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headingalaxys-spicy · 6 months ago

Note

Can I ask for a country!reader with aph america, china and russia who used to depend on them for survival in the past because they were very poor, but now they are successful and distancing themselves? Thanks

I uh got lost on this one and it’s a long Drabble where I think I hit the mark but didn’t .

This one is kind of a long read.

Anyways I still hope you enjoy!

America 🇺🇸

Reminsing about the times you used to cling to him for everything.

You and your citizens needed food because your nation was experiencing a once-in-a-mellinnia drought?

You got it. Alfred would have prepared you and all of your people a splendid feast. He’s more than happy to provide.

Lacking clothes?

Not a problem. He’s made sure that all the clothes you require are bespoke. You look stunning & quickly made any other nation stare at you in awe whenever you attended world meetings with Alfred. Since you needed him, you did your best to prove your loyalty to him in subtle but sufficient ways. You always hung off his arm whenever meetings adjourned or before they began. You always sat next to him & voted in his favor when he did something for you. You’d become the lovely little charm he enjoyed showing on the world stage. He loved having all the strings attached to you. You were like a perfectly crafted marionette doll made just for him.

Alfred was always interested in maintaining dominance in your relationship. It was amusing to watch you attempt to break that power dynamic.

Alfred is going to allow you to cut your ties to him symbolically. He’ll allow your economy to blossom, the education sector to bloom, and you have one of the best healthcare systems. You’d figured out how to be efficient. But you had no military because you depended on him, and he couldn’t have you be too far independent from him. But to some degree, he wants you to believe that you are. He didn’t want to lose, just like England. He was better than him and felt that he’d always maintain control over you. It was obvious you couldn’t take care of yourself. You needed him. To him, your success was temporary.

The moment he sees the first string break from his precious puppet, he begins devising a plan to pin you with iron strings.

“Y/N? Why are you looking into how to structure a military? Aren’t the bases I gave you enough? But also aren’t your people kinda weak and like being with books and having intellectuals and farmers?”

“Yeah….” You began hesitantly and try to concoct a lie that would soothe his fears about being abandoned. You began to abhor the tight strings that choked the life out of your wrists. You wanted to begin to break free so that you could create a future independent of him & his contracts.

“No…actually…” Your voice was trembling now. You forced your arms outwards to the open air, waiting for the divine silver scissors to cut loose your wrists.

“I appreciate you, Alfred… I really do…but” You stare at him straight in the eyes, summoning your strength. His blue orbs had darkened with scary ghost-like shadows. Still you marched onwards.

“But I want to build myself up and be on my own.”

Alfred bit down on his own lip. Holding back his rage was difficult for him but he was desperately in love with you. He thought you would have known that it would have been your permanent place to be with him. The deal was that you were supposed to be in debt to him forever. And forever means until the end of time! Till the two of you were the last people standing in the midst of an alien war, the only ones on a desolate island. You were designed perfectly for him, but he had to let you find out just how difficult it is to be in charge of through thick & thin.

“That also means….” You place a comforting hand on his cheek to break him out of his internal fantasy of the two of you against the world. You attempt to soften the blow to his already bruised ego. A sprinkle of light briefly flashes over his eyes. You already know that what you’ve just started is going to be a major emotional endeavor.

“I can pay you back” A bright like the summer sun smile graced your face & melted some of the ice that had formed in his heart after hearing you wanted to become independent from him.

‘Y/N why do you have to do this to me? Why in hell do you want that of which is forbidden?’ He placed his hand on top of you hand that still cradled his cheek.

“Okay just let me know if I can hel-”

“NO! No… America…I’ve got to learn how to do things on my own. If I depend on you all the time I’ll never know how to do anything.”

The strings that are attached to your soul shake. Your wrists had been cut free by the silver scissors. That feeling was terrifying and magnificent.

Alfred's heart was hit with the sharp sting of a lightning bolt. What he feared was beginning to manifest into reality. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. It made him insanely angry and drove him mad. You never called him by his nation's name like that, at least not in a long time.

“Okay [Country Name]. We can talk later.” He politely removes your hand from his face and leaves you without giving you a hug good-bye. Alfred didn’t give you another glance before he left you alone. Once the door slammed shut that’s when his scheming began.

He will take you down like an agonizing tumor once you have your nation properly running. Alfred will allow you to stabilize because he wants to dissolve you slowly. He will document every miscalculation, bad decision, and failed proposal & use it as evidence that you should have never been allowed to be in charge of your own nation. This time his newer strings would be made of impenetrable steel.

Cartels and Mafias suddenly began to spring up in all of your major cities and spread to the suburbs. Your police departments were ineffective at solving the crime waves that were sweeping your small nation. Your government, of course, was in a panic due to the magnitude and rapid pace of these crime sprees. It only took three weeks for the chaos of the mafia wars to be taken to the quieter streets in the suburbs. There was an apparent hunt to find a drug den that had the product of at least $15 million. It was also rumored that it’s likely a scared diamond somewhere in your nation's midst.

“Oh, this is getting insane!”

You were watching the coverage of your nation's trials and tribulations on international television. America’s news outlets seemed to be particularly harsh. Deep down you were beginning to doubt whether being independent from him was the right choice.

‘Everything is getting so bad so quickly.’

You tap your fingers nervously against your desk until the fact dawns on you that: Dealing with tough issues was a part of life.

You take a deep inhale in and call a meeting with your boss, emergency response teams, & negotiators. You pop open your computer to take notes and devise a plan. You were ready for the crazy next few months with lots of caffeine and difficult conversations.

Alfred hates that you’ve become self-sufficient and can handle the major crises he’s constructed. You had cut loose your feet by now. You knew your silver scissors hungered for more. All you had left to cut was that of which was around your neck. He didn’t want to see you free.

The next thing Alfred will try to attack is your economy. Can’t run a nation on an empty bank account. As he drew up plans to make your nation sink under, there was a delicate knock at the door. He knew it was you. His heart hums fast-paced with anxiety-filled music.

‘Why won’t they be mine?’ He repeats over and over again in his mind. He swiftly flips his plan board to its other blank slate.

“Come in Y/N I know it’s you!” The door swings open to unveil his lovely puppet. You were ecstatic as you practically sprinted to him as you busted through the door. You had a white envelope with you.”

“Here you are Alfred some of what I owe you!” You gleefully hand him your payment. His heart begins to reveal that it has cracks that begin to deepen.

‘They can’t be doing this! How could they?!?! How in the fuck can they not see that they were made for me!’ Alfred didn’t want to admit he admired your determination. You really could be indepe-

Blood crept up his throat at the thought of your independence.

The check that you handed him may as well have been the sharp end of an axe. It made his blood run between ice and fire. He was angry that you desired the forbidden fruit and sad to some degree that you didn’t want him as much as he wanted you.

‘Weren’t you always supposed to stick around with the people who save you….Y/N? I’m your hero after all those decades…That means I’m supposed to own you for life dammit.’

Your hand on his shoulder will jolt him back to reality.

“Alfred, are you okay?”

“Me? Yeah. Yeah. Just busy and consumed with a few important things.” His eyes don’t meet yours they stay surveying the ground. He’s fighting the urge to pin you down & steal your silver scissors before they have a chance to become the ax. It means that you’d be able to sever your ties forever and be in-

“No.” He says to the frigid air-conditioned room.

“Hmm?”

“Long day Y/N and even longer month. You should go.” He shoos you away in an attempt to save face & not showcase his worse tendencies just yet. He needed you to believe that he was 100% on board with your plan to be 100% independent from him.

“Okay! I won’t linger. I’ll have another payment for you soon!” You rush off to continue with your ambitious endeavor. His heart never failed to flutter furiously whenever he was hit by your fiery determination. That’s one of the reasons he loved you and why he had to have you. He was itching to have you living with him again.

Once he see’s that you’d come a significant way in paying off your debt to him you had flourishing trade deals with larger countries that seemed to benefit your population greatly. You were doing it. The thick thread that was around your neck shook.

Alfred’s eye will twitch in reacting to the shift in power. He hated how you weren’t in his home doing more important things like cooking with him, playing video games, pigging out on pizza and watching movies. You knew how to soothe him, make him laugh, and fit perfectly between his arms.

Why did you have to break your responsibility to protect his heart?! Alfred’s inner turmoil about losing you will only increase. It will reach a boiling point where he’s going to resort to kidnapping you if you refuse to have a close permanent relationship where he can easily dominate you.

He shatters those silver scissors you possess into millions of tiny pieces. He doesn’t fail like Arthur because he is superior to that old man of his past. The iron strings will be bitterly cold & burn your skin. The steam of hate will be felt in the air as you know Alfred would never allow you to be without your strings. After all, you were all he’s ever wanted in his lonely life.

China 🇨🇳

There are many early mornings when the beauty of the Spring Blossoms takes his mind off of how his heart aches when he’s without you. With his legs crossed and his mouth inhaling deeply, his mind takes stock of the lack of noise in the background.

You weren’t there because you’d moved away.

Yao’s eye twitched at that awful thought. It made him sick to his stomach. He’s been through numerous wars, scandals, collapses, & centuries worth of bullshit. It’s not like he hadn’t felt betrayal but since he regarded you differently from the others. You had a certain effect on his heart, making him infatuated with you. You were like a rare gem unearthed from the Forbidden City. You were special to him, and no one else was allowed to have you. He, like Alfred, will want to maintain a calm & collected composure in front of you. Yao didn’t want you to know he hated the idea of you separating from him to become more independent. He wanted to keep you trapped in his beautifully crafted glass cage.

‘How in the hell does Y/N not love the life I meticulously crafted for them here?’ His mind wanders to all the fun outings you did together….hand-in-hand. One of the main things he enjoyed doing with you was drifting through Wangfujing snack street—the hustle and buzz of the sea of people that frequented the busy night market.

He loved being your guide & seeing your face light up when you tried something new & enjoyed it.

‘How could that not be enough for you Y/N?’

His nails scrape at his freshly pressed sage brown military uniform. The thick fabric crinkled under his frustration. He understood that having power over you would eventually make you want to escape him. He, however, was impressed with how you breached security systems and bypassed his guards.

For as long as you depended on him Yao primarily treated your relationship as he was your mentor that you were always supposed to adhere to. He always took up most of the time you had in the majority of your schedule. Yao hardly allowed you without his supervision either he or one of his guards was beside you. But what did that matter? Why should you complain? He provided for you since you’d come to him at his doorstep. You were desperate, destitute & in great need. You required his assistance & his tender love and care.

“Of course, y/n of course! Come in! You look sickly I can nurse you back to health!” Yao was ecstatic when you crawled to him in your desperate hour. It meant that he had an opportunity to ensnare you for all of your existence. That’s why he crafted that golden cage for you. It was beautiful, and that's all that should have mattered to you. Yao defended you well whether it be in the negotiation room on the world stage or even on the battlefield.

Yao had you covered. But you were still desperate to leave. It’s why the ground had tiny shards of glass that cut into him deeply.

Yao takes another deep inhale. He understood all too well that this was just a rebellious state & you’d soon be reminded of your place. All he’d have to do is retrieve & re-educate you.

Yao is going to devise ways to make your economy come to a sluggish crawl. He knows it is foolish to allow you to have a strong cultural economy which allowed your nation to expand your tourism, architecture, & education sectors. This allowed you to have time away from him so that you could develop your own ideals… a determent to his dominant control over you & your people. He wanted to keep you trapped in the delusion that you needed him for your survival.

‘The time for my sweet y/n to play this foolish game of independence has run it’s course.’

Yao’s mind blissfully wandered back to the days when he’d first found you: poor, destitute, and alone. You didn’t have any fight within you as a struggling nation. You and your people were on the verge of giving up all hope. Everyone who was a [name of your nation's people] wanted to resign themselves to being dissolved into the cold void of space, leaving behind nothing more than a chapter or two within the catalog of history.

That all changed when you caught the eye of one of the oldest empires in the world: China. He sought you out due to the fact that you were a lovely nation that sat near the sea. You had prime port spots and beautiful land whose capabilities were best suited for farming. He could take you under his wing & teach you how to utilize your available resources to it’s full capabilities. Not to squander itlike you were so foolishly doing.

He recognizes that his first huge miscalculation in maintaining control over you was allowing you to have unsupervised educational rights. You began to craft a population that valued critical thought over blindly following direction from those in charge.

Yao’s eye twitches once more. The thought of having to contend with a [country name] intellectual, professor, or anyone who’s been through your unique but effective education system meant he had….

“General Wang!” You have a response to the contract that you sent to [country name] for review.

Yao was eager to see your response to a partnership deal that was riddled with a ton of underhanded loopholes he could take advantage of if you disobeyed him. He was able to sense the hesitation in the soldier's hand. It wanted to jerk back. To keep his eyes away from the offensive sight.

“Let me guess the Magpie didn’t want to nest and make a home in its beautifully gilded cage?” No trace of surprise in his monotone voice. Within the calm, there was a silent raging anger brewing beneath his skin.

‘How fucking dare you Y/N. Using me. Don't you know once in debt you’ll always be in debt?’

It takes him a couple of decades to even acknowledge that he has feelings for you. By the time he does, he’s already rescued your nation a few times. He knew he felt differently about you just he couldn’t pinpoint why.

Yao hoped that you’d be satisfied with having the illusion of freedom. You could pick your clothes, what you ate, what outings. That was enough for a while. After all, you did come from a [country name] where there was nothing but struggle and strife and hardly enough to get by. It was easy at first to satiate your population with feasts that had high-quality and fresh food. Dim Sum day and night accompanied by the best teas and wines.

Yao LOVED showing off his knowledge of tea, whether it be a strong black tea that kicked alive all of your senses or a green tea that relaxed you to sleep and gave you lovely dreams. Crafting food and drinks was one of his specialties. He put extra passion and flare when it came to making food for you. That and he is trying to show off. He didn’t always need military power or grand spectacles to captivate. Thats what he had developed his cooking skills for. He could prove that he was more than just a political stronghold…he had a gentle side too. Yao is going to make a spectacle while he cooks. He will do back flips as he makes your pan-fried dumplings or spruces up your rice. His heart flutters with joy whenever he sees you giggle. It was like getting a strong hit of opium. You’re his addiction, and he wasn’t going to give it up. He wanted to create reasons as to why you should always be around him. So if keeping you poor was a part of the game, he was willing to do so.

He’s not an idiot or blind to how you’d be in pain from him being ruthless in trying to keep you under his thumb. So he does give you some economic leverage and allow your people to concentrate solely on art. He adored it when you created masterpieces especially when they were exclusively for him. It was easy & it wouldn’t burst the delicate bubble of reality that he wanted to keep you trapped in. It prevented the both of you for a while from thinking about the future. Yao could once again see his and your nation become tied together and be content. However, that's a double-edged sword as it does eventually lead you to crave more.

Yao is going to create a cyclical conundrum for himself: Give you microdoses of freedom that slowly show you that you can be independent and happy while fighting the urge to want to take you over and never let you be free and see you sad. He still has to worry about you seeking susbatantial answers he’s not really ready to answer (if ever). He hoped to some degree that as an immortal nation, you’d come to be infantilized forever. But he could not pause progress.

“You’re 100% right sir. Y/N & [citizen name] didn’t really want to be beholden to you anymore. The parliament has decided to vote against your proposal. They seem determined to forage their own way.”

“Dammit Y/N why do you have to be incredibly headstrong!” He springs to his feet as soon as the anger rushed through his body.

“Why do you have to be so ungrateful? Why do you show no respect? How in the world can Y/N not see that I LOVE & just want to PROTECT you!”

“Well, sir I suppose it’s time to resort to less gentle tactics to make them concede.”

“Oh, my rebellious misguided magpie. What am I going to do with you? Looks like you’re going to do with you? Looks like you’re going to need a heavy dose of tough love.”

Yao snaps his finger for his soldier to come close.

“If they want to prod the dragon as it sleeps then I’ll let the people of [country name] find out how foolish that is.”

Yao is going to “peacefully” kidnap you meaning he will bribe who he can and kill whoever can’t be reasoned with money when it comes to your security detail. He’s going to make a show of it. It will start when you accidentally cut yourself with glass. It will begin at the sole of your foot. Birds will suddenly join your midst. A black and white feather will land in your small puddle of blood.

“More won’t have to be spilled Y/N if you just give in.”

Russia 🇷🇺

At first, Ivan will be lax & he won’t really acknowledge the things that you’re trying to do to separate from him. He’ll want to believe he’s downed too much vodka and cocktails. It’s nonsense. Nonsense. All of it. Since you’d been with him for so long & still in debt to him he believed that’s guarantee that you’d never leave him. At this point in his mind, he’s built the narrative that you stayed because you loved him.

“ I wish things didn’t have to be this way,” Ivan says coldly with his pipe in one hand and love letter in the other.

At the beginning of your relationship, when you and your people were down on your luck, he saw you as a feminine version of Latvia that he wanted to protect and bear hug 24/7.

“Let the loving, warm arms of Mother Russia help you.”

Ivan is eager to assist you & your impoverished people not only because he is fond of you but because you have beautiful tracks of land when it’s not being bombarded by drought and animals facing severe infection and plagues. It seemed for some reason that sunshine and prosperity had been avoiding you like finding a cure to heal your cattle.

“Hmm? Ummm…” Were the only words that you could summon. You were shocked that one of the superpowers would come over to chit-chat with you. To some degree you knew you were hardly a faint blip on most nations radar.

“Y/N you’re cute when you behave like a nervous kitten.” He placed his gloved bear paw on top of your head. When he did so you could finally take stalk of how much taller he was than you. At least a foot and a few inches. Your muscles soon tensed up and intimidation along with a host of other emotions suddenly flooded your nervous system.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. I guess. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately you know?” Nervous still you began to involuntarily shake. You could tell if it was caused by your nerves or hunger. Being in his presence was intense. You bite down on your lip hoping there was at least some decent food when you got back to your room like your boss had promised. Your facade of keeping it together without collapsing seemed like an impossible task.

“Stress? What kind of stress? Tell me da? We are friends now after all aren’t we?” His pure periwinkle eyes sparkled with glitter with hints of black specks within them.

“Huh? I mean we’ve been on a few committees and have been in a few voting blocks together, but it’s …” You knew you had to be careful with your choice of words. One wrong one and you knew he could crush you in one quick motion only using his wrist.

You hardly had the energy to stand. You began to wobble. You became woozy.

“Come. Y/N. Come. You must sit sunflower. You look pale & weak.”

You were definitely going to ignore his emphasis on the word ‘weak’. You kept it as a mental note in the back of your head.

‘He’s being a bit suspicious and creepy. I wonder if he’s about to offer…’

“About to make you a kind offer you won’t forget.”

‘Is he!? No. NO. I’m definitely going loopy due to hunger.’ You were trying to concoct a response that was equal parts composed, resilient, and calm. However, that process was cut short when a grey, black, and white static filled your eyes. Rendering you incapable of seeming like a nation that had their shit together. Quite the opposite. With no response, Russia will take the lead. He placed his hand on your upper back. He took note of how your palms and fingers were spread apart wide in an attempt to stabilize yourself. Your eyes were glazed over with an exhausted grey mist.

He chuckles in amusement.

‘Man, this is going to be easy.’

It took a few minutes before your haze finally lifted. However, it felt like your soul had left your body and you were just an empty husk running on fumes.

“Um, this is really a conversation for a later time…” Unable to think of ways to navigate a negotiation with a massive country like Russia. You could at least buy yourself some time and try to talk to someone for advice. You know that it seemed benevolent but had plenty of tight ropes, strings, and red lines that come attached with such a deal.

“After the meeting, we can talk it out over dinner. I can show you some of my nation's best food.” His aura brightened at the fact that you’d be more within his domain and far deeper within his influence.

Russia, at this point, is kinda like a honey trap. He learned this tactic from his friend (enemy at times) America. Knowing how to be a smooth charmer even though he tends to have an unsettling presence that has chaotic energy with a baby face. He incorporates but doesn’t copy America. Russia tends to lean on his disarming soft face to help him and instead of offering punishments first, he’s more likely to offer an insensitive with maybe a threat at the end. (This only tends to happen if he can’t see that you’re responding positively to what’s being offered.) So Russia knows how to show more restraint.

Of course, you didn’t say no to the private meeting you had with him. Your boss practically begged you to do so, along with some of your citizens and advisers.

“How can we say no? You have to Y/N! What do we have to lose at this point?”An advisor stated with urgency.

“We can figure it out as we go but we must do something! This is a sign this is it!” Another citizen piped up.

“All right, all right I’ll go.”

Ivan will introduce you to this five-point plan that he drafted. It will be showcased through Matryoshka Doll. The five stages will explain how you will become one with Mother Russia without losing your recognizable national heritage.

‘Don’t worry’ is what he’ll assure you. He’s got all the heavy lifting. Just allow him to set the pace and control everything.

Ivan won’t immediately snap you up like a Venus fly trap. He knows that he has to manage you and all of your people, constituents, and other parties. He’ll let all settle in before he begins to move any plan forward.

Ivan’s scarf had wrapped around your shoulders as he brought out a Matryoshka doll that was about the size of your thumb.

“You will receive a new one once you complete a new phase. It shows how close friends we’ve become.”

Your eyes wander down to the bright red hooded figure that is decorated with Ivy and Azalea flowers. You ran your index finger down the smooth surface. You admired the intermixing of the pastels with the primary colors. The florals seemed to string themselves together like a fence that had cursive graffiti on it. In the back of your mind, you still couldn’t help but feel that you were making a huge mistake even if on the surface, things between you and Ivan would be smooth.

“We first have to ensure that your citizens are able to eat, have proper housing, and all of their other basic needs are met. You’ll have to live with me of course.”

‘Maybe, I’m just overthinking it. After all what choice do I really have? It’s not like I’ve been able to survive to well on my own.’

Your thumb continued to rub the fresh paint. The Azalea flowers encapsulated and sustained you. They were lovely because they represented the current concealed love. The colors made you feel safe and comforting. The coolness of the wood brought goosebumps to your skin. Your immune system was trying to send warning signs but you continued to ignore them for the idea that permanent comfort wasn’t too far off. The suffering was beginning to be too much to tolerate daily.

Ivan will make sure that you’re comfortable in his house. He’ll allow you to go see your nation every 4 months or so. The rest of the time will be you learning proper Russian, the culture, history, etc.

As you began to adjust to life with him, you enjoyed not having to face hardships. It was nice not to have to worry about where your next meal was to come from or how some of your particularly vulnerable cities managed to survive with minimal resources. These questions were no longer at the forefront of your mind. You allowed the sweet side of life to dull your senses.

The next part of Ivan’s five-point plan involves him having full jurisdiction of your military bases, ports, secret hubs, etc. He didn’t want you or your population getting into battle.

Ivan’s log-like arm was draped over you, and he introduced you to some of his seasoned commanders who’d be taking over all of your military operations. As you trailed behind him through the Russian-built base, you were in awe of the immense firepower he possessed and was lending to you. It was a not-so-subtle reminder of how much you now depended on him. It was the first time that you realized that you entered an inescapable pact that you made with Ivan. Your mind had finally registered the second doll with the Camellia flowers had been firmly sealed around you as it was tossed into the sea.

A firm squeeze on your hand brought you back to reality. Ivan’s sweet and somewhat sinister smile that adorned his pale snow face reassured you that everything would be fine so long as you were in his care.

If you want to escape him with the least emotional and economic damage and the lowest detriment to your citizens, then you really should have prevented him from setting up any kind of military infrastructure. So he now has a strategic advantage if (and or when) you try to separate from him.

As a nuclear power he of course, never let you have a program for energy much less for weapons. If you ever asked about such things ice and snow will coat the room while his face will have the everpresent smile remaining on Ivan’s face. His icicle-like ‘why’ was more than enough for you to never bring the subject up with him again.

The comfort began to feel more like constriction….suffocation. The air around you felt like you were in the vacuum of space.

The final matryoshka doll is decorated with cedar leaves (I will live for thee), Yellow Hyacinths (Jelously), Ivy (Wedded Love), and Primrose (I cannot live without you). It was handed to you right before the two of you began another tense meeting on why you’re trying to become more independent.

“I will not be without you Y/N nation of [insert most recognized attribute]”

“Hmmm?” Trying to make sure you didn’t just hear that highly possessive statement. Trying to give Ivan a chance to walk that back. After a minute of uncomfortable silence, you break it.

“Ivan, are you okay?” Your voice trembles out.

“Da Y/N….But we do have some difficult discussions to be had.” He closed his book with a loud thud, it was loud enough to make you jump in your seat a little.

At this point, it’s game over. Whatever well-thought-out plan you may have made to be independent of him may as well be strapped to a rocket being sent to the moon. If you want to be successful, you’d need another superpower backing you or extremely good socioeconomic conditions and political unrest in Russia to actually be able to win against him.

#hetalia #hetalia fandom #yandere hetalia axis powers #yandere hetalia #yandere hetalia x reader #hws #hws america #headingalaxys writes stuff #ヘタリア #alfred f jones #ivan braginski #yao wang

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hoomandoescosplay · 6 months ago

Text

Drunken Confessions | Vox x Reader Oneshot

I lean back in my office chair as I let out a long sigh. “Man this day was draining.” I stretch my arms up helping my body to relax before standing up from my chair.

My office door swings open as I stand and I see Vox using the doorframe for support. I eye him questionably as I take in his appearance.

He stumbles into the room without his suit jacket and his shirt slightly unbuttoned. He quickly walks over to me and pulls me into a tight hug putting most of his body weight on me.

As he holds me he looks down at me with a flushed case and half-lidded eyes. I wrap my arms around him to help support his weight and notice the strong scent of alcohol on him.

"(Y/N)..." he says my name with a flirtatious tone but in a whisper making his breath brush against my face.

“Yes Vox?” I reply back trying to gauge how drunk he actually is right now. He leaned down pulling me back into a hug burying his face in my shoulder and kissing my neck as he spoke.

"I'm drunk..." he mumbled, his breath warm against my skin. His eyes were half closed and his hands started lazily tracing patterns on my back.

He chuckled to himself, the sound slightly slurred from the alcohol. I tense up slightly as he kisses my neck but quickly relax as I sigh.

“I’m glad we’re self aware. Come on, let me get you to your room.” I try to gently pry him off of me so I can start leading him to his room.

He clings to me tightly, his grip refusing to loosen, still nuzzling his face against my neck.

"I don't want to go to my room," he whined, pressing his body against mine. "I want to stay with you." he mumbled.

I glance at the clock on the wall as he continues to embrace me. “Vox, it’s super late, you need to go to your room and sleep.”

He shook his head refusing to let go. Instead he starts leaning down and tracing his lips down my neck, leaving behind kisses. Once he reaches the crook of my neck he nuzzled against it.

"No..." he breathed. "Not tired, not done with you yet." his words were getting more slurred and his hot breath sent shivers down my spine.

My face immediately flushes. “Alrighty no more of that.” I pull him away from me but still hold him up so he doesn’t fall.

“We’re friends but we’re also coworkers and you’re way too drunk and clingy right now. If you don’t want to go to bed at least sit on the couch and let me get you some water.” I try to compromise with him.

He whined in complaint but relented and allowed me to lead him over to the couch. His drunken state and his clinginess made it difficult, but it didn't help that he refused to let go of me. Once we reached the couch, he sat down but continued to pull at me.

"You're warm." he mumbled, pulling me down with him so I ended up sitting on his lap. I sigh as I eye my mini fridge across the room with water.

As he sat sprawled out on the couch, and me now sitting on his lap, I can feel his chest moving with every breath he took and his heart beating.

He stared drunkenly into my eyes, his gaze hazy and unfocused. "You're pretty," he mumbled with a smile. His fingers were gently tracing the hem of my shirt.

“Even though I know you're drunk, hearing you give out compliments is very odd.” I joke. He looked up at me with half-closed eyes and a crooked smile as he continued tracing circles on my back and pulled me in closer.

"Maybe I should compliment you more often," he mumbled. He reached up and tangled his hands in my hair, staring at my face for a moment before his gaze drifted lower.

"Or maybe I just really want to make out with you right now," he added, his words slurring together.

We’re both silent for a moment as we observe one another. I feel myself tense up at the thought that just popped up in my head. “Do you like me Vox?”

He can’t possibly have feelings for me right? We’ve known each other for a while, but we just recently became friends. I’ve worked for him longer than we’ve been friends. There's no way he has feelings for me.

He kept staring at me with his drunken, lust-filled gaze and a crooked smile. He seemed to be processing my question, contemplating the answer.

Then he suddenly wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. "Of course I do," he mumbled, leaning down to press a kiss against the top of my head.

"You're beautiful and smart and... " he trailed off, his eyes wandering down as he started tracing circles on my back again.

As my body relaxes into his own all I can do is process what he just said. Vox likes me. Sure he’s drunk right now but for some reason I can tell he meant what he said.

His hands continued tracing circles on my back, occasionally making their way up to my neck and stroking my hair. His touch is gentle yet possessive, his fingers lingering on my skin and occasionally digging lightly into my flesh.

He mumbled something I didn't quite catch as he moved his head down to my neck, burying his face against it as his lips lazily traced kisses down my skin.

As he kissed my skin, he began mumbling more incoherent praises and murmurs. He nuzzled his face against my throat, his breath hot and his lips tracing a burning path as he moved from my neck to my jaw.

“Vox.” I murmur out. He lifts his head up, looking at me with a hazy and unfocused gaze.

His eyes were half closed and his breath was warm and tinged with the smell of alcohol as he looked at me curiously. He seemed lost, like the sound of his name was hard for him to process.

"Yes," he mumbled, his words slightly slurred, his gaze still hazy and unfocused. He reached up to touch me, brushing a strand of hair out of my face with a lazy gesture.

“As much as I love this, you should really go to bed.” I give him a gentle smile as I squeeze his upper arm softly.

Vox groaned in response, his grip on me tightening slightly. There was a trace of drunken defiance in his slurred voice as he complained. "Don't wanna." he mumbled, his words slurring together. "Wanna stay with you."

I can’t help but let out a small laugh at his defiance. He’s so different when he’s drunk. “I never said I’d leave you. I just said you need to go to bed.”

His grip on me loosened slightly at my words and he groaned again, burying his face in my shoulder for a moment before mumbling something incoherent.

He seemed to be weighing his options, deciding between arguing or just giving in to my request.

After a moment, he seemed to give in and allowed me to lead him away to his room. His room wasn’t too far away from my office so it was a quick walk.

As soon as we got to his room I helped him sit on his bed and quickly grabbed a bottle of water for him before he could grab me.

He sat on the bed, leaning back against the headboard, a pout forming on his face as he watched me grab the bottle of water.

As soon as I handed it to him, he began taking big gulps from it. The water seemed to help him sober up slightly, his gaze becoming less hazy and unfocused.

