#i have to laugh at lion in a coma though

[buttercupblu]

Satoru's Psyche|Escalating

"Should I really have to suffer for my actions?"

Previous SessionSession 2 of 10|Next Session

🗂️Patient Chart Update: Patient Gojo displayed extremely flirtatious and unruly behavior during the first half of his visit. Mentions of escape and kid-napping were noted as well as enforced close proximity with his nurse. Threatening remarks were also made at the end of his lunch in response to mentions of disciplinary action. Patient is scheduled for a bath but is pending the possibility of negative punishment to instill corrective behaviors. 📋Length of Session (w.c): 8.3k out of "i said we will cross that bridge when we get to it 😊" 💊Intake Chart (tags): mild violence but no in-action descriptors, coercion, manipulation, drug use, angst, unwatched close contact and touch, nudity, mentally unstable Gojo, Nurse!Reader ✏️Doctor's angel’s note: i hope you know what you're doing, Nurse 🎼Waiting room music: Overheated|Billie Eilish

Choose wisely.

Hunger stirs in your tummy, and Gojo's words sit with you through lunch. Your spoon clinks around the bowl, stirring the soup growing colder by the second though the growls from your stomach are too obnoxious to be ignored. But your mind wanders.

You're stuck. Earlier, you were all for serving up justice on a silver platter, but now you're seriously second-guessing your "genius" idea to punish Gojo by making him someone else's problem.

As if anyone will be crazy enough to say yes.

Everyone already avoids his wing like the plague. It's kind of an unspoken fact that you are Gojo's one and only. The only staff he allows near him. Anyone else would be playing with fire.

And if someone is brave enough to willingly throw themselves into the lion's den, they definitely can't be new. New to nursing—new to the ward. High expertise is needed here. Someone seasoned—experience which you lack yourself—otherwise, they won't last a second with Gojo.

It'll be way too easy for him to make them snap, like tossing a bone to a dog.

"Persephone." Yuko brings you out of your coma.

You perk up, instinctively smiling. "Hey, what's up?"

"You tell me," she snorts. "You've been playing with your food like break isn't over in 10 minutes." She touches your arm. "Everything ok?"

It's written all over your face, huh? You could deflate right now.

This is why Yuko is your favorite co-worker. Always reading you like a book without you needing to say a word. Quick to call anything off out.

Leaning back in your chair, you huff, rubbing circles into your temples to relieve the headache you didn't know you had.

"Yeah, yeah," you begin, "It's just—" You stop, her eyes hold so much concern and you've barely opened your mouth. Not sure if you should now because you know what kind of person Yuko is.

And if she knew even half of what you don't tell her during your lunch breaks spent complaining about work, she'd hang Gojo out to dry if she could. She often makes it very clear she hates you have to deal with him at all.

"—I'm just a bit tired. Gojo's scheduled for a bath later, him and two others. Gojo's easy but...I don't know. I feel slower than usual today. Definitely won't get home until late, again, because of all these sponge baths." You cringe at the last part.

Aside from trying to keep Yuko cool, you also don't want to risk the news getting back to the Director who could take you off of Gojo completely. No one else can take your place. And who knows what would happen if you disappeared from his roster for good?

How would his threats manifest?

Yuko scoffs, waving her hand.

"Gojo and easy do not go together," and you both shake your heads and laugh. "But I get it. You did come in super early."

"Thought there'd be less of us," you sigh.

"Sonya's been on our asses lately, right? But hey, she finally got us all here."

"A little too late. The damage is done," you pout, resting your elbows on the table, realizing you've accidentally grown used to chaos and ever-changing schedule.

You routinely plan ahead to make sure you can stand up when people fall short. Constantly putting yourself on the back burner seems to be a thing that always set you back.

"Sooo, you just need rest, ya? Nothing else? Gojo—" there she goes "—been 'okay' with you lately?"

Your heart skips. "Ya. he isn't so bad today," you lie, "I'd just love to be home on time for once. Maybe even a bit early, I'm soo close. Overtime's been wringing my neck for weeks."

Yuko looks at you with puppy dog eyes. And not in a "I feel sorry for you" kind of way, but one that almost makes you feel bad for not telling her the whole truth.

"Here," she pushes your soup towards you, "How about I do Gojo's bath and you get an early start on my last two? That way you can at least binge that show you won't shut up about later." She smiles.

You immediately protest.

There's no way you can do that to her.

Yuko never even crossed your mind and was far from your first pick, not because she can't handle him but because she's your friend. Not just a colleague, but someone you actually care about more than anyone else in this run-down job even if she doesn't feel the same.

She's too good of a person, and you'd be the Devil Incarnate if you let her do something so risky. Especially when you can just suck it up and get it over with.

"Woah, woah, it's just a bath, calm down," she says, taking your hands in hers as you ramble on, trying to convince her that you'll be fine or that you'll find someone else. Burdening her is simply out of the question.

"Who else but me, Seph'?" and she tilts her head, "You don't you think I'm as good as you?" And the way she says it, giving you that look she does when you're being stubborn, dares you to challenge her.

Now you really have to think about what to say.

Goddamn it, you regret saying anything at all, but Yuko's so motherly, how could you resist? Hiding from her is impossible, she would've sniffed you out sooner or later.

Easing your pains when she can is her specialty—helping to calm and settle you down when you blow things out of proportion.

Could this be one of those moments? Or are Gojo's words more than just hot air?

The back and forth is killing you, but the combination of Yuko's reassuring touch and your gurgling stomach puts the final nail in the coffin as she reminds you of the time.

Eyes wide, you look at the clock, ticking away faster than you realized, then back at your lukewarm soup.

Denying that you need help would be silly because technically it's true. You probably should've asked the Director for a little Gojo break forever ago, even if just for a few hours a few times a week. It would be better than nothing because if you can't function, Gojo can't be cared for.

So, who better to help bridge that gap for you than Yuko?

The gutsy woman has been your rock ever since you started at the ward, having your back and sticking with you through tough times when staff constantly dips in and out of the facility like a rotating door, unable to handle the job.

Yuko's a real day one, and next to you, she's the most competent nurse in these walls, fully equipped with a "take-no-shit" attitude that routinely keeps her patients in check.

When you really think about it, it'd be silly, downright irresponsible to trust anyone else.

Her offer is simply too good to dismiss.

"Thank you, Yuko," you cave, grabbing your spoon and finally allowing yourself to enjoy your meal. "You're...amazing. I don't deserve you."

She looks on happily. "Just promise me you'll take some personal time after this," she insists, worry evident in her voice. "We both know how much you care, but even superheroes need rest." She's too kind and right in more ways than one. "Besides, I think Gojo will like me, ya? I'm cool. I'm fun. He'll like a friend of friend?"

You roll your eyes—ya, totally, cool people definitely say they're cool.

Not knowing whether to joke back or wave her off, you softly smile at her concern before nodding, vowing to make good on your promise and feel a bit lighter knowing your wish for early release will actually come true.

Maybe.

The latest threat to your miracle in the making is Mr. Hampton, who is personally making it his business to drag the already long day by its edges, almost bringing time to a standstill with the way he's handling his bath.

Enormous and lumbering, the man Yuko usually deals with took his sweet time gathering his things and even longer trekking down the seemingly endless halls leading to the bathing area. Occupying every inch of the space like those massive trucks that hog the interstate, yet inching along at a pace that makes a snail look like it's in a sprint.

All that was missing were the yellow hazard lights.

Oh no, please, take your time, you think, watching Mr. Hampton clean each limb painstakingly s l o w in a tub that's comically too small for him. You may have been able to rush through Yuko's first patient, but this one wanted all that time back.

His pace resembles a giant's, and his cheery, nonsensical hums echo around the hollow chambers and lull you to sleep, turning your eyes into bricks under the spell of his melody. Perfect timing for the energy drinks from early to crash you out, tag teaming with the chair beneath you that feels a bit too soft as you lean over the tub, willing the colossal man to hurry up.

Warm water flows over your skin as you scrub circles on his neck, deciding to bite the bullet and take over the bath so he can play with the bubbles and get out when you hear a blood-curdling scream.

Your entire body goes rigid, shock reverberating through your spine and forcing you to halt as your mind goes blank. But steamy water brings you back to life, drenching your shirt and upper thighs when Mr. Hampton jumps from the noise.

The rude awakening makes you lock in.

The scream. It sounds like...no, you know it came from the west wing...where Gojo is.

And Yuko.

Hurried steps rush past your door, sounds of multidirectional distress and frantic shouts echoing through the corridor—staff members and patients alike sweep into a whirlwind of panic.

You're number one, dropping the scrubber and scrambling to help Mr. Hampton out of the tub, hands shaking as he grips them.

A security guard bursts into the room, face ashen and jaw tight.

"Nurse! We need everyone in the west wing, immediately!" The command is sharp, laced with an urgency you've never seen before.

And immediately feel responsible for.

"There's been an incident."

Without another thought, you wrap Mr. Hampton in a towel, trying your best to assure him that everything is fine when your obviously trembling body says nothing is. His confused gaze follows you as you lead him back to his room, the commotion in the air moving him a lot faster than earlier before you rush back out and head straight for the west wing—where chaos reigns supreme.

The usually pristine floors, normally squeaky clean due to lack of traffic, are now barely visible. Staff members crowd the familiar hall for the first time since Gojo made it his own, filling the space with more bodies than you're used to and making it difficult to find the source of trouble.

Not like you need to. The truth is painfully clear, and it's disrespectful to even pretend you don't know exactly what went wrong.

You push through the masses, clumsily bumping shoulders, your heart beating into your ears and making the world seem quiet as you inch closer and closer to disaster. Dragging imaginary shackles on your feet until you all but collapse once you spot it.

Gojo—barely restrained by guards, straitjacket nowhere in sight—standing absolutely furious.

And for the first time today, time seems to slow down, your mouth suddenly becoming dry when you look past him.

Yuko.

Halfway out the door to his room. Sprawled out on the ground. Bruised, unconscious, and no signs of breathing.

Your hands fly to your lips, mouth agape. Murmurs from the crowd swirl around you before attendants rush to Yuko's side, knocking into your pathetic frame as you stand too frozen to move.

They gently pick her up, careful to handle her motionless body and place her on a stretcher. Her usually vibrant face is drained of color, twisting the dagger in your chest when you spot the subtle rise and fall of her chest. Fighting for breath.

Fighting.

It hits you like a train.

Someone as kind as her, always greeting you with warmth and empathy and capacity every time she sees you, should never have to lift a finger let alone fight for her life. The sight is too much to bear.

Waves of helplessness crash over you and you can't even look at her. Regretting with every ounce of your being that you sent her in your place. Knowing this could happen. Concerned only with your silly wants and needs.

But you're so confused.

The ward should have weakened Gojo—Yuko should have been fine. The only threat Gojo has up his sleeve is mental torture but Yuko might as well be Freud. Her mind is sound, strong.

And that's where you fucked up, forgetting that Gojo's pure strength, especially when he's lost his fucking mind and triggered, is stronger.

Even with his security system in place, the devil is still powerful enough on his own. And like this was some sick and twisted experiment to help you figure that out, Yuko was the one to pay the price.

"I warned, I WARNED YOU!" Gojo's words pierce the overlapping voices like a sword, breaking your shock and drawing everyone's attention to the strange interaction between the two of you. "I don't like to be touched by strangers, Nurse." Guards struggle to restrain him as he pulls away.

All eyes fall on you and the stares are intense. Confusion and judgment.

Why was Yuko here in the first place?Where was Seph’?How’d he get out?How did this happen? 

Whether the murmurs are real or in your head, the effect is all the same, and you wish you could just completely vanish. Standing like a deer in headlights—and they're so fucking bright.

But Gojo is brimming with malice and amusement, chaotic energy pulsing from the hellish man and threatening to send sparks flying. Daring someone to be brave and push the button.

But despite his outward display of dominance, the pure rage on his face that makes you feel sick to your stomach about every decision you've ever made, there's something...uncertain lurking behind those fiery eyes.

Something like...apprehension.

Like he knows he's done something wrong.

Yet, words escape you, as if anything needs to or even could be said. But soon, fear and guilt turn to anger, threatening to consume you. Ready to eat you alive and spit out the bones with disgust because you are not a victim.

You have no right to stand here, spineless, shocked, or feeling even a little sorry for yourself. Holding back tears because you know what you've done.

Your fists clench, unsure how to deal with it, but there's fire in your eyes because someone needs to pay.

But then you exhale, thoughts shifting to Yuko as you take a good look around at what happened the last time you decided to take things into your own hands. All of your actions, even now, are rooted in selfishness. Like you've learned nothing.

Pushing down the knot growing in your stomach, you turn away to follow the medics, deciding your friend needs you more than you need revenge. Gojo doesn't deserve any more of your attention, even if it means risking your job or life to turn your back on him.

And there's nothing Gojo hates more than being ignored.

Struggled and strained noises grow louder. Guards tighten their grip on the fuming man whose raw strength outnumbers thousands of them even without his cursed energy.

You look back, their determination to keep him contained making you nervous. You don't anyone else to get hurt and Gojo is fully exploiting that.

You're painfully aware that your decisions have put you in this position, watching the guards' valiant but increasingly pointless effort to prevent Gojo from causing further harm. But it's obviously a losing fight, and the unease on their faces is unmistakably clear.

You wonder why they don't just run like hell.

"Let's go," a guard barks, but Gojo remains fixed in place. Moving a boulder would be easier.

"No, I'm filthy," Gojo protests, smirking, "And if I don't have my bath soon, there will be hell to pay."

Seeing no one else in the room, his eyes are locked only on you, his expression a menacing promise that would send anyone else running for the hills. A look that says, "Try that shit again, and there will be casualties instead of mercy."

Reinforcements are called but it won't be enough. The goddamn military wouldn't be enough. Gojo is...the strongest, after all.

"Stop."

Your cry freezes the room. Everything goes silent.

You hesitate, fuck, what should you do?

What can you do? No one else can suffer—no one else should suffer. Because of you.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, you silently apologize to Yuko, swallowing a lump instead of looking back.

"I'll do it," you say firmly, "Just stop this and...and I'll give you your bath. Please—" The sharpest pang you've ever felt cuts through you. "—just don't hurt anyone else."

Pathetic. But necessary.

He looks into your pleading eyes with surprise, amazement even, before smiling.

The submission in your voice sounds better than anything he could ever imagine. A sweet tones that feed his already inflated ego.

Unsure of how to proceed, the guards exchange uneasy glances.

Gojo's strength is undeniable, that much is evident, and restraining him forever is simply not possible.

You know offering to give him what he wants is risky as hell...but this is your doing. Your mess to clean up.

So you squeeze your sweaty palms and give a decisive nod, signaling at the guards to let him go. They hesitate a second, then reluctantly agree, stepping back and leaving Gojo standing smugly before you.

Closing your eyes, you breathe, hating to have to look at him, but needing to stay strong. For Yuko. For yourself. And everyone else in the ward.

But Gojo's satisfied grin says it all. He's won this round.

You're ready to get the next over with.

The squeaking of your shoes has never been this loud, each echo bouncing off the empty halls and reminding you of how alone you are.

Alone—with a psychopath.

A bit more docile, doped-up psychopath but, the man could probably still rip someone's head clean off if he wanted to.

Still, Gojo despises anything that alters his body—mentally, physically, all of the above. Alcohol, medication, coffee, energy drinks—anything that threatens his need for absolute control.

But he also needed to compromise, and you refused to be alone with him again unless he took something stronger. Otherwise, it would be you, all the guards in the ward, and a pay-per-view premiere of his bath time.

He knew he had to agree because his ass is not for free, but only if you took it as well.

You blinked, hard.

You knew he would be skeptical—hell, it could be poison, and he wouldn’t blame you. But to suggest something so ridiculous?

"Half, then," he said, as if that made his suggestion any less idiotic, but, as you waited for your supervisor to dismiss the insane idea, the back and forth with Gojo actually didn't save you. And you didn't need to ask why. The entire ward shoots daggers at you any time someone walks by now.

Your supervisor reassured you that you'd be fine, the mild tranquilizer would be out of your system by the end of the day, then she patted your back as if to say, "Lay in the bed you made."

It felt unreal, holding the familiar pill between your fingers, one you were used to dishing out but now had to take.

With a quick snap, you broke it in half, holding his half out to the leering man. Gaze unwavering as he leaned forward and parted his lips, waiting. Taking a deep breath, you placed them both on your tongues, in disbelief at your reality, but Gojo's focus was elsewhere, not wasting this prime opportunity to rattle you more and taste you, closing his lips around your fingertip with a quick lick before you snatched away.

But it wasn’t quick enough to avoid the tingles shooting up your arm as you swallowed, no longer needing the water you had set aside, and a confusing mix of emotions churned as the tingles spread throughout your body.

Making good on his promise, he swallowed his own, still watching you with a knowing glint in his eyes. Like he knows what he does to you. And despite just witnessing this man's violence firsthand, you'd give anything to deny that he still has an effect on you. Hating yourself for being more concerned with the way he looked at you and the lingering sensation on your skin than the tranquilizer now coursing through your system.

The guards carefully lead you and Gojo to his private bathroom—they're more there for show than for protection, but you'll take what you can get, and they keep a firm grip on his replacement straitjacket.

You trail behind, mind buried with thoughts of what to say once you're really alone with him.

The door shuts behind you, followed by the familiar sound of a series of locks clicking shut. "We'll be right outside," one of the guards mutters, eyes shifting between you and Gojo, a stereotypical warning lacing his voice, but even he probably doesn't believe it.

"Perv," Gojo sneers and laughs, but you don't find a damn thing funny, the keys to his jacket digging into your palms as you spin around and face him, furious. What would be better? Slapping him, kicking him, or knocking his teeth out. Or should you be particularly evil and just let him sit in the shower, fully restrained and drenched in cold water and you let it rain down. None of the above will do you any good, but it'll show him exactly how done you are with his shit.

"That isn't funny. None of this is funny," it fumes out before you know you're speaking, "You've hurt someone—you hurt my friend." Your rage echos through the vast bathroom.

Gojo's laugh fades, his smug expression slipping from his face. Even you're surprised.

...oh shit.

You're actually confronting him.

The intense words burn through his usual arrogance, leaving a heavy, uncomfortable silence between you.

Then, for a fleeting second, his face does something weird.

Something you haven't seen before as his eyebrows draw together. Is that...regret?

"I'm sorry."

The record scratches. You’re fully positive you must be dreaming.

But when he doesn’t make a joke or even crack a smile, you squint at him.

The words are muttered and reluctant, but there they are, hanging in the air between you.

"It...won't happen again."

And he's serious, the same seriousness you see when his heart races as you take his vitals...but why? Because an apology? From him?? Unheard of.

Gojo has said some nasty things to you in the past that you've immediately scolded him for, but he's never apologized. He'd make a note when certain jokes didn't land, but he never took them back, preferring to cut out his own tongue than to waste his breath being sorry.

You know better than to take anything Gojo says at face value, but...what the fuck??? You almost feel offended.

He has to be joking, fucking with you to dig even deeper under your skin.

Or is he?

Fuck, you don't know how to feel.

He's so good at that, stealing the air back and hanging his words in them. Tempting you to pause and even consider if he ever truly means them. If he could mean them. The mind games are endless.

But then, the familiar cockiness returns and overshadows your doubts, twisting your stomach into knots with that familiar smile of his.

"Now," he says, strutting towards the stalls, "let's get this bath started, shall we?" And his easy, but confident steps call you to follow, a stark reminder of who you're dealing with. But he never knows when to quit. "Or should I really have to suffer for my actions?" and the bastard pouts.

Though you know he's being sarcastic and not to feed into his taunts, you can't help but wonder—what would suffering even look like for someone like Gojo?

Violence? Physical pain? A slow and agonizingly painful death?

But the guy is damn near invincible. What on earth could hurt him?

Whatever it is, it would have to be his absolute worst nightmare, but nothing comes to mind at the moment other than frustration because you have to keep making choices.

Return his energy or keep it professional? Tolerance or revenge?

"Apologizing won't cut it," you snap and gesture at his jacket, wondering how the hell he slipped out of the first one without leaving a trace. "And no tricks, or those guards will be back in here faster than you can tell another lame joke."

Smooth.

Gojo sighs sooo dramatically, like he can see straight through your kitty claws. "Fine, fine. Loosen up," he drags, "I won't cause any trouble. Just don't go getting any ideas now, Nurse." and he winks.

He's insufferable—but despite your smoldering anger, tendrils of doubt still creep in.

Your fingers slightly tremble as you begin to unfasten his straps, but each click feels a bit like victory, a fragile illusion of your 'control'—at least for now—because at the end of the day, Gojo had chosen you to listen to. And after today, he's sure you won't forget there isn't room for anyone else.

The jacket falls with a heavy thud, your eyes immediately scanning his upper body in search of any signs of injury or stress. The cascading bruises on his arms surprise you.

They feel so feeble in your hands; the evidence of him not as invincible as he seems is jarring. Pale, weak, and resting between your fingers. Devoid of the power that makes him so feared.

"Never seen bruises before," he tilts his head, "at least not on me"

You hope Yuko was at least partly responsible for the marks on the villain, but they appear self-inflicted, and he's not as mobile.

Fuck, now you'll have to bathe him too. Still, it's strange, seeing him like this. Even weirder knowing that he could still do damage in this state and you can't shake the feeling of this temporary 'truce'. If it isn't obvious by now, you've learned that Gojo always has something up his sleeve.

Warm water soothes you a bit, flowing over your fingers as it fills the large white tub—pristine, imported from somewhere far away, and standing on decorative claw feet. Your eyes wouldn't stop rolling the first time you saw it, completely annoyed with Gojo's over-the-top alterations and sense of style, but you'd be a liar if you said you never thought about sinking your body into it.

The best you could do was cope with the little porcelain tub in your apartment, and you get lost thinking about how you'd love to take a long, hot, and steamy bath when you get home—if you'll even have the energy. There's no way you'll be leaving early now, not like you deserve it, and you feel sick for even thinking about it. You doubt you'll even have a job tomorrow.

You look so defeated Gojo thinks, sauntering forward and lifting the hem of his shirt. You turn away, focusing instead on the temperature of the water, but the rustling sound of his shirt being pulled overhead and pants falling to the ground warms your cheeks.

His physique certainly isn't lacking, even in his current state, but still, you wonder how such a slim but toned frame could be so...powerful.

Could you be more obvious? Your flickering eyes are so telling, shamefully darting between him and the water, but he catches your gaze from the corner of his eye as if he's read your mind. How cute, he thinks, trying to hide away your thoughts.

Clearing your throat, you toss in his loofah. "Well...go on. It's ready." But Gojo only grins, amused by your attempts to look away despite seeing his muscled frame a number of times. Relishing in the fact that he still manages to fluster you.

"Your shirt," he eyes your top, "Your pants. Looks like you've already started without me."

The water stains from earlier sit beautifully across your chest, not yet fully dry, and drawing his eyes to your semi-erect nips.

His teeth tug at his bottom lip, eyes shamelessly raking over your hefty chest. "Always such a tease, aren't you, Nurse?"

You grit your teeth, cursing the conflict swirling in your stuttering heart, fully aware of the thin line between professionalism and this game of intimacy he refuses to stop playing. Everything is always a game no matter the circumstances. And he loves to push your buttons.

"Just get in, Gojo," you order, and after what feels like an eternity, the silence is broken by the sound of splashing water as he steps into the bath.

He slowly sinks in, sighing at the warmth of the water. Ringlets of steam engulf him, almost making his silky white hair disappear with it.

His arms string over the rim of the tub, a look of relaxation resting on his face as if he's had a long, hard day. You resist the urge to slap it off.

Sudsy bubbles form from the solution you pour under the faucet, hoping to shield your eyes from his body. You've seen enough today and expect the mini-rebellious act to piss him off, but as the bubbles grow, so do his eyes. Picking up a handful, he actually starts playing with them.

"Nice touch," he adds, blowing them right into your face, and you watch with a tight lip as he decorates the bathroom with them, knowing you'll be the one to clean it all up.

He sits a crown on his head and gives himself a bubble beard, nipping your nose with some that you're quick to wipe away, and his pale eyes flutter and settle on you in a curious way.

His arms flex as he leans over the edge—steam-slicked sweat dripping down his face that he doesn't bother to wipe away. "I'm ready for my sponge bath," he says, and if it was hard to take him seriously before, it's damn near impossible now—especially with that ridiculous bubble mustache.

Sickening, him still being so playful, so unserious, at a time like this.

You know Gojo's unhinged, yeah, quote, "mentally unwell and a literal danger to society", but to nearly take someone's life and then make jokes afterward?

God, you feel so stupid, walking around him like you were the shit but with the wrong guard up the whole time, playing right into his hands and accidentally rewarding this grown-ass man who likes to play with suds.

The reality of your circumstances replays in your head, the story of how you ended up here, coddling this monster, and you're still confused as hell as to why it had to be you.

Then again, this is what you signed up for...right? To heal. To help those who can't help themselves. To offer redemption some sort of redemption no matter how sick and twisted the person in need is.

With your loofah in hand, you resist the urge to roll your eyes for the 400th time today and keep your morals in mind. "Keep talking like that and I'll stop, Gojo," you say, reluctantly drenching the tool in soap before proceeding to do your job.

Gently washing his back, he sinks into your touch, closing his eyes and letting his body completely rest on the cool cast iron, breathing. Feeling like he's won no matter what you say because your scrubs feel like magic.

Across his arms and over his broad shoulders, you work your way down, bubbles glistening in your trail as you're careful not to miss a single inch of skin but don't linger too long.

Every now and then, you catch glimpses of raised marks between the foam, and because you hate yourself, your brain absolutely refuses to give you a break. You have to give kudos to his dedication to his craft. The muscle definition, the scar tissue telling stories of battles won, the evidence of his past before corruption—everything it takes to be a hero.

It's unsettling, yet fascinating, the polarity between his beauty and his monstrous deeds.

You've never really noticed because this level of care is another first for you. Usually, Gojo just hops into the shower and takes care of himself while you wait outside—easy and thorough but always taking his sweet time, all while loudly singing some annoying song that inevitably ends up stuck in your head.

But after today, it'll be impossible to trust him or you again, and the hushed whispers as the guards walked you both to the restrooms made that abundantly clear.

The pitiful thoughts seep into the way you hesitantly clean him, moving down to his chest and abs while making sure to avoid more sensitive areas, but the malicious glint in his eyes is unmistakable.

"Whatsamatter, Nurse?" Gojo taunts, feeling you slow around his stomach, "Afraid of gettin' too close?" And you can't believe you're praying for a speedy recovery for this monster so he can handle this himself again.

You ignore his comment and try to get this over with as quickly as possible, feeling humiliated enough as it is and he can sense it, mocking you with a laugh.

"You're so uptight. Can't you just relax and enjoy the view?"

God, please make him shut up, begging for relief so you won't scrub his cocky brow right off his face. "Just doing my job," you mutter, twice squeezing the loofah that feels a little funny in your hand as the soapy water rinses his chest.

It feels heavenly on his skin, but the subtle change in your movements makes his brows furrow. Slowing, more deliberate, heavy as if you're wading through molasses. You keep adjusting your grip but the material feels so strange—the texture almost too soft like it could melt into your palm.

