#i just really wanted to see her as the black knight captain

[imberlae]

[qrrieterisunnq]

Black Cat From Across the Street

FT. QUINN HUGHES & CAPTAIN KINK MINORS DNI - 18+ content below the cut — WARNINGS: cat adoption, Captain Kink, domination, 18+ scenes — SUMMARY: Quinn is dating his neighbour from across the street and is proud to call her his girlfriend, so when her birthday comes up, he buys her a black cat and enjoys a night with her in a bed. — WORD COUNT: 2,8K

Quinn is standing in a shelter looking for the right gift for his long-term girlfriend. It’s hard for him to get his girlfriend something when she has everything she wants.  

“Hello sir, how can I help you?” a young girl in a blue shirt with the logo of the shelter asks him as soon as he stops at the reception.

“I’m looking for a present for my girlfriend. I’m not really sure what but she likes saving animals, so I thought…” he trails off, looking around the small reception. Photos of rescued dogs, cats even turtles are pinned on the walls all around the room.

“Okay, what kind of animal would you like for her?” her gaze moves down to a book that’s lying on the reception table as she looks through the animals they have in there and are ready to be picked up.

“Ugh, probably a cat, she had a dog, but he died of cancer, so, yeah a cat probably.” he rambles a little bit, but he stops himself and clears his throat.

“I see, so let's look who we have in there. Please follow me,” The girl smiles and leads Quinn to a room, where they have the lost cats. “You can stay there however long you need, just call me when you’ve decided. There are written stories about the cats, where we found them, what they’ve been through, names they have, or we gave to them,” she says before she exits the room, leaving Quinn alone.

“Thank you,” Quinn answers in appreciation before the doors shut with a quiet click. After a few minutes of walking around the cages and looking for the animal, he wants to get to his girlfriend he stops before a cage with a small black cat curled in a ball.

“Hi there!” he looks at the tab where the name and the story of the kitten is written. “Knight, your new mama will love you so much.” He smiles when the kitten meows looking at Quinn with big orange eyes. He reaches slowly his hand toward the cage letting the kitten sniff it. With a soft smile, her moves to the doors knocking on them to let the shelter girl know that he chose his birthday present for his girlfriend.

“So did you choose?” she asks him with a wide smile on her lips looking around the room at the cats.

“Yeah, I did, I’d like to adopt Knight, he’s the perfect gift for my girlfriend.” He hums walking over to the cage, where the cat is sitting and purring quietly.

“Fantastic choice! Knight is the biggest sweetheart, but he’s afraid of the dark, which I’m sure you already know,” The girl giggles opening the cage and getting Knight out., to let Quinn hold him for a while. “The things are already prepared, there are some papers we need to fill, plus you get a transport box, food, and litter for the little boy. I’m just gonna take him from you for a while to let our veterinary check him out, if he’s okay, while we fill the papers.” She takes Knight from Quinn's hands and walks inside a room before she returns and leads Quinn back into the main room.

“Okay, Knight,” Quinn hums inside the box, where the kitten is curled in a ball looking up at Quinn. “You need to be Quiet for a while before I give you to your mommy.” He pets his head, rubbing him behind his ears.

Knight just purrs quietly, causing Quinn to chuckle. As soon as the elevator dings signaling it stopped on the sixth floor, where Quinn's girlfriend's apartment is.

With a smile, Quinn walks towards the door knocking at them as he closes the box, where Knight is probably sleeping by now.

“Coming!” a soft shout comes from behind the door before they swing open revealing a black hair girl with a white sweater and black leggings, plus fluffy socks on her feet. “Babe? Why are you knocking? You have a key!” she giggles letting the boy inside, not noticing the box her boyfriend is holding. She has had an amazing day so far. She spent half an hour on Skype with mom, who first wished her happy birthday and then they talked about new things in a Cheyenne and how she must come to their farmer’s market with Quinn and the Hughes.

“I know, Autumn, but I left them home on my nightstand,” Autumn, or at least that’s what Quinn calls his girlfriend, giggles at her nickname, even though she hears it every time Quinn is over. “I was in a rush and completely forgot about them.” he chuckles putting the box down on a shoe stand, stepping closer to his girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her waist, and pulling her into him. Autumn wraps her arms around his neck pulling him even closer, if it’s even possible.

“Hi,” Quinn whispers, his lips brushing against hers while his hands run down her back under the sweater.

“Hi,” she giggles brushing her nose against his in an eskimo kiss.

“Happy birthday, baby girl. I love you so fucking much, and I can’t imagine my life without you.” He whispers, before he steps away, taking the box with Knight in his hands, and handing it down to her.

“Thank you, but what’s in there?” she asks holding the box carefully as she walks over to her couch and sits down, Quinn following her.

“Open it and you will see.” He smirks throwing his hand behind her on the headrest. She looks at Quinn with a grin before she opens it a gasp leaving her mouth.

“You bought me a cat?” she asks, eyes wide as she watches the small black ball in the box looking up at her.

“Yep, his name is Knight, I adopted him from a shelter. They found him near a highway; his tail and leg were broken, so he is limping on his left leg.” He nods, hovering his hand over the box, caressing the kitten's head.

“Quinn, you are perfect!” Autumn whispers with tears in her eyes, pulling the cat from the box on her lap gently. “I love you so fucking much Quinn,” She looks up at him, pursing her lips for him to kiss her. Quinn chuckles at his girlfriend, leaning down, pressing his lips on hers in a sweet kiss. “Now tell me everything you know about him!”

Laughing Quinn pulls her closer to him and starts telling her everything he read on the tab on the cage, Knight was in.

“As I said, they found him near a highway, with a broken tail and leg. He is afraid of thunderstorms; he has problems with hearing in his right ear because of a small rock that was stuck in his ear and ripped his eardrum." Quinn sighs, watching Autumn's facial features change as he tells her about that poor cat.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this. But don't worry and Quinn will take care of you. Right babe?" she doesn't even look up as she asks Quinn, but she already knows the answer, so Quinn just nods, muttering a low yeah.  

“Oh my gosh! I need to buy him a toilet and food—” Quinn quickly stops by pressing his lips to hers with a quick peck.

“Don’t worry baby! I’ve got everything!” he murmurs caressing her cheeks with his thumbs.

“You are the best you know?” she looks at him with loving eyes, her hand reaching up to caress his cheek.

“I heard it a few times,” He giggles leaning his head to her touch and kissing her palm. “I have another surprise for you, but you’ll get it in the evening.” He smirks, licking her palm making her shriek in surprise.

“Quinn.” She laughs, wiping her hand on his shirt. His throaty laugh sounds through the apartment, butterflies filling Autumn’s stomach. “I love you.” She whispers looking at him with love written all over her face.  

“Fuck!” He whispers, his dick hardening at the sight of his girlfriend. She’s sitting in front of him in his home clothes, her hair in a messy bun and a look full of love on her face. Quinn quickly picks Night and puts him down on the couch, before he pulls Autumn onto her feet and scoops her up, making her yell in surprise, laughing as she wraps her legs around his waist. “You are so fucking hot right now!” he groans when Autumn rolls her hips against his, his dick is uncomfortably rubbing against his jeans.

“You too, my lovely man.” As soon as they reach her bedroom, her feet touch the ground, and her hands go to Quinn’s shirt taking it off of him.

A few seconds later, they’re both standing naked in front of each other, heavy breaths leaving their mouths.

“On your knees, now,” Quinn says, his voice husky and full of dominance, sending Autumn immediately to her knees. Her hands go behind her back immediately just like her tilting her head backward slightly and sticking her tongue out. “Fuck, so beautiful, baby.” He smiles running his hand down her cheeks and her lips letting his thumb rest on her tongue, signaling her to suck it.

Gladly she sucks his thumb in her mouth, her tongue playing with it and sucking hard on it, drawing a moan from him. As Quinn watches his girlfriend sucking his thumb, his other hand wraps around his cock, stroking himself in slow movements.

“I want your dick, Captain,” Autumn says scooping closer to Quinn, so her nose is touching the tip of his cock. “I want you to fuck my mouth with your big thick dick,” as soon as she says it, they both giggle. “That was a good one!”

“Yeah, but now let me fuck the pretty little mouth of yours because my dick is painfully throbbing.” He leans down, kissing her hard before pulling back and showing his dick inside her mouth. The tip of his cock hits the back of his throat a gagging sound leaving Autumn’s throat and a moan leaving Quinn's mouth at the same time.

“Fuck you are so good, baby girl,” he groans thrusting his hips into her mouth, his hand tangled in her now loose hair. His hips don’t stop; they only increase their speed. “Put your hands on my thighs, and if it’s too much, tap them twice. Do you understand?” he slides his cock out, a string of saliva running from his tip to Autumn's mouth.

“Yeah, captain.” She nods eagerly, her pussy throbbing from the passion and upcoming passion she feels in the pit of her stomach.

“So, what will you do when it’s too much for you?” he asks her his hand in her hair rubbing and massaging her scalp.

“Double tap your tights.” She whispers, squirming in place, trying to bring some movement to her pussy.

“Good girl, now relax and let me fuck that pretty mouth of yours.” He rasps, his hand gripping his cock while the other one is in Autumn’s hair.

As soon as he feels her relax, he shoves his dick deep into her throat, holding her head there for a few seconds, before he pulls out, letting her take in a deep breath, before he shows in her again, this time thrusting in her mouth quickly, slowly bringing himself and Autumn to their first orgasms.

“That’s it, baby girl, keep sucking my cock,” he says moaning loudly when she sucks hard, sucking the orgasm out from him. “Fuck! Yeah, just like that,” he moans gripping her hair as he thrusts in her mouth one last time before he spills his seed inside her mouth.

Autumn who’s breathing heavily swallows the white semen in her mouth before sticking her tongue out showing Quinn that she swallowed everything in her mouth like a good girl.

“Good girl, Aut. Good fucking girl.” He says heavily, reaching for Autumn to help her stand up. As soon as she’s on her feet, her lips are attacked by Quinn’s.

“Ohmp,” she whimpers leaning in Quinn and wrapping his hands around his torso, bringing him closer to her. “Quinn, I-I need you.”

Quinn chuckles shaking his head, “I didn’t hear you, baby, what did you say?” he cocks his head to the side before he latches his lips on her neck. Autumn moans softly her hands running through the messy curly hair she loves so much.

“I want you, captain,” she moans loudly when Quinn’s fingers find her clit and he starts playing with it, pinching it and circling it quickly. “I want your cock captain.” She whispers in her ear playing with his earlobe.

“Oh, do you?” he murmurs, kissing her with a chaste kiss.

“Mhm.” She muses, a smirk on her lips when her hand slides down his chest, pinching his nipple before she slides it down his abbs until she reaches his cock, grasping it in her tiny hand. “So much.”

“Well then let me fuck that tight pussy.” He whispers and pushes lightly into her shoulders, sending her onto the bed. Autumn shrieks in surprise as her body bounces on the bed.

“Quinn,” giggling she wraps her legs around his waist, pulling him on top of her. “Do something!” she orders him grinding her hips to get some friction on her pussy.

“As you wish.” Before he even finishes the sentence, he shoves his dick inside her pussy, drawing a loud moan from her. He keeps thrusting in her at a quick pace hitting the spongy spot deep inside her while his fingers squeeze around her throat, cutting her oxygen supply.

Autumn's eyes are glutted on Quinn’s her hands are on his, which is on her throat, so she can tap it twice when she needs to breathe. She knows how much Quinn likes choking her during sex, and to be honest, it makes her wetter than any other time. When she feels her eyes shut, she quickly taps his hand. As soon as Quinn loosens his hold on her throat, she gasps for air, moaning when his thumb starts to play with her clit.

“Q-Quinn.” She shudders, her legs shaking around his waist.

Quinn leans down, pressing his lips to hers in a slow intense kiss, his tongue playing with her’s as he swallows in her moans.

“You are so fucking wet, baby. Come for me baby girl. Come on my cock.” He whispers in her ear, his thumb putting a bigger pressure on her clit, making her orgasm hit her ten times harder than it ever does. She screams Quinn's name from the overwhelming pleasure she feels in her whole body.

Seconds later Quinn comes inside her with a throaty groan as he bit her shoulder to silence his moans.

“Fuck, that was hot.” Autumn breathes out her fingers massaging Quinn’s scalp.

“Yeah, it was fucking amazing,” he whispers and slowly pulls himself out of her. “Wait here, baby I’m gonna get you cleaned up.” He kisses her forehead before he gets off the bed and walks inside the bathroom wetting a cloth to clean her up.

Quinn comes back a few seconds later cleaning Autumn’s up. He quickly throws on a boxer and lays down next to Autumn, cuddling her to him.

“Fuck, Quinn, we completely forgot about Knight?” she yelps a few minutes later, slapping Quinn’s chest as she gets out of the bed, puts on Quinn's shirt and her panties before she grasps his hand, and drags him out of the room, down the hall to her living room, where she finds Knight sleeping on the same spot, she put him on.

Quinn chuckles and pops down on the couch, pulling Aut on his lap. “I love you, babe.”

“I love you too, and thank you, again Quinn. It means a lot.” Quinn only kisses her head, his cheeks reddening from shyness. If his brothers were there right now, they would tease the shit out of him, for being this shy and all lovey-dovey with his girlfriend.

“I know, that’s why I adopt him.” He smirks kissing her neck.

“Oh my gosh, you are cock!” Autumn laughs turning her head to kiss Quinn.

“It’s not my fault.” She laughs in the kiss tickling Autumn.

“Stop, we’ll wake up our baby.”  She says in a stern voice, slapping her hand across Quinn’s mouth. When she feels Quinn is about to say something, she shushes him sending him a look. A look that makes Quinn want Autumn to have his babies.

“Are you on your birth control?” he whispers in her palm making her pause and freeze in the place.

“Yes, why?” she asks curiosity written all over her face.

“I want you to carry my kids.” He says with a small smile. A shock is written all over her face as soon as the words hit her eras.

“You what?”

“I’m just kidding baby,” he giggles cupping her face and kissing her chubby cheeks. “But I really want you to carry my kids in the future.” He wiggles his brow.

“Well, I do too.” She smiles kissing the tip of his nose.

[blackkatmagic]

If ur taking Moonknight ships, Marc Spector and Steve Rodgers with mind control!

“Fuck you, that’s a lie,” Marc hisses, pressed as flat as he can get to the wall of the shrine that the Prince of Orphans led them to. The Mandarin was supposed to be here. The Mandarin is not here.

Scarlet Witch is, though, and it seems like she’s having one hell of a bad day.

Sprawled out in his throne, one leg crossed over the other and a dusty glass of something that absolutely isn't wine in his hand, Khonshu chuckles. “I would never lie to my knight,” he lies. “It’s the simplest way to break her control over him, my son. You asked for a cure and I've provided one.”

“Fuck you,” Marc growls, and ignores the look Clint is giving him from the other side of the small shrine. Clint knows Khonshu is real, or he’d better, after their detour into ancient Egypt that one time when the West Coast Avengers were still a thing. “Give me a different cure. A better one.”

Khonshu cocks his head thoughtfully, like that will hide the gleam of wicked mirth that swirls through the galaxies in his empty eye sockets. “That would require a quest seeking my sister-son Heka, my knight, and a remedy brewed by his divine hands. I don’t believe you have that much time at the moment.”

“If you depart your body now of all times,” Valkyrie tells him, low but very definitely dangerous, “I will tell your cab driver friend where you hid all of his false mustaches.”

Marc grimaces, ducking a little more as there's a loud crash, a thud, a groan. The Prince of Orphans lands hard on the stone, and Natasha drops down a few paces from him, breathing hard with a bruise already disappearing across one cheekbone.

With a loud, ringing thud, Steve’s shield embeds itself into the stone of the wall just to the left of the Prince, and heavy footfalls sound.

“Shit,” Marc mutters, and closes his eyes, ignoring the heavy weight of Khonshu’s amused stare. Breathes, steeling himself—

“Moon Knight,” Valkyrie warns, alarm sliding into her tone. “If it is that foolish an idea—”

“All of my ideas are foolish,” Marc tells her. "If he throws me across the room, try to catch me.”

“Moon Knight!” she protests, but Marc ducks away from her grab, vaults the wall, and then stops dead, something thudding in his chest. Steve is staring at him, looking dangerous as hell in the black of his old Nomad costume, even though no other man alive could probably pull off that V-neck. His eyes are red, though, and his expression is icy cold, in a way Steve would never be when standing in front of his own team. Whatever Wanda did to him—

Whatever she did, Khonshu gave Marc the way to fix it. It’s just a really fucking stupid fix.

“Moon Knight,” Steve says, and there's a rough, almost gravelly edge to it that makes Marc feel like a stupid teenager sneaking Captain America comics and fantasizing about them again. Him again. Which is absolutely not an appropriate thought to have when Steve’s currently a brain puppet of the Scarlet Witch during one of her breakdowns over her teenage kids getting pissy at her. Especially not given what Marc is about to try and do.

Steven would be better at this, Marc thinks, mostly resigned to getting punched in the face. Too bad Steven is a squishy human and Cap would turn him into a slinky.

