#khaos face in the last one????? he was thinking thoughts
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gunsatthaphan · 5 months ago
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#always in character.
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paalove · 1 year ago
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prompt? 😇 akk always being moody when aye doesn't give him a good morning kiss and it ruins his whole day. But he is a bit shy and insecure to communicate that. Because this whole boyfriend thing is new to him but damn does he want his good morning kiss.
HI thanks for prompting this [mumbles length of time] ago, ily anon
NOT POSTING ON AO3 UNTIL TOMORROW bc i want to do a couple of simultaneous uploads. for khao's birthday!
“Would you just pay attention,” Akk snaps.
Kan drops his pen and blinks at him.
At least it stops the little song Kan had been singing himself about matrix calculations, but Akk starts to sink in his seat as soon as he thinks that.
Brow furrowing, Kan leans over the table to squint at him before saying, “Are you okay?”
That question is relevant but Akk doesn’t want to answer it.
He’s aware not wanting to talk about his feelings has caused problems before, earlier this year. Like, a couple of months ago, it nearly ended with him getting expelled-
Anyway, Akk doesn’t want to tell the truth.
He mumbles, “Worried about the maths one,” and then, “Sorry.”
“That’s alright,” Kan says, shrugging easily and returning to studying.
But Akk can see the side-eye he’s getting from behind the suddenly-raised textbook and the way Kan’s face is suddenly illuminated means he’s definitely texting someone.
Could be just about any of the others – he talks to Thua most, of course, but Aye is the obvious go-to for any gossip about Akk, and he definitely has suspicions about Kan and Aye conspiring to make their own clingy-boyfriend-stuff seem more reasonable, and of course Wat and Kan have been texting behind Akk’s back for longer than anyone else (but it’s fine – he texts both of them behind the other’s, after all) so it could be-
Is Aye the obvious go-to for Akk?
Well, he’s obvious to the others, but he might not want to be anymore.
This is stupid, he reminds himself. I am being stupid about this and Aye isn’t breaking up with me.
He’s wearing the hoodie that has to prove it, of course, which might be the one bought for him or the one Aye already had – they swap, every so often, for reasons he cannot admit to the others, and indeed had once had to cover Aye’s mouth for an entire lunchtime to stop him from explaining, how they had to smell like the other person – but Akk’s stupid brain keeps doing it anyway.
Aye wanted to, it was just the timing, he tries to convince himself.
Kan’s still watching him from behind the textbook.
It’s not like Akk can criticise him; he’s not studying either.
They probably look silly, just the two of them pretending to study at this table, and Akk can’t remember what the others said they were going to do. He was probably focused on his stupid thoughts.
About Aye, and the timing.
But it can’t be prefect stuff, because Aye and Thua are gone too, and Akk doesn’t remember them even being here at the start of this study period, and he doesn’t know what else it could be but he can’t ask Kan.
He’d sound anxious.
And Kan would know he was spiralling.
Probably other people too – the same ones he and Kan look silly to now, in their pantomime of studying, because of course they’re looking. People haven’t stopped looking at him at school, since everything happened.
It’s Akk’s fault of course, he knows that.
The eyes still burn.
Not always – when Aye’s with him it actually feels kind of good, moving past everything and proving to himself that being looked at, being seen won’t kill him, but…
First of all, Aye isn’t here, which is the root of all of it today apparently, but it’s still fine because when his friends are here it’s fine and Kan is here.
But then, also, maybe not.
Because the other thing is that he’s clearly relying on Aye more than he thought. He feels uneasy, on-edge, like the hoodie has something crawling on it and so does the table and so does the ground, and Akk knows why.
That’s what makes it all so stupid – that he knows why.
He and Aye slept in separate buildings last night, which isn’t that weird for them, no matter what their friends say. But then Aye was a little late, in the morning, so when they actually reunited there were like, three teachers in sight of them, and two of them were vaguely-recognised members of the faculty but Teacher Waree was the third – she likes Aye better now, but it’s not like she can be either of their favourite teacher so it would have just been weird.
They’d moved on quickly, moved into the grounds where their friends were, but all that meant-
“The printer just tried to eat Thua,” Aye announces, throwing himself onto the same part of the bench where Akk is sitting and, incidentally, throwing one leg over Akk’s.
He’s balanced precariously, that being a stupid way to sit on a picnic bench, so Akk steadies him with a hand on his waist. While they’re smiling at each other Kan says or does something that makes Thua put on an exasperated voice, so they’re flirting too, which makes the interruption totally reasonable.
Namo steals Akk’s textbook and lies down on the table, so as to wave his hands in all their faces at once and say, “I also exist, actually.”
“Hi, Wat,” Akk and Kan reply in unison, ignoring Namo to look at the only person still standing up.
Wat waves and tries to pull Namo off the table.
Thua breaks off from whatever he was murmuring to Kan to look confused and ask, “Wait, what were you guys doing before we ran into you?”
“Oh,” starts Wat, “I was actually in the computer room on the second floor, checking my emails, and-“
Aye pokes Akk’s knee.
Akk tilts his head to look at him properly – they’re cuddled up pretty tightly.
“-helping me double check my note about the,“ Namo’s saying, now sitting on top of the table. “What was it? You know, the-“
Aye gives an exaggerated pout and Akk really does try not to stare at his lips, which has always been a difficult task.
They’re very smooth.
And shiny.
One mystery that was finally solved after they started dating was the shininess – Akk never suspected lip balm, he always just thought Aye was kind of… inherently shiny-lipped.
Case in point: when Aye isn’t helping him, Akk is stupid.
“-Yeah, we were looking at Namo’s notes but I still needed to check my email, and-“
The pout slowly slips into an actual frown, and Akk feels his own eyes widen. Aye is frowning at him and it’s probably confusion but the stupid, unsettled part of him that’s been waiting since they met up insists that it’s more than that-
Kan claps once, loudly.
At least when they turn their heads to look at him, they’re synchronised.
“Everyone’s being weird,” announces Kan. “Akk yelled at me about studying better and you two are talking funny.”
The you two indicated seems to be Namo and Wat, who immediately look at each other.
Over their disagreements – or perhaps explanations? – Thua speaks in that unexpectedly-carrying tone he’s always been so good at, voice deceptively soft, saying, “You should study better, Kan. We’ve got a week left to study.”
Pausing for Kan’s whine and the way he dramatically lets his head fall onto the desk, Thua visibly suppresses a smile.
It’s quiet for a moment.
“And that’s making everything weird, of course people are acting like it. Nobody’s being weird,” he adds.
Akk feels more than sees Aye nod in agreement.
Which seems like Akk’s cue, so he leans forwards as much as he can without disrupting Aye (only barely not sitting in his lap at this point) to shake his head at Kan and say, “Stop being a dick to everyone, Kan.”
“Yeah,” jumps in Namo, “Stop being a dick.”
Kan is failing to defend himself against their ganging up on him, probably because his boyfriend is also giggling and Akk knows Kan likes it when Thua’s kind of mean to him, when Aye starts poking his leg again.
“What?” he whispers, not wanting to get the rest of their attention.
Wiggling and tipping his forehead onto Akk’s shoulder, Aye is equally quiet when he asks, “You yelled at Kan?”
Akk freezes, which is his main mistake.
He tries, “I just snapped because he was being annoying,” but Aye felt him freeze and Aye knows how to read him.
There’s a moment when Aye frowns at him again, and this time the overwhelming fear isn’t of the stupid thing – Aye leaving – but of the actual threat, which is Aye figuring out what he’s upset about.
Akk isn’t surprised that Aye stands up.
“What’s up-“
He doesn’t hear the rest of Wat’s question, because it’s better to just go, when Aye starts trying to drag him somewhere.
They don’t go far.
Actually, he’s pretty sure the others will hear them even if they whisper, here, but Aye places him with his back against a wall and boxes him in, so Akk really has no choice to comply.
And get distracted by staring at his lips again.
Only briefly, this time, because Aye quickly takes his hand and says, “You weren’t upset Kan was being annoying.”
“It’s nothing.”
There’s no point insisting on the Kan story – Aye can read him.
Of course, Aye also knows the kind of feelings Akk prefers not to admit to, and he knows their outcomes, so it’s definitely not weird that Aye’s face goes all worried and urgent.
Guilt makes Akk panic and blurt it out.
In a mumble – their friends can still hear them – he says, “When we met up Teacher Waree was there and then our friends were there and we didn’t see each other last night so you didn’t kiss me hello this morning and I’ve been sad about it.”
Eyes now scrunched closed, he has to convince them to peel open, even though he knows Aye won’t be making any of the worst faces he’s picturing. He won’t be disgusted or angry or, like, guilty because it was on purpose – no, at worst, Aye’s going to be suppressing that Akk’s-so-cute smile-
No, wait, there’s one worse, and it’s this.
Confused, Aye says, “Huh? I couldn’t understand you.”
“You didn’t kiss me hello this morning!” Akk repeats; he knows immediately that he was too loud.
None of their friends are making a sound.
Quietly, he adds, “Oh no.”
Aye’s eyes light up with exactly the Akk’s-so-cute look he’d been afraid of, and the hand on his squeezes tight, and he opens his mouth to say something mortifying and-
“Wat,” asks Namo, loudly. “Did you just hear something?”
Oh, fuck.
At least Aye kisses him on the cheek before dragging him back to the table. It’s the only upside to what follows.
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asfodelle · 1 year ago
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random thoughts on Only Friends ep 6
Love the parallels between Sand at the end of last ep and Boston at the end of this one, facing away from the person that could bring them comfort though I can't tell what Boston is feeling upset about specifically. I'd say it's him loosing the upper hand because the manipulation he tried to pull on Ray failed, also Ray exposing the sweet talk he always pulls on Nick. I doubt he's actually consumed with remorse at that moment.
Nick learns that he's not that special and he stills clings to Boston, I imagine he's pretty thrilled to see Boston isolated after all. More room for him. Babygirl Nick did warn us he was nasty too.
The chemistry is chemistring tho, they're so good together.
Mew went from a character I didn't much about to one I hated (when he was saying to Top he could just ditch Ray) to an absolute king. Like. I was gagged. I wasn't 100% convinced he was the cunning guy people wanted him to be so bad but I looooved the reveal and I hope he'll do his worst. I'll be on the side clapping.
Also this episode is a perfect clap back to those who were complaining about the acting of ForceBook. We can clearly see how intentional their awkwardness was before with how much more intense the last scene was.
Go lesbians, finally you get to shine a bit, love the moms too.
Still very ambivalent about Top, I don't think he's completely cold hearted but he's clearly struggling to drop the rehearsed perfect man persona. Also the fact that he didn't use that video of Ray and Mew to justify his actions must show that he knows he had to valid reason to cave to Boston when he did.
Khao is just a treat, sweet Jesus.
I will be on the edge of my seat for a SandRay reconciliation next week.
and for Mew's Reputation era.
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chaos0pikachu · 2 years ago
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Fwiw, The Eclipse was what got me into gmmtv! I will say that it is a highschool setting, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless bc it's got a bit of those "boarding school" vibes even though it's not truly that. Not to mention if you enjoy FK, they're absolutely phenomenal in the show. The plot was great until the last couple eps where it suffered a bit, but the FK chemistry alone CARRIED that show soo well. One look between them had so much. Plus the side pairing was also easy to get invested in!
Pt 2 of The Eclipse rec (sorry for rambling haha) but wanted to add, I watched 2gether & just couldn't get into it bc I struggled with the main characters chemistry and some of the acting. But none of those issues there with Eclipse! F&K are incredible talents and have a lot of awesome range. Plus having seen First in Not Me, it's wild how different his character is in eclipse but he still does so well! Plus the show covers a lot of themes about mental health, grief, class diff, etc.
Babydoll never apologize for rambling my ask box is open for a reason
I'll admit, I'm not a huge~~ fan of GMMTV shows like they're getting better, they're doing more and taking more risks and I'm hella happy for them. I'm def checking out Midnight Museum b/c supernatural horror is my fucking shit that hits every hot point I have I've watched some other GMMTV shows and they just....didn't hit for me.
2Gether was booooooooring it was so boring, the actor who played Sarawat couldn't act lord have mercy I'm sorry to that man but he couldn't he was so stiff I was like somebody lube up his face and joints a bit also the plot broke my brain like Tine just fucking tell Green you don't like him or don't wanna date him and if he keeps pressuring you report his ass to your uni dean like my god you couldn't find ONE girl to pretend to be your girlfriend ugggh so dumb and his friends were so ANNOYING anyways
I did love First in Not Me, and you bring up a reason why I like First in general; he's had a lot of screen partners (romantic ones) and that's only helped his acting imo. To the surprise of no one who's been following my blog for a minute I do not like Acting Pairs (I refuse to call them ships they're coworkers). Don't get me wrong I like different APs like I'm ready to see Nouel and Boss in another series together I freaking loved them as Rain and Payu it'd be dope.
BUT I'd 1000% be down to see Nouel and Peat in a series together as romantic leads too. And Boss/Fort too because why not?? Why not??? They all have great chemistry together let's mix things up! I've said for a while now I'd love to see Apo and Bible in a series together b/c they have awesome chemistry and they're both strong actors so why not?? I find it limiting to both the actors and the audience to constantly restrain them under strict Acting Pairs.
I saw someone on twitter say they thought they could never ship Perth (of SaintPerth fame) with someone else again but now they could and that's just bonkers thinking to me idk idk ANYWAYS
I guess I gotta give The Eclipse a try if only for First and Khao b/c I do like them individually and I just gotta ignore the knee shorts as ridiculous as they look. The show sounds pretty good conceptually ugggh it's on the list but my god high school settings First can't even pass for a high school my god lmao
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feuqueerfire · 2 years ago
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FirstKhao Content Index
Started: Sep 12, 2022 || Updated: Nov 11, 2022
this is... a content index? idk it’s like random compilations and dynamics and thoughts, so not like my other content indices 
I love that they and their fan service remind me of kpop shipping which is like “we’re besties :) i love you a lot best friend” because I’m not really into “ooh are we dating? maybe” fanservice/dynamics, so I hope it doesn’t change.
First crying or getting emotional during sentimental moments
First crying when they pranked(?) him about Toe Laew breaking up
First Birthday IG Live last year where Khaotung wishes him well: "It will be emotional. No. stop." Didn't cry but was basically like stop before I do
First and Khaotung Workshop where they develop emotional intimacy. Khaotung's doing fine but First starts crying. This was the first time I'd seen him cry and was slightly taken aback wondering why he was crying when everybody else was chill but after following him for like 1 month, I was like ah
First and Khaotung event that was live online where Khaotung was wishing First birthday wishes this year and First was like "Tears are coming. Enough."
First expresses wanting "to build a house with the same fences as [Khaotung's]." This is the only time I've seen where Khao's crying too, wonder what the full video will be like.
First getting emotional when reading Tay’s comment to him in Safe House 4 + trying to not cry later when the group sings together
I think it's so endearing that First gets emotional/cries so easily and will sometimes put a stop to sentimental things before he ends up crying.
My longass thread of Khao taking care of or helping First because of his injured arm. It’s sooo important and pleasant to me when people just casually are helpful and attentive to someone’s needs T.T An NCT J/J fic made me realize it and wow I’ve not been the same since because Jeno quietly looks after Jaemin and just... so arrow to the heart fr (the spring i've been waiting by forlilcrickee). Anyway, Khao helping First with everything is adorable.
Safe House Season 4
They’re just cute and together all the time
First’s voice in his head saying Khao is cute and the older guys hosting an interview about it 
Not KhaoFirst but Tay and First are soooo cute and clingy and kissy together. With OffGun, I fell into OffGunTay and GunTay and seems like it’ll happen here too lol KhaoFirstTay and TayFirst. Anyway, here’s a reddit post about it on r/ThaiBL, search up tayfirst on the blog for more, I liked some tiktoks as well. This "tay thought first was asking for a kiss on his cheek when he was telling there's something on this face” TayFirst kiss is sooo good, especially because it’s practically what happened in 21 Days Theory recently like seriously straight out of a BL.
Also Tay/First/Khao are good and cute too. 
IG/Bilibili Lives
The Aug 26, 2022 IG live was a whole Time, spawned some iconic moments as shown in these tiktoks that got hella lotta views/likes and are high up in the firstkhaotung hashtag one two
[Fave] April 29, 2020 Bilibili live. Saw this clip where they’re extremely flirty for no freaking reason, they’re not even a cp, absolutely unhinged. this other clip of first calling khao handsome and them having a mini crisis
May 22, 2020 This Ohm and First IG Live before The Shipper ep 1 release where First is at Khao’s house. They got questioned and teased about it lol like hello it’s supposed to be Ohm/First because of The Shipper yet this KhaoFirst stray agenda T.T Khao didn’t even appear much in the live
Times When First Says Khao Plays Tricks On Him
I think people generally tend to think First would be the one playing pranks on Khao and my mans is on a mission to let everyone know that Khao is, in fact, a trickster and a prankster behind the camera.
Sep 1, 2022 Galaxy A53 live: “First’s happiness is teasing Khaotung, right?” “ Actually, he teases me. I don’t tease him. This is him in front of the camera that everyone sees. He’s not acting but this is a part of him when he’s working. When he's behind the camera, he likes teasing.”
Safe House 4 Day 5 clip: Khao pushes First, First tells the audience to look and see First isn’t the one teasing, Khao drags First out of frame
Before Becoming CP
The IG lives they did before then
July 7, 2020: first tweeted he wanted to see the stars and tagged khaotung
Twitter thread by  swwwwii: A thread of #firstkhaotung 2018-2021
To Watch
StarStruckxFirstKhaotung - It’s an English interview, so I can actually watch it instead of catching a few translated tweets here and there
Praew Magazine Interview of FirstKhaotung
KAZZTalK Interview
เมาท์เรื่องเกินคาธ จากกอง "คาธ" กับ เฟิร์ส ข้าวตัง หลุยส์ นีโอ 
Oct 12 ArmShare KhaoFirst
(ENG SUB) ชวน “เฟิร์ส-ข้าวตัง” มา REACT
Watched
Let’s Talk BL Interview - another English one and this time for a podcast I regularly listen to!
Episode 0 Eclipse
ชวน “เฟิร์ส-ข้าวตัง” มา REACT ซีนสุดพีคในซีรีส์ คาธ The Eclipse - Watching this after the LITA Cast reactions. Interesting to see First point out certain things like Neo flexing his muscles or Khao tilting his head a certain way to make a tear fall. First is soooo cute here, my babygirl
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en-hale-archives · 3 years ago
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Me with You ~~
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pairing ⑅ bestfriend!Jake x fem!reader
genre ⑅ friends to lovers, fluff, slow dancing, suggestive/smut
words/read time ⑅ 3.9k/12-19 mins
warnings ⑅ 18+ content, light cussing
synopsis ⑅ Jake is back in his hometown to spend time with his closest friend. During some fun and frivolous dancing, things start to heat up...
author's note ⑅ I’m really proud of how this story turned out. I'm not a huge fan of second person, so I wrote in first, but if anyone asks, I can copy and post again in second person. It's more fluff than anything, but it does get a bit steamier towards the end, so I’m just going to go ahead and put a warning.
————✧————
When the back door finally slammed shut and the cacophony of barks faded down the street, I could finally let out my sigh of relief that I had been holding in since this morning. I tapped on my phone. How many days had we been watching Mrs. Chen’s pets? And just how was I able to put up with hours of barking, the smell of fresh turd lying across the lawn, and dog walks till dark? Including their rigorous feeding times and bathroom breaks -- I’m surprised I haven’t exploded yet.
I had so much planned the minute they left my house, but instead, the sudden silence felt all too relaxing and I laid my head against the cold countertop. I could finally stop stressing, stop thinking, and stop worrying about reprimanding for chewing on my shoes or peeing in the house or the continued barking that never ended. I was free. I felt like I could’ve stayed laid on the countertop forever, drowning in the evening sun. Who knew watching five dogs would take such a burden out of a person. Jake and I had taken on the job of dog sitting for Mrs. Chen while she visited some family in Tokyo. We both switched off every other day; some of the dogs at my house and the others at his; until we realized it would be easier if he just spent the few days at my house as we co-doggy sat. He got up bright and early to take them on their walks while I prepared their highly detailed and specific meals. Then from there, we spent the rest of the day making sure they didn’t run off somewhere or cause too much destruction in the house. But alas, Mrs. Chen came back early from her getaway and picked up Toby, Caleb, Khao, Sofia, and Pickle on her way home. Although I was exhausted from watching 3-foot dogs all day, the pay was amazing for me, and it would help tremendously for all the online classes I was going to be taking next semester.
The warmth of the sun cast a comforting trance over my heavy eyelids, and soon enough I was fast asleep, standing in the middle of the kitchen with the soft sound of nothing surrounding me.
By the time I had fluttered my eyes open, I had realized I was now seated in my dining chair and a large black jacket was placed over my shoulders. I sat up and let out a yawn, wincing at the bright light coming from the tv and shaking my now numb arm awake. I must have been sleeping for a while because the evening sun had turned to pitch of black. The moonlight beamed through the window and danced along with the sways of the large oak tree out front. I stood up and walked over to the refrigerator in which I grabbed two water bottles and some leftover pasta.
I was sure that Jake hadn’t eaten since lunch, seeing as he only ate if someone sat food in front of his face. I dragged my feet up the stairs until I heard the slamming of a book and the fast typing of a keyboard come from the living room. I turned and looked behind me. Jake had settled his things on the coffee table and floor, large books, folders, and several amounts of crumpled up pieces of paper found their way around Jake, himself slouched up against the edge of the couch. He had changed clothes since the last time I had seen him, he now wore a plain blue shirt with grey sweats, his eyebrows furrowed as he worked hard on whatever he was getting at.
“Oh yes, I was starving!” Propping himself up on the couch, he took the plate of pasta. I placed the waters on the coffee table and settled comfortably on the couch beside him.
“I can’t say that I’ve ever seen anybody sleep standing up before. Look,” Jake took his phone off the charger. “I got a picture.” He pushed the screen in my face, and of course, there was my unconscious body laying on the counter, mouth open and all. I playfully pushed it back his way as his face lit up with a smile I was all too familiar with.
“What are you doing down here so late, it’s almost 12 in the morning,” I asked. Jake’s smile disappeared when he was reminded of the work he had been doing seconds before.
He let out a large huff of air. “Trying to get some words on paper but instead it turned into a paper massacre,” he jokingly replied, “sorry for the mess.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied, taking a swig of water. I was going to ask if he wanted to watch a late-night movie, or pull an all-nighter and talk endlessly until the sun rose, but I could tell by each passing second that Jake was worried about this, and he wanted the time he had now over the summer to work on his music. I wished I was motivated to work on my own music, but unlike Jake, I wasn’t in a globally popular boy band. My complicated best friend for over 10 years had been working his butt off since middle school. It was his annual time to sit back and relax while he had the time to, but instead, he chose to use that time to help watch a bunch of dogs with his hometown bestie. God, I loved him.
