#i’m sorry if they seem ooc i wanted to meld their personalities to make them seem like actual children of aphro and athena

[canarhys]

hOLY SHIT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT BUT JFC I LOVE IT AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH DUDE Can you make a Valdangelo Godswap AU? You might know what this is from, but could you do Aphrodite Nico with Athena Leo? Leo's like a HUGE nerd and Nico's super hot and cute and always has glitter on his face, obsessed with pink, etc jfc, Leo has a huge crush on Nico and Nico also has a huge crush on Leo, but both of them are sO OBLIVIOUS and are constantly trying to improve themselves for eachother :))

“piper. piper, please explain this. piper, i’m legit about to start crying right now, you have no idea—“

“dude,” the daughter of hermes interrupted, “just like...breathe.”

[[MORE]]

“i can’t!” leo threw his arms up in the air, the predicament he was facing clearly taking a toll on his mental state — not good for a son of athena. “piper — have you seen him? i physically can’t speak whenever he tries to talk to me!”

“it’s just nico, leo,” piper soothed her friend, whose emotions were the equivalent of a knott’s berry farm roller coaster. “you went on a quest with him one time.”

“that was a year ago!” leo exclaimed. “when i had no clue that i had a crush on him and we weren’t totally awkward with each other.” his face suddenly curled in horror. “oh my god, i had acne back then. he probably thinks i’m ugly—“

“okay!” piper yelled out, grabbing leo’s arm and pulled him out of the hermes cabin quickly, making him yelp when, in a split second, he was outside and he could actually taste the oxygen on his tongue. piper placed her hands on her hips as she looked at him taking back in the air he lost. “better?”

“physically, yes,” he answered. in contrast, his brain was having a fucking field day. because only ten minutes ago, piper had brought to light the idea that leo had a crush on nico — the revelation which had caused the son of athena to have a mental breakdown because he was that oblivious to his own feelings. and it wasn’t something to feel proud of, because leo had felt that he understood everything about himself up until now.

so he didn’t even bother to question why he felt his face flush whenever nico complimented him, or why he felt butterflies in his stomach whenever nico placed a hand on his shoulder. and it made him internally scream to no end at how, for a child of an intelligent goddess, he was such a dumbass.

“well, you’re fine now,” piper said. “i haven’t seen you have this much of a heart attack since the whole jason incident... for the same reason. god, athena kids are hopeless romantics.”

“shut up, piper!” leo flapped his hands. “i just need to think for a second.”

his friend’s face contorted into sympathy, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. it made leo feel guilty. whenever something was ‘too much,’ he tended to lash out because he was having a crisis wrapping his head around whatever was happening. he apologized but she told him not to worry.

“it’s just... i just... i don’t even know,” he mumbled, burying his face in her chb t-shirt. “i think i like him... a lot? he’s really cute and i’m really bad at confessing my feelings for people. plus he’s a child of aphrodite! he’s basically out of my league.”

she grabbed his shoulders and forced him to look her in the eye. “i’m sorry, whose brilliant idea was it to create demigod cell phones that don’t attract monsters?”

leo didn’t answer and she nudged him slightly before he mumbled a small “...me.”

“and who was able to behead an entire column of cyclopes with a single ballista fire?”

leo started laughing. “me.”

“and who fought the leader of an army of rabid hellhounds and speared him through the chest?”

“okay, okay, i get it!” leo exclaimed, his smile crinkling his eyes. “that was me.”

“if you are able to defeat a rogue demigod in under a split second, then you are out of nico’s league! if he doesn’t return your feelings, then he has to raise his standards!”

leo snorted before hugging piper tight, the touch-starved soul within him begging to encase his best friend in a big hug. piper really knew how to rile people up.

“piper, have i ever told you how amazing you are?”

“i mean... i always knew, but okay.”

leo would’ve punched her if she wasn’t being amazing right now.

suddenly he felt piper shift under his embrace, he looked up and saw her with an uncomfortable expression. “uh, dude—”

“valdez?”

his heart suddenly stopped at the sound of the gravelly voice that belonged to the one and only man of his dreams. he turned around on impulse, which was a mistake because he was suddenly frozen on the spot and his fingers weren’t even moving an inch and leo was pretty sure his mind wasn’t any better because nico was right there—

if you asked leo valdez what his favorite thing about nico di angelo was, he probably wouldn’t answer and just spontaneously combust. nico di angelo had an inch on him, less thin limbs and more... well, hotness. he had smooth olive skin with galaxies upon galaxies of freckles, curled hair that was currently in a weak (yet cute) ponytail, and he was wearing a pink leather jacket with studs and clips. his dark eyes were glittered up under the lids, giving him almost a fairy look that nearly made leo collapse on his own.

leo probably looked like a gaping fish, his face dark and flushed. nico wasn’t helping. because he wasn’t saying anything either and leo really needed him to hand him a subject because if he wasn’t, leo was going to accidentally fall into his arms and kiss him senseless—

“can i...” nico started, before clearing his throat. leo was swerving by the raspiness of his voice. “can i talk to you for a minute?”

leo glanced at piper, who was hiding a thumbs up that only leo could see. he looked back to nico and could only nod.

leo said his goodbyes to the daughter of hermes and followed his crush to camp half-blood’s lake, a shimmering blue that reflected the sun overhead, a small dock leading out towards the water. leo caught sight of some water spirits, who waved at him flirtily, and he forced himself not to blush as he shyly waved back.

“that was your friend?” nico asked. he had perched himself on the edge of the small wooden dock, the darkness of his raven hair pulling away by the streams of sunlight illuminating it. he looked gorgeous as the sun cascaded across his freckled skin. his legs were crossed, and he was looking at leo with a weird face. leo didn’t know what emotion he was expressing but he hoped it wasn’t bad.

“huh?” he realized after around 9.5 seconds that nico was talking to him. “oh, yeah, piper! we’ve been friends since we were kids, we’re pretty close.”

nico raised an eyebrow before humming in acknowledgement. what, did he want him to say they were dating or something? leo could never figure him out, which was probably why leo liked him for some stupid reason — the only equation he couldn’t solve.

nico patted the empty space next to him. “sit,” he said.

leo blinked before walking over to where he was, crouching down to sit upon the dock and let his feet dangle over the edge.

“why did you want to talk to me?” leo asked. (if he had been looking, he would’ve seen nico curse under his breath.)

“oh, um, i was lonely... yeah, because my friends are on a date and they’re like the only people i hang out with so...”

leo felt his high hopes drop to a new low. oh. that’s why he brought him here. leo felt a bubble of spite fill his stomach, more towards himself than towards nico. because of course nico wouldn’t want to converse with him in the first place — leo was so insignificant that he was barely a mole on a baby’s ass. the new information already made him want to jump in the lake and leave camp.

“so i’m like your rebound?” he joked, almost sarcastically, and his eyes widened when nico’s head snapped towards him in an almost defensive position.

“no!” he yelled. “i wouldn’t just do that to you. you’re... uh...” he coughed. “you’re fun to talk to...”

the spite bubble popped, and he made a soft “oh.” he really wished he knew how any of his nerdy rants and book reviews were “fun,” since those were majority of his conversations with the son of love. nico was from the 30s, which meant that he didn’t know much from this era and leo had once been a bit of a tour guide. once in a while he would bring up a topic that leo was obsessed with and he would go into a thirty minute explanation into star wars or dc comics. then he would promptly realize that he’s been infodumping and die on the inside.

nico sighed. “look, i really enjoy your company. you’re smart and you have funny jokes.”

leo made a face. “all of my jokes are inside jokes that no one understands.”

“...yeah, but they’re funny when you know the material?”

leo couldn’t help it. he giggled. “sure, you’re just saying that.” he twiddled with his thumbs, dreading for when the conversation was going to hit death valley where neither of them knew what they were going to say. “what do you want to talk about?”

“i don’t actually know?” nico laughed, a short yet heavenly laugh where his eyes closed like butterfly wings and his mouth curled in a dashing smile. “i’m not good at conversation starters.”

“honestly same,” leo replied. “i’m pretty sure all my dialogue has been entirely based on this book series i...” he dragged his sentence before facepalming. “uh, sorry, i don’t know why i’m—”

“no, no!” nico suddenly grabbed his wrists, and leo skin felt cleansed by the touch of fingerless gloves against his arm. “tell me about it.”

leo raised his eyebrow. he had never done this before. “you sure? i can go on about it for an hour and you won’t be able to stop me.”

“no, i’m sure.” he placed leo’s hands back down on his lap. “tell me.”

that was enough of a catalyst to start talking about the latest book collection he had gotten his hands on (in greek, of course), the six of crows duology. he had finished the grisha trilogy just a month ago (in under a week, he might add), and had bought the two books at the camp’s bookstore. he had finished the first book in a single day and read again because it was just that good, but he was struggling to find time to read the other one. he had asked nico if he wanted to hear spoilers (to which nico nodded wordlessly), and leo had then gone into a rant about how dumb kaz was for not actually trying to show inej his feelings or how nina was way too good for matthias (both of which now sounds pretty relevant to the situation), then started screaming about wylan and jesper and wouldn’t stop talking about their cute dynamic and suddenly he was on the topic of grisha as a whole.

the entire time nico was just nodding and looking at him, but as leo was explaining the chemistry of all the book’s relationships, he noticed nico had a lost expression on his face. he was staring at leo, eyes gazing longingly at him with a soft smile and tint of blush on his cheeks (leo suspected it was makeup). the glitter under his eyelashes were prominent, bright pink and gold and adding beautiful contrast to his entire looks. his hair was cascading around his face in ripples. was he daydreaming? leo stopped talking to prove his theory, and nico didn’t stop staring. was he a little too much?

“do i have something on my face?” he questioned, making nico snap back into reality.

“w-what?” nico stuttered.

“you’re staring,” leo mumbled, averting his eyes from the beautiful boy. “i knew it, i’m ranting too much.”

“no, no!” nico exclaimed, waving his hands for emphasis. leo noticed his black and pink nail polish. “it’s just... your eyes are striking.”

leo an inhuman noise, confused. nico realized what he said and immediately tried to recover.

“cause they’re... uh, they’re scary! yeah, they can kill a man in one hit. i should know, i saw you take down a monster twice your size.”

there was silence. it made sense. his eyes were brown, differing from his siblings’ gray ones, yet they were still sharp and jason claimed they made him nervous when they first met. leo didn’t know if he should be proud or not. it was one thing to strike fear in enemies’ hearts. it was another to strike fear in your friends’.

“uh, thanks man,” leo said, internally scolding himself for not having a proper answer. “yours are... neat.”

neat, he screamed at himself. neat! of all the fucking words in the world, that’s what he said. god, athena must be shaking her head in disappointment in olympus. sorry mom.

(it was a travesty since neat was an understatement when it came to nico di angelo.)

“you know what, i’m sorry,” leo apologized, standing up and backing away. “i have a project i need to work on and jake has been asking me to help him with something, i should go—”

“wait!” nico stood up abruptly, which was the worst mistake of his entire life because leo watched in shock as his foot stuttered under the lack of wood under it and sent nico toppling down into the lake below. leo cried out, rushing towards the water and looking over the dock to see nico pop up from the water and gasp for air.

his black bangs stuck to his face, dripping wet with the hair tie forming his ponytail missing. he pulled the strands from his eyes, looking up at leo who had his hands over his mouth as if he was afraid of what nico was going to say next.

“are you okay?” leo asked, trying to ignore how nico still looked breathtaking after taking a dunk into the half-blood waters.

nico slapped his hands down in the water, the flying droplets hitting leo’s face and making him wince. “do i look okay?”

leo didn’t answer, looking down at the dock in shame, and already his brain was about to burst and now he was probably going to cry? because this is like the worst thing to happen to him in forever and now nico is mad at him and he won’t be his friend anymore and all this stuff was making his stomach feel like excommunicating every single acid in it. “sorry.”

“oh fuck, um, wait, oh gods wait, no, it’s my fault i— leo, hold on!”

leo could barely hear him as he did the only thing he could think of doing, not even bothering a second glance as he ran away to the athena cabin.

—

nico was an idiot.

no scratch that, nico was literally the god of idiots. the whole enchilada of idiots with an idiot army by his side.

being a son of aphrodite, nico expected himself to be a master when it came to emotions, especially romantic ones. and it showed, by his ability to patch up relationships between other campers and help them get ready for their dates with his wardrobe expertise. he was able to make monsters swoon by his voice only to set them up to kill them. he was the one, after all, that knocked sense into percy that he had a crush on annabeth.

but all of that was thrown out the window by leo valdez.

cute, adorable leo, who went for hours on end with tv series and science rantings that nico couldn’t even comprehend because he was always staring at his face, starry eyed and so passionate that it made his chest hurt. whose intelligence was able to bring down a rogue demigod general in the titan war. who was so easy to fluster and make laugh till he couldn’t breathe.

so, nothing could have compared to the absolute disaster he was when they talked a week ago.

first strike was when he had forgotten to create a valid reason to speak with him (anything other than him wanting to stare at leo in a non-creepy way) and fucked it up by explaining that he was some sort of rebound. a rebound! leo wasn’t a rebound, he was a goddamn blessing!

then was when he was caught and he replied with, “your eyes are striking.” he tried to ignore that part because he had never been that stupid, and his explanation wasn’t any better because leo probably took offense of him calling him scary (which he can be but nico likes his face).

finally — falling in the lake. the one thing he was not prepared for, making him so pissed off at how bad he was at this whole feelings thing that he accidentally lashed out at leo. it was the worst — seeing hurt cross over leo’s face with a dejected expression, and nico failing to speak a coherent apology before leo took off, obviously wanting nothing to do with him after he was such a jackass.

which he was, no doubt about it. he wondered what he did wrong, sitting by his vanity, now dry and doing his own makeup and applying glitter under his eyes. then he realized that everything from the point he realized he liked leo was wrong, because he should’ve known that he can’t be too prideful in his love abilities. and now he drove leo away.