However, the intoxication still seemed to linger on him as he still looked at me with a drunken smile and his cheeks flushed red. “C’mere.” He mutters out while tapping the empty spot next to him.

I obliged to his small request and sat next to him. He readjusts himself so he’s laying on his back and pulls me into him so I’m on my side with my head on his chest.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to his chest and nestling his face in my hair. As his fingers traced circles on my back, he let out a content sigh.

The sound of his heartbeat and the slow rise and fall of his chest creates a soothing rhythm that I can feel beneath my cheek.

“You’re comfy.” he mumbled against my head, his voice still slightly slurred and I began to smile. “Good you should be able to fall asleep no problem then.”

He smiled softly, his fingers now tracing lazy patterns on my back. "Mmmm I'll fall asleep... If you give me a kiss." he said in a half slurred whisper.

His gaze was still hazy, but he had regained some clarity as he stared at me, his smirk lazy yet cocky.

I start to laugh as his normal personality is starting to resurface. I sit up slightly and place my hand on his cheek. We stare at each other for a moment before I lean further in and kiss him gently.

He immediately reciprocates, the kiss slow and languid as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

As the kiss lasted, he deepened it slightly, tilting his head to get a better angle. The kiss continued for a few moments before he finally breaks away, a small smirk lingering on his face.

“Hmmm I guess I can go to sleep now.” he said in a low tone. The smirk quickly became a smile as he pulled me back down and held me close to his chest.

“Good cause you’ve made me exhausted.” I joke as I wrap my arm around his waist. He chuckled softly, the sound warm and low in his chest.

He continued to hold me tight, taking a deep inhale before letting out a content sigh. His fingers lazily traced patterns on my back, slowly slowing down as his breathing became deeper and slower. He seemed to finally relax and let sleep start to take over his body.

“I like you too, Vox.” I whisper as I begin to fall asleep as well. Right before I fell asleep, I thought I heard him mumble something that sounded like "I love you" in a tired and slurred speech.

But I couldn’t be sure if he did say that in his drunken stupor or if my sleep-addled brain was just wishful thinking. Either way I was extremely content right now.

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ellievickstar · 1 year ago

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River Side Confessions.

Summary: When you ask the shadow singer to help train your muscles, one thing leads to another, and you both end up together.

Request: N/A

Pairing: Azriel x Reader

Warnings: Pranks, Azriel threatening the sanctity and secrecy of cookie stashes.

~*~*~*~*~

“When I said ‘train me to become stronger’, I really didn’t mean ‘drag me to the mountains and force me into a river’.” You were annoyed to say the least. Annoyed and sick of Azriel who was currently chuckling at you from a rock near by, standing tall as he looked down at you with those hazel eyes.

Earlier this week you had asked him if he was free to do some extra training with you because you felt like you were becoming rusty, especially since all the big wars and battles were over and all you dealt with were the occasional illyrian brute in the difficult camps.

In retrospect, you should have asked someone else. However, Azriel was significantly better than Cassian and if Cassian had gotten a hint that you wanted even a little extra training, cauldron forbid whatever he would have planned.

So maybe standing in a river trying to maintain your balance against the strong current was a decent situation, but that did not mean that you would not complain about it.

“This is training,” Azriel retorted, “With all the moping around since the war and utter lack of missions on a whole, your core muscles has probably weakened, and in hand-to-hand combat, that isn’t good, princess,” You glared at him harder.

“In simple words,” He continued, “You would be screwed if you were on a battle field right now.” Rolling you eyes, you hated that what he said was true. You had noticed that your muscles had weakened, though your technique was flawless, posture can be everything in close combat, and relying on your magic was not an option especially since Hybern had brought concoctions like Faebane into play.

Cursing at yourself, you despised how your heart seemed to leap and swoon at the nickname, and you hated how your stomach seemed to be in knots at the tired and sultry look Azriel was giving you.

Nesta would probably be screaming in your ear right now that this was some romance scene and the two of you would realise that you were both meant for each other.

Bullshit.

And maybe you should have known better than to fixate on your very real and long-term crush on the shadowsinger because just as you wanted to roll your eyes again at the thought of Nesta and her hopeless romantic novels, your foot slipped and you squealed as you fell into the water and was thrown against the rock that Azriel was standing on.

You heard Azriel curse as he grabbed you by your shoulder and hauled you out of the water.

“Shit shit shit,” Gritting his teeth he flew you to land and lay you down gently, you were bleeding from your head and you could feel the warm liquid trickle down the side of your head. However, instead of opening your eyes, you kept them closed, it was payback time.

You could feel Azriel’s hands travel up and down your body as he scanned you for injuries. “Open your damn eyes,” He bit out, it seemed like a command but you could hear his desperation. He probably knew that you wouldn’t die from such injuries and that waiting around for a bit would allow you to wake up. But you wanted to know what he would say…if there was anything to say.

“Dammit, Y/N please, you can’t be freaking unconscious from hitting a rock and if I actually hurt you I couldn’t live with myself, so open your bloody eyes,” He begged, but Azriel noticed the slight curve in your lips that you were trying to desperately hold back, and as he connected the dots he grinned.

“Well if you are unconscious I guess you don’t mind me eating your secret stash of cookies and also telling Cassian where you like to hide your stash,” Azriel drawled and you shot up so fast as you glared at him, hard. “You tell Cassian, that thief, about MY cookies, and I will break your kneecaps and pry them off with a crowbar,” You hissed. Chuckling, Azriel stroked a hand through your

“Calm down, Little Psycho, besides, you deserve it after scaring me like that,” He teased. Your heart skipped a beat at the nickname, but you rolled your eyes as you huffed. “If anyone is the psycho, it’s you. Everyone else knows that cookies are sacred,” Looking away, that was when you realised that you were pressed up against Azriel when you had sat up from your lying down ‘knocked out’ position you had curled up subconsciously to his warmth because the water on you skin made you feel unbearably cold.

As if he had also realised it at the same time, you could have sworn Azriel’s cheeks heated as you scooted away from me, bring your knees to your chest.

You both sat in silence for a while after that, and to your surprise, Azriel was the one who broke it first.

“I have a confession to make,” You could not believe your ears, did Azriel sound….awkward? Staring at him, you made a gesture with your hand, prompting him to continue. “I…I think your my mate,” Wait. Pause. WHAT!?

And that was the exact words you yelled out as you processed what Azriel had said casually like he was telling you he had beat up someone the other day over ice cream. Sure, you would have been surprised over that, but that is not how you tell someone that you are QUITE LITERALLY THEY’RE SOULMATE.

Little did you know, you had been babbling all this out and Azriel was holding back a wild grin.

Safe to say, that afternoon ended with you chasing Azriel with a random stick you had found on the river side, before you both return to Azriel’s home, and I think you can figure out what you both did next 🙂

~*~*~*~*~

A/N: I love how my fluff fics are like...super short and then my angsty fics are long as frick

taglist: @positivewitch

#acotar #acotar fandom #acosf #azriel shadowsinger #a court of silver flames #a court of mist and fury #azriel #azriel x reader #azriel acotar #acotar fanfic #azriel fanfic #azriel fluff #azriel x reader fluff #cassian

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cilis-readings · 2 years ago

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pac which deity should you reach out to

reminder: these are very general readings. messages can be picked from each pile and apply to you and your current situation. take what resonates, leave what doesn’t :)

just to preface, i work with a few deities regularly and have communicated with several for various reasons. this reading is all in good fun, all of the deities that came through in this pick a card reading were made aware that this was for a collective group of people and they agreed to be included! if you feel called to reach out to any of the deities below, feel free to do so! just be sure you do some research before diving into things — if you need help or don’t know where to start, my messages are always open :)

pile 1

the deity that made their presence known for pile one is the greek goddess selene! she made herself known with the moon card. selene is the greek personification of the moon. she is typically worshipped during the full moon and new moon but she can be called upon whenever you need her energy. she sees everything that goes on in the night and she travels across the sky in her chariot every night, pulling the moon behind her.

she may be helpful in your healing process if you have emotional wounds that still haven’t healed. she can be somewhat cold at times but that’s because people don’t truly understand her and her experiences. she can help you tap into your unconscious and become aware of the tools you need in order to heal. she also brings forth our shadow self, making us face those parts of ourself that we tend to shy away from. her main goal usually lies within the realm of having us let go of the things we truly have no control over. letting go of those things we cling so hard to gives us the freedom to heal and be happy with who we are and what we have.

pile 2

the deity that made their presence known for pile two is the egyptian goddess isis! she chose to make herself known through the temperance card. isis is the goddess of a multitude of things, including but not limited to healing, magic, fertility, and even motherhood. she is a goddess who is fiercely protective over her worshippers and even those who just casually work with her from time to time. she provides a very nurturing environment and makes you feel safe and warm inside.

she can help us hone in on our intuition and help give us the guidance we need to feel comfortable enough to share our intuitive gifts with others. she is also helpful when it comes to making decisions that might be difficult for us to fully comprehend, thus giving us the clarity we need to make the best decision for everyone involved. since she has that motherly spirit about her, she’s also strict when she needs to be. if she catches you procrastinating or losing motivation, she will put you in your place. she allows us to get into the habit of practicing moderation. she is very upfront about not wanting to deal with extreme behaviors or personalities, she wants to promote balance in any way that she can.

pile 3

the final deity that made their presence known is the norse god odin. he chose to make himself known through the magician card. now odin, just like isis and selene, has so many different facets about him but i’m going to try to limit myself for this collective reading. odin is the all father in norse mythology, he is the god of war and death, but also poetry and magic, hence him coming through as the magician!

odin is a great deity to reach out to do just about anything, but my experiences with him have to do with finding my own inner strengths and knowing when to reach out to others. i know that everyone’s experience is going to be different but those are just a few things he helped me with. moving forward, he can help us see what we aren’t seeing, he sees all and isn’t afraid to show us what we need to see. he can also help with learning to trust your own abilities and not having to rely too much on what other people think about. he can help us feel like we are truly capable and competent when it comes to knowing what steps we need to take to get to where we want to go. he also has a more parental aura about him like isis due to him being the all father. his wisdom and skills are very strong aspects of his and they tend to rub off on the people he works with.

if you’d like a more in depth reading i offer paid readings here!! i also have a tip jar if you’re feeling kind,, tips are not expected but they are very appreciated! any feedback is appreciated as well, i hope this reading was helpful to you in one way or another :)

#my readings #pac #pac reading #pick a card #pick a card reading #pick a pile #pick a pile reading #tarot #tarot reading #free tarot reading #collective reading #divination reading #tarotblr #tarot community #deity work #kemetic paganism #norse paganism #greek polytheism

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btsbabe7 · 11 months ago

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November Prompt 29: Fairytale

Words: 605 | Pairing: Draco Malfoy x reader

In this very moment, everything has become one gigantic blur. It’s as if you’re standing on the outside looking in, watching a soft filtered version of the life you’d always dreamt of. Draco seems more boyish in a way, though you two are just at the peak of everything. Draco swirling you around the ball felt otherworldly, then running through the corridors with him after breaking free from your groups of friends felt like that scene you watch in fairytales. The part where the princess runs off with her prince, hair blowing and dress flowing a trail behind the two. That’s what it feels like now, like freedom, like a fairytale.

Giggling under the floorboard of the Astronomy Tower, your warm hands caress both sides of Draco’s face. Whatever he’d been saying up to this point comes to a halt when your eyes finally meet in the starlit space.

Soft words, “kiss me,” spill into the space between you two before your mouths collide. His hands slip into your hair, massaging through the curls that fall from your hair pins before caressing your jawline.

The space is filled with old furniture, dusty dust covers cling to their silhouettes with twisted gold ribbons to keep them in place. Everything here seems to have been abandoned, but it couldn’t be cozier than the openness just several feet above.

Draco’s lips press into your collarbone, squeezing a soft giggle from your lips. He didn’t do this often, the privacy of your robes usually made it difficult, so you allow yourself to drift into the pleasure. His platinum locks are pillowy against your palms and your eyes roll back as the kiss travels towards your neck and jawline.

“You’re beautiful, so beautiful,” he groans against you before falling from your grasp completely.

Your eyes flutter open, readjusting to the faintly moonlit undercover. When you look for him, you find him still in front of you, eyes on you as always, but butterflies swirl in the pit of your stomach at the sight of him on one knee, still looking as boyish and young as ever.

“I think I’ve known since I first laid eyes upon you, but it’s become more evident in all the nights we’ve spent here together that I want to be with no one other than you, Y/n. Before I never seen myself anywhere, but I’ve never been happier, genuinely happier than I am when I have you near or when you’re in my arms… and I just love you so much,” he half laughs, half scoffing at his own dramatics. “I just… I know we haven’t even graduated yet, you haven’t even seen the world, but will you marry me?”

Draco pulls a small emerald box from a hole in the floorboard and you wonder how long it’s been there. All these nights you’ve shared above on the deck, watching the stars and just giggling together and enjoying each other’s presence had led to this. And even if you’d traveled the world a million times and were twenty years older, you can’t imagine finding someone that means as much as Draco does to you. So, head over heels in love, you plop down on your knees in your silky white dress and nod as hot tears stream down your cheeks.

“Of course,” you laugh through burning tears and rush your arms around him, never wanting to let him go.

And when you finally let him breathe, he slips the gold banded diamond and emerald ring onto your finger and everything feels perfect and magical, just like it does when the princess finds her prince in the fairytales.

Please be sure to check out my other latest fics:

⚡︎ November Prompt Challenge (days 1-30)

⚡︎ For You Always - reader x Snape

~ Navi: masterlist (all fandoms) & (bts imagines/drabbles)

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction, but please don’t copy! Written purely for fun :) Please only repost to other socials w/my permission and credit! Reblogging w/credit is fine. Thank you! ♡

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reverieparacosm · 2 years ago

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Headcanons what it would be like to be in a relationship with Bondrewd

Bondrewd (Made in Abyss) x GN!Reader

Warnings: manipulative behavior, toxic relationship, kidnapping, possessive behaviors

Note: There are hardly any fanfictions about him so I decided to write headcanons about him myself! Oh well... My taste in fictional characters is terrible <3

Being in a relationship with Bondrewd would certainly be an interesting experience

He is a cold, calculating man who is not afraid to use any means necessary to accomplish his goals

He's also extremely loyal and dedicated to those he cares about and willing to do whatever it takes to protect them (Of course, only if you don't stand in his way)

He is also a great listener and is open to different perspectives

Despite all these qualities, Bondrewd can also be quite intimidating and difficult to approach. He is highly independent and prefers to rely on his own judgement, even when it comes to people in his life

Being in a relationship with Bondrewd can also be quite intense, as he has a tendency to think deeply and analyze things from all angles

"Knowledge is power, so use it wisely and never waste it"

You probably wouldn't be allowed to explore the Abyss alone - He thinks it's too dangerous and you could be in danger

Most of the time you would have to stay in Ido Front with Bondrewd

Sometimes you are allowed to explore the Abyss with him, but you have to stay close to him

Listen to him or you won't be allowed to explore the Abyss for a while

He could come off as a bit of a tyrant, but he would be willing to do anything to make sure his partner was "happy" and safe

That said, Bondrewd is also a very intelligent and shrewd man, who can read people and situations like no other

Occasional headpats

He is not a romantic person but sometimes he will make small gestures like remembering your favorite food or giving you your favorite flowers that he found during his last exploration

A relationship with him would be sure to have plenty of both excitement and challenge, as his partner would have to constantly be on their toes to keep up with him

In the beginning he will try to keep his experiments as secret as possible

But at some point it will become inevitable

If you want to leave him after learning about the experiments, you have no chance

Stay in Ido Front or die

Bondrewd is a complex and multifaceted character, and it is difficult to accurately assess how manipulative he would be in a relationship

In general, he is a very calculating figure, and he tends to use his knowledge and power to manipulate people for his own benefit

He is known for using the people around him for his own gain, and his manipulation tactics are often subtle, making it difficult for those he interacts with to identify his intentions

"The power of a single determined soul is vast and limitless"

Gaslighting... A lot

Ultimately, Bondrewd's level of manipulation in a relationship would depend largely on the situation and the people involved

Being in a toxic relationship with Bondrewd would be a difficult experience, to say the least

His controlling and manipulative behavior would be hard to deal with and he would expect nothing less than absolute obedience and loyalty from his partner

"Indeed, love is an interesting concept"

It would be an emotionally draining experience as Bondrewd would be emotionally distant but possessive, always wanting to know what his partner is doing and questioning them whenever they don't meet his expectations

The relationship would be filled with fear and power dynamics, as Bondrewd is both physically and mentally domineering. As such, it would not be a healthy or positive relationship and it is likely that neither the partner nor Bondrewd would find any joy or contentment in it

Getting kidnapped by Bondrewd would be an extremely harrowing experience

The kidnapping itself would likely be done in a way to be completely unexpected. Bondrewd is renowned for his ability to blend in with the shadows and enact his plans without anyone being aware of his intentions. He is highly skilled in the art of surprise and his actions are always calculated and well-timed

The experience of being captured by Bondrewd would undoubtedly be one of immense terror. He is known to be merciless and unyielding, with his cold and indifferent attitude rarely displaying any emotion. It would be an experience of complete powerlessness and helplessness, with no hope of escape

Bondrewd would likely use the kidnapped individual for his own selfish purposes; either as a pawn in his schemes or to gain some sort of advantage. It is clear from his history that he is not above using tactics such as blackmail, bribery and intimidation to achieve his goals

It is unlikely that anyone taken by Bondrewd would ever be seen again, or at least not in the same state as before

"Did I give you permission to leave?"

Furthermore, you would be under constant surveillance and would not have the ability to escape or attempt to talk your way out of the situation

#made in abyss #bondrewd #made in abyss bondrewd #headcanons #bondrewd x reader #メイドインアビス #I'm going to hell for that

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chimcess · 2 years ago

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Birdie Shoppe || pjm (V)

Pairing: Jimin x Reader Other tags: Werewolf!Jimin, Witch!Reader, Shifter!Reader, Shifter!Jimin, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha!Jimin Genre: Supernatural!AU, Werewolf!AU, Angst, Mutual Pining, Fluff, Smut, Word Count: 7.1k Synopsis: Within the four realms of Lustra lay the Bangtan forest home to the Foxglove pack of the north and known as the “land of magic.” It is also home to the Birdie, a powerful witch from a cursed bloodline who is one of the sacred guardians of the forest. Y/N is the 123rd Birdie, a young girl who was given her position too early and asked by the goddess herself to fulfil a task none had ever done before- become the Grand Witch of the Foxglove pack. Now a woman, Y/N is revered as the most loved and powerful Birdie of all time, but hiding under the surface is a woman who has to battle between her duty and her heart. Chapter Warnings: Long-hair Jimin (yes, this is a warning), Cursing, Violence, Mentions of blood, Descriptions of blood, Descriptions of gore, Main Character Badly Injured, Did I say long-hair Jimin? (think The Witcher), the feels, ANGST, this is probably the most angst we’ve gotten, fluff, just Jimin being a cinnamon roll (partially edited) A/N: Not me updating within a month. I’ve been writing a ton lately, so I was able to pump this out. Hope you enjoy~

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My heart ached at the sight of Kim Taehyung. It had been little more than a day since he had been chosen and already his life was spiraling out of control. The pack did not accept him as their leader and Sol, while clear in her desires for him, had been barred from seeing him until everything had been sorted out. Namjoon had challenged him and his authority just before four in the morning which led him to my door step.

He looked worse for wear. His unruly hair tangled into matts that would take hours to brush out. Chief Ahn had taken out much of his frustration on the young boy and now Taehyung’s once lovely skin had bruises, welts, and cuts all over it. One look at him and I did not hesitate to allow him sanctuary. It was the least I could do for the man who saved me from heartbreak.

“I’ve got your face,” I mumbled, reaching back into another jar of salve. I had used two on his face and neck alone. “Take off your clothes. I need to make sure nothing is infected.”

Taehyung nodded, still crying. The moment I let him inside he had unleashed all of his emotions and was having a very difficult time getting himself under control. I did not mind. I felt pity for the alpha.

I was not surprised to find his body in just as bad of shape as the rest of him. I took great care not to stare for too long. I was not uncomfortable with his nakedness, but I was still aware that he was a man. Grip harsh, I started with his stomach. I let out a large, frustrated breath through my nose.

“I can’t believe this,” I grunted. “Why would you allow them to do this to you?”

Taehyung hissed in pain as I pressed too hard on a tender spot.

“I did not want to fight,” He replied.

I laughed humorlessly. “So they get to do as they please with you then?”

He did not know what to say.

“If you ever want to be taken seriously-” I opened up another jar of salve and began rubbing it into his chest, “-this will never happen again.”

Taehyung bit his lip and furrowed his eyebrows. He seemed upset by what I had said. He was such a naive boy. I felt my eyes watering with anger. If Kim Namjoon were here right now, I would kill him myself. How dare he allow anybody to do this to a child and feed into it by challenging him? I would be sure he knows just how unhappy I am with him.

“I do not want to rule with violence,” Taehyung said. “I don’t like fighting or shouting. It’s… uncivilized.”

I hummed. While I agreed I would not entertain the idea. Taehyung needs to fight if he wants to be seen. It is the only way to garner respect unless he wants to be compared to the others for the rest of his life. Chief Ahn would never allow that. Again, my anger spiked. That man…

“And yet you can come to my doorstep at the crack of dawn like some kicked puppy?” I spat. “Are you truly that pathetic?”

Taehyung whimpered and I almost felt bad. Harshness was necessary in these circumstances and I wanted him to become fired up. Instead, it only served to back him further into a corner. Taking a deep breath, I willed myself to calm down.

“Alpha,” I said.

“Taehyung,” He corrected weakly.

I sighed.

“I apologize for my rudeness. I’m sure you’ve gotten enough of a beating for one night and I don’t intend to add to that.”

He laughed without humor. It was scary how much my temper flared at the sight of him. All I wanted to do was march down to the village and give every single one of them a piece of my mind. A certain fair haired man came to mind, and I saw red. How could he allow this to ever happen?

“However,” I continued, “You’re Sol’s mate. She needs you to be strong right now. Think about her.”

For the first time tonight, I saw something light up in his eyes. I knew it was torture for the both of them to be away from one another. Sol was probably raging a storm back in Foxglove and I knew she expected the same from her alpha. She would be dreaded to know where he was instead. Taehyung seemed to have picked up on that idea as well.

“I have been!” He snarled. “It’s the only reason I didn’t want to fight back! The chief is her father and she wouldn’t forgive me for that.”

I bit my tongue. As much as I wanted to throw him out for yelling at me, I was glad to see some spark in him. It made sense why he would allow Chief Ahn to get away with just about anything. The pack would kill him if he had laid a hand on the old man. However, the rest of the wolves should have been given no mercy. Again, I thought of Jimin and seethed.

I wiped my hands on my nightgown and stood. Taehyung was covered from head to toe in the salve, and already the marks were going away. It would take more than that to heal his bruised ribs. So, I went to the kitchen and looked around for a healing potion. I did not feel like making one at this hour.

“Why did you come here?” I asked, gently.

Taehyung sighed. “Because I knew you would help me.”

Again, my pity returned. While my blood boiled, my heart hurt for the alpha as well. I could imagine him hurt and abandoned, nowhere to turn to, and not being able to trust the local doctor. I found an old potion in the back of a cupboard.

“You can sleep here tonight,” I offered, handing him the potion. “Any wolf idiotic enough to poke at me is a dead man.”

Taehyung seemed at ease with this. Downing the potion, he curled up on the couch and closed his eyes.

“Thank you, Birdie,” He grinned.

I did not reply. Instead, I used my magic to bring him a few blankets and struck up the fireplace. He was weak and may not be able to regulate his body temperature as easily. It got cold in the living room at night. Seemingly satisfied with his place on my small, uncomfortable couch, Taehyung fell asleep within seconds.

I had never seen anything like it in all my life. Stifling my laughs, I began blowing out the candles around my house, and put away all the used tubs of salve. I would need to make more soon. Exhausted and still recovering from the ceremony, I drug myself back to bed. Shiloh was waiting for me when I arrived.

“How many times do I have to tell you to take your bedrest seriously?” The barn owl nagged.

I groaned and rolled into my bed. It was warm and soft. Shiloh flapped to her nest.

“It was Taehyung,” I argued.

“I don’t care if it was Lilith herself, you better stay your-”

“Shiloh,” I warned, “Shut up.”

The bird grumbled to herself, but I was too far gone to pay attention.

I awoke to loud pounding on my front door. I could hear voices outside, none of them sounding too happy, but all I caught was the name of a pack alpha. Angry and still sore, I used magic to lift myself out of bed and threw on my robe. I saw Taehyung curled up in a ball in front of the sofa. He did not notice me until I was standing in front of the door.

Shiloh was shouting at me to get back in bed, to let the wolves handle their own business, but I ignored her. When they decide to take their anger to my doorstep I have every right to give them a piece of my mind. Squaring my shoulders, I took a deep breath before forcing my arms forward.

My front door flew off its hinges and into whoever was standing behind it. Namjoon was unfazed by this and slapped the thick wood out of his way. I could see the shock in his eyes but I was not finished with my assault. I began to sing, a whirlwind of objects floating around the room. Namjoon backed away but this only pissed me off more. Shiloh shouted as a large, hot, blue flame sprouted from the palm of my hand and flew at the wolf.

“How dare you?” I shouted, everything dropped once my singing stopped. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

Hoseok and Jimin stood on either side of their brother. I knew I would regret attacking them eventually, possibly the moment they left, but I would not let myself falter. No one was going to come here and intimidate me. I don’t give a damn who they are attempting to fight with.

“Birdie-” Hoseok pled.

Ignoring him, I kept my gaze perfectly trained on Namjoon. He stared at the large, ashen spot at his feet as I stared at him. My face burned with anger and I felt another surge of magic rush through my body. A dull ache began to form in my back and I knew I was bleeding again. I had used too much magic and my body was having a hard time healing.

“Who do you think you are to challenge him, Namjoon?” I roared, eyes burning. “Sol chose him. The Goddess chose him! Do you think you know better than Lilith now?”

Namjoon swallowed thickly before finally looking at me.

“Of course not. I-”

“You listen to me,” I sneered. “If you ever get the gull to come bang on my door again, I swear to you, I will not show you the same mercy.”

Namjoon scoffed, “Mercy? You had better watch your tone, little girl. Especially with a limp like that.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but a voice from behind me beat me to it.

“Don’t speak to her like that,” Taehyung said.

Namjoon seemed to darken. I felt my muscles clench as I readied myself to defend the boy. No one was going to hurt him. I promised to protect the Luna with my life, Sol was my good friend, and I refused to let harm come to her mate. I was as good as dead if I had.

“There you are,” Namjoon taunted. “Been looking everywhere for you, infans.”

Taehyung growled. I steadied my racing heart. I would have to protect him inside. Namjoon would have the advantage of leaving, and I was vulnerable to the sun’s rays if he decided to extort that. Still, I positioned my hands defensively.

Suddenly, Shiloh flew out of the house and screeched loudly. Everything happened quickly. First, Shiloh was barreling towards Namjoon and then a wolf was standing in his place. I knew it was an accident. Taehyung was only trying to protect me, however, his massive frame surged me forward. I was in the sun before I could save myself, and soon my face slammed into my front steps and the sun beamed on my back.

My skin burned immediately and I could not help the tortured screams that flew out of my mouth. Unfocused eyes trained on Shiloh saw her turn towards me before a large, russet wolf shoved her out of the way with his nose. I felt many hands on me and I was dragged back inside.

My body trembled as I screamed. Every inch of my skin was on fire and I closed my eyes only to see white. It felt like someone was tearing me apart. All around me I heard screaming and shouting.

“What the fuck do we do?” Hoseok shouted.

“I don’t know,” It sounded like Taehyung was crying.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head and I could not think straight. The pain was numbing. Opening my eyes again, I saw my ceiling and raised one of my shaking hands. Black feathers had pierced through the skin and I cried out once more.

“Get away from her!” Someone screamed but I could not make out who.

“Is she alright?”

I knew something was happening a few feet away but all I could focus on was the fire in my body. I knew this would subside eventually on its own, but I had something that could help. I just needed to gather the strength to get it. I opened my mouth to speak but could only scream.

“It burns,” I managed to grunt, convulsing.

I could feel hands on me but I could not get my eyes to focus. Sleep would be impossible now and I knew my body was in the worst shape it had ever been. Between the ceremony, the small amount of magic I used, and the sun I would be out of service for an entire week at this rate. Possibly even more.

“Move,” I heard Shiloh’s voice through the rest of the nonsense going on around me.

Looking through my lashes, instead of an owl there was a beautiful woman before me. Her fiery hair glistened in the sun and looked like it was underwater. Her skin had a dim glow to it and sparkled brightly. She looked like diamonds and I reached out to touch her. The spirit had tears in her eyes, the water shining brilliantly, before she caressed my hand.

“Sanitatem,” She whispered, fingers grazing my arm.

Instantly, I felt the relief I had been begging for wash over me. Sighing in relief, I closed my eyes and curled closely to Shiloh. I felt her fingers running through my hair and felt extremely tired.

“I’m going to put you to bed,” She whispered. “Where you belong.”

When I woke, I could smell food cooking. I was in my bed, my memory faded and hard to recall, but I knew Shiloh had been in her true form. Rubbing my eyes, I thought about Taehyung and my mood darkened. I could not remember the alphas leaving. My body screamed in protest as I sat up but I pushed forward. No one was going to harm him- not while I still had air in my lungs.

Upon entering the kitchen, I had to grasp my door frame for support. The stove was lit, I could smell the applewood, and one of my large pots was on top of it. The rest of the room was clean. Far cleaner than I ever left it. Someone had mopped and swept by hand. I could smell the lemons they used on the wood. Taking a large breath, I began taking a step forward.

“You should be in bed.”

I jumped up. Whipping my head around, Jimin was sitting in my recliner across the room. Taehyung was staring at me from in front of the fireplace. Neither Hoseok nor Namjoon were there. I could not feel or smell my familiar’s presence either.

“Where’s Shiloh?” I demanded, stumbling forward and grabbing on my island.

Taehyung stood up and came toward me quickly.

“Please, don’t push yourself, Birdie,” He said softly.

The alpha led me to my loveseat and helped me to sit down. Jimin sat beside me and covered me with one of my spare blankets. He must have went digging around while I was asleep. Sparing a glance at my hands, all of the feathers were replaced by nasty scars. They were pale white already, like they had been there for years, but I felt sad looking at them. I could only imagine what the rest of my body looked like. Almost sensing my mood, Jimin placed his hand over mine. I looked at him.

“She stepped out for a while,” He finally replied.

