#only to get in trouble for insisting the wrath of a chaos god or going overboard

[movedtodykedvonte]

I feel like Golbetty is gonna end up in Fionna’s world and try to destroy it to protect Simon since the Scarab won’t stop hunting him until the rogue universe is terminated.

And the last few episodes is Simon trying to get through to Betty about accepting their fates and remembering they will always love each other even if they can’t be together in the end. Sort of like pleading to her to not put him first.

[thefallofophanim]

ACT TWO - THE PETALS OF SIN

I added a prayer to my edifice of shame with each new incident - they multiplied at an unhoped-for speed. The human mind is surprisingly maellable; even I didn't know it could be that easily troubled. The clear water that once was the collective unconscious of the Silk is now tainted with the black, sorrowed ink of the anonymous Prophet I have become, and its lost followers can only drink the unholy beverage of my truth- a truth that will, at last, allow us to merge with the divine and feel in our luminous core what it means to be human.

The chain of incidents has deeply shaken the Order of the Silk, so much so that I opened this morning a written order giving me the obligation to receive, alongside Semione, individuals in need of confession. To do so, I had to bid a temporary farewell to my black robe, and proudly but superficially don the true scribe's clothing, similar in shape but gleaming white; which would normally have been given to me at the end of my apprenticeship, by the end of winter. I would say "when I am finally a Man", but a Scribe's life is no comparable to a Man's. We are ostracized, sacrificed, and maniacally worshipped as we agonize on our shrine.

These moments don't mark my thoughts, nor my emotions. I remember neither the hollow confessions that could not ever possibly interest our Lord, nor the pleading faces of sinners - I know them all too well. Each one of them, more than they would imagine, or expect. Years and years of observation, of silence, and it is now my duty to feign ignorance. For them, for the Ophanim, and for my own self.

Surprisingly, wearing that new colour had an instant effect on my behavior. My shy, withdrawn temperament gave way to a certain charisma to which the impure ones are sensitive. The broken scribe, searching for a talisman in pieces of stained glass, gave way to a prince of the heavens, guided and worshipped by a choir of Angels who put as much faith in him as men put in God. I am losing myself. I am drowning, for the sake of a better tomorrow- glorious days unmatched by any work of art. Semione was the most sensitive to this change. "White certainly fits you well", they said, their heart seemingly full of pride at the sight of my new self. And yet... you can only fool a mentor for so long. "

What is the meaning of this?" They asked harshly, scornfully tossing the sheets marked with my ink onto our shared desk. Their voice is hoarse, their eyes marked by fatigue. I don't even have to look down to know what they're blaming me for. "My duty." My response is scathing, though I mean it sincerely. Suffering Semione's wrath (justified wrath, I admit!) is profoundly disturbing, and my defense is as pathetic as my actions. "Your duty, as you call it, is responsible for the chaos The Silk is going through. All the fear, all the death. Every moment of it." They articulate every word, dominated by wrath and shame. "I didn't expect you to be that insightful, Lysander", They continue. "Not so soon."

"Is that so."

Silently, we challenge each other with our eyes. So much to say, so few words. Mutual incomprehension, and the lord knows that Semione knows me as if I was their own- hence their ability to see through me so soon, despite my best efforts at discretion. Their facade breaks a little when they whisper, "Don't do this. You have to grieve."

"I saw you", I say without even paying attention to their plea. "In the land of Silhouettes." Her eyes widen and I see in her gaze all the horror of the world, something completely beyond us. A divine horror. "I saw you. So young, and already so full of talent. You are remarkable, Semione, truly remarkable, a lot more than I could ever be." They take a step back and I get up, piercing through them with a morbidly insisting gaze. "So why did you walk away from Them? They would've welcomed you, without an ounce of hypocrisy unlike our fellow humans. Why did you refuse to hear their chant?"

They swallow, and for a moment I catch myself believing they will faint. "You have to walk away, too, Lysander." "I have no reason to." "You have every reason to. Do you even know what indulging into the irrational means?" I do not answer. I can only smile at them, in a way that I want to be reassuring, but their anger is a fire's at this point, consuming. They violently overturn the pile of sheets they have brought, which fly in all directions, crumpled. They refuse to look at me, suffocating in their own torment, before turning away and walking out the door. "Clean all of this up. If I can't stop you, I can at least slow you down. Do think about the reasons why I refused the Celestials."

