#not really unrequited love

[dragonrider9905]

For the Dancing and the Dreaming

@photogirl894 Morgan, this is for you!!!! ❤️ I really hope you like it!!!!

Summery: Being a Jedi in the rise of the Empire is difficult. First because an old friend has become an enemy and second, you are in love with the Sergeant of Clone Force 99,.

But perhaps where you lack words, a song can change everything and say what is in your heart?

Warnings: Talk of blood; arguments; each thinks the other is dead but they're not.

Notes: I wish I wrote the reprisal to Dancing and the Dreaming but I did not; I attached the YouTube link to the song. The artist is amazing 😭 please check it out!!!!

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46476934

Just start the story, right? Here you go XD

“What on earth are you thinking?”

You never argued with Hunter in all the time you’d served as the Batch’s general nor while on the run with them. You’d had disagreements but never arguments, so this sudden outburst caught you off guard. You stood up taller and straighter to exude an air of confidence, lifting your chin and setting your jaw. Your hand immediately went to the hilt of your saber, feeling the gold trimmings and etchings for comfort. Your blade was unique…yellow in color and you wanted the hilt to display that, even if it did call attention to itself. It was black but traced with gold designs of your choice …ironically, this was your only tell of uncomfort. He often picked up on it, but you noticed he didn’t now. He was too busy reprimanding you. 

You sighed. “Hunter…”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Don’t talk, or don’t go through with it.”

“Both!”

You scowled and crossed your arms over your chest. 

Hunter paced about like a wild animal being pinned down, a look of desperation in his eye you’ve never seen before. 

“She’s coming for me, Hunter. I have to do this to protect you. To protect Omega!”

“She’ll kill you!”

“Well thanks for the vote of confidence in my skill.” 

“This has nothing to do with your skill and you know it. It isn’t a matter of ‘can’. Would you be able to kill her?”

You opened and shut your mouth a few times, trying to formulate an answer. He didn’t know what you had planned (he’d die the moment you told him for sure, so you kept it to yourself. By the way he was acting though, you wondered if he’d read your mind. You hoped he hadn’t acquired that skill. You’d be screwed.) 

You had to say something to placate Hunter, but you didn’t know what. Yelena, the Inquisitor who was after you, was a long time friend from the Temple. You couldn’t contradict the multiple late night conversations you had with Hunter, telling him about how close you were, and crying over the loss of her to the dark side. You even admitted once you wouldn’t be able to do it if you had to. You were stronger in saber skills but her connection to the Force was uncannily strong, and quite frankly, frightening. 

“That is beside the point.”

“It is ENTIRELY the point!” He threw his hands up in the air and turned from you, grasping the back of the pilot's chair. 

“Hunter…” 

Your voice was soft but it faltered. You reached out but stopped, uncertainty taking over. You’d loved this man for some time, but you never had the courage to tell him. You’d faced battle droids, sith and death itself head on with a heart of steel, but saying those three words terrified you. You were sure he didn’t feel the same. He couldn’t possibly. You wanted to believe that this outburst could have meant that he cared for you but it couldn’t. You didn’t know why exactly he was acting like this, but you knew it wasn’t that. You were his general, and only ever just his general. It was his job to look after you and old habits die hard.

His shoulder’s drooped. 

“Ner ka’ra…”

Your head cocked to the side, eyebrow raised. You didn’t know that phrase. You never heard him say it before.

“I…we can’t lose you too. Please. Don’t.”

You blinked, and he was in front of you, towering over you, eyes boring into yours. His hands had come to be on your upper arms. His grip didn’t hurt, rather offered a sort of comfort and support. You could feel the vibration of every fiber of his being begging you to stay, an unspoken desperation.

You started to chew your lip and he remained silent, seeing he was getting through to you. You didn’t need to use the Force to know his breathing was heavy and uneven, or to feel the slight shake of his ever steady hand.

But what you did feel from him…anger, confusion, fear and something else? Something he was hiding…

You were going to step into his arms, to give him a reassuring hug when an image appeared before your eyes. You gasped and nearly fell to the floor. 

In the mud of your mind, you thought you could hear Hunter calling your name. It echoed in the vast nothing that encompassed your head. Your legs started to give out and the grip on your arms started to dig. You realized you were falling.  

You were heaving for breath. 

Yelena was sending you a message: Come, or Hunter would pay the price. 

Resolve set in, unlike before. Your spine straightened and you set your jaw, letting your eyes bore into his.

“No, Hunter. I’m leaving. I have to. Please…know it is for the best because…I care. Tell the others I said goodbye…and that I love you all, will you?” 

And you were gone. Somehow you released yourself from his grip. Somehow you slipped away from him.

The feeling of you remained. A slight tingling causing his fingers to twitch. Hunter’s mind drifted to the first time…well, the only time he ever danced with you. 

Notes came from the musicians' old instruments in the town square. A song long forgotten by many civilizations rang out and danced between the walls and the old cobblestone streets. Your heart nearly jumped in your throat from the giddy excitement. A buzz traveling from your brain to the tips of your fingers and toes.

“I can’t believe they know this song! They know it!” 

You clamped your hands over your heart, shutting your eyes, swaying to the music and humming along the opening notes. 

“It’s an old song from my home,” you smiled nostalgically, sighing into the land of memory.

The peace and happiness that settled over you was not lost on Hunter and he was glad Omega had requested the musicians to play it. He smiled, watching you, taking the picture of you in. It was some sort of holiday in town and everyone was in a giving mood. Wrecker was off somewhere eating food, Tech and Echo doing who knows what, while you, Hunter and Omega went exploring about town. 

You had a wreath of flowers in your hair, little blue ones he thought you called “forget-me-nots.” They were your favorite, you’d told him that while gazing at the crown. The flower stall owner must have overheard you, because he gave them to you for free. Hunter was glad he did…you looked beautiful. The blues complimented the purple garments you wore. Ugh, he was staring and he had to stop! But it was keeping his mind off the fact he was trembling when he placed the crown on your head himself…

Omega heard you humming this tune one day and asked what it was called. “For the Dancing and the Dreaming.” you replied. “Someday, I’ll teach you the dance to the song. Right now, we gotta finish these repairs, ok kiddo? We can learn the words as we go, so long as Tech doesn’t mind the noise.” 

Hunter hardly considered it noise. Your voice was one of the most lovely things he’d heard in a while *coughs, correction, ever*. Hearing you and Omega sing and laugh quickly became his favorite sound in all the galaxy. The harmonies you two created were…not as pleasant, at first. But the more the two of you sang and learned from each other, the better you got. They tried (and succeeded on a few occasions) to get Hunter to sing along with them. His deep baritone voice added something special to the music, or at least that is what you said, and he pretended like he believed you. 

Apparently Omega hadn’t forgotten your promise to learn the dance.

Omega praddled up to your side, something curious in her eyes…Hunter had seen this kind of mischief before. What did Omega have up her sleeve?

