#it's the marketing I think. and the fact that they encourage your descent into madness

[braceletofteeth]

what does gmm put in their cps? cocaine?

[immiebee]

Who wants some Alaric fluff?! My laptop is still being worked on and improved so I haven’t been able to post to AO3.

Brief mentions of trauma and abuse.

Story is 19 (though it doesn’t mean that trauma is ok when you become an adult) and Alaric is 21. Just thought I would mention their ages so not to confuse people.

......

Hearing the heavy door creak open to his room, Alaric let out a loud sleepy yawn as the light from the hallway illuminated his face. Sitting up on his elbows and rubbing the sleep from his blue eyes, the young man peeked an eye open. A blurry figure filled the doorway as he focused.

Giving a sleepy grin, Alaric made out Story’s features in the door way. The strawberry blonde man was wrapped in a blanket and curled into himself as he waited for Alaric to let him in. Quirking an eyebrow Alaric let out a soft chuckle as he scooted over in his large bed, happily thumping the bed.

“You don’t have to ask, Story. If you have a nightmare you can come in here whenever you need.”

Awkwardly standing in the doorway, Story gave a soft whine before shaking his head and backing out into the hall. Standing up and slowly walking his way over, Alaric gently held out his hand for the other, a soft smile breaking across his face.

“Would you like to sleep in the bed with me?”

The shorter man nodded vigorously, “Please.....”

“Of course!” Slowly closing the door and leaving it open a crack; Alaric knew Story hated the dark, something that Story never spoke of, but when left in the dark for an extended amount of time the younger man would pass out in sheer terror. It made Alaric’s blood boil and his chest tighten to think of what could have happened to the other to make his body simply shut down after a few minutes of total darkness. Shaking his long ombré hair Alaric lifted the cover for Story before making his way over to his side.

Snuggling back into warm covers Alaric fluffed up his pillows before nuzzling in for a night well rested. That was until Story began to sniffle. Turning over Alaric gently placed a hand on his bed mates shoulder.

“Story?” Softly questioning the other, “Do you want to cuddle?”

Letting out a soft cry Story buried his face into his blankets, “A....a part of me wants to......but I can’t.....it hurts......”

Sitting up on his knees Alaric went wide eyed in panic, “What hurts!? Is something broken?”

Shaking his head Story shrugged his shoulders. The blonde’s green eyes full of tears, “My heart hurts. My head says you’ll hurt me. My heart says no, but it believes the thoughts my head is telling me.”

Sitting back on his heels Alaric breathed a sigh of relief the other wasn’t in any physical pain. Another slam of aggression rose in his chest at Story’s sorrow.

Those bastards! If he ever sees one outside the Red Market......well let’s just say he might need to practice on how well he could control his illusion casting while beating the shit out of someone......

Peeking over the others shoulders he gave an encouraging smile, “You know I would never hurt you or make you distrust me. I think I have a solution for your dilemma.” Hopping off the bed Alaric races for the door as he swung it open. Story sat up clutching the blankets as his friend raced out the door before Alaric doubles back, “Stay here. You’re safe! I have to run to my Hide Away! I’ll be right back!”

Story gave a soft nod as he heard the rush of foot falls race down the hall. Nearly ten minutes later, Story nervously biting his thumb as he waited for the other to return, finally heard the sound of feet heading towards the room. Peeking out of the covers Story let out a relieved sigh before it turned into a startled shriek of terror at the beast filling the doorway. It had the mane of lion, the horns of a ram, the feet of Alaric, the tray of snacks?????? .......Story pulled the blankets off his head, his blonde hair frazzled at the sudden appearance of Alaric struggling with a tray of snacks and two giant plushies.

“Ow! Ow! Dammit, Ram-Bam!” Alaric tripping over a giant plush hoof before he let out a soft shriek, “Mini Ma! Nooooo!!!!!! Now your paw is sticky with jelly!”

Story let out a soft giggle as Alaric flopped the two massive plushies on the bed, a few cookies scattering over the blankets in the process. Story swiftly scooping them up and tucking them safely to his chest before nibbling on the late night snack. After a few moments of juggling his haul Alaric finally turned his attention to the other. Grinning he picked the other up under his armpits, a soft squeal filled the room as Story was tucked into a pile of pillows before Alaric grabbed the giant well loved ram and lion plushies. Putting the lion plush on the side of the bed and under Story, Alaric soon places the ram plush between the two of them before giving a satisfied nod.

Scooping up the tray he handed over a cup of warm milk before setting the plate of soft cookies between the two of them. Mumbling as he took a mouthful of cookie, “There! Nothing better than a warm snack before bed and two large plushies to snuggle with!”

Patting the lion plush Story gave a soft smile before he quickly halted his descent to run his face in the soft mane. Alaric’s bright smile and nod, gave him all he needed before setting his cup on the nightstand and burying his face into the mane. A large plush hoof soon rested in the middle of his back as Alaric moved to settle down for sleep. His own cup and tray placed on the other nightstand.

Reaching over the ram plush, Alaric gently tussled Story’s messy hair, “There! You get snuggles and I won’t break your trust. Plus Ram-Bam’s fat so I won’t accidentally grab you for a snuggle in the middle of the night!”

