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razieltwelve · 3 years ago

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Leap (Final Rose)

“You do realise that you should probably have grabbed a parachute before jumping out of the transport.”

Yang smirked at Averia. “I figured I’d let you handle the landing.”

The pink-haired girl sighed. “Really?”

Yang did her best impression of Fang’s smirk. “Saviour bullshit, go!”

“...” Averia scowled. “I should let you hit the ground.”

“As if you would.” Yang grinned. “You like me too much.” She shifted in the air and extended her arms toward Averia. “So... help a girl out?”

Averia’s eye twitched. “You’re lucky that Ruby would be sad if you died.” She wrapped her arms around Yang. “I’ll handle the landing. I don’t feel like flying.”

“Aww...”

X X X

The team from Beacon Junior Academy was not having a fun day. A relatively easy weeding mission that should have involved fighting only the weakest of Grimm had rapidly gone to absolute hell. Now, they were holed up in a settlement with a horde of angry Grimm outside. They’d called in for reinforcements, but they’d been told that there weren’t any qualified hunter teams in their immediate vicinity. Instead, they’d be getting two students from the Senior Academy to help them out.

Just two? They knew the people at the Senior Academy were good, but there were a lot of Grimm out there.

And then two people just fell out of the sky.

One of them landed in incredibly cool fashion while carrying the other bridal style. Straightening, the pink-haired girl set the blonde on her feet.

“Heh.” The blonde smirked. “Nothing like hitting the ground at full speed and coming off with nothing more than a scratch.”

“Try not to make a habit of it unless I’m around,” the other girl replied. She glanced toward the Junior Academy students, green eyes taking their measure in an instant. “You must be the students. Report.”

There was something distinctly professor-like in her tone of the voice, and the leader of the students, Rouge snapped to attention. “Multiple Grimm outside the settlement walls, ma’am. We’re estimating at least a hundred with at least one A tier amongst them and multiple B tiers.”

“I see.” The pink-haired girl was wearing a suit, of all things, but she wore it so naturally that Rouge couldn’t help but admire the cut and style of the garment. “And your team?”

“We’re running on empty, ma’am.” It felt odd yet fitting to address the older student as ma’am. “But we can still fight.”

“I see.” The other girl nodded. “I want you and your team to take up defensive positions on the wall. Yang and I will go over the wall. Kill any that get past us.”

“You’re just going to go over the wall?” Rouge asked.

“Yes. We could fight a defensive battle, but going over the wall and killing them all is the simplest way to deal with the problem.”

“Relax, kiddo,” Yang added. “I know we’re students at the Senior Academy, but you’re looking at two of the best. Pinky over there is number one in our year.”

It was then that Rouge put the pieces together. Pink hair, number one ranking, and the ability to fall out of the sky and not die? That had to be Averia Yun-Farron. And Yang? That had to be Yang Xiao Long. Her teammates must have drawn the same conclusions because they were all staring in a combination of shock and admiration. The number one and number five from the Third Year of the Senior Academy were both here? Awesome.

“Right!” Rouge cried. “We’ll get any that you miss!”

X X X

If there was one thing that Yang enjoyed, it was punching Grimm. Of course, she also enjoyed kicking Grimm, stomping on Grimm, pulverising Grimm, and, well, anything that involved killing Grimm was pretty good in her book.

A Beowolf leapt at her, and she ducked under its claws before caving its chest in with a punch. She allowed an older Beowolf to land a strike, so her Semblance could absorb the damage. With her increased strength, she turned the older Beowolf into a bloody smear before shattering the armoured plates of an Elder Beowolf with her gauntlets and then pulverising its torso with a right cross. A kick hurled another Beowolf back, its head ripped almost clean off, before a hammer fist crushed the skull of yet another opponent.

Showing off was one thing, but the best way to deal with this many Grimm was to just get things done the simple way. Small fry like these could only win by overwhelming her, so as long as she dealt with them quickly and efficiently, they weren’t really all that dangerous.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Averia doing her best impression of a killer robot. It was almost comical watching the other girl just decapitate anything that came within reach. One head was joined by another and another and another until they were just piling up on the ground.

“Someone’s feeling lazy,” Yang shouted as she jumped over a Grimm and then smashed its spine to pieces as it skidded past her.

“Efficient is the word you’re looking for.” Averia calmly decapitated another Grimm and then turned to kick the head at an oncoming opponent. As it staggered, she removed its head as well. “And you should be happy I’m not just killing them all myself.”

“How kind of you.” Yang was well aware that Averia could have simply killed all of the Grimm the instant they arrived, but this was a chance to get some practice in, as well as a good learning opportunity for the younger students observing them. Too many of the youngsters got into trouble by trying to be too flashy against the Grimm. Her dad had always told her to keep the flashy stuff confined to sparring. Against Grimm it was always best to keep it simple and efficient. The only safe Grimm was a dead Grimm.

Averia glanced ahead. The B tier Grimm had all been slain. The only real threat remaining was the A Tier alpha elder Beowolf. “Do you want to deal with that one?”

Yang took a moment to size the alpha up. It was at least twice as large as the elder Beowolves who had been twice as large as the normal ones. And it was A tier as well. Hmmm... “Sure. I’ll get it.”

As the alpha bellowed and charged, Yang rushed forward to meet it. They met in a storm of blows. It was fast, far faster than anything its size should be. It was smart too, using its superior reach to keep her at bay while only ever exposing the most heavily armoured parts of its body. Moreover, it had clearly been watching her fight since it was firing the occasional bony spike at her to keep her from closing the distance.

Yang, though, wasn't the same fighter she’d been when she first entered Beacon Senior Academy. She was in her third year now, only a year and a half away from graduating. She’d learned more than she ever thought possible, and her skills and power had grown in leaps and bounds. Two years ago, she wouldn’t have dreamed of fighting a foe like this alone. Now? This thing was already dead. It just didn’t know it yet.

She waited for the alpha to shoot another spike before she slapped the projectile out of the air. The sudden shock was absorbed by her Semblance, and she waited for the spike to fall back toward her before punching it and firing her gauntlet at the same time.

The spike rocketed back toward the alpha, and the Grimm barely managed to dodge. Yang used that split-second to close the gap. She ducked under the Grimm’s claws and then heaved an uppercut into its belly. The blow wasn’t enough to do any real damage, but there was enough force in it to knock the Grimm off balance. That was all Yang needed.

She lunged forward and drove one fist into the Grimm’s right leg. Her Aura surged and her Semblance flexed. The blow shattered the Grimm’s leg, and it toppled onto its side. Yang spun away from the Grimm’s retaliatory strike and leapt up onto its chest. She slammed two punches into the armoured plates that covered its chest, and the sharp, angry retort of her gauntlets was accompanied by the crack of breaking bone.

The Grimm bucked and tried to throw her off, but Yang jumped into the air. Her Aura swirled around her, a golden mantle of power, and she landed fist first on the Grimm’s exposed chest. The shockwave of the blow cratered the ground beneath the Grimm and shook the area. Enhanced by her Aura, the shotgun slugs from her gauntlets turned the Grimm’s back into one giant exit wound.

The monster groaned, and Yang darted off its chest and grabbed it by the jaw. Bigger Grimm like this could often keep fighting despite taking wounds that would have killed lesser Grimm several times over. She punched it square in the jaw, and half its skull evaporated from the attack. She hit it one more time just to be sure and then flipped clear of its collapsing body.

“Heh.” Yang smirked. “That has to be at least a nine out of ten, right?”

“Hardly.” Averia grinned. “You could have killed it at least three seconds faster if you’d severed its head instead of punching it in the jaw.”

“Spoilsport.”

X X X

Author’s Notes

Just Yang and Averia doing what they do best. As third years, they do get the occasional solo or pair mission, which is what they were doing when the call came in. It’s also not unusual for a bit of mix and matching between teams to occur if a mission calls for it.

If you’re interested in my thoughts on writing and other topics, you can find those here.

I also write original fiction, which you can find on Amazon here or on Audible here.

#final rose #fanfiction #averia yun farron #yang xiao lng

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xconcernedfluffymothx · 5 years ago

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Can't You See?! I Love You!!!

Spinel x Female Reader

Summary: Steven said the wrong words, causing Spinel to start the injector once more. You decide to be the one to stop her, because you love her, and you will do everything in your power to show her that.

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The injector's not in the earth anymore!! You hum, standing by Spinel as she looks over at you and gives a small smile.

"Now we just need to get Garnet's memory back!!" Steven says, walking over to the group, back turned towards you and Spinel. "Maybe it has something to do with fusions...and love-"

"What about me?"

Spinel asks, fist clenched and voice shaky.

Hurt.

"Huh?" Your younger gem-human friend says with a little bit suprise, turning to face her.

She had her brows scrunched up. "Is that all you needed me for? To turn off my injector?" She looked so broken, you step by her. "No!! Of course no-"

"Well, sort-of..." He cuts you off, rubbing the back of his neck in shame. 'What?' Why would he say something like that? He didn't really just need her to turn the injector off..right? You go to speak, but the pink gem talks. You could practically see the panic in her eyes. "B-but what now?? I did everything you wanted, that's it?"

"Well, y-yeah... " Steven says. "We can forget this ever happened." You stared at him with wide eyes. Did he really just say that!? You see your pink friend deflate more, conflicted feelings in her eyes.

You can feel the sadness rolling off of her. You go to hold her hand when she steps back. Giving you an unsure look.

"What? No!! Spi-"

"How are you gonna forget with me around? I'm the source of all your problems! Don't pretend you want me here-"

"I want you here, Spinel.." you say. She seems to not hear as she continues " You gonna put me somewhere? You're gonna leave me somewhere? You're gonna leave me alone?!" You felt your heart ache. She didnt deserve the trauma she's been through. Now her hands were shaking.

