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spiritedstars · 9 months ago

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Spirit Meets the Bones XXVI

Genre: Angst/Romance/Drama Warnings: Mentions of physical abuse. Author's Note: check out this lovely new art of my babies ;;

shoutout to @abruisedmuse for being part of this journey with me!!

tagging: @climb-the-mountian / @vanserrass / @zenkindoflove / @animezinglife / @readthelastpaage / @teddyhoneybear / @positivewitch / @krem-does-stuff / @clockwork-ashes / @carolynmezzosoprano / @carnythian / @runningwiththeoceans / @secret-third-thing / @readychilledwine / @goldenmagnolias / @thedarkinmansfield / @mali22 / @maidr-00 / @electromagnetic-waves / @eastofatlanta / @moobell55 / @bibliophiliaxvignette / @devilsfoodcake22 / @moonfawnx / @weesablackbeak / @ladywhilemia / @alohaangels / @eachies / @feysandfeels / @thelovelymadone / @corcracrow / @dawneternal / @sinnerrsworld / @gracie-rosee / @mage-neve / @queenoftheworld1998 / @wolvesnravens / @illyrianvalkyrie / @that-golden-lyre / @ladystarrynight / @rityrooroo / @thewilderheart / @rainbowsnowflake

Find it all here.

His mother wouldn’t see him that day. Or the day after. And Eris knew better than to push. He knew she was waiting for her bruises to heal before she’d allow him to see.

Now, he stood before her private gardens spelled to keep out anyone who wasn’t desired and swallowed hard.

He let himself take a few moments. Let the both of them have the space.

He didn’t know why this incident hit him harder than the others. It was terrible each time his father decided to lay his hands on him and his mother but this time…Eris had felt it so much worse. This incident felt different. Like for once, it could be the turning point for them.

This was where the tide could shift.

The only bright light was the presence of his wife next to him. The delicate hand that had come to rest on his own. Eris glanced down at the soft touch.

“Are you sure it’s alright for me to be here?” Iris asked gently. “I know this is her private garden and not anyone is allowed in.”

Eris glanced at her lovely face and wondered how lately, she always seemed to know what to say to him. He glanced down, focusing on Lyra and Atlas, his hounds who had joined them today.

He never liked to need anything or anyone. It was a weakness that could be exploited.

But his wife…Once the aftermath of his father’s gifts wore off, Eris wondered if he’d feel less inclined to let himself want her – if he’d let some walls come back up. It had only taken Iris smiling at him as they went about their day together to know the answer would be no. His walls had crumbled to pieces as easily as his resolve did when it came to her.

He needed her by his side more than he had ever needed anything else.

“She welcomes you at all times.” he finally said quietly and looked up to offer her a small smile. “She granted me permission for you to be here. I’d like you by my side.”

And he watched her expression soften. She had been going soft around him so much lately.

He had spent the last few days only wrapped up in his wife, kissing, touching, and what shocked him the most, talking.

Eris didn’t think he’d spoken to anyone as much as he’d spoken with her the last few days alone.

But it was the intimacy that was between them now that was building. The routine of waking and sleeping together. Of slowly, less hesitantly, being comfortable with the lingering touches. Being a safe space together.

Iris felt Eris take a small breath and then squared his shoulder before moving. They walked through the opening of the garden and she felt the buzz of magic as the shield allowed them through.

As Eris and Iris entered the private garden, the atmosphere immediately shifted. It was as if they had stepped into a world entirely separate from the harsh reality outside. The garden was a hidden sanctuary, lush and tranquil, a stark contrast to the turmoil that typically plagued their day-to-day life.

Eris led Iris along a cobblestone path that wound its way through a colorful array of flowers, carefully manicured hedges, and a small, serene pond. The sweet scent of flowers hung in the air, mingling with the distant sound of a babbling brook and the autumn air crisp around them. It was a testament to the magic that protected this place – a refuge within their world.

They walked in silence, their canine companions moving around them, their steps quiet as Iris drank in the beauty of the sanctuary. She could easily see why Lady Enya spent so much time here and peeked a glance at Eris. She didn’t miss the tension in his shoulders.

Eris’s thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. He was grateful for Iris’s support, her presence like a lifeline amidst the chaos. He knew that he'd never truly opened up to anyone like he had to her in the past few days and having her here of all places, made their progress even more significant. The bond…though they hadn’t gone farther with it, it was there, growing stronger, evolving into something he couldn't bring himself to name but cherished in a way that would always scare him.

Eventually, they reached a secluded alcove at the heart of the garden. A white marble bench invited them to sit, and maybe another day, Eris could bring Iris here to enjoy the peace this place offered. They could sit together and absorb the serenity of the place while sneaking a kiss or two. For now, he could ground himself in her presence as he spotted his mother in the distance.

She was seated on a wrought-iron bench beneath a canopy of wisteria, her eyes distant as she stared at the pond's still waters. Eris felt his chest tighten as he neared and couldn’t imagine how bad it had gotten between the High Lord and his wife for her injuries to be still evident. They were faded – healing, and yet, as always, his mother had a grace and strength about her that no pain could ever take away.

Eris gave Iris a small, grateful smile before gently squeezing her hand. "Thank you — for being here with me," he whispered.

Iris turned to him, her eyes filled with warmth and an understanding that always knocked the wind out of him. “Thank you for letting me be here,” she replied softly, her fingers entwining with his. “I’ll wait here with the puppies as you two talk. You can let me know when you’re ready.”

Eris nodded, squeezing her hand before letting go, his heart swelling with emotion and it was moments like these that made him grateful for this one decision his father had made for him. In a twist of faith, his father had given him what he’d never offered his own son – support. She was slowly becoming his anchor. His�� solace.

As he neared, Lady Enya turned her gaze towards him with a faint smile that slowly fell at the sight of him.

He knew what she saw when she looked at him with this hair. He saw it too.

And Eris’s heart ached as he saw the love and sorrow in his mother's eyes. At the lines of silver she blinked back furiously, her mouth set in a thin line. She had been through so much, and gods, he wished he could have shielded her from it all. He had tried. Gods knew he had tried.

And now she had to look at him and see more of the man she hated.

“Mother.” Eris greeted gently, standing across from her. He could almost see her pulse thumping wildly as she took a deep breath, then another.

“My son.” she replied and immediately held out her hand towards him. Eris swallowed and with a small smile, let her guide him to sit next to her.

He let his mother take her time as she tenderly touched his face and then his hair, her expression shifting between emotions he didn’t want to think too long about.

And Eris knew the exact moment when it dawned on his mother why he looked this way, who had done this to him.

A heartbeat of silence then another before he could get his mouth to work again.

“Do you like my new look?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

A muscle in Lady Enya’s jaw twitched before she leaned forward and held his face gently between her hands. “You still look just like me. Everything about you is all mine.” she said softly. “And you are handsome in every light.”

Eris scoffed, a small smile finding its way to his face despite the shattering of whatever was left of his heart at her words. “As my mother, you are obligated to believe that. You think that of all your sons.”

The corner of his mother’s mouth lifted a fraction. “That’s because all my boys are handsome.”

“Your other sons are baboons. I am the only handsome one.” he immediately objected and a small jolt of joy burst through all the hurt at his mother’s chuckle. He couldn’t help that he would always be a boy who wanted to make his mother laugh. A boy who wanted his mother to be happy.

Lady Enya tapped his cheek gently once then sat back. “Despite what you think you see, you will always look like your mother. The look suits you.” she said then added firmly, “Do not think otherwise.”

Eris nodded but didn’t say a word, afraid his relief at her words would be too obvious if he opened his mouth. His mother had waited two days to see him and though it had worried him, Eris was suddenly glad she had waited; he wasn’t sure his new look would’ve been easier to digest had she seen him earlier.

“Will Iris not join us?”

