#like there was the one about someones little sister destroying supply and demand in wow

[stargod]

God, I- DESPERATELY- Need someone to make a 5 hr video essay on the history of people breaking video game economies. I thought about it like 5 seconds ago and now i need it like a drug, its Killing me!

Please!! If someone knows of any videos like this or even if u just wanna tell me/link me one of the tales PLEASE Feeeed meee!!

[kikyan]

The monster I've become

Yandere Eren Yeager x female!Reader

Not a single voice was present and no one else besides you and your younger sibling were present. Constantly running for your life and hiding away from them. 

The Titans

It's shocking that you have lived this far but you have been hiding under a basement ever since the wall had been breached and only came out when your supplies were low.

" A-Are they up there?" You brother (B/N) asked in a timid manner.

You put a hand on his shoulder and smiled brightly.

"Don't worry! Your big sister will protect you!" Reassuring him made his smile grow weakly, but at least he carried a smile.

Opening the latch and closing it quickly, but gentle at the same time. You quickly made your way into the building and began looking around. Luckily this building still had a roof that protected you a little and covered you from the beasts eyes. Looking to your left you saw a titan walking and immediately crouched down and hid.

You waited until it left and proceeded to walk around the building. Luckily aside from building a nice little basement it had some tunnels that stretched to the market place where you could easily sneak into. You gently lowered yourself down and began walking in the tunnel. Upon arriving you got up and looked around. The tunnel connected to a basement in the marketplace that stores excessive amounts of food but to your disbelief there wasn't a lot of food left.

' I could have sworn that the last time I checked there was more food! Even if it did rot it would still be there but it isn't.' You pondered your thoughts more and more but your stomach sank when you heard a 'click' from the entrance to the basement. You quickly hid yourself in some blankets and hoped for the best. You thought that it was impossible for a human to be here aside from your brother and that if it were a titan you would be safe as long as it didn't see you nor hear you.

Clicking sounds were heard and a voice startled you.

" Oi sasha don't sneak in here! If we're caught we'll be in big trouble!" A hushed voice began spending, the voice sounded deep and the voice following after it sounded more like a screech.

" I can't help it connie! I'm just hungry all the time!"

" Both of you need to stop eating before we all get caught! That's for everyone sasha okay?!" A deep raised voice began speaking to both 'connie' and 'sasha'. You peeked and saw a male with brown hair and blue eyes speaking to a female who had medium length brown hair in a pony tail with light gold eyes who was stuffing her face with food.

" It wasn't me?! It was her?! I only followed her!" A male with light brown hair kept nicely shaved with gray eyes began speaking and in attempt to plea for his innocence.

"Eren, we should go." A soft monotone voice spoke. Peering your eyes over you saw a beautiful female with black hair and gray eyes. You beloved that the boy with blue eyes was named Eren and luckily they had plans on leaving. Unfortunately, fate had other plans as Eren began walking around the room.

"Aside from food we can find some things that can help us and the others." He picked up pliers and examined them. As he began examining the room the closer he got to your hiding spot.

'Shit'

" Like this blanket!" Connie ran to the blanket and pulled it off revealing you to them. A surprised scream emitted from connie alerted the others and the black haired female ran to Eren as he began running to you.

" W-Who are you?" Demanded Eren and you slowly began to get up from your hiding spot.

" My name is (Y/N) and along with my younger brother, I believe we should be the only living residents here. If you excuse me I would appreciate it if you stopped shoving our food down your mouth.

" This is our food by right!" Yelled Sasha protectively clutching the food.

"Tch. Listen, this is our food. My brothers and mine. We've been feeding from here since the wall was destroyed so I suggest you leave before something happens." In a intimidating manner you seem to only fuel them more but before any of you guys had the chance to say anything. A small scream pulled you from your discussion.

"(B/N)!!" Not giving a damn you yelled and ran to save your family with the four people you met following you behind your trail. Diving into the tunnel and running as fast as you can.

The sight you saw shocked you but it didn't give you fear. You're brother was still alive.

The titan was on the ground waiting a soldier, but it seems that it didn't go down without a fight. The soldier was able to cut it's legs and bring it down. After the titan finished it's meal his eyes were turned to your brother. 

.

.

.

"OH NO YOU FUCKING DON'T!" Screaming from the top of your lungs you rushed in not giving a damn about the screams from the soldiers you met. Once close to the titan he extended his arm to get your brother, but you used that to your advantage.

Swiftly climbing on top of its arm, you made your way up to its face and repeatedly stabbed it in the eyes. Quickly jumping off, you grabbed your brother and ran to the other soldiers.

"Hey since you seem to be good with that machine you own I'm leaving this titan to you. You grabbed your brothers arm and ran back into the tunnel in hopes of escaping the monster.

"W-WHAT?!" Connie yelled as he began panicking.

~~

(B/N) began hyperventilating as wet salty tears rolled his eyes. Clutching him close you began whispering words of encouragement and rubbing circles on his back.

"Don't worry big sister is here okay (b/n)".

His cries soon stopped as he began to sleep on your lap. You began to pet his hair and soon enough the soldiers came to see if you were still alive. Shushing them you carried your brother back to basement known as "Home" and stopped to see the body of the titan. 

Opening the latch you walked in and set your brother down on the bed and a voice soon cut you off.

"You were amazing back there." You turned around to see 'Eren' complimenting you more and more until he asked a question that began to scare you.

"Why don't you join the survey corps?"

"No. My brother needs me here with him and alive. A change of place would be nice too but if that comes with me joining the survey corps then no thank you."

" With your strengths we could save humanity!"

" All I need is my brother. Humanity can die for all I care." With those harsh words they stopped persuading you but only one boy didn't. As the others left only he stayed behind.

" Humanity can die? How selfish can you be?" Eren slightly rose his voice and with his angry expression met yours as well.

"Selfish? Wow...rich coming from you. You were from the Shiganshina District right? On the edge of Wall Maria? I didn't live that far from you. Your father constantly visited my house due to abuse from my father. Remember us? The (L/n) family? All the drama going on?" Continuing your story Eren's expression changed from anger to shock in less then a few passing moments.

" When the titans showed up some debris of the wall fell on my mother's leg. Me and (b/n) cried and screamed for help. Everyone ran past and some yelled "let her be food". Then I saw my mother being eaten in front of me. I shielded (b/n) but I saw it all. The blood, flesh, and I heard the pleas of my mother. When me and (b/n) ran we were met with a gate and people leaving in boats. We could have gotten safe passage if it weren't for my father. He was next and they asked him if he had family and... that selfish bastard said no so he wouldn't wait. Feel free to call me selfish but keep in mind. Everyone is selfish especially in the end." Grabbing (B/n) you left Eren and swiftly walked to another building.

Eren was shocked. It was true. Humans are selfish and even more when they know they're about to die. His mother was eaten in front of him and he couldn't do anything. (Y/N) however survived many things. The constant abuse from her father and for 5 years survived in a titan infested district. He admired her and felt an urge to protect her. He followed her and saw the rest of the soldiers surrounding her and (b/n).

(B/n) was crying while (Y/N) had a strong glare on all of them. Keeping her protective clutch on (B/N), she scanned her surrounding in hope's of finding some sort of weapon.

" Who are you?"

" She couldn't have survived that long outside. Could she be a titan shifter?"

" Should we kill her and the brat?"

Eren's stomach sank as he rushed over to where Mikasa was.

"What's going on?"

" They found (y/n) and think she is a titan shifter. They might plan on executing her."

Eren's eyes grew in shock and as he ran to her aid, a familiar blonde man grabbed his hand.

" Wait Eren. I want to see how she responds to this."

Eren turned to see Erwin calmly focusing on (Y/N).

"B-bu-"

" If it gets serious I'll jump in."

(Y/N) stood there silent until a soldier appeared before her. He took out a small pocket knife and circled her around.

" That brat yours?"

" He's not a brat, can't say the same about you in your younger days".

" What makes you say so huh bitch?"

" Just the way you act, obviously no one taught you how to act. Well then again not like your father cared. He was too busy getting over his hangover then giving a shit about you. Huh neighbor?"

" You bitch!"

The soldier ran to you with the knife as you slightly pushed (B/N) aside. You ducked down and using your weight threw him off his feet. The knife flew away from him as you picked it up and ran to (B/N).

" Think your hot stuff because you took down one of us?" A second man ran to you and you dodged his attempt and using the knife drove the blade into his eye.

A blood curling scream was present as you took back the knife and ran to (B/n).

"M-MY EYE!!"

Suddenly a man approached you. He had black hair and stone cold blue eyes.

" I don't think getting rid of our soldiers is a good idea...brat."

Glaring at the male you scoffed before someone ran to you. It was Eren.

~~

"Corporal! Please she proved her worth I'm sure we could use her in  the survey corps! Please don't hurt her."

Shocked by his sudden outburst you grabbed (B/N) and feeling a strange protected feeling got closer to Eren. That didn't go unnoticed by him.

" That's not my decision its Erwin's."

" She can."

Turning their attention to Erwin who began walking over to (Y/N) he stopped and smiled at (B/N) before turning to the rest of the Survey corps.  "She joining so please make her feel welcome."

" I never agreed." Stone cold voice accompanied by eyes, you glared at Erwin.

" Of course you did. You want to survive right?"

" I did for the past five years alone with my brother."

" You see now that we found you we have to take you with us. So it's only natural to join."

" Feel free to take me but I'm not joining the Survey Cor-"

" Miss (L/N) wasn't your father involved in human trafficking and the illegal use and smuggle of drugs? Didn't you also partake in that to avoid your family being beat. No matter the reason you still are considered a criminal."

" YOU'RE FUCKING BRIBING ME?"

" Not at all. Simply reminding you that you could come with us and join the Survey Corps or you could go to jail. Remember your brother plays a role in this too."

" DON'T YOU FUCKING TRY!"

" He can see his sister as a hero or be bullied and see his sister as a criminal."

Before continuing to fight back a hug from your brother changed everything.

" Please! Big sister I don't want you to die but I don't want you to be seen as a criminal!"

All eyes were on you as you struggled to speak. Your brother pleading you not to choose one and everyone else who couldn't care less.

" Don't worry (B/N)! I'll take care of your big sister!" Eren said in a cheerful voice as you turned to him.

"R-really?"

" Of course!"

" (Y/N) please! I don't want them to see you as a criminal!"

Looking down at your brother with tears staining his face you looked up and with a sigh....

.

.

.

" Fine I'll join."

~~ °•☆~~☆•°~~

It was the day of the expedition and you quickly changed in hopes in visiting your brother earlier. As you opened the door you were greeted by Eren.

" (Y/N) c'mon let's go see (B/N)!"

" Of course"

~~ mini flashback ~~

They lent you a horse and you quickly followed them. (B/N) was laughing and smiling at the green pasture and the beautiful flowers that were outside. A pain hit you in your head as you remembered that you guys have never been outside. It's always been in the basement and you smiled. Soon enough (b/n) will be able to play with other children. See the sun and live a normal life. You however may not be so lucky. You wanted to not be noticed and be that soldier that if you died they at least acknowledged your death and took care of (b/n). Eren however, wasn't going to allow that to happen. He quickly made an effort to befriend you and your brother.

"Wow big sister! Look what's that?" (B/n) pointed to a white flower with a red stain. Mentally cringing at the red,  you smiled and cheerful spoke up.

" Why (B/N) It's a white rose."

" Then why does it have red?"

No hesitation needed as you looked at it.

" It's blood."

A small gasp escaped your brother but it wasn't because of the flower. Noticing the field of flowers some where red and some white, some both but the both were increasing in amounts. More blood was on them, but from what.

"(Y/N)!!" A voice was all you heard before the sound of speeding horses broke you out of your trance.

Taking off a sweater you wore you tied it around yourself and (B/N). Kicking the horse and gaining speed you safely ran from the clutches of the titan. Problem was..the fact that it wasn't the only titan there. One quickly made its way to you and as fear began piling up you couldn't hear a thing except the cries of (B/N).

The sound of gas and wires broke you out from that prolonged trance and Eren made work of the titans. Killing them both he got back on his horse and rode to your side.

" (Y/N)! Are you okay?? (B/N) what about you??"

You could hear anything but that all changed when you felt the warmth of another person. Eren to specify.  Eren hugged you in attempts to calm the both of you. You directed your eyes  to Eren and hugged him back.

" Don't worry I'll protect you! For you I'll do anything!" Eren smiled but the thoughts behind the smile weren't anything to smile about.

~~

You were assigned living quarters and (b/n) would be living with with your grandmother who survived the attack. Your grandmother was in top shape heck she was 47 years old. She too cried for you and pleaded for you to not join the survey corps but in order to ensure their future you need to.

Being placed in the same squad as Eren wasn't bad but he kept trying to learn everything about you. You didn't mind as you already told him your backstory. Walking with Eren to your grandmother's house silence loomed the both of you for a second.

" Hey (Y/N)?"

"Hm"

" If I were a monster would you still treat me the same?"

" Of course. You saved me multiple times and I'll return the favor. Eren you are my best friend. Of course I'll treat you the same." Sending him a reassuring smile you saw the bright pink tint his cheeks and a slight pout on his face.

Upon arriving at your grandmother's house you smiled and knocked the door only for it to be opened immediately and a little boy screaming.

" BIG SIS!!" (B/N) cheered and smiled brightly. He hugged you and soon ran to Eren.

" BIG BROTHER! You'll protect big sis today right?" (B/N), with worry laced in his words he looked up at Eren and gave the most sad look...Eren ruffled his hair and smiled " Of course!"

Simply smiling you laughed a little before reassuring your family that you would be safe. Walking out of the house you sighed and inhaled.

The smell of dew drops lingered and it was refreshing. A little memory flew through your mind as you smiled.

~~

Loud, harsh thunder roared across the sky as you and (B/N) stayed hidden deep within the basement.

" Big sis I'm scared! That sound!" 

(B/N) was clutching you and his ears for protection.

Safety hugging him back you led him to the farthest area of the basement where less noise resided. Simply humming him a lullaby was enough to make him sleep the night away, but the fear of a monster attacking was present and increasing with every passing second.

~~

  Riding your horse at full speed as you began making your way back. You killed 7 titans in this expedition and were able to get a village under safety as well.