You wanted to hold them for her and tell her everything will be alright. You want to tell her that you love her and will always be by her side.

"Spinel.." You say softly, taking a step towards her. Her eyes, her beautiful, radiant fuchsia eyes finally pay attention to you as you stop in front of her, and slowly, and every so gently intertwine your fingers with her own. And she takes that small sentiment and squeezes. You squeeze back, looking at her with the most loving, and caring face ever. "I don't think I'd be able to leave you alone, Spinel." She pauses for a second a second at your words, a light blush on her face as she smiles a little. Relaxing her shoulders just a smidge, gripping on your hand more. "..Really?" You smile softly. "Yes, I- We need you here, as a part of our family." "But-" "You matter, alot. To me, and to everybody else." Your

She growls, pushing him down, the rejuvinator sliding out and toppling onto the ground along with him. 'Why does he have that?!' Amethyst and Pearl yell, moving out the way as it stops by them. Garnet tilts her head in curiosity. "Oh, what's this?" She mummers, bending down to pick it up. You stiffen, wide eyed, just like Spinel was when she saw it.

"No Garnet! No Dont touch That!!" Steven sputters, getting up and running towards her in panic. The curious fusion presses the button, the weapon coming out in it's full glory. Steven snatched it away fast.

Spinel's expression darkened. "...why do you...have that?" Steven looks down pitifully, before looking up. "I-I was just carrying it! I didn't have anywhere else to put it!" You narrow your eyes, 'what is he planning??'

The pink gem goes quiet, before something seemed to flash in her eyes. "We can forget this ever happened- you mean I can just forget this ever happened!!" She goes into a laughing fit, throwing her head back as if to exaggerate.

You worry for her, this isn't right! Steven should of kept his mouth shut.

"WoW" Spinel jibes. "WHAT A PLAN!!" She growls, teeth bared in a snarl.

"I turn off the Injector and the moment my back is turned- Bam! PrestO! Chango!! - Problem solved!!"

She leans forward, pointing a finger at Steven. "Well think again, you're not getting rid of me that easy!!" Her pinkie swirls around her hand, creating a horn as she blows into it, finger still pointing.

The injector moves instantly, coming down onto the area above Steven and everyone else. "Run for it!" One of them scream, everyone scattering as the Injector slams into the ground once again.

"Spinel!!" You yell, running through the dust clouds for her. You end up falling into a small crater, where steven was. You sit up immediately, coughing a little. "Steven! Where's-"

"I'm not letting you get one over on me! Steven Universe " A familiar voice hisses lowly, the dust clearing up to show Spinel's figure.

Steven sits up, balancing in his knees. "I wasn't going to wipe your memory Spinel!!" You nod, "He wasn't! Please believe me!"

She huffs, her shoulders rising as if to make herself bigger. "Y/n.... you expect me to believe you want me like this?!!" She yells, pointing at herself. You go to say yes when Garnet spoke up from over the ledge. "Steven? Y/n? Why are you fighting? Aren't we all friends?"

Spinel turns, her limbs stretching out to warp Garnet up. "Looks like we've still got an audience~ How about a front row seat?" She brings Garnet down by her side, staring at you and Steven. "Garnet!" He yells, the weapon in his hand.

Spinel smiles, slowly unwinding her arms from Garnet. "Y'know, this is pretty twisted but I'm a little flattered you liked the old me.."

She leans dramatically on the fusion's shoulder, "Innocent, loving- " She put her other arm on Garnets right shoulder, squeezing and leaning in cutely.

This made you jealous. Garnet getting to be in Spinel's hold while you sat on dirt.

"Stupid." She grimaced. Giving Steven a glare.

"If that's your thing," she places her hands on Garnet's shoulders once more.

Geez, what you would give to have her hands on your shoulders-

"Why dont you leave her like this?" She grins devilishly, one brow raised. You blush lightly at the expression, finding it really attractive- wait, now's not the time!! Ugh stupid brain!!! You shake your head to refocus.

Steven stands up and tightens his grip on the handle. "Get away from her"

"Oh, you're so protective of your real friends " She growls out in a low voice, arms wrapping back around Garnet in a tight hold. "And you're so careless with your fake ones!!"

You get up, standing to the side of Steven. He grits his teeth. "Stop it!!!"

She grins maniacally. "THEN STOP ME!!"

Yeah, stop you from hugging somebody so you can put your arms around me-

"You wanna attack me just admit it!! - or better yet, JUST TRY IT!" She looked crazy, her eyes were wide, and so was her smile.

It seemed like she wanted to be attacked.

"No!!" You yell, taking a step in front of Steven.

She puts her eyes on you, snarling. "Why not?!!"

"Because I lo- it's not the truth!!" You yell, yanking the weapon away from Steven and snapping it with your leg.

Garnet stares with wide eyes. "Truth...." Truth

She snaps Spinel off, staring down at her as she spoke. "I've known hardships and confusion, but love can make it through it all if you face the truth together!" After those words, her body was engulfed in light. Her memory!

"The final peice!" Steven said happily.

"No!!" Spinel yells, reaching behind her for a boulder, gripping it. "Don't you dare!!" She throws the boulder at Garnet, it breaking upon impact with her form.

Woah, that's some superb strength right there. Both from Garnet and Spinel. You stare in awe as Garnet's form changes, finally settling into her original form. "Oh, when a difficult day goes by. Keeping it together is harder that's why you've got to try, you got to try."

She leans down, helping you and Steven up. "And when there's a thundering storm outside, underneath the covers you huddle and hide. Open your eyes. Open your eyes."

You look over at Spinel, her expression softening.

Amethyst and Pearl peek their heads over, surprised to see Garnet. You smile, waving them down as they come and bring you into a group hug. "It's the truth. It's the true, it's the true kind of love. It's the true, it's the true, it's the true kind if love" You see Spinel grinding her teeth. Uh oh.

You back away in time as she launches herself at Garnet, her hands catching the Pink gems in time. "Stop, in the middle of fear and shame-"

Spinel could see her reflection in Garnet's shades. She grimaced at it. She's then thrown to the side. "Everybody's looking for someone to blame, like it okay."

Amethyst dodges Spinel's punch, Pearl grabbing her feet and swinging down at the gem, causing her to fly to a wall. You look at her in concern, hoping she's not hurt.

Her body sticks to the wall, about to launch when she makes eye contact with you. You shift and stare at her, a pleading in your eyes. She looks down sadly, giving one last look before she shakes her head and pushes off, aiming for Steven.

Garnet catches her foot just as Spinel was about to land a hit. Spinel was spun, her hands and feet both held by Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl.

She turns her head over to look at Garnet, catching you in her sight. She shakes her head, growling. Garnet releases her foot, catapulting Spinel into the Injector. She hit it with a thud, plopping off and swaying for a second before gritting her teeth, peering down at your small group and up at the top of the Injector.

..she was going to climb it, wasn't she?

She stretches her arms to the top, gripping the ledge and pulling herself up.

Steven goes to climb it, and you stick your arm out in front if him, giving him a blank stare.

"Y/n, I gotta go stop her!" He says, pushing against you. You put your hands on his shoulders, stopping him as he looked at you. "No. You've done enough Steven."

He sighs, "I didn't mean to say...."

You pat his shoulder "I know, I know. Just...let me do this, okay?"

He goes to protest when Garnet speaks up from behind. "Let her, Steven. Spinel trusts her more than any of us. They have a connection."

You blink, a light blush on your cheeks. Garnet always knew.

Steven nodded, backing away and giving you an awkward smile. You smile back in return, nodding your head to Garnet. "Thank you, Garnet. "

"Remember, love lives through it all."

"Love lives through it all...." you repeat, turning towards the injector as a bright light engulfed you. Steven and Garnet stare in wonder as the light faded, showing your new form.

Your back having grown a pair of shard wings, a beautiful Chromosome color that showcased ever single color from every angle.

"Wait, you're a gem-human?!!" Steven tells, eyes lighting up.

You giggle, winking as you shoot up from the ground and into the air. Hearing Steven yell "Awesome!!"

You fly to the top of the Injector, landing on it as you see Spinel with her back turned towards you.

"Spinel!!" You call, taking a step forward.

She turns and almost did a double take when she saw your wings. "Y/n...are you..."

"A gem-human? Yeah, always have been...I just didn't want everybody knowing..."

"Oh...well, why are you here, huh?"

"I want to talk to you, this...this needs to stop."

"Of course, you want to stop me- Well, what are ya waiting for? Hit me!!" She growls.

"No!!" You yell, eyes set on her.

She huffs, "Why not hmm? Too Chicken?!"

"I don't want to hit you Spinel, I care about you!!"

She snorts, "yyeaaaah, just like Pink said she did, and you know what she's done? Do you?"

"Yes, I do. You never deserved to have that happen to you. And I'm sorry it did. You don't deserve the things you went through"

"Damn right I don't!!! You think you can understand what I'm feeling right now??!"

"Yes, I can...."

"Bullshit!!!" She yells, slamming her fists onto the floor below her, causing the whole platform to shake.

You wobble a bit, catching your balance after a minute.

"Do you think she wanted me?! Do you think anybody wants me? Because I wasn't good enough for her!! I'm not good enough!! And now, I'M NOT GOOD AT ALL!!"

She slams again, this time a crater formed and you both were In it. You stand up, a fire in your eyes.

"I want you!!! Spinel!! You're perfect the way you are!!" You yell. She snarled, clenching her fists. "No!! I am not!! You're just saying that!!!"

"No, I'm telling the truth!! You are perfect in every way, shape, and form!!" You try to get closer to her.

