#i recognize that on some level i would be distraught if i were to immediately destroy my degree | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sykilik101 · 4 years ago

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Take Two

“You guys, I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

Brock waved his hand dismissively, that annoying grin he’d worn for the past half hour still plastered on his face. “You’re worrying too much, Ash. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Getting sent flying from here all the way to the other side of Kanto?”

Tracey reached across the table to place a hand on Ash’s shoulder, his face much more relaxed and friendly but no doubt hiding the same level of mischief as the breeder next to him. “Trust me, I think this is gonna go great.”

“I’m sure you think so, since you’re not the one who has to...” His tongue turned to knots as he failed to complete his sentence, though the blooming shade of pink on his cheeks spoke on his behalf. “Why do I even have to do this?”

Brock’s smirk grew in amusement, however impossible that seemed. “Well, you’re the one who said-”

“I know what I said,” Ash interrupted, irritation melding with his fluster, “and I’m starting to regret it.”

“If it makes you feel any better, Ash, I called this back when we were traveling together.” Tracey’s voice seemed filled with a genuine sense of care, despite not having objected to this idea at all.

“I’m feeling better already,” Ash replied with a roll of his eyes before turning to look out the window of the Pokémon Center. At the behest of his two older friends, the group had all decided to come to Cerulean City to meet up with a certain redhead Ash was more than fond of. “Besides, I didn’t even really know back then, so how could you?”

"Call it a watcher’s intuition." Tracey added a thumbs up to emphasize his point, though Ash was less than impressed at the boy’s enthusiasm.

"Next you'll tell me that everyone else knew, too.” Crossing his arms, Ash glanced out the window momentarily before turning back to his friends. The two boys looked at each other, exchanging a nervous chuckle. Ash raised an eyebrow before realization slowly kicked in, a blend of horror and humiliation forming on his face. “Y...You two are the only ones who know, right?”

“W-well, we’re pretty sure that she definitely doesn’t know, and as far as we can tell, we’re the only ones you told,” Brock responded, suddenly avoiding eye contact.

“But beyond that, well...let’s just say there’s a good chance that I’m not the only one who, well, called it,” Tracey finished, also finding his gaze drawn to something other than Ash.

The boy in question placed his face into his hands, processing his friends’ admissions. It was true that people over the years had egged him on about his romantic status with her, but he’d always just dismissed it as harmless teasing. The idea that these other people had actually noticed, that he’d been that obvious, was more than he wanted to believe.

The scariest part, however, was that she was a smart girl. “I’m sensitive to others’ feelings.” That’s what she’d said back during their first battle when he was trying to win the Cascade Badge. If everyone else could see it, there was no way she couldn’t see it, right? For all he knew, despite what Brock had said, she was fully aware of how he felt.

But he hadn’t known how he felt, at least not right away. Something about the possibility of Misty recognizing his feelings before him made his head spin. It wasn’t as if things ever became awkward between them because of some potential romance, nor had he gotten any vibes that he’d made her feel uncomfortable in any real way. Maybe she knew, but she was able to continue their best friendship going in spite of that; it wasn’t as if he’d ever treated her differently. Or, maybe she actually didn’t know and he was just overthinking all of this.

He shook his head, taking a breath to try and calm himself down. He couldn’t believe he was really about to-

“I think I see Misty!”

Tracey’s voice broke him from his trance, his gaze snapping to the window. He caught sight of a blaze of red hair making its way towards the center. The gears in his brain went into overdrive, his body buzzing as he watched her viridian eyes slowly coming into focus. Under any other circumstances, he would feel elated to see her, but all he could focus on was the tension in his chest.

I guess this is it.

The glass doors of the Pokémon Center slid open as Misty made her way inside. She looked around for a moment before her eyes eventually landed on the group, a bubbly glee immediately growing on her face. “Hey, you guys!”

“Hi, Misty!” Brock and Tracey replied in unison.

Satisfied at the other two’s greetings, Misty turned to Ash, a playful grin etching itself onto her lips. “What’s wrong, Ash, aren’t you gonna say hi, too?”

“Uh…” The gravity of his situation pulled at his stomach, his mouth dry as his brain tried to recover from hearing her voice in person again. “H-hey, Misty, what’s up?”

Her eyes slowly narrowed suspiciously, leaning towards him. “Is something the matter, Ash?”

Images of what he was supposed to do flashed through his mind, and her face being so close made them much clearer than he wanted them to be. His racing thoughts and rapidly shrinking throat, combined with the sudden increase in temperature, shattered his remaining composure. Without a word he passed Misty and grabbed hold of Brock’s wrist, pulling the boy to the other side of the Pokémon Center.

“Ash, what are you-” Brock started, having managed to pry his hand away, but Ash interrupted him before he could finish.

“Brock, I don’t think I can do this after all.”

A look of confusion grew on Brock’s face, and Ash was grateful it wasn’t the jestful one the breeder had worn before. “Why not?”

“Because she’s so…” He glanced back over at a clearly confused and ever-so-slightly agitated Misty, seemingly trying to force answers out of a distraught Tracey. A fresh coat of pink tinted his cheeks as he stared at her for a few extra moments before turning back to Brock. “...she’s so different now.”

“Different?” Brock took a glance at the girl as well, wincing as Misty took a menacing step towards the watcher. His face relaxed for a moment before that annoying grin returned. “Oh, you mean she’s pretty? Are you absolutely smitten by her, Ash?”

“Brock!” Ash fought to keep his voice hushed, too embarrassed by Brock’s words to even give him the satisfaction of looking back in Misty’s direction.

“Ash, it’s totally fine to think your crush is pretty. In fact, you can tell her you think so after you-”

“I told you, I don’t wanna do this anymore!”

“Do what anymore?”

Ash suddenly found himself practically cheek to cheek with Misty, who’d wrapped her arms around the pair’s shoulders while aiming a leery gaze at him. “What exactly is going on?”

Ash tried to invoke an answer from his chest, but all that came out was silence, his mouth hanging open as he tried to keep calm at Misty’s proximity. Annoyed with his lack of a response, Misty turned to Brock, who flinched before holding a hand up.

“Trust me, I’m not up to anything. It’s all Ash this time.”

Traitor.

Misty once again directed her attention to Ash, who backed away enough to remove her arm from around him. “You’re always up to something, aren’t you, Ash?”

“No, I’m not, and trust me, you’d know if I was!” There was a moment of bliss as he was able to articulate something to her, but that vanished just as quickly when Misty put her hands on her hips expectantly. Brock’s presence as a third wheel seemingly clicked in his head as he discreetly made his way back over to Tracey. Suddenly alone with Misty and irritated at Brock’s retreat, Ash’s gaze went to the floor, along with any semblance of confidence he had. He pursed his lips, working past the lump in his throat. “I was just…I just wanted to…”

He waited for Misty’s usual interrogation tactics, but she didn’t move, didn’t utter a word. Sneaking a look at her face, he found not annoyance but confusion. “What did you want, Ash?”

The softness of her voice coursed through his mind and down into his heart. He stood motionless, realizing that all his daydreaming and planning hadn't truly prepared him for this. It seemed so easy in every mental replay and imagining of this moment, but now he could only falter as Misty stood before him with that trademark pout on her face. He bit his lip, trying with all his might for his body to allow him to just speak to her. “I mean, I...I was just…”

Misty leaned in until she was less than a foot away. “Ash, are you okay? You look kinda red.”

He was, of course, not okay. Ash knew that if they continued to talk, he’d only make a bigger fool of himself, not to mention risk annoying Misty with his barrage of syllables rather than actual words. He decided to do what he’d always done in the past, which was to rely on his gut. He just wished it wasn’t telling him to do this.

Ignoring the stares of the two boys in the background, the confused gaze of the girl in his foreground, and the overcharged beating of his heart, Ash removed his hat, closed his eyes, and gently pressed his mouth to hers.

He'd been given enough kisses from his mom and various girls throughout his journeys, so he thought he had an idea of how to give one himself, but the sensation of her lips on his threw any expectations he had out the window. His body's need to breathe was at odds with his desire to not move a muscle and he wasn't sure which side he wanted to take. The only thing keeping him grounded in reality was the miniscule sensation of her lips shivering against his, though he wasn’t sure what to make of it.

With the faintest smacking sound he eased away from her. Misty had a temper whenever he did anything stupid, and this was certainly a contender for one of the dumbest things he’d ever done. He bit his lip, still able to recall the way hers had felt on his. She made a noise, like a small gasp, and that was enough to give him the fortitude to meet her gaze.

Utter shock.

He’d expected many different emotions, planned for every potential visit to the emergency room, but the expression she wore now meant that this turn of events wasn’t one she expected. He stood ready for Misty to scream at him, hit him, or any other ideas she could concoct to make him pay for what he’d done.

It was a surprise to him, then, when she suddenly turned on her heel and bolted out of the Pokémon Center.

“M-Misty, wait!” He called, but the glass doors had already started to close. A wave of guilt crashed over him, his blood running cold as he watched her back moving further away. He stood motionless for a moment before a flicker of determination coursed through him, clenching his hands into fists.

I knew this was a bad idea.

“Ash, you should-”

Before Brock could finish Ash had already raced through the front doors, willing his feet to move as fast as they could carry him. She had a decent lead on him, as she was just barely staying within his sight as he chased her, but even if he lost her he had a good feeling about where she was going.

The roads of Cerulean eventually revealed the gym, and Ash caught a glimpse of Misty entering it before the doors closed. Making his way to the entrance he slowed to a halt, resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. He wiped his forehead and glanced at the doors, thinking that Misty was inside, the same Misty that he’d kissed. His lips contorted meekly, standing up fully and taking one last breath. Hopefully he could find her and make her understand what he felt.

Making his way inside he glanced around, hoping to find some trace of her. Unsurprised at not seeing her anywhere, he began scouring the halls, pondering where she could be. If she were trying to hide from him, she’d probably find one of the various rooms within the gym to hide in. However, given the look on her face before she’d fled, it was more likely that she was trying to find somewhere for comfort, and if that was the case, there was one place in the gym he was sure she’d be.

It took less than a minute to find the door to the gym’s pool. Standing before the entrance Ash rested his hand on his overcharged heart. In a voice almost too quiet to hear, something was telling him that once he entered the pool area, everything would be different between them. He could only hope it would be for the better.

Easing his way inside, he immediately saw the Cerulean City mermaid sitting along the edge of the pool, her legs submerged beneath the water. The noise caught her attention, her cheeks turning a shade of red he could make out from the entrance. She just as soon turned her gaze back downwards, though made no attempt to escape. His internal dictionary was going haywire, trying to find the right words to put together as he made his way towards her.

Standing by her side he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, suddenly finding the same fascination for the pool water she seemed to have. “H-hey, Misty.”

Her silence only heightened the buzzing in his mind as he desperately tried to replace the memory of his lips on hers with ways to get a conversation going. He cleared his throat, considering that maybe she hadn’t heard him, despite the quiet of the large room. “So I, uh…”

His voice seemed to get her attention, as her head tilted in his direction. He could just barely make out her eyes gazing at him, though the red sear across her face was more than visible. Hers was an expression of confusion and vulnerability, and it sent another guilty shock through him. “Misty, I-”

“Why?”

It echoed through the room and reverberated into Ash’s chest. He watched the corner of her jaw clench and relax, recognizing it as how she'd hold her tongue from saying something she'd rather not. He wanted to hear what she had to say, reigning in his explanation in favor of awaiting her reply.

She turned her head away, hiding her gaze from his. “Why did…why did you kiss me?”

Hope and hesitation permeated her words. Though her eyes were hidden from him, the way her fingers jittered in her folded hands said more than enough to him how she must be feeling. She let out a shaky exhale and Ash suddenly found himself scrambling to find an answer for her. “Misty, I kissed you because...I, the reason I kissed you-”

“ASH!”

He’d been the recipient of her screams many times throughout the years, but the look of seething venom dripping from her face was wholly new to him. She appeared to be just barely controlling her words, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the pool. She let out another exhale, her voice dropping hauntingly low. “Why did you kiss me?”

Deciding that his fear wasn’t worth the potential trip to an emergency room, Ash clenched his fists, closing his eyes so he wouldn’t have to think about it. “Because Brock and Tracey said it would be a good idea!”

Ash was worried that her response would be a terrifying one. In reality, it was the silence that followed that gripped at his heart. With his eyes closed, he could only hear the gentle hum of the air conditioner up along the ceiling. However, next came the sound of something leaving the water, though uncertainty kept his eyes closed.

It was the sudden slap to his cheek that forced them open.

Misty looked as if she were on the verge of a mental explosion. Her face was flushed, the bashful pink she’d worn in the Pokémon Center having morphed into a wrathful red that absolutely terrified him. With every passing second he grew more and more regretful, along with swearing off ever listening to his two closest male friends again. All the same, Misty’s assault jolted Ash’s familiar flare. “What did you do that for?”

“You mean to tell me you kissed me because they said it was- why would it possibly be a good idea, Ash?!”

“Because they said I was better with my actions than my words!”

He’d spoken before he’d had the chance to think about what to say to her, which he felt only solidified their point. All the same, he expected that his remark would only anger her further, so he was pleasantly surprised when some of her irritation seemed to dissipate and be replaced by suspicion.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Though her voice was still low and tinted with irritation, the fire in her irises had lessened the smallest bit. Words swam through his head as he pondered what he could say to even answer that correctly. The most obvious was the truth, but even attempting to form the syllables was enough to make his vocal chords seemingly vanish. However, he grinned in exasperation; maybe that wasn’t the answer. If his actions worked better than his words, then maybe going down that route would suit him better.

He took a step forward, closing the gap to less than a foot between each other. Her body tensed up, but she remained in place. Thankful for her inaction, he extended his hand forward, curling his fingers around hers. His thumb ran along her knuckles, unbidden glee rising in his chest as he savored the softness against his skin. He’d held her hand before, but this was more intimate than any other time. In spite of the hesitation written all over her face, she seemed to agree, her grip tightening as a reflex before loosening.

The atmosphere cleared the fog in his brain, and words which were previously scrambled now seemed to form into something coherent. Staring into her eyes, he swallowed his fears and took a breath. “Well, when you kiss someone, it’s ‘cause, I mean, you know…” If Misty was the smart girl he thought her to be, she’d be able to finish the statement on her own.

At this point the fire had dwindled to a flicker, but his words seemed to restore the soft oceanic waves in her irises. All of his prior apprehension and fear gave way to relief and excitement. The fact that she wasn’t immediately dismissing him or acting awkward told him that his earlier concept of an alternative option was no longer just a possibility, but a certainty.

Misty inhaled a shaky breath, her eyes darting back and forth between his. “So...you mean, you…”

Ash nodded, a giddiness bubbling within him as that redness in her face went soft again. She also appeared to be at a loss of words, likely processing that this was really happening between them. She turned away slightly, clearing her throat. “W-well, kissing me out of the blue like that was still a dumb idea, Ash.”

He shrugged and nodded somberly, a tint of remorse blemishing his previous elation. “I know, but after I told Brock and Tracey, they sort of insisted.”

Misty rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I’ll have to have a talk with them later, but more importantly, Ash…” At this some of her former flare returned, though it had lost all its malice. “That was my first kiss you took without thinking.”

Her first kiss.

In all his excitement and anxiety he hadn’t even given the notion any thought. Guilt permeated his every thought and he immediately scrambled for a way to fix the damage. “I-I didn’t mean to! I was just, I only wanted…” He put his hands in front of him, lowering his head. “I’m sorry, Misty, I’ll do anything to make it up to you!”

She didn’t respond right away, her arms crossed as her gaze went sideways. Her mouth fidgeted as she bit the inside of her bottom lip. Ash watched her fingers piano on her arm as her eyes flickered to him, then to the water, back and forth in rapid succession. He waited with bated breath, anxious at whatever could be going through her mind.

“One condition.”

Misty’s voice was almost too quiet to hear, and Ash probably wouldn’t have heard her if not for the hollow pool room. She was looking back at him now, anxiety showcasing itself all over her face. Ash slowly raised his head back up, his hands falling to his side.

“I’ll forgive you under one condition.”

“S-sure, okay.”

Her hands clasped together, once again tensing and relaxing against each other. She took a deep breath, surprising Ash as her blush somehow grew to match her hair. “So...I’ll pretend that...that the first one didn’t count, but...you have to…”

Hesitation filled her eyes as she stared into his. There was something she really wanted, he could tell, but she was afraid to say it. “It’s okay, Misty. I’ll do whatever you ask. Y’know, as long as you don’t make me give up Pokémon training or something.” He chuckled in spite of himself, somehow thinking that maybe a joke would lighten the mood.

He couldn’t tell if she found it funny, but something about what he’d said softened the tension on her face. She clasped her hands behind her back, closing her eyes with a shake of her head. When they opened, he found a newfound relief in them, as if something had clicked in her that had eliminated whatever was worrying her.

“Ash, I want you to give me a first kiss that does count.”

The cheery sweetness that so blatantly belied her previous nervousness was enough to paint a stroke of ruby across Ash’s cheeks. Confidence that he’d seen in Misty multiple times before had returned, and though the sudden switch in their emotional states caught him off guard, the familiarity of this side of Misty brought with it more of the reason why he’d fallen for her in the first place.

“So, you mean that…”

Misty nodded, her lips pursing bashfully. “It’s like you said, Ash, you only kiss someone you, y’know…” The return of that familiar smirk of hers was enough to send a flutter through his stomach.

He grinned cheekily, reaching up and removing his hat. “So I know I kissed you already, but to be honest, I don’t really know what I’m doin’ as far as kissing goes.”

Misty rolled her eyes playfully. “I’m not surprised. All your kissing experience comes from random girls and possibly a Pokémon, and none of those were on the mouth.” She pointed at her lips for emphasis, which only served to remind Ash of how they’d felt against his and how he’d be savoring that sensation again shortly.

“At least it’s still more experience than you.”

“I’m sure I could’ve gotten kissed if I really wanted to!”

“Maybe in your dreams, Misty!”

“I mean it! Plenty of guys would have been happy to kiss me! I was just saving my first one for-” Her retort came to a screeching halt as she processed what it was she was about to say. The implication alone was enough to light up their faces, though Misty was quick to look away, scratching at her cheek. “I-I mean, y’know…” She fiddled with a strand of her hair for a moment before she looked back at him, nervous elation flooding her eyes. “I guess I’ve kinda, sorta thought about this for a while now.”

Part of Ash was happy that she still seemed to have a semblance of awkwardness around this situation to match his own. He’d known for a good while that he felt something for her, but her words implied that she’d probably felt the same about him for the same length of time, perhaps longer. All those long walks between cities he’d spent daydreaming of hugging her, holding her hand, kissing her...if she was being truthful with him, she’d done the same as well.

With a breath that didn’t seem to carry enough oxygen, he held his hand out to her. If her request was a first kiss that truly counted, he was going to do everything in his power to deliver. She placed her fingertips in his palm, anticipation in her eyes. Even if he was more sure of how she felt now than he was with the first kiss, the expectation of this second one made it feel just as difficult.

“Should I...should we close our eyes?”

The question sounded dumber aloud than in his head, and for a brief moment Misty seemed to feel the same. To her credit she resisted her desire to retort, smiling with a shake of her head. “Ash, you already kissed me, so you should know what to do, right?”

Ash pouted, ducking his head slightly. “Well, I just kind of...did it. I didn’t have much of an idea of what I was doing.” He grinned sheepishly, grateful that Misty didn’t look too annoyed. “But you want this kiss to count, and I do, too; I want to make sure it’s perfect.”

Misty’s eyes went wide, a new flush rising to her cheeks. She was frozen for a moment before her gaze danced about. An awkward smile grew on her lips, her fingers twirling a loose strand of her hair. “I’m not used to you being this sweet.”

Ash chuckled. “And I’m not used to you not being that mad at me for something.”

Misty rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t that mad.”

He pointed at his cheek. “That slap says otherwise.”

Misty’s eyes clouded over for a moment, and Ash swore he saw regret somewhere in there. In an instant, though, her expression relaxed once more, and she appeared as though an idea sparked in her mind. Without a word she leaned forward, pressing her lips to the spot she’d smacked. Ash froze, wondering if the sudden smell of chlorine was from the water or Misty. After a moment she moved back, a sheepish grin decorating her face.

“Better?”

Ash pressed his fingers to where her lips had been, his heart still replaying how soft it had felt. It had only been twice that Misty’s mouth had been on him, but he could tell it was an addiction he now had to live with. His face was on fire and he suddenly found the pool to look especially appealing. Clearing his throat he returned her grin. “Better.”

She returned her hands behind her back, looking especially pleased with herself. “So, are you gonna kiss me or not?”

Despite his elation, a bundle of nerves still took residence in his stomach. He’d thought about this for ages now, but the reality was scarier than he’d anticipated. This rapid heart beat wasn’t new to him; he’d felt it numerous times over his journeys, but it was always something related to some goal he had. This time the girl he liked was involved, and the quiet of the room seemed to make the fear in his head louder. This wasn’t like a battle where he could train to prepare for-

A light bulb lit up in his head and he grinned to himself. Maybe if he warmed himself up, it would go much smoother. He placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling her momentarily go tense before relaxing. Her breathing was shaky, that tender shade of pink cradling her eyes. If nothing else, he was happy to see she was as nervous as he was. He nibbled at his bottom lip, letting out a small exhale.

Here goes nothing.

Leaning forward he planted his lips on her cheek, his mind racing to process how soft it was. He allowed himself to remain there, savoring her smell and the way he could feel her blush against his mouth. His mind kept reminding him that he was kissing Misty and it was all he could do to keep his composure.

Fighting against his nerves, he finally moved away, taking a glance at Misty’s face. Glimpses of bliss shone in her eyes, but confusion muddled her expression. Slowly she smiled a bit meekly.

“Ash, that was nice, but that’s not where you’re supposed to be kissing.”

He nodded. “I know. I’m just kinda nervous, so I thought I would practice.”

Misty cocked her head gently to the side. “Practice?”

Ash nodded, his tongue tying as he knew what would come next. Calling upon the bravery that had aided him for years, he placed another kiss on her cheek, this time just above where the last one was. With each passing second he placed one after another on her, slowly moving from her cheek to her temple, and then to her forehead. Between kisses he could hear his mind reminding him that this was Misty, that he was really doing this with her. None of his previous daydreams prepared him for this, but the adrenaline coursing through him was doing well enough to keep him going.

He eventually placed a kiss on the tip of her nose, at which she finally reacted with a soft giggle. The sound sent a flutter through his stomach, moving back to look her in the eyes. “Ticklish?”

She shook her head, her lips quivering. “Just happy, and still not believing this is really happening.” Her voice was tight, as if she were doing everything in her power to keep her composure from breaking. The cusp of tears hung along the bottom of her eyes and it was enough to tug at Ash’s heart.

He reflexively pulled her into his arms, one hand wrapped around her waist and the other rubbing her back. She returned the hug, leaning into him and nuzzling her face into the nape of his neck. The sensation of her exhales on his skin sent shivers down his spine. “I just want your first real kiss to be special.”

Misty hummed into him, pulling him closer. “Ash, my first real kiss is all yours. I’m sure it will be.”

Her offered ownership sent a thrill through his body, pulling away to look into her eyes. In all the years he’d known her, he’d never seen the expression she wore now. Hope and affection permeated every fiber of her gaze and he found himself being slowly drawn in. And yet, he held his place, serenely content with the view. This was the side of Misty he’d been wanting to see for as long as he could remember, and the fact that she was here showing him meant more than any words he could come up with. He settled for softly smiling to himself, an act which invoked a puzzled look on Misty.

“What is it, Ash?”

Watching her mouth create words was hypnotizing, though he was able to pull himself out of the trance. “I was just thinking that I can’t believe I get to kiss you.”

Misty grinned bashfully, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Well, you kind of owe me one anyway, so…”

There it was, that smart sass of hers that had pulled him in and never let him go. There was always something between them, some argument or contest that stirred up a confrontation, no matter how harmless. It always thrilled him, kept things exciting. She both pushed and tested him, always encouraging him to be better than he was. The fantasy of always having this girl by his side gave him that familiar flutter inside, the kind that spurred him on to be brave against whatever odds were in front of him.

“Mist, I’m not doing this just because I owe you.”

He pulled her closer to him, watching the way her eyes dilated from being less than a foot away from his. He heard the faintest gasp escape her lips before they curved upwards, quickly gaining a sheen as Misty ran her tongue along them. She moved even closer until her mouth was mere inches away from his.

“Then hurry up and kiss me, Ash.”

Her whisper was intoxicating and inviting, and any semblance of apprehension Ash had left evaporated. As if on instinct, his hands moved to her face, running his thumbs over her cheeks for support and his own satiation. For a moment he found himself frozen in place, once more mesmerized by the color in her eyes. The growing excitement in his stomach pushed through his paralysis, pulling her mouth towards his. He started drawing in a breath to control his heart, but before he could finish he’d already pressed his lips to hers.

The first time he’d kissed her, it had been to confess, a way to convey how he felt about her. Second-guessing thoughts had whirred in his brain, and he hadn’t been able to savor it in the mutually loving way he’d hoped for. As Misty exhaled the tiniest bit, her mouth gently opening before closing around his bottom lip, a warm rush surged through him and it took all of his self-control to keep from grinning like an idiot.

Misty apparently lacked that willpower as he felt her warming cheeks pull upwards in his palms. She leaned further into him with a hum, the hold on his neck tightening as she brought him closer. Their lips had scarcely moved, but it was enough of a sensation to send his heart flying across his chest in random directions. His body couldn’t decide between staying in hesitation or succumbing to its impulses, but the way her mouth nudged his gave him his answer.

He pulled away slightly, taking in another breath before pressing back into the kiss. Her arms relaxed around him, and if he didn’t know any better the way she began to slouch against him was almost like she was melting. Releasing his hold on her face his hands found her hips, his fingertips resting on the fabric of her shorts as his thumb grazed her skin. She arched towards him, her sudden inhale becoming his new favorite sound.

Like a light going off in his head, Misty suddenly felt too far away, and he craved her closeness in a way that was novel to him. A moment of exploration later and he’d found the belt loops of her shorts, hooking his fingers inside them and pulling her against him. This earned him a gasp, another addition to the reactions he was evoking out of her, reactions that were becoming more and more addicting. That smirk that had been nagging at him finally broke through his overthinking, elation and excitement bubbling away inside him.

It wasn’t until Misty finally eased back that he realized how out of breath he was. Their foreheads rested against each other as they gasped for air, their exhales echoing through the room. As his heart rate began to slow, Ash opened his eyes to the sight of Misty’s staring back at him. Every syllable of giddy pumped through his veins, staving off the sudden urge to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

“So...was that a good first kiss?”

Her smile went a mile wide, her giggle making his heart flutter. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

He chuckled in response, running his hand along the back of his neck. “I’m glad.”

“But you know…”

Her lingering voice hinted at any number of the possibilities he’d imagined in his head over the years, and the expression she wore was all of those feelings made tangible. “Yeah?”

“I want the second kiss to be special, too. And the third, and the fourth, and all the other ones after that.”

It was amazing how her sass could even find its way into their moments of sweetness, but it only emboldened the joy speeding through him. A heavy degree of self-control was the only reason he hadn’t devolved into a fit of laughter at the surrealness of it all, but he was willing to match her banter with his own. “What if I lose count, then?”

She pecked him on the cheek, clearly sharing in his jubilation. “Then you’ll have to start over, including making the first one extra special.”

He brought his hands back up to her face, absorbed in the warm softness of her cheeks and the glistening of her eyes. This was it. It was her, and he always wanted it to be. He pressed his lips to hers once more, savoring how soft they were and how tenderly she returned the kiss. Taking action had gotten him to this point, but maybe a few choice words wouldn’t hurt the intimacy. Easing away he knew she’d catch his sheepish smirk, but in his bliss he wasn’t inclined to care.

“Sorry, I’ve already lost count.”

Fun fact: the original idea for this story was for Misty to be the one to randomly kiss Ash. However, the more I kept developing and thinking about this story, the more sense it made for it to be Ash who did the kissing. In fact, once I reached the halfway point, the story went in a very different direction than I first imagined, but I decided to roll with it. This ended up having a bit more depth than the original, cutesy idea I had for it, but hopefully you enjoyed it all the same.

#Pokemon #Ash Ketchum #Misty #Ash x Misty #pokeshipping #aaml #fanfiction #fanfic #Satokasu #Look I just wanted to practice writing kisses #This is what happened

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inkandpen22 · 4 years ago

Text

Young Hearts Divided (10/?)

Pairing: Sirius Black x Female!Reader / James Potter x Female!Reader

Warnings: mild swearing

Word Count: 1.6k

Part Summary: After Remus and Y/N have their heart-to-heart, something unexpected happens

Masterlist

"Y/N!" A third party shouts from the door below.

Remus and I exchange glances of confusion at the sudden interruption.

"Y/N!" The voice echoes again and this time I recognize it to be Sirius's.

Swiftly, Remus and I rise from our positions to see what the fuss is about. Based on the urgent sound of Sirius's tone, I imagine this isn't him simply looking for me.

Remus follows me down the spiral stairwell and I can hear the hurried pace of Sirius climbing them. We meet half-way and he wears a bewildered expression. He glances between Remus and me with confusion but doesn't make a remark as I excepted. Instead, he takes my hand starts to lead me down the stairs.

"McGonagall came to the Common Room looking for you," he explains as we descend the tower to the door. "She wouldn't go into details other than that it has to do with your brother."

Upon hearing Sirius's words, I don't hesitate to start sprinting out of the tower and down the hall.

"Y/N!" Sirius and Remus call my name in unison.

The boys struggle to keep up as I run full pace to McGongallas office as I'm sure that's where she's gone. My mind is racing with possibilities. Where is my brother? Is Danny okay? Who took him? Have they found him?

Though it would be nearly impossible for me to not become tired after running from the Astronomy Tower to McGonagall's office on a normal day, currently I don't feel a thing. Remus and Sirius, however, are panting like dogs behind me when I enter her office. Sure enough, the professor is behind her desk with a fire going behind her. When she peers up and over her glasses from her grading, her face falters.

"Miss Y/L/N, good. It appears Mr. Black was able to find you," she remarks satisfied as she rises from her chair. As she crosses the room, she raises her hand to gesture to the door. "You may wait outside gentlemen," McGonagall announces to Remus and Sirius. "Unless, of course, Miss Y/L/N prefers for you to stay?"

All six eyes look to me for an answer and I become unintentionally short with them. "I don't really care who stays and who goes! All I want to know is the news about Danny!"

Remus and Sirius flicker their wide-eyes to McGonagall, waiting for a response. Never in the history of Hogwarts has anyone ever spoken to McGonagall so rashly, maybe a Slytherin, but even then that's a long shot.

I release a sigh and immediately feel apologetic. I didn't mean to snap at her, none of this is her fault. I'm just tired of the pointless dramatics and everyone looking to me for answers. Sometimes I simply want to answer 'I don't know!'

"Very well," McGonagall replies calmly, despite my aggression.

The woman presses her palm to my back and escorts me to sit in the chair across from her desk. She moves back to her seat and settles down. Remus and Sirius remain back by the door. Sirius leans against the wall with his arms crossed and Remus stands straight as though he's in a line-up.

"Your brother, Miss Y/L/N, has been located," McGonagall reveals and a weight rises off my chest.

My eyes fall shut as I lean back in my chair with a deep sigh of relief. At least we know where he is and thus we can do something now. Thank the universe he's alive.

"But Miss Y/L/N, there's something else I must tell you," the woman speaks hesitantly.

My eyes fly open and I stare at her sharply. Her tone worries me. The weight that disappeared has returned to me. She rubs her hands together in fists anxiously. I grip the handles of the chair to release some tension, but nothing seems to work.

"What is it?" I press for her to continue.

I hear footsteps behind me followed by a hand on my shoulder landing on my shoulder. I glance up and Sirius stands over me, his eyes locked on our professor.

"What is it, Minnie?" Sirius repeats sternly, though I can see the worry hidden in his eyes.

McGonagall frowns, clearly distraught, nearly sick to her stomach. When her eyes leave Sirius and land back on me, a chill shoots down my spine. This really isn't good.

"He's dead, isn't he?"

My tone comes out emotionless as though I'm asking a question in class and not something of this magnitude. I even surprise myself, along with everyone else in the room. I'm just so tired. I'm not sure I can take another blow.

McGonagall shakes her head frantically. "No, no, I assure you Danny is alive and well. The concerning part is... Well... he wasn't taken."

My brows scrunch together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You see, your brother wasn't taken by the Death Eaters..." She drags out nervously. "He um... Well, we learned that he..."

Comprehending what she's going to say, I start to shake my head repeatedly. "No, no, no," I stutter.

Sirius moves forward to stand in front of me. "What?! What is it?" He glances between McGonagall and me.

I rise from my seat and slowly start to the door as my eyes remain locked on the floor. She's lying! She has to be! Danny wouldn't, he could never be. Remus steps forward from the wall to help me toward the door. He presses his palm to my shoulder bland and lowers his head to my level to see my hidden face. Tears whelm up in my eyes and threaten to fall. It isn't true. It can't be true!

"Can someone please tell me what the bloody hell is going on?!" Sirius shouts. "Did I blackout and miss an entire minute of that conversation?!"

"Shut up Sirius!" Remus huffs at his friend. "Come on Y/N, let's head back," he guides me gently.

"Miss Y/L/N," McGonagall says my name pleadingly, completely ignoring Sirius. "You have to hear this, Dear! I have to make sure you understand the circumstances!"

I whip my head around to face the woman I once considered as close to me as another motherly figure. Now... Now I don't know how to view her. The tears that threatened to fall do so freely down my cheeks. The expression on McGonagall's face is foreign to me. I've never seen her cry, but she may now.

"My brother-" I hiss sharply through my teeth, "-is not a Death Eater. Anyone who calls him so is vile and I will gladly hex them to oblivion!"

"Y/N!" Remus gasps quietly next to me.

McGonagall stares me directly in the eye with parted lips of amazement. It's not every day a student threatens a professor. I would threaten Dumbledore himself if he were to cross my family. My parents raised me to care for all wizards and creatures. For someone to say that anyone in my family follows the Dark Lord is horrid. My brother could never do such a thing. He's my older brother, he loves me, wants what's best for me. He would never betray my family like that.