The gate opened and into safety you entered. Luckily no one died which was great but more people were here...unfortunately he was here. 

.

.

.

   You're father. 

~~

The cheers and the distasteful comments were swirling into an inaudible tune. All you could see was the smirking face of that man. As your horse began inching closer he was sweeping through the crowd.

The horses stopped in a halt as your father began approaching you.

"(Y/N), look at how big you've gotten! Where's (B/N)? I presume he's alive. I can't wait to see him."

Those lies that left his mouth were like gasoline with fire, it fueled you. Before you could even open your mouth to curse this man, Eren beat you to it.

" LOWLY BASTARD! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WHEN IT'S YOUR FAULT THEY ALMOST DIED! YOUR SELFISH DESIRES ARE THE CAUSE OF EVERYTHING. YOU LEFT YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY NEED YOU THE MOST YOU BASTARD!"

Eren argued as your father only looked at him in pure anger.

" I supported my children, saved them and this is what I get? Talk about selfish."

"Big sis...?"

That timid voice broke you out of your mute trance as you turned horrified, to see your brothers frightful face.

" Ah (B/N)! Lovely seeing you too! I've missed you! Have you missed me too?"

" GET AWAY FROM HIM!" You rushed in to wrap your brother in a loving warm hug. Clutching him close to your chest you nuzzled him deep within your chest.

Your grandmother ran to protect the both of you, hearing the constant abuse and the crimes you both were forced to commit the strong sense of judgement turned into pure hatred for this man.

" What you have done to my grandkids is despicable. Don't you even think about saying another word to them."

Before anything serious broke out the words of an old familiar corporal  broke out.

" Disturb a member of my squad and you will face the consequences, criminal."

Your father left and wasn't seen at all that day. It took a while to calm your brother but in the end he went out like a light and stayed cuddling to you like a teddy bear.

~~

" What do you mean "My squad"?"

" Erwin is transferring you into my squad. However we have something more to discuss." Levi said as he opened the door to Erwin's office.

" Cadet (Y/N), sorry for the scene earlier."

" It wasn't your fault, but thank you."

" Now I have transferred you to Levi's squad and you will be in the inner walls undercover. You are allowed to take your family with you."

"Sir bu-"

" Your safety matters more. You are a skilled warrior and I'm sure you'll be fine but considering that both you and your family have a higher risk of being hurt and being forced into a crime we will make sure to transfer you into the inner wall."

You agreed to the choice and prepared to tell your grandmother and (B/N), but your talk did not go unnoticed by a certain someone.

~~

The night was young as you walked to your grandmothers house. Upon arriving there you knocked and spoke up alerting them that it was you.

" (Y/N)? Why are you here so late?"

" Grandma I have something to say. They wish to transfer me to the inner walls and I need to take you with me."

" I have everything here (Y/N), besides (B/N) made some friends. To leave them behind is asking too much from him."

" I know grandma but...(B/N) and you have a higher risk of being attacked by him if you stay here any longer. Please consider it. If you do say yes, please be packed and ready to go early in the morning."

Hugging your grandma good bye and ruffling (b/n) messy hair gave a feeling of content and peace. Your plan was also heard by someone else, someone very close by.

~~

" That brat is going to the inner walls. If I can also gain passage I'll expand the business all right?" A deep voice spoke out to a group of several more individuals.

" Alright man, we'll portal here don't worry. How are you going to get her to cooperate?"

" Fear is something that is easily created don't forget that."

That was the only word he spoke before his bloody body was found in the morning.

~~

The news of your father hit you but didn't exactly affect you. You still were obliged to go and your family in the event that one of his "buddies" wanted pay back. Quickly packing, you made your way.

" (Y/N) are you leaving me?" A voice disrupted your thoughts as you looked behind you to see the lifeless eyes of Eren.

" Its orders Eren. I'm sorry, we can still communicate and you're one of my bes-"

" (Y/N). You can't. A guy does something special and nice only for it go unnoticed?"

The tone and the words all reminded you of him...

" Eren calm down. I don't need you telling me what to do. The safety of both me and my family are strong and I need to go."

" Remember what I said about doing anything for you?"

   ...

" Let's say a life paid the crime of attempted assault. I saved you."

Confusion shook your body as you failed to realize. A life? Who?

" W-Whose life did you take..?"

" Your father of course. His body covered in bruises and burn mark. After that I used a blade to slowly cut him. Every lie he told, every crime he committed, every tear that rolled on your cheek, he felt it with pain. You see (Y/N)..i love you. I desire you. Won't you be mine?"

" W-what...?" 

"You see...your father planned on attacking you. He overheard what you were planning on doing, he was going to attack your grandma and (b/n). I did this for you. You need me to help you, I'll protect you, and I'll love you for life."

Sprinting you ran into the town only to hear the screams of the townsfolk.

"I-i just saw blood leading out of the alley way and i-i-i looked and saw I-i just can't!"

You rushed inside the alley was only to see the mutilated body of your father. Only his head, and limbs were there. The torso was gone...

Running to the house of your grandmother you stopped when you saw Eren standing in front of them.

" ah (y/n)! We were just talking about you! Remember when you told me you liked me? Well seems (b/n) said that was cool and your grandma likes that."

" W-wai-"

" Say yes and they both live."

Those horrid words came like a dark whisper and you swallowed your fear and pride and nodded your head. Leaving surprised and happy gasps, a silent tear rolled off your face.

~~

A week since this toxic relationship and no one seeing the pleas you give. After your father was found dead it was then made clear that you weren't needed to be in the inner walls. Eren took that advantage and made sure he could be with you 24/7. One day with courage you asked a simple question.

" Why me?"

Eren smiled and looked out a window.

" (Y/N) I've always had a small crush on you. When you lived next to us I would see how strong you were and I always tried to impersonate you. Everytime Armin was being bullied I did what I could to help, but it wasn't enough. I could never be you. It wasn't until I found you living under a basement and it wasn't until you revealed to me what you've been going through. That's when I realized that deep down you wanted to cry and scream. You stayed strong for the sake of your family, but that was okay. That gave me confidence that I could protect you and maybe be loved by you. So here we are now. You don't have to fear anything and love me forev-"

" BUT I DON'T LOVE YOU EREN!"

The instant those words left your mouth you were pushed into the bed and your lips sealed by a passionate kiss. Leaving you no air you pounded upon his chest to allow you to breathe and moments later you got your request. Panting for air and saliva connecting your lips, Eren smiled at you and bent down to your ear. Lightly nibbling on it he trailed his bites onto your neck. Only pain was brought upon and your whimpers were hushed. Eren looked into your eyes and repeated.

" Remember I'll do anything for you...in return all I want is your love. After all....you'll soon come to love.

.

.

.

.ThE mOnStEr I'vE bEcOmE..

[aconitewolfsbane]

Well, I hate my brother...

My brother, well, one of them, is an arsehole. Okay, honestly, both of them are, but this is about the oldest one.

He’s being getting absolutely fucking terrible these last few years. Seriously, it’s pretty much elder abuse, so tw:abuse if you need it.

I mean, wow. Here’s just a short list of his arseholery. Putting under the cut because damn, there’s a lot. Stuff in bold means it’s an ongoing issue that we’ve been dealing with for years:

-- I’ve caught him with his hands in mum’s purse when she was in the shower. He immediately denies it, despite me seeing his hand literally in her purse. -- When she was diagnosed with cataracts (which she’s since had the surgery for, and is okay now), he told her that he had cleaned when he clearly didn’t, because he knew she couldn’t tell the difference. -- He picks random fights with mum, then denies that he started it. Even after being told to go to his room to cool down, he waits until I’m gone before coming back out to start on her again. He has driven her to tears on multiple occasions like this. -- Despite knowing that she’s a diabetic, he steals her limited food supplies. He always claims “Oh, I didn’t know...” yet doesn’t hesitate to do it again. -- Even though she’s on a pension, and he gets one of his own, every single one of her paydays, he jabs his hand out demanding money. Throws a goddamn fit if she tries to tell him that she can’t spare it. Continues being an arse until she either gives him her taxi money for next week, or he manages to steal it from her bag. -- When she had cataracts, she had to walk slower and more carefully to make she that she didn’t fall over anything. He decided that she was too slow, and instead of going around the other side of the house and coming in the unlocked back door, he pushed her out of his way. Thankfully, I was nearby and managed to catch her. -- Because of her cataracts, he started waling around the house in one of three things. His underwear; his adult diapers (he drinks too much coke, and it’s wrecked his guts); his damned birthday suit. Yes, he walks around naked sometimes in the house where he lives with his mother, and his sister. -- When we reminded him that he lives with his mother and sister, and we don’t want to see him at all, he called me a bitch for not wanting to see one of my brothers naked. -- Opens her mail without her permission. This is because when she had the cataracts, she let him open and read out some stuff because she couldn’t do it herself, and he seemed to have taken that as an open invitation. -- If she’s on the phone, regardless of if it’s outgoing or incoming, he tries to listen in. If he can’t, usually because I’m there and he knows I’ll yell at him for it, then he’ll wait until I’m gone and harass mum until she tells him who she was talking to. We started just saying “santa clause. he said you aint getting shit this year", and he started to back off. -- Has THREE showers per day. Denies it. And yet, there’s only three people in this house. Someone is having a shower at 4-5am, again around 8am, and then again at night around 8. It’s not me, and it’s not mum. I sarcastically suggest someone is breaking into the house early every morning to have a shower, and he leaps at the idea, claiming that’s exactly what happens. And if I suggested that the cats are having showers at 4am, he’d try to convince us that’s true too... -- Has her fearful of being hit. He’s about 6 foot tall, and she’s barely 5′5, so... -- Has almost hit me multiple times, because I was trying to tell him to stop being such an arsehole to mum. He responds by calling me a bitch. -- Walks up and down the hallway in heavy boots. He’s destroyed the lino. We have both told him not to do it; as it’s annoying, and keeps us both awake; he yells like we’ve told him that he has to give all of his comics to charity. -- Complains whenever mum asks him to do even the simplest job. -- When she had cataracts, he was being a shit about sweeping the kitchen floor for mum. I told him. “Geez, it’s not like she’s asking you to donate a bloody kidney.” His response? “Yes it is!” He compared helping his legally blind elderly mother with a small bit of housework to be the same as undergoing major transplant surgery. -- Throws tantrums, because he has the reasoning skills of a 3-year-old. “I want this!” “Sorry, but no.” “I WANT!” “No. How about this instead?” “No! I don't want that!” “Well, I can’t get the other thing.” “I WANT IT!!” -- He also tells us he’s going to the shops. If we want him to get us something and start getting out the money, he throws a tantrum. He decide that he doesn’t want to go to the shop anymore, and storms into his room. Half and hour later, he slips out and goes to the shop. We don’t get the thing that we needed. However, if we gave him the money to get food for everyone including him, like hot chips, he’ll rush out the door.

The following stuff are things that I actually have dates for. (I only decided to start writing all his behaviour down last year...) I won’t write the dates though. Each entry is from one single day.

-- I made burgers for mum and I, because he’d already eaten something from the shops. He threw a fit because he’s a bottomless pit who buys a weeks worth of tv dinners, eats them all in three meals, then complains about not having any food. -- Demanded $10 from mum so he could go buy milk. She only had the money she needed to get into town the next day. He threw a tantrum. Tried to bully her travel money from her. She had to threaten not to give him any money when she got her pension to make him back down. He later went and got the milk with his own money. -- In the course of ONE DAY, he argued with mum at least FIVE TIMES about: the mess in the laundry that he didn’t clean up when he was told; the fact that he refuses to deal with the rubbish properly, including separating the recycling; and the fact that he wasn’t getting money because he was acting like a shithead. -- Walked around naked again. Mum tried to tell him why he shouldn’t do that. He called her a stupid bitch, threatened not to give her his share of the rent money anymore. I reminded him that if we can’t make rent because of him and get kicked out, he’ll be kicked out too, and we’ll fucking burn his precious comics to stay warm. He backed down. -- Stole mum’s food again. Called me a bitch when I tried to explain that taking other people’s things without permission is called stealing. Threw an old phone book at me. When mum and I tried to quietly discuss what to do about his behaviour, he suddenly decided to start mopping the bathroom floor, just so he could eavesdrop. Then he started thumping repeatedly up and down the hallway outside my bedroom door, knowing that I was trying to rest because the stress gave me a headache. He then started up with mum again, because he thinks he has the right to take whatever food he wants. This was after I brought each of us a 30pack of eggs on Sunday. By Tuesday, he had only 6 left. This shitstorm happened on Friday, when he’d decided that mum not scoffing all her food by then meant that she didn’t want it anymore, and he helped himself. -- He change the batteries on mum’s pay TV remote, but somehow, he managed to pull the case apart, damaging it. (The bottom edge was lifted up, and there was a noticeable crack in the casing.) He of course, denied ever being near it, despite the fact that he’s always randomly changing the batteries despite there being no noticeable issue with the current ones. He threatened to take his freshly boiled cup of tea and throw it at my legs to scald me. Reached for his mug whilst glaring at me. I had to thump him to make him realise that I’m not scared of that pissy little baby. Then, once I had gone back to my room, he came back out and started yelling at mum, blaming her for the fact that I saw the remote and realised it was damaged. He threatened to give me serious burns over a TV remote control.

That section above? Happened last year, between April and November. This year, he’s:

-- Threw a tantrum because I informed him, well in advance, that I wouldn’t be able to buy pizza for dinner on his birthday this year. (We’ve planning on moving soon, and I needed the money to start stocking up on supplies, and saving for the usual expenses.) Mum offered to buy him a frozen pizza when she went shopping on the Tuesday before his birthday. He started on her because he apparently wants an expensive pizza that someone else pays for and he doesn’t need to cook. He got into the shower, and we could still hear him complaining.

And this morning: He left no hot water for mum. It’s winter here in Australia. She’s 69 years old, with diabetes, a bad leg, a heart condition and finally, PTSD from her time in the Homes. (Church/state run orphanages, loaded with sexual abuse and mistreatment. She was part of the Stolen Generation, and has been granted a settlement through the recent Redress Scheme for victims of systematic abuse. A small settlement, nowhere nearly enough for the abuse and trauma she lives with, but we didn’t expect the church to even admit that they’d fucked up anyway. Getting anything was a surprise, TBH.) All this, and she had to have a cold shower in winter. She simply asked him not to take so much hot water. He threw a tantrum, denied having more than one shower a day, screamed at her as she stood there shivering in a towel. I stepped out of my room to get him to back off. He started on me. I got so fucking pissed off that I grabbed the broom handle and belted the piece of shit a few times.

