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starr-fall-knight-rise · 4 years ago

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Humans are Space Orcs, “Fifteen Seconds.”

Warning: For graphic depictions of injury that are sort of gross

The senator's son lay on the cold hard floor of the brig. The tears had long since tried up and the abject terror of his situation had faded to a dull sense of panic. He lay on the ground, arms wrapped around his knees rocking back and forth as he stared at the wall.

He hadn’t meant for any of this to happen.

Maybe if he had just listened to his father, listened to his mother too and not taken the shuttle for a weekend gambling trip on the Tesraki home planet, maybe then he wouldn't be in this predicament. Maybe if he hadn’t gotten so drunk he would have seen them coming and been able to defend himself.

He squeezed his eyes shut, imagining all of his friends passed out back at the casino, probably unaware that he was missing.

He looked down at his pathetic body covered in a flashy white suit and blue undershirt that had originally been designed to mirror the twenties for his outing, now it was rumbled and torn at the bottom, and his jacket was missing. He felt silly and stupid.

He wanted to go back home to the family mansion where it was safe and where the house staff would bring him breakfast in bed. He would have done anything, even tell his father that he was right, and that he’d behave. hell , he would even be happy to go to military school like his father had threatened on so many occasions. Anything to be away from where he was right now.

There was a rattling outside his cell, and he looked up to see two of the pirates standing outside his cell, the first the dark furred tesraki and the second a light-skin redheaded human with a crooked grin and bad teeth. He curled up further into the corner with a whimper. The human laughed, and the Tesraki flicked it’s ears, “not so cocky now are we Master Bauer.” he curled up with his head in his his hands and stifled a sniffle.

The other human laughed. It was an ugly sound.

“We have just sent word to your father Ten million credits for the safe return of his poor son, and no involvement with law enforcement or we shoot you out of the airlock.” The Tesraki leaned against the bars, “personally i want the money, but.” he jerked a thumb back at the read headed human, “Terry here wants to shoot someone out the airlock, so you better hope daddy comes through, or you will be experiencing a horribly painful death.” “Actually, it is likely he would pass out after 15 seconds and asphyxiate.” the human added

The Tesraki glowered at him but continued on, “ANYWAY. We will leave you to your moping while we go wait for your father’s ransome. If he loves you enough he probably wont take too long. That is assuming that you were a good son and hes not GLAD that you got kidnapped by pirates.” The Tesraki looked at him thoughtfully, “Then again I am having my doubts. You are a little shit.”

Pier had to stifle a sob covering his mouth with his hand as the pirates laughed and turned away.

He begged his father silently to send the money, though doubts were beginning to weasel their way into his mind. He wasn’t a particularly good son. He had crashed multiple of his father’s vintage cars, stolen his new however car and wrecked that. He had brought police down on their family for drug charges, and forced them to pay thousands of dollars on court bills. He had lied and cheated and stolen He had maxed out seven credit cards, and his latest stunt had involved stealing his father’s shuttle to take his friends from private school out on a all expenses paid gambling trip to the Tesraki homeworld, where the age limit on both drinking and gambling was…. Well there was none.

He sobbed again, feeling his heart sink and knowing that his father would not come for him.

Why would he want him back after all the things that he had done.

Once upon a time it had all seemed like some big game, but now he could see that his past actions would be more than enough to guarantee his horrible and painful death.

Tears began to stream down his face again, and he was almost surprised to find that he had any left to give. No one was there, so he didn’t feel bad about his pathetic sobbing, and occasional whimpering for his mother. Maybe she could convince his father to come after him. Despite all the things he had done, he always had a good relationship with her. He admitted to himself now that he had used her love on multiple occasions to get him out of things he probably should have suffered as punishment, but despite that he knew their relationship was sound.

Please mother, please convince father to get me out of this.

He lay there in the darkness for who knew how long thinking about his parents and repeatedly begging them over and over to come save him. At first he expected the Tesraki to come in at any moment and release him into the waiting arms of his father’s security detail, but as the hours wore on, and the meals began to pile up by the door, his hope faded diminishing until he was dumb inside and knew that his father was not coming for him.

He had brought this on himself by being a horrible son, and he was going to suffer the consequences.

He fell asleep sometime during that night tears still wet on his face, only to wake up a few hours later to the sound of shouting and running footsteps. He sat up and tilted his head to the side listening as, in the distance, he heard the sound of gunfire, and the occasional body dropping to the floor.

He shifted and wobbled to his feet, walking over to the side of his cell and peering out with bleary eyes crusted with salt.

The screaming and yelling grew louder, but with one last loud BANG, everything seemed to go silent.

Then the voices started up again.

He leaned forward and thought that he heard the red haired pirate laughing in the distance.

He had no idea what was going on, but pressed himself further against the bars, trying to peer out into the hallway.

Things calmed down after that, and he was left alone again.

He was just beginning to doze off to sleep, when the door to his cell was violently thrown open, and the Tesraki came marching into the room a look of absolute rage on his face.

Pier scrambled back into the corner of the room eyes wide as Terry followed behind. The man had a bandage on his cheek, and a gauze patch over one eye. His usual crooked grin had been replaced by a snarl of annoyance and anger.

The Tesraki stopped just before Pier, his fuzzy little hands balled into fists, “You…. you little bastard.”

Pier raised his hands as if afraid he was going to be struck, “I...I didn’t do anything.”

The Tesraki ignored him, “Your father could not follow one SIMPLE order, and now I am going to have to make an example out of you. The money would have been nice, but now Terry is going to get to live out one of his childhood fantasies”

Terry’s grin appeared again, and Pier screamed as the man reached forward and hauled him violently to his feet by the back of his shirt. He kicked and screamed and cried as he was dragged from the cell and out down the hall.

“I told your father not to get the authorities involved. I told him that if he loved you, than he was going to have to send the mone and forget any of this ever happened, but NO the man had to go out and do something stupid, and now we are all oing to come out with less because of this. I am going to lose ten billion and he is going to lose his only son.”

Pier screamed and tried kickin at Terry’s legs, which finally annoyed the man enough that he slammed pier up against the wall, a single massive hand clutched tightly around his neck. Pier tried to scratch as the man’s hands but he was rammed back against the wall until he saw stars.

His legs went limp and he was dragged the rest of the way down the hall.

“There is no use in fighting my dear boy. You are going to die in a way that not many humans have had the privilege. I think it might be less than a hundred. Either way it isn’t going to be pretty. Assuming there is air in your lungs those will probably rupture first, so you will suffocate, and then all the gasses will boil out of your blood because of the reduction in pressure. Sort of like getting the beds but very quickly. You will die very very quickly.”

Pier felt another sob coming on.

“I imagine that it is one of the most terrifying ways to die, staring up tat the stars overhead and underneath, exposed to temperatures below 400 degrees. Granted heat leaks out of your body slower in the vacuum of space so it actually isn’t the cold that is going to kill you surprise surprise.”

The Sick Tesraki Bastard seemed to be enjoying this, which Pier didn’t understand. He had plenty of Tesraki friends who he enjoyed hanging out with and while they tended to be a little bit greedy and weren't above counting cards, they would never think about killing someone in cold blood.

They made their way around the next corner, and into the docking bay where the rest of the crew was standing, and he was surprised to find another unfamiliar face, another prisoner.

At least that is what he assumed considering the man was kneeling on the ground with weapons pointed at his head.

Pier was thrown down next to the man as the pirates conversed among themselves.

He took the time to turn his head and look over at the other prisoner. The man turned to look at him and somehow managed a roguish and nonchalant smile, his blind hair sticking up in spiky tufts where drying blood caked through it.

The man was dressed in a dark black undersuit designed to be worn with a space suit though the hood was down, and over his right eye he wore….. And eyepatch.

Pier’s eyes widened, and the corner of the man’s mouth twitched, “Ah, good to see you alive.”

“Y-your the guy from that movie.”

The man rolled his eyes, “yeah, I am the guy from that movie, but more importantly I am here to rescue you.’

Pier stared at him incredulously, and he felt his face go red with subtle anger, “Well you're doing a bang up job.” He snarled, “really, I am sure this is JUST how you planned it.”

Rather than looking offended or worried the man just shrugged, “No, no it actually went horribly wrong about two hours ago. Sort of one of those if it can go wrong it will go wrong things. Like it was a great plan and all but everything kind of went to shit all at once.” He glanced down to inspect his nails, “I was supposed to be able to get on the ship and sneak through to rescue you without any issues, but my suit malfunctioned and then my weapon malfunctioned and then the maps for this place were completely wrong, and etc etc. You know good times. Of course, I called in my crew for backup, but they probably won’t be here until it’s too late.”

Pier stared at him mortified, how was he so calm!

“Did my father send you?”

“Yes the Senator did send me.”

“And now we are both going to die because you fucked everything up?”

The man turned his head and frowned, “So negative. Are you like this all the time.”

“HOW CAN YOU NOT BE NEGATIVE WE ARE GOING TO DIE!”

The man just rolled his eyes, “Will you stop bitching for about five seconds. I am counting on the fact that I have used up all of my bad luck for today and all of my good luck is going to hit momentarily.”

Pier dropped his head into his hands. This IDIOT was going to get them killed. He was so mad at that moment that he couldn’t even cry about it.

“He should have just paid the ransom, not sent some asshole idiot to try and rescue me.” he moaned

Adam snorted, “You think your father has that much money.” He barked a laugh and pier stared at him.

“What are you talking about?”

The man shook his head, “Listen kid, your daddy isn’t exactly good with his money, a trait that you, evidently inherited. He’s about a month away from declaring bankruptcy because guess what, his son keeps racking up a literal shitload of debt, but apparently he pawned off his family jules at some point in there to keep you all going because he doesn’t have the courage to admit it and actually start living below his means.”

Pier stared open mouthed at him, “And he told you this”

“No, but I got suspicious when he didn’t do exactly what you said he should be doing, so I had my team of accountants, Tesraki by the way run the numbers on his net worth and gross income and all of hie expenses. Tesraki are rarely inaccurate when it comes to money.”

“So this is my fault.” He squeaked

The man rested a hand on his shoulder, “Not your fault kid. It's your parents fault for turning you into the manchild version of Veruca Salt.”

He was about to be offended, when their conversion was cut off by the Tesraki who moved forward grabbing the man by the air had tilting his chin back, “Admiral Vir, you know if the GA didn’t have a policy against paying ransom, I would toss the kid out of the airlock and use you instead, but unfortunately you are now both useless to me.”

The admiral didn’t look too concerned as he grinned at the Tesraki, “Yeah sucks to suck for you I guess.”

The Tesraki flattened its ears back against its head, “You seem rather chipper for someone who is going to die in the vacuum of space.”

Admiral Vir shrugged, “You know I’ve honestly had way worse days than this. It doesn’t even reach my top ten if I’m being honest. I would put it somewhere around eighteen or nineteen.”

The Tesraki smiled an evil smile, “Well why don’t we see if we can change that. Terry, throw them in the airlock.”

The big ginger moved forward and grabbed them both by the back of their shirts, hauling them to their feet. Pier screamed and kicked and begged and pleased, but Admiral Vir only put up a token amount of resistance, a sort of glassy smile on his face as he was led towards the airlock and shoved violently inside. The door slammed shut behind them and Pier threw himself at the door screaming and sobbing.

Admiral Vir stood and dusted himself off looking around the room with a half frown on his face.

He tilted his head suddenly and smiled, “Glad to see you guys could make it. Do you mind doing me a favor.”

Pier didn’t pay attention to the rest of the man’s instructions as he continued to scream.

After finishing what he was about to say, Admiral Vir glanced around at the room, and his face lit up with a huge smile as he proceeded to stretch his arms and legs as if he were about to run a 5k, “I have ALWAYS wanted to try this.” Pier was nearly shocked out of his state of panic as he turned to look at the Admiral, who walked over to the nearby wall and used his elbow to shatter the glass on a handheld fire extinguisher.

He pulled it out and looked it over, “You know, there really is no point of keeping a fire extinguisher in the airlock, all you have to do is open the doors and vent the fire into space, but I guess whoever McGyvered this piece of shit together had no idea what they were doing.” He glanced down at it, “I sure hope this thing works”

He pulled the pin just as lights began flashing overhead.

Pier sobbed.

Admiral Vir walked over to him, grabbing him around the arm and looking at him with one hard, green eye, “I need you to breathe out, son.”

“What! Why?”

“Just do it.”

“No you have to-”

He saw the look in the man’s eyes and guessed what was happening too late as he drew back a fist and underhand punched him in the gut so hard he nearly collapsed to the floor, all the wind completely knocked out of him in one loud woosh, and his diaphragm ceased to work.

He couldn't even squeak out his pain as the man grabbed him around his middle fire extinguisher in his left hand hoze in his right.

And then All sound was sucked from the world and he was violently thrown off his feat as they were sucked from the airlock and into the vacuum of space.

His ears ruptured into violent pain as his eardrums were torn apart.

Sheer unadulterated panic set in as stars whirled above him black and dark.

One

He heard nothing, he smelled nothing, he tasted nothing.

He couldn't breathe.

He wasn’t as cold as he thought he should be but death surrounded him on all sides, his body exposed to the direct touch of infinity.

Two

The only thing he could feel was the tight pressure of the Admiral’s Arm around his waist.

Three

He looked up, feeling no sensation against his kin, since there were no air particles for him to move through. Looking up At Admiral Vir’s face, lips pressed tightly together one green eye wide and manic.

Four

His body tingled and the surface of his eyes and tongue began to bubble slowly

They were jolted back again, and a trail of white vapor vented into space below their feet.

Five

His lungs screamed for air, the bubbling on his tongue and eyes increased in intensity.

Six

His skin Hurt.

Seven

He was sure he was going to pass out.

Eight

His entire body hurt.

Nine

Then the darkness passed over them, and his vision was obscured.

They slammed against something hard and then dropped to the floor as gravity engaged.

If he could have screamed he would have.

The light of the stars was blocked out, and though he couldn't hear it, he felt the burst of air across his skin as the airlock was pressurized.

He gasped.

And that’s when the pain hit him, Pure unreal agony. Fire across his entire body

He couldn't see, he couldn't hear.

***

Dr Krill rushed into the airlock with the entire team of medical staff behind him. The two bodies lay on the floor like bloated corpses, their skin mottled a horrible purple red.

There was no way they were alive.

He threw himself down next to Adam, nearly unrecognizable now, and was surprised to find his chest heaving up and down as he was still breathing. He reached up and pulled off the eyepatch as others rushed forward to cut away their clothing.

The mechanical green eye spun to look at him, undamaged by the vacuum of space.

Someone placed an IV while Krill worked eye drops into his real eye and more of the same solution onto his mouth, nose and tongue, so dry it was like sandpaper or worse.

One of the nurses had to leave the room as the mottled skin of the two bodies was too hard to stomach.

“Knock them out.” krill ordered.

Adam wheezed the rehydrating solution doing it’s work on his tongue and throat. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose as the water made its way inside.

“You STUPID stupid man.” Krill snarled at the body, as the mechanical eye rolled back into his head, “Stupid stupid stupid stupid human.”

Granted he knew Adam had had no other choice, but still… only humans could survive in the vacuum of space, but this was the price, the horrible, horrible price.

***

Full body bruising and a couple of stem cell treatments later and Adam was feeling pretty chipper for someone who looks like a cruised corpse. His skin was a light delicate shade or purple unevenly spotted in certain areas, and his eardrums were just beginning to heal with their advanced medicine, so he was like a deff old granny for the moment, but all the same he was doing pretty good.

Granted the same stunt pulled in the movie Titan AE had been way cooler, considering those two hadn’t suffered any of the side effects, but now he could say he survived the vacuum of space conscious and lived to tell the tale.

Which was pretty badass if he did say so himself.

Which, he did.

Smiling, his face hurting. He walked with young Pier down the walkway both of them stiff and soar, walking like the old grannies they were as deff as.

At the bottom of the ramp two very concerned looking parents rushed forward to greet their sun eyes widening in horror at the state of him, mottled purple skin and all.

Adam stopped a few feet away wishing he could go lay down.

The senator looked up at him, “What the hell did you do to my son! Adam shrugged, “Well I stopped us both from dying is what I did, though it wasn’t easy. On the bright side, your son is going to make a full recovery and have an awesome story to tell in the process.”

The senator looked like he was going to lose his damn mind, but the boy cut in, “Dad….” “Yes son, whatever you want, whatever you need?”

He paused, “A nap would be cool and….” He glazed back over his shoulder at Adam, “Maybe military school wasn’t such a bad idea after all.”

Adam grinned and the boys parents looked shocked but turned away as their shiny black car arrived.

He continued to smile as he watched them drive away and didn’t hear Sunny as she came up behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder, “Are you ok.”

He continued to smile, through through his teeth he said, “Once they leave can you carry me inside, my soul hurts.”

***

Humans can survive 15 seconds in the vacuum of space.

We aren’t jealous of this ability.

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astraeagreengrass · 4 years ago

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illicit affairs [the woods 2/4]

No one ever tells you that picking up the pieces takes longer than shattering them

Word Count: 3.657

Warnings: heavy angst, mentions of death and death-related themes, descriptions of a memorial service.

A/N: Thank you to every one that sent me some love on exile! I'm truly grateful for your comments and I hope you like what's coming up on this story. Special thanks to the always wonderful @xbuchananbarnes for helping me out with this. The banner picture was found here. Dividers are from @writeyourmindaway ♡

and you know damn well for you, i would ruin myself a million little times

Working for Nick Fury sometimes made you sick to your stomach.

"That's very old school of you," you said, taking a sip from your coffee. The styrofoam cup was hot to the point of almost burning your fingertips, but having something on your hands kept you from twisting them nervously.

Nick raised an eyebrow - the one you could see, at least - and drank from his own cup.

"Your father always said I had a flair for the dramatic."

"Humph," you muttered as Nick rolled down the steel door of the storage unit. "Do you think he would believe your conspiracy theory?"

He shrugged, black leather duster coat swooshing in the wind.

"Your father was a soldier and a spy," he stated. "One of the best, I must say. He believed in his orders as long as he could question them. So yes, I think he would engage my conspiracy theory, as you put it."

You refrained from comment. That was Nick's way: mention your father enough times to instigate your grief, just enough to loosen your morals. The shame was on you for allowing him - even if his suspicion of an undercover plot inside S.H.I.E.L.D. fascinated your curiosity.

“Can I ask what made you start questioning your own Agency?” you mumbled under your breath as you and Nick made your way to his SUV. The sun was slowly dragging it’s hues across the inky sky, the stars fading as the golden light came to be.

“When Stark hacked the Helicarier’s systems there were some… Inconsistencies,” Nick replied. “Which naturally spiked my curiosity.”

“Naturally,” you smirked.

“I suppose I don’t have to tell you that this is not an official assignment, Agent Y/L/N,” he said.

“No, sir,” you shook your head.

“Good,” he pressed a button and the car doors unlocked. “Besides, I’m sure Captain Rogers’ presence in Washington will… Stimulate the inconsistencies we’re looking for.”

“Shit,” you cursed. “That was today?”

Nick tapped the clock on the car’s navigation panel.

“He’ll be at headquarters at nine. I expect you to be there.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” you said. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

Nick nodded.

“How is your grandmother?” he asked. “Is the treatment working?”

“She’s doing a round of chemo every forty days,” you clicked the seat belt tip in the buckle. “She’s stable, but, you know, it’s cancer. I visit her every weekend, though.”

“Are you sure you can’t convince her to move to the city?”

“Nope,” you shook your head. “She’s never gonna leave the woods, Nick. Can you even imagine my grandmother living in D.C.?”

A discreet smile played in the corner of your boss’ lips.

“I couldn’t imagine you living in D.C., yet here you are.”

You didn’t reply, choosing to sip your coffee instead. Nick turned the radio on as he drove off the storage lot and a playlist of Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits was your soundtrack on the journey back to the city. Daylight was high in the sky when the SUV reached the Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s colossal headquarters sitting right in the middle of the Potomac.

It was just past seven, but already the premises were bustling with people. You supposed that’s what happens when a superhero starts his first day on the job - people show up early, wearing their best clothes and flawless makeup.

“What the hell,” Nick muttered. “This is an Intelligence Agency, not a fashion show.”

You stifled a laugh.

“You can’t complain about motivation in the workplace now, boss.”

Nick shot you a dirty look.

“My office. Nine A.M. Don’t be late.”

You mock saluted him then went on to find some breakfast.

Natasha Romanoff’s memorial service was held on a balmy December morning, at a Christian Orthodox church in Brooklyn.

All the time you’ve known her, Natasha had never mentioned religion and you were positive that she would’ve cracked two or three jokes about the priest’s monotonous speaking if she were there. Only she wasn’t, and all she left behind was a handful of grieving acquaintances.

There was no body to keep vigil over or bury. In between the thousand of unsaid words between you and Steve, the subject of Natasha’s death lingered. He tried to explain, as he did to so many other things, and maybe you would’ve understood if you just tried to be better at listening - tried harder to make sense of the incredible mess reality had become. Apparently it’s not easy to retrieve a corpse when the person actually died on an alien planet almost ten years ago.

Natasha’s beautiful face smiled at you from a portrait sitting at the altar. Her hair was longer, cascading down her shoulders in fiery red waves that curled into blonde ends. The shadow of a smile on the corner of her lips couldn’t elude the sadness lingering in her eyes. Even so, she hadn’t aged a day since the last time you saw her, in a time so distant it felt foreign, as if it belonged to someone else’s existence instead of your own.

Remembering 2016 felt like being dunked in ice water. Like the time you jumped into the frozen pond in the woods and opened your eyes underneath the stream, catching the twisted, milky sunlight. Looking back at that life - so peaceful despite all the trouble that surrounded it - was equally as numbing.

It was announced to the general public that the woman known as Black Widow bravely sacrificed her life during what was now being called the Battle of the Earth. Yet, when Steve called two days earlier saying that there would be a private service for Natasha's family members, you wept - not so much because a service meant that she was well and truly gone, but because she thought you were her family.

You met her at S.H.I.E.L.D., of course. Even before you crumbled to dust, you’d constantly wonder how different things would’ve been if you’d never let stupid Jimmy Rodriguéz’s words get to you. If you’d just ignored his taunts instead of hacking S.H.I.E.L.D’s database just to prove him you were smart enough to do it, maybe then an old friend your father never bothered to mention wouldn’t have come to your house in the middle of the night, saying that if you could bypass government-patented digital security, then you should move to D.C. and work for him. You would’ve never left the woods, never traded it for the tangled webs of secrets and deceptions a job as an intelligence programmer proved to be.

Perhaps then you wouldn’t be here, sharing a pew with Steve Rogers - the only man you’d ever loved and probably ever would. Perhaps you would’ve met someone else: a nice, normal, maybe even a tad boring guy, but you wouldn’t care because you wouldn’t be very interesting either - just a nice, normal, maybe even a tad boring girl. And the two of you would be ordinary, kissing goodbye in the morning and hello in the evenings, with the ever present assurance that this was how things were meant to be. Not the tragic tale of love and loss you shared with Steve.

You didn't wait for him to walk you out of the church when the service was over, yet your plan to flee without an awkward farewell misfired at the sight of Nick Fury by the door. He looked exactly like he always did - black leather eyepatch, black leather duster coat, seemingly plucked from your thoughts.

"Y/N," he greeted you, evidently surprised although only someone who's spent as much time around him as you had would catch it in the tone of his voice. "How are you?"

"Good," you replied, way too quickly. "Fine."

Nick nodded, then turned to the blonde woman next to him.

"Carol, this is Agent Y/N Y/L/N," he introduced you. "Y/N, this is Captain Carol Danvers."

"Former agent," you corrected, shaking the hand Carol extended. She had a gentle, but strong grip. Noticing her gaze looking up, you turned around to find Steve approaching.

"Carol, Nick," he acknowledged them, then said to you: "You ready to go?"

You nodded, whispering a quiet "goodbye" before allowing Steve to lead you outside.

"Thanks," you muttered when you reached the open air. Even New York's polluted breeze was more refined than the stifling atmosphere inside the church and you inhaled deeply.

"No problem," he smiled. "I was hoping we could talk. You know, if you had the time."

You had all the time in the world, or so it seemed these days. Almost two months had dragged by since you woke up on the floor of your apartment and every minute seemed to make up for the years you missed. You weren’t working or even living in the old building in Bushwick anymore - Cal and Daniel, the father and son duo that first aided you, were. You were just going through the motions.

No one tells you that picking up the pieces takes longer than shattering them. No one bothers saying that when they break, they scatter, and compiling whatever’s left is a perverted scavenger hunt.

“There’s a coffee shop over there,” Steve pointed to a row of storefront across the church parking lot when you hesitated to give him an answer.

You shook your head, trying to scare off the white noise that always seemed to pester you.

“Sure,” you said, wondering if in your alternate life you’d know how to say no to Steve Rogers.

“So, you've experienced this sort of thing before?” Nick said.

“You get used to it,” Steve replied, looking down at the gravestone. Carved on the marble were the words: Col. Nicholas J. Fury, The path of the righteous man. Ezekiel 25:17.

“We've been data-mining HYDRA's files,” Nick continued. “Looks like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm headed to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if you'd come.”

Steve shook his head.

“There's something I gotta do first.”

“How about you, Wilson?” Nick turned to Sam. “Could use a man with your abilities.”

“I'm more of a soldier than a spy,” he replied, resolute.

“Alright then,” Nick sighed and you thought he was honestly disappointed. He shook Steve and Sam’s hand and said: “Anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me right here.”