She called out your name in a sing-song voice. “Won’t you pleeeease show us the dance! Please!”

You laughed, hardly needing the encouragement. 

“Alright. But I’ll need a partner.” 

You smiled sweetly at the girl, expecting her to volunteer. She put on a troubled face; Hunter knew her well enough to know it was staged. Though you knew her well, you didn’t have the talent of seeing through some of her acting yet. 

“I…I think I should watch first. I’ve never danced before. Why don’t you dance with Hunter?!”

Ah, so that is what she was up to.

“Oh, ok.” You shifted a little uncomfortably. You coughed and cleared your throat, extending your hand to him with a tremor. “H-hunter, would you like to dance?”

What was he going to say? No?

“Sure, why not?” He shrugged, trying to play off the awkwardness. He cleared his own throat and took your hand, following you to the center of the town square (or circle, in this case). Omega giggled and followed close behind, keeping enough of a distance not to ‘ruin the magic’. 

“It’s sort of a proposal song.” You coughed again. “It goes back and forth between the lovers…and so does the dance, here it goes like this.” 

It would be a little difficult to start in the middle of the song but you thought you could make it work. You raised your hand, trying to explain the steps, getting Hunter to do the same. He placed his palm against yours. You took a deep breath in and your heart beat fast. You looked into his eyes and got lost. You froze, forgetting the steps you had just taught him. He was looking at you too, and you wondered what he was thinking. 

The music jarred and stopped suddenly, waking you up from your daydream. You looked up, surprised at the musicians. The old man with the violin smiled knowingly at you and nodded, restarting the song.

Your voice rang out in a clear, perfect tone. Though you started to draw a crowd, it only felt like it was the two of you. Your vision tunneled on him, creating a cloud around everyone else. 

There was nothing but the two of you. No sound other than the music and your breathing and heart beats. No sight except the one in front of you. No feeling beyond your partner. 

You started to turn, and Hunter followed, anticipating your moves and catching your cues. You missed Omega’s satisfied, adoring eyes at how well her plan had worked. 

“I'll swim and sail on savage seas

With ne'er a fear of drowning

And gladly ride the waves of life

If you will marry me

No scorching sun

Nor freezing cold

Will stop me on my journey

If you will promise me your heart

And love me for eternity”

Hunter made up his mind to follow you. It wasn’t a hard decision to make. There was no question. 

He never thought about anything less.

— — —

The rocky, mountainous planet was kind of intimidating…you had to watch your step otherwise you could fall into a rocky canyon, a muddy ravine, or into deep, unending nothingness. The skies were gray like the world of rock around you, a storm threatening every minute. A rustling sound came from behind you. You spun around to find not your failed friend, now enemy but…

“Hunter, what are you doing here?” 

“I’m not letting you face her alone.”

“She’s a master manipulator! Do you know what she’s capable of when she abuses the force! She could paralyze you or worse! She can instantly spot a weakness and know how to exploit it.”

“I can’t let her hurt you.”

“Hunter…”

“Ahhhh, look who finally decided to show up. I’ve been waiting for you.” 

A voice you knew so well. Once full of sun and light now dark and foreboding. You knew it but didn’t recognize it. 

“Yelena.” 

“Took you long enough.” She crossed her arms, annoyed. “Surprised you brought the boyfriend considering my offer.”

“Boyfriend?” Hunter was taken aback. Yelena smirked at the new revelation. 

“Yes. Don’t tell me she’s never told you how she feels about you. She had feelings for you during the Clone War…just imagine how it’s grown.”

You felt your face burn a deep red. You felt Hunter look at you more than you saw it. You pointedly ignored it. 

“I won’t join you. I can’t join you.”

Yelena shrugged. “Hm, should we let the man have a say? After all, it seems you’ve been keeping things from him. Here’s the deal, good looking—“

You felt yourself die on the inside. Yelena swayed on her hip, she knew the effect she was having on you.

“I told Miss Perfect Jedi, here, she could either join me…or I’d rip her apart…” Yelena stepped forward; you extended your hand protectively in front of Hunter, moving to take the front. She still wasn’t looking at you though, she was addressing Hunter with a cruel gleam in her eye.

“Know how I’d do that?” Her smile was cold, and reveling in the ice. “By hurting you, precious.”

Hunter was stunned. From what he remembered of  Yelena was…she never bluffed. She always threatened truths…which made her promises terrifying…if she was threatening this…that meant?

He was frozen in his spot. He should have heard the blade ignited. He should have seen the glow of promised blood. He should have moved. But he didn’t, until it was too late. He felt an invisible grip hold him, invading his mind.

He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t move.

Nothing.

“Yelena stop! This isn’t you! You’re hurting, don’t let that destroy you!”

“You could have the same power. Join me!”

“Love will always be more powerful than hate. It takes more strength than to yield. Only the weak succumb.” 

Anger crossed Yelena’s face…a boiling anger, and Hunter knew you’d crossed a line. She came forward, saber raised. 

Hunter watched helpless as you placed yourself between Yelena and himself. 

NO.

He watched as you embraced the red blade, saber going clean through you. The red blade entering and leaving your body.

Why would you do that for him? 

Why?

His lungs refused to let in air. The tips of his fingers turned cold and his hands went numb. He knew he was clenching his fists but he couldn’t feel it.

He watched as you gasped, saw the single tear leave your eye, heard as an exhale of finality left your lungs as your body crumbled to the ground. 

“My dear, that wasn’t very smart. Now you’re dying and he’s going to pay the price like I warned you he would.”

Yelena kicked you and Hunter saw your body slacken. 

His muscles were tense and exhausted themselves from trying to move, trying to get to you. Anger flooded his veins like lava. 

“Do you know why she always planned on taking the blade? You’re wondering why she didn’t just fight me off with her superior skills? Oh you didn’t know that; then let me tell you…Because she thought she could save me. Seems like she thought that would save you too. Looks like no one here is getting saved.” She grabbed the bandanna off his head. Letting it fall in place.

“Say goodbye, she’ll die before you reach the top…if you ever do. Personally, I’m rooting for your survival. Won’t that make the future interesting?”

With that, Yelena dropped him over the side of the cliff.

He free fell.

Down.

Down. 

Crash. 

All was black. 

Last thing he remembered was seeing you laugh and how much he wanted to hear that again. All he wanted was to hold you. If he couldn’t in this life, maybe you could dance in his dream….or together again in the next.

My dearest one, my darling dear

Your mighty words astound me

But I've no need of mighty deeds

When I feel your arms around me

But I would bring you rings of gold

I'd even sing you poetry 

And I would keep you from all harm

If you would stay beside me

I have no use for rings of gold

I care not for your poetry

I only want your hand to hold

I only want you near me

To love and kiss, to sweetly hold

For the dancing and the dreaming

Through all life's sorrows and delights

I'll keep your laugh inside me

Startled, Hunter jolted awake. Pain flashed across his body but he wasn’t as hurt as he should’ve been. Looking around, he saw he broke through layers of rock and landed on a cushioned area. 