"Only to do the same as me, in the end", I sarcastically let out. "Don't think I didn't notice your own influence in those so-called historical, or sacred texts. Who is the real threat to humanity, after all- the one slapping it with heinous truth, or the one cradling it with deceitful lies?"

Semione leaves the room without a word, their quick footsteps disappearing down the monastery's spiral staircase, leaving me alone amid a flurry of loose, inked sheets. The Ophanim laugh.

[theyre-just-blocks]

Sam, George, & Quackity Family Dynamic Headcanons

I absolutely love this family dynamic and my brain started to come up with headcanons for how this family would work. So here they all are. Sorry, there’s a lot, so they’re all going to be under this cut! Thanks for reading through them if you do!

How they became a family:

George and Quackity were both adopted by Sam a few years apart from each other, with George being the first one Sam adopted 

George just showed up one day in Sam’s house and after no luck with finding out where he came from, Sam decided that he’d let him stay and that he’d adopt him 

He was a quietish kid, so Sam didn’t really have a problem with having George hang around the house

Two years or so later, while they’re walking around the forests in the Badlands, they find Quackity by himself and he follows them home 

He didn’t seem lost or anything, but Sam couldn’t really get rid of him because Quackity seemed to really enjoy his and George’s company

Sam basically took pity on the both of them and that’s how he ended up adopting them

Sam’s Parenting:

He isn’t a bad dad, considering he’s a single father with two chaotic sons

He gets a lot of his advice from Bad, who has his hands full with Sapnap, and occasionally has Philza’s help (he often babysits Big Q) 

The only thing is though, he can’t seem to say no to his kids

It’s more of them having nothing as kids and him wanting to give them everything so he doesn’t really say no to them 

He says it’s just because they’re just so cute though, so how could he possibly say no?

 Not to mention, he’s a little chaotic at times himself, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he lets his kids be chaotic themselves 

That being said, he usually isn’t around physically because he’s usually working on projects 

His kids are basically free range kids

But he’s very kind and loving, so when his kids need him, he’s there for them 

He’s got some kind of sixth sense whenever his kids are in trouble and will immediately drop whatever project he’s doing to go get his kids

Sam & George Dynamic:

The first couple of years that Sam had just George were fairly easy, especially with Bad’s help 

Sam made sure that George felt comfortable and at home at his base and just showered him with gifts and things to make sure that he felt loved

At first, George was really quiet and stuck close to Sam a lot and wouldn’t really leave his side until he was introduced to Dream and Sapnap by Bad

After George came out of his shell though, he was able to part from Sam from time to time because he wanted to hang out with his friends

They have a pretty close father and son relationship, despite Sam letting George go off on his own at times

Sam was very proud of George when he saw that he had agreed to join Quackity’s political party (his boys were getting along!) and said that he would vote for them

However, he was pretty disappointed when Quackity came to him to tell on George, stating that he wasn’t at the election and caused them to lose the election 

When George became king though, Sam was really proud of him and told him that the best advice he could give him was to remain neutral 

After George became king though, they didn’t keep in touch much and didn’t talk a lot, Sam was concerned but he didn’t want to intrude, so he left him alone (he thought George had enough on his hands as the King)

Months later though, he would hear about his son’s house getting griefed, so he decides to send him a letter to remind him that he’s always welcomed to come back to the base

Sam & Quackity Dynamic:

Sam plays favorites with Quackity (because he’s the younger one) but George doesn’t really mind all that much (unless Big Q gets away with things)

Because of the state that Sam found Quackity in, he kinda got into the Wilbur habit of babying his son a little too much. But unlike Fundy, Quackity didn’t really mind it for a while because it meant he could get away with things

They definitely have a strong father and son bond with Sam always looking out for Quackity and giving him the things he needs (he tends to spoil him)