The question made him blink, and Eris followed his mother’s gaze back to his wife, admiring the flowers where he left her.

“She will.” he said with a small smile. “But I thought it was best for us to check in first.”

His mother seemed to understand as she nodded, her hands folding in her lap and Eris couldn’t help his worry – his anxiousness and need to ensure she was alright. He knew Iris of all people understood but…shaking his head, he met his mother’s gaze. “How are you feeling?” he asked quietly and didn’t miss his mother’s jaw clench at the question.

A beat of silence passed before a quiet sigh slipped through her lips.

“I’d rather ask you that question.” Lady Enya said, glancing at Eris. “I wanted to see you sooner but I…could not.”

Eris’s fist clenched at his sides. He knew exactly why and yet…

“I would’ve wanted to see you regardless, Mother.” he replied quietly then ran his tongue over his teeth before adding, “I’m alright. I managed.”

Lady Enya’s expression shifted slightly – with guilt and something more. “I am… alright as well. I managed.”

Frustration clogged his throat at her response even though it mirrored his own. He knew their Head Healer was the best at her job and she had discreetly worked with him and his mother too many times to count but it had been three days and he could still see the outline of her bruises. “You say that and yet what he has done has still not healed.”

His mother’s shoulders straightened, her hands clenched into fists in her lap. “Nothing he has done will heal while he’s still infesting our lives.” she said bitterly. “I will not glamour myself in my gardens. It’s enough I have to do it everywhere else.”

Guilt immediately clogged Eris’s throat and he forced himself to swallow before sighing. “That’s not how I meant it, Mother.”

A tense silence fell between them and Eris couldn’t help but scan her all over despite his own scars still healing, he could sense some lingering discomfort in his mother as she sat next to him. He clenched his fists, trying not to picture what his father might’ve done.

“Do you need anything else at the moment?” he asked her gently. “Is there anything else that is bothering you?”

His mother gave him a small smile and reached for his hand, squeezing it. “I am fine. I’ll need a few days of easy movement but I am fine.”

A beat of silence followed her confession and Eris had to choke down the anger that surged through him. He tried to control his response but couldn’t help the hiss, “Days. It’ll take days for you to fully heal?”

Lady Enya’s gaze sharped. “Eris. What’s done is done. This isn’t new. This isn’t any different.”

But those words did nothing to soothe his anger and gods, his temper was on a very thin leash. Eris forced himself to swallow, tasting ash in his throat as he stood. He forced himself to move, to pace, running a hand through his hair as the rage of everything coursed through him the way it always did every time this happened. His father taking it out on his mother wasn’t new, true, but it was the fact that this thought was always a reality to them that made him want to scream. It may have been a few days but his rage never really left him.

He should’ve been there to take the brunt of it all. It should’ve been him.

Eris didn’t stop his pacing but forced himself to glance again at his wife who was now watching him, looking at him with that concern of hers. Gods, they had even dragged her into all this and Eris didn’t even want to consider what his father would do if their bond was scented. If they took that step and his Father became aware –

“Your flames –” his mother managed to say and Eris realized a beat too late that he’d erupted again. He glanced at his hands, engulfed in his fire, steam licking his footsteps, and forced himself to take several deep breaths. He couldn’t afford to let himself go like this and yet…he knew he could do it here – with the two people he could trust.

“It’s getting harder for you to control it, isn’t it?” his mother asked and Eris managed to glance at her as his body calmed.

“The last few days have been more stressful than usual.” he answered tightly and Lady Enya closed her eyes, her hand coming to gently rub at her temple.

Silence surrounded them once more and Eris couldn’t help but think about how hard they were both trying to manage their emotions. Because control was always needed in this place. If you lost control, you lost so much more than that.

Lady Enya swallowed, then took a breath and said, “I’m sorry.”

“Mother. Don’t –”

“But I am. And I always will be.” she said firmly, her hand dropping back to her lap as she looked up at him. “I cannot go back and change time. I cannot control what is out of my hands and neither can you. I will be alright. I will be fine.” Lady Enya gripped his wrist, “We will be fine, Eris. As we always are.” The smile she gave him didn’t reach her eyes.

“Fine.” Eris spat the word then shook his head with a weak scoff. “I hate that word,” he said. “Things have been far from fine for years.” He shrugged, helpless and frustrated all at once. “Am I supposed to wait for him to get worse with you? With me? With my brothers? With my wife? Am I supposed to wait until he finally snaps one of your necks and I watch you all die? Will we be fine then?”

He watched as his mother glanced down at her hands and Eris hated himself for speaking to her that way, for unleashing his fears on her. But he couldn’t help it. Things were getting worse and he was getting desperate and she was his mother. His mother.

“We will be fine.” Lady Enya repeated more firmly and met his gaze. “We will be fine and ready for what is to come.”

A beat of silence passed once more and Eris felt his chest tighten.

“And what is to come, Mother?” he asked, careful with this expression but deep down, Eris was begging his mother to say the word. They’d all be waiting for so long but he would never push, never rush a moment like this. He just didn’t know how much of this he could take. He didn’t —

“Sit. Take a breath.”

Eris shared a glance with Iris, who was still standing as she watched him from afar, her fingers curled in the folds of her dress. She gave him a small smile and it embarrassed him to admit how that small smile seemed to ease the tightness in his chest.

Forcing himself to calm down, Eris flexed his hands and then slowly sat beside his mother as her expression sobered.

In the peacefulness of the garden, surrounded by the beauty of nature, time seemed to slow as Lady Enya swallowed once more and took a breath.

It took a moment before she finally spoke but when she did her voice was filled with quiet determination. "The Autumn Equinox is coming.” she said, her gaze fixed on the rippling pond and Eris’s brows furrowed.

“Yes, it is.” Eris confirmed with a blink. “In three weeks time.”

“Yes.” Lady Enya replied and she met her son’s gaze. “It is a time where we put away the old and bring out the new. Where change is expected and…welcome.”

Eris felt his pulse quicken, the beat of his heart thundering in his ears and he clenched his fists, waiting for his mother to say more.

“Indeed,” he agreed quietly. “Change is in the air.”

“Change…is coming.” Lady Enya said slowly. “And I think it’s time that I – that I am ready for it."

Eris froze as the gravity of her words hit him. He blinked. Then blinked again, his eyes glued to his mother’s face as his heart raced at the implication of what was said. On what his mother was finally requesting.

The weight of years of suffering seemed to hang in the air, and he couldn’t help but think back to Elain’s vision.

“Every caged bird finds a way to flee. Some are stained red while some shed their cloaks and reign free.”

Elain had also seen fire and blood but Eris didn’t have any doubts that the eagle flying free was the one caged in front of him.

His mother sat rigidly in place as they glanced at each other. As though weighing her decision between them and yet…he sensed something else as he gazed into her russet eyes. A flicker of relief. A glimmer of hope. Hope that could bloom as the seconds ticked by.

Hope that they had been living for.

“Your fire?” he asked carefully.

“Burning bright.” she said, her eyes filled with a glow of pride he would never get tired of seeing. “And he’s none the wiser.”

He swallowed hard. They had worked so long on getting over the fear of her magic his father had instilled. After everything his father had done, poisoning the love for the fire in her, Eris hoped his pride showed on his face. His mother was a phoenix. It was time she rose from the ashes.

“The Autumn Equinox.” Eris breathed.

“The Autumn Equinox.” Lady Enya confirmed and he couldn’t help but notice the slight trembling in her hands as she said it. “The invitations went out last week.”

Eris reached out and held both of her hands in his and lord, did Eris want to find his father and break his face into pieces at the tremble in his mother’s lips. “Are you sure? Do you feel prepared enough?”

Lady Enya took a shaky breath and nodded sharply before saying the words she’d held on to her heart for so long, “I’m – I’m ready to leave.” she breathed. “It’s time to get out. I need to get out.”