Thank the Force. 

His relief was short-lived however. How long had he been asleep? Were you still alive? How long did you have?

Would you be laying there pale and motionless, waiting expectedly for him to come to you though he never came? His stomach lurched. It was near sunset…you couldn’t have survived this long.

Hanging his head, the tracker felt lost for the first time.

— — —

You woke up alone. 

Abandoned. 

You were right. Yelena couldn’t kill you either. You knew she didn’t have it in her. Maybe your act did some good yet. If only Hunter…wait. Hunter! You felt the earth around you, trying to evoke the memory of what happened there from the dirt. 

You wished you hadn’t. Wanting to scream, a sob came out instead. Tears blurred your vision but in the mixing of colors, and swirling surrounding…red caught your eye.

Dragging yourself over to the spot where Hunter’s bandanna lay abandoned on the ground, you reached out and gently picked it up, bringing it to your face. Tenderly, you ran your fingers along the emblem, feeling the familiar fabric. Bringing it to your lips briefly, a new resolve filled you. You had to get up. Find the body. Honor him one last time.

You gasped and dragged yourself up, hands pinned to the wounds at your side. 

No.

He was gone.

The sobs came, and you didn’t hinder the tears as they fell shamelessly from your eyes down your cheeks. Your side burned as if the saber was still inside you, twisting itself in circles, but that was nothing compared to the heaviness you felt in your heart. Your grief was overwhelming and threatened to subject you…but you couldn’t. You wouldn’t. 

He wouldn’t want it. You’d live for him. It was your fault he was gone. You couldn’t give up when he sacrificed everything for you. An Inquisitor once boasted to you what hate could do for the will to live. Well, he had nothing on love.

The wound looked bad, but you bound it. You could beat this yet. You had to. You had to find Hunter, even if his spirit was one with the Force.

Unexpectedly, something pricked your brain…a happy memory turned bittersweet. A memory in the form of a song…you couldn’t sing that one now, but you could sing something in his honor. 

Slowly the words came to you, and in as steady of a voice you could muster, you let the old melody carry the new words. Words you hoped conveyed to him what you felt. 

Strain started to seep into the words and when you reached the apex of the song, all the sadness, anger, and bitterness was released in a word. You fell to your knees, and looked to the sky, letting the last note soar like you knew his spirit would.

More tears came but quietly, and a peace of resignation which somehow, somewhere, you knew was from him, settled in your heart. 

— — — 

My dearest one my darling dear

He knew that voice…. And that tune. It was yours. You were singing your song. He’d know it anywhere. How often had he gone over it in his head since the day you sang it?

Wait…

It was and it wasn’t. It sounded the same but the words were different…it felt different. 

The tune seemed to surround him like a shroud. Grasping his heart. Squeezing it tight. Threatening to suffocate him where he laid.

It wasn’t fair…that you were killed. Your body lying motionless somewhere above him. He should be there crading you right now. Holding you. Reassuring you in your last breaths everything was going to be alright, only to see your eyebrow of disbelief and slight annoyance as you told him not to lie to you. He’d find some way to stop the blood; some way to keep you alive…or bring you back.

 He should have told you long ago how he felt about you. About how you were his dream. His soulmate. The only dance he wanted to dance. He wanted to crown you again like he once did with the flowers you liked best (how appropriately named now!) And now it was too late.

Your voice seemed to echo what was in his heart. But there was something about it that was so strange. Perhaps It was because he never heard you more sorrowful or angry than he ever remembered. 

It weighed on him; his heart threatening to break free from its cage with its violence. The heaviness that sunk in.

My mighty one has fallen

Images of Hunter laughing, smiling filled his mind. Unbidden, the flash of a vibroblade slashing countless enemies in smooth motions. The light of a yellow saber you loved that he used once when you both were pinned down and you tossed it to him in exchanges. The classic stance of a leader he always took, once on purpose, now out of habit.  

The children weep for their protector

Flashes of the Batch flashed before his eyes. Omega inconsolable. Wrecker no better. The sorrow and rage he knew so well in Crosshair that he abated whenever he could. Tech mumbling, lost. Echo kneeling, shoulders dropped, hands gripping his head wondering what he could have done better. 

The loved ones will be praying

He saw…you. For the first time ever with real grief and anger, yet something so soft he could have thought you loved him. You gripped at the wound in your side while your hand clutched at something else. He tried to focus on what he was seeing, zeroing in on your hand. You brought it up to your chest…gripping it like it was your lifeline, the only thing keeping you grounded to reality. 

The unmistakable strip of red fabric, painted with a skull. 

So we part again my love

He heard your real voice, strong and confident as ever, and realized it wasn’t in his head. Your voice rose above everything and rang out so clearly. He didn’t understand how it was possible but the realization hit Hunter that he was seeing your thoughts and hearing you as if you were one. Your voice was raw and agonized in pain as you called out. He resolved he’d get back to you at any cost. 

My darling one

As he climbed, dancing figures floated in his vision, a ghost of beauty; the phantom feeling of your hand on his haunted his mind. An invisible hand guiding him to the top, telling you where to place his grip safely. 

More memories came…strangely enough, strengthening him and not hindering. 

Late nights on the Marauder…special innocent moments he dared not dwell upon as such, in case you didn’t feel for him the way he felt for you. Slight touches of hand, secret knowing looks, late night conversations.

And so the gods above will bless thee…

A vision of his family happy, all together once more, as they should be, but in a place he did not know, yet felt like home. Crosshair pretending to be annoyed with a laughing Wrecker—though the traces of a smile could be seen, Tech rambling off some facts with a smile, Echo crossing his arms and making a sassing remark, Omega playing with all the friends she’s ever made and a few he didn’t even know. 

You and him.

Holding hands and beholding the family before them. 

So the song ended…As the high notes lingered in the air, voice carried softly in the gentle breeze, Hunter almost reached the top.

The song stopped but the music echoed from stone to stone and brick to brick as the musicians let the tune linger a little longer, hearts not ready to completely give up the melody. 

Your voice was gone. Your breath was gone, though you were driving it in heaves. Hunter was staring at you, and you at him. It was only the two of you. You, standing, blushing like a rose, questioning, uncertain. Him doing the same.

The chasm between you so far, yet only an arm’s reach away. Something so easily breached, yet near impossible to attain.

The final notes lingered, vibrato on the violin, a voice of the flute.

Hunter looked at you like he never did before, and your heart, for the first time began to hope, maybe, you could have a future. Perhaps he felt the same.

You had your eyes closed, trying to meditate. The air cooled and was a salve for your burning heart. It nipped at your nose and numbed your hands already, resting motionless on your thighs. You didn’t know how long you were kneeling there, still and silent, but your muscles felt stiff and unyielding. You knew you had to go, but you couldn’t. Not yet. You wanted to find him but something told you to stay a little longer yet. You didn’t know why, but you trusted anyway. 