"I think we should go," Sirius determines as he marches over to me.

"Listen to reason, Y/N." McGonagall says my name calmly, dropping the formalities now considering the turn of events.

"I assure you, I am," I bark disdainfully. "If you knew Danny as I do, you would know that this is nothing but wartime paranoia. He could never follow You-Know-Who!"

"Let's go, Love," Sirius whispers to me, urging me out the door.

Reluctantly, I follow their guidance down the stairs to the classroom. If I were alone, I would've blasted McGonagall to her fireplace mantel.

"Keep walking," Sirius mutters in my ear.

"He has the Dark Mark!" She shouts as the boys lead me away against my reluctance.

Upon hearing her words, I turn over my shoulder and start back toward her office. Sirius's arms wrap around my waist and fling back into his chest. I fight him off and Remus moves to block my path. Well don’t these two have a nice little tag-team game going!

"Y/N! Y/N, listen to me!"Remus repeats, cupping my face to force me to look at him. "Tune her out, okay! Everything will be okay! We’ll figure it out! You don't want to do anything rash!”

"You must know this, Y/N! For your own safety!" Our professor adds worriedly.

"Remus if she keeps talking you're going to have to hold me back too," Sirius grunts as he struggles to drag me toward the corridor.

"Believe me, I'm not too thrilled either and I usually side with the professors," Remus grumbles. "If you figured out what was going on sooner, maybe we could've gotten Y/N out of there!"

"Oh yeah! Blame me for the chaos as per usual!" Sirius defends.

"Usually it is you! 99% of the time," Remus scoffs.

"Let me go!" I bark at Sirius, clawing at his forearms tight around my torso.

"Can't you do a spell to knock her out?!" Sirius speaks of me as if I'm not even here. "It's like trying to hold you back during a full moon!"

I growl,"you pull out your wand Remus and I swear I’ll hex you!”

Nervously, Remus switches his gaze between me and Sirius. I dig my nails into Sirius's arms to weaken his grip and the boy hisses.

"Remus!" He barks.

Remus sighs and looks to me apologetically. "I'm sorry, it's really for the best."

"Remus I swear-"

The boy removes his wand from his back pocket and makes a zig-zag formation with it.

"Nighty-night, Love," Sirius mutters.

In seconds, my vision goes black.

_______________________________

Masterlist

Tags: @hannah220506 @agirlwholovescoffee @a-classic-eye @devilstradegy @blackbirddaredevil23 @tay-mariee @blackpinkdolan @findzela @emilianamason @missryerye @loonyslytherin

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saferemercer · 3 years ago

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Worthy

June 26th, Late Evening, After the Queen’s Gala

"There ya go lass, she's all set for yeh!"

Safere glanced at the dwarf gryphon master, still holding the winning ticket in her hand. To the right of her, stood Snowbeak, the majestic, white Wildhammer gryphon she had just won in a high society raffle. The beast was immaculate; feathers shining in the moonlight, beak seemingly polished to a mirror sheen and talons sharp as adamantine steel. She was straight out of a storybook.

Safere looked down at her rented tuxedo; a crab meat stain on her collar, one cufflink gone and her shoes having stepped in something grey and slimy. She didn’t want to think about that too much. All in all, she felt pretty damn foolish standing in front of this paragon of gryphon-kind, ready to take her as a mount.

“So uh...you have any tips for how to...uh, care for her?” she asked. “I mean...I have another gryphon, but he’s older and kinda half-blind…”

The dwarf chuckled, unlatching the gryphon’s chains. “Oh, Snowbeak is ah’ feisty young lass, she’s gonna want ta’ fly around prettah’ often. You’ve got ah’ roost fer her, yeah?”

Safere rubbed the back of her head. “Yeah...definitely,” she hoped.

“Good, good. She needs tha’ best of care! You gala types can manage that, ah’m sure. You ah’ knight or ah’ cleric of some kind?”

Safere rubbed her head, harder. “I’m...a...uh, protector.”

“Protector! Ha, tha’ sounds good! Yeah, Snowbeak is fit fer the grandest of adventures. The soarin’ clouds, the tallest mountains, the greatest-”

“I get it, I get it,” Safere said, through gritted teeth. “I’m...sure we’ll have a wonderful time together.”

The dwarf shrugged and gave Snowbeak a final pat on the snout, before he opened the gate and led her out of the pen. Safere walked up to her, trembling just a little. She raised a hand and brought it down to touch her beak. The gryphon stared into her eyes, as she was touched. Safere swore she could sense a subtle disappointment in those eyes. She sighed.

“I know, Snowbeak...we’ll...make this work,” Safere said, now starting to regret ever taking a raffle ticket.

July 20th, Mid Evening, Crowsfield.

Snowbeak was screaming at her. Well, squawking might have been more accurate, but it sure felt like screaming to Safere. If the beast could speak common, she had an idea of the level of vitriol she’d be experiencing right now.

“I know, I get it, you’re angry!” Safere grumbled, trying to clean her feathers with an old brush. “We don’t...we don’t fly as often as you’d like...and I wish I could fix that, but I just...don’t travel as often as some people. Ok?! Buddy doesn’t mind, do ya pal?”

She turned to the black gryphon in the pen next to her. The cross-eyed, older gryphon was chewing on a large ferret he had caught earlier that day, but in the same way a tired farmer might sip on a tall glass of sweet tea. He was in no rush.

As if Snowbeak could understand Safere’s words (she was almost certain she could, some days), the majestic gryphon snorted at her, in seeming disgust.

Safere sighed. “Yeah, I know, you don’t like being compared to Buddy. But he’s the only gryphon I’ve ever really known before, so maybe we can just-”

Snowbeak raised her legs and flapped her wings right in Safere’s face, knocking her to the ground, landing flat on her ass in the dirt.

“Oh, fine!” Safere shouted, lying down in defeat. “Have it your way! I’ll just let you-”

“Might I be of assistance, Miss Mercer?”

She looked up to see a man in copper colored armor, standing above her, offering a hand. She turned around and gripped his palm, rising back to her feet. She recognized the man immediately. He was the only one she knew who would wear a fully enclosed helm in such sweltering weather.

“Mordecai, right?” Safere asked, despite knowing she was right. She just..hadn’t spoken to him that much.

He nodded. “Indeed, Miss Mercer. Mordecai Sharpe, at your service.” He sounded calm and helpful, even if his expression was entirely unreadable. That copper-colored mask he wore always bore the same neutral, placid expression. His eyes were the only thing that could be seen. Kind brown orbs, blinking every so often.

Safere sighed, dusting off her trousers. “Well, uh, have you got any experience with gryphons? At least more than I do?”

Mordecai nodded once more. “I rode one for nearly a decade. Back when I was a more...active member of The Silver Hand. She was a gorgeous creature, fair and swift...but I didn’t appreciate her at the time.”

Safere blinked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I...neglected her,” he began to say. “Not in the sense of health or feeding, I assure you. I always kept her well fed, clean and cared for. Until the day she died, she never missed a meal, nor was she abused. But…”

The man’s shoulders fell, for but a moment. “I didn’t truly appreciate her. I never even named her. Not really. Whenever a fellow knight would ask me, I would say something like...Silverwing or Judgment. But it was a hollow excuse for a title. I simply didn’t care. She was a beast to be used for glory. Much like a sword or a shield. Cared for, certainly. But never loved. Never seen as more than a tool.”

Mordecai turned to look at the gryphons. “Do I have your leave to approach her?”

“Sure,” Safere replied, shrugging. “Just be ready, because she’s in a mood.”

He walked up to Snowbeak, slowly reaching into a pouch on his waist and retrieving a handful of wildberries. Once he reached the gryphon, he held out his palm and let her eat from it. She did so with some trepidation, but soon enough, had cleaned his gauntlet entirely. She then leaned her head against his arm, as he stroked her gently.

“A beautiful lady...you should be very-”

“HELP!”

Mordecai and Safere turned around to see a young woman running toward them, a distraught expression on her face. The paladin ran forward to meet her halfway.

"Miss, what is wrong?!"

"Please, they took my brother, please they took him into the forest-"

He laid a hand on her shoulder...and she seemed to calm down, enough to explain more clearly, at least. By then, Safere had joined Mordecai by his side and was listening closely.

"She took Theodore, the...some witch, I saw her snatch him from his bedroom window and take him into the moor! I tried to run after her, but these...skeletons rose up from the dirt! Undead monsters! Out in the Bleakmoor! Please sir, miss…please help my brother…” the girl wailed, tears welling in her brown eyes.

“We have no time to lose. Miss, return to your home and wait for us there. We will find him. Safere,” Mordecai said, turning to face her. “Might we-”

She nodded, already running back to Buddy. “Come on!” she called back. Fiddling with her ebon gryphon’s chain, Safere mounted him and pulled the reins. He may have been an older gent, but Buddy knew when it was time to get serious. Years of getting Safere out of sticky situations had given him a kind of sixth sense. He rose to his feet and flapped his wings, ready to burst off.

Mordecai was running up now, while the young woman returned to her homestead. He looked at Buddy and Safere. “I...don’t know if I’ll be able to fit on there with you. Or if your gryphon can carry my extra bulk,” he said, gesturing to his mix of chain and plate mail. “Perhaps if-”

Safere shook her head. “You’re taking Snowbeak!”

The paladin shook his head. “No, miss Safere, she is yo-”

“This is not the time to argue, pal! Get to it!” Safere shouted.

Mordecai nodded and ran to the ivory bird, expertly climbing upon her saddle without even a wayward twitch from the proud beast. She shrieked out a battle-squawk and took to the air almost immediately, leaving Safere and Buddy to catch up.

They were soaring above the hills now, keeping low enough to spot any figures...if it wasn’t so bloody dark.

“I can’t see a damn thing down there!” Safere shouted, the wind coursing through her hair.

“Let us remedy that,” Mordecai roared back. “Cover your eyes, Mercer! For just a moment!”

Safere did as she was told, bringing her wrist back across her eyes, just as the night turned to sunrise in front of her. Her peripheral vision was a holy inferno, but it soon faded enough until she felt comfortable to gaze openly again. Mordecai was still glowing, casting a net of light across the hilly moor below.

“There!” he said, pointing down. Sure enough, no longer shrouded beneath a barrow-hill, Safere could spot a crowd of figures. Over a dozen skeletal warriors, covered still in the dirt and grime of their former resting places. Most gripped broken hatchets and rusted blades. A couple held ancient shortbows. These two decrepit snipers took aim as Safere and Mordecai came down upon them. With surprising dexterity, an arrow was loosed, aimed right at Snowbeak’s chest.

But the gryphon saw it coming, swiping the missile away with a talon. The other shot toward Safere and Buddy; its aim was less true, allowing them to dodge the projectile with a quick turn. By then, the two of them were landing. Hard.

Snowbeak smashed into the center of the undead, scattering two of the boney bastards into splinters. Mordecai pulled his great morningstar from his shoulders, the flanged head gleaming with golden fire, as he slammed it into the rotting ribcage of another, crushing the sternum and wasting the foul creature away.

Safere came down less glamorously, but no less effective. Her cutlass in one hand, silver edged and shining, slicing through the skull of the axe wielding monster nearest to her. The foolish archer she had landed by, tried to swat Buddy with his bow, only for the elder gryphon to grab him in his beak and snap his spine.

“Interlopers!” A shrill voice screamed. Safere turned to see a wretched old hag, twisted and deformed, holding a young boy by the scruff of his pajamas. The child was wailing, kicking at his captor, to seemingly no avail. “You will not stop the sacrifice to Gorak Tul!”

“Gorak Tul is vanquished, fiend! Killed in his own realm of shadow and failure!” Mordecai growled, shattering the knees of an approaching skeleton. “You will accomplish nothing!”

“Yeah, you suck!” Safere helpfully added, stabbing another undead.

“Fools! Gorak Tul’s spirit lingers, forever! And I will be his new bride!” the witch shrieked, raising a twisted dagger to the child’s throat. “The boy’s blood will show me the way!”

Safere grit her teeth, looking around for any options. There were still a half dozen skeletons advancing. Buddy was fighting off one more to her left. Snowbeak...was gone. Where had she-

Mordecai let loose a sharp whistle. The gryphon moved so fast, she was more of a blur of white upon the wind, than any discernible form. Just as the witch had barely begun to look behind her, she was rammed by the Wildhammer gryphon, sending her gangling form flying forward, her loose grip on the boy’s shirt going slack, as he fell a few feet to the ground.

Safere ran over to him, making sure he was unharmed. Aside from some dirt stains and a bruise on his shoulder, he seemed to be fine, if still wailing and terrified. Within that handful of moments, Mordecai, Buddy and Snowbeak had dispatched the handful of remaining skeletons, their bones scattered and unmoving. The witch...lay in a defeated pile nearby, groaning like a sickly weasel.

“You are beaten, monster. Submit and be judged!” Mordecai commanded, his aura pulsing like wildfire. He stood above the subdued wretch, morningstar at her throat.

The witch mewled and raised her elongated arms, in a show of surrender. “I...yes, I am defeated! Oh, brave and powerful paladin! I...submit to your mercy! Please!” Her yellow eyes wide and pleading.

“Mercy! How could a villain such as you deserve-” Mordecai began to say...before stopping and sighing. “Very well, witch. You will come with me, bound and subdued...to be judged by the people of Autumnhearth! And see what mercy they lay upon you!”

The paladin barely shifted his gaze, but for a mere moment, he did glance at his belt, to retrieve a length of rope...only for Safere to watch as the hag began to channel a pale blue energy in her palm.

A Ruinous Bolt! Safere thought to herself. She had been researching just last night. In a flash, she drew her Gnomish pepperbox from the back of her trousers and fired. One, two, three, four…

Her aim did not fail her. Each silver shot ripping into the hag’s flesh, with the last metal ball landing right between her sour yolk-yellow eyes...which made the spell in her palm fade away and the witch slump back onto the ground, as dead as her would to be husband.

Mordecai looked back at the shot riddled body and exhaled. “My thanks, Miss Mercer.”

She nodded, sweat dripping down her forehead. In her arm, the young boy blinked and wiped away tears. “That was...so loud!” he squeaked.

“Ah yeah...sorry about that, Theodore,” Safere said, grimacing. “But it’s over, your sister is waiting for you.”

The boy nodded and hugged her, still crying, but less feverishly. Mordecai came over to him, kneeling down and offering a hand.

“How would you like to fly on a gryphon, master Theodore?” he asked.

For likely the first time that night, the boy smiled.

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

The reunion with Theodore’s sister (Charlotte, they learned) was full of more tears and smiles alike, but the boy was soon returned to his own bed, with a small number of local farmers promising to watch over the house until morning. Mordecai would join them, sitting down by the front fence with Safere. Snowbeak and Buddy waited nearby.

“That was...an exciting evening, wouldn’t you say, Miss Mercer?” Mordecai said, having removed his mask, among the two of them. Safere had seen his burned visage before and grown accustomed to it. The permanent half grin across his partial lips and exposed cheek, were little more than a beauty mark to her by now.

“Hell of a lot more...fighting than I expected, that’s for damn sure,” she said, sipping from a glass of fresh milk. Supplied by Theodore's grateful farming family, after the two of them had refused the meager amount of silver they had scraped together as a reward. “But this is good cow juice.”

Mordecai sipped from his tin straw and nodded. “Indeed. Regardless, you fought well. Thank you again for your expert shooting.”

Safere chugged the last half of her moo-juice and stood up, brushing off her pants. “Don’t mention it, Mordo. Last thing I needed tonight was having to tell Wes that her Warden took a Ruinous Bolt to the chest.”

He chuckled and stood with her. “You recognized the spell? How impressive.”

“Yeah, all that reading paid off, just like Mere said it would,” Safere replied, smiling.

“You make the steward proud, I’m sure,” Mordecai said, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Are you returning to Easthollow with your gryphons, then? They’ve had a busy evening too.”

“One of them, yeah,” Safere said.

“Good, I hope they-”

The paladin turned to look at her, confusion in his eyes. “One of them?”

“I’m leaving Snowbeak with you, Mordo. You made an incredible team. And I’ll be damned if I’m gonna break that up.”

Mordecai shook his head, raising a hand in disagreement. “No, Miss Mercer, I couldn’t accept such a-”

“First off, call me Safere. Or Saf, even,” Safere said, making sure her cutlasses were properly attached to her belt. “Secondly, I’m not gonna hear any arguments on this. Snowbeak deserves someone like you. Someone brave and worthy of her. Someone who can make the best use of her skills. And that ain’t me.”

The man was silent for a moment. “You are worthy of more than you think, Mi...Safere. And you are as brave as any champion of the Hand that I’ve ever known. You joined me in the search for Theodore without a second thought. Lent me your steed, without hesitation. Charged into the mass of undead and stood by my side.”

He whistled, causing Snowbeak to trot over. Mordecai rubbed her neck and watched as she nuzzled back. “If this is your desire...your command, I will do so. I will care for and love Snowbeak, as I failed to do for my former steed. But never believe it is because you are unworthy. Promise me this.”

Safere sighed and smiled, looking down at her boots for a second or two. Before returning his gaze and nodding. “I promise.”

He nodded back. “Good. Also, I ask that you bring Buddy along to visit every so often. The two are quite...attached.”

She blinked and looked from Snowbeak to Buddy. The white gryphon was looking back at him, softly cooing. Buddy in turn was waving his wings slowly and...prancing?

“Buddy, you scoundrel!” Safere exclaimed, laughing. ��Have you been laying down some moves behind my back?!”

Buddy squaked, shaking his wings and hopping up and down. Snowbeak scraped her talons in the dirt and squawked back.

“Best warn your gryphon master of the possibility of eggs, in the future, eh?” Mordecai cautioned, chuckling along with her.

Safere gave him a thumbs up. “You bet. Keep safe out there, Mordo! See you soon!” She left with a spring in her steps, mounting her flirtatious bird and soaring off toward Easthallow. The wind in her hair felt like energy flowing through her. She let out a loud “woooooooooo!” and grinned.

It had been quite a night to fly.

#warcraft ocs #warcraft story #short story #gryphons #safere #mordecai sharpe

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emsartwork · 5 years ago

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SO! the other season 4 transformations because they wouldn’t fit with believix but it’s probably better this way because they’re ethereal magic and that’s kinda wonky

Sophix, Amorix, and Aterix (its labeled as Thanatix in my magic master post for some reason?? way to space out on your own transformation name brain), the gifts physical appearance, and Nabu and Duman in Aterix because plot reasons.

The three gifts are grown/formed somewhere in the golden kingdom, and can be used every 300 years but its usually up to the members of the golden kingdom(and the ethereals themselves obvi) when to put them out into the world. They’re classified somewhere between a magical item and a magical substance, acting almost like drugs to a persons magical core. Much of what is known about their formation is recorded in the dairy of Jak Anthebanak, an ambitious wizard from Lynphea who, through some extreme experimenting, grew vines into a portal to the Golden Kingdom. He had very little time to study or note down anything there but the glowing stone circles in the back garden of the main castle seemed to be similar shapes to the gifts and he theorized they slowly emerged from the stone or the stones built up enough power until the gifts could be formed. The ethereal who found him thought the little man was a riot and sent him back alive and unharmed, but with his memory wiped and the portal plants destroyed, only the scribbles in Jak’s field journal survived.

Each gift actually has only enough power to transform 1-2 people, but I drew the girls in all of them because ~*fashion*~. The gifts act as a layer over whatever the affected person is wearing at the time of use(so the girls transform into believix and then use the gift, if they didn’t transform first the gift would just slightly change their normal clothing). The users’ main color changed but their core color/s remain or are added to the outfit. And each gift has lasting effects on the user so the winx have to choose wisely who should use each gift so sophix: Bloom and Tecna Amorix: Musa and Stella Aterix: Aisha and Flora

Sophix: also known as the gift of wisdom. it seems to govern plant, water, earth, animal, and some weather magic. I mentioned the gifts act like drugs, and the closest comparison for Sophix would be a combo of marijuana and LSD. Sophix slows a person’s magical process down and allows them to see and join with the connected elements of the natural world around them, it also suppresses more volatile emotions. It kind of almost turns them into a plant in a weird way. attack magic isn't super strong but defense is a little better. The lasting side effects are pretty serious, the user will experience increased depersonalization, short term memory loss, nausea when eating or drinking, difficulty moving, muscle weakness, and sometimes respiratory issues(like randomly stopping breathing or the lungs feeling smaller that kind of stuff). Bloom and Tecna are some of the least “Nature” based magic users, so they volunteer to use Sophix as its theorized people who use a lot of magic that contradicts the gift’s powers they’ll have less side effects. This is primarily why Flora and Aisha were immediately banned from using sophix by the rest of the winx lol. Flora is basically already a plant and Aisha is 1/4 merm so they didn’t want to mess with their more complex biology.

Amorix: Also known as the gift of heart. It governs temperature, fire, ice, crystals/gems, wind, and human emotions. The drug comparison for Amorix is stimulants(cocaine, meth, etc) with a touch of MDMA/PCP. Amorix hypes a person up and polarizes their body temperature(cold in the middle and hot in the extremities) it also intensifies their emotions and empathy. Attack magic is very strong and defense is p low. The side effects after are chills, hot flashes, intense and sudden mood swings, tremors, aggression or violent behavior, cardiac trouble, and transference(taking on other’s emotions as their own to an unhealthy degree). The choices for who used these depended on who would have the most issues with cold. Musa is tiny, and Stella relies on a certain about of sunlight(ie warmth). Bloom and Tecna both come from colder planets, and their body temps protect them. Aisha and Flora could have also used these but for plot purposes I decided they couldn’t. (Roxy is also protected from the cold automatically by Aurora tho at the time nobody understands whats going on with her lol) Bloom’s fight with Nebula is just straight up dragon fire and rage babey no gift needed.

Aterix: also known as the gift of memory or the black gift. Aterix is the least understood of the gifts but it seems to govern colors, dark/light, pain/numbness death or decay, sleep, and memory. The (very loose) drug comparison are opioids(heroine, morphine) and rohypnol/ketamine, unfortunately with out some of the pain relieving effects. Aterix is also the only gift that can technically effect four people, but you have to have the Ater(the gifted, the person actually using the gift) and the Thrane(the person the gifted uses the aterix spell on). Aterix feels a little bit like swimming, the gifted’s motions aren’t actually slower, but everything feels like it’s slowed down. Their vision is improved, seeing colors and shadows in much more detail, their memory is also heightened to an almost photographic level. Unfortunately they can sense any physical pain around them as if it were their own. The gifted’s emotions are also subdued, as they are receiving so much physical and mental stimulus that area of the brain kind of shuts down. Side effects for the gifted are vision issues, insomnia, narcolepsy, muscle cramps, shooting pains, loss of sensation, intense flashbacks to any trauma, memory loss, and sometimes brief comas. Side effects for the Thrane are either they return to death, or they remain resurrected, in constant physical pain and apathy, lost in memories, confused, slowly moving, never sleeping, never eating, and kind of just miserable.

Timeline changes: So in my version, Flora returns with the Specialists and Duman to Gardenia, she tries to heal him, but his magic is too unstable and the whole fight thing happens, Duman is killed, but he mentioned something about the wizards’ schemes before he died, leading Flora to accept Aterix, and pull him back to life. She compels him to to tell them all what the plan is and then they all rush off to Tir Nan Og. Nabu, as the only practiced male magic user, absorbs all the magic being used to create the vortex, he is unfortunately unable to expel the magic fast enough causing his core to break and Nabu dies. Aisha is understandably distraught, and uses Aterix, trying to get him back. In the commotion the Wizards manage to grab Duman and Flora after they realize they’re connected. and escape to Omega. As things die down Nebula holds her whole rebellion and stuff, and the Winx realize Flora is missing. Aisha is trying to interact with Nabu, and is in denial about his state of suffering so she defaults to anger and joins Nebula in hunting the Wizards down. Meanwhile, the wizards have managed to force Flora to de-transform, leaving Duman in his resurrected state. The winx free Morgana who promises to care for Nabu, and they pursue the fairies and the Wizards to Omega to rescue Flora and talk Aisha down from murder. Flora isn’t considered a threat by the wizards so they just kind of leave her to freeze, but she’s found by the winx and they manage to talk Nebula and Aisha down and the wizards are frozen for eternity(including Duman). Aisha, still in Aterix, returns with a clearer head, and recognizes she can’t leave him in a constant state of suffering, so she removes the Aterix spell from Nabu and returns him to his natural state.

If your wondering why Daphne could be revived but Musa’s mother and Nabu can’t be, it depends on where the spirit is. Daphne was still barely alive when Faragonda transferred/tied her spirit to the Sirenix source. Daphne’s original physical body “died” when her spirit left it, but her spirit was still in this realm. Bloom’s Sirenix wish created a new body based on Daphne’s perception of herself and tied Daphne’s spirit to that in season 5. Musa’s mother’s spirit has long left this realm, and Musa wishing her back would not only be wrong according to the natural world, but its basically magically impossible. Musa would end up with a cheap, mutated, imitation of her mother, lacking memories, personality, and any real “humanity”. Nabu’s spirit left his body. Aterix has power over memory, so it brings back the person’s brain and they can appear to really be back fully, but its painful, unstable, and feels wrong, to both Ater and Thrane since the person isn’t really back. Sorry if this is confusing lol.

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thekidkelly · 4 years ago

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if i may be so bold as to make an observation (or six):

i feel like the entire group (as well as the audience, in some cases) dismiss abed as somebody who can’t empathize with the group during different scenarios. now at the beginning of the show, i can see how that could be a viable reaction (all you need to do is look at the pilot and his interactions with jeff, in the case of the “say you have to go to the bathroom” text, and the group, when they were mouthing to one another and abed didn’t understand what was happening). but i feel like it’s not really acknowledged that abed becomes very emotionally aware of the people around him as the show progresses.

troy would be the most obvious example. even just looking at Pillows and Blankets (even though it hurts me abed says these things about troy), he knows exactly what troy is insecure about underneath the surface, and how to, in a sense, make him emotionally distraught. on the flip side, in Basic Human Anatomy when troy wakes him up, he doesn’t need to ask troy why he’s fulfilling the Freaky Friday switching-bodies trope to understand that troy is going through something and that he needs abed’s help, and abed is willing to go to whatever lengths troy needs him to go to to help him.

his relationship with annie has a deep development as well. in Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism, abed (as batman) says to annie that if someone had stepped on his dvd and broken it by accident, they would have already come forward, and to not tell abed (because that guy is ruthless), to me that shows that abed recognizes annie’s guilt, and makes the conscious decision to not make her feel any worse by pretending he didn’t know the truth behind the broken dvd at all. it’s not exactly a surprise that annie (like troy) tends to show her emotions on the surface, but she went through the effort to try and cover up her mistake, but when it came down to it, abed knew all along, and decided that the guilt she was feeling was enough, and to respect that she was deeply upset about it and that was enough.

even with shirley, you can look at Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts, and you can see how throughout the progression of the wedding, abed tries to stay as “normal” as possible, so as not to upset shirley on her special day. he’s faced with plenty of situations that could easily unravel him, but he even went through the “24-hour weird-down” to prove that he could not be himself for a night, if it was to make shirley happy (not that i condone him actively repressing his true self to make others happy, i just find it intriguing that abed would be willing to go to the distance to make his friends happy). also, in Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples, abed makes the interesting comment to shirley “you humble me”. that shows that abed was able to recognize how his movie was affecting shirley (albeit a little bit late), realized that what he was doing was offensive to her and her beliefs, and immediately stopped because friends don’t actively try to dismiss or dismantle other friend’s beliefs or feelings. also he was willing to deliver her baby for her and was most concerned with making sure she was safe and, really, emotionally comfortable with the situation she was in since it was not entirely ideal, and was willing to make sure she felt as secure as she could in the moment.

with britta, he was able to open himself up to the option of “therapy” with her, because he felt he could trust her, but i also think that under the surface abed realizes that britta needs validation. the group constantly calls her the worst, and uses her name in place of messing something up, and as someone who was probably picked on and bullied a lot as a kid, abed was probably aware of the negative impact this had on her. he was willing to make britta feel that validation while simultaneously making a real effort at what she was recommending because he knew it was backed with a genuine want to help his wellbeing.

the one relationship that i think makes me feel the most conflicting emotions though is his relationship with jeff. jeff keeps everything bottled up inside, we only see his emotions when he either lets himself be incredibly vulnerable or when he becomes incredibly frustrated/outraged. otherwise, we can’t really tell what’s happening with him besides the small quirks he has that betray what he’s feeling to us as an audience. in the beginning, he’s all back-handed sarcasm and short fuses with abed, somebody not worth engaging deeply with (because jeff, at this point in time, is arguably the most self-centered he is throughout the entire show). but in Critical Film Studies we see a shift in their dynamic - abed recognized that jeff was pulling away from him, actively distancing himself from abed, and that hurt abed’s feelings. from that point on, we see jeff interact with abed on a more emotional level, to the point that in Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television, we see abed covertly recognize that jeff is struggling with the fact that his found family is suddenly slipping through his fingers, and tries to comfort him in a way that doesn’t necessarily attract everyone else’s attention. i would argue that, by the end of the series, abed becomes sort of like an emotional sounding board for jeff.

abed said it himself numerous times, he’s been a lifelong surveyor of human behavior. i just don’t think he ever got close enough to anyone to look at the emotional part of that behavior until he met the rest of the study group, and if he can identify quirks and other physical behaviors so well, why would emotions be any different?

#whew that was a lot #also it was kind of hard for me to do abed and brittas relationship so if i missed something im sorry #i didnt include pierce bc the two of them never had a relationship in my opinion #please please please give feedback on this so i dont feel like im way off base #abed nadir #troy barnes #jeff winger #annie edison #britta perry #shirley bennett #community

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addictedtostorytelling · 4 years ago

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Hello again! I know I just asked a question, but you give such wonderful answers, I can't help myself. What are your thoughts on the famous chalk-cheek touch scene in 2x05? Specifically, what was going through GG's mind? He remembers it with love later when Sara is missing, but seems (on the surface) startled or even a taken aback out at the time.

hey, @nostromosigningoff!

no worries! this scene is one of my favorite gsr scenes in the whole series, so i’m happy to have the chance to talk about it.

i think the short answer here is that, in the moment, grissom is indeed both startled and taken aback—but in a good way.

sara touching him comes as a shock and is completely “out of left field,” per the unwritten rules governing their relationship at the time, but ultimately the act is not an unwelcome one to him, as it helps jolt him out of a bad headspace more cleanly and efficiently than anything else could have done so.

when he first storms out of the apartment building, he is frustrated with both the case and his own inability to solve it, kicking himself for being outsmarted by the unscrupulous building manager. because his sense of self-worth is so closely tied to his job performance, he is (despite what he later tells sara) feeling very much to blame and like he’s no good for the thing he is supposed to be best at.

were sara not to intervene with him just then, he probably would become very distraught very quickly.

but luckily, because she knows him well, she is able to recognize what’s happening in his head and act accordingly—responding to his upset with calm and taking direct action to interrupt his negative thought processes.

her touch is like a bolt out of the blue for grissom.

and it rattles him, definitely.

but it’s also exactly what he needs.

her taking his face in her hand is so transgressive of their norms and personally affecting to him that it demands his attention and shakes him free from those bad thought patterns long enough that he can take a breath, gather himself, and return to solving the problem at hand in a rational and collected manner.

that she understands grissom well enough to know that experiencing an unexpected physical touch from her is what will work best with him is something that, upon reflection, comes to mean the world to him.

her intimate knowledge of how he thinks and functions makes him feel cared for.

loved.

so six years later, when he recalls that moment during the events of episode 08x01 “dead doll,” he does so for two primary reasons: first, because he is trying to reduplicate the effects of sara’s actions back then on himself in the present moment (i.e., he knows that he is descending into a panic spiral, so he tries to remember what it feels like when she breaks through his thoughts and soothes him); and, second, because that moment was one where he felt very aware of how much sara loves him and very connected to her, as a consequence.

if you’re interested in more discussion, click the “keep reading.”