I had been angry with him, I remember vividly I thought of our next conversation, but being in front of him now it had all but vanished. There was no way Park Jimin would ever be fine with what had happened. Nor would Hoseok or Namjoon. Even thinking of him I found myself more sad than anything. I could only imagine how he had felt after everything had happened. I did not think anyone could have prepared for that amount of shock. However, gazing at Taehyung, most of my sympathy stopped there. Namjoon was still trying to kill someone else over his own lack of faith. His own ego was blinding him. I just hoped he could see that before he destroyed his own life. Sol would never forgive him and neither would I.

“Is everyone alright?” I asked.

Jimin hummed, “Everyone but you. Namjoon and I got into a fight before he left but he’ll be fine.”

I scowled at Jimin. “I don’t like the idea of you fighting.”

He grinned, “Don’t worry, amica. I won.”

“Doesn’t change my feelings.” I grumbled and looked at Taehyung.

He seemed confused. While most of his face was perfectly schooled, his eyes told a different story. As they bounced back and forth between Jimin and I, I could see confusion turn into something… other. Almost, acceptance. Strange, I thought. I did not think about it too much. My affection for Jimin was likely apparent, and stronger, than that of the other alphas. The boy was probably trying to get used to it. Then he winked at me and I looked away,

Was it possible that he had caught onto my feelings? Had I sized him up too quickly? I knew he was mischievous and care free, but I also knew he was very aware of others. When he had spoken so passionately about being what a good ruler was, I had gotten that impression as well as his own naivety. However, my troubles were quickly dismissed as I looked into Jimin’s eyes. It was impossible to stress when he was around.

“Do you mind if I stay with you both for a few days?” He asked.

My eyebrows shot up.

“What for?” I replied.

Jimin hesitated before responding. “I found the letter that your friend sent you in your coat pocket. Your familiar asked me if I would stay.”

Confused, I frowned. What on Earth was he talking about? Racking my brain, I found myself at a loss before the lightbulb went off.

“Wendy!” I exclaimed.

Going to stand, Jimin gently grabbed my arm. He looked bashful and unsure of himself. I was just like the last time he had been here, only it felt different. He almost looked… afraid to tell me what he had read. My breath quickening, I pulled my arm out of his grasp.

“What did it say?” I asked, wearily.

When I got no response, I lifted myself up and ignored the two men. I hobbled to my coat rack. However, strong arms wrapped around me before I made it a foot away from the sofa.

“Taehyung,” I threatened. “Put me down. Now.”

“Sit,” He pleaded and walked me back over to the living space.

Frustrated and anxious, I turned my head and bit the side of his arm. The wolf yelped before letting go of my wait. I stumbled, wobbled over, before landing on my ass.

“This is ridiculous,” I complained, slowly lifting myself up. I ignored Taehyung’s outstretched hands. “You come to my home, go through my things, and then not allow me to read my own letter? She’s my friend! If it’s important I ought to know.”

Jimin sighed, frustrated. I refused to back down and continued to stand up. Taehyung had given me some space, which I appreciated, but was close enough to catch me if I fell down again. The older alpha and I had a stare off.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Jimin spoke, “If you had more patience, I could have given it to you. It’s in my pocket.”

“If you,” I countered, limping back to the sofa, “had just said that instead of looking at me like an idiot then I couldn’t have gotten up.”

The alpha glared at me but said nothing more. Snatching the paper from his hands, I made myself comfortable in my spot. Taehyung came closer, a weary look on his face. An apology was in order but I fought with my own pride to give it. He picked me up without consent and so I bit him. End of discussion. Still, the need to tell him I was sorry was strong.

Birdie,

I’m happy to hear you are feeling better. However, I’m sure by the time this reaches you the Luna’s ceremony would have taken place and you’ll be back in bed again. I’ve always marveled at how powerful you are and yet so fragile. My mother thinks it was the way the Gods meant for it to be. You’d be far too much if you had all of your abilities and the same willpower as any other witch. In other words, goodluck and I hope you have a fast recovery.

In other news, my sister has decided to marry Seojun. I am very happy for her and I know Irene will make a good wife. It did, however, make me think of you and I. Will there ever be someone for us? Will you ever get the chance to find them even if they were out there? It’s incredibly mean for the Gods to put you under such horrible conditions. At least you are able to leave in a way Aldara never was. I do hope I can learn of your name before you pass on. I’ve known you for far too long and we’re too close for me not to. Please tell me you will.

Birdie, would you hate me if I told you I was considering staying here? My time in Northorn has opened my world to many possibilities. Then I think of you, Yoongi, and Seokjin and the thought repulses me. Oh, I love him. I love Seokjin. I want him to be with me and yet… my eyes still wander. Is that wrong? I know you understand me more than anyone else. Have you ever thought about telling him how you feel or is it too scary? Because I’m scared, Birdie. I’ve hurt him too much.

I should stay here, right? Spare both him and Yoongi the heart ache. Goddess knows I’ve put too much of a strain on their relationship already. From what I hear, they’re already back to being friends since I’ve kept away. Yes, I think I will stay here.

Please help me. Do something for me. I’m confused and unsure of myself. Irene says I’m overthinking everything, but I know you will be more honest. Sending you all of my heart- at least what is left of it.

Your dearest friend,

Wendy

Rereading the letter over again, I felt my heart sink. Shiloh must have decided to go and see her after finding out. I mentally thanked her and immediately went to fetch a pen and paper. Neither wolf tried to stop me.

It made sense now why Jimin would hesitate to talk with me about the letter. He had never, as far as I know, met Wendy. It must have been confusing to read through. I remembered her line about me understanding her and my stomach sank. That must have been a strange thing to read about, too. I cursed under my breath before I began to write.

Wendy, my darling,

I am fine. There is a lot happening in Bangtan at the moment, most of which I hardly understand, and it has taken its toll on me. Between the ceremony and now I haven’t one moment of peace. I do hope you can help me relax once you return. I know you will.

Forget about those two fools and remember why you have stayed here all this time: your mother, the sisterhood, your coven, and the forest. Whoelse can tame a magindara like you? No one. Who can purify the sea and sing with the shore like you? No one. Do not let petty, childish things stop you from enjoying your life. You will always have me and I will forever be there. I’m happy for Irene! Her engagement is splendid news and I wish I could be there with her.

However, Lilith has chosen a different path for me just as she has chosen one for you. I am frightened, Wendy. Everyday I am scared of what it will bring, but I do not let that stop me from enjoying the sunshine. I love the flowers, the trees, and the winds that ripple through them. Aldara used to tell me, “Fear reminds us that we’re alive, and without it many would surely be dead.” So, don’t kill yourself off just yet, darling. Keep swimming and come home. Talk to Jin and he will understand. Yoongi has no ill will toward either one of you. Let go of your fantasies and stay rooted in the reality of your heart.

You were meant to be with the most stubborn, loud, obnoxious, lovely, kind-hearted man in all of Lustra. You and I both know that, and have known that, for a long time. So go for it. Even if I am afraid, you do not have to be. See you soon.

Missing you greatly,

Birdie (I’ll tell you someday. I promise.)

My body was beginning to loosen and the pain was becoming bearable. Satisfied with my response, I waved it in the air to make it dry faster as I rummaged through my drawers for an envelope. I could only hope I could muster the strength to send it off. If Shiloh were hare, she would have went off herself or asked one of the boys, but I was on my own now. Alone and in desperate need to get this damn letter to Wendy. Shuffling to my ceremonial bag laying by the front door, I sifted through it until I found my Meteor Powder.

I knew I was taking a risk with this sort of thing, but I had to be willing to risk it if it meant I could change Wendy’s mind. I was already hours behind. Without a second more to lose, I gathered up a piece of parchment and a pen to begin drawing. Remembering Wendy’s face was simple enough, years of drawing and perfecting using the powder making it almost easy to do, but I still felt uneasy. My heart would not rest until I received word back or the sea witch showed up at my door.

Praying that I got every soft feature right, I contemplated adding color but quickly dismissed the idea. It would not really make any difference and I was not sure if her hair was dark or light anymore. Wendy often went through fazes with that sort of thing. Laying the paper on the floor, I said her name for good measure, and threw the powder on top of it. Less than a second later, the paper was gone and I sighed.

“Hope she got it,” I mumbled to myself.

It was Taehyung who broke my trance.

“That was so cool!” He exclaimed.

I chuckled, “Not as cool as my own magic, but it’ll have to do. I can hardly feel anything in my body.”

Walking back to the couch, I curled up beside Jimin. He looked worried again and I realized I had messed up. Admitting that I was weak and tired would only make him drag me back to bed. Readily myself for another spat, I squared my shoulders and looked at him.

“She seemed upset,” He said instead. “I had not realized your friends were involved in that way.”

I hid my surprise well. It did make sense for Jimin to worry about others, I had just never imagined he would take my friend’s hardships so seriously. Grinning, I nodded.

“It’s been a thing since we were children. Don’t worry too much, she will come back and they will be together.”

“Why aren’t they now?” It was Taehung who asked.

“Because,” I sighed, “they’re both far too stubborn.”

Taehyung was a nice company to have around. He took good care of his things, cleaned up after himself, and was useful. I had stopped sending supplies to Foxglove, something that neither Taehyung or Jimin agreed with, but it did not change my mind. They did not deserve my help if this is what they were going to do with it. No one had come to collect anything either, so I assumed they were boycotting my services indefinitely.

Wendy had written to me the following morning confirming she was coming back. She had even written to Seokjin. While I did not know what she had said I could take a few guesses. It was only a matter of time before Seokjin told me all about it. He was the worst at keeping secrets.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and stared at my altar. My magic had come back a few days ago and I had been allowing it to rest. Today was the first time I had performed a ritual spell in days. Looking over my shoulder, I smiled gently at Jimin napping on my sofa.

He had not left since he arrived. While we had not spoken much since that night, he was doing his best to help Taehyung make a plan to win over the town. While I thought it was foolish to think he could do such a thing without a fight, I believed in them enough to support it. Jimin was a loved person and having him on Taehyung’s side greatly increased his odds. I knew the pack was feeling his absence.

“What’s a cah-dee-jo?” Taehyung asked, obnoxiously loud.

“A cadejo-” I corrected, rolling my eyes, “-are spirits that help worthy travelers find their way.”

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. “And if they’re not worthy?”

“They’ll eat them,” I replied easily.

The alpha had been interested in my books after finding something I had written about the magindara when I was a kid. He was going through them so quickly, I was having to go to the cellar to get new material for him. As naive as he was, Kim Taehyung was a bright young man with a vivid imagination. He always asked questions, never settled for one answer, and listened carefully.

“Why?” He asked.

“Why not?”

He said nothing after that and went back to reading. I had started growing fonder of the man and hoped he was able to go back home. When he spoke of his siblings his eyes lit up and it broke my heart. His parents must be worried sick.

Having spent most of my morning sitting, I decided to make lunch. I was expecting Shiloh to be back later today. Wendy said my familiar had gotten to her inn just before she sent off her letter, so I knew the owl was safe. Thinking about her I grew emotional. Exposing her spirit form was extremely dangerous, a risk I would never have asked her to take, and she had done it regardless.

Going to my kitchen window, I whistled loudly and began pulling out a pot and pan. Tomato soup sounded lovely and I could always make a quick loaf of bread. A few minutes later, Delinah was at my window. Looking up from the onion I was dicing, I grinning at the deer.

“Morning, Dee,” I greeted.

She bowed her head. “Glad to see you moving around. You gave us all a fright.”

I hummed, scooping the onions and throwing them into the pot along with three whole heads of garlic, some fresh herbs, and oil. In the corner of my eye I saw Jimin beginning to stir on the sofa.

“I’m good as new,” I joked, using a spell to light my stove. “Would you mind fetching some tomatoes from Seokjin’s garden? I’d ask Shiloh but she’s out of the forest for the time being.”

“Where’d she head off to?” Delinah asked, pulling the cloth tote I kept on the windowsill into her mouth.

“Northorn,” I replied.

“Northorn? What’s so important in that miserable place?”

I laughed, placing my knife down to help my friend get the tote around her neck. Delinah nuzzled my hands. Giving her a quick pat on the head, I promised her carrots when she got back.

“And to answer your question,” I walked back to the counter. “Wendy is attempting to run away so she’s bringing her back.”

She laughed, “Oh, that Wendy. You never know what you’re going to get with that one.”

“But we love her.”

Jimin was up and walking around right after Delinah left. Taehyung was still head-first in my magical beasts book. I took over my try of onions and garlic and let them begin roasting over the open flame of the stove. The tomatoes would not take long to char. I could hear the two men talking quietly but decided to play them no mind. It was hard to have privacy in this house as it was.

Delinah was back quickly and I sent her off with a bundle of carrots. After roasting the tomatoes, I used my pestle and mortar to blend everything together. Working in small batches, I took my time to be sure everything was smooth before throwing it into the pot I had taken out.

“Birdie,” Taehyung called out. “Can I get your opinion on something?”

I nodded, “Ask away.”

“I want to write a letter to Namjoon but I’m not sure how he’d take that.”

I paused for a moment to think. While it might be a wise idea to test the waters with a note of some kind, I was also not foolish enough to think he would be able to deliver something to the village at this time. People were looking for him and to show his face might lead to more speculation. However, he had to do something before the elders made a decision as to what to do with him. Namjoon had officially challenged him and only revoking that, which would terminate the fight, would be his best option. I had full faith in Taehyung’s ability to defend himself if he truly wanted, but his personality would make it hard for him to commit to a brawl. Namjoon would win just from his determination alone.

“I don’t think that would help much,” I admitted. “Everyone is committed to seeing you fight at this point, and your runaway stunt has them more on guard. I would seriously begin considering a fight, Taehyung. It’s your only option right now.”

I heard his sigh of defeat and felt saddened. I empathize with the alpha’s situation. I knew it would be a hard thing for him to do. In my younger years, Aldara enjoyed teaching me defensive magic but I could never strike her back. It was not until that night I truly saw what I could be capable of if left to my own devices. I shuddered at the thought. I would not wish that on anybody- especially Kim Taehyung. Mixing the soup, I spoke.

“I’m sorry it has to be this way.”

“Me too,” He replied.

The three of us ate our lunch in silence. Jimin had been more quiet than usual and I knew his brain was on overdrive. He had also been away from his family, his pack, and his home for three days without an end in sight. I knew how hard the silence could be and even then I had been quieter. Still, it must be hard on him. It was a wolf’s nature to be with his family.

Taehyung did not ask anything after that. The rest of the day, he sat on the floor near the fireplace and read book after book while Jimin looked out of the windows. They never went outside. I managed to do a few chores, practiced some new spells, and wrote in my grimoire, but nothing else had sparked an interest in me. The tension in the house was suffocating. It was not until Shiloh returned at sunset that the house stirred.

In a whirlwind, the barn owl flew through my bedroom window, her loud voice bouncing off the walls. Carelessly I threw my pen down onto my grimoire. Black ink smeared into the pages ruining all of my hard work, but I did not care. She was back and I could breathe a bit easier then. I knew Shiloh would have an answer. She always knew what to do.

“Between those wolves and you witches,” She complained, “I’ll never, ever catch a break.”

“Oh, Shiloh,” I cooed, opening my arms to her.

My familiar raced into my waiting embrace and let herself be babied. I pet her head and smoothed her feathers down gently. The owl leaned into my touches with joy. I could not remember the last time I had smiled so widely since she had gone.

“You’re so strong and mighty, little one. I missed you dearly.”

She laughed, “I’m so happy to see you up and walking around.”

“Where’s Wendy?” I asked, letting her go.

Shiloh flew into the kitchen and I followed behind her. She must be exhausted after the long journey. She pecked at the bread from lunch and made note of the wolves in the living room.

“She’ll be back after her sister’s wedding.”

“Oh, wonderful!” I clapped my hands together in delight.

“Another pain in my ass,” She mumbled.

And I laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

It was always an adjustment when you first transform, I found. Even after all this time I was slightly disoriented after the whole ordeal. The first night Taehyung had been here, he had almost broken my bedroom door down trying to see if I was alright. If Jimin had not reassured him, I was sure he would have been traumatized by the scene. It was the fourth night now, and Taehyung slept peacefully through my screams. Shiloh had gone to bed extra early. Jimin was the only person still awake when I flew through the kitchen window.

He was still dressed in the same clothes he had been wearing for days. I hand washed everything twice, but he insisted on keeping them. I had made clothes for Taehyung and was a bit upset at Jimin’s rejection. However, I never brought it up again. I simply washed them and used magic to get them dry.

Tonight, however, he had taken off the long cape he usually wore. His socks and shoes were also somewhere else, and I noticed his belt was also missing. He wore his hair down, the silver strands sitting at his waist, and I saw a simple headband keeping his bangs out of his eyes. He was sitting at the kitchen island staring at whatever he had been writing. I decided to go to him.

“Hello,” He offered, a smile that did not meet his eyes thrown my way.

He looked tired, more so than usual, and worn. Taehyung snored loudly on the floor and rolled over. Jimin did not bat an eyelash and continued looking at the papers. I hopped closer and twisted my head to look at them. The alpha did not try to stop me.

They turn into paste if you mash them. By hand, they keep their nectar, and the flavor is much better.

When they’re whole you need to wait much longer for the flavor to seep through.

No, but it is one that is very dear to me.

I realized it was the paper I had used when I had visited him a few weeks ago. I felt myself growing emotional. He had kept it… something so inconsequential and yet he had kept it. Apparently, he even walked around with it. My heart grew fonder with every encounter we shared, and I found I could not breathe properly.

“It brings me comfort,” Jimin whispered. “Knowing that you’re out there.”

Turning to look at him, I found him crying. The moonlight illuminated his delicate face and the tears that ran down his cheeks. For the first time since I have known Jimin, I felt sure of myself. Drawing near, I gently flapped my wings and landed in his lap. Clicking, I rubbed my face on his stomach and allowed the warmth within me to shine. He had kept it.

Jimin grabbed me and held me tightly as he wept. What his sorrows were for, I was not sure, but I had to guess it was something to do with this situation. Whatever the case may be, I melted into his touch. He was always so open with me like this. I wished he would hold me tightly as a woman, too. I knew I was beginning to grow greedy but did not care anymore. He had kept that stupid piece of parchment and I was completely done attempting to care about customs. I loved him more than anything else.

“I don’t know what to do,” He whimpered. “I couldn’t live with either of them dying.”

And as mad as I was at Namjoon, as badly as I wanted to throw him against a wall and scream in his face for being such a pig-headed nitwit, I could not say I wanted him dead. We were friends after all. Even after our spat the other morning I could call him that freely. I knew something had to give sooner or later. It killed me to see Jimin torn up.

The alpha only allowed himself two minutes to cry. After that, he apologized to me profusely before gently setting me back down on the island. Wiping his face aggressively, he excused himself before leaving the cottage entirely. I wanted to go after him but thought he might need the space and time to think. Looking down at the paper at my feet, I felt something shift inside of me.

So what if a letter is offensive? They beat Taehyung to a bloody pulp, exiled him, and made his friend think he needed to challenge him in order to keep the pack in order. If a simple letter would be the thing to set them off then I would happily be the bad guy. Knowing that I was more than likely making an awful choice, that the chances of someone else getting their hands on Namjoon’s letter were high, I still had to try. I would never see Jimin cry like that again. My mind made up, I gathered up some paper and an ink jar and began to write.

Taglist: @greezenini @adventures-in-bookland @kthstrawberryshortcake-main @zae007live @jimin-neverout @nikkiordonez12 @canarystwin

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rengokus-blazing-blog · 1 year ago

Text

Before He Left

A Rengoku X Female Reader Fanfic

Summary:

After going on a mission together, Rengoku accidentally leaves a mark on your neck. The mark is a curse and you have one year to break it or you will die. After some time, Rengoku and you start to develop feelings for each other and this only makes things more difficult.

Slow burn. Eventual Smut.

Warnings: Mentions of torture, sex work, self harm, demons eating humans, etc.

Chapter 1 word count: 18K

Read More on >>> AO3 <<<

.....

ARC 1: THE DEMON OF THE 100 FACES

Nighttime is frightening. When the sun sets and the light is no longer visible. The time when demons go where they please and cause havoc.

It's such a daunting moment but there is still beauty hiding, waiting to be appreciated by those blessed with kind hearts.

Still, it's strange for you to be traveling at this time of night. With a young man around your age. He is probably 18 or 19. Blond, spiky hair with red tips. Big eyes, ones that never look tired. You couldn't tell what he is thinking. He isn't smiling which is strange for you. You've heard that he is known for his cheerful personality. Although he is not like this right now, you don't feel intimidated or scared. More than that he seems concentrated on whatever he is thinking.

Kyojuro Rengoku. At his short age, he is on his way to becoming a Hashira. Everyone says that this is his last mission before he is officially promoted.

"Is there a specific reason why you chose me as your companion for this mission?" You broke the silence. "I am not a very talented Demon Slayer."

The train is quite lively even when the moon is already up. Children laughing, friends chattering about their lovers, and some are eating food. You are tired but not the kind of tired that makes you sleepy. More tired of sitting for hours and doing nothing.

"Tomioka told me that you were from the Red Light District. And I've never been there, so your knowledge in the area will surely come in handy!" Rengoku has a strong voice, filled with enthusiasm. "Don't worry, if anything happens I'll be there to protect you."

"I said I lack talented but not useless, I can take care of myself," you say as you look out the window. " ... Did he tell you anything else?"

You and Tomioka knew each other since a few years back while on a mission. How the two of you met, is an interesting story but that should be told at another time. Nonetheless, you hope he didn't share any unnecessary information.

"Of course not! You know he is a very quiet person!" Rengoku says as he doesn't stop looking at you. Now it's kinda uncomfortable. "But hey! I would never judge anyone based on where they are from."

"It's easy for you to say when you come from a respectable family."

"Well, what you say might have some truth but believe me! Even if you were born from a prostitute, I wouldn't-"

"When we get there," you interrupt him. As you make eye contact with him. This time he smiles. You feel a little bit guilty for treating him with coldness but you didn't want anyone meddling with your past. "Just don't go around asking about me. Or I'll leave you to handle things by yourself."

"Sounds good to me!"

Entertainment District or 'Red Light District' as most people know it, is a place where people came to fulfill their pleasures. In the daytime, it was a calm city, where restaurants and shops are open. At night, other types of activities were allowed.

"According to the reports, this demon attacks mostly women. Eating just a few parts of their bodies. The eyes, lips, nose, ears ... Only one thing is eaten. It's strange since demons tend to eat more to get stronger-"

"I am hungry!"

It's like he wasn't listening to you. Either that or he had already read the report and doesn't need a reminder.

Rengoku looks from side to side and goes inside the first shop he sees. It was a tea house. You just let him have it as soon as he enters, you hear the screaming of embarrassed girls. Rengoku quickly gets out and bows apologetically.

"My apologies, I thought they would be open by now," Rengoku scratches his head. He looks like a puppy and sometimes it made you wonder how he came this far with that soft personality.

"If you want to spend time with an Oiran, you are going to have to wait until night. Most of them work after the moon is up" You pat Rengoku on the shoulder as means for him to follow you. "Let's get a place to rest first and then eat ... most of our work will be done during the night."

"Alright, I like your plan! Let's get some tasty food!"

You take him to a familiar place. After years, there hasn't been much change except for a few new businesses. It's a nice place but not too expensive either. But you wonder if a place like this was worth it for someone like Rengoku who is probably used to fancier places.

"We can only give you two nights maximum here. We usually only rent rooms for one night. If you need a longer stay, I recommend going to a tea house for accommodations."

The receptionist is right. Hotels, especially in the Red Light District, are used for a night or only a few hours. But getting a room in a tea house would be too expensive. Not only is paying for a room but for three meals a day, the service, and cleaning fees.

"Oh please, don't be like that! We will pay you double!" Rengoku smiles brightly and the heart of the receptionist is moved.

"We?" You look at Rengoku with a surprised look on your face.

"And we will rent two rooms for three weeks!"

"Mr. Rengoku that's a lot of money and I can't afford that-"

"Who said I was letting you pay?"

His tone of voice is more serious and you feel his eyes heavy on you. His smile disappears and that seems more of a statement than a question. You stay quiet and let him handle the rest.

"As much as I would like to accept we only have one room available," the receptionist has a shaky voice. Her heart races as Rengoku keeps smiling at her.

"Well, that is a problem. I don't think it will proper for an unmarried lady to share a room with a man-"

"We'll take it," you interrupt Rengoku, his mouth wide open as he looks at you. "And he'll pay."

On the outside, Rengoku pretends to be calm. But the truth is that he is never been alone in a room with a woman. He is sitting on the tatami floor, his sword laying on the right side, looking at you.

You untied your long hair and let it flow down to your waist. Feeling relaxed now that it moves freely. Having long hair can be a hassle sometimes, especially when fighting demons. But it's nothing that a hair tie can't fix.

"Are you sure about this? I don't mind sleeping in the hallway," Rengoku tries to hide his embarrassment by being confident and he is doing a good job at it. "It's not proper for a young lady to share a room with an unmarried man-"

"I wasn't aware that you were one to be worried about etiquette. But I guess someone with your prestige would be worried about being seen with someone of the lower class," you start taking off your black vest, leaving just the white long-sleeve and black pants. "Let's rest and investigate as soon as the sun starts to set. I'll take you to the places where the murders have been happening and some popular tea houses. They should know more about the victims."

"It's nothing like that! I thought you would feel more comfortable not having to share a room with a man. But if you don't care, then I'll be delighted to sleep by your side."

Although you don't know much about Rengoku, you know that he is a trustworthy man. He has a good reputation and he has shown that he is a gentleman.

You go under the bedsheets and cover your body. Planning to sleep a little and maybe take a bath later, you close your eyes. You expect Rengoku to get in bed at any second as well but there is silence. Not a single sound. You open your eyes out of curiosity and see Rengoku in the corner of the room, sitting with his katana on his left side. His eyes are closed but you doubt he is sleeping.

You let him have his way.

"Mr. Yamada was a regular client of our Yuki, he came often to request her services. All of us thought that Mr. Yamada was in love with her."

Its night time and you took Rengoku to Kimura's Tea House. One of their geisha was murdered recently so you thought that investigating here first would be the best option.

"To think he would go crazy and kill her. We would have never thought ..."

You were allowed to have a few conversations with people in the tea house. Yuki's friends, colleagues, apprentices, and servers. You didn't discover anything new from what the reports already said.

"Mr. Yamada would often gift her rings, this might be a bit strange but he had a fascination with her hands."

That's interesting. The reports say that the demon only ate Yuki's hands.

"Oi! You can't go in there without paying!" Mrs. Kimura, an older lady comes out of a room, pushing Rengoku out of it. He laughs and has a silly smile. Now it bothers you. You appreciate that he is optimistic but so much optimism is overwhelming.

"But the ladies were the ones who invited me inside!"

Rengoku is not lying. After getting out of the room, five young women came out of it. Giggling and talking to themselves, blushing as they look at the flame demon slayer.

"Get out! Now!"

And just like that you were kicked out of the tea house. The streets are full with people walking, too many loud sounds and Rengoku is just laughing things off. One of the things you hate the most is wasting time ... and people who don't take things seriously.

"Could you at least act like you care?" you raise your voice at him. "You are just wasting time."

"Don't worry too much! I promise you that as soon as I see that demon I'll slay its neck!" Rengoku never loses that smile. Whether that's something to admire or detest, is debatable. But now you are opting for the second option.

"Then I don't even know why you brought me with you if you can just easily slay a demon," you began to walk around. Going to the next destination to continue with the investigation.

"My apologies, it's not my intention to waste your time," Rengoku follows closely, you can hear his steps behind you. "Nor do I want to carry you around either."

"Carry me around? Without me, you would end up in some low-class brothel, laying around with some girls instead of doing your job," you are offended by his words. "Seriously, how did you get so far with such an unpreoccupied personality-"

"AAHH!"

It's a slight scream coming from afar but you two were able to hear it. You didn't hesitate and ran towards where you heard the scream. It's a painful one, filled with fear and resentment.

You recognized the area immediately. It's the low-class section of the Red Light District. The place where men with little money came to satisfy their needs. A cruel and sad place, where the less fortunate live.

But as uncomfortable as this place made you feel, there is no time for that. Rengoku and you got there in time as a young lady is fighting for her life.

There is a black figure standing in front of her. Completely dark, like a shadow. There is no doubt that is a demon. You stand in front of the young girl, her protection comes first. You also wanted to study the demon. It had no weapons, the completely dark figure left nothing to figure out. It's not wearing any clothes. It doesn't have any hair. It's completely dark, with a strange human body.

"Nose, nose, nose, nose."

The demon speaks in a soft, raspy voice. Repeating the same word.

"Nose, nose, nose, nose."

Then something clicks. A stupid theory but it may be worth investigating.

But Rengoku had different plans as he rushes towards the demon.

"Wait! Mr. Rengoku!"

And he slashes the neck of the demon.

"No! Takahashi!"

The young girl screams as she stretches her hand but you stop her from getting closer to the body. It didn't disappear, instead, the darkness of the body is gone. It went away, like a snake crawling on the ground, fast like the wind. Leaving nothing but the body of a young man whose head is decapitated.

It is no demon.

But a man possessed by one. Blood Art Magic perhaps.

"You killed him! You killed Takahashi!" the young woman points at Rengoku whose face no longer showed any optimism but horror.

He had never killed a person before. He failed. He failed to protect what he swore to protect. For a moment he feels like passing out and all he could hear were the screams of the young girl.

"Murderer! You killed him!" she screams again. "You killed him!"

Rengoku opens his eyes. Confused as to why he is in the hotel room. It feels like a fever dream. He wishes that maybe what happened was a bad dream but the blood on his uniform tells him otherwise.

He looks to the side and finds a tray of delicious food. At first, he wouldn't have hesitated to eat it in an instant. But he doesn't feel hungry.

"I am glad you are awake."

Rengoku hears your voice and sees you in the corner of the room. There is so much he wants to say but no words would come out of his mouth.

"I'll prefer for you to stay here. I'll take care of the rest," you look at him, waiting for some time of response but nothing. Instead, Rengoku looks outside the window. He notices it that its morning already. He had slept the entire night. Probably fainted and you had to carry him.

"About what happened-"

"You were right," Rengoku finally speaks. "I was careless and because of that I killed someone innocent."

You didn't know how to respond. Nor what to do to make him feel better.

There is a certain sadness in his face. Nothing is left of that happy genuine smile of his and for a moment you wish you could go back in time and see that smile again.

"There will always be casualties and you did not do it on purpose. You can stay here and lament your mistakes but the longer you do that, the more people will die," you didn't know if you were being harsh or not. But anything is better than lying. "I'll get going and keep investigating. I suggest you rest and whenever you are ready, go back to investigating as well. I'll go back to the low-class section ... Don't even think of going there."