He turned to walk away but halted when he saw you approach. It was the first - and only - time you saw him wearing anything other than the black duster coat and you were surprised to find him affable, rather than alien.

He pointed to the file in your hands.

“How many favors did you have to call in order to get that?”

“A few,” you smiled. “Turns out I still have some friends in Kiev.”

Nick snickered, a whisper of a laugh so discreet that it faded almost instantly in the breeze.

“And you’re sure you’ll pull on that thread? With Hydra out in the open and Congress breathing down your neck?”

His real question was implicit: was your relationship with Steve Rogers worth the trouble?

“I’m sure,” you said, clutching the thick manila folder that contained information on the Winter Soldier.

Beyond the dark disguise of his sunglasses, you caught Nick’s gaze - and you were sad that things ended this way.

“Be safe, Y/N,” he offered.

Nick Fury was out of the graveyard and your life before you could wish him the same.

"I'm sorry I didn't call for a while," Steve apologized as soon as the young waitress left your table with your orders scribbled on a notepad. "I had to leave town for a few days."

You nodded, picking a napkin from it's holder in the center of the tiny corner table where you and Steve sat.

"It's okay," you said. "I know you have stuff to do."

He was still, after all, Steve Rogers. You never tricked yourself into believing you were his priority, instead accepted in your heart that you would always be second to The Avengers, Peggy Carter, Bucky Barnes and whatever else Steve set his eye on and it was fine. You'd be the second place as long as you could be something.

"I went back to return the stones," he added. "Bruce managed to repair the quantum tunnel, so Sam and I volunteered to go back and put them in place."

Back. As in the past.

"Okay," you repeated, because your recent conversations with Steve constantly left you lost for words, with all the information about time travel and elemental crystals from outer space. "Did everything go alright?"

"Yeah," he clasped his hands in front of him, and his colossal frame made the wooden chair he sat in look even smaller. "I saw Peggy."

You looked up from your staring match with the napkin, astounded.

"Really?" your tone was clipped and Steve noticed. Throughout your relationship, Steve's former flame was the unmentionable, the firing pin in the granade. Even if you had accepted the silver medal, it didn't mean it wasn't agonizingly painful to know you'd never shine bright in Steve's eyes like Peggy's gold standards.

"In 1970, at Camp Lehigh," he rubbed his forehead. "She didn't see me, of course, but I saw her. There were a bunch of pictures on her desk - her kids, her husband, one of myself before the serum..."

"Why are you telling me this?" you interrupted him, napkin now balled up in your fist.

"I don't know," Steve shrugged. There was a light pink blush crawling up his neck. "Shit, I don't know why I thought this would be a good way to start what I need to say to you, but… I guess seeing Peggy live her life made me realize how much of mine has been wasted."

You scoffed.

"How could you possibly have wasted your life, Steve? You're Captain America! You've saved the world more than once."

"When it comes to you I've wasted it," he whispered. "And I'm no longer Captain America."

"What?" you gasped, purposely ignoring the initial part of his sentence.

"I passed the shield on to Sam," he announced. "He'll do a good job."

"Why?" you breathed out.

"It was time," Steve said, plainly as if you were discussing the weather and not the one thing that defined who he was for over a century. "The guy that wanted a fight so badly he became a military experiment isn't here anymore. He's changed, the world has changed. That shield is too heavy for me now."

You shook your head, stunned.

"I can't believe this."

Steve started speaking, but stopped when the waitress arrived with your drinks: cappuccino for you, espresso for him. She took an unnecessarily long time pointing out the sugar and sweetner were, placing a hand on Steve's shoulder, telling him with a giggle to call her if he needed anything. Your coffee suddenly looked unsavory.

"The world needs Captain America," he continued after she was out of your hearing range. "But Captain America doesn’t necessarily needs to be Steve Rogers.”

“I think Sam will do a marvelous job, Steve. I just don’t understand where this decision came from. Is this because of what happened with Thonos?”

“Thanos,” he corrected you. “And no. This has been looming on my mind since before him.”

“Since when?” you questioned. “Because before Thanos you were out in the world being a wanted man. Please don’t tell me this urge for normalcy came to you while you were hiding like a coward.”

Steve sighed.

“Look, I know you’re angry at me and you have every right to be...”

“I know I have every right to be,” you cut him off. “I gave you everything and you left me stranded. Do you have any idea how hard that was? My boyfriend of three years became a criminal and he didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye before he fled.”

You slammed your fist on the table, rattling the china. The foam of your drink sloshed, a tiny bubbly dot spilling from the cup to the platter.

Lately, every single one of your conversations with Steve seemed to end in a fight and you were to blame. As much as you tried to move on, either your biological clock wasn't adjusted yet or your heart couldn't let go of the night he appeared on your doorstep after being absent for so long. It might've been five years in history for him, but for you it was a mere sixty days ago. You couldn't match this caring, attentive Steve to the bearded man in the shadows, indifferent and unconcerned, so you lashed at him. You nitpicked his every word and quibbled over the smallest things and he always took it silently, enraging you even further.

"I'm sorry," you whispered. "I shouldn't have said that. It has nothing to do with the subject."

"It has everything to do with the subject, Y/N," Steve exclaimed, hands flat on the wood, like he was going to reach for yours but gave up at the last moment. "I was so busy trying to make the world a better place that I didn't realize I was ignoring mine until I lost it. Until I lost you."

You rubbed your eyes.

"You can't blame your job for your mistakes, Steve. Or mine, for that matter."

"What were your mistakes, Y/N?" he asked. "You could've fled after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., but you stayed because I asked you to. You could've started a different job, but you took the position with the Avengers because I asked you to..."

"I loved you," you interrupted. "I did all of it because I loved you. And even though sometimes I wonder what would've happened if I'd said no, I don't regret it."

There's something about the air when the truth is laid bare. It shifts just slightly, as though nature itself can feel the weight of the words spoken, so it moves the atoms around to make space for verity. And in the essence of the world, it is immortalized.

"Do you love me still?" Steve murmured.

"You know I do," you smiled softly. "But I am so broken."

Crushed. Turned to dust long before the Mad Titan snapped his fingers. In the mad race to start over, you were so distant from the finishing line.

You were wrong: your recent conversations with Steve didn't end in arguments, they ended with you crying and him consoling you. This time his chair nearly collapsed as he rose, reaching you in just one step. At first he towered over you, arms hanging without touching your body, but when your sobs intensified he kneeled by your side, taking the crumpled napkin from your hands to dry your tears.

"Shhh," he soothed.

"I'm so sorry, Steve," you said, but it came out jumbled and watery from your tears. “I’m sorry.”

Noticing that the few other patrons and the flirty waitress were starting to look, Steve threw a fifty dollar bill on the table and pulled you up, wrapping his arms around your body as he led you outside.

Night was beginning to fall over Brooklyn. Sunsets in the city were all about spotting a few twinkling stars amid the smog, before the lights from the skyscrapers scrammed them away. One would argue that the sky in the woods, a dark blue tapestry with hundreds of twinkling dots, was far prettier, but you always thought it was fascinating to see the cosmos shining in the orange firmament.

The city had its own magic. It used to buzz in your veins when you first moved here, staring out this same sky from a window at the top deck of the Avengers Towers. If only you could feel it again.

“Do you feel better?” Steve whispered into your hair when your breathing began to even out.

You nodded, cleaning your tears with the sleeves of your sweater.

“Do you want me to take you home?”

“Yeah,” you croaked. “I need to finish packing.”

“Packing?” he frowned.

“I got a call from my grandparents lawyer when you were gone,” you explained. “Turns out I still have ownership over the house in the woods, so I’m planning to move back home before Christmas break.”

Steve’s arms fell and he stepped away from you. The absence of his touch made you shiver.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah,” you sniffed. “Another family lives in my apartment now and I can’t stay with my cousin forever, so…”

“You could stay with me,” he intervened. “You don't have to leave."

"I need to start over, Steve."

"But what about me?" he pleaded.

Steve Rogers never pleaded. He was stubborn and tenacious, the worst person to get in a fight with. You'd learned to cave because he never did, and it was better to swallow your pride than staying days without speaking to your headstrong boyfriend when his job put him in danger constantly. For three years you told yourself that it didn't matter that Steve didn't love you fully - you loved him enough for the two of you. Only enough wasn't acceptable anymore.

You leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"I love you, Steve," you said. "But just like you're not the guy from the 1940s anymore, I'm no longer the hacker from S.H.I.E.L.D. either."

Steve cupped your face, touching your forehead with his.

"Don't leave me," he begged. "I can't live without you."

You kissed his palm.

"We've made a mess," you replied. "Just let me try and fix it."

You owe me that, you didn't say, but Steve knew. In the misty twilight, he only hoped you could forgive him.

#steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x female reader #steve rogers x y/n #steve rogers x you #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfic series #marvel fanfiction #corneliabarnes #my writing #the woods

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only-lonely-stars · 4 years ago

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The Future is Bright, Chapter 5

[Chapter 1 (Beginning)] // [Chapter 4] // [Chapter 5 - you are here!] // [Chapter 6] // [Chapter 10 (End)] (FFN)

It’s time for our crew to get some answers! Maybe some time to cool off is all they need... but it couldn’t hurt to see how the future’s changed.

Summary: What would happen if Cole had indeed had a reflection in the tomb of the First Spinjitzu Master? How would that have changed his life later? What would it have been? This story follows what might have happened if he had seen something, and what it was; who he would have become. What if his future was already decided?... (Rated T for safety. Alternate title: the Cosmic Spoilers AU.)

Chapter 5: Reflection

A couple days later, Cole, Jay, and Nya were on board R.E.X. to the tomb. Lloyd had been vehemently opposed ("No way! I am not about to see another prophecy for my future, you can count me out"), so it was just the three of them. Cole didn't say so, but he preferred it that way, just going with his two closest friends. He knew he could trust them, no matter what he saw. Not that he couldn't trust Lloyd, but this was especially close to home. He didn't want to share it with everyone.

When the three finally reached the maze and had dusted themselves off from the sliding fall, Nya looked around with an excited grin on her face. "Wow… this place is amazing!"

"Yeah, it's really pretty," Cole said with a smile, admiring the faraway ice. "Kinda forgot how nice, honestly."

"How could you forget?! Look at it!"

"I don't know? I just did!" He chuckled. "We came here once, and I had other things to think about."

Jay laughed. "Okay, well, I have to try something now. I've been wanting to for years."

Cole looked over at him. "Yeah? What?"

Jay grinned obnoxiously, before shouting at the top of his lungs. "ECHO!"

The sound bounced off the ice, echoing through the cave. It faded slowly, almost turning into a sort of ringing, but eventually subsided.

Cole snickered. "Really? You come back here after years and the first thing you do is shout 'echo?'"

"Oh, shut up!" Jay laughed. "Okay, you know what's better?"

"Well–"

"Rhetorical question!" He turned back toward the maze. "NINJA-GO!"

Nya rolled her eyes, smiling. "You are so nutty, Jay."

"You love me, though."

"I do."

Cole grinned at their interaction. "We're almost to where we saw the visions. You ready, Nya?"

"Uh… yes?" She raised an eyebrow, but her demeanor was still cheerful.

Jay rolled his eyes. "That's not really an answer, Nya. Just saying."

"Well, it's kind of an answer," Cole defended.

"No it isn't! I mean, her answer should be an answer, not a question, if you asked a question." He paused. "...Wait, that made no sense."

Nya took his hand, cutting him off. "What did you see in here, Jay?"

Jay nodded. "Okay, it's been a while, but basically I wear an eye patch and look awesome."

Cole grinned at him. "Hold on, Jay. Didn't you say there was something else, too?"

"Whaaat? No."

"Uh-huh. Something about another person?" He winked at Nya.

"I thought you couldn't hear me saying that!" Jay exclaimed.

"Not my fault you talk in your sleep."

Nya laughed. "Sleeptalking, really?"

Jay looked between the two of them and blanched, blinking a few times. "I– you– You listen to me talk in my sleep?!"

Cole couldn't help laughing loudly. "You were talking really loudly, and I was awake drawing! It was only once, anyway."

"Stupid shared dorm room," his best friend grumbled.

"Not like we use it any more. Come on."

Still bickering, the three approached the ice wall. It shone in the light, reflecting the little bit of light there was and casting a glare at the same time. Its ice was the palest blue, with the shadows and illusions of many more walls behind it, all fractures and fractals and fragments that no mind could really come to know.

Cole looked up at its towering heights. Once again, it reminded him of how small he truly was... even the Master of Earth was small in comparison to the rest of the world. In history's opinion, his troubles might seem small. He would seem small.

Still, Cole eventually looked to his companions too, and they all gazed up in their awe.

Nya's voice was low. "FSM…"

"Pretty cool, huh?" Jay nudged her with his elbow.

She grinned at him. "This is amazing! No wonder you guys got lost!"

"Well, it is a maze," Cole noted, trying to shake off his thoughts. "We don't have to go in to see the reflections, just down to get out. It's easy enough."

"Then let's not waste any time!"

The three approached the ice, and Jay grinned as he caught sight of his. "Whaddaya know? I still have the eyepatch."

Nya laughed, speaking under her breath. "That brings up some interesting memories..." Then she looked at herself and smiled, pausing. "...Wow… I look really happy. I'm all dressed up for some reason."

Jay grinned and put an arm around her. "Yeah, you do. Just look at that hair! You're gorgeous."

She giggled. "Jay! Come on!"

"What? It's true! You look amazing in the future!" He kissed her cheek. "Just like your mom– not that I like your mom, but y'know–"

"Jay. I get it." She laughed. "You're so sweet."

Cole rolled his eyes at them and approached the ice, tuning out their lovey-dovey conversation in favor of focusing. He had to know his own future, just once more, to be satisfied. Would it be what he saw before? What was he going to see?

He reached the ice and focused, looking intently, and there it was. Future Cole looked him in the eyes, and was familiar.

The man in the mirror was almost just like him. His hair was only the slightest bit longer that Cole's current hair– he must have grown it out since he last saw the reflection, because the difference was small, but it was identical to last time. His eyes in the future were the same as the present, which now had that orange glint they always seemed to carry. There was the orange scar on his temple, too, and its easy understanding with the Day of the Departed come to pass. Physically, Future Cole was identical to Present Cole.

The clothing, of course that stupid clothing; it was the same as what he'd seen before, too. His reflection wore white robes with blue accents, with a woven pattern reminiscent of clouds and a belt that clasped with his dragon emblem. Future Cole's clothing was a dead ringer– this thing he wore was Shintaran, not Ninjagian. Add half of a yin-yang pin set, pinned to his chest just above his heart, and it was clear to see... nothing had changed.

Cole sighed heavily. "My reflection's the same."

Jay turned, then moved over to look, leaving his own reflection where it sat. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah." He nodded at Jay, and the two came over to look. "Identical. My future hasn't changed." He looked back at Future Cole, who looked at him in equal disappointment and hope. "Most of it's already come true."

Nya hummed. "Guess so, if you mean the scar. Those really are Shintaran robes."

Jay grinned. "So it's just like what you thought!"

Cole sighed again, avoiding their gaze. "...Yeah. It's exactly what I thought." He looked back at the reflection, then paused as he spotted something. "Actually, I take that back. I don't remember a gold and white smudge next to me..."

Nya squinted at it. "I think it's part of it, Cole."

"Well, why would there be a smudge? All of me is right there."

"Maybe it's another person. You said that two people can show up in these sometimes."

"If there was going to be another person, wouldn't it just show her like it did for Jay?" He looked behind himself, but there wasn't anything there. "Maybe it's just dirty."

"Nah, it's got to be a person." Jay scrubbed the ice with his sleeve. "That's got to be intentional, Cole."

"Come on, all this detail and they leave that part out?" He gestured at it. "That's the part I'm stuck on!"

Nya put an arm around his shoulders. "Well, hey. Do you really want to see that part?" He looked at her oddly, and she continued. "You have to figure that part out the slow way. The journey is the best part, and maybe the ice only shows people that you're certain will be in your future."

He sighed. "Well… I guess, you're right, but–"

"No buts!" Jay interjected. "You know where to look, start looking! You have to let go of wanting to control what happens and let it happen!"

"But–"

"No buts!"

Cole groaned, giving Jay a dark look. "Fine! Fine, I'll let it go!"

"Good man!"

"You stink."

Nya rolled her eyes. "Hey. Chin up, Cole. I bet you already kind of know who she is. Take the clues it's giving you and use them. Maybe Vania can help?"

"Yeah!" Jay added. "You can describe it to her, get her help."

Cole paused, thinking about it. "Well… I guess it's not a bad idea. I brought a sketchbook and pencils."

"There you go! We can stay all day while you draw. I've got stuff to try here!"

Nya shook her head, stepping back as Jay began to mill about. "That makes me incredibly nervous."

Cole laughed. "Same here, but I'm not gonna question it." He grabbed the bag he'd brought and dug around, pulling out a sketchbook and some pencils. "I won't take too long."

"You've got time." Nya smiled at him. "Just have fun with it."

"Yeah." He smiled back. "Okay. I guess I'll get started."

Without any more ado, Jay and Nya wandered off into the ice maze together, hand in hand. Cole tuned out the echoing sounds of their voices for the millionth time, instead picking the pencil he'd use to start the base of his sketch. It was light in his hand, and he spun it between his fingers a few times, watching it turn.

When he finally looked up again, he stared at the reflection, trying to make it out. The gold smudge seemed almost more defined, or clear, or something. As he looked at it, he slowly came to understand what it was... gold and white. Someone's golden hair and pale complexion, and white clothes. It hadn't looked like a person before, but that had to be because the person's skin was a very light tone; whoever she was, she was a Shintaran. What a surprise.

He sighed heavily. "Just get started, Cole," he muttered to himself, beginning to sketch. "Get it over with and get out of here, then you can be done with this stupid tomb. You never have to come back here, you never have to think about this again, you can just get the future over with and stop worrying about what's going to happen there and with Vania and with everything."

"What?" Jay called from somewhere indistinct, voice echoing eerily as he responded. "Did you say something, Cole?"

"Nope!" Cole called back, immediately resolving not to talk to himself more. "I didn't say anything!"

"You sure?"

"I'm sure! Don't mind me!" He turned back to his reflection, muttering more quietly. "Just got to start drawing the stupid thing…" He put pencil to paper, consigning himself to sitting there for a while.

Slowly, under his hand, the sketch came together. The light pencil lines slowly darkened, the pose sharpening into something he understood, the frame becoming secure and solid. It was a man, standing tall and broad, and slowly the details filtered in; the robes, the face, the hair. He sighed, letting his pencils shade as his mind wandered. This was him… this was what he was going to become. Was he ready?

Whether he was ready or not, Cole knew he had to face the future sometime. Might as well be with a reference drawing, to keep in a book or put on the wall.

When Cole colored it, Cole made sure to add in the golden smudge person. Hopefully it would help him later.

#ninjago #ninjago fanfic #OLST fanfic #ninjago cole #ninjago jay #ninjago nya #ninjago vania #cole brookstone #jay walker #nya smith #princess vania #vania #colania #cole x vania #vania x cole #vanillacake #vanillacakeshipping #ninjago au #the future is bright

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despairforme · 3 years ago

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His single eye cracked open, slowly, slowly. The first thing that met him was a PANG of pain through his head like someone had just taken a sledge hammer and gone to town. It briefly made him squeeze that eye shut again, and a pained noise escaped him, while he instinctively reached for his head. Nnoitra knew a thing or two about headaches. He had, after all, gotten SHOT in his head at one point. What he remembered the most about that was the moment before the gun fired. He remembered thinking what a freaking rare and awesome weapon that was. He stood by that statement, even if said weapon had literally given him a hole through his head. That made for plenty of good jokes about him being stupid and missing half a brain. The pain he was feeling right now wasn’t the same as it had been when he got shot. The pain was ringing through his entire skull. Another groan. He told his body it was time to attempt to sit up straight, but it woudln’t listen. He managed to keep his eye open this time though, to look around. Where was he? What had happened? He remembered... What was the last thing he remembered? He forced his aching head to cooperate. He had been playing cards with his crew-mates. That was the last image he could clearly bring forth. Yeah, he had been about to lose big time. A per usual. Could he have possibly started a fight because he was about to lose at cards? That did sound like some stupid shith he could pull. But, there was something not quite right here. He hadn’t noticed it before now, but the scent in the air was NOTHING like the smell onbaord the ship. On the ship, there was the very distinct smell that came when men who didn’t care too much about their personal hygine lived together in close-quarters. The scent he was breathing in now was fresh. It smelled like a forest. The air was moist. He could smell dirt and flowers and grass. Was he outside? His curiosity inspired him to try to push his body again, and this time it allowed him to sit upright. The world started spinning, making him dizzy. It was light here, now that he thought about it. Bright, white light was shining down. So he was outdoors then? Had his crewmates finally gotten tired of him, knocked him out and dumped him off on a planet? Was he marooned? If he was, then traditionally, he should be left with a gun with single shot in it. However, when he looked down, his weapon was gone. What the fuck?

He looked around some more, and saw why everything smelled like he was outside. He was surrounded by plants. Plants of different sizes, types, colors. More variety than he had EVER seen in his life ( and Nnoitra had traveled quite a lot ). Close to him there was a large, orange flower that at first glance looked almost like it was on fire. It was giving off the most alluring scent, and Nnoitra almost wanted to plant his face into it and just inhale. On the ground, where he was sitting, there was grass, or at least what appeared to be grass - except it was blue. Above him were white lights, but also plants growing in what he thought he could make out to be a ceiling. Okay - so he wasn’t outside then. That only puzzled him more. Where the fuck was he then? In the distance he could hear the sound of running water, otherwise everything was quiet. No, wait, there might be a buzzing of some insects nearby too. He made yet another attempt to stand, but it just made him feel more dizzy, and he groaned again.

“You should lay still. You are still recovering.” Nnoitra literally JUMPED in his seat, and yeah, that made his head spin. He had not expected anyone to speak to him. The voice had been deep and calm. A man’s voice. When the world stood still before him again, he turned his head in the direction of the voice.

His eyes were glowing. That was the very first thing Nnoitra noticed about him. He had large, yellow eyes that glowed like distant suns. They were regarding him from behind long, purple eyelashes. He had skin the color of steel, and on the top of his baled head there were two small, curved horns, almost like spikes. He must be tall, though it was hard to tell just how tall since Nnoitra was sitting, but he would guess he was even taller than himself. He was wearing a large, black coat that appeared to be made up entirely out of pockets. Was Nnoitra’s gun in one of them? The next striking thing about him, was the CRACK in his head. Maybe Nnoitra noticed it especially because he, himself had a hole through his own. It looked like someone had SMASHED this guy’s skull. The left side of his head looked almost like a broken mirror, except the cracks were filled with what literally looked like gold. It was bright and shiny, and extremely visible against that grey skin. Nnoitra had met a great deal of beings throughout his time, but usually he had a vague idea about what kind of species they were. This time? He had no clue. Whoever this guy was, he had to be something incredibly rare. The pirate side of Nnoitra briefly connected the dots between him being rare and him being worth a lot on the creature-market. That thought was pushed aside. Nnoitra had traded creatures before, but it was always risky because he, himself was an extremely rare ( if not unique ) human-insectoid hybrid. He had to be careful about appearing in the wrong circles. And in any case - there were more pressing matters than him SELLING this guy. Like, for example -

“What ‘da fuck happened?” He asked, his voice just a little pained while he looked over at the stranger. The other didn’t appear hostile, he noted. Not even vary, as if he knew that right now Nnoitra posed little threat to him. He probably wasn’t wrong about that. Even if Nnoitra hadn’t been injured, he didn’t know what kinds of powers this alien possessed. He might be incredibly strong.

There was a pause, before the alien looked away from him, and turned his attention to the nearest plant. He brushed the leaves with a finger, almost similar to how someone would lovingly caress a partner.

“Your ship collided with something. I received the distress signal.” Another pause, or was this more like hesitation? Then he continued - “When arrived, you were the only one I could find. I don’t know if maybe someone was there before me and picked up survivors and simply didn’t see you.”

That was a lot of information. Nnoitra tried to process it. HOW could they have collided with something? If they really had, then chances were there weren’t many survivors. Most of the crewmates were human, and they were just genetically fragile. Nnoitra’s hybrid genes made him a lot more durable, which was most likely what he could thank for being alive. Nnoitra DID have people he’d consider.. Well, not friends, but... Yeah. People he had known a while and who tolerated him ( and who he tolerated in return ). Were all of them dead then? Just like that? People he had been traveling with for years. People he had just been sitting there with, playing cards. Had they been ripped from life at the moment of impact with whatever it was the ship had crashed into? It was so INCREDIBLY rare to actually crash in space. It was fucking ETERNAL after all. One would think there was enough space for a shitty, little space-ship. Nnoitra realized something - there was a chance they had been shot down. They were pirates after all. The distress signal that the ship had sent out was something that happened automatically when it sustained too much damage to be saved. There was no way this man would know what kind of ship had sent out the SOS. If all he had arrived at was a total wreck, then he really had no way of knowing that Nnoitra was a pirate. Nnoitra looked at him. He was still busy with the plant. Nnoitra thought he could see the plant turn slightly towards those glowing eyes, as if it was looking back at him. Freaky.

“So everyone’s dead, except me, huh?” Nnoitra didn’t sound like he was mourning, and neither was he. He wasn’t going to be upset about those guys dying. They wouldn’t have given a shit if HE had died. And, in any case, some of them might still be alive. The alien was looking at him again, probably as a reaction to the coldness in which Nnoitra spoke about his dead crewmates.