Jake pulled himself off the couch and right back onto the floor, leaving the rest of the pasta to me. He picked up his pen again and started scribbling down words as quickly as he could, trying hard not to forget the lyrics that had floated into his head. Until he stopped, closing his eyes for just a split second, and let out a powerful sigh. Crumpling up the sheet, he stacks it on top of the others in frustration and started frantically tapping his pencil against the table.
“Maybe it’s best to just try again in the morning,” I advised, taking a small bite of the pasta that was left by my side.
“How come I’m having such a hard time with this?” He gazed up at me frantically for a clue, as if I had the answer to fix a problem as big and as important as his was. I looked at his doleful eyes and the bags that were starting to grow underneath them. I couldn’t help but think, because I made you sit up and watch a bunch of dogs with me.
“Do you want me to see if I could come up with something?”
“If you want. But, hold on, I think my thoughts are coming back up.” He quickly grabbed another piece of paper, his eyes narrowed in concentration.
I tried my best to keep occupied by watching videos on my phone, but I found myself suddenly bored out of my mind. I laid out on my back and picked up one of Jake’s folders. Briefly looking through it, I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous at the amount of fan art and letters, praising him and the other members. Followed with that were just more and more engene stuff, full of nothing but kind words and heartfelt messages. Part of me wished that I was able to travel with Jake and see the world like he was. How fun would it be to meet people that praised you? And how cool would it be to see that you had fans? I couldn’t help but plaster on a huge smile as I skimmed through some of the notes until I finally came to one with familiar handwriting.
Remember Me were the words written on the top of the paper in bold and bright colors. But the message written underneath is what caught my attention:
To the person that makes me the luckiest guy in the world, this song is for you. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same, but please just remember me -- it was Jake’s handwriting.
I didn’t feel like I was breaking any crime reading his stuff until this moment, but curiosity killed the cat, and right now I didn’t mind being a feline. I checked to make sure Jake was still busy, and he was, almost like he had teleported into his own world. I quietly turned back to the sheet and started reading. It was about a girl, presumably his crush I’m sure. She was someone important to him, someone who made him love so much that it hurt. But this was far from a happy song, in fact, it was terribly heartbreaking. She didn’t understand his love, she wasn’t able to interpret it like he wanted her to. But he confesses that he was scared of what telling her would do, worried that she wouldn’t feel the same. So instead, it was like he was apologizing, and asking that she forgive him for not being brave enough to tell her, and if he did ever get the courage to, for her to remember him even if she wasn’t able to love him like he wanted her to.
The song ends like how the title began, and I find myself flabbergasted at the beautiful mixes of rhymes and metaphors that read like a poem. This was the first of Jake’s songs that made me feel this way, like I had just finished watching a tragedy movie with Ryan Renolds starring. I blink back the tears that I didn’t realize were forming. How come he never told me this? We never kept secrets from each other, like ever. It never mattered the subject or the severity, we had always promised that we would be open and honest with each other. I wish I would’ve known this sooner, maybe I could’ve saved him from feeling this way. And what girl could it possibly be? I knew for sure I was the only girl he was presumably close to; but was there someone else?
I glanced down at Jake, who was still in a focused state of mind with the pencil in his mouth and mumbling lyrics softly under his breath. I tried picturing my bubbly Jake writing these agonizing words and miserably failed.
Jake looked up at me as if he could feel my gaze on the back of his head. “I think I’ve found the chorus, but it’s the rest of the song I’m not able to get, and how come it’s so hard to find another word that rhymes with severe? Beer? Sphere? Revere? Appear? Gosh, rhyming sucks some serious ass!”
“This song is beautiful.”
Jake furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Huh?”
“This song I found in your folder.” I glanced back at it in my hand. “Remember Me.”
Jake’s gaze leaped from my eyes to the sheet, and I felt his body tense. “Where’d you get that from?”
“I was just going through one of your folders. Did you accidentally get it mixed up in your fan folder? Cause this is -”
“Did you read it?” He interrupted.
“Yeah, and it’s perfect.”
Jake glanced at me for a split second before turning back around, obviously uncomfortable. “I was watching one of those Kdramas you love so much and it inspired me. Could you help me rhyme with severe now?”
I knew Jake like the back of my hand, so I knew continuing on with this conversation would get him upset if he’s clearly avoiding it. But, I wasn’t going to just let him off that quickly. “Jake, come on, you can tell me anything. Who is this about?”
Jake looked back at me with a hint of something in his eyes, something I’ve never seen before, and something I wasn't able to decipher. “Nobody, I was just feeling really inspired, that's it.” His tone had switched from calm to agitated.
I give him my I’m-not-stupid look and he comes back with his own you’re-being-delusional stare. “It’s seriously nobody, truthfully and honestly.”
“Okay, okay I’ll back off.” I could tell he was starting to get defensive, and when he got like that, it took him at least a few hours before returning to normal. I watched Jake's Adam's apple move up and down, a way in which I could tell he knew I was not convinced in the slightest. “Well, sometimes we go through things that can remind us of situations like that, but not necessarily in that same exact context, you know? It has to be amplified for that audience appeal.”
“Okay...but have you ever felt this way before? Not exactly like how it’s written, but maybe somewhere along these lines?”
I thought I was going to get another vague answer, or worse, an aggravated one. But instead Jake looked down at his pencil as he tapped it along his wrist. “...maybe, but I think everyone can connect to the words in some way. I mean, everyone feels some kind of heartbreak in their life, right?” Jake's answer was still pretty vague, but at least I was able to get something out of him.
“Okay, but you know you can tell me anything, like, anything ever because you know that you’ll never actually have to feel this way, right?” I said, maybe too much in a hurry.
“Of course I know that.” He replied, giving one of his awkward grins.
“And if anyone has made you feel this way, then you know you can tell me that too cause there a sucker to lose out on a perfect person like you.” I teased in a sing-song way, poking his shoulder hard. Jake chuckled and poked me back.
A weird silence grew in the room, and Jake went back to trying to find rhyming words. I tried getting back on my phone, but I knew I needed to say something to let go of the tenseness in the air.
“Hey, crystal clear rhymes!”
He leaned his head back and looked up at me. “Nevermind, I give up for tonight.”
I could see the stress that played on his face. “Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, but by the time I do, it’ll be too late.”
“What do you mean?”
Jake pulled his knees up to his chest and spoke. “This was going to go on our album comeback that needs to be finished in the next four months. By the time I think of something, it'll be too late and I’ll have to wait until the next four months. But by then, I'll have forgotten. This always happens and I have no idea how the hell to fix it.” I couldn’t tell if he wanted my help or just a bit of comfort.
“Did you try asking the other guys to see if they had any ideas?”
“Yeah, but they’re working on their own parts, I can’t ask them to do this too.”
“I’m sure they’d be willing to help if you asked,” I assured him.
“I know they would, but I just don’t want to. I always ask them for help, I thought being away from the studio and being back home would help my brainstorming abilities.” He gave a weary chuckle that almost sounded like a groan.
“Well, maybe tomorrow will come with better results.” I did my best to give him some motivation, but I could tell I was failing miserably at that too.
Jake watched as a car zoomed past the window, a low bass sounding off as it zoomed away. “I bet it’s easier to just listen to music than to try and come up with it. I remember when I would just blare NCT all day long and jam out in my room. It seemed so much easier back then to come up with stuff than it does now. I miss it.” He took a slight pause before continuing. “ Did you know that song you read was the easiest thing I have written in my life? I remember writing too. I just had this super weird feeling in my chest one day so I basically locked myself in my room and took maybe two hours and just wrote a bunch of words down and connected them to sound like a song. For once my mind had just gone blank and I couldn’t stop thinking and feeling that song, like I knew what it was supposed to sound like, I knew what the lyrics were supposed to mean. I just knew everything. And I miss that feeling, that feeling of like- '' He broke off his sentence when he looked back up to my eyes. It seemed like he was talking more to himself than to me. He swallowed hard and looked back at the pencil still in hand.
“Well, I'm sorry you don’t feel free anymore. I wish there was something I could do to make you feel like that again-”
“No, please don’t feel like that. It’s just something that had just recently started happening, something I really just can’t fix…” His voice gets softer and softer the more he spoke.
“Have you spoken to your manager about it?” I asked. “He’s super nice from what I understand. And he’ll probably have better answers than your friend who can barely play the piano, let alone produce an entire song.”
Jake laughed before I had the chance to. “ See, now you're underestimating yourself. Remember that song from freshman year? The one about-- what was his name, Josh?” Jake teased. I grabbed a pillow and slammed it into the back of his head. “Oh my gosh, I thought we promised we’d never bring it up again!”
Jake chuckled and laid his arm on the couch completely turning towards me. “How about we sneak out and go get ice cream and try to not wake up your mom in the process?”
I suddenly jumped to my feet when I have the perfect idea on how to cheer up the gloomy Mr. Shim. “Or, we could do something even better!”
“Urgh!” Jake groaned.
I grabbed my phone and hooked it up to the speaker. I was going to turn on his hit song Drunk-Dazed as a joke, but Jake needed this break from his career, so instead, I crunk up Beyonce as loud as it could go without disturbing my mom who slept upstairs. I turn back to Jake and reach out for his hands, already moving my hips to the music.
He shook his head and threw it back onto the couch as if throwing a temper tantrum. “I literally dance for a living.”
“Okay but this will be different, I promise.” I grabbed the piles of papers on the ground and threw them in the trash, I then pushed the coffee table near the wall and piled his folders and books neatly on top.
“Come on, cowboy!” I grabbed his hands and helped him up. He was reluctant to get up, but he threw one last groan before standing on his feet.
“This will get the brain juices flowing again!” I told him. I go back to my phone and switch it to one of my favorite Beyonce songs that she covered, At Last.
I sang dramatically to get Jake to smile, and luckily, it worked. I placed both my hands over his shoulders and swayed us back and forth, still miming the song as overly exaggerated as I could. Jake still couldn’t help but smile, and it didn’t take him long to join me in the rhythm and sway naturally with me. I learned at our middle school dance that Jake had perfect rhythm. He was able to impress the rest of the crowd when he busted out moves from BTS. Everyone was impressed, including me.
Now we were on a steady roll. I accidentally stepped on his feet a few times, but it was fine seeing as I was wearing foam flip-flops and he was barefooted. After a while, the song switched and played another of my favorites that didn’t match our style of dance, but we still moved slowly to the beat. Jake tried twirling me, but since I have two left feet, I almost ended up hitting the wall each time and Jake laughed loud at my clumsiness. The moonlight from the kitchen had now switched to the window in the living room. It gleamed through and glistened on Jake like a spotlight, just like the ones on the stage did for him. In a split second, I was reminded that he wouldn’t be here forever, just like he wasn’t here for the past year. I tried to not let it settle on my face that I was scared to see him go again, so I played up on the fun we were having now. Jake looked like he was at ease; finally, since he’d been here, he looked genuinely happy and I wasn’t going to ruin that.
After another handful of songs full of laughs and giggles, we were soon sweating and taking deeper breaths than normal. Each song was different from the one before, but it didn’t stop us from sticking to our style of dance. Even with the simplicity of the moves and the slowness of the steps, I had to take a minute to relax. I hooked my arms around his neck and rested my entire body on his. I could feel Jake’s own sweat seeping through his shirt, But I didn’t mind the wetness that was now attached to my cheek. I thought he would act awkward and ask for me to pull away, but instead, he gripped tighter on my hips and started slowly moving me side to side. I let out a long overdue sigh, trying my best to match the steady breathing of Jake’s with my own. It was actually therapeutic: hearing his heartbeat in one ear and the softness of the music in the other.
I tried to continue our steady breathing together, but his had picked up a bit, almost out of nowhere. I felt the heat of his breath on the nape of my neck, and it made my entire body tingle in a way it never had before. After this sudden feeling, I realized just how close we really were. His leg hair tickled my legs, I could feel the bone of his foot connecting to mine, I could feel his thin waist against mine as well. I felt like I needed to back up, but instead, I couldn’t and continued to sway softly against him. A few seconds later, Jake’s hands rose a little higher, planting themselves on my waist and tightening their grip as if they were trying to pull me closer than we already were.
The sensation hadn’t stopped though, it clung to my body like my damp shorts did on my thighs. Sooner or later I felt pressure on the lower part of my stomach and thought for sure that Jake was messing around and wasn’t feeling what I was, which indicated that I needed to pull back before this feeling became too much.
This is so embarrassing. I thought. How could I let myself feel like this? How was this in any way okay? I finally pulled back, the sensation becoming too unbearable, and glanced up at his face. His pupils were large in a way I hadn’t seen before. His mouth was slightly open and a drop of sweat slowly traced down his forehead, onto his nose. That pressure I was feeling on my stomach had now doubled in force, and Jake's face had switched from calm and subtle, to alarmed and panicked...
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(part 2 possibly...?)
Thank you guys so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Please, leave any constructive criticism you have on helping improve my writing!
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None of the images are mine, They all belong to their rightful owners :)
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drarrily-we-row-along · 3 years ago
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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Part 13)
Part 13: Mulled Wine
Harry didn't like to let himself think about being in love with Draco Malfoy.
If he didn't at least try to stop himself from thinking about being in love with the other man, Harry was quite certain that he'd never think of anything else.
Today has been one of those days when Harry couldn't quite take his mind off of Draco. Whenever he wasn't helping a customer (or sometimes even when he was) he was watching Draco; watching him laugh and talk with the people in their shop, watching the way his hands moved, confident and graceful as he worked. He couldn't help but wish that Draco's eyes were looking at him, sparkling with mirth as he laughed; he wanted his capable hands to touch him, to hold his hands, to wrap around his arm, to trail his fingers over his face and neck.
Draco looked up and caught him looking while Harry was straightening after they closed, and smiled at him; expression open and eyes crinkling around the corners, and Harry's breath caught in his chest. Helplessly, he smiled back and time froze in one of those moments that he and Draco seemed to be having more and more often lately.
"What's on the list today?" he finally asked, forcing himself to look away.
Draco hummed and wandered closer, grace sewn into every line of his body. "Mulled wine and Christmas cards, I think?"
"Mulled wine," Harry repeated, "That sounds lovely."
He laughed, "Yes. It's my great, great aunt's recipe."
"What should I bring?" he asked, feeling that tug of inadequacy that was always at the back of his mind.
(Read more below the cut)
"Yourself," Draco replied, nudging Harry with his shoulder as he moved around the counter to help tidy the gloves Harry had been working on. "But I wouldn't say no to Thai from that place near your house," he said with a little grin.
Harry felt his shoulders relax and he nodded, "Pad See Eiw for you?"
"What was that soup you got last time?" Draco asked, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to remember. "Coconut and curry?"
"Khao Soi?" he laughed, "You complained that it was too spicy every time you stole a bite."
"But it was so good!"
He shook his head, it was ridiculous to feel this fond of someone.
"Are you getting it again?" he asked.
Harry shrugged, "It was the special last time, I don't know if they'll still have it. I was thinking Massaman Chicken Curry."
"Well if they have it, I wouldn't object to sharing a bowl of that, too."
"Alright," he agreed. "Do you want me to just go pick up food and then come straight over?"
Draco nodded, "I can take Helmi with me, if you want," he added. "That Thai place is muggle, right?"
"Yeah," he said, glancing over at Helmi who'd perked her head up out of her nest at the mention of her name, "That would make things easier. Thanks."
"Go on. I'll finish straightening up and meet you back at mine."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, glancing around to see how much was left to do.
"Positive," he said easily. "We'll see you soon."
----------------------
Draco and Helmi seemed to have been at Draco's for a while by the time Harry arrived, carrying take away bags that he'd put under stasis charms for good measure. He came in to find Draco standing in the kitchen, organizing supplies for the mulled wine; at least, that's what Harry assumed the ingredients were for.
Draco had changed into a cozy jumper and jeans, but his feet were still bare and Harry's heart tripped in his chest at the sight.
"Hey," he said, setting the bags down on the island where Draco was still setting spices out.
"Hi," he said with a little smile in Harry's direction as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear. "I thought maybe we should get the wine on the oven first and then eat? It's supposed to cook low and slow."
"Yeah," Harry said, as he took off his jacket, "Whatever you think. The food's got a stasis charm on it, so it'll keep."
"Okay," Draco said as he hauled out the dutch oven from under the counter and put it on the burner. "These two oranges need to be sliced first," he said, rolling one to Harry and keeping the other. "Like quarter inch slices," he added.
Harry carefully sliced his, measuring them against Draco's before bringing them over to the stove.
"We're going to squeeze out the juice a bit without wrecking them too much," Draco said as he did just that, "And then put them straight in."
Draco finished first and grabbed the bottle of wine off the counter, "Here, you uncork this and pour it in, I'm going to measure out the brandy."
"Brandy?" Harry laughed as screwed in the corkscrew.
He nodded, "The heat makes some of the alcohol evaporate out of the wine," he said. "But brandy also just has that warm, festive feeling, you know?" He shrugged, "Besides, it's only like a cup of brandy."
"Only," Harry echoed with a chuckle but did as he was told and poured in the wine and Draco dumped in the brandy next.
"Okay," he said, checking a recipe card that looked a bit faded. "Then four tablespoons of honey," he said, handing the jar over to Harry. While Harry was measuring that out, Draco added six cinnamon sticks, a small handful of star anise, and a small handful of cloves.
"Seems very official," he said, nodding at Draco's hand as he dumped in the cloves. "Is that what the recipe card says?"
"Actually," Draco said, holding it out to show him, "it is."
Harry laughed, "This doesn't seem like a Malfoy family recipe."
"It's my mother's side, actually," he said with a little smile, "And she was a bit of a black sheep."
"Oh?" Harry asked, intrigued.
Draco nodded, "Everyone thought she was an old maid. She never married and lived alone, or at least that's what everyone believed."
"Sounds ominous," he said as he stole a cranberry out of the bowl Draco was bringing over and popped it in his mouth.
He mock glared at him, "We need to put half a cup of these in."
Harry grabbed the measuring cup and Draco continued.
"She apparently had very little contact with anyone in the family. Around the holidays she'd visit with everyone but never for parties," he said as he took out a spoon and gave the mulled wine a good stir before turning on the burner.
Harry went over and started unpacking the food, "So that's how you got her recipe for mulled wine?"
"Yes," he said, "but mother told me that there was more to the story. Apparently," he continued, "In the year before she died, she brought her partner with her to all of the family gatherings. A lovely woman named Matilda, who was a skilled cook but hadn't a magical bone in her body."
"No!" Harry gasped, "What a plot twist!"
"I know," he laughed, "Apparently, it was shortly after Andromeda had told the family that she was going to marry a muggle and got disinherited. My mother actually reached out to them and went to visit several times before she passed away. She and Andromeda inherited everything from her after Matilda died."
"Wow," Harry mused. "Seems like there's one in every generation."
Draco swallowed a bite of his food and speared a piece of chicken on Harry's plate before saying, "Only on mother's side. On father's side, no one put a toe out of line; which is why only having one heir is traditional for that side of the family but having multiple children is the tradition for mother's side."
"Interesting," Harry said, because he found that there were so many things about pure blood culture that he didn't understand.
Draco hummed, "Yes, imagine father's disappointment that I've taken after my mother's side and become the black sheep."
He reached over and covered Draco's hand with his, "It's all nonsense anyway."
"Right," Draco said, nodding, "But it's not to him so," he shrugged. "It's hard to always be a disappointment."
Harry's heart twisted hard in his chest, "You're not-"
"I am," he interrupted, "as far as my father is concerned. But I always have been, so," he lifted a shoulder again, "It is what it is."
"You," Harry started, shaking his head, "Draco, you are the best person I know. You've changed my life in so many ways and I-" he broke off, not wanting to show his hand too much. "I owe you a lot," he said after a moment. "I'm proud that you're my friend, work partner, and fake boyfriend."
That was enough to surprise a laugh out of Draco. "Thanks, Harry," he said, squeezing his hand back before clearing his throat and saying, "So, this is not the soup you had last time," as he pointed to the container on the table. "What is it?"
Harry grinned, "Tom Kha Kai," he said, "It's the special today. Coconut based and more mild."
"Excellent," Draco said as he took a spoonful.
He watched him and he loved him a little bit more for all of the ways that he was brave.
----------------
Later, when after they'd finished the first batch of mulled wine and were halfway through the second, they'd collapsed on the floor in the living room, pushing the Christmas cards aside for later, Harry couldn't resist staring at Draco again.
He looked so pretty in the soft lights that decorated the room, his hair mussed and cheeks rosy, mouth stretched too wide from smiling as he stared up at the ceiling. And Harry couldn't help it, "You're so pretty," he murmured.
"Hmm?" Draco asked, turning his sparkling grey eyes on Harry once more.
"You're," he sighed and rolled so he was laying on his side, looking at the other man properly, "You're just so beautiful."
The flush on the other man's cheeks deepened, "Harry," he whispered.
And Harry did the only thing he could, the only thing that made any sense at all, and leaned forward to brush his lips lightly over Draco's.
Draco inhaled sharply and it knocked some sense into Harry's thick skull.
He pulled back, ready to apologize profusely, but Draco followed him, rolling onto his side and chasing Harry's mouth with his own, surging against him the way the tide crashes to shore.
Harry's fingers grasped at him, clenching in his jumper and pulling him closer as Draco's mouth moved against his, grounding himself to Draco. He opened his mouth, running his tongue along Draco's bottom lip and Draco let out a soft, desperate sound, opening for him and drawing him closer still.
After a long moment, Harry broke the kiss to trail kisses along Draco's jaw and chin.
The other man tipped his head back, his fingers sliding into Harry's hair as Harry pressed kisses all along his gloriously long neck.
"Harry," he whispered, so soft and reverent that Harry was fairly certain he'd never heard anything sweeter in his life.
He buried his face in the crook of Draco's neck, breathing him in, as his hand skimmed up his side. He could feel Draco's breath hitch and it made his heart beat faster in his chest, imagining that Draco wanted this, too. He moved his fingers a touch lower, toying with the hem of Draco's sweater, imagining the miles of soft skin underneath.
"Wait," Draco said, voice coming out raw. Then, "wait," he repeated, pulling back slightly. "We've had too much to drink and-"
Harry was snapped back to reality with the force of a comet hitting the earth. He pulled away from Draco, "Sorry," he said quickly, "Shit. Sorry," he repeated as he pushed himself up off the ground. "Godric," he said, tugging at his hair, "I've got to-"
"Harry," Draco said, reaching out for him.
He pulled away, "Sorry. I didn't-" he shook his head. "I wasn't-" he summoned his jacket and hissed at Helmi to come. "Forget this," he begged, "Please."
"Harry-" Draco tried again, but he had already grabbed Helmi and was apparating back to his house.