However, Sam is pretty strict about Quackity’s behavior from time to time. If he catches Quackity acting out or being disrespectful, he’ll call him out on it. Usually Quackity is careful not to act a certain way around Sam to ensure that he doesn’t get lectured

When Quackity got his wings, Sam helped him get used to them. He made wings for himself so that he’d be able to coach Quackity better on how to use them 

He was pretty proud of Quackity for running against Wilbur and said that he’d endorse them and vote for their party

However, when he found out that Quackity joined forces with Schlatt, he wasn’t too sure how to feel about it. At first, he didn’t really care, he was just proud of his vice president son, but then he started to see how they were ruling and then it became a problem

But since he can’t say no to Quackity (and isn’t a part of Manburg) he decides to keep quiet about his feelings and only really warns Quackity through letters

After the Festival, Sam made Quackity a prosthetic leg (as a result of the explosion from Technoblade) and noticed that his wings were clipped, so he also offered him some metallic wings instead if he ever needed to use them (Quackity doesn’t)

Sam then thinks that everything is going to be better once Schlatt dies, but when Quackity asks him to help revive him to use as a political puppet, Sam is back to being concerned

Instead of saying no though, he agrees, mainly because again, he can’t say no to Quackity, and because he thinks that this will somehow resolve whatever trauma Schlatt caused to Quackity/help with the grieving process

Even though they have a rather strong bond, it starts to fall apart with Quackity’s sudden violent ways and need for power and maintaining the country 

Sam doesn’t know how to react to it, and is too busy with the prison so it just kinda gets worse and when confronted, that’s when Big Q lashes out and tells Sam to leave him alone because he’s grown and doesn’t need Sam checking in on him all the time

Sibling Dynamic:

This is probably the worst combination of siblings in terms of pure chaos 

People usually think that George is very calm and considerate, but he’s actually not and is almost as bad as Quackity himself 

He’s a decent older brother though and does the classic older sibling “you’re annoying” every five minutes 

George pulls the “I’m older” and “I’m taller” card on Quackity a lot to get away with things like taking Quackity’s things

Because he’s the oldest, he complains to Sam a lot about how Quackity gets away with things, but all oldest children know that doesn’t work

Quackity is honestly just your classic younger brother troupe, loud, ‘annoying’, hyperactive, and so on 

His favorite thing is bother George and George hates it 

However, Quackity is very protective of his older brother and does a lot to make sure that nothing happens to him 

People usually learn the hard way to not mess with George because then they have to face Quackity’s wrath 

Quackity just really thinks that George is the greatest (even though he bothers him a lot) and therefore he makes sure that everyone treats him with respect

George is the kind of sibling who doesn’t like expressing sibling love to Quackity, but Quackity does it all the time because he really does love George and thinks he’s the greatest brother 

God, they’re so fucking loud 

But after things start going wrong, their sibling dynamic starts to fall out a little and they rarely talk to each other

When they do though, it’s usually to play pranks on each other 

Other Headcanons:

Sapnap hangs around them a lot because his dad, Bad, and their dad, Sam, are good friends 

Quackity is also somewhat of a cousin to the SBI siblings because he hung around them a lot when George didn’t want him hanging around when he was with his friends (Sapnap and Dream)

Quackity also loves to spend time (annoy) with BBH because he thinks that it’s amusing that he doesn’t curse. Sam doesn’t really know that Big Q causes lots of trouble for BBH and BBH doesn’t really tell on Big Q because he’s just a kid and BHH doesn’t find him all that annoying

Sam tried to train them in the ways of redstone, but that didn’t work out so he decided it was best to just let them find their own thing (Quackity picked up the guitar after seeing Wilbur play songs for him, Tommy, and Tubbo once)

The day Quackity got his wings, Sam was so proud of him he cried for ten minutes and George was proud but acted all jealous at first but quickly found out that he does not like flying after Sam made him some wings

Sam made George contacts to help him see color better because he too is color blind and Quackity insisted he had something like that too, so Sam gave him fake contacts 

Every gift Sam ever gave Quackity and George were creations of his own making 

The first time Quackity ever really got mad at George was during the election and George sleeping through it (he had a lot of other underlying emotions that cause him to lash out on George instead of blaming himself) 

When they’ve got the time, they do a lot a baking together (when I say that I mean Sam does the baking and Quackity screams a lot and gives Sam the wrong ingredients and tools while George teases him about knowing what 1 cup of sugar looks like)

Fran absolutely loves them 

[peonybane]

That Look

Pairing: Jackson (GOT7) x Reader

Word Count: 6.5 k

Genre: idol!verse, technically post-idol!verse, Smut... fluff if you squint.