“In all likelihood, yes. I’m guessing it’s because you are not fully human. In my experience, humans can hardly survive anything.” Oh, that was a sharp observation. Seemed Nnoitra wasn’t the only one who thought humans were weak. He nodded.

“Yeah, I guess ‘daz why I ain’t dead. I’m surprised ya figured out I ain’t fully human. Most people can’t tell, ‘cause I look like one.” A vague gesture was made towards his general appearance. Nnoitra really did appear fully human ( except for the hole in his head, which he always covered with an eyepatch as well as his hair anyway. Nnoitra DID have the ability to grow an extra set of arms, but he very rarely did so, as it was very painful for him. “I bet it ain’t ‘da same ‘fer ya.” Basically, Nnoitra was asking him - what the fuck are you. A subtle expression of surprise settled upon the other’s face, and he tilted his head just slightly.

“You don’t know what I am?” His voice was partly confused, partly suspicious and partly surprised. Nnoitra furrowed his brows, and looked him up and down as if that would somehow magically make him know what kind of species he was. He really didn’t have any idea. Apparently, he SHOULD know.

“No? I don’t go ‘round studyin’ every fuckin’ species in ‘da universe. Ya know how MANY that is?” He.. Didn’t know how many there were, but since space was infinite, it was safe to assume that the amount of different species of aliens was beyond count. Nnoitra was used to how his rude approach to conversations was off-putting to others, and more often than not, he got himself into trouble thanks to his mouth. The alien didn’t seem annoyed at all though. If anything, he looked reassured and almost calm.

“You can call me Fowkwer.” The alien introduced himself. That name wasn’t too difficult. Nnoitra often met guys with absolutely freakishly long names that he could never in his life hope to remember. It DID seem appropriate that he should at least manage to remember the name of the dude that had saved him.

“I’m Nnoitra.”

“Welcome aboard my ship, Nnoitra.”

“So this is a ship? I was kinda wonderin’ ‘bout that. It looks more like a jungle.” Which he absolutely loved. This was the nicest ship he had ever been aboard, and all he had been doing was sit in this one spot in the blue grass. He had no idea how large the ship was, but he would guess it was fairly big. This room alone seemed to serve no other purpose than as a storage room for these plants. Then again, it was RARE for one person to operate a large ship. Were there others onboard here, or was Fowkwer the only one? He seemed to be the Captain at least, since he had referred to it as ‘ my ‘ ship.

“Yes, it’s built that way. I don’t have a guest room, as I rarely have guests onboard. It’s usually just me and the plants.” So he was alone then.

“Yer lucky. Havin’ a whoel space ship ‘ta yerself that looks like a jungle? Fuckin’ livin’ ‘da dream. How much ya chargin’ ‘fer tickets?” It was a half-joke. Nnoitra had learned from his life as a pirate that NOTHING was free, and he was pretty sure the same went for getting your life saved by a glowy-eyed alien whose name was FUCKWHERE. No -- Fowkwer. Well, close enough.

“I wasn’t planning on charging you anything. You have nothing I want. All I ask is that you do not harm my plants. If you do I won’t hesitate to dispose of you.” His tone up until this point had been calm. It was still calm now, but there was an added seriousness and a coldness that hadn’t been there before. As his voice turned colder, Nnoitra thought it looked like his glowing eyes became less luminescent too. As if they too got colder. Nnoitra’s expression was once again one of those where you could almost see the question marks pop up over his head. Okay.. Was he dealing with some kind of... REAL weirdo here? Maybe he had been traveling so long with only his plants as company that he had started to think of them as his friends. Nnoitra had heard stories like that before. People getting lost in space of years and turning bat-shit crazy, talking to their helmets and shit like that. Was this a similar thing? Fowkwer looked serious.

“Hands off ‘da plants. Got it.” Nnoitra held up his hands, as if to surrender. Seeing as he actually LIKED nature, he had no wish to uproot the plants or whatever. The only thing he did want to do was put his face inside that orange one that smelled like heaven. He had to wonder how Fowkwer would dispose of him. Just how strong was that guy? It didn’t feel good, not knowing whether or not he could overpower someone. And, also, it didn’t feel good to be unarmed. But, he could hardly ask for his gun back, could he? That would be too suspicious. Some of what he was thinking must’ve shown on his face.

“You can have your weapon back. It’s not of any threat to me. I just took it from you to ensure you wouldn’t start wildly shooting around and damage my plants.” Nnoitra’s beloved gun ( he had had it for years, okay? ) was pulled out of one of those deep pockets of the other’s coat. Fowkwer walked over to him, and bent down to return the weapon to him. Now that he was closer, Nnoitra could tell that Fowkwer was definitely taller than him. He had a bigger build too. Broad shoulders and a wide chest, and strong, muscular arms. Nnoitra’s skinny fingers accepted the gun, and he strapped to his belt where he always kept it. The other had said it was no threat to him. Did that mean his skin could withstand a shot then? Honestly it seemed like all the guy cared about was his plants.

“So yer pretty tough, huh? But that - “ He pointed to the other’s head. He was certain that those golden cracks were actually a scar, and a gnarly one at that. “That looks like it hurt.” Was this his way of finding out Fowkwer’s weaknesses? Oh, absolutely. It wasn’t like he cared here.

“No more than yours. These are just cracks after all.” He touched the golden scar with a hand, and then he gestured to his own eye, as if acting as a mirror for Nnoitra. “You’ve got a hole.” Oh, so he had seen it then? Mah, that was fine. It explained how he could tell he wasn’t human. That was the only reason why Nnoitra kept it hidden.

“Yeah, I fuckin’ don’t recommend gettin’ shot in ‘da head by a BG-2000. Unless yer a badass motherfucker like me.” He grinned, cocking his head back. “I don’t recommend bein’ in a crash either, even if I’m pretty surprised I’m still in one piece.” His head hurt and he felt terribly weak, but that was about it. Considering he had been knocked out upon impact, his injuries seemed minimal.

“You looked far worse when I found you.”

“But ya did some magic-shit ‘n now I’m all good?” There were many different healing methods out there, and the best ones were very expensive. Mah, maybe this guy had some sort of healing plant here or something? Seemed likely.

“Something like that.” One thing that Nnoitra had noted was that Fowkwer had yet to smile. Not all species could, of course, but generally that was the one universal thing that everyone had in common. As long as you had a mouth, you could smile, and Fowkwer had a completely normal mouth, though his lips were a strange shade of purple. He probably just hadn’t warmed up to him yet. Was he suspicious of him still? Maybe.

“Mah, whatever ya did I’m.. Ya know -” He gestured between the two of them, the word ‘ grateful ‘ getting stuck in his throat. Fowkwer arched his brows slightly.

“Thankful?”

“Yeah, that.” A grin. Yeah, he WAS glad to still be alive ( oddly enough, he had never really thought he valued his life all that much ). The next question was - how long would he have to stay here? Actually, he wasn’t in any rush to have that answered. Compared to most of the shitty places he had visited in his life, where he was right now was kinda nice. He doubted Fowkwer would want to have him onboard longer than necessary. Who knew how long it was until they could land on a planet.

#[ completely self indulgent ]#[ letting space pirate Nnoitra meet my alien oc ]#[ it's just for my wordcount ]#[ i say even tho i could write about Nnoitra meeting my ocs all day every day ahahaha ]#[ i miss writing my ocs sometimes ]#ᵈᵉˢᵖᵃᶤʳ ;; ic.#ᵗʰʳᵒᵘᵍʰ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳˢ ;; au.05.#ˢᵗᵒʳʸᵗᶤᵐᵉ ;; drabble.#longpost //

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brokenmimir · 4 years ago

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Within the Mirror

White Rose Week 2020, Day 1: Mirror

Weiss is having the worst day of her life, when she hears a friendly voice coming from her bathroom mirror.

I can't believe it's already time for another White Rose Week! For this prompt I selected Mirror, and I hope that you enjoyed it.

The quarantine has really messed with my usual writing flow, so I barely wrote anything coming into this. Instead I wrote my first four prompts yesterday, which should (hopefully) give me enough breathing room to finish this week's prompts.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24646000

“Weiss!” Jacques Schnee shouted. “Weiss! Where are you!”

Weiss Schnee hid in her large bathtub, one hand pressing hard against her eye. Her father had always been angry, but after her older sister turned eighteen and joined the military, he had become far worse than angry. She had swiftly transitioned from 'spoiled younger daughter' to 'new heir', and everything she did was a failure, now.

Today, her failure had been punished with backhanded blow to her face, her father's ring tearing a jagged, bleeding wound from cheek to forehead, right over her thankfully closed eyelid. It was all she could do to keep silent as the blood stained her white dress, her hand clutching the throbbing wound while she begged anyone listening for her father not to find her.

“Please, please, I just want to hide,” she whimpered under her breath. “Please, please don't let him find me.”

“Hello?” a small, high voice called.

Weiss froze, unmoving, terrified that the voice would bring her father. Who was it? They sounded even younger than her own barely a teen self, but other than her brother there shouldn't have been anyone like that in the manor. Was it the child of a servant? Her father didn't allow her to interact with commoners, which had prevented her from ever making friends.

“Hello?” the voice called again, a little louder this time. “I thought I heard someone?”

Slowly Weiss sat up, peering over the edge of the tub. The door was still closed, the lights still out, the room empty save for herself. The voice had sounded so close, but there wasn't anyone in the room with her.

“Hey!” the voice said. “There you are! Oh no, what happened to you?”

Weiss scrunched down lower for a moment, before finally daring to peek above the rim of the tub again. This time she saw the source of the voice, even though it was simply impossible.

The back of her bathroom door had a large, antique mirror, which had been in her family for generations. Normally she should've been able to dimly make out the reflection of the darkened bathroom, with her own bleeding, bedraggled form peering just over the rim of the tub. Instead, she saw a dark, misty forest, with a girl a little younger than herself looking at her with concern.

The girl was wearing a short black dress with black tights, and tall, black boots. Over this was a large red, hooded cloak, which made her cut an almost intimidating figure despite being so young and small. Her face was still chubby with youth, and her silver eyes were bright and cheerful, although they still held a look of concern.

“What happened to you?” she repeated.

“Wh-who are you?” Weiss countered. “How did you get in my mirror?"

“I'm Ruby, Ruby Rose!” the girl said brightly. “What's your name?”

Weiss sat up primly, despite one hand still desperately clamped over her injured eye. “I am Weiss Schnee.”

“Nice to meet you, Weiss!” Ruby said, grinning and bouncing in place.

Weiss frowned. “You didn't tell me how you're in my mirror.”

“Oh… right,” Ruby chuckled sheepishly, pushing her hood back to scratch the back of her head, revealing short, raggedly cut black and red hair. “Um… I dunno. I found the Mirror World years ago, and I guess you just found a way here, too.”

“Mirror World?”

“Yeah, it's a really cool place! There's all kinds of fun adventures, and neat people, and monsters to beat up and everything! And I can eat as many cookies as I want, and nobody can tell me what to do. It's the bestest place ever!”

“R-really?” Weiss asked.

“Yeah,” Ruby said, nodding. “Hey, why don't you come with me? I know where we can get a plant that'll heal you right up!”

Weiss bit her lip. Ruby seemed nice, but she was kind of a lot. Fighting monsters? Adventures? That all sounded scary, and she knew she wasn't supposed to run off with strangers. Plus, how could she go into a mirror? It sounded more likely that she'd gotten brain damage from being hit than that there really was a portal to some kind of magical world inside of her bathroom mirror.

“Weiss!” her father shouted, making her flinch in terror. He was close. “If you don't come out right now… I assure you you will not like the consequences, young lady!”

That settled it. As much as she was afraid of going with Ruby, she was more afraid of staying with her father. Gathering up what courage she could find, she stumbled out of the bathtub and rushed over to the mirror. Ruby stepped back with a grin, and after taking one more deep, steadying breath, Weiss stepped from her world.

It was like stepping through water, a cool, giving membrane that she passed through quickly, but on the other side it was comfortable, a little cool and foggy, but no colder than her father kept the manor. The air was fresh and crisp, full of the smell of growing things and new opportunities.

“Come on, let's get you something for your eye!” Ruby said brightly, grabbing Weiss's free hand.

She flinched for a moment, the sudden movement after what had happened spooking her, but Ruby's hand was warm and gentle in her own, firm but soft as she was pulled away from her bathroom. She only had time to look back briefly, enough to see a mirror identical to the one hanging in her bathroom suspended in the boughs of a great pine tree and rapidly fogging over like a too hot shower had been taken, before she was pulled away.

“Don't jerk my arm so hard,” Weiss grumbled.

“Sorry,” Ruby said insincerely. “I just want to get your eye fixed! It looks like it really hurts.”

“It doesn't hurt that much,” Weiss said stoically, puffing her chest out.

“Oh good!” Ruby said brightly. “I was scared you'd lose an eye or something. I mean, an eyepatch would be cool an' all, but I don't think you'd look as good as a pirate. I mean, you look like a princess! And princesses don't usually lose an eye, right?”

Ruby continued chattering away as she lead Weiss through the forest, following a seemingly random path through the trees. After a while Weiss began to hear a distant rushing sound, and soon enough the forest opened up into a beautiful meadow with a swiftly flowing river cutting through the center of it.

“Be careful!” Ruby warned. “Its spring, so the snow's melting up in the mountains, so the water's real cold and fast! Real, real cold! My sister Yang fell in once, and she got so cold I thought she'd never get warm again. We had to find the Good Witch to heal her up, and that was a whole big thing.”

“You have a sister?” Weiss asked.

“Yeah, Yang, she's the best,” Ruby said. “Now, why don't you clean your face off, and I'll get the herbs to heal you! And remember, be careful. The water's really cold, and sometimes you just get dragged in if you aren't careful!”

Weiss bit her lip, but when Ruby skipped off to gather some plants growing further down the river, she delicately sat down and washed her hands in the water. It was just as cold as Ruby had promised, her fingers swiftly turning red and burning with the chill, but she ignored it with all the grace of someone Atleasian born and bred, getting as much of the dried blood off of her hands as possible before wiping at her face.

She had just begun making headway when Ruby shouted, “look out!”

Weiss pulled back, before gaping in shock at what she saw in front of her. Just beneath the water was a hideous woman, with a long, warty nose, wrinkled, leathery green skin, solid black eyes, and long, seaweed-like hair. Her figure appeared distorted, with short, bandy legs, and long, sinewy arms ending in cruel, grasping fingers. Upon being noticed the figure gave up on stealth and simply lunged, long green fingers seeking to grab onto Weiss, and in that moment she knew that the creature wanted to pull her into the river.

And then Ruby was there. Before Weiss could do more than awkwardly sprawl onto her back the other girl had pulled a huge red scythe from nowhere and brought it down between them, embedding the large blade right between Weiss's ankles, inches from the foot long, spindly fingers about to grab onto them. There was a long, long moment where everything save the rushing water was still, and then the creature returned under the water.

“I'm so sorry,” Ruby shouted, the scythe breaking down into a smoky vapor before floating away. “I didn't think Nelly Longarms would be this far into the forest! She usually waits way downstream from here.”

“Wh-what was that!?!”

Ruby smiled sheepishly, before helping Weiss move back from the water's edge, sitting her on a smooth stone. She then began to crush the leaves she'd gathered against the rock with the flat of a knife, creating a sticky green paste that smelled like peppermints. “That was Nelly Longarms. She's a water hag.”

“Water hag?”

“Mmhmm,” Ruby hummed, gathering some of the sticky goo and carefully smearing it on Weiss's injury. She flinched from the pain, but soon relaxed as that faded, leaving a comforting warmth behind. “Hags like to grab stuff that gets too close to the water. One time Peg Powler almost got Yang under, but then she grabbed her by the hair and Yang got so mad! Peg swam away so fast, and she hasn't tried anything since.”

“There's more stuff like that here?!” Weiss shouted, looking around the clearing. What had once seemed pretty if mysterious now gained a sinister air.

“Yeah, there's all kinds of monsters and adventures and stuff here!” Ruby said brightly. “Don't worry, it's not all bad! There's also all kinds of cool stuff living here, and I've made a bunch of friends with 'em. I'll sure they'll love you!”

“There are other people here?” Weiss asked.

“A few,” Ruby said with a nod. “There's Yang, and Jaune, and Pyrrha, and Nora, and Ren, and-”

“Who are they?” Weiss asked. “Are they from here?”

“Nuh, uh,” Ruby said, shaking her head. “The only humans come from the other side. There're not humans here who're nice, too, though. Pitys is a dryad that lives pretty close; I was on my way to see her when I saw your mirror gate! And there's Ovinnik, and Blake, and-”

“What do you mean by mirror gate?” Weiss demanded, cutting off Ruby before she could ramble more.

“Oh, well… sometimes when people really, really want to be somewhere else their mirror turns into a gate to here!” Ruby said. “I don't know what was happening to you, but…”

Weiss flinched, looking away when Ruby trailed off to gesture at the cut on her face. Clearing her throat, Ruby continued in a softer tone. “Anyway, sometimes people come through, and that's where most of our friends came from! I was so lucky that my sister came with me. Jaune has like, seven sisters, but he's here by himself. Anyway, this place is great! I mean, it's kinda dangerous, and there's scary stuff too, but… that just makes it better! It's like being in the best story book ever, but its all real! And we can stay here instead of having to go back home.”

“So you just… stay here? You don't go back?”

Ruby looked solemn. “Some people go back. I know Jaune used to go back and forth a ton, but… this is our home, you know? Our real home. Anyway, when he started hanging out with Pyrrha and Ren he started staying more, and I don't think he's gone back in years. Are you… are you gonna stay?”

Weiss bit her lip, looking at the friendly, if kind of scary girl, and then over at the icy cold river, where she now saw the hag peeking just out of the water, looking at the two of them hungrily. This mirror world was obviously a dangerous place, but…

Back home she was never allowed to make any friends, and after her sister left she was all alone, and now she wasn't allowed to have any fun anymore. And her father… but here, they could do anything they wanted, and… and there may have been monsters, but her father wasn't here.

With a shy smile Weiss reached over and grabbed Ruby's hand. It wasn't nearly as hard of a choice as it should've been.

#white rose week #white rose #fanfic #rwby #ruby rose #weiss schnee

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ericsonclan · 4 years ago

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A Bodacious Adventure

Summary: Prisha and Violet go into town to have a quiet date when suddenly it seems fate has other plans.

Word Count: 2922

Read on AO3:

Violet could feel her heartbeat calming down as she stared off towards the port town of Dames Point. The cool afternoon breeze danced through her hair as she heard some crew members working on their daily chores. It would be nice to get off Ol’ Kickass for a bit and walk through the town together hand in hand with her love to see what the port town had to offer.

“Aaaaah! Careful! You nearly snagged my fucking underwear!” Mitch snapped at the captain who gave an awkward laugh.

“Oops, sorry!” Louis gave a grin.

“Mitch! Mitch! AJ and I are gonna see how many hard boiled eggs we can fit in our mouths!” Willy exclaimed gleefully.

Violet watched for a moment then looked away. She’d enjoy the peace and quiet that came with this date.

“Prisha, wanna join us? You can be the counter!” Willy looked at the older pirate with hopeful eyes.

“Sorry, but I already made plans,” Prisha ruffled Willy’s hair when she saw his small frown then walked towards Violet. Instantly she intertwined their fingers together and kissed Violet’s cheek.

“Ready to head out?”

“Yeah,” Violet smiled and with some quick goodbyes they were off. The couple strolled casually through the port town, taking in the sights of the giant palm trees that shaded large portions of the ground. The sound of the beautiful turquoise water crashing upon the white sands mixed with the occasional caw from the seagulls filled the air. Prisha and Violet soon made their way through the marketplace, enjoying the action of looking through the different wares the sellers had to offer. Nothing seemed to really catch their eyes though until Violet spotted a small flower booth. Giving Prisha’s hand a gentle squeeze and stealing a quick kiss, Violet disappeared into the crowd. Prisha watched for a moment as the blonde weaved her way past people, apologizing here and there when she bumped into someone due to not seeing them on her eyepatched side. The pirate quickly lost sight of her love but luckily she wasn’t gone for long.

“Shit, sorry,” Violet bumped roughly into someone and nearly fell over. Her hand got caught by Prisha and with a small pull Violet was back up on her feet.

“Are you alright?” Prisha asked as she brushed back a loose strand of hair that had fallen in the way of the blonde’s eyes. Her fingers brushed Violet’s ear softly and the two got lost in each other’s eyes for a moment.

“Yeah,” Violet looked at Prisha before she remembered. “Oh, I got you this!” The blonde pirate held out a white tropical flower.

“It’s lovely,” Prisha’s eyes shone with joy at the thoughtful gift. Violet smiled and got up on her tiptoes to place the flower by Prisha’s ear. The taller pirate reached up her hand and touched the flower before leaning forward and capturing Violet’s lips in a tender kiss. The romantic gesture made Violet’s heart pitter patter excitedly. “Shall we continue exploring?’ Prisha intertwined her fingers with Violet’s once more.

“Yeah,” Violet walked alongside her love and the two ventured on. After a while they escaped the crowded town square and disappeared into a nearby alleyway. Their backs leaned against the wall while they looked into each other’s eyes.

“Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are?” Prisha moved forward and gently held Violet’s hand. “They remind me of seaglass that gets tumbled and pushed through the rough waves and becomes bright, soft and stunning.”

Violet’s eyes grew large at the compliment. She awkwardly scratched the back of her neck. “They’re nothing that special.” Especially now that the area around her eyes was littered with scars.

“I’d disagree. I find everything about you special,”

Those words made Violet’s face grow warm and she glanced away. “Oh come one, stop it.” she mumbled. Violet wanted to come up with some nice compliment for Prisha but she was struggling to find the words. It was tough giving the right words to someone as amazing as Prisha. “You’re the special one. You’re amazing.” Violet continued to get lost in her thoughts, trying to come up with more compliments when she noticed that Prisha hadn’t spoken in a while. “Prisha?”

The blonde pirate looked over just in time to see Prisha collapse down. “Prisha!” Violet caught her wife in her arms and began to panic when suddenly she heard a mixture of falsettos, basses and tenor singing in unison. Not these guys. Violet turned to try and spot them but before she could something whacked her in the back of the head and she blacked out.

Prisha woke up with a groan, immediately wincing in pain when she felt the sore spot on the back of her head. She tried to reach up her hand to touch it but was immediately stopped by the binds on her one good arm that tied her to a beam in the room. The pirate’s eyes grew large and she began to panic, searching around to see where she was and if Violet had been taken too. Her gaze quickly caught sight of the blonde pirate who was still out of it, her head slumped to the side and her hands bound tightly to another beam.

“Violet, Violet,” Prisha whispered. Her voice slowly caused her love to stir awake.

Violet blinked her eyes a few times and looked over. “Prisha!” Violet lunged forward to reach her wife but got yanked back and fell over on her ass.

“Violet!” Prisha’s voice grew loud with concern.

“I’m fine, the only thing hurt is my pride,” Violet mumbled and readjusted her position to get more comfortable.

“It seems we’ve been taken by some group and are currently in their brig. Which group I cannot be certain,” Prisha’s eyes examined every inch of the cell.

“It's those Bodacious Bandits assholes,” Violet blew some loose hair out of the way of her eyes.

Prisha let out an annoyed groan. “Not those singing buffoons,” A deep frown overtook Prisha’s face. She didn’t know which was more embarrassing: the fact that both she and Violet had got taken by the Bodacious Bandits or the fact that she had been so easily apprehended due to the fact that she had been busy complimenting Violet. Letting her guard down so much that these morons could take her down.

Suddenly singing could be heard from above decks - happy, cheery songs most likely due to the fact that they had captured two pirates that would fetch them a handsome amount of coin. Prisha and Violet listened for a few minutes before Prisha got struck with inspiration for an escape plan. “I think I have a way to get us out of here,”

“Okay, what is it?” Violet leaned forward, ready to listen.

“Alright, so…”

A few minutes later the signing grew louder as footsteps approached the brig. A round man with a full beard and a jolly smile looked at the two prisoners. “Well, well, if it isn’t some Ericson Pirates. You two will fetch me a good amount of ducats,” The captain's words inspired the two crew members besides him to begin singing.

“They’ll bring us all the duuuuucaaaaats,” the tenor and bass harmonized on the final note which made the captain nearly tear up.

“Why get coin when you can get a new crew member?”

Prisha’s question made the three bandits look over in surprise. “Sure that would be fine and all, but can you sing, lass?” The captain crossed his arms and gave his most menacing look which appeared more constipated than anything else.

“All I know,” Prisha began to sing, “Is life on the Seven Seas. So, yo ho, yo ho, a bandit’s life for me!” The pirate held out the last note then bowed her head slightly when the Bodacious Bandits clapped and looked at her in awe.

Violet gave a faint smile. The plan was working.

“I’d love to have an alto on me crew,” The captain tapped a finger against his chin. “Alrighty, pass me the key, Seadog.” He held out his hand.

“The key to friendship and brotherhood,” Seadog handed over the key. Soon the captain of the Bodacious Bandits had opened up the cell door and cut loose Prisha from the beam. Prisha shook her wrist for a second then gave a smile.

“I hope you are prepared for some new sea shanties!” Seadog gasped excitedly.

“Did you hear that Captain Jolly, Skully? We be getting sea shanties today!” Seadog and Skully held hands and did a little jig while the captain ran over and joined, completely unaware that Prisha had swiped his blade. After surreptitiously placing the blade in her love’s hands, Prisha strolled forward.

“Let’s not waste a second more.”