You were about to leave but Rengoku speaks again.

"Have you ever ... killed a person?"

You don't look at him. Your back is facing him and he could only read the 'Destroy' symbol of your uniform.

"Yes," you respond.

"Was it an accident?" he asks again.

"No."

And you leave the room.

It looks the same to you. The poor begging for money, the young girls in the streets covered in mere drags, trying to lure men into their homes in exchange for a few coins. Brothels were formed mostly of small girls who were sold by their parents. Maybe Giyu is right. You can't escape your past forever.

You try to look for the girl from last night. After what happened she kept screaming and told you both to leave. Rengoku had fainted and as much as you didn't want to leave him alone, you had to.

Walking uphill, you go to the place where the less fortunate can bury their loved ones. Not like you were ever blessed to love someone, rather you accompanied many to this place.

It's not beautiful but it's vast dry land. You see her there, putting soil on a hole where you assumed her lover's body rested.

You walk slowly towards her, not exactly knowing how to approach the situation. Her back is facing you and you were aware that your footsteps were loud enough for her to hear.

"I think I said I didn't want to see you. Especially the other demon slayer," the lady's voice is monotone, lacking any kind of feelings. "Leave."

"I apologize for my partner's rushed decision. He is ashamed of himself and deeply reprimands his actions," You did not know how to express better. You lacked tact, your words feel empty. Even though it is the complete opposite. "Please accept our apologies."

You bow your head so low that your forehead touches the floor. You wait for a few seconds to wait for her to tell you to stop. You weren't planning to stop bowing otherwise.

"He was a good man. He probably wanted to die before ever harming me," her words surprised you as you feel a pat on your head. You sit straight, next to the young lady. "You did him a favor. People who have been possessed by that demon tend to not be the same. Just like that man who killed that geisha."

Reports state that Mr. Yamada has been in a state of delirium after eating the hands of the geisha Yuki. In the state of a dream, unbreakable. Useless.

"When did you two meet?" You asked, thinking the hard questions should be left for later.

"Two years ago. He worked on a farm as a slave. His master was kind to him and would buy her girls to pleasure him. I was one of them," she says as you helped her put more soil into the grave. Your hands are getting dirty but you didn't care. "But we fell in love and since then I have been the only woman in his life."

"Did he care that you were a prostitute of the lower class?"

"No ... He was saving enough money to buy me from the brothel. He was going to free me," her voice starts to tremble. Finally, there is some emotion. "Now ... the light of my eyes is gone."

You close your eyes and remember those times. The desperation, the hate, the pain. It's overwhelming. The anxiety of knowing that there are things in your past you haven't forgotten. These things come back around and now you have to face them.

"What is your name?" you ask as you stand up. She doesn't answer but looks at you. "Which brothel do you belong to?"

"Nanami," she says softly. "I belong to Ueda brothel."

It even seems like it was meant to be.

"Very well then," you clean your uniform with small pats. Getting rid of the dirt on your pants and black vest. "One last question ...."

Nanami's tears disappear as she looks at you. Your change in personality surprised her.

"Yes?"

"...Did Mr. Takahashi ever tell you you had a pretty nose?"

Rengoku keeps drinking. The fact that he hates sake only suits the guilt in his heart. He should be working, trying to investigate or find more things about the demon. But his heart feels heavy and he doesn't know how to ease the pain.

Should he go and beg for forgiveness? Or would that be too insolent of him? And if were to do that ... would that make him feel better? Was he even worthy of feeling like that?

"Takuto just went crazy the other day and ate his girl's legs!"

At the bar, a man is sitting next to Rengoku. Bald, chubby, and somewhat short. Also with a drink in hand, he decides to listen for now, even when it's rude to eavesdrop.

"Poor guy was thrown into jail and waiting for trial but many say that he is been trying to commit suicide," the man says. "He is in the local Red Light District jail ... I should try and visit him before he is transferred to Kyoto."

Rengoku thought that maybe he should also visit this individual.

With a bottle of sake in his hand, he wanders around. It's hard to get by and Rengoku wished you were with him. He had thought of looking for you but if he gets lost that would only add to your burden. The last thing he wants is to give you trouble.

After entering a few wrong places and asking around, finally he reaches his places of destination. It's isolated, a bit far away from the rest of the entertainment district.

The guards let him in, knowing that if anyone is capable to handle their dangerous prisoners, is him. A soon to become Hashira.

Rengoku sits on the floor, there is a jail cell in front of him. A man, with short brown hair, not taller than him. He sits in front of him. There is no essence of life in his eyes.

The demon slayer pulls out the bottle of sake he had before and two small cups. He servers a little to the guy and puts the cup in front of him. He doesn't take it but just stares at it. At nothing.

"I wish to not waste your time-"

"Legs, legs, legs, legs."

The man whispers to himself. Repeating the same words at the same rhythm.

"I would like to know more about what happened-"

"Legs, legs, legs, legs."

Rengoku keeps getting interrupted but that doesn't discourage him.

"Legs, legs, legs, legs,"

"How did you know Ms. Sanae?"

He stops talking as if hearing the name of the lady he killed brought him back to reality. Rengoku waits a few seconds and sees that the young man now is looking at him. In this dark room, the only thing Rengoku could see are the flames from the torches in the walls.

"Sanae was the most beautiful person I have ever met. She was a geisha and I was a simple businessman," Takuto says in a very gentle voice. "We loved each other but and we wanted to get married ... but a geisha belongs to their tea house."

He doesn't touch his drink but stares at Rengoku with his lifeless eyes.

"We planned to the runway and we decided on a date ... and when the day came," there is a small pause. "I don't remember much. Just that I was covered in blood and Sanae did not have legs."

"Reports say that you only ate her legs ... Do you have any idea why?"

It's a long silence. There are no sounds but the wind going through the cold walls.

"Have you ever killed someone?" Takuto asks. Out of nowhere, this took Rengoku by surprise. He feels a shiver run down his spine and he doesn't know if he should answer with honesty. "Have you felt the warm blood of a person run down your hands? How warm it is?"

Rengoku stays silent. He has no words nor proper answers to his questions.

"Sanae was so beautiful, such beautiful face and skin, such beautiful legs," Takuto seems to be going back to his previous delirious state. "Legs ... Legs, legs, legs ... legs, legs ..."

Rengoku looks at Takuto's eyes, he has seen those eyes before. On his father, the moment his mother passed away. When the light of his eyes left him forever.

"Please ... kill me," Takuto had tears in his eyes and his body trembles as if he is resisting a higher being. "Kill me."

Rengoku bows and looks up at the young man.

"I promise to avenge the death of your lover," Rengoku says. "I'll slay that demon, no matter what it takes."

He keeps drinking at the bar. He just needs to finish this bottle and he will go back to the hotel. If he remembers where it is.

He is overwhelmed with so many feelings. Of the fact that he killed someone. A mistake. Because of his choice.

He wanted to finish this mission as quickly as possible so he could become a Hashira and tell his father. That way he could be proud of him.

But his rash decision was a mistake and he couldn't brush that off easily.

"Of all places ... Of all places, you decide to come to a cheap bar to drown your sorrows. Couldn't you have gone to a fancy tea house?"

He feels someone touch his arm. A young lady with long hair, messy. A few hair strings laying in front of her face.

"And you are?"

Rengoku did not recognize you. Either because he is drunk or because he is not used to seeing you like this. You were still wearing your uniform but your hair was a mess from earlier. Not wanting to give explanations, you just sigh and hold onto his arm.

"You need to rest. Let's go back to the hotel-"

"Oi, young lady! How much?" A man says. "Come with me, I'll show you a good time."

You feel an arm wrap around your shoulders. You look up to the man who is equally as drunk as Rengoku. You could easily get rid of him but you didn't want any unnecessary quarrels.

"No. Go away," you push him off and grab Rengoku's hands. "Come on let's go-"

"I'll pay you well! Let's go," the man insisted and before you could push him away, someone rushed in.

Rengoku punches the man, throwing him to the other side of the room. Leaving everyone in shock and staring at you two.

"She said no," Rengoku says.

This is the first time you see a different aura in Rengoku. His eyes are darker, there is a vein showing on his forehead that is usually not there. He stands in front of you, protectively. You can't help but feel a little bit of heat going down your cheeks.

You quickly snapped and once again grabbed Rengoku by his hand. You run away with him. By experience, you know that it's better to not stay at bars once someone has become violent. Fights usually happen after that.

Running through the streets of the Red Light District gave you deja vu. Of younger years, of the sounds of wooden sandals against the ground. Of people staring.

You get to the hotel and rush through the lobby and reception. Getting to your room, you almost pushed Rengoku inside and you close the door.

Your breathing is agitated and you look at Rengoku who is sitting straight and calmly in the bed.

"Young lady, I have to cordially decline this invitation. I am honored but I don't think I am fit to please a lady," Rengoku bows again in an apologetic manner. "However, if you feel unsafe to go outside, please feel welcome to sleep here. I'll take care of you."

"Mr. Rengoku, I think you have drank way too much-"

"No, I'll protect you," Rengoku moves his head from side to side and then quickly fell to the bed. He murmurs to himself as he rolls in the bedsheets. "I promise."

You signed at the sight. Even when he is like this, he is kinda adorable.

It's a long night and you want to sleep. You lay on top of the bedsheets, next to Rengoku. His eyes are closed and you take a few seconds to appreciate his face. He has very unique features. Nice lips, a long straight nose. Predominantly eyebrows, and hair that resembles the scales of dragons.

"Listen Rengoku ... By the time you wake up, I won't be here. You are going to have to continue this mission by yourself. Alright?" You were aware that maybe he won't remember this. And you were talking more to yourself than to him. You made a mental note to tell the receptionist to Rengoku about your absence. "I have to fix some things first."

"Will you come back when you are done?"

"Uh?"

"I can wait for you," Rengoku says, his eyes still closed. "I'll wait for you."

His kind words feel genuine. His soft voice makes it hard for you to not feel something in your heart.

You decide to keep talking to him. You want to indulge him as well as to enjoy his company for a little longer.

"You will be waiting a long time. Time is important, don't waste it on someone like me," you respond.

"You are important too."

"Me, important? You don't know what you are saying," you remember how uncomfortable it was a few days ago on the train. Now, is still uncomfortable but not so much. It's like you were talking to a normal person and not Rengoku Kyojuro, the demon slayer soon to be a Hashira. "I am just someone you met a few days ago."

"It took my father a few hours to realize my mother was important to him," Rengoku murmurs and breathes deeply. "They married each other a month later ... I knew you were important the moment you held my hand at the bar."

Rengoku can say the sweetest of things even when he doesn't mean to. You didn't want to believe too much in words because you know that is probably the alcohol speaking.

"You just don't realize who I am because my hair is a long mess and you are drunk," you say, feeling strange since this is the longest conversation you've had with Rengoku. "I should really cut this off."

"No ... Don't cut it."

Rengoku's voice is more demanding. He is not asking you or suggesting. He is ordering you not to.

You got curious. You could ask 100 questions and you feel like he will answer all of them without hesitation. You were not one to intrude but so little is known of the soon-to-become- Hashira and his past that you can't help but wonder the kind of man he is.

"Mr. Rengoku ... Is your father or mother like you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like always so ... energetic?"

He lets out a small laugh, his eyes closed. Rengoku speaks well for being drunk. But he murmurs some words, some loud others much quieter.

"My mother passed away when I was young ... My dad is angry all the time since then," there is no hate in Rengoku's voice rather understanding. "I have to become a Hashira ... So he can be proud of me. So he can love me."

The only light in the room is coming from the moonlight. It reflects beautifully on Rengoku's face. A shade of blues and whites, his long eyelashes look delicate and you get the urge to touch them. But you restrain yourself from doing so.

"You don't need love ... Love doesn't exist."

"It does ... If it wouldn't ... Then why was my father devastated after my mother died?" his voice became quieter and quieter. You know he is close to falling asleep completely. "If it wasn't because he loved her?"

"Then ... Do you want to become like that?" your voice becomes more aggressive. Not because you were angry but because his naivety bothers you a bit. "Do you want to be miserable if you were to lose a loved one?"

"With my role in the Demon Slayer Corps ... I can't allow myself to feel such emotions," although he keeps his energetic voice, you can tell that there is disappointment in his tone. "Besides, it's not like anyone would love a failure like me."

"You just proved my point then," you say. You didn't think Rengoku is a failure. It's the absolute opposite but your pride in winning the conversation is stronger. "Love doesn't exist for the less fortunate. For those who are insignificant. For the ones who are a failure ... Who could ever love that kind of people?"

There is a few seconds of silence. Finally, Rengoku turns and you can now only see his back.

"I guess ... You are right."

When he woke up you were not there. Instead, there is nothing just a headache and an empty tummy.

The sunlight feels heavy in his eyes but as he opens it, Rengoku sees there is nothing on your side of the bed. All your belongings were no longer there and he feels a little bit scared. He wonders if you are alright but he doesn't want to panic just yet. After cleaning himself up, he decides to finish his job. He can blame himself later, and receive punishment for his mistake. But he made a promise and he plans to keep it.

Taking soft steps, he smiles at the receptionist who also smiled at him. She didn't take long before talking to him.

"The lady who came with you last night told me to tell you that she won't longer accompany you on your mission," she says. The receptionist of the tea house is an older lady, old enough to have grey hair. "She said she has unfinished business elsewhere and has to make amends."

Feeling uneasy because of your sudden change of action, Rengoku looks at the receptionist for more answers.

"She sends her apologies."

"Thank you for the message," Rengoku says and before he could leave, the receptionist stops him.

"I don't want to intrude but ... The first time you two came, I did not recognize the young lady. She had changed so much," she speaks in a slow voice, the words coming out softly. "But yesterday, when I saw her with that messy hair of hers ... I recognized her."

Rengoku tilts his head.

"My apologies sir but we don't allow runaway girls in our establishments. Much less from the lower class."

Her words did not make much sense to Rengoku and curiosity got the best of him.

"I am sorry but I lack understanding," he says. "Can you explain further?"

"That young woman belongs to the Ueda brothel," the receptionist then points at Rengoku and he feels exposed. "A respectable man like you shouldn't be involved with someone like her ... Please redeem yourself and spend some time with an Oiran. The other men will surely be impressed by that."

He doesn't know where to start dissecting that information. Instead, he just shakes his head and smiles at the receptionist.

"I thank you for your kind advice."

He leaves.

Rengoku walks through the streets of the Red Light District. Hoping that maybe he can see you somewhere. He doesn't feel content with the way he has treated you. He is the one with more experience and should be your guide. Instead, it was the opposite. Leaving you alone when a demon is out there. Not like you couldn't take care of yourself but one small mistake can cost your life.

He knows he shouldn't. But he is worried and is daytime.

So he goes to the low-class section of the district.

The demon slayer doesn't know how to feel about the number of women offering their bodies to him. He gently declines them and he is mostly certain that they were not doing this because they wanted to. They look miserable, like slaves. And they were.

Even though today is a sunny day, there is a dark atmosphere in the whole area. There is no music, no laughs, no chatter. Just the sounds of the cicadas and the dry wind.

After asking around for a while, he reaches his destination. The Ueda brothel. It doesn't look any different from the others. There isn't anything particularly interesting about this place.

He goes inside and is worse than he expected. There is a group of girls cramped in one room. Most of them look unhealthy, pale and almost to the bone. They seem too weak to even stand.

"We are not open until the sun sets, we can give you a girl only if you pay double-"

An older lady appears from another room. She has wrinkles on her face. Her black hair was in a bun and wore a purple kimono. The lady takes a long look at Rengoku and from speaking informally, she softly changes to a formal tone.

"Are you by any chance ... Related to the Rengoku family?"

"Oh, how can you tell?"

"Well, the Rengoku family has very unique features."

That is true. Not everyone has red eyes and blond spiky hair with red tips. Looking like a living flame.

"I came here to request an audience with the owner of this place," Rengoku knows he is crossing his boundaries. You had asked him not to investigate your past. But there is something that doesn't feel right with him.

"I came to ask about someone who worked here ... I think."

"(Y/N) was sold by her parents to this brothel when she was six. She always gave me trouble ... Always bringing little money to the brothel."

Rengoku was offered green tea. He drinks a little bit of it although the story Mrs. Ueda was saying did not give him an appetite. He did it more out of courtesy than anything else.

"There is not much I can say. She had a close relationship with a samurai but then ... she killed him."

He can't hide his astonishment as he opens his mouth a little. There are no words to express his feelings.

"Soon after that, she ran away," Mrs. Ueda says, taking a sip of her tea. "May I ask ... what brings such an important member of society to a place like this?"

She changed the topic so casually that Rengoku had no choice but to follow along.

"I am on a mission," Rengoku tries to act normal even when he is still thinking about the previous information. "If you have any information regarding the recent murders in the district, I will highly appreciate it if you share that with me."

"Well, I don't know much but I heard that the Oiran from Suzuki's tea house recently survived an attack ... I am sure someone of your status will have no problem scheduling a visit with her."

He waits. It's the only thing he can do. He doesn't know if he should try to look for you or if he should focus on the mission. The sun is finally down and the stars fill the dark sky.

The best course of action should be to prepare a plan to trap the demon. That way no civilians should be harmed. It's either that or wait for the demon to attack and hope they don't hurt anyone in the process.

But Rengoku doesn't know much. What is the demon after? What motives? Why is it here?

He had a few theories but needs more investigation to confirm it.

Everyone stops what they are doing and opens a path to let someone pass.

She walks so slowly and elegantly. Walking on shoes so high that a normal person would tremble and fall. It takes years of practice of the art. To look beautiful and ethereal as she does.

Her face is painted and its perfection, it must have taken hours. Her hair as well. It's lovely and decorated with jewelry only made for the highest of maidens.

This is not the first time Rengoku has seen an Oiran. He remembers seeing a few when he was younger. Before his father was a angry man and when his mother was in better health, Rengoku has fond memories of being taken to dinners with important people. In such dinners, Oirans were brought to entertain them.

Sometimes his mother would get jealous of the beautiful Oiran who approached his father. Even when she was a very reserved woman but his father used to be like him ... Always laughing things off and making amends by making his mother laugh.

As he looks at the Oiran passing by, he realizes how beautiful she is. Almost as if she was a spirit, he couldn't believe someone like her could exist.

"Ex-excuse me."

Rengoku hears someone call for him. He looks down and next to him, there is a young woman. He immediately recognizes her and although the ground is dirty, he doesn't hesitate to get down on the floor and bow to beg for forgiveness.

"Please, young lady ... Forgive me for causing such irreparable pain in your heart," Regonku says. "I've been wanting to look for you to ask for forgiveness but I am deeply ashamed for what I did and couldn't find a way to face you without feeling unworthy."

It's quiet and Rengoku continues. "I know I can't do anything to bring your lover back but if there is any way I can ease the pain in your heart ... Please allow me to accomplish it."

Nanami's heart feels warm. This is the first time someone has ever apologized this deeply to her. With each word being genuine and full of feelings of regret. Nanami looks down at Rengoku, his forehead touching the dirt of the ground.

This man has a good heart, just like you had told her.

"(Y/N) has paid for your mistake."

Rengoku looks up at Nanami. There is an evident confusion on his face.

"Please stand. There is something I must tell you," Nanamis helps Rengoku stand up. He follows her actions and is thankful for her kindness. "(Y/N) ... She... she exchanged herself for me. She gave me my freedom."

"You know, letting that girl go so I could get you was such a waste of money ... But nothing will ever give me this satisfaction."

You sit in front of Mrs. Ueda. You were in her office and it hasn't changed. You had been here many times before. Punished with that same stick she is always carrying around. Holding a long cigar, she breathes in and exhales in front of your face. You find it disgusting but don't move.

"What did I tell you, (Y/N)?" Mrs. Ueda's previous hospitality with Rengoku is completely gone. There is hostility and hate in her eyes. "No matter what, runaways always come back."

She hits you with the stick. You remember the pain as soon as it impacts your body. Although you were stronger now and it doesn't feel as painful, the stick scratches your body to the point of bleeding.

"And you never paid your debt."

She kicks you and you land on the floor. Your hair has become loose again. It's a mess, there is dirt on it. Flashbacks are going through your head, of this same scenery. Although you are Demon Slayer now, nothing has changed. You are still that little girl who was worth three coins.

"Do you want to know why your parents didn't sell you to a tea house?" Mrs. Ueda walks around you, you could hear her sandals against the tatami mat. The only place in the building to have one. "Because you were so ugly no one wanted you."

She grabs your hair and makes you look up at her. Her nails almost digging on your scalp.

"And you still look the same. So pathetic ... Tell me why did you come back?"

Your mouth is dry and you gather the strength to look up at her.

"To pay my debt ... I can't be free unless I pay it."

Mrs. Ueda aggressively lets you go and you don't dare to stand up. You know it will be worse to defy her.

"You stupid girl ... There is no freedom for those who run away. Or have you forgotten the rules?"

She continues to hit you with no remorse and you cover your head. But her intention wasn't to kill you but to hurt you enough to see another day and keep doing it again.

"You won't ever leave this place!"

And as she was about to hit you again, you close your eyes and wait for the impact to happen.

But a few seconds passed.

And nothing.

You slowly open your eyes and see white socks with sandals. How disrespectful ... Who dares to come inside a tatami room with shoes on?

Rengoku forgets about formality as he stops Mrs. Ueda from hitting you again. He holds the stick with his hand and Mrs. Ueda lets go of it as she covers her mouth.

"Mr. Rengoku!"

He kneels down and carries you bridal style. You wanted to stop him but you were in shock and didn't process the moment in front of you.

"I am sorry I am late," he turns around and is about to leave but Mrs. Ueda stops him.

"Wait- you can't take her!" she screams at him, she is a completely different person from the one Rengoku met before. "She still belongs to this brothel, she exchanged herself for that girl! She can't leave unless her debt is paid!"

Rengoku doesn't even dare to look at Mrs. Ueda. But he looks at you instead.

"The Rengoku family will pay five times her debt. I hope that's enough."

"It's not about money anymore! It's about my pride! That woman killed a samurai ... A samurai that was my only son!" she screams violently, with tears in her eyes and desperation in her voice. "Why? Why does she get to be free just for joining the Demon Slayer Corps? She should atone for her sins! It's not fair!"

Rengoku looks at your wounds and even when he doesn't know your full story yet, he knows you must have gone through terrible things. Unspeakable and grotesque. He feels his throat go dry, his feelings threatening to come out of his eyes.

"... I think she has paid enough already."

"You don't have to carry me."

"I will feel better if I keep doing so."

Rengoku is walking away with you in his arms. He is naturally warm and it made a nice contrast with the cold night. If you could, you would have fallen asleep long ago but you had too much pride.

"I don't feel comfortable."

Seeing your expression, he lets you go. Allowing your feet to touch the ground first and making sure you weren't feeling dizzy. Your uniform was teared up in some parts and there are a few blood stains. He wants to attend to it but did not want to touch you if you did not want to.

"You are on your own now. I appreciate the time I spent with you. Thank you."

You bow respectfully before walking away. Feeling ashamed and even embarrassed to have a future Hashira looking at you with such pity. You will never be promoted at this rate, not like you cared in the first place.

"Wait, I need you," Rengoku goes after you, following you close. "We still have a mission to complete."

"I told you not to interfere with my past," you keep walking and you hear him get closer to you. You feel like he wants to hold you, desperate to stop you. But he respects your boundaries as much as he wished there weren't any. "Goodbye."

"My apologies," Rengoku rushes in and walks in front of you. "Please allow me to compensate for that. If you want you can hit me as hard and as long as you want to make up for it."

You don't think Rengoku realizes that he is 100 times stronger than you and that hitting him as many times as you wanted will have no impact on him whatsoever.

"That won't make me feel better."

"Well, that's because you are injured. Please let me take care of your wounds."

To you, it might be minor injuries but to him, it looks like you could faint at any second. But you couldn't tell if he is just being nice because he has to or because it was his duty.

"Stop acting like you care," you look at the ground. You had no shoes on. Rengoku had forgotten to pick them up as he left the room while carrying you. "Your feelings don't feel genuine."

"I am sorry-"

"Stop saying you are sorry!" you scream at him, your voice cracks as you look at him. "Can you feel something besides feeling sorry and happy all the time? Try being angry or sad!"

You walk past him and you are thankful no one is on the road. But there is no doubt a few people are peeping from their homes. Trying to calm down, you take a deep breath. You didn't want to say something you might regret later.

"Would I gain anything from feeling anything else? Anger, sadness, hate ... What else there is to it?"

Finally, there is a genuine expression on Rengoku's face. He is curious and his eyes show distress.

The thing you hate the most about Rengoku ... is how good of a person he seems to be. Genuinely good. He is good to everyone and that makes you feel uneasy.

"There is ... the feeling to survive," you say. "You are capable of feeling guilt. People who are trying to survive can't feel that."

"Uh?"

"The feeling of wanting to survive," a few images appear in your head. Kids dyings, adults begging for money, mothers selling their bodies to get food for their children.

"The poor, the unhealthy, the less fortunate. They all have a feeling to survive and they don't even know why. When you experience that ... When you really are trying to survive ... You can't feel anything else. It's something someone like you would not understand."

"Then tell me," Rengoku's voice is softer, almost comforting. "Explain it to me ... Please."

You take a long look at him and as ashamed as you were of your past, of telling someone like Rengoku about you ... You thought maybe you can trust him. Just for a little bit.

"... I was six when my parents sold me to the brothel ..."

"I am sorry but I am not accepting any new girls."

"Please! We are desperate! Anything would suffice!"

Your parent's face is blurry as you have a hard time remembering them.

They were on their knees, their foreheads touching the dirty ground. Tears in their eyes as they begged Mrs. Ueda to buy you. Now that you think about it, this is the only memory you have of Mrs. Ueda showing kindness to someone.

"I was a slave first. I cleaned the brothel and try to bring in customers and if I didn't, I would get hit by Mrs. Ueda. There wasn't much food so I always tried to eat bugs and plants whenever I could."

The drag that covered your body did not compare to the beautiful kimonos the geisha would wear. Whenever you could, you would sneak out to see the Oirans walk through the streets of the Red Light District. You hid in the back, however, because you didn't want to taint the beautiful presence of the Oiran by being too close to them.

"When I turned twelve. I started to work in the brothel. You said that you wouldn't judge me even if I was the daughter of a prostitute ... but the truth is that I was one."

You wanted to keep looking at the beautiful people. Daydreaming of a possibility in which you could be like them. Elegant, beautiful, rich. You knew they must eat the most delicious food and sleep in a warm bed.

But you couldn't dream for too long. You had to go back. To try and get a man crazy enough to sleep with you so you could afford to eat that night.

"Akio was a young samurai, a good swordsman and the son of Mrs. Ueda. He was kind to me. He gave me a bamboo sword and taught me how to defend myself. He said that if I became good enough and defeated him in a duel, he could give me a real sword."

It was not accustomed for a lady to learn how to use a sword. Especially one who is supposed to be as feminine as possible to please machinist men. But Akio was kind to you and he never improperly touched you and because he was Mrs. Ueda's only son, she allowed it.

"So I practiced. Not because I wanted to defend myself better but because the thought of owning a sword ... owning something made me feel thrilled."

You practiced with a tree. Hitting it as hard as you could. Practicing until your hands bleed, until the bamboo sword breaks. And when it broke, you picked up a tree branch and continued. Non-stop.

"But then ... "

You heard from the other girls in the brothel that Akio was in town. After practicing for 7 months, you were ready to challenge him to a duel. Walking around the district, you looked for him. Until you heard that he would be in the forest, hunting alongside his friends.

As you walk through the forest, you smell something being burned. It's a smell you don't recognize. It doesn't smell like wood or grass. It's a horrible smell. Of something rotten. Dying.

There is a big bonfire and you see people around it. You instinctively hid behind some bushes. The people wore masks of demons and the longer you look at the scene, the more things you realize.

It's a ritual and they had just sacrificed a little girl, you could tell by her small body in a wood trunk, her skin slowly melting.

"Let's not lose hope brothers! We have to continue our mission! We shall keep giving sacrifices to the demon king!" a man screams as the light from the bonfire lits even brighter. You recognized the voice but did not want to believe it. "And eventually we will all be blessed and shall receive the power of a demon!"

He takes off his mask and it's Akio.

"We have to keep trying! And may lord Muzan come and bless us all with his blood!"

You should be running. Crying, or hiding. Anything but being in this place.

They were unaware that you were there. Leaving their katanas unattended for anyone to grab. The sword was there for you to take, almost calling your name.

And you didn't hesitate to use it and stab the only man you have ever trusted in the back.

And you don't even know why. It's not like he ever did anything bad to you.

But in the back of your mind, there was the question. What if you were next? What if he does it again? What if ... he hurts another young girl like you?

"After that, I ran away. I was scared but I knew Mrs. Ueda would have killed me and never believed me. She made people look for me for days and I hid in the forest, cold and hungry."

It was a dry area and the thirst was insufferable. There weren't any rivers nearby and you try to survive by drinking the dew of plants and flowers. You thought of going back. Of accepting your punishment but you knew that if you do that the punishment will be death. And if you could choose between dying peacefully or being tortured to death ... the first option sounded more appealing.

"I was not going to make it. I was going to die. And the night was approaching."

You were laying on the ground. The grass underneath you and trees surrounded you. You could see the stars above you, eternally beautiful in the dark sky. You wonder that if you die you would become a star and be beautiful too. But you quickly realize that it's not possible. Someone with a filthy soul and stained body does not belong with stars. It belongs here in this hell.

At least you got to own something in this lifetime. The katana you stole and used to kill Akio.

You hear steps approaching you. Something is growling, there are heavy steps.

A demon.

"I ran even when I wanted to give up. But my body still wanted to live even when my mind had already accepted its fate."

You keep running. Your feet are bleeding, your arms are being scratched as you ran through the bushes and trees. The sticks and tree branches brushing against your skin, the blood only allured the demon in. It knew where you were.

You fell. And just waited for the demon to come and kill you.

But then ...

"I saw it. The most beautiful thing I've seen. A Wisteria tree. I felt at peace. Like it was cleaning my sins ... hope."

You couldn't believe something so beautiful could be made by nature. That you were worth being in the presence of something so ethereal. Something that can just exist because it can. Pure love. A wisteria tree that offers nothing but protection and beauty. A being higher than you. The only mercy that has ever been shown to you ... was by this Wisteria tree.

"I never wanted this life. I never wanted to be sold to a brothel nor ever wanted to sell my body."

You stand up. Grabbing the katana with such strength you thought you could break the handle. You could hear the demon approaching but were hesitant as the Wisteria tree was behind you.

