#imagine the rebels charging in right after this to save him

[ivanttakethis]

Round 7

Till doesn’t fight back as he’s fitted into his costume; a tailored, white suit.

Far more expensive than anything he’s ever worn or owned. Restrictive in a way he knows Luka’s isn’t.

He doesn’t argue when they slick his hair back. Or when they take out his piercings.

He doesn’t even look in the mirror once he’s ready.

Someone nearby whispers that he “looks like a prince.”

The collar of the jacket is too tight around his neck.

Don’t think about it.

The stage is dark when Till is shoved out to take his position.

A sea of stars unfolds above him, stretching out across the deep black yawn of space. Till allows himself a moment to look.

His heart stutters as something bright and fast streaks across the sky.

A meteor.

A shooting star.

He remembers when the sky was a brilliant orange and dozens of stars fell as easy as the rain.

Don’t think about it.

The overhead lights come on, nearly blinding him, and the crowd roars below. Luka must be making his entrance.

Till doesn’t look at the audience. He doesn’t look at Luka either.

His gaze drops to the stage beneath him, trying in vain to tune out all of the noise.

He blinks.

Once. Twice.

Blood pools at his feet. Soaks the soles of his boots.

Don’t think about him.

Till grips the microphone and squeezes his eyes shut.

The music starts.

Luka sings the opening lyrics… but it doesn’t sound quite like him.

This voice…

It’s higher. Sweeter. Familiar.

His eyes snap up, locking on to the figure across the stage from him. Glowing like an angel under the spotlight.

Mizi.

Still in her white dress with her long pink hair pulled back.

Just as she left them. Left him.

Till’s heart aches.

She turns to him, letting her golden gaze settle over his.

What he wouldn’t have done for her to look at him like that when they were kids.

Slowly, as she draws out the last note of the line, her lips lift into a gentle smile.

Something cracks.

Wait—

That smile doesn’t look right. It doesn’t feel right.

It feels like—

It feels like Luka…

Flashes of Round 5 hit Till hard and fast.

Mizi in a daze. Luka dancing circles around her. Getting too close. Smiling that same smile.

This is exactly what Luka did to Mizi. This is why she snapped.

Till doesn’t question who Luka pretended to be to get a rise out of her.

He knew it wasn’t him.

Luka comes closer, still wearing Mizi’s face.

He can’t move. Can’t run. Can’t think.

A strong hand cups his right cheek.

Till lunges.

He can barely hear the music over the thundering in his ears and the sound of his fists meeting Luka’s face over and over again.

That bastard is grinning up at him like he already won.

Till just hits harder.

Blood pours out of Luka’s nose and splatters on his suit.

For a moment, it’s Mizi looking up at him with a bloodied face.

Till doesn’t stop.

He won’t stop until they put him down.

Just like Sua. Just like Mizi. Just like—

Ivan.

Dark eyes bore into him as they slowly drain of life.

White suit. Slicked back hair. He looks like a prince.

They dressed me just like you.

His lips are still red.

Till stares back into the only gaze that ever wanted to hold him.

As if it could make up for all of the times he looked away.

The fire raging inside him freezes over. For a moment, everything is quiet.

At the end of this story…

There is only a cold spot stained with blood…

No gods. No worshippers.

[scoobydoodean]

would love to hear more about the “chuck was the one who brainwashed cas and kelly actually” theory, thank you :)

Okay so I'm going to sound like I'm not addressing your question at all at first but just bear with me.

One of the primary reasons that the baby brainwashing incident fascinates me is that Cas's actions are a betrayal of his and Dean's bond on a foundational level. I'm not talking about The Colt or the mixtape (though they're related).

Dean and Cas's relationship as handler and charge was shed and a real, genuine bond bloomed in 4.22, after this exchange:

DEAN Destiny? Don't give me that "holy" crap. Destiny, God's plan... It's all a bunch of lies, you poor, stupid son of a bitch! It's just a way for your bosses to keep me and keep you in line! You know what's real? People, families -- that's real. And you're gonna watch them all burn? CASTIEL What is so worth saving? I see nothing but pain here. I see inside you. I see your guilt, your anger, confusion. In paradise, all is forgiven. You'll be at peace. Even with Sam. DEAN You can take your peace... and shove it up your lily-white ass. 'Cause I'll take the pain and the guilt. I'll even take Sam as is. It's a lot better than being some Stepford bitch in paradise. 

These are the words that convince Cas to rebel. These are the words that dissolve Cas's doubts in doubt, and convince him to follow his convictions instead of act on blind faith. Shortly after this conversation, Cas flies Dean to Chuck, who tells them what they're up to isn't supposed to happen. This becomes a theme of Dean and Cas's relationship.

Together, Dean and Cas do things that aren't supposed to happen—that aren't part of God's plan. They do something Chuck explicitly says isn't supposed to happen in 4.18. They do something that Chuck explicitly says isn't supposed to happen in 4.22. They do something that Chuck explicitly says isn't supposed to happen in 5.22.

Dean and Cas's relationship, at its very core, is built upon the rejection of two things: 1) Destiny and 2) Paradise—and by the end of "The Future", Cas explicitly (in the production draft) embraces destiny and paradise... and that screams Chuck.

This is what Cas says to Kelly right after the devil baby brainwashing at the very end of "The Future". The "Paradise" part doesn't make it to the final cut—just the "future" part... but the Paradise part is implied by the "future" part anyway.

What else happens in "The Future"? Kelly says the line.

It's not supposed to happen this way.

She says the line that Chuck said every time Dean and Cas defied the writing during the first apocalypse by doing something Chuck couldn't or didn't anticipate. Kelly says this after Sam and Dean catch up to Castiel—after Sam and Dean convince Cas to just talk through all of this with them and not jump to the nuclear option of murdering Kelly—to consider an alternative plan where Kelly and Jack's lives are both preserved because Jack is born a regular baby. The moment Cas begins to agree to talk, Kelly says "It's not supposed to happen this way."

Now let's talk about Kelly. Her behavior this entire episode is insane. She begins the episode despairing because giving birth to Jack will kill her. She then tries to kill herself, but Jack won't let her die—and this throws Kelly into a sort of religious fervor—convincing her that Jack is actually good and could revolutionize the world. Her belief in this is so powerful that when Sam and Dean arrive, she immediately rejects the plan they've come up with that will spare her and Jack's lives:

Sam: No, Kelly, if you go with Cass, you die. Your baby dies. Kelly: I go with you, you take away the thing that makes him special.

She sounds nuts. Like. Imagine saying you'd rather you and your baby DIE than have a "normal" baby. Your baby HAS to be a special baby or you'd rather be dead? Uh... ew—and to a point that screams supernatural brainwashing.

Of course—Kelly's actions aren't quite as irrational as they seem because right before Sam and Dean arrived, Kelly was shown something by "Jack". She got Cas to lay his palm on her belly, and "Jack" showed her a vision of the future. After she takes off with Cas in the impala, she says,

When you put your hand on my stomach, I heard him. He spoke to me. He told me that even if it seems scary, if I just went to the gate, if I just followed your plan, that you would make sure he was born.

So even as she's driving herself straight into Cas's plan to kill her and her baby, Kelly believes everything will be fine—because "Jack" showed her the future... and the thing is? She's... not wrong. "Jack" did show her the future. "Jack" showed her a tiny moment that actually does happen at the end of the episode—Cas standing between her and Dagon and saying "You stay away from her".

Why do I keep putting "Jack" in quotes here? Because Jack never displays the ability to see the future after his birth, and yet "Jack" did have this power from the womb... only? Yeah... I'm not so sure. I'm wondering if it was someone else—someone who showed Kelly what they had already written.

I'll also note in 13.01, that Jack doesn't seem to remember... any of this happening—at least not in the same way. In fact, he recalls very little leading up to his birth. The way he describes it, his sole knowledge of the world prior to his birth came from Kelly speaking to him while he was in the womb... but also... not? Because he says he was Kelly?

SAM: How do you speak English? JACK: My mother taught me. SAM: So you talked to her. JACK: I was her. JACK: My mother, she said Castiel, he would keep me safe. She said the world was a dangerous place. That's -- that's why I couldn't be a baby or a child. I... That's why I had to grow up fast. That's why I chose him to be my father. Where is he?

It's all pretty confusing, but something blinks at me here: Jack says Kelly told him Castiel would keep him safe and indicates that he chose Castiel as his father based on Kelly's assessment. However, Kelly told us Jack showed her the future which told her that Castiel would keep Jack safe back in 12.19. These are two contradictory stories. What if a third party sowed both?

Two other little bits:

First:

Kelly: Maybe – maybe everything that I've been through, everything that I still have to go through, is happening for a reason. Maybe it's part of some plan. Castiel: No, it isn't. I used to believe in a plan. I used to believe that I had some mission. But I have been through enough now to know that everyone is just winging it. 

Castiel does a 180 on this by the end of the episode and it screams Chuck Chuck Chuck Chuck.

Second:

If you go to the 12.19 production draft (graciously provided to the fandom through @/spnscripthunt) on page 45, you'll see something that never made it to screen—Cas's vision of paradise.

Only—these visions don't seem to come to fruition unlike Kelly's vision of Cas protecting her. The bits with Dean and Castiel's wings don't feel like the future anyway—they... just feel like what Cas wants most desperately at that time—to be a protector and provider who can handle everything on his own—who needs a "win". This is another theme of the episode. Cas stole The Colt in a misguided attempt to protect his family from having to be directly involved in the ruthless murder Cas had determined would be necessary. He didn't believe there was any other choice, and he wanted to spare Sam and Dean the pain of being involved in the dirty work.

Sam: Then – Then why didn't you call us? Cas, we could've helped you. Castiel: I know. I wanted to keep you out of this. I-I was trying to keep you safe. Dean: You're not our babysitter, Cas, okay? That is not your job. And when in our whole lives have we ever been safe?

This probably stings for Cas because he knows they aren't, and he wants them to be—he wants his family to be safe... all without having to discard his conscience by killing Kelly. He wants her to be safe too! The stuff he sees gives him what he wants--Sam and Dean and Kelly happy and safe—Dean thanking him—Cas once more a fully powered angel who doesn't need anybody's help.

But all of this stuff he sees? It's a lie. It's a lie because it never happens, but it's also a lie because destiny is always a lie. Paradise is always a lie. God's plan is just a way to keep them all in line... and Cas is trying to secure paradise for someone who said they'd take the pain and the guilt over someone else's vision of their paradise.

[thevibraniumveterans]

REBELS REWATCH

S1E2 — SPARK OF THE REBELLION; PART 2

Hera continues to explain to Ezra why he needs to rescue the crew. He tells her, “No, it’s too late for them, Hera. We should run now, while—” Here’s the thing though, he starts to sound unsure of himself, because he does not sound cocky anymore. He may say one thing, but his expressions betray him. Hera interrupts him. “You don’t mean that.” Ezra says, “I do! I swear, I do.” He doesn’t believe he does, though, because he struggles to even get that answer out. “Which is why I can’t believe I’m doing this!” It might not be a sudden change of heart, but it’s more of a moral struggle for him. Hera had explained kindness to him, likely something he’s had to let go of years ago. Here, Ezra’s repayment of a good deed is his first step into a larger world.

Ezra reaches Zeb and Karan just in time, saying that Hera sent him, and to run when the the troopers open the doorway. Interestingly enough, while Kanan and Zeb charge forward, Ezra provides cover fire via his energy slingshots. Used to fending for himself, this is the first time he’s helped to stall the enemy, protecting the same people who inadvertently took him in.

While running, Ezra tells his two companions that they should “warn Sabine and Chopper”. Interestingly enough, he could have chosen to name Chopper first and Sabine second, but he doesn’t.

Sabine and Chopper are concentrating on getting the job done. They do not know what’s coming.

The gravity gets disabled, and Ezra and Zeb tussle again amidst blaster fire. Ezra gets captured by the Imperials, and inadvertently gets left behind as his adoptive crew jump to hyperspace. Zeb is regretful.

Ezra sits in a cell and is visited by Agent Kallus. Not one to avoid a conversation, he insults Kallus, even when threatened with the Empire’s visit to his homeworld of Lothal. He says, “They're not gonna come for me. People don’t do that.” It’s evident he’s only ever stuck his neck out for himself because no one else ever did.

Ezra gets his stuff taken away by the troopers, but manages to hold on to the Holocron. Even though it’s the only thing he has to keep him company, he takes a deep breath and tries to quiet his mind. Perhaps he is imagining himself opening the cube since he is shown to previously have failed to do so. Unbeknownst to him, he actually opens the cube, until the message within starts playing. Perhaps Ezra is unconsciously making use of abilities dormant within him. The message ends with, “Trust in the Force,” a phrase also said by Ahsoka to Sabine decades later before she opens herself up to the Force. Back in the cell, however, Ezra may or may not have used the Force to open the cube. It’s not hard to put two and two together.

Back on Hera’s ship, she discusses going back to save Ezra. Zeb disagrees, and Sabine concurs, logically inferring that since they just left, their return would mean the Imperials would “be waiting for us. We can’t save him.” She looks a bit regretful.

In the cell, Ezra convincingly baits the guard troopers to open the cell door for him. They do, and he throws a salute and runs. He ends up in an armory, grabs his bag, and steals a cadet helmet. This is something he would continue to do in the following seasons of Rebels, as well as the last episode of Ahsoka S1. It becomes a habit.

Understanding the danger he’d be in, Ezra exits the armory through a chute in the ceiling. Though this is certainly not the first time he would do this, Ezra mimics a trooper and diverts part of Kallus’ attention elsewhere away from his rescuers. In fact, Ezra would pull the very same stunt decades later minutes after getting on the Chimera.

Hera’s crew touch down, and she orders her team to “find Ezra”. Which is what she would end up having faith in Sabine and Ahsoka to do many years later.

Sabine chides Zeb, saying, “And this time, try not to leave until everyone’s back aboard.” Zeb argues, “That was not my fault!” Right on cue, Ezra drops down from the ceiling directly overhead. How did he find out exactly how to get to the hangar, while in the vents?

Zeb sucker punches Ezra, who argues at Zeb. “First you ditch me, then you hit me?” Zeb replies that the helmet threw him off. Which is absolutely hilarious.

Ezra approaches the pilot’s hold, and thanks Hera twice in succession. Evidently not used to people coming back for him, he subconsciously rubs the back of his head. He tells Hera, “I really didn’t think you’d come back for me.” In slightly different words in Ahsoka S1E8, Sabine admits, “I never thought I’d see him again”. In both instances, they admit to not believing in the possibility of what seems impossible.

Hera says that she can get Ezra home, but he admits to not having parents. Hindsight tells us the Imperials captured and killed them, but at this point, to Ezra, they were as good as gone without an explanation. He shakes this off by telling Hera, “And you’ve got somewhere else to be.”

The rest of the crew walks into the pilot’s hold, but as soon as Sabine walks past, Ezra self-consciously turns away. He tells the crew where the Wookies are being sent, and suggests the crew set course for Kessel. Amazingly, Hera agrees, not leaving any room for further argument. This is interesting because Ezra isn’t quite used to having people agree with him.