The bandits cheered excitedly at the pirate’s words and soon they were off to the upper decks. Violet waited a couple seconds then began to cut through her binds. The knife slowly but surely tore through the rope and after a few seconds she was free. Her hands reached into her pockets and a smirk appeared on her lips. They hadn’t taken away her lockpicks.

“Heh, idiots,” Violet moved to the door and began to shift the device into the keyhole. Delicately the blonde pirate began to fidget around with the picks before she found the right spot. Pressing lightly and shifting the lock, Violet unlocked the door. She smiled proudly at her own skills then joged off to find the room where they kept the confiscated weapons. Her footsteps were almost completely silent as she wandered down the hall. Her hand brushed along the wall and with her limited sight she tried to stay alert for any sudden movements. After a few minutes she had spotted the room. A bandit was in there, leaning back in his chair. He’d be an easy target. Sneaking forward, Violet pulled on the back of his shirt and punched his face, knocking him out. She pushed him back up to sit in place so she wouldn’t alert the others. Violet’s eyes wandered around the room and soon she found her dagger and iron studded gloves as well as Prisha’s cutlass. Violet sheathed the dagger then put on her gloves, making sure they were nice and snug before grabbing Prisha’s weapon and disappearing back into the hallways.

Her job was simple: all she needed to do was clear out the bandits on the lower deck and then get up to the upper decks where Prisha was. There, she’d give the signal and they’d easily overthrow the ship. With determination fueling her heart, Violet continued onwards.

Prisha watched in mild awe as the bandits danced around and performed song after song. She had already sung two sea shanties of her own. She’d have to thank Louis for the overwhelming surplus of sea shanties that now were imprinted in her mind to recall at any point. Her eyes wandered towards the staircase for a moment. Violet should be free by now and well on her way to clearing out all the bandits down below.

“Well, Rattlebones, it's your turn again!” The captain smiled over at Prisha. She didn’t think they would give her a new name so quickly. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the reasoning behind it. Sure, her left arm could wiggle around a lot due to its paralyzed state but it certainly did not make rattling noises.

“Alright, I believe it's time for my grandest of sea shanties!” Prisha’s declaration made the Bodacious Bandits gasp in anticipation. “One that speaks of a love that stole my piratey heart!”

That made the cheering louder. Slowly Prisha moved forward. She began to stomp her foot to get a beat and soon the others clapped along to keep it. With a deep breath Prisha began.

“A pirate gal came here last night

With sailing she was weary.

A pirate gal came here last night

And the moon was shining clearly.”

“Will she find a love as true as the sea.

A love that's meant to be?

Or will she have to sail away

Her heart all cold and gray?”

Prisha’s feet kicked around and she began to get into a sort of dance. The bandits stomped their feet and clapped along.

“Twas there she met a blonde fine lass

Whose eyes were sharp and piercing.

When they both sat down they shared a glass

And danced till morning was nearing.”

“Will she find a love as true as the sea.

A love that's meant to be?

Or will she have to sail away

Her heart all cold and gray?”

Prisha spun around and threw her arm out dramatically as she continued.

“She spent the night staring in those eyes

Her heart grew warm and tender

But then she saw that the sun did rise

And thus ends her lovestruck adventure.”

Prisha sang the chorus once more, some bandits joining in, hoping that the sea shanty ended happily for the two loves.

“The pirate gal got ready to set sail

Her mind all sad and dreary

Till she spot the gal from last night

Who declared she loved her dearly.”

The bandits cheered as Prisha sung the chorus again before getting into the final section of the song. She sang proudly of how the pirate and her love sailed on the Seven Seas and how their love was a powerful force to be reckoned with as they fought as one. As she neared the end of the song, Prisha spotted Violet crouching by the wheel. Based on how happy her face was and the light blush on her cheeks, Prisha knew that Violet must have heard a good portion of the sea shanty. Violet quickly gave the signal and Prisha gave a light nod. With a deep breath she sang the last line.

“Till now and evermore!” She belted out the last note then planting her left foot firmly on the ground, she kicked her other into the captain’s gut and sent him barrelling backwards into the sea. The bandits looked shocked by this move when suddenly Violet placed her hand on the railing and vaulted over.

“Prisha!” Violet tossed her wife her cutlass. Prisha caught it with a confident grin.

“Behold!” She blocked an attack then motioned over towards Violet, “My love that stole my piratey heart!” Prisha declared proudly and quickly disamed her opponent before knocking them out with the hilt of her sword. Violet dashed forward, ducking under and attacking before sending a flurry of hits to the bandit’s gut. Her fist collided with their face, knocking them unconscious before she slid over and stood back to back with Prisha. The two looked at each other and shared a confident grin. Now that they were both here, they were truly a force to be reckoned with.

Prisha disarmed her opponents with ease and sidestepped their feeble attempts to harm her before she gifted them with sleep with the help of her cutlass’ hilt. Violet danced around the opponents, making them seem as slowly as molasses as she bobbed and weaved through their attacks. With well-timed punches and relentless attacks she soon cleared her side.

After a few minutes the deck was covered with the unconscious members of the Bodacious bandits. Prisha sheathed her cutlass then turned to Violet who was catching her breath.

“Violet, are you alright?” She moved forward towards her love.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You?” Violet glanced up at her wife.

“I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than fine. I feel so alive right now!” Prisha smiled brightly then wrapped her arm around Violet’s waist and pulled her close. Leaning forward, she captured her love’s lips in a passionate kiss. Violet seemed surprised for a moment then cupped Prisha’s face and deepened the kiss. The two held onto the kiss for as long as they could before having to pull away. The pair shared a smile before Prisha lifted up Violet's hand and placed a kiss on it.

“There really is nothing like fighting by your side,” Prisha’s words made Violet’s heart pound.

“I feel the same way. You were absolutely amazing, how you took down those two guys at once and-” Violet continued to compliment her wife’s fighting skills as they walked hand in hand to the rowboat to prepare it for use.

With some coordinating and maneuvering they both got into the rowboat and were heading back to the port town. Violet took both oars and began to row. The sight of her muscles glistening in the sun made Prisha’s heart flutter wildly.

“So, think the others even noticed we were gone for so long?” Violet’s voice made Prisha’s attention turn up to her wife’s face. A soft, carefree smile was on her lips.

“I highly doubt it. With the hardboiled egg competition I’m sure they’re having a far too fun, chaotic time to notice our absence.”

“True.“ Violet rowed in silence for a few minutes then spoke up. “So, you seemed to be having fun with the sea shanties.”

“Yes, it was a pleasant time. Perhaps I should ask Louis to find some more sea shanties and we can enjoy the singing and dancing that comes with it.” Prisha looked over her love’s way. “Would you like to join in? I’d love to hear your beautiful singing voice again.”

Violet looked surprised and glanced away. “Yeah, with you it should be fun.”

Prisha smiled brightly and looked out towards the sea. She couldn’t wait for those future days.

#twdg #twdg prisha #twdg violet #twdg privet #fanfic #a pirate's life for me au

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bread-elf · 4 years ago

Text

DWC 2020 - Day 26

Trust

Legion "Hey, Shield Mother!" There's a rather timid knock on the door to Jiroki's cabin on her ship. Docked in Marshtide, she shuffled through some documents as she was in the middle of work. Her Shields either socialized on the ship or in the shared camp of the troops. Some contracts had been issued out yesterday and they had returned successfully just hours ago, taking the opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves. "Come in." She calls out, not bothering to look up. The door opens and in peeks the head of Greggory, a silver haired human with an eyepatch who worked as one of her intel sources. "Some of us are going to Ironforge to drink! Do you want to come?" "No thank you." Jiroki still doesn't bother to look up, setting aside a pile of newly sent contracts that she approved of. She still had others to sort through to either accept or toss aside, there's plenty to occupy herself with. "You sure?" Greggory asks again, causing Jiroki to huff as she's interrupted further.

"Yes, I'm sure." She stresses. "Go on."

"Alright, suit yourself." And the door shuts once more.

"Nah not this time." She can hear her Shields talking amongst each other in the ship, reminding her just how thin the walls can be.

"Gotta bloody stick up her ass." A gruff voice of a worgen speaks out, causing Jiroki to frown a bit.

"Shh, she might hear you!"

"Guys stop it, let's just go."

"Last one there buys the first round!"

Like a bunch of children they scamper off, leaving her be. But Jiroki didn't mind, she ran a business, not some adventure's guild. She could lost any of her Shields at a moments notice from this line of work, and she preferred to keep her distance. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You're so frustrating!" Drax'arah, also known ae Drake, snarls at Jiroki, the couple in yet another spat. "Do you know how hard it is to learn anything about you?!" "Why does it matter?!" She fires back. "You already know plenty about me! I don't see a reason to share anything else!" "We're married, Jiroki! I barely know Jack shit of what you used to do. And I'd like to at least know why you cry out people's names at night!" Drake experienced first hand the night terrors that Jiroki gets at times, some reoccurring more than others, but supported her nonetheless. Yet even now officially we'd, she kept her secrets shut like a clam. "How many times do I have tell you I don't want to talk about it?!" Trying not to let her voice raise too much, the twin babes sleeping upstairs. Delo'ran watched the fight occurring, also listening for the children in case they were to wake. But he doesn't step in the fight, letting it occur. "This isn't fair! You know about things have happened to me! If you just tell me these things, then maybe I can stop angering you so much!" "I only know about your past because you dragged me into it!!" Jiroki says harshly. "It caught up with you! I didn't have a choice!" The words came out before she could fully process them, but it was too late. Drake looks at her in shock, pained his own mate would say such a thing, then anger creases over his features. Without saying a word he turns on his heel, heading for the door. "Where are you going?!" Jiroki demands, but he says nothing. Drake opens the door and steps out, slamming it behind him. The walls shake from the force, and upstairs a startled cry sounds as one of the infants begins to cry. "Mother fucker-" Jiroki seethed, trying to ebb away the red she was starting to see, pacing around to try and calm herself. Delo'ran watches her carefully, waiting until she stops pacing to slowly step up behind her. She feels his hands gently grab hold of her shoulders. "Breathe." He says, placing his lips on the back of her head. "Just breathe." Jiroki tries as such, heaving deep breaths, but the crying upstairs doesn't help. "He doesn't understand-" "How can he?" Delo pulls his head back. "He is right though. It hurts him that he doesn't know how to help you, and you won't let him in." "Don't you take his side!" Jiroki whirls around, beginning to lash out towards Delo as well. "I'm not. But the same goes for me, you know. I wish you'd trust us more." He takes a few steps back, heading towards the stairs. "I'll go check on them." Jiroki is left alone as she hears the footsteps of Delo'ran going up the stairs to see to her children. With trembling hands she starts to stroke back her hair, once more beginning to pace. How could she relive all those terrible times she's faced? The phantom pains burned on her back constantly, the loss of her family and loved ones, it was even a miracle she could bear children after what she had done to her first unborn child, and having to put down Rydras like a dog- Jiroki forced herself to breathe, the trauma hitting her as she started looking around for her medicine. She had some milk saved up in bottles already, she could afford a moment to drug herself, she had been weened off of it for long enough as is for the children. She'll abuse it just this once, then wait until her children no longer need her milk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jiroki sat with her shirt off, covering her chest for modesty as Ia inspected her back. A group sparring session had just concluded with the Greyshields, but Jiroki had accidentally over exerted herself. Again. "It's not too bad." The Tanaris woman reports, her white hair cropped short as her bangs hanged longer than the rest of the length, covering one eye. "Only one of the blisters reopened. You said someone kicked you?" "Yes…" Only a select few knew of the burns on Jiroki's back, and all of them Jiroki could count on one hand. Though at times that led to complications when someone got too rough with her while sparring. "This will be just a moment." Ia takes a few steps back and squats into a pose done by a follower of the Jade Serpent, and a green mist begins to come from her palms as she ushers them towards Jiroki, letting it fuse into her back. But she paid mind to not go overboard, Jiroki was adamant to keep the scars. Jiroki could feel the wound begin to close and heal. It would help numb her back for a time at least, until she would need to take her medicine again. "With all due respect, Shield Mother." Ia starts. "You really shouldn't hide this from the others. It could jeopardize a mission." "Some of the other medics know." Jiroki says as she starts to redress herself. Only one medic knew in fact, Cylan Moonshadow, a former druid who she had known for some time now. Ia takes a deep breath, her brow creased in disapproval. They have had this conversation numerous times as is, but Jiroki remained stubborn as ever. "As you say." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Reaver designed by the Legion laid dormant in the waters of the swamp, defeated as the warlock Harutan laid on his back on the shore. A blade held deep against his neck, his breathing raspy through his mask as he stares up in horror at his doom, the scarred Kaldorei leering down at him. “Heh, y-you think you’ve won!” He spits up at her, coughing up some blood. “This isn’t the last you’ve seen of me!” “That may be the case.” Jiroki sneers back, shouting over her shoulder. “Search for a Soulstone! He has one somewhere!” Harutan gives a gasp, his eyes wide beneath his mask, though Jiroki couldn’t see. “W-Wait, no! You can’t!” “You’re pathetic.” Jiroki glowers down at him. “I’ve dealt with warlocks far more vicious than you.” “We found it. How do you want to handle this?” Kazbocon the gnome says, walking up with some of the other Shields nearby. Rina the worgen and Bastet the Kaldorei, both druidess’ tending to injuries of others who had faced the encounter. Aztook lurked nearby as well, carefully watching his new boss and how she will handles this. Jiroki thought for a time on it, staring down at the warlock as he lay beneath her. A nearly familiar sight, though this form is not nearly as a threat as he’d like to think. “Keep it.” She says. “Lock it up.” Jiroki couldn’t fight the devilish twitch of her lips. “We’ll use him in the future.” “No- no- YOU CAN’T-” Jiroki sinks her glaive into his neck, silencing him. Harutan goes limp, and his soul stone flares to life. Quickly Kazbocon conjures an arcane prism around the soul stone, keeping it stabilized. “I don’t think that’s a good idea…” Bastet seemed troubled, the young druidess hesitant as she overhears. “Wait- you killed him, but you’re keeping his soul?!” Rina also points out, young as well, in her human form for the time being. “That’s cruel!” “Did you not see what he just tried to do to us?!” Jiroki counters back. “He needs to pay for what he has done, he tried to kill us! It’ll only be for a time; I don’t trust his soul to be free while the Legion still assaults us.” “But that’s not-” “Stop it, girl!” Kazbocon interjects this time. “What’s done is done. Shield Mother, I’ll take care of this personally, I have a place I can store it.” “Good. Thank you.” Jiroki says, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. Rina turns and storms off, Bastet following, and Kazbocon walks off while carefully carrying the stone. “Hmph, lesser mortals.” Jiroki curses in her native tongue, only Aztook around to hear her now. “They don’t understand a bloody thing.” “Hmhm.” Aztook hums in amusement, tilting his head as his sightless gaze stares at her. “They do lack foresight, at times. Almost makes me curious as to what else you understand.” Jiroki turns and raises a brow at the former illidari, the being crazed and mad in his own right as he starts to give her a wicked grin. She rolls her eyes, and storms off, needing to find someone to deal with the body. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jiroki was alone in the ship, and so she had taken a decent dose of her medicine, needing to not feel. Or to feel something, sometimes she couldn’t tell the difference. Sitting at a table in the mess hall of the ship her face laid face down on the table, arms crossed to rest her head as her hair spilled around her shoulders. But sometimes in her state of high her senses were slow, not hearing the footsteps coming into the ship. A hand runs through her hair and tilts her head to the side, someone trying to look at her face. Her eyelids flutter as she tries to open them and focus on who is touching her, and she’s met with a pair of icy blue eyes on a human face. Jiroki sits up in alarm, nearly falling out of her chair, but cold hands grab her. “You are narcotized again.” Daniel Farington, a death knight who served in the Greyshields, states matter of fact. “N-No, I’m not…” Jiroki quickly tries to say. Daniel suffered from memory loss, not having memories of his living life. But through the trauma he went through that also made him forget, he became a bit… Slow. Innocent in a sense, not understanding social skills. “Are you not?” Daniel asks, his voice monotone, but his face expressive as his brows knit together in a confused frown. “You do not like it when you are touched. The only times you are slow to react, are when you have just taken your opioids.” “Daniel, shush!” Jiroki tried her best to keep her addictions a secret, yet Daniel must have been a smart man in life. It was just a shame that in his current state he was too mouthy for his own good. “Yes, sometimes my drugs make me sluggish, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. And you don’t need to tell the others.” Daniel thinks for a time, processing her words in his own way as he finds meaning behind them. “Hm… I see.” He moves them, going to the other side of the table she sat on, and he sits in the chair. “What are you doing?” Jiroki felt her eyes watering, it was harder to keep up the façade. “It is not good for you to be sluggish.” Daniel states. “If an assassin were to come, you would not be able to defend at your full potential. I will monitor you while you rest, until you can move freely on your own.” Jiroki narrows her eyes at him, not wanting to leave herself dependable on this man. “I didn’t order you to do so. You don’t have to stay.” “I will leave if you order me to.” He responds. “But, in… my own feelings, I think. You should not be left alone. I will remain silent.” Daniel always spoke politely, and at times could be sweet, but Jiroki could see that slight bit of stubbornness deep down in him. Jiroki says nothing, feeling her eyes wanting to droop, and so she gives in. Deciding to trust this man for a time, she lowers her head and rides out her high. (( @daily-writing-challenge ))

#stories

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yelena-salamander · 4 years ago

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The Journey of the Fool-23(End)

“Hey, kids. You really shouldn’t do that.”

What?

Julian was shocked. He scans all over but only dark full of entire space. Is this a dream? When did he fall asleep? He remember he hold Yelena and…

The voice sighs deeply. “Unbelievable...”

A figure appears from the dark. They wears hood and robe just the scout, and the clothes conceal his face and. Only auburn folded ponytail on his shoulder can know his hair color. But Julian feels something weird.

“Do I know you?”

“I think the answer is ‘No’? Or maybe it can be ‘yes’…? Oh, my. This is hard to explain.” They uncover their hood. “I think this will be easy to understand.”

Julian stares blankly at that face. That is His face.

“Well, finally I know the feeling be like Asra…Hmm, it’s really fun!” They murmurs, seems enjoy the dramatic scene very much. “Hello, younger Me.”

“You…I…Er…” Julian loses his language absolutely.

Though another Julian enjoys much, but he still has important thing to do. “I am in a rush. So do you. So listen well, kids.”

“I am from the world different, and you can say I am the possible future of you. In my world, Yelena Sacrifice herself to save the world…and I, after she was gone, I start to learn everything about magic, to look for the method to save her. The dream you saw is my memory. I tried so hard to deliver it to the different world’s me.”

Dear god! These information is too much to believe! Julian focus on the world he said nervously, and throw his shock all away.

“But I didn’t predict that you would hurt her after seeing my memory…” Surprisingly, the future Julian starts to complain. “Did I really so gross before? I always think Parsha treats me like a jerk is too much, but you actually proved her word…”

Julian is embarrassed. The first time he faces his chatterbox and pointless. And it is really…awkward. It seems he doesn’t change too much of his characteristic.

Fortunately he doesn’t go on. “However, I want to talk to you face to face. You are the minority who got my massage from thousands of worlds. This is very important.”

The future Julian unconsciously touches the eyepatch of his right eye—it is not the familiar one that Julian used to wear. It is a black strap with golden edging, and in the place of eye socket embroider with a magic mark.

“Actually, we are very unlucky. Thought it is our fault…still, in those thousands worlds, there are many worlds the Devil didn’t success. Thought we might be with different apprentices of Asra…but it just doesn’t matter. In my world, it is just a unchangeable history…” When the future Julian says that, he looks a little sad and helpless.

“But yours are not. Your “future” have not happened yet. So do remember, trust her, trust everyone you love.” The whole space starts to crack. “The key of the Devil’s success is that they exploit the weakness of humanity. They let you believe it is only one way to get the result you want. But you’ve understand it. It’s time to become mature, and don’t repeat the same mistake.”

The space is disintegrating. White light invade the darkness, swallow up bit by bit of what Julian can see.

“And remember, it is not “your” fault of the world’s destroy. Don’t blame on yourself mistakenly. You can try to revive it, but it doesn’t mean that is your responsibility. To think wisely of what you face. Don’t burden all faults doesn’t belong to you, that will only destroy yourself again.” The white light almost cover the future Julian, but Julian still see his tender smiles. “I look forward to you. I wish you can give Yelena the happiness I once missed.”

Though he knows that is just he wants to make up his lost…still he hope the younger self can enjoy every seconds being with Yelena instead of him.

“Wait!” Before the future Julian disappear, Julian shouts out. The only thing he cares about is…”Did you retrieve Yelena?”

Another Julian doesn’t answer him. But before Julian loses his mind, he saw the meaningful smile on his face.

“Julian—Julian?” Yelena calls him, “Are you tired?”

Julian blinks, regains his consciousness slowly. Oh…yes. It has been a while since he regained his human body, and met the future self. Though he hope to meet the future self again, he never success whatever he tried.

Yelena looks at Julian who is still in a trance, she frowns and asks with worry. “Are you really okay? If you feel not good, maybe we can delay our departure time…”

After he starts to think and observe more, Julian notice that Yelena is not as perfect as he thought. She always worry too much like now.

Julian hugs and kisses her. “No need to worry, okay? It is good to starts our new journey tomorrow.”

Though he still care that whether the future Julian retrieves his Yelena, he won’t get the answer anyway. More than that, he remembered the dream end in Sarah eliminates all his memory of Yelena…Why will he regains his memory? And how can he delivers his memory to the different world? He has lots of question.

But for now—is seems a good idea of learning magic. He repelled magic in the past, maybe it’s time to change. And maybe starts from tomorrow? And as probability— he may meet the future self again? Or maybe one day, he can help himself of different worlds too? ”

Julian smiles. He found that he can faces future optimistically now.

“Oh, darling. I really look forward to our new journey. I have lots of things want to do with you, and lots of stories to tell you too.

This time, the result will must be different.

Julian is very sure about that.

—The End of The Journey of the Fool—

#the arcana #the arcane game #the arcana fanfic #the arcana julian #julian devorak #julian x apprentice #fan apprentice #apprentice the yelena #yelena salamander

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kyanitedragon · 5 years ago

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Territory

Kaneki realizes that so long as a ghoul owns the street where Hide lives, his friend is in danger of being attacked by a ghoul. Kaneki knows the only way to keep Hide safe is to own that territory and make sure no ghouls go there, and Kaneki will make sure that happens no matter what.

(Read on Ao3)

~7500 words; canon-typical violence

---

The bell jingled.

“Welcome to—” Roma began, and then she gasped. The plates she was holding tumbled out of her grip and shattered onto the ground. “It’s! It’s...!”

Touka swerved around.

A dove?!

She gasped.

Kaneki.

“It’s you!!!” Roma cheered and giggled happily. She skipped over to Kaneki and circled him. “The one eyed—!”

“Roma!” Touka snapped. There were human customers here.

“Sorry! I just got excited...” Roma apologized. She looked up at Kaneki and said, “I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now, Eyepatch!”

Touka growled under her breath as she went back to making coffee. Although calling a person with an eyepatch “Eyepatch” wasn’t too strange, Touka still thought Roma was being too risky. Human customers might not make the connection, but ghoul customers may.

“Um...” Kaneki struggled, uncertain how to respond to Roma. “Thanks, I guess? But I can’t talk right now.”

Kaneki ignored Roma, walking past her as she pouted. Kaneki walked up to the counter — right up to Touka. Touka found herself unable to move. She had been waiting for his return for so long.

“I need to talk to the Manager.” Kaneki told her. It was so serious, and without any emotion.

What, no hello? Touka asked bitterly in her head. You haven’t seen me in months and you don’t even greet me when you finally see me again?

---

Touka led Kaneki to Yoshimura, who had agreed to talk to him in the apartment above Anteiku. Neither of the men mentioned anything about wanting to have a private conversation, so Touka stayed and she plopped down on the couch to listen in to whatever they discussed.

“Which of you at Anteiku keep track of who owns what territory?” Kaneki asked.

“Everyone who’s worked here long enough do. So it’s me, Yomo-san, Kaya-san, Koma-san, and Touka-chan.”

“I need to own this territory.” Kaneki said firmly, handing Yoshimura a small slip of paper with a street name written on it.

Yoshimura examined the name. “Someone already owns this. I’m sorry.”

“I need this territory.” Kaneki demanded, aggravation slowly appearing in his voice.

Touka blinked. She’d never heard that tone from Kaneki before, and she certainly didn’t expect it to be directed at Yoshimura of all people.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not how the rules work.” Yoshimura said, keeping his cool as he always did.

“Then what can I do to get it?”

“You could try negotiating for it. I’ll give you a way to contact the ghoul.” Yoshimura walked away.

Once Yoshimura had left, Touka snapped at Kaneki, “What are you doing?!”

“That’s where Hide lives.” Kaneki explained. “I can’t have a ghoul targeting and eating him while I’m away. This won’t guarantee anything, I know that, but it’ll be a lot safer if I own where he lives.”

“Kaneki, we give out territories for hunting.”

“So?” Kaneki snapped at her.

“You don’t hunt!” Touka cried, throwing her hands up for emphasis. “Anteiku will need to take it away from you and give it to another ghoul if you don’t hunt there.”

“And what about you? You once said you own where Yoriko-chan lives, don’t you?”

Touka looked down in shame. “I’ve… hunted before...”

All anger vanished from Kaneki’s face. “...Oh.”

Now he’ll see me as a monster again.