“don’t beat yourself up about it,” reyna said, the daughter of apollo said, cleaning up her golden arrows with a small cloth. she was visiting the camp from the roman one she stayed at. “i’ve met leo. he isn’t the type to hold grudges against someone.”

“i know that!” nico spun around in his chair, crossing his arms in exasperation. “i feel bad though. if he hates me, he has a reason to.”

“if he hates you, he’s obviously a dumbass,” reyna counterpointed. “are you going to apologize though? because i’m tired of seeing you pining and not making any moves.”

“i made a move and it ended with me swimming with the fishes.”

“the only thing you said was that his eyes were pretty.” reyna leaned closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “step up your game.”

nico scoffed. “i’m getting relationship advice by a sun demigod.”

“i’m being serious.” the daughter of apollo had a stony expression on her face. “it’s important to be yourself, i mean that’s what you told me. but if you want to go all out, go all out. you and leo will continue to avoid each other until you come out to him.”

nico sighed. “okay, but...how?”

reyna grinned, picking up a brush from nico’s vanity. “allow me to help.”

an hour later nico was wearing a mesh t-shirt and black leather jeans with combat boots that were decorated in pink flower embroidery, plus a bubblegum aviator jacket gifted to him by his mother. his hair was let down today, ending at his shoulders and wavy like ocean seas, with clips holding up his long bangs. he had his eyelashes curled and eyelids brushed with eyeshadow, and he looked himself up and down in the mirror along with reyna.

finally his best friend gave him a thumbs up. now the challenge was knowing what to say.

“knock him dead!” reyna called out. “well, don’t actually. but you’ll do great.”

“thanks!” nico called out. he was about to head to the athena cabin until he bumped into someone who ran straight at him.

“oh shit!” the person yelped, and nico’s thought processes immediately malfunctioned. “sorry, my bad— nico?”

the plan was supposed to be talk to leo, ask him out somewhere, then confess to him and wait for judgement. but that plan was basically burned to ashes when nico found himself struggling to form words as he stared at leo. his dark yet clear and stabbing eyes looking up at him, his skin decorated in small freckles under the eyes and beauty marks dotting his face delicately. his wild dark hair was like smoke, and small owl earrings hung from the lobes of his ears. he was wearing a pale blue shirt under his chb tee, blue shorts and high socks, making him look like an absolute nerd especially with a small pencil tucked above his ear and gods, nico could feel himself reaching elysium.

nico registered that he was holding leo to keep the shorter from falling, hands on his tiny waist that made his mind even more jumbled until leo’s loud and rapid voice started speaking.

“oh, nico, thank gods i found you! i wanted to say sorry, i’ve honestly been avoiding you because i thought you were mad at me and you most likely are, and you have the right to because i sent you into the water and i probably ruined your makeup — though you guys probably have waterproof makeup so i don’t know — and i didn’t even help you out which was really stupid of me because i’m supposed to be a nice person and frankly you were dripping wet, wow that sounds really wrong i’m sorry i should probably stop rambling—”

the boy took in a deep breath, but nico was squealing internally about how cute leo was when he rambled. he willed himself not to pinch his cheeks and kiss him on his forehead. “i’m sorry.”

“what?” nico honestly was lost halfway through his rant. “it’s fine, it was my fault. i should be the one apologizing. i yelled at you.”

“yeah but i deserved it,” leo mumbled, looking down at the ground.

“no, you didn’t,” nico retorted, going into defense mode. “i’m sorry, really. you want me to make it up to you?”

leo tilted his head like the goddamn cutie he was. “you don’t have to but... how?”

“let’s head to the bookstore,” nico answered. “you pick out a book and i buy it for you.”

“what?” leo exclaimed, backing up until nico’s hands weren’t on his waist anymore (which totally didn’t make him feel sad). “dude, you seriously don’t have to do that, i mean there’s a library—”

“yeah, but the library doesn’t let you keep the books. i know you like reading them over and over again.” nico held up a bag of drachmas from his pocket. “i have money. you can buy the entire store if you desire. but i’m not letting you get out of this empty handed.”

leo looked ready to go off on an entire explanation of why he wasn’t going to follow nico’s idea, and despite him being one of the best debaters the camp has ever seen, nico was determined to hold his ground because that’s what leo deserved.

leo sighed, noticing that nico wouldn’t budge. “okay, fine!” he groaned. “can i at least pay you back?”

“nope.”

“ugh!”

leo’s worries about this arrangement were quickly diminished though, when leo had seen the fuckton of books that had been added to the bookstore since he had last came there. he was gawking over some of them, even held on to three and continuously checked their summaries to make sure they were good. nico leaned against a bookshelf, non-fiction, staring at leo as he ran his finger across the covers and watched his talk to himself silently, even picking some novels up to read with focused eyes. the son of aphrodite hated how whipped he was, but the son of athena was so pretty that he couldn’t help it.

leo placed one of the books back on the table, though hesitantly. “are you sure you can pay for these?”

nico nodded. “i’m stocked up on money right now. buy whatever you want.”

“i’ll just buy one,” which seemed easier said than done to leo, because he was having an internal debate between two thick novels. he turned to nico and showcased them. “pick, i can’t choose.”

nico scanned the books. one was named the outsider by stephen king, the other children of blood and bone by tomi adeyemi. nico had no idea what their summaries were or if they were actually interesting, but he was pretty sure he could pay for both.

“i can buy both of them,” he said. leo was about to protest but nico snatched both of the books out of his hands. “this all you want?”

“i mean, yeah, but—”

“no buts!” nico interrupted. “you deserve this and you don’t get to think otherwise. you want these or not?”

leo nodded. nico smirked. “good. i’ll be back.”

a minute later nico was handing a paper bag of the two books to leo, who almost didn’t grab it if it wasn’t thanks to nico’s prodding. a smile made its way onto the son of athena’s face, fond and filling nico’s empty stomach with butterflies. he looked absolutely gorgeous.

“thanks, neeks,” he said, before gasping and covering his mouth.

nico felt his cheeks heat up. “neeks?”

“sorry, it just came out!” he clutched the books to his chest as if they were a stuffed toy. “you’re really nice, nico.”

nico felt himself step closer towards leo. “it’s no problem.” but it was a problem, because nico was already in leo’s personal space and trying to think other thoughts than kissing him. “you needed this.”

leo laughed, wheezing slightly and light-hearted. “i guess.” he looked up at nico and the son of aphrodite thought he saw him leaning up towards him until—

leo’s face contorted into absolute horror, his eyes widening as they looked at nico’s shoulder. he screamed in terror, jumping and backing up quickly until he hit his head on a nearby ladder that just-so-happened to be placed next to him. nico could barely register leo holding his head in pain before his eyes rolled up into his head and he promptly fell onto the floor, unconscious.

oh shit.

nico looked down at his shoulder to find a daddy longleg hanging on to it. he yelped and flicked it off to gods’ know where, when the reality of the situation hit him. of course a spider would show up. as if the children of athena couldn’t get enough. as if nico didn’t have enough disastrous experiences caused by him already.

nico had brought leo into the infirmary and asked for the apollo kids to give the books to leo on his way out, before rushing to the aphrodite cabin and saw reyna back there, with a sunflower yellow dress, on her demigod phone when nico opened the door with a slam.

“how’d it go?”

nico thought about the day for a single second before walking towards the bed and falling down face first on it, taking in a breath, and muffled his yelling.

son of love? more like son of dumbass.

—

when leo got out of the infirmary, books in hand, he had willed himself not to drown himself in the camp’s lake.

who decided it was a great idea to make children of athena have arachnophobia? because leo had actually tried to kiss nico, one of the boldest decisions in his life, he may add, only to get severely mortified at a fucking tiny saddy longleg climbing over nico’s shoulder, getting a concussion, and passing out. and he actually tried to look cleaned up, with his best shirt and a small pencil to add. was karma doing this? making himself a humiliation in front of the prettiest boy on earth?

he wanted to march up to athena and demand her he take him up to olympus and away from his feelings.

piper had helped him with the incident from two weeks ago, after helping him a week prior when he had felt horrible about nico falling in the lake. now she was telling him, as she was eating from a bag of chips, that he should just confess and get it over with.

“yeah, like that worked,” he grumbled sarcastically.

the daughter of hermes threw up her hands in exasperation. “leo, you have to be shitting me! at this point, you both are oblivious fucks. right now, you march right over to nico’s cabin, tell him your feelings, and hope it goes well. hell, i’m sure he likes you too!”

leo sputtered. “where?”

piper groaned, lolling her head back as if she was begging her heavenly father to take her back to heaven. “nevermind. just tell him you like him.”

and here leo was, in front of the aphrodite cabin, pink and glossy and full of the prettiest people in camp half-blood. leo used to think the kids in there were airheads and lovebugs until he saw them in battle, especially nico, one of the only aphrodite campers with charmspeak. leo wished he had charmspeak so he could beat some sense into himself to go through that deadbeat door.

he let out a breath, clearing out his mind. well, here he goes.

he raised his hand to knock on the door when it opened to... speak of the devil.

“leo?” nico called out, closing the door behind him. he was wearing the same attire he had on two weeks ago, all dolled up and making leo’s face go from normal to seething warm. “i, um, i’m sorry—”

“you’ve got to be kidding me.”

nico blinked before narrowing his eyes. “excuse me?”

but leo was angry, because his emotions have gotten the best of him for far too long and nico was right there, and leo felt all his common sense get thrown out the window and get replaced by anger at the gods for all these bad happenings and shit. he was angry at himself for holding back so long, and angry at nico for not starting something earlier and pretending they could always go back to how they used to be because, frankly, leo was done. he was finished.

“i’m just gonna come out and say it. i like you, di angelo. i like your gorgeous face and your dumb laugh and i like how you try to apologize for things i neither you can control. i literally just figured i had a crush on you like three weeks ago and honestly i’m just done because i’m a son of athena so love isn’t my strong suit which really isn’t that surprising but you get the point. you make me smile a lot and i like it when you hug me and i don’t even know how to interact with you anymore because you make my brain genuinely malfunction and i hate you for it, i hate you but like i like you too and i really want to kiss you—”

he was cut off by nico suddenly surging forward, locking their lips together.

leo made a surprised muffled noise, eyes widening before eventually closing them in bliss, wrapping his arms around nico’s neck and letting the taller hold him by the waist, firm hands grasping him. he felt himself melting in nico’s arms, kissing back and unconsciously bringing his hands up to caress nico’s soft hair.

nico brought up a hand to hold leo’s head, rubbing circles on his back. leo barely remembered that he needed to breathe, and hesitantly leaned away, looking up at nico, who looked as blissed out as he felt. his cheeks were scarlet, his eyes full of hearts.

“wow,” leo muttered. “did you—?”

“mhm,” nico hummed.

“and was i—?”

“mhm.” a fond smile crossed nico’s face. leo felt himself fall in love all over again. “do you want to come inside? just to talk! and maybe kiss?”

leo smiled, glad they were finally being blunt with one another. “i’d love to.”

[melancholydreadfuldream]

Hell-bound with you

Fandom: Doctor Who

 Pairing: Doctor x Reader

 Summary: You are the unwilling companion of the Doctor.

 Warning: ooc, plot holes as usual, dark!doctor, insanity, etc. You have been warned.

   A/N: I hope this post show up in search result  just fine. The part four of my other fic I posted at the end of last month just won’t show up in any search result, tags not working. I hope this one work okay.

     I watched in amusement from my spot as Jack tried to summon the Doctor but failed instead, he kept getting her companion. I couldn't help but laughed at the old man expression when Jack kissed him in the mouth. 

  I was surprised when the old man, Graham, revealed that the Doctor is now a woman. Jack is giddy with excitement as he wanted to see the Doctor so much. But he kept pulling in the companion instead. Yaz and Ryan. 

  Eventually Jack realized that the judoon technology is the reason why he can't pull the Doctor to him. Personally, I was grateful that the Doctor is not here. I wouldn't want to catch his - i suppose now - her attention. I admit I am a bit curious about how she looks like. The Doctor's first time as a woman, I wonder how she will act.

  My attention snapped back at Jack as he warned the companion about the lone cyberman. It was all very cryptic. 

  Turned out the companion has never encountered a cyberman before so they understandably are confused.

 Both Jack and I had suffered together in the short time since we met and you know what they said about forming a close bond during a life and death situation. It makes us comrade.

  Jack knew some stuff about me that I would never tell anyone. I am so grateful that I met him while stranded in this alternate universe. 

  Of course, it just my bad luck to have landed in a time period where cybermen overrun the world. I was lucky I met Jack. It would take me forever to sort thing out otherwise. I shuddered at the thought of being taken by cybermen for conversion.

  I didn't know what to think of the companion because I didn't know of them. I didn't know of the newest incarnation of the Doctor being female either. There were rumor floating around about it but I missed her first season on the account of finding myself suddenly existed within the impossible DW universe.

  I hated it. It wasn't fun. And I ended up ruining the Doctor's timeline. I had to run from him when he changed into that monster. Oh, I know he would come looking for me sooner or later. He would never let me go just like that. Misery loves company and all of that. Some part of him did blame me for changing him, I just know it.