The crew lands in the mines, and Kanan signals for Ezra to sneak off undetected. He does so with remarkable ease, and frees the adult Wookies. But there is a young Wookie left. Ezra sees the youngster running from a trooper, and reflects on the fact that that could have been him. He rejoins the crew, and after Kanan reveals himself to be a Jedi, Ezra makes a run for it, going after the child Wookie. He chases the trooper and the child onto a walkway, and makes a Force leap (of, hilariously, 18-20 feet into the air), putting himself between the child and the trooper. It’s only funny here because at this point in time, Ezra doesn’t know he has the Force, but that he is able to perform inhuman feats. Ezra lets loose a barrage of energy bolts, but is unaware that Agent Kallus is behind him.

Note that this is more or less the very first time that Ezra ever rescues a child in need. Perhaps he is doing this because he knows he has been shown kindness, and so, decides to pass it on, knowing that it would only reap benefits.

So Kallus corners Ezra, who retorts with, “I don’t know where you get your delusions, buckethead.” Which is an exact line (barring only the finishing insult) that Leia would use years later down the line on Han Solo in ESB.

Kanan comes to the rescue, and tells Ezra and the child to jump. They do.

In the hold of the Ghost, the Wookies reunite, and Kanan is proud of Ezra. The teenager tells the youngster to “try to stay out of trouble.” Zeb, amused, remarks, “Ha. Look who’s talking.”

Ezra feels a little dejected, and asks Kanan, “So I guess you drop me off next?” Even Zeb doesn’t quite believe himself when he says that would be the case. Something’s changed.

Some time passes, and the Ghost touches down on Lothal. Ezra makes his way down a ladder, beneath (and adjacent to) which Sabine is helping to clean Chopper. Ezra steps off the ladder, looks at Sabine and Chopper once, and gives a small smile. He walks past and away from them, and Sabine watches Ezra retreat. Her unreadable expression gives nothing away.

Ezra birds farewell to Zeb, who jokingly retorts with, “Not if we see you first.” Zeb lightheartedly punches Ezra, who says, “Don’t worry, you won’t.” Ezra doesn’t look too happy to leave, yet Zeb wonders what went wrong.

Down the ramp, Kanan and Hera are waiting for him. Ezra returns the opened Holocron to Kanan, and tells them, “Good luck saving the galaxy” before running off, never once looking behind him.

Ezra returns to his home in the lookout communications tower. Thinking himself alone, he wonders aloud, “What’s the Force?” A faint whistling sound — from this point on often associated with Ezra’s connection to said Force — can be heard. Kanan, who had followed the teenager home, explains what it is. The age old, “It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” Which is the exact wording Ben Kenobi will tell Luke a few years from now. It could be that this statement is a piece of knowledge drilled into younglings at the Order.

Kanan tells Ezra that the Force is strong with him. How’d he open the Holocron otherwise? Ezra wonders what Kanan wants with him, and receives the following response: “To offer you a choice. You can keep the lightsaber you stole, let it become just another dusty souvenir. Or you can give it back and come with us, come with me, and be trained in the ways of the Force. You can learn what it truly means to be a Jedi.” Ezra isn’t typically one that obeys orders, so it makes sense that he is given a choice, one that he can freely choose.

Ezra says, “I thought the Empire wiped out all the Jedi.” Which is kind of true. Kanan states the obvious, “Not all of us.” Ezra looks down at Kanan’s lightsaber, but when he looks back up, Kanan is gone. Which is really odd.

Kanan opens the Holocron again, and Kenobi’s message plays. It gets to a part where he states, “the future is uncertain”, and the shot cuts to Sabine sitting alone in the common hold, contemplatively staring at her helmet.

The message ends, and Ezra arrives at Kanan’s doorway, and hands over the saber. He knows he made the right choice.

[honeycombstrawberry]

i didn't know i was lonely 'til i saw your face

pairing: luke skywalker x reader (gn pronouns)

rating: gen

word count: 1,128

prompt (from anonymous): “Could you please do an imagine where the reader helps Luke try to feel better after he loses his arm. And they even find an excuse to kiss him by saying that will make him feel better.”

one-sentence synopsis: after confronting his father and losing his hand, luke can really only be comforted by one person.

You waited anxiously outside the medical ward onboard the Redemption, the Nebulon-B escort frigate that had been repurposed as a Rebel cruiser. You knew Luke was in there, getting fitted with his new cybernetic right hand, and that he was probably fine, but it was killing you that you weren’t in there with him. Lando and Chewbacca had already left, on their way to find Jabba and Boba Fett, to save Han, and Leia had gone in to medical already to check on Luke, to make sure he was okay.

You leapt to your feet as the doors opened, and R2-D2 and C-3PO came out, bickering with each other, followed by Leia, who stopped at your side. You hadn’t known the group of friends too long, having become acquainted with them in Cloud City before you helped them escape, losing Han in the process, but becoming close with Leia as you went. You had only briefly spent time with Luke, having helped Leia save him following his encounter with Vader, and having been in charge of his well-being on the way to the Redemption for medical help, which had taken several days to undertake.

In those several days, you had already fallen for Luke. His stubborn nature, his determination, his intelligence, his humor, his kindness - you were really head-over-heels, and were completely gone over him. His strength and resilience had drawn you in, and you found you were unable to pull away. The days you had spent together had seemed to endear not only you to him, but also him to you; he trusted you, by the end of those days, and had insisted you wait for him while he was fitted for his cybernetics.

Leia seemed to sense all this in you as she paused beside you, putting her hand on your shoulder and squeezing. You smiled shakily.

“How is he?” you asked, trying to seem unaffected by the whole thing. Clearly, Leia saw right through it, and probably would have even if she wasn’t Force-sensitive.

“He’s better,” she assured you. “He’s been through a lot. He wants to see you, though.”

“What?” you asked, taken aback. He wanted to see you? Why? “Hasn’t he been through enough? Shouldn’t he be resting?”

“Tell him that yourself,” Leia laughed, before she pulled you in for a tight embrace.

“Hey,” you said, softly. You remembered Han, still, could see his face encased in carbonite, and recalled Leia’s confession to him. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. We’ll hear from Lando soon. It’ll all be alright.”

Leia pulled back, pressing her hand under her eye, laughing wetly. “It better be,” she said. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Mark my words,” you said, raising your right hand, as if you were giving an oath. She reached out and squeezed your wrist before releasing you completely.

“Take care of him,” Leia said softly, before turning and following after the two droids. Once they were all out of sight, you took a deep breath, squaring your shoulders before you peeked into the room.

“Hey,” you said, quietly. Luke was standing by the enormous window, looking out over the galaxy before him, but he turned back to look at you when you spoke. He didn’t seem startled; of course not. He was a Jedi now. “How’re you feeling?”

“Strange,” he answered honestly. You approached carefully, coming up to stand beside him. He held out his right arm, the cybernetic hand curled up in a fist. He relaxed the hand, letting the fingers unfurl, and you watched, fascinated.

“How does it feel?” you asked, watching the fingers curl up again, one by one, as if he just wanted to prove it could.

“Strange,” he said, again. You reached up, then hesitated.

“May I?” you asked, and he nodded. You touched the hand, cautiously, then with more intent. It felt peculiar, somehow unreal, but still very Luke, somehow. “It suits you.”

“I miss my hand,” he admitted, and you nodded, squeezing the cybernetic before releasing him.

“I think you always will,” you told him honestly. “It’s going to be an adjustment, sure. But I’m here to help you. A-And Leia’s here. And we’ll get Han back soon, too. He’ll be excited to see it.”

Luke laughed, once, softly. “Probably.”

“Definitely,” you told him. You turned slightly, and he mimicked you, the two of you standing to face each other, the whole of an entire galaxy stretched out before you outside the window at your left. “You’ll get used to it. We’ll all get used to it. It won’t be so bad.” You reached out again, picking up his wrist gently, placing his cybernetic hand in your left hand. You ran your thumb over the back of it. “I think it’s kind of cool, actually.”

“Cool?” Luke asked, incredulous. “I lost my hand. That’s not that cool.”

“But you were so brave,” you reminded him, feeling your face grow hot. You decided that you own embarrassment was worth it, if he felt better after you spoke. “So brave, Luke. I told you this. You saved your life and all of ours. Vader could’ve killed you, but all he got was your hand. I know,” you said, cutting him off when he was about to say something, “I know, it was hard. It was so horrible. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around him being your father, so I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling. But…”

“But?” he prompted, when you trailed off. You felt your face get even hotter.

“But,” you continued, hesitantly, keeping your eyes on the back of his hand. “You’re still here. And that’s all I can ask.” You paused, internally panicking, before you lifted his hand to your mouth and kissed it. You could feel his eyes boring holes into the top of your head, but you kept looking down. “I’m really proud of you, Luke.”

“Hey,” he said, and you inhaled deeply before chancing a look up at him. He turned his cybernetic hand around, reaching up to cup your face with it. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” you said, softly, before you just decided to bite the bullet, leaning up and kissing him gently. He didn’t respond for a shocked moment before he came to, kissing you back soundly. You pulled back, relishing the look on his face as he stared down at you. “I just want to make you feel better.”

“Trust me,” he said, breathlessly, laughing, “you’ve done that a thousand times over.” He leaned down to kiss you again, wrapping his arms around you. You threw your arms around his neck and kissed him, fiercely, throwing your all into it, with the galaxy spinning behind you and Luke, safe and sound, in your arms.

[tomtenadia]

For the love of a kingdom - 17

After ages here I am with another update. I think I passed the writer’s block with this fic and I hope it’s going in the right direction. I have so many doubts about it.

Anyways... enjoy

“So you are admitting that I have a sunny personality and that I am the only one who can pull off this mission.”

Rowan groaned and kept walking through the woods while Fenrys kept chatting “So you and Aelin are mates. Now that must make hating her very complicated.”

“We are almost in town. Shut it.”

As they approached the edges of Orynth, Rowan started to have a bad feeling. It was far too quiet and it was in the middle of the day when the town was always buzzing. Without being detected they walked slowly and Rowan reached the smithy “Stay here and keep an eye on things.”

Rowan entered the building and found it empty. Quickly he ran upstairs and found Jack in bed “Hey,”he walked to the man and noticed signs of beating on his body “what happened?” 

“I got a beating when I refused to forge anything for that bastard Perrington.” His hands shook and Rowan felt rage surge in him “They declared Aelin a traitor. He lowered the Galathynius banners from the castle. The people are scared. There’s a curfew at night. Food is limited and items like fruit and vegetables are too expensive and meat is unaffordable,” the man explained between coughs “The people are too afraid to rebel after the last time. He hanged three men.”

Rowan swore loudly. 

“If you want to be in charge of a rebellion, now is the time and the right one.”

“Fen is outside. You are coming with us.”

“I can’t come.” 

Rowan sat at his side “I cannot leave you here. Also, where we are going you will find some familiar faces.”

“No more stupid rebellion?”

Rowan shook his head and smiled “I am helping the queen.”

Jack stood “then let’s go, young man.”

Once outside he quickly told Fenrys of the plan but the youngster shook his head “I think I have a lead. Leave me here.”

Rowan frowned and nodded “check in with the Bane.”

“They know I am here. I will be fine.”

It felt so strange to Rowan to trust all of a sudden the guards who had tried to capture them. In a matter of days the hunters had turned into hunted.

He and Jack trudged along the woods. A couple of times he spotted Aedion’s men guarding the woods and he really hoped it was enough. The place was far away from everything.

Once in the house he spotted Aedion’s look of surprise at noticing the blacksmith “Jack?”

“Aedion, you are here too?”

“You two know each other?”

“Rowan… I am the royal blacksmith.” And he remembered when Aelin confessed to him that all her gear came from Jack. All weapons that he had made “Or most likely, you are…”

Aedion gasped “You forged all the royal swords?”

“If it makes you feel better I had no idea.” He replied and walked away to go back to check on Aelin.

When he entered the room he noticed the candles still burning. He knew they didn’t have an endless supply but she could not stay in the dark so he sat at her side and his hand caressed her head “Everything is falling apart. Perrington has taken over and your people are suffering. I want to help. I need to help.” He said n a cracked voice.

*

When Aelin opened her eyes she was surprised to see light and feel a bed under her. Also, there was no pain and for a moment she thought she had imagined Endovier. But as she tried to move the pain in her back was there again. What she was not expecting was the man sleeping at her side. Her bandaged hand was on his chest. Rowan, she repeated in her head. Her carranam. Her mate. She stared at him sleeping and wanted to trace the lines of his face with her hand but then she remembered his rejection and just stood still.

A second later she saw his eyes pop open and green met her gaze.

“Aelin…” his voice soft as he turned on his side and stared at her with concern “You are safe. You are home.”

“You saved me…” she said in a broken voice “you are not an illusion.”

He shook his head  and very gently grabbed the hand that was on his chest “I am real.” He felt a flicker of her flame dance and took it as a good sign “I am sorry I pushed you away.”

Aelin slowly lifted her hand in an invitation and he twinned his fingers in hers and he felt his power surround her in an embrace. Her flames made a very timid appearance and even that little display of power made her tired “You are my carranam,” she whispered quietly and he nodded. A part of him kept telling repeating that it was a big mistake. Contemplating the possibility of a future with her was going to end in a heartache. No matter their bond, how could he even think about being with her? And feelings… he was not sure yet what he felt for her. It could not call love but Rowan could not deny the pull or the mad desire to protect her. But even after all that, he knew that separating from her was not an option anymore “I was scared. I still am. you an I…”

She closed her eyes for a second and her hand very gently squeezed his “we will figure it out.”

He leaned forward and placed a very chaste kiss on her head “You need to rest…”

Aelin shook her head “Tell me…” she closed her eyes “tell me about my kingdom.”

“When you are better.”

She squeezed his hand with little strength and then flinched at the pain it had elicited “I need to know.” Her voice was fierce and it sounded like a command.

So Rowan gathered his resolve and told her “Perrington has taken over. He marked you as a traitor, took the bane from Aedion and is slowly killing the town.”

Aelin gasped and he grabbed her hand “they are all here. All safe.” He added at the question in her stare “but the people are suffering. Aedion has left some of the Bane in town to keep an eye and help as much as they can.”

Aelin tried to get off the bed as she moved horrendous pain shot through her.

“Don’t.” He stopped her “your back is far from healed. We will deal with this. You are not moving from this bed.”

She tried to protest once more “Please…” and gently he pushed her back “we are all on this.” Her eyes widened “Yes, even Lorcan. Turns out Elide has some magic power over him.”

His hand brushed hair away from her eyes. The touch so gentle that it surprised Aelin. Gods when had she started falling for him? When did the hate had started to become a mask to hide her true feelings?

Still belly down, she turned her head and saw Rowan’s stare on her, his features soft. Mala save her she wanted to kiss him. Taste once more his lips.

“We are working on a plan,” he continued and leaned back on the mattress never letting go of her hand “but for now we need to lay low and avoid danger.”

“My people…” her voice was strained and every single word seemed to cost her a lot if energy.

“Let us work. You think about getting better. They will need their queen back.”

“They…” a pause “they do not want me.”

“Once they know the truth they will scream for your return and…” he paused “from what Jack told me they have started to rebel already.”

