#ignore the bird follow the river

[pyrussprite]

Trying to pick my blender lessons back up since my printer came in and i'm just now remembering i resculpted the skull for Krem's hammer Smash in sculptris and lost it when my last computer kicked the bucket and i'm so fuckin mad. i put so much work into the damn thing

[revelboo]

Any thoughts on how Skyfire would interact with a pet human of his own?

Floating Down The River

IDW Skyfire x Reader

• It���s a losing battle trying to crouch down among the trees, knowing he’s not fully hidden as he settles himself on the ground. Being still is the key, though. Waiting patiently is something he’s all too familiar with. Slowly the wildlife his presence spooked returns. In the trees around him, the birds cautiously begin singing again and a couple of squirrels chase each other in the underbrush. He needs this, the quiet and peace. Understands why Optimus isn’t exactly happy with him for declaring himself a pacifist, but also that his leader in turn doesn’t understand why. He’s still an Autobot, but this world doesn’t deserve to be the latest in a string of casualties of their war. It goes against everything he believes in and he’s just so tired of it.

• Bending to pick up a discarded no trespassing placard, you frown at the damage. This wasn’t from bored teenagers or the deliberate vandalism of hunters. The fence on your side of the ditch was broken like a car had crashed through it, but there weren’t any tire ruts, no wreck. Just deep, muddy impressions you can’t make any sense of. And the damage extends into the trees, a litter of broken branches and crushed undergrowth like a very small tornado had gone through, forming a tunnel through the trees. Standing there in the sun in your boots, you tug at the straps of your backpack and start walking. A plane crash maybe? Maybe a Cessna?There been no smoke, though. Surely there would have been.

• Delicate little deer are the last to return, heads turned to stare at him as their ears flick. He’s certain they see him, but as long as he’s still they don’t know what to make of him and eventually ignore him to graze. Organic life, so fragile and curious. He hadn’t meant to fall in love with this world, but it’s just so alive. Cybertron had been like this once, the life not organic, but still wild and free. He’s an outsider here, an intruder and always will be, but he can still enjoy observing. And try not to remember the last world their war had spilled over onto and the destruction they’d left behind when the fighting had moved on. How long would it be before that world healed enough to sustain life? Too long for the life that had existed if any of it had survived. That guilt pulls at him, because even if he’s not getting involved this time, it’s his people that will kill this world. It’s inevitable. All they know how to do now is destroy.

• It’s easy enough to follow the tunnel, your neck craning as the size of whatever has come through sinks in. Climbing over a fallen log, you catch a glimpse of something white ahead. Something massive. A hint of a wing, but it doesn’t look quite like a plane, the shape wrong. Wreckage? Moving faster, branches snap under your boots and the misshapen wreckage moves. A head turns and you stumble to a stop as it unfolds to stand and tower over you. It’s not a plane crash, it’s a monster.

• Startled by the sound of branches, he turns. Aware of the deer bounding away at his movement, but it’s the little human standing there staring up at him that snares him. No one is supposed to see them. They’re in hiding here, eventually the war will erupt and there’ll be no keeping their presence secret, but now? He doesn’t know what to do, you’re just staring up at him, eyes wide. So he lifts a hand in greeting and before he can say a word, you scream and run. And then he’s running without thinking, trying to catch you before you can go shrieking into town about giant aliens invading.

Next

[tricktster]

Hey, for my American followers, I am sure you are all aware that the Day of Unpleasant Interactions With Members of Your Extended Family That Recently Voted To Actively Harm You While You All Eat a Large Dead Bird is rapidly approaching.

While I actively encourage all of you to hit da bricks and ignore the “but fAaAaMiLy” guilt trip if you know you’ll be surrounded by hostility, I also recognize that it’s not always a possibility depending on your situation/age/degree of financial independence etc.

Accordingly, if you know you’re in for a certified Bad Time and you want some ammunition to make your it’s-about-the-economy-Drunkle Kevin/i-do-my-own-research-Aunt Karen really fuckin’ reeeeeach for justifications, I think one of the absolute best uses of your day today would be to listen to the four part Behind the Bastards on President Elect Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead Health and Human Services: RFK Jr.

I know, you’ve heard about the brain worm, you know about the Central Park bear cub incident, you probably have heard about his anti-vax stuff, but like… holy goddamn shit, that is just scratching the surface.

Like, wait until you get to the daily acid trips at the decaying livestock carcass pit.

The expedition down the river where he stole all the morphine.

The omnipresent hawk named Morgan Le Fay literally shitting all over everything and everyone he gets near.

The sexual assaults.

The pathological roadkill collection and storage in other people’s fridges.

The direct consequences of his anti-vax shit leading to the death of like 44 people in American Samoa.

Fuck I know I mentioned this before and obviously the preventable deaths and sexual assaults are way worse but HOW HE HUNG OUT AT A PIT OF DECAYING SHEEP AND COW CARCASSES TRIPPING BALLS AND SENDING HIS HAWK TO EAT RATS INSTEAD OF GOING TO SCHOOL.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/45WDcgQAMkEGx1YQnkNn4r

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-bastards/id1373812661?i=1000663070557

Youtube:

[thirteenthdoor]

So you know the thing about Chinese women who change their hairstyles when they get married?

Spirealm spoilers nearly all the way to the end beneath the cut.

Ruan Lanzhu

As Baijie, he starts out with full bangs inside the Snow Village Door, a frumpy style he briefly keeps even outside of the door. It's fine when it's a bit scruffy and rakish, I guess? But it does his face no favors.

As soon as we get to Fitcher's Bird, though, he's started parting his bangs over his right eye -- not a full different hairstyle, just a little change to indicate his interest. This look, he keeps both in and out of the door through the Sister Drum and its immediate aftermath.

In that same episode that they leave the Sister Drum world, though, he switches to this severe style where most of his hair is brushed back, except for the weird little tuft over his left eye. This is the one of the two hairstyles he keeps for the rest of the show.

The other is the softer version of that same style, where he's got soft little bangs on both sides of his forehead, but still with a pretty big part between them. This one is mostly in and around the Psychiatric Hospital and the Lady in Rain doors, and then he's back to the more severe option.

So yeah, they get out of the Sister Drum door, Ling Jiushi and Ruan Lanzhu have a little conversation about how Ling Jiushi needs to recover, and by the time Ling Jiushi is recovered enough to come down and pet animals, Ruan Lanzhu has rolled out a whole new look! ...One that Ling Jiushi promptly does not notice. You know Lanzhu is about to explode. He needs his beloved to compliment him on his new style! But no, his beloved is too busy squeezing a corgi butt.

Ling Jiushi

Unlike Ruan Lanzhu, who falls pretty much immediately, Ling Jiushi hangs on to his initial hairstyle for a long time. Like, for 28 whole episodes, he maintains pretty much the same sweet little bangs-forward haircut he's had since his school days. Sometimes it's a little fluffier, sometimes it's more combed back, but it's the same hairstyle.

After the River God door, Li Dongyuan dies, Ling Jiushi goes through his whole backstory, he and Ruan Lanzhu protect Zhuang Rujiao, they visit Xiong Qi in the hospital again -- and in the very next scene, he's suddenly got his hair parted over his right eye. It's not not like Ruan Lanzhu's second hairstyle. He wears this style for the Sunny Doll door and everything that happens after with Tan Zaozao.

The very first scene after Zaozao's video, though, Ling Jiushi shows up with a significantly different hairstyle, one that he keeps for the rest of the show. He is again following Ruan Lanzhu's lead, parting his hair on his right side and exposing most of his forehead, with only a little flop down over his right eye. It looks way more casual than Ruan Lanzhu's version does, but the structure is similar.

...And in the book, the aftermath of her death is when those disaster boys finally hook up. I'd be willing to chalk this just one of those random costume change things, except that the timing is so specific it's hard to ignore. A change has happened in his young man's life, and he is ready to let the world both in and out of the doors know about it.

Anyway, they're married now. I don't make the rules; I'm not an NPC.

[lovedrruunk]

'A Fresh Start 𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐[part v]

powder finally made it to the hangout stage (good for her!), and guess she never really realized how good talking to you one on one would feel. [part iv]

✩°｡⋆⸜ 🎧✮ < banger song inspo!!

Powder shuffled along the stone sidewalk, her head down and her hands buried in her worn jacket pockets. The town square was deafening. The noise of it all was something she just couldn’t seem to get adjusted to. Sure, the undercity was loud, people yelling, arguing, running, sounds she was used to, sounds easy to block out. But this?

Easy laughter, happy chatter, meaningless conversation just for the sake of it. It was like a ringing in her ear, irritating her brain as if she wasn’t meant to hear it, like her ears weren’t developed enough to process it. 

Looking up at the people passing by she noticed how all of their faces were unfamiliar. Either she’d never met them, never looked them in the eye, or had totally forgotten about them. She wanted to feel bad about it but she just… couldn’t. All the faces here seemed so generic, like NPCs in a video game. Every face just seemed like a blur. Every face but one.

“Powder!”

And suddenly the ringing in her ear stopped. Your face wasn’t like the others. It wasn’t part of the background. It was clear, vivid, impossible to ignore. You were smiling at her, waving like you’d been waiting to see her. For a second, she didn’t move, didn’t breathe, just stood there like an idiot, staring back. 

It happened. In less than a week, the interaction she’d dreamed of had… actually happened.

It was a weird feeling, to watch the scene she pictured in her head constantly play out before her in real time. You called her name and waved her hello, because you knew her, because you were here to see her this time, not the baker, not the merchant, not your neighbors. The realization made her lips twitch upward and before she could stop herself, a goofy smile spread across her face. She probably looked ridiculous, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“Sorry, did I make you wait long?” You asked, catching your breath.

“No, don't worry, I just got here.” She said quickly, shaking her head.

It was a total lie of course. She had been waiting long, long enough to overthink, to second-guess whether she should’ve shown up at all, and to count the cracks in the sidewalk. But it didn’t matter now. You were here, and somehow, that made the waiting feel insignificant, like it had been worth it.

You smiled, not questioning her answer, and pointed down the street casually. “I was thinking we could head down to the river.” you said, like the thought had just popped into your head. “It’s quieter there. I know the noise here can be a lot sometimes.”

Powder blinked, startled by how easily you seemed to know her, like you’d figured out something she hadn’t even put into words yet herself. She hesitated for a moment, her hands still shoved deep into her pockets, before nodding. “Yeah. Okay.”

You started walking, and she followed you without a word, just like she always had. Except this time she wasn’t sneaking around, because you had been walking together. At first, it felt strange. Her pace awkward, her head down, unsure of what to say or do. But you didn’t seem bothered by her silence, didn’t rush her to keep up or pressure her to fill the space between you. You just…walked, calm and easy, without a second thought.

The town square got quieter and quieter, replaced by the faint sounds of nature, birds chirping, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the distant sound of flowing water. Powder glanced up as they rounded a corner, catching the sight of the river. 

The water wasn’t super deep where you guys were, she could see the smooth rocks under the water from afar, some sticking out a little. She couldn’t remember if she’d ever seen water this clean or blue. The sun was out, but not in an annoying way. Just enough to keep things warm without making her squint. The wind was nice too, just enough to ruffle her hair, the perfect balance of warm and cool. The only sounds she could hear now was the soft splashing of water and chirping of birds 

For a second, she thought about how different it felt here. Like the world had slowed down just for you two. She glanced over at you and caught you smiling, like you’d been here a thousand times, like this was just another day for you.

When you reached the riverbank, you didn’t hesitate. You spotted a bench with a clear view of the water, sat down like it was your favorite spot in the world, and gestured for her to join you.

“See? Way better.” you said with a grin, stretching lazily.

Powder lingered for a second, her eyes flicking between the bench and the water, before finally sitting down. Stiffly. Like she’d never sat down a day in her life, or like the bench might break just to spite her. She looked around, her arms stuck to her sides, half expecting something to go wrong.

But nothing did.

The river kept flowing, and the trees kept swaying. The world didn’t seem to care that she was sitting there, that she felt out of place.

And then there was you.

You didn’t seem to care either, not in a bad way, but in a way that made her feel like it didn’t matter if she was awkward or didn’t know what to say. You were just… there. Sitting beside her, relaxed, watching the water like it was the only thing that mattered.

Powder shifted slightly, her arms relaxing a little. She wasn’t used to quiet like this, the kind that wasn’t filled with tension or internal voices, the kind that didn’t demand anything from her.

She still felt a little off, like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But for the first time in a while, it felt like maybe… maybe nothing had to go wrong.

“So, how are you liking the town?” You asked, breaking the silence.

She thought about it for a bit. It was such a simple question yet she had no idea how to answer it. Where would she begin? It was nice sure, peaceful, lively, the perfect place to settle, but how did she like it? Guess she never really thought about it. 

She liked her cabin. She made it her own and it felt nice to have a place to herself. She liked the market, even though she was always quick to scurry out of there. She liked the kids in town, she’d sometimes linger by a little longer and listen in on their conversations. Sometimes they’d be arguing over something stupid like who won which game, other times they’d be happily chasing each other around. She liked you, of course.

Sometimes she wondered what it would’ve been like if she had moved here earlier, before everything went wrong. It was a selfish thought really, but one she found herself often staying up picturing. Afterall, she knew someone who would’ve loved to play with the kids in town. She would’ve liked you too, would’ve liked this new life.

“It’s nice.” She muttered, keeping her eyes on the moving water. 

“Seriously…? That’s it?” 

That made her chuckle. She turned her head to look at you with a small smile and furrowed brows.

“What? It is nice.” She exclaimed

You stayed silent, rolling your eyes with a small ‘hmph’ looking away. 

“It’s also… new.” She continued after a small bit of silence. “Believe it or not, I’d never seen a forest before coming here… oh, or water this pretty.” she added absentmindedly as she took in their surroundings.

“Oh right, I’ve been meaning to ask. Where did you live before you came here?” You asked curiously as you turned to look at her again.

There it was, the dreaded question. Well, one of them. There were a lot of questions she was dreading. But she figured this one would come up sooner than later. 

It wasn’t like Zaun was known for its great living conditions.

She’d be lying if she said she wasn't nervous, she didn’t know how you’d react to her being from somewhere so… Scary? Dirty? Horrible?... she figured any one of those could work. A part of her was tempted to lie, say she was from Piltover or somewhere else that's fancy and shiny, but she knew she couldn’t do that to you, lying now? So early into your conversation? No way. And besides, she doubted she could stomach the idea of calling herself a Piltie.

Her throat felt dry, and her voice came out quieter than she intended.

“I… I’m from Zaun.”

“From where now?”

“The Undercity.”

There was a pause.

“Piltover.”

Still nothing.

She blinked at you, deadpan. “The ‘City of Progress’?”

Your expression lit up in sudden recognition. “Oh! With the Hex Portals?”

She didn’t even have the heart to correct you… 

Your confusion confused her, but she wasn’t exactly mad about it. It was... surprising, in a good way. Guess all that worrying was for nothing. She couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of comfort in your cluelessness, like it drew an even thicker line between her past and her present.

“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.” you said, your voice casual like this was just small talk. “Hm. It’s a long way from here, though. What made you leave?”

Her body stiffened. What was it with you and these dreaded questions? She shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting back to the river.

As much as she wanted to be annoyed at you for asking the one thing she wanted to avoid, she knew she couldn’t. It wasn’t the question that was the problem, it was her answer. Anyone else might’ve taken it as a casual, perfectly normal thing to ask. The issue wasn’t you. The issue was her.

She opened her mouth, trying to come up with something to say, but nothing felt right. Her chest tightened

Thankfully, you seemed to catch on to her hesitation. Your voice softened. “It’s okay if you don’t wanna tell me. I get it.”

She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until that moment. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she gave you a small nod, grateful you didn’t push for more.

“Well,” you continued, leaning back on the bench with a smile “whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here now,”

She smiled again, her heart warm-

“even though you were kinda creepy at first.”

“What!?” Her head snapped towards you.

“Why is this surprising? You were like totally stalking me. Kinda had me worried.” You said casually with a laugh.

“Well- I didn’t- I wasn’t trying to be creepy.” She said defensively. “I just thought you were cool…”

Your teasing grin faltered, replaced by a look of surprise.

You blinked, clearly taken aback. “Oh.”

Powder winced, feeling like she’d just made things worse.

“Oh?” she repeated, nervously twisting her fingers together.

“Sorry, just didn’t expect that.” you said, your voice softer now, glancing down at the ground.

Her eyes darted away. “Was that... weird to say?”

“No, no,” you said quickly, shaking your head. “I mean,” You laughed a little, still processing. “I didn’t think I’d come off as cool to anyone, let alone you.”

Her brows furrowed, she almost looked…offended. “Why not?”

You shrugged, a sheepish smile playing on your lips. “I don’t know. I think I’m pretty average overall. My life’s pretty mundane.” You said looking towards the sky absentmindedly. “No mysterious backstory, no crazy hair.” You finished with a laugh as you looked back at her again, only to be taken aback when you were met with a stern face.

“That’s what makes you cool.” She said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

You just sat there staring at one another. Her face still serious and yours all the more surprised. 

“If you say so…”

Powder nodded sharply. “I do say so.”

Then you smiled, like you weren’t sure whether to laugh or say thank you

“Well... thanks, I guess,” you said finally.

.     .     .

The sun was starting to set now, the gentle sound of the river filled the quiet, and Powder found herself feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

“It’s nice here,” she said, almost to herself.

You glanced over at her. “Yeah. It is.”

You leaned forward, tilting your head to get a good look at her. “We should do this again sometime. Y’know, hang out.”

Powder blinked, looking over at you. The casual way you said it made her chest ache in that strange, unfamiliar way again. “Yeah,” she said softly. “I’d like that.”

You smiled at her, a small, genuine one that made her stomach flip. Then you stood up, stretching contently.

“Come on,” you said, reaching out a hand to her. “We should head back before it gets dark. Can’t have you tripping over something.”

Powder rolled her eyes, smiling back. “I’ll have you know, I’m very good at walking.”

“Yuh huh,” you teased, grabbing her hand to pull her up anyway. “Whatever you say creep.”

“Ugh.”

. . .

"next part will def be out before new years!" i said knowing damn well it wouldnt be LMAO guys pls i have a life outside of tumblr OH MY DAYSSSS shocker ik

anyways sry this took long (i rewrote it TWICE) im actually not thattt happy with it STOP I CAN ALREADY HEAR THE BOOS AND TOMATOES BEING THROWN ik guys im never satisfied BUT TO POST SOMETHING I TRULY LIKE IT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE 2 MONTHS AT LEAST

ALSO THE STORY IS COMING TO AN ENDDD IM HEARTBROKEN TOO BUT BUT BUT DW I still plan on writing for this "au" or wtv, ill make a separate post explaining why/how ;P

THX SM FOR STILL READING I LOVEEEEEE U GUYSSS BYEBYE XOXOXO KISSKISSKISS

p.s ik jinx leaving zaun before act 2 wouldve been pointless cuz she needed the closure i just wanted to write abt her thinking abt it ;P

notes r appreciated ofc (˶ > ₃ < ˶)

[taglist ( ;´ - `;)!!]

@cattjull @kenqki @powderbomb-jinxed @iamastar @lostdreamingwallflower @errorlovernotfound99 @raven437 @cartalige @poncho-fisch @crushh-existz @slxtcity @jinxslapdog @radioheadfan699 @alduinworldeater11 @dulleyeddreamer @alicenasflowers

[USERS I CANT TAG 4 SUM REASON (◞‸◟；)]

@sacrasm-is-my-form-of-attack @wonylvxv @luvs4rc0r3

[thekissofaphrodite]

luke x jackson!reader based off of Cigarette Daydreams where like maybe she died(at 17) and luke is like reminiscing

YOU ASKED FOR ANGST, SO I WILL DELIVER ANGST.

Cigarette, Daydreams

Luke Castellan x Daughter of Poseidon!Jackson!reader

Summary: One girl's sacrifice and a vengeful lover.

Warnings: Death and...Kissing (Flashbacks)

Author's note: IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG. I MISSED WRITING STORIES! FOR THOSE WHO SUBMITTED AND HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THEIR REQUEST TO BE MADE, TYSM FOR BEING PATIENT!

——

Did you stand there all alone?

Oh, I cannot explain what's goin' down

I can see you standin' next to me

In and out somewhere else right now

You sigh, look away

I can see it clear as day

Close your eyes, so afraid

Hide behind that baby face

do-do-do

do-do-do

Flashback

The forest was lush and quiet, the bird chirping early in the morning and the river rushing, splashing its cold waters to your pale skin was the only thing that was ever so relaxing. You thought about it again and again, Percy and his quest to retrieve the master bolt. Where was your little brother? The one you cared for much..

It was 5 in the morning, most of the campers were still sleeping, the counselors were awake, keeping the cabins and activities on track. You stared at the picture over and over again, you and percy in an amusement park, you clutching a teddy bear your mom won for you at the fair and a pink cotton candy your mom bought for Percy, Sally was behind you two, smiling widely, her arms wrapped around you and percy's neck. You all looked happy.

But that's life, you've got to accept that your mom is gone, or so you thought..you don't know who to believe anymore.

a twig snapping from behind caught you off guard, you flinched and quickly turned around, revealing someone. Luke.

The Hermes Boy.

You sighed and rolled your eyes, earning a chuckle from him, you kept staring at the rushing river while he sat beside you.

"What's wrong?" you sniffed, wiping the tears on your eyes.

"Nothing, why do you even care?" Luke shrugged and watched your eyebrows knit together.

"Can I not care? We're friends afterall"

"Since when did we became friends? i just arrived at camp Two weeks ago, we can't just magically be friends and make friendship bracelets together" You sniffed and looked at him, carefully waiting for a response.

"Ever since I helped you with archery, you agreed to become my friend" Those words registered in your mind before finally remembering it.

You did accepted him as a friend.

"Oh."

"Yes 'oh' , Now tell me what are you so upset about? is it about Percy?" You sighed, shaking your head, tears threatening to spills from your eyes.

"My mom and brother, I blamed myself for what happened on the hill, I could've saved her! I could've driven the minotaur away so that my mom can escape, i'm old enough to fight I—"

"—But you were attacked, You can't force yourself to fight, The healers had to carry you all the way to the infirmary and said you were badly injured—"

"—That doesn't matter!—"

"—It does!" Luke snapped. Your face frowned, confusion washing all over you, Tears were now streaming down your cheeks.

"You matter to me, I know you did your best to save your mother that night" He whispered, moving closer to you, his warm palms brushing your tears away, followed by a kiss on your forehead.

He brought you closer to him, Your chest pressed against his, your head rested on his neck, he pressed his nose on your hair and inhaled your sweet coconut shampoo while he rubbed your back.

You found yourself leaning into his touch, sighing in comfort.

——

You can drive all night

Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain

You wanna find peace of mind

Lookin' for the answer

Flashback

The feeling of rain drops trickling down your face was so relieving, No wonder why your mom does it all the time, sitting on the balcony of your small, dingy apartment in Upper East Side manhattan, thinking about your dad, Ignoring Gabe.

Now you were in Camp halfblood, doing the same thing.. But you weren't thinking about you dad..It was rather about Luke Castellan and his stupid smile, his fluffy dark curls and gorgeous eyes, there was at least maybe fifty percent chance that you might end up with him. why fifty tho? Well, Him talking to that gorgeous Aphrodite girl says otherwise.

You inhaled the intoxicating scent of wet trees before smiling, your clothes drenched. but you didn't care less.

It wasn't until you felt a presence behind you, and it was none other than the boy you were thinking about.

His orange Camp Halfblood shirt was also drenched, his toned body was visible.

His presence was annoying, but you loved it at the same time. He nudged you, and of course, you shot him glare.