_____

a good practice for any fiction writer, whether for print or screen media, is to know their characters’ “unwritten rules”—the things those characters will always do, the things they will never do, and any inducements that might cause them to break their own rules (in one way or another).

grissom and sara are characters with scads of unwritten rules that apply to them.

on an individual level, they have hang-ups and tics galore (e.g., grissom will always immediately and without explanation exit any conversation he’s part of should he at that moment have an epiphany regarding the case he’s investigating; and, prior to s5, sara will never willingly divulge any information concerning her childhood/adolescence to her teammates and will even go as far as to lie about or obfuscate the truth, should those topics be broached).

and with each other, as a pairing, they’ve got more unwritten rules between them than there are in major league baseball.

some of their most complex unwritten rules—prior to the time they start officially dating—regard the circumstances and manners in which they can physically touch each other.

of course, we don’t know what grissom and sara’s relationship is like prior to when she moves to vegas. some fans take grissom’s episode 01x02 “cool change” identification of sara as “a friend of [his]” at face value, believing that they are platonic friends connected mostly through professional interactions at forensics conferences. however, other fans believe that they have some kind of sexual/romantic relationship prior to when sara moves to vegas.

in the case that the first option were true, then grissom and sara may always have operated under unwritten rules similar to the ones they do in vegas—most of which are, after all, geared toward keeping their interactions professionally appropriate.

but in the case that the second option were true, then these unwritten “above the board” rules may represent a significant change to how grissom and sara used to operate, back when they were engaged in a sexual and/or romantic relationship while sara still lived in san francisco.

in any case, whatever they are pre-vegas, once in vegas, they develop a unique set of physical boundaries, not designed to permanently or completely prevent any touching between them but rather to make sure that any touching they do engage in is kosher, per their new supervisor-subordinate dynamic.

as is obvious from their regular, repeated, and, frankly, egregious personal space violations, they clearly enjoy coming into physical contact with each other, as per their mutual attraction; however, due to the fact that they are both aware that they must not act on their mutual attraction, they typically limit their physical contact with each other to touches that satisfy five main criteria:

the touches must be inherently nonsexual and nonromantic (i.e., no kissing, no romantic caressing, no contact—even fully clothed—in the traditional “bathing suit” areas, etc.);

the touches should, for the most part, seem incidental even if in actuality they are very purposeful;

the touches should, for the most part, be passing and not linger long;

no touching of faces (as while doing so is not inherently sexual or romantic, it is intimate beyond what their supervisor-subordinate relationship “should be”);

no touching in ways that would cause onlookers to question the “appropriateness” of their supervisor-subordinate relationship.

of course, rules #2, 3, and 5 become somewhat more lax when grissom and sara are alone together in the absence of potential witnesses—which is why, for instance, we see them walk arm-in-arm in episode 02x21 “anatomy of a lie.”

still, even in situations where grissom and sara do allow themselves to touch beyond their normal parameters, there are yet more unwritten rules governing these allowances, the main one of which is that grissom almost always must be the initiator of any aberrant touches—which is why he is the one to initiate the aforementioned arm-linking in episode 02x21 “anatomy of a lie,” as well as the handholding in episodes 04x23 “bloodlines” and 05x13 “nesting dolls.”

the reason why grissom is the one to initiate any extra gsr touching is because, between him and sara, he is the party who possesses the most compunctions surrounding their mutual attraction. to a much greater degree than she does, he worries about the potential ramifications of their ~thing~ and what being “found out”—even though, technically, they’re not doing anything wrong—might mean for them professionally. he is concerned about even the appearance of impropriety between them.

while sara certainly doesn’t want to lose her job, she prioritizes her and grissom’s actual feelings for each other over everything else. her line of thinking is, “if we have feelings for each other—which we do—then we should act on those feelings, and we can figure out along the way how to do so without tanking our careers. we shouldn’t deny ourselves happiness for fear of outside judgments that we can probably find some means to either avoid or neutralize anyway” (see her appeal to grissom to have dinner with her and “see what happens” in episode 03x22 “play with fire”).

of course, while sara is less hung up on what other people might think of her and grissom’s relationship than is he, she is nevertheless concerned about what he thinks—which is why she typically allows him to set the pace for them, despite her desires that they get together sooner rather than later.

over the years, she has seen what happens when she pushes grissom to do anything beyond what is comfortable for him: namely, he spooks and socially retreats from her. (the most blatant example of this behavior from him occurs after she makes him her dinner offer in episode 03x22 “play with fire,” and not only does he decline said offer, but he then spends the next year avoiding her to the extreme.)

she is highly aware that while her attitude is “fuck it—let’s take a chance on us, come what may,” he is not ready to take that leap along with her and in fact reacts badly whenever she even begins to suggest any action along those lines.

since there have been occasions during the course of their relationship when her being assertive about their mutual attraction has resulted in him emotionally withdrawing from her for long periods of time, she is wary of ever being too forward, lest she scare him off for good.

so she plays by their unwritten rules.

and if those rules are ever to be broken, she, for the most part, lets him be the one to do the breaking.

she’ll take his hand when he offers, but he has to offer first.

—and that’s part of why her touching his face in episode 02x05 “scuba doobie-doo” is so significant.

for one thing, the very gesture of her tenderly caressing his face in public blatantly breaks rules #2-4 (and, indeed, the fact that it breaks rule #4 even becomes a plot point later on in episode 03x02 “the accused is entitled”).

for another thing, one could even argue that her doing so breaks rule #1, as, though brushing someone’s cheek with one’s thumb is not an inherently sexual and/or romantic action in itself, within the context of grissom and sara’s specific relationship and the moment in question—and given the way she is looking at him with such fervency and ardent adoration in her eyes—in this particular case, it is.

but one of the main things is that it’s sara initiating the touch.

not only is she breaking all of her and grissom’s main unwritten rules about touching all at once, but she’s also breaking their contingent unwritten rule regarding the rule-breaking itself.

ever since she moved to vegas, she has seldom—almost never—been the one to initiate purposeful, intimate, skin-to-skin contact between her and grissom.

but now she is, and she’s looking him right in the eyes while doing so, with zero hesitation and no shame.

it’s a deliberate move on her part—something she is doing specifically for the purpose of getting grissom’s attention.

which brings us to the topic of why she chooses this particular action to do so.

gil grissom is the most cerebral of creatures, living mostly in his head rather than in the physical world. at times when he is stressed, upset, or under duress, his tendency to turn inward—which is already strong—intensifies; he disappears inside of his thoughts in an effort to escape from his feelings.

of course, this tendency in him works better in theory than in practice, because for as much as grissom likes to pretend that he is a spockian being of pure logic, unimpeded by irrational feelings, the truth is that he is someone who actually emotes very deeply, so his thoughts are often much more feelings-based than he would acknowledge.

so that brings us to the actual scene in question.

to this point in the episode, grissom and sara have spent the better part of two days searching for two different missing women in two different apartments, all without success. along with warrick, they have torn through drywall, peeled back insulation, and dug into every crevice and cranny in their two respective scenes. while by now, they are all but certain that their suspect has killed his wife—and they have the entomological evidence to back that certainty up—they still lack that most crucial component to their case: a body. though they know the db must be someplace nearby, they can’t seem to get a fix on where.

their failure to locate the victim is getting to grissom in the worst way.

so, in a fit of frustration, he storms out of the apartment complex where they’re searching, in desperate need of some air.

to quote from the s2 shipper’s guide,

stepping outside into the cool, night air, [grissom] paces back and forth, petulant, counting out his heartbeat against the time on his wristwatch. he breathes loudly and leans against the wall. seldom have we ever seen grissom so angry. just then, the doors to the apartment complex open, and sara appears.

s: “you okay?”

g: “ninety-five.”

s: “excuse me?”

g: “normally my pulse is seventy. when it gets to ninety-five, i realize how mad i am.” (stammering in anger) “i-i have ten people working around the clock on this thing!”

s: “you’re too hard on yourself.”

(she isn’t just responding to what grissom said; she’s talking about his entire approach to this case and the way it grates on him whenever he’s wrong. he doesn’t catch her deeper meaning, though)

g: “no, no! i’m not mad at me. there’s a body in there, and that guy knows where it is!”

s: (smirks) “what’s your pulse at now?”

(the fact that she is being so calm in response to his temper tantrum causes grissom to relax, in spite of himself. he sighs and tugs on his ballcap, maybe a bit embarrassed of his behavior)

s: (in a soothing voice) “you want to take a walk around the block? get some air?” (she doesn’t necessarily mean “with her,” but the suggestion is there)

g: (sighs, checking himself) “no.”

s: “clear your head?”

g: “i’m fine.”

(it’s sara’s own favorite lie recycled back to her, and she knows as much. grissom isn’t fine yet, but she doesn’t push him. instead, she does her best to calm him down)

s: (sweetly) “okay.” (she smiles at him)

(her quiet, kind response to his raging seems to disarm grissom. he closes his eyes, willing away whatever fight is left in him, trying to accept the peace she proffers. before he can look up again, sara reaches out and brushes her thumb over his cheek, almost as if she can’t keep herself from doing so. grissom responds to the touch on impulse, leaning in, but then he processes what’s happening, and his conscious response takes over. his eyes widen. oh. sara’s touch is so intimate; it surprises him. he looks at her, and she meets his gaze. she doesn’t immediately retract her hand; she wants him to feel what she means, even if she can’t say what she means in words. suddenly, the spell seems to break, and she shrugs, downplaying the moment)

s: (as if to explain) “chalk. from the plaster.”

g: (wipes his own cheek, awkwardly, with the back of his hand) “oh.”

[note: there is no chalk]

s: (still sweetly) “better go wash up.”

(sara smiles at grissom before heading back inside the apartment complex, leaving him outside alone. for a moment, grissom can’t seem to fathom what just happened between them. sara is one riddle he might never be able to solve)

(eventually, grissom tugs down his ballcap and follows sara back inside the building)

before sara touches his face, grissom is very much in his head.

despite the fact that he will later tell sara that forensics isn’t a competition and that there is no “winning” or “losing” against murderers (see episode 02x11 “organ grinder”), the truth is that he sometimes thinks in those terms himself—and particularly when he feels as if he is being outsmarted by a criminal who has no business outsmarting him.

that their building manager suspect has had his number the whole time they’ve been investigating this case is galling to him not only because he wants the solve but also because he feels as if he’s failing at what he does best.

being smarter than the bad guys is grissom’s forte.

it’s the thing he does better than almost anyone else.

and if he can’t manage to do the thing that he is meant to do—that’s his raison d'être as a criminalist—then what the hell is the point?

he feels like a failure, which leads to a vicious cycle in his thought processes, wherein the more he wants to solve the case but can’t, the harder he thinks through it, and the harder he thinks through it without arriving at a solution, the more he feels like he’s fucking up, and the more he feels like a fuckup, the more he wants to solve the case but can’t, etc., etc., etc.—until he’s to the point where his pulse is ninety-five, and he’s two seconds away from blowing a gasket.

though he later tells sara that he isn’t mad at himself but rather the suspect for concealing the body, he’s not exactly being honest—and she sees through him in an instant.

the truth is that the more hits and misses he has, tearing down walls without finding the body, the more foolish and useless he feels, and the harder he is on himself for not having a solution.

while he has the presence of mind to physically remove himself from the crime scene in the hopes that doing so will give him a chance to calm down (and maybe afford him some clarity), he finds himself unable to calm down even once he’s outside of the building, as his thoughts—of course—follow him, and he is, in terms of his feelings, no more far-removed from the situation than he was inside of the apartment.

he paces and huffs, raging inside of himself, unable to break through the “think, grissom! think! why can’t you solve this, dammit?! think!” feedback loop playing in his mind.

and that’s where sara’s touch comes in.

she knows him well enough to recognize that he is escalating probably long before he exits the apartment, and then once he finally does exit, the manner in which he does so—all sweaty, agitated, and barely able to string a sentence together to explain himself—certainly confirms to her that he is in a bad way. she likely downplays her reasons for following him to warrick, but in actuality she’s a girl on a mission: she needs to save grissom from himself and interrupt his cycle of self-loathing thoughts.

she knows he tends to blame himself for everything, including situations which are in no way his fault; her intention is likely to reassure him that she and warrick are with him and will do everything in their power to find the body and then to serve as a sounding board as he processes his thoughts.

only after going outside to actually talk to grissom does sara realize just how worked up into a dither he is—and how whatever she had planned to say isn’t going to be enough to get through to him at this point.

when he starts ranting about his pulse rate and raising his voice (not to her but to the noise inside of his own head), she realizes that drastic times call for drastic measures.

while i don’t know that she has the conscious thought, “i need to break all of our unwritten rules in order to interrupt his negative internal feedback loop enough that he’ll actually talk to me and not just at me,” i’d wager that, knowing him as well as she does, she realizes, on some level, that she needs to make him focus on something outside of himself, and the only way to do so is to literally jar him.

which brings us back to the unwritten rules.

in addition to rules about physical touch, grissom and sara also adhere to rules about how they talk to and interact with each other. much as is the case for the unwritten touch rules, these conversational rules are geared toward keeping their relationship within the realm of the professional—so, for example, they generally try not to talk about feelings, if they can avoid doing so, and, if they have to talk about feelings, they try to do so within the context of work (i.e., “you can’t allow your personal feelings to interfere with how you investigate a case”); again, as with the physical touch rules, grissom is typically the one who gets to decide whether or not they do talk about feelings, even within the context of work.

that said, there have been a few notable times over the years since sara moved to vegas when she has been the one to broach the topic of feelings with grissom—and, more specifically, to broach the topic of his feelings with him.

the most salient example of such an interaction occurs in episode 01x19 “gentle, gentle,” when, after witnessing grissom essentially melt down over the team’s inability to solve the case—sound familiar?—sara pursues him down the hall and confronts him about allowing his emotions to get the best of him.

in that instance, her appeals to his rationality go largely unheeded; he’s too worked up, and even when she points out the hypocrisy of him taking the case personally—remember: just a few weeks before in show-time, he had lectured her about the importance of maintaining objectivity on the job (see episode 01x16 “too tough to die”)—he is unable to check his reaction.

only later in the episode—after sara comes to him bearing new print evidence and uses a very soothing, even tone to present it to him—does grissom visibly relax.

she tries a similar tack in episode 02x05 “scuba doobie-doo” but even takes things a step further by adding a physical component to the rule-breaking.

not only is she calling attention to his feelings, but she is doing so in a way that moves them “off-book;” she’s not sticking strictly to the professional stuff here. when she tells him he’s too hard on himself, she doesn’t mention anything about the case or professional decorum; she’s speaking generally—personally—stating something she knows about him not just as his subordinate but as the woman who loves him and as someone with a vested interest in his well-being.

though his volume had been dialed up, she speaks softly, and she demonstrates good humor (“what’s your pulse at now?”). she looks him right in the eye. smiles, even.

and she touches him, breaking their rules and providing him with something tangible—outside of his head—for him to focus on. her action is such a breach of protocol for them, is so wholly unexpected and strangely (wonderfully) distracting, that it immediately pulls him from his thoughts, breaking through the static.

which brings us to his reaction.

as you say, grissom appears, in the moment, startled or taken aback—and that’s because he is.

when sara first comes outside to speak to him, he is still deep inside his own head, caught up in his agitation. he vents his frustrations to her without really even seeing her.

only when she faces him with gentle questioning and lighthearted banter does he start to rock back on his proverbial heels.

just look at his reaction when she asks him, with a disarming smirk, “what’s your pulse at now?”

but while her ability to smile and take things easy serves to make him aware of his own tension by comparison, he still isn’t completely defused until he closes his eyes, and suddenly sara’s thumb is brushing his cheek.

that tactile connection is what breaks through the haze in his brain.

but though the gesture itself is surpassingly gentle, the very fact of the gesture is anything but.

sara’s touch jolts grissom like an electric shock.

his reaction is basically:

i mean, he pretty much short-circuits.

“i'm being touched—wait, sara is touching me—sara is touching me!!!!!!—she’s touching my face!!!!—and she’s looking in my eyes!!!!!!! it’s her!!!!!!!! it’s sara!!!!!!!!!! she’s touching me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

when his eyes first flutter open at the contact, you can see his confusion, almost as if he is wondering if sara is touching him by accident. but then he looks in her eyes, and he sees how very deliberate she’s being; how she isn’t shying away from him at all or acting in any way apologetic. she's taking this action on purpose, and she is doing so because she cares about him.

because she knows him.

she knows that for all of the noise in his head, she needed to do something “louder” to get his attention.

and this gesture speaks at top volume.

it tells him to not be so hard on himself. it tells him that she’s going to stick with him until they solve the case together. it tells him that she believes in him. it tells him everything is going to be okay.

it tells him that she loves him.

but of course, for as brave and forward as the gesture is, sara does somewhat backpedal once she realizes the true magnitude of what she’s done. “chalk—from the plaster,” she says, by way of explanation. “better go wash up.” she then quickly retreats, satisfied that she has gotten through to grissom but careful of pressing him too much, lest things get uncomfortable between them again.

in her wake, grissom wipes over the spot on his cheek where she touched, but he feels no chalk residue there—and he’s fairly certain there wasn’t even any to begin with.

i don’t know that he consciously processes all of the ramifications of their exchange just then, but i do think that the details—that sara followed him outside to check on him, that she touched him, that she told a white lie about why she touched him—stay with him for a very long time.

as grissom himself tells us in his monologue during episode 04x12 “butterflied,” he seldom himself touches other people without latex gloves on. i imagine being touched by someone else, skin-to-skin, is an even rarer occurrence in his life.

and to be touched that way by sara?

that’s a most elusive touch indeed for him nowadays.

of course, grissom isn’t a touchy person in general; physical contact is not typically something he seeks out, and he finds unsolicited physical contact (even from friends) affronting. so under normal circumstances, touching his face without giving him any warning probably wouldn’t be the best way to approach him.

but coming from sara, it works like a charm.

for one thing, she is perhaps the only person in the world whose touch he not only welcomes but yearns for.

note that the unwritten rules are not designed to prevent grissom and sara from touching but to help them clandestinely touch each other as much as they can without either arousing the suspicions of their coworkers regarding their mutual feelings for each other or dredging up discomfort in their relationship under the strictures of their current status quo.

for another thing, her touch affects him unlike any other—on an almost subatomic level.

because he is in love with her, because he wants to touch her both more and more often than he ever allows himself to, because his body is tuned to hers, and because there is a kind of magnetism between them, even the simple act of her stroking his cheek elicits a powerful and immediate physical response from him, lighting his whole system up.

it’s the exact right thing for her to do to stop him from rehashing the events of the case over and over again and bring him into the present moment all at once.

the fact that she knows just what to do to get him out of his head and back into the moment—knows that breaking the rules, entering his space, and stroking his skin will do the trick—means more to him than he likely can fully appreciate.

there's this line in the good place that i think is very applicable here: “that simple act of anticipating his needs made him fall for you.”

while grissom is, of course, already in love with sara by the time the events of this scene take place, her simple act of anticipating and responding to his needs certainly causes him to fall for her even more so.

it's probably not something grissom consciously recognizes in the moment, but as he revisits the exchange in his memories later on, i think he feels both very known and very loved by sara.

she is the world’s foremost expert in handling him.

she understands how his mind works.

she is the only person who can “save him from himself” when he needs it most.

hence why he will later remember this moment during the events of episode 08x01 “dead doll” not only in an attempt to recapture the calm that washed over him when her hand was on his cheek, smoothing away his worries, but also to find grounding in their connection and to remind himself of how her love transforms him for the better.

anyway.

i’m rambling now, but, suffice it to say, i think grissom’s main reaction to sara “brushing the chalk from his cheek” is to be stunned by her in the best way possible.

thanks for the question! feel welcome to send another any time.

#csi #csi cbs #gsr #gil grissom #sara sidle #sara x grissom #otp: gsr #**#my meta #meta: csi #meta: gsr #answered #nostromosigningoff #asks: csi #let's talk shop #02x05 #csiverse

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three-masked-ducks-chugging-hj7 · 3 years ago

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I randomly got a burst of motivation last night to write a specific scene in this original story I'm writing, and that scene has been on my mind all day. I'm basically just desperate to share it (and possibly get some feedback). So, if you would like to read what I've written so far, then go ahead; if not, that's fine. I just couldn't think of anywhere better to share this than tumblr.

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Faunasun City; a place where all animals have lived in peace for decades. The population, at first, was almost entirely urban animals. As time passed, and word spread, forest animals and jungle animals also took up residency in Faunasun City. No crimes had been committed since before the decades of peace, but there remain a few individuals who stay in their positions of detectives simply for the love of the job. One of these few being Baxter Stake, a bloodhound who became well-known for his incredible abilities to track down suspects. Then there's Baxter's partner, Alex Leep, who had been working with Baxter since the start of his career.

The day began like any other day for Baxter. He got up, ate breakfast, then went off to his office. He's known for years that his position as a detective was basically meaningless, and probably always would be, but he still enjoyed looking into crimes from the past that were never solved. On this day, however, that reality he had built would be torn down before his eyes. As he was looking through his collection of files on crimes in history, he heard the phone ring from his desk on the other side of the room. He was confused, but considered that it may be Alex explaining why he wasn't at the office yet. Granted Baxter himself had only been there for about 5 minutes, but his partner rarely arrived after him.

Baxter answered the phone to hear an alarmed male voice, "Hello? Is this Baxter Stake?" The voice continued after Baxter confirmed this. "Look, I know you haven't had any work in years, but I've heard how incredible you were at solving crimes. That level of expertise and skill I've heard about, it is very much needed."

"What?", Baxter couldn't help how his voice wavered and cracked as he replied, "Are you saying a crime has been committed?" Baxter's voice then began to fill with a trace of excitement as his words started to pour out of him rapidly, "What is it? What happened?"

There was a slight pause on the other end of the call, then the voice continued. " I didn't see how it started, but I saw everything after. Someone in a dark cloak kept scratching and kicking and punching a squirrel. I'm not sure, but I swear I think they bit her at some point. Either way, I just saw this squirrel get killed. I even checked after the fact, hoping she wasn't dead. But she was. She IS. Someone is dead in our city."

Baxter could hardly believe what he was being told. A part of him was tempted to doubt the story and scold this young man for bringing such dark subject matters into a prank call. However, he knew that no one would have a reason to make up such a story for a prank. He could feel that the individual he was speaking with was genuinely shaken up. He was feeling the old fire again, and knew he was going to take this case. "Where are you at this moment?"

Again a pause, "I'm on Chamelo Street, right outside the Chinchilla Cafe. But I'm pretty sure you'll see the body before you see me. She's sat propped up on a bench."

Despite not being face to face with the witness, Baxter nodded as he responded. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't worry, I guarantee I'll solve this crime, just as I have with every case." He then hung up the phone after receiving a grateful thanks from the witness.

At that moment, the door to Baxter's office was thrown open, startling Baxter momentarily. Then he realized it was only his partner, who looked stressed, but otherwise fine.

"Baxter, I'm so sorry I'm late! I don't even have a great excuse, in fact an excuse just sounds bad. But it's not a good reason, it's pretty dumb actually, I-"

Even after just learning that a murder had occurred, Baxter's attention was immediately drawn to his anxious partner. "Alex, relax. I'm certain you've gotten yourself worked up over nothing."

Alex shakily nodded, still beating himself up for being late. "You're right. A small spill on a carpet really shouldn't have gotten me worked up. It, uh, shouldn't have made me late either, but-" he was once again cut off by Baxter.

"You're here now, though, and that's what matters, right?"

"Yeah, yeah you're right," Alex sighed in relief, "So, uh, same old grind today?"

At that, Baxter realized he had momentarily forgotten about the call he had just received. The spark reignited in his eyes, and he placed his hands on his partner's shoulders with a great amount of force. "No! We have a case! A real current case!"

The shock on Alex's face was entirely obvious, "A case?! What kind of case are we dealing with, here?" He was honestly kind of frightened by the excitement in both Baxter's voice and his face.

"It's a murder, Alex! On Chamelo Street! We need to go!" Baxter was heading for the door the moment the final syllable left his mouth, leaving his stunned partner standing rigidly in the office.

After a moment of processing the situation, Alex followed Baxter out the door, and the two made their way to the scene of the crime.

As the duo approached the café, Baxter was on the watch for the body. Then, he saw it; just as the witness had said, on a bench, sat the body of a squirrel. Baxter found a space to park, and he left the car. Alex sat a moment longer than his partner; he seemed transfixed on the body. Baxter noticed this, and he simply gave a reassuring look as he held his hand out. Alex took a breath in and took Baxter's hand, finally leaving the car.

The two now stood in front of the body. Just then, the door to the Chinchilla Café opened to reveal a cat. He approached the detectives.

"Um, hi. You must be Baxter. I'm Sam; I'm the one who called you this morning." Sam held his hand out to the detective. Baxter promptly shook Sam's hand in response.

"Yes; I'm Baxter Stake, and this is my partner, Alex Leep. So-", Baxter motioned to the body seated on the bench, "-this is the victim. Do you know anything about her?"

Sam slightly shook his head. "I don't know much. She would occasionally come into the café, but I definitely wouldn't call her a regular."

Baxter nodded, "So, tell me what happened. This poor girl's body is in pretty bad shape."

"Right. So, I was just cleaning up at the end of my shift, and I saw her walking by. Like I said, she'd come into the café every now and then, so I recognized her. I waved, and she waved back. Right as she was almost past the building, I saw someone run in her direction. Now, if I'd known what was about to happen, I would've run out after that person right away. But, I had no idea that anything bad was coming. Then, I heard a scream. I'd never heard a scream like that in my life. It scared me so much that, I'll admit, I froze for a few seconds. When I came to my senses, I ran to the window to see what was happening. That's when I saw someone in a cloak. I never saw any distinct features, other than two bulges on the top of the hood; they must have had ears or horns that stick up. Anyway, like I told you on the phone, this person was beating the poor girl in just about every way I could imagine. Sadly, I have no idea where they went after they'd killed her; I uh, I think I fainted, or passed out, or something. That's also why I didn't call as soon as it happened."

Sam looked more distraught than ever, clearly feeling guilty about not doing anything to prevent the murder.

"I understand."

Baxter turned to his partner, only now realizing that this was the first time he'd said anything since they arrived at the scene.

Alex seemed to have his eyes glued to the body, "I'm looking at the body, and part of me still doesn't want to believe that this could have happened. I can't fully bring myself to believe that a murder has taken place here; nothing like this has happened at any point in my lifetime. Sure, I've read the old case files and looked at all the pictures, but it's so much different having an actual corpse right in front of me." Alex finally looked up at Sam, "In your position, I may have fainted too."

[MAJOR TIME SKIP]

Baxter and Alex dragged Kimya off as they went to search for Sam. They eventually spotted him sitting in the grass of the Faunasun City Park. The three of them approached, and when they got somewhat close, Baxter called out to Sam.

"Hey Sam-!"

Baxter was cut off by Sam letting out a small cry and jumping to his feet. Baxter brought his hands up in a sign of nonaggresion.

"Woah, sorry about that. I didn't realize I would startle you that much."

"It's...it's okay." Despite saying this, the cat was still shaking, and he had a wavering voice to match, and his eyes showed almost nothing but fear.

Baxter clearly noticed.

"What has you so scared? Did something happen?"

"N-no? I've just - I've just been sitting here."

Clearly something was wrong. Even after witnessing a murder, Sam hadn't previously been stuttering like that. Baxter decided to at least seem like he was dropping the subject.

"Alright. Back to the matter at hand then; you were the only witness to the murder, so you're the only one who can identify whether or not this is the man who committed the crime," Baxter pushed Kimya closer to Sam, who flinched in response.

"I-I-I'm sorry, I really don't know! I didn't see any-," he shook his head, "-any details!"

Baxter sighed. "Let me ask you this: did you ever hear what the killer's voice sounded like?"

Sam was visibly growing more upset. He looked like he was ready to just run far away from there. "I do-don't know! I don't kn-know!"

Something was definitely wrong, but Baxter didn't want to be responsible for any unnecessary trauma.

"Alright then. Thanks for the help." He couldn't keep his frustration out of his voice.

At that moment, Alex placed a hand on Baxter's shoulder. "Can I...try something?"

Baxter gave a slight smile at his partner as he replied, "Uh, sure." Baxter then leaned in and whispered, "Just be gentle. The kid's clearly shaken by something."

Alex nodded in response.

Alex went back over to Sam. He tried his best to have as much of a calming aura as he could.

"Hey. Do you think you could try something for me? It's nothing difficult; I promise. It's just a basic way of grounding; it usually helps me when I'm feeling anxious."

The cat nodded, "O-okay."

"Alright. Look around you. What do you see?"

"I see - see...grass...trees...the - the sky."

"Good. Now listen closely. What do you hear?"

"...L-leaves...the wind blow - blowing past...the...water...rippling."

"Where are you right now?"

"F...Faunasun City Park."

"Why did you come here?"

"I...needed to...release nervous energy."

"What is your name?"

"Joey."

The cat's eyes now widened as he realized what he had just said.

Alex smiled gently as he continued to speak in a soft reassuring tone, "It's okay. You performed the exercise perfectly. You don't have to hide anything anymore. Doesn't it feel better?"

Tears began to form in Joey's eyes, and he clasped his head. "But I...I wasn't suppo - supposed to s-say anyth-thing! I was supposed to - to act normal!"

"But now you don't have to act. You don't have to pretend to be anyone else; at least, not with us. I am sorry that I did that to you, but I had to know for sure who we were speaking with. So tell me: what do you know about the events that took place [insert number of nights prior]?"

After a few moments of sniffing and pushing back tears, Joey sighed and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. I really don't know any - any details. All I know is that it caused some real prob-b-blems for us. I'm here now because I couldn't han - handle being stuck inside. S-Sam and Tara were o-okay with it since none of us thought that the two - two of you would come b-b-b-back for anything."

"That's okay. Do you know if Tara knows anything?"

Joey shook his head, "No. S-sorry. If she kn-kno-knows anything, she hasn't tol-told me."

Alex took out his cell phone. "How about this: I'll give you all my phone number. If you have any way that you can leave a message for Sam, since he's the only one we know has information about the crime, please let him know to call us once he's back. Does that sound good?"

Joey gave the closest thing to a smile that Alex had seen from him and nodded. "Sure. Sounds good. And I'll gi-give you our numb-ber. Just put Sam's n-name as the contact for sim - implicity's sake."

With that, Alex and Joey exchanged phone numbers. They then said their goodbyes, and Alex returned to Baxter's side.

"So, how'd it go?" Baxter asked.

"Well-", Alex began, "That wasn't Sam we were just speaking to; his name is Joey, and he didn't see anything. I'm not sure when Sam will be back, but I gave Joey my phone number so Sam can call us when he does return."

Baxter had to pause for a moment. "Wait a minute. Are you saying that...? I mean, I knew he was acting differently, but how did you find out for sure?"

Alex rubbed the back of his neck as he gave his answer, "I sorta used a grounding exercise as a way of getting him to calm down enough to where he would just say his name without thinking." He let out a chuckle. "Guess my psych degree is finally coming in handy, huh?"

As impressed as Baxter was with Alex's knowledge of psychology being displayed, he couldn't hold in his immediate thought, "Great. Our one witness isn't always around."

"Buuuut-," Alex grabbed Baxter's shoulder and pulled him closer as he spoke, "-I told Joey to leave a message for him so he knows to call us as soon as he's back. So, we just have wait, and hope that he isn't gone for too long. Though, based on what Joey said, if Sam and Tara--another alter Joey mentioned--are aware that we found out about all of them, Sam might come back sooner than they had originally thought."

#original content #original story #feedback is appreciated #also don't ask why the characters are animals i literally just thought it would make naming locations easier #and there's a bit of backstory in the form of a filter on the app snow #long post #cw death #cw murder

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saiilorstars · 4 years ago

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Falling in Temptation

Ch. 15: The Task of Death

Previous chapters • Sequel to Stars Dance • Fairy Tale Memoirs (Companion story)

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: 11th Doctor x Female OC

Chapter summary: Melody Pond strikes back against the Doctor with a secret weapon from Kovarian. When the Doctor is dying, who can save him?

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel

4 Months After Demon's Run.

The Doctor, Lena and the Sapling all awaited outside the TARDIS in the center of a crop field. It was no ordinary crop field though because somebody had decided to write 'Doctor' in it, making it the number one headline in Leadworth. The Ponds were very creative, the Doctor would give them that. With no other choice, he had to come back and visit them to update them on the search for Melody and Avalon. In no time they saw Amy and Rory coming to a halt in their car, both getting out with utter urgency.

"Seriously?" the Doctor raised the Leadworth newspaper to the pair. "You do realize you can't do this, right?"

"You weren't answering your phone," Rory snapped at the Doctor as he shut the car door. Neither of them looked guilty for what they'd done.

"Because we were searching," Lena explained. She was supposed to be in charge of keeping the connection between the Doctor and the Ponds, given the Doctor's reputation with phones and whatnot. But in the end, they'd gotten in too deep with the search after getting the clue Avalon left behind for them.

They took every Black Market by storm afterwards, and there were a lot of them. The Sapling had even used his unique abilities to instill new fear in those who were holding things back. With a raging, gigantic tree threatening them, everybody sang like canaries.

Kovarian had been picking up devices for mind altering. Brainwashing to the next level.

Others reported that she was gathering chipping devices. She would probably be branding Avalon and Melody soon enough.

Several of the people described watching Kovarian order Avalon to go to the end of an aisle and back. It was an odd test for them but the Doctor straightaway knew what the purpose of it was. Kovarian wanted to see how conditioned Avalon was. If she came to and back without so much of a kick in protest, it meant Avalon would be a loyal, dependent toy. And all that took the trio a month to gather, leaving everybody back on Earth in distraught over their lack of communication.

"OK, you've had all summer," Amy got straight to business and walked for the Doctor. It'd been the longest summer of her life, definitely the most unbearable one. Things had to be better now. "Have you found them? Have you found Melody and Avalon?"

The Doctor took a moment to look back on his recent efforts to find both mother and daughter. He handed the newspaper to Rory. "Permission?" he asked the human.

"Granted," Rory motioned for him to go on.

The Doctor hugged Amy tightly, "You know who Melody grows up to be, so you know I will find her."

"But you haven't yet?" Amy assumed the last the words, "Not even Avalon?"

"No," the Doctor quietly mumbled.

"But we won't give up," the Sapling said with a finger raised in the air. It brought a momentary smile from Amy, but it was short lived when they heard Rory's puzzled question.

"Hang on, what's this bit?" he was staring at the newspaper with Lena as the picture of the crop circle now showed a slash through the word 'Doctor'.

Amy walked over and took a look, "That wasn't us."

The Doctor took the newspaper and tried seeing where the line would be coming through in the real world. Everyone gathered behind him to try and pinpoint where the exactly that mysterious line came from. However, he stopped and lowered the newspaper when the noise of car came into hearing shot. They screamed as a bright red Corvette headed straight for them. They jumped out of the way just as the car did an abrupt stop only inches from the TARDIS. The driver's door opened up and out stepped a dark skinned young woman with blue eyes and black hair, dressed in a pink and black dress with black boots.

Lena rubbed the dust out of her eyes and immediately recognized the woman across them. "Mels? What are...what are you doing here!?"

"Lena can't you ever keep up?" Mels raised an eyebrow. Lena rolled her eyes but didn't say anything back. She wasn't quite for Mels' attitude. "I was following you. Oh, and I also acted as a delivery girl."

"Um, where did you get the car?" Rory dreaded to ask. It looked far too new for Mels to own.

"Like I said, I'm acting as a delivery girl right now," Mels whistled through her fingers and made everyone cover their ears.

The passenger door of the door opened up and out stepped a familiar, messy ginger haired woman.

"Avalon?" Lena's mouth fell open.

"Mother!" the Sapling squealed and jumped to his feet. He and Lena ran towards Avalon, each encasing her in a tight hug. However, Avalon didn't say anything. She cocked her head to the side, darting immediately to Mels as if she held all the answers.

The Doctor straight away noticed something different about Avalon. It was what stopped him from running towards her. She was looking around like she was new to the place, her eyes filled with confusion and...fear? That was not his Ava, not by a long shot. However, nobody else found such differences in that moment. Amy and Rory had followed in the others' foot steps and ambushed Avalon in more hugs. The Doctor turned his head towards Mels and watched the woman smirk proudly, like she knew what was happening.

"Get off me!" Avalon suddenly cried and pushed everyone away from her. Her nose crinkled while her eyebrows knitted together. She was angry. "Get the hell away from me!"

"A-Avalon..." Rory tried taking a step towards her but she drew back the same step.

"Stay away," she warned them with a pointed finger. "Mels!"