Another squeeze of her hand “now go back to sleep.” But as he made a move to stand Aelin’s hand tugged hard “don’t leave, please.” The anguish in her voice knocked the air from his lungs “I won’t. I am here. You are safe.”

She nodded and closed her eyes while the pad of his thumb traced soothing circles on her while he hold it.

In a matter of minutes she was asleep.

**

Once he was positive Aelin was asleep he left the room and joined the others.

“How is she?” Asked Lys.

“She just fell asleep but she is still in a great deal of pain and scared.”

Aedion swore loudly. Aidan was asleep so he was okay “that bastard. I swear I am going to skin him alive and then let him rot in the square and have birds eat him.”

Rowan shared that rage. They had hurt his mate.

“Jack gave us a good update on the situation,” explained Gavriel “First we need to start spreading the word that the queen had been held at Endovier by Perrington as a slave again.”  He stared at Aedion for a second and then turned away “I know that Fenrys is town and he will work his magic.” He winked at the ladies.

“We need to start to find a way to help the people without drawing too much attention on us.” Suggested Vaughan “luckily for you, you have the help of the rebellion and this time is much more interesting.

Rowan smiled at his friend and was happy to have him fully at his side.

“We have our ways of… obtaining things.” Suggested Gavriel “and the idea of stealing from Hamel gives me the fuzzy feelings.”

“What about Perrington? How do we get rid of him?”

“Not yet. We need to come up with a smart way to depose the bastard.” Added Rowan. He was not happy by the idea but they could not go in half assed. 

“Let the people rebel and have him skinned alive.” Added Lorcan with an evil grin.

“What worries me is a master they have talked about. Someone else, someone bigger is pulling the strings,” added Rowan remembering what he had heard.

“We can start by stealing back from this Hamel guy.” Added Vaughan and winked “stealing was what we were really good at.”

Rowan flinched “you need to be extra careful.”

Connall laughed “you are the only one who got caught by Aedion’s men.”

“This is the right rebellion. The right thing to do.” Continued Fenrys and surprisingly Aedion nodded “I’ll have my men help you.”

“If we want to hit Hamel we need to know his routes.”

Fenrys grinned “leave that to me. I have befriended a woman who works in his mansion. I can ask her to do some digging.”

“Try and not put her in danger,” added Gavriel “ok having help but we need to think about these people too.”

Fen nodded “if you are okay I can go to the taverna tonight and set things in motion.”

The men nodded “you be careful too.”

Fen smiled again “again, I was not the one who got caught by the bane.” 

Rowan gave him a rude gesture and the young man laughed happily.

How could Fen always be so happy was beyond Rowan’s.

*

The red-haired man walked out of the pub and jumped in a carriage for his meeting. Perrington had told him to join him in a mansion outside of Orynth. His only words: it’s time.

It took him a good half an hour and finally reached the building. He knew that place. It had been unoccupied for a very long time.

He looked outside of the carriage and saw Perrington waiting beside his carriage in a heavy coat to fend off the cold.

“Follow me,” said Perrington with urgency “my master does not like waiting.”

Hamel followed the other man in the carriage and the it started its climb along the driveway.

Once at the doors they descended and a man, a valet probably, was waiting for them.

The imposing doors of the mansion opened and they were guided through a heavy set of doors. The building was barely illuminated and Hamel noticed it was verging on cold. Who was the psychopath who would not heat a house in Orynth?

They were taken into a grand room, again scarcely illuminated but at the bottom of the room there was a figure.

Perrington took a step forward and went down on one knee “my queen,” he said bowing his head.

Hamel just stood, not showing any inclination to pay his respects.

Perrington glared at him and the red-haired man eventually gave the dark figure a quick bow.

“Come forward both of you.”

The two men started walking, Hamel keeping at least a few paces behind the other man.

As they got closer the woman’s features became clearer and in front of them appeared a woman with black hair and violet eyes.

“Is this the man?”

Perrington nodded “Mr Hamel had been helping me destabilise the traitor queen.”

“And where is she now?” The woman’s tone was soft.

“She is in Endovier, my queen. She will not get out of there alive.”

A flash of anger passed on the woman’s features “I do not want her killed. I have plans for my dear niece. Keep her away locked for now. I will let you know when I need her.”

Perrington nodded.

“What will we get if we help you?” Hamel’s tone was full of challenge but the woman laughed “Keep destabilising the kingdom, turning the people against the queen. Once I am in power I will make you two very rich men.” She stared at both “do not fail me, because you do not want me as an enemy.”

Perrington bowed “of course not, my queen.”

“Now disappear both of you. I am tired of your presence.”

Quickly they both left the room.

*

The queen sat back on her chair and with a flicker of her hand an object that looked a lot like a collar appeared in her hand “You will be mine, Aelin. And when I do, this collar will allow me to access your power. You will be my weapon to finally bring Terrasen to its knees.”

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[deanwinchestergf]

and why would an angel rescue me from hell? good things do happen dean. not in my experience. i'm not here to perch on your shoulder. i was getting too close to the humans in my charge. you. to everything there is a season. you made an exception for me. you're different. for what's worth, i would give anything not to have you do this. i learned my lesson while i was away, dean. i serve heaven, i don't serve men and i certainly don't serve you. but you guys aren't supposed to be there, you're not in this story. yeah, well, we're making it up as we go. i'm hunted, i rebelled and i did it all, all of it, for you. so what i'm thelma and you're louise and we're just gonna hold hands and sail off this cliff together? i need your help because you're the only one who'll help me. that's a pretty nice timing, cas. we had an appointment. what happened to you cas? you used to be human, or at least like one. but cas, you'll call right? if you get into real trouble? this is cas, guys. he has gone to the mat cut and bleeding for us so many freaking times, don't we owe him the benefit of the doubt at least? it sounds so simple when you say it like that, where were you when i needed to hear it? i was there, where were you? i'm doing this for you, dean. i'm doing this because of you. but we were family once, i would've died for you, i almost did a few times. i've lost lisa, i've lost ben and now i've lost sam. don't make me lose you too. cas, you child, why didn't you listen to me. you used to fight together, bestest of friends, actually. if you remember, then you know you did the best you could at the time. you have fallen in every imaginable way. the very touch of you corrupts. sorry but i'd rather have you, cursed or not. well, i'll go with you. i prayed to you cas, every night. cas, we're getting out of here, we're going home. i mean you kept saying you didn't think it would work, did you not trust me? talk to me. cas, it's me. we need you, i need you. i won't hurt dean. cause you didn't trust me? you didn't trust me. please, man, i need you here. nobody wants him here more than i do. you gave us an order, castiel, and we gave you our trust. don't lose it over one man. you really believe we three will be enough? we always have been. his true weakness is revealed. you draped yourself with the flag of heaven but ultimately, it was all about saving one human. i'm glad you're here, man. how are you, dean? and then you'll kill the angel, castiel. now that one, that i suspect would hurt something awful. and when you turn, everyone you know, everyone you love, they could be long dead. everyone except me. i'm not gonna send lucifer into battle inside cas, what if he doesn't make it? it's not an it, sam. it's cas. but you're always there, you know? i could go with you. you mean too much to me, to everything. i'm gonna cure you of your human weakness, same way i cured my own. it's a gift, you keep those. you mean we? yes, dumbass, we. we lost everything and now you're gonna bring him back. we got cas back, that's a pretty damn big win. just don't get dead again. it's good to hear your voice. so this is goodbye? but i swear if he did something to her, if she's- then you're dead to me. either get on board or walk away. i don't know what's god and what isn't, and it's driving me crazy. dean, you asked what about all of this is real. we are. you used trust me, give me the benefit of the doubt, now you can barely look at me. i think it's time for me to move on. you didn't deserve that. since when do we get what we deserve? maybe if you didn't just up and leave us. i left but you didn't stop me. i should've stopped you. you're my best friend but i just let you go. and i forgive you, of course i forgive you. i'm sorry it took me so long, i'm sorry it took me til now to say it. you did it cas. okay, cas, i need to say something. you don't have to say it, i heard your prayer. well, here's to being right. you know what every other version of you did after gripping him tight and raising him from perdition? they did what they were told, but not you.

i know how you see yourself, dean. you see yourself in the same way your enemies see you. you're destructive and you're angry and you're broken, you're daddy's blunt instrument. you think that hate and anger, that's what drives you, that's who you are. it's not. and everyone who knows you, sees it. everything you've done, the good and the bad, you have done for love. you raised your little brother for love, you fought for this whole world for love. that's who you are. you're the most caring man on earth. you are the most selfless, loving human being that i will ever know. ever since we met, ever since i pulled you out of hell, knowing you has changed me. because you cared, i cared. i cared about you, but i cared about sam, i cared about jack, i cared about the whole world, because of you. you changed me, dean. i love you.

[omgrachwrites]

The Princess and The Duke - Chapter Twenty

Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader

Summary: As the Princess of Spain, you were always supposed to marry King James of England to make an alliance between Spain and England. When he marries a woman at his court for love, you are married off to his best friend, Sirius Black the Duke of Bedford to keep the alliance. However, the court is riddled with secrets and a rebel in the North starts to rise against the Throne. Royal AU.

Warnings: angst, mentions of death, character death, tiny bit of fluff.

Words: 2671

Disclaimer: This gif doesn’t belong to me, and I’m sorry for the gif I used!

A/N: So here we are at the end! Thank you so much for supporting me with this fic and I'm sorry for this chapter, I kept James and Lily alive to make this part even more sad! This was actually going to end in such an angst filled way but I didn’t want to do that to you guys, though I might write the alternate ending at some point! Hope you guys all enjoy and please let me know what you think! I love you all! xxx

Chapter Twenty - Wherever You Are

Dread coiled in your stomach that fateful morning as you got yourself dressed and pinned your hair. Reggie was sleeping soundly, letting out little snuffles but still, you picked him up and nuzzled your nose into his fine dark hair as you felt the tears build up behind your eyes. You weren’t aware that you could possibly cry as much as you had done, there were little red rashes beneath your eyes where the salt from your tears had irritated your skin. Your heart seemed to be in a constant state of pain as your husband awaited his trial.

This trial should not be even happening, you were appalled at how James had arrested Sirius for treason, “we’ll be alright, little one,” you whispered to your baby boy, “papa isn’t a traitor, he’s a good man,” you pressed a kiss to Reggie’s little forehead.

James was originally going to hold Sirius’ trial the day after Halloween, but Lily had convinced him otherwise, Lily knew that you wanted nothing more than to be at Sirius’ side. So, the King relented and allowed a few days for you to recover after giving birth to Reggie. Unfortunately, it meant that Sirius would have to spend more time locked in the tower but you knew that Sirius understood.

“Y/N?” a soft warm voice came from the doorway and you looked over with blurred vision to see Andromeda who was smiling at you kindly, “I think the King and Queen are ready to start, I’ll look after the children, because they shouldn’t have to be subjected to such an event.”

You nodded with a sniffle as you placed Reggie into her open, waiting arms, “thank you so much. Are you not coming to the trial?” you muttered, feeling like a shell of yourself.

Andromeda shook her head with a sad smile, “I can’t watch that happen to him, I can’t. He’s not just my cousin, he’s my best friend. I’m so sorry that I can’t be there for you both; I know that he’s not the traitor, he would never betray us. Never. I don’t know what James is thinking having him arrested.”

“You are so amazing, Andromeda, we are so blessed to have you in our lives and we appreciate you so much,” you tried to smile but you feared that it came out as more of a grimace.

Andromeda leaned forward to kiss your cheek with a sweet sad smile, “whatever happens today, it’s been an honour to serve two people who are completely made for each other, two people who are soulmates. Good luck.”

You felt tears sliding down your cheeks, stinging at your sensitive skin, you adored Andromeda, you couldn’t have got by without her, “let’s just hope that the King sees sense and does the right thing. He must know that his best friend could never do this to him, he just wants someone to blame, he sees enemies where there are friends, and it’ll be his undoing,” you mumbled with a tight smile as you departed from your chambers.

You would never admit it out loud but you had a strange sense of foreboding, a horrible feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach. You couldn’t help but feel that something was going to go dreadfully wrong.

As you made your way to the Throne Room where the trial was being held, you just couldn’t understand why on Earth James would believe that Sirius was a traitor. What had happened to make him believe that? Snape was already in the dungeons for committing treason. Under coercion, he had admitted that he had been working for Voldemort but apparently he had told him nothing of the prophecy. You supposed that he had to be lying, he just had to be. According to Lily, the evidence they had against Sirius was damning but it was a lie or a set up, it just had to be.

The atmosphere was heavy and full of dread as you walked into the Throne Room and Lily gave you a brave smile from where she stood at James’ side. James had a grim tight look on his face; the King that you had first met a few springs ago was kind and benevolent. That King was no more, it seemed like his heart had hardened.

Your heart broke when the guards roughly dragged Sirius into the room, showing him no mercy. The past few days that he’d spent in the Tower had seemed to age him considerably, his eyes were starting to take on a haunted look but they softened when he looked at you. You tried to offer him a small smile.

As Sirius was pushed to his knees before the King, James glared at him as he produced a letter, “you’ll remember writing this, I bet,” he snarled and began to read the letter out loud “’Lord Voldemort, in regards to my last letter, you will now know how to break Dumbledore’s enchantments. There are underground caverns and a secret entrance on the West side of the castle. They will lead you into the royal chambers and you can complete your work. Your faithful servant, Sirius Black, Duke of Bedford.”

James tossed the chilling letter at Sirius’ feet, “if it hadn’t been for Peter telling us of the conversation he overhead you having then we would be dead. We managed to prepare and we managed to defeat Voldemort when he came after us. We were supposed to be your friends, your sovereigns. How could you do this to us? How could you plot to kill our son?”

“But, I didn’t!” Sirius shouted, “I didn’t have a conversation of this nature with anybody! I didn’t write that letter, I wouldn’t!”

“Then how do you explain the fact that your seal is on the letter?!” James demanded.

You saw Sirius’ face falter for just a moment and you almost winced, hoping that James didn’t catch it, “my seal was stolen.”

“A likely story,” Remus spoke up, his voice breaking and he looked like he was on the verge of tears.

“Where is Peter? He’s lying to you! I saw him sneaking around the castle with a hooded figure!”

“Of course,” James mockingly slapped a hand to his forehead, “blaming the victim is the right thing to do, you’re just trying to save your own skin. Peter was found dead in the hallways, shortly after he came to warn us of your plan.”

You barely managed to conceal a gasp, Peter was dead? “I didn’t kill him,” Sirius whispered, “I was with my wife who was giving birth to our third child!” he glanced at you and you gave him an encouraging nod.

James looked at you before looking back at Sirius, narrowing his eyes, “the midwife says that you left a couple of hours after the birth, around the time that Peter was murdered, he was killed with your ruby encrusted dagger.”

Sirius swallowed nervously, “I lost that dagger shortly after coming back from our last battle with Voldemort,” that was the truth, you remembered Sirius lamenting after its loss. It was clear that someone was setting him up. Why didn’t James see that? “And the reason for my leaving? It was because I went to see if my twins were awake so they could meet their baby brother!”

“And on the way back, you saw an opportunity to kill Peter!” it was clear that James was hitting Sirius hard with the accusations in the hope that Sirius would confess.