Your breath catches when you brush his skin, not realizing how close your fingers drifted to the edge of the sponge, and though it was only a second, it sends an unexpected jolt through his chest.

The muscle relaxers. How could you have already forgotten, you both think.

But Gojo, ever observant, doesn't miss a thing.

His eyes narrow slightly as he watches you. "Feeling a little funny, Nurse?" His velvet voice teases.

"I'm fine," you lie, though you couldn't be less certain as the muscles in your hands start to relax more than you intended, the sponge gliding over his abs, and down his sides, the rhythm almost hypnotic and making his head fall back. You try to push through the haze, to finish quickly and be free of him, but you're losing the battle against numbness and heightened awareness.

And fuck, he has to bite his lip at your touch that suddenly feels so intense, a sensation too good to keep to himself, and one that you obviously need to stop being such a tight-ass.

You need to loosen up in a way that medicine can't help. And Gojo knows just the trick.

He licks his lips, tongue curling over his canine before splashing a wave of water on you in one swoop.

Saying you gasp is an understatement as the steamy wash drenches your face and front once again, setting a new record as you're hit not once, but twice in a day. The loofah slips from your hand as you instinctively reach up to shield yourself, but Gojo is quicker, wrapping his hands around your wrists and holding you in place.

A scream is ready to surge from your body when Gojo maneuvers both of your wrists into one hand, placing a finger to your lips.

"Ssssh ssh ssh ssh ssh," he hushes, his voice a little too calm, "I'm not going to hurt you." A lone droplet hangs from your eyelash and he swipes it. "I just want you to listen."

You freeze, your nerves on fire as you're forced into close proximity with him for the second time today, inches away from his face that gradually softens.

Though you can easily call for help, you know better than to argue—he knows you know better too but he never felt threatened in the first place. Besides, he can feel your breathing slowing, the effects of the pill combined with his firm hold sending a faint buzz from your wrists to your stomach, and his finger remains on your lips as he brings his closer.

His eyes flicker to your bottom lip. "You're so good at your job, Nurse," smoothly pulling it with his thumb. "That's why I like you. You're thorough but real. Just what I need to keep me sane."

Sane?

"Sane," he repeats like he's heard your thoughts. "Believe it or not, you keep me grounded...like a good boy. Be proud, not a single soul here or anywhere else can compare to me, let alone deal with me, and yet...here you are." He looks at you like you're a marvel. "You can handle that...can't you?"

Words fail you. This feels rhetorical. Why does he keep torturing you like this? What is it about you?

You haven't really thought about it since your first few weeks with him but now he's forcing you to think about the little 'power' he's given you that he can easily snatch back.

What happens if he decides to go further than flirting?

You can't handle it, any of this.

Hesitating, you're unsure of what to say but know it could never be the truth.

Gojo must sense it because he leans closer, his breath warm on your cheek.

"If you leave, I just might crack completely, beauty." A breath you didn't realize you were holding slips. "How do you think everyone else will do against me then, hmm?" Gojo knows he's a prodigy, but still manages to surprise himself sometimes, his eyes lingering over the spots on your uniform soaked through just enough to make the fabric cling—perfect aim.

Ice shoots up your spine from the heat of his unadulterated gaze, but you refuse to let him see you falter, and he can almost feel a prick from the daggers in your eyes.

"Oh, don't be like that," he purrs, thumbs grazing your wrists in a mockingly gentle touch. "We all have our boundaries, right? I thought communication was key in a relationship."

"Let go of me," you find your voice, "We're done here."

His head slightly tilts.

Look at you calling the shots, he thinks. So strong, so very serious.

"God, I can't help it," he breathes, "You're so fun to mess with."

He could laugh in your face, have his way with you, and show you that your resistance means nothing, but instead, he slowly releases your wrists and lies back against the tub. "I know you think about it—there's nothing wrong with a little fun...right?" and though the connection is severed, you don't know if it's the drugs or just him that makes his amplified touch linger as you sheepishly rub your wrists.

Gojo watches you blush red—thoughts you didn't know lived within you rushing to the forefront as if he's pushed a button.

Grimy, raw, unwanted thoughts of forbidden fruit, wandering hands, and stolen touches in the dark, wondering what his idea of "fun" is like under the sheets. With a psycho named Gojo.

You feel like you should throw up in disgust but the nausea never comes, burning hot between your legs instead.

Fuck, you have to get out of here.

You draw a breath, forcing away the torturous daydreams and quickly finish his bath.

"You should rest," you firmly say and pull the plug to let the tub drain. "And don't expect any more favors from me."

He sits up slow, his expression stone-cold as he slicks back his wet hair. Then he smiles. "I promise. Now dry me off?" he quips.

You ignore his request, swiftly handing him a towel before he can flash you. With a gruff, you lower to your knees, beginning to dry the floor of his messes and hoping to distract yourself from your questionable sanity.

The sounds of rustling fabric fill the chamber as he dries off, and once you figure it's safe, you look up to find a nude Gojo. Dripping with bubbles, hair plastered to his derpy face, and toned muscles, all the muscles, presenting themselves in all their glory.

The only things dry are his damn hands.

He throws the towel over his shoulder, sauntering towards you with a wicked grin.

"Well, aren't you gonna help me put this thing back on?" He nods at the jacket he knows is more bullshit than security. "Don't want you getting all worked up again."

The first time your brain registered that Gojo was flirting with you was on your third day as his nurse.

"Well, aren't you a breath of fresh air?" Gojo was sitting on his bed, leaning against the wall. It was the second time he'd noticed how sluggish you looked while tending to him, suggesting with a grin that you must be quite the party animal.

Ha. If only.

You tsked, tossing his bedsheets into the hamper, and assured him that your sleepy eyes and dragging feet were the result of long hours and running on fumes. Having time for fun was just a dream.

"I don't get out much myself," he says, alluding to the situation he's in, wearing sarcasm like a necklace. "I love a good night in as much as anyone else but, I don't know. The stuffiness hasn't grown on me yet."

You tugged the collar of your scrubs—the air did feel a bit thick, like the room hadn't been aired out in ages and you couldn't help but wonder how long he'd been sitting in it—how he could. That alone would be enough to drive you up a wall.

Sunlight flickered in your eyes, and you raised your hand to block it, noticing the small window perched above his chair.

"Let's open this then," you said, walking over and wrestling with the ancient wood for a moment before finally pulling the creaky flap up to the ceiling.

A sliver of your midriff peeked out as you stood on your toes to reach it, but what captured Gojo's attention most was the way the sun rays washed over your face. You scrunched your nose, the breeze sending wisps of your hair to tickle it, and he imagined the feel of your strands between his fingers.

The view was beautiful, you thought, hands gripping the warm bars. Trees surrounded the vast area, stretching out as far as you could see, the pathway to civilization completely covered in dense forest from this angle.

You never realized how high up his ward was—or how long the drop was from here.

"Too bad I'm not small enough to slip through those bars." He rubbed his stomach. "But you know me, 'Mr. BigBack.'"

He joked around as he usually did, looking to trigger your defenses, but your reaction was...odd.

Not only was this the first time anyone cared to do something so simple for Gojo, but it was also the closest anyone had gotten to him without their knees buckling.

The first two days of your trial, the Director had guards posted right outside of Gojo's door, their presence a constant reminder to stay alert and maintain a safe distance from the convict. Gojo was positive the mental barrier would keep a wall between you forever.

But then, you laughed. A real laugh. Snickery and cute. Finding his joke funny instead of threatening.

It surprised him, that sound, so natural and pure without hesitation. And he wanted to hear it again and again and again. "Who knew you could bring so much light into this place?" he sighed.

Later at lunch, you sat with Yuko, having your usual midday catch-up. You never start with yours but she, like most people in the ward then, was absolutely dying to hear about how you were dealing with the villain of the century.

"He's actually not so bad...yet. Corny, but," you took a pondering breath, "He kind of thanked me today?"

She immediately scoffed and waved you off, and who could blame her?

You were an anomaly, Gojo already showed that he was capable of mercy and now he was thanking you??

Being polite was too far of a stretch to believe, you must have been mistaken. But when you gave her the deets on why he'd do such a thing, she nearly choked on her apple. "He said that??"

"Ya?" You patted her back with a concerned look.

"Watch out, Casanova," she teased, clearing her throat with a nervous laugh.

Her comment threw you off for the rest of lunch, but when you thought about it later that night while surfing for new shows, a light bulb went off.

He flirted with you.

Thinking it was just another one of those literal dry-humor jokes or simply gratitude for making his stay a little less crappy, it flew right over your head. You always feel warm inside when you help people so you didn't think too much about it.

To you, it was just a kudos. Nothing more.

But the way Gojo stands in front of you now is everything.

As bold and brash as it gets.

Fuck. Me.

And your body betrays you, sending all of the vulnerable sensations you've been fighting to suppress from your soaking chest, tingling wrists, aching thighs, and heavy breath, straight to your throbbing clit.

Air escapes you and you couldn't feel more conflicted, scrambling to grab your supplies and leave.

Enough is enough. The guards outside can restrain him and escort him back to his room for all you care. You just have to get out of there.

Away from him.

Away from temptation.

Hot, overwhelming, guilty, mentally and physically unstable temptation.

In the quiet of the hallway a level below Gojo's ward, you lean against a wall, taking deep breaths and completely disgusted with yourself.

How are you supposed to keep dealing with this, with him?

This force that keeps pushing and pushing and pushing you to the edge until there's nowhere else to go. You can only imagine the hell the nurses he didn't like went through.

Taking care of him isn't getting any easier, and now you were fucking up and making mistakes.

But you're the only one who can do this. Who must.

So suck it up. Play along, Stop thinking only of yourself. Pretend.

Pretend.

Pretend?

...

What terrifies you the most is the thought that you may not have to.

You keep your scrambled thoughts to yourself when you're called into your Director's office at the end of the day.

You tell him the same story you told Yuko and take full responsibility for what happened, blaming it on exhaustion and needing a break. Swearing to never let it happen again.

By some miracle, you get to keep your job, though your one wish to leave early ended up costing you an hour and a half of unpaid overtime, and almost a friendship.

When you finally get home, you collapse onto your bed—images of the day, the ward, and Yuko flooding your thoughts, refusing to be pushed aside. You tell yourself that it's just the guilt talking, just anxiety gnawing at your edges.

But then there's Gojo.

The most prominent one of all.

Staring you in the face with lifeless eyes and a ghostly smile. Tugging on your moral strings like a puppet.

When you close your eyes, you can't shake the feeling that he's waiting for you, a lurker in the shadows watching and anticipating your every move. Have you become predictable? Now you're wondering if you could do something he wouldn't expect.

Leave it. Leave it. Le—

You're scrolling through your phone on a deep-diving, scouring the web for any info on your tormentor.

His past, his affiliations, anything to tell you who Gojo was, and who he is now.

But the man is an anomaly.

Not much is known about him outside of mainstream news and internet rumors.

He's just this guy that kind of popped out of nowhere in the worst way possible, conveniently on the tail of what could have been the most devastating incident in the history of Tokyo.

The media says he's a hero gone rogue but not much else. They've damned him to hell and that was that. Even the Director disclosed very little about him during your briefing and you weren't allowed access to his files or records because it's all 'confidential'.

Nothing.

The more you search, you less that comes up. Not even silly conspiracy theories that you definitely thought would be riddling Reddit. The longer you scroll, the more you find yourself beginning to question your own mind. Your interest. Sweet little buds of obsession.

Even though you hated taking it earlier, you actually need the pill now more than ever to relax as sleep eludes you and your mind wanders to imaginary scenarios as you stare at the ceiling. 

Tomorrow, you'll have to face Gojo again. And the day after that and the day after that and every day after.

In between your nearly non-existent off days, you'll have to see him and decide what face you want to put on.

Because you simply cannot walk away.

After all, he's right—no one else can handle him like you can.

extended angel's note:

when i originally decided to make this into short story, i had no plans on using a y/n perspective. it was just going to feature an OC name i’ve used in stories before, named Persephone, buuuut i decided to wanted to keep it immersive and include no physical descriptors/personality specifics bc i knew i wanted to upload it to tumblr. 

to keep it reader-friendly, yk? 

alas, Persephone has had her claws in me the entire time i’ve been editing and said with her whole chest that i couldn't just dismiss her like that chile. so i decided changed the perspective but keep her name in place of y/n. 

you won’t see it too often in the story bc it’s not super significant or said a lot in general, bUT it is relevant for a certain moment later in the story. you’ll know when you know 🤭. 

anyway, hope it doesn't bother you guys too much. and def feel free to mentally plug your name when you see it to keep yourself grounded into the story.

tag list p.1: @reddiamondjazz @kiwismoother @rune1920 @blkkizzat @suguwife

@xerroe @enthyn @gloomuri671 @ressyshi @startatdawn

@khenanadeche @heijihatsutori @inluvkai @ixqiix @strawnanamilk

@rosso-seta @05-simply-06-simping @sims-4lifers @bratidol @rh-tg1

@hyunsuks-beanie @n1vi @luna-v-roiya @neteyamsluvr111 @supsiii

@natadecoco30 @chiyokoemilia @ririoutspoken @kyoxko @strawberrymilkshakes-posts

@nen-nyy @cinnamorochiroll @kazeniya @maybe7tommorow @sxnkuna

@misoyuh @lupitalove @sebastianlover @gojosatorubrainrot @sleepiebunniee

@mmmidkman @theonecrackhead @thathorsegotpoobrain @iveivory @samistar

@yuuan-66 @gojoslefttoenail @soyalovestoyap @winkwonks-world @thebiggestsimpforyou 

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

A Mouse in a Lion’s Den Pt.15

A Mouse in a Lion’s Den Pt.15

Pairing(s): Rhaegar Targaryen x Lannister!Reader, onesided!Jaime Lannister x Lannister!Reader

Warnings:none

Words:3221

Summary:Rhaegar has fled the capitol.

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8  Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12  Part 13  Part 14  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18

Book One of Heir of Ash and Fire

Warm. Her forehead was too warm. It nearly burned Thalina’s hand when she went to check (y/n)’s temperature. It had been three days since Prince Rhaegar had fled the Red Keep. Three days and (y/n) was still hanging in there. It gave Thalina hope that she would wake up. Yet it was hard to be hopeful looking at her charge now. (y/n) hadn’t eaten anything in days and even when Thalina would try to get water past her lips, nothing would enter. The fullness of (y/n)’s face was disappearing, her skin becoming so thin that it showed off the skeletal features of her face.

The maesters kept saying any day now (y/n) would leave this world. That by some miracle she was still holding on. Whoever had poisoned her had still not been captured or even identified. King Aerys didn’t want to spare any of his guards to look for them while they could be in the Red Keep protecting him from the assassin. Although from the whispers that Thalina caught in the halls, many claimed that the assassin was actually Aerys himself. Or rather someone he had hired. It wouldn’t have been to difficult to poison anyone considering his status. No one would dare to question or accuse him.

Tired as she may be, Thalina pulls up her regular chair next to (y/n)’s bedside and makes herself comfortable. Her eyes burned from lack of sleep but she couldn’t leave her lady unattended.

She almost didn’t catch the gentle murmuring coming from (y/n). The room had been so quiet that any little sound seemed louder. Thalina lifts her weary eyes back up, waiting with bated breath and watching (y/n). She could’ve sworn she heard her say something.

“My lady?” She inches closer. “What is it my lady?”

A subtle twitch of (y/n)’s index finger had Thalina smiling and standing from her chair. Small movements of (y/n)’s mouth as she tried to speak in her coma. That was all Thalina needed to go call upon the maesters. Surely that had to be a good sign.

*

“No, no, no.” What fresh hell were you in now?

You covered your eyes when you catch sight of the lion’s cage that lay below Casterly Rock. Where had the dragon skulls gone? All you had been left was the sword engulfed in fire.

Coming from the dark depths of the cage were soft growls. Soft growls that had your heart hammering in your chest. You had heard them before. Right after Cersei had pushed you in. You hadn’t made matters any better by screaming and banging on the cage door.

Phantom pains ached at your back.

“Open your eyes.”

“I don’t want to. They’re going to attack me again. Just like last time.” Panicking, you scoot your butt away from the mouth of the cage. Something stops you though.

“No. Stop running away. Grab that sword and go in there. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll wake up.”

Finally you open your eyes and look up once again at the young woman in armor. She kicked the flaming sword closer to you. “I can’t though. They’ll kill me.”

The Warrior laughs. “Kill you? Have you forgotten what you are?”

Cersei always said you were a mouse. As if reading your mind, the Warrior narrows her (e/c) eyes and kneels down. “No. You’re not a mouse. You’re not even a lion. You’re a dragon now. And dragons eat whatever they want. Including lions. So take that sword and go in there. Rhaegar needs you.”

Why did she looks so familiar? “Rhaegar?”

“Yes. He’ll need your help in the wars to come.” Her voice grows softer. “He can’t win without you. Without you, all of Westeros is lost.”

The growling of the lions grew louder. Hands trembling your fingers inch toward the hilt of the sword. You half expected it to burn you, but all you felt was a comforting warmth.

You didn’t understand her words. What you did understand was that Rhaegar was potentially in trouble. And if what she was saying held true, that he desperately needed your help.

“I’m scared.” You admit.

“I know. It’s okay to be scared.” The Warrior whispers as she stands aside. In the darkness you see bright gleaming eyes. “Remember what mother said to us.”

“You’ll be okay, my love.” Joanna’s words echoed in reply.

Inhaling a shaky breath you force your fingers to curl around the hilt with conviction. The sword lifts off the ground as you do; the flame of it making a path for you into the cage. You had never held a sword in your life. Cersei had though when she would pretend to be Jaime. She knew the art of sword fighting. She was beautiful and-

“You’re not Cersei.” the Warrior hisses. “You are leagues better than her. Best to get that through your head. Rhaegar chose you. You were the one born under bleeding stars.”

Bleeding stars? Hardly anyone spoke of your birth but never had you heard that you had been born underneath bleeding stars. You give the Warrior a skeptical glance before facing the cage once more.

“Rhaegar needs me.” You breathe out. The flame of the sword grows brighter with each step you take. “Rhaegar needs me.”

*

The first thing you see when you awake is a startled Thalina. Your hand ached as it was clenched tightly into a fist. A fist that had been holding a sword yet now there was nothing. Suddenly a wave of weariness washes over you and you’ve become all too aware of the pain in your belly and a dryness in your mouth.

“My lady!” Thalina sobs loudly and throws herself over your legs.

Your throat is too dry to speak so you’re forced to sit there and listen to her cry. After a great deal of crying, Thalina runs to the door and screams for the maesters. Screams that the princess has woken up.

Trying to sit up, you grow light headed and forced to lay back down while a stream of older men in robes swarm in.

“Incredible!” One exhales in astonishment.

Cold hands check your burning forehead as another maester checks your wrists and your throat.

In a raw, scratchy voice you ask Thalina “Where’s Rhaegar?”

*

“Awake?” Jaime breathes a sigh of relief, every muscle in his body relaxing at the news. He had to quickly compose himself though as Aerys threw aside his wine glass. “She’s awake? Good. Let the news spread and make sure there are guards outside of her room. She’s a prisoner now on behalf of her husband’s tyranny.”

“Surely she doesn’t need too much guarding.” Varys tries to coerce him. “She’s still very sickly, Your Grace. Barely woke up but a few moments ago. She’s weakened from the poison and even more so since she lost her child.”

“You underestimate a Lannister.” Aerys scowls at his Master of Whispers. Wild pinpoint eyes shoot a withering glare in Jaime’s direction. “Even one who seems as feeble and meek as (y/n). She’s of the same stock. The same wretchedness as her father. I can’t have her meeting up with Rhaegar. We need to lure Rhaegar back here so that justice can be served to him. It’s about high time that Rhaegar be brought down.”

Jaime keeps his face numb and void of any sort of reaction even at the things he was hearing. Even Ser Gerold Hightower, the Commander of the King’s Guard, watched Jaime. There’s small murmurs in the King’s Council. Uncertain ones that were spoken in such a quiet tone as to not gain Aerys’ wrath. No one wanted to die by wildfire. It was a death that no one deserved yet all knew if Rhaegar were to return to the Keep, that would be his fate. Regardless if he were the next in line. Aerys had another son whom he favored more. With Aerys’ constant suspicions though he had sent young Viserys to Dragonstone to stay with Rhaella as the queen awaited the birth of a third child.

Varys slyly glances at Jaime before nodding and giving a small bow to his king. “As you wish, Your Grace. Maester Pycelle, how long will her recovery be?”

The Grand Maester strokes his snow white beard in thought. “It’s gonna be quite a while until the young lady is even able to find strength again. The poison did a lot of damage to her internal organs.”

“But she will live?”

“It seems so. She’s defied all the odds.”

“Let her defeat no more odds.” the Mad King waves his hand. “Ser Gerold, post as many guards as you can spare. Let entrance to her room be restricted.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Ser Gerold bows and leaves the room, nudging Jaime to follow him.

Reluctantly, Jaime leaves the Council Room to follow his commander. Silent and brooding the entire time. Aerys was treating his little sister like some kind of criminal. Not (y/n). She was innocent in all of this. Rhaegar had abandoned her as she lay dying. Whatever Aerys’ qualm was with Rhaegar had nothing to do with (y/n).

“Get a hold of yourself Jaime.” the older knight warns. “Your loyalties aren’t to your family anymore. It’s to your king.”

“But (y/n) is princess, Rhaegar’s future queen. I’m sworn to protect the members of the royal family.”

Gerold corrects him quickly. “You’re sworn to protect the king above all. Don’t let your feelings get the best of you. I don’t want to see you anywhere near Lady (y/n)’s chambers. Is that understood?”

Surely his back teeth would crack by the amount of pressure that was being put on them. The only thing keeping Jaime’s tempers in check was clenching his jaw. “Yes.” Ser Gerold’s glare bore deep into Jaime, trying to find any hint of a lie. He squinted his eyes before he shook his head and stomped away.

Jaime stood there for a moment. The muffled voices in the council room behind him being the only noise in the corridor.

Why was this world full of oaths and duties?

Tywin had always told his children that family was the most important thing and that no matter what, family came above all other things. He may have not been the best father, but at least those words rang true.

Jaime would always be loyal to his family when it came down to it. He would always be loyal to (y/n). Even if she wasn’t speaking with him, she was still his sister and his queen.

To hell with the oath he took when he was sworn into the King’s Guard. His baby sister needed him. Everyone else had failed her. Jaime was not about to do that again. He had changed since they were children. He wasn’t about to leave her all alone in the lion’s den to fend for herself.

He didn’t waste any time in going to her room. Already there were four guards stationed outside. Bored expressions on their faces saying that they would rather be anywhere else but there. Even they knew that (y/n) posed no threat to anyone. She wasn’t about to be walking around anytime soon. And even if she did she wouldn’t fight anyone. (y/n) didn’t even know how to throw a punch let alone wield any kind of weapon. She was a gentle person.

At the sight of Jaime’s shining armor and white cape, they straightened up at his presence.

“Ser. . .” The younger looking guard speaks up meekly, shifty eyes glancing to his partner. “We were instructed to not let any of her family members in. . .”

The other three guards paled in front of Jaime. Of course he knew who he was. Everyone did. And it was best that he was feared. Be more to Jaime’s advantage at the moment. “Then don’t consider me a family member. Consider me a knight of the King’s Guard, a higher station than any of you.” Authority ringing in his clear voice, Jaime puts one foot forward making the guards shrink away from him. One of them had to be at least a few years older than young Jaime, and even he shifted out of the way. Who would want to fight with the youngest man to ever be entered into the King’s Guard?

They did nothing as he pushed passed them, treating them as flies in his way.

His sister’s hand maid Thalina jumped at his presence. Her appearance was completely disheveled with heavy and dark bags under her alarmed eyes. On the bed was a withered (y/n). Her eyes were sunken into her skull from days without eating and wasting away. Her limp hair had been pulled back into a braid. (y/n)’s limps were pale as was the rest of her complexion. She looked overall tired, but her (e/c) eyes were ever alert. “Ser Jaime.”

“You may leave us.” He addresses Thalina.

She continues to stand her ground. “I will stay with my lady in case she is of need of me. The maesters have given me instructions to not let her nerves get rattled. She’s already of a delicate disposition.”

“It’s fine Thalina.” (y/n) speaks up, her voice cracked as she spoke. “You have done your duty. Even beyond. You deserve to rest.”

“But. . .”

(y/n) reaches out for her hand and holds it. “Please Thalina. You have done enough. More than I ever expected you to do. Please, rest.”

Exhaustion finally got the best of the hand maid as she reluctantly nods and kisses (y/n)’s hand. Thalina squeezes it before straightening up and telling Jaime “Make sure to send for me when you are done.”

Jaime nods and makes way for Thalina to leave. Her gait was more of a stagger due to her exhaustion but the maid kept herself well and closed the door after her. His little sister, once sweet faced, appeared so much older due to the immense weight she had lost. Still her eyes were bright and trained on Jaime as he pulls up a chair next to her bed. It wasn’t exactly comfortable sitting in armor but had to sit down to talk with her on a personal level. There was much to discuss. After all, the last time they had spoken, (y/n) had let out that she knew about Jaime and Cersei. There wasn’t much to explain about that. Hopefully she would understand that people can’t exactly choose who they fall in love with. Sometimes it just happens.

Before he could even open his mouth (y/n) was the first to speak. “I am told Rhaegar has left King’s Landing.” Voice monotone, her eyes were earnest and tired.

Jaime doesn’t want to hurt her anymore than she’s already been, but he sighs and nods. “Yes. The news that someone had tried to kill you might have scared him off.”

(y/n) shakes her head. “No. He’s not like that. He wouldn’t be scared off so easily by something like that.” Ever in love with him, (y/n) still remained loyal despite Rhaegar being absent. Yes, even Jaime hadn’t pegged Rhaegar to be that cowardly. If there was truth to Tywin’s words than maybe Rhaegar really had left to band an army together to overthrow Aerys. Jaime hoped it were true. Hoped that his sister wasn’t alone for nothing.

Her chin tilts downward a bit. “Am I to be a prisoner now? I heard the noise outside.”

He bites the inside of the cheek, glaring at the door. “Unfortunately Aerys thinks it necessary to have you on lock down. I’m not even supposed to be visiting you but I bullied the guards out front to let me in.”

A small smile quirks on her thin face. “How brotherly of you.”

Now was the time. He had the opportunity to talk with her. “(y/n). . . about what you saw with me and Cersei.”

“Really? Do you really want to talk about this now?” She sighs and closes her eyes. “I try to forget about what I saw. It was. . . traumatizing to say the least Jaime. How can you do that with your own sister? It’s-It’s gross. . .”

Internally Jaime flinches at her words. Now he knew for certain that he could never tell her of the same feelings he shared for her. He takes a deep breath and formulates his speech carefully. He wasn’t good with words. Tyrion was better at it than he was even though Jaime was the eldest. “It’s always been like that between Cersei and I. Ever since we were in mother’s womb. Haven’t you heard the story? Cersei was born and then I came shortly after holding onto her foot. It’s always just been the two of us. We’re a part of each other. It’s only fitting that we would love one another in such a way.”

(y/n) stares at him and he could sense the repulsion but she’s kind enough to keep it off her face.