"Oh don't worry," Mels strolled over to the woman's side and swung an arm around her shoulders. "They're pretty harmless."

"I don't...I don't understand..." Amy directly looked at the Doctor for the answers they were demanding now.

The Doctor walked up to Avalon and struggled to ignore the fearful retraction of her steps. "Avalon, do you know who we are?"

She looked him over and stared at him for a few minutes. In those minutes, the Doctor studied her to the brim. Her eyes were red and puffy, a clear sign that she'd been crying not too long ago. Her voluminous hair was a bit lifeless at the moment, as if no care had been given to it in a good while. Her skin was a shade of sickly pale and she did look like she'd lost some weight. If he looked really hard, he could see her shake as if she'd been shocked. The bruises on her arms were heartbreaking. It was a heavy challenge not to touch the healing stitches on her arms.

"You're the Doctor," Avalon said after a moment but when she did, the Doctor swore there was a brief flash of anger in her eyes.

"Did she lose her memory? Is that what's going on?" Lena called from behind, attracting the eyes of her sister. "Avalon?"

"Lena," she recited before doing the same to the Sapling, Rory and Amy. "They...they did something...I c-can't...remember...my thoughts..." her shaky hand tried to gesture something beside her head. "All j-j-jumbled up."

Now the Doctor laid dark, suspicious eyes on Mels who couldn't seem more delighted with the scene. "Where did you find her?"

"What, did you lose her or something?"

The Doctor glared and waited for her to say what he needed to know.

"Mels, this is important," snapped Amy. "Where did you find Avalon?"

"Gah!" Mels dramatically threw her arms in the air. "What does it matter? I found her on the entry road to the town! Poor thing can't remember, well...a thing!" she gently tapped Avalon's head, a small action that still elicited a great flinch from Avalon. "Hello? Nobody's home!"

The Doctor yanked Avalon away from Mels with a look warning her not try that again. "Was anybody with her? Did she say anything?"

"So boring," Mels rolled her eyes. "I'm kind of in a rush, actually. Errands to run and whatnot!" A few seconds later, the group heard the blaring sirens of police cars.

There was a collective groan from Lena, Amy and Rory.

"Mels, did you steal the car?" Rory was too tired to deal with this nonsense.

"I'll have you know that it's mine," Mels wagged a finger but at the growing glares of her friends she groaned, "...ish! It's mine-ish!"

"Oh, Mels, not again?" Amy sighed as she rubbed her forehead, "We really don't have time for this today."

"You can't keep doing this. You'll end up in a real prison," Rory added.

"I can see why your father disapproves of her," the Doctor whispered to Lena as he brought Avalon towards the TARDIS.

"Mhm," Lena crossed her arms, "She's half the reasons why Avalon was put under arrest."

"Is that the phone box!" Mels was studying the TARDIS from her spot, somewhat impressed. She'd heard Avalon tell the stories of the box but it didn't compare to seeing it in person. "The bigger-on-the-inside phone box? Time travel - that's just brilliant," she then eyed the Doctor, "Yeah, I've heard a lot about you. I'm their best mate."

"Then why don't I know you?" the Doctor challenged, still unable to trust her despite her relation with the entire group, "I danced with everyone at the wedding. The women were all brilliant, the men were a bit shy."

"I don't do weddings," Mels made a face. She looked back as the sirens grew closer, "And that's me out of time," she took out a gun and aimed it at the Doctor.

The Doctor pushed Avalon away within the second. Rory lunged to catch Avalon before she would fall and once he touched her, he realized how incredibly cold she was.

"M-Mels...not yet..." Avalon said before she even realized she said it. There were so many thoughts inside her right now, she had to sort which ones were pertinent to the situation.

"Mels, for God's sake!" Lena groaned, "You're actions get stupider by the day. Avalon is...sick," she considered her choice of words carefully since her sister truly looked terrified as she basically clung Rory, "And we need your help so put that thing away."

"I'll get her to put it down," the Sapling glowered at the woman. He put his hands together and extended them forwards...when the Doctor pushed them down. "Father!"

"No," he said calmly. He needed Mels inside the TARDIS so he could question her until she passed out from exhaustion. She had more information than what she was letting on and he wasn't going to let her get away.

"I need out of here, now, can you deliver?" Mels looked at the Doctor questioningly.

"Anywhere in particular?"

"Well, let's see! You've got a time machine, I've got a gun. What the hell - let's kill Hitler."

~ 0 ~

Yes, the Doctor could see why Ryland Reynolds disapproved of the Mels' friendship with his daughters. First, she influenced Avalon negatively, she wasn't very well-mannered, and third...because...

"You've shot it!" the Doctor shouted angrily as he stared at the bullet hole that was in the time-rotor casing, the TARDIS already affected badly with the sparks and smoke it billowed while flying out of control. The Doctor turned to Mels, "You shot my TARDIS! You shot the console!"

The girl was holding onto the railing, "It's your fault!"

"Argh! How's it my fault?!"

"You said guns didn't work in this place. You said we're in a state of temporal grace!"

The Doctor tried working the controls to get them flying in a stable manner, "That was a clever lie, you idiot! Anyone could tell that was a clever lie!"

The travelers were thrown all around the room as the TARDIS crashed into a landing, God knew where. The Doctor had opened the doors and pulled out Avalon first since she looked the weakest out of everyone.

"Out, out, out! Everybody out. Don't breathe the smoke, just get out!" he called to the others whilst coughing from the smoke spewing out from the box.

"Where are we?" Amy stumbled out the box, with her pulling the Sapling.

"A room."

"What room?" Rory coughed.

"I don't know! I haven't memorized every room in the universe. I had yesterday off," the Doctor caught Mels trying to get back into the TARDIS, "Mels, don't go in there!"

"Oi!" Mels frowned as her gun was snatched away from her hand.

"Bad smoke! Don't breathe the bad, bad, smoke. Bad, deadly smoke, because somebody shot my TARDIS!"

Lena stood beside Avalon, helping her stand straight, "You okay?"

"I-I have to do something," Avalon coughed and struggled to breathe in. "My body hurts!"

Lena knew that had to be true. Avalon looked exhausted and the last thing she needed was to be bounced all around inside a shot time traveling machine. "I know, I know, we're going to get this all sorted and then you're going to take a big nap! We could make hot chocolate and oh! We could watch Sleeping Beauty!" she threw her arms around Avalon, momentarily relishing that her sister was back. She was alive!

"What?" Avalon only frowned. "What's Sleeping Beauty?"

Lena pulled away and incredulously looked at Avalon. She had no idea, she really had no idea! Lena turned to the Doctor for some help. "What did they do to her?"

The Doctor let go of Mels but not without warning her to stay put. He strode up to Avalon and took her by the head, specifically studying her eyes. "It's ECT side effects and the overuse of memory wipes. They've been working very hard on her."

Avalon scrunched her face and tried pushing his hands off her. "Stop it! Let go!" she exclaimed, a bit too frantic for such a small moment.

But the Doctor knew that had to be a consequence from whatever torture she'd gone through. He let go of her and kept his hands raised, wanting her to see that he wasn't one of those people who would hurt her. "Ava, it's me. Remember? I'm...well...I'm your Fairy tale man, remember?"

There was no significant reaction from Avalon - that alone hurt the Doctor - but she did abandon her brief suspicions over him. "You're...my friend..." She suddenly yelped when a sharp pain struck her head. She cried and clapped her hands to head. Images were running through her mind but they were going so fast like somebody had pressed the forwarding button 4 times.

"Yes, glad we got that cleared up," the Doctor rocked on his shoes. "Because as the 'fairy tale man' that's not the right thing to do."

Avalon briefly smiled but it was done with flushed cheeks. "You know you don't have to keep answering to that name, right? It was a stupid nickname I gave you when I was some stupid kid..."

"It's not stupid," the Doctor promised her, though his amused expression didn't quite convince her.

"Please, what do you call him, eh?" Idris encouraged Avalon to say the answer out loud. "That name you gave him when you were just seven years old."

"Fairy-tale man," Avalon answered slowly, still in confusion.

"And that is exactly what he doesn't want to lose," Idris smiled sadly, "That image you have of him since you were seven."

The Doctor and Lena struggled to calm Avalon down but suddenly, just like that, Avalon sucked in a deep sharp breath and snapped her head up. "You're my Fairy Tale Man!"

"What was that?" Lena frowned. "Avalon, you were in pain-"

Avalon practically shoved her sister away and grabbed the Doctor's arm. "You're my Doctor! You-you found me!"

The Doctor didn't exactly know how she was getting her memories back, nor if it was a trick, but he wanted to be a bit happy right now that she was remembering him. "Yes, I am. I am..."

Avalon took him into a tight hug. The Doctor wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly as if she were about to disappear again. He kissed her hair a few times, not that she would notice.

"Doctor, this guy, I think he's hurt!" Rory had found an unconscious man on the floor, his body poking around his desk. Rory rushed over to help him but when he did, he found that the man was alright. "No, hang on. No, he's... he's fine." Well, something good had to happen he supposed.

Against his wishes, the Doctor pulled away from Avalon and gave her a small smile. "You'll be just fine now, Ava." She nodded and watched him go then patted something in her back pocket.

"Mother!" the Sapling would take his turn and hug his mother. "You're okay! We've been looking for you!"

"That's you're kid?" Mels gave a horrid-eye stare at the Sapling. In return, the Sapling stuck his tongue out at the woman.

"Ooh, hello! Sorry, is this your office?" the Doctor asked the man who was now getting up. "Had a sort of collision with my vehicle. Faults on both sides, let's say no more about..." words left him when he saw Adolf Hitler turning around "…it."

"I remember him..." Avalon's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the man.

Slowly, the companions moved to the Doctor, "Is that...? No, it can't be, Doctor?" Amy struggled to speak coherently.

"Thank you. Whoever you are, I think you have just saved my life," Hitler honestly said, chuckling at the group.

"Believe me... it was an accident," the Doctor blinked rapidly.

"What is this thing?" Hitler blinked at the sight of the TARDIS and walked to it.

"What did he mean we saved his life?" Amy tapped the Doctor's arm, "We could not have saved Hitler."

"You see?" the alien groaned, "You see, time travel, it never goes to plan."

"I think we need to get out of here," Lena shook her head.

"This box, what is it?" Hitler looked at the group.

"It's a police telephone box from London, England," the Doctor walked over, "That's right, Adolf, the British are coming!"

Hitler didn't seem to take notice of the answer as he watched past the group to the man who tried killing him rise to his feet, "No, stop him!"

Rory punched Hitler on the chin and picked up the gun while Hitler fell to the floor, "Sit still, shut up."

Lena and Amy went to check on the second man. "Are you OK?" she asked as she and Amy helped him up.

"Yes, yes. Yes. I'm fine. I think he missed."

"He was going to kill me," Hitler tried saying but there was nobody listening to him.

"Shut up, Hitler!" Rory ordered with the gun still aimed.

"Rory, take Hitler and put him in that cupboard over there now," the Doctor ordered as he went to the attacked man, "Do it!"

While Rory shoved Hitler into the cupboard while the Doctor helped the second man sit up. "Are you okay?" he wondered.

"Oh, I..." the man started but fell back, unconscious again.

"Um, he just fainted," Lena remarked, surprised.

"Yes, that was a faint," the Doctor agreed as he stood up and studied the man, "A perfect faint."

"What? You think that was intentional?" Lena looked at the man with new suspicion. There could not be more trouble right now, this was just really bad luck.

"Mels?" Avalon's voice pulled the group's attention. She was gazing worriedly at Mels across the room who had her hands pressed against her stomach. "Are you alright?"

"Hitler..." Mels looked at the cupboard.

"What about him?" Lena raised an eyebrow, half expecting the woman to make some cruddy joke about their situation.

"Lousy shot," Mels said before she collapsed to the floor. Everyone dashed to her side, including Avalon who took first place at Mels' left side.

"Mels!" she took Mels' hand.

"Rory," the Doctor motioned for the nurse to start helping. He made sure the Sapling stayed a decent distance from them. The last thing he wanted was for the Sapling to see more blood than he needed to.

"I've got to stop the bleeding," Rory exclaimed.

"Well, how bad is it?" Lena stared at Mels with concern, knowing a cure from Avalon wouldn't work now.

"Just keep her conscious! Stay with us, Mels."

"Hey, look at me. Just hold on," the Doctor tried to get the girl's attention.

"I don't know what is so cool about you," Mels honestly remarked to him while looking at Avalon. "You said he was cool but he's not."

The Doctor rolled his eyes, of course she was dying and insulting him, "Alright, fine, let's make a list of why I'm not cool, then! Any suggestions?"

But Mels wasn't paying attention to him. She was whispering something into Avalon's ear. When Avalon pulled away, she was blinking rapidly. It earned herself some questionable looks from the others, especially the Doctor.

"Almost time," Avalon repeated, nodding her head.

"Time? Time for what?" the Doctor stared at her suspiciously.

"I-I don't remember..." Avalon looked down at Mels questioningly, "...is it time?"

Mels smirked and looked at the others anxiously waiting for her to either die or live. "Wanna know a secret?" she asked. "I didn't really 'find' her at the entry road," she whispered, "...she was handed over by the big ole boss."

The Doctor's eyebrows shot up, "WHAT?"

Mels smirked as her hands started glowing with regeneration energy. The Doctor quickly stood up and shooed everyone back, pulling Avalon to him in the process.

"No! No! Stop it!" she yelled at him to let go. She wanted to run back to Mels, but the Doctor held her arm to keep her still.

"Father, is she like you?" the Sapling was making a face as the regeneration energy got stronger around Mels.

"Last time I did this, I ended up a toddler in the middle of New York," Mels gazed at her hands that were almost completely enveloped by the energy. She really hoped this time she would get it right because it'd been a pain in the ass having to grow up all over again. If she got this right, then she would finally be free.

"OK, Doctor, explain what is happening?" Amy shot a look at the alien, "Please!"

The Doctor was nearly kicking himself for being so stupid. All this time, searching through the galaxies when he himself had said that Kovarian could hide Melody and Avalon right under their noses. "Mels, short for...?"

"Melody," Mels answered with a wide smirk. She knew exactly what he was thinking. "Gotcha!"

The Doctor then shot the same look back to Amy, a bit irritated she hadn't mentioned this to him. Nobody had bothered to mention that the mysterious friend 'Mels' everyone always talked about was in reality named Melody. That would've been extremely helpful. Amy, however, didn't see the problem so clearly yet...along with the others. "Yeah, I named my daughter after her."

"You named your daughter... after your daughter."

"Took me years to find you two. I'm so glad I did," Mels honestly said to her parents, "And, you see, it all worked out in the end, didn't it? You got to raise me after all."

"You're Melody?" Amy's eyes widened.

"No, my head hurts," Lena was thinking how they could have missed this. Mels never gave an indication that she knew more about the Doctor than them. She was always curious, yes, even asking questions like Avalon would.

Rory, however, was thinking farther ahead. "But if she's Melody, that means she's also..." he glanced at Avalon who didn't even notice as she stared in horror at her friend.

"Oh, shut up, Dad! I'm focusing on a dress size," Mels struggled to say right before the regeneration took her over. The group shielded their eyes from the blinding energy. Once it was over, a new, yet familiar, person stood across them. "Right, let's see, then!" River Song gasped as she started taking a look at her new self, "Ooh, it's all going on down there, isn't it? The hair!" she touched her hair and ran to a long mirror on the wall. It was incredibly voluminous. "Avalon, I beat you this time!" she cheered and glanced back at the ginger who was blankly staring at her. "You're going to have to pass on the tips, though!"

Neither knew their similar hair went deeper than just a coincident.

"Everything changes!" Melody laughed, "Oh, but I love it, I love it! I'm all sort of... mature!" she set her foot on the endpiece of a furniture beside her, "Hello, Benjamin!"

"Who's Benjamin?" the Sapling tilted his head.

"Tree kid, you couldn't keep up even if you tried!" River sighed and gasped as she passed her tongue over her teeth, "The teeth, the teeth! Oh, look at them!" she pointed to her mouth, "Excuse me, you lot, I need to weigh myself!"

The group leaned on the edge of the desk except for Avalon who had walked a couple steps away from them. Something was coming and she needed to be ready, but she couldn't quite remember.

"That's Melody?" Amy breathed in, her eyes wide as could be.

"That's River Song," Lena shook her head. She felt like something was compressing her head because everything hurt up there.

"Who's River Song?" Melody stood at the doorway with curiosity.

"Spoilers," the Doctor decided no word than that one fit better.

"Spoilers? What's spoilers? Hang on, just something I have to check!" and she ran back to the restroom.

"She's...River Song," Rory whispered quietly. Oh, time travel was really hurting right now.

"And she's also my sister's mother!" Lena whisper-hissed. Speaking of...

At the mention of Avalon, the Doctor stood away from the desk and walked over to her, "Ava?" he cautiously turned her to face him, "You alright?"

"Honestly, no," she put a hand on her stomach, "I feel terrible. I c-can't remember anything except th-that there's something really important I have t-to do. But I feel sick. And everything hurts."

"I promise you we will get you sorted as soon as the TARDIS is safe to get back inside in." He didn't want to touch her since almost every part of her arms were covered in bruises, but he did want to hold her.

"But what about Mels? Or, River..." she moved her hand to her forehead, "...all this time she was really the daughter of Amy and Rory? No, wait..." Avalon's head snapped to the side when she realized something, "I knew th-that already. I...I l-learned that...I'm forgetting things."

"Your head's a bit, uh, it's bit jumbled up," the Doctor gently said as he turned her head back to him. "But you'll get better."

"I-I..." Avalon blinked as if there was something in her eyes. The images were coming fast again.

"Ah, that's magnificent!" they heard Melody shout from the restroom. Quickly, she returned to the room with a bright smile, "I'm going to wear lots of jumpers! Well, now, enough of all that!" she shrugged and pulled out a gun which was aimed at the Doctor, "Down to business."

"Mels, what are you doing?" Lena sighed, "This isn't you. Well..."

"She's doing exactly what she's programmed to do, baby sister," the Doctor slowly moved for Melody.

"Where'd she get the gun?" Rory had to ask. How on Earth could Melody - River - carry a gun when she'd just regenerated?

"Hello, Benjamin," the Doctor recalled, "It was in the chair..."

"You noticed!" Melody chuckled and fired but found the gun was empty.

"Of course I noticed," the Doctor smirked at his quick-wit, "As soon as I knew you were coming, I tidied up a bit."

"So you're one step ahead of me, then?"

"Always."

Melody smirked and looked past him. "But are you though?" At the sound of a click, the Doctor turned back to find Avalon holding another gun at him from her spot. Alright, that one scared him a little bit.

"Ava, put that down..." he slowly raised a hand, barely moving an inch forwards when Avalon waved the gun at him again.

"I-I don't remember when somebody told me to do this..." she admitted, but it still didn't make her lower the gun.

"That would be me," Melody said for everybody's clarification. "Posthypnotic suggestion, anybody?" It was the same trick the Silence used on the humans while they were watching over her. "Kovarian made sure to leave her very well trained for this moment."

"You made Mother do this?" frowned the Sapling. "Why!? She's done nothing wrong!"

"Mmm, clearly you haven't learned everything about dear old Mummy," Melody rolled her eyes. "Mummy's not that innocent, you know? She and I...we've had our fair share of moments."

"If she's your friend, then why would you do this to her!?" Amy didn't know whether to cry over her daughter's twisted mind or scream out of frustration.

"Because it's what I'm supposed to do," Melody said quietly. "That's the order and I learned a long time ago that when Kovarian makes an order, you follow it...or else."

There was a sharp tinge in the last words that made everybody wonder what Melody had to go through to make that discovery.

"Hey, hey, Avalon, it's me," the Doctor was still holding his hands up. "We went over this remember? I'm the Fairy Tale Man and I came here to rescue you."

"No you didn't, you didn't save me," Avalon shook her head, eyes tearing up in a matter of seconds. It broke the Doctor's hearts because she was saying the truth. He failed her and her mother. "I-I can remember...bits and p-parts...they-they hurt me. And then...and then they hurt me again, and again..." her face scrunched with raw anger and despondence. "They kept hurting me..."

"I know, Ava, I know," the Doctor's own eyes teared up. "It's all my fault but listen, that will never happen again. I'll die if it means you'll live happily and safe. But right now, Ava, right now I really need you to put the gun down. It's okay if you hurt me, but you don't want to hurt Lena, right? Or Amy and Rory? Or the Sapling?"

Avalon's eyes flickered to the others in the room. They were all so scared - though she didn't know they were scared for her and not of her - and the Sapling seemed to want to hide from her. Something went off her in mind and it made her drop the gun on the floor. "Oh my God!" she blinked. The Doctor quickly seized the gun from the floor and gave it to Rory. "Oh my God! Oh my God! I didn't...Doctor, I didn't mean it! I-I didn't mean any of that! Oh my God!" she brought her hands to her mouth as her tears streamed down her eyes. "What did they do to me!?"

The Doctor hurried over to her and pulled her into another hug. She cried and shook between his arms while she begged him to forgive him.

Lena was infuriated to see her sister so...broken. Avalon was always so put together, a leader, and she knew exactly what she wanted at all times. Lena rounded on Melody with the ugliest scowl marking her face. "What did you do to my sister!? Fix her right now!"

"I told you," Melody shrugged carelessly. "Posthypnotic suggestion. Kovarian left instructions that I only reinforced."

"You whispered into her ear," Rory recalled the moment just before Melody had regenerated.

Melody smiled. "Use the gun when I use mine. Simple, but very effective."

"And where'd Avalon get the gun from?" demanded Amy.

"Kovarian gave her one!"

"You're a psychopath!" Lena erupted into a loud scream that could probably echo down the streets. She didn't care if this was her friends' daughter, nobody hurts her sister. "Avalon is your friend! Instead of helping her, you're dooming her!"

"I am helping her!" Melody argued defensively which just made incredulously glare.

"How are you helping her!?"

"I may be a psychopath, but I'm also honest."

"You were not a psychopath! Why would she be a psychopath?" Amy snapped at both women for using that horrible term. However, Melody didn't look at all offended by the term.

"Oh, Mummy, Mummy, pay attention," Melody groaned, "I was trained and conditioned for one purpose. I was born to kill the Doctor."

"Demons Run, remember? This is what they were building, my bespoke psychopath," the Doctor explained whilst still holding onto Avalon. He was rubbing a hand down her back, hoping to soothe her until she could understand that he had nothing to forgive her for. "What I can't understand is why you felt the need to get my Ava involved."

"Yeah, Mother didn't do anything wrong," the Sapling chimed in with his own glare.

"No, she only got involved," Melody shook her head. Things were supposed to have gone a different way but Kovarian just chucked Avalon to her at the last minute and expected Melody to work with what she had. "Nice going there. She always looked up to you. She went on and on about how the Doctor could save anyone. Well guess what? You didn't save her nor me!" Because if he had saved her, she could've grown up with her parents. She wouldn't have had to grovel on the streets of New York, swallowed up by an astronaut suit. She could've had what Amy had as a child, what Rory had, what the Reynolds had. She could've been like them and then maybe she could've traveled with the Doctor too.

"You're right," the Doctor agreed with a nod.

"No, big brother," Lena turned back to him but he had long ago made up his mind about the matter.

"I didn't save either of them. I put them into this situation," he looked down at Avalon who had buried her face in his chest. "I put people I care about in danger and I don't save them."

"No, no, that's not true," the Sapling frowned. "You've saved so many people, Father. It's impossible to save everybody. Otherwise, this would be a fairy tale."

"Avalon," called Melody, "Time to go."

Avalon jerked between the Doctor's arms, but instead of leaving him she only drew back enough to look up at the Doctor. "I'm sorry," she sniffed.

"Hey, you don't have to be sorry about anything," he whispered and cleared off a few of her tears from her cheeks. Her skin felt so dry he picked up a few flecks of dead skin. "You just have to worry about getting better. I'm going to get you to a real doctor, and they'll fix you right up."

"But you are my Doctor," she frowned slightly. "Why are you saying nonsense? Nobody can fix me, only you can."

"My Ava, you have no idea how badly I want to change all this," he cupped one side of her face. "I-I wish I could turn back time and keep you safe."

"You said 'my Ava'," she said, choosing to focus on the best part of his words. "My Ava, you are everything to me. You've owned these hearts for a long while now," Her bright smile could light up anyone's day. "That's what he said. The other Doctor. He told me that, just before he died. Is that true for you too?"

The Doctor thought this was hardly the place to discuss this matter but his hearts did leap a bit now that he finally knew what his ganger had told Avalon just before they escaped the ganger factory. And the ganger Doctor got it spot on too. "It is," he admitted, swallowing hard as if there was something lodged in his throat. "But look at where that's gotten you, where it's gotten everyone..." his eyes looked over her to the rest of the group that he'd solely ruined.

"It's given me a new feeling," Avalon pulled him down closer to her face. "And-and I wouldn't change it. It's my story. And do you know what my story deserves?"

The Doctor could think of a few things, starting with 'safe' and 'happiness'. "Peace," he settled for in the end.

"Nu-uh," Avalon's smile turned sly seconds before she pulled him one more time to close the gap between them. She kissed him like she'd been wanting to for a while - that she could remember perfectly - and held onto his arms because if she kept going, she didn't know if her legs would be able to stand it. But the Doctor was also holding her and with her surprise kiss, he wouldn't be letting go of her anytime soon. He finally got a taste of her lips that, despite being chapped, were so sweet. For a woman who had quite a loud mouth - which he was really fond of - she had such a way of kissing. He could do this for hours...

"Avalon?" called Melody, almost snarling, as she headed for the open window, "Quit your snogging and get over here, now! Time to go!"

Avalon's body jerked again, forcing her to pull away from the Doctor in the process. She blinked fast and once she found Melody by the window, she walked towards the woman like a robot following orders.

"A-Ava, don't," the Doctor tried to stop her but Avalon ignored him and stopped by Melody.

"Look at that, Berlin on the eve of war," Melody put an arm around Avalon's shoulders, "A whole world about to tear itself apart. Now that's my kind of town. Mum, Dad, Lena, don't follow us. Tree kid...don't you dare go all gigantic on me. And, yes, that is a warning for everybody!" She specifically made sure to look at everyone except the Doctor, something he easily picked up on.

"No warning for me, then?" he slowly walked back to the group, thinking of the perfect moment to snatch Avalon from her. He wasn't going to let her take his Ava off to some deranged city.

"Rather save my breath," Melody smirked, "The deed is done and so are you."

The Doctor only had seconds to wonder what she meant when he felt his legs weaken to the point he wobbled till he would fall. Rory and Amy ran to help him stand.

"Father, what's wrong!?" the Sapling, frightened, rushed to his side.

Lena once again glared at Melody, knowing that she was the culprit of whatever was happening to the Doctor. "What did you do to him, Melody!?"

"Oh, that wasn't me," Melody proudly presented Avalon to them.

Avalon seemed horrified to learn, to remember, that it was her fault. "Oh my God!" she brought her hands to her mouth. "It was me!"

"It was never going to be a gun for him," Melody smirked even wider seeing everyone's reactions. "Doctor, the man of peace who understands every kind of warfare, except, perhaps, the cruelest. You shouldn't have fallen into temptation."

The Doctor put a finger on his lips as he looked at Avalon, the ginger completely destroyed over what she'd done. He didn't need to ask to know that she hadn't even remembered what she was supposed to do. Somebody had left those instructions in her head and she would've done them no matter what.

"Doctor, I'm sorry," Avalon cried and tried running to them when Melody grabbed her arm and yanked them out the window.

"NO!" Everyone cried as the woman disappeared.

"Why would Mother do this?" the Sapling sniffed as he looked at his father who really struggled to stand on his own.

"It's not her fault, Sapling," the Doctor said.

"What did she do to you, exactly?" asked Rory so that they knew what to work with. Meanwhile, Lena bolted for the window to see if she could catch where Melody was taking her sister to.

"Avalon, she-she poisoned me," the Doctor answered with a struggle.

"Don't let Avalon kiss you in Berlin," Rory remembered Ryland's words that he'd gotten from a future version of the Doctor. "You literally left yourself a message about this!"

"I'm terrible at messages!" the Doctor snapped, but truth be told he'd kiss Avalon again if the chance was at hand. "And don't start! Avalon didn't know any better, her mother tricked her!"

"Her mother," Amy sighed, "This is completely awful!"

"Oh, her mother is brainwashed too!"

"That makes it better," Lena returned to them, "How do we help you, big brother? Do you have a plan?"

"The plan is not to die," the Doctor pointed at her, "I gotta save my Ava. Take this! The TARDIS can home in on it," he gave Amy his screwdriver, "Now, go, get after them!" he pushed Rory to the window.

"But what about you?" Lena helped Amy to get him into the TARDIS, "You said the smoke was deadly."

"The smoke's fine. The poison will kill me first," he tried to humor and actually expected for Avalon to remark on that, only she was nowhere around anymore, "Now, get after Avalon and River! Sapling, with me! Poison can't really affect trees!"

The Sapling grinned and nodded.

"But I don't understand," Amy shook her head, "Why would Avalon poison you?"

"She didn't mean to, she was brainwashed," the Doctor explained fast, "The head is a delicate thing and they've managed to get into it. Now, please, just go!" he entered the TARDIS and left them to do their task.

~ 0 ~

Down in front of the building stood Avalon and Melody and were being questioned by German officers. While Avalon seemed completely wrecked, Melody was quite confident in herself.

"What are you doing here?" the officer demanded to know.

"Well," Melody stepped forwards, "We were off to this gay Gypsy bar mitzvah for the disabled, when I thought, "Gosh, the Third Reich's a bit rubbish, I think I'll kill the Fuhrer." Who's with me?"

"Shoot them."

Melody quickly stepped back, in front of Avalon and took all the shots for the both of them. After the shots were finished, she looked up at the officers while hugging herself, "Tip for you all...never shoot a girl while she's regenerating," she opened her arms and sent out regeneration energy towards the soldiers and laughed as she knocked the entire group down, "Ah! Now, that hit the spot."

"Please...we have to go back," Avalon looked up at the window where she was sure the Doctor was still in, "I-I killed him, I have to go help...maybe there's cure..."

"Oh, it's Judas Poison, didn't they tell you?" Melody grabbed a couple machine guns and moved over to a motorcycle.

"I can't remember," Avalon glanced at her, "But you do, you knew I was going to do that, didn't you?"

Melody smirked and started the motorcycle, "C'mon, Avalon."

"But Melody-"

"Look, you killed the Doctor. You committed a crime, they're not gonna want you anymore. But I will," Melody gestured to the motorcycle, "I didn't want you to do any of this but if we didn't do what Kovarian said, she would've killed us. We had to do this. Plus, it's the Doctor's own fault. If he would've been there for us, we wouldn't have gotten here."

"But my friends..." Avalon looked up at the building.

"I am your friend, always have been. C'mon, don't you feel like shopping?"

Avalon was terrified but Melody did ring some facts. She'd done a terrible thing, how could anyone forgive her for that? "Sh-shopping?"

Melody grinned. "Yup! New body, means I've got to get new clothes. Shall we?"

Avalon looked up to see Amy, Lena, and Rory climbing down and grew even more frightened. She didn't want to face them, much less her sister. Melody was right, she'd committed a crime. A crime against the most wonderful man she'd ever met, no one would want her after that.

"Avalon, no!" Lena shouted after her sister as the ginger hurried and climbed on the back of the motorcycle Melody was in, "Avalon!" but it was too late, the women were gone. "We have to stop them, we have to stop them now!"

A soldier came through the gate behind the trio, riding a motorcycle. He stopped in front of them and Rory stepped forwards to explain, "Look, I know how this looks, but let me explain everything from the beginning," but the soldier started reaching for a weapon and so he panicked. "Heil!" he saluted.

"Heil!" the soldier saluted back to him.

Rory took advantage and punched him down. He climbed on the motorcycle and motioned for the other two women to do the same.

"You're all punchy today," Lena remarked as she took her place behind Amy.

"Well, my daughter and granddaughter are out in a city on the brink of war, hell of a reason to punch," Rory shrugged, meaning every last word he said. He'd always cared for Mels and Avalon, Avalon a bit more since he'd met her first. But now after knowing who they were in reality, his protection fired up and he knew he would do anything to keep them safe, even if that meant punching Hitler.

"Can you ride a motorbike?" Amy dreaded to ask as he started the motorcycle.

"I expect so. It's that sort of day," Rory shrugged once more and drove off.

~ 0 ~

Melody had found a nice restaurant filled with elegant people and decided to hijack them, both men and women. While she tried several pieces on and checked herself in the mirror, Avalon sat at a nearby table with her hands in her hair, desperately trying to remember and process what she'd done.

"I might take the age down a little, just gradually, to freak people out," Melody chuckled as she tried on a captain's hat and looked back to Avalon, "Whaddya think?"

"What have I done?" Avalon mumbled to herself, "I killed someone, and not just anyone, but the Doctor. I killed him," she looked up at Melody with teary eyes, "Why did you let me do that? What's he ever done to you?"

"I was taken from my parents, you forget that?" Melody raised an eyebrow, "I was thrown into a life of hell because they're all afraid of him and needed someone to do the job that none of them could do."

"And yet I'm the one who did it," Avalon stood up, "Your life may have been hell as a child, but when you came into Leadworth you became my friend and Amy's and Rory, even Lena's. Don't tell me your life was awful back then too."

"Of course it wasn't," Melody admitted quietly and looked around, "It was fun, the most fun I'd ever had."

"Then? Why did you do this to me?" Avalon gestured to herself, her voice breaking in the end. "They stole me and they did something to my head, brainwashed me, hurt me!" She frantically gestured to her injured arms. Melody did swallow hard at the sight of her nearly purple arms. "They did so m-many things to me...and you just let me kill the one person who could've saved us both!"

"I never had a choice, Avalon," Melody's voice softened, "You think I asked for all this? That I wanted my best friend to do what I was trained to do my entire life?"

"Then why did you let me do it!?" Avalon shouted, her tears strolling down her cheeks.

"Because it was either you did it or you died," Melody shrugged, seeing no other way to put it, "I didn't just find you on the entry road, you were handed over to me."

"By who?"

"Avalon, you seriously don't remember anything!?" Melody couldn't help but shout the question, quite exasperated that she really had to start from zero.