“No!” Sirius took a deep breath, “you’re my best friend, you always have been and I would never do anything to hurt you or your family because you’re my family too, please, you have to believe me,” the tone of Sirius’ voice was pleading but James looked unmoved, which annoyed you.

“The evidence is damning, Sirius. It was your seal, your letter and your dagger, you had the means to kill Peter and betray us. What did you think would happen? Did you think Voldemort would put you on the Throne when he killed us?” James hissed but Sirius said nothing but you could see that he was crying you just wanted to hold him. James glanced over to you, “we found no evidence that Y/N was involved,” cold dread shot through your body and your vision blurred.

“She had nothing to do with any of this,” Sirius glanced at you with tear soaked cheeks and the small smile that he gave you broke your heart.

James nodded, offering you a sympathetic look, “then I’m sorry that you’re married to a traitor,” anger boiled in your veins at James’ words and it was an effort to keep your face straight. He glanced back at Sirius, “Sirius Black, I absolve you of your lands and titles; you are no longer the Duke of Bedford. I charge you with treason and I sentence you to hang by the neck until dead,” Lily gasped in surprise as she looked at her husband.

You felt like you were going to be sick and you rushed forwards to kneel at James’ feet, taking Sirius’ hand in yours, “please, Your Majesty, I beg you, don’t kill him! Think of the children, please,” tears streamed down your cheeks and Lily shot James a meaningful look.

James sighed and bowed his head, glaring at Sirius, “very well, you have an amazing wife who begs for your life even though you’re a traitor,” Sirius just looked at the floor and in that moment you hated James for hurting him. You couldn’t imagine how hard it was to endure this from his best friend, “you’re going to spend the rest of your life in a cell. Take him away,” he nodded to the guards.

You cried out in anguish as the guards began to drag your beautiful husband away. How were you going to live without him? “I love you, Sirius.”

Sirius choked on his tears, “I love you too, and please remember me!”

“Of course!” you sobbed.

You didn’t even get to kiss him one last time; you would never forgive James for breaking up your family. Sirius was innocent; you would bet your life on it.

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

Over the next couple of years that Sirius spent in the Tower, he was full of despair and anger, he couldn’t quite believe that James had locked him away; he couldn’t understand why James hadn’t believed him. How could James think that Sirius could ever hurt his friends? What hurt the most was the fact that he couldn’t see the love of his life or his children, the pain was almost unbearable. He couldn’t even see the grounds from the tiny window in his cell so he couldn’t even catch the slightest glance of Y/N.

In that dank, dark cell Sirius was all alone, he was practically withering away. He wanted his wife and he wanted his children. Reggie had only been a couple of days old when Sirius had been thrown into the Tower, Reggie wouldn’t even remember him.

The guards were particularly cruel; they told Sirius everything that was happening at court. They had told him that the King was forcing Y/N to remarry so she wouldn’t bring shame upon England because she was the wife of a traitor. Sirius had been close to throwing up at this news and he died inside, the knowledge that someone else was going to love his wife killed him inside. A few weeks later, the guards grumbled as they told Sirius that the man that Y/N was supposed to marry had died in a hunting accident. It sounded awful but at the sound of that news, Sirius could breathe again.

10 Years Later

Sirius was rudely awakened by the guards pounding on the bars of his cell, their voices filled with glee, “oi! Wake up, you have some visitors,” Sirius groaned and walked over to the bars to see the guards leering faces, “best make it a good goodbye, you’ll never see your family again after today. Your pretty little wife is going to marry the Austrian Prince.”

The pain that shot through Sirius’ chest almost made his knees buckle and tears stung at his eyes, he backed away from the bars so his family could enter. The breath was stolen from his lungs when his family walked into the cell and the door was closed behind them. Y/N was so beautiful and his children were growing up, and he’d missed it all.

“Sirius!” Y/N cried out as she ran to him and Sirius gathered her up in his arms, after 12 years, she was in his arms again. Once more, she was breathing life back into him, “I’ve missed you so much I love you,” she sobbed into his chest before she cupped his face and drew him into a passionate kiss, her tears running over his lips.

“I missed you too, I missed all of you, I love you,” he pressed his forehead against hers, grinning for the first time in 12 years, it was a wonder that he still remembered how to, he looked at his beautiful children with a smile as Elena and Johnathan ran into his arms, their faces bright with recognition. Reggie smiled at him with a blank look on his face but there was love in his eyes, “look at you three, all grown up.”

“We wish you could have been there, father,” Reggie smiled before hesitantly walking towards him and pulling him into a hug. Sirius smiled as he hugged his son tightly, “it’s good to meet you,” Reggie whispered.

Sirius’ smile dropped a second later when he remembered why they were there, “you’re marrying a Prince? Congratulations.”

Y/N rolled her eyes with a giggle and she lowered her voice so the guards wouldn’t hear, “I am never going to marry another, Lily and James just thinks that I am. The Prince doesn’t want to marry me either, he prefers the company of men,” she blushed, “but he believes you’re innocent, he’s a good man.”

“He believes I’m innocent?” Sirius asked, feeling gobsmacked, he was also elated that Y/N wasn’t going to remarry.

“Yes, and he wants to help, we’re getting you out of here tonight, we’ve got a ship leaving the docks at midnight, the Prince will give us sanctuary in Austria.”

Sirius was excited to get out of here, to feel the sun on his skin again, breaking him out of his cell would be dangerous but he glad that Y/N had an ally, but there was something that bothered him, “you’re coming with me? I don’t want to ruin your lives.”

Johnathan sighed as he rolled his eyes, “come on father, we’re going wherever you do. We’re not letting you go alone.”

“But you’ll always be having to hide, that’s no life for you, any of you,” Sirius bit his lip; he wanted to believe that it was possible but it just wasn’t.

Elena took his hand, “papa,” she whispered, “we love you and we’re a family. We’ve been apart for 12 years; you’re insane if you think we’re not going with you. We want to know you and for you to know us.”

Sirius teared up and sniffled as he looked over at his wife who grinned and cupped his cheeks, “we’ll be here an hour before midnight, the guards won’t be a problem. Leave them to us, I love you.”

“I love you too,” he grinned and kissed Y/N deeply before hugging all of his children in turn, excited to be in the world again. The plan was set and at midnight, he was successfully on a ship with his family by his side and a strong ally at his back. This wasn’t how he thought his life was going to be, he never thought he would be running from James’ court but here he was. They were going to be okay. Sirius was free, they were all free, and most importantly, they were together.

-Fin-

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

@smiithys ​ @elayneblack ​ @amelie-black @siriuslyjanhvi @pregnant-piggy ​ @lindatreb ​ @mabelle-cherie ​ @hxrgreeves ​ @britishspidey @mads-bri @classicrocketqueen @sxtansqueen @hufflepuffzutara @potters-heart @bruxa0007 ​ @ourstarsailor ​ @fific7 ​ @galwithbluethoughts ​ @2410slb @sunles @krismeunicornbaobei @theincredibledeadlyviper @deathkat657 @lonegryffindor2005 @writing-your-heart-out​

[sapphiredany]

Imagine thinking destiel shippers are crazy when these lines exist:

See, he has this weakness. He likes you.

Don't ever change.

Then you'd kill the angel Castiel. Now, that one! That I suspect would hurt something awful.

Cas is family.

Dean, this is exactly how we screw ourselves. We make the heart choice instead of the smart choice.

It? It's not an "it", Sam, it's Cas.

Dean, we'll get him back. We'll find Cas, okay?

Alright, huggy bear.

You're hoping Castiel will return to you. I admire your loyalty. I only wish he felt the same way.

Darling, if there's one thing I've learned in all my years on the road, it's when somebody's pining for somebody else. Oh, don't try and hide it, now. Follow your heart.

I'm glad you're here, man.

Everyone you love, they could be long dead. Everyone except me.

I don't know, Dean, if he's so sketchy then why were you praying to him?

I'm coming with you.

You made an exception for me.

I'm Thelma, you're Louise and we're just gonna hold hands and sail off this cliff together?

Of course. Your problems always come first.

Well, you on the other hand... looking good.

I miss him.

I did it to protect you.

I did everything I could to get you out. Everything! I did not leave you.

We gave you our trust. Don't lose it over one man.

Cas, buddy... I need you.

I've been trying to stay one step ahead of them to... To keep them away from you.

Cas, you just gave up an entire army for one guy.

I'll watch over you.

I'll go with you.

I'm gonna find some way to redeem myself to you.

I was there. Where were you?

Dean, I do everything that you ask. I always come when you call. And I am your friend. Still, despite your lack of faith in me and now your threats, I've just saved you yet again. Has anyone but your closest kin ever done more for you?

I'm doing this for you, Dean.

Don't make me lose you too.

I'd have died for you.

I wont hurt Dean.

Let me bottom line it for you. I'm not leaving here without you. Understand?

I prayed to you, Cas. Every night!

Dean and I do share a more profound bond.

Nobody wants him here more than I do.

I gave everything for you.

Well, Cas, not for nothing, but the last person who looked at me like that... I got laid.

I know you're in there. I know you can hear me. Cas, it's me. We're family. We need you. I need you.

Too much heart was always Castiel's problem.

Sorry, but I'd rather have you. Cursed or not.

I'm hunted. I rebelled. And I did it, all of it, for you.

I was getting too close to the humans in my charge. You.

Go ask him, he was your boyfriend first.

The very touch of you corrupts. When Castiel first laid a hand on you in hell, he was lost.

Sorry, you have me confused with the other angel? You know, the one in the dirty trenchcoat, who's in love with you?

But then, after a rousing speech, his true weakness is revealed. He's in love. With humanity.

And for what again? Oh, that's right. To save Dean Winchester. That was your goal, right? Ultimately, it was all about saving one human, right?

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP meme from Werewolf: The Apocalypse "Kinfolk: Unsung Heroes" Introduction & Ch.1

"I have normal human fears and frailties, despite my faith."

"I’m terrified I won’t be there when they need me, that I won’t be able to give fully of myself to save them when the time comes. And the price of my failure, for them, would be too high."

"It was like nothing else mattered, nothing else could fill my eyes like the sight of him."

"Now, of course, I realize I was in shock at the time clammy skin, disorientation, that sort of thing."

"That night misted over my senses; even now, it seems more like a vivid dream than anything else."

"I had to watch. I couldn’t turn away."

"That night, I saw I had to protect him. He needed me, and it’s just as simple as that."

"Let’s just say what I know has come in handy."

"The best folks give the most of whatever they can."

"Think about it — would you like to go through childbirth every nine months from age 14 to 50?"

"We’re human beings, dammit!"

"I’ll always do anything I can to help, even if I’m royally pissed; I don’t expect thanks or money, either. But it would be nice to get some respect."

"I'm not alone in saying that I hate being patronized."

"Give an inch, they’ll take a mile" is what some of them think about us."

"The rhetoric a lot of them use sounds like the same crap bigots give when trying to “justify” why women and minorities shouldn’t have equal rights."

"Just once, I’d like to feel like an equal, a partner in all this."

"Ever think about how hard things would be without us?"

"I see by your scowl that doesn’t satisfy you."

"Think of it as normal family responsibilities, magnified a thousand times."

"It’s practically medieval!"

"I mean, it looks like such fun to turn into a wolf."

"There are connections like you wouldn’t believe. Completely outside the law, these people can get dirt on the opposition, perform b&e without leaving a trace and provide muscle no other boss can beat. All they ask is some capital, some boltholes and a little legal cover. Sweetest deal in the world!"

"What do I think about it? Imagine what it’d be like for someone to call you and say you’d missed out on a million dollars because you got one wrong number on the lottery ticket."

"Some are too caught up in the things of humans —chasing after money to have what advertisers insist they can’t do without, living their soap-opera lives and not seeing what the world is really all about. I pity them."

"There is sweeter revenge than death."

"I laugh with joy thinking how your heart will burst should you ever have to face him in battle."

"It’s a great honor to be who I am, who we are. But it’s scary, too."

"Families can quarrel, snarl and cut one another to the quick, but in times of trouble, they’ll stick together."

"God, Allah, Gaia, the Great Spirit or whoever gave us this job, so we have to do the best we can with it."

"Blood also fetters our lives in hatred as well as love, I’m afraid to say."

"I’m not saying this is a fact, but if she was abused, it might explain some things."

"I’m sorry, I can’t quite imagine a moment of sensual passion with someone I don’t love, much less hardly know!"

"In other words, it’s the connections that’re vital, not the money or the mileage."

"Many have wealth, but not all; lineage, not money, is most important."

"That’s a heavy price to pay in a harsh world."

"Self-sacrifice is also important."

"Sacrifice comes in terms of emotional costs, too."

"It’d be pretty stupid for me to become a gun-toting mercenary, for example."

"To put a positive spin on all this, I guess I’d say it’s nice to be needed."

"I admit I don’t really understand what it is or when it’ll be, but many’s the Irish tale where a small oversight wreaked terrible disaster."

"So I got online and made a few phone calls and tried to get the “truth” in as many forms as I could."

"The word “family” has come to mean a lot more things than the 1950s concept of mommy, daddy and two perfect children."

"Raising children is no bed of roses, either."

"Kids love to test their parents and see just how far they can push and still get away with it."

"There’s no way this could be easy."

"Some days, I have to bite my tongue, and that does get old."

"I was just too stupid and blind to see it."

"I always felt like I was split, alone, part of something I couldn’t name."

"Listen, you have no idea what it’s like to watch someone you love slowly lose her mind."

"There are some, well, bimbos."

"You know, the ones that like to control CEOs and topple careers."

"Here, try a piece of this chicken gizzard. I get ’em real cheap down at the butcher shop. No one else seems to want these extra parts. I grill ’em with a little barbecue sauce and honey mustard. Delicious! Thanksgiving’s always the best time, though. Then there’s turkey necks for the takin’!"

"Our families are pretty big, and we figure even the most distant cousin or friend of a friend’s part of the group."

"I’m sure you know, working with people all the time, how far thanks and a friendly smile go when you’re dead on your feet. It’s like the sun’s come out on a cloudy day."

"I mean, some of that stuff is long outdated!"

"It’s more a matter of belief and pureness of spirit, if you ask me."

"The Network also has a lot of splinter groups that organize among youth, educators, environmentalists and so on."

"The Network also has a lot of splinter groups that organize among youth, educators, environmentalists and so on."

"We’re steadfast and steady, yet vibrant and alive, warriors, artists, writers, musicians beyond compare."

"I don’t know if we can save them, but we won’t give up."

"To be tested and accepted by the greatest warriors in the world — no greater honor can we ask for."

"Think of us as the tiny little parts that hold a machine together. Maybe it could function without us, but not without a lot of wear and tear on the system. You get my drift."

"If leader seems weak, I test him. He shows strength, I stop."

"They’re the ones who are causing all the problems by rebelling against the people in charge. They need to settle down and just be content with what they’ve got, if you want my opinion."

"Why should I worry? It’s a clear day. Traffic’s light, but walking’s fine. You get to see where you’re going. I’ll hit a little town ’fore dark and trade a song or story for some food and a piece of floor."

"Revolutions are intolerable and inexcusable."