“We don’t choose who we love. . .” Jaime glances down toward his hands, rough from years of using a sword.

“I know.” (y/n)’s voice is softer than a gentle breeze. “I know. . . I mean, I guess it explains why you chose her side when we were children. She’s just-”

“Terrible?” Chuckles Jaime and he’s happy to see (y/n) smile sheepishly. “Yes she is. She’s been terrible to both you and Tyrion and I can’t apologize enough for her. I tried to be a better brother to Tyrion, as I should’ve done with you. I’m sorry I failed you so much when we were younger. You needed me too.” * Your eyelids drift down at his words. He had failed you. Especially in the lion’s den that was Casterly Rock. He had let you into the cages as much as Cersei had.

You remember your dreams and immediately feel a phantom ache in your back.

“I know it’s too late to be saying all this.” Jaime admits. “But I at least want to be here in your hour of need. I hope you’ll let me. . .”

It was true what he said, people often had no control of who they chose to love. You couldn’t really condemn him for loving someone, even if Cersei was vile and his sister. From his eyes when he spoke of her, you knew he really and truly did love her. It wasn’t mere lust. He loved her as you loved Rhaegar. And seeing your situation now it wouldn’t help finally having your big brother by your side.

Whatever reason Rhaegar left, you knew it had to be important. He wasn’t the type who would up and leave you, especially when-

Especially when your baby had just died. You weren’t certain of his affections for you but you knew that Rhaegar had loved your baby even if it hadn’t been born yet. He loved your growing child with every fiber of his being. He had promised your unborn child a crown and late at night he would whisper to your belly that the baby was the prince that was promised.

“Okay.” You concede. You’d have to make due with Jaime by your side for now until you grew stronger again to figure out what to do next.

---

TAGLIST:

@esposadomd​​​

@ladybug0095​​​

@marytargaryen

@madislayyy​​

[w3ath3r-0f-sw34t3rz]

a (not) mini rayla playlist 🪻⚔️🦋🫧💟🔗💤

you're on your own, kid (taylor swift) "you're on your own, kid // you always have been"

exile (taylor swift x bon iver) "you're not my homeland anymore // so what am i defending now? // you were my town // now i'm in exile, seein' you out"

old friend (mitski)

virgin veins (coma cinema) "virgin veins // hold the rushing pain // of a past that cannot die"

bobby (beabadoobee) "despite the love she'd get she dismissed // 'cause Bobby always saw the bad // blind to the life she had // who could've blamed her though? // bobby was fourteen years old"

sad, beautiful, tragic (taylor swift) "in dreams // i meet you in warm conversation // we both wake // in lonely beds // in different cities // and time // is taking its sweet time erasing you // and you've got your demons // and darlin' they all look like me // 'cause we had a beautiful magic love there"

milk of the siren (melanie martinez)

matilda (harry styles) "matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright // but i know that you feel like a piece of you's dead insidе // you showed me a power that is strong еnough to bring sun to the darkest days // it's none of my business, but it's just been on my mind ... anywhere you go, you don't need a reason // 'cause they never showed you love // you don't have to be sorry for doin' it on your own"

thorns (alex g)

homesick (boywithuke)

revenge (xxxtentacion) "i've dug two graves for us, my dear // can't pretend that i was perfect, leavin' you in fear // oh man, what a world, the things i hear // if i could act on my revenge, then, oh, would i?"

after the storm (kali uchis) "so if you need a hero (if you need a hero) // just look in the mirror (just look in the mirror) // no one's gonna save you now // so you better save yourself"

i'm your man (mitski)

sweet hibiscus tea (penelope scott)

little lion man (mumford & sons) "but it was not your fault but mine // and it was your heart on the line // i really fucked it up this time // didn't i, my dear?"

break (alex g)

take your time (chloe moriondo) "what do i have to do? // i wanna know // what will it take to make you let me go? // you don't fade like old stick and pokes // just swimming through my mind // i'll take a break, you take your time"

summer child (conan gray) "and you laugh and you dance in the wind // and you sway and you hug and you kiss // but there's darkness behind those eyes // even when you smile // oh, summer child // you don't have to act like all you feel is mild"

backstabber (keha)

duvet (bôa) "and you know i don't mean to hurt you // but you know that it means so much // and you don't even feel a thing // i am falling, i am fading, i am drowning // help me to breathe // i am hurting, i have lost it all // i am losing // help me to breathe"

see you again (tyler, the creator x kali uchis)

i was an island (john-allison weiss) "i was a fighter and i was so brave // but i lowered my sword when you held me and swore // you'd stay, stay, stay // i can't do this alone anymore // 'cause i'm no good on my own anymore // what did i do to deserve this? // what did you do to me? // baby, come back // you know i don't want to be free"

[mysteriousxmidnight]

Thinking about a post-Vecna world where Eddie and Max have grown closer. Because I think Eddie and Steve would both have a soft spot for Max and be like the big brothers she deserves. So:

Max has been having nightmares but she doesn’t want to admit it to Lucas. They’re just starting to repair their relationship and she doesn’t want him to worry. She considers telling Steve, but she knows he’ll get overly protective and hover, and she doesn’t want that either - She’s not a baby, just having some bad dreams, big deal.

And then she has a bad one. Like, the kind of nightmare where you wake up screaming, in a cold sweat, fully convinced the nightmare was real. It takes a long time for her to fully wake up and realize she’s okay and Vecna is dead and not coming back. She’s still too shaken to fall back to sleep, though, and she refuses to bother Lucas and Steve with it.

And then she realizes she has someone else she can go to. Someone who also has nightmares. Who won’t judge her. And who will keep their mouth shut about it if she asks… nicely.

She knocks on Eddie’s door. It takes a minute but the door eventually swings open and Eddie is there, looking sleep rumpled but alert, almost worried. And grimacing in pain, clutching his sides. Max winces, feeling bad. El had used her powers to heal Max, to bring her out of a coma, knit her bones back together and restore her vision. It isn’t perfect; her bones ache when it rains now, and her vision isn’t perfect; she needs glasses to read where she didn’t before. But she’s doing way better than she would have without El. Eddie hadn’t been as lucky; by the time El had finished healing Max, she’d depleted her energy and she hadn’t been able to help Eddie. He shrugged it off, said he’d be fine, Max was more important. But Max still felt a little bit guilty, especially seeing him now, hunched over, a thin sheen of sweet on his forehead. And he looks scared.

“What’s wrong?” Eddie demands. “Vecna?”

Max shakes her head. “No, no Vecna.”

“Upside Down?” Eddie asks.

Max shakes her head again. “No…”

“What… Red, it’s 3am,” Eddie reminds her. “What’s going on?”

“Can I sleep here?” She blurts. At his confused frown, she rolls her eyes and grudgingly admits, “nightmare, okay? Please…?”

Eddie’s expression softens and he motions her inside. She follows him back to his room and they crawl into bed. Eddie passes her his stuffed teddy bear and she clings to it.

“G’nite, Red,” Eddie says, ruffling her hair.

“G’nite,” Max says quietly, then pauses. “Hey, Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

“If you tell Lucas or Steve about this, I’ll rip your balls off and feed them to a hungry lion. Understood?”

Eddie chokes out a laugh. “Noted.”

And Eddie doesn’t tell Lucas or Steve… Instead, he casually mentions it to Robin the next time he sees her at Family Video, and then Dustin when they have their next Hellfire meeting.

It’s not long before both Lucas and Steve are fussing over Max, scolding her for not telling them sooner. She glowers at Eddie, who gives her an innocent smirk.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t tell them,” Eddie says honestly.

“You’re such a smartass, Munson,” Max snarks, eyes narrowing. “Payback’s a bitch, though. You better watch your back.”

Eddie swallows nervously. Shrugs. “Worth it.”

[supamerchant]

Ask game incoming! List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you!

Hi I know I said I answered this along with @small-scale-majestic who sent me the same ask at the same time, but I felt inspired today so I'm down to do an extra one :)

5 Things that make me happy

Cozy sweaters, even though there seems to be less snow fall this winter (global warming anyone) and even when there is snow fall its gone by the next day (again climate change peeps), its still freezing and for whatever reason I am always cold despite being on the curvier side (tmi but oh well) so I'm always happy to have my cozy sweater.

2. Puppy pictures and videos, I am always down for an adorable puppy video whether its a picture corgi puppy covered in jam in a sugar coma or a video of a puppy cuddling with a kitten and still cuddling nicely with the cat as a big size pupper. There's just pure bliss with those.

3. Listening to instrumentals of my favorite songs/music. I love listening to the beats and background of songs, so sometimes while I work I'll put on the instrumentals or karaoke versions of music I like and it usually gets me in a happy, kinda dancy mood.

4. A classic Bollywood movie. I wasn't much for Bollywood movies growing up, but I feel like I've grown to be a bit more filmy as the years have gone on, there is something nice about the cheesiest in older Bollywood movies and I find so much nostalgia in the music because while I wasn't always attentive to the movies themselves as a child, I was ALWAYS down for the music.

5. As always for whatever reason and this a bit obvious and possibly a bit of a cheat, Jared content always seems to make me happy. His smile is just so infectious and his laugh feels like sunshine. I love that he genuinely cares for his fans and for his characters and that he has such a big heart. So the final answer... our friendly neighborhood sunshine lion :)

Thank you for your ask again @ihavepointysticks and sorry for the late response!

If anyone else wants to do this feel to do so and if you want tag me!

[annieaceofhearts]

[faeryarchives]

Hi, there! Can I request a fluff/angst scenario in which Leona suddenly falls into a coma after his fem! s/o saves him from his Overblot and she stays by his side until he wakes up? Thanks a bunch!

hello there of course you can !! have a nice day anon ~

leona falling into a coma after his overblot and fem!s/o stays by his side

"hey (name), you know you can leave leona to me right? your friends are getting worried about you."

"i can't just leave him ruggie, i'm sure they would understand." seeing how you wouldn't move an inch from your position, he just gave you a sad smile and ruffled your hair before leaving you alone with a sleeping leona. oh how you wish the lion was just taking his usual naps.

your hand brushed through his hair, normally he would swat your hand away but clearly leona could not do that right now.

"leona, it's been three days already. i know you love sleeping for a long time but when are you going to wake up?"

it's been three days after the dorm leader experienced his overblot, you could remember clear as day how his eyes the horror when he saw that you having a hard time breathing through the sandstorm.

"(name)!"

"leona is distracted quick! take the prefect away from him!"

the lion tried reaching out to you but thanks to your friends - it gave them a chance to defeat him making leona fall unconscious.

everyone thought that the savanaclaw dorm leader would immediately wake up after the fight, but to everyone's shock - he didn't.

"kingscholar's life is no longer in danger. but his mental and emotional state caused him to fall into a coma."

"all this time you were suffering alone. even though i am right by your side." your hand found his own, tears starting to swell up around your eyes as your grip on him tighten.

"leona, please wake up. i miss you so much..."

a groan of pain escaped the dorm leader's mouth the moment he woke up. he could feel parts of his body aching as if he just ran a marathon.

"where am i? ruggie get me so-" when leona was about to sit up, he finally noticed you, sleeping beside his bed. hand still entangled with each other, the lion could see marks of your dried up tears on your cheeks.

not wanting to risk the possibility of you waking up, he laid back down and put a hand on your right cheek gently. "why did you cry herbivore? did someone hurt you?" the lion was about to go back to sleep bringing you into his arms when all of the sudden, ruggie entered the room with a tray for food for you.

"leona you are awa-!"

"shh! be quiet." hearing ruggie's startled voice, you slowly open your eyes spotting the hyena. "oh hey ruggie i guess i fell asleep. what are you doing here?" you raised your eyebrows noticing how he looked stunned for some reason.

"mm? what's the problem?" not saying anything, he slowly pointed something behind you, making you turn around and gasp. the now awaken lion click his tongue and send a glare at the hyena.

"i told you to be quiet. now she is awake, how annoying."

"leona! you are awake!" filled with joy, you immediately jump to hug him tightly, leona the tried to catch you but ended up letting a howl of pain when you accidentally press on one of his sore muscles.

"ow!"

"oh gosh, i am so sorry!"

"shihihi i guess i'll just leave you lovebirds alone." the hyena laugh leaving the tray on the nearby table and left the room.

you buried your face to his chest, letting out a sigh of relief. "i missed you so much, don't scare me like that again!" amused by your actions, leona could only chuckle and give you a peck on your forehead.

"sure, i am not going anywhere without you. now let me make up for the cuddles."

"leona- you just literally woke up!"

"that is not stopping me for my afternoon naps with you."

"you are really lucky that i love you."

"i love you more herbivore." he whispered and tucked you in his arms as the two of you spent the whole afternoon sleeping away.

[the-ferocious-kittyrose]

Rewriting Haggar/Honerva’s redemption arc

One of the many things that bothered me about VLD S8 is Honerva’s redemption arc. While I was never fully against the idea of Honerva getting a redemption arc, I just didn’t want VLD to do it because I knew that they would fuck it up if they tried. And low and behold, I was right!

But yeah, I wasn’t against the idea of her being redeemed. And I don’t mean “redeemed” as in “all is forgiven and she’s just a good guy now,” but more like a Darth Vader, “the things she did were inexcusable and she would never be able to right all her wrongs but she goes out on one good act to show that there was still good in her deep down and she at least had the potential to change.”

I know a lot of people don’t like the whole, “redemption=death” thing, which I understand, but I personally never had a problem with it.

Ok, so why didn’t Honerva’s redemption work? Well there are a few reasons but the one that baffles me the most is that, instead of trying to make her more sympathetic, season 8 seemed to go out of its way to show her being more evil and vile than ever.

And because I have nothing better to do, I’m gonna go through Honerva’s story in VLD and explain what I would change to make her redemption more believable.

(Keep in mind I am not a writer, this is just me ranting about my favorite character and how I personally would’ve written her.)

1. Realizing she’s Altean

I always thought it’s was weird that when Allura said “you’re...Altean!?” In the S2 finale, Haggar didn’t seem to react at all, she just kept attacking. It’s as if she didn’t care or already knew, which doesn’t make sense considering in the S3 finale and S8E2 it’s established that Haggar has no memory of who she was before she died. And in S4E3 she seems shocked by her Altean face (which also doesn’t make sense because her blue skin isn’t camouflage that’s just how she looks after the rift) so it seems like she didn’t know.

Wouldn’t it have made more sence if after Allura said “you’re...Altean!?” Honerva looked confused/shocked? If she became defensive and said Allura was lying/trying to insult her? There’s def anti-Altean propaganda in the empire so it would be considered an insult.

After that she starts questioning Zarkon. And when she looks into his mind, it’s out of genuine curiosity and desire to know the truth, not because, “the empire needs him” or whatever that meant.

And isn’t it a bit odd that she doesn’t seem betrayed at all when she finds out Zarkon has been keeping all this from her? She’s just like, “oh, you’re my husband? Cool.” Wtf???

2. Her past relationship with Zarkon

Okay, I love Zonerva, but if we’re being honest, Zarkon was not the best husband. He enabled the shit out of Honerva, even when it was obvious that the rift was doing serious damage to her physical and mental health. To me, it seems like Zarkon was so blinded by the power the rift gave him that he didn’t realize/ignored the negative effect it was having on Honerva. In the same way he downplayed the negative impact the rift had on the planet.

I think that should’ve been explored more. Maybe Honerva notices that she’s been acting differently and is worried somethings wrong (think S5 Kuron). And Honerva tries to tell Zarkon that she feels strange and Zarkon just brushes it off.

And later, when Alfor visits Diaibazaal years later. Things are pretty much the same except when we sees Honerva, she is very obviously pregnant and Alfor’s there when Honerva falls and goes into labor (instead of a random quintessence seizure). Alfor and many Galran doctors try their best to save her and the baby but she dies in childbirth.

Zarkon goes ballistic. He’s yelling, throwing doctors across the room, and Alfor turns to the doctor holding Lotor and tells them to get the baby to safely, fearing Zarkon will take his grief out on the baby.

Zarkon turns on Alfor, blaming him for Honerva’s death and accusing him of letting her die so that he could get his way and close the rift. He lunges Alfor and roars at him to leave.

He spends the rest of the night grieving at Honerva’s bedside, when Kova jumps on the bed and starts gnawing on her finger trying to wake her up. This is what gives him the idea to bring her back with quintessence.

3. Her current relationship with Zarkon

I think it’s pretty safe to say that they’re relationship didn’t get better after the war began. Zarkon hid her identity and her child from her for 10,000 years and essentially used her as a tool of war. It’s pretty fucked up.

I know it’s pretty well established that Zarkon treats Haggar with more respect than his other underlings, but I feel like it would be interesting to see that change overtime. We see that after Voltron comes back, Zarkon becomes very obsessed with Voltron/Black, and he and Haggar start disagreeing more and more.

Remember the moment where one of Haggar’s druids told Zarkon Haggar said he needed to rest and Zarkon hit them with his bayard and told them, “remember who your master is”? What if, instead of a random druid, it was Haggar who he hit?

I feel like that would be a good way to show Haggar and the audience just how much Zarkon’s obsession with Voltron is affecting him, and make the audience feel a tiny bit bad for her.

Then later in season 4, when Zarkon wakes up from his coma and finds out Haggar brought Lotor back to take his place he gets pissed. He puts a price on Lotor’s head and has Haggar arrested for treason. She steals a ship, escapes, and later on meets up with Lotor’s generals.

Her and Zarkon are officially broken up and her quest to reclaim her identity and get her son back begins.

4. Oriande

I never liked the concept of chosen/sacred Alteans. The idea that some Alteans are just born more powerful than others just feels iffy. My idea of Oriande is that it’s an Altean holly land, any Altean can enter it just depends on whether or not you can pass the White Lion’s trial. Passing the trial proves that your intentions are pure and and the White Lion will bless you with power.

I didn’t like how Honerva seemed to force her way into Oriande, I think it would be more effective if she had gone through normally because, at this point, her intentions were pure. She was going there to purge herself of the dark magic corrupting her and reclaim her memories so she could go get her son back.

I also like the idea that Oriande is a sorta link to the Altean after life, and you can speak with people you’ve lost. Allura gets to speak with Alfor, and Honerva speaks with her mother.

You could also have her be confronted by the spirits of the Alteans she helped destroy. Have the weight of her past actions bear down on her. An important part of any redemption arc is acknowledging the terrible shit you’ve done in the past, and that was severely lacking in Honerva’s arc.

Another interesting thing you could do is have Honerva talk to her younger self. The one that died 10,000 years ago. This kinda thing actually happened in 80s Voltron, young Haggar appearing in Haggar’s head trying to convince her to be good again.

5. Her relationship with Lotor

Now this is where the redemption arc really falls apart. I forget who, but one of the writers said after S5 that Haggar/Honerva was motivated purely by love for her son, but man did they do a bad job of showing that.

And it would’ve been so easy to fix that problem, just have her not be horrible to him. Have them have actual civil conversations, have her protect and defend him. Don’t have her reject him as a fucking baby!

Imagine if, after Zarkon destroys Lotor’s planet, instead of immediately deciding to

exile him, Zarkon says that this is the final straw and he’s going to have Lotor executed. But Haggar speaks up to defend Him. There’s actually a scene in DOTU where Zarkon tries to kill Lotor and Haggar gets on her knees and begs for him to be spared. (Though the scene was mostly played for laughs.)

she asks for mercy and justifies it by saying it would be unwise to kill his only heir. It’s a weak argument, Lotor’s a half breed and couldn’t realistically take the throne, but Zarkon does concede, he still loves her after all, and has Lotor exiled.

And Haggar isn’t spying on him because she doesn’t trust him, but because she’s concerned for him. When Lotor confronts Haggar about sending her cronies after him, she says she knows he’s hiding something. Lotor asks if she’s threatening him, thinking she’s going to rat him out, but she says no, she’s not threatening him, she’s just trying to warn him against doing anything stupid because, with Zarkon seemingly on his death bed, the empire needs Lotor’s leadership.

At this point in the story, Haggar is questioning her loyalty to Zarkon, so I feel like it would make sense for her to be silently supporting Lotor from the shadows.

Then at the Kral Zera in season 5, It was weird to me how she was helping Lotor through Kuron while also telling him he couldn’t be emperor and trying to put Sendak on the throne. I feel like it would’ve made more sense for Sendak to just show up on his own without Haggar.

Haggar wouldn’t even be at the Kral Zera, she would just watch through Kuron.

And then we get to S6 when she actually reveals to Lotor that she’s his mom. This scene was just so poorly done. She never actually apologizes to him, she’s just like “yeah I forgot you were my kid and I never loved you, but were cool now right?” I remember when I saw S8E2 and it shows her after Lotor rejects her and she looks like she’s about to cry, I was just thinking, “this would be very emotional and sad IF she had actually apologized and made it clear that she genuinely loved him.” But she didn’t and I don’t know why!

And then we get to season 8, and of course everything in S8 is bad but Honerva’s story is particularly bad. She’s supposed to be motivated by love for Lotor yet she doesn’t act like she actually cares about him at all.

She manipulates his corpse and when she sees his gross melted body, she doesn’t even react that much. When a mother sees her child’s mutilated corpse, how do you think she reacts? Screaming? Crying?? Hurling??? But no. She’s just like, “...”

And then when she goes to the alternate reality and meets baby Lotor and he rejects her, her reaction isn’t disappointment or sadness, it’s anger and entitlement. She immediately decides, “ok, fuck this kid. Let’s destroy this reality.”

It just doesn’t make sense! This is the season you’re trying to REDEEM her! Why are you going out of your way to make her so vile?

6. Her S7-S8 plan

(Keep in mind I haven’t watched S7/S8 since they came out and barely even watched S8 to begin with, so I don’t remember some things and I can’t be bothered to rewatch them.)

Okay, starting with S7, she’s not in this season at all but in “The Ruins” the druid dude says that her final order was to hunt and destroy the Blade of Marmora. I guess it makes a certain amount of sense because she saw that it was Keith who brought Lotor’s actions to light, but that whole plot was really pointless in my opinion. (Was anybody really hoping for a rematch between Keith and that one random druid?)

If you want us to forgive Honerva for her crimes, you really shouldn’t keep adding more unnecessary crimes. It’s established that there were a lot of Galra war lords vying for power and pirates looking for money, just have it be that Kolivan got kidnapped by one of them.

Then you have her season 8 plan and I’m gonna be real with y’all, I have no idea how to fix this mess.

I feel like the basics of her plan could work. She tries to get Lotor and Sincline out of the rift but when she gets him he’s a melted corpse so the plan then becomes to use sincline to go to another reality to find a living Lotor, but opening all these rifts causes problems and the paladins have to stop her.

But all the shit with manipulating the colony Alteans, killing the White Lion, desecrating Oriande, and destroying Olkarion and entire realities, it was all so unnecessary.

Personally I would cut the colony Alteans from the story all together, there are other ways for Lotor to betray the team. It was a lazy way of making Lotor 100% evil and having Honerva manipulate them is unnecessarily cruel, especially in the season you’re trying to redeem her.

Here’s a very basic outline of how I would do this plot.

If we’re going by season 8’s logic that she needs a sacrifice to bring back Sincline, I would’ve had the Galra she killed at the Kral Zera be the sacrifice, not the White Lion. She stands on the pyramid and talks about how the empire stole her life from her and she wants revenge as she absorbs their quintessence into herself and then uses that to bring back Sincline.

Then when she finds Lotor dead she takes Sincline and uses it to go to another reality where she can be with her family.

The danger comes when she opens rifts to the other realities and rift creatures start coming out and causing damage. The paladins fight them and follow her into the rift to stop whatever evil plan she may have. Because the paladins don’t know that Haggar is now Honerva and all this is just to get Lotor back. They think this is all some plan for multiverse domination or some shit.

Meanwhile Honerva has just been rejected by little Lotor and seeing Voltron show up pushes her over the edge and they fight.

But when they find out the real reason she’s doing all this they start trying to appeal to her and convince her to give up and close the rift peacefully. And similarly to how the paladins had to sacrifice the castle to close the rifts created by the fight with Lotor, Honerva has to sacrifice herself to close the rifts.

In the end, I feel like a Honerva redemption arc could’ve worked if the writers were actually competent and actually made an effort to have her be sympathetic, but In canon, her reasoning, “If I can’t indulge in the simple joys of life, why should anybody else?” just doesn’t cut it.

It’s disappointing. VLD had so much potential. I’m thinking of just rewriting the entire series from the beginning. Hopefully putting all my thoughts out into the universe will help me move on.

[missdawnandherdusk]

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Hufflepuff!Reader X Draco

The tricky thing is yesterday we were just children

But now we've stepped into a cruel world

Where everybody stands and keeps score

So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard

Every lesson forms a new scar

They never thought you'd make it this far

Chapter 1     Chapter 2    Chapter 3    

Chapter 4     Chapter 5     Chapter 6

Chapter 7    Chapter 8     Chapter 9

Summary: Planning for something in theory is easy... putting it into practice? That’s where the weak are separated from the strong. 

A/n: Hello my lovelies! So here is the second part to the last chapter!! If I had posted it all at once it would have been over 20k words so... yeah. I split them up. Also, this gets pretty dark and well, we all know how HBP ends... so I guess that’s a warning. And to add, this went in a completely different direction than I planned, but now it’s closer to my original idea so... Let me know what you guys think! Seriously, I thrive on your approval. (Also, I’d like to see if someone notices a MAJOR problem for these two kids... because I barely caught it myself) 

“Oh, my darling boy,” Narcissa crooned, nearing Draco’s bedside. She took his hand though he was in a spell induced coma and could not hear her.

“I’m so sorry Narcissa,” I teared up. “I...”

“Snape explained it all my dear,” She consoled, reaching out for me. “You have nothing to apologize for,”

I all but collapsed in her arms, breaking down into tears as she held me. Though Abby and Pansy—as well as many others including Ernie, Blaise, Greg, Vincent, and Hannah—had comforted me and offered me a solace, it was different having a mother there to hold me and tell me it was going to be alright.

“It was awful,” I sniveled. “I thought... I thought...” I began to hiccup with the lack of oxygen due to my tears.

Narcissa shushed me softly and rubbed my back in a soothing rhythm.

“You’re alright darling,” Her voice was gentle. “Everything’s going to be alright,”

She stayed for the remainder of the night and came back the next day. I was only allowed a day off from classes before I had to return though Draco had still not woken. Though I knew there would be rumors and whispers, and though I expected to have to retell the harrowing story again and again, everyone already seemed to know. And more surprisingly, each student I came across was sympathetic and kind to me and even towards Draco, wanting to know how he was faring. Yet the thing that took me back the most was the amount of Gryffindors who offered their sympathies to Draco, rather than siding with their own Golden Boy. Even McGonagall offered her sympathies.

And for the most part, I completely ignored Harry. The best I could. Which... well. I’d like to say that I did, but I can’t. To be fair, he did try to talk to me on my first day back, two days after his attempted murder.

“Y/n,” He rushed out in the Great Hall as I sat down with Pansy and Abby.

“You need to stay away from me,” I gritted out, glowering at him. “You’re a coward!” 

“Look, I didn’t know what the spell would do, okay?”