"I s-s-see bits and pieces..." Avalon screwed her eyes shut but once she did she saw the woman with the eye patch. "Mels...how could you do this to me?"

"Because I didn't want to see you die, alright? Anyone else, I wouldn't have cared," Melody snapped, honestly not even understanding herself why she had cared so much for her friend's safety, "But you, you are the only one that I can be myself without getting any scolds nor reproaches. It's either you did the task or they killed you on the spot."

"Well I would have rather died," Avalon exclaimed and leaned back on the table, sniffling, "You don't understand, Mels, you didn't make me kill just anyone...you made me kill my Fairy Tale Man. He was mine and he actually cared for me like no one else has. And now, he'll die and I'll lose my friends, my sister, my family. Cos you're right, they won't want me anymore. Who'd love a murderer?"

"It won't matter anymore, Avalon," Melody walked over to her and took her hands, "We'll have a fresh new start, I told you. We can travel the world and do things our way now. No following the rules and pretending to be who we're not."

"But with the Doctor I did do that," Avalon whispered, "He didn't care who I was."

"You killed the Doctor," came Amy's voice from behind them.

Avalon tensed and turned around, seeing Amy a couple steps away from them, "Amy, I know what I did, and there's nothing I can do anymore. She says my healing won't work."

"You killed the Doctor on the orders of the movement known as the Silence and Academy of the Question. You accept and know this to be true?"

Avalon raised an eyebrow, "I...don't understand what all that is. I can't remember, I swear. I killed him and I can't even remember who told me to do it."

'Amy' opened up her mouth and shot out a blue beam at Avalon, making the ginger cry out in pain, "No! No! Get off me!" she pleaded. It brought back the moments of her torture where they would carve her skin.

"That's not Amy!" Melody kicked the Teselecta robot of her mother back and managed to shut down the beam.

Avalon stumbled back onto the floor, "Oh, you don't say? I was just about to ask her when she got that new beam built into her mouth!"

"Oh your sense of humor is back," the Doctor's voice made her look to the side and see the alien standing beside the TARDIS, dressed in black tails and a top hat along with a cane.

"First of all, what the hell are you wearing?" Avalon raised an eyebrow, "You're dying and you stopped to change? You know what, I'm not even surprised."

The Sapling giggled beside his Father. "I think he looked nice! I need to find me a suit too!"

The Doctor spun around with a grin and made his way down the steps, "You should always waste time when you don't have any. Time is not the boss of you - Rule 408," he stopped in front of the robotic Amy, "Amelia Pond, judgment death machine. Why am I not surprised? Sonic cane!"

"Are you serious?" even Melody was stumped by the man.

"Never knowingly. Never knowingly be serious," the Doctor used his cane to scan the Teselecta, "Rule 27. You might want to write these down. Oh, it's a robot!" he concluded from the readings, "With 423 life signs inside. A robot worked by tiny people. Love it! But how do you all get in there, though? Bigger on the inside? No, basic miniaturization sustained by a compression field. Oh, watch what you eat, it'll get you every time. Amy, if you, Rory and Lena are OK, signal me," and then the Doctor got a signal from his cane, "Thanking you," he then gave out a cry of pain.

"Doctor!" Avalon ran to help him, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, leg just went to sleep," he tried to humor her to no avail, "Just had a quick left leg power nap, I forgot I had one scheduled. Actually, better sit down, I think I heard the right one yawning," he sat on the dais of the steps with her help.

"I am so sorry for all this," Avalon stepped away from him. He probably wouldn't want her anywhere near him. "I can't remember, and I know that's no excuse but it's the truth. I don't remember why I did it, I just knew it after I did it and now I've killed you. I'm the woman who kills you." Flashes of the astronaut at Lake Silencio crossed her mind. It was her, wasn't it? She killed him at that lake. But now she'd rewritten time and killed him earlier. She felt sick and it wasn't because of her own injuries. "You...should have just left me that night...that you came back for me. You should have just left me there."

"No, hey!" the Doctor snapped a finger at her, snapping her out of those horrid thoughts. "I don't regret anything we've done in the past! The only thing I regret is not saving you sooner!"

"But I'm a murderer," Avalon whispered and glanced at the robot, the Teselecta. "And they know it. Everybody inside that thing...they know who I am. A murderer." She turned towards the robot, swallowing hard. "You should kill me."

"No, Avalon-"

"I accept my fault," she stepped towards the Teselecta, "I accept my punishment..."

With the confession, the Teselecta shot out a beam of light and trapped her in it. Avalon screamed in terrible pain, one that even made Melody flinch.

"Mother!" the Sapling growled and grew one of his left arms to smack the Teselecta, but the Doctor stopped him.

"NO! Don't you touch her! Do not harm her in any way," the Doctor shouted at the Teselecta and managed to stop the painful beam, leaving only a containment field around Avalon.

"Remember that Amy, Rory and Lena are still inside!"

But after that, the Teselecta turned on Melody and before the brunette tried making a run for it, she was trapped in a containment field as well. "I haven't done anything," Melody writhed in her field, far more awake than Avalon at the moment.

"According to records you are the women who kills the Doctor," was the response of the robot.

"Listen, I love my friend, but she is the one that kills him today, sweetie," Melody snapped, "So far, I've committed no crime."

"He's dying."

"Well, at least I'm not a time-travelling shape-shifting robot operated by miniaturized cross people," the Doctor called, eyeing the situation, perplexed to see Melody 'arrested' as well, "Which, I have got to admit, I didn't see coming. What do you want with them?" he pointed his cane to both women.

"She's Melody Pond, the woman who kills the Doctor. And she-" the robot pointed to Avalon, "-kills you today."

"How can I kill him if he's already dying!? Let me go!" Melody ordered.

"What is any of this to you?" the Doctor demanded from the robot, "Cos my friend there-" he pointed to Melody, "-has a point."

"Throughout history, many criminals have gone unpunished in their lifetimes. Time travel has... responsibilities."

The Doctor laughed, "What? You got yourselves time travel, so you decided to punish dead people?"

"We don't kill them. We extract them near the end of their established timelines."

"And then what?"

"Give them hell."

The Doctor's humor faded away immediately to be replaced by the darkness the Black Markets had come to know in the last month. "I'd ask you who you think you are but I think the answer is pretty obvious. So, who do you think I am? From everything I've heard, it sounds like you've got a record of mine being altered," he glanced at Avalon who was slowly coming around, "Gotta say, I'd love a peek."

"Our records office is sealed to the public. Foreknowledge is dangerous."

"Yes, well, I'll be dead in three minutes. There isn't much foreknowledge left."

"Sorry, can't do that..." There was a moment of silence before the Teselecta changed its mind. "Records available."

The Doctor wouldn't question the change so stood up with great struggle on his cane. The Sapling helped him walk on his wobbly feet. "Question. I'm dying... who wants me dead?"

"The Silence."

"What is the Silence? Why is it called that? What does it mean?"

"The Silence is not a species. It is a religious order, or movement. Their core belief is that silence will fall when the question is asked."

"What question?"

"The first question. The oldest question in the universe, hidden in plain sight."

"Yes, but what is the question?"

"Unknown."

"Well, fat lot of use that is, you big ginge! Call yourself a Records... Argh!" the Doctor fell to the floor with a cry of pain, "Kidneys are always the first to quit. I've had better, you know."

The containment field around Melody vanished and she dropped to the ground. She would've cheered if the field around Avalon hadn't turned into a flaming red that tortured her. Her shrill screams filled the room and perhaps the rest of the building. Everything was on fire. It felt like she was back with Kovarian and the Silence...oh. She remembered who gave her the order now.

The Doctor pulled himself across the floor with his hands and called out to the robot, "Amy! Rory! Lena! Can you hear me?"

"Yeah. What do we do? What do we do?" Amy's distraught voice came from the robot.

"Just stop them, please. She's your granddaughter, just stop them." Because the Doctor felt his life slowly slipping away. There was no more of his energy to use and the Sapling was still just a child. He was terrified. If he was to die, then he needed to know that Avalon would come out safe and sound.

"What did you say?" Melody stared at him with confusion from her spot.

The Doctor considered his next words while his gaze was stuck on Avalon. It was a huge no in the world of timelines telling Melody of her future, especially about something - someone - so important to her. But as the field stopped and Avalon dropped to the floor, completely unconscious, and the real Amy (or Rory or Lena) pleaded for his help through the Teselecta, he found there was no other choice. Besides, the universe owed him this.

"Please, now we have to save your parents. Don't run. Now, I know you're scared, but never run when you're scared. Rule 7. Please," he looked at Melody with urgency.

"Why did you say granddaughter?" Melody rose to her feet and frowned. "You said 'granddaughter', why?"

"Her mother, her real mother, is River Song, and she would kill you right now for what you've done..."

"Who is this River person?" Melody sighed with exasperation, "And why are you saying she's Avalon's mother? Emmalina is!"

"Imagine, imagine something for me please," the Doctor mustered his final coherent words. Not even the Sapling's strength could keep him up. He had to sit back down, preparing for his final moments. "Imagine that little Melody grows up and she goes to college and she has a baby of her own..." his eyes drifted to Avalon.

Melody slowly looked over to Avalon. Her face was covered by her hair. Melody inched closer to Avalon and touched her ginger locks. They felt like hers. "You're lying..."

"You're no fool, Melody, look into your past, look into the now. You've gotten along so good despite everyone else's opinions about you two, the Silence stole her and brought her back to you for some twisted mother-daughter job. You look me in the eye and tell me you're gonna let your parents, her grandparents and sister die," the Doctor ordered her and surprisingly Melody did as told. She looked straight at him and could feel his urgency radiating. "You know there's a special connection between you and Avalon. There always has been and this is why. Somewhere along your timeline you have a daughter, and you do love her. You've hurt her, now make it up by giving her, her grandparents and sister back. Rory can treat her after I...die. Do this for your daughter, Melody..."

Melody turned for Avalon, considering everything she'd heard. It made sense, all of it...but...to believe it...that was hard. She brushed a lock from Avalon's face, "Avalon..." she whispered, unable to bring herself to actually touch her now, "...Avalon, please? I didn't mean to hurt you. I was scared that they would hurt us both. Avalon, wake up."

"Go to her, Sapling," the Doctor urged the child with him. The Sapling was torn between staying with his father or going to his mother. They both needed him. "It's okay, Sapling," the Doctor offered him his best smile. "You go and help your Mother. That's what we wanted to do, remember? Help her."

The Sapling slowly nodded and walked over to Avalon and Melody. He knelt down beside his mother and gently shook her arm. "Mother, please wake up. Aunt Lena, aunt Amy and Uncle Rory need you. I need you too. And so does Father. I don't want my family to be ripped apart. I'm just a kid. I don't know what to do by myself."

Melody blinked at the tree child with a ripple of...sympathy? She knew exactly what he was talking about. She had no idea what to do with herself when she was a child. The Silence had given her full independence but she was a child. What was she supposed to do without her parents? She had to figure it out on her own sometimes. She wished somebody could have saved her way before any of this happened. She was just a kid...she shouldn't have had to live the way she had. And now she was the reason why another child would have to figure it out on their own. The Silence didn't do that, she did.

"I'm sorry," the words blurted from her mouth.

The Sapling met Melody's gaze with teary eyes. "Why would you hurt us? We worked so hard to find you, to save you, and you hurt us? That's not fair. You're taking my Mother, my Father, my family."

"No, no," Melody shook her head. "I didn't-I didn't mean to..."

The Sapling gently lowered himself to his Mother's side and brushed her hair with his hands. "Mother..." he sniffled.

~ 0 ~

Just as Lena, Amy and Rory were about to die, the TARDIS appeared around them, saving them in time. Lena quickly left her friends' side and ran for the console, "Big brother!" but she stopped when she saw Melody standing there and gasped at the sight of Avalon on the chair, trying to get out of it. "What did you do!?" she fiercely demanded from Melody as she ran to Avalon.

"i-it's fine, Lena," Avalon assured her. Her sight was coming back at least. "I...taught her to fly the TARDIS. Guess those lessons did pay off." She managed a weak smile while her sister hugged her.

"Where's the Doctor?" frowned Amy. "And the Sapling?"

"Then bring us back to the Doctor so he can help her," Lena ordered.

Melody looked around, refusing to tell her exactly what was going to happen to the Doctor in just a moment. Still, she used what Avalon had told her and successfully brought the TARDIS back to the restaurant.

Amy ran out the TARDIS first to find the Doctor lying on the stairs, nearly unconscious, with the Sapling at his side. Amy dropped on one of his sides, "You can't die now. I know you don't die now."

"Oh, Pond! You've got a schedule for everything," the Doctor managed to smile. From the corner of his eyes he could see Avalon coming out of the TARDIS with Lena's and Melody's help. She was safe now. Now it was okay to...to go.

"Doctor, what do we do? Come on. How do we help you?" Rory called to him as he and the others neared him.

"No, sorry, Rory. You can't. Nobody can," the Doctor sighed, "Ponds, listen to me, I need to talk to your daughter."

Everyone looked back at Melody who now looked completely uncomfortable. Slowly, she came towards the Doctor while the others backed away. She bent down beside him and whispered quietly to him, "You're not lying are you?" she glanced back to Avalon who was direcly staring at them with tears in her eyes, still filled with guilt.

"You see it now, don't you?" the Doctor questioned her, "Her eyes are yours, her hair is yours, her spirits are yours. But she doesn't know it yet, she thinks you're just a really close friend."

"I'm her mother...and I let her commit murder," Melody swallowed hard, if that didn't make her the worst mother of the year she didn't know what would.

"I need you to do something for me," the Doctor told her, "Find River Song and tell her something from me."

"Tell her what?" she raised an eyebrow and leaned down to listen to his quiet words. After she sat straight again, she had tears in her eyes, "Well, I don't know how..." but he gave her a pointed look that made her shift in place. She stood up and turned to the group, "Who's River Song?" she demanded.

Without a word, Amy moved to the Teselecta now host to no lives inside, "Are you still working because I'm still a relative? Access files on River Song."

"Records available."

"Show me her. Show me River Song."

Melody's tears strolled down her face as she now saw herself in the Teselecta. She glanced back at Avalon and shuddered a breath, "I lied."

Avalon shooed Rory off her, "What about?"

"There's no cure...but you have all the cures in your immune system...a well evolutionized system..."

Avalon's eyes half-widened. She raised her hands and turned them over. "And that would work? That would really work?"

"Might..." Melody shrugged with a small smile as she watched the ginger's hope increase by the seconds. "...but there could be consequences..."

"Don't care," Avalon snapped and hurried to the Doctor however she could on her wobbly feet. She came to sit beside him, ignoring the slight pain she felt on her knees. She motioned for the Sapling to move away. She would need a moment alone.

"What's she doing?" Lena looked at Melody suspiciously. One more trick from hers and this time Lena might just slap her.

Melody didn't answer and turned for Avalon, hoping her words would be true and...perhaps, do one good thing for her...daughter. She didn't want anyone to grow up the way that she did.

"I promise you after this you can chuck me into a black hole," Avalon whispered to the Doctor. "Or put me in jail. That's what I deserve. I'm so sorry for all this. Believe me, killing you is the last thing I wanted to do," she leaned down and stroked his hair, smiling slightly when he opened his eyes. He looked so weak and it was all her fault. He would never sit still, never lay down. He was always on the run, exploring different worlds, saving people here and there. He was the perfect man. A man that should not have to die.

"You remember those stories you wanted to see? The ones I wrote when I was younger? Well, they were all about you, stupid," Avalon's face blushed a warm pink as she explained what she thought she'd never say. "You're the Fairy Tale Man and you were always my hero, saving me...and do you remember when I couldn't sleep last year? You had to talk to me about my nightmare and you said I should dream up something that would ward the nightmares away? Well, you were the knight-in-shining-armor that fought off all my nightmares. You protected me. You've been quite the busy man," her smile spread as her blush deepened, "Now the princess - albeit an odd one - gets to save the prince."

"But Ava..." the Doctor could barely say those two words. Even with his bypass system, his lungs had expended his air.

"Be sure to rest for a bit before you go gallivanting through galaxies, alright?" Avalon leaned down, ignoring his weak attempts to stop her, and kissed him. Her fingers held onto the lapels of his jacket, as if she'd need it to keep him still. Her body glowed as the energy of her immunization began to transfer from her to the Doctor's. Avalon could feel her strength slipping away but she took comfort knowing it was going to the right place.

Towards the end, Avalon barely had the strength to raise her head. She weakly glanced at the others with a small smile. But her eyelids became heavy and before she knew it, she laid her head on the Doctor's chest and fell into darkness.

~ 0 ~

The next time Avalon opened her eyes, she was in a bright, white room. For a few seconds, she thought this was what the afterlife looked like...but then she heard a familiar voice.

"Avalon, sweetie, you're awake," Ryland was sitting right next to her bed - a hospital bed because she was in the hospital.

"Yeah, took you long enough," Gavin snorted but soon yelped when Lena elbowed him on the side. "I mean, yay, you're awake!"

Avalon scrunched her face and tried getting up, but everybody told her to stay put. "What's...what's going on?" she swallowed hard. Her body hurt. Everything was sore and moving the slightest caused a wave of pain to wash over her. "Owww."

"You're in the hospital, Avalon," Lena explained the bits most pertinent for the moment. "We brought you here after, um...Berlin."

It took only a few seconds for Avalon to remember what she did. "Oh my God! The Doctor!" she tried getting up again but Ryland pushed her down and kept a firm hold over her shoulders. "Daddy, stop! I have to go-"

"Avalon, it's okay! He's okay!" Ryland exclaimed over her voice. "The Doctor's just fine now." Avalon stopped struggling and studied Ryland's face for any indication that he was lying just so she wouldn't get up. Ryland knew her so well. "I'm telling you the truth. He's here, taking care of some things."

"So I...I didn't kill him?" Avalon's eyes flickered to Lena. "He-he survived?"

Lena smiled at her. "Yes. And as Daddy said, he's just taking care of some things. But you, Miss, you need to rest. A lot."

Avalon could care less about herself right now. She was just relieved that the Doctor had survived. "I...I didn't kill him."

"No, but you gave up something else," Gavin spoke up, sounding a bit irritated with her.

"What...?"

Ryland shot his son a look to keep quiet. What they had to tell her to needed to be done in a delicate manner. "Um, sweetie, there's something you need to know. You, uh...you saved the Doctor and nobody could be more proud of you for that, but...there were some consequences."

"Like?"

Ryland sighed. "Your immunity system has dropped, almost entirely. You lost the ability to heal people and your health has reverted to that of, well, an average human."

"Without those vaccinations all the babies usually get," Gavin chimed in, once again receiving the glares from his father and now his sister. "What? It's true."

Avalon was trying to understand what it meant, but it didn't take a lot of her thought process to figure it out. "So I-I don't have my abilities anymore? I don't have all the cures?"

"No," Ryland confirmed. "And the doctors here tried everything to activate it but there's nothing there anymore. We're going to have to be very careful for a long while now, until we can build up your immunity from scratch. But, even when that happens, it won't be like it used to be."

"I'll just be like Amy and Rory," Avalon nodded to herself. "Like every other human. I can get a cold now..."

"It's a bit more dangerous right now because you literally have no defense system."

"It's fine," Avalon swallowed hard and smiled. "It's my punishment for what I did."

"No, it's not," Lena frowned. "This was an accident but it is not because you did something wrong. Nothing is your fault. It's on Kovarian and the Silence." As soon as she spoke those two names, Avalon flinched. Lena regretted it deeply. "I'm sorry."

"No, no...it's okay..." Avalon bit her lower lip.

"How long were you with them, Avalon?" Lena decided to ask after a moment.

"...about...5 months..." Avalon scrunched her face when more memories started coming back to her. A lot of them included her screaming and begging for them to stop hurting her. "They-they kept..."

Lena reached for her sister's hand and held it tight. Avalon didn't have the strength, currently, to do the same. "It's okay, Avalon."

Avalon brought her free hand to her hair, pulling the strands as she continued to remember. Every pain she felt from the carvings, from the prodding, the needles. Her body was on fire. And she was so terrified.

"Avalon, it's okay," Ryland tried to take Avalon's hand off her hair but she kept pulling on it.

"I was so scared, Daddy! I was so scared!" The tears streamed down Avalon's face. "Everybody was prodding me like a-an experiment! They-they stabbed me with needles! They starved me! It was cold, it was hot! And I just wanted them to stop!" Her voice cracked in the end, but all in all she sounded like a terrified child when she burst into sobs. "But then I-I can't remember everything but...I know they did things to me, bad things. I don't want to go back there!"

"And you're not going to," Ryland promised her, almost crying himself because of her. He allowed Avalon to sit up so he could hug her tightly. "Nobody is ever going to touch you again. Not on our watch."

~ 0 ~

Melody stepped into a the admittedly nice building. Her eyes raked over the neat hallways and cheery decorations. It seemed to be very busy with employees - nuns - coming in and out of rooms. Patients, or inhabitants, were out making their daily lives. They looked happy. It seemed like a nice place to live...for now. She turned sideways, meeting her parents' gaze and the Doctor's. "This is it, then? This is where I have to stay?"

"It looks like fun," the Sapling made the comment to lift the spirits.

"It's your basic home for, well, anybody who needs it," the Doctor explained. "The Sisters here will help you make your way, whatever path you want to take."

Melody knew what he meant. Even though she knew about an important part of her future, the choice was still hers. "I am sorry," she said, even though it pained her to admit that she was wrong. "You have no idea what Kovarian is like...she doesn't take 'no' for an answer. She doesn't show mercy which is why I can't understand why she decided to wipe Avalon's memories. She had her for months and...she just erased it?"

"She did it for a reason," the Doctor muttered. Kovarian didn't do anything without a reason.

"But she didn't do a very good job because Avalon still remembers bits and pieces," Melody said, not understanding herself. Avalon didn't seem to have all her memories but she remembered what kind of torture strategies they used on her.

"That's her biology at work," the Doctor sighed. He had no doubt that within the coming months, Avalon would begin to remember more of her time with Kovarian.

"I wish I would've known," Melody looked at her parents. "I didn't know. But after spending years with Kovarian breathing over my shoulder, I learned the best way to survive is to just follow her orders."

"You're forgiven for everything," the Doctor assured her. He could see the guilt in her eyes from a mile away.

"Absolutely," Amy moved towards Melody and took her into a big hug. It soon brought Rory over as well. "None of it was your fault," Amy promised.

"But I just...I don't understand," Melody pulled away. "How could Avalon be my daughter? I don't...I don't even want kids. They're kind of annoying." The others chuckled, but she wanted to point out that she was being very serious.

"Well, that's up to you," the Doctor said, but Melody folded her arms over her chest and settled a sharp look on him.

"Mhm. You snogged my daughter and you expect me to believe that you don't care one tiny bit whether or not I have her?"

The Doctor's face flushed at the reminder. It made Melody smirk, much like Avalon would. "Well, I-I didn't mean to..." Truth be told, he would hardly call what happened between him and Avalon a kiss. There'd been two kisses and while the first one was a more of a kiss but it'd only happened because Avalon was brainwashed into doing it, not because she wanted to. And the second one? Well, he'd been dying. He could hardly remember it. It hurt his hearts realizing it.

"Oh forget it," Melody sighed deeply when she saw the Doctor getting lost in his thoughts. "I'll stay here for a bit, then, if that's what it takes to keep her safe. Whether she's my daughter or my friend, I do care about Avalon. I had to do what I had to do to keep us both alive."

"I believe you," the Doctor assured her.

"And...the Sapling...I didn't mean to take your family," Melody looked at the tree child. He no longer held contempt for her, but she wanted to make sure that he understood her. "I know exactly what that feels like and I never want to do that to a child."

The Sapling nodded and offered her a smile. "I believe you. You helped save my parents. Plus, your my grandmother."

"Oooh, that hurts," Melody put a hand over her chest. "That word hurts."

"Imagine great-grandmother," Amy muttered and shared a small laugh with her.

"So, Doctor, how long do I have to wait until I can see Avalon and apologize to her too?" Melody looked at the Time Lord anxiously. She didn't like the idea of being far away when Avalon was recovering from a situation she helped create.

"For a while," the Doctor answered, knowing that it wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. "The Silence and Kovarian are still out there and until we capture them, you shouldn't see Avalon. Plus, you might have your own Avalon to deal with further along your timeline."

Melody smirked. "Oh boy."

"But don't worry, she'll know that it wasn't your fault either."

"And what about the fact that I'm her Mother? Will she know that too?"

"Do you want her to know?" the Doctor challenged. The choice was entirely upon Melody because as far as he knew, it didn't matter from this point on if Avalon learned who her mother was.

Melody pursed her lips together. "I...don't know. I mean, if she wants to know then...I suppose I have no right hiding that from her. I owe her that much. So, if she asks, if she wants to know, you tell her. But you make sure-" she pointed a finger at him, "-that she knows that I do love her. She's been my friend for so many years, she shouldn't doubt that."

"Okay," the Doctor nodded. "Well, I guess it's time for us to go."

Melody faced her parents with a sad smile. "I'll see you around, then?"

"Definitely," Amy promised. "Stay out of trouble, Miss."

"Seriously," Rory warned her. "Out of it. Don't even think of getting into it!"

Melody laughed. "I'll try my best. But you know me...it calls me." She walked over to give them both a hug. While they said goodbye, the Doctor took the Sapling with him back to the TARDIS. The Ponds would need a moment to say goodbye to their daughter.

"Are we going to see Mother now!?" the Sapling hopped excitedly up to the console.

"Yeah," the Doctor went straight to the console. He shouldn't have done it but he downloaded his biography from the Teselecta archive. Now he knew exactly what he was in for, and it was not pretty. But so long as Avalon was kept out of it, he didn't care what was coming for him.

~ 0 ~

When Ryland emerged from from Avalon's hospital room, he spotted the Doctor, Amy, Rory and the Sapling coming down the hallway. He immediately searched for the woman responsible for all this mess, but she wasn't there. And she wouldn't be coming back soon, that much he could tell from Amy's and Rory's distraught faces. The Sapling didn't waste time and scurried down the hallway, straight into Avalon's room before anyone could tell him anything. He wanted to see his Mother so badly!

"Where is she?" Ryland still asked the group when they joined him. He didn't have to say her name for them to know he meant River.

"Somewhere, making her own way now," the Doctor said, glancing over his shoulder to the Ponds. It hurt them badly to let their daughter go, but it was the best thing they could for Melody and Avalon.

"Is she alright?"

"Yes, in what fits."

Ryland nodded then sighed. "Avalon's woken up, though she's been in and out of consciousness. The Silence, Kovarian - they did a number on my niece." His heart broke when he first saw Avalon's arms, when she sobbed about how terrified she'd been. "I want them to pay. All of them."

The sentiment was shared amongst the others, but they knew that they literally had to wait.

"It's a tricky thing, Ryland," the Doctor began, looking unsure himself...because he was. "Kovarian has created the perfect game here. We can't strike because of Time. We make one wrong move and both Melody and Avalon go 'poof!'." He did the hand gesture for effect, but he was sure the word was more than enough to make a point. "And that's not what we want, right?"

Ryland sighed with exasperation. "Of course not! But we can't just let this stand!"

"Oh, we won't," the Doctor said, his voice dropping low. "You better believe that I'm going after them."

Ryland wasn't one to doubt him, so he nodded but there was still heavy concern in his eyes when he glanced back at Avalon's room. "She's really hurt. I trust this hospital but I'm also scared. She lost her entire immune system. She has zero defenses."

"But we can fix that," Rory finally spoke up but then he realized that Avalon's biology was a bit out of his element so he looked at the Doctor just to be sure. "Right?"

"Yes, of course we can," the Doctor nodded. "But I'm going to need to take Avalon away for a while," he told Ryland, knowing that the man wouldn't be so happy about that detail.

And true to that, Ryland's mouth opened to argue. "But we just got her back!"

"And like you said, she doesn't have any defenses. Earth is filled with bacteria and germs that she cannot fight right now. The TARDIS is a sterile place where I can monitor her at all times, where we-" the Doctor gestured behind him to Amy and Rory, "-will look after her and raise her health. Physically and mentally."

Because of course there was no way in hell the Ponds would let go of the only piece they had of their daughter. Both Amy and Rory nodded affirmatively. Where Avalon went, they went. Period.

"I am a nurse," Rory reminded Ryland. "I know exactly what humans need. I'll help take good care of Avalon."

"I don't suppose I have a choice," Ryland mumbled, but he did realize that the TARDIS was the safest spot for Avalon at the moment. "But will you bring her when she gets better?"

"You have my word," the Doctor promised, raising his hand in the air. It would be some time before Avalon could leave sterile rooms, but he would bring her back to Earth the moment she could withstand it.

Ryland nodded. "Thank you. And...thank you for bringing her back. All of you." The Doctor gave a slight nod of his head but it was easy to see that he didn't feel like he actually did anything. He hadn't found Avalon, she had found him. "I trust you, Doctor. And you," Ryland gave Amy and Rory a half smile. "I trust that you'll keep her safe." He gave Avalon's door another glance before motioning them to go inside. "See if she's awake. I assume there's plenty to talk about."

That was an understatement. Still, the three of them took in some deep, brave breaths and headed for Avalon's room.

Avalon was asleep but with the Sapling's movements and whispers, she would end up waking up. Seeing the tree child did bring out a smile, which was all anyone wanted right now.

"Hey, don't try to move so much," Rory took the nearest seat beside her bed. "You gotta save your strength."

"Ugh, now you're sounding like my Dad," Avalon licked her chapped lips then made a face after it stung her. "I really need chapstick. Actually...I really need and want a bath."

"Lavender scented bath bombs await in the TARDIS," Amy promised her. She'd taken the opposite side and grabbed Avalon's hand first chance she got. There was a different feeling Amy got now that she knew who Avalon was. Maybe it was the part of her motherhood that she didn't get to live out with Melody, or maybe it was just the grandmother part of her too. She wanted to protect Avalon and be there for whatever Avalon might need.

"Mm, sounds nice," Avalon drew in a breath but it stung as well. "My entire body hurts. Even breathing hurts - how pathetic is that?"

"Don't say that," the Doctor spoke up for the first time, and it was only because that had come out automatically. He didn't want Avalon feeling bad for anything that happened. "You don't say anything like that, got it? Because you have no reason to put yourself down."

Avalon's gaze lowered the moment his eyes landed on her. She couldn't fathom looking at anyone right now. She was guilty. And embarrassed. "I'm sorry guys," her apology came in the form of a frail whisper. "I couldn't save Melody and I let them brainwash me."

"Avalon, this wasn't your fault," Rory reached for Avalon's other hand.

The Sapling squirmed his way around Amy's chair, going under Amy's arm that was holding Avalon's hand, until he was right next to his Mother. "Mother, you shouldn't cry. It was the bad people's fault."

"But neither of you have Melody because I couldn't hold onto her," Avalon raised her head, showing new tears in her eyes. "I had her in my arms and Kovarian ripped her away from me. I took care of her for a week and then I never saw her again. I'm so sorry."

Amy couldn't help the tears in her own eyes. "Avalon, the same thing happened to me and I'm her mother. But Kovarian was too smart. But hey, she's okay now and she's going to make her own way. This is where River Song starts and we'll be seeing her around."

"I didn't get to apologize to her," Avalon glanced at the Doctor. "Could I see her, please? I-I really want to talk to her. River's saved me so many times and the one chance I had to save her...I didn't do it."

"She doesn't blame you - actually, she's mad as hell with Kovarian," he gave her a soft smile. "You're so alike, actually."

Avalon would've smiled but instead of seeing him, she saw his dying body in Berlin. The tears doubled and whether she wanted to or not, she sniffled all over again. "Doctor, I'm so sorry! I nearly killed you! I-I didn't know I was going to do it but I'm so sorry!"

The Doctor forgot all about his own guilt for the moment as he moved up to her bed to hug her. Amy and Rory let go of Avalon's hands and the moment they did, Avalon clung to the Doctor's arms. Even the Sapling had leaned away, more on his great-grandmother's side, to give his parents some space.

"You're good, Avalon. You are so good, don't ever think that I will reproach you for anything," the Doctor kissed Avalon's messy hair.

"But I-I poisoned you-"

"-and you saved my life," the Doctor pulled away to give her a small smile. He poked her forehead, something that brought out a teary-eyed smile from her. "And now you lost your ability to heal people."

"I don't care," she said, sounding pretty damn certain about it too. "I saved you. I would do it again if I had to."

"I recommend you don't," the Doctor's gaze turned sharp just at the idea of her having to do it again. Next time, she might just use up all of her regenerations, however many she had. "I'm the Fairy Tale Man. I will do the saving around here. And I'm sorry I didn't do that before Kovarian hurt you so much."

Avalon completely let go of him to see her bruised and stitched arms. She screwed her eyes shut for a moment to push away any of those memories. "I can't remember everything...but I know that they hurt me. I can see some of it. I hate her so much."

"We're going to find her," Amy promised, her teeth gritting together as the raw fury crept over her. It only faltered when she saw the brief terror in Avalon's eyes. "But she's not going to hurt you again. She's going to have go through all of us first." Everyone nodded, including the Sapling.

"You stay far away, Mister," Avalon wagged a finger at the Sapling, relishing in his childlike giggle. She missed him. "I may be a terrible mother but I will still do my best to keep you away from danger." At the mention of 'mother', the others exchanged nervous glances. Avalon noticed it fairly quick and arched an eyebrow at them. "What is it?"

"Uum..." the Doctor would be brave and take the lead in the conversation. "You mentioned that your memory's a bit foggy?" Avalon nodded. "Do you remember if Kovarian mentioned anything about, I don't know, your parents?"

Avalon crinkled her nose. "No. Why would she?"

"Just curious," the Doctor checked for Amy's and Rory's reactions. He'd continue if they wanted him to...and they seemed to want him to. Oh boy.

"What's going on?" Avalon saw their discreet glances with each other. "What more is going on?"

"Avalon...we, uh...blimey, there's not an easy way to say it but...we know about your real Mother and..." the Doctor watched her face go pale - paler than what it already was - then was quick to go for anger.

"I told you I didn't want to know!" she practically snarled.

"But things are different now," Amy chimed in for the sake of her daughter.

"Yeah, I'm a murderer!" Avalon shot the Doctor a look. "I nearly murdered you and you want talk about my...my Mother?"