“Hey, Cap,” Marc says, and tries to think of a way to say how about you let me get within grabbing distance without breaking my arms in a way that will go over well. “If Iron Man sees you walking around like that, you're going to give him the vapors.”

Steve’s expression darkens, and he flexes one hand like he’s imagining closing it around Stark’s neck. That’s a pretty standard reaction to Stark, though. It does give Marc cover to take two steps towards Steve, braced to move if things get violent, and he opens his hands, like an offer.

“Think you want a henchman?” he asks, and hears the bursts of indignation that come from four different directions as the team catches his words. Ignoring them, because Natasha is the only one close and conscious enough to be a threat if they decide to dogpile him, marc reaches up, pulling his mask off deliberately, and tells Steve, “Look, I don’t want to stick with these lunch detention nerd rejects if you're going off to do your own thing, Cap. I can be a good little right hand if you want me to.”

There's a pause, more thoughtful than before, and Steve finally turns, gives Marc his full attention rather than keeping one eye on Natasha and the Prince. “You want to be my henchman,” he says, flat, and the red light clinging to him like a second skin flickers, whirls.

“Henchman, goon, pet damsel if that’s more your speed,” Marc says, taking another two steps closer. He’s almost within arm’s reach now, and Steve still hasn’t tried to twist his head off his neck, so that’s promising. Probably. “I look great in a pink feathered negligée.”

Somewhere behind him, Clint gags pointedly, and Marc tries not to scowl, making a mental note to put ink in his coffee as soon as he gets the chance.

“Pink feathers?” Steve asks, and for the first time his tone slips out of cold anger, right into bemusement.

“I can lounge around your secret lair and let you test it out, if you want,” Marc offers, not even bothering to try for charming. Steven could manage that, but—yeah, Steven isn't going to touch this one. Besides, Steve seems blindsided enough by the offer that Marc steps right up to him, reaches out, and presses a hand to his broad chest without losing his head. When he looks up at Steve, halfheartedly trying to make it looking through his lashes like Marlene sometimes used to do to him when she couldn’t tell it wasn’t Steven in front of her, Steve looks down at him, something Marc can't read on his face, but—well. It’s not violent, at least. Marc got worse responses from other guys in the Marines, and given Steve’s from the 40’s, he wasn’t holding out much hope of better.

“So what about it?” he asks, leaning in, and Steve’s hand settles on his waist—

Marc kisses him, hard, no time wasted with finesse. He slams their mouths together, and feels more than hears the dry-bone-rattle of Khonshu’s laughter. Something burns, burns right through him and into Steve, as bright as the moon hanging full and round above them, and Steve jerks. His arm snaps tight around Marc’s back, and Marc braces to get tossed like a frisbee—

Instead, there's a groan, winded, warm. The kiss gentles, and a hand curls over Marc’s cheek, tips his head into an angle that’s a little less awkward. It feels a bit like an electric shock, and Marc twitches, almost jerks away, but…this is actually kind of pleasant. Not just awkward bodies, like sometimes happens, but—well. All those years spent crushing on Captain America probably have something to do with that.

Then, slow, gentle, Steve draws back, the shimmer of red around him gone. His eyes are sky-blue again, bright and familiar, and Marc takes one look at him, catches his breath, and says, “Fuck. Cap?”

Steve blinks, blinks again. Then, all at once, his eyes widen, and he says with deep relief, “Marc. You broke her control?”

“It was the image of the pink feathered negligée,” Marc tells him, flat, and desperately tries to jam his mask back over his head before something in his face gives away the whole I have a crush on the most unattainable man in existence thing. “You’re welcome. Thank Khonshu.”

“If I'm thanking Khonshu, I feel like it probably wasn’t that,” Steve says, and grimaces, putting a hand up to his head. “Ugh. I think I have a migraine.”

“Wanda’ll do that to you,” Clint says, cautiously poking his head above the edge of the low wall. “Moonie, did you really just break the evil witch’s curse with a kiss? Are you a fairy tale princess?”

“No, I'm Sailor Moon. And Wanda’s not evil,” Marc says, rolling his eyes, and drags his mask down a little more securely. “Shut up, bastard.”

Khonshu, still chuckling, tips his glass full of unidentified and unsettlingly-colored liquid at Marc. “You would make an excellent henchman, my knight,” he says, and is gone in the space between seconds.

“Damsel?” Natasha asks judgmentally, raising one red brow.

“Who wouldn’t want an easy retirement?” Marc counters. “If Cap wanted to take over the world, I think he could.”

Natasha weighs that for a moment, then snorts and waves in agreement, leaning down to check the Prince of Orphans.

“Please don’t ever let me take over the world,” Steve says, one hand still pressed over his eyes. “Even for the sake of your retirement.”

“Don’t look at me,” Clint tells him. “I look terrible in pink feathers. And my kiss can't break a curse.”

Marc flips him off, going to grab Steve’s arm and steer him out of the shrine. “Come on,” he says pointedly. “You should probably lie down. The birdbrain can handle getting everyone back to the ship.”

“While you play damsel? Come on, I can rock purple feathers—”

“Not as well as Moon Knight,” Valkyrie says, and between her and Natasha, they heave the Prince up. “Retrieve the good Captain’s shield, Hawkeye.”

Marc very firmly kicks the door closed before he can hear Clint’s protest.

Steve makes a quiet sound of amusement, body heavy where he’s leaning on Marc’s shoulder. “Do we need to have a talk about you offering to be a villain’s henchman?” he asks.

Marc rolls his eyes. “Only yours,” he counters, but instead of getting uncomfortable, the way he expects, Steve shoots him a thoughtful look.

“We should have downtime in Berlin once this mission is over,” he says after a moment. “I know you normally go back to New York, but you should stay. If you meant that kiss.”

Electricity, again. A frisson, sharp through Marc’s nerves, but—it makes breathing a little more difficult than it really should be.

“I could mean it,” he says, and looks away, feeling entirely too self-conscious. It was a bad kiss. Right up until Steve took over. “Assuming I didn’t scare you off.”

“I'm hard to scare,” Steve says gently, and—

Well. There's a fine line between supporting Steve and walking with Steve’s arm over his shoulder. Not that Marc is about to protest.

[watercolorfreckles]

The Pretty Prince of Avenglow

This is a secret santa snippet for @thepenultimateword ! Thank you for arranging this fun event for everyone, and for entrusting me with your prompt. I've been in a long writing rut, so this was really tough for me to finish on deadline. But I did it! I know this is far from the best thing I've ever written, but it is something! Hope you like it!

Her prompt was: "Fragile pretty boy x strong/buff lady. He is super smitten with her. This can be a hero x villian universe thing, or a prince and a lady knight, or a captured sailor/aristocrat/etc. and a pirate queen, or whatever you want, I just really love this type of relationship dynamic"

“Well, now, you must be the prettiest piece of treasure I’ve found all year.” 

The prince coughed and spluttered, thrashing at the coils of fishing net that entangled his limbs. His clothes, sodden and leaden, seemed to weigh him to the deck.

“Shh, hush now,” the pirate captain before him spoke again, crouching to his level, balanced deftly on her booted heels. “I take excellent care of my belongings.”

The prince stilled, dragging his gaze up to meet hers. He nearly choked again, though all seawater had since been purged from his lungs. 

The stories he’d heard, the wanted portraits pasted on village walls, paled in comparison to the figure leaning over him: Vespertine Crow, captain of the Evening Star.

His insides swirled.

She was a unique kind of beautiful, with long black hair twisted into a braid loosened and tousled by the sea’s salty breath. The contour of her silhouette struck him as statuesque, strong and muscled and gracefully carved. He imagined that she might be as impenetrable as stone, too.

“H-Hi,” he said dumbly.

Vespertine’s lips spread into an amused smile, sharp as the glittering knife twirling between her fingers. She wiggled her free hand in greeting. “Hi, pretty thing. I have to say, I hardly expected my nets to scoop up the Spare Prince, Evrin of Avenglow, soggy and half-drowned in the middle of the Tempest Sea. How serendipitous.”

As he swallowed, the prince's mouth felt abruptly dry. Though he couldn't see past the railing, he cast a nervous glance over his shoulder toward the sunken wreckage of the ship he'd spent days on, cooped up in a damp and creaky cell.

Captain Vespertine followed his gaze, then tilted her head. “Poor thing. Taken and held for ransom, were you?”

The memories flashed behind Evrin’s eyes. It was while he'd been visiting the village to check on his people that he'd been ambushed near the docks, plucked away from the fragile safety of land to be thrown on board the traitors’ ship.

He'd been helpless, no better than a spoiled house cat tossed into the bath.

Evrin managed a nod.

Vespertine made a pitying sound. “Sweet thing. Sinking that vessel was my doing. Aren't you going to thank me for saving your life?”

The knife in her hand moved and the prince jerked back.

Vespertine paused and tutted. “Now Your Highness, I could have nicked you. ‘Can't go risking that pretty face of yours, you should know better.” Her voice was a balm against the aching burn of him. Soothing, though the chill of it still had enough bite to nip at his nerves.

He stilled once more.

Unpicking the tangles of net with the edge of her blade, Vespertine cut him free.

It reminded him of a bird he'd freed once, legs and wings knotted up in fishing line. The mental comparison warmed his cheeks.

“That's better.” She tugged the shed netting over his head, tossing it aside and straightening onto her feet. A calloused hand extended out to him. “Up you get, pretty.”

Evrin hesitated, eyeing her hand. His limbs felt terribly heavy. He wasn't sure he'd be able to stand if he tried. “Thank you, for….saving me.” The end of his sentence lifted into something more like a question.

That startled a soft laugh from the captain. Her eyes glittered with mischief, holding a Tempest Sea of their own. “My pleasure, Highness.”

When he didn't take her hand, Vespertine reached down, hands locking under his arms, and hauled him to his feet as if he weighed nothing at all. Wobbling on weary legs, he caught the pirate's sleeve, looking up at her.

His attention snagged on the fact that she was a few inches taller than him, and certainly far stronger. His belly did a stupid swoop.

“What are you going to do with me?” 

“Mm… That is the question. Let's discuss it in my cabin, shall we?” Draping an arm around him, the pirate captain swept him away, leading him down below deck and into her quarters.

Her will was as irresistible as the moon's will over the tides.

Vespertine gave his chest a light shove and the prince buckled back onto her bed. Catching himself on his hands behind him, his fingers curled around the woolen blanket atop it. It scratched lightly at his fingertips.

Evrin put up no fight, dazed. She drew his gaze with the same allure as the sky and the bottomless sea. Beautiful, dangerous, powerful. Graceful in its dance of crest and fall. 

He watched the captain as she rifled through her closet, pulling out a white, long-sleeved shirt with ties to lace the top, as well as a pair of gray trousers. “Here. I'm sure you'll feel much better when you're out of those clothes.”

The prince's cheeks warmed again. “You…want me to wear your clothes?”

“You're a delicate, skinny little thing, I'm sure you'll fit. Besides.” She unsheathed her sword, leveling it with his chest and using it to lift the fabric above his heart where his crest was attached. The prince's breath caught. “I'll need this from you to prove you're alive if I'm to collect the reward.

“Re…Reward?”

Vespertine shrugged. “I assume they prefer ‘reward’ to ‘ransom.’ One comes with a multitude of fewer threats and scandal. Which do you prefer, Highness?” She pressed the blade a fraction harder into his chest.

The prince itched to skitter away but kept still. “Reward is good,” he breathed.

“Good.” 

She wielded her sword like an extension of her being, fluid and quicker than his eyes could track. There was a slash and then his princely crest was in the captain's hand. His eyes darted down to the bare square on his chest, in the spirit of every novel he'd read where the protagonist had been stabbed or harpooned and was too shocked to process the fatality.

His skin was unmarred.

Vespertine threw the clothes at the prince. “Get dressed, unless you're waiting for me to do it for you. I could be persuaded, if you say pretty please.”

Evrin’s cheeks burned at the thought, casting his gaze away from her and down to the clothes in his hands. Awkwardly, he peeled his shirt over his head.

“Smooth, pampered skin.” Vespertine tutted, sheathing her sword and stepping closer to trace a finger over the soft curve of his shoulder. “You've never seen a day of hardship, have you?”

Prince Evrin shivered, shrugging the clean shirt on. Its weight rested warm and gauzy against his skin. Embarrassed, he shucked his trousers off next, replacing them with the clean pair as quickly as he could manage under the pirate captain's stare. 

“Not many, not of the physical variety, anyway,” he answered.

He straightened the clothes which fit surprisingly well, picking at the laces.

When he looked up again, she was grinning, blatantly pleased. “There, now. isn't that better? You look like a proper pirate. Very pretty.”

“Like you? I mean-” the prince squirmed, shifting to stand, then changing his mind. Submissive. “Sorry.”

She laughed again. “Sorry? For thinking I'm pretty? I'm flattered, sweetheart. You're quite lovely yourself. Now. Back to business.”

“...business?”

“Well, if I'm to return you safely, I expect a reward of… proper proportions. There's the money, yes, but I want something more from you.”

“O-Oh?”

Vespertine plopped onto the bed beside him, turning to face him. “Firstly, I want a pardon. A clean slate I can dirty all over again when it suits me.” She winked at him, and his heart fluttered between his ribs. “Secondly. Your brother took something from me. I want it back. You will get it for me.”

Transfixed, Evrin studied her face. “What did he take?”

She leaned closer to him, her gaze sharpening into something a fraction more dangerous. “My child.”

Evrin’s eyes widened. “Your child? Who–” He paused. “Iara? He said that she was an orphan; that he took her in to spare her a life of hardship and inequity.”

“Your brother lied.” Her voice was the crack of a whip; lightning striking water. When the prince startled, she softened only a fraction, looking him up and down. “You are…kinder than your brother, I can tell. Mousy, certainly, but. Sweet.”

“He is better fit to be king,” Evrin whispered. “Bolder and stronger and braver.”

“But crueler. Are you cruel, Prince Evrin?”

It seemed, suddenly, as though he was balancing on a very thin wire. He watched her face, tracking her every underlying thought.

“No. No, I’m not.”

Captain Vespertine smiled, the flash of a victory banner, and sat back. “Good. Tell me, Pretty. Spare Prince of Avenglow. How would you like to be king?”

Merry Christmas!

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[pernesophe]

Zora Ideale x Princess Reader (bastard of the king)

This is a one shot that I wrote at like 3am cause I needed to write, but didn’t want to touch my other fics at that time. Kinda proofread, and probably (definitely) rushed.

Reader is a magic knight on the Black Bulls squad. After becoming a knight she finds out she’s the kings bastard daughter. Zora gives reader shit endlessly for “being a royal” (in jest). She is kidnapped at a banquet and Zora pursues and rescues her. It gets really found family fluffy at the end btw!

CW: violence, mention of blood, angst, comfort, Fluff

As always, if you’re reading this, then thank you!! I hope you enjoy it!

“Death to the Clover King!” shouts a man in a blood red cloak, standing in the center of the banquet room.

It’s a victory celebration for a recent battle- surrounded by the Magic Knight captains, the top Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom, and your family - The Black Bulls - you don’t expect it.

He rushes you, snaking a meaty hand around your bicep to yank you towards the portal behind him.

“First. We kill his daughter.” turning his mirthless grin to you - teeth bared and hot breath dampening your face.

Almost forgetting - as you so often do - that you are the bastard daughter of the Clover King, and that being a bastard doesn’t protect you from attempts on the King’s life.

Reacting in slow motion, attempting to plant your feet to the marble floor and dropping your weight towards the floor. Flashing light towards him, but knowing your light spells are healing and illusory in nature - they have little effect.

Everything seems to speed up in a second, you are lifted from the floor and tossed towards the portal. As you are falling through the abyss, you can see them - the Black Bulls - faces set in rage as they scramble towards you. Yami and Asta draw their swords, Luck uses his lightning magic to close the distance quickly, Vanessa summoning threads to pull you back -

But then shadows envelop your vision. The scent of damp earth invades your senses, and your skin prickles from cold, musky air.

They didn’t make it in time.

Cautiously peering up from where you crouched on the floor, you see the cloaked man standing above you sporting his cheshire grin. Swallowing thickly, you don’t dare move.

“Why am I not dead yet? That’s what you’re thinking right? Right?” The excitement in his tone is palpable. “Because I plan to use you! If I harness your magic, then I can remove any magic barrier placed on the Kingdom. Filthy Royal. Your disgusting bloodline will destroy this Kingdom.” Throwing his head back he releases a sharp laugh devoid of any warmth from somewhere deep in his gut. When he turns his gaze back to you, his eyes are wild - so wide all you can see are the whites of them and his pupils engulfing the color once there.

Tears pricked your eyes. Opening your mouth to reply, but the words die on your lips.

How can I tell him it’s a title only… He’s beyond being reasoned with…

“Now, without further ado,” he announces, raising a palm towards you, an inky cloud appears and begins to lazily drift towards you.

As the black tendrils brush your skin, excruciating pain flames through your body - eliciting a guttural scream from you and a maniacal roar of laughter from the man.