“No! That’s not okay!” I stood. “You almost killed him! And you would have! Why in Merlin’s name would you use a spell if you didn’t know what it did!?” Bristling, Abby had to place her hand on my arm before I drew my own wand. Her gentle hand allowed me a moment to take a deep breath and cam myself, ever so slightly. “Just get out of here Harry. Don’t... don’t talk to me,”

“Come on, mate, let’s go,” Ron pulled Harry’s arm back, sensing the rising tension in his best friend.

“You’re... you’re not really going to...” Abby asked softly as we sat back down. “About being the bad guy?” She was almost timid to ask.

I sighed and shook my head.

“No,” I admitted. “I just said it because I was mad and scared. I’m not gonna go off and join the Dark Lord,” a sad smile played at my lips. “I... I feel like I have no choice... This path was forced into me because of Precious Potter and I... I don’t want to be angry. I don’t want to be broken... but I don’t want to be walked on,”

“And you don’t have to be,” Pansy encouraged. “We all have your back,” Pansy nodded to the Hall. “We’re on your side,”

“I don’t want there to be sides!” I dismayed, scrubbing my face. “I don’t want to be divided because we still do have the same enemy and...” I let out a sharp breath in defeat. “When did it all become so complicated?”

Abby said nothing but wrapped an arm around me, soothingly rubbing my shoulder.

“It’ll all work out, you’ll see,” She encouraged, sharing a look with Pansy. “For all of us.”

After dinner, as I always did, I went and saw Draco. His steady grey eyes trailed me as I rounded his cot.

“Hey,” He offered softly as I slipped my hand into his. Despite his many blankets and long sleeves, his hands were still ice cold.

“Hey,” I echoed sadly. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” There was little confidence in his voice. “How’s class without me?” I scoffed and stared at the intricate carvings on the pillars of the infirmary.

“It’s not the same... nothing is the same...” The depressing thought left my lips before I could stop it. “I do miss walking to class with you though,” A small smile played at my lips at my gaze returned to him.

Wordlessly I reached out and brushed a few stray hairs from his face, my fingers ghosting over the pale pink scar that ran along the side of his face. Maybe fortune was on our side because though his skin was marred with scars, the spell hadn’t left permanent damage to his senses. His skin was still chilled under my touch.

“You’re still cold,” I murmured. “Do you want tea? Another blanket? I’m sure there’s a warming potion around here somewhere,”

“I’m alright,” His lips tugged upward. “Pomfrey and Snape said that it might happen, because of the Dark Magic...”

Worrying my lip, I nodded and intertwined my fingers with his pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles.

“What’s on your mind?” His question was soft.

“Nothing and everything,” I smiled. “Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing... but loved most of all, when she went to sleep, to hear the Angel of Music...”

“Haven’t read that one in a while,” Draco mused softly. “I think they’re having a show in London over the summer holiday...”

I wanted to snap at him. I wanted to say that it was stupid to think about the summer. It was foolish to think we’d survive the semester. That going to the opera shouldn’t be a plan we made on some false hope that we’d actually make it.

But I didn’t.

Instead I entertained the idea. Just for a while. Even if it would hurt later.

“You’d take me then?” I mused.

“Well, of course,” Draco smiled, enjoying that I was playing along. “Of course, Pansy and Abby would come with us,”

I laughed softly at the thought. The false memory of the four of us in some opera house amidst twinkling lights, dressed lavishly, laughing and having fun. I could see myself on Draco’s arm as he held his head high, smiling soft at my antics. I could almost hear Pansy scolding Abby for her poor etiquette. I could almost feel the thrum of the music in my soul and the magic of the performance before me as I was enraptured again by another story.

“I’d like that,” I whispered softly, tears stinging my eyes. 

“Then think of it done,”

A silence fell between us.

“Can I stay here tonight?” I asked softly.

“Would you expect me to say anything but yes?” He quirked an eyebrow.

Curled up in his arms, again I thought of everything and nothing, utterly exhausted—mentally, emotionally, physically. Draco still offered a sweet comfort that I had never found in anyone else. A comfort that quelled my anxieties and allowed me to sleep soundly.

“Told you she would be here,” I heard Pansy whisper harshly. “It’s not like it’s the first time they’ve done it,”

“Yes, yes, you’re so smart,” Abby said flatly. “They’re still precious, aren’t they? Even now,”

There wasn’t a response. I shifted through my sleep logged thoughts and blinked my eyes open. Draco was still fast asleep beside me, his mouth hanging slightly open as gentle breaths passed through his lips. Abby and Pansy were forgotten as I watched Draco bathed I the soft morning light.

“Hey Feathers, Dumbledore wants to see you,” Abby nudged my arm. “I don’t think it’s good either.”

Fear and dread struck my heart as I froze.

“Did he say why?” I squeaked out, carefully slipping out of the bed, not to rouse Draco. 

“No, just that it was a serious matter,” Abby frowned at me. “Are you okay?”

“Do you really want the answer to that?” I mumbled. “Please stay with him, tell him where I am when he wakes up. And if he tries to come and find me, make sure he doesn’t. He’s still healing,”

Timidly I made my way up to Dumbledore’s office, a list of a thousand things that could go wrong sprinting through my mind, willing them all true. Those thoughts however, changed and funneled when I saw that I wasn’t alone in his office with him. No, Harry, Snape, and McGonagall were all present along with the old headmaster.

“Miss Y/l/n, thank you for joining us,” Dumbledore smiled kindly. 

“Yeah... okay,” I closed the door behind me. “What’s this about?”

“What happened in Myrtle’s bathroom,” Snape informed with a monotone voice. “Though I have thoroughly explained that what Harry did to Mr. Malfoy was much worse and you acted in self- defense,”

“Uh... okay...” My eyebrows furrowed. “What exactly did I do?” 

“What did you do? You used an Unforgivable!” McGonagall dismayed. 

“You tortured me!” Harry exclaimed.

“You attempted to murdered Draco!” I shot back. “What was I supposed to do!?” 

“As I said, she acted in self-defense.” Snape cut the tension with his calmed voice.

“That wasn’t self-defense, that was malicious intent,” Harry growled. “You have to mean the curse for it to do any damage,”

“Oh yes, and I’m sure your use of Dark Magic is completely justified,” I snapped, crossing my arms. “And are you really going to play the victim when I have every right to loathe you?”

“Miss Y/l/n,” Dumbledore interjected. “We are not here to point fingers, but rather here the entire story. Both sides.”

“Why isn’t Sprout here?” I looked around. “She’s my Head of House... shouldn’t she be here?” 

“This isn’t a House matter,” Snape clarified. “This is a matter of the Order,”

“Of which you are a member,” McGonagall finished. “Now please, your side of the story,”

My mind processed this information then I began my tale.

“Draco was having a panic attack, so I led him to the nearest quiet place that I could find—” 

“Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom?” McGonagall clarified and I nodded.

“I was comforting Draco—walking him through grounding and Harry burst into the bathroom. Draco got defensive of me, drawing his wand, and Harry cast a hex at the two of us... I remember telling Draco to stop... there was water everywhere. And then Harry,” I glanced over to the golden boy who was sulking in his chair. “Cast whatever awful spell that was. I didn’t think. The Unforgivable was the first spell that came to mind...” I paused, drawing in a sharp breath. “Then there was so much blood. Merlin...” I wrung my hands together in a desperate attempt to wash my clean hands of blood that was no longer there. “I did cast the spell, and I’m not going to apologize for it. I’m sorry for hurting you, but not for defending Draco,”

“I see,” Dumbledore nodded. “Well, it seems that all’s well that ends well,” 

Harry and I both sputtered, glaring each other down.

“She should be going to Azkaban!” Harry exclaimed.

“Oh, you should really keep your comments to yourself Potter,” I snarled.

“If I remember correctly Mr. Potter, you also cast an Unforgivable at Bellatrix not last year,” Dumbledore raised an ancient eyebrow at a fuming Harry who instantly fizzled out.

“You cast an Unforgivable and you have the nerve to accuse me! Oh, stars above Harry where does it end with you!?”

“That doesn’t count! She was trying to kill me! She killed Sirius!”

I stared at him in quelled anger. “Funny,” My voice was calm and even. “I could have sworn I did it for the same reasons,” I watched the color drain from his face. “But I get it, I’m not the Chosen One, I don’t get free passes, do I?”

“Miss Y/n,” McGonagall warned.

“Am I free to go? I need to get back to Draco,” I looked to Snape.

He gave a seldom and I rushed out of the office, practically running back to the hospital wing. Abby caught me in her arms, stilling me outside the door.

“Hey, talk to me,” She demanded. “What happened?”

“Harry needs to mind his own damn business,” I growled. “He told that I used an Unforgivable against him after he tried to kill Draco. After he already used one last year! And he has the nerve—”

“Y/n?” Draco’s shaky voice was a lot closer than I thought it would be. It had to mean that he was up and walking.

“Dray?” My anger softened to concern and hope. “Draco what are you doing up?”

“You could have given us more of a warning about how much he would fight us after telling him that Dumbledore wanted to speak to you,” Pansy muttered, Draco’s arm slung around her shoulder.

“Sorry?” I offered, taking Draco’s weight, freeing Pansy. “You need to stay in bed,” I scolded him softly.

“How could you think that I would? How could you just leave?” His voice was trembling and uncertain.

“I know, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking,” I led him back to his cot, setting him down gently. “Forgive me?”

He nodded as I pulled the blanket back over him. Pansy and Abby aided me in getting him settled again.

“This is so stupid,” He groaned. “I should be there with you,”

“A few more days, my love,” I comforted softly, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Then you’ll be back beside me,”

__________________________________

Draco’s eyes met the plated silver. His reflection mocking him. His pale skin was decorated— was that the right word? Ruined, perhaps—with faded pinkish scars.

Of course, his mother had been livid. Visiting him in the hospital wing more days than not until he was medically cleared to go back to class, she was there, pacing, muttering, threatening, demanding.

Your sentiments matched his mother’s but ever since the fateful day that Harry had taken him inches from death, you had gone silent with a cold ruthless fury. A look that only faded from your eyes when they met his. Then adoration was evident. Love and dedication was evident. Kindness.

As he stared at his reflection, the phantom memory of pain danced along his skin.

“Hey there handsome,” Your gentle voice caught his attention. Catching the sight of you in the mirror he turned, leaning against the vanity.

“I don’t remember you ever calling me that before,” He mused, slightly teasing—part of him wondering if you were just saying it to make him feel better.

“I know you Draco,” You pressed off the doorjamb you were leaning against and took his hands. “Self-assured, confident, absolutely gorgeous,” A smirk hinted at your lips. “But I know you’re unsteady right now.” Gently your fingers traced the scars on his hands trailing up his arm making him shudder.

“And what of you?” He asked softly, bringing your hand to his lips pressing a kiss there softly, reveling in the warmth of your skin; something that he had lost, his skin retaining an icy chill with the dark magic that plagued it.

“What of me?” You countered softly. “I’m quite assured that I’m beautiful to those who matter to me... call it vanity,”

A chuckle escaped his lips, your words reminding him of Pansy. “No, that’s no mystery. You are stunning,” Your arms draped lazily around his shoulders as you waited for him to continue. “Are you okay? I know you, and you’ve been... I don’t know. Withdrawn? Distracted?”

He feared the anger that flashed in your eyes until you seemed to blink it away. With the fluttering of your eyelashes the ire turned to sorrow. Your shoulders rose and fell with the deep breath you took.

“I’m tired of being walked on. I’m tired of people underestimating me. Of thinking I’m harmless or weak.” You paused but then your eyes met his pleading, “I know who I am, I really do. I’m just tired of other people not seeing it.”

Draco smiled at you, reaching up and caressing your cheek delicately. “And?” He knew you had more on your mind.

“I’ve had enough of Harry thinking he can get away with anything.”

Draco nodded. Before his prejudices against Potter had been just that—prejudices. Now? Now they went so much deeper. The hurt and pain that Harry had caused to you and him was something that couldn’t be brushed off. Draco’s anger matched yours when thinking of Potter, but maybe the difference was he had never seen it from the outside looking in.

“He almost killed you Draco,” Your voice wavered. “If Snape hadn’t shown up, you would have...” Tears pricked your eyes and you quickly shut them. “I can’t... I can’t lose you... and I never want to feel helpless like that again,”

Draco cupped your face softly, your eyes meeting his as quiet streams of tears trailed down your cheeks.

“And you won’t have to, but my love,” He sighed softly and pressed a kiss to your forehead before drawing you into his arms, “I don’t want you to lose yourself... I know you’re angry, and I know you’re scared... I know you wish it would all just go away, because I do too,” He sighed deeply. “But we can’t lose focus on who we are,”

“When did you become the wise grounded one?” You pouted into his shoulder, earning a small chuckle from him.

“Some girl brought me back down to Earth,” He mused.

“Must have been some girl,” He could hear the smile in your voice.

“Oh, she’s quite wonderful, I think you’d love her. I know I do,”

“Sap,” You accused, smiling up at him.

“And yet you love me anyway,”

“I do,” You pressed up on your toes, your lips brushing against his softly.

The day that he returned to class, as expected, he got plenty of stares. Students gawking at him and whispering behind his back. Not that it was new for him. But maybe you were right—he was unsteady. You still held his hand in the halls though, and still looked at him as you would a piece of artwork. And whenever he became uncertain about his appearance your gently smile and soft kisses created phantom memories that kept him grounded.

“Ginny and Harry are together,” Hannah gave off hand one day at dinner.

Draco’s eyebrows raised in surprised. Your face soured a bit as your eyes drifted over to the Gryffindor table where sure enough Harry and Ginny were sitting together amidst their friends. He pressed a kiss to your temple, pulling you a bit closer. The pout didn’t leave your face, but your focus reverted back to your friends before you.

Draco hadn’t spoken to or gone near Harry since he had been back to class. The only real struggle was Potions, but Harry seemed content on ignoring him, and with Ernie as Draco’s partner, Draco’s thoughts weren’t consumed with Harry. Ernie was actually quite pleasant in class, Draco had to admit. Though he was a bit reckless and impulsive in a childlike manor, but he wasn’t impossible for Draco to work with. In fact, Draco almost preferred to work with Ernie because Ernie didn’t treat him any differently after his near-death experience. It was a vein of normalcy.

“This should work,” You lowered your wand, running your hand over the mended Vanishing Cabinet. “We should be done,”

His eyes met yours. There was hope in your warm eyes. Draco gave a seldom nod and grabbed an apple from his bag. It was the first test. Though weeks ago, the apple had made it to Borgin and Burkes, the live finches you had sent hadn’t survived. You mourned the small birds and buried them beneath your tree by the lake.

The apple was closed behind the wardrobes doors and after counting to thirty, your hand gripped tightly in his, Draco opened the door again and saw that the apple had a slice cut out of it. You let out a steady breath and went to the golden wire cage, with gentle grace setting down the small bird into the wardrobe. You closed your eyes, refusing to watch as he closed the door this time. Thirty seconds again, he opened the door, and the small finch was there, staring up at the two of you, an apple slice in his mouth.

You let out a scream of excitement and joy as you gathered the bird into your hands and kissing its small head before setting it back in the cage to enjoy its treat.

The next was a crow, easily transfigured from a goblet. Draco ser the bird into the cabinet and closed the door yet again. The ruffling of wings faded for twenty seconds until he heard frantic cawing and agitated movements. Throwing open the door, the crow flew out. With a quick flick of your wand the crow was a goblet once more, falling harmlessly into the piles of rubbish around the two of you.

“I have to go,” You breathed out, words that he had been dreading.

“Y/n,” He refuted. “We don’t know if it’ll work for larger animals, Pinnae might not make it.”

“It worked for the crow,” You pointed out. “Pinnae can make it,”

“It’s too dangerous,”

“Draco,” You gave him a flat look. “I need to go,” You took his hands into yours. “It’ll be okay, I’ll be back. If not, I’ll just fly back here from Diagon Alley.”

“You make it sound so simple,” He nuzzled his nose to yours.

“Because it is,” You smiled, pressing your lips to his fleetingly. “I’ll be back, I promise.”

“Please be careful,” Draco dismayed as your morphed into Pinnae, fluttering into the base of the wardrobe.

Then he closed the door, trapping you in darkness. Thirty seconds had never been so long.

There was a knock on the door then it slowly opened. Your smiling face was shining as you crawled out of the cabinet.

“It works,” You breathed out, amazed.

“By Merlin it works!” Draco exclaimed, spinning you in his arms.

You laughed and held onto him tightly. The two of you celebrated with laughter that turned to tears. When the entire world seemed against you two, at least one thing went right.

“I love you,” You sniffled through tears.

“Stars, I love you too,” He breathed in the scent of you deeply, burying his head in your shoulder. “We’re gonna make it,” He was almost hopeful.

“We’re gonna make it,” You affirmed.

“Who’s there?”

You and Draco froze, staring at each other in paralyzing fear. 

“Hello?” The voice called again.

You sagged and let out an aggravated groan. “It’s Trelawney,” Gritting your teeth you let go of him, sighing. “I’ll go see what she wants. You get to Snape and tell him we do this tonight.” There was fierce determination in your eyes.

Draco nodded and watched as you made your way toward the exit. He could hear your faint conversation with the professor. Giving you five minutes head start, Draco slipped from the Room of Hidden Things undetected.

“It’s done,” Draco panted out, catching his breath after nearly running to Snape’s office. “The raid has to be tonight,”

“I see,” Snape rose. “And you’re certain?”

You burst into the office just then, also out of breath. “Harry and Dumbledore are leaving to go find something called—”

“Silencio!” Snape casted the spell on you, proving you mute. Infuriated, Draco drew his wand, stepping between you and the professor. “Calm down, she’s in no harm,” Snape rolled his eyes and lifted the spell. “But be careful with what you speak. It is wise to hold your tongue.”

Fuming, you nodded still.

Draco lowered his wand and took your hand.

“Now, you both know the task ahead of you?” Snape questioned. Silent nods affirmed the question. “Very well. He will be pleased, Draco. Very pleased indeed.” Another silent moment passed. “You have twenty-three minutes.”

Draco took your hand and pulled you into the hallway and along the corridors.

“Go, find Abby. Warn your friends. Warn your house. No one needs to get hurt. We’re already doing enough damage,” His voice was soft and gentle as unshed tears lingered in his eyes.

“I love you,” Your voice broke as he cupped your face and pressed his lips to yours desperately.

The kiss was hasty and despairing. Though neither of you would admit it, you both knew that it was a kiss goodbye. The warmth of your breath against his was the last of your warmth that he expected. The urgency of your fingers in his hair was the last of your comfort that he sought. The taste of your mouth was the last of your sweetness that he accepted. The softness of your lips was the last of your peace that he pursued.

“Twenty-three minutes,” He breathed out before letting you go and heading down to the murky waters of the Slytherin Common Room.

The Mark on his arm burned and Draco knew that Snape had called the others of the raid. A plan set into motion long ago, now coming to fruition.

____________________________

“Y/n!” Abby called my name as you burst into the common room. “What’s going on?”

My friends were all gathered in the common room as Abby tossed to me something small and shiny. A galleon. My galleon. From D.A. I might have cursed.

“How does he even know?” I chucked the galleon into the fire, watching it ricochet a flurry of ashes. My eyes met Abby’s. “It’s tonight,”

She nodded, knowing what it meant, knowing what was expected of her. A plan made long ago, that was now set into motion.

“Okay, this is going to get very bad, very quickly.” My voice trembled as I looked at all of the horror-struck faces before me. “But please, I need you all to keep the younger years safe. I need you to stay out of the halls until Abby comes and gets you.”

“But what about you?” Ernie asked.

“Look, you’re going to hear things. Awful things about Draco and me. And I can’t deny them, nor should I ask for your forgiveness. But please,” Tears streamed down my face. “Believe that everything I’ve worked for... everything I’ve done has been for this family,” I looked around the room. “I don’t have much of one by blood, but you? All of you... you’ve always been my family. And Hogwarts is my home.”

Abby’s arms wrapped around me and I could no longer hold back my tears. Soon there was a massive comfort pile and I was in the center of it. My friends, my family all there, all holding me close.

“So, what do you need us to do?” Taylor asked. I wiped my eyes and stood tall.

“Someone get word to the Ravenclaws and the Gryffindors that they need to stay in their dorm. You all have about fifteen minutes to be completely locked down. Cast protection spells. Silencing spells. Comfort younger years. Distract them. Do not take an order from anyone unless it’s Abby. Make sure she is not under a spell before you listen to her.” I glanced over at her. “This is a grave matter and lives are on the line tonight. One of which is mine. I don’t know what will happen tonight, but I won’t be coming back. Not for some while.”

“But why?” I didn’t see where the question came from.

“It will all be revealed soon. I love you all. And I hope that you all can forgive me after tonight. No matter what you think of me, please, don’t forget: have courage and be kind.”

They all nodded. I rushed up to my room, changing quickly into dueling robes, pulling my silver cloak on.

“Are you okay?” Abby asked, tying her hair back.

“I’ll be fine,” I drew her in for a hug. “Please just get out alive,”

“You too kid,” Abby smiled weakly, taking my hand. “Sister for life,”

“Hufflepuffs for life,” I finished, looking back one last time before taking off through the window and into the night.

With a soft thud I landed on Draco’s floor. He was expecting me. We didn’t embrace another, but instead got to work.

“The Hufflepuffs?” He asked.

“Warned and locked down. Word was sent to Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. The Slytherins?” 

“Secured.” Draco affirmed. “Seven minutes,”

“Okay,” I nodded. “The Mark,”

Draco looked out his opened window and chanted something short and unfamiliar to my ears and I watched as a snake coiled from the end of his wand in a thick green smoke and into the sky merging with a skull. I took his hand, standing beside him.

“I still don’t want to kill him,” Draco confessed. “But I’ll do anything to keep you safe,”

“Draco don’t worry about me. Your mother and I have a plan if things go wrong.” It was an easy lie as I met his confused grey eyes. I smiled softly. “You don’t have to be afraid.”

“The Astronomy tower,” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Go,”

I leapt out of his window again and circled the school, patrolling, watching two figures on brooms land on the tower I was destined for. The quiet night was eerily quiet as I landed, perched on a sill, watching Harry and a frail looking Dumbledore. I almost slipped out of Pinnae because of the regret that fluttered in my chest, but it was easily pushed aside.

I watched as Harry hurried over to the door leading to the spiral staircase, his hand just meeting the door as I heard running footsteps from the door opposite to Harry. My eyes trained and waiting for Draco missed whatever had caused Harry to keep fleeing.

“Expelliarmus!” Draco shouted, and I sprang into action, catching the wand in my claws and settling back on the sill.

Standing against the ramparts, very white in the face, Dumbledore still showed no sign of panic or distress. He merely looked across at his disarmer and said, “Good evening, Draco,”

Draco stepped forward glancing over to me then to the empty room. He was making sure that we were alone. I wanted to warn him that Harry was close, but I couldn’t not yet. Draco seemed to figure this out on his own however, as his eyes fell upon the second broom.

“Who else is here?” He demanded.

“A question I might ask you.” Dumbledore eyed me before his attention reverted back to Draco. “Surely you’re not acting alone,”

“No,” Draco said. “I’ve got backup.”

“I see,” Dumbledore said as if Draco’s actions were praiseworthy. “And won’t you join us Miss Y/n?”

Draco glanced to me, panicked. That wasn’t a part of the plan. I wasn’t to be human at all. No one was supposed to know that I was there. Not the Order or the Death Eaters and certainly not Bellatrix.

“I know that it’s you my dear, you might as well join us,”

It was a wildcard neither Draco nor I were expecting. Draco gave a seldom nod, looking utterly defeated. Against my better judgement, I morphed back human, wand in my hand as I took my place at Draco’s side, adrenaline and anxiety threading through my chest.

“You always were such a talented witch,” Dumbledore praised. “I assume you had a hand in this plan, finding a way to get the other Death Eaters into my school?”

“Yes,” I answered, my voice shaking.

“You do complicate things don’t you my dear,” Dumbledore’s eyes fell upon me. “To think if Mr. Malfoy never had you, what would have become of him.”

“I don’t dwell on what might have been,” My eyes narrowed at the frail headmaster. “But rather what is to come,”

“Ah yes, your little job,” A twisted smile curled on his face. “Well, then, you must get on and do it, my dear boy,” said Dumbledore softly.

Confusion flitted across my face. Did Dumbledore know what we were here to do? How long had he known? Why the bloody hell hadn’t he said anything? A tense silence fell between us and I could faintly hear the fighting of Death Eaters and The Order occur somewhere below. I winced at the mental images.

“Draco, you are not a killer.” Dumbledore smiled. The words sounded cruel coming from his mouth rather than mine. Condescending.

“You don’t know what I’m capable of,” Draco snarled, gripping his wand tightly.

“Oh yes, I do,” said Dumbledore mildly. “You almost killed Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley—”

“That wasn’t us,” I interjected. “You really think I’d allow that?”

“Well you are here to kill me, are you not?”

Silently I seethed, gritting my teeth.

“It wasn’t us,” Draco replied coldly. “And we never figured out who it was,”

“Very curious,” Dumbledore mused. “But you were saying . . . yes, you have managed to introduce Death Eaters into my school, which, I admit, I thought impossible...How did you do it?”

Neither of us said anything. The echoes of the fight below were deafening. My blood ran cold, torn between who I needed to win. One to protect Draco and I. One to protect my family.

“Perhaps you ought to get on with the job alone,” Dumbledore taunted. “What if your backup has been thwarted by my guard? As you have perhaps realized, there are members of the Order of the Phoenix here tonight too,”

“The Order is here?” Frowning I met ancient blue eyes. 

“You think I wouldn’t have back up at my own school?”

Betrayal washed through me. I had no idea that the Order was here. That they were the guard against the raid that was merely a plan b. I never wanted them to get hurt. Why wasn’t I told that they were here? Wasn’t I apart of the Order as well? Then it dawned on me.

“You... you manipulated me!” I shouted. “You never wanted me as a part of the Order! You just wanted to keep an eye one me! Never for one moment did you believe in me!”

Draco winced at the realization of my words, as he took my hand, grounding me. 

“Who was I to go against your father’s wishes?”

“My father is dead because he believed in you,” I spat.

“He died for you. Not me.”

I growled dangerously.

“But never mind all of that,” Dumbledore waved the thought as if it were something easily dismissed. “And after all, you don’t really need help... I have no wand at the moment... I cannot defend myself.”

I ran my fingers over Dumbledore’s wand in my hand. It was urging me on, daring me to cast an Unforgivable. Begging me to. If I didn’t get my fury under control, Draco might not have to kill Dumbledore. Because I would.

A silence fell again.

“I see,” said Dumbledore patronizingly. “You are afraid to act until they join you.”

“I’m not afraid!” Draco snarled, though he still made no move to hurt Dumbledore. “It’s you who should be scared!”

“But why? I don’t think you will kill me, Draco. Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe... So, tell me, while we wait for your friends... how did you two smuggle them in here? It seems to have taken you a long time to work out how to do it.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I hissed. “We had the plan since this past summer. We could have easily done it by Christmas, but Draco and I deserved another year together at our home,” My words dripped venom as they met the crisp air.

“We had to mend that broken Vanishing Cabinet that no one’s used for years. The one Montague got lost in last year.” Draco explained because anger claimed my voice, deeming me silent.

“Ah.” Dumbledore’s sigh was half a groan. He closed his eyes for a moment. “That was clever... There is a pair, I take it?”