“I don’t do it often.” Touka added, voice small. “Just when I need to.”

But why should he believe me?

“I need that territory, Touka-chan.” Kaneki begged. “But I can’t hurt people.”

He seemed to be saying, Please understand. Please help me.

“Since I don’t hunt often, I make sure I spend a lot of time there as Rabbit. So that other ghouls can see that the territory is owned and stay away from it. You could theoretically do that too, but not so long as you’re staying in another Ward.”

“I can work it out...”

“But you need to own the territory first. You can only get it through negotiations or requesting it if the ghoul gives it up. Those are the only two ways. Rize tried to take territories through brute strength, and Anteiku stepped in and stripped them away from her.”

Kaneki didn’t reply.

“I’m sorry.” Touka added in a whisper.

I want to help him, but it’s not up to me. And so long as that ghoul still owns it, it’s out of both mine and Anteiku’s hands. I can’t do anything about it without getting into trouble. I understand he wants to protect his friend, but it’s like I told him before. That guy is Kaneki’s responsibility, not Anteiku’s or mine.

Another part of Touka pointed out:

But Kaneki would help you if you were in this situation.

Yoshimura stepped back into the room, and handed a slip of paper with numbers written on it to Kaneki.

“Here’s his number. You can try to contact him.”

“Thank you.” Kaneki bowed and then left.

---

“Thank you for meeting me here.” Kaneki began. He was wearing his mask, and he was facing a ghoul in an alleyway in that ghoul’s territory.

“What’s this about? You said you wanted to negotiate territory?” The ghoul asked.

Kaneki nodded. “I want your territory. Or at least, this street of it.”

“Hmm...” The ghoul replied. “I’m open to negotiations...”

Thank you.

“What do you have to offer? Where’s your territory?” The ghoul asked.

My territory? I don’t own any... But I can’t tell him that!

“I can’t accept that trade offer.” Kaneki covered, doing his best to keep his cool. “What else would you be willing to trade?”

“What else?” The ghoul asked. “Nothing else. Either a territory trade or nothing. Where do you have to offer?”

“I can offer you information.” Kaneki tried.

“I refuse. No deal.”

“W-wait! Please! I need this territory!”

“Too bad, kid!” The ghoul started to walk away.

Kaneki growled in anger.

I need this territory! I need to protect him!

Kaneki released his kagune and pounced. At the last second, the ghoul dodged and Kaneki had to stop himself from crashing into the alley wall.

“And here I thought the 20th Ward was full of level-headed ghouls...” The ghoul said. He cracked his neck. “But I guess a peaceful ward can’t change everyone.”

Kaneki ran at him, and they started fighting. Most ghouls he encountered were weak, but this ghoul seemed like a good fighter. He hadn’t even released his kagune yet, but he was dodging all of Kaneki’s attacks.

Calm down and focus. You’re being too predictable. You can beat him.

Kaneki swung his kagune again, this time successfully grazing the ghoul’s side.

“One last offer.” The ghoul said through clenched teeth. The veins surrounding his eyes grew longer and his kakugan blazed more intensely. “Leave now and I won’t hold this against you.”

I can’t walk away. I need this territory. One way or another.

Kaneki charged again.

“That’s it. You’re dead, kid.”

---

Why does that ghoul want my territory so badly?

It had been bothering Tozaki since the encounter a few days ago. Eyepatch had been so persistent over it. Tozaki knew that fight wasn’t going to be the last he saw of Eyepatch. He didn’t want to keep fighting him; they were pretty evenly matched. They’d just end up killing each other eventually.

What is it that’s here that he wants so badly?

He stopped when something caught his eye. Hanging on the wall was a missing poster of a kid with an eyepatch on. Tozaki grabbed it to get a better look at it.

This kid on the poster had black hair with a white eyepatch, while the ghoul he faced had white hair with a black eyepatch. It couldn’t be the same person, could it?

He snickered, shaking his head in bewilderment. “Ghouls today are such idiots.”

“Oh, shit!” A human nearby muttered. Only a ghoul’s hearing would have been able to pick it up. Said human ran over, and tore the poster out of Tozaki’s grip.

“Man, if you want something done right, do it yourself!” The young human male said, folding the poster up. “He was found, so don’t worry about it. We were supposed to have all posters taken down, but they forgot about a lot of them. We’ve had so many concerned people call us wanting to help!”

It sounded convincing, but Tozaki could hear the man’s heart rate. He was nervous. He was lying.

This man is covering up the real story. Hmm... He’s definitely a human. Maybe this human managed to find out Eyepatch’s secret…?

Tozaki decided to play along. “I’m glad he’s found. Is he okay? He seems pretty young.”

That explains why he’s taking down the posters. He doesn’t want anyone to get killed if they run into Eyepatch thinking he’s a harmless human kid.

“Thankfully he’s okay.” The human nodded.

“You look familiar. Do you live around here?” Tozaki asked.

“Yeah, I do. You too?”

It all makes sense now.

“I do!” Tozaki smiled and extended a hand. “Nice to meet you. Maybe I’ll see you around?”

“It’s a big city, but you never know!” The young man shook his hand, and then walked off with a wave. Once he was out of sight, Tozaki sniffed his hand.

Nothing too special, but not unappetizing either. I think this is the reason why... Eyepatch must be hunting this man to keep his secret. So if I take this man out, then Eyepatch won’t have a reason to take my territory anymore.

---

Kaneki spent as much time in the Ghoul’s territory as he could, but he made sure to keep out of sight. He was wracking his brain trying to come up with a peaceful resolution. But the ghoul wouldn’t listen to reason before, and why would he now that they only pissed each other off?

And then Kaneki saw it. The ghoul talking to Hide. Kaneki growled and cracked his finger.

After they parted ways, Kaneki leapt across the buildings, following Hide and making sure that the ghoul wasn’t going to attack him. Once Hide made it home safely, Kaneki headed back to the 6th Ward.

He had to hurry and come up with a plan.

---

Kaneki woke up bright and early the next day and headed back over to the 20th Ward, perching on Hide’s apartment’s roof and waiting. He knew he was paranoid, but he couldn’t help it. He knew that the ghoul was targeting Hide — there was no way he wasn’t — and Kaneki couldn’t take any chances.

He continued this for a week, while continuing to try to come up with a solution. So far, only one idea seemed like it would be a success for sure.

After a week of keeping an eye on Hide, Kaneki finally caught sight of the ghoul again. This time he was walking far behind Hide. To anyone else there wouldn’t be anything strange about it, but Kaneki knew that the ghoul was planning to follow him and attack him.

So Kaneki stalked the ghoul who was stalking his friend, and at the perfect moment he leaped off the building, using his kagune to swing, and kicked the ghoul into the alley. Kaneki kept swinging, and landed a few feet in front of the ghoul.

“Don’t touch him.” Kaneki growled as he landed.

The ghoul chuckled as he stood back up. “Looks like I was right, then. He is the reason you wanted this territory.”

Was it that obvious?

“Why do you care?” Kaneki asked.

“If he’s gone, I’m sure you’ll move onto other prey.”

“You don’t think I’d want revenge on you?” Kaneki retorted.

“Over prey?” The ghoul asked incredulously. “That Gourmet guy’s the only ghoul who acts like that. That’s why we have territories — to avoid those kinds of conflicts!”

“I’m not going to let you touch that human. And he’s not prey.”

“Aww, got attached, did’ya?” The ghoul asked. “More reason to kill him then. If you’ll excuse me...” The ghoul dramatically bowed, and nonchalantly began to walk past Kaneki.

Before he could leave, Kaneki shot his kagune at him. The ghoul stopped it by grabbing it with his hands. He was still just as strong as the last time Kaneki fought him.

You’ve got an ace up your sleeve, Kaneki. Just wait for the right time to use it.

The ghoul pulled on his kagune, yanking Kaneki toward him. Kaneki took advantage of the situation. He allowed himself to be pulled – waiting until he was close enough and at the perfect angle. And then Kaneki released his kakuja, and shot those limbs forward. One impaled the ghoul, and the other snapped his arm off.

The ghoul let go of Kaneki’s kagune and stumbled backwards.

“Another... kakuhou?!” He cried out. He sounded terrified and furious. “You’re a... Kakuja?!”

Kaneki just smirked at him.

---

“Ugh!” Hide groaned. “I forgot something!”

He turned on his heel and started heading back to his apartment.

It was strange. When he first left, he was on alert. He felt like he was being stalked. But then that feeling suddenly faded, and he felt safe again.

He’s felt that feeling of being stalked before, and it had always meant that it was a ghoul. Somehow he always got lucky and was able to survive his past ghoul attacks.

First, it was because an Investigator happened to be nearby. The second time was Kaneki saving him from Nishio, then Touka saving him from Kaneki. And the most recent one was when he managed to hold off Cain until investigators came because, again, they happened to nearby. But this time... the feeling of being stalked was gone without any explanation, or any confirmation that anyone was even following him in the first place.

With another step, Hide froze. He heard something. Any other person would likely pass it off as a stray animal, but with being stalked on his mind, Hide jumped to a different conclusion.

A ghoul.

Both terrified and curious, Hide had to know for sure. So he snuck down the alley where the sound originated, making sure to walk quietly and keep his guard up.

Further down the alley, there was a hooded ghoul dressed in all-black, his back facing Hide, hunched over a dead person. The corpse was laying stomach down, and from here Hide could see it was missing at least its left arm. The ghoul was digging into its back and eating.

Hide covered his mouth, trying not to throw up. But he couldn’t take his eyes off the gruesome sight.

The ghoul was crouched over the corpse like an animal. Then he pulled his head back as he swallowed, and his hood came off, allowing the back of his head to be visible.

White hair.

The ghoul suddenly stopped eating and froze. Hide quickly jumped behind the dumpster to hide, but it made a loud noise when his back hit it.

Crap!

He squeezed his eyes shut as he could hear the ghoul moving.

Kaneki, it’s just me, please don’t hurt me.

Then the movement sounds stopped, and after a few seconds Hide took a chance and peeked back out. All he saw was the corpse lying there. He waited a few more seconds while holding his breath, waiting to see if Kaneki would pop up anywhere.

After a moment, Hide got up, and was about to leave the alley, but he needed to know something for sure.

That... That can’t be a human, right?

Hide knew that Kaneki had to have been eating humans if he was still alive, but Hide still had hoped Kaneki found another way. He couldn’t imagine that Kaneki was going around hunting people. Covering his mouth and nose, he walked around the corpse to be able to see its face. And then he saw the eyes — red and black.

Hide sighed in relief.

A ghoul. He killed a ghoul, not a human. I’m sorry I ever doubted you, Kaneki.

Hide glanced around. He wondered if Kaneki was still nearby. If Kaneki was still there and watching him.

“Hey!” Hide called out. “If you’re still there, it’s okay! I’m not afraid of you, Kaneki, and I just wanna talk!”

He waited. There was no answer and no sounds of movement either.

I was so close...

Hide headed back to his apartment.

I think I’ll take the day off today...

---

“I found something concerning last night. A ghoul corpse with evidence of cannibalism.” Yomo said.

“Huh... It’s been a while since Tsukiyama went after someone...” Touka commented.

“It wasn’t an attack from a koukaku.” Yomo said.

“It wasn’t?” Touka asked, and then groaned in annoyance. “Like we needed another cannibal around here.”

“It was a rinkaku ghoul.”

“...” Touka narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you implying...?”

“Tozaki was the victim.”

Touka tensed. No... Kaneki wouldn’t do this... He doesn’t hunt.

Touka remembered how much Kaneki changed after Aogiri. He became a lot darker, more isolated, more tense and prone to anger.

“I thought it was strange...” Yoshimura began. “Yesterday Kaneki came by here. He said that if Tozaki’s territory ever became available, he wanted to request it.”

You idiot. Touka thought.

“What are you going to do about Ken?” Yomo asked.

“Nothing. This is the first time he’s done something like this, and I take it there were no witnesses?”

“None that I’ve heard of.” Yomo said. “I’ve already cleaned up the scene.”

“Keep this between us, then. I believe that Kaneki did it for good reasons. He’s still new to the ghoul world. We’ll let him keep this territory.”

Touka gaped at him as Yoshimura left the room.

How could Yoshimura let him off the hook like that?! Kaneki killed a ghoul! He cannibalized a ghoul!

What is that idiot up to? He’s going to get himself into trouble...

---

“What were you thinking, you idiot?” Touka yelled.

Kaneki had once again shown up at Anteiku, probably to claim that territory after the “mysterious” death of Tozaki.

“I didn’t come here to get yelled at, Touka-chan.” Kaneki responded flatly.

Touka slammed her hands against the counter. “Too bad! Answer me.”

I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.

“You already know what I was thinking. I need to protect Hide. The same way you’re protecting Yoriko-chan.”

“We know what happened, Kaneki. What you did. You’re a kakuja now, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I am.” Kaneki replied, and there seemed to be pride in his voice. Touka wanted to punch him.

“You’ve changed...” Touka whispered. Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat.

Don’t show weakness.

Then she got an idea, and she smirked. “You’ve got a reputation in the 6th Ward, I’ve bet. Probably just a matter of time before we hear about it here.”

“What are you getting at, Touka-chan?”

Touka crossed her arms. “20th Ward ghouls aren’t used to cannibalistic ghouls. I’m sure everyone will be afraid of you.”

“I don’t care about that. It’s better if they stay away.”

“You don’t care if you can’t come back to Anteiku? I don’t think our customers will welcome you here anymore.”

She gestured around the café, where the ghoul customers were either avoiding eye contact or hiding themselves behind menus or whispering amongst each other.

“I don’t care about that either.” Kaneki said.

That hurt. That really hurt her. All that time they spent in Anteiku together, all this time waiting and hoping for him to return, and he didn’t care?

I’ll hurt him then. Show him what it feels like.

“And what about Hide, huh? All that time starving yourself to keep your humanity, to keep being human—”

“Touka-chan...” Kaneki warned.

“—and look at you now! Hunting and cannibalizing ghouls. Imagine what your friend would think.”

“Touka— “

“I bet he’d be terrified of you.”

Kaneki froze, all tension vanishing.

He looked so much like the old him in that moment.

I broke him. Touka thought. But the result wasn’t satisfying like she thought it would be.

Touka held her breath. Was Kaneki going to scream back at her? Start crying?

Then Kaneki turned around and left without a word, slamming Anteiku’s door shut behind him.

---

Every night since he claimed this as his territory, Kaneki stood on alert. He would go onto the roof of one of the buildings, dressed in dark clothes and his mask, and keep watch. He saw many ghouls pass through, and he made sure they all knew this was his territory and his hunting grounds. He would confront them and let them know what would happen to them if they were seen loitering here again.

Right now, Kaneki was sitting on the edge of the roof, looking down at the streets, searching for anyone who appeared to be a ghoul.

“You never planned to come see me, did you?”

Kaneki spun around to look at who had spoken.

No! It can’t be! He couldn’t have found me!

And yet there he stood. Hideyoshi Nagachika.

He was in sweatpants and slippers and had a coat zipped up. His hair was a lot longer than Kaneki had seen last.

“I...!” Kaneki gripped the side of the building.

I’m a ghoul. Kaneki realized. My mask is on. My battle-suit is on. My eye is activated. Hide is talking to a ghoul; he has to know that! What is he thinking?!

Kaneki was freaking out.

He doesn’t know its me! My hair is white! My kakugan is the only eye that’s visible! He can’t see my face! He can’t possibly know that its me! How could he know?!

“Surprised?” Hide asked, smirking. He didn’t move from where he stood, probably figuring that if he moved even an inch, Kaneki would make a run for it.

“Who do you think I am…?” Kaneki asked cautiously.

I need to know for sure.

“I know that it’s you, Kaneki.” Hide said, and his smirk turned into a soft smile.

Kaneki wanted to run. Run before he could unintentionally scare Hide. Or before it turned out that Hide secretly called the CCG on him.

But Hide’s casualness made him feel comfortable and safe, and made him want to stay.

“Can I sit with you?” Hide asked.

“...” Kaneki pulled his mask off so that it hung around his neck. He hesitated before answering. “...Yeah.” Kaneki said, against his better judgement.

Hide’s smile widened, and he ran over and plopped down beside Kaneki. He swung his feet, like they weren’t sitting on the edge a building several stories tall.

“Hide, please be careful.”

“You’re the one that picked this spot, not me.”

“So it’ll be my fault if you fall?”

“Yup! But don’t worry, I’ll forgive you if you save me.”

Kaneki stared at him in bewilderment as Hide took in the sights.

Does he not know I’m a ghoul? Maybe my kakugan isn’t activated after all. I can’t tell if it is. Why isn’t he questioning anything?

Hide locked eyes with him. “It’s really pretty.”

“Yeah, the view is nice.” Kaneki whispered.

“I meant...” Hide trailed off, and tapped below his own eye.

Kaneki quickly turned away, deactivating his kakugan.

Wait. Pretty...?

He turned back around. “Hide...”

“Hm?”

“Are you afraid of me?”

Hide laughed. “Of course n— ”

“Be honest.” Kaneki interrupted, narrowing his eyes. He could tell Hide was hiding something.

Hide blinked. He hadn’t expected Kaneki to be quite this serious and so straightforward.

“Honestly?” Hide asked. “...I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?” Kaneki asked, in a tone that demanded answers. He regretted the way it came out. It sounded too serious, too harsh.

“Should I be afraid?” Hide mused as he went back to looking at the view in front of them. “You’re a ghoul and I’m a human. I guess it’d just be natural to be afraid. But you’re also my best friend, and both of us know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

Kaneki didn’t understand what point he was trying to make. It was a yes or no question.

“Emotions and fear aren’t always logical. I’m just asking what you’re feeling. Are you afraid of me or not?”

“I’m both, Kaneki.” Hide said seriously, turning back and looking into Kaneki’s eyes again.

“I don’t unders—”

“I’m curious and excited, and intrigued and happy, but also worried, and scared and I just... feel so small and weak and meaningless now...”

Kaneki looked down, beginning to understand. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want an apology, Kaneki. I want an explanation.”

“...” Kaneki didn’t say anything.

I can’t.

But he couldn’t get even those words out.

There was silence. After a while, Kaneki discreetly glanced at Hide. Hide was giving him a sympathetic look. Hide sighed deeply once he noticed Kaneki was looking at him, and then he looked back out at the view once again.

“Tell me about it.” Hide said.

“About what?”

“About being a ghoul. Come on, man! What else! You’re the only person who’s been both a human and a ghoul! How different is it? Do you feel any different? Do you have any, like, superpowers?”

Kaneki blinked. “I... I eat people, Hide!” He had to make sure Hide realized that. He was half-human, yes, but that barely meant much.

Hide gave him a look, and Kaneki knew that he was thinking, “Going straight to the awful part, huh? How just like you.”

But I eat ghouls now. Not humans. That craving is always going to be there, but I found another way to survive.

“I know. I’m not gonna downplay that part. I’m sure it sucks and it’s awful.” Hide said, choosing his words carefully. “But humans and ghouls aren’t that different from each other. I’m sure of it. Touka-chan and Nishio-senpai are proof of that. Who would have thought that they were ghouls, right?”

Humans and ghouls aren’t different? That’s what you believe? Kaneki thought. Guilt and fear pooled in his stomach. Touka-chan was right. I thought that this made me better. But if you think humans and ghouls are the same...

“Look, I know how you are.” Hide continued. “You wouldn’t hurt anyone. I’m sure you found some other way to eat.”

If humans and ghouls are the same... then...

Kaneki swallowed. He remembered how he killed those ghouls. How he tortured some of them before he killed them.

Then I’m still just as much of a monster. To you, I’m even worse now than back when I was getting meat from Anteiku.

Kaneki didn’t know what to think anymore. There was no easy solution to his hunger.

“...Kaneki?”

Kaneki pulled his legs up and ducked his head down. He wanted Hide and the entire word to go away.

“...You do?” Hide asked.

“I don’t—” Kaneki cut himself off. He was going to say he didn’t hunt humans, but then Kaneki remembered the investigators he hurt. It might not have been hunting, but he still attacked and hurt and ate from people.

“Please tell me.” Hide whispered. “I want to know the truth.”

“Why aren’t you running?” Kaneki asked, avoiding the question. He turned his head to look at Hide. Part of him wanted Hide to run. It would be so much easier, even if it would hurt.

“Because you haven’t given me any reason to yet.” Hide said simply.

Kaneki chuckled darkly, repeating that last word. “Yet.”

Kaneki closed his eyes. He’s right. He deserves to know.

“I...” Where do I even start? “Right now, for the past few months, I’ve only been eating other ghouls.”

Hide blinked. He didn’t seem to have even known that was an option.

“I... I found groups of ghouls that do messed up things. Run cruel ghoul restaurants, or are human trafficking, stuff like that. And I take them down, and...” He trailed off. He was sure Hide got the point.

“And before that?”

“I used to get...” He really didn’t wanna say it out loud. “...the other option... from Anteiku.” Touka-chan would kill me if she knew I was telling this to a human. “They collect it from people who commit suicide, so they don’t need to hurt anyone.”

“Oh.” Hide said. “That explains why you started working there and hanging out there on all your days off.”

“But...” Kaneki said. “I’ve... attacked people. I guess. I mean, I didn’t mean to. Not that that justifies it...”

I’ve almost attacked you. Kaneki remembered. It felt like so long ago now.

“I know you almost went after me.” Hide said.

Kaneki’s eyes widened and he stared at his friend. He waited for Hide to take off running.

“Yeah, I wasn’t unconscious then.” Hide added. “I was just faking. Kinda surprised it worked so well.”

“You knew about that? All this time? Yet you’re still here? You’re still willing to talk to me and be near me?” Kaneki asked.

“It’s not like you meant to do it. I’m not saying its okay, but you seemed pretty in control all other times. And right now.”

Kaneki looked away. “I... I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again.”

“What causes it? What was so different about then?”

“Hunger.” Kaneki said. “I was starving myself back then and Nishio-senpai attacking me didn’t help my condition.”

“Just hunger?”

Kaneki nodded. “I can’t explain it. It’s nothing like the hunger of a human. It’s so painful. It feels like... your stomach is eating itself, as well as the most excruciating headache you could ever have. And the combination of it is hell and you want it to stop and its maddening.”

“Seems like you explained it pretty well.” Hide said.

Kaneki let out a forced chuckle.

Hide let his tone drop again to sound low and serious. “You said you hurt other people? Who? What did you do?”

“I was fighting an investigator once. I needed to hold him off, and I didn’t know how to release my kagune. And the only way I knew how to activate it, was on instinct if I… ate. So I bit him and I used my kagune to destroy his weapon.”

“How bad did you bite him?”

Kaneki shrugged. “He was fine. I mean, not fine, but not... severely wounded? I mean... um. I bit him on the shoulder? I don’t think I took too much but I’m sure it scarred.”

“So, other than me, he’s the only human you’ve gone after?”

Kaneki shook his head, frowning. “One more. This one I don’t remember as clearly. I was... going out of my mind. Apparently cannibalizing ghouls affects your mental state. Investigator weapons are made of ghouls, so I was trying to eat that. But... it was armor, not a weapon. And...” Kaneki grimaced. “I don’t know. I was out of it from everything going on, so I don’t remember exactly what I did or what happened, but... I think I bit him a few times. I didn’t kill him either, but I’m not sure how bad the damage ended up being...”

“Thanks for telling me. I’m sure it was hard.”

“You can leave, y’know.” Kaneki muttered.

“Hm?”

“I’m not gonna stop you. Even though you know about me and everything I’ve told you.” Kaneki looked Hide in the eyes. “I don’t expect you to remain friends with me. I know that I’m fucked up. You don’t even need to say anything. You can leave and I’ll leave you alone and you’ll never see me again.”

“No!” Hide cried. “No, Kaneki, that’s not what I want.”

“But—”

“I… I miss you.” Hide admitted. “You’re my best friend, and I’ve been so worried and lonely. I don’t care if you’re human or ghoul or a mix of both. I just want my friend back.”

Kaneki looked down and sighed.

It didn’t make sense. This was going too well. Who would accept him after everything he’s done?

“It’s getting cold out now. What do you say we go back to my apartment and finish our talk?”

It’s going too well.

“…Kaneki?”

Hide wanted him to go to his apartment. Who would invite a dangerous SS-rate ghoul there? Hide must have called the CCG after all. They must be waiting there.

“Is that okay, Kaneki?”

Kaneki turned and looked at his friend. Hide had his arms wrapped around himself. He truly did look cold.

Kaneki swore internally and looked back down. He was awful, thinking Hide would do that to him.

“Oh.” Hide said. “I guess that’s kinda suspicious, huh? You can pick. Where do you wanna go? Your apartment, maybe? I’m seriously freezing, though.”

Kaneki looked back up and stared at him. He really trusts me? He’d blindly follow me like that?

“N-no, it’s okay. Your apartment’s fine.” Kaneki said. He stood up and headed over to the door to enter the building.

“...You sure? We don’t have to.” Hide called out as he followed.

---

As soon as Hide got his door unlocked, he ran inside and ran into his bedroom. Kaneki closed and locked his door for him, and when he turned around he saw Hide walking back out of his room with a blanket curled around him.

“How are you not freezing cold?!” Hide cried.

Kaneki shrugged innocently. He didn’t really want to say that it was because he’d been working up a sweat running across rooftops all night.

“I’ll make some coffee.” Kaneki said, walking into Hide’s kitchen.

“Okay. Thanks.”

Hide took a seat at his dining table, bundled up in his blanket as Kaneki worked on the coffee. Neither one of them said anything. After several minutes, Kaneki walked over with two mugs of coffee.