She squeezes her eyes shut. "stop....stop saying that!! YOU DON'T WANT ME!! YOU DON'T....."

She turns her head away from you.

"Spinel!!!" You say, wanting her attention. She doesn't respond, head still turned away from you.

You breathe in, heart pounding as you yell "Can't you see!? i LOVE YOU!!!"

Silence.

Her eyes widen as they snap over to you. "I love you with all my heart!! Just please...i.." Your voice cracked, eyes tearing up.

You're tackled in a hug, your back hitting the ground. Spinel's arms wind around you, her eyes staring into yours with affection. "Y/n i... I love you too. More than you know." She says, her hand cupping your cheek, eyes watery. She..she loves you back. SHE LOVES YOU BACK!!

You cup her face with both of your hands, bringing her mouth to yours in a loving kiss. She melts, cupping your face as you did to hers, both of you blushing fiercely. You both were desperate for touch, and now you had it. Spinel moves one of her hands to the back of your head, tangling her hands in your hair. She pushes your head closer, deepening the kiss. You blushed more, loving the way she held you.

This lasted for a few more minutes before you pulled away for air, Spinel sitting up with you in her lap. Her face dark from the huge blush she had. Both of you sat their baking in each other's presence and warmth. You could stay like this forever....

Oh wait-

"Hey...um, Spinel?"

"Yes, Doll?" She replies, staring down at you.

"Can we go back down? The earth is sorta dying right now..."

Realization smacks her in the face. "Oh!!! Yup! Let's do that"

She picks you up, walking over to the ledge. "Oh! You don't have to carry me" You say, smiling shyly.

"Mmm, But I want to~ I like having my princess in my arms!" She says, wriggling her eyebrows at you. You giggle, blushing as you buried your face in her chest.

She smirks, gripping on to you tighter as she squats down. "Hold on tight!" You put your arms around her neck, squealing as she launches into the air, landing on the ground quickly. She chuckles at your squeal, finally putting you down. You sway for a second, Spinel's hand on your waist to secure you.

"Now, watch this~" She says, her pinkie finger wrapping around to make a big horn, blowing into it.

Once she did, the Injector lifted up out of the ground, no longer poisoning the earth.

You can hear everyone behind you, cheering. "Yay!!"

Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Steve walked up to you. "Y/n!!" He laughs, giving you a hug. You giggle, returning it and hugging everybody else.

Spinel watches with a smile, becoming even happier when you walked back to her and gave her a peck on the cheek.

Everything will be okay.

Everything is alright, now that you're by her side.

And knowing that you're hers, made her worry no more.

With you, anything can be possible.

Notes: WOOO I TOOK TOO LONG ON THIS. like, I made a lot of food breaks...hehe.

I'm a foodie~

#spinelxreader #spinel #steven universe #imactuallyreallyproudofthislikeholy #spinelissoadorable

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loverfighter · 5 years ago

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ameliorate.

funky word to use, smack dab in the middle of a lecture like his manager is playing some mad libs instead of trying to convince him out of fleeing his tour for⏤what did he say it was? midlife crisis for dummies 101?

maybe it was a clever ploy to catch at richie’s attention, big word for the big baby, knowing it was all going in one ear and out the other (not even having the good grace to sit down for tea! barbaric manners, your momma didn’t raise you in a farm! ha, joke is, you have no fucking idea where you were raised). but here he is, caught fish jiggying it up on the hook, as the syllables pound into his skull.

uh·mee·lee·ur·eit.

uh / clock like molasses, each second crawling to the next in a dusty classroom.

mee / the endless drone of mrs. keller’s voice, lips puckering in emphasized pronunciation, spit streaming onto greta in the front (surprising that she doesn’t melt from all the water, but richie would swear he saw some steam, cross his heart and hope to die!).

lee / eighth grade dictionaries open on every desk, drool pelting the pages from the corners of slobbery, sleeping mouths. richie’s mouth near drooling for completely different reasons, the infatuation belonging to a teenager the mightiest force for the imagination, a lifeless classroom the ideal breeding grounds for a fantasy or two.

ur / for once, reality is better, and an entire script is exchanged in the span of a single look, mouths quirking as lips trace the sound of the word in obedience, once, twice, thrice, a dirty phrase syncing in by the second repetition.

eit / a laugh that can never be replaced, stuffed into the palm of eddie’s hand, valiant in its gesture to dissuade onlookers from trampling upon the space between their desks, their eyes. still, mrs. keller gets cross, and ain’t that just killing two birds with one stone!

over in a succession of five blinks, nothing lingers but the foggy mirror of a smile, redrawn from years of muscle memory, sore from misuse. at the sight, his manager throws his hands up in defeat.

a baby wails and richie turns to his attention from his uneventful lap to the equally uneventful window, darkened to a neptune blue to aid the sleep that won’t come.

he inhales.

it hits him right there, aisle seat of the plane, first class rider. phosphenes tease a once vivid memory just beyond his reach. in a blink comes the sunlight, that blinding light unfolding like a hand fan over the expanse of blurred eyesight, reaching for his all. then, a faraway, echoing shout in his ear as he breaks through the layer of water, a gusty fountain spraying mightily in the middle of a lake. his heartbeat slows. it is only those sensations, of the wild caress of sunshine on his wet skin and hands pushing at his ribs, of childish and wonderful wants and affairs, wrestling and laughing and the flurry freedom of friendship and something else cradled in the blue.

he exhales, pulse racing like it’s fucking usain bolt on steroids.

the memory hides, cowers behind a half open door. something like a teasing pinky promise of a reoccurring dream, soon to return but never when you may remember its wake. the hasty flight of the head and heart. richie doesn’t know what to do with it, and so off it trots, a feeling like all the rest⏤cowards, the lot of them, and he, captain at the helm (o captain! my captain!). his attention pulls to his carry on where a bottle of xanax beckons; maybe it might clog his throat up enough to stop his heart from coming right up.

it’s an assault.

dozens of colors emerge from their shadows, memories pouring into his heart, settling in his being, home once again⏤not in the chinese restaurant his parents sometimes dragged him to, in the town he is now remembering he hated (hates, still, too close for comfort).

but he is found home in eddie kaspbrak’s gaze.

and secrets unfurl, ones that weren’t shackled solely by the chains of divine repression and magical amnesia and, well, plain ol’ repression.

his heart, too, unfurls from its pleated existence, unfolding to make room for what it once lost.

he had not thought of the space beside him as small until he remembered how it could feel with eddie taking its place. until he remembered but still lost him anyway. a crater so large, a meteor would be too small to fit.

the memories used to pull at him, like the strings of a ventriloquist, heart the maker and head the puppet. a breeze would whisper by, and in that moment it became the wind of eddie before his body smashed into richie’s, two magnets forced apart for too long. a song would play, and the beat would transform into eddie’s heartbeat, one richie would sometimes be able to feel in the small space of a hammock, or eddie’s twin sized mattress, or any other excuse that would do, anything he could get away with. he would sit in a busy diner and be filled with a charge to repeat an overcomplicated (this on the side and replace this with that and that on a different plate so that it doesn’t touch this and⏤on and on and on) order that didn’t belong to him. hundreds of memories and moments and snippets of a life, of a love, tripping on his heels like a dysfunctional ghost.

now the strongest memory is himself, alongside all of the tiny, needling ones. his lone shadow, his empty hand, his torn heart. knowing what belongs in the void space.

yet, he is kept company. by the smiles he can remember, the laughs, the words unsaid.

they are what furnish the ruins of his heart.

#i am oh so very angry recently and i am writing like i'm back in sophomore year but. oh well #x #i.

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amandaoftherosemire · 6 years ago

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Sing For Me - Epilogue

Fandom: Marvel Avengers AU

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X OFC (Sasha)

Characters: Bucky Barnes, OFC Sasha

Author: @amandaoftherosemire

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 2,694

Format: Series (Complete)

Warning: Language, angst, fluff.

Summary: The sisters go back to Washington one last time.

A/N: I’m not going to say this is the last thing I’ll ever write for Bucky and Sasha. I don’t know what the lunatic inside my head is going to start yelling about next, so I can’t make that assertion with any confidence. But this is the last bit for now, so I hope it satisfies.

Banner by @hellzzzbelle

Sing For Me Masterlist

Chapter Thirty-nine here

Epilogue

Though the group that piled out of the quinjet had been laughing and talking on the trip, now that they had disembarked, silence had overtaken them. Picking among the rubble and ashes of the compound in the forests of Washington State, many of them envisioned it as they had last seen it, engulfed in flames. There was little left; most of the debris had been cleared away in the year and a half since Sasha had created so very much of it.

One feature remained, though it was much cleaner than the last time anyone here had seen it. Tony had sent orders that the crater not be filled in, simply cleaned of any rubble from the building that had once stood there. Though the grass had already started to grow in some places around the ruin, here in the crater where the fire had burned the hottest the ground remained bare.

Sasha stood at the edge, uncharacteristically quiet. On the ride here she'd been laughing and talking, bickering with Caleb, catching up with Maddie and Kat, but she now stood by herself, looking out over all that remained of her torture chamber. She could map out the underground tunnels in her mind based on the hole in the ground where she'd been dragged up now absent circular metal stairs for the day's horrors.

The wind ruffled her hair and she breathed in a scent as familiar to her as her own face, rain and pine, as she searched her own emotions now that she was faced with the wound in the earth that mirrored the wound left in her. She didn't know it, but her breath was hitching and shaking in and out of her and her crossed arms were tightening with every second. In a moment her teeth would be chattering.

Behind her, Zoe caught Bucky's eye and lifted a brow, the expression a mirror of Sasha’s most imperious look. He didn’t need the impetus, the fear and sadness building in her with every tight breath was pulling him toward her.