Summary: Having a family, that was a dream you and Jackson shared. But life said this wasn’t the right time. But even so, that didn’t mean the two of you couldn’t play with the idea of starting one. Or you, know, get in some practice.

Warnings: rough sex, female receiving oral, dom!Jackson, sub!Reader, edging/orgasm denial, dirty talk, impreg kink, overstimulation, praise kink?, I think that’s it.

A/N: This is my first, what I’ll consider, hard smut. I really want to thank the platonic love of my life, @ropeseok​ for helping me develop this. Also, please look forward to her accompanying piece, That Feeling.

That Feeling by @ropeseok​ Coming Soon!

He was doing it again. He was gonna get in trouble. Your fiancé, Jackson, kept glancing at you while he was filming. You accidentally made eye contact with Jinyoung (who was sitting haphazardly next to your fiancé), looking to him pleadingly to get Jackson’s attention back to the task at hand. You didn’t want him to get in trouble again today with the PD. Today’s PD was know to have a temper and Jackson had already incurred her wrath a couple of times already. 

Jinyoung nudged his friend, getting him to focus on the host. 

Thank god.

They were preparing for a comeback, the pre-recording for one of those idol reality game shows in progress. In the week preceding comebacks and tours, you’d try using your holidays so you could spend time with Jackson and support him… especially since you won’t be seeing much of him in person otherwise. 

You could barely contain the sigh that left your lips at the thought of him returning to the apartment at 2, 3, sometimes 4 in the morning, and he’d still be asleep by the time you left for work. As much as you’d want to kiss him good morning or hear his tired, rough voice bidding you a good day at work and telling you how much he loved when he was barely conscious, you let him sleep. Knowing just how badly he’d need it. And never mind sex— it was only ever a quickie on the off chance that he’d somehow managed timing coming back to the apartment for something with when you got off from work. It worked in a pinch but it was nowhere near as satisfying as the long drawn out sessions you and Jackson usually had.

It wasn’t often, but on occasion, Jackson insisted upon taking you with him to filming locations. Today, he wanted you with so the two of you could go on a date immediately after— this being one of the few nights in the past three months he didn’t have practice. 

You watched as Jackson goofed off with BamBam as they did something the host asked. Your throat went dry for a moment as you watched the material of Jackson’s pants tighten and loosen depending on how he moved. God… why did his thighs and ass look so nice in those pants?

“Unnie?”

Sooyun grabbed your attention again. No more than four years old, she was quite a bit smaller than you’d expect for a girl her age, sitting comfortably in your lap. “Yes, Soo-ah?”

She held up her doll to you. Sooyun had somehow managed to get the doll tangled up in the dress she was putting on it. “Yunhee stuck.”

You smiled down at her, taking the doll from her. “We can’t have that now, can we?”

As you helped Sooyun with her doll and continued to play with her quietly, just sitting a little behind the rest of the filming staff, you could feel Jackson’s gaze still on you. Occasionally, you’d meet his eye. His gaze was soft and adoring… for now, at least. You were glad that he was semi-distracted right now with work: his thoughts mustn’t drift right now.

After some time, they called break, letting everyone get a drink, touch up the make up; the usual. As Jackson immediately headed for you, Sooyun’s mother, Chunhei, joined you two. “Thank you so much for doing this. I’m so sorry about this.”

Sooyun was already making grabby hands for Chunhei, obviously having missed her while she worked. “It was no problem at all. I loved spending time with her.”

Her mother picked her up, kissing her forehead. “I’m glad to hear that. I’m going to get her something to eat real quick while we’re on break.”

“Of course, Chunhei-ssi. I’ll see you soon, Sooyun-ah.”

