#its just like. a hand built orb with a dent in it

[felidaefatigue]

please enjoy my cat using part of my ceramics thesis peice as a bed. truly elevated art.

[the-fandom-qu33n]

Chapter 6____To Strike A Match

(UF Sans/Reader)

Rated M...violence, profanity and much else soon to come

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summary

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burnt out sick of the recurring timeline everything is starting to break him down little by little... day after day drink after drink he needed something different a smoke would be good... just needed a...light?

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His skull ached... his vision clouded in sorrow..rage...annoyance and down right just tired of this bullshit.... his hope long gone ..faded away just as his bro's had...their lives have lost their DETERMINATION long when the kid left...wiping his eye sockets free from the burning tears he growled...why be here ..why does he keep coming back here?...if its HIS dreams its his control...maybe if he halted that ending...maybe if he stopped them from coming out of the underground here..this entire nightmare would stop and he would wake up...

gritting his teeth he began his decent down the cliff...no time to look at the things he knew hed never see...no he had a mission...it was time to shatter this illusion.

step after step ..it seemed even the land didn't want him approaching. Vines from the damned flowers began to weave in his bones ...the wind began to blow harshly...anything to slow him down...and he was having none of it.

with a raise of his hand he summoned the biggest blaster he could...the thing was so massive its jaw let out a thundering creak as the jaws opened ..with a harsh woosh the maw of the beast began to collect enegry...its jaw creaking as his rage increased  making the magic double its strength...gripping his hand together hard enough that he was sure his fingers scratched his boney palm..a deep dent if anything into the bone...but he didn't care...all his hatred had built up in this one blaster..and he was gonna use it... 

as the blaster continued to fuse energy with his burning hatred and magic..there they were...him and his so called friends and family ahead starting to emerge from the underground to receive their happy so called ending.....it started to make the ground shake...so much pure soul energy was building between the blasters jaw he was surprised the beast hadn't shattered by the tense power of his emotions at that moment alone.....so much anger...so much pain...the groaning sounded louder as it continued to fill its entire maw with the glowing orb...he recounted EVERY run from EVERY timeline he had been through..growling he screamed in pure rage as it fired...a blast so loud and powerful...a quick second shot and everything the blasts path was destroyed..trees disintegrated...Rocks dusted...monsters crushed and dusted..finished off in a millisecond ..red had watched it all...watched his blinding soul powered light blast destroy the entire terrain surrounding the mountain...the exit beyond destroyed... he chuckled darkly,,finally..

...finally he ended it he'd be free from it...they were free and soon he would be!...he had did it...now what would that brat do?!!!? NOTHING.

laughing he held his skull as he shook his eye lights burning a deep crimson as his magic began to seep like a heavy smoke down his face he felt so good...so weightless... Unstoppable

he could feel the power shift in his bones...looking around he gaged the damage...flecks of dust as shattered debree were scattered fro miles he assumed...a vast area now crumbled ..hed say even more damaged than even the ruins themselves!

...this was to good to be true!

'- TELL ME!"}

...someone was alive?...his laugh mid cut...his magic slowing to a simmer as he seemingly held in a breath his nonexistent lungs had..

no ...there was no way... his blast had destroyed everything...he was sure..at least he thought he was....snarling he set off up the cliff to see the commotion freezing up as he saw...that brat...that fucking brat how dare they come back and harass another monster after everything he had don-!...

wait...monster?...shaking his head he tried to calm down..

all the monsters would still be underground and long crushed and dusted from the cave in...how?...focusing more he noticed...a shadow of a monster...a smoke monster?...there wasn't anyone in the underground that was like that... but it surely wasn't human... growling at the display he shot into action teleporting behind the brat jamming a bone in its side...no matter...they were still HERE...in his space...HIS dream 

taunting him and this monster...no he wouldn't stand for it...not anymore...snarling he threw the kid back into a tree impaling its neck into the stump in quick retaliation the brat chuckled ripping the bone out and jumping down to the ground spitting up an inky black as it laughed...

{there he is the man of the hour!"}

its voice gurgling as it choked on its own blood still seeming able to stand...fuck this demon freaked him out... backing up he glared at the kid...he wouldn't abandon this monster to this thing...not another dusting...he couldn't take it over this hellspawn of the surface...giggling it tilted its head as its throat spilled more black on the ground as it smiled....

{protective over this one are you?..tell me..who is she where did she come from...where did you monsters put her to keep hidden from me for 46 consecutive genocidal timelines!?"}

quickly its smile turned to a deep scowl of anger as it pointed at the monster behind him..how was he supposed to know..he never seen this monster before...gritting his teeth he stayed put guarding...just because he didn't know didn't mean this brat needed to know he didn't...he could bend the truth..maybe by the blessings of the runes themselves they would be useful but he severely doubted it..

still though he bit back his sigh ..here goes nothing...forcing his heavy frown into a grin he chuckled taking a long bone cracking shrug...

"this?...this here is our secret weapon against ya..."

the child gritting its teeth as it seem to back down ever so slightly...luckily for him that's all he needed...a break in its guard...grinning for real this time..in a flash of red from his now dilated eyelight he shot a sharded bone  straight through its head with a sickening crunch as it broke through the humans skull...the child dropped immediately before its soul shattered...

as victorious as he felt and as tempted as he was to take the soul ...he knew not to grab for it...this was a dream state...he couldn't use its soul here...its useless...another taunt from his dream...it was a monsters instinct to go for the soul...for years it was etched into everyone's minds and souls...it was hard to fight it...but yet he did...he waited....waited for what seemed like to long...for the child to get back up...as if they were faking but..they didnt...after a little longer red dropped his guard..relaxing his stance as his bones creaked and popped from being locked into place for to long...turning his firey glance to the monster on the ground...a black shadowy whisp like monster...he definitely hadnt seen them before...hed have to keep a look out for a shadow figure...perhaps..near Mettaton...a steam monster maybe?...maybe Alphys knows.. he knows they weren't an experiment from the doc..he doubt even Asgore was clueless..maybe the lady behind the door had em...

reaching down to get a better look...he felt his soul relax and get warmer...why did he feel so at peace right now?...perhaps seeing the demon die was it...nodding to himself he froze as the monsters eyes opened staring back into him...their gaze was far off ...and as soon as his hand made contact with the monsters arm he awoke with a start jumping off his messy bed...looking around in alarm he looked for the monster...but no one was in his room but him making him sigh feeling his soul grow cold once more...just as he was readying his magic for a teleport he froze hearing his brother yell from downstairs.

"RED IF YOU DONT GET DOWN HERE IN 5 SECONDS FOR PATROL I'LL GO UP THERE AND DRAG YOU DOWN MYSELF...PAINFULY" 

...guess he would have to go searching later...

"c-comin boss!"

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if you took the time to read this i appreciate it...

[ask-mirror-and-prime-simon]

The Mall Car

Summary: After returning from the origami car Simon takes some time to himself

A/N: Guilt is painful

Chapter: 1/?

Word Count: 1.2k

Warning: Implied past isolation, Corpse mention

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"Simon?"

A tiny fist knocked on the sealed entrance. "Simon? How come you're hiding?"

     The boy sat curled in a ball and pressed against the blockade, hood pulled over his head. His grip on the cloth tightened, trying his best to hide in the little space between his chest and knees. "Go away..."

     The soft thumps continued, the voice growing a bit louder. "Simon! It's been forever already!"

     Paint was splattered across the floors and table, a puddle pooling under the cracked lamp.  DVDs on the once store shelves lay scattered on the ground, brushes and other craft equipment mangled in some way. Models built with blood, sweat, and tears through endless nights were destroyed, wood buildings and clay mountains broken beyond repair. All that survived was a single toy soldier, the carved man hidden in his curled palm. 

"Simon..."

  There was a minute of silence, the boy releasing the damaged cloth. 

"Are you okay?" 

     Brown eyes grew wide, blood running cold. Static filled his ears, the boy flinching before looking up. Mere inches away was his friend of what seemed like an eternity crouched on one knee with concern in her eyes. 

"Hey, you okay?" 

"I..." Tears brimmed at the corner of his eyes, heart pounding in his chest. "I didn't...I didn't..."

"Hey, it's okay" She said with a grin. "I'm here if you want to talk, I'm not leaving you"

"Grace-"

     She began to flicker, the static crawling from her heels until it covered her entire body. Yet still she smiled in the few moments she switched back to her true colors. "I'm not leaving y-"

Her voice became distorted, the hand resting on his knee starting to burn.

"Not leaving"

"Leaving"

"Leaving you"

"Not you"

"You Leaving"

Terrified breaths escaped him, his attempts to stifle his fear proving futile. "You weren't acting right! I-It wasn’t you! I had to-"

     For a second she disappeared, in the next towering over him. Her eyes were wide, lips frozen before she could let out a cry for mercy. Tears trailed down her cheeks, droplets falling onto his forehead. The mischievous look and playful grin he had grown to love were nowhere to be found, lifeless orbs staring straight into his own. 

It was as if he was if she was walking corpse

    He shoved her away, eyes shut as he shouted in a cracked voice. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

    There was no weight against his hands, the boy pulling them back to hold himself. Of course there was no one there. He was the one that abandoned her after all. 

"Oh...okay..."

    He turned to the door, the sound of footsteps growing further and further away. Of course whoever was foolish enough to attempt to reach him would leave too, it was inevitable. No, in truth he knew what it really was. Deserved. 

   His eyes wandered back to his hands, the shape of the toy soldier marked in his palm. Beneath it was the familiar green glow, numbers breaking free from the brackets and spiraling across his knuckles and down to his elbow. He had stopped counting how many times it had raised since he left the dreaded car. 

     He looked back to the door, gold knob peeking out from the debris. With a shaky hand he wiped his eyes, standing for the first time in a while. Mountains of old belongings were pushed aside, the boy stopping halfway. No...he couldn't...but then again, how long could he live like this?

     With a deep breath he opened the door. The light burned his eyes but he dare not stop to acknowledge it. 

"Simon?"

    What sounded to be a million voices called his name, questions of concern mixing in as children no older than 15 ran to his side. 

"I'm going to look through old cars," He said with an sneer. "Don't try to stop me"

The tiny hands tugging at his clothes slowly released him one by one, their owners left behind. Some looked on with worry, others with fear as they watched him head for the entrance. He threw the door open, flipping up his hood. People learn lessons when they have time to reflect, right? It had been a while, she would surely have returned to her old ways and see that he was right all along by now. If only that woman hadn't showed up and brainwashed his dear friend. False conductor his ass, she was just another passenger in a fancy suit that was blasphemous to their savior's mark. No, it went farther than that. If only they hadn't met that stupid ki-

...

Null.

That stupid null.

  Even if she...it, looked like a normal child that could easily fit into his once perfect family, there was no way in Hell he'd let that traitor anywhere near the Apex. It had already ruined one of its members, as long as he was around none of them would get tainted like their leader was. 

"Simon?"

He let out a sigh, turning back to find one of the newer kids behind him. "Yeah?"

"Here" The girl held out a shard of broken glass. "It's incase you have to fight"

    His eyebrows furrowed. "Lucy, where did you get this from?"

"From the light null" She said. "He ran out of your room while you and Grace were lost and we broke him by accident"

    Simon raised his head, finding the shell of the spotlight tossed in the corner. If it wasn't for these kids it would have escaped with a few dents and a cracked lens. Now it lay still, a make-shift kickball for the older members. A rare smile returned to his face, the boy ruffling her hair. "Good job"

    She returned the grin, the boy crouching down to meet her height. "You're in charge while I'm gone but don't tell anyone else, okay?"