  But running away and found myself stranded in another DW universe isn’t exactly how I planned my escape. The upside of being here is that I’m finally free of that person.

  I heard an amused chuckle within my mind and I frowned. Right, I guess technically I am still haunted by that person. I glared at the bow-tied figure that only I can see, a proof of my insanity. I tried to ignore him and his unwanted commentary on whatever it is Jack and I did.

  This particular universe thankfully still follow the canon, I think. I don't know if it will be a blessing or a curse my escape being here, knowing my luck it will ended up as another curse. I do know one thing, this time I have to avoid the Doctor at all cost. It will be hard, I'm sure, as I felt it so many times before back then, someone pulling the string and play on me like a puppet. Of course, no one believe me, not even that person.

  I didn't know the future of the Thirteenth Doctor but I will still be a threat to her should she realized what I am. That's what happened with that person. He insisted that I stay with him and everything has gone wrong ever since. 

  I tried not to think about that person and his now-never-happened future courtesy of me, of my presence, in his life.

  "(Name)?"

  I snapped out of my trance as Jack called out to me in concern.

  "Is it him?"

  I blinked when I realized I must have been talking out loud and thus gaining Jack and the companion’s attention. "I'm fine."

  Jack gave me a look that said he didn't believe my bullshit. 

  I ignored him. I noticed the companion are staring at me as if I was insane. I held back a frustrated laugh. Well, I am insane, somewhat.

  Jack introduced me to them. “This is (Name). She is with me.”

  "Is she a friend of the Doctor too?" Graham asked Jack.

  "Well..."

  "No." I firmly said as I glared at him in warning. "Oh, just shut up." I glared at an empty space on my left.

  The companion stared at me warily.

  “err, did she just talk to an empty space?” Ryan asked.

  “Yeah, she does that.” Jack replied, not taking his eyes off me.

  I tried to focus on Jack and the companion. I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache forming.

  Jack's frowned as he observed me. "She's...complicated." He suddenly yelled in pain as the nano-genes started to attack him. He complained very loudly.

  I was worried for him. "It’s time. We should leave here, Jack." I said as I grabbed him. “You already did your part, warning them.”

  "You are right but there is...” Jack groaned. “...one more thing, (Name), you are not coming with me."

  "What?! What the hell are you talking about?" I punched his arms in annoyance.

  Jack rubbed his arms and give me a look. "You should go with them and stay with the Doctor."

  I was pissed. I thought he understand. "No. You..."

  "I know what you think of her but I still think you would be safer with her than with me. Also, maybe she could help you with him." Jack replied, turning to glance at the space I have been staring at before despite not being able to see what I see.

  "Like hell, I'm not going! And you can't make me!" I yelled petulantly.

  The companion stood there looking confused at our argument.

  Jack let out a sad smile. "I'm sorry, (Name)." He took my hand that is on his arm and let it go.

  I blinked in confusion and annoyance. I was momentarily distracted and Jack took that opportunity to activate the vortex manipulator on my person and I suddenly blip out of the ship and found myself on Earth instead.

  7777

  I almost lost my balance as I landed harshly. I cursed loudly.

  I saw the Doctor's companion materialized not too far from me.

  "Son of a..." I growled. "That damn head jar!!" I cursed Jack. "Shut it!" I snapped on the empty space near me.

  The companion stared at me warily.

  I groaned in annoyance.

  "We should go find the Doctor." Yaz suggested.

  "Yeah, you guys go ahead. I'm out of here." I said.

  "But I thought that Jack fellow said that you should stay with the Doctor?" Ryan asked.

  "Ignore that cheeky bastard's words!" I said and then stopped myself. "Except about the cyberman. That was true. Alright, I'm leaving." I waved at them and left despite their protests.

  Screw Jack. He is not the boss of me. 

  7777

  I walked without a purpose as I ponder over what I have to do next now that Jack has abandoned me. Like hell, I’m sticking around to see the Doctor no matter how curious I am of the female Doctor.

  “He’s right, you know, you would be safer if you stay with the other Me.” He said.

  I glared at him. “And what? Risking of her turning out like you because of me?”

  “I think you give yourself too much credit. I was always going to turn out this way sooner or later. Valeyard, remember?”

  “But you are not the Valeyard.”

  “Yet.”

  “And that’s what make it worse. I did this to you. I turned you...”

  “Victorious. That’s what I am, thanks to you. It wasn’t that bad.” He said with a shrug.

  “You burned down planets!”

  “I did that once in a while. You know this." He is referring to Gallifrey. "Besides, you know they deserves it.” He said as a dark expression crossed his features.

  “We lost Clara. I wouldn’t call that victorious!!”

  “And we avenged her.”

  I was ashamed that it was the truth. I did help him to avenge Clara’s death. In fact, I was the one who urged him to do it because I couldn’t accept her death. They haven’t even done Trenzalore yet. And now they never will. Because of me, Bow-tie won’t even get a new set of regeneration. But considering how he turned out, am I doing the world a favor by limiting his life to his eleventh self? Now he will not get the chance to regenerate into Eyebrow. Or did I just make it worse? Like he implied, he is very well on his way into becoming the Valeyard.

  “I am curious about the Doctor of this universe.” Victorious pondered. “I have never regenerated into a woman before. I was on my last regeneration right now."

  I tensed at that. I kept reminding myself that the person in front of me is not quite real so even if he did figures out the truth, there is nothing he can do about it. No Clara, no new regeneration. Unless he made me fill her shoes, play her role so to speak on Trenzalore. I hope not. Well, I had escaped him, somewhat. 

  The real Victorious probably was too busy right now to ponder about the calling of Trenzalore. And knowing him now, he might actually let Trenzalore burns.

  I think I bought enough time for myself so it might take him a while to locate me especially since I have a bio-damper ring on my person to hide the void stuff that apparently covered me when I first arrived in DW universe. With the ring, he won't be able to track me down easy. It also help hid my presence from the Doctor of this universe too.

  I sighed as I stared at my 'companion', the one only I can see, an accidental result after some weird mind meld with the Doctor. 

  When I first took a glimpse of him the first time I was stranded in this alternate universe, I thought he was somehow in my head, then I beginning to question my sanity, creating a shadow figure of the Doctor in my headspace. Seemed like I could never be free of the Doctor. Part of me believed I deserved it, to be haunted by the Doctor that I ruined.

  Sometimes I really thought he is the Doctor when he suddenly said things that sounded like something the Doctor will says. And then he is being all sarcastic with his unwanted commentary on everything I do and...meh I thought of him as a figment of my imagination designed as my personal demon to torture myself. But, weirdly he does know information that I could not possibly know, things that the Doctor or some other screaming genius might know but not little stupid, ordinary Me. There is no way if he is a hallucination created by me for him to know those complicated stuff. Anyway, thanks to that, Jack trusted me, I did save his life, both our life actually, by following the advice of the shadow Doctor. 

  Jack believe me albeit a bit reluctantly at first and eventually did trust me enough to watch each other back through hell and back. It was all very dramatic but also rewarding as we formed a friendship. Unfortunately, he's loyal to the Doctor hence he disbelieved me when I said I am bad for the Doctor, he still somewhat believe the Doctor is the answer to fix everything that could go wrong, even though he should know better. 

  I groaned as I ponder on what to do now. I understand the truth in Jack's words that I might need the Doctor of this universe help should Victorious able to track me down to this universe. But I am also right about my presence around the Doctor never bode well. So you see my dilemma?

  Thankfully the Doctor and her companion never look for me. I guess she is not curious enough with me.

  Back then as I watched the first two episode of season 6, I found it weird that bow-ties who supposedly adores children, didn't bother to look harder for little Melody Pond after she escaped the astronaut suit. Maybe there is some additional information about it from DW book or the audio-book but I never got my hands on them.

  Anyway this is good. It would be troublesome if she did decided to track me down.

  7777

  I thought I covered my track very well but the time bounty hunters somehow able to track me down at some black market in some random planet. It was weird but it seemed the Tardis translation circuit still work on me even if I am not anywhere near the Tardis. Or maybe it is thanks to that annoying 'companion' of mine?

  I'm following the advice of the shadow Doctor to find an equipment to, as he said he will indulge me for now, hide me better. I used my vortex manipulator given by River a long time ago at the Library. She taught me how to use it so that I won't accidentally kill myself while using it.

  Anyway after I purchase the said equipment and before I could use it per the shadow Doctor's instruction, the hunters found me.

  Honestly I hope the self defense lesson I got from River and then Jack would be enough to at least help me escape my pursuers. I thought I did good but they still found me.

  That's when the shadow Doctor 'helpfully' told me that I had a tracking chip somewhere inside my body courtesy of the real him. That bastard. Putting a tracking chip without my knowledge or permission like I am some freaking pets.

  I glared at him angrily.

  He grinned in amusement. "Hey, technically it wasn't me who did it."

  "Close enough..." I muttered.

  He told me the equipment I purchase earlier should destroy the chip into dust inside me without harming me in the process. Removing the chip would be better but without the correct equipment and a professional medical knowledge, it would be too dangerous.

  But before I could use it, they found me again. I was at some random abandoned building. One of them broke my wrist as I fought him. I screamed in pain.

  "Hey, don't hurt her! He won't be pleased!"

  "She won't stop struggling! She bites me!"

  I groaned in pain as they pushed my whole body on the wet floor.

  "She is not to be harmed in any way." Someone said. "The client is very specific about that one. He need her for something. He is willing to pay so much for her."

  My eyes widened in fear as I realized they are not planning to take me back to Victorious. That would be even worst. Are their client some enemies of the Doctor who is trying to take me as hostage? Or do they after the knowledge I have of the Doctor? But there is no way someone could know. I was sure Victorious remove all threat on me.

  I catches the glimpse of dark expression crossing the shadow Doctor's feature as he too listen to what the men had said.

  "Who even is she? Why do they willing to pay so much for her?"

  "Don't you know? She's the consort of that guy, the Doctor."

  I rolled my eyes in disdain at that misinformation but made no move to correct them. There is no point.

  "For real? But she is running from him? Why?"

  "Have you been living under a rock? That man has gone insane. Who would in their right mind stay with him?"

  "I heard the stories about him."

  "Not stories."

  "So, is it wise to betray him like this?"

  "You assumed we got the job from him but we didn't. By the time we hand her over to the client and got our money, with this technology to cross over universe..." He glanced at the elaborate vortex manipulator on their wrists which you assumed they got from the said client. "we can make a new life in some other universe. He won't be able to find us."

  The shadow Doctor chuckled coldly. "Whoever that client of their is, I know they are not stupid. To go after what is mine, they would have to take care loose end in order to remain undetected from me." He said as he observed the men. "That vortex manipulator probably has an expired date on it and more..."

  He turned to look at me, kneeling before me with almost a bored look. "I did warned you that you would have been safer if you stay with the other me."

  I glared at him. "Quit talking, do something." I hissed at him.

  He smirked. "You didn't say please."

  "Who is she talking with?" One of the men asked.

  They hauled me up to face them.

  "You are not very smart, are you?" I said with a smirk. "He is already here. The Doctor. Or should I say Victorious?"

  They looked around nervously.

  I pulled my sonic screwdriver, the one I stole from Victorious, and set out sonic sound, as instructed by him, that momentarily hurt everyone's ears but also caused some old hanging lamp to either explode or fell to the ground, causing chaos. 

  I ran immediately out of the building. Ignoring the growing pain in my wrist, I yelled at him to tell me how to use the equipment to destroy the chip. I moved the equipment to some spot of my neck and pulled the trigger.

  I clamped my mouth as burst of hot fire pain filled me. I gasped as I fell to the ground. Tears filled my eyes. I felt so dizzy.

  I distinctly heard him telling me to stay awake and ran. So I did albeit really slow.

  Like I said before, someone or something seemed to be pulling the string on me because as I made my weak escape, I found myself face to face with the companion I met with Jack weeks ago and there is a woman with rainbow stripes on her clothing with them. The Doctor, my mind supplied.

  Shit.

  "It's you." Ryan whispered, seemingly surprised to see me.

  "Doctor, she is the one we told you before. she was with Jack." Yaz explained.

  The woman glanced at me in guarded curiosity. She walked toward me and opened her mouth to say something but I fainted right into her arms.

  7777

  I woke up inside the Tardis in the medical bay. How did I know that? He told me.

  The Doctor, the female one, entered the room and smiled upon seeing that I already wake up.

  I no longer feel any pain, not on my broken wrist and on my neck. I assumed she fixed that. And someone changed my wet dirty clothes with something comfortable.

  I heard her yapping about the danger I put myself using the equipment she found with me. I didn't listen, still a bit too dizzy.

  "Who are you?"

  "(name)." I replied.

  "Ok, (name), I'm the Doctor. My fam said you were with Jack and that he instructed you to stay with me?"

  "He was wrong." I said bluntly. I forced myself to get up and stand up despite her protest. "I should leave."

  "You can't. We are in the vortex. Also you were hurt. Who hurt you? Also who put a tracking chip inside you? You destroyed the chip using that equipment. Are you running from a prison? Did Jack broke you out of prison?"

  I groaned and chuckled harshly. "You talk too much." I said as I clutched my pounding headache. "Prison, huh? I guess you could say that. Oh, shut up." I snapped at my right.

  "Who are you talking with?" She observed me curiously. "The fam told me that..."

 "I am a bit insane? That would be correct. Better stay away from me, doc." I said in derisive.