"You love annoying me, do you?" You sighed, squeezing water out from your wet clothes, He laughed and helped you up.

"I do"

"more than Silena?"

Luke paused.

"What does Silena Beauregard have to do with this?"

You chuckled softly, Luke's confused gaze still peering at you "Don't you like her?" You asked, jealousy laced into your voice like venom as the rain stilled poured heavily, thunderclouds were rumbling on the sky, signaling a much heavier storm.

Luke's eyes never left yours, as if tho he was trying to tell you something, he stepped forward, brushing away a strand of your hair and tucked it behind your ear, cupping your cheeks at the same time.

everything seemed to have stopped, the rain, the storm. everything felt so unreal...

"What are you doing?" You whispered, your eyes never leaving his.

"I don't like Silena Beauregard"

There was a moment of silence between you and him.

"I love you, Y/n, From the moment I saw you on that hill. You stole my heart, And i'm letting you keep it"

The exact dialogue that you imagined him saying was coming true, your heartbeat became fast, as you felt his lips inching closer to yours.

——

Funny how it seems like yesterday

As I recall, you were lookin' out of place

Gathered up your things and slipped away

No time at all, I followed you into the hall

Flashback

It was midnight, and you were packing silently in Cabin 3.

Your senses finally came to you, and you're gonna save your mother and brother. Chiron and Mr. D were against you, saying that it was too dangerous for you outside the camp's border since you're a daughter of a Big Three god, Therefore your blood can attract monsters miles away, But you didn't care less.

Obedience doesn't come naturally to you.

even if it meant leaving Luke.

The engraving of your father's image came back to you, you remembered his smile when you were young, while he hummed a tune while cradling you gently into his arms like a delicate pearl.

you prayed silently at him, to protect you, since this journey is about your family afterall.

looking one last time at your cabin, you went ahead on the camp's hill, walking quietly as possible, the small flicker of light in the Hermes Cabin caught your breath, then, there was silence. It was only you and the crickets chirping.

The sight of the big, light blue farmhouse gave you chills, especially the attic..that was your main goal..

To talk to the oracle.

You carefully picked the lock until there was a *Click*

slowly opening the door, you held your breath and aimed for the stairs, each step you took made a creaking sound, but Mr. D and Chiron seemed to be deep asleep since no one even heard it.

Once you reached the attic, the cold midnight breeze seemed to greet you because you suddenly felt cold. Shivering slightly, you walked towards the mummified body of the oracle, carefully trying not to bump on pickled monster heads in gigantic mason jars.

"Hello...uhm— Goodmorning?" That was horrible.

The mummy didn't budge. Instead, a green smoke came out of the mummy's mouth, and a deep voice swirled inside your head.

"I am the Oracle of Delphi, Speaker of Prophecies of the Phoebus Apollo, Slayer of the Mighty Python. Approach, Seeker, And ask"

You held your breath and clutched your bag tighter.

"I came to ask if I will be able to save my mom and brother." There was a slight hope in your voice as you waited for the oracle to speak.

The mummy's voice swirled inside your head once more. This time, the voice was deeper;

'In shadows deep, a maiden weeps,

Her fate is sealed, in darkness sleeps.

Her lover's heart, a flame ablaze,

In vengeance sworn, for her he'll rise.

Then, There was silence.

"Hold on— I don't understand!" You ushered, your voice was a little loud as you nudged the mummy again, but again— Silence.

The Prophecy didn't made any sense, It didn't mention your mother or brother, You expected something like; "Victory will be yours and a happy family shall be reunited once more".

Looking at the mummy one more time, you left the attic and climb down the stairs.

Once you were out of the big house, You saw a silhouette infront of you.

You froze and pulled out your dagger.

When the moon got brighter. it revealed Luke.

Still in his Camp Halfblood t-shirt with messy bed hair and red and black checkered Pj's.

"Y/n?" His raspy voice asked.

"Luke—"

Then, His eyes shifted on your bag.

It came to him.

"You're leaving?" He stepped forward.

You bent your head down in shame and nodded.

"I want to find percy and mom...I just can't stay here at Camp and do nothing, They can be in danger!"

"And what if you didn't make it? How about me? did you ever think that?" Tears formed in your eyes.

"Leaving is hard, Luke." You whispered.

He wrapped his arms around your waist, kissing you ferociously. He pulled away and took a bracelet out of his pocket with a small engraving of your initial and his, beside a wing and a trident.

"Promise me one thing" Luke whispered, taking your arms and putting the bracelet on your wrists.

"Anything..."

"Be back safely in my arms..."

A small smile graced upon your lips before you nodded.

"I Promise"

——

Cigarette daydream

You were only seventeen

Soft speak with a mean streak

Nearly brought me to my knees

Flashback

There was an arrival on Camp.

Luke Castellan hoped that it was you, his girlfriend, who he had waited for almost a month. He expected you to walk inside camp, smiling widely while the crowd cheered, You running towards him, kissing him, Ever so happy that you're back in his arms.

That was what he thought.

Instead, two healers were carrying a stretcher, and a white cloth covered the person who was lying on the makeshift bed.

Everyone was gathered in the entrance, strings of gasps and mumbles in disbelief continued as Chiron and Mr. D fought.

Then, an arm dangled out of the stretcher, Luke never knew that simple accident would make his heart drop.

He saw a familiar gold bracelet.

The world stopped all of a sudden.

There you are, laying on the stretcher as the healers carried it towards the lightened funeral pit.

His warm hands brushed your cold cheeks, praying to the gods that you might wake up. But the large slice on your neck says otherwise.

Mr. D and Chiron's argument was now heard since the crowd went silent while watching Luke cry.

"She ran away and disobeyed us! She doesn't deserve a funeral pit! only heroes—"

"SHE IS A HERO!" Yelled Chiron, shutting Dionysus up with a frown. He stomped away.

Luke buried his head on your neck, sobbing quietly. He can't accept it. The only girl that had brightened up his darkened world was gone. He wanted to feel you again, like a secret and a sin.

You were the first person he ever showed his heart to, and you were the reason no one will ever see it again.

——

You can drive all night

Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain

You wanna find peace of mind

Lookin' for the answer

If we can find a reason, a reason to change

Lookin' for the answers

If you can find a reason, a reason to stay

Standin' in the pourin' rain

Flashback

Perseus Jackson was back at Camp.

He was happy, Yes. But the first person who he searched for was his sister.

The blonde boy scanned the crowd that clapped for him, hoping that his sister was there, grinning at him before hugging him tightly.

But when he asked Annabeth where you are, she looked down, her eyes softening before it glistened with tears.

"Percy..I'm sorry" She tried to step forward, but he stepped away, He looked at Annabeth like she was crazy.

"What do you mean 'I'm sorry'? Look, Annabeth, I'm tired of jokes. Where's my sister?"

A tear rolled down on Annabeth's cheeks.

"A week before we left for our quest...Y/n..she tried to follow and save us.. But when she reached Santa Monica... She was caught between Chimera and Hydra..She— She didn't make it"

Percy shook his head and stepped back, Tears were now threatening to spill from his eyes.

"I don't like your jokes, Annabeth" He whispered, Horrified.

"It's no Joke" Luke's voice came from behind.

"She's been burned in a funeral pit fit for a hero, She's buried now"

Percy gaped at Luke.

"You're not— Please, Don't tell me this is true" Percy begged.

"It's true, Percy. They'll pay for her death" Luke's voice cracked as he stared at Percy, His eyes filled with cold resentment.

——

You can drive all night

Lookin' for the answers in the pourin' rain

You wanna find peace of mind

Lookin' for the answer

If we can find a reason, a reason to change

Lookin' for the answer

If you can find a reason, a reason to stay

Standin' in the pourin' rain

Flashback

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

Percy held up his sword at Luke, but Backbiter was much bigger, and Luke was stronger. Unlike Percy, who had a small bronze sword.

"Clarisse didn't steal the bolt. You did. You worked with Ares to plot it on me! So when the shoes you gave me pulled me down to tartarus... The bolt will be delivered right back to Kronos."

Luke's face hardened.

"I never thought you'd give 'em to grover to wear, I AM your friend percy, none of this was meant to betray you!"

Percy kept his sword aimed at Luke.

"And my sister... Did you also forcefully send her after me so she can be killed, hm?"

Her lover's heart, a flame ablaze, In vengeance sworn, for her he'll rise

"Why do you think so lowly of me, Percy? Why would I send the girl I love on a deadly quest?" Luke tried to slash percy, but he dodged it quickly.

"You're the one who should've died. Percy. Not her."

The tip of backbiter was now at Percy's face, the dim moonlight shone above as fireworks started being launched.

"She's supposed to be here! Right now! With me, in my arms! But she's six feet deep because of you. Did you really think that your dad tried to save her? Did you really think that the Gods had mercy on her when they watched her struggle between those monsters? No. That was enough proof that the gods NEVER CARED ABOUT US! Her blood spilt shamelessly, She died a commoner's fate." His venomous words stung Percy to the core.

"And believe me, when I say this; I'll build an entire army to avenge her"

With that, Luke sliced the arch and vanished.

A/N

Hi again! I'm slowly finishing my drafts...So......KEEP AN EYE ON MY POSTS! IT MIGHT BE YOUR REQUESTS!

©️

[knightmareaceblue]

The Amazonian Amethyst.

Since being stolen from its rightful owners by the tyrannical Queen Empress, no one has seen this legendary gemstone. Rumor has it that the Amethyst, like many lost treasures, was taken by the Queen Empress to her tomb, the Red Pyramid, from which no one had ever returned alive.

It'd make the perfect anniversary gift. When Charles of all people presents this plan to his partners, Henry and Ellie are completely on board. An anniversary adventure suits the Triple Threat more than some dinner date, anyways.

And nothing could possibly go wrong… right?

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

Deep in the heart of an ancient jungle, far away from the modern comforts and conveniences of the human world, all was calm. The animals scurried and scattered about, out to hunt or gather for their next meal. The roaring rapids of a nearby river echoed through the tangle of trees, calling to creatures near and far to take their fair share of its fresh water and plump schools of fish. The songs of birds in the upper canopy competing to attract a mate completed the natural soundtrack of this ancient, majestic place.

Then, quite suddenly, the sharp mechanical buzzing of helicopter blades sliced through the melody of environment, causing the animals to scatter in fear of this strange new sound. At least one thousand feet above these scared grounds, three people, oblivious to their disruption, chattered excitedly amongst themselves.

“Man, doesn’t this bring you back?” Spoke the sole female of the group, a red-head named Ellie, who stared out at the jungle with a fond smile, her eyes soft with nostalgia. “Our first mission as the Triple Threat, flying over the Dogobogo Jungle to mess up the Toppat Clan’s day and send their rocket flying off into the sun.”

“Well, actually, Hen sent it to the Wall? But, you know, close enough.” Responded the pilot, one Mister Charles Calvin, who glanced back at her for only the briefest of moments before returning his focus to the wheel. His eyes scanned the canopy, searching for their destination, and a wide grin stretched across his face when he finally found it. “Whoa! Guys, you gotta check this out!!”

Henry, the final and most quiet member of the trio, raced over to Charles’ side first, Ellie hot on their trail. Their crimson eyes scanned the horizon, until they widened when they landed on the group’s destination: a gigantic pyramid, covered from top to bottom in green foliage as nature fought to overtake the ancient structure.

“There she is.” Ellie murmured, entranced by the sight, “The Imperial Tomb of the Queen Empress.”

“Exactly where my contact said it would be.” Declared the pilot, flicking switches and checking gauges as he prepared to descend. “According to him, the Amazonian Amethyst should be buried inside, along with the Empress. But everyone who’s ever gone searching for the tomb’s hidden treasure has mysteriously vanished~” The change of tone from Charles was accompanied by an amused smirk, almost as if daring fate to try and do the same to them. “So no one’s ever found the amethyst hidden inside. Which means it’s all ours for the taking.”

With a sharp squeal, Henry’s arms wrapped tightly around Charles’ shoulders, and they nuzzled their head into the side of Charles’. “This is the best anniversary gift ever.” Henry declared, and Charles felt his heart flutter.

When accepting the Airship mission so long ago, Charles hadn’t expected to fall in love with a criminal mastermind, let alone two of them. But exactly one year ago today, under the gentle light of the moon, Henry had taken both their hands and proclaimed their love to the heavens. The year that had followed had been the adventure of a lifetime; it hadn’t been without its challenges, but ultimately Charles had never been happier. The two standing behind him were his heart and soul made manifest. Of that, Charles was certain.

Of course, Charles’ love didn’t equate to ignorance of who, exactly, he was dating. By the time the government had picked them up for the Airship mission, Henry had become somewhat infamous for their prison break and theft of the Tunisian Diamond, and Ellie was in a similar position, living an outlaw’s life for various crimes she’d committed with a previous gang. And while they’d turned over a new leaf, partially for the benefits but mostly for Charles, it was clear that the transition to a clean cut lifestyle was… difficult, to say the least.

Thankfully the majority of what they craved, the action and adventure and excitement, was quelled by the missions they went on to save the world from whatever bad guy of the week dared to think they could stand up to the Triple Threat. However, the other addictive quality of their criminal lives – the material gains, the glitz and glamour of wealth that people like them could only get through illicit activities – that was another story entirely. Charles couldn’t count the number of times he’d had to drag Henry away from a display of shiny jewelry, or watch Ellie gaze longingly at the security trucks stores used to transport cash. He knew the two of them would never go behind his back to return to their old ways – he trusted them. But it was obvious even to him that they still missed it.

So, when their anniversary began to approach, Charles devised a plan. He’d preemptively gotten them a full two week’s vacation, scoured the dredges of the library and uncovered a lost treasure: The Amazonian Amethyst. A rare, large, and highly valuable purple gemstone that was said to have been stolen from its rightful owners by the very Queen Empress who was buried below them. She had taken many treasures with her to the grave, and for their anniversary, Charles had made all the arrangements necessary for them to go hunt it down. He’d rented a non-government helicopter (none of the bells and whistles he was used to, but the leather seats were a hell of a lot more comfortable than the ones from his usual bird), made sure they had all their paperwork and supplies, and took his two loves deep into the heart of the jungle on a death defying adventure to technically-not-steal a large amethyst from a long dead tyrant.

Maybe not entirely on the up and up, as far as legality went, but seeing the looks on Henry and Ellie’s faces when he told them his plan was totally worth the huge risk.

As their helicopter descended, Ellie scurried about, grabbing any last minute supplies she could get her hands on and tossing them into her personal inventory for later use. Simultaneously, Henry yanked open the door to the helicopter and hopped out as it landed, surveying the area with experienced precision. A practiced hand signal alerted their partners that the coast was clear, and Charles and Ellie soon hopped out after them. Inventories fully equipped, limbs stretched, and helicopter secured, the infamous Triple Threat made their way into the maw of the pyramid, eagerly chasing the adventure it promised.

Behind them, the song of the jungle stilled too suddenly, leaving only the increasingly loud crunch, crunch, crunch of plants being crushed.

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

“Yo, check this place out!” Charles exclaimed as the trio stepped into the main hall. The smile on his face stretched from ear to ear, and Henry could practically see the stars in his eyes as he shook his fists in excitement.

Not that Henry could fault his sunshiny enthusiasm. The main hall was adorned with very ornate murals, each one portraying the Queen Empress throughout her life. From her miraculous birth, with light shining down on her from the heavens; to her childhood of objectively being better than everyone; to the worship of her citizens, despite the blood lust that lead her to raid and pillage and steal from weaker kingdoms near and far. The blatant narcissism on display was staggering. The shiny gems that were used in place of her pupils, however, made Henry’s fingers twitch.

Of course, they wouldn’t settle for those little pebbles. Charles had picked a gem especially for them. Henry was going to get their hands on it if it killed them.

“According to the notes from the last expedition…” Ellie flipped through her notebook pages casually, even as she sidled up to one of the murals and plucked out a shiny blue stone. Unlike Henry, she didn’t mind easy pickings. “In the 1950s, geez… this first area is relatively safe. It’s where the Queen’s followers were expected to bring offerings of food and drink to their Eternal Queen.” Ellie’s eyes, full and bright like the full moon, scanned over the entire room. “Given how open this place was, though, it was probably all eaten by animals.”

Henry openly scoffed. “Wanna bet the people in charge used the missing food as ‘proof’ that the Empress really was there?”

In response, Ellie only shook her head. The trio walked along, making light conversation up until they reached the end of the hallway. The doorway between the Offerings Hall and the rest of the tomb contained a final masterpiece: the Queen Empress, in all her regal glory, being called into heaven by the gods themselves in the same radiant light that had shone upon her at birth. It’d be poetic, if Henry didn’t find it so nauseatingly self-serving. Whoever the woman was, she tried incredibly too hard to portray herself as a literal gift from the gods.

More importantly, the entrance to the tomb was stuck shut. “Notes said it was sealed after the last expedition,” Ellie explained, shutting the book in her hands. “Probably so no more idiots would get themselves killed trying to get that big treasure.”

“Well, they clearly hadn’t counted on these idiots!” Charles proclaimed, pulling the two of them close so he could point his fingers down at the trio, as if that was supposed to be a compliment. Still, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Idiots though the three may be, this wouldn’t even be close to the toughest thing they’d tackled. The three of them? They got this. First they just had to find a world in which they got this stupid door open.

Should they Force it open? No, that probably wasn’t a good idea. Ellie’s powers were strong, sure, but they could be too strong at times. Using just the right amount of Force would require extreme concentration. Henry could see the future play out before their very eyes; Ellie’s powers would pry the heavy door away from the wall bit by bit, pulling at the melted welding keeping it in place until it finally broke free. They’d celebrate for a moment, just a second, before the door would hit all three of them, knocking them back and out. Apparently, there was such a thing as too much force. Who knew?

So that was a no go.

What about some controlled demolition, then? Somehow that seemed like an even worse idea. They would manage to knock down the wall surrounding the door, sure. It was just a matter of applying enough force to remove the stones. Then the whole ceiling would crash down around their ears, their universe ending in a single cosmic crunch. Of course it would. Henry had the luck of a black cat zooming underneath a row of ladders while crushing mirrors underneath its claws. And besides, it was Remodeling 101: You never destroy a load-baring structure.

“You know, we could always just teleport past it.” Ellie teased with a quirk of her lip. This caused an instinctual full body shutter from Henry at just the thought of that infernal contraption. Though they’d never used the device in their own world line, the aches and pains of its future malfunctions still radiated across their skin, a phantom pain from a wound that never was and always had been.

Future sight was a real bitch sometimes.

With an annoyed pout, they scolded her, “Don’t even joke about that.” Henry could see the amusement on Charles’ face as he joined Ellie with an elbow propped on her shoulder, and tried not to scowl. Ellie and Charles took their concerns seriously – Neither of them had ever doubted their future sight even once– but the two weren’t above teasing their beloved about the borderline paranoid raving they could go on. “In fact, new rule from now on: No more bringing the teleporter. It always backfires.”

“So that means we won’t get to see you make that cute pouty face whenever you pull it out of your bag anymore?” Teased the pilot, a grin as bright as the sun stretching along his face. He didn’t even look a little sad at the idea of Henry no longer being burdened by the infernal plaything of cruel fate that was the Teleporter.

“What a shame.” Ellie joked right alongside him. In terms of acting, she was a little better, in that she managed to look a little disappointed at the thought. But her eyes shone like the moonlight, letting her true feelings be known to those who could read her.

All the annoyance melted away at their expressions, and Henry tried not to let this show as they rolled their eyes and spun around to dig through their inventory. “Yeah, yeah. Give me a moment, I think I have something here… aha!”

Henry triumphantly pulled their prize from their inventory’s storage: a blowtorch, which Henry immediately lit up before their red-headed girlfriend dropped a protective mask down over their face. Pausing only to give her a brief thumbs up before going to town, they traced the outlines of the sealed metal entrance and slowly but surely began to destroy the fused sections between door and wall, allowing for the door to be effortlessly removed. Henry turned around and bowed to their sun and their moon, gesturing dramatically to guide them through the newly created hole in the ruin. Ellie, proper woman that she was, bowed back as she passed, her eyes reflecting the mirth Henry felt. And Charles, ray of sunshine that he was, gentle tapped Henry’s nose with a soft boop before all but skipping through the doorway.

They could be walking into death, sure. After all, no one had seen the interior of the pyramid and survived. Despite these terrible odds, Henry couldn’t help but feel at ease. After all, they were already capable of the impossible alone. With Ellie and Charles by their side, they were all but invincible.

Behind them, an ominous shadow shadow spread across the stone cold floor.

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

The Triple Threat were greeted by a long, long hallway on the other side of the sealed doorway. It stretched onward and onward, shadows obscuring the pathway and all its secrets. The only lights came from the dull blue luminescence of the blue spheres embedded into the walls. There were more murals, Henry was certain, but their pictures were obscured by the darkness the entire corridor was draped in.

A darkness that was suddenly slashed through by a beam of light, courtesy of Charles. Now they could make out the plain, cold stone floor, the elaborate detailing on the wall portraying some myth long since lost to the age, the arches on the ceiling that provided the support needed for the heavy stone structure. There were no traps to be seen; no buttons, no spikes, no glowing eyed accursed beast doomed to wander these twisted hallways forever. It looked perfectly safe.

Naturally, Henry didn’t trust it.

Apparently Charles didn’t share this suspicious sentiment, because with a chipper, “Welp, let’s get moving!” He bound forward a few steps, and Ellie and Henry grabbed him and pulled him back just in time to avoid a long and dangerous drop down a pit of spikes.

“Watch your step, dumbass.” Ellie scolded, her hand tight around Charles’. In the meanwhile, Henry quickly checked him over. They’d been quick enough to catch him in this world (Future sight was a bitch), but better safe than sorry when it comes to mysterious ancient ruins and their many traps. And tetanus.

For his part, Charles seemed more embarrassed than scared. “Whoops.” He chuckled nervously as Ellie and Henry, now that they were done making sure he was really okay, crossed their arms and shot him matching glares, flat and unimpressed. “My bad. Sorry, guys.”

“Sheesh.” Ellie uncrossed her arms. On the outside she looked calm and composed, but Henry knew her well enough to see the slight tension in her face, or the way eyes kept darting to view the area behind Charles, as if expected another trap to jump out of nowhere and blot out the sun. “You’re going to be the death of us, I swear.”

With Charles’ near death experience out of the way, Ellie picked up a small pile of loose stones near the side of the passageway and began tossing them, one after the other. With each stone tossed, a section of the floor collapsed underneath the weight, revealing a pitfall that went down for meters. At the bottom, cascading off the floor, were subtle buttons that could only barely be made out in the dark, and entirely less subtle rows of spikes. A ghastly smell rose as the floor fell: a noxious fume of decay and rot that told them, even before Charles’ torch revealed the scatterings of bones both human and otherwise, the fates of all those whom had entered beforehand. An ominous rattling echoed up through the chamber as the light awoke various species of serpents lying in slumber in between the spikes, scattering quickly to hide around the buttons with their tails resonating dangerous warnings about disturbing them further. As the light continued to travel upward, the trio could make out tiny little holes in the walls, just large enough for any number of potentially poisonous instruments to fly or jut out, all the way from the bottom of the pit to the very top of the ceiling.

Now, if this had just been Henry, then they’d use a grappling hook to fly across the chasm, no problem. Or maybe create a platform with something nearby. But it was more than just Henry they were worried about today, and the ceiling was far too old and decrepit to hold all of them if they swung across. And the ruins were far too precarious to support the weight of three people. They’d collapse into the pit, get impaled on the spikes, and that would be the end of the Triple Threat’s story.

Despite the impending death of their loved ones, it struck Henry as more lame than terrifying.