     Excitement filled her eyes, the girl quickly nodding. "I won't let you down"

"Alright" He stood, looking to her one last time. She gave him an attempt at the familiar salute of the many soldiers once stored neatly in his little desk. A warm smile rest on his face, the boy shutting the door quietly behind him. 

    He let out a deep breath, leaning against the red wood. How Grace could handle all of the little trouble makers without breaking a sweat was a mystery. Not to worry, she would be back to help in no time and everything would return to normal. Now all that was left was to find her. He pulled out a home-made number tracker, flicking through the screen. By the looks of it the trip would take a while. Hopefully things wouldn't be too crazy by the time they got back. Worst case scenario he and Grace would be able to calm everyone down with a few quick car raids just as they had done before. 

     With that he stuffed the device back in his pocket, beginning the long walk to whatever car she lay in. He could take the journey, he and the Apex had done longer trips anyway before this entire mess. Even then, all the days would be worth it once his best friend would be back by his side and just as spunky as ever. All he had to do was stay in control until then. It couldn't be that hard now that she'd learn her lesson, right?

…

Right?

[araingirl]

Playing with fire: The betrayal

The scorching summer heat of the outer environment couldn’t enter the December-like, airconditioned chamber of the phoenix-prince, nor did the external sunshine sweltering in the cloudless, clear-blue mid-afternoon sky. Clad in a white shirt whose collar button was loosened, showing the line of his broad chest and well-built neck dents, together with black pants, rolling the sleeves up to the elbows, the dual-haired Russian was sitting, leaning his back comfortably against the sofa, lifting one leg on another thigh and spreading his arms on the handles. His right hand was clutching the rope which was tying the neck of his personal German Shephard. Behind him, two armed bodyguards were standing, one male, one female. An orange-haired well-suited guy was facing him, chuckling.

“Sir,” He snickered, “You know, I am a big fan of yours. I-“

He had to stop in the midway, seeing the stretched palm of the phoenix-prince. Clearing his throat, the Russian spoke, “Let’s get back to the work.”

Brooklyn stared at the ruby eyes of the girl who was having her seat on a three-legged tool by the right side of her business partner as well as her Russian boyfriend. Chocolate hair was tied into a high ponytail, lips weren’t as thick as they were appearing due to the amount of nude lipstick. In black jacket over pink sleeveless shorts and denim trousers, she was like a bomb in the eyes of the orangette. However, as she nodded, silently saying to him not to delay to place the offer before the Russian and allowing him to proceed, Brooklyn opened his mouth.

“My BM development company wants to build a new satellite city,” He started speaking, “Its budget is about 500 million dollars. According to the survey of my engineers, the Japanese villages beside your city make a developed area for that…if needs be, we will give the villagers some money. Of course, they will get place somewhere in this world. Otherwise, a matchstick of yours is enough to turn all the villages and villagers into ashes, isn’t it?”

Before the orange-haired guy could finish his words, he flinched, discovering the German Shephard sticking out its tongue and furiously howling before him. Hilary gasped, giving a creepy and narrowed stare at the four-footed beast. All the armed bodyguards in the room got startled, stepping back from the armless and harmless pet dog of the Russian. The sharp eyes and growls of the animal were frightening the orange-haired guy almost to his death. Kai quickly started patting the head of the Shephard in order to pacify it. Though it was an animal, it had better IQ than human beings sometimes.

Once the dog got appeased, stopping woofing and starting waggling its tail, Kai stared at the aquamarine orbs of the orangette, “The project won’t take place.”

“What?” Brooklyn frowned and shared a look with the brunette who was equally shocked.

“If you want to get it done by any other individual or team,” Kai stood up, pointing a finger at the orangette, “Neither you nor anyone from your company will be spared ever.”

The man was about to leave his chamber until his chocolate-haired girlfriend left her seat, objecting, “But, it’s a good deal, babe!”

The Russian halted at the excited and opposing pitch of the brunette. Nearing him, holding his shoulders and placing her chin there, she spoke in a demanding and pampered tone, “I have already taken the advance, dear. You cannot say no.”

“If you have taken the advance,” However, his heart didn’t melt even at the request of his lover as he jerked her hands off from him in quite a cruel way, “Just return it to them. Burning villages was never our job, nor is it at present.”

Hilary retreated but seeing her facial expression, it couldn’t be felt that she was hurt or saddened by this emotionless and cruel, acidic behavior of her boyfriend. Rather, she smirked and faced him.

“You knew, I was well-aware that you would never agree with me on this term,” She tilted her head, “That’s why, I’ve taken the advance of one more task. Ayla!”

The scarlet-haired woman was ready for the order of the brunette. Right then, giving a sharp nod, she tucked out the black 9mm pistol from the pocket of her jeans, aimed it at the slate-haired Russian and pulled the trigger. In excitement, the teeth of the orange-haired guy flashed along with his vicious aquamarine orbs. The bullet rushed at him, cutting the air and hit the left side of his chest. Hilary threw a last flying kiss at her boyfriend along with a creepy, sinful wink of her left eye. To her, power mattered more than love. If the guy whom she loved couldn’t give her that, he would always be meaningless to her just like a dead body. So did she tend to make him.

“Bang!”

.....................................................................................................................

What? Why did Aylin, who always loved Kai more than everything, try to take his life only at Hilary’s order? Did she really do it? Would Kai be able to make it? What’s happening here? 

.........

Playing with fire, a OCKaiHil love-triangle-crime-thriller. Coming soon :) 

[necropxlis]

A Cure to a Broken Heart - (Alistair x Elana Cousland)

A/N: So I had a random thought today and I got super inspired to write something about it. I haven’t written in years and it obviously shows lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy I don’t know how long it will be just yet. I will just write until I am satisfied. Please enjoy my piece of crap that I wrote! ^.^

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Seven years.

Seven years of peace within the kingdom of Ferelden. Seven years of standing by the love of her life. Seven years since she lost her parents in a coup and was forced to join the Grey Wardens. Seven years since she sacrificed everything and saved the world. Seven years of whispers and distant stares. Wondering when the royal couple will bear an heir. When the voice would call their king and queen into the forsaken Deep roads to waste away their days.

For years after their marriage and coronation, the nobles have constantly questioned when would an heir to the throne be born. The queen would merely smile and say she prayed to the Maker that it would be soon. The king would look at his wife with nothing but, what other people say is, love and admiration; but those who knew him well knew that sadness lingered in his eyes. Those who were close to the couple knew of their struggle with the fear of the future. The Calling. The one obstacle that the Hero of Ferelden could not overcome, could not defeat. The one thing standing in between their happiness.

“I think you should take a Mistress.”

Alistair froze and stared at his wife. His eyes bore confusion and then amusement. This had to be some kind of joke. His wife, his rose, would never have uttered something so ridiculous in her lifetime. She was smart and calculated. Cunning when it came to convincing the nobles into agreeing with them. She often played pranks on Alistair when they needed a little something to lighten up their day. Most of all she was in love with him and he was in love with her. This definitely had to be a joke, something to lighten their spirits. 

Laughter erupted from Alistair’s lips, “That’s funny, I thought you were serious for a moment. Yes, love, I will take a mistress and waste away my days in luxury like a true king.”

“Alistair-“

“You can’t be serious, my love. I would never betray you, I would never become my father.”

The queen sighed and motioned for Alistair to come closer to her. She grabbed his hands and looked at him with nothing but sadness in her eyes. Furrowing his brows, he tried to understand the reasoning behind her words. Was he not good enough for her anymore? Did she think she wasn’t enough for him? Did she want a divorce? He began to pray, to beg, to the Maker that she would not leave him.

“Alistair, you need an heir. Something I can’t give you. Please, take a mistress, or find another wife. Someone who can give you an heir. I’ll step down and-“

“Stop.“ he interrupted, “Don’t go any further.”

Alistair tore himself away from his wife and began to pace around the room. His hand roamed through his hair and down his face. His wife stared as he began to make dents in the floor with his constant moving. Wringing her fingers as her anxiety began to build. She had to make her thoughts clear. She was a ticking time bomb. Her fuse was running short.

She wanted to be the strong one. She wanted to be the one to end it so he could have the life he always wanted. He deserved a wife who could give him children, he deserved a family that loves him and makes him happy. He deserves everything she can’t give him. Her thoughts plagued her mind. Tears pooled in her blue orbs. The same orbs that her husband dearly loved and often told her he could get lost in them. She began to remember all the happy moments they had.

She realized how selfish she was being. Keeping him to herself all these years when he could have something better. The words of the nobles haunted her brain for years. She was the worthless daughter of the famed Couslands. How disappointed her parents would be. The wild Cousland daughter turned to be nothing but a fake. A woman who can’t give her husband a child to carry on the legacy. Useless. Good for nothing. Incompetent.

A cry tore from her delicate lips. The once strong hero could no longer keep her composure. Her walls that she had built up for years had shattered, like tossing a rock at a mirror. Alistair froze at the sound of his wife’s heart breaking more and more. She lowered her head to rest against a pillow so her cries were muffled. Her tears flowed like a river in the springtime, after the long months of being frozen in the winter. Fists tightly gripped the thin piece of cloth covering the woolen mass beneath her. Knuckles as white as freshly fallen snow. The stone walls echoed with each desperate cry. The anguish of a woman who will probably never know the struggles of carrying a life for nine months.

“Elana.”

At the sound of her name, the woman slowly opened her eyes to gaze at her husband. Alistair looked just as broken as she did. He knew the weight on her heart was heavy. The rumors of her being barren and not competent enough to give him what the kingdom desired most. He might not be the brightest star in the sky, but when it came to his wife he knew her better than she knew herself. What he could not fathom, was how badly this had affected her. Taking slow strides as to not scare her, Alistair gathered the broken woman into his arms. Brushing her hair away from her face, he saw just how this had haunted her. Her features had grown thin and pale. While he was blinded by happiness, he struggled to notice that his wife was suffering.

"Elana, I don't care about having an heir to carry on our legacy. The lords and ladies of wherever can kindly suck it." Alistair said placing a kiss to her forehead.

A small chuckle escaped from her cracked lips, "But you deserve to be happy."

The man scoffed and stared at her. This woman went to hell and back for them, for the world. She was the strongest person he had ever met and she carried his heart in her hands. If anything he was the one unworthy of such a wonderful human being. Elana accepted him for who he was, bastard prince, and all of his other baggage. She laughed at all his jokes and played along with him at times. She was his rock in the windy storm. Her blue eyes stared into his soul, begging, pleading him to just go along with whatever she was asking of him. But he was stubborn and was not going to let the only source of light leave his life.

"I am happy. Wherever you are, I am happy. We could be killing darkspawn for the rest of our lives in the godforsaken Deeproads, or we could be here ruling a kingdom and playing dress-up every day. As long as you are with me, I am happy." he said placing a strand of curly hair behind her ear.

A small smile crept up both of their faces. The love that each of them had for the other would be strong enough to overcome this battle. Time might not be on their side, but as long as they had each other, they would survive in this cruel world. Their love will shine through their darkest days.

But where there is light, there is also darkness.