You waved at the little girl and she waved back shyly before her mother took her to be fed. She was so freaking cute!

You jumped in surprise as a pair of familiar arms wrapped around your waist, a chin coming to rest on your shoulder. “Why are you so cute?”

You chuckled, putting your hands on top of Jackson’s, squeezing. “You sure it was me and not Sooyun you found cute?”

Jackson kissed your cheek. “Oh, you’re both so adorable.”

He nuzzled into your neck, breathing heavily against your neck. You couldn’t help but blush as his hands started rubbing at your lower belly, almost absentmindedly. “But… there is just something about you that’s impossibly beautiful when you’re being a ‘mother.’”

You didn’t trust your voice. He wasn’t touching you sexually, but it was definitely… intimate. The longer you were with Jackson, the more you wanted a family with him. Little comments like that didn’t help with that desire. 

“PG, Jackson. Remember: PG,” Mark said as he walked past the two of you, returning from his bathroom break. You blushed all the way to your ears. You had gotten used to how affectionate Jackson was. But being called out about it… hmmm, not so much.

Jackson removed his face from your neck, addressing his elder. “Don’t be like that. You’re just jealous my fiancé is here and your girlfriend isn’t.”

Mark just shot him a pointed look as the PD announced that break was over. Jackson sighed, definitely not wanting to let you go as he rested his head against yours. You gave his hands a reassuring squeeze. “It’s just a couple of more hours, Seunie. No more work for the rest of the day.”

Jackson kissed the crown of your head. “You’re right. The sooner we get done, the sooner we can get out of here.”

You smiled at him and he returned the smile before giving you one last squeeze, his body heat leaving yours for the filming area. Biting your bottom lip, your fingers traced where his hands had been, the ghost of his touch still there. 

It was times like these, even when he was just teasing, you were tempted to give in. To see about having the implant in your arm removed. To try to start a family together, even though you both had promised that that part of your lives would begin only once this hectic and stressful part was beginning to ebb. When the news of him getting married, never mind having a kid, wouldn’t have as big of an impact on your lives as when you were forced into making your relationship public.

No… that part would have to wait. 

But that didn’t mean you couldn’t fantasize. 

You turned towards the filming area when you heard your name being called. Sooyun was running towards you as quickly as she could, carrying the lunch box her mother obviously packed for her, Chunhei following behind. 

The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end, though. You could feel someone watching you.

As cute as Sooyun was, your attention was grabbed by the heavy and almost… predatory gaze Jackson watched you with. Your heart skipped a beat and your pussy clenched. You knew that look. 

He always looked at you with adoration. Sometimes, his gaze was hungry, especially when he was getting rough in bed. But this… this gaze meant something else. It meant that you better mentally prepare to not getting any sort of rest tonight… and not being able to leave the bed tomorrow without help. He didn’t look at you often like this… always wanting to keep that in check. He never wanted to pressure you. Never wanted to accidentally hurt you. 

But sometimes, he couldn’t help it. And you were more than willing to indulge in that one kink he always tried to keep hidden away.

So… what set him off?

He didn’t see you touching your lower stomach… did he? If he did… you knew you were in for it later. You could barely look him in the eye as he stared at you, your insides getting warm from the weight of his stare… and the anticipation.

You sat down again, Sooyun sitting in your lap as filming resumed. She was a lot calmer, probably starting to feel sleepy after getting some food into her. As you sat there, cradling her, you’d occasionally look up.

Jackson was now seated, currently not looking at you, having to act at least semi-interested in whatever game they were playing now. But you knew. You knew his mind was somewhere else.

His legs were crossed, one knee right over the other, his hands clasping his top knee. You knew he was trying to hide his boner or will it away if the tightness of his slacks around his hips was anything to go by. His jawed was clenched hard, his lips drawn into a thin line, his brow tense.

Upon first inspection, you would have thought he was just deep in thought. But the way he ground his teeth in frustrations— no, you knew.

You weren’t sure if his bandmates could sense his change in mood or if they were just that good, but they seemed to do everything they could to keep the hosts’ attention on them, with BamBam and Yugyeom, the chaos twins, taking center stage, in particular.

