#maybe she saw him charging down one of them with a defeated look in his eyes and he almost seemed surprised when he was alive at the end

[strawberryblue-blog]

Babysitter —Ruben Dias.

summary: Being Carlota's shared babysitter with Ruben has never been so difficult.

warnings: none. enemies to lovers, curses, cute, soft, some jealousy, etc.

words count: +2.5k

#SEXYNOTE: HI!!! I really apologize for disappearing again, i already finished my first semester and i'm back for you 💌 Thank you for all the support while i was gone, love you 🩷

Soirée music played in the place as you talked animatedly with your date, drinking an expensive red wine cellar that you had saved for a special reason and laughing when George talked to you about his life.

Today you had decided to bring your date home and prepare something to eat, quietly and thoughtfully, to get to know your co-worker better, who had insisted on taking you out to dinner but when you had another plan in mind, he modestly agreed.

A few months ago he had come to your job as a finance manager at the company you worked for, these last few weeks you had been getting to know each other better and you were happy with your new relationship. You were really hoping that you could make something happen, because George was a gentleman and you liked him a lot.

So after welcoming him into your home, you were now sitting on the couch, after dinner, drinking and chatting about yourselves, getting to know each other a little better. There was no hint of seductive closeness on his part but you tried to laugh at all his jokes and look delighted with his stories so he would notice you had attention. The talk was coming along great, exchanging laughs and melodious glances. Maybe he hadn't approached you but you could tell he was looking at you, he was being nice and you really enjoyed the time with him.

Until the doorbell rang and you were a little surprised, almost scared. It was quite unusual for someone to come at this hour and even less so if they had not warned you before. You politely excused yourself, confused as to who it was and walked to your door.

Oh no. It couldn't be.

You quickly opened the door when a baby's cries startled your ears and you saw the man standing in front of you, holding the desperately crying child.

"What are you doing here, Ruben?" you asked closing the door behind you, your hands went to the baby to take when the young man handed her to you defeated.

"She won't stop crying, I've done everything but she won't listen to me" you say quickly and you cradle the child trying to calm her down.

"Shhh" you say stroking her back while looking for an explanation from the young man. "You're supposed to take care of her today, it's my day off!" you whisper as you continue to stroke the baby's back and cuddle.

Carlota, the little one only a few months old, cries desperately on your shoulder as you cradle her trying to soothe her but it seems something else was bothering her.

Her watery eyes looked at you as her crying continued to impact your ears, you hated to see her cry and you probably looked like you were going to cry too. It wasn't the right time but you couldn't help but feel sad for her.

"I know but I can't calm her down, I tried for quite a while" he says worriedly. "And I'm not going to bother her parents on their last day of vacation" he replies and you want to punch him.

Damn it. Just now? Ugh!

Carlota is the daughter of Ines, your best friend and the daughter of Bernardo, the best friend of who is standing in front of you. Ruben Dias. A self-centered jerk you can't stand but the two of them are Carlota's godparents and were in charge of being her babysitters for these days, while your best friends and father of this little girl were on a mini "vacation".

"I told you everything you had to do, it was only one day, Ruben!" you say angrily again. Your hand rubs Carlota's back, seeking some comfort for the little girl.

"I did it, Y/n!" he shouts exhaustedly and you shush him.

Your neighbors have probably already heard his screams arguing and clearly the little girl's screams, so you reopen the door to your house and walk in with Carlota in your arms. You need to calm her down or it will be worse in a while.

Damn. For a moment you forget that inside your home was your date and you sigh, cursing slowly when you see him in the living room. George stands up from his place on the couch and looks at you confused as you walk towards him with a little girl in your arms, you think as you try to find the right words to explain the event. Ruben walks in behind you and you can hear him hold back his laughter, mocking you and even though you're not seeing him but you're sure there's a smirk on his face.

"Oh, I get it" you hear Ruben whisper as he sets Carlota's purse on the living room table.

«Don't say anything, please» you plead in your head as you give an apologetic smile to your date, who is still looking at you confused and even a little scared with the whole situation.

"I'm so sorry, George" you apologize to him. "It's an unforeseen emergency..."

"You'd rather have a date than take care your daughter" Ruben's words make you go speechless.

Quickly your eyes dart to him and you can see his gaze enjoying this moment, your teeth squeak as you clench them smiling at him to shut him up.

"No!" you shout quickly but you startle Carlota, who cries loudly again and you have to gently rock her.

"This is a misunderstanding" you tell him quickly.

George opens his mouth to say something and you can see how his face is disfigured, he is somewhat disappointed and surprised, you can even see how he is trying to take things in. You don't judge him, you would be too if your date looks like with a baby out of nowhere. But it's not what he thought.

"It's not what it looks like, she's my..." you try to say but Carlota's desperate scream accompanied by a cry comes again.

You try to calm her down as the little girl hides between your neck and shoulders, curling up. This is chaos, Ruben seems to be enjoying it from his spot as he smirks and you are desperate to calm Carlota down and attend to your date.

"I-I..." you hear him try to say.

"Uh man, she didn't tell you she has a daughter, definitely a red flag" Ruben sneers again.

You're about to explode, Ruben is being a complete idiot for no reason. He needs to shut his mouth immediately before you start crying too.

"It's not my daughter!" you say but to no avail, the baby's screams make anything but understandable and if Ruben keeps talking you're going to kill him right here.

You are beginning to despair. Carlota is still crying and you're starting to suffer for her, your date is about to leave and will probably never call you again and you can see Ruben enjoying the situation as if he planned it. Idiot.

Your date grabs his coat from the seat and starts walking towards the exit without hearing you shouting her name, no way. You hand Carlota to Ruben with a murderous look and run to stop him.

"George, wait!" you yell. "I can explain..." The boy's frightened look looks at you one last time and you see him disappear as the elevator doors begin to close.

Great. Just when you were about to go for more, this happened. Now you were going to have to explain the whole situation to him (if he still wanted to go out with you) but you were sure Ruben had scared him off with this whole misunderstanding.

Damn it, Ruben.

You walk like a murderer into the house, you can see how Ruben cradles Carlota, she is still crying but when she sees you she stretches her arms towards you. You hold her as you walk away towards the kitchen, looking for some peace inside because you are about to murder someone. You open your refrigerator and can see the cold gel pacifier that Ines once left for Carlota. You take it and give it to the little girl, who when she tastes it for a few seconds, her crying starts to slow down.

She was upset because her teeth are starting to grow and sometimes it hurts, Ines had said that the cold gel pacifier helped her and surely Ruben had forgotten it.

Peace and harmony reigns again when you no longer hear crying, Carlota even hugs you as you lead the way back to the living room. You stand in front of Ruben and look at him, trying to find an explanation.

He has a flat smile and a laughing expression as if feeling guilty.

"Oh, I forgot" he mumbles simply and grimaces.

"Are you fucking kidding?" you ask suddenly. "I told you, Ruben. Several times!" you say and your blood boils.

He doesn't answer anything, just takes the girl out of your arms and starts walking towards his things. You call out to him, trying to stop him but he keeps walking away from you.

You want explanations. There is no way he has forgotten that her teeth are growing and that he has her medicine and pacifier cold, even though you told him before you left. You had seen to it that Ruben had everything on hand so that Carlota wouldn't miss anything and you wouldn't be bothered.

"You come and interrupt my date just because Carlota was upset with her teeth, you could have called me" you ask confused. "I left you everything, the food, the bottle, even her gel pacifier for her teeth in your refrigerator with her medicine, I don't understand, I gave you every explanation" you keep saying angry but he ignores you.

He starts to put things away, looking like now he is the one who is in a hurry to leave. You won't let him go so easily. Not without hearing him out first.

"Did you really have to come, Ruben?" you ask would be. You cross your hands on your chest and watch him waiting for his answer, as if you have all the time in the world. "Did you really have to interrupt me?" you insist.

"Is Carlotta an interruption for you?" he questions ignoring your question. Great, he's turning the tables.

His brown eyes intensify as his question makes you frown. His gaze stays glued to yours and you feel a funny feeling in your stomach.

"Of course not!" you squeak in denial. "But I told you I couldn't take care of her today, to call me in case of any emergency" you spit through your teeth, you are angry and very much so.

"Look, Carlota, your aunt would rather put someone in her bed than take care of you" he says lifting the girl in front of his face, who watches him curiously

Carlota lets out a laugh that makes you sigh with love. Even without knowing what he's saying she seems happier than ever now. She is so beautiful.

But you're angry and you won't let him get away with it, even if he's funny.

"I'm seriously, Ruben" you murmur harshly.

"What if Carlota really needed something?" he asks in response. "Would you have let something happen to her just to get a man?" sighs suspiciously.

Oh. There is the problem.

Ruben just wanted to screw up your date. Ideas start to come to your head when you think the most. Had he tried to scare George? Saying Carlota was your daughter, acting like an idiot in front of him. Was he jealous? of you? of your date? He clearly wanted to interrupt you, it wasn't an emergency.

"Are you jealous that i had a date, Ruben?" you ask with an amused grimace. "Why did you say that to George?"you keep insisting.

His gaze weakens and he raises his eyebrows quickly shaking his head. Of course he is. A laugh hides in your throat when you think about it again. There is no way. He just wants to ruin you.

"Ruben..." you say again. "You could have called me" you complain as you throw yourself on the couch.

"I just got scared, she wouldn't stop crying and i didn't know what to do" he says after a while.

"You still should have called me"

"Then Carlota and I will leave if we bother so much" he keeps saying as you roll your eyes at his words.

"Give her to me" you ask stretching your arms out to take her, since they're here at least you're going to enjoy your beautiful niece.

Ruben approaches you slowly, sitting down next to you and reaches for Carlota. As you take her in your arms, your fingers touch Ruben's hands and you feel a shiver down your spine. His eyes meet yours for a few seconds but you break the contact when you quickly move away, standing up, holding the girl in your arms until you lay her on your chest and caress her back as she babbles.

The child's crystallized eyes begin to close as she sits quietly on your chest and you smile helping her to sleep with your caresses and your little melody that you begin to hum. You can't help but be moved by the image, she looks so angelic, asleep in your arms as you gently cradle her.

Behind you you feel an exhausted sigh and you slowly turn around watching Ruben begin to fall asleep on your couch. You hide a smile as you see him there, his body is relaxed and he really does look tired, just as tired as Carlota. Now he looks really calm, so much so that you don't know whether to leave him there. You move a little closer and move his shoulder slowly, he opens his eyes again somewhat startled and looks at you confused.

"Let's go to bed" you whisper carefully so as not to wake the little girl. Ruben smiles somewhat sleepily and you roll your eyes in denial.

You start walking towards your room, taking all the care in the world not to disturb Carlota and when you get to your room, you settle her in her crib (which Ines also left one day) and cover her with her teddy bear blanket. The little girl rests peacefully while you caress her chubby cheeks with tenderness.

You hear Ruben enter the room and you tell him to lie down on the bed, while you take off your shoes. He does the same and settles into your spacious bed.

"You really are desperate to have a man in your bed" he whispers teasingly as you lie down in front of him.

"Fuck you" You roll your eyes again with a giggle. He just keeps saying stupid things but you still sigh rarely.

"I only let you sleep in my bed because you'll be the one to wake up if Carlota cries in the middle of the night" you tease amused.

You don't mind sharing the bed with him today and you know he could sleep perfectly well on your couch but from there he won't hear Carlota's cries from here and tonight you'll make him suffer.

"Good point" he mumbles settling into place to find a comfortable position.

"Goodnight, idiot" you whisper closing your eyes to fall asleep.

"Goodnight, princess" he replies after a few seconds and your body vibrates as you feel his words.

The heat in your cheeks starts to burn and you have to open your eyes, so you say nothing, completely ignoring his greeting, pretending to be asleep. Why is your heart racing in such a hurry? He's just teasing you. Damn it.

After a while of struggling with your thoughts, you open your eyes when you feel a slight male snore and see Ruben resting comfortably in front of you. You carefully stretch out your arm, grabbing the blanket and cover him a bit as you sigh deeply.

Your pulse quickens for some reason as you watch him in detail. You shake your head quickly and want to stop looking at him... but you can't.

[suuuupernovaaa]

zeyko

zeyko [zɛj.ˈk·o] vtr. heal, fix

Requests from @hyunjinoak: Can I request Neteyam x female reader story, in which the reader got hurt badly during a mission/war and her baby daughter/son keeps crying so bad for her(his) mom?

TW: violence, blood

With all the strength in his body, Neteyam shoves his younger brother to the ground, and raises his fist, intent on bringing it down square on Lo'ak's face. He hopes he will break his nose, or an eye socket, or maybe even his jaw.

Before his fist can crack bone, someone grabs his arm and wrenches him away.

He hears his father's voice. "Hey, whoa," he's saying, loudly trying to calm his son.

"It's his fault! It's his fault she was shot," Neteyam screams. "She went down there to protect him!"

Jake grabs his son's shoulders, spinning him so that they are face to face. He sees the anguish in his son's eyes, but even so, he can't let him hurt his brother.

Neteyam might be angry, but Jake knows he would regret it soon enough, if he hurt Lo'ak.

"Your son needs you now, Neteyam. He's crying for his mother, he doesn't know what happened. You need to go take care of him." He looks over his eldest son's shoulder, to see Lo'ak standing up, looking hurt and defeated. "I'll deal with your brother."

At the thought of his son, Neteyam stands up straighter. Without another word, he charges home.

--

It's the longest night of Neteyam's life. He stands outside of Tsahik's tent, listening to his wife's moans and cries, while holding his discontented infant in his arms.

The baby only wants Y/N. It's as if the little one senses that something is wrong, that his mother is hurt, and nothing he can do will calm the boy down.

Eventually, when things begin to calm down, Kiri emerges. Neteyam is near tears, the baby is screaming, and everyone is tired.

"Is she okay?" Neteyam asks.

Kiri nods. "She is. You go in. Give my nephew to me." She extends her arms and almost instantly, the baby settles in his aunt's embrace. Neteaym frowns, but Kiri shakes her head. "It's because I am calm, and he could feel your worry. Just go."

Confident that his son is safe with Aunt Kiri, he rushes into the tent, eager to finally reunite with his mate.

--

It happened in slow motion. Lo'ak took to the ground, wanting to claim a weapon for himself, and I followed, scared something would happen to him.

The ships were inbound quicker than I'd thought, and no sooner had Jake put out the warning, than the bullet had ripped through my side, tearing a searing hole in my flesh.

"Y/N!" Lo'ak screamed, tossing aside the gun he'd just picked up, and the world faded to black.

I had spent the next 12 hours in and out of consciousness, waking up to unbelievable pain, and then falling back asleep again. It felt like an endless cycle... until it did end.

My eyes open, with much difficulty, and the pain is subsided. It's still there, and it's still the worst pain in my life, but it is no longer a searing, hot open wound. I feel the sting of healing, and the numbness of whatever salve Tsahik and Kiri have come up with to place on the wound.

"Neteyam," I whisper. "Ninan..."

Kiri hovers to my right, and pats my shoulder. "I will bring Neteyam. Hopefully, Ninan is sleeping peacefully."

She exits the tent, and only moments later, Neteyam enters.

The sight of him sends me to tears, and though the sobs hurt my sore body, I cannot stop them. The wound at my side isn't all that hurts - I am covered in bruises and cuts from falling off the ship when I was shot, and I am tired, my throat is dry, and I just want to see my family.

Neteyam drops to his knees by my side, and I see the tears in my eyes reflected in his.

I reach my hand up, cupping his cheek, and he covers his hand with mine, leaning his cheek into my palm.

"I thought you were going to die, Y/N," he says in a low, breathy voice. "I thought you were dead, when I saw you lying there."

Shaking my head, I try to muster a smile. "I would not leave you, or Ninan. You know this."

"I'll kill Lo'ak for risking your life."

"No, Neteyam. Lo'ak isn't to blame. I followed him on my own. He was just... being Lo'ak. He didn't think."

"His carelessness almost got you killed! Almost took Ninan's mother from him."

I wince at the harshness of his tone. "We'll speak of this later. Is Ninan sleeping?"

Neteyam nods. "In Kiri's arms. You should sleep now."

He lays down next to me on his side, pressing his forehead to my temple.

"You will bring me my son at first light," I whisper, but my eyelids are already drooping, and Neteyam is pulling a fur over us. I feel warm, and the pain begins to subside as sleep starts to overtake me. As always, I feel safe with Neteyam close to me; I know with him here, I will heal faster.

In the morning, I will hold my son, and Neteyam will forgive his brother - because that's what family does.

[wishcamper]

@unhealthyfanobsession... Agent U.F.O. ... this is Command.. we have.. we...

Oh, agent.

It's cute, really, how you thought yourself the one in charge. Providing such juicy intel, awaiting my instructions so dutifully. For the real target all along has been YOU.

You have handed yourself over without question, your desires, your weaknesses. And I have woven my web with them, and now you are CAUGHT.

So go ahead, agent, struggle if you must. But the only path that lies ahead is one of suffering. You immortal hope is an illusion, and despair is the only reality. And I, the mistress of this darkness, will ensure there is no salvation, no redemption waiting for you, only the exquisite taste of defeat. Allow me to be the last flicker of a dying flame, the reminder that in this world, heroes are not born.

They are made.

And broken.

Prepare to suffer.

read here or on ao3.

the choiceless hope in grief

chapter 1

“I don’t blame her,” Cassian said, shrugging despite his words. “She was—violated. Her body stopped belonging wholly to her.” 

-ACOWAR, Sarah J. Maas

The flight to the House still left him panting all these weeks later, pain echoing across the newly-healed membrane of his wings. He’d lost sensation in large patches, and Madja wasn’t sure if he’ll ever get it back, but Cassian remained eternally optimistic. 

Even if he couldn’t fly as he used to, he could still fly. And even if one day he couldn’t fly, he was still alive, still able to look himself in the eye.

Still had time to make it right.

Recovery was now more annoying than it was painful, anyway. It took twice as long to dress, twice as long to fly to Windhaven on a day with good tailwinds. His wings felt clunky and frustrating, and he’d barreled to the ground in those first weeks out of bed more often than he let on, more often than he wanted to admit to himself.

Because he’d noticed the furtive glances Azriel and Rhys shot each other at dinner when he wiggled in his chair, unable to find a comfortable position. Read the guilt on both their faces and wished they would just get over it, wished he didn’t have to make them feel better about what he’d given freely.

It was the reason he kept feeling drawn to the House of Wind, just to get a break from his brothers’ pitying stares and Amren’s silent evaluations, Mor’s incessant worrying about Hybern. And, okay, maybe it was not the only reason, but it was a good enough one for him to justify the flight every other morning.

So far Nesta had refused to see him beyond his initial visit, preferring to hiss at him from behind the closed door of her room in the suite she shared with Elain. The only time he’d physically seen her since blacking out in Hybern had been the first day he was strong enough to fly up, when she’d looked him up and down for several long moments before giving a brief hm! and shutting the door in his face.

Guilt still burned in him. He wondered if she blamed him, if she even thought of him enough to cast her scorn over his memory. Doubted it even though her blue-gray eyes had flashed with concern at the stitches on his wings, the sheen of sweat that must've coated his brow.

Which was why it surprised Cassian to find the door cracked open now.

“Nesta?”

He heard a lone someone breathing in the darkness beyond, didn’t detect anyone else present in the dim room. Only inhaled in the jasmine-scented air that followed her everywhere, so much stronger now, drawn toward the magic swirling beneath her skin.

“Nesta, are you in here?”

“Mmph.”

A noise completely devoid of emotion, but he could tell it was her by the way it made the bond in his chest tug forward, hooked beneath his ribs. As his eyes adjusted, Cassian saw her stir under the bedclothes, as if curling tighter.

“Why are the curtains closed?”

Her reply came out muffled once more, and he drew closer, the lump of her body shifting under a sea of blankets.

The room was stifling, spring a brief flash before oozing into summer in Velaris, as if the seasons too were fatigued by all the year had brought. Cassian loosened the neck of his leathers, trying to get some air.

“Aren’t you hot in there?”

