckled, examining his limbs: Larry could see large patches of what appeared to be some kind of adhesive binding his arms and legs together. A familiar sight nowadays. “I mean, I know the tingling wears off, but still, it feels kinda…”

Joe closed his left hand. Bits of coal falls off his body. Then, eventually his fist, then his arm, then, his entire shoulder.

“Oh, dear.” Lawrence said.

“Numb, I guess.”, Joe finished, rather lamely. “Uh, doc? My left arm’s out again.”

The stethoscope fixing up the glass jar stopped, and turned back, slightly annoyed. “Mr. Coalman, you’ve been advised to not move around so much after the procedure. Respectfully, I cannot attend to you right now.”

“Yeah, thanks, ma'am.” Joe winked at the stethoscope, who simply groaned and went back to her job. “Wouldn’t wanna waste ya’ time.”

Lawrence looked down at his hands, noticing the same adhesive stains on Joe. Being slightly weirded out at the sight: His body looked like a teddy bear, with adhesive stains lining parts of him, newer, more distinct stains, below which older, faded stains could be seen.

He stared mesmerized at his own wooden flesh, and felt himself being lost in the stains, pondering the implications of his actions.

An official looking stopwatch came into the room, and clapped his hands: “Listen up! It’s time you useless God-forsaken shit-stains get to work, again!”

Several objects in the room groaned. Lawrence snapped out of his trance. The room had become a bit livelier now - most of the objects were up already. The glass jar fella next to him was the last to regain consciousness. At once, everyone stood up, walked to the entrance of the barrack, large clotheslines were lined the entrance hall. Lawrence and others put on their heavily stained uniforms, riddled helmets, and loaded up worn out guns. Nothing out of the ordinary for an army barrack.

What WAS exclusive to this particular barrack was the appearance of a group of heavily armed, heavily armored objects, standing lined up beside the entrance door. After Lawrence got dressed, one of these objects slipped a ring on him - a tiny machine that he was supposed to wear at all time on the field.

They had gotten used to the routine. Lawrence, his squad, and everyone else in base save the nurses, doctors, and the stopwatch marched out of the barrack and into the dark.

Lawrence’s base had been located deep inside a cave entrance. By now, he had gotten so used to the dark here that he had no trouble navigating the layout at all, save for a few occasional bumps from his peers. Seeing the lights at the end of the tunnel, he sped up, and charged out of the cave.

The sunlight blinded him momentarily. Joe emerged moments from him, panting heavily, arm fixed with some more of the adhesive. Lawrence’s eyes adjusted, and he launched himself, once again, into war. He had plotted everything out - he had an extremely efficient route to get to.

He and Joe rushed down a path, marked by bullets and spent rounds, gunfire, explosions, and screams all around them. Lawrence was half-way to his usual look-out area when a shot rang out.

Lawrence and Joe looked up to see a terrified young paddle-ball racquet standing above them on a sand dune, aiming right down at them.

“No! NO! HOW!? WHY ARE YOU-”

A shot rang out, Lawrence looked to his right, and saw Joe holding a smoking pistol, frantically reloading it after, it seems, he expended its last bullet. Lawrence looked back up, the paddle-ball racquet wasn’t up on the dune anymore, Lawrence saw his shattered corpse tumbling down the sand dune, landing at their feet. The paddle-ball racquet, now that he had a closer look, looked barely older than his own kid by a year or two.

Joe poked at the paddle-ball racquet’s ruined face, making it cave in even more. The paddle-ball had that fearful expression frozen on it’s face. Joe then raised his foot and stomped the paddle-ball racquet’s face in, crushing his face into smaller shards, his empty eyes gazing back at space from a mess of cracked plastic.

“How’s this, you piece of shit? That’ll teach you not to kill a man tw-”

Lawrence was staring at Joe. Joe must’ve seen Lawrence’s appalled and disgusted face, as he simply looked back down darkly, and whispered, quite redundantly: “Just makin’ sure if he’s dead.”

Lawrence continued on the path, Joe by his side. He was making jokes like nothing had happened. The situation seemed too familiar and Lawrence was zoning out again, and he was distracted.

Joe started calling out from behind him - It seems that Lawrence was walking too fast, and was attracting a bit too much attention from enemy units. But Lawrence wasn’t listening. He was thinking. Reminiscing.

A gust of wind shot past Lawrence, and then did he look back. When he did, he was nearly blinded by the pressure and light from an explosion, occurring exactly where Joe had been just seconds earlier. The pressure knocked Lawrence on his back, and as he got up, he saw bits and pieces of Joe, burning up in the wind. Eyes popped out of his crumbling sockets, arms and legs twitching, still. His mouth was 3 feet away from his torso, frozen in a silent scream.

Lawrence dived behind a nearby rock, and pointed his guns at the air. Sirens blaring in his mind. Shadows crept behind the dunes. Lawrence found a clear shot, and was about to take it, when he went blind in one eye.

He stumbled forward, collapsing, feeling the hole in his face. A round had taken most of the left side. The world begins to fade. The pain hasn’t yet, due to the shock he was experiencing. His other eye registered something moving behind him.

Lawrence wished he was unconscious for what would undoubtedly came next, yet his mind was still miraculously hanging on. Unnaturally, even. For he was not dead. Even though he’d like to be.

Into his view came a paddle-ball racquet, slightly older and bigger than the one that Joe had killed. His eyes never betrayed any emotions. The paddle-ball racquet retrieved a can of something from his back pack, and poured it all over Lawrence.

“Oh, great”, Lawrence thought. “He’s pouring piss on me. For something Joe did.”

But then the paddle-ball racquet retrieved a thin stick, and Lawrence started to panic.

It wasn’t piss at all. As Lawrence registered the smell of the fluid on him, he realized it was something much worse.

Lighter fluid.

Lawrence screamed as the racquet tossed the lit match onto him.

Lawrence screamed as he felt his body erupt into flames and burn.

Lawrence screamed as he felt his remaining eye liquefy into goo.

Lawrence only stopped screaming when his vocal cords were reduced to dust.

But Lawrence didn’t die. He was still holding on. He outlasted the flames.

Lawrence had wished the flames went on a little longer, long enough to burn up something vital.

He lied there: Blind. In pain. Yet he could still hear noises. He tried to crawl to them, but his strength gave out.

He heard the racquet coming near him, before suddenly stopping.

Shouting.