He collapsed into bed and Helmi crawled in with him, settling close and nudging his chin with her snout. His eyes stung and his chest felt too tight as he tried not to start crying. He couldn't believe that he'd been such an idiot. Draco, beautiful, graceful, intelligent Draco, he didn't want him; of course he didn't.
Years of self control wasted in a single, stupid moment, he groaned and rolled onto his side. Harry curled around Helmi and cried himself to sleep.
Part 12: Ice Skating | Part 14: Coffee
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khaotic-kitsunes · 3 years ago
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Drifting
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I had so much fun writing up the introduction to this request! You’ll probably see why in just a minute too...but, fun fact, the lovely Khaos, the newest addition to the blog, helped me out with this request when I found myself a little stuck!
Khaos added a helpful amount of amazing to the ending scene, so be sure to thank them for their amazing input! Oh, and make sure ya let us know what you think, okay?
I would also like to add that I know it’s been quiet here on the blog and I’m sorry for that but personally, I’ve had some...curveballs thrown at me health wise so you probably won’t see a lot from me. So, yeah.
Navigation 
Cheeky Kitsune 🦊💋
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 Tamaki slowly peeked up above the ocean’s surface, keeping as quiet as possible to remain unnoticed while he allowed his eyes to land upon the object of his curiosities and affections; swallowing thickly when he realised that you had shown up at exactly sunset yet again, just like always.
 And, as always, you were alone. You had no companions that could prevent him from stealing you away to his secret cave and no one to help you if he decided to keep you to himself. An idea that appealed to him more with each of your visits to the beach.
 What interested Tamaki most, however, was the fact that with each of your visits, you made sure to only come by the secluded beach at sunset; when everyone else had gone home for the day. Tourists seemed to believe all the local’s stories of monsters beneath the water’s surface, waiting for the sun to go down so that their attacks could go unnoticed until it was too late.
 Of course, it was all nonsense. Tamaki was the only merperson to occupy this particular beach and he had been for quite a few years now; any and all monsters were long gone, migrated to places that weren’t so aware of the dangers that lurked beneath the depths.
 But it was also because of the late hour that you came to the beach, that Tamaki couldn’t approach you. He was all too aware of how a human woman might react to a random man approaching them in the water when the sun was beginning to set, shadows casting over the sky and melting the beautiful orange hues into an inky blackness.
 So, instead, Tamaki had to be satisfied with watching you from afar. Appreciating your beauty and daydreaming about all the different possibilities of meeting you; how he could befriend you and get closer, all while knowing it would be an impossibility.
 .
 ~  ~  ~
 .
 Tamaki stared at you with wide, saucer-like eyes, his mouth hanging open while you swam towards him slowly; your body remaining below the water’s surface, hiding the fact that you were without your bikini top.
 The very same bikini top that he held in his hands, a scrap of clothing that he had been inspecting out of confusion given that it was nearly midnight and he had thought that you had left the beach hours ago like you normally would.
 “…I think that’s mine” Your softly uttered words startled him, making him jolt and sink down further into the water while he released the bikini top; allowing it to float up to the surface, harmlessly bobbing up and down with the waves between the both of you.
 “Sorry, I uh, didn’t realise that someone else was here” He muttered out a pathetic excuse for an apology, trying his best not to let his tentacles move into your line of sight; desperate to at least seem normal, even if it wouldn’t be a lasting impression.
  Tamaki gulped nervously as he watched you reach for the floating bikini top, averting his gaze when you shuffled around to put the piece of clothing back on; the hurried movements of your fingers catching his attention with how the water splashed from the clumsy actions. The silence beginning to feel awkward while Tamaki tried his best not to look at you before you were ready, not wanting to come off as a pervert. Not to you.
 “It’s okay, I didn’t realise anyone else was here either. Not this late at night anyways and certainly not with the way everyone goes on about the monsters that are waiting for sunset so they can eat you” You rolled your eyes as the words left your lips, briefly giving Tamaki a once over before nodding your head to yourself; making Tamaki wonder if you were giving him the benefit of the doubt despite how strange it was for him to be here at this time, more so considering that he had technically been holding onto your bikini top.
 Then again, it would make sense for you to assume that he had thought it was a piece of seaweed; because honestly, that’s exactly what Tamaki had first thought when he picked it up.
 It wasn’t uncommon for people to investigate strange and/or suspicious objects that were found floating in the ocean, only to cast them away as quickly as they had been found. Tamaki had seen humans do so more times than he could count and luckily for him, he had had the brains to immediately release the skimpy piece of clothing; a guilty man would have tried to hide it, or simply kept held of it. Not Tamaki though, he had dropped it, allowed you to take it back and even averted his gaze so that you could have some form of privacy while fixing your top; even if it hadn’t been a great deal of privacy. There was only so much he could offer given the circumstances after all.
 However, even with these facts in mind, Tamaki could easily see that you were still on guard and he was happy to see such a thing. It reassured him that you didn’t trust random strangers in the water just because they had been polite enough to look away while you were topless.
 “Still, I am sorry…about your top, I mean. If I had of known what it was…” Tamaki trailed off as his face flushed with embarrassment, the tips of his pointed ears beginning to turn a similar shade of scarlet while he dipped further into the gentle waves of the night’s warm ocean waters; only stopping when his nose was beneath the salty waters.
 “It’s fine, okay? No harm, no foul” You hummed out the words in a soft voice, swimming around to face the embarrassed merman; all the while being completely unaware of what he truly was.
 “So…what brings you out so late?” Your question made Tamaki’s body go stiff, anxiety rushing through his system while his brain scrambled to think of something, anything to say in response to such an innocently asked question; anything but the truth, that is.
 There was no way known that Tamaki could tell you the truth behind his daily visits to this beach, especially when he could live happily and stealthily beneath the ocean waves for the rest of his life if it weren’t for your presence on this beach.
 Tamaki wanted to slap himself. Here he was, minding his own business in the ocean when the opportunity that he would have killed for, landed in his lap. The chance to speak with you, instead of just stare at you from afar and yet here he was, completely and utterly unable to get a single word out; instead, the fears of what could happen filled his mind.
 The terrifying what ifs of you hating him if he opened his mouth and said the wrong thing tormenting him into a nervous silence. Tamaki’s only relief from the situation, was that he would have the memories of having gotten close to you without making you scream and panic; though that also meant that no one would notice if he were to steal you away in that moment, if he took you to a place that no one would ever hope to find.
 But that was something that he couldn’t do and definitely something that Tamaki shouldn’t think about, unless he wanted to fuel the desires that he so often pushed aside. You would surely hate him if he were to do even half of the things that he had thought about.
 “Well, I guess I’ll see you around…” You mumbled out the farewell awkwardly, turning away from Tamaki in order to swim back towards the shore, no longer able to enjoy the solitude of an empty beach.
 “Uh, wait!” Tamaki called out to you again, finally able to find his voice once more as he reached out for you, his hand closing around your arm. Sealing his choice of interaction with you when you turned to face him. He should have let you leave.
 “Your…um, your strap, it’s loose…” He barely managed to mumble out the words without humiliating himself, averting his gaze when he found himself unable to meet your eyes; not needing the added kick of self-loathing on top of his nervousness.
 “You’ll lose your top again if you don’t fix it…”
 .
 “Oh. Well, do you mind?”
 .
 Tamaki gulped nervously as you turned your back to him once more, allowing him to reach for the loose strings belonging to your bikini top; needing to untie the knot that you had created in a rush minutes ago. If Tamaki were telling the truth, the knot probably would have held, but at the same time, he wouldn’t get another chance to let his skin brush against your own.
 Now, he was in heaven, making sure to tie a strong knot while at the same time, being sure that it wasn’t so tight that you wouldn’t be able to undo it yourself later on.
 “There…all done” He mumbled out the words under his breath when he was finished tying the knot, his fingers lingering on your skin for a brief moment, wanting more; though you pulled away before he could get ahead of himself.
 Leaving Tamaki to breathe a sigh of release, all while silently cursing both himself and all of his pent-up desires. More so when you spun around to smile at him, the radiance you gave off nearly blinding his mopey self.
 “You’re beautiful…!” Tamaki blurted out the words before he could stop himself, quickly slapping his hands over his mouth with his eyes going wide in a mix of shock and horror. Mortified that he had said something like that without realising.
 Your eyes went wide, the smile fading from your lips and making Tamaki wish that he had legs so that he could kick himself. Unaware that you weren’t upset, but rather the opposite, never having been so earnestly complimented before; it brought an unfamiliar warmth to your cheeks and to your heart.
 “Um…thanks…” Tamaki watched you as you swam closer to him, torn between escaping to the ocean’s depths and closing the gap between the two of you; desperate for both, yet knowing better than to actually reach for the object of his desires.
 With his mind struggling to choose between the two options, Tamaki froze in place at the worst time; allowing you to move closer until he felt your warm toes brush over his wriggling tentacles, fear filling him when you jolted back in surprise. Your eyes scanning the dark waters for seaweed.
 “What’s…wrong?” Tamaki mentally slapped himself for asking while he watched you lower your head closer to the water’s surface, still searching for seaweed that he knew you wouldn’t find. He was just thankful that it was so late in the night, making it nearly impossible for you to see anything below the surface; you weren’t like him, you didn’t have eyes unaffected by the dark.
 .
 “Well, it’s just…I thought that something touched my leg…”
 .
 Tamaki moved his tentacles as far away from you as he could, praying that the darkness would be enough to push aside your curiosity, but apparently, it was too late; your hands closed around two of his now squirming tentacles as he tried to pull them free of your hold.
 “Y-You…you’re a…” You breathed out in amazement, eyes wide as you stared at him and though it wasn’t in fear, Tamaki couldn’t take it. He wriggled his tentacles free of your grip and dove deep into the water; fearing what you would do now that you knew what he was.
 .
 “Wait!”
 .
 Tamaki ignored the muffled cry for him to stop, determined not to lose the strength it took to leave you behind instead of dragging you into the depths with him.
 Before Tamaki could get too far away however, he felt your hands close around his tentacles for the second time, causing him to freeze on the spot; heart thundering in his chest. He was already struggling to keep himself contained after having his tentacles grabbed the first time, but now it was too much; his tentacles were sensitive after all.
 Tamaki turned around in the water to look at you with a hunger that he had been pushing aside for far too long; using every last ounce of willpower he had left not to grab you and take you with him to his cave.
 The two of you remained submerged for a moment longer, staring at each other through the impossibly dark ocean water of the night. Tamaki knew you couldn’t see him, but your hold on his tentacles was enough to give you a direction to look at and like this, he had the rare opportunity to take in your breathtaking appearance; enjoying it as much as possible before wrapping some of his tentacles around your body and swimming for the surface.
 You were a human, which meant that you needed oxygen. A fact that he had nearly forgotten for a moment there, but either way; Tamaki wasn’t going to let you die. Not now, not when he could prevent it.
 “I’m not…I’m not gonna—” Tamaki motioned you to stop speaking as you tried to cough at the words, a suggestion that you decided to follow given that it was hard to regain your breath and speak at the same time. Given that Tamaki was no longer trying to swim away and that his tentacles were still wrapped around your body, keeping you afloat so that you didn’t have to put any effort into swimming yourself; you figured that you had time to catch your breath.
 “I was trying to say that I’m not going to turn you in. I was just…surprised, I guess” You rubbed at your neck as you explained yourself, your words making Tamaki’s stress melt away while thoughts of adoration towards you filled his mind.
 It was mind blowing to him that a human that had just discovered his secret wasn’t about to go running off telling everyone that merpeople existed and it certainly made him love you more than he already did.
 “Though, I am a little confused. I’ve heard those stories for years, listening to them as a little girl…how going out into the water at night is a terrible idea because monsters from the ocean will drag you beneath the water and steal you away” Tamaki grimaced as you giggled at the thought, clearly having no idea how close you had come to such a fate; even if the end result would have been different. Tamaki wouldn’t have hurt you, or eaten you alive like the old monsters of the ocean would have; no, he would have done so many different things to you. Things that would surely have you slap him if he dared to say them aloud to you.
 “Well, you know…don’t believe everything you hear I guess…” He managed to get a light-hearted chuckle out as he spoke, deciding that for the moment it would be better to keep you entrapped in his tentacles; mostly so that you couldn’t grab a hold of them again and push him into his instincts more than you already have.
 “I guess so, but I don’t know…you don’t seem so bad. Maybe having you steal me away wouldn’t be so terrible” Tamaki’s features twisted into unfiltered surprise at your giggled words, blood rushing through his ears and completely blocking out whatever it was that you were currently continuing on with.
 It seemed you managed to notice the faraway look in his eyes while his mind worked overtime to process your joke. Going as far as to reach out with your hand to brush your fingertips against his cheek, ripping him from his thoughts and dragging him back to reality; your eyes locking with his heated gaze the moment his attention was back on the present you instead of his fantasy version.
 “…You would let me steal you away?” He pulled your body closer to his with his tentacles as he spoke, the slippery limbs tightening their hold on you ever-so-slightly while you gulped nervously; unable to look away from the merman in front of you.
 “…I…yes, I guess so” You spoke softly, unsure words tasting foreign to your tongue but unregrettable all the same. There was a certain air of importance surrounding the spoken words and now you found yourself slowly beginning to sink into the water with a smiling Tamaki.
 It was amazing, how his eyes had lit up with joy at your uttered words. Though it made you think vaguely of the old fae stories, where your word was a binding contract and if that were to be held in the same regard with mer-people, then it seemed like you had agreed to a new way of life.
 .
 “You won’t regret it, I promise. I’ve got the perfect place in mind for you, you’ll be safe with me…I won’t let anyone steal you away…”
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worldcakecakecake · 4 years ago
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Feliciano and the King of Hearts
Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth,  we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule,  go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to  be, the King of Hearts.
Chapter 1 I  Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 IChapter 9I Chapter 10I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34 I Chapter 35 I Chapter 36 I Chapter 37I chapter 38 I Chapter 39 I Chapter 40 I Chapter 41 I Chapter 42 I Chapter 43 I Chapter 44 I Chapter 45 I Chapter 46I Chapter 47 I Chapter 48 I Chapter 49 I Chapter 50 I Chapter 51 I Chapter 52 I Chapter 53 I Chapter 54 I Chapter 55 I Chapter 56 I Chapter 57 I Chapter 58 I Chapter 59 I Chapter 60I Chapter 61 I Chapter 62 I Chapter 63 I Chapter 64  I Chapter 65 I Chapter 66 I Chapter 67 I Chapter 68  I Chapter 69 I Chapter 70 I Chapter 71 I Chapter 72 I Chapter 73 I Chapter 74 I Chapter 75 I Chapter 76 I Chapter 77 I Chapter 78 I Chapter 79
Yes, yes, yes! I know, it's extremely late! But you have to understand that I am going through A HELL LOT right now. I am working on an important qualification here in Berlin, so basically studying, plus working, plus German classes, and my school will force me into a volunteer program soon...so that’s more time out from writing. None the less, it does not mean that I will abandon any projects, just know that it could take some time. I wrote this chapter in three different locations since I was moving a lot these last few months :’D Another reason why it took so long. As always, all I ask for is patience, updates will come, I am determined to finish this, especially when we are so close!
But oh boy...chapter 80...sometimes I never thought this story would get so far...but here it is! Enjoy!
                                                              Chapter 80
All Ludwig needed was a simple day of resting and healing. Afterwards, he was heading out of his ward, tall, strong, fixing his hair and buttoning his jacket as the regular business of the day. Feliciano hadn’t stopped crying, constantly asking those around to remind him again that he was indeed…alive. He waited before the room, ready for the embrace that came, tight and loving as the one they had shared before the castle when Ludwig turned back. They would have stayed in this bliss forever, if it wasn’t for an annoyed cough and the applaud and giddiness of a child. Yet in their sway, they turned to spot Lovino, who shone with a gracious smile despite, the very one Augustino alighted the hall with as he was held at the hip.
 “Reminder that there is still another 900 meter tall monster rampaging across Spades, soon to make entrance into Diamonds and well…we should be doing something about that.” He spoke the words with such normality as if he was talking about what he had for breakfast that morning.
 “Where are we to meet?”
 “The usual place, doofuses,” rolling his eyes and moving away. Augustino waved and the couple smiled at him as promise that they would follow.
 They departed, but keeping yet a hold of their hands as they now met a hurried pace with the rest of those who quickened in the halls with the continuing business.
 “All right, were back at this. What has happened?” Ludwig asked with the serious intent he wanted to stay dedicated to despite where he just came from.
 Truly like he had never been gone.
 Feliciano couldn’t help the sudden smile, the tightening of his hold, before he had to breathe it all out and bring forward the seriousness this matter still meant. “The Club kingdom is utterly destroyed, as well as much of the Southern Hearts and Spades kingdom. Khaos took the west to the Spades kingdom, while Destro went on to the east to the Hearts kingdom.” Feliciano was determined to keep this entity separate from Ludwig. “Many of the refugees are here in Hearts under our protection or in Diamonds under their crown.”
 “What are we to do about the lost territories?”
 “I have a plan that I prefer to discuss in the meeting with everybody.”
 “Where is Khaos now and what is he doing?”
 “The last messengers arrived this morning saying that Alfred is preparing himself to defend his capital. Arthur and Yao might leave to join depending on what we decide to do now.”
 “And what are we deciding now?” Ludwig asked just as they arrived before the current meeting room.
 “They’re waiting on us for that,” Feliciano said just as he pushed upon the doors to make their entrance. And to Ludwig’s big wonder, they all stood with brightening smile like stars, glimmering more with whistles and applauses, many with grins that Feliciano hadn’t seen in a while. Ludwig blushed and held ever tighter to Feliciano, showing a prideful smile that told Feliciano enough about how he was there and how it made him more than joyful.
 “Enough of this! We have to act immediately!” Louis shouted, forcing guards to push the King and Queen in and slam the doors behind them, a sort of alarm that brought them back to the stage of it all.
 “I’ll be honest…I never thought I would one day say this, but, Ludwig, Feliciano, we move at your command. What do we do?” Roderich stood, ready and surely with calls to initialize the use of his power.
 Many in the room already adorned armors and shined with weapons, ready to head out that instant to act on a battle they believed now was truly for victory. And Feliciano thought it perfect and with a shared glance to Ludwig, he knew it was the same sentiment.
 Feliciano took a deep breath, taking and leaving his hold with Ludwig’s hand to place them on the table, the simple gesture commanding and confident. Ludwig was rather startled at seeing it, but he was more than content, letting his husband take it all as he wished, trusting and knowing that all the power was in his hands.
 “We are taking everything back. Elizabeta, Arthur, Lili!” All three turned simultaneously. “You are heading back to your kingdoms and you are going to restore everything.”
 “Excuse me?” Elizabeta questioned, almost insulted.
 “I don’t think you’ve read the recent reports, but they’re poisoned lands with nothing we can do to change it,” Arthur cleared with hurt.
 “But we can change it!” Feliciano determined, a height in his voice that seemed like it had echoed all across the castle. He stood up yet again, starting simply with a breath, a meet in his magic to reach, to call. He glowed with marks, powerful and all felt inclined to bow. Yet they didn’t, frozen by the wonder.
 Feliciano didn’t begin to glow in red, to their surprise, he glowed in green, completely taking him until a different voice called from his mouth. “Elizabeta Héderváry and Roderich Edelstein.” Potent and god-like. Both the Queen and Jack trembled at such a force. “My chosen. Come forward and you shall receive my blessing.”
 This was not Feliciano…and Elizabeta and Roderich shook as they moved forward. Despite, they felt a great presence in this being, a refresh in their body that alighted and cleaned them of all kind of turmoil that had inhabited them for months. The closer they came, the more at ease they felt, with bravery to stand straight and unafraid before whoever currently took Feliciano’s body. Feliciano raised his palms to them, Roderich and Elizabeta knew by instinct to show their own palms, feeling a spike in their magic unlike anything. Not even the magic they felt in their crowning ceremony felt like this.
 They were given a new source of energy, an unthinkable power that was not at all of their world…but had created it. It was then that the voice seemed to introduce itself with the power, making clear its name as all was left in their hands. With it, they were given knowledge of its use, like it had been a part of them from always.
 When Feliciano moved back, they exhaled, at peace, smiling, the couple exchanging glances with enough understanding that was ready to act that instant. They gazed back to any Clubian soldiers in the room, and with a silent command, the soldiers knew to mobilize, all the Clubians in the room marching off, leaving the other inhabitants of the meeting lost and perplexed.
 Feliciano reverted back to normal, lights dimming and standing with only his usual childish smile like he had been exchanging some innocent secret of youth. Ludwig still did not understand what was going on, but joined in that smile, still believing and trusting. But quickly he alighted again, this time in blue, a new voice, this of a woman, a call to Arthur and Yao that had them following as they had seen the Clubian royals. And there, as they went through their own exchange, did they understand their mission, the plan and how the future looked brighter. Like Roderich and Elizabeta, they nodded with a glance and all the Spadians left. Lili and Vash took their same responsibility as Feliciano alighted in yellow, taking their action like the rest with a simple leave.
 Those who were left in the meeting room were yet dumbfounded.
 “Uh…excuse me, but…what do we do?” Kiku brought to question.
 “The same as everyone else. First, we heal our kingdoms, we rid of the poison, we bring our people back to their homes and to their normal lives, to their crops, their art, their families, their everyday lives that kept peace. We gather our surviving soldiers and at my command, we head and face Khaos.”
 Simple, straightforward and leaving everyone without a dare to question further.
 “Amore…how exactly do we do that?” Renata still found it unthinkable, to bring back their lands as they were before.
 “Don’t worry. Remember, I have the hand of creation…also Nonna is going to help us,” with a comforting smile that twisted then to a powerful grin, with a sway and jump that was just…not Feliciano. His eyes turned to a crimson red, the purest form of their kingdom color, presenting clear who it was that spoke now.
 “Nice to see you back, Ludwig dearie.” A woman’s voice, with a care that was familiar and belonging. Ludwig bowed, knowing who he was addressing and knowing well to show his respects. But she was gone in just the same twist, having Feliciano back to lead.
 “Follow me, we act now.”
 They were all out of the room that instant.
  As commanded, they all took their trip to the poisoned lands of their respective kingdom. All had blackened, anything that once stood grounded down to the floor in a stench that wanted to rip at the pristine silks and metals of the royals’ dresses. Ellizabeta walked these lands with a head held up high, as if it was the garden it had been before. She was barefooted…but they shined in protection, everything under not giving her a cut or a bruise. The soldiers behind her were aghast, yet they dared to follow behind in wonder, their own armors shinning beautifully under whatever shine Elizabeta and Roderich gave them.
 Elizabeta stopped to breathe it all…and she smiled, peace in her expression even as they stood before the most deteriorated her kingdom had been. To make things more confusing to the soldiers, Roderich took her side with the same ease, grasping her hand and smiling at her with bright confidence. They both gazed forward, closing their eyes and they began to glow in a rare transparency of colors, not green as they had expected.