A heartbeat of silence passed then another as the weight of the words sank into the air around them, as mother and son shared a look of understanding.

Eris finally took a breath, steeling himself as he nodded. “Yes. Good.” he said and gently kissed his mother’s hand. “It will be done. I will make sure of it.”

“Eris.” she whispered and her voice had a warning in it. “You have to be careful. He will not take it well.”

His lips curled in anger. “He doesn’t take anything well but we’re done caring,” Eris said. “Your word was the only thing we were waiting for.”

“I’m sorry it took so long,” she said and blew out another shaky breath. “I’m sorry you and your brothers have had to bear the consequences of my decisions.”

Whatever anger Eris had felt disappeared at the guilt weighing his mother’s words. He didn’t know what to do with himself as he watched her lips tremble and blink back tears.

“Mother, please don’t — don’t say that,” he said gently. “You don’t have to apologize to me when I know better than anyone else what it’s been like. We know. We understand.”

“It doesn’t excuse it. Having to wait so long,” she whispered then her expression soured. “And now I’m running. Like a coward and leaving you boys to clean up my mess. I wanted to make him pay. I wanted to make him hurt.”

“The only thing inexcusable was anything he’s done,” Eris said firmly. “We have been bearing the consequences of his actions. Do not bear more than you should. More than you have.” His expression hardened as he said, “You are one of the bravest people I know. Do not minimize how hard it was for you to stay and how brave it is for you to finally leave and get away from it all. While I would never deny you the killing blow you deserve to give, I’d rather you be as far away from him as soon as possible instead. We will deal with him.”

A tense silence filled the space between them, the only sound a small sniffle from his mother that broke his broken heart even further. A part of him died when she wiped a few stray tears.

“How do you give me so much grace?” she asked softly. “How do you not resent me when I resent myself so much? I can’t imagine Lucien and — and him do not feel that way.”

Eris felt his shoulders drop as he gazed at his mother’s face, her expression stricken. “There is only so much we have control over, Mother. You did what you could.” he said quietly and waited a breath before adding, “And sometimes I — I do get resentful. I am always angry about the way our lives have to be. But my anger is never about you and more that we are in the situation to begin with. I know the burden you bear and I know how tired you are. How can I give you anything but grace?”

Lady Enya’s lips trembled again as she hastily wiped away her tears. “And I know the burden you bear, Eris. I know how exhausted you must be. Don’t think I’m not aware of how often you step in. Of all that you do in the shadows. I know. We all know.”

Eris felt his face and the tip of his ears heat. He wasn’t above admitting to himself how much those words meant something to him. To know, everything he had been slaving over these many years wasn’t in vain. That despite the way his relationship with his mother and siblings had to be, his care for them was seen. Acknowledged.

“Then we only have a little more to bear.” he said and squeezed her hands. “We will get it done.”

His mother took a deep breath and then nodded. Eris let her have a moment, his hands sliding to his knees and squeezing as his mind wandered to the many things he would need to start buckling up for if he only had three weeks to prepare for his mother’s departure.

Two things complicated matters. His brothers and his wife. Eris ran his tongue over his teeth, his hands tightening on his knees again before relaxing them and turning to his mother.

“In the meantime,” he began and licked his lips. “I have two pieces of news to share with you that I hope will bring you a little bit of joy until it’s time.”

Lady Enya’s brow furrowed. “I could use a little joy.”

Eris gave his mother a knowing look and then took a deep breath. “Your son has complicated matters for himself.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific.” Lady Enya said, straightening. “I have more than one menace I call a son.”

Eris snorted, then sighed and quietly stated, “Izak.”

Lady Enya froze, tension lining her shoulders. “What about him?”

Eris worked his jaw and then spoke. “You are aware of his attraction to his commander’s daughter, yes?”

“Of course.”

“Well. He has…eloped with Helene. They are now married and living together.”

His mother blinked rapidly, her mouth opening then closing then opening once more to say, “He did what?”

Eris nodded and rubbed at his temple gently before adding in an even quieter tone, “That is not all.” he said then cleared his throat. “Congratulations. You’re going to be a grandmother.”

Lady Enya’s hands flew to her mouth with a gasp. “She’s with child?”

“Yes.”

“They eloped and are now expecting a child together?”

“I’d say unfortunately but that feels a little rude.”

His mother fell silent and Eris watched as different emotions flickered across her face until she settled a hand over her heart, her mouth curling into a soft yet sad smile. “I can’t believe he actually did it.”

“You knew about his intent to marry Helene?” Eris asked curiously.

“I’m his mother. You’re not my only son who tells me about his love life,” she replied and Eris rolled his eyes. “He told me years ago…he knew she was the one. He hasn’t wavered from her since.”

Eris couldn’t help but sneak a glance at his wife, who was still exploring the garden, his hounds keeping her busy. He wondered if Izak had felt Helene sneak up on him or had he been hit over the head like a boulder with his feelings for her. He wondered if his brother felt like he’d ever be worthy of his wife. If tying her to this family would ever be worth it.

“I’d say I’m happy for him but we both know this makes things more difficult.” he replied and hated that the smile slowly faded from his mother’s face.

“Oh gods,” she muttered, her hands falling back on her lap. “Your father is going to ruin everything for him.”

“Not if I can help it,” Eris promised darkly, rolling his shoulders back. “I’m going to go see him today. Finn and Emil will likely join me. We will figure it out.”

Lady Enya nodded, her expression hardening. “What would you like me to do?”

Eris pursed his lips. “I don’t know that I want you in the forefront of anything.”

“Eris.” his mother chided. “I already am. You cannot shield me forever.”

“You say that but I will shield you till my dying breath if I could,” he said simply. “You’re my mother.”

“As your mother, I should be shielding you.” she retorted, her hands fisting in her lap. “That is my job. I should be shielding my children. Do not deny me anything in my power.”

Eris softened. “I would never deny you anything.”

“Then how can I help?”

He scowled. “Do what we always do. Redirect the attention to something else,” he said. “After I meet with all the involved parties to discuss the ball, I’ll let you know how we can proceed.”

Lady Enya’s mouth went into a thin line and it fell silent between them for a few moments until she said, “I will try to plan on my end. My sources can help.”

Eris nodded tightly. “Keep it as limited as possible. The less people who know, the better.”

His mother nodded then sighed, straightening once more. “I could use your other news of joy now.”

He clenched his fists. Eris’s gaze shifted to his wife then back to his mother and he rubbed the tip of his ear, feeling his face slowly heat. Why did it embarrass him this much to share his own news with his mother? His life had literally turned on its head since he found out and she was the first person he had wanted to tell. His mother’s words had guided his approach with Iris and in a way he would never admit to anyone, Eris had wanted his mother to see that she had raised a son who would do right by his wife even with the terrible example of his father.

His mother had been one of the only people who knew how much he wanted his own person and Eris had found that in the most unexpected way. His wife was now closer to him than before, in a way no one else would ever be.

In his most private thoughts, when he wasn’t battling his self-loathing and embarrassment, Eris had yearned for a partner. He never considered he’d be telling his mother he had a mate. A wife, yes. A mate? Never. He didn’t deserve that and yet…here he was. He wasn’t sure how to casually drop this news. He pursed his lips and glanced at his mother who watched him in amusement.

“This definitely has to do with your wife, doesn’t it?”

Eris scowled at his mother. “If you start making fun of me, I will not share anything.”

His mother had the nerve to chuckle. “Alright. I won’t make fun.”

He narrowed his eyes at his mother who smiled gently at him, making his ears heat again. Eris rolled his eyes and crossed his arms to battle his self-consciousness then cleared his throat. “Iris and I,” he began slowly then licked his lips. “Well. We found out about something important. Significant. To us both.”