“We don’t have to explain anything to you,” I whispered, my eyes closed as I tried to reign in my anger.

“I see,” Dumbledore smiled. “But I suppose that I was incorrect when I assumed that you were not sure you would succeed in mending the cabinet and acted rashly? It does leave me to wonder who did almost kill Ms. Bell and Mr. Weasley.”

Draco’s grip on my hand tightened. He didn’t like the loose end any more than I did. “If you suspected us, why didn’t you stop us then?” Draco demanded.

“I tried, Draco. Professor Snape has been keeping watch over you on my orders —” 

“He hasn’t been doing your orders, he promised my mother--”

“Of course, that is what he would tell you, Draco, but—”

“But nothing!” I interrupted. “I think Narcissa means a bit more to Snape than you do,” 

“We must agree to differ on that, my dear. It so happens that I trust Professor Snape —”

“That’s marvelous,” I deadpanned. “But trust isn’t the same as loyalty,”

“Isn’t it though?” The old professor seemed as if he were having a hard time standing on his own without the help of the railing. I almost offered my aid. “But as for being bout to kill me, Draco, you have had several long minutes now, we are quite alone, I am more defenseless than you can have dreamed of finding me, and still you have not acted...”

Draco glanced to me and a gave a soft smile. The fear and uncertainty in his eyes caused my anger to morph into a fierce protection.

“I see,” Dumbledore went on. “I wonder why Voldemort has let you live so long Miss Y/n. You really do hinder Draco from what is expected of him,”

“Shut your mouth!” Draco snapped. “She is the cleverest, most brilliant witch I’ve met! If anything, she pushes me past what I should be and into who I am!”

“And who are you Mr. Malfoy? Are you a killer?” Neither of us answered. “There is little time, one way or another,” said Dumbledore. “So, let us discuss your options, Draco.”

“My options!” Draco scoffed. “I’m standing here with a wand—I’m about to kill you—”

“My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, you would not have stopped for this pleasant chat about ways and means.”

Draco’s aspiration to kill Dumbledore might be fading, but my desire for it was growing with each moment that passed as I untangled a web of lies and manipulation in silence about the frail headmaster before me.

“I haven’t got any options!” Draco despaired. “I’ve got to do it! He’ll kill me! He’ll kill her! He’ll kill my mother!”

“I appreciate the difficulty of your position,” said Dumbledore. “Why else do you—”

“No,” The fury in my voice was cold and unforgiving. “Don’t. You. Dare. Don’t you dare make yourself the martyr. You have no idea the hell Draco and I have been through together. Your chosen one almost killed him for Merlin’s sake, and you have nerve to offer a false kindness? As if you were blameless? As if you understood?”

“No, you can’t,” Draco agreed to the weight of my words.

“Come over to the right side,” Dumbledore continued as if I had never spoken, “and we can hide you more completely than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban...When the time comes, we can protect him too. Come over to the right side, you are not a killer...”

“Like you protected my father?” I whispered softly. “When will you see we are on the side of good. But we’re not on your side.”

Dumbledore did not speak. His mouth was open, still trembling, as if to find the right words to manipulate us back to his side. 

But suddenly footsteps were thundering up the stairs, Draco and I turned, in fear. We were both buffeted out of the way as four black robes burst through the door.

It seemed the Death Eaters had won the fight below.

A lumpy-looking man with an odd lopsided leer gave a wheezy giggle. “Dumbledore cornered!” he said, and he turned to a stocky little woman who looked as though she could be his sister and who was grinning eagerly. “Dumbledore wandless, Dumbledore alone! Well done, Draco, well done!”

“Good evening, Amycus,” said Dumbledore calmly, as though welcoming the man to a tea party. “And you’ve brought Alecto too... Charming...”

The woman gave an angry little titter. “Think your little jokes’ll help you on your deathbed then?” she jeered.

“Jokes? No, no, these are manners,” replied Dumbledore.

“Do it,” said the stranger standing furthest from me. He had a deep raspy voice and almost barked the words. All of my instincts told me to run from this man.

“Is that you, Fenrir?” asked Dumbledore.

“That’s right,” Fenrir barked, and I understood. Fenrir Greyback, the savage werewolf. “Pleased to see me, Dumbledore?”

“No, I cannot say that I am.”

Greyback grinned, showing pointed teeth. Blood trickled down his chin and he licked his lips slowly, obscenely. “But you know how much I like kids, Dumbledore.”

I choked back a sob, struggling to stand upright. Faces of my family flashed through my mind. Whose blood was on my hands and on his teeth? My world spun as I tried to get it back into order. Draco’s arm wrapped around me, trying to keep me upright.

“Ah, the little harlot,” A familiar voice cooed. “I should have known you’d be the one to stop Draco from his task.”

My eyes flashed up, meeting Bellatrix’s.

“She’s actually helped quite a bit,” Dumbledore interjected. “She has my wand, and she’s the one who made your arrival possible,”

“Shut up you old fool!” Bellatrix sneered. “Now come along little prince, we are short on time,” There was an urgency in her voice that made me hopeful that perhaps the Death Eaters hadn’t won but merely escaped.

“Draco, do it or stand aside so one of us—”

I didn’t take note into who was speaking because just then, from the door that Draco had arrived, came Snape, rushing forward and taking in the scene before him. His eyes met mine then went to Draco’s before settling onto Dumbledore’s.

“Severus...” The plead startled me. My eyes turned to Dumbledore who for the first time tonight was begging.

Snape said nothing but walked forward and pushed Draco and I roughly out of the way. Draco steadied me and we both moved to the back wall, watching the other Death Eaters—even Bellatrix fall back without a word.

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.

“Severus... please...” Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. 

“Avada Kedavra!” It wasn’t my voice or Draco’s. But rather Snape’s.

Time around me slowed. Or maybe I could register everything around me all at once.

Dumbledore staggered back, falling, falling, falling down. Bellatrix cackled victoriously. Draco was a solace beside me, clinging to me as if I was his only lifeline.

“Out of here, quickly,” Snape ordered, glaring Draco and I down, a snarled look on his face.

He seized Draco’s cloak and forced him first through the door, with me trailing not far behind Draco. I didn’t bother to look who was behind me. Darkness fell over me and I proved blind. All I could do was cling to Draco’s robe and pray that wherever this darkness led, that there was a light somewhere at the end.

The darkness lifted as the starry night sky stretched before me letting me know that I was on the grounds of Hogwarts, not far from Hagrid’s.

“Go! Off the grounds and disapparate!” Snape ordered. “Go home!”

Draco and I stumbled as we ran through the dark. I wished nothing more than to morph into Pinnae and fly away, but I knew it was impossible. Just as we were at the outskirts of the grounds, Draco had to pull me out of the way of a bright red flash.

“Stop righ’ ‘ere!” A gruff voice called.

“Hagrid!” I called in relief until I realized I was no longer wanted here.

“Y/n?” Hagrid seemed just as confused as I was. “Wah are you doin’ ou’ wiff a bunch o’ Death Eaters?”

“I’m so sorry Hagrid,” I yelled into the darkness as Draco and I kept moving towards our freedom. “Take care of Steve, please!”

The distraction was enough to let a few black robes step foot off campus and disapparate. I turned back, a mistake, and saw Harry sprinting towards us, malice and torture in his eyes.

“I was right about you all along!” He shouted. “Don’t you dare show your face here again!”

Before I could respond, mostly just wanting to scream in frustration, Snape intersected the two of us, allowing Draco to grab my arm and pull me off the grounds.

“Y/n!” He called. “You need to disapparate! Go back to the Manor!” His eyes were wild and wide.

I nodded and wand in hand, I landed softly into the foyer of the Manor.

Of home.

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chapter 11

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[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs, “From Heaven or from Hell.”

Ok so I had a ton of trouble writing today for some reason. IDK why but here you go :) as expected. 

The Kree popped the last socket from the wall, pulling the device down for a closer examination. Admiral Vir stayed back in shock. He thought all of the kree were dead, but this one , it looked more than alive enough to him, though it did occur to him that this kree was neither voiced or voiceless. He had only ever seen something like it on a battlefield over two years ago, and they hadn’t gotten close enough to examine them in a medical capacity.

Was it possible that Dr. Krill and the others had been fooled.

If that was the case, these guys had done a phenomenal job at playing dead. Nothing was supposed to get past Dr. Krill, but he supposed there was a first for everything.

He knelt in the darkness wondering what he was going to do.

He could leap out and capture this creature, in one on one combat the Kree were no match for a human, the only reason they had been such a problem was because they were armed and could fly the last time he met with them.

But this one, it was just a skinny bird creature with twig legs, and no wings, but if he followed it, he might be able to find the others. 

He melted a little further back into the shadows, as much as he could with skin and hair that might as well have glowed in the ambient light. Too bad he had forgotten his ninja costume, that would have really helped right about now.

The kree turned and with a small chirp to itself, it began moving up the hallway.

He followed after at a distance feeling for once like the hunter instead of the hunted. 

He bared his teeth in half pleasure.

The feeling was sort of exhilarating.

He was the monster in the dark, the dangerous creature lurking in the shadows. He was the one stalking in the darkness just out of sight. Human’s hand had to hunt things in close proximity like this for thousands of years, and most creatures on their home planet were way to fast, strong, or agile for him to be able to do anything.

But in comparison to this Kree, he was a wolf, or a mountain lion. He would have radioed for assistance, but he was worried that his voice or the light from his implant would alert the creature, and he wouldn’t want that, so instead he kept very silent and well back as he followed the creature though the ship watching as it plucked equipment form the walls and stowed it in a bag. On one or two occasions, they came across one of the engineers working to fix the problem, but when that happened, they quickly slipped in another direction.

They were heading down, towards the docking bay forced to dodge more and more people as they moved, but they managed to make it.  And once they reached the docking bay, he was more than surprised to be led back behind the alien ship, to where someone had cut a near invisible vertical slit in the plastic which surrounded it.

The little creature slipped through and vanished inside the ship. 

He stayed outside, crouched low. This would probably be a good time let someone know where he was, but when he went to do so, he was surprised to find that bridge communications had been shut down.

The little bastards must have done something to it.

Oh well, than he was going to have to think up something else.

IT was best to know what he had to work with before actually making a move. So he inched forward quietly scooting through the plastic barrier and up towards the ship. He kept in a low crouch as he slipped up the open ramp and into the darkness. His infrared eye helped to pick up anything that might give him away as he moved through the darkness.

The ship was small, so it didn’t take him long to make it back to the bay where the bodies had been found, and when he did, he was both surprised, and not particularly surprised to see what he saw.

A gathering of Kree sat in a circle in the middle of the floor. Together they were comparing parts they had looted rom the ship, warbling i their strange kree language, and with laughter about what they had done.

Listening to them talk, he felt his lips pull tight in annoyance his hands balling into fists.

Pirates. 

They thought they had duped the humans,

Turned them into chumps as they robbed them blind right out from under their noses. 

It was a smart enough plan, but there was one thing that none of them had accounted for.

The fact that a human might be listening in.

Anger welled up inside his chest.

These creatures were trying to make him and his crew look like fools, but he wasn’t going to let that happen. He was going to stop this, but….. Before he did that, he was also going to give them a piece of their own medicine.

And with that thought, he slunk back into the darkness.

***

The Kree sat around in a circle laughing to themselves. The humans were so stupid.

Even their doctors hadn’t managed to catch the kree, with their ability to shut down their bodies into a mild state of coma, which approached death in appearance. In this state their internal organs barely functioned, and their cortical zones almost completely shut off.

It used to be something they could only do under certain circumstances, but after one of their scientists had done a little experimenting, he had discovered the place in the brain that was responsible for the shut off, and managed to implant manual switches for the ability.

Originally no one had thought that would be useful in any sort of way but they were quickly proven wrong, or at least the pirates had proven it wrong.

“This doesn't explain how we are going to get out of this place when we are finally done.”

Their leader scoffed, “We have full control of their ship, I am sure we can find a way to open the airlock.”

“And what if we are found out?”

“By who.” he retorted, “The have no reason to suspect us. It is more likely they will turn to one of their own crew members being a sabotage than suspecting us. I mean, what is the logical conclusion, that one of their  own is doing it or the creatures in the cold room have risen from the dead to steal their things.” He looked around at the others, “See, it makes sense doesn't it.”

They were just about to begin nodding their agreement to him, when a sound reaches them from down the dark hallway.

The sound of claws being pulled over metal.

They all grew very still staring at the entrance to the dark.

“What was that?” Someone whispered.

“I am sure it was nothing.”

There was silence for a few moments as they went back to their conversation.

They were cut off as a rattling noise broke out behind them in the darkness on the other side.

Together they turned in fear, eyes wide as they stared into the abyss.

The scraping sound continued almost melodic in nature.

Silence.

“Go check it out.” Their leader ordered pointing towards the most junior member of the party, They tried to argue but there was n ouse  in trying, and they were shoved into the darkness. Arms held protectively before it’s body knees weak, it ventured into the darkness and towards the scraping sound.

It was close, probably around the corner from it when the sound stopped very suddenly filling the little ship with an oppressive silence.

It turned its head this way and that unable to see in the near darkness.

It scrambled around in it’s toolkit trying to find the light.

Finally it found it, the cold metal reassuring against it’s hand as it flipped on the little beam of light.

Directly into a pair of milky eyes and glistening sharp teeth.

The others heard nothing.

“Find anything!” They called after it, but there was no answer 

“Not funny!”

Still no answer.

The scratching sound started up again on their other side.

THey turned in fear, huddling together in the middle of the room. W-what is that.

A sudden rush of movement to the darkness at their right. They spun, but it was already gone.

Staring into the darkness, it seemed as if something they couldn’t see was just right outside their vision

Someone flicked on a light into the darkness and caught the flash of two white orbs before the movement scuttled back into darkness.

“We have to get out.” Their leader ordered huddling them together and then backing away into the darkness of the opposite hall If the creature was over there, than they were going to be plenty safe here, together in a group with their flashlights turned on waving about in all directions.

One of their number began to scream, and they turned just in time to see the flailing counterpart pulled violently into the darkness, a pale white hand gripped about their leg.

They weren't trying to be quiet anymore, simply screaming as they fled, picked off one by one.

Their leader was the last left, nearly making it outside before his flashlight came upon a figure blocking him. In the eerie light of the darkness, its skin was washed out and pale, its clothing pale as well, when the flashlight beam moved up it passed over pale hair.

The face grinned as the flashlight passed over its eyes.

A flash of blue, and it was over.

***

The crew heard the screaming almost as soon as it had started, but it took them a few minutes to gather their gear before running in. By the time they made it everything had gone silent. A group of marines stepped through the plastic just in time to see admiral Vir walking down from the ramp dusting his hands off and looking quite pleased with himself.

“Sir…. what’s going on.”

“Oh just fixing a little problem, nothing to worry about.”

“And what was the problem.” 

The man grinned one of his green eyes flashing, “Pirates.”

When no one understood where he was going with this, the man simply grinned again, “Pirates. Turns out that the Kree were just playing dead to get aboard our ship and steal our shit.”

They stared at him incredulously, “What.”

“You heard me.”

They shook their head sin surprise, but followed him as he motioned them onward, “here, come take a look.”

Not that they doubted their Admiral, but they still found it shocking when they discovered the Kree hogtied and incapacitated around their own ship. The Admiral had a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

“That should be all of them-”

That is until they came upon another group of Kree 

He paused in his tracks staring down at the unconscious bodies, “What the-”

“Good work, Admiral.”

THe man scratched his head, “I…. I didn’t do this….”

“It was dark, you probably did and it just doesn't look familiar.”

He went very quiet for a moment before nodding his head. “I uh, sure I guess.”  

He handed off the stolen parts to he engineering crew uncharacteristically quiet

“Admiral, is your arm alright.”

“Yeay, yeah…. Just a…. misunderstanding .”

They looked after him in confusion as he walked away.

A misunderstanding.

***

Maverick was sitting in the half darkness of the ship chapel. A single light was on above the lectern, and she read by the dim lighting eyes scanning over passages of familiar words.

She wasn’t alone of course.

The Burg sat across the room, his wings folded easily behind his back as he perused through her collection of religious books. At first she thought that she wouldn’t like having a burg aboard, and had tried very hard not to show her unease around him, but he had proven himself to be affable, intelligent, kind, and very very helpful.

A lot of the crew didn’t understand that about him just yet, and so she had made it her mission to be his friend even if no one else would.

She hoped that he would appreciate the effort, and it seemed to be paying off.

It was just then that the door at the end of the room opened.

She lifted her head expecting one of the night shift crew to come in for a visit, but instead watched as Adam stepped inside and let the door hiss shut softly behind him. He had a thoughtful, and almost concerned look on his face as he approached, and she stood marking her page and setting her book aside as he walked up.

She was about to open her mouth to ask him if there was anything she could do, but he cut her off and spoke first.

Blurting out, “Do you believe in guardian angels.”

She paused in her tracks surprised at the question. Across the room, the burg lifted his head and also closed the book very slowly.

She was too stunned to speak for a moment as the burg scuttled over wings whispering lightly as they were tugged by air.

“Guardian angels.” She repeated, still not entirely sure what to make of it.

The Burg stopped beside them, “Guardian angel?” He wondered 

Maverick turned to look at him, “A divine being sent down from heaven in order to protect one of the living. Some say they are angels, others think they are dead family members, some have even gone as far as to assume dead pets, but generally an entity sent down from heaven to help someone whose work is not yet done.”

The man shuffled his feet, ‘And in that same vein, do you believe people can be…. haunted .”

That caught her off guard again as well.

The Burg looked at them for explanation, and the Admiral explained this time, “Like an angel accept an unholy being sent from hell maybe?”

She crossed her arms over her chest as he stood watching her, “Why the sudden interest.”

He looked at her and then sighed before sitting down, “If I tell you, promise you won’t call me crazy?”\

The expression on his face told her that he wasn’t joking, and she walked over to sit next to him, “Go on.”

“You remember the civilian transport.”

She shivered, “how could I forget. Never in my life have I entered a place that was corrupt and tainted in my life.” She shivered, ‘And I have been into some pretty dark places in my time.”

He nodded his head, “And you remember captain Everett?”

“The cannibal… the guy you had to kill? “

He nodded his head 

“Ok?”

“Well, ever since then, I have been…. Seeing him around. There have been times where he has been so real, it was like he could touch me. I would see him in mirrors and as a chill breeze….” He shivered again, “So I sort of assumed… based on the fact that I seem to have been followed from a tainted ship, that he manifests in the cold, and that I see him in mirrors that it was… well that it was a bad thing. At first I thought I was crazy, and then I thought it was a ghost.” 

“But-”She ventured 

“But then today I saw him again, and he seems to be helping me. Leading me in the right direction, assisting me, but in really really creepy ways.” He lifted his eyes, “What am I dealing with here? Am I crazy, is it a ghost, is it something more. I don’t know what to think.”

Maverick looked at him with a critical expression before slowly resting a hand on his shoulder, “Do you know why I joined the marines.”

He shook his head.

She sighed, “I don’t tell this to many people. I think Ramirez knows but other than that I don’t like to share, but on earth isn’t safe for me.”

He looked at her confused.

“I have had too many experiences with what you describe, and not all of them are good.” She looked around at the room, “I don’t claim to be an expert by all means, and I cannot be certain, but I think if it was bad you would know quite definitely…. Has it ever tried to harm you, to convince you to do things that you think are wrong?”

He paused and shook his head, “No… i, I guess not.”

“Than I don’t think you have to worry, but if you are still concerned, I would talk to Dr. Adric. Maybe he can help you.”

***

I don’t know what you are or what you want, but as long as you don’t hurt me, I won’t get rid of you. 

[writingwip]

A fic I probably wont finish but the thoughts there. Anyone’s free to take it up if they want. Basically Five wakes up and finds out he’s the god of a cult. Klaus better explain this one in .5 seconds or Five’s gonna have his head on a stake. 

Five had found himself sat on a throne of sorts, expression wild and confused. People were lined up on both sides with fruits and drinks held neatly on platters and kneeling stiffly with faces respectfully angled downwards. They all had on similar clothing, soft flowing fabrics that draped over them but fit nicely, deep blues and soft beiges. The room was lit with candles and incense that made him feel sleepy and lightheaded. 

A bizarre experience is how Five would put it. Bizarre and slightly amusing and confusing and interesting. 

He had caught the eyes of a figure standing out among the rest, closest to him and wearing slightly altered clothes. He had a little cylindrical hat with funny symbols Five realized were his math equations, only if all the letters and numbers were shoved into one image haphazardly made to look semi-symmetric. His eyes lit up as they made eye contact and a smile quickly took over his face. Five already wanted to punch him. 

“Awake at last, my lord,” and oh jesus, he was being called a lord. What had he gotten into this time? “We have long awaited you to arise. Welcome back, dear lord,” and the man deeply bowed. Five wasn’t sure whether to run yet or see where this was leading. “Lord Klaus had predicted today would be the day you awoken and joined us once again. Such divinity has blessed us and we had quickly gotten ready for your arrival.” Klaus? What had that oaf done? Five sighed and stood up. 

He had been sitting criss-cross on a soft, velvet pillow sat on a raised platform. Surrounding it were more candles and a burning stick of incents strong enough to make Fives head dizzy. This was ridiculous. 

“Where is Klaus?” Five asks the man. He seemed downright euphoric that Five had spoken, let alone directly to him. He was quick to fully stand and reach his hand out, offering support as Five’s legs wobbled. Five shot him a glare and raised his hand as a warning. He would slap this man if it came to it which, judging by how he’s acting already, it will. 

“Lord Klaus and Lady Vanya are awaiting you in the congregation room,” The man says quickly, shuffling forward slightly before turning back to Five to see if he was following. As if he were a child. Five sneered and walked in front of the man if just to prove a point. He felt an ache in his chest and eyed the food platters suspiciously, taking an apple off of one. The woman who was holding it squeaked and when Five looked away he heard a bang. He was pretty sure she passed out. Five had half a mind to tell everyone to fuck off but his head was too busy trying to figure out what was going on to really put the thoughts into action. He wondered idly if it were poisoned or drugged, but quickly pushed that thought away. These people were way too adoring of him to try to touch him, let alone poison him. Plus, he was almost sure Klaus wouldn’t let a weird cult drug him. Almost. He shoved the apple into his mouth and made it to the end of the room, pushing the two doors open with a grunt. 

Sweet, succulent fresh air invaded his lungs. It wasn’t choking in incense and body heat. Thank god. The door opened up to a bright room with an arched dome ceiling entirely made of glass. Sunlight streamed in and lit up the white pillars supporting it all, dancing across the fresh green leaves that decorated the walls and sat prettily in the center of the room. It had soft looking benches lining the walls, though other than that it was barren. It was a room made to look pretty and that’s about it, apparently. Such a waste of space. Five stepped in and looked around. There were three doors on each wall. Five looked back to the man trailing behind him and gave him a pointed look. The poor buy was sweating bullets. 

“Right this way sir,” He stumbled out and veered off to the left. The air was fresh and crisp and slightly cold, like a cloudless october morning. It made his fingertips cold to the touch. He rubbed them together and followed the man. 

“Who are you?” Five asked, just so he could stop calling him ‘the man’. He jumped up at the broken silence and looked nervously towards Five. 

“I’m the head priest, my lord. Priest Bence, of your religion, sir,” Five’s brow rose at ‘your religion’ but otherwise didn’t comment on it. He’d grill Klaus on it when they got there, for now he’d like to enjoy the pretty scenery and let his stiff joints loosen up and pop. 

They ventured through a few more rooms with similar architecture, though some were more furnished than others and were obviously meant for people to hang out in. It was all very cozy and bright, something Five wasn’t much used to. 

With a final push of a door the lighting changed. It was still bright but it shone with a dulled yellow glow. Soft pews lead up like dominos to a stained glass window portraying… something. Five couldn’t really wrap his head around the colors, though they were obviously meant to represent a silhouette of a scene. Five wasn’t much of a visualiser anyways. 

Directly below the intricate glass were his siblings. Two of them at least. Klaus was sat on a bright pink bean bag chair that looked wildly out of place front and center in a church setting, gesturing bodily as he narrated whatever odd story Klaus spun. Vanya was standing, leaning against the wall and looking at Klaus with a smile. 

When the door closed behind them, the two looked up. Smiles, soft and warm and kind and so uncanny directed at Five, were immediately on their faces. 

“Five…” Vanya said, voice choked up as if she were about to cry. Five really hoped she wouldn’t because he was lacking in social skills and wouldn’t know how to comfort her. Thankfully she seemed to be holding it in. 

“Five, buddy! We’ve been waiting like, forever for you! Took you long enough, sleeping beauty!” Klaus was grinning ear to ear and even he seemed a little choked up. What was going on? Five made his way up to his siblings as they patiently waited. Head Priest Bence trailed after him like a lost duckling all the way, making as if to grab for Five then quickly putting his hands back. It was odd and awkward and Five just wanted him to leave. 

When he got in front of them Vanya leapt in for the kill, hugging Five tightly and burrowing her head in his shoulder. Klaus was standing now, kicking the bean bag slightly to the side and squeezing the two siblings. 

“Group hug!” Klaus laughed. Fives fingers twitched. There was silence for a second before Klaus looked directly at Head Priest Bence. “Dude we’re having a moment. Go, shoo, off to the dinning hall or whatever,” and before he could even finish his sentence the man was out the door, eager to accept any of their orders it seemed. Five watched him go with detached amusement. He pulled away, though both siblings looked dejected. He couldn’t find it in himself to feel bad. 

“What the hell’s going on here?” Five asked first, arms crossed loosely over his chest. Vanya and Klaus looked at eachother knowingly. This can’t be good. 

“Straight to the point as always, Five-o!” Klaus grinned. Vanya snorted and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, it’s good to have you back. It's… it’s been a while,” she said and her eyes fogged up again. 

“How long exactly?” Five glowered. He felt like he wasn’t going to like this answer. The two siblings sent each other looks again. He really hoped they didn’t learn telepathy or something. Vanya looked away first and Klaus looked victorious. 

By god they did, didn’t they?

“It’s uh… it’s been a couple… hundred… years?” She stutters out and looks at the opposite wall with great interest, fiddling with her hands. Five wants to either slam his head through the stain glass or scream into one of the very soft pillows. Possibly both if he positioned himself right. Klaus looked at him with a shit eating grin. He knew exactly what this was about. 

Five could settled for neither of those options and instead wanted to punch his brother directly in his stupid nose. 

“You really are sleeping beauty with your hundred year rest,” Klaus grins. 

It would be so easy. He could probably break his nose.

Surprising even himself, Five showed an impressive amount of restraint. He only punched him in the gut. Vanya choked on a giggle as Klaus hunched over. 

“I wasn’t even the one to tell you,” he wheezed out pathetically. “This is totally unfair.” Five scoffed. 

“You know damn well Vanya’s my favorite,” and Klaus said nothing to that, admitting defeat and slumping down to the floor. Five looked down on him like a lion looks down on a prairie mouse. Vanya smiles goofily next to him, crouching down and patting Klaus’ back. 

“Why didn’t you guys just, i dunno, wake me up?” Five hisses, arms tightening around himself. Vanya opens her mouth to reply but Five cuts her off, “And before you say it’s one of those self-induced healing comas, I know I had like a thousand viles of that kick start you could have pumped into me”. They’re both quiet. 