When the arm came around her waist, she shuddered away for the first time in months. The arm didn't hesitate; they'd long ago learned to talk about how they needed the other to react to their scars. She'd made it clear that the shudder was reaction and not something she wanted either of them to give in to. Instead, his arm tightened gently, and she battled back the guilt at the involuntary movement. He had made it clear he did not want her guilt, but he never shamed her for it, knowing she couldn't help it any more than he could help the guilt when he screamed both of them awake. They understood one another.

Instead, she loosened her arms with an effort and turned into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. "Can you tell me how I feel? I can't seem to figure it out."

Bucky rested his cheek against her hair, his heart heavy. He wished she hadn't insisted on doing this, but how could he stop her when she needed to do it? "Sad," he murmured in her ear, his arms tight around her, his vibranium hand on the necklace wrapped around her throat. "Angry, afraid. You know, the Trauma Trifecta."

Sasha laughed a little, but Bucky could hear the tears in it. She'd made him laugh when she came up with that one night while sitting twined together in the middle of their bed after he'd woken them both from a nightmare. That night they'd discovered that his emotions when reliving being locked into the chair HYDRA had used to wipe his memories was very near to Sasha's when reliving being locked into her own chair of nightmares. Near enough to trigger a nightmare of her own when his feelings came through their connection.

He'd impossibly fallen even further in love with her as the breath of a laugh escaped him, and yet somehow he loved her more today than he had that night months before. He wondered how much he'd love her in another five years, or ten. He could hardly wait to promise to find out.

Her breath sighed out as her body started to relax. Bucky had become adept at sending his own calm into her and he used everything he had learned in the previous year to help her finish this today. He knew how important it was to her. She could feel his understanding under the flood of reassurance, and it soothed her more than anything else could.

Caleb stepped up behind Sasha from where he'd picked his way across the crater, admiring what his friend had done. Frankly, Caleb was impressed, and yet almost unsurprised; he'd always known Sasha had a temper and a flair for the dramatic. As the other man opened his mouth, Bucky's expression shifted to hold a warning. Caleb could be unruly.

Caleb frowned. He understood why Bucky coddled Sasha, but he didn't consider that his job. He'd never been gentle with her, to start now would only make her feel more broken. "You still wanna do this? Or are you guys gonna start the honeymoon early? Here's a weird spot, and I don't know why you need an audience, but--"

"Shut the fuck up!" There was already a laugh in her voice when Sasha let go of Bucky to spin around and confront the man who was her brother in everything but blood. When she saw the cheeky grin on his face, she couldn't stop the laugh from bursting out. Stepping forward, she pushed Caleb playfully as she answered. "Yeah, I still wanna do this. I didn't get dressed up for nothing."

Sasha's hands went to the belt of the long coat she wore. She'd come here for a purpose, and she had every intention of completing that purpose. She tossed the coat at Caleb and stood there in her apple green dress and heels, feet braced shoulder width apart and looking for all the world like she was about to start a brawl.

"Well, what do you think?" Sasha had had the dress taken out of storage and altered to fit her again as her body had changed since she’d worn it last, at nineteen for competition. The dress was tight across the torso, with one long and one missing sleeve. One the side without the sleeve, Sasha wore a matching glove. Across the front was an explosion of rhinestones in a floral pattern tapering down to an abbreviated hemline. The skirt hit her mid-thigh and flared into wild ruffles, leaving most of the legs Bucky adored bare.

"Beautiful," he breathed, his eyes on those legs and his heated appreciation was crystal clear in the sound. Sasha's eyelids lowered in what he thought of as her siren look and her lips curved in sultry invitation.

"How much did you have to let that out?" Caleb replied, his voice both dry and amused.

Sasha's look soured instantly. "Bucky!" She shouted it, her voice taunting and singsong, though Bucky was already scowling at the other man. "Caleb’s being mean to me."

Caleb moved his hand to push at her face, but mindful of the hour and a half it had taken her to do the elaborate makeup she wore, she ducked out of the way. "God," he cried, laughingly exasperated, "you're in your thirties! How are you still such a tattletale!?"

"Caleb." Bucky's voice was dry and decidedly unamused. He mostly stayed out of their bickering as it was abundantly clear that this was simply their relationship. It was oddly adversarial, but deeply loving, so he let them be. Today, however, he was feeling protective. "I could literally kill you with my pinky finger. Stop antagonizing my girl."

Caleb narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Sasha's smugly grinning face before focusing on Bucky. "I'm pretty sure Sasha wouldn't let you kill me."

Sasha smile went razor thin. "You wanna bet?"

Caleb pursed his lips, considering her a moment, before he turned and walked away, still holding the coat, towards where Zoe stood with Natasha. Sasha grinned at his back, delighted with him. He'd always had an eye for the ideal time for a strategic retreat. A gentle hand at the small of her back had her turning to Bucky.

His bright blue eyes might have been the softest she'd ever seen them. He lifted his flesh hand to brush his thumb across her cheekbone as he asked, "You ready?"

Sasha turned her face into his hand to press her cheek, then her lips to his palm. "As I'll ever be. I want it done. I want to shake this dust off my shoes before tomorrow." Her smile sparkled as she spoke the last word. Bucky couldn't resist snatching a quick kiss.

"And tomorrow?" he asked with a slow, warm smile. "How's the feet?"

Sasha laughed, her heart lightening at the thought. "Are you kidding? Tony's gonna have to hold me back from sprinting down the aisle. We have a confirmed toasty status on the feet. How about you?" She held back a smirk. Like she couldn't feel it.

"Never been warmer." Bucky bent his head to kiss her again, this time deeply and with all the love that welled up for only her. He was still constantly amazed at how he always found more inside himself for her. Once so used to the cold he barely felt anything, to now live in the warmth and vibrancy of her was his miracle. "Go ahead and sprint, Shurochka. I'll catch you."

Sasha took his pretty face in her hands and gave him a smacking kiss. He was as much her miracle as she was his. To find someone who not only accepted her as she was, but positively reveled in it was heaven for an empath who'd spent much of her life lonely. She smiled happily in excitement for the following day. "Save a dance for me?"

Bucky grinned; she had to know she could ask anything of him, at least until he had her safely wed. "All you want."

She was still grinning at him when Caleb's shout of impatience rang out. "Hey! While we're young, woman!"

"Really," Tony concurred, "like this isn't self-indulgent enough. We doing this or not, Crazy Girl?"

"We're doing this." She murmured it for Bucky's ears alone, her smile soft and intimate before turning away to give Caleb the finger and Tony a narrow stare as she walked toward them. Before Tony started the music, Sasha and Caleb circled each other a moment before appearing to square off in the center of the crater.

The rest of the group that had made the trek to Washington stood at odd intervals in something of a circle around the two. Only those who were needed had come, the rest left at home to see to the wedding preparations. Kat stood, exulting at the destruction Sasha had caused and reminding herself that she had seen Valentin die here, no matter what he told her in nightmares. Maddie had her arm around Kat's waist, holding her up whether she needed it or not.

“Why are we doing this again?” Maddie murmured to Kat softly, worried by the trembling that worked through her girlfriend.

Kat’s voice was dry, and the reminder of Sasha’s answer in response to Kat’s exact question had her smiling slightly. “Because sometimes a ‘fuck you’ deserves a little extra effort.”

Zoe had her hand in Natasha's. The two were debating the dangers of seeking vengeance and the fine line between righteous anger and enjoying violence. Nat was warning her protegee that reveling in retributive violence only leads to seeking out offense so as to have an excuse for retribution.

Yeah, but Val had it coming. He was a real dick.

Natasha couldn't help the twitch at the corner of her mouth. She absolutely adored this child. Okay, Mini-Sasha. Granted. But if we kill everyone who's a dick, we'd never do anything else.

Tony had come to stand next to Bucky. They didn't speak, merely nodded to each other in acknowledgement. The two men would never be friends; it simply wasn't possible considering their history. However, two of the most important people in the world to Bucky were also vitally important to Tony. They could not be enemies, either. Between Sasha and Steve, it simply wasn't possible.

All of a sudden, and incomprehensibly to everyone but the two in the center of the group that had made the trek to Washington, Sasha shouted, "Free jazz!" At the sound, she and Caleb burst into motion, dancing quickly, but in a way that seemed to make no sense, none of the steps matching the others. On the other hand, they moved seamlessly together; it apparently made sense to them. At some private signal, they stopped and took their stance.

As the music started, as the rhythm caught her, Sasha felt her heart lighten and lift. She had been right to do this, even if she'd waited until the night before her and Bucky's wedding. She wanted to take back everything she'd left here before she took vows to Bucky. She needed to close this chapter before she could start the next.

Besides, she couldn't make more promises if she couldn't keep those already made. Though she'd been speaking to Morozov, when she'd sworn to dance the mambo on the ashes of all he'd built, she'd been making the promise to the sisters who even now looked on.

Rather than the threat, the dance-on-your-grave taunt she had originally intended, the sheer joy she felt transformed the act into one of celebration. As the drums beat, with sparkling eyes and swiveling hips, she exulted. Not only had they all escaped, they thrived.

Her little sister, once the most vulnerable, was growing stronger and more sure of herself with every passing day. Between the confidence that a stable and happy home gave her and the lessons from Nat that engendered the kind of courage that comes from skill, she was easily becoming a force to be reckoned with. As she careened into her teenage years, it took an entire team of superheroes to keep up with her.

Her other sister, once only able of her own free will to hide and lie, had become honest to the point of bluntness. Fortunately, the three people whose opinions she valued understood her need to speak her mind without filters. Maddie knew her wounded love needed to be herself without restrictions. Zoe had a telepath's impatience with lies and liked hearing thoughts reflected in words. Sasha, who had a perverse sense of humor, found Kat's dry, almost rude literalism hilarious.