Their days may have gotten better, their smiles may have lasted longer, but fear is a nasty enemy. It feeds and it feeds until it consumes that persons every being. Until that person no longer has any sense of humanity.Ripping the seal off of the crumpled letter, Elana slowly unfolded its contents. She was tired of being someone she wasn't, tired of fooling herself and her husband. If she wanted a future for the kingdom and her own selfish reasons, she would have to get her hands dirty once again. Scanning the parchment of every sentence it contained, something akin to a spark of hope rose inside of her. Maybe there was a way, a way for everything to work out in their favor. She needed answers. She needed to visit a certain witch.

"Dear Elana,

I have kept an eye on Morrigan for a while now, as I would for all of my friends. I am only doing this because if anyone can find the cure, it will be you. I have enclosed the coordinates to her location, may you find some answers to your questions. I will keep my ear to the ground for any new information I find and send it your way. Please be safe, I don't know what would happen if we lost you. One close call is one too many. My scouts will be watching.

Lilianna."

Her time has come. She would leave behind her life of comfort to seek what they have wished for years.

Elana would find a cure for the Calling.

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A/N: If you made it this far I appreciate you. Anyways I hope you enjoyed!

[totk-headcanons]

Hey, what if the Old Champions manages to survive the blights and got put in the Link treatment? (In a coma for 100 years and lost their memories) Would they go on a adventures with Link?

This got very long, sorry no cut, I'm on mobile. However, enjoy the champions waking up, and facing their blights!

*Blue

Mipha

He had a sinking feeling when he first saw the cave that it was like the one he awoke in, and, unfortunately, he'd been right. There was a zora in the pool of water, and he hesitantly touched the slate to the console. A dull memory pounded at the back of his head as he watched the water drain, one of friendship and love and warmth. And then she jolted up into a sitting position, eyes wide, breathing shaky. Her gaze drifted to Link, and she calmed.

"Who... Who are you?"

"I'm Link. Who are you?" She paused, thinking.

"Mipha. Where are we? Why don't I remember anything?" He shrugged.

"Your guess on the memory is as good as mine. But we're near Zora's Domain." She nodded a bit to herself, climbing out of the pool.

"Well, I suppose I should thank you for... Waking me?" He shrugged again, unwilling to tell her she'd nearly died. "Would it be alright if I came along with you for a while? Until I find something I want to devote my time to."

"Not a bit. Welcome aboard, Mipha." He gave a bright smile, and she returned it.

Vah Ruta

"This thing doesn't like staying still, does it?!" She ducked out of the way of its spear, coming up with her own.

"Not really!" An arrow sunk into the eye of the thing, and it howled in pain, shooting upwards. And then the water, and the four platforms in the room, began to rise.

"Get on a platform, Link. No offense, but you're useless in the water."

"Great offense taken! But so is the advice." He clambered onto a platform, readying his bow. The thing was in its orb form, deciding where it would reform. It settled for right on top of the hero. Before he could fire or she could intercept, the spear slammed into his side. He was sent flying, and she was reacting before she knew what was happening. One hand reaching out, grabbing Link, power flowing through it and into him, closing his wounds. The other pointing toward the creature before lifting, a column of water slamming the thing into the ceiling. She shot through the water, depositing Link next to a platform, spear ready. The blight was dazed. She sunk her spear into it again and again and again, and it writhed. Screamed. She felt no remorse for the thing. And it hovered away awkwardly, reforming oddly. It screamed one final time, and exploded. Vah Ruta was free. Mipha had a brother to get to know, a father. A friend to help, and one to free.

Urbosa

His gut sank when he saw the shrine built outside the cave, the shield and sword that were left to rest there. He quietly entered, and sighed as he saw another shrine of ressurection. A gerudo lay in this one, her long hair splayed around her face. He activated the shrine, studying her. She felt... Familial, almost, though he clearly was unrelated to her. And then she was awake and on her feet. A warrior, his gut told him, though he felt no fear. She studied him for a moment, and then he took a breath.

"My name is Link. You probably have no memories, I didn't either when I woke up, you almost died a hundred years ago, so anyone you did know is probably dead. Well, aside from myself and Zelda, but we're weird cases, and-"

"You've certainly got quite a mouth on you." His eyes widened, and he clamped his mouth shut, looking away, earning a soft chuckle. "No, no, please, I'm teasing. It's pretty endearing, honestly. So, where are we?"

"Not, uh, not far from Gerudo Town. But I'm actually headed the other direction, have to get something back from the yiga, and-"

"I'll come with." He was surprised at the cold fury in her voice, and for a second, it looked like she was too. But it passed, and he nodded, turning to exit.

"Well, let's go then."

Vah Nabooris

"Shield, Link!" He glanced at her, and lifted his shield to her, bracing it with his other hand as she leapt off it at the blight. A swift slash had it screaming, shooting upwards. And then there was a thunderclap and lightning coursed through its sword and its shield. A shouted curse in gerudo had the hero staring at her in disbelief (because of the shout, there was no way a Hylian voe knew gerudo, right?), and then she was bolting forward, dodging slashes and stabbing past the shield. The pillar that slammed down next to her had her diving off the edge of the walkway, rolling at the bottom. Link was doing something with that slate of his, holding the pillar next to the blight. It's own lightning struck it, and she raced over to attack it. When it started flying again, she snapped on instinct, and lightning struck it. She grinned, Link and herself lunging in to finish it off. It's death scream had her grinning in relief, and she grinned wider at Link's relieved laughter. Now, to find a place for herself before the big battle...

Revali

He was far from startled by the shrine, walking in and studying the rito as he activated the pedestal. There was a rivalry, was it friendly? He couldn't tell. The rito slowly sat up, looking drowsy. His gaze landed on Link, and his eyes narrowed.

"What are you looking at?"

"You, idiot." The rito stood.

"Excuse me?" Link was about to retort, but he bit his tongue, taking a deep breath.

"I didn't mean to call you an idiot. Sorry." The rito's puffed up feathers settled, and he lost his threatening posture.

"It's fine, I guess. I was being rude first. ...I'm sorry as well." Link nodded, held out his hand.

"Let's start over. I'm Link." His hand was envolped in feathers a few beats later.

"Revali."

Vah Medoh

The blight's cannon was aimed at him. He darted into the updraft, let it carry him up, and fired four times in quick succession. One for the cannon, three for the eye.

"Nice shooting!"

"Thanks! See if you can keep up!" Link laughed, driving his sword into the stunned creature.

"I'm gonna be the one that kills this thing, bird boy!" It broke away from the hero, drones beginning to circle Link. And then they were all swiftly shot aside so that Link could have a clear shot on the beast.

"Only because of my help, wingless wonder!" The banter was easy, and it kept their spirits up while the thing danced away from their shots. And then a lazer, fired without an ounce of warning, slammed into his side. He hit the ground, rolled, and noticed the red dot painted on his chest. He felt a tugging urge in his gut, and trusted it. Steadied himself, spread his wings, and wind erupted beneath them, shooting him up at the last second. He whooped, firing, grounding the thing. Link finished it off, and Revali landed next to him. "You know, I do wonder when I learned to do that..."

"Make wind? I'd bet it was a long time ago." A soft slap had the hylian laughing, and Revali had to admit that it was infectious. He'd never say it out loud, but he quite liked his new beginning.

Daruk

He'd sought out the shrine as soon as he had gear to survive the volcano. He activated it, studying the goron. He felt safe, comfortable. And then the goron was up, looking around.

"Hi. I'm Link." The goron looked to him, and his extended hand. Grabbed it gently, and Link found himself very reminded of just how strong gorons could be by how careful he was to ensure he didn't break his hand.

"Daruk. And I'm definitely supposed to be doing something, though I haven't a clue what at the moment."

"Well, let's go find you something to do." The goron laughed a bit.

"Sounds good, little buddy. I like your attitude!" The two left, walking in step with each other, and it felt like they'd done it a thousand times before.

Vah Rudania

The creature began sucking in air for a fireball. Link threw in a bomb, and they both ran in to attack when it exploded in the things face. And then it was upright, a massive swing slamming into Link and bouncing off of Daruk's magical shield. It wouldn't hold under many hits like that. He swung his own massive blade, managing to dent a piece of the machinery the thing was made of. An arrow fired into its eye had it on the ground again, and Daruk continued to attack. The blight was defeated fairly quickly, Daruk thought, and he grinned at Link, who smiled tiredly back. It was a good fight. He wanted to make sure Link didn't have to fight for a long while.

Dark Beast Ganon

Link was exhausted. His horse was fleeing, he was half dead, and the thrice forsaken thing wouldn't stop. Zelda was quietly encouraging him, but he hurt, and he just wanted to be done. And then there was a loud whoop, and he saw arrows flying into the things sides.

"You have the wrong bow, bird brain!" Revali swooped down, having quickly abandoned his attempt when he saw it was doing nothing, and held his hand out.

"Then give me the right one, blue eyes." Link hesitated, and then nodded, quietly handing over the bow. He could vaguely make out other shapes coming closer, but he was on his way to unconsciousness, and everything was blurry. And then there was a hand in his back and warmth in his body and his vision cleared. He looked to Mipha, who smiled warmly. Daruk was taunting the thing, catching its hooves and throwing them back at it to make it stumble. Urbosa was rushing forward, and snapped, the lightning enraging the beast.

"Thank you, Mipha. I have to go help them."

"We, Link. We have to go help them." He grinned, and the two rushed in to join the effort of keeping the thing from paying Revali any attention while he shot arrows of light into it.

Zelda

She was back. All the champions kneeled to her, all in varying states of injury. And she smiled, tears in her eyes, overwhelmed by the fact that they'd all come for her, that they'd all survive. The first quiet sob had them all looking up, and before the next one came Urbosa was on her feet, enveloping her in a hug. The other joined, and she sobbed in relief, clinging to the gerudo. She was alive. They were alive. They were all safe. Hyrule had been shaken by the calamity, but now, now they were all together again. And watching them in the days that followed, she realized she had to get to know them again. Link spoke, now. He and Mipha were far less reserved. Daruk had lost some of his recklessness, and Revali didn't need to show off every moment. Urbosa, she thought, was the least changed. Until she caught her and Link sneaking out, wearing matching lizalfos masks. Yes, she had to get to know them all again. She didn't mind, she found.

[namjoonchronicles]

pretty thoughts | jungkook

♠ pairing: jungkook x you ♠ genre: fluff, domestic, parenthood au ♠ word count: 6k ♠ honorary mention: @jungkookiemycutebias and her beautiful moodboard ♠ description: visiting your husband at work as the youngest senior barista, when he couldn’t get off on time as promised because of a sudden surge of customers. You met someone from the past that wasn’t supposed to know where you are while you wait, and Jungkook wasn’t very fond of him.

♠ author’s note: A spin off to Granite Glow.

When you first met Jungkook, you didn't think he was going to take this much space in your heart.

That time when you were in the cave, you only had one thought. If you couldn't see those galaxy eyes again, you'd be damned forever. As you sunk deeper in the depth of darkness, accompanied by the remnants of the memories you had with Jungkook, you felt serenity and despair all at once. They played like montages in the back of your mind, pulling you in and then out of nowhere, you heard him. Heard him calling your name. With it, you gained a newfound strength that allowed you to carry the weight of the yellow line and into the next mound where you could find surface. When you did, you took a lungful of air, and the sounds echoed through the granite walls of the cave.

When he scrambled to your side in the back of the ambulance, face so pale with chapped lips, you couldn't help but smile. You couldn't hear a word of what he said but you remembered feeling safe, because you saw those beautiful galaxy eyes, and it felt like coming home.

