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house-vulort · 1 year ago

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The Forgotten Labyrinth

TW: Abuse, blood, body horror, death, self harm

“F-father… I… I don’t understand… Why do I have to leave? D-did I do something wrong?”

“No, I made a deal with someone, and you were his part of it. I refused, but he forced me. I’m… I’m sorry Gaël.”

“You SOLD me to some man!? Why!?”

Leo fell silent as he sat at his desk. He held his head in his hands, struggling to hold back tears.

“Why!? Do I not matter to you!?”

“Gaël…”

“Am I just a piece of trash you can throw away because I’m the youngest!? Am I just a fail safe!?”

“Gael… please…”

“NO! TELL ME WHY! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!”

“I’M TRYING TO KEEP YOU SAFE!” His father shouted back, slamming his hands on his desk. Gaël froze, shaking with fear and confusion.

“The deal was a mistake from the beginning. I never should have made it in the first place. I asked this man to arrange a chain of events to ruin our rival, House Bellerose. I asked what he wanted in return, but he wouldn’t say. Until… recently, he wanted you to himself. I refused his desire. I even made plans to have you be transported out of the city right there with a group that smuggles people out of here, heretics even, out of desperation, but… he killed them before our deal could be final. Again he made his demands, increasing his threats… I can’t lose you both… I just… not after your mother just…!” Tears formed in his father’s eyes, he ran his fingers through his hair and gripped at his scalp tightly.

Gaël never saw his father this stressed out, but what could he do? From how this mystery man was described, he’d go to any length to get what he wanted, and he wanted Gaël for some reason.

“Is… is that why you previously arranged me to be a squire?”

Leo shook his head.

“But… it was rejected?”

“He… I think he has friends in high places…” Leo croaked out.

Gaël went white as a ghost, millions of thoughts and scenarios ran through his head. He couldn’t do anything.

Leo rose from his seat and walked over to his son, resting his hands on his shoulders.

“Please, for the love of the Fury, promise me you’ll do what he says… He’ll hurt you in any way he can… I don’t want you to go through any of that pain… Please promise me Gaël…”

Gaël stared back at his father still trying to process everything when the door behind him creaked open.

“You sold him to me to spite your rival, and now you are telling him you feel guilty about it all? Keep telling yourself that. Our exchange was “a life born to bring ruin, and a ruined life to be born anew” was it not? A life was born to ruin House Bellerose, now I’m here to collect the life you ruined. Is he ready?”

Gaël looked at the figure behind him. It was a tall cloaked, formless figure donning a mask covering their face, two gray soul-piercing eyes stared back down at him from behind the Bauta mask with a spider’s web design on the right side.

Leo hung his head and stood up. “I can’t keep him here anymore… I’ve kept it from Sylvain, but you do realize he’ll try to bring him back, right?”

“The fool can try, but I’ve already made preparations for him.”

Sylvain… Already has preparations for him…

“Y-you leave Sylv alone!” Gaël cried out. “H-he’s going to be a knight! He’ll… he’ll…”

The masked man laughed. “He’ll what? He’s of no concern to me. We have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment than an older sibling. Now then, Gaël, come along…” The figure motioned for Gaël to leave the room. He looked back to his father, who could no longer look at his own child.

“I… I want to stay with my father and brother!”

“You want to stay with the man who would rather sell you like the clothing he weaves than put up more of a fight to keep you under his care? Don’t be a gods damned fool. You are just his fail safe if something happened to your brother, nothing more, nothing less. You are not needed here.”

Gael’s eyes widened as dinner plates, as he hung his head. The words swirled about in his mind in the vortex still trying to process what was happening, but it had truth to it. He took a step forward towards his new master.

“You are a fucking monster, Spider.” Leo growled.

“Watch it, Vulort. You are in my web, the more you struggle and fight against it, the more you’ll only bring agony to you and yours. I’ll always be watching.” The masked man, called Spider, pressed a hand against the base of Gael’s neck, pushing him out of the room, Gaël looked at his father who had broken down, falling to his knees, unable to hold back tears anymore. …He would not see him for a very long time.

Spider continued to guide Gaël through Ishgard, lower and lower they went, down into the Brume, where they were given angry, fearful looks as they walked.

“Where are you taking me!?”

“Your new home.” Came the response.

Further down they went into the Brume, until they came to a wall. The cold was starting to creep in from the Sea of Clouds as the fog rolled in. Spider stared at the wall for a couple of seconds before turning back to Gaël.

“Give me your arm.”

“What? Why?”

“Just give me your arm.”

Gaël took a step back gripping his wrist tightly. Spider’s posture snapped up and the man bolted forward and dragged Gaël back to him by the wrist as the child yelped and tried to struggle free.

“You can’t run from me. Ever. I will always hunt you down and drag you back here no matter where you run.”

He slid Gaël’s sleeve up, as he removed one of his own gloves, pressing his free hand into Gaël’s wrist, muttering some kind of spell. Pain exploded into his arm, and as each time his heart beat, the pain spread through his body, up to his head and eyes, then down to his feet, until he felt like he was set ablaze. After a few seconds, the pain faded, and Spider released him, letting go of him. Gaël rolled on the ground coughing, in front of him, what was once a plain brick wall, was now covered in some kind of blood red runes.

“Wha… what did you do to me!?”

“It is the only way you can enter home, all of us have this spell pulsing through our bodies. As long as that spell is active, you will call this place home. Also keep in mind the spell can be versatile in other ways, pray we never have to use its… other uses on you. Now, come along.”

Gaël followed along, rubbing his wrist. Where Spider had pressed his fingers into his skin, a strange swirling mark had appeared. Spider pressed a hand against the runes, the stones rumbled and moved apart to open a new path, leading the child into a dark tunnel with the stones returning back into place behind them. Torch lights along the walls flicked alive, lining the walls, greeting the pair to their home. Further in they went until they came into an open circular hall where two figures were waiting for them, both wearing similar masks to Spider, a tall, slender woman, wearing a fancy hat and matching half mask, tall black and gold thigh high boots and long gloves, almost dressed like the drawings depicting the pirates of Limsa Lominsa, and a giant of a man, wearing a full set of knight’s armor with a full helmet covering his face. The pair turned to greet them.

“Oh hello! Is this our newest addition? Welcome to our family! I’m Dahlia, and the big brute beside me is Rhooke!” The woman stepped forward to grab Gael’s hand and shook it. The large man, Rhooke, stepped forward and lifted Gaël into his strong broad arms.

“Welcome aboard little Buddy! I’m sure this will feel like home in no time!”

Gaël squirmed in the man’s arms, trying to free himself.

“Rhooke, put him down, he’s obviously frightened.”

“Ah! Right, sorry about that.” The armored man sets Gaël back down, who backs away into Spider.

“The three of us…” Spider said, clearing his throat. “Will be your teachers starting from tomorrow onward. Dahlia will be teaching you the art of stealth, assassination, and forms of magic. Rhooke, will help you build more strength, and various fighting techniques and weaponry. As for myself, the sciences, such as alchemy, biology and anatomy, and so forth. As for today, you will be shown around your new home and your quarters. Any questions?”

Gaël stared at the three masked figures, still processing everything that had happened. Dahlia frowned.

“Spider, don’t you think a single day is too short for him to process everything?”

“I’m surprised you, of all people, are asking such a thing. We don’t have time to wait around. We have work that needs to get done. Now if you excuse me, I must return to my workshop.” He turns back to Gaël. “I expect to see you there at first light tomorrow, to go over brief lab safety.” He then turns on his heels and leaves the child alone with his two subordinates.

“I hate when he gets like that… Once you get to know him better, he’s not really such a stickler.”

“No, that’s you. He always expects everyone to be on their toes.”

“Really? Oh well. Come on kiddo, we’ll show you around!”

The pair led Gaël around the Labyrinth, it was MASSIVE, like its own village hidden deep under Ishgard proper. There was a small market place where a fence kept up shop, for stolen goods, or even items that were used for jobs that were on loan from the city above. There were even some stalls for food and craftsmen, who mainly made and repaired everyone’s equipment, a medical center, for those fallen sick or injured. Finally, in the center of the “village square” was a bulletin board full of jobs, ranging from assassinations to forgery, and specific information, like what was currently available at the shops and weekly notices.

Further down were where training would be. There were several large rooms for bigger groups, and then the private offices of Dahlia, Rhooke and Spider.

Then, the “resident apartments”, as they called them. The apartments were small studios that had basic amenities to live in and were grouped by age. There were at least two or more grouped together of the same age, but had the option to live in their own private “apartment”. Gaël, had a larger space with a roommate and training partner, who had arrived a few days before he did, sadly he wouldn’t get to know him very long. Gaël would have the rest of the day to settle into his new home and be expected for introductory training with Spider.

All Gaël wanted was to wake up and return back to his home in the Pillars, with his father and brother, but the nightmare never ended. He wouldn’t know freedom from this place until he was much older.

The next day, lab basics went on with Spider in his usual sour mood, as he instructed him on the common lab safety and what each piece of lab equipment’s purpose was. The other two were… nicer with their training. Dahlia and Rhooke taught the two boys together, their basics would last over a period of several months as they would utilize several weapons for their new line of work, and to find what best suited them. It wouldn’t be until later, where their true natures would come out.

The entire time the warning Gael’s father gave him rang in his ears; “do as they say, and you’ll be safe”… if only that was that simple…

Time went on, as they pushed Gaël’s mind and body to its limits. Most days, he barely had the strength to even move, but kept pressing on. He eventually found his first starting weapons, a set of daggers. Rhooke and Dahlia began their more intense course of training, teaching him how to maneuver around opponents and target weak points. Weeks turned into months, then years. He’d remember how many friends he lost within that time, even his roommate, who he had to kill after the boy became desperate enough for freedom he turned to the void, which consumed him. It became a lesson to not get close to anyone, as they’d be gone sooner or later.

When he finally got his own missions, he worked directly with Spider, helping him make people disappear, or pinning crimes on them. Causing accidents, that’s what he became good at. On a mission with Dahlia, where they posed as guests at a ball to gain intelligence on a target. It was there he finally learned of his brother’s supposed death at the claws of a dragon, and to make matters worse, the news came from his father, and how he spent months before his death searching for him. But… something didn’t feel right, only his helmet and lance were returned, no body was recovered to be given a burial. Maybe he lived, or something, or after the dragon had taken him it ate him… A surprise attack happened on his party of dragoon, and only one survived. Spider’s words rang in his ears; “I have plans for him.” Rage started to boil within. He’d confront Spider after the mission was over.

The forge was quiet at night, well, minus Spider’s hammering away. Honestly, did this guy even sleep? No, better questions to ask… Gaël timed his steps with the rhythm of the hammer striking white hot metal.

“You are getting better with sneaking up on targets, Gaël, but I expected you to make an attempt on one of us a lot earlier.” Spider did not even turn away from the forge. How the fuck?

“I have one simple question for you… You arranged my brother’s squad to be slaughtered by dragons, didn’t you?”

A soft laugh came from behind Spider’s mask as he turned to Gaël.

“It took you this long to learn of Sylvain’s death? I thought you were smarter than that! He didn’t leave me much of a choice! My how SHOCKED we were when a man like him came close to bypassing the seal on this place! If Dahlia didn’t convince those Brume fools to do something he would have come charging in here, not that he would have made it far anyway, but I put my all into that seal…”

Ah, Dahlia was in on it then… Of course she was…

“But what was one of the first lessons you learned here? Don’t form attachments? I believe that applies here as well despite it being long ago now. You should remember that from your first kill, or do you not remember? You and your first companion were like brothers, but you still-“

“Stop talking!”

“It is rude to interrupt.” Spider shot back. “Anyways, he saw you as a brother, but he was weak and felt desperate. You saw where that led him. Shame it had to be you to cut him down.”

“I SAID STOP TALKING!”

Pain exploded up Gaël’s arm, causing him to fall to his knees.

“You need to keep that anger in check, boy. Then again, you are close to reaching maturity, and emotions tend to run high… but you need to remember your place here. You are allowed to live by my discretion. Do not forget-“

In a split second, Gaël threw one of his hidden knives at Spider’s mask. Spider hissed out, covering his face now that his mask had broken.

“You should try a little better than that… I’ve gotten used to the pain you cause me!” The act had filled Gaël with a sense of confidence and pride, however it quickly fell into horror as he looked upon the man’s face.

Spider stared back at him, eyes blood red and filled with a hungry rage. The blood dripping from the wound across his face turned into a black goo, and he could have sworn he saw what looked like eyes appear in the liquid staring back with that same hatred.

“Fine, I can play too.” Gaël didn’t have time to react before that… a monster was towering over him. “You want more pain, I’ll humor you.” Spider grabbed him by the hair, throwing him into the edge of the forge, before pinning him, and grabbing his wrists. The more Gaël struggled to break free, the tighter Spider’s grip became.