Suddenly, a magic circle forms by the man’s head, lightning pierces into his face, shooting him to the other side of the room.

Crouching next to you, a familiar crimson haired Knight places a hand on your shoulder - urging you to look at him.

“Oi, Princess. Are you okay?” His tone is as abrasive as always, but you can see the worry in his cobalt eyes.

“Mhm - I’m okay,” whimpering softly in response as you curl in on yourself from the residual pain. Zora noticing - scoots you backwards until you’re sitting with your back pressed to the wall of the cavern. Peering about him, you finally notice that he is alone. The other Black Bulls still weren’t there.

“Don’t worry, they’re on their way. I just snuck through the portal with the two of you.” Speaking gruffly, his gaze has settled on the man - who is pulling himself to his feet across the room - where his cobalt glare remains steady.

The man doesn’t approach but begins shooting shadowy projectiles towards the two of you without warning. Zora chuckles mirthlessly, but you can see his nerves through the confidence - even if the cloaked figure cannot. A vein popping out by his temple and even through the mask, his jaw obviously clenched tight.

Magic Circles appear for each projectile - causing a black mist to fill the room as they are dispersed.

It’s not long before Zora’s trap magic has been used up, and the projectiles begin lodging into the craggy walls behind you.

One flys alarmingly close. Squeezing your eyes shut, you curl in on yourself more and shift to the side to avoid it, but there was no time to completely move out of its path. The terrifying sound of something sharp piercing flesh fills your ears - something warm, wet and iron scented splashes your cheek.

The pain of being stabbed doesn’t come though.

Slowly, as you open your eyes, a mop of fiery red hair blocks your vision. Opening them the rest of the way - Zora comes into view - using his body to cage you against the wall and shield you from the oncoming attacks. A black, wispy arrow lodged in his shoulder, and blood trickles down his back. His face showed the exhaustion of exerting too much mana and his breath came out in short pants, but his eyes.

Those cobalt pools offered no respite - refusing to douse, dampen or extinguish. They simply couldn’t, because right now, they were burning.

Enraged azure flames bored into you - threatening to engulf you right there.

“Why are you trying to save her? Are you such a brainwashed peasant?! Don’t you realize?! She will never be loyal to you! She doesn’t care for you! When you die, do you think she will cry for you? She is a royal. All she will do is beg for the next knight to lay down their life for hers.” The man hisses through gritted teeth as the black tendrils sway wildly in tune with his words.

Zora doesn’t respond as he rises to his full height. No words are exchanged between the two of you - just an indecipherable expression that clouds his face.

The cloaked man’s temper reaches a fever pitch as he fills his side of the room with projectiles aimed at you, and only you. Zora still doesn’t move as they begin to fall all around you, and you don’t move either - barely finding the words in time that have been stuck in your throat since he appeared next to you.

“Z-Zora, run! PLEASE! I don’t want you to die!” choking out the words as tears streamed down your cheeks.

A black arrow pierces your shoulder at top speed, pinning you to the wall. Pain seeps through your being and the smell of metal tickles your nose as the deep well of unconsciousness claims you.

Just before your vision slips into the black, you see Zora’s face, and for a moment you think either the blood rushing in your ears or the light in the cavern is playing tricks on you. Because you are almost certain you see tears streaming down his face too.

Zora turns slowly to face the - now completely unhinged - man responsible for raining arrows down on you. Though tears stained his face, it was all but emotionless.

“I call her Princess, but that doesn’t make her royalty. Not the kind that you and I hate.” Zora’s voice and breathing came out even, the struggle he felt before was all but gone now as his Grimoire flips open to a blank page and writing quickly scrawls over the pages.

The cloaked figure releases an enraged growl, and with a flip of his wrist, the arrows begin descending en masse again. But this time, Zora’s magic circles appear - seemingly - at will, dispersing each arrow into an inky mist.

Adjusting to the new spell, the man starts shooting versatile shots - attempting to shoot you by bending the arrows around Zora.

Again, he is ready for it, as the magic circles begin to shift position to shield you.

The man prepares a counter attack, but Zora stalks toward the man - paying no mind to the raining arrows all around him - closing the distance between them quickly. He connects his right fist directly to the man’s jaw, resulting in a sickening crack that echoes through the cavern.

“Why am I saving her? Brainwashed? Wouldn’t mourn for another?!” Zora steps over the man now lying on the floor - placing a foot on either side of his torso - and grabs him roughly by the collar.

“You came here because you hate the King, and yet you are trying to kill her. What the fuck do you even know about her?!” The words escaped Zora’s throat in strained growls as he landed another deafening blow to the man’s jaw - spraying blood over his face and already crimson hair.

“She’s the King’s bastard daughter. She wasn’t even raised royalty. She’s just a village girl!” He punctuates each word with a blow to the man’s face. Now, the smell of blood was thick, and Zora’s face, arms and torso were dripping crimson.

“And yet, she’s more of a royal than any noble I’ve ever met. She is what royalty should be. She is so goddamn caring,” he snaps, now grasping the man’s collar in both of his hands. “You say she wouldn’t cry for me? She already has! For all of us - regardless of if we are peasant, commoner, or nobility. Hell, you don’t even need to be human for her to shed tears for you. It doesn’t matter to her. It never has.” Zora’s breath fans the man’s now unconscious and broken face.

From the other side of the cavern, a chorus of footsteps approach the room.

“Y/N!!” The Black Bulls shout in unison as they enter the cavern, but quickly take pause at the scene before them. Klaus, Yuno and Mimosa enter shortly after them, only to halt as well.

Finral is the first to open his mouth intending to ask what happened, but doesn’t get the chance.

“Mimosa,” Zora rasps softly, as he turns only his upper body to face them slightly. Face tear stained, with new ones brimming in his eyes. “Save her, please.” His scratchy voice is so soft it’s almost inaudible, but he knows she heard when she turns to you and quickly gets to work.

Klaus and Yuno take care of restraining the man and taking him away for judgment - allowing the Black Bulls to attend to you and Zora.

Of course they all noticed, but chose to not mention it - the masked knight’s uncharacteristic behavior. It’s not like he hasn’t protected his comrades before, but this time… it was more than just protecting your life.

He was defending you. Your life, your values, your character.

He was defending you.

Three Weeks Later

You’ve recovered fully from your injury, but Yami has stalled on sending you out on any missions while the previous event is being investigated. In the meantime you’ve been training in hopes of being able to defend yourself better next time.

In these past few weeks, you’ve noticed that Zora is acting oddly towards you. Usually the masked man would endearingly insult you about being a princess, or the “connections” you have, or just how easy you have it by being royal. You always knew it was in jest, seeing as you actually weren’t raised as royalty.

But recently, he’s been too polite. Conversation staying surface level before he quickly takes his leave. With each occurrence, you start to wonder if he is avoiding you, and your suspicions are confirmed when he turns down every offer to spar with you. Something the two of you did regularly before the incident.

Frustrations reaching a fever pitch, you decide to confront him about it.

Which is how you ended up in the kitchen of the Black Bulls base, Zora’s back to you as he’s cleaning up after a meal, and you in the doorway - trying to locate the courage to speak up.

Turning around, he jumps and inhales sharply when he sees you standing there.

“God, Y/N! I need to put a bell on you,” he chuckles with a shake of his head and for a moment you feel hopeful that the awkwardness is gone.

“Well, I’ll be going then, have a good one!” The crimson haired knight offers with a polite nod as he turns to leave through the external door.

“W-wait!” you blurt out, surprising yourself and him. He turns back to you and leans against the counter.

“Yes? What is it Y/N?” Zora inquires with a tilt of his head and the too polite smile that just isn’t him.

“I-I… Ever since I was taken… you-you’ve been… too polite.” Squeaking out the words as you cast your gaze to the floor, and hug your torso for comfort.

“Too polite? Now that’s not the kind of constructive criticism I’ve gotten before. I mean, shouldn’t that be a good thing?” Again, it’s just too polite. Too easy going. You don’t recognize this mask of his, and you don’t like it.

“Zora, please! Why are you-” inhaling sharply and hissing out the air slowly as you try to get a hold on your quickly rising emotions.

His smile finally flees his face, and his brow creases in worry from your outburst. Clenching your fists at your side and directing your eyes back to his cobalt ones, you continue.

“Can’t you just insult me like normal? Call me a stupid, spoiled royal so we can just be again? I-I… Y-you… you’ve changed how you act towards me, but won’t tell me why, and I just-” your voice begins cracking around the words tearing at your throat.

“Zora, I feel like I’ve done something wrong and I don’t know what because no one will tell me… so if you can’t be normal to me, then just tell me what I did wrong.” Your resolve crumbling on the last word, head hanging low as a silent sob bubbles up in your chest.

Suddenly, he is towering in front of you and pulls you into his chest for a crushing embrace. Burying his face in your neck, so you don’t see, but feel his tears soaking into your cloak and the tiny, gasping sobs falling from his lips.

For a long moment he just holds you - feeling so relieved you're alive and in his arms. He inhales sharply, quieting his sobs, before attempting to speak.

“You almost died Y/N.” He murmurs in your ear, like an abandoned child.

“...yes, but I didn’t… You saved me.” You softly whisper to try and reassure him.

“But I didn’t know I would be able-“ Zora begins again in a strained voice, but another sob cuts him short. His grip tightens around you, as he folds you more into his chest.

“But you did. You saved me.” You whisper reassuringly, wanting so badly to fix the rift that’s sprung up between the two of you. Hoping. Praying. That normalcy will return.

“You’re not hearing me!” He whispers desperately in your ear, and his grip is almost painful now - almost like if he lets go, then you would just disappear from existence.

In response, you remain silent this time, patiently waiting for him to continue.

“You almost died, and I didn’t know if I would be able to save you. Because it was just me. I had no idea if the rest of the Bulls would get there in time. I-I… God, Y/N, I wasn’t sure if I would be strong enough to save you… and that terrified me. I’m still afraid. I-I have nightmares that I couldn’t do it, or that they didn’t get there in time, or that you died immediately so I couldn’t even get the chanc-'' his voice breaking off before he could finish, and Zora finally surrenders to the lump choking his throat. Shaking with full body sobs, as he leans all of his weight on you, causing you both to collapse to the floor.

Once there, he pulls you into his lap and cradles you with his face still burrowed in your neck. Reaching up, you wrap your arms around his neck, running your fingers through his fiery locks, and pull him down so you’re cradling his head against your chest.

“I’m so sorry Zora. I-I thought you were upset with me… I-I didn’t know that’s how you’ve been feeling…” your voice cracking quietly too while you stroke his hair.

When he doesn’t respond you feel the need to fill the silence, so you add.

“I’ll get stronger - I promise. I don’t want you to be afraid because I’m weak.” you say in a hushed tone, attempting to soothe him, but instead Zora’s whole body stiffens.

“No.” He states firmly, leaving no room for argument. Confused, you stay silent waiting for his explanation.

“You don’t have to get stronger, Y/N. Just don’t… Don’t tell me to leave you again, please? I-I can’t take it. I can’t stand the thought of leaving you somewhere to die alone.” Zora shudders at the thought and subconsciously nuzzles deeper against your chest.

“Okay. I promise,” you assure him softly.

“But on one condition,” your words drawing Zora’s interest as he tilts his head up to meet your gaze, “the next time you feel this way, just… talk to me. It’s okay to be afraid, but it’s not okay to face it by yourself…” tears drip from your eyes onto Zora’s cheeks.

“I can’t stand the thought of you facing it alone either.” You rasp in a pained voice, and then pull him close to cradle his head to your chest again.

A long pause falls between you two, and for a moment you’re worried he’ll say no again, but then he breaks the silence.

“Okay. It’s a promise then, princess.” Zora’s mocking tone revives itself a bit as he uses the word that you so hated being called at first, but now, hearing him say it for the first time in three weeks - it causes a warmth to spread through your whole body.

The same warmth you’ve felt since you first set foot in the Black Bulls hideout.

The one you feel when Charmy gathers everyone for meal time and insists that you try her new recipe first. “Y/N! I just made this for the first time, please try it - you’re the first so tell me how it is!” She’d whisper excitedly - eyes darting back and forth to check for others - and then watch you crumple on the spot from how delicious it was.

Or when Magna and Luck fight like siblings but take pause to make sure you weren't injured by a badly aimed shot. “Y/N! Are you okay?! We didn’t hit you, right?” Magna, trying to recover from Luck’s attacks enough to speak, would worriedly grasp your head in his hands and turn it side to side checking for blood. Luck standing to the side, lifting your arm up and down while saying, “It still moves! Can you move it though, Y/N?” Never did their attacks actually hit you, and sometimes you were convinced they were checking on you as an excuse to take a break from fighting, but you were happy nevertheless.

Or when Vanessa barges in your room to show you her new purchases, and talks you into trying on one of her outfits that shows a little much skin. “It’s okay to be modest, but if you’re covering up because you feel like you have something to hide, then just look how beautiful you are! Now why would we hide that?” She’d say, turning you to face the mirror in that big sister manner.

Or when Noelle ridicules someone, just to turn around and tell off the first person who tries to ridicule them too. “Are you going to train in any offensive spells, Y/N? Right now you just have healing and some illusions…” she’d say with an incredulous quirk of her eyebrow. But the moment a Magic Knight from another squad attempted to give you the same advice, she is quick to come to your defense. “Just? She just has healing?! Do you even know how many lives she’s saved? I mean she’s saved all of the Black Bulls’ lives countless times, and the whole reason we are able to earn stars now is because she handles the damage!” She’d retort in a huff - sending the other Knight off with his tail between his legs.

Or when Asta finds you training alone and gives you encouraging words before helping you. “It’s okay to struggle at something - I mean I struggled at everything until I got my Grimoire, and even then I still had trouble here and there. Standing back up and trying again is the only way to keep moving forward.” He’d urge you, and then he’d help you hone your skills.

Or when Gauche actually showed interest in the books you read because you told him you and Marie were enjoying talking about it together, and eventually he started asking you about it just because and not because of Marie. “Y/N, here.” He’d hand you the new edition in the series you’ve been reading. “They released the new series, but it was almost sold out. Will you take this other copy to Marie?” He hands you a second copy before walking away. (Okay, so maybe he still is very inappropriately obsessed with his sister, and of course you give her the extra copy).

Or when Grey hangs out with you in her True Form on the common room couch late at night. “Oh! Um… Y/N! This is so embarrassing… I’m low on mana, so I can only be in this form! I’m so sorry!!” She’d cry and shield her face from view. You’d say it’s okay - that you like True Form Grey the best - and to come sit with you if she’d like, and even though she claims she’s out of mana, when she sits down you can feel the excess wafting off of her.

Or when Gordon showed you the Voodoo doll he made of you and asked if he could compare the hair textures. “Y/N, I made this doll of you - I did a big job a town over because they make a specific fiber that is the closest I can find to your hair texture, but I’d like to make sure it matches.” You let him compare, and he looks rather pleased that it does match. “Your curly texture is very unique, so I wanted to make sure I got it right.” He’d say with a black lipped beam your way.

Or when Henry (formerly the ghost) changed your room around without warning. When you asked him about it he said, “I… noticed… you… go… outside… every… morning… to… watch… the… sunrise… so… I… brought… it… to… you.”

Or when Captain Yami patted your head after a particularly arduous mission for you.

“Good Work, kid. We all knew you could do it.” He’d say after you successfully healed the squad and mended damages to the village.

That same warm feeling that nestles its way in to curl up in the center of your chest every time you walk through the front door of the hideout.

The one that feels like home.

[empressgeekt]

Trolls - Accidental Knight and the Time Travel Bodyswap

okay I'm on moble. So apologies in advance.

I recently found a fic on Ao3 about brozone swapping bodies with their younger-selves (specifically during the split up fight) with what I'm guessing is their post TBT selves. I link it when I have the time.

Here's my taken on this awesome concept. In the Field of Forgetmenots AU! Highly recommend looking at the posts for this au before reading on ward. You have been warned.

The plot starts with Floyd's POV. He's in the background of his brothers fighting after Branch's first show. Part of him wants to intervene but at this point he knows it will do nothing. He sees little Bitty standing off the side looking terrified, as he walks over to comfort the young trolling, his vision twists and blacks out. He comes too with a dirt ceiling overhead, with a numb body. He thinks he's been drugged by a crazed fan then kidnapped, and tries to get off the bed he's on only to fall to the floor when his limbs begin to burn with pain. He's found by a green trolling with blue hair and eyes, and he struggles on floor finally seeing the paleness of his limbs and paralyses he feels. A scarred dulled troll comes in. It takes a moment of his fussing for Floyd to realize that he's staring at his grown up baby brother. His grown up baby brother who lifts him with ease and sets him on the bed while checking over his body.