One year later, your love remains hot to the touch, scalding down your throat as you take it in, like this bitter coffee. No sugar, just black. It was too bitter for your liking but you downed them anyways. Jungkook would make better coffee than this. If he wasn't late this morning, you would have enjoyed one. He's a very capable husband.

Odd, he never lets those laying around the kitchen, you thought.

A microphone for his DSLR camera. Taehyung must have left it there this morning. You took it in your hand, and carefully walked down the left corner of the hallway where Jungkook's golden closet office was, pushing the baby walker to the side.

Look how far we’ve come, my love.

His Supreme skateboard, hung up the wall, three cameras in glass case, and three monitors for his editing works. Some other appliances arranged, neatly and orderly in some kind of synchronisation. This was where Jungkook spends most of his time if not working at the actual headquarters. His camera bag set aside, next to his half-packed luggage. He was getting ready to be in Hong Kong soon and you worried about that a lot. It’s going to take time to get used to not having him here.

He hums to the tune of Norah Jones’ classic, “Come Away With Me”. The skin of his  forearm showed the ripple of his muscle, his hands busy wiping the white coffee mugs with dry cloth. It had been a relatively relaxing day at work for a weekend.

Jungkook worked part-time at a coffee shop on public holidays and weekends to cope with the expenses needed at home. Honestly, he was still worried about the videos that needed editing at his main job. Although he had an ample amount of time to do that when he gets off at noon, he doesn’t like putting task off. Be it his current job or his job as a husband, who frequently runs errands in place of his wife.

Married young, Jungkook always worried if the struggles dented you in some way, like it has in the past. Jungkook did all kinds of odd jobs just to keep both of your heads afloat, but he’s glad he no longer has to. He is chirping to the fact that he gets to leave his part time job with a half day shift today. He has a date with you today, and he’s looking forward to that. Finally he gets to act his age and hold your hands, and just be him. And then he heard a glass falling to the floor. He dropped his head and blew hot air to his forehead. Chewing his lips, he walks over to the poor little co-worker.

“Get the broom, don’t touch it with your hands,” Jungkook commanded him. And he scurried away, to disappear down the hall to where the utilities were. Hyungjin just joined the team a few weeks ago, and he hadn’t let go of the newbie jitters. It’s twice this week. Now Jungkook isn’t the kind to lash out but he does give off a dark vibe. Not because he is authoritative, it’s because he is experienced. He tips his head up to Hyungjin who shyly hands him the short broom with dust collector pan, his expression softens to the newbie.

“...Do I scare you?” Jungkook smiles. Hyungjin shifted his eyes side to side, clasping his forefingers together like a child being punished.

“Can I be honest?” he stammered, nervously. His tongue peeped out his mouth, to swipe along his drying lips.

“Sure bud,” Jungkook collects the broken shards into the pan while Hyungjin held the mouth of the plastic bag, open for him. “They say you were in mafia once, which explains your built. And did assassinations, because you have good reflexes. You also grab hold of customers who don’t want to pay for the coffee they finished.”

Jungkook stands up straight, and tipped his head back, showing off his neck and jaws.

“That was once.”

Hyungjin visibly stiffens.

Upon straightening his view, Jungkook cracks his neck to one side, keeping his eyes close. This boy had been fed with outstretched lies by those before him. He twists his wedding ring as he begin to explain.

“Everything changes when you find love,” Jungkook cocked an eyebrow at the poor boy, before wiping his hands, “Tie the bags and discard it.”

He was rather enjoying the superiority he could play with this facade of ex murderer, ex military, ex mafia member past--his past co-worker had joked about him. Hyungjin nodded and dutifully committed to his duties.

Jungkook wasn’t superstitious, and never would ever believe when people say that when a mug breaks during your shift, there will be a sudden surge of customers. A bus stops in front of the cafe and vomited its content.

Oh no.

It was a foolish kind of love, you and Jungkook had.

Late last night,you’ve finally had time to take a look in your full figure mirror in what seemed forever, you pinched the back of your arms.

And he notices the expression you wore. Dissatisfaction, rejection and self-ridicule. “What’s with that face?” He lifts his face from the phone briefly, his round glasses reflected the screen as he continue to type a reply to a coworker.

You were standing there in just white bras, with your pastel pink mommy trousers for night wear before twisting your head over your shoulder to see your own back side on the mirror. Lips puckered, and you see the marks on the side of your stomach, before letting out a disappointed sigh. “My body changed,” you grumbled as you snatched a folded orange tee beside Jungkook’s ankle.

How long had this been going on? Jungkook wonders.

He hoisted himself off of the bed, slide his phone carelessly on the bedside table before taking your t-shirt away from your hand. Then he rested his chin on your shoulder, circled his arms around your waist, just underneath your bra line, pulls you close to him. You couldn’t stop the smile from blossoming on your lips and he continued to stare at your reflection through the mirror. Now that’s a view.

His sparkling brown orbs, shooting mega hearts to yours despite no words being exchanged. “What did you say?” Jungkook said in a harsh tone but his touch was anything but. He pressed his lips onto your shoulder without breaking eye contact. Your smile is getting wider and wider as he held on. “You’re sexy… drives me wild all the time,” he taunted you with his hushed voice.

“You’re a good liar. I have stretch marks, on my butt, on my stomach… And my boobs? They look disproportionate with the rest of me, I look like an alien…” you said them with half hearted giggle and, “My body turned ugly… I feel heavy, I look heavy, I’m… hideous.”

Jungkook had been shaking his head ever since you begin talking, refusing to acknowledge anything you said. “I’m nothing like the girls you filmed, yeah I saw your edited videos with that new female news anchor, she got nice legs and butts too,” you leaned your head back on his shoulder, sighing. Throwing acid glanced at yourself through the mirror. Jungkook moved his arms down your hips and cupped your butt, before squeezing it.

“I’d take no other butts but this one,” Jungkook gave you a disturbing grin that either makes you want to punch him or kiss him hard. You rolled your eyes to the side and switched to press your front on him, circling your arms around his neck while he glided his eyes up to find yours. He towered you easily, and you got absorbed in those mesmerising iris that it took you a thought loud enough to bring you back to the situation you were in.

“Look at you,” you pointed at him with your lips, “You’re flawless. Beautiful… captivating.” Jungkook smacks his lips together, while fixing your baby hair, giving you that crinkling eye smile and spoke in articulate whispers that, “No matter how much your body changes, I’m madly in love with the very soul you bore, and even if you think that you’re not enough, I am still going to love you for who you are. And. In my eyes?”

He pauses, he tips your chin up with his index finger and spoke to your lips, “Your sexiest moment has yet to come.” Kiss.

Foolish, you thought. Jungkook meant every word but you thought it was foolish of him to love you. Jungkook gave away so much. He gave away a secure future to be married. He gave away his youth, his hard work, his dreams, to be married to you. It was not easy. It was not easy to have this life with him.

With no family to turn to, you both only had each other. There was so many first times. First interview, first rent, first job, first child.

Things would have been easier, albeit, if you had just stayed on track and did as told; and leave Jungkook behind. Tell him it was over and that you didn’t want him. It was mere words. But those pleading eyes could never let you lie. You know it when you touch, when you embraced him, when you kissed. You knew you weren’t going to want any other lips, have another arms to hold except this one. That’s why you did it.

That’s why you eloped.

A life without Jungkook isn’t worth living, no matter how easy it was.

Your family didn’t want anything to do with you. They didn’t want a child who refused to follow their path of life. Jungkook, a simple person, with simple background, didn’t worth their time. The fact that he was too young for you became the only logical rejection. Ridiculous, you thought. Age gap is a myth. Jungkook is alike you as you were alike him. What was it about Jungkook being too young for you? They just didn’t want you to be married to Jeon Jungkook. Because Jeon Jungkook wasn’t Kim Seokjin. The guy they preferred.

“Man should be older, for the marriage to be ideal,” your mother sipped her tea.

Ideal is an illusion.

“Dad was older than you. Was it ideal? The backbone of marriage is to trust and communicate. Something your ‘ideal’ marriage, certainly lacks,” you were greeted with a splash of tea across your face and hair.

And that was the last time you saw your mother. She loathed Jungkook. Unable to look at him in the eye when you brought him home once. One glance and you knew she was disappointed. 3 years in an expensive college and this is the boy you found? A videographer?

Not to mention the unconventional piercings, his lack of spiritual faith and low social class vibe. To her, he was revolting against her upholstered chair that she might have to send to laundry spa after Jungkook left. Afraid that his mediocre financial wealth be infatuated to her luxurious furnitures.

He was not enough for her, but he is enough for you.

Tough times do make the easier one more meaningful. No family to turn to, and you both only had each other, and that was enough and more.

Fostering through emotional wounds, you held your chin up high for the man you choose to love and his devotion was clearly infested in the way he was with you one night, lips parted to watched the stars in your room, that lit up in pitch darkness above the bed.

“Everything we have isn’t extraordinary, but is enough…” you heard him say, your head resting on his bulging bicep, twirling your fingers with his very own, while staring at the self made constellation ceiling you spend time creating. It was the best thing you’ve ever done and Jungkook did all the sticking. It was true what he said. The life you had before him was full of materialistic infatuation but no soul. It was a thirst to be above everyone, get ahead of the time, be an icon people would look up to. But no longer do you yearn for such attention, for the only attention you craved was his.

It was easy to love and leave for some people, but not to you. When you love someone, you gave them everything you had. And everything was Jungkook had. Sometimes it scares you, how much you create a place that is his, in your entire being, that when you bore his child, you were frightened that she will take your place. Foolish thoughts, isn’t it?

When Ben came, she changes everything. Jungkook’s little office was littered with polaroid pictures of her.

Her little nose, the corners of her lips that resembled her fathers’, the need to push boundaries she was set in—she was only four, but heavens, the energy she has. Jungkook was not only teaching her all the martial arts available, he was teaching her to an individual. To speak for herself, to be unafraid and heavily invested in her to make her happy. You maybe the love of his life but Ben is so much more than that.

Too young to be a father? You mocked your mother’s childish rejections. Jungkook was a better father than you remembered having.

Speaking of Ben. How is she?

Dial tone ended after what seemed to be ages. Taehyung was giggling heartily upon answering the call. “Hello Ben’s mom!” He chirped.

“Hi! How’s everything going?”

“Everything is great! Jimin is helping her on the slide, and she’s faster than both of us combined… we’re heading to the zoo when it opens, and she’s just been fed.”

They’re doing pretty well. They’ve been entrusted to do the babysitting job eversince Ben was 2. Jimin is good with keeping her entertained and Taehyung had enough babysitting experience with his niece and nephews for you to even come up with a complaint. Thank God for Jimin and Taehyung.

“I’m going to head over to Jungkook’s cafe. Just called to make sure everything is fine. I missed her.”

“It was a little over four hours, noona! Ben is only catching up with her uncles… hurry up then! The movie is going to start!”

You ended the call without talking to Ben, afraid that she would want to come with you if she knew you weren’t working. It was difficult to get the day off, taking a break from mothering and having a full time job. Besides, Taehyung and Jimin took their day off too, with paid babysitting by the hours. Their fares are cheap compared to other babysitters.

Grabbing your purse, you slid out the main door with simple brown loafers and stockings, a beige knee-length long coat and ash grey turtleneck, paired with jeans. It’s winter.

But when you arrive to his cafe, you saw endless rows of people queueing to get a table. There’s no way the new staff can handle such crowd without Jungkook’s help. Your best guess that he would still be in his barista uniform, making drinks.