What Henry forgot, of course, was that they were flanked by two equally competent (and equally crazy) partners, and Charles’ face suddenly lit up as he pushed his two partners behind him. “Don’t worry,” He smirked back at them confidentially, “I got this.”

Ellie and Henry were, naturally, extremely worried.

Without any further warning, Charles bolted forward. Henry’s panicked attempt to grab him and pull him back to safety was narrowly dodged, and Ellie’s call to halt was similarly ignored. Upon reaching the edge of the pit, Charles bent his legs down and sprung over it with an admittedly impressive leap, but one with nowhere near enough force or air to make it to the other side of the hazardous chasm.

Ellie gaped like a fish, her eyes following Charles with all the horror of witnessing an impending wreck. Henry winced and somehow managed not to look away.

Just as he reached the peak of his jump, Charles tossed a grenade down into the pit trap. The explosion was instantaneous, almost completely silent, and… purple? A cushion of purple gelatin arose from the torturous trenches, and Charles landed perfectly in it’s center with a boi-oing that echoed through the pyramid. And he bounced. Once. Twice. Each time a joyous laugh escaped Charles, loud and carefree despite the precarious perils underneath him.

A few bounces later – to test the durability of the gelatin or just for his own amusement, Henry couldn’t say – Charles leapt forward again and launched another grenade. He bounced off the cushion it produced and threw another, and another, until there was purple, bouncy path to the other side of the hazardous chasm. He finally, finally landed on the solid ground of the other side, and as he steadied along with Henry’s heartbeat, Charles turned around and tossed his partners a double thumbs up.

Henry stared after him, slack jawed. Words failed them completely.

Ellie, who had always managed to find the words that eluded Henry, commented, “That dumbass is going to get us killed one of these days.” Her voice was steady and strong, but a slight twitch of the eye betrayed her inner anxiety.

“Well? Come on!” Charles, whose ability to read the room was about on par with his risk assessment skills, called across the chasm, “The Amazonian Amethyst ain’t gonna come to you, slowpokes!”

Despite themselves, a grin stretched across Henry’s face. Now that the initial scare had passed, they found themselves more amused than upset. None of the Triple Threat were the cautious type to begin with – cautious types wouldn’t rob tombs, after all – and the heart attacks weren’t anything new, especially in their profession. So, only pausing to shrug at Ellie, Henry followed in Charles’ footsteps and leapt down into the pit of spikes.

They hit the mass of purple dead center, and was surprised to find that it was not at all sticky or mushy, as would be expected of gelatin. Instead it was soft and smooth, the same texture as a rubber exercise ball, with enough strength to hold their weight while standing firm against the spikes. An almost childlike joy came over Henry as they bounced up and down with loud, echoing boings, flipping and posing like they’d seen trampoline artists on the television do, before finally moving forward on the playful path Charles had created for them.

Behind them, Henry could hear Ellie bounce along as well. Her squeals were surprised and nervous at first, but quickly faded into the more melodious sounds of delight and enjoyment. A million ways to tease their moonlight popped into Henry’s head, but for the moment they simply enjoyed the sound of her unrestrained elation and focused on bouncing from one cushion of violet gelatin to the next, putting their signature style into every leap.

Henry hit the ground next to Charles hard, face first. Ellie landed much more gracefully, on one foot and one knee. She was up before Henry could even get to their knees, and by the time they were back on their feet she’d reached Charles and socked him in the arm. Not hard enough to hurt him, but not quite soft enough to be playful, either.

“Hey!” Charles flinched back a little, rubbing his arm. “What was that for?”

Ellie raised a brow at him. “You mean besides the heart attack you gave us when you jumped into a pit of spikes?”

Comprehension dawned on Charles’ sweet, stupid little face. “Oooh… yeah, I can see what you mean. Uh… whoops?” This earned him another hit, slightly more playful this time. “Okay, okay! I’m sorry, alright? I just wanted to show off for you guys.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” Ellie muttered with a glower, but no force in the world could stand up to Charles’ puppy dog eyes, so it wasn’t long before she was fighting a smile as he pouted up at her. “Okay, I forgive you. Just… no more throwing yourself into death pits please?”

“I won’t.” Charles promised, rewarding Ellie’s mercy with a sweet nuzzle and a gentle kiss. “’M sorry.”

Henry watched the tender moment play out between them, transfixed on their two loves from the sidelines, when Charles’ arm suddenly stretched the distance between them. It didn’t reach all the way to Henry, didn’t so much as brush against their skin, but Charles’ hand was open, invitation clear for Henry to accept at their leisure.

“I scared you too, didn’t I?” Asked the pilot, almost rhetorically. “Sorry, Hen.”

Affection flooded Henry’s heart, filling it full enough to burst, as they reached across the distance between them and took Charles’ hand. This was why he was their sunshine; Charles didn’t always have enough awareness to recognize his screw ups (and Henry had the phantom scars of worlds never lived to prove it), but when he did, he always approached them with complete compassion and understanding. He gave them each what they needed; Ellie a laugh to calm her nerves, and Henry the choice of contact and comfort, instead of startling them with a sudden touch they weren’t ready for. Henry relished in his light, the same light that brought the hope of daybreak to the hearts of two darkened criminals.

Instead of voicing their appreciation aloud, Henry accepted the unspoken invitation and allowed Charles to pull them close, peppering their faces with sweet little kisses, causing them to giggle. With his apologies accepted, Charles released his partners and the three turned around to face their next challenge, together.

Another door. Stone this time, a dark and heavy slab that sealed them off from the interior of the pyramid.

“Something tells me we’re not going to blowtorch our way through this one.” Ellie mused, then smiled as she added, in a light, airy voice, “Oh, if only we had some sort of device that could displace us through space and time to get us past this impossible obstacle!” She dramatically flung her hand over her forehead.

Charles tittered dramatically as he played along. “What a shame. Looks like we’ll have to go home without the Amethyst.”

“Knock it off.” Henry scolded, unamused. “Besides, who needs a Teleporter when you’ve got a…” They ruffled through their inventory until they found their prize, and triumphantly pulled out a... “Tire Jack!”

“Tire jack?” Echoed Ellie and Charles behind them, identical looks of confusion adorning their faces.

“Tire Jack.” Henry repeated one final time without elaboration, before dropping to their knees in front of the door. This little baby was a thief’s dream – unassuming, easy to carry, and absolutely perfect for doing things like prying open doors, or… whatever else a tire jack was used for. Henry fitted it to the stone slab, then pumped down once… twice… three times… and managed to create a crack just large enough for the three of them to squeeze through, one at a time.

Ellie nodded in understanding. “Ah. Tire jack.”

“Ooh, ooh! Me first!” Charles called as he ran at door. Henry managed to jump back just in time to avoid being bowled over by Charles’ power slide as he launched himself underneath the door’s crack.

All poor Henry and Ellie could do was gape after him, before Ellie shook her head and mumbled, “Going to be the death of us,” before following suit. Henry crawled underneath the door after them, leaving the chamber in silence.

…

Boing. Boing.

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

Somehow, the chamber they entered after crawling under the door was even darker than what came before. None of the rooms allowed for any sunlight to penetrate the densely packed stones, but at least the previous chambers had the dim glow of the luminescent blue stones on the walls to provide a little bit of light. In this room, however, even that minuscule bit of illumination was absent, leaving Henry and their partners shrouded in complete darkness.

“Eugh, I can’t see a thing.” Ellie summarized, her voice echoing just enough to let Henry know that this was a large, spacious chamber. Her call acted as a beacon, drawing both partners’ attention over to the little corner of the dark expanse where she must have been. “Charles, a little light, sweetheart?”

“Huh?” Either to preserve battery life or to keep from smacking anyone in the eyes with the beam of his torch, Charles had shut it off at some point. The reminder from Ellie, however, caused him to audible scramble to pull it back out. “Oh, right, yeah! I’m on it-!”

The clacking of plastic against stone echoed through the chamber once, twice, three times as the torch hit the ground and bounced away. Then silence.

“…” Henry couldn’t see a damned thing, but they could practically feel Charles wince. “Uh, Yeaah… I’ll, uh, I’ll just…” Shuffling fabric could be heard, followed by a repetition of slap, slap, slap against the cold stone floor as Charles fumbled around. “I’m sure it’s, uh, around here somewhere… Hehe…”

Then, stone sliding against stone. Followed by a painfully loud click.

Henry only had a brief moment to brace themselves for whatever barrage of arrows or spikes or fire was about to kill them dead. Instead, an explosion of white began searing their retinas, forcing their eyes closed and their arms up to defend against the sudden barrage. To their side, Henry could hear Ellie grunt in pain, and the sounds of Charles crawling around had disappeared entirely. Time eased the burden of their pain, their eyes adjusted, and Henry lowered their arms and gazed out into the now lit room.

What greeted their eyes was a circular chamber, far larger than the entrance or connecting chambers behind them, with sunlight pouring through the rooftop. Like the entrance, the walls were painted with spectacular images, icons that had long since forgotten their meanings and portraits of divine beings with names lost to time. Three tables – or, more likely, altars – were set up around the chamber, one underneath each grand portrait of the gods. The grandest of all, however, was that of the Queen Empress, recognizable even to Henry’s history ignorant mind. She was encircled by heavenly light while, to each of her sides, the Gods shifted their gazes unto her.

“Whoa!” Charles, having found the flashlight not three feet in front of him, quickly picked it up and got back to his feet.

“These are amazing!” Ellie gushed, eyes lighting up as she took in the ancient murals. Her aesthetic sense was certainly different from Henry’s – a little flashier, a little more on the romantic side – but her eye for art was second to none. “I wish I had a camera.”

Without even thinking, Henry pulled a disposable camera from their bag and held it up in front of Ellie’s face. It’s primary function was for note-taking and placing identical photos of crime scenes in front of security cameras, but even though they were technically done committing crimes, Henry had never removed it from their inventory.

“Oh.” Ellie blinked, then took the camera. “Thank you.”

“Is this the burial chamber?” Charles asked, then, as if that was a definite yes, excitedly changed the question to, “Is the Amethyst here?”

“I don’t think so.” Ellie responded as she took more and more pictures. The film in that thing wasn’t unlimited, but she’d probably document all she wanted to long before it ran out. “Given that there’s no actual tomb or body here, this is probably a temple of some sort, to honour the gods rather than her.”

To that, Charles and Henry exchanged a glance before gazing up at the image of the Queen Empress, who was larger and grander than any of the divine beings on the wall. “I’m, uh, not a theologist.” Charles said as he quirked an eyebrow at her. “But isn’t imagery like this, like, umm… what the word I’m looking for?”

“Blasphemous?” Henry suggested.

Apparently that was correct, because Charles nodded. “Yeah, that.”

To that, Ellie only shrugged. “Eh, who knows? Maybe having the gods revere you was an old form of worship?”

As they spoke, Henry surveyed the temple. Beyond the portraits and the skylight, the round temple was decorated with ornate columns and intricately carved altars, each adorned with various symbols that had lost their meanings to the flow of time. Their eyes went from mural to mural, from wall to wall, and as they scanned each corner of the chamber a cold feeling sank to the bottom of their stomach.

“Uh, guys?” Henry interrupted, getting Ellie and Charles’ attention. “There’s no exit.”

Indeed, the walls had many things painted on them, but none of them had a door of any sort beyond the entrance.

“Oh. That’s a problem.” Charles mumbled as he too began to look around. “Uh, are you sure this isn’t the burial chamber then?”

“Do you see a body anywhere?” Ellie retorted, then kicked at the ground. The interior of the temple, in the open area just underneath the skylight, was a large circular stone slab inlaid in the floor, again adorned with a symbol Henry didn’t understand. “We entered around the center of the pyramid. The burial chamber and treasure chamber are probably below us somewhere.” Ellie scratched her chin, gazing around, “Which means… to proceed we’ll have to…”

“Dig!’ Charles interrupted, triumphantly pulling a shovel from his inventory. Grinning, he posed to strike down at the stone ground, only to have the shovel nabbed away from him by Ellie.

She spun it in her hand as she shook her head. “Not exactly. There’s probably some mechanism in the room that opens the floor, the same way that button you found opened the skylight. We just have to figure out where it is.” She tossed the twirling shovel into the air, allowing it to whirl before she caught it with ease. “So, let’s start by investigating the room. Charles, see if you can find any more buttons on the floor. Henry, check out the pillars and walls. I’ll take a look at the altars.”

With their tasks divided up, the Triple Threat went about exploring the chamber. Charles dropped to his hands and feet, crawling about the floor like a hound dog sniffing for clues. Henry couldn’t help but smile at the ridiculously serious display before turning to the walls. Like the entrance, the iconography seemed to tell a story. A trickster, a mysterious being cloaked in shadows with a crooked smile, stealing from the gods and causing them to turn their wrath on each other. A divine clash breaking out, a battle of apocalyptic proportions with the trickster caught in the middle. A god of the sky defeated with a necklace, a god of the ocean defeated with song, a god of the mountains defeated with a seed. And the spirits, the innocent bystanders who had perished in the clash, being escorted by the trickster to a new paradise.

Huh. What an odd story.

Henry didn’t have much time to take it all in, however, as a sudden and triumphant, “Aha!” from Charles caught their attention. They turned to find him in front of one of the altars, grinning and rubbing his hands. “Found the button!”

Ellie had been investigating the altar on the other side of the room, but she somehow managed to reach Charles’ side before Henry had. The three of them started down at the button for a long time, contemplating the many, many ways this thing could kill them, before a shrug from Ellie gave Charles the go ahead. It gave a soft click as it depressed all the way.

The Triple Threat tensed, got into formation, and waited for the trap to spring.

And waited.

And… waited…

And there was no trap. Not even a little one. Henry almost felt disappointed.

“Huh.” Ellie mused, getting out of formation and pressing the button down with her foot. Again, nothing happened. “Okay, that’s strange… but maybe…” Ellie stroked her chin as she walked away to the next altar, testing the ground in front of it with her foot until she found what she was looking for and smirked triumphantly. “Ah ha!”

With the same cool confidence as always, Ellie let her foot fall onto another hidden button. It crumbled under her mighty strength, clicking into place neatly.

Henry could sense a pattern here. They quickly walked over to the other side of the room, to the unattended altar, and stared down at where they were certain, based on where Charles and Ellie were standing, that the final button would be. Should they press it? Do they dare risk their life on the mere chance that this button would open the passageway forward?

...Eh, screw it. Henry stamped down on the button hard.

A final click echoed through the chamber. All was silent for one moment, then two, then three. The silence was broken by a rumbling, small at first but then, gradually, getting louder and louder until the whole chamber was shaking. Shadows began to stretch and grow across the floor as stone eclipsed the skylight, slowly, steadily, until nothing but darkness remained.

Henry’s fingers itched. Their every muscle tingled, phantom pains from a world soon to be echoing across their skin, screaming at them to move, move, move-!

Fire burst forth from the symbol on the altar, giving Henry mere seconds to dodge out of the way before the gods could scorch them with divine retribution. Behind them, Henry could hear Ellie gasp as something heavy slammed down way too close to where they knew she was standing, and on their other side, sputtering and coughing and what sounded like a geyser.

Before they could even thinking of running to their partners’ aid, another pillar of fire sprouted up just next to Henry, setting the room alight with a dangerous orange glow. Then another. And another. For now Henry could dodge them, but the streams of fire were going off faster than faster. This was not a matter of if they got burned to a crisp, but when.

In the glow of the firelight, Henry could make out Charles, soaked head to toe, struggling to push against a strong spray of water that had him pinned. Ellie, on the other side, was only narrowly dodging giant stone pillars raining down on her.

“What kind of trap is this?” Henry snapped in frustration. “There wasn’t anything on the walls!” There couldn’t have been, not with those portraits. A button would stand out far too much.

As Charles was too busy battling a barrage of water, it was Ellie who replied. “I have no clue! The way the buttons were positioned – I thought it made sense-”

She sounded genuinely distressed, and that made Henry’s heart ache worse than anything. Ellie was their moon, their constant anchor in an ever-changing world, and they felt her distress as if it were their own. “Hey- hey- it’s okay.” Henry consoled. “If it helps, this is less stupid then, say, jumping out of a bag and directly into an alarm.”

“Yeah!” Charles had managed to keep the extreme stream of water at bay enough to finally contribute – or maybe he was just powering through it. Hard to say with him. “It’s just a little water… and fire… and some rocks… we got this! We’ll just, uh- um…”

As their sunshine rambled on, Henry could see something click in Ellie’s head. Her eyes widened, shimmering with reflected firelight. “Water… fire… and rocks- no, earth…” Ellie’s gaze traveled upward, to the eclipsed skylight. “Henry!” Her force powers kept the crushing stone pillars at bay while she pointed towards the tip top of the ceiling. “I need to get up there!”

Henry rolled out of the way of an incoming stream of fire. They didn’t have a lot of time. Inside their bag were a few things that could get Ellie away from the rocks and up towards the skylight, but what?

There was a pair of boots in Henry’s inventory that would allow for a super jump – just bend your knees and boom! Up you go. Of course, there were way too many ways for that to end horrifically. The flames that were one wrong dodge away from ending Henry were not the greatest source of light. All it took was too much force and Ellie’s head would crack like an egg against the tough stone ceiling. Or too little force, perhaps, and she would fall into one of the various traps spread across the chamber. It was unwise to leap before one could look, after all.

There was a wooden pole stashed away in there as well. One of those nice collapsible ones. Henry could toss it javelin style to Ellie and of course she’d catch it, she’s Ellie, and once she had it she’d go vaulting over the stone crushers keeping her trapped. The wood was very flexible after all, so it wouldn’t be a-

Wait, no. It was made of wood. Which meant, with Henry’s luck, they’d toss it to Ellie only for the trio to watch it be burnt to ash mid-flight. That would be a terrible way for the Triple Threat to burn out.

So, something that wouldn’t be destroyed by the fire, and something that she’d be able to control even under these poor lighting conditions. That left…

A silver chain glistened in the firelight, strong and fierce and far, far more fireproof then the wooden pole. The primary purpose of this thing was to lift and pull, and Henry couldn’t use it for much else. Ellie, however, was far more versatile, and that showed in her shining eyes as she caught the chain in midair, not even looking back at Henry as she did.

Ellie smirked, and Henry knew they were in for a good time.

She whipped the silver chain over her head and out to one of the many decorative protrusions on the rounded ceiling. It stuck firmly in place, and just before a crushing pillar could flatten her into pancake, Ellie launched into a wide swing. Fire licked at her feet and clothing as she came around to Henry’s side of the chamber, but she didn’t so much as flinch. Instead, she held one arm out wide to catch her partner as she swung past, and Henry gripped her hand for all it was worth. They continued their arc around the chamber, and Henry didn’t even need to be told to hold on to Ellie with one arm as they approached where the strong geyser of water had Charles pinned. Henry grabbed him by the collar and held him tight as the soaked pilot got his grip on Ellie.

“You guys okay?” Ellie called down to them, and Charles nodded while Henry gave her a thumbs up. “Awesome! Hang on tight, we’re going up!”

The arc of their swing widened and quickened, spinning them around the room again and again until they built up enough speed for Ellie to launch them towards the spot where the skylight would be. The air rushed past them as they flew upward. Ellie released one hand from her chain, reaching towards the stone covering. They inched closer, and closer…

And something clicked as Ellie’s outstretched hand pushed in the final button.

Below them, the traps disappeared as quickly as they had activated. The fire stopped. The stone crushing pillars retreated back to their spots hidden in the ceiling. The stream of water sputtered to a halt. The trio landed back on solid ground just as the skylight began to open again, illuminating the temple with sparkling sunlight. Just behind them, the ground rumbled and shook before opening up to reveal a spiral staircase into the unknown depths.

“Woo-hoo!” Charles cheered. The fabric of his clothing was drenched and worn from the pressure of the water that had trapped him earlier, but Charles hardly paid it any mind as he threw his arms around his partner. “Way to go Els!”

“That was so cool!” Henry gushed, piling into her from the other side to keep her sandwiched between them. With her two loves surrounding her, Ellie was able to wind down a little, her shoulders relaxing and her smile widening to expose cute dimples on each side of her mouth.

Ellie giggled in response to their compliments. One of her arms snaked around Henry’s waist while the other latched around Charles’ shoulders. “It wasn’t a big deal.” She shrugged, mock bashfulness on her face even as she reveled in their praise. “I just figured, once Charles said that thing about fire and water and stone, that the traps were based on the elements, and from there it wasn’t hard to figure out that there was another button on the skylight.”

“Still! That was AWESOME!” Charles eyes practically sparkled with delight. “The way you tossed that hook and just-” Charles paused to lift both Ellie and Henry off the ground. He was strong enough to do so, but only barely, leaving Ellie squealing and Henry clinging on for dear life. Charles spun as he continued to recount the events that they’d just lived through, thank you very much.

When Charles finally put them down, Henry took the opportunity to link their fingers with Ellie’s, bringing a softer expression to her face. “Seriously. You were amazing.”

Ellie met their eyes. Those purple orbs seemed to glow softly in the sunlight, reflecting every feeling she couldn’t say. All her worry, her joy, her excitement, her pride, her love… she could spill it out in a thousand words like Charles, but that was never her style. She showed her love in her actions, in her worried fussing, in the look in her eyes as she watched after the two of them.

Henry squeezed her hand a little tighter, relishing in her tender gaze.

“-and then you landed perfectly!” Having finished his little tirade, Charles gazed back at the two of them, and his entire demeanor seemed to soften when he noticed their intertwined hands. “So, yeah. That was super cool.”

“It was.” Ellie agreed finally. She gave Henry’s hand a final squeeze before pulling away to jog lazily towards the newly revealed stairwell. “Now come on! We’re so close to the amethyst I can practically taste it!” Charles chased after her, laughing, and Henry followed suit down the long set of spiral stairs. Darkness waited below, but for now they had the beam of light from the opening directly overhead, granting them safe passage. As they descended, the air cooled; from Henry’s limited experience, the jungle was never anything but unpleasantly humid, so it was a nice change of pace. They zoned out as they walked: listening to Ellie and Charles discuss what might lie ahead, feeling the cool air grant their skin sweet relief from the awful heat, seeing the shadows grow across the ground below them, smelling the old musk of trapped air rise-

Henry blinked and looked back down at the ground below the skylight. The rays hit the ground uninterrupted, illuminating the old stones for the first time in centuries. They then looked upward at the skylight, seeing it clearly, without any sort of obstacle that could cast a shadow. But Henry could have sworn…

No, it was just their paranoia acting up again. Henry exhaled deeply and continued onward.

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

The spiral staircase went down a long, long way, extending past what Henry thought would be the bottom of the pyramid. When they finally reached the end, the Triple Threat found the passageway as dark and foreboding as the ones upstairs before the skylight. They had Charles’ torch, but even its beam could only extend so far. Down below the surface the air was cooler but stale, and the walls, while thick and beautifully crafted, had no more stories to tell. Instead a pattern of intricate molding and paneling lead their way to the depths of the tomb.

The silence between them was deafening as each member of the Triple Threat prepared, in their own way, for whatever traps might lay ahead. As it turned out though, the largest trap they had to worry about was the architecture. Each pathway ended with a split in two directions. All it took was two turns for Henry to realize just how lost they could get in this convoluted maze. Luckily, their partners had a solution.

“It’s the same system we use when gaming together.” Charles explained as he scribbled on a piece of notebook paper. “We’ll make a map as we go, and mark shapes into the walls so we don’t get turned around.” As if to demonstrate, Ellie marked an o with a line through it right next to a clear dead end, and Charles made a corresponding mark on the map. “I don’t mean to ah, brag or anything, but we’re basically professional cartographers at this point.”

As if to demonstrate their prowess, Charles turned and proudly presented the map, which was just a jumble of lines with random symbols on it to Henry. Still, they gave the two an approving thumbs up.