“Another lesson to you… I am the master here, not you.” He pulled Gaël’s hands into the roaring white hot fire, down into the scorching coals. Gaël’s shriek of agony echoed through the labyrinth. The pain was unlike anything he felt, once Spider released his grip, the teen ran to a bucket of water as his flesh bubbled and cooked off the bones. His remaining flesh hissed as he dunked his hands in the icy waters, his vision started to turn black.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, SPIDER!?” Came a cry from the doorway, all before he collapsed, last he saw Spider's twisted smile staring back at him.

He did not know how much time had passed when he awoke, he needed to get away from this godforsaken place. The room was white and clean, beside his bed was a tray table covered with used bandages, and medicine. His hands were heavily bandaged, restricting his movements, but he couldn’t feel them. He was tied down to the infirmary bed, hooked up to IVs. He tugged on the restraints, trying to escape.

“Oh, you are awake! J-just take a deep breath, you are safe here.” The nurse stepped into his room with a tray of food and drinks.

“The FUCK I am! Look what that MONSTER did to me! Let me out of here, NOW!”

“I… I can’t do that…”

“WHY THE FUCK NOT!? THIS ENTIRE PLACE ISN’T SAFE!”

“Nowhere is safe! He MARKED you! He’ll always know where you are! This is the safest place I can provide for you!”

“How is this place safe!? This is still the labyrinth!”

“I am not one of his marked, I haven’t been for awhile now. He has no power over me. I am here only to provide aid…” Not of his marked, what does that mean? He stared at her confused as she set his glasses on his face, and pointed to her wrist, a scar was present where the labyrinth’s seal would be. “They removed it after I could no longer fully fulfill my purpose after the birth of… my child. However, although I am no longer the assassin I was, I remain as a chirurgeon here for the time being.”

“So, they didn’t mark you, how does that mean I’m safe here?”

“Spider knows better than to mess with a healer.”

Gaël stared at his bandaged stumps he had for hands.

“You’ve been kept in slumber as I worked on restoring them. You still have hands, but the nerves will never heal. It’s been over a month since I brought you here, the skin grafts need time to heal. Muscles are still intact, shockingly, but you’ll suffer tremors every now and then. …I’m afraid you’ll have to relearn a lot of your skills again…”

“How long will recovery be…?” He asked silently.

“Another few months as I had to replace almost eighty percent of the skin on your hands. Like I said, you’ll need to relearn a lot of what you have learned here with…” Her voice started to trail off.

A few of rest then months of recovery and rehab for what Spider did within mere moments, all because of Gael striking him… Permanent scars for something so minor in comparison.

The nurse, Rosette or Rosie as Gaël came to know her, was with him during his recovery and rehab periods. However, he hated the fact he couldn’t do anything himself. He couldn’t stand the sight of his own hands whenever the bandages were removed for cleaning purposes and the day he could have them off. He hated staring at scarred, burned flesh, the constant trembling, how he had little to no feeling in them or how he couldn’t even hold a spoon to eat a bowl of stew brought to him. Spider mocked his situation at any point he could get.

“Think of it this way, you no longer have prints to leave while on a theft or assassination job!” or “Oh dear, hopefully you can get control of that. Can’t have damaged goods here, it is not good for business!”

Damaged goods… that was all Spider thought of the disability he gave to his pupil. The rage within Gaël continued to bubble on the inside. Rage than pure terror at the thought of being disposed of like a piece of garbage. He heard rumors that those Spider saw as no longer of use to him, were never seen from again. At first he tried to flee, only for that kind nurse, Rosette, to convince him to return and help him create aids for his hands. Together, they designed specialized ring bands to aid with hi mobility and tremors, and by the Twelve, the improvement was noticeable! The tremors became less frequent the more he tinkered on the design, and soon, he would be able to hold his tools like he used to. However, the colder temperatures would make that work pointless, his hands wouldn’t work even with them on in that case. However, the entire process sparked a key hobby for him. One Spider and his goons wouldn’t bother him with.

Years went on, as he continued his work with the Labyrinth, as one of their assassins and scouts, along with being an instructor to the newer recruits. His friend in the infirmary, who had given him the chance to find another meaning to life, had left the labyrinth. For once, Spider himself seemed saddened by her departure. She was one of the few they willingly allowed to leave on her own terms. But to Gaël, it was another betrayal, another person he cared for had abandoned him, and he felt nothing. What was there to feel anyway? He was used to that feeling after all these years. It was nothing new to him. All he had now was his work.

After the Calamity hit Coerthas with the eternal winter, he dedicated himself to finding and providing heat to the labyrinth, to prevent them all from succumbing to the intense cold. Despite his efforts, even him going into the Empire’s abandoned and destroyed vessels for ceruleum and stealing any that made its way on the black markets, so many died. It started to wear him out.

“Gaël, I’m sorry to say, there wasn’t much you could do.” Spider told him.

“Given the history of Calamities like this… and how sudden they happen despite the signs of impending doom… Nothing can truly be done to save everyone. Besides, you should be used to death like this.”

Wow, what comforting words from the man that tortures and kills others because they are “defects” in his eyes. Sadly, he wasn’t wrong on this, it made him feel worse when he saw the damage the Calamity was doing to the Brume residents. It disgusted him how nobels can hoard all the warmth in the city but the lowborn fought for scraps.

Conditions got worse over the next few years, fences moved out of the labyrinth for warmer climates, Spider however insisted on the rest remaining there but refused to explain why. He kept telling Gaël of having big plans for him and would explain later… He would find out what that was a few days later. Well, partially.

“Come, follow me, I have a gift for you.” Spider beckoned him into a large chamber that served as a former shrine to Halone to the more religious members of the labyrinth.

“What is it this time? We should be making preparations on securing supplies, which we are running low on, need I not remind you, sir, not prayer to a statue.”

“Oh, it’s better than that!” The masked figure sang out as he closed the heavy door behind them. Ahead of them was an altar with a single gold gemstone encrusted chalice. “A gift for you, as one of our best champions! Drink it and consider yourself amongst the likes of myself, Rhooke and Dhalia.”

Gaël slowly approached the altar, eyeing around the room. No windows of course and the only entrance and exit was the one Spider was blocking. Nowhere to run, and he was afraid of what he'd do if he refused this “gift”. He lifted the gold chalice up, examining it, a red maroon liquid swirled within. Bringing it to his nose brought the familiar scent of rusted metals…

“Aye, it is dragon’s blood. Is that why you hesitate?”

“Sir, with all due respect-“

“I am aware it is a taboo on Ishgard’s practices. I thought you did not care about them anymore. Ah, you’re worried over the fact that you won’t be allowed in Halone’s halls to see your brother. You do know she doesn’t take deserters.

“He didn’t-“

“Him abandoning his post regardless of the situation is desertion. I don’t think I need to remind you again. Now drink.”

Gaël eyed the chalice in his hand again, he felt that cold gaze burning into his back. Hesitation meant death. With a sigh, he downed the liquid. He winced as iron ran down his throat.

“All of it. Every. Last. Drop.”

Gaël rolled his eyes, as he dipped his head back. He set the now empty chalice back on the altar, wiping the corners of his mouth.

“Are you satisfied now?” He asked turning back to Spider. Spider, forever the scientist he claims to be, stared at him, notebook in hand. “What are you doing now?”

“Waiting.”

“For?”

“I want to see how it affects you.”

“Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but nothing happened. Now if we are done here-“

“You will remain exactly where you are until I order you to move.” Spider shot back, writing something down.

Rage started to boil within again. He took a deep breath as he clenched his fists.

WHY DO YOU LET HIM CONTROL YOU?

Pain pieced his head like an arrow, his vision blurred red. Spider’s voice could no longer reach him and the voice in his head grew louder and louder.

Gaël roared out in pain, he felt the mark Spider placed on him burn up into his flesh.

YOU LET HIM HURT YOU OVER AND OVER. YOU WATCHED HIM MURDER YOUR FRIENDS AND PEOPLE YOU CARED DEEPLY ABOUT AS HE TOLD YOU THEY WERE WORTHLESS IN THE END. WHEN WILL IT END!? WHEN WILL THIS CYCLE END!?

“I… I don’t have a choice!”

YOU IDIOT! YOU ALWAYS DID! YOU LET HIM DO THIS TO YOU! NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE AT VENGEANCE! HE IS ALONE WITH YOU WITH THE BLOOD OF MY BROOD FLOWING IN YOU. CRUSH THIS SPIDER ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Vengeance… Vengeance… VENGEANCE! The word rang out in his ears. His aether went violent, ripping his body apart then rebuilding into a larger, more powerful draconic form.

“GAËL! STOP!” Spider roared, drawing a sickle to defend himself.

“NO! I AM DONE LISTENING TO YOUR BULLSHIT LIES!” Gaël roared back hurling the altar at his mentor. “THE PAIN YOU CAUSE IS NOTHING! I’LL MAKE YOU SUFFER TENFOLD!”

Gael’s vision went black as he saw himself charge towards Spider, he remembers the terror in the man’s eyes, then blood curdling screaming. He remembered the sounds of bones crunching and the taste of blood, flesh and fabric in his throat. When he came to, Rhooke and Dhalia had him pinned to the ground as he vomited up parts of remains and a piece of ceramic. A fragment of Spider’s mask. He tore Spider apart and ate him. The realization caused him to snap. He just laughed as the remaining leaders beat him bloody.

He was moved to a cell, arms chained to the walls, forced into a kneeling position and stripped of all of his clothing, save for a loincloth, a blindfold and gag.

“What do we do with this traitor?” Came Dhalia’s voice.

“Leave him, the voidsent will claim him once their seal breaks. Spider was the only one who maintained it. Now, this BASTARD killed him!” Gaël felt a metal boot strike his ribs, causing him to whimper out. “Shut the fuck up. You caused this mess!” The pair pounced on him again, striking him over and over once more until he was barely unconscious.

“You’ll be a good vessel for one of them! I hope you feel every bit of pain as they tear you apart. Have fun!” He heard their footsteps retreat as they both spat on him, along with the cell gate locking behind them. He couldn’t tell how long he was alone. It felt like days. He was left to die a slow agonizing death of those voidsent they mentioned didn’t get to him first. He’d either die from thirst, hunger or exposure first before being mauled. Or maybe internal damage from the beating they gave him. His mind wandered on what his last moments would be like.

Then it came, the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching. No, not yet! They couldn’t be free yet! A jingle of keys rummaged at his cell before the door flung open.

“SEVEN HELLS! YOU ARE ALIVE!” He recognized the voice immediately, Rosette. She released his restraints, allowing him to fall to his good side and curl into a ball. She gently removed his blindfold and gag, allowing him to drink fresh water. He gazed up at her like she arrived to usher him into the afterlife.

“I felt that something was horribly wrong when I came by the first gate. Everyone was gone, and abandoned, but I saw a blood trail lead here and thank god I did! We’ll get you patched up and leave this godforsaken place!” She slid a broken pair of glasses on his face along with something to cover himself up with.

“They said you left… why would you ever come back…”

“It’s true, I retired from here for several reasons, but I always tried to take the other “defects”, as Spider called us, from here so they can have a better future. He refused to let me take you, or even have contact after I left. I’m… I'm sorry it took so long. But what happened!?”

“I’ll… explain along the way… I need things from my chambers… and whatever we can salvage.” He leaned against her, as he slowly stood up.

He explained everything that happened as they went to his quarters to retrieve his supplies, along with better clothes than a pair of trousers and foot wraps. To say she was horrified was an understatement, however she promised to keep his condition with Dravanian blood a secret despite her working with the clergy. Along the walk back the cries of demons echoed through the halls, with his injuries from Rhooke and Dhalia, he had little strength to defend them or even block the demon’s path. The rage filled voice called out to him once again to turn into his new larger body. He’d be himself this time, as his diresaur form, as Rosie told him, brought the halls down to rubble along with fighting off the smaller imps as they came. He charged out carrying Rosie in his claws until his body forcefully transformed back.

“I can’t… I can’t stay like that… I’m… sorry…” His vision began to blur. Rosie held him tightly as she led them both out of the last tunnel. The powerful voidsent that had the appearance of some amalgamation of a bird and beast flew towards them. With the last of his remaining strength, Gaël touched the ward stones that marked the entrance. The runes hummed to life as he sealed the entrance locking the remaining voidsent away.

He woke up days later in a chirurgeon’s office in Saint Reymanaud’s Cathedral hooked up to a bunch of IVs to keep his body stable. It felt like he was back in the infirmary after Spider pulled his hands into the forge, with Rosie nursing him back to health. She kept telling him it was a miracle he was still alive. She managed to mend the worst of his injuries with minimal scarring. However, she told him in private that his transformation while escaping rebuilt his internal injuries as if he wasn’t beaten to near death. She allowed him to stay in the church as long as he liked or at least until he found a place to stay.