"The aristocracy attained their positions for a reason, for only the most worthy were chosen to lead, after all. If the

lower classes overthrow the aristocrats, anarchy is the sure result. One need only look at history; Can the Russians truly say their lot improved after they murdered the Romanovs?"

"History has always been a beloved subject to me."

"I pity those souls, displaced by fortune, who are ignorant of their heritage. How can one know who he is without knowing where he comes from? A man — or woman — is the sum of all who came before."

"Money is not the issue; many great families lost their fortunes, yet retain their nobility."

"It’s a poor teacher who doesn’t learn from her student; in this way, the knowledge of both increases."

"Dreams, of course, are the pathways of our souls; here rest our secret desires, fears and hopes."

"You doubt me. You don’t speak against me, but I can see your heart is dubious."

"There’s no greater glory than to serve the destiny of the universe."

"The lacerations looked exactly like the work of sharp teeth, deep into his flesh."

"I won’t go s’far as to say there’s undying loyalty, but we do have a lot of respect for each other."

"Were I as capable as my ancestors, I’d kill you now and never spare a second thought."

"No atonement can replace those lost children."

"Thus far, we have been lucky, but it’s just a matter of time before someone we don’t want sneaks in. It’s not that I want to close ranks by any means; I just wish we paid a little closer attention to who came in from the cold."

"Yeah, yeah, I know you think we’re a dime a dozen. I’d like to believe we’re a little more special than most."

"We’ve built too much for a rotten apple to spoil it all."

"I don’t believe this guy; it seems almost too perfect to be true!"

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

SCOTTISH WHISKY

Filip “Chibs” Telford x Reader

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings: NSFW, SMUT

Thanks to my lovely beta reader @chibsytelford ✨

Author comments: You know, another dirty dream. I hope you all enjoy. Gif isn't mine, credits to the author.

Tag list: @starrynite7114 ​ @chibsytelford ​ @dazzledamazon ​ @mara-mpou ​ @sammskellington ​ @gemini0410 ​ @1-800-imagines ​ @briana-mishell24 ​@sassymox @whyisgmora @aquamento @sadeyesgf @viviansafizada @samcrobae @jade770 @witchy-wish @rebel-without-cause-x @xx--day-dreamer--xx @spiced-reads @tita127 @ifoundmyhappythought @enamouravecleslivresetlechocolat @minnicelli ✨ (if you wanna be tagged, send me a message!)

“Do you know where is Oswald's warehouse?”

“Yes”.

“Bring the crane”.

That's enough information from Jax, before he hangs up the call. You don't ask. You only take the orders and you execute them. Zipping the jacket of Teller-Morrow and wearing the black sunglasses, you walk towards the big van to check for the direction in your phone. Following the navigator indications by some secondary roads, it takes you almost twenty minute to reach the property. For some reason, you don't get surprised when finding the motorbikes practically destroyed, the guys try to stand them up dragging them close to the crane.

Stepping out of it, you raise an eyebrow somewhat curious, pressing the button in the remote control to lift down the ramp. Their faces are torn between frustration and anger. Pursuing your lips, you look at the president rubbing his face with both hands.

“Who is that beautiful lady?” A strong irish accent makes you twist your neck slightly.

You didn't repair on the four unknown men presents there. You know Romero and Luis. You have seen them sometimes at the club. But not the others.

“I'm talking to you, lady”. The man says again.

Jax is looking at you pleading with his blue eyes to not reply. But that suited man seems like the problem there, and who gave you more work than you can handle having to fix their motorbikes. Or, at least, having to try it. The crew is behind you, knowing well that they're going to enjoy your protective and savage mood because of them. Jackson took you out of the streets. Jackson gave you a home, a family. Jackson saved your life without asking him to do it. No one fucks with him in your presence.

With a soft and falsely smile, you walk close to the irish. The president tries to stop you, by raising an arm on air. Holding his hand for an instant, you nod at him, letting him know that it's okay for you, before continuing your steps. Shorting the distance. Your hands travels to the lapels of his black jacket, seeing sideways how his men point at you, waiting for a false step to shoot you. But the irish one not even flinches, touring your body from top to bottom with his dirty orbs.

“If I would… want to drink a good whisky…” Your voice is melodious and sweet, putting on well the tie around his pale neck. “I would drink an old scottish aged in Jerez's barrels. Not a whisky mixed in the bathtub from a basement”.

You can hear the chuckles behind your back. Are you making a reference about Chibs? Maybe. That man drives you crazy. He's intelligent, has a good aim and his accent is insane for your mind. Even so, you're not into the irish game.

“Do you know I could cut your throat right now, and that your… friends couldn't do anything to avoid it?” He says slowly, dragging every word above his tongue.

“I'm just a mechanic, sir, who cares?”. Palming his chest, you pull your body some inches away. “But, you have already made a fool of yourself, don't you think make it twice it would be too much?”

Actually, you don't give a shit about him, nor about what he can do. He's not going to scare you. Turning over your sneakers on, you come back to Jax position.

“I'll see what can I save of the bikes, boss”.

“Thank you”. His smile is sincere, full of pride because of you.

“I know those magic hands can do miracles”. Tig says placing a hand on your shoulders while Happy is opening you the crane door.

“I appreciate the faith you have in me”. You joke on him, sitting on your seat. “See you at the club, guys”.

Chibs is looking at you, supporting his body against Jax, having a drag of a cigar. You know how much he loves his Harley, supervising every fix up you have had to do. Without no words, Happy close the door narrowing your hand, before drive out of Oswald's property.

“I think the girl has pretty clear what she wants, brother”. Jax palms Chibs back, earning Tig, Happy and Bobby's laughs.

“Scottish whisky”. Happy says with a singing voice.

“Now you don' have any doubts, man”. Bobby tease him, while the other chuckles.

“Lass!” A rough voice claims for your attention, giving you some chills and almost drowning with your own saliva.

Even if Jax smiled when you talked to the unknown irish, sounds like Chibs disagrees. Standing up from the floor, you turn at him hiding your tremble hands behind your back. He's walking towards you with firm steps and somewhat like an angry look. Facing you, he licks his incisors with a nod.

“Walk”. Pointing with a forefinger the clubhouse, you raise up your worries eyes to Jax. He's too serious too, and you're sure he's not going to say anything in you defense.

You obey. You fucked up what they gave you for a misplaced comment by your pretty mouth, which can't stand being closed. Moving your feet over the asphalt and your hands kept inside the pocket of your jacket, you follow the way into the empty club.

“Samcro meeting-room”. He just say, stopping his steps close to the main door. Again, you keep yourself in silence, nodding a little scared swallowing.

Probably they're going to kick you out from there and Chibs is in charge of letting you know because, maybe, he's european and has a direct connection with the irish. Resting your waist against the big wooden table with the grim reaper carved on, you wait impatiently moving a leg in a nervous gesture. The blind covers the window to the clubhouse, so you don't know what's happening, until Chibs opens the door carrying a bottle of whisky and a short glass, specifically for that kind of drink. Closing again the door behind his back, he places the glass to serve it before offering you. Showing him a confused look, you hold it with your right hand.

“Drink”.

For a moment you think it's poisoned, but that doesn't have any sense. Obeying again, you have a sip feeling how the liquid rips your throat, noticing every nuance in. Above all, the aged flavor that wood gives it.

“Tha' is how a good wheske' tastes”. He says taking it off from your fingers and leaving it somewhat away on the table. “And now, 'em gonna shew'ya how a good old scottesh' wheske' tastes”.

All your doubts disappear when the man crashes his lips against yours. You weren't expecting it, but definitely, whisky tastes better in his tongue. The kiss is more needy than you want to show him, nailing your fingers on the back of his head to pushing him closer while his arms get tangled in your waist. You can hardly breathe, but this doesn't look like a problem when he guides you blinded to the sofa, forcing you to sit on his lap. The heat running under your clothes when he urges your waist to move over the lump on his tight jeans.

Biting your lower lip, one of his hands covered by the leather gloves toures your nipples over your shirt, squeezing it and making you gasp. Chibs seems like he knows pretty well your body, as if he studied it before, one of the many times you've caught him looking at you. His hand going down your stomach gives you some delighted chills, while your tongues keep fighting anxious, sneaking it under your sweatpants and your panties. And before you can do any move, Chibs thrusts hard his middle finger inside you, screaming out loud his name on his mouth. The scottish chuckles licking your lips, feeling how the big golden ring below the leather press your narrowness with delicious pounds. Tangling your fingers on his jacket, you let him do with you whatever he wants, enjoying every moan that comes out from your throat.

“Ya like't?” He asks with shaky breath and a scratchy voice that turns you a little more heated.

“Yeah…” You mutter looking for his eyes, bouncing on his hand needing for more contact.

“Do ya wan' me ti fuc' ya?” He asks, sliding a second finger into you with a hard push hiting your g-spot.

“Please… Please”. You beg then, nodding as you can.

“Tonig'”. He just say, knowing how much it teases you making you sob for a second. “Enjoe' my hand, lass”.

His fingers pound you faster, nailing both hands on the back of his head, while he's drinking every gesture you draw on your face under his mercy. He's dominant by nature, like an alpha, but he could never imagine that dominate you would be his favorite thing, making you squeeze under his fury and sexually caresses. A third finger being slide inside your wetness forces you to scream because of the pleasure. Two big rings pressing your tightness, with the leather provoking a friction that burns your skin in a good way.

“Don't stop, please, Chibs…”

“Beg fo' cum, princess”. He demands.

“C'mon… please… fuck, your hand feels so good”. You cry noisily touching his nose with yours. “Fuck… let me cum, please… I need it. Fuck! It… It feels so fuckin' good, holy shit”.

“Good girl, ya have my permission”. He says after some seconds watching your pleading face, whilst your lower lip.

“Thank you, daddy”. You whisper right on his mouth, after containing yourself for a while.

Your body can't handle anymore his hand fucking you so hard, making tremble your legs as he nails his free fingers on your throat to support your body, in the moment you're about to fall when the ecstasy finds your body hitting it with heat and pleasure.

“Fuck, Filip!” You moan as loudly as your voice lets you.

But he doesn't stop, with the wetted sound the leader makes every time it thrusts your pussy flooding the room, so naughty and dirty that you forget for a second the soft stinging the glove makes you feel.

“Tonig' 'em gonna fuck ya harder”.

“Yes, please…” You beg for it, really needed.

His fingers go slow, moving his hand calmly, until he pulls it out to direct it to his mouth licking it before look for your mouth. Your cum, the taste of whisky on your tongue, the taste of beer on his, all getting mixed with your saliva in a dearly and gently kiss.

“Wei' fo' me tonig' here. Alrai', princess?”

“Yes”. You just say, trying to fill your lungs with some air.

[fallen420]

Rebel Spy - Chapter 15: The  Goodbye

Masterlist

warning: mandalorian spoilers 

One of the imperial pilots holds a blaster to the doctor that we saw on the hologram head. We need him alive because of what he knows. Seeing this I join Din in their cockpit.

“Stay back rebel scum,” says the one holding the blaster. Din and I both hold up our blasters higher.

“Easy, pal. Okay?” says the other imp. “I’m not with him. We can work something out-” before he can even finish his thought he’s getting shot in the head by the other guy.

“Alright drop the blaster,” I say

“No, no you listen to me. This is a top-tier target of the New Republic. This is a clone engineer. And if they find out that he’s dead because of you, you’re gonna wish you never left Alderaan.”

“How do you know that?”

“I see who you are, you’re Aurora Janren. Rebel Spy. Rebel Commander. Everyone in the galaxy knows who you are. You wanna know what else I saw? I saw your planet destroyed. I was on the death star.”

“What a coincidence so was I.” Din looks at me for a moment before turning his attention back to the imp.

He laughs, “Oh that’s right I remember. You and your friend were. We should have killed you both when we had the chance but destroying your plant was a small price to pay to rid the galaxy of terrorism.” Hearing enough of him calling my family and friends terrorist I aim my blaster and shoot him in the head.

The doctor holds the side of his head. His ear probably hurts from being too close to the blast. I turn to walk out but Din grabs my arm. “Why didn’t you tell me? You said you were on a rebel base when it happened.”

“I didn’t know how to explain at the time that Darth Vader and captured me and my friend and decided to blow up our home planet to get us to talk. It's not something I like to remember.” I pull my arm out of his grip and I go back to Bobas ship.

-

We pick up Bo and Koska from a cantina. Bo tells us that the person she lost the darksaber to is Moff Gideon which is probably the reason she agreed to help us in the first place.

We make a plan to get onto the cruiser using the imperial ship we stole from the imps that the doctor was on. Bo, Koska, and Fennec will go in first taking out the stormtroopers and make they’re way to the cockpit while Din and I go find Grogu.

-

Din and I walk down the ramp of the ship. Both of us have our blasters out. Din also brought the spear that he got just in case we need it. We walk through the empty imperial cruiser. Well, it's not actually empty, it just feels like this is. The feeling is eerie.

We turn down a hallway. Hearing two stormtroopers make their way towards us Din grabs my wrist pulling us into a little corridor. The troopers run-pass without seeing us. Din squeezes my wrist before letting go and checking to see if the coast is clear. Once he’s sure it is we continue on our way to find the kid.

We turn down a hallway for what feels like the millionth time. But this time we see doors open.

“No, no!” Din yells as he puts the splicer into the control panel to close it. The doors start to close but then it stops as two hands grab the doors stopping them. These two hands belong to the same things that took the kid.

It pries the door opens and we are bet with its red eyes. It punches both Din. With him having the beskar protecting him he slides across the room and hits the wall without getting knocked out. Me having none of that when the thing tosses me off to the side and I hit the wall I almost instantly get knocked out.

I’m not sure how long I’m out for but it can’t be for long because Din is still fighting the thing and is very much losing. I feel my head throbbing and warmblood coming down the side of my face.

Din is on his knees tries backing away from the thing throwing charges at it. The more he backs away the closer he gets to me. Using everything I have, which is mostly adrenaline, I stand up grabbing the spear from Dins back and driving it into the thing’s neck. Sparks fly and I push it farther causing it to fall to the ground.

Din runs back to the control panel opening the hull door so the rest get sucked into space. He runs back to me taking the spear out of my hand. He wipes the blood still dripping down my face then gently holds the back of my head, “Are you okay cyar'ika?” he says almost frantic.

I take a deep breath, “I’ve been worse trust me. Let’s just find Grogu and get the hell out of here.” This he agrees and once again we run throw these halls.

-

Using the spear Din takes out the stormtrooper guarding the cell with ease. Using the splicer Din opens the door to the cell. Inside is Grogu sitting on the bench with little binders to prevent him from using the force and Gideon with the darksaber pointed right at the kid.

The kid coos when he sees us and raises his hands a little.

“Drop the blaster,” Gideon says, “Slowly.” He moves the saber closer to Grogu. Doing as he says we slowly put our blasters on the ground. I ignore the throbbing in my head as I do it. “Now kick them over to me.” Again we do as we are told. “Very nice.”

“Give me the kid.”

“The kid is just fine where he is.” Gideon waves the saber above his head, “Memorizing isn’t it? Used to belong to Bo-Katan. Yes, I know you’re traveling with Bo-Katan. A friendly piece of advice, assume that I know everything. Like the fact that your wrist launcher has fired its one and only salvo, and you,” he looks at me, “Seem to be suffering from a concussion.”