Tomorrow, Sasha would take vows with the man who complimented her in ways she hadn’t known to hope for. Even if she had wanted to hold on to that sense of petty vengeance, she couldn’t have done it, too easily lost in the sheer fun of the dance. As it was, she discovered she was able to let it all go without a fight. She'd thought she'd come here to take something back. She hadn't known she'd end up leaving a lot she didn't need behind.

As he watched Sasha dance to the cheerful beat pounding from the quinjet, tendrils of hair falling around her face, her bright blue-green eyes snapping with fun and challenge, Bucky found himself once again falling even more in love with her. He chuckled, remembering a time he’d avoided her gaze, convinced that should he let down his guard for a moment, he’d drown in those eyes. If this was drowning, he’d happily go under.

Why he’d feared the pretty and warm, so far from all he’d once known and hated, was no mystery. He had feared the rejection when she inevitably found the ugly and cold in him. Instead, she’d held him close and shown him the ugly and cold in herself. He’d learned how to forgive himself by watching her do the same.

Though she danced for herself, for her sisters, she sang for him.

Taglist:

@marvel-lucy @cheekygeek05 @lbouvet @lovely-geek @wantingtobekorra @diinofayce @ashesandfire @suz-123 @livibrooke @ddysis @caplansteverogers @getbuckylucky @california-grown @rnr1274 @capandbuck @buckybarnesappreciationsociety @magellan-88 @mizzzpink @curiositywillbethedeathofmee @colie87 @bibliophile1773 @henrietteoaks @hellzzzbelle @same--old-shit @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @rishlo @eyesfixedonthesun22 @ingenue-q

#Bucky Barnes #Bucky Barnes x OFC #Bucky x OFC #Bucky Barnes fanfiction #MCU fanfiction #pantswrites #sing for me #series

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ben-j-man · 6 years ago

Text

Secret War chapter 25

Link to chapter 1- http://ben-j-man.tumblr.com/post/180097372453/secret-war-chapter-1

Sickening, unnatural blue light coveted the surroundings, and even still Etuarq laughed.

As quick as a cat Darrance darted back, for all the good it'd do.

I closed my eyes, that was all I could do. I was too exhausted, too exhausted even to move my pinkie finger, but this it wasn't just exhaustion, no. It was more than that it was as though my very soul was drained, Faleaseen's shield, it must've done this to me. That on top of my actual fatigue, all those hours, all this time, pushing myself to my very limits. Fighting.

But now it was all for nothing; we were dead, defeated, no destroyed, completely and utterly. Inquisitor Etuarq had won, and he was right. I was nothing, nothing but a pawn. A pawn who'd passed his use by date.

A pawn who deserved to die, I felt the overwhelming heat in my face.

"Karmen! Now!" I heard Brutis roar, and as fast as it expanded, the horrifying heat began to go away.

+What!?+ roared Etuarq, his voice shrill with surprise.

Despite myself, my eyes snapped open, and I gasped at what I saw.

I was right, the blue globe of fire had retracted, writhing and raging against some invisible force.

I felt the heavy footfalls approach and saw Brutis walk past, his hands raised forward.

Brutis grinned over his huge shoulder at me.

"Heh! Sorry! Forgot to tell you that I was a psyker to!" he said.

My eyes widened.

+And I apologise, Attelus. I lied! Came Karmen's voice. +I hadn't actually used all my power!+

+NO!+ roared Etuarq. +Why didn't I foresee this! Why! Won't! You! Just! Die!+

Brutis' attention snapped back to the explosion.

"Did you think us stupid?" he snarled. "Did you think we didn't see this for the blatant trap it was? I don't care who you are, nor how powerful you are! You will not win, you will be found, and you will pay for your crimes! I am a servant of the God-Emperor of Mankind; I am a weapon of His will! And everyone here! Everyone who've fought tooth and nail to get this far, they are as well! Every one of them has earned my respect and trust and His too I trust! Even 'little Attelus,!' And I swear, I will not stand back and let any more of them die! The Emperor's will is with us!"

Etuarq's reply was just more shrill, insane laughter.

+Attelus,+ said Karmen. +It doesn't matter the why or how you were born; it doesn't matter what this Etuarq claims. You are nobodies puppet! You are you! Nothing will change that! Nothing! You are one of the strongest, most amazing people I've ever met! You survived in the ruins of Varander, you survived against the Arco Flagellant and saved those people! If you can survive that you can survive anything! Keep going! Keep fighting! I know you have the strength! I know it!+

I smiled and slowly began to climb to my feet.

"Thank you for the great, amazing, awe-inspiring speech, Karmen," I said. "You could compete with Brutis' in that department, but I didn't need it!"

Brutis grinned at me, "Attelus! Anything you want to say before we send this scum back whence he came?"

I threw back my head and bellowed out a loud laugh, so loud that Etuarq stopped his, this despite my sore, raw throat. "Yeah! Hell yeah! I'd like to thank you, you son of a bitch! For so long I've struggled for a purpose in life! Something to truly fight for! And finally, you've given it to me! I'm gonna hunt you down, and I'm gonna stop you! Once and for all, even if it's the last thing I do! But before that, I'll stop this Exterminatus! Screw you and screw your fate! I'll do it for Elandria, for Castella and most of all, for me!"

Brutis laughed, "you could've been a little less cliche, you know? But I'll give you points for the spirit! Karmen!"

I frowned, and who was he to accuse me of being cliche? Bit of a double standard, I'd say.

+Got you!+

No longer could I keep my feet and I collapsed to my knees as together they roared and the explosion shrunk and shrunk. Still writhing and rumbling and struggling.

Then, two people appeared on my flanks and helped me on my feet, laying my arms across their shoulders, and I was shocked to see it was Verenth and Selg.

"Yeah! Up ya get," said Verenth and we watched as the explosion slowly faded into nothingness.

+You've done well my little puppets,+ said Etuarq; his voice was fading with the light. +But it makes no difference you will die with Omnartus now matter what you do!+

Then he was gone, and the church was in darkness, the only thing left of it was the deep, five-metre wide crater in the floor.

"Is it, is it dead?" asked Selg as Brutis "Bones" approached.

Brutis shook his head wearily, "no, Selg. We just sent him and his witch explosion back into the Warp."

Selg nodded as Brutis activated his vox link, "This is Inquisitor Tybalt, Edracian is defeated I repeat. Edracian is dead we are victorious."

Dead In more ways than one, I thought.

I am tired; I must return to my body, said Karmen.

"Now what?" asked Verenth.

"Mercs are still holding floors six through eight," said Brutis. "The elevator's active and we are transporting troops up and soon will have enough strength to catch them between us. We've still got fighting to do."

"Great," I sighed. "Of course we do."

"No, I think yours and Darrance's struggle is over," said Brutis. "You're in no condition to fight anymore."

I sighed again as Darrance approached, with Hayden helping him walk.

"Do you...do have an ecclesiarchy priest?" asked Darrance, his face dark

Brutis furrowed his brow and folded his arms, "yeah, he's back at Taryst's tower, why?"

I gasped, and my eyes widened, realising what he meant, then had to fight back the sudden welling tears.

"Our friend," managed Darrance. "She...died, she was deeply religious, followed the Emperor and that. I think she deserves a proper send off. She gave her life to stop that...thing. She died in His service. She was the best of us, and now she's dead."

Brutis stood in silence.

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore as they freely flowed.

"Please," I hissed. "Darrance is right. I know so many have died other than her and I know we were enemies. But please. She'd have liked that, please give her this! She was like the sister I never had."

"Where did she die?" asked Brutis.

"There," said Darrance, pointing.

Brutis nodded and began walking to the rubble.

Darrance yelled, "her name was…!"

"I know her name, Darrance," Brutis interrupted. "I made the effort to learn all of your names! Her's was Castella Lethe; it seemed a fitting name from what little I knew of her."

I nodded, and we followed him.

"I'm not a priest," said Brutis. "But I am an Inquisitor, the next best thing, I guess."

"Yes," I said. "Thank you."

"Boss," said Verenth with uncertainty.

"Verenth!" said Brutis. "I know time is short and know she's one of them, but I feel I've gotta do this, anyway she wasn't one of them who killed so many of us. It won't be long."

He looked over his shoulder, "besides once finished here I'm gonna have this place levelled if it's going to happen, it's going to now."

For a few minutes, we stood in respectful silence as Brutis recited the Litany of The Emperor's peace, his hands raised over the rubble. It was a rushed version, but Brutis never left anything out and the entire time tears flowed down my face. I hadn't been to an ecclesiarchy service since before the war on Elbyra but still remembered when to say the responses. Usually, I would've mouthed it, but for Castella, I wouldn't show such disrespect.

Once he finished, Brutis turned back, approached me then much to my surprise placed his gauntleted hand on my shoulder.

"For a cold-hearted merc killer, you seem to cry a lot," he said, smiling and looking as haggard as hell. "She must've been close to you, I am sorry."

All I could manage was a nod.

Brutis stepped past me, "alright! That's enough! Selg! Take your men and scout the rest of the tenth floor! Hayden! You're with them! I doubt there's anyone else up here, but we've got to look anyway! The rest of you with me! We'll take Attelus and Darrance to the elevator so they can get back and we'll rejoin the reinforcements there! Move! Move!"

Selg slipped away, and another Hammer took Hayden's place helping Darrance.

"Thank you," I hissed as we walked to the exit. "Your name is Verenth, right? Thanks."

Verenth clenched his teeth, "I only do it 'cause the boss ordered me to, nothing personal."