"Actually, her and-"

"No!" she yelled. "You know what? I do remember Kovarian mentioning something about that. My mother abandoned me because she didn't care about me."

"That's not true," Amy scowled, but in doing so it made Avalon even more angry.

"How would you know? Nobody abandoned you!"

"Because I know who she is and she didn't leave you behind!"

"Amy," Rory's voice was warning her to watch what she would say. Amy was distraught over their situation, more so by the fact Avalon would still believe in the lie that River abandoned her. But there was a reality that none of them were facing yet, one that nobody had asked out loud. River didn't abandon Avalon, okay, but then why did she give Avalon away?

Avalon squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to remember moments with Kovarian but her mind was all jumbled up and everything was fuzzy. She couldn't remember even if she truly wanted to. "My life is in pieces right now and I don't want it to be broken into smaller fragments. Please leave it alone. Please." Her begging reminded her a lot of when she had to beg for people not to slice her skin, or when she had Melody taken away from her, or pretty much every time she was in pain. New tears rolled down her cheeks and even if she couldn't move a lot, she put her best efforts to scoot towards the Doctor, trying to reach for his closest hand. "Please just forget about it. I don't want to know. I-I don't want to know!"

The Doctor wouldn't further victimize her like Kovarian had. He gave her a reassuring nod that he would not say anything. It brought her such relief that she thanked him over and over again, like he'd just saved her life. He checked Amy's and Rory's expressions and he wasn't surprised to find them grim. Their granddaughter hated their daughter because of a lie.

The Silence had ruined them from top to bottom and he let it happen.

#ocappreciation #doctor who #11th doctor imagines #dw imagine #doctor who fics #dw fics #doctor who imagines #11th doctor fics #oc: Avalon Reynolds #oc: Lena Reynolds #fic: falling in temptation

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roadtohadestown · 5 years ago

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welcome to my hadestown vampire au *jazz hands*

i know we already have a vampire au somewhere in the fandom, bUT i wanted my own because it was literally the only thing i could think about for a week.

now let’s talk about it ٩( ᐛ )و

first thing’s first, let’s talk about persephone. persephone is a world-renowned vampire hunter.

in the past, she was happily in love with hades; however, in the middle of their engagement, she discovered that hades was a vampire

he was human when they met, but was turned just recently (it'd only been a couple weeks since it happened)

persephone—although angry he didn't tell her sooner—doesn't leave him. she agrees to stay with him and allows him to drink some of her blood.

ok, let’s establish some vampire things in this au before we continue.

when someone is turned into a vampire, at first everything is fine. but obviously you gotta feed soon. when drinking blood, newly-turned vampires often don’t drink too much considering how new they are to the whole vampire thing (they’re probably like. grossed out). if you take in too little blood / not a decent amount, you start to get these urges: you lose control of yourself and have a strong desire to feed. this strong desire can lead you to turn others into vampires (turning someone is caused by draining a human entirely of their blood). this CAN happen when you get one of these urges, but it might not. you just happen to take in more than you were before, and this could possibly result in entirely draining someone. the more you try to suppress your urge to feed, the worse it becomes.

(these urges are usually triggered by little blood intake, but can also just come in at random times in your life. they become a bit more frequent the older you become.)

persephone allows hades to drink from her but not a whole lot, and she trusts him enough not to turn her. (she loves him anyways, so she trusts him.)

however, what they didn’t know was about the urges. when hades was first turned, he didn’t know of any of this. and neither did persephone. since she’d only been letting him drink some of her blood, this little intake caused one of these urges to occur—

while drinking, hades felt himself lose control midway, almost draining persephone entirely. she started to grow weak. she desperately struggled to pull away and eventually did. hades apologized afterwards, saying he didn't know what got into him. even so, persephone felt herself trust him a little less since.

after that time, persephone’s looked more into vampires to try to help hades. learning that hades would have to drink more to control himself, persephone allowed him to drink more from her than he usually had. (she doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt and would rather he do it to her than another human being.)

however, as hades does this more, he realizes how weak it makes persephone and how much it hurts her. hades feels guilty about this and (without her knowledge) sneaks away to feed off of others than rely solely on persephone.

time passes. one day persephone reads something in the newspaper: a huge mass of people found dead and resurrected as vampires, all in such a short span of time. she later discovers that this had been done by hades, who seems to be struggling to control his urges more and more

the idea of more people turning into vampires fills persephone with grief; she can only imagine the amount of pain this must be causing people and their families. unable to cope with hades's doing, she leaves him and becomes a vampire hunter.

over time, she uses her knowledge from being with hades (and her studies) to set out and kill as many vampires as she could, soon givng her the title of world-renowned vampire hunter

although being a vampire hunter, persephone refuses to kill hades. she knows doing so would only keep the cycle going (if he stays alive he'll continue to turn more humans), but even so...she can't bear the idea of killing him. (she still loves him, doesn’t she ??) she just can’t.

after persephone left him, hades has only gotten worse. he's become angrier and distraught without persephone there to soothe him or be at his side to comfort him. it isn't before long that he feels he’s lost himself entirely.

note that no one really knows of persephone and hades relationship. no one really knew that they were in love; and considering hades is a vampire and seph a vampire hunter, no one even suspects it.

flash forward to present day. eurydice finds herself walking alone at night and is soon jumped by a vampire. she tries to defend herself with whatever martial arts moves she can manage, but to no avail; she is eventually pinned against the wall and struggles to break free from the vampire’s grasp.

suddenly, she’s saved by persephone, who kills him with a silver bullet to the head

eurydice recognizes persephone and thanks her. (she doesn't freak out like "oH My gOSH yOu'RE pERsEphONe" because she's not like. fangirl level. just a calm "oh hey, you're that famous vampire hunter...persephone, right? thanks for saving me.")

they chat a little, then part ways. but before eurydice leaves, persephone gives her a silver bullet as a gift.

eurydice keeps this and makes it into a necklace that she always wears around her neck. (i just thought it’d be cool to have her wear a bullet necklace ok shhhh)

since then, eurydice's dabbled in the art of vampire killing. she hasn't actually tried out the activity herself, but has studied quite a bit on vampires and how to kill them.

one day, she walks around at night in the city, but this time, she's armed with a stake just in case she gets jumped again.

while walking, she hears a soft singing. a beautiful voice resounds its way through the alleyways. curious of the source, she follows the voice until she comes across a boy on the roof of a building, legs dangling over the edge and playing his guitar as he sings.

"hey!" eurydice calls from below. she startles the boy, who literally fumbles around for five seconds and nearly drops his guitar in the process. "s-sorry!! i didn't mean to startle you."

"no, no, it's fine!" he awkwardly laughs, putting down his guitar.

"you have a beautiful voice, by the way."

"thanks."

"sorry, i know i interrupted you just to tell you something small, but—“

"no really, don't worry about it! i appreciate it." he thinks for a second before eurydice can walk away. "uhh, do you wanna...come up here and chat for a bit?"

"um...sure why not?" eurydice had blurted this out without much thought; in the moment, the idea of whether or not this guy might be a vampire doesn't strike her. but now that it does, she quickly prepares herself. she'd been invited into his potential trap, and she just agreed to step right in. why did i say yes? if he's a vampire, this is a fucking suicide mission. stupid eurydice, fuck—

the ladder leading to the roof is at the side of the building, so she goes up.

eurydice reluctantly sits down beside him.

"hey," he greets her with a smile, "i'm orpheus."

"eurydice," she says firmly. her eyes flit around to examine him from head to toe. he doesn't seem suspicious…and he doesn’t really give me vampire vibes…

orpheus slowly nods, waiting for her to say something else to drag the conversation along, but she doesn't. however, he does notice her eyeing him suspiciously. maybe i shouldn't have invited her…??

but what orpheus can admit is that—wow she looks so pretty, especially under the moonlight oh my gosh she’s gorgeous.

eurydice eventually stops examining him because she sees him noticing.

“so...you play the guitar. can you play a song for me?”

he agrees and starts singing a song he’s been working on. eurydice gets too caught up in his singing that she totally forgets about the oh-shit-he-might-be-a-vampire thing.

while listening to him, she realizes she might have a teeeeeny bit of a crush on this guy. he’s very cute. and has a very nice voice. also plays the guitar really well. wow i think i might be in love—

when he finishes, eurydice compliments him once more and thanks him. realizing it’s getting a bit late, she says she’s gotta go.

“do you wanna meet again tomorrow afternoon?”

orpheus frowns. “i don’t know if i can do the afternoon...”

“how about tomorrow night? same time as now? oh wait, are you usually up this la—”

“i’ll be there.”

she nods, and smiles. “see you tomorrow, orpheus.”

(eurydice’s still enamored by orpheus that she doesn’t realize him being able to meet her at night than the afternoon is a little...suspicious 👀👀)

so about orpheus: orpheus is actually a vampire.

but he doesn’t like it.

orpheus was born a vampire when his parents were very late in life (they’ve been around for a long time, but didn’t decide until hundreds of years later to have a baby ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). after his parents died when he was very, very young (vampire hunters djskskndm), orpheus was abandoned; but soon found by hermes, who took him in.

immediately upon finding orpheus, hermes knew he as a vampire. but even so, considering he was left alone, and was too little to fend for himself, he took him in.

being a human, hermes was unable to teach orpheus how to,, y’know,, properly be a vampire. but here’s the thing: hermes has Connections. he actually knows some fellow vamps—these being clotho, lachesis, and atropos (aka, your lovely fates). every now and then they visit hermes and orpheus and teach orpheus all the vampire shtuff he needs to know.

since orpheus has basically grown up with them in his life, the fates have kinda just,, become his aunts tbh hjshsjdh

before the fates came along, orpheus had already grown to hate his vampiric side. so once they came into the picture, he’d do whatever he had to when they taught him, but he never really agreed to the concept of it. (he has to learn these things for his survival, but gosh, he really wishes he didn’t have to go through all this.) he just really doesn’t like being a vampire okie—

for one, he hates drinking blood. obviously he’s just gotta deal with it, but if there was any way he could not do that, he would. secondly, he hates not being able to bask in the sun. (as vampires get older, their resistance to the sun becomes much worse. so when they’re younger, they could stay in the sun for hours and hours before it becomes detrimental to them.) before the fates, orpheus would always sit around outside and stare at the sky, be it night or day. his favorites were whenever he’d watch the sunrise, which he always considered the most magical time of day. as he grew older, this routine obviously had to stop. but still—he misses sunrises.

the guitar orpheus has was given to him by hermes. (it was hermes’s old guitar.) hermes is the one who taught orpheus how to play.

on the topic of urges, orpheus……...is a weird one. he hasn’t actually experienced one yet, despite that he’s been around for quite a while. the fates find this pretty odd. hm.

upon meeting eurydice, orpheus doesn’t really wanna tell her who he really is right then and there. as aforementioned, he doesn’t really like being a vampire, so why tell her, y’know ??

he hopes he can keep this a secret from her for as long as he can, but obviously that doesn’t last...

this is the first time i’ve actually fleshed out an au, and planning all this only gave me 2015 writing nostalgia (back when i was a daily fanfic writer ahsjhsbd)

ANYWAYS. this was fun. i’ll draw more soon 😘

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lynelovespopculture · 5 years ago

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The Chilling Adventures of Zelda Chapter 5-ROAD TO RECOVERY PLEASE REMEMBER TO COMMENT!

CHAPTER 5-THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

WARNING: Talk of suicide

Zelda couldn’t sleep. She sighed as she turned to look at the clock, 2:45 AM. Zelda looked upper still to Hilda 3 feet away, lightly snoring. Zelda removed her blankets and put her feet into her slippers. She exited the bedroom before conjuring a little ball of light to accompany her down the dark hallway. It had been 2 and a half weeks since Zelda’s husband had been separated from his insanity curse and things were not going all that well. The plan had been to free Faustus and then kill the curse and they had tried their best. Zelda had been literally in hell as Prudence tried to stab it and Hilda came from behind with a heavy rock. However, the stab wound made no difference and the rock that broke in 2. It fell to Zelda to tell her family that the curse bore the mark of Cain, which made it immortal. Somehow, the curse got away. So, Blackwood, (to help avoid confusion, the family decided to call the curse Blackwood and the real man Faustus,) was on the run again but not for long. A week later, when all the coven was in the church to hear mass, a bloody Dorcas stormed in to tearfully inform the others that Blackwood stormed the nearly empty academy. Dorcas tried hard but Blackwood did manage to reclaim the twins before disappearing again. Poor Dorcas blamed herself, but Zelda tried her best to comfort the distraught girl. Secretly, Zelda herself wanted to cry. How could they lose the twins yet again, after a mere 8 days! Late at night on all 7 nights, Zelda would take care not to be caught as she sneaked into where the twins slept. She would tuck them in if needed, kiss them and just stay with them for a while. Wondering how Judas and Letitia, she knew the girl twin was calling herself Judith, but she would always be Letitia to Zelda, could possibly be teenagers, when their 1st birthday was still weeks away. Agatha, who was already pretty hostile, grew even more violent and wild when she learned that Blackwood came to get the twins but not her. Knowing that Agatha was a danger not only to herself but to the other students and teachers, Zelda made the decision to put Agatha in the dungeon, for now.

“I’m really sorry girls,” Zelda told the other weird sisters about her decision. “I wish there was another way, but I need to put the safety of the coven first, plus if Blackwood comes back for her, it won’t be so easy.”

“We understand, Sister Zelda.” Prudence soothed.

Dorcas nodded. “Agatha’s in good hands. We trust you, Mistress Spellman.”

Zelda smiled, she needed to hear that right now.

Zelda briefly considered getting in touch with their mysterious new ally, Gloria Rose but the idea was quickly dismissed for 2 reasons. First, Zelda had no idea where Gloria lived or how to get in touch with her and had a funny feeling that Gloria wouldn’t pop up again it was time for Lilith’s next appointment. Also, was the fact that Gloria had betrayed Blackwood by giving him to the Spellmans so it was unlikely Blackwood would go back to her.

The cold hallway gave Zelda a chill, sending her back to the present. Zelda went to the end of the hall and opened the linen closet, grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around herself. In addition to worrying about Blackwood, the twins, and Agatha, Zelda was extremely concerned about Faustus, only in a completely different way. Agatha’s behavior was violent and dangerous. Faustus was a danger to no one but himself. Zelda was with her husband when he asked the dark lord to put him under house arrest and stripped him of all his magical powers. Boy, Faustus was not kidding. He asked for house arrest but it was more like room arrest. Shortly after returning from hell, Faustus went down to the morgue and stayed there for 2 and a half weeks. The morgue was the lowest, coldest room in the Spellman house. Zelda suspected if Faustus could go lower, he would. He also absolutely wouldn’t hear of going near the church or school.

“I am no longer a high priest,” he said when Sabrina addressed as Father Blackwood, “nor should I be. I betrayed a sacred trust when I poisoned the entire coven.” His head turned as his eyes grew misty.

Faustus also insisted on being punished. He even asked Ambrose to chain him up. Zelda quickly overruled that request. There was no self-torture Faustus wouldn’t inflict on himself. One day, he found a rope that he used as a whip. By the time someone found him, his back was red, bruised and bleeding. He wouldn’t allow anyone to heal him but a sneaky Zelda did it while he was asleep. Zelda feared she wouldn’t be attracted to a powerless Faustus but she was wrong. I love him, she thought. I truly love him, more and more each day. People made sure that trays of Hilda’s famous cooking was brought down to him at least 3 times a day, but Faustus barely touched any of it. Zelda spent hours and hours with him, begging him to eat, if only for her. It kind of reminded Zelda when she and Hilda would do a good cop/bad cop routine when a 4-year-old Sabrina refused to eat her peas. On the days that were really bad, Zelda would take her own dinner to the morgue and refused to eat until Faustus did. Of course, her pregnancy and the fact that the baby needed to be fed, was her ace in the hole and soon found Faustus cleaning his plate.

Zelda dismissed the ball of light as she went down the spiral steps to the morgue. There was a full moon tonight and its light filled the room. Zelda sighed as she saw Faustus was, yet again, not sleeping in the cot that had been prepared for him but instead, sitting against the wall, wearing only his pants, trying to keep himself from nodding off. Why? Because sleep deprivation was a form of torture too.

“It’s like he’s broken, Aunt Hilda.” Zelda overheard Ambrose said one morning. Zelda said nothing as she entered the room but she knew whatever was ‘broken’ in Faustus, could be fixed.

“What are you doing here?” Faustus asked when he finally noticed Zelda standing on the last stair. “It’s late. You should be asleep.”

“So should you.” She returned firmly.

He shook his head. “I don’t matter, you do.”

“Yes, you do.” You matter to me. Zelda thought silently to herself. Zelda wanted to tell Faustus she loved him a thousand times since he been back but it never seemed to be the right moment. Sighing, she went over to him. “Oh, Faustus! Your hands are like ice! Here.” Zelda took off the blanket that was wrapped around her and gave it to him before going to the cot to pick up the rest of the blankets.

“No, I don’t want it. I deserve to be cold!” Faustus whined like a child while pushing away the blankets. However, the blankets were tucked tightly around him once Zelda spelled it.

Then she sat down and snuggled next to him. “You know, Faustus,” Zelda said before they both fell asleep, “you can’t go on like this much longer.”

Zelda was right, of course, and Faustus knew it. It was Wednesday morning when it was when Faustus sneaked into the kitchen before anyone had come down. It was a lot harder to switch 2 bottles without powers.

“Well, Father Blackwood! It’s good to see you above ground level.” Faustus turned sharply around, keeping the bottle behind his back as he saw Hilda smiling at him. “Are you feeling better this morning?”

“A little.” He lied. “And call me Faustus.”

“Well, good! Fancy a bit of breakfast? The others should be right down.”

“No, thank you, Hilda. I’m not hungry.” That was true. It took a few more lines of small talk before Faustus was able to leave the kitchen without letting Hilda see the bottle he switched. Out in the hallway, Faustus recognized a book on a bench that as headmistress, Zelda would use. He picked it up and tucked it under his arm. Turning, Faustus almost ran into Sabrina.

“Oh, Miss Spellman, um, Sabrina, I’m glad I bumped into you. I just wanted to say that I am very ashamed of my behavior towards you when we first meet. I know now that I was just taking my anger toward your father out on you and that’s not fair to you.”

Sabrina was stunned. “T-Thank you, Fath, Mr. Blackwood. Perhaps we can start fresh going forward.”

Faustus smiled at the girl. He was back downstairs when he heard footsteps on the steps and Ambrose then came into view with a cardboard box.

“I got you what you asked for from the academy.”

“Thank you, Ambrose. You’re a fine young man. My daughter could do a lot worse.”

Ambrose turned bright red. “We aren’t back together or anything, not yet, I mean, not officially.”

“Nevertheless, I approve. Whatever you and Prudence decide to do.”

“Someone say my name? My ears are burning.” Prudence smiled as she entered.

“Hey, Prudence! What are you doing here?” Asked a friendly Ambrose.

“I just thought I would come round, check on things here. Good morning, Father.”

Faustus returned his daughter’s smile. “Good morning, Prudence.”

“Do you want some company back to school?” Prudence asked Ambrose.

“Sure.”

They both turned to go until Faustus called his daughter back. Prudence turned and Faustus went up to his daughter, caressed her cheek before kissing her and giving her a big hug.

Prudence smiled. “What was that for?”

Faustus smiled back. “I just wanted to kiss and hug you just for no special reason, just once.”

Prudence’s smile grew bigger and she hugged him back. “Thank you, Father.” She whispered in his ear.

She and Ambrose left then, passing Zelda on the stairs.

“Hello, Sister Zelda.”

“Morning, Aunt Z.”

Zelda came downstairs in a rush. “I can’t believe I’m going to be late again.” Zelda seemed to be searching for something.”

“Lost something?” Faustus asked.

“Yes,” Zelda answered. “I need a certain book for my 1st class and I can’t find it anywhere.”

Faustus held up the book he took from the hall. “Is it this one?”

Zelda looked up and immediately lit up. “Yes!” She took it from him and turned to leave.

My beautiful Zelda, Faustus thought. But I need 1 more look, just 1 more.

“Zelda?”

“Yes?” She turned to him again and he drunk her in before he shrugged. “I forgot my thought.”

It was half an hour before Faustus knew he was alone in the house. It was only then that Faustus opened the cardboard box that Ambrose brought him to check if it had all the contents in it. Yep, it was all there. Every stomach-churning item. With 1 look, Faustus could tell that the old-fashioned potbelly stove was not going to be big enough to burn all this stuff. So, Faustus went upstairs to find something bigger. The fireplace in the living room seemed big enough but Faustus simply couldn’t do it. It was on this exact spot, almost a year ago, that he kissed Zelda. It was by far, the very best kiss of his entire existence and that was the night that Faustus and Zelda started the affair that led to their marriage, 6 months later. Faustus continued his search combing all the upstairs but didn’t find anything that he needed. Faustus was on the stairs when a stranger came through the door.

“Zelda?” The stranger called. “Prudence?”

“There’s no one here but me,” Faustus said. “I think they’re at the academy.”

The strange woman looked up at him. “Who are you?”

I could ask the same thing of you. Faustus thought but he actually said “I’m an old friend of the Spellmans. I’m staying here for a few days.”

“Oh, okay, nice to meet you. I’m Mambo Marie and I was just looking for Zelda. She’s been late a lot lately. I think she’s been avoiding me since we broke up.”

Faustus couldn’t stop himself. “Broke up?! You mean, the 2 of you used to be together?” You have no right to feel jealous. Faustus silently scolded himself. You have no right to feel anything but guilt and shame.

“Yes, we went out for a couple of months last spring,” Marie answered and sighed. “I still miss her sometimes. Zelda Spellman is proving a hard woman to get over.”

Try impossible, Faustus thought. Outloud, he said, “Would you like to get back together with Zelda?”

Marie half-smiled and shook her head. “Not going to happen, even if I wanted it to. Our last conversation made that perfectly clear.”

“Oh, it couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Oh no?” Marie challenged. “The last time Zelda and I were alone together, I tried to get her to take…an abortion potion.” She looked down at her feet.

“You tried to get Zelda to kill ou, her baby?”

“I do regret it,” Marie said quickly. “I got hurt that Zelda didn’t tell me herself and I got mad when she told me that the father was that bastard who wants to kill the whole coven.”

Faustus closed his eyes at the word ‘bastard’ but he forced himself to go on. “Have you told Zelda that you’re sorry?”

Marie shrugged. “No, I mean, what would be the point? Zelda would never forgive me.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Zelda can be very forgiving, perhaps too forgiving.”

“What?” asked Marie.

“Nothing,” Faustus dismissed. “You know if you act now you could surprise Zelda with a romantic lunch.”

“You think that will work?”

“Can’t hurt.”

“Well, okay. I’ll try.” Marie smiled.

“Try giving her purple Primroses. They’s are Zelda’s favorites.”

“Thank you.”

“Bye,” Faustus waved until Marie closed the door. “Please take good care of all I love.”

Half an hour later, Zelda walked into her office, studying some papers and looked up to see a set table and Mambo Marie was smiling and holding flowers. “Hello, ma Cherie.”

“Hi, what are you doing?”

“I know it’s been a while,” Marie started. “But I thought we could have lunch together so I could apologize for my behavior from last time.”

Zelda smiled. “I appreciate that.” Zelda closed the folder, tossed it on her desk and sat down on the chair Marie had pulled out for her. Then Marie sat down herself.

“I am sorry Zelda.” Said Marie. “I had no right to tell you what to do with your baby, it is your body, after all.”

“Yes, Marie, it is,” Zelda said firmly.

“But that’s not all.” Marie put her hand on top of Zelda’s and smiled. “Ma Cherie, I think we should give us another chance.” When Zelda said nothing, Marie said jokingly. “What? There’s not somebody else, is there?” Zelda looked at her guiltily.

“Unbelieve!” Marie snapped.

Before a fight could break out, Hilda ran into the office. “Zelda! Zelda!”

Zelda stood up. “Hilda, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“I was just in my herbalism class, showing how nightshade is poison in liquid form but when I opened the bottle, it was only dirt. Then I remember that I saw Father Blackwood in the kitchen, near my purse and since this is the 1st day he’s alone in the house-“

“Faustus is going to kill himself.” Zelda finished for her sister.

Marie was utterly confused. “Wait, isn’t a good thing if Blackwood dies?”

“Blackwood and Faustus are not the same people anymore.”

“What?!”

“Hilda, you explain it to her. I got to go save Faustus.”

But Marie wouldn’t be put off. “Damn it, Zelda Spellman, if you walk out on me now, we are over! I mean it. I’m going back to New Orleans and I won’t be coming back!”

Zelda wasn’t one easily threaten but more than that, Marie didn’t seem to care about a potential suicide. “Have a safe trip,” Zelda said before teleporting home.

Meanwhile, back in the morgue of the Spellman house, Faustus sat in a corner on the floor. He held a picture of Zelda that he swiped from the mantle. “Goodbye, my love.” Faustus lifted the bottle to his lips but before he could drink anything, the bottle flew out of his palm and smashed against the opposite wall.

“What the heaven are you doing, Faustus?!” Zelda demanded, coming more into the room and gently shoved him. “You cannot leave me! You cannot leave me! You cannot leave me!” Zelda turned, covering her eyes to catch the fresh tears. “What are you thinking of?”

“I was thinking of how you and everyone else would be better off without me.”

Zelda shook her head and crossed her arms. “That is so not true! You are needed, Faustus.”

“By who?”

“By your children, by me!” Zelda returned. Faustus shook his head so Zelda went forward and held Faustus’s head so he had no choice but to look at her. “You are loved,” Faustus shook his head. “Yes, you are!” Zelda insisted. “Prudence love you, the twins love you, our new baby will love you and I love you.”

Faustus’s eyes widened. “In all our years, the centuries we’ve known each other, that’s the 1 thing you’re never said to me, never.”

“Well, I do, truly I do. I’m only sorry it took me so long to realize it.”

“What about your girlfriend, Mambo Marie?”

“How do you know about her?” Zelda asked. “Was she here? What am I even talking about? Of course, she was! She would never know to bring me purple primroses all by herself. I won’t lie to you, Faustus. I did have a crush on Marie when we first met but crushes fade and in reality, we don’t know each other and lately, all we do is fight. Even now, when Hilda told me what you had planned, she wanted me to stay and finish lunch with her but all I could think of was you and how I couldn’t bear to lose you, again.” Faustus stayed silent and Zelda got an awful, horrible idea. “Have I gotten this all wrong? I know it’s only been a few months for us but it’s been 15 years for you. Do you no longer love me, Faustus?”

Faustus put an arm around her waist and for a second it looked like he was going to kiss her but forced himself to stop. “I love you so much, Zelda. Other than my children, I’ve never loved anyone else, not for a second. Yet the fact remains that I don’t deserve you.”

“Deserve me or not, you have me!” Zelda said before she kissed him. Faustus tried to resist but Zelda held him close and soon their bodies melted into each other. It wasn’t long before Faustus’s fingers found the zipper on the side of Zelda’s skirt. She stepped out of it and rolled her hosiery and panties down as far as they would go without breaking the kiss. Faustus, meanwhile, unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall off him before he scooped her up and gently laid her on the exam table. Carefully, he lowered himself over her. He began to kiss her, slowly. Beginning with the very top of her head and worked his way down to her forehead, one cheek then the other and on to those sweet, sweet lips. As Faustus moved to kiss her neck, his fingers went to work, unbuttoning her blouse. Zelda’s view was blurry as he caressed her neck but when he skillfully took off her bra and embraced her breasts, Zelda saw nothing at all. Her sight returned when she realized that his kisses had stopped completely. Zelda looked up to see Faustus staring down at her swollen belly. Oh no, Zelda thought, the insecurity creeping in. Faustus wasn’t attracted to a heavyset woman. It was just a fact Zelda knew. Personally, Zelda never had to worry about it, until now. Does he find me disgusting, is that why he stopped.

Yet Faustus’s eyes were filled with wonder as he touched the mount of flesh that housed their child. “That’s our baby in there.” He kissed all around her stomach. “How far along are you?”

“I’m currently 9 and a half months pregnant.”

“It’s odd, isn’t it?” Faustus asked while he continued kissing. “It’s been 15 years for me but only a few months for you, dearest. Hey! What is this?!”

“Oh, that’s just the wound from the gunshot.”

“What?! Who shot you?” Faustus demanded, instantly protective of his wife.

“It doesn’t matter.” When Zelda finally reached for his belt, Faustus grew nervous again.

“Zelda? Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

“Shh,” Zelda hushed. “You’re safe here. You’re safe with me, I promise.”

“Yes, but are you safe with me?” Faustus questioned.

Zelda only responded by kissing him and gently got on top of him. Now, it was Zelda’s turn to seduce. She kissed his chest, his hips and once she finally removed his pants, she went even lower. Faustus shivered with pleasure. When he couldn’t take it anymore so he rolled himself on top again and entered Zelda. The couple was used to rough sex, but this wasn’t that. This was lovemaking, comforting and soothing lovemaking. The kind outlawed by the dark lord, but they didn’t follow him anymore. Zelda fell asleep in Faustus’s arms.

When Zelda awoke, someone had covered her with a blanket, so she felt warm and safe. Without opening her eyes, Zelda reached out for Faustus but her hand couldn’t find him. Opening her eyes, Zelda discovered that he wasn’t beside her at all. With growing worry, Zelda prompted herself up on her elbow and scanned the room for her husband and found nothing.

“Faustus? Faustus!” Zelda cried out. Why did I fall asleep? She thought, panicking. Why did I leave him alone?

“I’m right here.” Came the calm reply. Zelda looked around and finally found him sitting on the floor, his back resting against the exam table. With a sigh of relief, Zelda wrapped the blanket around herself so she was at least semi-decent should anyone decide to come in before she climbed down to him.

“It seems that I’m always finding you on the floor. We do have chairs, you know.” Zelda snuggled beside him but he made no move to embrace her nor did he push her away.

Finally, Faustus spoke. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay,” Zelda soothed. “We don’t follow the dark lord anymore. Lovemaking should be fine.”

“I don’t give a flying fig about the dark lord!” Faustus cried, getting to his feet. “We shouldn’t have sex at all. Why can I never resist you, Zelda? Now it’s going to be next to impossible to go back.”

Zelda was confused. “I don’t understand, Faustus. Go back wh- OH!” Zelda instantly forgot what she was saying as her hand flew to her mid-section.

Faustus, too, briefly forgot whatever was troubling him as he went to his knees back to his wife. “Zelda? Zelda, what’s wrong?”

However, when Zelda looked up, she was smiling. “The baby,” she explained. “It just kicked.”

An odd expression came across Faustus’s face, one that was half horror, half awe. “Really?”

“Yes!” Zelda took Faustus’s hand and placed it on her stomach. “There,” she said after a moment. “Did you feel that?”

Faustus nodded. “Yes.” A tear fell from his eye as he stood, his head in his hands as he walked away. “This can’t be happening! Not now!” Faustus turned back to Zelda. “We’re finally married. You’re pregnant with my child. It’s all I ever wanted and I have to go back to him!”

Zelda was still completely lost. “Him? Him who?”

“My other half, of course,” Faustus answered. “I can’t thank you enough for…my little break, dearest but we both know that it could affect space and time if I’m not made whole soon. I just, I just can’t believe Edward was right. I’m, I’m just like my father.”

The mention of her brother made Zelda angry. “You are nothing like your father!”

“Oh no?” Faustus challenged. “’ You forget yourself, my dear. A wife walks behind her husband.’ I said that to you not even an hour after we were married. I cannot tell you how many times my father said exactly those words to my mother and my stepmother. I cringed every single time I heard it. I cringed twice as hard when those very words came out my own mouth. That moment I wanted to kick my own ass!”

“But Faustus, that was the curse talking, not you.” Zelda reminded him.

“Curse? What curse?!”

Zelda’s eyes widened and put her hand over her mouth as the realization dawned on her. “You don’t know, do you? Faustus do you what an insaniam maledictum spell is?”

Faustus didn’t need to think about it. “An insanity curse? What’s that got to do with me?”

Everything! Zelda wanted to yell but instead, she said, “It’s getting cold. Let’s get dressed, there’s much to talk about.”

So the couple got dressed and sat side by side on Faustus’s cot. That’s when Zelda told him everything. How Lucifer asked her to be Lilith’s midwife, how her payment was learning how Edward’s cursed their marriage, how she found his journals, the memory spell, how she confronted Edward and finally how she divided him from the curse.

Faustus, understandingly, was shocked for several moments before he spoke. “Do you mean even 16 years after his death, Edward was still trying to keep us apart?”

Zelda frowned but nodded.

“Why that little control freak! How dare he-“ Faustus stopped himself as he hung his head and his shoulders began to shake with heavy sobs. “For 15 long years, I heard my voice use words I didn’t want to say and saw my body do things I didn’t want to do! I thought it was my dark side was taking over completely but I never heard of such a thing!”

A shiver ran down Zelda’s spine. “You knew?” She whispered. “You knew but you couldn’t stop it.”

“Mostly. I was only able to overpower his will when he tried to hit the twins and when he tried to murder you.”

“Faustus, from what I’m hearing, you were trapped in a curse that works like a cargarli spell.”

Faustus froze before he stood up and walked a few feet to distance himself from his wife. “Oh heaven, the cargarli spell! How could I do that to you? I’m so, so sorry Zelda!”

She went to him. “It’s alright, Faustus. You were not responsible for anything you did under the curse. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry too.”

“What? Zelda, what on earth do you have to be sorry for?”

“I remember thinking after our wedding that it couldn’t be you but I let my anger and hurt cloud my judgment.” She put her arms around his neck. “Plus, I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that I love you.”

Faustus looked pained. “Zelda, I love you so much but we both know you don’t love me.”

Zelda felt like she had been punched in the gut. “But I do love you, Faustus, truly I do.”

He sighed. “Zelda, you yourself told me that you realized your feeling after reading my journals and performed the memory spell, I think those feelings are just pity.”

“No, Faustus, you’re wrong. Yes, I felt bad for the boy you were but I also realized how much I missed you. I lost count of how many times I want to inferred during the memory spell. I’m in love with you, Faustus and if takes me another 300 years to convince you of that, so be it!” She could see that he wasn’t convinced so she tried again. “You were right all along, Faustus, we do belong together. Think of all we’ve through already. Edward denies us permission to marry so you vow never take a wife. Edward tricks you into marriage with Constance, but it doesn’t kill our feelings for each other or even slow them down. We finally marry and we defeat this insanity curse. I’ve only forgotten my berries once in my life, barely a month after our marriage and that’s the very night I conceive our child. It all means something Faustus.”

