#it’s nice to not be in an echo chamber and also not get yelled at when i don’t agree with someone

[fourthapprentice]

re last reblog: i’m so glad i have a friend group i can message in and people will tell me if my take is wrong and explain why

[the-masked-astro]

Astro-vision short stories

"You are a guardian"

So before we start this short story, I should explain that Astro vision short stories are cannon events that happen within the story. Often I tend to think about random moments in stories, so this is basically me fixiating on one event. These will no be in order, but I will explain at the beginning roughly when they happen in the sorty. These are a way of me practicing my writing skills, as i haven't really done writing like this since highschool, so feel free to give the story constructive criticism, or just regular criticism lol. With that being said let's get into this!

"You are a guardian" takes place at the very start of pt 3, about 1-2 weeks after the end of pt 2.

Warning ⚠️ This story contains mentions of: Alcohol, swearing, existential crisis, unaliving ones self, smg3 being an asshole

Smg3 kicked a rock as they walked along through the dense foliage of the forest. It wasn't all that long ago he along with Smg4 and Mask, had been running through these parts of the woods, ready for the epic battle that lay ahead. However, this was different. Their purpose this time had changed from what it once was. Along with Smg4, it was him, Smg1 and 2, as well as Tari and Meggy, who both seemed to be on edge.

"I get why we're going, but what about them? Didn't you say this was "guardian business?"" Smg3 said with his typical sarcastic tone, as he gestured to Tari and Meggy while air quotes with his hands, also rolling his eyes. Smg1 could only sigh.

"This is guardian business, however I thought it would be beneficial to bring these two along, they're more... suited to this type of situation I feel." Smg1 said as he glanced back, not stopping as he continued to walk onward.

"Yeah, and no offense three but you-" "you really suck at talking to people in a calm manner" smg2 started before smg1 cut him off. Smg3 stopped as he stomped his foot on the ground.

"Hey! I can be nice! Baka!" He said as the threw his hands up in the air in defense. Smg4 could only sigh.

"Come on dude, we need to get moving. We're almost there, no time for a hissy fit." Smg4 said as he walked past. Smg3 could only mumbled under his breath before he continued to follow the group. All of them walked in silence as they made their way through through the forest, the only sound being the crunching of plants underneath their feet.

The stopped at a cliffside, edged into the walls of rock was an out of place door of sorts, made of metal and bolts. Smg3 was the first to step up as he slammed his fists on the door, which made a loud clanging echo that reverberated through the surrounding forest.

"Hey! Astro! Come out, and we maybe won't beat you up to bad!" Smg3 said, before Smg4 huffed and pushed him out of the way.

"Don't listen to him, we just want to talk Astro... please let us in." Smg4 said as they all stood staring at the door. There was a pause before Smg3 let out a huff as he banged on the doors once more.

"Come on, I closed down my shop for this! You better open up, I didn't get dragged out here for nothing!" Smg4 yelled. As Smg4 was about to stop him, the large metal door opened slightly. A loud groan coming from the metal hinges.

"It's... open..?" Tari mutter softly. Her hands clasped together as they fidget nervously. The group looked at each other nervously. Even Smg3 looked nervous for a brief moment before he shook his head.

"Well, good! I don't have all day... Smg4 you go in first!" Smg3 said as he pushed Smg4 forward, to which he let out a gasp before turning to glare at Smg3. Smg4 sighed before looking up. He took a moment before he started walking forward, into the dark maw of the entrance before them. The rest of the group followed, all be it with hesitation.

The room had little light, the only source being from the chamber up ahead. At the end of the room, there were at least a good fifty televisions mounted to the wall, and all of them aside from one were broken, smashed in with a blunt object. Only one was still left untouched. Its screen flickered white with nothing but a snowy static that danced on the screen. In front of the display was a couch that seem to have seen better days, as it was facing the display of broken televisions.

The light from the single television casted down on the couch, illumating the space around it. Littered on the floor were empty bottles of liquor of various kinds. The group made their way slowly to the couch as the sound of the television static grew louder with each step. They were only a few feet away from the couch when they herd a voice spoke, that made them all stand still.

"Why are you here?" It said in a meek and pathetic voice. Its speech slured slightly. Clearly, the owner was beyond intoxicated.

"Astro-" Smg1 started before he was cut off.

"I'm not... Astro" they said with a hint of malice in their voice. A slight shuffling could be heard from the couch. "You saw... you saw the real Astro... I'm just... I'm just..." the figure sat up, looking behind the couch at the group before them. "I'm just... some shitty copy..." they mumbled.

Their eyes were glazed over, their orange hair messy, their Icon mask nowhere in sight, causing white liquid to slowly ooze from their mouth, more so than normal.

"Ast-" Meggy cut herself off. "Look... we need to talk." She said softly but firmly. The figures eyes only narrowed.

"What? You wanna rub my defeat in my face? Re... remind me of how shitty I was. How I... I fucked everything up?" They spat with venom in their voice. "Just leave me alone" they mumbled as they sunk down back into the couch.

The group only stood in silence, looking at one another, trying to figure out what to do. It was Smg1 that gave an annoyed hum before he walked forward, smg2 reached out to stop him, but stopped halfway and put his hand back at his side.

"Listen" Smg1 said as they walked in front of the figure, who was slumped over on the couch, looking down at the ground with their lifeless eyes. "I know you've been through a lot, and we know you've done wrong, but we're here to change that." Smg1 said as they stepped forward. "Good or evil, like it or not you're a guardian. And you need to start acting like one."

Smg2 finally made his way around to stand next to smg1. "Y-yeah! Even if you don't like us, it's your duty as Guardian to protect your avatar! As well as the rest of the islands inhabitants!" Smg1 said, his voice made it clear he was still on edge.

The figure didn't move. They continued to sit there, not responding to anything around them. Smg1 sighed, he looked over at Meggy, his gaze asking her for her help. Meggy hesitated but made her way over to smg1 and 2, Tari, Smg3, and 4 following soon after.

"Look... I know we didn't get off to a good start, and you've been through a lot... I might not know exactly what you're going through, but I know what it's like to... lose a lot..." Meggy said softly, not noticing the figures eyes had narrowed slightly.

"I know what it's like, being in a... new body... not being able to go back home... to lose someone-" Before Meggy could finish, the figure stood up quickly, stumbling a bit as they did so.

"You... you don't know what it's like, you know nothing about me!" They yelled in a drunken rage. "I lost EVERYTHING! I lost my life, my friends, my family, my home, everything! I can't go back, ever! And the only person I cared about... that I... I..." before they could finish, they fell to their knees as they started to sob. "I did EVERYTHING for him, it was all for him! And he abandoned me, he left me to rot in this miserable fucking world!" Their head shot up, as they looked at the group in front of them. Goopy white liquid flowed from their eyes and mouth as they sobbed. "What's the point of living when I've lost everything?" They said, their harsh tone turn to a bubbling mess as they looked up pitifully.

Here they were, the adversary the crew had face not long ago. The one who had gone around, controlling and manipulating the innocent people around them, the one they had stopped, had defeated. An evil so grand, now reduced to a drunken, sobbing pathetic mess on their knees before them.

"Don't talk like that!" Smg3 was the first to speak. "3, please," Smg4 started before they were cut off. "Shut up! Look, so what if you screwed up and trusted that asshole of a tv, who cares? You're better off without him! You shouldn't just end it all because someone screwed you over. What does that say about you? Are you just gonna roll over and give up? And let him have the win? Is that what you want?" Smg3 yelled as he took a step closer. Tari was the one to step in front of him.

"Smg3 that's enough! Can't you see they've been through enough?!" Tari said, raising their once soft voice. Smg3 was silent before he huffed. He didn't say a world before he walked past Tari.

"Whatever, I'm gonna wait outside." He said as he walked past without another word. The rest of the group watched him leave before turning their attention back to the figure before them. Their sobs had grown softer but hadn't stopped. Smg1 walked up to them.

"Look... we don't understand what you're going through, but that doesn't mean we can help." He said softly as he placed a hand on their shoulder. "It's a lot to take in, a lot to deal with, but whats done is done, and the only way to move is forward. Your situation is nothing like ours, but at the end of the day you are still a guardian, you are one of us... 5." Smg1 said softly with a slight smile as he looked into the figures eyes.

"5..." they said softly. "Yes... you are the fifth guardian... I can't say we can call you Smg5... since you're not a super meme guardian, but you're still a guardian like us." Smg1 said as he looked over at smg2 and 4.

"5..." the figure said again. They paused before wiping some of the ooze from their face. They then sat on their knees as they looked down, they seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

"I'm sure we can figure you out something" smg4 chimed in. "Maybe... super... Icon guardian?"

"Oh! Maybe super string guardian?" Smg1 added.

"Why not super orange guardian?" Meggy said with a smile.

"Umm... but aren't they blue and black?" Tari asked, to which Maggy huffed.

"...Astro." the figure said, causing the group to look over at them.

"But... I thought you said-" smg1 one was cut off.

"Astro... isn't just... was my name... it's... the name of the story... the story I started as a kid... this island... all of the characters- people on this island... they are... apart of Astro." The figure paused as they looked at Smg1. "You said... I'm the Guardian... I'm... their guardian?"

Smg1 nodded. "You are the Guardian of your avatar, and by extension, everyone on Astro island."

The figured paused, before getting up to their feet. They stumbled a bit as they walked forward, they walked up to one of the shattered televisions, pulling out their icon mask embedded within. They looked at it before placing it on their face.

"Then call me... Super Astro Guardian five... Sag5"

[shakunetsubonfire]

Mar Experiences the Five Stages of Grief

first yumeship fic ever yay! this is also my first ever fic, so sorry for any errors. i also have never posted something like this to tumblr, so apologies for formatting issues or anything, i wrote this on docs 😭

shoutout to ne for beta-reading the whole thing and helping me correct things! youre the best!

STAGE 1: DENIAL

Cater Diamond is a bitch.

…Is what Mar would like to say, but unfortunately, Mar is lying awake in his bed, it’s 2:41 in the morning, and Cater’s idiotic words are replaying over and over in his mind.

“Are you sure you don’t just have a crush on him?”

It was insignificant coming from him, a suggestion he had given when Mar was lamenting about Floyd for the umpteenth time during club practice.

“I just don’t get it. He’s annoying, but he’s entertaining. He doesn’t know how to leave me alone, and sometimes I feel like screaming,” Mar groaned, craning her neck over the back of her chair with a heavy  sigh. Lilia seemed amused, nodding his head along with Mar’s comments every now and then. Kalim tried his best to be comforting, saying barely reassuring things like, “I’m sure he just really enjoys your company!” Or, “Do you want me to ask him to give you space?” Which was nice in prospect, but was not helpful in the slightest.

That was when Cater had piped up, saying something so unbelievably stupid, but still had Mar’s mind reeling.

In the moment she said, “What the hell is wrong with you?! Of course not!” and flicked Cater in the forehead. But despite club practice having ended several hours ago, Mar still couldn’t get that sentence out of his mind.

Mar angrily thrashed around in bed, clutching his stuffed pufferfish close to his chest. 

Of course it’s not a crush, Floyd is nowhere near my type. He’s annoying, impulsive, and loud. Just because I occasionally crave his attention and affection, hang out with him between classes and follow him around doesn't mean I like him. The fact that Cater of all people thinks I have romantic feelings for Floyd is absolutely insane! He’s just a friend. A close friend. Someone I enjoy being around. Someone who understands me— someone who I like spending time with. Cater’s just an absolute idiot for assuming the worst,

 He thought, all while still tossing and turning.

“Can you stop moving and just go to bed?” Mar’s roommate threw a slipper at him from across the room, which forced him to finally attempt to stop thinking and sleep. He would tell Cater in the morning about how stupid his question was and how he’s wrong in every way.

STAGE 2: ANGER

“You are out of your fucking mind if you think me and Floyd are romantically involved in any way!” Mar whisper-yelled at Cater, firmly jabbing him in the chest. Mar cornered him before he left the dorm for class, and the two stood in the Heartslabyul kitchen. Cater gave Mar an awkward smile and a shrug.

“Why are you so upset if it isn’t true?” The shit-eating grin he gave Mar made her want to choke him out.

Mar scoffed and sputtered, opening and closing his mouth like a fish. The two engaged in a silent staring contest, Mar giving Cater a dangerous glare before she relented to grabbing the collar of his shirt.

“If you keep saying stupid things like that, you’re gonna end up with a black eye and several missing teeth,” he shouted, slightly shaking Cater back and forth.

“If you keep saying things like that, you’re gonna get in trouble with Riddle,” Cater retorted, which prompted Mar to look around and realize that they were, in fact, not the only people in the kitchen. Several students gave Mar weird looks, a mix of concern and fear on their faces. 

“This isn’t over,” Mar muttered, reluctantly letting go of Cater’s collar and storming out of the dorm into the mirror chamber.

The sound of overlapping footsteps echoing throughout the hall is all that Mar could hear, passing conversations going in one ear and out the other. He’s usually more attentive in the hallway, careful not to bump into anyone while simultaneously trying to get insight on some gossip. But nothing seemed important at that moment, as he was still hung up on the kitchen confrontation from that morning. His brows furrowed and his lips pulled into a frown as he trudged through the hallways of NRC. All he wanted was to get back to his dorm room and to be alone, isolated enough to think. But of course something always had to go wrong.

“Yo, Pufferfishie, whatcha frownin’ for?”

Floyd slung his arm over Mar’s shoulder, leaning in too close for comfort.

This is the last thing Mar wanted to happen today. 

Screw Floyd and his impulsiveness, he mused to himself. Of course the boy had to show up right when Mar was almost free, only a few short strides away from the mirror chamber. Floyd poked at Mar’s cheek when she didn’t answer his question. “Helloooo, Twisted Wonderland to Pea-Puffer?”

Mar finally snapped out of her stupor, turning to look at Floyd with a blank look on her face. “Hi, Floyd,” is all she said, facing forward again and attempting to continue her walk to the mirror chamber, which seemed to take longer than usual. Except Floyd’s unrelenting grip around Mar’s shoulder prevented her from moving too much.

“What, didja not hear me the first time? Whaddya pouting about? Your cheeks are all puffy,” He pointed out, pinching Mar’s cheek. 

Mar swatted his hand away with a glare, taking a deep breath and facing him properly. “Nothing important. Bad day. Don’t worry about it.”

Floyd frowned at that, tilting his head as if to say, You’re lying. Tell me what’s wrong. Then he smiled— that stupid toothy grin he always wears, squeezing Mar’s shoulder.

“I know exactly what’ll cheer you up! C’mon, follow me.”

Going to the Mostro Lounge typically wouldn’t have been a problem, in fact, Mar would’ve encouraged it. Any chance to annoy Azul makes for a good time. 

Unfortunately for Mar, Floyd seemed to have different plans that day.

The two were sat in a booth across from one another, signature Mostro Lounge drinks placed in front of each of them. Mar was leaning her head onto her arms while Floyd’s arms were slung over the back of the booth, his head thrown back as he complained about how annoying all the minnows in his classes had been and how it would’ve been so much better if she had been there to quell his boredom and talk to him like usual. Mar hummed confirmations and occasionally agreed with him, but Floyd could tell her mind was somewhere else.

“Heeeey, are you even listening?” He looked at Mar rather sullenly, jutting out his lower lip in a pout.

Just as Mar opened his mouth to respond, Azul appeared, Jade standing behind him. Azul seemed as fake as always, his mouth pulled into a polite smile. Jade also gave his signature eerie grin, and Mar could tell something was up. The looks on their faces seemed too eager, too mischievous for her liking.

“Oh, hey Jade, Azul,” Floyd looked up at them, rather intrigued by their sudden presence. It didn’t look like he knew what was going on, either.

“Hello, Floyd, and Mar,” Azul began, pushing up his glasses with a smirk. Weird.

“We were just checking in. Is your date going well? Mar, are you enjoying your drink?” Azul inquired, his blue eyes peering into Mar’s soul.

“Excuse me?” Mar practically shouted, glowering at Azul. “Date?!”

“Why, is that not what they’re called? You seem rather displeased,” Azul chuckled, and Mar could tell this was deliberate. 

She stood up, gripping the table harshly. “What are you getting at? We’re not together,” she looked to Floyd for confirmation, but he seemed unbothered, as if Azul’s words weren’t odd at all.

“You’re not?” Azul continued, looking even more smug, as if that was even possible. Jade stifled a laugh, which just infuriated Mar even more.

“NO! Why does everyone think that? What the hell is your problem!?” Mar closed the distance between her and Azul, her fists clenched at her sides. She would’ve grabbed him, but Azul would probably find some way to press charges. 

“Chill out, pea-puffer. What’s your deal?” Mar’s sudden burst of rage seemed to confuse Floyd, like she was the one who was instigating. As if she was the one who started this. 

That small question sent Mar over the edge.

“I don’t understand! Why is everyone acting like I’M the one making a big deal out of this?! We AREN’T dating!” she groaned, looking at the three merfolk in a combination of bewilderment and exasperation. 

“‘Cuz you are,” Floyd pointed out, now giving Mar his own glare.

Mar promptly pushed Azul and Jade out of his way, wordlessly storming out of the lounge and slamming the doors behind her.

“She doesn’t know,” Jade remarked.

“Obviously,” Floyd sighed, laying his head on the table in defeat.

STAGE 3: BARGAINING

Mar thought it would be easy to completely avoid everyone and everything. What’s wrong with a few missed classes, work shifts, lunch periods, and club meetings?

A lot, apparently.

She had decided to make a deal with herself. I’ll avoid any situations where I have the possibility of running into Floyd.

Being in a school setting full-time did not make that very achievable. Mar had amassed several detentions with Trein, docked paychecks from Azul, concern from her clubmates, a constantly empty stomach, and a collar around her neck— courtesy of Heartslabyul’s housewarden.

“What were you thinking?! This is completely unacceptable! You have made a fool out of me as a housewarden, and now all your problems are falling onto me! Do you have any idea just how big of a deal this is!?” Riddle shouted, pacing back and forth in front of the sofa Mar sat on in the Heartslabyul lounge. 

He shrugged, the look on his face only spelling out boredom, which only made Riddle angrier.

“Sorry if you’ve had to deal with my problems, but if you were in my position, I’m sure you’d be avoiding Floyd too,” Mar scratched the back of her neck, or at least the area that wasn’t constricted by the collar.

“Sorry won’t cut it! You should know better than to pull such a stunt. You will hand-write a three page apology letter to Professor Trein, and then go back to your duties as normal. The collar will be removed once you have completed these tasks,” Riddle tutted, to which Mar groaned. There’s no negotiating with Riddle.

The following morning, she returned to classes as usual, turning in a handwritten apology essay to Trein along the way. She ignores Floyd during classes and passing periods, opting to disappear into the crowd when he shows appears. Floyd continued to poke and prod at Mar, even throwing balled-up notes at her, notes that quickly began to pile up at her feet and were left unread.

By the end of the school day, Floyd is in a bad mood. Pufferfishie has never avoided him like this, and he doesn’t like it.

Floyd is finally able to confront Mar when he spots her on her way to the Pop Music Club room.

“Pufferfish,” Floyd’s voice is low and steely, sending a chill down Mar’s spine. The nickname lacks the usual enthusiasm he adds when he spots the smaller boy, and his grip on Mar’s shoulder is firm.

Mar slowly turns around to face him, a strained smile on her face. She tightly grips the guitar case straps slung over her shoulder, nervously laughing as she greets the boy in turn.

“Floyd,” he acknowledges, tilting his head in faux confusion. Floyd frowns.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Floyd states, his grip on Mar’s shoulder tightening. “Why?”

Mar sputters for a moment, looking around the hallway for an escape route. Unfortunately enough, the hallway is practically empty, and Floyd would be able to catch up to her in an instant.

“Um,” she begins, clearing her throat and doing her best to keep eye contact with the taller. Eye contact makes lying less obvious, she’d heard.

“I’ve… been busy… And not feeling great. Haven’t been talking to anyone at all, as of late,” he stammers, his heart racing. 

Floyd seems unconvinced. “Busy enough to skip classes and work? Busy enough to skip club meetings? Busy enough to straight up ignore me?”

Mar shrinks under his unwavering glare, uncomfortably shifting her weight from foot to foot. 

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. “I’ve been dealing with my own problems."

Floyd’s glare only grows more intense, scanning Mar’s face for answers. He’s unsatisfied. He knows I’m lying, he concluded.

Floyd bared his sharp teeth, about to say something that could only be classified as threatening, when Mar’s saving grace appeared at the scene.

“Mar! You’re finally coming back to practice!” Kalim beamed, running up to the two. Mar visibly exhaled, relief flooding onto her face at the sight of her friend.

“Mhm, was heading there now. Wanna walk together?” He smiled sweetly, ignoring the way Floyd scowled at them both. 

“Sure!” Kalim hooked his arm with Mar’s, looking up to Floyd in acknowledgment. “Sorry if I interrupted you guys. You should head to club practice too, Floyd,” he laughed. Whether this was an intentional save or Kalim just being himself, Mar was grateful nonetheless.

“I gotta hurry up and get to the club room. I’ll see you tomorrow, Floyd,” Mar excused himself and Kalim, quickly ushering the two away from the scene.

Floyd threw a basketball directly at Ace’s face that afternoon.

STAGE 4: DEPRESSION

Ignoring one of your closest friends is exhausting, Mar thought to himself, her head laid upon a cafeteria table dejectedly.

She did stay true to her promise, avoiding Floyd the best she could while still following her duties as a student, but everything was so boring.

Sure, she still had her dormmates and other friends, but things weren’t the same without Floyd around. Classes had grown more intolerable, the droning voices of her teachers practically putting her to sleep. She had even gotten in trouble a few times with Crewel for slacking off. 

Once again, Cater had picked up on her odd behavior.

“What's up with you, Mar-Mar? You’re all sulky,” he commented, sitting down across from Mar. 

Mar slowly sat up, her head resting on her arms.

“I miss Floyd,” she stated simply. 

“Why don’t you just talk to him? Avoiding him isn’t gonna make you miss him any less,” Cater shook his head, tapping his chin in thought.

“I think you should just start talking to him again. Like how you used to. He’ll probably be eager to hang out with you again.”

Mar took Cater’s advice, (for once). It was helpful to hear it from someone else, despite already knowing what she should do next.

The next History of Magic period, Mar greeted Floyd as if nothing was wrong. Just like Cater had said, Floyd was happy that Mar started actually responding.

After class, Floyd cornered Mar again. 

“Pufferfishie, let’s hang out!” He grinned, stepping in front of her. Mar was about to enter the mirror chamber to return to her dorm, but Floyd had thwarted her plans once again.

Avoiding him isn’t gonna make you miss him any less.

“Sure,” Mar agreed, linking her arm with Floyd as he led her to the Octavinelle mirror.

As soon as Floyd and Mar were seated at a booth with a plate of takoyaki between them, Floyd began his questions.

“Why were you avoiding me? Did something happen? Didja get in a fight? I saw you wearing one of Goldfishie’s collars. Crabby said ya looked upset when I asked him during practice,” he rambled, staring at Mar intently. 

“Slow down,” Mar laughed, a sound that Floyd had been yearning to hear ever since Mar had begun her weird behavior weeks earlier.

“First off, don’t ask Ace about me, he doesn’t know shit. But to answer your questions, I was just kinda in a funk, I guess. Sorry for ignoring you and all,” she gave him a shy smile, picking at her nails nervously.

“I don’t like when you avoid me like that. I like bein’ around you, y’know? It’s boring when you’re not around,” Floyd squished Mar’s cheek.

“...Same to you,” Mar nodded back, her face beginning to heat up.

My face feels hot. Why is my heart beating so fast? She pondered, before the realization hit her like a truck.

Cater was right.

STAGE 5: ACCEPTANCE

When Mar went to ask her friends about the possibility of Floyd liking her back, they were not amused.

“Are you serious?!” Ace yelled, throwing his hands up in the air.

“I mean, probably. He hangs out with you, like, a lot,” Deuce shrugged, growing more awkward by the minute. Mar didn’t even know why she asked him.

“You weren’t already together?” Trey genuinely seemed confused.

“Do not ask me questions that do not pertain to your studies or my housewarden responsibilities,” Riddle scolded, his face reddened just by the name drop of Floyd.

All Cater had chosen to say was “I told you so.” What an asshole.

After Mar had gotten the confirmation she needed, she decided to go all in. 

Floyd and Mar were basically inseparable. If one was around, the other was sure to be nearby. During the passing period, Floyd would squeeze Mar for so long to the point she would almost be late to her next class. 

It was like there was some unspoken agreement between them to become even more insufferable. Mar was content with how things were and she assumed Floyd was too, until he confronted her once again, this time after club practice.

He practically appeared out of nowhere, the sudden appearance making Mar jump.

“I love you, Pufferfishie,” was all he said, smiling widely with his sharp teeth on display. 

It wasn't that Mar didn’t feel the same, rather, it was the opposite of that. But the spontaneous confession had caught Mar off guard, to the point she didn’t respond for several seconds.

Floyd frowned, poking her shoulder. “Well? Are you gonna answer me, or not?” He waited expectantly, hand on his hip. 

Mar’s face felt like it was on fire. She was going to die, and the last thing she would see was Floyd’s face. 

Mar still stood there like an idiot, eyes wide and mouth hanging open for another minute until Floyd poked her again.

“I… umm… uhhh… h-hold on. Gimme a sec,” she stammered out, covering her face with her hands. 

Eventually she spoke up, her voice hardly above a whisper.

“I love you, too.”

Floyd giggled, pulling Mar into his chest for a squeeze. He spun her around a few times before setting her down and cupping her face with his hands.

“Great! Now, let’s kiss.”

When Mar finally made it back to her dorm, two hours past curfew, both Riddle and Cater were waiting in the lounge for her.

After being subsequently collared and yelled at, Cater slung his arm around Mar’s shoulders, walking with her back to their respective dorm rooms.

“Was I right, or was I right?” 

“Die.”

[juuheizou]

Tabula Rasa Chapter 3

AU where Mutsuki isn't a homicidal villain/throwaway character, but a vengeful Cochlea escapee from his past is doing one hell of a job making it look like he is, and he has to confront his personal demons in order to clear his name.

read it here

[vvitchering]

32. “I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified.” for bobadin?

This is my first time writing for this ship and my second time writing Boba so I am FEAR (TM) but I think I actually like the way this came out?????

~ It’s been a month and a half since the beroya had come to stay at the palace. Six since the loss of his child and his creed. Boba doesn’t like to think about what Din had been doing to himself in the time between handing his son over to the jetii and when Boba had finally managed to track him down halfway across the galaxy. He hadn’t known Din long at that point, but anyone could have seen the defeat and hopelessness in his posture and demeanor. 

If Boba had taken any longer to find him, he isn’t sure there would have been much left to find.

Given purpose once again as a hunter and personal guard for the usurper king of Tattooine, Din is flourishing. Now, Boba counts on him almost as much as he does on Shand. She may be his right hand, but Din is as close to clan, aliit, as either of them are going to get and that means something to Boba. They’re both orphans, survivors from a scattered culture; and in every word of mando’a they speak to each other, every nostalgic smile, every instance of innate understanding, they grow a little closer. 

Things have been going well, possibly too well, suspiciously well. So while it isn’t a complete shock when Din begins to pull away again, it still hurts. They haven’t shared a meal in days. The mats laid out for combat practice have gone unused. Din hovers at the edge of Boba’s vision when he absolutely must make an appearance and he all but evaporates like a desert breeze the second he’s no longer needed. 

Din begins to stay out on hunts for longer stretches of time. He reports the relevant details on his return and disappears again until he’s summoned. His absence burns like acid but Boba tries to give him his space. He doesn’t know what he’s done to offend the man, but it’s clear there’s been a shift in their relationship and if he doesn’t want to lose the wayward beroya yet again, he’s going to have to do something soon.

He gets his chance one afternoon after he’s yelled at his court to disperse and he’s made his way to the chambers they use for exercise and weapon storage. Din is already there, moving through his forms, beskar spear in hand. His movements grow stiff and unnatural the moment he realizes he has company and Boba feels the last of his restraint snap.

“Do you have some issue with me all of a sudden?” he asks. Din flinches like he’s been struck. 

“Have I offended you in some way? Made you feel uncomfortable or unwelcome?”

Din fidgets with the spear and shifts his weight from foot to foot as if he’s debating making a break for it. Boba frowns. He’s never pressured Din to go helmetless, he knows he finds a certain kind of comfort and familiarity in keeping that part of himself intact, but he finds himself wishing for the umpteenth time that Din trusted him enough to remove it in his company. 

Right now, it feels like just another impenetrable barrier between them.

“No, it’s not that.” Din finally responds, tilting his head as he speaks in that curious way of his.

Boba moves closer, motioning for Din to continue. They’re having this discussion, no matter how much Din looks like he’d rather take off running. Whatever he’s hiding, it’s hurting them both and Boba can’t, won’t, stand for it any longer. He’s come to value Din’s companionship in a way he’s quickly realizing is frighteningly irreplaceable. The thought of losing it permanently sends cold shivers up and down his spine in a way nothing else ever has. 

Boba sets his jaw. Despite the avoidance techniques Din has been favoring lately, he is still Mandalorian, as is Boba. They will clean the air as their kind have done for centuries. 

Boba lunges. 

The attack catches Din completely off guard and they fall to the mat covered floor with a muffled clatter. Din loses his grip on the spear and it rolls away out of his reach. He struggles under Boba’s weight in a weak attempt to avoid being pinned down, but Boba has him just where he wants him. He leans almost his full weight onto Din’s chest, keeping him down, and presses his forearm into Din’s throat. He takes care not to press too hard; he wants to subdue and restrain, not hurt. 

Din inhales raggedly but goes obligingly limp, unwilling to fight back. It’s like the fire that they’ve both worked so hard to kindle has left him again. Cold fear zings through Boba, mingling with the adrenaline from their short lived tussle and he feels sick to his stomach as he realizes this might be the last time he’s allowed this close to Din. 

“Tell me. Please.” He begs. And it is begging. How far the mighty Boba Fett has fallen, pleading with a no-name beroya from some backwater covert for forgiveness for some unknown slight. He’d fall even further if it meant he could keep Din by his side just a little longer. 

He can’t see Din’s eyes behind the dark of his visor, but he can feel the strength of his gaze. He can feel him tense again beneath him as he registers Boba’s pathetic pleading. There’s a moment of complete stillness before the world tilts and Boba gasps for breath as Din manages to swap their positions and slams him into the ground. It’s not gentle. There’s force in his movements, real intent, and Boba would sigh in relief if he hadn’t just had the air mercilessly knocked from his lungs.

“I have lost everything in my life that mattered to me,” Din begins, and his normally calm voice is edged in steel. “My home. My family, twice over. Everything I had left fit inside a storage locker in my ship and that’s gone, too.” 

“You’re not the only one who’s lost things, Din.” Boba reminds him gently.

Din laughs miserably. He’s shaking slightly, Boba can feel the tremors where Din is pressed against him. 

“Sometimes I think I’m cursed.” Din says quietly. “I never get to keep anything important. My creed, my ship, the kid, everything I loved...” He trails off, viciously biting off what sounds like the beginning of a sob.

Din’s hold on Boba loosens significantly as he falls apart and Boba takes the opportunity to grasp at Din’s wrists, gripping them lightly but securely. He’s not great with words and even less so with comfort, but he can do this at least. He can anchor Din, help him weather the storm he’s fighting through, and see him safely back to shore.

“I pulled away because I thought if I ended this myself before it turned into anything it might hurt less than waiting for something to come along and end it for me. Cut something out of my life on my own terms for once, you know? Couldn’t do it, though.”

“Din--”

“Ne’johaa, I’m not finished.”

Boba swallows his interruption and stares up at Din pointedly. 

Go on. Get to the point of all this. 

Din takes a measured breath and then lets it go. 

“I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified. I don’t want you to be another thing I lose. I won’t survive it. Not again.”

“Oh. Is that all?”

“Is that all...Boba--”

“Now it’s your turn to shut up. C’mere.”

Boba shifts his grip to hold Din by the forearm with one hand while the other slides up over Din’s shoulder to pull him down by neck. Their helmets clink together at their foreheads and the sound echoes through the chamber. Din makes a short shocked sound and throws his free hand down beside Boba’s head to support himself but makes no attempt to pull away. 

“I’ve lived through far more than my fair share of hardship in this life. You don’t get to look like I do without having survived some absolute shit situations.”

They’re separated by the metal of their helmets, but Boba would swear he can feel Din’s warmth seeping through.

“If this is something you want to pursue,” he continues, “I’m amenable to that. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere any time soon, verd’ika.”  

Din makes a strange wheezing noise somewhere between a sob and a laugh and sniffs loudly before collapsing slowly on top of Boba in an exhausted but relieved heap. 

“Not that I’m not enjoying you sprawled out on top of me like this, but do you think we could relocate to a more comfortable surface? A training mat isn’t exactly an ideal place for a cuddle.” 

“Trying to get me into bed already? You’re shameless.” Din laughs, clear and true, and it’s the sweetest sound Boba has heard in a long time.