Violence is literally the only thing he understands. Every time he starts to get shitty, he will continue until I threaten violence. Then he realises that he’s gone too far and sent me over the edge, and he backs down. But he’ll still grumble and call me a bitch for trying to get him to stop bullying our mother. He’ll also try to slip out and keep arguing with her the moment I’m back in my room. Which he did as I was writing all this. And yet, he still expects her to give him money every single time he puts his hand out. She only does it because it’s not worth the tantrum he’ll kick off if she doesn’t.

And just in case you think I’m talking about a dirtbag teenaged brother, or a moody toddler?

He’s 41 years old.

As for calling the police... Tch, they’re useless around here. They were called to our street because of a massive brawl where our fence got damaged, and started point blank they they probably wouldn’t be able to find anybody who was involved. They’d just suggest family counselling. (Mum got counselling in the Homes. That person also molested her.) So we’re very against any sort of counselling. It’s already destroyed this family more than once.

Plus, we live in government housing, which means there’s rules we can’t fight against or appeal, because the government does whatever it wants.

If the police come to the address too often, we’ll be kicked out. If my brother is arrested and jailed, we’ll be kicked out. (There’s some rule that there has to be at least as many people living in the house as the number of bedrooms. Three bedrooms, so three people. If he goes, we’re on the streets, or will be shoved into cramped flats to slowly die.)

We’re also barely making ends meet. Without him paying part of the rent, we’re screwed.

Anyway, I just mostly needed to rant.

[mara-twins]

Mark Dream #7

Word count: 2932

Genre: Dream, College!au, Friends to Lovers!au(?)

A/n: I think this is a prequel to Mark Dream #6 and a small mention of Jackson

The dream, from what I remember started off with coming back home to see my house being destroyed. My siblings were okay, they were talking to my dad on this communicator of sorts. I left them to do that while I got started using magick to undo the damage one room at a time. I started at where the staircase was,  then worked my way up to the bedrooms and if everything went well at least have two out of the four bathrooms done. By the time I was done with all seven bedrooms and the two bathrooms my dad came home.

“Wow, Lani, you were able to get this much done in thirty minutes?” My dad asked me. He looked relieved. My only response was nodding my head because I was so exhausted. His room was the last one I finished because it was the farthest from the staircase. Then my dream shifted.

Mark made his first appearance as he was walking to meet up with our friends and me, at school. My friends were all trying to cheer me up after hearing what happened about my house. They keep saying how strong I am to be able to conjure up that much progress with the renovations, by myself, on that first night. I watched Mark walk over to us and I knew he caught the ending part of the conversation.

“Did something happen to your house?” He asked. He was the last one of my friends to find out.

“Yeah, someone came and blew it up over the weekend. It’s why I couldn’t come to hang out with you guys the day before or come to school yesterday.” Mark’s eyes were practically stretched from his forehead to his chin with how wide they were. “And it means I won’t be able to really hang out too much for a while too.”

“What if those of us who are magick users come by to help you? This way we kill two birds with one stone. We get to hang out with you and your house gets repaired.” One of my female friends said. Everyone seems to get loud with cheers at the idea. All except Mark who was wasn’t a magick user.

“Guys you don’t have to, besides even just doing little things will drain you. Remember how I didn’t come back to school yesterday? This kind of magick is no joke. Plus my dad is having some of his friends come by to help, too, with the construction and stuff.”

“We can help, too,” Mark replied, “plus I’m not a magick user so I can help your dad like every day.”

This had all of our friends making noises, either snickers or whistles.

Then my dream shifts again to almost like a time-lapse thing. I was watching myself and some of my friends working on the kitchen, getting the walls to reconstruct itself in the reverse fashion that it blew up. It was dark out by the time we finished and they all said they better start heading home. I promised I’ll make them all lunches as soon as I can, as a way to say thanks. Jackson (not Wang) was the last to leave, but to his and my surprise Mark shows up with bags upon bags of take-out food.

“I know I missed out of helping today because of training, but I brought food.”

“Oh hey boy,” my dad starts, “whatchu’ got there?”

“I brought food for everyone. I hope you don’t mind burgers!” Mark replied.

Just then my siblings tell my dad they’re were hungry.

“Oh I brought food for everyone, but with our other friends gone I think I brought over too much.”

Mark handed the food over to dad, Jackson grabbing a to-go plate before leaving, and everyone tucked in. We all thanked Mark and he stayed to have dinner with my family. After dinner, my siblings cleaned up and I asked my dad if Mark can stay for a bit longer.

“Won’t his parents be worried, just give them a call to let them know where you’re at, okay?”

“Oh, don’t worry sir. You see, I don’t live with my parents because I moved here for training and school.”

“Oh well then, I don’t mind you staying even for the night. You can stay in Lani’s room. (That wouldn't be able to happen IRL. I would have to sleep in the living room for that to happen. 😂)”

Mark and I thanked my dad and we just hung out for the rest of the night. After I saw my dad go to this bedroom, it became like a time-lapse with myself watching Mark and I. I saw us laugh and we ended up heading up to my bedroom to set up where Mark was gonna sleep. I used more magick to conjure some clothes for Mark, so he could shower. When he was done I went to shower. Then it was time for bed, he insisted on the floor.

“Do you not see this Queen sized bed?” I joked.

“Do you actually feel comfortable sharing a bed with me?”

“Why not, unless that’s a problem?”

“Nope,” Mark said climbing in next to me.

“Mark, just a heads up I’m a cuddler.”

“I’m okay with that.” He smiled having his arms open wide as he waited for me. I turned off the lights and cuddled with Mark before going to sleep.

Then another shift. This time it was like another time-lapse kind of a thing but from my point of view. I would be with my family going to someplace to get more supplies and I would see Mark and my friends out having fun. Sometimes they’ll see me and come over, other times they don’t.

The dream shifted again and I was pushed out of my house after the renovations were finished, by my family, to some of my friends waiting outside. They all had smiles on their faces.

“Took you long enough!” One of the said.

“Okay she’s done, can we go now?!” Another demanded playfully.

“Where exactly are we going?” I asked.

“To a party!!” they all cheered with glee.

“Guys I don’t like parties!!” I whine.

“Don’t worry it’s just us, but it’s over at Mark’s house.” My female friend from before whispered to me. My dream self had never ever been to Mark’s house before so I gave in as we went. Halfway there I said something.

“At least now I know why my sister made me wear a dress. You know, she went through all the trouble to hide the rest of my other clothes.” The friends with me started to laugh and before I knew it we were outside Mark’s house. It was bigger than I thought it would be for just him staying here. Also, the party got a lot bigger than just my group of friends. I groaned seeing it, which made one of my guy friends laugh, nonetheless, we all got out of the car and made our way inside.

Mark saw us instantly and met us midway through the foyer.

“You guys finally made it!!” Mark said it to everyone, but he only hugged me. He also kissed my forehead. “I need help, this wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“You let it slip at the training grounds you were having a party huh?” I asked him.

“No, Jackson did!” Pointing out Jackson Wang laughing amongst others I didn’t really know. I laughed because that didn’t surprise me. Despite Jackson not really having abilities, he was definitely one of the most social people that ever existed.

I stayed closed to Mark for most of the party, not like he would have let me go anyways. He even waited for me outside the restroom if I went. It wasn’t creepy, just sweet. However, my female friends were getting mad at Mark for hogging my attention at one point so he let me go to hang with them. It was fun, we were dancing and just chatted with other of the party-goers. I would steal glances at Mark and from wherever I am and I knew he was doing the same.

Sometime during the party, Mark got pied in the face. I couldn't stop laughing and after he wiped most of it all he got hit by a water balloon with Johnson's baby bath soap mixed in.

“Is that bubbles?” one of my friends asked.

“They mixed in that baby soap that won’t make you cry,” one of my other friends said.

I wave Mark to come over and when he does I go to wipe his face. He uses his shirt too, but I stop him to finish the job. And upon impulse, I kissed his cheek. Then I woke up.

[ananas-pineapple-thing]

I found this in my drafts, and I’m not a great writer, but I thought I’d just post this friendship fic thing-y

Me and You and You and Me

1.

The river looks pretty.

It's not something Septimus ever imagined himself thinking before- but then again, this is his first time here without a soldier's uniform, without the icy hand of fear curled around his neck, and even then it might've looked nice. He might've just not noticed until now, this second, and that's fine. That's okay. Maybe he would've liked to see the river unfiltered by the lenses of duty and death and order when he was younger and colder and needed it more, but that's just how it works. Everything good comes all of a sudden, loud and rushing and overwhelming and so, so new, and he can deal with it that way. Even if the one he wants to share this with the most is dead. It's fine, though, it's okay! He's completely fine!

Septimus scratches the letters 409 into a tree with his new pocket knife in his honor anyways, because this is absolutely what his very best friend would've wanted as his legacy. He pretends he is not even the littlest bit sad whenever someone passes and looks confused.

No one's really glancing his way anymore, because, well, the river looks pretty. The whole of it he can see is lit up with the reflected yellows and golds of the sun, shimmering on the waves of the pale, almost frosty blue water. There are no clouds in the sky, and any lingering murkiness fades away to clear water. Even from far away Septimus can see the small boat Nicko is piloting, and the even smaller blip of Jenna sitting on the edge, legs dangling in the water. Even from here he can see the sunlight glinting on his sister's circlet.

The bank is covered in damp, trampled grass and dark sand, but it's nice. It feels comfortable, familiar. Septimus is too tired to join them in the water right now, and he doesn't want to sit on the wood planked bridge where he saw them off, with his back exposed to the people coming and going. It's better here, curled up against a large rock where no one can sneak up at him. He can actually watch them here instead of sitting all prickly and still, waiting for the Chief Cadet to press a knife to his neck, maybe, or waiting to be pushed into the hungry waters.

Nicko is pulling on Jenna's legs from his boat until she is dragged into the water. She resurfaces, spluttering and soaking and angry. Nicko is leaning over the railing, laughing.

Septimus is too far away to hear what he's saying, but it must be something like, isn't the water nice? Didn't I tell you?

Jenna doesn't seem to think so. Still fuming, she grabs Nicko by the shoulders in a surprising show of strength and he topples in after her.

Now Jenna is laughing. Nicko tries to splash her, but she ducks behind his boat. The rope keeping it tied to the bank is slowly unfurling, and Septimus wonders how long it will take them to notice. He wonders if he should call out to them.

But if he can't hear them, then, well, they won't be able to hear him. Besides, it might be fun to watch them chasing after it. Septimus can't help but smile and lean closer when Jenna notices and starts tugging on Nicko's arm. He mistakes it as an invite to splash her in the face.

The feeling in his chest when Septimus watches this is new, one that makes his heart swell into something almost too large to be healthy. He laughs out loud at the scene before him- Jenna and Nicko paddling furiously after their boat- dropping his head to rest on his knees. Dropping his guard enough so that he doesn't notice the footsteps until they settle right next to him.

Septimus whirls around and stops, breathing hard. There is an older boy there.

It takes him a moment, and when he gets it, he's embarrassed it took so long. It's okay. It's just Beetle.

"Wotcha, Sep," Beetle says, maybe not noticing Septimus's momentary panic, maybe just too polite to mention it. He flops down beside him, grinning, almost inevitably getting grass stains on his white stockings in the process. "The river looks nice, doesn't it?"

"Wotcha, Beetle," Septimus says, smiling back, and closes his eyes. This part is not new. This part has happened before, in other ways. It's as familiar in the same way the rhymes embedded in his brain are, the same way he always looks over one shoulder, in case. Familiar the same way letting a boy fall into a fast following river every night is.

409 standing next to him along the castle walls, both dressed in uniforms. His best friend catches his eye and then shakes a lizard out of his hat. How long was that there? he mouths, and they both stifle their laughs.

Side by side, holed up in a wolverine pit, waiting to for the inventible death of someone, even themselves. "What do you think your name is?" he asks 409 in a whisper, as a distraction. 409 shrugs, saying, "What my mum called me? Probably better than what yours called you."

His cot is wet from the icy water dumped on him the day before by the Chief Cadet to force him up. His nose is running, his breath misting. It is so, so cold and so, so wet. He shaken up by 409, and led back into his friend's cot. It's cramped, but warm and dry. Passing over a different river, in the forest during a Do-or-Die exercise. "The water looks nice, look, 412," his best friend says, leaning a little too far out. Neither of them notice. "I think it just looks cold," he replies.  

Septimus opens his eyes again. "It does, doesn't it?"

They both sit there for a moment, watching the gentle waves in the water. His siblings are out of view, but he knows they'll be back in a moment, to drag him in, maybe, or invite him for hot chocolate. He's not worried.

And anyway, this is nice. Sitting with Beetle is nice. He's only met him twice before on chores for Marcia, but he's someone Septimus knows he wouldn't mind having as a friend. It would be nice to have one of those outside of his family again.

Beetle smiles at him again, and it makes Septimus ache in the way that it reminds him of someone else, from what feels like so very long ago. It's fine, though, it's okay. He's completely fine.

2.

When Jo-Jo comes home from the Grot everyday, Edd and Erik are sprawled across his bed.

The thing is, he isn't sure why they come to his flat at the end of each day when they can easily buy their own, more convenient rooms in the Wizard Tower. Maybe they're just trying to save money by leeching off of him. Maybe they miss the nights in the forest when sleeping came easier and there was always another brother a few steps away. Maybe they like his company. Maybe more and less of each, in different ways.

For the most part, though, Jo-Jo doesn't mind. He'll come home and throw his clothes on the closest head and then he and Erik will kick up their feet and demand that Edd make dinner for the three of them with the limited supplies in his shelves. They'll eat cross-legged on the floor and let Edd know how much they like his food by repeatedly insulting it. Someone will try to destroy his framed drawing of Marissa. He'll try to save it. As it stands, the glass has multiple cracks and the color is fading. She looks like a blob. Instead of their egos deflating by their defeat, the twins will take the loss as an invite to make fun of Jo-Jo for about half an hour, and he'll get a few insults in as well if he's lucky, just like old times. Not that Jo-Jo missed their arguments. He just. Anyways.