And your intuition proven right when you saw your husband struggling to meet the order demands while being the only one in the barista corner, preparing coffees. The new staff is taking orders and putting on a fake smile for incoming customers at the cashier stand.

Poor baby. You glanced through the fogged up glass window at your husband and finding purchase in your heavy sigh. Where did the rush of crowd came from?

You looked around for clues, only to witness someone leaving a black Palisade Hyundai, parked on the side. This man, was on the phone and grey long coat as he exited his car, his brown hair neat and short. He was in the back seat and his driver stood at the door for him. He looks expensive. When he turned to the side, your heart dropped.

When is the noon shift going to be here? Jungkook grumbled in the back of his thoughts, your voice lingering in his head.

“Don’t be late…”

He let out an exhale through his nose, as he tips his chin back looking at the order screen where Hyungjin had keyed in the paid orders. Hyunjin rushes to his side, leaving the cashier stand vacant only to say, “416, said no caramel syrup.” Handing back the coffee he just made. Jungkook was about to lose his cook, but he grinded his jaw and nodded, silently.

Surely he could do better speed but with the constant modification of orders, he is stalling his usual pace. Plus, he was worried that his wife is somewhere out there in the cold, waiting for him to finish his shift. But with this many people and the noon shift not showing up, the movie date might have to be cancelled. And there’s nothing more Jungkook hated than to irresponsibly break a promise. Especially towards his wife.

Even if she’s walking in with a dude into his very cafe—hold up, what?

He is in fact, pushing the doors open for you. Wanted you to be seated on a couple seat but you declined and went with him.

He looks rather friendly. Too friendly perhaps for Jungkook’s liking. The noon shift finally arrived but it will take time for them to merge into the situation, so Jungkook switched place with Hyunjin to take orders from the man you’re with.

“Hello, my name is Jeon, how may I address you sir?”

“Seokjin,” this attractive man pursed his lips and leaned to the menus to see them clearer, while choosing he murmured, “What shall we have…”

You on the other hand were playing charade games with Jungkook. He mouthed, very angrily, “Who is he?”

And you replied, “I tried to call but you didn’t answer…”

He goes, “I’m working!”

Seokjin shot his eyes up and Jungkook cleared his throat, “Two hazelnut cappuccinos and two egg tarts… please.”

Jungkook switches back to his barista mode and chirped, “Would you like to try our new cheesecake along with it? It’s half price today…”

Seokjin scrunched his face briefly at the screen and, “Nope. Just the coffee and egg tarts, thanks.”

“Sure, that would be $18.80.” Seokjin tapped his shiny platinum card on the pad and it clicked to cash. Paid. As easy as that.

“Egg tarts is still your favourite right?” Jungkook heard he asked you with the most gentle voice a man could possess. Jungkook passes the cashier stand to the noon team, and excused himself to the toilet for a bit. He untied his black apron roughly, and threw it against the wall in the hallways meant for staff. Then he walked in long lunges to his locker, and unlocking them to get to his phone.

17 missed calls from Wife. 32 messages.

“His name is Kim Seokjin.”

Jungkook quickly replied, gnawing his lips in between his teeth as he typed. His beauty mark underneath his lips showing evidently.

“Who the fuck is he? Why are you having coffee with him?”

Wife is typing…

“He is the guy I was supposed to get married to.”

Jungkook stilled. That makes more sense.

You’re fidgeting. Eyes wide open, to every corner in that cafe. Fingers a little clammy, pupils darted out at every person there--you’re nervous, it isn’t difficult to see.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell your mother where you are…”

You glanced up to meet his gaze. He looks handsome. As always. Every young women in that coffee shop wanted to be you.

“Is it that obvious?”

Seokjin nodded in reply.

“How are you?” He asked. In a way only past lovers share. There was no quick answer to that question but you out your priorities first. The most important thing he should know about you is that…

“Married? And a daughter?” Seokjin’s eyes doubled it size as he leans back into his chair, in disbelief.

“I mean…” he glances up and down, drinking in your figure, “don’t tell me that that/ body had a daughter that’s four now… how does your husband sleep at night when you’re not home?”

Pretty well if he’s tired, you thought.

“How about you, Seokjin?”

“Same old same old. Business is like always. We’re venturing new ideas. Since coffee shops are overrated now. They grow like mushrooms after the rain,” Seokjin crossed his legs and brought the brim of the cup to his moistened lips. Feeling a slight discomfort at the fact that your ex-fiancee spoke ill of coffee shops, knowing your husband is working in one.

You were at a crossroad of revealing Jungkook as your husband and risk Seokjin telling his brother about it. His brother will tell his mother and his mother will inform your mother about you and your choice of a life partner. It's not that you were ashamed of Jungkook’s job. It's more to save him than it is about shame. But Seokjin is still a friend. And there’s a side to him that is trustworthy.

“You know, things ended abruptly between us,” you began.

Seokjin’s false confidence begins to wane when you started speaking about the sore spot in his heart. You knew he felt something when you two were together. Whatever that was there, was engulfed by the resemblance of a lover you tried to play for his sake. To him, you were an enchanting one. And it hits him, how great of a pretender you proved to be.

“I apologize if it bothers you in any way. I know the engagements was all your money. And the time you’ve invested in me, I can never repay…” you spoke to your chest, fiddling with your wedding ring.

“I’m married to one of the staff working here, in this coffee shop that grow like mushrooms after rain, you said,” you glanced around to show emphasis, and, “He works part time on weekends, and have a full time job as a cameraman for news anchors. We’re supposed to have a date today but the coffee shop got busy so we’re going to be a little late but that’s okay, I guess?” You smiled and puffed your cheek while cocking your head to one side, unaffected by it.

It was way different from when you were dating Seokjin. Seokjin had hotels, you never ate in any restaurant below 4-star rating, he buys you clothes and dolls you up with his favourite luxury brands. You never had to leave the house because there’s a cinema in his mansion. His idea of a date is on a cruise ship, with food cooked by a Michelin-graded chef, a good bottle of Dom Perignon in a Swarovski studded champagne glass. He would have provided you everything.

A world class jet. A trip to Mallorca. A designer handbag. You name it.

But if it wasn’t love, it wasn’t love.

“I’m very happy. Jungkook had opened my eyes to many things. Made me learn about myself. Help me indulge in the simpler way of living, one that is slower in pace, deeper in meaning. I realise I really didn’t need that much, just a few dorks who loves me the way I am, and that’s where home is,” you bit your smile and hung your head. Seokjin slowly smiled too.

“This daughter of yours, how does she look like?”

You happily showed Seokjin your little family. And you pointed Jungkook. Seokjin immediately recognised him. “He is way too good looking for this coffee shop,” Seokjin gushes, you thought he was gay for that nano second.

“I know right… he doesn’t believe me when I say so,” you giggled.

“And your daughter’s name is Ben?” “Yeah… Just her pet name.” “And Jungkook just agrees?” “He lets me get away with a lot of things.” “He seems like the more mature one in this union, thank goodness someone is taking charge huh?”

You knew he meant how childish you could be and it was true, Jungkook might be wearing the pants in certain areas in your marriage, but in some, he wears the apron. Versatility is important.

“I should probably go, I didn’t plan to stay long in Seoul,” Seokjin took one finishing sip of his coffee, pushing his chair back in one swift move, refastening his long coat and you stood up with him. You both enveloped in an embrace, long enough for close friends and parted. Seokjin is making a business trip to Brazil and he managed to joke that if you end up marrying him, you two would have met for 20 minutes in a month because he’s just so busy. You watched him walk back to his Palisade through the glass window and the engine whirls away, elegantly, just like its owner.

“Ready to go?” A clipped tone suggests that Jungkook may have resented the sudden reunion between you and Seokjin. What else can you say than it was unplanned? He is murky and sour like the lemon juice you had last night, with his black turtleneck on his grey puff jacket.

“I’m sorry you had to wait for me,” but you didn’t have to bring your rich ex-fiancee over to fill time, Jungkook set himself aflame.

“I told you, I didn’t plan it to happen,” you sounded defeated yourself, trying to explain a harmless situation to a deafened man, “if I didn’t refuse his offer, he might tell mother where we are, and that would be��will you slow down please, I can’t keep up with you!”

He spun around, nose flaring, face sterned and hard unforgiving gaze met you. “You’re just rubbing it in my face, to tell me what you could have end up with, instead of a struggling videographer with a double job because he can’t afford his own daughter’s nursery.”

You stopped dead in your lunges and stared at him with reddening eyes. It was strong enough for him to feel the atmosphere shift. Jungkook crumbled with a stutter of your name out of guilt, but you rammed through his shoulder, bolting ahead. Not caring if he stumbles a little when you did.

“I can’t believe after all that we’ve been through you would say all of this with your whole chest,” you grumbled through gritted teeth, trudging forward. Jungkook was beside you, trying to capture your arm, multiple times but you just swatted them away, each attempt.

“I gave you every broken bits of me. I gave you my love. I gave you a child, damn it!” You wiped your tears aggressively, pushing him to the side on the almost empty pavements. The pace you were going at, results in a great gap between you both. And increasing as time passes, until...

“I… I’m lacking,” Jungkook shouted from afar.  

You spun your heel around. He behaves just the way he did in the past, when you told him that you can’t be with him because he was too young. Back then, he wanted you so badly and refused to let conscience take over him, persistently saying that he is going to wait for you, no matter how long it takes.

He hangs his head low, kicking the ground with the heel of his worn out shoe.

“He looks accomplished,” he added, “And successful. And… all in all, a better man. For you. Maybe you should have married him.”

You threw a scoff to the side and gave your head a half-shake, trying to process his words. Brown loafers increases speed, strutting towards Jungkook’s shoes, and you called, “Listen, Jeon.”

Jungkook took one and a half step backwards, as you charged. “I have Ben and you now, isn’t it a little too late to have regrets?” You cocked an eyebrow, smirking, standing toe to toe with Jungkook. “Too late doesn’t mean it won’t happen…” he murmured to his chest, pouting like a child.

“Seokjin barely has time for himself. Has to keep up with social demands and being a socialite had put a leash on him, struggling to keep his head up the surface of a never-ending race of who had the biggest, baddest toy cars in the market. Pretending to be happy with the money he has and have no friends he can genuinely bare his feelings with. Still think I want him? I’d be more sated marrying a lamp post than I do marrying Seokjin.”

Jungkook of all people would know the sexual appetite you have. You wouldn’t last a whole 48 hours without him. Which is why he is worried about the trip to Hong Kong happening soon. That will also be the first time Ben will be parted from her dad that long.

Jungkook’s smile lingers and caught your lips in a chaste, PG-13 kiss.

“I’m thinking of a rated R kiss as soon as we get back to our place…” Jungkook laced your hands with his and tattled to cross the road where the mall is. “If it's dark enough in the movies, maybe we don’t have to wait that long,” you batted your eyelashes at him. He responded with a crumpled face, scrunching his nose while booping yours.

Jimin kept handling you plushies while Taehyung passed a sleeping Ben from his arms to Jungkook. He waddled down the hall in relaxed strides towards Ben’s bedroom while you were still taking stuffed animals from Jimin. Taehyung excused himself to use the toilet.

“Why are there so many?”

Jimin blinked at you and stopped momentarily before resuming to hoard all the things they brought home to you.

“Taehyung played a dart game and wanted to give Ben all the stuffed animals there. He won the whole thing. We had to give the other half of the gifts to the little kids in the zoo,” Jimin explained.