“Go away, Cassian.”

He'd seen this kind of thing before, when Rhys came back from Under the Mountain, when Azriel was in one of his deeper broods. Even Mor wasn't immune to it, and he suspected it was usually love troubles though she never told him outright.

It didn't matter. Cassian knew nothing was solved by hiding from it, and his friends always thanked him in the end.

Pushing down the curl of disdain at his own hypocrisy, he ignored the pain in his wings and gripped the covers at the foot of Nesta's bed, made to pull them off her.

“Come on, you can’t lay around in the dark all day.”

“Don’t do that.”

A tendril of silver fire whipped out and lashed at his hand. It sent a thrill along his bones, the glow staining his vision even after it dissipated.

“Then come out and let me see you.”

“No.”

Fine. Then he’d just have to go in and get her.

Peeling back the corner of the top two blankets, the crown of Nesta’s golden head emerged, hair matted and tangled. Cassian wondered when she’d last bathed.

“Tell me what’s happening.”

“What’s happening is that you’re in my room when I didn’t invite you in.”

“You left the door open.”

She didn’t respond, and he saw a ripple across the sheets like water breaking around a dropped stone.

Maybe this was more serious than he'd assumed.

Maybe she did blame him.

Heart in his throat, Cassian perched as gently as he could on the edge of the bed, so as not to jostle her. “Nes, talk to me.”

She turned to face him then, blue-gray eyes heavy, overcast. He could just see the point of her ear jutting from her disheveled braid. “I broke the sink.”

Cassian glanced back into the bathing chamber where a huge chunk of the stone sink now sat on the floor, the mangled faucet handle jutting up at an odd angle.

“I’m impressed.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Nesta’s eyes further deadened, dull as unpolished silver. “I was trying to wash and I turned the handle..”

He watched as her words crumbled into ash. As her face followed, skin going gray.

“You’re still adjusting, it’s just a kink to work out.”

“I can’t change my clothes. I keep ripping them when I do up the buttons.”

“I’ll get you some without buttons.”

“It’s all so bright. And loud.” She rubbed at her eyes, tugged at her earlobe like a child. “I hear the harbor bell as if it’s right next to me. As if it’s inside my head.”

“We can put some wards on your rooms, dampen the noise,” he offered, but it’s like she doesn’t hear him, burying her face back into the pillow.

“I can smell things from floors away. I can smell Elain’s tears in the night, taste salt in the air. It’s- I can’t take it.”

Her anguish washed over him, and for the first time since the blast in Hybern, Cassian felt true fear.

For Nesta’s voice was so small, her life force so weak, nothing like the iron pillar of a woman who’d stared down the human queens. It killed Cassian to see her debilitated, and the bond yanked in his chest again, a deep knowing that something was violently wrong with his mate.

His mate.

Nesta was his mate.

They hadn’t spoken of it. She hadn’t given him the chance.

“Can I help you?”

The instinct rose involuntarily, impervious to her frown of annoyance.

“No.”

“Can I try?”

She huffed, annoyed at his deliberate misconstruing of her wishes. “If it will get you to go away.”

“Glad to see you haven’t been robbed of your charm, sweetheart,” he joked, wanting to break the tension. To get her to relax enough to be receptive even though his own thoughts ricocheted wildly, his wings near trembling with nerves and fatigue. “Breathe.”

“I am breathing, you dolt.”

“Then do only that. Just focus on one thing at a time,” he murmured, undeterred.

Nesta was a hellcat through and through, and a few swipes of her claws were to be expected, especially when wounded. So when he picked up the hand that lay limply beside her on the pillow, Cassian was shocked that she allowed it. Her skin was so soft against his, and she didn’t flinch when he ran his thumb over her knuckles. 

“It’s too much,” she said after a moment, making to squirm away from him. He continued to hold her hand gently, tracing the bones.

“Breathe. Take it slow.” 

Nesta’s face twisted in anger then, molten silver flashing in her eyes. It was unearthly, and he could see how others might find it terrifying. Amren’s warnings in Rhysand’s ear about her power had put them all on edge, but Cassian didn’t care.

She was his mate. She was hurting. He’d do whatever it took.

"It’s overwhelming, I know."

“What would you know? What would you know?” Nesta spat at him. “Has everything you once were been ripped away from you? Has the very sanctity of your body been stolen?”

Some chaotic feeling he couldn't place rose in his chest, wings rustling where he tried to settle them behind him. “As a matter of fact I do. In case you forgot, my wings were shredded to ribbons not long ago. I wasn’t able to fly for weeks. I still can’t feel—”

The words choked off, strangled by his own surprise at the tears pricking in the corners of his eyes. The resentment, the grief seared beneath his skin, along his wingbones. Nesta’s stormy eyes flashed as she gripped his hand back, knowing.

“Are you in pain?”

“All the time.”

Her suspiciousness lightened, just the tiniest bit. Cassian took the opening, threading their fingers together as he used his other hand to peel away the remaining blankets, revealing her freckled shoulder.

“So I’m not going to let you hide in here for the rest of your life. It’s not worth it, Nes. You don’t get to disappear just because you’re hurting.”

She sighed, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter."

He could see she wanted to retreat again, a hermit crab curling back into her shell. Could see the same skepticism that haunted his slumber, the failure his dreams paraded before him night after night. The image of her going into the Cauldron, over and over, the freezing shock of her terror.

Nesta took in a sharp little breath. He tried to soften his face, his body. Ignored the screaming in his wing when he lifted it to drape over them, blocking out some of the light and sound.

“Feel it. Just feel.”

Cocooned in dusky shadow, she looked at her trembling fingers where he held them. Cassian read the shock on her face, at her vision still so clear in the dark. “Nothing feels like mine. I’m trapped in here. I can’t get out.”

“You’re right here, Nes. You’re right here.”

She shuddered, fingers turning icy in his grip.

He rose then, crossed to ease open the curtains and one of the high windows so that the early summer breeze swept through, light and temperate. Saw Nesta tip her head up when it kissed her cheeks, the furrow on her brow becoming shallower.

Progress.

Settling back on the bed, Cassian took her hands gently once more, daring to brush his lips over her fingertips.

Mother, she was beautiful. Even wrecked like this, unwashed and . The hope the lived inside her, that by rights should've been killed just as he should've in that wretched dungeon, that will that refused to die. It wasn't delicate and soft like Elain's, nor cheerful and forward like Feyre's. It was a gritty, ragged hope that clung to her bones, one that couldn't be ripped away no matter how the world tried to steal it, how she wanted to excise it herself.

A hope he recognized, for it matched his own.

“These are yours, sweetheart, see? Can you feel that?” Cassian kissed the tips of her fingers, thumbs drawing slow circles on her palms. “They’re the same hands you’ve always had. They just look different, like they did when you were a child.”

Nesta nodded mutely, too exhausted to fight him anymore it seemed, though her breathing became more deep and even.

They lay there for a while, Cassian so aware of that vibrating space between them. He wondered if she could feel the bond humming, drawing them closer. Wondered if she felt that phantom pull too, telling her that he was here.

But maybe not. And even if she did, maybe it didn’t provide the comfort it did to him, the relaxing along the joint at his back, the crick in his neck finally easing.

Her human face still burned in his mind, as if he could see it overlaid on the one before him. The ears were different, perhaps some of the angles sharper, but it was still her. Still Nesta.

Cassian knew it was true without all of that, anyway. He’d felt her across their bond even in half-consciousness, felt the Cauldron melt away her flesh while her thrumming heart was still alive, felt it suspend her between life and death before smashing all her parts back together. Felt her rage, the tear of her teeth through the world around her. The mighty rip when she tore off a piece of that power, the pull of it dredging him back up from the dark death waiting to swallow him.

“Sorry about your wings,” she breathed, pink lips soft around each syllable as she studied his face.

Cassian felt so naked that his first impulse was to apologize until her words settled like silt at the bottom of his mind. It occurred to him that it was the first time since Hybern he didn’t feel the need to mask the pain, let himself wiggle as much as he needed to get comfortable.

He pulled her in before deciding to, drawing her unraveled head to his chest. Nesta settled quickly to his surprise, as if her body responded to his the same way his did to hers. He stroked her ruined braid, the fuzzy hairs at her hairline brushing his chin, little friends reaching up to soothe him, too.

After a time, Nesta’s breaths became slower, more even, and her eyelids grew heavy. When her body went limp against his, Cassian extracted himself carefully and crept to the door with the lightest footsteps he could manage.

Took in his deepest breath in months before he jumped from the living room balcony, wings groaning when they caught the wind.

“My scars are gone.”

Nesta was examining her hands where they rested in his again, as they had every other day for the past two weeks. She was sitting beside him on the sofa before the unlit hearth, far enough that he could feel the heat from her thigh without touching it.

Cassian still marveled at the fact she was giving him this trust, though maybe it was from sheer lack of anything else to do but watch Elain stare blankly out the window. He was grateful either way.

Most days they sat like this, simply acclimating. Some days it all became too much and she raged at him, storming about until she ran out of steam. On others still he almost had to lift her out of bed one limb at a time, a slow coaxing that usually culminated in brittle, hopeless words and a venomous dismissal.

But every other day she left the door cracked open regardless, a silent invitation, and he wasn’t about to turn her down. He'd leave a book on her nightstand and find it somewhere else on his next visit.

The wards helped. It seemed the House was listening because the sounds were muffled now, the fixtures repaired and reinforced. Cassian hadn’t touched trying to help her dress, only put in an order with Emerie for gowns with ties instead of buttons. Nesta was wearing one of them now, the pale green delicate and lovely against her skin.

They’d graduated from lying in bed to looking out the red rock windows, letting her eyes adjust to the light, the whirl of color. He’d taught her some old tricks from his novice days, feeling the three points of her footprint, naming things around her to stay grounded in the real world.

“Hm?”

“I used to have scars on my hands. There were some on my back, too.” Nesta swallowed, eyes narrowing. He tried not to stare at her lips. “Now it’s like it never happened.”

Cassian didn’t know what she was referencing, didn’t know what to say for fear of treading too heavily on tender ground. There were rare days she didn’t get up at all, dead-limbed and deaf to his requests. She had that look about her now, something swallowing her whole.

He ruffled his wings reflexively. “Lucky then, eh? You could’ve turned out looking like me.”

The joke landed, kind of. She huffed a small laugh, but Cassian saw Nesta’s eyes trace down the length of his wing closest to her, the stark white lines where Madja had stitched him back up.

“At least you have proof,” she retorted without real feeling. "No one expects you to be fine."

“I’ll trade with you if it means everyone stops treating me like an invalid.” It was too close, too sharp a pain when he remembered how Mor had insisted on winnowing his pack home the night before instead of letting him carry it. “Though if you offered to nurse me back to health, I might reconsider.” He grinned down into her scowling face. “What do you say, Nes? Will you kiss it better?”

Nesta wrinkled her perfect nose. “You’re a pig.”

“A pig whose hand you’re still holding.”

She dropped his hand as if scalded, a thundering rage building behind her steely eyes and Cassian couldn't help feeling a triumph in it, goading her away from the edge of darkness.

“As if you're not the last person I'd choose for company if I had any choice. Have you not gotten it through your fat head yet? Why do you keep coming back?”

Because you’re the only one who doesn’t treat me like I’m broken.

“Bored,” Cassian said breezily, tugging at the end of her braid before lounging backward, the sun warming his weary wings. “Besides, it’s much more fun to bother you than watch Rhys wear holes in the carpet. Tell me what you can see.”

Nesta opened her mouth as if to retort, but caught herself, seeing something in him he didn’t know he’d been showing.

“Roof tiles. Seagull. Curtains. Chimney smoke. I miss feeling like myself, even though I don’t know who that was. Even if no one liked her.”

She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was just another object on the horizon. He froze, taken aback.

“Why do you think no one liked you?”

Nesta gestured toward the empty room around them, and the bond jerked in his chest, pulling his body toward hers. A channel opened wide and he could sense her on the other end, lonely and sorrowful.

"I wasn't made to be liked," she said simply.

The sun was rising high to signal midday, and he was expected back at the river house for a briefing but Cassian felt rooted to the spot, greedy for these small pieces of herself she was offering. The edge of her Illyrian-cut gown ruffled in the breeze, the front tied with the neatest bow he’d seen so far.

“It's not you. There’s a lot going on right now,” he offered weakly. “We have a war to prepare for. People get caught up.”

“Is there no word of Feyre?”

Her eyes were hollow, and though he couldn’t see her worry he could feel it, vibrating just below his heart.

“No. But we’d know if anything happened to her.”

“How?”

“Rhys would be able to feel it. There is a.. bond, between some fae. The Caul—" He cleared his throat as if it could distract from the wild thrumming in his chest, from the feeling that confirmed what he’d known since that day in Hybern. "Fated magic links them as mates. That’s what Rhys and Feyre are. It’s sacred, a harmony between two souls. Mates can feel each other’s emotion, when they’re in danger. Bonds are very rare and blessed.”

An uneasy expression settled in the corners of her mouth, one long-fingered hand rising to cover over her stomach. “And fate chooses this person for you?”

“Well, bonds can be rejected, but the connection never goes away. So, yes.”

Fear, a white-hot meteor of it, flashed across her face as she clutched at her dress, snagging the fabric. Cassian saw her barb of her anger sharpen and braced himself for the sting.

“I cannot imagine a worse destiny.”

He knew she wouldn’t take this well, knew anything connected to their world would send her bolting.

It still fucking hurt.

“What, someone being devoted to you? Someone loving you?” he challenged, wings bristling. He ignored the pain that shot through the joint at the top, wanting desperately to stretch it long.

“Don’t be a child,” she sneered. “Love has nothing to do with it.”

“Couldn’t it?”

Heart in his mouth, Cassian held back with everything he could, wanting to fall to his knees, to confess everything. To tell her he could feel her hurt and confusion and helplessness, that he could take it all away.

Because even without the bond she was his, sharp and potent and Nesta. It was her name that called him on the wind, her hope that urged him to rise every morning and take to the sky. Not his stupid pride, not the pity of his family, but the idea that she was up here all alone, that he was supposed to take care of her. Supposed to protect her.

And he had failed.

Cassian reached out to brush the backs of his fingers down her cheek.

Nesta’s eyes widened.

“What is it you expect from me?” she hissed, recoiling backward. “I’m not your project, nor your ward. I’m not going to fall into your arms like a simpering damsel one day and beg you to save me.”

Rebuffed, the love ricocheted around inside him, a bird trapped in a dark room. Cassian didn’t stop to wonder if he was sending all these feelings down the bond. Wanted her to feel the thundering power of his devotion to her, his will to never again let go.

“No, you’ll be fucking stubborn and refuse what’s good for you because of your pride. When I’m genuinely trying to help you.”

And myself. Please help me help myself.

Nesta jolted to her feet and retreated to the bed, yanking back the covers. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

Cassian tried not to buckle under the intensity of her scorn, the way she eyed him up and down like a nobody, like a slug under her shoe. It was worse that the pitying looks, this disdain, even though a distant part of him could feel a tendril of golden light stretching toward him, a pull amidst the push.

But his anger was a kettle boiling over when he watched her climb in bed and she was giving up on herself, on him, on everything and his wings fucking hurt.

“No, but you clearly need it.”

Silver fire whipped out at him from beneath the blankets, searing through his leathers. When the smoke cleared he saw it had left an X-shaped burn right over his heart.

“Get out.”

Nesta didn’t leave the door cracked for a long time after that. Cassian still called on her every other day, and the books he left on the threshold piled up, bricks in the wall between them.

[myladysapphire]

His Sapphire Princess (IV)

After the night in the brothel Rhaenyra is married to Laenor Velayron to protect the birth of her child. who in the years to follow is the only one of Rhaenyra's children that is believed to be his, she is loved by all in the red keep, even queen Alicent adores the girl, so when Rhaenyra proposes a marriage between Aemond and Rhaenyra's daughter Visenya, Alicent happily agrees.

The children having been best friends in their youths are more than happy to be wed but when the incident at drift mark occurs things change, will it be for better or worse?

word count: 2,327

CW: violence

Fem!oc x Aemond Targeryen (can be read as x reader)

Masterlist | series masterlist | previous part | next part

disclaimer:  i do not own any of claim any of the A song of ice and  fire characters, all rights belong to GRR MARTIN, all characters are his  except for my OC

Visenya

Her brothers woke her in a panic, pulling her out of bed and dragging her through the halls of Driftmark, claiming Vhagar had been stolen.

“You can’t steal a dragon” she yawned, wiping at her eyes, confused as to what they meant.

“but she was mine to claim, someone stole my right!” Rhaena whined. of course, cloaking him, she hoped it was Aemond, though she would admit Rhaena should have been able to attempt to claim her, but if it was Aemond that truly claimed her she could find no fault in it.

“dragons aren’t inherited Rhaena, anyone could claim Vhagar, not just you” Visenya spoke, her tone harsher than she meant “I’m going back to bed” she went to turn back but luke jumped in front of her, his best puppy eyes on display

“Senya, please, what if it’s a bad guy, we need your help” Luke begged.

“fine” she sighed in defeat, she had her dagger she supposed if someone had  actually taken Vhagar she could defend them, though she saw no point of this escapade.

Vhagar roared as she landed, her new rider, a beacon of silver in the night sky, climbing down her rope.

“it’s him” spoke Jace.

it was Aemond, just as she hoped. His face was smug, his walk confident. he was like a whole new person. 

“Aemond?” she questioned softly, rubbing up to him, “you claimed her?”  

his eyes glimmered as he looked at her, a true smile gracing his lips. He wasn’t a new person, he was still her Aemond.

“Vhagar is my mother's dragon” Rhaena stated.

“your mothers dead” he replied, scowling. “and Vhagar has a new rider now.”

“Aemond” she chined, elbowing him softly. 

“she was mine to claim” Rhaena declared.

“Vhagar choose her rider, if Aemond weren’t meant to claim her then she wouldn’t have allowed him to claim her” Visneya reasoned, trying to calm the group, though it was all for nought as shouts of protest were heard from the twins.

Aemond moved forward,  placing her behind him “Then you should've claimed her!” he looked at Jace and Luke then back to Rhaena, “ Maybe your cousins can find you a pig to ride… It would suit you.”

Baela launched herself at Aemond, before being pushed off. “come at me again, and I’ll feed you to Dragon”

The next few moments were filled with yells and screams as her brothers and cousins attacked Aemond.

“stop!” Visenya demanded, moving to pull Baela off of Aemond, only to be elbowed and pushed against a rock. 

“Senya!” Aemond and Jace screamed, the attack coming to a halt. 

“it’s ok,” she tried to reassure, rubbing her head as she sat up “just stop fighting, it will not give Rhaena a dragon, nor will it take Aemonds away from him!” 

“he stole Vhagar, she was mine to claim!” Rhaena once again insisted.

“yeah, yeah we get it ok! just stop this fighting!… please” 

Baela turned to look at her, sighing as if ready to coincide before looking at Aemond. his hand rested behind Visenya's back, his face still smug.

she charged at him again, pushing him away from Visneya and to the ground. Jace followed punching him in the face before shoving them away.

she wasn’t sure what would happend next, her head pushing too hard, liquid filling her ears. the words flame and bastard sounded, her brother Jace in Aemonds hold, a rock to his head.

“no stop!” she screamed, crawling over, unable to find balance, her dagger falling from her pocket as she pulled Jace away. 

Luke grabbed her dagger and dived at Aemond, Visneya despite the fact her blurred vision, she managed to jump in front of Aemond, the dagger driving through his eye and the side of her neck.

After that, it all went black.

The hall was tense as a maester worked with Aemond and Visneya. 

No one dared to speak.

Several maesters cared for Visenya, her neck seeping in blood, her body still unconscious, and her brothers crying beside her. Luke begging for her to be alright. 

Aemond had insisted on being as close to her as possible, refusing to let go of her hand, and only doing so when it became apparent it was interfering with the maesters work. 