Lady Enya fell silent and blinked. “If this is you trying to tell me the two of you are also expecting a child, I don’t think my heart will handle it.”

Eris’s expression flattened. “Mother. I work quickly but surely not that quickly.” he said with a snort. “She barely tolerated standing next to me not too long ago.”

His mother took a breath, a hand over her heart. “I would’ve been happy for you regardless but I do think it’s wise to wait a little longer.”

He frowned, glancing down at his hands. “I don’t know if I ever want children,” he said quietly and met his mother’s gaze. “Especially if he’s still around.”

Lady Enya reached out to squeeze his hand. “I understand,” she said. “Does Iris know you feel that way?”

“We haven’t discussed it yet but I have a feeling we’ll reach an understanding given the circumstances between us.” he said and licked his lips once more, glancing at his wife.

Lady Enya glanced curiously at Eris, following his gaze to his wife and then back to her son. “Circumstances?”

Eris met his mother’s gaze. “Do you remember when I described to you how I felt around Iris? Since the beginning? That there was this…pull I couldn’t explain.” he said and his mother nodded. “Well. It all makes sense now.”

He watched his mother’s face processing his words and a strange tightness filled his chest as her eyes widened in delight.

“Eris.”

His face heated as he nodded quickly, his heart beating furiously as if he were finding out the news himself all over again. Swallowing and trying to maintain a sense of underwhelming calm so he didn’t throw up, Eris murmured the words with an embarrassed frown, “She’s — we’re mates.”

“Oh, Eris!” his mother engulfed him into a hug that he wasn’t prepared for and Eris awkwardly patted her back, his face flushed. “This is wonderful news. I’m so happy for you!”

“Thank you, Mother. I’m – we’re still coming to terms with what it all means but we’re on the same page of where we stand on the matter.”

Lady Enya pulled back and held his face in his hands, beaming at him. “You’ve wanted this for so long and Iris is so wonderful.” she gushed and quickly wiped at her eyes. “I knew she would be good for you from that first night.”

“Mother.” Eris chided, wanting to die at the way his emotions were starting to indeed overwhelm him. “She threw a chair at me. You should’ve been worried.”

“I raised you. I guarantee that chair was a kindness.” she said with a snort and Eris scoffed in disbelief at his mother.

“Don’t let her hear you. She doesn’t need the encouragement for violence.”

His mother chuckled and the sound lightened a little of the darkness in his chest. “No, I don’t think she does.” she agreed. “Is she alright with me knowing?”

“Of course,” he said. “Lucien knows as well. I…I wanted to make sure she had somewhere to go should she need to.”

“Oh, Eris.” his mother gently touched his cheek and his heart hurt at the too-knowing look she gave him.

He patted her hand with a thin smile then nodded towards Iris and the hounds. “Let’s hope I don’t make her miserable enough that she does need to go there.”

Lady Enya shook her head with a small smile. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that,” she reassured him. “I see the way she looks at you.”

Eris watched Iris toss a stick for the hounds to chase after and felt a tingling sensation in his spine when she laughed at their antics. “You think so?”

“Oh yes.” his mother replied. “And more importantly, I see the way you look at her. You won’t give her a reason to want to go anyway.”

Eris took a breath and slowly released it. “I hope so.”

“A mating bond…” his mother started and Eris shifted at her wistful tone. “You decide what it means to you but should you decide that it’s worth it…” The Lady of Autumn fell silent as she swallowed, fighting back emotions she couldn’t put into words and Eris took his mother’s hand and squeezed. It took a moment before she added in a whisper, “What a gift it is to have your soul tied to someone who was made specifically for you.”

“It’s terrifying to think about.” he said, his eyes following his wife and he felt his mother chuckle next to him.

“I know it must be so overwhelming for you,” she replied then patted his hand. “But I also know you will cherish it like nothing else.”

“I will try my best,” he said softly.

And Iris must’ve felt his eyes on her because she turned and met his gaze with a smile, waving at them.

His hand lifted on its own accord and Eris waved in return, the corner of his mouth curling up.

And gods, he could watch her for hours. Is this what it felt like to let himself feel things? He wasn’t sure he liked it but then his wretched heart skipped a beat as Iris began to walk over to them, the hounds trailing her. Despite everything that was happening in their lives, being able to share this news with his mother made him feel somewhat lighter.

He felt…happy?

Happy enough that Eris had almost forgotten his mother sitting next to him had she not shifted and given him an amused look that made him scowl immediately.

“Mother.”

“I didn’t say a word!” she said with a laugh then leaned in to gently squeeze his arm. “Watching you fall in love has been one of the highlights of my life, Eris.”

He nearly choked at the words, feeling the air cut off from his windpipe.

Eris met his wife’s gaze as she neared, stepping into their space and it stumped him every time he looked at her – how beautiful she was. She stood in a garden of endless beauty and yet, she was easily the most stunning thing there.

Love.

He was certainly not ready to call whatever these intense feelings were…that.

The thought alone made him want to hurl. He should probably consider getting that checked.

“Good morning, Mother,” Iris said and flushed gently as Lady Enya stood and enveloped her in a hug with a small noise of joy and her eyes widened, meeting Eris’s gaze.

“Eris shared your exciting news with me. I’m so happy for you both.” Lady Enya said and Iris pulled back from the hug with a bashful smile. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“Of course.” Iris said, shyly shifting. “It was… a surprise.”

“That’s an understatement,” Eris muttered with a frown, running his hand through his hair. “Forced her way into my life and then ruined all my plans.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “I forced my way into your life?” she scoffed. “Do you hear your delusional son, my lady?”

“Delusional? I’m the one who woke up one morning and found himself bound to a stabbing maniac.”

“Oh my gods, it was one time.”

“You have threatened to stab me many times, sometimes multiple times a day. My sentries are all aware that should I die in a stabbing incident, you would be the first to blame.”

“You are so lucky you didn’t have to try and seduce me into marrying you. You’d be terrible at courting me with the kind of nonsense that goes through your head.”

“Are you saying you’d reject me if I had proposed to you?”

“Of course. You wouldn’t have won me over.”

Eris finally made a noise of protest. “I absolutely would have. You wouldn’t have been able to resist my charm.”

“Big words for a male who has yet to propose to me.”

“You’re already my wife. Why would I waste my time with such frivolous things.”

“And yet you think you’d be able to win me over. Ha!”

Eris fought back a smile, narrowing his eyes at her pretty face and coy little smile.

Somehow and without realizing it, the two had drifted closer, now inches away from each other and if Eris didn’t think he’d likely go too far and rip her dress off to take her right here in the gardens, he would’ve kissed her as desperately as he wanted to.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her, smiling at him in a way that made him want to never leave this spot. She made him feel better. Just by being around her, he felt the heaviness of his conversation with his mother drift away.

He had to bring her back to this garden at some point. Eris was sure his mother wouldn’t — and he froze, blinking himself back to reality.

Judging by Iris’s flushed face, she had come to the same realization that he had and cleared her throat, his head snapping to his mother who was standing a few steps back, watching them with a mix of delight and amusement.

“Don’t mind me.” Lady Enya said casually. “By all means, you two keep talking.”

Eris straightened immediately, stepping back from the magnetic force that was his wife and Iris sheepishly turned away from him to face his mother.

“Sorry,” she mumbled. “We…are still figuring out how to manage ourselves in front of others.”

“I see.” Lady Enya replied and seemed to be fighting back a laugh.

“Elain and Lucien were very entertained, for sure.” Iris added and laughed softly at Eris’s eye roll.

He sighed. “I think it’s about time I went to see your other sons,” he said to his mother then turned to his wife. “Will you be alright until I return?”

“Of course.” she said with a nod. “I’ll spend some time here then see to the puppies later.”

“Not puppies,” he muttered with another eye roll. “I’ll find you when I return.”