Somewhere, a bird started singing its farewell to the day. A lone call, begging it’s partner to assure it, it was still there and would return to it soon. 

The single tune soon turned into a duet, and a smile tugged at your lips. You couldn’t help but feel everything would be ok.

The tune was beautiful, one you never heard before. You wondered if it was a mating song or perhaps these two in such perfect harmony knew each other so well they completed each other? 

In the cacophony of notes, you heard your name. 

Your eyes jolted open and you tripped over yourself.

The deep, husky voice couldn’t be real, could it? It was hard to tell because tears clouded your vision once more.

“Hunter? You’re alive! Hunter?!” You tried to get up, gasping at the pain you felt in your rush. Hunter was by your side in an instant. He fell to his knees, embracing you. All you could hear was your name repeated over and over with sobs in between loving gibberish coming from both of you. 

In a moment of silence, Hunter brought his forehead to yours, a smile tugging at his lips. He chuckled airily, a tear falling from his eyes.

“I thought I lost you…but then, your song…it gave me the strength to climb and find you.”

“You heard it?”

“Yeah.”

His eyes were closed contently, just basking in the feeling of you being there. His hand cradled your face, thumb gracefully stroking your cheek. You brought your hand up to his, entwining his fingers with your own. Bringing your clasped hands down to your heart, you brought your other behind his neck.

Seeking silent permission, looking into his eyes, you saw all your love reflected back at you. His gray eyes started to match yours, melting to brown and glowing with the golden sun finally defeating the storm. 

Hunter lowered his voice, lips next to your ear. It was nearly a whisper; his voice dry and wavering in the tumultuous emotion he was feeling. Yet despite that, it was the most beautiful you’d ever heard him sing. 

No scorching sun

Nor freezing cold

Will stop me on my journey

If you will promise me your heart

And love. And love me for eternity”

He didn’t have a wreath of flowers, but he did the next best thing. 

Untangling the cloth from your hands, he tied the red ribbon around your head, placing a gentle kiss on your crown.

It was your turn to huff. Your throat swollen with tears, yet your voice found a way.

My dearest one, my darling dear

Your mighty words astound me

But I've no need of mighty deeds

When I feel your arms around me

Hunter smiled, then wrapped his arms around you. You laughed fully now and giggled when he lifted you. 

And I would keep you from all harm

If you would stay beside me

You laid your head on his chest, all anxiety and pain replaced with peace and love..

I only want your hand to hold

I only want you near me

He wasn’t going to let you have the last word. 

I'll swim and sail on savage seas

With ne'er a fear of drowning

And gladly ride the waves of life

If you will marry me!

If you…..would marry me.

“Yes. Yes, please.”

“Thank you.”

“I love you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RdtQqWHLWw  song by Emma Amaya

[godsentience]

A pill I find difficult to swallow

Alhaitham x Kaveh pairing, one shot. Please be mindful of the tags below. Crossposted on AO3. A practice on metaphors in writing. Also in Alhaitham's POV.

I crave so subtle an affection beneath the limelight of the moon, where my solemn adoration are unheard, concealed behind the cowardice of textbooks. Days are brimmed with endless retorts against one another; arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed, neither willing to give up their claims of the world before them. It is always at the end, that we learn to compromise or get over the trivialities of our personalities never destined to meet due to their variance. Accustomed to the vexing attributes of our souls, this shared home becomes a house when you are absent to question my ways.

When night dawns, we thrive in a deafening feat of silence, a space more quiet than the confines of the accompaniment of books in the House of Daena. The ambiance felt tender and warm and has my skin scorching off of a passion unspoken. My lips would wordlessly proclaim the code of my relentlessly beating heart by a hushed whisper, eyes trained on the engraved letters of the book perched upon my hand, acting as if quantum mechanics enthralled my curiosity when all along, it was but our contrasting chemistry that has my inner feline in shambles.

Occupied by our respective, personal endeavors, my mind finds itself wandering back to the light that is you, fiddling with the quill, stroking delicate lines over the sheet of paper caught in the apple of your attention. In the midst of the silence, I would spare a glimpse from time to time, wondering about the projects you were tasked to make, wishing you would tell of how begrudging a request you were asked to do, how people would give you unrealistic proportions for a dwelling they wish to call their home, and how painstaking it was to negotiate with the persistence of stubborn clients.

When I first gazed upon ground to look at the picturesque silhouettes of our casted shadows, I had found that it is with you that this house started to look less insipid and monochromatic compared to when I was its sole inhabitant. I am merely a fragile flower vase in a still-life art, surrounded by teacups and the galores of plates embellished with exquisite prints of patterns on them, while you resemble the enthusiasm of a swirling illusion embedded in one's sight to fool the audience with its kinetic motion.

Is it not silly of me to think you'd ever share your efforts and troubles on plates you've worked yourself on, Kaveh? You've said it yourself; my compliments of your hard-earned title sounded halfhearted coming from me, regardless of my intent. Understanding the complexity of emotions seemed more farfetched than sensing the behavioral collisions and divergence of particles that surrounds us; a flutter of dust visible under the streaks of reflection mirrored by the moon's asperity.

How could I talk of the meaning of life when it follows you wherever you go? It is a phenomena not even distinguished scholars can comprehend, neither are they capable of seeing this vision, even if I forcefully compress the philosophy in one of the capsules that hold knowledge as captive. It is subjective, I knew this to be the absolute truth. But I'd never tell you about this peculiar finding; I am purposely shunning you away from the truth. What if we found this answer as our common ground? How could we argue about our theoretical beliefs like we did before, should we arrive at a truth? It may be selfish of me to gatekeep my conviction, and if to be iniquitous like this would keep you by my side then, I am your most devoted sinner.

In one of these nights, I'd sometimes feel the burn of a stare unto my skin, but I paid them no heed. I wouldn't know how to confront such a trail of an ardent stare; engraving depth on wherever patch of flesh it lands, softening the walls of a soul desperate to hide, melting my being until it had grown satisfied. 'What do you think of me when you stare so intently?' A voice would resonate from within. It felt like I wasn't being myself, that there lies another occupying my person; always filled with greed, always filled with longing. It is quick to liquefy over a mere, accidental brush of fingers much slender than mine, a stimuli that comes from a contact that barely even met, yet with a spark that would course through the veins in an instant.

These days, the area around the chest would swell, bearing the weight of emotions I kept to myself. I am made only to be logical, and reject the absurdity of sensing and feeling emotion, to stave it off once it appears before me, to kill it immediately once it shows signs of developing, as if it were a highly contagious disease that may become the means of an impending end. With the rivers of time, this agony I had imposed upon oneself to escape the chase of our touch-deprived liaison, is plausible of a reason enough to rid of it on the earliest detection. When the heart and the mind refuses to meet, I lie in consternation trying to settle on a choice. Which of you should I follow? Both seemed to inflict further damage, one way or another.