--

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, do a writer a favor and reblog! Likes are nice, but they don’t get this story out there for more people to see. I’m also toying with the idea of putting this one up on my ao3. Thoughts?

mando’a words beroya - hunter Ne’johaa - shut up verd’ika - literally “little soldier”, used here as an affectionately insulting term of endearment as its usually used for little kids

(I really like Mando’a as a language, I think its fascinating, and writing a ship that consists of two Mandalorians gives me the perfect excuse to WAY over use it because I barely ever get to. I apologize for NOTHING. I wasn’t expecting this to be so long. I’m fully planning on coming back to this when I have fresh eyes and revising and editing some parts where the pacing feels a little off!)

[crobones]

anyone else think that the duffer brothers did not have this season in mind when writing previous seasons? I think they wrote themselves into a corner and thought "okay how can we got a little lost how do we get back to the core story at hand." like...

how did vecna get his powers? will we address it or ignore it? if killing people with psychic powers opens a gate to the upside-down, how did a gate open in Russia? did they just think "let's throw in the red scare to give the adults something to do because we don't want them helping the kids. " and did they think that since they forgot about barb for a season and a half, they made the big bad go after kids with trauma and decided that Nancy is way more effected than before.

fuck, dude. I don't even remember seasons two and three or anything other than mind-flayer = bad. season four ties into season one nicely, but I think they just got high or had a fever dream for seasons two and three, then they rewatched season one and remembered plots they had to address.

for one, in real D&D, vecna is a bigger bad than a mind-flayer (not to mention that's not even what I mind-flayer looks like.) these are issues that i've had since the beginning really. the entire hierarchy of d&d creatures is literally backwards in the show. mind-flayers are an entire hive mind race, not a giant shadow spider. if they wanted a somewhat more fitting title for that thing, they should have gone with elder brain.

aside from mind-flayers, the demogorgan isn't even from the same plane of existence. it's a singular being, a demon worshipped like a god by cultists, and chances are the mind-flayer race and the demogorgon would not have gotten along at all, considering the ilithid used to enslave demons, and especially since the rift between the lawful evil and chaotic evil realms has caused a lot of shit in the past.

then there's Vecna, who is not only from an entirely different plane of existence than the both ilithid and the demogorgon, but his life as a lich brought him to a pseudo-god in undeath. a neutral evil kinda-maybe god. a demigod. and since Mike mentioned Kas having slain Vecna previously, we can assume Vecna is one now. If they wanted Vecna to work for a giant shadow entity, they should have gone with Orcus, who Vecna learned undeath from.

like, since this rant is on tumblr, chances are I'm yelling into an echo chamber of people who also know D&D lore, but it's these small details that make me think that the duffer brothers did not have forethought for this plot. I think they left enough plotholes that they tried to solve every single one with one big bad.

if the mind-flayer in the show was trying to get to the canon world through Vecna/Peter, why him? last season they made a bully a vessel, now we're aiming for victims of bullying baybeee. and why would a random "demogorgon" kidnap Will in the first place if we have since been shown they are mindless creatures? did the mind-flayer have the demogorgon kidnap a random child? why didn't the mind-flayer try to influence El like it supposedly might have maybe done to Peter if she was so tied to the upside-down that she ripped open a portal to it? Why did it wait 30 years? dramatic timing? why is Peter's left hand like that in his Vecna state? to make him more like Vecna? he would have one hand and one eye.

regardless, I don't want to give the duffer brothers any credit for tripping over the finish line here, because they took a fucking subway off route only to get to the line by taxiing back.

[chxrrysangel]

Stark Tea Time

Summary || Morgan Stark drags Bucky to one of her legendary tea parties, Sam leaving him to drown in pink fluff and glitter.

Warnings || Bucky actually smiles

You do not have permission to post my work anywhere else

“Lay up Cyborg, live a little. It’s not like I’m gonna di—”

“Look! Sam, I drew something for you!”

The two men’s attention is diverted from their conversation as little Morgan Stark comes barreling down the hallway, paper flapping in one hand and an assortment of crayons in the other. Her hair is covered in little butterfly clips, strands adorned with a wide array of colors from the chalk dye strewn across her cherry wood floors. She’s wearing a massive tutu, dressing to the 9s in a blue ballerina costume.

Sam smiles at the little girl, always excited to see what she has to offer. Ever since Tony passed, all of the Avengers men have taken on a father-like role towards the child, always making sure she feels loved and cared for. It’s the least they can do.

He bends down to her eye level, giving her his full attention. The smile on Sam’s face is in complete contrast to the grimace adorning Bucky’s features.

“What’s up sweetheart? Whatcha got?”

The little Stark giggles in excitement, overjoyed to see her two favorite Avengers come to see her again. They’re always quite busy, saving the world and everything. So each visit is quite meaningful to her. They’ll never replace Tony, but they ensure that his memory and love for Morgan is something she’ll never lack. They’d all die before that happens, and she knows that.

She takes the drawing from behind her back and lays it out for both of them to see. It resembles some sort of bird-like figure, Sam thinks to himself. Next to it is a robot-type figure, not failing to notice the frown etched into his features with a Crayola marker. Shaking with excitement, the little Stark looks at the two men expectantly.

“What is it?”

Morgan sighs loudly, annoyed by their stupidity and lack of “artistic vision”. The two men have yet to figure out where she learned such a concept.

“It’s you guys! Duh!” Their mouthes form into an ‘o’ shape in understanding.

“Well it’s stunning. It’s absolutely beautiful Morg. You know, I might have frame this one actually. When you become a famous painter, this is gonna be worth so much money!” Morgan squeals, jumping around excitedly as Sam praises her.

“I think it’s kind of ugl—” Sam cuts him off by sending a small electrical current to Bucky’s arm, causing him to hunch over in pain as he’s being electrocuted.

“What he was trying to say is that it’s very avant-garde, meaning unique in the art world. Don’t worry little Stark, it’s a good thing.” Sam smiles at her encouragingly, hoping Terminator’s harsh words back there wash over her. She nods in understanding, James’s words already long forgotten.

The two men attempt to continue their conversation from before, discussing details about their next mission. There’s a hostage situation in the Palace of Westminster, the perpetrators threatening to blow the whole thing up with everyone in it. But before they can really strategize how to scope out the place, Sam feels a tap on his leg.

“Yes princess?”

“Can you guys come to my tea party?”

“Actually Morgan, we have to go so—” Bucky starts to say before being rudely cut off my bird-man to his left. Sam shoot daggers in his partner’s direction and the words die in his throat.

“Actually, I have to go take care of something really quickly. But Bucky can join you.” At those words, Bucky’s head jolts in his direction, giving Sam one of the meanest looks he’s probably ever seen. But the big man is all bark and no bite, so Sam just laughs in his face. Bucky’s fists tighten at his sides, thinking of all the ways he plans to torture and murder Sam when they leave the Stark house.

Morgan, on the other hand, is practically bursting at the seams. Bucky doesn’t know this, but he’s her favorite of all the Avengers, especially because his titanium arm reminds her of her dad’s suit. She feels closer to him when she’s with Bucky. Plus, they’re both kinda stoic, but it’s only an act in her eyes. She knows that deep down, he has a heart of gold.

Morgan takes Bucky by the hand, dragging him down the hallway back to her room. Meanwhile, Bucky looks back at Sam, pleading for some kind of mercy or aid. Sam, of course, provides no such thing and only cackles at his best friend’s misfortune. He says goodbye to Pepper, promising to be back once he finishes talking to Torres.

Meanwhile in a certain Stark’s bedroom…

Morgan bounced from corner to corner of her large bedroom, capturing all of the items she needs for this special occasion. It’s not often she has a guest for her weekly tea parties, let along James Buchanan Barnes of all people. She has to make a good impression if he’s ever going to come back.

Standing like a dark looming giant,surrounded by tiny chairs and more pink and purple than he’s ever seen, Bucky is clearly out of his element. At 6’0 tall, he stands taller than anything in this room, standing neck and neck with the canopy bed in the middle. Morgan doesn’t take notice of his discomfort however, she’s just happy to have him. She whips around him, gathering her stuffed animals at the table and setting up the placemats for each guest.

Almost as if having an epiphany, the mini Stark girl gasps and runs out the bedroom, yelling that she’ll be right back. Bucky wanders around the room, taking notice of all the little trinkets and toys that he, along with the rest of the team, gifted to her over time. His lips contort into a ghost of a smile, reminiscing all the times Morgan screamed for joy every time they came bearing gifts. The gifts didn’t really matter to her, though. It was just their presence that set her heart into cardiac arrest and her cheeks aflame. They were her family.

Not soon after, Morgan returns dragging a more normal sized chair into her room. Bucky is surprised at this action, as the small girl is barely breaking a sweat. That is, until he noticed the two small gadgets attached the back of the chair, marked with Tony’s insignia. So little Stark is smart, just like her dad.

Morgan sets the chair down next to her own pink, fluffy and bedazzled throne at the head of the table. She sits down, motioning Bucky to take a seat and calls the tea party into session. Bucky’s eyes wander over the pristinely white tabletop, taking in the wide assortment of snacks. From shortbread, frosted oatmeal cookies, to cheeseburgers and mini sandwiches, you name it and she’s got it. The baked goods are Pepper’s doing of course, courtesy of her daily afternoon attempts to become the next Martha Stewart. Morgan doesn’t mind at all, eager to indulge in a daily sugar high as the designated guinea pig.

“Tea?,” the child offers, “it’s raspberry, your favorite.” James can’t help but blush as her consideration of his tastes. For a kid, she’s a pretty decent host. He quickly covers up his blush by coughing and nods firmly.

After filling up the China tea cups lined up around the table, Morgan moves towards introductions. “Bucky, these are my friends. There’s Mr.Whiskers, Genevieve, Fae, Natasha, Tony, and James. They’re very happy to have you here with us. They think you look quite nice today.”

James? As in… Bucky can’t help but blush again, honored that Morgan named one of her beloved stuffed animals after him. He smiles shyly, staring at the lavender Elephant across the table. The girl doesn’t fail to notice his smile, happy that he’s happy.