Klaus still seemed winded so Vanya spoke up after a few hesitant seconds. “Your lab… may or may not have… blown up…” She smiles nervously. Five clutches his arms tightly against his chest and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath in and letting his tense shoulders unwind. He opens his eyes and smiles back. 

Vanya screams, sharp and ringing, and books it towards the door. Klaus is scrambling to stand up and clutch the bean bag up to his face, cowering in a corner. Five’s smile widens and a vein throbs in his head. 

He had been awake for less than twenty minutes and he already felt a headache ebbing its way into his temple. 

With pinpoint accuracy he picks up the nearest object, a wooden pedestal that was probably supposed to have a book on it, and chucks it directly at Vanya. She’s out the door in time, however, and now there's a wooden pedestal halfway out the door. He hadn’t been trying to actually hit her, he never would, but hearing that sentence had him teetering the line more than he had ever thought possible. 

By the way she said it, she definitely had something to do with it. 

Five looks over at Klaus with a cold glare and he flinches deeper into the small corner. He sighs, head in his hands, and takes a minute to compose himself. Klaus peaks his head over the bean bag and gives him an innocent look. 

“Okay, I’m fine now,” Five declares and Vanya shakkily opens the door. Wood Splinters rain down from the gaping hole only plugged up by the pedestal itself. She creeps up to him, though she has no real fear lining her shoulders. 

“So let me get this straight. I was out of commission for a few hundred years and since none of you could wake me up, you decided to start a cult,” Five practically growls. Klaus is now stomach-down on the bean bag, kicking his feet to make it slide back over to his siblings. 

Klaus makes a placating expression of contemplation before shrugging. “Yeah pretty much,” He says. 

Five contemplates murder, for just one second. One beautiful second. 

“And why am I a part of it, pray tell?” Five asks, annoyed. He had made it specifically clear that he didn’t want to be a cult leader or a ‘god’ a good few thousand years ago after the train wreck that was his first and last cult. At least, it used to be his last. He was genuinely confused, knowing his siblings would comply with at least those restrictions when asked to. Vanya's face screws up a bit, looking almost pained. 

“When you, uh, were attacked and put in that state, we weren’t sure where your body was. We’re still not entirely sure. We just got word a few hundred years ago that there was a small cult forming around an ‘immortal sleeping child’ and we were willing to take a gamble and look into it,” Vanya muttered out, seemingly embarrassed. So they had lost his body then? How?

“What happened? Why was I attacked in the first place?” Five asks, walking over to Klaus and sitting next to him. He leaned heavily onto the beanbag and Klaus shuffled over, though Five never climbed on. 

Vanya’s fingers grew somehow more twitchy. “That's the thing…”

Klaus beat her to it, though his usual happy air was completely gone. He looked serious for once. 

“It was one of us, and we don't know who”

[toysoldiers-rwby]

[CS] 11. Error. Permission Denied

Cutting Strings

Characters: Penny Polendina, May Marigold, Winter Schnee Word Count: 6.5k

Healing isn’t always a painless experience.

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Archive Encrypted.  

Ciel and Xanthic were already at the Polendina Facility when Winter’s summon landed. Aro was still sleeping, and without any knees she was a little difficult to carry but May figured out a way to gently cradle Aro against her.  

Xanthic scowled and jogged up to them, “Dr. Polendina and my bots just finished a room for her,” May nodded and quietly left. Xanthic then glared at Winter who was already a little exhausted, “And you! Just because she’s not in critical condition doesn’t mean you can just run off with her!” She nearly yelled. Her voice then dipped into a whisper, “Second, tell me before you bust her out! There was a lot of witnesses but I erased the footage anyway.”  

“You know Aro doesn’t do well in confined spaces,” Winter argued. Knowing she gets rather stubborn and impulsive behavior is less controlled when she’s angry, Penny concluded she snuck Aro out without thinking, “Staying there would have caused unnecessary stress and panic.”  

Xanthic frowned. She calmed a little and crossed her arms, “You don’t want to take that fall, Schnee.” She said carefully. Penny stepped next to Winter and was a little surprised to see a subdued expression. Ciel and Penny exchanged confused and lightly concerned glances. Xanthic didn’t sneer but instead walked inside the facility with her partner.  

“That seemed like it was more than it appeared…” Penny noted.  

“Xanthic censors a lot of the rumors that circulate around our little social circle,” Winter explained. Her voice had a weary edge to it and her expression was a little sad, “She was just reminding me to be careful.”  

For now her processors where trying to find a solution to a problem other people were more than capable of handling. She knew Aurora was okay whenever her partner was in her immediate vicinity but once May took her inside, Penny started to worry. Winter took her hand again and held it tight for a moment.  

“I want you to hear this from me,” Winter started it. For some reason it activated Penny’s fight protocols. She may have squeezed her hand harder than necessary but the soldier pushed on. “Aro nearly ended up in a coma.”  

Penny’s felt like she was in zero gravity again. Her gyroscope spinning wildly as she fumbled for the ground she firmly stood on. She watched Winter’s calm face slowly slip into worry.  

Then Penny felt too many things at once.  

She squeezed Winter’s hand, consciously harder than she should, “You shouldn’t have snuck her out.” Winter flinched a little, she did nod in agreement. Then an immense fear and worry. Aurora told them she was okay but what if that changes. “What if she gets worse!”  

Winter gave her a small smile. It was completely unguarded and even her strong shoulders relaxed. “I’ve known Aurora for years now. She survived worse.”  

“Her brain nearly melted!” Penny’s Aura built up in her eyes. It was pressure that couldn’t escape and glitched out her ability to focus. Her eyes kept wandering until Winter gently cupped her cheek.  

Her pale face was the only thing her frying processors could focus on. She looked confused, thumb brushing near the corner of her water-less eyes. Penny threw herself into Winter’s arms. She was hugged tightly but her Aura still felt like it was pushing at all of her seams.  

“She survived the reason she has those cybernetics didn’t she?” Winter murmured.  

“I… I don’t want to hear it.” Penny choked. Every system and protocol was conflicting with each other and her synthetic voice came out uneven. “Reason and rational isn’t working right now. I know Aurora is going to be okay but- but it doesn’t feel like it!”  

“Sometimes you need to ride through it,” Winter whispered. Penny found her eyes closed, face pressed to her chest. “What can I do to help you?”  

“I don’t know!”  

“… And that’s okay. We’ll figure it out, Penn.”  

For a moment Penny thought everything went offline. She heard a soft and steady beeping along with the sound of breathily purrs and a light snoring. When she finally opened her eyes she slowly focused on Winter. She was tired, worry pinching her brows and corner of her lips. She still stood strong yet the ungloved hand that cupped Aurora’s sleeping face was gentle.  

So light Penny felt like if she looked away it would float away from memory. Instead another one drifted in, You should kiss her, her simulators and memory must have malfunctioned at the same time because in her head she heard May’s voice instead of Winters and Penny knew something about that sentence was altered.  

Then she noticed the room and the machines. An IV of cool saline running through Aro’s system to keep her temperature down. All the monitors showed signs of health like she wasn’t in danger of her own systems. Then she noticed a warm hug and arms around her. She turned enough to get a good look at May.  

At first Aro’s nickname for her made Penny… uncomfortable but for May, it was accurate. Her face was a little rounder than Winter, skin a few shades tanner and… Penny gently cradled May’s face, detecting the temperature difference between her jaw and the blush that always dusted across her cheeks.  

Winter, Aurora, and a few other Huntresses traded the arbitrary title of Most Attractive Women of Atlas, but Penny was starting to think May might be the most beautiful. She brushed the loose strands of hair behind her ear and found herself coming through nearly and arm length. She looked nearly unrecognizable without the lion tail wrap controlling it.  

During one of her passes Penny much have pressed a little too hard because May stirred. She tried to pull Penny close but with her weight, Penny had to cuddle closer least she wakes up. Her other hand started to pat blindly at the space behind Penny. The more she grabbed at empty air the more displeased she was in her sleep. Winter came up behind them, hand sliding into May’s just as she woke.  

“Good morning,” Winter said. She smiled at the pair and brought a kiss to May’s wrist. May mumbled indistinguishable words in an affectionate tone. Content May let go and Winter’s hand gently cupped Penny’s cheek. “How do you feel?”  

“Immediately upon awakening? Dazed and lethargic. Presently?” Penny thought about it. She saw Aro on the bed, unconscious but stable. She was surrounded by two elite Huntresses with enough stimuli from the skin contact to keep her Aura active through her system. There was something she couldn’t quiet grasp, an emotion her processors struggled to identify because of so many variables and history and behaviors of the three ladies. “Safe and comfortable. I should be content but… I’m not.” Penny frowned. Her body had no needs so why didn’t she feel fulfilled.  

Winter and May locked up for a second and stiffly glanced at each other. Winter licked her lips, her cheeks pinking ever so slightly. “… Really?”  

"Good morning, Platinum!" Xanthic’s voice sang loudly into the room.  

“Gah!” May practically screamed. She half jumped, half thrashed her way onto her feet. At the door was both the hacker and Dr. Pietro. Penny smiled getting to her feet and pushing past two very nervous looking Huntresses. “Good morning… sir…” May mumbled, “Xanthic.” For one she didn’t address the hacker with guarded anger.  

“Good morning father!” Penny said, adding a hug to the greeting.  

“Good morning, darling,” Dr. Pietro smiled at her. His grin grew a little when he looked at May and Winter. Penny tilted her head. She could tell Winter was struggling with her composure. Her movements were a little too stiff. May always worn her heart on her sleeve and she looked extremely guilty with blood crawling up her neck and cheeks. Perhaps she could go and comfort the women? Though the way she hunch in on herself seemed withdrawn, so Penny decided against it. “Good morning, Ms. Schnee, Ms. Marigold.”  

“… Sir,” Winter’s voice was clipped and she barely nodded her head. It was more of a small bow and a reason to glance away for a moment. She regained herself and looked at Xanthic. “Platinum? Is that a… team name?”  

“Me and Robyn’s other two misfits were talking about it,” Xanthic said with a grin. Her eye cybernetic eyes constantly glowed but this time it looked far to amused. “P-A-W-M. All of you are rich, two is heavily cybernetic, Winter usually has a heart as cold as steel and May is… dense.” In an oddly passive behavior, May lightly glared at Xanthic.  

“It is a rather appropriate team name,” Dr. Pietro mused, “And you four tend to gravitate to each other.” This time her father’s eyes were twinkling in amusement while May looked ready to feint. Winter endured it, posture like a soldier but she was blushing rather hard now.  

Penny frowned up at the pair, “Are you two okay?”  

“F-Fine!” May barked out, voice squeaking a little. She cleared her throat but didn’t relax.  

“Relax! I’m just teasing,” Dr. Pietro laughed. “Penny, Ms. Soleil is in the kitchen making breakfast, would you kindly help her?”  

“Of course!” Penny smiled. She hugged her father once more before leaving. Oddly Xanthic was the only one following. She glanced back to see her father nonverbally gesturing for the Huntresses to stay. Xanthic laughed and pushed Penny forward. “Xan… why does it feel like I’m not quite understanding the full context here?”  

“Because I’m pretty sure you and Aro are not neural typical,” Xanthic’s hand heavily clasp her shoulder. But it wasn’t a menacing gesture, the grin on the hacker’s face was too happy for that.  

“Good morning,” Ciel greeted as the pair entered the kitchen. Xanthic took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of fried bacon and rice. Penny’s systems didn’t have any olfaction or gustatory simulating hardware but she hummed in appreciation for Ciel’s work. It was usually Xanthic that helped in the kitchen, or cooked outright but Penny took over the cutting station, slicing some meats and greens with mathematical accuracy and factory precision.  

“Think you two can multitask?” Xanthic asked, “There’s somethings me and Glade should have told you two.”  

“I think there’s a lot of things you need to confess,” Ciel said. She took the diced foods and sprinkled them over a cooking omelet. When she didn’t get the usual bite back the officer paused and raised a brow at her partner. “Alright. You’re being boring so this is actually serious… Oh.”  

On the table was a hovering projection of Aro and Xanthic’s body. Their organic parts were in a muted gray. The cybernetic additions that was readily visible was in a vibrant blue, that included the cybernetics that raised out of the back of their heads. The color muted as it entered the body. Blue lines crawled deep into their brains, branching off into many directions. Another bulk of it traveled down Xanthic’s spine a little.  

For Aro it traveled all the way down to her legs.  

A coma was just one of the things that could have gone wrong. Penny quickly set the knife down and took a deep, even breath. She cleaned her hands with a rag, everything working without though as her processors tried to shut down her overactive simulators. Aro was covering, in a room with her father and Winter and May.  

Instead she distracted herself by remembering Aro’s file. As Dr. Peitro’s assistant, Aurora Glade was one of the few civilian personal files Penny was installed with. She was from Menagerie, moved to Atlas five years ago.  

Two years ago some SDC executives from the Watts family went to Vacuo for a business trip. Aro accompanied them. Despite Aro’s survival my military personal considered the rescue mission a failure.  

“Official records state that there were a handful of survivors*,”* Xanthic told Ciel. “Only the family attendants and Glade survived.”  

“Didn’t peg you for a servant,” Ciel said, crossing her arms.  

Again Xanthic smirked, “Bitch, I live as many different lives I’d want. Anyway,” Xanthic tapped at the Scroll again. Slowly some parts of Aro’s cybernetics turned red many of the components in her legs turned a deep red. It faded along her spine but there was another intense patch of red in Aro’s skull.  

Very close to her brain.  

“People with intense augmentation such as me, Glade, Penny and Ironwood need Dust to run our cybernetics.” Xanthic started. Penny felt her Aura panic wildly in her chest. The statement was true. But for Penny and Ironwood the power was housed in her chest and had several fail safe to prevent it from overheating non-replaceable equipment, such as her memory core. None of Ironwood’s cybernetics was directly integrated with his organic neural network, instead input was transferred via the bluetooth transmitter on his forehead.  

“Aro has three power units, one for each leg and the base of her skull for her aids.” Xanthic explained, drawing out the shape of Aro’s horns with her hands. “We’re getting rid of the dust core with these upgrades but if the back of our heads gets too damaged or overloaded with power, lightning Dust, whatever we’re done…” She made the motion of slicing off her own head with a clean flick of her wrist.  

“You two are a video game boss, got it,” Ciel said turning around and resuming cooking. The bored drawl took both Penny and Xanthic by surprised. It stopped the panic from spreading and she looked at Xanthic, curious about her reaction. Interestingly the hacker had a slight flush and a surprised anger on her face.  

“… Bitch. See if I open up again,” Xanthic grumbled quietly to herself.  

“What was that?” Ciel asked. She kept her voice flat and disinterested but from her angle, Penny could see both their expressions. Ciel glanced at Penny and gave her a small smile and a wink.  

“The operation will be around 6pm.” Xanthic lied with some bite. She surrendered the white Scroll Dr. Pietro lent her, “Here are the schematics so far. Since you are her partner we’ll like your input but Glade will have the last word.”  

“That’d be a first.”  

“Aurora!” Penny gasped and turned around. She saw green hair and horns, all the little detail turned into a blur as Penny launched herself at Aro.  

For once Penny slipped past the Glyph but May quickly intercepted. She grunted hard, taking the full on tackle of a metal women plus the additional force of pushing into it. Penny was a little surprised at her strength but happy enough to wrap her arms around anything she touched. So May was good practice.  

“Ow, loosen up Penn,” May said with a small laugh. Still she affectionately ran a hand through her hair- or was about too. She suddenly stiffen and it changed to awkwardly patting her head. Penny frowned in disappointment. May and Winter tried to hid their smiles at the pout. Behind them Aro and Dr. Peitro laughed. She managed to walk over on unsteady legs to play with Penny’s puffed out cheeks.  

“Ms. Glade is still injured,” Dr. Pietro said and signed. Penny was a little surprised at how fluidly his hands moved. His sign language wasn’t as good as May’s but he was Aro’s mentor years before.  

“Technically, I suppose,” Aro sighed with a slightly amused smile. Penny promised to be gentle. She let go of May and gently hugged her partner. Penny noted that Aro squeezed back with only a fraction of her strength at maximum effort. But she was alive and not in a coma. So Penny squeezed just a little harder and buried her face in the warmth of her shoulder and neck.  

For once breakfast was almost peaceful. Possibly because Xanthic was half busy talking about the possible upgrades with the Polendinas and occasionally Aro. The mechanic was a little slow and lethargic from the anesthesia. Her sea green eyes would sometimes glaze over from behind her glasses and it looked like she fell asleep for a few seconds. It happened less as the morning passed. One startling adjustment was Aro’s deafness, it was much more pronounced with her older aids. She preferred sign language over verbal communication, happy to converse with May or to teach them new signs.  

Occasionally Winter and May would give the hacker an odd glance or they seem to stay a little too long at Penny. Whenever Penny gave them a confused look they both blushed and turned away.  

“If the brat is working here, I’ll like to request time to visit my family.” Ciel said glancing at Aro and Winter for permission. Aro blinked and raised a brow.  

“If the bat… Oh! Brat,” Aro glanced at Xanthic with a sneer. “I’m not worried about falling behind in lectures. Robyn can drop us off. I have…” She looked at Winter and May, “Plans…”  

Under the table there was a hard sound and Xanthic visibly wincing. Everyone paused to stare at the hacker. She tried very hard to keep her composure but ended up crumbling a little from pain. Ciel’s snort and hard laugh broke the stunned silence, “Did you really try to kick her metal legs? Bare foot?”  

“Shut it,” Xanthic hissed, “One. No eating or drinking five hours before the operation. Two. Be more descriptive, you idiot! It sounds like your ditching them.” May and Winter frowned. If Penny had to guess why, it was that Xanthic knew Aro’s secret while the pair was kept in the dark. Penny laughed at the soft envious look on their face.  

Aro rolled her sea-green eyes. With a little more confidence she gave May and Winter a small smile, “I have a surprise for you two, and no… it’s not me disappearing.” She looked at May and sign, “I promise.”  

The huntresses seemed to relax but Penny frowned, “You’re in no condition to set up a party.”  

“It’s not…” Aurora had to pause, a deep embarrassed flush blooming across her face and to her wiggling ears. “Joanna, Robyn and Fiona are helping me. I’m just… getting a haircut.”  

“You are a shitty liar without Focus, Ms. Glade,” Winter said with a sigh. Aro made a complaining whine but didn’t argue. She didn’t look guilty but had trouble finding the words. It didn’t help that May looked rather skeptical. “How long?”  

“Two hours tops!” Aurora said earnestly, fist clenched tight and wiggling before her. Penny was remind of a child at first. But then remembered Xanthic’s comment about needing a possible diagnosis from a psychotic. Perhaps it was more of a physical stimulation habit? No matter the reason, Penny smiled back. It was an adorable display of happiness from her partner that could have ended up in a coma or worse-  

“I suppose that’d give us time to… discuss things with Penny.” Winter said. Penny took a small breath, trying to focus on the present. She focused on the slow blush that raised to Winter’s pale cheeks. She was trying to maintain her composure but slowly crumbled. Penny and Aro laughed softly at it.  

The Mantle members of APCX headed back to Atlas with a curtsy ride from the rather happy group of huntresses, minus May. Fiona was practically bouncing in place while Joanna was grinning widely. Robyn was the only calm huntress of the group. May didn’t speak much. She signed gently with Aro, possibly trying to staying or to allow her to help. Fiona groaned and had to push May away.  

"Take the hint, Marigold! It’s a surprise for PASM!"  

“… You really did talk about it with Xan…” Winter murmured giving her former teammate a disbelieving look.  

May just shook her head “Oh! Yeah but…” May still looked nervous. Penny wondered if that’s how she looked as soon as Aro left her sight yesterday. As a precautionary measure Penny took May’s hand and squeezed it, similar to Winter’s strategy of calming her down. May looked down at her and squeezed back but the worry never left her face. “Promise me you’ll be careful, alright? Dr. Pietro said to-”  

“Avoid anything that’s heat up my neural augments, don’t manipulate Dust, let my Aura recharge,” Aurora said droned on in a playfully bored tone. She rolled her sea green eyes, “I have three people to makes sure I don’t do anything too stupid.” Fiona giggled hooking their arms together and tugging Aro to the airship.  

“She’s been planning this thing for almost a year and I don’t have your patience!” Fiona said. She pulled a little hard, making Aro jerk and stumble a little. May let out a distressed noise and tried to surge forward but Penny linked their arms tightly. With her superior strength she kept May rooted to that spot while Fiona hurriedly dragged Aro onto the ship with a laugh. “You’ll thank us later.”  

“See you soon!” Aro called out as the door closed. May grumbled staring as the airship left with a sad pout.  

“What me and Penny aren’t good company?” Winter asked a little teasingly.  

May pouted a little harder, arms crossed. “It’s not the same without Aro… and… and her semblance is off because of the drugs so I wanted to spent some time with her.” She said softly. An sympathetic silence fell over the three. She did manipulate the General of an entire Kingdom and misleading May seemed to be a common occurrence in the past.  

Penny could not simulate the history the other two went through and she only knew Aurora for nearly two months now but there wasn’t a day they haven’t been at each other’s side. "Her company is always a pleasure, but even more so without Focus," Penny agreed squeezing her hand. “But… If you waited five years to be romantically involved-” At the word May grumbled and tried to run. Winter laughed gently and stepped in her way. Penny pouted, complete with a soft verbal que to get May’s attention. Penny grinned and giggled to see how flush her face was. It reminded her of the Welcoming Fair. “Your patients is astounding, Two hours should be easy for you.”  

Winter stepped in close, standing shoulder to shoulder in leu of linking arms, and leading May away from the military facility.  

“Speaking of romantic intentions…” Winter started. There was a light blush on her cheeks again but not as bad as May’s, who’s flush caused her steps to falter a little. Penny quickly slid her hand up, linked her arms with May and helping her catch her feet. “Penny… you mentioned earlier you wanted something more,” Penny nodded. It was a conversation still in her cache memory, “Were you talking romantically?”  

Penny paused. She looked her hand joined with May’s. Her scheduled maintenance reminded her of all the reason they weren’t compatible. She needed to change knee and ankle joints due to the heavy impacts from her dive maneuvers with Floating Array, her gyroscope needed an upgrade to adjust to Aro’s artificial gravity that was in constant flux. Penny’s artificial nature…  

“I… I don’t think I’m capable of romantic-” Penny’s explanation was cut short. May snorted back a laugh but it slipped out of her anyway. She pulled her arm until their hands were intertwined again and held them to Penny’s face. Her face was oddly smuggled for the blush on her cheeks. Beside her Winter raised a brow with a small grin as well. Penny huffed back at them, pouting a little as her Aura stirred up excess heat. “It’s a comforting gesture!”  

“Y-yes…” May blushed and looked away. “But you do it when we’re not sad or stressed.”  

“I like the physicality,” Penny admitted looking down at her feet for a moment. Touch was such an odd sensation. There was so many things behind it from texture to application, and in this case context. She was inexperienced many of its but not ignorant of them.  

“I understand returning Aro’s physical gestures, but you’ve never cuddle Ciel or Xanthic.” Winter stated.  

“Because they are different people.” Penny answered. With the current line of inquires Penny was able to spot the one information she was missing. “What’s the difference between romantic and platonic affection? Aro blows kisses and cuddles with Fiona.”  

The two paused for a moment, stunned. Then May let out a soft human growl of frustration under her breath, “Aurora… Making shit hard even when you’re not here.”  

“Platonic and romantic affection can be very similar…” Winter mumbled, “But with many people there is a distinct difference, they usually aren’t as physical as we are.” She glanced at their joined hands with a small smile.  

Penny tilted her head. Her simulators tried to create a scenario of the four dating but she couldn’t imagine anything new, “What would be different?” She asked.  

“I’d get to kiss you,” Winter said. The new tone and intensity surprised Penny. For a moment her shoulders squared and eyes darken in a way that sent her Aura spiking unevenly throughout her body in a shiver and pleasant hum. Several offensive protocols were triggered, but one protective code caused an odd malfunction. It was a challenge she wanted to win and lose, watch and participate. Penny refused to turn away from those blue eyes but she did tilt her head in confusion.  

“By the Goddess and Brothers…” May muttered softly. She was a little short of breath and couldn’t meet either of their eyes. “She’s a top.”  

“You didn’t pick that up during the Welcoming Fair?” Winter asked with a raised brow. May didn’t respond verbally, she was a little too embarrassed. She flashed several rude signs.  

During their talk Winter had steered the group to the bubble tea place they had visited when Penny first met them. May quickly fled inside to order their drinks, leaving Penny giggling while Winter laughed softly. They took a seat at the same table Winter had sat her down after her first panic attack.  

Penny took Winter’s hand and squeezed it gently. She recalled the memory for nearly two months ago. It was different with Aro, no excited buzz in the air or a lazy ocean calm. It was different with Winter now too. In the past and present Winter was happy and content, but there was subtle differences in behaviors… Now her touch lingered longer, she seemed content to be in Penny’s presence rather than completing an objective.  

“I think I understand what you mean by platonic and romantic affection,” Penny said. The memory of the Welcoming Fair came to mind, the happiness she felt light in her chest as she watched Aurora and Winter hide in plain sight with affectionate touches. Ciel ended up winning back the money she lost during the first bet but Penny felt like she benefited the most from it. “Though I don’t know if I am capable of romantic relationships…”  

“Your father mentioned something similar when he was talking with us,” Winter said. “Aurora… confessed that she only had one romantic partner.” For a moment Winter’s gentle expression soured and she glanced away at Penny, “which ended up with her unable to control her semblance.”  

“Oh…” Penny felt… oddly relieved but a little furious. Relieved that she wasn’t the only inexperienced member, furious that someone hurt Aro so much her semblance couldn’t deactivate.  

“Would you like to try it?” Winter whispered. The slight wavering and fear in her voice was an alarmingly new inflection. Penny didn’t like it and she tried to comfort Winter by rubbing her thumb over Winter’s and squeezing her hand. “Date all three of us?”  

“Hm…” Penny ran a quick simulation but no matter what parameters she set she kept getting an error. “You three are only people I’m interested in trying with.”  

Penny hadn’t realized how rigid the other women had become until all tension melted from Winter. Her spin relaxed and she looked almost smaller somehow- Penny tried to hold in a gasp, her sensors flaring wildly as her analytic systems tried to interpret a new sensation. A simple and gentle kiss to her fingers.  

“Your father also explicitly asked us to take it slow,” Winter added, “He was rather confident we’d be able to restrain ourselves to your pace, since we waited for Aurora.”  

“It was really embarrassing,” May said. The two jerked apart, head looking wildly for their third partner. Penny’s systems kept directing her forward but her visual analysis confirmed… May dropped her invisibility field, a tray of four drinks in one hand and a Scroll with a blinking recording light in the other. Her face was almost as red as Winter’s and a bright grin on her face. “You were always such a white knight, Winn.”  

“I can’t believe- You recorded it?!”  

“Aro would want to see it!” May protested. “Would you rather have Xan show her a recording?”  

“Ugh, please don’t mention her,” Winter groaned relaxing back to the table, shoulder pressed comforting against Penny. May only pocked her Scroll and quickly pulled the pair up by their joined hands with a laugh.  