 Something expulsed from them as they breathed, the light around them spread, slow, gentile, but living and rapid. The soldiers grew in wonder as they saw that ground that the light reflected began to rumble with life, purifying the dirt and letting actual brown healthy earth appear. Such mundanity made some of them already laugh. But the excitement did not stop there , for in that earth, little sprouts of green, with small leaves, began to grow in an impressive rapidness, coating more and more until the land under them was as green as it was before.
 To the soldiers, who had thought all their land lost without a way of returning, it was worth of celebration, some shouting, whistling or jumping. It was the perseverance that made Elizabeta and Roderich’s smiles grow wider. They shared a wink, which already made an agree, and so they breathed in much more, letting that light grow and grow, more of their nation green appearing in their land, bringing with them trees, stone…perhaps a twist of new that Roderich and Elizabeta created from their inner creativity.
 A new flower, a new route, a new curve to old streams.
  In Diamonds, Lili stood at the long shores of her kingdom. The sea had darkened, coating the shores in its misery, away from the beautiful golden it had kept for so long. Sure, her kingdom had not been destroyed as the others, but the royals knew well to fix and protect what they could.
 She had been instructed…by Jabbar…Ace of Diamonds. She felt him still in the power that flowed in her blood, still teaching and lecturing every move, how each point of energy was supposed to be flowed and how to release it all to the image he made in her mind. Yes…she would create it, she would call for it.
 She wrapped her arms around herself, with her breath, the winds around her became stronger, the waves began to pulse along with her heart and she opened her eyes. Like a breath, she could control how they moved, how they shone, beginning to give them back, slowly, their natural blue.
  In Spades, Yao could finally get the ground to still, to stop the shakes it had taken, letting the crumble finally halt. Arthur stopped the storms, for the first time bringing this part of the kingdom the natural light of sun.
 It was done simple, as easily as a snap or a step.
 Arthur and Yao had put their hands upon the ground and in their spread, they brought back the deep blues of the tiles that had been there. One by one they came back, growing just like the dirt, the flowers and grass that laid between them, up to the trees, the houses that had been there, even whole mountains began to wake back to color. Yao intensified that spread, wanting to cover the whole valley. Arthur aided him, adding to the push that could extend to all the crevices, to every single wall, well and plaza that had made it once splendor.
  None of the royals could only keep it to their place. They had to move, spread, fly in the process if they had to. Elizabeta swinging through thicket of vines, with each pull bringing back ancient large trees that covered well beneath them in green life. Lili skipped by the shores as she brought back its gold, adding shells and shine that made it all the more pristine. Arthur enjoyed shooting from the tall perks of mountains, running it all like an orchestra under his command. Feliciano, created music, he brought all the canvases he had ever made to life with the brush of his hand, mind and even his dancing steps as it stabled the ground, bringing back their famous pillars, architecture, sun kissed homes, their vines, their abundance of fruit and the colors that made Feliciano’s smile grow the more in its everlasting sunshine.
 It was starting to look just like home again.
 Ivan at one point had shed tears of relief, kneeling down to the ground to embrace the ground, with the greens he had never known he would have missed so much. Francis could now intensify the kingdom’s defense, a beautiful diamond wall shinning well, keeping the peace and life behind him. He let himself tower tall, like he himself was a shield that would be impenetrable to whatever Khaos would throw. Khaos wouldn’t stand a chance anymore, Francis smirked to himself. Alfred, atop one of the kingdom army dragons, actually cried as he began to lead people back to their homes. Many shouted in celebration, but others still paced with panic, those especially that currently still ran away from the threat of Khaos still in their lands, but now they actually seek refuge in their own kingdom, by a powerful king, queen and jack that healed their home with surely the help of Aces. It was just a miracle how the power, the control, seemed to move the very ground to their bidding.
 Many families returned to their homes to find it standing just the way they had left it. Many wept, finding it hard to believe that everything was there…back.
 And Ludwig, Ludwig rode on confidently on the back of a St. Mark, staring up to his husband, his beautiful, cheerful and powerful, daring, incredible husband, as he himself called upon vines and trees to arise from the ground, taller or just in their same glory with nothing to make different.
 Finally, finally, Feliciano had let the harp free, letting it take its large length, only to play, from the melody, whole new colors coming, bringing back a symphony of red that all sang along with. The air arose with freshness that all wanted to doze with, lay in its rest, confident that they would be safe. Feliciano heard as laughter, cheers, celebration, joined this new music he made, and he would smile down to Ludwig, glad for the shine in his blue eyes and just the hope and restoration in the views between them.
 Now this…was a world they could proudly show their children one day.
 But as the royals of the four kingdoms completed their healing, they met at a point where the darkness was at its strongest, where a fury continued to rage and roars still echoed across all their near distances.
 Khaos was still alive, still destroying, and they had all met where it was time to face him…and end him.
 They had taken camp, proudly the flags and shields of all four kingdoms shinning together in the small rotunda where they all watched as he ravaged on in his inferno. All the soldiers that were in charge of holding him for now had been evacuated, only a powerful shield, with the help of all four kings, over Khaos’s sky as he slashed and scream without a single consciousness of intelligence. They wondered if he had seen how they led the remaining soldiers away, if he knew how powerful they were, how they have healed the world behind him, that Ludwig was back and Feliciano possessed the power of the alignment along with so much more.
 His immense figure didn’t seem so powerful anymore. Kiku raised his hands and could squash him between the pinching of his fingers.
 As if it was as simple as that, Feliciano couldn’t help the chuckle.
 “What’s our strategy now?” Elizabeta asked with serious intent, a large and heavy sword in her hands that was utterly eager to begin cuts and slashes.
 Feliciano sighed, in that deep breath bringing with him seriousness, shinning so much more mature than any had expected. There was a new amber in his eyes that made him so much older and braver, almost exactly like the images they had been taught to believe of Romulus.
 “We take each a direction, you know what you have that is powerful, use it, at all the forces you can call on, weakling him, acting before any throw he can give. Now, whatever he attacks us with, is nothing.”
 Another screech that had them all turning, yet they listened on. For once, with Khaos acting his vengeance behind them, they were not afraid.
 “Diamonds, North, Spades, West, Clubs, South and Hearts, East. You have already been granted protection from the alignment power I will use. Do not be weary of it. No matter what happens, I won’t let anything happen to any of you.” Sure and a decree that was high. Feliciano didn’t have to say it for the rest to already know it.
 Pookie, who had taken his large form, stood ready by Feliciano, with a stance that instantly reminded Feliciano on the grand images they made of his great grandparents riding these very creatures. He petted him lovingly, trying to see, to believe that he could make his own images worthy of being painted on the ceiling of churches.
 “So…do we just start?” Vash was suddenly hesitant, after that show of strength, he started to shake.
 “Scared?” Roderich teased even as he himself began to tremble, all slowly noticing it as well.
 “I thought we were done with that,” Yao scolded.
 “I’ve seen everything fail, everything crash down right before we believed, we had hoped and thought we could make a change… what if this is but another of that?” Vash went on.
 The silence he brought made all explore these very words, a falling to them away from the power of gods they currently possessed.
 “I…I fear the same things,” Ivan…the tallest and biggest of all, the one who they had though would smile his vengeance as he bloodied Khaos…trembled and kept a heavy grip on his staff.
 “We haven’t even begun,” Ludwig tried to make them realize.
 “The most important battle is yet to take place,” Lili joined her cousin.
 “What will make this one stand out?” Alfred wondered.
 “It will be the last,” Francis assured.
 “I’m tired of having lasts,” Arthur complained.
 “Francis is right though,” Feliciano interrupted, mighty and high to get them all to stop, to leave a silence to listen. “It will be the last…” he was sure this time, taking steps forward, all parting to give him a space they felt was too heavenly to touch. “Hear me…” he called out…not just to the royals, but all, absolutely all that were there. “…Hear me…hear me all this very instant!” He commanded with a piercing anger that left some trembling by Feliciano instead. “It is not only Kings, Queens and Jacks that stand here today! Look behind you!” He spread his arms to the still surving armies under them. “You have the entire might of all four kingdoms here! And do you want them to see this…scared and disgraceful leaders with nothing but the armors they created? No!” Shouted like he had been insulted. “No! They see what all our kingdoms represent. Power, Wisdom, Trust…and love…” Feliciano took this opportunity to gaze to all, their attention well taken, the words being well planted. “They will see what these very stances give, power granted and given by the Aces! They will see us fight, they will see us bring Khaos to his knees and then for sure our world will see that we are not a force to be fooled with!” Feliciano saw as the ground seemed to be raised under them, just with the strong belief in their eyes, standing tall to surely meet the fiery eyes of Khaos.
 “The Aces have chosen us…we are the ones destined to make this battle, to make this war…and here, as it will be written about us…will we end this all.” With intent to kill, to finish. There was now no more space to doubt, to hold it, they all stood ready for that very finish. “My Clubians…My Spadians…My Diamonds…My Heartians…remember…we do this for glory.”
 A sudden shrill, and yet no one flinched.
 Some raised their weapons high.
 “For honor,” Ludwig was relaxed, but just as potent as his husband.
 “For riches!” Abasi shouted high somewhere in the crowd, getting many to join in his shout.
 “For the gods!” Antonio bellowed from the perch of his animal, with him hundreds to join in flight.
 “Yes…this…this is it,” Francis raised, along with the magnitude of this crowd that made him feel like the earth of the entire world was to trample over their foe now.
 “The Aces are here! They are at our side!” Roderich knew as he joined in the array around him.
 “For Clubs!” All the greens shouted as they made their movement to take their south, their colors and flags high.
 “For Spades!” Arthur and Yao led to their west.
 “Let’s bring this motherfucker down!” Alfred just had to add as he joined the flight with the dragons of their infantry.
 “For Diamonds!” Lili, raising a hand full of bright and dangerous magic. To the surprise of many, she was the one that gave that loud shout that pushed the forces of her kingdom to the north.
 Ludwig, Feliciano and Kiku stood yet, wondered like children over all the action that decorated even the skies. Khaos’s darkness was nothing compared to the festiveness of their colors as it began to tear about the void. Even so small, the Heartian royals felt taller than everything.
 “For Hearts?” Kiku raised magic, Ludwig raised his sword, looking both to Feliciano for his own decree.
 Feliciano breathed in and when his breath escaped, he turned with glowing marks, a golden halo coronated him, wings released, eyes a deep red, power beginning to ooze from him, and his two companions smiled as if they had always knew this as him.
 “For Hearts!” And he raised the harp, growing large to the desired length and comfort of a bow, Pookie leaning ready for his seating and thus Feliciano took that perch, motioning for Kiku and Ludwig to join him as well. To Pookie, especially in this form, their weigh was nothing. He just as easily sprinted high, to join the rest of the force that created the population of both the earth and sky.
 Feliciano lead them in their direction to the east, coming close to Khaos, who stood in his place surely wondering over all these pests that suddenly came, surrounding him well.
 “Kiku…” Feliciano reminded and the jack of Hearts knew. He bowed in promise and suddenly took a jump out of the flying lion, landing elegantly on the perch of a red glass he created. He extended his arms full of magic, raining it down in a cleansing shower that began to deteriorate the swinging arms and pillars of darkness. Many Heartians came to his aid in intensifying it.
 In each direction, the Jacks did the same, riding much of these dangerous arms that could make this more difficult. Before, just riding of one was a feat that had already killed many of their people. But now…many were rid in easy seconds, people glowing in happiness as there direction was clearer. Those in the ground could run or gallop on their animals free and without a single threat above them. Now, as these dark ribbons weakened, it was much easier to rid with the ease of their weapons or even their fists.
 “Ludwig…” Feliciano called his husband’s attention back, who had been starring at their already beginning success proud.
 Despite the wings, the halo, this new glow of marks, ethereal in gold truly like the grace of an Ace, Ludwig looked on to him like his adoring Feliciano, the friend he had since childhood and now his husband who was expectant to bring their first pair of children.  
 Ludwig nodded, although hesitant as he gathered slight bits of darkness from his power. It was the one thing that had ruined all, but Feliciano had gathered information from the eternal reserve that could help. Now, Ludwig was to test it for the first time. They had no time and place to practice. Yet Feliciano believed and Ludwig…didn’t feel it control him, overtake him. It was his free to do as he pleased. Yes…he could do this. He smiled and made his preparation to do his own jump, but not before leaning towards Feliciano and the Queen of Hearts let himself a freeing of his hands to take Ludwig to his embrace. Their lips came for one deep kiss, one magical and igniting. Ludwig felt himself lift from it, a power that helped him fall and take just the right aim even as he fell midair. He had it locked, just as the other King and Queens did their own. In a powerful slash, all their attacks met and crashed upon the shield that Khaos had been using the entire war. They had never known he had one, but now it was no matter, for they easily took it down. Khaos surely felt it for he stilled and looked upon himself as if he had been exposed. He was, clear, and already Feliciano knew the aim and where he needed to land it.
 “Take me there,” he told Pookie, and the St. Mark nodded and hurried in his flight, a swirl all around the great beast that granted Feliciano the best view to watch all the horror. He smiled to know how much less darkness there was, spotting the natural blues and greens underneath that was beauty of Spades. Suddenly he felt a burning, intense even with his own Ace protection. In his distraction, he hadn’t noticed how Khaos came right to his presence, his monstrous eyes and mouth a pool that with ease he could fall into. Feliciano wouldn’t dare, and at Khaos’s sudden roar, he didn’t even flinch, he only sent him his own wrath with his stare, before pulling on Pookie’s large mane and flying them away from the throws Khaos tried to swing at Feliciano. He made his slides, with the help of the wind he called, Pookie’s speed and just how small they were, easy to find crevices to make their escape.
 As Feliciano reached a good top with a good position, he raised his arms high, his fingertips glowing in light, in power that called and brought from all around as it met and Feliciano let it all rain at Khaos. He screeched horribly in pain, meteors and stars coming continuous. Khaos tried to smash some away, some successful in being thrown at Feliciano’s direction, but Pookie and him, went under or around them well.
 That’s when Feliciano began to worry over his St. Mark, already parts of his fur burning from the attacks. “Pookie, let me deal with this now,” he told him and of course the animal refused. Feliciano sighed, expecting this kind of loyalty, but then it gave him an idea, knowing he could trust it. “Go get Ludwig! Bring him to me!” Pookie understood and flew in that direction, Feliciano letting himself fall in a backward flip, a graceful one that let him play momentarily with the wind, the float, the freedom, before his wings caught them and lifted him up. He copied what he had seen Pookie do, the action coming easy, naturally like it had always been a part of him. He couldn’t help his grin as he went forward with his route, charging something powerful in his hands, growing in an intricate and beautiful symbol that alighted with him well. Khaos saw it that instant and went quick for his aim. He bounced against it, the symbol Feliciano made growing at just his size, with a sharpness and cling that resonated across the whole land. His immense figure fell, and the soldiers underneath feared the worst, but Feliciano spread a shield above them, quick as he made his flight. He had to be quicker as Khaos tried to stand again, not caring over the people he would step on as he raised.
 Feliciano continued with the lightning shields, intricate and beautiful, but this time Khaos was strong enough to stand against each shock, despite his roars of pain, intensifying as surely the stings got stronger. Feliciano abandoned the shield tactic and began to swing them as disks. Sometimes they were excellent and worked well to burn and tear apart at the target, other times, Khaos still swung on and Feliciano had to tactically avoid, under, over, breathing heavily as he quickened and forced to deal with the speed. For the first time, he took the harp, he prepared four arrows from the gold of his magic, powerful and with ease. He aimed and fired, the piercing one of deep lightning that alighted the sky like part of a storm. Some soldiers had to be moved away for caution as Feliciano intensified, as he kicked on with earthquakes in his force, fired arrows that made this storm bigger, called wind, power and light that exploded in burns that some couldn’t even look at, having to ground and stop whatever they have been doing.
 To their success, more of Khaos broke, with crumbles and pieces literally falling, revealing a weak white that some could easily use to bring more damage.
 Khaos was heaving, leaning, having to hold to the ground to give himself some stability.
 “He’s weakening!” Gilbert shouted, his tone and call one that could extend across the plain, some celebrating to it, but it made Khaos huff, a smoke coming out that poisoned once again. He used it to give him leverage, having to heave more and more until his weakening figure could hide in its grey. Feliciano was succumbed under it as well, but with his power, it was nothing. It didn’t sicken him or blinded him, but he couldn’t see all that well in this dusk. He could still keep his flight as he tried to strengthen his vision.
 “Feliciano!” Came the call of his husband, his armor teared, cuts and his hair a mess, but to Feliciano he shined beautifully and with perfection. He dared to stand on Pookie as the St. Mark brought them close together. Ludwig showed hurry and preparation, a leaning towards him that didn’t care over the precipice under him.
 “What do I have to do?” He already offered and Feliciano knew that whatever it was, he would fulfill instantaneous.  
 “I need you with me.” He offered his hands and Ludwig took them and let himself fall into his float, hold and security of staying midair in the midst of this blinding smoke.
 Pookie followed behind as Feliciano rushed them trying to find any sign of the main body. “The blackness works like another shield. It also must be what helps him to get power. All we have to do now is finish getting rid of it and not give him the chance to regenerate. Once it’s crumbled, I can give a finishing blow that will end it all.”
 They had a clear ending spoken, possible and sure. Ludwig nodded between all, finding no hardness even as the monster moved and awakened again, roaring and trying to swing at them between the now dimming smoke.
 “Any ideas as to how exactly were going to do that?”
 “With your help. With the dark magic inside you.”
 Ludwig sighed but found it indeed the best idea.
 “We have to get close.”
 “All for you, liebe.” And there was no fear as they plunged closer, enough that they could touch or even walk upon, for it was slowly losing its burn and hurt. Feliciano had to let Ludwig go, using force and power to run across the body while Feliciano continued his flight, sending slashes, ribbons and symbols intense enough to crack. Ludwig gripped hard upon the body, identifying, taking and putting himself into the magic to disrupt, to break apart with ease. Khaos, noticing Ludwig’s presence, tried to once again tame him, spreading through his veins in darkness, but Ludwig learned well to fight against it, using his exercises from childhood to push back, ever stronger, with burn and shocking pain that had Khaos reverting back, disgusted and without any intention to try again. Ludwig smiled to himself when he noticed, finding himself the winner in this specific battle. His grin only grew larger when no matter how he dug, how he broke apart pieces of black with mere force, Khaos did nothing, only dealt with whatever state this caused as his main target became Feliciano.
 As Ludwig plunged his own darkness into Khaos, even at the top reaches Feliciano flew upon, he could feel his magic working, tapping, using it and adding it to his own purpose. He enlarged the harp and placed one of its ends against the body. He changed it to the fierceness of a knife and let it carve aggravatingly as he flew on. Khaos roared and swung his arms and his whole body to try and rid of him as if he was a mere fly. Whatever reaches, Feliciano managed, even as he continued to move the harp across, cracking and disturbing. He would swing back with whatever part of him wasn’t focusing on flight or holding to the harp, with splashes like waves that extended across the valley in a beautiful gold that reigned to the rest of the soldiers in a wonderment that somehow took away horror from this. Or other times, in a large impress from the tiny figure Feliciano still presented himself as, he would punch with power, a force that shook the earth and pushed Khaos away in a tremble that some thought would blow up the monster finally. To their dismay, Khaos yet continued, if even slowed, if even as this cracking began to reach him all, breaking him and not seeming as intimidating as he had been the entire war.
 As Feliciano tried to finish a last carving spin around the back of his neck, in his focus, he didn’t notice how Khaos shook, how he reached and swatted him away like an insect. He broke from his flight, falling down and landing harshly on the ground in a bang that made some think it had been a meteor.
 “Feliciano!” Ludwig called from the standing he still took on Khaos, stopping his own work to make sure that his husband had survived.
 Of course he did, only groaning as he tried to find his own sitting once again.
 Once the dust settled and Ludwig could spot him, he sighed in relief, just in the distraction Khaos needed at him to plunge, Ludwig tripping not being able to keep his footing, falling but luckily taking a grasp that kept him hanging. Khaos continued his roars and swings hoping to have him, yet Ludwig always managed a holding that kept him still attached. He refused to let himself fall, not when they were so close…so close to finally ending it all. To make it work, he had to keep his place on Khaos’s body.
 Feliciano felt his husbands’ distress, even as he arranged himself, bones, even the ones in the wings he currently possessed, cracking fearsome, symbols on his skin changing, working to get him back to the powerful Ace outlook. Quick he managed to stand, to stretch and roll until he was standing as proud and even menacing. He could feel his love in danger, lightening up a fury that charged within him, angering, angering and angering until he released it in a powerful swing of fire, grabbing, taking all of Khaos and slamming him hard against the ground in a thrust that shook the entire valley. All his people that fought had to lay down in reverence.
 They had done their purpose…now it was Feliciano’s turn to make the last front.
 Dark shards spread across, more white was seen, Khaos was finding it ever harder to stand, to make again his shield of darkness. In whatever attempt he could still manage, he tried to take Ludwig in his clutches. He thought he could threaten, he thought he could still have an upper hand by putting him at risk, but Feliciano didn’t let him, and neither did Ludwig as he bit, as he released and continued on with his own attack, leaving Khaos, even in his immense form, helpless.
 Feliciano ran or sometimes flew as the obstacles came, all across the expanse, like a field all for himself to enjoy from and play in. He could already imagine taking this very field free from evil, beautiful Spadian flowers spreading, safe enough for even children to play. Feliciano was reminded of his own childhood with Ludwig doing the same things on the sunny hills of Italy that he had lived. He could imagine their own children laughing and running as they themselves had once.
 For them, for that future, he practically shouted to himself as he continued his shredding all across the body, with ease avoiding fumes of darkness or whatever minuscule attack Khaos tried to send on him.
 It was becoming less and less as Ludwig dealt with cutting off the parts that created attacks. Khaos couldn’t stand any longer, he could only manage a sitting by the time Feliciano reached the back of his neck. He didn’t even notice he was there. It was enough for Feliciano to take his harp and finish the last of the carving.
 It was time.
 Khaos swung at him weakly, Feliciano could avoid it with ease. All of the darkness in his body began to fall, more white appearing to the point that one could confuse him as a symbol of Pisa instead.
 “Everyone move away!” He had called with Ace potency in his tone, all shaking as they obeyed, other royals mobilizing a quick escape from the area. Yet of all, Kiku was the only who stayed in his place, his gaze locked up on his Queen despite how he stood by the immensity of Khaos’s fallen hip. He could easily be caught in any wail Khaos tried, yet Kiku found it unfair to run away, especially when his King and Queen were still in this fray. He didn’t follow the crowds, he went the opposite direction, trying to meet Ludwig or Feliciano.