Branch was worried when Keith came running in saying that Floyd fell. The Knight had taken in his older brother (plus Clay) to help Floyd recover from the damage the diamond bottle did to him. Its been a few months and sadly Floyd is still weak and adjusting to the after effects. He can't walk, unable to keep himself warm, and has flare ups when his body re-crystalizes, that for all they know could be fatal. Not to mention, all the psychological damage the kidnapping did, and Floyd insisting that he's fine when he's really not. Needless to say, when Keith comes to tell Branch that Floyd is on the floor panicking, he reacts with urgency. The knight drops what he's doing (making breakfast), and rushes to tend to his brother he runs through all the checks, Flare up? Nope. Nightmare? Doesn't seem like it. He doesn't feel any injuries. However, Branch is extremely concerned when Floyd starts talking like he's confused about the date and how big Branch got. He makes a plan to take Floyd to the hospital to get checked out.

Let's switch gears over to Clay. He's first in heated fight with John and Spruce when his world becomes fuzzy and suddenly he's waking up with his face on top of a work desk. He jerks up, finding himself in an office. A boring office. A troll walks in, calls him "Mr. Clay" says their his assistant and ask if he's okay before telling him about Branch taking Floyd to to hospital so he might need to pick up Keith from school that day, then they leave. Clay is left with many many questions, but it's okay on top of sad books he's read many mystery novels he's fully prepared to handle this. If this was his office it had to have a calendar. He is not pleased to find the date is over twenty years passed what it was a few minutes ago. Then everything that the assistant mentioned settled. Floyd was in the hospital?! Branch had to take him? Branch could take him? And who the heck was Keith?! Why was Clay picking him up from school?! During this spiral, Who of all trolls walks in but Princess Viva (or Captain Viva as he would later learn she was called). Clay asks why she's here, and he learns that Viva heard about Floyd and thought to check in on her Boyfriend. That was not the answer Clay was expecting.

Flipping back to Floyd. Hospitals already freak him out, and now he apparently had a chronic condition, that doctors still weren't sure how it works. Even worse he can see how worried Branch is over this. As such he just doesn't mention the Time travel/amnesia thing going on. Last thing he needs is to stress it baby brother out, especially since it's obvious that Branch had been taking care of Floyd since the diagnoses that he can't remember. On top of taking care of a kid no doubt. Even if Floyd isn't sure how Keith is related to them (He doesn't call Branch dad or Floyd uncle, and doing the math it would mean that Branch would have to have had Keith while he was a teenager), it's clear that Branch is raising that kid. Branch's girlfriend (doesn't that just bring many colorful images to mind) meets them at the hospital. She takes over, calming Branch down easily, and talking to the doctors, who much too everyone's relief nothing physical has changed since Floyd's last appointment. Branch has to leave for work after that, but Poppy takes Floyd back to the hideout he suddenly lives in.

Clay is left reeling, through out the day he's trying to learn all about this modern day. He'd completely forgotten about needing to collect a trolling from the school until his assistant mentions it. He runs out of the admin building looking for the school. It took a nearly twenty minutes to figure out where the school was, and by the time he arrived the teachers were getting ready to look for either him or Branch. He apologize profusely, but thankfully the head teacher assumes his questionable behavior was due to Floyd being hospitalized. Then Clay is saddled with Keith, a little Green and blue trolling that the teacher calls his brother. Clay doesn't really know where Keith came from (he thought his parents were dead), but doesn't question it out loud. He's been a big brother before he can totally take this kid home...if he knew where his new home was. No one was living with grandma now, clearly. Thankfully, Keith knows the way. Clay tries to make conversation, but Keith only really either stares blankly or looked slightly confused. Geez, didn't that make Clay feel good about his relationship with this new youngest brother. Did he ever spend time with this kid?

They arrive at the bunker, finding Poppy and Floyd inside. Keith lights up as Poppy running over and beginning to tell her about his day. Clay however, doesn't pay much attention to this red-headed version of Viva, rather he hones in on his younger brother who's in a wheelchair and looks on the brink of death. Clay demands to know what happened, while Floyd tries to deflect saying weird dream. Clay knows he's lying right away. Thankfully Poppy has pulled Keith into the kitchen to start on dinner and homework. Clay comes clean about not remembering any of the passed 20 years, Floyd breaths a sigh of relief know that it isn't his sickness that caused the memory loss.

Clay: Do you know the kind of day I had? I'm a CPA! twenty years down the line and I'm a CPA, John would hate that! It's a boring job. But I love it. and I'm dating the crown princess apparently.

Floyd: You thought your day was weird? I can't walk Clay. I've been questioning my own sanity since i woke up. Because I have a TBI and could lose my mind any second.

Clay: TBI? How'd you get a TBI?

Floyd: I don't remember. Poppy and Branch have been tip-toeing around me having some sort of accident. But they won't tell me what. and I'm scared to ask because it would make me look crazy!

Branch would come home at that point. They both are surprised by the Forest Guardian Armor, and Clay even more freaked out seeing the scars, muted colors, and blinded eye that Branch was sporting now. Keith is over joyed and greets Branch warmly. It's obvious these two are close in ways that this grown up Branch isn't with his older brothers. Dinner is served but it doesn't comfort the elder two brothers.

Why don't we check in on Vacay Island for a second. Spruce one moment was fighting with john and the next wakes up one morning next to a Giant yellow woman, who claims to be his wife. Brandy immediately figures out her husband doesn't remember the last twenty years. She explains everything to him using family photos to prove everything. Spruce is lost in confusion, as he listens he had no choice but to believe her, he certainly wasn't in his teenaged body anymore. It hurts to learn that the last night he remembered was the night his family broke apart, and only after 20 years was his brothers comfortable enough to reconnect. Then Brandy mentions that Floyd was kidnapped....suddenly Spruce, or Bruce as Brandy tells him he goes by, needs to see his little brothers. Make sure that their all okay. Brandy agrees and he wonders how on earth his heartthrobness managed to charm his goddess among mortals.

And finally let's get to the eldest. John was in his grandmother's pod, terrified and angry, then he was waking up in a transportation critter in the woods. In the mirror his older self stares back, and he's scared all over again. Time has passed but he doesn't know why or how. Thankfully he finds the journals his older self kept. He spends the day learning what had happened over the passed 20 years. He breakdown when he reads the entry talking about the empty destroyed tree. Only to relax when he reads about the reunion and freeing Floyd.

Rhonda has been watching all of this and sneses something wrong with her owner, against his will she drives strait to troll village.

Once both him and Bruce arrive at the same time and end up explaining that both have the same memory loss. Shockley learning that both Clay and Floyd are the same. Grown up Branch is weird and it hurts to learn where the main scar came from. Floyd is horrifying to his older brothers, they just want to bundle him up and never let anyone touch him. they all talk in Floyd's room about what they need to to do to get their memories back...none of them notice Keith is listening from behind the cracked door.

Branch confronts them at dinner that night. It isn't pretty. Branch is not going to put up with the "We're trying to protect you" routine. And to their shock, takes charge of the room, saying that he and them already had that fight about that topic, and how he doesn't need them anymore. He had Poppy and Keith, and the only reason that Floyd is staying here because branch knows he can't take care of himself. He'll help them, but he won't tolerate arguing. they need to settle their teenaged issues with each other. Because if Keith has to deal with their fights like Branch had to endure, he'd kick them all out.

I'm not sure about how the ending would work yet, but all the brothers would be brought back to the moment they left. And vowed to stay together as a family. In one time line, Branch would have the brothers he deserved.

[softseaside]

After finally introducing Ni'onthe's crew one by one, let me finally formally introduce you to Blauauge (=“blue eye”) who's giving me brainrot for over a year now💙⚓

Blauauge is a tiefling barbarian and the third mate of the Soft Seaside, the ship that Ni'onthe sailed with for two years prior to the main campaign. I created him and the whole crew way back in 2021 when I wrote Ni’onthe’s backstory (more about Ni'onthe's crew here).

I’ve always planned for him to be my back-up character, should she ever die (that hopefully never happens lol). For now, he is a NPC in my mini-campaign called "Stille und Sturm" (which is just my modified self-indulgent version of "Dragons of Stormwreck Isle"). There, the party travels with the Ni'onthe's crew to solve problems on her home island

He seems like an angry, tough guy on the outside who gets irritated very quickly and often fights in taverns, but on the inside, he is a really insecure and overcompensates a lot. He's just a good and soft boy who genuinely cares about his loved ones but has problems showing and receiving affection 👀 (A lot of my fave characters are angry tsundere b*tch boys who are actually super soft and insecure and he is no exception, he is a big tsundere 💙) He is extremely loyal towards his captain and crew and takes his duties very seriously. He and Ni’onthe were really good friends.

(old art from 2021)

Blauauge likes drinking and fishing, he swears a lot and is liked by animals. He hates nobility and rich people. He believes that a good brawl is the best way to get to know a new city and become closer with someone. His choice of weapons are his fists and an anchor.

His name “Blauauge” which translates to “blue eye” is a german pun because he often has a black eye because of all the tavern brawls (black eye also translates into “blue eye” in german). But it's also a reference to his very bright blue eyes.

Sailor tattoos with actual meaning:

dagger with a rose (loyality and willing to fight everything, even something as sweet as a rose

“HOLD FAST” (for a good grip for rigging)

compass rose (always finding your way home)

Other tattoos:

waves

his crew’s slogan and flag

anchor (his character themes are anchors and storms)

I...eeeeeeeeh...like him a total normal amount so stay tuned for LOOOTS of art of him 💙

Old designs, some backstory lore drop and context for his role as NPC under the cut

(I changed his design quite a lot so please keep in mind when I post some of my older art! Also, I still have a lot to learn about drawing trans anatomy so if you see anything depicted wrong in my newer art, please dm me so I can learn!)

Old Design and Concept

As a big ass Fire Emblem Fan, I really liked the idea of a duo of two color-coded ship officers who are the complete opposite of each other, just like the iconic red-green knight-duos in FE.

Since sailors in media often have unique nicknames that are related to them, I also wanted to give them funny names that are very similar to each other to to immediately tell that they belong together. And that's how Blauauge (german for "blue eye") and Rotauge (german for "red eye") came to be!

Rotauge and Blauauge are complete opposites but get along very well…veeeeeery well 👀 Rotauge is a safe space for Blauauge where he can calm down and Rotauge likes Blauauge's company a lot.

Blauauge's design changed quite a bit since 2024 (2021, 2023, early 2024)

I still like the old design a lot, especially I already received so much art for it already and the yellow top scars were kinda iconic LMAO But I always felt like his old design didn’t show off his sailor background enough.

FUN FACT: “Blauauge” is the german term for blue-eyes, a specific kind of fishes with very bright blue eyes! I didn’t know about them when I created him, so after finishing his design, I was REALLY surprised to learn about them and coincidentally used a similar color palette sdlfkjsdlfkj

Backstory

Blauauge was born and raised on the streets of Neverwinter until Captain Sheryl took him to SoftSeaside at the age of 10. Sheryl noticed him because of his striking blue eyes and his defiant nature. When they met, he had a black eye (in german = blue eye) and gave him the nickname "Blauauge" ("blue eye" in german), which he eventually chose as his own when he transitioned. On the ship he learned to read, write and live the life of the sea. Before she took him in, he barely spoke and tried to survive by making a living by participating in underground fights. As a tiefling, he experienced a lot of racism (especially by nobility and rich people) when he was younger and even though, society changed a lot since the scars still remain. He's also feeling very disconnected to his heritage since he didn't have any contact with other tieflings. (because in this household we project our trauma on our OCs ✨)

Blauauge has been sailing on the ship for 16 years since he was 10 years old and with passing years, more people joined the crew permanently. He will never admit it but he loves them all very dearly and would do anything to protect them. Blauauge became the third mate of the ship, a role he holds with a lot of pride and he takes his duties very seriously. (While he was trying to survive on the streets, he really didn't have the headspace to think about gender (lmao) but after being adopted, he finally had a safe space to figure stuff out and his crew was really supportive during his transition for which he is extremely thankful for.)

And then, one day, a optimistic fish-looking goofball called Ni'onthe joined the crew, hehe ✨ In the beginning, he found her pretty annoying but her positive personality was really refreshing and he saw a lot of similarities (blue and yellow, trans, athelete, soft and caring) Since he is four years older than her, Ni'onthe kinda became a little sister for them. He and Ni’onthe were really good friends and was protective other her, taking her out for meals, showing her how to sail and checking on her (she really missed her parents in the beginning).

And even though, they had a lot of fun and a great time, Ni'onthe decided to leave to gain more experience and awaken her Ki. Blauauge was ✨ distraught ✨ by that and he really misses her a lot. This really got him thinking and since then, even though he loves his crew, he craves for adventures and wonders if he isn't missing something if he stays on the ship…But he is also scared to leave his loved ones behind, scared that he will not return or worse…to return and realize that he doesn't belong anymore.

Right now, he is an NPC in the mini-campaign that I'm dming right now (It's a modified self-indulgent OC version of StormWreck Isle, lol).

Quick campaign summary

As for now, during my campaign, while the party is solving the problems on the island, Blauauge does through his own fucking character arc while helping out in the village. Loyalty towards his crew and fear of leaving his home vs. the call for adventures and being very jealous that the party is fighting some monsters LMAO

However, Blauauge is currently being falsely accused of theft and banned from the temple because the party's rogue Nería (played by @/allbutnotthis) broke into the room of the grand master of the Order of Eldath to find a item. However, she got caught by Blauauge before she was able to lock the door. She gatekept, gaslighted, girlbossed her way out of this situation by using his weaknesses (aka his loyalty and softness towards his crew) against him. Blauauge believed her and promised to not snitch on her because she helped to save the ship from sinking earlier in the campaign. However, because Nería is such a good liar and Blauauge is a really bad liar, the grand master believes that Blauauge attempted to steal something and banned him from the temple temporarely until he is proven innocent or proves that he is trustworthy after all.

Let's see how this turns out LMAO

[avengerscompound]

Shared Experience - Chapter 16

Shared Experience - A Captain America Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Rating:  E

Warnings:  nothing really

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Rose Astor

Word Count: 1931

Summary:  Rose Astor met her end in 1920, joining the ranks of the living dead two years after the birth of Steve Rogers.  A century later the two meet in battle - a beacon of light clashing with a creature of the night.  Despite their differences, the two bond over their shared life experiences.  Can a vampire become an Avenger?  Can two such different beings create a life together?

Chapter 16

Steve and Rose followed Elsa down the stairs into the cellar of an old stone house at the edge of the town.  Steve and Elsa had pulled their coats tight around them and each breath they exhaled came out in a puff of condensation.  Rose felt bad for them.  It had to be difficult to be that cold, but if either of them were uncomfortable, they weren’t saying it.

The cellar was dimly lit and sparsely furnished.  A group of five vampires, two men, two women, and one that looked like she must have been turned when she was twelve, were sitting on four brown leather Chesterfields surrounding a large square hardwood coffee table.  A sixth lounged on a wingback chair, one leg swung over the arm.  He wore leather pants and his black silk shirt was unbuttoned low, like he got his style from Vegas shock magicians.

Each member of the group was wearing a matching amulet around their neck.  It looked like a flower made of red stones.  The Lightbender Amulet.

Rose was struck by how tired the group looked.  Not hungry.  Not worn out.  Tired - like they’d been woken up recently from actual sleep.

“What did you wake us up for, Bloodstone?” the Vegas vampire asked.

“Calm down, Raizo,” Elsa scolded. “No one is impressed.”

The child Vampire stood up suddenly and pointed at Steve. “Captain America,” she said, pointing at him.

The other vampires all shifted suddenly, some sitting up straight, one standing, Raizo stood and walked around the back of the couches toward Steve, Elsa, and Rose.

“This is why I woke you all up,” Elsa said.  “Children, this is Captain America.  Captain America, these guys.”

Raizo offered Steve his hand.  “I’m Raizo, this is Eliza, Sebastian, Narcissa, Laurant, and Cristina.  What brings you to Romania?”

Sebastian and Laurant rolled their eyes as they watched the interaction, and Rose resisted the urge to do the same.

“This is my friend, Rose,” Steve said, shaking his hand. “We were told by the Moon Knight that you had an amulet that would help her walk in the day and suppress her cravings.”

Razio looked back at the others and then approached Rose, he walked around her, his eyes gliding up and down her body, before looking at Elsa. “Are we sure he’s not compelled?”

“You can see for yourself,” Elsa said.  “But he’s fine.”

“I can’t compel him anyway.  You can try.  Something about the Super Serum makes him immune to it,” she said.

“And why did you want to compel him?” Razio asked suspiciously.

“So he’d forget I existed,” she said. “Like I’d been trained by my maker.  Not because I was trying to feed off him.”

He looked Steve up and down too then returned his gaze to Rose.  “You must be fighting those urges of yours very well if an Avenger is here to vouch for you.”

“She’s not just fighting them, she’s out doing good.  She’s part of the team.  She’s helped save the world,” he said.

Razio raised an eyebrow.  “Well, well, well...”

“Enough, Razio,” Laurant said with a thick French accent.  “She clearly meets the criteria.  Give her the amulet and let them be on their way.  I want to go back to bed.”

Razio huffed and went to the far end of the room, pressing on a brick.  The wall shifted in and slid to the side revealing a safe, and he began spinning the combination wheel.

“Who was your maker, Rose?” Narcissa asked.

“Marcellus Lakatos,�� Rose said.  “When he was in New York at the turn of last century.”