Rosette gave him all the time he needed to think, and he came to a conclusion to formally report everything that had happened over the past twenty-four long years to the Holy See. Well, minus his curse of course. All the death, all the crimes, everything that they had done in the labyrinth and even its location and the voidsent he’d report to the Temple Knights and Inquisitors. …Only to be told, they had no knowledge of inquisitors matching Spider’s description. He was told they’d investigate the claims of a secret tunnel deep in the Brume… only to be told “not to waste the Holy See’s time with mad ramblings”. How… how can they deny EVERYTHING when he gave his testimonies and bits of evidence!? EVEN THE DAMN MARKS ON HIS BODY DIDN’T PROVE A THING! He asked around the underbelly informats he grew used to exchanging with. All records of anything related to the labyrinth and Spider were wiped away as if they never existed.

“How can they do this!? How can they deny EVERYTHING we have suffered!? We still bear the marks that bind us to that place!”

“I… I don’t know, Gaël. I agree with you, but we don’t have a full picture-“

“The HELLS does that mean!? Of course we have a full picture! He had friends in high places. That’s the ONE of the few things my father warned me was that he had connections in higher places. I should have realized it sooner.”

“I know you are going to hate this, and don’t think of this as saying forget the past, but think of this as a way to restart with a new beginning. They don’t hold power over us anymore, we’re free to make our own choices!”

Gaël stared at her, puzzled for several minutes.

“You are right. I do hate that. Besides we have no evidence they actually planned this and in case you had forgotten, we both bare the marks they placed on us. But I cannot sense any magicks in yours… only mine.” He shook his head. “You still work for the people he had wrapped around his finger. Why would you join the clergy?”

“I wanted… personal redemption, to wash away all of my sins. For myself and my child.”

“Wait, child?”

Rosette hung her head and stared at the floor, holding back tears.

“Rosie… did they take your child?”

She nodded.

“You saw him before, at his trial to prove his innocence of herecy. Loïc Greystone. Many years ago, I was assigned to spy on noble houses as a maid to gain intelligence on all of them. House Bellerose was one of them, but something clicked when I met the lord of the house. I know our relationship was wrong due to him being wed in Halone’s eyes, but in his eyes he so desperately wanted to be free from this arranged marriage. From what I heard, this marriage destroyed his childhood friendship with your father along with civil blood in the past. The two were very close to rebuilding their families relationship to one another, until an heirloom ring of House Vulort found its way in the finger of the new Lady Bellerose.”

“So that’s what reignited that feud… Spider must have learned of your love for the lord and used it to his advantage. Then threatened to keep the child against your wishes so you gave him to his father to protect him. Another product of Spider’s bullshit… At least now he’s dead, you can visit the boy…” He snarled and shook his head. “But you get my point, right? Even though Spider is dead, his poison runs deep.”

“It’s… it’s been like this for much longer, long before Spider even. Ishgard is just… like this. There’s not much we can do or we’ll be marked for death.”

Gaël stared at her bewildered, as he slowly stood up straight, with his head cocked to the side. His eyes narrowed as if studying her like seeing a new sight for the first time. “Are… are you saying we should just ignore all of this?”

“No! Not to ignore it, we just need to wait for a better moment, until it’s safe to do so.”

“Do you realize how long that will take!? The people you care for at this church are suffering and barely get any resources to ward off the cold then we wonder why so many turn to herecy! Something has to be done, Rosie. You don’t have to help, I can handle it.”

“What… are you talking about? Are you suggesting you want to do this on your own!?”

“It doesn’t matter, it’ll keep you safe and I won’t drag you down with me. It’s… not safe for me here…” He left as she called out for him.

As he walked along the snowy cobblestone streets, he questioned to himself where he’d go. He didn’t have the Gil to afford a more permanent room at the Forgotten Knight, as much as he sympathized with the Brume it wasn’t a good environment for him, he wanted to get FAR away from the Labyrinth as possible. He found himself standing in front of his old home. He despised the idea, but where else could he go? House Vulort… the place this entire mess began.

He didn’t know what to expect, but was welcomed back home with open arms by his father, probably to atone for giving him up. Leo welcomed him to work in the shop once more, it gave him an income and an outlet for his hobby, he was fed, provided clothes, and a place to sleep with a roof over his head. He despised Leo greatly, just looking at the man made him sick. The blood made his anger towards the man boil. However, after the Calamity had turned all of Coerthas into an eternal ice age, Leo’s health began to deteriorate rapidly. All he had to do was wait… Within a few months, he had passed in his sleep, everything was willed to Gaël. He didn’t mind it, but enjoyed the perks. He was thrilled Leo was gone, but a part of him felt pained over his death.

After a few months, he witnessed some Highborn Temple Knights use their power over several Brume citizens. It was enough. Gaël would not hesitate to stand up for them. He watched as the two backed off, a part of him knew they’d be back. He returned that night in his old “work” gear and weapons. It wasn’t long before the pair of knights returned to physically and verbally harass a group trying to keep warm near a bonfire, even nearly pushing a man into the fire. He bolted from the shadows, stabbing one in the back of the neck. The other spun around caught off guard, and a brief struggle ensued. By the smell of the knight’s breath, he was very drunk. Wonderful, it gave him the upper hand. Their dance was quick, and he made sure it was silent. He caught the now dead knight before he could hit the ground, lifting the man in his arms and bolting towards the edge where the Sea of Clouds meets the edge of the Brume, and tossed the body over, then did the same with the next. Next step was cleaning any blood off. As he went back, he felt his heart sink as some of the Brumeborn that were being harassed not too long ago were standing about eyeing him.

“How could I be so careless…”

“Why did you defend us? Aren’t you one of them?”

“Me? With shit like that!? By the Fury, no! I’m not one of them!”

“But you claimed you were Highborn the last time, or were you just bluffing despite wearing their clothes?”

“Aye, I was born as Highborn, but the way they gorge themselves on the best of things while others suffer, then use their power to torment “lesser people” is repulsive. It’s vile! How can we boast we’re a United nation, but constantly push one another down!? I’m not just going to sit by and pretend it doesn’t happen.”

“What can we do? We’ll just get punished for it if we fight back.”

“I was trained to take out those in the name of peace, this isn’t peace! We’re not only at war with the Dravanians but our own people! That SHOULDN’T happen! It’ll just lead to a vicious cycle of sorrow and misery, but we can’t just sit by and do nothing! If I have to linger in the shadows, so be it.”

“Well, you are right about that, we are getting tired of just being forgotten and walked all over. We ain’t just gonna throw our lot in with you. Why should we trust you?”

“Hmm.” Gaël rubbed his chin. “Family does tailoring by trade, warm clothes, food and better supplies can be provided. I will teach the trade and better fighting skills if you are willing to learn.”

Several murmurs in the crowd agreed.

“First lesson, covering your tracks. Let’s grab buckets and soaps.”

This was the start of his shadow rebellion against Ishgard. The full start of his short revenge, the start of his new beginning.

#ffxiv #ff14 #final fantasy xiv #ffxiv writing #dark #tw: violence #tw: abuse #tw: death #tw: self half #tw: body horror

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alostnarrator · 2 years ago

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To Save Yourself- Chapter 4: That Toxic Kind of Love

“We’ve got each other until things can get fixed!” Mikey stuck his tongue out at Tesla.

“Thanks Michael…”

“Donnie? Who the hell is this?” A high pitched, feminine voice questioned.

- - - - - - -

Tesla froze up and nearly jumped out of his shell at the appearance of the new person.

“A-April!” He squealed, the name causing Mikey’s eyes to boggle from his head- almost . This was their April? The girl in question stood in the doorway, hip cocked up and a foot tapping impatiently. Her arms were crossed sternly, and Mikey was frozen on the spot. Unlike their April, her hair was flamingly orange, her eyes green, and the most noticeable difference was her skin tone. She was white? Mikey shrugged internally, concluding that if these brothers are all the same kind of turtle, and this Splinter was tall, then their April could be white.

“Well Don? Are you going to introduce me to the chick?” Mikey tensed, he now very much wanted to hurl what little he has eaten. He was so much slimmer and smaller than these brothers; and he, unfortunately, did have a somewhat feminine frame. Mikey understood her confusion, but it had been so long since he’d been called a girl that he felt like he had regressed two years.

“April this is Michael , he’s an alternate version of our sibling Mikey.” Tesla emphasized specific words, and in that moment Mikey couldn’t feel more grateful for the understanding they had. April’s eyes widened a fraction before smiling apologetically.

“Wait. Tesla, how did she get in here?” Mikey asked quietly, still eying the redhead from his hiding place behind the taller. Tesla jumped a little at the realization and reflected April’s stern gaze right back at her. April shifted a little, debating whether or not to come closer.

“April, how did you get in?” Tesla’s voice was calm, but cold. The sudden shift in tone made April take a step back. “You forgot to change the password. Casey said you were being weird and that I should check on you.” Tesla grit his teeth, rolling his shoulders back and standing tall.

“Oh c’mon Donnie!” April said nervously holding her hands up defensively, “I miss hanging out with you. Can’t we put our past aside and go back to you and me?” She cooed.

“You and me?” Tesla wavered for a second. “I… I kinda do miss hanging out with you. You were the only one other than Mikey who listened to me.” Tesla looked so forlorn, it broke Mikey’s heart.

“HOLD UP!” Mikey bellowed, Dr. Feelings up and ready to take over. “April, Tesla, I think you two need a meeting with Dr. Feelings.” Mikey slipped on his sweater and glasses with a startling speed. He motioned at two chairs, and the dumbfounded duo plopped down.

“Hello! I’m Dr. Feelings, welcome to my seminar: Respecting Personal Boundaries.” Though the mysterious power of Dr. Feelings, Mikey’s slides for his seminar appeared on the largest of Tesla’s screens. The first slide featured two basic stick figures, with a click suddenly one of the figures had a speech bubble above its head.

“Here we have two people. Let’s say… T and A.” Tesla and April rolled their eyes, but despite themselves, they smiled good-naturedly. “T asks A that they need to respect the boundaries they’ve set.” Something to the effect of what Mikey said appeared in the bubble. “A ignores T’s wishes, and goes against what T wants.” Tesla crosses his arms, and April looks slightly more annoyed than a moment ago. “But regardless of this, T forgives A and asks again for A to respect their boundaries.” The stick figure’s actions repeat over and over again, and as they repeat the motions get faster and faster, “T” starts to look more exhausted. Once they get to a blurry point, Mikey pauses the video.

“This pattern of behavior weighs heavily on T’s mental health. And more than once T wonders if maybe they’re in the wrong, that they are being a bad person by setting these boundaries.” Mikey doesn’t look at either of them while he motions at the stick figures, knowing full well that his words were sinking in already. The next slide features the two stick figures, now back to how they were at the beginning.

“Here’s what they did wrong. T should clearly state their boundaries,” As Mikey talks the stick figures act out what he says, “And A then needs to respect them. Bam! The steps to healing can begin. It’s ok to want to fix things if both parties are alright with that, but the moment old behavior patterns begin again the train needs to stop a-chugga luggin down that track.” He finishes and crosses his arms, now fully facing Tesla and April. The latter of whom now looks a bit more sheepish, and the former conflicted. Mikey smirks triumphantly, well aware that he effectively got his message across.

“Now, talk it out!” He says cheerfully, “I’ll be here to referee.” He sat himself on the spinny chair he abandoned when he jumped to hug Tesla. “Referee?” April questioned with a small hiss, her tone lacking some of the venom from before. She twisted slightly to the side, facing herself away from Tesla and Mikey with arms crossed.

She’s uncomfortable , Mikey observed, Tesla isn’t doing much better . Tesla looked pretty much ready to run at a moment's notice. Mikey knew this wouldn’t go anywhere unless he started something, he just needed to get this ball rolling.

“April, maybe you could explain to me why Tesla would need to change the password on his lab doors?” he suggested, keeping an eye out for either of their reactions. Tesla’s jaw clenched, Mikey had struck a nerve. April sighed, coming to terms with the fact that she wasn’t getting out of this.

“ Donnie and I have some… differences.” April said simply. Tesla slammed his hands down onto the arms of his chair, “Differences my ass .” He spat. Mikey quirked a metaphorical eyebrow at Tesa, urging someone to continue. “For YEARS I fawned over you, FOR YEARS I followed you around like a love sick puppy.” April shrunk back into her chair, not expecting this sort of retaliation from sweet, timid Tesla.

“You compliment me, you flirt with me, you tease me with the idea of reciprocating my feelings for you. And you just… you just leave me the first chance you get! You chase the first human male tail you see! You treat him like how you treated me, YOU KISS HIM IN FRONT OF ME!” Tesla cried, outraged tears gathering in his eyes. He had stood part way through his confession, the adrenaline forcing him to stand. His hands now shook at his sides.

“She did that to you just because of me?” Casey was back at the door, which had been left open in all the chaos. Tesla whipped around, jaw dropped in disbelief. “Uhm.. well yeah. I mean, I’m happy for you two… I just wish April hadn’t gotten my hopes up.” Casey wrung his hands nervously.

“Well you see… That’s the thing.” All three of them regarded the teen with varying levels of curiosity. “Me and April aren’t a thing.”

“ Yet .” April added, smiling sweetly at him. Tesla looked destroyed, his shoulders sagged and he was back to being seconds away from bolting.