 “Kiku! Kiku!” He heard Abasi shout after him, but he didn’t answer, in opposite, he moved faster. He began to reach places that had been emptied, or untouched because they were the most dangerous areas that were left for Feliciano to deal with, and he could tell, as he cough and began to feel stings even with the shields Feliciano had placed on them.
 “Ludwig…Feliciano! Ludwig! Feliciano!” He called hoping to reach them. No one…everything was empty and desolate even with Khaos roaring and shaking still. He leaned in failure, in loneliness, thinking that everything will end like this for him in a desperate reach to be with his friends in this moment of need.
 Something was coming near, warm, friendly, already a smile he could feel on his back. “Kiku!” Came that excitement that he knew well from his Queen. He smiled and fell into Feliciano’s arms as he swept him off with his speed and flight across the immensity. Despite how the marks glowed on his skin like rubies, the impotent halo, the red wine in his eyes and the great wings…Kiku saw Feliciano true, as any other day in the castle before everything.
 “Feliciano, listen, I will not be moving away with the rest. You have to let me help you, and I won’t take any-”
 “Ah, good! I actually need you right now.”
 Kiku held himself for a moment in embarrassment. “What is it?” He instead went straight to his duty.
 “First, we have to pick up Ludwig.” And finally his figure appeared in the distance, a debonair smile as he raised his hand in knowing, no fear at all despite actually standing on Khaos. Feliciano caught him just as some dimming darkness bubbled and exploded in their leave. The remains blended into white with the rest of the ruin Khaos was becoming.
 Feliciano, with simple ease, carried both his King and Jack over the last of the terrain, using the ending elevation to raise him up and start escalating high in the air.
 “This is it. I’ll be aiming him with the largest power in my possession. It’s one Augusta told me about, using the harp.” He suddenly stopped as he avoided a throw of darkness that Khaos tried to make.
 As they continued, he was forced into a sweep that was not the best to be carrying Ludwig and Kiku in. He whistled and in no time came Pookie, offering a stead that Feliciano placed them all in perfect accord. The winged lion didn’t mind at all, he actually purred at knowing the aid he gave, continuing the heights Feliciano intended while successfully avoiding whatever Khaos managed in his last attempts.
 “Then…it will finally be over?” Ludwig desperately hoped.
 “Not quite. Khaos still possesses something important and we have to take it away before we destroy him.”
 Kiku and Ludwig didn’t bother to question what. They just nodded and trusted whatever Feliciano planned. There was no time to hesitate or change especially when they were upon the final horizon.
 Feliciano, to be ready, began a calling, a raise of magic from all across the globe, meeting upon him to create wonderful pillars of light, far, large, slowly encaging the area for what his Ace power planned.
 “With me, you have to aim, and with me you have to fire a serene Teresa.”
 It was a high protective spell to act against large threats. It was mostly used by guards or sorcerers that worked with fire or other sudden emergencies, to protect those they found in wreckages or trying to get out people that were stuck while fires, earthquakes or tsunamis rampaged. Simple, yet with the force they now had, it would be a shield perfect to protect exactly what Feliciano needed. Ludwig and Kiku already began to thread the spell in their palms as Feliciano made Pookie take a pause…finding just the right place. They turned to Khaos’s direction, and despite how he was weakening, his being was still an inferno that they felt coming close to burn them completely.
 They weren’t bothered.
 Ludwig and Kiku already took their aim as they gathered the magic needed, Ludwig including even some dark magic that could be of great use. Feliciano finally let his harp extend in size, just as these far off pillars shined more, moving at the raise of his arms like giant arrows that worked alone in their own bows of air. Their citizens trembled at their immensity, scared if they would even get out of this attack, if the shields Feliciano had placed on them would work. This seemed too large for them to even witness. And then they lowered, setting their target, the harp burning along with the formation that Feliciano created, his being glowing more in its fire and with his own gold. A gorgeous deep red arrow was formed, engraved with vines of gold that seemed to breathe to Ludwig and Kiku. They almost lost their focus because of it.
 It was ready, the aim was set, just as Khaos erupted and tried to reach, tried to swat away Feliciano in his very last attempt. Feliciano only smiled, an intense glow in his eyes as he let go and fired, the arrow, along with the large ones all around him, aiming true at a center that obliterated, blew and exploded. Ludwig and Kiku joined in their own attack, embracing a center where surely laid what Feliciano wanted protected. Although their citizens were blinded in this immense show of power and light, the three Heartian royals saw as clearly as if they were in the purest of waters. Feliciano swam them through it with ease, using his power to protect them as they traversed this fire. His wings grew as extra shield, the gems and marks on his body glowing more to let them survive.
 “Is he gone? Is he really gone?” Kiku had to question in the mist.
 “Wait…” Feliciano told just as a shrill went throughout, chilling and horrifying, Ludwig and Kiku had to cover their ears from it and only Feliciano went through with it, having to maintain their safe within. He let his arms dance in a particular way that called creation, bringing to him any darkness and purifying it in gold and colors, flying off like petals to join the flourishing of this new field.
 He continued this cleanse as he made Pookie ride them throughout, a downward glide that to Ludwig and Kiku seemed like hours. The closer they reached the ground, the more it cleared around them, the more natural blue sky they saw, the more they could breathe, their smile grew and they were confident that no harm as Khaos would ever come again.
 Pookie landed on the ground, Ludwig and Kiku taking their descend with ease, walking now in the start of green grass, the dirt there with only but specks of darkness. Feliciano followed afterwards, still calling with him the remnants, spread across above them in damaged strings that they could think were just strange dark clouds. Feliciano called them all to him, piece by piece making each part disappear in glowing wind, the shrills getting lower and lower until they were only but a squeak in the palm of Feliciano’s hands.
 Now, as everything around them cleared to the usual rushes of this field, the last bits of darkness were but the ones that swam around the small call, the small wave Feliciano kept of a single hand. Whatever last shout Khaos tried to make, it came out like a child’s cry. He tried to whip, but even if it did reach skin, it did nothing, not even redden or create the slightest cut. Ludwig and Kiku stared on stupefied, finding it hard to believe that what was left of Khaos was just these tiny specks that Feliciano kept twirling around.
 “And…” a turn down, “…you are…” up, another spin, only but dust left… “…gone.”
 And there was no more darkness, everything disappeared entirely. Now surrounding them was the natural blow of wind, cleaning the field and bringing the aroma of flowers that was meant.
 It was silent, it was peaceful, Feliciano smiled in welcome to this new era, proper with this new sun that came.
 Khaos was gone. It was over…it was finally over. 
________________________________________________________
Only two more chapters to go ;)
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mythologyfolklore · 4 years ago
Text
Born to be a kleptomaniac!
(A/N: My take on how Hermes stole Apollon’s cows. Bad news: this includes transphobia. Good news: Zeus and Apollon say trans rights.)
.
He had just been born – though through his eyes, his birth hadn't been as joyful as it should have been.
“My daughter! My pride and joy! I will call you Hermione¹ and you will be my beautiful baby girl!”
That had been her first words onto laying eyes on her newborn.
But everything about it sounded wrong, so wrong.
Daughter … little girl … and Hermione?! Really???
Gods came into the world with fully developed minds and knowledge beyond mortal ken and they grew up extremely quickly. That was how this little boy knew who he was – and who his mother thought he was.
Speaking of her, she had just cleaned up the mess from his birth and gone to sleep off her exhaustion, after placing him in a crib.
However, the baby boy refused to just lie in his crib and be bored out of his mind – especially, when his mother had upset him so in the very first minute of his life.
So off he crawled and out of the cave (how? He was a god, that's how!), leaving his sleeping mother alone inside. She would be fine.
Once out in the sun, he couldn't help but be in awe. What a beautiful place the world was! So wide, so colourful, so full of life!
Suddenly, he tripped and fell. As he looked around, sniffling because his knees hurt, he found that he had tripped over a peacefully grazing tortoise. The pain was instantly forgotten.
The little boy laughed, as he picked the tortoise up: “Hello, little thing!”
Then he carried his new-found toy off and killed it. Poor tortoise, but her afterlife would be awesome! After scratching off the flesh, he took the shell, the sinews and a few small bones and fashioned out of them a brand new instrument. “Lyre”, he named it.
For a little while, he tried his new instrument out, plucking the strings and composing little songs.
Then he got hungry.
And wandered off to find some food.
It wasn't long until he came across a giant herd of cattle. Now that was it! Perfect lunch!
The little god grinned mischievously and hatched a plan.
With great care, he selected fifty cows that were grazing separately from the herd. And with a snap of his fingers, he twisted their hoofs backwards to make it look as if they were walking into the opposite direction (damn, was he a genius or what?).
He let them feed some more, while he lit a sacrificial fire, then picked two of them and slit their throats. After butchering them, he portioned their meat into twelve and sacrificed the portions. Eleven for the Olympians, one for himself.
Then he made haste to get home before nightfall.
Sadly, his mother was already awake, as he crawled back into the cave.
“Hermione! There you are, I was so worried! What have you been up to?”, she scolded.
The divine baby frowned at her. “Don't call me that! I'm not Hermione! Also, I haven't been up to anything! I just wanted to look at the world!”
“Of course you're Hermione! Also, you're lying! My own daughter!”
“I'm a boy!”
“No, you're not! Don't argue with me, I gave birth to you! Now tell me, what have you done?! No honest person is out at night!”
He bit his lips (yes, he already had teeth). Why did his own mother not understand? It was true, she had given birth to him and he loved her for that, but she just didn't-
“Answer me!”
He sighed: “Alright, fine! I stole a few cows from some random huge herd I found in Pieria and sacrificed two of them to the Olympians! Happy now?”
“YOU WHAT?! HERMIONE, THAT WAS THE CATTLE OF APOLLON, THE BOW WIELDING GOD OF LIGHT AND PLAGUES!!! HE WILL HAVE YOUR HIDE FOR THIS!!!”
But “Hermione” snickered, because “she” already had a plan.
“Don't worry”, he giggled. “I'll be fine and so will you! I just don't want to live in this dark and gloomy cave for the rest of my immortal life! I want more! I want to be an Olympian! And if Dad says no, I will just become a thief for real and steal their stuff, until they give in! And if Apollon gives us Tartaros, I will just bust into Delphi and steal all the pretty stuff they have there, just for you! Don't wreck your head, I have everything planned out!”
“Sweetie …”, Maia sighed and pinched her nose. Just what kind of goddess had she given birth to?!
.
In the morning Apollon descended onto the Earth to check on his cattle. But as he counted them, he found to his horror, that fifty of them were missing! But there was no way they could have just wandered off! Someone had stolen them! So the god of light went off to look for clues.
Nearby he encountered an old man, who was tending to his grapevines. Apollon assumed an innocuous mortal form and approached the old man.
“Excuse me, can you help me? I was tending to my cattle in Pieria – a herd of white cows with curved horns – but some of them have gone missing. Strangely, my bull and herding dogs are still where I left them, but my cows have strayed. Did you perchance see anything out of the ordinary? Anyone taking them away?”
The old man thought for a moment and scratched his head. “Hmm … now that you mention it, there was something. Last evening, I was digging around my vine plot to check for vermin, when something strange happened. I saw a little child – a toddler at most, can you believe this? – driving a group of cows just like the ones you described. The infant had a staff and kept jumping from side to side and driving them backwards. I know that sounds insane, but-”
“Thank you, that's quite enough”, Apollon interrupted him. “Thanks for the help. Have a nice day!”
Then the light god hurried away to find the … uh, cow-stealing infant. It was a newborn god, without a doubt – probably a new half-brother, Apollon suspected. And sure enough, a bird with long wings (underneath the sunlight he couldn't tell what species it was) flew above him and confirmed his suspicion. Apollon was the god of prophecy, he knew an omen when he saw one.
And there on the ground he found another clue: the tracks of cow hooves. The tracks were pointing into the direction of the meadow, where they had been grazing.
Beside them, there was a different set of footprint: those of a tiny child. Weirdly enough, they were pointing into the opposite direction.
In less than a second the blond god put two and two together and grew even angrier.
“That little brat is going to get it!”, he hissed and followed the child's footprints, until he arrived at a small cave in Kyllene, Arkadia.
Despite his anger he couldn't help but frown, that a small child was living in a cave – still, justice had to be served. He climbed down through the opening and was greeted by the startled face of a goddess. He knew her: Maia, one of the starry-haired daughters of Atlas and Pleione and one of Apollon's many (many) second cousins.
Right after apologising for the sudden intrusion and telling her what the matter was, he demanded to see the baby.
She shifted uncomfortably. “My daughter Hermione? She would never-”
“Let me see her”, he repeated firmly.
Unwillingly Maia stepped to the side, revealing the crib which her child lay, seemingly sleeping.
.
The little one had curled up and pretended to sleep, as soon as he had sensed a foreign presence.
He kept his eyes tightly shut and simply concentrated on the voice of his mother and the other one, which clearly belonged to a grown man (and was definitely the loveliest sound he had heard so far in his young life, but this wasn't the moment for that). That voice belonged to Apollon, no doubt.
Steps that weren't his mother's approached his crib and stopped in front of him.
He could tell, that he was being looked over, but instead of talking to him, Apollon turned to Maia: “Cousin, didn't you say this child is your daughter?”
“… Yes? Why are you asking?”
“Because this is not a girl.”
The boy's heart skipped a beat – could it possibly be …
“What is that supposed to mean?! How can you possibly know my child better than I, who gave birth to her?!”
“Him”, Apollon corrected coolly. “I'm the god of prophecy, that's how I know. And if you love your son, you will deal with it. Now, back to you, you little rascal. Stop feigning slumber. I know that you're awake.”
Damn it!
Slowly the infant cracked his eyes open and tried to look confu- holy Khaos! That expression was nothing short of murderous!
The baby had to think fast and in an attempt to appear totally cute and innocent, he stretched out his tiny arms and pretended to be completely entranced by the beauty of the older god's countenance.
“Pwettieeee!”, he squealed.
For a few seconds the older god did look disconcerted. Sadly it didn't last long.
“Nice try, but I'm not falling for that. Now …” his murderous scowl of murder returned (such a shame, it didn't suit that pretty face), “… where. Are. My. Cows? I know you took them! Spill it, or else.”
The infant pouted: “Why those mean words? I'm just a wittle baby, I was just born yesterday! I couldn't take cows! What are they anyway? I don't know them, all I know is my metera²!”
Apollon laughed, but clearly didn't believe him.
Damn it times two!
“God of lies and thieves!”, the blond chuckled. “That's what you are, little one! That's what your title will be among the Athanatoi³, you mischievous little cattle thief!”
Apollon gathered him in his arms and proceeded to carry him off, despite Maia's very vocal protests and pleas.
Still the little god was smirking on the inside, because everything was going just as planned!
He wriggled around, as if struggling in the older god's hold and with a wave of his hand sent forth an omen (how? Divine magic, that's how!). Startled, Apollon dropped him, but he landed safely on the ground. The light god descended and picked him back up, not without teasing.
The little boy pulled his wraps closer to himself, demanded to know, where his older brother was taking him and kept insisting, that he was innocent of any accusation of thievery.
Apollon only frowned: “Stop lying to me, you little brat! You stole something that belongs to me and I will get it back and you will face the consequences!”
They kept bickering like this and getting increasingly frustrated, until at last, they arrived on Olympos and bust right into an assembly.
Zeus didn't seem surprised in the least, when his favourite son strode in with a child in his arms.
The Scale of Judgement behind his throne certainly wasn't – the weights (each resembling one of the quarrellers) were swinging up and down, awaiting the decree of Moiragetês⁴.
The new-born god couldn't help but note, that Apollon was almost Zeus' splitting image (unlike himself) – same long, blond curls and body type, same knowing glance, even though Apollon's pale skin and golden eyes differed from their father's black eyes and tan.
“Hi, Dad!”, the infant cried cheerfully and unwrapped one of his arms to wave.
The King of the Skies chuckled and waved back. “Hello there, little guy!”
“ZEUS!!!”, Hera screamed and jumped up from her throne. “NOT AGAIN!!!”
“Not now, my drop-dead gorgeous, stunning wife”, Zeus cut her off and turned to Apollon: “Well, my son, what matter is it, that you're bringing in front of the Olympian Council?”
Apollon glared at the baby, before explaining to their father: “This little criminal here stole my cattle!”
“Did not!”, said criminal protested.
“Did too!”, the god of prophecy spat, “And then he had the nerve to act innocent and tell me that he didn't know, what I was accusing him of!”
“I didn't steal anything!”, the child whined. “Dad! He just burst into my Mama's cave and made false accusations and threatened me, even though I was just born yesterday! Help me, he's crazy!”
“Excuse me, how dare y-”
But Apollon broke off, when Zeus burst into roaring laughter.
.
The King of the Gods laughed so hard, that it began to thunder outside and he could hardly keep himself sitting on his throne. Just like Apollon, he saw right through the ruse – yet he still couldn't help but be incredibly amused by his newest spawn's antics.
His laughter was contagious, some of the other Olympians snickered along.
Even Hera couldn't help but grin. “He pulled a prank on Apollon and called him crazy? I like this one!”, she chuckled.
With these words Zeus' good mood was doubled.
“Why, you cheeky little rascal!”, he snickered. “Oh, you're my son, alright! Seriously though, give your brother his cows back. And you, Apollon, calm down. Siblings shouldn't have a falling-out over trivial matters like this. By the way, little one, you made a sacrifice to us Olympians last evening, didn't you? But you sacrificed twelve parts, instead of just eleven.”
“YOU SLAUGHTERED MY COWS???!”, Apollon roared, flaring with fury. “FATHER, HAVE HIM LOCKED AWAY THIS INSTANT!!! TAKE AWAY HIS IMMORTALITY! THROW HIM INTO TARTAROS!!! ANYTHING!!! HE HAS TO PAY!!!”
Zeus held up his hand. “Apollon, I thought I told you to calm down. Now, my youngest, won't you tell me, who the twelfth portion was for?”
The baby beamed at his father. “It was for me!”, he cried cheerfully.
Kronion grinned proudly and fondly: “Ah, I see! You sly little fellow, you!”
He took his newest child from Apollon's hands and held him up.
“My dear fellow gods!”, he addressed the assembled, “We shall be the Council of Eleven no more. From now on, we will be the Dodekathoi, the Big Twelve. So, what is the name of our newest member, my son?”
Of course Zeus knew, that Maia had given their child a name – but he also knew that it was the wrong one.
And sure enough, the baby shook his head.
“Very well, then. I will give you one: from now on you're an Olympian and your name shall be Hermes. Welcome, dear Hermes, to our crazy family! Still though, lead your older brother to where you hid his cows and give them back.”
.
The little boy was ecstatic: he had accomplished his goal to become a member of the council and he had a name – the perfect name!
The only thing that blemished his happiness now was Apollon – or to be specific, the light god's extreme moroseness.
Hermes lead his older brother to the hidden cattle, just like Zeus had told him to, but the blond just didn't stop frowning!
But as he drew them outside for Apollon to see, the light god seemed to relax just as little bit – however, that lasted only until he finished counting them and glowered at Hermes.
“It's only forty-eight. Where are the last two?”
Awkwardly the youngest god pointed to a nearby rock. The hides of the cows he had sacrificed still lay there, drying in the sun.
“Well, my sacrifice had to come from somewhere …”
Apollon gasped, stared at the hides, then at his new baby brother.
“Th-th – h-how?!”, he stuttered. “How the Tartaros did you – how did an infant flay and butcher two grown cows?!”
Hermes shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, well …”
But his nonchalant expression turned into a frown, when he saw how Apollon tore his own hair.
“Letoides, stop! You'll ruin your pretty hair-”
“Holy Khaos, you're already this strong! Only a few hours old and already a cattle thief strong enough to kill two adult cows! That's terrifying! How will it be, when you're grown up?! By Tartaros, you need to be restrained!”
And before Hermes knew it, he was being fettered.
Alone, he laughed, shook the binds off himself and transferred them onto the cows instead.
The light god gawked at this display of magical power, then his face darkened yet again.
Hermes was about to tell him to stop sulking over some stupid cows, when he saw the genuine distress in the older god's eyes.
“Well, that's just peachy!”, Apollon cried, distraught, and resumed tearing his hair (lovely, rich and long tresses of gold, flowing from his shoulders like cascades). “So I can't even make you face the consequences of your actions! No, you just get to do whatever you want without repercussion, whilst I don't even get the satisfaction of making you pay for what you've done! I'm the aggrieved party! You robbed me! Where is the justice in this?!”
The god of light took his anger out on a massive boulder, hitting it with so much energy that it melted.
For a moment Hermes was genuinely scared, but only until the other just plopped down on a rock and buried his face in his hands. Sadly he regarded his older brother. This wasn't right. He didn't want him to be so upset about something stupid like this.
Suddenly he had an idea. From underneath his swaddles, he pulled out his lyre tuned it.
Apollon looked up in interest.
Hermes strummed the strings with his stubby little fingers and began to sing:
“Praise to the Mousai, fair-voiced daughters of Mnemosyne and of cloud-gathering Zeus!
Praise to the richly tressed daughter of Gaia and Ouranos who gave birth to song and dance!
Hail the goddesses of the fine arts and may they inspire me in my endeavour!
Hail to the happy Olympians, the gloriously crowned, golden-throned gods … ”
And he sang of what he knew about the gods, the sky and the earth, the dawn of creation and how everyone had received their portion and domain.
Throughout his singing he perceived, how Apollon's expression gradually softened, until the god of light was completely and utterly entranced by the music.
For good measure Hermes improvised a little hymn to Apollon to dispel any remains of resentment. The blond blinked in (evidently) pleasant surprise and laughed heartily, when the child started to wax poetic about how pretty he was.
“Am I being serenaded by a toddler?!”, the blond asked incredulously. “This is messed up!”
“No, no! I'm not trying anything weird, I just want to cheer you up! Please don't be angry anymore. I didn't mean to make you so upset by stealing those cows.”
“Those?” Apollon motioned towards the nearby cows, which were still grazing despite the osier roots keeping their legs in place. He sighed: “You know what, just … keep the stupid cows. I have so many of them anyway.”
Hermes beamed up to his older half-brother: “Really?”
“Really. But tell me, you wily, little trickster, where did you learn this? And where did you get this marvellous thing? I have never heard anything like it!”
“That's because I invented it yesterday”, Hermes explained proudly. “I'm calling it lyre.”
“I adore it!”, Apollon exclaimed, “I'm friends with the Mousai, but even their music has never touched my heart like yours just did! Such a crafty little genius you are and you've just been born!”
“Awww, thanks! You're a genius too!”
Apollon chuckled and patted his thighs. “Come here, you little coaxer.”
“Yaaaay!”, Hermes squealed and jumped onto the Archer's lap, lyre still in hand.
“I see a great future ahead of you”, the blond prophesied. “I see glory in your name. I see you as a worthy member of our Council, a proud occupant of a golden throne. I see you and your mother honoured among all the gods. And I shall shower you with rich gifts and see to it, that all of this comes to fruition, if you will listen to me.”