He bit his lip. “Are you sure the curse is gone? I mean, just because it’s not in my body anymore doesn’t mean it didn’t creep into other things.”

“Like what?”

Faustus sighed. “Like the baby. You just said you conceived 1 month after our marriage. When the curse was on me. So did you even think the baby was fathered by the curse, not by me?”

“I did think of that, actually,” Zelda said. “Then I thought about how before every time we made love as husband and wife, your eyes would grow soft or you would get a nosebleed. I didn’t know it then but it was you breaking through. Even if you knew it or not, you never let the curse touch me that way and when I realized that, I loved you even more. Secondly, it’s a curse. We have to stop thinking of it as a real person. It may be wearing your skin and speak with your voice but it’s only a spell, a parasite we will be well rid of.”

Faustus lowered his eyes. “How can you be so sure that I’m not the curse? You told me yourself that the light was too bright to see when we separated. What if you brought home the wrong Blackwood?”

Zelda shook her head. “You’re the real Faustus. I know it and I can prove it!” Zelda poked around in some drawers and took out something, held it in her hand and went back to Faustus. “One of the things the curse wanted most is to end the Spellman bloodline. We both know I have Spellman blood. So if you are the curse,” Zelda pressed the knife into his hand and even guided his hand up to her throat. “Kill me.”

They silently eyed each other as Zelda let go of the knife and Faustus did nothing either way. Unafraid, Zelda leaned slightly, just enough so the knife bit into her skin and produced a single drop of blood. Faustus’s lip quivered before he threw down the knife and hugged Zelda to him with all his might.

Zelda kissed his cheek before whispering, “See, darling? You’re not the curse or your father or Edward. You’re you. Faustus. My husband, the father of my unborn baby and the man I love.” Her comments only made him squeezed her tighter.

Zelda was still holding Faustus when she looked up and saw a cardboard box. It felt oddly out of place because Zelda knew they didn’t keep deliveries down here. She was right; for this was the box Ambrose brought Faustus this morning.

“What is that?” Zelda asked. Faustus turned, saw it and moaned.

Faustus, you idiot! He thought. He saw Zelda go over to it but he held her back before she could open it. “No, no, no! I’m sorry Zelda, I meant to burn the contents of that box before..” Faustus’s voice died out.

“Well, what’s in it?”

Faustus sighed and hung his head. “All your things from when you were Lady Blackwood. As I said, I meant to burn everything before you got home but then Mambo Marie showed up and I got sidetracked and forgot. You were never supposed to see them again.”

Zelda was touched. Faustus felt so much shame and guilt that he refused to leave the lowest point of the house for weeks and would have killed himself if Zelda hadn’t stopped him. Yet, somehow, he still had the presence of mind to want to destroy what he knew had been harmful to her. “Well, I’m here now so how about we burn these things together?” She suggested.

Faustus shook his head sadly. “Can’t. I looked all around the house but the only fireplace large to do this in the living room.”

“So? Let’s go.”

“No!” He objected. “I don’t want to ruin the memory of where we had the most perfect kiss of my life.”

Zelda flashed him a smile. “Faustus, my darling, we have a million kisses ahead of us, possibly in every room in this house.” To prove her point, Zelda kissed him right there.

So, with Faustus carrying the box, they made their way to the living room. The box mainly contained those big, bright, colorful 50’s style dresses Zelda wore as Lady Blackwood. Faustus would just roll them up and toss them into the fire but he couldn’t help but notice that Zelda liked to rip up the dresses before feeding them to the fire. Then, at the very bottom of the box, they found it. The music box.

“I’ll take care of it,” Faustus offered.

“No, I’m okay.” Zelda reached into the box and put the music box on the coffee table and checked the drawers for a picture of herself, just in case. Then Zelda looked up at her husband. “Play it.”

Faustus’s eyes bugged out. “What?! No! I don’t want to!”

“Darling, it’s alright. I asked you to. Play the music.”

Unsure and with a deep sigh, Faustus winded up the music box. The tune started to play and then Zelda smashed it all to bits with a poker iron. Faustus smiled and joined it with another poker. Then he helped pick up the wooden pieces and threw them into the fire before gathering his wife into his arms. “I don’t know what I was thinking. You look so much better in black anyway.”

“You weren’t thinking anything, the curse was.” Zelda reminded him.

Despite now knowing about the curse, Faustus still had massive feelings of guilt and shame. He still refused to live anywhere but the morgue, but something had changed. For the next 11 nights, Zelda, without fail, would slip into the cot next to Faustus and stay with him all night. On 9 of those 11 nights, they made love. Faustus had almost forgotten how Zelda’s sexual drive matched so perfectly with his own. On 7 of the nights, Faustus would awaken in a cold swear frightened by harsh nightmares and cruel memories. Sometimes, it took all of Zelda’s soft words and her soft hands to soothed and lull him back to sleep. Despite his promise to her never to try to commit suicide again, Zelda made sure there was at least 1 other person in the house with Faustus at all times since Zelda’s duties during the day were many and growing as this season would be her 1st feast of feast as high priestess. To curb his depression, the other Spellmans tried to interact with him more. Ambrose bought down piles and piles of books and remembered how much he liked to talk about magic and life with the older, more experienced warlock. Sabrina and Faustus struck a deal, to forget their ugly past and try to start anew. Hilda often went to Faustus for help with schoolwork corrections and advice for the 1st time teacher from the man who had done it for centuries.

On the 12th night, Zelda came downstairs with a piece of pumpkin pie. “Faustus, I bought you something.”

Her husband looked up from the book he was reading. “It’s nearly 10, you’re almost never this late.”

“Oh, Faustus. You see what happens when you live in a morgue. The days’ blends into each other. Today was Feast of Feast.”

“Yes, and as if it wasn’t chaotic enough with this being my 1st as high priestess, Hilda was chosen as queen during the lottery.”

“Zelda, I’m so sorry.” Faustus frowned.

However, Zelda smiled. “Don’t be, Hilda’s fine.”

“But you just said your sister was the queen of the feast.”

Zelda nodded. “I did, but as high priestess you know, it’s my right to change the rules which I did. Now the queen and the handmaiden prepares the meal rather than be the meal. Then the coven sups together before hearing mass in Freyda’s name. I remember when the elders of the coven would become enraged when Edward would outlaw things and replace it with nothing.”

“So do I. That’s why I put most of them back.”

“But with my slight changes, I made most of the coven happy plus we get to enjoy the queen’s famous pie.” She handed him the pie and sat down next to him. “Blessed feast.”

Faustus kissed her. “Blessed feast, dearest.”

“Father Blackwood, I need a favor.”

“Hilda, if I have told you once if I have told you a 100 times, I’m no longer a high priest, it’s okay for you to call me Faustus.”

It was the following afternoon and Hilda rushed into the morgue.

“Okay, well, Fath-um, Faustus, I find myself in a bit of a jam. Zelda just called and with Mambo Marie leaving us in the lurch, there’s nobody to teach the next class but me. Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem but today is Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year for mortals and I already promised Dr. C that I would help at the bookshop.”

Faustus frowned. “Normally, I would love to help you out but Zelda knows I just can’t look at those students after what I’ve done. Zelda talks about telling them the truth about me being here at one point and then try to slowly ease me back into the coven but I just don’t see it happening.”

Hilda bit her lip. “I know you don’t want to be seen at the academy and totally understand why. So, um, I was actually asking you if you might go lend Dr. C a hand.”

Faustus’s jaw hit the floor. “Go work at a mortal bookstore, me? Certainly not! I wouldn’t know what to do. Besides, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I’m under house arrest.”

“Are you?” Questioned Hilda. “Zelda had told me about you trying your powers to make sure they’re gone but you’ve been here nearly a month now and you’ve rarely left this room, let alone this house. Plus you made that deal with the dark lord that no one serves anymore. It may not be valid. Please, just try, I’m desperate!”

“How?”

Hilda thought for a moment. “Well, when Ambrose was housebound, he couldn’t go past the driveway. We could try that.”

So, they did and Faustus crossed the Spellman driveway and into the public street with ease.

“I don’t get it,” Faustus said, puzzled. “Why would the dark lord take my power but let me roam free?”

“Maybe he forgot,” Hilda offered. “Anyway, I’ll go call Dr. C and tell him you’re on your way!” She was gone before Faustus could remind her that he hadn’t officially agreed to do anything.

The walk into town took 20 minutes. Despite everything, even Faustus had to admit that the fresh air and the change of scenery did him a world of good. What did Hilda say? That it was the biggest shopping day of the year for mortals? Boy, she wasn’t kidding! From the moment he arrived, the place was packed! Apparently, it was a teenage hangout as well as a bookstore. Somehow, Faustus made his way to the check-out counter where Dr. C, who was expecting him, greeted him and gave him a vampire cape to wear. Despite the cape, despite the mortals, Faustus actually had a pleasant afternoon. It was a very nice afternoon. It was nice to be busy and have something to do other than just dwell on his own guilt and sadness. Secondly, Faustus learned the ropes of working retail fairly quickly. Thirdly and perhaps most surprisingly of all, despite the fact that they only met that day, Dr. C and Faustus had an almost instant connection. They say that opposites attract in love but maybe it’s true in friendship as well. The shop was so busy that it was 6:30 that evening before the men could stop to eat.

“Thank you,” Faustus said as he reached for the mug of coffee.

Dr. C smiled. “I’m delighted to meet you, Faustus. I have heard a lot about you.”

“Not all good, I bet,” Faustus muttered.

Dr. C ignored that comment. “I have a question for you, actually. When Hilda’s brother married a mortal, they got major hassle but it wasn’t a big deal when Hilda and I got engaged. I’m not complaining or anything just wondering why.”

Faustus raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you an incubus? That’s what Zelda told me.”

“Yeah. I mean, I am now but I was born mortal. The demon stuff didn’t happen until college.”

“Doesn’t matter. The demon is a part of you and abled you to marry a full-blooded witch, like Hilda. Consider it a marriage loophole.”

Both men heard the chime of the bell above the door which meant more customers.

Dr. C stood up. “I’ll go. Can you clean up?”

Faustus nodded and cleaned up until he heard “Come on, old man, give us the money!” Faustus sneaked up to the storefront to see that Dr. C was being robbed at gunpoint.

Damn! Faustus didn’t know what to do. He no longer had magic to save him so Faustus looked around and smiled.

Meanwhile, Dr. C was in trouble. “Let’s go, old man!” Ordered Punk #1. “This money better be more real than your attempt to look like a vampire.”

Punks #2 & 3 laughed. “Good one, man,” Punk #2 said. “A fake vampire.”

“You’re right, he is a fake vampire,” Faustus came from the backroom, his hands behind his back. “Unluckily for you 3, I am a real warlock.”

Punk #3 was in awe. “Cool! So you conquer lands and stuff?”

Faustus sighed. “No, you idiots, not a warlord. A warlock, a male witch.”

“Right,” sneered Punk #1. “He’s a vampire and now you’re a witch. So, what are you going to do? Hocus pocus us to death?”

“No. That term is utterly useless. Besides, everyone knows that the really strong spells are in Latin. Like” Faustus shrugged and spoke some Latin words.

The punks sloppily repeated the words back then asked, “What does that mean?”

“A big, honking baseball bat!” Then, and only then did Faustus produce the Louisville slugger from behind his back. He chased the punks around the shop and finally, out the door. He was so pumped up that he barely heard the gunshot. A moment later, Faustus came back in, the bat resting on his shoulder and he was laughing. “Well, we showed them didn’t we?” Silence. “Dr. C?”

Zelda and Hilda ran into the ER entrance of the hospital.

“My fiancée has been shot! Where is he?” Hilda demanded of the woman at the nurse’s station. They got the room number and rushed to where Dr. C was with a doctor.

Hilda rushed to him with a hug and kiss. “Oh, love, are you okay?”

“He’ll be fine,” the doctor answered, “It’s just a flesh wound.”

“So, what happened?” Zelda asked, in a tone calmer than her sister.

“I was robbed,” Dr. C explained, “ladies, Faustus was amazing. He distracted the robbers long enough to activate the silent alarm, he chased them off with a bat. One must have gotten scared for the gun went off and glazed my shoulder. When I came back around, I was in the ambulance and Faustus was right there with me. The paramedic told me that Faustus applied pressure to the bleeding and saved my life.”

Hilda closed her eyes and sighed. “Thank Hecate, he was there.”

“Where’s my husband now?” asked Zelda.

“I don’t know. He was here a second ago.”

In the next room, Faustus looked up at the silvery half-moon. “Hecate, mother, let him be alright. For he feels one-tenth for Hilda what I feel for Zelda, they’ll be very happy together.”

“You’re praying to Hecate.” Faustus barely saw Zelda in the doorway before his wife was in his arms and kissing him deeply. “What was that for?”

“Are you kidding?” She replied. “You saved Dr. Cereberus.”

“Saved him? I got him shot.”

“Don’t be daft,” Zelda dismissed. “You saved him and without having magic, you were in just as much in danger as he was but you didn’t even think of that, did you? That’s what made you a hero tonight.”

“I don’t want to be a hero! I want to be perfect! For only a perfect man could ever be worthy of you.”

She kissed him again. “I love you so much, Faustus even if you are talking nonsense.”

Hilda stayed overnight at the hospital so Zelda and Faustus took a cab home. Faustus immediately headed for the morgue but Zelda stopped him.

“No, I have a surprise for you and it’s upstairs.”

So they went upstairs with Zelda explaining she had already planned to give him the surprise tonight but now he truly earned it. Zelda opened a door that led to a cozy bedroom with a double bed and an attached bathroom suite.

Zelda smiled. “Welcome home.”

“This is a whole new room. When did you do this?”

“I started the night after we first made love.”

His eyes bugged out. “You made a whole new bedroom and bathroom in just 11 days?!”

“Darling, some of us still have our magic.”

“Dearest, this is superb. But I can’t stay here. I don’t deserve such comfort.”

“Then, do it for me,” Zelda suggested. “I refuse to sleep apart from my husband but my back is crying out in protest at the thought of another night on that cot. Speaking of my increasingly pregnant body, I need to get off my feet. Care to help me christen our new bed?” It was only then that Faustus returned her smile.

Hours later, after they had made love and fallen asleep in each other’s arms, Faustus awoke in a cold sweat and a sharp intake of breath. “Damn these nightmares! Will they ever go away.”

“It’s alright, my love. There is no quick fix spell for trauma and you’ve been living with that curse for some time now.” Zelda snuggled closer and laced her fingers with his. “The good news is that we have all the time in the world.”

#chilling adventures of sabrina #caoz #ch 5 #part 4 my way #fanfic #spellwood #zelda spellman #faustus blackwood #hilda spellman #dr. cerberus #sabrina spellman #ambrose spellman #prudence night

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signaturedish · 5 years ago

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A question for ur TF fic. What if when Harry gets turned he's like, younger? When it happens I mean (He is 10 right?) Like, five or something maybe? What would change? How would the bots and cons react? How would Harry react?

Hey you! Sorry that took a hot minute.

Yeah, Harry’s ten in the fic.

The way I intended it was that he was clearly ten in his internal monologue right up until he was turned into a robobaby. Then the trauma on top of a completely different set of instincts had him thinking and behaving a good 5-3 years younger than his current age with a gradual upward incline as he got more comfortable and familiar with himself in later chapters. Right now in the narrative, he’s almost back to normal, we’re just waiting on a returning desire for independence which won’t happen until he’s secure in his relationship with Megs.

So to make him five, I think that drop in maturity would come off much more dramatically. He was a pretty independent human ten-year-old, resigned to his treatment as a servant, and capable on his own. A five-year-old Harry would be far newer to his servant status and much more unsure of himself from the getgo- Five-year-olds aren’t built for the kind of independence the Durselys expect from him, we’re right in the middle of those growing pains.

Then we turn him into a robobaby.

(I like the age I chose for Harry but sad baby Harry was so cute I made this a little long for more details, excuse my indulgence)

Appearance-wise he wouldn’t change much. He’s already too small and at the youngest growth stage, his internal programming would probably be more toddler-esque with a stronger inclination to cry for attention, a greater need for positive attention, and more automatic behaviors geared toward inciting those things.

Oh and he keeps his lisp.

The first few days would be a nightmare, like constant crying, deeply distressed at all times, desperately reaching out to the scientists on blind instinct and getting reprimanded for it at every turn. A whole mess, a whole inconsolable mess, the scientists think there’s something fundamentally wrong with him, he’s incoherent past the point of even perceived aggression.

Then Megatron makes his move. He’s been hearing what sounds like a newspark being tortured for hours and hours and now that he can see that it probably isn’t a sleep paralysis-level nightmare driving him to madness he needs to Handle This ASAP.

First problem- Harry isn’t responding to cool, logical instructions to communicate through comm. He’s way past regular conversation.

This is eventually resolved when Megatron very clumsily takes the right stabs at comforting him. It takes hours, some sullen silences, panicking, maybe a soft reboot or two, but he does get there. Crooning lullabies, softer sentences, praise when Harry stops crying, Megatron is flying so blind it isn’t even funny but he’s not dumb, he can see it’s working.

The transformers view PA!Harry as a very gifted and mature toddler. This itty bitty little baby can fit so much serious thought and a burgeoning emotional intelligence in it so they try their best to accommodate and not come off terribly condescending. Success varies.

Younger!Harry acts much truer to his appearance. So in general, how the TF crew thinks of Harry changes very little, but how they respond to him does.

Megatron is as soft as he can possibly be to the point of genuine pain. Harry is so much more emotionally dependant and lost that it’s less easy to drift back into overlord mode around him. You’ll note that Megatron doesn’t have another mode to switch to, just a rusty parental unit protocol set he’s never activated before. Soundwave gets called down immediately, surveillance be damned, he needs someone with caretaking knowledge and he needs them now.

Bumblebee doesn’t really perceive the difference, he couldn’t clock Harry’s age in any au, he was kinda sure the bot was glitched initially. His genuine confusion when Harry kicks and screams and sobs like a very young child who’s thinnest thread of guidance was just ripped away from him by a lying yellow monster easily comes across as cruelty. The mistrust and fear/hatred Harry develops for him does not mellow for far longer than his stay with the Autobots.

On the bright side his meltdown makes the Autobots come to terms with their find much more quickly. They could hear the distress calls a mile from the dam and had a lot of the freakout there instead.

Ironhide rips him out of Bumblebee’s cab while Jazz is split between hovering worriedly and tearing the scout to pieces for allowing him to get so worked up. Similar rough aesthetic and coloring to Megatron and an English accent help a great deal in calming Harry down and the rocking and lullabies do the rest.

Every Autobot has his targeting systems on and a whole lot of automatic aggression coursing through them with the terror and pain of a sparkling still fresh in the air. After Bumblebee is brought to miserable apologies and Bonecrusher is ripped limb from limb they’re still pumped and ready to Throw Down with Megatron. But he just makes that deal to keep Harry safe and assures Harry that he’ll be okay with Optimus and Megs’ll be back soon.

Harry is still distraught Megatron left him with strangers. But he’s there long enough to form those Autobot attachments, primarily with Ironhide, Ratchet and Jazz.

Ironhide doesn’t put him down much at all, even when Harry tries to hide it, he gets anxious all alone on the cot and much prefers the nook between pauldron and helm to cuddle in and listen to growly war stories and life lessons. He sleeps up there whenever possible too. Ironhide can tell all this and happily allows it, staying stock-still for hours and gently rousing him whenever Harry begins to have a nightmare about the dam.

Ironhide’s perception hasn’t logically changed much, but the way Harry behaves ticks every box to drive him into an overprotective rampage, to the point that humans aren’t allowed within thirty feet of him and even the tiniest whimper has him hovering like three thousand pounds of promised death over his charge.

They bond the closest, to the point that Ironhide could plausibly replace Megatron as Harry’s imprinted guardian (but he doesn’t).

Jazz and Ratchet share tertiary ‘older brother’ type roles in Harry’s life. Jazz reads to him, plays games with him, and holds him when Ironhide can’t be there. His playful casualness helps keep Harry calm and gets him to open up, but its not something he responds to as successfully. Camaraderie is appreciated but not something an insecure five-year-old always understands.

Jazz gains the most points correcting Optimus’ treatment of him and handling any humans who get into the hanger before Ironhide does something drastic. Thinks that play up his aptitude as a parental figure and devotion to keeping him healthy and safe.

Ratchet...he really needs Harry’s observational skills and willingness to shoulder some emotional weight in the relationship, unfair or not. Without the ability to deliver the reassurance Ratchet needs, in addition to possessing a much more fragile disposition himself, it can be difficult for Ratchet to interact with Harry. He keeps to himself when Harry doesn’t ask for him or need treatment and they read rejection in each other’s hesitance too often for Harry to pursue the affection fit to burst in Ratchet.

Ratchet would 100% die for him and is right up there with Ironhide as his most aggressive defender, but he isn’t a great source of comfort for Younger!Harry. He wins his points through being the best cuddler, hands down, and praising him most often. Soft moments when neither of them are shy or afraid are where they’re closest.

Optimus is weirdly like Bumblebee here. He has Harry clocked as infant but god knows that that’s supposed to mean. He doesn’t have a mode outside of Prime to switch to for Harry and the stumbling we see in PA is him doing his very best. He’s not dumb, he recognizes that Harry isn’t emotionally mature enough to be spoken to the way he might mistakenly speak to him in PA, but he doesn’t have any other words. There’s a lot of frustrated staring and helpless silences here.

Jazz tries his best to gently encourage some softer interactions and Ironhide is raring to punish his Prime if he dares misstep with his sparkling charge, tensions stay a little high.

With Soundwave planning Harry’s extraction, it goes off almost without a hitch, no sparklings were bitten in the attempt at least. Thundercracker might actually die depending on the plan. He has the most experience out of the Decepticons with immature and young bots via his own casseticons and a paternal disposition under all his cool logic. So he’s bustling around like an expectant mother, training up all the other Cons in grueling exercises and curriculum to get them up to his standards of child rearing aptitude and childproofing the base.

Megatron really does appreciate some tangible, reliable instructions. He’d appreciate it even more if he wasn’t a little bit threatened by how confident and capable Soundwave is when interacting with Harry. Soundwave quickly becomes the second favorite- almost on par with Ironhide.

Barricade is terrified of Harry in that way twenty-somethings are terrified when married friends give them babies and then leave to do something. This is way too important and delicate for him and someone pleaserescuehimitsgettingcloserohmygod-

Thundercracker is much more cautious handling Harry. We haven’t gotten there yet in PA, but he’s kind of the fun uncle who definitely goads Harry into things partially to get under Meg’s skin. Not so when Harry is more openly vulnerable and clumsy, now we’ve got a little baby chick who needs to stay in his nest and be warm and safe. Gliding will happen much, much later. If ever.

Harry was affected by how the scientists treated him to the point of being intensely shy around friendly, good humans and flatly terrified of anyone else. Megatron hunted down every remaining SS agent with Soundwave’s help to finish the job for that.

Eventually, Harry would feel more secure and comfortable and would start wanting to be on the ground and playing with less parental bots instead of carried everywhere by his guardians, but that recovery is achieved at the Decepticon base after some weeks have passed.

Okay and I think that’s it! Thanks for asking!! I had probably too much fun...

#oliverslewty #pa #perfectly alien #baby harry au #anon ask #sd speaks #optimus prime #megatron #barricade #thundercracker #jazz #ironhide #soundwave #harry potter #sparkling au #bumblebee #ratchet

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amillioninprizes · 5 years ago

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An entirely too long post on how to fix Veronica Mars

So, anyone who has followed this blog for any length of time knows: 1) What a massive Veronica Mars fan I was and 2) how distraught I’ve been over the most recent season that debuted on Hulu in July. I’ve been pretty angry about it since it dropped, but the first month after I was pretty occupied with real life stuff. Now that I’m more settled, I’ve found myself getting sadder and angrier over time with just how terrible S4 was and what an obvious fuck you to longtime fans it was. It feels dumb to be so upset over a tv show, but this show got me through a lot over the past 8 years, and I feel like it’s been taken away from me.

It’s anyone’s guess as to whether there will be a new season. Ideally it would end here with maybe an alternate ending filmed to avoid alienating fans further. On the one hand, the botched release, overwhelmingly negative response, and silence from the creators after initial interviews don’t look good for renewal chances. On the other hand, Hulu doesn’t have a lot of streaming hits, it probably did relatively decent numbers, and there are rumors floating around that its pickup chances look good. On a personal level, I hate the idea that this is where the legacy of Veronica Mars ends, while at the same time being extremely wary of what the creators have planned. I think a big part of the disappointment with S4 was that the movie and books set up what could have been some really interesting storylines and situations, all of which RT and co. squandered for cheap drama and to apparently turn the show into an entirely new vehicle; additionally I had hope that S4 would be a chance to rectify some problems the show has long had, but again, S4 exacerbated them. At this point I don’t expect anyone higher up in the creative process or at Hulu to give a fuck about the fans or making the show better as long as they hit streaming targets, but here are some suggestions:

Fire Rob Thomas

While he created the show, it’s become clear that not only has he lost touch with the audience and the original spirit of the character, he doesn’t seem too keen on putting much effort into writing the show (as I will discuss below). Then you have his clear misogyny: his views that women in relationships can’t be interesting, that what makes Veronica interesting as a character is her trauma and how much she can endure, and the fact that basically every female character in the history of the show has a history of sexual victimization. He thought that making the Mexican cartel hitmen “philosophical” was subverting expectations (which says a lot of what his expectations of Latinx characters are). Then this is the way he essentially exploited his long term fan base to earn a new season of the show, only to turn around and tell us that we don’t matter. From a business perspective alone keeping him doesn’t make sense; selling a streaming platform on your loyal fanbase and then proceeding to purposefully piss ~80% of them off would be pretty questionable to me as someone in charge. The sheer cruelty with which he treated not only the fans who have supported him for 15 years (I fucking used to liveblog iZombie y’all. iZombie!), as well as how he callously dismissed long time cast members in favor of celebrity guest stars should not be rewarded. He’s admitted in interviews that he would be ok with younger writers doing a reboot many years in the future; why not just let him have a producer credit and then hand the show over to someone who’s invested in making it good?

Put a woman in charge and diversify the writing staff

A big problem with a) Veronica’s characterization in S4 b) RT’s ideas about what makes female characters interesting c) the show’s long history of problematic treatment of sexual assault is that it comes from a man’s conception of the female experience. The Veronica showcased in S4 and that RT wants to write in the future is very much a male fantasy: hates marriage and children, traumatized, DTF, and is too cool for other women. RT stated in interviews that he wanted to show Veronica at a “crossroads” this season in a way he claimed had been shown for men but not women; many female viewers found this depiction to ring false (few women are spending their time fretting about how committing to marriage after five years in an established relationship will bar us from strange sex going forward). In addition to having RT at the helm, most of the show’s writing staff for the majority of its run has been white dudes, which doesn’t bode well for telling the story of a female PI in a diverse community in today’s political climate. Putting a woman in charge would hopefully help rectify these issues to make the character feel more true to life and put a damper on the misogynistic storytelling. The show has a natural candidate in RT’s second-in-command Diane Ruggiero-Wright (despite her problematic history, never forget #KeisterEggGate), who has admitted to not being able to watch the last episode. Jennifer Graham, who wrote both of the books, would also be a worthy addition to the writing staff; while the books had a mixed reception, most fans agree that she got Veronica’s character right. And with the show’s problematic historical treatment of minority characters, adding more POC writers going forward is also necessary.

Bring back Logan (alive)

You don’t have to be a LoVe shipper to recognize just how integral Logan has been since the inception of the show, not just as Veronica’s partner but as a character is his own right. Logan’s journey in many ways parallels Veronica’s, and shows a contrast in how different characters respond to similar trauma. The most critical plot line in the show’s history, the mystery of who killed Lilly Kane, simply doesn’t work without Logan’s importance to Veronica. RT and his defenders like to claim that Logan was holding her back from true growth, which is frankly bizarre as he is the only character to consistently challenge her, like when he tells her that she obviously isn’t happy this season. Additionally, Logan’s scenes this season were the lone highlight of what was otherwise a painful slog of a season. Of the people who have said they would watch a potential S5, a good portion are only interested because they believe that the ambiguity of the last 10 minutes of the season means he’s not really dead (despite what RT has said in interviews). Then there’s what Logan’s death does to Veronica’s character, effectively cutting off what would have been an interesting character arc and stagnating her forever. No matter how much they try to shove Leo the pedo creep and other milquetoast RT self-insert love interests on us, no one else can possible measure up to Logan’s level in terms of being able to match Veronica as a character, intellectually or as a result of shared history.

Plus, the fact that we haven’t had a Weevil/Logan interaction since S3 is a goddamn travesty and should be rectified immediately.

Bring back Veronica

As sad as I am about Logan’s death, for me the most upsetting aspect of S4 was the assassination of Veronica’s character. For many viewers (including myself), the character we saw Kristen Bell portray in S4 wasn’t Veronica Mars but a different character with the same name. Between her abusive behavior towards Logan, her general indifference to her father’s medical condition, her dismissal of Wallace, and her racism towards Latinx characters (using a kid’s lawyer to threaten deportation: not a good look!), she was lacking the marshmallow-y center that always balanced out the pricklier aspects of her character and made her compelling. This change in characterization was especially jarring given that she was not this way when we last saw her in the books, where she mused about having children and sent her half-brother Hunter to summer camp (side note, but does he even exist anymore?). Many of us who had grown up with Veronica were hoping to see her grow with us as a character; instead we got an extreme regression lower than we’ve ever seen her. It would be one thing if they were trying to depict a PTSD storyline, which would make sense given her background, but since her change in behavior is never addressed by the narrative, it just makes her look like a cruel asshole and makes it impossible to root for her. This is exacerbated by the fact that RT has made it clear he has no interest in portraying her inner life, as shown by his wanting to avoid showing her grief over Logan’s death because it would be a real downer compared to the entertaining but ultimately hollow banter and quips he wants to focus on. Veronica this season was also just plain dumb: you mean to tell me that the girl who nearly got killed by Aaron Echolls in her back seat wouldn’t think to check her backseat every time she gets in a car? (And let’s not even start with RT’s bizarre assertion in an interview that she apparently votes Republican). Not helping matters was Kristen Bell’s performance, which felt very flat for me this season compared to S1-3 and the movie; I don’t know if this was due to personal limitations or a reflection of the bad writing. Writers of future installments and KB herself would be wise to revisit S1, the movie, and the books to figure out what makes sense for Veronica’s character, leading me to my next point:

Get reacquainted with canon, develop a show bible, and hire a continuity director

This show has long had a problem with dropped plots, timelines, and continuity issues. Shelly Pomroy’s party has two happened either in the summer, or the fall. Then we have the movie paradox: Veronica graduated high school in 2006, which means her 10 year reunion should have taken place in 2016. The movie was released in 2014 and the books seem to keep to 2014 dates. Then S4 states that Keith’s movie accident took place in 2013, and mysteriously ages Veronica up to 35 when she should be 32 in 2019. Logan mentions an Aunt Naomi in S4--why didn’t she take care of him after Aaron was arrested (and what happened to Trina)? How the hell is Leo working as an FBI agent when he presided over the disappearance of the Lilly/Aaron tapes? Veronica is shown to be tentatively forgiving of Weevil taking the settlement from the sheriff’s department in Mr. Kiss and Tell, but is then shown to be extremely angry towards him for it in S4. This is just a small selection of the inconsistencies within the show. Plus there is the problem of repeated plot lines: Veronica rejects Leo in favor of Logan in S1, then rejects Leo in favor of Logan in Mr. Kiss and Tell, only for her to...reject Leo in favor of Logan in S4 (and RT says he wants to leave the high school plots behind). This sloppiness doesn’t bode well for a series that is supposed to be about mysteries, which require tight plotting. It would behove TPTB going forward to once and for all determine a timeline of Veronica’s life, keep a detailed record of past plot and character points, and have at least one person on staff who thinks to remember this stuff (RT notoriously has only a “solid, not spectacular” memory of the show, no matter what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says).

Make an effort (and do your fucking research)

Moving on from continuity issues to more general problems with the laziness of RT’s writing. He has basically admitted that he doesn’t care much about facts or characterization when writing plots--he shoehorns details to fit the plot rather than have it evolve organically from the characters and prior canon. I know that when writing it’s often impossible to make every story detail 100% accurate, but the extent of RT’s sloppiness is alarming. This excellent Reddit thread details a lot of the problems with S4 in particular, but this has been a problem since S2. Did anyone ever understand exactly why the Fitzpatricks were invested in framing Logan for Felix’s death? In the movie, it makes no sense that if Cobb and co. wanted Carrie silenced, they would add the complication of framing Logan for her murder--given her history, it would have been a lot easier just to make it look like she had accidentally overdosed. Given his previous patterns of villain writing fans were able to guess the identity of the S4 bomber based on casting alone. The mysteries in both Mr. Kiss and Tell and S4 are both ripped from the headlines, which indicates that RT wants to turn VM into the next Law and Order. Meanwhile, he complained about how hard including Logan in the story in S4 was, while Logan arguably had the best lines and most interesting scenes this season--apparently when you put an effort into things, they work out! This laziness extends past storyline issues and into factual problems that detract from the quality of the plot. Longtime fandom pals are probably tired about hearing me go on and on about how there’s no way Aaron’s lawyers could have gotten Veronica’s medical records due to HIPAA laws. Logan’s career change from naval aviator to intelligence is highly unlikely (and unnecessary, given that they changed it only to fridge him at the end of the season). Meanwhile, I know fanfic writers who have spent hours on the phone with strangers in order to research what type of firearm would cause a specific type of bullet injury. It’s very puzzling to me that RT wants to take the show in the direction of being mystery-only when apart from that one time he is piss poor at writing mysteries and puts no effort into them. I shouldn’t have to tell television writers to, you know, do their job but this is what we’ve come to in 2019.