Eliza, the child vampire stiffened and sat forward in her chair.  “Rose Astor?”

Rose startled.  “Yes.  Do you know me?”

“Oh, darling,” Narcissa said. “Eliza is your little sister.”

Rose was reeling.  It felt like she’d been slapped.  Guilt and anger came bubbling up like bile in her throat.  The monster that had turned her and tortured her had gone from her to someone even younger.  It was Rose’s fault that Eliza had been turned and god knows what else he’d done to her.

“What?” she asked.

“When you sent him away, he returned here but grabbed me on the way.  I think I was supposed to be a snack, but…” Eliza shrugged.  Rose didn’t need more than that.  She was here, he’d decided to keep her because he was a sadist who liked torturing girls.

“I’m so sorry,” Rose said.  “I should have…”

Eliza shook her head. “What?  Kept him there so he could keep torturing you?  He’d have gotten bored eventually.  We’re not the only ones he’s done this too.  When we got here, Dracula was pissed.  They’re not supposed to turn people as young as me and apparently, it’s been a theme of his.”

Razio approached her, holding out his hand and letting the amulet fall from his fingers, so it dangled from the chain two inches from his hand.  The amulet was beautiful.  A dark red garnet sat in the center with twelve rubies arranged around it so they looked like sunflower petals.  Rose reached for it, but as her fingers went to close around it, he pulled it from her reach.

“Something really needs to be done about him,” he said.  “He can’t keep getting away with this.”

“Give her the amulet, Razio,” Elsa scolded.  “It’s not her job to take out her maker.  She’s an Avenger.  She has nothing to prove.”

Razio turned and began to stroll around the room.  “True, true,” he said.  “She’s proven herself.  No one else here has gotten the approval of Moon Knight, notable monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, and the Avengers.”  He flopped down into the winged back chair, flinging his leg over the arm again while he held the amulet out in front of him, watching it spin on the chain.  “But what if we could take care of this Marcellus?  You all said it.  It’s one thing if one of our kind is just drinking blood.  We can hardly help it that we need it to live.  I’m not about staking every vamp I see just trying to live their lives.”

“I am,” Elsa interrupted.

He waved her off.  “But Marcellus is a whole different kind of monster.  It’s a game for him.  He’s like a cat who enjoys toying with its food before it eats it.  And his prey are just getting younger and younger.  I know he’s one of Dracula’s progeny and they’re usually off-limits, but going off what happened with Eliza, he might even look the other way.  But even if he didn’t, with Elsa and our new Avenger friend, we could carry this out and he wouldn’t even know if we were involved.”

“Oh, so you’d just throw me under the bus?” Elsa asked.

He scoffed.  “He already wants to kill you.  That’s not going to change anything.”

“The Avengers would be willing to help,” Steve said.  “I’ve been hoping to take a shot at this monster for a while.  If you know how to get to him, we’ll take him out.”

Rose turned and looked at him with surprise.  Steve was so against killing people outside of battle, and even then he usually tried not to kill anyone.  She wasn’t sure what to make of this reaction.  Was it some kind of protective rage toward the man that had hurt her so badly?  A resignation that this was necessary to stop him from hurting other people?  Or did he just not consider killing a vampire as killing someone?

He smiled at her and squeezed her hand.  She might have to bring it up later, the problem was, she wanted Marcellus dead.  She’d wanted him dead since he turned her.  If she questioned Steve about his feelings about vampires before that happened, he might have a change of heart and decide to lock him up or something.

“There are other Avengers here?” Razio asked.

Steve nodded.  “A few.  Black Widow, Iron Man, and the Scarlet Witch.”

Razio flicked his wrist so the amulet began spinning on the chain.  “You know this could really work.”

“What are you thinking?” Steve asked.  “Shall we go in during the day?”

“No use, love,” Elsa said.  “If I could clear out that den during the day, I would have a long time ago.  That castle takes in tourists during the day.  It’s heavily secured, particularly the crypt they sleep in.  My family has considered just setting fire to the place during opening hours, but I’m sure that all that would happen would be a lot of innocent tourists would die and the crypt would remain unharmed.”

“Regardless, we can not enter,” Sebastian said.  “While public places are usually accessible to us during opening hours as the invitation is implicitly open to everyone to enter, in this case, the tickets to the castle explicitly restrict our ilk.  At night, the building is closed to everyone, so we cannot enter without being invited.”

“What Bas is saying is, we’ll have to draw him out,” Eliza said.

“How would we even do that?” Rose asked.  “That ruse of Elsa being a helpless potential victim isn’t exactly targeted.”

Razio flipped the amulet into his hand and leaned back in the chair.  “That will be the trick.  I’m sure we can think of something.  Use bait that’s more to his taste maybe.”

“Wanda might fit?” Steve suggested.  “She’s fairly young and has a kind of innocence to the way she holds herself.  Maybe we can use makeup to make her look younger?”

Rose shrugged.  “It still feels like that might just end up attracting any random vampire as much as it will attract him specifically.”

Razio drummed his fingers on the amulet and then sat up, tossing it to Rose.  “We’ll think about it.”

Rose snatched the amulet out of the air and clutched it against her chest.  She could feel the power of it pricking against her skin.  Holding it in her hand somehow made her more nervous.  What if it didn’t work?  What if this was a trick and it ended up hurting her?

Yet, she could see six vampires sitting around the room, all wearing one.  They could be in on the lie, but it was too elaborate.  If Blade, Moon Knight, or Elsa Bloodstone wanted her dead, they’d had their chance.  They didn’t need to create an elaborate prank to force her into the sun.

She slipped the chain around her neck letting the amulet sit on her chest.  “Thank you,” she said.

“They’re right.  We think you’ve proven you’re like us,” Razio said.  “Now I know you don’t feel ready for sleep yet.  But the rest of us were woken up for this.  We’ll sleep on the issue.  We can meet up here tomorrow morning.  How’s ten sound?”

It sounded crazy and implausible.  She could only imagine being awake at ten in the morning if she was up closer to the Arctic Circle during winter.  She nodded.  “Sounds good,” she agreed.

“Bring those other Avengers,” Razio said.

“We will,” Steve agreed.  He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed her hand reassuringly.  “Thank you again. And see you tomorrow.”

They were just moving to the stairs when Razio called out to them. “Oh and Rose,” he said. “Enjoy the sunrise.”

Rose smiled and nodded.  While she’d seen a few since starting to feed from Steve, they usually came with fear, pain, and that animalistic pull to get underground.  If this worked, she wouldn’t feel any of that.  If that was true, she would cherish every moment of it.

// NEXT

[lay-z]

the daughter and the huntsman | 1

captain j. price x female!reader

Summary: While most of what is left of society keeps fighting and trying to adapt to the new world order, some people are still desperately trying to fix things. Wrapped up in all of this mess as one of the best combatants left, Captain Price gets assigned a very special mission.

Warnings/Info: Zombie Apocalypse AU | 18+ | strangers to lovers; age gap; cussing; horror; blood/gore; eventual smut; angst; suspense; hurt/comfort; dark!content; canon-typical violence; multiple POV's

☠️ 》 Masterlist

》 This story is set in the same universe/timeline as my other CoD story 'knights in shining tactical gear'!

The Captain listens intently, sitting in his large office chair with his arms crossed in front of his chest and his legs crossed at his ankles while Kate Laswell briefs him on the latest status of the global pandemic from the safety of her office on the other side of the world.

Dead people rising and coming back to live only to become mindless cannibals craving human flesh by all means.

It's not something John has ever believed possible, no matter the horrors he's seen and experienced during his military career. Still, every known government keeps vehemently denying ever experimenting with biological weapons. Even though the proof is right in front of everyone's eyes, roaming every capital's city street.

Well, maybe the politicans aren't lying after all, no matter how shady and corrupt they are. It doesn't seem like anyone was prepared for this disaster. Everyone is equally screwed nowadays.

"You hear what I'm saying, John?"

John blinks a few times as his vision focuses back on the pixelated computer screen in front him. Perhaps he isn't paying as much attention as he should be.

"I'm uh -"

He sighs in defeat and rubs his calloused hands over his tired face. Not being able to sleep nor rest in the past 28 hours is slowly starting to show an effect, even on him.

"Could you repeat the last...uh part?"

Meanwhile, Kate shakes her head with that certain look of disappointed judgment yet compassionate understanding. His mother used to give him a similar one and it always hit John right in the gut.

"You should get some sleep and consider that an order, Captain. Surviving off cigars, black coffee, and rage can only take you so far and we still need you over there"

John snorts as he just wanted to reach for his cold cup of black coffee standing right out of frame. He stops mid-move and crosses his arms again with a shrug.

"Eh, could be worse. Ya know what sorts of stuff and blokes I've survived before. 'Tis little virus is nothing", he says with a nonchalant shrug.

Kate clicks her tongue, shaking her head again.

"Oh, but it is. It's even worse than we've ever imagined. Two weeks, give or take, and most societies and governments around the world will have failed"

"Haven't they already", John mutters under his breath then cranks his stiff neck from left to right until the muscles pop.

"Exodus. Anarchie. The imminent downfall of humanity, John. That's what I'm talking about here"

She speaks hauntingly now, enunciating every word with obvious distress and care. It's a tone he's never heard her use before, not even during past seemingly hopeless operations.

"Ya speak as if the world has ended already"

Her head drops forward, her shoulders heave and John sees that she sighs deeply while her hands stay folded as she desperately tries to keep her composure, and now he's really starting to feel bad.

"Kate?"

"Yes and no, it hasn't ended yet. Not quite yet anyways -", she finally answers coolly.

"As I was explaining before, while you were peacefully zoning out on me...With the resources we're still provided with, we've managed to gather and save the lead scientists, virologists, scholars, researchers, basically every big-brain person, and whoever we could get to come with us from all around the globe to work on a cure together"

John purses his lips and runs a hand through his wiry beard as he ponders the given intel.

"Sounds a lot like classified information to me. Something you usually wouldn't tell over a nervy, unstable internet connection"

Kate chuckles then, an out-of-character sound in this situation and she waves her hands dismissively.

"Well, usually dead people stay dead and don't come back to hunt the living"

Now John is the one to laugh.

"Touché"

A sudden knock on his office door alerts John and he straightens up in his chair before Gaz pokes his head inside the room.

"No worries, sir", the young Sargeant assures calmly. "Just wanted to inform ya that the squad is back from patrol"

"Any incidents?"

Gaz shakes his head as he enters the office and closes the door behind him.

"Is that Sargeant Garrick?", Kate asks curiously and John's focus shifts back to her as he gives a short nod.

"Well then -"

She straightens up in her chair, clears her throat, and reaches for something off-camera before she pulls up a black file.

"we might as well discuss the matters now."

"Matters? Plural?", John asks, his suspicion rising as he waves Gaz over to take up a seat across from him before he finally reaches for the cold cup of coffee. He'll definitely need more fuel to get through the rest of this briefing. Meanwhile, the Sergeant sits in one of the chairs as Kate begins to explain.

"One's an offer, the other more like a...request. The US government has organized several so-called Alpha Teams. They're comprised of nationwide special forces soldiers and we'd like them to operate globally to support and fight the outbreak in designated areas. With the help of the AT's we're trying to build and establish additional safe zones around the world -"

"I see where you're going with this, Kate", John butts in.

"I uh don't, sir", Gaz says, scratching the back of his neck.

"What I'm saying is that I'd like to recruit not only you to join one of our Alpha Teams, Sargeant Garrick, but the remaining members of the 141 as well"

The quantity of Task Force-141 has diminished drastically since word about the outbreak of an unknown virus in some remote village somewhere in the Amazon has first spread through rumors and whispers online until it turned into a full-blown pandemic within weeks.

Bloody hell, the Captain is one of the few officers left keeping the base and its inhabitants afloat. When everyone else deserted and fled, whether to go back home to keep their families and loved ones safe or because they simply couldn't handle their new reality, he stayed behind to fight for the rest of the living.

"Both Ghost and Soap are still MIA. We haven't been able to contact and regroup with either of them as of yet. Only members left on base as of now are Gaz and König, and I can't -"

"No, you're right, John. You can't.", Kate interrupts the Captain swiftly with a significant edge to her voice.

"Now, about that other request..."

Weary eyes, steel blue and framed by wrinkles as he squints, stare back at John when he glances into the rear view mirror.

Bloody hell, when did he get so old?

Worry lines.

That's what his mother would call those kind of wrinkles back in the day. A term used to make one feel better about oneself.

Worry lines, sure. They happen when you're on your own, watching your own back of necessity in a hostile environment, 24/7, and by god, John is on his own in this. Why did he agree to go on this mission again?

Oh, right, to help safe human kind. Bollocks.

He adjust his boonie hat over his forehead once more when the sun continues to reflect on the rear view mirror, blinding him.

During his travels, country roads have proven to be less blocked and risky than their highway counterpart, but accidents can happen anywhere and John is not in the mood to deal with anything going sideways now.

31 klicks.

Only 31 more klicks to Sheffield. Not that his mission ends then, no, but at least he's finally made it to the AO. A road trip of four hours, give or take depending on the traffic, has taken him six days to complete. Six fucking days. Thanks to the lack of running gas stations.

And the actual mission, a search and rescue, will only begin once he gets there.

At least Laswell was able to give him some intel, more like a clue.

"Try St. Roslin Children's Hospital first. She had just started working there when things got messy -"

Finding a needle in a haystack, that's what this mission is.

Perhaps John should knock on the woman's door first; see if she's still living in her flat before he goes out of his way to seek out a hospital which has been overrun by now most likely.

The Captain scoffs at his own thoughts but his eyes flick to the tattered map spread out on his dashboard; the location of the hospital marked and circled with red ink. Old school yet functional. He doesn't miss technology too badly.

Eventually, the warm, late summer sun gets overshadowed by the clouds chasing it since dawn, and John isn't surprised by the thick raindrops suddenly hitting the truck's windshield.

Tags: @itsasecrets-things @mildlyhopeless @ipoopedmypants47

[nitpickrider]

a bit silly, but if you had to fill an Avengers roster, who would you pick?

Wooof, oh me oh my. Let's lay down some ground rules before I do this. 1). Only people who have been Avengers at some previous point in time. Doesn't narrow it down a LOT but this list would be a jigsaw of my favorite Z-Listers otherwise 2). Limiting it to seven people. That's the magic number with superhero teams and it gives me a reason to stop

Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America: Sometimes you just cannot beat a classic and when it comes to Avengers line ups there is no one that I think is more integral than Captain America. The pathos that he brings to the table no matter what character he is interacting with is palpable and reading through his first big volume has given me a deep respect and love for the character. He's our leader for sure, the axis of solid, steady service I can hang my weirder picks on.

Dr. Walter Newell AKA Stingray: You all saw this coming and don't act like you didn't. One of my favorite if not my FAVORITE Marvel Characters of all time. He's a doctor with an interesting specialization. His "I'm only a part time superhero" hangup is even funnier and more interesting if forced into the limelight on THE hero team. Not to mention he comes with his own swanky Hydrobase we can use for an HQ and with his wife and four kids running around underfoot we have the kind of domestic adorability I think any good team needs.

Miguel Santos AKA Living Lightning: The first time I can ever remember reading about a comic book hero being gay, as just like, part of who they are. A tiny detail in their rich inner life. Not to mention the less respect a character gets the more I want to lift them up on my shoulders. He could be the sweetheart with a little chip on his shoulder from not getting the respect his objectively awesome powers objectively deserve.

Angelica Jones AKA Firestar: Something you may not know about me. The first piece of media that really opened my eyes as to the potential and depth and scope of the Marvel Universe was Spiderman and His Amazing Friends. It was cheesy, it was cheap and yet Angelica was the first character that I felt SPECIAL for knowing and caring about. She's happy, she's passionate, her simple classic costume kicks ass and the New Warriors need their goddamn respect. 'Nuff said.

Sersi, Just Sersi: What little I have seen of this character fucking FASCINATES me. This woman is chaos incarnate. It's like she is actively making on the fly decisions with everyone she meets whether she's going to kill them, screw them, turn them into a small mammal or some combination of the three. She's *Instant Plot Complication Just Add Water* because she saw a butterfly and that somehow translates to her blowing the entire team's cover.

Dane Whitman AKA The Black Knight: I love everything about him. I love his vibe, I love the fact that his backstory is built partially around recontextualizing the lore of a mostly forgotten Atlas fantasy comic. I love that he has a wickedly evil cursed blade that comes with the side effect of basically holding him hostage to a heroic moral code. And on top of that he's a dorky intellectual who can't see a social cue if it's blaring at him from oncoming traffic.

Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk: ...I do not feel the need to explain or justify this choice. YOU know Jen is awesome. *I* know Jen is awesome. She-Hulk does not need justification. She shows up in stories and makes them better by existing. Also yes this is the bodytype I'd use. Yes, I have an addiction. No, I don't feel the need to explain that either. RESERVISTS: Characters I really like but either don't know enough about or don't think they make good Avengers

Marc Spector and System AKA Moon Knight: One of my favorite dudes but does NOT play well with others. Was interesting for about 10 seconds as a member of the West Coast team but I'd prefer he never touch the ranks again.