Story’s soft giggles filled the room, the blonde reached back linking fingers with the other, momentarily startling the other man, “Thank you....”

Kissing his fingers, Alaric quickly tucked himself against his pillow, hand still locked with the other, “Sleep well, Story.”

~~~~~~~~

“Lactarius......what are you doing?” Valerius quirked an eyebrow as Lactarius came back from her shopping trip. A large behemoth turtle plushie nearly swallowing her alive as she struggled to keep it off the floor. The witch struggling to get through the front door.

“Story has been sleeping with Ram-Bam and Mini Ma at night.” Huffing, the greying witch sat the massive plush down in front of herself.

“Ah, I was wondering why Alaric had drug them out from his study.” The Consul had given a quizzical head tilt when he found Ram-Bam sitting on the knole couch in their library only for the ram plushie to disappear a few minutes later when he went to ask Lactarius about it.

“Hide Away....”

Pinching his brow Valerius chuckled, “Hide Away. Yes. Hiding everything precious to him while his own home is being constructed so we don’t throw it away.”

“You did threaten to toss his collection of random buttons.” Laughing she let out a sigh, “Anyways, Alaric told me Story has been having trouble with sleeping by himself, but whatever happened to him in the past, he can’t bring himself to trust anyone to snuggle with him yet. So I thought I would go out an buy him a weighted plushie to help him sleep at night!”

Valerius’ eyes wrinkled as he smiled at his wife. Walking over he dropped a kiss to her lips before stroking her cheek. “You are amazing. You are a wonderful mother.....it is a shame we couldn’t have more.” His golden eyes went downcast at the memory of the doctors telling them she would be unable to have another child after Alaric was born.

Kissing his palm, Lactarius gave a smile, “Have you not met our son? He’s like three kids rolled into one body. We would have been sent to an early grave had we had more.”

Letting out a choked laugh Valerius kissed her once more, “I blame his mother. Wild blood. Absolutely mad.”

“His father’s drinking must have scrambled all of his good senses.”

The entrance hall filled with ruckus laughter as the pair playfully bantered back and forth as they made their way to Alaric’s Hide Away, were the two young men most likely hiding from the world.

Knocking on the door Alaric’s parents heard him holler from the opposite side of the door, “Come in!”

The pair stepped inside as Alaric greeted the two of them. His hair in a messy bun and his study a chaotic but organized mess, Valerius noting he must have been in the process of putting more things in boxes and preparing for his move to his new home next week. It made the Consul’s heart hurt just thinking about letting their only son go off and continue next stage of his life, Lactarius chuckling and reminded him that their son was literally going to be a mile walk through the woods. When Alaric had told the pair he had purchased the large woodlands behind their home, Lactarius felt something deep within in her chest. In her village, there was no option to leave. Yes, a woman could leave to find a suitable man to copulate and maybe have a meaningful relationship with. But once she had a child, there was no time to wander. You spent the rest of your life behind the thick vines and hidden walls of their village. The clan too good for the outside world to bother with the warring cities and helpless villages around them. The fact that her son chose by himself to remain near them made her heart fill with warmth.

Looking up she saw Story’s face peer down from the rope canopy, his blonde hair covering his one green eye. A chuckle breaking from her lips as he reminded her of Muriel. Acts like Muriel, but at a quick glance looks like a young Lucio. The young man staring down in awe at the giant turtle plushie at Lactarius’ feet.

Waving him down Lactarius called, “Story won’t you come down? I have a present just for you!”

A sudden sound of excited footfalls down the spiral staircase and suddenly the blonde was in front of them. Excitement in his eyes, lion plush gripped tightly in his one arm, and a bright smile on his face. As soon as his expression came, it went in a sudden unexpected bought of sheepishness.

Giggling Lactarius ran soft fingers through his hair, the young man leaning into the affection like a kitten, “You are fine, little one. You have a right to be excited! I got you something all your own in town today.” Holding up the giant plush Lactarius held it out for the young man, “It’s weighted, nothing too heavy, but just enough if you lay it across yourself at night it feels like you are cuddling with someone.”

Tossing a wink at Alaric, the young man affectionately straightening Ram- Bam’s bow before his mother caught his eye, “And I think Allie would like to cuddle his two favorite plushies again.”

“Momma......” Blushing Alaric sputtered, “I can share! It’s not a big deal.”

Before Lactarius could respond the turtle plush was lifted from her arms and held tightly against Story’s chest. The blonde tossing the plush over his shoulder so the large head and flippers hung over and draped across his chest while the weighted body rested across his back. Clutching the flippers together Story gave a bright smile, “Thank you, Matriarch!”

It was Valerius’ turn to laugh as his wife sputtered in embarrassment, “Just Lactarius will work for her. She gets flustered when anyone uses titles outside of court or ambassador meetings.”

Lifting the lion from the young man’s loosened grip, Valerius tucked it carefully under his arm while Story properly looked over his very own plush. The Consul blinked back tears when Story raced over to affectionately hug his wife, as soft whisper filling the space around them, “Thank you, Momma.”

Lactarius let out a wet laugh as she hugged the blonde close to her, “You’re welcome, little one!”

As Lactarius fussed and cooed over the blonde, neither father nor son dared to correct the young man currently wrapped in her arms.