So the trio marched on. This section of the pyramid wasn’t necessarily difficult, given that the traps were all laughably easy to dodge, but it did drag on a bit. The labyrinth was designed to confuse and entrap any enterprising thieves, and perhaps it would have successfully diverted one on their own.

Good thing these thieves came in a set of three.

At some point they reached a long sloping hallway, stretching so far forward that Charles’ flashlight could not even illuminate the far wall. The scent of upcoming danger wafted in the air, causing a mixture of anxiety and excitement in the trio. Charles got the privilege of leading the way due to his incredible skill of remembering to bring a torch, but Ellie and Henry were not far behind.

“Keep a sharp eye out.” Ellie warned as they crept down the long, long passageway. “There could be traps everywhere. Be prepared for anything-”

Click.

Henry looked down at their foot, and the slight indent in the floor from where they’d managed to step on a button. Whoops.

“What did I literally just say?” Ellie scolded, looking more annoyed than genuinely panicked. All Henry could muster in response was a sheepish grin.

The whole pyramid shook underneath their feet. Ellie and Charles, somehow, kept their balance, but Henry could not, and it was only after they’d fallen to the floor and were forced to look up that they saw the giant boulder cascading down towards them. They were up and running in an instant, and the screaming behind them told Henry their sunshine and moonlight were trailing behind them.

“Ah, Henry?” Charles called. His voice held a hint of nervousness – just a small touch – as he somehow managed to keep pace with the two thieves. “Now might be a good time for one of your tricks. You know, like that earthbending thing you can sometimes do-” Wouldn’t work. Henry’s skills weren’t strong enough to stop something that big in it’s tracks. They’d create a ramp to launch the blasted thing just above their heads and end up managing to crush the trio like a batch of gross pancakes. “-or maybe one of those Gizmo Gabe things you’re always carrying around-” Nah, Henry didn’t even need future sight to see where that would go wrong. Gadget Gabe (Charles never could get that name right) meant well, but their devices were… well, half-baked. The Float-O-Matic in their pack might get them away from the boulder, but it might also get them stuck to the ceiling with no hope of escape. No thank you.

“Or, you know,” Ellie yelled over the rumbling. Her voice was a little stressed, but also a little teasing, “We could teleport away from it!”

“Get bent!” Henry snapped back at her. “We don’t need that thing! It ALWAYS backfires!”

With that, Henry pulled out a sheet of paper, a canvas about the size of their body, and spun around to face the boulder head on. Ellie and Charles called out behind them, but Henry was singularly focused on the rock speeding at them at high speeds. The paper in their arms crinkled loudly as Henry waved it with both arms, as if airing out a towel, before dramatically bringing it up over their head. They waited for the boulder to get in to place.

Waiting…

Waiting….

Waiting… now!

The paper tore the boulder into tiny little shreds, sending shrapnel flying all around. Henry paid it no mind, driving the giant sheet of paper down further and further. It ground down the boulder until nothing but dust remained.

“See?” Henry looked back, speaking between deep breaths. Using that much force really took a lot out of a person. “We don’t need the teleporter.”

Ellie blinked stupidly at the display in front of her. “What- but- how did you-?!”

Dearest Charles, the only sympathetic party to her confusion, patted her gently on the back as he explained: “Paper beats rock. That’s just logic.”

“That only works in rock, paper, scissors!” Ellie cried out, frustrated. “That’s not how-”

She was shushed gently, and treated to one of Charles’ sunshiny smiles. “It’s Henry.” He said plainly, as if this explained what she’d just seen. “Don’t question it.”

As Henry passed her, listening to her frustrated grunting, they couldn’t help but smile. Mere moments after they disappeared into the darkness, the crackling and crunching of stone debris could be heard behind them.

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

Finally, after long hours of trekking, after all the falls and traps and near death experiences that had protected the treasure within, the Triple Threat arrived at the grand entrance to the tomb. Before them stood a door at least as tall as the three stacked up. It was engraved with the Queen Empress’ visage, grand and imposing as she stared down at the mighty rats who dared steal from her precious tomb. Never one to do things by halves, the Mighty Empress had the door’s framing made of shining gold, which had Henry and Ellie salivating and Charles rolling his eyes. The torches that once illuminated the path to her final place of resting had been damp and cold far longer than any of them had been alive.

“You know,” Ellie looked up at the humongous image of the woman, as grand as she was tall, with crossed arms and thin lips, “I think this might be the burial chamber. Not sure why, but I just get that vibe, you know?”

Charles snorted. “I dunno, we’ve seen a lot of this woman plastered everywhere.”

“Good point.” Ellie agreed.

While they bickered and quipped, Henry took a good look at the grand entrance and stroked their chin thoughtfully. They pushed at the door and, to no one’s surprise, it didn’t budge. So they’d have to pull it open. A difficult task, without handles on a door more than twice Henry’s size, but Henry was a master of work smarter, not harder.

Except for that one time with the bank.

Or that other time with the prison.

Or… you know what? Henry was just going to drop this line of thought before they embarrassed themselves further.

Instead, Henry pulled a crowbar out of their inventory and wedged it carefully between the giant stone doors. Its lodging gave Henry the leverage needed to pry the door open, and the task was made easier when Charles and Ellie finally broke away from their banter to lend their strength. Together they succeeded, as they always did, and the door to the crypt opened with a gust of wind and a pungent odor. Rot and decay caused the trio’s eyes and noses to burn, but they pressed onward. Ellie, in a moment of practical brilliance, handed out air fresheners she’d stolen from the helicopter rental place. The scent of pine was too faint to completely block out the stench, but it provided a little relief.

The entire interior of the chamber was bathed in green light, illuminated by lines of shimmering green stone on the ground. Made from the same glowing material as the murals upstairs, it did such a good job of lighting up the joint that Charles was able to give his poor, overworked torch a well deserved rest. The lines ran up the walls, across the floor, in circles and in straight dashes across dark stone, revealing a room about as large as the temple above, and… largely empty. A few altars were placed in each corner beneath a mural, and in the center of the room was an unremarkable stone box which must have contained the queen’s body.

Charles echoed Henry’s thoughts exactly. “Wait, is this it?”

“Not seeing a lot of treasure here, Charlie.” Ellie remarked. She waltzed ahead to the stone casket, frowning as she mulled it over.

“No, wait, no!” Almost frantically, their poor pilot began zipping around the room, at this point uncaring of any traps he might uncover. “There has to be more! There’s no way this isn’t the place! Unless… they didn’t bury her with it? But that wouldn’t make any sense…!”

Henry idly pat Charles on the back while he spiraled over the misinformation. They were just about to tell him something along the lines of ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’ (a useless platitude, but one that might make him feel better) when their eyes drifted to the wall behind one of the altars, to the large portrait of a god surrounded by mountains. The divine being’s eyes were blank, painted without pupils, but the rest of their body language – their stance, their expression, the scowl on their face – suggested pure, unbridled rage. Scanning the rest of the room, Henry found two more familiar figures along the walls near the other altars. The Ocean God and the Sky God, each gazing into the room with the same fury as the Mountain God.

Henry had seen this before.

While the fire and water and giant stones had been a very good distraction from what Henry had assumed was just a common legend immortalized upon the walls, they had still managed to take a good look before they’d been forced to move on. Three altars for three gods that had needed to be placated by a trickster.

Just as Ellie had made her way over to join them in comforting Charles, Henry left his side and made their way over to the Mountain God’s altar. How had the mural gone again?

A god of the mountains defeated with a seed. All Henry had on them that could satisfy that condition was some sunflower seeds that Charles had packed for snacking. Taking a breath and praying this wouldn’t get them all killed in some horrible way, Henry took one seed from the packet and dropped it on the altar.

The glowing lines on the floor suddenly shifted, spinning as the mural changed before their eyes. The angry god smiled down happily at the seedling on their altar, placated by the promise of new plants spreading across the mountains. Sounds of awe came from Ellie and Charles, but Henry paid their partners no mind as they struggled to recall the next image. The god of the sky, with storm clouds flooding the air around them and lightning a their fingertips, had been placated with a… piece of jewelry? A ring? No, that wasn’t right… a necklace…? Yeah, that was it.

While Henry had more than their fair share of fine accessories, they weren’t in the habit of bringing those accessories with them, on account of potentially losing them, or breaking them, or being electrocuted when the metal catches lightning or something. So instead of a nice, fancy necklace like in the mural above ground, all they could offer to the sky god was their employee badge from work, a little lanyard with a picture of Henry and a bar-code on it. Nothing like the ornate piece that was offered in the mural, but the sky god accepted it anyways. As before, the lines on the floor changed, transforming the image instead to that a pleased god with calm skies and a sunny smile.

That just left the final mural. The god of the oceans, vast and temperamental, plagued with storms and swells alike, glared down at Henry in clear rage. The last god was soothed with a song, Henry recalled. So how should they proceed?

Henry already knew singing was out of the question. Their throat was already sore from a day of mere conversational talking, and even beyond that Henry’s musical gifts did… not extend to their vocal chords. Breaking out into song would only shatter all their heads like glass. Hitting the high note was not among Henry’s many talents; Their B sharp would only fall flat.

So, instead, Henry produced a long out of date mp3 player from their inventory. How long had that thing been in there? Five years? Ten? However long it took for the once widespread piece of musical tech to become completely irrelevant. Of course, somehow, it still had a charge on it, and Henry’s grin only widened as a familiar hip hop tune, popular in whatever decade Henry had last bothered to update the thing, began thumping out, echoing sweetly in the large chamber.

Charles’ face lit up immediately, “Ooh, I remember this! Aw man, I used to sing this all the time when I was a kid!” As if to prove his point, Charles joined in with the next line. Much like Charles himself, the singing was a little clumsy, a little off note, but so sweet and so enthusiastic that you couldn’t help but bask in the warmth.

Ellie laughed along, reflecting Charles’ enthusiasm with her own uniquely charming mirth, and joined in on the singing. Her voice was elegant and refined, carrying the tune of the song far more easily than Charles’. Ellie would have never sung like this even a year ago, when they’d first started dating, too concerned with proving herself cool and reliable to her new comrades, even if she let her true self slip through once in a while. Now she was unafraid to really let her hair down, matching Charles’s silliness with unrestrained enthusiasm.

And, of course, they’d never leave Henry out. For even though Henry couldn’t sing, they were quite the dancer, and all it took was the gentlest pull of their sun and moon’s gravity for Henry to be sucked into their orbit. They spun and twirled and danced to the beat of the song, Henry guiding their partners through the motions of the rhythm. None of the Triple Threat paid any mind to the change in the green lines, or the appearance of a fourth mural as the beaming trickster appeared to create a fourth line of green luminescent light. It was only at the end of the song, when the trio were exhausted and laughing on the floor, did they catch the tail end of the changes in the room as the lid of the coffin retracted.

Henry exchange a look with their partners before approaching the open tomb. They expected a collection of withered bones and tattered clothes to be laid before them as they peered into the grave, but to their surprise what instead met their eyes was one final staircase.

“So this was a false burial chamber.” Ellie mused from behind them. “Sneaky. Verrrrry sneaky.”

“Hah!” Charles cheered, pumping an arm in celebration. “I knew there had to be more to it! No way my information was wrong!” The melancholy of his earlier disappointment had completely flipped on its head, leaving fierce determination in its place. “That treasure’s gotta be just up ahead! Come on, team! Final stretch!”

He extended out a hand, and it was almost without thought that Henry reached out to place their own atop it, followed swiftly by Ellie. Their eyes met, green and red and violet sparkling with the emerald light of the glowing stone lines surrounding them, and the Triple Threat nodded as they broke their huddle by launching their hands to the ceiling in one final show of commitment to their quest before charging down the secret stairs, energy renewed.

All the while unaware of the silhouetted form shadowing them, silently darkening the space behind them. The figure halted, watching and listening, before descending down after them with slow, tenacious steps.

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

Darkness crept upward as the Triple Threat crept down. The ray of Charles’ torch, now beginning to fade in intensity after several hours of use, was the only source of light in the dank, shadowy crypt. Almost as unnerving as the darkness was the silence, the complete and utter cessation of any sounds other than their echoing footsteps. Tingling sensations traveled along Henry’s spine with each stride downward they took, muscles tensed as they awaited the next trap, the next emergency, the next big bad thing that would jump out from the pitch black nothing stretching ahead of them and their partners.

What instead greeted them was the sound of rushing water.

Each member of the team immediately jolted to a halt as their tired minds finally processed the sound, and once they did Henry spared a glance to first Ellie, right behind them with eyes blown wide, then Charles, whose jaw dropped so low it was practically on the floor. Caution thrown to the wind, the Triple Threat redoubled their pace, going as fast as they dared until they reached the end of the final descent. The bottom of the stairs lead to a hallway only a few meters long, its exit beckoning them with a rainbow of illuminated stones. Charles’ torch clicked off, but the light in the room didn’t diminish enough to hamper the quickened steps of the suddenly elated adventurers. Henry’s heart pounded harder, disbelief buzzing over their bones as hope built in their chest. Was this it? Did they make it?

The end of the hallway opened up, and Charles’ sharp gasp of shock and awe did more to express Henry’s feelings in that moment than anything they could have put into words.

The Queen Empress had built her final resting place atop an underground spring full of crystal clear water carving its way through the spacious cavern. Its forks and twists created small islands, upon each of which was a small mountain of captured treasures for the Empress to take into her next life. It felt like something out of a cheesy movie; piles of glittering gold coins and cups and whatever else the tyrant had managed to snatch away from their rightful owners, stretching so tall one almost couldn’t see over them to the rocky edges of the naturally formed cave. Henry took a few stunned steps forward, only noting the possibility of more traps after failing to be hit by any. A quick glance to their six showed that their partners were in similar states of awe, Charles oohing and ahhing and Ellie practically salivating over the piles of treasure.

With this much moolah, the Triple Threat would never have to work again… they could live in the lap of luxury, servants at their beck and call, all their wishes and desires fulfilled with only a snap of the fingers… diamond jewelry and name-brand furniture and private chefs and golden toilet seats and-!

“Aw man, this is so cool!” Charles chirped up behind Henry, knocking them out of their daydreams, wading across the one of the streams with a carefree swagger. “It must’ve taken years to get all this down here! How do you think they got it all down those stairs?”

Of course. Damned logistics. Well, Henry was certain they could get at least a good chunk outta here before their vacation was up. After they found their prize, of course.

At the center of the spring, surrounded by waterfalls and luscious cave flowers, was the Queen Empress’ sarcophagus. It was delicately carved, much more ornate and intricate than the fake sarcophagus upstairs, which made Henry feel silly for ever thinking that slab of lazily slapped together stone was the real tomb of such an egomaniac. And hovering above her coffin, the centerpiece of a grand chandelier dangling from the ceiling, was the Amazonian Amethyst, shimmering stunningly as light from the glowing stones that decorated the tomb reflected off of its brilliant surface.

“Beautiful…” Ellie whispered, walking ahead of Henry almost as if in a trance. Henry themselves hadn’t even realized they’d paused in a stupor until she overtook them, and then, well, it became a race. They playfully, not too hard, shoved Ellie to the side and bolted ahead, and of course she ran after them and shoved back even harder.

Somewhere behind them, Charles laughed. “Play nice, you two!” He called forward, no doubt fully aware that his demand would go unheeded.

The impromptu race took Ellie and Henry swiftly across the pathway through the spring, up the staircase and finally halting just underneath the chandelier. Now, how to lower it? Henry could just jump up and try to pull the gigantic gemstone loose, but something told them that they’d take the whole chandelier – and part of the stalactite it was dangling from – down with it, crushing both themselves and Ellie. Not the kind of bringing down the roof they were fond of. They could try and poke it loose with a stick or something, but it looked pretty wedged in there. It wouldn’t budge for quite a while, and them and Ellie would poke harder, and harder, until they’d used enough force to launch it into the air, where it’d fly up and up and then down and down and then hit their pilot in the head, knocking him out cold. Some anniversary present, eh Charles?

It was while Henry was skimming through their options that the sudden sound of metal clanking and clacking startled them into a jump. Their gaze darted around until it finally rested on Ellie, carefully lowering the chandelier on the opposite side of the sarcophagus with a smile and, once her eye caught Henry’s, a playful wink.

God, they loved this woman.

The chandelier came to rest atop the coffin. Henry and Ellie stood above it, and Henry didn’t need to look over at their moonlight to know that her eyes reflected the excitement as their own. They didn’t even need to speak; Henry pressed down on the chandelier with the full weight of their body while Ellie hopped atop the structure to pull at the amethyst.

“Come on,” She muttered to the gemstone stuck in the structure,” Come to mama.”

Her arms were quivering with the effort it took, but unlike Henry Ellie was strong, so with each pull it came a little more loose, then a little more… then more…

Until, with a pop, it was finally free. Ellie had been using so much force that she toppled off the chandelier and into Henry’s waiting arms.

She looked down at the gem, as if she couldn’t quite believe it was there in her hands, and then back up at Henry to begin laughing in sheer astonishment. “We found it,” She forced out between chuckles. Henry sauntered over to place their own hands underneath the gigantic gem, helping Ellie to support its weight. “We actually found it! Charles! Hey Charles!” Their guy, who had been distracted combing over the mountain of treasures, looked up at them and immediately his eyes popped out of their sockets. The expression had Ellie laughing even harder. “Aw, man, I can’t believe-”

Her mirthful tone was cut short by a bang.

Its echos thundered across the cavern, piercing Henry’s eardrums and stilling them instantly. There was no mistaking that sound, not for a trio of experienced adventurers like them. The sharp gasp that followed, however, was far scarier.

Henry and Ellie whipped their heads down to watch their partner gasp and stumble back, clutching at his leg, Without a second to spare Ellie dropped the gem and began sprinting back, and Henry followed swiftly after. They only halted when Charles’ fall to the ground was interrupted by a pair of large hands grabbing him and forcing him back on his feet. Streaks of red began running down Charles’ leg, staining his clothes, and as painful as it must have been for him to stand on his wounded leg, Charles’ only response was to bite his lip and glare up, past the muzzle of the gun shoved in his face, at the assailant now holding him hostage.

There was something familiar about this man, something that had a name dancing on the edge of Henry’s brain, but in their panic they couldn’t quite grasp it. Rather than try, Henry squared their shoulders and took a defensive stance, eyes darting around as they looked for options.

So far, nothing that wouldn’t get Charles killed.

“I don’t know who the hell you are,” Ellie addressed the attacker with a near business-like seriousness, only a hint of the rage Henry was sure she had bubbling within her lacing the words, “But if you drop the pilot now and begin running, I’ll give you five minutes to get out of here.” Swift as a hurricane gale, the sidearm Ellie always carried was in her hands, drawn and pointed at the assailant. She wouldn’t actually fire it, of course. She’d never risk hitting Charles-

(Which was why Henry hadn’t drawn theirs. With their bad luck, it’d misfire and put a hole clear through his skull.)

-but the attacker didn’t know that. Probably.

“Feh.” He scoffed, his red mustache twitching as his lips curled in disgust. “Ya don’ bother talkin’ about us, Henry?” The sheer resentment in his tone tickled something in Henry’s mind – a life they hadn’t lived, an alliance they hadn’t made, broken by a man they’d never met. If only they could put a name to the face…

Henry forced themselves to snap back to reality. Charles’ needed them in the now, they couldn’t afford to get lost in a life not lived.

“Or do you two actually not remembah me?” This time his embittered query was directed at Charles, which sparked an increasingly familiar protective fury in Henry’s chest, “Ya took everything I had, ruined my life, and ya can’t even be bothered ta remembah?!” As he went on, his voice got louder, his wrath colouring his words more and more, until he was screaming in Charles’ ear. Credit to their partner, Charles didn’t so much as flinch, the stern military composure that he almost never displayed finally being put to use.

That didn’t make it any easier to watch.

“If you’re so ticked about us forgetting,” Ellie quipped, the only clue that she shared Henry’s fear and fury hidden in the tenseness of her shoulders, “Then why don’t you remind us?

The call-out caused the bristling man to cool, at least somewhat. “Tch. It don’t actually matter a lick if ya know why ya need to die.” He pressed the muzzle of his gun into Charles’ neck, and their pilot, their sunshine, only grew colder and stonier in response. “Just that you do.”

He forced Charles to take a step backward, and in response to Ellie’s call of, “Wait, stop!”, he only aimed his gun at Henry and Ellie, forcing them to stop. His grip around Charles’ tightened to prevent escape in lieu of the gun threat; even if he hadn’t, the shot to the leg would’ve kept Charles’ from running.

“Oh, no, you two ain’t goin’ anywhere.” Growled the assailant. “This ol’ tomb is yours now. You’ll both die in this place. Not ‘im though.” Again, the gun’s tip rested against Charles’ skin. “’E’s my ticket to my next target. Can’t kill ‘em ‘til I get my ‘ands on that ringleader o’ yours.”

That one puzzled Henry a bit, but Ellie picked up on the clues faster. “You’re after the General.” She accused.

“Him,” The assailant proclaimed, and for just a moment Henry could see a flicker of red mechanical? light in one of his eyes, “’Is subordinates, ‘is witnesses… everyone who ‘ad a hand in bringing us down. I’m gonna get a little payback.”

Echoes of a voice across a timeline, a fight that never occurred, a betrayal from a man he never met… “Time fer a little payback!”

Without even thinking, Henry’s mind found the name amongst the fractures of futures that never were, and they whispered, “Right Hand Man.”

“So ya do remembah me.” He snipped. In this world, Henry had only really seen the man on the news, back when the Toppats were first being arrested, but he’d changed since then. His hair had grown far longer, his body thin from a diet of delicious prison slop, and his hat didn’t quite match up with the ex-con’s memories. But Henry felt stupid for forgetting what the man looked like, considering his impact in the alternate futures Henry had seen. “How flattering.”

“Know this guy, Hen?” Ellie asked, her brows furrowing at her partner. Henry tried not to think about what that could mean, or, with their mind fractured between timelines, how easily she could pull up memories from a world they weren’t as friendly in.

All they could manage was one word. “Toppats.”

“That’s what this is about?!” Charles exploded, breaking his stoic mask to glare at his captor. Henry’s silent prayers for him to shut up went unanswered, proving once again how the universe hated them, “Dude, we took down the Toppats, like, three years ago or something! You seriously couldn’t have found another clan to-?!”

Apparently this was what it took to offend the Right Hand Man, because he shifted his hold to grab at Charles’ hair and yank hard, causing a flinch of pain that made Henry’s arm hair stiffen. “I may need ya alive fer now,” He spat, “But if ya wanna keep that waggin’ tongue of yers, I suggest puttin’ a sock in it.”

Charles, thankfully, took that advice, even as he was forced to walk backwards on his injured leg. Everything in Henry was telling them to run after the Toppat cretin, to take back their Charles and make him pay for the damage he’d caused, but the gun barrel pointed at Charles’ face kept both them and Ellie painfully still. All they could do was watch as their sunlight was dragged away from them, leaving the duo stuck in the dark of the cavern.

“Dammit,” Ellie growled under her breath, We’ve got to-”

Once again, she was rudely cut off with a bang, this one much grander in scale. The cavern began to shake with the force of a small explosion set off from the very exit Charles and the Right Hand Man had just taken. Rocks began falling from the ceiling and, with growing horror, Henry realized that the Right Hand Man had intended to keep his promise: The exit was being sealed off. They would die here.

Ellie’s voice cut through the air with a sharp, “Henry, move!”

The exit seemed so far away, and the rocks were falling so fast. They wouldn’t make it. Not at the speed they were running at. Henry’s gut sank, and their mind raced as they peered desperately into the future.

A power slide wouldn’t get them enough speed. They’d make it just close enough for their foot to be crushed underneath the falling debris. Miles away from a home run.