I sighed and said, "I'm sorry about killing your brother, I am truly sorry. But...but I only did it because my boss ordered me to, as well. It was nothing personal also. I'm not trying to justify it, and I do deserve your anger, but there are others who are far more deserving of it than me."

"Yeah, like who?" he growled.

"Inquisitor Etuarq," I answered without hesitation. "it was all because of him that this happened, it was because of him, so many have died. He manipulated us all; he manipulated all of this. I would've suggested Taryst too, but he's already dead."

Verenth said nothing.

"I've suffered much to get here," I said. "I've been through hell, Verenth."

"Yeah? Like what?" he growled. "I doubt it has anything on having to mourn your younger brother."

"I wouldn't know," I said. "I'm an only child, but I do know what it's like to lose a mother and that was hard as hell. How about just after finally getting up the courage to confess to the girl that you loved, that you loved her, for her to be shot in the back, then she bled out in your arms? Just after a life and death fight with her? Or the woman who was like a big sister to you just being crushed horribly, abruptly under a falling pillar? Or how about finding out you may be indirectly responsible for the potential deaths of billions? Or…"

"I get!" said Verenth as we finally walked out onto the stairs. "I get it! But that doesn't make up for…"

"No!" I Interrupted. "I never said it did, but I suspect before this is all done, especially now with this new revelation, that it's just beginning. That I've got a shit ton more trauma to go through before this is done, but if I have to go through that so someone else doesn't have to if I have to go through that so that maybe, one day I will earn some forgiveness from those I've done wrong. I will, and I will bear it. So you can hate me all you want, it's fair enough, I understand. Please don't kill me. There's still much for me to do. Once I'm done, once I'm finished, and if you don't deem it enough, then you can put a bullet through my brain, and I will let you. And perhaps, by then, I'll even welcome it."

Verenth smiled, "if that's the case, then you'll never be done, and I'll never get to blow your head off."

I laughed despite myself, "I'll be done if I end up crippled and destroyed in the process. Confined into a wheelchair or whatever. Then I suspect I'll truly welcome that round."

Verenth said nothing, just clenched his jaw, perhaps the idea of him killing me without me minding didn't appeal. Fair enough.

"What are you?" asked one of the Hammers. "Some kind of masochist or something?"

"Perhaps," I said with a shrug, genuinely surprised a moody Hammer knew what a 'masochist' was. "But I never said I'd enjoy it."

"You've changed," said Darrance.

I looked at him, expecting he'd say more but he just stayed silent, his attention fixed forward.

We were the last out, Brutis leading the way, Wesley on his flank and the Inquisitor reached to his ear.

"Gerral, we're about meet you at the bottom of the stairs, stand ready," he said.

Brutis paused and held up a hand for us to halt.

"Gerral! Respond!"

Brutis waited for a few seconds before glancing at us, grim-faced he shook his head then waved an advance.

Slowly and in surprising silence we walked the stairs, everyone but Darrance and I with weapons raised. We reached the end of the curvature and saw the corpses, ten of them, all cut apart by a power sword. There was no sign of weapons discharge, no smell of las-fire or gunpowder, no holes or scorching in the walls.

I didn't like this, to take out ten men, even lowly Moody Hammers like them, without even one getting off a shot? And with all the lights intact? They were good, really, really good; my question was why hadn't they struck until now?

With points of his fingers, Brutis ordered the Hammers to fan out. I could tell Verenth wanted to move up too, but we were forced to watch on.

The Hammers surprisingly calm secured the perimeter, covering the corridors with their assortment of guns and Brutis reached for his vox.

"This is Inquisitor Tybalt, I've got ten men dead on the ninth floor. Professional killers, none of my men managed to get off a shot, power sword wounds. We've got more assassins it seems, three maybe four, watch out."

"One," said someone and everyone looked to the voice's source, it was only then I realised it was me who said it.

"What?"

"There was one killer," I said with certainty. "Inquisitor Etuarq said he was delaying for when someone special was going to enter the building, who would be that special?"

Darrance's eyes widened, and he flinched with realisation, "shit! She's here! Glaitis is here!"

The light above Brutis and the Hammers suddenly smashed out, leaving them endowed in darkness and I could hear a slight clatter as what I guessed was a throwing knife fell to the floor.

Immediately the Moody Hammers opened up, the light from their weapons revealing everything in blinding flashes of white, despite Brutis bellowing to cease fire.

Two on the right abruptly cried and reeled then collapsed, knives jutting seeming appearing in their chests, then another two on the left, with blades jutting from the bases of their skulls.

I would've shouted a warning, but there was no way they could hear me over their roaring weapons as Glaitis was suddenly among them, dual swords slashing she gutted another two. A third tried to bring up his Lasgun, but she kicked him in the face so hard the crunch! Managed to eclipse the roaring gunfire around and the poor bastard collapsed like a ton of bricks.

She threw another two knives, one impaled the eye socket of a Hammer the other, Wesley ducked.

With a roar Brutis dropped his bolter and drew his elaborate powersword, igniting it as Glaitis activated both hers and he barely managed to smash her slashes aside, he would've been unable to parry her following thrust if Wesley's shots hadn't forced her to dart back.

It all happened so fast that Verenth only now had slipped me off and drawn his auto pistol. My limbs were like lead so without complaint I collapsed onto the stairs, as did Darrance as Verenth's colleague unslung his Lasgun and desperately they tried to get a clear shot at Glaitis.

"Don't," I said with finality.

"What?" snarled the other Hammer.

"Don't even try," I said. "If you shoot, you'll only draw her attention, and she will kill you. You're way over your heads here; I'm sorry to say."

The Hammer gritted his teeth but nodded and hesitantly lowered his weapon, but Verenth didn't.

"I can't just stand here and watch!" bellowed Verenth.

"You can and you will!" I snapped. "You'll only get in the way! That I assure you. Right now those two are the only ones in any condition to stop her. As much as you want to help, helping them will only do more harm than good."

"Yeah! And what about you? Would you make a difference?" snapped Verenth.

"Of course I would," I stated, "but I can barely move, I'm no help to man nor beast."

"How can you be so frigging calm!" he roared. "I heard you panicking like a little girl in the elevator shaft! Don't you wish you can help!"

I grinned, and it must've been more than a little unnerving as it made both Verenth and the other Hammer to flinch and exchange fearful glances.

"Of course I do," I said. "This is the first time in a long time I've seen her fight, and I'm pretty sure…"

"Sure of what?" Verenth stammered.

"If I were to fight her, even one on one, I'd kill her," I said. "It'd be hard fought, the fight of my life I'm sure. But Feuilt was better than her, Elandria was better than her, not by much mind you but even still. She's spent too long sitting idle at her desk scheming and planning, I'm afraid. She's lost her edge. Oh, how I wish beyond wish that I could help. I really, truly do. To be the one to end the infamous Glaitis, to be the one to finally kill her, oh what a privilege that'd be. To truly prove I've finally surpassed her in skill."

"You're messed in the head," Verenth said. "And more than a little bit frigging terrifying."

"I am," I said, "I really, really am."

Verenth furrowed his brow yet still, very hesitantly, lowered his weapon.

Glaitis flipped and wheeled through Wesley's shots then lunged at him, slashing horizontally for his head. Wesley, with surprising speed, leaned back, just out the way, then sidestepped her thrust, while attempting to smash the butt of his Stubb revolver into her insane, grinning face. But she cartwheeled back and pirouetted just in time to parry Brutis' vertical cut.

He rallied and cut horizontally, she ducked it and countered with an awe-inspiring cavalcade of feints, slashes and stabs. I could tell Brutis Bones was quite skilled, he'd practised for years, perhaps decades, but compared to a dedicated sword wielder like Glaitis or me, he was an amateur. So it was all the more impressive he wasn't sliced to ribbons, he managed to parry a few but was forced to back step most of it, some attacks were just too fast, slicing gashes in his armour which drew blood. All the while Wesley reloaded his stub revolver.

Both Verenth and the other Hammer watched on, their jaws twitching and fidgeting in impatience, although they weren't quite able to follow it.

Brutis, reeling and bleeding from the onslaught, with a bellow desperately slashed diagonally after parrying Glaitis' thrust. She weaved away, then sidestepped his viciously powerful front kick. Finally, Wesley was finished reloading his Stubb revolver, and his shots sent Glaitis darting and winding. She snarled and threw a knife which flew straight and true, smashing Wesley's gun from his grasp.

Roaring, Brutis was on her, slashing down, Glaitis sidestepped it and spun into a horizontal cut that Brutis barely backstepped. Wesley had retrieved his pistol, and his desperate shots were what kept Glaitis' thrust from impaling Brutis' skull.

Glaitis snarled again; I could see she was mad, frustrated she wasn't able to take them out yet. If Wesley and Brutis could hold out for long enough, perhaps she'd make a mistake, create an opening.

Or at least I hoped she would.

Glaitis darted and flipped through Wesley's fire as she blocked and parried Brutis' slashes and stabs.

She should've been kept on the defensive, but somehow she was still able to counter. I could see her tactic; she was focusing on Wesley mostly, preventing him from firing at her and wearing him down. She knew she could kill Brutis once Wesley was out of the picture, his Stubb revolver was the more significant threat to her now.

I watched Brutis as he barely blocked her latest horizontal slash, the inquisitor must've known he was outclassed, that if it weren't for Wesley he'd have been dead five times over, yet still here he was, fighting not giving up. I could sympathise with that; stubbornness seemed to be something we had in common.

"Shit!" snapped Wesley as his pistol clicked dry yet again. "I'm out! Verenth!"

Verenth's eyes widened and after a moment's hesitation threw his auto pistol to Wesley.