“So James, how do you feel about glitter?”

~~~

The doorbell rings sometime around 7:00, just after sunset. Pepper opens the door to a smiling Sam, carrying a mysterious box by his side. He just left Torres house, the two men agreeing to scope out the place just before dawn when everyone is still sleeping. That way, they can get a good picture of what it looks like on the inside without having to use night vision technology.

“What’s in the box?”

“Lemon Merengue. For Morgan.” Lemon Merengue is Morgan’s favorite dessert. So by bringing her some, Sam hopes that she’ll forgive him for taking a rain check on one of her illustrious tea parties.

“They’re still down the hall.” Pepper points in the direction of mini Stark’s room, before returning to her baking. Tonight, she’s trying devil’s food cake.

Even from down the hall, Sam can hear the chatting of two distinct voices, a deep scratchy one and a much higher, daintier tone. He shakes his head at Morgan’s complete lack of an inside voice when she’s excited. They must be having a blast in there.

To Sam’s surprise, Bucky actually seems to be enjoying himself. He stands in the doorframe, watching the two chat back and forth while a Disney movie soundtrack plays in the background. From the distinct piano, Sam recognizes Beauty & the Beast (also one of Morgan’s favorites).

Sitting down obediently, Bucky gives Morgan his full attention as she places puffy stickers on his titanium arm and adds little doodles to his real one. He smiles as he watches her drawing a picture of the two of them with princess tiaras and feather boas, just like they are now. She babbles away, telling him the details of the movie she wants them to watch together. It’s called Tangled, he learns.

Sam decides to leave the two alone, going back to help Pepper bake in the kitchen. Although, not before snapping a picture of the two together, reminding himself to print it and put it on the fridge. He knows that Pepper isn’t exactly the kindest person to be in the kitchen with, as she is very bossy and demanding. But he’d take that over ruining this special moment in the princess-themed room down the hall.

He can still hear the faint giggles and screams of Morgan, this time begging Bucky to stop tickling her. She pleads for mercy but he refuses to budge, only making her laugh harder and her giggles to bounce off the walls like they’re in an echo chamber. And to think, he was gonna say no earlier.

[dizzydancingdreamer]

The Servant and The Prince | Five

Wow wow wow this is late but I hope with it being late that I have had the extra time needed to make it good. Please do enjoy lovelies-- and expect big things for the next chapter!

Description: This is very much a Cinderella trope because I cannot help myself and I am in love with Loki, chapter five

Pairing: Loki x Female!Reader, third person as I may adapt eventually with an OC

Warnings: anger, mention of bruises / abuse

Tags: angst, fluff

Word count: 6.6k (consider this my apology for the late chapter)

Previous | Next

Master List

“On the balcony,” Frigga calls back, brushing her blonde hair over her shoulders. “We have company!” She adds, seemingly as an after thought— she is too busy pouring wine from a glass feeder into a beautifully ornate cup.

At least, Y/n thinks it is wine. She can smell the fermented berries— sweet and tangy and warming her nose as all wines she has encountered before have— only this wine is a pale violet shade. It is not an opaque rouge, not a barely there chartreuse. Nothing like what she has ever been able to get her hands on by way of bartering or shared celebration. Weddings and births. She takes a seat in one of the golden chairs, trying not to think about how out of her element she truly is. The little details are starting to show though. Not just extravagant pools and marble hallways. Even the food here is luxurious.

The Queen presses the cup into her fingers. She is not expecting the weight of it— the way her hand drops a fraction before she thinks to tense her wrist— she has never held pure gold before, not this much of it all at once. “Drink, dear. It will return some of the color to your face.”

She nods at Frigga, hoping her small smile will convey her thanks in lieu of her absent tongue. Speechless does not even begin to cover the way she feels.

“She is right—” the smooth, deep voice interrupts, his words coated with mirth— “it is what I do.”

Heavy footsteps fall behind her, thundering through the quiet chamber. She hears the water in the pool slosh lightly, the rose oil swirling out to the balcony. It makes her feel woozy— like she is already intoxicated despite not having touched her wine.

“No what you do is something else entirely,” Frigga giggles, raising her own chalice to her lips.

That is what these are called, right? Cup seems like too plain a word for something as extravagant. Chalice is luxurious— foreign to her daily life which makes it perfect. She raises her chalice too, taking the first sip of her violet liquid. Her eyes blow wide as she does so, a tarte berry sweetness bursting across her tongue. She almost chokes from how rapidly it takes over her senses, almost painting her vision in a matching purple hue. The liquid is warm as it trickles down her throat and blossoms that same warmth through her chest. It is magnificent— it is new— it makes the racing thoughts in her head slow to a honey crawl. She has to force herself not to down the whole cup immediately, wanting nothing more than to make them stop completely.

“If you say so, mother.” His laugh is almost as booming as his footsteps— it is how she pictures a giant’s laugh would sound, all heavy and dense, weighing across her shoulders like a wet blanket. It is less uncomfortable than that though. It makes her smile. That could just be the wine though.

She takes another sip, as the man finally emerges from behind her, his large body stepping into the sunlight like he is stepping into a second skin. In that moment she is grateful for the warmth in her chest and the way the wine adds a layer of lead to her bones for without it she would surely topple out of her chair in fright. The wine is like a barrier, though, stopping her common sense from leaking through. It makes sense, now, why she had pictured a giant— he is one.

She has to crane her neck to meet his blue eyes. When she finally does she decides that they match his mother’s. So does his blonde hair but it is a little more honey, a little less golden. Just as soft looking. His skin is golden though. It looks like he spends every waking hour in sunlight— no, it looks like he is sunlight. If sunlight was a person it would be this man. His mouth cracks open in a wide grin, his ivory teeth sparkling, as though he can hear her thoughts and agrees.

Frigga rolls her crystal eyes, an action so out of place alongside her more gentle movements. “Do introduce yourself before our guest starts to believe that I have not taught you manners.”

“I was getting there,” the giant insists to his mother. He bends at the waist, reaching for her hand which he engulfs in his surprisingly soft hands. He brings her knuckles to his lips— which are also soft but less surprisingly so— kissing them gently. “I am Thor, Odin’s Son, welcome to my home.”

Again, if it were not for the wine she would surely topple out of her chair. “Thank you. I am Y/n.”

Her voice sounds so small compared to his. Meek. She feels like a mouse sitting next to a lion. Perhaps it does not help that he is standing but she doubts that him sitting down will do much to remedy the difference. Spare a growth potion there is nothing she can do to match his build.

“How fitting—” he takes a seat in the chair across from her, squeezing his mother’s shoulder as he does so. Frigga smiles at him, a glint in her eyes— “a beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”

Y/n’s cheeks fill with heat. Beautiful? Her? No certainly not. He must say that to all the women he meets. She steals another tiny glance at him while he speaks quietly with his mother. His skin looks even more golden in the light. His honey hair looks sweet enough to catch flies. Or women. Probably more so women. She drops her gaze back to the table, her fingers teasing the cool metal of her chalice. He definitely knows his way around the ladies. Still, she tucks the comment into the back of her mind for a later time. It is nice to be complimented, even if it is perhaps less than authentic.

Frigga turns away from her son, her eyes softening once more. “Tell me about yourself, my dear. Have you come all this way for the ball? That was quite a few bags you brought with you earlier.”

Much like her cheeks, her ears flood with heat as well. Unlike a moment ago, however, it is not the soft kind of embarrassment. Her blush is not a kind one. She would rather dig herself into the ground then explain that she is a servant. Her stomach fills with butterflies. Their wings beat with a vengeance, absorbing the heat of the berry wine like nectar— like fuel.

“Well, no, not exactly, your High—” She stops herself this time, taking a sip of the traitorous wine in an attempt to cull the fluttering in her chest. “Frigga. Those were not all mine. I do not think I will be attending the ball actually.”

She tries to say it casually— perhaps if she feigns indifference then it will sound as though it is her choice. Frigga narrows her brows, lifting a dark violet berry to her lips. Like a candle sparking into flame, it dawns on her what she has been consuming. Blackberries. Her eyes dart back down to the table. She tries not to let her jaw drop when she sees the magnificent spread of food that was not there only moments ago. Sliced meats and cheeses, fluffy white bread— all she has back home is the tough, grainy kind— and so many fruits she cannot even name them all. Most of all, though, there are heaps upon heaps of blackberries.

Frigga drags one of her delicate fingers across the corner of her lips where some of the dark juice has stained her otherwise immaculate skin. “Well certainly you must attend.”

Her ears burn hotter, her mouth filling once more with cotton. How is she supposed to explain to the Queen that she agrees but that she also cannot go.

“I agree,” Thor’s deep voice joins the conversation as he swallows a bite of that fluffy bread. “You must come! There will be dancing and food.” He throws a hand up when he mentions the food and she lets a small smile free wondering how much it takes to feed someone as massive as him. “I hear there will even be some suitable bachelors. I assure you— it will be a splendid evening, Milady.”

Her ears skip over the jest about the bachelors, hightailing right to his very last word. Milady. The butterflies consume the word faster than they do the wine. They are addicted to it. She thinks that she might be as well. It repeats in her head, bounding around in her mind, crashing into her skull. Milady, Milady, milady. She has never been called milady before. The more it echoes around her brain, the more disorientated it sounds. It blurs together, the vowels folding in on themselves. The butterflies do not seem to care though— they consume the fuel just the same. And the more they consume, the more she wants to throw them all up.

The line between Frigga’s brows deepens, her crystal eyes attentive. They seem to catch her every movement, down to the little shakes in her fingers as she closes them around her cup again. She does not take another sip— she is more than warm enough now— she just needs something to still her hands.

“Thor is right, dear. You would have a wonderful time.” She tilts her head, some of the crinkle returning to her eyes. “Besides, even if it is not for my sons you must go for me.”

Y/n nods— perhaps lying is the best course of action here. “For you, then.”

She pops a blackberry into her mouth for good measure.

Good measure or to keep from spilling the truth. Either way the berry is not as sweet as she would have thought it would be.

* * * * * * * * * *

The rest of the conversation passes easily after that, filled with Thor’s booming laughter and Frigga’s loving eye rolls. She does not speak that much, offering her input when asked directly or when goaded, but the royals do not seem to mind. It is a welcome reprieve from her usual days— the ones where she is yelled at for speaking and slapped for not speaking and insulted for everything else. Here she can laugh when she pleases, eat when she pleases, and exist how she pleases. She does quite a lot of the first two. The tangy berries grow on her. So does the wine. Honestly, the wine is probably the cause of her new fondness for the berries. It sweetens everything that touches her tongue. Before long her belly is full, her eyelids are heavy, and her tangy lips hurt from how much she has been smiling.

Thor takes his leave soon after the three of them finish eating, laying another of the knee weakening kisses to her knuckles and reminding her that he will be expecting to see her at the ball two nights hence. He also calls her Milady again, as though trying his hardest to slip it in there are many times as possible. Maybe he is trying to give her a heart attack. She would not mind that much if he was— she would not have to return to her tiresome, damaging life if she had a heart attack.

After Thor leaves, Y/n stands, her hands lingering on the solid golden chair, her chest getting increasingly heavier as the moments pass. “Thank you so much for your kindness, Frigga. This afternoon was wonderful.”

The blonde woman smiles, standing as well and stretching her arms gracefully over her head. “Oh, it was nothing. Are you leaving so soon, my dear?”

“I must,” Y/n tries to replicate the Queen’s smile despite the weight on her shoulders. “I have already taken too much of your time. You must be a very busy woman.”

Frigga laughs. “I am only busy when I want the Kingdom to run smoothly.” Her eyes flit to the waning sun, shaking her head slightly. Y/n wonders if she is supposed to see the small action. It seems personal. “I fear that unfortunately means you are correct.”

She nods, pulling away from the chair. “Then I will leave you to the Kingdom— it is certainly more important than I.”

Her words are airy, the smile on her face glued in place by sheer will. She likes the Queen so she will hold her carefree exterior to keep her from worrying. She does not need to ask to know that the Queen would worry— she is a mother. Her own mother would worry as well and she would feign the same calm to keep her from worrying the same way she is now. No matter how calm she looks on the outside, though, her stomach topples, like the churning waves she had passed earlier. The bile that she swallows is foamy. Salty.

She could cry.

Before she can, though, the Queen’s warm fingers curl around her icy wrist, the contrast making a shiver crest down her spine. How long has she been cold for?

“Dear you mustn’t leave until you try the pool. Really, I implore you, you will love it. I really must go but I will tell my maids to ensure that no one comes in here to disturb you. Only if you would like, of course?”

It feels like a dream, or maybe an extension of the dream she is currently in, but for a moment her leaden lungs expand enough to drag in a healthy amount of air. It is like a light in the darkness— another log to ensure the fire keeps burning for a little bit longer— and she is not about to let it pass her by. What is a few more hours anyway— she is already going to be crawling away from the next meeting with her step mother.

She hopes the relief is not too distinguishable in her voice and eyes when she answers. “Are you sure, Frigga? I would not want to impose on your hospitality.”

Frigga does not answer— not at first. Not before her slender arms wrap around Y/n and she pulls her into her flowery chest. For a moment she is frozen, her arms hanging limp at her sides. She does not even breath— she does not know if she can. The warmth that seeps into her skin is both painfully familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. It makes her ten again. She is no longer standing in the Queen of Asgard’s chambers but in her little wooden house.

And she is not alone.

“My little dove come here will you?” Her mother calls to her from the kitchen. Perhaps she needs help icing the little cakes. Y/n hopes so— licking the icing spoon afterwards is her favourite thing.

She hurries into the warm room, the smell of cooked strawberries and sweet icing sugar wrapping around her bare arms. She had been fishing with her father earlier in the day and her cardigan had become dirty so she had stripped and left it to hang on the line outside before coming in for the evening.

“Would you like to help me?” Her mother’s eyes sparkle like two diamonds, crinking at the corners as she holds a spoon out.

She takes the spoon eagerly, stepping up to the table where a dozen of her favourite little cakes are layed out. She closes her eyes, breathing in the sugar. It is perhaps her favourite smell in the world. Her favourite smell doing her favourite thing with her favourite person. Well, spare her father of course, but he does not much care for baking.

“Little dove you know how much I love you right?”

She sneaks a lick of the icing spoon, giggling when her mother tickles under her chin. “I know, mama.”

Her mother grabs another spoon and one of the little cakes, setting to work as well. “How much do I love you?”

“To Midgard and back!” Y/n giggles. She does not quite know what it means but her mother has been telling her that for as long as she can remember.

Her mother nods, some of the hair spilling out of the braids along the side of her head and curling across her brows. Her smile is so bright that Y/n wonders if they even need the gas lamp. Surely her mother could light up the room fine on her own.

“That’s right, to Midgard and back.” Her mother presses a kiss to her forehead. “And back and back and back!”

She lifts her head, blinking the fog from her vision and clearing away the memory. When her senses return to her she finds her arms wrapped around the Queen’s waist so tight it feels as though she might break the tiny woman. She lets go immediately, taking a few steps back, her eyes shooting wide. She can still feel the heavy warmth of her mother’s kitchen on her skin— still smell the cooked strawberries— and her chest jolts painfully. If only her ten year old self had known that would be one of the last moments her mother would truly be herself again then maybe she would have kissed her forehead too.

“I am sorry, Frigga. I think I am just tired from the journey here.” She sputters out. The words sound mushy and garbled, her throat closing around each syllable, trying to swallow them before they can push past her lips.

The tears she had wanted to let out before rise so quickly to her eyes that she does not know what to do but look at the stone under her feet and hope Frigga does not notice. It must be her lucky day because all the Queen does is place her hand on her shoulder. She does not try to seek out her eyes.

“There is nothing to be sorry for. My sons do not hug me nearly as much as they used to—” Y/n tries to keep her shoulders from shaking as Frigga’s voice washes over her, soft and gentle like her mother’s used to, watching as the stone becomes wet and darkens. “I think a bath would help you greatly— warm water always helps clear my mind. Maybe you will find something you are looking for in the process.”

Y/n nods, her chin dipping against her throat. The Queen squeezes her shoulder once, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head. She has to hold her breath to keep from sobbing. It fights against her lungs though and she is sure Frigga can feel the way her chest jerks, fighting her from the inside. Frigga sighs and she watches as her feet leave her line of sight, her heels clicking on the marble as she goes to leave. It is only when she hears the heavy wooden door thunk closed does she move, the scream ripping from her throat so loudly she does not doubt that the Queen— no, the whole castle— hears it.

* * * * * * * * * *

Loki looks everywhere. Everywhere. Every corridor, every entrance, every dining room. He knocks on every damn chamber door. He never knocks— he never has to— but this time he does. The amount of faces he encounters is endless, most of them women, all of them speechless. He is not surprised to see so many women— nor is he surprised when they scramble to put sentences together in his presence, stuttering through their answers. To be fair, he does not really ask them anything. He knocks on the doors, looks at the stunned faces, and then, after feeling none of the warmth he is looking for— none of the sparks— he nods at them and continues his search.

As his search deepens, the minutes dissolving quickly into hours, his chest begins to feel like it is caving in on itself. The cavern walls of his lungs shift closer and closer together, beared on by a sourceless weight. It is invisible and it is heavy and it makes his head sting. By the time he gets to the last door he is pretty sure his lungs are incapable of filling completely. He fights to draw in a breath but the pressure is so intense that he has to throw a hand against the stone wall to keep from sinking to his knees. He is drowning in oxygen and yet cannot seem to suck in a single drop.

By the time he reaches the final door his head is foggy and his chest is burning. The remaining air that he has managed to hold onto turns on him more with every step, forming a mutiny and staging a siege in his body. The air fights against his lungs, banging on his windpipe, demanding to be let free. In what manner it wants to escape, he does not know. Probably loudly. He has never wanted to scream more than he does in this very moment— to let every building tension in his body free until his throat is raw. He can practically taste the metal on his tongue. The anger.

The blood.

Loki swallows hard, the action more painful than he would have ever thought, and blinks a few times before raising a fist of steel to the final door and knocking twice. He steps back after he does, giving whoever is inside room to speak to him. He hears a commotion, the hushed and quick murmurs of people, and scurried footsteps. Barely a second passes before the heavy wood slides open and reveals two women.

One of them is a scrawny blonde. Her limbs and face are boney, her fingers long and slender. Her hair drapes down her back, tangling with the ribbons that are keeping her corset tied so tight he wonders if she— like he— is finding it hard to breathe. Obviously it would be for opposite reasons. She is clearly choosing to be breathless— not being crushed under the weight of being so close and yet so far from her soulmate. He narrows his eyes at the girl, lingering on the sharpness to her. There is not a single soft feature about her— he strongly doubts she is hiding a pair of magic thighs underneath her dress. Definitely not her.

The blonde cowers slightly, her eyes flashing with recognition as her thin shoulders drawing into a tight point as she bows her head. He sighs— he does not have time for this. He almost forgot about the ridiculous ball and the actual reason why there were so many young women in his castle right now. Some of them had not recognized him— he is not his brother, after all. Thor would have been recognized in a heartbeat. Him, though, not so much. As much as it would make his blood boil any other time, right now he dreads the thought of enduring the conversation to come. He does not care to speak to hundreds of women; he is too busy trying to locate one.

He cringes when another woman joins, this one older than the blonde, her hair a dulling shade of red and her eyes are lined with wrinkles. Her mother, he assumes. She, too, sinks into a curtsey, the heavy jewels on her throat clinking as she does so. He can hear the gears turning in her head— see the same recognition as her daughter mingled with something else— something vaguely sinister— and the weight on his chest presses harder into him. So does the anger.

Odin, he does not have time for this!

The older woman rises first, her smile slick with the same slyness that clouds her eyes. “Your highness! How gracious of you to greet us before the ball.”

The anger grows— hot, heavy, and blinding— and he has to squeeze his fists to keep from baring his teeth at the woman. It surprises him, his instant hatred for her. He is not someone who makes friends easily— a choice he makes happily— but he is also not someone who wishes to kill people within seconds of encountering them— especially not women. There is something about this woman though that makes his vision tint black at the edges.

“It is nothing, madame.” He nods, his tone an icy, flat bite.

Much to his disappointment, the woman does not flinch. Her daughter does, the blonde’s shoulders catching like they have been snagged from behind, her neck remaining dropped in a bow. At least one of them is smart. Her mother does not seem to agree, her red heel sliding across the marble to jolt into her ankle. Loki squeezes his fists. How much longer must this go on?

“Anna—” the dull redhead’s voice is pinched as though she is trying to conceal her frustration— “do you have anything to say to the Prince.”

The blonde flinches at the contact, her head drawing up, her eyes clouded over with panic. He does not know who she is more afraid of in that moment— him or her mother. His chest still does not warm for her though, fear or no fear.

“Thank you.” She chokes out and he nods again— he does not want to kill her the same way he does her mother but the lines are getting hazy from the lack of oxygen he is breathing.

“Thank you is right.” The redhead’s wicked smile widens and his vision flashes.

He takes another step back, biting his tongue. The mutiny continues to rage in his chest, climbing up his sternum, stabbing holes in his jaw. He cannot hold it back for much longer— he does not really want to. But he is a Prince and he must, if not for him than for his mother. An image of Frigga flashes through his mind and, moments later, a plan. With both in his mind he is able to suck in half a breath. It stuns the insurrection inside him for a moment and hardens his resolve— he has to get to her.

He straightens his shoulders, lifting his chin higher, revelling in the way the redhead finally shrinks away from him. “If you will kindly excuse me.”

Loki does not waste time waiting for their responses, he only spins on his heel and struts away. The walk to his mother’s chambers is quick. Usually he would linger, skimming his fingers over the marble banister and peering out towards the sea. He has spent many days locked in a staring contest with the waves. Usually he wins— they are always blinking their foamy eyes at him. Today he does not spare them a glance. They will be there tomorrow. She might not be.

He turns the corner quickly. Too quickly. He honestly is not aware of how fast he is moving until his body slams into something small but strong. He grunts, shuffling backwards until he glimpses at blonde hair and two familiar crystal eyes. He chooses to ignore the half-hearted fury in them, opting instead to grab his mother’s shoulders.

Frigga curls her hands over her son's arms, the fury melting to something more concerned. “Loki what on Asgard are you doing—”

“Mother, I need you to tell me where she is.” He pleads— breathes— not waiting for the end of her sentence to tilt into a question like he knows it will.

Her shoulders drop under her palms in a sigh that he senses coming. “I have already told you all that I can— all that I know. Even if I did know more you know that I could not tell you without putting you and her—” she pauses, raising a golden brow in what he assumes is an attempt to make him listen. It only serves to make his chest squeeze— “in danger.”

He squeezes his eyes closed, his eyelids crushing together the same way his teeth do as he grits his answer out. “I can protect us both, mother, I just need—”

The rest of his sentence is drowned by a scream that rips through every fibre in his being. For a moment it even feels as though it is coming from him, burning like bile up his throat and tearing like knives through his eardrums. It stings so much— how could it not be his scream? But then he closes his mouth, slamming his hands against his ears, and he can still hear the feral wails slicing at him through the barrier of his skin. He peels his eyes open, searching for the source of the noise but coming up empty— the only other person around remains his mother whose mouth— while drawn into a deep frown— is also closed.

“Faen!” He curses, not sure if it is as quiet as it seems to his own ears or if he just cannot hear his own voice over the violent screams. “Mother I— It hurts I—”

“Loki?” Frigga’s voice barely cuts through the howling but he can still decipher the worry in her tone.

For the second time in less than a week’s cycle, his knees touch the ground. It is a sight that has even his mother lost for words, her mouth falling open at her usually proud son forced into a bow. Loki never kneels. Now he has kneeled twice for a woman he has yet to even properly meet. Something familiar prickles against the back of his neck, right where the top of his spine meets his skull— right where the wails zero on him. Somewhere in the fever pitch he finds the very thing that has been haunting him for an entire sun cycle. Please Surtr. With the realization his own screams claw at his chest, begging to join in with their match.

It is her.

Loki rises, pushing off the marble floor and staggering forward. It is not an easy task, he feels like everything around him is fighting against his movements, pushing on his limbs until each step feels like he is fighting through waves. He is drowning but not in oxygen this time. He is a child again and the sea is crashing over him so violently that he is not sure if this time he will survive. He has never actually stopped to ask himself whether or not he can die this way— by drowning. He had always assumed the answer was no, he could not. But now he is not so sure. Now he feels like he might die on the precipice of everything important to him— quite literally on the threshold of the rest of his damn life.

The hell he will.

His hand curls around the iron handle, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he uses the last of his power to shove the heavy wood open. He can barely hear his mother’s protests— they are more a feeling if anything. Loki, that is not proper you cannot go in there. Does it look like he cares right now? He ignores her— there is nothing else he can do. The light from the room trickles over him, mingled with a heady, flowery aroma. He lets the door fall closed behind him. It is thick and warm, mingling with the heat rolling off his mother’s bathing pool and creating a fog that should make it hard to breathe.

Should.

The opposite is true though. The thick air is anything but hard to breathe. Rather he feels as though he is breathing for the first time all day. Like magic it works against the pressure on his chest, lulling the storm inside him. For a moment he cannot hear the wailing, the peace soaking into his skin enough to silence the agony. As soon as the calm comes, however, it is gone, torn away by the hiccups of a small form that is huddled against the jeweled tub. Loki’s heart stops— at least it feels like it does.

She lifts her eyes and— while half hidden by the fallen strands of her hair— he can still see the way they are banded in strands of silver that seem to go on forever. They draw him in, pulling him under the surf of her eyes but this time he is not drowning— he is floating. It is her. He is pretty sure he takes a step forward because she is now a few feet closer to him but if he does then he does not feel it. Floating. She freezes, her chest stilling, her rose petal lips peeling apart. No sound comes out. Gods how he wishes she would say something.

But then she sucks in a breath, her chest rising, and the veins under what he knows to be the softest skin in all of Asgard glow, illuminating a pattern of lightning strikes across her flesh. Just like that, he is officially a goner. Officially hers. He would do anything she asked of him. Anything to keep her. How the hell did he get so damn lucky? He cannot tear his eyes away from her, drinking in as much of her skin as possible. The sleeves of her dress hang off her shoulders, baring her flesh to him, and he can see from her hunched form that the first few buttons of her dress are open. She was undressing? Now he cannot breathe again.

He follows the pattern under her flesh intricately, taking another step, his whole body shuddering when she breathes in again and makes the scattered glow of her veins shift. The lighting strikes continue over her shoulders, mingling with the silky strands of her hair. He is suddenly envious of the strands— why does it get the privilege of touching this Valhalla made woman?

He traces her sparking veins over the crest of her shoulders and down her spine. He can feel her silver eyes on him, watching as his own eyes flick over her skin. It is exhilarating— it makes him feel alive. Was he even living before this moment? Walking and speaking and experiencing? Or is it only now that he realizes that was all a dream? Is this what it feels like to actually be alive? Odin, he was missing out.

His eyes crease over the arch of her back, drawn to the mountains and valleys of her spine. Her skin is like another world, one he would give anything to forage through— to explore for hours on end. For the rest of his life. There is not a doubt in his mind that he could be happy getting lost in her for the rest of eternity. His eyes skim the ridges of her shoulder blades, trying to decide where to even begin, and it is only then when he sees it— when his heart actually stops.

At first he does not know what he is seeing. Of course he has seen bruises before— he has fought alongside his brother as a warrior countless times. He has seen both his own skin and Thor’s turn violet and blue. This, though, is different. He has never seen anything close to the deep black bruises on her back. Her lightning veins are more muted underneath them, still crackling but instead of silver light they glow a sickening shade of scarlet. Where the lighting webs he can see her blood shifting, clinging to her injuries and flowing like lava— molten.

He can feel the heat from where her body is trying to mend itself back together. Any other time he would want to sink into it— feel her warmth against him and try to steal some of it for himself. Usually he feels so cold. Not right now. Right now all he feels is fire— fire from her lava, lightning skin, fire from the embers heating the pool next to him, fire from his own, burning anger— and he can feel the flames leaking into his eyes as he kneels for the third time.

Once he is on the floor as well her scent strengthens, wrapping around him and clinging to him. He does not know much about flowers but he can smell the Dhalia’s now, clear and sharp, just like in the castle gardens. He does not remember the castle gardens being this intoxicating though.

And nobody stomps on the Dhalia’s in the castle gardens the way someone clearly has with this one.

His chest squeezes, the flames flaring out again. Like the bruises, Loki has longed for vengeance before— many times, actually— but never like this. It has never consumed him so completely. He has never had to teeter between two impossible choices like this— impossible not because they are undoable but because he has to do both and he does not know which to do first. Engulf the shaking girl or seek out whoever thought it wise to mar her soft skin?

He meets her silver eyes, watching them crackle and flood with more tears. He has to swallow hard to stop his own, his throat burning too now. Being this close to her he can make out her features— the special curve to her nose and the dip of her cupid's bow and the little marks on her skin— everything that makes her special. He wishes more than anything in this moment that the circumstances were not as they are so that he could spend an hour memorizing every little detail.

Her hands twitch and his gaze darts to where they curl around her elbows. He wonders for a moment if they shake because of him. Gods, he hopes not. Being who he is— a prince and a feared warrior— he is used to people cowering away from him. He has grown to crave it— if they are going to keep doing it then why not embrace it? He likes when they fear him. With her, though, he wants anything but. It becomes clear which choice he has to make in that moment— and that there was never really a choice at all.

He flicks his eyes back to her, hunching his shoulders in an attempt to sink closer to her height, trying to make himself appear smaller. Before this moment he never thought himself large. He is taller than his mother, yes, but not by too much. He is nowhere near as big as Thor. Hell, even Heimdall is bigger than him. He has always been the sleek one— agile, fast, lean. He is made for stealth— not at all used to towering over another person. But here he is, all of a sudden feeling like he did when he was a kid hitting a growth spurt again, all awkward and lanky. He tucks his elbows into his sides, his chin to his chest, his vision filtered through his lashes due to the tricky bow he squishes himself into. It is not enough but it is a start.

For a moment they just stare at each other. Loki has no idea what to say to her. It is not like he has been thinking about it for an entire sun cycle or anything, mulling over everything he could possibly tell her. Anything he could say he has surely thought of— he has played through every rendition of every conversation. Thousands of words and thoughts and feelings, all of which have evaporated into the vacuum of his mind the moment he needs to use them. Again, some silver tongue he is.

Thankfully, though, he does not need to figure out what to say to his soulmate— she figures it out first.

“Are you real?”

___________

Tag List: @crystal-siren @cari1bunny @breethememe @tapismyforte @atashi-no-yuuki

[jaskierswolf]

Stolen Kisses

Prompt: Watching them Sleep Relationships:  Jaskier/Aiden - Background Jaskier/Lambert and Lambert/Aiden Rating: M Content Warnings: sexual references but nothing explicit. Summary: A Robin Hood AU starring Jaskier as Robin and Aiden as Guy of Gisborne. Jaskier sneaks into the castle determined to pay Aiden pay, it doesn’t go as planned. 

For @witcher-rarepair-summer-bingo​

Thanks to @kuripon​ for Beta-ing and to @officerjennie​ for sending in the prompt to remind me that I wanted to do this AU.

_______

Jaskier laughed as he ran through the woods, the trees a blur as he scrambled over the leaves and twigs that were covering the ground. Valdo cursed as an arrow came flying at their heads, barely managing to duck in time. The thief stumbled and fell to the ground in a flurry of leaves.

“Come on!” Essi yelled as she dragged Valdo to his feet and then carried on their escape.

It was thrilling, the wind in his air, catching in his cloak so it flew out behind him. Jaskier darted back and forth, right and left, never keeping a straight path, diving behind the trees as he led the Sheriff’s men in a merry chase around the woods. They had no hope of catching the band of thieves. Sherwood Forest was their home and Jaskier’s gang was highly skilled at evading the soldiers. They were even better at relieving them of their purses.

Geralt, Lambert and Eskel would be waiting at the edge of their den, ready to ambush the soldiers if they didn’t manage to escape them in time but Jaskier was leading them in a little circle around the woods, jumping over fallen trees and hiding in nooks and crevices on the forest floor. He glanced around as he ran, his hood falling from his head as he turned. Priscilla had melted into thin air, and Essi and Valdo could just be seen scrambling up a tree out of sight of the inexperienced soldiers.

The bastards were too focused on Jaskier.

“Bloody Sheriff,” Jaskier grumbled. He’d once been Julian Alfred Pankratz, Lord of Lettenhove, but he’d come home from the war to find that the Sheriff had declared he was an outlaw. It had been completely ridiculous, the blasted Prince was poisoning the country and so, Jaskier had been born. A fugitive, running from the law.

Aiden of Dyn Marv was a thorn in Jaskier’s side. He was the Sheriff’s right hand man and so completely focused on taking Jaskier down. The man could hold a grudge better than anyone, just because Jaskier had slept with Lambert and pulled the man to his side…

Well, Jaskier could hardly be blamed.

“Oh fuck,” Jaskier muttered as another arrow narrowly missed his head. His legs were beginning to burn and he still had at least two soldiers on his tail. Grimacing, he pulled his bow from his back. Contrary to common belief, Jaskier didn’t enjoy killing Aiden’s men. There had been enough killing in the war and these men were just trying to make a living, but alas he could not let them find their camp.

He spun around, expertly sliding an arrow into the nock of the bow. He pulled back in one swift movement, the string brushing against his cheek, and then he let go. The arrow soared through the air and easily met its target. The nameless man fell to the ground and Jaskier had already taken aim at the second soldier.

“I’m so sorry,” he muttered and released the string.

And then he was alone in the woods.

He sighed, running his gloved hand across his forehead before running back to the camp. The others were already in their den, hidden away by a clever contraption that Lambert had helped to build. Aiden’s coin was covering the table as they counted their loot.

Jaskier winked at Lambert as he flopped into his hammock. “How did we do, gang?”

“Enough to cover the taxes of Lettenhove and the surrounding villages for a couple of weeks. We might even be able to eat this week,” Eskel hummed, tossing a coin in Jaskier’s direction.

Jaskier caught in and flipped it round in his fingers. “That’s not enough.”

“Jask,” Lambert groaned. “We can’t keep going after Aiden. He’ll punish Lettenhove and you know it.”

Jaskier scoffed. “You’re soft on the man.”

“There’s good in him.”

The rest of the camp fell silent. No one questioned Lambert’s loyalty to their gang, he’d made it very clear when he’d left Aiden that there would be no second chances there, but Lambert was still fond of him, in his own way. It never failed to cause a rift between Lambert and Jaskier. They both adored each other but there was an Aiden shaped gap between them that they never managed to cross.

And that only served to enrage Jaskier more. Aiden had taken everything from him. So he would pay, be it in gold or with his life.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Jaskier muttered darkly, his joyful mood from the chase soured. He wanted nothing more than to slip back into the castle and finally end the man that had brought him so much pain. “I’m going out. I’ll be back by the morning.”

He jumped from his hammock and gathered a handful of arrows for his quiver, replenishing what he’d lost on the raid. On the way out he also made sure to pick up his dagger, sliding it into the holster on his thigh. Blood would be spilled tonight. Just as he reached the edge of the camp he felt the cold kiss of steel against his throat.

“Lamb, please,” he sighed, not bothering to turn. “Let me go.”

“You will not kill him, Jask. If you do that then you’re no better than him,” Lambert growled, looking every bit as menacing as he had the day he’d left Aiden behind at the castle. “I will leave.”

“I said let me go,” Jaskier hissed, “and I will promise not to hurt your lover boy.”

Lambert scoffed. “You’re a real bastard sometimes, Jask.”

Jaskier grinned, gently pushing the blade away from his throat. He popped his hood up and winked at Lambert. “Says you, darling.”

“Be safe, or I will bring your dead corpse back to life just to kill you again.”

Jaskier rolled his eyes and brushed his lips against Lambert’s cheeks. “You say the sweetest things, dear heart.”

“I’m not kidding, Jaskier.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds, Jaskier trying to memorise Lambert’s face just in case his mission went wrong. Eventually he cupped Lambert’s cheek and pressed their lips together in a chaste kiss.