But right when it seemed Tesla would combust Casey found his voice again. “At all. I’m not into you April, especially after hearing what you did to D.” He walked up to Tesla, holding open his arms welcomingly. “I’m sorry man, I had no idea you were going through that. I… Well, I know this isn’t any consolation, but I’d totally go out with you, no questions asked.” Casey blushed darkly as he hugged Tesla, a devious smirk tugged at the corners of Mikey’s mouth.

This isn’t my Casey , Mikey internally plotted, no harm in setting those two up. He giggled evilly and rubbed his hands together. “April,” He flapped his hand dismissively at her, “ You can go for now, think about what you’ve heard today, and figure out ways to keep any toxic behavior from surfacing in your relationship again… Also, knock and wait for permission to enter.” He pointed accusingly at her. April nodded furiously, and high tailed her way out of the lab, muttering angrily under her breath.

He grinned at Tesla slyly, “Oh Tesla-”

“Your name is Tesla now?!” Tesla nodded at Casey, “THAT’S COOL AS SHIT!”

Mikey snorted, “Yeah- Like I was saying, can we go on a tour of the surface?” Mikey tapped his chin, not even trying to feign innocence. “I haven’t been above ground since I got here.” Casey’s eyes widened and he flapped his hands while he talked, “WHAT?! I knew you weren’t Mikey! Ok- you two have got to explain. After we get some hard core junk food, blankets, drinks, and shitty movies!” He caught himself before he could continue, and he added sadly, “I mean, if you want me around. I can understand if you are grossed out by me.” He hung his head, making his way for the lab’s exit.

Tesla made it to Casey before Mikey could.

“WAIT- I mean… I… Well I gotta see if you… if you’ve-ve got the- the guts-s to go through with what you- what you said earlier.” Tesla’s green skin flushed red from his cheeks to his shoulders as he said this. The stuttering problem Tesla confided in Mikey about came back with a vengeance, only worsening Tesla’s embarrassment.

Casey, noticing Tesla’s embarrassment, simply beamed at the turtle and nodded. While the two exchanged comments in hushed whispers Mikey put his glasses down on a table, deciding to leave on his sweater for comfort. He really missed his hoodie, Mikey would have to ask Tesla if other him kept hoodies around.

Once again, the turtles found themselves in a discussion about identity and relationships, Casey now loudly piping in. They hadn’t noticed the flash of blue from the hallway until its owner spoke.

“You’re trans ?” Leonardo questioned. He heard Tesla gulp and Casey grab his arm. “I mean, our Mikey is ‘ gender-fluid’ or something like that, but changing your own gender ?? Fully?” Leonardo scoffed and Mikey felt his blood run hot in his skin. His fists clenched at his sides.

“Don’t pay him any mind Micheal.” Tesla attempted to quell the raging fire in Mikey’s eyes, “He’s repressed- I talked with him when Mikey came out, Splinter wasn’t happy and his opinion influences Leo’s greatly .” Tesla probably wanted to say something like ‘It’s not his fault’ but he bit his tongue. Leonardo narrowed his eyes and scoffed before pushing past the group to get to the dojo. Mikey didn’t miss the sowl he aimed at Casey as he shoulder checked him on his way by.

“Man, what a douche.” Casey grumbled, but smiled a little when Tesla rested a hand on his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter, let’s go raid shit.”

- - - - - - -

Mikey cackled as Tesla blinked from the position he was in. Casey had piled blanket after blanket on him, his reason for having so many? So he could make the best blanket and pillow forts for his little sister. But she was at their mom’s, so the blankets were just sitting around, just begging to be used.

“Ok!” Casey clapped his hands together, “That’s it for the blankets, you got the pillows Mike?” Mikey gave him a smile and nodded. “And I’ll go grab the snacks!” Casey jumped and fist-bumped the air above him. Tesla and Mikey shared a laugh when they heard Casey add ‘AND THE MOVIES’ from another room, probably louder than was necessary for such a tiny apartment. Mikey nuzzled his face into the soft pillow, unbeknownst to him drawing Tesla’s attention. “Do you… like soft things?” He asked gently, idly running a hand over one of the many blankets piled on him.

“Yeah.” Mikey whispered, immediately reminded of movie nights with his brothers. Of napping in Donnie’s lab when he was overstimulated. He reminisced of the way Raph’s bed was essentially a nest, always covered in the softest of blankets, pillows, and a few well loved plushies. The sound of Casey and Tesla quietly conversing about something pulled him from his thoughts. He was startled when the softest hoodie he had ever felt was thrown at his face. Casey was explaining how Mikey could borrow it for as long as he needed when Mikey realized he was purring while he rubbed the fabric against his face, pillows long forgotten on the floor. Tears built in his eyes as deep churrs rumbled in his chest. His knees buckled and sent him collapsing on the floor. The softness… It so deeply reminded him of his brothers. His brothers. He wanted his brothers.

Arms circled around him, hushed whispers promising to get him back to them soon. Apparently he had sobbed that aloud. “Oh buddy,” Tesla cooed, “It’ll be alright, I’ll get you home.”

The trio moved into the living room, plans of going back to the lair abandoned. They turned the floor of Casey’s living room into a giant nest of comfort, and wrapped Mikey in blankets after he donned the hoodie. Mikey, having calmed down a few minutes into the Disney movie, was happily munching on his new favorite snacks while Tesla and Casey were love-sick dorks on the couch behind him.

Every moment he had to spend away from his brothers hurt a little more, but with Tesla and Casey around… Mikey could survive. He grinned softly, he loved these dorks, damnit. And there was no way in hell he was going home without them.

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lynisapenguin · 4 years ago

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Standards

My parents have these crazy standards to everything that I do. Like, it´s literally not okay for me to be bad at something because ‘I believe you could be really good at this‘ but at the same time it okay for all of my siblings to be bad at the easiest things. So I´m not allowed to be bad at chemistry? But it´s fine if my sibling can´t do basic maths? If my other sibling couldn´t read for like the first six years of school? That´s fine? But I´m crazy if I don´t understand chemistry?

#i don´t get #i hate chemistry #like #for real #chemistry #so confusing #i love my siblings don´t get me wrong #it´s just unfair sometimes

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kampfkuchen85 · 3 years ago

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His personal nurse - Part 13

Characters: Shiba Taiju, reader

Warnings: english isn´t my first language, so there could be mistakes

Note: totally ooc

Part 1 - previous - Part 13 - next

Masterlist

=============================================

A few minutes passed, you on his lap, his head buried in your neck, when he finally began to speak.

“I fucked up.”

“Hm?” You didn't know what he meant. Yeah, the Black Dragons lost, but that wasn´t the end of the world, wasn't it? When they had enough time to recover, they would easily beat the other gang, right?

“It´s okay. It was just this one fight that you lost. The next fight will turn out differently.”

“That's not what I meant”, still hiding his face, but you could feel by his body language that he's fighting with himself. “I ruined everything.”

You gave him time to give you an explanation, not forcing him to speak.

His voice was quiet, when he finally had the courage to speak.

“I'm a terrible brother. I abused my two younger siblings. Since our mom died and our dad was barely at home, I was the man of the house. I thought that being strict was the best way to raise them”, he sighed. “I thought that this behaviour is some kind of love language. I do really care about them, don´t get me wrong, but strictly turned into violence.”

You felt your heart clench, because you never knew this side of him. You didn't even know that he had siblings. Yeah, you knew that he could be violent, but you thought that it was just towards rival gangs. He was never brutal to you.

“I will give up my status as the leader of the Black Dragons. It's the best thing I can do. After this loss, they would not respect me in any way and….”, he let out a quiet sniff.

“Sshhh”, you soothed him, rubbing your hand gently over his back, “it's okay. Can I be honest with you?”, after a small nod from him you continued, “I really don't know what to say right now, but I think that you recognized your own faults and that's a beginning, right? Fuck the Black Dragons”, you giggled to lighten up the mood, “they are just a bunch of losers.”

You leaned back a little to see his face, your hand on his cheek.

“No, seriously. I´m glad that you will quit with that delinquent stuff. I'm tired of patching you up and I hate to see you getting injured.”

You wiped his tears away, getting serious. “Do you regret being an asshole to your siblings?” You earned a nod. “I don't know the whole story, but maybe….they will forgive you?! Someday? I also don't know them, but….”, you sighed. “Sorry, I'm not good with this kind of thing.”

He pulled you in a hug again, nuzzling his face in your neck. A few minutes passed till you spoke again. “Had you avoided me because of that situation with your siblings?”

“No, that's something different”, exhaling a deep breath. “These past months with you…”

To your confusion, he started laughing. “Why am I beating around the bush? I can talk to you straight forward, right?”, finally looking at you again with puffy eyes, but a big smile.

“I like you, Y/N.” Your puzzled face made him laugh even more. “Yeah, that's right. I like you.”

“You found out that you like me and that's why you avoided me?”

“Well”, rubbing his neck, “I wasn't sure about that at first. I had to fulfill my role as the unbeatable tenth leader of the terrifying Black Dragons, you know?”

“Unbeatable, huh?”, raising an eyebrow. “You are bleeding from the top of your head right now and you admitted your loss a few minutes ago.”

He couldn't hold back a smile by your choice of words.

“What about you?”

“Huh?”

“Are you dense? I just told you that I like you. What´s your answer?”

“My condolences?”, you never laughed so hard, seeing his dumb face. “Sorry, sorry!”

You gave him a quick peck on the corner of his lips. “Is that answer enough?”

A smirk showed up on his face. “Can you repeat your answer? I couldn't hear you.”

You rolled your eyes, but did the same action again, this time he returned the kiss, making you blush. Clearing your throat to guide the conversation to another topic, you realised that you were still sitting on his lap.

“Um...what about your injuries? Let me take a look, okay?”

#tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x reader #tokyo revengers x yn #tokyo revengers x you #taiju shiba #shiba taiju #toman #tokyo revengers scenarios #fanfic #anime #black dragon #taiju x reader

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thegamingcatmom · 4 years ago

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RE village fic idea, reblogs very much appreciated :3

Okay so, after those first few hours of gameplay and the previews we got of the game so far, especially the family gathering, there´s now this idea in my head that won´t leave me alone so I have to let the world of tumblr and it´s creative simps know:

Basically it´s an idea for a Lady Dimitrescu/Reader fic with Reader being a maiden (they don´t have to be though, but we gotta have that connection to the Lady somehow) and she´s somehow piqued Alcina´s interest so instead of making wine out of her, the Lady has other plans (pet, toy, lover, companion - there are lots of possibilities here, though I do prefer something like companion turned lover :3).

Doesn´t sound so different from your usual fic? Well, you gotta have the build-up first but hear me out:

So, after some time of trying to get used to her new life with the Lady and her antics and ofc her three rascals, the maiden draws some “unwanted” attention in the form of Mother Miranda and the rest of the crew. She fears for the worst, since everyone knows of the tales and stories regarding “The Family”. But instead of using the maiden as a sacrifice or food source etc., the circle is strangely fascinated by this weird human being. Even more so when they discover that tiny human has somehow managed to worm her way into Alcina´s heart. They just have to know what´s so special about that girl, so they each pay visits to the castle to see for themselves. Except Mother Miranda ofc, she let´s the girl come to her because the audacity to think she would stoop so low as to trail after some simple human. This could happen in the form of the family gathering we saw.

And so, somehow, this simple maiden ends up being the protege of the most feared family in all Romania. It´s basically like being adopted by the mafia.

And there would be constant banter about her humanity, because she might be some silly human being but she´s their silly human being (I could totally imagine Daniela saying this).

And also like some sort of sibling rivalry because when has fucking Angie become the girl´s new bestie?? (getting Bela vibes here)

Then lots and lots of possessive Alcina ofc, because sharing her dearest with that bunch of weirdos?? The Lady does not approve.

But ofc it´s not just family stuff and everyone is happy...we´re talking about wine made from virgins, corpses being transported via assembly line, the sacrifizing of babies and general mass slaughtering. This ought to leave an impact...and it does.

After weeks/months of living in the castle, being coddled and cared for, far away from those horrors, it´s like the fog has lifted and the maiden realizes that this is wrong. So, so wrong. She needs to get the hell out of there, ASAP.

This is where shit turns dark obviously, because there´s no way The Family, especially the Dimitrescus, will let their darling girl escape their clutches that easily.

While I would love a fic solely about happy family time, it just doesn´t feel quite right. Not including the horrors going on in The Family would feel like wasted potential to me.

So yeah, there you have it. Reader living the family dream until reality knocks. Oh how the girl wished she´d never woken up...