Glaitis ducked Brutis' counter then cartwheeled his next thrust and darted toward Wesley, immediately seeing her opportunity.

But as she did I saw Wesley smile, and he flicked open his revolver, slid in one bullet and spun to face Glaitis as she came on him. Pistol raised right in her face.

"What the hell is going on here?" roared a voice.

It caused Wesley to hesitate, and he lost his arm from the elbow down because of it.

His scream was cut short as Glaitis' sliced his torso in two.

My jaw dropped, and my eyes widened in shock as did everyone else while Verenth's pistol clattered on the floor.

"Wesley!" roared Brutis.

From the left side corridor, "Olinthre" walked into view, looking bloodied and beaten and grinning from ear to ear, with a las gun raised.

"It looks as though I arrived just in time," It said.

Glaitis smiled but said nothing.

"Major! What the hell are you doing?" demanded Brutis.

"Brutis!" I yelled. "That's not major Olinthre! Its…!"

"My servant!" Glaitis interrupted with an insane laugh. "The only one with the sense to stay loyal to me!"

"Frig!" I snapped, truly regretting failing to inform Brutis of "Olinthre's" real identity now.

Brutis' clenched his teeth as he realised the situation he was in, glancing back and forth between Glaitis and "Olinthre" a few times uncertainty.

"I can't stand by any longer, sorry, kid!" snarled Verenth as he raised his Stubb revolver and the other Hammer, his Las gun.

I sighed and said nothing, knowing it was pointless to argue, we were dead either way now.

"Aim for the major!" I yelled as an idea hit me, It wasn't as fast as Glaitis so perhaps they could actually kill it.

"Really?" It said, grinning insanely at us and in a flash of light. It transformed into Wesley, "are you sure?"

Verenth and the Hammer gasped, hesitating.

Glaitis laughed and threw two knives, one stuck fast into Verenth's arm as the other embedded in the hammer's shoulder and with yells of pain they fell on their arses.

She would've thrown more, but with a roar Brutis was slashing at her, forcing her to cartwheel back.

"I will not stand by and watch you anymore kill any more of my men!" he bellowed. "You bitch!"

He tried to slash again but the Olinthre-thing's Las fire smashed into him, the burst caused him to reel. In the next second Glaitis smashed into him, knocking him off his feet and to the floor, then he screamed as she impaled his sword arm to the hilt.

Glaitis laughed and flipped back, out of his reach, leaving one of her swords to pin him on his back.

"Well! Be careful what you wish for, Inquisitor!" she grinned. "If you cannot stand back! Then you can just lie back and watch instead! While I slaughter all your pathetic subordinates!"

Brutis roared and reeled and tried to reach for Glaitis' sword, but Glaitis drew another knife and stabbed it into the soft gap in the elbow of his free arm; eliciting another agonised scream from him.

She laughed again and twisted the knife, "there! There!" she snarled. "Don't even think about trying to be one of those willful fools who pulls the blade out and continues to fight! Trying to be a hero! You should know that it's overrated!"

"You! Fething! Bitch!" he screamed through clenched teeth.

She laughed even harder, stepped back and said, " oh how imaginative! But I guess you are not in a good condition to think of anything better. Oh well! I'll end your suffering, eventually, Inquisitor. Once I'm done with your friends!"

Glaitis turned and grinned insanely at us, causing both Verenth and the Hammer to cower in fear.

And I couldn't blame them.

"Mamzel!" said the Mimic as It approached her, still in Wesley's form. "Great job. I am glad you managed to get me over the vox so I could help."

"Oh shut up!" she snapped. "I am not in the mood for your arse kissing!"

"Sorry, mamzel!" It stammered, "but may I ask a favour?"

"Yes, what?" she said.

It grinned a disturbing grin that didn't fit Wesley's face, "can you allow me to kill the foolish apprentice? I'll make sure to make it long and painful; he humiliated me! Made me look a fool! Please? Would you, please?"

"No," she said without hesitation. "He humiliated you, but he betrayed me, turned the others against me. He's dodged the consequences of his actions thus far, but no longer. No longer, besides..."

"Besides?"

She grinned, "besides, how can you do it, if you're dead?"

"Wha…?"

Before it could finish, she stabbed It through the chest.

Wesley's eyes widened with shock and surprise as did mine.

"Why?" It gasped. "I have served you all, my life. I stayed loyal..."

"You co-operated with the apprentice, even after knowing he'd betrayed me!" Glaitis snarled as she twisted the blade. "As far as I'm concerned you are just as responsible as he is. Just be glad that I'm sparing you the same fate I have in store for him!"

She abruptly pulled out her sword, and it fell to its knees.

"Oh!" she said. "I almost forgot, 'Wesley,' I have been lying to you, all your life, in fact. You were never a Xenos, an alien. No, you're something even worse, something even more lowly and pathetic, yes. You are a mutant, a twist, a scourge on society, the lowest of the low. Nothing special at all! So die, die like the piece of gutter trash you are."

She laughed and walked toward us, turning her back on the dying Mimic as it fell on its face and the pool of blood began expanding beneath it, red blood, human blood. Yet it still kept Wesley Jeksen's form.

I kept gaping, unable to say anything, to comprehend anything and that was when Darrance walked past me, power scimitar limply held at his side as he gasped for breath.

"Oh?" she said, stopping, tilting her head in insane curiosity. "Darrance? What are you doing? You are in no condition to fight me."

"I finally see you, for what you truly are," he managed. "A monster."

"A monster? Really? That's a little harsh, especially coming from you," she said. "Sure, I must admit I'm a little manipulative and cruel, but I was never quite a monster."

She grinned even wider, "that's until now, of course. It's all the apprentice's fault; it was his betrayal that pushed me over the edge, drove me past the brink and into insanity. It's because…"

"Shut up!" interrupted Darrance. "Stop blaming him! You always blame others for your own actions, and mistakes, always! It was your own pride that pushed you this far; you were the one who allowed the apprentice to get kidnapped in the first place! You were the one who took him from Elbyra and to here! It's just as much your fault as his, if not more so!"

Glaitis' face turned murderous, "you did this to me too, Darrance. My most loyal servant…"

"Shut it!" he snarled. "No one did anything to you! This is your fault! I think this isn't you being driven insane I bet this is you! The real you! I bet you lost your sanity a long time ago and have been putting up a mask ever since!"

Much to my shock, I saw Darrance had tears in his eyes.

"I looked up to you! Hell! I even think I loved you! But now I realise just how stupid I was; I put you on a pedestal. Lied to myself for so long about who and what you truly were! But I see the truth now! I see you're nothing but a pathetic old woman who is so overtaken by hate and the lust for revenge there's nothing else left! I...I"

Darrance clenched his free hand into a fist as tears flowed freely down his face.

Glaitis raised an eyebrow, "so? Are you done now?"

Darrance grinned through the tears, "yes, and I'd like to thank you, thank you for being stupid enough to listen to my rant rather than just killing us."

Glaitis' eyes widened, and she turned just in time to dash out the path of the Las fire erupting from the left side corridor.

The fire strafed after her, and she slid to a stop, her power sword a blur of motion as it smashed aside the shots raining her way.

Then I heard the familiar sound of a shotgun firing and watched as she sidestepped through the shot gunshots, all the while still deflecting the laser fire.

Cursing and snarling she darted back, trying to get some range from the shotgun then the attackers emerged into view.

It was Garrakson, Torris and Arlathan. Both Garrakson and Arlathan laid down the constant barrage of with their las guns, Torris with his shotgun.

"H-how!" I said.

Darrance grinned, "as you just sat there watching and looking like an idiot I raised those guys over the vox, told them what was going on. You know, like a smart person would."

I frowned, "I hope you're aware I can't move, not even slightly, right?"

Darrance shrugged, "you still didn't think of it, did you?"

I just clenched my jaw and said nothing.

Verenth and the other Hammer got to their feet, grasping at their useless, bloody arms and watched with expressions of awe.

"Is she...is she even human?" asked the Hammer.

"Yes," I said without hesitation. "As much as she wishes she wasn't."

Both Verenth and the Hammer furrowed their brows and exchanged bemused looks.

Glaitis snarled, I could she was gasping for breath and slowing down now. Not even she could keep this up for much longer.

I grinned to myself if she hadn't stupidly killed the Mimic she wouldn't be in this predicament.

But soon Garrakson and Arlathan would run out of ammo, and I had a bad feeling that'd come first.

As if on cue, almost simultaneously their guns clicked dry then Glaitis was on them.

Her front kick knocked Torris' shotgun from his grasp, and he barely managed to back peddle her throat punch. Arlathan, reacting with impressive speed, swung the butt of his lasgun at her skull but lightning fast she darted back, then in again and cut his rifle in half. Arlathan countered with a hook punch she barely weaved under, then she threw a roundhouse kick he just managed to block with a forearm, but I heard a crack, and he cried out in pain grasping at his limp limb and stumbled away. Leaving him open for the killing thrust.

Before she could, Torris was on her flank and throwing a powerful front thrust kick, a disparagingly reckless attack that made me involuntarily hiss through clenched teeth.

Glaitis leaned out the way and slashed horizontally at his stomach, forcing Torris to throw himself clumsily backwards to keep from being disembowelled.

All of this time Garrakson reloaded and moved away a few metres. His blurt of las was what kept Glaitis from decapitating Torris with her next attack.

"So finally I get to meet the infamous bitch in person!" he roared.

Glaitis didn't deign to reply, she only got to full height and eyed him contemptuously.

"You're the one responsible for the death of Taryst!" he snarled.

Glaitis still didn't say anything; she just glanced sidelong at the Mimic's corpse pointedly.