He heard more bullets. He heard something falling on to the sand. A soft thud.

Voices. Some familiar, some not.

He could make out what they were saying.

“I found Lawrence Plankpine. He’s a mess.”

“He dead, or what?”

“No, but he’s nearly there. Looks like he got burned. Should we-”

“-What?”

“Should we kill him, now?”

“Yes.” Lawrence thought. “Please. Do it. It hurts. So badly.”

“No. Keep him alive. It’s easier that way.”

Lawrence screamed out protests in his head.

Lawrence felt himself being lifted up by hard, cold metal hands, and placed on rough, itchy wool stretchers.

He felt himself carried over bumpy hills and sand. He felt the harsh sunlight disappear as his skin felt the familiar coolness of the cave.

He felt himself placed on a medical table.

“My God. Did you kill him yet?”

“No. But, he’s going to-”

“Good. The process is much easier if we kill him right on the operating table. Time messes with this kinda stuff. Too many variables.”

Lawrence felt pins digging into body. It was agonizing.

“Restrain him, we really don’t need to deal with his squirming.”

“He’s in terrible pain. Doctor, I truly recommend anesthetic.”

“No anesthetic. Those don’t grow on trees.”

“Of course. God dammit. Of course there’s no anesthetic. There’s never any anesthetic.” Lawrence thought.

“How about a quicker death?”

“Almost done. Just-”

Lawrence tried to scream as the pins pump him full of viscous, burning fluids.

“-a little longer-”

Lawrence tried to scream as he felt every single cell in his body breaking down.

“-Now.”

An electric jolt shocked through his body, obliterating most of his brain in the process, and Lawrence was no more.

_____________________________________________

105.

Lawrence awoke with a start.

#object show #object shows #objects deconstructed

0 notes

spn-rewrites · 6 years ago

Text

01x10 (part 3)

Season One Episode Ten: Asylum

Summary: a fake phone call, a stupid decision and an unexpected ending

Word Count: 2.3k

The four of you walked the halls, looking for an exit but all of them were sealed shut the same way that the door was sealed shut when Kat was inside the exam room. Sam tugged and pushed on all of the doors and eventually, you decided to go to the doors you guys came in through. Those doors were a guaranteed exit, right?

“So Y/N said you guys know about all this ghost stuff because it’s your job, right?” Kat asked as you walked the quiet halls.

“Yeah,” Sam confirmed.

“Why would you want a job like that?” She asked the same question you asked yourself every time you ended up in a place like this.

“I had a crappy guidance counselor,” Sam joked but his voice was emotionless and focused.

“And Dean, is he your boss?” She asked, directed towards Sam. You had to laugh at her question, getting a glare from Sam.

“No,” Sam said.

“Yes,” you said, getting another glare but it was well worth it. Sam shook his head at you as you finally got to the doors you came in through and Sam pushed and pulled on those ones just as he did the other ones and still, no luck. He sighed.

“We have a problem,” Sam mumbled.

“Let’s just break it down,” Gavin suggested.

“That’s not going to work,” you told him. You knew that it wasn’t just a coincidence that all the doors were sealed shut and no amount of strength would open them.

“Then a window,” Gavin said.

“They’re barred,” you reminded him, shooting down his ideas once again.

“Then how are we supposed to get out?”

“That’s the point,” Sam finally said. He was quiet, thinking. “We’re not. There’s something in here. It doesn’t want us to leave,” he said.

“The patients?” Kat asked, referring to the ones that you saw earlier.

“No, something else,” Sam said, a sinister tone to his voice that gave you the chills and you knew in your gut that he meant the spirits that were causing all those deaths. Whatever was in that room Dean was looking for, was going to help you stop them. “There’s no other way out,” Sam said.

“What the hell are we going to do?” Gavin asked, frantic and looking around the place like maybe he could find an exit you and Sam couldn’t.

“Well, we’re not going to panic,” you told him just as Sam’s phone started to ring. “We’re gonna figure out what’s in room 137 and stop whatever is keeping us here, okay?” You tried to keep them calm but you could hear Dean’s voice on the other end of the phone, competely not calm. He was yelling for Sam to come to the room. He said he could see it. He said it was coming after him.

“I’m on my way,” Sam said and hung up the phone with Dean. “Y/n, take the shotgun, If anything comes near you three, shoot. Okay?” Sam said, taking the gun off his back and handing it to you. You nodded at him, taking the gun. The adrenaline you felt earlier was completley gone now and your hands were shaking until Sam’s brushed against them. “Be careful,” he said.

“Duh, you too,” you tried to joke through your heart racing and you gave him a fake

smile. His eyes lingered on yours for a moment before taking off down the hall. You stood in front of Kat and Gavin like a body gaurd, ready to shoot anything that would come near them.

“What is that going to do?” Kat asked.

“It’s filled with rock salt. It’ll stop the spirits for a while. Won’t kill them but it’ll keep them away from us,” you explained to her. Kat nodded and curled into herself and you could tell they were scared so you had to be less scared. For them.

Gavin started pacing back and forth and Kat sat down on the ground, couching so if she had to get up to run, she could. It was quiet and there wasn’t much going on which was good for them but it made you wonder if that meant there was a lot going on in the basement where Sam went.

“Hey Gavin, he we make it out of here alive, we are so breaking up,” Kat said to her boyfriend, making you chuckle a little bit until there was a loud bang. You brought the gun up, ready to shoot at whatever it was but it was just Dean.

“What are you guys still doing here? Where’s Sam?” He asked as you lowered the gun down. He was walking towards you, eyes jumping from each person looking for his brother.

“He got a call from you a few minutes ago? You said he needed to come to the basement because you saw the thing that was making everyone crazy? He left to go find you,” you told him, slowly becoming more worried by the second because if Dean didn’t call him, who did?

“I didn’t call him,” Dean said.

“He said it was you, Dean,” you emphasized. Dean sighed and grabbed the gun from your hands.

“Keep an eye on them, y/n. I’ll go get him.” Dean nodded towards you and then turn to go the way he came,

“I want to go with you!” You called out for him but Dean sent you a look over his shoulder that you knew all too well.

“You’ve gotta stay here. They need you. I’ll get him, I promise,” Dean said as he kept walking and rounded the corner and disappeared. You sighed, clenching your jaw.

“So I got it wrong when I said Dean was your boyfriend, huh? It’s Sam,” Kat said, smiling at you depsite the curcumstances.