#fic idea #someone make this a fic #I BEG YOU #I always have ideas but no talent #whoever will have mercy on me I LOVE YOU ALREADY #resident evil village #resident evil 8 #lady dimitrescu #alcina dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu x reader #bela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #daniela dimitrescu

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oddaodd · 4 years ago

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Request: it’s before season 1, The boys not long come back from the war and y/n has been friends with the Shelbys as she’s also a gypsy, her, tommy and Finn live in there own house, (y/n is like a mother to Finn and tommy and y/n are really close) y/n is coming to the end of her pregnancy but there is a storm and they can’t call for help and doors need to be blocked with sandbags to avoid flooding and y/n’s waters broke so tommy had to help deliver the baby and Finn was helping as moral support, and tommy was just telling her to trust and listen to her body, a few hours later the baby is born, Finn has been sent to bed and tommy and y/n are relaxing with the baby and they talk and they confess feelings and tommy agrees to be the babies father (the biological could have died from war or left or anything else, it’s up to you). A few days later the storm passes and the Shelbys come and see them to check if there ok and they see tommy helping y/n getting the baby to latch to feed and Finn is playing or reading and there just happy and fluffy 💙💙 kind of long and it’s okay if you don’t want to write this, I’ve just never seen someone wrote something like this and thought it would be interesting ✨✨ (I’m also not the best at spelling and gramma so if anything is wrong or doesn’t make sense I’m sorry ❤️❤️)

Stormborn

· Tommy helps the reader give birth ·

warnings: mentions of pregnancy.

Author´s note: I don¨t know much about childbirth or children in general but I did some research and this is what i came up with. Hope you like it ✨

It was a tempestuous evening in Birmingham when a very pregnant Y/n helped little Finn and Tommy barricade the windows and doors in the house against the latter´s complaints against it. Thomas had become very overprotective as Y/n´s due date neared and didn’t want her making any unnecessary efforts. She found his concern sweet but didn’t want to just sit there doing nothing while the storm which according to the newspapers was to be the wildest of the century raged outside. So she helped handing them nails and wooden planks. The nature of the whole situation was concerning. They didn’t know how long the storm would last and she feared something would happen to her and her baby.

Finn was terrified of storms and clung to y/n´s skirt whenever thunder hit. Y//n soothingly rubbing his back as he did. Finn´s fear and her own making her feel specially pregnant in all the worst ways possible. She tried to not let it get to her and bent down to grab a wooden plank to hand to Tommy when she felt water running between her legs. This can’t be happening now.

“Tommy?” She asked trying to not let the panic she was feeling show.

Judging by the speed in which Tommy turned to look at her, her efforts to hide her fear were vain. He instantly noticed the pool of water under her y/and his eyes widened in panic too. Her mouth opened in hesitation before letting out a cry as she felt her first contraction.

Tommy immediately rushed to her side and led her to the bathroom, helping her sit inside the tub before filling it with warm water, an alarmed Finn following close by.

“Y/n!y/n! Are you ok?” Asked the boy, concern evident in his young features.

“Im fine Finn ,don’t worry…” she started trying to reassure him but was suddenly interrupted by another contraction.

Tommy saw his little brother’s terrified face and kneeled down beside him.

“She´s fine Finn, its just her baby” he said partly to calm the young boy and partly to calm himself.

Another piercing scream rang through the bathroom walls as she held on to the brim of the tub.

“Why don’t you go get the towels and the medicine cabinet from the kitchen” Tommy suggested.

Truth was, Tommy was terrified, he knew nothing about births aside from his mother´s screams when his younger siblings were born, but he knew he had to remain collected for Y/n´s sake.

The little boy rushed out of the bathroom and came back seconds later, handing Tommy what he asked for and placing his little hand on top of y/n¨s one trying to be of comfort.

Some minutes passed by as her contractions increased in frequency and pain. Her screams matching the intensity of the storm outside.

“I can’t do It Tom” she cried as she felt a tearing pain.

“Yes you can, love, you’re doing so well. Just keep breathing” he said and moved over to the end of the tub rolling up his sleeves before submerging his arms in the water and feeling for the baby.

“I can feel it´s head Y/n, just keep pushing” he urged

Y/n moved her head in negation, tears in her eyes and her face red “I can’t”

“Just listen to your body love, one more push” Tommy said.

Y/n continued crying “you can do it Y/n” came Finns voice.

She felt another contraction and with an agonizing scream pushed one last time. Finally giving birth.

She passed out seconds later to the sight of Tommy taking the baby out of the water and wrapping it in a towel handed to him by Finn.

——————

She woke up hours later in her bed, her body still tired and in pain. She looked at her surroundings and saw Tommy sitting in the rocking chair she kept by the tiny fireplace with a bundle of blankets in his arms.

“Tom?” She asked, her voice barely there, weak and raspy from her screaming.

He turned to look at her and smiled when he saw her fully conscious, before getting up and walking to her bed. “Ready to meet your daughter?”

Y/n prompted herself up so she was sitting and took her baby in her arms when Tommy handed her to her. Her eyes welled up in tears as she saw her looking deeply into her eyes and then she could see all the pain she went through completely justified.

The circumstances in which she had gotten pregnant weren’t ideal to say the least. Her boyfriend at the time left her when she told him she was pregnant, her mother kicked her out of the camp when she too found out and having no place else to go, she found herself living with Tommy ,who welcomed her with open arms, and his little brother Finn.

She turned to look at Tommy and let her emotions and tears run freely as she saw him looking at her adoringly. She had always been in love with him but never confessed anything, convincing herself he didn’t feel the same when she saw him going out with other girls. But when he looked at her like that it made her question everything.

Tommy wiped away some of her tears gently and put an arm around her, letting her rest her head on his chest.

“Have you thought of names?” He asked.

“Rosemary” she said after a second ”It was my grandmother’s name” she whispered taking her baby’s little hand in hers. Marveling at how small it was.

“Its a beautiful name” he whispered pressing a kiss to Y/n´s temple.

Y/n moved a little to look at his face “Thank you Tommy… For helping me, helping us… for everything”

He cupped her face “ You don’t have to Thank me, Im always going to be here for you and for little Ro“

She smiled at the nickname and held one of his hands, just relishing the moment and then without really thinking about it she confessed “I love you”

A flash of panic ran through her insides the second she registered what she had said. Would he leave her too?

But all or her concerns were dismissed when Tommy leaned in, softly kissing her lips. “I love you too. Always have and always will.

————

After a week of constant rain and gushing winds, the storm cleared out. Finn was playing in the parlor with some toy horses as Y/n sat in a sofa breast-feeding Rosemary and singing her a Romani Lullaby that her mother had sung to her when she was a baby, and that her grandma had sung to to her mother when she was baby, and that many other Romani women before them had sung to their children.

Tommy then walked into the room with Polly following close by. The woman’s eyes widened when she saw Y/n rushing to her side.

“When Thomas told me he had delivered your baby I couldn’t believe it.” She admitted sitting next to Y/n.

Y/n smiled at the woman and gently handed Rosemary to her. Covering herself with a quilt. Polly admired the baby with adoration, reminiscing about the time she had had her babies before they were taken away from her.

“What’s her name?” She asked with a coo.

“Rosemary” Y/n sighed happily as Thomas walked to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, her own hand going to grab his.

“Rosemary Shelby” Pol confirmed “she’ll be a strong woman, just like her birthday´s storm and her Mum” she said, handing Rosemary back to Y/n with a smile.

And in that moment all was well.

@captivatedbycillianmurphy

#Tommy Shelby #tommy shelby imagine #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby one shot #tommy shelby fluff #thomas shelby #thomas shelby imagine #thomas shelby x reader #thomas shelby one shot #thomas shelby fluff #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders one shot #peaky blinders fluff

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tobesolonely · 4 years ago

Text

jealousy

a/n: hello! this is a little one shot that’s apart of my dad!harry universe! you dont have to read the original one to understand this one shot but if you’d like to, ill link it here . i hope everyone enjoys! please reblog and leave feedback if you do<33

summary: y/n and harry have another child, and their first born is a little skeptical on the idea of being a big sister.

warnings: none

word count: ~1.7k

my ko-fi! thank you :)

After hours of excruciating contractions, a backache like nothing you’ve ever felt in your life, and the horrid discomfort that came with pushing, you forgot all about your displeasure when Harry grabbed your hand, eyes sparkling, and said: “He’s beautiful, Y/N. Oliver’s here.”

When you found out you were having a baby boy, you were ecstatic. You and Harry already had a daughter, a fiery six-year-old named Allison, or Ally, as she preferred, and wanted to try for a boy. Girls run on both sides of your family, so you were pleasantly surprised when you found out you were expecting a baby boy. However, your daughter was not so happy about this news.

At first, you and Harry thought that the farther along you got in your pregnancy, the more your daughter would warm up to the idea of being a big sister. Unfortunately, the opposite happened. She became withdrawn and had outbursts that you would describe as “unpredictable and unprovoked.” You tried using your own experience as an older sibling to help your daughter know what to expect. You let her pick the color for the nursery. Harry got a t-shirt made that said, “Best big sister ever!” but she never wanted to wear it. Despite your greatest efforts, nothing changed your daughter’s attitude. She was much like you in that aspect— once she had an opinion on something, it was difficult to get her to see things from a different perspective. Still, you were looking forward to your eldest meeting the newest addition to the family.

After a few hours of skin to skin, feeding, and napping (because everyone knows you sleep when the baby sleeps), Harry breaks the silence. “Told my mum she can come over with Ally and Gem, now. Are yeh okay with visitors?” His voice is scratchy from not speaking for so long, and he’s whispering in an effort to not wake up your son.

“That’s fine,” you respond, rubbing sleep out of your eyes. “Just exhausted. Maybe a short visit?” Harry nods, telling you he already suggested they don’t stay for long. You look over at your son, starting to feel a little anxious. Ally had six months to adjust to the idea of having a sibling, and she was upset about it right up until the very end. When you went into labor, as Harry frantically got the car packed, she stood off to the side and said nothing. When Harry’s mom arrived as you were getting set to leave, the two of you told your daughter to be good, gave her hugs and kisses, and reminded her how loved she was. Still, Ally said nothing. When Anne waved as Harry backed the car out of the driveway, Ally had a look on her face that she didn’t often wear— a look that could best be described as pure hurt.

“What’s on your mind?” While you were lost in your thoughts, Harry moved from the chair near the window to the one next to your bed.

“I’m just worried about how Ally’s gonna react to him,” you gesture toward your son, who was still fast asleep in his bassinet. “Did you see how she looked at us when we left? Hardly said a word to either one of us.”

Harry hums thoughtfully, thinking back on the earlier day's events. “Guess you’re right, now that ‘m thinkin’ about it. She didn’t seem excited at all, did she?”

You shake your head, tears starting to form in your eyes. Harry’s expression softens, and he reaches to gently cup your face. “Hey, don’ gotta cry, lovie. Just wait ‘til she sees him. Promise she’ll fall in love jus’ like we did, trust me.” He wipes a stray tear from your cheek and gives you a reassuring smile.

“You’re right,” you tell him, feeling silly for getting so emotional so quickly. “I know it’s a big adjustment. My mom told me I was the same way when my little sister was born.” Harry nods, retracting his hand from your face and reaching to grab a tissue from the table beside your bed.

“See? Who woulda thought yeh didn’t like your sister when she was born? The two of yeh are inseparable at this point, know she’d be right here beside you if she wasn’t away at university.”

You’re about to respond when a gentle knock at the door interrupts your conversation. Harry’s eyes light up as he turns to see his mother, Gemma, and your baby girl all walk into the room. Gemma is holding a big bouquet of flowers, Anne has a bunch of balloons with “It’s a boy!” written in curly script, and Ally is clutching onto her grandmother’s hand, a stuffed bear that you don’t recognize as being hers in tow.

“C’mere and give Daddy a hug,” Harry immediately stands up and goes to pick up your daughter, twirling her around. “Missed yeh so much, love bug. Were you good for grandma and auntie Gem?” Harry’s voice is still quiet, as Oliver was still sleeping, and no one wanted to deal with a fussy baby at the moment.

“Yes, daddy.” Ally answers quietly and shortly, looking down at the floor. Harry notices this and sets her down, kneeling to make eye contact with her.

“What’s wrong, Ally? Mumma and Daddy have noticed that yeh haven’t been yourself lately. Something botherin’ you?” Harry questions, already knowing why she was so upset but wanting to give her a chance to freely express how she was feeling.

“S’just…” she says, tugging on her shirt and stretching it out, a bad nervous habit she developed. “I don’ think I want a brother, Daddy. Auntie Gem said it would be fun, but I jus’ don’t think so.” Your daughter has a look of genuine worry on her face. At this point, Gemma and Anne have made their way over to you, quietly offering congratulations and gushing over Oliver.

“What makes yeh think it won’t be fun, bug? What are some things you’re worried about?” Harry takes one of her little hands in his, rubbing gentle circles on her thumb. Ally harshly rubs at her eyes, and you know this means she’s about to start crying.

“Jus’ think you and Mumma won’t love me anymore… because you’ll be too busy playing with him,” She looks over in her brother’s direction, not even wanting to say his name. “I bet he’ll get more cuddles than me.”

Your heart breaks at the fact that your daughter thinks you and Harry don’t have enough love in your heart for her and her baby brother. “Ally, come over here and lie next to Mumma,” you call out quietly. Harry picks her up and brings her over to you, laying her on your bed cautiously to make sure she doesn’t accidentally get tangled in any of your IV’s.