Trying to use Glaitis' distraction Torris lunged at her, throwing a punch straight at her head, but in the blink of an eye she drew a knife and stabbed him in the arm, before sidestepping and smashing a front kick into his side. The sickening crack of his breaking ribs made me wince in sympathy, and he slid on the floor before stopping, curling up and crying out in pain.

"Bitch!" he snarled and fired another flurry, which she simply smashed aside with her powerblade.

"Could you please say something original? Please?" she sighed, breathlessly.

"Shut! Up!"

"Or what?" she snarled. "You'll kill me?"

Glaitis threw back her head and burst out in laughter, "do you really think you're capable of it? I am Glaitis! Master assassin with decades of experience in bloodletting! I have trained my body and mind beyond the capability of normal humanity! You! You are just some pathetic ex-guardsman nobody like the dozens, no! Hundreds of others that I've slaughtered over the years!"

Garrakson clenched his teeth and fired again, forcing Glaitis to sprint sidelong his fire strafing her wake.

"How does it feel Jeurat Garrakson?" she yelled. "How does it feel to know you're incapable of killing the one who is responsible for the death of the one you loved? How does it feel to be incapable of killing the one responsible for the death of your last remaining war buddy? The man who was the only other survivor of your regiment? The comrade who was your commander?"

Garrakson's reply was only an enraged roar and more las rounds.

"That's right!" she laughed. "Major Olinthre once of the 801st Cadian regiment! It was my loyal servant who strangled the life from him, just like he did to Taryst! The man you loved! The man who saved you and him from the Nightlord ambush that slaughtered the rest of your regiment!"

"Shut up!" he roared.

"On second thought, I won't kill you, Jeurat!" she laughed as she darted and flipped through his withering bursts. "Not yet! Along with the pathetic Inquisitor, I'll make you watch as I kill your comrades, your friends! Marcel Torris! And the apprentice! I'll make them suffer slowly and die in front of you to make up for you being unable to watch the deaths of Taryst and Olinthre! Once you're broken, only then will I kill you! It'll be beautiful! Amazing! Oh, I can't wait!"

Abruptly Garrakson stopped shooting, ejected the lasgun's clip and slammed another home despite not being out of ammo. The look of anger and determination on his scarred face was terrifying.

Glaitis tilted her head and smiled, "oh, what's this now?"

Garrakson clenched his teeth and tears rolled abruptly down his face, "this is for you, Taryst and you too, Olinthre."

Then he flicked his lasgun onto 'full auto' and with a roar, charged firing a constant stream from the hip.

Glaitis laughed, dodging and parrying the shots, "what do you want to die, now?"

Garrakson just roared and continued forward, firing and firing.

"Jeurat! No!" I heard Torris yell.

As he closed in, Garrakson suddenly dropped his rifle and drew his knife, then with one swift stroke, Glaitis decapitated him.

In shocked silence I watched, and it took me a good few seconds to realise I was crying. He was my friend, a good friend who I'd fought alongside for months. A friend who'd tried to help me, a true friend.

"Garrakson!" I roared.

Glaitis stood stock still, grinning from ear to ear, then suddenly she screamed a shrill scream of utter agony and abruptly she fell to the floor. Writhing, trying to reach behind her back.

My shock was replaced by confusion, then I saw it, the bloody hilt of Garrakson's knife jutting from the base of her back.

For a good ten minutes, Glaitis lay screaming and writhing as she slowly, painfully died. No one moved to put her out of her misery. It was the very least she deserved.

"So passes master Seylit Glaitis of the cult of the Blades of Vengeance," intoned Darrance. "May we never see her likes in this galaxy ever again."

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theclosetpoet7 · 7 years ago

Text

Akai Ito

One Two Three Four

"My hands were meant to hold you, meant to take yours in mine as I pull you along to the rest of our forever." - theClosetPoet7

Chapter Five

In the Next World

She never thought that she'd be the next person to break his heart like this.

To be the cause of his pain.

The one whom he loses next.

She'd always thought that she would be able to send him off with a smile.

Because as she once said, if she could take all his heart break onto herself, she would do it without second thought.

She would've.

So when Uchiha Sakura, at the age of ninety, starts to feel that first sign of weakness after years of being the strong one in her family, all she could think of was the fact that Sasuke will be so devastated.

She asks her best friend to perform the tests, because she just knows, that if she does it herself, she won't have the heart to tell him.

The fact that she's dying.

The fact that time has finally caught up to her.

The fact that she's leaving him.

For the first and last time in this life.

Yamanaka Ino bawls over the diagnosis like a child being separated from her beloved parents. In truth, it came as a surprise that she's suddenly the one who has difficulty in breathing, the one who'd have these coughing fits when she had always lived a healthy lifestyle.

She knew though, that using so much of her life force to save others would eventually pick away at her immune system as well as her core strength piece by piece.

Ninety isn't so bad, considering she had friends before who didn't even reach thirty. She had never stopped working, never stopped studying. She and Sasuke never stopped trying to change the world for the better, had worked so hard to further their daughter's goals of reaching for the stars, literally. And she's proud, she's so damn proud of their little girl slash former hokage.

Space travel is just a tiny bit out of reach now, she knows that she'll be able to understand how the body adjusts to it soon.

Catching pneumonia now was just a temporary setback. One which she can treat with her current knowledge in herbal medicine. Except that it's a different strain. A bug. Just a bug that happened to be resistant to her medications. Or perhaps it's because her body has become too weak to fight as well.

Too old.

Too worn out.

Too weak.

A word she despises.

When her husband hears of the news and what it means, his face is a picture of utter heart break; a face she hadn't seen ever since they said goodbye for the first time as spouses. She had carried their toddler whilst trying to hold back her tears because of the uncertainty of their time apart.

And she could read all the hurt in his eyes, as he refused to believe that there was no cure.

It was a bug.

Just a bug.

Uchiha Sasuke spends millions on medical research, anything to come up with the right antibiotic.

She supposes that in time, with more resources, and the right machinery and technological advances they'd come up with the right weapon against it.

But not now.

Eventually, she loses her appetite.

Sasuke sees it when she starts to wither away.

When the same hand she'd once used to punch craters into the ground.

The same one that healed countless people.

The one that held his own, out of affection, out of comfort, out of love,

had turned into a bony, frail one that couldn't squeeze his own in return.

He never leaves her side.

He never stops holding her.

He never stops telling her how thankful he is for the years.

And she's apologizing.

Always apologizing.

She's sorry for dying.

Sorry for letting him see her like this.

Sorry for being the one who breaks his heart.

The one that causes him pain.

The next person he loses.

He never stops telling her he loves her.

Eventually she asks that he take her home.

She spends the last few weeks telling him that he's made her so happy.

She says goodbye in a way that's so her.

So Sakura.

She lightly reprimands Naruto for crying too much, though she cries with him one day.

She teases Ino and tells her best friend that she'd make sure to say hello to Sai for her when she gets to the next life.

She smiles when all her students gather around her bed to say their many thanks for her dedicated training, while consistently reminding them to wear their face masks.

She listens as Sarada goes on and on about the progress of their research, and she holds her, she holds her baby girl and all her grandchildren as they squeeze in their king sized bed.

And Sasuke,

Never leaves her side.

Never stops holding her.

Never stops saying thank you.

When she wakes up one day knowing that it's special and knowing that she has to stand beside him one more time,

Uchiha Sakura gets up to prepare for the day and she cooks for her husband after months of letting him cook for her. It's a simple meal, onigiri with his favorite fruit mixed in with miso soup, but it makes him tear up as they eat in silence, always understanding one another in this noiseless way.

"We'll see each other again in the next world."

He glances up at her, with old and weary eyes widening at her sentence.

"I'll wait for you."

He sobs then, his grip on her hands tightening as he pulls them to his lips and kisses her knuckles.

"Thank you."

She lets out her last breath in his arms as they take their afternoon nap.

He never stops telling her that he loves her.

______________

Five lifetimes go by before she sees him again after their brief reunion in the afterlife.

But her heart never gives up.

Because she knows that he's her soul mate.

And although she might have said that she'd wait for him,

It didn't mean that she couldn't go search for him too.

The same way she had all those years ago.

When Uchiha Sakura wakes up, or rather regains her memories of her past life, her pinky starts to burn hard as if a string is tightening around it, pulling her somewhere.

She follows blindly as she wonders around her room, debating whether or not she should leave while her parents are busy preparing for Christmas.

It is snowing heavily outside, but it calls to her.

Something is calling out to her.

She's in her winter clothes in minutes.

And as she's lowering herself off her window, cursing her currently non-ninja body as she struggles to carry her weight with two arms, Sakura nearly yelps when her tiny finger is tugged to the right involuntarily.

She loses her grip.

But as she's falling onto the four feet deep snow beneath her.

Pink strands spreading out when her beanie is taken away by the strong winter wind,

A tiny gasp on her pink lips,

Sakura's heart suddenly pounds fiercely in her chest.

Because she knows,

She just knows.

Strong arms reach out to her and catch her before she lands.

She's rolling around in the snow.

With her hero's body being pushed down by her own.

She's looking into her husband's eyes with his pure black irises widening at her friendly smile.

She let's out a happy squeal and crushes him to her arms.

"I know we'd find each other in the next world."

The Sasuke of this life could only stare in confusion but with keen interest as she introduces herself.

"Haruno Sakura."

"..."

"Thank you for saving me."

He smirks in return.

"Uchiha Sasuke."

Her grip is strong and sincere.

______________

Author's note: I made myself cry. T_T at first I was gonna stop with Sakura dying but couldn't do it. It's Christmas after all!

#sasusaku #sasusakusara #sasusakufanfiction #sasusaku+fanfic #sasusakufic

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