"And I got angry. So angry at life. Angry that I was denied seeing such a beautiful sight before! And I couldn't let life stop me. If life wants me to give up then it better kill me! But I wasn't going to let it drag me around. I couldn't accept the fact that I was born to just suffer. To just die."

You were afraid but your anger is stronger. You had to survive. You had to prove to life, to God, the universe, Buddha, and whoever is out there ... that only you can decide when to die.

"I took the sword with my hands and cut the demon's neck."

"After that, I was able to reach another village and worked as a farmer for a while. I went from village to village so I wouldn't be found. I trained and I passed the Demon Slayer Corp's test ... barely."

After being accepted into the Demon Slayer Corps, your criminal background was erased. Mostly one of the reasons why you joined them.

Looking down at the floor, you don't want to make eye contact with Rengoku. You didn't want to look at the disgusted face he must have.

"I am not talented. I can't do any breathing techniques but I want to live. I am going to live until I decide I don't longer want to. That's the only choice I ever had in my life and it's the only choice I want to make."

There is silence and the awkwardness is killing you. Rengoku doesn't say a word. Not like he could say much. But you wished he could say something, at least to insult you.

"I am not like you Mr. Rengoku," you say. "I didn't feel guilty when I killed Akio and I don't feel it now. I don't have a kind heart like you. It happened so many years ago but even so now ... The only thing I can feel is the need to survive."

You muster the strength to look at Rengoku. And you look at his face. His eyes. He no longer has those fiery eyes, but instead, there is sadness. And you regret saying a word. Wishing you could see those happy eyes once again.

"(Y/N) ... I-"

"AAAHHHH!"

There is a scream coming from the central section of the Entertainment district. Both of you quickly react and run to where the scream comes from.

There are a lot of people, panic had kicked in and everyone was screaming and running.

You quickly spotted an Oiran fighting for her life. A man launches at her, he looks insane. Red eyes and growling like a hungry dog.

Rengoku didn't hesitate and kicked the man off the Oiran. The man, who is possed by a demon, gets back on his feet. In all four at first and then on two, prepared to attack.

"Nose, nose, nose, nose"

The demon murmurs repeatedly.

You stand in front of the Oiran, protecting her in case the possessed man plans to attack her again.

Rengoku is fast. He doesn't unleash his sword but with his fist, he punches the face of the man.

A black shadow comes flying out of the man's body and quickly goes inside the Oiran's body. You quickly turn around but you do not unleash your sword, too afraid to hurt her. You take a few steps back as the Oiran starts to change, her eyes red and she's growling just like the man before her.

Her red eyes lay on Rengoku, the only man in this place as everyone had already run away and hid.

"Eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes."

She is about to attack him and as bad as you feel for her, you decide to go towards her and punch her directly in the face. Breaking her nose in the process.

"DAMN, YOU! I WANTED THAT!"

The Oiran covers her nose as a demonic voice screams at you. Then, the demon goes out of her body, leaving it unconscious.

The shadow-like demon moves on the ground like a snake, moving so fast that you were unable to follow it with your eyes.

"Flame Breathing, First Form ..."

But Rengoku is ready to attack, only him with his speed and technique would be able to defeat it.

"Unknown Fire!"

He launches towards the shadow, cutting it in half. So simple as if it was paper.

You knew Rengoku was strong. But he is more than that. His every moment was filled with so much passion and heart that you feel your knees tremble. You didn't know if it was out of respect or out of fear.

The shadow disappears and you run towards Rengoku.

"Is it over?" You ask him but he looks side to side, wondering where that thing could have come from.

"No, that wasn't the demon's main body. It was probably just some type of Blood Art Magic," Rengoku goes back to where the Oiran and the man are. He picks the Oiran as he picked you up before. So delicately and so naturally that you wonder how many times has he done this before.

"Could you please help me with the man over there? We need to take them to the hospital," he says. "We should also plan our next move."

After leaving the injured in the hospital, you two decided to head back to the hotel. Rengoku insisted on staying on guard for the night. Saying that he is not sleepy and that you should rest.

Once again there is only the moonlight coming from the window and there is silence except for the wind. It's extremely awkward, especially after you said that you wanted to leave the mission.

"I know you said you were going to leave," Rengoku sits next to you while you lay in the bed. He is facing the window and you can see the symbol of 'Destroy' in his uniform. "But I need you. I think I have a plan."

You are not sure. You are still angry that he tried to discover more about your past.

But you can't stay angry at him for too long. You guessed it is one of Rengoku's charms.

"... I think that when this demon possesses a human, it proceeds to eat the part of the body that the human finds most beautiful in the other person."

You noticed that Rengoku has his sword on the left, ready to unleash it if necessary. It's his way of trying to protect you or maybe trying to make you feel protected in case you couldn't sleep.

"When I punched the Oiran's face and broke her nose ... the demon talked very angrily. It was no longer a beautiful nose. The demon didn't need it anymore."

Rengoku had the same theory but the previous fight confirmed it as well.

"We have to find a way to anger the demon enough to make its true form come out ... Even if it's only for a small moment, I am sure I can slay its neck. I just have to-"

"Mmmm ... Ah!"

It's moments like this that you remember that you were in a middle-class hotel. There is a constant sound, that of bodies impacting each other and moaning. A lot of it.

"Is there a play going on? I hear clapping," Rengoku looks at the wall where the sounds are coming from. He looks genuinely intrigued and you didn't know if this was a good or bad sign. "It must be a really good play! They are clapping a lot."

"They are having intercourse," you explained simply. He is an adult and you didn't want to sugarcoat it. "You know, making babies."

"Oh? Well, I hope they are successful in their mission!" Rengoku says in a happy tone but not too loud as to interrupt the couple in the next room. "I wish I could do that!"

"Nothing is stopping you," you look at the ceiling, not looking at anything particularly. "I'll be fine, go find yourself a beautiful Oiran, there is still an early night."

" ... I am not qualified to please a woman. I am very inexperienced."

"Well, an Oiran can teach you. Actually, it's a good opportunity for you. Not many get to have their first time with an Oiran."

"I don't want my first time to be with an Oiran," Rengoku goes back to looking at the window and now you look at him again. "I want to do it ... with someone I love."

You didn't want to say anything but you could swear that there is a blush in the demon slayer's face.

"Love doesn't exist," you say. "And if it does ... Well, I think you will be the only one worthy of it."

You couldn't see it but Rengoku cheeks' had become red.

He turns around to look at you but you were no longer facing him. Instead, he could only see your back now and the slow movements of your breathing. Rengoku assumes you were already asleep.

"You are the only one who thinks so."

"Do you really think this is a good idea Mr. Rengoku?"

"Yes," Rengoku exclaims. "And please stop calling me Mr.Rengoku, we are the same age. It feels strange. Call me Kyojuro."

You both were on your way to a famous tea house to get ready for the plan. Getting ready will take hours. You weren't completely confident about this idea but you trusted Rengoku's experience.

"I think I'll stick with just Rengoku ... I don't want to forget formalities once you become a Hashira."

"Alright, whatever you feel comfortable using."

You look up at Hasegawa's Tea House, one of the most prestigious and luxurious tea houses in the Red Light Strict. Many Oirans have come out of this place and apparently, Rengoku has a few connections. Such connections will help with today's 'make-over.'

"Alright, so this is the plan," he clears his voice and looks at you. "You will be a fake Oiran. We will wait for someone to get possessed while you do the Oiran walk. We will knock out the demon like last time but this time we won't slay it, we just follow it to reach the real form of the demon."

The plan is too easy and many things could go wrong. You look at Rengoku who keeps smiling at you. He is confident about this and you couldn't doubt him. Doubt is dangerous in a job like this.

"I just hope it doesn't disappear."

"Don't worry that's what these katanas are for! I'll stab the sword into the shadow and it won't be able to disappear until I take it from it."

You look at the tea house. It's an exquisite place, it looks clean and fancy. You remember how you wished to live here. Wanting to have 'sisters' to help you every day to wear a pretty kimono or to get your make-up and hair ready ... Now you are going to be doing that but not in the type of situation you wanted to be.

"Rengoku," your voice is serious now. You don't look at him but you know he is listening. "Before we do this, I want to make something clear. If I get possessed by one of the demon's shadows, I am giving you the right to kill me. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I can't promise that," he quickly snaps. "I'll stop you before that happens."

"I won't do this unless you promise me," you look at him. A few seconds passed and there is no response from him. "Please."

It's almost like you are begging him. You were not one to show so many emotions but your eyes show sincerity. Rengoku could only hope that he is strong enough to stop you ... Or make the right choice.

"I promise."

There are a lot of people who wait along the streets to wait for the Oiran to walk. Rengoku hid in the vast amount of people. Keeping on the lookout for anyone who might fall victim to the demon. It's a dangerous mission, especially due that he doesn't know much about the demon. One thing is sure, the demon is easily angered. Maybe even vain, telling by the interaction yesterday night.

Now it's all about waiting. Being patient and precautions, and taking the right decision that will save most lives.

No, no most lives. Everyone. He had to keep everyone safe.

Rengoku sees you walk slowly. It's strange to see you wearing something different than your Demon Slayer's uniform. Wearing white painting on your face, red lips, your hair is decorated with jewelry and it might be just enough for Rengoku to get distracted.

He feels his heart feel hotter and he wonders what kind of feeling is this or if this is normal. Maybe it's something in the air or a sixth sense telling him to pay attention to the mission.

Rengoku couldn't worry too much about it right now. He sees you walk with tall Koma-Geta shoes, he wonders if you had secretly practiced how to walk on those or if you learned in a matter of a few hours.

You worried.

Mostly because you didn't know if anyone would find you beautiful enough.

You mentally shake your head. For just a brief moment, you are an Oiran. An Oiran, the perfect woman, a beautiful one. They don't doubt their beauty or elegance, they know for a fact who they are and what they are meant to be.

Very much unlike you. You just hoped you were a good enough actress to make everyone believe your facade.

There is a commotion. People are screaming as they see something coming towards you. A young man is running on all fours, like an animal. People ran in all different directions, trying to find a safe spot in which they wouldn't be harmed by the demon.

Under your very expensive kimono, your katana is waiting for you to use it. Waiting for the right moment, the man jumps towards you. But before he could touch you, Rengoku comes in and tackles the man to the ground.

"Neck, neck, neck, neck."

The man who is possed by the demon keeps murmuring. Everyone is gone and you get down from your tall shoes and in bare feet, you run to Rengoku.

He keeps the man under control, putting both of his arms under his back. Although the possessed man is kicking his feet and moving his body uncontrollably, Rengoku is stronger.

The moment you got closer, the man moves with more strength.

"Neck, neck, neck!" he screams as he looks at you.

"So what now? Are we going to cut my neck so the demon comes out?" you ask Rengoku sarcastically.

"No but the demon has two options," Rengoku says as he looks up at you. Still, he can't shake the feeling off from when he saw you. "Either the demon comes, and fights us to get this thing back ... or we wait until the sun rises and kills the shadow inside the human ... I am strong. I can wait all night if necessary."

"... Smart."

Suddenly, you hear the finger snapping. The sound made the shadow inside the human leave his body. The shadow rapidly crawls onto the floor, and you follow it with your eyes.

It goes back to its owner. The person who snapped was tall and slim. Nice physic with a long neck, small lips, and cute button nose. A thin, pointy face. Short black hair.

What a beautiful person. And its beauty is only amplified by the beautiful kimono she is wearing. Wearing very tall Koma-Geta shoes, but she looks to be a natural wearing them.

She is the most beautiful Oiran you have seen. But not only that ... A demon too.

Sky-blue eyes that said 'Lower Moon Three.'

She has a powerful presence but she looks like she won't hurt a fly.

"I want your neck."

Her voice is delicate and elegant. It's enchanting."

"You already have one," you say. More interested in learning about the demon and maybe if you can find a weakness. "Why do you want another one?"

"Because today, that man thought you had the most beautiful neck. Not mine," the demon says. "Tomorrow, someone else may have a more beautiful neck. But today it's yours. And I want it."

The demon takes one step forward and seeing that the man on the ground was no longer possessed by the demon, Rengoku steps in front as he holds the handle of his katana. Ready to unleash it whenever necessary.

"And if I say no?"

"Find out."

The demon snaps her fingers and five shadows come out of her. Immediately going after you but Rengoku slays them before they could touch you.

It is getting ridiculous. You know that you were not at Rengoku's level and maybe never could be. But you are starting to feel useless in the whole situation. Well, you should have expected it. You were the bait after all.

The demon snaps her fingers again and this time 30 shadows come out. Finally, you were able to unleash your sword and take out three shadows while Rengoku took care of the rest.

"Why don't you fight us instead of just throwing your shadows?" Rengoku is confident but he does not misunderestimate the demon.

"Fine ... Once I am finished with you, I'll have her neck."

The demon then multiplicates 100 times. With 100 different faces, bodies, hairs, legs, hands, eyes. All of them are beautiful but in such beauty, something feels strange.

You two are surrounded, watching each other backs.

The 100 creatures began to attack, you slash their necks but it's not the demon's true form. Either that or you will have to cut all of the creature's neck at the same time to defeat it.

"What now?!" You ask Rengoku who is also busy fighting. He can keep up but you don't know how long you can do this. "How are we going to cut the necks of all of these demons at the same time?!"

He doesn't respond, you know that he may be thinking of a plan. But tragically you are starting to get tired. How many shadow-demons have you slayed? 15? There is no end to it. They just keep regenerating.

You finally get kicked down by one of the shadows and one came after the other. Kicking and punching you. Blood coming out of your wounds. Your perfectly groomed hair is now loose and a mess.

"(Y/N!)"

Rengoku gets distracted and is smacked against one of the buildings, breaking the walls along the process.

You are no longer being attacked and you see how quickly the shadows go towards Rengoku. He is unconscious, but just for a short time as he quickly opens his eyes and they are completely red. Not the gentle red you were used to. These had no life in them.

"What a strange person."

The demon inside Rengoku could only see one thing.

"I can't stay in this body for too long ... This man's body, the heat ... the fire in him will kill me!"

You quickly grab your katana and stand up as much as your body hurts. There is debris and you wait for Rengoku to come out of the destroyed building. Your hands tremble. You are scared. Most likely will die but you can't let that happen.

"Hair, hair, hair, hair,"

Rengoku comes out of the building at a speed you have never seen before.

No, you can't win.

You won't win.

But you can decide when your life ends. In the end, it's the only choice you ever had.

Instead of attacking him, you quickly unleash your katana, grab your hair, and cut it.

Rengoku immediately stops as you let go of your hair, the delicate strings flying in the wind.

"YOU DAMN GIRL!"

The demon screams at you as it comes out of Rengoku's body. He falls to the ground.

"YOU RUINED IT FOR ME THREE TIMES! I WON'T LET YOU GO!"

The demon of the 100 faces goes inside your body. It feels repulsing. You couldn't control your body but your mind is still intact.

"This ... is strange."

As the demon looks through your eyes to look at Rengoku, there is nothing in particular you see beautiful about him. But that couldn't be possible. The demon looks again, trying to look for anything. Eyes? Nose? Lips? Hands? It was impossible. There is nothing you find beautiful about him.

Rengoku slowly stands up, no longer under the influence of the demon. He strongly holds his katana, pointing it towards your possessed body.

"I see it now. That's it!"

The demon is exhilarated. Fanatically laughing in your body, tears in your eyes while Rengoku is silently panicking but he has to remain calm. Otherwise, he will end up losing this battle.

"Finally! What I've been looking for years!"

The demon is ready to attack, wanting to get to Rengoku as soon as possible. However, she couldn't deny that she has to calculate her moves due that the swordsman is very skilled.

"The most beautiful thing about this man ... "

The demon launches toward Rengoku but he quickly dodges, he doesn't use his sword, too scared that he might hurt you.

"Heart, heart, heart, heart!"

For the first time in his life.

Rengoku hesitates.

The demon punches him in the face and he lands on his back. Dirt from the ground is picked up it as moves with the wind. He coughs as he inhales it and is quick to stand up.

"It's his heart! After I eat his heart, I would have finally achieved perfection! The pinnacle of human beauty!"

His breathing is heavy, he holds his katana with both hands. His posture is perfect, his stance is strong. Rengoku is perfectly capable of slaying the lower moon demon. But he can't manage to hurt you and he can't let you hurt anyone either. He had promised.

The lower moon demon attacks Rengoku and he jumps to dodge you. But the demon grabs his foot and quickly brings him back to the ground, his back impacting against the soil.

He is not thinking clearly and he unleashes his sword. The demon places your hands in front of the attack and Rengoku lightly cuts the superficial layer of your skin.

The demon screams but it's your voice the one Rengoku hears. His facial expression changes as he listens to your painful voice, his eyebrows sink and his forehead wrinkles.

"Heart, heart, heart, heart!"

Rengoku knows that it's either kill you or let you go and you hurt people. You or multiple innocent lives? There is no way the demon would let you go. Not when the demon has decided that it wants his heart.

So maybe ... the right choice is ... to give it to her.

"I killed someone because of you ... because of my mistake," Rengoku looks at you but talks to the demon inside. "But from now on ... I promise that as long as I live, I will never let anyone else die! I will protect everyone from demons!"

He didn't know if this is the right choice but he couldn't let you die. Not when you had such genuine feelings toward him. He couldn't let die the only person who has truly seen the passion in his heart ... How could anyone find that beautiful will always be a mystery to him. Regardless, he is thankful that someone appreciates his kind and stupid heart.

Rengoku quickly points his katana at himself, the sharp edge directly pointing at his heart.

And as he is about to stab himself, he looks up to see you.

Just to find you, holding your sword to your neck. Ready to slay your neck and end your life along with the demon.

"Uh?"

The demon is surprised that you were able to use your body for just a few seconds. She was distracted but not anymore. The lower moon demon stops you before you kill both of you.

"You really thought you could end your life?"

The demon speaks out loud, knowing well that you were in your subconscious listening to her.

"You stupid girl! Only I get to decide when you die!" the demon screams. "And you will die after I eat the heart of that demon slayer!"

However, the lower moon demon pays attention to Rengoku's action. Scared, she couldn't afford for him to stab his own heart. She can't lose that heart. The demon takes a few seconds to think and she has an idea.

Using the demon slayer's kind heart against him.

"Don't you even think of stabbing that heart of yours! If you do I'll kill myself and this woman!" she screams at Rengoku who is still not moving from his previous position. "You do not want to try me!"

"I am going to live until I decide I don't longer want to. That's the only choice I ever had in my life and it's the only choice I want to make."

Rengoku remembers your words, your voice sounding through his head as he still has his katana pointing at his heart.

"Love doesn't exist. And if it does ... Well, I think you will be the only one worthy of it."

He slowly puts his sword down, still holding onto it ... but defeated, he drops his katana.

"If I get possessed by one of the demon's shadows, I am giving you the right to kill me. I don't want to hurt anyone."

And suddenly ... Rengoku runs towards you. He tackles you to the ground, making the demon drop your sword, unreachable now.

He wraps his hands around your neck and starts to press hard. Choking you as his hands get hotter by the second.

The demon fights by kicking and trying to push Rengoku away but he is too strong and the only thing that is hurting him is seeing you suffer by his hands.

"What is he thinking?!"

The demon thinks, still inside of you and deciding what to do next.

"If he keeps going, he will burn her neck! He will kill her and me!"

"Get out!"

Rengoku screams and for a moment the demon feels genuinely scared. As if a dragon had come and decided to punish her for her sins.

"GET OUT OR I'LL BURN YOU TO DEATH!"

The flames coming out of his hands are different. The demon could feel how the heat is slowly burning her, destroying her neck little by little as the demon slayer is determined to end her life. The demon had underestimated him. A heart as passionate as his could not be stopped, could not be tamed by a mere low-rank demon.

The demon leaves your body, leaving you unconscious. Moving like a snake, crawling on the ground like a coward.

Rengoku takes the opportunity to grab his sword from the ground and follows the demon at great speed.

"Flame Breathing, Third Form ..." Rengoku prepares to attack, like a tiger who has eyes on its prey.

It's as if everything is in slow motion. The demon can't escape Rengoku no matter how fast she tries to go.

"This can't be! It can't be!"

The demon wanted to pray even when she had been abandoned by God a very long time ago.

"I can't die yet! I haven't reached perfection yet!"

She starts to remember all the lives she took. All the beautiful people she made. All the faces she took.

"Blazing Universe!"

And just like that ... Rengoku Kyojuro slays her neck.

"I have to be perfect!"

"Love doesn't exist ... And if it does it is a privilege only beautiful people have."

"You disgusting thing! How dare you steal from a geisha!"

She gets hit with a wooden stick as she is dragged across the tea house to the kitchen. She doesn't have a memory of ever being free or having parents. She has always been a slave to this place.

"I'll cut your hand! That will teach you to not steal again!"

"I don't remember stealing anything. But one of the geishas was scared of me. She thought that if I stayed in the same place as her, my ugliness would spread to the other apprentices. She set me up."

She was not worthy of a name. No one dared to name someone who was considered to be a 'thing.'

However, she had different nicknames. 'Witch, pig, shit, thing.'

Just a thing.

After losing her hand, she had to manage in different ways to do the house chores. Otherwise, she would be kicked out of the tea house. She had prohibited to come out of her room whenever the tea house had clients.

Nonetheless, through a small hole she made in her wooden wall, she sees the evening unfold.

"I saw how beautiful everyone was. The geishas and the men who courted them. The drinks, the performances. A swordsman who stole my heart the moment I saw him."

Whenever she had time, she would follow him around. Even when she would be late and her owner would hit her again with a spiky wooden stick until she bled.

It was hell, but being able to see him made every day worth it.

"One time, he saw me. And instead of making a disgusted face, he gave me a few coins. I thought I was blessed! That I was the luckiest girl alive."

But since she wasn't allowed to have anything, her owner tried to take the coins from her.

She resisted until her owner had no other choice but to burn her face with cigarettes, leaving marks all over it.

"But it was ok, I didn't care as long as I was able to see him."

It wasn't until she found out that the swordsman got engaged to a beautiful woman ... that she began to feel something more than just love for him. But hate and anger began to fill her heart. Jealousy that she had felt before for the beautiful people had now intensified.

"It was late at night and I grabbed the same knife my owner used to cut my hand ... I didn't kill the swordman's fiancee. Instead, I used that knife and killed every person in that tea house. I cut their faces and put them on top of my own. "

But she was just a small, stupid girl. And it didn't take a long time before the townspeople found out who it was.

They took the girl and tortured her by cutting parts of her body. Her fingers, toes and hands. An eye, tongue and lips.

She was left there to die. Next to the river that slowly began to be tainted by blood.

"Why? Why did they do this to me? I only took revenge for what they did to me! No one ever cared for my well-being when they treated me worst than a dog! So why?! If I had died at their hands no one would have cared. Why do they care for them when no one cared for me?!"

She could only hear steps coming closer to her. A demonic presence that was giving her a chance at a new life.

"And I knew why ... it's because they were beautiful and I wasn't. Only beautiful people get to know what love is. What it feels like when people care for you."

She remembers the swordman, the moment he smiled and gave her a few coins.

"And only those with kind hearts ... are the most beautiful of all humans."

She finally reached the river. In one last moment of strength, she looks at the river and sees the face of a young man next to her. A demon who was willing to give her another chance in life in exchange for her eternal service to him.

And instead of looking at her face ... All the time she thought about what a blessing it is that he is here.

"Now that I think about it ... I don't think I have ever seen my own reflection."

The sun began to rise.

The only thing that could be heard is Rengoku's desperate voice, trying to keep you alive.

He looks at the mark on your neck he caused. It's red and irritated, your skin is burned because of him.

Close your eyes,

And remember that passing voice.

I can't return,

I can't go back.

There is only deep darkness.

He starts to compress your chest and give you mouth-to-mouth breathing with the hopes that you will react. But nothing, you just lay there, lifeless. Rengoku's own breathing is agitated, in complete distress.

"You can't die. You can't die you hear me!"

I can't return, I can't go back.

There is only deep darkness.

You hear a gentle sound and it makes you cry

No matter how painful it is,

Move forward

Keep going

Cut off that despair.

You don't know exactly where you are. But you feel safe. There is no pain, just empty darkness. You wondered if this is it. If this is the place people go when they die. Cursing yourself because you weren't the one to end things how you wanted. Instead, it was Rengoku who took that decision.

Rengoku.

Even if you lose, even if you fail,

You have no choice but to keep on living.

No matter how beaten you are,

There is something you have to protect.

He holds your body in his arms, cradling you so gently. Delicately putting strings of your now short hair behind your ears. He takes a better look at your face. Engraving each curve, each imperfection and texture into his mind.

"I was ready to give up my life so you could be safe ..."

Even if you lose, even if you fail,

You have no choice but to keep on living.

No matter how beaten you are,

There is something you have to protect.

You walk into the darkness, not knowing what you were looking for. Or if there is anything to look for at all. Maybe you were looking for something that could not be found. But you feel it. Something ... someone needs you. Calling desperately your name.

This is the path you chose,

Get ready to face destiny.

Covered in mud and scratched your feet,

Look at that thin thread you can't see by eye.

"But I chose to use the right you gave me because I found a reason to live. A reason to survive no matter what!"

Rengoku has never thought too much about his life. He always thought that as long as his life could be used to save others, then it was a life well lived.

But ... would it be alright if he was a little bit selfish? If he wanted more than to just purely devote himself to slaying demons?

In the days you two spent together, he only saw the external layer of you. Of how you only had a sad face, of how your forehead wrinkles when you are angry. How beautiful your hair moves with the wind.

And all that time he saw the superficial ... You saw him. His heart.

You hear a gentle sound that makes you cry.

No matter how painful it is,

Move forward

Head forward

Cut off that despair.

You feel a drop of water touch your cheek. But it's a tear. That of love. Of genuine care and kindness. Of the pure emotions of a gentle heart.

"I never thought I could be worthy of having someone so kind care for me this way."

You slowly open your eyes and see Rengoku in tears, eyes closed as the sun rises behind him. Maybe you were really in heaven.

"I want to keep protecting you!"

Even if it hurts, even if you are in pain,

You have no choice but to stand up.

No matter how beaten you are,

There is something you have to protect.

You caress Rengoku's cheeks, cleaning a few tears. He opens his eyes just to find you alive.

Pure and genuine feelings of admiration. Of the kind heart Rengoku has. Maybe that is the thing you were looking for in the darkness. A blazing heart, kind enough to care for someone like you. Another reason to keep surviving in this cruel world.

There is something you have to protect.

"I am sorry. The mark on your neck will never heal. The burning damaged your skin and it's irreparable."

You are not used to resting at Butterfly Mansion. You were never injured enough to be sent here. Even if you didn't want to be here, you were too weak to protest against Rengoku's wishes.

"But on the bright side, it doesn't look too bad! They look like flames even!

Ms. Shinobu wraps bandages around your neck, knowing that your skin is too sensitive at the moment to let it be exposed to the sunlight.

Your body feels tired but not hurt. Seating on the edge of the bed, you look out the window. It's a bright day and you could hear the birds singing.

"I thank you for your time ... I think I should get going," you stand up and bow to Ms. Shinobu. "Could I get my clothes back?"

"Oh yes, let me bring them to you!" Shinobu says but she feels hesitant about you leaving so soon. "But, may I suggest you wait for a little longer? Rengoku went to town to get me a few things ... he should be getting back soon."

You tilt your head and look at her confused.

"I am sorry but I fail to see how that has to do with me?"

"Well, Rengoku has been waiting for you to wake up," Shinobu takes a look at your appearance. Noticing how your hair is crooked. Probably because you had cut your hair with a katana, or so Rengoku told her. "He has not slept at all."

"To be honest ... I was hoping he had already left," you say. "I did not want him to see me and feel guilty."

Shinobu smiles and goes next to your bed. Next to it, there is a cabinet. She opens it and takes out a pair of scissors. You look at her a bit scared. Shinobu gets too close to you and playfully opens and closes the scissors.

"Well, then maybe we have to ... make you look healthier!"

You feel good in your washed clothes and a new haircut, especially cut by Shinobu herself. Your hair is short, it doesn't touch your shoulders but it does not touch your face either. You feel cold in your neck as you had never had your hair this short before.

You look at the bandages in your neck that covered your damaged skin. It bothers you a little bit but you know you will get used to it in no time.

Putting on your shoes, you sit on the wooden porch of Butterfly Mansion. You wait for your crow to come to you, hoping that maybe you will get a new mission.

"Well, I was not expecting you here."

Giyu Tomioka is known for his stoic face and unreadable actions. You see him make his way towards you. He is wearing a backpack and his crow lays on his shoulder. He most likely arrived a few minutes ago.

"Of course you were. Why else would you be here?"

You finished putting on your shoes. You stay sitting where you are and just let him seat next to you, very casually.

"Yeah, I guess you are right."

There is a silence as he stays close to you but it's not uncomfortable. You wonder who will it be the one to break the silence first. It's not like you were in a hurry to finish the silence, it's been a long while since you and Giyu had time together like this.

"Does it hurt?"

"Uh?" You turn your head to look at him and see Giyu pointing at his own neck.

"Does it hurt?"

He asks again and it surprised you Giyu noticed the bandages on your neck. You thought your uniform's top covered it enough along with your hair.

Either that or he knew about the battle before coming to the Butterfly Mansion.

"At that moment ... yes, it did hurt a lot but," you tried to look for the right words to explain the feeling but did not find them. "I think Rengoku was holding back so as not to hurt me too much."

"He definitely was. If he wanted he could have just melted your neck in an instant," he says as he keeps looking at your neck and then at your face. "Still, it doesn't excuse his dangerous actions ... You are lucky you are alive."

"Well, at least I can say I was burned by the Flame Hashira and survived," you tried to light up the mood, seeing that Giyu has a dark aura around him. He always did but it's more than usual this time. "This will make for some interesting stories."

"It's a shame."

"I'm over it ... really," you say as you touch the top of your bandages. "It doesn't hurt anymore but Ms. Shinobu says I should keep them covered for a few days at least-"

"Not that," Giyu interrupts you and proceeds to raise his hand. Moving it closer and closer to your face.

"Your hair."

He caresses the tips of your hair, remembering how long it used to be. Delicate, soft, beautiful.

"It will grow back ... and it will be the same. I know it."

Giyu has always been a person of small talk. You know this is his way to show that he cares. In his way, he is telling you he is relieved. Or that's what you liked to believe.

After a few seconds, of looking at you and making sure that he didn't miss any other injury or change in your appearance, Giyu lets go of your hair and waits before speaking again.

"I have a proposition," he says.

On the other side of the room ... Rengoku takes small peaks as he looks at you and Tomioka talk. He doesn't have the best of hearing, so he struggles to hear anything you two are saying.