“How could you allow such as thing to happen?” Viserys demanded, furious “I will have answers”

“The princes and princess were supposed to be abed, my king” Ser Harold spoke

“Who had to watch” Viserys demanded

“The young prince was attacked by his cousins, your grace, and the princess by her brothers,” Ser Criston remarked

Outraged with these responses Viserys shouted “you swore oaths to protect and defend my blood”

“I’m very sorry, your grace,” Ser Harrold told him

“The king's guard has never had to defend princes from princes, your grace” Ser Criston spoke

The hall was quiet, the fury of the king growing. His granddaughter lay on the table, unconscious as blood seeped out of her neck, the Maesters still trying to locate the bleeding. 

“That is no answer!” Viserys spat

“It will heal, will it not maester?” Alicent asked she knew that the eye would be lost, but she still had hoped the seven would be merciful.

Solemnly the maester replied “the flesh will heal, but the eye is lost, your grace”

Nodding, a tear falling from her eye, she looked towards Visenya “what of the princess maester?”

Giving a small sad smile the lead maester working on Visenya stepped back to look at the king and queen, “we cannot tell yet your grace, we cannot seem to locate the bleeding and until we do, we cannot say”

Letting out an anguished cry Alicent moved to Aegon slapping him “where were you?”

Recoiling away Aegon spoke “me? Ow! What was that for?” he complained, almost ashamed. He had been getting drunk whilst his brother and niece suffered, that was enough to sober him. He worried the sight would make him burst in tears.

Alicent sneered “that was nothing compared to the abuse your brother and niece suffered while you were drowning in your cups” looking down ashamed, all Aegon could do was whisper a small as sorry.

“Where is Rhaenyra, her daughter has suffered a grave injury at the hands of her sons… where is Rhaenyra!” Alicent demanded to the room. The people equally confused as to where the princess was, remained silent.

Lord Corlys and princess Rhaenys entered the hall, demanding what had happened “what is the meaning of this”

Princess Rhaenys quickly went to her granddaughters, before catching sight of Visneay on the table, a small cry leaving her lips “what has happened?” she demanded. “What has happened to my granddaughter” the silence once more filled the room, as no one could answer.

Rhaenyra and Daemon were the last to enter the room, Daemon smug and nonchalant, Rhaenyra confused and guilty. She was quick to tun to her sons, not even bothering to look for her daughter. “what happened? Jace, Luke? Show me, show me!” taking Luke’s face in her hands she asked, “where is your sister?” both boys looked down before pointing to the table surrounded by maesters.

“Oh, my sweet girl” Rhaenyra cried taking Rhaenys place next to her daughter, as Rheanys moved to her Beala and Rheana.

“They attacked us!” Aemond spat, causing the other children to being shouting contrasting statements.

“He attacked Baela”

“He broke Luke’s nose!”

“He stole my mother’s dragon!”

“ENOUGH” Viserys demanded, his confusion only increasing at the children's ranting, 

“He was going to kill Jace!” Luke shouted

“I didn’t do anything! And you’re the one who attacked Visenya!” Aemond shot back, furious, she was defending him from their attack, they were to blame not him. He had lost his eye, his Visenya was wounded and unconscious. 

“Enough!” Viserys demanded, once again. 

Rhaenyra had made her way back to her sons, allowing the Maesters their space to work, as they finally located the bleeding.

“It should be my son telling the tale” Alicent demanded.

Luke whispered what was said to his mother “he called us bastards”

Hitting his cane on the ground Viserys demanded once again “silence” moving to look at Aemond he demanded the truth “Aemond, I will have the truth of what happened, now!”

“What else is there to hear? Your son and granddaughter maimed…Her son is responsible”

“It was a regrettable accident” Rhaenyra spoke, she didn’t want to believe what Luke had done, let alone to his sister. 

“The prince Lucerys brought a blade to an ambush. He meant to kill my son, he might yet have killed your daughter” Alicent spoke viciously, how could Rhaenyra defend her sons after what they did to her daughter, to Aemond?

“It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves… Vile insults were levied against them” Rhaenyra declared

“What insults?” Viserys asked

Hesitating, knowing it was the unspoken truth, Rhaenyra replied “the legitimacy of my son’s birth was put loudly to the question”

“What?”

Speaking up, Luke has a tremor in his voice as he casts a look at his sister, guilt filling his body “he called us bastards”

“My sons are in line to inherit the iron throne, your grace. This is the highest of treasons…. Prince Aemond must be Sharpley questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders” Rhaenyra spoke

In disbelief at Rhaenyra’s audacity, Alicent spoke “over an insult? My son has lost an eye! What of your daughter what is your sons’ excuses for her!?” she demanded, looking over to Visenya, the Maesters had finally stopped the bleeding, but she was yet to wake. 

“You tell me boy, where did you hear this lie?” Viserys demanded, he knew the truth, he was not blind, he knew they were not Laenor’s and guilt filled him that he did not give his daughter a husband who could give her more than one child, even that he doubted, that she had to look elsewhere.

Worried, everyone knew it was Alicent who spread the rumours “this insult was training yard bluster, it was nothing”

Ignoring his wife, Viserys asked again “Aemond, I asked you a question!”

Interrupting again Alicent asked “where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The children’s father? Perhaps he might have something to say on the matter.”

“Yes, where is Ser Laenor?”

Rhaenyra admitted, “I do not know, your grace, I could not find sleep, I had gone on a walk.”

Alicent rolled her eyes and muttered “entertaining his young squires, I would venture”

Asking again, Viserys spoke “Aemond, look at me. Your king demands answer. Who spoke these lies to you?”

Aemond shifted his gaze to his mother, “It was Aegon” he answered. He would not sell out his mother, even if they all knew it was really her.

“Me?” Aegon asked confused, he did not care nor ever mention if they were bastards. He was rather fond of Luke and Jace, they often had fun together. He could care less about their parentage.

“And you, boy? Where did you hear such calumnies?” Viserys spat “Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!”

Giving up, with a sigh Aegon spoke “We know, father. Everyone knows. Just look at them”

“This interminable infighting must cease! All of you! We are family! Now make your apologies and show goodwill to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it.” Viserys spoke.

“That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged, permanently, Visenya who knows if she will wake. ‘Good will’ cannot make Aemond whole” Alicent spat

“I know Alicent, but I cannot restore an eye,” Viserys said with a deep sigh, he looked to Visenya. Her face was terribly pale, her neck was being wrapped and her head stitched.

“No, because it’s been taken!” 

“What would you have me do?”

“There is a debt to be paid. I shall have one of her son’s eyes in return” Alicent declared, gasps filling the hall.

“My dear wife-”

Her eyes watered, her son, their sons’ eye had been taken and he does not seem to care “he is your son, Viserys. Your blood”

“Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment” Viserys warned

“If the king will not seek justice, the queen will. Ser Criston… Bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon.” Alicent ordered.

Luke let out a nervous shout for his mother, moving to hide behind her. 

“he can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son” Alicent spoke, Ser Criston stared down at her, unsure of what to do.

Speaking to Criston Viserys demanded “you will do no such thing… Stay your hand”

“no, you are sworn to me!” she shouted at Ser Criston, as he stood unsurely “As your protector, my queen.”

“This matter is finished, do you understand?” Viserys spoke to Alicent, moving away before declaring “and let it be known, anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra’s sons should have it removed!”

“Thank you, father” Rhaenyra spoke, Alicent enraged moved towards Viserys grabbing his dagger and charging at Rhaenyra and her sons.

Shouts filled the hall, trying to get Alicent to stop, but she continued.

“you’ve gone too far” Rhaneyra spoke, grabbing Alicents arm, preventing the dagger from diving into her son's eye.

“i? what have I done but what expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you, please” Alicent spat in reply. “Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? And now you take my son's eye, and to that event, you feel entitled”

“Exhausting, wasn’t it? Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness” Rhaenyra replied, seeing Alicent face drop and her grip on the blade began to loosen. “But now they see you as you truly are,” she said lowly, the dagger slipped from Alicent’s hand, down Rhaenyra's arm, blood dripping to the ground.

“This proceeding is at an end” Viserys declared.

next chapter

[wendibird]

I agree, they definitely would have had a connection there regarding that empty spot where their parent(s) should have been. And being raised to be a weapon, and wanting something else but finding out that "this was all they really knew".

It's honestly one of the reasons why I think Eileen could have been the "blurry wife". I've seen a lot of people dismiss her as an option because "she was a hunter and wouldn't have wanted to give that up" but like, was she a hunter because she loved it? Or because it's what she'd always known and trying for something different was a leap that may have felt a bit scary? But they seemed to understand each other on a deep level. Maybe they connected again over that, over that prospect of trying to start a life from scratch. This time knowing that there was no omnipresent force out to make sure their lives stayed "interesting" and just maybe they could make it work.

Anyway, sorry if I took this off on a tangent, but yes! I definitely think they found a lot of common ground.

Do you think Eileen and Sam bonded over losing parents to supernatural creatures and not feeling any differently after the monster is dead. Especially in the sense that Sam didn't know his mom, and Eileen didn't know either of her parents. I'm sure in their childhoods they mourned the loss of their parent(s) that they were told to mourn but at the end of the day, they were just told stories about these people. They had no emotional connection and it's not their fault, they were taken away from them too soon.

[pizzaboerr]

From nothing to something.

(Sanji x reader, part 4)

Part 1 , part 2 , part 3

Summary: After ‘defeating’ Zoro in a fight, Luffy’s crew made it into the Grand Line. Everyone was happy, you had a great night but the storm kept you awake. Lucky for you, you weren’t the only one who was awake.

Word count: 2.2K words

Content warnings: Use of curse words, fluff, slight teasing.

Authors Note: I’m so sorry that I didn’t post anything in the last two weeks. I was really busy with helping my best friend move houses. I’m back now and I’ll try to get 1 or 2 post per week, depending on how big of a chapter I’ll write. Hope you all enjoy!

P.S.: Sorry if there are sentences that are grammatically incorrect, English isn’t my first language, so my apologies in advance.

~~—~~—~~—~~

It’s been a few days since you started your training with Sanji. Each day you improved a lot. When you didn’t train with Sanji, you took it upon yourself to get stronger.

“Slow down Tiger.” Nami said, causing you to jump. You quickly turned around and smiled sheepishly. “Nami, you scared the shit out of me. What’s up?” You looked at her, dropped your weights and grabbed a towel, wiping away all the sweat. “I just came to see how you were doing. You’ve been training all day!-“ Nami started. She looked around and saw Zoro sleeping on the other side of the deck. “Even Zoro doesn’t train all day.” She looked back to you. “Maybe you should take some rest.” You smiled but politely declined. “I’m all right. I need to be ready if something happens Nami. Everyone can defend themselves but I can’t, yet.” You grabbed your weights and started where you left off.

Nami went to the upper deck and looked in your direction, seeing the determination on your face. Sanji had seen Nami looking at you and decided to join her. He greeted Nami quickly and smiled while looking at you.

While this happened on the upper deck, you dropped your weights and one of them rolled into the direction of Zoro, who was still sound asleep. The weight hit his ankle which caused him to grunt. He stood up, grabbed one of his swords and stomped into your direction, only stopping just in time. “Watch it y/l/n.” He said angrily while holding the sword up to your neck. You knew Zoro wouldn’t hurt you, But you also knew not to fuck with him while he was asleep (even if it was on accident).

You sneakily grabbed one of his other swords and grinned cockily. “I’m not scared of you Zoro, you are all big talk and nothing more.” You said smiling, taking a few steps back. Zoro laughed loudly. “Sure, Let’s see how good you are.” He said wiping a tear away from laughing.

You had ben training with bamboo swords, just to see how it was, so you knew a little. You also watched Zoro when he was training, writing down tactics.

He charged at you and you quickly blocked him. You only knew how to kick and punch so you just tried to block every attack. After maybe 10 minutes, you were panting, Zoro was really strong and you didn’t want to admit your defeat. Zoro saw this and laughed, causing you to get a chance to maybe disarm him.

Because you charged at him, you made him hesitate which move he was going to pull, to not hurt you, You wuickly got behind him with the sword on his throat, barely touching him. He put away his sword and looked down. He cleared his throat before grabbing the sword from your hand and turned around, avoiding your gaze.

“I let you win.-“ He mumbled, looking at you. “Didn’t want to hurt you.” He quickly added while putting away his last sword, now trying to exit the deck. “Zoro!” You yelled before he could completely disappear from your sight. He turned around and looked at you. “I take back what I said, you had me until the last second. I have enough to learn from you.” You said softly towards him. He nodded and walked away.

Nami and Sanji both laughed and you turned around. “I think i’ll take the rest of the day off, just like you said Nami.” You said, gathering your stuff. Nami laughed and nodded. “That’s a good idea y/n.”

~~—~~—~~—~~

“Everyone get ready!” Nami yelled. “This is it! The way into the grand line.”

Everyone jumped around each other, trying to get to their spots. Luffy was on the sheep head, looking at each of his crew members. “Usopp, Zoro! take care of the masts!, Nami please make sure we don’t hit those pillars, Sanji prepare some food!” Luffy commanded everyone. You stood next to Nami, making sure if she needed you, you were there.

You got closer and closer and before you knew it, the ship was going upwards. You all cheered and smiled. Soon enough you were on the other side of the mountain, now in the grand line. The waters were really smooth here, and Nami looked back at her compass, trying to figure out the next steps.

You excused yourself and went to your shared room. You had this special compass, that someone gave to you back when you were still working in Loguetown. You decided that you were going to gift this to Nami, not only because she was the navigator but also because she became your best friend in a short time period. You got back to Nami and saw that she was looking confused at why her compass wasn’t working.

You looked at Nami and smiled. “Nami?” You started. She sighed. “The compass doen’t work y/n! I’m supposed to be the navigator but I can’t even tell which way’s which!” You chucked and she looked at you slightly angry. Before she could say anything you looked at the ground. “Nami I have a present for you, close your eyes and put your hands out.” Nami looked at you, now annoyed. “This isn’t the time for presents.” She said, still doing what you said. You gave her the compass and smiled widely. “Ta-da!”

Nami opened her eyes as she smiled slightly. “What is this?” She asked while she examined the little compass. “This is what you need in the Grand line. Someone gave it to me as a present but I know you will appreciate it more. It’s now located to the closest Island. It’s supposed to be one maybe one and a half days away!” You said jumping excitedly.

Nami looked back at you as her eyes started to swell with tears. She gave you a really big hug and thanked you multiple times. You smiled and looked at everyone. For the first time in a long long time, you felt important.

~~—~~—~~—~~

After finishing what Sanji called ‘The celebration feast’, you all decided to have a few drinks together, to celebrate entering the Grand Line. You told a few stories that other people told you while you still worked at the restaurant. Luffy asked a few stupid questions, which made you laugh.

Everyone was enjoying the time together. You decided to play a few card games, Usopp teaching everyone a new game. Everyone was so infested with the game that everyone lost track of time. Before you knew it, it was almost 1AM. You yawned and excused yourself. “I’m going to bed guys, i’m really tired. See ya’ll tomorrow.” You said yawning once again and waving everyone goodbye.

You opened the door to your room and grabbed your pyjama. After you changed, you quickly brushed your teeth, combed your hair and got into bed.

You kept turning in your bed and after not being able to sleep you sat up and looked at the clock. “2;54AM.” You mumbled before grabbing your robe and making your way to the kitchen for some water and maybe a snack.

As you walked through the hallways, you could see that the kitchen light was still on. You once again sighed. “I should’ve known he would still be awake.” You said to yourself before knocking on the door to make yourself known. You leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to invade his space.

Sanji looked up and smiled. “Didn’t expect to see you at this time mademoiselle, couldn’t sleep?” You smiled softly back at him. “Well I tried to sleep, but the waves hitting the windows kept me awake. I’m still not really used to the heavy waves and storms that sometimes happen.”

He smiled and nodded understandably. He put everything away and started to gather everything to make some hot chocolate. He grabbed a pan and put it on the fire. He poured in the milk and started to heat it up. “I’m going to make some hot chocolate, want some Amore?” He asked you softly.

You smiled widely. “Hot chocolate, how could I say no to that!” He chuckled, while he chopped up the chocolate and quickly whisked some heavy cream with sugar to make the whipping cream. He grabbed a few vanilla pods and put some fresh vanilla seeds in there as well.

Once the hot chocolate was done he gently poured it into two cups and topped it off with with the cream. He smiled at his creation and grabbed a piece of chocolate before grating it on top, to make it look extra pretty. “Here you go love, be careful, it’s still hot.” He smiled while he placed it in front of you. You grabbed the mug eagerly and touched his hand on accident.

You blushed heavily while pulling your hand away quickly. He laughed softly and grabbed his mug. He sat down next to you and looked at you.

The heavy waves turned into a terrible storm which sent chills throughout your spine. You absolutely hated storms and now on the ship it only seemed worse. Sanji noticed that you were slightly on edge and smiled barely. He grabbed your hand and placed it on his lap, intertwining his finger in yours.

At this point you were blushing heavily. “I don’t like stormy weather. The boat moves to much and it keeps me awake sometimes. The rain is calming though, when you lay comfortably in a hammock, or a bed-“ He said looking at you, trying to distract you. “-You just close your eyes and focus on the raindrops hitting the window and the wooden walls.”

You silently took a sip from your mug with your one free hand and nodded. “Storms aren’t my favorite.” You chuckled slightly. “You know-“ You started, placing down your mug. You completely turned towards him and smiled softly. “-When I was little, I used to be shit scared of storms, not able to sleep at all. I normally would wake my mum up and beg her to make me some hot chocolate. After that she would drag me back to bed and join me. She used to keep me safe from the storms. Maybe that’s the reason I never got over them. I didn’t want to lose that feeling.”

He smiled sadly. He looked away while he mumbled something. You couldn’t hear what he was saying, which made you curious. “Speak up, pretty boy.” You teased before taking a few sips from your hot chocolate. He turned around with a light shade of pink on his cheeks. “What I said was, you could always look for me in those scenario’s. Most of the time I’ll be awake anyways.”

You were taken aback my this. You kinda thought he didn’t like you. “And thank you sweetheart for the compliment, although you are the pretty one here.” He looked down at his mug and took a sip.

The tention between you two was really tight and you both definitely noticed this. You sat in silence for what felt like forever. Sanji never let go of your hand though. Eventually you started a conversation and before you knew it, the storm was over. It was still really early in the night and you let out a yawn. Sanji laughed and looked at you. “Mademoiselle, I really like the company, but you need your sleep. Are you okay now?” He slowly asked you while letting go of your hand.

You nodded and stood up. Sanji followed you and opened up the door. “I’ll walk you to your room, that’s the least I could do.” You smiled and started walking. The walk was silent but not awkward.

Once you stood in front of your door you turned around. This startled Sanji who was standing right behind you. You stood on your toes gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you Sanji.” You smiled as you turned back around. He touched his cheek where you kissed him and he blushed heavily. You were about time to close the door before he whispered. “The offer still stands, remember that. Sweet dreams love.”

He quickly walked away, to the upper deck. He lit up a cigarette and smiled widely. He knew he wasn’t going to sleep after this. You had him all worked up and he let out a sigh.

~~—~~—~~—~~

You got back in bed and smiled to yourself. You closed your eyes and let out a big sigh. You thought about everything that just had happened and got comfortable in your bed.

As you drifted to sleep, you smiled again, finally able to have a good night rest, all thanks to the sweet and loving cook.

[libertine-past]

I wanted to do something for Rogue/Gambit week, but all I have is this unfinished *gambit lives* WIP. So here goes.

When the rest of the team finally gets clearance to touch down in Genosha, Rogue is still in her tattered dress, wearing Gambit’s coat, muscling through rubble. They hold her and she barely flinches, as if it’s happening to someone else.

It’s her third day without eating or sleeping—just searching. Clawing.

The last place anyone saw Gambit was at the bar.

Magneto and Madelyne succumbed to the green flash.

The Godzilla sentinel was defeated by one of the dancers in the marketplace, a humble Omega named Exodus.

Mutant art, Rogue considers.

They sift through the fledgling nation’s ashes with the other helpers.

Survivors are found, but not enough.

They freeze in their tracks when a young girl and her winged mother ask the searchers if they’ve seen “the card trick man.”