Ultra speed shoes would make them go too fast, overshooting their target and burrowing through the staircase on the other side. That would cave in on top of them just as painfully as standing in the entrance would. And them without any power rings.

Time was slipping away. Fast. Soon the clock would run out, and they’d be trapped, and Charles would be- Charles would-

There was one other option. A change for escape that was just fast enough to get one of them out before the passage was sealed off. Without warning Henry grabbed Ellie’s hand, ignoring her sharp shriek as they spun around once, twice, three times… before tossing her like a hammer. Ellie barely had enough time to brace herself as she flew just underneath the falling the rubble, making it to safety on the other side before the final stones fell, sealing off the tomb completely.

A sigh of relief escaped Henry.

From behind the pillar of rubble, Ellie’s voice cried out. “Henry?! Henry!! Henry, are you there?!”

“I’m here!” They called, moving more swiftly towards the barrier between them and the outside. “I’m okay, I promise! Now get out of here!”

“What?! But you-!”

“Have air and water.” Henry cut her off. “I’ll be find until you can send for help. But Charles is alone with that psychopath. He needs you far more than I do right now.”

There was a pause from the other side, but no sound of Ellie moving away, so Henry kept silent until they finally heard her, “I’m coming back for you.” She promised, her voice carrying a rare sense of desperate seriousness. “I promise, I’m not going to abandon you here. No matter what happens.”

Ah, of course. Their Rose, their shimmering light in the dark, had been chewed up and left for the cops by some previous associates. If there was one thing she’d never joke about, it was betrayal. “I know.” They told her with all the trust in their heart, and they hoped that was enough for her. “Now go get our boy and show that Toppat jerk just who he’s messed with.”

“Okay.” Ellie agreed, her footsteps audible even through the debris. Then they fell silent. “I love you.” Her voice called back, and before Henry could respond Ellie was sprinting off into the distance.

Though their was no way their quiet voice could reach her, Henry whispered back, “Love you too, Moonlight.”

They continued listening through the rubble, Ellie’s footsteps becoming quieter and quieter until, finally, the only sound remaining was the babbling of the underground river, slowly flowing by. With no way to follow after their two loves, all Henry could do was drop to the ground, releasing the tension within them into a heavy sigh.

There was nothing they more they could do at this point. As well stocked as they kept their inventory, they’d somehow failed to think they’d need to bring any sort of mining equipment. Forcing their way out was out of the question. And while they could follow the underwater streams, there was no way of knowing how far the channel traveled before emptying itself outside – if it did at all. There was just as likely a chance of Henry finding a flooded cavern, and while they could swim reasonably well, they were far from a seasoned diver. The safest option was to wait for Ellie to save Charles and return to rescue them.

If she managed to catch them at all, a traitorous part of their brain whispered. Henry swallowed thickly around the familiar dryness in their throat.

Instead of dwelling on the what ifs and the fight no doubt going on above, Henry tried instead to focus on the positives, what few they could find. Right Hand Man’s explosion had only been large enough to cave in the entrance; the rest of the burial chamber, sans some debris and a few displaced pieces of treasure, was entirely intact, with little chance of caving in on Henry’s head. Glancing around the cavern, they could also see algae and moss growing along the sides of the river. With luck, that meant fish, so they were not likely to starve before help arrived either. Sushi was far from their preferred meal of choice, but they were used to working with what little they had.

Continuing their observation of the burial chamber, Henry’s eyes were quickly drawn to something out of place; a splotch of bright red in a room otherwise filled with muted blues and greens and golds. A gym bag, made of a rough modern fabric with a dark zipper, sat unassumingly not far from where the bloodstain of Charles’ shooting marred the ground. Alarm bells went off in Henry’s head the second they registered what they were looking at. Bags like this were typically used in the case of an inventory being exceeded, but the only tool the Right Hand Man had used was their gun, a pistol that lacked the equipment requirements to necessitate that much gear, and the explosives that had blown up the cavern. And why leave the bag behind?

Henry forced themselves to stand, an uneasy weight shifting in their gut as they moved. The bag was zipped shut. Henry’s fingers were slowly and shaky as they pulled the zipper up, over, and down…

Exposing the bomb left instead the bag. A much larger explosive with a much bigger yield. Henry’s experience with this particular brand of bomb was minimal, but they knew enough to know that it could easily level the entire pyramid.

The bastard had promised that Henry would die, after all. Of course he wouldn’t leave it to chance.

There was no clock on the bomb, no sign that it would just explode at random. That didn’t mean it wasn’t on a timer, of course, but given how spiteful the Right Hand Man had been so far, Henry had a feeling it would go off at his whim. Either way, however, time was short for Henry Stickmin. They had to find a way out of the mess, and fast.

Attempting to disarm the explosive was a possibility, of course, but Henry didn’t know diddly squat about bomb disposal. Any attempt to cut the wires would just set the bomb off. All the wires might as well be the red one when you have no idea what you’re doing, after all.

Their next thought was to attempt an escape through the river, but their previous logic gave them pause. If the stream emptied out into a completely submerged cavern, then Henry would either have to swim for freedom and hope they could find an exit or… drown. And there was no guarantee a bomb with this kind of yield wouldn’t cause a cave in that could leave Henry trapped without air. Of the many, many ways they’d seen themselves die, suffocating to death tended to be some of the worst, primarily because suffocating was slow. The worst deaths were always the slow ones.

Sighing heavily, Henry plopped themselves down next to the bag. Their eyes scanned it over when they noticed something… underneath the bomb.

No way. The Right Hand Man was NOT stupid enough to leave anything else inside that bag… right?

Very carefully, so as not to set off a premature explosion, Henry inched the bomb aside and took a gander at the contents underneath. Indeed, the Right Hand Man had left other things inside along with the bomb… mostly his trash. Old wrappers, what may have been a shopping list before water damage got to it, a photograph of Henry and their partners littered with cigarette burns that was absolutely not chilling in any way, thank you very much. Growling a little, Henry continued to shuffle things around, hoping that something in this trash might be a little useful. A manual for the explosive was probably too optimistic to ask, but maybe there was some gum they could use to gunk up the interior, or an old radio that could be used to jam the activation frequency, or… or…

Henry’s mind ground to a halt as they reached the bottom of the bag, staring down at the final piece of garbage with their mouth agape. For the first time since bidding Ellie adieu, they spoke.

“You have GOT to be kidding me!”

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

For the second time in a single day, a thousand years of peaceful rest for the dead was disturbed by a barrage of footsteps. The first time Ellie traversed these halls, her steps carried caution, nervousness, excitement, and determination that damped the sounds of her and her partners’ (and their stalker’s) traversal through the tomb. Now, however, those same sounds were louder, stronger, more frequent as they bounced off the walls and amplified ten times over. Just as loud was the steady, heavy breathing that escaped from her gasping mouth as she raced backwards through the pyramid.

Louder still was the beating of her heart in her chest.

Ellie couldn’t’ let herself think. If she did, all her worries and fears, the danger her boys were in, would overwhelm her in an instant. All she could do was keep pace, keep looking forward. Follow her map through the labyrinth protecting the burial chamber and try not to think of the silly look on Charles’ face as he focused on making it. Climb the staircase into the temple and don’t think of Henry’s confident smile as they danced their way through the false burial chamber. By this point the purple jelly… rubber… things had dissolved or something, so Ellie had to use Henry’s metal chain to swing across the pit of deadly spikes and potentially less deadly snakes and not think about whether or not the kidnapper got Charles across unscathed.

At last she reached the exit, the light at the end of the tunnel. Exhaustion was seeping into her bones, but Ellie did her best not to heed it any mind. She ignored the searing pain of fresh sunlight piercing her sensitive retinas as she returned to the land of the living. Ellie’s gaze darted around the jungle, searching for her targets with the same discerning eye that once picked originals out of fakes. In mere moments she found her boy struggling against the grip of his attacker at the very edge of the treeline.

Ellie couldn’t waste a second. She skipped the stairs and slid down the side of the pyramid instead, coming to a halt at the very bottom. She didn’t pause to so much as catch her breath. Instead she flew forward, her lungs burning at the sight of Charles stuck in that bastard’s grip, his pistol at Charles’ temple, and without so much as a cry of warning she shot her pistol with pin perfect accuracy. Her mark, the tree immediately to the left of the captor and hostage, had a smoking hole clear through the center ring, at the same height of the red-headed bitch’s face. A singular warning of just what kind of force he was messing with before things got ugly.

(And if there was so much as a scratch on her Charles… oh, would things get ugly.)

Though she hardly needed to make the demand aloud, Ellie called out to the Toppat, “I’ll give you one more chance. Release the pilot, now.”

The Toppat – what had Henry called him? The Right Something? - took one look at her, at the smoking tip of the gun in her hand, and had the utter audacity to smirk at the sight of it. “Heh. You all by your lonesome, girly?”

Let it be known that Ellie’s boys could never keep a secret from her, and even through his military bravado Ellie could see the truth in Charles’ eyes. The initial wave of relief when her shot rang out, noting her safety, followed by a stunned sense of fear and panic. His eyes met her, the unspoken question broadcasted plainly in the crinkle of his brow, the way his lips pressed tight. Though he dared not speak aloud, Charles was all but begging for the truth.

Never one to let a dramatic moment go to waste, Ellie answered the questions of both men with a smirk. “What, you mean to imply your little firecracker did any actual damage? Hardly.” Charles’ shoulders relaxed just a fraction in response to Ellie’s answer, and her grin widened. “They’re a little caught up though, so I’m sure they won’t mind me having all the fun.”

The Right Hand Whatever’s smug expression only got smugger. Something sour coiled in Ellie’s gut, an alarm bell signaling trouble on the horizon, but despite her suspicions Ellie couldn’t back down. Not when all the chips were on the table, when Charles was clearly struggling on his injured leg. Not when her opponent clearly had an ace up his sleeve, while her cleverly disguised hand was an utter train wreck waiting to happen. All she could do was shore up her grin and keep her poker face strong.

For her Charles, who was hurt and scared and had a gun pointed at his face. For her Henry, who was trapped and alone and waiting for her to return. She needed to find out what this son of a bitch had planned.

“That right?” The Right Something or Other asked cheekily. “You should know something, girl. I was Right ‘and Man of the Toppat Clan. Second in command of the entire brigade. The enforcer to our leader’s brains. I ‘andled every threat that would ever cross ‘is desk.” His one hand, the one that had Charles’ arm in a death grip, began moving up, fingers dancing on Charles’ sleeve, until they reached his shoulders, where they tapped, tapped, tapped away. Ellie could see Charles’ brow wrinkle as he tried not to show his discomfort with the action. “I nevah missed a mark. Even when I did, I didn’t. Because I always, always ‘ad a backup plan.”

Ellie’s very mind went numb as a bone chilling dread set in.

And then, behind her, the pyramid exploded.

The force of the explosion was enough to very nearly knock Ellie off her feet. All she could bring herself to do was stare back at what remained of the ruins. Every thought in her head came to a grinding, crashing halt as she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing. Henry, her gemstone, her partner in crime, her best fucking friend was in there. Ellie left them there, and had promised to come back, and didn’t. And now they’re gone. She wanted to cry. She wanted to throw up. She wanted to scream.

All she could do was stand there and stare, like the idiot who’d let herself be betrayed all those years ago.

Charles did the reacting for her, calling out, “Henry!!” In a bone-chillingly horrified cry that, momentarily, drew Ellie out of her stupor. She spun back around just in time to see the Right Hand Man’s grip around Charles shift so that his arm was wrapped around their sweetheart’s throat, not quite tight enough to completely cut off air but tight enough to choke and hurt, and a new terror grew in her when she saw Charles struggling to break free. Their eyes met.

The hope that had ignited in Charles when Ellie had appeared was entirely gone now, replaced with a darkness Ellie couldn’t quite place in her normally optimistic partner. The tears in his eyes broke free every few seconds, leaving a scorching trail down his face. Ellie felt the sight trigger a burning in her own eyes and bit her lip to try and keep it in. She already knew that was a losing battle.

Then, Charles’ escape attempts redoubled as he shouted, “Shoot him!”

Stunned, Ellie’s eyes briefly darted to her gun, the sidearm she hadn’t lowered once throughout the entire exchange, before returning to Charles, “What?!”

“Shoot him!” Repeated the pilot. His lack of resistance to his captor so far, combined with his injury, must have left the Right Hand Murderer complacent, because he was genuinely struggling to get Charles under control again with only one arm, “Fucking kill him-! Make him pay, he can’t get away with this, he can’t-!”

“But-” Half of Ellie’s remaining strength was channeled into her hands, trying to prevent them from shaking. Her vision was too blurry with building tears to tell how successful she was, “I can’t- he’ll shoot you-” The Right Hand Monster’s weapon had been drawn away a little, but it was still pointed at Charles’ head. He could still very easily get a shot off before Ellie could finish pulling the trigger.

The utter rage in Charles’ voice only made Ellie’s shaking worse, “I don’t care, I don’t fucking care! He needs to die! He needs to suffer for what he did-!”

The murderer was yelling something at Charles, but it flew over Ellie’s head as she swallowed past the heavy lump in her throat. Her eyes burned, her vision blurring so badly she could only barely tell her boyfriend apart from that monster. The pressure of all that had happened in the past two minutes began to crush her lungs, leaving her gasping for air.

Henry was dead. They were gone and dead because of that man, that monster who hurt her partners and if she were a better agent, a stronger person, she could take the shot, take him out and avenge her gemstone but- but Charles was right there. All it would take was one misfire, one mistake, one twitch of her shaking hands and then she’d have lost both her partners.

She couldn’t breath. Her lungs were burning, Every gulp of air she took only fed the fire, suffocating her faster in a smoky haze of grief and terror.

Then, for what must have been the fourth time that day, Ellie was blinded by light.

This burst of light, however, was far more short lived, only blinding the three for a few key seconds. Just long enough for Henry’s fist to collide with the Right Bastard’s face. He flew back from the force of it, head colliding with the trunk of a nearby tree. That accursed gun was launched into the distance and lost amongst the natural chaos of the rain forest. Ellie frantically wiped at her face, desperate to clear her clouded sight and prove this wasn’t a trick of the eyes.

Once she could see, Ellie was treated to a vision of absolute beauty. Her partner, her gemstone, standing tall and proud above the Right Hand Loser, breathing heavily. His one hand was balled into a fist. His other kept hold of a painfully familiar device, and the sight of it nearly brought Ellie to tears of laughter.

“Never bring the teleporter!” Henry scolded the old man with all the fierceness of the drill instructors Ellie overheard back at base. They tossed the offending device far off into the distance, utter disgust written on their face. “It always backfires!”

“Henry…!” Charles called out, having been knocked aside in the chaos. As Henry’s attention was directed to their partner, Ellie noted the Right Hand What’s His Face darting towards the jungle and immediately turned her gaze in his direction. Her hands still, her vision clear, Ellie aimed true and hit the hat clean off his head.

This knocked the Right Hand Bastard off balance, which gave Ellie just enough time to rush him with all the force she could muster. Compounded with the strength of her force power, it was more than enough to knock the monster off his feet and onto the ground.

Her follow-up blow was blocked by his elbow, and when their gazes met Ellie could feel the resentment in his sneer. There was something below the hate, below the anger that brought them to this point, but now that her two lovers were safe Ellie let the full force of her rage out, throwing her fists and her feet into the man’s body wherever she could manage. His arms, his stomach, his head, his legs… wherever her hits could land, they landed with precision and force. Ellie barely felt the blows she got back in return, the punches to her stomach and head and chest that she knew she’d feel tomorrow. She didn’t care. She couldn’t care.

All she cared about was unleashing her pain on this sick, sick bastard.

An explosion of force suddenly hit Ellie’s stomach, propelling her back and away from the target of her wrath. For a moment nausea and vertigo overwhelmed her, just enough that the Right Hand Man managed to get back on his feet and start hurriedly limping towards the jungle.

Gritting her teeth, Ellie twisted herself around to launch herself again, feeling the rocks on the ground dig into her palms, feeling the heat of the jungle sun on her back. She could leap like a lion, could tackle him to the ground and beat him bloody before he even knew what hit him-

“Ellie!”

Henry’s voice gave the once thief pause, and she turned her gaze around to see Henry sat on the ground, Charles’ limp form cradled in their arms. The sight of the bloody bandages hastily wrapped around his leg caused her stomach to start spinning all over again.

Cursing her own stupidity for letting the Right Hand Whatever distract her for so long, Ellie pushed herself up and limped over to help Henry. Looking her partner over, Ellie could tell Henry had escaped by the skin of their teeth yet again. Their clothes were filthy, covered in soot and damaged from the rocks. Their hands, wrapped around Charles and holding him close, were stained with blood. Ellie briefly wondered if all of it was Charles, then immediately shut that thought down. She couldn’t handle any more worries right now.

Henry’s mouth opened and shut in a few false starts as their overly stressed brain struggled to put words in their mouth. Eventually they managed to spit out, “Help. For Charles.”

“Help for Charles.” Ellie agreed. Hopefully Henry remembered more from Charles’ on the fly piloting lessons than she did, because otherwise it was going to be a very long, very dangerous flight back.

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

Ellie awoke to fingers at her face, pushing in her cheeks. Not forceful enough to hurt, but definitely enough to be annoying.

“Henry?” She grumbled, clumsily pushing their hand away from her. Despite their mutual agreement to get some sleep while their partner was being treated, Henry barely looked any better. They’d changed clothes at least, wearing some cheap t-shirt and sweatpants that the hospital had kindly provided, but dark shadows still highlighted their eyes.

But there was a shiny happiness in those ruby red orbs that brought any complaints Ellie had to a grinding halt. Their hands, stiff from soreness, moved slower than normal as they signed to her, “Charles is awake.”

That woke her up more thoroughly than any coffee could have.

Sure enough, sitting up on the bed at the end of the room was their pilot, their sweethearted ray of sunshine, who was too focused on picking the crust off his provided sandwich to notice the two approach at first. But Ellie could see the moment he spotted them, how his excited grin grew so wide it brightened the entire room.

“Yo, Els!” Charles greeted. “How are you feeling?”

“I think I should be asking you that.” She responded, keeping her tone light and playful despite the nerves wriggling within her. “Are you alright? Are you hurting anywhere?”

“Don’t worry, they got me hooked up on some good stuff.” Charles assured her, then hesitated, and something in Ellie went cold. Was something wrong? Had she missed something snoozing away?

Before her thoughts could get away from her, a warmth enveloped Ellie’s hand as Charles took it in his own. The light in his eyes was dim, morose, and it only made her want to hold him tight and never let go. The urge to follow up on that impulse, however, was halted by a single pair of words.

“I’m sorry.”

For a moment, Ellie hadn't been sure she’d heard him right. “You’re… sorry?” At his affirmative nod, she asked, “Sorry for what?” A thought occurred to her, and Ellie scowled, “If you’re blaming yourself for getting shot-”

“No, no, that’s not it.” Charles paused a second, “I mean, I should have been paying more attention-” Whatever he was about to say was interrupted with a light jab from Henry’s elbow into his side “Ah!” He shot a glance at Henry, who merely stared back at him, silent, expressionless. With a sigh, Charles proceeded along his original train of thought. “But I’m talking about what happened when- when Henry-” The words seemed to get caught in Charles throat, so again he redirected, “Uh, when the pyramid blew up, I said some… really aggressive things.”

Ellie forced her face into something neutral. She knew what Charles was talking about. She was trying not to dwell on it, on that unfamiliar rage in his eyes, on the sickening feeling that she was going to lose everything in one single, horrible day. If she looked as bad as she felt even remembering that moment, Ellie was certain she’d only make Charles feel worse.

But her skill at maintaining a poker face must have been out of practice, because Ellie could see the hurt in his eyes anyways.

“And- And I know I made you feel awful. I’m so sorry.” Charles buried his face in his hands and leaned back, allowing Henry to hold him as he continued. “I was just so mad… I thought Henry was- was gone, and I thought it was his fault, and- and- I just wanted him to pay for it. I didn’t care what happened to me, as long as he suffered. But- but that wasn’t fair to you.” Charles sighed, and Henry’s fingers began coming through his hair soothingly. “I’m really, really sorry, Els.”

Ellie exhaled deeply, feeling the tension in her body begin to relax a little. “I get it.” She said, approaching Charles’ bedside and sitting next to him. Curled up into Henry’s side, Charles looked incredibly small, and it made her heart leap. Ellie slipped her hand onto Charles’ knee, rubbing it comfortingly. “When the pyramid exploded, and Henry was still inside… I was angry too. I still am.” Ellie looked down at her bruised knuckles. She wondered if she’d managed to hurt that insufferable bastard. She hoped so. “If I thought for a second he’d have been the only one hurt, I would’ve taken the shot. Hell, if I were in your place…” Ellie could feel Charles’ muscles tense under her hand at the mere thought, and leaned over to lay her head on his shoulder. “I’d have probably done the same thing.”

“Are you sure?” Charles asked, uncertain. “Because you’re supposed to be smarter than me. You remember that, right?”

Henry snorted, drawing both of their attention upward. “If you thought that explosion could take me down,” They signed, grinning smugly, “Then both of you are idiots.”

“Rude.” Ellie snapped back with no bite. One of Charles’ hands came to rest on hers, and she brushed their fingers gently together, hoping the sensation was as soothing to Charles as it was to her. Judging from the pleasant sigh her partner let out, she was right on the money. On Charles’ other side, Henry had taken a seat on the bed and seemed content to have Charles’ weight pressed into their own, eyes a shimmer with fondness as Charles nuzzled into their side.

All was peaceful. All was calm. So, naturally, the government had to step in to ruin it.

More precisely, a small procession of soldiers came through the door with barely an announcement, causing the Triple Threat to scramble to attention, practically throwing themselves away from each other to sit up straight and look semi-professional. They inspected each corner of the room, clearing it inch by inch, before lining up at the doorway and saluting professionally.

When Galeforce walked into the room and dismissed the procession to play guard in the hall, Ellie felt her muscles all simultaneously slump into an awkward half-laying, half-sitting position. She was so done with surprises today. Any more and her heart would burst, Ellie was sure of it.

Once they were alone, Galeforce quickly reached their bedside with long, purposeful strides. “I’d just gotten word through my contacts that you’d been rushed in with a gun wound. Glad to see you’re all alright,” The old man admitted, an unusual softness in his voice. When working, Galeforce endeavored to remain professional in his interactions with his men, but it was not much of a secret that he had a weakness for the little orphan pilot that could. His attention turned to Henry and Ellie, both now recovered enough to sit casually by Charles’ side. “But what happened? I didn’t receive any reports of organized criminal activity in this area- at least, not anyone who would’ve known who you three are.”

“Toppat scum.” Henry signed at their commander. Just those two words had them looking like they’d swallowed something sour.

Galeforce’s sign language skills weren’t quite at Charles and Ellie’s level, but he recognized at least the important word and his shoulders went rigged. “Dammit.” Swore the general. “You all have my sincerest apologies. I should have warned you sooner.”

“Warned us?” Ellie asked, her tone sharpening at the implications.

The General sighed heavily, barely managing to keep his shoulders square with the weight of his guilt on his back. “Just after your vacation started, I’d gotten word that the leader of the Toppat Clan, Reginald Copperbottom, had been assassinated in prison.”

Ellie felt her eyes go wide, and she could feel Charles stiffen in surprise as well. Glancing across the hospital bed at Henry, Ellie found them staring up at the general aimlessly. She’d seen this lost look in their eyes before, when they were gazing into futures that would never happen, and wondered, not for the first time, how they managed with such a heavy burden on their shoulders. Seeing the future was a curse Henry bore mostly with silence, but her and Charles had been learning to pick up on the cues. Ellie’s arm wrapped around Charles, gripping Henry’s hand with just enough strength to anchor them to the present, and a moment later she felt them squeeze it back in recognition.