Jackson turned his gaze back on you. You shuddered. Perhaps to anyone else, he looked pissed. But you knew that look: he was frustrated. 

Extremely frustrated. 

He was trapped in his head, fantasizing. He couldn’t escape it. He couldn’t escape this place quite yet. 

He clenched his jaw once more before turning his gaze away from you. You couldn’t help but smile to yourself a little. 

You were sure you’ve never seen him this frustrated before.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

“… Thank you once again for joining us and GOT7!”

As soon as the host said the closingment, the PD called cut. Jackson was already up and taking off his mic and name tag. While everyone else was taking their time, Jackson was trying to get going as quickly and inconspicuously as possible. You knew you needed to be quick as well. Standing up, Sooyun sleeping in your arms, you went looking for Chunhei to pass her back. As you found her, Jackson took up the space behind you, his body heat making you hyper-aware of his presence.

You passed off Sooyun to her mother, the little girl barely stirring. “Come here, monkey. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

You smiled at Chunhei as you stroked Sooyun’s bangs from her face. “She was no problem at all. Just a little joy.”

From behind you, Jackson was silent. But… you could practically feel the frustration roll off of him in waves. Chunhei asked, “You guys going to join us all for dinner?”

Just as you were about to reply, Jackson spoke first, lacing his fingers with your own, his hand practically engulfing your own. “We would love to, but unfortunately, I made a reservation for us at a restaurant. It’s date night, ya know?”

You glanced up at him. He seemed back to being his usual friendly self. But you knew better. Not if the tension in his neck was anything to go by. 

Chunhei looked at you both surprised. Jackson always enjoyed going out for dinner with everyone. “Oh! Well… have a good dinner then and it was good working with you, again.”

She and Jackson exchanged a couple of work pleasantries before he tugged on your hand to leave. His pace quicker than usual, almost forcing you to jog behind him as he led you to the parking garage in silence. 

He withdrew his keys from his pocket, unlocking his car. He opened your door for you and you quickly got in. As he went over to his side of the vehicle, you couldn’t help but smirk a little to yourself. Even frustrated, he still treated you, as he put it, his Queen. 

Jackson settled into the driver’s seat. He let out a deep sigh as he let his head fall back to the headrest. Your eyes fell to his Adam’s apple as he swallowed, his eyes falling closed. You jumped slightly at the low, commanding tone of his voice, leaving no room for argument. 

“Panties. Off. Now.”

You shuddered as he all but growled out the end of his sentence. You threw your purse into the backseat of his car as you shimmied your panties out from underneath your skirt. Your hands trembled as you picked them up, cringing, already being able to tell that they’re soaked. Before you could do anything with them, Jackson took them and stuffed them into the pocket of his pants. No chance now of putting them back on. 

Commando it was.

“Buckle up.”

His tone was cold, but strained. You buckled yourself in as Jackson did the same and put on his driving glasses before backing out of the parking space. 

Why? Why did looking at him like this, turn you on so much? 

He probably felt your heated gaze on him because, almost deliberately, he licked his lower lip as he continued to drive out of the parking garage with one hand. It was almost as if he knew exactly what to do to get a rise out of you.

The car was silent except for the sound of the engine as he drove. You gazed out the window, the city becoming a blur as you tried to settle down, hyperaware of the fact that you were currently going commando. You jumped in surprise, gaze snapping back to Jackson as he teasingly stroked your bare knee with the tips of his fingers, your modest knee length skirt having ridden up a bit when you slipped off your panties. 

His gaze was still on still on the road, but nonetheless, he teasing traced patterns across your skin. Some were nonsensical. Others… others were more deliberate. Korean, Cantonese, English— he drew words from each language into your skin. 

Words that told you his intentions: ‘fuck,’ ‘bed,’ ‘love.’ 

So many words, each gentle touch driving you crazy. You swallowed, hyperaware of the heat that was building up inside you… all just from the teasing graze of his fingertip.

This was torture. But, oh so wonderful torture. You knew you could ask him to stop. He would. No matter how frustrated he was. 

But you didn’t want him to stop. 