A shrill gasp. Rogue bolts to her level, holding her shoulders as gently as she can. “When did you see him, sweet thing?”

“At the Xavier. He saved me and my mom. He said ‘be brave, Cher’ and I said ‘I’m not Cher but I know her songs.’”

A blip of a smile breaks through on her lips for the first time in days. “We’re gonna find him, babygirl, I promise.”

This promise carries her until she finds a charred Queen of hearts in the wreckage of the Xavier Regency’s courtyard.

Then she goes feral in her search.

Every now and then she calls out his name. Sometimes it’s barely audible, sometimes she screeches like a tea kettle.

It still was possible he’d been vaporized to a green mist after saving the girl, but her vague awareness of this means little.

If she never accepts it, maybe this effort will never shift from rescue to recovery mode.

Storm moves her knotted hair away from her face. “Rogue, love—you have to stop and rest. Let us take over.” Storm knows this won’t be easy. She remembers Hank’s account of Rogue peeling open the Asteroid escape shuttle like a can of sardines to find Gambit at just the sheer possibility of him being hurt.

Rogue’s shakes her head in a barely visible twitch and clutches the lapels of the coat. “Rogue always comes to Gambit’s rescue,” she quotes, choking on tears. “I know he’s out here. I feel him.”

“As do I. But he needs you to come to your own rescue first.”

Rogue shakes her head with a trembling sniff. “I have to tell him the truth. I don’t care what happens to me if I can’t.”

“We do. We love you. Here.” She hands her a canteen and Rogue submits to it with dribbling gulps. “There. For Remy, right?”

“For Remy.”

The afternoon shadows get longer and Rogue relents to sleeping against Kurt’s blanketed shoulder for a little while, her face streaked with dried tears.

Jubilee accosts them at full speed, her boots kicking up dust. “The telepaths, they found someone alive!”

Rogue’s voice is like static, but audible. “Oh my lord, please.” They rush after the clusters of people standing around the site.

“It’s a low level empath,” Jean says. “Mind is very hard to breach—”

“If that ain’t Gumbo, I’ll eat dirt,” Logan says.

Rogue holds her breath. Jean raises the figure from the wreckage, his white suit battered but intact, his eyes closed as if asleep, his body glowing pink as if charged.

Rogue squeals through her tears with a hand over her mouth, feeling like this is all a fever dream. “He’s—”

”Fascinating,” Hank says. “A latent mutation triggered by duress. A biokinetic shield that protected him from the falling building–”

He doesn’t get to finish as Rogue plows through and bridal carries Remy in her trenchcoated arms, sobbing. He’s breathing, slowly but surely, like he’s suspended in time. “I knew it. Goddamn you, sugar. This is your best trick yet.”

The rest of the team indulges in their own delighted tears. Storm breaks out with a triumphant laugh.

Jubilee flips her glasses over her eyes from the brightness. “How do we wake him up out of the glowy shieldy chrysalis thing?”

Wolverine groans at Rogue, who looks like she’s going to zip herself inside the chrysalis thing. “Uhhgh. Let me guess, with the power of love?”

Morph rolls his white eyes. “We can discuss your affinity for Celine Dion later, Canuck.”

“We have to proceed carefully,” Beast says. “We don’t know the extent of his injuries before the shield kicked in.”

A shield, Rogue muses. The aura around him beckons her, like a certain electromagnetic energy once did.

Her glove drops to the ground.

She follows her sudden instinct and slowly grasps Gambit’s face, spiking up not a single vein, absorbing nothing. Everyone gasps.

“Stars and garters,” Hank says. “Gambit has held the link to nullifying your touch all along.”

“C’mon, Sleepin’ Beauty. Make a gal feel welcome,” she trembles, and kisses his lips tentatively, then with all the determination on this broken island.

And he blinks awake, still glowing.

“…gambit not even gonna question this.”

She pulls him in close by his violet scarf. “Makes two of us. I love you, you damn fool,” she shivers through her tears, kissing him desperately.

And there it is, light as a flutter of cards. Nothing close to a burden.

“Something tells me our friend is never turning that shield off,” Beast says.

[cicusmicuska]

Part 1: Sweetness of childhood

__________________________________________

“You are late.. again!” A male voice scolded a silver haired girl from behind an old oak tree.

,,Next time you are late princess I might break off this agreement altogether!’’

A stern face emerged from the shadow of the tree. The boy, no older than ten, held an annoyed and angry appearance as he watched the girl, who was carrying a linen bag, fasten her pace towards him.

,,Maybe if you would have helped me with bringing the books I would have been on time”

The girl retorted, discontent clearly evident on her face.

On the boy's face appeared a slight blush, as he was unable to say anything back; he knew she was right, but his vanity stopped him from helping her. He walked back to the tree in silence, and took out from the shadow of the tree two long objects that were neatly wrapped around with a gray cloth, and secured tightly with a black ribbon. He clasped them close behind his arms as he walked back to the girl.

The girl was sitting on the grass when he arrived back, patiently waiting for him to put down the rugged cloth wrapped wooden swords. He knelt down next to her putting down the swords and hastily undid the ribbon. The girl excitedly grabbed one and stood up, clasping the wooden sword with both of her hands.

“So what do you want to teach me first? How to stab?,,

highlighting the last word with an imitation of her swinging the sword in the air, stabbing an invisible enemy in the back.

“Well.. not exactly. The first thing we will learn is how to stand properly.’’ The boy answered amiably. It seems like his anger went away as quickly as it came.

After hearing this the girl let out a dissapointed sigh, making her body limp in defeat.

“But.. Aemond.. you said you would teach me how to fight! ‘Tis is not fair.” Sne said in dissatisfaction as she again in her boredom swung her sword in the air imitating fighting her enemies.

“ We both made an agreement.. I will teach you how to fight but-“

His words were suddenly disrupted as the girl’s sword touched his chest with a sudden swing. Aemond was stunned as the attack came out of thin air— but he, after a momentarily being frozen because of shock,successfully blocked and jumped from her other ones. The first blows only brushed him slightly as he did not fend off all of them; he was still astonished at her patientless nature.

The girl with a wild smile on her face began to swing her wooden sword at Aemond trying as hard to hit him. She was making blows at Aemond, trying hard to imitate the same tricks she saw Jace do when she saw him in the training yard. She raised her sword close to his stomach trying to stab him, but Aemond waking up from his temporary shock quickly started to meet her attacks. Aemond, now fully aware of what is happening, started his own charge at her.

Sound of wood clashing together filled the air of the Red Keeps most abandoned part- the oak tree garden. Both of them agreed to meet here—as it was a forgotten place by all in the Keep.

Aemond grew agitated, his anger growing by the second. With a clever move, he elegantly threw another strike; with his sword quillon he wrenched the sword out of her hand, throwing it down onto the grass.

The heavy sword landed with a huge thump on the ground, while the girl lost her balance to get her sword back and fell to the ground also. On it she tried to get to the sword but to no avail, eas Aemond was quicker and already took it.

Aemond towered the girl victoriously as he easily outpowered her efforts. He pointed his sword towards her while she watched with a murderous look. She with now a disheveled look sat on the muddy grass as her ill fitting dress were all tangled up. She chose the biggest dress she had, so she could roam free in it without getting caught wearing boys clothes underneath.

Aemond slowly came closer to her while she was trying to dust herself off. The motion of her hand ran aggressively down her cote, sweeping the grains of mud off of her. When she finished— she looked at him again, her face and emotions unreadable as he tried to decode them.

“I’ve won.” Said Aemond as firm as he could, enthusing it with as much confidence and pride as he could muster into his words. The statement fell on deaf ears— as when he expanded his hand to gesture towards her to take it and stand up; a mysterious smile appeared on her face radiating mischief, a sudden twitch of her eye telling Aemond she’s planning something.

Aemond’s intuitions were right, as she grabbed his right hand and pulled him down. Aemond, again being surprised by her actions, fell onto her dumbfounded. His face landed straight onto her chest, which he only realized seconds after his fall. As his cheeks turned from pale white to red, his eyes became filled with shame. He knew this was not appropriate of his standing to do, as he remembered his mother's words; “no honorable man should taint a lady’s purity”.

Without hesitation he shoved himself into a sitting position; his hair went tumbling into his eyes, and he blew it away with an impatient burst of air.

She gave him a small smile which morphed into a satisfactory laugh; she rolled out of the way of Aemond with a yelp, and quickly stood up. His confused look was now temporarily fused on his face, his eyebrows arched up, his gaze radiating pure defeatedness. Both of them started to stare at each other saying nothing, the silence almost too comforting to Aemond.

“Why did you do that?” Blurted out suddenly Aemond, which broke the blissful silence between the two.

A mischievous smile lit up the girl's face, spreading all the way to her eyes.

He knew that his mother if she saw the girl's actions— would call her behavior very unladylike. He knew from her mother—remembering the exact sentence when she was giving him a lecture in her solar. “all women must uphold the ideals of the faith..”, which meant that every lady of high status must embody the Maiden— and in their married years, the Mother. He knew that if her mother would see this she wouldn't be surprised at the girl’s untamed brutish nature, after all she was under Rheanyra’s care.

Aemond knew that she was an opposite of all of these higher ideals of the faith, as she did not uphold any of them as his mother told him so, and it seemed Rheanyra was the complete opposite of the Holy Maiden; sullying her name with birthing bastards.

“Well…” Said the girl, pausing directly just to annoy him.

While pausing in her sentence she slowly bent over; so she could be on eye level with Aemond. Her expression told Aemond that she held great joy in his discomfort and frustration at the moment. The cocky smile that seemed stuck on her face grew wider and wider, which bothered him. His eyes keenly scanned her face and stopped at her eyes; his gaze lingered on her dark sparkling violet eyes that intensely stared back at him.

“Maybe you haven’t realized that I enjoy seeing you blushing.” She said, half laughing.

Aemond’s whole face turned red as a beetroot after hearing her words. He tried to cover his flushed cheeks with his hands, he even turned away from her— but to no avail. He wanted to bury himself in his new found shame, scolding himself how he could show weakness to a girl.

If Aegon were there he would surely laugh at him, pointing out to him that a girl could make him flustered.

“Will you get up uncle or you took liking to sitting in the dirt?” with a playful tone asked Aemond, gesturing towards him.

Aemond stood up, acting like he didn't even hear her comment.

“Why was this necessary, Saera?” Said Aemond bitterly while closely observing her, who feeling victorious, walked back to the oak tree and with a loud thud settled down. His face distorted into a grimace that clearly showed a hint of annoyance.

He questioned himself why had he even agree to this meeting; after all he could learn Valyrian from maester Munkun.

Saera, ignoring the question, just simply looked at the boy who now was covered in dirt from head to toe, looking stupidly at her. She examined her artwork carefully, just like an artist would his masterpiece. After that, she with a smug expression showed her tounge out.

Aemond now was fed up, a cross expression quickly took over his face. The young dragon promptly rushed to reach the girl;

He swore to himself that he would smear her haughty look from her dumb face.

“Gaomagon ao jaelagon naejot pikībagon bē aegons vīlībāzma nykeā se ēlī zaldrīzes?”

(Do you wish to read about Aegon’s conquest or my favourite, the first dragon?)

Aemond, surprised , stopped in his track and looked at Saera. Now that he was distracted, he completely forgot his original intentions, as his anger went away as fast as it came. He slowly walked to her, stopping only when he was an arms away.

Saera, without care, took out two books from the linen bag, both of them being old and rusty. One of the books' covers that caught the attention of Aemond, was the one depicting a silver dragon and a man riding it. The creature was carefully crafted from shiny silver— on it, small but recognisable grayish glass scales covered the dragon, starting from the beast's head and ending in its tail. The dragon was majestically ascending from the clouds, its tail not fully visible. The creature seemed otherworldly as its eyes were made out of pure rubies that glistened in the sun. The dragon reminded him of Meraxes, on of Aegon’s conqueror wives dragon.. On the dragon were a silver haired pale man; in his hand a long brown stick. Next to it were Valyrian runes delicately carved into the leather front cover;

it seemed that the carvings were filled in with pure gold. On the spine of the book there was a man with a gray beard watching from the heavens, within his hand a red dragon hatchling. Aemond hadn't seen that book before in the Red keeps library, it seemed ancient, like a relic from a past that is long gone. The other one, Aemond knew well, was about Aegon's conquest. The book was a worn down one, with black, red and gold embroidered leather cover depicting the Targaryen crest that were made from pure gold and dragonglass.

“Nyke eptan nykeā másino jorrāelagon?”

(I asked a question dear uncle)

Saera with a gentle motion of her hands,gestured towards Aemond to sit beside her. With a thud he sat down; with no hesitation and with his soft fingers tapped on the silver dragon book.

,,I haven’t seen this one in the library… where did you get it?” Aemond with a hint of curiosity looked at her, whose face portrayed a proud look.

“You haven't seen it there dear cousin, as it’s not from there… pray thee, as I know you fancy yourself as a scholar on the matter of books, do you know where I’ve got this?”

Aemond, now a little bit confused, glanced at the cover and analyzed it further. While his brows furrowed, and his intense gaze reread the Valyrian runes his mind was hit with the realization that the only place it could come from is Saera’s family. He should have known from the first glance at the gorgeous silver cover of the book that the only place it could have been from is the Vezos family’s extensive old library; the Pregmun. It is widely known that the Vezos family hold the last Valyrian styled library, which possesses extensive ancient knowledge of the Freehold. Thousands and thousands of Papyrus, clay tablets and leather books all sorted by the old Priests of the fourteenth flame. Covering all shorts of knowledge, from blood magic of old to ancient history’s and undiscovered secrets. Its told that on Dragonstone stand a similar kind of library holding similar knowledge, but less valuable than on Dragonfly’s.The Pregmun, made from black limestone, stood tall on the hills of Philamea; the ancestral seat of the Vezos family; Saera’s family.

“ I haven't seen it in the Red Keep’s library anywhere… If I had to guess I would say it is from the Pregmun”

Saera Smiled at him warmly, as Aemond's assumption of the book was accurate. The boy’s stomach turned a little bit, a feeling all too foreign to him.

Saera opened the book and began reading to him in high valyrian; only stopping to ask questions about the context of the book in the old tongue, correcting Aemond and helping him in his pronunciation in all ways she could. This tardy lesson was intense to the boy but his thirst for knowledge was stronger; nothing can stirr the young dragon from his path of embracing his heritage. He was the blood of the dragon, even if he didn't possess one at the moment to prove it. He will know all of the histories of his house, he will know all of his valyrian forbearers tongue and histories. He will be knowledgeable, he will prove his worth; to his mother, his brother… and most importantly his father.

He cannot fail.

[polakina]

he saw red

'scars do heal' chapter 4

pairing: captain price x reader

rating: mature

outline: Price had been counting the days since you'd been taken. You were counting the hours until Hassan killed you. Time was running out and nobody knew where to look.

warnings: canon violence, blood, torture

requests are open! hope you enjoy, petals <3

masterlist II 'scars do heal' masterlist

II

“The fuck were you thinking? Going behind my back, stealing a helo, forcing one of my pilots to fly you exactly where I said not to. And all for what, huh? Fucking nothing!” Graves paced the floor, the 141 stood in the briefing room, angry and defeated. “You wasted military equipment, searching for a dead rookie who wasn’t even where you thought she would be. Now I’ve got General Shepherd on my ass asking questions and I’m well within my right to fuck you all over and get you shipped back home without a second thought.”

“Watch who you’re speaking to, pendejo,” Vargas warned, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “We don’t answer to you. You’re not the person in charge of us here. This is our base. So watch your mouth.” 

Nobody was in the mood to be reprimanded for their little mission last night. They were all too hell bent on getting back out there for you. But you weren’t there. At firs,t they were a little relieved, thinking you’d managed to escape, but you’d just reached the evac point too late. So perhaps you’d found somewhere to hide out until you found a way to contact them, or maybe found some way to get back to the base. But what they found when they did reach your lookout point, most of their hope for you had suddenly been sucked from them.

-

“If she isn’t out here, Price, how are we gonna explain this to Graves?” Gaz asked as they made their way through the familiar territory they were at not twenty four hours ago. 

“She’ll be here, she has to.” That was all Price said. He didn’t want to think that you wouldn’t be there, because then he wouldn’t know how to find you. But you were resourceful, you could have left a clue or a note of where you would be heading in case they did come back to look for you.

He led the excursion, and everyone else followed behind him in suit. Ghost and Alejandro looked at eachother knowingly, they were thinking the same thing. As much as everyone wanted you to be there, after what happened at the extraction point, bullets flying and the 141 being left in the shit and then losing Hassan, they were losing hope by the second.

Making it to the top of the hill, Price made his way over to where he left you yesterday. You weren’t around. He couldn’t see any footprints of which direction you could have headed, no indication that you’d left a clue to where you’d gone. “Shit,” he muttered, crouching as he thought of his next move.

“Um, Captain?” Soap called over hesitantly, standing further into the trees, shielded from the sun by the enveloping canopy of thick branches and leaves above him. “Guys, you need to take a look over here.” The team were all immediately filled with worry as they turned to where Soap was looking down behind a thick tree trunk. They made their way over, and Price followed behind them. The boys made a gap for their Captain to look at what Soap was indicating to show them.

Your helmet, your pack, your rifle. All strewn on the grassy forest floor. Price saw your radio and bent down to pick it up. It was smashed to pieces. He thought back to when he had tried to contact you at the helo, how not even static made it through his comms. Now it all made sense. Someone had done this to your radio. Someone was up here with you.

“Fuck,” Ghost said, focusing everyone’s attention on him as he picked up your helmet, looking at it intently.

“What is it, Ghost?” Price asked, tossing the broken radio to the floor with a soft thump. Ghost turned the helmet over in his gloved hand, and the boys’ eyes widened simultaneously. Blood. Flecks of it all over your helmet. There was quite a bit of it. The red flecks scattered to your pack too, dried into the camo material, flaking off from the heat of the sun.

Nobody wanted to say it. There wasn’t a body to prove it. But they were all thinking it.

“She’s not dead,” Price said, practically reading his team’s minds, not sure if he was trying to convince his men, or himself. Probably both. “She’s not.”

“Price, I don’t want to say it, but I don’t think there’s any other explanation, hermano,” Vargas pointed out, placing a hand on Price’s shoulder. The captain brushed his hand off after a few seconds, turning to face his men. 

“She’s not dead. There would be a body.”

“They could have taken the body.”

“If they shot her here, there would be more blood. A lot more,” Price pointed to the ground that was evidently not caked in blood. “There’s nothing here. Someone took her. They had to have taken her somewhere else.”

It made sense. And it helped the team cope with the fact that you could still be alive. There could still be a chance to find you.

“Hassan.” Everyone looked to Soap.

“What?” Gaz asked, cocking his head. 

“Hassan got out of our hands. He could have taken her as payback for us trying to take him. He could still have her, we have to find him to find her.”

Price nodded, looking around before grabbing your gear that was left on the ground. “Kill two birds with one stone. We find Hassan, if he’s taken Rook then we get the information out of him until he tells us where she is. I don’t care what we have to do. This whole Hassan mission isn’t over until we’re a full team again.”

Everyone agreed. Even if it meant tracking Hassan again, fuck knows where he could be. But this wasn’t just to stop a terrorist from hurting the world more than it already was, this was to find one of their own. They wouldn’t stop until they did.

-

Price hadn’t left the briefing room all day. He’d been monitoring the computers with Parra, searching for any sort of indication where Hassan could have gone. They’d looked into the path Hassan and his men had taken for their escape, seeing that it led into a small town and out to the highway. From there they could have gone anywhere. That felt like a dead end, but Price had to keep his head. He still had the third missile to find which could be anywhere in the world at this point. And he still had to find you. 

“How’s the Captain doing?” Soap asked Alejandro as he sat with them in the food hall. It was the first time they’d eaten since the mission the day before. It didn’t hit them how hungry they were until they’d returned to base a second time without you. The team were tucking into their food and Ghost was picking at the paint on the table with his fingernails. Nobody really knew what to do. It sort of felt empty without the whole team there. With no leads to go on, no mission to advance to, they were kind of left in the dark for now.