When we sit like this, facing one another, such thoughts would leave. It would create spaces and pave the way for my silent adoration, enumerate the little things about you that I'd find endearing, gaze with the glimmer of veneration sparkling as you would languishly sketch on your canvas with a quill. However, I am merely a destitute scholar, one who could never act on the trivialities of affection, even laconic in expression. Who knew that my heart would bear this profound penchant for suffering? Even I am alienated from my own capabilities. Would you even think I would feel any of this at all with my theatrical show of contempt and conceit?

Even for me, the thought is a pill I find difficult to swallow. I am, all of a sudden, foreign to myself. Strange, odd, peculiar; I've long told that I thrive as unique in this collective societyーthat I enjoy the variegated personality, away from the slavery in which the common crowd conforms to the imposed rules that favor the reigning governance. If such then mimics the value of my beliefs then, I am a criminal to my own being. To take a path I've not once taken, to indulge in reveries other than the details of reality, it is highly unthinkable for anyone to consider this an occurrence for me, even for you whom I've grown most fond of compared to anyone else. I am continuously drowning in this pit of dissonance, one where the heart tells the path and the answer I have is only you, who cannot guarantee reciprocity.

Just one chance, a mere slip, allow me to succumb and heed to the calls of my selfish desires. Even if it were just a second, endow me an ounce of freedom to feel things deeply, without the barricades obstructing the swelling of the heart; I ask of you, let me. All I demand is affection in the most subtle of ways, for you to look at me like an equal. Let me extend a foot to purposely brush past your side, give my eyes an excuse to graze upon yours, brazenly meet the gaze halfway as you idle a second of confusion, let me dissolve in little mirth, curl the toes inwardly, clear the throat, hum, return from my selfish endeavor.

"Ah, sorry. My leg got numb."

[elentarial]

Almost (886 words) by BaccaratBlack Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien, TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works & Related Fandoms Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Maglor | Makalaurë/Maglor's Wife, Maedhros | Maitimo/Maglor | Makalaurë, Maedhros | Maitimo & Maglor | Makalaurë Characters: Maglor | Makalaurë, Maglor's Wife, Celegorm | Turcafinwë, Maedhros | Maitimo Additional Tags: Weddings, Wedding Night, First Kiss, First Love, Cuckolding, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Maedhros and Maglor Week 2023 Summary: Maglor and Maedhros make some discoveries on the night of Maglor’s wedding.

[elliosfuego1]

Hope (On the vurge of tears as she watches Lizzie coagh up rose petals) : “Lizzie why is this happening to you, your dating MG.”

Lizzie (Ready to surrender herself to the rose growing inside her) : “Because Hope Andrea Mickelson, I am in love with the impossibility of us!”

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

The squad of all time has arrived on scene.

[troyandabedsnewapartment]

I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE YOU AND I DON’T KNOW HOW TO STOP LOVING YOU.

1. unknown. | 2. ethel cain, strangers | 3. Melissa broder, skeleton glitter | 4. mitski, a pearl | 5. maggie nelson, bluets | 6. molly brodak, molly brodak | 7. rio romeo, nothing’s new | 8. becca de la rosa & maybell martin, mabel: matryoshka | 9. mitski, humpty

[stars-obsession-pit]

The Flying Graysons generally stuck to simpler tricks in the smaller towns. Less people to impress, so they didn’t need to go as far. But for some reason, when they went to the town of Amity Park, Dick felt an urge to show off.

Well, not for just any reason. For one very specific reason; a certain cute boy in the crowd.

But then the troupe moved on, as it always did. Outside of his daydreams, he didn’t really dare to hope he’d get to see the boy again. Especially once his parents died, circumstances nearly pushed it from his mind.

But then, during his detective training, an idea struck him. Even if he couldn’t see the boy in person, he could still keep track of him remotely.

It turner out to be remarkably easy, especially once he learned Danny’s name. So he kept it up. Watching him, taking notes on everything about him, fantasizing about actually being together for real. He never told anyone else. They wouldn’t understand. Checking in on Danny was always a highlight of his days. His own little reward. He wouldn’t let anyone take his Danny away from him.

Though there were some stumbles along the way. Times he’d almost been caught. And when some sort of lab accident had hospitalized Danny, he’d nearly ran off to Amity on his own to comfort him (never mind that he’d have to explain who he even was and how he’d known about it). But he persisted. And as time passed, he only became more and more infatuated with the other boy. Oh how he wished they could be together.

And then Danny showed up in Gotham. Dick couldn’t find anything definitively explaining why, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Finally, he could put all his copious notes to use and sweep his love off his feet.

[faiell]

inspired by a scene from this heaven of mud by @garagepaperback

Sitting near but far, legs spilled off the edge of the bed, Potter turned to look at him. There were two wide windows on either side of the bed, drapes drawn back. The lights in Draco’s bedroom were off but it didn’t matter, the flat being in the city. Draco learned it was called light pollution- It meant you couldn’t see the stars. It meant it was much harder not to see what was right in front of you.

Potter looked beautiful. It should have ended months ago, preferably before it started.

[drulalovescas]

When a cosmic entity tells you your boyfriend doesn't love you back

[scruncheduppaper]

GABRIEL: JUDGE OF HELL

(A practice sketch that accidentally turned into a whole thing)

[flwrkid14]

Falling for the One You Can’t Have

Jason had never been one to catch feelings easily, especially not in Gotham’s mess of a world where life moved too fast, too unpredictably. But it started small—just another rescue, another guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. A witty joke here, a grateful smile there, and soon, Jason found himself seeking out the boy who seemed to be Gotham’s favorite target for muggings and kidnappings.

Danny, the guy with a laugh that rang through the night and eyes that always sparkled with a mischievous glint, had become a small, unexpected light in Jason’s world. Sure, Jason wasn’t some lovesick idiot—he told himself that constantly. But each time he saved Danny, the witty banter and the easy way they fell into conversation made him feel something more. Slowly but surely, the small crush grew.

He started to look forward to bumping into Danny, even if it was because of yet another mugging or hostage situation. Jason would stick around for a little longer after each rescue, tossing casual remarks, feeling his heart beat a little faster every time Danny laughed at one of his jokes. The thought of asking Danny out had crossed his mind more than once, but it wasn’t like he’d ever had great luck with relationships. Maybe he’d try, though—eventually. He just needed to figure out how to do it without making things awkward.

Then Tim called for a family dinner.

Jason wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. Family dinners weren’t his scene to begin with, and the fact that Tim insisted this one was important only made him more reluctant. But, Tim was family, and it wasn’t like Jason was doing anything else that night. So he dragged himself there, expecting the usual chaos of a Wayne family gathering.

When he arrived, Jason immediately felt something was different. Tim had this weird glint in his eye, like he was excited about something. That was never good. Jason kept his usual distance, sitting near the back, arms crossed, trying not to be annoyed by whatever announcement Tim was about to make.