“Don’t get into trouble whilst I’m gone.”

And with that, Jaskier sprang from the camp and headed back towards Nottingham, the very place he had only just escaped from. He adjusted his bow on his back and sighed, looking at the sky. He would wait until nightfall before slipping into the castle. That would give him some time to distribute the coin from the purse he still had tucked away. There was no point in risking his hard-stolen gold, it would be pointless if it were to fall back into the hands of Aiden and the Sheriff. The villagers were grateful for the coin, they always were, even if there was always some arsehole that threatened to turn Jaskier in, but in the end, gold won. 

Jaskier was hiding in the shadows, drifting around the perimeter of the castle walls, by the time the sun had set. He was aiming to slip into Aiden’s chambers unnoticed, eliminating the possibility of unnecessary bloodshed, but it wouldn’t be easy. The guards would know him on sight and he had to be patient.

Patience was not his forte.

He took the dagger from its holster and flipped it a few times in his hands. He caught the blade easily and the rhythmic thud of the hilt in his palm eased his nerves. When he was bored of that he took an arrow from his quiver and inspected his handiwork. They were flawless, of course, but he still liked to check. He took out each one, feeling the brush of the fletching between his fingers. When he ran out of arrows he decided it was late enough and glanced up at the wall above him. There were no signs of the guards, and Jaskier grinned. He pulled a rope from around his waist and attached it firmly to an arrow. Taking aim he released the arrow from the string and it lodged firmly into the brickwork at the top of the wall, just like he hoped it would. Jaskier tugged the end of the rope before starting his ascent into the castle.

The shadows of the castle were a thief’s best friend and Jaskier managed to navigate his way around the castle like a lioness stalking her prey. The thrill of being caught was addictive and he felt like he was on a high the entire time. Geralt would have chided him for being reckless but Geralt wasn’t here right now, none of his merry band of thieves were. It was just Jaskier and Aiden.

The final battle.

Aiden’s chambers were extravagant and familiar. Jaskier’s own bedroom at Lettenhove hadn’t been too dissimilar before he’d been torn from his home. He padded around the room, his curiosity taken over caution and he inspected the knickknacks and furniture, getting to know the man whose life he would soon take.

The bastard was lying on his bed, sound asleep and snoring. Long brown hair fell over his face in a mess, and in the moonlight, Jaskier could see the thin pale scar that ran down his cheek; Jaskier’s handiwork from one of their first scuffles. The usual black leather had been replaced by a black chemise that barely covered the man’s torso. The fabric was rucked up on one side, revealing toned muscles nicely covered in a layer of fat. He was strong. Jaskier swallowed, not knowing where to look. He’d known Aiden was attractive but seeing him like this, so peaceful, so… so handsome.

Jaskier’s hand faltered as he reached for his dagger. It should have been easy. This man was his sworn enemy and Jaskier would never have an opportunity like this again, but Aiden was defenceless, drooling onto his pillow and mumbling in his sleep. There was no difference between this man and the good people that Jaskier had left in the woods.

Jaskier hissed, turning around in a rage, knocking his hood from off his head so he could tug at his hair. “Come on, Jask,” he whispered, decisively pulling the dagger from its sheath and pointing it at the sleeping man.

“There’s good in him,” Lambert’s voice echoed in his end, unable to forget the pleading golden eyes that begged him not to kill this bastard man.

Aiden grumbled and rolled over, hugging his pillow. It was fucking adorable and Jaskier was furious. One job, he’d had one job…

And yet he’d always fallen in love oh so easily. He flitted between lovers like a hummingbird, dandelion seeds floating on the wind. Each of the gang had fallen into Jaskier’s bed at one point or another and no one begrudged him that. It was just who he was… but he’d never imagined he would be attracted to this monster.

They sparred with both swords and words, never getting the better of one another, equally matched and yet on complete opposite sides and Jaskier truly hated him, but was hate really so different from love?

“Fuck!” he whispered through gritted teeth. “You fucking bastard.”

Jaskier launched onto the bed, holding the dagger at Aiden’s throat and straddling the man’s hips. One movement, that’s all it would take, the guards wouldn’t know anything until morning and Jaskier would be long gone. Aiden’s eyes snapped open, a startling green glittering in the silver moonlight. Aiden opened his mouth to yell out but Jaskier was faster, pressing his free hand across Aiden’s lips to muffle his cries. They fought in the bed as Aiden tried to scramble for his own weapon but it was no use, he was pinned down under Jaskier’s hands.

Kill him.

Jaskier still wasn’t sure why he was hesitating or why there was suddenly an all too familiar prickle of heat over his skin, pooling in his core. The breath was still in his enemy’s lungs and Jaskier was weak. He yelped as Aiden bit his hand, pulling back and barely managing to pin Aiden’s hands again before he could reach for his dagger.

“Just get it over with,” Aiden spat, his eyes still burning with rage and determination even at the brink of death.

And Jaskier couldn’t do it.

He shook his head. “Not like this. It’s cowardly.”

Aiden laughed, “You’re even more of an idiot than I thought, Hood.”

“Perhaps,” Jaskier shrugged, releasing Aiden from his grip and the bastard didn’t immediately try to kill him. “But then again, I’m also still alive. Why is that, I wonder?” he cocked his head, chewing at his bottom lip.

Aiden glared up at him, his gaze flicking between Jaskier’s eyes and lips. So, Jaskier wasn’t the only one affected by their sudden proximity. The tension seemed to crackle between them. The room was still dark and neither of them were making any move towards their blades, so Jaskier rolled his hips forward tentatively, never breaking eye contact. Aiden groaned underneath him.

“You bastard,” he hissed.

“Truce?” Jaskier suggested, letting his hands run down Aiden’s chest. “For one night only?”

“Only if you kiss me,” Aiden purred, his voice dropping to a low timbre that made Jaskier shiver in anticipation.

He smirked. “Oh, with pleasure.”

[alphagirl404]

An Impulse Decision: Chapter 14

Fanfiction.net

AO3

Buckle down folks cause this is a long one.

<-Previous Next->

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Chapter 14: The Beautiful yet Mysterious Cistern

Walls in the color of color plaster the walls around, along with a pattern of a lotus flower. There was a big pool of water in here with several giant lily pads floating above. On the left side of the chamber lay a small waterfall coming out of a statue fish's mouth. The center of the pool had a large statue with a human head on the top.

"This place looks…pretty. Prettier than Skyview & Earth Temple, and that Mining Facility," Fledge said.

The familiar chime of Fi echoed the group's ears as she hovered ahead of them.

"Master's, we are located in The Ancient Cistern. In this Ancient Cistern, purified water is released into the upper area of the facility, while the filtered impurities are processed in the lower area. Analysis suggested you can expect to encounter both fire and magic-wielding monsters. Your current selection of items is survival focus. Suitability to our current location is 75%. You are somewhat prepared for this area, but in the presence of air, land, and aquatic enemies, I suggest you all exercise caution."

"Can you still feel the flames, Pipit?" Link asked.

"Yeah…Up there." Pipit pointed to the center of the ceiling, right above the statue's head.

"Well…That's nice to know. Now we just figure out how to get up there."

"There's a door across from us. Maybe there's a clue in there." Karane pointed to the stone door just at the base of the statue.

The quartet hopped on the giant lily pads leading to the door. The inside of the statue showed a circular stone path on the walls. In the middle is a large gap. There's also a bulb with four large rings on it. Looking above they could see a large pattern of the flower on the ceiling. The bottom of the statue's inside had a pile of bones. An unpleasant feeling grew in Link's gut.

"I'll look down there. You guys stay here," Link told his friends.

Link leaped down to the bottom, using his sailcloth to land safely. The moment he landed, the bones build themselves to a skeleton, putting its head on last revealing another Stalfos. There was something different about this Stalfos Link noticed. It had gold armor instead of the usual grey one. It wore a helmet with some braid attached to it. And it was much bigger than the ones he came across. There were also weird bones across its chest but couldn't make it out due to the gold armor. Pipit cursed at himself as he saw the Stalfos spring to life. Karane & Fledge gave horrified looks at the monster.

"Link?!" Karane yelled out to him.

"What is that?!" Fledge followed.

"It's okay! I got this!" Link assured

"Be careful!" Pipit recalled.

Link had his full attention on the unusual Stalfos. "I've never seen a Stalfos like this. What's the deal with this one, Fi?"

"That is a Stalmaster. This is an elite captain of the undead soldiers, When provoked, it can strike with all of its sword-wielding arms. Must like Stalfos I recommend inflicting damage when the slight gap presents itself as it readies its sword to attack.

The fight itself seem like business as usual for Link when it came to dealing with Stalfos. He would circle the skeleton around, slice at it the moment the opportunity arises, and parry with his shield to get more slices at it. This worked for the first few times before the Stalmaster gave a little surprise. The strange bones unwrapped from its chest, revealing another pair of arms wielding more weapons.

"You gotta be shitting me…" Link muttered before dodging the way of its slice.

His friends meanwhile were equally surprised by the revelation.

"Four arms?! Ah c'mon! That's a little overkill!" Pipit claimed.

"It looks even bigger now." Karane pointed out.

With more arms, it was more difficult for Link to strike. This meant Link had to give his full attention to find the right moment to attack. This had resulted in some close calls yet Link was victorious in striking at it at the right time. Yet after he knocked off the helmet, revealing a red gem in the forehead of the skull it started acting even more aggressive & faster. Such as moving its weapons to block Link's attack at the last minute, or recovering its arms quickly after Link got a few slices at it.

"He looks like he's having a hard time," Fledge spoke fearfully.

"Link, I'm coming down there!" Pipit called out.

"No! I can do this!" Link called back. "It might have more arms but it's still one being."

"Are you sure? That thing looks angry!"

"I'm the best swordsman at the academy, remember?" Link responded playfully, despite his current situation.

The battle continued. The Stalmaster admittedly is difficult to deal with. While its erratic movements make it seem intimidating to others, Link used it to his advantage. He would wait for the moment for the Stalmaster to come at him with all of its weapons at fast movement. Link would hit back with its shield causing all of its arms to fall off which gave Link the chance to hit back. After several minutes of this grueling process, Link took a final slice at the undead soldier. He watched the top half of the skeleton fell apart, while the legs stood around confused by tripping over the skull. The bone poof away in purple smoke. Nearby, bars covering a stone removed themselves.

Link entered the room on the other side where a blue chest lay. The green-clad senior knight went over to the chest to open it. He pulled out an object with a gold handle with strange patterns on it, with a pink & blue rope hanging off of it. Attached to the end of the rope is a strange, glowing sphere of light.

"What's this?"

"You have acquired The Whip, Master." Fi's voice echoed through the sword. "The glowing light at the end of the whip allows you to latch on to various objects. If you see something you can't reach, target it, and snag it with your whip."

With the whip in his hand, Link exited out of the room.

"Everything okay, Link?" Karane's voice from above called to him.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Can you find a way back up here?" Fledge said to him.

"I don't see any stairs or ropes."

"I'll teleport myself down there to get you!" Pipit said to him.

Link noticed another of the four-ring bulb. Looking back to it and the whip a sudden thought came into his idea.

"Hold that thought, Pipit! I need to do something first."

"Uh, sure. Go ahead."

Link walked to the four-ring bulb. "Any chance that this can be moved, Fi?"

"The head of this bulb-shaped switch can be rotated, provided you have the correct tool."

"Any chance the whip can be used on it and lead the way up?"

"I analyze a 97% probability that The Whip can accomplish that."

Link readied The Whip in his hand. With one quick movement, the end of The Whip attached itself to one of the wings of the bulb. Link gave a hard tug allowing the bulb switch to rotate several feet before stopping. A large geyser of water appeared behind Link, spewing its way up to the platform above. Link walked into the spewing water, lifting him to the top where his friends were waiting.

"Guess you didn't need my help after all," Pipit commented.

"What is that?" Fledge examined the Whip.

"It's called a Whip. It lets me snag onto objects," Link answered.

"And our ticket up there, I'm hoping," Karane added.

"Definitely."

Link activated the bulb switch on their platform to activate a water geyser allowing him and his friends to the next platform. They reached the large flower pattern to the very top. With a closer inspection, they could see that it was a door. Only one problem: it would not open. They then noticed a contraption with a weird-shaped gap surrounded by petals. Judging by the design it was clear they once again needed a special key to open it.

"Of course…it would've been too easy," Link exhaled a breath as placed his hands on his hips. "Where do we even look?"

"Look for the key that lies beneath the earth." Link turned his head to see Fledge standing in front of a large stone tablet with an inscription. "I think it might be a clue."

"Fi did mention a lower area where impure water goes through," Karane said.

"I did indeed mention that Master Karane," Fi brought up.

"Let's check out the map," Pipit suggested.

Link pulled out his map. The magical qualities of the map reveal a blank lower level in The Ancient Cistern. The center of the lower level had the outline of a large treasure chest.

"Seems like our ticket through here is just underground. We just need to get there somehow," Link said

"There are two other rooms on this level," Pipit brought up. "Maybe one of them may show the way."

Link put away his map and led everyone out of the statue. Back in the main room, they saw a path on the side. Just on the far end, they could make out an archway that would lead to one of the rooms the map suggested. Walking alongside they came across a gap too big to jump across. Hanging above the gap is a large green branch. Gaining an idea. Link used The Whip to snag on the branch. It was successful as he was now dangling above the gap, a large pit below him. Link swung several times, each swing getting closer to the other side before finally jumping for it. Link landed safely

"I made it!"

"You did, but that still leaves the rest of us over here," Karane's voice reached Link's ears.

Link turned to see his friends still stuck on the other side of the gap.

"Oh shoot. I need to figure out how to get you guys across."

"Maybe one of them can hold to you while you swing," Karane suggested.

Fledge took that moment to look down at the pit. It was dark at the bottom with no sign of the ground. "No way I'm dangling over that pit."

"Then do you have any other ideas?"

"Actually…I might," Pipit spoke up. "I have the power to teleport, remember. Maybe I can get all of us across."

"Can you teleport more people?"

"Only One way to find out. Both of you hold my shoulders."

Fledge and Karane places each of their hands-on Pipit's shoulders. His expression filled with concentration before all three of them disappeared in a green flash. They appeared next to Link several seconds later.

"You guys okay?" Link asked.

Fledge shuddered. "It felt…weird. Moving so fast."

"Feels a little dizzy," Karane added.

"You get used to it," Pipit assured.

"Looks like that's one problem solved," Link declared, relieved that he didn't have to do Karane's suggestion.

They continue down the path. Another gap presented itself. Link used The Whip to get across, and Pipit got the rest of the group across. They finally reached the entrance of one of the rooms only for them to run into a problem.

"There are bars are blocking the way! I don't see a switch anywhere." Link exclaimed.

"What do we do now?" Fledge wondered.

"The map showed another room here. Maybe that'll lead us to the key," Karane brought up.

"But I don't see another entryway around here."

Pipit glanced around the surrounding water. He took notice of the small waterfall not too far from them. A dark shape under the waterfall caught his eye. Grasping the water dragon scale around his neck he gained a sudden idea.

"Maybe it's not above ground. Maybe it's underwater."

"You think so?" Link said.

"I see a dark shape under that waterfall over there. Maybe it's a passage to the other room.

"That would make sense. This place is just filled with gallons of water. Anything could be hiding under the surface."

"Let's swim over there to check it out."

The quartet jumped into the water surrounding the statue to swim over to the water. Like Pipit said there's a passage under the waterfall. However, the force of the water had prevented them from swimming through. They quickly spotted a weird switch that was similar to the ones they saw in the Lanayru Mining Facility. Standing on a giant lilypad, Link used the Whip to pull the switch down. Sure enough, the waterfall was turned off. Now that the path is accessible they could now swim through with no issues. They soon surface to the other room they had been seeking.

"Nice thinking, Pipit," Link praised. "Now we can hopefully find a way through."

The quartet started making its way to the other side. Halfway through, however, white, silk-like material shot down from above wrapping Link with it. Pipit pulled Link out of the way as a giant spider with a skull face pattern drops down hanging on a thread.

"T-t-t-t-t-that-that's a h-h-h-huge s-s-spider…" Karane squeaked as she was frozen in fear.

"What kind of spider is that?" Fledge shuddered.

"Skulltula." Link broke free of his confines. "I know how to handle this. Time for a little payback." Link used his Beetle to cut the giant spider from its thread. On the ground slice his sword causing the Skulltula to fly into the air and land on its back exposing a large purple orb. Link performed a fatal blow, killing instantly.

Karane's heavy breathing echoed through the walls. It was enough for Pipit to check on her.

"Are you okay, Karane?"

"I-I'm fine. Sorry for freezing up like that."

"Don't be. I know how much arachnophobia sucks. "

"Are you okay, Link?" Fledge asked his friend.

"I'm fine. I've dealt with a couple of those Skulltula back at Skyview."

"That's good to hear…wait, did you say a couple?"

The room they entered had several large stone platforms scattered around. A deep pool of water lay at the center. Several green Bokoblins greeted them by shooting arrows at them. Pipit got the idea to use Farore's Gale to teleport behind and take them out by surprise. Then with the use of Farore's Gale, and the Whip the quartet transverse their way to another bulb switch, which was guarded by several Deku Babas. Both Link and Pipit took them all down. Pipit was glad that he didn't get bitten by one this time around. Link used The Whip to pull on the bulb. This action resulted in a door opening on the bottom of the pool, creating a whirlpool.

"I'm guessing we have to jump in that?" Pipit guessed.

"Yep." Link confirmed.

All four jumped down into the pool. The whirlpool all pulled them down a pipe big enough to hold one person. The journey was long but they finally were pushed out of the pipe and into a pool only to be pushed by a current into a narrow path. A set of bars in the water blocked the way. This led the group to pile onto each other. After minutes of untangling each other, they pull themselves out of the water.

"Well, that was fun." Pipit said.

"If I have to go through any more whirlpools I'm just going to lose the entire contents in my stomach..." Fledge clenched his stomach.

Link paid no mind to the conversation as he inspected the room they had arrived at. It appeared to be an underground drainage system. Unlike the warm lighting that filled the Ancient Cistern, this area was dark with a malicious purple glow. Something about this place gave him the creeps.

"Where are we?" He heard Karane speak.

"I'm guessing this is the lower level Fi mentioned…"

"Are you okay?"

"Something about this place feels…unsettling."

"Then let's hurry and find a way out."

All four went through the door which revealed a long path with the water canal trailing on the side. They all trek through the underground passage. Each of the four could feel the haunting vibes that this area was giving them. A large gap in the wall with bars blocking them came up next to them. The quartet glanced down to see a dark underground cavern with jagged rocks, all of which had the same unsettling purple glow. Something quickly caught their eye as they gazed into a huge pit that contained piles of bones. Residing in the center of the bone pit was a familiar white treasure chest with the red gem. That meant only one thing.

"Could that be the key down there?" Pipit stated.

Link pulled out his map to confirm it. The lower level, not blank this time, showed them that they were right across from the treasure. "That's it, alright. Looks like we're on the right track."

"You mean we're going to have to go down in that scary-looking cavern?" Fledge shuddered as he spoke.

"We're gonna have to. As long as we stick together we'll get through it."

The quartet resumed their journey until they finally reached the end where they saw another pipe sucking in the water. The jump, getting sucked in immediately into the pipe. They were pushed over a waterfall, back into a new room but definitely back into the overworld of The Ancient Cistern. They looked over to a large stone platform where they saw a familiar set of bars. If they had to guess they were in the room that was intended to be their first choice to explore.

Through exploration, they found their next path leading to the upper levels in the Cistern. With Pipit's Farore's Gale skill they manage to get through the upper part with no issue. It leads them back to the main room of the Cistern where they stumble upon another of the weird branches, though this one is tilted upwards rather than horizontal. Link used the Whip to pull it down. Doing so causes the statue in the middle to go down. After it finally stopped they decided to go inside to investigate. When they got to the bottom floor they noticed it got noticeably darker. Link went over to the door which originally led to the room where he got the Whip. Instead, it took him and his friends to the same underground cavern they glanced through from the drain system. This place looked even more unsettling than the first time.

"This place is just…unpleasant." Link commented.

"Let's just get that darn key and get out of here!" Fledge urged.

"There's a slight problem." Karane had been looking over at the spare map.

"What?' Link said to her.

"The key is right under there." Karane showed the map to everyone. The pointer representing the group had it near the chest, which was now under the statue's feet.

"You're certain?"

"Master Karane is correct. I can detect an object under the statue's feet has the same materials previous special keys had," Fi told them. "I suggest you all search around this area for there may be a path that will lead you to another switch that will allow you to gain access to the key."

"What you're saying is that we're going to have to explore this creepy underground cavern?" Fledge clarified.

"That is correct, Master Fledge."

"I was afraid you would say that."

"It might not be that bad, Fledge. Maybe the worst we'll see is a Keese." Link tried to cheer his friend up.

"I'm not sure about that." Pipit shakily pointed to the direction opposite of them. "L-Look."

Creatures dug their way from below the dirt. They appeared to Bokoblins yet they were something else entirely. These Bokoblins looked very sickly. A large lump covered one of their eyes while the only exposed one had no color. Part of their ribcage was exposed. Their right arms were nothing but bone. Those Bokoblins were horrifying to look at.

"Fi. Can you tell us what's up with our good friends here?" Link requested.

"Those are Cursed Bokoblins. These horrifying Bokoblin reanimates after death. Analysis indicates it fears pure shiny items and will startle at the sight of a sacred shield. It is able to reanimate purely through its hatred of this world…and its attachment to outlandish underpants."

"Anyway, to take these guys out?"

"I can detect heartbeats within them. There's an 85% chance that a Fatal Blow to the chest may finish them off."

"You guys got all that?" All his friends nodded.

Compared to previous Bokoblins, these were…pretty easy to take down. Much like Fi said the Cursed Bokoblins did have an intense fear of their sacred shields. It only worked when they saw it so they all worked to take them out quickly. They were difficult to knock down since they were unbothered by the strikes from their weapons. Only when the Bokoblins were knocked on the ground did the humans have a chance to strike their chest. Karane and Fledge just simply struck them down, while Link and Pipit went the extra while performing Fatal Blows. One of the Cursed Bokoblins jumped on Link. For undead Bokoblin it had a surprisingly strong grip on him. Link managed to shake it off him and performed another Fatal Blow.

"Is that all of them?"

"Looks like it," Pipit answered.

"Good..."

As everyone sheathed their weapons Fledge caught sight of something on the ground. Scattered around the places where several of the Bokoblins were taken out were these small round purple rocks with cracks in the color of magenta. He knelt to pick one up until Link's hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

"Don't touch that!"

"Why not? You never had a problem with me collecting stuff before."

"Nothing like that. That stuff was in the possession of those Bokoblins. They could've corrupted them for all we know. At least let me ask Fi…" Link glanced back at his sword after a moment. "What is that weird rock thing?"

"That is an Evil Crystal. It is a chunk of pure, crystallized monster malice. Often obtained from monsters who possess the power to curse. If it assures you, Master Link, in this form the crystal cannot harm anyone that touches it."

"Now that's settled, can I have my arm back now, please?" Fledge requested with maybe a small hint of sass. Link let out a quick apology as he released Fledge's wrist. The orange-clad student collects several of the Evil Crystals. "You know, these things do look pretty cool," Fledged commented as gazed at the final crystal before putting it in his pouch.

The group moved through the underground cavern. The more they explored the creepier it became. Fire Keese sleeping on the ceilings of the cave fellow away in packs as soon as the group set foot in their range. The walls of the tunnel were decorated with chains. Some of which had shackles. Some empty, some with bones of the unfortunate souls that got trapped in his Hylia-Forsaken place.

The end of the tunnel brought the group to another section of the caverns. A large pool of strange thick, black, and magenta tar-like substance lay in front of them. As they walked through the only path that allows them to safely cross they could see the true atrociousness materials seen in the pool, along with the many skulls that floated above.

"What exactly is this stuff?" Karane wondered.

"I don't know." Link turned to his sword. "Do you know what this stuff is, Fi?"

Fi didn't respond immediately, which was alarming because she is usually quick to respond. This stuff must be so unnatural if even she didn't answer. Moments of silence later, Fi exited out of the sword, floating alongside her masters as they continued to walk.

"I do not know if this is the exact name but the strange tar is something I believe is called Malice."

"Malice? Like the Evil Crystals?" Fledge questioned.

"Indeed, but unlike the crystals, Malice in this form is 100% fully unsafe to touch. Any contact a living will make with this form of Malice will have their body corrupted. It will either kill them or…do something worse. That is all I know."

"Well let's make sure not to touch that stuff then," Pipit declared.

Link didn't say anything as his mind was deep in thought as he took in the information from Fi. "There's no way this stuff can get out of this place, can it."

"My scans show that though this place had been breached before I detect no sign of malice around the entry points here. I believe Malice cannot escape from here," Fi told him.

"Good…Let's just hope it stays that way." Link couldn't imagine what would happen if even a fraction of this stuff makes it to the overworld of The Surface. It would certainly cause problems for everyone.

To their relief, the trek across the Malice pool came to an end. Fi went back into her sword before the quartet continued. What followed for the next several minutes involved jumping on stone pillars above a chasm, rotating platforms, then moving platforms moving in the opposite direction at very high speeds to which they had to find a switch to get to go in the correct direction. After trial and error, they made it to the other side of the chasm. A bright shine at the top of a small pile of bones. A thin white rope dangled from above.

"Think that's the way out?" Pipit questioned.

Link used her hand to block his eyes from the bright light as she gazed up. "I can see the main room of the chamber."

"Thank Hylia. Now we can get out of this creepy place!" Fledge said eagerly

While his friends gathered around the rope Link glanced around at the piles of bones below their feet. Most of them were Bokoblin bones. A bad feeling crept into his chest.

"You coming, Link?" Pipit spoke to him

"You guys can go first. I'll catch up."

"Okay." Pipit walked over to the rope. Then he noticed Karane on the side. "Uh…Ladies first."

"Oh, thank you Pipit."

Karane started climbing up the rope. Pipit soon to follow. Link waited for Fledge to climb as well. Instead, Fledge just only looks at the rope with an unsure look.

"What's wrong, Fledge. Aren't you eager to get out of here?"

"I am but…I just don't feel comfortable climbing on a really thin rope. It looks like it could break. And I'm not the best at climbing mostly because of my weak grip. What if I fall"

"I'm sure the rope can hold both of us. I'll be right behind you. We'll do this one baby step at a time."

"Really?"

"Really, really."

"Okay. That makes me feel better."

Fledge firmly grabbed onto the rope. Slowly he started climbing up. Link started climbing after him after he managed to climb several feet above the ground.

"Link, how I'm doing?"

"You're doing great, buddy! Just keep climbing, and don't look down!"

"Keep climbing. Don't look down. Okay. Got it. Keep climbing. Don't look down. Keep climbing. Don't look down…"

Fledge repeated his mantra as he continued to climb. It started annoying Link after a bit but he wouldn't dare say it out loud. As long as it helps Fledge, Link has to suck it up. The pair kept on climbing at a slower pace compared to Pipit & Karane, who had long since made it to the top. Fledge had to reach to grip the rope when he didn't hold tight enough which cause him to slide down on the rope. He did not fall off but his eyes now gazed to the ground below.

"Link! I'm looking down!" Fledge wrapped his arms tightly around the rope. "Oh Goddesses, I don't think I can do this!"

"You're already halfway there! Just keep climbing."

"I-I-I can't! So high up!" Fledge started hyperventilating.

"Fledge…! Fledge!" The orange-clad student glanced down at Link. "Stay calm. Can you take deep breaths?" Fledge gave himself to calm himself before taking several deep breaths. "You good? Okay. Listen to me." Fledge his full attention to his friend. "I need you to keep. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Okay?"

Fledge gave a small nod. Several seconds of working up the courage Fledge resumed climbing. Link was about to start climbing when he heard shuffling below him. Cursed Bokoblins dug from below the bone piles and, much to Link's horror, started climbing on the rope.

"Oh, Dindammit!"

"Link? What's going on?" He heard Fledge's voice.

"Just climb as fast as you can! And for the love of the Goddesses: Don't. Look. Down!"

Fledge resumed climbing as fast as his arms will allow him. Link had managed to get several feet when he felt something tug his leg. A Cursed Bokoblin had a grip around his leg. How in Hylia's name did those things climb up so quickly Link had no clue. Link used his free leg to kick the undead Bokoblin off. Link almost caught up with Fledge. Despite the boy's efforts, and, Link could see him still struggling climbing. If there weren't undead Bokblins on their trail Link would let him take his time. Somehow Link needed to stall them to give Fledge time. Then he remembered the shield on his back. With one hand holding tightly on the rope, Link used his free one to pull out his Sacred Sheild. The Cursed Bokoblin cowered in fear, stopping itself from climbing. The ones behind it seem to not notice and attempted to climb over it until they cowered in fear of the shield. It came to a point where enough piled over each other they all fell off the rope. Taking this moment of peace Link glanced up and exhales a relieved breath one she saw Fledge made it to the top.

"Hey, Fi?"

"Yes, Master Link?"

"Remind me to thank Faron for these shields the next time we see her."

"Reminder noted."

With that done Link resumed climbing. He was greeted with the warm light of the Ancient Cistern. Waiting for him were all of his friends. Pipit reached an arm out to him.

"You okay Link? We saw the whole thing!" Karane said as Pipit pulled Link out.

"I am. Are you okay, Fledge?"

Fledge nodded his head. "I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough, Link."

"It's okay. We're all okay." Link took several deep breathes. "Any more of things climbing up?"

"They seem to go back under the bones. Safe to say that they gave up," Pipit stated.

"Good. You found the switch?"

"Sure did." Pipit pointed to the branch switch on the wall."

"And we also found this as well." Karane directed them to a stone slab similar to the one seen at the top of the statue.

Return the stone giant to its original form and descend below the earth again along the thread. There you will find the key to the path ahead.

"It was kinda obvious but nice to have confirmation." Link simply commented.

Pulling out The Whip, Link latches the end of it on the switch and tug at it. The statue's head slowly climbed out from below until it finally stopped.

"Okay, now I'll go back down and get the key." Link let out a tired breath.

"I think you should," Karane suggested.

"Hey, it's fine-"

"You've been doing most of the hard work. It won't hurt to take a little break. How about you let one of us get the key."

"Which one of you is willing to go down there then?"

"You can count me out! I'm not going back down there. Plus last time I retrieve one of those keys I was nearly flattened like a pancake," Fledge spoke up immediately.

"Noted, Fledge. Then that just leaves-"

"I'll go." Pipit's voice cut in. All eyes turn to him. "I can teleport so I have the best chance down there."

"Are you sure about this, Pipit?" Karane asks.

"I am. I'll try to be quick." Pipit made his way to the edge leading back down to the underground cavern.

"Wait!" Link stopped him in his tracks. "It'll be dangerous to go alone. You should take this."

Link reached for The Goddess Sword on his back to unsheathe it. He lifted it to Pipit.

"You're lending me your sword?"

"I would be more relaxed if Fi's with you, especially down there."

Pipit slowly reached for the sword. His grip wrapped around the handle of the blade. Link released the grip on his sword allowing Pipit to have it in his care. This was the first time Pipit could fully see the magnificence of the divine weapon.

"It's heavier than it looks. Uh, no offense to you Fi."

"None was taken, Master Pipit."

Pipit unsheathes his sword to hand it over to Link. The Goddess Sword managed to fit into his sword sheath. Pipit made his way down to the rope.o

"You two take care of each other," Link instructed Pipit.

"We will."

"Pipit?" The yellow-clad senior glanced over to Karane who had worried looks. "Be careful."

"I promise. You guys hang tight. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Pipit slid down on the white rope into the darkness below him. His friends watched until he was no longer in his sight.

"I hope he makes it back," Karane said.

"He will," Link affirmed.

Pipit landed back on the piles of bones back in the underground cavern. To his relief, the Cursed Bokoblins that chased Link and Fledge did not appear again.

"Time to make the long trek back."

"That will not be necessary, Master Pipit," Fi spoke to him. "I took the liberty to scan the area around us. Analysis shows that behind the walls lies a secret tunnel. There's a 93% chance that it may be a shortcut."

Pipit pulled out the spare map. The area with the key aligns with the room he currently lies in. He went over to the walls that lead to it. Several minutes of feeling the walls lead him to a section that felt hollower. If he had the Bomb Bag he could have a bomb flower to blow up the wall. But then he got another idea.

"Hey Fi, is it possible I could knock down this wall with my body?"

"My scans do show that the wall has a weak structure. With your weight and height, you should be able to slam into it enough times."

Pipit then gave a hard slam on the wall with the side of his body. A large crack emerges on the wall. That was enough to convince Pipit. He continued the process of slamming into the wall, cracking the bigger with each hit. The final led him to topple onto the ground as the wall finally broke down. Pipit laid on the ground in slight pain. It was short-lived as he realized he was in the tunnel.

"We found it. Ha yes! You're great Fi!"

"Now that we found the shortcut let's proceed to the key and meet back with the others."

Pipit walked through the dark tunnel. It was strangely peacefully quiet in the tunnel. The silence was still uneasy for him to deal with. So Pipit decided to talk to Fi. Something he had been wondering for a while.

"Hey, Fi. Can you come out of the sword?"

Fi's signature chime echoed the air as hovered next to Pipit. "What is it you need, Master Pipit?"

"I just wanted to ask you a random question."

"About what?"

"Were you…always a sword spirit? Like were you something else, like a human?"

Fi can only give a blank look at the senior knight before looking away. Several minutes of awkward silence lingered between the spirit and the human. Pipit seems to conclude that Fi did not intend to answer.

"If you can't answer then forget I even asked-"

"I was human," Fi answered abruptly.

"Oh?"

"I believe I was. My memory of the day Her Grace, Hylia, created me and every day afterward is clear. Everything before I can only see pieces of it."

"What do you remember?"

"I remember a human woman that somewhat resembles me as an impressive warrior. Others I see me next to Her Grace. Then I see a brief image of me badly wounded. I believe that Hylia turned me into a sword spirit to aid Master Link because of my capability as a warrior and to probably save my life, but that is all I can remember. Why did you wish to know who I was before, Master Pipit?"

"I was simply curious. You know a lot of things, and you know a lot of us in the time we've been together but we don't know a lot about you."

"I see…I apologize if you were expecting more."

"It's fine. I just wanted to know a bit about you."

"Technically speaking…you did succeed in that, even if I failed to provide proper information."

Pipit glanced at the spirit as she said that. For the faintest moment, he thought he saw a small smile on his lips.

The pair arrived at the end of the tunnel minutes later. From their vantage point, they could see the white chest no longer covered by the feet of the statue. Fi suggested for Pipit to hurry to collect the key but to be cautious before she went back to the sword. Pipit leaped to the ground below. The white chest resided in the middle of a large pit of even more bones inviting him to open it. Pipit was no fool. The last time he saw a white chest looking easy pickings Fledge almost got crushed by that large boulder in the Earth Temple. Pipit walked cautiously to the chest, the crunching sound of the bones echoed off each step he took. He opened the chest pulling some sort of idol carved out of wood. The shape of the idol reminds him of the statue above.

But before he could admire it anymore, the small platform the white chest elevated up. All of a sudden many Cursed Bokoblins dug up from below. Even better, the statue's feet started to descend to where he was.

"Master Pipit. It would seem that collecting the idol triggered the statute and awakened the Cursed Bokoblins. I analyze that you have about thirty seconds to get out of the pit before we are crushed."

"Shit!"

Pipit glanced around at the scene to see the Bokoblins stalking him. He could make a run for it but it would be risky considering the Bokoblins could grab him just that one did to Link earlier. The senior knight took a glance at the symbol of Farore on his chest as a sudden idea came to his head. He waited until the Bokoblins got close enough to him. When the statue was only fifty above, Pipit decided to do it. He disappeared in the green flash. Seconds later he reappeared close to the ledge. He tossed the idol over before starting climbing the ledge. The senior knight decided to look up once he managed to get to the top. The statute was less than ten feet away from crushing him. Pipit quickly rolled away, grabbing the idol as he did. A Cursed Bokoblin that he did not notice had followed him. It had only got its head over the ledge by the time the statue finally reached the ground, crushing its body.

Pipit laid flat on his back, breathing heavily as he comprehend what had happened moments ago. He looked over to the idol in his to make sure he still had it. A breath of relief escaped his lips, only to be replaced with a small shriek as he saw a Cursed Bokoblin looking at him from the side. Pipit realized it was only the severed head of the undead Bokoblin. The statue must've cut off its head as it fell.

"Ugh, creepy things." Pipit used his foot to shove the severed head away. He stood to his feet, dusting himself off with his free hand. He glanced at the door leading inside of the statue that had almost crushed him minutes ago.

Pipit walked into the statue. Relieved to be finally out of that place. He used the water geysers to get up the platforms rather than teleport, mostly because he wanted to relax a bit. He reached the door leading to the main chamber. His friends were still standing where he left them out. Pipit yelled out to them, waving them down to let them know that he was back. They jumped into the water and swam to where he was.