He notices the body language. How close Tomika is to you and how gently he touched your hair.

Tomika stands from the porch, not taking off his backpack, he says one last thing to you before leaving. Rengoku's suspicions are right. Tomioka just came to see you.

After a few moments, you stretch your arms and go inside the room. Rengoku sees you with a backpack now and your crow had also arrived. It lays on your shoulder and it looks like it's telling you something.

You get off the porch, ready to leave the Butterfly Mansion.

"Wait!"

Rengoku finally comes out of his hidden spot. You turn around and see him smiling at you.

"Are you sure you want to leave already? He asks. "It's better to rest and heal your wounds properly before going into any other missions."

"I rested plenty ... I slept for days didn't I?" You could feel some eyes on you. Some young girls inside the house are giggling and talking to themselves. You could only wonder about the type of things they must be imagining. "I must thank you for watching over me all of that time. I should keep going so I can stop being a burden to you and the people in this mansion."

"You are not a burden. And it was nothing. As your partner in the mission, I just wanted to make sure of your well-being."

You don't know what to say after that. Things have been a bit awkward after the mission and you were not certain why.

"I saw you and Tomioka talk," Rengoku looks to the side, avoiding your eyes and you feel a strange sentiment coming from him. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Giyu came to check up on me," you say with the hopes that he will stop avoiding eye contact with you.

"Giyu?"

This hits a nerve on Rengoku ... for a reason he doesn't know.

"I had knowledge that you two knew each other but I didn't know you two were that close!" he laughs but it's fake to hide his evident annoyance. "You even call him by his first name? How lovely!"

But it was not lovely, at least that's not really the message Rengoku is trying to give you.

"Giyu and I have some unsolved business in a close town. He is going to finish a mission and I'll be meeting him in Gokayama Village."

"Oh then I'll come with you two!" he smiles and is ready to depart whenever you are ready. "It will be fun to go on a mission with you and him!"

"It's not really a mission ... it's more of a personal matter," you say. Rengoku's actions are becoming a mystery to you. Maybe he still feels guilty about hurting you. "Besides you don't want to deal with having to share a bed with Giyu, he moves a lot! And Ms. Shinobu told me that your Becoming-of-Hashira Ceremony will be held soon! You need to prepare."

"... You have slept in the same bed with Tomioka?" Rengoku's smile does not disappear, instead his right eyebrow twitches.

"Yes, but that's not the point?" you couldn't pinpoint exactly what is going on in Rengoku's mind but if he doesn't communicate it then it's probably not that important. "Don't worry I am sure Giyu will be here before your ceremony."

"If I invite you to the ceremony, would you attend?"

"Uh? No, I don't think so. Only Hashira and important people can attend those things," you scratched your head. Not because you were confused but rather embarrassed that Rengoku thought of inviting you to such an important event. "Maybe ask your father? I know how important this is for you."

"I guess a better question is ... Will I see you again?"

He takes a few steps closer, there is some hope in his eyes. Tragically you will be taking that hope away soon but you still tried to be gentle with your words.

"Unless you request me for a mission ... I don't think so. You know Hashira can only see other Hashira. I think this is goodbye."

"Oh ... yes, you are right," his face turns into a sad one and you don't know what to do or say to make him feel better. "I am sorry about your neck ... for hurting you."

"No, it's alright. I actually wanted to thank you," you keep trying to look into his eyes but now he is avoiding eye contact by looking at the ground. "You saved me. This mark on my neck is just a small price to pay."

Rengoku has never been one to feel embarrassed. Nor afraid to speak his feelings but as he stands in front of you, he finds it difficult.

"I want to thank you too," he finally says, gathering the strength to look you in the eyes. "For seeing me. My heart."

You two haven't talked about what happened. About Rengoku holding you tightly in his arms, begging you to not leave this life. Or about how you find his heart to be the most beautiful thing about him. You feel your cheeks get hot, hopefully, he doesn't see this.

"I don't care what others think of me ... I am certain that I can continue fighting as long as I have you trusting the feelings in my heart," he says.

You abruptly turn around. Your back is now facing him, you didn't want Rengoku to see your evident blush. You were aware that Rengoku, who has genuine and pure feelings, did not mean anything romantic. But sometimes he speaks as if that was the case.

"You speak a little too passionately sometimes ... don't you think?" your voice trembles a little in embarrassment. "But I guess that is one of the things that make you special."

You sigh heavily, getting control of your emotions. Looking up at the sky, you notice how beautiful it is. You survived another day to see this. And you were thankful to Rengoku, that he took your life in his hands and took a risk. That he used the right you have him.

Rengoku gave you another opportunity to choose when your life ends.

"Hey, Rengoku ..."

He wishes that you could stop calling him by his last name and use his first name instead. But he couldn't pressure you. He will wait until you are ready to become closer.

"I don't know if I'll see you again but," you feel your throat go dry and you take a deep breath. Even when you are not seeing him directly, you know his eyes are on you.

And you already miss it. The beauty of his red eyes. You know you wouldn't be able to resist. You wanted to stay a little longer and the sentiment intensified the more you look at him.

"Remember, only you can decide when your life ends. Don't ever let anyone take that right away from you."

Rengoku hears you clearly. Your voice is almost begging to be remembered and he carves it into his mind. Your silhouette, your stance, your hair, your uniform, the tone in your voice. A core memory that he knows that he will remember until he breathes his last breath.

"Survive."

He knows he will see you again. Some way or another the universe will make your paths connect. He finds himself missing you already. His heart feels heavy and he is overwhelmed with feelings he doesn't understand yet. Maybe the next time he sees you, he will be able to figure out this new side of him.

Until the time to see you again comes ... he has to keep on living.

Arc 1: The Demon of the 100 Faces

End

You can read more in AO3 (5 Arcs Completed):>>> Here <<<

A/N:

A/N: Was this cringe enough? I very much dislike writing 'x reader' stories for the fact that I am unable to write about the character as much as I would like to. I prefer to write OCs. Regardless, this is the first and last chapter I am writing for this story. This is an idea that came after I watched Demon Slayer Season 3 (I've only watched the anime so if I get anything wrong in this story, sorry about that). I have many ideas on how to continue this but I don't think anyone would be interested in reading more. I wrote this mostly because I wanted to let it out of my system before I continue to write my other stories.

Anyways, it was really fun! Rengoku is a character I enjoy writing about because he is actually complicated. I wanted to show the positive Rengoku everyone loves as well to show that he is a very humane character that can feel other emotions. It was definitely a challenge, so I hope I wrote his character 'decently'.

This is an 18k slow-burn fanfic! So to whoever reached this far, I want to thank you! I appreciate every comment and like I receive. It really motivates me to continue writing.

Anyways, this is my gift to the Rengoku fandom. I do hope you enjoy it.

Maybe one day I'll write more. Maybe soon. Maybe not.

Update: I did end up writing more.

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daysincetheindefinatehiatus · 1 year ago

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Gender Nonconformity in The Prince and The Dressmaker

Because American society is so dependent on predictable relationships between people of different sexes, otherwise known as a person’s biology, American society does not know how to interact with gender non-conforming (GNC) individuals. This underlying mystery has allowed some far-right activist groups to argue that GNC people at large are perverts, pedophiles and rapists, rather than people attempting to feel comfortable in their own bodies. The author and illustrator of The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang seeks to demystify the experiences of transgender, and gender nonconforming people in a way that goes beyond the gender binary. Wang uses a vibrant, cartoon-like and expressive art style, to convey a story analogous to the all too familiar Cinderella story American audiences seem to adore. This allows Want to create a book that is appealing to wide age ranges, and creates a familiar basis to explore otherwise daunting subjects. Wang is then able to use other character’s confusion as a stand-in for the readers, thus explaining concepts that are difficult in a way that does not come off as preachy to readers. Once a baseline of knowledge is established, Wang creates empathy for Prince Sebastian, and by extension other GNC people by centering the rest of the narrative on some common problems, and their effects on people without falling into the trap of focusing only on the misery of being GNC.

Throughout the book, Wang employs the use of bright colors, and a simplistic art style to make the book seem more approachable to all audiences. Many of the most impactful scenes in

the book are those where there isn't any dialogue. Near the beginning of the book, Frances, the dressmaker, is tasked with making a new dress for a guest attending Prince Sebastian’s royal ball. Despite the fact that the guest herself does not talk at all in this scene, it is clear that she is only at the tailor's shop because her mother is making her go. Otherwise, she has absolutely no interest in going to the ball. Her arms are crossed, she refuses to look at the readers, and when she does, she has a deep scowl on her face. Likewise, before Frances even speaks, it is clear that she is unhappy at her job. Her hair is unkempt, her eyes have bags, and she is hunched over uncomfortably, focusing on her work. Later, when the girl uninterestedly opens the box with the dress in it, Wang conveys in only one panel that Frances had managed to make a dress the girl liked. Suddenly the girl is no longer scowling, her eyes are wider, and her eyebrows are raised curiously. In only a few pages, with very few words, Wang has already outlined some key facts about the main protagonist: Frances is overworked, but also good at what she does. This makes the dialogue that is had all the more impactful. It also increases the likelihood that a potential reader flips through the book and is able to understand large swaths of the story before they actually sit down to read it.

When Prince Sebastian hires Frances to make dresses for him, he is afraid to reveal to her that he is biologically a male. When Frances does inevitably find out, she does not care all that much. Ultimately, her dream job is making clothes for the wealthy. Who that person is, and what they want her to make doesn’t really factor into the equation for her. This does not, however, mean that she understands the prince. Much like the reader, this is new territory for her, so Sebastain later goes on to explain, “Some days I look at myself in the mirror and think ‘that’s me Prince Sebastian! I wear boy clothes, and look like my father!’ Other days, it doesn't feel right at all. Those days I feel like I’m actually… a princess.” (Wang 44.) While she doesn’t outright

state it in the book, in interviews Wang has said that she wrote Sebastian to be genderfluid. He isn’t a transgender woman, which is at least somewhat familiar to the audience, but rather, he switches between being masculine, and feminine on a day to day basis. Although this description is an overly simplistic definition of what it means to be genderfluid, it does serve as a good starting point for those who are just being introduced to genders that exist outside of, or in between the well understood male and female binary. This point then gets reinforced as Sebastain goes out of his way to present in more masculine ways sometimes, and in more feminine ways others. It’s not that Prince Sebastain is unhappy as a boy, he just does not want to continue to suppress the side of himself that is actually a girl. He is capable of being perfectly happy, and confident as a boy, the same way he is capable of being anxious as a girl.

Unlike many other stories trying to promote the acceptance of GNC individuals, Wang does not fall into the trap of making Sebastain’s life miserable to make readers feel bad for him. Sebastian has anxiety related to his gender identity, as do his real world counterparts, but his relationship to gender is more complicated than that. In chapter 2 of the book, Sebastian’s feminine alter ego Lady Crystallia is born when she enters, and wins a beauty contest. This is the first scene in which readers get to see Sebastain exude confidence. Before this moment, Sebastian is always worried about being found out for who she is, even in the moments just before she walks on stage. By giving these comparisons Wang asserts that while Sebastian’s gender identity is a component of his anxiety, it is also one of his main sources of confidence. It’s not a part of him that he can suppress happily. Wang effectively asserts that there is happiness to be found in being a GNC. it is not that they are sad that GNC people deserve kindness, it’s that they are human, that makes them deserving of kindness. Because this nuance is made explicit within the story Sebastain accurately reflects his real world counterparts.

As Prince Sebastian, and Frances’ relationship morphs from a simple working relationship into a friendship, the problems Sebastain faces because of his gender nonconformity become more apparent. Sebastian faces pressure from his parents to find a wife, and take the throne. He can't seem to do this because he feels a deep shame associated with his gender identity. As Sebastian runs into more walls related to his gender, he acts in ways that are increasingly self-destructive. Research by the University of Manchester found that an increase in shame, often as the result of transphobia, has correlated to higher rates of alcoholism, drug abuse and even suicide, as well as other destructive behaviors. Likewise, as Sebastian becomes more desperate to hide Lady Crystalia, he ruins relationships that he cares deeply about. After a heated fight based on tension from Sebastian’s need to hide, Frances quits working as his dressmaker. At the same time. Sebastian’s parents become insistent that he marry, so much so that his father actually has a heart attack because of it. Once again Wang is able to highlight the loneliness that comes along with hiding a GNC identity

Consumed by loneliness, Sebastian agrees to marry Princess Juliana. Shortly thereafter, he sneaks out as Lady Crystaliam for what he believes is the final time. There, she drinks until she passes out and is assaulted by Princess Juliana’s brother. Although this scene is kept vague to stay within a family friendly rating, this is a scarily common occurrence for transgender individuals. According to the US Trasngender Survey, 1 in 5 transgender people will be sexually assaulted within their lifetime. After her assault, Crystallia is then outed to her parents, and the entire kingdom by Juliana’s brother. At first, the parents are shocked, and unaccepting of their son. They are afraid of the pain that he will have to go through because of his identity. It is not until his father meets Frances, who has returned to make sure Sebastian is OK, that he realizes that Sabastian has support in his life. Frances loves Sebastian, both as a prince, and as a Princess.

Sebastian’s father needed to see this unconditional love to accept his kid. While Sebastian had been on a drastically downward spiral before coming out to his parents, he begins to flourish once he experiences acceptance. He is more comfortable as a man, and as a woman overall, and is pursuing goals along with Francis that are exciting for the both of them. Once again Wang is closely mirroring research showing that transgender individuals are more likely to succeed in life when they are met with acceptance rather than being shunned by those who they love.

Although I would have liked for Sebastain to have been given more agency in who he reveals Lady Crystalia too, I find this story to be an overall good introduction to the world of gender nonconformity for those who are unfamiliar with it. Before I realized fully that I was GNC, I spent a long time feeling disgusted by gender non conforming individuals despite the fact that I was otherwise entrenched in the queer community. My Grandma experienced the same phenomena. Here was a woman who protected queer people from the police pre stonewall, stood up for those suffering from AIDS in the 80s, and who was able to accept her granddaughter as a lesbian without question, completely disgusted by that same granddaughter when she dressed as a man or used he/him pronouns. In both of our cases, this book was able to serve as a gentle guiding hand into the world of gender nonconformity, and I am confident in this graphic novel’s ability to do the same for others as well.

#the prince and the dressmaker #LGBT #trans #transgender #graphic novels #comic

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oraclekleo · 10 months ago

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Can't explain in words but i really feel so greatful to have known you all and be a part of this community. You are really so kind to me and i appreciate it so much. I absolutely love tarot and when the reading resonates sm with the situations it makes things even more beautiful...!!!! 🫧

Here's a quick feedback; The reading was so on point and resonating. It would be a lie if i say that I ain't a hopeless romantic but definitely love and relationships have never been my first priority, but lately I'm definitely feeling really very drawn to knowing more about our meeting, connection and tarot readings and as you've mentioned. I feel drawn towards love, the love that I'm craving and was kind of avoiding for a while. Overall the reading definitely resonates with my current situation and as you've mentioned there could be a hidden message maybe there was?? I'm getting something a message for sure but dk if I'm right I'll just trust my intuition and take what seems right. Overall the reading was amazing and so right on what has been happening recently-!! I really feel so greatful and thankful. I'll take your words into account and really appreciate you for allowing me to participate multiple times. I love your readings, cards and games. It's such a huge deal for me. Sending my love to you and the dogs, cuties. Hope you all stay healthy and happy similarly how you make others. Have a wonderful day ahead. 🫶🏻🤍✨🧿

Hello!

Oh please! Stop making me blush 🤭

I'm really happy the reading resonated.

It's usual for people to feel passionate about love but saving it for the right time. When you needed to prioritise other aspects of life, it was only sensible to let the romance and love sit in the corner for a while. Now when you feel ready to dive into these matters more, it's perfectly fine to do so. I really think this approach is admirable as it's beneficial on multiple levels.

Exploring ones approach to love and relationships and connection with other people is long journey, sometimes pleasurable, sometimes we learn painful lessons but overall a positive experience. All I can say here is, be yourself, be genuine, love yourself first and then the other people. 💖 A quick tip: I actually became more compassionate and kind to others and found that desire to spread love and help, once I finally started to love myself. Unless you truly love yourself, it's very difficult to actually love others. So... Self-love comes first! 😂💕

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, it means a world to me.

And feel free to hit my inbox or DMs anytime you feel like it. I'm truly open to chatting about anything. I don't have practical experience with romantic love but I have plenty of theoretical knowledge. 🤣

Easy and Dachi send their love 🐕💖🐕💖

#oracle kleo #tarot games #tarot feedback

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toyatominaga · 2 years ago

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Is Soi Fon Autistic?

Now before you come at me, this is very much a fan theory that I’m analyzing. As an autistic person myself, I grew attached to Soi Fon when I was young and she’s been my favorite character since. For some reason, I oddly related to her struggles. I’m going to be diving into the different autistic traits that Soi Fon tends to portray in the series. So without further ado, here is my interpretation of all this!

1. Autistic people are cold/lack emotion

Autistic people are often stereotyped as lacking emotion and coming off as rude or cold. Soi Fon is well known, especially early on in the manga that she is a cold person who seemingly lacks no remorse. Ex. Attacking Kiyone without hesitation. She comes off coldly to Omaeda as well, and even though it seems bad, it is more so the way she communicates. We can tell that Soi Fon actually cares about Omaeda and sees him as a worthy subordinate. Perhaps, she doesn’t know how to convey those feelings in a typical manner. For autistic people, sometimes conveying and communicating emotions properly is difficult and at times miscommunications can come off as rude unintentionally.

2. Autistic People thrive in structure/order

This is very true for many autistic people. Having a schedule or routine that is consistent and regimented is very beneficial to us. Soi Fon values order and routine. She runs her squad with rigor and follows the soul society’s rules to a tee. Now here’s the kicker. When Soi Fon’s routine or sense of order is interrupted she loses it. This is very much seen when Yamamoto is killed and she responds negatively to how everyone is reacting so calmly. Curiously, she is the only captain to act so intensely in this moment, Komamura only yelling to stop her, only emphasizing how she stands out from the rest of the captains. Additionally, she in a sense doesn’t know how to “read a room”. This can also be seen when she yells at Squad Zero. Despite everyone being calm and collected, she loses it once more, further causing irritation in others. Another example, is when Yoruichi left. Being raised and engrained so hard to be a soldier, Soi Fon took on that model as her life’s destiny. From there, everything she does is her duty. Yoruichi came in and made Soi Fon question her structure, allowing her to open up as well. Of course, when Yoruichi left Soi Fon held a very deep grudge and that turned her life around. She had to change everything she was used to, which is really hard for an autistic person to do. Even the way Soi Fon talks is more formal, seen when she is discussing things or when preferring to use an honorific for Yoruichi.

3. Autistic people have special interests

Soi Fon’s special interests comes in the form of black cats and Yoruichi. Soi Fon is immediately infatuated with Yoruichi and devotes her life to her, seeing her as the only thing that mattered. Everything was focused on Yoruichi. This is seen too when Soi Fon is older. Seen a lot in the filler episodes but also in some canon, Soi Fon is obsessed with anything to do with black cats, due to Yoruichi having the power to turn into one. It even gets to the point to which she throws a tantrum and nearly blows up the Seireitei over a cat trading card. She is also seen in cutscenes and in some art playing with cat plushies and wearing cat themed clothing, further showing her interest. Sometimes Soi Fon’s interest becomes overly obsessive and it clouds her judgment at times, leading to her also losing sight of who she is.

4. Autistic people struggle with expressing and understanding their emotions

This is a big one that is scene throughout. Soi Fon is probably one of the most emotional characters in the series. If anything goes against the rules or her values she is not afraid to fight back and voice her opinions even if the emotion may seem over exaggerated. Of course, Soi Fon cries when she sees Yoruichi, understandably. Later, she is seen in various captains meeting calling out people and voicing her opinion. Oftentimes, her opinions fall on deaf ears and she is ignored or put down. She comes off as naive due to this, and of course that very well may be. She is also young so it’s understandable. In most instances we see, Soi Fon reacts in anger and/or sadness. She is angry about Yamamoto, about Yoruichi, about squad zero, she gets angry about rules being broken, etc. So one would just think she is just an angry person. But, she’s more complex than that. Additionally, she is shown to not fully understand other people’s perspectives. This is seen when she doesn’t understand why others aren’t grieving Yama the way she was or never forgiving Kisuke for causing Yoruichi to leave. Soi Fon isn’t always a cold and brash person, in fact she grows in many ways over the course of the series. She is still very rigid in her ways but she is proven to be more kind and thoughtful than she lets on, as once proven by Rukia saying that she was always nice in her opinion. This only goes to show how unique Soi Fon’s emotions are.

5. Preference for Isolation

Soi Fon is often illustrated as preferring to do things alone at times, especially in training. We see this when she goes off to train without Omaeda during TYBW. She most likely trained alone after Yoruichi left. She seems shy at times in large groups. She also doesn’t have that many close relationships.

6. Autistic people are more sensitive to things

This is a small thing, but nonetheless I’m including it. When Omaeda catches Soi Fon after being caught upon launching her Bankai, she responds by telling him to get his disgusting hands off her. Usually, one might not imagine someone who was just rescued to say something so cold, but it also goes to show that maybe Soi Fon is avoidant of physical touch. We see later that Yoruichi has touched her a few times and Soi Fon doesn’t seem fazed, even comforted, maybe showing that Yoruichi is the only person she is okay with touching her.

7. Autistic people are detail-oriented and intelligent

Soi Fon proves to be fairly intelligent and tactful. She is really good at observing things and quickly executing plans. For example, when she gathered notes on Urahara not only was she determined, but she was amazingly thorough and detail-oriented as commented by Yoruichi.

8. Autistic people are often misunderstood

One thing that is for certain, is that Soi Fon is incredibly misunderstood as a character. A lot of Bleach fans dislike her because of her cold attitude, without looking into the deeper reasons as to why she is the way she is. Also the way she reacts to change is caught off guard by others and even her opinions are often ignored or dismissed. We unfortunately don’t get to see all of Soi Fon, so we don’t know for sure how she reacts in every situation.

#soi fon #bleach #soifon #sui feng #soi #yoruichi shihouin #yoruichi x soi fon #autism #headcanon

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5ungchan · 10 months ago

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not really a request, i just wanted to know the creative process behind you writing all of your fics. i love your style of writing sm, how do you chose the right words or come up with the ideas that you do :)

omg hello! thank you for stopping by. this is very sweet of you to say. it's a huge confidence booster and i will take your comment to heart <3!!

the creative process behind the ideas that i come up with, typically stem from a certain emotion i want to evoke. i'd like to consider myself a very observant individual (given my experience working with psychiatric patients and being in a hospital setting with geriatric (palliative), dementia patients & the ED most evenings.)

so when you look at someone who's an idol, especially when their identities are quite manufactured, it gives you some leeway with how you want to proceed with them as a character. a lot of people like to follow each other on how they perceive a member, but my advice would be to do it your way. take a look at the member, not when they're talking, but when they're standing off to the side during a video or interview. it shows you a bit of how they are when they're not actively "acting" their "personas" in front of the camera. obviously don't take this too seriously, we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. but it is for the sake of writing fiction, which isn't real.

from there, think about their personality and how you could twist that into pure, raw emotion. if someone's constantly happy, imagine how they could be when they're alone. sometimes the happiest, loudest people can be the most quiet and mentally conflicted (in terms of dealing with stress, sadness and those conflicting emotions) individuals when no one's watching.

i like to include something that personally makes me open up emotionally. that being said don’t be shy to explore topics that can be difficult to talk about openly! emotions are crazy bro. if there's something that hits you differently in terms of romance, etc. for example: you have a hard time loving others because you don't even love yourself. it can be sort've fleshed out into a bunch of small one-liners. and yes, i mean literal one-liners: just a sentence.

for example: "i just want to be happy."

a sentence like that shows (imo) the emotional decay and struggle that someone could be facing alone. it's a sentence that could be said with sarcasm, dripping with dark humour, or it could be a sentence of someone speaking their emotional thoughts aloud for the first time. i personally like to take the latter, the angst route is my favourite. especially since human emotions are so complex and very hard to navigate so there really isn't a wrong answer when writing.

from there you can expand. how do you want the character to proceed? are they going to be talking more, who are they talking to, etc. i personally like to add in a bit of the mise-en-scène (yes i throw this word around A LOT, but it's my favourite and something i always consider when writing.) adding in how the character feels emotionally, where they are and if that environment contributes to how they feel (for better or for worse) is important to describe and really flesh out the scene!

in continuation to the example:

“i just want to be happy…”

sungchan hears the way her breath falters, a slight crackle of static can be heard from the other side of the phone. the shuffling and shifting of bedsheets, blankets make themselves known, and he just knows she's drowning within her emotions. he doesn't push it, nor does he say anything. the silence continues to drone on for a few moments. allowing you to regain your composure, one that he knows you're struggling to keep pieced together.

it's almost as though he can picture your bottom lip quivering. a desperate attempt at silencing your emotions. feelings that had lingered far too long within the confinements of your mind. ones that had begun to seep past the windows of your soul, dripping down your cheeks like rain on a glass pane.

a sniffle rings through the phone, followed by a soft gasp. the way your breath re-introduces itself into the phone makes his heart stop. you'd been holding it all in. even something as simple as your breathing, was presented shyly to him. no matter how many times you'd shown your vulnerable emotions to him, you still felt afraid. afraid that he'd judge you, that he'd leave you behind.

but he hasn't and he won't. at least it's something that he's beginning to have a hard time convincing himself about. it's a scenario he's grown to know all too well. one where you're laying in that bed of yours, unable to sleep with your eyes focused on the plain, white ceiling above. it's a place you never leave. not unless, you find yourself sprawled out naked in his. at least then, you'd never be crying. the self-loathing had only ever commenced when you were alone.

anyways yeah I wrote that on a whim so obviously not the best (it's ass) but blah blah blah i also recommend never stopping with the first draft. look back on the paragraphs and re-write them directly under the first copy but allow yourself to filter out through some words, adding in new ones.

i almost always rewrite a story everytime I review it until I’m happy with the final copy! i personally enjoy using imagery (i'm not that good at it, but it's fun) it's also important to find your own tone, your own voice because that will distinctly make your work stand out from others because of how you are telling the story to your viewers! so yeah for myself when I write: IF IM HURTING MY GOAL IS TO MAKE YOU HURT WITH ME LETS CRY TOGETHER. then we can connect and discuss our emotions afterwards, maybe kiss, jk. unless? lmao jk.

final note: write for yourself. the best works come from what you’re personally content with and enjoy reading. people will find you this way and they’ll stick with you! your confidence can be a learning journey that other viewers can feed off of! energy is important! good luck!

#hope this helped!! thanks for your kind words anon 🫵🥺🥹#IDK WHY ITS SO LONG LMAO SORRY

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wqintraining · 1 year ago

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NEW X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES - SEASON 3, EPISODE 2 (PART 2 OF 2)

We open once again on Okkara, thousands of years ago. This time, we are even further in the past. There are no demons and no battles raging. With a shining sun and a clear blue sky above, Okkara is a flourishing island paradise. Its Mutant population is happy and at peace.

The man known as En Sabah Nur, dressed not in armor, but in loose-fitting robes, sits on a rock, strumming a stringed instrument, a calm smile on his face. A small captivated crowd listens.

Nur's attention is turned away from his music as someone calls for him.

"Father! Father!"

Apocalypse grins as a little girl made of flames runs up to him with excitement. He picks her up and asks what's brought her such joy.

ORIGINAL WAR: "Death and I fought! And I won!"

APOCALYPSE, an amused father: "Ah, I see. No wonder you are proud. Defeating Death is no small feat. Even if he is your baby brother."

War continues to be smug over her victory as Nur holds her tight.

NUR: "Stay strong, my daughter. But remember, to fight is not your future. You are the war which will never come again."

In the present, Apocalypse and War stand in their laboratory. A scientist reports to them that everything finally seems operational. On his mark, they can deploy the X-Virus.

A different scientist speaks up.

SCIENTIST: "Please, Lord Apocalypse! Don't do this! We can weaponize the virus on a smaller scale. If you'd just think of the–"

The scientist is cut off as his throat is sliced open, blood gushing out. He falls over, dead.

Apocalypse puts an arm around War's shoulders.

APOCALYPSE: "Proceed…and end this fight."

At the Jean Grey School, Mercury and Bling! have been sent on a drug trip. Cessily is dazed as she hallucinates her body expanding and twisting in every which way as the world expands and twists around her. Bling! meanwhile gets shinier and shinier. It’d blinding. It gets more pleasant for them as bubbles start forming on Mercury’s skin and she pops them to tickle herself, while Roxy tosses on some sunglasses and revels in how cool she looks.

CESSILY, giggly: “This is so weird. Have you ever done something like this before?”

ROXY: “You asking that because of who my parents are?”

CESSILY: “What? No, I–”

Roxy bursts out in hysteric laughter.

The Cuckoos are also on this trip, laughing as they hallucinate. They’re continuously merging with and unmerging from each other.

CUCKOOS: “They’re so gonna thank us.”

In the mission room, we pick up directly where we left off last time. Cyclops, Kitty, Iceman, and Wolverine desire to go and stop Apocalypse, but Magneto and Emma believe they should allow his plans to play out, and Hellion and Surge think they may be right. In the face of Archangel’s murder, Iceman is enraged and has put Magneto’s neck at icicle point.

ICEMAN: “I don’t care if you won’t help, but you aren’t getting in my way!”

Without moving or flinching, Erik disintegrates Bobby’s stretched-out arm.

MAGNETO: “The loss of Archangel is painful. For myself, the loss of the Morlocks even more so. Children died in those sewers. Do you know where else children died? By the millions? Genosha. This is the only way the pain ends.”

SCOTT: “Emma, please. You’re better than this.”

EMMA, insulted: “Do you really think speaking down to me will change my mind? Humanity’s leaders have brought nothing but suffering to all but the very worst of their entire population. Gently guiding them into the night as we take our rightful steps into the future and preventing decades more of suffering for them is practically a mercy.”

MAGNETO: “Why is this such a difficult pill for you to swallow, Cyclops? You have killed before. You will kill again. All in the name of protecting your people. And in the long term, you will save far more billions than those who die here.”

KITTY: “Can we stop talking like these are numbers on a spreadsheet and not living, breathing people?! Living, breathing people with family and friends!”

NORIKO: “Humans, Ms. Pryde. You’re talking about humans.”

JULIAN: “Humans who wouldn’t hesitate to kill us all if the positions were flipped.”

LAURA, aghast: “What the Hell is the matter with you two?!”