“Where is this going?” I ask annoyed.

“This is where it's going. I’m guessing that Bo-Katan and her boarding party have arrived at the bridge, seeking me or, more accurately, this. But I’m not there and I imagine that they’ve killed everyone on the bridge, being the murderous savages that they are. And know they’re being to panic because she wants this. Do you know why? Because it brings power. Whoever wields this sword has the right to lay claim to the Mandalorian throne.”

“You keep it,” Din says, “I just want the kid.”

“Very well,” Gideon retracts the saber, “I’ve already got what I want from him. His blood. All I wanted to study was his blood. This child is gifted and has properties that have the potential to bring order back to the galaxy. I see you two have a bond with him. Take him but you will leave my ship immediately and we will go our separate ways.

Din and I carefully walk to the kid as Gideon moves out of our way. Before Din can pick him up I hear the darksaber ignite. I duck knowing that that weapon will cut me in half with ease. The saber hits Din’s jetpack. Din starts to back out the door blocking all the hits Gideon gives him. They take their fight out into the hallway,

Already bent down I start to undo the binders on the kid’s cuffs, “Hey Grogu.” he coos and for a second I smile knowing he’s back with us. Once the binders are off I hold him close to me.

Once I get back out into the hallway Din has the spear to Gideon's neck who is now on the ground. “Put him in binders lets go.

-

When we get to the bridge everyone is there. Din tries to give the saber to Bo but she refuses. Since she lost it and didn’t win it back in a battle she can’t rightfully take it.

Din tries to argue with her about it but before she can Fennec detects something entering the ship but it doesn’t show any lifeforms.

“You’re about to face off with the dark troopers,” Gideon says, “You had your hands full with one. Let’s see how you do against a platoon.” We’ve gone through too much today to just give up now. I put the kid in the safest place possible we seal the blast doors and we get into position.

The dark troopers starting punching at the door. Each punch makes a bigger dent. I start to get nervous not having any idea how we are going to face them all. With every punch, I lose a little bit of hope that we will make it out of here alive. But when all hope is lost, I hear a ship jump out of hyperspace.

“An X-wing?” I say.

Bo tries to get the ship to identify itself. The pilot doesn’t say anything as it lands on the cruiser. But I do notice that the kid's ears perk up and something tells me that whoever is this is going to save our asses.

The punching stops and the air gets tense again.

“Why did they stop?” Fennec asks.

“A Jedi’s on board,” I say walking over to where Din is looking at the cameras I don’t bother explaining myself and I watch to see what happens.

Bo is also looking at the cameras on the other control panel, “She’s right. It’s a Jedi.” There’s only so many Jedi left and I met a few in my day so something tells me this one will be a friend. On the screens, we watch as the Jedi goes cut through the dark troopers with ease. The kid climbs up on the chair and watches with me and Din.

The Jedi makes its way through all of them and gets to our door. The kid whines and Din picks up him. Din and I walk to the front “Open the doors.” No one moves, “I said open the doors.”

“Are you crazy?” Fennec says.

Din sets the kid in the chair and opens the doors.

Everyone’s eyes are on the door as the Jedi walks into the room. I see his green lightsaber and his gloved hand and I know exactly who this is.

He takes off the dark hood revealing a face I feel as if I just saw him yesterday but also a lifetime ago.

“Luke?” I say almost in disbelief.

“Aurora,” he nods, “It’s good to see you again.”

I walk towards him giving him and hug and pulling away to say, “I haven’t seen you since Endor. Leia, how is she?”

Leia was my best friend on Alderaan. She grew up in the palace and I basically did with her. Her father was a huge part of the Rebellion making us become apart of it once we got old enough. We went on missions he sent us on together. Then when the ghost crew helped out me and Leia, I stayed with them feeling like I could do more but after everything on Lothal and the Battle of Scarif I got separated from them. Leia and I ended up getting the plans for the death star then we got captured by Vader. I met Luke when he helped to rescue us, we fought alongside each other all the way up until Endor. And now I’m here.

“She’s good. Really good.”

“I miss her.”

Luke nods before motioning towards Grogu, “I take it this is the one?” I go back to stand next to Din

“Yes, everywhere I go there seem to be Jedi.” No literally Din never even heard of the Jedi before meeting the kid but somehow I befriend three? What are the chances?

The kid looks up at Din and me.

“He doesn’t want to go with you.”

“He wants your permission,” Luke says, “He is strong with the force but talent without training is nothing. I will give my life to protect the child but he will not be safe until he masters his abilities.

Din picks up Grogu and walks back over to me, “Hey go on. That's who you belong with. He’s one of your kind. Aurora knows him you’ll be safe. We’ll see you again. I promise”

I hold on to Din’s arm trying my best to hold back my tears. Grogu holds his hand up to Din’s helmet wanting to see his dad’s face before we don’t see him for who knows how long.

Dins lifts his hand up to his helmet is he gonna take it off?

The helmet is gone and in front of me is the beautiful face of the man I love. The tears fall freely down my face not being able to hold any more emotions in.

My eyes start at his brown hair. The curly, fluffy, brown hair. I've run my hands through it in the dark but stars this is better.

His brown eyes met mine. There’s a little wrinkle in the corner of his eyes I had a feeling he had. I spot the nose I love and kissed so much. And the soft lips I see form a smile for the first time.

I hold my hand to his cheek. Touching it in the dark is one thing but seeing myself touch it is a whole different feeling.

I place a kiss on his lips then one on his nose, “So handsome,” I smile a teary smile.

Both of us turn our attention back on Grogu who is staring at us. I lean my head on Din’s shoulder as I watch as Din also reaches a hand to his chin like he’s checking to see if he’s real.

“Alright pal, it’s time to go.”

I brush the kid’s ear, “It’s okay he’s a good man, don’t be afraid.”

Din places Grogu on the floor but the kid holds on tight to Din's leg. Hearing beeps I look to see the blue and white astromech droid R2-D2. This droid and I have been through a lot together first meeting on Alderaan. Lots of stories I don’t need to get into right now.

The droid looks at me and beeps excitedly, I smile, “Hey Artoo.”

The kid being curious walks up to Artoo the charismatic droid beeps excitedly too and starts to move around. It's a cute sight to see. But the happiness I feel seeing old friends again comes to a stop when Luke picks up Grogu and I realize it's actually happening the kid is going away. Din and I completed the mission we found his people. Luckily it's someone I trust with my life considering the number of times he saves it but its hurts knowing I might never see the closest thing I’ll have to a son again.

“May the force be with you.”

I nod back at Luke. They turn around back into the elevator and with that, they’re gone.

END OF SEASON 2

taglist: @tortles​

[finaledenialist]

Dean always knew there was something special about Cas. He might have fallen for him when he said "We make it up as we go", but by then Cas was already 'his' Cas. Before he rebelled, he actually tried to help only once and then just make things less awful few times before. He turned his back on Dean way more times then supported him, and yet, Dean never stopped trying to get through to him. Never stopped asking for help, truly believing that Cas might say "I'll help you" this time around. <333

Yes but I think it’s a little more complicated than that? Essentially, that angel that said ‘the moment Castiel laid a hand on you in hell he was lost’ got it right - what he did, saving a soul from hell, created a bond and started changing him so deeply that even he didn’t understand it at first, right? In seasons 6-7a he literally has a phase where he rebels against everything like there is some kind of riot going on inside him and the only way to let it out is to go on a murder spree and do everything, even teaming up with a demon to gain so much strength that would allow him to become the New God. 

It’s like. I don’t know. Like he was trying, unconsciously, to overcompensate for all the years he was under someone else’s control? To break free? And he decides that to be truly free from Heaven, God -  he has to become God. Something about regaining control over his own life that resulted in him gaining control over the whole world. Something about wanting to take his life into his own hands so badly that the means completely justified the ends in his mind. Teaming up with Crowley? Sucking up all the souls from purgatory? Risking letting out the Leviathans? Cas said: yeah screw it, no one is going to be above me ever again, even if it was unconsciously - he was like: you need the new god, i am going to rule now, i am the boss; while this is what he really meant: i need a new god and it’s gonna be me, i am going to be my own god now, i am going to be the one in charge (of my life).

I think why he did what he did is because he still didn’t know how to be selfish and was starting to discover himself so he did what he understood. To paraphrase: he draped himself in the flag of heaven when ultimately it was about freeing himself, even if he wasn’t able to admit it to himself (not even out of pride, I actually think he might have not been able to understand why exactly is he doing what he is doing. I mean we have therapists for that and we’re humans, imagine breaking free and beginning to having a sense of self after thousands of years spent on believing that ‘I am just a tool, I am a soldier, I was made to serve’). Castiel’s waking conscious said: if I destroy this whole world while freeing myself, so be it, because freedom is everything. And this blew up right into his face of course but this whole arc was important because when he comes back later in 7x17 he is changed. Something is deeply, deeply changed. That wrath is no longer in him, even when he regains his memory. 

Because when he does he is suddenly a pacifist. I don’t fight anymore. I observe. I don’t want to fight. No. Like all he has done while on this furious crusade is catching up to him. And he is suddenly on the very other side of the spectrum than before. There is fear (of himself, of freedom) and guilt; that guilt later leads up to him deciding he’d rather stay in purgatory. I think I am putting this into words the wrong way and there is some amazing meta writer out there who could explain what I mean way better. But that is what I think. Not to be a bitter Cas stan on main but um, I think, that reducing his journey only to Dean is... Maybe not wrong. But it’s incorrect.

So was that really turning his back on Dean? In The Man Who Would Be KIng (*chief’s kiss*) we get fantastic insight into Cas’ mind - how the only thing that kept him conflicted about all that he was doing, was Dean. But for the first time ever he chose himself and he was going to do it ‘go big or go home’ way. He was freeing himself, no way he is going to let that small human get in the way. No, nope, couldn’t be me. So he pushed himself harder. He cut Dean off. And he felt bad about it but he was fighting for himself, with himself and within himself. 

And when that fight ended, when he once again freed himself from Naomi in s8 he ultimately decided that he is, in fact, going to devote himself again. Because that is what he was made to choose to do. He chose to devote himself to Dean, who became his anchor throughout the years. 

And Dean, oblivious to all that, knew that he wanted this ‘dorky guy’ to be around him and that he felt more himself than ever with him and that he made him happy. So he kept ‘needing him’ but that is something for another post.

[chibsytelford]

A Broken Heart

*** GIF CREDIT TO OWNER ***

Anonymous asked -  Hii, could you please break my heart? Jokes aside, angsty imagines about Chibs are seriously lacking, so it would be super cool if you wrote one. Maybe with the help of the prompts "41. “If you care about me you won’t do this.” "8. “This is a lot harder than it looks, I don’t think you realize that.” "23. “What you’re feeling right now is regret.”. I love your work btw! 

Authors Note - Thanks to whoever the Anon was that requested this - this was something completely different for me to write about, especially with Chibs - as my other fics are more funny and fluffy. So seriously, thankyou so much for requesting this - i really enjoyed going out of my comfort zone and writing some really angsty and heartbreaking stuff for Chibs. I hope you enjoy this and it’s what you were looking for!

Warnings - swearing, angst, heartbreak, pregnancy.

Taglist - @agirllovespasta​ @everyhowlmarksthedead​ @naytraydr​ @rebel-without-cause-x​ @whyisgmora​ @jadesamhart​ @talicat713​ @fangirlingaesthetics​ - if you would like added to my taglist just send me a message :)

You always thought when you met the love of your life, it would be a magical meeting. You had dreamed of being stranded at the side of the road, and your knight in shining armour would come and save you and you'd live happily ever after. That's not how you met Chibs. You met him through your mutual friend Unser. You met Unser when you reported your car stolen at the Charming Police Station 5 years ago. You hadn't set foot in a Police Station before and Unser was a kind older policeman who helped you to fill out a stolen vehicle report. Ever since then if you had any problems Wayne Unser was there to help you. He was like the father you always wanted. He introduced you to the Sons 4 years ago. You needed some work done on your new car and he took you to Teller Morrow to get it fixed. And that's when you met Chibs. You hit it off with him straight away and you've been dating ever since.

It was your 4 year anniversary with Chibs today, so you decided to make him lunch and take it to the clubhouse to surprise him. You made him his favourite cheese, pickle and beef sandwiches, with some shortbread and some coffee in a flask. Nothing special, but his favourite. He had been a bit more quieter than usual around you, and he sometimes didn't even come home anymore, or when he did he was always up and out before you were awake. You put it down to club business worrying him, and didn't ask him about it.

You arrived at Teller Morrow to find it eerily quiet. The bikes were all there, but nobody was outside. You headed over to the door but stopped when you heard your boyfriend talking. You peeked through the window and saw him sitting on a stool at a table with Jax, Opie, Juice and Happy. He looked torn.

"A don't know what to do brother, a don't think a love her anymore" you heard him tell the men. "Am trying to stay away from her as much as a can, hell I've been staying here most nights".

"You need to tell Y/N Chibs" it was Jax who spoke. "You've been together 4 years, what happened?"

"A wish a knew, it's just not the same as it was 4 years ago, hell, it hasn't felt right for me for months now, that's all a know" Chibs took a gulp of his beer. "Am going out for a cigarette, and ti clear ma head".

You couldn't move from the door fast enough and your boyfriend came charging out, stopping in his tracks when he saw you standing there.

"Fuck Y/N, how long have ye been standing there?" He asked you as he tried to reach for you.

"Long enough to hear that you don't love me anymore" you answered as you took a step back. You tried so hard not to cry but the tears were threatening to burst out any second. "Why didn't you tell me? What's wrong with me? Why don't you love me anymore?" The tears finally came and you were sobbing uncontrollably. Your family abandoned you years ago. They told you that you brought them shame and they couldn't stand to look at you anymore. And now here was your boyfriend of 4 years breaking up with you, and leaving you, just like everybody else did.

"Am sorry lass, ave been meaning to tell ye, it's not you it's me, a just don't feel the same way about ye anymore" he explained.

"If you care about me, you won't do this" the heartbreak was evident in your voice. "Please Chibs, I love you, these past 4 years have been the best of my life, I had nothing before you, and you gave me everything and more" you were now shaking and the tears were still flowing down your cheeks. "This seems so easy for you!" You spat at him. "You're not even bothered are you?"

"This is a lot harder than it looks, I don't think you realize that" Chibs said. "A feel like a dick breaking up with ye like this, in the parking lot of ma work, in the parking lot where we first met, but a can't help how a feel".

"I just wish you had told me this much sooner, before I fell so deeply in love with you. I don't think I can live without you". All you wanted to do was reach out and kiss him, reach out and run your hands through his hair which he used to love you doing, reach out and trace his scars on his cheeks. But you knew that could and would never happen again. "I won't make this any harder for you, goodbye Chibs" and you walked away. You walked away from the man who owned your whole heart, and then ripped it out.

Chibs headed back into the clubhouse with a look on his face.

'What you're feeling right now is regret" Juice spoke this time as he stood up to give Chibs a hug "We heard everything man, are you OK?"