"Thank Goddess you came back!" Fledge said to him.

"We saw that statue moving all of sudden and we got worried," Karane followed.

"I'm okay guys, and I got the key." Pipit showed them the idol.

"Good you got that and come back safely," Link said. "Did anything happened down there?"

"Not really. It was…relatively peaceful."

"If you say so."

"Now that we got the key we get to those flames!"

"Can I have my sword back before we go?"

"Oh right! Sorry." Pipit unsheathed The Goddess and Link did the same with the sword Pipit had and they both exchanged their weapons. "Fi was good company to have, and helped me out a bit."

"I made a good call then."

With the quartet reunited, they made their way to the top of the statue, this time with the proper key. They placed the key in the hole which showed a flower pattern. The ceiling opened up revealing four bulb switches on the top. After Link used The Whip to pull on the bulbs the statue head ascended to the ceiling of the main chamber. A set of stairs lay in front of the group. At that moment, Pipit clenched his head as he felt the flames' strong aura.

"We're close. Very close."

They all quickly made their way up the stairs. They found themselves in a dark room where a large gold statue with a human head and a red orb on the chest lay at the center surrounded by smaller statues. Metal bars encase the door behind them, trapping the group inside. Pipit let out a groan as he rubbed his head. The flame was definitely on the other side of this room. As his friends tried to comfort them a familiar dark chuckle filled the air.

"Aw, does someone have a headache? I certainly hope this is too much for a big boy like you." Ghirahim was seen casually sitting on top of the statue in the middle of the room. "I must admit you all are certainly persistent..."

"You again?!" Link yelled out irritably as he and his friends all tensed.

"What are you doing here?" Pipit commanded.

Ghirahim rolled his eyes. "I'm not in the right mood to deal with you all today. I'm terribly busy trying to find the clues that will help me revive my master."

"He's just sitting on top of the statue…How is that busy?" Fledge mumbled.

"Your incessant buzzing around my head like some irksome gadfly when I'm THIS busy is…Well, it's making me feel disagreeable."

"Like he ever was agreeable before," Karane mumbled as well.

"But don't worry. I would like to introduce you all to another dear friend of mine. Hopefully, he'll set you all straight unlike poor Scaldera. Ta-ta sky children."

Ghirahim disappeared with the snap of his fingers.

The dark room suddenly lit up. The red orb in the middle of the chest starts moving, pulsing like a heartbeat. The small statues floated to the main one. They took the form of six arms. A weird purple substance filled the statue, connecting the arms to the main statue, turning it into some sort of machine. The arms folded in front of it before they flexed out, with two hands holding throwing axes. It stretches its arms while using the other two to cover the red orb, as its soulless eyes look down at the four knight students. It then uses its hands to slam down but the quartet moves out of the way in time. The giant machine threw the axes towards the group. They took shelter behind the large pillars.

"Mind telling us about this guy, Fi?" Link requested urgently.

"This is Koloktos. This 'Ancient Automation' defends the Ancient Cistern and eliminates intruders. The cursed energy supply Ghirahim provided to this contraption has given it power far beyond its conventional limits. The red-orb shape cores embedded in its torso and arms provided it limited stability and prevented it from falling to pieces."

"Ok, so that red orb on its chest is definitely a weak spot. We just need to hit it enough times."

"Easier said than done especially with six arms guarding it," Karane brought up.

"We just need to get them out of the way...somehow."

"How do you propose that?"

"I think I may know something but it sounds unlikely…" Fledge spoke.

"Any suggestions are welcome right now, Fledge. What do you know?" Link said to him.

"When-When that thing tried to slam us with his arm I saw this red orb where its elbow would be. It had these rings that reminded me of those bulb switches. Maybe we can prompt Koloktos to hit us and use The Whip to pull out its arms."

Pipit suddenly reached into Link's pouch to pull out The Whip before anyone else could say anything else. This certainly caught Link off guard. His bewilderment quickly turn to horror once he saw walking out of the safety of the pillar and into Koloktos' view.

"Pipit! What are you doing?"

"Stay there until I say so." Pipit ran towards the ancient automation, yelling and waving it down to get its attention. "Hey you big rust bucket, over here!" Koloktos slowly turned its head in his direction. "Come on! Try to hit me!"

Koloktos slowly raised one of its arms to slam down at the boy below him. Pipit shows no sign of moving. Then the moment Koloktos arm almost made contact, Pipit warped away in a flash green. This led to the giant mechanical being lodging its arm on the ground. Pipit reappeared right next to the arm. He flung the end of The Whip on the exposed rings on its arm. He successfully pulled out the arm with one hard tug. The rest of the knight students watch as they realize that Pipit was using his ability to trick Koloktos to slam its arms down.

Pipit repeated the process as Kolktos slammed its other arm down only for Pipit to teleport of the way and used The Whip to pull off its arm. The final two free arms covering the red orb were all that's left. Koloktos slammed both of them down at the same time. Pipit quickly used The Whip to pull them both off. Koloktos stood in a daze as its final arms were focused on holding the throwing axes. The red orb on its chest was exposed. Pipit knew it was now or never.

"Link, now! Strike at that orb before it recovers!"

The green-clad hero dash over to the automation. Link sliced at the orb on its chest many times until an unseen force pushed him back. The fallen arms of Koloktos floated back near it, reconnecting back onto the ancient automation. Pipit saw that Koloktos attempting to swipe at Link with the axes in its hands and wrapped both him and himself out of the way. They reappeared right next to an unsettled Karane and Fledge.

"Are you two okay?" Fledge asked.

"We are," Link answered.

"Pipit, are you mad?!" Karane shouted to him frantically. "It could've crushed you!"

"It worked, didn't it?"

"I hate to admit it but he's right. Pipit, keep on doing what you were doing."

"You can count on me, Link."

Pipit noticed the reluctant look in Karane's eyes. She looked as if she didn't want Pipit to go out there. Pipit lifts her chin with his fingers to move her eye level to his. His green eyes look warmly into hers.

"I'll be fine, Karane."

"Just...Just don't yourself killed."

"I'll do my best. Stay out of its sight."

Pipit warped back in Koloktos's view. He decided to continue to have a little bit of fun messing with it.

"Is that the best you can do? I've seen Remlits have better accuracy when it comes to hitting stuff! And I thought you were the protector of The Ancient Cistern!"

Koloktos could only respond by striking him, thus repeating the process of that and Pipit teleporting and pulling its arms out. Then finally with its two arms remaining Pipit once again yelled for Link to strike the orb. Link did so until the same unseen force pushed him back. Koloktos' axes disappeared as he resembled his arms. Koloktos used its newly regained arms to push itself from its confinements on the ground, revealing its legs. Gold bars blocked the red orb on its chest as all six of its arms went to its back.

"That doesn't look good…" Karane muttered as she and Fledge remained their spot.

That exact moment, Koloktos pulled his arms back out revealing all six of his hands being armed with huge curved swords.

"DEFINITELY NOT GOOD!" Fledge exclaimed.

Link and Pipit stood still where they were as they watch in astonishment of Koloktos' new form. The ancient automation stared down at the intruders of its chambers. It then used all three of its arms to slice down the pair but they both managed to move out of the way.

"Any bright ideas?" Pipit said to Link.

Link examined Koloktos' new form, specifically the sword. Something was telling him that he had to get those swords away from the machine. And Koloktos seems to continue to use the same strategy of slamming down on its targets.

"Keep on doing what you were doing," Link instructed Pipit.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I think I may have an idea. Just make sure it slams its arms on the ground."

Pipit, despite not fully understanding what Link had in mind, did what he instructed. Koloktos got his three arms unlodged from the ground. Pipit of course continues to taunt Koloktos.

"Please! You didn't get close enough that time! Why even Cawlin is a better sword fighter than you!"

The automation slams its arms again. Pipit used the whip to pull all three of its arms out. This of course left the giant swords it was holding. Link gestured to Pipit lure Koloktos away in front of the swords. Once Pipit succeeded in that Link moved close to the sword.

"Do you think we could use this sword against Koloktos, Fi?"

"Although it is quite heavy, you should all be able to wield it, Master."

"Then I know what to do next. Karane, Fledge! Get over here!"

"What do you need," Karane ask as he and Fledge went over to Link.

"I need one of you to lift one of the swords to knock out Koloktos's legs. Then I'll strike those bars. Think you can do that?"

"Of course, Link," Fledge answered.

Link went over to one of the swords to lift it. Fledge attempted to do the same but his lack of strength caused him to struggle to get it up. Karane went over to help lift it up.

"Cut down Koloktos' legs while its back was turned!" Link commanded to the pair.

With the sword in both of their hands, Karane and Fledge dashed over to Koloktos and swipe at its legs. Koloktos fell on the ground unable to move, given the opportunity to swipe at the bars covering the damaged orb. Link managed to get a few cracks on the bars before Koloktos repaired its limbs, and regained its swords. Koloktos then wailed its swords around making it impossible to approach.

"Everyone, get to cover!" Link yelled to his friends.

All four friends hide in different areas of the chamber as Koloktos continue to swipe in its blind fury before eventually calming down. Koloktos searched around the room for the intruders. As it got close to Karane & Fledge's hiding spot Pipit ran towards it.

"You call that sword fighting! That's the sloppiest swordplay I've ever seen!" Pipit yelled out.

Link swore that Koloktos slammed down his swords even harder than before. After Pipit got the arms off, Link signaled Karane and Fledge to the swords as Pipit lured Koloktos away. They repeated the process of the pair cutting down the legs and Link slicing on the bars until they fully broke. Link did not get the chance to slice at the orb only for Koloktos to repair itself. It started wailing its swords around again, leaving everyone to take cover until it calmed down. Pipit managed to get Koloktos only two of the three arms off this time. It then did something unexpected. Koloktos summoned several Cursed Bokolblins right around Link's direction. There was a lot for Link to deal with. Pipit can't go to help him due to Koloktos blocking the way. This just left the other two humans in the room.

"Fledge, go help Link! I got the sword," Karane instructed Fledge.

The orange student went over to his friend while Karane went over to the sword. It was heavier to lift up without Fledge's assistance but she managed. Pipit was busy keeping Kolkotos occupied as she approached the automation's legs. She lifted the sword to prepare to strike.

But then…something unexpected happened.

The remaining arm on Koloktos one side dropped its sword. It turned its body as its metal hand backhanded into Karane causing her to fly onto a nearby pillar. Pipit screamed for her name as he watched her still body lean against the pillar. Koloktos used this opportunity to strike its swords against the pillar near him. The debris fell onto the boy and seemingly buried him. Koloktos then regained his two arms & swords. Link and Fledge watch in horror as they watch Koloktos wipe the floor with the pair of senior knights. They tried to run over to help Karane but Koloktos summoned even more Cursed Bokoblins to prevent them from doing so. With the two occupied and the yellow-clad senior knight nowhere in sight, Koloktos sets its sights on the dazed woman.

Karane slipped out her brief moments of unconsciousness. Her body felt sore all over. Her body is tense with fear as she saw Koloktos towering over her all six of its swords high above. There was no way of this. She was going to die here. Cut down by some ancient mechanical being. She'll never go back to Skyloft, help Zelda, spend time with her friends, talk to her guardian Owlan. She never got to tell Pipit…Karane closed her eyes, prayed to all the Goddesses that it will end quickly and painlessly.

Unbeknownst to her, Pipit managed to avoid the debris. Aside from some scrapes, he was relatively unscathed. He climbed over the remains of the pillar. He saw Link & Fledge cutting down Cursed Bokoblins. Then he saw something that caused him to let out a horror-filled gasp. Koloktos had cornered Karane. There was no escape for her. It lifted its swords to strike her down. Something in him commanded him to protect her. He didn't know how but he had to! Pipit already lost his father, but he would rather die than lose another person he cares about! He ran over until he was close enough to warp between Koloktos and Karane.

"NO!" Was the last thing he shouted as he appeared arms outward as Koloktos slammed their sword down.

Farore's symbol on his chest then brightly lit up. A strong gust of wind blew against the ancient automation. The wind had prevented it from slamming its swords down. Link & Fledge gaped at the sight. Karane opened her eyes to be greeted at the sight of wind coming out from Pipit's own hands. The wind was powerful enough to push Koloktos several feet away, and blow all of the swords out of its hands. The ancient automation gaze at the boy as if it was stunned at the sudden action.

The finally died down once Pipit commanded it swiftly. The yellow-clad knight looked down upon his hands in pure shock at what he had just done. His mind raced as he was trying to figure out what the hell he had just done.

"What-How did I-?"

"Be at ease, Pipit Erhard." A familiar voice echoed in his head which calmed him down.

"Farore!"

"Do you remember when I said that Farore's Gale has other surprises? I think you now know what it is now. I knew you could do it."

Pipit closed his eyes as he took a deep breath as he took in this new information. Much like what happened when he gain the first part of Farore's Gale, knowledge of how to use this ability sprang in his head as if it had always been there.

"Now why not you give our mechanical friend here the same courtesy it gave to your dear friends."

A new sense of determination filled Pipit. A glare glued onto where Koloktos stood felt the same type of anger he gave to his dark counterpart in his trial when he mocked his father. Parts of its gold exterior were blown off exposing the purple substance within but Koloksto still stood strong. Not for much longer as Pipit told himself.

"I was just being nice earlier, but after what you just tried to do to my friend, now you've pissed me off!"

Koloktos, unfazed by Pipit's words, attempted to slam its arm down. Pipit threw a punch in the air where a strong gust of wind blew the metal arm off. One by one Pipit used his power gusts to blow off each of the arms until the only limbs remaining were its legs. Pipit and Koloktos stared each other down for a brief minute before Pipit use his arm to make a slash motion. A horizontal movement of air slices Koloktos legs clean off as efficiently as a sword. Koloktos main body landed on the ground immobile to move.

"LINK!" Pipit yelled over to his brother. "FINISH IT!"

The Hero dashed to Koloktos red orb. Link sliced it down until the orb was fully obliterated. Koloktos then started short-circuiting while letting out a creepy child-like laugher, that creeped the quartet out, as the purple substance that controlled Koloktos oozed out until it exploded with only the gold husk left behind. The metal head of Koloktos rolled over to Pipit. The chamber lit up in a warm light. A door with Farore's symbol glowed at the end of it. Pipit fell to his knees, palms of his laid flat on the floor as he let out labored breaths. The adrenaline that fuel him in taking out Koloktos had drained out and now filled with exhaustion.

"Congratulations, Pipit." Farore's voice echoed in his head. "You have awakened the full potential of Farore's Gale. The power of the wind is now yours to command. I will warn you not to use this part of my essence so hastily for it requires great strength. I trust you know what to do from this point."

"I do…"

"Good luck on this journey, Pipit Erhard. Me and my sisters will be watching you and your friends."

Farore's voice faded away as Pipit remained on the ground. Footsteps echoed from behind him until he felt someone crouch next to him. Turning his head he was met with Karane as his level. Her blue eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay, Pipit?"

"I should be asking you that. You got backhanded by that thing."

"Nothing that a red potion couldn't fix. I'll be fine…Thank you for saving my life."

"You're welcome."

Karane lowered her. "I guess that's two I owe you now." She felt Pipit's hand on her cheek. His beautiful green eyes looked so warmly at her.

"You don't owe me anything. I'm happy as long as you're okay."

Link watched the pair from a distance. Their faces were close enough to probably kiss. Maybe, Link thought, Pipit would finally confess his feelings for Karane. Maybe they will finally-"

"Pipit! Karane!" Fledge's voice across the chamber as he ran to the pair.

"Dindammit!" Link thought to himself. "So close!"

Of course, Link shouldn't be mad at Fledge since he probably had no clue. Still, it was disappointing. Oh well, maybe next time. Link made his way to his friends. Fledge is currently bombarding Pipit over his newfound ability.

"That was so…wicked! How did you do that?!"

"Farore told me that I awakened Farore's Gale's full potential. I saw Karane in trouble so went to protect her and it just…happened."

"Wow…that's amazing! So you can like…airbend now?"

"If you want to put it that way then yeah, I can." Pipit glanced up to see Link. "Hey, Link."

"Hey. How are you doing?"

"Put it mildly…I think I could use a nap." Pipit deadpanned.

Link let out a chuckle. "A nap does sound nice."

"But first, we need to get you those flames." Pipit pointed to the door with Farore's symbol.

They group transverse through the chamber cluttered with metal. The room on the other side of the door was small with an altar at the end with the familiar crest of the goddess. Above the altarpiece is an even larger symbol of Farore. Link used his Skyward Strike to hit the crest of the goddess.

The symbol on the wall let out a glow, as did the one on Pipit's uniform. The darkroom was suddenly brightened up as large green flames emerged from the altar. It was so bright that the group had to shield their eyes before their vision got accustomed to them. Link raised his sword waiting to see if the flames would do something. Fi instead exited out of the sword in front of the altar. Raising her shawl arms, the flames engulfed her into a large ball of green fire. The ball flew up to the ceiling, then to the wall, and finally right in front of Link. Fi stood in the middle of these flames.

"Raise your sword, Master Link."

Link did what the spirit told him and raised his sword. Fi pushed all the flames into the divine weapon. The force was so strong it almost knocked Link back, with Pipit preventing his fall. Link used his other hand to brace the sword. The last of the flames went into the blade. Link raises the sword skyward as the flames settle in. The sword let out a bright glow. The ricasso of the sword expanded, and the blade was even longer.

"The flames of Farore have improved your sword, making it longer and sharp enough to do twice as much damage," Fi said to him.

Link examined the sword, taking note of the changes. His friends did the same. They all succeed in finding Farore's Flame.

"Wow..." Pipit commented with admiration.

Link swung the sword to get adjusted to the improvements. Just as he sheathed the sword his right hand started tingling. Link and his friends watch as an image of the strange triangle symbol they saw at the Temple of Time glowed on the back of Link's hand. The borrow right of the triangle glowed brightly before it vanished.

"What was that?" Pipit wondered.

"I…I don't know," Link simply answered.

None of them had the chance to speculate further as Fi hovered close. "The sacred flame has purified your blade, enhancing and evolving it. With your sword now enhanced, you are ready to learn a new melody. We should return to the Isle of Songs."

Fi retreated into the sword. With the task now complete the quartet proceeded to exit The Ancient Cistern.

****

They had run into Faron again when they exited the Cistern. The dragon took note of the changes of Link's sword, and Pipit's fully awaken power. Though She was impressed by these changes, she reminded Link that he had yet gained the strength to handle the full power of the sword. Faron firmly told him that he must train himself further and devote wholly to the task at hand.

After Faron left, the quarter returned to the sky. It was almost sunset. That left enough time for them to fly into the Thunderhead to go to the Isle of Songs. They entered the chamber where the goddess crest lay. Link activated it using the Skyward Strike.

A small statue resembling The Goddess State came down from below, this time with the symbol of Nayru. Much like with the previous statue it sang a beautiful melody. Fi once against hovered in front of the statue with a ray of light appearing.

"Master Link, I have important information. When you struck the crest with a Skyward Strike from your sword, a message from the goddess awakened deep within my memory. The goddess intended this message for you, Master. These are her words."

"He who seeks the sacred flames, listen well, for I guide from my palace at the edge of time. Two sacred flames remain. Should you desire to possess them, you must obtain the other sacred gifts. For each trial you overcome, you shall be blessed with another gift. Harness the power of these gifts, and let there be no doubt you shall find yourself standing before the majesty of the sacred flames. Now, I give you another melody. It will serve as a key to unlocking your next trait, which awaits you within the shifting sand of Lanayru Desert."

Link readied himself with the harp as Fi put herself in an elegant pose. Music echoed through the room. Link started playing to the rhythm of the music as Fi started flying around the room, dancing and singing in the same manner as before only this time a blue mist emitted from her.

"Sail the sandy dune

Find the flame of blue…

And so as you pray

Go forth, wisdom guides the way."

Fi flew high in the room as Link continue playing. The area change with him standing in the clouds with his Loftwing flying around, but accompanied by a sky-blue Loftwing instead. He swore that the bluebird had pigtails. He did not get a good enough look as the bird flew away.

"Sail the sandy dune

Find the flame of blue…

And so as you pray

Go forth, wisdom guides the way."

The area went back to normal as Link gazed at the harp.

"The song you just heard is called Nayru's Wisdom," Fi informed Link. "Use this song of knowledge to find the next trial. I have memorized Nayru's Wisdom for you. You can now use dowsing to locate the gate to the next trial. You should set a course to Lanayru Desert as soon as possible."

"Will do." Link told the spirit before took went back to his sword. He turns to his friends. "Let's get back to Skyloft.

His friends made their way out of the chamber. Everyone that is for Karane, who stood into space as if her mind was elsewhere. Pipit quickly noticed her.

"Karane?"

"Huh, what?" Karane snapped out of whatever she was thinking about."

"We're heading back to Skyloft."

"Oh, sorry! I was thinking about something." Karane rushed her way out of the chamber.

Pipit watched the girl with curiosity. The way she acted was just how he was after he heard Farore's Courage. Link seems to have the same idea.

"I acted that way after I heard Farore's Courage. Right before I…Do you think she's…?"

"I don't know…" Link told him. "We'll worry about it tomorrow."

If their theory is correct then they'll find out once they go to Lanayru tomorrow. For now, they decided to return to Skyloft for some deserved rest.

[slothgiirl]

percolating gently (noah x mc)

au in which jane marshall lives and mc and noah and jane run off to live happily ever after a family of three and also smut (if you don’t want to read that skip the section that goes “its christmas, technically”. 

title from a tennessee williams quote 

15k

It's the three of them in the end. Jane. Noah. And you. Just like it started. Just like it had been.

Always you caught up between the two Marshall twins; Jane’s hand in yours gripping tight and never backing down as she poured water into dirt to make mud. At nine, and never having shared Jane’s attention before, Noah had snubbed you on more than one occasion, shooting down watching Resident Evil just because you had suggested it.

It was funny how you'd befriended Noah first. Jane had a fever the week your parents moved to Westchester (to study some microbe that was super rare or some other incredibly niche nerdy thing). You'd been left to roam the neighborhood on your own as per usual, drawing trees and pets you wished for in chalk, and then Noah.

Noah.

Redfield- Jane’s let up at least a little. You're no longer stuck to that awful chair in terror but griping Noah's shoulders, your fingers clutching the fabric of his denim jacket because he can't, you won't let him take her place.

He's been through so much already.

They both had.

“Noah,” you stammer out, chilled to the bone from terror or the fact that you were in a damp and freezing underground chamber--probably both. “Noah, you can't!” You tighten your grip on him even as his frown deepens, anger clear on his features as he glares down at you.

You cut him off before he can snap at you. Looking over at Jane, no longer blazing, but hovering around, a shadow spilling into the corners of the room, eyes a cold blue without an ounce of friendliness or curiosity.

“I'm sorry,” you tell her, because this was all your fault. You should've never encouraged her. You should've saved her. You should've done more: anything but brush the memory of her away instead of dealing with the events of that summer. Denial had long been your method of choice but here Jane was. It had all been real.

You owe her this much.

And Noah-

“I promised I'd be there for you,” you think of the whistle, “I promised I'd protect you so that's what I'm going to do now,” you say even as your hands shake. “Let me take your place.”

You move to stand, but Noah doesn't budge, his head shaking as his agonized wide eyes meet yours. There's always been a sincere quality in the warmth of Noah's brown eyes that put you at ease and had you feeling like you two were the only people in the world and you could never say no to him; not now. He's a mess (just how you feel), beanie about to slide off his tangled hair, tear tracks down his cheeks. There's a pull in your chest, the painful need to throw your arms around him and hug him until the world stops being this shitty but you doubt you'd ever leave his side if you hug him now.

Noah shakes his head. “It should be me,” he utters into the eerie acoustics of the chamber, the horror of the situation audible in his voice. “It should have been me then. I can finally make things right.”

Your lip grumbles as you cry out, “don't say that,” your hand reaching up to cup his cheek, “don't you dare say that bullshit Noah-we were kids! None of this,” you look around, look at Jane, “this shouldn't have happened to anyone. And it wasn't anyone's fucking fault!”

If-when you got out of this, you were going to throw hands with Mrs. Marshall.

You used to wish she’d been your mother.

The shadow that is Jane inches closer.

Right.

It had to be you or him.

His skin was warm against your hand and you don't-you don’t think you can live in a world where Noah isn't there and he's had the shittiest time and you could've reached out but you didn't and he doesn't deserve this because he thinks he deserves this.

Noah thinks he should've died.

Fuck.

This was all so fucked up.

“It's okay,” Noah whispers softly, his hand covering yours before gently removing your hand from his cheek, removing your hold on him. “It's okay.”

“But-” you look at Jane.

You didn't know what was worse, a world without Noah in it or a world where Noah became some twisted monster the same way Jane had over the years of loneliness. No one started out a monster.

You shake your head, reaching for Noah's hand, “I promised I wasn't leaving you again.”

His eyes widen in shock, giving him that doe eyes look that sort of made you want to kiss him, as if he'd forgotten all about that moment, as if he thought he wasn't worth it but Noah deserved more than death. He should get to go to culinary school and deal with shitty customers at Baby Jane’s.

And it was too late to save the day.

If you were being honest, it was nine years too late. It was all about doing the best you could  in impossible circumstances because Jane didn't deserve to spend an eternity alone and scared and a monster either.

Intertwining your fingers with his, you swallow thickly before replying in a steady voice, having made your choice the moment Noah had been willing to go find Dan alone, when he'd opened up to you at the shop and you realized all this time it hadn't just been you dealing with the repercussions of Redfield, “Together.”

You weren't going to fail Noah again.

Noah is speechless.

But Jane was always able to go with the flow. A shadowy limb ghost over both your hands, in the vein of those cheesy moments in anime when a best friend speech got everyone through a big battle.

“Allll play too g etherR.”

“Yeah,” Noah says sadly, accepting that there was no version of this ending that didn't end in tragedy. “together.”

At least this way, you could be monsters together.

“It's okay Jane,” he tells his sister, his hand squeezing yours, “we’ll take over from here.”

*

*

*

You wake up cold, thinking that you'd left your bedroom window open (not that you were doing much sleeping in that room after the Dan night terror) again, but you're greeted with the sight of Jane curled up asleep between you and Noah looking the same as she had at the many sleepovers you'd have at their house. You don't know if she's real or if this is a dream or if you're dead and this is just a figment of your new reality, but you don't care.

Finally, you understand the ending of Inception.

You don't want to wake them up, still exhausted yourself, but Jane keeps shivering and you can only imagine how worried your friends were. Your phone’s dead.

You couldn't stay here.

“Noah,” you whisper, the sound echoing throughout the chamber. “Noah…”

He grumbles in his sleep, but doesn't wake up.

“Noah,” you hiss.

“What,” Noah slurs, shifting as he lifts his head, jostling Jane at his side but your friend who was dead, was previously dead, continues to sleep looking like a particularly angelic little girl.

You can tell when the situation dawns on him: the twitch of his lips as his mouth settles into a frown, brows becoming drawn in thought.

It's day outside.

You're not sure which day.

Noah's phone is also dead.

Both of you stumble through the woods half asleep, Noah carrying Jane as if she was the most precious thing in the world which she was because she had been dead but now she wasn't and you were beginning to hope this was real and not a trick and that Jane was getting a shot at a normal childhood.

“We should go to my house,” you offer, keeping your voice low as to not disturb Jane who continued to sleep, no wonder Andy and Ava had been able to draw so many mustaches on her back in the day. “It's closer.”

And also you had no way of explaining how Jane had suddenly come back to life. That was something to process later. First a warm bed and sleep and then you had to let your friends know you weren't dead and figure out the whole Jane being alive with Noah. But first, sleep.

“Yeah, okay,” Noah answer’s, clearly still in shock. “Sounds good.” He says as if you two were discussing the weather and not sudden resurrection.

Then again, was this really that big of a leap considering everything that happened in the last few months?

You kick off your shoes and curl up with the Marshall twins to sleep.

*

*

*

“Why are you so much taller,” Jane asks once you’ve all woken up and yes, Jane’s still there, flesh and blood and the idea begins to solidify that she’s alive and well, well maybe not, you don’t know how much she remembers if at all and you still don’t know what to do with her but for now Noah’s rifling around your sparse kitchen, sending you a judgemental look at the half empty pancake box mix that expired a month ago but there’s no gross mold or anything so he uses it anyway, unwilling to leave Jane alone for a second.

Noah smiles easily, which has you smiling, “I’m not tall,” he replies to his sister, “you just shrunk.”

She frowns, nose wrinkling and you had forgotten she did that when she was upset, her nose wrinkling up as her lips turn downward. It was adorable. Then in classic Jane fashion she decides, “that’s a lie.” And sticks her nose up in the air, her fingers continuing to do whatever in your hair. It feels nice, her small fingers weaving clumsily through your thick hair, but Jane had never actually learned to braid so you’re pretty sure she’s just tangling your hair up but you wouldn’t refuse Jane anything right now.

It’s been days since the dance.

You have countless missed calls from your friends, texts getting increasingly and increasingly panicked, and nothing from either of your parents.

“Turn around,” Jane squeaks, tapping your shoulder urgently.

“Alright, alright,” you say, shifting in your seat. She’s tiny. All red hair and freckles and she hasn’t left your side since waking you up, knees in your side as she’d yelled that she was bored and wanted to play so loud it had woken Noah up.

Jane looks at you with a frown. “You’re big too.” Then her lower lip wobbles.

Shit.

Hastily, you pull her onto your lap, wrapping your arms around her.

“Why am I still small,” she whispers, looking up at you with the same wide brown eyes you were so used to.

“Uh,” you swallow thickly, trying to figure something out because maybe she didn’t remember and wasn’t that for the best? Wouldn’t that be the best case scenario? The only problem is you’re barely eighteen and not at all prepared to handle a nine year old. Had you really been this small when your parents decided to fuck off? “It’s because. . .you’re special, like Peter Pan.”

She crunches up her nose for a second, thinking. Then in her child innocence, she nods, deciding she likes the explanation. “You should’ve come with me,” Jane pats your cheek sadly, “grown ups are so boring.”

Noah wheezes, a pancake slipping off the spatula as his shoulders shake with laughter.

You hadn’t had time to talk about what had happened, what he had done, and you certainly hadn’t had time to process your feelings on any of it, but you were always glad to see him laughing.

“Someone had to take care of your dumb brother,” you reply, legs kind of going numb with her weight.

Jane nods sagely, “Noah is dumb. Because he’s a changeling.”

When you were kids, you’d both been obsessed with goblins and trolls and fairy tales. You two would dig in the dirt looking for hag stones. Sticks would double as magic wands and swords. The old fur jacket Jane liked to play dress up with was her selkie skin and you would take turns hiding it around the house.

Noah rolls his eyes. He hadn’t liked your weirdo kid games the first time around, he liked them even less now and you can’t help but grin at his expense. “You’re the redhead in the family.”

Jane blows a raspberry.

What a way to win an argument.

It’s past midnight before Jane crashes.

You’re on your third watch of frozen which had seemed like a great way to keep Jane inside the first time when you’d suggested it (kids loved that movie) and had become the worst, as Jane made you watch the movie again and again, singing “do you want to build a snowman” at the top of her lungs. That hadn’t stopped you and Noah from helping her find all the pillows in your house to build a castle with. Your living room has become a pillow castle fort.

During the second watch, Jane had dug around through your closet, before finding a blue hoodie you didn’t even remember you had and tying it around her shoulders. “You’re Anna,” she’d told you, giving you pigtails when she gave up on braids.

Now, she was asleep on the couch, drooling on her pillow.

Noah immediately turns off the TV. “You couldn’t have put on Shrek?”

You’re sitting next to him on the floor, finally giving into the urge to look at the news on your phone. You hadn’t risked it while Jane was awake. She was a nosy child.

You frown, “we need to tell the others.” Because this was really happening. Jane was alive and you didn’t know what to do with that. She needed. . .fuck-she needed school and parents and probably therapy if she remembered any of it. You were just eighteen. You had no idea what to do.

Noah’s responding frown mirrors yours. “What? Why!”

“She just came back from the dead,” you reply quietly. “She needs-fuck what are we going to tell your mom?”

His expression turns angry, brows furrowing. “Fuck her. She doesn’t deserve to know.”

“Noah,” you sigh, not wanting to argue with him because what was there to argue. His mom was a shitty parent. “Dan, Andy. . .they think we’re dead. They deserve to know after what happened. They deserve an explanation.”

He flinches.

“And besides-we’re in high school! What are we-what the hell are we going to do with her,” you say gently because you couldn’t keep her cooped up in your house. You had things like high school and maybe college if you could salvage this quarter. You didn’t have a job. “She needs parents. And school. And. . .” You throw your hand sup in the air. You had no clue what she needed. You weren’t a functioning adult. You didn’t know what kids need.

“She has me.” Noah hisses back.

You roll your eyes. “I know that-fuck Noah,” becuase he was getting angry with you when all you were trying to do was help. God, he could be so freaking dense sometimes. “She deserves a normal childhood. How the hell are we supposed to do that for her? Does she remember any of it?” You cross your arms over your chest and stare at your feet. The garish pink nail polish was still intact.

Didn’t people need birth certificates and stuff?

Lucas would know.

Lily could probably do her computer thing and help with that.

He falls silent, glaring at the blank TV screen.

Noah’s breathing is harsh and you wait patiently.

“I can drop out,” Noah finally says quietly. “Get a job. . .”

“I’m going to call Lily,” you reply. “We need groceries anyway.” Like hell were you leaving Jane for even a second. This time, you mean to keep your promise.

*

*

*

Jane bursts into tears when she sees all her friends grew up without her, eyes turning red as tears streamed down her eyes and she buried her face in Noah’s chest, refusing to budge. He rubs his hand comfortingly against her back, carrying her upstairs.

Even from the living room, still a mess, you can hear her sob upstairs.

“What the absolute fuck,” Lucas utters, taking a seat, resting his head in his hands.

“Explain,” Stacy urges, already unpacking the groceries you’d requested into your kitchen.

You do.

You go over the last couple of days, most of which you spent sleeping.

“I think it says a lot about how fucked our lives are that this is only like the second craziest thing to happen to us,” Andy mutters, pacing around the room. “I mean,” he says stopping near the kitchen island, “the whole town got brainwashed!”

“Does-does she remember,” Lily asks.

You shrug, “I. . .I don’t think so. Clearly she doesn’t know why we’re all older. Maybe it’ll come back to her?” You hope it doesn’t.

“So what are we going to do,” Lily says, looking around at everyone.

Dan speaks up, “Jane could have blocked out those memories. My therapist said that can happen with traumatic events.”

“That makes sense,” you find yourself saying, slumping in your seat. You think you could just finish high school at home. It’s not like your parents would know, or care. They’re not here. That way Noah can finish high school and you can look after Jane. But then what?

“Just so we’re all on the same page,” Ava asks rhetorically, “we’re just going to ignore the fact Noah tried to kill us?”

You flinch.

“Jesus fucking christ Ava,” Andy snaps, looking just as agitated as you’ve all felt for months.

“One crisis at a time,” Stacy complains, closing the cupboard door with a hard thunk, “I can only handle one crisis at a time.” Then she looks over at you, “are you-is. . .you can stay at my house if you need to.” No one suggests Noah and Jane going to their own house.

You shake your head.

At some point, you were going to hash things out with Noah, but it wasn’t exactly anger at Noah that you felt. It was hurt and the raw heart crushing betrayal. You know you hadn't been there for him when he needed you--for years-- but you thought, you wish he had just told you about Jane being Redfield.You would have helped, you would have done anything to help Noah and Jane and maybe no one would’ve needed to play are you scared at all. Fuck.

But no. You don’t feel scared at being here with him which was what Stacy was asking about. It hadn’t even crossed your mind even once.

But it feels too private to tell them that the three of you have been inseparable since the ruins. You’d spent last night curled up on the living room floor with him. But that knowledge was yours. You weren’t about to share that.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” You don’t feel fine. “She can’t stay in Westchester can she?” Because you’re tired and want someone else to tell you what to do for once.

“Probably not,” Lucas answers tightly, still looking freaked out, eye twitching.

“It’s not a trick or anything. . .” Andy glances around.

You shake your head. Slowly, a plan forms in your head. Your parents would pay for your college, you’d apply out of state and take the Marshall twins with you. Instead of a dorm, you’d get an apartment. It could work.

Somehow.

“Have your parents called,” Dan asks gently.

“No,” you wave off. They weren’t important. Jane was.

“Have you thought about how you’re going to explain this,” Andy asks.

You wince. “Sort of. . .I don’t know.” You put your hands in your head.

It's Ava who wraps her arm around your shoulders, “we’ll figure this out.”

“Thanks.”

*

*

*

It's a familiar type of awful that Noah’s mom doesn’t really care that he’s spent the last six months living at your house.

With a great deal of arguing at 2 in the morning while lying next to a sleeping Jane, you’d managed to convince Noah to finish high school. And you’d promptly switched to homeschooling.

Lily had come through with Jane’s paperwork, now in your bag as your friends drop you off at the nearest regional airport.

You hold Jane’s hand, the only thing keeping her from running off as she takes the sight of the airport in. She’s thrown countless fits about being cooped up. But it was too risky for her to be seen in Westchester, a small town where everyone knew she’d died. The most you could do was your backyard.