“Aurora’s done! We’re meeting her in Mantle.”  

“That was not two hours. Not even an hour,” Winter frowned.  

"She did say two hours maximum," Penny clarified. She linked her arms with Winter. At first she tensed then relaxed and leaned into her, she glanced down at Penny with a warm smile it nearly overheated Penny’s power unit. Winter leaned back into her.  

Winter may have misused her rank to get the fastest transport as soon as possible and May might have pushed her semblance a little far so Penny could pilot the airship beyond safe city limitations. They didn’t end up at Aro’s home or a salon, instead it was a body modification shop with experimental dust procedures called Turk’s Bodily Transformations.  

Penny and May gave Winter a worried glance. Amongst the three she was the most experience Dust user, so she would understand the full consequences of direct applications of Dust on an organic body.  

“Joanna Greenleaf…” Winter muttered between gritting teeth.  

Through the window they could see Joanna and Robyn calmly chatted on the couch till they both saw them through the window. Robyn waved them in. It was a small race between May and Penny, both women quickly walking to the door. May’s longer legs entered the body modification shop first, the door hitting a soft wind chime. Penny paused a little. It was rare to see hinged doors instead of hydraulic ones.  

“You three got here fast,” Joanna said with a light sneer. “Has that patience finally worn out, May?”  

“Shut up,” May mumbled, “We’re just worried.”  

“You can worry for a few more minutes… or an hour,” A voice behind the sectioned room and curtain said. The sound of a tattoo gun paused and a head marked with ink and some metal poked through the curtain for a second. Penny caught the wicked grin and altered fangs as she disappeared again. “Oh wow! They are pretty. Azure and Arctic would be jealous.”  

May frowned glancing at Robyn and Joanna, “Who…” They both signed they didn’t know. But judging from the décor and atmosphere of the body shop, they were people from Menagerie. The style was almost Minstral but the Faunus had a distinctively functional design to them. Surviving outside the Kingdoms was difficult, so they adopted any advantage they could find while keeping their Faunus pride. This included Atlesian fashion and technology. Much like Aro it was a mix of two cultures.  

“Can you not!” Aro said complained softly. She got scolded for squirming and it took a few seconds for the tattoo gun to hum again. “And I’m not getting the full piece… I don’t even feel right getting this one.”  

“Brothers above and below know you deserve it,” they heard an unfamiliar voice say. “Can you activate your Aura for a second again? Thank you. Rumor has it Sienna regrets not intervening. If you were there Menagerie would probably have a CCTV tower by now.”  

“Hopefully with the transfer my… the Glaives can get one up soon.”  

“If the Glaives don’t out right leave Menagerie,” Turk snorted. “Alright! I think…” They’re voice paused. The tattoo gun took frequent pauses as the last marks and touch ups were made.  

“Oh my, it looks great Aro! Don’t look, there’s still a little blood.” Fiona suddenly said from behind the curtain.  

“Aura please. Thank you.” There was a short quite pause. Penny finally heard the sound of water, a little miniature stream and pond on the desk. Next to it was a portfolio laid open. Penny flipped through it. Surprisingly it was all Faunus with various of modifications. Unsurprisingly some of them were a cybernetic. Penny was particularly interested in the Faunus women with gills on her neck, a thick metal plat protruding from her spine and a hard-light tail extending from it, like a sting-ray.  

“And done!”  

“May! Get out the surprise isn’t finished yet!” Fiona yelled. Penny turned to see the curtains fluttering. Fiona shoving May away and seating her by Winter. “You waited five years! Just a few more seconds so she could get dressed.”  

“Yeah you perv,” Robyn taunted with a laugh.  

The shop owner left the private room first. They smiled eyes a lit with a kind of predatory amusement. She walked straight to May and offered her hand. “I’m Turk! Pleasure to finally meet Aurora’s mate.”  

May choked and faulted hand wavering in the air. They threw their head back, rumbling laughter coming from deep in their Faunus gut. Turk’s hand clasp around May’s wrist in a forearm shake.  

“Turk, please don’t harass her.” Aro pleased.  

“Very well Ms… Glade,” Turk said walking behind their counter. They stripped the gloves off their hands and went about cleaning various of shelves and drawers.  

“I-I’m not- Fiona!?” The curtain fluttered again. Fiona emerged first, forcefully pulling a half dressed Aurora… Glade. Penny’s processors slowly hyper focused on the new in slipping between nearly exposed breast. Then up to her collarbone where it flared out a little, and deliciously higher to her neck. It was a mix of circuit board wiring and tribal Menagerie designs.  

“You… you weren’t lying about the haircut,” May noted. Penny saw the Huntress awestruck at Aro’s face. Penny gasped and quickly walked over. She made sure not to collide into her like how she wanted too and made sure to keep her hands off Aro’s chest, least May scolds her again. Instead she ran her hands over the buzzed sides of Aro’s head.  

“It feels so soft!” Penny gasped. Aro giggled as her fingers passed over her scared Faunus ears. They flicked free when Penny played with the new piercings in them. Then her hands traced the cybernetics going deep into her skull.  

“But… you’re image?” Winter mumbled. “You’re business-”  

“Aro gave up the ADC!” Fiona blurted, nearly jumping up and down and clapping her hands.  

Penny quickly pulled her hands back and held Aro’s arm, steading her as she whipped around to make a grab at Fiona. When the sheep Faunus escaped, Aro made an odd complaining growl. “You promised me that I’d get to tell her!”  

"I made that promise two months ago!" Fiona yelled back.  

Nervously she looked back at May and Winter. The elite graduates was rendered speechless, eyes wide and for May, mouth a little open. Aro whined again under their gaze. She shuffled, trying to step behind Penny but the metal women easily held her partner to her side. Joanna and Robyn signed encouraging comments.  

“There’s no official statement yet, I’m letting the public figure it out for once. There’s still paper work but everything was finalized during my trip to Vale-”  

“Ugh, and I was so mad too,” May mumbled.  

“You have every right to be… I blackmailed the General, for starters, I wouldn’t trust me either-” May swept in pulling the two trainees into a hug. The fear that was creeping into Aro’s voice softly faded, leaving only an uncertain nervousness. “So… You- you guys like the make over?”  

May stepped back, standing next to Winter. The Specialist had that devouring look in her eyes again, hands flexing at her sides before clasping behind her back. Her eyes were intensely focused on the new ink, particularly to where it disappeared under her half buttoned shirt.  

“I can show you my appreciation later,” Winter said. The even control and calmness of her voice sent a shiver down Aro spine and blush racing across May’s face.  

“It’s,” May cleared her throat to get of the low heated tone. She swallowed a few times before calming down enough to touch Aro’s neck, just shy of the ink but slowly getting closer. “It’s beautiful.”  

“Thank you,” Turk chirped. The four jumped a little and the other three happy Huntresses giggled or sneered.  

“Now kiss!” Fiona yelled. May laughed and rolled her eyes. She did pull Aro into a kiss on her temple. "Ugh! Come on we’ve been cheering you two on for years!"  

“We’re not one of your dumb romantic comedies and dramas!” May frowned at her. Winter chuckled lightly, her voice still a bit too husky. She opened the door, nonverbally convincing the her partners to walk out. The rest of the Happy Huntresses stayed in the shop, trying to wring more personal information about Aro from Turk.  

Penny found her hand tightly intertwine with Winter’s, her eyes occasionally glancing at Aro and May, their arms happily linked together broken only when they needed two hands to sign. Her processors were slowly cooling off in Mantle’s cold air. Penny quickly archived and favorited the past hour so she could review them. Despite how advance her memory and simulations are, it wasn’t even close to reality. The feeling Winter’s cool presence at her side or hearing May and Aro’s laughter. Simulations couldn’t mimic the lips that gently brushed against Penny’s knuckles again or the way Winter’s eyes soften when they were a few inches apart.  

Decoding skipped.

[opalmaplehibiscus]

Notice After They’re Gone

HC on how Jamil and Kalim’s friendship became after Chapter 4

·       After Obing, Kalim realizes how Jamil must’ve felt while having to suppress himself from wanting to become higher this whole entire time, and starts to subconsciously distance himself from him

·       Jamil wouldn’t think much about it and would think in his head that he finally gained his freedom and it’s about time too. In fact he would appreciate it and feel like he gotten ridden a hindrance

·       Kalim would start becoming closer buddies w/ Yuu/MC and grim, hanging out with them more. He might annoy the 1st year crew, but Yuu/MC wouldn’t mind

·       Yuu/MC and Kalim would’ve gotten closer to each other to the point that Kalim spills out everything he suppressed and have a good crying session

·       Kalim would also get closer to the Octavinelle trio, Floyd being the one to get dragged in his chaos while Jade chaperones and Azul recounts his profit seeing how his business boomed after Kalim lended a hand

·       Jade and Floyd likes innocence and naivety? Oh heck no. Sorry, that’s gross. But when it comes to Kalim, he makes life a whole lot more interesting so they wouldn’t mind becoming closer to him. Heck they would probably try to make Kalim into a bad boy. (we all know how that’ll turn out though)

·       While Kalim is going around making friends, Jamil starts his conquest to get 1st place and achieve his goals

·       He wouldn’t hold back when taking tests and turning in assignments. Like excuse me, see that 100%? Yeah, that’s mine.

·       It would be a lie to say that it didn’t triggered Azul and Riddle. Azul would try get Jamil into making deals with him while Riddle starts seeing Jamil as a rival for 1st place. He can see his spot getting taken during finals and heck no, momma didn’t raise a quitter!

·       But of course, Jamil would be facing backlash from majority of the school. After all, the whole incident went live on magicam. And it was during winter break too. Who wouldn’t watch it?

·       The whole Scarabia dorm students would be giving him nasty glares or completely distancing themselves from him out of fear and disgust for what he did to Kalim. Other students from other dorms would either do the same or bully him over it

·       Don’t worry though, he has nothing to lose now. He lets his tongue rip those who harass him apart, and roast the living crap out of them. If that doesn’t work? Oh, don’t worry, there’s a reason why he’s good at ancient incantations after all

·       When Jamil and Leona pass each other in the hallways, Leona would give him a knowing smirk and would sneer at him saying “Oh, I thought you never once thought of killing your master?” Jamil would answer back with his own  saying “Well I didn’t kill him, now did I?”

·       War of snake vs Lion commences afterwards

·       But during the whole showdown, Jamil finds himself angrier and frustrated when Leona mentions about Kalim’s breakdown after seeing and hearing Jamil’s true thoughts on him. It’s not like their relationship was going to last and it’s not like he actually cared about Kalim. So why the hell does he feel like this?

·       As time goes by, Jamil starts to rise from his position and started to be viewed as one of the top tier students and admired upon while Kalim becomes more independent and hangs out with others more. Of course, Kalim also gets better at studying thanks to his new buds helping him out but the fact he can finally stop suppressing his feelings was more important than that

·       Jamil suddenly starts to feel weird seeing how Kalim doesn’t come to him as often as before. In fact, the only times they were now together are when both needs to play vice dorm leader and dorm leader for the students. Heck when holding banquets, Kalim doesn’t asks for Jamil’s help like usual. He organizes  with the help of Yuu/MC and the others.

·       When Jamil confronts Kalim about it, Kalim answers “You must’ve felt burdened with having to prepare the requests I made right? I realized how selfish it was, and thought that this was the least I could do since I feel bad about it”

·       It’s worse that Kalim says it with his normal, cheerful smile

·       What shook him the most though was that Kalim was be able to actually pull it off without his help. Heck even better when Jamil used to do the actually organizing of the banquet. And for some reason, it makes him feel bitter

·       Jamil starts to suddenly resent Kalim again. His head is filled with thoughts of how he was the one who used to organize the events, who always saved Kalim’s life when Kalim nearly entered death’s doors, the one that stood next him since a baby and there for him when he broke down

·       But now, he feels like he’s being left behind. Forgotten. Like he didn’t even mean anything to Kalim.

·       One day, while Kalim hung out with Yuu/MC and the other first years, Jamil suddenly comes over to secretly chat with Yuu/MC

·       Jamil asks question here and there about Kalim, whether he’s fine and what not about his well-being.

·       Yuu/MC naturally answers to their best of their capabilities yet Jamil didn’t expect to be asked “Jamil-senpai, is there something bothering you?”

·       “What do you mean by that? I’m just here to check up on Kalim as vice dorm leader. Isn’t it natural for the me to worry about him?”

·       Yuu/MC would point out how he looked frustrated for some reason, that there seems to be something that’s bothering him. Or else, his eyes wouldn’t be filled with some unknown resentment.

·       Jamil gets completely taken off guard when it gets point out but would soon quickly fix his expression to one that’s neutral. He would talk about how Kalim seemed to become more irresponsible, not coming to him for important talks and not communicating with him frequently about updates.

·       In the end though, all of his complaints would sound like excuses as to cover up his frustration on why Kalim isn’t close to him anymore

·       Yuu/MC, being the mc they are, would feel slightly annoyed by how Jamil was complaining about the distance he now has with Kalim and would point out that wasn’t this what Jamil, himself, wanted

·       When Jamil hears those words, he would freeze. Yuu/MC would go on and refer back to what Jamil had said during the events of in chapter 4, reminding him how he was tired about how much crap Kalim would put him through and how it was Kalim and his family’s fault for making him push himself down

·       Yuu/MC would also remind Jamil what he said to Kalim about his true feelings for sunshine boy

·       Jamil would then snap, telling the other to shut up and what place they think they had to lecture him like this

·       In the end though, he realizes that he’s the one to cause their friendship to start shattering into pieces and for them become more distant

·       When Kalim gets poisoned after trying save Jamil from Vil, Jamil realizes how much he actually liked Kalim as a friend and how much he missed hanging out with the boy who always brought chaos and smiles along the way

·       So as Kalim lays in his bed, Jamil finally starts crying from guilt and realization of his pettiness

·       It wasn’t Kalim’s fault that he felt suppressed nor was it Kalim’s fault for making Jamil feel resentful of his position

·       Everything starts falling together as Jamil stays next to Kalim’s side

·       When Kalim wakes up after being in a 3 day coma from the poison, the first person he sees would be Jamil sleeping peacefully next to him on a chair

·       Jamil would notice and wake up after hearing some shuffling and quickly ask Kalim how he was feeling

·       Kalim would reply that he felt kind of off and then tries to apologize to Jamil for the trouble he must’ve caused only to be stopped by Jamil pressing a glass cup of water onto his lips

·       Kalim would realize how messy Jamil was, as if Jamil just went through hell and back seeing his hair not in it’s kept manner and dark circles around his eyes as he drunk the water

·       A few days later, when Kalim makes a full recovery, Jamil would avoid Kalim for a couple of days, worrying the boy

·       On the other hand, Jamil would avoid Kalim unconsciously, out of the guilt that he felt. He felt like crap and didn’t deserve to stay by Kalim’s side. Not after how he treated him

·       Soon enough, everyone would get tired from seeing Kalim being depressed and Jamil’s sudden habit of blanking out so they all started planning how to make the two reconcile and get back together

·       And boy oh boy, were these two in for it. Yuu/MC and the first years would convince Kalim that they were going to hold a party in one of the second year’s classroom while Jade and Floyd would go after Jamil throwing toy bugs at him. When Kalim and Jamil enters the classroom, the sound of the door getting locked would be heard by the two, making them realize they were stuck with each other in the room

·       They would try to convince everyone to let them out first, but when they realize that their voice wasn’t getting heard, they gave up.

·       To say it was awkward would be an understatement. Both would look away from each other, Kalim trying to start small talk while Jamil would brood about the whole situation

·       Eventually the two would start talking with the basic pleasantries of how are yous, and what’s going on until things escalated when Jamil sneers at him, when Kalim starts to talk about how he was making more friends and becoming closer to others

·       The banter of “what do you mean” and “you know what I mean” would be thrown back and forth between each other until they started to shout at each other

·       Eventually it becomes a heart-to-heart argument, both spilling their feelings for each other until they realize they were both crying on the ground

·       Kalim would try to laugh by asking why the hell Jamil was crying while Jamil retorts back with a shut up and the same question

·       Both would start apologizing to each other through their tears until they calm down

·       Then Kalim would get up, offer his hand, and repeats what he said in the final scene of chapter 4 with his usually, sun-like smile

·       This time Jamil would give Kalim’s hand a glance before taking it and answering with a soft “fine”

·       It would be then that they realized that the door was unlocked, and both would start complaining about it until they burst into laughter and head back to the dorms once again as best friends, side-by-side

[succulentsunrise]

Where the Fire Lilies Grow

Content: SFW!

Mereoleona and Tani get to talk a bit!!

EDIT: I forgot to add, Solara Equinox is Laura's OC from her fic, Embers of Sun and Fire!!

Tag list: @thoughtfullyrainynightmare, @lyranova ❤️

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Chapter 7: Red Raven

"It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them."

Agatha Christie

Tani slipped into the hotspring, hoping to relax for a little bit. There was no such luck, however. Lady Mereoleona settled near her, one arm draped to the side of the hotspring, the other holding a mug. She seemed to be enjoying herself. For a moment, they sat there in silence, with Mereoleona sipping her drink happily. It was a little unnerving for Tani. She cleared her throat, preparing to make another attempt at a conversation.

“Thank you for letting me train with you,” Tani said sincerely, watching as those blue eyes turned towards her.

“Gamma said he wanted to bring someone in,” Mereoleona answered dismissively. “Didn’t tell me it was you.”

“You didn’t know who you invited?”

Tani’s tone had perhaps been a little too incredulous, as Mereoleona scoffed a little.

“What does it matter? Someone wanted to grow stronger,” she commented.

“Fair enough,” Tani consented with a polite smile. “I am grateful for the opportunity, though the climb was hellish.”

“Complain and I’ll throw you back to the bottom.”

“...yes, ma’am.”

Tani wanted to challenge that threat - and perhaps the other woman had expected her to, based on the arched eyebrow - but she was determined to stay respectful this time. Nobles were easier to deal with if one agreed with them, no matter one’s own views. It was different with Icree and Luka, naturally, but with Lady Mereoleona...Tani shook her head, slightly frustrated with herself. She had felt more brave the first time they had met due to exhaustion. Now she was aware of social boundaries once more.

“Want some?” Mereoleona asked, offering the bottle of alcohol towards her.

Tani’s eyes lit up, her previous thoughts of respect once more being swept away by the promise of a drink. Her eyes scanned around for a cup. She had not realized to bring one with her, as she had not known there’d be drinks. Technically, there wasn’t. It seemed like the lady had brought her own to this training session.

“No cup?” Mereoleona guessed, watching her frantically search for anything with her gaze. “Too bad.“

The disappointment must have shown on her face, as the woman burst to cheerful laughter. She seemed delighted.

“Share yours then,” Tani demanded boldly.

“No way,” Mereoleona laughed.

“I’ll arm-wrestle you for it.”

“With that broken shoulder?”

“I’m right-handed, it won’t matter.”

“You won’t even be a challenge.”

“I respectfully disagree, ma’am.”

Tani put her right hand towards Lady Mereoleona, placing it at the edge of the hot springs challengingly. Mereoleona seemed amused, perhaps even a little fired up. That same wicked smile that Tani had seen before appeared on her lips, as she put away her drink and clasped the hand. Her grip was strong, though their platform was not the best for this.

“If I win, you’ll give me your mug to drink from,” Tani stated her demand.

“And if I win, you’ll buy me a bottle,” Mereoleona replied.

They counted down - and then, began to push. Tani pressed against the previous Captain’s hand with her whole arm, hoping that all that training was not for nothing. Most Knights relied on magic to reinforce their natural strength and were weak beyond it. The muscular arm in front of her suggested otherwise, however. Slowly but surely, Mereoleona was pushing Tani’s hand down. Tani struggled to fight against it, clenching her teeth together reflexively. Part of her left shoulder ached from her tensing up. Mereoleona was smiling, looking unfazed and perhaps excited. Still, it was clear Tani was losing, and it didn’t take long for her arm to be pushed down in a slightly painful angle. Tani let out a displeased noise, much to the other’s amusement.

“Bottle it is, then,” Mereoleona announced happily. “Liquor, thank you very much.”

Tani scoffed, a slight playful look entering her eyes. She refused to accept that she enjoyed that happy smile this much.

“Best of three?” she suggested instead, earning another grin from the other one.

“You are determined, I’ll give you that,” Mereoleona said, shaking her head. “But no. I earned my liquor.”

“Another time then.”

“I don’t remember inviting you to another training.”

“I don’t remember asking.”

Again, that attitude - it just slipped past her lips before she thought about it.

“What I mean is,” Tani began, starting to backtrack. “We don’t need to meet only during you training your squad. I would be honoured to join it, of course, but its benefits are...less effective for me.”

“How come?” Mereleona asked, clearly curious as to her reasoning.

“I would like to believe that I have a good control over my mana,” she explained carefully, trying not to sound boastful. “My problem is, well, the limited amount of it.”

“This place might still be more useful to you than you think,” Mereoleona commented. “It can drain your magic very quickly, leaving you to figure out what to do after your mana is gone.”

“I’ve figured that one out already. It’s called a sword.”

“A sword?”

“Surely you’ve heard of one.”

Mereleona considered her a while, but shrugged.

“Do what you will. I maintain that this place would do good for you,” she simply replied, turning back to her drink.

“We’ll see,” Tani said slowly.

She had perhaps been a little too aggressive. She had wanted to tell Mereoleona that she could use a sword, but it had instead come out wrong. Why was talking so difficult? They drifted into an awkward silence, both looking elsewhere. The water was warm and nice, easily washing away the previous heat. All it needed to be perfect was a drink. Which she still did not have. She stole another peek at Mereoleona, who was drinking with a more thoughtful expression now.

“Will you stay with the squad still?” Tani asked carefully.

As far as she had heard from Icree, Mereoleona Vermillion had been expected to become the leader of Crimson Lion Kings. Instead, she left the capital, leaving Fuegoleon Vermillion to take her place. Now she was back, and she had had a taste of being a captain. However, Lord Vermillion was no longer in coma, and would likely not give up his place.

“For now,” Mereoleona answered after a brief pause.

It seemed like even she had to think about it for a moment, her gaze rising to the starry night sky.

“There’s still some unfinished business,” she continued quietly. “Some people who can’t speak up their minds.”

If Mereoleona’s gaze hadn’t been so unfocused, Tani would have thought it to be a jab at her. Fortunately it seemed like the woman was thinking of someone - or someones - else.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Tani said sincerely, causing Mereoleona’s unfocused gaze to turn to her.

“Well, you know, because,” she stumbled on her words, a small blush rising once more to her cheeks. “Otherwise delivering that liquor would be really hard.”

Mereoleona smiled at her widely.

“You just bring it to the headquarters,” she commanded happily.

“Well, how about we meet in the Red Raven this week? You know it?” Tani suggested boldly, relieved to see Mereoleona nod.

“I know the place. It’s in Kikka, right?”

“Yeah, it’s a nice place. I could share a glass with you there.”

“Hey now,” Mereoleona interrupted with a suspicious glance. “I won a bottle fair and square. What’s this about sharing?”

Tani slowly got up from the hot springs, summoning all the confidence she had.

“I’ll buy you a bottle worth of liquor, but in small amounts. I’m not rich, you know,” she announced with a smile. “You’ll just have to meet me in Red Raven a few times.”

“This sounds more like you want to spend time with me,” Mereoleona remarked.

“If you don’t like it, you can wait longer for me to save money for a proper bottle.”

“Ha! Drinking with company is more fun, anyways.”

Tani gave her a gentler smile, and stepped out to dry herself. She could see some people washing themselves here, but with her arm, there was no way she’d do the same. She’d ask Icree to help her back at the base.

“See you around,” Tani waved goodbye to lady Mereoleona, receiving but a wave of hand in return.

It was still enough. The whole flight back to the base, Tani felt giddy and excited. She did realize that she hadn’t fixed a proper date with the lady, but surely she could do that later. Somehow. It was perhaps another excuse to see Mereoleona, and the lady had at least seemed like she wanted to meet as well. Maybe. With butterflies in her stomach, Tani returned to the base to meet with her friends. It was too early to tell them anything, but it would be good to see how Kliodna was faring. She had not seen Kliodna since the attack. She had heard from Icree that the girl had returned to normal, but they hadn’t met due to her hospitalization. Tani was determined to talk to her in the morning. The return was easy enough, and with the help of Icree, Tani’s arm was patched up again. They spoke little of what had happened, instead concentrating on making sure they were both alright.

The next day Tani received visitors in her room: Icree, Luka and Kliodna. The former came into the room rather timidly, as if she was afraid that Tani would be angry at her. Kliodna was herself again - the purple hair was tied to a high ponytail, and her sad eyes were filled with worry. Icree walked cheerfully to the bed, carrying a small collection of cupcakes with her. She gave one to Tani without hesitation, and distributed the leftovers to the others.

“How are you holding up?” Icree started with a smile, sitting to the bed and beckoning Kliodna to sit next to her.

“Mostly healed up,” Tani answered honestly. “The arm still needs some healing. How about you guys?”

“Well, most of us - as in the knights - are resting or helping with the city. You won’t need to exert yourself. We three, we are...”

There was a small pause, as Icree glanced to her side.

“We are also mostly fine,” Luka finished the sentence, staying near the wall.

He seemed perhaps even more reclusive than before. His forearms bore marks of clay or some other material, and there were black bags under his eyes - signs that he had been working all night on some new statue.

“We do have a small problem in our hands,” Icree admitted, her gaze meeting Kliodna’s.

“What’s wrong?” Tani immediately asked, alarmed.

Kliodna shifted uncomfortably, sadness filling her tired eyes. She too had bags under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept in ages. Her fingers moved slowly to sign words, her lips mouthing them alongside.

“Since Kliodna attacked other Magic Knights of her own squad, it could end up being troublesome,” Icree interpreted. “She has no proof that there was someone else in her body. We are waiting whether the royals have some evidence of the possession, because otherwise…”

Icree didn’t quite finish it, instead exchanging glances with Tani. Kliodna would be charged with attacking the other knights. The Magic Parliament wasn’t known for its unbiased opinion - its seats were filled by nobles, who could easily be swayed to any opinion. If someone decided to call this possession an insurrection or something worse, Kliodna could be in trouble. Considering that she was a noble, they might take it easy on her, but she was only a petty noble. As far as Tani knew, her house had some sway over other noble families, but not enough to ensure that Kliodna wouldn’t be executed by the opinions of scaredy-cats. The kingdom was tattered, in shock and about to face multiple crises. The nobles would be eager to find someone to blame this matter on.

“We were witness to your possession. We’ll testify for you,” Tani promised quietly, looking to Kliodna.

“If they’ll even consider calling for witnesses,” Kliodna signed, her lips barely mouthing the words.

“We’ll do everything we can for you, Kliodna,” Tani insisted with even more determination.

She rose up from the bed carefully to go closer to the girl, and pulled her to a gentle hug. Kliodna was very awkward about it, and a bit tense, trying hard to avoid touching the broken shoulder.

“You have more connections than you’d think,” Icree added, winking a little. “And I’ll pull on every string I can for them to see our way.”

“Your magic was amazing,” Tani changed the topic, trying to also make Kliodna’s thoughts move away from her possible fate. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Kliodna smiled bashfully a little.