Jo-Jo has to do some hardcore shoving to get a spot on his own bed, and even then he doesn't have enough room to stretch out his legs. Erik is having trouble as well, but Jo-Jo is too concerned about his rapidly numbing feet to bring himself to care about Erik and his stupid elbows. He should've thought of that before invading Jo-Jo's bed.

"We could like, all dye our hair black, pose as royalty, and get rooms in the Palace," Edd says, reading aloud from a list titled Battle Plans to his bored and half asleep audience. There is a stack of cards scattered here, somewhere, but they all forgot about the game and by the time they remembered, they were all too tired to play. "Then Erik and I wouldn't have to sleep on the ugly lumpy couch."

Jo-Jo is no longer bored and half asleep. He is wide awake and incredibly insulted. He springs up, part-leaning part-falling over Erik and attempting to grab the list. "First of all," he huffs as Edd raises it above his head, "my couch is not ugly. You're ugly. And secondly, it's lumpy because you throw your clothes on it!"

Erik shoves him back with cry of, "My elbows, move Jo-Jo, move."

"Alternatively, you could just ask Jenna to give you the rooms," Jo-Jo continues, not at all fazed.

"I've always wanted to pose as royalty," Erik contributes. He plucks the Battle Plans from his twin's hand, and Edd lets him. Jo-Jo feels a twinge of something at that, but it's not the right time- because it never is- so he shoves it into the corner of his brain to suffocate there.

"Really?" Edd says, sounding almost insulted. "Since when?"

"Wow," Jo-Jo says. "Move into the Wizard Tower, both of you."

Edd and Erik share a look. "No."

Jo-Jo shares a look with Marissa-the-blob. "Idiots."

The three of them are all trying very, very hard to keep straight faces, expressions going tight as to not smile on accident, but then they catch each other's eyes. Edd, Erik, and Jo-Jo burst out laughing until their chests are heaving with the effort, and keep going even then. One of the twins shoves Jo-Jo off the bed, and he lets himself fall flat on his back. He's joined by Edd dangling off the edge a moment later, and then Erik, who lands on top of Jo-Jo.

"Jeez," Jo-Jo wheezes, batting at his brother on top of him, all dead weight. Erik takes his own sweet time rolling off, so Jo-Jo makes sure to kick one of his elbows on the way, since Erik seems so attached to them. Heh. Attached.

"We should just stay here, but we get the get the bed and Jo-Jo gets the couch, since he loves it so much," Edd says, hands up and gesturing in the air, as if trying to non-verberally explain why this is a good idea, and begins to tip over the edge. He realizes his mistake just in time and grasps onto Jo-Jo's bed again like a lifeline.

"I bought that bed! With my wages!" Jo-Jo sits up, indignant. "And I don't even like my couch that much." That is lie. Jo-Jo loves his beautiful couch. His couch has never fallen on him and wouldn't try to freeload on him either. And it's incredibly soft. He should probably just marry his couch.

Jo-Jo snorts. Better not let Marissa hear that. Or anyone, for that matter, because Edd and Erik would laugh at him for ages and then tell some more people and laugh at him again. Then Jenna would come visit him in person to laugh at him. In like, a mean way. And then Jo-Jo would forever be known as the guy who entertained the thought of marrying his couch. And everyone would be laughing at him. Could he get away with blaming his brothers for driving him into that insanity? Marcia would probably believe him. And Septimus.

"Jo-Jo?" Edd's ugly, rude voice breaks into Jo-Jo's sad daydream. "Are you okay? You laughed at something, and then stared at the couch with this depressed look for three whole minutes. What were you thinking about?"

Jo-Jo did that? Well, great, now he has to make up something before the inevitable laughing starts. They cannot know. These older brothers are going to make him prematurely grey.

"...Huh?" Jo-Jo says. Nailed it.

Edd and Erik fall back into laughter once more, louder this time. Jo-Jo sighs, but he lets the fondness tug at his heart, lets himself duck his head and smile underneath his curls, exasperated.

"You two," he huffs out, untangling himself from his brothers. It's not a real sentence, so he tries again. "You two, I swear, I swear."

And that's not much better, but they get it. Erik pulls him back down by his collar, dragging him over the two feet Jo-Jo had managed to put between him and them, so that his head is squashed against Edd's shoulder and Erik is draped over the both of them.

"Swear that you'll give up your bed for the greater good?" Edd asks, all straight faced, and Jo-Jo fists are too stuck and too far away to punch him.

"Ha," Erik says, yanking on Jo-Jo collar a little harder. "Now both of you shut up. I'm tired, and this is strangely comfortable."

Because you're not squashed at all on top, Jo-Jo means to say. Instead, he pries Erik's fingers from his collar and lets himself get as cozy as he can with Edd making his legs more and more numb by the moment. He swears, swears later that he only closed his eyes for a second. 3.

I am Syrah Syara. I am five hundred thirteen old. I was born in the Castle. I

12004 takeaway 500 equals 11504 takeaway 13 equals 11491

am not the Syren. Anymore. I am Syrah Syara. I am Syrah Syara. I am Syrah

Syrah is kicking at the dirt with her bare feet. Not because it’s particularly exciting, because what would be about all this? It doesn’t matter anyway. Her feet are barely leaving prints. They are too small or too weak or the dirt is just stubborn and she, she needs to be far stronger to make any sort of impact on it.

Summer is coming to an end in the Castle, and the green is all tinted in red-yellow-oranges. Rose is growing out her hair again, and the Sick Bay staff are pulling out scarfs and buttoning up coats. Midsummer’s day is long gone. Marcellus Pye is holed up in his Alchemie Chamber making everyone in the general vicinity tea, and Simon is grumbling over having to help. Septimus is rememorizing Heating Charms. Nicko and Rupert are closing up the Boat rentals for races in the Moat, and Syrah’s flowers are all wilting.

Syrah is wilting. She is kicking at the dirt and trying to convince herself that she is here, in mind and soul and body, in the control over her actions. It’s very hard. The dirt won’t move so is she really kicking it? Is she is she is she is-

Today is a very bad day.

She is not on the island anymore, that much Syrah knows. But then sometimes she feels like she still is, that if she wants to lift a limb she can’t, that someone else will pull on strings that lift the limbs for her when she doesn’t want it. And her head hurts. Her heart hurts. And her ribs are aching and she’s very, very tired.

She can’t fall asleep. And.

The Castle is not her home anymore no matter what they say because Julius is dead and her old home is rotted and the streets are new and there is no one left to live for but herself.

And why would she live for herself? The Syren is still inside somewhere she knows, she knows or maybe it took a piece of her away with it or maybe she died with it and why would she live for herself when herself aided a monster?

It’s very very cold. Summer came and went but she was cold.

Everyone she loves is dead. Her whole life so far has been more than five hundred years long and it’s all a hole to fall into. They’re all dead and she is alive.

She wants to leave. They want her to leave. Rose walks on eggshells around her. The Queen looks at her like a puzzle not a person. Marcellus was Julius’s friend and he’s alive while he is dead. Septimus avoids her.

Septimus.

It was her fault she couldn’t remember first but now she can and it’s too late to fix and it’s her fault and now he won’t look her in the eye. He was so happy she woke up and now. Now he probably wishes she slept forever.

She can’t fall asleep or the Syren will takeover again. It will find her and invade her mind again. Turn her into a puppet again. Turn her to nothing.

But she is nothing without the Syren even now. She does not know what she was before and she does not know what to be after and it is the worst and something so insignificant and small because she was saved but at what cost what should the cost be and she can’t-

And she is so, so tired.

Syrah lets herself fall back onto the dirt now, curling her arms around her torso and tucking her chin onto her knees. She tries to remember being asleep for two years and how wonderful that was, the numbness where she could feel nothing, remember nothing. She tries remembers how she used to sing for Julius and the little tree she planted outside the Wizard Tower. It might still be there, it might have been cut down. She won’t ever know. Her head is still buzzing too much to picture this, and she feels dizzy, watching the backs of the houses tilting along with the rest of the world. This is a bad time, and a bad day. Maybe a bad year, or a very bad five hundred years.

The wort part is. She doesn’t know if she can feel bad. She was rescued two years ago and the Syren’s gone and so much is different now that all this, she might be making it up. Despite what Rose says about her having a right to feel this way, it feels too small and technically too long ago to feel sick about. Many, many miles away. Maybe she’s so lost without the monster that she’s holding onto aftereffects that aren’t really there. Maybe bad days aren’t bad days at all, and she. She’s just.

"Syrah?"

Syrah sees the braids before she sees the rest of Lucy, and by the time she’s kneeled down to peer concernedly at her face, Syrah’s vision has gone all blurry for no reason at all. She can taste salt water.

Lucy pauses, then pulls her into her arms. Syrah chokes back on a sob, but she can’t pull away to hide it.

“It’s alright,” Lucy says, almost whispers. “You cry all you want, and I’ll stay here."

Syrah doesn't say anything, but Lucy continues, "That is, if you want me to."

Syrah wipes at her tears, but they're coming down too hard and too fast and Lucy is holding her more gently than she deserves. She closes her eyes, buries her face in her shoulder.

"Just for a moment," she says, and she can feel Lucy nod. Today is a very, very bad day, one that Lucy is not able to understand, will never be able to. But having someone to hold onto will be nice. To convince her she is still here, in mind, in body, in soul. Maybe Syrah can tell her why exactly this is day has been too much, after a moment. But for now.

The tears are coming faster now, and Syrah thinks she might need a little more than just a moment. It isn't until her hair dampens slightly does she realize that Lucy is crying too.

4. 

Sam is picking up Jenna and twirling her around, around, around, until she's dizzy all over and feels like she's flying, like she can touch the ceiling, if she wanted to. Then he drops her on the ground once more and she wobbles over, tilting sideways and falling flat on her back. She giggles, and he laughs, louder, looking so overjoyed.

The ceiling is so far away now.

"Sam, do it again," she orders, watching his face spin out of focus along with everything else.

"One second," Sam says. He holds a hand to his head, squinting, and then abruptly joins her on the floor, blinking rapidly.

"Actually, maybe not," Simon says, kneeling besides her. He rests an elbow on Sam's shoulder, and Sam doesn't put much heart into trying to shake it off, only scowling to keep up his fakity-fake annoyance. "Let's wait until you aren't dizzy anymore."

"I'm not, look!" And Jenna stands up and to perform a handstand, shoving away the inevitable paraphernalia of the Heap's room to an increasingly cluttered corner. She stays up maybe a second and a half before the world begins to tip once more.

Jenna falls again, out of breath, the ceiling pinwheeling above her. Her heart aches with affection when her brothers clap and whistle and stamp, before turning back to what they were doing. Simon and Sam are standing where she left them, eyebrows raised and impressed in the way only older siblings can be. Impressed by a handstand that lasted a second and a half, a second and a half and then ending in a fall.

"I didn't know you could do that," Sam says, eyebrows raised almost uncomfortably high.

Simon cackles at that, sounding as delighted as he could possibly be, and both Jenna and Sam and can't help but smile themselves, too. He scoops Jenna into his arms, holding her tight around the waist with her feet just barely above the ground, and turns in a slow circle for all their brothers to see. "There's a lot we don't know about you, right, Jenna?" he says, rather than asks, and then raises his voice an octave louder. "Our sister's going to rule the world someday!"

Then he throws her up in the air, far higher than he's allowed too, something that's been banned since Edd tossed her to Erik and she bumped her head when she was four.

-her hair is flying all around and the ceiling is close enough to touch, for real this time-

And then she's falling down, down, down far too fast, terrifyingly so, her brothers's faces blurring into the furniture and clutter and the background, Simon's open arms so close yet miles and miles away, and Jenna swears she sees everything then, the good and the bad, the cold and the awful and the brilliant and wonderful, and she's almost surely going to hit her head again, but Simon has his arms out to catch her any second now, and she doesn't remember to be afraid. fin.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Same Story, Different Versions (Version 2)

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Avengers - Peter Parker/Spider-Man, @moonlight-lyrics/Wonder-Pool, & @saviorsong/Nightsong

Rating: PG-11 (for le smoochy-smoochy)

Original Idea: This post (or at least my reblog since the source link was giving me trouble on my laptop -_-)

Notes: (Masterlist)(About Me) Version 1 - I know I already mentioned that I love writing my friends into my stories, but DANG this whole situation would be AWESOME! One of these Versions may be continued on if I have too much fun… we’ll see.

^^^^^

Nightsong and Wonder-Pool glanced at each other with grins before jumping over the small railing and landing in front of Spider-Man on the floor below. “Evening, Peter,” Wonder-Pool greeted impishly. The teenage boy gulped, looking between the two of them worriedly.

“E-evening Lyric,” he stammered. “Mel.” He nodded at Nightsong.

“So, a little birdie told us that you have a crush on Brown Recluse,” Nightsong commented.

“What little birdie? Falcon? Or Hawkeye? Either way, he’s lying.”

The girls laughed. “No, no,” Lyric dismissed. “Wanda. She heard it from your thoughts.”

“We just want you to know that if you hurt her in any way, we will destroy you,” Mel added. Peter looked between the two of them in fear.

They were both shorter than him, but they radiated a sense of dangerous power that made him nervous. Especially together. He could take on the Falcon and Winter Soldier at the same time without getting scared, but these two girls were far more terrifying than both Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Especially together.

“So, sweetpea,” Mel began. “You didn’t answer our question. We heard you have a crush on Brown Recluse. True or false? Yes or no?” Lyric and Mel folded their arms, giving him a searching, amused expression. Honestly, they were kind of enjoying watching him flounder.

It was good to make him suffer a bit for his crush on their friend—who they considered to be their middle sister.

“Uh… I, uh…” Peter muttered. “Brown Recluse… uh… wow. I, uh… I guess… yeah I do.”

Lyric and Mel shared a high-five, each shot him with their laser-tag gun, and leapt back up into the shadows.

“Hey!” Peter protested. He shot a web into the darkness, hearing it attach to the ceiling before pulling himself up after the girls to pursue them. The giggles seemed to echo through the night, but even his enhanced senses couldn’t place where they were coming from. He scrunched his nose in displeasure. Nightsong’s powers were so cheating in a game of laser-tag. Though, when Tony said all powers were permitted… he shouldn’t have expected anything less.