So of course you’d made up for it by letting her pick your college.

“Someplace warm and sunny,” Jane had shouted excitedly, mind going crazy with plans as your acceptance letters came in.

Months on, it’s way less awkward even if Ava and Lucas have settled on ignoring Noah.

Andy hugs you hard. “Call when you land!”

You snort, “duh.”

Lily smiles and adds, “I might visit for spring break.”

“That would be great,” you tell her, tightening your hold on Jane as something catches her attention.

She pivots to Noah, who had the backbone of a toothpick when it came to telling Jane no which is why she keeps getting to skip brushing her teeth in the morning which was gross and she hated you for trying to chase her down, “I want that stuffed animal. If you give me that narwhal, I’ll eat my veggies.”

“You’re eating your veggies anyway,” you reply back, dragging her along.

“You won’t have to watch frozen tomorrow.” She continues, targeting her brother ruthlessly.

Noah’s already fishing his wallet out.

“That’s what you said about the hair color,” you point out, opting to carry her when she goes limp. “Don’t you dare Noah.”

Ava grins at you, amused and unhelpful.

“It’s just a toy,” he replies.

You roll your eyes.

“You two are such parents,” Andy laughs.

“I hate you,” Jane huffs. “We’re not friends anymore.”

“She told you,” Ava snorts.

Jane beams. Then reaches for Noah, who takes her from your arms without complaint.

You hug Lily one last time, and then. . .you’re going through security.

“I get the window seat,” Jane declares once you get past TSA.

“Go for it,” you tell her, belatedly realizing it’s going to be hell if it turns out she doesn’t like planes.

She nods, satisfied.

*

*

*

Tampa is no less humid and hot and awful a month in then it was when you first got off the plane but Jane loves it and there’s a park next to the building your living in: a tiny cramped apartment with only one room which went to Jane obviously which you and Noah had originally planned for you and Jane to share but both of you had capitulated to Jane’s demands within the day. She deserved being spoiled.

The A/C in Ikea was a godsend.

Sleeping on the floor with the bare necessities was not it and with you starting school next week, it was time to take your meager savings and get some furniture.

“Remember,” Noah says, pulling up the list on his phone. It had started with him grocery shopping since he cooked and needing to make a grocery list to Noah just taking over figuring out how to make the money your parents sent and his own contribution from his new job work. “Sofa bed. Bed for Jane. Blankets. One lamp. And a mattress.”

“Weren't you complaining about only having one pan this morning,” you ask as Jane drags you along to the first showroom, practically bouncing with energy.

Noah shrugs. “I can make it work.”

“Buying an extra pan won't kill us,” you counter. “We can just use my credit card.” And not eat out for the rest of the month, you didn't add.

“Let's play hide and seek,” Jane says with excitement. “I'll seek.”

You exchange glances with Noah.

Tomorrow you had to go sign her up at school. You had to go over the story with her again. Just to make sure you didn't all get in trouble.

Jane covers her eyes. “One. Two. . .”

You look around the tiny space, thinking of where to hide. Between school and Jane you weren't sure when you could or even if you could get a part time job. Noah was working at a diner during the evenings. You had gotten your classes early in the morning so you could be home with Jane while he worked. The problem was finding the extra free time to work.

Ugh.

Being an adult was hard.

But how much of an adult could you be when your parents were paying your tuition?

You head for the tiny bathroom which has a neat looking toothbrush holder and isn’t that something you need to buy? There were so many little things like a bath mat and towels and a dish rack that were only just occurring to you that were sort of essentials and jeez you really had one foot in adulthood. You don’t even hide behind the curtain, worried that Jane won’t find you easily and freak out and there’s weirdos everywhere. It was your job to look after her now. Not that Noah had asked for your help, but it was a given.

“Eight. . .nine. . .” Jane’s little voice carries and you’re struck by a flood of emotions that has your eyes tearing up.

Noah steps into the bathroom next to you, “we need a cutting board,” he says so seriously you can’t help but snort.

“What,” he asks, shaking his head at you.

“Nothing.”

He tilts his head.

You shrug, “just thinking. I don’t know. I don’t feel very grown up. And I took all the dumb towels my parents stockpiled for granted.”

“We should’ve raided your house,” he agrees, the corner of his lips lifting, “purge style.”

“Yeah,” you nod, “I never get why everyone jumps straight to murder. What does Ava always say? Redistribute the wealth, rob a bank.” You roll your eyes, scoffing, “murder.”

Noah snorts. “Pretty sure that’s Lucas. Ava’s more of a go straight to cutting people’s heads off.”

“Robespierre style,” you grin.

“Robes who?”

“Robespierre. From the french revolution.”

“I think that’s the class I must’ve ditched,” Noah admits.

You frown. “You could do community college,” because you had to corner him at some point. Noah was very good at avoiding subjects he didn’t want to talk about. “We could make it work. Do your G.E.’s”

Noah shrugs.

“Noah-” Because he said he wanted to go to culinary school and you get the urge to drop everything and buy a ranch in utah and live with Jane for the rest of your lives except Jane would hate that and grow up and leave and how are you going to afford spoiling her if you can’t get a decent job? Noah deserved to go for his dreams too.

None of you had to be defined by your incredibly shitty childhood.

Jane pops in, “found you!” She giggles in her Baby Yoda t-shirt and leggings, “you two are bad at this game! My turn!” Jane grabs Noah’s hand and drags him along to the next showroom that catches her eye, “remember,” she lectures you both, “no peeking,” before shooting off.

“What did you end up choosing for your major,” Noah asks, as you both fail to keep your eyes closed, looking over at the sofa section. It would be so freaking nice not to sleep on the carpet anymore.

“History,” you admit, “though I’m not sure it’ll stay like that. I don’t know exactly what I want to do after college. Or if I even like history enough to major in it. . .it just sounded fine at the time.” You had done well in APUSH. That had to mean something. But you had also liked your economics class. . .maybe you should do economics? “I really have no clue. Has it been ten seconds?”

“Probably,” Noah says with a smile, “nine, ten, coming to find you,” he calls out.

It’s a living room showroom, and yet Jane had managed to squeeze herself right behind a floor lamp and the TV stand. She’s a slip of a girl, but her red hair makes her easier to spot. Thank god.

“Let’s go pick out things for your room,” you offer, because you still have to go downstairs and find all the different pieces and then still go home and put them together. Thank god for uber. Oh shit, did this mean you had to get a car at some point? How do people buy cars?

“Okay,” Jane nods, immediately taking off, and she has you and Noah speed walking after her, on the border of a full out run. It was hard to be annoyed when you were still so happy to wake up in a world where Jane was alive and here and who cares that it took three hours to get her to stand still long enough to comb her hair and putting her to bed was a long drawn out affair of a bedtime story and a snack and needing to be tucked in and checking on all her toys and deciding she needed a glass of water next to her just in case she woke up thirsty.

It was worth it.

You liked not living alone.

You liked not being alone.

*

*

*

You weren't sure who was more exhausted as you finished washing the dishes. Jane was sleeping, thank god. The nice thing about Florida was it was fall and it was still warm enough to spend the evening at the park so Jane could tire herself out while you read fifty pages of your history and sociology textbook. It was what all the other moms did and you winced when Jane asked to join the soccer team that practiced at the park by your building because you didn't have the money and you could only hope she didn't ask Noah because he came home tired enough but for Jane he'd take more shifts.

There was laundry you didn't want to do and a quiz in english which was a nice class even if everyone was half asleep at 7:30 in the morning because your professor was somehow awake enough to engage and rant about short stories that thankfully weren't the same ten dead old white men you'd read in high school but actual people alive today whose english you could understand. It's night, so you don't bother drying the dishes before turning off the light. Noah had brought food which showed how tired he was. Yesterday's leftovers had saved you from attempting anything because you sucked in the kitchen as your poor microwave could attest: aluminum foil and microwaves don't mix.

Noah’s already asleep when you slide into bed next to him. You can still smell the scent of oil and grease on his skin even as you stay decidedly on your side of the bed.

It's mid september in Tampa and it's still warm and it doesn't stop you at all from curling up with a blanket.

The window panes are cracked open letting in the soft moonlight and you lay in bed, brain melted from class and reading, and look at Noah's profile and how much lighter he looked compared to a year ago. The lines around his mouth from frowning had eased; Jane teasing out a side of him that had previously shriveled up.

It's done him good to get away from his mom. To have his sister. You just wish you could do more for him.

Like he was doing for you and Jane.

You drift off to sleep. . .

“Move over,” a small voice asks, and your eyes crack open to the dark of the room and Jane a hair's breadth away with wide scared eyes, a pillow hugged to her chest. Her voice is raw, as if she'd been crying.

You move over, brain sleep addled, to make room for her.

She slips in besides you, immediately curling up in your chest the way she does when she decides she's done walking for the day: the way she runs up to Noah when he gets home from work.

“Did you have a bad dream,” you mumble, not wanting to wake up her brother.

“I don't know.” Jane admits, “I just don't want to sleep alone.”

“I thought you wanted your own room,” you tease, a little more awake now.

“I do,” she cries out loudly in the dark of the night.

You can just imagine her pouting even if you can't see her, your eyes falling shut again. “Okay. You can sleep over tonight.”

“Yay,” she whispers back. “We should draw a mustache on Noah.”

You snort, “too late. He hasn't bothered shaving in like two days.” It was a good look on him: stubble. You'd teased him ruthlessly, almost choking on your water when he'd gone pink.

Jane giggles.

“Go to sleep,” you tell her. “You have school.”

“So do you.”

“Sleep.”

“Tell me a bedtime story.”

“Jane,” you whine, rolling over away from her, because she sure wasn't going to stop. “Sleep.”

*

*

*

“Where the fuck are my shoes,” Noah says, as he stumbles around trying to find his things.

You should've folded the laundry last night. Instead, it was a pile on the floor, clean, but a mess. You had parent teacher conferences today, and of course you were rushing at the last minute. Between finishing a paper for sociology and ditching class because of the conference and it's not like your statistics professor took roll call, you were still in a towel, freshly showered.

“Check the hall closet. I told Jane to clean last night and I'm like one hundred percent sure she just stuffs everything in that closet. Dan's right, we're fucking her up by spoiling her too much.” You search the pile of clothes for a nice dress. Was that right for a parent teacher conference? You were 18, what did you know? Besides, you were like guardian adjacent. Not a parent.

“Okay,” Noah replies when you hear the door open and why can't you find any clean underwear, you just did laundry this is insane and you have like five minutes to leave or you will be late, “but why'd she only put away one shoe?”

“Don't goblins only steal left shoes or something,” you reply, finding clean underwear but giving up on the bra. You'd go with a blue and white plaid dress. It wasn't too revealing for school even if it was one of those back of the closet dresses you never actually wore.

You slip your underwear on under the towel as Noah reappears in jeans and a t- shirt, freshly shaved. “What if they ask too many questions?”

“They won't,” you wave off. “And if they do we can just lie.”

“You're a bad liar,” Noah teases, rifling around in the kitchen.

You toss the towel aside, trying incredibly hard to act cool and calm when you weren't anything but, as you go to pull the dress over your head. It's not like you were flashing him. You sleep next to Noah every night.

But then why did you feel so flustered right then. “Am not!” You squawk indignantly, turning over to look at him as your dress goes over your head and your boobs are no longer hanging out for the world to see (there was a point to curtains after all).

Noah goes bright pink when he realizes your half naked in the living room, as if he hasn't slept next to you for close to a year now but then again, you used to sleep in an old shirt and underwear and now you've got matching pjs because Noah and yeah you should probably do something about that like you had wanted to since the party ages ago now but there had been Redfield and Noah admitting he was in a terrible headspace and it wasn't the time and now. . .you brush the thought aside for now. You roll your eyes (because your cool and calm even if your heart’s beating erratically) and grab your purse, before joking, “so are you going to get a haircut or are you going to do the man bun thing.”

Noah groans, “Jane told me I looked like homeless dog.”

“Ouch,” You laugh, “when she say that?”

“She woke me up again last night but I got her to go to her bed this time.” He admits as you walk to Jane’s school.

“Again?” Fuck maybe she was having nightmares after all. “It has to be nightmares, but. . .” you trail off.

“I don't know,” Noah shrugs, “she says she doesn't remember. Just wakes up. But like why else would she keep waking up if it's not nightmares,” he frowns.

“Do you think they could be,” you purse your lips before continuing not wanting to be the one to bring it up but you sort of had too, “you think it's redfield related.”

“I really don't know,” he says, looking over at you with a sad smile.

Smiling softly, you squeeze his hand as you wait for the white pedestrian sign, “hey, she's got us. She'll be fine.”

Which makes you think about how Andy was right. You were such a mom. Had you mom-zoned yourself? That was good, you'd have to text that to Andy later.

Then you sigh, realizing that if you had a nightmare back then, your parents wouldn't have even been home for you to wake up. There had been weeks spent at Pine Springs and driving over to some niche science conference in Rochester or over to New Haven for a lecture.

“What,” Noah asks, intertwining your fingers with his as you cross the street.

“Just realizing how shitty my parents were,” you offer with a sad smile. What could you do about it now? You'd grown up.

“Just now,” Noah quips with a smirk.

You roll your eyes, “shut up.”

Jane’s teacher, an older black woman who's style leans close to Lily's own preppy academic choices, looks at you both skeptically. “You’re here for Jane Marshall's conference?”

Both you and Noah nod.

She doesn't look reassured.

You bump Noah's knee with yours, hoping he'll say something to clear things up. Neither of you looked old enough to be her parents. You had a serious case of baby face.

“Uh,” he says, still an eighteen year old who's spent most of his life bowing down to teachers authority. You understood, still feeling strange going to the bathroom during lecture without asking for permission. “I'm Jane’s brother.”

You nudge him again when it's clear he's done taking.

“Noah,” he manages.

You roll your eyes. “We’re her guardians,” you had gone over the story hundreds of times, “their parents passed,” you look down at you lap trying to look sad, “a few months ago.”

“Oh,” Jane’s teacher, Miss Sanders, says sympathetically. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah well,” Noah trails off.

“Well Jane is a very outgoing girl,” Miss Sanders says, launching into her talk, “she's made lots of friends though sometimes getting her to be quiet during class time can be a challenge. She's at her grade level for reading and math. She does need more practice with writing longer sentences and,” she shuffles papers around, flipping through a red folder, before taking out some childish drawings. “These had me worried but in light of the loss she is going through, I think it's understandable.”

Each drawing is a variation of a theme: huge black blobs make up most of the page, with occasional stick drawings differentiated by hair color. Jane is obviously the girl with the red hair and triangle body. Redfield, she remembered something then.

Could it be subconscious?

You feel the blood leave your face as you look over at Noah. He looks just as shaken as you.

“It's normal for children going through the loss of a loved one, especially parents,” Miss Sanders tries, “to work through it in drawing and writing. But we could always let her talk to the school psychologist. Mrs. Hernandez is a wonderful child therapist.”

“Do you think it would help,” you ask, wondering if it was a good idea when Jane’s actual problem was of the supernatural variety. Maybe they would just assume that was her imagination, or her way of explaining away a loss.

“It couldn't hurt.”

You look over at Noah, slipping your hand into his, giving him an encouraging squeeze in his palm. It was his sister. It should be his call.

He pulls his hand out of yours, straightening up in the chair. “Yeah. That could be good.”

“Okay. I'll let Mrs. Hernandez know. That and make sure Jane’s reading books for AR. Her goal this year should 40 points if she wants to be part of the end of the year celebration.”

“I'll figure out where the library is,” you nod, “I'm sure she can find books while I study.”

“Sounds perfect. Any other questions.”

You look at Noah who shakes his head. He was starting to need a haircut. Even if you did like the way he looked with his hair loose.

“Alright then. It was lovely to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Marshall.”

“Oh,” heat builds up in your cheeks.

“We're not-”

“I'm not-,” you stammer, “I'm just a family friend.”

“Oh,” Miss Sander says, “I'm-sorry for assuming.”

“It's fine,” you manage, starting to leave. “Thank you. It was good to meet you.” You shake her hand, wanting to die inside.

“Nice to meet you as well,” she shakes Noah's hand and then you can finally leave.

You both hurry out the classroom, out the school.

“So that was,” Noah says, raising a brow.

“awful,” you finish. “But there were no red flags and we got free therapy out of it.”

Noah laughs, “I think we probably all need some therapy.”

“Rewatching arrested development isn't cutting it anymore,” you grin.

“I do feel like Gob most days.”

“Good,” you laugh.

“Really?”

“I don't trust people who identify with Michael. No self awareness.”

Noah laughs, “they are all horrible people.” His face becomes drawn, as he tucks loose strands of hair behind his ears. “How much do you think she remembers?”

You shrug, placing your hand on his arm. “I think it's probably bits and pieces. She did spend years and...she doesn't have nightmares? That's a good sign right? It's been months, she's not some creepy horror movie child?”

“Of course not,” he nods, looking down at you, with a frown. “She's fine. Jane's good.”

You smile shakily. “We're doing amazing. And she's happy if she hasn't stopped watching disney vlogs. No clue how we're going to swing that one if she asks.”

Noah matches you’re unsure smile, “take her to those rich people parks and call it disney.”

You snort. “It's Jane. That won't fool her.”

“It's Florida. We can just go to the beach.” He says with a shrug. “It'll be just as good.”

“Aren't there alligators though?”

Noah laughs at your expense. “Those are in the lakes and rivers.”

“Shut up. Want to go for pizza before you go to work?”

“Let's go get Indian food actually. There's this place I've been meaning to try but Jane’s-”

“Picky as fuck,” you say pointedly. “Like you used to be.”

Noah blushes. “Okay so my mom just cooked like kraft mac and cheese. That wasn't my fault.”

“And those pizza bites! I loved those,” you add, thinking back on all the sleepovers at their house as a kid. “I think when Jane came over was the only time I'd get to use peanut butter.” Your parents weren't around, but your nanny was philippina, you ate spice before kids discovered hot cheetos were delicious.

He snorts, running a hand through his hair. “We should probably get a car at some point.”

“Face it bro, we're broke. I keep wanting to tell you to get a haircut but we're broke.”

Noah raises a brow. “Fuck off. I look like post-Beatles George Harrison.”

“You wish you looked like George Harrison,” you tease.

The food was amazing. Lunch indian buffets were where it was at. And since you don't have a class right after, you offer to walk Noah to work, “I've got to walk off the food baby,” you tell him, before you head back to pick Jane up.

Noah laughs, “The malai kofta was just too good.”

“I should've stopped at three plates but buffets always make me think it's a food contest,” you admit. “My nanny would take me to this seafood buffet with her family around lunar new year and we’d spend all day there to try and eat our money's worth.” It had been your favorite holiday as a child, after your parents had decided you were old enough to be left behind, only a handful of years after they decided you were old enough to bring along with them, and you hadn't seen them even at christmas.

“Damn,” Noah says with an easy smile, “at least I had good times with my parents.” His smile is so fragile. That just means it hurt him more when things fell apart.

“I had nice times too. . .with your family.”

Noah cackles.

You cross the street to the diner he works at next to a retirement complex with what you think are the best waterfront views next to the hotels you can't afford.

It's strange.

Your entire life, Noah has been this huge part of it and you've always lived in a tiny town so you knew everyone he did and knew what he got up to just by living near him in a town of like 500 people or what felt like such a small amount, your elementary school only had one class for each grade but now you hug Noah goodbye even though he always tenses against you, as though he's unused to the physical affection and that just makes you hold him tighter, then he's heading inside and greeting people you probably will never know and he's having this whole part of his life your not a part of and one day he's going to go on and live his life without you and it hurts: watching him laugh with some waitress that's tall blonde and beautiful in a way you've never been.

It hurts but you suck it up and go pick Jane up from school.

“Don’t worry,” your friend says, holding your hand once she realizes you've been standing at the water's edge. It's warmer than you'd imagined as it laps at your bare feet.

Jane has not stopped smiling since you'd bought her a bathing suit at Target: a pink one piece with sloths. You'd been more nervous, not knowing how to swim. You also felt every single bite of pasta you'd had last night in your black bikini.

Damn Noah for being so good at cooking.

“I've got you,” Jane says, leading you out further into the water, over to where Noah's out, up to his waist and you're pretty see it's deeper than Jane is taller, but if Jane can do it-a wave, a massive looking wave comes crashing towards you both.

You don't hesitate to run away.

Noah points and laughs.

You flip him off once the wave passes, leaving your hair wet.

Jane grins. “It's okay. I won't let you drown.” She pulls you back out again, a perfectly happy water baby. She always had been fearless. And unlike you, as the water deepens, she starts to swim alongside you.

“See,” she laughs, “it's easy.” Then she pops down under.

You make it to Noah, figuring the water wasn't that crazy. No tsunami like waves to pull you out to sea and drown you.

Jane comes up for air, “I'm Jaws,” she yells at Noah, tackling his side.

“Ooof,” he says, exaggerating, “oh no, a shark, I'm. . .dead dying. . .”

Jane giggles.

“Do not,” you warn her. “I'm barely here as is.”

Noah rolls his eyes and you have a feeling there about to roast you: both of them.

“It's just a little water,” he teases.

“It's not even that deep,” Jane adds. “It's the beach!” She pops back down under the water as another wave rolls towards you.

“Fuck,” you mutter, tensing, as the wave soaks what's left of your dry hair, splashing salty water into your mouth.

Jane pops her head back up, strawberry hair plastered to her head, smiling so wide. It's November and it's still warm enough to go to the beach. Even the rain here isn't cold that way it was back home.

The world was so much bigger than Westchester.

Noah reaches his hand out to yours. You take it easily, stepping closer to him, pushing your wet hair out of your face.

He had the right idea, now looking more like the fifth beatle than a shaggy haired hippie. Less to deal with at the beach.

“You okay,” he smirks.

“Shut up. I can't swim. You know that.” You'd complained about it a hundred times as they both forced you off the pile of towels where you had planned to read through your notes. Studying, it was gross.

“You're,” Noah rolls his eyes, “it's like three feet. You're not going to drown.”

“What if,” you counter, “I trip and swallow water and drown.”

“That's not going to happen. What you can't stand up?”

“Don't,” you warn.

He smirks, “it's because you're short.”

“Asshole,” you say, smacking his bare chest. Nothing you haven't seen, you tell yourself. Act normal, you reminded yourself.

“It is!” Noah crouches down a couple inches to your height.

You roll your eyes-

-and laugh when Jane launches herself onto her brother's back.

“I'm an orca!”

Noah lets go of your hand to regain his balance. “Wow there shamu.”

Jane frowns. “Sea world is evil. Ava and I watched Blackfish.”

You vaguely remember some orca documentary that you had mostly slept through. Taking care of Jane was hard and you had fallen asleep in those early weeks whenever you got the chance.

“No seaworld then,” you shrug.

“But I do wanna go to Disneyworld. I wanna go on the star wars ride!”

“You don't even watch Star Wars,” Noah points out.

“I would if we went to Disneyworld. My birthday is coming up.”

“No it's not,” you frown. They were April babies.

“I think you mean my birthday,” Noah says playfully.”

“I was born first,” Jane yells.

“So, I'm taller.”

You roll your eyes, sinking down to your neck. The water was nice. “You better throw yourself into the water if I start drowning,” you warn Noah.

“Yeah yeah,” he says with a soft smile, “I'm not going to let you drown.”

Jane nods in agreement, “I'll kick him if he does.”

You laugh, happy to spend the days with the Marshall twins.

Bells don't ring, but the whole class knows when class is over, shoving their papers away into bags as soon as there's a minute left.

You leave English happily enough. It was a fun class, with plenty of movies and conversation that you were able to make friends in, unlike other lecture heavy classes where you had five minutes before class to talk during.

Sasha and Kevin both walk with you out of the lecture hall. “Have you started studying for the midterm,” Sasha asks, “I really don't want to write two in class essays. Multiple choice is where it's at.”

“I'd rather have an in class essay,” Kevin says, “and Professor Laux said it's just one. But he'd give us two prompts.”

You wrinkle your nose. “I love english I just hate the writing part. Or rather the long essays.”

“At least your not a computer science major,” Sasha counters, “physics is so much worse.”

“Not as bad as o chem.”

“O chem is not that bad,” Sasha counters.

You shrug, “art history major,” you grin smugly.

Kevin shakes his head, “just wait until you have to find a job.”

“Grad school. Both my parents love that shit. They'd help me pay for it.” They both had Ph.Ds.

“I wish my parents helped me pay for school,” Sasha complains again, “they are such hard asses about school but they want me to pay for everything, and live at home-can you imagine how many house parties I've missed to work at the movie theater.”

“Speaking of house parties,” Kevin pushes his glasses up his broad nose, “we're throwing this pre thanksgiving bash at my place. Beer. Snacks. Weed.”

“Shouldn't you be studying for midterms,” you ask, shaking your head. You also hadn't figured out what you were doing for the holiday. You had Jane and Noah now. It had to be special.

“Pfft. I will,” Kevin says. “You're only twenty once am I right?”

Sasha shakes her head. “Okay. But I'm stealing some weed.”

“You in?” They both look at you.

Noah's off Monday and Wednesday, when you get out too late to go pick up Jane. You can't leave her by herself, not that you would want to. You were looking forward to going to waste time at the mall and buy snacks at target: your usual Friday night.

You shake your head, “Can't. I've got Jane on the weekends. Babysitters are expensive.”

“Just tell your parents to look after your sister,” Kevin says petulantly.

You hadn't really explained things. It was complicated. Redfield had really messed up your life. Jane should be your age and going to house parties with you. But you'd have her alive in any shape or form so long as you got to see her. “Umm, actually,” you decide to explain a little, the practiced version, “her parents died a few months ago. They were-they were really close family friends and practically raised me so,” you trail off, thinking about how exactly to explain Noah. He was your best friend, a childhood friend, and. . .that was it.

“Oh shit, I'm sorry.”

“Yeah-”

“Well, if you're even able to figure it out,” Kevin says, “hit me up.”

You wave them goodbye and rush to your next class.

*

*

*

Noah's hair is still damp as he lays down on his side of the bed.

You were still going over your art history notes, wanting to go over the dates of the list of paintings you'd have to identify on tomorrow's quiz. The names were easy since styles even within art movements varied so much. It was a little harder in regulated art worlds: the buddhists of southeast asia didn't go outside their geometric ratios.

“You've been studying all day,” Noah says with a yawn. He no longer smelled like burnt oil.

“Yeah, I have a quiz.” You're sitting cross legged on your side of the bed. “It's on art identification.”

“That's what googles for,” he snarks back.

It was past midnight. Jane had been asleep for three hours.

“Smart ass.” You shut your notebook. The numbers had started swimming in your eyes a while ago. Nothing more was going to stick in your brain.

You turn off the light on your side.

“You're the smart one,” Noah laughs, “I'm just an asshole.”

“Oh,” you smile in the dark, highly aware of his body laying next to you, carefully keeping your leg from brushing against his skin. “You're self aware too!”

“Dick.”

“Takes one to know one.”

You lay in silence, listening to the sounds outside your windows, the cars passing by even at this hour, Noah breathing next to you. It was soothing, having people you loved with you. It wasn't lonely being home all the time.

Noah shifts onto his side: facing you.

You stare up at the ceiling, black from the curtains pulled right even as the window let the breeze in. It had been raining the past few days, but the cold days don't hold a candle to Westchester this time of year.

“Thank you.”

“For what,” you ask, smiling freely.

“What do you mean,” he pitches his voice higher, “for what? For everything.”

You giggle. “I haven't done much.”

Noah's tone is dead serious the next time he speaks. “You didn't have to help . . .with Jane. I don't know how I would've made it work without you, so yeah. Thank you. I didn't even ask-I wouldn't have asked you to give up college and partying-”

You have to stop him right there. “I didn't give shit up Noah.” He could be so dumb sometimes. If he had just told you Jane was Redfield, you would've helped him from day one to save her. But there was no point in bringing that up: just more salt in the wound. “And you didn't have to ask me: I wasn't just going to let you flounder alone. I wanted to-I wanted to be with you and Jane. That was never a question.” Heat flares up in the skin of your cheeks and nose as you smile, before you turn onto your side, looking over at Noah in the dark.

You can't really see him at all.

Thank fuck.

It's bad enough that you feel so flustered you might explode from the emotions swirling about in your chest. You don't know what to do about Noah, about your feelings for him.

Months ago, you would've just bitten the bullet and kissed him, but he'd also opened up about not feeling ready at all about relationships and you will not fuck things up for either of you. It had been easy with Connor when all the lights were green as he was clearly into you and responded right back.

It had been light and a way to not think about the terror of your day to day life for a few moments.

But it wasn't Connor you thought about so much your skin got all hot as you looked out the window during lecture.

You swallow thickly, squashing those feelings into some back corner of your mind.

“Thank you though, I don't know what I would have done without you.”

“Don't be dumb. It's getting rid of me that'll be hard.” You could admit now, “Now that I know what it's like to have people in the house to kill spiders, I'm never leaving,” you felt lonely in your childhood house all through high school.

“I don't think Jane would let you leave.” Noah laughs.

“True,” you sigh. “it's nice not to come home to an empty house.”

“Our childhoods were so messed up,” he replies softly.

“It's like the gift that never stops giving. But hey, who cares. I have you two and my parents monthly deposits-and FAFSA!” You laugh, because what else could you do, wallow in self deprecating angst like Noah? You weren't sure you could beat him at his own game. “As far as I'm concerned, you're my family now. . .both of you.”

“When did you become a walking talking greeting card?”

“Asshole.”

Noah laughs.

It's a sound you love. For so long, it had been so rare. It warms you up, blots out all the horrible shit you've gone through and makes everything okay.

You fall asleep smiling.

*

*

*

Sasha settles in your ikea bland table with her bag full of notebooks and textbooks. “I wish I had my own place.”

Next week was finals.

Next week was going to kick your ass.

Matthew looks up from his calculus solutions manual for the first time in an hour, “it really depends on the roommates, mine eat all my snacks.”

“Hide them in your room,” you suggest, opening your computer up to the study guide the TA had sent out last week. “With your underwear or something.”

Jane giggles as she watches spongebob on the TV. Fourth graders had it easy. The upcoming winter break meant Jane was practically doing arts and crafts all week.

You open up a notebook to a fresh page as you write down all the key items from the study guide, underlining key items. You wanted to knock the art essays out of the park. It wasn't as easy to bullshit those as it was to make up themes for an english paper.

Fuck, you were already pretty much done with a semester at college.

Jane had almost been back for over a year.

“Can I see your midterm,” Sasha asks, “I want to see what comments you got.”

You fish it out from your binder. “Go for it.”

Matthew looks up from his pages worth of calculus, “I hate math. I should've just done an anthropology major.”

“Sucks to be an overachiever,” you snark, annotating your notes with a pink gel pen. You had never cared to study much in high school, but a major you actually cared for made all the difference in the world. You wanted museums and van goghs and the asmr of cleaning paintings like in youtube videos.

“I didn't think double majoring would be like this,” Matthew sighs. “I haven't slept in three years.”

Sasha shakes her head, “just go for the one you like the most.”

“So I can be unemployed with tons of student debt?”

“Or get that grant money,” you wiggle your eyebrows. It was what your parents were up to.

“That would mean a PhD,” he complains, but doesn't look completely turned off by the idea. “And I could put off figuring my life out for another four years. . .”

Sasha laughs, flipping through flash cards with a bunch of arrows and equations written on them. Physics.

Intro to Biology was so much easier. You practically only had to remember high school biology and read through the study guide a few times. You could remember the difference between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells.

Sasha suggests ordering Pizza hut as Jane starts asking for food and you feel like yeah, a study break sounds good.

“Four hours is the max people can concentrate for,” Matthew says, as he eats a third slice of pizza.

“So we're done for the day,” Sasha asks, getting up to stretch, and joining Jane on the couch. She'd been an angel, sort of, content to just watch tv all afternoon as you studied. Sure, she'd raised the volumes to movie theater standards every half an hour, but other than that-an angel.

“If you're good for the day.” You were nervous. You didn't want to be a C student anymore. You wanted to try. Surely you had inherited some of your parents brain cells.

“I am,” Sasha admits. “I've been studying every day for four hours. My brain has melted.”

“Honestly,” Matthew says, “I just started studying. The semester seemed so long.”

“Same though bro,” You grin. “All the tests and quizzes went right out of my mind as soon as I was done.”

Sasha shakes her head. “Well, I'm taking a slice for the road. See you around.” She leaves.

Jane joins you and Matthew at the table, licking the pizza grease off her fingers. “I like Noah's pizza better.”

You wince. A cook you were not. “Well, he's working.”

“I know.”

“Noah?” Matthew says, clearly a question.

“My brother,” Jane says flippantly. “They sleep together.”

You're face burns; you want the earth to swallow you whole right then and there. “We live together,” you explain to Matthew who looks more confused. “Jane go watch TV.”

She sends an annoyed look at you, before running off.

“Noah's her brother. They're family friends-” you explain lamely.

“You don't have to explain anything to me,” Matthew says sweetly. “It's your business.”

“Yeah,” you push your hair behind your ears, feeling out of whack. Matthew was cute, but it wasn't like you wanted to jump his bones. He made sociology bearable. “Can you look over my paper? I'm still not sure I got the sources incorporated right-”

“Yeah. Sure. I didn't know sociology 101 would include writing research papers.”

“Everything was going good until I remembered we had that paper due,” Matthew agrees.

You study for another hour, mostly giving each other feedback on your research paper. “It would've helped if he'd given us examples,” you mutter.

“Right.”

Jane tugs on your arm. “Come play with me,” ignoring your classmate entirely.

“Yeah. Sure,” you smile tiredly. You were at your study limit. “Want to call it a night,” you ask Matthew who nods and grabs his things.

Jane scrutinizes him the entire time. She puts her hands on top of the empty pizza box.

“I don't like him,” she pouts, “He's boring. Who studies?”

“Boring college students,” you laugh. “He's fine. We have sociology together. We're also taking english literature pre 1800s together next semester. It was that or latin literature which sounds really pretentious.”

Jane giggles. “Let's play uno!”

“Okay, but just one game. You still have to take a shower before bed.”

“I don't want to take a shower,” Jane protests, “I want to be a horrible reeking troll! Rawr!” She chases you around the living room.

You burst out laughing, letting her tackle you to the floor. It was easy to forget how stressed out you were about finals when you had Jane.

*

*

*

You take deep breaths as you scramble to find your sneakers. It got cold in lecture halls.

Noah makes coffee, “you're going to do fine.”

“I'm going to fail and flunk out of university and my parents are going to hate me forever and i'll never get a job and take Jane to disney world,” you groan, slumping at the counter with a hand on your forehead. You should've studied all night. Why had you bothered going to sleep?

Noah pours you a tumbler full of coffee, with the hazelnut creamer that basically turned the coffee into a hot chocolate, “you've been studying all week. You might not be Lucas levels of 110% on a rest but you're going to do great. I know it,” he says with a genuine smile.

You blush. “I hope all the studying has worked. I've never tried this hard in school.”

“Yeah,” Noah nods with a soft smile. “High school sucked.”

“It did.” You take a sip of your coffee, hoping to steady your nerves.

He looks good in the morning light, before it's too hot to exist. Winter in florida meant temperatures in the low 70s, laughably temperate. Noah's wearing the same boxers he'd gone to sleep in, with a soft worn in grey t-shirt, and a serious case of bed head as his hair curls around his ears in the most adorable mop top.

If you didn't have finals to head to, this would be the perfect morning.

“You're going to do amazing sweetie,” Noah chuckles in the dickish way of his.

You snort, shaking your head. “Fuck yeah I will.”

“That's the spirit.”

You shove your feet into your beat up vans, grab your backpack. “See you later,” you smile at Noah.

“Yeah, good luck,” he says, putting his mug of coffee down on the counter and leaning down. One second he's smiling down at you, and in the next one he's pressing his lips against yours.

Holy fuck.

Your eyes widen.

Was this really happening, or were you just that tired.

“Shit,” Noah stammers, pulling away quickly. “I-”

You raise a brow, “What-”

“It was an accident. Sorry.” Noah steps back, running a hand through his hair, pink up to the tips of his ears.

You feel a bit like a deflated balloon. “What even was that?” Because what it seemed like was like he'd kissed you but-how do you accidentally kiss someone. No-this was way too much for you to dea with at the moment.

“I just-nothing. Just forget it,” Noah says. “I'm going back to sleep.”

“See you later,” you try, feeling all messed up. Had he wanted to kiss you? Was this you messing up for the both of you?

You wish you could call Lily right now, but you had a final to get to.

*

*

*

It's Christmas day, technically.

Jane's been asleep for hours and Noah's taking a bite out of the cookies laid out for Santa as you watch it's a wonderful life trying to puzzle out how this was a Christmas classic. It was boring.

Things had been so awkward with Noah as of late, as you both danced around the kiss, that you had let Jane talk you into a sleepover in her room almost every night. There was no way you could lay there next to Noah and not think yourself to death. Absolutely no way.

You had wrapped up her gifts in baby yoda christmas themed wrapping paper: an assortment of more clothes because Jane really didn't have much considering she had basically popped into life a year ago, random books you remembered liking in elementary and middle school, and toys that you had definitely splurged on including a two hundred dollar set of legos that you looked forward to building with her. It had been hard to keep it secret from her when you all spent the majority of your time together. Stacey had sent a big care package for all of you. Lily had sent gifts through the post office. Lucas’ contribution was a few amazon packages.

All your friends had sent something.