“You mean you won't throw me into Tartaros?”, the little trickster grinned.
The Far-Shooter chuckled: “No. No, I won't.”
“Yay! Hey, if I give you my lyre and teach you how to play it, can I be the god of shepherding instead of you? And then you can be the god of music?”
“Very well”, Apollon nodded, summoned his whip in his hands and handed it to Hermes. “From now on you're the god of animal husbandry.”
The brunet laughed heartily, handed his lyre to Apollon and taught him how to play it.
Then they drove the cattle to where they had been before and returned to Olympos.
Thenceforth the Archer and the Trickster were always of one mind.
.
---
.
1) If you're stumbling over this name, Hermione is, in fact, an ancient Greek name and the female version of Hermes. In the epic cycle around the Trojan War, Menélaos and Helene of Sparta (whom you might know as Helen of Troy) have a single child named Hermione. 2) metera - Greek for "mother" 3) Athanatoi - plural form of Athanatos ("Deathless/Undying/Immortal") 4) Moiragetês - "Leader of the Moirai (the Fates)/Guide of Fate", an epithet of Zeus (and Apollon, but mostly Zeus)
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negasonicteenagemess · 6 years ago
Text
Fall For Me peter parker imagine
Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader
Word Count: 5.5k
Request: This is my first ever request so I hope this is clear, clumsy reader has a crush on the adorable peter parker and peter has a crush on the readers more confident superhero self. Kinda like miraculous ladybug if you've ever watched it? Both are like hero partners and peter really wants to know who she is but she thinks they shouldn't know eachothers identities because it might affect how they work. And somehow peter finds out her identity? Hopefully this is okay, I love your writing💌 
No FFH Spoilers (as I wrote this before I saw the movie) But I just finished playing “The Heist” dlc for the spider-man ps4 game, so this has small Black Cat vibes (and also a few other references in the game)
roughly edited
masterlist
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Superhero name: Khaos (Chaos, but spelled in a greek wayyyy)
Y/N and Spider-Man both sat perched side by side on the edge of the dirty top of a New York roof under the dark sky. Well it wasn’t technically Y/N, it was her alter ego; Khaos. Spider-Man and Khaos, the famous dynamic duo of New York. They were the city’s protectors, and everyone looked up to them. Clad in her usual white full body suit, black boots and black domino mask (a mask styled like Robin’s), she gazed at the sky looming above her, starless from light pollution.
“I really miss the stars,” she muttered softly.
Spider-Man turned to face her with the mechanic eyes on his mask slightly widened. “Where’d you used to live before here? Ya know, where you were able to see the stars?” The man questioned, trying to get the smallest piece of information about who she was.
She glanced at him with a small smirk, “nice try, Spider, but I’m not telling you anything.” He huffed, looking down and shaking his head, “well it was worth a try.”
The masked girl raised a brow at the statement and sarcastically replied, “was it though?”  
“It’s always worth a try with you babe,” he cockily said, making Khaos roll her eyes and shake her head.
The girl jumped down onto the nearest lamp post to get closer to the group of men. Spider-Man followed her footsteps, but on a different post.
They both looked over the group, taking note on each man’s position. They’d recently discovered that one of New York’s famous mob families was trying to bust into a bank. They immediately thought of stopping them before the crime ensued.
“I got this one Spider,” Khaos muttered through the earpiece imbedded in her mask. She jumped down, knocking the man in the head before hiding to find her next target.
Spider-Man stealthily webbed the man up and sticking him to the lamppost. He jumped down, nearing closer to the girl. “Okay, what do we do now?” He questioned as he crouched down, looking at Khaos before looking around the entrance of the bank.
“There’s about twelve of them left, and they’re all clustered together,” she stated, looking above the crate she hid behind, “so there aren’t many options.”
Spider-Man looked around, seeing the dozen men, “go in guns blazing?” Khaos smiled at the comment, “well since you’re best at that, then by all means, let’s do it.”
He shot her finger guns, standing up straighter, “this is why you’re my number one girl, K.”
He walked closer and made sure the group of men would be able to hear him. “Hey, do you guys know the way to Rykers?”
All the men turned to face him, aiming their guns at the red and blue target. “No? Well I’ll guess you’ll find out soon,” he mocked, shooting a web at one of the men to grab the gun. Spider-Man swung it around, hitting anyone in a close vicinity.
He chucked the rifle at the man he stole it from, knocking him out. He shot webs at a bald guy, webbing him to the concrete beneath them. Bullets flew out of guns and due to his ‘spider sense’ he was able to dodge all of them.
Spider-Man shot a web, pulling himself closer to the group of men, dodging and throwing punches. “You know, you can join at any time Khaos,” he grunted, jumping over one man to web him with another guy.
He heard her chuckle into her mic, “why? It’s fun to watch you struggle.” He threw a web grenade, webbing most of the men, but still having to deal with five other lads.
“Please,” he begged, his voice straining. Y/N could tell that he sugarcoated his pleas and knew he could handle all of those guys, but she jumped in to help him. Or, flew down from where she was rather. “Hey guys,” she taunted as she levitated in the air, darkness clouding around her hands as the guns in the mob members’ hands were pulled away from them and behind the superhero duo.
“Now, I suggest you boys put your hands up,” she demanded in a sickly-sweet tone, and out of fear, they listened.
Spider-Man webbed them to the wall of the bank. “Why couldn’t you do that to begin with?” He suggested out of breath as he walked close to Khaos when she landed on the ground. Her eyebrows raised, the mask moving with them, “well you wanted to go in guns blazing if I recall.”
He scoffed, pointing to the men webbed to the wall, “what you can do is ten times cooler than what I can do, princess.” She blushed, but Spider-Man didn’t notice due to the nearby police sirens and flashing lights distracting him.
Khaos sighed and levitated in the air again, “gotta call it a night, Spider. Same time tomorrow?” They both knew that was just a harmless joke, as they fought crime together every day.
He smiled under the mask, “you know it darling. I’ll be counting down the minutes.” Khaos rolled her eyes with a small smile, “see ya Spider.”
She flew away into the dark sky as Peter leapt and swung in the opposite direction. He sighed, looking over the New York skyline, “one day, she’ll fall for me.”
Y/N jumped into her room, huffing as she pulled her mask off. “Another day, another city saved,” she mumbled while taking off the rest of her superhero getup. She plopped onto her bed, making sure to set the alarms on her phone. Closing her eyes, she slowly drifted off to sleep.
The next morning at school before the bell rang, Peter walked up to Y/N, Ned, with Betty glued to his hip, and Michelle. “Hey guys,” he approached, pausing the song that was blaring through his headphones.
“H-Hey Peter,” Y/N greeted, with excited nervousness lacing her voice and obvious bags under her eyes. Peter smiled at her, but then to the rest of his friends.
“What’s up?” He asked, stuffing his phone into the back pocket of his pants. Ned took this as his chance to speak. “Oh, we were just talking about Spider-Man,” he stated emphasizing the hero’s name with wide eyes at Peter, “and Khaos at some bank last night.”
The group of teens nodded as Peter glared at Ned. “Y-Yeah they stopped this mob family, and it was awesome,” Y/N said excitedly. The excitement diminished as she corrected herself, “it looked awesome! Do you wanna see the video? It’s security footage from the bank that was released this morning.”
Her smile was bright as the other three continued their conversation. Peter nodded and she eagerly pulled out her phone and went to step closer than him. MJ, watching her movements, took this as a chance to trip her friend, knowing what the result would be.
So, Y/N tripped over MJ’s foot, a small yelp escaping her lips. To her surprise, she didn’t hit the floor. She fell straight into the arms of Peter Parker. “Woah easy there,” he chuckled smoothly with his arms around her, trying to steady her. Y/N’s cheeks turned bright red, unknowing of the small smirk on Michelle’s face.
The group of teenagers paused their conversation at the scene unfolding between the two. Y/N slowly pulled herself from his arms, “s-sorry Pete.” She was so embarrassed, she didn’t know what to say, “I’ve just, it’s been a weird night. I’m really out of it.”
The statement caused Peter to raise his brows and their friends, yet again, went back to their own conversation. “What’d you do?” He questioned, moving his hands off her forearms.
Y/N’s mouth dropped, and she tried to find the words to say. “I, uhh, I stayed up really late… watching the Godfather.”
Peter felt skeptical over her response but quickly brushed it off. “Good movie choice,” he snickered. Y/N smiled and nodded her head, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.    
She opened the video on YouTube, then handed her phone to Peter. She stood next to him and watched as the crime fighting duo fought.
“He’s so cool” he mumbled under his breath. “Yeah, but Khaos is ten times cooler,” Y/N stated matter of factually.
“Obviously,” he said with a playful tone, “she’s a total badass.” Y/N was beaming when she heard this. The boy who she has liked since freshmen year thought she was a badass. Or, well, her alter ego. But nonetheless, she would take that as a win.
What Y/N missed was the longing look in Peter’s eyes. He just wanted Khaos to feel the same way. He had a crush on her ever since they started fighting crime together. It was nice having someone to talk to about superhero stuff. She was so understanding and caring, and she cared about this city as much as he did.
Sadly, for him, she didn’t care about him the same way he did for her.
The bell rang, signaling the beginning of first period. They all bid their farewells as Betty, Ned and Peter walked down a different hall than MJ and Y/N.
“Did you really have to trip me?” She questioned on the embarrassing encounter that happened just moments ago once she was sure Peter was out of earshot. Michelle shrugged her shoulders and they rounded the corner, “oh come on. We both know you’d do anything to fall into his arms.”
Y/N’s cheeks flushed red, “I-I mean you’re not wrong.” She scratched the back of her neck, now wanting to have a different topic of discussion.
“And the Godfather? Really Y/N?” MJ judged. Y/N groaned covering her face with her hands, “I didn’t know what to say. I panicked.”
Michelle laughed lightly, “alright Khaos. Just try not to blow your cover next time.” She patted her friend’s back quickly with the sarcastic retort, Y/N rolling her eyes.
On the other side of the school, after Ned walked Betty to class, with Peter third wheeling, the two began to talk about something…chaotic.
“Ned, I can’t even begin to describe her,” Peter responded after Ned questioned Khaos’s character.
“She’s just perfect. I don’t know,” he stopped himself, realizing that he sounded kind of pathetic talking about a girl who’s name he didn’t even know.
Ned was slightly confused, “so why hasn’t she told you who she is?” They walked through the door of their chemistry class, and Peter just sighed as he dropped into his seat.
“She thinks it’s unprofessional and that it’ll do more harm than good,” he ran a hand through his brown locks, before leaning his chin on his hand. “And no matter how hard I try,” he continued, “She won’t tell me anything about her! She’s like-like a closed book.” He couldn’t think of the proper words, but he knew it’d get the point across.
Ned nodded his head understandingly as the bell rang yet again, causing a good portion of the class to quiet down.
After many tedious hours, school was finally over meaning one thing in Y/N’s mind; time to punch assholes. She made sure to get home as soon as possible to switch into her suit. Once she did, she, gracefully, jumped out the window and flew straight to 43rd street, to her and Spider-Man’s meeting point.
She landed on the top of the building, already seeing the blue and red suit. He was sat on the edge of the building, a pizza box on his lap with a few slices already gone. “Hey Spider,” Y/N, or Khaos, greeted, sitting right next to her fellow hero.
He looked up and nodded his head as a hello, with his mouth was full of pizza. “You wanna piece?” He asked, his mouth full of the cheesy treat. Y/N chuckled, “yes please.”
She grabbed a piece and started munching on the New York staple. “Any plans for today?” She asked before taking another bite. Spider-Man shook his head, “nah, just good ole classic crime fighting.”
“Ah, I love good ole classic crime fighting,” she stated over dramatically causing Spider-Man to laugh. She is amazing. His laughter died down and he just looked at her, through his mask, with an admirable look in his eyes.
It took Khaos a second to notice, “what?” Her voice was soft but was still able to be heard over the loud New York traffic.
He wanted to scream ‘you’re by far the best person in the world, please date me’ but decided against it. “Nothing,” he muttered, going back to enjoying the pizza before him.
“So, how was your day?” He asked, dragging out the final word. Khaos huffed, shaking her head as she finished the slice of the pizza.
“Remember that guy I told you I had a crush on?” She asked and he nodded. He was always so adamant to hear her stories. He liked hearing them because it was the least bit of info, he got from her.
“Well,” she cleared her throat, “I made an absolute fool of myself in front of him.” She groaned leaning her head on his shoulder for a second, recounting the beginning of the school day.
“And he brushed off my idiocy like it was nothing, so I’m gonna take that as a good sign,” she chuckled at herself. Spider-Man laughed too, wiping his gloved hands on the side of his suit.
“You want the last piece?” Spider-Man asked, holding the box so that she could grab it. She eagerly grabbed the food; her hunger soon satiated.
He momentarily left to throw the box away. “Best pizza in the city,” he complimented as he came back empty handed.
“Indeed,” Khaos stated goofily, finishing off the pizza and standing up next to her friend.
“What was you’re day like Mr. Man?” She asked, mocking the tone of reporters while pretending to hold a fake microphone in front of him.
He cleared his throat, “well, as you know, high school is a bummer.” His voice sounded comical, almost like a man from the fifties.
She nodded in agreement, giggling slightly at the current interaction. “Painstakingly long for who knows what? Teenagers don’t deserve this!”
His mockery tone got louder as the gag between the two proceeded. Khaos laughed louder at his newfound ‘anger’.
“Alright, alright easy there Jameson,” she retorted, noting the hero’s fake anger as one similar to the Spider-Man hating reporter. He let out a sigh, “can’t help it. High school certainly is a menace.”
Khaos smiled, shaking her head and looking at her lap. The pair looked up quickly at the sound of sirens. Spider-Man hopped up onto the ledge, now standing.
“Well,” he held out a hand for Khaos to take, “duty calls, love.” She took his hand, pulling herself up from her seated position. He jumped off the building quickly after, swinging through the buildings. Khaos followed hot on his tail, only flying instead.
Their night proceeded with fighting bad guys and helping drunk people get home safely. They both knew that this is what they loved doing, despite the fact that the pair always ended up in bruises, they knew they had to protect the people of this city. Cause at this point no one else could. And respectfully, being Spider-Man and Khaos was something neither of them would ever give up.
So, the next day during lunch, Y/N approached her group of friends at the usual table they sat at. When she appeared, they abruptly ended their conversation, awkwardly trying to pretend that they weren’t just being secretive. “Sorry I’m late guys. Had to talk to my math teacher,” she explained, taking a seat next to MJ and across from Ned.
With a raised brow, she questioned their odd behavior. “What’s up with you guys?” The three of her friends looked between each other mysteriously.
“Um we were just talking about Betty,” MJ saved, diverting Y/N’s attention to Ned’s absent girlfriend.
“Oh,” she acknowledged, “is she okay?” Ned was joyous at her concern and with a small smile he responded, “yeah she’s really sick, but she’s gonna be fine.”
Y/N nodded, taking a bite of her lunch. “Hey Ned, I completely forgot,” MJ’s voice overdramatic, obviously hinting at something, “I have something to do over…there.” She directed towards the back end of the cafeteria at nothing in particular.
Ned caught on, as well as Peter and Y/N but the two of them stayed silent. “Oh, yeah sure.”
Michelle and Ned stood up and walked across the cafeteria. “You gonna tell me what that was about, Pete?” She questioned with a quirked brow.
He sighed, brushing his hands off and leaning his elbows on the table. “S-So they’re trying to convince me to ask this girl out,” he explained, not noticing the small frown forming on Y/N’s lips. She constantly heard about him gushing over some mystery girl, but she never knew who it was.
Y/N nodded her head slowly as Peter continued, “and-and, oh God this is stupid.” He rubbed his hands over his face letting out a sigh.
“Do you wanna go to dinner with me tonight?” His voice was soft, and extremely kind. Her eyes widened and she was stunned. “W-What?” She whispered, leaning in as if she misheard him. He smiled at her action, “I just… I don’t know. It’d be nice to get to know you better. We’ve been friends for so long, but I feel like I don’t really know you.” He scratched the back of his neck nervously.
Y/N was still in shock, with raised eyebrows. Peter chuckled, now filled with anxiety, “what do you say?” She felt like this was all a dream. In what world would this ever happen?
She nodded her head, a lovely smile gracing her lips, “I’d love too.” Peter mimicked her smile, “that’s great! Send me your address and I’ll meet you there at seven thirty?”
Y/N was at a loss for words. The boy she had a huge crush on actually wanted to go out with her. “Yeah that sounds good,” she replied, grabbing her phone and going to his contact to send the message.
As if on cue, Michelle and Ned came back to the table. “Hey guys, sorry for that… kerfuffle,” Ned greeted as he took his seat next to Peter. MJ shrugged, “sorry Ned. I just really needed help...over there. As far away from this table as possible for roughly five minutes.”
Peter and Y/N shared a suspicious glance, both knowing the real reason why they left. “Yeah obviously,” Peter sarcastically retorted, going back to eating his meal.
The rest of the day pursued, and Y/N had a hard time focusing. She had a date with the Peter Parker for crying out loud. The boy she had a crush on for what felt like forever.
So, when the bell rang, she practically bolted out of the school, trying to finish the day as fast as possible. When she was certain she was in a safe ally way, she pulled out her suit and admired it. “God, I love this,” she whispered, quickly changing into the suit.
Grabbing the mask, she flew up and simultaneously put the black disguise on her face. She met up with Spider-Man soon after. “Glad you can make it Khaos,” he said sarcastically, but not with anger, with a playful tone.
“Ah well you know. Had to take my sweet time putting on the suit.” She dramatically retorted, twirling around to emphasize the suit while still in the air.
“And you look as gorgeous as ever,” he theatrically stated, directing his hands toward her to ‘point out’ her beauty. She chuckled at his dramatic flair.
“Come on, what law-breaking citizens do you got for me today Spider-Man?” She asked, finally landing in front of him on the roof top.
He gave her a rundown of the crimes in the city, since he had intercepted police radio stations months ago for this exact reason. So, for hours after this, the pair went around the city, helping people, punching bad guys, the standard superhero 101.
It wasn’t overly unbearable today, so it made the day kind of fun for the both of them. Patrolling was typically like that, though.
“Well, hate to break it to you Spidey, but I’m afraid I’m gonna have to cut today’s rendezvous short,” she confessed after hours of crime fighting.
He snorted, “why? You gotta hot date or something?”
She shrugged her shoulders with a smirk, “maybe I do.” Khaos shot back, walking closer to the ledge. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Spider,” she jumped off the building and from the place he was standing, Spider-Man stared in awe as she flew away.
Since Y/N got a little sidetracked, she got back to her apartment at seven seventeen. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she mumbled as she quickly tried to get ready. At seven forty, she heard her doorbell ring through the house. She squealed, practically running to the door.
Fixing her hair, she slowly opened the door. A smile appeared on her face as she saw Peter Parker look up at her. “Hey,” he greeted with a blush.
“Hi, Pete,” she awkwardly replied, holding onto the door handle still. “Oh, I got you something,” he said swinging his backpack in front of him. He unzipped the bag, pulling out a bit of unkempt flowers.
“They, uh, they kinda got disheveled,” he pointed out, embarrassed by the state of his small gift to her.
“I mean, I think they’re alright,” she giggled, and he blushed like crazy. It was cute. He handed her the flowers and she went to put them in a vase. “You can come in Peter, I’ll just be a sec,” she shouted from some random place in the apartment as she searched for a vase.
Peter walked in, still awkward, while pretending to go on his phone. Y/N came back, the vase with flowers now perched on a table. They soon left, walking to the restaurant that was roughly twenty minutes away. They had the typical random small talk ‘oh how is your day?’ or ‘how’s school been?’
But at the restaurant, which was nothing fancy other than being on the rooftop of one of New York’s tall buildings, it got more personal. He opened up about when he lost his Uncle and how he was an orphan most of his life. Y/N talked about her personal life, excluding Khaos. And it was nice, the date was going well, and the sun was already gone.
Their meals have been done and eaten, but their night continued. “Man, I really miss the stars,” she mentioned as she looked up at the dark, starless sky. Peter’s eyes went wide as he diverted his gaze from the stars to her, “what did you just say?” He couldn’t believe what he just heard. She sounded just like Kha-
His thoughts were interrupted as gunshots were heard. They shared worried looks with one another. Everyone on the rooftop ran inside as quick as they could while Y/N and Peter ran to the ledge of the building to see what happened, Peter grabbing his backpack beforehand.
There was a group of armed robbers, maybe a gang but who could tell, at the jewelry store across the street. “Peter, I think you should go,” she mumbled, trying to gently push Peter towards the door to go inside the building. He looked at her as if she were crazy. “No, Y/N I’m not leaving you. Let’s just both go inside. Khaos or someone will show up any second.”
“Peter,” she started, her eyes going soft, but he interrupted her. “I’m not leaving,” his eyes filled with this desire that she couldn’t explain, so she stopped her protest.
“Do you trust me?” She asked out of nowhere. Peter nodded his head as she stood on top of the ledge, “come on then.” She stretched her hand out for him to take and he looked skeptical.
“What are you waiting for?” She queried, shaking her hand slightly as an indicator for him to grab it, as time was sort of running out. He took her hand in his, climbing on the ledge with ease.
“You ready?” She questioned, preparing herself more than him. Peter raised a brow, “ready for wh-“
Before he could finish, she jumped off the building, dragging the boy with her. At the exact same time she flew up.
“Holy shit,” he shouted when they soared through the sky, and Y/N turned to look in his eyes. There wasn’t a trace of fear in his chocolate orbs, just pure fascination and wonder which slightly confused Y/N as most people she saved were afraid of the distance between them and the ground. That look though, it made her smile. She wrapped her arm around his waist to hold him properly, and he did the same.
She landed in a nearby ally way and brushed herself off. “Y-You’re Khaos?!” Peter questioned with a mix of wonder and surprise. Y/N unzipped her jacket revealing the iconic white body suit she always wore, gloveless of course due to her power. Out of her pants pocket, she pulled out her mask, the sleek blackness of it shining in the streetlights.
“Y-Yeah. Only you and MJ know so please don’t tell,” she pleaded, taking off the pants she wore to expose the rest of the suit. “We can talk about this when I get back.” She recklessly threw her pants onto the ground.
“Dude this is insane. I-I can’t believe that it’s you. I have the biggest crush on Khaos,” he rambled on as Y/N put on her mask, becoming the hero most of New York loved.
She tilted her head a little, out of curiosity and teasingly asked, “how can you have a crush on a superhero you’ve never met?” She waited for a response, but he took too long. As she walked away, he shouted, “wait! Y/N wait!” He ran in front of her, his back facing the direction that leads to the alley’s exit.
“Peter, I’m kinda in a hurry,” she said impatiently, but with kindness.  He shook his head, “no, you don’t get it, I-“
Cutting himself off, he held his hands up in a way to sort of push her from leaving, but without touching her.