He reached out to touch a strand of her hair and was grateful when his mother suddenly became interested in the flowers and turned away from them. Eris licked his lips, hesitating for a moment until she smiled shyly at him. And nothing could stop him from leaning in and kissing his wife.

Iris melted into him like she always did, easily – comfortable in his arms and she would always be in awe of the way the red string of fate linked them together. Her hand gently brushed against his chin and it delighted her when he shuddered beneath her touch as he kissed her, his mouth caressing hers.

In the last two nights they’d spent together, becoming more and more comfortable with their hands touching skin, Iris had found just how much a tender touch meant to her husband. He needed it the way she did, just like she understood him in ways no one else seemed to.

He pulled away a moment later, reluctantly, and licked his lips again. “Be careful while I’m away. Keep the hounds on you at all times.” he murmured against her mouth and Iris nodded.

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself,” she replied softly and gave him a small smile. “My husband taught me well.”

“Indeed I did,” he said with a smirk. “I look forward to all the other things I can teach you.”

And Iris couldn’t resist kissing him again at the way his smirk had heat pooling in her stomach before pulling away. “Be careful,” she said. “Be nice to your brothers. Don’t be too hard on Helene.”

Eris rolled his eyes but nodded all the same and straightened his tunic. “Mother, you’ll be alright?”

“Always.” Lady Enya said and reached out for his hand.

Eris squeezed his mother’s hand and spared his wife a wink before finally departing.

Iris watched him go and hated the feeling of longing already blooming in her chest. After the last few days, it couldn’t be helped. Intensity was at the forefront of everything they did and after living half a life for so long, it felt good.

“I saw this coming, you know.”

Lady Enya’s voice broke through her thoughts and Iris turned to her mother-in-law with a curious look.

“What do you mean?”

“You and Eris.” her mother-in-law said with a knowing smile. “A mother can sense these kinds of things.”

Iris flushed. She wondered just how much Eris had told his mother. She knew the two of them had needed to speak privately before Iris could join them and absolutely understood why; she’d been around them enough to understand how these moments of emotion were precious to them and how difficult these private conversations could be. And though Iris knew she didn’t have a reason to feel nervous, she couldn’t help but fidget slightly as she stood here. To be allowed in this sacred space, she was humbled.

“I can’t say I wasn’t a little surprised. It’s…been a rollercoaster of emotions the last few days.”

Lady Enya chuckled, reaching out to hold Iris’s hands in hers, smiling softly at her. “I know you two have come a long way. I know it must seem overwhelming but you were meant to find each other,” she said gently. “And to think…neither of you had wanted anything to do with the other.”

Iris flushed again and met her mother-in-law’s gaze. “Fate works in mysterious ways, I suppose.”

“Indeed.” Lady Enya said and squeezed her hands. “Now, come sit with me. I want you to tell me everything.”

#eris vanserra #eris vanserra x oc #eris vanserra fanfic #eris x oc #smtb chapters #acotar fanfiction #gfics #if you’d like to be tagged or removed (no hard feelings!!) pls let me know lol #lady of autumn #autumn court

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clowningaroundmars · 9 months ago

Text

aromantic mike chilton for @aggressivelyarospec week!!!! :D

accompanying story under the cut!

It didn't work out with Julie.

They had broken up and decided it would be best to stay friends. After all, with Mike... nothing really changed at all. Like... nothing.

And that was kinda the problem.

Julie didn't think herself to be too judgmental of a person, not after everything everyone's been through. She and the Burners worked hard, played hard, and succeeded together (oftentimes against all odds).

They slept in cuddle piles after dinner some nights whenever Julie could slip away for more than a day without arousing her dad's suspicions. They passed bongs around for a lung-hacking hit or two, went skinny-dipping in the lake at night, patched up each other's bloody wounds countless times.

And then somewhere down the line, Julie fell in love with Mike.

She had no idea when exactly, since she doesn't really do feelings like that, can't afford to with a life like hers. But it happened... somehow.

Julie couldn't quite place exactly what it was that initially drew her to him, especially at first. Sure, the guy was friendly, decisive, assertive without being too overbearing, and unbearably charming. But.

It was the charm that caught poor Julie totally off-guard, really. She'd often hear her father ranting and raving about his golden-prodigal-son-turned-traitor, and his ID photo in his file wasn't really much to look at, either. Julie would never admit it out loud, but she had snuck down to Motorcity for the first time ever with low expectations.

Later, she came back up to her pod in Deluxe with stars in her eyes.

But she wasn't in love with him then, no. She knew this because she was pretty sure her constant Mike Thoughts did not manifest until after the kids all went to Antonio's together for the first time.

It was summertime, around nine months after the group was (un)officially formed. The heat had Mike shirking his jacket and leaving it in Mutt, and his old t-shirt was getting a tad bit tight after all the exercise he was getting around the hideout, especially after Texas moved his workout gear in and Mike took him up on his offer for semi-regular sparring sessions.

And boy, did that Mike fella fill out. Mhmm.

Even Julie-- a girl who was mostly blind to typical male affections directed at her in school-- had to admit to herself that when Mike put on a little more weight in the right places, when his biceps bulged a bit as he flexed an arm and his shoulders got a bit wider... it took a lot more effort to wrench her studious gaze away.

Geez Louise.

Before long, she was doodling their initials and combining both of their names in her little sketchpad. Gag. Gross.

But Mike never seemed to pay attention to her the same way in return. She didn't catch him looking away from her at inopportune times, and he'd never lay a single hand on her aside from a typical friendly pat on the shoulder, or a comfortable lean on an arm while the Burners all lounged around during movie nights. Hell, he seemed more affectionate with his best friend Chuck than he was with her most times.

So she kept her thoughts to herself. Easy peasy. She kept secrets from her dad, from her friends, and now from Mike. Like everything else, she created a neat, separate file in her head and tucked that little secret away. She managed to conceal it for long enough.

Until it became too big to ignore.

And then it happened.

And it really just... happened. Julie hardly registered herself even doing it.

It happened like this: Mike had rescued Julie from certain death at the lake after she crashed an out-of-control 9 Lives out through the barricades and into the water, and they were panting and coughing up water on the sand after Mike succeeded in dragging her out. Dutch and Texas were busy racing around and distracting the Kanebots, luring them all away from the pair.

Julie didn't say anything. Neither of them did. Julie just... surged forward when she blinked the water out of her eyes and saw him, his angelic face hovering mere inches away from hers. She remembered the dewey drops on his long lashes and the warmth of his lips more than anything else.

And then she's pretty sure she blacked out afterwards because the next thing she remembers, she's waking up on the couch wrapped in blankets and towels, wearing Chuck's hoodie.

She doesn't ask anyone why Chuck opted to be the guy to lend his clothes to her.

(It wasn't Chuck who lent it to her though.)

After Jacob makes sure she has a steaming mug of soup in her hands and is generally fussed over enough, he bids her a goodnight and leaves a big holoscreen playing old-timey anime shows for her.

Shortly afterwards, Mike slips into the room on feet far too quiet for a rowdy teenage boy like him. Julie almost misses his entry and startles when she notices him casually leaning on a wall over to her right, almost blending in against the garish grafitti and street signs.

They sat down and spoke quietly, privately.

Julie appreciated that Mike had enough tact and forethought not to confront her in front of all of the guys. Thank god. Julie wouldn't even know how to handle the endless teasing that would inevitably assault her from all angles if they ever even suspected that she had a crush on Mike.

And how embarrassing, really! The only girl on the team falling for the charming and roguish leader of a group of rebels. Double gag.

It was by some miracle that no one ever suspected Julie's true feelings, and that the actual love interest found out before anyone else did. Lucky her!

And incredibly, Mike shared her feelings too! Who would've thought it! Definitely not Julie, that's for sure.