It was touching, considering the distance. You couldn't wait to see them again-Ava wanted to visit in the summer.

You flip the channel, deciding Full House reruns were better.

“Not Full House,” Noah groans, turning the kitchen light off.

“Let me guess. You're a Die Hard fan?”

“Best christmas movie,” he grins.

You shake your head. He could be such a guy. And just like that, the tension between you two dissipates. “No way. The Grinch is the best. The 2001 one anyway.”

You click the side table lamp off.

Noah sits down next to you as you flick through the channels, trying to find something to watch. “Bob's burgers?”

“Sounds good.”

It's dark. The volume’s on low. You're all curled up in bed, and Noah's not being weird-it helps that you're trying to be chill about it.

“How did your finals go?”

“Well I didn't flunk out,” you shrug. “I got a C in sociology but a B in everything else.” It was fine. It's not like you were a sociology major.

“I told you you'd do good.”

“Yeah,” you sigh, laying down entirely, ignoring the tv. “I just figured all the studying would...I don't know, mean I'd get straight As?”

“It's college-isn't it supposed to be like super hard or whatever,” Noah says with a shrug.

“I guess.” You just wished you were that kind of student. Even seeing how hard the effort was on Lucas’ mental health, maybe your parents might visit if you did get straight As. It was dumb. “I just figured my parents might pay attention if I did get all As.”

“Fuck your parents,” he says easily.

You snort. “Shut up. They pay like half the rent.”

“The least they could do.”

“Yeah,” you sigh. “Did you ever want to go to college? You know like when we had to write colleges letters in fifth grade, or was it sixth?”

“Naw. School was never my thing,” Noah says in the quiet of the night.

You smile softly, tilting your head so you're looking at him, the moonlight illuminating the angles of his jaw as it poured in through the windows. “Then it was always culinary school for you?”

He shrugs. “Yeah-I mean,” he closes his eyes, thinking silently. “I'm a little too dumb for school. I could never get the whole trig thing or what Shakespeare was saying let alone the subtext.”

You sit up. “Shut up,” you state, slapping his bicep lightly. “Don't say that shit.”

“It's true.”

You shift, closer to his side of the bed, closer to him still lying there staring up at the ceiling, not meeting your searching gaze. “You're not dumb. Noah-you are not dumb. You're so fucking smart-who remembered to buy toilet paper and figured out how to rent an apartment?”

“You can google that shit,” he says, covering his face with his hand, embarrassed.

“And cooking takes skill. Maybe it's not mensa harvard type smarts, but it's not nothing!” You just wanted him to see himself the way you did. You're sitting up on your knees now, as his expressive wide eyes meet yours, a dark romantic brown you could drown in, staring down at him. “Say it! Say you're smart and clever and amazing!”

“I'm not saying that,” he laughs off.

“Say, I'm fucking smart and I can do anything,” you repeat, nudging his chest.

Noah smiles and it does all sorts of things to you, makes your pulse race as heat winds its way all hot under your skin, all hot and bothered and feeling giddy like a dumbass and you never meet someone who felt like home the way it is with Noah. “I'm fucking smart,” he says quietly, rolling his eyes, “and I can do anything.”

“We're going to have to work on that,” you laugh, belatedly realizing you're almost on top of him. Well, you are on top of him, you're knees are by his waist, but you're leaning over him and fuck you want him. The way he's laying there under you, looking like the sun shines out of your ass, it's thrilling.

“We will,” Noah says, wiggling his brows in a way that has you laughing into his chest.

Then you're looking up at him, unable to catch your breath, because you can't stop laughing and it's not like you're particularly comedic but-fuck it, you lean up and kiss him. It's what you've been itching to do since the party at-fuck, you don't even remember, but you remember finding him there and realizing he's what you had been missing, the reason you didn't feel like being there until you sat by the pool with him.

He's Noah and you're you and there's not a version of you that doesn't love him to bits; there's not a version of you that doesn't go with him to face the monster and rescue Dan and would give your life for him and Jane. Always. Because he's Noah-

You lean down and kiss him, trying to communicate the depth of this feeling.

It wasn't some crush.

Or some drunken affair at a house party.

You kiss his lips with a dizzying fever that burns hot under your skin as desire builds in the pit of your stomach: a bundle of nerves sparking to life. And he kisses you back, his hand cupping your cheek. His thumb rubbing circles into your skin.

You tremble under his gentle touch, afraid that this too would disappear in your hands. You were so used to losing: to getting nothing.

Noah stares up wide eyed at you when you pull away.

You bite your bottom lip.

“I-,” he stutters.

“I've really been wanting to do that for a long time,” you confess.

“Me too.”

You swallow thickly at his confession. “Then it wasn't...it wasn't an accident,” you ask carefully.

Noah shakes his head once. “No. That-I just, I didn't want to mess up something good just because I wanted something more.” He looks so heartbroken in that second-

“Noah,” you sigh gently. “I was surprised and thinking about school but I've-I would've kissed you then if my head hadn't been so far up my own ass.”

He snorts, the line of his shoulders relaxing under your hands. “After what happened- I was lucky that you even wanted to talk to me at all. I didn't think you'd want anything to do with me and then I thought it was just for Jane,” Noah admits painfully.

“I've always loved you.” You tell him. “And I'm going to keep telling you until it gets through that thick skull of yours.”

Noah chuckles.

“So are we on the same page?”

He rakishly raises a brow with a shit eating grin on his lips, “I don't know, are you gonna kiss me again?”

You vow to wipe that look off his face as you do more than press your lips hungrily against his, your hands against his chest as you shift once more, situating yourself and getting comfortable straddling his waist with your legs. You press hard kisses to his mouth as Noah kisses you back with the same fervor; you nibble on his bottom lip, bringing it between your teeth.

It's an exercise in breathlessness, a mexican stand-off in which both sides are ready and happy to pull the trigger because of the rush of blood to your head as you taste him on your lips. It's intoxicating the way in which he kisses your mouth and you forget the need to breathe.

But you, smiling against the skin of his jaw as you catch your breath. His chest rises and falls under your hands as he laughs giddily, feeling as crazy as you do.

It's not that epic romeo and juliet love that burns and destroys, but the fullness in your heart as you lay there with him.

You plant kisses down his jaw, savoring the hitches in his breath as you nip on the skin at the crook of his neck. “Is this okay,” you ask wickedly.

“Fuck,” Noah utters, voice breaking as he sucks in air. “Yeah-”

He cups your cheek with his hand and leads you up, brings you back where he can kiss you again. Noah kisses you-he lets himself kiss you. His tongue experimentally whetting against your all too willing lips before your mouth opens up to him and it's clear in the clumsy way he's eager to explore your mouth--the boy has no idea what he's doing.

It's fine.

You smile against his mouth, taking charge and running your tongue against his. Reaching for his free hand and guiding it, inviting him to explore the shape of your body in an oversized t-shirt and tiny booty shorts that you wouldn't even take the trash out in.

Noah does, clasping your hips with his hand as you binch up the fabric of his shirt in your hands as you lose yourself in kissing him, in drinking him in like a comfort series you could endlessly rewatch.

You're both breathless, as you lay your head down on his chest, content.

“That was,” Noah says all out of sorts, “wow.”

“Guess you're going to be the next great american writer,” you tease.

He rolls his eyes, running his hand up your side.

“Hey,” you continue, relaxing into his touch, “Hemingway was a man of few words.”

“Was he the alcoholic one?”

“I think a lot of writers were,” you admit. “I tried to read his whale book but it was boring as fuck.”

“Moby Dick,” Noah says thoughtfully, “did Hemingway write Moby Dick?”

“Who cares,” you reply, pressing a kiss against the edge of his lips, fine with spending the wee hours of the morning making out with Noah.

“Well now I want to know.”

“Really,” you tease, bringing your hand up, running your fingers through his soft hair.

His eyes close. Noah leans into your touch. “I'll google it later.”

You giggle.

Then he’s kissing you again and you could care less about books and long dead writers. Noah captures your lips with his and you intertwine your fingers in his hair, a hand on his chest, wondering what it would feel like to have his bare skin against yours and caught between the enormity of your want and letting things happen naturally. It was Noah. You didn’t want to rush him.

You were still amazed he’d kissed you back,that he wanted you the same way you wanted him. The love had never been the point of contention between you two. You loved him at nine and you loved him at nineteen.

Noah losses some of his hesitation, his hands sliding down your side until they reach the swell of your hips straddling his waist. Then his hand slips under the fabric of your shirt and you moan into his mouth at the sensation of his fingers splayed against to taunt muscles of your abdomen.

It’s just flaring want consuming you whole.

“Is that,” Noah manages between bated breaths, “okay?”

You kind of want to shake his shoulders and say shut up and keep going, because you might just combust in the next few minutes if he keeps going like this, this clumsy tenderness mixed with the assault of his body discovering yours. “Yeah,” you stammer out, more feeling than young woman. “Great actually.”

Noah chuckles, trailing kisses down your neck as you lean back a little, before pulling away. . .before pulling your shirt over your head.

He sucks in a breath at the sight of your naked torso.

You can’t help the headyness in your chest at his reaction, at the way you were affecting him. “Like what you see,” you grin, all brash confidence that threatened to topple over like a house of cards at every turn, at the shift of his body under yours.

For once, Noah doesn’t have some smartass comment, just reaches his hands to your cheeks and pulls you down flush against him.

Fuck.

You kiss him feverishly, your hands finding the hem of his shirt as running yours fingers against the sliver of skin.

Noah moans into your mouth and you swear you can’t even function at the sound. The entire world is boiled down to you and him, him and you, and building pressure in your belly that threatens to explode.

“The shirt-,” you stutter out, half out of your mind.

“Yeah,” he obliges, sitting up and tugging it off.

And then you’re melting against him, the warmth of his skin against yours. Your breasts flush against his bare chest. Your toes curl up as you sigh, hands clutching at his neck, at his cheek, at the ends of his hair.

You kiss his jaw, you suck on the skin of his jaw and none of it is enough. Fuck, you want him so bad. You’re so fucking horny. It’s not like you’d been with a lot of people. But it had been over a year since your last sexual encounter.

And that might explain part of it-

Noah cups one of your breast with the palm of his hand, and fuck-

Your mind blanks as you moan his name. “Noah,” you whimper.

He kisses your collarbone, smiling against your skin.

“Do you want to-,” he asks, sounding more self assured by the word.

“Yes, yes,” you eagerly answer, kissing him hungrily. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Noah laughs breathlessly.

Then he’s whimpering as you run your fingers under the waistband of his boxers.

His hand closes around your wrist before you can get further, “condom?”

“Fuck,” you swear. This was so unsexy of you both. But it wasn’t like you had a reason to buy condoms along with pads and fruit snacks. “I think I have one,” you vaguely remember there being one in your wallet.

“I really hope you do.”

“Jerk.”

With great reluctance, you crawl off him to go look for your purse. You had to stop throwing it wherever and hang it up. It would've made it easier to find right now.

You don’t look back at Noah, even though you can feel his heavy gaze on you. The airs filled with static electricity as you rifle around and find the slim black bag.

It’s another few minutes of fishing through its contents before you find the thin small envelope that you were pretty sure you’d gotten in health or at planned parenthood at some point. Ava had definitely been there.

When you turn around, Noah’s sat up in bed, in your bed, in the bed you two share, have shared for months. It’s too dark to make out the expression on his features from this distance, but it’s under his dark eyes that you make your way back to him.

You push your shorts and underwear down in one go, discarding them by the side of the bed, taking care not to lose the condom (you were going on another target run asap) before you’re once again straddling his waist, feeling Noah already hard under your thigh.

“I’ve,” he starts as you sit up on your knees, feeling incredibly vulnerable. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Oh.” You’re off kilter. Does he not want to? It’s fine. You’re just surprised. It’s Noah. He’s tall and funny even if you want to strangle him half the time --he can cook-- and he’s so fucking hot when he’s not being adorkable. You’re surprised. “We don’t. . .have to.”

He sits up under you. “No. It’s,” Noah blushes, “I want to, it’s just-you should know?”

“Oh. Okay,” you lean in, kissing him with a tenderness he deserves in spades, “if you’re sure.”

Noah grasps your hips in his hands, pulling you in, “I’m sure.”

He kisses you.

You push him down onto the bed by his shoulders. His eyes are full of trust as he looks up at you, full of love like the moon on a clear night. You carefully open the condom up.

Noah shimmies his boxers off.

And because you’re you, you reach down and stroke his cock with your hand.

He shuts his eyes, moaning your name as he throws his head back into the bed, his back arching.

You wait a moment for him to still underneath you, before you roll the condom onto his cock, letting your desire carry your through as you fumble a bit. Again, you didn’t exactly have much experience on Noah. You just had some experience.

You lean down flush against him, kissing his lips, as you guide his cock to the apex of your thighs and part your legs, moaning into his mouth as he enters your soaked entrance. Noah stretches you out, leaving you a trembling mess, faring no better than he currently was under you, as his hips thrust against you and you-fuck!

It’s a tangle of limbs as you wrap your arms around him, lacing your fingers behind his neck, wanting more, and more as your hips more erratically against his.

Noah is all kisses and moans and his fingers bruising the skin of your hips as he presses you closer against him.

You don’t really know or care about anything but the feel of his cock inside you, as he thrusts with fervor, and clutches you near. You just want and want and stars dance across your eyelids as your skin catches fire, the heat in your belly finally boiling over as you fuck him, grinding your hips against his.

You splutter, reaching your climax while topping the boy you’ve been in love with for what might as well be your whole life. It’s just your strained voice, repeating his name, “Noah,” like it’s an answer to the whole meaning of life bullshit.

Good.

Bad.

It always comes back to him.

Noah.

He comes against you a second later, your name a sharp breath on his lips, before he goes as boneless as you feel. You’re on cloud fucking nine.

It’s a feeling no amount of weed can come close to.

Exhausted, you get off of him, slumping into a puddle on the bed. Fucking Florida. You were too hot and sweaty to curl under the blankets now.

“I fucking love you.”

“Oh,” you snipe back, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, “now that I’ve fucked you you tell me.”

“Shut up,” Noah manages. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go toss the condom.”

He sits up slowly, “oh this episode’s my favorite.”

You’d completely forgotten about Bob’s Burgers reruns playing on the TV.

*

*

*

It’s New Year’s Eve and the three of you are eating ice cream on the beach. Only in Florida.

“And why can’t I go in the water?”

“Because you don’t have your bathing suit,” Noah tells Jane for the hundredth time.

“I promise I’ll just stick my feet in.”

“I’ve heard that one before,” you shake your head.

She frowns. “I promise!”

What the heck. It’s not like you were going anywhere else after this. “Okay. But you have to finish your ice cream first.”

“Wow,” Noah says, throwing his arm around your shoulder and leaning his weight against you, making you stumble in the sand. “What a pushover.”

“Me!” You reply, offended. “You let her stay home for no reason.”

The twins exchange glances. “She had chickenpox,” Noah shrugs shamelessly.

“And I’m the Queen of England.”

“Korean skincare does miracles.”

You roll your eyes at him, “shut up.”

Jane giggles easily as she decides this patch of sand is the one, and sits down, licking her rocky road ice cream happily.

“Jane,” you ask gently.

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember why you’re ten and we’re not?” It had been bugging you, ever since the parent teacher conference. There had been no more nightmares since September, but it bothered you, that she might remember anything. That Jane might not want to tell you. You couldn’t help her if she didn’t tell you.

She shrugs. “Not really,” with a child’s ability to shrug things off.

Noah asks the question you’ve been dreading. “Do you remember Redfield?”

Jane looks at you both, frowning. “Who?”

Your shoulders sag with relief. You hide it with a bite of your ice cream cone. Jane had a habit of picking up on things.

“No one important,” Noah brushes off, running a hand through his hair.

“You guys are being weird,” Jane complains. “Is this about you two being gross together? I saw you holding hands.” She narrows her eyes at you accusingly. “Don’t you remember boys have cooties.” She shakes her head. “Grown ups.”

“Jane,” Noah squeaks.

You laugh, covering your mouth with the back of your hand. “Yeah. We thought you should know.” It was better to leave the whole Redfield business behind. She didn’t need that shit weighing her down. “I don’t know. I like your brother a lot for some reason. Ava says it’s trauma induced codependency but she’s Ava so. . .”

Jane frowns again, letting the ice cream drip onto the sand as she thinks. “Does that mean I’m getting a sister?”

It’s your turn to be flabbergasted, as your skin reddens into a ripe tomato. “What!”

“It’s only fair,” she explains. “If you get my brother then I should get a new sister.”

“How about a stuffed animal,” you barter.

“You let me play five Nights at Freddies?”

“No way Jane,” Noah says, shaking his head. “It’ll give you nightmares.”

“What about minecraft,” you try. “Just on Fridays though.”

“Okay. i don’t want my ice cream anymore. I want to go play in the water.”

You nod, kicking your shoes off. “Okay yeah. Let’s go throw it away. I’m sick of mine too.”

You toss the ice cream and race Jane into the waves.

[maine-writes]

Vonvon's Space Adventure, Part 2

"When we heard that you needed to be sat upon, we were all so excited to offer our services." said White Diamond as she sat at her extremely large command seat.

Vonvon looked around at all the gems diligently working at their posts, operating the strange space vessel. A large screen on the front wall revealed the vast void of space, the silvery light of passing stars streaking through it like lines of bright paint. They were hoping that the Diamonds knew that they weren't supposed to literally sit on them, but was also hoping that they'd never have to explain why a certain weird Mayor of Beach City would leap at the opportunity to be "sat upon".

It wasn't long before they arrived on Homeworld, one of the perks of developing faster-than-light travel. The child marveled at the sight on the viewscreen; a glowing, alien world with two rings of satellites and crystalline fragments. Patches of green, pink, yellow, blue, and white illuminated the world. In Vonvon's eyes, the world seemed alive.

When they landed on a hovering, crystalline platform, Vonvon and White Diamond were greeted by the sight of a group of waving Quartz soldiers.

"Beginning with Era 3," White Diamond began, "All Gems were free to pursue whatever lives they desired, and we Diamonds nurtured and encouraged a sense of curiosity and self-worth in all Gems. Some chose to explore the greater universe, others were curious about the world called Earth, whilst others chose to remain on Homeworld to help it heal and grow."

As the pair approached the happy Quartz guards, Vonvon could hear a faint, but growing, yell in the distance. Zipping through the crowd, Spinel appeared.

"Vonvon!" cried the excited pink Gem as she wrapped her rubber hose arms around the small child. "It's been so long! How've you been? How's Steven? La gasp! How's Connie and Steven, about time they get some alone time together, huh?"

It was nice to see Spinel again.

"Now, now Spinel." White Diamond intervened, plucking the small Gem and seperating her from the suffocating child. "You will get your chance to catch up with Vonvon. But we must bring them to Blue and Yellow, after all, they worked so hard to make their stay as comfortable as possible."

"Right, right, right." Spinel yapped. "I'll bring them to them!"

"I'll make sure their chambers are prepared." said the Diamond.

"Will that be the nice chamber or the bad chamber?" Spinel asked.

"The newly refurbished chamber."

"Oh right, the old bad chamber. It's so nice."

Spinel led Vonvon down a yellow, crystalline road that floated over a sea of strange trees. Ahead of them was a large, yellow pyramid.

"What's with the trees?" inquired the child.

"Ever since things have started changing around here, the Gems here have been trying to fix the world." Spinel explained, "The Diamonds thought Homeworld was dead, but with the help of our favorite Peridot, we found that it was just sleeping."

"Does anything live down there?"

Spinel then grimly grabbed ahold of Vonvon's shoulders, peering into their soul with bloodshot eyes.

"Dark things lurk in among the trees, Vonnie." whispered the Gem. "It comes at night, stealing away unsuspecting Gems, leaving only dust and shards."

"Really?"

"Pfft! No!" Spinel laughed. "Kid, nothing can live down there. But we're looking into introducing wildlife from old colonies. There was one world your parents went to before you were born that we're looking at."

As they approached the giant pyramid, the outline of doors seemed to manifest in the outer wall, sliding apart to allow them inside.

"So this is where Yellow Diamond lives?" Vonvon wondered aloud.

"It's one of her estates." said Spinel. "She has a ton of them, but this was her old military command center. She's thinking of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast."

"I thought Gems don't eat." Vonvon noted.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Spinel asked.

"Nevermind."

Maybe it was best not to explain. Not yet.

The crystalline halls were frequented by a variety of Gems, each running a different errand. Vonvon noticed that most were carrying bags and picnic baskets, a strange sight on a world of sentient rocks that do not eat.

"Hey, XJ9!" Spinel called out to a passing Jasper. "Can ya tell Yellow we're here?"

The muscular soldier gave her a thumbs up before running through a crowd of exasperated Gems.

"What's up with everyone?" Vonvon asked.

"Oh, they're getting lunch ready."

"Lunch?"

Inside a former colony planning room, Yellow Diamond and an army of Gems frantically worked to prepare Vonvon's afternoon lunch and that evening's dinner. On the menu, for lunch, they had planned a simple chicken salad sandwich. However, they had no idea what a chicken, a salad, or a sandwich was.

"My Diamond!" Yellow Pearl cried, "It's the chickens!"

"I thought I sent a contingent of soldiers to capture them!" Yellow Diamond boomed, brushing the flour off her cheek.

"That's just it." The ever loyal Pearl continued to explain. "When we contacted them for an update, all we received as screaming and clucking."

Yellow Diamond sat in what was once the command seat, lowering her contemplative face behind her hands.

"So, it's war then."

Every Gem in the room stopped to turn to their Diamond, some even dropping whatever was in their hands.

"B-But my Diamond." Yellow Pearl began.

"No." Said the Diamond. "I know we promised to denounce our old ways with the beginning of Era 3. But this is for Steven's child. We. Will. Not. Fail."

"Yes, my Diamond." Yellow Pearl said, bowing with the old Diamond salute. The other Gems in the room followed suit.

"Looks like they have everything under control here." Spinel said. The pair were standing in the doorway, watching the militaristic scene of valor and dedication unfolding before them.

Then Yellow Diamond noticed them.

"Oh, hello Vonvon!" she said, waving over to them. "Lunch will be ready shortly."

She then turned her attention back to the matter at hand, ordering her Gems to prepare for war within her own pyramid. As if clockwork, the dozens of Gems split up into ordered groups, armed with whatever kitchen equipment they could get their hands on.

"Let's go check up on Blue." Spinel recommended.

They were now walking upon a blue road leading to a very blue pyramid. Vonvon thought about how easy it must be to get around, since everything was conveniently color coded.

"Blue Diamond's been researching human entertainment." explained the pink Gem. "That way, you won't be bored. I volunteered, but Blue thought it would be best that you enjoy some variety."

But as they approached the pyramid, a wave of blue color emanated from inside. When it flooded over Spinel, tears began to well up in her eyes.

"Ah, she's still at it." said the Gem, apparently unfazed by the sudden bout of crying.

"At what?"

Inside the pyramid, all was dark, save for the massive, flickering viewscreen on the upper part of a far wall. Dozens of Gems were watching the screen diligently, Blue Diamond included. On this screen was a scene from the somewhat recently released film, The Revengers 4: Finale.

The specific scene was near the end, with the death of the Armored Avenger, who sacrificed himself to save the world from the terrible Hades, the Inevitable God.

"You can rest now." Blue Diamond whispered, tears running down her face.

Vonvon noticed every Gem in the room was crying. They didn't know if this was because of Blue Diamond or not. Granted, they haven't met anyone yet who couldn't help but cry during this scene. Interestingly, their parents often argued about this scene. Connie found that the director missed the perfect opportunity to integrate a classic song about the Armored Avenger, whilst Steven thought that it would somehow ruin the mood.

Vonvon, on the other hand, had no opinion on the matter. They just found the scene moving.

"Oh, Vonvon." Blue Diamond sniffled, finally noticing the small human. "I think you'll find the entertainment we have planned most enjoyable. I certainly did."

"She's been working hard." Spinel whispered to Vonvon. "Watching cartoons and movies, listening to music, the whole deal."

"You've been listening to music?" Vonvon asked, curious as to what Blue had been listening to.

"And learning how to play instruments." The Diamond added.

"My Diamond is quite talented." Said the very quiet Blue Pearl, who suddenly appeared beside Vonvon.

"What do you play?"

The next she heard was the screeching, echoing sound of feedback as Blue Diamond plugged a gigantic electric guitar to an equally as gigantic amp, connected to a wall of massive loudspeakers.

"Oh boy." Vonvon muttered.

The shockwave that followed seemed to disrupt the very air, it shook the crystalline walls of the pyramid, and resonated through the core of Homeworld itself. It lifted Vonvon and Spinel off their feet, throwing them back against the wall. Luckily, Spinel cushioned the child, but it wasn't by choice. But through the cacophony, Vonvon noticed the notes coalescing into a familiar tune.

"Wait, this is Comet, by Mr. Universe!"

@artsycooky13

[dreamescapeswriting]

Underground ~ JJK [M] [Request]

➳➳➳Word count: 2.9K

➳➳➳Pairing: King!Jungkook x Concubine!Reader

➳➳➳Genre: Floffy, angst (tiny bit) and SMUT

➳➳➳A/n: Hope this is okay for you my love

➳➳➳Concubine meaning:  a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives (also known as a mistress)

People didn't like the fact that you were what you were to the King, you could tell by the looks on their face as you walked around the streets of the Kingdom of Zenith, but it was normal for many King's to have Concubines, while other King's had multiple Concubine's but King Jungkook had just the one and that was you. That was his choice though he didn't want many women he just wanted you and his soon-to-be wife.

"Do you see the way she walks? As if she’s better than us," Someone asked as you walked past their stall, you were used to the whispers by now but it didn't make it any easier, hearing the rumours about you.

"What is she even doing here?" Another voice rang out a little louder than the first, you kept your head down as you walked over towards your old home to visit your mum. Not that she ever spoke to you, she was ashamed of what you had become but it didn't stop you going to visit her every weekend. 

"Hi Umma," You greeted as you walked into the Hanok that you used to live in, she looked up from her breakfast took once glance at you before going back to her meal. This was the normal exchange you would have with her, 

"She'll come around," Your sister whispered but it wasn't true, she wouldn't. 

"I brought fresh strawberries from the farm." You placed the basket down and your sister watched you with a close eye as you reached out for them and began eating one of the strawberries with a small smile on your face, sighing to yourself as you watched your mum eating her breakfast, once you felt your sister's close stare you stared back at her and she smirked to herself. 

"Come with me," You followed her out of the Hanok with a strawberry hanging out of your mouth, out into the garden where she walked you over to the swing on your tree, somewhere you would go a lot to talk to one another a lot as children.

"How long?" You frowned at her and she sighed sitting in front of the swing and staring up at you, there was no denying it she watched as you swallowed the strawberry you had been munching on. You didn't even know, did you? 

"The smile of content, sighing because you're happy and that natural flush." She squealed happily and you had no idea what she was doing, 

"We have to take you to Halmeoni," She was excited about something so you nodded along with it, you hadn't seen her this happy in months and it felt nice to watch her smile. 

"Take me then," 

You beyond thrilled and couldn't wait to get back to the castle to tell Jungkook the good news, it was hard to determine at first but once your Grandmother did all the tricks she knew it became clearer and clearer with every second, you were pregnant and carrying a set of twins.

"You're sure?" You asked as your grandmother held a pin on a string above your stomach, she closed her eyes and began chanting away to herself when the Pin began to move on its own, a clear sign of pregnancy. Then she went out to fetch eggs from one chicken, bringing back two eggs which meant twins. It was an old technique she'd used when your mother was pregnant with you and your sisters and it was foolproof. 

The guards watched as you walked in the direction of the throne room ready to tell Jungkook the news when you heard yelling coming from inside the great hall. Your interest was piqued so you walked closer to the door and listened in to the conversation if you were anybody else this action would but punishable by death.

"I want to proceed with the wedding," You heard Jungkook say to his father across the room, Jungkook had been lined up to marry a Princess from another Kingdom to expand the Kingdom of Zenith and bring more protection for it and you knew this of course, but you'd never thought Jungkook would go through with the wedding. He was always telling you about how much he didn't want to marry someone that wasn't you, that it felt morally wrong to marry anyone else but you. You held your hand over your stomach trying not to think about it too much, stressing was bad for pregnancies you knew that much. 

"How soon shall we have it?" You heard his father question, the next question made your heart sink as Jungkook answered him with full excitement and you could tell he had a smile across his face. 

"Next weekend." You slowly backed away from the door not wanting to hear anymore and took off in a sprint towards your chambers. 

You had special chambers since you were the King's concubine, it meant your own giant bed, being served by maids in the castle and other staff at your beck and call. 

"Miss?!" You slammed the door before your personal made could question why you were crying, it felt harsh to treat her this way but you couldn't risk anyone seeing you cry over the King. It just simply wasn't done. 

"Miss, King Jungkook wanted us to tell you he wishes to see you right away. He knows the weekends are for your family-"

"Tell him I'm still out," You spat out rushing into the bathroom and staring at yourself in the mirror, you looked down at the expensive gown you were wearing, then at the jewellery which was custom made for you and you tore them from around your neck and ears. Throwing them into the golden bathtub before screaming about not being able to take off the dress. The same maid from before rushed into the room with her ladies in training, 

"Leave us." She clapped her hands and the two minions left the room, standing in front of the giant chamber doors to stop anyone else from entering. You were sobbing into your hands while the maid quietly undid your corset, not daring to speak a word to you as she knew it was against the rules, 

"Thank you, Cruella," You sniffled and she handed you a handkerchief turning you around to face her,

"The king isn't worth those tears." She whispered wiping your face and looking at you, she'd always been the nicest one in the castle to you and you always assumed it was because it was her job but no one else made this kind of effort. 

"He's marrying her," She sighed and stripped you from the gown throwing it into the bathtub as you had done with the rest of the items he'd gotten you, 

"You knew it would be coming through." She ushered you into your room and retrieved you another ball gown which you shook your head at. 

"Can you fetch me some rags instead, and a bag." 

Cruella had watched you the entire time you packed up old clothes into a bag, leaving no note or clue as to where you were going but leaving out of the palace in the middle of the night with her. Dressed as one of the other many chambermaids, 

"What do I do when he asks for you tomorrow?" She asked once you reached the ends of the palace gardens, your heart was breaking at the thought of leaving him behind but it broke more when you thought of him marrying another. 

"Tell him I'm sick, it'll keep him away a couple of days until I have enough time to get out of the kingdom." You told her as you looked around nervously,

"You're pregnant are you?" She questioned taking in your appearance under the moonlight, you stayed silent and she made a promise to keep your secret. 

To her avail, she had managed to keep it for as long as she could but a week had passed and Jungkook had had enough of not seeing you. He barged into your room expecting to find you sitting in bed with a book but when he found nothing he was concerned, Cruella spilt her guts once he threatened her job and he instantly began setting up a manhunt to find you and his unborn children. The kingdom was searched multiple times a day and your home was ransacked in order to find you, but you were nowhere to be found. Rumours spread like wildfire about you fleeing to another Kingdom because the baby belonged to another King while other rumours started you were still in the castle but underground not wanting to be found by the king. None of them was true, of course, except for the underground part. You were underground but not under the castle, you were under your mothers old Hanok being looked after by her whenever the searches were completed. The king's guards were idiots and never thought to check an old well with a fake bottom which led to you. 

"Umma, I have to leave soon." The night you left the castle you'd gone home to say goodbye to everyone but your mother insisted on keeping you in the hidden room below the surface until searches were called, she promised it would be easy. 

"No, you're not leaving. You're with child, it's too dangerous to leave now." There was always going to be an excuse for her as to why you couldn't leave and you knew that, after the years of her not talking to you it felt nice that she was willing to put her life on the line to protect you and the babies growing inside of you. There were footsteps above the ground and she frowned, the searches had already been completed that day, 

"Wait here. Stay silent." She walked off down a hallway and to where the ladder led to getting in and out of the well you were underneath, the lid was lifted from the top and there stood three guards and Jungkook looking down at her.

"We're coming down." You sat up straight as you heard his voice through the echo's and you knew what your mother had done, 

"Umma!" You yelled getting her attention, she nodded at you and motioned for Jungkook to follow her into the room where you had been laying down. 

"Umma what are you-" Jungkook was standing in front of you dressed in his robes and smiling, the same way he looked when he picked you out before. 

"OUT!" Your mother screamed at the guards that had tried to come into the room, Jungkook flinched a little as she raised her hand to point at the seat. 

"You! Sit!" He sat down instantly and stared at you as you sat down on an opposite seat from him, 

"She's with child, what do you plan to do?" You stared at your mother as she told him the news which he already knew but you didn't know that, 

"I plan to marry her," Your eyes snapped back to him and they began to have a conversation about marriage as though you weren't in the room your head dancing from one to the other as they continued to have the discussion as though it didn't involve you in any way. 

"Excuse me- Yeah, Hi. What?" Jungkook's eyes were staring into yours as he smiled, how could he smile at you like that when less than a week ago he was planning on marrying someone else. 

"I'll marry you." You blinked at him as though he was crazy, which he was. No one married a commoner, or their concubine it just wasn't done.

"You can't-"

"I'm King, I can marry whoever I please." You looked at the floor as he raised his voice a little, 

"That was the plan before you left, running out before you knew the information." He tutted at you, your head lifted from the floor as you made eye contact with him, he had a cocky smirk across his face as he watched you try and piece together what he was saying. 

"Marry me? But you're supposed to-"

"I'm not supposed to do anything, I'm the King." You nodded at him and he got down onto one knee in front of you, 

"This isn't the way I had this planned but will you Y/n Y/l/n marry me?" Your eyes teared up as you watched him pull out a ring from one of his robe pockets and you nodded falling down onto the floor and hugging him. Your mother crying in the process and smiling at you, as much as she'd disliked you for what you had become in the Kingdom she knew real love when she saw it, and she wasn't going to let her daughter and grandchild grow up without a father figure. 

                                                  One Year Later

The kids were sound asleep for the first time in many months, they normally cried for hours on end only sleeping an hour but tonight was easy. Their first birthday had come around and they were sleeping as though they had grown out of the habit of not sleeping,

"Jungkook, shh." You said as he stepped closer to you you were sitting on the small balcony of your room looking out over the kingdom and the babies were asleep in solid gold cribs across the room in your chambers.

"Shh yourself, I've missed you." He growled rushing over to you and pulled you into a loving kiss since the babies had been born you hadn't been together intimately and it was starting to get to you both,

"You're so gorgeous." He mumbled putting his head into the crook of your neck and sucking along the skin, you held back the moan as you looked over your shoulder guards were in the courtyard below. 

"J-Jungkook guards." You warned only making him suck along the skin harder, 

"Let them watch, I want them to know how good I make you feel. Fuck it's been so long." He groaned kissing you once again, your hands reached into his black locks and you kissed him. 

"Be quiet now baby." He dropped down onto his knees and lifted the base of your dress up and over his head, you felt him pulling your panties to the side and your breath hitched as you felt his breath against your throbbing core. It had been so long since he last touched you you'd almost forgotten what it was like. His tongue ran along the length of your sex and you let out a strangled moan into your own hand, 

"What if we wake- ah shit." You moaned out throwing your head back in ecstasy as he continued to suck harder on your clit, flicking faster and inserting two fingers inside of you. 

"So tight," He hummed against you only making you clench around him as you already felt yourself beginning to get close.

"R-Right there- but what about-" He cut you off by pumping his fingers faster and curling them in just the right motion that made your legs shake, he could tell you were getting closer but he didn't want you to cum around his fingers. 

"This way." He pulled you towards the bed and laid you down, neither of you had time to strip out of your clothes in case the babies woke up so he lifted the dress up to your midsection and took his member out from his pants.

"You ready baby?" You nodded eagerly and you gasped as you felt him enter you, the stretch after not having him for so long was painful but you could deal with it. 

"Fuck." You moaned into your hand trying to be as quiet as possible, Jungkook groaned out as he tried to thrust in and out at a slow pace but the tightness was only making him want to ram into you, have you screaming out his name as the old times. 

"We'll have time for that another day-" You mumbled knowing exactly what he was thinking just by the look on his face, he focussed on trying to get you close with slow thrusts trying to push down the feeling of his own release approaching him rather quickly.

"Jungkook." He bent down to bring you into a lustful kiss, trying to keep you silent and his thrusts began to pick up pace as he felt you clenching around him, hitting your g-spot every time he had you moaning out into his mouth,

"G-Gonna cum." You whined out in a whisper trying to be as quiet as possible but you could feel the band tightening in your stomach and the sound of him moaning in your ear was only bringing you closer.

"Cum for me then," He growled in your ear picking up the pace and smirking down at you, 

"S-Shit," He grumbled as he felt you cumming around his cock, biting down on your lip so hard that blood was trickling around it, you continued to buck your hips as he thrust into you never wanting the orgasm to end.