“Neither of them are my boyfriend, okay?” You whispered to her, leaning against the dirty wall with your fingers in your hair. The feeling you had now, of helplessness and worry and sheer panic was the exact reason you made Dean start taking you on hunts instead of leaving you at the hotel room.

You would sit on the bed, rocking back and forth and changing the channel every two seconds. You would open and shut the same magazine twenty times, not reading a single word all because you were too worried about what was happening to him.

Then he would come home, bruised and bloody and you would freak out even more until he smiled at you with blood on his teeth and make you feel better. The panic you were feeling now, though, was different than that. It was harder and scarier.

“Okay, um, you guys stay here,” you finally stood up and pointed towards Kat and Gavin. You were going to go find Sam yourself because you can’t just sit here and wait.

“What? You can’t leave us!” Gavin argued.

“Yes, I can. Stay put,” you ordered. You ran down the hallway and all the hallways after that until you found the basement stairs. The stairs echoed as you trotted down them, watching your step because at the pace you were going you could easily miss one and fall.

You heard grunting and muffled voices and you followed them. You heard a thud and Dean’s voice and then nothing. You saw a light shining and then Dean. “Hey, where’s Sam?” You asked, causing him to jump and shine the light in your face.

“I could have shot you, you know!” Dean hissed at you. “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t just sit up there! Where is he?” You asked as Dean motioned you to come to his side and you did. He grabbed your elbow and pulled you close to him as he looked around frantically.

“I found Ellicott’s journals. Apparently, he was expirementing on his patients. Making them as angry as they could be, thinking that it would then go away and they’d be cured or whatever from their homocidal tendacies. It only made things worse and that’s why they rioted and I think that it’s Ellicott’s spirit that’s causing these deaths. He’s making these people so angry they kill,” Dean explained as he walked. “I think Ellicott got to Sammy. He tried to kill me,” he said.

“What?” You exclaimed.

“I knocked him out, he’s over there,” Dean pointed the light towards the corner where Sam’s body was propped up against the wall, his eyes closed and head hanging down. Dean looked at the angry, shocked, worried expression on your face and shrugged. “He was going to shoot me,” he defended.

“So what are we looking for? His body?” You asked.

“Yeah, this room was some sort of secret exam room where he did the expirments. I think it’s where the patients took his body and hid it. Probably did some really messed up things to him, too,” Dean said, raising his eyebrows. “You really shouldn’t be done here,” he said.

“I know.”

“He could have gotten you, too,” Dean said as he moved old, stained curtains out of the way with his gun. You nodded and looked around at the tables. You looked for anywhere they could have sutffed a body and that’s when you saw the cabinets.

“There,” you pointed. Dean nodded and kneeled down on the ground, hesitating for a moment to open it. You sighed and grabbed the handle yourself and whipped it open, only to be hit with the rancid smell of a decaying body. You and Dean coughed, covering your nose and mouth. “Well, there he is,” you joked, your voice muffled from your arm covering it. The smell was enough to make you vomit.

“That’s just gross,” Dean said. You opened up the bag, grabbing the lighter fluid and handing it to Dean. He opened it and started covering the body with it. “Can’t believe they stuffed him in a cabinet,” he said.

“They were psycho’s,” you deadpanned. You couldn’t take your eyes off of the dead body and the only reason you did was because an exam table flew across the room, knocking Dean on his back.

Ellicott’s body crawled on top of Dean’s, his fingers on his temple. “Don’t be afraid, I’m going to help you,” the spirit said as Dean groaned out in pain. Snap out of it, you thought to yourself as your eyes were glued to Dean and Ellicott. You thought of the body. The body covered with lighter fluid and then your eyes landed on the match. You lit it, throwing it on Ellicott’s body.

He removed himself from Dean, stood up, and then combusted. You covered your eyes as he went up in flames and then, nothing. Dean pushed himself up against the wall and you ran to him. “Are you okay?” You asked. He nodded, rubbing his side where the exam table hit.

“Sam,” he mumbled. You turned to the corner where Dean propped Sam’s body. He was awake and looking around dazed and confused. “You’re not gonna try and kill me again, are you?” Dean asked him, chuckling. He tried to get up but groaned out in pain.

“Let me help,” you offered. He put his arm in your hands and you pulled him up off the ground.

“No,” Sam said.

“Good, that would be awkward,” Dean joked.

The doors were no longer sealed shut and you three made your way to Kat and Gavin and then outside without a problem. After you bid your goodbyes to the kids, Sam turned to Dean and offered an apology. “I said some really awful things back there,” he said.

You didn’t know what happened before you showed up and you didn’t want to know. Sam had a lot of built up anger towards his brother and father and maybe even towards you and you wanted nothing to do with it.

“You remember it?” Dean sounded shocked. Like how a person doesn’t remember what they do while being possessed but Sam wasn’t possessed. All his anger just came flooding to the surface. It was him.

“Yeah but I couldn’t control it. I didn’t mean any of it,” Sam said.

“You didn’t, huh?”

“Of course not,” Sam said, shocked that Dean would ever think otherwise but if what Dean said was true about what Ellicott was doing then he must have meant some of it, deep down. Whatever it was. “Do we need to talk about this?” Sam asked.

“No. I’m not really in the sharing and caring kin dof mood,” Dean said, getting into the Impala. You let out a sigh and prepared for another car ride filled with tension and arguing. You wished that they could just let out all the things that were making them upset and be over it because you were done playing referee.

The ride to the hotel was quiet and quick and Dean fell asleep with no problem but Sam was tossing and turning in bed next to you, also keeping you awake. “Sam, stop it,” you cried, turning your back to him.

“Look at me,” he whispered. You sighed and did what he asked. Your faces only inches apart but you tried to ignore that and ignore his sleepy eyes and husky voice and messy hair. “You really think Dean thinks I meant that stuff I said?” He sounded sad.

“I don’t know what you said, Sam. So I can’t really say,” you admitted.

“I don’t want to get into it,” he sighed, laying on his back and looking up to the ceiling. “I just hate fighting with him. I hate all the awkwardness.”

“Me too,” you chuckled. Sam smiled and looked at you, his chin resting on his shoulder.

“Thanks,” he whispered. “For everything.” You nodded and Sam licked his lips and you guys were still so close and his head leaned down a little bit, getting closer and closer to you and his eyes were dancing from your eyes to your lips and this was it, you screaming in your head. He was going to kiss you. His lips were almost touching yours when the phone rang and you jumped and Sam turned to look at his brother, who was dead asleep.