“It’s hard on my throat,” she signed, her fingers moving quicker again. “It didn’t used to be so strong, like then. I’ve never hurt anyone like that.”

“The elves have a different relationship with mana than us,” Icree explained, her face thoughtful. “Whoever possessed you probably had a lot more power and experience.”

“We should figure out how to protect your throat,” Tani commented, looking at Kliodna’s throat as if she could somehow see the damage inside it. “Your magic shouldn’t hurt you so. I’m certain there has to be a way to negate its effects on you.”

Icree’s thoughtful look only deepened. Tani was certain that the gears were turning in her head, trying to dip into her immense pool of knowledge. She couldn’t help but smile a bit. She had been so worried over Icree, but it seemed like her friend was alright, in most parts. She was still cheerful and trying to help others at every step. It was almost like nothing had changed, and yet - everything had changed.

“I’ll look into it,” Icree assured, her gaze still seeking answers from the ceiling of the room. “

“I’ll help,” Luka suddenly piped up, surprising them all.

Kliodna gave him a grateful smile and nodded.

“Me too, then!” she signed, her mood seemingly much cheerier.

The day moved on, with the group staying largely together - perhaps out of some unconscious need to be within eyesight of each other. They ate, they walked and studied together, and the day turned to night, and the night to another day, and so the week began passing. Tani did not tell them of her plans to meet with Lady Mereoleona, but instead dealt with it slightly in secret. Though Luka saw one of her messages arrive, he did not question it, nor did he talk about it. Eventually, Tani was able to find a day when they were both free, and a meeting was scheduled.

The tavern was familiar to Tani. Red Raven attempted to be fancy enough for nobles to visit, but it was mostly frequented by workers and commoners due to its affordable prices. Every now and then a noble was drawn in by the beautiful sign outside, the rich red banners and the generally pleasant atmosphere. Tani had come early, ordering two glasses of liquor and taking a place near a window to the street. Her stomach was completely in knots, and she kept fidgeting with her fingers. She was nervous. Luckily it didn’t take long for Mereoleona to arrive - otherwise Tani might have shredded a napkin to pieces. Mereoleona greeted her with a big smile, and sat down on the opposite side. Tani smiled back, trying to think of all the talking topics she had been rehearsing before this.

“So, your first glass, as promised,” she said while gesturing to the liquor.

“Such small glass,” Mereoleona joked. “It will take quite a few meetings for you to make me drink a whole bottle.”

“How are you doing?” Tani asked quickly, not wanting to divulge into her motives.

She had said to Mereoleona that they didn’t have to meet, but she didn’t want the other to reconsider that so soon. No, Tani was determined to make these meetings fun and get to know her.

“Pretty normal day,” Mereoleona answered in a noncommittal manner. “More training since we’ve last met.”

“Admirable pace you have there.”

“Challenges are a part of the fun. If those knights want to call themselves Lions, they’ve got to learn to act the part. How’s your shoulder?”

“Not any different from the last time, I’m afraid. It’s going to take its sweet time.”

“I see you’ve added decorations.”

Mereoleona pointed at Tani’s arm sling, which indeed had small, yellow flowers draped over it. They emitted faint mana.

“Not just decorations,” Tani started slowly. “Though my recovery magic isn’t the strongest, I am trying to fasten my body’s natural healing. I’m not planning to wait six weeks with this arm sling on.”

Mereoleona laughed a little, perhaps amused by her stubbornness.

“You shouldn’t underestimate your abilities,” she commented. “Your healing capabilities are quite adequate for most injuries.”

Tani let out a small, nervous laugh. She should probably take that as a compliment.

“It should not have enabled you to walk that day anymore,” she teased. “You are too reckless, walking around like that.”

“There’s no rest in war,” Mereoleona said, a little more serious.

“Ah--I suppose, yes. I heard your brother was up and walking again?”

“Yes, nothing’s wrong with that fool that wasn’t wrong before.”

“What does that mean?” Tani inquired.

“Do you have younger siblings?” Mereoleona asked thoughtfully in return, swirling the liquid in her glass.

“Yes, a younger sister.”

“Don’t you ever think that her actions are sometimes foolish?”

Tani smiled widely, but shook her head. It seemed like Mereoleona wasn’t willing to gossip about her brother, and Tani wasn’t seriously that interested.

“I guess sometimes. She’s much more level-headed than me, though,” she replied.

“Fuegoleon’s plenty sensible when it comes to work. Life outside of work?” Mereoleona continued with a shake of her head. “The man’s a fool.”

“At least he has such a sensible older sister,” Tani laughed happily.

There was a new twinkle in Mereoleona’s eyes, as she slightly cocked her head to one side.

“Damn right he does,” she answered. “Someone’s got to rival his foolishness. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What’s your sister like? Do you compete? You were eager about armwrestling before.”

“Oh, we’ve done plenty of armwrestling together, but we don’t really compete. We are interested in different things.”

“What kind of things?”

“She works at the mines here with my parents. Stone, metal and their infinite possibilities are all you’ll get out of her sometimes. She has her own circle of friends and I have mine, and they don’t overlap a lot. We have around four years of age difference, after all.”

“Ah, I see. And you are not interested in the same things?”

“Partly, yes. My interest simply is more...botanical. I have quite a nice garden at the headquarters. I used to work in the mines too, before I became a knight, but plants speak more to my heart than rock and stone. How did you--I mean, I guess you became a knight through your family?”

Mereoleona nodded simply as an answer. It didn’t seem to need further explaining. Royals were that way - they didn’t even need to attend entrance exams to join the Magic Knights.

“Lucky,” Tani commented. “Not that I’d doubt that you wouldn’t have gotten in anyways.”

“You’d be correct in that,” Mereoleona answered without hesitation.

“I’m curious if you work out in addition to your crazy training sessions. You’ve got quite impressive muscles.”

“A-ha,” Mereoleona said lazily, that small canine peeking out of her wide smile again. “Most of my workout comes about naturally, since I don’t like sitting around.”

“My sister’s the same way,” Tani laughed happily. “And so am I, I suppose. Though I like to train - it’s good fun.”

“Does that involve your famous sword?”

“You are teasing me now.”

“Perhaps.”

Tani felt a small redness rise to her cheeks, but she nodded still eagerly.

“I like to practise with my sword, yes, but it’s all self-taught,” she explained. “Any real swordsman would probably scoff at my techniques.”

“What are you basing your techniques on, then?” Mereoleona inquired with a curious tone.

“Oh, this and that. If I am alone, I sometimes add a bit of dance to it. It’s not a valid technique for me, but it’s fun.”

“I see.”

The conversation continued in good humours, with both of them beginning to talk about fighting. Tani learnt that Mereoleona was - as rumoured - very in tune with the nature around her, and instead of weaponry, used her own fists to fight. It was fitting, somehow. The topic changed very naturally from there to the wilds and Mereoleona’s experiences there, which were filled with dangers and good meat. It seemed to Tani that the woman in front of her made unashamedly many decisions purely based on what she liked. She had moved to the wilds because it was more comfortable for her. When she was describing a particularly juicy hunt rather expressively with her hands, Tani suddenly grabbed it. She held Mereoleona’s hand in hers, positioning it to an armwrestling position with a grin.

“The one to lose 3 matches is going to buy us some food,” she challenged. “I’m hungry after all your descriptions.”

“The meat here won’t be as good as the one in the wilds,” Mereoleona commented, but placed her arm into proper position as well.

“Then you’ll just have to serve me some wild meat later.”

“You lost last time, are you sure you want to do this?”

“You simply distracted me last time, and the platform was bad.”

There was again that twinkle in Mereoleona’s eye as she listened to Tani’s excuses. Tani wasn’t quite sure how to interpret it. Perhaps something amused her.

“Your loss,” Mereoleona said with a shrug, and prepared to wrestle again.

So they locked hands again, pushing against each other with all of their might. Unfortunately for Tani, she had not miraculously gained more muscles in less than a week. Though she put up a good fight, it was her arm that hit the table three times in a row.

“Ah, you’re going to make me poor,” Tani laughed with a wide smile.

She quite enjoyed Mereoleona’s company, and unless her judgement was completely off, Mereoleona seemed to enjoy hers. They ordered food and continued talking for another half an hour, the topic shifting to their families. Tani talked about her family quite sparsely, as there wasn’t much to tell in her opinion: they were miners, they had always been miners, and Tani was the only outlier of becoming a Magic Knight. Mereoleona seemed similarly short about her family - they were royals, after all, and most of their life was known to the public. She was a lot more talkative about the Crimson Lion Kings, explaining how she had recruited a great new member to the squad. Tani recognized by the description the blonde woman she had seen at the Royal Knight exams with the youngest brother, Leopold Vermillion. She was called Solara Equinox, and seemed to be held in high regard by Mereoleona. So highly did she talk about this Solara, that Tani started to have a perhaps unreasonable suspicion.

“So,” she began carefully, pushing away her finished plate. “Are you two...involved?”

“Involved?” Mereoleona repeated, arching an eyebrow.

Tani felt the awkwardness crawl up her spine.

“As in--together. Are you and Solara together?”

“Together?”

“Are you a pair?”

“Pair of good friends,” Mereoleona said with a grin.

Tani sighed, feeling embarrassed. This was a mess, and she had no reason to give as to why she was interested.

“No, we are not dating,” Mereoleona continued, playing with her glass. “Why, are you interested in her?”

“No!” Tani denied quickly, hoping that the other wouldn’t read too much into it. “That’s not why I asked.”

“Then why did you?”

“I was just curious!”

“Probably for the better. I think she’s got someone else in sights.”

“Ah. Well, I am not interested. I don’t even know her.”

“I could always introduce--” Mereolena started with a teasing tone, but was interrupted by Tani.

“Won’t you stop it? I’m interested in you, not her!”

The moment Tani let it slip, she turned quite red. Especially watching the pleased smile that decorated Mereoleona’s face - it felt like she had fished for this response.

“Are you now?” she questioned with a satisfied tone.

“Oh boy,” Tani sighed, holding her head with one hand.

This was a mess. A big mess. At least Mereoleona seemed to have some pity on her.

“So, are you involved with someone?” she asked calmly, as if Tani’s confession had not happened.

“...no,” Tani answered silently. “I’m not.”

“Good to know,” Mereoleona said with a teasing tone.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Tani pleaded quietly, trying to gather her thoughts. “When I say I am interested--”

“Don’t worry,” Mereoleona interrupted her, but Tani shook her head.

“No, let me explain. You seem like an interesting person. I don’t want you to think that I am after you romantically--or for your status or--or anything. I just want to make clear that--I just wanted to make a friend. You are a very interesting person, so it led to this.”

“I understand.”

“If it’s alright, I’d like to meet like this again, and talk some more.”

“I would like to get to know you better too,” Mereoleona replied, a thoughtful look on her face.

Almost like she was evaluating her words. Tani sighed. She might have screwed this one up, but at least Mereoleona was willing to meet her again.

“I should probably get going,” she said hesitantly, not feeling comfortable staying much longer.

Mereoleona nodded and started to gather her things.

“I’ll be free next week on the same day again,” she said with a smile.

It wasn’t quite the same confident, wide smile, but a more thoughtful one. To Tani, it was a sign that she had indeed soured the mood a little. Perhaps - maybe? - the other woman was interested in her? Had she ruined it by saying she wanted to be friends? What a headache.

“Then I’ll meet you here. Perhaps that time you can pay for the food,” Tani attempted to joke, earning a little wider smile from Mereoleona.

“Beat me first,” Mereoleona simply answered before walking away.

Tani gathered her things as well, and, despite her uncertainty, felt a little smile rise to her lips. All in all, it hadn’t gone that bad. As she flew back and landed in the courtyard of the headquarters, her steps had a little bit of a spring to them.

Tani could not wait for the next week.

[kiss-my-freckle]

1x3 Rewatch: Potage

Gif set can be found here.

"Eating her is honoring her." I always laugh when I watch the open of this episode. They chose a doe so they could switch to one of Hobbs' victims. Abigail has a nightmare and wakes from her coma. First time I've seen Alana and Will alone together. A scene over coffee on the opposite side of Hannibal's breakfast. You can feel the difference. Hannibal is stalking Will, and very much wants to get in the middle of him and Jack.

Jack wants Will to see Abigail. Hannibal doesn't care one way or the other until Alana places doubt on her involvement. He wants to see if she's like them, to see how involved she can be. Double intent once he finds out Will is looking into Hobbs' copycat killer. It's just as much about self-preservation as wanting to know Abigail. When you listen to the portion of Will’s lecture about Hannibal's phone call to Hobbs, you can see his reason for calling Hannibal in 2x13. "How intimately did he know Garrett Jacob Hobbs?" That's why he tells Chiyoh he and Hannibal knew each other intimately. "Before Garrett Jacob Hobbs murdered his wife and attempted to do the same to his daughter, he received an untraceable call." When I saw how things played out in 2x13, I saw Will wanting Hannibal to kill Jack, while not expecting Alana to be there. If Will truly wanted Hannibal to leave, he wouldn't have taken a cab to his house. He was going there to run away with Hannibal, then saw Alana on the ground. "I believe the as-yet unidentified caller was our copycat killer." The lion copying the tiger.

Will describes Hannibal's crime scene as I see all of them. He elevates it to art. How they act in life plays a part in their crime scene display. He wants his audience to see his victims how he saw them. That's the difference between the Copycat killer and the Chesapeake Ripper. The Copycat killer is Will's admirer, so he kills with different intent. That's why it takes Will until season two to realize it’s one killer instead of two. I love the smile on Hannibal's face when Will profiles the Copycat killer calling Hobbs. Hannibal fell in love at first sight. In this scene, it reaches beyond that, and Will is oblivious to it. Hannibal didn't expect Will to be this good, but loves the fact that he is this good.

I'm bothered by Alana's conversation with Will over coffee. Abigail not having anyone doesn't mean Will wants to be her everyone. And he's not picking up a stray dog, he's reaching out to a child he feels he can connect with. This is the first time they show him reaching out to a fangless being. Alana should've started with her ending statement. Best Will not see Abigail, he killed her father right in front of her. Abigail is on the money with Alana's gift cards. More of this plays out during Francis' storyline, after Hannibal hands her a Verger heir. She doesn't need to redeem her gift cards because when she wants something, she simply buys it straight with cash. She went out and bought Abigail a new wardrobe when she could've easily went to her house and picked up some of her clothes. She's trying to buy Abigail's trust. I wouldn't be surprised if she struggles with credit card debt, she’s a spender.

A clip from 1x2 in this post's gif set, specific to Will's conversation with Hannibal in their very first session. Will wasn't talking about Hobbs' crime scene, he was talking about Hannibal's. And he wasn't talking about Abigail, he brought the stag back with him after he saw his field kabuki. That's what I like about this series, certain scenes bleed together. This happens as the series continues, so expect me to compare in my gif sets as I go. 

There's a lot of focus to Will killing Abigail's father and how she views that. A nice confrontation between Will and Freddie. You can tell he doesn’t like her - at all.  Just as threatening, the way he approaches her as he threatens her. Her article reads, "A statement like this calls into question the very mind and method of Will Graham and his FBI apologists. This is a man who skirted normal FBI..." 

Will gets upset when he realizes Alana can no longer act as a buffer for him and Jack. Thank Hannibal for that. Jack will regret bringing him into the equation because he has something else in mind for Will. He shouldn't need a buffer. He should give as much as he gets, but he cowers. Hannibal plans to change that. I'll gif what I mean when I'm finished with this post. Hannibal now has three agendas. His mistake, biting off more than he can chew. He should've left Abigail alone and focused on Will. Difficult in his position, the need to know and prevent certain things because Abigail heard his voice on the phone. She knew he's the one who called. It ties into what Miriam said. She doesn't think the Chesapeake Ripper is white. She said he's exotic somehow. His Danish accent is unmistakable. 

Freddie's timing with Nicholas Boyle is impeccable. "We have no way of knowing what's waiting for her when she goes home." Alana gives Hannibal the idea to leave another Copycat victim in order to help close the case and end Will's investigation. It's the reason he questions Abigail about where her father makes his putty. It's where he plans to put his next victim. "It feels like I'm talking to his shadow suspended on dust." A great way to describe what it's like to be Hobbs. His shadow would be Will's shadow. "We should report this, yes?" Hannibal wants Will to report it so he can better sell Nicholas as Marissa's killer. Killing the girl who called her mother a bitch and framing the kid who went after Abigail. 

Will wakes in another sweat and pulls his shirt off. Hannibal knows how he connects, that's why he gave him field kabuki. "Garrett Jacob Hobbs would've honored every part of her." His comment is about Will, not about Hobbs. He would've honored every part of her too, and I love the way he looks at Hannibal when he says it. Will leans into him... "She said she didn't know them." He's looking for Hannibal's support. Hannibal objects to Jack's accusation that Will is being manipulated by Abigail. He loves Will's thought process, the last thing he wants is Will questioning it and doubting himself simply because he’s the one manipulating things. He offers Jack an alternate for Abigail, then takes notice to his exclusion of Will. Superiority shown in Jack's body language when he tells Will he wants him to stay. Like a master and his dog. One of many instances in this episode when Jack’s character pissed me off. 

Jack twice admits he lacks sympathy. This shows throughout the series. He feels no sympathy for Will even though he's hugely responsible. Alana thinks Abigail is hiding something. Yep, sounds like a teenager. Jack wants Will to see Abigail, then gets nasty with Alana when she tries to stop it. He speaks as if she cares to be Will's psychiatrist. She doesn't. She's trying to create a safe environment for Abigail. Jack doesn't care about Abigail, he only cares about his agenda. He treats Will like a child, as if his own voice needs to be controlled by Hannibal. Hannibal trusts Will to speak for himself, to which Jack tells him he shouldn’t. What does this scene tell me? Jack is the master, Will is the dog, Hannibal is the muzzle. This is Jack’s thinking. He then finishes it with overriding Alana’s opinion because it doesn’t suit his agenda, and going with Hannibal’s because it does. Top this off with the fact that Jack questions Will’s profile of the Copycat killer before they even find Marissa’s body. “I need to know if you're right about the copycat, Will.” Made worse when they find her body. Jack is an ass, and he stays that way through the entire series. 

[barnesandrogersfanfics]

Saving Grace - Part 9

Steve leaves you and your son to go back to Peggy unaware your pregnant.

Your heartbroken and struggling without Steve until Bucky Barnes steps up to help you out. With you and Bucky growing closer everyday will he be your saving Grace?

I was sat on the sofa nursing Grace when the front door swung open and a laughing Harrison came running in.

"You better run pal I'm gonna win!" I heard Bucky chuckle.

"No way!! I faster!!"

I turned just in time to see Harrison throw himself in the armchair declaring himself the winner while Bucky was carrying various bags of groceries in.

"Hey doll" Bucky smiled over at me with a wink before heading into the kitchen.

"Uncle Buck i win!" Harrison yelled happily.

"Yeah you did Buddy, good job" Bucky called back sounding amused.

"Wow your so good bud" i smiled at my biggest baby, he just laughed and run into the kitchen.

"Okayyyy" i mumbled as i straightened up my shirt and moved Grace so i could wind her. Harrison came running back seconds later with a pink t-rex stuffed teddy in his arms.

"This is for Gracie" he said holding it out.

"It is? Oh my god! She loves it baby"

"I picked it out"

"He really did, i couldn't say no" Bucky chuckled walking over and giving me a kiss.

"Its very sweet babe, but where's my gift?"

"Im your gift" Bucky wiggled his eyebrows at me making me laugh.

"Your such a dork"

"I know but you love this dork" he shrugged with the cockiest grin spread on his face.

"Oh i regret it...." i shook my head teasing him "here take your daughter i need to pee so bad" i said getting up and passing Grace to him before quickly darting to the bathroom.

Coming back into the living room a few minutes later i smiled seeing Bucky cuddled up with both kids who were fast asleep.

"Wow that didnt take long" i chuckled sitting in the armchair "your like the baby whisperer"

"I took Harrison to the playground on the way home, think he wore himself out and lil miss is in a milk coma!" He laughed looking down at Grace who was sleeping with a smile on her face.

"Hey, so i was thinking of asking Wanda to come watch the kids the weekend" i said suddenly feeling really nervous as i played with a loose thread on one of the scatter cushions.

"You mean...."

"Yeah if you want...."

"Of course i want!" Bucky nodded quickly making me chuckle.

"Good! Thats good, i thought maybe we could go up to my dads cabin and get Wanda to stay here with the kids. I dont really want them at the compound incase Steve shows up"

"Sounds good to me doll, but just so you know Sam said Steve hasn't been around for weeks. He seems to have realised how bad he messed up"

"Even so, it will make me feel better about being away from them if i know their here"

"Okay I'm sure Wanda wont mind being here, she practically lives here lately anyway" he rolled his eyes.

"Shes just trying to help" i said sticking up for my friend "and its a godsend to have her around while your working"

"I know I'm just teasing" he grinned "its fine doll".

After 20 minutes or so of sitting watching TV with Bucky i felt restless and got up to head to the kitchen to make some tea.

"You okay?" Bucky asked instantly.

"Yeah just making some tea"

"Okay, its just you've been a bit quiet"

"Didn't want to wake the kids" i shrugged and carried on to the kitchen. While waiting for the kettle to boil i suddenly found myself standing there silently crying. Since having Grace id occasionally burst into tears for no reason, now would apparently be one of those times!! damn hormones!!

After grabbing a tissue and wiping away any evidence that id been crying, i splashed some cold water on my face and continued making the tea (a coffee for Bucky) and headed back to the living room.

He was sitting alone on the sofa when i walked in and looked at me with a smile.

"Where are the kids?"

"I put them to bed, baby monitor is on the table" he pointed to the split screen monitor in front of him "i need some time with my girl now, come here mama" he smiled holding out a hand towards me. I couldn't help but smile as i put the mugs down on the table and took his hand. Bucky tugged me towards him and pulled me down onto the sofa to lay with him, his front pressed to my back.

"Feel better?" He mumbled against my ear as his hand caressed my hip slightly.

"Im fine Buck..."

"I heard you crying doll"

"Its just hormones, i didn't even realise i was crying at first"

"If something was wrong you'd tell me right?"

"Of course i would" i told him truthfully reaching back to kiss him "i may fall asleep in a minute I'm exhausted"

"No problem, you should get some sleep while the kids are sleeping...."

"Okay, just stay with me"

"Always".

The next day i headed to the compound to talk to Wanda about having the kids while Bucky and i went up to the cabin. I had checked Steve wasn't around before going over, i wasn't in the mood to deal with that today. I had Grace with me but Bucky had taken Harrison to the zoo for the afternoon, since Grace arrived we had made an effort to spend time with Harrison on his own so he didn't feel neglected and end up hating his baby sister!

"So what brings you by here? Its been a while since you stopped by" Wanda asked rocking Grace in her arms.

"I came by to ask if you were free to watch the kids this weekend...."

"Oooh you finally got the all clear for physical activities huh?" She teased wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"I did! And stop that!" I laughed "i think we've been very patient!"

"Oh you have i know!! Of course i'll look after them" Wanda agreed straight away smiling like an idiot "its what aunties are for anyway"

"Thanks Wan, could you come to us though? I dont want them here incase he shows up"

"Yeah thats fine, makes sense anyway. Everything i'll need is at your place"

"Thats great, i'll get the guest room set up for you".

I had been at the compound for a couple hours now and thought it best to head home and start on dinner. Bucky and Harrison would be back from their day trip soon. I was just about to get up and get Grace settled in her pushchair when i heard Wanda speak up.

"What are you doing here?!"

I snapped my head round and there stood Steve Rogers in jeans and grey henley, his beard had grown back in and his hair looked a little longer..... just how he had looked when we first started dating!

"I...i was looking for Sam, we're meant to be going for a run" he replied holding up his duffle bag.

"Well can you go wait somewhere else?"

"Its fine Wanda I'm leaving now anyway" i gave her a tight lipped smile and finished getting Grace in her pushchair.

"Y/N..... could we talk for a minute? Please?" I heard him ask.

"I've got to get home Steve, Harrison and Bucky will be back soon?"

"please? just a few minutes?"

"Steve, she said no!" Wanda snapped at him, they had always been close and it was horrible to see the distance between them now.

"Okay...." he said sadly turning to leave.

"5 minutes" i suddenly said shaking my head at how stupid i was agreeing to this.

"5 minutes is good, thank you".

"I'll stay close by, yell if you need me" Wanda said quietly to me as she left, we both knew Steve heard every word though!

Steve walked over and sat in the chair next to me, he leaned closer to the pushchair to look in at Grace and smiled.

"She's beautiful Y/N"

"Thanks. So what did you want to talk about? Like i said i need to get home"

"Right" he nodded "Bucky and Harrison been anywhere nice?"

"Bucky took him to the Zoo for the afternoon"

"Man i miss trips to the zoo, Harry always loved seeing the lions" he smiled at the memory.

"His favourites are the wolves now"

"The wolves huh?"

"Yep ever since Shuri and T'Challa visited and called Buck 'white wolf' his been obsessed with them" i shrugged.

"Thats cute" Steve nodded sadly before looking up at me "im sorry. Im sorry for everything..... i should never had left"

"No you shouldn't have, but you did. You can't change that Steve"

"I know. I dont know what i was i thinking sweetheart"

"Lets not not do this again. It wont change anything.... you chose another woman over your fiancé and your son! All those years i gave you and you chose a woman you spent 5 minutes with a 100 years ago!!" I took a deep breath trying my best to stay calm and not shout at him, i didn't want to wake Grace "i loved you so much and you threw it in my face. You didn't even have the balls to say goodbye"

"I know" he admitted avoiding eye contact and we sat silently.

"If you could go back to that day, the day you left us..... would you still do it?" I asked breaking the silence.

"I dont know.... i had a beautiful life with Peggy, but i missed you and Harrison so much. There was no way to get back to you, the machine hadn't been invented yet so i had no choice but to embrace my life with Peggy"

"You know what? Im glad you went" i suddenly told him shrugging my shoulders "if you had of stayed here Bucky and I wouldn't be together" i saw Steve grit his teeth hearing me mention his best friend "and i can't imagine my life without him, i love him more than any man I've loved before. I thought what you and i had was the real deal, my big love..... but i was so wrong. Bucky is it for me Steve, so i guess i should be thanking you for leaving"

"Theres no second chance for us is there?"

"No. Maybe down the line somewhere we can try to be friends but it'll never be what it was" I got up getting ready to leave when he cleared his throat and wiped away a few tears that had escaped.

"What about Harrison?.... can i spend some time with him? I know i dont deserve it but I've missed him so much"

"Thats up to Harrison. I cant make him spend time with you Steve, but if he wants to.... its something we can discuss. Look i really need to get home, bye Steve".

Saving grace tags:

@jennmurawski13 @kenzieam @captainchrisstan

@s-t-r-i-k-e-us @lets--be-honest

@ms-betsy-fangirl @damnaged-princess

@farfromtommy @disneylovingal @lbuck121

@billweasleey @rynabarnesrogers

@heathens-takeitsl0w @lacontroller1991

@supervengerslock @barnesandrogersworld

@mariswritingforfun @perpetually-tuned-out

@thummbelina @marvelousstyles

@broco8 @ineffableg-irl