Hide used his foot to kick out the chair beside him. He wanted Kaneki right beside him.

Kaneki smiled a bit, setting down the mug for Hide and then taking a seat in the chair.

Hide put his hands around the mug, and hummed contently. It was warm. Then he took a sip. “Wow, this is really good!”

It’d been a while since he had good coffee. He hadn’t gone to Anteiku in 6 months, and everywhere else the coffee was either outright bad or just decent.

“You’ve gotta teach me to make coffee!” Hide added.

Kaneki hummed noncommittally.

“Or…” Hide added with a smirk, “stick around so you can make me some anytime.”

“You really want me around?” Kaneki whispered.

“Of course I do!” Hide cried. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too.” Kaneki whispered, with no hesitation for once. It made Hide smile, and also want to cry.

“Then, why did you leave? Why didn’t you come back? Visit? Write? Anything?”

“I’m sorry.” Was all Kaneki said.

“But… You will stay, right?”

“…”

“Right?” Hide pressed.

Kaneki just continued to stare into his coffee cup.

“Kaneki.”

Kaneki took a long sip to avoid answering him.

Hide sighed. “Please? I mean, I know. There’s no reason for you to leave.”

“Yes there is.”

“Then what is that reason?”

“You might know about me, and you might accept me, but you don’t know everything.”

Hide folded his arms. “Try me.”

“Hide…” Kaneki sighed in exasperation. “There’s bad ghouls out there.”

“Aogiri Tree.” Hide nodded slowly. “I know about them too. I know that they broke in, and I know that they kidnapped you.”

Kaneki looked at him in horror.

“I know a lot of things, Kaneki.” Hide whispered. “Once I realized you were a ghoul, everything just clicked into place. I know that a lot of bad stuff has happened, and I’m sorry about all that, and I’m sorry that I couldn’t do anything to help. But I really think we should stick together.”

“You don’t understand.” Kaneki whispered hopelessly. “You’re missing the most important thing. The reason why.” He shook his head. “They’re trying to hurt everyone. All the people I care about.”

“Who is?”

“Everyone!” Kaneki cried out. “Random ghouls like Nishio-senpai, organizations like Aogiri, everyone! Everyone is after me and the people I associate with!”

“I doubt you’re that popular, Kaneki.” Hide joked, but the meaning was serious. Why would everyone be after Kaneki of all ghouls?

“I think now I am…” Kaneki muttered.

Hide frowned. That was true. He was an SS-rate ghoul. Eyepatch. Centipede. He had a record now.

“Maybe.” Hide began. “But I still don’t think it’s that serious.”

“Touka-chan almost died when I got kidnapped.” Kaneki whispered. “And again when Anteiku tried to rescue me.”

“Tried?” Hide asked. “But… they succeeded, didn’t they?”

Kaneki looked away. “Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Kaneki whispered.

“Are you okay?” Hide asked. From Jason’s files he had a pretty good idea of what Kaneki went through, and he didn’t want to force Kaneki to talk about it, but he wanted an idea of just how traumatic it was for him and if he was okay.

Kaneki sighed. He cracked a finger. Hide grimaced at the sound.

“Who knows.” Kaneki muttered.

“I’m sorry.” Hide whispered.

“I’m okay enough. I mean, I’m still here. Still alive.”

Hide nodded. That’s all that matters right now.

There was silence between them. Hide knew the basics of what Kaneki had gone through — almost getting eaten, having ghouls close to him attacked and killed, being kidnapped, tortured — yet, he had no idea what it was actually like. He knew he could never imagine what it was actually like to go through any of that.

“I…” Hide began. “I know I can’t do much, but… I want to be here for you. For anything. Through anything.”

“…Thanks.”

“And if there’s anything I can do — for you or for your ghouls friends — then please, please tell me. Because I’ll do it.”

Kaneki nodded slowly.

“I, uh.” Hide began awkwardly. “I joined the CCG.”

Kaneki glanced up, horror on his face.

“Not to hurt anyone!” Hide cried out, realizing that Kaneki may have gotten the wrong idea. “Nothing like that! Just to use their resources! And get information! Like—Like, a spy! Y’know?”

“W-Why?” Kaneki whispered. “Why would you…? That’s so risky. You realize just being here with me is illegal, right?”

Hide rolled his eyes. “The law is stupid.”

“Maybe, but its still the law. You could still get into trouble.”

“No one will find out. Don’t worry.”

Kaneki huffed. He rested his elbow on the table, and used it to hold his head up. “So, what do you do for the CCG?”

“Not much. Nothing dangerous. I’m just a delivery boy. But I do manage to overhear some info, and get some opportunities to talk to and gossip with investigators.”

“How long?”

“How long have I been working there? I applied after you left.”

“Oh, huh. I just assumed you had been there longer. You were pretty interested in the Daughter Ghoul case.”

“I’m sorry if what I said back then freaked you out.”

“It did a little.”

“I didn’t mean it. I just—That was my only way to get information back then. And I was trying to push you to see how you’d react, or if you’d tell me everything.”

Kaneki nodded slowly in understanding.

“You knew her, didn’t you?”

“I know her.” Kaneki corrected. “Her name’s Hinami-chan. She’s the brunette girl who was staying at Anteiku. We were caring for her when the CCG—” Kaneki didn’t finish that thought.

“That’s nice of you for helping her. I remember you mentioning her name.”

“She’s sweet.” Kaneki smiled.

“I’d love to meet her someday.” Hide said. “And the rest of the ghouls you know, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Hinami-chan seems nice, and I’d love to get to know Touka-chan better, and it’d be cool to meet everyone else you consider friends.”

Kaneki folded his arm and laid his head on it on the table. “Maybe.”

Kaneki closed his eyes. He looked pretty tired. Hide didn’t comment on his exhaustion, fearing that Kaneki would just take it as an excuse to leave.

“…Hide?”

“Yeah?”

“I… I love you.”

Hide reached out and gently ruffled his hair. “I love you too.”

Kaneki sighed, leaning into his touch. After a few mere minutes, he was asleep.

Hide gave it a few more minutes to make sure Kaneki was actually fast asleep and wouldn’t wake up. And then, he untangled Kaneki’s fingers from the handle of his coffee mug, and carefully picked up his friend.

He’s heavy...

Hide maneuvered over to his bedroom, and then his arms gave out and he dropped Kaneki on the bed a bit more roughly than he had intended to. Kaneki stirred a little, repositioning himself and curling up in the fetal position, but didn’t wake.

Hide draped a blanket over Kaneki and smiled. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep.

Hide straightened up. And then he called out, “It’s pretty cold out there, huh?”

There was no response.

He continued, “I know you’re there. You can come inside if you want.”

He gave it a moment, and then slowly turned peeked out of his bedroom to look out the window in his main apartment. He waited for movement. And then he saw a blur jump by.

Huh… Being stalked by two ghoul friends in one night.

But hey, if it meant that he could finally stop tiptoeing around the secret of them being ghouls and they could all finally be friends, then Hide was okay with it.

Hide walked over to his apartment door, and opened it to see Touka standing there, who was shivering a bit. Hide gestured for her to come in, and she did.

“How did you know?” She asked.

“I saw you watching us a while back. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to mention it with Kaneki here though. I’m sure he would have freaked out.”

Hide grabbed one of his extra blankets, and tossed it to her. She wrapped it around herself.

“So what are you doing here?” Hide asked.

“I came here to find Kaneki.”

Hide smiled. “You were protecting him, weren’t you?”

“Huh?” Touka asked, starting to blush.

“You wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to betray him. That’s why you were watching us.”

Touka was silent, but Hide knew he was right.

“You didn’t overhear our conversations, did you?” Hide asked.

“I’m not that much of a creep!” She cried. “I just was looking out for the CCG or a quinque or something.”

Hide smiled. “Thanks for looking out for him.”

Touka walked past him, peeking into his bedroom. After a moment, she walked inside, taking a seat beside Kaneki. She was silent, just watching as he slept.

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen him too, huh?” Hide asked from the doorway.

“Yes.” Touka whispered. She reached out a hand, hesitated, and then ran it through Kaneki’s hair.

“He really told you nothing?” Hide asked. He knew that she didn’t know much, but he had just assumed that she knew more since both her and Kaneki were ghouls.

“Nope. Nothing.” Touka confirmed.

“How cruel, Kaneki.” Hide whispered half-heartedly. He knew Kaneki had his reasons. He knew that was simply the way Kaneki’s mind worked. He knew that Kaneki meant no harm, he was doing it to protect them, but it still hurt. It was still unfair.

Hide walked over, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the bed. “I hope he stays. Do you think he’ll stay?”

Touka didn’t say anything. Hide wondered if it was because she truly didn’t know, or if she knew he wouldn’t like her answer.

“So how much do you know?” Hide asked.

“How much do you know?”

“Um. That Aogiri kidnapped him, that Jason was a nasty ghoul, and somehow Kaneki escaped after about a week. Then he just left.”

“That’s basically all I know.” Touka sighed, swinging her legs to the foot of the bed and laying back to stare at the ceiling. “We tried to save him, but we were too late. He broke out himself, and he was the one to save me when I got in too deep. And then he said he told me was leaving. I saw nothing of him until a few weeks ago.”

Hide hummed. He had hoped he’d be able to get some details from Touka, no matter how small. But apparently she really didn’t know much more than he did.

“He didn’t tell you, did he?” Touka asked.

“Tell me what? That he’s a ghoul?”

“No. That he was leaving.”

“Nope. He just… didn’t come back.”

Touka sat up to look at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I would have told you. Something. Anything. That he was safe. That he was alive.”

“I knew.” Hide shrugged. “I knew that if he had died, you and Anteiku would have been much more depressed.”

“You haven’t come there in months.” Touka commented.

“It reminded me of him.” Hide whispered. “It wasn’t the same without him. Plus, I didn’t know if I was welcome.”

“Of course you’re welcome.”

“Well, I know that it’s a ghoul organization, so I just thought—”

“No.” Touka cut him off, shaking her head. “We’re a coffee shop. We help our fellow ghouls, but there’s nothing against humans. You’re fine. You’re safe. You’re welcome there.”

“Okay.” Hide whispered. “Thanks.”

Touka laid back down. “If Kaneki does leave us again...”

She trailed off. Hide was silent, waiting for her to finish.

“...Then, you should come in and talk.”

“I’d like that.”

Hide turned around so that he was leaning against his bed. Above him, he could hear the calm breathing of Kaneki. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

After several minutes of silence, Hide called out in a whisper, “Hey, Touka-chan?”

There was no reply.

Hide got up to his feet, to see that Touka had fallen asleep. Hide just stood there for a moment, watching the two ghouls sleeping side by side on his bed. Hide’s heart felt warm, having them both here. For so long, he had wanted Kaneki back. For even longer, he had wanted to befriend Touka.

Quietly and slowly, Hide laid in the empty space in front of Kaneki, and let himself drift off to sleep.

There were so many months of no communication. Fear that Kaneki wouldn’t be coming back. Misunderstandings that were just brewing and waiting to happen.

But in the end... they all just missed each other.

#tokyo ghoul #hidekane #touhide #touka kirishima #hideyoshi nagachika #kaneki ken #tg fanfic #tg #ken kaneki #mine #my fics #my writing

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harper-hook · 6 years ago

Text

Apple Of My Eye | Evie x Reader

Summary: When you don’t feel like you deserve Evie’s beautiful designs, she sets out to make you feel better.

Author’s Note: I’m back ya’ll!

You scrunched your face up as Evie spun you around to face the mirror and its bright lights. Everything in Auradon was just so darn bright compared to the Isle. Tomorrow was the Isle and Auradon Unity picnic and everyone would be there so everyone had to look their best.

You turned to the left slightly, just to see Evie’s giddy face fall slightly. “I’m guessing you don’t like the dress?” She asked softly, doubt covering her features. “No,” You said quickly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. “It’s just...” You shielded your eye.

“Oh! My bad.” Evie giggled, turning down the lights. The sounds brought a soft blush to your face. It was just so adorable and dainty. “So what do you think?” She asked, clasping her hands together in front of her.

Now able to see your reflection, your jaw dropped. It was a dark blue almost black strapless dress covered in tiny yellow, blue and white flowers. It was gorgeous. “Evie...” You murmured, carefully running your hands down the fabric.

“You love it. I know it.” She said smugly. “You look wonderful.” Your cheeks turned a bright red and you shook your head, making your hair fall into your face to hide it. “I’ve got just the thing.” Evie took a step towards you.

“Now imagine a thick studded belt right here.” Evie shifted and touched your waist, almost making your soul transcend. “It’s almost ready. Let me check.” She headed back towards her work desk.

Once the coast was clear, you lifted your head back up, tucking your hair behind your ear. Your happiness faltered as you brushed your eyepatch. It was horribly ugly, you felt.

You had a sinking feeling in your stomach. What was the point of a beautiful dress and shoes paired with an ugly eyepatch? It was what your mother would’ve said. It would take away from Evie’s work.

She couldn’t afford that. With everyone being at the picnic, Evie could get so many more commissions with someone else wearing this dress. “Okay! All set!” Evie said, snapping your out of your thoughts.

Without even noticing, she had buckled your belt and was straightening your outfit. You gulped hard.

“Listen, Evie.” You started, stepping away from her little modelling platform. “I’m sorry but I can’t model your dress tomorrow.” You told her, watching her face fall. “What? Why?” She asked, stepping towards you. You took another step back.

“I don’t wanna tarnish your reputation because of... you know?” You gestured to your eyepatch, a bitter taste left in your mouth. “(Y/N), I don’t care about that-” “But Auradon does!” You interrupted, clenching your fist. “They won’t see the dress or the jewels or the shoes! All they’ll see is this.” You said sadly, pointing to your patch.

“I’m sorry, Evie. I’m not going to the picnic. I can’t do that to you.” You said, glancing at your feet. “(Y/N)…” Evie tried to reach out to you but you jerk away. “I’m sorry...” You whispered, darting out of the room.

You reached your room, tears rolling down your face. You carefully took off the dress and put back on your regular clothes, feeling more comfortable but still sick to your stomach. You couldn't imagine Evie ever talking to you again and that thought hurt worse than not wearing the dress.

You checked your phone. The picnic was starting in 10 minutes. You sighed sadly, glancing at the dress that was still hung up. A knock at the door startled you.

Before you could say ‘come in’ or ‘go away’, the door swung open and Evie strutted in, looking as radiant as ever. “Good morning!” Evie chirped, setting down her bag.

She paused, looking between the hung dress and you. “Why aren’t you dressed? We’re gonna be late.” She said with a small pout. You sighed, half expecting this.

“Evie, I already told you. I’m not going. I can’t.” You said, laying back down. “Yes! You can!” Evie said, tugging you into a standing position. “But-” “Please! Just get dressed and trust me.” She pleaded.

You gritted your teeth before exhaling. “Fine. For you.” You declared. “Yay!” She cheered, giving you a small push towards the bathroom, handing you the dress. You closed the door behind you, hurriedly putting on your dress.

“Are you ready?” Evie asked through the door. You took a glance at your reflection. “No, not really.” You sighed, opening the door. Evie quickly hid something behind her back, giving you a coy smile.

“Ok. Now I need you to trust me and close your eyes.” She said seriously. So seriously, it made you nervous. “Ev’s…” You used your nickname for her, hoping to cox some more information out of her.

“Nope!” She popped the P. “Not gonna work this time. This is gonna work.” She said determinedly. You swallowed hard and closed your eyes.

With delicate hands, she grabbed the strap of your eyepatch, pulling it off. You gasped, clenching your fists. “Evie!” You whispered, feeling especially vulnerable. “Hold on. I’m not done yet.” She whispered soothingly, running a hand through your hair.

She stretched something else over your head. It felt like another eyepatch. “Okay.” She lead you somewhere. “Open your eyes.” She said, practically bouncing.

You were standing in front of your mirror and instead of your dirty black patch, there was a baby blue patch with a white felt daisy embroidered on it. You gasped, stepping closer to the mirror, admiring her handy work. It was beautiful.

“Do you like it?” Evie asked hopefully. You spun around and lunged at Eve, wrapping her up into a big hug. “Evie. I fucking love it!” You beamed, sniffling slightly. She pulled away, smiling at you. “Anything for you.” Evie said, planting a kiss on your cheek, making you gasp.

“Ready to go?” Evie asked, smirking at your red face. She offered her hand. You nodded silently, catching up with her and grasping her hand. For once, you felt beautiful, flaws and all.

#disney descendants #descendants #descendants imagine #descendants evie #evie #evie grimhilde #evie imagine #evie x reader

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shytalia · 5 years ago

Text

A Prince and a Pirate’s Fate - Chapter 7

— ♠ — ♠ — ♠ —

Chapter Seven

Start at Chapter one here:https://shytalia.tumblr.com/post/611878754309079040/a-prince-and-a-pirates-fate-usuk-fanfic

Also available on my AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/shytalia

Only a mild warning for language in this chapter.

— ♠ — ♠ — ♠ —

After Peter was comfortably back in the ship, Arthur was quick to turn to Alfred with a grin.

“Well, well, you did better than expected today. You didn’t even need to use that dagger I gave you after all.” The Brit told him as the two of them stepped back onto the docks. The sky was dark now but the town was still alive with light and people shuffling through its veins never seemed to slow.

Alfred rubbed the back of his neck and let out a small laugh.

“I guess not.” He was glad no one recognized him while they were out, but now Arthur was looking at him expectantly. “What?”

“What do you mean what? I graciously offered you a night of freedom and you don’t seem too excited.” The captain responded, an air of curiosity around him. “In fact, you’re still following me even after I told you you can go enjoy yourself.” He enjoyed the way Alfred’s face warmed.

“Ah, I guess that’s true.” He replied but his pace never faltered from Arthur’s. “Still, I think I’d rather stick by you, if that’s alright, Cap.”

Arthur pondered at the request for a moment before answering with a shrug. “I don’t suppose it would hurt. You really are a strange one, you know?” Most people weren’t exactly clamoring at the chance to keep him company, after all. “Do what you want, I’m going to get some drinks in me.”

With that, Alfred followed Arthur into a scene that was almost familiar. It was a bar crowded with pirates and sinners to the brim. Somehow, the smaller man managed to squeeze his way to the bar and order himself some liquor. Alfred wasn’t too far behind him and leaned on the counter.

“Again, not going to order anything?” Arthur asked, bringing his own drink to his lips.

Alfred laughed lightly at that and shrugged. “You don’t give me coin, Cap. What am I supposed to pay with?” He was a servant, a prisoner, not a crew mate. He didn’t get paid and he had already recklessly given all his royal money to the fisherman who helped him catch Arthur’s ship.

Arthur opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by a boisterous voice bellowing over the crowd.

“Oh, ho,ho look who it is! Could it be? The one and only Spadian bitch.” The voice cackled.

Alfred watched Arthur visibly slunk, his good mood instantly soured by hearing this loud voice.

“Shit.” He mumbled into his glass, quickly downing the rest of it. He was going to need it.

Alfred looked towards the source and saw a group of men shuffling towards them. The one yelling led them. He held a big grin on his face, but something about it felt off to Alfred. His blonde hair was spiked dramatically upwards and he had a black eye patch over his right eye. He looked somewhat familiar. Judging by the getup he was wearing, he assumed he was another wanted pirate captain.

Following behind him were two men.

One was impressively tall, he must nearly be the size of the Club’s King. But his face was stern and unmoving. The man beside him was much shorter and almost cute, in a way. His round face was curved into a gentle smile.

The one with the eyepatch strolled right up to Arthur, baring his teeth with a wolfish expression. “It is you, Captain Kirkland! How delicious.”

“Mathias.” Arthur growled, glaring into his now empty glass. His knuckles a warning shade of white as he gripped it so hard Alfred feared he would break it in his very grasp.

This ‘Mathias’ didn’t look deterred at all by the Brit’s caution as he continued. “You haven’t gone running to the castle doors yet to get fucked silly by your new, royal plaything?” he asked boldly, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. “I’m shocked. You could have it so easy, sitting on your ass all day just for having a pretty mark on your back. Then again, he probably wouldn’t even want to see it, would he? He’d probably be too disgusted thinking about how many men have already--”

Arthur shifted in his seat, swiveling towards Mathias with his brows cast down in fury. But before he could strangle the other blonde, he was beaten to it as a swift hand reached out and grabbed the Dane instead.

Alfred, for all his silence, was fuming. His normally tanned face was reddened by his anger and his teeth gritted together in an enraged scowl. “Shut the fuck up!” He yelled, half blocking Arthur from view as he pushed the other pirate backwards and away from him. His fist was interwoven with the fabric of Mathias’s shirt, forcing his back against the hard counter of the bar, threatening to hold him down while he beat into him if he uttered another word. “Who the hell are you to talk to Arthur like that?”

“Arthur?” Mathias seemed unaffected by the dangerous position he was currently in, only curling his smile upward more. “You must be going soft, allowing your men to address you so informally. Maybe it really is time for you to retire.” He laughed, feeling the hand bundled in his shirt shake as a result.

Alfred was livid. He shook with the desire to knock this captain’s lights out right then and there. It only made his eye twitch in aggravation when the man in his grasp started to laugh loudly.

“Why the hell are you laughing so hard?” Alfred asked through gritted teeth.

The spiky haired pirate opened one of his eyes to look up at the blonde in front of him, his gaze dark and curious. “Why shouldn’t I be laughing? You look so serious and for what? To defend the Spade kingdom’s biggest whore? That’s all he is! A marriage arranged by The Goddess herself and yet he still can’t sit his ass down to marry the guy who can give him literally anything. He’d still prefer to run around and gorge himself on every sin imaginable. And here you stand defending him as if he were a saint?” A rough hand flew up and grabbed onto Alfred’s wrist, squeezing it so tightly it made his grip waver.

It was Mathias’s, and the grinning pirate used his other hand to pull Alfred even closer to his face. “Besides,” he whispered toothily. “If Arthur won’t go himself, that only means I can get the reward money when I beat his head in and drag his limp body to the castle myself.” He laughed again and Alfred couldn’t take the sound anymore.

“You fucker!” The prince raised his free fist to deliver a blow to Mathias’s face, but was stopped by large hands grabbing him from behind and ripping him off the other man. He was thrown to the floor, only to be shadowed by the tall pirate he saw before. “Get the hell out of my way!” He threatened. Maybe this wasn’t his wisest idea, after all, the more eyes on him meant the more chances he had to be recognized. But that fear was only a speck in the corner of his mind when this protective anger took hold of him.

He was about to make a lunge for the stoic blonde, before a different figure came up beside him and kicked him back to the ground.

“I’m really sorry about this. Can’t we all just relax?” It was the cute man this time, obviously remorseful about his part in this. Still, he was only defending his captain. His violet eyes were almost pleading. “Please don’t make us kill you.”

Alfred tried to recompose himself, having been forcefully thrown to the floor and then kicked in the chest made his body ache. He groaned as he rolled over, attempting to gather himself long enough to make it back on his feet. “Like hell you will.” He spat at the ground, too stubborn to just let these guys talk shit about Arthur and get away with it.

The young prince stumbled his way to his feet and faced the two blondes that were blocking Mathias from view. “Get out of my way,” he told them, only for neither of them to budge. “Fine.” He made fists with his hands once more and went to deck the taller man with a quick blow, but the smaller male was faster and landed a surprisingly strong punch to his stomach instead.

Alfred doubled over, holding his gut from the impact, but was acutely aware that the two forms were coming towards him now. He went to ready himself so he wouldn’t be caught off guard, but a different body stepped between them before he had the chance.

“Stop!” Arthur yelled the command, stepping between Alfred and his opponents with a quick swipe of his hand. It glowed a faint green color and the two stopped immediately, as if paralyzed.

It took a few moments for Alfred to register his thoughts and then he finally realized Arthur was using magic. He went to say something but the Brit’s face snapped back towards him, absolutely fuming. “Get the fuck out of here right now.” It was not a request.

“What? Arthur, I am not leaving you!”

Then, it hit him. It was swift and unexpected, Arthur’s fist connected to his cheek with just a simple turn of his heel.

“Alfred, as your captain, you will do as I tell you. Now go.”

Alfred held onto his cheek, swearing he tasted blood in his mouth from the impact. The glare Arthur was giving him told him that the Brit would not hesitate to do it again if he was denied. Still, Alfred was not keen on leaving and wanted to stay. How was he supposed to just up and walk away and leave Arthur here to fight these guys?

“I will be right behind you.”

The prince blinked, noticing the way Arthur’s eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. But they also held truth, and it bid him to listen.

Slowly, Alfred straightened himself and backed up, still watching carefully but retreating towards the door. It was difficult to do so, since so many bodies were busy watching the spectacle and many looked like they thirst for more bloodshed than they had gotten. But eventually he made it into the cool, night air. Then, only a few moments later, Arthur appeared from the doorway as well.

“Arthur,” he went to check on him, but the smaller man shot him a murderous look and he started to storm off back towards the ship.

--- ♠ --- ♠ --- ♠ ---

Alfred tried to get Arthur to turn around and talk to him but the captain refused to even look at him.

“Come on, just talk to me. I’m sorry!” The taller man was in hot pursuit and accompanied the angry man all the way back to his quarters.

Arthur tried to slam the door to his study in his face, but Alfred caught it with his foot and pushed his way in after him instead.

“Arthur!” The boy almost sounded like he was pleading now, but it did little to calm the fury in the pirate’s eyes. “Why are you so upset at me? I was trying to defend you.” The guy obviously bothered Arthur in some way just judging by his reaction when he heard his voice, so he didn’t know why he was so against him beating the absolute snot out of him.