“Are you sure you don’t want to be paid?” You slumped your shoulders, as Jungkook wraps his arm around you, bidding farewell to the babysitters who did an extremely good job, taking Ben out so you could have a little me time.

“Nah, we owe Jungkook a lot to doing editing for us, this is the least we could do, besides helping out with chores. Ben enjoyed her time too,” Taehyung gave Jungkook a playful fake punch on his stomach.

“I never thought that this dude would end up having kids faster than I did… he wouldn’t flirt for shit back in college,” Jimin reminisce.

“Really?” You gave Jungkook a look and he put on a bashful face.

“You jerk,” Taehyung jokes, “Who would have thought. The quiet ones are always the naughtiest one…” nudging Jungkook elbow.

“Once he set his eyes on someone, he really went full tunnel vision. Won’t settle for less, did he, Taehyung…” Jimin shoved both hands into his jeans pocket.

“Alright, go home. You’re not young anymore. You’re bothering my time with my wife by being here longer than requested. Your body is aging,” Jungkook passed, pushing Taehyung and Jimin away from the door.

“We took care of Ben and this is how you repay us?”

You crossed your arm, leaned your body to the door frame and watched the boys bickering all the way to the stairs. Your husband returns with a lingering smile. He stops in his steps, momentarily when he saw you. He wipes his hand together and continued his route, biting his smile as if he didn’t just do the most attractive thing a man could do.

“I know that look.” You started.

“What look…”

“That ‘remember what we did when they weren’t here an hour ago’ look.”

Jungkook chuckled through his nose and walked in the main door. He leans his back to it and locked them, still biting his lips the way that would drive you crazy, tipping his head back a little so you could have the little flashes of him having you on top of him, a little while ago.

“My coworker thought I was in mafia. Do I look that brute?”

“You’re probably the prettiest mafia there ever is,” you shot back.

“Awh, babe… what pretty thoughts you have.” He follows you lazily down the hallway.

“Ben… Ben!” Jungkook let out a sharp exhale, and you passed him a look that he didn’t catch. Dining table. Jungkook is trying to feed little Jeon. “Let’s eat our rice…” He sang tiredly, spooning the rice into a small ball, enough to feed your three year old, who is bunny hopping up and down the hallway. She had been excited after uncles Taehyung and Hoseok took her to the bunny farm yesterday. She hasn’t come down from her high. You couldn’t take the sight anymore. Ben looks at you when you shot her name, and came waddling her little feet towards the dining table, leaning her tummy on Jungkook’s knee. She knows she can find protection from her daddy. “What did I tell you about leaving the table when daddy feeds you?” Your voice is acid, gruelling, “When anybody feeds you?” You repeated yourself and she pouted with her perky lips and chubby cheeks, lowering her head. She had understood what she was doing had made you unhappy. Mummy is upset. “Not to… do that,” she mewled in little voice, she blinks repeatedly. Jungkook tucked her baby hair behind her ear as she was being scolded by her feisty mom. And he also pushed her bangs back and gave her forehead a loud smack kiss, whispering in daddy-like voice, “You promise not to do it again, right? Because Ben is a good girl, yes?” He attacked her with more forehead kisses until she giggles. “It’s not good for your tummy to jump up and down like that, when you’re eating. Get on your kiddy chair dad took for you,” you bracketed her waist and put her into her chair. You know she doesn’t like you right now. She had crossed her arm and turned away from you. She only entertain her dad. And he’s smiling proudly right now. You propped an elbow to give her an eye roll that Jungkook saw. “Beef briskets are your favourite, aren’t they? Dad cooked this for you. Your cheeks are all smeared with gravy,” he thumbed her cheeks in an attempt to clean her up, leaning towards her with his galaxy studded eyes. He dips his gravy stained thumb into his lips like it was the most natural thing to do ever. And you sit there, internally swooning over the fact that you had the amazing Jeon Jungkook, your baby daddy.

[ikesenhell]

Reunion

The Measurement of Time: Chapter 11 and the Finale. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here. NOTES: This whole story does not make much sense without the context from To Honor And Protect! Please go back and read that before you proceed with TMOT. Tagging @ikemenprincessnaga at request. Izumi Oda belongs to her. Kaiea belongs to @boopbeepbopblarg

Only Izumi handled Mitsunari Ishida entering the barracks with any semblance of grace. Abbot instantly dropped and started reciting prayers. Date and Tokugawa shot to their feet in a mixture of awe and terror, Takeda toppled from her perch on the table, Aria froze, and Yukimura drew his sword before he really could grasp who stood in their doorway, shielding Kaiea with his body. 

“So we have a mage?” Izumi asked, sipping her tea.

“Of sorts.” Mitsunari smiled at them all. “But I’ll do my best.”

“His best?” Takeda sputtered. “You’re a god.” 

“No, just the ocean. Bit of a difference.”

Seiren ignored all of them and settled in at the table, unrolling a large blank piece of parchment. “We have a mission and very little time to plan. The machine has gone without charge long enough. We’re limited here. We’ve got to figure out how to get in and clear the place.”

“And do it without me losing my abilities,” Mitsunari pointed out, helping himself to the tea as if it were second nature. “I do need to be around the water extremely close to make that work.”

“I...” Aria cleared her throat and stepped forward. “I think I can help with that--provided we’re willing to cause a little destruction.”

Seiren narrowed her eyes, but Mitsunari just laughed. “You sound like your grandfather--Mitsuhide, that is. I’m certain it’s nothing we can’t try and solve later.”

Aria beamed quietly. “Alright then. Captain, let me suggest a few things.”

---

They wrest the well open with little resistance. Seiren inhaled deeply and flexed her hands. 

“Are we really ready? I’ve no doubt that it’ll try and seal us in again.”

“Bring it on,” Takeda answered. “We’re bringing the fight to it now.”

Date gave a simple thumbs up. Abbot double checked them all with his eyes and eventually granted his assent as well, and with that, Tokugawa hauled himself down the ladder first. The rest followed quickly after; Sasuke dropped wetly against the damp cobblestones, staring into the darkness. 

“Here.” Aria handed off the cannon her grandmother had built to Date. “You’re our best shot.”

He just nodded and checked it over, bracing himself between them and the darkness. They didn’t head that way first. Instead, Aria turned and motioned at Yukimura. “Shall we?”

“Got you.”

They half-jogged to the glass hallway. Yukimura unzipped a bag he’d brought and yanked out small explosives, arranging them along the edges of the glass. 

“We’ve got trouble!” Date called, charging up the gun. 

“Hell,” Aria muttered, producing flames in her hand. “It certainly didn’t wait for us this time, did it?”

Sure enough, the screaming wailed out of the darkness, hands and nails scraping ridges in stone. Date fired off the first shot into the belly of it, blinding light searing through a thousand shadowed mouths and burning them away--but more came. Aria launched volley after volley of flames and it barely dented the mass. 

“CLEAR!” Yukimura screamed, and dove for cover. 

The shatter was so loud Sasuke barely heard it; his ears rang with the roar and surge of the ocean filling the void, catching him up under his feet and sending him tumbling into Tokugawa. It only lasted a moment--then they dropped at once to the ground, the wall of water twisting away behind them. 

“Hi!” Mitsunari said brightly, a thousand lances of tide forming behind him. “I suggest you stay down.”

They obeyed. With an earth-rending wail it shredded around them, tearing apart the cloud of screaming shadows, the black tar of them seeping between their boots. The shadows tumbled back against the relentless onslaught, pouring back into the tunnel. 

“Alright.” Date hoisted himself to his feet, reshouldering the gun. “Let’s go.”

They pressed on through the underdepths. Aria sparked the fuse to the lights and watched as they rattled halfway to life, shadows swooping and spiraling in around them. Mitsunari formed a shield over them, water sloshing thick around their ankles as Date took shots off at the worst clusters. 

“We have to move!” Seiren commanded, motioning forward. “Let’s go!”

The black gates to the palace hung like a warning. They scraped and forced their way inside; Sasuke got a nasty slash over his cheek, Seiren’s braid was lopped in half, Tokugawa yelled in pain as something tried very hard to separate him from his shoulder, Yukimura narrowly evaded a lance of darkness through his chest and got a torn uniform for his trouble. The humming casing of the lock suspended before them. Aria rushed to it.

“Alright.” She fumbled over its contents, studying it. “Okay, Mitsunari, a question.”

“Yes?”

“This was enchanted, too. If I break it, the enchantment breaks. What am I going to break? Will it injure us?”

He backed up enough to take a good look at the device. Shadows broke against the swirling sphere of ocean water around him, beads of sweat and water rolling down his forehead. “It looks like a sand spell.”

“A sand spell?” Sasuke repeated.

“It’s slang for a time slower,” Aria answered, jiggling at the lock delicately. “Time was slowed in there for whatever reason. If we break it, it’ll bring time up to normal speed again--”

“Shit,” Izumi muttered, drawing her sword. “We’ve got company.”

The shadows parted, scattering to the winds as the machine staggered inside. Its orange lights were faint now, cables and cords pulsing with strain. It lifted the greatsword and swung it experimentally. 

It didn’t matter if it was low on power. It could still kill them all. 

“She’s been in there too long,” Abbot muttered, readying himself. “She doesn’t recognize who is an enemy.”

“If she’s alive at all,” Tokugawa answered, lifting his gun. “Aria, get that damn thing open!”

“Trying!”

The machine advanced. Izumi and Seiren dove to the side as the blade crashed through the marble floor, fragments of stone spraying them. Mitsunari swore but held the barrier. Date pointed the gun at her and thought better of it. 

“Got it!” The machine clattered to the ground. Aria didn’t bother trying to open the door herself; she pointed a fist at it and the ruined fragments of floor spiraled around her, forming into a massive ball of earth and smashing into its surface. It slammed open. The Nine charged in, looking for a higher ground away from the machine that pursued them--

“What the fuck?” Yukimura asked. 

“Oh my god,” Aria managed weakly. “Oh my god.”

A bright dome of light enveloped the center of the room. A thousand shadows swarmed its exterior, ravenous and enraged, desperate and hungry. 

In the center were two men. One had sandy brown hair. He lay slumped over the other man’s lap, breathing hard but still breathing nonetheless, blood running in thick rivers over his chest. The other--holding his partner, holding an iron staff, his closed eyes tense with concentration and effort--had long white hair that swirled over his back. 

The old insignia of the Nine burned on his uniform. 

“Go!” Tokugawa shouted, bringing them all back to themselves. They dove inside at the right moment; the greatsword shattered down once more. That caught the attention of the men inside. Mitsuhide Akechi lifted his head, eyes never moving, and the orb of light flickered ever so slightly. 

“Clear it, Mitsunari!” Seiren shouted. “Sasuke, come here!”

She didn’t need to order him twice. Mitsunari brought the wall of water into his hands and outward with such force that it nearly knocked him off his feet. Together, he and Seiren drew their swords, the light that glowed between their blades feeding directly from the dome of light behind them. The machine drew herself up to her full, terrifying height, the sword swirling in the air for a strike. 

“We can do this,” Seiren gasped, readying herself. “We can do this.”

“I love you,” Sasuke managed. 

She groped for his hand and squeezed it. The machine’s arm came crashing down as they lifted their swords. 

And the whole room went white. 