“Get it,” you said. Sam grabbed the phone off of the nightstand. “Hello?” You couldn’t hear what was happening on the other line but Sam shot straight up. “Dad?”

tagged: @matchamendes @stuckupstucky @sillydecoy @jessewa26 @kaelyn-lobrutto24@liztorr1212 @icanreadbookstoo rachael-mae

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ezra-blue · 6 years ago

Text

Worst Version - Moonrise over Suburbia

I started writing a fic for Saiyuki AU August, and then I started hating it. So I gave up and wrote a 393 instead. Here’s the first twelve pages of a 353 fake dating AU, unedited.

Moonrise Over Suburbia

It was too damn early. That was what Gojyo hated most about the long hauls; crossing time zones there and back fucked him up something fierce. It was ass-o'fucking-clock, a little past four AM, but his brain said it was seven and time for the morning piss and the first cigarette of the day before he was supposed to be getting back into the cab of his eighteen-wheeler and setting off towards the rising sun. Still, being willing to make the drive from Maine to Oregon, Portland to Portland, kept money in his pockets, kept the lights on and kept the landlord off his ass. Steady pay, not bored during the day, the occasional pretty young thing from the bars that dotted the highway to keep him busy at nights? Pretty ideal, really. He and his best friend-slash-hetero-life-mate had managed on his UPS job and his friend's adjunct professor's salary for this long, so he had nothing to complain about that way.

Really, the only thing he had to worry about tonight was where his next meal was coming from, since Hakkai wasn't home and Gojyo was the kind of chef who could burn stove-top ramen. He didn't even want to think about how terrible he'd be at cooking on two hours of sleep.

Even so, as much as it sucked to be up way earlier than he had to be on his day off, there was something kinda surreal and dreamy about being out on his balcony and watching the pre-dawn August sky, those pale blues and pinks and that hint of orange. It was quiet, damn quiet, not a car on the road and only the rare jogger or dog-walker breaking the abandoned streets of the suburbs at the foot of his apartment building; the neighborhood felt unreal without anyone in it, but it wasn't a bad kind of unreal. The moon was setting in the distance, in the space between the houses and mid-rises across the street, her swollen face, waxing, pale against the misty sky and half-faded, as if she'd never been there at all. Gojyo lit his cigarette against the mirage of the moon and sucked down the first rush of nicotine, easing the crave and relaxing into the way-too-damn-early serenity of a world that hadn't woken up yet.

Life was good.

Then, the door to the neighboring balcony slid open, and Gojyo felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up, readying himself like a referee at the edge of a boxing ring had picked up the hammer next to the bell. Gojyo's neighbor stepped outside with a sigh already on his lips, languid eyes and heavy gaze running over Gojyo in his singlet and boxer shorts as he, already dressed for the day, took his Marlboros from his back pocket.

“You're up early.” He held his smoke out. “Give me a light.”

“What, your lighter out again?” Gojyo held out his Zippo and flicked the wheel. “You think you'd've remembered to keep spares on hand by now, old man.”

He sneered, and if he didn't do that so much, Gojyo thought, he might've been good-looking, but instead Gojyo just found himself having a lot of trouble liking him. “Fuck off, I've been buried under work for the past week while you were fuck-knows-where, running through every damn disposable I had.”

Sanzo was kind of weird like that. He smoked like a car factory, but he insisted on disposable lighters. He claimed to be a Buddhist and meditated in the laundry room (though Gojyo was this side of sure he was just napping), but he was anything but peaceful, swearing at anyone who got on his nerves and cussing out his roommate through the walls. He kept weirder hours than Gojyo, because Gojyo couldn't name a single hour he hadn't heard the guy awake through the walls, though Gojyo, with his broken sleep schedule, had no room to criticize. He was also basically kind of an asshole to everyone for no obvious reason. Gojyo couldn't hate him – even had a grudging respect for someone who lived the way he wanted and unapologetically gave zero fucks – but he made himself hard to like.

“Get a fucking Zippo and a jumbo bottle of lighter fluid, you'll damn near never run out.” Gojyo waited for Sanzo to touch his cigarette to the flame and catch, then tucked it away and returned his attention to his own cigarette as the embers smoldered against his fingers. Sanzo grunted noncommittally.

“Whatever. It'd be less of a pain than talking to you every time I run out, anyway.” Sanzo leaned over the railing of his balcony as he took a drag, looking tired and a little tragic as his focus turned to the sky and the setting moon. “Hell of a time to be up.”

“I just got done with a gig driving all the way East along the Canadian border and back. Five days out of the right time zone kinda fucks a guy up, y'know?”

“You do it to yourself.” Sanzo sneered a bit. “Just turn your alarm off and roll over.”

“Can't do that, princess.” Gojyo wagged his cigarette between his fingers. “Even if the old alarm didn't ring, the internal 'cig time' clock runs smoother than a fake titty in a compression tank top.”

Sanzo gave him a sickly glower. “Every time you make a metaphor like that, I doubt further you've ever seen a breast, let alone touched one.” He snorted and dragged deep on his cigarette, pulling the flame down to the filter fast. Gojyo admired that lung capacity for a second, until Sanzo coughed deep and hard.

“Jeez, you're in a mood this morning. That time of the month already?” Gojyo stubbed the butt of his cigarette into the ashtray Hakkai had put out next to his potted plants (in an effort to keep Gojyo from flicking his butts into the plants, of course), as Sanzo scoffed again, then rubbed at the deep bags under his eyes.

“Fuck you.” He groaned and shook his head, rubbing his fingers against his temples. “Just... I fucking hate summer.”

“The heat get you down?” Gojyo leaned his back against the railing, watching as Sanzo seemed to slump further. He definitely seemed a little more worn-out than usual. “Work a bitch this time of year?” Gojyo wasn't sure what Sanzo did – his roommate, a friendly college student that Gojyo palled around with when he wasn't buried under homework, had mentioned something about stock trading – but he seemed to hate it. Then again, Sanzo seemed to hate damn near everything.

“The fuck do you care for?” The smoke billowing off Sanzo's teeth seemed to come a little fiercer. Gojyo just shrugged.