“Baby, there’s nothing and no one on this planet that could make me and Daddy love you any less. We have enough love in our hearts for you and Oliver. Do you understand?” You ask. She doesn’t say anything.

“D’ya wanna hold him?” Harry offers, looking at his mom and sister who have hopeful looks in their eyes. They know how difficult it’s been for Ally to accept a new sibling, as Anne and Gemma have both reassured you countless times when you’ve vented to them about it.

“I guess,” she mumbles, looking at her hands. Harry tries a different approach.

“I see yeh had a new bear in your hand when yeh walked in. Is that for your brother?” Ally looks at the bear that she had discarded on the chair and nods slowly.

“Auntie Gem got Mumma flowers, an’ grandma got balloons. So I wanted to get something too,” she tells him, looking between yours and Harry’s faces. He smiles widely at this and reaches to grab the bear.

“That’s so thoughtful of yeh, bug. See? You’re a natural big sister! Did Auntie Gem teach you some things when I wasn’t around?” Ally chuckles at this, playing with the stuffed animal’s legs. “Do yeh wanna hold him and give him the bear, Ally?”

She quickly nods, a noticeable shift in her mood. Harry tries to hide his excitement as he walks over to Oliver’s bassinet, who was now starting to wake up. He coos when Harry picks him up, and you’re relieved when he doesn’t burst into tears like he has been for the past few hours.

“Hold your arms like this,” you demonstrate for your daughter, situating her body next to you so she could hold her brother without hurting him. Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Gemma pull out her phone and start recording.

“Ready for him?” Harry questions. Ally nods and Harry slowly places her brother in her arms. “Make sure yeh hold the back of his head, bug. Can’t let it dangle.” You help her readjust her hand placement to offer more support to Oliver’s head. Ally looks up, a dimpled smile on her face.

“He’s so little!” She exclaims, staring back down at him in awe. You and Harry look at each other, tears filling your eyes for what felt like the thousandth time that day.

“He is, isn’t he?” You ask, quickly wiping under your eyes. Anne places her hand on your shoulder, looking down at her grandson with a look of pure adoration in her eyes.

“He’s beautiful,” she gushes, sounding slightly choked up. “He’s got eyes just like yours, Ally.” You see her smile at this, but she doesn’t look up, not wanting to stop staring at her new brother. She reaches carefully with the hand, not supporting her brother’s head to grab the stuffed bear she picked out for him, setting it next to him.

“This is for you, Olly,” she says, placing the bear beside him. “You can sleep with him every night!”

Harry glances at you again, a look of relief on his face. “Olly, is it, bug? He has a nickname just like yours,” he tells her, reaching over you to smooth her hair. “Ally and Olly. I like tha’.” Your heart is full, and your family is complete.

At least, for now.

#harry styles fluff #harry styles x reader #harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles one shot #harry styles blurb #dad!harry #harry styles fanfiction #jealousy #thanks for reading!

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43sparrows · 4 years ago

Text

d e s e r v e d - {Five x Reader AU}

WARNINGS: drunkenness, language

Word Count: 2,416

Note: j i l t e d but from Five’s perspective! Come scream at me in my inbox

When Five comes back, there's a series of post-it notes next to the key rack written in Vanya's loose script. Call Y/N back.

The next post-it is stuck to the first. Y/N called again & asked when you'd be back. Said it's not an emergency, but she does need you? Of course Vanya was confused by that. The code shouldn't be too hard to crack, but sometimes her wellmeaning-ness gets in the way of her astuteness.

The last post-it is beside the first two: Out with Allison + Klaus at Don Pablo's. Come if you can!

It's a tempting offer after the day he's had. He loves Don Pablo's margaritas, and even if he doesn't want to put up with Klaus' nonsense or Allison's fans, he does love his siblings.

But Y/N always calls him back when he needs her to. She deserves the same.

Before he can dial her number in, the flashing red light of the answering machine catches his attention. There are six messages.

Hey, it's Y/N again. I'm so sorry for calling too much. I just...I changed my mind if you want to come over. You don't have to, but I'll be here. All night. Bye.

Hi. It's Y/N. I, um, I would love your company right now. Or like soon. Or you know, as soon as you're available. Unless you don't want--don't want to. That's cool too. Um, ok, sorry again for calling so much, bye.

In the next voicemail, he hears music in the background. Hi. I'm not trying to be needy. Everything's just shit, and you're not. So thanks for not being shit, and call me back. Or just come over. Whichever. Both. No, the second one. K, thanks, byeee.

The music is slightly louder, but her voice is even closer to the phone, almost muffled. Hi, hey, so, I just...I wish...I'm probably stupid, but I think I...yeah, no, nevermind, I'm stupid. Ok, byeeeeee.

The next voicemail starts out in the middle of her sentence. Or rather, lyric. -- thing that got me trippin' This one thing your soul made me feel it It's this one thing you did oh, oh-- Oh, shit. She giggles. It's your voicemail. Sorryyyyyy-- She cuts off then.

This song is softer, and her voice is more slurred than even the last message. What the fuck am I doing. What the fuck am I even doing? Look if you're with someone else, that's ok. It's ok. I get it. Ok? I get it. I'm sorry to keep calling. I don't know. I--I'm sorry. I hope you guys are happy together. You deserve to be happy. I just--fuck. There's a pause before she hangs up, and in the pause he catches the lyric: We'll be playmates and lovers, and share our secret worlds.

Margaritas will have to wait.

He's in her living room in the next second, and he's never seen her like this. The voicemails were one thing--the range of emotions and descent into intoxication--but she's thrown a one person party, and it's one of the most goddamn pathetic things he's ever seen. He hates it.

"Y/N?" he asks, and she falls off the fucking couch in her effort to turn around.

"Five?" she asks, as if surprised to see him there. As if she hadn't called him eight times just to make sure he came. He nods. Her mood seems to have changed from the last voicemail at least, but this still seems all wrong. As wrong as it felt earlier to see her come to do the door with smudged mascara and a tight voice.

"What are you doing?"

She doesn't respond right away, her face still screwed up in confusion.

"Dancing. What are you doing?" She stands then, wobbly on her legs. She's never been the most graceful person, but if Five had to guess, he'd blame this on the assortment of empty bottles on her coffee table. There's too many of them and they're way too big. He can't tell if he should be impressed or concerned, so he settles on an emotion somewhere between the two.

"You called me," he reminds, picking up a bottle of Tennessee honey whiskey. One of the two bottles that still has any liquor left in it. He wonders if he should drink this now or find a way to hide it from her. "Eight times. Did you drink all of these?"

She scoffs, but seeing as she's drunker than he's ever seen her, he's not sure he deserves the derision. Scratch that, he's certain he doesn't deserve the derision. "No, they were mostly empty."

This makes him feel a bit better, but he's not completely sure he believes her. Instead, he does what he does best and runs some quick calculations in his head. Either she started before he stopped by earlier or in the past six hours she's done nothing but sit and drink. An uncomfortable feeling springs up in his chest at the thought of her turning him away so she can drink alone on her couch. He should have pushed her earlier on the lie. This isn't about work. She hates her job, he knows that, but not this much. There's something more.

"Are you going to tell me what's really going on now?" Five asks, facing her. She's silent for a moment before nodding. He thinks that she must be worse off than he thought when she begins searching around the newspapers on the floor, throwing page after page back down before finally thrusting a paper in his hands. It's an engagement announcement, which makes no sense until he begins to read and a lightbulb comes on when he reaches the names. "Your ex?"

She nods, bouncing with anticipation or maybe to the music. It's hard to tell. "He's getting married," she sings at him, and he winces at the offkey tune. His eyes fall back on the picture, and he takes in the bleached white smile, the girl's hand on the ex's chest flashing a ring too big and flashy to say anything but insecure.

"Statistically, it'll only last eight years," Five says, his eyes returning to Y/N. She's attempting to lip sync with the song that's playing but is about two seconds behind the actual verse. There's an all too familiar twinge of anger in his chest. She's a complete mess over another man.

Objectively this should only be a problem because he has enough messes to deal with between his siblings--he doesn't need her on the list too. But he'd be lying if that was the only reason he was angry. He'd be lying if that was a reason he was angry at all. She shouldn't be so upset by this. People get engaged. This guy dumped her. He didn't deserve this. It was over between them.

He wonders if she held out hope of going back to him. He wonders if he's been nothing more than a distraction for her.

He wonders why that idea bothers him.

"You're still...in love with him?" he guesses, and a chorus of no's fall from her lips. The amount of protest is suspicious, but there's fire in her eyes as she moves towards him and grabs his arm. She stops then, squeezing his tricep, and he wonders if she's about to admit something. He doesn't know what he'll do if she does.

"Y/N," he prompts, and she looks up at him with big eyes. Fuck.

"I just wish I had something to shove in his face," she says. Fuck.

"Something to show him how wrong he was about me. You know?" Fuck.

"I'm fucking future material," she asserts, shaking her hands in his face. And then she retreats with a sigh, grabbing a hold of the only other bottle with liquid in it. "But it looks like he was right. The fucker was right. I'm a reject."

She thinks she's a reject.

She thinks she deserves this.

He snatches the bottle away from her before she even has the chance to take a sip.

"Hey," she shouts, grabbing at him, and Five turns away from her to finish it off before she can get to it. She doesn't need any more alcohol, and he doesn't need any more truth. "Asshole," she grumbles. He's been on the receiving end of that word his entire life, but this is the first time he actually feels like one.

"You didn't need it," he tells her, placing the bottle back on the table before turning his back to her. He should get out of here. He should tell her to take a shower, drink some water, and go to bed. But instead, he's walking to her bedroom door. Because he can't leave. When he calls, she comes. Every time. She doesn't ask questions, doesn't push. She's steady. A constant. She deserves the same. She deserves more than this pathetic pity party.

"Are you coming or not?" he asks her, and then she's moving towards him with alarming speed considering her present state, but not quite enough to make it into the bedroom at the same time as him. Instead, he finds himself alone for the moment, looking around the room he's so familiar with. The work clothes thrown at the closet door, the scattering of papers and chargers and books and pens on her desk. The seven goddamn candles, all at various heights and always lit whenever she's home. It's a fire hazard, but she refuses to let go of the habit. None of them are lit now, though.

There's a large thudding sound outside the door, and he already knows what he'll find. Sure enough, she's on the floor, pants tangled in her legs, flailing with all of the dignity of Klaus. He sighs, walking back over to her, slightly relieved when she frees herself before he has to deal with being kicked for trying to help her.

Years of rescuing hostages and dragging around his brothers makes it easy for him to sling her over his shoulders. Thankfully she's allowing herself to be carried and not scared half of her mind which makes the journey significantly easier from the last time he had to do this to someone.

It's a bit of a process to fling back the covers so he can put her in bed. It ends with her more falling onto the mattress as opposed to being placed down, but he's thrown her on a bed enough times that she doesn't seem to mind the slight bounce as she hits the mattress.

As she settles herself in, he starts cramming all of the stupid pillows he's normally tossing onto the floor behind her back so that she doesn't die. He feels a bit like Vanya, which has that bittersweet feeling blooming in his chest once more.

He's about to tuck the edge of the blanket under the mattress when she sits up slightly and pulls him in, bringing his lips to hers. She tastes like whiskey, but sweeter. There's no burn as her lips move against his with a surprising amount of dexterity. For a fleeting second, Five wonders if he can get secondhand tipsy from her kiss because it must be the alcohol that's causing the spinning feeling of intoxication in his head.

He knows that's not it though. He knows he should pull away. There's a reason he stopped kissing her after their third time together. Why he only lets himself get tastes of her skin. But her tongue is slipping into his mouth, and she's drawing him in, pulling him closer to her. His whole body is practically buzzing to follow her lead, and it takes every inch of his willpower to pull himself away from her and back out of her grasp.

Her brow furrows in confusion as she drops back into the bed, her head hitting the pillow. "Youdon'wan'meei'er," she mumbles, and it's hardly more than sounds, but he understands.

"No. Not tonight," he says as he pushes the comforter between her mattress and boxspring. She sucks her teeth, turning away from him as he stands. Her eyes are closed, and there's still the small crease between her eyes. He shoves his hands in his pockets but keeps his eyes glued on her, and he can't bring himself to move until he sees the comforter rise and fall with her breath.

It would be irresponsible to leave her alone like this. He should stay at least until her roommate gets home. She deserves that much.

Outside of the room, music is still blaring, so he walks out to turn it off. It takes a few minutes of searching to find her phone buried in the cushions so he can pause the playlist. When he comes back in, she curled up on her side, facing the edge of the bed. It makes him feel a bit better.

Five wanders over to her bookshelf, scanning the shelves before plucking out One Hundred Years of Solitude and then settles down on the other side of her pillow wall and cracks open the book.