Flint Marko AKA Sandman: Marvel did Sandman fucking dirty by never letting him fully reform and be the good guy. I want Sandman to be the good guy dammit

Maria de Guadalupe Santiago AKA Silverclaw: I know literally nothing about her outside of reference books but her powers are dope and I dig her vibe.

[eemamminy-art]

Extremely difficult top 5: Top 5 butches

I've sat on this for a long time because I wasn't sure how I wanted to approach it! Do I pick real life butches, butches that are expressly called as such in their medias, or characters that I interpret as butch?

Ultimately, I opted for the last option, because I think that will be the most fun in terms of me trying to argue my case lol

Faris Scherwiz — Final Fantasy V

"James Kidd" / Mary Read — Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Agrias Oaks — Final Fantasy Tactics

Vi — Arcane

Zero — Final Fantasy XIV

Further rambling and pictures under the read more cut because oh my goodness this is. Long.

Faris Scherwiz — Final Fantasy V

This character awoke things in a young me, playing a fan translated ROM of FFV. Faris is this pirate captain, initially presented as a beautiful man, later revealed to be the lost princess who made a new life for herself after being lost at sea.

She thinks of herself in masculine terms, and has an honor among thieves sort of outlook. She does put herself, her crew, and her friends first, but she's not so cowardly as to run away when she sees the world is at stake and there is a higher calling for her as a warrior of light. She's very loyal and brave, but lacks the chivalry of a knight.

She's fearful to go back to the life she had before as a princess, because she loves the person she is now. The only thing that really gives her pause is that her sister very deeply wants a relationship with her, and she has reservations about growing close to her and thus to the life she left behind.

"James Kidd" / Mary Read — Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

I know Mary Read was a real person but stick with me here. We all know AC plays fast and loose with portrayals of real life figures so I'll be proceeding as if talking about the fictional character, not the real life pirate.

When in her persona as James Kidd, he is as smarmy as can be on the outside, but hints that there is a deeper complexity to him. He's deeply enigmatic and flirtatious. He's clever, and drips juuust enough temptation to guide Edward onto the path of the assassins.

When she reveals herself to be a woman, she keeps the same demeanor as always. It's a secret she keeps close to her chest, and reveals it only to use her body to her advantage to create a distraction. Her dedication to her friends and to her freedom matters far more to her than her presentation.

I'm grateful that even despite the era in which this game came out, there's not a total personality switch after the reveal. She's still so much herself, regardless of how she physically appears or which names or pronouns she uses. She makes it clear that she considers herself a woman, in spite of how she normally presents, and she's just bursting with so much confidence. Goals, honestly. She's a hugely inspirational character to me.

Plus I mean. Oh my gosh. She has this rumbling, sultry voice with a Yorkshire accent. Swoon.

Agrias Oaks — Final Fantasy Tactics

I want to first preface with an anecdote, that the lesbian subtext between Agrias and Ovelia is so overt that while growing up, my brother's best friend refused to believe Agrias was a woman and headcanoned her as a male knight to justify it in his head (he also headcanoned Ramza as being a woman to justify the gay subtext between him and Delita.. 😂 lmao FFT is extremely gay please play it)

But onto Agrias herself: she is really the textbook definition of a knight. She would give everything for her kingdom and her princess. She is lawful good to a fault, which is not an easy feat in the world of Ivalice. Chivalrous, devoted, stern but kind when it comes to Her Highness... 🥺

So normal about them... they are like THE yuri ship in final fantasy, but not a lot of people played FFT!! 😭

They even mention it in FFXIV in Orbonne Monastery... love wins......

Vi — Arcane

Going to first say I don't play league of legends, mobas give me hives lol but Vi was phenomenal in Arcane. I am missing a lot of context for the character because of that though, so my take on her is purely based on her portrayal in Arcane.

She's headstrong, she lets her emotions get the better of her, she gets into fights, she's scrappy as hell, she's protective and devoted. What stands out sooo much is that, these are traits you might find in a male protagonist in other media, but the way Vi goes about it is just so in touch with her womanhood. Just a more masculine womanhood.

All of the characters in Arcane are written so well, but I found it very very refreshing for there to be so many well written women with all sorts of personalities and archetypes, and not just the usual tropes you see for female characters.

Zero — Final Fantasy XIV

I waffled a little bit on this pick, because the butch identity is very much about demeanor as much as it is appearance-- if not more so.

Zero is a little bit of an odd duck in that way. She has some very vulnerable, sensitive moments. She's sometimes downright meek. Overall she is cool, confident, business-like, and has her own sense of morality forged by her losses, her time spent bound in contract as a voidsent, and the harsh world of the Thirteenth.

I admit, I initially found her softer moments a little off-putting. Putting it into perspective though, butches do have these moments of vulnerability and softness. It's something really key in the dynamic of butch and femme, that where butches are strong and protective, they need stability and soothing from femmes. A feminine strength to heal the damage that the world has inflicted on the butch while she stands as a shield to herself and other women.

I don't think it was the writers' intentions for her to read that way, I'm pretty sure this is me seeing what I want to see lol. But I think it's still nice! I only didn't notice at first because I play as a gay male wol so her being vulnerable with him activated my fight or flight response. But outside the context of my own OC as the warrior of light, in the context of maybe a female wol (or better yet an experienced and no-nonsense femme like Y'shtola 👀) it's really nice to think about. I think also the pacing of the Endwalker patches didn't do her many favors, but when given time to reflect on her character arc, I think there's a lot of room there, especially when interpreting her in the context of a butch/femme relationship.

She is also pretty new to the whole human thing. She's like a baby butch, still very soft. She can bite and hit hard, but when things break through her shell, they cut deep. Which makes her worthwhile adding to this list, in contrast to the others who are much more experienced and able to protect themselves and others.

[gorefreaklintjrwi]

heyy o/

can i hear abt some of ur ocs if you have any? C:

OHHHH MY OCS............................

THE PIRATES!!!!!! KIERAN MY LITTLE GUY MY SILLY LITTLE GUY WHO HATES HIMSELFFFF PIRATE CAPTAIN WHO HATES HIMSELF FOR SOMETHING OUT OF HIS CONTROLLLL (VAMPIRISM) AND ALSO TRANSGENDER

AIDYN THE GIRL.......... SHE IS SO COOL SHE IS SO DOG CODED WILL DO ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING FOR THE PEOPLE SHE LOVES BEFORE TAKING CARE OF HERSELF.................

AMARYLLIS SUNPETAL WILL RISK HER LIFE OVER AND OVER AND OVER IF IT MEANS HER REMAINING CHILDREN WILL BE OKAY. SHE DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE ANYONE ELSE AND GOD SHE NEEDS A HUG.

ENTER: SYLVIA GOLDLEAF. XE IS AN AROACE QUEEN🔥🔥 CLERIC LADY FROM THE SKY CITY........... FALLEN WINDWRAITHS MY BELOVED AGGUGUGHH SHE IS SOOO COOL SHE ALSO THINKS THAT WITHOUT HER LITTLE MAGIC GEM SHE'D BE USELESS SO THATS FUN (she realizes how strong xe really is later)

OHHHHH MAGGIE MY SILLY LITTLE GUYYYYY WHO'S BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE NOTHING THEIR ENTIRE LIFE AND FINALLY FEELS LIKE A PERSON WHO HAS A REASON BUT ALSO FEELS LIKE WITHOUT THAT. IF THEY CAN'T PROVIDE AND WORK. THAT NO ONE WOULD CARE ABOUT HIM. GOD. NORMAL ABOUT MY OCS I PROMISE

CLIFF................. OHHHH THE FISH THE FISH THE FISHHHHHHHH SHE WAS TRAINED TO BE A KNIGHT AND JUST WANTS TO FORGET EVERYTHING BECAUSE THEY DIDNT HAVE A CHOICE GROWING UP AND THATS ALL THEY EVER WANTED........ A CHOCIUE IN LIFE......... CLIFF MY GIRLLLLLL OUUGHHHHHHH HER FAMILY HATES HER NOWW BUT ITS OKAY THEY HATE THEM TOO🔥🔥🔥 SHE IS NEVER GOING BACKKKK

ALSO SPARROW AND ASPEN. AMARYLLIS' CHULDRENNNN THEY MAKE ME SO SICK. THEY MAKE ME SICK. ASPEN HAS A THIRST FOR ADVENTURE AND WANTS TO EXPLORE AND SEE THE WORLD AND SPARROW HAS A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND WANTS TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HE CAN AND JUST. AUGH. OHHH THEY MAKE ME SICK.......... SPARROW NEVER WANTED TO BE A PIRATE, ASPEN GREW UP TO BE A CAPTAIN

NO IDEA IF THIS IS EVEN COMPREHENSIBLE I GET ASKED ABOUT MY OCS AND I BLACK OUT theres more too but these guys are the main ones (sylvia also has a sister but i'd have to explain like all the lore about windwraiths and the wingless and stuff and im kind of eepy honesrly)

[thevelaryons]

I can’t stand it that Addam dies because of Rhaenyra. 😭😭😭 She deserved none of his loyalty. He should’ve just left her to fend for herself instead of trying to save her ass after she accused him.

I get what you’re saying but Addam can’t exactly abandon the situation as is. Though technically he did leave Rhaenyra to fend for herself, lmao. But he wanted to clear his name from the false accusations so that’s why he has to continue fighting in the war. The text even says as much:

Thus began the Second Battle of Tumbleton.

The dragon was Seasmoke, his rider Ser Addam Velaryon, determined to prove that not all bastards need be turncloaks. How better to do that than by retaking Tumbleton from the Two Betrayers, whose treason had stained him?

— Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons

Addam, out of all the dragonseeds, is the one who gained the most by siding with Rhaenyra. Which also means he has the most to lose. It feels redundant to state the obvious but Addam was not part of the nobility for his whole life; it’s only a recent thing. Before that, he was one of the smallfolk. That means he’s going to hold a certain mindset where he feels beholden to the highborn around him.

We can see this in the POV chapters of Davos Seaworth, another one of the smallfolk elevated to a higher status, and therefore, the sense of loyalty that derives from it:

That is, if Stannis won his throne. If he lost …

Everything I am, I owe to him. Stannis had raised him to knighthood. He had given him a place of honor at his table, a war galley to sail in place of a smuggler’s skiff. Dale and Allard captained galleys as well, Maric was oarmaster on the Fury, Matthos served his father on Black Betha, and the king had taken Devan as a royal squire. One day he would be knighted, and the two little lads as well. Marya was mistress of a small keep on Cape Wrath, with servants who called her m’lady, and Davos could hunt red deer in his own woods. All this he had of Stannis Baratheon, for the price of a few finger joints. It was just, what he did to me. I had flouted the king’s laws all my life. He has earned my loyalty.

— A Clash of Kings, Davos I

By fighting for Rhaenyra, Addam was allowed to carry his father’s name and legitimized as the family heir. He even earned a knighthood out of it. None of which he could have if he remained a commoner. So when he’s falsely accused of treason, of course he’s going to attempt to clear his name from the accusations. There was really no other choice for him if he wants to retain that connection to his father’s side of the family. His actions also serve the double purpose of keeping his honor as a knight and proving that his bastard birth does not make him a traitor.

[fantomette22]

And here’s a bloodborne crows headcanons drawing no one ask for!

Yeah I headcanons that some characters used to have some pet crows but it’s mostly a references for my fic verse too.

So I don’t have names for all the crows but I have a couple of ideas already. If you have ideas too pls share I’m listening.

Let’s begin with Cainhurst! 🛡️

📚🦉Ok Beltran from the cut content! Not sure he’s still alive during old hunters time but basically I imagined he was the (first?) crow master of Cainhurst.

🐦‍⬛⚔️Vledemyr my oc, my fav cainhurst knight! The current crow master. (Maria & Annalise’s cousin too) He was the one in charged of them before he become captain of the royal guard, he actually have lots of them (and they all love him a lot) but his very first crow is Corvus, the crow on his shoulder.

👑🕊️Ok so Annalise was offered an Albino crow, because she’s the princess and future Queen you see. *Check notes* hm Yuki is a possible name but idk either smt Japanese or slavic who mean snow or fit with cainhurst aesthetic idk.

👑🐦‍⬛ Ah Charles (oc based on the cainhurst portrait too, king consort when Annalise was Queen). So when he marry her and was crowned he was offered a baby leucistic crow (that’s why it’s brown, it’s a loose of melanine like albinism bur not complete the the eyes aren’t red or the skin pink for exemple), he was so confused about it like you can see XD probably except a hound or smt (in his dream he would have wish for a lion but there’s no lions at Cainhurst since like 60+ years or smt)

🐦‍⬛🌕🐦‍⬛Maria have 2-3 crows (the ones at the research hall you know 😢 minus the one with the guidance rune that belong to Ludwig like you can see) As for the names I was hesitating between Hugin & Munin (Odin’s crows) or Phobos & Deimos (Mars’moon) for the 2 crows siblings (well I hc Maria study astronomy so… heheh also her third one is the one German is holding x) yeah missing a leg I know. Ok also after Maria passed away the crows escape from the research hall and freak Gehrman out! They wanted to say to him hello or called his named and because crows can mimics sound and voices they took Maria’s voice 💀 he thought he was going crazy for a few mins before he found them… but really it annoyed more Laurence XD the crows really went to harass him (they know what’s up. Or didn’t take well he put them in cages or smt, or you know because of Maria. It got to the point Laurence almost wanted them dead 💀

Fortunately Gehrman managed to made them go with the very first official hunter of hunter, he passed to him the mercy blade as well.

🐥Ah Voron my boy! Aka future bloody crow🩸🐦‍⬛ (No I am not detailing the entire backstory here! And yes his name means raven/crow I KNOW!) also the red of the cap don’t appear much sorry… thanks the scan.

✨+Svetta another Cainhurst oc based the painting with her crow, Voron mom yes. Vledemyr is his dad.

👁️I managed to put Micolash & Edgar on the page XD

💣🔥 Ah this one well when we first got into the hunter nightmare there’s a hunter before a gate right? Behind there’s a crow and I noticed the crow attacked the beasts but the hunter and the bird never attacked each other (only the hunter or beast) that’s why I now headcanons that many old hunters had crows too like this one.

🗡️🌕Ludwig & his crow with the guidance rune. One day the old hunters found many dead crows in the forest, not a good sign… Ludwig managed to recover a baby crow an care for it (he was so panicked at first he asked Maria for help so many times XD)

🐦‍⬛Eileen and some crows & the very first official hunter of hunters! (Before her)

🐦‍⬛The friendly crow of hemwick on the top left :3 I hc it’s either the crow bloody crow had or one link with Eileen or either my own hunter.

As for the other names I had in mind : Hrafn, Karasu, Branagan (I think I’m keeping this one as the name of the first crow hunter too)

🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

Now, you’re gonna ask me why didn’t I just named one « Kuro » (black color in Japanese) well, I’m keeping it for the horses’ names of Cainhurst!!!!

[levi501ackerman]

Steel Heart Chapter 10:

Secrets of the Twins

Hange x Reader Chapter Index Masterlist AO3

Megan's Note: Sorry I took a week to update I had to focus on my two midterm papers for my accelerated classes. Anyways YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW EXCITED AND IMPORTANT I VIEW THIS CHAPTER!! This and the next few chapters is what I view as the core foundation for yours and Hange's relationship LOL. I've been thinking of these chapters since like chapter 1 & 2!!! <3 Thank you for sticking through the editing mistakes. It seems like each time I reread a chapter I find new mistakes like ugh. Anyways enjoy! I'm so excited! FLUFF ALERT?! Posted: 7/31/24 (10 chapters in 1 month! goal achieved!)

Word Count: 6.2k (ik wtf)

The sun was low in the west sky and the wind blew softly. You were brushing Beauty while Levi was cleaning her hooves. You brushed her mane gently and Beauty nickered making you feel like she was enjoying the attention. You smiled at her fondly like she was a friend. 

“Hey Beauty,” you mouthed to her so Levi wouldn’t hear you. He was very adamant about not naming his horse. Her eyes caught yours and there was a deep warmth between you two. Levi switched to the last hoof and started scraping the dirt off. It looked like it hurt the horse but Levi assured the horses didn’t feel pain from the cleaning. Beauty snorted air from her nostrils and you slowly walked in front of her crossing over to the other side of her. Her dark eyes didn’t leave yours. “You really are beautiful . . .”

“Once we get back to camp I want you to put your cloak back on,” Levi said and you turned to Levi only to see the back of his black-haired head. You softly chuckled to yourself thinking of how Levi and Beauty both have black hair. 

“Yes, Captain,” you stroke Beauty’s warm skin. Then you placed the brush into her small bag along the side of the saddle. Levi was just about done scraping the gunk from her hoof. There was a small sense of admiration for Levi who cared for his horse. Learning how to take care of a horse was required as a knight and you knew Levi was attached to his horse, but wouldn’t admit it. Levi brushed off the dirt that stuck to his armor and released Beauty’s hoof. He cleaned the dirt from his tool before putting it back into the bag. “Levi, can I ask you a personal question?”

“What?”