They’d explain later, most likely. For now, though, the General’s explanation kept their attention.

“Some prison guard had a family history with one of the chief’s predecessors. I won’t bore you with the details.” Galeforce sat on the empty bed nearby, leaning forward with his hands folded in front of his face. “But that very same night Reginald’s Right Hand Man, the second in command of the entire clan, escaped from prison. We’re still not sure how he even knew about Reginald’s death, but he managed to kill the assassin and grab his leader’s corpse on the way out. I thought he’d be more focused on resurrecting the clan than anything else, and with your vacation being out of the country, I decided to bring you into the loop once you got back.” Regret and frustration shone in the General’s eyes as he spoke, his gaze downcast to avoid looking at any of the trio. “I have no idea how he even managed to find you three, let alone pull off something like this. He has nothing; no resources, no allies, not even a penny to his name. I didn’t think-” The old man sighed, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t know how I can even begin making this up to you.”

Ellie took a moment to breath. Her first reaction was the familiar sting of hurt and betrayal, and at one point she may have gotten up in Galeforce’s face to really give him a piece of her mind. Years of unconditional support from her partners, however, gave her the patience to wait out that initial wave and follow up with a much more logical response of understanding. They were on vacation, out in the middle of nowhere with minimal ways to track them down. It wouldn’t have occurred to Galeforce that the bastard would even know where they are, let actually finding them and making them suffer. It would have been nice to have warning, but at the end of the day it wasn’t really his fault.

Henry stared off into space, their eyes clouded with conflict as they struggled between the frustration they were no doubt riddled with and the same logical conclusion Ellie came to. Charles sat slumped in the hospital bed, gazing down as he fiddled his thumbs. Charles had known Galeforce longer than either of them, and the bond of trust they’d built as subordinate and commander was hard to break, but she had no doubt her sweetheart was still upset.

So Ellie took the lead, smiling cheekily at the General, “Well, a few more weeks of vacation would be nice.”

Two pairs of eyes instantly hit the back of Ellie’s head, and she struggled not to turn around and face them. But hearing Ellie let the General off easy must have helped them make up their minds, because soon she felt Charles leaning against her back, his smile tickling the skin on her shoulder as he agreed, “And maybe a bit of overtime? I mean, we did technically face off against an enemy of the state…”

Galeforce chuckled at their responses, the weight on his shoulders lightening up bit by bit. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Henry pushed away from the wall, drawing enough attention to them so they could sign, “I can come up with a trap for the guy.” Their signing was more fluid, more playfully bouncy, and Ellie felt a little more of her worry edge away, “All we need is a few miles of rope, a pool of pudding, the Tunisian Diamond…”

“Now you’re pushing it.” The General joked back, standing with a smile. He seemed lighter on his feet than when he first entered. “I’ll arrange for transport back to base once Charlie is feeling a little better, and you’ll be under guard until further notice. For now, though, just focus on getting some rest. We’ve got protection duty taken care of.” The General began walking back towards the door, only to pause and look back, tipping his hat. “Oh. And happy anniversary.”

Silence rang loudly between them as Galeforce stepped out, quietly opening and closing the door behind him. The moment hung in the air and stretched the seconds into hours.

Finally, at last, Charles broke through the quiet with his usual blunt charm, clumsily destroying the remaining tension in the air with his joking snort. “Some anniversary.” He declared, crossing his arms. “We almost died, an ancient marvel of the lost world got blown up, and we have nothing to show for it!” He huffed, pouted, and then loudly declared, “Whoever planned this trip deserves to get shot.”

And despite all of it, Ellie couldn’t help but burst into laughs.

“It is a shame,” She agreed, wistfully recounting the weight of the amethyst in her hands. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Henry stand, but paid them no mind for the moment. “Still, up until that Toppat clown showed up it was pretty fun.”

“Yeah.” Charles agreed. “Like when you swung over those traps to pull our sorry butts out of the fire? Heh, that was pretty cool.” The stars shimmering in his eyes suggested he remembered the event being way more than cool, and Ellie couldn’t help but puff up a little in pride. It hadn’t been hard – she’d done way crazier back in her criminal days – but something about Charles’ earnest, enthusiastic reactions made her feel like the tallest person in the world. Henry (standing weirdly close, with a weird grin spread across their face) called him their sunshine for a reason, and as much as the two liked to tease them about their choice of nicknames, Ellie had to admit they were right on the money with that one.

“Or how you created a path of freakin’ bouncy balls to get across that weird spike pit.” Ellie recounted. At the time she’d felt her blood pressure spike with each bounce, but now, in hindsight, it had been both impressive and hilarious.

Charles laughed along, as full and bright as himself, and nodded eagerly. “Or- or how Henry broke out into a random dance and that somehow opened the way to the real tomb?” The memory of their dance across the false burial site only caused Ellie to laugh harder, a deep blush growing across her face. How could she have ever wanted to be a serious criminal, when being silly with these two idiots was so much more fun?

The fluttering laughter came to a slow halt as Ellie suddenly noticed Henry’s arms outstretched between her and Charles. More specifically, the gigantic purple gem nestled in their hands, reflecting the harsh light of the hospital to shine brighter than it had in the dim catacombs of the tomb. Ellie’s eyes trailed up Henry’s arms, across their shoulder, all the way up to that stupid smug grin on their face.

The cheeky bastard. When had they even had time to grab that thing?

“You clever little sneak!” Charles yelled out, recovering from the shock of seeing their hard won prize much faster than Ellie. His arms reached out, grabbing for his two partners, and Ellie and Henry reached back without hesitation. Any thought of the Right Hand Whatever, of the dangers past and dangers to come, of anything that could stand in the way of the Triple Threat floated to the very edge of Ellie’s mind, leaving her clear to focus on what was really important.

As far as anniversaries went, Ellie supposed this could have gone a lot worse.

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

As the sun set over the city, a single man sat on a lone rooftop. His gaze was as piercing as the setting sun, matching it’s blinding glare with equal fierceness.

Feh, of course they bloody survived. Nothing could go right for the prior Right Hand Man lately.

Unwilling to let himself drown in his thoughts, the once Right Hand Man removed a crumpled piece of paper from his inventory, directing his ire down at the paper as if it was what had offended him, and not the myriad of names listed upon it.

Dozens upon dozens of people would have found their names upon that list. A small number were crossed out. A worthless avenger, a couple of gossiping jail guards, an old judge with a bad hair cut; a mere handful, compared to the number of names remaining. A thief, a pilot, and, more recently, an ex-gang runner. A general, his personal guard, a witness pulled from the airship’s brig. Turncoats and traitors to the clan, selling out their brothers for a scrap of leniency. Anyone and everyone even remotely involved in the fall of the Toppat Clan and the death of it’s leader were listed on this single scrap of paper.

“Don’ you worry a bit, Reg.” Murmured the enforcer, running his finger down the list like he was running a knife across some traitor’s skin. “I’ll make ‘em pay. Every last one of ‘em fuckers ‘at destroyed our clan. ‘Ey’ll all pay for wot they did. And once ‘ey do…”

His finger finally paused on the list’s final name, the ultimate victim of his revenge spree. The one who’s failure had lead to the destruction of everything the once Right Hand Man held dear.

“...I’ll be comin’ for ya, Reg. Save a spot in ‘ell fer me, would ya?”

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

Aw, yes! More Polythreat!

I'm sorry for kind of being AWOL. I've been active on Tumblr, but was afflicted with some nasty writer's block. It took me a whole year to write this, believe it or not. I'd hoped to get it done by my birthday, but I'm just happy to have it done. Merry Christmas, everybody!

The events surrounding RHM and Reginald are depicted in a comic here on my tumblr: Atychiphobia - Fear of Failure. You can probably find it pretty easily. Neither RHM nor Copperright have been tagged, though. To preserve the surprise. Tags do kind of give away something going down, but it happens.

Thank you for reading! Hopefully I'll come up with something else to write soon.

[hazza-bear-care]

Be Quiet

Daryl, Rick, and Y/N are going on a run for supplies after a visit from Negan, but Y/N can't seem to be quiet. Rick and Daryl come up with a solution.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader x Rick Grimes