But then Tim stood up, calling everyone’s attention to the middle of the room. “Hey, thanks for coming, everyone. I have someone I want to introduce to you all. He’s really important to me and has been for a while now.” Jason perked up a little, curiosity getting the better of him. That’s when Tim said it: “This is Danny, my boyfriend.”

Jason felt the floor drop out from under him.

And there, standing beside Tim, was Danny—his Danny, the guy Jason had been saving, the one he’d been building up the courage to ask out. He looked just as charming and witty as ever, smiling brightly at everyone. Jason couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. All he could do was watch as Danny wrapped an arm around Tim and introduced himself to the rest of the family.

It felt like a punch to the gut.

Jason tried to steady his breathing, his hands clenched under the table. He couldn’t break down here, in front of everyone. He had to be cool, calm—just like always. But inside, his heart was shattering. How long had they been together? How had he not known?

When Danny’s gaze met Jason’s, his eyes lit up in recognition. “Oh hey! You’re Red Hood, right? You’ve saved me a bunch of times—thanks for that! I swear, I’m a total danger magnet. Usually Tim’s around to keep me out of trouble, but he’s been busy with Wayne Enterprises stuff lately, so it’s nice to have someone else watching my back.”

Jason nodded numbly, forcing a tight smile. “Yeah, no problem,” he mumbled, his throat tight.

It was worse than Jason could have imagined. Danny had been saving all his love for Tim—Tim, of all people. His younger brother, the one Jason was supposed to protect, the one who had swooped in and taken the one person Jason had allowed himself to care about. Not that Tim knew, of course. No one knew. And Jason couldn’t blame him—he couldn’t blame anyone.

As the dinner progressed, Jason tried to tune out the couple’s affectionate gestures. The way Danny laughed at Tim’s jokes, the soft touches between them, the way they looked at each other like no one else in the world mattered. Each moment felt like a knife twisting deeper into Jason’s chest.

He actively avoided joining in on any conversation with them, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact. He couldn’t bear to see the love in Danny’s eyes when he looked at Tim, knowing that it would never be directed at him. That dream—the one where Jason had imagined maybe asking Danny out, maybe finding some happiness for himself—it was gone. Shattered.

All Jason could do now was smile through the pain, pretend everything was fine, and show his support for Tim. For both of them. Because that’s what family did, right?

But deep down, it hurt like hell.

Jason excused himself as soon as he could, slipping away from the table before the dinner had even finished. He couldn’t stand to see the two of them any longer. Once outside, he let out a shaky breath, leaning against his motorcycle and staring at the sky.

Jason was always the one saving people. But this time, there was no one to save him from the aching void in his chest.

[dragonrider9905]

Chapter 2: Challenge Accepted

Part 3: Through Tainted Goggles

Series: Technically, We're in Love

Finally the next chapter!!!! Hope you enjoy and it was worth the wait!

Summery: Valia has a life changing idea for the clones; Tech accidently finds out how she really feels.

Part 1: When One Genius Meets Another https://archiveofourown.org/works/36490558/chapters/91406827

Part 2: Battle of Wits https://archiveofourown.org/works/37444834/chapters/93447499

Part 3: Through Tainted Goggles https://archiveofourown.org/works/42986574/chapters/117784840

Comments and reblogs welcome!

Tech and Valia lay sprawled out on the floor of the Marauder surrounded by books and datapads. Valia’s lessons were progressing well. Their missions were running smoothly, being more on the simple side; so they had plenty of time to study. They laid shoulder to shoulder changing the topics rapidly and excitedly, flitting through different materials for her to read—which of course would get expounded upon until they reverted their digression to the task at hand. 

“Very good, Miss Valia, I’d say you read at an unusually high level for the short time you’ve been studying. You should be proud of your progress.” 

Valia smiled bright and the sun shone through her eyes. 

“Really?”

Tech nodded. 

“Indeed.” he smiled a little, seeing her joy at what she learned. Her eagerness was something he’d rather grown used to and he appreciated it.

“And I do believe your father would be proud of you as well.”

Valia swallowed thickly but a sense of peace rested on her. “Thank you, Tech, I have you to thank for that.”

“It was my pleasure.” 

A loud snore was heard from Wrecker, napping in the back of the ship. 

“Some care more about learning than others and it is relieving to share enthusiasm about a topic.” 

Valia giggled. “But you love them just the way they are.”

“Quite true, I would not change who my brothers are.”

And so the days went forward. On a similar such day, Valia quietly hummed to herself while mulling over her latest lesson.

“Tech?” Valia kept her voice guarded and cautious, daring to break the pleasant quiet. She wasn’t sure how he was going to take her proposition. “Have you…ever wanted to make something that would make a difference?”

Tech paused. “I suppose that would depend on your definition of ‘making a difference’. All inventions make a difference in at least one individual’s life. The inventor himself is affected; if the inventor was commissioned by a person, that person is affected. If the inventor is commissioned by a company that mass produces it for the galaxy at large—”

“Well what I mean is, would make a difference in your life.” Valia broke him off, speaking quickly. Her breathing was heavy and nervous. “What if you could make something that would benefit your lifespan?” 

Her eyes started to shift back and forth, the wheels turning in her head. 

“We could perhaps make a serum. Something to affect the DNA in your blood and counteract the aging agency. Maybe we could invent something so you can live your full life. You and your brothers, Tech!”

Valia started to feel excited and the more she talked, the faster her words came out. And Tech let her talk. Something inside his chest squeezed, a frown and smile pulling at his lips. He couldn’t decide which emotion was appropriate. One one hand, he understood the why of her idea, but perhaps she didn’t understand the why of their aging in the first place.

“You and your brothers deserve the galaxy, Tech. I bet with both of our ingenuity, we could do it. I bet we could succeed! You deserve to live a full life. You’ve already had your childhood stolen. Could I give you some extra time to be happy in this life?”

“It would be an interesting idea…” Valia could see his eyes start to shift with curiosity on whether and how it could be done but her smile was slightly faded by his following words. “But we were engineered to live shorter lives because our service is for the war. What comes of us after, we haven’t been trained to think about or consider. Seeing as how dying in the field is more likely, the accelerated aging isn’t a problem for most clones.”

“But,” he continued, shrugging off his heavier comment, “seeing as how my brothers and I are enhanced, we have a better likelihood of surviving the war. Creating a serum for normal aging, as you put it, would be beneficial.”

Valia looked sheepish and stammered. 

“We, uh, we–” she bit her lip. 

“What is the problem?”

Fear gripped Valia like a vise. She realized the good things of the suggestion but forgot the bad. Now uncertainty shook her. Would Tech still want to do this? 

“We’d need blood samples to work with, Tech.” Her voice was dry. She tried to swallow but her throat felt like gravel. 

“Of course we would.” Tech blinked. “That is unquestionable.” 

“I didn’t want to suggest that part of it…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean; ugh.” Valia’s face scrunched up and a dark look settled on her brow.

Tech raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

She was silent and trailed her eyes to anything else but him. Absent-mindedly, Valia started to grab at her hands again. 