“Do you even have any idea who that was?” Arthur snapped back, throwing his arms in the air to emphasize his point.

Alfred frowned harder and shook his head. “No, and I don’t really care. I couldn’t let him talk about you like that!”

“Alfred, I am a pirate. I’m not some flower for you to protect at the slightest breeze.” The Brit was pacing around his ‘throne room’, his arms flying upwards and crossing dramatically as he stomped around. “I certainly didn’t ask you to pick a fight with Mathias fucking Køhler! Do you have any idea how badly that would have gone for you if I had not stepped in? You’d be dead...if you were lucky!”

“And? What does that even matter to you?” Alfred countered.

“It matters because I’ve hardly the time or the energy to replace a servant less than two weeks into his service,” The Brit shouted back. “And I really would prefer not to have to deal with Mathias on my ass when we leave dock.” He would not put it past the Dane to follow them out to sea and start a battle. As much as Arthur reveled in combat, he knew Mathias nor his crew were to be underestimated.

“You wouldn’t have to worry about him following us if you would’ve let me kill him.” The prince argued. Not that he actually wanted to murder the man, but in the heat of the moment he couldn’t say he didn’t want to smash his face a few times.

Arthur scoffed at that, a mocking laugh escaping his lips at the idea. “Sure, you were doing a fantastic job -- getting your ass kicked by his right hand men.” Berwald and Tino were two of the most feared pirates in the ocean. Their reputations as skilled fighters preceded them, and they weren’t even captains! “They would’ve put you down in an instant.”

“Then why didn’t you just let them, if I’m such an inconvenience to you when all I wanted to do was stick up for you.”

The Brit rolled his eyes and let another dark chuckle escape his lips. “If letting you die meant getting some damn peace and quiet then maybe I should have.” He tried not to notice the flash of hurt that crossed the younger man’s face for just a second as he spoke. “I don’t understand what your deal is anyway, I really don’t! What is this morbid fascination you have with, what did he call me? Oh yes, of course, The Spadian bitch.”

“Don’t call yourself that!” Alfred told him, grabbing his arms in an attempt to get him to stop his pacing and listen.

“Why the hell not? Isn’t that all I am to you pompous pricks in the capital?” He barked back, glaring daggers straight back into Alfred’s eyes. It was true and he knew it. He was not Arthur to them, he was either a merciless pirate or just a pretty figure to model into perfect obedience. They wanted their queen, he simply wanted a choice.

Alfred stared down at Arthur with an angry frown, gripping his arms tighter in frustration. Looking at Arthur like this so close, he wondered how he never noticed the light freckles that were pressed against his nose and his cheeks. Or the way his eyes had different shades of greens, creating a forest of life in just two small orbs. Even his lips, that were currently pressed downward in a deep scowl, invited him in and he couldn’t stop himself from accepting their offer.

--- ♠ --- ♠ --- ♠ ---

>> Also! Please know that chapter 8 will not be posted on tumblr due to its mature content. If you want to read it, you’ll have to do so on A03 when its posted. Sorry for the inconvenience ;w;

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vigilantobserver · 5 years ago

Text

My friend asked me to make this for her. I take only half the responsibility.

Warning: I have only watched the 2 first seasons of Tokyo ghoul and it was years ago so please, don’t attack me. Also this fanfic includes people with animal features and behaviors (I pity the person monitoring my search history)

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo ghoul or it’s characters. The only thing I do won is this fanfiction.

For those brave enough to read: please enjoy this mess of a fanfic

Mismatched colours

Mismatched. It was the only way that Touka could describe the quiet, white haired boy. You’d think that she was talking about his difference in behaviour when he was a hungry, hunting ghoul compared to when he was being a relatively normal, meek citizen, but that wasn’t quite it.

Sure, the boy was truly not made to be a ghoul and was obviously suffering under his situation. She had a feeling that if he got hit by more tragedies, he would someday lose himself completely.

But that wasn’t what truly caught her attention. No, what actually made him so mismatched to her was his appearance. And she did not mean him being a one eyed ghoul either. It was his fur.

Kaneki was a hare with deep black ears and tail. The boys ears were big and flopped at the side of his head to lay on his shoulders (only ever standing up when he was in a fight), the white hair contrasting starkly with the deep coloured ears. Normally hybrid’s fur either matched their hair colour perfectly or there was at least some of their hair colour on their extra body parts, whether in form of stripes, intricate patterns or dots. She herself was an example of having multiple colours. Her own smaller, constantly perked up, vigilant ears where a purple at the roots that faded into the purest white.

It was an unusual sight to see, but for some reason it both fit the boy and at the same time didn’t at all. One the one hand, some people tend to look at him weird. Confused by his fur they keep their distance, like he was some diseased person. Something wrong in the world.

On the other hand, the mismatched fur was aesthetically pleasing, even almost alluring. The strange and unique colouring bought him a lot of, most of the time unwanted, attention from women and men alike (the eyepatch really did not help here).

The perfect example for this where a group of girls giggling in one corner of the café. A Canary and a blue-Russian cat where teasing the ferret of the group, urging the red faced girl to go talk to Kaneki. It quite honestly raised her hackles. Couldn’t they see that he did not want to be bothered?

She was about ready to put a claim on him herself, to release her pheromones and invite him to chase, to dance, just so that people would finally leave the poor teen be. A bit of her scent would be enough to keep most people away. And the more persistent ones could answer to her. She wasn’t afraid to fight for her claim. Not that she truly wanted him as a mate, or anything…

Ok, that’s a lie, she kind of actually did. She just couldn’t help but be protective of him. She couldn’t help but want him. He was unique, kind and strong when the situation called for it. The perfect mate, that would be able to both make her feel needed and be there when she needed him. But many hybrids mate for live nowadays and she was not sure if she was ready to make such a decision.

Cheering broke her train of thought. She looked up from where she had been cleaning a table, for probably already way too long, and her tail raised a bit as she saw the ferret girl move towards Kaneki. To think that she would actually try her luck. Touka had to give her credit for her bravery. Or maybe it was just foolishness.

After all, Touka was not just going to let this slide. No matter how cute and small the ferret was, no matter how good she would look next to the one eyed boy, Touka would not just let her fellow bunny be seduced.

Not wanting to be caught snooping, Touka moved to clean another table closer to where Kaneki was drying glasses behind the bar. She kept her ears on attention to listen to every word. She wasn’t going to interfere immediately. It wasn’t her place after all to scare pursuers of Kaneki. In the end it is his decision who he wants to be with, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t save him if he got uncomfortable.

“Hi! My name is Misa. Can I know your name?”

Touka scoffed. The tone the ferret girl used had such a fake sweetness it made her sick.

“Ah… It’s Kaneki. Kaneki Ken.”

„Ken, huh. Such a nice name! Ah, can I call you Ken? I’d really like to.”

“Um, I’d actually prefer if you didn-“

“Yes? Ok, good! Say, let’s go on a date.”

Touka’s head snapped up. Did that girl really just do that? Sure, other people had been blunt before but this was a new level. It was almost offensive.

“Uh-um, I’m sorry but I don’t think-“

“Aw, come on! It’s only a date. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I-I…”

He was uncomfortable. His ears had moved from their comfortable position over his shoulders to pinned behind his head. Kaneki was extremely uncomfortable and she couldn’t blame him. The audacity of that girl! Touka watched as the hare tried to back away from the flirty brunette girl, only for her to grab onto his arm tight. (When had she moved behind the bar?)

That was the last straw. Like hell would she let that persistent bitch force him into anything. Touka took a deep breath and made her way over to the pair. Kaneki spotted her over the ferrets shoulder and his pleading, anxious, hopeful gray eye met her purple ones. She nodded her head slightly and watched as relief took over his whole being.

Touka cleared her throat loudly, catching the girls attention. Brown, annoyed eyes focused on her and a sharp mouth snapped rudely.

“What do you want? Can’t you see we are busy?!”

Touka raised an unimpressed eyebrow and crossed her arms.

“The only thing I see is you harassing my coworker, so I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Brown eyes widened, only to immediately narrow.

“The fuck?! I’m not harassing shit! Mind your own damn business!”

Touka could feel her temper rise. She took a look around to see other customers watching the scene with anger and incredulously in their expressions. Seems like they all feel the same.

“Listen here, bitch. You are obviously not only making Kaneki but everyone here uncomfortable. So, I’m gonna give you two options: 1. You leave right now without making a fuss and never come back, or 2. I throw you out myself.”

“Ha! You and what army?”

The girl hissed this while baring her fangs and showing off her claws.

Touka bared her teeth and smirked.

“I don’t need one.”

With a grunt Touka attacked. Before the ferret could react she was in the air as Touka lifted her over to the front door by her collar. The girl began to struggle and tried to claw at Touka’s hands. But it was to no avail.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

“Taking out the trash.”

And with that Touka threw the girl outside of the café, making her land painfully on her sorry ass. She then turned to the ferrets friends.

“Yo, dumbasses! You are her friends aren’t you? Get out before I make you!”

The two girls seemed to be smarter than their friend was because they only flinched and scurried out silently.

“And don’t come back.”

Touka said decisively, slamming the door. There were a few seconds of silence before sudden loud cheering rang out.

She turned around in surprise and smiled at what she saw. Everyone in the café was applauding her. The bunny looked towards Yoshimura, who was giving her a proud and satisfied smile. He nodded at her and indicated to Kaneki with his head and then to upstairs. Touka looked at Kaneki and saw that while his ears had moved back to their calm position, he was still ever so slightly shivering.

She nodded at her boss in thanks and moved slowly towards Kaneki, so as not to startle him. Carefully she took his hand. He flinched but didn't pull away.

"Come."

Kaneki only hesitated for a moment before letting himself be pulled along. Once in her room, Touka let go of the hares hand. The one-eyed ghouls fingers twitched, as if he wanted to reclaim her hand. She bit her lip to stop from smiling. This was still serious after all.

"How are you feeling?"

Kaneki looked up from their hands with wide eyes.

"I- I'm fine. Thank you for helping me, Kirishima-san."

“It’s no problem. To be honest that girl was making me angry anyways.”

Kaneki chuckled nervously.

“She was a bit rude, wasn’t she?”

Touka scoffed.

“A bit is an understatement. She was basically sexually harassing you! Anyone could have smelled her pheromones from a mile away.”

Kaneki looked down at that, but gave a slight nod of agreement. He was obviously still bothered by what happened and Touka had a feeling there was more to it too. With a carefully controlled tone, she decided to ask something she had been meaning to ask for a while now.

“Does this happen often? I mean I’ve seen people approach you before but never like that and you are shaking.”

The hare looked up, wide eyed and startled. His ears raised just a bit.

“No, no, no! While people have tried to curt me before they usually gave up pretty fast when I didn’t react like they wanted. The only one who was ever that bold before was…”

The white haired teen trailed off, but she did not need for him to finish. She had heard of how he became a ghoul and could imagine who the other person was. Her ears lowered a bit at the thought of the betrayal and fear Kaneki must have felt. He had been honestly interested in the women after all.

Would he ever be interested in her, too? The purple and white bunny had seen his reactions to her, had been observing closely for a while now. She had seen the curiosity and a certain amount of attraction, but would that be enough? As she watched Kaneki Ken, the one eyed ghoul, the meek hare with mismatched fur who could have anyone he wanted, she decided that the only way to ever truly know was to make a move.

Touka took a deep, audible breath. Kaneki focused on her in curiosity and watched with rapt attention as she began to move. She slowly started to circle the hare who’s eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the traditional courting behaviour of their kind. The female bunny paid close attention to the one she wanted to curt and felt relief wash over her as she saw his eyes shine and ears lie back slightly in submission. With the knowledge that she wasn’t being rejected she increased her speed a bit.

Then after a while of circling she moved close and gave a playful nip to the hares right ear. Kanekis ears stood up and he moved towards her. The chase was on.

They proceed to spent the next half an hour chasing each other playfully through the small room. Always nipping the other gently to say ‘You’re it!’ and making sure to never start circling too close. They did not want conflict. No, they were enjoying their little game of tag, their dance, their courting way too much to let it become bitter. It was exhilarating. To finally be able to act how they were supposed to, to realize that they weren’t alone, that there was someone who understood them, someone who acknowledged their boundaries and didn’t overstep.

Touka's heart swelled as she looked over her shoulder at her partner. She could tell that he was letting go of his inhibitions. He was acting on instinct and happiness. Realizing this her tail gave an involuntary flick. A single grey eye widened at the flirty move and before Touka could react was she being pressed down to the floor. She gasped at the feeling of being mounted and nipped in the back of the neck.

It wasn’t sexual. If anything it was romantic. A small chatter of happiness escaped her as she realized the full meaning her partner wanted to convey. It was a sign of possessiveness, of protectiveness. The hold wasn’t forceful and the nip gentle. This was Ken (when had he become Ken in her mind?) saying: ‘You’re mine!’. This was a claim.

The black hare moved off her to lie beside her, allowing her to lie on her side and mirroring her position. Another move that such a clear sign of closeness that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. Deciding that it was her turn to return the favor, Touka made her own move. She raised her hands and softly began grooming Kens hair and ear. Grey eye widened and locked with calm purple.

With a honestly beautiful smile the male bunny scooted closer and moved his arms to wrap around her and started to groom her windswept tail in return. Both bunnies closed their eyes in bliss and purrs of joy filled the air.

They both knew that they had a lot to talk about, but for now the ghoul bunnies decided to let themselves be swept away by their instincts and pure joy at a successful start to courting.

FIN

#my fanfiction #tokyo ghoul #kaneki ken #touka kirishima #kaneki x touka #what even #i had to research so much bunny behavior #holy shit #help #i blame you #you know who you are

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theydontknowaboutusimagines · 6 years ago

Text

Outside the Rain - Harry Styles (Part 5)

Part 4

“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit,” you groaned reaching for a piece of tissue.

You pressed it against the tiny, yet painful cut on your leg to stop the gushing of blood. Never in your 15+ years of shaving your legs have you ever not cut your self at least once. You sighed finishing up before getting out of the shower. Your date with Harry was in less than two hours and you needed to get ready. You still had no clue on where you were going or what you’d be doing.

All you knew is that you needed to wear something comfortable because you would be outside for the majority of the night and that he was picking you up at four. So, now you were standing in your closet trying to find something that was comfortable and practical for whatever the night entailed, but also was nice enough for a first date. Eventually, you decided on a nice sundress that you could pair with a pair of white sneakers.

You laid it out on your bed, while you went back into the bathroom to tackle your hair and makeup. Your hand shook as you applied your foundation and you hoped it calmed down by the time you went to apply your eyeliner and mascara or you might be accessorizing with an eyepatch. For you makeup, you decided on a simple look, but painted your lips a nice, bright red to make it a little more date night like.

You dried your hair and took out your curling iron before putting your hair in an high half-do and curling your hair a bit. You sprayed your hair with hairspray before walking back into your room. You put on a simple rose gold bar necklace set and a pair of small hoop earrings. You pulled your dress over your head and slipped on your shoes.

You took a small crossbody bag from your closet and filled it with your essentials for the night. By the time you were ready, there was about half an hour before Harry was due to arrive, so you took that opportunity to have you a glass of wine.

Harry's hands shook as he buttoned up his shirt. To say he was nervous for the date tonight, would be an understatement. He wanted everything to go perfectly and he hoped this date would lead to more... and maybe... just maybe a relationship. Of course, he wasn’t trying to think that far ahead, but it was hard not go there. Whenever he was around you, he felt a pull towards you. It was weird and hard to describe, but he felt it. He wanted to press his lips against yours and hold you in his arms... and he was hoping that one of those two things would happen.

He took a look in his mirror. He had decided on a black button up shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans, something he hadn’t really worn in ages, but he did want to seem overdressed for where you two were going. He slid his rings down each finger before running his hands through his hair one last time. Grabbing his phone and his wallet, he headed down the stairs.

On the way to your place, he stopped to buy some flowers and a little teddy bear. He knew those items were super cheesy, but he knew they would make you smile. The closer he got to your house, the more his hands would sweat.

He had no clue why he was so nervous. You two had been alone together multiple times recently, so why was he freaking out more tonight.

“Calm the fuck down,” he mumbled to himself.

Easier said than done. Tonight was different on so many levels. It was more public than just hanging out at the other’s house. It was an actual date, where you both were on the same page. Oh and not to mention the fact that Harry had to plan everything out in less than twenty four hours and he really hoped you enjoyed it.

As soon as you saw Harry pull into your driveway, you weren’t sure what to do. Should you just walk out to the car since you know he’s there or should you just wait for him to come to the door? What exactly was the protocol again? I mean if you went outside on your own, then it made it seem like you are waiting for him and like watching through the window.

Even though that was exactly what you were doing, you didn’t want him to know that. You didn’t want to come off as desperate or whatever. Well, all of your contemplating ended up making the decision for you because before you could even grab your things and head out the door, Harry rang the doorbell.

You took a deep breath and counted to five before walking over to the door and opening it. Harry stood there holding a bouquet of flowers and tiny teddy bear in his arms.

You smiled, “Hi.”

“Hi,” he smiled. “These are for you.”

He held out the flowers and the teddy bear.

“Thank you,” you smiled. “They’re beautiful. Let me put them in water and then we can go.”

“Sounds good,” he smiled following you inside. “I still can’t get over your house.”

You laughed, “I really starting to wonder if the only reason you hang out with me is because of my house.”

“Maybe not the only reason, but a reason,” he smirked.

You shook your head grabbing a vase from the cabinet and putting the flowers inside before filling it up with water.

“These smell really good,” you smiled. “Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled.

“And this is really cute,” you smiled holding the teddy bear.

“Well, I thought you could have something to remember me by for when I head to NYC,” he smirked.

“What makes you so sure that I’d even miss you?” you smirked. “Bold of you to assume.”

“It’s not assuming if it’s the truth,” he smirked.

“Well, in that case I guess we better head out then?” You asked. “Speaking of which, are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”

“Nope!” He smirked making sure to pop on the p. “You’ll find out when we get there.”

“Ugh, fine,” you said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

The entire car ride was mostly silent of conversation as the two of you listened to the radio. It wasn’t an awkward silence, but more of content silence. Your hands were in your lap, while Harry kept both hands on the steering wheel. Whenever you two would lock eyes every so often, a red tint would appear on both of your cheeks and you both would give the other a small smile before looking away.

You’d be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t feel butterflies in your stomach or that you weren’t happy to be going on this date. It had been ages since you one went on a true proper date and two it had been even longer since you’ve gone on a date where you were actually feeling genuine feelings for the other person.

It was weird though because while you felt a little bit of nervousness during your other times with Harry recently, that was nothing compared to how you were feeling now. And honestly the only thing that changed was the fact that there was now a label on it.

Had Harry just asked you to hang out again, would you feel this immense pressure to have everything go smoothly? Or would you be worried about what he expected to happen between the two fo you now? Odds are you probably wouldn’t, but it didn’t really matter seeing as how this was, in fact, a date and you were practically shitting bricks.

Harry could feel the tension energy flowing throughout the car and neither of you were even saying anything. The only sounds that were evident was that of the music playing through the speakers at a medium low volume, and the occasional deep breaths both of you were taking. For the past few nights that you two have spent together, they were filled with talking non-stop, so it was nice to just sit in a silence with you and just be there in the moment.

And that was just the car ride. If the actual date went as smoothly as the car ride and being stuck in traffic, then everything was looking up.

“Are you at least going to give me a hint?” You asked breaking the silence.

“Technically, I already gave you a hint,” he smirked. “I told you we were going to be outside.”

You rolled your eyes, “That could literally mean anything. We’re in fucking California. Do you know how many things are outdoors? There’s the beach, for starters, and then parks, piers, restaurants... like the list goes fucking on and on.”

“While all of that is true, where we’re going is none of those places,” he smirked. “So, there. There’s another hint.”

“You’re like a fucking riddle, you know that?” you said.

“I’m going to take that as a complement,” he smirked.

“Put this on, please,” Harry said handing you a black headscarf.

“Excuse me?” You raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t want you to see where we’re going until we’re there,” he said.

“You’re not going to like kill me are you?” You asked. “Cause this is usually how something like this goes.”

He laughed, “Really?”

“What? I like my True Crime Documentaries,” you smirked.

“I promise I’m not going to kill you or kidnap you,” he said.

“Fine,” you said. “Just so you know, if you’re lying, I’m going to haunt your ass,” you tied the scarf around your eyes.

“Noted,” he laughed.

Harry soon arrived to where he was taking you on your date. He parked the car and looked over at you.

“I’m getting out of the car and I’ll get you out in just a second,” he said.

You nodded, waiting as you heard the sound of him getting out of the car. You turned your head around as if you could see anything, wondering where you were, where he had taken you. The passenger door opened, letting in a soothing breeze.

“Take my hand,” he said holding it out in front of you.

“I would if I could see you,” you mumbled.

He laughed taking your hand in his as he helped you out of the car. The car door was shut behind you and you stood in place waiting for what was to come next. You could feel the warmth of the sun beaming down on your skin. You could hear Harry rummaging around in the car.

“What are you doing?” You asked.

“Oh, you know, just grabbing the tarp and shovel,” he joked.

“You’re an ass,” you said.

“What was that?” He asked. “You like my ass?”

“I didn’t say that,” you rolled your eyes.

“Doesn’t mean it’s not true,” he smirked.

“Anyway, how much longer until I can take this off?” you groaned.

“Just a few more minutes,” He said shutting the trunk of the car.

He walked over grabbing your hand and giving it a squeeze. “Okay, you can take it off.”

You didn’t hesitate before pulling it over your head. The sun hit your eyes, stinging them a bit as they adjusted to the light. You looked around and saw he had taken you to the Griffith Observatory.

“I was thinking we could walk up, look around inside, and then have a picnic watching the sunset?” he stated as a question.

A smile formed across your lips as you looked over at him, “That sounds perfect.”

“Well, then let’s get going,” he smiled.

You both walked up to the main building. You headed inside and looked around.

“Wow, you know I’ve never actually been here before,” you said.

“Really?” He asked.

You nodded, “It’s always been one of those places I said I’d adventure to whenever I had time off, but I never did.”

“Well, that makes me even happier that I chose this for our date,” he smiled.

You smiled back before you both continued walking around. Once you were finished looking at the different exhibits, you both went back outside, just in time as the sun had started to set. You noticed Harry had been carrying a bag with him, which ended up being a ton of a food for your picnic. You and Harry walked over to a more private area to sit down. Harry laid out a blanket onto the grass and you two sat down on it.

He laid out the food choices, a few sandwiches, fruit, and other little snacks.

“I know it’s not exactly dinner,” he said. “But all of this was easy to pack and keep cold without having to warm it back up,” he blushed.

“It’s perfect,” you smiled taking a bite of your sandwich.

“Sooo,” he said taking a sip of his water. “Are you having a good time?”

“I am,” you smiled.

He smiled, “I am too. I’m glad we did this before I left.”

Once the majority of the food was finished, the sunset was at it’s peak. You felt your body flush as you noticed Harry scoot closer towards you. His pinky finger caressed yours for a few seconds at a time. You smiled a bit leaning your arm against his for a bit.

“This view is fucking beautiful,” you said. “It’s everything.”

“Yeah, it is,” he said looking over at you.

“Look at you trying to be all cheesy and romantic,” you joked.

“Still true,” he smirked.

You giggled moving a stray strand of hair from your face, “Do you have any other surprises up your sleeve tonight, Styles, or is this the only one?”

“Depends,” he mocked. “On how this part of the night goes.”

“Using my own game against me?” You gasped.

“Basically, yeah,” he smirked.

You rolled your eyes shaking your head. The sun had mostly gone down by then and the breeze brought a chill over you. You shuddered and rubbed your arms, regretting not grabbing at least a small jacket to have.

“Cold?” Harry asked.

“Just a little,” you nodded.

“Here,” he smiled grabbing another smaller blanket from the bag and wrapping it around you.

He kept his arms around you and it was the closest you two had ever really been. You turned your head towards him and your noses were only a few inches from one another. You noticed Harry’s gaze look down towards your lips, which caused you to do the same to his.

“Can I kiss you?” He whispered.

You bit your lip, contemplating. For some reason, you couldn’t form words, so all you could do was nod. Harry sucked in a breath before he started closing the short distance between the two of you. You closed your eyes and then you felt it. His lips against yours. His hands gently pulled you closer to him. Even though the blanket was wrapped around you, keeping you warm, you still felt a shiver run down your spine.

After what seemed like only a few seconds, Harry pulled away.

“Wow,” you whispered.

“Fucking wow,” he whispered.

Not that you’ve kissed a ton of people in your lifetime or anything, but for the kisses that you have shared with others, none of them compared to what you just felt when kissing Harry. He was staring at you while you were staring at him. You really wished he would kiss you again. Hell, you really wished you two weren’t in public anymore so that you could take the kiss to a different level.

And that scared you. Because you knew for a fact, you were feeling something towards this man in front of you and he was feeling something for you. However, you weren’t completely sure if you were ready for what was to come next.

#One Direction Imagines #Harry Styles Imagines #Outside the rain

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broomballkraken · 5 years ago

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Title: Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd, and Twelve is Just Perfect

Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Pairing: Sylvain/Lorenz

Word count: 5028

Warnings: None

Summary: As their oldest child is about to attend the Officers Academy, the entire Gloucester-Gautier family gathers to say goodnight and hear a story about their fathers' own days at the academy. It is then that Sylvain and Lorenz are reminded that they have truly been living a blessed life together.