Brown Recluse—Mattie—was probably crawling around on the ceiling where it was darkest.

Something Peter probably should have been doing himself, but was used to living as a normal kid when out of his suit and felt strange using his powers without it on—like someone was going to discover him at any moment.

Mel and Lyric hid from Peter’s pursuit and couldn’t help but grin mischievously at each other. They knew it—they knew Peter liked Mattie. Honestly, how could he not? They were the same age and had similar powers. Plus Mattie was smart—and they’d figured out quickly that Peter had a weakness for smart, powerful girls.

“So, now that we have his confession, what do we do about it?” Lyric asked Mel, who pondered the question carefully.

“Set them up on a not-so-blind date? See if Mattie likes him back and then force them to play Seven Minutes in Heaven or Spin the Bottle or something? All those options sound great to me,” the older, green-haired hero answered.

Lyric snorted. “That… sounds fantastic. Let’s do it.”

“Which one?”

“I like the Seven Minutes in Heaven one.”

Mel grinned wickedly. “Then let’s go see if Little Miss Mattie has a crush on the other spiderling.”

The two, with a synchronicity that came from years of practice together, slid into the darkness.

It didn’t take them long to find Mattie—she had a very specific M.O. when it came to laser tag games in the compound. That M.O. being taking shelter in a populated place and sniping as best she could. When it came down to her against Hawkeye, the Winter Soldier, or Black Widow, she always lost, but otherwise wasn’t actually a bad sniper.

“Evening dreamer,” Lyric greeted quietly as they joined her where she’d taken cover. The matching light blue of their laser tag vests tipping Mattie off that they weren’t enemies she needed to shoot.

“Evening,” Mattie replied quietly, not tearing her eyes off the main training area where the thickest part of the laser tag game was happening.

“We just have a quick question,” Mel commented.

“Can’t it wait till after the game?” Mattie muttered.

“No,” Mel retorted.

“Do you have a crush on Peter?” Lyric asked without preamble.

Mattie stopped mid-shot and turned to look at her two best friends. “What?!” she demanded.

“Do you—have a crush—on Peter?” Lyric repeated slowly, enunciating just to be obnoxious.

“What do you want me to tell you?” Mattie snapped.

“The truth would be helpful,” Mel supplied casually.

“Of course… not. Maybe? I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it—him—like that,” Mattie replied, thoughts disjointed.

Lyric and Mel raised their eyebrows quizzically. “Oh yeah?” Lyric challenged. “Say that to the lingering looks when he leaves the room—”

“Or the wistful sighs while staring during breakfast,” Mel added.

“I hate you both,” Mattie grumbled as a red vest across the training area lit up white with her shot. Sam’s swear echoed through the darkness.

“Language!” Steve called.

“Are you kidding?” Tony demanded.

“Mattie,” Mel hissed, drawing the Brown Recluse’s attention back to her friends. “Answer us honestly. Do you like Peter? Yes or no? Simple question and we promise we won’t laugh.” She elbowed Lyric in the ribs. The younger girl nodded in reluctant agreement, kinda wondering if she would, in fact, laugh at the truth.

“Okay. Yeah, I do. Happy?” Mattie snapped.

Her two best friends grinned. “Very!” they chorused before disappearing back into the shadows.

The game only lasted another five minutes before the lights all turned back on, making everyone blink and moan with complaint that their retinas were burning. Everyone at the facility gathered in the game room to see their scores tallied on one of the display boards.

On the blue team—the girls’ team consisting of Wanda, Natasha, Mattie, Mel, and Lyric—Natasha had completely annihilated the scoreboard. Mattie was a distant second, with Mel in third, Lyric fourth, and Wanda last. On the red team—the boys’ team consisting of Sam, Steve, Tony, Bucky, and Peter (Vision and Rhodey opting to watch and Hawkeye was out of town)—Bucky had scored the most points. Steve was behind him, then Sam, then Peter, then Tony. “Apparently your aim sucks without the targeting system in your suit,” Mel teased the billionaire.

But overall, the boys’ won by six points.

Tony clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Right, what next?”

Lyric was standing directly behind Peter and Mattie—who were several inches apart from each other as they removed their laser tag vests—so she went on her tiptoes to be seen better and pointed at their heads. “I volunteer the spiderlings for Seven Minutes in Heaven while we decide!” she exclaimed. Peter and Mattie whirled around, realizing she was talking about them.

“What?! No!” they both protested in unison.

“Yesssss!” Mel countered, putting her hands firmly on their shoulders and pushing them towards one of the closets that they kept board games in.

“No, Melody, no,” Mattie tried, pushing against her friend. “Mel—Mel—Mel!”

“Yeah! Go on kids!” Tony encouraged teasingly.

“No, really,” Peter tried, also pushing against Mel’s grip. Both of the “spiderlings” were holding back on their strength because if they used all of it, they’d probably dislocate Melody’s shoulders; but they were trying their best to resist. “Really, we’re fine. We don’t need to—”

With a final shove, they stumbled into the dark closet. It was locked from the outside with a click!

“Enjoy!” Mel and Lyric called with laughter.

“Seven minutes, kids!” Tony added.

Peter and Mattie tried to look at each other, but couldn’t really see, even with their enhanced senses. They could only just kind of feel a vibe of where the other was standing.

“I, uh… we, we, we… we don’t have to do this,” Peter stammered, scratching the back of his head.

Mattie’s hands reached out in the direction of his voice. She found his solar plexus. From there, her hands slipped over his soft shirt until she found his shoulders. “Meh. We’re here. Might as well,” she replied.

“Are you sure?”

“Only if you are.”

Mattie felt Peter’s hands find her upper arms. “Oh I definitely am. I just didn’t want to offend you.”

Mattie snorted. “Not at all.”

Peter felt her tilt up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his in the darkness. He kissed her back.

They weren’t entirely sure how long they stood in the darkness, Peter’s back pressed against one wall, kissing. Which evolved into making out—and at some point, Peter’s shirt disappeared and Mattie’s ended up around her neck.

“So, um—” Kiss. “—I was thinking,” Peter began. Smooch. “—that maybe I could—” Vague sucking noise. “—take you out for breakfast—” Kiss.

“Sure,” Mattie replied.

Peter smiled in the darkness before finding her mouth with his again.

The moments seemed to stretch into forever…

Until the doors were pulled open.

Mel and Lyric were standing there with cameras. Two bright flashes went off and then laughter echoed around the game room.

“Wow kids,” Tony exclaimed. “We could tell it got a little heated but we didn’t realize that clothes had been removed.” Mattie and Peter both turned bright pink before Mattie managed to pull her shirt back on. Peter had to hunt around the floor of the game closet for a moment to find his but eventually they were both fully clothed.

“Though we also heard you have a date,” Lyric teased.

“Have fun!” Mel singsonged.

Mattie glanced at Peter. “I plan to.”

[renaroo]

Recovery None (57/61)

Disclaimer: Red vs Blue and related characters are the property of Rooster Teeth. Warnings: Language, Canon-typically violence, Psychological torture & manipulation, Mentions of gore, Character death, Minor Sexual content Pairings: Kaikaina/South, Gimmons Rating: T Synopsis: [Canon Divergence AU] When the Mother of Invention crashed, Project Freelancer was in shambles, its surviving agents scattered, its equipment stolen, and an impending investigation into the crash from the UNSC was on the horizon. To regain control of the deeply corrupted program, the Director established a new unit from his remaining supplies – the Recovery Unit.

Three former Freelancers were chosen for particular tasks: Zero is to hunt down and destroy the Meta, One is to investigate and recover stolen or missing equipment, and Two is to take down AWOL former agents.

Of course, no one’s motivations are what they seem…

A/N: There is an abrupt tonal shift that can only happen in Blood Gulch and a few other surprises in this chapter I think everyone’s going to appreciate since I’ve been asked about them for more than a few chapters now ; ) But to anyone still wondering, yes, I’m keeping the limited narration for Two chapters down to just South’s POV now. No one will be taking North’s place for the remainder of the fic (which isn’t that much more OH MY GOSH HOW ARE WE FOUR CHAPTERS FROM THE END) 

Special thanks to @secretlystephaniebrown, @analiarvb, @notatroll7, @every-survival, @icefrozenover, @washingtonstub, @a-taller-tale, @freshzombiewriter, Yin, irismon, DuchessPoint, and Linni for the feedback!

Recovery Two XVII: Sisters

She still didn’t know what she was doing. 

South stood to lose everything and yet all she could think was how hollow of a threat that truly was to her. Everything meant so little when, collectively, she possessed truly nothing of value. Not anymore. 

She was still in the canyon, wondering whether it was instinct honed in by years of training or what dwindling sense of self-preservation she still owned, but she had stuck to the shadows, out of sight of all the natives to the canyon, former Freelancers, tanks, and all. 

From a distance, she observed things. And even though he was long dead, it was the closest she had felt to North in years. 

Can I project now? Theta asked. It looks like everyone is leaving anyway. No one’s gonna see me. 

Watching as York and Washington passed through a transporter and Four Seven Niner returned to a Scorpion tank, South narrowed her eyes. “No,” she answered finally. “I don’t need you attracting attention. Either from the mouth breathers here or from the possibility of attracting it.”

Theta sent a shudder through her, from the base of her skull to the tips of her fingers and toes. 

“Stop doing that,” she ordered harshly. “Taking hold of my nervous system.”

Sorry, the AI quickly apologized. But I don’t... it’s not a conscious thing or anything, South. I just feel things. And as long as I’m here, you’ll feel them, too.

She nearly rolled her eyes. “I understand how implantation works! I just... Forget it. I don’t know what the hell I ever wanted with an AI anyway.”

You saw us as advanced tools rewarding the best, and you wanted to be the best, he answered. Now that it’s real and human it feels weird to think of us that way. 

South hardly kept her eyes set on the scene at Blue Base. “Did I ask for a psychoanalysis?”

Not out loud. 

“Well, since you’re suddenly so opinionated, Theta, I’ve got a question for you,” South snapped. “Why are we doing this? Why are we anywhere near this place and not sticking with that plan of replacing an agent of Freelancer and hijacking a ticket off this mudball? What are we doing?”

Going against orders, Theta appeared briefly over her shoulder. “I think you’re interested in that one girl’s big, bouncy boobs.”

“Oh my god, you horny teenager, get out of my brain!” she snarled. 

“I could go to your suit more and leave your implants more vacated if you--”

Before Theta could continue, South held up her hand and silenced him. Her eyes darted toward the gathering in the canyon. Sure enough, Kaikaina was heading her way, practically bouncing with every step. 

Theta snorted. “Bouncing, I put that on your mind.”

“Go dark,” South ordered.

“Why? Kaikaina has seen me before. She’s the only one who does know about me. Because you wouldn’t let me apologize to York like I told you to let me--”

Looking to the AI’s projection directly, South snarled. “Theta, I will use override commands liberally. I’m not North. I’m not playing around with you and giving you uneven footing in this so-called relationship of ours. Go dark.”

For a moment, Theta seemed to resist before dropping his head and shaking his head. “You’re right. You’re not North,” he said almost bitterly before flickering offline.

“Little bastard,” South hissed. She then looked toward Kaikaina just as the woman got within reach of her. 

“How’re you supposed to bodyguard from, like, twenty feet away?” Kaikaina asked breathlessly. “Man. Why’s it so hot in this place? It sucks more dicks than I do.”

“What?” South blinked.

“What?” Kaikaina asked back. 

Exhaling sharply through her nose, South leaned back against the rock she had been spying from. “Do you want me to answer those questions in order?” she asked. 

“Which questions?” Kaikaina asked.

“The ones you asked me,” South clarified impatiently.

The simulation trooper tilted her head. “Uh, yeah. Generally that’s the point of asking someone questions. To get the answers. Man. Are all bodyguards such sticklers for, like, everything?”

Deciding to humor the only minor relationship she had flimsily constructed in the past twenty-four hours, South began listing off on her fingers. “I bodyguard by surveying and assessing situations from a distance then coordinating action from what I see. It’s hot here because of our geographical location and because while the UNSC decided -- on poor faith -- to terraform this rock for sustainable life, ultimately it does not rotate quickly enough on its axis to give similar diurnal and nocturnal habitats like Earth and our other terraformed colony planetoids. Constant sunlight gives this planet a giant-ass-desert in the middle of the sun-baring side and we’re on the outskirts of it. And, finally, I don’t care whether or not other bodyguards are sticklers, because they’re not your bodyguard, I am. And anyone who isn’t me sucks.”

When South had finished, she took a deep breath and then looked expectantly toward Kaikaina. Even fully armored, there was no hiding that blank stare the younger soldier was giving her. 

“Yeah, okay, sure,” she finally responded with a fully body shrug. “Hey, if you’re my bodyguard, should’t you be calling me, like ma’am and stuff? Like making me sandwiches and opening the door when it rings?”

“I’m not a butler, I just save your life,” South replied. “Do you want to be called ‘ma’am’, you’re like... twelve.”

“Uh, I’m an adult. I’m Nineteen, so suck it,” Kai responded. “And I guess I don’t like when other people say ma’am because my mom was a ma’am or a sir if someone was being an asshole about her beard. But when you say it, your voice is, like, all husky and heavy and it’s really hot. So if you want to call me ma’am I’d be down with it.”

“What,” South replied.

“What?” Kai asked back.

“You know what, it really doesn’t matter,” South replied lowly. “Honestly, I’m beginning to think if anything matters right now. And I’m having a hard time finding any evidence that it does.”

“Wow, that’s dark,” Kai responded, crossing her arms. 

“I’m a tortured soul, didn’t you know?” South replied sarcastically. 

“You’re bitchy, it’s kinda hot,” Kai announced, leaning against the rock as well, close enough to brush arms with South. 

“What are you doing?” South demanded. 

“Waiting for you to get over yourself,” Kaikaina shrugged. “Or for you to bodyguard me from something epic. I must be super important for them to give me the best Freelancer for a bodyguard.”

Surprised, South turned and looked at Kai. “I never said I was the best.”

“You don’t have to, you’re a complete hardass and you talked circles around those guys back at the other base,” Kaikaina explained. “Obviously my Freelancer is the best one.”