  She glanced at me.

  "Stop looking at me like that!"

  "Like what?"

  "Like I am some animal in a zoo."

  "I am so sorry."

  "For what?" I asked in confusion.

  "For whoever hurt you like that." She whispered. "Yaz changed your clothes. She said you have scars on your arms, consistent with someone being restrained and being injected and also..."

  "Stop." I glared at her menacingly. "That was private. None of your business."

  She, thankfully, stopped talking about that topic. But she suddenly pulled my sonic screwdriver. "How did you get this?"

  I took a deep breathe trying to calm myself over the fact that she and Yaz invaded my privacy. "It's mine."

  "Not possible." She said firmly.

  "Uh-oh, someone in trouble..." I heard him said in a teasing sing-song voice. I glared at him before turning to face her. 

  "Someone gave it to me." I lied. "Now give that back and let me leave." I demanded.

  She shook her head as she took a step back. "Did you steal this?"

  "Ding dong, she got it!" The shadow Doctor answered cheerfully much to my annoyance.

  Fine, I'm going to give her some shock value. "River gave it to me, satisfied?"

  The Doctor look shocked, her mouth dropped open. "You know River? River Song?"

  "That was a low blow, (name)." The shadow Doctor whispered at me in disappointment.

   "She was my friend." I spat. That wasn't a lie, technically. River was my friend but in the other universe, not in this one. "I'm sure you wouldn't know me, Doctor. She wouldn't talk about her friends with you. Mostly because you would not be interested." 

  The Doctor observed me, trying to spot the lie. She seemed satisfied to find none. But she is still suspicious though. "Why would she give you this?"

  "For my protection. I will only know how to use it whenever I was in danger." That one is not a lie since the shadow Doctor only tell me how to use it whenever I need to escape danger.

  She hummed at that, probably wondering if I ever misuse it. She didn't seem to keen of returning it though. At least she didn't confiscate the vortex manipulator.

  "Jack vouched for me. Do you think he would send someone not trustworthy to you?" I said. The answer is yes, by the way, because that traitor Jack ignored my warning how I am not good for the Doctor's timeline. If I am to stay with her, predictably things will not be canon again and it will definitely be hell-bound.

  The shadow Doctor chuckled at what I said.

  The Doctor didn't say anything.

  I raised an eyebrow. "I guess you don't trust Jack or do you only trust him when he is useful to you?" I asked in vicious tone. "Fine, keep the damn sonic screwdriver."

  "Oh now you have done it. She is not going to let you leave now." The shadow Doctor helpfully informed. "That is my 'i-don't-trust-this-person-i-need-to-solve-what-she-is-hiding' look." He grinned gleefully.

  I almost want to slap the jerk if not for the fact he is not really there so it is kinda pointless.

  Resigned to the fact that I am stuck with the new Doctor, I am determined not to let her in my head. A mistake I made with bow-ties which in turn caused him to become Time Lord Victorious.

  But I have no idea what the future hold for this version of Doctor and her companion. One thing for sure, the canon is about to go to hell, especially since I have no idea what to do and what to avoid doing.

  "I think you should stay with me. I can help you with whoever after you. But I need you to trust me."

  What a hypocrite. She doesn't even trust me. Why should I trust her? 

  "I don't want to intrude. Just dropped me back on earth at 2020." I said.

  "Oh, bad year." The shadow Doctor supplied. 

  "I insist you stay here for a while. After all, isn't that what Jack want me to do? Welcome to the Tardis. It is..."

  "I know what it is. River and Jack told me."

  "Well then...if they trust you, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt..." She smiled brightly. "Welcome aboard, (name). We are going to have adventure of the lifetimes."

  If she think I would rejoice, she is sadly mistaken as I stared at her flatly, not impressed.

  He chuckled at my expense.

  The Doctor glanced at my unimpressed look, sighed. "Well, you are a tough one."

  7777

  And so I ended up becoming the Doctor's unwilling companion...again.

  She re-introduced me with her fam and officially give me a room in the Tardis.

  Yaz is wary of me but Ryan and Graham are nice and friendly.

  And just like that I got pulled into their adventure. I tried to refused saying I'm feeling ill most of the time, preferring to stay behind but unfortunately the Doctor doesn't trust to leave me inside the Tardis.

  Does she think I could drive the Tardis or something? Seriously...

  7777

  I was stuck in a nightmare. I was back with Victorious and he punishes me for escaping. He trapped me in a special room designed to punish me mentally. He always did know I am weak mentally. He was surprised that I could survive this long by luck alone.

  I saw the laughing figure of a trickster, saying the joke is on me and...

  I woke up to the concerned face of the Doctor, the female one.

  I remembered now. I fell under the clutch of some wannabe gods from ancient Syria. They fed from people's nightmare.

  The woman, Rakaya, glanced at me wickedly, saying I have some delicious nightmare.

  The Doctor saves the day and able to trick the wannabe gods into eternal imprisonment.

  At the end, as I sat with a blank expression on my face on the stairs at the console room, Yaz and Ryan approached me and asked if I want to talk about my nightmare.

  I just said that I dreamed of being back in the room. They didn't push me for more. Yaz, being a police officer, probably suspected based on my scars, that the room was where I was imprisoned before.

  7777

  Darn it.

  Despite my determination not to get attached with the Doctor and the fam, I failed. Damn adventures and dangers and excitements, it does bound us closer with each other. I saved them, they saved me.

  "Admit it, you miss this, didn't you? The adventures, dangers, excitements?" The shadow Doctor teased me. "You got used to it already."

  "what about you?" I asked him. "Do you miss being the Doctor? Saving people and planets instead of destroying them on a whim?"

  He was silent. For once, he left me alone. I think I hurt his feeling despite him being a hallucination.

  7777

  Once I was almost taken by another bounty hunters, the Doctor rescued me and declared that I am under her protection and anyone who want to take me, will have to go through her first.

  The oncoming storm expression on her face is enough to make them back off and I was left in peace.

  The Doctor is not pleased that I still won't tell her the reason.

  "You have your own secrets and I have mine. Respect that!"

  "I can't protect you if you don't tell me the truth." The Doctor had said.

  "Fine, let me leave. I can take care of myself!"

  Both the Doctor and the shadow one snorted at me much to my anger.

  The fam has to interfered with our arguments. 

  "Cool off, the both of you!" Yaz demanded.

  Reluctant to leave for the next adventure but having no choice, I went with them. Another life-threatening incident passed with me rescuing Ryan, softened the Doctor and she apologies to me, sort of. 

  7777

  It finally happened. As Jack warned, the lone cyberman has come.

  The Doctor asked me the thing that the cyberman after so I told him about the cyberium. Jack did told me about it in passing. He was part of the alliance, after all. I guess he told me about it because he always planned to dump me at the Doctor. I admitted I hold a grudge against Jack for this still.

  The Doctor took me with her but instructed the fam and the rest to stay put. She asked me more about cyberium. I honestly don't know anymore but she kept pressing me, taking her frustration at me.

  To be honest, she frighten me at that moment, reminding me of Victorious.

  From the way the Doctor reacted when she explained about cyberman to the other, the shadow Doctor concluded that she must have lost someone to the cyberman.

  Bill Potts, my mind supplied. I knew she was supposed to be the Doctor's companion after Clara. Since Bill is not here anymore, I can only assume she is the one the Doctor lost.

  The Doctor raced against time competing with the cyberman called Ashad to get the cyberium before him.

  She eventually figured out the cyberium is possessing one of the residents in the house. She managed to trick the cyberium into leaving its current host.

  The cyberium is attracted to the Doctor for a host much to my horror as she started to blurt out something the Time Lord Victorious would say.

  I saw the shadow Doctor glanced at the other Doctor in amusement and curiosity. His eyes darkened with the lust for power. At that moment, he look so much like the real Victorious I have to believe he is truly him, not a pale imitation of him.

  He turned to look at me as he finally notice the look of dread on my face. "You see? The Doctor has always headed to this..." He said with a chilling smile. "It wasn't you who turned me, dearest (name)."

  "Get away..." I whispered in fear. I snapped out of it and yelled at the other Doctor, "Doctor, don't!" at the same time as Yaz.

  Thankfully, the Doctor snapped out of it too.

  The lone cyberman threaten to destroy the planet right that second if the Doctor refused him the cyberium.

  Having no choice, the Doctor give its back to him. I have failed Jack. I know she has no choice but this meant Jack and the alliance would be in danger again.

  As we returned to the Tardis, the Doctor made a plan to go after that asshat, I mean, Ashad. 

  She prepared some machinery in order to fight against the cybermen armies. At least she is confidence she could win this. 

  I planned to go with her to help and rescue Jack and then I am going to slap the hell out of him.

  7777

  Of course, things just don't worked as well as the Doctor planned. We are in the far future where the last of the human race located. I couldn't find Jack or the alliance.

  We are overpowered by the cybermen and got separated from each other. I ended up with Yaz and Graham while the Doctor is with Ryan.

  Somehow we ended up in cybership with the cybermen armies in the middle of waking up.

  We are trapped. Everyone is panicking. I heard Yaz tried to talk to the other Doctor via an unreliable communication device.

  I turned toward the shadow Doctor. "Do something!"

  He turned to me with a chilling smile. "I have taught you before, right?"

  I swallowed down my fear. "Please..."

  He sighed as if what I am asking him is too troublesome.

  I jumped when the steel door started to shake some more under the constant attack from the cybermen.

  "You remembered when you were taken from me by the Division?" He suddenly asked.

  I remembered it. I was taken, my mind half lobotomized in order to gain access on what I know of the Doctor. I woke up to everyone in the building died. I assumed Victorious did it.

  "I could activated the physic bomb I planted inside you."

  "What?!" This is the first time I heard this. "What the hell is that? Why do you insist of putting things in me?" I lost it at him. I am furious, wouldn't you be?

  "(name)!" Yaz called out to me in concern but I ignored her and the rest who thought I finally lost my marble.

  "Oh chill out, it won't kill you, well, only temporally." He said as he played with his nails.

  "Bastard!"

  "If I activated the psychic bomb, you and everyone in this ship will died, well not you obviously, and the cybermen but they will lost all function for roughly an hour or more. Enough time for you to escape, well, once you are resurrected that is." He said.

  "What about them?"

  "What about them?" He parroted. He shrugged. "Not my concern."

  "The hell with that! Save them too!" I demanded.

  "I warned you not to get attached..." He sounded bored now.

  "Find another way!"

  "Why should I?"

  "Please. You are the Doctor."

  "I'm not the Doctor anymore, remember?"

  "Fine, you are victorious! So prove it!! Save them and be victorious over the cybermen!!" I screamed at him, tears of desperation filled my eyes.

  He took a look at me and relents. "Fine."

  I let out a shaky relieved breath at his answer.

  He instructed me to tell the mechanic of the bunch with me to remove some electrical thingies to support enough for teleportation for all of us to escape.

  "It is not enough!" The mechanic said. "Only enough for four and there are seven of us!"

  "If only someone has a sonic screwdriver..." The shadow Doctor said mockingly. "Guess you have some decision to make, little (name), which four gets to escape with their life."

  I cursed the other Doctor for taking the sonic from me. To my surprise, Yaz pulled a sonic screwdriver from her bag.

  "She told me to give it back to you." Yaz explained.

  My mouth dropped open in shock. I laughed in near hysterical and turned to the shadow Doctor with a grin. "Tell me."

  He sighed in exasperation. "Fine."

  I used the sonic as instructed, giving the teleportation enough power to transport all seven. "Go!" I instructed Yaz and Graham and the rest to go first.

  "What about you?" Yaz demanded.

  "I have one last thing to do." I turned to the shadow Doctor as everyone left the ship. "Do it."

  He glanced at me with a look and smiled. "Being a martyr?"

  "Buying them some time. They are far enough not to get affected by the psychic bomb, correct?"

  "Correct."

  "And you are the one who said I will survived it so not a martyr."

  He hummed. "You sure?"

  "Do it."

  "As you wish."

  Just as the door crashed open, I screamed as he filled my head with so much pain it triggered the bomb creating a pulse of energy that sweep the cybermen off their feet.

  I clutched my heart as it was rudely stopped.

  The last thing I saw is the shadow Doctor hovering over me, muttering something I couldn't hear.

  "I only ask because triggering the bomb would send a signal directly to him..." He said. "He is coming, (name). I am coming."

  7777

  I slowly opened my eyes, found myself on the ground. "Oww..."

  The Doctor and the fam are there, surprised to see me alive.

  The Doctor scanned me with her sonic. "But...this is impossible." She blurted out. "You are only human, how can you...? You are immortal? Like Jack?"

  "Ugh stop talking. Can I get some water please?" I pleaded.

  Everyone stared at me weirdly but an old man thankfully gave me some water.

  The Doctor still couldn't get over the fact that I survived and demanded to know what I have been hiding from him.

  "Take it easy, doc, she did save our life." Graham said.

  The Doctor relented.

  "The cybermen..."

  "Out of commission for now. How did you do that?" The Doctor asked.

  "Tell you later."

  She glanced at me. "You better." She said firmly before turned to Ko Sharmus who showed us to the Boundary and there a portal opened.

  Both the Doctor and the shadow one blanched in horror when they recognized the ruins of Gallifrey.

  And then some random guy leaped out of the portal.

  "Master." I heard the Doctor spatted in disgust.

  "What?" I accidentally yelled. Last time, to my knowledge, the Master is Missy, though? What happened to her?