Mike hadn't even seemed to glance her way at all in all the time they had known each other. He always maintained the same level of friendliness with her as he did with the other guys. But he confessed then that he knew Julie was special, and that their bond that grew in the time they had known each other was special, too.

Wow. Look at them, both hiding their feelings so well! It's like they were meant to be.

So they agreed to go steady.

Eventually, they told the rest of the Burners. Well, it really was just that it was kinda hard for them to ignore when Julie would sneak her index finger over to Mike's hand and hook it onto his pinkie as they walked back to their cars after a quick errand run for the Skylarks or an easy mission.

So they decided to make the announcement at Antonio's, which Julie thought was perfectly poetic. It was where she first fell in love with Mike, and now here they were a year and a half later, making it official.

They didn't expect the other guys' reactions, though. The Burners received the news... lukewarmly.

"You guys were in love?" Texas spewed bits of pizza all over the table as he chewed with his mouth open. Ugh. Typical Texas.

"Oh! Wow... uhm. Congrats, guys." Chuck seemed to hide behind his hair even more as his shoulders hiked up in a nonchalant shrug.

Dutch rubbed his chin. "...Yeah. Uh, yeah...? Cool. Congrats, you two."

And then silence fell over the table.

"Is... is there a problem with this, or?" Julie dared to press.

Everyone silently exchanged glances.

Mike-- bless his heart-- misread the situation and clasped his hands together on the table.

"Guys, look," he started, "this isn't gonna change anything about the team. We're still gonna be friends, I’m not prioritizing Julie over anyone else on missions. It's just... we're gonna... we're gonna be the Burners, except I’m dating Jules now! That's all!"

Mike smiled warmly at all his friends. Chuck chewed on his lip.

Dutch bobbed his head thoughtfully. Then, after a while, he said "nah, yeah. We figured. I mean, you're a pretty great guy so it's not like we thought you were gonna up and abandon us or anything. It's just that... uh. So when did this uhhh, yanno, this whole thing start?"

Julie blinked.

Mike cocked his head. "Start?" He asked.

"Y'know, like when did y'all start liking each other? Because uh, no offense, but this is kinda comin' out of the blue for us. Literally nobody thought this was gonna be a thing. Tell us some stories!"

Mike blew out a breath and leaned back in the booth. Julie smiled.

"Weeeellll," Julie squinted with excitement and then let the cat out of the bag.

She told them all about it, how in this very same booth she watched as Mike's t-shirt stretched over his muscles all those months ago and how his smile seemed to shine brighter than the diner's neon signs. Then about how she leaned against Mike's broad chest after agonizing for hours over not being able to free him from her father's maximum-security prison that one time. About all the dreams she'd have of them together, the intimate late-night talks they'd have while having a couple of drinks on the rooftop of some abandoned building. How she loved his bright eyes and strong hands...

When she finished, she had a dreamy kind of look all over her face. Mike had a brow quirked, but he smiled back at her all the same.

Everyone exchanged glances again.

"So Mike. Was it like that for you?" Chuck asked eventually. It had a strange sort of lilt to it, like he was in on an inside joke that Julie wasn't.

She bristled a bit.

"Oh! Uh." Mike glanced around quickly. "Not... really? But Julie's super pretty, so when she confessed to me, I was pretty stoked."

Mike grinned like a goofball. Julie grinned like a goofball. The rest of the Burners looked skeptical.

"Hm. Cool! Well, great." Chuck turned back to his loaded pizza slice.

And just like that, things mostly went back to normal.

And, uh... Mike was right, this... really wasn't changing anything between them and the Burners. Like at all.

A small part of Julie was kind of hurt by it, but she tried to wave the feeling away. It was nonsense, and she should be happy. Mike loved her! He just wasn't a romantic type, that's all. He loved his friends, loved being a Burner... it was fine.

Right?

It was normal for her to have to remind Mike every now and then to go out on a date with her. He's a busy guy, and this was his first relationship. Julie just had to be patient.

Patient... patient. Yeah. She could be patient.

It was when Chuck joined them for their sixth "movie date" in a row that the patience was starting to run a bit thin, though.

Chuck and Mike settled side-by-side on the communal couch, swapping snacks as easily as breathing and nursing a popcorn bowl between them. Mike hooked an arm over Julie's shoulder though, so Julie said nothing.

It was a couple of months later when Mike makes a quiet confession to her as they laid together in his pristine bed one night.

"I don't really like kissing all that much," he mumbles, face half-buried into his pillows. "But I like holding you. Is that okay?"

Julie's heart sinks into the covers. But she nods anyways. "Yeah. That's okay."

"Really? Do ya mean it? It's not weird or anything, right? We can still be together but not kiss. Maybe I can give you forehead kisses instead?"

Julie sighed softly. "Mmnyeah, that's fine."

"It's not you, it's me, Jules. I just--"

"Mike. Trust me, I get it. It's okay, seriously."

Mike gave her a grateful smile back.

Damnit. Well.

Anyways, life continued on. Julie resigned herself to accepting the fact that her boyfriend was just simply a guy's guy.

Julie liked cars but Mike was all over Mutt. Loved the damn thing more than he loved her, honestly. She loved being a Burner, but it seemed like it was Mike's purpose, like he was more devoted to the city under the dome than he was to his girlfriend. And above all, Mike loved the Burners. All of them. He spent a bit more time with Chuck than he did with anyone else in the team, but he was always there for everyone just as passionately.

Which was. Fine.

Freeing Motorcity from her father's reign of terror was indeed way more important than holding hands with a cute boy!

Duh, of course, stupid Julie.

Whatever.

When they inevitably broke up, it blindsided Mike. He thought they were the best of buds! The bestest of buds-- aside from him and Chuck, of course! But while he loved Chuck fiercely, his love for Julie was... different. Fierce but different. He could never describe it in words but he knew what he was feeling was real.

He loved Julie! So when she suddenly broke up with him, it was like getting hit with a sack of flour out of nowhere.

They were leaned up against Mutt's hood on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie when Julie finally broke the news. They were casually smoking a cigarette, passing it back and forth. Mike's idea of a "date." Anyways.

"I can't really keep doing this, Mike." Julie sighed out a cloud of smoke. She said it so matter-of-factly, as casually as if she were simply commenting on the weather.

Mike whipped round to look at her. "Keep doing what?"

"This," Julie threw her hands up and tucked them into her vest pockets after handing Mike the cigarette back. "This... 'relationship'. It's not working out."

"What... whaddya mean? We just started dating, it's kinda too early to tell--"

"No, Mike." Julie interrupted loudly. Her eyes were avoiding Mike's face carefully. "No... it's not. We've been together for months and we have never moved on from our friendship. You... just admit it, dude. You're just not into me."

Mike pushed himself off of Mutt and placed his hands on both of her shoulders, forcing them to stand face-to-face. "Julie, look at me." He had his jaw set.

Julie swallowed as she peered up at him from her bangs.

"I love you more than you can ever know. I know I’m messing up, but... but I’m trying, okay? Just give us one more chance, Jules. I can make it right, I know it!"

Julie took a step back, wrinkling her nose. "Mike! Just give it up, okay? I know you don't feel the same about me as I do about you," she pleaded, mortified. "It's okay! It's fine! We can just move on and let it go!"

"B-but it's not! No, Julie c'mon, bro--"

"Bro?!" Julie exploded, hands in the air now. "Are you hearing yourself right now? Am I your girlfriend, or your bro?"

Mike gaped at her like a fish, mouth opening just to close again. Then, he hunched his shoulders and shoved his hands in his pockets.

He kicked a couple of rocks off the cliff, watching the pebbles scatter and plummet dozens of feet below.

Then he ran his hands through his hair, a nervous habit of his, before returning back to Julie.

He exhaled loudly. "What... what's the difference? You... isn't that what dating is all about? Being best friends with your partner?"