“I dunno, I can usually hear you bitching through the walls when you're in a shit mood, so maybe I don't need your bleep-box nightmare mouth waking me up when I'm trying to catch up on my Z's. So, spill, maybe wise ol' Gojyo can help.” He turned, wagging an eyebrow at Sanzo with just a little bit of a lascivious grin. Sanzo scoffed again, but then he was quiet, that kind of quiet that said he was thinking. Then, he muttered:

“Is your roommate home? I haven't seen him.”

Gojyo rolled his eyes. “Check your calendar, dipshit. It's the end of August, Professor Hakkai's in the pre-semester crunch doing syllabuses and making up assignments. He left a note to apologize for the empty fridge, so he's probably been living in the teacher's lounge at the university since after I left.”

“Shit.” Sanzo threw his cigarette down and scrubbed his hand down his face. Gojyo raised an eyebrow and tucked his cigarette between his lips as he crossed his arms.

“Okay, what the fuck is up?”

Sanzo grimaced, then slid his fingers open to make a gap over his face and eye contact with Gojyo. “I need a date.”

Gojyo damn near swallowed his cigarette. “What?”

“I. Need. A. Date. You heard me.” Sanzo made a face as he pivoted to face Gojyo. “It's... look, do you have any family?”

Gojyo pulled a face at this. “None worth talking about.”

“Most of the time, me neither. My old man travels the damn world most of the year, but he comes back home for a little bit in the summer, and he always wants to see me when he's home.” Sanzo huffed in disgust. “Even when he's globetrotting, he calls me from wherever the fuck he is, forgetting that time zones are a fucking thing--” Gojyo snorted at the irony, but Sanzo missed it-- “And pisses me off whining about wondering how I'm doing. I decided to get him off my ass by telling him I'd gotten a boyfriend.” Sanzo didn't even give Gojyo a chance to question him, ranting right on, “That way, I could mute my phone and if he asked why I didn't pick up, I could tell him I'd been busy with my boyfriend and he'd be happy for me and maybe fucking call less.”

Gojyo managed to push his jaw shut. “Wait, you're gay?”

“No.” Sanzo glared at Gojyo. “And even if I were, why do you care?”

“Curious, dude. I mean, it's not my thing, but I say live and let live. So, you're not gay but you told your old man--

“If I had to date someone,” Sanzo interrupted, emphasizing the 'if' like it had a two ton weight swinging behind it, “I'd prefer a man. Women annoy me more.”

“Got it.” Gojyo shrugged again. “So, I'm guessing that lie's made its way back around the world to bite you in the ass.”

Sanzo grunted and pinched his temples again. “My dad has invited me to a dinner party. He wants me to introduce him to my boyfriend. The one who doesn't exist.”

Gojyo whistled. “Your mouth wrote you a check your ass can't cash, huh?” He smirked at Sanzo. “Took a withdrawal from the bank of lies and found that interest a little steep?”

“Fuck you, I didn't think you'd be much help anyway.” Sanzo sneered and turned for the door, but Gojyo whistled again to get his attention.

“Hold up, prissy-britches, wait a second. What is it you need?” He paused, putting the pieces together as his brain woke up enough to puzzle out what Sanzo had said. “Wait, were you gonna ask the Prof to be your boyfriend or something?”

Sanzo grumbled something indistinct, but in the pink dawn light, Gojyo realized his ears had gone bright red. “Oh-ho. Oh, Sanzo. That wouldn't'a worked anyway. Prof Hakkai's got this long distance girl – her name's Yaone, she's this medical researcher working in N'Orleans right now, something about frogs – and he Skypes with her every night for like an hour. He wouldn't be caught dead with someone else, since he's got big plans for her when she's done with her assignment.” Sanzo swore softly. “What about Goku?”

“What about Goku? My dad knows him, he'd never believe he and I had gotten together. Plus, I would've just said, 'Goku and I are an item' instead of being as vague as I have.”

“Any reason you couldn't'a just faked it with the kid?” Gojyo wagged his cigarette a little. “Hell, I hear about folks our age just getting married to our buddies for the tax benefits and getting a no-fault divorce when the real deal comes along.” Sanzo huffed with annoyance, shoulders sinking, but he waved his cigarette hand around as if to wipe away the very notion.

“It's complicated. I'm not getting into that with him. Either way, my dad wouldn't buy it.”

“Fine.” Gojyo knew how loaded a word like 'complicated' was when it came to love stuff, family stuff, stuff he usually tried not to fuck with. “And I'm guessing, given your glowing personality and natural charm, you've got plenty of friends who'd be willing to play the role for a night.”

“Fuck you.”

Sanzo blinked a few times as if someone had snapped a flash photo and he had to clear away the fuzz. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, you need a fake boyfriend, I got spare time and a dick, I could play the part."

"Not a chance." Sanzo sneered, lip curling. "I'm not your type."

"You sure about that?" Gojyo grinned coyly and swaggered up to the railing, keeping the bars between him and Sanzo but leaning over them to smirk at him. "That might even work better for ya. Your old man'll be able to tell we're not a good couple, so if you do find someone you actually wanna hook up with, he'll totally understand when you break up with me."

The fact that Sanzo just raised an eyebrow rather than throwing back a nasty retort told Gojyo that he might have just said the magic words. "And what do you get out of it?"

"Dinner, duh." Gojyo thumbed over his shoulder. "Told ya, the Prof's out, and I probably won't see him 'til the crunch is over and the semester starts. You said this was a dinner, that means free food and you can filch me some leftovers, and I don't have to live on Mickey D's for however the fuck long Hakkai's out of the house." Gojyo paused. "Alright, and if I gotta sweeten my own deal, you gotta bring me some breakfast or something."

Sanzo scowled his irritation, but he put his face close to Gojyo's. "Can you pretend to enjoy kissing me?"

"Only if you can." As if to test it, Gojyo tilted his head to kiss Sanzo on the mouth, but Sanzo evaded.

"No dress rehearsals. Fuck. Fine." Sanzo pivoted around, shoving his sliding door open. "Be ready to go at five, we gotta drive there. Wear a tie, if you own one." He slammed the door shut behind him (as hard as one could slam a glass sliding door), and Gojyo blew a smoke ring at his back.

“Well, whatever.” He had dinner set for the night, anyway, and it was something different to do on his day off.

Life was strange, but alright. Gojyo watched the moon sink a little lower as he finished his smoke, and resolved to try to get a little more sleep. He wanted to be awake enough to watch Sanzo squirm tonight.