Nori angrily explains why she has no shits left to give about humans. Her family abandoned her, groups like the Purifiers and U-Men keep forming to try and kill them, and even if a new one hasn’t popped up lately, she knows they weren’t the first, even if they were, Stryker and all of his followers, and all the engineers who agreed to work for him were why Nova was able to kill 16 million of them, they do SHIELD’s dirty work fighting their own people for them, but SHIELD never seems to help THEM, Cyclops, for all his hard work, has barely made any dent in improving public opinion of Mutants…

Julian takes over.

JULIAN: “They took my damn hands, my family, hell, half the families of the kids here abandoned us, and the X-Men couldn’t even do the one thing they were supposed to do for us: keeping us safe.” He glares right at Scott. “With how many times you failed Sofia, it’s no wonder she turned on us.”

Bobby shouts at the kids that this is NOT the time for a temper tantrum, but Scott silences him.

SCOTT: “Everything you just said is true. And I’m sorry for where I’ve failed, and the hands you’ve been dealt.” He turns to Emma and Magneto. “But I’m not ready to give up.”

In Apocalypse’s lair, engines pound, and lights flash. Apocalypse’s lead scientist informs him and War of the good news: the X-Virus has been released. Before long, his goals will be fulfilled.

Apocalypse laughs in triumph.

APOCALYPSE: “Thousands of years of pain…will finally come to an end.”

War hooks her arms around one of Apocalypse’s and congratulates her lord. New Okkara will be the greatest civilization the world has ever known. Apocalypse rests a hand on her head. He could not have reached this point without her.

Just then, all of the scientists started coughing, as their bodies undergo a series of rapid, horrific Mutations. By the end, they are nothing but beige splatters on the floor.

Exodus enters, cackling at the irony.

EXODUS: “Shall I summon Death and Pestilence to join us in our hour of glory?”

APOCALYPSE: “No. They are needed in their current positions.”

EXODUS: “And if the X-Men don’t arrive willing to simply enter your open arms?”

WAR: “Has all that hair gel gone to your brain? These are hardly the X-Men who bested you both in the past. The three of us will more than suffice to crush them.” While Exodus bristles, War raises clenches her fist. “One way or another, I will make them see the light.”

Back in Cessily and Roxy’s room, the girlfriends have started making out one on the best, while the Cuckoos are spead across the floor, each in a daze, fiddling with one of Roxy’s instruments.

IRMA, plucking a violin with her fingertips: “Hey…can I ask you all something?”

PHOEBE, banging a drum stick against a bongo: “Since when can you not?”

IRMA: “I know…I know…but, I was thinking…what if I changed my name?”

The other Cuckoos weakly laugh.

SOPHIE, fidgeting with the buttons on a trumpet: “What?”

ESME, ripping the strings off a guitar: “TO what is more like it.”

IRMA: “I don’t know. I was just thinking about it.”

SOPHIE: “I guess it’s okay as long as it starts with an “I”.”

Cessily pulls away from Roxy and falls off the bed, partially liquifying on impact.

CESSILY, as she struggles to put herself back together: “I…hate you all. And I’m going to regret asking. But why do you…”

Cessily trails off as she passes out mid-sentece.

CELESTE: “She’ll be fine.”

ROXY: “Cool, cool…so explain?”

The Cuckoos giggle.

SOPHIE: “We chose our own names. Sophie, Irma, Phoebe, Celeste, Esme.”

CUCKOOS: “SPICE!”

SOPHIE: “As in “Spice Girls”.”

Roxy burts out laughing at that. The Cuckoos’ expressions range from insulted to hurt, until Roxy clarifies why she’s laughing. Their taste in music for their routines may suck, but she can respect that kind of crazy passion.

The Cuckoos’ faces light up at the first positive response they’ve managed to get from Roxy.

Just then, Sooraya knocks on the door. She wants to make sure her friends are okay, as something horrible seems to be going on around the world.

The Cuckoos cackle as they open the door telekinetically, accidentally slamming it, and tell Sooraya to come join them. Sooraya is instantly distracted from her previous concern, as now she’s just wondering what in the name of Allah is going on here.

ROXY: “Gonna be honest…still not entirely sure. You don’t have to do anything, girl. I know drugs are challah or something. Just take a seat and soak in the moment.”

Cessily, as a puddle, woken up and squirmed over to Sooraya’s feet. Her face is in the puddle.

CESSILY: “Hi.”

Sooraya seethes before shutting the door behind her. She’s only staying to make sure these irresponsible heethens don’t die. The other girls all cheer.

In the mission room, the argument has devolved into a shouting fest, Scott and Bobby screaming back and forth incomprehensibly with Emma and Erik, while Laura does the same with Julian and Noriko.

The only one not screaming? The team’s designated mediator, Kitty Pryde, who’s watching everyone else and taking in the situation. As the wheels turn in her brain, she picks up her phone and takes note of the crisis going on around the world, as thousands of people drop dead.

Kitty cringes, eyes shut, before opening them, full of determination. She has a plan.

While everyone else is fighting, Kitty sends a text message. While they don’t go to check their phones, we hear the buzz going off in Wolverine and Iceman’s. Kitty then rushes Surge and Hellion and phases all three of them through the floor.

Julian and Noriko are pissed, and question what Ms. Pryde is doing. And after everything she’s seen, why isn’t she on their side?!

KITTY: “Shush! Oh my god, be quiet.”

JULIAN: “You can’t shush us!”

KITTY: “You must be getting too big for your britches if you’re forgetting you’re still students and I’m still your teacher. Yes, I can shush you. And you’re going to listen to me.”

NORI: “But Ms. Pryde–”

Kitty shoots her down with a stare.

With the kids reluctantly quiet, Kitty takes a breath.

KITTY: “Listen, I…you know, I…”

As Kitty struggles to find the right words, Julian and Noriko glare at her with skepticism and disinterest. A vein bulges in her forehead as her emotions overwhelm her. But she has to keep going.

KITTY: “You’re not wrong.” The kids are visibly surprised by those words. “You’re not wrong at all. About what you’ve been forced to deal with. About how you’ve been forced to live. You two have been dealt more shit than anyone should ever have to face, and you can’t even so much as look at your own hands without remembering that. I get it! Letting someone else do the dirty work of wiping away all the nasty people who’ve hurt you, and then take out whatever evil Mutants are left? Get the happy ending just like that? I get what why you want that. But, in spite of everything, everything I’ve seen, everything I’ve faced, all the people I’ve lost…” KItty trails off as she laughs. “All the bullcrap I’ve had to deal with from my own teachers and teammates. Do you know why I still dream?”

NORI, disregarding her: “Because you’re just naturally that perfectly good?”

Kitty cackles.

KITTY: “Hell no! The stories I could tell you kids. I won’t, because trauma, but I could.” They don’t laugh like she’d hoped. “Anyway...what kept me going were the people I loved. And I don’t just mean Mutants. And I’m not going to say I’m talking about “humans” or “Flatscans” like you two have gotten so fond of calling baselines. It’s one gene of difference! We’re all still human!”

JULIAN, disregarding her: “You think “baselines” are worth keeping around just because a few of them aren’t the worst?”

KITTY: “It’s a lot more than a few. I promise. My parents never had anything but love for me. And I have so, so many friends who I know would do anything to help us if they could. You’re heroes. Superheroes. Do you really want to just let countless innocent people die?” With Julian and Noriko still not being reached, Kitty realizes she has to go deeper - more personal. “My dad is already dead. Killed alongside the Mutants of Genosha he considered his community. But you know who’s still alive? Sooraya’s mom, who Dust has been so, so happy to have back in her life.” Julian and Noriko hang their heads and cringe as they’re hit with this. “How about Roxy’s parents? Or Brian’s? Or all the other parents of kids here who still love them? Do you want to tell you “crew”, Julian, how you decided to let their parents die? You think they’ll understand? What about if people like Storm and Sofia don’t just get their powers back from this? Noriko…” Kitty hates herself for having to go this far. “...do you want Keitaro to die?”

Noriko and Julian scream in rage as they super-speed toward Kitty, but she simply phases through them before grabbing their collars and slamming them on the floor.

The kids start crying. They don’t WANT anyone to die. They don’t want anyone to get hurt. But nothing is getting better. Nothing is getting easier. They just keep losing more and more. They just keep losing people.

Kitty helps the two stand up. Like she said, she gets it. But this is why escalation isn’t the answer. Evil isn’t genetic. There are evil baselines and evil Mutants.

KITTY, to Julian: “Sure, baselines’ hate is what often provokes radical response. But we should be better, right?”

Julian bites his liip as his own philosophy is thrown in his face.

KITTY, to Noriko: “And most people? Most people are good. They all need to be protected. And we’re the only ones who can protect everyone, baseline and human.” Noriko’s eyes widen and light up and a switch clicks in her brain. “We’re all the same.”

There’s a quiet pause.

JULIAN, trying to still be bitter: “I…”

Nori hugs Kitty, apologizing for how she’s been thinking and acting. Kitty hugs her back and assures her she’s got nothing to apologize for. She was just scared and angry. She’s still a good kid. Still a hero.

KITTY: “You wanna get in on this?”

Iceman and Wolverine arrive, with Kitty glad they got her text, and thanking them for their good timing.

Julian brushes her off, but he does thank her for the wakeup call. Honestly.

KITTY: “Mission Room?”

ICEMAN: “Frozen solid.”

KITTY: “Good. Won’t hold Magneto and Emma, but we don’t want it too. Hellion and Surge are back on track. I need the four of you to head to Egypt NOW. Kids, you’re on Horseman detail. You aren’t beating them, but I just need to distract them for as long as you can. Iceman…”

ICEMAN: “I really hope you’re not about to tell me I’m fighting Apocolypse on my own.”

KITTY: “I mean, if anyone could.” Bobby is able to laugh a little. “But no. You can make copies of yourself. Hold Apocalypse back while your dupes disable his machines.”

HELLION: “This sounds like we’re being thrown to the wolves.”

KITTY: “Only if I can’t get our “leaders” to join us. I’ll work my magic on them too, and get them over to Egypt to help as quickly as possible.”

Everyone is aware this isn’t a great plan, but it’s the only one they’ve got. Just one problem: Magik’s not talking or getting out bed, their planes are fast, but can’t move instantaneously, and Nightcrawler can’t do long distance.

Nori laughs at their panic. Kitty and Iceman don’t actually KNOW what Pixie’s Mutation is, do they?

In Apocalypse's throne room, he sits on his chair, with Famine and War at his sides. While Apocalypse and Exodus track the plague's effects telepathically, War watches on her phone.

WAR: "I wonder what sorts of new weapons will be unlocked."

EXODUS: "Perhaps there will be an Omega with your weapon so we can replace you."

WAR: “Fine by me. I’m almost due for a promotion anyway.”

Apocalypse sighs.

WAR: “Is something wrong, my lord?”

APOCALYPSE: “No. Merely what we expected. The X-Men are coming. And they do not appear to be interested in joining us. Deal with them.”

EXODUS, sarcastic: “A shocking turn of events.” He smirks at War. “Are you sure you’re up to this? I can handle the battle myself if you think you might–”

APOCALYPSE, cutting him off: “Famine. Go.”

Exodus, frustrated shakes his head, before bowing and departing.

For the first time, War appears hesitant.

APOCALYPSE: “War…I know you wish to save them. But we can only help those Mutants who wish to be helped. If they fight, you may attempt to show mercy…but nothing can be allowed to stop us. Am I clear?”

War stands in place, frozen, as she looks down at her phone. Noticing her struggle, Apocalypse stands. He gently takes her phone from her and tosses it aside.

APOCALYPSE: “I did not expect this weakness from you.”

WAR, finally speaking up: “I am NOT weak!”

APOCALYPSE: “Of course you aren’t. You are among the strongest horsemen I’ve ever led. My blood runs through you. You did everything in your power to purge yourself of weakness. So why do you hesitate?”

War leans against Apocalypse’s chest.

WAR: “I only froze for a few seconds. You would have pause as well were it your family fighting against us.”

APOCALYPSE: “Oh, my child.” Apocalypse wraps an arm around War. “My family is your family.”

War shivers at those words. She quickly hugs him back before pulling away.

WAR, enthusiastically: “Should it come to it, I will bring you every last X-Man’s head, my lord.”

APOCALYPSE, grinning: “I know you will.”

War bows before flying off. Apocalypse, still smiling, returns to his seat and laughs.

In her dorm room, Pixie is freaking out. People around the world are melting or dying in other horrible ways, and she doesn’t want to melt, and she doesn’t want the school to blow up again, or for anyone else to get hurt, or to have to go back to living with her mom.

ICEMAN: “We don’t have time for this!” Bobby forcefully shows Megan coordinates on his phone. “Send us here with your pixie dust NOW, Megan!”

Megan whimpers, afraid of the situation and of Bobby.

Wolverine shoves Bobby away.

WOLVERINE: “I do not care if you’re angry. You do not scream at my friends. Cool off. And do not dare make a pun.”

Iceman backs off as Nori steps forward. Noriko asks Megan if she noticed they’re roommates this year. Pixie nods.

SURGE: “Well, I know I don’t exactly have the best reputation. Gonna be honest: I’m probably gonna annoy you as much as I do everyone else. Only girl who didn’t find me annoying is long gone.” Julian and Laura cringe. “And if you don’t trust the adults to keep us safe at this point, I can’t blame you one bit. But, feel free to tell everyone else: I’m an X-Man now. And you don’t have to like me or trust the adults as protectors…I’ll keep you all safe. No matter what.”

Pixie is able to start calming down and she weakly smiles.

Hellion steps forward with a smug look on his face.

HELLION: “And, when Surge inevitably screws up, because, let’s be honest with ourselves, she will, I’ll always be there to catch her and show her up.” Pixie giggles. “No one ever touches this school again.”

Laura smiles, happy to see her friends like this after their dark turn, while Bobby is impressed.

PIXIE: “Okay. Okay, let’s do this!”

As Pixie starts making her dust, Wolverine stands next to Hellion and Surge.

WOLVERINE: “Welcome back.”

Pixie wishes the X-Men good luck as she sprinkles the four with her dust, sending them away.

In the Mission Room, Magneto and Emma vaporize Iceman’s ice, freeing themselves and Cyclops. They all struggle to catch their breath.

EMMA, telepathically: “That young man is becoming far too powerful.”

Kitty races back into the room.

KITTY: “Hey, perfect timing. You all have a chance to calm the Hell down?”

Cyclops and Erik glare and huph at each other, while Emma turns her eyes toward KItty.

EMMA: “Where are the children?”

KITTY, smirking: “They left with Iceman. Off to save the world.” Emma is visibly pissed off. “If you’re worried about them, they sure could use you two backing them up.”

CYCLOPS, smiling: “Nice work, Kitty.”

KITTY, smirking back: “Thanks. Nice job not letting Emma use your hair like puppet strings for once.”

EMMA: “Do you find this funny?! You have jeoprized our children’s safety!”

KITTY: “And here I thought you believed in your kids’ potential.”

EMMA: “Potential they are YET to realize!”

MAGNETO: “Enough!”

Erik apologizes to Emma, but they cannot bend now. Not with what is at stake. They must hope that, if Apocalypse was in a mood to speak with them, he won’t just kill Wolverine, Hellion, and Surge, and they’ll be able to save them. They already know from Storm’s loss that he’s sparing Omegas, so Iceman will be definitely be safe.

Erik’s words are able to calm Emma and allow her to recompose herself.

EMMA: “Yes. You’re right. That’s that then. Cyclops, Kitty…your move.”

Back over with the girls, Cessily, Roxy, and the Cuckoos are now all on the floor. Sooraya stands over them, wondering just what they took. She won’t take any herself, but figures it would be less awkward if she relaxed a little. She removes her hood and facemask and lays down next the other girls.

CESSILY, ROXY, and CUCKOOS: “WOOOOH! DUST! DUST! DUST!”

IRMA: “Take it all off!”

PHOEBE: “Eww, don’t be gross, Irma.”

The silence resumes as everyone except Soo’s eyes continue to glaze over.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Cessily burts into tears.

Everyone wonders what’s wrong, but she just keeps crying.

ROXY: “Oh. Babe. I wanna help. But I’m over here. And you’re over there. And…ugggggh.”

Sooraya crawls over to Cessily and takes her hand, filling in for her unavailable gf. Without slurring her words like the others, she asks what’s wrong.

CESSILY: “I just…I just feel like I’m being left behind. School won’t last forever. And when it’s done, I don’t want to be the only one who isn’t an X-Man. Three of us already are, four of us should be, Dust, your time is coming and we all know it, babe, you’re a genius, Brian’s got a gimmick, and you Cuckoos may be the worst, but you’re stronger than all of us.” She sniffles and coughs up some metal coins. “I only got put with you guys because I was able to fight Sofia BEFORE she could even fly straight. You all have something I don’t. That natural IT! And no matter how hard I work, I’ll never catch up. I’ve learned to be proud of being a Mutant, but if I can’t fight with you all, you’ll leave me in the distance. Just like they did.”

There’s a pause.

ROXY, still extremely high: “Oh. That’s rough.”

Cessily cries even harder. Sooraya glares at Roxy before holding Cessily.

Iceman, Wolverine, Hellion, and Surge appear in a flash of pink light in Apocalypse’s lair. While Noriko thinks this place is spooky, Julian makes some light for them. His attention is caught by all the murals of Apocalypse…

JULIAN: “And they say I have an ego.”

…with him also noticing one depicting him alongside a dark-skinned woman, their swords both raised in the air as their followers kneel before them.

NORI: “People really worship this creep?”

ICEMAN: “Baselines, Mutants, and everything in between unfortunately. Sometimes you just give up and want a god to make all your problems go away.”

Bobby coughs up a bunch of clones and sends them to scout this place out. No need for them to waste energy hunting for their targets when they can do it. The dupes will hopefully be able to find a horseman or two, and destroy the doomsday device, before they’re all taken out. Plus, if the four of them stick together, they’ll be more difficult to get the drop on.

LAURA: “Huh.”

BOBBY: “What?”

LAURA: “Nothing. Thought you were a clown.”

BOBBY: “I like to be. But my friend is dead. So today, you kids get someone with as much training as Cyclops.”

Iceman leads the kids further into the base.

ICEMAN: “By the way, that was a nice speech you two gave Pixie. I should have said something like that.”

JULIAN: “Only said what I felt. The X-Men have been letting me and mine down since our first month here. Ashida and I aren’t here at this point because we think you’re just so cool…”

NORIKO: “...we’re here because we’re the only ones we trust to do this job right.”

BOBBY, after a pause: “Sooooo, you’re teenagers.” The two pout as Bobby laughs at them after they thought they were sounding so cool. “No, no, I get it, it’s chill. But maybe you’re onto something. This team isn’t what it used to be. Maybe you two are just what it needs.”

Noriko slams a fist against her palm.

NORI: “No one puts my brother in danger. I know Ms. Pryde wants me distracting horsemen or whatever, but I wanna punch this Apocalypse guy in his big, dumb face. ”

“Oh, honey.”

The X-Men arrive in a golden, octacongal chamber, where Exodus and War await them. There are doors all around them. The building is a maze designed to lead trespassers back to this location.

EXODUS: “You’d break every last nail.”

The X-Men stand off against the two Horsemen, with Iceman’s eyes immediately filling with rage.

As Cessily continues to cry and Sooraya holds her, the Cuckoos visibly feel awful for her.

Sooraya tells her that she understands her fears, but she has nothing to worry about. The two of them have been together constantly, and she’s seen her grow so much. Even if she isn’t always getting real “experience” like the others, she’s always pushing herself and getting stronger.

DUST: “No, you aren’t Wind Dancer, Hellion, or Surge. I’m not either. Everyone else seems to think I’ll become an X-Man soon. But the way you push yourself? I know you will.” Cessily sniffles, and wipes her tears. “And even if you don’t? We will never abandon you. We’re not your parents, Cessily. We’re your family.”

Cessily is able to smile and wipe the last of her tears away as she hugs Sooraya.

CESSILY: “Thank you. I love you.”

SOORAYA, hugging her back: “I love you too.”

ROXY, flatly: “Love is awesome.”

CUCKOOS: “Awwwwww.”

SOPHIE: “This is better than Small Town.”

CELESTE: “Are you guys always this sweet?”

Cessily and Sooraya turn to the sisters.

CESSILY: “It’s just called being friends.”

The simplicity of that statement blows the Cuckoos’ minds.

PHOEBE, telepathically: “That’s it?”

CELESTE: “That’s how you make friends?”

IRMA: “Being honest? Vulnerable?”

ESME: “EWW! EWW! EWW!”

OTHER CUCKOOS: “Sophie?”

Sophie takes a moment to think. The other Cuckoos’ expressions change with hers as she decides what they need to do.

SOPHIE: “Well…that’s all we want.”

The camera cuts away from the Cuckoos.

CESSILY, eyes bulging out of her head: “What the Hell?!”

SOORAYA, equally shocked and covering her mouth: “What is this?”

Roxy launches up to her feet, feeling better, before noticing the Cuckoos and fainting.

Iceman turns his arms into blades, glaring with rage and hate, as Exodus welcomes them to where Eden will be reborn.

EXODUS, sultry, leering back at Bobby: “That’s quite the look you’re giving me, Iceman. Positively penetrating.”

WAR: “Why do you need to make this weird?”

HELLION: “And just who are you supposed to be? Iceman?”

ICEMAN: “Never seen her.”

War steps forward, holding out her arms.

WAR: “I am War. And we do not need to fight. We should not be enemies. Everyone in this chamber is an extraordinarily powerful Mutant. We should be working together.”

Hellion and Surge power up their auras.

SURGE: “Thought about it. Decided I’d rather kick your teeth in.”

ICEMAN: “You’re killing millions. And don’t pull the “just humans” thing on me. You’ve been killing our own. From defenseless children to the “strong” you claim to respect. You aren’t getting away with it!”

BEAT.

WAR: “Oh, are you talking about Death?” Bobby’s eyes widen. “He was hardly THAT strong.”

Bobby howls as he forms and launches a glacier to throw at the two horsemen. Exodus blows it apart and rushes Iceman at super speed, punching him in the chest and smashing him through the wall.

EXODUS: “Believe me, I get wanting to kill War. But I’ve already tasted one Omega today. And I want seconds.”

Iceman narrows his eyes and he jumps back.

Back in the main chamber, Hellion laments the plan already going to Hell, but thinking they may as well take War out together then.

HELLION: “We’re gonna break that tacky armor apart as easily as your bones. You got that?!”

While he, Surge, and Wolverine stand ready to fight, War shrugs. She falls back, catching herself in mid-air, and lays back with her legs crossed and her hands behind her head.

WAR: “I have no desire to fight any of you. Stand still and stay out of the way of Famine’s battle, and you will live to see paradise.”

Surge resents being talked down to like this, and is about to jump her, but Wolverine stops her.

WOLVERINE: “Think. Our job was to be a distraction for Iceman against Apocalypse. Now Iceman is distracted. If she is as strong as Exodus, then she’s right that we can’t beat her. If she does not want to fight…then it doesn’t make sense to fight. Not until Iceman wins.”

HELLION, cringing: “I hate that that makes sense.”

SURGE, also annoyed and spitting on the ground: “Seriously, who are you?”

War giggles at them.

WAR: “Within 24 hours? Your princess.”

Iceman vs Exodus begins. Bobby throws everything he has at Famine, from more enormous glaciers, to snowstorms that make the arctic tundra look like the sun.

BOBBY: “What are you even doing here, Exodus?! Last I checked, you hated Apocolypse as much as any of us!”

EXODUS, shielding himself from and blowing away all of Bobby’s attacks: “I did, yes. But Magneto lost his way, and now chooses to walk the path of sloth. Lord Apocalypse’s vision is a holy one.”

Exodus counterattacks at last and blows Iceman apart. He knows that he hasn’t won, and that Iceman can regrow from any chunk of himself. It’s why he can’t defeat him the same way he did Storm. Another reason to join Apocalypse is that, with his Omega-level molecular manipulation and god-like technology, he can make you stronger than you ever imagined. In his case, he was given the technology needed to steal x-genes, and the additional mutation of moisture absorption.

EXODUS: “But you? You are moisture.” He rolls his shoulders as he looks at some of the water drops which wound up on him. “You’re already making me wet.”

A full grown Iceman emerges from one of those water drops and punches Exodus in the face with a mace-hand, drawing blood.

ICEMAN: “What is WRONG with you?!”

Iceman after Iceman grows from the water, snow, and ice all around the room, and, freezing the floor underneath Exodus’ feet to make him slip for just a second, Bobby’s small army of himself gets in close and whales on him. While they do bust up his face and knock out his hair tie, they can’t put him down before he vaporizes all but one.

EXODUS, panting: “What can I say? I like what I see. And don’t you dare say I’m less appealing to the eye than poor, dead, Death.”

BOBBY: “Don’t you…! Wait, are you saying I–?”

With Bobby frazzled, Exodus finds the opening in his mental defenses and psychically brings him to his knees. As Bobby screams, Exodus sadistically grins and approaches him, readying the same hand he used on Storm.

EXODUS: “Don’t worry, Iceman. In a moment, your pain will come to an end. In a moment, you will be…inside me.”

Exodus slams his hand down on Iceman’s face and begins stealing his x-gene.

Back with the girls, Cessily, Sooraya, and even Roxy have gotten situated on one of those beds, the girlfriends both chugging water. Seated on the other bed, the Cuckoos smirk confidently at them.

There’s an awkward silence. Until…

ROXY: “Okay so what WAS that?”

CESSILY: “You said you got your noses done!”

IRMA: “And more!”

Sooraya doesn’t understand. Their unmasked faces were completely mangled. Did they shatter them?

SOPHIE: “No.”

PHOEBE: “They were made broken.”

ESME: “We just fixed them.”

Once again, there’s an awkward silence. And once again, Roxy breaks it.

ROXY: “No. No way. I don’t buy it.”

CELESTE: “Why? Do you expect us all to act like whiny victims?”

IRMA: “We’re exactly who we were meant to be.”

A look of realization slowly creeps onto Cessily’s face.

CESSILY: “BULLSHIT!”

The Cuckoos giggle.

Sooraya still doesn’t get it. The Cuckoos reason she may not have any context for what’s going on, so they decide to make it easier for her, and just beam the information into her head.

Sooraya’s eyes widen.

SOORAYA: “Oh. I…didn’t realize that was possible. Congratulations?”

Roxy gets a chuckle out of that. Some of the celebrities she introduced her to over the break were also trans, and it just never came up.

The Cuckoos nonetheless thank Sooraya, and all of them for understanding. They aren’t so sure everyone here would be, Mutant or not.

The sisters go on to say that, for as long as they can remember, they’ve known who they wanted to be, and how they wanted to live their lives. From being pop stars, to ruling the school, and being friends with all the coolest people. They thought they were cool and hot and powerful enough to force it, but that just ruined everything.

SOPHIE: “This is all still so new to us…and we didn’t know what else to do. We are sorry.”

With the Cuckoos actually looking like they mean it, the three friends turn to each other, unsure of what to say next.

In the Mission Room, Scott turns and paces away from Emma and Erik.

ERIK: “Do you remember when we spoke on Genosha? In no way did I infer that I had come to think the same way as Charles. What I told you was that I’d realized that attempting to dominate humanity would only ever divide Mutantkind. If there is no humanity, and Apocalypse is defeated later, there will be no division. I was chosen by Phoenix in its infinite wisdom to lead our people. It knows that this is the path forward.”

Scott takes a moment to respond. He doesn’t look back at Erik, but he does tilt his head.

SCOTT: “The same Phoenix that destroyed Genosha?”

Erik is enraged.

ERIK: “How dare you.”

Scott turns back to face him.

SCOTT: “How dare I? Do you really think this is what any of your people would have wanted?”

ERIK: “They are dead!”

SCOTT: “And clearly more dead bodies will stop the problem, right? Just hope that Apocalypse has changed slightly and if he hasn’t, take him out? Great, what happens next? You lead us? No one challenges that? You, of all people, are going to unite the remaining population of millions? Millions who, by and large, actively chose against moving to Genosha? After doing THIS?”

Magneto clenches his teeth and fists and forms magnetic bubbles around his hands.

SCOTT: “Go. Do it. Blow me up as easily as I know you can. Doesn’t change that the reason Apocalypse’s plan will work and yours won’t is the same reason you were never able to wipe out humanity.”

ERIK, stomping forward: “Are you calling me weak?”

SCOTT: “No. I’m calling Apocalypse the devil. And despite the horns on that helmet of yours, you just aren’t. You don’t have the stomach to do what you’d need to to force everyone to follow you. Even if you had his resources, you wouldn’t have the stomach to initiate this plan yourself.”

Magneto grabs Scott by the throat.

MAGNETO, through gritted teeth: “And what makes you so sure?”

“Because I still remember a kind old man who wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he’d killed a single little Jewish, Mutant girl.”

Erik turns to look at Kitty as she finishes speaking. She mocks him with taunting eyes and a head tilt. He cringes and powers down.

Magneto sighs.

MAGNETO: “That is another tally on the board for you, Summers. I concede. And I am sorry.”

Scott puts a hand on his shoulder.

SCOTT: “We all want the pain to stop. One day, it will. But it will be through the dream. Not like this.”

Everyone turns to Emma, unsure if she’s gotten on the same page from all this.

Emma struts over to Scott like nothing is wrong and kisses him.

EMMA: “I have nothing to apologize for.”

The lovers share a smirk, but it’s quickly back to business. They have a big bad to beat.

SCOTT: “And you don’t need to hear me say I forgive you.”

In Apocalypse's base, Iceman attempts to resist having his powers stolen by freezing Exodus's hand, but against his telekinesis and telepathic assault, that can only do so much. Famine taunts Bobby with a slasher smile as he creeps into his mind.

EXODUS: “Of all people, you should relish the potential of our victory. You are Omega. You would live one step below godhood. Your full power will be unleashed, not suppressed.”

Bobby groans as he pictures both his solo victory over one of the super sentinels, as well as a flashback to when he was a teenager, being scolded by Xavier and laughed at by the rest of the 05.

EXODUS: “You will not fear yourself.”

Bobby moans louder as he flashes back to his interactions with Christian and Warren. Special attention is put on their smiles and Warren’s post-shower chest.

EXODUS: “You will have a lord who accepts you.”

Bobby screams as he thinks back to being a kid, slapped across the face by his father, with a cross on a wall visible in the background.

EXODUS: “Your loyalty or your weapon. Whatever your choice, you must submit.”

Bobby groans and struggles as resisting becomes almost impossible. His head is hung and his time is nearly out.

ICEMAN: “I…thank you, Exodus.”

Exodus raises his eyebrows in surprise.

EXODUS: “For showing you the righteous path?”

Bobby laughs.