“I don’t know how to say this,” he rushed, looking a round as he tried to gather his thoughts. Y/N sighed, “spit it out Pete.” He looked up into her eyes, and without saying anything he pulled his backpack off his shoulders, to unzip it.
“What are you doing?” He didn’t respond, only showing her the contents of the backpack. The Spider-Man suit just laying there. Y/N’s jaw dropped, searching his eyes as a bit of a confirmation.
“I’ll catch up with you,” he expressed softly, going deeper into the ally to quickly change and leaving Y/N stunned. She jumped into the air to go and fight the robbers.
As she got to the jewelry store, she saw the store clerk being threatened by the gunmen. “Come on, why do you guys always use guns? It gets really annoying,” Khaos mocked, using her telekinetic powers to rip the gun out of his hands.
She closed her eyes for a second, focusing on the power manifesting in her hands. As she opened her eyes, she mentally pushed the robbers onto a nearby wall, focusing on keeping them there. She noticed as she did this, a few glass cases broke before her.
“Sorry,” she apologized to the store clerk with a weak smile, who’s eyes were too wide with shock to even notice the damage. Just then, Spider-Man swung through the glass window, which was shot out by the robbers.
He webbed each of the men to the wall as they groaned and thrashed in frustration. Almost systematically, the police cars pulled up in front of the store, as Khaos and Spider-Man scurried from them.
They soared through the air, going to their building on 43rd, which wasn’t that far. She landed there first, taking off the black mask to reveal her face. As soon as Peter got there, he did the same, his hair bouncing as the mask came off.
“Oh my God,” Y/N gasped out of breath, covering her mouth with her hands from astonishment. The shock hit her as she saw the boy she was crushing on clad in her superhero friend’s suit. His muscles looked more defined in the tight spandex, and she couldn’t help herself from admiring him.
“T-This is unreal,” he mumbled nervously, brushing a gloved hand through his dark brown hair. “Part of the reason why I asked you out was because MJ and Ned wanted me to get over Khaos, and-and,” he rushed, but ended up not knowing what to say. “Well to get over ‘Khaos’ “he spoke, air quotes around her alter ego.
Y/N groaned, hitting on the ledge of the building, with her feet still touching the roof. “Does MJ know?” She asked, now looking up at him. He nodded his head and went to sit next to her.
She scoffed, “she knew I had a crush on you. Peter you. Is that what you guys were talking about at lunch? Why they left?” Peter looked down at his mask as he ran his fingers over it, “yeah. That’s why she was so adamant on getting me to ask you out.”
They both sat in silence for a minute before Y/N burst out laughing. “This is fucking insane. In what world would this happen? You had a crush on Khaos.” She couldn’t believe the likelihood of this.
“And you had a crush on Peter Parker,” he continued, looking up to meet her gaze. “If Khaos had to be anyone, I’m so glad that it was you,” he said softly, nudging her side.
Y/N hummed softly, “right back at you, Peter Parker.” As he looked into her eyes, he was entranced by the softness of her eyes.
He leaned in a bit closer, wanting to be as close to her as possible at this point. “I’ve liked you for so long Pete,” she murmured, leaning in closer to him as well.
With his empty hand, he brought it up to cup her cheek, watching her close her eyes in content. She let in a slow breath, enjoying the moment as best as she could.
“Can I kiss you,” he bit his lip as nervousness filled his body, “please?” She opened her eyes, nodding her head, “kiss me, Spider-Man.”
His lips crashed into hers, the nervousness turning into warmth as she kissed him back. He brought his other hand up to cup her cheek, still holding the mask. Y/N moved her hands to grip his biceps
His heart pounded in his chest as she moved from her spot and onto his thighs. Her hands now gripped his cheeks as his own held her waist.
 He pulled away breathless, his lips swollen, and cheeks red. Y/N’s features mimicked his, and to him she looked absolutely perfect. “So” Peter dragged on, “I’m gonna assume you wanna date me?”
Y/N chuckled, gently playing with the hair on the nape of his neck, “I don’t know maybe.” She teased playfully. She leaned in, to get one last kiss, but froze at the sound of sirens.
She whined, dropping her head onto Peter’s chest. “Why do we always get interrupted by sirens and gunshots?” Peter chuckled at her comment, lifting her from his lap to stand properly.
He smiled as she put her mask on, doing the same with his own.
As usual, they fought crime together. But this time it felt different. The bond between them felt stronger as they both now had full trust and honesty with each other.
If was well into the night, a little bit passed one am when they decided to go back to the infamous building on 43rd. It was around the time when they would typically part ways, but they wanted to continue their earlier engagement, even if it was only for a few minutes.
“Peter,” she spoke in between kisses. “I gotta,” another peck, “go,” with another peck, “go home.”
He caught her lips with his again, holding the kiss out a little longer than before. He pulled away, kissing down her neck. “Pet-“ she whispered, tugging his hair softly.
“Just a few more minutes,” he mumbled against her neck, undoubtfully leaving marks. Y/N let out a breath, “there’s a math test tomorrow, I gotta study.”
He pulled away, eyes slightly bulging from his head, “there’s a math test?!” His worried exclamation made Y/N laugh, “yeah, where have you been, Pete. Mr. Hunter has been saying this all week.”
He groaned, “but I don’t want you to leave. I finally got you.” That small display of affection melted her heart. “Trust me, I know the feeling,” she kindly said, understanding the situation and playing with his hair, “but we still have school.”
Peter closed, letting out a deep sigh, “okay.” He dragged out the ‘y’ playfully while it simultaneously held a small hint of disappointment.
She stood up, getting off his lap for the second time that night as she levitated in the air. “Pick me up before school Spider?” Y/N asked as she put the mask on. He smiled as he looked up at her, “you know it darling.”
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criticaltaurus · 5 years ago
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Since I have no chill
My Avatar OC’s for each entity!
Under cut cause length
Buried! Since I love the esoteric meanings, they appear as a kind person who asks you a favor (slightly eye touched) but it soon becomes one thing after another and another until you’re buried in expectations and stress, especially impacts those with anxiety/fear of failure. No concrete design in mind, but probably a diminutive old lady (mama issues yo)
Corruption~ A nice church girl, who goes to church (and reads her biiibleeee) Who just really vibed with God Loves All His Children. When she saw a ladybug in her hair, she thought it was God showing his love to her (from an old saying her grandmother had), and when they started coming from her ears, eyes, nose, mouth, wherever, that’s just proof she embodies Gods love to show to everyone. Honestly well meaning, but thinks people are afraid out of shame rather than Whoops All bugs
Dark. (Okay since it’s so simplistic I have a lot of trouble with Dark but here goes) So they’re a subversive type, going more for blindness than actual darkness. Y’know when you shine a really bright light and it washes away the details of what its pointed at? That’s them, they are/generate such a blinding, washing light, that you’re as unaware as you are in pitch darkness, only it subverts the comfort and safety the light supposedly brings. They’d still be Edge AF tho.
End. A stone mason who makes headstones for people who haven’t passed away yet, but gives a date. Kinda like the weird death prophecy book, if they try to change it, the date will just change, but it’s even scarier when it doesn’t change. Secondary effect: The epithet will also show how one will be remembered, if at all, before inevitably deteriorating into nothing.
EyE. So there’s this one artist whose paintings always have one person looking directly into “camera” to be directly facing the viewer, basically that as a person, no matter where or when you look, you’ll always match eyes with them, and you don’t know who they’re really looking at.
FLESH Face-Stealer. Pretty Stranger-Aligned, but they vibed with the body modification more so than the uncanny valley aspect of it all. They’ll replace someone, murder their friends + Family and switch between them, because under the skin we’re all the same meat after all.
lonely. A simple kind of person, they have the power to warp perception, making someone hyper-aware of any negative social tick on a person, making them feel like everyone is against them or negative towards them.
Stranger? Happy Faces Everyone! Sort of the opposite of the Lonely guy, they’d make everyone around them super positive and friendly, for nor reason! Even the worst people, the most aggressive, will be kind with a big smile on their face (such as “You did this for me? What’d you do with the real *insert name here*) Feel like their kindness is a lie yet? Feel that paranoia set in? Feel the performative nonsense of it all?
V a s t . My main self-insert Sona, the eldritch park ranger! Loves the forest, and you will too! Or you won’t doesn’t really matter! Cause the trees start coming and they dont stop coming!
Web. Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match~ Find me a find~ Catch me a Catch~. Ties people together by “coincidence” and “chance” until they become convinced it’s not an accident, even if its contradictory to their nature. Why did you, who couldn’t care about makeup or skin care, walk into the beauty shop to see the girl who, while never playing a console video game, walked into your game store?  The two would never go anywhere though, always being tugged away by something or other before a match could be made, keeping the two in frustrated, endless pining, while removing any other choices.
Extinction, for fun! A modern tech CEO. Gentrification, anti-homeless architecture, making everything all bland and techy and overpriced until everyone is forced out or conformed, could give Elias a run for his money.
I saved four for last because i’ve come up with a sort of Eldritch Gang Band, and aside from my Park Ranger, i’ve developed them the most. They go by the Misfreaks as a band name, and do some good gigs outside of eldritch monster work
Khaos(Kah-oes) Kween, Desolation avatar, anti-capitalist, lead singer, and has one hell of a baseball bat swing. The most aggressive of the four, and loves to break everything. When she gets all Desolation-y, her bat gets red hot, but her real power is to melt away memories of anything she burns. Hates The Lightless Flame tho.
Hunter King (that’s actually his name). Hunt Avatar, and the moral core and common sense of the four. He keeps their targets on shitty amoral people, but he knows that’s according to his views. Drummer, and his main Hunt power is being a lie-detector, and a killer with throwing knives. ACAP (All Cops Are Prey)
Jack Slaughter, Slaughter Avatar, a bigender person kicked out by her strict parents, youngest in the group (?), main guitarist, basically got adopted by Khaos and Hunter, and is the most brutal of the group. His main power is blood knives. If he cant get any from someone else, he usually resorts to punching herself in the face.
Twist Joker, Spiral...avatar? Honestly none of the others really know much about her(?). Just kinda showed up when they were practicing for a gig, and can play the bass like a pro so no harm done! Scenecore personified, and whenever they talk or move, they leave a trail of rainbow after images, stays pretty close unless they move faster. The most chaotic, most energetic, but also peppiest. Her main power is to give sensory overload. Anyone targeted by her will begin to feel every color, every sound, every sensation more and more intensely until they snap.
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constantconfusion111 · 5 years ago
Text
Etched into your skin - Chapter 4
Here’s the 4th chapter, I hope you’ll enjoy it! :)
Link to AO3
Chapter 1 ; Chapter 2 ; Chapter 3
-------------------------
“I’m not sure I’m in the mood to go out.”
“What? But we already told P’Jeed we were going to play tonight!”
“I know, we’ll be playing, but I’m not in the mood to stay after we finish.”
Lhong sighed deeply, clearly having expected to hear that complain at one point during the evening.
“You haven’t been in the mood to do anything since the start of term Tharn. You have to go out every once in a while and enjoy life. Are you going to stay in your dorm for 4 years without ever leaving?”
To be fair, Tharn did go out sometimes. For classes. But even in his sour mood the man realised that would be a terrible argument to use during this conversation.
Since the discovery that Type must have been avoiding him -it was truly the only explanation he could make sense of- Tharn had been feeling miserable for himself. He had become one of these people rejected by their soulmate. But not only that, he’d been rejected before he had even met them. Talk about bringing bad luck to the next level.
Lhong had let him be at first, occasionally bringing him some food and offering his company to fill the too big room. Forcing him to join the rehearsal of their band. But the man seemed to now think going out was their next big objective to make him go back to normal and had asked P’Jeed to book them some stage time.
Frankly, had it been anyone but P’Jeed, who had treated him with so much kindness throughout the years, he would have called the gig off.
Tharn hadn’t shared the reason for his moodiness and Lhong must actually think it linked to the breakup with Tar, still. Tharn couldn’t bring himself to share his current situation, it would make it… too real. Like he had officially admitted his soulmate didn’t want to be associated with him.
“Come on, let’s go, you can brood in the car.”
--------------------
“So where are we going tonight?”
Type, Techno, and Champ were all gathered at the condo, getting ready to go out for a relaxing evening of fun, alcohol and music apparently.
“It’s a super cool bar, this guy I know is performing there tonight.”
Type frowned at that.
“You don’t know anyone that performs anywhere Techno, who’s that guy.”
Techno huffs, throwing them both a look over his shoulder.
“Certainly not any of you guys! You have the artistic soul of a fork.”
Type raised his hand to hit his friend, but the later dodged at the last second, laughing placatantly.
“I was joking, I was joking. It’s that guy from the music faculty I met last time. Cool dude, I owe him a beer.”
“You need to stop talking to strangers, you’ll get kidnapped one day,” warned Champ, tilting his pack of crisps to get the last crumbs stuck to the bottom.
“Nonsense, the guy is smaller than me.”
“What’s his name,” asked Type, going for casual while his whole body tensed.
“Lhong.”
Type could have sighed out loud in relief if not for Techno legendary nosiness. He’d managed to keep his friend out of his soulmate business for years now by some miracle. He fully intended to keep it that way.
“It better be good, that bar is so far away. We’ll have to taxi if you plan on drinking.”
The three put their shoes on and were out of the door the next minute. The evening was hot and humid as per usual. Many partygoers were already drunk and singing in the streets. Most of them were young looking and probably fellow students.
They didn’t have too much trouble finding a taxi and splitting the fare in three made it quite reasonable. The ride to the bar was definitely longer than usual. Normally, their criteria for picking a bar were: is the alcohol cheap? Can we crawl back home at the end of the evening?
This time, the bar looked more refined, the type of place that could easily become their ‘usual place’. The rumble of the music was audible from the outside, but not to the point of already being deafening.
At the entrance, they were welcomed by a beautiful smiling woman.
“Hello young men. I am Jeed, the owner of the bar. It’s the first time I see you around here.”
“Hello! Lhong recommended this place, he’s playing here tonight, we want to enjoy the live music.”
“That cute boy… Well, make yourself comfortable, there should still be some free tables next to the stage, the boys should start playing soon.”
They all bid her goodbye and made their way inside the bar. It was populated but not crowded and they indeed managed to find a comfortable table not too far away from the front. There were quite a few women all around them focused on the yet empty stage.
“Many pretty women here. It’s really a great recommendation.”
“So thirsty No. If only you could actually manage to get some I’ll be impressed,” replied Type, browsing the menu to see if there were any special drinks.
“The night is long, you can never know what will happen!”
“You mean apart from the usual: you get too drunk to stand and I have to bring you home carrying you?”
Techno was a lightweight and never knew when to stop until it was too late. Type wasn’t a big drinker, he had never actually gotten blackout drunk, which meant he often ended up playing babysitter for his other friends.
“Ah Techno! You managed to come!”
A young man, pretty much the textbook definition of adorable, approached their table as the women around them followed him with their eyes, whispering to their friends.
‘Hey man! Guys, this is Lhong, my saviour. These guys are my friends, we’re all in the sports department together.”
They all nodded to each other in acknowledgement.
“Thanks for coming, hope you’ll enjoy the music. If anything, the alcohol is good, you should try the Lao Khao, it’s very nice.”
“I’ll go order,” said Type, sliding off the chair, patting his pockets to make sure he had some money with him.
“Get me some snacks as well,” requested Champ.
Type rolled his eyes at the predictable request, but nodded nonetheless.
Jeed was behind the bar, and when she spotted him, she immediately approached with a large smile.
“What can I do for you handsome?”
Type put his usual snark on the backsit and offered her a smile in return, she had that mum energy that made it hard to rebuke or be bitter toward her.
“P’Jeed, I’d like to order some Lao Khao for the table. Also some rice crackers and fried eggs if we can.”
“Anything for you, let me give you the drinks, I’ll bring the food over as soon as it’s ready.”
Propping an elbow against the bar, Type gave another look around. The lights were dimmed and colourful, giving a very lively atmosphere to the whole place. As he scanned the room, he noticed his table had been invaded by yet another guy, currently using Lhong as an arm rest.
Even from the distance, Type could see the man was quite tall and well built, much more imposing than Lhong. His dark hair put in a fashionable cut were hiding his eyes just so.
“Here for you, Nong.”
He blinked in surprise at the voice calling for him before grabbing all the glasses and thanking the woman.
Slowly, he made his way back across the room and almost tripped when he made eye contact with the stranger at their table. He’d never seen a man with such large and deep eyes, catching his attention and refusing to let go. The dark circles under his eyes didn’t take anything away from how handsome his face was, angular and sharp, on the contrary. The man stared back, unintimidated by Type’s direct inspection.
Unfortunately, just as Type arrived at the table, Lhong and the stranger walked away and jumped on the stage, followed shortly by two other men.
“Here,” said Type, carefully putting their glasses down.
On stage, Lhong was getting everyone’s attention as the musicians were taking place behind their instruments. The stranger sat behind the set of drums, playing with the drumsticks as he waits for the singer to finish his introduction.
Type never cared much for music. He’d listen to the radio, put a playlist as background noise during his studying, but he never actively got into it. Never cared much for the various bands or artists. Certainly never spared a shed of attention for the drummers.
But here he was, unable to look at anyone else than that guy.
If Type had ever thought the man was handsome before, it was nothing compared to the moment he started playing. His features and his posture immediately relaxed as his eyes closed. He hadn’t even noticed how tense the guy was up until that moment.
“Whoa, they’re super cool!” Techno was swaying from one side to the other, enjoying the song.
“Lhong has a very nice voice,” agreed Champ, nodding along to the rhythm.
Type hummed his agreement, drinking slowly. And then their eyes meet again.
Who in the fucks was this guy.
Only Techno’s joy at the arrival of the food managed to get him to look away.
As talkative and sociable as ever, Techno drew Champ into conversations in between enjoying the music that was being played. Type made a special effort to listen to his best friend, trying his hardest to not stare at the drummer to the point of ogling.
“Who do you think is most popular, musicians or sportsmen?” wondered Techno, staring at the women cheering for the band.
“Musicians. It makes them look more sensitive or some shit like that,” replied Type.
“But, we have hot bodies!”
“Yeah cause these guys are so ugly,” retorted Champ, pointing to the band with his chin.
They all instinctively turned toward them and fuck, Type was an idiot, why did he look again.
The drummer had an impressive build, just like Type had imagined from the other side of the bar. The muscles in his forearms kept on flexing and relaxing with each movement. And where these… veins he could see from here?
“What the fuck…”
Thankfully, Techno seemed to interpret it as a general statement more than a targeted one.
“They are handsome.”
“Here you go,” concluded Champ around a mouthful of salted eggs.
The band played for a while, doing some covers while including a couple of original songs in the mix. They were really good and Type actually managed to enjoy the music despite finding himself uncontrollably going back to the drummer. As much as he never really cared for music, he cared even less for musicians. He never got the whole frenesy around celebrities and concerts and ‘you must see it live’. But looking at the man, maybe he could start to make sense of it.
He didn’t seem focused on the audience at all, the only thing that mattered was the music and his drums. Type couldn’t explain the expression on the man’s face, it was intense and passionate and pleased. And entirely too hypnotic.
Type got up to get himself another drink, put some distance and put clear his head. The music came to an end as he waited, Lhong thanks getting drowned by the clapping of the patrons.
Beer in hand, he got out of the bar and rested against the wall. The air outside was barely fresher than inside, but at least there was some silence. Type sighed deeply, rubbing his eyes.
What was that guy’s deal?
And what was his own deal?
As if summoned by too loud thoughts, the drummer came out of the bar, bag under the arm, rummaging through it thoughtfully, ready to leave.
“Hey!”
Type wasn’t sure which of them was most surprised. He hadn’t called out to him consciously at least. The silence started to stretch as Type was too busy getting lost in the other’s man features to come up with something clever to share.
“Yes?” tried to prompt the man, looking him up and down. Type felt strangely self conscious, trying to relax his stance.
“Mmh… great job tonight in there.”
The drummer offered a half smile, pulling his car keys out of the bag.
“Thanks, if you liked it you should come back again, we play next week too.”
The man walked away, not hearing Type’s ‘I will’.
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khaosgaming22 · 5 years ago
Text
Almighty Down
“The Almighty is supposed to be taken down today. Everyone is watching it.” You say as I rifle through our kitchen.
“I know but we need food, the fridge has been basically empty for two days now. Besides I’ll see it from the Last City.” I kiss your cheek and click the pen to start making a list.
“And aren’t you at all worried what might happen if Rasputin doesn’t follow through?” I give a chuckle at that and you pout.
“Of course not! I didn’t upgrade my bunkers for nothin, believe me Raz will do his job to save us. It’s what he was programmed to do.” I shrug and smile at your pouty face. “You’re cute.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.” I kiss your forehead and you stick out your tongue which just makes me laugh.
“Don’t you worry about a thing sweetheart, I’ll be back before you know it. And I’ll see it from Downtown.” You give a shrug at that.
“Suit yourself. I’m goin to watch from the Courtyard.”
~
“Helloooo!”
“Aleina? What are you doing here?”
“Just watching the show with my hubby. Aleina smiles and leans on Kenneth
“Sup.”
“Hello.” You wave.
“Speaking of... where’s yours?” Aleina asks puzzled. “I would’ve thought he would wanna see this.” You give a nod.
“Honestly thought so too. But he decided food was more important than it I guess. I mean I like food too but cmon, this kinda thing only happens once.” Aleina pats the seat next to her.
“Sit down sweetie, you can watch with us.” You sit down hesitantly above where Shaxx stands usually.
Not much happens within the first hour, but then streaks of blood orange appear in the atmosphere like fireworks. They light up and aim at the gigantic ship that had now taken up a good part of the sky.
“Well whaddaya know, Rasputin really did come through for us. Heh, guess Khaos was right on this one.”
“When am I not?” You turn around immediately.
“Hey! I thought you weren’t coming!” I laugh and set down the blanket and doggie bags of restaurant food from Stardust Tavern.
“And miss this? Oh sweetheart, you should’ve seen this coming a mile away.” I chuckle and give you a box and drink cup. The box has a few slices of pizza with an assortment of toppings.
“Yesssss.” I hear you say and smile as I kiss your cheek bringing you into my lap to sit.
“Comfy?”
“Mm hm.” I kiss your head and start on mine as we watch the skies. Though where we should’ve been looking was the ground.
“Hey check it out.” Ken points over at the far edge where through a haze of clouds the same streaks are erupting from far away trained on the other side of the massive ship. Not long after we see sparks that almost look like stars that seem to be coming from space.
“EDZ. Moon. Io.” Ken observes. “That’s where each bunker is, and where they’re all firing from.
“Um... Io looks like it’s coming right at us...” You say a little worried but Ken shrugs it off.
“Nahhh, Rasputin’s just tryin to get it from every angle he can. That way he can eliminate the debris.” I never anticipated Ken to be so versed in Rasputin’s tech. I looked at him surprised.