Warnings: SMUT! MINORS DNI! Threesome (mmf), double penetration, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), spit as lube, fingering, spanking, choking, swearing, vaginal sex, anal sex, oral (m and f receiving), pet names (baby, sweetheart, princess)

~~~~~~~~~ "Why are you walking so fucking loud?" Daryl hissed as Y/N followed him and Rick through the woods, the trio on their way to replenish what Negan had taken the last time he visited Alexandria.

"I only know how to walk one way, Daryl. I make noise, deal with it." Y/N called, jogging to catch up to the men in front of her as they trekked deeper into the woods.

"Yeah, well every step you take is telling every walker in these woods that we're here and low on ammo. Do you feel like dealing with a swarm of face-eaters?" Daryl shot back, spinning on his heels and facing Y/N.

"Not today, no. But you try being quiet when there are leaves and sticks and rocks on the ground, Dixon." Daryl's eyebrows raised at the challenge as he turned to see where Rick had ended up. He was about four feet away, so Daryl turned back to Y/N and walked backwards towards Rick, his footsteps silent.

"Whatever, show-off. You grew up in the woods, I didn't."

"Knock it off, you two, we have food to find." Rick said, smirking before trekking further into the woods. Daryl caught up quickly, but Y/N lagged behind as she began watching where she stepped, cautious about making any noise. Once she was confident that she had figured out the right way to walk quietly, she began to pick up her pace in an effort to catch up with the men she was teamed up with. She'd give anything to be out with Michonne or Rosita instead, given the fact that they didn't seem to have a problem with her sunny disposition or how loud she walked. Distracted by her thoughts, Y/N didn't notice the twisted root that popped up out of nowhere. The tip of her boot caught the edge of the gnarled root, causing Y/N to trip, a loud thud making the birds in the trees around her to fly away. She groaned as she picked herself up and dusted off her pants, ignoring the throb in her knee and the warmth spreading across her face as embarrassment sunk deep in her bones.

"Ow, fuck." Y/N hissed as she took a step towards Rick and Daryl, the pain in her knee radiating through her entire left leg.

"Come on, slowpoke!" Rick called over his shoulder, missing how Y/N winced picked up her pace, limping through the dead leaves scattered across the forest floor in order to catch up to the men at least twenty feet away from her.

"Jesus Christ, can't you be quiet?!" Daryl yelled, wrenching Y/N's arm in his grasp and dragging her up to Rick.

"Oh sure, Daryl. Let me just ignore the fact that I'm in pain, so you can focus on keeping everyone back home alive!"

"Enough! Y/N, you're bleeding." Rick said, looking at the river of blood that had managed to soak through Y/N's jeans. She rubbed her hands over her face, angry at herself for getting hurt and Daryl for bitching at her for how loud she was being.

"I tripped. It was an accident, Rick." Y/N said softly, looking down at her feet in shame.

"Come on, we're only a few miles away from the next store. We can get you cleaned up there, okay? Can you walk?" Rick asked. Y/N nodded, pushing herself away from Daryl and taking a step towards Rick, wincing as another round of pain shot through Y/N's leg. Her knee buckled and she fell forward again, Rick catching her before she could hurt herself again. Wordlessly, Rick and Daryl wrapped their arms around Y/N and helped her walk, the noise she was making ignored by the two burly men holding her up. Once they reached the store, Daryl left Y/N with Rick while he surveyed the area, clearing any walkers that had managed to find the store before them, gesturing once it was safe for Rick and Y/N to enter.

Once inside the store, Rick helped Y/N up onto the checkout counter and throwing his backpack beside her, digging through it to find something to bandage her up. Daryl had managed to find some anti-bacterial cream and joined Y/N and Rick at the checkout counter, dropping to his knees and removing Y/N's chunky boots, placing them beside him with a loud thud.

"Today, of all days, you decided to get hurt while wearing skinny jeans?" Daryl asked Y/N.

"What's the big deal about what she's wearing, Daryl?" Rick questioned, a roll of bandages and a stack of gauze in his hands.

"We can't roll up her jeans. We either have to cut them, or she has to take them off." Realization dawned on Y/N, her cheeks warming at the fact that she'd have to strip down to her underwear in front of Rick and Daryl, her allies and the hottest men she'd ever seen.

"Y/N?" Rick asked, eyes, glancing down to her jeans.

"They're my only pair..." Y/N mumbled.

"Alright then. Daryl, help her up so we can take off her pants." Rick said. Daryl helped Y/N off of the counter, holding her steady while Rick made quick work of her pants. Rick's warm hands trailed down her legs as her jeans pooled around her ankles, one hand cupping each foot as he removed her pants entirely before folding them and putting them on the counter beside them. Daryl's callused fingers wrapped around Y/N's waist as he picked her up and put her back on the counter with her jeans, wrapping his hand around her ankle and pulling her leg out to survey the damage she'd done to her knee. Rick had soaked a spare handkerchief in water, cleaning her wound with care as she hissed in pain at his movements. After the blood was cleaned, a decent gash was left across the top of her kneecap.

"Damn, Y/N. You sure know how to turn a molehill into a mountain. All that limping for a tiny cut? God, how did you ever manage to survive this long?" Daryl scoffed, moving out of the way so Rick could get a better look at Y/N's injury.

"Daryl, make yourself useful and gather some supplies, maybe find Y/N another pair of pants. I'll take it from here, okay?" Daryl threw his hands up over his head, snatching Y/N's jeans as he walked away so he could find something that would fit her. Rick turned his attention back to Y/N's knee, surveying just how bad the cut was.

"How does it look?" Y/N whispered, gnawing on her bottom lip anxiously.

"You don't need stitches, but it's definitely bad. Let me see what I can do. Put this on your cut, it'll help stem the bleeding." Y/N pressed the damp handkerchief to her cut as Rick continued to dig in his backpack, the gauze and rolled bandages not good enough for her injury.

"I'm sorry." Y/N whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as she tilted her head back, willing herself not to cry in front of Rick. Her head was swimming with embarrassment, heart heavy at the thought of having portrayed herself as weak and dramatic.

"Hey, look at me." Rick started, grabbing Y/N's chin and tilting her head down to face him. "Accidents happen, Y/N. You didn't trip on purpose, and you sure as hell didn't mean to get hurt. If this is about Daryl, ignore him. You know how he gets, right?"

"Yeah, I do. He's right though; how did I manage to survive this long? I'm weak, Rick. I can't even walk in a straight line without tripping over my own two feet or the root of a tree that came out of nowhere." The tears she had fought back began to fall in rivers, wet sniffles accompanying every tear that fell. Rick wiped her tears away, Y/N's injured knee long forgotten as he stared deep into her eyes in a serious manner.

"You are not weak. Clumsy? Yes. Loud? Unbelievably so. Weak? Not at all. You survived because you're strong. You've been through so much in your life, Y/N, and you've handled it all. You've made it this far, are you just going to give up because some grumpy hunter thinks you walk loud?" Rick's argument was solid, a chuckle escaping Y/N's lips at the description of Daryl. Rick wiped Y/N's face again before turning his attention back to her cut knee. With a tap to her hand, Y/N moved the rag away from her cut, the bleeding almost stopped completely. Rick shuffled Y/N closer to the edge of the counter so he could wrap her knee. He ripped open the gauze package, placing it on her cut and grabbing Y/N's hand, holding it over the gauze while he unrolled the bandage. Once again her hand moved as Rick began to wrap her knee, securing the gauze in its place to ensure no more blood would get on Y/N's clothing. While he wrapped her knee, Rick's eyes couldn't help but wander, tracing up her thigh until he was staring at her crotch, the sight of her pink cotton panties causing him to lick his lips hungrily.

"I found her some pants, but not in her size." Daryl had returned to Rick and Y/N, creasing his brows as Rick shook himself out of the trance he was in. Y/N turned towards Daryl, reaching for the oversized pair of sweatpants he had draped over his arm. Before she could put them on, Rick stopped her, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he looked back to Daryl.

"Two things need to happen before we continue looking for supplies. One: Daryl, apologize to Y/N for giving her shit about getting hurt." Rick ordered.

"That's not going to happen..." Daryl started, silencing himself once Rick's stony glare met his. "Y/N, I'm sorry. You said it was an accident, and I shouldn't have gotten upset with you." The apology was sincere enough for Y/N to accept.

"Two: Y/N, you do need to learn to be quiet. Daryl is right, you never know what will happen if you're too loud. Lucky for you, I have an idea on how Daryl and I can both teach you how to be quiet." Y/N swallowed hard as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Daryl's own expression mirroring hers. Before either of them could question what he was talking about, Rick smashed his mouth to Y/N's in a heated kiss. His fingers wrapped in her tangled hair as he pulled her closer, his tongue delving deep into her mouth and moaning at the feeling of her soft tongue dancing with his. He pulled away from Y/N with a nip to her bottom lip, smirking at the dazed look on her face. Rick looked back to Daryl, who's eyes had darkened while he watched his best friend make out with the young woman they had rescued only three months before.

"You want a taste?" Rick asked Daryl, who nodded almost immediately, quickly taking Rick's place between Y/N's legs to kiss her himself. While Y/N's mouth was occupied with Daryl's, Rick took the time to pepper kisses over the expanse of Y/N's neck, a moan rippling through her. Rick wrapped his fingers in Y/N's hair once again, ripping her away from Daryl, who tried to chase her lips with his until Rick stopped him.

"There's one rule, baby: Every time you make a noise, we stop. Do you understand me?" Rick commanded, causing Y/N to nod frantically and the arousal in her panties to pool. With a satisfied nod, Rick released Y/N and Daryl instantly reattached their lips while Rick continued his assault on Y/N's neck. Her head was spinning at the attention she was getting from the most attractive men she'd ever known, the urge to make some kind of noise strong. Daryl gripped her hands and put them in his hair, allowing her to tug lightly on his greasy curls, a low growl rumbling in his chest. While her hands were occupied, Daryl's had gingerly cupped her breasts through her shirt. He pulled away briefly, glancing at Y/N's blown pupils and plump lips.

"Can I touch you?" Daryl whispered, his thumbs tracing the underside of her bra.

"Answer him, Sweetheart." Rick ordered, his face still buried in Y/N's neck.

"Please." Y/N whispered, breathless from the barrage of kisses she had received from both Daryl and Rick in a short amount of time. Daryl nodded, pushing Rick away in order to rip Y/N's shirt from her body, her bra following shortly after. Once her breasts were free, Rick and Daryl each took a nipple in their mouths, their movements varying. Daryl was sucking and licking her right nipple leisurely, as if he'd never get the opportunity to do it again, while Rick was aggressively biting her left, tongue soothing the pain he had created after every nibble. She carded her fingers through each head of hair that was currently attached to her chest, head rolling back in ecstasy as she muffled the moan that was building in her chest. Rick released her nipple with a pop before kissing down her belly, kneeling between her legs and staring at the arousal that was spreading over her entrance.

"Fuck, baby, you like this, don't you? You're fucking soaked." Rick groaned as he pressed his face to her core, emitting a gasp in response. Simultaneously, Rick and Daryl pulled away, leaving Y/N a breathless mess under them.

"What did Rick say about noise, Princess? Be. Fucking. Quiet." Daryl hissed into her ear, his nose pressed to her temple as he wrapped a hand around her throat in warning. With wide eyes, Y/N nodded, gulping in anticipation as she stared at the men above her.

"Good girl." Rick praised, kneeling once again to be face to face with Y/N's covered pussy. He pressed a kiss to the wet patch that was still growing as Daryl sucked a hickey on Y/N's neck, quickly moving her panties to the side and licking a heavy stripe from her entrance to her clit. Y/N's hips bucked at the contact, pressing her lips together as she resisted the urge to whine. She was on cloud nine, relishing in the fact that her wildest dream was coming true right before her very eyes, which rolled in pleasure as Rick began to eat her out. Daryl excused himself from Rick and Y/N as she buried her hands in Rick's hair, pushing him closer to her sopping wet core. Daryl stared at the scene for a while before retreating further into the store and grabbing a blanket, returning to see Y/N writhing in Rick's grasp as he stared at her in anger.

"She make another noise?" Daryl asked, spreading the blanket on the floor before joining Rick, and glaring down at Y/N in disdain.

"Uh huh. I'm surprised you didn't hear it, she was so loud." Rick answered, still glowering at Y/N who had tears in her eyes again. She was so close, and it slipped out on accident, but they didn't seem to care. She had broken the only rule.

"On all fours, Princess. I think you deserve to be punished, don't you Rick?" Daryl's voice was thick with arousal as he caught Rick nodding out of the corner of his eye, ripping Y/N off of the checkout counter and onto the blanket, positioning her with her face down and ass up. She winced at the pressure that was on her knee in this position, and as if he read her mind, Rick had bunched up her new sweatpants, tapping her leg so he could slide them under her knee to help relieve some of her pain. Once she was settled against the blanket, Daryl took the initiative to rip Y/N's panties off, shoving them in her mouth as a makeshift gag to keep her quiet. Rick had spread her legs, a pornographic noise rumbling in his chest as her slick dripped onto the blanket below her.

"Daryl, you have to taste her." Rick's hoarse voice sliced through the silence around them as he and Daryl quickly switched places. Daryl wasted no time licking into Y/N, moaning at how she tasted on his tongue. Her sweet and salty arousal was exactly what he was expecting from the usually mouthy woman, and he was addicted to her as he buried his face deeper between her legs, his scruffy face scratching her thighs. As Daryl ate her out, Rick's hands trailed down her back before landing a harsh smack to her ass. Y/N jerked, arching her back at the contact as Rick spanked her again, her pussy quivering against Daryl's tongue.

"Mm, she likes that. Getting so wet for us, Rick." Daryl said, plunging two of his fingers into her tight heat, growling as her cunt clenched around his fingers. Rick spanked her twice more, her ass cheeks becoming red and inflamed due to the abuse. He then soothed the pain with kisses, spreading her ass to see her tight, puckered hole winking back at him. He spat on her asshole, a thick glob of saliva dropping from her hold to Daryl's fingers where it was then pressed into Y/N's weeping pussy. She drooled around the panties in her mouth, pressing her eyes shut as she willed herself to stay silent. Her body was working for her, allowing Rick and Daryl to know that what they were doing was turning her on without her verbalizing it. Rick spat on her again, using one of his fingers to spread his saliva over her entrance, guaranteeing it would stay where he wanted it. With another spank to her sensitive ass, Rick's finger pushed against her puckered hole, spanking her again when she clenched to keep him out.

"Come on, sweetheart. Don't you want to be good for me?" Rick asked, smirking when Y/N nodded rapidly in response to his question. "Relax for me, baby. I promise this will feel so good."

Sucking in a deep breath, Y/N focused on how Daryl was making her feel as his fingers tickled her g-spot with every thrust. His other hand had found her clit, rubbing furiously to help Y/N relax. Rick nodded, pressing a kiss between Y/N's shoulder blades as his middle finger slowly entered her, the sensation of both her holes being filled overwhelming her quickly. Her eyes rolled back into her head again as she pressed back into both their hands, electricity crackling around the trio as they continued their dirty actions. Y/N's pussy squelched around Daryl's fingers as another gush of arousal flooded her. Another wad of spit hit her asshole as Rick pushed in another finger, spreading her open and preparing her for what they all knew was coming next.

"Is she close?" Rick asked hoarsely, face still pressed between her shoulder blades. Y/N nodded at his question, but that earned her another stinging spank across her sore ass.

"Oh yeah she is. I can feel it." Daryl answered.

"Good. Pussy or mouth?" Rick offered, letting Daryl choose which hole he wanted to claim first.

"Pussy. I need to feel her cum on my cock." Daryl answered, standing to discard his boots and pants, his boxers thrown to the side as he positioned himself at her entrance. His fingers replaced Rick's as the former cop stood and copied Daryl, throwing his clothes to the side before kneeling in front of Y/N and removing her ruined panties from her mouth. He placed a rushed kiss to her mouth before tapping the head of his cock against her lips. She opened her mouth urgently, kitten licking at the angry red tip of Rick's dick. While his fingers were knuckle deep in her ass, Daryl's free hand counted from three to one as both of their cocks speared Y/N at the same time. A garbled noise erupted from Y/N causing both men to pull away instantly. Y/N dropped to the blanket, anger and the desperate need to cum flowing through her veins.

Daryl spanked her harder than Rick had, her ass rippling due to the force behind the strike. Y/N whined at the feeling, resulting in another strike to her sensitive skin that was harder than the first. She preened again, and yet another spank met her flushed ass. This time, Y/N was quiet as she accepted her punishment, tears flowing freely due to her overwhelming feelings of desperation. Rick cupped her face and wiped her tears once again, kissing her deeply.

"I know it's hard, baby, but you're doing so well for us. We're going to make you feel so fucking good, I promise. Are you ready to try again?" Rick's praise shook Y/N to her core as she nodded, trying to be quiet, while also not trusting her voice in the moment. With another searing kiss pressed to her mouth, Rick nodded to Daryl, who pushed himself inside Y/N without hesitation, Rick's mouth swallowing the quiet sob the rolled through her. "I'll let that one slide, sweetheart. Hush now."

With that, Rick shoved his dick down Y/N's throat, relishing at the feeling of her gag around him. Her tears were still flowing as Rick and Daryl found their rhythm, playing her body like an instrument. Daryl's hand snaked around her hips to rub her clit roughly, and her pent up orgasm shattered through her without warning.

"Oh my God, Rick she's squeezing me so hard." Daryl commented, fucking Y/N through the aftershocks of her orgasm as her toes curled due to her rising overstimulation. Her tongue flicked and swirled around Rick's cock as his hips faltered, his orgasm approaching as well. He pulled out of her mouth and lifted Y/N until she was straddling his waist, spinning her to face Daryl as he spat on his dick, using it as lubrication before sliding his wet fingers against her asshole again. Y/N reached for Daryl, who happily allowed her to swallow his dick the same way she did Rick's. Once Y/N set a decent pace, Rick thrust his sopping dick past her tight ring of muscle, and her moan rippled through her and around Daryl's cock. Rick shot him a look over Y/N's shoulder, but Daryl waved him off because her moaning around him felt too good for him to stop. Rick started thrusting at a brutal pace, her ass hugging his dick beautifully with every thrust. Y/N choked on Daryl's cock as he pushed her head further towards the base, more tears spilling over her cheeks, which Daryl wiped away with a rough thumb.

Behind her, Rick was groaning into her shoulder, fucking her ass becoming too much to handle. He ripped her away from Daryl, standing quickly with his back pressed against the wall, holding her legs open to entice Daryl towards them. Without hesitation, Daryl once again slid deep into Y/N's pussy, the head of his cock brushing her g-spot instantly. Y/N initiated the kiss she shared with Daryl to muffle the moan blooming in her chest.

"Fuck this. Come on, Princess, let us hear how good we're making you feel." Daryl ordered, allowing Y/N to throw her head back and scream, the feeling of both strong men fucking into her brutally becoming unbearable.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Oh my God you feel so good!" Y/N wailed, laying her head on Daryl's shoulder, peppering kisses up his neck and over his face, showering him in love and adoration he rarely gets. Rick's arm came up from one of her legs and wrapped around her shoulder, pushing her further onto their cocks, all three of them moaning loudly at the sensation.

"Feel good, baby? Tell me." Rick growled from behind her, brushing her hair over one of her shoulders to kiss the back of her neck, admiring the goosebumps that were left behind in his wake.

"It f-feels amazing! Fuck, more, please!" Y/N cried. Daryl took one of her nipples into his mouth, nibbling lightly as his hands held her open and allowing Rick to rub her clit fast and hard. With a strangled cry, Y/N came hard around Daryl, the clenching of her pussy and ass causing him and Rick to moan in unison. Daryl came next, his cum buried deep inside Y/N as he pumped her full. Rick came last, his breath and hips stuttering as he gave Y/N everything he had. Y/N slumped forward into Daryl's arms, exhaustion burrowing deep inside her. With a kiss to her cheek, Daryl pulled Y/N off of Rick, his hands smacking her ass once more as she was gently laid onto the blanket.

Daryl left her once more as Rick came and cuddled beside Y/N, grabbing a water bottle from his backpack and letting her drain the whole thing. The hunter returned with yet another blanket, covering Y/N before setting her newfound sweats and a package of cotton panties beside her, taking the other water bottle Rick had offered and taking a few sips before returning it to Rick, who also only took a few sips. Their tryst had taken longer than expected, and the sun had set, covering the world in darkness that was unsafe for them to travel in.

"Do you think anyone will notice we're gone?" Y/N asked softly, her voice cracking after hours of unuse.

"No. They know how long this takes." Rick answered honestly.

"Good, because I definitely can't walk." Rick and Daryl chuckled at Y/N's genuine comment before they left the sanctuary of blankets, gathering their clothes before returning to help Y/N dress. Daryl held her in his arms, pressing kisses anywhere his lips could reach, while Rick slid a new pair of panties on her, the oversized sweats following shortly after. He pressed a kiss to her lips as they all huddled together, a lantern illuminating them as they ate some of the spoils they had worked hard to gather. A thump on the glass startled Y/N, a walker making its presence known and drawn to the living inside the store it was attempting to enter.

"It's just one, for now, but we can probably anticipate more tomorrow. There's a back way out of here right?" Rick asked Daryl, the latter nodding through the bite of food he had shoved in his mouth.

"Yeah. Boarded up. We're safe for the night." Daryl threw the empty can of beans over his shoulder before glancing at Y/N, who had been quiet since their tryst had ended. "You good?"

"Yeah, fine. Just practicing being quiet." Y/N smiled softly, as Rick and Daryl laughed again.

"I'd say you learned your lesson for tonight, sweetheart. Let's get some sleep?" Rick answered, allowing Y/N to make herself comfortable as he and Daryl prepared to keep watch. Y/N ended up laying her head in Rick's lap, and the two men each kissed her goodnight before turning off the lantern, the only light coming in from the pale moonlight streaming in behind the glass. Rick's fingers ran through Y/N's hair absentmindedly as he stared at the lone walker still banging on the glass door, his mind wandering.

"What are you thinking about?" Daryl asked, almost jealous of the fact that Y/N had seemed to choose Rick over him.

"Nothing in particular. Just how we could punish her the next time she gets too loud." Rick smirked in the dark, staring at his best friend across from him. "Get some sleep, Daryl. I'll take first watch."

Daryl nodded before laying beside Y/N, yanking her towards him and sighing in relief once she relaxed against him. Rick only chuckled, allowing his friend to be possessive over the young woman they just shared, watching as they continued to sleep. He'd have Y/N to himself in a few hours, but it seemed he and Daryl silently agreed that she wouldn't be waking up until tomorrow morning. As much as he enjoyed the challenge of keeping her quiet, Rick hoped he could hear her sweet noises again in the comfort of his bed, behind the safe walls of Alexandria, with no threats of walkers or Negan coming to take her away.

[cityofjieun]

★ . . . . -ˏˋ 2KIDS ROOMˊˎ | EP. 3 - JIA x HAN

date: february 2022 era: maniac word count: 1.4K

a/n: this took a lot longer than i planned and i'm not sure if i like it but if i don't post it now i literally never will. 2 ji is a realtionship thats very dear to me so i hope i did them justice. please lemme know what you think 🙇🏽‍♀️

THE 2KR INTRO PLAYS, FEATURING A COMPILATION OF THE TWO GIGGLING AT EACH OTHER’S EXPENSE, THE OTHER MEMBER USUALLY STARING BLANKLY OR STRUGGLING TO NOT RETURN THE SMILE.

HAN: [sitting on the couch by himself, looking off camera] are you going to come over here so we can start or are you going to stall a little longer?

JIA: [OFF CAMERA] i’m waiting for manager-nim to find the clause in my contract that says i wouldn't have to film with han-ssi outside of group schedules... i think this is a mistake.

HAN: [GIGGLING BUT LOOKING TOWARD THE CAMERA] do you see how difficult jia-nim is… aish, she’s caught the celebrity disease.

JIA: and you would know all about that, oppa-nim [ SITTING DOWN ON THE COUCH ] i mean, you caught it before you were even famous.

HAN: okay, moving on!

꩜

SEUNGMIN: han and jia.

FELIX: they’re like oil and vinegar.

CHANGBIN: in what way??

CHAN: they don’t mix necessarily, but they still go together well.

[ FELIX HUMS IN AGREEMENT ]

꩜

JIA: [ CLAPS ] chidongz 2kids room!

HAN: i still don't know how to feel about that?

JIA: you learn to live with it, i mean it’s a cuter way of calling us rodents…

HAN: [SIGHS]

JIA: anyways, when was the last time we hung out, han-ssi?

HAN: i remember we watched that j-drama you saw on tiktok together but i can’t exactly remember when that was. i see you so much that it kind of blurs together.

JIA: honestly, we are together a lot. you are a homebody, so we don’t actually go out as much as i wish we would, but we usually hang out together at the dorms.

꩜

HYUNJIN: have you noticed that they always tend to end up at our dorm?

JEONGIN: which is interesting, because you'd think jisung-hyung would just come over to ours more because jieun and lino-hyung are there and he could kill two birds with one stone.

[ THE TWO LAUGH]

MINHO: ??

HYUNJIN: that gives him too much credit, it's too sensible.

MINHO: [POINTEDLY IGNORING HYUNJIN] i think it's because jisung-ah thrives in his own personal space, while being home for too long might make jieunnie feel a bit trapped.

꩜

HAN: but we did go out recently to... [TRAILING OFF] umm… what was it…

JIA: [CUTTING HIM OFF] so the time we spend together means nothing.

HAN: stop.

[ THEY STOP LOOKING AT EACH OTHER SERIOUSLY FOR A MOMENT BEFORE JISUNG BREAK INTO LAUGHTER FOLLOWED BY JIEUN ]

JIA: anyways! we went to a cafe in hannam-dong i really wanted to try. i saw it in yoon seung-ah’s vlogs. they’re known for their bagels and that location specifically has a pretty view of the river so i wanted to take insta pictures.

HAN: OH! and we got lost trying to find it?

JIA: because you insisted, we didn't need directions. HAN: [ROLLS EYES] hey, we found it eventually, didn't we? JIA: after wandering around for an hour! by the time we got there the wait was insane.

HAN: [UNDER HIS BREATH] yeah and the bagels were a bit mid for how long we waited.

JIA: we wouldn’t have had to so long if some had gotten up when i told him to originally AND actually used his phone maps [WACKING HIS SHOULDER TO EMPHAZISE HER POINT]

[THE TWO START TO BAT AT EACH OTHER BEFORE THE SCENCE CUTS]

JIA: i think we should go on a trip together next time we have a vacation. we’ve never gone anywhere just the two of us like that it could be fun.

HAN: a vacation with you….

JIA: what’s that supposed to mean???

HAN: i’m kidding i’m kidding

JIA: yeah sure.

HAN: you are very J so you would make a whole itinerary, wouldn’t you?

JIA: i think having a general plan of what you want to do make sure you get to make the most of you time

HAN: hmmm sure...where would we even go?[THINKING] Japan could be fun. Lots of great food, and it's a short trip. What about you?

JIA: [SMILES] Japan sounds fun. But I'd say Europe. We could explore so many different countries and cultures. I’d love to be able to use my french.

HAN: oh, i have an interesting question, what would we do if the other disappeared.

JIA: oh, this gets a bit serious.

HAN: [SERIOUS] it's funny because i think with any other member, i think i’d want to let them have their space because obviously if they run away, it's for some reason and they want to be alone. but i think if you were so upset that you’d isolate yourself, i’d have to check on you immediately. [ TOWARDS THE CAMERA TO AVOID EYE CONTACT WITH JIEUN ] she isn't someone that likes to be by herself, alone time isn’t really something she seeks because she thrives around others, so i think if she's going out of her way to be by herself like that something is really wrong.

JIA: [A BIT STARTLED AT HIS SERIOUSNESS, AS WELL AS THE SLIGHT READ] aww ji…[POKING HIS ARM] i think i'd obviously want to respect the fact that hanji wanted time alone, but i'd have to check in at some point. [SHE PEEKS AT JISUNG BEFORE CONTINUING A BIT BASHFULLY] i know we have very different social batteries, and hanji is pretty good about just letting me know when he needs some time to himself. but i think if he was to go off and not respond i’d be worried.”

꩜

CHAN: honestly, i think out of everyone, jieun has opened up to han the most, besides seungmin.

FELIX: which is interesting because they’re so different.

[THE FOUR MURMUR IN AGREEMENT]

SEUNGMIN: i think they get on so well because they’re aware of how different they are.

CHANGBIN: oh absolutely. the two used to clash a lot, and i think they came to a point where they had to understand how they were different, and what accommodations they need to make to understand the other better.

CHAN: wahh changbin, you're so insightful.

꩜

[SENTIMENTAL SILENCE]

JIA: this may be the only time i every admit to this, but sometimes i wish i were more like you in some ways

HAN: in what ways?

JIA: i mean, like you said earlier i’m not one who enjoys being by themselves. i think when i'm alone for too long i begin to think too hard and get into my own head. honestly, i think not being able to properly spend time alone with myself is a bit unhealthy. i kinda admire the fact that you are capable of being on your own and enjoy your own company.

꩜

MINHO: i’ve been trying to get jieunnie to understand that it’s not wrong to want to be around others and have companionship, it's an innately human thing, you know.

HYUNJIN: she’s a lot like changbin-hyung. he likes to just sit in my room with me to just be there.

JEONGIN: [GIGGLING TO HIMSELF] well, that's because it's you and changbin hyung…

HYUNJIN: …

꩜

JIA: skz-gi behind the camera look like they want us to start wrapping up

HAN: any final words?

[JIA HUMS, SEEMINGLY WEIGHING SOMETHING BACK AND FORTH IN HER MIND, BEFORE SIGHING AND GRABBING ONE OF JISUNGS HANDS]

JIA: i know i don’t say this often but thank you.

HAN: what for?

JIA: being my person i guess? you have always worked really hard to understand me, as well as help me understand myself. i’m so grateful to have a friend like you in my life and i’m so happy i get to live out my childhood dreams with my best friend.

HAN: jieun...

JIA: hey, let me finish. thank you for growing with me thus far, and I'm so excited to see where we go... together.

HAN: jieunnie..

JIA: if you cry so will I

HAN: thank you for understanding me as well. i know i haven't always been the easiest to deal with but y

[ THE TWO SIT IN SILENCE FOR A MOMENT, SOAKING IN JIEUN'S BEFORE JISUNG CLEARS HIS THROAT. THE SOUND MAKES JIEUN SNICKER FOR A MOMENT BEFORE THE TWO DISSOLVES INTO SILENT TEARS. THE VIDEO CUTS TO THE TWO, LESS TEARY BUT NOSES OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE STUFFY]

JIA: well, this was fun.

HAN: should we take our picture and head out?

JIA: yes please [END]

©︎ cityofjieun, all rights reserved. pls, do not copy or repost my work.

[littlecorpselady]

Belonging

Pairing : Bo x reader part 2

Warnings : stalking, brief smut at the end, Stockholm syndrome, barely proof read

(Pinky promise, will add a link to part 1 eventually)

You were excited upon greeting the morning ahead with newfound productivity for once, packing everything needed for a old fashioned trip through the surrounding forest. That morning you had kicked off the floral sheets and pulled open the curtains all the way inspecting the admirable view surrounding the cabin. No big city traffic and horns blaring but mother nature in its natural state, far away from mass amounts of pollution.

Today's Lousiana heat was especially sticky so a pair of shorts for today wouldn't hurt, your thoughts hummed happily to just yourself before setting out.

Birds chirped freely filling you with a sense of ease. The sun peeped through the leaves, yet ignoring the blarings sun's beams beating gown on your exposed shoulders and legs, you continued aimlesslyforward. Eventually a river comes into view, flowers blooming proudly in a variation of fronts, decorating the scenery along the river, inviting a dip. Settiling on the edge after slipping off your trainers and socks, you take that invitation happily. Your shoulders slumping back without the burden of social pressure or anxiety, no prying eyes to your knowledge.

Leaned against the drivers seat door, Lester watches from a long distance on the road side with a hand resting on his walkie talkie, weighing his choices. Watching the woman sat by the river, mind too far wandered off to notice him. After about a minute or two he continues on with his day, hopping into the drivers seat and slipping out the walkie talkie to bring the new 'tourist' resting not too far from Ambrose to Bos attention. Giving plenty of time to prepare the show.

After enjoying the cool water flow between your toes, you give a good shake before slipping back on your socks and trainers to make your merry way over to the nearby road, hoping a car with stop. Sticking to the roads side for safety, the walk is only a couple of minutes of long before a truck pulls up besides you, not even needing to signal to it to stop as a man in a green cap rolls down his smudged trucks window.

"Need a ride?" He flashes a grin wide enough for it to come off across as just silly rather than creepy.

"If that's okay with you." The moment you answer, he pops open the passenger door and gestures for you to make your way around to it. Hurrying over to it as if he's going to change his mind any second now, you climb in, a foul stench of death greeting you at the door. He must've noticed the way you Instinctively scrunch up your nose because he replies fairly quick.

"Sorry, trucks seen better days!" The statement is followed up with a heartedly chuckle, finding it amusing. It's charming enough for you to wave off and provide a polite smile to the man, even if he has dried up roadkill blood on his cheek.