BOBBY: “Hell no. For proving every telepath I’ve ever known right.” He manically grins up at Exodus. “Intrusive telepathy DOES beat therapy!”

Bobby flash freezes the arm Exodus has on him, and with an uppercut, shatters it. Exodus screams in pain and horror as Iceman powers back up and blasts away at him, hitting him hard enough to send him crashing through multiple walls, and outside into the surrounding desert.

Iceman, talking to Exodus as faces on water drops on his clothes, tells Exodus that he never dreamed he could be who he is now. He didn’t even fully realize who that was until just now. And you know who that is? The hero who will always step up. The hero who CAN always step up, because he can do anything, and because he isn’t smart enough to overthink a problem that has a villain to be punched. And also?”

ICEMAN, as he stands over Exodus on an ice bridge: “I’m gay. But you are so not my type.”

Exodus desperately attempts another telepathic assault, but Bobby counters with the Red Diamond.

Bobby smiles up. “Check what happens next, Warren.”

Iceman blasts again at Exodus, with Famine now the one struggling to shield himself.

Still standing by, Hellion and Surge cheer at the sight of Iceman kicking Exodus’ ass.

HELLION: “Better go running to your lord and master for safety. Once he’s done with him, you’ll have to deal with all of us.”

War turns her head toward where the fight is happening.

WAR, under her breath: “That buffoon.”

War lands on her feet, one arm behind her back and one hand on the hilt of her sword. Surge questions if she’s ready to start now.

WAR: “No. I still don’t wish to fight. I just wanted to ask you something. You’re all students at the Xavier Institute, aren’t you?”

NORIKO: “Jean Grey School. What of it?”

LAURA: “Don’t talk to her. This is obviously a play.”

Julian erects a forcefield around the three kids. He’s putting all his power behind it, and he doesn’t care how strong she is, she isn’t breaking it down. No matter what she says, they’re staying on defense.

WAR: “So suspicious. I only asked because I was curious if any of you ever happened to meet a girl I encountered. I believe her name was…Sofia Mantega?”

The eyes of all three young X-Men, including Wolverine, immediately become intense.

JULIAN: “Why do you know who that is?!”

NORIKO: “What did you do to her?!”

LAURA, not keeping her cool: “Steady heads.”

War shakes her head.

WAR: “It’s such a tragic story. A powerful young Mutant stripped of her weapon, all because she trusted fools who told her her place was to serve the weak. Made weak herself, and becoming as pitiful as any human, attacking her own people.” War paces forward. “Lord Apocalypse took note of her online acts. They spoke and, in the end, all was well.”

JULIAN: “If you so much as hurt one hair on her head, I’ll tear you limb from limb! You hear me?!”

WAR: “Hurt her? Never.” Beat. “I just put her out of her misery.”

Surge and Hellion snap, firing massive blasts at War, but the only thing their attacks successfully destroy is a good chunk of the base, as War somehow forces their tk energy and electricity to crash against the walls, rather than travel in a straight path toward her.

Wolverine, having lost all sense of leadership and composure, rushes War. However, she’s completely outclassed. War is fast and skilled enough to block all of her attacks with seeming efforltessness, she counters every move with a harsh body blow, and by the end of Laura’s attempted assault, she has Wolverine restrained by simply holding onto and crushing her arm.

War tosses the battered Wolverine at the other two X-Men’s feet. Hellion and Surge charge in next, both coated in forcefields, and while that, plus their superspeed, allows them to do better, War can still either physically block or otherwise deflect all of their attacks.

WAR: “If this is the best your school has, you need a better teacher.”

War sends the two flying back, scorching them both with her flames. Wolverine gets back up and tries to fight again, but she doesn’t even get to make War block this time, as War easily steps out of the way of all of her attacks, and just gets to beat on her.

WAR: “I am sorry it’s come to this. But the pain will make you stronger.”

Seemingly spontaneously, Wolverine is slashed all over her body, deep bloody marks covering her from head to toe. Laura screams, and with one more punch tot the face, War puts her down. Screaming like maniacs, Hellion and Surge try one more time to do anything they can against War, but War just puts her hand to her head like a telepath and, a moment later, Noriko and Julian collapse to the floor, with their heads in agony.

WAR, casually stepping past the kids in Iceman and Exodus’ direction: “If you wish to stand for something…if you wish to protect those who cannot protect themselves…the becoming the strongest and dominating is your only option. Otherwise? You’re just asking to be stepped on.”

Julian and Noriko try to get up, but a sharp, invisible pain keeps them down.

WAR: “I’ll see you in the new world.”

Julian and Noriko pass out.

In the girls' room, the eight teens are all sprawled back out on the floor, lying back in a circle. There’s a moment of silence.

CESSILY: “You drugged us. That’s really messed up.”

SOPHIE: “We tried just talking before.”

ROXY: “Yeah, well, next time, maybe stick to that.”

SOPHIE, perking up: “Next time?”

Neither Cessily nor Roxy responds.

SOORAYA: “I learned so much about American culture during the break. Things I never cared to learn while here. In so many ways, it is the free, wonderous place it promises. In others..” Sooraya trails off. “I’m still not sure if the country outside these walls is right for me. Much of it goes against…everything. Ommi is enamored. She loves it here. But even for baselines, it is more than it claims.” Sooraya looks at the sisters. “You threatened my mother. But I believe you have changed. I am not who you harmed the worst. The choice is Roxanne’s.”

All eyes turn to Roxy. She exhales.

ROXY: “You’re not the first girls I’ve met like you. Girls who’ve got everything and think that means they can take anything they want. Even people.” The Cuckoos faces fall. They don’t think this is going to end well. Roxy looks at Sooraya. “But last year, I realized the only difference between me and them was I threw tantrums when I didn’t get my way instead of pushing my pain onto others. I was just as entitled.” She looks back at the Cuckoos. “And another I learned last year? There are parts of us we don’t even know about just waiting to be uncovered. Good or bad, we’ve all got something else going on that we don’t show. I may regret this…but yeah, Sophie. You and your girls get a next time.”

The Cuckoos all squee in delight, and even Cess and Soo seem pleased. Finally! Roxy won’t regret this. They’re going to be the best friends ever and run this school again.

The others glare at them like they can’t be serious.

CELESTE: “We mean by being popular.”

Roxy and Sooraya breathe sighs of relief.

CESSILY: “Well, the Hellions cannot come back for sure…but maybe we don’t need to be *totally* nice.”

Everyone’s a little intrigued by what she’s thinking.

We cut to Quentin’s room, where he and Brian are playing video games. Quentin has a “Magneto Was Right” poster on his wall, alongside various academic awards. The two boys are sitting back playing video games. We hold on this visual for a few seconds, until a giant, creepy monster pops out of the screen. Brian and Quentin scream in terror.

Outside in the hall, the Cuckoos, Cessily, Sooraya, and Roxy laugh at their prank. Quentin is so scared, he loses control of his telekinesis and blasts out the light fixture, making the boys scream more. The girls pause, momentarily worried, and the Cuckoos shut off the illusion.

QUENTIN, scared out of his mind: “Cuckoos! I know that was you!”

The girls still seem concerned…but then they burst out laughing again.

In Egypt, Iceman vs Exodus reaches a climax. Iceman laughs at the one-armed Exodus as he launches one ave of destructive tk energy after another, filling the air with sand. He keeps blowing Bobby apart, but he has no way of actually keeping him down.

ICEMAN: “It doesn’t matter how many times you blow your load. Even the desert can’t make me melt.”

Iceman freezes all of the sand Exodus has kicked up, sharpens it, and pelts Exodus with millions of hail shards. Bobby follows up with one more freezing blast to completely overwhelm Exodus.

As the attacks finish, Exodus is down. For Warren and for the Mocklocks, Bobby is going to take him out.

Exodus pants. Maybe he is about to lose…but he can still fight.

From his one remaining hand, Exodus launches a TK wave, not at Iceman, but at the section of the base they came from, where Julian, Noriko, and Laura are passed out and helpless.

Iceman screams in horror, powerful as he is, he can’t freeze the blast, or at least not as quickly as he needs to.

ICEMAN: “NO!”

The music stops everything stops. Everything stops except for Iceman.

Bobby is weirded out, and confused by what’s going on. But then he realizes it. He did this. He froze time.

ICEMAN: “I…I can do this?” BEAT “BWAHAHAHA! THAT’S SO COOL!”

With time now on his side, but feeling like he can’t do this forever, Bobby takes the time he needs to freeze and shatter Exodus’ attack, although doing so clearly exhausts him, as he’s already used so much energy. For Exodus, time unfreezes as Iceman skewers him with two sharpened arms.

ICEMAN, exhausted: “Congrats. You got me inside you.”

Fear of death overtakes Exodus’ face as Iceman freezes him from the inside out.

EXODUS: “This…this cannot be. I am the lord’s most faithful soldier. I cannot die to a clown.”

ICEMAN: “I may be a clown. But at least I’m no one’s b–”

Iceman’s victory quote is interrupted, and his victory is stopped, as a hellstorm of flames melts him down, the nature of the attack hurting him far more than Exodus’. War has arrived. With all the energy Bobby has already spent, the intensity of War’s heat makes it a struggle to reform his body. She shows no mercy as she continues to hit him again and again, cackling manically and leaving him a series of puddles in the sand.

WAR: “And he said I couldn’t fight an Omega.”

Exodus pants as he stands up and cauterizes his wounds.

EXODUS: “I…had the situation under control.”

WAR, mockingly: “Of course you did. Now shut off his brain. It’s the only way to kill him.”

EXODUS: “Do not presume to order me, you little –”

APOCALYPSE, telepathically, cutting him off: “Famine. War. You must leave at once.”

WAR AND EXODUS: “WHAT?!”

They’re both confused. They’re winning. And they’re about to kill Iceman.

APOCALYPSE: “The X-Men’s leaders are arriving. Famine, you are in no condition to face Magneto as you wish to. War, your psychic defenses cannot withstand a single attack from Emma Frost. You have done well. Now leave the rest to me.”

WAR, worried: “But my lord–!”

APOCALYPSE: “Do you doubt my ability to defeat them? Do you doubt my strength?”

War hates this, bending over and clenching her fists in frustration at this order, but she can’t argue.

WAR: “Show no mercy, my lord.”

War flies off.

EXODUS: “As I heal, I shall find our new people, and shepherd them to their true paths.”

Exodus flies off.

Right outside Apocalypse’s base, Cyclops, Emma, Magneto, and Kitty finally arrive in a flash of pink sparkles.

Emma’s first act is to breathe a sigh of relief. She senses that the kids and Iceman are all still alive. Down and out, but alive. They’re also in luck: it doesn’t seem like any Horsemen are present. Either they went down taking them out, or Apocalypse wants them all alone.

Magneto orders Kitty to retrieve the kids and get them out of the base; the base may not survive the upcoming battle. Once that’s done, it’s her responsibility to disable Apocalypse’s machinery, get out, and see what she can do about Iceman.

MAGNETO, looking to Scott and Emma: “Apocalypse wished to speak with us three. We shall grant that wish.”

Kitty doesn’t question these orders for a second, tells the others to not mess this up, and runs in ahead of them.

The three leaders dramatically follow behind her. Or, not so dramatically.

SCOTT: “Let’s a make bet.”

EMMA, not having time for this: “What?”

SCOTT: “Make it interesting. Losing isn’t an option. We’re going to win. So let’s make a bet for who takes him down.”

MAGNETO: “Are you being serious right now?”

SCOTT, smiling and shrugging: “You shouldn’t be complaining. Odds are in your favor.” He looks at Emma. “If I put Apocalypse down, I get to teach you how to fly the Blackbird, and if you win, I’ll learn to ride a horse?”

EMMA, continuing to glare at him in confusion: “Are you okay?”

Scott laughs.

SCOTT: “Oh god no.”

In Apocalypse’s throneroom, Apocalypse sits, all by himself, his servants no longer present. He wearily leans to his side, resting his head on a fist.

The leaders enter. Apocalypse,although still tried, grins.

APOCALYPSE: “You have arrived. Are you here to witness the apocalypse alongside it?” The three just glare back. Apocalypse laughs. “No. I suppose you aren’t.” Apocalypse takes a breath. “I cannot say I understand. I have observed you. None of you are weak. Not like Charles Xavier. Even you, Child of X. I believed that the overly gentle terms I have set would be…agreeable.”

The three continue to stare him down. Rather than respond to what he said, Magneto notices something else.

MAGNETO: “You are already gravely injured. Sick. That’s why you have shown humanity this “mercy”. Not out of any desire to reach out an olive branch. You don’t even have the energy for a prolonged conflict, do you?”

Emma questions how that’s possible. She and him have never had a chance to get acquainted, thank god, but isn’t he supposed to be immortal? Scott confirms this, and shares in her confusion, as if he did survive his last encounter with the X-Men, he should have needed to spend time in his regenerative chamber; the real reason they’ve never been able to stop him for good.

APOCALYPSE, nodding: “What you say is true. But a sacrifice was necessary. One I do not regret.”

Apocalypse questions if this is really what they want. To perpetuate the conflict among them. To prolong their suffering.

The leaders tell him that question was a difficult one for them to come to a consensus on. But this won’t stop the fighting either. And at the end of the day, there are good humans; there is no good in Apocalypse.

CYCLOPS: “Unless you mean to tell us you’ve changed your view of Mutants you don’t see as “worthy”.”

APOCALYPSE, smiling: “The weak have no place in this world but to be crushed by the strong. That fact will never change. But I have witnessed the weakest, most pathetic of creatures transform themselves into the very strongest, given the right circumstances. All Mutants will have a chance in my world. It is not my fault if they fail.”

Apocalypse knows that Kitty is also here and what she’s no doubt after. But they misunderstand. The plague has already been released. Millions have died, thousands have been born, and destroying the weapons of the old gods will not stop this from continuing. He explains that in granting each of his new Horsemen new Mutations, he set a condition on them: should they ever lose a battle, those abilities would fade away. He has put a similar condition on himself. If he falls, the plague will cease. That is the only way to stop it.

APOCALYPSE: “If I can not still crush any who oppose me…then I have no right to dictate the new world. And the new world is not ready to be born.” He sits up straight. “Do you issue the challenge?”

MAGNETO, stepping forward: “The X-Men do.”

APOCALYPSE, moaning: “Very well.” Apocalypse slowly stands up, cracking his muscles and drawing two swords. “I am the weakest I have been in thousands of years. I stand against two Omegas and an Alpha. I…shall grant you honorable deaths.”

Moving at super speed, Apocalypse rushes Magneto. Erik is able to hold him back with magnetic force, taking hold of Apocalypse’s hands to keep his balance, but this only lasts for a few seconds before Magneto is overpowered and sent flying through a wall.

Cyclops blasts Apocalypse, but his optic beams merely tickle the immortal, who sends Scott flying with a far more powerful concussive blast of his own.

EMMA, transforming into her diamond form: “You shouldn't have done that, Apocalypse. No one gets to beat that man but me.”

Emma attempts to fight Apocalypse head on, but the punches of the form which survived Genosha can do little more than annoy him. She’s backhanded across the face, and sent flying like the others.

Apocalypse is disappointed. He assumed if they were challenging him, without even knowing his condition, they must have gotten stronger. Instead, they are just fools.

Scott looks to Emma, and then up at the hole Magneto made. He whistles.

The ground shakes. All of the heavy machinery and everything else made of metal in the room shakes as well. Apocalypse appears more interested than afraid by what’s happening. Flying back into the throneroom, Magneto launches everything at Apocalypse. A is easily able to smash and slice apart everything thrown at him, but all of this is just a distraction to allow Magneto to nail him in the face with a ground-shaking punch. Apocalypse isn’t sent flying, but he is knocked back and visibly injured.

APOCALYPSE: “There it is.”

Cyclops and Magneto blast at him at the same time, and when Apocalypse blasts back, Emma steps in the way of Scott, blocking for him, while Erik defends himself. Without wasting an instant, Scott leaps off of Emma’s shoulder and targets Apocalypse’s head with a still-wider blast. Apocalypse telekinetically tosses them both away as he grunts, but is left open to be ravaged by a full-power magnetic wave.

The attack not only launches Apocalypse out into the desert, but damages the infrastructure of the base. This is seen as we briefly cut to Kitty, as she drags the three kids out of there. The crumbling starts.

Apocalypse remains standing, even if he is bleeding. Cyclops blasts Emma, launching her as a projectile at Apocalypse. He grabs her throat, ready to slash her head off, but she is merely a distraction, for Magneto to swoop in and tackle the titan. Apocalypse dissolves his swords, knowing they’ll do more harm than good at this stage.

With his whole body charged up, Magneto and Apocalypse engage in hand to hand combat, moving even faster than War and Archangel did in their duel. While Magneto is succeeding in further injuring Apocalypse, each one of Apocalypse’s blows takes far more out of him.

Eventually, Erik’s weariness and injuries catch up with him, and he slows down to the point Apocalypse sees an opening for a killing blow. He doesn’t get to deliver it though, as Emma is once again blasted by Scott, this time being positioned in between A and Erik to tank the hit. Magneto takes advantage of this, slamming his hands together and blasting Apocalypse once again.

At last, A falls.. He narrows his eyes at Cyclops. Scott smirks back.

We briefly flashback to sometime earlier in the year, Scott, Emma, and Erik seated around Emma’s desk. Each has a binder in front of them. Magneto is unamused and puzzled by what Scott has him looking at. Scott explains that it’s the X-Men’s strategy book. It’s a little list of tactics for each specific alignment of X-Men in the face of any given scenario. He updates it every time the rollcall changes.

SCOTT, extremely proud of himself: “Pretty cool, right?”

EMMA, lying and slightly embarrassed as she pats his shoulder: “Yes. Very.”

In any case, since Magneto’s in charge now, and many of these strategies involve him, he needs to study up. Magneto sees little point. There are few threats he cannot crush on his own.

MAGNETO, flipping a page: “Oh. Actually…this one could be of use.”

In the present, Apocalypse takes note of what his enemies have been doing. Cyclops acting as a distraction and Emma acting as a shield, so that Magneto can focus just on hitting him as hard as he can.

APOCALYPSE: “Hardly an honorable way to fight.”

CYCLOPS: “Maybe. But Break the Juggernaut Isn’t about honor.”

MAGNETO: ‘You did NOT name this.”

EMMA: “Oh, let him have his fun.”

Apocalypse gets pissed as he floats up and finally powers up, kicking up a sandstorm and destroying the rest of his base as he shakes the Earth in the process. He fires off a massive energy attack in all directions, forcing Emma to shield Scott, and Magneto to stand on his own and try to cut a path through it. He succeeds, only to be met once again by Apocalypse. Now using the full extent of his current power, Apocalypse grows two additional arms, and with them beats Magneto halfway to death.

APOCALYPSE, continuing to break Magneto: “You all think me evil? “No good” you said? I did not fail to stop a small, feeble human from causing the deaths of 16 million of us.”

He tosses away a barely clinging to life Magneto away like a ragdoll before leaping and chokeslamming Emma.

APOCALYPSE: “I have not failed my student.”

Using his molecular manipulation, he turns off her diamond form. Emma, while being strangled, knows he’s too powerful a telepath himself for her to just shut him down, but she is able to force him to let her go, letting her gasp for air. Scott blasts at him, but Apocalypse’s blasts are once again far more powerful, and a single shot puts Scott in similar condition to Magneto.

Apocalypse floats over Cyclops.

APOCALYPSE: “I have not abdicated my responsibilities.” Apocalypse holds out his arms. “None of you are fit to rule!”

BEAT, focusing on the battered leaders.

SCOTT: “Yeah. That’s the point.”

Cyclops removes his visor and hits Apocalypse with the full brunt of his power, at last able to make him feel it.

CYCLOPS: “You don’t want any tricks? Just power? Well here it is!”

Apocalypse’s shields are overwhelmed, and he’s launched higher into the sky. He’s immediately dragged back down by Emma’s telekinesis, dragging him back into Scott’s line of fire, and hitting him with her own psychic lightning.

Apocalypse’s knees bend, as the Celestial tech parts of his body begin to flicker and fail. He knows none of them can withstand another attack from him. He just needs to…

He doesn’t get to finish whatever he was saying, as from above, Magneto lets loose everything he has left, and applies the pressure needed to knock Apocalypse on his face, and keep him stuck where he is.

MAGNETO: “FINISH IT!”

As their attacks fill the sky along with the sandstorm, Kitty watches from a distance, in awe of what these three fighting together looks like.

Eventually, Scott, Emma, and Magneto are completely tapped out, and fall over, a cloud of smoke hiding the fate of Apocalypse. They all wait tensely to see if they’ve won. If they haven’t, it’s all over.

The smoke clears…

And Apocalypse still stands.

APOCALYPSE, slurring his words, all his tech destroyed or powered off, and bleeding all over: “Weak as I am. Strong as you all are. I cannot be stopped.”

Scott, Emma, and Erik look on in horror. The world is doomed.

Apocalypse takes slow, heavy steps toward them. We cut away to Exodus’ face, the man somewhere far away. He’s smirking maliciously.

EXODUS: “I think not.”

For a split second, Apocalypse’s eyes flash pink. At long last, it’s Exodus’ surprise psychic blast that brings Apocalypse down, knocking him out, as an explosion takes place in the remnants of Apocalypse’s base.

The three leaders look at his unconscious body in stunned silence, unaware of the betrayal that just occurred. One by one, they all laugh. They actually did it.

CYCLOPS: “Okay, you know what…I think we can call the bet a draw.”

Scott passes out, and the others are quick to follow.

Sometime later, back at the school, an assembly is being held. Many of the students are afraid following the recent events. Magneto, in a wheelchair, sits on the stage and speaks to them about the great tragedy that occurred. While the X-Men did succeed in stopping Apocalypse and his plague, the Morlocks are all gone, including their former classmates Artie and Leech, and 10 million baselines died in the process. A few kids are crying.

Magneto goes on to say that they should mourn and they will help them in anyway they can. A loss of life like this is always a tragedy. Baseline or Mutant.

The other day, he spoke to them all. Not in his words, but in those of their previous headmaster. And he is glad he did not speak to them as he would have liked to. While he may stand firm in his philosophies, they are not what should be passed down to the future. They should not need to be passed down to the future, even if he believes they are what will ensure it.

And in truth, when it came to stopping the ultimate evil, he and they worked better together than he could have imagined. Cyclops and Emma walk on stage. It is for this reason that, from now on, the three of them shall be equal partners in running the school and leading the X-Men. Together, they defeated the unstoppable. And while he will not promise there will be no more tragedies because there will be, they will still do all they can to help the children flourish.

There’s a slow, awkward applause.

Out in the hallway, soon after this, the three leaders walk with Kitty. Nice speech, but the kids may call them liars when they find out they weren’t actually able to finish off Apocalypse.

Kitty isn’t sure what happened, but by the time she reached the uncnocious trio, Apocalypse’s body was gone. Emma brings up that there’s also still the matter of the four horsemen as well. Hopefully Iceman (confirmed to slowly be re-forming) will be up for a rematch by then. Magneto laments that, short of the plague, they may have to do this all over again whenever Apocalypse finishes restoring himself. Scot isn’t worried. The X-Men have this covered.

Storm appears in their path, smiling. Kitty is relieved to see she’s doing better, as is Erik, who offers her his condolences; he more than anyone knows what she must be feeling right now. Ororo thanks them both…and reluctantly, thanks Emma for her part in stopping the plague.

EMMA: “Well, someone had to, while others were laying in bed.”

Ororo rolls her eyes. She needs to speak with Scott. Alone. Kitty gives her a hug and Magneto shakes her hand, before the three comply.

Scott asks Ororo what he’s done now, which just makes Storm laugh. Is that how he sees her now? The nagging big sister who’s always finding faults.

SCOTT, cheeky: “A little bit.”

Storm grins. She heard everything from Kitty. And she is so proud of her brother. When the ultimate test came, he stuck to what he knew was right, and did not allow himself to succumb to the darkness he’s surrounded himself in.

STORM: “Perhaps I lost faith in you too quickly.”

Scott tells her not to worry about it. He gave her reason to worry. Does this mean she’ll rejoin the team? They both know she doesn’t need her powers for the job. Ororo thanks him, but she isn’t ready to go that far. Especially not now. The Morlocks didn’t have any loved ones, but Betsy could use her right now. And after that…

STORM: “A young man witnessed my battle online. He called me, claiming to be my nephew. I’m intrigued.”

The two hug it out, and Scott wishes her luck with everything.

Storm begins to walk off, but…

STORM: “Oh, and Cyclops. When you find Exodus…kill him for me.”

Scott sneers and nods.

At the Grindstone, the three young X-Men and their friends, which now includes the Cuckoos and Quentin are all hanging out. Brian is annoyed about the girls bringing the Cuckoos, especially after the prank they all pulled on them, but Roxy counters if he can add “sweater-vest” to the gang, they can add the Cuckoos. The sisters play it cool, teasing that, really, they all have the fortune of now being in “their” group, but really they’re just so happy to finally be here.

NORIKO, slamming her hands on the table: “Is no one gonna bring up the three of us helping to save the world? Cause I think that’s a pretty big deal.”

JULIAN: “Yeah, no need to grovel, but a thank you would be nice. Groveling would be appreciated though.”

Laura rolls her eyes at them, as she reminds them that they all lost. Badly. All they achieved was getting Iceman severely injured, and keeping Exodus alive.

CESSILY: “I also heard something about you two wanting to let Apocalypse win?”

Julian and Noriko shrink, embarrassed. Everyone laughs at them.

Sooraya is just glad they came to their senses. That on its own is a victory. But who is strong enough to beat the three of them so easily?

QUENTIN: “Like it’d be that hard.”

Brian punches his shoulder.

Julian slams his fists together. You know who I think War is?

JULIAN: “Ms. Grey.”

The others think he’s crazy, but he tells them to think about it. She has flames, telekinesis, and is super strong. Who else could it be?

There’s a pause, as everyone considers this.

LAURA: “There’s also Prestige.”

JULIAN: “Tch! I don’t care if she’s Jean, her daughter, or her granddaughter from even further in the future, next time I see her, I’m taking her out.”

Julian, Noriko, and Laura all exchange glances.

We flashback to the three young X-Men in the medical bay, after waking up. They make an agreement. They don’t tell the others what War said about Sofia. Not until they know for sure she isn’t lying. And not until that heartless monster is dead.

In the present, Noriko gets up to go get everyone drinks. Milkshakes on the newbies!

Back in Egypt, we pan down on the wrecked base to reveal that Apocalypse had a second, underground base. Apocalypse appears barely alive as he can only walk with an arm around War’s shoulders, and her holding him up.

WAR: “Just a little further to your chamber, my lord.” She grunts. “Why didn’t you let me fight with you? We could have killed them!” Apocalypse weakly groans. War is clearly afraid. “Just a little further.”

The two arrive where his restorative chamber should be. Apocalypse’s eyes widen in horror.

WAR: “No.”

Someone has destroyed his chamber.

Apocalypse collapses against a wall. War bends down, not understanding how this could happen.

WAR: “I…I shall find someone who can fix it. I will make them fix it!”

War starts to rush off, but Apocalypse takes her hand and asks her to stay. It’s okay. It’s done.

War gets on her knees. He can’t be giving up. He’s Apocalypse!

APOCALYPSE: “I…will never yield. I will never die. But without my chamber, I will not wake up from my slumber for a long, long time.”

WAR, her small hands clasped around one of Apocalypse’s massive ones, audibly crying under her helmet: “No. No!” She bows her head. “This is my fault. You could have destroyed them with ease if I had–”

APOCALYPSE: “Shhh. Regret for the past is a weakness.”

WAR, knowing exactly what to say: “Action in the present is strength.” She sniffles. “What about our mission? We were meant to save the world.”

Apocalypse coughs up blood.

APOCALYPSE: “Our mission…is now your mission. Clan Akabba is yours to lead.” War whispers “no”. “Are you afraid?”

WAR: “Never!”

APOCALYPSE: “Then do…as I trained you to do.”

Apocalypse pulls War into his arms and removes her helmet, although the audience still can’t see who it is. We do see that she has long brown hair, as Apocalypse strokes it.

APOCALYPSE: “You are the strongest. Perhaps not in power, but in spirit. This world…is yours to conquer.” War continues to nod along as she cries into his chest. “Let these be the last tears you shed. Only the wives and children of your slain enemies may weep.”

WAR, still speaking in a distorted voice without her helmet: “ I will burn this world in the flames of war, for I am the war that will never end. I will make you proud.”

APOCALYPSE: “I know…you will.”

Apocalypse runs out of energy and enters a long, long sleep.

WAR: “Goodbye…Father.”

Elsewhere in the base, in Apocalypse’s backup throneroom, Exodus is in a perfectly good mood. Apocalypse may be lost, as are the powers of Famine, but he’s still more than powerful enough to lead the remaining Horseman to glory.

EXODUS, mockingly: “In the name of Lord Apocalypse, of course.”

Sitting across from him, lighting a cigarette, is a muscular Japanese man with a mohawk in a silk shirt, slacks, and a katana strapped to his back.

DEATH: “Forgive me, Famine, but I can’t believe in a loser to aid me in my revenge.”

EXODUS: “I am the ONLY Omega among us.”

“Boys, be nice.”

DEATH: “Such a scary little word you like to toss around. Maybe one day it will mean something.”

The fourth and final Horseman, Pestilence, reveals herself, and it’s a familiar face: Polaris. She sits with the two men.

PESTILLENCE: “Unless you actually want to kill each other. That sounds fun to watch.”

Death laughs as he smokes.

DEATH: “Perhaps I should lead us.”

EXODUS: “I *would* kill you if you tried.”

DEATH, casually reaching for his katana, unafraid: “By all means, go ahead and try it.”

Exodus powers up, ready to start another fight. Polaris grins as it looks like this will happen, her eyes turning purple.

“Quit your bickering!”

War stomps into the throneroom, getting the other three horsemen’s attention.

WAR: ‘Lord Apocalypse is gone. His mission is now our mission. Before he awakens, it is our responsibility to make this world strong. Before he awakens, we must cleanse the world of the weak. Of the human. And, most importantly…”

War sits on Apocalypse’s throne as her face is finally shown.

WAR: “Of the X-Men.”

Her skin is blue, but War’s identity is still clear. She is Sofia Mantega.

While Exodus sneers at her and Polaris chuckles, Death smirks and steps forward to kneel before War. And for War, there is nothing but hate and pain inside her eyes.

#new x-men: the animated series #new x-men #academy x #scott summers #emma frost #Magneto #kitty pryde #roberto da costa #bobby drake #illyana rasputin #laura kinney #julian keller #noriko ashida #sooraya qadir #cessily kincaid #brian cruz #roxanne washington #the stepford cuckoos #quentin quire

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