“Ugh! But I don’t want to treat you all as an experiment! I want to help you out but you’ve had enough of people poking you and taking things from you! How is this any different?”

Valia sat up and aggressively started picking at the dirt in her nails.

“Perhaps I didn’t think thoroughly before suggesting the idea. I’m so sorry.”

“The thought of being an experiment didn’t cross my mind. It sort of did, but if I’m in control of my own experiment and what happens for the greater good, there is no correlation to the negative associations that are in your mind. You are thinking of Echo’s situation, correct?”

Valia nodded solemnly, not looking up.

“This is quite different from that. I would be your science partner and would be partially in control. I would be the subject of experimentation as well as the scientist behind it, not merely a specimen of interest. I think undergoing the experiment is a good idea.” 

“You do?” 

“Yes, it is a wonder I didn’t think of it before. Shall we put our studies away and begin our research?”

“Yes!” Valia scooped up the materials in one swift moment and bounded down the hallway, a fullness in her step. She was on a mission—for once, one she knew she’d be proud of.

— — — 

“Are all the components separated?” Valia squinted her eyes at the screen trying to decipher the image before her. “This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen! You are very unique.” Valia smiled at Tech brightly. They’d been working on this project for about a week and she enjoyed every minute of it. They had made great progress and Valia felt hopeful they could succeed at this. 

Every spare minute that wasn’t devoted to a task was spent on “Project Life”. If the Batch thought Valia and Tech spent a lot of time together before, they were wrong. Valia would help Tech accomplish a task so they could more quickly return to their novelty science project. The pair became inseparable. The only times they separated were night watching, sleeping and eating with the rest of the squad. 

Wrecker took the laughing and sciency fun as a good sign his prediction was coming true. To be honest, the squad shared the sentiment, hoping he was right. Valia fit right in with their squad and they enjoyed having her around. The jocularity of it was, everyone else seemed to be aware of what was in the air except those two.

“Yes, I obtained a sample of blood from Echo as well. I thought it might do well to have a reg’s blood in comparison to mine; I was uncertain of any unpredicted variables we should look for. Both separated images are here.”

Tech adjusted his goggles and pointed to the screen. “Now that all these components are individualized, I suggest we start breaking them down and identifying them. I’ll fetch my microscopic visualizer.”

“You think of everything, don’t you, Tech?” Valia chuckled. 

“Indeed, I have worked hard to do so.” 

Valia looked down with a blush. “This is why I love you, Tech.” 

Although she said it in a hushed whisper, Tech heard it. He watched as she continued to fiddle with the object in her hands. She was beautiful, the way the light from the screens hit her hair, illuminating the gold with blues and reds and greens. Her smile was so different than he’d ever seen it.

He understood the truth of her words. 

This was no passing phrase. She was speaking from the heart. Fear gripped him. Uncertainty. Anger. Guilt.

She loved him.

Had he tricked her into feeling this way for him? Did she feel like she had to because they worked so closely for so long? Was he giving her the wrong impression? What even was the right impression? 

A cold feeling crept down his throat into his chest. 

“Miss Valia, something rather urgent came up. You will have to proceed without me.”

Dropping the tool by her side, he made his escape to the cockpit, missing the look of hurt and confusion he left behind. 

— — —

After a few days of Tech’s not so subtle form of ignoring or being short and snippy with her, Valia decided to finally talk to someone. Her first choice would have been her dad, but he wasn’t here. Her next choice was Echo….but something didn’t sit right there. Echo was really close to Tech. It almost felt as if she was intruding on their tight brotherly bond. Making him choose between the two of them. She didn’t want to do that to either of them. Wouldn’t be fair. Plus, why should he choose her?

She needed someone a little more impartial, or rather used to taking both sides fairly, someone in authority…someone like her dad…

“Hunter, does Tech have a problem with me? He’s been acting really strange lately. I think I hurt him and I don’t know what I did or what to do about it.”

Valia threw herself in the copilot’s chair next to Hunter on one of his late night watches. It was the only time she knew they wouldn’t be interrupted or bothered by possible eavesdropping. She could sense him looking at her with compassion but she wouldn’t meet his gaze, electing instead to pick at her fingernails or the mesmerizing blue of hyperspace. 

“Why don’t you talk to him?”

“He won’t talk to me! When I try, I seem to annoy him and make it worse.” She threw her hands up annoyed, letting the frustration she bottled up to come out. She hoped Hunter wouldn’t take offense. He didn’t seem to. Instead, he sighed a full sigh, one of resignation and a hint of frustration himself, but it wasn’t aimed at her.

“Valia, it’s not you. This has to do with him. Tech just doesn’t believe he’s lovable.” Hunter sighed. “I’m not saying that he does or doesn’t care about you in the way you want.” Her cheeks started to burn but she listened silently. Hunter was right, why deny it?

“I’m not trying to meddle, give or take away your hope about it. I just wanted you to understand that Tech is dealing with something right now. I don’t want either of you getting hurt, but I can’t deny that you both mean a great deal to each other, in what way I don’t know. That's for the two of you to figure out. But I’ll be here for you both through this and help you out where I can.”

“Thanks, Hunter. But I don’t want to put you in the middle of anything.”

“You aren’t. It is part of my job as leader to be in the middle sometimes, but not always fixing from the middle. You’re part of my squad. Don’t feel like you have to hide anything. We’ll figure something out as a team. These things are new to Tech so he doesn’t know how to process them or feel about them. You need to give him space but not confronting the problem at all will be bad in the long run. You will eventually have to talk about this.” 

“Well then, challenge accepted.” 

— — — 

The next morning, Tech sat alone in the cockpit, piloting the ship to the Batch’s new destination. The new normal would have found a talkative ball of sunshine next to him but considering the past few days, he knew why it was empty. And right now, he preferred that.

He heard the shuffling of feet, turning halfway around to find Hunter. Unbeknownst to Tech, Hunter followed the example of the ghost that haunted him only the night before and sat in the co-pilot’s chair.

“Hey Tech, can we have a talk?”

“Of course, Hunter. What seems to be the problem?”

Hunter started cautiously, as if one false step would send him through the ice. 

“I can’t help but notice the atmosphere on the ship seems…off.”

“Hm, I’ll have to look at the dampeners…”

“That’s not what I mean, Tech.” Hunter quickly interrupted, “I mean, I can sense the uneasiness that is floating around you and Valia in particular. Did something happen? Want to talk about it?”

Tech’s cheeks flushed and he kept his gaze straight out the viewport.

“She admitted rather accidentally that she loved me.”

“And that’s bad because…?”

“Take a look at me, Hunter!”

Tech stood suddenly and violently hit the autopilot button. Starting to pace back and forth with excited hand motions, he continued:

“I am not what females are attracted to, nor what they want. I am well aware I do not have Wrecker’s physique, nor do I have Crosshair’s wit, Echo’s kindness, nor do I have stunning looks as yourself—”

“Tech, don't sell yourself short! You have qualities we don’t—”

“—Not everyone has my genius, this I know, but I am constantly reminded of how dull it is. More times than not, I am told to stop, not keep going.”