“Are you married?” Levi froze for a moment then glanced at you. The way his eyes paused and twinkled, it looked like he held a secret.

“Knights of the Royal King’s Guard aren’t encouraged to get married, but it’s not unheard of.” His eyes dared you to question more and you wanted to pry. However, something reminded you of times when Fairy Godmother Christa would not answer a question and instead deflected. Like she didn’t want to answer or was hiding information. 

“I’m sorry for prying, but don’t you want love in your life?”

“Princess Y/N, I’m alright you do not need to worry about me. I am fulfilled by my duty.” Levi began to walk back toward the camp. You followed after, staring at the grass by your feet. Small flowers were growing in the grass and the sight warmed your heart. If you were not looking, you could almost miss the tiny beautiful flowers growing. You and Levi trudged up the hill. Levi must have some type of love in his life. He seemed to be caring and very respected by his knights, something that women would want . . . right?

“Levi, I’m scared of meeting Prince Marco . . . what if I don’t fall in love with him?” Levi exhaled and you made it to the top of the hill with the camp in sight. Over to the right was the hill where the river was on the other side. Most of the knights were gathered by the campfire or sharpening their swords. Hange in their white top was stirring the large cauldron hovering over the fire. 

“And what if you do? You’ll grow to love him and what if—”

“How will I know when I’m in love with him?” There was a pause from Levi, a reflective pause. As if Levi was searching through his memories for something. The smell of the horses was fading away as you drew closer to the camp. The scent of comforting soup was filling the air. Levi was quiet and you looked at him. You knew something in his brain was ticking.

“When you’re in love it’ll be like they are your best friend and nothing will come between you two because you’re willing to go through the hardships to stay with that person. There will be a mutual feeling of wanting to be together and it’ll be like your soul fits together.” A thought of Fairy Godmother Christa and Ymir came to mind. How they laughed a lot at things you didn’t find funny, but they made each other laugh. Another image came to mind of when you were five or six and Ymir brought in flowers from the garden. Then later on in the week, Christa commented how sad she was when the flowers looked dead. Only the next day, there were fresh flowers from the garden—now thinking about it—you don’t recall seeing dead flowers in the vase on the dining table from then on. "When you know, you know."

“Hey! Soup should be done pretty soon!” Hange waved at you and Levi. You politely waved back and the knights turned to you offering a friendly smile.

“Good evening, your Highness,” a friendly knight said.

“Hi, good evening,” you said and it was followed by a plethora of greetings. You smiled and tried to look each knight in the eye. Jean was still wrapped in a blanket sitting close to the fire. He was staring at the flickering flames—captivated by the movement of the fire against the breeze. 

“Gentlemen, which sounds better? Bathing followed by soup? Or dinner first and then bathing?” Levi asked and Hange looked up from their pot. “I say we go into the cold river and then get rewarded with warm soup.” It came into your mind that you realized Levi was going to leave you and you weren’t allowed to go with the knights. The knights agreed it was better to clean up before dinner. They put their sharpening tools in their tents, grabbed their clothes, and some started heading toward the river. 

“The river isn’t too cold, actually.” You said to Levi and Levi walked toward Jean who was slightly shivering. Eren and Connie were with him helping him up. Jean looked tired and he offered a kind smile to you.

“You’ll feel better after bathing and eating” Connie said, taking the blanket off of Jean and balling it up. He set it on the ground and then wrapped an arm around Jean.

“I’m fine! I’m fine!” Jean lightly pushed Connie away making him chuckle. 

“How are you, Princess?” Eren asked and you noticed how green his eyes were, like dark grass.

“I’m good thank you.” You smiled then turned to Levi who was muttering something to Hange. Hange sat down on the ground. They had a thin board in their lap and were chopping carrots and potatoes. Hange looked up at Levi, glanced at you, and then they pushed their oval wire glasses up the bridge of their nose. When you approached Levi and Hange their conversation paused and they both turned to you. “Uh, so I guess I’m going to stay with Hange until you’re back from the river, right?”

“Right,” Levi said and you looked at Hange who grinned. 

“Hey, twin!” Hange brightly greeted and you took one last glance at Levi who was following Connie, Jean, and Eren. You brushed off the seat of your pants before sitting down next to Hange. They didn’t take their eye off of you. 

“Hi twin,” You smiled and there was a twinkle behind their brown eye. Perhaps it was because of the flickering flames that gave their face a pleasant glow or . . . 

“Are you getting hungry?” Hange asked and they started chopping potatoes again. They cubed them and then pushed the potatoes with their knife off to the side of the board. The way Hange cubed the potatoes reminded you of how Fairy Godmother Ymir used to chop potatoes. It bothered Fairy Godmother Christa how Ymir used to cut slices off and then cut the rounds into fours. Christa liked to cut the potato lengthwise and then cut the two halves into sixes. They would playfully tell each other how the other was cutting potatoes incorrectly.

“The way you cut potatoes is like how my Fairy Godmother used to.” Hange flashed a toothy grin, then chuckled to themselves. 

“Looks like your Fairy Godmother and I have something in common.” Hange stood up. They pushed their carrots and potatoes into the cauldron. Metal clangs filled the air while Hange tapped the board against the cauldron. “What was it like growing up in Shiganshina?”

The memory of running with Sir Zacharius through the streets and wanting to get one last glance at your home flashed in your mind. The unpleasant and familiar feeling of fear washed over you as you remembered hearing your home blow up. A pressure began to build behind your nose. You felt in your heart that Fairy Godmothers Ymir and Christa were alive, but there was no way of knowing unless you saw them again. The home with all your possessions and the place you found most comfortable was gone. The clothes and dresses you wore—gone. The books you used to read probably fueled the fire that burned in your house. Your childhood drawings burned to ash. No evidence of childhood and nothing left but memories. 

Your eyes turned glossy, you pulled your knees to your chest and choked out a sob. You rested your forehead on your knees, hiding from the cruel world. A cry of grief for what you were forced to leave behind and had nothing left. You had to trust strangers to keep you alive and the thought of people hunting you to use you for a ritual made you sick. It made you tired. As you felt tears spill from your eyes, you suddenly felt arms around your back and warmth against you. You lifted your head and saw Hange hugging you, rubbing your back, their cheek rested against your shoulder, and you found comfort in their gesture. You sniffed and rubbed your nose. Snot ran along your fingers and you quickly wiped it on the pants Hange lent you. Hange removed their head from your shoulder and you saw their sorrowful expression on their face. 

“I want to go home,” you whispered. Hange continued to gently rub circles into your back. “I know I’m supposed to be a Princess and also a key to a ritual but I . . .” You sucked in air trying to regulate your breathing. 

“What do you want?” Hange’s voice was low, warm, and soothing. Your eyebrows furrowed at their question and you looked away from them. You looked at the tip of your boots. “No title of a Princess and no cults exist. How would you spend your time?”

You were stunned at Hange’s question. A life you could choose? Perhaps maybe turn back time and go back to when you lived with Fairy Godmother Christa and Ymir . . . but even then you did have one dream and now—with all that has happened—there is a new dream.

“I’ve always wanted my own cottage . . .” You said and looked at Hange’s expression. A smile grew on their face. A friendly face—the type that seemed like they wouldn’t judge you. You felt like you could say anything and Hange would support you. “And there’s a garden in the front . . . There’s no city, but there’s nature and animals around. Maybe they come to my front door and I feed them . . .”

“Animals coming to your door?” Hange smiled and giggled—amused at your thought of animals approaching your home for food. 

“Well, I just want animals around. I’ve rarely seen animals before leaving Shiganshina . . . When Sir Zacharius and I were walking through a forest, I saw a squirrel. It was small and cute and it ran in front of me. I’ve only seen a squirrel in an illustrated book.” You sniffed and Hange’s lips broke out into a large smile. A fond smile. 

Hange thought about how little you must have explored in the world because of your circumstances. Though you were going to be living in a castle and have the kingdom at your fingertips soon, living a sheltered life put a chain on you. Hange thought of the chain as a bond that was holding you back. They thought to themselves how the situation you were put in was unfair . . . Also, safe. 

“Maybe we’ll see more animals on the way back to the castle?! What do you think of the horses?! Beautiful probably!” Hange playfully poked your arm.

“So beautiful . . .” You pondered on telling Hange your secret of naming Levi’s horse. “The horses kind of smell, but they’re big and fast and wonderful animals! They must care about us too!”

“They sure do!” Hange could hear the enthusiasm in your voice. 

“The other day when these horrible dogs attacked us, it wasn’t just the knights that were fighting back! The horses were protecting us too! Levi’s horse saved me from one of the dogs!”

“Did you know horses can run almost as fast as lions?” Hange said and their brown eye grew big. They kept the wide smile on their face as you gasped. They knew you were hanging onto their question, wanting to know more. 

“Almost as fast as lions?”

“Almost!”

“Have you ever seen a lion?”

“Nope! There aren’t any on Paradis.”

“Wow. I've seen drawings of lions in books, but maybe before I die I’ll see a lion.”

“Maybe,” Hange stood up and then wiped the seat of their pants. They walked over to a small pile of bowls. They grabbed a bowl and then began to stir the cauldron. The steam from the hot soup fogged Hange’s glasses and they pushed the glasses to their forehead. Hange stirred the cauldron one last time and then scooped a ladle of soup into the bowl. They made sure to shake off the potatoes and carrots that needed more time to cook. “Here,” Hange handed you the bowl. “As a token of our newfound friendship, I’ll let you have the first bowl of my stew!”

“Thank you,” you smiled at your new friend. There was a warm feeling in your heart. As a child, you played with children outside sometimes, but once you grew older you had a very limited social life. Only staying inside with Christa and Ymir and sometimes talking to owners of market stalls. You didn’t mind not having a lot of friends because you had books and your Fairy Godmothers. Levi’s words ran through your mind of him telling you that Hange’s best friend was murdered. They might want a new best friend and you realized maybe you wanted a friend.

“Oh! Let me get you a spoon!” Hange skipped to the pile of bowls and collected a spoon from the pile next to the bowls. They happily gave you a spoon. You stirred the soup, finding there were chunks of beef, cubed potatoes, carrots, and some peas in the soup. Your stomach was rumbling and the soup filled your nostrils with its delightful aroma. As you took a spoonful into your mouth, Hange was getting a bowl of stew for themselves. The heat of the tasty food warmed your body as it went down your throat. The broth was so delicious you wanted to drink it. 

“Hey Hange, since we’re friends, want to hear a secret I have?”

“Ooh yes!” Hange sat next to you crossing their legs. “Your secret's safe with me.” 

“This is about Levi, so you can not say a thing!” You smiled excitedly and turned your body facing Hange. 

“I cross my heart!” Hange turned to face you. 

“Levi doesn’t want me to name his horse, but I really wanted to and so I named her secretly!”

“What did you name her?!”

“Beauty.”

“Aah because she’s beautiful?”

“Exactly!” 

“I won’t tell Levi! My lips are sealed”

“Thank you,” you noticed the way Hange's lashes pleasantly framed their eye. Hange had a nice nose as well. Though they didn’t have their left eye and most of their face was covered with the black eye patch, Hange had a charming look. There was a softness in their face and yet they were a fierce knight that sliced the necks of cultists holding you captive.

“You know, Hange, you’re really pretty and I enjoy talking to you,” You told Hange and immediately their cheeks were warm. A bashful smile painted their face and almost a chuckle came from their lips. Their eyes darted away from yours looking at their soup—stirring it like it was the most interesting thing. 

“ . . . Even with my missing eye? That’s quite kind to say.” 

“I mean, it doesn't matter that your eye is missing. You’re obviously pretty.” It was your turn to look at your soup. You spooned carrots and peas along with some of the broth into your mouth.

“Thank you, Y/N . . . You’re a very gorgeous girl . . . so I appreciate the compliment.” Unknowingly to you, Hange was looking at you and feeling hopeful. When they lost their eye in a fight they felt like leaving vanity behind altogether.

Levi, Eren, Connie, Jean, and the rest of the forty-ish knights returned to the camp damp and clean. Jean wrapped himself in his blanket again and sat by the fire. Levi scolded you for not putting on your cloak like he told you to earlier. Hange joked about being sad that you won't look like twins anymore. His impatient face made you annoyingly walk over to his tent to your cloak. It was dry along with the pants and shirt Levi lent you. Which you didn’t need anymore now that Hange was lending you clothes. You put the cloak on and raised the hood over your head. Huffing to yourself because it provided a comfortable warmth as the evening went on.

Apparently, Hange’s stew was most of the knight’s favorite travel meal. As you continued eating your bowl of soup, you heard the knights’ gratitude for Hange making the soup. You could understand why it was their favorite, the soup was filling and heated your body against the chill air. Hange reveled in their compliments, they knew their soup was a favored meal. 

“There’s enough for seconds, anyone want a bite?! Don’t be shy, there's more than enough to go around.” They continued stirring and serving bowls to the knights. 

The sun was behind the walls and the late evening was approaching. The wind was picking up and the soup was combating the cooler weather. There was a calmness in the camp. As if Hange’s stew was an elixir that brought out peace and rejuvenation. A perfect treat to follow after bathing in the river. 

You watched and noticed how much respect and appreciation they had for Hange. Everyone liked Hange. You sat with Levi who was eating in silence. Jean was scraping his empty bowl getting every last piece of vegetable. 

“Go get seconds,” Levi ordered. You looked at him and he wasn’t looking up from his bowl.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Go get another bowl and I want you to finish the entire thing.”

“Okay . . .” You carefully got up and walked through the crowd of knights enjoying their dinner. As you walked through the group of knights’ Hange’s expression perked up, noticing you approach them. 

“Couldn’t resist another bowl?”

“Levi told me to get another.”

“That’s right. Your health is very important. Wouldn’t want you to arrive at Mitras Castle looking like you haven’t eaten.” Hange took your bowl and they filled it with mostly vegetables rather than broth. They used the ladle to scoop a little more broth before handing your bowl back to you.

“Thank you, Hange.” You turned and suddenly you ran into a body. The force caused your arm to shift upwards and tilt the bowl. Their bowl clashed with yours falling to the ground. You gasped watching and realizing you spilled someone’s dinner. Your eyebrows raised to your hairline and your heart was pounding as you realized the knights around you must have seen the entire ordeal. Your face became a deep shade of red from embarrassment and the knight you ran into looked just as embarrassed. You glanced at Levi seeking comfort only to notice he along with others were staring at you. Because you ran into the knight, he lost his dinner. “I-I I’m . . .  so so sorry.”

Your ears were drowning out the questions of the knights around you asking if you were alright or offering to get you another bowl. The knight you ran into gave a soft chuckle. His expression softened from the shock of the impact and held your shoulders. The crow's feet around his eyes accentuated his friendly aura. Your lip stopped quivering and your face relaxed as you realized he was not going to yell at you or that he was upset at all.

“Princess, accidents happen. No need to apologize.”

“Sir, I am still so sorry I sh-should of been more aware of my surroundings. I’m so sorry.” You wanted to assure him. The knight picked up his and your bowl. He dumped what was left in the bowls on the ground. The ground soaked up the broth. As he was bending back up, you ripped one of the bowls from his grasp. “Here let me get you another bowl.” You turned to Hange and commanded them, “Get him another bowl!”

“Yes, your Highness,” Hange laughed. They scooped more soup into the bowl and you carefully brought the bowl back to the knight. You gave them a smile giving them the bowl of soup as a peace offering.

 “Please forgive my clumsiness, sir.”

“I forgive you fully.” The knight took the bowl of soup you offered and he exchanged you for the other empty bowl. He gave you a smile that settled the rowdy thoughts of him being upset with you. You felt more at peace as you turned to Hange for another refill. 

“Do you think I made a fool of myself?” You whispered to Hange and they scooped vegetables into your bowl once again. 

“I think you handled the accident as graciously as you could.” Hange poured some broth and then handed you back your bowl.

“Are you going to eat a second bowl?”

“I will eventually.”

“You better,” you said and Hange burst out laughing. For a moment you didn’t realize your statement was entertaining, but Hange took it as a joke. Their laugh and their smile revealed their teeth. They were white and glowing. Their laugh was almost contagious as you smiled looking at them. For some reason, you found some validation from Hange laughing. “Thank you.” 

You continued to sit with Levi and the sky was turning golden from the low sun. Everyone’s stomachs were full and their hunger was satiated from Hange’s stew. You listened to Levi tell Eren how the previous days were before he and Hange’s group found them in Karanese District. Though most of Levi’s retelling, you stared at your empty bowl, not wanting to relive sickening parts. Jean was also staring off; he seemed fine but tired.

The knights started gathering bowls and cleaning up dinner. Hange was sitting and eating their bowl of stew and you realized they were the last to eat. You thought about how admirable it was that they made sure everyone else ate before they got their second bowl. Two knights gruffly lifted the cauldron and carried it over the hill to the river.

Levi started to become in charge of the cleaning. He wanted the knights around the camp making sure it looked like they were never there. As some knights were getting done cleaning their bowls, they helped pack, preparing to leave in the morning. Levi was in a group with Connie and some of the other knights washing the bowls with rags. You tapped his arm needing his attention. 