--------------------------

Sanzo at first seemed surprised when Gojyo pushed open the front door of their apartment building, eyes a little wide as he strolled down the sidewalk towards the curb and Sanzo's stark white Equus (nice car, Gojyo thought, for someone who never leaves the house). "Hey," he hailed Sanzo with a wave and a wink, and Sanzo just scoffed and flapped a hand back, but Gojyo didn't miss the way Sanzo's gaze swiped his body. Gojyo had dug out the black silk shirt and a white straight tie, the stuff he saved for nights at swanky clubs near the college, and now Sanzo was staring at him with what sure smelled like jealousy. Gojyo made sure to pass him just close enough that he could smell his cologne and the cigarettes on his collar; after all, even if he was just playing at being Sanzo's boyfriend, Sanzo's dad might as well think he was a catch, or at least sexy, and it'd be nice if Sanzo would acknowledge that he was making an effort. Sanzo sniffed the air a little, though Gojyo couldn't be sure if it was attraction or derision. Gojyo walked a short circle around the car so Sanzo could see just how damn good his ass looked in dark wash jeans, but also so he could check out the ride – it was an older car, but it looked damn sharp, so either Sanzo took good care of it or never drove it. "She's nice."

"She?"

"Cars are ladies, doncha know?" Gojyo winked, then leaned against the hood. "So, you ready to roll?"

Sanzo pulled a face, brow quirking, mouth twitching back with annoyance. "Yeah, fine." He took a cigarette out of his sport coat's inner pocket and lit up as he circled to the driver's side. His focus glanced off of Gojyo again as Gojyo cracked open the passenger side door. "You look presentable."

That was the closest thing Gojyo'd ever heard to a compliment coming out of Sanzo. He just chuckled and slicked his fingers back through his hair. "Well, when I'm not bound for sixteen hours in my cab by my lonesome, I make a little more effort. Thanks."

"Hm." Sanzo's focus flitted away, eyes dodging down, and Gojyo realized Sanzo actually, seriously thought he looked good. He smirked to himself, cocksure and proud, as he settled into the cushy seat of Sanzo's little luxury sedan and threw his safety belt on.

Sanzo drove like he was daring the cops to pull him over, using his turn signals like insults rather than indicators. Gojyo found himself gripping the “oh-shit” handle for most of the ride and watching the streets fly past the window as they veered from the outskirts of Portland, circumvented the city, and sped towards Five Corners. Gojyo was familiar with the area, he'd driven local deliveries through here. He recognized the exits and turns towards a particularly nice slice of the suburbs north and east of West Hill, the kind of place where he ended up dropping off a lot of luxury brand packages in December.

Not surprising. If Sanzo's dad had the assets to travel the world, it made sense he had it in him to own a house in a nice area. Sanzo seemed like he came from a good place, though Gojyo got the sense that something had happened that had made him turn out rotten. Kids who came from good homes seemed to have the biggest problems. Gojyo had found that folks with money too often substituted cash for decent morals and common sense. Not that broke kids didn't have their problems too, but everyone knew about those already, so they were hardly worth whining about.

The sun was just starting to sink behind the mountain when they pulled up to a mid-sized Victorian-style house in the middle of a winding, tree-lined road, but instead of the manicured lawn and designer garden he expected, the grass was long and wild, the roses were growing up the brick and stone columns like trellises, and most of the windows were draped with ivy, bedecked with living greenery like Christmas tinsel. The lights were on, glowing gold onto the other cars parked out front, and Sanzo groaned as he pushed the clasp on his seat belt loose. “Fuck, he invited the whole crew.”

“The whole crew?” Gojyo repeated, fumbling off the last of his terror at the last abrupt, screeching turn onto the driveway, fingers shaking just a little, but he got out and shook himself off. The yard was quiet, with only a faint hum of noise and music from the house proper. Sanzo shook his head with disgust.

“He invited all of his friends from work, from before he retired.” He slapped the cars as he strolled past them. “Glasses guy, Fey guy, the Colonel, Big guy, Shouty guy, Quiet guy, Baldy One and Baldy Two...”

Gojyo frowned and followed a step behind. “They, uh, got names?”

“Sure, but I don't bother remembering them. I see them once a year, less if I had any say in it.” Sanzo scoffed, shaking his head as he went, but Gojyo caught him shoot a truly venomous look at a black sports car parked in front of the driveway. “And of course, that prick is here. I'd hoped the old man would've pushed him off a boat by now.”

Gojyo raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't ask. He had a feeling he'd find out who 'that prick' was soon enough.

Sanzo loped to the front door, shaking his shoulders out like he was limbering up for a boxing match, then rang the bell and rapped his fist on the door twice. Gojyo felt Sanzo's tension around him like static electricity as the chime reverberated into silence, until the door opened to a mild-looking man in a colorful knee-length jacket, his long hair in a braid cast over his shoulder and a pipe between his fingers. He threw his arms open, beaming. “Kouryuu, there you are!”

Sanzo reluctantly trudged forward and let the man fold his arms around him. Gojyo even caught a glimpse of a begrudging smile. “Father. I've asked you to call me Genjo instead of that babyish nickname.”

“It's not babyish, it's what I've always called you!” Sanzo's father patted his back a few times before releasing him, only to hold him at arm's length. “And you'll always be my baby, you know.” He turned to Gojyo, and spoke to him with the familiarity as if he'd known him for years. “Has he told you about how I adopted him? All my old friends were stunned, they didn't think a man like me could be a parent, but this one falls into my lap and--”

“Father, you should really introduce yourself before you start telling embarrassing old stories about me.” Sanzo was visibly tense now, and Gojyo couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

“Hey, he told me it'd been a while since you've seen each other, I can't blame ya for being eager.” Gojyo loosened to a casual slouch and swaggered a half step in. “Name's Gojyo. I''m the guy who's been taking care of your boy these last – how many months, babe?”

The look of pure relief on Sanzo's face was immensely satisfying. “Ten.”

“Ten months, but who's counting, right?” Gojyo extended a hand. “It's nice to meet you, sir.”

“Oh, he calls me 'sir,'” Sanzo's father laughed, but he clasped both hands around Gojyo's and shook it vigorously. “I'm Koumyou Sanzo, his father. So tell me, is his butt as cute as it was when he was little?”

Gojyo nearly choked on his own tongue trying not to laugh right there, as Sanzo turned a shade of crimson Gojyo could only compare to steakhouse ketchup. “Father!”