“Valia loves listening to you.”

“We are the same. How exciting is that? She already knows what I will say because her brain has come to a similar conclusion. I will no longer be interesting after a short while. She has little experience of the world. After she meets more people, my value will lessen. I swept her off her feet, rather literally and unintentionally. When the romantic idea she has created of me runs out and fades, all that will be left is reality. She has not experienced life. I’m all she knows. Valia was trapped underground for years. After she gets to know real men, she won’t want me. I’m a clone of a man for kriffs sake. I do not deal well with emotions as it is. To allow myself into such a blatant trap would be foolish.”

Exhausted at his rather out of character burst, he sunk back into his chair, rubbing circles on his forehead and pressed the bridge of his nose to alleviate the pressure.

“Tech, you have a chance to be with someone who cares a great deal about you. Why not fight for it? How do you feel about her?”

“Hunter, I’m not what she thinks I am. I can’t give her what she wants.”

“Why not? Tech, I know you better than anyone else; it sounds more like ‘won’t’ than ‘can’t’. Are you just afraid of it? Or you don’t want her? If you are not interested in her, I don’t want to push you, but I think you are. Are you?”

Tech sighed. 

“Tech, look at how Crosshair and ‘Phina turned out. You have a chance, don’t make the mistakes Cross did.”

“Then why don’t you say something to Leyla?”

“That is totally different.”

“How so?”

“She’s our general for one. She’s a jedi for seconds. And thirdly…”

“Alright, so what?”

Hunter sighed and looked down for a brief moment before meeting his brother’s eyes again, this time with a hint of something Tech couldn’t quite discern.

“Valia isn’t a jedi, and she does return your feelings. You actually have the possibility of a future. Don’t waste it.”

“What if I don’t want it?”

“Then you have to be honest with her and tell her you don’t have feelings for her and don’t destroy her by playing with her and giving her hope. I can always transfer her…”

“No!”

Hunter grinned. “So you do care. Why don’t you want her going anywhere else?”

Tech stumbled and stuttered.

“It simply wouldn’t be fair to her to feel she was sent away because of me. She would blame herself and wonder what she did to offend us. We’ll work it out.”

“You’d better. And don’t do anything stupid.”

“If you are meaning ‘stupid’ by letting her go, then I believe I may be acting unintelligently.” Tech sighed and trudged toward the door, heavy in step, more slouched over than normal. His lips turned into a sad scowl, a sorrow swimming in the depths of his eyes. 

When Tech reached the door, he pushed his goggles further onto his face and turned to face Hunter one more time.

“I just don’t want to eventually become the inevitable disappointment. A small heartache on her part now will save us both heartaches and embarrassment in the long run.”

“Why don’t you talk to her about all this, about what she wants? First, you should really figure out what you want. Don’t rush this decision, Tech. Take some time. And all those thoughts about yourself simply aren’t true. Please.”

“I’ll take time to consider, as you wish, Hunter. Though I doubt I’ll change my mind.”

[abyssal-ilk]

funniest thing to me is that if you're romancing sera and you ask solas what gift to give her for her romance quest, he gets disapproval. like why are you being such a little hater rn

[three-realms-archive]

Just a Study

Content Warning: Spoilers for Lesson 40 of Nightbringer! Everything above the cut is spoiler-free!

The wise sorcerer watches his dear apprentice sleep peacefully, unaware of their close friend and mentor doing what he does best. Studying.

His eyes analyse the rise and fall of their chest, tracing his gaze over and across the parabolas that make up the shape of their sleeping form. The small chuckles that escape him when you snore and snort are sounds that you will never get to hear. The soft, unprecedented flushes of crimson across his cheeks when you nuzzle your forehead deeper into the crook of his neck is a sight you will never get to see. Yet your sounds, sights and touch… Solomon knows all of it. He knows the mean, median and mode of the number of hours you sleep at night; and he spends the midnight hours flipping through tomes dedicated to understanding love. To Solomon, this was all a study, really.

A study on how it would have been, if he had taken the time to know his fellow, human classmate from the get-go. How it would have been if he had taken you under his wing sooner - if he had won the race for your heart against the Seven Avatars of Sin. The data was there, in the form of the pact marks etched into your skin - placed there like perfect puzzle pieces. And no matter how much his brain wanted to process that data differently, the results and conclusion would remain unchanged.

To conduct a study, one must try to match the conditions of the experiment to the assumptions of the theory. Solomon knew this, and so he had strived to make Coctyus Hall your new House of Lamentation. He had lived with you - had eaten with you - had even slept beside you. He knew that you (more often that he liked) had shared a bed with each of the brothers before - so he had done that, too. He had taken your trip to the past as an opportunity to replicate the theory with ease, piecing together a domestic life with you that felt like bliss.

The perfect study.

It was meant to be the perfect study. For him and you.

So why?

Why did it hurt so bad, returning to the original timeline; and seeing how… easily, you fell back into your own life?

Why did it hurt, seeing you live, eat and sometimes even sleep alongside the brothers again?

Why did it hurt, sleeping beside you in your old room, when he had already shared a bed with you many times now? It hurt being with you, in this bed made for one, the pillows and blankets and your shifting form taking up room and pushing him out. Telling him that he didn’t belong next to you.

… The wise sorcerer watches his dear apprentice sleep; studying. He presses his lips gently to your temple and savours the familiar warmth that greets him, fondly. He selfishly, childishly, hooks an arm and a leg around you; entangling himself in you as you had done many times before with him. He easily finds your hand through touch alone under a blanket colder than the one you used to share; struggling to intertwine his fingers with yours properly. But he grips your hand like a lifeline when he manages to. He’s got the lines of your palm and the creases of the skin of your wrists memorised. With a small, shaky breath, Solomon uses his thumb to trace over them again, and again, and again. Studying.

It was just a study, right? A ‘what if’.

Just a study, with a simple title.

What if, for a while, he pretended you loved him?

A study compares the theoretical with the experimental. Compares the ideal with harsh, painful, hurtful reality.

You belonged with the brothers. They were your ideal.

… And his brief, domestic, blissful experiment with you was now over.

(i had started writing this before seeing that angest was ruling the poll, lol. but yayyyyyy i wanna start writing angst and romance with the characters i haven’t touched on yet, so have an angst solomon, set after lesson 40 of nightbringer)

[yashley]

imogen & fearne in c3e106

[geraskierfanficprompts]

Jaskier gets away with a lot because people think he’s cute and charming.

Geralt—who isn’t very socially adept—is sure there HAS to be a supernatural explanation for this.

(Bonus points if Jaskier isn’t entirely human, but his inhumanity has nothing to do with his charm)

People just LIKE him so much.. He's so LIKEABLE! I just can't kill him any more! Fuck.. Release them! The funny colorful man has bewitched me! Metaphorically only!!!