  "Like a pest...he just keep coming back, huh?" I heard the shadow Doctor said with a chuckle.

  The Master demanded the Doctor to go with him. She refused at first. But when he threaten to kill the rest of us, she relented.

  Reluctantly, she goes with the Master through the portal, instructing the rest of us to stay behind.

  "Follow them." The shadow Doctor demanded. 

  I stared at him as if he has lost his mind.

  "Do it!" The force of his words gave me headache.

  "Oh, alright! Geez!" I glared at him in annoyance but did as I told and the pounding headache lessened just a bit.

  Yaz and the other tried to stop me but I told them not to follow me.

  The Doctor is enraged when she saw me. "What the hell? (name), get back out there!"

  The Master is not pleased to see me either. "Control your pet, Doctor, or I will be forced to kill her."

  I glared at the shadow Doctor at my predicament of having two very angry Time Lord. "I have no choice, okay!" I said to them.

  The shadow Doctor chuckled and told me to say something for him intended for the Master.

  "Like hell, I'm gonna say that. He is going to kill me." I refused as I glared at the empty space beside me much to the confusion of two still very angry Time Lord. He wanted me to call him by his name 'Koschei'. I clutched my head. "Oh, fine!!"

  "You always have such a sort fuse, Koschei." I repeated word for word.

  Both the Doctor and the Master flinched and glared at me suspiciously.

  Great. Nice going. Is he planning to get myself killed?

  "How do you know that name?" The Master demanded.

  "He told me." I gesture to the empty space beside me.

  The Master stared at the empty space before chuckled darkly. "Your pet has gone insane, Doctor?"

  I stared at him flatly, trying to cover my fear. "The Doctor told me." which is the truth. "just not the Doctor you know." also truth since the Master technically never met bow-ties.

  The Doctor stared at me in confusion.

  "Yeah, don't care." The Master shrugged and pointed his gun at me as I raised my hand in surrender but the Doctor stood firmly in front of me, shielding me from him.

  "Don't you dare." The Doctor hissed at him.

  "You don't want to do that. Unless you want me stop both of your hearts." I said, more like repeating the shadow Doctor said.

  "Are you threatening me?" The Master look pissed.

  "(name), who are you talking with?" The Doctor turned around and grabbed both of my arms, demanding an answer out of me.

  "I..." Is this it? Do I have to tell her the truth? I turned to look at the shadow Doctor. I swallowed down hard as I look at the Doctor and then at the Master. "To answer your question, yes, that was a threat. How do you think I made the cybermen lost his function, Doctor? I have a psychic bomb inside me, killing me would trigger it, would kill myself and stopped both of your hearts. So unless you want an early death, I suggest you temper yourself." I said as flat as possible.

  Both Time Lords stared at me in shock.

  "Psychic bomb? Who did that to you?" The Doctor demanded in concern and slight fear.

  "The Doctor did." I said softly.

  She released me as if stunned.

  The Master curiously looked at me and the Doctor. "Oh fuck this, you ruined my moments, ape!"

  "(name)..." The Doctor stared at me as if I grow two head suddenly.

  "Come on you two, we need to be somewhere else right now!" The Master demanded.

  The Doctor grabbed my hand and took me with her as the Master led us the ruin of the citadel.

  As we entered the hall of matrix chamber, the Master suddenly hit me over the head, causing to collapse on the floor, losing my consciousness.

  Both Doctor and the shadow Doctor are enraged at my behalf. The Master claimed he need her attention on him, not on her stupid pet.

  7777

  I woke up to huge commotion. The Master is yelling something at a hologram of Ashad and his armies, asking them what happened. We could heard explosion. He turned to the Doctor asking her what has she done but the Doctor claimed it wasn't her.

  They were shouting at each other. Until a signal caught on his communication device.

  "A signal. The four taps of two hearts." The Master suddenly said in confusion.

  I glanced at those two as they started to bicker again. They are the last two Time Lords, so who was it that send him a signal?

  My heart suddenly beats faster as dread filled me.

  "The signal is getting close but something seemed to prevented it to come through..." the Doctor said as she pulled her sonic at the device that now emitting some sort of pulse. A portal suddenly appeared in the middle of the room.

  I turned toward the shadow Doctor who look at me fondly. I couldn't decipher the meaning of it for a time. He suddenly started to fade away and my eyes widened as I suddenly have a realization.

  "No!!" I shouted at both the Doctor and the Master trying to make them stop just as a pulse of energy exploded knocking all of us off our feet and I lost my consciousness once more.

  7777

  The portal opened. A man in bow-ties and dark purple suit stepped out of it.

  The Doctor and the Master groaned on the floor. They looked up to see the newcomer.

  The Doctor froze in shock when she saw her past-self. Her mouth dropped open.

  He fixed his bow-ties with a grin. "Finally..." He turned and glanced at the other two Time Lords. "Hello there."

  "Who the hell are you?" The Master asked.

  "Victorious, at your service." He said, bowing mockingly at them.

  The Doctor's face paled at the name. "But you can't be..."

  "Oh? Why not?" He asked.

  "You were me. And I never, he never..."

  "You are the Doctor. Interesting." He said, eyes gleaming in excitement.

  "You...are not me." The Doctor finally realized.

  Victorious turned toward the unconscious human at the floor. His eyes softened considerably as he walked and squatted before the human, one hand gently removed the strand of hairs covering the face. "I guess even here, you couldn't escape a Me after all, huh?" he said. He sighed as he cradled the human into his arms. His forehead touches the human gently. "Seemed like you still keep some secret from me too..." He glanced at the Time Lady before him with a chilling smile before turning to look at his human again. "You bad, bad girl, what is to be done with this?"

    A/N: I don’t know if there will be more. Maybe if inspiration hit, I will. Bear in mind, if I do write more, I might just add it in the same post instead of making another one so stay tunes? But for now, TTFN.

[lcclements]

Bonded Chapter 2

Chapter 2: A Bonding Gone Wrong

Author’s Note: So because I’m working on my personal manuscript, I only can do these updates once a month. Also, I did realize having both Saphira and Link doing sign language in conversation would be annoying, so I thought of a hilarious way of having her learn Hylian quickly. Finally, before anyone points it out, I know that one form of sign language is not the universal language. I also updated the guide. So, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the Legend of Zelda franchise. It belongs to Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto. Please don’t sue! I only create OOCs!

Guide:

“blah” : sign language

‘blah’: thoughts

[blah]: foreign language

    Prince Sidon paced back and forth as he waited for results from the healer. In the middle of explaining about why she was at the top of a lake, she passed out. As she fell, it seemed like a maternal instinct kicked in, as she held the baby tightly. Currently, Paya was holding said child, and it seemed to take comfort in her arms. “He seems to like you.”Signed Link

“Well, it’s like that for me everywhere.” Said Paya

“It’s a sign you’ll be a great mother. Maybe we should-”

“N-no it’s t-t-too soon!”

Baby Lin began to fuss and Paya began rocking him. Both Link and Sidon snickered and she glared at the both of them, with her husband looking away.

Sidon often wondered what it would be like to be married. There were plenty of marriageable Zora women in the kingdom, but he never really felt one that was right for him. Sure, he had a fan club, but all they saw were things on the surface, but it almost seemed like none of the club members truly know him. His father tried to have him set off on a pilgrimage to other Zora tribes, but he would shrug off the suggestion. With everything that just happened, andthe fact that over twenty percent of the Zora population was severely injured or worse, it was only common sense that the subject of marriage would be placed on the backburner.

He snapped out of his thoughts as the healer emerged from the room. The older Zora rubbed the back of his neck and stretched. “Netto, how is Saphira?”

“She’s, well, she’s suffering from exhaustion and malnutrition. She also seems to have two cracked ribs and what looks like a few burns. Other than that, she’ll make a recovery.”

Sidon gave him a wry smile. Netto was one of the few old Zora that stayed the same over the past 100 years. He was a gruff doctor, and his beside manner was something none left to be desired, but he was good at his job. He was also one of the few Zora that studied Hylians, though Sidon wasn’t sure Saphira and Baby Lin counted as Hylians.

“She needs rest.” Said Netto, “It seems she has been running for days.”

“Running from what?” asked Paya

“Ah, that’s the question. For now, she needs rest, and I should check this young one.”

**Dream Sequence**

Saphira felt as if she were floating. She tried to remember where she was, but when she looked up at the purple sky, she instantly remembered. Her feet felt dry grass as she walked around the garden. As she looked at the dead flowers, she sighed, thinking about the Sols. They were dying, and food was growing scarce. “Priestess Saphira!” yelled a voice

A twili guardsman approached her and bowed. “I am only a Priestess in Training. Please don’t call me that.” “Not according to High Priestess Valya.”

Saphira rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “Why did you call me?”

“King Stil requested a meeting with all the priestess.”

She nodded her head and began walking towards the castle. Various servants and guardsmen bowed as she walked past. Looking around the castle, she remembered when the castle used to be so clean, so beautiful. Now, many of the tapestries were burned, and the portraits of pervious rulers were removed. A loud scream and she froze, and so did many of the inhabitants in the castle. The ceiling shook as dust flew. “Poor Queen Mana.” Mumbled one servant, “Lost to madness.”

The world seemed to shift a bit before she was standing with her fellow warrior priestesses, erecting a barrier. An tall twili, raven-haired with splotches, began directing the few people towards an open, purple portal. Many were the poor citizens of twili with children. The King himself held the young baby. In the distance was the castle, currently on fire. A face of a demon could he seen melding with the flames. Guardsmen stood in a defensive position. “This is it!” yelled King Stil, “We must seek safe pilgrimage in the light realm!”

The twili looked in fear at the portal and the King nodded at one of his guardsmen, who began escorting the people across. An demonic screeching could be heard and Saphira looked at lizard-like creatures with sharp teeth charging towards them. “Don’t let them through, my children!” yelled High Priestess Valya

The creatures slammed themselves against the shielding, crackling and sizzling as the fell go their deaths. Sheer masses made Saphira dig her heels into the ground. Another priestess shrieked as she was overwhelmed by the horde as her shield broke. “Advanti!” yelled another

“Stand your ground!”

“You dare rebel against your new King?!” bellowed a voice

Saphira could only watch in fear of the flaming demon coming towards them. With a clap of his hands, the shields began to crack. “Hurry!” yelled Saphira, “I don’t know how long we can hold this!”

Twili servants began scrambling for the portal as the creature got closer. “Saphira!” yelled King Stil

She looked back at the King as he approached. “You must go with them.”

“No! My job is here!”

The shield cracked again. “Go my child!” yelled Valya, “Your fate is not here!” When the shield broke, all chaos seemed to ensue. Creatures of dark nature pounced on everyone. She could see her fellow priestesses fighting with their sacred weapons, making them explode. Saphira hit one creature in the neck and it exploded. She then used her silver bell to create a barrier to dissipate shadows. One of her fellow priestesses fell and she went to her aid, destroying the creature that was attacking. But, she was too late, and blood gurgled out of her throat. A sharp pain in her side and a cracking noise made her look as ground crashed into her. Disoriented for a moment, she felt something warm being shoved into her chest. She tried to focus by looking at the King’s face, but she couldn’t hear his voice out of the chaos. In her arms, she could see the baby as it cried. She was shoved in the portal, and as she was pushed, she could see the flaming demon getting close to the King.

**End of Dream Sequence**

Sidon watched as Saphira formed tears in the corner of her eyes as she slept. Her hand clenched into fists as she tossed and turned. He touched her forehead and she seemed to lean into his touch. [Brother…] she murmured

Her eyes popped open and she looked at the prince, who pulled his hand away. Blinking away her tears, she sat him looking around the room. [Where am I?}

Prince Sidon looked at her curiously and she sighed. She winced as she felt her injuries and looked down at her hands. She then looked up at the Zora. “Where am I?”

“The Zora Infirmary.”

Sidon watched as she looked at the floor. Her eyes darted around again before she looked at him. “Where is the prince?”

“He’s currently being cared for.” She narrowed her eyes and winced as she tried to get out of bed. Sidon gently pushed on her shoulder. “You need rest.”

[Prince Lin is my only concern and responsibility. Take me to him!]

Sidon sighed and walked out the room for a second before returning. He could see the determination on her face. It was the same Link gave when he wasn’t going to give up on a particular issue. “I asked one of the servants to bring Paya and Prince…um…”

[Prince Lin]

“Lee?” Saphira shook her head and tried to annunciate. [Lin.]

“Leen?”

She huffed, thinking about how she would speak better. Of all the things she learned, Hylian was not her strong suit. “I guess we should at least introduce ourselves. You could just call Lin the prince for right now.” “Right…” said Sidon, “I am Prince Sidon.” Saphira screwed up her lips before speaking. “P..eence..See..doon?” “No, Prince Sidon.”

Saphira bit her lip before trying again. “P..eene See..doom?”

“No, Prince-“

Saphira pointed to herself. “Say…fe…raah.” “Sayfirah?” She shook her head in a negive motion and it was Sidon’s turn to sigh. “I wish there was a way to fix this language barrier.”

“Trust me, I feel your frustration. We can’t just sign here forever. I need to leave and find my people.”

The door opened and Paya appeared with a bright-eyed baby. The child began to whine as it saw Saphira and reached for her. She took the child in her arms at it wrapped it’s tiny hands around her neck. She kissed his head and patted his back [I’m happy to see you too my prince.]

“He cried a lot while you were asleep.” Said Paya

Saphira looked at Link to translate. She merely nodded her head and tried to pry the one-year-old baby to sit upright. “I thank you for caring for him. I’ll find a way to return the favor.”