“He’s…well, I really don’t know. He and Parra have been searching the traffic cams and sending out drones to track for the convoy, but still haven’t found anything. I got some guys to check airports in case Hassan had a plane to get out of the country, but we came up empty there too. He’s a fucking shadow and we’ve got no idea which dark corner he’s hiding in now.”

It felt as though there was no hope anymore. Every opportunity they’d had to catch Hassan had been futile. All for nothing. They really were chasing at shadows with no advantage, no intel to give them the upper hand in this fight.

The boys finished their food and went back to their rooms for some much needed sleep. Ghost stayed for a little longer in the food hall, feeling Alejandro pat his shoulder before retreating back to Parra and seeing if there were any updates. Ghost assumed there wouldn’t be. He was never the optimistic type, and right now he wished he was a little more optimistic. But he couldn’t say with full certainty that you were alive, as much as he wanted to. It pained him to think you were dead, but he’d prefer confirmation of that rather than chasing for someone who had slim chances of living through the night with one of the most notorious criminals the 141 had come to face.

Seeing a shadow pass the table, Ghost looked up to see Price sitting opposite him with a bowl of broth in front of him. But he wasn’t really eating it, the Cpatain just stirred the liquid around in a circle with his spoon. “Feels like we’re running around in circles. Just dogs chasing a bone that we never catch, huh?” Price sounded defeated, sad almost. It was all written in his voice. He sounded like a man who had lost so much. With no way to get it back.

“Price,” Ghost started, not really knowing where he was going with this, but knowing he needed his Captain to stay focused for this. “I know that we didn’t find her this time, and it’s shit. But we will. We just gotta keep our heads. I know that Rook means something to you, and I get you want her back, we all do. But if we start getting emotional and irrational over this, letting Graves worm his way into our heads, there’s no way we’ll find her or Hassan in time.”

Price sighed, knowing how right his Lieutenant was, as much as he didn’t want to admit it. He also purposefully didn’t act on the fact that Ghost mentioned that you meant something to him. “I got my head clear. We’re gonna find them. I don’t-I don’t know what to do if we don’t.” Ghost noticed how Price’s voice cracked slightly as he finished his sentence. He said nothing. He knew Price well enough, he was a strong Captain. The strongest Ghost had ever worked with. Nothing fazed him anymore. But losing you in that mission did something to him. Ghost hadn’t seen him this way before. It worried him. 

-

Price’s room was rather bland. Empty walls, not many personal effects on his shelves or bedside table aside from his cigarettes, a white lighter and two pictures. One of himself and his mother before he left for his first tour, the second of his dog the last time he was able to see her before shipping out here.

He walked to the bathroom, shedding himself of his clothes and hanging them on the rails beside the sink. He looked into the mirror, met with a sullen face and lines starting to crease on his forehead. There was dried blood on his hands. Your blood. He looked away, cringing at the thought of you in pain. 

Price’s eyes travelled up his hands to his arms. The scars littered there, all reminders of his past. The wars he’d fought. The people he’d brought down. He wore them like a badge of honour, motivation that he’d come out of any fight he took on with his life.

He showered for longer than he usually did, using the water to rid his body of the disdain he felt for himself. The droplets fell from his head to his shoulders as he ran his calloused hands along his scalp. He looked to his feet, watching your blood run past his ankles and down into the drain. He squeezed his eyes closed, not wanting to think about what happened to you. Were you alright? Were you even…alive? He had to believe you were, or he was going to spiral. The rookie. His rookie. He had to find you.

-

Ghost, Soap, Gaz, Alejandro and Rodolfo all stood around the briefing table they’d been hovering around for hours since their short sleep. They were too on edge for sleep, they had been for months now. Months. It had been months since you disappeared from that mission, months with no lead on Hassan or his missile. He was waiting them out, taunting them with the knowledge that he had a missile somewhere, but the 141 were still to track it down. 

Soap had just stared at the ceiling meaninglessly, Ghost had given up after ten minutes, going to the gym and taking his frustration out on a punching bag. Gaz paced his floors until he practically wore a hole into his socks, and the cowboys were in Alejandro’s room discussing tactics to take their mind off things. Your loss broke the boys more than they’d realised.

Shepherd had been on their asses, well specifically Price’s ass, for a while now. 

You need to locate that missile. You need to stop Hassan and whatever plans he has for it. The rookie isn’t your priority, the fate of the world’s safety is. This isn’t what the 141 was made for, running after ghosts and chasing dead ends. You boys need to keep your heads on straight. People are lost in war, and you shut up and deal with it.

Price didn’t forget those words. Yes, the missile was important, and bringing down Hassan had been their goal for almost a year now. But if there was any chance that you could still be there, slim or otherwise, by God he would find a way. He didn’t forget those words, but he certainly wasn’t about to live by them.

Their eyes whipped to the tent as Price stormed through, a face of thunder and the stride of ten men in his step. His shadow harrowed the tent lit by dim candlelight, bringing a fatal sense of darkness to the room.

“We need a plan. Now.” His tone made Soap nervous. It was too low, too dangerously deep. He hadn’t spoken like this for years. Nothing good ever came from it. “We’ve been thinking about planning for months. Months that we could have been out there, scouting, looking for something. Anything!” The boys jumped to attention as Price’s fist slammed on the table. Ghost remained stoic as ever, his eyes flicking between Price and Soap, who was looking at his too with knowing eyes. Price was losing his grip. They could all tell. “We have a rookie to find. We have Hassan to take down. We’ve got a goddamn missile to stop and none of you can come up with shit!”

“Captain, we’ve been surveilling the cameras, tracking down every known associate of Hasan’s we can. They’re all either dead or in the wind. Unless he pops his head out of his cave, we can’t-”

“I don’t need your fucking excuses, Gaz,” Price seethed. “I need answers. I need a goddamn idea of whatever the fuck you’ve been doing to help, instead of walking around with your heads in your asses. Do you even want to find her? Do you even want to find Hassan?”

“Of course we do, Price!” Soap interjected, the room becoming a little too heated for Ghost’s liking as he watched the confrontation from the corner silently. “We just have nothing to go on. Without Graves’ help, we can’t get out in the helo’s whenever we need to. We don’t have the right equipment here to track them faster.”

“Well that’s not good enough!” Price’s voice could have silenced an army. The candles flickered and the air went cold. Nobody spoke. Nobody even looked him in the eye. Ghost made the first move.

“Captain,” he said softly, watching Price sigh , pushing his fist against the table before leaning up to meet Ghost’s eye. Ghost gestured his head to the flowing tent flaps as they blew in the wind. Price followed silently, walking past his men who all looked at the table, the boys not daring to speak until their Captain left the room. 

Outside the tent, Price lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Ghost just watched, leaning against the fence line with his arms crossed, eyes trained on his captain. Price’s shoulders were tense, even through his shirt, Ghost could tell. His jaw clenched, his eyes dark. The man was trying to keep his team and himself together. But it was falling apart. Everything was falling apart in front of him.

“Captain, I-”

“I’m sorry.” Price practically whispered it, but it was loud enough to stop Ghost in his tracks. “I just, it’s all going wrong. We haven’t been this stuck on a mission, time is running out. Maybe time already has ran out, I don’t know. I need something. Anything. Just confirmation or something that’ll tell me what happened.” He hung his head sorrowfully. Ghost had never seen him so out of his game before.

“Look, we get it, okay? But if there’s a time we need to work as a team, its now more than ever. You speech may have made Soap shit his pants back there, but those types of talks are gonna break us apart,” Ghost pointed out, laying a hand on Price’s shoulder, patting it roughly. “And we need our Captain if we’re gonna complete our mission and bring everyone home.”

Soap came running out of the main tent, surprisingly breathless from how little a distance he’d moved. “Guys. The screen…we got…jesus that was exhausting.”

“Spit it out, Soap,” Price rolled his eyes.

“We got a live feed link. You have to come to the tent.” The urgency in Soap’s voice proned concern on both Price and Ghost’s faces. Price flicked his cigarette away and the three of them ran back inside with haste.

The boys stood looking at the screen before them, watching the events unfold. It was hard to watch, but none of them took their eyes off the screen for one second. Nobody breathed. Nobody spoke.

The screen went black after a few minutes, and everyone was left in shock, staring at the screen as though something else would appear and ease their building anger and pain. But nothing did.

“We need to track that link,” Price said through gritted teeth. “We track that feed, we find them.”

“On it,” Parra said quickly before moving to the monitors as a hastened pace. He worked on the live feed while the rest of the team looked at one another with one thought in their heads.

If they moved quickly enough, there could still be hope. Maybe.

II

taglist:

@cumbermovels @lacunaanonymoused

[imfluentinfangirlandgay]

A Father's Resolve - Ch 9

Ingo returns after a decade - with two extra cars in tow. Years later, his kids are swallowed up by time in the same way he was. Will he be able to find them? Will they be able to make it out alive?

Word Count: ~3000

The twins wound their way through the Heartwood to hopefully find this Warden that they'd been told about. Their teams were trained up decently and they were having a grand time trying to write about Buneary. 

“Lookit her!” Akari squealed. “She's so cute!” She ruffled the soft down of the little rabbit she'd caught. It flicked its ear at her in annoyance. Rei did have to admit it was adorable, even if it had a horrible attitude. 

“I got that Silcoon we saw. I'd say let's see what this Warden wants and how to study Kleavor.” Rei tossed a ball in the air and caught it idly as his sister caught up to him on the dirt path, shaking the water from her shoes. She'd fallen in the stream trying to scramble back from a suddenly-livid Psyduck. 

“Fine.” 

Rei rounded the corner, seeing some man-made structures come up in his field of vision. A gateway appeared down the path, with some stone bowls carved from a large boulder in the middle of the arch. And in front of this stood a boy wearing soft pink and a hat that Rei could only describe as a cowboy hat. He was maybe ten with red curly hair and a stern expression on his young face, still trimmed with baby fat. 

Rei stared at the hat. He'd seen it before-

“That's Clay's hat,” Akari whispered to him in Unovan. “Remember fighting his Excadrill? That's totally it. Look at the gem.” She was right. The same green jewel set in the hat, square and sparkling, surrounded by gold trim on white leather. 

“Didn't… didn't Clay say his family was from another region? That they immigrated to Unova?” Rei murmured back. 

Akari simply nodded. 

This was getting weird. First their mother, now Clay's… grandfather? Great-grandfather? More generations? And he was younger than them! 

“I'm Lian, Warden of the Lord of the Woods, Kleavor. You're here to see the mighty Kleavor, ain't ya?” the boy called to them in greeting. Even his voice sounded like a younger version of Clay's! The boy crossed his arms, a smug look on his face. “I can see it on ya. You heard about his awesome power and now he's only become even more powerfully awesome.” He smirked into the crook of his elbow as the twins stepped up to him, finally. “That bolt of lightning charged him… maybe it was almighty Sinnoh's doing? Either way, as much as it pains me, I must turn you away.” 

“But we need to!” Akari blurted out. Lian's eyes flicked to her. He grinned slyly. 

“I must commend your passion, but unfortunately it is not safe. I have been given order by Irida to not let anyone see him right now. So back out now, lest you face the wrath of my Goomy.” 

“I accept,” Akari said before Rei could even think. 

“Akari-” 

“Back up.” She shoved him back and cleared a small space for a battle. Lian sighed and whistled. A small pokemon appeared from behind the stone bowls, a purple blob of a creature. Rei hadn't actually seen a Goomy before but he decided he needed to find one because this thing was perfect. A dopey smile graced what could be called its ‘face’  it had two small eyes and a big grin and it slowly trailed along and Rei needed to get a Goomy right now. 

“Goomy, let's try to ooze some sense into these interlopers!” Goomy gave a cry of challenge and oozed its way to the battlefield. 

Akari picked a ball carefully and tossed it out. Riptide, newly evolved, gave a small cry of its own. It stanced itself up, preparing for a long battle… 

That did not last long. 

Riptide did not take very long to tear through the small Goomy. It was clear that although the boy cared deeply for his partner, it was not very well-trained. He sagged a bit as he conceded defeat. “I still can’t let you through,” he sighed. “It is too dangerous. No one can get through to my Lord- Irida?” 

The twins turned to see the girl behind them, watching with wide, sad blue eyes. “Lord Kleavor is descended from a pokemon blessed by almighty Sinnoh itself. I did not want to have to throw up our hands and ask for help from an outsider but… every moment that he remains like this, the danger grows. If he hurts more people and pokemon, it may cause problems with the Diamond Clan and the Galaxy Team.” She paused, knitting her brows. “I hear that it was that bolt of strange lightning that changed him. Perhaps it was sent by that faulty god the Diamond Clan worships…?” Rei had to restrain himself from pointing out how stupid that sounded. “Regardless, do you both have any ideas how to help him? We care greatly for Kleavor; he means a great deal to our Clan. We do not want him to be hurt.” 

Rei glanced at his sister, who shrugged. It was obvious that they may be on their own with this one. It was hard to say what was wrong with him what they hadn’t even seen him yet. “We’ll figure something out,” was all Rei said. 

“Excellent!” Irida cut between the two and approached Lian, who still stood proud, even if Rei could now see the cracks in his small facade. He was just a boy with a big job he couldn’t handle by himself - and it tore him up on the inside. Rei could see how his eyes darted around, how they desperately scanned Irida’s face for some semblance of good news. How his small hands shook. “Lian and I will gather some of Kleavor’s favorite foods in an attempt to get close enough to make a proper offering. As for you, try to find a way to quell his frenzy, even if you must traverse every corner of Hisui!” 

The twins took that as a dismissal and nodded, turning and striding away. Once out of earshot, Rei asked Akari in Unovan, “What are we even supposed to do? I still don’t know what all this is about.” 

Akari debated as they snuck around the alpha Bibarel, staying quiet until they had passed by safely and were heading up Deertrack Heights. “Let’s ask Laventon. He’s a scientist, right? Maybe he’d have a clue.” 

—----------------------

Emmet shivered as he pulled his coat a little tighter around him. Why was the office so cold? He glanced up over the pile of paperwork he had in front of him, checking the face of the clock on the wall. The little train-shaped hand had a smokestack that pointed to the number five. It was already almost 6:30? Emmet leaned back in his chair, sighing to himself as his back popped. How long had it been since he’d moved? Four hours? His gaze traveled the room as he sat motionless in the cold. 

The walls had several framed photos and posters. The posters were mainly older Gear Station signs and advertisements for past events they had done, like a battle bracket one year for challengers or a holiday or New Year’s event. Emmet’s favorite was the spooky one, personally. Ingo always liked the spring decorations, the small flowers and the pastel colors. The twins had been split on the battle bracket and, for Rei, the scavenger hunt to collect every sticker hidden away on the platforms. The prize for finding them all was an authentic conductor’s hat, though he’d never cared for that. He had plenty. 

There were several photos dotting the area around the two desks, as well. Photos of himself and his team, Ingo and his teams (from Hisui and Unova, as he hadn’t had the chance to release his Hisui team before returning), the twins as they grew up, both with and without their starters, Elesa with all four of them, even a family reunion photo with Drayden and Iris and their extended family on his side. Emmet’s favorite had to be the one he kept on his desk, from when the twins were younger. Ingo’s kids were maybe eight years old, staring intently into the water under Tubeline Bridge, watching for any sort of movement. That is, until Iris had sent her Lapras into the water to prank them, having it pop its head out and making the two scramble back onto the bank with a strangled yelp, landing in a very undignified way on the muddy land on their bottoms. The photo had been taken just as the twins were yelling, Lapras’s face in a soft smile as it ‘greeted’ them. Iris was already in stitches, doubled over in laughter. Even Drayden had chuckled, his eyes shut in merriment, leaving Emmet to laugh openly. Only Ingo hadn’t truly laughed, though his eyes had twinkled as he held it in and made sure they were alright. Other than some bruised pride, they had been perfectly fine. 

He looked at the goofy photo. Emmet had pulled out his camera as soon as he’d seen Iris sneakily send her pokemon into the water someway upstream. It had been taken just downstream, so he could get everyone’s faces from afar. The kids’ eyes were wide as they leapt back - the photo still had them in mid-air, their arms blurry from reeling backwards. Emmet felt that familiar grin creeping up his face as he studied the photo. It always made him smile. Lapras had offered itself to being petted as an apology afterwards, and had even ferried the kids around on its shell for a bit on the water. 

Emmet sighed. He put the photo back and stood up, stretching. A deep sense of melancholy settled itself into his ribcage, sitting more heavy than a stone. His face drooped. It was much harder to make memories like that when the person - or rather, people, in this case - were missing. 

He checked his phone. A message from Drayden checking in, that he hadn’t heard anything yet about the missing kids, but he’d keep searching, he would always keep searching. Iris hadn’t heard anything, either. 

Keep up your hopes, Emmet. They aren’t gone for good. You told me that the first time we went through this, and I know you know it now.

Emmet typed a response as he grabbed his stuff, his day bag now slung over his shoulder. He made sure to unceremoniously dump a bit of the paperwork on Ingo’s desk and to shove some of the more urgent items into his bag. You are correct. I know that. But I am not the one who needs convincing. 

A moment passed as Emmet grabbed his personal items and opened the door to the office. He shut off the lights as he did, making sure not to waste needless power. He made his way down the hallway, checking again for a message. To his surprise, there was one. Drayden usually did not answer this quickly. I’m sure. Perhaps me and Iris can stop by sometime. Try to break him out of the horrid spell I’m sure he’s still under. It’s been how long now? This was about the time you became despondent. 

He entered the control room. Two or three Agents milled about, checking in on the monitors and speaking in low tones. They looked up as Emmet entered and waved to him. “Everything steady?” Emmet asked them. 

“Sure is, Boss. Just passengers and us left for the night shift. Only engine Orange being ran for the overnight shift. All others are already in the warehouse being assessed and cleaned.” The olive-skinned woman pulled up a camera feed, making it larger on the biggest screen in the center. It showed several large engines being serviced by night crew.

“Perfect.” Emmet put a cup in the coffee maker by the door and pressed what flavor he wanted. Mostly black, just a bit of cream. “Need anything else from me? I know I disappeared today. Lots of paperwork to catch up on.” 

“I don’t think so, Boss.” A pale man with glasses swiveled in his chair to face him. “Have a good night. We’ll see ya back here tomorrow morning. Wish Boss Ingo our best.” The other Depot Agents nodded solemnly. Though it had never been formally announced that the kids were missing, they all certainly knew. It was taboo to talk about it in the station, but the Agents were always sure to leave kind regards and if Ingo didn’t come in for a few days, it was never mentioned. 

“You as well. All aboard,” Emmet responded, more out of habit than anything. He snagged his cup and placed a lid on top as he snuck out of the station. He checked his phone again, typing out a response to his uncle. If you want to see him acting more like a stale piece of bread than a human, consider yourself invited. It’s hard to get him to do anything these days. I’ve been holding down the Station more often than not. Even if he does go in, he just stares at the wall. I’ve never seen him so invested in a book in my entire life than the history books he reads. 

He waved to the Agent by the door as he swung open the glass doors to the station and swept out into the warm night. Emmet sighed in contentment as he clutched his coffee. The sky was that ethereal orange seen across Unova. Light pollution had its large claws sunk deep into the region, and unfortunately, no night was truly the inky black he remembered on his trip to Alola with Ingo all those years ago. Street lights threw that ugly yellow undertone to everything that they always did. Quite a few people were out tonight, though Emmet supposed that was normal for seven at night on a Thursday in the summer. He wondered if there were any events, musical or battle-oriented or otherwise, that were going on soon in Nimbasa. There was almost always something. He passed under the one that flickered as he walked, checking his device yet again. A certain someone else I can think of was much the same. We will come by this weekend. Don’t worry about making the house too clean, we’ve definitely seen worse. Emmet could almost hear his uncle’s soft chuckle that accompanied it. Is there anything we should bring as well? Food, pokemon treats, anything of that sort? 