“I’ve been busy makin sure my City stays safe. And the people in it.” He smiles at Aleina and I can tell they’re about to get a little PDA so I turn away to look at where Hailey is holding Bee. I keep eating on my home style pasta as the millions of javelins inch ever closer to the Almighty. Soon the core of the ship explodes and minutes later they all collide as the ship bursts with a blinding light. Everyone has been looking up all day but now we have to look away because it’s so bright. We all think it’s over but when we look back it clearly isn’t.
“Uhhh it’s still coming...” You say and I nod nervously. We don’t really know what to do until Ken and Aleina go to watch it fall in a blaze of glory towards the mountain range behind the Tower.
“Should we- oh yup okay.” I get up to follow you as we get a better view of the wreckage. “Hey?”
“What is it?” I smirk and make a heart with my hands as you laugh.
“Really? Now? Alright...” I smile and make one half of a heart as you make the other and hand Ken the phone to take a pic. He gives it back and you peek over my shoulder to look at it.
“That’s goin up on the fridge.” I chuckle and you roll your eyes.
~
It’s not long until the dust settles and the damage crews for the Tower arrive. There’s a large chunk near Zavala that’s been taken out by a piece of debris and a few scrapes of the paint here and there. The sun begins to go down and the moon comes out as we move our blanket over to get a better look at the crash site.
“I’m gonna poke around there once it stops being on fire.” I smirk and slurp up a tortellini covered in a red sauce as you giggle at that.
“Don’t forget to take me too.”
“Of course Wolf Princess.” I kiss your head and you pout.
“Empress.”
“Right, empress. My humblest apologies your majesty.” I snicker and you give me a playful Arc flick.
“Oh stop that you.” I take the opportunity to kiss your lips and you blush with a giggle. I glance back up at the sky in amazement.
“Um Scoutie.” I point up.
“Woah...” We both stare up at the streaks of burning debris that paint the sky. In all seriousness it was probably a bit dangerous that they were falling that fast and in that amount but to us... it looked like a meteor shower right on Earth.
“Don’t see that everyday.” You muse and I nod with a smile. I don’t think we ever ended up sleeping in our bed that night, too beautiful to stay inside while the shooting stars- er... debris, crashed down all around us.
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lordofthemanse · 4 years ago
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MEETING THE KING W/@warriorkhaia
Khaia:
After she ran into Phury and Zsadist, Khaia had called the number Phury gave her.  She left a message and asked for a chance to meet with the king.  Several days later she got a return call with an address and time to be there.  Khaia wrote down the address and then waited for Tuesday night to come around.  
When Tuesday night was upon her, she dressed in leathers and went to the location.  This must be the audience house for King Wrath.  There was no one around, but there were lights on inside.  She approached and tried the door.  It opened and she peered inside.  There two large males just inside, they had to be more Brothers; but she didn’t see Phury and Zsadist.  She stepped inside.  
“I’m Khaia, daughter of Khaos.  I have a meeting with the King tonight.”  
One of them patted her down before he showed her into a room with a desk and few chairs.  Then he closed the door behind her.  She walked around the room looking at the things on the shelves.  There were few books and knick knacks from the old world.  When the door behind her opened she turned to see a large male with wrap around glasses and beautiful golden retriever leading him.  His presence filled the room and she had to admit that he was an intimidating figure.  
“Thank you for seeing me,  your majesty.”  
Wrath:
The night had already been long with instance after instance of disputes: disputes over land, disputes over inheritances, disputes over property, and the most ridiculous of all, a dispute over a mated bed. Who argues over the mated bed of their mahmen and sire? There is one twisted family for you.
Next up on my docket was a female claiming to be kin to Khaos, a brother I had known long ago. Khaos had been exactly that, chaos with a capital “K.” He had a penchant for getting into trouble and leaving everything upheaved in his wake. He was an incredible warrior and loyal to the bone. One thing about him had bonded us, he had no interest in mating a female. He had loved once and lost and it had nearly put him in The Fade at a young age. After being pulled out of a great depression by the Brotherhood, he put it all behind him and moved forward, vowing to never allow the love of a female to control his life, again. Me, I just wasn’t interested in it all. I was 110% a warrior and I lived for the fight and nothing else. So, we made a good team.
The thought that his kin had found their way to the Brotherhood was surprising to me, considering his female had made it clear when she left him that she wanted to be completely free of her connection to him and the Brotherhood. He had told me that he sired twins with her, but he had also told me that she had left him to mate another and had insisted that her new mate was to raise the young as his own. The whole situation had been brutal on Khaos and considering how insistent his female had been when she left, I was certain this couldn’t be one of the twins. So, if not one of the twins, then who? Was it possible Khaos spilled his seed elsewhere? Absolutely. He had sworn off falling in love, not females entirely. But, he had generally been fairly careful with his conquests and not letting them know who he was.
I had asked Saxton to research and find what he could about Khaos and his kin in our tombs. He had found no proof of any other kin to Khaos, aside from his sire, mahmen, and the twins. Tucking the file Saxton had converted into Braille for me under my arm, I took George’s harness in the other and let him lead me into the room. John Matthew was with me for security, as was Saxton, for his knowledge in the matter.
The female’s voice was light, yet strong as she greeted me. I nodded in return and found my way to the chair behind my desk. Once settled, I turned to where the voice had met me and started, “So, I understand you claim to be kin to the Brother Khaos?”
Khaia:
Khaia had to keep her cool.  The word claimed did not set well with her.  She knew who she was from the journals left by her mahmen and her late twin.  Maxus was not her blood nor had he ever acted like a father. He had been the male her mahmen's family had chosen because they thought her true father wasn't good enough.  In her mind, they were tje ones that had gotten her twin killed.  She believed had her mahmen stayed with her father, her brother would still be here.
"I do not claim.  I am his daughter.  Mine twin, named for our father, Khaos has entered the fade as has mine mahmen, Emilia daughter of Moraeu."  She was speaking quickly.  The fear he was going to brush her aside was lurking in the back of her mind.  So many others had, why would he be any different.  
"Your majesty.  I am looking for information on my father.  I… I want to know who he was. What he was like.  I want nothing more."  A soft sigh crossed her lips. "I have been searching along time for anything on him and have had many doors shut in my face. You are mine last hope."
For a moment she studied Wrath.  His wrap around glasses. His poker face.  "I have learned to fight and to protect our race as he did.  I want to honor him."  Her heart was racing and her mind was telling her that even if she produced the ring, she would still not be believed.  
Wrath:
I could hear the tension in her voice, yet it offered no signs of deception. This young female believed she was daughter to the late Brother Khaos, and she had all the facts right. We had learned of Khaos, son of Khaos’ passing. Just as we had known of Emilia, daughter of Moraeu’s passing. There were few that knew of the existence of Emilia, let alone the twins, and no one knew of their names.
When Emilia left Khaos, he had ensured that her request for privacy was fulfilled. He also knew that if his young were ever discovered, they would have targets on their backs, so it was all a well-guarded secret amongst the Brotherhood. It killed him every day that they were lost to him. How could he protect them, if they were so far away? He tried for years to stay close, but that just made everything more difficult… watching Emilia with Maxus had nearly torn him apart. So much so that he finally decided to move away, and depend on the Brotherhood to keep the young safe.
Yes, the twins were a well-guarded secret and very few people would know the names Khaos, Son of Khaos, and Khaia. They would also not put them together with that of Emilia, daughter of Moraeu. This information alone, made me think twice about this female’s claims. Was she really daughter to the late Brother Khaos? If she wasn’t, this was a fishing expedition for information, and I was not going to be the one to confirm any of it.
“I believe, that you believe, you are who you say you are. That does not make it true.” I began, almost hearing the shift to aggression in Khaia’s stance. I held up my hand to John Matthew. “You must understand, we get numerous claims every month, stating that they are long-lost relatives of Brothers past and present. 99% of them are false.” This female had too much correct information to dismiss. Yet again, I did not want to be confirming dangerous information about the real Khaia to a stranger.
I remembered that Khaos had once told me that Khaia looked just like Emilia. Unfortunately, Tohr and I were the only two Brothers that ever met her, that were still alive, and I was of no use in verifying Khaia’s looks. “What you have told me today, does not add up to proof.” I was careful with my words.
Khaia:
When he hadn't accepted who she was, her ire started to show.  She was tired of being a liar by so many, when the male that was no doubt a Brother started to move forward she was ready.  If it took a fight to prove who she was, so be it.  Just as she thought it, Wrath held up his hand and the male stepped back.  
Khaia pulled the chain from under her shirt.  "I have mine father's ring.  He left for mine twin, mine mahmen never gave it to him.  It was with her things in a envelope with a letter from our father." She held it out even though she knew he couldn't see it.  How could she prove who she was?
"Then tell me how I prove who I am?  I have mine mahmen's journals and mine brothers.  In his he mentions meeting a male when he was a teenager, the male had our eyes and that our mahmen knew him well.  Khaos was sure he was our father."  
Her hands were at her sides gripped into fists. "I have very little memories of him.  The last I saw him I was very young.  I remember dark hair and a booming laugh that was infectious." Her eyes stayed on Wrath.  " The only thing I have to offer as proof besides his ring are the journals."
In her heart she knew if he didn't believe her, she would never be able to claim her birthright. She knew there was a training program and that females were accepted.  Her mahmen never wanted her young to follow in their footsteps, but fighting was instinctual to Khaia.  It was what she was born for.  
Wrath:
Thinking carefully here, there was much at stake. If, on one hand, this was not Khaia, giving up or confirming any information could be deadly to the real Khaia. Then again, if this actually was Khaia, she belonged with us.
A plan began to come together in my mind. “The ring.” I extended my hand in expectation. This female would have to know, if she were offering a ring as proof, we would want to be able to examine it.
The second part of my plan was going to be pushing her patience, and I knew it. But, I had to be right on this one. It would involve sending her away today, in order for her to return with the journals she spoke of. The journals of Emilia would be proof enough, if they told the tale we all knew about. Plus, when she returned, I could ensure that Tohr was here to put eyes on the female. He would remember Emilia and be able to validate the resemblance.
I waited for the female to respond to my request for the ring.
Khaia:
The ring was on its chain around her neck.  She had held it up for all there to see and then as he spoke she ran it over the chain.  Then froze when he asked for it.  It had not been off the chain or her neck since she found it in her late brother's things.  
Reluctantly she removed it.  "I want it back.  Even you don't accept me for who I am, daughter of the brother Khaos, it's all I have left of my father." Khaia placed the ring in his hand still on its chain.  She felt everyone in the room staring at her.  
She was waiting for his next demand.  Would have to be her mother's journals.  They told how Emilia met Khaos.  The romance they had.  When the twins were born. Her mother had recorded every detail.  
"I'm sure you want more then just the ring."  Her eyes stayed focused on him.  She dare not look at the others.  They no doubt felt she was lying like Zsadist had.  
Wrath:
My fingers engulfed the ring as I closed my hand around it. It definitely felt hefty enough to be one belonging to a Brother. I passed it to my right, handing it over to Saxton. “Take care with this ring, while you verify it’s authentication.”
“Aye, sire.” Came the stoic response from my trusted attorney and friend. He was the ultimate professional when it came to matters of the Brotherhood.
Turning back to Khaia, I continued my requests. “We would also like to see the journals, to authenticate your history. I understand this is a lot to ask, but you must understand, if you are who you say you are, we need to believe it beyond a shadow of a doubt. You cannot just come in here with a story and expect us to bow down. If we were that easy to accept the truths of everyone that comes in here with a claim, we would all be dead, as would the people we are trying to protect. So, make another appointment to bring back the journals for us to review. At such time, we will return the ring to you. If this is not acceptable to you, Saxton will give you the ring back now and we will not see you again.” I hated to be harsh, but if she was telling the truth, she had nothing to hide. If she was not, we would lose nothing to have her turn around and never come back.
Khaia:
Her thoughts had been correct.  She had thought he'd want the journals.  Actually, that was what she had thought he'd want most and she was now kicking herself in her mind.  She should have brought them with her.
"I will get them for you, but like the ring I expect them back undamaged.  My family is gone and I had hoped to be welcomed into the one my father had chosen as his."  She had wanted to say she didn't see that happening, but she bit her tongue.  Better to see what happened then allow her blunt nature offend the King.  
"Thank you for seeing and I will setup another appointment." Khaia noticed the male standing to Wrath's right motion to her step over to him. He handed her a card with a date and time on it.  She met his eyes and thanked him. Then stepped back waiting for Wrath to dismiss her.  
Wrath:
The obstinance in her voice reminded me of Khaos. If she were to turn out to be his kin, the tenacity that she obviously oozed with, definitely came from him. Although, remembering back, Emilia had a stubbornness of her own. It would be no surprise that a young of theirs had the strength that this female obviously had in spades. If she only knew how much I already respected her. “As King of the Brotherhood and this race, you have my word that we will take the utmost care with your belongings.”
I stood up and grabbed George’s harness. “I will see you soon, young Khaia.” Turning, I made my way out of the room. I was eager to call Tohr and get his take on the whole situation. I also wanted to make sure that when Khaia came back, he would be available to be at the Audience House. I would need his eye on Khaia to confirm or deny the resemblance to Khaos’ lost Emilia.
Khaia:
With his words, Khaia looked around at the Brothers that were there.  She had dreamed of fighting a long side of them.  Of learning from them.  At this point, she thought it may stay just a dream; however, at least she tried.
Turning on the heel of her shoe she headed out of the audience house into the cool night air.  She stopped and  looked up at the sky.  No moon could be seen, she pulled her hood up before walking away.  
-END-
#MeetingTheKing #SASBDB #BDBRP
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apveng · 5 years ago
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She Is Not Kara, Damn It!
Here is the third part of my story. The first part, Khao-Shuh, is here. Second part, Why Do You Need Supergirl, Anyways?, is here.
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“Alex, are you listening to me?” Alex picked up the dress that lay on the floor and held it up for her daughter to see. And, hopefully, accept. “This, Hope. You are wearing this to school. Not a Bat Woman custom.”
Into the phone, she added. “Of course, I am.”
“The Bat Woman fever is not down, yet?” Kelly asked sympathetically.
“No, Mommie. I am wearing black and red to school today. Ms. Hamza would love it. She loves Bat Woman. She told me so.” Hope stubbornly shook her head.
“I did ask you not to bring her so many Bat Woman comics.” Alex glared at her daughter. “But, when does anyone ever listen to me?”
“Ha! I could recite all the issues that you bought her, Dr. Danvers.” Kelly retorted.
Alex ignored that inconvenient truth.
She assumed her no-nonsense mother expression and said clearly, “Hope. No. You are not going to wear Bat Woman to school.” When her daughter’s chin tightened in response, she added. “And, no means no. You can wear your Bat Woman costume on Saturday, not today.”
“Kel, I need to go. Otherwise, she will never listen to me.” Without waiting for Kelly to say goodbye, she hung up. And then rolled her sleeves for battle.
********************************************************************************
Apparently, Kelly hadn’t considered her own warning sufficient because she got a call from Nia as soon as she reached her office.
“Hey! Alex, how is it going?” The overly bright voice, not to mention the odd timing, confirmed her suspicions.
“I am alright. I am not going to lose my head to a White Martian pretending to be Kara. Can we get this over with please?” Alex returned. The way her friends acted one would think she was an irresponsible teenager not a 36-year old working mom who had served as the director of the DEO.
Nia protested. Thankfully, a call over the intercom announcing J’onn, M’gann and an unnamed visitor saved her. “Gotta go, Nia. Duty calls.”
She steadied her breathing, snapped a professional smile on her face and opened the door, closing and securing it after J’onn, M’gann and the stranger—the stranger who looked nothing like Kara—came in.
“We thought it best for S’lynn to come here in another form.” J’onn said once they were seated.
Not knowing whether to feel grateful or irritated, she looked at S’lynn Sh’onkend. According to the report M’gann sent over, S’lynn was a soldier and had been with the rebels for nearly a hundred years. She carried herself like a soldier too. Easy and full of self-assurance but alert and ready to move at a moment’s notice.
So, different from Kara.
“Thank you for agreeing to do this.” She meant the words. To have been fighting so long for peace, against your own species, and now to come to a completely strange planet and agree to go incognito against her own people. It was a lot to ask of anyone. She had nothing but admiration for this woman.
“Of course, Dr. Danvers. I couldn’t do anything else.” S’lynn returned.
Brief and to the point. Alex liked this woman. Of course, that might change once she saw her in Kara’s form.
After a round of thorough questioning about Kara, she nodded at M’gann. “She is well prepared, M’gann. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Realising she was stalling, she nodded at S’lynn. “Would you change? We can see how well you can copy Kara’s mannerism and demeanour.”
Thankfully, unlike her friends—who seemed to have forgotten that they voted unanimously for this very thing—none of them protested. S’lynn stood up, and as Alex braced herself, changed into Kara.
No amount of preparation would have saved her from feeling like being run over by a truck.
This after all her preparation. After she had gone through old albums and videos that she hadn’t glanced at for so many years. Rifled through memories that she had buried so deep that she hadn’t realised she could even access them. Listened to songs and jokes and game nights each of which sliced like knives.
Only the sympathetic look on the woman’s face, so unlike Kara—who would have been at her side eyes full of worry, not looking from six feet away with a stranger’s distant sympathy—saved her from completely losing her mind.
She had to go through her breathing routine before she could regain her composure. J’onn, M’gann and S’lynn waited without commenting. She was grateful for their forbearance.
“Alright. Could you show me how she, I mean you, walk, fly, act? Just anything Supergirl or Kara Danvers may have reason to do.”
“Yes, Dr. Danvers.” The voice—so familiar, so beloved—sent another set of chills through Alex. How had she got the cadence so pitch perfect? It was almost as if she had taken training from Kara herself.
Alex’s wonder, admiration, and dismay only grew as she conducted the tests. There were a few differences of course. Mainly in how S’lynn reacted to and acted with Alex—she was as familiar with Alex as she was with M’gann, her mentor and leader, her actions full of respect and affection; but the warmth that Kara kept specially for her, which Alex had missed every day, every moment since Kara left, was missing. In everything else, S’lynn was the perfect Kara double. Even J’onn couldn’t have done better.
She supposed she should be thankful that S’lynn couldn’t imitate Kara’s intimacy with her. Otherwise, she might have been in trouble. The way her heart pounded, double-time when she saw certain actions, so familiar and so strange, she wasn’t sure she was completely safe.
There was nothing to be done about it but to be vigilant of her own heart. She had made a promise.
So, she continued.
********************************************************************************
As that first week passed, Alex found that she could actually use S’lynn as a data point for her detection program—now renamed, quite originally, “SK”, after S’lynn and Kara. At least, it wouldn’t make industry leaders raise their eyebrows like Kara’s imaginative product name had. M’gann gave her the go ahead and a few other rebels who could help her, so it wasn’t long before all her focus was diverted from El Mayarah to SK.
It was still hard for her. She found herself continually taken aback at S’lynn’s ability to play Kara so perfectly. Even accounting for Martian ability to share memories, which gave S’lynn J’onn’s and M’gann’s memories of Kara, the quality of the work was beyond her comprehension. Thank goodness no Martian can read her mind any more, or she wasn’t sure she could have kept up the façade in front of all the people she was working with. As it is, she found it tough to keep her cool around her colleagues and S’lynn.
She had to remind herself, constantly, that S’lynn is not Kara.
It also made her work itself difficult. Her earlier detection program had been based on mind waves and a few communication cues. The limited availability of test subjects had constrained her. J’onn and the few she knew maintained other forms only for short periods, so the very immediacy of their act was built into her models. It, she realised, was different when they had someone like S’lynn who had everything near pitch perfect. Alex couldn’t after all find a person who was as familiar and close as she was to Kara for every employee who worked at every organisation under threat from infiltration.
Biometrics, such as fingerprints and retina scans, were of course out of the question since these were perfectly copied by even the least prepared of her Martian subjects. DNA scans pretty much defeated the purpose and was too wide and intensive in scope to help given that the infiltration was already underway. And there were privacy concerns. She needed something unique to Martians but something that wouldn’t give warning or impinge on anyone’s privacy.
What was she supposed to do?
“Problems?”
Alex heart went into double-time at the voice. She is not Kara, Damn it! She took a moment to settle herself. “Just trying to identify the one characteristic that makes a Martian a Martian.”
S’lynn drew her eyebrows together. Oh my God, how does she get even that little squiggle that Kara gets when she worries about something correct? “Given we need to rule out DNA and mind waves, I am not sure either.”
Alex was about to nod when a sudden explosion startled them both. As always, without waiting to move, Alex was at Kara’s side in a flash. It was when she caught the hand, bare except for the material from the suit, that she faltered. Not, Kara, S’lynn. She remained frozen for a moment and had to be pulled down by S’lynn.
As they remained huddled on the floor, S’lynn’s arm around Alex, waiting and wondering whether the project has been discovered and if they were under attack, for the first time since M’gann had announced her plan, Alex felt at ease. What an idiot she had been. She had kept her physical distance from S’lynn believing that it would only increase her pain. Turns out, all she had to do was touch S’lynn’s skin to realise, deep within her soul, without a shadow of a doubt, that she wasn’t Kara.
She lacked Kara’s warmth that always brought sunshine to Alex’s mind. Of course, she did.
The door opened and Brainy called. “It is alright. It was just a test gone wrong.” He reached them, gave his code, and then pulled Alex up. “Director Danvers, are you alright?”
“I am not Director anymore, Director Dox.” Alex repeated perhaps for the hundredth time in the last week.
“Ah! Yes. It is you being back at the DEO. Some portion of my mind refuses to accept the update.” He tapped his forehead in thought. “I don’t know why.”
Alex rolled her eyes and waved her arm at the door.
Once Brainy left, after giving her an overview of what had gone wrong outside, she smiled at S’lynn. “I have found the solution to our problem.”
S’lynn brightened. “You have? What is it then?”
Alex’s smile broadened. “Turns out you are not Kara.” At S’lynn’s confused look, she explained. “I mean, your body temperature is different from a Kryptonian’s.”
S’lynn slapped her forehead. “Of course. We should have realised.” She looked up at Alex hopefully. “Now, we could get the detector made easily, right?”
“Yes.” Alex nodded. “So, let us get it going, Supergirl.” Alex said that last with relish. They were careful to use “Supergirl” whenever they were together, “Kara” being out of the question. Alex had been professional about it. And, it had been hard. Now though, she can say the title without her heart doing a confused little dance. S’lynn was not Kara.
She would never confuse any shapeshifter with Kara. Why had she thought she would?
With her heart both light and heavy, Alex got back to work.
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Notes:
I will have the next chapter ready in a couple of days. Thank you.
Any scientists/engineers reading this, please don’t curse this lapsed engineer for her product design and modelling skills. Thank you.
I used this cool name generator for S’lynn’s name.
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