“He hasn't showed me baby pictures,” Gojyo demurred, winking at Sanzo again. “But let's see what the night brings, you know?”

Koumyou chortled, obviously delighted, but waved the pair of them past. “Oh, Genjo, he's funny. I like him!”

“He's unique.” Sanzo eyed Gojyo with just a hint of malice, and Gojyo put on a sheepish grin. “He's never boring, anyway.”

“I'm just glad I can make you laugh, babe.” Gojyo motioned for Sanzo to go first, as Sanzo shot him one quick glare and moved past him.

So far, so good.

Koumyou led them into a room near the entrance, but before Gojyo could even get a look around, a cheer rose through the room.

“There he is!”

“The prodigal son!”

“The famous son,” someone else laughed back, and Gojyo finally got a look around. Koumyou kept it colorful, the walls beige but decorated with ornate, colorful paintings – Klimt, van Gogh, Degas, and framed posters from art galleries advertising exhibitions from around the world – and his table was just as colorful. The centerpiece of the room, the dinner spread over the long low table, was of covered dishes in purples and crimsons and greens over a tablecloth with a technicolor geometric pattern. All the guests were seated on silk patterned cushions on their knees similar in pattern to Koumyou's jacket, and all of them were waving to Genjo as he slouched in the aperture between the foyer and dining room.

“It's...” Gojyo could feel Sanzo's tension in the hum of his hesitation and patted his back, and Sanzo seemed to remember that he should finish his sentence. “Nice to see you all again.”

“Liar,” one man near the head of the table, a man closer to Sanzo's age than to Koumyou's with shaggy dark hair, chuckled, and Sanzo's gaze snapped to him. “Imagine,” he went on, dark eyes gleaming in the yellow light of the chandelier, “Koumyou putting the poor antisocial boy through his paces again.”

Sanzo bristled, and jerked his shoulder to shake Gojyo's hand off. “It's been too long, Jianyi.”

“He lies again.” The dark-haired man, Jianyi apparently, laughed, and elbowed at the man next to him, who actually gave him a rather irritated look back.

“Will you be nice to your boyfriend's son?” He was an odd-looking fellow, with a classic Mandarin hairstyle, all the hair shaved but for a braid, and a mustache, and when he stood, Gojyo realized he was a little person. He circled the table and came to stand in front of Sanzo, then bowed. “You're looking well, Genjo.”

“Genkai.” Sanzo actually bowed back. “It's good to see you again.”

“Now he means it,” a man with hair dyed purple giggled (Fey guy, though his voice was rougher than his rather feminine features suggested), and Baldy One and Baldy Two on either side of him both smiled, One reluctantly and Two wryly, before Fey guy cupped a hand. “Genjo, introduce the beefcake!”

All eyes were on him now. Gojyo keenly felt Jianyi's stare, as Sanzo motioned to him. “Everyone, Gojyo. We've been seeing each other ten months.”

“Nice find!” A guy wearing a canvas military cap, who was a little younger and a little thicker than the others (Gojyo was guessing that was the Big guy), hooted, and the Colonel (the white beard and mustache were a dead giveaway) chuckled into his hand.

“Gojyo, Genjo, please, sit, make yourself comfortable! Where did that Father of yours get to?”

“He can't have gone far.” Genkai eased back and motioned to the two empty cushions near the center of the table. “We were all just catching up. All boring old man stuff, of course. What have you been up to?”

With that, Genkai ushered Sanzo to sit, and Gojyo sat beside him on his knees, and Sanzo was dragged into the typical inane conversation of catching up with someone one hadn't seen in a while. Gojyo found out a little about Sanzo, at least: he was a straight-up New York City stock trader, working (remotely) on Eastern Standard Time from the nine A.M. opening bell (six A.M., Gojyo did the math in his head with a quick wince) until closing. Explained why he was always awake when Gojyo's schedule was fucked, anyway. It also explained why he seemed to be such a recluse, or at least how he could stay in the apartment all day and still make a decent living. Gojyo couldn't help but figure the why from Sanzo's terse reactions every time he got a question from another direction, eyes briefly widening a little bit every time someone asked about the next big trend, stock advice, buy or sell on this or that, and turning faintly scarlet whenever Fey guy or Big guy made some wink and nod joke about him being “kept busy” and winking at Gojyo.

Koumyou rejoined the party just as Baldy Two was pushing Sanzo about Apple stock, bearing a covered dish. “My, my, you've all started the festivities without me!”

“We couldn't help ourselves,” Jianyi chuckled, edging over to widen the gap beside him. Gojyo immediately felt his attention snap to the guy, because for some reason, Gojyo had gotten a bad vibe off of him, and not just from Sanzo's reaction to his prodding, or that of the other ten men in the room every time he'd made some mutter Gojyo couldn't hear or make out. It was that 'not-safe' feeling he got when he pulled into truck stops that told him his shit would get stolen out of the cab if he so much as stopped for a piss break there, or when he passed over lot lizards that he just knew would give him syphilis if he so much as looked at her twice without a condom on. He had sort of a sense for trouble like that, it came with living like he did. Jianyi seemed either blissfully unaware of everyone else's disdain or wholly unperturbed by it, but that was just as off-putting as the initial sense Gojyo got, and just as eerie as the smile Jianyi put on when Koumyou sat down beside him and put the dish in the rest of the spread. "Can we serve now?"

"Oh, yes, yes, please!" Koumyou motioned up with both hands, indicating for everyone to lift the covers, before turning his smile towards Gojyo. "And if you don't know what something is, please ask!"

Gojyo suddenly felt eyes on him, and plastered on a self-conscious smile. "Food's food, right? I'm sure I can figure it out."

There was a round of soft chuckling and stifled laughter around the table, as Sanzo muttered, "You happen to be at a table with eleven world-travelers, each of whom brought a dish from a part of the world they have been to over the last year. I guarantee you I'll only be guessing at half of what's on this table, but I have no food allergies or sensitivities and I'm not picky. Just ask if you're not sure."

"I'm not picky either," Gojyo countered quickly, choosing not to volunteer that he'd eaten maggots before just so nobody could press him about the context. "Uh, but excluding us, I counted twelve, so--"

"I can't cook," Koumyou volunteered sheepishly. "However, I got a friend in town to dress a lamb leg in the Turkish style, and while I wouldn't know what to do with it myself, I can set an oven and carve meat off the bone."

"With some help." Nii winked at him, and Gojyo heard Fey guy make a disgusted noise.