I don’t think so, Emmet typed, walking under another street light. He could see the bus stop in the distance. A few others were already at the stop, waiting for the next bus to arrive. He stood just outside the covered bench, leaning on a lamp post as he typed. I need to do some grocery shopping soon, so let me know if you want anything specific to snack on. It’s mostly just me doing things in the house these days. The Joltik aren’t as rowdy, either. The next clutch hasn’t hatched just yet and most of last year’s have already relocated to Chargestone and the tunnels.

This will be your eighteenth clutch, correct? 

Emmet glanced up as he thought about when he had first started officially breeding them. It would have been toward the tail end of Ingo’s absence. Elesa had convinced him that he needed some hobby other than going to work all the time, and she had remembered him talking about getting into breeding when he was younger, so she had bought him a book about the basics of pokemon breeding. That must have been during the eighth year of Ingo’s disappearance, and if he’s having one clutch a year and its been about ten years since he reappeared-

“Subway Boss Emmet?” Emmet blinked himself from his thoughts and glanced around. The person who had spoken was an older woman sitting on the bench. No one else around paid them any mind, some with earbuds in, some engrossed in something on their Xtrans. 

“Hm?” Emmet hummed to the woman, alerting her that he’d heard what she’d said. He let his hand with the phone screen fall somewhat, turning his attention to her. 

The woman had very light hair, almost white, long and very wispy, held up in a dark hat. She also had a dark dress. It almost looked like she was dressed for a funeral. She smiled up at him, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening in the glow of the orange street lamp above them. “I heard about what happened recently. Things will become right again for you.” 

He blinked. Honestly, this left him at a loss for words. “I- uh. T-Thank you? Thank you.” He regained his composure. “It will take some time, but I know the tracks will be rideable once more.” 

She chuckled as she looked up. Emmet could see the bus in the distance. “It will indeed. My great-great niece would love you. She is very into history, you see, much like my nephew was… oh, what a strong-willed man, he was. Is! That never left him.” 

As she rambled, Emmet’s mind was reeling. Who was this woman? He didn’t think she’d ever seen him before. The fact that she recognized him by sight alone was nothing odd, he was something of a local celebrity, especially in uniform. He was about to ask what she meant when she glanced around again and shook her head. “It seems my stop is coming. I wish you could meet my lovely niece. She would want to talk to you for days about Hisui and the heroes-” 

“You know about Hisui?” Emmet asked incredulously. He needed to know more. He needed-

“Good luck, Emmet. Keep your brother strong. The children are looking for him.” The bus’s headlights engulfed his vision for a moment, making him blink. As soon as he opened his eyes to ask her what she meant, the bench was empty. Emmet whirled around, looking for the old woman, but she was nowhere to be seen. The door to the bus opened with a mechanical hiss. Other passengers began to climb aboard. Emmet gave one last glance around as he climbed aboard next, shivering under his coat, trying to shake the feeling of being watched. 

[First] - [Previous] - [Next]

[thomashoes]

Thinking about.... Thoma

i have had this idea for like two three months already and was not confident it would look great written down. but with motivations from my dear bestie, i thought why the hell not and decided to do it.

P.S

this actually took me three days to make--

thoma x reader

female reader

fluff, mentions of long distance relationship, sexual content and alcohol, very very mild cursing (like once)

Little backstory:

y/n is diluc's sister and she's in charge of dawn winery's innovative and international marketing. and basically she went to inazuma to conduct a research for the winery's novelty. thoma was her childhood friend before he left for inazuma. they reunited during her stay in inazuma and due to the vision hunt decree, a target has been placed on her back leading her to hide in the Kamisato Estate. after the decree was lifted she stayed for a while before heading back to mondstadt to help with the preparation of the weinlesfest festival uwu.

"Are you sure you got everything with you? Why don't we check your stuff again," Thoma fussed as he walked over to Y/N's bags to assess its contents in the guest room she has resided in for the past few months. Y/N rolled her eyes and followed him, "You don't need to worry about it, Mom. I quadruple checked them last night, so I'm pretty sure I have everything."

Thoma glanced at her before he dropped his shoulder in defeat, "I-I'm sorry. Maybe I'm anxious about you already leaving just when I finally got to see you again and... Ah, please ignore what I was trying to say." he fretfully confessed. Y/N exhaled and felt her heart drum against her chest, it did pain her to leave but she still had duties as Dawn Winery's marketing manager. She reached out to grab the back of Thoma's shirt, "Hey... I know this is hard for you, it is to me also. But I promise to you that I will come and visit once a month and stay for at least a week. We can make this work, please trust me. Trust us, Thoma."

The blond turned to face her and saw that she looked ready to cry so he extended his arms and embraced her. "I do trust us, Y/N. I'm just...going to miss you a lot," he whispered against the crown of her head. Y/N looked up at his green orbs before her eyes darted down to his lips and Thoma saw this and took it as a hint to lean in for a kiss. The kiss lasted for as long as they could breathe and when they parted, Y/N whimpered as tears fell down her face.

"I don't want to go," she cried as she held onto him tighter. "But I'm an adult who is in charge of a company for booze so I have to go help my brother." Y/N pitifully whined against his chest.

Thoma laughed at her as his own tears started to roll down, "That's right, you are, as you always put it, a strong independent woman. And now you have another responsibility to return to."

With those words uttered by Thoma, Y/N cried a little bit harder and said the something along the lines of 'I hate being an adult'.

<<~~~~~~~~~~>>

On the morning of her trip back to Mondstadt, Thoma held her hand the entire time waiting for her ship to be ready to go. He rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand as he watched the sun rise.

"You know, with the amount of times we watched both sunrise and sunsets together, this is probably the worst one yet," Y/N grumbled to him. Thoma simply hummed as an answer as he watched Captain Beidou approach them.

"Good morning, love birds! The ship is ready to go in a bit so you two better say your goodbyes now," Beidou greeted the two of the then her red eyes caught the marks on Y/N's neck and gave Thoma a mischievous look. "But it looks like you already did one hell of a farewell last night."

Y/N's face turned as red as her face as she sputtered excuses as to what the marks were while Thoma awkwardly laughed. Beidou let out a loud laugh and waved a hand so Y/N would stop, "I'm just messing with you. What you should be worried about is your brothers' reaction when they see those."

The lovers froze as they realized that the captain was right. Y/N looked at Thoma while holding back laughter, "Well, it was fun while it lasted, Thoma." she teased him bringing Thoma out his thoughts. He sighed and pinched her side which caused her yelp, "Please don't joke about that, Y/N."

A pout formed on her face as she looked back at Beidou, "He can be such a huge meanie sometimes but that's exactly my type." Y/N bantered to Beidou in which the captain shook her head in amusement and Thoma cleared his throat. Just as Y/N was about to add more, a crewmate ඞ approached Beidou and announced every thing was ready for the trip back to Liyue.

"Could you please give us a minute, Captain Beidou?" Thoma requested solemnly as his grip on Y/N's hand tightened. Beidou nodded in understanding before she left them for their final adieu.

As soon as Beidou was gone, Y/N swiftly moved to hug Thoma tightly while attempting to sway the both of them sideways. Her lover laughed at her actions before he hugged back and kissed her head, "Write to me as soon as you get there safely, okay, darling?" he whispered to her. Y/N, once again, had tears slowly gather in her eyes then bobbed her head as she could not find the strength to speak without her voice cracking.

Y/N felt Thoma's hands move from her waist to her face, his gloved hands cradled her as he gazed into her eyes lovingly, "Can I please get a verbal response from my sweetheart?" he goaded as a smirk formed on his lips. Y/N rolled her, now dry, eyes while she blushed a pale shade of red, "Way to ruin the mood but yes, I promise to send a letter to my dear lover even if I have to use my brother's eagle if I have to."

Smug from her answer, he placed a chaste kiss on her lips, "Good girl."

This man was testing her patience. With a growl, she gripped his face and gave a hard kiss on his lips before she turned around and left without glancing back at him. She heard Thoma's joyful laugh that filled her heart with happiness as she boarded up to The Crux.

She watched as Thoma's figure began to get smaller as the ship moved away from Ritou. With a final wave of her arm, Y/N moved to sit on the ship's deck, heart weighing like a thousands of bricks.

Unaware of the footsteps that advanced towards her, she curled up into a ball and mumbled out her objectives once she steps foot on to Liyue Harbor. "You might want to get rid of those marks to save your brothers from getting a heart attack," a gentle voice interrupted her. Y/N moved her focus to the person who was standing in front of her and squinted her eyes from the brightness of the sun.

"Oh, hey, Kazuha. Still traveling with Beidou?" she asked the young man. Kazuha smiled at her before proceeded to offer his hand to help her stand up. Y/N thanked him and accepted it and was immediately lifted onto her feet. "Well, the life of traveling has become my life after years and staying in one place didn't feel right for me," Kazuha explained to her as he watched her pat the dust off her pants. "And must I repeat what I said about those markings on your neck?"

A snort left her mouth as she placed her hands on her hips, "I heard you the first time, no need. Also, Kaeya would applaud me like the supportive brother he is. Diluc, on the other hand, would be the one having a heart attack." Y/N clarified. "Also, yes I do need to get rid of these. I just don't know how." she added sheepishly. Kazuha chuckled and nodded his head, "Yes, of course. Do forgive me for assuming wrong." Kazuha gestured to the ship's accommodation, "If you could follow me, I can help with getting rid of those for you."

"Oh my Archons, please. I can handle my brothers well but definitely not Adelinde's persistence." Y/N groaned and moved to follow Kazuha.

"Oh um, why do you know how to get rid of hick--"

"Don't worry about it." :)

<<~~~~~~~~~~>>

A week has passed since Y/N left Inazuma to help with the preparations for Mondstadt's Weinlesefest Festival and she had finally successfully created a new drink exclusive for the event namely the Fruits of the Festival.

Y/N then found herself seated on Dawn Winery's dinner table alongside her two brothers, Diluc and Kaeya, The Traveler and Paimon. It was an extremely rare moment (read: never) to have both her brothers sit on the dinner table and enjoy a meal without them attempting to go at each other. The Traveler and Paimon shared their adventures in Liyue and Inazuma then explained to the two men how they knew their sister.

"Oh, that's right! Before we left Inazuma, Y/N mentioned something about wanting to reconnect an old bridge with an old friend. How did it go with Thoma, Y/N?" Paimon innocently queried.

The sister's attempt in getting a small spoonful of her Moon Pie failed miserably as her fingers slipped and her utensil flew off her hand and onto the floor. Her brothers directed their attention back to her, one with an accusatory look and the other with interest.

"Thoma as in the boy who gave you a flower crown when you were 5? He's alive?" Diluc grumbled as he leaned in onto the table, his red eyes staring into his sister's soul. A chuckle sounded from her left, "Well, Diluc, do you know any other boys our dear sister has ever been with?" Kaeya poked fun at their eldest, placing his head on the palm of his hand. "There are more boys?" Diluc deadpanned.

Y/N buried her face into her hands in embarrassment and silently cursed at Paimon and her blabbing, "Yes, Diluc, the same boy who gave me the cecilia flower crown and Kaeya please don't make this worse."

Adelinde neared her side of the table and quietly placed a new spoon for her to use as she tenderly rubbed her back as if to noiselessly encourage her. She whispered her thanks and leaned back on her chair and looked at Diluc, "I will try my best to give a brief 'summary' of what exactly happened to me in Inazuma and spare you the...intimate parts."

"Oh? You have been intimate with him then."

"I would appreciate it if you do not open your mouth for the rest of the night, Kaeya, if you don't want to take Thoma's place from being throttled."

After a not-so-long explanation of Y/N's Inazuma exploitation which was mostly interrupted by Diluc's unnecessary comments and Kaeya's teasing remarks which made Y/N blush hard.

Diluc eyed his sister with squinted eyes as he tried to process the information she gave him. After a minute, he eventually gave in and slowly stood up from the table, "So long as he protected you and is trusted by the traveler, I will trust him as well. However, before I give my final verdict, I would like to meet him."

And with that said, he trudged away the table and up to his office. The table was silent after Diluc left but quickly recovered as Y/N let out a loud groan. "Oh my Archons, that was more difficult than confessing my feelings." she whined as she grabbed the bottle of wine and poured more into her glass. "At least you managed to tell him without those lovey-dovey details you gave me," Kaeya mused as he took a sip of his wine.

Paimon nods her head in agreement, "You got that right! It was almost sickening to witness the so-called confession when all they did was kis-"

"PAIMON, ZIP IT BEFORE I TURN YOU INTO A STICKY HONEY ROAST!"

Kaeya laughed at his sister going at it with the traveler's flying companion. His shoulders weighed less now that he sees his sister safe and happy, "I will be rooting for you and Thoma, dear sister. Wouldn't want to see you at Cape Oath once again slaughtering the poor slimes."

Y/N seized her body and her fingers hastily found each other and began to fidget, "...Well, if Thoma isn't the man who can make me feel this way, I wouldn't miss him so much that it almost hurts. Almost-- DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, PAIMON!"

"If that's the case, should we expect a little niece or nephew any time soon?"

"Kaeya for the last time--"

<<~~~~~~~~~~>>

The Windcoming Day has finally arrived and the people of Mondstadt gathered around Springvale for the toasting ceremony, their spirits filled with radiance and elation. However, Y/N was not feeling the same spirits as them as she walked towards the Statue of the Seven at Windrise. Y/N bowed her head and held her hands together, her silent prayer to the Anemo Archon flowed along the wind.

"I knew I felt a familiar presence nearby!" a friendly voice chirped from behind her. She sighed and turned around and saw the green-clad bard gently smiling at her, "Why did I think you wouldn't hear me?" she rhetorically asked under her breath.

Venti placed a hand to his chest in feign hurt, "What kind of God would I be if I would not be able to hear my children's prayers? Of course I'd hear you! I normally just don't show up in person." he playfully answered her. "So what ails my dear child's heart and who is this lad that managed to pull on your strings with such vigor."

Y/N exhaled and hugged herself before she responded, "It's not that important, really. I just...miss him much more than I thought. I have never really felt like this before with my past, uh, partners." she woefully mumbled before she shook her head. "Ugh, why am I even telling you this when you should be worrying about your so-called appearance later as Barbatos."

The Anemo Archon walked up to her and stood next to her, his green eyes wandered up the statue, "You know, I'm actually surprised you came here and prayed to me. I haven't heard you pray in years, made me believe you lost your faith in me."

"If I were to be honest with you, I did lose my faith after two very important people in my life within a week." she confessed quietly to the Archon next to her. "However, after witnessing how you worked when Dvalin was brainwashed by The Abyss Order, my faith seemed to return little by little."

She felt Venti stand a bit straighter as his ego rise, she rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her hip. "My faith in Barbatos returned, but my faith in Venti? Yeah, I'm not so sure about that." she teased him.

"Your words wound me sometimes, Lady Y/N! Never mind that, I would like to hear more of your troubles before we set off to Springvale for the toasting ceremony." Venti offered, a smile on his face emerged as he saw Y/N facial features softened at the thought of her beloved.

<<~~~~~~~~~~>>

"Do my eyes deceive me or is that Miss Lisa I see?" Y/N expressed playfully. Lisa giggled at her, "Oh my, hello there Miss Y/N. Fancy seeing you at a festival for once. Is it safe to assume that you don't have any work to do?" Lisa poked fun at her, her signature smirk formed on her lips. Y/N waved a hand at her, "Please, I still have to go and check Angel's Share's stall in a bit to make sure every thing is going smoothly. Are you here for Razor? I spoke with the traveler about them helping the poor boy recreate the wine his late parents made."

Lisa sighed as her eyes softened a bit, "Yes, I actually came here since I was still concerned but I spoke with my little wolf cub and reassured me that the wine-making went smoothly." she disclosed to Y/N. She nodded her head, feeling relieved to hear that it went well.

The two continued to chat until the Acting Grand Master stood up on the small stage set up to greet everyone and announce Venti's performance.

As Venti performed, his soothing voice drifted along the wind as too his lyre's tune. The audience was silent and watched him beautifully presented his composition.

When he finished, the crowd applauded him as they preached, "To the Anemo Archon!"

Y/N robotically excused herself from Lisa and silently moved to their stall. She would've approached the traveler's group, but she felt ill and anxious at the joyous event being held as she never really was one for such affair.

She busied herself at the back of the stall, checking the amount of barrels they had in stock as she was feeling restless. When she was about to clean the countertop when she felt the wind pick up, the stall's bell chimed along. She moved her hands to tie up her hair when she heard a whisper that came along the wind.

"Ease thy heart filled with woe; for the wind has brought home your beau."

Y/N froze and her heart sped up its pace, "What do you mean by that?" she whispered, half expecting Venti would respond, as she finished up tying her hair. She continued to clean the countertop in an attempt to stop thinking about what the wind whispered while she inaudibly cursed at Venti for sending the wind instead of himself, footsteps approached the stall.

She mentally prepared herself to interact with the customer and mustered up her best customer service voice, "Welcome to Angel's Share! What would you like to- Holy shit!"

Immediately she slapped her hands to her mouth, ignoring the stinging pain on both her hands and face as her eyes felt hot as she stared at the person in shock.

Thoma gave her his best smile and waved, "Hi, I would like to have your special Fruits of the Festival please. Oh and if it's allowed, I would love it if I could speak with the barkeeper." he requested gleefully.

"What are you doing here?" was the smartest sentence she gave to him. Thoma chuckled and pulled out a sheet of paper, "My Lord actually bought me ticket behind my back and said something along the lines of 'take this long overdue vacation back to Mondstadt and enjoy your time their at the festival' before he practically kicked me out hahaha."

Without any thought, she quickly moved out of the stall and wrapped her arms around him, "What the hell, remind me to punch Ayato in the face next time." Y/N mumbled as tears managed to escape her eyes. Thoma hugged her back tighter and swayed them side to side.

They pulled back and Y/N immediately grabbed his face and kissed him to which he reciprocated. The people whistled and cheered at the couple while The Traveler and Paimon covered Klee's eyes.

"You're here," she whispered against his lips as soon as they pulled apart, her thumbs rubbed the apples of his cheeks. "How long would you be staying here?" she asked.

Thoma mirrored her motions and smiled at her, "I'll be here for a really long time, darling."

Y/N's breath hitched as she looked up to her lover's eyes, "What do you mean by that?" she asked him. Thoma held her hands and leaned into her touch, "My Lord not only bought me the tickets for a month's of vacation but also offered a proposal that within the month I can choose to either stay here for good or I can return home to Inazuma. I had enough time to think about it on the way here and I chose that my home is where you are." he explained to her.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Thoma chose to stay with her in Mondstadt when he has told her countless times that he felt at home in Inazuma despite being homesick. "Wait are you sure you don't need more time to think about this? Where will you stay? Does your mom know you're back? Oh my Archons, I haven't visited your mom yet either-"

"Darling," Thoma interrupted her rambles. "Like I said, I had enough time to think about this. I will be staying with my mother before getting my own place to stay, so you don't need to worry about that."

Y/N bit her lip as she contemplated the situation. She has dreamed about this moment and now that it's happening, she began feeling unsure. She shook her head to get rid of the negative thoughts and smiled up at him, "You have no idea how long I've wanted you to come to Mondstadt with me."

Thoma laughed and kissed the palm of her hand, "I'm pretty sure you have been asking me for months back in Inazuma." Y/N moved her hand to fiddle with the collar of his jacket and smirked, "So I really got you now, huh." she teased as she leaned in for another kiss.

"You really do got me, Mi'lady. I'm all yours."

"That's really cute you're using that tone on me right now but I think you have to meet my brothers first before we do anything here."

"O-Oh, right."

*scrambles off the messy heap of pillows* IM FINALLY DONE

this was so hard to make bc i wanted this to be written perfectly but i still feel like its missing smth and its a bit rushed (also maybe bc every time i write them being lovely i get jealous :>) anyways, hope y'all enjoyed this one!