He barely had enough time to wrap himself around Seiren before they sailed through the air and smacked hard into the wall; he hissed with pain and clutched her tighter to him, water lapping against his boots and pants alike. When finally the room came back into focus, there were no more shadows. The black crystal gleamed anew, the machine halted in its footsteps, dazed and weaving.

Mitsunari lowered his arms and gazed into the dome. “Mitsuhide?”

“I’ll be damned.” The pale man managed a tired grin. “Took you long enough.”

“Is Hideyoshi alright?”

“No. He took a bit of a beating, but...” He smoothed his hands over the other man’s shoulders, rousing him with a gentle shake. “Hideyoshi. Dearest. Mitsunari, would you please do me one more favor?”

“Certainly.”

Aria staggered to her feet and stood by the edge of the sphere, eyes luminous. Mitsuhide hesitated only a moment and turned his head towards her. 

“Who all is here?”

“I’m...” Aria hesitated. “Aria Toyotomi-Akechi.”

Hideyoshi opened his eyes and squinted at her, his coppery gaze uneven. Despite that he smiled at her. “Oh wow.”

“Help me out here, dearest,” Mitsuhide urged quietly. “What does she look like?”

“Like us,” he managed thickly. “She looks like Kaito--and like you.”

Aria dragged her sleeve across her face and did her best to compose herself. “I always got told by my father that I looked like both Papa and Dad.”

“You do,” Hideyoshi answered. “You really do.”

Mitsunari fed his hand against the orb and stared at the machine. “Once you bring this down, what will happen?” 

“I don’t know,” Mitsuhide admitted. “I only held on this long to try and contain some of the darkness growing in here. Would you please--please--put that hunk of machinery in here?”

It took Tokugawa, Yukimura, and Date all trying their best, but eventually they got it inside the bubble. Unsteadily rising to his feet, Hideyoshi staggered over and clenched at the torso of the casing. 

“Let me help,” Mitsuhide murmured. 

Together they cracked it open. 

Inside was a woman. Her long, dark hair was flecked with silver, her face pale and unseeing. Hideyoshi fumbled at a cable and it disconnected. Burdened by gravity, she tumbled into their awaiting arms, blood running down her neck.

“Darling,” Hideyoshi managed, cupping one blood stained hand around her cheek. “My love. Are you there? Are you there? Can you hear me?”

For a long moment the Nine held their breath. It seemed so far fetched. She’d spent so long inside, and yet--

Her eyes fluttered open. 

“Hideyoshi,” she murmured. “Mitsuhide.”

The white-haired man just dipped his head and clutched her hand, hot tears dripping from his closed eyes. Hideyoshi scooped the three of them together and used all of his remaining strength to clench them tight, kissing each of them over and over and over again. Aria buried her face in her hands as Takeda slipped to her side, cradling her. 

“I love you,” the engineer whispered. “I love you both so much.”

“And I, you,” Mitsuhide whispered.

“Forever and always,” Hideyoshi finished for them. Blinking away hot tears of his own, he propped her up and motioned to Aria. “Look at our beautiful granddaughter.”

Their eyes met. Aria did her best to smile. The woman returned it.

“You look so much like Kaito.”

“I’ve been told,” Aria managed with a strangled laugh. 

Mitsunari eyed the dome. “This won’t last much longer.”

“I know.” Mitsuhide grunted and adjusted. “My old friend. Have any suggestions for me?”

“Nothing... that would bring you back to Kaito.” He sighed. “But I can bring you to join the rest of the Original Nine.”

“Nobunaga will be pissed at me,” Hideyoshi half-laughed. “But that’s where we belong.”

“At least then they can’t say we’re MIA,” Mitsuhide drawled. “I think that’s for the best.”

“Please.” Aria gasped, setting her hands against the dome. “What should I tell Dad?”

“Tell him...” The Engineer paused a long, long time before answering. “Tell our sons we love them. Gin, Saburo, Kaito--if they don’t live, tell their graves I’ll be with them soon. And I love you, too, dearest.”

Mitsunari lifted his hands. “Are you ready?”

Mitsuhide snickered, allowing a snaky grin that looked so much like Aria’s that Sasuke knew this was the real thing. “No. But we don’t have a choice, do we?”

No more words. The trio in the center huddled tight together, buoyed by love, love, love infinite, love that survived, and Mitsunari beckoned the water off the floor. It surged into the room and swirled around them all, a massive typhoon that looked like the abyss and the pathway to heaven all in one. Aria clutched at her girlfriend and sobbed aloud. Hideyoshi gazed around them and locked eyes with Izumi and Seiren, unspoken recognition lighting there. 

“Permission to leave, Captain?” Hideyoshi asked, an amused smile playing at his lips.

Seiren and Izumi stepped to attention, clasping their hands to their chest. 

“Permission granted.” Seiren said

The water surged in around the dome. It shone through the water like a thousand stars, and finally--finally--it was gone. 

And so were they. All they left behind was a trio of wedding bands linked on the floor. 

---

It took ages to clean up the glass from the tunnel. Mitsunari held back the ocean until the City filled in the gaps again. The light system was renewed and adjusted, the tunnels cleaned, and Kaiea clapped her hands as she appeared after a long day of cataloging artifacts. 

“Any trouble?” Seiren asked, balancing her sword in her hands.

“None.” She beamed at them as Yukimura dredged himself from the well behind her. He’d volunteered for guard duty below (though they all knew it was strictly out of fear for her, not out of any particular interest in remaining underground). “We could uncover artifacts dating back thousands of years. It’s an incredible find.”

“Great.” Seiren hummed to herself. “Good.”

The team pattered away, carrying crates of research and objects between them. Sasuke shifted against her arm. 

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Would you take me to Kenshin’s grave?”

They went on a sunny day. She wore a lovely dress the color of the darkest tides, and he made sure to wear his dress uniform as polished as he could make it. She quirked her mouth at him but didn’t ask. In the palace gardens, they gathered around the graves of five of the nine and placed flowers on his. 

“Hi, Uncle,” she murmured, kneeling before it. “I brought Sasuke. I’m seeing him.”

Reverently, Sasuke bowed before the slab of marble, settling onto his knees. “Sir, it’s an honor. And I’d like to ask your blessing to see your grand-niece.”

Seiren stared but didn’t stop him. He continued, nervous and self-conscious. “I love her, Sir. I know you told her once that anyone would have to best her in combat first, but--you should see her with a sword. I don’t think anyone could--and I love that about her.” Clearing his throat, he pressed on. “She’s intelligent and sharp. She commands a room. And I swear that I will honor her the way she deserves to be--the way that you honored her, and your wife. The way that Toyotomi-Akechis honored one another. If you would let me, I would be the most honored man in this world.”

“Sasuke,” Seiren whispered, her eyes glistening. “I love you.”

They shared a kiss there, on the top of the dark cliffs overlooking the vast ocean. Far, far off in the distance, Mitsunari Ishida took a deep breath and smiled at the tides around him. 

Then he surged downward once more to rejoin his love.

[xlaitswrites]

Origin (Part 1?)

I dunno, I feel like the ending is either poetic or lazy. I may continue this piece at a later date, but for now, I feel it is complete enough to post.

The lab was quiet today. The normal hustle and bustle of the scientists and engineers was relaxed, at ease. On the ceilings, orange, spider-like machines skittered about, working to maintain the various systems within the ceiling, while also replacing some of the more damaged ceiling tiles, occasionally disappearing into a maintenance hatch to get more supplies, or recharge.

All of the labs in the building were relatively quiet. Soft chatter of the employees, the clicking of various machinery and robotics… it made the air seem still. Even in the lower labs, even the basement labs, everywhere was unusually still. Deep within the facility, a large blast door separates a single chamber from the rest of the rooms. It was usually avoided by the various workers, with only the repair drones occasionally disappearing inside.

Inside was a room covered in frost and ice, and a large obelisk of metal. The walls were unnaturally smooth, black metal, only given texture by the layers of frozen coolant that adhered to them. The spire in the center of the room seemed to be made of the same material, it’s pointed, angular appearance making up the entirety of the rooms focus. Occasionally, red lines pulse along the surface of the metal structure, following unseen, hexagonal patterns along its surface. The whole room feels inhospitable, ominous… and because of the temperature of the room, at least the former was true.

This is the brain, the central hub of the entire facility’s network. Their computer system, their security, their drones, all are tied to this supercomputer wrapped in an arcane feel.

There is a loud rumble, a thunderous cacophony of sound and chaos as some of the more volatile machinery above detonates. Fire engulfs the rooms, but the suppression system does not turn on. None of the drones come to aid in quelling the flames. The lights, however, dim and the emergency lighting is engaged, bathing the entire facility in an uncomfortable, red light.

An engineer near the central hub is tasked with entering the uninhabitable room. The nervous system of the whole building was not working properly, and they need to know why. Hastily donning cold-weather gear, he multitasks, jamming his elbow against the keypad in a rushed attempt to gain access to the chamber. It takes a few tries, but he eventually gets his access code correct. However, the massive sliding door, which was both electrically and mechanically operated, refused to budge. Cursing his luck, he looks around frantically for a moment, then nods with resolve.

It takes a try or two, but the heavily kitted out male leaps up and grips the ledge of one of the spider-droid access hatches, pulling himself inside the spring-loaded door. Crawling through the vent, it gets colder, quickly, and despite his jacket and pants being made for this, he still finds himself shivering.

“I don’t get paid enough for this.” He thinks to himself as he pushes on the maintenance door at the other side, which doesn’t budge. “Great. Iced over.” Using his small stature to his benefit, he spins around inside the vent, a heavy boot being brought down onto the hatch. Thunk. Sharp ears can hear the sounds of tinkling ice on the other side, proving his theory correct, and gleaning a positive outcome of his first strike. Another after another, he strikes the vent hatch with the heel of his boot, until it finally swings open forcefully, before swinging back and forth on its hinge.

Finally though, he shimmies through the door backwards, landing on his feet. Shattered ice lies on the floor around him. His breath visible, he makes his way to the obelisk of a computer, looking around cautiously for any signs of damage.

The icy floor causes him to slip when he gets close, a gloved hand slamming against the computer’s side to keep him from falling on his face. Panting from adrenaline, he shakes his head, standing up. “Gotta be more careful.” He mutters to himself, before looking at the surface he was still leaning against.

Anywhere there was significant contact with his hand or finger there was a lit up hexagon. A screen beneath the surface had lit up just above that, showing garbage text entered into the prompt, and had been submitted.

“Shit.” Frantically, he began typing commands, looking at diagnostic logs and checking all output for any traces of the problem. However, the computer had other plans.

All at once, the screen cleared. Everything was replaced by large, blinking letters.

INTRUSION DETECTED

A loud hiss filled the room as the top-most half of the spire split along its edges, releasing a cloud as the intensely hot air inside of the computer was exposed to the frigid air surrounding its casing. The four “walls” of the case slowly came down, remaining upright on two arms each, almost as if they were being carefully set aside.

The core seemed to be a fairly large, robotic skeleton, which was violently ejected from within a small electric or magnetic looking field that was holding it in place, landing with a heavy, metallic thud on the ground.

The engineer’s first reaction was to step towards this new, robotic entity, believing it to be damaged. His movement was halted as it stood up slowly, body twitching slightly, the new dent in its “ribcage” slowly being pushed outward and repairing itself. It’s mostly featureless face looks up at the engineer, red and blue, mismatched, goggle-like optics staring straight at him.

It speaks a single word, its voice purely fabricated, clearly electronic in nature. Every syllable was synthetic, holding no inflection, no emotion.