"Can we just eat already?" He lowered his voice to a mutter and added, "Before I lose my appetite."

The plates were lifted, to an outcry of excitement from all sides but Sanzo and Jianyi, and though Gojyo didn't say a word, he didn't recognize half of what was on the table. Instead, Gojyo took the first thing he could identify (a hearty slice of that lamb leg Koumyou had brought in) and sniffed every plate as it came past him. He began to pick up on what was what – those funny green egg rolls were grape leaves stuffed with mushrooms and onions, the white pasta with big meatballs was a Vietnamese pork meatball over rice noodles, that wasn't ham wrapped around melon but prosciutto and it was popular in Spain, those crispy things were deep-fried lotus root – and luckily, it all smelled amazing.

“Man, this is better than going to a buffet,” he remarked as he passed a platter of black eggs that smelled of oranges and spice to Baldy Two on his left, to a few chuckles from nearby.

“It's fun,” Genkai said from his place, smiling peaceably. “We all get together to share where we've been, and bring a little of it with us.”

“A fine meal is a fleeting pleasure, but one best enjoyed in good company.” Koumyou lifted a teacup, and many of the others followed suit with water or wine glasses. "Cheers. I'm glad to see you all again."

There were answers of "Cheers," and murmurs of agreement, before Koumyou turned to Genkai. "You said you brought dolmas, old friend? How did Greece treat you?"

"Better than its citizens, sadly." Genkai smiled wryly. "Even despite its current troubles, Athens is still beautiful. I admit I spent longer in Germany this year, but, well... I suppose I was thinking of Goudai."

Jianyi pulled a face behind his wine glass, as Koumyou sighed. "It's still fresh for me, too. He would have loved them, you did a fantastic job."

"Goudai," Sanzo said, in a voice meant for Gojyo, "was an old friend of my father's who passed a few years ago."

"I think we all miss my old mentor." All eyes shot to Jianyi with irritation when he spoke over his folded hands and tented fingers. "Even so, I imagine he'd be loathe to think of us all moping about him now, wouldn't you agree, Genjo?" His dark eyes glimmered with mischief, and he failed to disguise a smirk. Sanzo snorted and turned his attention to his plate, but Gojyo felt compelled to say something:

"He'd probably be glad you all thought of him, anyway. It's nice to remember folks who're gone, not for them, but for you, y'know? Those good memories are still good." He picked up one of the fried lotus root chips with his fingers, imitating Baldy One across the table, as Genkai cracked a little smile.

"You speak like someone who's lost someone dear to you, but with the strength to remember them fondly. Admirable, in a boy your age."

“Well, we can't all be worldly little monks, can we?” Jianyi tossed his head back and laughed. Genkai flushed, but Gojyo brushed it off as if he hadn't spoken.

“Oh, you're a monk, are you? Like, what kind?”

“Holy Land Buddhist,” Koumyou and Sanzo both answered.

“It's how we met.” Koumyou nudged Genkai with his hand. “All of us were students of Buddhism under a wise teacher, and we became a social group outside of meditation sessions and sutra readings.”

“With one notable exception.” Fey guy was glaring daggers at Jianyi again, who was much more interested in the bottom of his wine glass.

“Guilty as charged.” Jianyi put his glass down and put it towards the center of the table, and Koumyou took up the canter and refilled it. “I was actually an apprentice under dear deceased Goudai, and got pulled in by him.”

“I think he thought we would be good influences.” Baldy One smirked a bit, then tucked a whole shumai into his mouth. “Mmh, Excellent, Jyoan.”

“Thank you.” Fey guy smirked like a satisfied cat, then glanced sideways to Gojyo. “So, aside from our odd man out, we all came up together.”

"We're all relatively faithful, though I admit Koumyou's, er, non-traditional." The Colonel chuckled, as Koumyou flapped a hand.

"I live my own way, and I don't think I've hurt anyone so far." He winked at Sanzo. "I'm not so bad, am I?"

"Yeah, yeah. Do as you please, as long as you don't hurt anyone," Sanzo muttered, stabbing at the dolmas piled on his plate.

"That's the Hippocratic oath, Genjo." Jianyi wagged a finger. "And really, Seiran knows more about that." Baldy Two snorted, and Gojyo could have sworn he muttered something like:

"Keep my name off your lips."

"You're a doctor?" Gojyo asked, before Jianyi could engage a second further. Baldy Two raised a brow, then nodded.

"Myself and Soujin both." He motioned to the Colonel. "I've been researching methods for recovering from brain damage post-trauma and seizures."

"Pediatrics, with Médecins Sans Frontières. It seemed a natural progression after being in the Marines, to me, anyway!" The Colonel chuckled again, stroking his beard (or maybe wiping a little of that white yogurt sauce out of it, there was a reason Gojyo didn't like beards much). "Perhaps our new guest deserves a bit more explanation."

“Oh, right. Genjo likely didn't tell him about all of his uncles.” Fey guy sneered a bit, but smirked at Gojyo. “I'm an anthropologist and writer. I've been examining some non-conforming villages in China. Do you know there are subcultures wherein marriage isn't practiced? At all?”

“We can talk studies later.” Glasses guy adjusted his spectacles, but Gojyo could feel him examining him under the wire rims. “I'm a reporter. My forte is in covering disasters, though I admit I don't care for it nearly as much as covering the recovery.”

With that, everyone around the table gave his profession. Big Guy was a food writer who traveled the world writing about unique cuisines for a major food magazine Gojyo had never heard of, Baldy One taught English in underprivileged remote Japanese villages, Shouty guy paused briefly in devouring from some Thai-fried rice to explain that he was a soccer coach. Every one of these men touched ground in multiple countries a year, and the hosts were no exception, just like Sanzo had said.

“I'm a curator for the International Foundation for Art research.” Koumyou beamed and gestured to some of the posters. “They trust my instincts enough to let me choose where to search, and I find pieces and build exhibitions for museums around the world.”

“His taste is world-renowned.” Jianyi gave Koumyou a rather heated look and a smirk that wasn't entirely sarcastic, which only put the needles a little deeper under Gojyo's skin. “Even I can admit some of his collections are unique in ways hard to put into words.”

“Which says something, though I'm not certain what.” Koumyou giggled softly, and Gojyo saw Sanzo wince as he stroked his fingers down his arm.

#blue-chan confessional night #worst version #my writing #fanfiction

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