[hellishere7980]

After Happily Ever After

He always knew it would be a bad idea. Even when she was Ladybug. He first saw her on a screen on Tim’s laptop. Gorgeous blue eyes. Freckled skin like chocolate chips on a cake. A deep commanding look on her face, which he usually saw on the faces of seasoned heroes like Batman or Superman or Wonder Woman. She looked around his physical age. Not that it was a true measuring unit. He'd been around for a couple of years and still looked 18. Yeah, but the first thing that came into his mind when he saw her was the word ‘pretty’. More specifically, that she looked pretty.

But he never had an opportunity to directly talk to her. Wonder Woman, Zatana and John were in charge of the communication from the Parisian heroes and the Bats were only backing up as detectives, aiming to find her villain. He first had the opportunity to meet her when she first stepped into the tower as ‘Lady Miracle’, finally defeating her villain.

They were all standing around in the watchtower as she and Wonder Woman walked in. His surprise must have shown on his face because Rob was trying to elbow him in his gut to get his mouth closed and Clark and Jon were smirking at him.

Wonder Woman gave them a quick review of the situation in France and then the main founders left for their meeting while the ‘sidekicks’ hung around as so helpfully said by Green Lantern(Hal- the git). The younger school-going superheroes were also sent back. Yeah, but it gave the young heroes a perfect opportunity to chat with Lady Miracle. Which Bart helpfully emphasized by running up to her first.

“Hey, what's up? How are you doing?” Bart said, shaking her hand. Classic speedster style.

If Lady Miracle was shocked by it, she didn't let it show on her face. “Yeah, I'm doing good. Defeated my villain and all. Finally my schedule was cleaned up a bit.”

And of course, that had to catch Nightwing’s attention. “You mean to tell me that you didn't drop out of school?”

“Why would I?” Lady Miracle asked.

“So how did you take care of the akuma-ta-ta?” Bart asked.

“First of all, it's Akuma. Come on, say it with me a–”

“A–” Repeated Bart.

“Ku–ma”

“Ku-maai”

“Close enough.” Lady Miracle said with a smile.

“Anyway, getting back to the topic.” Red Robin said. “How the hell did you manage that?”

“I made up excuses like– ‘Miss, I wanna go to the bathroom.’ or ‘I need to help my parents out at the–their business’ or something.” Lady Miracle said, shrugging her shoulders.

“So you mean to say your parents know?” Nightwing asked.

“WHAT? No. They don't know. Hopefully they'll never find out.”

“But why not?” Superboy(elder) asked.

“I really don't like talking about it, sorry.”

“No problem.” Superboy answered before one of the detective boys could jump in and insist on an answer.

“We all have something we don't want to talk about, right Red?” He said, giving the boy in question a pointed glare.

“Yeah, right. Totally.”

This was a bad idea. He had a sinking feeling he would be back on that question the moment he got the chance. But there was a really pretty lady in front of her and maybe he would not get a chance to ask her out later on, so-he-probably- shoulddoitnow. Why on Earth was he rambling? He was supposed to be the smoothest talker in his team for God's sake! He stopped as he felt a touch on his forearm. He lived up to see Lady Miracle smiling at him curiously.

“You were rambling.”

He gulped. Quite visibly. This fact was verified by the snickers from his team. Whole herd of betrayers, that lot.

“Are you fine?” Lady Miracle asked.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” He replied, trying desperately to gain some swagger back.

She certainly let go of his arm as she heard the door open. More specifically the meeting door. “Let’s go see my new room.” She said, slightly tilting her head over the door where all the senior founder members were coming out of.

“Wait a minute, You're joining Young Justice?” Superboy asked, looking down at her and confusion.

“Yeah, didn't you hear, Wonder Woman? Wonder Woman is supposed to take me to the Young Justice headquarters.”

Apparently his lack of awareness was too much for his so-called teammates (Betrayers, as he had previously established) because those goons burst out LAUGHING.

“Ah, I've never seen Kon so FLUSTERED in my life.” Red said, trying to get his laughs under control, pretending to wipe a fake tear. Dude wore domino masks! And his (Robin’s) life was about to get VERY short.

“Ohh I'm gonna enjoy having you around.” Cassie said, lightly patting Lady Miracle’s arm.

The meeting got over and they were all on their way to the Young Justice cave. Correction Batman, Wonder Woman, Lady Miracle and the Young Justice were on their way to the Cave.

Although it wasn't clear enough from Lady Miracle’s face, it was easy enough to tell that she was excited. No, excited wasn’t the word. Terrified? Yeah, that was closer. And to be fair, they were the upcoming heroes who were eventually gonna be the new Justice League. That makes them sound like rich kids ‘heirs to huge empires’ club. Whatever.

Jon’s mind was distracted. Will she date him? She was very pretty smart, and he was pretty sure many heroes would try to ask her out. Not that he owned her, but he really really wanted to date her. He tried to ease his mind as he heard Lady Miracle’s gasp as she first saw the cave.

And the days flew by.

Surprisingly, Lady Miracle, fit right in with Red Robin and Superboy. They were all around the same age group. She and Red Robin, specially bonded over coming up with ridiculous ideas during battles. It didn’t help that her superpower only spurred them on. Stupid polka-doted stuff that made everything more risky. They would come up with ridiculous angles and what not to take down simple villains! Too bad, he loves them. He did, because those mini-heart attacks were never easy on the kryptonian.

I won’t bore you with the fluffy details. This story isn’t about that. The story isn’t about the happily ever after. It’s about what comes after the happily ever after.

So let’s turn up the speed of the story.

Lady Miracle and Red Robin went on a couple of dates, but they decided they were better off as friends. Sometimes, when people have too much in common, it doesn’t fit right. After that Kon finally picked up the courage to ask her out, and it was a whirlwind from there. Happy days, passionate nights (or days, depending on their mood). Meeting the parents. Well Connor’s parents. Lady Miracle’s parents, as she told them, didn’t believe her, and they had a fall out. Something personal she said and they dropped it. Meeting Martha and Jonathan. Meeting Jon. Meeting Lex, Clark and Lois. Her revealing her identity. Her story. Kon getting down on one knee. Both of them, laughing in their wedding pictures. Marinette with their baby boy in her arms. Jon and Tim’s awed faces as they finally held baby Andrew. Tim crying as Kon and Marinette asked him to be the Godfather. It all flew by in a whirlwind.

Their are happily ever after.

Wise men say that there is a definite point, a decision that turns one fates’ around.

And to understand that point, you need to look at the line before and after it.

So, let’s start at normal speed. A few hours before they are happily ever after ended.

[sneasedtomeetyou]

❥ - a childhood memory

Kaoru readied herself at the opposing end of the court she and the other children had fashioned out of a large patch of dirt. It wasn’t quite the right dimensions for a regulation battle court—actually if they had compared it to the real thing they would’ve realized just how far off they had been—but that hardly mattered for a little friendly scrimmaging. The uneven chalk lines they had redrawn earlier in the day had been long scuffed and faded earlier battles. The only real indicators still left clear were where each trainer should stand. Across from Kaoru was her older cousin who had just returned from the big leagues. Of course all the younger children were caught up in the excitement of her return, it was always an event when the champion in the making comes home. It would be a lie to say that same excitement wasn’t radiating off Kaoru in waves.

They agreed to a 1-vs-1 since Kaoru only had her sneasel, oh so creatively named Sneaks. Cynthia had offered to use one of her newer team members, but Kaoru knew that garchomp despite its formidable size and strength was weak to ice type attacks. She was confident that would be more than enough of a fair fight. This seemed to satisfy Cynthia well enough as she got into place and sent out her pokemon.

To call it a battle would be an understatement. Even with Cynthia holding back, even with Sneaks having a type advantage, it was a beat down in Kaoru’s eyes. The gap in experience was simply too great for it to play out any other way. From the word go the garchomp charged straight for the sharp claw pokemon, closing the gap between them. Sneaks could dodge, and dodge Sneaks did for quite a few heavy hits, but he failed to gain much distance in order to retaliate with Icy Wind. They were trapped on the defensive. Instead Kaoru commands Sneaks to find another way, use Metal Claw to fight back.

Finding an opening, Sneaks attempts to strike with his claws only to be met by a counter attack from the garchomp’s wing. The hit sends him tumbling across the court. Kaoru’s earlier bravado, her confidence and joy fizzled out as she saw her beloved Sneasel struggle to get to his feet. Cynthia calls out for Sand Tomb and the pokemon are obscured from view with an eruption of dirt and sand.

When the dust cleared the sneasel laid defeated on the ground, the garchomp standing over him absolutely dwarfing his size. Kaoru ran to his side and helped him up off the ground, cradling him in her arms. Sneaks nuzzled into her touch, seeming relieved that his trainer came to comfort him. He wasn't hurt in any way beyond his pride. Cynthia walked over to her own pokemon's side, commending Kaoru for the good use of battling fundamentals and seeming to offer her some sort of advice, but Kaoru wasn’t hearing any of it. Instead her own voice filled her mind.

Maybe if Sneaks was evolved. Maybe if they trained harder. Maybe if Kaoru was a better trainer.

She got back to her feet to face her opponent. Cynthia stood tall over her when they shook hands. Kaoru had to look up to meet her gaze, but as quickly as their eyes met Kaoru averted his eyes back down to the dirt on his shoes. What was meant to be a show of good sportsmanship felt more like salt being rubbed into a fresh wound. The other kids quickly swarmed Cynthia once again, asking for their turn to battle. Her one chance to maintain the battler's attention was ruined by her pathetic show.

None of them seemed to acknowledge Kaoru much at all when she takes her seat in the grass with her pokemon to watch the next fight. She hugs her legs close to her chest. Of course they wouldn’t acknowledge her. Why would they? She was never going to measure up—the only child of Munenori and Shizue compared to the favorite grandchild and dragon master in training. Kaoru wasn’t the great battler her cousin was, she wasn’t anything remarkable. No matter how hard she would try she would remain in the shadow of Sinnoh’s lustrous champion. So why would she even try?

[heliosthegriffin]

Shadow Knight, and Magical Girls XV

Ao3 Link

Chapter 15

-------

If there was one thing Jaune regretted, it was not having superpowers. Now, more than ever, with a burning comet coming straight down at him. He felt death stare him in the eyes.

Death is Yellow, it seems.

Time slowed down for him, allowing him a long, slow look. She was coming at him with both hands forward like some kind of superhero. She didn't look like she was going to change directions either.

He did the logical thing, getting his ass out of dodge.

Moving as fast as he could, which was pretty damn fast, he took off at stallion like speeds, and diving into the broken in store, where thankfully, the shadow-monsters already gone. He tucked and rolled, his armor protecting him from any debris and glass, then crouched holding his shield in front of him.

Not a moment too soon either, as a wave of fire and force hit the ground where he was, with Yellow at ground-zero. Glass broke all down the street, concrete caving in beneath her, with the whole sidewalk being scorched black, except for where she stood, it was glowing cherry-red, but it was also missing it's concrete.

Jaune gulped and considered his options, if she hit him he was dead, no questions asked. More than that, he did not want to fight her in the slightest. He remembered shooting her friend, and she was more shocked that hurt! That had been 12 gauge slug, he could not do more damage than a 12 gauge slug.

The gods made men, Dust gave them enlightenment, gunpowder made them equal.

Magic bullshit made these girls more equal than others, it seemed.

She had charged her friend through a wall, and now just became a comet, the amount of force to do that and not destroy yourself, much less be completely uninjured, showed a remarkable power-disparity between the two of them.

He may as well try fighting a Paladin with a stick, it might scratch the paint at least.

"Hey! Where'd you go you coward!" Yellow realized that she was not standing on top of her vanquished enemy. "Come out and fight like a man!"

She hadn't seen where he went. Jaune saw the chance, staying low the ground, and heading out to the alleyway full of mist, it might be full of shadow-monsters but he had defeated them before, so it least it was possible.

Yellow growled, noticing her foe wasn't coming out. Aura sensing was one of her weakness skills, but she figured why not? He was just a man, he could not have gotten far.

She felt a tingle on her senses, smiling wryly. "There you are!" Charging down the alley at top speed at her target.

Jaune picked up the pace, as he felt the fog begin to warm up, he senses told him to duck and he did just that.

A high-speed jet of air went over him, and wall in front of him exploded inward, leaving a hole straight through it, reminding him eerily of fighting the shadow-bear.

What now? She had gone clearly through there, should he go back, or forward?

'Up.' He thought, looking up. She came at him from above twice so far, and from the back, why would she expect him to be on her level?

Yellow pulled herself out of the pile bricks she put herself in, 'Note to self, work on high-speed turns,' Looking at the path of destruction she left, she had to admit, she felt a little proud. Kind of like hitting the bullseyes on the dartboard, or a strike bowling.

Though, she had no doubt Ms. Purple would give her no end of grief about how much work she'd have to do to fix her 'accidents', and how she needed to master her magic to start fixing it herself. Whatever, killing Grimm was important, who cared about a little bit of property damage in the process?

She tried searching again, and paused, she couldn't find him this time. Weird. "Come out, come out, wherever you are~!" Yellow sang, looking around. Maybe, she had ran him over, that would be awkward, not noticing she had already knocked him out.

Though, he would still generate a aura signature, even unconscious. Maybe, he could suppress it? Some people could do that even with no Awakening.

Jaune looked down as his pursuer looked for him, he reached into his belt grabbing a canister of tear gas, pulling the pin, and tossing it behind her. He smirked, it might be a bit petty, but it would distract her while he got away.

Yellow turned behind her hearing a metal clank on the ground, it was just a can, then she heard hissing. Had she hit a gas line? She started to cough, her eyes tearing up.

Jaune heard a scream of anger behind him, and picked up the pace, he had to meet up with the twins, and get out of here.

A flaming twister sprang up behind him, as the fog rose into steam, bright light in the sky, and Jaune realized that he could see his shadow now.

He swiveled to the side, just barely being missed by a flaming fist. "Stay still! Fight fair, damn it!" She breathed hard as she swung wildly at him, streaks of fire left behind in the air.

'I don't get paid enough for this.' Jaune thought, backpedaling and dodging her strikes, then reached down to grab a flash-bang. He pulled the pin, then tossed it between them.

There was a great flash, a scream, and a wave of fire hit him, sending him off the building like he was hit by a truck. Air rushed by him, and then he impacted the alley ground like a ball, bouncing and then rolling into a wall.

'Ow.' Jaune rose up shakily, he noticed he was covered in dirt. It looked like the Earth-dust did it's job. He still heard screaming from up top, and decided to get to running, didn't matter where now, she could track him anyway somehow, so he just needed distance.

Yellow clutched her eyes, fury building to a level she didn't know she could reach. This bastard just wouldn't fight fair! Always running and throwing shit, like some snot-nosed brat! If he wanted to act like a brat, she was going to spank him like one!

'Where did he go?' She thought, she wasn't about to let him get away with robbing that store, plus he needed to be stopped in general. What if others started coming out at night to try and 'help?' It'd be a hell of a problem.

Jaune was running at top-speed down the road, not helped by the fog that was obscuring his vision. Still he had to get far away from that psycho.

Why couldn't he just have a nice night out?

He dared look behind him, seeing a fire blaze in the sky, flying circles looking for what was probably him. It just pushed hims to run faster. He might have broken a land-speed record in the process. Well, maybe not, but close to it.

Then inside the fog, sitting on a fire hydrant, was the same girl with multicolored hair and a parasol, observing him with amusement.

From inside his helmet, Jaune furrowed his brow. 'You. This is your fault.'

He ran past her, something was not right about her. Maybe she was like them, he didn't care at this point, he was gone.

Then his blood chilled, as he looked to his side to see her effortlessly keep pace. 'Who is this?!'

"What do you want?" He asked.

She merely smiled, twirling her parasol.

"Great." Then noticed that the fire was getting closer to him. "Double great.

---

Crimson patrolled around the Harbor, staring at the fog as it rolled in, almost consuming the docks like a great white snake. She went lower to ground, deciding to check out the orange lights with in.

She pasted containers for all kinds of business, from Schnee Dust to WMB Electronics and Medicine, to even some local businesses. She finally came to a stop at a curious sight.

A dozen Beowolves all working together to move tons of valuables down in a pile right before a man sat on a cargo container observing them, little orange lights orbiting around him like he was the sun itself.

The man was well dressed, topped with a bowler hat on his orange hair. He was obviously tall even sitting down, but very slender and long-limbed.

That was not what caught Crimson's eyes.

It was that mask covering his eyes. A bone white mask, painted with red markings across the body of it, with a vague resemblance to that of a fox. The sight of it sent primal chills down her back.

He turned towards her, orange lights glowing within the mask. He raised a hand, and all the valuables pilled in front of him they disappeared into a black void that appeared under them.

'What in the world?!' Crimson thought, who was this?!

Fox-Mask sighed. "Why does this always happen? Can't a man make a living anymore?" Shaking his head like Crimson was the problem here.

"Who are you!" She demanded, pointing her spear at him with deadly intent.

"What's you're offer?" He asked, a smile in his voice. "I don't come cheap sweet-heart."

Crimson felt sick at his tone. "I won't ask again!"

"Hmm, not good enough," The fog deepened around him, leaving only his shadow from the orbiting lights. "Well, ta-ta."

"Halt!" Crimson ripped her spear upwards, sending a wave of magnetic force to wrap the metal of the container around him. The fog was force away by the force, with a small armada of orange lights streaming towards her.

Batting way all she could, Crimson grimaced as few got past her guard, exploding against her Aura, blasting her across the sky. Leaving her spinning till she managed to regain her balance.

Regaining her balance, she frowned. Fox-Mask was gone with no trace of his Aura either, leaving only the Beowolves there. A wave of her hand later, and a container crushing them into dust took care of that.

She needed to contact the others, though. This was big. There was somebody that could use magic beside them!

----

"How did I even get here?" Jaune asked aloud, finding himself in a cemetary of all places.

Near-by was the Girl sitting on a tombstone spinning her parasol without a care in the world. Her smile was cat-like and smug, her eyes bright with amusement.

Jaune took his shield and ax in hand, pointing the head at the Girl. "Look, I have no idea who you are, or what you are, but I'd really like it if you start giving me answers."

She gave a silent giggle. She wasn't taking him seriously at all. That honestly hurt a little bit. Then a light started to shine on her face, and Jaune's shadow lengthened.

He looked behind and saw the Yellow Fireball heading towards him, burning brighter than ever.

"Well, I guess this is where I die." He mumbled, he turned back to the Girl, half-expecting her to have disappeared, but she was still there without a care in the world. "I don't think you should stay here, it's about to get messy." As in, his body was about to explode into a million pieces once that psycho got her hands on him messy.

She tilted her head at him, putting a finger to her lips, tapping them. Then shook her head, her long hair swaying behind her.

"Well, enjoy the show then." Jaune said giving her a sarcastic bow. "It'll be one you won't forget."

A miniature sun appeared above him. "Time for you to take your licks like a man."

Shadow Knight clanged his ax against his shield, then spread his arms out wide, welcoming her to try.

Yellow let out a growl, glowing brighter as fire spun off her like yarn made of lava, before she dived down at him one fist cocked back to knock him out.

The Knight saw her coming though, he felt time slow down as he watched her momentum carry her down to him. In the sight before him, he saw her hair fluttering behind her, he saw the heat radiating off her. He could see the raising of her chest, he could feel the air being pushed towards him. But, beyond his senses, his skill, his will, and his experience, it knew where she was about to be.

She was faster than him, but he could read her. He didn't need to block her, he just had to divert her, like water flowed off a stone, or how a mountain diverted the mighty storm.

He took a calming breath, steadied his footing, relaxing himself. He could do this.

Then just as she was about to hit, took a side-step, and angled his shield in front of him. She hit him like a cannon-ball, even if it was at a angle, it felt like she going to tear through the shield, and then him.

But, she didn't. She couldn't focus all of her force one spot due to the shield curving, she cracked it that was for sure, and he doubted it was going to be usable after tonight, but it didn't need to be. As it diverted her away from him.

Straight into a line of tombstone. Before she couldn't stop immediately when she was chasing him, that still proved true. As she crashed from several hundreds of pounds of marble, granite, and slate.

Jaune crouched covering himself from the exploding rocks. He doubt this was going to hurt her, but man, oh man, was it cathartic seeing that. Plus, watching things blow up was always fun.