Her roommate still isn't back by 5 am, and Five is over halfway through the novel and almost an entire carafe of coffee down. He shuts the book slowly, turning to look at her. She's hardly moved since he put her in bed aside from the steady rise and fall of her breathing. If anything was going to happen, it probably already would have.

Quietly, he stands up from the bed, returning the book to its space on the shelf. He exits the room into the still apartment, shutting off the lights as he goes. When he enters the kitchen, his eyes land on the mostly empty coffee pot.

He should clean that.

Instead, he dumps it out and sets up a new pot, making a calculated guess on when she will wake up. The aspirin is conveniently located next to the bags of coffee, and he takes that down as well, along with a clearly handmade mug that screams Y/N.

He glances around the kitchen one last time before switching off the light and heading out to find the living room lightswitch. It's as he passes the coffee table that he pauses, his eyes falling on the page of the newspaper she threw at him hours ago. He takes it up, flicks off the light, and goes home.

#five hargreeves #number five #number 5 #five hargreeves smut #number five smut #number 5 smut #five hargreeves x reader #number five x reader #number 5 x reader #tua fic #number 5 fic #number five fic #five hargreeves fic

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therosebudgirlwriter · 2 years ago

Text

Little Puff Daycare (Chapter 2: Bazzy Boy)

Simon

I run into the day-care, somehow only fifteen minutes late. Mum looks me up and down as I catch my breath. She breaks eye contact to grab a jumper to throw over my coffee-stained t-shirt. I start to speak but she raises a hand to shush me.

“I don’t even want to know Simon. Just please take these kids inside.”

I look down at the crowd of 4-5 year olds looking up at me.

Right, back to work then.

The kids are particularly crazy today, which means I have no time to think about Baz. I finally get the kids down for nap time. Once the last kid dozes I look at the damage the coffee did to my shirt.

It’s covered. Fuck. That’s my nicest shirt. Just as I’m about to sit down at my desk I hear knocking at the door.

I look up to see my mum waving at me through the tiny window next to the door. I dawdle over, and pull open the door.

“Everything alright mum?” I say, glancing up at her.

“We have a new student!” she squeals, pushing the cutest little girl forwards. “Oh and this is Vera.”

Vera (her grandma?) turns to her. “Go introduce yourself to…”

“You can call me Simon.” I say to them, kneeling down to look at the girl.

“I’m Rosalind Natasha Grimm-Pitch and I’m this many years old.” she say as she holds up 5 chubby fingers, “You can call me Rosie.”

Grimm-Pitch. Of course. She must be another one of Baz’s forty million siblings.

“Well you are just in time for nap time Rosie.” I say with a smile as I lead her into the classroom.

As she sorts herself out for nap time, Mum tugs on my jumper. “Grimm-Pitch? Like your old roommate Basilton?” she says in a much to cheery voice.

“Yeah I guess. His parents already have like 23 kids. They breed like rabbits” I mutter to her.

She hits me. “Simon!” but she does giggle a little bit.

I thought they had a nanny like most rich tossers. Weird.

The day continues like any other. Luckily nap time always mellows the kids out. Rosie doesn’t seem keen to join the other kids though. I’ll have to talk to her parents about that. Oh joy.

At the end of the day the kids rush out to their parents and my heart melts. Sure we have fun, but they love their parents so much and it’s so friggin’ cute.

I answer a few questions from some parents, but they all clear out after about fifteen minutes. I sigh, exhausted. I turn to go pack up when I see Rosie sitting on the floor just outside the door. Of course it’s her.

I sit down next to her “How was your day?” I ask.

She looks up at me and bursts into tears. Oh. Can’t say I was expecting that reaction.

“What’s wrong? Did something upset you?” I say.

She sniffles and wipes her tears away with her little fingers. “I don’t want to be here. Why did daddy leave me?”

Ok not surprising. Just homesickness then. “Rosie I promise your dad didn’t want to leave you either. But I also promise we’ll have lots of fun together.”

She stops crying and looks at me “Promise?”

“I promise.”

Just then I hear someone running down the corridor. “That must be your dad!”

Baz

Shit shit shit. I am running so late. This kid in my class made everyone 30 minutes late to leave because he had ‘important’ questions that the whole class should hear. First day back at Uni and I’m already screwing up because now I’m late to get Rosie. I hope she’s ok. She was not keen to leave this morning. I had to promise her ice-cream to even get her to let go of me. Not great parenting, I know but leave me alone. I’m only 23. Not like that excuse has ever worked on Father. He was the one that insisted I go back to Uni. I wanted to stay at my crappy office job.

At least then I can convince myself that I am actually helping to pay for Rosie.

I manage to be only fifteen minutes late. I definitely sped. Just a little bit. Oh well.

I run into the day care and down the corridor.

I see Rosie sitting down, outside what must be her classroom with the teacher. They turn around to face me.

Oh, for fucks sake.

Of course, Simon fucking Snow is the teacher. Just my luck.

Simon

So, I was right about Baz being the brother. Just brill. I don’t think he was expecting to see me though. He looks horrified. For a moment I think he's going to be sick.

Don’t worry Baz. I don’t want this any more than you do.

It’s funny seeing them together. She looks so much like him. Except for her hair and her eyes.

She has curly black hair that sticks out in a million different directions. I guess even rich people don’t know how to treat curly hair.

To be fair, it took Penelope begging and pleading for me to fix mine.

Her eyes are also the same colour as mine. Baz used to always say I had the plainest blue eyes ever. He used to say they were boring. She makes them look cute though.

Baz

Holy shit. There goes my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Rosie. More than I’ve ever loved anyone else in the entire world. But having my childhood crush find out I’m the single parent to a 5-year-old at the ripe old age of 23 is not what I was expecting to happen at 3:15 on a random Tuesday. Oh, and he’s her bloody kindy teacher.

At the only kindy not an hours drive away.

Fuck you universe.

Simon

Rosie breaks the awkward silence by running towards Baz. He melts when he opens his arms to her. Wow, I didn’t know Baz Pitch could show any human emotions. Apart from disgust and anger. She’s fully stopped crying now.

“Bazzy!” she cries out when he hugs her, “I missed you!”

Bazzy, huh? He smiles at her, looking slightly confused. Must be a new nickname then.

I remember when a girl from school tried to call him that. He shut that down pretty quickly. He was never interested in any of the girls. Only my girlfriend at the time. Because that's just how Baz is. Was? I don't know.

Baz

It's always a bit disconcerting when your child calls you by your name. Or at least a bastardised version of it. I forgot was going through that phase where she copied EVERYTHING Mordelia says. Including calling me Bazzy.

Usually I hate it, but today it’s not a bother at all.

It's kinda brilliant. Good job bub.

Simon stands up and brushes himself off.

“Er, usually this is the part where I introduce myself, but... yeah.” he says, not quite making eye-contact. Fine by me.

Usually this is the part where I apologise for being late, but that is not going to happen.

“Great, well I’m going to take her home.” I blurt out. Rosie looks up at me and wiggles her hands. Sighing, I bend down and pick her up. She’s lucky she’s so adorable.

“Ok then.” Simon says, looking just as awkward as I feel. Well that was easier than I thought. Finally. I can pretend like this interaction never happened.

I go to turn and head to the car, but Simon stops me.

I knew it was too easy. What now.

“Just one thing before you go. Is there any chance your parents could come like 30 minutes early on Friday? I just want to have a chat with them about how Rosalind’s first week went. If they can’t make it that’s fine. It doesn’t HAVE to be your parents, it would just be better, you know. It could be Vera. Or you." He blurts, running his hands through his hair. His curls seem way less chaotic than they were in school. That will be Bunce’s doing.

I forgot Simon rambles when he’s nervous. Sadly, I find it almost, endearing. But that’s completely irrelevant right now, because Snow wants to see Rosie’s parent/s about something. And that person is me.

“They can’t, but I should be able to.” I answer, trying to remain calm.

“Ok, that’s fine. Does 7:00 am work?”

“Yes. Now may I take her home?”

“Yeah, bye bye Rosie! See you tomorrow!” he says, waving at her with a small smile.

“BYE MR SIMON” she squeals, as we walk down the corridor.

Simon

I wave Rosie goodbye as she and Baz exit the corridor.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Baz be so soft towards anyone.

He looked sort of cute. Not even sort of. He did.

Jesus. What is happening to me?

#snowbaz #simon snow series #agatha wellbelove #simon snow #baz pitch #the simon snow trilogy #carry on #awtwb #wayward son #tyrannus basilton grimm pitch #ao3 fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #ao3fic #archive of our own #my fic

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boysl0vingboys · 3 years ago

Text

EPISODE TEN THOUGHT PROCESS!! (alot of swearing!)

1/4

This is gonna hurt like a mother fcker

Ink x Paa in the recap.... hmmmm....

You two better learn how ot lie quick-

Did you just try to go back in the room?

Paa and Pat with the sibling signals

TELL HIM THE TRUTH!

NOT THAT ONE!

the father was too stunned to speak

Look at Pat smile!

garbage bin make their return!

Yes you are! so behave like adults!

HOLY SHITE HE ACTUALLY DID IT!

Save him? What he going to get shot too? Pretend it drown?

Stop acting cute! the neighbours have eyes!

nevermind, so does he!

And he does not give a shit!

Cuddling?

No, okay then?

Ohhhh, what is it? Something cute to do with them? PLEASE!

He tucked the doll in!

Is he activitely dodging people?

Time to test my theory I suppose...

Joke.... A person's name is Joke.... okay,

PRANINLOVE!!!!!!

Pran smile!

Pran's cockiness!

HEAD OVER HEELS!

fist bumps are now for the gays!

-what the hell are you eating? Is that a pancake?

Korn!!!!

Nooooo~ don't leave!

Tortilla?

YOU'RE BACK!!!

PAt arm so casually, like that!!!

Pran, you're nonan is showing-

did he just acccidentally hit him with the pancake?

Wai! Leave her alone!

I am with Korn-

Parn, you traitor!

Korn is the only true- Boy, your crush is showing.

INk! Of course it is Ink! You blind PANSEXUAL!!!!

Himbo boyfriends

Hello again, Don't snitch!

So, the family hate each other enough to lie together?... Interesting, but we knew that.

Look at those dimple

And their smiles,

The cannot even stand straight!

All gays eventually end up in a rainbow shirt, and here Pran is proving that fact.

2/4

Yes, ink did.

She is busy with her future wife.

Speaking of her future wife, look at the two of them!

Don't you to ruin this for us!

Pat and Pran, you fcking traitors!

ooooooh, ink don't like you.

ewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewewwwwwwwwww yuck!

she isn't dating anyone, she is married!

Ink! Throw! Hands!

So, Wai has the group brain cell today, I see.

Huh? Answer?

Don't avoid that question!

Paa!

All gay eventually end up in a rainbow shirt

CHALLENGE HIM!

THATS MY HIMBO!

Last time you two looked for something together, Pat broke it, remember?

Baby photos?

Beauty Queen? Of what? Satan's cage?

But hopefully this means bisexual moms theory is a thing!

Quiet? He was just shot remember?

No goodbye kisses?

3/4

oooohhhhhhhhhhhh, their high school!

i love the fact he always wears the case!

FLASHBACKS!!!!!

he was always looking cause you were always in trouble... obviously!

you cannot convince me the teacher didn't predict this! look at her face when pat said that.

ew, yuck, no,

am I suppose to know these little ones?

nevermind, they're little pat and pran

liar, liar, pants on fire!

but look at their arms

shit is about to get real adorable and I am about to loose my mind, i do not apologize.

LOOK AT PAT's SMILE!

LOOK

IT!!!!

AND HIS RUNNING!

100% Pran liked Pat first!

'girls look quite simialr' bro, really?

couple that suspect together stay together

...

they made it straight

i love this siblingship

SHE FINALLY ADMITED IT!

PAA and PRAN OUT HERE ENDING THE BLOODLINE

you basically telling your brother you have the same taste in women...

'... but the sister can.'

His face and laugh of not caring !

tellhertellhertellhertellhertellhertellher!

no, paa don;t get the wrong idea!!!!!

paa communicate! PLEASE!

aaaaand kiss!

or break my heart instead!

paa cannot cry, if paa cries, I will weep as well

AND PUT MY HEART BACK TOGETHER AGAIN ALL OVER WITH TAPE AND TOO MUCH LOVE!

sister my ass

OHMY FUCKING HELL JESUS!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(I am going to malifunction for a minute, I literally slammed against a wall because of those two)

Pat, no, ew, you really want to think about making out with your brother! ewwww

here comes his dad in 3... 2... .1.....

I SHOULD NOT BE THIS STRESSED!

Everything is about to be exposed and I am here for it.

4/4

deeeeeep breaths...

boy, fuck off

YOU DID NOT JUST HIT MY CHILD!!!

FUCK YOU!

Pat, the fuck!

Holy SHITE!

Pran face!

You should have talked to him first!

BUT HOLY SHITE! HE ACTUALLY TOLD HIM!

nooo, pran, i understand you're upset but don't do this...

THAT"S RIGHT PAT STAND UP TO YOUR DAD!