“Levi, I need to go to the bathroom,” You lowered your voice.

“Hange’s taking you from now on.” He glanced at you and then moved on to the next dirty bowl, wiping it clean. You grabbed his arm and shook it slightly.

“You always take me!” There was a tinge of frustration in your voice

“That was when there wasn’t another woman. Go ask your twin.” You looked over your shoulder to see Hange alone finishing their soup. Though Levi always guarded you when you used the bathroom, Hange was now your friend. You guess it wouldn’t be bad. As you walked over to Hange they looked up at you through their glasses. In their bowl was a little bit of broth and a few pieces of vegetables left. 

“Hey, twin . . .”

“Hey, twin!”

“Levi said you’re going to be the one to take me to the bathroom from now on.” Hange finished chewing the food in their mouth and then swallowed while nodding. 

“Right,” They stood up and turned behind them to pick up their crested sword, fastening it at their hip. “Let’s go before it gets dark. I need to pee too.” You and Hange walked past Levi and the knights wiping the bowls. Hange placed their empty bowl in the dirty pile nodding at one of the knights who returned a wink at them. 

You walked with Hange over the hill, passing the horses. The stench of them filled the air. As you walked past them you searched for Beauty. The horses were chewing the grass and whinnying. You pretended like they were talking to you. 

“I think that one just said ‘hello’ to us,” Hange nudged you with their elbow while pointing at the brown horse you were passing. 

“I was just thinking that Hange!!” You said a little too excitedly and Hange giggled. Then you spotted Levi’s horse and returned a nudge to Hange.

“There’s Beauty!”

“Ow!” Hange laughed.

“Sorry!”

“You elbowed me right in the ribs. Good aim,” Hange said and you laughed at their comment. 

“Levi’s horse is beautiful, isn’t she? Look at her!”

“Beauty is a beauty.” As you walked past the field of horses, you walked over another hill. You looked over your shoulder eyeing the distance from the camp. You thought about how far away you were from Levi, but then something told you that you’d be safe with Hange. Hange took their sword from their pants and offered it to you. “I’ve gotta go real bad, so you stand guard first!”

“Okay I’ll be on top of the hill,” You gripped their crested sword and watched Hange walk down the side of the hill. You turned around and looked at the field of horses who looked peaceful yet strong and majestic. A grey horse was lying down and you couldn’t take your eyes away from the horse. Every time you saw a horse lie down, your heart filled with joy from how cute the grand horse looked. It was amazing to see the large creature lying on the ground comfortably. 

You looked around at the view. For a moment you forgot about the danger around you. The horses looked at peace and the golden sky complimented the green of the grass. From where you stood on the hill you caught a slight glimpse of the river. On the left was Wall Rose and in the far distance you could barely make out the church Levi said was the first meeting point. Levi wanted to be closer to the river, past the church and you wondered how many knights were waiting at the area near the church where Levi originally said to meet. To the right and over the horizon you knew was Wall Sina. Passed Wall Sina was apparently where Mitras Castle was. Your soon-to-be home and where you were going to be forced to marry a prince. Hange’s question ran through your mind, what do you want . . . how would you spend your time . . . ? Hange was very nice and they created a friendly and accepting atmosphere. 

“Your turn!” Hange said behind you and their voice pulled you out of your thoughts. 

“Here . . .” You handed their sword back, and their cold fingers brushed against your hand, gripping their sword. You trudged down the hill, using your core to stable yourself. When you got to the bottom of the grassy hill, you looked back at Hange making sure they weren’t peaking. You knew they wouldn’t peak, but it always felt vulnerable peeing with someone around. There was always a tinge of anxiety of someone watching you in the exposed manner.

You stared off into the distance noticing sparse trees as you urinated.

When you were done, you put the tan slacks Hange lent you back on. You took a moment to make sure the pants were rolled up to the shorter length, so you wouldn’t step on it. Then you tucked Hange's white cotton shirt into the pants. As you walked up the hill, you saw Hange crouching. They were concentrating on something they saw. Your heart jolted. Did Hange spot a ward of the Marleyan Cult coming toward the camp?

“What’s going on?” You asked and Hange shushed you. Then enthusiastically waved you to come to the top of the hill.

“Come here! I spotted something you’ll want to see!!” Hange whispered and you crouched, approaching closer. You looked at Hange’s eye trying to see where they were looking. You glanced at the field of horses and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. There was no sign of danger anywhere. The tight feeling in your chest went away and you were looking at the horses, then the camp, the sky, the river—what did Hange spot?!

“What are you looking at you?!” Hange slowly pointed to the right of you, near the bottom of the hill, and a little away from the horses was a small animal. It was brown, its long ears were perked up and it had a little tail that looked like a cotton ball. You softly gasped, your mouth agape from excitement. “Is that—”

“A cottontail rabbit.” You and Hange peacefully stared at the bunny. It was so small and adorable, your heart was elated at the sight. “Have you seen one before?”

“Only in books . . .” The bunny was still and you could see their black eyes. You couldn’t tell if it was looking at you. If the rabbit noticed your presence. If the rabbit noticed you fawning over them. You didn’t want to move. To be in its presence felt magical and you couldn’t help but imagine yourself holding it. Protecting it. Suddenly the small brown bunny hopped away. You and Hange watched the little white tail disappear into the distance. “Wow. I’m glad you saw that.”

“I almost missed it,” Hange whispered. You both started walking down the hill and you looked in the direction of where the cottontail ran off to, hoping you could catch one more glimpse of it. 

“I feel so . . . I don’t know. But that was amazing.” You said breathlessly.

“You know some people keep bunnies as pets.” A jolt of energy raced through your body. You grabbed Hange’s arm a little too hard and gasped, nearly jumping.

“REALLY?!” You asked and thought of the little cottontail rabbit hopping around in your cottage. Then you started to imagine feeding the rabbit carrots like you saw in the illustrated books you read as a child. Another thought of dressing the rabbit in ridiculous tiny clothes and having a little pet rabbit with you everywhere you went. You just had to have one. You stepped in front of Hange’s path and held their arms, staring into their eye. “HANGE, PLEASE! I WANT A PET RABBIT!”

“Woah calm down,” Hange laughed and there was an amused smile on their face. “I love your enthusiasm for woodland creatures, it's quite adorable.”

“Hange! Please! Please! PLEASE! If we see another rabbit will you try to catch it for me?!” You plead and Hange laughed again and then looked at your eyes.     

“Do you know how hard it will be to catch a wild rabbit?! They’re—”

“I’LL HELP YOU!!!”

“—fast!”

“We can do it together! While we’re bored and there’s nothing to do we can go and try to catch my pet bunny!! PLEASE! OH PLEASE! HANGE!! I WILL BE SO HAPPY IF WE CAUGHT A PET BUNNY!” You whined and Hange admired your insistent pleading. They saw a shimmer in your eyes and a lightness in your face. You weren’t the timid and anxious Princess and instead, they saw you. The you, you might have been before the tragedy and the danger. Before you knew there was a cult after you. Maybe they saw the you that was filled with hope. The dreamer. 

“Who am I to deny the Royal Princess Y/N?” Hange said and there was a growing admiration for you when they saw you jump with your first in the air cheering. You jump onto Hange wrapping your arms around them, squeezing them tightly and excitedly.

 Then you noticed instead of a friendly pat on your back—like how Levi, Jean, and Connie reacted—Hange returned the hug. The rest of the way back to the camp you kept sharing your ideas of the pet rabbit.

“Can you imagine me with a little pet rabbit feeding it and holding it?! Me walking around with it—”

“Hang on! Where do you plan to keep this pet rabbit if we happen to catch one?”

“Well,” You gazed at Hange with hopeful eyes, giving your best smile to Hange. The kind of smile you gave Fairy Godmothers Christa and Ymir when you did all your chores and asked to stay up later. The kind of smile that you relied on while asking for something you wanted. “Maybe in our tent? PLEASE?!”

“I guess I’m okay with that. A cute little bunny hopping around in our tent!”

“YES!” Hange laughed at the excitement building for your future pet bunny. “Hange, you can even help me name it!”

“Alright, but we’re not naming the bunny ‘Cutie’ or ‘Fluffy’, it’ll have a human name.” You bit your lip and nodded excitedly, agreeing to Hange’s request. 

The knights could sense your excitement and light-heartedness as you arrived back at the camp. Levi was standing by a few knights who were putting out the campfire. He caught yours and Hange’s energetic back-and-forth rhythm of words. He scrunched his face wondering what got you hyper and then he remembered you were with Hange. He blamed Hange.

“Levi! Guess what?!” You asked. 

“What?” Levi asked and you swore you saw a small smirk on his face.

“Hange and I saw a rabbit! It was the cutest thing alive! And now we’re going to try capturing one to keep as a pet!!” You were bouncing and Levi's face fell as he crossed his arms and slowly shook his head. 

“You’re not keeping a wild rabbit.” 

“W-What?” Your heart dropped. Levi deflated all the excitement and the hope that was building as you were returning to the camp. Levi tilted his head at Hange.

“Why are you encouraging this?”

“Levi! You know it’ll be hard to catch one, so let us try,” Hange raised their eyebrows at Levi and you looked back and forth at them. They stared at each other knowingly . . . like they were speaking to each other without saying a word. Then Levi shook his head again. 

“No!”

“Levi!”

“I said ‘no’, I’m not going to say it again!” For the first time you wanted to go against Levi. You felt like you always did what he asked and did what you were told. You knew it was to keep you safe, but trying to catch a bunny was supposed to help the time pass. After a pause, you swallowed the defying words you wanted to say to Levi and remained obedient.

“Okay fine! But I’m not happy!” You crossed your arms. You heard laughter and looked to your right to see Connie hunched over, holding himself up with his hands at his knees. Then next to him for the first time in a while, you saw Jean’s gleaming smile. 

“Great,” Levi said lightly and more toward Hange. “Great Hange! She was around you for less than a day and now she’s sassy.” It was almost comical how wide Hange’s mouth dropped. They raise their hands defensively. 

“Don’t blame me! Maybe she was always sassy?!” You turned and grabbed Hange’s wrist.

“Let’s go back to our tent!” You tugged on Hange wanting to leave Levi. “Goodnight, Levi!”

“Jeez you’re being a—”

“I said, ‘goodnight’ and I’m NOT going to say it again!” You and Hange walked back to your tent, ignoring the amused faces of the knights as you walked past them. You knew Levi was right. Having a pet bunny living in the tent wasn’t a smart idea, but you wanted more animals around you. You didn’t even know how to take care of a bunny. Levi knew what was best . . . you sighed. Keeping a wild rabbit wasn’t plausible. 

“You know what I think we should do?” Hange lowered their voice. 

“ . . . What?” Then you noticed Hange’s mischievous smile.

“We should go bunny hunting every time we go to the bathroom. Maybe even say we’re going to the bathroom, but really we’re hunting for our pet bunny!” You gasped quietly and then giggled at Hange’s suggestion. The thought of hunting for your pet bunny behind Levi’s back. Then another thought of secretly having a bunny running around in your tent. Hange and you hiding your pet from Levi.  

“Really?”

“It’ll be our little secret.”

next chapter, Chapter 11: The Traitor

Chapter Index Masterlist

[gothic-thoughts]

Whole Lotta Lost

Kaeya Alberich x Black Fem Reader Fluff

Meetcute, Hydro!Reader

CW: Kaeya being the flirty king he is, Diluc pops in for a sec

Word Count: 1125 (give or take)

"Diluc!?" I call out, "Diluc!"

Where the hell did he run off to? I told that bastard to wait for me! First time here, and he leaves me. How am I supposed to know where a damn restaurant is if I've never been to it? Hm. I suppose I could explore—

"Excuse me!"

I stop in my tracks and turn to the direction of the warm voice and my eyebrows widen at a short, black woman jogging towards me. My heart races, thumping in my ribcage watching the blue, waist-length braids sway majestically with each step she took.

I lean on the building next to me, respectfully ogling the way her cacao skin soaks in the rays of the afternoon sun. Diluc can wait. Once she stops in front of me, she looks up at me with eyes darker and prettier than cognac diamonds.

"Whoa, whoa." I say, standing up straight, “What’s the matter, beautiful?"

She pokes her chest. "Me?" 

"Yes, you.” I chuckle, “What happened, are you alright?"

“No. I was...well,” she tucks the braid in her face behind her ear, "You're from around here, right?"

"Oh no; I'm just visiting on...business."

"I was hoping you knew where this coffee shop was. I think it's called 'Pusas' or 'Puspas' or something."

"Hmm...maybe. Is that why you look so frustrated?"

"I'm just pissed cuz I've lost my tour group so I’ve been lost all damn day and you're the first person to try to help me. Or at least respond and it's been--"

"Hey, it's okay; I hate to see you in tears. If it makes you feel better, I'm a little lost myself."

"Really?"

"Yeah, a friend of mine told me to meet him at some café here as well but I'm not sure where it is. Which direction do you believe yours is in?"

She points behind me, "I'm pretty sure it's...that way?"

"Hm, well I was already going that way. What are the chances we're looking for the same place? Or even across the street from one another? C'mon, maybe we can find them together."

"I don't know, you seem like a nice--"

"Oh right, where are my manners?" I hold out my hand, "I realize how suspicious I sound. My name's Kaeya, captain of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt."

She happily shakes my hand, "I'm (Y/n)."

I sigh with a giggle, “A pretty name to match a pretty face; how fitting.”

"Thank you."

“I don't mean to be so direct but you're just...breathtaking. Anyway, shall we?"

She smiles brightly as I step out of her way, arm extended to allow her to walk next to me. I glimpse down at the golden heart necklace that accented the red crop top and black shorts she wore. Perhaps she’s from Inazuma...or Liyue. Does she have an elemental power?

I snap out of my thoughts to see her anxiously nibbling on her glossed bottom lip so I try to read her expression better, only to accidentally peek at her cleavage. I clear my throat and snap my gaze to the storefronts we were passing.

"So, where are you from? I couldn't help but notice your clothes, but I didn’t want to assume."

"I'm from Liyue, I'm just visting."

"Really? If you don't mind me asking; do you have any elemental powers?"

"Yeah, I'm guessing you resonate with Hydro? Wait, no, Cryo?"

I laugh, "What gave it away, the blue?"

"Just the blue?" (Y/n) chuckles, "The blue, the fur and the white, yeah."

"My turn; you have....fire?"

"Nope; unlike you, I don't wear my powers on my sleeve."

I laugh, “Fair enough.” Oh I like her. 

Before she could continue, an angry voice called me from somewhere. We turn to look up the street to see Diluc storming over from a restaurant. Oh, there it is; and it wasn't a café at all, huh. (Y/n) takes a step back so I step between her and my brother's disappointed glare.

"Diluc.” I smirk smugly, “I've been looking for you everywhere. Luckily, I found company."

"Who is this?"

"I was just..." I step out of the way to show her off, "...Escorting this lovely lady to the café she's looking for. This is (Y/n), she's visiting Sumeru as well."

"A pleasure meeting you." Diluc bows slightly, before aiming a glare back at me, "We don't have time for this; you can flirt later."

"Oh that’s not it at all. Just tell me where 'Puspa' is and I'll be quick."

Diluc sighs, folding his arms. "2 blocks down; be quick."

"Of course."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He jogs back across the street and inside. I roll my eyes and continue walking down the street with her hand in mine, guiding her the rest of the way.

"Sorry about him."

"Who was that?"

"That was Diluc, you know, the one that let me get lost. He's my brother."

"He seemed...aggravated."

"Nah, he's always like that."

"Mm. So you flirt a lot, huh?"

I chuckle nervously, "It's nonsense, really. I'm known to give many compliments, but it's never disingenuous. But flirting specifically? I'll be extra sure to keep that between us."

"Mhm...."

"Honest, I'm having way too much fun with you to even consider anyone else. And to prove it, maybe I can take you to dinner sometime."

"Sometime soon?"

I squeeze her hand lovingly, "Oh definitely."

"And how soon would that be?"

"Does...tomorrow sound nice? I doubt I’ll be busy with Mr. Grumpy tomorrow."

"I'd love to. I'm staying at the Shapur Hotel, room 47."

Her hand squeezes mine lightly, so I look down at our joined hands and smile. We turn the corner and she releases a sigh of relief seeing Puspa on the next corner. Her lips dawn a playful smirk as we step closer. Once we're at the storefront she turns to face me.

"Thank you so much, Kaeya."

"My pleasure." I raise her hand to my face, dipping my head a little to kiss her knuckles lightly, "Maybe I owe it to Diluc for leaving me, because then I would've never met you."

"You are flirt."

"On second thought, he gets no credit for putting that in your head."

"So you're not?"

"My words always come from the heart; I only say what's on my mind."

She smiles, "Pick me up at 7?"

"I'll see you tomorrow then, beautiful." I delicately kiss her hand, and start to walk back, "Enjoy Sumeru for me."

"Oh, and another thing..."

I turned back to her only to be hit in the face with a small orb of water. I shake my hair dry and stammer in surprise while she laughs and walks inside and all I can do is resist the urge to follow. Oh I really like her.