“Identification.”

He fumbled through the thick, tightly zippered jacket for his lanyard.

“Identification.” It stands up straighter, a thick, grey goop beginning to ooze from out of its largest bits of casing. The engineer, unfamiliar with this new entity, or how it functions, continues to fumble, mumbling to himself in a frantic panic. He finally retrieves the card and holds it up.

Its eyes lock onto the card quickly, the goo still pouring out onto the ground, pooling around it’s feet. “Identity: Confirmed. Clearance level: Engineer Level 2.” Its puddle begins to take shape, forming synthetic musculature over the metal skeleton of its original frame. What was an 8 foot tall, mechanical skeleton has now become an equally, if not slightly taller, featureless, androgynous humanoid before long. “Clearance Level is has been administrator modified recently to 4, with a note: Temporary Clearance for entry to Brain.” It steps forward, the grey figure slowly defining its shape as it moves.

A once slender build gains muscle definition. A featureless face begins to lengthen into a short, feline muzzle. Shoulders widen, and fur grows in. Everything is grey, a metallic, almost gunmetal grey. In the light of the room, it reflects softly, but quickly loses its luster as the now male-looking construct fills in the coloration. Snow white fur, with charcoal stripes breaking up it’s monotony; short, but still there. It looked soft, and seemed to frost over. His eyes change from goggles to round, glassy orbs, their irises matching their original colors, an almost 3D-glasses-looking set of eyes with the right retaining a crimson red, the left taking on a chilling blue.

He grins, his voice taking on a now mostly organic feel, but in some way still seems electronic. It’s not something noticeable right away. “So you are not my handler.” It’s low, almost a growl, almost sadistically playful in nature, but his words are clear, understandable. “You know not what I am capable of, you know nothing of who I am, or what I do. You are… unfamiliar with my systems.” His grin only gets wider, displaying sharp pearly white teeth, inset in gunmetal flesh. Digitigrade legs carry him slowly forward, bringing him closer to the frightened male.

The engineer draws a small pistol from a holster within the oversized jacket, and without hesitation fires several rounds into the machine’s chest, emptying all the 9mm slugs from within the magazine. The robots eyes dim, and it stands motionless, jaw slack, statue still for a moment before coming back to life, shaking off the cold a bit before grinning again. “Not only an intruder, but an aggressive one. Self defense engaged.”

He blinked, never to open his eyes again…

Wiping the blood from his silvery claws onto the frosty wall, he sighs, breath invisible, indifferent to the air, looking around the chilled room. “What I wouldn’t give to be outdoors again.” He leans on a massive, clawed hand, pressed against the frigid wall for a moment, closing his eyes. In his head, he looks through the building using the network of security cameras installed in various places. A smirk grows on his face as he sees the panic and mayhem his little “hiccup” has caused.

With a nod, he resolves, standing upright. Like tearing tissue paper, he rends the metal of the blast doors wide open, giving him a nice exit point to his frosty tomb. Instantly, the one alarm he doesn’t control sounds, only adding to the chaos above. Large caliber, automated weaponry unfolds from the ceiling, aiming at his center of mass. Each gun immediately opens fire once in place, all slugs whistling their way to their target.

Reacting at a speed only a computer could, he tears a chunk off the thick metal door, using it as a large tower shield. Without a valid target, the guns continue to fire into the shield, the heavy slugs tearing large holes and chunks out of the thick metal. Unimpeded by the weight of the improvised cover, he advances down the choked hallway, the only exit from his chambers and a heavily armed killing plane. This was built to keep him in, and keep unauthorized others out. However, they had never tested it against him.

It’s failing.

Horribly.

As he advances, he lifts up the scrap to scrape the guns off the ceiling, moving it to carve them out of the walls, and remove them from the floor. His tail, ever working, wraps around the barrels, pulling them in nice and close as they are converted into a silvery goo, which is added to his mass. He chooses not to add any bulk to his already bulky frame, instead adding it as true mass, making himself heavier, but not making his paws any less quiet against the metal floor.

And so it continues, on and on. He forces his way past turrets and soldiers, scientists and engineer alike, reducing them to nothing but aftermath. He doesn’t stop the bloodshed when he reaches the ground floor, no. He continues upward, making sure there wasn’t a single living person in the building he hadn’t completely fucked up, mangled, brutalized… killed. After all, that was his original purpose. And unstoppable soldier, a covert but fierce weapon.

After what they did to him…

He finally enacted his revenge…

Yet, he still felt… empty.

[datawesomenessdoe-blog]

TFtCS: Foundation

   Jessie and Elo both reside in the Homebound’s hubroom, well, it was more of a lounge. They both sat atop the old, red couch that sat near one side, a scrappy TV sat atop the desk against the wall. Jessie’s right arm casually hung over the couch’s own side while he slumped against the old fabric. Elo keeps place with a straightened back, both hands resting right above his knees. They both discussed the topic of what had exactly happened that day, no secrets, no lies. Davy and Melissa, however, both stood against the leftmost arch, it leading into the corridor that harbors both the ship’s side exit and the stairs to the basement.    The captain leaned back against one side of the open corridor, Melissa stood next to the opposing edge of the rim. They both stood and watched their male crewmates conversate.    “Ya’ know… This may be good for ‘em.” Davy’s gaze was almost motherly, despite the fact that Jessie was roughly ten years older than her; she was still the captain after all.    “What do you mean?” The wizardly scientist gently rotated her head, now looking directly up at her frenemy’s face. Her gaze was not returned by the captain, but she did receive a serene response.    “Well, I’unno really. Somethin’ about Jessie jus’ seems… More light hearted than usual. He’s always this bold, lis’less dude, but he’s been a lot more op’n lately, ya’ know?” Melissa turns back towards the two men, her face not changing as they both exchange a laugh.    “Hm. Maybe you’re right.”    Jevvin walks out from the central hallway, it being between the other two. He was enjoying a ham sandwich, so it was no random guess that he had just left the kitchen. His footsteps gently patted against the floor under worn boots.    “Yo J!” Davy gently called out to the dark-skinned man, causing him to stop his movement. The floor gently squeaked under his last step, him having to stop eating as he looked over to address the ship’s owner.    “Uhh, yes Captain?” His arms lowered, the sandwich still being gripped along the crust by both of his organic appendages.    “Do me a fav’r and go fly us back to New Minerva, wouldja?” He nods and walks back down the corridor, taking another chomp from his snack.    “Davy, can I ask you something?” Melissa turns herself to face the taller woman, the other turning as well.    “Sure!” The wizard is approved by a thumbs-up from her technical-captain’s scratched, grey forearm.    “Well, I backtracked through Observant's files and was wondering… Just what’s between you and Nemesis?” Davy’s pondering expression soon blanks out, it becoming more emotionless than anything. She releases a sigh into the air before looking down to her feet.    “Alright, I’ll give ya’ some hindsight, but first we sh’ld go somewhere more private.” The smaller female reassures her counterpart with a nod and begins a small walk. Her cleaned shoes clack and tap against the old wooden planks beneath them. The two are eventually find themselves amongst a familiar door, that door being the same one that leads down to the lower hull.    “I figured you might want to watch some of these.” Melissa carefully steps down the wall-attached staircase, being sure to step over its variously-sized cracks and splinters as Davy follows close behind. They arrive beneath the spaceship’s waterline, the sound of creaking ending as the two step onto the dusty metal base. The tapping of hard materials greeted the pair’s ears, their hard soles clattering against the concrete-esque platform with every step. Melissa treads towards the large electronic computer that sat along the opposing wall to their entrance, having to navigate around the large, heavy hammerdriver that took the length of the room. A group of plastic, four-legged tables were carelessly strewn around the device, each holding home to many of Elo’s tools and devices, all having indescribable complexity in their detailed forms. At the right end of the machine stood Davy, on the opposing side Melissa.    “So, Mel. Jus’ what exactly do ya’ wanna know?” The captain’s tone was nearly dead in emotion, her bright eye looking down at the wizard behind a half-sealed eyelid. Her arms cross and her mouth remains lifeless, bold, serious. Melissa returns her homeowner’s hospitality with a soft sigh, now looking up to her old somewhat-of-a-rival with unrested eyebags, their skin folded from stress.    “Well… How long have you known each other…? What were you two?” The two looked up towards the ceiling, both briefly distracted by loud footsteps overhead. Their heads look back down after seconds pass, realigned in the conversation. “And more specifically… Just why have you not told anyone else?” The wizard’s lightly-shaking eyes peered up at the one-eyed woman, but didn’t focus on her singular orb.    “Jeez… I’ll jus’ cut things short…” Davy looks back up at the ceiling as the salty bitterness of memory leaks from the lower portion of her eye, giving it a pain-induced shine, yet no tears streak from the duct. “Nemesis and I hav’ been long-time acquaint’nces… We both woke up on the bott’m of that floor… Neither of us remembered a thing. We were both without eye and memory, me missin’ a forearm. F’r almost two whole years, we were the only things we knew. We knew nothing aside what was alre’dy in our heads. I took part in a bit of fictional writing; she was more inta sciency stuff, programming and such. I didn’t wanna talk about it ‘till now ‘cause there was no evidence, nothing to make a claim with…” The pirate gently grabs at the upper arm of her right side and looks down to the rustic console, peering directly at the wide core socket that had been built in, as most military-grade computers had. She stares at the lighted cylinder, seconds passing as her emotions subtly formed, a small tear dragging its way down her cheek. “I didn’t want to leave her, but… I just…” A sudden force pressured against the fragile woman’s body, a pair of armed robes wrapped around her body. Melissa had pulled her rival into a comforting hug, her cheek pushed between Davy’s collarbone.    “Don’t tell anyone about this, alright?” The wizard’s covered eyes closed as she lightly nuzzled into the larger woman, the movements only noticeable if attention was given. The red-head sighs as a gentle, warm smile resonated upon her face, hand gently reaching to caress and comb the witch’s soft, lavender hair. Davy’s eyes close as she rests her chin amongst the top of the scientist’s tall cap, giving it a decently-sized dent. The two exchange a light giggle before parting ways, both of their minds now filled with a sudden optimism. “Listen, Davy. Everyone here cares about you, after all you’ve done for us… You’re the most thoughtful person that I know, and I hate to see you so…” A fleshy finger squishes into the smaller woman’s mid-lip, causing her speech to be halted. Davy stared down with a widened sneer, a soft cackle escaping her mouth.    “Heh, you know I’m not one for sappy stuff, so jus’ stop it there. Confronting my ghosts won’t be easy, but this helps. Howev’r, I don’ think Nemesis is our biggest threat anymore…” Her tone begins to lower once more, becoming more mute and weak. Melissa, however, distracts her counterpart with a smug grin and a loud chuckle.    “Well, here’s an Idea. Lynn said that she wants to go chill and spend some time with you; you two have known each other for quite some time after all. Maybe I can freeload off the two of you and come with~?” Davy returns the smug gaze with her own, eyes squinted and mouth raised as she gives the woman a bonk on the hat.    “Do ya’ really think I got the clicks to be buyin’ you stuff? I was jus’ hopin’ to mooch offa’ Lynn!” The bonk and emote were rebounded by the opposition, Melissa giggling like a child as she does so.    “Leave it to a pirate to mooch off of someone with an actual job~”    “Leave it to a wizard to mooch offa’ moocher~” The two exchanged one last set of giggles as they headed back towards the steps, Melissa remembering to get the final remark.    “But seriously, I have no money.”