“Dad, do you think I have enough books on magic?”

“You could fill your own library with how many you own, Azalea.”

“Hmm, Father? What do you think?”

“I wholeheartedly agree. You might have to leave some behind, my dear.”

Sylvain snorted to keep from laughing at the sour look that crossed their oldest daughter’s face as she listened to Lorenz. It had been 13 years since Sylvain and his husband had adopted their first children, Azalea and Alder, and their family had only grown exponentially since then. They now jointly governed the Gloucester-Gautier (which was formerly just Gloucester) territory with ten children who they loved and cherished more than anything. The only thing that compared was their love for each other.

“But Father...I need to keep studying all that I can! I don’t want to fall behind as soon as I start classes!” Azalea said, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger as she paced nervously next to Sylvain and Lorenz’s bed. Sylvain smiled and shook his head. Azalea had grown into a wonderful young lady, and she really had nothing to worry about.

“Lea, you worry too much!” Sylvain turned to look at Marigold, who was lying at the foot of the bed, her sketchbook open and pens of various colors scattered on top of the blanket. Sylvain hoped that none of them had made their way under the sheets to give him and Lorenz a nasty surprise later.

“I guess…” Azalea mumbled, a small smile crossing her face as she sat down on the edge of the bed, ruffling her younger sister’s messy head of black hair. Marigold giggled and held up the picture she was working on for her sister to look at, and Sylvain’s attention was drawn away by the fussing of the baby in his arms.

“Oops, sorry Lavender. Forgot I was feeding you for a moment,” Sylvain said, smiling down at the purple eyed girl gazing up at him, lip quivering as she threatened to burst into tears. Sylvain quickly started feeding her again, and Lavender calmed down immediately, causing him to sigh with relief.

“That was a close one, darling. We just got the two of them to stop crying, you know,” Lorenz said, glancing up at Sylvain before turning his full attention back to the baby he held, “Little Rose here must have been starving, with how quickly she’s eating.” Sylvain chuckled as Rose briefly let go of the bottle’s nipple to hiccup before quickly latching back on.

“Heh, with the way she’s going, she’s gonna be as big of an eater as her uncle Raphael,” Sylvain mused, and Lorenz grimaced.

“I do hope not. We won’t be able to afford to feed her if that happens.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely right about that.”

Sylvain and Lorenz both laughed, and a soft chuckle came from the corner of the room, where Alder sat reading in a chair. He glanced up from his book, blue bespectacled eyes meeting Sylvain’s. Sylvain recalled when Alder was first adopted; He was so quiet that Sylvain and Lorenz thought that he was mute, until Azalea told them that he wasn’t. He just didn’t like speaking unless it was important.

When Alder did speak for the first time, four months after being adopted, it was to say ‘Dad, Father, I love you’, and Lorenz cried about it for three hours afterwards. Sylvain had teased the hell out of him for it, but he would have been lying if he said that he hadn’t also shed a few tears as well.

“Daddy! Father! It’s raining!”

Sylvain looked up as the door was flung open, and Violet burst into the room, soaking wet and covered in mud as she dragged in her twin brother Sage by his arm. Little Jasmine followed behind them, one thumb stuck in her mouth as her other hand was preoccupied with holding a stuffed teddy bear. Sylvain glanced at Lorenz, who cringed and quickly shook his head.

“Yes, yes, I see that. Please Violet, go and clean yourself up! You are tracking mud everywhere!” Lorenz said, gesturing to their bathroom on the other side of the room with his head. Violet groaned but relented, trudging off to the bathroom with Jasmine close behind, who seemed to have been playing outside as well, due to her white hair sticking to her face. Sage snorted and brushed himself off before going to sit by the window. He opened the book he was holding and shoved his face into it, ignoring everyone in the room. Sylvain knew that Sage was the more serious of their children, and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sylvain just wished that he would lighten up a little sometimes.

“Heyahh!”

After a few minutes, Violet charged back into the room and threw herself onto the bed, rolling onto her stomach as she grinned at her parents. Marigold pouted when some of her pens were knocked off of the bed.

“Aw, Vi! You almost crushed my drawing!” she said, and Violet turned to look at her, before leaning over the side of the bed to pick up the dropped pens.

“Sorry! Here ya go!” Violet said. Marigold seemed to forgive her quickly, for she just smiled and took the pens back. Sylvain grinned as he watched them, but he suddenly noticed that something was off about Violet.

“Hey, did you lose another eyepatch?” Sylvain said, and Violet blinked her right eye as she lifted a hand to where her left would have been, if she had been born with it.

“Oops! I guess I did!” Violet said, shrugging nonchalantly. “That one was getting old anyway. I want a cooler one that makes me look tough! That has, like, flames on it or something!”

“Oh dear…” Lorenz said, sighing as he shook his head. “Why do you feel the need to look tough?” Sylvain turned his face away to snicker at his husband’s exasperation. Violet’s eyes went wide, before a toothy grin crossed her face as she stood up on the bed.

“Because,” she said loudly as she punched at the air in front of her, “I want to be as big and strong as uncle Raph someday! And I need to look tough too!”

“You need to sit down before you fall on the babies.” Azalea chimed in as she grabbed Violet by the arms and gently pushed her back to the bed, as well as she could with Jasmine clinging tightly to her legs. Violet grumbled as she let herself be sat down, and she crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

“I dunno, Vi. It might take you a while to get as strong as Raphael. You barely come up to his waist right now,” Sylvain said, and Violet glowered at him.

“Psh, I could beat him! I’m gonna fight him when he and uncle Ig visit next!” she declared, pumping a fist in the air, “I’ll show you how strong I am.”

“Don’t get too carried away-” Lorenz started to scold, but he suddenly yelped in pain. Sylvain turned to see that Rose had grabbed a fist-full of Lorenz’s long hair and was yanking it hard, giggling with glee at the expense of her poor father.

Luckily for Lorenz, Alder had moved quickly to his side and gently pried Rose’s hand open, releasing Lorenz’s hair. He then grabbed the ribbon sitting on the nightstand and gathered the long purple locks into a messy bun.

“Ah, thank you Alder,” Lorenz said, sighing with relief, “It’s been a while since I’ve forgotten to put my hair up before holding the babies…”

“Yeah, and Rose made you pay for it.” Sylvain chimed in, earning an annoyed huff from his husband. Rose started fussing, having been relieved of her fun ‘toy’, but Alder reached down and gave her his index finger to hold onto. She grabbed it and babbled happily, and Sylvain smiled at how fondly Alder looked down at his baby sister.

“Would you like to hold her?” Lorenz asked, and Alder nodded, a bright smile crossing his face when Lorenz placed Rose in his arms. Sylvain’s own smile got brighter as he gazed around the room at their children. They were all so different, adopted from all kinds of different situations, but yet they all got along so well in spite of that. But...there were still a couple missing.

“I wonder what kind of trouble Iris and Yarrow are getting up to now?” Sylvain said as he placed Lavender’s empty bottle on his nightstand, as she had promptly fallen asleep after finishing it. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and a moment after, it opened.

“Pardon me, sirs,” one of their butlers, Renald, said as he entered the room and bowed, “I fear that I have caught some of your children somewhere they should not be...again.” Sylvain sighed and shook his head when Renald pulled Iris and Yarrow into the room behind him. Iris had a piercing glare on her face as she struggled to free herself, while Yarrow sniffled as tears fell down his face.

“Iris...What did you do now?” Lorenz said, crossing his now free arms over his chest as a disappointed frown crossed his face. Iris finally freed herself and rushed to the bed, turned to stick out her tongue at Renald. Renald released his hold on Yarrow, who immediately rushed to Lorenz and clambered into his lap to cry into his chest.

“She and her accomplice - unwilling or otherwise - were caught trying to pilfer pastries from the kitchens. Again.” Renald said with a rehearsed tone. This was a familiar scene when it came to Iris, ever the mischievous child of the Gloucester-Gautier family. And poor Yarrow was the timid child, who could always be easily persuaded to join in on Iris’ troublemaking schemes.

“Apologies, Renald. We will take care of this. Thank you,” Lorenz said calmly, and Renald took another bow.

“Very well. Goodnight everyone.” he said, and he left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Iris…” Lorenz said as he rubbed Yarrow’s back to try and calm the still-crying boy, “We have told you countless times not to steal from the kitchens. Ask first.”

“I did…” Iris said, averting her gaze. “Renald said it was too late for sweets.”

“You should have left it at that, then.”

“...He didn’t have to be such a bastard about it though…” Iris mumbled, and the rest of the children in the room bristled when the profane word left her mouth. Sylvain blanched and tensed up, while Lorenz looked like he was about to have a stroke.

“My gods, Iris! Where did you learn such a foul word?” he asked, although the death glare that he was sending Sylvain’s way made him think that Lorenz already knew the answer to that question.

“Well, Father,” Iris said, shrugging, “Daddy said it when he was talking about Grandpa-”

“Shh! You weren’t supposed to tell him that!” Sylvain hissed through grit teeth, and when he saw that Lorenz was still glaring daggers at him, he let out a nervous chuckle. Sylvain was glad that he was currently holding a baby, because if he wasn’t Lorenz probably would have smacked him upside the head.

“Well, now that we're all here, can I please get some advice for tomorrow?” Azalea said, her brow furrowing with annoyance, and Sylvain sighed, thankful for the interruption. Lorenz glowered at him for a few moments longer, before turning to their oldest daughter.

“Very well. We will talk about this later, darling,” Lorenz said, and the way he emphasized the word of endearment left Sylvain feeling anything but endeared.

“And,” Lorenz added, glancing at Iris, “We will also be having a talk, young lady, with you and your brother here.” Yarrow sniffed and finally pulled himself away from Lorenz’s chest.

“Sorry…” he said as he rubbed his eyes. Iris sighed and rolled onto the bed, pressing her face into the blankets.

“Yeah, sorry.” she mumbled, before rolling over again onto her back.

“Alright, good. Anyway, ask away, Azalea,” Sylvain said, “You’ve got two former Officers Academy students right here.” Azalea smiled as she sat down on the edge of the bed on Sylvain’s side.

“Um, well, did you guys know any of your classmates before you attended? I’m...afraid that I won’t make any friends.” Azalea said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she bit her bottom lip.

“Oh, nonsense,” Lorenz said, shaking his head, “You are a brilliant and kind young lady. You will make many friends.”

“Yeah, for sure,” Sylvain chimed in, “And you will know someone. Ignatz said that Annalise is attending the academy this year too.”

“Oh yeah!” Azalea said, her eyes lighting up, ”I totally forgot that she mentioned that in her last letter.” She let out a giggle before continuing, “She said that her parents keep fretting about every little thing.”

“Oh, I’m sure Ignatz and Raphael are. She is their only child, after all.” Lorenz mused, and Sylvain nodded in agreement.

“Hey! You guys met at the academy, right?” Violet suddenly asked, and the rest of the children immediately turned their attention to their fathers. Sylvain noticed that even Sage was now looking their way curiously over the top of his book.

“Yeah, we sure did.” Sylvain said, glancing at Lorenz, who met his gaze and smiled.

“Oooh, were you in the same class?”

“What was your first meeting like?”

“Was it love at first sight?”

Marigold, Violet, and Iris fired off the questions rapidly as they scooched closer to their parents on the bed, and Sylvain laughed when Lorenz’s face flushed a bright pink. Yarrow, Sage, Alder, and Jasmine silently looked on from where they sat, and Azalea let out an exasperated sigh as she mumbled about not getting any more real questions answered tonight.

“Hey, hey, slow down. One question at a time.” Sylvain said with a grin. “First, we were not originally in the same class. I started out as a Blue Lion, while your father here was a Golden Deer.”

“Yes, and why don’t you tell them exactly why you switched over to my class?” Lorenz said, and Sylvain let out a nervous laugh. Yeah, there was no chance in hell that Sylvain was going to tell his children that the only reason he switched classes was because he thought that the professor of the Golden Deer was hot.

“It’s not important! Anyway, your father took one look at me and fell head-over-heels in love-”

“I most certainly did not.” Lorenz cut Sylvain off, eyes narrowing as the girls in the room groaned with disappointment.

“Okay, okay,” Sylvain said, “That’s not how it went. We...actually didn’t like each other when we first met.”

“Really?!?” Marigold gasped, hands flying to her cheeks, “But you love each other so much now!”

“Heh, well, we both were kind of a pair of insufferable jerks back then,” Sylvain said, shrugging as well as he could with a sleeping baby in his arms, “It’s amazing how five years can change a person.”

“Hmm, yes. Especially when those five years are during a war,” Lorenz said, “If someone would have told me during that year at the academy that we would end up married with ten children, I would have laughed in their face.”

“Love you too, dear,” Sylvain said, a toothy grin crossing his face as he leaned over and placed a light kiss on Lorenz’s cheek, causing the latter to blush. This was met with mixed reactions from the children, ranging from delighted ‘awws’, exaggerated gagging noises, and exasperated eye rolls.

“So how did you end up together, then?” Violet asked, her eyes wide and curious as she looked back and forth between her parents. Lorenz’s face flushed a deeper shade of red, and Sylvain jumped at this chance to tease his husband.

“Yeah, babe, why don’t you tell them every detail of that night?” Sylvain said, and Lorenz’s eyes narrowed into a heated glare as he turned to look at his husband.

“Well…” Lorenz started, his gaze softening when he looked back at their children, “Five years after the war began, our class reunited at Garrag Mach, and under Claude and our professor’s leadership, we began to fight back against the Empire’s forces.” Sylvain chuckled at the wide eyed, attentive stares that Lorenz was receiving from all of their children. Even Sage had moved from his isolated spot by the window and was now sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I myself had done a lot of thinking over those five years, mostly concerning my boorish behavior towards many of my classmates, including your dad.” Lorenz continued, glancing at Sylvain as he smiled, “I met him atop the Goddess Tower that night and apologized.”

“I also apologized,” Sylvain chimed in, “and, well, I decided that your father was a pretty good guy, and...well, what happened next, Lorenz?” Sylvain watched with glee as Lorenz sputtered for a moment. Sylvain knew that he couldn’t tell their children what actually happened that night, so he was very interested to see how Lorenz got himself out of this one.

“Er, w-we, ah, just had...tea together and decided that we want to start, ahem, courting each other.” Lorenz said, bringing a hand to his face as he cleared his throat.

“Heh, if that’s what you wanna call it…” Sylvain mumbled, and Lorenz jabbed him in the side with his elbow, and luckily for Sylvain it did not jar him hard enough to wake up Lavender.

“Aww, that’s so romantic!” Marigold said with a dreamy sigh. Most of their children giggled and nodded in agreement, but Sylvain stole a glance at the older ones, who looked a bit uncomfortable. Alder’s face was flushed a bright red and he was staring at the floor, while Azalea looked like she had just eaten a rotten egg and was scarred for life by it. Sylvain snickered; he figured that the older children were smart enough to figure out what had actually happened.

“Anyway, we continued our relationship until the end of the war. When we finally were able to sneak away from the chaos of the post-war dealings, your dad and I had a celebratory spot of tea.” Lorenz continued.

“Oooh, what happened then?” Iris asked. Lorenz chuckled and reached over to take Sylvain’s left hand in his, his fingers brushing over the golden ring that he wore.

“Well, Iris, what happened was that I asked the most amazing man that I had ever met to marry me.” Lorenz said softly. Sylvain chuckled as their eyes met, before he turned back to their children with a wink.

“And wouldn’t you know it, I had plans to do the same thing. We both proposed to each other at the same time.” Sylvain winced as Violet, Marigold, and Iris all let out delighted squeals.

“Oh my gosh! That’s so cute!” Violet said, shaking with barely contained excitement.

“It’s kind of hard to believe that you two were so romantic, considering how much you tease each other now.” Azalea finally said, a grin crossing her face as the rest of the children laughed.

“Hey now! There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly banter.” Sylvain said, a faux look of offense crossing his face.

“‘A little’, he says... “ Lorenz mumbled as he rolled his eyes.

“Oh, you love every second of it, babe.”

“Hmm, perhaps.”

“Well, anyway,” Sylvain said, stifling a yawn as he glanced out the dark, rain-pelted window, “It’s getting pretty late, and some of us have an early day tomorrow.” Most of their children groaned in protest, but a chorus of yawns soon followed, betraying how tired they all truly were.

“Lea, I don’t want you to go!” Jasmine suddenly cried, and she sniffled as she hugged her sister's legs, pressing her face against her thigh.

“Aw, c’mon Jas. I’ll be back before you know it.” Azalea said, gently patting her younger sister’s head. Jasmine pouted as she looked up and rubbed her eyes.

“Promise?”

“I do. And I’ll be sure to bring everyone gifts, okay?”

“Yay!”

Sylvain handed baby Lavender to Azalea as the rest of their children piled on the bed to say goodnight, and soon only Azalea, Alder, and the baby twins remained in the room. Alder continued to cradle Rose in his arms as he leaned over to give both Lorenz and Sylvain a kiss on the cheek.

“...’Night. Love you, Father, Dad.” Alder said softly. It was a rare thing, but the sound of Alder’s voice always made Sylvain’s heart swell with happiness every time he heard it.

“We love you too, dear Alder. Goodnight, and goodnight to you too, little Rose.” Lorenz said, placing a kiss on the sleeping baby’s forehead.

“Goodnight.” Sylvain added, and he watched as Alder left the room. Azalea and Lavender were the only two left, and their oldest daughter hugged and kissed her fathers as best she could with a baby in her arms. As she bid them goodnight and made for the door, she paused in the threshold and turned to look at Sylvain and Lorenz.

“Dad, Father,” she said, a small smile crossing her face as her eyes grew shiny with moisture, “Thank you both, for everything that you’ve done for me, and for all of us. I could not have asked for more wonderful, loving parents. I love you both so much.” Sylvain smiled back at her, a feeling of immense pride crashing over him like an ocean wave. It seemed like only yesterday he and Lorenz had walked out of that orphanage with a 3-year-old Azalea and a barely one-year-old Alder. They had both grown into exceptional young adults, and there was no doubt in Sylvain’s mind that Azalea would blow everyone away with her smarts and charm at the Officers Academy.

“Azalea, my dear,” Lorenz said as he slipped his hand into Sylvain’s, “We love you too, and we are so, so proud of the wonderful young lady that you’ve become.”

“Yeah, we know you’ll kick ass at the academy.” Sylvain chimed in, ignoring Lorenz’s heated glare. Azalea giggled and shook her head.

“You two will never change. Goodnight.” she said, and she, along with baby Lavender, left the room. Sylvain let out a deep sigh as he lay back on his pillows.

“Whew, talk about an exciting night. Who knew that raising ten kids would be such a crazy experience, eh Lorenz?” he said, chuckling as he turned to his husband. The smile fell from his face and he sat back up when he realized that Lorenz was crying.

“Hey, love, what’s wrong?” Sylvain said, his brow furrowing with worry as he wrapped his arms around Lorenz and pulled him into his lap. Lorenz said nothing for a moment, and Sylvain rubbed his back gently as his husband cried against his chest. When Lorenz finally lifted his head back up, Sylvain gently wiped the tears from his face as he looked deep into those beautiful amethyst eyes.

“I...I am sorry, Sylvain,” Lorenz said, chuckling softly as he reached up to cup Sylvain’s face in his hands, “I was just...overcome with emotion at how much of a joy my life has been ever since that night at the Goddess Tower. I-I never thought that I would ever be this happy...be this loved by so many people.”

“Aw geez, cut that out,” Sylvain said, rolling his eyes as he pressed his forehead against Lorenz’s, “You’re just as deserving of love and happiness as I am. We both had some fucked up upbringings, sure, but we fought our way out of the shadows of our shitty fathers. You’re a damn good husband, Lorenz, and a damn good father. There’s no one else I’d rather be raising a family with.” A few more tears fell down Lorenz’s face, and Sylvain brushed them away with his lips, before he moved to find Lorenz’s and kiss him tenderly.

“Thank you, Sylvain,” Lorenz said when he pulled away, “I love you most ardently, and I will always love you, as long as I have breath in my lungs and a beating heart in my chest.” Sylvain tried and failed to stop himself from bursting out laughing, and Lorenz pouted at him.

“What?” he said, huffing as he turned his head away. Sylvain managed to compose himself, and he placed a hand on Lorenz’s cheek, moving his head so that Lorenz was looking at him again.

“You’re just so cheesy and dramatic all the time. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“Well, excuse me for being honest about my feelings.”

“C’mon babe, you know I’m teasing you.” Sylvain slipped a hand behind Lorenz’s head, his fingers easily sliding through his silky smooth hair as Sylvain kissed him again. Lorenz resisted for a moment, before ultimately giving in as he tilted Sylvain’s head up to deepen the kiss. When they eventually pulled away, breathless, Sylvain kissed the tip of Lorenz’s nose, and they both laughed softly.

“I love you, Lorenz.”

“And I love you, Sylvain.”

Sylvain was about to suggest that they get ready for bed, but Lorenz pulled away from Sylvain as he glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

“Ah, yes before I forget…” Sylvain yelped when Lorenz smacked him upside the head.

“Hey! What the hell was that for?” Sylvain asked, pouting as he rubbed at the offended skin.

“You know exactly what that was for,” Lorenz said, “You cannot keep using vulgar language in front of our children! I will let it slide if it’s Azalea or Alder because they are older, but the others are too young to know when it is not appropriate to use such words.”

“C’mon, babe. The only reason Iris overheard me say that was because she snuck into the last Roundtable meeting,” Sylvain said, resting his hands behind his head as he leaned back, “She’s a sneaky one. Too clever for her own good.”

“Be that as it may,” Lorenz said, sighing as he lay back against his own pillows, “Please be better about watching your mouth around our children, Sylvain.” Sylvain’s lips slowly turned upward into a sly smile as he propped himself up on one elbow.

“Heh, but I thought you liked my filthy mouth, Lorenz,” Sylvain said, his voice dropping low as he shifted closer to his husband. His nose brushed against Lorenz’s neck ever-so-lightly, and he felt Lorenz shiver and swallow thickly.

“W-Well,” Lorenz mumbled, his face flushing as he averted his gaze, “I would be lying if I said that I didn’t like it in a very...specific context.” Sylvain chuckled and dragged his teeth up Lorenz’s jawline until his lips reached his ear.

“Hmm...Maybe I’ll have to remind you just how much you like it,” Sylvain whispered, nibbling lightly on Lorenz’s earlobe. Lorenz inhaled sharply, and he moved a hand to Sylvain’s face, slender fingers slipping through the thick hair of his beard. Sylvain leaned back, his brown eyes meeting the most beautiful amethyst, and the amount of affection and love that he saw in Lorenz’s intense gaze made his heart soar.

“Oh...p-please do, my dear,” Lorenz said, and that was all that Sylvain needed to hear. Rolling on top of Lorenz, Sylvain’s lips captured his in a heated kiss, and a low moan rumbled through his chest. Lorenz’s hands found their way under Sylvain’s nightshirt, while Sylvain’s hands slowly slipped down to Lorenz’s waist…

“...Daddy? Father?”

Sylvain suddenly found himself being thrown off of Lorenz so hard that he almost went careening off the side of the bed. He managed to catch himself before actually falling off, and when he turned to snap at his husband, he caught sight of Yarrow standing in the threshold of their room, head tilted curiously and a blanket draped over his shoulders.

“Ah, Y-Yarrow, my darling. Is something the matter?” Lorenz stammered, face flushed bright red with embarrassment. Sylvain snickered as he settled himself back in bed, and Lorenz shot him a warning look.

“Can’t sleep, buddy?” Sylvain asked, and Yarrow opened his mouth to answer, but the sudden, deafening thunder that crashed from the storm raging outside caused him to yelp and run to the side of the bed.

“Ah, I see,” Lorenz said, gently rubbing Yarrow’s head as he pressed his face against Lorenz’s legs. “The storm has you scared?” Yarrow lifted his head slightly to nod, and he sniffled slightly as a few tears ran down his face. Lorenz turned to share a glance with Sylvain, and they smiled softly at each other.

“Well, climb on up. You can stay with us tonight,” Sylvain said, and Yarrow immediately scrambled onto the bed, nestling himself between his fathers.

“But next time you have to try really hard to stay in your own bed. The storm will not hurt you.” Lorenz said, tucking the blankets around Yarrow as he nodded.

“I...I’ll try…” Yarrow said, yawning softly as his eyes drifted shut, “I love you Daddy. I love you, Father.” Lorenz let out a quiet chuckle as he and Sylvain watched Yarrow drift off to sleep.

“Well, I guess we’d better get some sleep too, huh?” Sylvain whispered, reaching over Yarrow to grab Lorenz’s hand and entwine their fingers together.

“Hmm, yes. Like you said, we do have a busy day tomorrow.” Lorenz said as he lay down and pressed his forehead against Sylvain’s. Their lips met in a quick, chaste kiss, and when Sylvain’s eyes met Lorenz’s, his heart skipped a beat at the immense amount of love he saw in those deep pools of amethyst.

“I love you, Sylvain. Always and forever.”

“Yeah, I love you too, Lorenz. Thanks for being the best husband that I could’ve ever asked for.” Sylvain’s eyes slipped shut, and he heard Lorenz chuckle beside him.

“Likewise, Sylvain.”

It was a hectic life they both lived, as joint rulers of an entire territory and loving fathers to ten rambunctious children. However, it was also a beautiful and fulfilling life, one that neither Sylvain nor Lorenz would change for anything in the world.

#fire emblem three houses #sylvain jose gautier #lorenz hellman gloucester #sylorenz #fanfiction #jade writes fanfiction

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