    Netto came gruffly in the room and at the prince as well as the two Hylians.”Is there any reason why there’s so much commotion in my patient’s room?”

“Sorry Netto, Sayfirah here wanted to see the child.” Said Sidon

Saphira grunted at the pronunciation of her name. Netto squinted his eyes as the baby stood with the help of the woman. She winced, but she let the baby try and find his balance. The older zora rolled his eyes and looked at the visitors. “She needs rest, but I guess that a mother cannot be separated from her child for so long. Still, she needs to get as much rest as she can, plus she needs to get her weight up. I’ll send up one of the nurses with food. The baby can visit, but she needs to stay in bed.”

“I think I can take care of that.” Said Prince Sidon

Netto huffed again and left the room. Saphira seemed totally oblivious to the conversation that took place as Baby Lin tried to walk on her legs. “Sayfira?” asked Prince Sidon

She glared at him, but he got her attention. “Netto says that you need to stay in bed. He’s bringing up food.”He signed

She mere nodded and sat back for a moment before sitting up again, making Baby Lin fall on his butt. “I think I know a way for me to speak your language but…”

The three of the looked at her with inquisitive eyes, indicating for her to keep speaking. Her face flushed a light pink color. “I would have to kiss someone.”

The three of the blushed with Prince Sidon looking away. “Paya and I are married.” Signed Link

“I gathered that when I saw the way you look at each other. I’m a priestess so yeah, marriages are one of the ceremonies we’re required to do. Besides, it would be a disservice to the Warrior of the Sheikah.”

“That would leave…” started Paya

The three humans looked at Prince Sidon, who’s face became as flush as his scales. “I-If that is required…”

“Since when are you so shy?”signed Link

“I’m not, it’s just sudden. It’s strange to be asked something like this out of the blue.” “Don’t princes get kissed by women all the time?” asked Paya

“That’s just stories.” Said Prince Sidon, “In reality, some woman just can’t come up and kiss me.”

    The conversation was interrupted by a Zora nurse holding a try of food. She seemed at shy at first, looking at the woman sitting in bed, but the patient ignored her for the baby. “Healer Netto said that she needs all the food in front of her.” Said the nurse

“Thank you,” said Sidon, “I’ll be sure that she eats it all.” The nurse bowed and left, leaving a deafening silence. Well, as much silence as there can be with a baby makng gurgling noises. Saphira cleared her throat. “Well, the ceremony itself just us saying I will my essence to you and then we both kiss. Of course, my left hand must be bound by someone’s right hand with a scarf. The kiss itself doesn’t need to be passionate. I mean it’s not like I’m getting married or anything, right? Though, I don’t know any side effects to it. I don’t have my notes with me and it’s an old spell used when the Twili had different spells. I have no idea why I was forced to learn it.”

“If it’s not a marriage ceremony, then I could do it.” Signed Link

“No my friend, I’lldo it.” Said Sidon

    After eating, Saphirah played with Baby Lin before letting him go with Paya. She wasn’t sure if it ws right to trust the woman with the Sheikah marking, but she knew she had to. It was her people’s belief that the Sheikah were keepers of order. Resting into the soft water bed provided for her, she wondered if she was making the right decision. Learning another language would take time, but it seemed like for a time she had nothing but that. Her thoughts then settled with the fate of her people. If they were alive, they could end up lost or worse. She specified that could only work at night, since the sun was painful. She could only look at the sunburn and think of how painful the sun was when she first landed. Taking a deep breath, she refused to cry, knowing that this was her duty, her fate in life. With her contentment made, she nestled into bed, letting herself lull to sleep. A soft shake awakened her. Link put a finger up to his lips as he helped her out of bed. Her body felt weak, and she wondered if she could go through with the spell. Link creaked opened the door and motioned for her to wait. After a few moments, he pulled her into the hallway and it was now she noticed how beautiful and intricate this castle was. Silver lining, blue crystal, possibly marble, and flowers stood on every polished table. Leading her out into the main castle, she saw the huge slates with lettering she couldn’t understand. Bright orbs glowed and guardsmen bowed as they passed. She could hear a conversation in the other hall, but couldn’t understand.

    Outside the kingdom, she could only look in amazement at how extensive the kingdom was. Water, clean water, flowed from everywhere. When the wind began to blow, she could smell the sea, and she shivered a bit, remembering she didn’t have her cloak. Her dress was torn in places, and she felt embarrassed. She felt lucky to not run into any other creatures. She could only marveled as the crystal changed colors under the moonlight. The moon itself made her freeze, something she had only seen in books was staring her in the face. Link tugged her a bit to motion her to move along. There was a large pool at the top and a large throne. Balconies surrounded the pool, but the moon glistened into the room. Prince Sidon waited with Paya and Baby Lin. She looked up at the Shark-prince and gave a concerned look. “Are you sure you want to do this?”she sighed

He merely nodded. “Okay, so I already told you the logistics, but there’s one other thing. We have to stand in a way that has our arms reaching for one another as we say it unison. Which means, you’ll probably have to bend down since I can’t really reach you.”

Sidon could only chuckle as he held out a clawed hand. Saphira looked up in his eyes and she could see gentleness to it. For a humanoid creature he was handsome, and then she wondered where this came from. She nodded to Link, who tied a scarf to their wrists as they reached up to their necks. Saying ‘I will my essence to you’, they kissed, and a warming sensation flowed into their bodies. Bright colors swirled around them as they pulled away. “Did it work?” asked Sidon

“Yes…” said Saphira, “I can understand you.”

The two of them chuckled and both looked way blushing. When Saphira tried to walk away, she then felt the yanking from the scarf. “Right,” started Sidon, “we should get this off.”

She chuckled as he did and she handed it to Link. “Thank you warrior.” She said

Link just shrugged. “You have no idea how much this will help me when I travel.” Said Saphira

“Travel?” asked Sidon

“I have to find my people.” Saphira walked up to the railing of the atrium when she felt a tug on her chest. She winced and looked back. When she pulled again, Prince Sidon winced. “What are you doing?” he asked

“I’m trying to see the rest of this room but, why do I feel pain?”

When she tried to move away again, she cluched her chest. “Stop that!” said Sidon

“I’m not doing anything!” said Saphira

“Wait, what’s going on?” asked Paya

“Every time I move, we both feel pain. Saphira tried to see if she had a invisible chain and then something hit her like a pile of stones. “Oh no…” she groaned

“What?” asked Sidon, “What is it?”

“This has to be something to do with the spell. Maybe it’s a tether or something.”

“Aren’t you a priestess?” signed Link, “You know how to reverse it, right?”

“Um…the thing is…one, I’m an newly inducted priestess who just finished training and two, that spell���s so old that nobody really used it. That spell was used for clans when…why can’t I remember?”

Prince Sidon gave a nervous chuckle and got closer. “So I’m guessing we’re stuck like this for a while.”

“Unless we want to have our hearts tugged at, yes. I can’t believe this, I’m so sorry Prince Seedoon.” “It’s Sidon, and I forgive you. I don’t think you did that on purpose.” “To bind us together, no. I just, this complicates things, and my name is Saphira by the way.” “Saphira? Like the Sapphire?” “Yes like the, wait you people have sapphires?” “Yes. Have you never seen one before?” “Only in books. My Prince, I’ll find a way to break this bond. I can’t stay here forever.”

    As this conversation was happening, a portal opened up near Hyrle Castle. Princess Zelda was quick as she saw this, having not gone to bed for the night. She was reading up on her cultural facts of the different tribes in Hyrule when she saw the portal in the sky. A guard got hit in the face as she ran out, pulling out her sword. Her newly formed guards were quick, surrounding what looked like a pale-skinned man in the moonlight with black splotches on his skin. “I am Princess Zelda of Hyrule!” she commanded, “Who are you and why have you invaded my castle?”

The man wobbled, going to one knee, his face, bleeding from his right eye. [My son…my sister, where am I?]

The man passed out and Zelda looked at her men, sheathing her sword. “Take him inside the castle and summon the healer. Keep him under constant guard.”

The guards nodded and did their jobs. She looked up at the moonlight, starry sky, and wondered why a portal suddenly opened up. She would be doing more research in the library very soon.

[foreverlovingdaryldixon]

Prompt: Caryl having a self-defense lesson that escalates to something else

A/N: Smut warning for beneath the Read More cut. 

Season 2/3 Caryl. Probably an OOC Daryl, sorry.

“Jus’ gon’ teach ya the basics. Basics’re enough ta keep ya alive ‘n’ that’s all that matters.” 

Carol nodded nervously, hating to be this out in the open in the middle of the woods, but grateful that it was Daryl she had with her and not someone else.

It was at her request that this little one on one self-defence class had come about. The loss of Sophia still ached painfully through her whole being, but she had to be strong now, become the woman Sophia had needed her to be.

“Ya wanna go for the most vulnerable parts’ve a person, anywhere on the face, ‘specially the eyes, the neck, groin area if it’s a dude,” Daryl listed off, circling around the woman as he prepared her for attack.

“I ain’t gon’ get ya ta hit me in the groin, like ta keep this as painless s’possible on my end, and I’m sure ya know that as long as ya hit that damn thing with force, fucker’s gon’ go down for sure.”

Carol nodded again, taking in everything Daryl had to teach her, feeling like she should have learnt this a lifetime ago. 

“More than likely they’re gon’ attack ya from behind.” Daryl’s voice came from close behind her, Carol attempting not to shudder as she felt his looming but not unwelcome presence.

“They’re gon’ get ya on the ground ‘n’ ya can let ‘em, cause that’s when y’all be able to hit ‘em with most force.”

He placed a hand softly on her shoulder, making sure she was prepared for what was about to come. 

“When I get ya on the ground and I come for ya, want ya ta kick me. Right in the chest, don’t hold back.” Carol felt uncomfortable about kicking him with such force, goosebumps breaking out as she felt his hands flutter lightly against her hips. “Thrust ya hips up ta get the most power behind it,” he murmured, tilted her hips to the angle he wanted them at. “Keep ya feet flat as ya push through ta make contact.”

“Okay,” Carol whispered, letting out a shaky breathe as he took away the contact he had with her. Now wasn’t the time for her hormones to be playing around with her. She needed to focus dammit. 

“What if I hurt you?” she asked, listening to the leaves crunch beneath his feet as he took a step back.

“That’s kinda the plan, if this goes right I should end up on the floor.”

“And then what?” 

“Pin me down, act as if ya were gonna stab or shoot me straight through the head, ‘cause if it comes to it, ya can’t ever hesitate for a second with that shit.”

“I’ll try.”

“Tryin’ ain’t enough, jus’ do it. Ain’t gon’ break me.”

“Alright.” Carol could feel her palms were already clammy, not sure if she was more anxious about this possibly bringing up haunting memories, or the fact that she was going to be in such close proximity with Daryl.

“Ready?” 

“As I’ll ever be.”

Then his arms were enclosed around her small frame. He swiftly kicked her legs from under her feet, letting her fall surprisingly gently to the ground as he rounded on her. That was her cue, fuelling all the years of anger and hatred she had built up inside her, she bucked her hips up her boots hitting their mark right in the centre of Daryl’s chest as he lunged for her.

Carol almost froze up in shock at the force she’d managed to put behind it, Daryl flying onto his back with a loud thud, a wheezed grunt escaping him as he took a second to recover.

Quickly, she crawled forward on her knees, clambering up his body until she had her weight rested on his hips, her knife whipping out to stop just before his temple. 

Her hand was shaking as she gripped the knife, looking down at Daryl who held a small smile of pride for the woman settled above him.

His smile seemed to ground her, dropping the knife in the dirt, a smile of her own pulling at the edges of her lips.

“Ya did good,” he said somewhat breathlessly. 

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, placing a hand softly on his chest where her foot had made impact. 

“Nah,” he brushed off. “Jus’ did what I told ya ta do, that’s all that matters.”

Carol smiled gently again, until that smile quickly died when she felt something that wasn’t there before. 

Daryl must’ve felt it too because his whole body suddenly went stiff, trying to discreetly shimmy beneath her. But when she was straddling him like that there’s no way she couldn’t feel everything and boy was there a lot going on down there.

Carol’s fist closed in on the material of his shirt, her lips parting as her heart rate picked up.

One of them should do something, say something, anything, to break the moment they found themselves in.

But neither did, and Carol found her body betraying her brains pleas when she settled herself harder against his groin.

Daryl’s hands flew to her hips, gripping them much harder than than had last time. It was to Carol’s surprise though that it wasn’t to make her stop, no, instead it was to make her keep going.

And that was something she was more than willing to comply to.

She let her pelvis grind in maddening circles, letting that hardness brush against her in just the right way with each slow rotation of her hips.

Daryl was practically growling beneath her, bucking his hips up into hers occasionally, craving more friction than she was giving him.

It wasn’t enough for her either. Swallowing her fear, she pulled on his shirt impatiently, making him sit up so she could snake the hand around his neck, her tongue tracing the seam of his already damp lips. 

He opened up to her, lips melding together as she bounced needily in his lap, wishing there weren’t so many clothes between them. 

His hands were following the curve of her waist as he continued to kiss her, making her yelp into his mouth when he hoisted her up higher against his hips, groaning at the added pressure.

Daryl cupped her breasts eagerly, thumb tweaking at her nipples that were straining through her thin bra. The moans he got from her were guttural, her hips working faster in tight little circles as he continued tot heighten her sensitivity. 