"Nah brother, a don't feel regret, a feel sad obviously, but most of all a feel relieved, hopefully we can both move on with our lives now" Chibs returned Juice's hug.

That was not how you planned to spend your 4 year anniversary.  You expected Chibs to be happy to see you, and you would sit and eat lunch together. But that didn't happen. And it would never happen again. The whole drive home you kept asking yourself what was wrong with you that everyone you met wanted rid of you. You wish you had the answers, so you could change, and make everyone love you.

***2 weeks later***

You had been throwing up for the past few weeks, every morning without fail. You were eating more, and craving all types of weird food. You knew you needed to go to the store and buy a pregnancy test.

The drive there consisted of you thinking about how you would tell Chibs. He was obviously the dad, but you didn't want to tell him for the fact he might take pity and take you back. You only wanted him back if he meant it, which you were sure he wouldn't. Grabbing 3 pregnancy tests to make sure, you headed to the checkout to buy them and headed home to find out.

Your timer went off and you inhaled deeply. You always visioned Chibs being here with you, waiting with you in the bathroom while the timer ticked down to 0. But you were alone, and you knew he wasn't coming back. With a big heave, you stood up and picked up all 3 pregnancy tests. 2 lines on each of them. You were definitely pregnant. You were so happy, you have always wanted a baby. A mini you. And you knew the baby would be well loved by you.

You decided to tell Chibs sooner rather than later. You were secretly hoping there was a part of him that would just pull you into his arms and tell you he loved you and everything would be OK. Heading to Teller Morrow you felt like you could throw up any second, and it wasn't the pregnancy causing it this time.

You found him at the bar sipping beer. He turned around when he heard the door open and was surprised to see you.

"What are ye dain here?" He walked over to you curiously.

"I have something to tell you Chibs. I'm pregnant". You watched his face go from confusion, to anger as he tried to process the words.

"Aye nice try, a knew you'd try something like this". You couldn't believe what you were hearing. The once kind and loving and gentle man was being so cold and hard to you. You didn't deserve this. You handed him the pregnancy tests.

"It's true Filip, I'm pregnant, I'm going to make a doctors appointment to find out how far along, do you want to come?" You asked him.

Just then a woman you had never seen before emerged from the door which leads to the dorm rooms. She came straight over to Chibs, turned him around and pressed her lips against his. He was still holding the pregnancy tests, but he wrapped his arms around the woman and deepened the kiss right in front of you.

"You're a fucking dick do you know that Filip, I've came here to tell you I'm having your fucking baby, and you say I'm lying about it, then you decide to play tonsil tennis with that whore!" You were more angry than sad this time. You knew if Chibs could treat you like this after 4 years together, you had dodged a bullet. You grabbed the pregnancy tests from him and headed to the door to finally leave the clubhouse forever. You turned back one more time and saw Chibs looking at you.

"Don't come looking for us. You had your chance to step up and tell me you wanted this baby as much as me, but instead you showed you don't want me or the baby. I hope you'll be happy with your new girlfriend" you said softly. You had no more anger to give and as much as you tried to hate Chibs, you couldn't bring yourself to. Your main focus now was the baby growing inside you.

[thelittlesttimelord]

The Littlest Timelord: The New Doctor Chapter 7

TITLE: The Littlest Timelord: The New Doctor Chapter 7 PAIRING: No Pairing RATING: T CHAPTER: 7/? SUMMARY: With the Doctor newly regenerated, he and Elise must now navigate their new relationship. The Doctor is an old man and Elise is a headstrong young woman. She is no longer the scared little girl the Doctor saved all those years ago. Will Clara be able to keep them from killing each other?

[A/N - Been a while, huh! Not sure who’s still here, but I’m trying to not pressure myself to work on this, because I do have other interests and ideas.]

“The Daleks will be victorious. The rebels will be exterminated.”

“Colonel? What's happening out there?” Journey asked, but they got no answer, only Rusty yelling, “Exterminate.”

“Dalek fleet. Communications open.”

“Doctor, what happened?” Clara asked.

“Do you see?” the Doctor said.

“Do I see what?”

“Daleks don't turn good. It was just radiation affecting its brain chemistry, nothing more than that. No miracle.”

“Let me get this straight. We had a good Dalek, and we made it bad again? That's all we've done?” Journey asked.

“There was never a good Dalek. There was a broken Dalek and we repaired it.” “You were supposed to be helping us.”

“I gave it a shot. It didn't work out. It was a Dalek, what did you expect?”

“No more talking. You are done! Okay, new objective. We are taking this Dalek down.”

“With us inside? Are you insane!” Elise yelled.

“Exterminate. Exterminate.”

The Doctor turned to look at Clara. “What's that look for?”

“It's the look you get when I'm about to slap you.” She slapped him hard, surprising both the Doctor and Elise.

“Ow. Clara!”

“Are we going to die in here? I mean, there's a little bit of you that's pleased. The Daleks are evil after all. Everything makes sense. The Doctor is right!”

“Daleks are evil. Irreversibly so. That's what we just learned.”

“No, Doctor, that is not what we just learned!”

“Exterminate. Exterminate.”

Clara looked at Elise, who nodded, encouraging the small brunette to go on. If anyone could calm down this situation, it was Clara, not two hotheaded Scottish Timelords.

“We need to place these charges for maximum effect. I'm going to scan the rest of the architecture for weaknesses,” Journey told her fellow soldier.

“One question,” Clara said.

“No time.”

“Why did we come here today? What was the point?” Clara turned to the Doctor. “You. You thought there was a good Dalek. What difference would one good Dalek make?”

“All the difference in the universe, but it's impossible,” the Doctor said.

“Is that a fact? Is that really what we've learned today? Think about it. Is that what we learned?”

“Journey, what the hell's happening? That thing's set the Daleks on us. And it's locked us out of our defenses. Journey, you're the Aristotle's only hope. I need you to destroy that Dalek,” Journey’s uncle said.

“The rebels will be exterminated.”

“Whatever it takes.”

“Understood, Uncle,” Journey told him.

“I'm sorry.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“Clara Oswald, do I really not pay you?” the Doctor asked.

Clara smiled. “You couldn't afford me.”

The Doctor ran over to Journey. “Whatever you're going to do, don't do it. This Dalek must not be destroyed. We can do better.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“No, I'm inside a Dalek. I'm standing where I've never been. We cannot waste this chance. It won't come again.”

“What chance? I have my orders.”

“Soldiers take orders.”

“And I'm a soldier.”

“A Dalek is a better soldier than you will ever be. You can't win this way.”

Journey held up a grenade, ready to pull the pin, but then put it down. “Argh! So what do we do?”

“Something better.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“The Dalek isn't just some angry blob in a Dalekanium tank,” the Doctor said as he pulled the women over the ledge, “If it was, the radiation would have turned it into a raging lunatic.”

“It is a raging lunatic, it's a Dalek,” Journey commented.

Elise had to admit she had a point.

“But for a moment, it wasn't. The radiation allowed it to expand its consciousness, to consider things beyond its natural terms of reference. It became good. That means a good Dalek is possible. That's what we learned today. Am I right, teach?”

“Top of the class!”

“But now it's back to how it was,” Journey said.

“But what it saw, what it felt, is still there.”

“Yeah, I'm not really seeing that.”

“Not here. There.” He pointed up.

A lightbulb went off in Elise’s mind. “Oh my god.” She locked eyes with the Doctor and he nodded. “That’s brilliant! If it works that is…”

“Someone explain to me what’s going on. You want us to go to the cortex vault?” Journey asked, not following the father and daughter’s silent conversation.

“The evil engineering?” Clara asked.

“Every memory recorded. Some suppressed, but all still intact. We need to show the Dalek that star being born again. Recreate that moment. You need to get up there, find that moment and reawaken it.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Good idea.”

“How?”

“Haven't the foggiest. Do a clever thing. And then once you've done it, the Dalek will be suggestible to new ideas. It will be open again. And I will show it something that will change its mind forever.”

“What?” Journey asked him.

“Not a clue.”

“This is crazy. There is no way that we can get back up there in time.”

“Yes, there is,” the female soldier said. She cocked her harpoon rifle.

“No, Gretchen. It'll bring the antibodies back down on us.”

Gretchen turned to Clara. “Tell me the truth. Is he mad, or is he right? I've come this far. Probably going to die anyway. Wouldn't mind something to do for the rest of my life. Is he mad, or is he right?”

“Hand on my heart? Most days he's both,” Clara told her.

Gretchen turned to the Doctor. “One question, then. Is this worth it?”

“If I can turn one Dalek, I can turn them all. I can save the future.”

“Gretchen Alison Carlisle. Do something good and name it after me.”

“I will do something amazing, I promise.”

“Damn well better.” Gretchen primed her harpoon.

“No, Gretchen,” Journey cried.

Gretchen fired two wires up to the cranial ledge. “Go.”

Antibodies started to approach.

“They're coming. They're coming,” Clara said.

Journey fastened a pulley onto the wire. “Grab hold of the rope. Don't look down,” she told Clara.

“Good luck,” Gretchen said.

Journey and Clara flew upward.

Gretchen started shooting the antibodies as the Doctor grabbed Elise by the arm, pulling her away.

“You shouldn’t have to watch that,” he said softly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

They wandered through the Dalek until they came to the compartment that held the Dalek itself.

“Well, Rusty, here we are. Eye to eye,” the Doctor said.

“You cannot save the humans. They will be exterminated. I shall join the Dalek units in the final attack.”

“I saved your life, Rusty. Now I'm going to go one better. I'm going to save your soul.”

“Daleks do not have souls.”

“Oh, no? Imagine if you did. What then, Rusty? What would happen then?”

There were flashes and images of dying soldier appeared on the screens around them.

“Your memories. I'm about to give some back to you.”

The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and start to cut through the tubing covering the Dalek’s neurons. “See, all those years ago, when I began…I was just running. I called myself the Doctor, but it was just a name. And then I went to Skaro. And then I met you lot and I understood who I was. The Doctor was not the Daleks.”

Elise had never heard this story before, even after traveling with him for over a thousand years at this point.

The Doctor pulled out some of the neurons.

More memories flashed on the screen. Daleks flying in space and attacking a ship.

“Oh, look. It's your memories again. It's like somebody's mucking about up there. Memories, all those memories. Do you remember the star you saw being born?”

“I…I remember.”

The memory of the star being born appeared on the screen.

“You saw the truth, Rusty. Remember how you felt. You saw a star being born. The endless rebirth of the universe.”

“No.”

“And you realized the truth about the Daleks…”

“Truth? What is the truth?”

“Let me show you the truth. I've opened your mind and now I'm coming in.” The Doctor spliced two pieces of a neuron together. He cried out in pain.

“Doctor!” Elise yelled. She wanted to grab him and stop him, but they’d been traveling together for so long that she had to have faith that he knew what he was doing.

“I'm part of you. My mind is in your mind,” the Doctor told him.

“I see your mind, Doctor. I see your universe.”

“And isn't the universe beautiful?”

“I see beauty.”

“Yes, that's good. That is good. Hold on to that.”

“I see endless, divine perfection.”

“Make it a part of you. Remember how you feel right now. Put it inside you and live by it.”

“I see into your soul, Doctor. I see beauty. I see divinity. I see hatred.”

“Hatred?”

“I see your hatred of the Daleks and it is good.”

“No, no, no. You must see more than that, there must be more than that.”

“Death to the Daleks. Death to the Daleks. Death to the Daleks.”

“No, there must be more than that. There must be more than that. Please.”

“Daleks are evil. Daleks must be exterminated. Daleks are evil. Daleks must be exterminated. Exterminate. The Daleks are exterminated.”

“Of course they are. That's what you do, isn't it?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“What about you, Rusty?” Clara asked after they returned to being normal-sized.

“I must go with them,” Rusty said.

“Of course you must. You've unfinished work, haven't you?” the Doctor asked.

“Victory is yours, but it does not please you.”

“You looked inside me and you saw hatred. That's not victory. Victory would have been a good Dalek.”

“I am not a good Dalek. You are a good Dalek.” Rusty turned to leave, then looked back at the Doctor.

“Till the next time,” the Doctor said. He turned away and made his way back to the TARDIS.

“Is he leaving? Isn't he going to say goodbye?” Journey asked.

“I think that was it. Yep, that was it. Sorry, got to run,” Clara said. She grabbed Elise’s hand and they followed after him.

As they reached the TARDIS, Journey came up behind them. “Doctor. Take me with you.”

“I think you're probably nice. Underneath it all, I think you're kind and you're definitely brave. I just wish you hadn't been a soldier,” the Doctor told her.

They went inside the TARDIS and took off.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Clara came back into the control room in a new set of clothes. “How do I look?”

“Sort of short and round-ish, but with a good personality, which is the main thing,” the Doctor told her.

“I meant my clothes. I just changed.”

“Oh, good for you, still making an effort.”

The TARDIS landed.

“Okay, right, you're back in your cupboard, thirty seconds after you left.”

“When will I see you again?”

“Oh. Soon, I expect. Or later. One of those.”

Clara walked over to the door and opened it. “I don't know.”

“I'm sorry?”

“You asked me if you're a good man and the answer is, I don't know. But I think you try to be and I think that's probably the point.”

“I think you're probably an amazing teacher.”

“I think I'd better be.” Before she left, Elise walked over to her.

“Hey Clara?”

“Yeah, Elise?”

“…have fun on your date. He must be pretty special.”

Clara smiled. “He is.” Clara left and the Doctor put the TARDIS in flight.

“I’m sorry,” Elise said.

“For what?”

“That things didn’t turn out the way you planned.”

The Doctor shrugged. “What’s new?”

Elise looked at him.

“What is it?”

“I guess…part of me thought it might have worked. That there was a good Dalek. I thought that…that maybe the Time War would finally be over.”

The Doctor flipped a few switches. “What about the 70’s? You always loved that decade.”

Elise frowned. “I…I used to. Not anymore.”

“Okay, well where do you want to go?”

“I think I’ll just go read something the library.”

The Doctor tried not to let the disappoint show. Maybe she wasn’t comfortable going somewhere with him alone yet. He could respect that. Maybe she needed more time to adjust to the change. “Oh, of course. We’ve had quite day.”

Elise turned to go to her room, a tear escaping her eye. She could appreciate that he was trying, but it was like this body forgot everything his previous body knew about her.

[avtrkyoshis]

You Burn First (zuko x f!reader) pt. 3

hey guys this chapter took a lot longer than expected. stay tuned for chapter 4 and 5 because they’re gonna get spicy.

ao3 link & a special spotify playlist

masterlist // chapter 1 // chapter 2 // chapter 4

Y/n stretched her arms over her head, feeling the tension release from her stiff shoulders. She looked around her room as she shifted into a lunge and continued to stretch. Her new quarters in the palace were much bigger than she was used to. It made sense that she was provided with such luxuries, she was the Fire Lord’s personal bodyguard after all.

The days following her official position change had been busy. Not only had the security around the palace gotten stricter since the attack, but Y/n had been briefed on all of her new responsibilities. She’d been given a much more detailed tour of the palace and was shown some of the more hidden spots of the palace grounds. She was also given Zuko’s weekly schedule, as it was expected of her to attend all meetings and events with him. One glance at the packed timetable was enough to make her exhausted.