“Your,” South remarked with a scoff. Despite herself, though, she had a smile. “Yeah, guess you’re right.”

“I know I ma, I always guessed people’s weights right at the circus,” Kai shrugged. “I’m a good judge of character like that.”

South smirked at her. “Obviously.” She then took pause and turned entirely toward Kaikaina. “So what was the deal down there? Why did the Reds split up?”

"Oh, I dunno,” Kaikaina shrugged. “Some of them wanted to follow the space cop to go after some movie director? And that other Freelancer went with him, which makes me think -- a pirate, a guy with a funny accent, and a cop all going to find a director? Total porno. I’d watch it.”

South felt her blood cool in her veins and she grew more alert. 

Him, Theta hissed in her mind. 

“The Director?” South questioned, hardly able to find words. 

“Right, so they went through that portal thingy, but my bro said fuck thaaaaat because it was dangerous or something. Or he’s like still pretending to be in a closet, to which I’m like, Bro, that guy Simmons is, like, hanging off of you. What the fuck. Closet door’s knocked down, Bro,” Kai continued. “So they’re here along with the cool guy in lightish-red armor--”

“The pink armor,” South corrected automatically.

“Shhh don’t be rude, I can’t tell the difference,” Kaikaina hushed her. “Anyway, so they’re all here in Blue Base where I’m here to paaaaarty but mostly I want to watch the one Blue guy give birth. I’ve never seen a dude do it before. But now that they’re doing it, I bet you no one’s going to say shit about me getting a seventh abortion.”

“What,” South said before she could catch herself.

“It’s the way dudes work. Totally. Trust me,” Kai said with a flip of her wrist. “And then the doctor guy is totally weird and says he has to give me a physical as soon as he’s done with the medical breakthrough of his lifetime. Whatever that means.”

“Sounds like he wants in your pants,” South replied without a second’s thought. 

“That’s what I think which is like... c’mon. Better pickup lines, dude, but eh. I’ll get naked.”

“Why would you need to get naked for a physical?” South demanded. 

“Why would I not?” she fired back. “You’re so weird. And thirsty.”

“I’m not--” South snapped her mouth shut before the conversation could carry on further. “It doesn’t matter.”

Because we need to go after the Director. No one’s more responsible for North’s death than him, Theta growled uncharacteristically in her mind. 

South felt the rage building within her, but she looked at Kaikaina instead. 

She felt the tug of resistance in her mind, but South pushed off the rock and glanced toward Kaikaina. “Okay, I’m curious. Show me this guy giving birth. What’s he going to do? Squeeze it out his dick or...?”

“Cesearean,” Kai answered, beginning to lead South toward the Base. 

“What a wimp,” South remarked. “Women have been doing this shit forever.”

“I told you! That’s how dudes are!” Kai laughed, reaching over and grabbing South’s arm as she continued to guide her. 

But North-- Theta began to fight back angrily. 

We’re going after the Director for me, South informed the AI, grabbing Kai’s arm back as they walked along. North is dead. Doing things for him isn’t going to bring him back. So when we cut the Director’s goddamn throat it’ll be for everything, and that’s what I’m going to do. 

Theta’s buzzing in her mind took up a dangerous tempo. When isn’t it about you!?

Clutching Kai tighter, South scowled. This, you little bastard. This is not for me. North wanted us to live. Going after the Director? That’s a good chance of death. So we’re going to give North what he wanted first. Live a little. 

Placated, Theta’s humming returned to its normal rhythm. 

*

Inside of the base, South nearly had to do a double take to make certain that they hadn’t somehow ended up back at Red Base since the interiors were absolutely identical in a very real, very haunting sort of way. 

If it weren’t for the blue accents and flag, there wouldn’t have been any difference at all. 

The orange armored Red who Kaikaina had said was her brother was standing at the center of the flag room with a cigarette between his teeth. He was staring at the flag almost dully. 

“Yo, Broooooo!” Kaikaina yelled out, bounding over toward him. “Why aren’t you watching the dude giving birth? Like isn’t it supposed to be amazing or something? Like where is it gonna even come from?”

“Squeeze it out his dick, that’d almost be anatomical justice,” South couldn’t help but add. 

Ow, yeesh, Theta muttered.

Oh, like you have a real one, South admonished him.

“Won’t be the biggest thing I’ve seen come out of one,” Kai shrugged.

“What?” her brother said at the same time as South. 

“Whatever, it’s not amazing,” her brother said, pulling his cigarette from his mouth. “Amazing is this goddamn thing right here.”

He waved toward the blue flag and forced South and Kaikaina to take more note of it. They watched it flutter slightly, which confused South almost as much as the moon landing footage because there didn’t seem to be a draft in the base. 

“That’s not amazing, it’s fucking boring,” Kai groaned. 

“No, it’s not,” Grif said, pointing his cigarette toward the flag. “Good men over the years have died over this stupid thing -- died just to stand in this room and try to get it from Blues. Or the other way around.”

South looked between the two simulation troopers quietly. She felt... something at that point. Not guilt, not anything truly personal. But she felt...

Sympathy, Theta offered.

Gross, South replied. My brother just died, what the fuck do I have to sympathize over simulation troopers for? They’re not even smart enough to figure out this whole thing was fake.

Well, neither were Freelancers until the very end, Theta reminded her.

Taking a sharp breath, South pt her hands on her hips and shook her head. It felt like pulling teeth, but she tried all the same. “I’m... sorry. That you lost people over something so stupid as a flag.”

He turned and looked at her utterly bewildered. “What? God, no. Red Team hasn’t lost anyone over the stupid flag.” He threw down his cigarette and stomped it out before grabbing for his helmet. “I mean I’ve lost half my internal organs and Simmons is half a robot, but not even fucking Donut died over the stupid flag and he managed to get the damn thing. ‘Sides, I said good people. That’s obviously not anyone in this canyon.”

South watched as he put his helmet on. “You’re going to make me regret protecting your sister, aren’t you?” she asked plainly.

“Knowing my sister, she’s made headway on that cause already,” Grif shrugged. 

Almost immediately, South opened her mouth to defend Kaikaina’s honor when she realized that the younger woman wasn’t even in the room with them anymore. “Dammit,” she hissed before taking off toward the hall.

It took a bit of searching but soon enough South came across Kaikaina walking down the hall humming to herself.

“Earlier when you were getting onto me for not being close enough to bodyguard you,” South said as she caught up to Kai’s side, “generally that’s a two way street.”

“Pfft, I’m in Blue Base now. I’m Blue Safe. Whoohoo! Go Blue!” she said in response. “Hey, where’s the little gray dude over your shoulder? I bet he’d like to see me naked for a physical.”

“I’m here,” Theta announced, popping up over South’s shoulder.

“Off!” South ordered. She glared at Theta until he complied and then she looked back to her charge. “Theta is like a secret weapon. We don’t flaunt him around because that’d ruin the surprise.”

“We as in me?” Kai asked.

“What?” South asked in return.

“You always say we. Are you talking about me? Should I keep Theta a secret too? Like, he’s my secret, too? Which is cool. I’m great at secrets. Except when I accidentally tell them. Which doesn’t happen a lot. Don’t call anybody from high school. They’re fucking liar bitches.”

The realization of the we cut through South. She screwed her eyes shut, hardly listening to Kaikaina’s words as they carried forward. 

Live. Survive. Live. Survive. Don’t think about--

“She meant North,” Theta said, appearing over South’s other shoulder, closer to Kai. “Our brother. He... He died.”

Kai put her hands over her chest, letting out a small gasp. “Why didn’t you tell me you lost your brother? I’m so sorry! Losing my brother would be the worst thing that ever happened to me. Even if he’s an annoying bastard and treats me like a baby who hasn’t fucked the whole football team already.” She paused and looked mortified for a moment. “Did he die going after the flag? Did Dex offend you? I’ll go beat him up for you.”

"He didn’t die over a flag,” South said lowly. “He died over something more stupid... He died counting on me.”

Kai looked at South. “That’s not stupid. That’s... I think that’s something brothers and sisters would always be willing to die for. For the brother or sister, I mean.” She hugged herself. “I enlisted because I wanted to see my brother again. He was drafted because he chose to take care of me instead of going to school and so he couldn’t get out of it. And then he sent all his paychecks back to me at home. Because that’s what he does. He takes care of me. And I want to do the same back. Even if it means dying over a stupid flag.”

South stopped, her head was pounding and her vision blurring. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and rested her shoulder against the near hallway wall to keep her balance. 

“I wish it were true. I wish siblings were always willing to die for each other,” South said. “Maybe then it would’ve been me instead of him... I always thought, being a twin was... a hard thing. Everyone always finds a way to put you together. Even in the program. It’s like you’re not considered two people. Even when we were kids, our parents dressed us alike, and when we joined p and got sent to the program, they stuck us together. People thought we were special somehow, I suppose. I used to hate that. All I ever wanted was to have my own life. My own respect. And here I am now... just wondering how I’m gonna live without him.” She waved to the base around them. “I don’t even know where I fucking am anymore or what I’m doing. Not except getting back at all the fuckers responsible for this in the first place.”

“Yeah,” Kai said. “And being an extremely shitty pretend bodyguard.”

South looked up to Kaikaina, tears streaming down her face. Kaikaina was already meeting her gaze. 

They kept silent for a moment, South feeling like she had gutted herself and left everything bare, right there on the canyon base’s floor. 

Then, unexpectedly, she burst out with a laugh, a grin. Even when she covered her mouth she couldn’t help the choking laughter that came out from her. 

Joining in the laughter, Kaikaina moved in closer and pulled South into a hug. South didn’t return it, but she continued to laugh.

Laugh until there were blood curdling screams echoing through the base.

Quickly releasing each other, South and Kaikaina looked around for the source of the screaming. South automatically pulled out her sidearm and cocked it, causing Kaikaina to jump back in even more surprise. 

“Whoa, did you have that hiding somewhere or were you that happy to hug me?” Kai joked.

“Stop making me laugh,” South snorted.

"Kaikaina!” Grif came running from the flag room only to stumble to a stop just short of the two women and put his hands on his knees. He was gulping down air like it was a new drug. “I thought... whoo! Running... still... sucks... I thought you were.... screaming... I’m gonna die... running... someday... maybe today...”

“Why would I be screaming?” Kaikaina asked with a shrug. “I’ve got a terrible bodyguard taking care of me, Big Bro. Don’t be fucking stupid.”

South couldn’t help but silently agree and holstered her weapon.

“Plus, if anyone’s screaming, it’s probably the dude shoving a baby through his dick,” Kai continued.

“You know I was joking when I mentioned that, right?” South asked.

“No. Dude, I’ve never seen a guy do this before! You can’t joke with me about things like that. Totes thought you were being real,” Kai replied. 

“Well, there’s only one thing for us to do,” South said, leading them toward the origin of the screams. “Let’s go and watch this freakshow for ourselves.”

“Fuck yes!” Kai cried out, nearly skipping by South’s side as her brother followed up behind them, still panting and holding his sides like he had pulled something. 

“That’s it, Tucker! Just a few more breaths...” some far too calm voice was saying as they rounded the corner into the medical room.

“This is awesome!” Donut cried out. 

South wasn’t sure what she was expecting and Theta’s curiosity was definitely getting the better of her at that point. But it became clear that Kaikaina and her brother also didn’t know what to expect because the moment they caught sight of the cesarean being performed with a reptilian headed creature reaching out of a live human, bloody and letting out a long series of terrible noises, the three of them plus Theta gave out a unified scream of horror and backed away before taking off. 

*

The three of them sat on the top of Blue Base, legs hanging over the side, each busily puffing a cigarette. A Red, a Blue, and a Freelancer -- it was the start of a new, terrible bar joke. 

“Welp,” Grif said, flicking the butt of his cigarette over the edge. “Never unseeing that.”

“And that’s why I always go with the abortion,” Kai sighed.

“What,” South and Grif echoed. 

Theta sat on South’s shoulder, head propped up on his hands. “Wish I could have a cigarette.”

“No you don’t,” South said. “Also, I told you to stop showing yourself to everyone.”

“What? I’m not going to be the weirdest thing Kaikaina’s brother has seen today,” Theta pointed out. “We just saw--”

“We know!” they all yelled at once. 

“There you guys are!!! Wanted to let you all know that Tucker’s doing okay! Or at least he’s unconscious and no longer screaming, and the cute doctor says that’s okay!” Donut called out, climbing to the top of the base with a certain amount of pep in his stride. “Grif! You shouldn’t be smoking! It really irritates Simmons that you’re ruining his lungs.”

“Like I give a shit,” Grif replied.

“Ohhh, is Simmons’ first name Richard?” Kai questioned, leaning over South’s lap to get more in her brother’s face. 

Donut stopped and tilted his head to the side. “Oh. I don’t know Simmons’ first name. Is it?”

“You know his first name is Dick,” Grif snapped at Donut. “I know you’ve heard me call him that before.”

Holding up his hands, Donut shook his head. “I so did not know! This changes so many conversations we’ve had!”

“What the-- yeah it better!” Grif snapped. 

“Not if we go by the letters you sent home it doesn’t,” Kaikaina sang.

“Oh, letters? Do tell!” Donut cried out excitedly.

Theta looked to South before flickering out. 

South didn’t have to ask -- she knew what that look meant. Felt what it meant deep within her own bones. She stood up and threw her own cigarette off the side of the base before putting her helmet on. 

The bickering simulation troopers all looked to her in surprise. 

“What’re you doing South?” Kai asked. 

“Remember how my brother’s dead?” she asked lowly, sobering up Grif and Donut rather quickly. “I’m going to go see someone who holds some of the responsibility for that fact. And will probably either accidentally help my former fellow Freelancers or end up getting them all killed. Either way, I figure it’s a hoo-ra I wouldn’t want to miss.”

“Who’s gonna be my fake bodyguard then?” Kai asked, getting to her feet. 

“I’d recommend it not being the guy who had an alien rip itself out of his stomach,” South suggested. “Who knows. That tank seems fairly reliable.”

Donut and Grif looked awkwardly at each other. 

“Well, I prefer you and I think you going by yourself is dumb,” Kaikaina argued. 

“Wouldn’t be the first stupid thing I’ve done,” South joked.

With a bit of a smile, Kai punched South’s shoulder hard. “Well, don’t die. I’d like the honor of being the last stupid thing you do.”