“Want ya ta cum for me,” he growled against her mouth, the first words spoken since the whole thing began.

“Shit,” Carol hissed, grinding herself against him erratically, whining when his tongue seductively caressed hers. 

She could feel it, that white hot heat burning in her core, threatening to burst at any given moment. She just needed- needed-

Daryl tore his mouth away from hers, latching on to the skin below her ear, nipping and sucking until she was writhing and crying out, her back arching so he held the full weight of her breasts in his hand.

“Daryl,” she whimpered as the last of her body wracking orgasm broke through her.

“Shh,” he murmured against her skin, wrapping his arms around her waist as she settled back into his lap, embarrassment flooding over her almost immediately, eyes falling to his chest. 

“Daryl I’m sorry-”

“Ya did good,” Daryl interrupted suddenly, making her eyes flicker to meet his, relief flooding over her as he shot her a small smirk. “Jus’ did what I told ya ta do, right?”

[someonetheelusivefangirl]

Klangst - Don’t Keep it Bottled Up, part 3 (and the epilogue)

I had planned to post this a couple of days ago, but alas the epilogue wouldn’t stop growing, and has now ended up being longer than the first two parts combined. ( @treasuredbuns and I decided it should probably be called a sequel, but eh - hope you like it btw!)

Anyway, if you haven’t read BOTH part 1 and part 2, please do so now!

Well, I hope you enjoy the bit of fluff (I really could’ve put more in...) and the resolution of the angst. I’m sorry for any mistakes/OOCness!

To put it simply: Keith was exhausted. Though an extra couple of hours of sparring after a day of intense training would do that to a person. However, despite his physical fatigue, it had taken forever for him to work off his energy. After the initial anger and shock had worn off, his mind too had succumbed to his tiredness. The day had just been full of surprises.

If you had asked Keith to describe Lance before that afternoon, he would’ve created a picture of a guy whose character consisted of awful pickup lines, suggestive smirks and a loud mouth which might occasionally spill something intelligent or thoughtful. Now, however… Keith didn’t know. All he knew was that he couldn’t face Lance.

All his previous confusion had been buried beneath a surge of fear. Keith was a secretive and defensive person by nature. He’d often found himself envious of how quickly Lance could accept and trust someone. It took Keith time to open up to people, to build up that kind of trust. He first had to get to know the person, and so, as time went on and he had got to know the others better, he had found it easier to relax around them. To not have to think as much about what he revealed in what he said. Physical interactions had also become a lot more natural.

Whilst the team didn’t have big heart-to-hearts, Keith felt like he knew their personalities well. The Lance he’d seen that day did not fit the image of him that Keith had built up. It was as if he was a different person. Now Keith couldn’t help but wonder just how much he knew Lance, knew any of the paladins. Keith had been so /sure/ when it had come to Lance’s personality. He was the most open of the paladins, after all…or was he? Keith didn’t know anymore, but that wasn’t the main source of Keith’s fear.

Keith had been opening up to the team as they slowly grew closer, but what he'd done today, what he’d shown lance, was too much. Whilst Keith may have been able to predict how /his/ Lance would’ve reacted, he didn’t know how /this/ strange and unknown Lance would react. Keith /hated/ not knowing. He always had to come up with theories to explain anything which didn’t make sense or follow convention, but now Keith realised how little he knew Lance, he couldn’t trust any predictions or theories his mind conjured up.

He hadn’t been ready to reveal so much of himself to Lance, knowing it would undoubtedly change Lance’s view of Keith and thus their relationship. What relationship had he had with Lance? He thought he knew. He thought that their arguing had turned into light teasing. He thought that the trust he had felt was mutual. He thought Lance had been open with him. Now he wondered what Lance truly thought of him, though going by his outburst, he didn’t think much of Keith.

All of his confusion and fear left Keith feeling unbalance and lost, but after spending all his energy, the churning of his stomach and contractions of his heart relented and Keith wanted nothing more than to pass out on his bed.

Somehow he managed to make it to his quarters and his bed before his feet gave out beneath him and he collapsed onto his sheets, eventually rolling onto his back when breathing became a necessity. He closed his eyes, wanting sleep to end this nightmare, but it seemed the day held even more surprises.

Only when Keith heard the swish of his door did he even remember the lock’s existence. He opened his mouth as he turned to face the door to ask whoever had come to kindly let him sleep, but the words never came as Keith watched the last person he’d ever imagine entering his bedroom doing just that. Arms stretched out blindly before him, Lance crept forward after the door softly closed behind him. Keith felt his throat close up in panic as his surprise wore off. He wasn’t ready for this. He couldn’t face Lance.

Realistically, however, he knew it would have to happen eventually. Besides, Keith couldn’t stand the uncertainty anymore. Thus Keith prepared himself to ask why Lance was in his room, why he’d come to see someone he obviously hated. He intended to, but words failed. And so, it was to Keith’s utter embarrassment that when Lance had leaned over him, FAR too close, that the first sound he made was an awkward croak as he cleared his throat. He sat up abruptly as Lance jumped, falling backwards as he overbalanced. The silence lay heavy between them as they both sat in Keith’s room, wondering what the hell they should say.

Lance recovered first, springing up so suddenly that he almost overbalanced again. He kept starting sentences, only to stutter and backtrack. Unfortunately, due to the lack of light, Keith was unable to make out Lance’s face, his eyes only adjusted enough to make out his blurred silhouette. Yet, from his tone of voice, Keith could only discern embarrassment, though it lacked Lance’s usual forced laughs. The difference was stark to Keith’s ears.

A crinkling sound brought Keith’s gaze lower, to where Keith assumed Lance was holding… a piece of paper? Odd. He didn’t know whether Lance could tell that he had looked down, or whether he’d just remembered the paper he’d been twisting, but Lance quickly shoved both of his hands behind his back, effectively hiding the paper from sight. Not that Keith could read it at the moment. At last Lance managed to form a coherent sentence.

“Sorry, Keith. I didn’t mean-… I didn’t want to- I’m sorry, I didn’t think you were here. I’ll just go and I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow?” Keith’s heart clenched at the words. Apart from the high pitched squeak at the end of the question, Lance’s tone was so /familiar/. Not the Lance whose eyes were wild with rage nor wide with shock, but the Lance with whom he spent more time bickering than speaking. This was his Lance…but that wasn’t right. Keith now knew there was more to him, and he couldn’t face it. Then Lance moved.

His body twisted and after a second his arms raised slightly to balance him in the dark. Keith watched, his silence still unbroken, his mouth failing to form any words, as Lance took the first couple of tentative steps. Was this how it was going to be between them? Stilted silences heavy with awkwardness? He’d rather have Lance’s sharp retorts from when they’d first met. It felt like this moment was foreshadowing their future. He couldn’t face it. But, if he didn’t do anything…

Lance’s small noise of surprise shocked Keith out of his thoughts. He looked down in confusion, only to blink at his hand and its grip on the bottom of Lance’s shirt. He ripped his arm back, cheeks burning as he turned to look down at his pillow. What the heck?!

“Keith?” Now unwilling to speak for fear of the sound of his voice, Keith settled for shuffling along his bed, clearing space for Lance. It took a few moments before Lance actually sat, though as Keith considered the oddness of the situation, he felt the hesitation was justified. Keith, after all, was a secretive and solitary person. He barely ever had anyone in his room, and he’d certainly never invited them to his bed (*clears throat*).

Keith had to say something. He needed to understand, he needed to apologise.

“I’m sorry.” It was not the first time it had been said, but Keith was still shocked to hear the quiet apology. “I didn’t mean what I said back there. I don’t even remember most of it. I just…I lost it. It wasn’t your fault!” Lance hastened to add, his voice raising from the low murmur he had adopted. “You were just in the wrong place, wrong time. Please just… just forget about it. Can we just pretend it never happened?” Keith at last fond his voice, brought back by the relief and panic that Lance’s words ignited. He wasn’t angry with Keith, but they were just going to ignore what happened? Put up fronts for one another? Before he could voice his dread, Lance had already started speaking again.

“No, wait, that’s not fair. I can't, /we/ can't, forget what we saw… Right! Ok. This is fine. Um, do you…do you mind if I just talk?” The question was uncertain and quiet, another glimpse at a Lance he didn’t know, but now wanted to, needed to, so that they could move past this. Keith nodded his head, only afterwards considering how dark it was, but luckily Lance seemed to have seen the motion because he began to talk.

Keith listened as Lance began to tell him about himself. He didn’t know what he had been expecting, but Lance started telling Keith about his family. He told Keith about how big and warm and loving his family was. Names rolled fondly off his tongue, though Keith found it hard to keep track. He found it hard remembering names at the best of times.

Every so often, Lance’s voice would break or stutter, and Keith wondered whether Lance’s eyes glistened with homesick tears. It was nice to learn more about Lance, instead of having to try and piece it together from the glimpses of memories he’d see during mind-melding training. Lance spoke of being a middle child, something that Keith had never known to hold any significance before now. He spoke of fond memories of playing with elder siblings and looking after his younger ones. Then his voice started to lose the warmth it held.

He spoke of how sometimes he wished he was older than his siblings, so that his accomplishments didn’t feel like a competition with his elder siblings.

“Not that they ever made me feel that way! I just couldn’t help but compare us… Y’know, part of the reason I actually joined the Garrison was just to get away from that feeling. Of course, I wanted to be an astronaut, but the fact that it was something my siblings had never attempted…well I think it helped convince me…” Lance went on to speak about his younger brothers and sisters. He loved them, it was clear to hear in his voice as he chuckled at private memories, but he spoke about his lack of personal time. He had to help, since his elder siblings and parents were often busy, and he didn’t really mind that. He accepted it with a smile, and never spoke up about how he wished he could just have some time to go out on his own and actually make some friends his own age. How could he speak up after everything they'd done for him? Lance told Keith how he ended up bottling everything away. Lance felt like no one deserved to hear the thoughts and anger that would occasionally ring in his ears.

Not once did Keith speak, scared to break whatever resolve Lance held. By the end, Lance sounded quieter, his posture relaxed so that he leant back against the wall.

“I never hated you.” The admission was shocking considering the animosity Lance had clearly held towards Keith at the beginning. “You… frustrated me. You had an amazing talent, as everyone knew, but I know you worked hard. I wasn’t angry at you for getting good grades and praise. I was angry at myself for not putting in as much effort as you. Of course I wanted to do well! But I find it hard to sit still and concentrate. I always ended up getting distracted, and then would distract myself from acknowledging that I could do better. I made myself busy so that it didn’t feel like I was just avoiding studying, but that’s exactly what it was.

“You weren’t my rival, not really. You were an… an i-idol, or a goal of some sort, someone I wanted to be. Someone with whom I could be rivals, because that would mean that we were equals. It would mean that I /had/ worked hard, and that I did have skills…” Lance’s voice gradually grew quieter until the last bit came out as a whisper. The dark and quiet of the room made a very private atmosphere. Keith felt like he didn’t have to hide, and so at last he spoke. He told Lance about his childhood, but in far less detail. He dragged out the good memories, uncovering some that he had completely forgotten, and tried to skip over some of the worse ones. But he didn’t hide how ugly some of his past was. He was going to be honest with Lance.

He lost track of what point he was making. Had there ever been one? He didn’t know, and right then, he didn’t particularly care. He felt lighter the more he spoke about his past. It was something he’d kept hidden away for so long, that the relief of not having to hold back made his shoulders sag and he lay down on his bed as he recounted the many memories of faces and names he’d long forgotten.

After a while he fell silent. His throat was dry. He hadn’t spoken so much in a long time.

“Hey, Lance? I do think of you as a rival, just so you know. I think you just don’t realise the skills you have, as they just come naturally to you. There’s a lot about you to be jealous of… It just makes me thankful that I know you, and maybe, from being around you, those qualities will rub off on me…” Suddenly a weight fell onto Keith’s side and he realised with a shock that Lance had collapsed. His worry fell away as he heard, felt, the deep, heavy breaths coming from him. Keith chuckled lowly before he yawned, his own exhaustion catching up with him. He looked to Lance, considering waking him to save him from any cramps due to his odd sleeping position, but couldn’t muster up the nerve to do so.

He fell easily into a sleep in which he was conscious of the constant warmth and weight at his side. As he thought back to his childhood he smiled. Keith wasn’t alone now. He never had to be again.

 Epilogue (or sequel, however you want to think of it)

 “Keith, are you coming to practice?” At the call of his name, Keith groaned. His mind was foggy with sleep, and he realised, with some surprise, that he had managed to sleep through the entire night. “Keith? Oh, you left your door open.” What? But he always locked it. He must’ve really been tired last night.

At the sound of his door opening, he groaned. Whilst he was normally grateful for the chance to spar with Shiro, this morning he felt delightfully comfortable and drowsy, and for once was reluctant to get up.

“Oh, umm, tell you what, we can spar later!” Shiro’s tone had a hint of amusement that put Keith on edge. When he cracked his eyes open, the smirk on Shiro’s face was even more disconcerting. What was it? Was he drooling? Nope, didn’t feel like it. His bed hair? He raised his right arm to feel for it. Or at least he tried, but something had his arm trapped. Keith looked down, only to be met with a curly mass of brown hair.