Strangely, Y/n was also given books on Fire Nation etiquette and history. On her first night as Zuko’s bodyguard, she’d briefly flipped through them and fought back a groan. She knew the Fire Nation was stuck up with their rules, but she’d never imagined it was this intense. Even under Zuko’s more lenient rule there was so much she needed to be aware of. She’d flopped back onto her ridiculously large bed and let herself drown in her homesickness. Y/n missed Kyoshi Island.

Despite her wanting to rebel and refuse these changes, Y/n never spoke up against it. She didn’t want to disrespect Suki or the Kyoshi Warriors. They had all agreed that she was the best person for this job and who was she to disobey. The Kyoshi Warriors are what Y/n prided herself on the most.

She flattened her body out to begin her push-ups and continue her work out. There was no point in dwelling on how she’d gotten here, she needed to focus on her job. If Y/n remembered correctly, she was meant to attend some meetings with Zuko today. She wasn’t meant to meet up with him for at least another hour, which gave her plenty of time to complete her morning routine.

A knock on her door startled Y/n out of her push-ups. She swore as she lost count of her reps and reached for a towel to wipe the sweat off of her face.

“Come in,” she called.

The door swung open to reveal Zuko, already dressed in his Fire Lord robes. He wore his hair mostly down today, save for the small bun atop his head that held his crown in place. Y/n had noticed that despite wearing it up most days, he preferred to wear his hair this way. She thought it looked better down anyway.

His nose was buried in a stack of papers as he walked towards her, brow furrowed in concentration. Y/n swung her towel over one shoulder and placed her hands on her hips.

“Something in those papers frustrating you?” she asked.

Zuko sighed, “It’s nothing very important, just some reports on how the current harvest is going. I try to devote my attention to every report that comes my way, but I can’t say I find wheat crops that interesting.”

Y/n couldn’t help the grin that slipped through her normally stoic features. She’d noticed that Zuko was a very attentive Fire Lord. He dedicated much of his time to his nation, addressing even the most minor complaint from an average citizen. Y/n respected that about him.

Her musing was interrupted by Zuko looking up from his stack of papers for the first time since entering her room. His eyes widened as he took in Y/n, dressed in her typical exercise clothes of shorts and an athletic top. She knew she was fit, but she was suddenly hyper-aware of her body as Zuko blatantly stared at her abs. All of the Kyoshi Warriors followed similar exercise routines that prepared them for the style of fighting they preferred. Y/n was used to seeing the other Kyoshi Warriors in similar states to the one she was currently in and being seen by them in the same way. However, the stare Zuko was giving her made her ears burn.  

“Um. Did you need something from me Fire Lord?” Y/n said.

Her sudden breaking of the silence shocked Zuko back to reality. He jumped, amber eyes darting to her face as a blush began to colour his cheeks. He cleared his throat and seemed very interested in the floor all of a sudden.

“Y-yes actually. I wanted to warn you about some of the meetings we’re meant to attend today.”

“Warn me?”

“Unfortunately, yes. We’re meeting with some high ranking officials in the Fire Nation today. I’m sure you’ve seen it in the books you were given, but the Fire Nation takes etiquette very seriously. Everything down to the order in which you introduce yourself will be important.” Zuko told her.

Y/n clenched her jaw. She had expected to be subjected to the judgement of Fire Nation officials eventually, but she didn’t expect it to be so soon. She exhaled harshly through her nose, suddenly feeling nervous.

Zuko seemed to sense her anxiety.

“Don’t stress over it too much. It’s not too many people and I’ll brief you on what to say while we walk over,” he said. He paused and his expression softened a bit. “Just trust me. You may be my bodyguard but I won’t let any of these stuffy old men push you around.”

He smirked suddenly, the kindness in his eyes shifting to playfulness.

“Besides, anything you do wrong will reflect poorly on me. I can’t have anyone spreading rumours about the Fire Lord’s disrespectful bodyguard.”

Y/n scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. If she’d done that in front of anyone else, she knew they would’ve been in shock. Blatantly disrespecting the Fire Lord must be pretty high up on the list of things she wasn’t supposed to do as his bodyguard. Despite that, Zuko seemed to let her snarky comments slide.

“I’ll meet you in front of your room in an hour. Give me time to become… less sweaty,” Y/n told him.

This seemed to remind Zuko of her current state and a blush dusted his cheeks again.

“Of course,” he muttered. He shuffled back towards her door and slipped out.

Y/n shook her head.

--

An hour later, they were walking together towards the throne room for the meeting. Zuko seemed to refuse to refer to it as a war room, so she figured it was best to follow suit. He was listing off the proper order that she should greet the officials they were meeting, how deep she should bow for each, their titles, and so many other details. Y/n was thankful for her experience in memorizing fighting forms and names. Otherwise, she would be completely lost.

“And don’t maintain eye contact for too long. They might think that’s rude. But don’t be too brief, that could come off as rude as well. You definitely need to make eye contact with each of them though, I can’t have them thinking I’m playing favourites,” Zuko told her.

“Is there anything I can do that won’t offend them?”

“Most likely not.”

“Fantastic.”

“It won’t be that bad,” he said, “Try to just follow my lead.”

Y/n swallowed a groan. They had reached the throne room too fast for her liking. Zuko turned to her, looking like he was about to give her a final pep talk. Instead, his face turned sombre.

“Trust me. I won’t let anything bad happen. I’ve had my experience with disrespecting arrogant old men and it’s not something I would wish on anyone.”

Y/n furrowed her brow. She wasn’t sure what he was referring to, she hadn’t been told of anything happening with Zuko’s recent meetings. Unconsciously, she looked at Zuko’s scar. A heavy feeling in her stomach told her that it was related to what he was saying.

Eyes shifting towards the door, he continued, “Anyway, let’s head in. I’m sure you want to get this over with as much as I do.”

Without waiting for her response, Zuko pushed the doors open and headed inside. Y/n followed close behind him.

The throne room was as she remembered it being the last time she was in there. There were the new additions of a long table leading to the Fire Lord’s throne, as well as three older men sitting at it. They were dressed in deep red robes, indicating their high status within the Fire Nation. Y/n knew they weren’t military officials like she had initially expected, but simply members of the Fire Nation nobility that resided within the capitol. She could tell by the way they held themselves that they were aware of their importance. From what Zuko had told her, these particular men had been a nuisance for him. They had been resistant towards Zuko’s efforts to change the way the Fire Nation viewed themselves and the rest of the world.

Zuko sat down at the head of the table. Y/n was not sure whether to simply stand by him until Zuko indicated for her to sit beside him.

From the looks on the Fire Nation nobles, they were not pleased. Probably by her presence. Y/n awkwardly shifted in her chair, not even sure what to do while the men began to converse.

“We need more military presence in our colonies,” one of the men started. “The Earth Kingdom citizens need to be reminded of where they live. Since the end of the war they’ve started to forget who’s in charge.”

Y/n’s face flushed with anger. All she could hear coming out of his was pure nonsense. How could these old men know what was right for the Earth Kingdom? After all, they were directly responsible for all the conflict and war, she thought to herself.

Y/n nails dug deeper into the palm of her hand. It took everything in her to refrain from going up to them and punching them. She almost did. Until she felt a hand lightly graze her arm under the table. She looked up only to see it was Zuko touching her. He gave her a sympathetic look. As if to say he understood.

Y/n’s feelings for the Fire Lord were always quite complicated. On the one hand, his father and people were directly responsible for so many heinous crimes. Yet he was almost different. He cared.

Zuko cleared his throat, silencing the room. Immediately everyone, including Y/n, could not help but stare directly.

“No. That is the exact opposite of what we must do. For so long our military presence has harmed so many. We stand for so much more now. The colonies represent a new future for both Nations, we exist in balance with the Earth Kingdom citizens. The Fire Nation is no longer in charge of the colonies and we have no right to threaten the people living there. ”

Y/n couldn’t help but smile to herself. The old men looked shocked at Zuko’s answer. Zuko stared them down, eyes daring them to challenge him. The one who had initially spoken bowed his head towards Zuko.

“Fire Lord, I strongly suggest you reconsider. Although the war is over, the world needs to remember the power the Fire Nation holds.”

Her proximity to Zuko allowed for Y/n to feel how the air around him quickly heated at the noble’s response. She knew how it was common for fire benders to accidentally trigger their bending when experiencing intense emotion. The noble’s seemingly polite answer had been loaded with a complete disregard of Zuko’s vision for the future, a fact which had clearly angered him.

“I will be doing no such thing. You have shown a complete ignorance towards my vision for the future of the Fire Nation and the harm that we caused during the war. The Earth Kingdom citizens are good people deserving of respect, treating them as such will not taint their view of the Fire Nation. The only presence we should have in the other nations is one of peace.”

With Zuko’s statement they left.

--

“I appreciate what you did in there. But you didn’t have to hold me back. I can handle myself,” she stammered.

“I know you can,” he looked at her with those eyes, “I just don’t know if they can.”

The two of them stood alone together. The heat from Zuko’s anger during the meeting lingered on her skin. They stayed there, looking at each other, until their conversation was interrupted by the best sort of interruption.

Ty Lee ran up to Y/n and engulfed her in a hug. For a second she could not breathe, but the best sort of hugs are the ones that squeeze the life out of you. The two girls had met in boiling rock where they quickly became friends. But if Ty Lee liked her, that had to say something about her character.

It took a moment for Y/n to notice the person that had been with Ty Lee. Azula stared at them intently. Y/n didn’t understand why. They were just standing together after all.

“Looks like my ugly brother finally found someone special.”

Ty Lee playfully nudged Azula’s arm and said, “Azula you know Y/n is just his bodyguard.”

“The same way you’re just my bodyguard too,” she smirked at Ty Lee.

Y/n felt like she had intruded on something she shouldn’t have. By the look on Zuko’s face, he felt the same. But Zuko always looked uncomfortable, it was part of his charm.

“Have you packed for Ember Island Y/n?” Ty Lee said, trying to shift the conversation in a different direction.

“Ember Island?”

“Didn’t Zuko tell you? Suki thought it was best we all go for a bit until the whole assassin situation calms down. Well, really it was supposed to just be Zuko. But we could all use a little vacation,” Ty Lee said.

First Y/n had to become the Fire Lord’s personal bodyguard and now she was going on vacation with him and his friends? Things could not get any crazier. What she didn’t understand was why Zuko didn’t bring it up? It just made no sense for him to keep it from her. Her confusion must’ve shown on her face, as Azula’s smirk got more mischievous.

“Looks like there’s some trouble in paradise. You guys really need to work on your communication skills as a couple.”

“Azula!” Ty Lee nudged her harder.

“Make sure you pack plenty of sunscreen for Zuzu. He tends to burn easily,” Azula said.

“Azula!”

“What! Oh. Wow look at the time Ty Lee. We really should be going.”

masterlist // chapter 1 // chapter 2 // chapter 4

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@firelordtea @awkwardnesshabitat

[bardicindignation]

For @rhea-imagined and @cross-d-a: my star wars fix-it ideas for question...49 I think? in that star wars ask game from over a week ago (Will I write all of these? Probably not! At least one or two? Hopefully I'll get to them eventually) 😅 Also! If you two (or anyone else for that matter) has any questions or comments, please feel free to jump into my ask box or my DM's! :

1. the No Time Series (yes, I am planning a series, I've already gotten most of the timeline written down) fix-it where Anakin doesn't fall to the darkside, but as a backup plan Palpatine punts him into the timestream (bc he clearly has some kind of access to that force nexus thing in rebels) and sends out a clone he made of Anakin (complete with warped memories) to play out the rest of RotS and become Vader

The title, and also all of the titles of the fics in the series come from the lyrics of No Time because while I was coming up the idea, that song was frequently stuck in my head and the lines seemed oddly apt despite the fact none of the actual subject matter has anything to do with star wars, or anything that happens in the fic

This also includes:

Qui-Gon lives (bc of Dooku shenanigans) but is trapped on a planet neither he or anyone else who lands/crashes there can leave until Ahsoka, Rex, Feemor and their respective battalions (I Do Not See Victory and Death what do you mean Jesse died he's right there) crash shortly after order 66

Anakin finding his way back to his own time and stealing back his men (and then a bunch of other battalions) from Vader

Ahsoka having her own time travel shenanigans

Fives and Tup both live bc reasons

A reunion on Vader's star destroyer in which everyone shows up to rescue either the person undercover, the person who got captured, or the people who hared off do do the rescuing by themselves and everyone has a very, very, weird day

2. Another Qui-Gon lives au set during the Clone Wars where he has very specific amnesia caused by hiding so thoroughly hiding the force that he couldn't be seen or sensed. Ahsoka finds him by accident after leaving the jedi and shenanigans ensue This also includes:

Echo getting rescued a few months early

Ventress the (at first) reluctant ally

Tup and Fives live again

Obi-Wan and Anakin spend a lot of time being Very Confused and Suspicous

Order 66 is avoided

3. Same as before except Qui-Gon ends up on the Trandoshan game-hunting world and meets Ahsoka when she ends up there

Also Including:

more of the trapped padawans/younglings living because they have full fledged (if amnesiac) jedi master with them who can do aforementioned hiding in the force

coded messages/distress calls disguised as lunch orders at Dex's

4. What I'm calling the Informant Sergei au even though that's really only a small part of it: this is the undercover Anakin au which (along with bullying Tarkin) also includes

Secret jedi padawan Mara Jade (also a lot of other ppl undercover)

Han and Chewie getting roped into everything when Luke and Obi-wan need a ride to go pick up Leia, who got into trouble trying to find Luke (they were dreamsharing) and then didn't end up actually needing to be rescued

Obi-wan getting a very weird present from Ventress

Freaks-of-the-force!skywalkers

More Ahsoka time travel shenanigans

The Mandalorian happening a good decade earlier for the express purpose of fitting in some background Bobadin and also Fennec, because I love her.

the aforementioned bullying of tarkin, most of which consisted of a running joke involving supposed-to-be-dead Quinlan Vos. I've actually written the first part of this and you can find it here :)

4. Vader finds out about the chips after seeing post order 66 Cody, is freaked out into coming back to the light and manages to get all of the clone troopers he possibly can onto his star destroyer and successfully fakes all of their deaths, including his own, gives them all the information the Empire has on the Jedi and their brothers and also a list of planets they can use to hide, then peaces out to go it alone with only his guild complex for company. Also including:

A memorial wall(s) of murals that the clones paint on the star destroyer

Gratuitous ghost imagery

Plo lives and is in charge of the little ones

Anakin's planet sized guilt complex

the jedi younglings live

5. Time travel fix it where a whole bunch of ppl find themselves back in the clone wars during the Umbara campaign, some in their old bodies, some not. Includes

Tarkin biting the dust a few decades early

Luke and Leia (and Ezra) stuck in, like, 4 yr old bodies with all of their memories intact

Anakin's List of Acceptable Murder Victims (including Palpatine, Tarkin and Krell)

Qui-Gon unexpectedly finding himself both alive/corporeal and in the past, and immediately making it the Council's problem

Order 66 happening early, but to much less effect

Anakin and Kanan's fun across space roadtrip to save the galaxy