South’s mouth dropped open and she felt her face light up, but her brain -- outside of Theta’s laughter -- had stopped for all intents and purposes. She shook herself from head to toe before walking toward the transporter. “O-okay then.”

Grif just looked back and forth between his sister and South. “What the fuck just happened?”

“I don’t know, but I liked it,” Donut cheered. 

[zombierunfiction]

Season 1 Mission 10: Tess

A few days later Charlotte was sitting in Sam’s radio shack watching him lead a few of the runners back home.  They were going to go on a walk after Sam was done during his rest break.  The two had been getting closer and Charlotte was enjoying their time together.  Sam took off his headphones setting them down as he turned to Charlotte with a smile.  

“Another successful supply run.”  He said rolling over to her.  

“That’s good.  Supplies are always needed.”  Charlotte says with a smile as Sam leaned in placing a sweet kiss to her lips.  He pulled back looking at her.  

“Have i told you lately how lovely you are?”  Sam asked as Charlotte chuckled pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Not since this morning at breakfast.”

Sam smiles gently taking her hand.  "Well you are so lovely.“  He said with a smile.  "Ready for that walk?”  Charlotte nodded standing up and walking out of the shack with him hand in hand.  As they walked the sun was a quarter down signalling late afternoon.   The two walked slowly around the township in silence until Sam broke the silence.  "I know this is new for us but I would like to know something.  With your fiance… did you two ever talk about having kids?“

Charlotte looked at him slowly before sighing heavily.  "Only in the beginning.  On our first date he asked if I wanted children.  I told him i did but I couldn’t.  I had early stage stomach cancer when I was a baby.  Chemotherapy nearly destroyed my body and left me infertal.  Amir was sad but he accepted it.  We talked about adopting after a year of marriage.”  She said looking at Sam.

Sam let go of her hand and slid his arm around her waist.  "I am so sorry Char… I didn’t mean to upset you or anything.“

Charlotte shook her head.  "It’s ok… I figured you would ask.”  She wrapped her arm around his waist leaning her head against his shoulder.  He wore a red sweater that smelled just like him.  He smelled of citrus and curly wurlys.

Sam rested his head on top of hers smiling as gunshots suddenly rang out.  Sam and Charlotte both turned fast as the intercom rang out a loud horn.  

“Calling Runner Five! or Runner Eight!  Or Both!  Runner Five and Runner Eight, report to the gates.”  Janine shouted over the intercom.  Charlotte looked at Sam who nodded.  She gave him a quick peck on the lips before taking off towards the gates.  She was only given her headset as Sara raced after her.  "Runner Five and Runner Eight, urgent assignment!  Sam’s on a rest period, but we’ve discovered a traitor in the camp.  We need you to chase her down before she gets away!“  Janine said into the head set.

"Copy that Janine. On my way.”  Sara said into the headset as Charlotte and Sara ran towards the gates.

“How does this go again?  Raise the gates!”  Janine said as the gates opened with the siren.  "Covering Fire!“  Janine shouted as the gunshots rang out more as Charlotte and Sara raced out of the township running as fast as they could.

"What’s going on Janine?”  Charlotte asked.

“Theres a girl who called herself Tess, heading towards New Canton now.  She’s stolen three working laptops from my stores and several large memory devices.  She’s fast.  You need to catch her before she gets there.  Go!”  Janine says franticly.

“Looks like it’s you and me again, Five.  The dream team!”  Sara said happily as Charlotte looked over.

“Dream team more like nightmare team.”  Charlotte says as Sara smirked.

“Only if you think about it that way.  I personally like us working together.”  Sara said as they continued running towards New Canton.  "We’re on the road to New Canton.  Can’t see this Tess yet, so fill us in, Janine - what happened?“

"She was one of the people from Brunswick.”  Janine said softly.

Sara blinked.  "The people we rescued from the fire and the zombies?“

"Correct.  Most of those people are refortifying at Brunswick, but they evacuated a few to us at Abel.”  Janine said.

“We’re welcoming like that.”  Sara said sarcasticly.

“Far too welcoming, as it turns out.  She sohwed quite an interest in our technology.  BEfore the outbreak, she’d been a computer science student at Manning College, or so she said.  I could always use an extra pair of hands for repairs, so I foolishly trusted her!”  Janine said loudly.

“Don’t beat yourself up Janine.  She decieved us and that’s on her.”  Charlotte said as Janine sighed heavily.

“Last night I gave her the key to the communications store room.  This morning, she filled a backpack and tried to stroll out of the front gate when the runners came in.  It’s only because Roman, Runner Nine, wondered why someone was headed out with a full backpack and sounded the alarm that we know she’s gone at all.”  Janine said frustrated.

“And we know she’s gone to New Canton?”  Sara questioned.

“She sent them three transmissions last night, via Rofflenet.”  Janine said quickly.

“How do you know she did it?”  Charlotte questioned.

“I keep copies!”  Janine defended.

Sara was silent for a moment.  "Do you read all our emails?“

"I don’t read them, I just… keep them.  Incase of situations like this!”

“But still, you could read them!”  Sara shouted.

“Only if our security demanded it, which in this case, it does!”  Janine shouted back.

“Girls stop it.  This is not the time to complain about big brother or in this case big sister.”  Charlotte said as Sara sighed heavily.

“No…  I’m just glad you’re watching over us Janine.  So what’s she taken?  Why ar ewe worried over a few laptops?”

“Laptops and storage devices - all our backups. She’s taken our knowledge, Eight!  There’s no cloud storage anymore.  She’s got our plans, our supply lists, the information we traded food and guns for, and…”  Janine said quickly.

“And?”  Sara questioned.

“All our Roffenet mails.  Including…”  Janine hesitated.

“Just say it.  Runner Five’s okay.”  Sara said looking at Charlotte.  Charlotte was surprised for only a moment.  Janine shared Sara’s suspision of her creditials.

“Including all your transmissions to the military base.”  Janine finishes.

“Well then.  Guess you and me better put on a burst of speed Five.”  Sara said as Charlotte nodded running through the field heading for New Canton.  "There some more bad news, Five!  If that girl gets those files to New Canton, well… there’s things in there we don’t want them knowing.  Now I’m sorry, but it’s going to be difficult for me to give you much information.  For one thing, we can’t talk at the base.  Never know who might be listening, as this little traitor shows.  For another well… we’re working on a need-to-know basis here.  We used to have a job to do, you and me, but since that rocket launcher attack on yoru helicopter well… my bosses have put that job on ice, ‘til we work out what’s going on, so no mission briefing for you just yet, I’m afraid.“  Sara said as they got to the top of a mound that looked over some of the field and tree line.

Charlotte looked around breathing deeply.  "What’s that?  Is that her?”  Charlotte points to the tree line where something was moving.

“No, just another zombie.  Run on, we’ll get her.”  Sara said as they ran down the mound heading away from the zombie.  "What can I tell you?  I’m military - I guess you can tell that much already.  And since the Major’s away in the north meeting up with some big chiefs, Janine’s the only one at Abel who knows.  Well, you can’t keep anything from the woman who controls the ommunications, can you?“

"Not really.  By the way… thanks for vouching for me with Janine.”  Charlotte said looking at Sara who looks back at her with a serious look.  

“I know we started out with mistrust and suspision but… I really hoped you were exactly who you said you were.  Because it’s not easy having only Janine to talk with… she’s…well she’s spiky, but she’s trustworthy.” Sara said.

“I can hear you, you know”  Janine said.

Charlotte chuckled slightly as Sara grinned.  "Lord love ya, I’d say that to your face!  You’re a spiky loner, and you can be damned difficult to deal with, but I’d trust you with the last bullet in my pistol!“  

"Alright then…”  Janine says softly.

“Any news?  Do you know how far she’s got?”  Sara asked.

“No.  We think she’s sticking to the wooded areas, but we can’t find her on the cameras.  And she doesn’t have a tracker, of course.  And another bit of bad news.”  Janine warned slowly.

“What else would you ever bring me, Janine?”  Sara groans as they weaved through several trees.

“I’ve located and read all her Rofflenet transmissions from the point she arrived at Abel.  She hasn’t just stolen those drives by chance.  New Canton asked her to get them.  They’ve offered her private sleeping quarters, unlimited hot water, fresh fruit rations…”  Janine lists off.

“I think we get the point Janine.  They really want those drives.”  Charlotte said.

“Wow… what do they want so badly that they’d offer such luxury for it?”  Sara questioned.

“They want to know about our comms, so they can bring them down!”  Janine shouted.  "Make us blind and deaf - defenseless!“  Suddenly a feverish knock came to the door of the radio shack door.  "Who is it?”  She said.

“It’ll be one of Sam’s friends, Janine, asking if he can come out to play.”  Sara says with a laugh.

“Mr. Yao is on his rest break, and if that’s one of his Xbox-demanding playmates, the answer is still no, we don’t have the extra power to-”  Janine was interrupted by the person on the other side of the door.

“It’s me!  It’s Ed!  It’s urgent!”  Ed shouted through the door.

“Oh come in!  What is it?”  Janine stresses as the door opens.

“Is it Tess, they say?  Tess has run off to New Canton?”  Ed asked holding Molly in his arms who started gurgling.  "Settle down, Molly.  Settle Down.  But is it her, Tess?“

"Yes, that’s right, what-”  Janine asked as Ed groaned.

“Dammit I… ugh…”  Ed said as he sank down into the chair next to her.

“What?”  Janine questioned.

“I might’ve… well, the thing is, she was so…”  Ed started as Molly began to fuss.  "Settle down, Molly, It’s all okay.  Tess was so interested in hearing about what I do, and she asked all these questions, and…“  Ed continued.

"And?”  Janine probed.

Ed sighed softly.  "And I might’ve told her where I knew this bloke kept two working motorbikes in a shed behind Last Elbow’s Diner, Halfway between here and New Canton, and how I knew they were in good nick because I been out to check a few days ago, but I thought we’d leave them safe and sound 'til we needed them because they were dry and we…“

Sara looks at Charlotte.  "Two motorbikes?”

“Halway between here and New Canton.”  Janine continues.

“That’ll be where she’s heading then.  Last Elbow’s Diner… I know it, Come on, Five.  If we don’t deat her there, we’ll have lost her for good!”  Sara shouted as Charlotte noddeed running as fast as her legs could take her.

After a few moments they looked down a road where they not only saw the Last Elbow Diner, but they also saw a woman running towards it with a large backpack on.  

“There, there!  I see her!  She’s breaking the cover of the trees!”  Sara shouts pointing at her.

“Yes, I have her on the cameras now.  Just keep going.  If you just speed up, you can make it there before she-”  Janine said before a loud alarm sounds and Tess tossed something towards Sara and Charlotte.

“What’s the she just threw… a noisemaker?”  Ed questioned.

“Clever thing!  She’s hoping to attract zoms towards us!”  Sara shouts as Charlotte looked back.

“It’s working, theres one behind us now!”  Charlotte shouted as she ran alongside Sara.  "She’s only a few hundred meters away.  We can get there first if we keep sprinting.“  

"Come on!”  Sara shouts.  "Hey, Tess!  Tess, you damned traitor, selling us out for a clean bed and a hot shower, eh?“  She reached into her side pulling out a black object.

"Look, Runner five and Eight are gainning on Tess now.  Not by much but… what’s Runner Eight holding?”  Ed questioned.

“That would be a bastinado?  Or billy club, I believe.  Runner Eight is rather handy with her weaponry, and…”  Janine said as Sara struck Tess in the back of the knee while Charlotte tackled her to the ground.  "Excellent swing!  A boundary!“  Janien shouts as Charlotte and Sara struggled to pinn Tess to the dirt.  Charlotte looked up in time to rab Sara’s billy club and take off the single zombies head sending it to the floor.  

"That’s got to hurt…”  Ed winced.

“We got her!  And her backpack ull of data storage.”  Sara said yanking the bag off Tess putting it onto her back.  Charlotte yanked Tess up holding her wrists together.

“Yes, we saw.  Very… effective.”  Janine said.

Sara secured the bag and noticed another zombie had been attracted by the noise.  "What do you reckon we should do with her then?  There is a zom approaching.“  

"The shed’s pretty secure.  If you pur her on the upper floor, and kick the ladder away…”  Ed suggested as Charlotte looked at Tess.  She looked scared out of her wits.

“Leave her a weapon, just to be sporting.  Perhaps your excellent bastinado.”  Janine suggested.  

Sara nodded as Charlotte let Tess’s wrists go.  She handded her the club and she took off quickly towards the diner.  "And of course, that’d leave those two motorbikes!  One for me and one for Five.  I believe we’re coming back home in style!“  Sara said with a shout of joy and ran towards the two cycles on the back of the diner.  

"Jolly good, Eight.”  Janine said sighing softly.  

Charlotte chuckled and ran after her towards the cycles.  They were dirty but still working.  Sara easily kick started her as Charlotte did the same after two tries.  Sara grinned and took off down the road on the cycle.  Charlotte followed after her kicking up rocks behind her as she peeled out of the parking area.

*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~           <  10  >

Season 1 Beginning

[awkwardpenguinproductions]

Alliance Chapter 1: the warrior

Part 9 of the Dragon of the Yuyan

Read on AO3 | Series Masterpost

Sokka wakes up to a frog in his mouth, a rather urgent need for some kind of bathing facility, and a grumbling stomach.

First order of business is spitting out the frog, which is slimy and wriggling and actually kind of chilly on his tongue, and he does so with alacrity and great gusto and a noise of disgust. He can hear Katara's equally disgusted shriek beside him, on the other side of Appa's leg, and then both of them are gagging and groaning and spitting, and Sokka is not at all ashamed to admit that he tries to wipe his tongue on Appa's fur which. WOW. Now his mouth tastes like scummy pond water and skanky bison leg fur, which was not a combination Sokka ever needed in his life.

Next is wriggling out of his nasty sleeping bag, which is still a bit damp with fever sweat and smells like his socks. Man, Katara's going to hate laundry day this week. He still feels a bit wrung out and shaky, but the fever itself is gone and he's more clear-headed than he's been in at least two days, which is a major relief. He stumbles down Appa's side, stretches and glories in the fact that he's not achy anymore, and shuffles over to the farthest corner he can find for a potty break.