Julie glared at him. "Yes! And it's also about being more than that, too!"

Mike scoffed. "More than friends? What does that even mean? Nothing is more important than friendship, Jules. Not in Motorcity."

"Nothing is more important than friendship?! Mike--" Here, Julie took a step back to pinch her nose and exhale. "Look. When I confessed my feelings to you for the first time, what were you feeling?"

"What was I feeling? Uh, I dunno, happiness I guess? What, did you want me to say that I didn't care? I care about your feelings, Julie! I do!"

"So you started dating me because you didn't want to hurt my feelings?!" Julie shouted.

"Where are you getting that from?!" Mike shouted back.

"Mike! You are just not into me! I can just tell! It's okay! W-we can just be friends, like how we used to be. I don't even know why you're fighting me so hard on this, I'm the one breaking up with you. You can't change my mind!"

"Right," Mike huffed, "because you don't love me anymore. No, I get it. It's fine."

They glared at each other for a beat.

Then, Julie shoved her hands back into her vest pockets. "No, Mike. I do love you. I just think..." she sighed, all the wind in her sails blowing away, "I just think it's best for us to go our own separate ways."

Mike startled. "Wait, what? Jules... are you...? You're not leaving the Burners, are you?"

"No, I'm not leaving the Burners." Julie says through clenched teeth. "I'm just gonna take a quick break and then when I come back? We're gonna be just friends again, Mike. Alright?"

Mike inhales deeply, his own anger trickling out of him like water as well. "... Fine. Fine, yeah. Whatever you want, Julie." He hangs his head.

They then stare off into the horizon together, watching the twinkling star-like pinpoints of light on the underside of the dome. Watching as the lake's waters undulate and shimmer in the darkness of the cool evening, a gigantic dark mirror reflecting the pinpoints back to the ceiling.

Mike idly scuffs his boot on the ground again, putting out their shared cigarette. In a sad sort of way, the dying ember of the smoldering stick being stomped out into rocks and gravel was a lot like their relationship: dead and done. And of course it had to be Mike to put them both out, huh. Right.

Real poetic.

Julie turns around wordlessly, climbs into Mutt and sits in Chuck's seat.

Time to go.

After a few seconds Mike nods once, fixes his collar and slides into his own seat.

The ride back up to Deluxe is quiet.

It was a couple years later when the kids were a bit older --but not that much older at the same time-- that they all filed past the doors of Antonio's and slid right into their usual booth.

Except this time, it had been a long while since they had the time to relax like this. These days, Kane's attacks were getting more and more savage, brutal... and cunning.

Kane's latest attempt at a hostile takeover of Motorcity involved way too many sneaky double-crossing spies all trying to break the Burners up and weaken the city's best defense. Sneaky bastard, that Abraham Kane.

But they thwarted him yet again, despite it all. They beat the bad guys, restored peace back amongst the gangs and the civilians, and saved the day.

It had taken weeks this time, but they succeeded.

So now to celebrate, they're placing their orders for the greasiest, most heart-clogging fast food on the menu and sitting back to happily sip at their drinks. They're finally enjoying their time together again, and Mike is especially pleased that everyone made it out alive.

Sitting elbow-to-elbow with his bestest friends in the world, Mike takes advantage of a lull in the conversation to clap his hands together and get everyone's attention.

"Okay, guys!" He announces. "So, I'm pretty sure we're all kinda fried after... y'know, everything. Everyone's probably too tired to care about what I'm going to say next! So... confession time."

"Hmhmm! Spill, then," Chuck smirks, his chin in his cyborg hand. It was a recent upgrade to his prosthetic, and it shone a beautiful silvery-blue under the diner lights.

Mike chuckles nervously. "Uh, I... I think that... I figured out that I can't fall in love!"

Everyone stares at him.

Chuck casually slurps his milkshake through a straw.

Dutch turns to him then. "Wait. You knew?"

Chuck sits up. "Uhh hahaha, whoa. Where'd that come from? You psychic or somethin'?" He deflects awkwardly.

"You're clearly not surprised," Dutch points out.

"Pfft yeah I'm not surprised. Who's been Mike's best friend since, like, kindergarten again?"

"Ah. And ya didn't think to let me know anything back when we were dating? Sure would've saved us a lot of time," Julie quipped drily.

Chuck holds his mismatched hands up. "Now hold on a minute! I didn't know back then, obviously. Besides, you two dated years ago for like... three seconds!"

"Two years ago, smartass," Julie snips back.

Mike clears his throat conspicuously. "Guys! Guys, no need to fight over me," he jokes awkwardly, "because I, uhm, I've decided I don't belong to anybody! I'm just me, and I'm not dating anyone. Like, ever."

Everyone turns back to him again.

With four pairs of eyes on him, Mike draws in on himself a bit as he continues. "Yeah, it's. It's something that I've been kinda discovering about myself and I'm still... exploring it. But I'm pretty sure I've never had a crush in my life. I was just walking through life distracted by everything else for so long that I never noticed it, but... yeah. I've just. I've just never felt love for anyone else before, I guess."

"Which is fine," Chuck blurts out suddenly. "It's... it's fine! That Mike's never fallen in love with anyone. It happens. Some people just don't experience a common thing most people do... like romance, or sex. Yeah! Totally normal!"

Dutch smirks at Chuck. "You too, then? You a non-romantic as well?"

Chuck shakes his head so hard his bangs swing. "No! Nuh uh, I'm a lover, not a fighter. I'm definitely a romantic!"

"Why so nervous all of a sudden, then?"

"Because," Chuck replies, "because... it's fine! To not ever fall in love or like... date, or kiss or have sex or whatever. We're in Motorcity now, and we can get to do whatever we want. And if we don't wanna date, then we don't have to!" Then he clamps his mouth shut.

Mike perks up then. "That's right! And ah, yeah! Speaking of, Chuckles... lemme tell ya, I really gotta hand it to ya. If it weren't for you, I'd've never figured this one out. So, thanks, buddy! As always, you really had my back on this one."

Chuck and Mike smile at each other and Texas raises a brow.

"Huh?" Texas says. "What's that s'posed to mean?"

Chuck titters nervously as Mike pulls up a screen and opens up a forum.

"It means that Chuckles here helped me find a site that explained everything I was experiencing! Or... not experiencing, really."

Chuck clears his throat, clearly relieved. "Uh, yeah! Well, after Mike's like, 10th girlfriend that one time he couldn't stop bringing people back home, he came to me all frustrated and stuff and... well, we went off to find my friends in the LARPing arena to see if anyone had any idea why he was burning through dates like Mutt burns through tires. And so someone suggested he might be aromantic, and uh... well, the rest is history!"

Dutch and Julie hummed in acknowledgement.

Everyone knew what that was like, how weird it was that Golden Child Mike all of sudden started bringing people home from parties and bars shortly after his breakup with Julie. Sometimes he even had two people on his arms, some men, some women. Never the same person after two or three times, though.

They were all perplexed when they first heard laughing and chattering behind Mike's bedroom door. Once the moaning started, though... well! Everyone poked fun at him the mornings after and teased him to varying degrees, but things were mostly chill in the beginning.

Everyone remembered Mike's frustrations after a while, though. How he could never quite land a steady relationship-- no matter how hard he tried, with whoever. It got to the point where the Burners stopped their teasing and became quite concerned after Mike introduced his 5th girlfriend in the span of like... 6 months, once upon a time.

It was shortly after his final breakup that Mike flopped down onto his best friend's messy bed one evening and finally had The Conversation.

It went well, all things considered. Chuck, patient as ever, listened to his friend and then when he couldn't offer any solid advice, he offered a distraction. The LARPing arena proved to be much better help than they could ever hope for.