"O-oh fuck," He moaned out as he split into you, pulling out and falling down onto the bed beside you and panting, you turned to look at him with a smirk and he shook his head at you. 

"I promise that next time-" You nodded already knowing what he was going to say, you just rolled over to lay your head on his chest and try and get a couple of hours sleep before the twins would wake up.

tagline: 

@yoongisdumplingcheeks​ @snowy-meowl​ @lynnthevirgo​ @jooniesdarlingdimples​ @kpopfanfictionhoes​ @lyoongx​ @fan-ati--c​ @mitzwinchester​ @callingmyangel​ @rjsmochii​ @btsiguess-kpop​

[imposterellie]

Imprisonment - Febuwhump Day 3

Peter doesn't know where he is, or why his powers aren't working; all he knows is that he's desperately hungry, and that Tony doesn't know he's missing.

Will he be found in time?

**TW - violence, swearing, description of vomiting, pain infliction, food being withheld from characters, passing out, panic attacks**

@febuwhump

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

The air was bitingly cold as Peter swung among the streets in Queens. This patrol had been quiet, and he’d spent most of it sat on the rooftops, trying his best to keep himself warm. Even with the built-in heating system in his spiderman suit, it was still bitter outside, and he was beginning to consider calling it a night. He harboured too much guilt to go inside sooner than was absolutely necessary; what if he woke up and there was a story on the news about someone who had been robbed and he wasn’t there to prevent it! So no, he would brave the weather until he could barely feel his fingers, just so that it was still safe to swing home.

He sighed in relief, upon deciding it was best that he went home, and leapt off the side of the building he’d landed on 20 minutes earlier. He swung towards his apartment building, looking forward to getting out of his suit and snuggling up in his bed. It was the weekend so he could have a nice lie-in in the morning whilst he let May sleep in from her night shift. Peter was invested in the thought of a hot shower and his cosy bed, so invested that he didn’t pay attention to his spidey senses. He didn’t notice the drone until it was far too late. By the time he realised something was wrong, the drone had fired a shot of electricity at him that was specific to his suit and powerful enough that it short circuited the systems. He lost control of the web shooters and dropped like a stone. Plummeting towards the ground, Peter tried everything to get Karen back online but to no avail. He hadn’t been too high off the ground when he was shot but he hit the street head-first and it was enough to knock him out.

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

Peter woke slowly, his head throbbing fiercely. He groaned, thinking his enhanced healing would take care of it soon enough, before realising with a jolt that he was not at home as he had expected to be. The room felt wrong, even laid down with his eyes closed, he felt off balance somehow. He fought past the pain in his head to open his eyes carefully and was surprised when his vision was blurry. He squinted and tried again but his sight didn’t change. He couldn’t see anything clearly much further than a metre away. It was like his sight before he had been bitten by the spider.

“What the…?” He mumbled to himself, confused, and becoming a little worried. It was then that Peter came to a little bit more and realised his wrists were restrained. But it was weird, the cuffs didn’t feel like the ones he was usually tied up with (he’d think about being concerned how normal being tied up was once he was out of the situation). He spent a few minutes messing around with them, seeing if they had any mechanism, he could use to get out of them but he had no luck. They were staying on until he was let out of them. He felt that they were digging painfully into his wrists, so he shifted to try and dislodge them, but a bright flash of white, hot pain seared in his head. He paused to let the pain subside, breathing heavily. The second he halted his movements, the pain stopped.

“Ah shit.” Peter whispered as it dawned on him just what the cuffs were doing to him. Somehow, someone had figured out a way to dampen his abilities and had practically reverted him back to his pre-bite self. Ah shit indeed. This was not an ideal situation at all. Especially as he remembered the massive hit to the head he’d gotten which he was very, very aware was not healing itself.

He sat up gingerly, careful not to worsen his headache, and took a look around him. The lack of windows and only a bed, toilet, and iron bars in the room indicated to him that he was very clearly in a cell. Where though, he had no idea. He also had no idea why. From what he could remember, he hadn’t pissed off any bad guys recently so he couldn’t fathom why anyone would have cause to kidnap him. And yet, here he was.

Peter spent what he assumed was a few hours just sitting there, waiting for someone to come into his cell and start torturing him or something but no one did. He just sat there, wallowing in self-pity and boredom. After the first few hours he realised just how desperately hungry he was. And yet no one came.

At one point, he tried to bend the bars, but with his power dampened it barely even creaked. He was well and truly stuck. And no one was coming for him.

He lost track of time. What could have been days was merely hours. The lack of sunlight to track the time meant he just had to sit there, getting hungrier, thirstier and more frustrated as the time went on. He tried to yell out, but his voice just became hoarse without a drink to keep him hydrated, it also made his headache worse as his voice echoed around the small chamber. Without his enhanced eyesight, Peter didn’t see the camera in the darkness. It was in the corner of the chamber outside his cell, just recording consistently and that recording was being streamed directly to a phone. It was a good thing Peter didn’t know about the camera because if he knew who the footage was going to, he’d want out faster.

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

Tony Stark was sat in his lab tinkering away at one of his newest inventions. It was 6am and he had not yet ventured to bed. Pepper would be furious, but he was so excited to show Peter, that he couldn’t possibly sleep until it was done. The hours following passed by quickly, Tony periodically checked the clock and ate food every so often before finally stopping at around 4:30. It was Friday, the day Peter came up to the compound to spend the weekend with Tony. As much as tony wouldn’t admit it, he counted down the days until Peter would be coming over. He loved that kid as if he was his own, but again, would never tell him that.

There had been radio silence from Peter the past few days but that wasn’t concerning, Pete’s finals were coming up and Tony knew he would be busy so just sent a quick check-up text and left it at that. The next two hours dragged by slowly and Tony began worrying. Peter was often late but he’d usually text to let him know. Nothing. Until FRIDAY said,

“Sir, there is an incoming video call from an unknown number. Would you like me to answer it?”

Tony felt his stomach drop. Usually that meant Peter was injured or in hospital or something. He knew he should better answer it in case it was the kid’s friend Ted. Ned.

“Yeah, patch it through to the tablet.” Tony said as he picked his iPad up off the table, preparing himself for the worst.

“Already done sir”

The image that came through was worse than the worst that Tony could’ve possibly prepared himself for. It was video footage of Peter, trying to yank apart the bars of a cell he was in, yelling. Tony turned to the side of the desk and vomited straight into his bin. Peter looked awful, malnourished, bruised, and he was squinting as though he either couldn’t see or had a horrendous headache. Why couldn’t Peter get out of the cell? He had superstrength, Tony couldn’t help but wonder what was going on. It took Tony a minute of staring due to the grainy footage to notice the cuffs around Peter’s wrists. They were menacing looking things, causing blood to trickle down his arms if he moved and Tony immediately realised they were dampening Peter’s abilities. He vomited again.

“FRIDAY?” He said quietly. “Can you trace the IP of the stream?”

There was a moment of silence.

“I’m sorry sir, the IP has been heavily encrypted. I cannot get through.” Tony wracked his brain, trying to come up with another way to find the kid.

“See if you can find locations in a 30-mile radius that fit the specs from the stream. Anything with basements that are in a quiet area where no people walking past would hear a kid shouting. And do it quickly.” Tony stood, clutching the tablet in his hand. He brought up a large hologram map of the area, watching as FRIDAY indicated locations that matched the description.

“Sir, there are 5 possible locations that Peter could be. I’ve also scanned his condition and it appears as though his metabolism is still intact, despite his main powers being dampened. There is no evidence that this video is live so there’s a high possibility that Peter will be very dehydrated and malnourished when he is found.”  Tony paid very little attention to the information his AI was presenting him with. His logical brain had shut down, panic starting to take over. He retrieved his phone from the desk and tapped on the speed dial. The phone rang several times before someone picked up.

“Tony?”

“May.” Tony sighed a little in relief to hear her voice.

“What’s the matter? Has something happened to Peter? Do I need to come and get him?” May asked, suddenly frantic. Tony was confused, it sounded like May already knew Peter was in danger.

“May, where is Peter? Is he at home?”

“No. He left a note saying he was spending the next past few days with you. Has he not been at the compound?” May panicked further, “What’s going on?”

Tony settled himself, knowing that if he panicked too it would only make things worse.

“I think you should come over here as soon as you can, that note wasn’t from Peter. He’s in trouble.”

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

FRIDAY barely had time to announce May’s presence when she burst in through the doors. She looked a mess. It was clear she had just finished a long shift and she’d spent a lot of the drive over crying, due to the tear tracks staining her face. Tony met her in the communal room, it was a slightly more welcoming environment than the entrance lobby.

“Where’s my nephew?” She demanded as soon as she saw Tony. Tony didn’t say a word, just pulled up the footage that had burned itself into his memory. When it finished, May’s face was grey.

“Oh god.”

“I know, we’ve narrowed down the places he might be and I’m getting the team together to go looking for him right now.”

“He looks so ill.” May’s hand covered her mouth, she was swaying on her feet so Tony took her arm and guided her gently to a seat. He crouched down in front of her, meeting her eyes and grasping her hands in his.

“I promise I will find him May, whatever it takes. I’ll find him and I’ll fix this mess.” She nodded blankly and stared into space, as if she had lost the ability to function in her grief. Tony’s phone rang, the name ‘Steve’ popping up on the screen. He took one long look at May before leaving the room and answering.

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

Time was nothing anymore. Nothing but pain filled his senses. He could barely breathe without pain in his head, in his chest, in his everything. He’d been tortured before, sure. But this was a whole different level. He’d never been starved before and he’d decided very quickly that he never wanted it to happen ever again. Peter had no energy at all. His injuries weren’t healing and he could barely keep his eyes open. He’d given up shouting for help what felt like years ago.

His throat was dry and every time he swallowed, it felt like knives raking down into his lungs. Is this what it felt like to die? Alone and hungry in a tiny cell, drifting in and out of consciousness with nothing but the ever-present darkness as company.

He closed his eyes as the pounding in his head grew louder. He just wanted it all to go away.

“Tony. ‘m sorry.” He mumbled, letting himself finally start to drift off.

“No you don’t kid, we’re gonna get you out of here.”

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

They had found him. It took the whole team and several breakdowns from Tony to pinpoint Peter's exact location. They fought the guards enough for Tony to get through and find Peter. The rest of his team were upstairs, dispatching the culprits. He got to work lasering through the bars with his suit.

“Ben?” Peter whispered, “Tha- you?”

“No kid, it’s Tony. You’re not dead, not if I have anything to do with it.” Tony felt his heart shatter, he knew they were running out of time. His lasers were struggling to get through the cell bars; It was very slow progress but it was working.

“Good.” Peter smiled softly, “knew you’d come for me.”

Tony spoke past the thick lump in his throat, “Always Underoos. Always.”

Peter didn’t respond, he’d finally passed out.

“We’ve dispatched all the guys upstairs; Nat is interrogating the ones who are still alive now.” Steve spoke from behind Tony.

“Good.” Tony replied grunting with the effort of keeping the lasers steady, he was almost through the thick metal, almost had his kid back in his arms. The metal split with a groan and Tony leapt into action, attempting to yank the bars apart where they’d been split. He kicked it hard in frustration when it refused to budge, even with the suit’s extra strength.

“Here. Here Tony, we’ll do it together.” Steve interrupted before tony injured himself. He positioned himself on the other side of the bars to Tony and braced himself to pull them apart. “Ready?” Tony nodded, barely concentrating but a new set of determination in his eyes. “Pull!”

The bars groaned as they bent apart, Steve’s muscles straining. They reached a point where Tony could exit his suit and squeeze through the gap. He rushed straight to Peter’s side. The boy was out cold, thin and shivering. Tony bundled him into his arms and squeezed straight out of the cell, dashing up towards the Quinjet. Steve was covering his back as they ran through the building, though there were no men left to fight. Their shouts could be heard throughout the area as Nat went to work extracting information. Tony had no idea what they were doing to them, and quite honestly, he didn’t want to know.

They reached the aircraft in record time. They could’ve flown home in Tony’s suit but Peter’s condition was too severe. A medical team met them on the ship, Bruce Banner at its lead, as they took Peter from Tony’s arms and got straight to work.

They took off immediately. Tony collapsed against the wall, sliding down onto the floor. He felt the panic rise up in his chest, the fear a tight ball in his lungs. His breath became sporadic and short as his vision became fuzzy. His jumped as a hand rested gently on his shoulder.

“Breathe Tony.” Steve said quietly, crouched down in front of the man. “They’re looking after him, he’s safe.” Tony continued to hyperventilate.

“Tony.” Steve said more forcefully, “look at me.” Tony managed to look at him, his vision still blurry but he focused on Steve’s face. “I need you to breathe with me, I’ll show you look, breathe with me.”

Steve started to breathe loudly and steadily, focusing on Tony’s chest. His breathing slowly started to even out as his panic subsided. They sat in silence for several minutes, both using each other’s company to combat the fear.

[itsjustmyfantasyroom]

I need a Drink not a Recess

OK, I know we are in the middle of Fresh Starts series, and I changed lanes to get all my delicious kinktober stuff up, but I’m going to change lanes one more time before going back to Fresh Starts.

As a Barba fan person we were all broken when he left and we all dream of his return. This ‘thing’ was encouraged by my family on discord who really are my heart and soul and I have been so grateful to have found you all. This year has not been the best but typing beside you all has made this year a little more bearable! 

Shout out to @detective-giggles for encouraging this and helping me along the way and to @karens-imagined-world / @the-baby-bookworm​ for also encouraging this and for the awesome mood board she created for this story!

Enjoy xx

Warnings: light language and light smut

“Did you think of me at all when making this decision?”

Your eyes were filled with tears and your hands balled at your side. Rafael was leaning on his kitchen counter looking down with a reddened face.

“So all those promise- empty clearly” you spat at him.

“I have been through a lot, I need a fresh start” Rafael snapped at you.

“Yeah? And who was there for you through all that? Is this what you do, sweet talk them, get them into bed for them to get attached to you, promise them the world and then leave?”

Rafael meet your eyes for the first time since the conversation started, he could see the hurt in them and his filled with tears.

“You know what Rafael, have a nice life”

*2 Years Later*

“Sonny- Here’s your coffee” you walked into Sonny’s office, arounded his desk and placed the coffee cup in front of him. Sonny stood up and kissed you on the cheek before putting on his jacket.

“Thanks Y/N, Ready for the stand?” You reached up to straighten Sonny’s tie.

“I think so, Kat and I worked on our statements last night, think she is ready too- who is the judge?”

“Briggs” Sonny shot you a look as a smirk came to your face “Control yourself Y/N, don’t fire him up”

“What me” you batted your eye lashes “Never, he loves me”

“I know- I remember the Christmas party” Sonny rolled his eyes.

You and Sonny made your way to the court room, seeing Kat, Amanda, Fin and Liv waiting outside the doors.

“Morning” You smiled at everyone as you made your way to stand between Amanda and Kat.

“Ready Partner?” Kat nudged you in the side.

Liv, Fin and Amanda patted you both on the shoulders and walked in to find a seat. Sonny turned to look at you both,

“I’ll see you both in there” Sonny winked at you and walked in.

You and Kat walked around to the seats at the side of the court room and sat there to wait.

“So you and ADA Carisi?” Kat looked at you with a smirk, you rolled your eyes.

“There is no me and ADA Carisi, he is my best friend, we have been through a lot and were partnered for a long time” A soft smile came to your face.

“I’ am Sorry I didn’t mean to over step” Kat looked down with reddened cheeks.

“It’s ok, look partner I’ll be honest- my heart was broken a couple of years ago. I have never been able to get over it. That’s why I love this job, I don’t have time to think about it and I work with my best friends that help me not to think about it” you winked at her “Kat, I know you came in during a whirl wind, and well- we weren’t all that welcoming, but I’ am glad to have you by my side. Theres still a lot we need to know about each other but we will get there. How about on Saturday we get lunch and do some shopping? I need some new work pants”

“That sounds great” a big smile came to Kat’s face.

Just then Kat was called and she was walked in with a guard.

----

Sonny was sorting out his paper work on his desk, getting everything in order, Liv, Fin and Amanda sitting in the row right behind him. The jury walked in and took their places.

“All rise for the Honourable Judge Barba” was boomed out in the court room everyone standing as the door at the back corner opened.

Sonny’s mouth dropped open and Liv, Amanda and Fin almost fell back into their seats. Out walked Rafael with a white collared shirt and orange tie poking out the top of his black robes. Everyone sat down bar Sonny, Amanda, Liv and Fin who all had shocked looks on their faces. Rafael looked out to them giving them a small smirk,

“Please sit Detectives, you too Counselor”

----

It was a long while after Kat was called in before your name was called. You put your phone back in your pocket standing up straightening up your black tight fitting pants, you looked down to make sure your purple button down shirt was still tucked in nicely, adjusting your badge on your hip. You fixed up your matching black blazer and tucking your straight hair behind both ears before the doors were opened to the very full courtroom. You locked eyes with Sonny who gave you a weird look.

You made your way into the room and looked at the Judges chair stopping in your tracks when you saw Rafael sitting behind the bench, you swear you stopped breathing for a minute, you stood there staring, not quite believing what you were seeing,

“Mr Carisi, please tell your witness to take the stand or I’ll hold her in contempt for holding up my courtroom”

You shot Rafael a dirty look and made your way to the stand, the only noise in the room was the clink of your low heels on the floor. You stepped up on the stand looking Rafael in the eyes, narrowing yours at him when he sat back frowning at you in his chair.

You were sworn in and sat down looking out locking eyes with Amanda who shrugged her shoulders at you. Sonny and Amanda both knew about your relationship with Rafael before he left, they were also the two people that held you together when he did leave. Your heart was shattered into pieces when he told you he was moving to Iowa and it shattered you even more when you never heard from him but he was in contact with Liv.

Sonny stood up and asked you his first question, but you were looking up at Rafael trying to read his poker face,

“Detective Y/N can you answer my question please?”

“I’ am sorry what?” you looked away from Rafael to Sonny.

“Your honour approach?” Rafael nodded at Sonny as he made his way to the stand.

“Y/N are you ok?” Sonny said just above a whisper frowning at you.

“I could ask the same question Detective” Rafael looked down at you.

“Forgive me your Honour I can’t concentrate” you snarled at Rafael.

“Does your witness need a recess till tomorrow Counselor?” Rafael looked over at Sonny, who nodded back.

“I need a drink not a recess” you rolled your eyes.

“Court is in recess till 9 am tomorrow” Rafael's voice echoing through the court room banging his gavel “Detective Y/N my chambers NOW” Rafael frowned down at you as he made his way down from behind the bench.

You got down off the stand and walked over to Sonny who was packing up his papers and the others leaning on the hand rail behind Sonny.

“I’ am sorry I stuffed up Sonny- but what the hell? Liv did you know Barba was back?”

“Come on Y/N if I knew I would have told you guys, I’ am just as shocked as you all are.”

You all started to walk out of the court room, Liv and Fin said bye and left leaving you, Sonny, Amanda and Kat.

“Y/N, you really didn’t know? He didn’t reach out?” Amanda grabbed your shoulder

“If I knew don’t you think I would have said something?” you looked down to hide your tears that had filled your eyes “Just shows even more that I didn’t mean anything to him”

“What’s going on?” Kat blurted out. You looked up at Kat as a tear escaped one of your eyes.

“You know when I told you my heart was broken a couple of years ago” you paused and Kat nodded “Judge Barba was the one that did it- he was ADA Barba then”

“Come on Y/N I’ll help you find his office” Sonny wrapped his arm around your shoulders leading you away from Kat and Amanda.

After a few wrong turns you and Sonny finally found Rafael’s new office, his door was slightly open. You could see him looking through a case file, sleeves rolled up, tie lose and his top buttons undone. He was clean shaven again. Liv had told you that last time she video chatted with him he had grown a beard.

“You going to be ok?” Sonny grabbed your hand giving it a squeeze, all you could do was nod “Come and find me after, I’ll take you for a drink and dinner” Sonny kissed you on the forehead and walked away.

You took a deep breath and closed your eyes to muster all the confidence you could in the hopes you wouldn’t cry. You walked to the door and knocked twice. Rafael looked up and nodded for you to walk in,

“Close the door please Detective” you did as he asked and turned back around to face him.

“May I ask what this is about your Honour, I have work to do”

“Y/N” Rafael said your name softly, the way he would when he was between your legs.

“Don’t” you bit your lip as you felt the tears coming to your eyes.

“Don’t what?” Rafael stood up off his chair and made his way around to stand in front of you his arms crossed in front of him.

“Don’t say my name like that” you kept looking at the floor.

“Can we talk?”

“About what? How you up and left breaking my heart? Or how you left for what just over two years and never made an effort to reach out to me but you could stay in contact with Liv, or I know, how you waltz back into a court room as a judge not giving anyone the heads up that you were back in Manhattan” there was a long pause “So which is it Rafael? Because if you’re not going to say anyth-“

“I’ am sorry” Rafael cut you off “For everything. I know I went about everything the wrong way”

“Ya think?” you shot back.

“Sarcasm is the weapon of the weak Y/N”

“Would you rather I yell at you?” You looked over at him frowning “I know you had been through a lot, I get that, I know that, I was by your side for all of it, but clearly I was just some fuck buddy that you fooled. You broke my heart in half Rafael, you made me all these promise, we had all these future plans- I thought you were the one” Tears fell from your eyes as you raised your hands to hide your face sobbing.    

Rafael closed the gap between you wrapping you into his arms, you lent your covered face onto his chest, Rafael resting his lips on your head.

“I didn’t just break your heart, I broke my own doing that to you. I know I should have reached out- I felt guilty every time I spoke to Liv knowing all I had to do was dial your number. I only got back into town on the weekend I’ am staying with my Mum till I can find a place. I didn’t just want to turn up at your door ste-“

You pulled back out of his embrace stepping back looking at him furious,

“Didn’t bother you turning up on my door step when you wanted to ‘blow off some steam’ at all hours of the night”

“You were never just a fuck buddy-Maybe you need to settle down so we can have an adult conversation about all this” Rafael put his hands on your hips glaring down his nose at you.

“Don’t you dare Rafael Barba” you gritted you teeth at him.

“Sorry- look let’s have a drink, Please. I have some scotch here. Sit down”

You moved to sit on Rafael’s two seater couch and watched as Rafael moved around to his desk, getting out a full bottle of his favourite scotch and two low ball glasses. Rafael walked back over sitting next to you, pouring two glasses and handing one to you. Silence filled the room and each of you didn’t know who would crack first.

“Why didn’t you reach out to me?” Rafael said just above a whisper. You sculled what was in your glass and lent forward to pour some more into it sitting back into the couch.

“I didn’t think you wanted me anymore”  

“I was in a dark place, you knew that- But there were so many nights I just laid there and thought about you- I missed you more than you will ever know. We just- I don’t know, lack of communication”

“Lack of communication is an interesting way to put it” you rolled your eyes “You can’t tell me that all this time you didn’t move on with someone else making promise you didn’t keep”

“Y/N- No I hadn’t” you looked at him shocked “I may have left Manhattan physically, but my heart was still here- with you”

Rafael lent forward placing his glass on the coffee table, he reached over and took yours out of your hand and put it next to his glass, as he lent back he grabbed onto your leg pulling you to straddle his lap. You looked deep into his eyes and rested your hands on his chest, his on your waist.

“I don’t want you to judge me by the past. I don’t want to pick up where we left off, I want to start fresh with you. I made mistakes, ones I will regret for the rest of my life- but we are here now. I want to make new promises to you, promises that I will ke-“

“How can I trust that?” tears slowly ran down your cheeks.

“I know it will take a while, but I’ am not giving up on you- on us again. I love you Y/N”

Rafael pulled you into him, your lips meeting as you melted into his chest, you moved your head to the side, opening your mouth so he could deepen the kiss. Rafael ran his hands all over your back and down to your bum and then back up again sending a shiver down your spin, pulling your button down out of your pants starting to undo the buttons. Your hands grabbing at his shirt collar to pull him closer. You started to grind down on him lightly and he moaned into your mouth, Rafael moved his hands away from your buttons putting them back on your waist, pushing your hips down onto him. You pulled back and rested your forehead to his,

“I’ve missed you so much” you whispered before you kissed the tip of his nose “I love you. Never leave me again”

“I promise, never again.”

Part 2

[bbmyungho]

Snapdragon - Yeonjun

member/group: Yeonjun/TXT

genre: fluff, angst, kingdom!au, bestfriend!yeonjun, royal!reader, Soobin’s also there

TW: MINOR CHARACTER DEATH

Sunlight warmed my eyelids as I woke, peeking through the curtains flowing in the breeze from my cracked window. My whole body felt warm in the few rays that reached it, my blood running like smooth golden honey as I further relaxed into my pillows.

“Oh your highness~!” My pest of a best friend called through my rooms; I heard him shuffling around in the front room, going ahead and preparing myself for his weight crashing onto me in a few seconds. “It’s time to wake up!!” He screeched, jumping on me and wrapping me up in a bone crushing hug as soon as he collided with me.

“Nooooo~” I whined out, struggling to turn further away from him in his grasp and shove my face into my pillows. “Can’t we just lay here, just for today?”

“Unfortunately, no. The stupid witch lady will be here to tutor you at 9 o’clock and then we have to hang out, obviously.” Yeonjun finally sat up, relieving me of his weight as he bounced up and down, shaking my mattress and, consequently, me.

“Oh, come on, I like Ms. Moon. A lot more than Mr. Kang, for sure.” I peeked at him, smiling sleepily at the pout on his face.

“Don’t care, she takes up your time and energy shoving ‘knowledge’ in your head when you could be paying attention to me.” He crossed his arms and pouted at me even more intensely, causing me to laugh before shoving my head back into my pillows and sighing contentedly. “Oh, if you get up now, you’ll get to see Soobin serving breakfast.”

I immediately shot up. “He’s back from the lower village? I thought he wasn’t going to turn up until lunch!” I smiled. Yeonjun shrugged.

“He got back early.” He hummed, moving off of me so that I could start getting ready for the day and hopefully catch sight of the cute kitchen boy who had managed to steal into my heart over the past few months, closing and locking the window as I ran into my bathroom. “Wear the goldy-colored thingy for him, it looks cute on you!”

~

“Good morning, your highness. Yeonjun.” Soobin greeted us as we approached the table, a smile breaking out onto my face almost immediately upon the sight of his cute tussled hair.

“Good morning, Bin. How was the lower village?” I asked, taking my seat as he began gathering dishes for us.

“Oh, it was nice. Nothing new, really,” he stopped and smiled fondly, “I found some snapdragons on the side of the road on my way back. They’re your favorite flowers aren’t they?” He asked. My heart skipped a beat, face instantly reddening as I looked wide eyed at Yeonjun.

“Yes, they are.” Yeonjun smiled as he answered for me, earning himself a small flustered kick from under the table, Soobin sparing a glance and a smile my way before he brought mine and Yeonjun’s breakfast over to us.

“I picked you one, but it got crushed on the way back.” He pouted. I blushed all the way up to my ears as I watched his back retreat into the kitchen, taking my time to zone in on whatever Yeonjun was saying while we ate.

“Don’t you think it’s about time you two get together already? He obviously likes you, too.” Yeonjun said. My spoon dropped with a loud clatter in my flustered state, face reddening even more at the thought that Bin might have heard before he actually reached the kitchens.

“Yeonjun~, you’re making me blush. What if he hears?” I whined, covering my cheeks as the boy next to me just chuckled evilly.

“Sorry, your highness.”

~

“Okay, rock, paper, scissors, SHOOT!” Yeonjun groaned at the sight of my fist, perched proudly over his scissors. “Oh, come on. You’ve lived here all your life, you’re so hard to find between all of these corridors and tapestries.”

“Ohh, if only we’d found you sooner, darling.” I teased, patting his head as he pouted. He started to count, prompting me to run off and find a place to hide, laughing evilly as I retreated. There was only so much to do in the castle, but hide and seek never got old given all of the passages on every level.

“Ready or not, here I come!” echoed through the halls as I skidded around another corner, a fairly loud thud ringing in my ears as I was spent sprawling back by something hard. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry your highness. Are you okay?” Soobin asked concernedly, discarding the plates he’d been carrying before offering me his hand. 

“Oh, Soobin, I’m- I’m really sorry, no need to apologize. I... should’ve been looking where I was going.” I took his hand sheepishly, allowing myself to be pulled from the floor and into Soobin’s chest; it was much more pleasant now that I actually got to stay there for a while, warm and soft. His arms were very comforting, holding me tight before I could trip and fall again. 

“No, I understand. You have a game to win, no?” He teased, smiling at me. I laughed lightly, shyly unraveling myself from his arms once I realized they were still there.

“Your highness?” A familiar voice from behind me pulled me harshly from the warmth I found in Soobin’s presence, whipping around to see Yeonjun with a stupid smirk on his face. 

“Uh, I should be going.” Soobin muttered, grabbing his plates and nodding at both of us before scampering down the corridor behind Yeonjun. We stood there in silence for probably another minute, my stomach in knots, before Yeonjun got started.

“Soooo-”

“Shut up.” I brushed myself off annoyedly, giving him a devilish smile in return.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to ruin the moment, but you’re needed in the throne room. Your father is having a meeting with some of the officials and they’d like you to be in attendance, especially since your coronation is coming up.” 

“What’s the meeting for?” I asked. Yeonjun swallowed thickly, his eyes scanning down to the floor nervously before meeting mine. 

“On the shore. A navy ship came in with no one and nothing on it.” Yeonjun said. I stopped in my tracks. 

Sometimes I felt ready for my coronation; I knew I could be a good leader, just like my father (but better obviously), and our people would be happy and feel cared for by their monarchs. But then, moments like this... as I grew, I was involved more and more in the actual politics of it all, I knew more and more and more. I couldn’t and I wouldn’t tell anyone, but I was terrified.

“Hey, hey, it’s probably just some petty thieves, I don’t know. Maybe they took the men hostage or something so they wouldn’t alert anybody of their hideout or whatever. I’m sure it’s nothing, I’m sure they’ll turn up somewhere.” Yeonjun took my silence as his cue to attempt to console me, but it still didn’t do much to ease my nerves.

“Still, my men are being held hostage. Sure, I’m glad we’re safe here, but what about them?” I asked. Yeonjun stood in silence, a pained look worrying his features before he pulled me into a hug.

“It’ll be okay your highness. I promise. And hey,” he said, pulling back, “maybe they met another one of our ships and decided to get on it or something. Transfer missions, and we’ll get a letter a couple days late explaining everything. Or maybe they got tired of breaking their backs for you and yours and they’re just hanging out on an island somewhere, yeah?” He attempted a chuckle, making me smile in response. 

Even if it was fake, it made me feel a little better. I wasn’t a child, I wasn’t naive enough to believe that maybe he was right, not deep down. But I was grateful to be able to walk into my meeting with my head held high, my eyes drifting over every once in a while to meet Yeonjun’s smiling face. Or, when a certain kitchen boy came stumbling in to offer us a small snack for our troubles, to see his blushing cheeks and soft tussled hair.

“Oh, yeah, by the way,” Yeonjun said smoothly as we walked back to my chambers that night, “what was going on with you and Soobin earlier?” I groaned and shoved him lightly, earning a laugh for my suffering.

“Nothing happened, I fell like an idiot and he helped me up.” I grumbled, my hands coming to my cheeks to cover my blush.

“And then he held you for like two or three extra seconds before I interrupted.” Yeonjun quipped.

“Yeah, hey, by the way, thanks for interrupting us, jerk.” I pouted. Yeonjun threw his head back in laughter, nudging me with his shoulder as we walked.

“Sorry, your highness. Won’t happen again.”

~

“Yeonjunnie~!” Soobin called, eliciting a laugh from me and I’m sure an eye roll from Yeonjun. We were having a picnic out in the gardens, sampling food for the coronation and just goofing around, when we decided to play a game of tag while we were exploring. 

“Does he usually just give up and hide?” Soobin asked.

“He’s not overtly fond of running for long periods of time.” I shrugged. Soobin giggled (my heart?????) and started walking in the opposite direction. 

“How about we split up and make a circle of the gardens? We’ll find him eventually.” Soobin proposed. 

“Yeah, sure.” I smiled and ran off towards the other end of the gardens, the small labyrinth coming into view. I remembered showing it to Yeonjun when he’d first come into our walls, guiding him through and teasing him by running ahead of him. A sneaking suspicion told me that he would be hiding in there, so I trotted in, yelling ‘Yeonjunnie~’ all the way through. 

“Yeonjun!” I called one last time into the depths of the maze. I knew he was smart (well, smart enough), and he’d been in this maze plenty over the past two or so years, but I still couldn’t help but worry about him. We were like two sides of the same coin, I didn’t like to have him too far away from me for too long. “Yeonju-”

“AHH!” I jumped back with a yelp as a lanky figure sprung out from the row next to me, grabbing me and spinning around with a gloating laugh. 

“Yeonjun!” I smacked him softly, a teasing groan parting his lips as he poked my cheeks.

“I got you~” He smiled, pinching my cheeks and poking my sides in quick succession to tease me further. 

“Yeonjun, that wasn’t funny, I was scared you got lost or hurt.” I sulked, pushing his shoulder and sending him back into a bush. 

“Hey! If anything in this garden is going to hurt me, it’s you!” He stuck his tongue out, pushing himself up and coming to sling an arm around my shoulder. “Sorry for scaring you, your highness. Now let’s go find Soobin!”

~

It was coronation night. Everything had been going to plan, I don’t know what happened. The food was delicious, the music was wonderful, the palace was decorated in beautiful blues and golds, snapdragons and coriander lining the halls, all in celebration of me. 

Before I knew it, Yeonjun was grabbing me and running, up the stairs and directly to my rooms. 

“Stay here, don’t move no matter what. I’ll come back to get you, don’t worry.” He’d said. That was almost an hour ago. I’d stayed huddled under my bed, blankets wrapped tight around me, my once perfectly done hair and perfectly fitted clothing all in ruins as I sat silently sobbing under my bed. I couldn’t see anything, couldn’t hear anything. Anything but screaming and groaning coming from the halls. I felt sick, but I was scared to move for fear that someone would burst in and find me doubled over, dry heaving and panicking. 

All I could think of was Yeonjun, Soobin, probably being put to use to fight away whoever had laid siege to the palace. Under any other circumstance, I would’ve smiled and laughed at the mere thought of Soobin, in all of his clumsy, bounding glory, weilding a sword. This time it just made me feel sicker. 

With a heavy sigh, I rolled out from under my bed, creeping forward towards the door out to the hallway. As soon as I cracked it open, I saw two bodies. Guards. There was silence, even in the distance now. I hoped it was because people were hiding, not because there wasn’t anyone else to scream. I crept out slowly into the hall, moving towards the larger corridor at the end of it. I peeked around the corner, relief flooding over me when I saw Yeonjun standing outside of one of the doors.

“Yeonjun!” I called to him, his face whipping around in surprise. I ran towards him; his face was a little battered, he was covered in blood, but I didn’t care. He was right there.

And then, he tensed. He jumped back anxiously when I tried to pull him in to me, his eyes never once meeting mine. 

“Yeonjun? What’s wrong?” I asked. I attempted to search his face, but I couldn’t see him. “Do you know where Soobin is, is he okay?”

“Uh, I-“

“Yeonjun!” My heart jumped at the sound of Soobin’s sweet, deep voice, booming through the halls. I turned to see him coming towards us, a desperate smile plastered on my face as he approached. He was okay.

“Soobin, I-“

“We need to get out of here, soon, before anybody gets brave.” He spared a glance from Yeonjun over to me, his eyebrows furrowing before he looked back at Yeonjun. “Before anyone finds the heir, especially here with us. None of us are gonna benefit from that.” With that, he pushed past us, not even a second glance or the slightest bit of remorse as I watched his retreating back. I tore my eyes away, looking back to Yeonjun, waiting for him to say that it was all a stupid twisted awful prank that he was super super genuinely sorry for pulling, or that it was a spontaneous drill, or that it was anything other than what it really was.

“Yeonjun?” My voice cracked as I waited for him to respond. I waited for him to look up from the floor, but he never did; not my Yeonjun at least. The one that looked at me was broken and a traitor. I hated him.

“I’m sorry, your highness. I really mean it this time.”

“No-“

“Yes. I mean it, I’m so, so sorry.” If I had been any dumber, I would’ve believed it when I thought I heard his voice crack. I would’ve believed that maybe he felt an ounce of remorse for any of this. If I were any smarter, I would’ve tackled him to the ground before he got the chance to walk away and taken him to the dungeons myself.

But I wasn’t: smarter, dumber. I was just sad and defeated and almost positively alone. I watched him leave, just as Soobin did, and I sat there and cried.

~

“How did you do this, dad?” I muttered to the painting hanging up in the great hall. I was struggling to balance the crown on my head, running through the words I would say to my people in just a few moments. Dad never struggled with these sorts of things, or at least it was never quite as obvious.

Both of my parents had been taken in the siege; a good portion of jewelry and gold had been taken, and the original crown that I was supposed to wear was nowhere to be found. Most of the people in attendance that night were traumatized, injured, or dead.

The doors opened onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard, and it was time for me to act like royalty again. I swallowed a lump in my throat as flags with depictions of Yeonjun and Soobin dropped from the banisters above me, shading me from the sun. “These are highly dangerous, highly capable individuals. Don’t let their looks fool you.” Not like they did me. “If you must engage, do so. Do whatever it takes. Protect yourself first.”