He ambles back, intent on some breakfast, when he realizes that sometime between slipping into fever delirium and waking up with a frog in his mouth they had gained another person.

Sokka stares at him (the close-fitting black clothes make it kind of obvious that it is a him and not a her, but if their addition says otherwise he'll go with it), slumped sitting up against the wall facing the room's opening, and opens his mouth to demand that the guy tell them what in Tui's name he's doing here when Katara totters over.

"Who's that?" She whispers.

"Dunno, maybe Aang's picked up another stray?" Sokka grumbles. His stomach chooses that moment to growl super loudly, and he decides to deal with this after breakfast. Katara rolls her eyes at him, but obligingly unpacks some jerky that they nibble on together.

Over on Appa's tail, Aang snores, while over against the wall, the guy in black sleeps silently.

"We need to bathe, and wash our clothes and sleeping bags," Katara says when they're finished, and Sokka would complain but he feels really gross, so they tell Appa to keep an eye on Aang and the guy in black and head down to find a stream.

They wash the sleeping bags first, because they'll take the longest to dry, then Sokka bathes while Katara washes his clothes so that he can be ready to guard while she's bathing.

By the time Katara's dressed and fixing her hair, Aang has stumbled down the hillside and dunked his head entirely into the stream. On his heels is the guy in black, rubbing his head with a grimace. He's tall, topping Sokka by at least two or three inches, and lean, but in no way scrawny. Sokka is seriously jealous of the muscles he can see under the snug black clothes. He’s got a scabbard strapped to his back, with a sword hilt poking up behind his left shoulder. His black hair is tied back, showing off the gnarly burn scar over his left eye and the impressive black bruise on his forehead. He’s pale, paler than Aang, and his eyes are gold.

Wait.

Gold eyes.

“You’re Fire Nation!” Sokka snarls, drawing his jaw blade and boomerang and dropping into a fighting stance.

“Sokka, wait!” Aang yelps, dropping in front of him and holding up his hands. Behind him, Sokka can hear water flowing as Katara prepares to bend.

“Aang, get away from him!” Sokka growls. Tui damn it, this kid is going to get all of them killed someday.

“Sokka, listen to me! He saved me! These archers captured me while I was getting medicine for you guys, and they took me to this hugeprison-fortress-thing, and this guy got me out!” Aang says all of this in a single breath, and it’s driving Sokka absolutely crazy that the airbender has his back to the Fire Nation scum, but all the guy in black is doing is staring at Sokka, or rather, Sokka’s boomerang, with a kind of concerned fascination on his face. He’s not even in any kind of combat stance, and seriously, who carries a sword and doesn’t draw it when confronted with a threatening stranger?

He hears a splash and a curious “Really?” behind him, and it takes all of his warrior strength not to groan. The fastest way to Katara’s heart is to do something to protect Aang, and yep, there she goes, walking around Sokka like he’s a tree in her way and going right up to the Fire Nation jerk.

“Hi, I’m Katara, and that’s my paranoid brother, Sokka,” she says. “That’s a really nasty bruise, are you okay? What’s your name?”

The guy in black actually bows, his hands making a weird gesture, and the smile on his face is kind of… Sokka almost wants to say shy, but that can’t be right, Fire Nation scum aren’t shy, how could they be when they’re going all over the world wreaking havoc and setting everything on fire?

“Uh, I don’t think he actually talks,” Aang says, as the guy in black takes off his sword and pulls a tiny knife out from somewhere on his body. Sokka’s alarmed yelp dies in his throat as the guy kneels down and starts scratching characters in the dirt at their feet.

My name is Zuko. I was a cadet in the Fire Nation’s Yuyan Archers, which is a special forces division, but I deserted when Admiral Zhao captured the Avatar. I would like to join the Avatar on their mission to restore balance to the world.

“Okay, assuming that all of that’s true, why would a Fire Nation soldier just up and decide hey, seems like a nice day to decide to betray my people and my country, guess I’ll go join the Avatar!” Sokka drawls, trying not to think about how much of a headache this situation is giving him. He ignores his sister’s scolding “Sokka!” and crosses his arms over his chest, not letting go of his weapons.

The Fire Nation soldier in question sighs silently and starts writing again. I know it’s hard to believe, but this war is just as bad for the Fire Nation as it is for the rest of the world. The bloodlust of the last three Fire Lords has infected the people, and the current heir to the throne would rule over a pile of ashes before she ever considers what’s best for the Nation. I want to help the Avatar set my people free from that tyranny before they destroy the entire world.

Sokka has to admit, it’s really refreshing to be having an actual civil conversation with someone from the Fire Nation. And if he’s completely honest, he may be fighting a losing battle trying  to keep the guy out of the group. Aang’s completely starry-eyed over him, and Katara looks like she’s ready to fuss over that bruise on his noggin at any moment.

“How do I know you’re not going to sell us out?” He demands. Katara’s scolding repetition of his name sounds even more annoyed than before, and Aang’s giving him his patented how could you assume something like that look, but Sokka’s the oldest, and it’s his job to think about these things, to keep his sister and the world’s last hope alive and as safe as possible. The Fire Nation jerk looks like he wants to glare, but there’s some grudging respect in those gold-yellow eyes.

If I'd wanted to sell you out, I wouldn’t have gone to all of the trouble of breaking the Avatar out of one of the most secure Fire Nation prisons outside the Home Islands, he scribbles, and Sokka has to concede the point. I’m a traitor to the Fire Nation now, and just as likely to be taken prisoner and executed for treason as you would be if you’re captured. More so, even, since I betrayed my Nation rather than just being an enemy combatant on the other side. I show my face anywhere around a Fire Nation outpost, I’m as good as dead where I stand.

Sokka’s still suspicious, but there’s really no argument he can make to that, so he just groans and puts away his weapons. “Fine, you can come with us on a probationary basis! Put one toe out of line, and I’ll gut you where you stand!”

The jerk looks distinctly amused, an annoying little smirk crossing his face like he’d love to see Sokka try, while Aang looks absolutely scandalized and Katara rolls her eyes.

I need to meet up with a contact before we move out of the area, Zuko writes. He’s hanging on to some supplies for me.

Oh that’s not suspicious at all, and Sokka immediately demands, “I’m coming with. Katara, get Appa packed up. Aang, give me the bison whistle. We’ll wait for the jerk’s contact to leave and then we’ll signal Appa to pick us up.”

The jerk and Katara roll their eyes in unison, and no, that’s not creepy at all, while Aang chirps an agreeable “Okay Sokka!” and hands over the bison whistle. Zuko brushes some dirt off of the knife he’d been using to write and then disappears it somewhere on his person, and slings his sword onto his back again. He turns to Aang and makes a gesture over his face with his hands, like he’s placing something on his face.

“Huh… oh, your mask? Do you want us to pack it for you?” Aang asks. Zuko nods, and makes another gesture with the fingertips of one hand over his mouth, tipping them open-handed toward Aang with a grateful smile.

“Uh, you’re welcome?”

Zuko grins fully at that, and gestures in a come on sort of way to Sokka.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, jerk,” Sokka grumbles, falling into step next to him. “So, you don’t talk out loud, huh?”

Zuko shakes his head. He holds up his hands, and makes some very deliberate-looking gestures.

“You use your hands to talk?” That’s actually pretty cool, and Sokka immediately wants to learn. His head is already spinning with ideas on how to utilize a silent language.

Zuko nods, grinning. He points to himself, then holds his left hand in front of his left eye, the one with the huge scar that Sokka is dying to ask about, positioning it with the palm facing his eye and fingers wiggling. Then he makes four slow, distinct gestures with his right hand.

Sokka frowns, trying to puzzle it out. He’d pointed to himself, so he’s talking about himself? Then the gesture over the scar… Sokka doubts he’d be so friendly-looking if he was talking about the scar itself, but it’s a pretty distinctive feature, so maybe the gesture is representative? Then what were the fingers all about? Wait, representative… maybe the gesture is his name? In his gesture language? And then the four gestures after were how it’s spelled? Sokka doesn’t really get how “Zuko” could be spelled with two characters in Common calligraphy and four gestures in whatever hand language Zuko uses, but he puts it down to translation differences.

“Is that your name? Zuko?” Sokka asks, and Zuko nods firmly with a truly brilliant grin. He makes the four gestures that spell his name again, pushes his hands together like he’s pressing something between them, and then makes the wriggly finger gesture over his scar again.

“Is it faster to make one gesture than it is to make four?” Sokka asks, because that second gesture had looked a lot  like shrinking something down. “So this little wiggly fingers thing—“ he makes the gesture over his own left eye and ignores the way that Zuko’s very obviously trying not to laugh at him, that jerk “—is a sort of shorthand for your name? Like a nickname?”

Zuko shrugs, nods, and makes a sort of see-sawing gesture with his hand all at the same time, which Sokka takes as yeah, more or less.

They continue hiking and chatting, if one can call Sokka asking tons of yes or no questions that Zuko answers with a nod or a shake of his head chatting.

They finally stop at a completely random point in the woods, Zuko holding one arm out to make Sokka stop and putting the opposite pointer finger to his lips for quiet. Then he tugs off one of his gloves and snaps his fingers three times in quick succession, so hard and loud that Sokka’s almost afraid they’ll break off at the knuckles.

They wait in complete silence for at least five minutes, Zuko tense and watchful like a hunting polar dog waiting for the signal to track. Then he snaps his fingers again, three times in rapid succession, and waits another five minutes.

They wait in that one spot for an hour, with Zuko giving his snapping signal every five minutes which rapidly gets on Sokka’s nerves. But as Zuko’s expression grows more worried and desperate with every five minutes that pass, Sokka can’t find the heart to make the jerk cut it out.

Zuko ends up stopping at the hour mark, anyway, with a silent, defeated sigh that seems to make him shrink despite not changing size.

“Hey, I’m sorry your buddy didn’t show up, man,” Sokka says quietly. Zuko just shrugs, but his single dark eyebrow is furrowed. The former soldier steps silently up to and around a massive tree, and Sokka follows him without a word.

Turns out the tree is hollow, with a little hidden gap that’s about as wide as Sokka’s shoulders, and inside are several wrapped packages, a dull brown rucksack positively stuffed full, a truly badass looking recurve bow and an accompanying quiver of arrows, and a scroll.

Zuko ignores everything else and snatches up the scroll, unrolling it hurriedly and scanning the contents. His lips press together in a thin line, and he closes his eyes for a moment, visibly pulling himself together. Then he holds the scroll out to Sokka.

“You want me to read it?” Sokka asks, kind of shocked. Whoever this contact is, they clearly meant a lot to Zuko, and Sokka, who will admit to being super nosy on occasion, feels kinda squirmy in his gut at the thought of reading something that could be really personal to the guy who saved Aang from Admiral Muttonchops. But Zuko just nods, stone-faced, so Sokka takes the scroll and unrolls it as Zuko whips around and starts doing stuff with the stuff.

Zuko—

Sorry to have to bail like this, but the moment he realized that you and the Avatar had gotten away, Zhao went kind of nuts and started trying to arrest the guards you two beat up for treason, so we had to bug out a lot faster and a lot earlier than planned. Don’t worry about us, just focus on keeping the Avatar safe. We’ll meet again, promise.

Your brother,

Kai

PS: don’t forget that cool Pai Sho trick Doc showed you!

Well now Sokka feels like an asshole for being so suspicious. He rolls the scroll back up and pokes Zuko in the arm with it until he looks up from whatever it is he’s doing with the rucksack. The former soldier takes it and tucks it into his belt, then shrugs the rucksack onto his back over the sword and slings the quiver, with bow tucked neatly inside, from one shoulder. At his feet rests a bulging sack, and Sokka realizes that it’s filled with the packages.

“So, ready to head out?” Sokka asks, pulling the bison whistle out of his belt pouch. Zuko nods, and Sokka blows the whistle as hard as he can. The expression of complete bafflement on Zuko’s face as he does makes Sokka’s day.

“I dunno how it works exactly, but somehow Appa, Aang’s flying bison, can hear the sound this thing makes from miles away,” Sokka explains when he gets his breath back. “But humans can’t hear it at all, so it’s great for calling Appa on the sly.”

Zuko nods, then points at Sokka’s shoulder with a question on his face.

“Huh?” Sokka glances over his shoulder, but there’s nothing behind him. Nothing but Boomerang, strapped securely to his back in it’s sheath. Wait a second—

“This?” Sokka asks, pulling out Boomerang. Zuko’s eyes go huge. “This is Boomerang, the best weapon in the entire world! My dad made it for me and taught me how to use it.” Zuko nods, not taking his eyes off the blue-painted metal. His face is full of questions, but before he can try to write anything, a thunderous bellow echoes from above the trees, signaling Appa’s arrival. Sokka slips Boomerang back into it’s sheath. “I’ll show you how it works when we make camp tonight. For now, want me to take that?” He waves at the sack at Zuko’s feet.

Zuko shrugs, and hands over the sack, which nearly pulls Sokka’s arms off.

"Tui and La!” Sokka yelps, in a very manly way, thank you very much. “What have you even got in here, rocks?”

Zuko makes a gesture like he’s putting something in his mouth.

“Food?” Sokka guesses. Zuko nods. “Great! Between this and hunting, we shouldn’t need to buy food for a while! Thanks, man!”

Zuko shoots him a pleased smile and a thumbs-up as Appa sweeps in to land beside the hollow tree. The former soldier’s expression goes completely besotted at the sight of the giant fluffy monster, and with a shock like freezing water down his shirt, Sokka realizes that this man can’t be more than a year or two older than himself. He’s a kid, just like Aang and Katara and him. Sokka has no doubt that Zuko knows how to kill in a variety of interesting and painful ways, but if he was actually interested in that kind of thing he wouldn’t have switched sides, right?

Sokka shimmies up Appa’s side to the saddle as Zuko strides straight up to Appa’s nose. He can hear Aang introducing the new passenger to the bison, and the telltale slurp of the massive droolly tongue as the giant furry monster treats Zuko to his own version of a greeting, and he grins at the abject alarm on Zuko’s face as Aang airbends the drool away and flings him into the saddle with a flick of his staff.

They take off, soaring into the sky and over the mountains, and Sokka has just closed his eyes for a nap when he smells something burning and hears Katara’s voice demand shrilly “you’re a FIREBENDER?”

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