Ever since then, Mike's been up late into the night often, completely engrossed in all things aromantic. He wanted to learn more about it, yearned for a community that knew exactly what he was feeling; so he stayed awake just swiping through sites and PDFs on his holoscreens, eating every bit of information up.

Now, it looked like Mike was at peace with himself and his station in life after all this time. That was a relief!

"Aromantic! That's it! Look at this, guys." Here, Mike grins and pulls up a photo of a striped flag. "This is the community flag. Look familiar?"

The colors of the flag had two shades of green at the top that then cascaded into white, then grey and then black.

Texas leaned forward. "It looks like Mutt!" He practically shouts.

Everyone laughs.

"Yeah, that sure is a you flag if I've ever seen one," Julie quips.

"Right? Like it was meant to be! So I guess I'm part of this community, then. I mean, this really is a kickass flag..."

"But what does that mean, though? That you can never fall in love with anyone, ever?" Julie asks.

Mike closes his screens and clasps his hands on the table, exhaling a bit. "Uhh, well? Well, yeah! I can't ever fall in love... but it doesn't feel that way to me! Ugh, I'm probably gonna do such a bad job explaining this," he laughs self-consciously.

"It's okay, dude. Take your time," Dutch smiles warmly.

Mike shoots him a grateful smile back. "... It... it's like. Well? It's like... I've never felt butterflies in my stomach before, so I have no idea what that's like. But I like you guys, a lot. Like a lot, a lot. I love hanging out with you all even though I don't think about any of you guys like that. I love making friends-- like true friends-- and I can't stop thinking about how happy hanging out with people makes me. I guess I'm just way more platonic than romantic, because I am just... so bad at love! God, I've never had so much trouble with anything in my life before like I have with romance," he groans, grimacing.

"And when Mike Fucking Chilton says that, that's how you know he's struggling!" Dutch puts in.

Everyone giggles.

"Wow," Julie gives Mike a side-long glance. "Finally. Something that The Great Mike Chilton is bad at! We've finally got him, boys."

Texas leaps out of his seat and enthusiastically karate-chops the air. "Hoo-WAH!!! Finally! Something I got over on ya, Mike. Texas is better at romancing than you!"

Julie rolls her eyes.

Mike guffaws. "Psshhwhat? C'mon guys, I'm bad at plenty of stuff. This isn't the first!"

"Oh yeah? Name one thing!" Dutch challenges.

"Uhhm well uh, I...? I'm pretty bad at... hm." Mike drums his fingers on the table. "I'm bad at coding! I'm not nearly as good as Chuck at the software and tech side of things!"

"But ya could be! You could totally learn how to, if you'd just sit down with me for more than 20 minutes," Chuck points out.

Mike stubbornly folds his arms across his chest. "Well, I don't wanna! What're you gonna do about it?"

And just like that, the kids all return back to normalcy, bickering and quibbling about nothing as they finally receive their food from the waitress. Soon after, Chuck and Texas are throwing pizza toppings and wadded up paper at each other and Mike is mom-ing at them to quit it before they all get kicked out.

It was as if nothing even happened.

It was simultaneously comforting and also thrilling how easily Mike was accepted back into the fold; the Burners' Heartless Leader who could never fall in love.

On the inside, Mike was deeply grateful and his heart felt full upon learning this, though. It was a nourishing feeling that his bestest friends in the whole world who worked hard, played hard, lived fast and free alongside him... they loved him and accepted him back, no matter what. It was a much nicer and fuzzier feeling than any romance-filled relationship or hookup ever gave him.

Now, the Burners are finally leaving the diner, all tipsy and giddy from their impromptu late-night happy hour session.

Mike has a casual arm slung over Chuck's shoulder as they traipse on over to Mutt. Everyone casually daps each other up and offers quick goodbyes before climbing into their respective cars.

Mike slides behind the wheel and exhales. Chuck clicks himself into his secure harness.

"Well! That went pretty well! A little too easily, honestly but," Mike breathes.

Chuck's blonde head bobs. "Well yeah, dude. Of course. What'd ya think, that'd we kick you out of the team for that?"

Mike shrugs and turns his skeleton key into Mutt's ignition, bringing her to roar awake again. "I mean... no. But, y'know. It's weird, having a leader of a gang that can't ever fall in love, right? Like some heartless freak or somethin'. I dunno," he chuckled wryly.

Chuck frowns. "Mike. You're not a freak," he says firmly.

Mike gives his best friend a sidelong glance. "Chuck..." he speaks, voice low, "it's not like that! You know what I mean... it's just that sometimes people who are different don't get treated so well all the time, yanno?"

"Yeah, sure, back up in Deluxe," Chuck argues. "But it's different down here in Motorcity. It's good here for people like us!"

Mike hums thoughtfully as he drums his fingers on the wheel. "Yeah, you're right..." then, he smirks at Chuck. "So if that's true, then why didn't you come out, back there? I actually thought you were gonna do it. It even looked like Dutch suspected something, too!"

Mike smiles at his friend, who is doing his best impression of a carseat cover now.

"Mmnyeah... yeah, I could've." Chuck gives a noncommittal shrug, hesitating.

"What's wrong?"

After a few seconds, Chuck swipes at his bangs self-consciously and clears his throat. "Uhmm well... being aromantic and never falling in love is kinda... badass, don'tcha think? But for a guy like me, never wanting to have sex and being a dope for romance is just pathetic," he laments. "If people hear that I'm asexual and that I never want to bang anyone, I'd get laughed out of the room! It's not an asexual thing, Mikey, it's a me thing."

Mike throws Mutt into reverse and backs her out of their parking spot with practiced ease.

"Chuckles. My guy. Look, who cares what other people think? If you don't wanna bone, you're just not gonna. That doesn't hurt anyone at all, so screw anyone who says anything about it. If anyone gives you a hard time, call me up and I'll spin the block for you,"

Chuck bursts into a peal of nervous giggles. "Whoa, whoa Mikey, geez! Christ, thanks, man but that's really not necessary. I appreciate you, though,"

They smile at each other again.

Then after a beat, Mike adds, "plus, if they know about aromanticism, they're gonna eventually find out about asexuality, too, dude."

Chuck laughs weakly as he clutches his arms. "O-oh...! Yeah... yeah that's tr--"

Mike suddenly slams his boot down on the gas pedal and Mutt growls as she lurches into hundred-mile-speeds from a standstill. Her tires screech loudly on the pavement and she leaves a giant plume of smoke and dirt behind as everyone careens over a drop straight onto the Deluxian Supply Pipes.

"Miiikkee-eeyyyy!!! We just ate!" Chuck screeches, horrified. He clings onto the car seat with both hands as Mike laughs.

Chuck's screams and Mike's loud, joyous shouting and whooping can be heard far and wide throughout Motorcity as they race all the way back home.

#aggressivelyarospecweek #motorcity #mike chilton #aromantic #aro #hope ppl enjoy my arospec week offerings!#i had fun writing the burners again after so much time. my kiddos 🥺#i luv them <3 #julie heals just fine after their breakup btw she's with her own childhood friend claire lezzing it up so everyone wins in the end 🫶#dont worry abt it LOL #if it sounds a bit allo-centric its bc it is. i tried to replicate the Motorcity Writers Voice when i wrote this down #i was like “hmm. how WOULD a non-arospec person write this topic for a kids show abt racing cars? 🤔”#“i think i know! :)”#so @ other motorcitizens pls let me know if i did Good or Bad #in that way it was a p fun writing excercise. also. i love julie so i wanted readers to feel bad for the poor lil meow meow #we are Julie Stans in this home. i didnt stick her into a failing teen relationship bc i hate her 🤧#she just had to be the First Target bc the show tries to set mike and julie up subtly in canon and my aro brain went “goddamn it.”#so #uh yeah #anyways im rambling #hope u enjoyed byyyyyyyeeeee :3 #clown paint #mi writing

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