Pran, just turn around, trust me, just go

pran, just go... or turn okay then,

this gonna be blood bath,

.........................

are you fcking kidding me?

one more person puts hands on my child I will kill them

dont go barge into peoples houses!

evil things? I am intergued

I KNEW IT!

i still don't like her but it's making more sense

can you go find your boyfriend please?

i cannot handle these siblings crying!!!!!

Pat! just go find your damn boyfriend!

stop making him cry!!!!!!!!!

i'm fine

emotionally damaged but fine

i just wanted a cute beach vacation! I didn't need all this! heart break.

oh look, here's ink x paa getting together and oh whats that? HEART SHATTERING BULLSHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't get my vacay until next week? ... Assholes.

i did not register any of that trailer... fck everything!

#bad buddy #bad buddy the series #patpran #nanon korapat #pat x pran #ohm pawat #pran x pat #pranpat #ohmnanon #bad buddy series #paa x ink #ink x paa #inkpaa #paaink

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aurora077 · 3 years ago

Text

The word is 'attempt' (Chapter 1)

Summary: Not this again! Jiang Yanli has had enough. No more Mrs. nice girl. Her parents really need a proverbial slap in the face and she is going to give it to them. Set after the Xuanwu cave.

Disclaimer: I do not own MDZS/CQL. Parts you recognise are from the novel.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962595/1/The-word-is-attempt

Chapter 1 - Aren't you tired of being nice? Don't you just want to go apeshit?

Jiang Yanli loved her younger brothers. That was a fact known to the entirety of Lotus Pier. It didn’t matter what trouble those two got up to, at the end of the day she would always be waiting for them with a smile and possibly some soup. Their people loved to see them all together, doting on them whenever they crossed paths with free food and little trinkets. Secretly, they were glad that the siblings were so close. It was an open secret that the adults in their household were...in a volatile relationship to put it mildly.

Nobody knew how Jiang Yanli turned out the way she did, but everyone loved her for her mild manners, gentle smile, and the way she would parent both her little brothers, showering them with the love and affection that was sorely lacking from their lives. Wei Wuxian, the little troublemaker, had lost his parents as a small child, and lived on the streets until Sect Leader Jiang found him. Despite this he remained a cheery, playful child and his laughter was often heard after having caused some mischief, followed by the scolding of his martial brother, who endearingly tried to uphold his image as sect heir, but also couldn’t help getting caught up in his shixiong’s schemes. Their little sect heir tried so hard to be proper and stern, always concerned about his image and the reputation he was giving his sect, but he was still a child. Something the townspeople often thought his parents would do well to remember.

Regardless, the day came when Qishan Wen decided that all the sects needed to send their heirs to indoctrination, and the people of Lotus Pier worried about the fate that awaited the children (really teenagers but to them they would always be kids).

Jiang Yanli worried most of all. So when their sect heir, Jiang Wanyin, returned to Lotus Pier, bedraggled and looking very much worse for the wear without Wei Wuxian, they feared the worst.

Yanli despaired when she heard A-Cheng’s story. A-Xian was with Second Young Master Lan in a cave, confined with a legendary beast of nightmares. Her father of course immediately gathered the disciples and had A-Cheng lead them back to the cave. Yanli would have preferred her little brother stay behind; he was exhausted and in terrible shape, but he was needed to lead them back to A-Xian and so she didn’t protest.

By some miracle, Wei Wuxian and Second Young Master Lan managed to kill the beast, but they were both severely injured and A-Xian was unconscious and feverish. She and A-Cheng took to sitting in his room, both worried about him and discussing the events of the past few weeks. Neither of them would leave A-Xian alone, they decided, through unspoken agreement...always there would be one or the other at his bedside. They had both been so afraid of losing him. She was so proud of both of her brothers, but she would always wish them to be safe and sound rather than heroic. What A-Cheng told her of what happened, on his end at least, was so incredibly dangerous and she just knew A-Xian that would most definitely end up downplaying the danger that he was in.

She was reading a book when she took another peek at the bed, only to see him blink awake and stare at his headboard.

She raised her head with a smile, “A-Xian!”

“Shijie!” he struggled to lift himself up and began shooting rapid fire questions at her, “I'm back? When did I come out of the cave? Did Uncle Jiang take people to rescue me? Where's Lan Zhan? Where's Jiang Cheng?”

“What are you shouting for?” said Jiang Cheng, as if he was summoned. “Sister, the soup that you boiled. I brought it over.”

It was telling that he brought only one bowl. This soup was for his shixiong. He didn’t intend to eat any himself even though he loved it as well. She smiled internally as she ladled a bowl for A-Xian and ignored their bickering. That was the way they showed they cared. Neither was good at expressing feelings to the other.

She reached over to wipe soup off A-Xian’s face as Father entered the room and she took away the bowl, not missing her father’s longing glance towards the pot. Too bad though, if A-Cheng could restrain himself, Father would have to as well.

Having left to go to the kitchen she missed the next part of the conversation, but she slipped back into the room just as A-Cheng was asking why A-Xian would let Second Young Master Lan take all the credit when they both killed the beast. Privately she agreed with him that it was unfair; she knew that A-Cheng was showing his concern that his brother wouldn’t get the credit he was due. Well in any case, they could give him credit.

“Well done,” Father praised.

“Congratulations,” said Jiang Cheng, staring at his shixiong with a mix of emotions. Yanli’s heart hurt at his tone. She could read her little brothers well. A-Cheng was really proud of A-Xian; he was glad that he was praised for his admittedly impressive deed, but at the same time their father hadn’t said a word to him about his part. No ‘well done’ was ever directed at him. Not even an ‘I’m glad you’re safe.’ True, he hadn’t killed a legendary beast, but he had helped evacuate all of the sect heirs from the cave and had struggled without a sword, without food or water for a whole week to get back to Lotus Pier to alert them to what happened. And without any real time to rest and recuperate he had immediately headed out with a delegation to find his shixiong.

Wei Ying might have helped kill the beast, but Jiang Cheng was the one who ensured that the rest of the sects even had heirs remaining alive to succeed them, the one that helped search the mountain and then helped to dig through all the stone blocking the cave entrance to save his shixiong (and Lan Wangji.) Nobody could have known that they would kill the beast. But despite thinking that the boys might be dead and that they would have to face the Xuanwu themselves when they finally managed to get into the cave, A-Cheng had gone with their cultivators to rescue them or bring back the bodies. He had gone into the cave not knowing if their brother still breathed, not knowing if there was even a body left to bring back, and not knowing if he’d be able to get out and escape the Xuanwu a second time even if there was.

A-Xian laughed, the kind where he was sure something was wrong and was trying to give the situation some levity, "What a pity that you weren't there as well. Or else, you'd be able to share some of that credit…..Lan Zhan…..boring….” He continued speaking but Yanli wasn’t hearing him. She was looking at the play of emotions on A-Cheng’s face and she could tell immediately that A-Xian had misunderstood.

Wei Ying tried his best to keep things light whenever he sensed that Jiang Cheng was upset, but often enough he didn’t know what he was upset about. A-Xian thought that he was feeling left out, but that wasn’t it. A-Cheng wasn’t simply jealous that he didn’t get a chance to kill the Xuanwu, he was upset that his shixiong could have died and he was upset that even after he almost died he was giving Second Young Master Lan all the credit and he was even more upset that their father did not seem to care at all that it was dangerous and was giving praise without concern (it was all Father talked about since they got back, how proud he was). He was also upset on his own behalf of course, but the jealousy he felt had nothing to do with wishing he could have helped kill the Xuanwu of Slaughter and more to do with his father’s effusive praise for just Wei Ying.

Instead of being able to say any of those things of course, her little brother just reverted to his usual means of coping with the tumultuous emotions roiling within him. Aka...he got angry and lashed out.

“It would have served you right to be bored to death,” he snapped, “You shouldn't have played the hero and you shouldn't have cared for such a hell of a thing. If in the beginning you didn't...”

Suddenly, Jiang Fengmian spoke, “Jiang Cheng.”

Jiang Cheng paused, knowing that he had said too much. He was quiet at once. Jiang Fengmian didn't look as if he was blaming him for anything, but his expression had turned from calm to more solemn, "Do you know in which ways what you just said is not appropriate?" A-Cheng's head hung low, "Yes."

Yanli was aching. A-Cheng shouldn’t have said it yes but his bigger mistake was saying it in front of Father.

A-Xian, knowing the way he and A-Cheng interacted was just their way, and knowing A-Cheng said things he didn’t mean when he was in a temper, tried to defend him, "He's just angry and speaking without care."

Jiang Cheng had a mulish look on his face because of course his father never understood him. He was always only seeing his flaws.

Seeing how Jiang Cheng's mouth and heart were still at odds, to his father he still appeared defiant. Jiang Fengmian shook his head, "A-Cheng, there are some things that can't be said even if you're angry. If you said them, it means that you still don't understand the motto of the Jiang Sect, that you still don 't... "

"Yes, he doesn't understand, but what does it matter, as long as Wei Ying understands?!" like a strike from Zidian, Mother swept inside with stinging words and bringing in with her a cold breeze, "'To attempt at the impossible' is exactly how he is, isn't it? Fooling around even though he knew that it'd bring trouble to his sect?!"

Father sighed, "My lady, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What a joke that I am asked such a thing! Sect Leader Jiang, do you still remember that I'm also the leader of Lotus Pier? Do you still remember that every inch of the earth here is my territory? Do you still remember, between the one lying there and the one standing here, which one is your son?"

Not this again. Yanli’s nerves felt frayed. Just why did they need to do this? A-Xian should be resting.

Such questions they had all heard countless times throughout the years and so he was no stranger to them. "Of course I do, " Father answered, sounding tired. Mother laughed bitterly, "You do remember, but there's no use if you simply remember. Wei Ying, he really can't take it unless he stirs up some trouble, can he? If I had known, I would've made him stay in Lotus Pier properly and not go outside. Could Wen Chao really have dared to do anything to the two young masters of the GusuLan Sect and the LanlingJin Sect?” Yanli was growing angry. How could mother blame A-Xian for the arrogance of the Wens? She wondered if mother had somehow forgotten what the Wens did to Cloud Recesses. Sect Leader Lan was dead! What did she mean if they would dare do anything to the young masters? Even sect leaders weren’t spared!

Oblivious to her daughter’s mounting frustration, Madam Yu continued,“Even if he did, it'd mean that they ran out of luck. Since when was it your turn to play the hero? I'm saying this right now. You can just wait. One day, he'll definitely get our sect into some big trouble! "

Luck! Did mother attribute the loss of life to simple luck? If they could go after Gusu and Lanling’s heirs that wouldn’t be them getting lucky. And did Mother think that Lotus Pier was so lucky then that if A-Xian didn’t go to the indoctrination that Lotus Pier would be spared if even the young masters of Gusu and Lanling ran out of luck? Who’s to say A-Cheng wouldn’t have been out of luck too? Would she be so blasé about it then if her own son was one of the young masters killed because he was out of luck?

Father stood up, clearly trying to avoid another argument,"Let's talk when we get back." Mother sneered, "Talk about what? Get back to where? I'll be talking about it right here. I have nothing to be ashamed of, anyways! Jiang Cheng, come over here."

A-Cheng looked torn. After a moment of hesitation, he moved to Mother's side. Holding his shoulders, Mother pushed him forward for Father to see and Yanli felt her face going red from the anger of her little brother once again being caught in the middle of their marital disputes.

"Sect Leader Jiang, it seems that some things I have to say. Look carefully—this is your own son, the future head of Lotus Pier. Even if you frown upon him just because I was the one who bore him, his surname is still Jiang! I don't believe for one second that you haven't heard of how the outside people gossip….”

A-Cheng’s face shuttered. He was steeling himself once again for the accusations that would inevitably be thrown out by mother and not denied by father.

Mother’s tirade continued, “They say that Sect Leader Jiang has still not moved on from a certain Sanren though so many years have passed, regarding the son of his old friend as a son of his own; they're speculating if Wei Ying is your... "

"Yu Ziyuan!" Father shouted, finally losing his temper.

"Jiang Fengmian!” Mother shouted back, “Do you think that anything will change just because you raised your voice?! Do you think that I don't know you?!”

A-Cheng looked like he would cry. That was the last straw for Yanli.

“ENOUGH!”

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

A/N: I really wanted to just finish this story and post it as it is the first one I started in this fandom a long while ago... but some parts have been so difficult to write (*cough* JFM *cough*) and I'm kind of tired of it tbh so I'll post it in parts and hopefully edit it more at a later date. I hope some of you enjoy it at least.

I’m aware now that the phrase ‘attempt the impossible’ is not really… translated well from the actual Chinese meaning of the sect motto. However, I started writing this fic ages ago and in the English translation, ‘attempt the impossible’ is what we get and it’s what I’m working with. Take it as an AU where it does mean exactly what it says in the English translation 🤷‍♀️

This is of course once again a canon blend of the novel and CQL. The characters’ personalities are a mix of both.

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