…what the heck?! He blinked, but the hair remained and he became aware of the weight of the person across his side and, yes, as he looked past the hair, he could spot an arm draped across his chest. Why was Lance in his bed?! He desperately thought back to the day before, ignoring Shiro’s comments as he left. When it came back to him Keith was overwhelmed by the memory. So much had happened, had changed, between them. However, Keith felt no panic or uncertainty as he lay there, contemplating whether to get up. He felt his heart constrict at the sight of Lance sleeping peacefully. He must’ve been as tired as Keith. He thought of going back to sleep, knowing how easy it would be, but then remembered Shiro’s wicked smirk. And the fact that his door was unlocked.

He looked down at how Lance and he were embracing, and winced at the thought of the others reading into it. Pidge and Hunk would never let them live it down if they were to come in. It was this which convinced him to manoeuvre his right arm so that he could gently shake Lance’s shoulder. It proved not to be enough as it only resulted in Lance snuggling more into Keith. With phantom steps ringing in his ears, Keith ignored the guilt as he shook Lance more firmly, calling out for him to wake up.

Eventually a deep groan escaped Lance who finally rolled off Keith, only to stretch and end up punching him in the face. The contact seemed to shock Lance as much as Keith and he sat up, turning to look down at Keith with wide eyes.

“Uhhh…” To be fair, Keith suspected he would’ve said the same thing in Lance’s position. Keith wished he could explain the situation, though why he would need to explain it, he didn’t know. Lance’s mouth continued to open and close as he obviously tried to remember why he had been sleeping with Keith.

Just as Keith resolved to try and break the awkward silence between them, Lance’s stomach grumbled. He quickly wrapped his arms around his stomach, as if hoping it would silence the noise. His reddened face and embarrassed pout were too much. Keith laughed. Keith laughed until he was clutching his sides. Then his own stomach complained about not having enough food and Keith’s laughter paused as he looked up to gauge Lance’s reaction. As he looked up, Lance met his eyes and after a couple of seconds the two of them started laughing.

To be honest, Keith didn’t really know why they found it so funny, but he felt so giddy that he just couldn’t stop. He suspected the relief from the night before was partly to blame. They were both breathless by the time their laughter died down.

“Shall we get something to eat?”

“Sounds good.” With that they headed off to the dining room, pleasantly surprised to find that Hunk was up, and he quickly offered to serve them both. They started eating in silence, and though the tension had disappeared between the two of them, Keith felt a little lost about how he should behave around Lance. He now knew that the appreciation he held for Lance was mutual, but did that mean they wouldn’t bicker as much, now they knew the truth?

Suddenly Lance’s spoon dived into his bowl, taking out an enormous scoop of Keith’s breakfast. Keith watched in shock before he protested, grabbing a hold of Lance’s arm and trying to wrestle the breakfast into his mouth. Eventually he was successful and he glared over the top of the spoon as Lance pouted before raising his hands in a shrug.

“It was your fault for being such an airhead, Mullet. Your breakfast was just wasting away as you contemplated how to use your cutlery.”

“Wha-?! Why would I be thinking about cutlery?!”

“You tell me. You were certainly glaring at it long enough,” Lance snickered. Keith felt his cheeks burn, before he smirked.

“Well, at least I still /have/ cutlery,” he retorted, waving the two spoons he held tauntingly. Lance spluttered before launching forward, trying to make a grab for his spoon, but Keith had seen it coming. Lance continued to chase after the spoon as Keith got up and they dodged between the chairs in an impromptu game of chase. Keith easily kept out of reach, Lance’s moves so easy to predict. The thought slowed Keith down for a second, long enough for Lance to pounce, cheering as he snatched his spoon back.

Keith took note of the fond exasperation he felt. It had been a common emotion around Lance before, and as he turned to find that trademark Lance smirk upon the blue paladin’s face, the familiarity of the situation made him breathe in relief as the last of his worries faded. Maybe they didn’t have to change, not if they didn’t want to. Keith enjoyed their relationship, minus some of Lance’s more stubborn moments, and it was nice to know that they could keep the easy banter and bickering. However, a part of Keith knew it would have to change in some way.

It happened not even a fortnight after their night together. Though nothing was said by anyone, though Lance acted like his usual self, the tension radiating from his body was tangible. There was also a strain to his smile, and his eyes wouldn’t light up as they usually did when he laughed. It had started after they came back from their recent mission.

Keith knew the others could tell from their shared worried glances, and though they tried to casually, carefully, ask if something was wrong, Lance just brushed off their concerns. Keith couldn’t stand it when Lance acted like this. After what they'd been through, he shouldn’t have to hide anything from Keith. Yet, if Lance didn’t want to speak to him, Keith wouldn’t force him. He still felt like he ought to do /something/.

Keith didn’t see Lance the rest of the day, but ran into him leaving the dining room the next day. He contemplated for a moment how to approach him, deciding speaking to him, only to change his mind as he watched Lance try to smile and avert his gaze from Keith’s. Hardening his resolve, Keith caught Lance’s wrist in a light grip, firm enough so that his intention was put across, but gentle enough so that Lance could shake it off if he wanted to. He didn’t.

Keith led Lance down the corridors of the Castle, not knowing whether this approach would work, but knowing that right now Lance didn’t want to talk. So Keith reckoned he should try the next best thing. Whenever Keith felt tense or stressed, he would always resort to training. Yes, it was not always effective, but since talking was out of the question, it was the only other way Keith could think of to help Lance.

Surprisingly, Lance didn’t question or struggle against Keith guiding him to the practice room. Only once they entered did Lance question what they were doing, and only when Keith replied that they’d be sparring did Lance show any reluctance. Luckily it didn’t take too much persuasion (read: goading) to get Lance to adopt a fighting stance. And so it began.

The two of them spent a good hour circling around the room as they threw punches, kicks and blows at one another. Although Keith was slightly better at hand-to-hand combat, Lance didn’t make it easy for him by weaving around most of his attacks, his agility making up for any skills he lacked. Keith was impressed.

After the hour was up, Keith called for them to take a break. He watched Lance out the corner of his eye as they both took a well-deserved drink. He noted how whilst Lance’s posture had relaxed slightly, his face was still set too tight, still etched with tension. Although there was clearly improvement, there was still a ways to go. However, Keith judged from their previous heart-to-heart that what Lance needed was to voice his worries or troubles. He needed to let it out. Apparently he couldn’t do that just through physical exertion, as Keith often did. The question was how to be there for Lance to talk to, without Lance worrying about him listening or judging whatever was bugging him.

It took a couple of minutes for an idea to form in Keith’s mind, but when it did, the longer he thought of it, the more he became confident in it. This might actually work. He excused himself as he ran off to set his plan in action.

As lance watched Keith disappear behind the door, he sighed, frustration and anger making his head pound and his stomach churn. Annoyingly, most of it, if not all, was directed at himself. He knew he was making the others worry again, but no matter how well he tried to hide it, it obviously hadn’t worked. At least, going by this impromptu sparring session with Keith. He was actually very grateful to work off some of the energy he had built up since the day before. Jeez, even thinking about it made him tense up as his anger spiked. To take his mind off it, he thought of how Keith was trying to help him. It helped, his muscles relaxing as a warmth spread through his chest at the thought.

Lance was wondering idly whether Keith’s sparring was a result of their night together, when a sudden booming sound filled the room, causing Lance to cover his ears for fear they'd burst from the volume alone. What the quizak?! His hands did little to shield his ears from the tone that shook the room, his only solace was that the monotonous sound was not high pitched, only leaving his head buzzing, rather than splitting his ears with its pitch.

Lance was rushing to the door, to get as far away from the sound as possible, when Keith ran in, quickly covering his own ears as he grimaced. Lance made to dodge around him, but Keith’s arm swung out in front of him before he could reach the door. He looked to him in confusion. Didn’t Keith want to get away from the sound too?! He shouted as much to him, and as he started, Keith slowly pulled his other hand from his ear, his eyes fixed on Lance’s mouth as he yelled. When he was finished Keith just shook his head, his mouth opening and closing rapidly.

It took Lance far too long to realise that Keith must’ve actually been shouting, the drone of noise too loud for Lance to actually hear anything he said. As Keith signalled that he couldn’t hear lance, he nodded to show his understanding, before gesturing to the arm still blocking his way and shrugging in question as to why it was there. It seemed as if Keith didn’t understand, either that or he ignored Lance as he pushed him back to the centre of the room. Lance’s struggles became weaker the further they got into the room. By now his ears had become used to the noise, and though his head was buzzing and he could feel the threat of an oncoming headache, the initial shock had worn off, and he could stand the noise without covering his ears.

When Keith finally stopped shoving him, Lance turned, ready to make a break for the door, when a fist came flying at his face. Lance narrowly dodged it by dropping to the floor and was going to shout at Keith when he shrieked as a foot collided heavily with his back. Lance growled as he looked up at Keith from where he lay sprawled across the floor, frowning as he watched Keith’s mouth work in what he assumed were very loud shouts, judging from how deep the breaths he was taking. Had he forgotten that Lance couldn’t hear him?! Lance couldn’t understand how that was possible with the endless noise filling his ears. Lance couldn’t hear any of Keith’s insults or provoking, so why would he use up energy yelling what was on his mind, if no one could hear it…

Lance froze at the thought and watched Keith closely, dodging a couple of jabs as Keith’s mouth continued to form words which remained beyond Lance’s understanding. Lance yelled back as he took his next swipe at Keith’s midsection, a move that was easy deflected. Lance, however, was not paying much attention to his own moves, eyes tracking Keith’s expression. He didn’t even twitch at the insult. Feeling more confident, Lance shouted again, for longer and even louder than before. Keith’s face showed no reaction to the words that Lance spat.

Lance felt strangely giddy as he continued, even as his words became less teasing and angrier, more hurtful and directed at himself. His head was so consumed by the never-ending drone that he couldn’t even hear the words. Strangely, he didn’t feel at all embarrassed or frightened as the words left his mouth, comforted in the knowledge that whilst he wasn’t alone, his words would never reach Keith. Couldn’t hurt him. So Lance screamed, all his frustrations with his failings in the last mission torn away from his mouth before he could even hear them. All the while he never stopped moving, his actions becoming more precise as he learnt more of Keith’s attack patterns. Without the weight of his thoughts on his mind as he let them spill from his lips, lance found it easier to actually concentrate on their sparring match.

After a couple of close calls, that grazed Lance as he dodged them, he spotted an opening. He pounced. Having spent the majority of their match on the defensive, the sudden switch to full offense caught Keith off-guard. He fell easily as Lance threw his weight at him, landing hard on his back. Lance watched as Keith’s expression morphed from pain to surprise and finally to a pout accompanied with a blush that spread from his cheeks all the way too his ears. Oh, wait! If Lance’s eyes weren’t deceiving him, he could spot traces of red making their way down Keith’s neck. It was too much. Lance laughed.

He giggled, the sound probably mirroring that of his little sister’s, yet Lance couldn’t feel any embarrassment as he didn’t have to hear the offending sound. He laughed with the same sense of relief and giddiness he had felt when Keith and he had woken up together. Speaking of which, said red paladin apparently /did/ feel embarrassed about Lance’s laugh, even if he couldn’t hear it. He began squirming to get a grip on Lance to throw him off, and Lance quickly rearranged his legs and arms so that Keith’s were trapped. Though this left him leaning over Keith’s body as Lance straddled his waist, his shins and feet pressing hard into Keith’s thighs whilst his hands wrapped around Keith’s wrists, pining them either side of his face. Lance’s laugh barely faltered as Keith’s flush deepened and his struggles intensified.

Eventually Keith went slack as he finally gave up. Lance couldn’t help but grin down at him, smug and ridiculously happy over winning just a small match.

The tone abruptly cut off and Lance felt Keith jump beneath him as they both looked up in surprise. Lance’s ears rang uncomfortably, and from the sound of Keith’s groan, his did too. Lance wondered whether the exposure to such a loud sound for so long had actually caused any damage to their ears.

He didn’t contemplate it long as the door opened and everyone rushed in, their shouts merging into a mass of noise that made Lance’s head pound. Luckily the shouts quickly cut off. He sighed in relief until he spotted their faces, equal mixes of surprise, shock and, most worryingly, glee. The last came mostly from Shiro and Pidge whose smirks were so foreboding, they sent a shiver down Lance’s spine. He followed their gaze back to between Keith and himself, only just taking note of what position they were in.

Lance scrambled to his feet, surreptitiously straightening his clothes. Or not, judging by the badly concealed snort from Pidge. Luckily, Keith and Lance were saved from any of the paladins teasing by a sudden scolding from Allura. Apparently blasting a loud drone, which echoed through the entire Castle, was not a good idea. To be fair, how was Keith to know that was an Altean alarm?

Eventually they all make their way back to whatever they had been doing before hearing the alarm, leaving Keith and Lance in the training room. However, with their sparring over, they headed off to wash and change. They didn’t speak as they walked, and whilst Lance couldn’t feel any tension, he still felt as if he had to say something. Ughhh… Why did he always struggle to come up with the right words when it really mattered? In the end, he thought about how he didn’t want to disguise his gratitude, and just went for the simplest way of phrasing it.

“Thank you.” He didn’t turn to face Keith, not knowing what expression he’d make.

“Anytime.” The honest and truthful tone made Lance look up to find a soft smile on Keith’s face. The implication that he could, would, do this again made Lance unable to do anything but return the smile.

Maybe showing his true feelings wasn’t so bad.

Fin.

Well, congratulations if you managed to make it through this entire headcanon (short story?), and I really hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please check out some of my other headcanons on my headcanon masterpost. 

If you’d like more scenes for this headcanon, or have a prompt you’d like me to explore, then feel free to message! Similarly for anyone who just fancies a chat about Voltron/headcanons/theories!