Know your audience

A majorly annoying thing about the promo for this season is how in every single interview Rob Thomas did he was always talking about how he wanted VM to be like other shows and movies: Fargo, True Detective, Game of Thrones, Chinatown (which is apparently the only noir movie he’s ever seen). The thing is, if I wanted to watch those shows, I would; I watched Veronica Mars specifically because I enjoyed its unique qualities, and I would say most fans agree. The general perception within the fandom is that with this season Rob Thomas seems to have been aiming to dump the old, majority female, CW fanbase in order to achieve what he perceives as a cooler prestigious male fanbase; the issue is, new people aren’t going to take up a show in its fourth season if they didn’t watch or didn’t like earlier seasons. Also, trying to write a prestigious show doesn’t make your show prestigious. Considering that based on anecdotal evidence most of the people who like S4 seem to be male, he may have succeeded in the first part of his aim. However, this majority female fanbase he was so willing to cast aside are the ones who have run fansites and rewatches during fallow times (i.e. between S3 and the movie and then between the books and S4), so drumming up interest among fans (and therefore streaming views) in the future may be a challenge. Plus, women are a better advertising demographic since they are more likely to be in charge of household purchasing decisions, so maintaining us as a fanbase makes business sense as well. He may have tricked enough people into watching S4 that S5 is given a go, but I wouldn’t be surprised if streams are weak beyond that. If the show is to succeed as a commercial endeavor, better to go with appealing to a known quantity than trying to make a generic show that very few people have expressed interest in watching.

Bring back the mystery of the week

This is a more minor thing I felt was missing from S4. I think after the criticism of S3 not having a season-long arc RT overcorrected in focusing on one mystery. However, the mystery of the week had the following benefits: 1) giving chances for the characters to interact and telling us more about them 2) helping to modulate the pace of the season-long arc. With better writing a season-long standalone mystery could maybe work, but in the case of S4 specifically the mystery was kind of dull and repetitive and could have stood to include a couple of diversions in the form of a smaller case here and there.

Re-evaluate the creators’ interpretation of the word “adult”

Much of the promo and reviews for this season noted the more “adult” content to be expected this season now that Veronica’s grown. Many fans hoped that meant seeing Veronica act like, you know, an adult with adult problems rather than a teenager less mature than the actual teenager she was. Unfortunately, the show’s interpretation of the word seems to be more in keeping with a television rating sense of the word--meaning sex, drugs, and gratuitous violence (But apparently not the word “fuck.”). Look, it was expected that as the show moved to a streaming service and given the overall dramatic scope that there would be an upgrade in some of this sort of content (and I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t looking forward to steamier LoVe moments, which were sorely overpromised), but the way it was included this season felt like RT and co. included this stuff just because they could and not to serve the storyline. For me, personally, the biggest example of this was Veronica’s drug use, which I know didn’t necessarily bother everyone. Given her history as the daughter of an alcoholic as well as someone who had been the victim of two roofie attacks, not to mention the fact that her character never seemed to be into partying, I found it very out of character (and book writer Jennifer Graham agrees). It felt like RT included this just bc they thought it would be funny to see Veronica on drugs without considering whether it made sense for her character. Also, were the beheadings strictly necessary? Plus there’s RT’s little temper tantrum over not being able to use curse words this season--they weren’t present in the original show, no one was going to miss them now, and the “cuss” thing was just annoying and reminiscent of The Good Place.

Dealing with a parent who maybe has dementia--that’s an adult storyline. Too bad RT ended it with a dumb excuse about “mixing meds” (another factual error! Pharmacy software would have caught it!) rather than actually exploring what it would mean for Veronica to see her father in decline and take over the family business (and give Rico Colantoni the exit he appears to want). This is the kind of adult content I would hope to see in future seasons.

Adult is not a synonym for “unrelentingly bleak” either. The original show, while dark, always had an element of hope that was completely removed from S4 (no matter what KB might claim). And would it have killed the writers to show Veronica wearing disguises and going undercover like she used to? There was nothing fun about this season (and no, I don’t count the multiple partying scenes as fun, more like sad).

Kill your darlings

It’s cliche, but it’s true. Another issue the show has long had is the writers keeping around characters or inserting jokes and references for their own personal amusement rather than for the story. The most notable example of this is the continued presence of Dick, a highly problematic character considering he pushed Beaver into the room with Veronica the night of Shelly Pomroy’s party, among a whole host of other racist, sexist, and generally obnoxious actions over the years. But because Ryan Hansen is so widely beloved among the cast and crew, so he stays. Then there’s the matter of the infamous Keister egg in 3x08, which the writers and KB have all expressed love for, despite the fact that said Keister egg is an example of sexual assault--which, even if the victim is a douchey fraternity president, is never funny.

Also the constant Big Lebowski references are tiring. Watch a new movie.

Improve Neptune’s gender ratio

Veronica Mars, despite having a female lead, has always been a male-dominated show; other than Veronica herself, the only consistent female character over the original show was Mac (and she didn’t even come back this season). This is unacceptable in 2019, for any show. The books introduced promising female characters in the form of Marcia Langdon and Petra Landros, but Marcia’s character was was watered down for S4 and Petra was nowhere to be found. Additionally, Veronica and Mac have always been written as “cool girls” who looked down on other women for their femininity, which isn’t a great message. Almost every other female character, even the innocuous Parker, is portrayed as somehow bad or incompetent. I would love nothing more than a season centered on the women of Neptune and their interactions with each other. While we’re at it, stop giving every woman on this show a background of sexual victimization.

Treat VM as an ensemble show, not a Kristen Bell vanity project

A major complaint from Burnt Marshmallows and S4 defenders alike was how little time was given over to the original core cast this season. While Veronica may be the protagonist, a large part of how the show became so beloved was her relationships with the other characters. Yet RT has decided that going forward VM will be a KB solo project, with her traveling town to town quipping and sleeping with strangers. This seems strange, given Kristen’s recent interviews talking about how difficult it is to shoot VM and how she never wants to be first on a call sheet ever again, not to mention how she asked for less screen time all the way back in S2, which resulted in the Weevil-Logan storyline, which was way more interesting than Veronica’s storylines during the first half of that season. (The traveling detective thing also seems weird considering that KB is pretty insistent on shooting in LA to be near her family.) Additionally, if this is truly the last season of VM with all the original characters, then no one got a proper sendoff.

I’m not sure how willing much of the cast will be to return for future iterations, given how uncomfortable many of them seemed during promo as well RT and KB’s treatment of them (insensitive at best, deliberately mean at worst) this season (shout out to Tina Majorino for recognizing what a shit show this was going to be), but bringing back all the original characters into the fold and giving them significant storylines would go a long way to mending fences with fans, improving the show from a character arc perspective, and would also give KB the break she apparently wants.

Recourt the fanbase

What has VM always been renowned for above all else? It’s incredibly loyal fandom which not only got it renewed twice during its original run but also put up their own money to get the movie made--I know many people who donated when they really couldn’t afford to. RT basically owes the last 6 years of his career to VM fans--the success of the Kickstarter arguably got him the iZombie show running gig, and the fourth season likely wouldn’t have even happened if not for it. Thus, the blatant cruelty and disregard with which RT and KB have treated fans during the promotion of S4 has been incredibly insulting and hurtful; I still can’t fathom what in the world possessed RT to think that throwing away this 15-year relationship was a good idea. It’s not a good sign when the 2 fansites most active during the post-movie period (VMHQ and VM Confessions) cease operations in the wake of S4, and when at least 3 out of 8 board members of the oldest running fan group, Neptune Rising (who were dormant during the post-movie period but played a critical role during earlier fan campaigns and in the S4 promo) resign. A fandom this loyal that was betrayed will not stand idly by if the S5 RT wants to make goes ahead; given the number of tweets the official Hulu VM account has had to delete in the wake of S4 due to the overwhelmingly negative response as well as the controversy over editing out Logan from S4 promos, I imagine that S5 will be a PR nightmare. Even if future seasons are amazing the trust can probably never be fully repaired, but it would be helpful for RT (or fingers crossed, a new show runner) and KB (as star and EP) to go overboard in reaching out to fans and at least admitting they made a misstep with the entirety of S4. Back in the day, the old Mars Investigation fansite was invited to set to conduct interviews; maybe do that again. Also someone should get KB some sort of VM fandom-fluent media trainer because I don’t think she has conducted a single interview during her entire stint on the show that didn’t anger fans (it might help if she actually bothered to watch the show).

Map out an endgame

Look, this can’t go on forever. As long as RT keeps leaving every installment open ended with the hopes of maybe getting renewed again five years down the line, the story is going to keep running into the issues the movie and S4 faced with having to shoehorn the characters into nonsensical plot lines to reconcile those endings and deal with actor availability issues. Either plot another 2-3 seasons to wrap the show up with a satisfying conclusion, or map out a greater timeline of Veronica’s life with spots where a mini series or movie here and there could fit in.

#Veronica Mars #still angry #mainly written for personal catharsis #need to stop being angry about this and focus more on studying synaptic transmission #Burnt Marshmallow #we use to be fans

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kenzieam · 5 years ago

Text

Druid - The Final Chapter

Rating: M (smut, language, violence, mature themes, potential major character death)

Genre: Drama/Angst

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If you want off this list, send me a DM

Thank you, my lovelies, for your kind words and support XOXO

******************************************************************************

Okay... so it has been over a year since I updated this story....

Bad, Bad, Bad Me....

I’m sorry, my lovelies, I hope you’ll accept this offering, the final chapter of James and Levi and the Druids MC.

Since it’s been so long, catch up with the Masterlist

******************************************************************************

JAMES

When I return to our room, Sable and Nat are there. Sable sits cross-legged at Levi’s back, while Nat sits in front of her, holding Levi’s hand. Levi’s asleep and I’m met by two pairs of tear-filled eyes.

“You make him pay?” Nat asked, her voice breaking.

I nod, not willing to elaborate. Although that fuck deserved every single second of agony I gave him, I’m not the kind of twisted bastard that gets off on doing shit like that on the regular. He hurt mine and he paid, I delivered punishment tenfold back to him and now it’s done. I will kill to protect my family and die to save them. The dichotomy is not lost on me and I know the average person would look at me and condemn me as the worst of men, one that justifies murder in defense of family; kills someone’s child to save another’s. But I’m not ashamed of it. This is a hard life, and from a young age, I’ve been part of it. It’s a part of me and if the people I love are made safer by me getting my hands dirty, so be it.

I would never, for anything on this earth and beyond, hurt Levi or cause her pain. She is more important to me than anything else in my black heart.

And right now, I want nothing more than to lay beside her and let her presence bring me peace.

I stride past the bed and into the bathroom, pausing long enough to grab fresh sweats and a shirt from the dresser, shutting the door behind me. I reek of smoke and something much more organic and I scrub myself half-raw under the scalding spray.

When I leave the bathroom, Sable and Nat are still there, but they stand up quickly, hurrying to give us privacy. Both women startle me by walking up to me and pressing quick, chaste kisses to my cheek.

“Thank you.” Sable murmurs and Nat nods wordlessly in agreement, then they turn and leave silently, pulling the door closed behind them. I follow, locking it and turn back to Levi. She’s still asleep, but her face is tensed, her brow furrowed. I’m about to text Stitch to bring more painkillers when she shifts slightly and whimpers.

“James?” Her hand jerks slightly, questing, looking for me and I clamor quickly under the covers behind her, carefully pull her close to my chest.

“I’m here, baby.”

Her body goes liquid again, all tension disappearing, and she gives a soft, contented sigh.

“I love you.” I manage to choke as I bury my face in her hair, my heart breaking wide open with emotion; filled past bursting with devotion and love for this woman.

LEVI

Pain wakes me, throbbing in my shoulder, my leg, my wrists. A whimper escapes before I’ve even opened my eyes and I feel the warmth behind me shift suddenly.

“Levi?” James leans over me carefully, his beautiful eyes wide with concern. “Where does it hurt?”

I’m tempted to say everywhere, but James looks so distraught I decide not to torment him. “My wrists, my shoulder.”

A flicker of darkness passes through his gaze; fleeting, banked rage but it’s quickly gone, replaced by worry. “I’ll text Stitch.” He rolls away and my body mourns the loss of his familiar heat and security, then he’s back, tapping at the screen with one hand, the other snaking cautiously around me again. The phone buzzes back almost immediately.

“He’s on his way, he was about to wake us up anyway; he says you’re due for another shot.”

I consider refusing, asking for something milder, over-the-counter, but the throb has morphed into an outright stabbing and I decide to stop being a hero.

A knock at the door, and James gets up, gifting me with a view of his perfect ass and back, clad in low-hung grey sweats and a white tee as he walks to the door and opens it.

Stitch steps past, zeroing in on me and moving to the side of the bed. I hear James pass, and the bathroom door shut, then Stitch is asking me all kinds of questions; Rate my pain, stabbing or aching? Any heat or tightness to indicate infection? He seems satisfied by my answers and is drawing up a syringe when James reappears.

“You hungry, doll?”

I nod and Stitch agrees. “Yeah, something light though, Prez.”

James nods and kisses my forehead, glancing at Stitch, who nods in answer to his silent question. As James leaves, the medic glances down at me. “Okay, I know Prez can be a mother-hen, is your pain worse than you’re letting on?”

I can’t stop a chuckle. He’s right; big, bad Cannon knows how to cluck. “No, it’s what I said.”

Stitch nods. “That shot will help, I know you don’t want to be completely drugged out.” He jerks his chin to the bathroom. “You need to go? I’ll wait out here then check your bandages.”

His hands are gloved when I return, and I sit back on the bed quietly while Stitch becomes all business, carefully inspecting my shoulder before moving to my wrists.

“Stitch?” I ask quietly, not sure I want to know. “How was he? While I was gone?”

Stitch glances at me quickly before dropping his attention back to my wrists. “Honestly? Broken. Never seen him like that before. He was completely focused on finding you, to the detriment of his own health. He wouldn’t sleep or eat, just paced and worried. I considered ambushing and sedating him before he outright collapsed from exhaustion, but I knew he’d literally kill me when he woke back up. If we hadn’t found you...” he trails off. “It was hard to watch. I don’t want to think about what he would have done if-” He shakes his head, returning to his work. I’m stunned silent, limp and compliant as Stitch continues with my wrists; the pain numbed by whatever he shot me up with. His words continue to circle in my brain, blocking out all other thoughts; Broken, It was hard to watch.

James returns with a tray, eyes travelling over me anxiously for a beat before relaxing, as if he’s afraid to let me out of sight, convinced I’ll disappear or something and while that level of concern is heartwarming, I don’t want him to stress himself out like that.

Stitch glances at the food he brought and nods approval as he stands. “I’ll come back in a few hours to give you more pain relief. Try to sleep and if you can’t, at least take it easy.”

James shuts the door behind him then returns to the bed. He sits beside me and sets the tray gently on my lap. “Do you need my help?” He asks. “Do you want me to give you some time alone?”

I recognize the effort behind those questions. He doesn’t want to leave me alone, and he doesn’t want to sit by and watch me struggle if my wrists hurt too much. What’s more important to me right now? Stubborn independence, or letting James soothe himself by taking care of me? “No, stay please.”

I don’t miss his exhale of relief and I lay back, trying to hide my winces as I settle on the pillow. James sets the tray aside and pulls the blankets up for me, fussing like a mother hen and I find the sight of the biggest, baddest, hottest biker in the compound, maybe the entire country, fretting with my blankets and pillow absolutely adorable. Then he’s sitting beside me and stirring the oatmeal he brought, holding out a spoonful for me. I let him feed me and he visibly relaxes as the time passes, and I find myself relaxing too, settling back into the blankets and letting a feeling of peace wash over me. I’m not sure how much is the drugs and how much is James TLC, but I’ll take it. And when my eyes are getting heavy, I hear James set the tray aside and feel the bed rise then dip again as he stands and removes his shirt, then crawls back onto the bed, snuggling up beside me, tucking me carefully against his chest.

His scent surrounds me and drawing me the rest of way down and, just as I fall asleep, I hear him say, “I love you, baby.”

JAMES

I can’t bring myself to leave Levi today, but I text furiously while she sleeps against me. The edge has been taken off my anxiety and anger, for now, with Levi letting me care for her and fuss, feed her and hold her close while she sleeps. I don’t know if she realizes how much I needed it, how much my raw nerves were soothed by caring for her but, as she sleeps, I feel my rage returning.

Fucking Tracer. Fucking Preacher. They’re both going down. Preacher for bringing Henday down on my woman, and Tracer for not having a better handle on his men. Trace’s VP, Shadow, the man who will take over, better not have a problem with that, or I’ll take the whole club down too.

Nobody fucks with what’s mine and I came close enough to losing Levi forever that I think I’m permanently affected. I will always and forever be reactionary regarding her safety. There will be a new fucking line to toe around her and any visiting chapters or clubs had better have their heads on straight, or I’ll tear them apart.

I think I can say the same of my own men, I saw how they were when Levi was missing, I saw how they rallied when we had a lead, how dark and dangerous their faces were as they prepared to hunt Henday when I carried Lev from that shithole she hid in after escaping him.

My entire club has her back, my entire club will rain down hell on anyone who hurts her.

Call up Trace. Tell him I want a meeting. I text Steve.

He knows immediately. Preacher too?

Fuck yes.

On it.

I wait for his text and gaze down at Levi. She’s so fucking beautiful and I’m the luckiest fucker in the world to call her mine. She shifts as I graze my knuckle down her cheek, but she sighs and settles right back down when I murmur soothingly to her. She rolls slightly, reaching to hold me closer and as I catch the flash of the thick, white bandages around her wrists, I feel a fresh wave of fury. My woman will have scars and while that doesn’t mean a fucking thing to me, I worry it will hurt her, that she’ll think she’s less beautiful because of them. I will kiss her scars daily, acknowledge and worship each one; I will, to my dying breath, tell her how fucking beautiful she is, how much I love her.

Tomorrow. 7 pm

Fucker’s got terms now? He’s going to tell me when we’re meeting? I don’t think so, but I’ll let him have this, if only to give him a false sense of security. Let him think I’m all easygoing and calm, just happy to have my woman back, when in reality, I’m thirsting for their blood.

Preacher coming too? I type, keeping one hand resting on Levi’s hip.

Yeah, all the officers. I told them you want to thank them for helping out.

Make sure we’re ready.

How many graves?

Just two but be prepared to dig more if necessary.

I’m sure Shadow is a reasonable man.

He better be. I want a statement. NOBODY fucks with my woman.

Understood.

I spend the rest of the day with my beautiful girl and I push the world away from us, let her be safe and warm and surrounded by my love and protection, but it’s as much for me as it is for her. I’ve never been so scared as I was when Lev was missing and its going to take me a while to come back from that. Its not PTSD or anything, but I definitely feel raw and tender, on edge and restless. I find myself waking up a few times from nightmares as I doze next to Lev, startling awake with a pounding heart, sure I’d just missed saving her, that Henday had done what he’d promised and my girl was gone, taking my heart with her. Each time I nestle closer to her, hold her tighter, draw a shuddering breath as I bury my face just a little deeper into her hair and tell myself she’s safe again.

Stitch checks up on us, gives Lev more pain relief and food is brought up. Thor and Steve duck in, bringing their women with them but for the most part my club leaves us alone and I’m grateful. Tomorrow I won’t be able to spend as much time with Lev as I want, I’ll be preparing with my men for that night so I’m getting all I can today.

Levi sleeps most of the day and I nap beside her, working through my phone when I need to. She has a few bad dreams but seems to wake from them quickly enough when I murmur to her, brush back her hair from her forehead and call her name softly.

Thor checks on us around suppertime, asking in a low voice if we want anything, but Lev woke from a nightmare a few minutes ago, trembling full-body against me and just settled back down into sleep and I’m loathed to wake her so I shake my head.

Thor nods in understanding, his gaze softening as he looks down at Levi and I see the truth in his eyes. He would burn the world to keep her safe too, just like me. “Text me,” he murmurs. “When you want something brought up.”

I nod and can’t even wait until Thor leaves before dropping my head and snuggling close again, breathing out the last of my tension.

LEVI

James is on edge today, but he won’t tell me what’s happening. The clubhouse seems busy, keyed up but I don’t have the energy yet to leave the bed, which seems to alleviate some of James’ nerves. He’s in and out today, coming back to me for tender moments but always dragging himself away again with a clenched jaw. He doesn’t want to leave me, that’s obvious, but whatever is going on is too important for him to stay away.

Stitch has appeared with some fancy new bandages, ones tailored for deep burns and other severe skin injuries and wraps my wrists with gentle movements, completely at odds with the heavy leather cut on his back.

“These bandages don’t come cheap.” He tells me conversationally. “Cannon told me to get the best and didn’t even blink when I told him the price. These are used in the major burn and trauma centers.”

“But I’ll still scar, right?”

Stitch stops his wrapping and gazes up at me, unsettling clarity and understanding in his dark eyes. “You will always be beautiful, Levi. Inside and out, and Cannon will always love you. You are his world.”

My face goes red and I suddenly feel like I’m going to cry. Stitch takes pity on me.

“Besides, bikers always have scars; it’s like a prerequisite.” I snort with laughter.

He sits with me a while longer, asking mild questions, talking about small things and I get the sense he’s probing gently, looking for injuries that are more than skin-deep. He smiles when I try to stifle a yawn and pats my knee lightly as he stands, gathering his supplies and tucking them into his medical bag.

“Get some sleep, Lev. Best thing for you right now.”

JAMES

Tracer and Preacher don’t arrive alone, not that I expected them to. With effort I left Levi a little earlier, and even though she’s asleep with more pain relief drugs, I asked Nat and Sable to watch over her. They understand something’s up too, but they’re experienced enough to not ask questions, and I know that if Lev does wake up during our ‘party’, they’ll keep her upstairs and away from the ugliness.

I watch as most of the officers of the down-state charter saunter in, they’re ready to party, voices loud and coarse laughter even louder. As per my instructions to my brothers earlier, we’re going to let them settle for a few minutes, get relaxed but not drunk before lowering the boom.

I approach Tracer and clasp his hand, embrace him with one arm, thank him again for helping with Levi. Setting my trap, weaving my web. I make the rounds, thanking and shaking the hands of all the down-state officers then sit at the head table. I would have preferred to dispose of the trash somewhere other than our clubhouse, but I can’t afford to arouse any suspicion.

A few minutes pass, and I cut my eyes to my VP and SIA, telling them with a glance that the time has come. Subtly they prepare, and the signal goes out to all my brothers.

I stand and step to the center of the room. I hold my arms wide, a beer in my left, my right ready to grab my .45 and turn in a circle.

“Brothers!” A chorus of cheers erupts, and I almost feel bad for what’s about to come, almost. I’m bringing down the house tonight, literally. “I brought you all here tonight to thank you, to show my gratitude for your help when my old lady was taken. She’s back home safe and I owe it all to you here.”

I gesture to Steve and Thor, motion them closer, bait for the trap then wave to Tracer and Preacher to join us. They do, jostling each other and laughing, slapping shoulders like this is a good old time and they’re all going to get shit-faced, loaded and laid.

The shock on their faces when I point the gun at them is comical.

No one packs in my clubhouse, a hard and fast rule, so none of the down-states have a weapon, but all my brothers do tonight and they’re ready. I see the moment Trace and Preacher realize this and it does my heart good.

“What the fuck, Cannon?” Tracer growls, holding up his hands placatingly. “This your idea of gratitude now?”

“Nobody fucks with me or my family, Trace. I thought you understood that.” I direct the statement to Tracer, but my glare is locked on Preacher. My finger itches to pull the trigger and wipe that dumbass look off his face.

“McCoy Jackson.” I state flatly. “That’s you Preacher, isn’t it?”

Tracer jolts slightly, then glances over at his Enforcer.

“Grew up with the Henday twins,” I continue. “You were friends with them, even after they split and Deimos stayed with the Knights, kept in contact.”

“What the fuck is he talking about, Preacher?” Tracer demands.

“Anything to say, Preach?” I growl.

The mask falls, and the cool, genial man I thought I knew disappears. The monster that takes his place sends a bolt of shock through me, then cold hatred and realization takes its place; this bastard knew exactly what he was doing, he knew exactly what he was going to unleash by calling Deimos. He wanted it; he wanted Levi destroyed, he wanted me destroyed and that seals his fate, making what I’m about to do that much easier. He spits contemptuously on the floor.

“Bitch deserved it.”

Tracer makes a strangled sound. “You said you wouldn’t call him,” he hisses. He turns to me, moist panic on his face. “I told him not to, it’s not my fault!” Suddenly he reminds me of a weasel, a rat bastard of a man struggling to cover his exposed ass and throwing everyone he can under the proverbial bus. Maybe Tracer didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, maybe he underestimated the level of depravity Deimos and Preacher were capable of, but he knew something would be unleashed when he turned a blind eye to his Enforcer, and he did it anyway.

Preacher fixes his president with a cynical eye. “You knew I did. Don’t bother lying, you pussy.” He turns back to me. “I ain’t gonna apologize. That cunt-“

I don’t need to hear anymore.

I pull the trigger and his body hits the floor with a heavy thud. I watch dispassionately as the corpse twitches and kicks, groaning its last breath in a wheezing, strangled gurgle then turn my sights on Tracer.

“Cannon, c’mon brother-“ His face is slick with sweat, eyes beady and I wonder how I never noticed before how much he looks like a slimy prick. He tries to take a step back, hands up in surrender, but Steve and Thor move to block him, ready to shove him back towards me.

“I’m not your brother, you lying piece of shit.” I pull the trigger a second time, aiming right between his rat eyes.

The body is still jerking and gurgling when I turn to Shadow.

I see the gears turning in the VP’s eyes, see him weighing his options.

“Did you know too?” I ask, my voice dangerously low and even.

Shadow doesn’t speak, but his head jerks slowly from one side to the other. There’s sober truth in his eyes, the look of a man who knows he’s on the razor’s edge of life or death, and all that’s left to him is the mercy of the gatekeeper.

“Are we done here? Or do you all want to die tonight?” My words hang heavy in the silent clubhouse.

“It’s done.” Shadow replies, his tone neutral. “It’s buried.” He looks towards the other members of his club, the club he now leads as their president cools on my floor. “You hear? It’s done!”

I push my gun back into my waistband and hold out my hand; if Shadow accepts it, he is bound to his word, by his honor and the sanctity of his club’s honor.

He steps forward and takes my hand.

And it’s over.

Later, I return to Levi’s side. The downstate charter cleared out after our handshake, not that I’m surprised. I have Shadow’s word and, if he breaks it, there will be war. But I saw acceptance in his eyes tonight. It would be hard to explain to an outsider, but club code and honor run deep and the men and women who live this life understand and accept that. Their brothers broke that code and that comes with a price to pay.

Tonight, it was paid.

Tonight, it was laid to rest.

Levi’s asleep when I enter the room. Sable sits on the bed near her while Nat is stretched out beside her, head propped on her elbow. Both heads swivel in my direction. The stereo on the bureau plays loud enough to soften what happened downstairs.

“Is it done?” Sable asks quietly.

I nod and they stand, stretching their limbs and smiling fondly down at Levi. I wait as they shuffle past, resting a hand on each one’s shoulder and murmuring a low ‘thank you’. Sable smiles while Nat leans up on her tiptoes to peck my cheek and then they’re gone, the door shutting with a low click.

I want to climb into bed with her right now, want to wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her hair, let her take me down with her into peaceful sleep, but I turn and enter the bathroom instead. I need to wash off, scrub away the taint and darkness of the last few hours. Levi’s too pure and good to be contaminated with that ugliness.

The shower is near scalding as I stand under the spray, my face upturned into the water, letting it sting my skin and wash away my sins. The heat purifies me and when my longing for Levi grows too strong, I turn off the shower and step out.

I pause for a beat at the doorway, lean against it and study her. Long auburn hair splays across the pillow, her creamy skin stands out against the charcoal grey pillowcase and my heart aches to touch her again. I pull on boxer-briefs and crawl under the covers, snuggling close and feeling my body instantly relax, my soul taking a deep sigh of relief.

Levi sighs, breaths something that might be my name.

“I’m here, baby.” I press a kiss to her shoulder and bury my face in her neck, letting her peacefulness take me down.

*********************************************************************

ONE YEAR LATER

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

As the guests cheer and yell, the new couple lean into each other, their lips connecting, eyes closing in ecstasy. The kiss deepens, tongues sweep against each other and the crowd’s cheers grow rowdier and louder. A metal rendition of ‘The Wedding March’ starts and the couple reluctantly pull apart, eyes still locked. He pulls her in for one more passionate kiss then they part in earnest, still clasping hands and gazing at each other as the stride down the aisle, both sides screaming with joy and celebration. The day is gorgeous, the weather perfect and beyond the clubhouse the reception is already laid out for the epic party to come.

His eyes shining, James reaches out for Levi and she takes his hand, smiling up at him as they turn and follow the new couple. James’ cut gleams on his shoulders and Levi’s Property of Cannon vest lends a tough edge to her soft, flowing dress.

Ahead of them, Thor and Sable march, the perfect golden couple, now finally joined forever.

“Three more weeks,” Levi leans over, murmurs in James’ ear. “Then it’s our turn.”

“I can’t wait.” James’ whispers, nuzzling into her ear, smiling when Levi giggles at the tickle.

“Thank you, though.” Levi adds. “For waiting.”

“Anything for you.” James replies earnestly, gazing deep into her eyes for a beat. He subtly switches direction, pulling Levi gently with him towards the gathering wedding party and the photographer trying to wave the bride and groom towards her.

“Best man!” The photographer calls to James’, waving him closer. “Maid of honor!”

Working together, Sable, Nat, Levi and the photographer manage to corral the rowdy group together long enough for some beautiful pictures, then the temptation of the party is too much and Thor picks up his bride with a flourish, roaring as he jogs towards the wooden tables set out and ready, Sable’s excited shriek musical and light. Rock music is blaring, the drinks are flowing, and nobody is slowing down until probably tomorrow.

“You coming?” Steve asks, glancing back at James. Nat pulls on his arm with a grin, eager to join the party.

“Go ahead.” Levi replies, “we’ll be right there.” Steve grins and finally lets Nat lead him away.

James turns to Levi, raising a brow. The clear sky above them makes Levi’s hair gleam and he can just imagine what she will look like, standing with him at the head of the aisle in three weeks’ time.

It’s been a long year. Levi wanted to wait, wanted the dust to settle, her scars to fade and her business take root before diving into a wedding and James was willing to do anything to keep her happy.

There had been no further fallout from the Henday incident. James, Steve, Thor and Shadow had met with the leader of The White Knights, a tall man with dead eyes named Azrael. He’d listened silently and nodded once in agreement; an old scar across his throat hinting at why his voice rasped like a corpse’s.

“Deimos knew the risks, he accepted them and paid for his foolishness.” He met the eyes of each man before him, and James felt a distinct chill at the emptiness he saw there. “It is done.”

“James?” Levi’s gentle voice breaks into his thoughts.

“Yeah, baby?” James looks down, smiling at his beloved. He reaches up and tucks a lock of hair behind Levi’s ear, trailing his fingertip along her jawline before dropping his head to kiss her. He pulls away reluctantly, wishing he could stand here and do nothing but kiss Levi all night.

“I have to tell you something.” There’s a flicker of apprehension in her voice and James’ brows draw together. “I can’t keep it to myself any longer, I know the timing sucks-“

What could she have to say to him that makes her anxious for his reaction?

“What, baby? Tell me.” James murmurs, taking her hands and raising them to his face, pressing a tender kiss to each subtly scarred wrist before cradling her face in his big hands, gentle despite their size. “What’s wrong?”

Levi sniffles, shakes her head as she blinks away tears. “Not wrong. I’m just…” she breaks off, leaning into James’ hands. She takes a deep breath and smiles up at him, eyes glistening. “I’m pregnant. You’re going to be a father.”

James inhales sharply, eyes wide and lips parted. His eyes roam hers. “Really?” He asks breathlessly, his face contorts with emotion and his voice trembles. “Really, baby? You are? I’m-?” His voice cracks.

Tears stream down Levi’s face. “Yes.”

He stares at Levi for a heartbeat, tears welling in his eyes before he throws his head back and roars with elation. Crushing her to his chest, James kisses her desperately, laughing through his tears, feeling like his chest will simply burst with elation.

When he’d first seen Levi, a nervous little girl enduring her first day in third grade at a new school, his heart had issued a decree the rest of him hadn’t quite understood yet but honored all the same. Mine. From that moment on, his heart had beat for her alone, he’d watched for her, gazed longingly at her as she’d gone about her life, unaware of his helpless attraction. He’d been too scared, too ashamed of his station to make a move, too goddamn terrified of the chance she would laugh in his face when he finally did screw up the sack to speak to her, never knowing she’d struggled with the same insecurities, that she watched for him just as desperately as he did her, that her palms went equally slick with sweat, her heart beat the same frantic tattoo when they passed in the hallways, when they shared a class.

He’d thought he’d lost her, lost her to the big city and higher education before he’d ever worked up the nerve to tell her how he’d always felt and the next decade had been strangely empty, despite his fevered efforts to fill it, with anything really, the club, parties, club girls, even Daria; but it had always come back to Levi and when she’d walked into Panhead Joe’s ten years after leaving their small town it was like no time had passed, and James’ heart had stuttered to frantic life again, helplessly drawn to her flame.

The next months, the next year had been the darkest in his life, a swirling vortex of anguish and misery he’d not been sure, hell he knew he wouldn’t have survived if not for Steve and Nat, even Thor and the desperate clinging hope that Levi would come back to him, that he’d not lost her for good this time.

But he would do it all again, endure all the want and heartache, if it meant he got to be here, right here, listening to his reason for living tell him there would soon be more joy in his life, more reasons to get up every morning and face the world.

Tears of sheer euphoria wet his cheeks and he didn’t care who saw, he didn’t care who was staring at them know, alerted by his roar of elation; right now, his world consisted of only one thing, one person and he kissed her with everything he had, every hope and dream for their future, every cell in his body that had, since that day so long ago, existed solely for her.

“I love you.” He gasped, burying his face against hers, breathing in her scent, feeling her skin shiver under his lips. “Forever.”

Levi sighed contentedly, the sheer power of James’ emotions enough to bring her to tears too. How had she gotten so lucky? She would spend the rest of her life wondering that, even while she cherished every second, every touch and lingering glance. James was hers and she was his and while the road to each other had been rocky, nearly impassable at times, they’d found their way back to each other every time.

“I love you too,” she whispered, feeling James hand drift down to caress her belly, the place where their child grew.

“Forever.”

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