"It's no problem at all, could be worse. Really."

"Where you heading?" He follows up, already starting up the truck again and driving straight ahead down the long lonesome road, as if with his mind already made up.

"Anywhere your going I guess. Which is?" Yet again he seemed amused with your answers, occasionally turning a gaze in your direction.

"Ain't going nowhere in particular sweetheart. Just picking up and collecting roadkill off the side of the road. Putting food on the table." It seems a bit more obvious to you now with the clarification, his truck stained with grime and decorated in all sorts of trophies from animal bones strung up the the ceiling and a Bowie knife planted in the dashboard. Before you could speak though, he beats you to it.

"But I know a place called Ambrose. Old but charming, i promise ya." Right on time, he passes a billboard, dusty with age but as clear as day exclaiming "Trudys famous House of wax!" In big letters. Feeling a bit curious, you nod to the strange man and he continues on for a good while, his route memorised.

Pretty soon he pulls up in front of what appears to be a washed out enterence. He gestures ahead indicating the towns up ahead.

"Forgot this ways washed out, mind helping me with the brakes a moment?" He turns to you and from the corner of your eye, you could swear he's undressing you in his own way. A shiver trickles down your spine, crawling into your nerves and setting them all off. Nevertheless you agree but a bit more reluctant this time around.

Getting out of the drivers seat, he makes his way around the truck and surprisingly you manage to trust the process enough for him to open up the passenger door for you.

Realistically it didn't take long but upon some overthinking, it definitely stretched on by a couple of minutes helping the man you learnt to be named "Lester" during a exchange of goodbyes. Turns out there was a town as promised, a rigid sign stating 'Ambrose' confirming it as you passed it. The town is lit up by noise such as distance chatter and the sound of cars, you trusted your ears enough to not question the empty streets. It was a Sunday after all, it wasn't uncommon for small towns to be getting in a few prayers.

Making your way around, although the museum stood proudly in the distance caught your interest first, the gas station attracted you over strongly at the sound of some Marilyn Manson blaring on a radio. Peeking in through the glass, nobody was in sight so pushing open the door which set off the typical bell above, you called in out of curiosity.

"Hello?" No answer despite the music filling the dusty place.

Maybe everyone really is at church today?

Making your way up the road and approaching the church up ahead your path, a man in a dark suit stood leaned against the door with a cigarette being placed between his lips. His hair was neatly slick back and his eyes shined a familiar blue as his head tilted up in your direction upon the gravel crunching underneath your trainers.

"Hey?" You called out, almost immediately regretting the bold approach as his gaze burnt a hole into you.

"I know you, your the man who helped with my car yesterday." He pauses, the suspense following shortly behind him before he nods, allowing you a sigh of relief.

"Names Bo Sweetheart." You almost didn't want to give your name back, not with how smoothly his pet names came, laced with charm.

"Nice meeting you again Bo, names Y/n."

His gaze becomes much more considerable, sizing you up momentarily before flickering his unfinished cigarette to the ground, crushing it with his heel into to gravel before straightening up. Just how you remembered he stood up talk but somehow much more prideful, his look suiting such pride as he extended a hand. Taking it in yours, he damn near engulfs your hand whole in just one shake, his skin calloused with hard physical work and lifes experience under his belt. Stood before him now, you felt amateur assumably a good few years younger than him.

The rest of the day is spent mutually sharing a conversation from outside of the church to the outside of his house. That day unknown to you, today was the first time anybody walked out of Ambrose with their flesh uncoated in layers of thick wax. The first to be able to even set foot back to the outside world and at the same time share a encounter with Bo sinclair.

You beat the moon before it could set to your cabins front door. Greeted by the warm lighbulbs glow as you forgot to switch it off before departure. Dropping the backpack by the front door and sliding the door shut behind you without locking it, your make your way to the kitchen for a much needed cup of tea. It's not like you needed to lock it anyway, besides the little town a short drive away, it wasn't like there was much else around. You were safe you coaxed yourself just once before forgetting about it. The unlocked front door.

You didn't know what compelled you to get up in middle of the night but something did. Something compelled you enough to slip out from the comfort of the floral sheets and make a trip to the curtains. Peeling them open ever so carefully for a peak outside, it took a moment but you did see something. Squinting hard enough, it took the shape of a unmoving truck just parked outside the cabin. With your heart spiking from zero to pure dread, you ducked away from the window to catch a breath. Surely it was just the night playing tricks again. Peeling yourself from the wsll and back to the window, it was definitely a truck but its now you realise the drivers seat looks empty. Or atleast you could swear it is from here. Before anything else, a pair of calloused hands grab from behind. One hand wrapping around muffling your scream and the other holding you tightly by the waist against their chest. Their breathes were slow as gathered by the slow rise and fall of the chest against your pace as their grip over your mouth and nose hardened. Eventually it became too much effort to breath or even see and everything went dark as your body went limp.

Drifting In and out of consciousness, at first you felt yourself being carried down the stairs over what could only be assumed to be a shoulder. Next you felt that rare breeze as if being taken outside, the sound of a truck door opening before your paralysed body was being laid down. Nothing else was taken in before your vision went dark again for another couple of minutes. The next time you opened then was when your body was hoisted over somebodies shoulder like a lousy sack of potatoes, to be carried and tossed to the ground. Up some steps you went before a door was kicked open and shut. This time determined to focus on atleast something and that you did, a brown scruffy pair of worn old boots with a hole starting to form at the front of one of them. From there you watch with a fair amount of concentration as said boots ascend up a wooden staircase up to a hallway.

Before you could think much further, your hands clench at his back, pushing away from him with little to none success because all you earn is the tilt of his head. The only petty victory being that at some point you knocked off his cap during his journey up the staircase. The moment he pushes open a bedroom door, he drops you onto your ass onto a bed. Instinctively, you scootch yourself backwards to put as much distance as you can between yourself and..Bo. It's the same man yet again, the charming road side mechanic, the well dressed church goer from yesterday. It all pools into you at once, the realisation and the intense burden of regret.

"Mornin' suger" that once addictive Southern accent suddenly feeling invasive as his previously welcoming smirk takes a much more sinister from right before you. His eyes glinting with cruel promises as he surveyed the paralysed mess laid out before him. Another one of his playthings to pull apart and put back together until he either got bored or it fell apart for Vincent to reconfigure. Another piece of art among many others, condemned to Ambrose until the wax fizzles away into meaningless nothing.

That's how you become the empty vessel you are today, curled up by his bedroom window. Too lost in the pits of your mind to even acknowledge Bos truck parking in front of the house. Too restless to even take notice of the presence lingering behind you until it reaches out. Until he reaches out, resting a hand on your shoulder and lightly shaking it. It was strange. The way he looks at you now, it's different or atleast you think it is. He used to look down at you, not like a human being but much more as if a animal, a mutt. Something he can train and re mold into pure obedience at his side, something he can wrap a collar around and pull it around. Now you could swear up and down there's atleast some interest In his gaze. Lust, curiosity, whatever it was you hoped it came with praise, any form of approval.

In the past, your first couple of weeks here, you would've rather taken a layer of wax to the skin any day than take any affection he had to offer. You don't how it happend but the past you shrivelled up inside, confined and repressed to the back of your mind. Now all you could crave was his hand soothing through your hair and a firm kiss to the forehead, leaving behind his mark. Even if it wasn't visible, you could feel the burn it left in its wake.

Tonight his warm body pressed flush against yours as he pulled you back by the hips against him. Smothered in his praise as he breathed stings of approval by your ear, only for you to hear. In contrast to his approval, his hand are rough all over, proven especially as he pushes your head down impossibly further against the mattress, your cheek melting against the sheets as he rubs a thumb against your core earning a strangled moan. Something about this time felt special, less like the feeling of just being fucked and more like the feeling of being made love to. A slither of belonging creeping inside of you and planting itself as he buried himself forward inside of you once more, his hand pulling you head back as he leaned down to press a kiss to your lips, one last muffled groan before he eases his tongue past your lips.

For once, it felt real. The sense of belonging and security.

*thanks for reading 🫶

[lakesparkles]

If you follow me for long enough, you probably know how much I like making (usually furry) OCs based on characters I like. It's Gideon's time >:3 He's now part of the universe most of my characters are too.

(more information about him below)

Hm, before starting talking about him, I should say that birds aren't very common in their town, Sunflowerfield. I mean, they are, but they prefer to spend their lives flying or in their tree houses (which they also built schools, stores and everything else they need), not getting along with land animals. With all of this, meet Spot. He and his sister - a swan named Amora - were adopted by a portuguese water dog family that were very glad that their kids are animals who would also appreciate all the lakes and rivers the town had to offer! Spot was raised as a dog, but soon realized other animals were very curious about him. It was not common to see someone like him! He grew up to REALLY enjoy the attention. He could swim, he could fly, he could walk: of course everybody would be amazed. So much that they even ignore his awful personality and he's so full of himself. He's now 25 and still is lucky with women. They all want to know everything about him, being happy to be with someone like Spot. They may think he's a duck… Or assume he and his sister are the same species… But he doesn't care that much. He doesn't even understand why others look at him with expressions of pity when he brags about how he's being treated by his partners.

This dog with him in the first image is Rusty, his best friend (with benefits). She's the only person capable of teasing him, and believe me that she does it a lot. They're both students at the same university and they'll make sure you know they're the best ones there. (Rusty will have her own post soon so I won't talk much about her character now)

[pyrussprite]

...

i am. so fucking tired of being tired. just had the third doctor today confirm i have long covid with no advice other than ' rest and eat well' but at least she gave us a referral to another clinic for bloodwork for tomorrow. it's exhausting to even sit up right now, i just wanna have the energy to talk to people and do literally anything, i feel really distant from all of the things i enjoy

[tamurilofrivendell]

Sleeping Beauty | Chapter 1

Read on AO3 [x]

Pairing: Thranduil/Fem Reader Summary: A Sleeping Beauty inspired tale with Thranduil the Elvenking, and a female elf living in Mirkwood under the care of Radagast, who is actually the 'lost' daughter of the late High King Gil-Galad. Note: This is x reader but I have given ‘you’ a name. Also I needed Radagast for this story but I think technically she’d have been born before he even arrived but let’s just ignore that. If you’d like to be tagged in future chapters let me know. Translations: lothíriel (flower-garlanded maiden) anarórë (sunrise) vanwa (lost) aranel (princess) melui (lovely)

“Lothíriel!” Radagast cried out the nickname he had called you since you were but a babe in his arms, standing at the door of his little cottage deep in the forest of Mirkwood. His fingers curled around his wooden staff as he looked this way and that, brows furrowed with just the mildest hint of frustration. He was rather used to this song and dance by now. You would seemingly go missing from right under his large nose, sneaking off through the trees to mingle with the wildlife and sing to the flowers. You were a daughter of the forest, sure enough, and there was seemingly nothing that Radagast could do to keep you in check. Not that he would ever wish to dampen your spirit or dim your light, but it was his job to keep you safe and sound, after all. Keep you... hidden.

A great many years had passed since the days when this task had been appointed to him. Since that fateful day of your birth in Lindon when the Enchantress had dared show her face, laying ruin to all that could have been for you. Then the darker days that followed still. The Last Alliance. Your father, High King Gil-Galad, being slain by Sauron himself, alongside King Oropher. Dark days, indeed.

You knew nothing of any of this and that was how Radagast intended to keep it. For now. You were i vanwa aranel, as the tales told, the lost princess... and you needed to remain that way for at least another thousand years or so yet. When the full danger of the Enchantress was no longer a danger to you.

“Anarórë!” Radagast called again, using the name that you had been given just before being smuggled from Lindon under the cover of darkness. Your name was the only thing your father had been able to give you and he had gifted you the name that his beloved Queen had longed to bestow upon you - naming you after her most favourite time of day - before she was killed by the evil Enchantress that was to blame for your being out here and not in the halls of a palace as was your birthright.

“Ooh!” Radagast shook his head, turning to the bird on his shoulder with a worried expression as he heaved a sigh. He was always prone to concern, especially when you were not within his line of eyesight. “Now where has she gotten to!”

You were rather far away from the cottage where you had grown up, and from your uncle Radagast, whom you loved with your entire being but who could at times, to be quite frank, drive you rather mad. He made such a big deal of keeping you safe but some days it could feel like you were suffocating. Like treading water and never being able to move forwards. Some days it seemed that he would have enchanted the cottage to keep you inside at all times if he could. Still, you knew that he simply loved you and wished to keep you from harm.

The Greenwood was beginning to change, even you could feel that. There were pockets of thick, suffocating darkness and you could have sworn that once you saw a spider. Not just any spider but the largest spider you had ever seen in your whole life. It was said that the Elvenking was preparing to lead his people further north across the forest river due to this growing shadow.

Despite being an elf yourself, you had never met any of the wood elves that lived under the Elvenking’s rule. In truth, you did not even know the King’s name. You had watched a few of them in secret but you had never dared approach them. Radagast had always explicitly told you never to speak to strangers and something about the look in his eyes made you realise that he had some genuine reason and you followed that rule rather explicitly.

Still, you did not understand why, for how could you? How could you know that evil could take the fairest of forms to trick you into its clutches? How could you know that such evils were indeed looking for you? Actively seeking you out all over this world and had been since your birth? Radagast kept your history from you to keep you safe. As far as anybody need know, you were naught but a simple elf-maid dwelling beneath the trees of the Greenwood.

Still, it could be lonely, and you often imagined yourself outing your own presence and being welcomed into the fray of others of your kind. You adored your uncle, you truly did, and you loved your life in these woods with the wizard - but some days only conversing and interacting with him and the squirrels could become quite tiresome in a sense.

“Hey!” You laughed, lifting your gaze as a little robin gently tugged on strands of your hair from where it hovered in the air beside your head. Your thoughts melted away as you turned your focus to the little creature, suddenly realising that it was not alone. A group of familiar little animals were lined up on a nearby tree branch, looking down at you rather expectantly.

“There you are!” You chuckled, moving closer and reaching out to run your fingers through some of their fur and feathers. “I was beginning to think that you had all decided to abandon me this day!”

The animals tittered and shifted, little sounds coming from some of them as they shook their heads in dismay, eager to let you know that they would never! This little group of beasts made up some of your closest friends in this wood and a lot of days you would meet them in the clearing and pass your afternoon together.

“Oh, I am only teasing.” You laughed brightly, moving over to sit upon a fallen log, gazing up at the sky.

One of the birds began chirping and you turned to look at them, shaking your head a little as they told you Radagast was looking for you. “Well, I am not ready to go back yet.” You replied. “I have barely been out of the house in the last few days.” Another little chatter from the bird came, telling you he was worried there were strangers in the woods, and you shook your head. “He needn’t bother. Even when there is, I do not approach them. Does he not trust me? Sometimes he treats me as thought I am still a child!”

A soft silence fell upon the clearing, all your little friends looking sad as they contemplated your words, your loneliness. Even they seemed to know that even though you had them, and even though you had Radagast, perhaps it wasn’t always enough.

“Come on now!” You chuckled, brightening a little. “Let us not dwell on all of that. I will go back soon, I promise. He will not start to truly panic for another while yet.” You knew him well enough to know that you had some time to spare before he came charging through the trees with his trusty rabbit sled. “Come, keep me company while I pick some berries. Tonight I am going to make some more cakes!”

A distance away through the trees, a large brown elk was moving at a gentle trot. Astride him sat a lone rider, shoulders straight and guard up just slightly. His long white hair was cascading down his shoulders, free of any elaborate adornments, and as he rode he looked about him, studying the forest.

King Thranduil was travelling alone, something that he did not always do anymore, but his trusty swords were at his side and he knew that, if necessary, his elk could outrun any dangers that they may come upon. If he did not get them first. There was a shadow falling somewhere, he could sense it, but it was still faint and with any luck it would stay that way.

Thranduil turned his attention to the path ahead of him as he moved through the forest, aware that he would have to turn back soon and return to his realm. There was a lot to do, many preparations to make, however he had been rather needing a little bit of peace and quiet. He could defend himself well enough and it had been some time since he had been able to be truly alone. He had a heavy weight on his shoulders and he had since his father, Oropher, had fallen to Sauron, leaving him to rule. Thus the Prince had become the King overnight and, while Thranduil had often had an urge to flee and hide, it was not a whim that he would give into.

As his elk moved through the trees, Thranduil suddenly became aware of a sound filtering through all the other woodland noises. It wasn’t exactly close by and it appeared to be coming from somewhere to his right, which was not the direction he needed to go, but he found himself pulled towards it somehow.

It was somebody singing, he realised, and he normally would have simply smiled and left them to it but it was such a beautfiful melody, a voice the likes of which he was not sure he had ever heard before in all his years - and Thranduil had heard a lot of singing in his lifetime.

“Melui...” He murmured to himself, lost in the beautiful tune for a few moments before he stirred again and urged his elk to the right, struck by the sudden desire to find whoever could produce such a sweet sound.

“Come on, my friend... this way." He directed to his elk as he gently tugged the reins to redirect the beast, heading off in the direction of the singing, not caring if it was perhaps a little out of his way as his curiosity got the better of him.

His elk snorted, disgruntled at going off track, though it reminded the animal a little of the prince of old and it easily gave in, shaking its large head as it trundled off through the trees in the direction its master commanded.

[kaynanarie]

JourneyTober! Day 22 - Protection

            Gao Village faded into the distance, taking the tended fields and modest homes of civilization with it. The road slowly wound its way deeper into the wildness, leading Monkey and Jen through the scenic green of the untamed forest. Ancient trees blocked out the sky, dapples of golden sunlight peeking through to dance along the path. A river would occasionally weave its way close to the road, filling the air with the quiet roar of rushing water. Birds would sing from the trees and the darkness of night brought eerie animal cries but all kept their distance from the travelers.

            “How far do you think this forest goes?” Jen pondered out loud, taking in the emerald greens of the swaying leaves above. A few steps ahead, she saw Monkey shrug a shoulder. “I mean, it’s already been a few days. There’s got to be a town or something up ahead, right?”

            Monkey only hummed, doubling down with another shrug. While he had never outright spoken to Jen, she considered the small responses to be progress. At least he wasn’t outright ignoring her like before.

            “We could use more supplies. And maybe they’ll have an inn or something so we don’t have to sleep out in the rain. Again. I also needed to look for–”

            A loud crack rang out above them followed by the rustling whoosh of something falling. Shadows writhed over the ground as a giant net plummeted from the tree above. Jen had barely looked up when swift hands grabbed her shoulders and shoved, sending her tumbling amongst the leaves. She was clear of the tangle; Monkey wasn’t so lucky.

            The crash took him to the ground, tangled under woven rope and weights. A crackle of energy lit up the net, metal stakes digging themselves into the dirt and keeping Monkey tightly pinned. He thrashed and clawed but the fibers held firm, barely giving him room to breathe.

            “I’ve caught you now, demon!” A cloaked figured appeared from the trees, as silent and swift as the shadows. In one hand, he clutched a stack of paper slips. The other wielded a gleaming dagger. “You will prey on the innocent no longer; I’ll end you here and now.”

            He approached the trap, a smug sneer taunting his catch. The closer the stranger got, the more Monkey fought his bonds. Growls rumbled from him while bared teeth sent a clear warning. Despite the danger, the man only laughed. “Struggle all you like. That net responds to demonic energy; no yaoguai can break its seal.”

            “Hey, wait!” Jen cried out, snagging her bow as she scrambled back to her feet. The man barely glanced her way, still focused on the trapped monkey at his feet.

            “Don’t worry, Miss. You’re safe now,” he waved her concerns away. “No doubt this demon tricked you into following it back to its lair. Rest assured; he won’t do you any further harm.”

            The smarmy smile vanished the instant Jen swung her bow, cracking him across the temple. He flew back, papers fluttering to mingle with the leaves and knife flinging out of his grasp. With his hood down, Jen could recognize the outraged face beneath.

            “Aren’t you that exorcist guy from the village?”

            “I’m a demon hunter,” he snapped, eyes burning and jaw clenched. A red bruise was already beginning to form at his brow. In a move o quick to see, the hunter was back on his feet and stalking towards his target. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a job to do.”

            As he approached, Jen quickly intercepted. She stepped in front of Monkey, armed with only an arrowless bow. “No. You stay away from him,” she said, her voice steady despite the panic rushing through her body.

            The hunter scowled. “Out of my, wench. I’ve saved your life and overlooked your delusional assault; don’t make me regret it.���

            “He hasn’t done anything wrong,” Jen argued, keeping herself firmly between Monkey and the hunter. “Let him go and we’ll just leave.”

            “Either he has you under a spell…” the hunter grabbed Jen’s shirt, nearly yanking her clear off the ground. “Or you’re a damn fool!”

            Jen was flung aside, air knocked from her lungs when she collided with the ground. She could hear Monkey’s snarls as he tried to reach her but the net only glowed brighter from his efforts. Pushing herself upright, Jen took a wheezing breath, blinking the stars from her eyes. It took her a dazed moment to realize the shine wasn’t from the fall. Something was buried in the leaf litter, gleaming in the sunlight.

            The dagger.

            Snatching it up, Jen staggered back to the net, digging the blade under one of the staked ropes and sawing as fast as she could. The razor-sharp metal made quick work of the fibers, first fraying then severing the line.

            A rough hand tangled in her hair and sharply yanked her head back. Jen yelped, dropping the knife as she was dragged backwards. “You idiot!” the hunter shouted in her ear. “If he gets out–!”

            Too late. The rope was cut, the seal was broken, and Monkey was free. Throwing the tangled net off, Monkey leapt to his feet, eyes narrowed and fangs bared. His staff appeared in his hands, already twirling in anticipation.

            As Monkey approached, the hunter loosened his hold on Jen only to shove her forward. On instinct, Monkey cradled the impact as his companion crashed into his chest. He kept her tucked at his side, warily watching the hunter’s retreat.

            “You may have escaped me this day but we’ll meet again. Mark my words, monkey.” He untied a leather pouch from his belt and threw it in the air. Pitch black smoke billowed from it, blanketing the area in a midnight cloud. Hooking an arm around Jen’s waist, Monkey jumped clear of the haze, a breeze already carrying it away.

            “Where’d he go?” Jen coughed through the last whisps of smoke.

            Monkey scanned the forest but the hunter was gone, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------(More early story stuff and early antagonist introduction. This one went on longer than I expected so the ending is kind of rushed. Big thanks to all my readers! Also, @s0rr3l drew some amazing art of my OC Jen! Please go check out her stuff, she's awesome and her OC Liyu is in some adorable comics!)

[breannasfluff]

The pup is dirty. Twilight rolls his eyes in a very unwolf-like manner as Wild lopes into the clearing, covered in mud and…choo choo jelly? What does he get up to?

Dirty, he barks at Wild, who only shakes away the admonishment. Fine, time for backup. Alpha?

Time opens one eye from his nap and raises his head to sniff the air. Bath, he says and Twilight is vindicated. 

No! No bath! Wild flops to the grass and rolls, which removes some of the muck but doesn’t make him smell any better. 

Time sends a look at Twilight, who moans and drags himself up on his paws. Why is cleaning the cub his job?

He doesn’t mind—not really, but bath time for Wild also means bath time for Twilight, whether he wants it or not. 

Come, wash! 

No! Wild rolls further, limbs flailing.

Grabbing a sleeve, Twilight tugs him up. Silly, hurry up! Alpha says.

Alpha isn’t taking a bath. Wild allows himself to be herded, but he grumbles the whole way. 

Alpha clean, he points out. The cub ignores him, switching to muttering in broken hylian. 

 The bath goes about as well as expected; in that Wild splashes in the river too much and Twilight has to fish him out by his tunic. He shakes, ignoring the other’s yelps of complaint. By the three goddesses, he just got out of a river!

Time’s in the same spot when they get back and Twilight rumbles a low complaint at being wet as he stalks by. 

Alpha! Clean! Wild throws himself at Time and Twilight smirks as their leader ends up damp himself. 

Off, off!

Wild giggles and flops over Time’s golden back without moving. Warm, he hums. 

Soft-hearted traitor that he is, Time lets him stay. 

They’re an odd trio; two of them stuck as wolves, but the chance to watch over a new hero makes it worth it. 

Twilight had Time’s support on his journey, earning the nickname Pup. Wild was Pup to Twilight, but also Cub. Or maybe, Forever Testing My Patience to Time. The amount of hair brained ideas the kid gets; they’re working overtime to keep him alive and on his journey. 

 The hot afternoon sun dries them all quickly. Time finally shakes Wild off, ignoring the grumble as he slides to the dirt and loping off to hunt. 

Stay, Twilight instructs, standing to follow him. Stay!

Wild sticks out his tongue, but settles into the grass with his head on a swivel. The area is safe, but Wild attracts trouble with uncanny frequency. 

Twilight braves the river shallows for a fish, while Time surprises a sleeping crane in the nearby reeds. They both return with their jaws full. 

Good hunting, Time says with a bump of his furry shoulder. 

Twilight can’t stop his tail wagging at the praise. 

Wild’s head whips in their direction as they return and tension eases from his frame. Worry, worry, safe? Good hunting?

Time drops the bird carcass and noses Wild’s hand until he drops to a crouch. Pack safe, cub. 

Wild chews over Hylian words like a bone, until they have no meaning by the time they leave his mouth. Time gives a questioning whine. 

Miss you, miss pack, he finally admits, flopping and rolling at their leader’s feet. 

Silly, not gone long. Still, Time licks Wild’s face until his ear flicks and he snorts, spirit bouncing back. 

Twilight joins them, adding his own sloppy kisses until the cub yowls and bats him away. 

Retrieving the bird, Time drops it in Wild’s lap. Eat. 

He shakes his head and pushes it away. Alpha eats first.

There’s no way Time is letting Wild ignore his own needs. He’s skinny enough already; constantly moving and burning energy as he scrambles up and down hills and ruins alike. 

The bird is dropped in Wild’s lap again and Time’s hackles raise slightly. Eat.

The cub’s ears lower, even though they both know Time isn’t actually angry. With a sigh he takes the bird and moves to the side, calling a knife from his slate to begin hacking at it. 

Twilight winces at the lack of skill; with the limited vocabulary of a wolf he can’t instruct Wild on how to pluck and prepare a bird properly. 

A heavy weight settles next to him as Time joins him, giving his ear a lick of hello. They both watch Wild spread feathers and blood across the grass. If he’s not careful he’s going to need another bath. 

Twilight can’t help but subtly lean his weight into his mentor, closing his eyes and relaxing as evening steals the light from the sky. 

Time gives a reassuring rumble and watches over them both. 

Next>>

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 18 (Holly & Kris Get Married in San Myshuno)

Holly’s wedding was beautiful, with vows by a lake in Myshuno Meadows at sunset. The man-made park had been designed by local business magnates to repair the area after a shocking spate of natural disasters almost a century prior, when a meteor struck and the city lost connection to the outside world.

During the city’s time off-grid following the meteor and subsequent tsunami, locals swore the city was attacked by a reptilian monster who emerged from the sea! But no evidence of the attack survived other than a memorial plaque to its victims erected in the picturesque park.

Whatever the truth of San Myshuno's strange history, those who survived had rebuilt the metropolis from the ground up. Now Holly and Kris would be one of countless sims to call the fast-paced city home.

The small-town Nesbitts were generally in awe of San Myshuno’s futuristic surroundings. Yet the man-made meadow hummed with birds and butterflies, a romantic respite from the bustle of the surrounding six-lane streets.

It proved a perfect setting for Kris and Holly’s passionate spousal kiss, sealing their vows beneath a picture-perfect pink sky.

Heather performed her sim of honour duties with pride and joy for her sister’s happiness, trying not to let the distraction of Malcolm's absence ruin her mood. But every text from the end of the ceremony, through the meal and the speeches, was ignored.

She sat on a couch away from the dance floor, trying to keep her souring mood to herself. But she was soon joined by Holly and River. "If he can't even be bothered to tell you why he's not here, screw him," said her brother.

"You don't know that. He might have been in a serious accident."

"Jeezus, Daff, your generosity sounds a lot like naivete right about now. You said yourself he wasn't good enough for our sister."

"You said that? When?" Heather interrupted. "You didn't say that to me."

Holly blushed. "I didn't mean-"

Right then, the door to the reception hall opened and Malcolm walked inside. He looked around until he spotted Heather and they locked eyes with a glare. As soon as she saw that he was perfectly fine - just ridiculously late - she was mad. "Holly, will you excuse me for a while? I need to talk to Malcolm outside."

NOTE: He really did show up this late to the wedding he was politely invited to. I was so offended on Heather's behalf.

"Of course, yeah. Do you want any backup?"

"No, let her go. She deserves not to have any witnesses." River offered a sinister smirk toward Malcolm. "Go get him, sis."

She approached him calmly, the eyes of the other guests watching them carefully. "I'm sorry I'm late," he said. "I got caught up with work and lost track of time."

"Let's go outside."

They retreated to the privacy of the park’s old observatory. Donated by an eccentric old billionaire, he'd hoped to ensure locals would always have access to the stars despite light pollution that typically blocked them out. "You look great in that dress." He rubbed the small of her back. "I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier."

"You've been so distant, Malcolm!"

"So have you." he disarmed her with his familiar, crooked smile. "But I'm here now. And I want to make it up to you."

He leaned in to kiss her, and the tenderness of his touch melted her anger. He slowly unzipped her dress, leaving soft kisses against her skin before they made love inside the old telescope’s observation booth.

When they’d finished, their connection re-established, Malcolm admitted he’d been afraid to come. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

NOTE 2: Quick recap, Kris is the son of Henford townie Cecilia Kang and OG creature keeper Michael Bell (who I made playable). They had four kids together (Kris is the eldest) and all of them look like Cecilia.