She screamed as she hit the first tombstone, plowing through a row of them, exploding decades old rock into powder and pebble. Throwing tons of dirt and rock into the air, before crashing into a cast-iron metal fence, barreling through it, warping the metal and nearly taking it with her in her mad descent.

He looked at the Girl, who smiled wickedly, then clapped enthusiastically.

Jaune gave a courteous bow. Then heard a roar of anger, as Yellow stomped out of her mess, running towards him like a angry buffalo.

'She's not flying?' He thought to himself. Why would she stop, that was a major advantage to lose. 'Unless, she wants the control from being on the ground?'

Yellow really, really wanted to pummel this jackass into the ground, and she couldn't do that from the air, so rushed him with vindictive fury.

Jaune read her movements, they were sloppy, but had a basic form behind them. She threw a punch at him. He read through the movement, dodging her punch by the slightest movement, then with both hands and took out a tool he hadn't used before.

The Stun Baton. He wasn't sure how well it'd work. So, taking firm footing, and baton in both hands, he let her abdomen first into the length of the tool.

BZZZT!

For a second, he thought he saw her skeleton. Note, Electricity is somewhat effective against Magical Girls. Yellow 's mometum kept going, as she flipped over the baton, taking a backwards landing on the ground with a soft 'Whump'.

Yellow coughed hard, the wind knocked out of her and still feeling the tear gass, she tired to get back up, still ready to fight.

Until a heavy boot landed on her chest, as The Knight now loomed over her with his ax in hand. He did not look kindly at her. Yellow felt herself sweat, a feeling welling up in her for the first time in a long time, one that she had not felt since she gained her powers, having been submerged under the sensation of invincibility, she had forgotten what it was like to feel it, the emotion that of fear.

The fear of death itself, as he looked down at her coldly.

For what felt like a eternity he stared at her, ax glinting under moonlight. Then he lift the boot off of her, dropping the ax, and offering her a hand. "Truce?"

"What?" Yellow was baffled. "Are you insane? You just robbed a store, and been playing vigilante, I can't make a truce with you!" He pulled his head back, and Yellow got the impression he was sick of her at his point.

"Didn't do it," The Knight said. "What about you, though? Since when the city make you Girl's deputies?"

Yellow blushed. "That's different..."

"Oh? How so?" His voice was flat, but it sounded mocking to her at the moment.

"Well... Uh, great power, and all that! I mean we have power so we're-"

"Allowed to decide you lives and dies? What laws are flexible? Who goes to jail without a jury?" He shook his head. "I'm no better, but I've no delusions that I am, but what you are saying is hypocritical." He stepped forward. "I have no illusions of superiority over my fellow man, flying over them like some-sort of god."

Yellow didn't have a response for that, shrinking back.

"So, what was that about having power? That it gives you a right to tell us what to do, like some sort of Queen? Do you think that being powerless means we should let ourselves get killed waiting on you to save us? If so, you and all your magical bullshit can go to straight to hell."

"No! I- I mean, We! We just want to help people!" Yellow shouted at him, taking a step forward.

The Knight gestured his arms out around the leveled graveyard. "Well, you're doing a great job."

Yellow shut up.

"Have you even considered how much trouble you cause, in your 'helping?' I've seen what the five of you can do, and it's frankly, horrifying to say the least." Knight looked at her tiredly. "Though, it's only half-as scary as seeing how irresponsible you are."

"Shut up." Yellow growled.

"Or what? You'll smear me over the ground like you've been trying to do all night? If so, go ahead. Not like I could stop if you really tried."

"I wouldn't do that! I just was going to teach you a lesson, you know?!"

Knight shook his head. "What would that lesson be, oh maybe, it's learning to eat through a tube, or how to be in a coma the rest of my life? If so, I'd prefer if you just killed me."

Yellow shook. "I don't want to do that! I just want you to stop being such a-"

Knight cut straight through her bullshit. "Could have fooled me, and what is it that I have done that is such a crime that gives you the right anyway? Being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Trying to help others? Loitering? Come on, give me your damn answer!" He snarled.

"I-I," Jaune realized that she was starting to sob. "I don't know! I don't fucking know!"

Jaune started coming down, and for a moment felt a need to comfort her like he would with his sisters. Only for a moment though, and it was pushed back into the corner of his mind. This was not his sisters, and the water-works just didn't work on him after growing up with seven sisters.

"Well, now's a good times to start thinking up a answers." He waited a second, for her to stop crying. She didn't. "Cause, you're right that you have power, but that doesn't give you any rights. It gives you a burden, one that you will have to care the rest of your life, and if you want to play the hero, fucking act like one, instead of the human-shaped disaster that you are now."

"But, we do help! We kill the Grimm, and stop crime, doesn't it count?"

Knight shrugged. "Sure, but if you're blowing up a building every-time you do so, how does that help?"

"Ms. Purple makes sure it gets fixed, and we try to help!"

"What about people that get injured? What about them? Can she fix them?"

Yellow didn't have a response.

"Were those actual criminals, though? I'm sure that some were, but how many were like me? Are they alive?"

"I ... I don't know."

Jaune paused, shook his head. "Alright then. I think I have all the answers I want to know." Then started walking away.

"Wait! Where are you going?!"

He shrugged. "Don't know, night's still young, gonna hunt."

"You're just gonna go back out there? What about you? What gives you any rights, either? You're powerless! You're in danger, why do it? How do you know you're right?"

Knight stood with his back to her. "I don't. But, I have to try to do better. I don't busy myself with crime, unless I have too, I just focus on the Shadow-Monsters... Or Grimm as you call them, I guess. If I happen to help someone, good. I'm not a judge, I don't always make the good call." He turned to look at her. "But, if someone asks for my help, I can't say no."

Yellow got in front of him. "Then help me."

"What?"

"If I'm such a fuck up, then help me."

"What about that Ms. Purple, you mentioned earlier? Sounds like she can put you in your place."

"She can ... but, she's busy most nights. She can help us clean up, but she doesn't really have time to teach us, we've been teaching ourselves and each other for the last year. She doesn't even have the same power's as us... We just want to do good. It's just ... We're not very good at it."

Jaune hadn't realized, that they're where flying by the seat of they're pants too. She was just as lost as he was it, seemed. He felt sorry for her. "I get that." He thought for a moment, then held his hand out. "Truce?"

"Yeah. Truce." She clasped his hand. "I'll make sure to tell the girls."

"Sounds good." He started to walk away. "If you see me, just talk first, and we can figure out something."

Yellow didn't move out of his way, standing on the ground now. "Uh, do you mind, if I follow you for a bit? To just see how you do it? You know get a idea of how to be.. Good, I guess?"

"Not like I can stop you... And, I wouldn't mind some help."

Yellow nodded. "Cool, I'll be your backup tonight, then."

"Just don't go throwing any fireballs around, I burn easily."

"I'm not going to do that!"

Watching the two of them walk away, a girl watched amused, still twirling her parasol.

----

There was a knocking at her door. "Come in." Goodwitch didn't even look up.

Pyrrha entered. "Is the room secure?"

Goodwitch looked at her. "I believe you should be able to do so, on your own, Ms. Nikos."

Pyrrha nodded, then slashed her hand through the air, a snap in the air as barrier formed around the room. Allowing no eavesdropping on they're conversation. "I encountered a man that could use magic last night, he wore a fox mask."

Goodwitch looked up, staring at Pyrrha with intensity she could hardly recall having seen on her before. "Are you certain?"

"100%, Ma'am."

"Then prepare yourself, and have the other girls prepared themselves as well." Goodwitch said. "As, you will have your hands full in the future. I have calls to make, but if my suspicions are correct. The seals place have weakened."

"Ma'am?"

"The Seals on the Seven Grimm Generals." She had a faraway look. "They're a group of seven masks, that grant power over Grimm, and other powers." She pulled up a hologram. "Go warn the other girls, the time for training is over, the war has begun."

----

Jaune stumbled out of the woods, the Twins having dropped him off near his home. What a wild night, he reflected. How could things get any weirder?

He paused as he pasted his old cache in a dead-tree. It had been raided. They're were foot prints, almost his size, but from someone lighter.

His blood-chilled, as he looked around. It wasn't that long ago either, it was still dark out, at least a hour before the sun would rise. Who would be out at this time?

Besides himself.

He ran around the woods, checking his old caches. All raided. His heart was pumping now, and then he found more footprints. They were purposeful, they were leading him.

They lead to his old-workshop. He hadn't been here in more than a week, not since he started working with the Xiongs. These's footprints were recent.

Someone had found him out.

Walking to the door, he started shaking. What was he going to do about this? Who was this? Was he going to have to leave home? This wasn't good.

What if it was his parents, or sisters? But, that didn't make any sense, none of them had the same size shoe.

They're was lights on in the workshop, someone had turned on his generator. He could see the shadow of someone inside. They were waiting for him.

Taking a steadying breath, he opened the door, and -

A man who looked like his father if he was fifty years old sat at a table dismantling and cleaning one of his guns. " 'Bout time, freezing my arse off waiting on you." The old man squinted at him. "Who taught ya how to clean one of these. It's absolute shite work."

"Grandpa?"

"Damn right, I is. Now come have a seat, we need to have a conversation." His old pale blue eyes looked straight into his soul. "A damn, long overdue conversation."

----

The Man like the Sun Part 4

'The Silver age lasted shortly, before falling into a Dark Age.

Where the Grimm Queen ruled as a tyrant across the world, forgetting her orignial goal as she became consumed by her magic, her General free to commit mayhem as they pleased.

The Man like the Sun beseeched the Gods for wisdom. Asking, how he could help even as he was dead.

They answered. 'You may not return, but you may shine life and hope.'

The Man understood, he turned to face the World, shining and becoming one with the Sun, so that no Grimm may ever walk under the day, nor they're Queen, or Generals.

The Queen cursed him, forced to flee to the Moon, hiding there, while her Grimm and General were forced deep underground to hide.

'Fool!' She cursed him. 'My vengeance will now be threefold, for every night I shall slay as all that walk under my light, under my darkness shall they be weaker, and I shall take all the magic with me to the moon."

The Sun burned her with his flames, responding. 'This I know, but I shall make 4 stars to shine next to you, one for each season, that will grant worthy power onto those righteous of heart. They will fight for those you try to slay.

In that darkness, from your light that is my light I command it, fashion it into warriors most deadly to your Grimm, and they will bear eyes like your moon, in your mockery.

Though you take all magic of man with you, I shall grant a power that is not magic, one that you cannot take away.

The Power of the Soul.'

The Gods looked kindly upon the Sun, and favoring him, and struck the moon, breaking it, forever weakening her power. Taking her broken fragments and the magic she lost, creating powerful weapons for the sake of Man and to one day regain they're lost glory.

With the Sun and Moon locked in opposition, it brought man into a a new age, a Age of Light and Dark. Of Shadows and Magic.'

----

End of Arc 1

----

Omake 1

Jaune looked at Yellow as she floated above him. "If you come down here, I'm gonna punch you."

Yellow snorted, then float down to him. "Oh, really- Ugh!" Yellow groaned, as Jaune gave her stomach a sucker-punch.

Jaune stepped back, Yellow going to the ground clutching her stomach in one hand supporting herself with the other groaning in pain. "I warned you dude, I told you that was going to happen."

Jaune shook his head walking away to figure out what the Shadow-Monsters were up too. "Someone better not surprise me, I am so damn wired now."

Going down the alleyway, Jaune nearly collided due to a Fox-Masked Dandy running into him. "Move it!"

Blam!

The Dandy grasped his head, bowler hat had been blasted away, with smoke coming off where it had been. "My immaculate fashion, agggh!" The Dandy screamed clutching his chest, falling to his knees, then dropping to the ground.

"Shit." Jaune mumbled, nudging the body with his foot. Then reached into his belt and put a knife on him. "There it was self-defense, now."

He looked around. "Anymore surprises?" Nothing but crickets. "Ok, good."

A two green eyes lit up behind him. "Hello, again." Crimson emerged behind Jaune, putting a hand on his waist.

"AH!"

If one listened closely, they could hear screaming in the distance, and if one looked closely, they could see a Crimson streak going through the air laughing manically, carrying a half-naked man.

----

AN: Yeah, Omakes are thing, leave your ideas in the comments. I'm not sure I did Yang/Yellow justice, but I did my best. Anyway, I'm taking a short break to work on other stories. Later.

[thereader-radhika]

1- The Exile

And after he had walked a long way through the dark green forest, Thirumalai saw the little derelict hut standing near the guava trees. Though he couldn't see anyone in the vicinity, the two still-dripping, wet sarees spread over the clothesline gave him much-needed consolation. He slowly opened the door, which was only bolted from outside, and helped himself to some water from the earthen pot. He took the package of kozhukkattai from his bag and started to munch on it.

"Has pillaiyar started feasting on his modakam?"

He nearly dropped the kozhukkattai. Why does she have to sneak on him like this? Memories of happy old times made him feel even sadder. The woman standing before him looks quite different from the sister he brought up. In fact, she looks older and more deranged than the mute queen who used to wander in Lanka. Nandini placed a basket with tubers in one corner of the hut. She took one kozhukkattai from the banana leaf package and wrinkled her face as she took a bite.

"Eww, it tastes too sweet".

"That's because you don't eat any sweet food anymore."

"Hmmm . . . When will Arulmozhi be back?'

Thirumalai felt anger and curiosity simultaneously. Every time he walks all the way here, she has only this one thing to inquire about.

"Nandini, do you have any concern about this poor annan? Do you know that I turned 50 in the last Aippasi? Come with me. We can go to Haridwar and Mathura".

"Didn't you just visit Dwaraka with gurunathan? Take some rest, anna. As you said, you are getting old".

Thirumalai hesitated to say anything more. It was with great difficulty that he convinced her to settle down here. There are some small villages and even a Tirumal kovil in this area. He had tasked a woman with buying groceries for her, and she carried out the task happily for a few gold coins. He feared that she would run away if he offended her, and he wouldn't see her again.

"Will Arulmozhi visit Chola desam before the margazhi thiruvizha?"

Thirumalai sighed. He debated whether he should relay the happy or sad news to her. The trouble was that he didn't know what would be happy news for Nandini and what wouldn't be.

Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar and Nandini weren't on good terms, but she has always respected him, perhaps grudgingly. Should she be informed that he has attained the lotus feet of his Parameswaran? Let her remain blissful in her ignorance. The other news was even more confusing. Ilaya Pirattiyar is adamant that Nandini always loved her husband and would have snatched him away if she had the opportunity. Maybe this will give her some happiness.

"My dear, something interesting is going to happen soon."

"Is Arulmozhi coming back for this?"

"Oh, not that. Do you think there aren't other people in Chola Desam? Arulmozhi, Arulmozhi, Arulmozhi... Listen to this. This is about Vanthiyar".

"Who?"

"Our friend Vallavarayan Vanthiyathevar, the Vanarkula-veeran".

Nandini gazed into the darkness absent mindedly and hummed. Thirumalai recognised her absent-mindedness and disinterest. She always did that when he spoke about things she wasn't interested in but didn't bother enough to stop him.

"He is getting married again. Perumal hasn't blessed them with a child yet. How long will he wait? Isn't he the last of his line?"

Nandini's face lit up, which confused Thirumalai even more. The last time she fell in love with a man, she dragged him from temple to temple, crying and singing pasurams. She has never asked him anything about Vallavarayan since he was exonerated of all charges. Is this the maturity that comes with age or is it because it is the misfortune of her sworn enemy, Ilaya Piratti?

"Ponniyin Selvar won't miss the wedding of his brother-in-law, will he?"

This girl! 

"You know what? I concede defeat, and no, I don't think he will attend the wedding."

Thirumalai washed his hands and told Nandini that he was feeling tired and sleepy. Ponniyin Selvan rarely spent any time in the Chola country after the death of his parents. The people seemed to have calmed down after they realised that their favourite wouldn't get to rule anytime soon. Even his sister ilayapiratti has shifted her affections to her nephew. It looks like this obsession is the only inheritance Nandini received from her unfortunate mother. 

Part 2 , 3 , 4

@favcolourrvibgior @willkatfanfromasia @celestesinsight @ambidextrousarcher @sakhiiii @sambaridli @whippersnappersbookworm @harinishivaa @sowlspace

[felixcloud6288]

Higurashi: Festival Accompanying Chapter 33

I want to open by mentioning that the english translation and publications of Massacre and Festival Accompanying were released as omnibus volumes. Massacre originally was six volumes while Festival Accompanying was eight volumes, but each english volume combined two volumes each.

I'm bringing this up because this is the first chapter of the original final volume of Festival Accompanying, and this was the cover:

The storm Tomitake and Akasaka saw is looming over the mountain. At this point, the watchdogs have been summoned and Takano has already lost, but Mion acknowledges that she won't admit defeat.

The enemy forces are reduced to Takano, Okonogi, and maybe three men.

Takano refuses to back down because she's already burned down so many bridges. Okonogi refuses to back down because he really wants to meet the person who's outwitted him at every step.

And once the two parties meet, Okonogi asks for their leader and once again lets his bias show by referring to their leader with male pronouns.

And I say it's bias and not sexism because Okonogi quickly accepted Mion as the the leader and challenged her to a duel.

What happens next is an absolutely one-sided beatdown in Mion's favor. Okonogi never manages to get a good hit at all. And every bit of discussion around the fight implies that Okonogi isn't actually trying to win the fight.

I'd guess it's a mix of Okonogi wanting his defeat to be so absolute that he doesn't feel ashamed to lose and just wanting to accept an appropriate punishment for failing his men.

Like, imagine if Okonogi effortlessly beat Mion in a fist fight. It would mean that their failure was entirely due to his incompetence and if he was a better commander, he would have won. But by losing to Mion, he can say that it's not his incompetence that made him lose - Mion is just far more competent.

So let's look at a bit of the fight choreography.

First engagement: Okonogi attempts a forward punch. Mion sidesteps it, grabs his arm and then his neck and uses Okonogi's forward momentum to throw him to the ground.

Then Okonogi tells Mion she could have kneed him in the face instead. It would admittedly do extra damage since Mion could take advantage of Okonogi's momentum to add to the impact damage.

In their next engagement, Okonogi went for a high kick which Mion blocked. She then goes in to grab Okonogi's arm and knees him in the face.

And I love how Mion took his suggestion but used it as an offensive move rather than as a counter attack. Okonogi was keeping his right arm close to his chest as a defensive move only for Mion to pull it away and go straight for a hit.

But we don't see how the last engagement goes. Okonogi charges at Mion in one page, and then he's sent flying in the next. Mion probably did an over-the-shoulder throw.

I think there might be a general mindset within the Sonozaki family to always seek to end feuds by having both parties forgive each other. Part of the issue within the Sonozaki/Hojo feud was the Hojo parents died without trying to seek the Sonozakis forgiveness. Meanwhile, Oryou offers ohagi to the dam construction manager's grave each year because she felt that feud was over but never got to actually sit down with him and mend that relation.

Mion's club activities and penalty games could be a very light version of that mindset. During their games, everyone will use whatever tactics, deceit, and dirty tricks they can to win. And then the loser pays for their loss with a penalty game and then they go back to being friends. No one holds grudges for what anyone did in a game nor for what punishment they have to suffer.

So I think Mion is upset after all this because she'd like to let all this be water under the bridge with Okonogi, but that's likely never going to happen. Her ideal victory would probably be Okonogi and Takano surrender, Mion gets to gloat over them, then they all go out for drinks.

The watchdogs show up to apprehend Takano, Okonogi, and the Wild Dogs, who all flee into the woods. Rika has no idea how to process that she's won. It's never happened before.

This shot of Rika jumping into Akasaka's arms looks weird. It looks more like she's just running and then she was positioned to look like she jumped. I also can't tell where one of her legs is.

I think hearing from Akasaka that Satoshi is alive made Rika finally process her victory and that she'll finally be able to live past June 1983. And she has the first thing to look forward to: Seeing Satoko and Satoshi reunite.

But as she processes her victory, Rika realizes that Hanyu has vanished.

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