No… you wanted his fingers higher. You wanted them to dig into your thigh like they always did when his lips would ghost over your core, the little shit teasing you. Starting to get frustrated yourself, you squirmed around in your seat, trying to getting some relief— whether it be the friction from the car seat or the mental distraction— you didn’t care.

A sharp, but barely there slap to the inside of your thigh put a stop to your squirming straight away, making you jump a bit in your seat. You glanced over at Jackson. His eyes were still on the road but his jaw was set tight as he let out a deep exhale through his nose. Instead of returning to tracing patterns into your skin, his hand found purchase on the inside your thigh, massaging it, almost like he was trying to physically vent his frustration. It made you whimper. In turn he let out a frustrated growl.

“You know how to rile me up, don’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t see you touching your lower stomach? The look in your eye? Fuck— God… I want to get you pregnant so bad.”

You didn’t reply. You couldn’t. You didn’t trust your voice. You didn’t trust yourself not to beg him to just pull over and pull you into the backseat.

Thank god the filming location wasn’t too far from your apartment. You weren’t sure if the two of you could wait too much longer. As soon as Jackson pulled into his designated parking spot in the garage, he turned off the vehicle and didn’t even bother taking off his glasses. You scrambled to get out just as quickly, almost forgetting your purse in the back as Jackson came around and opened the door for you.

Jackson grabbed your hand and pulled you along behind him towards the apartment complex. Down the hall, you followed him, legs all ready feeling shaky from excitement. He pulled you into the elevator and pressed the button for the floor you lived on. He let go of your hand as the doors began their slow close and the carriage began its even slower ascent.

He didn’t touch you. He refused to look at you. Even if he wouldn’t look at you, you were transfixed. His hair was messy now, no longer handsomely slicked back. He was breathing heavily through his nose, his eyes closed as he took off his glasses, placing them in the breast pocket of his jacket. At his sides, he reflexively clenched his hands— he was barely holding it together and it made you all the wetter.

The moment the elevator dinged for your floor and the doors opened, Jackson grabbed your hand again and practically raced you down the hall towards your apartment. In almost a blur, he typed in the passcode for your apartment and pushed the door open. You barely had time to process it all.

As soon as he pulled you inside, you heard the harsh slam of the door first. Then the air was knocked from your lungs as he pushed you back against it, your purse dropping to the ground.

You felt him before you saw him. Your skirt was flipped up and Jackson was already on his knees in front of you; he mouthed your mound, leaving open mouth kisses and nips just above where you really wanted him, making your gasp. Instantly, you grabbed his hair for purchase as you looked down. His eyes were dangerously dark, his hair messy in your grasp as he shucked off his jacket.

As soon as his jacket was off, his hands came up and grasped your ass, squeezing and massaging, drawing a pathetic, airy whimper from your lips. He grinned against you as he moved his arm back down and around your hip, grabbing your thigh to prop it onto his shoulder. Your throat ran dry and your heart thundered in your chest. 

He was going to be the end of you.

Slowly, he pulled his mouth away from your mound, leaving you wanting once more. He looked up at you, staring right into your soul as he growled, “Eyes on me. And listen closely.”

Weakly, you nodded. God you were so turned on. You were sure he could barely touch you and it be enough. Using his other hand, he spread your pussy lips. The sight before him was too much— he cursed harshly under his breath.

“Fuck! You’re so fucking wet. Did you like that? Did you like teasing me? Did the thought of me fucking you pregnant turn you on that much?”

You knew he wouldn’t be satisfied if you didn’t answer, but your mind was barely there enough to really produce anything. Frustrated by your lack of response, he growled, biting your thigh. You mewled in surprise. It wasn’t hard enough to actually hurt you, but it was enough to make you arch your back… and you’d probably have a pretty violet bruise there tomorrow. You clenched at the thought.

“Y-Yes! Fuck!” You let your head hit the door behind you. “Yes, I want you to fuck me pregnant!”

He let out a deep appreciative groan. You looked down past his face when his body swayed a little— he couldn’t help but rut his hips, the hard on in his pants looking painful. Jackson swallowed. “Be a good girl. I’m going to eat your pussy. But you’re not allowed to cum—“ 

You whimpered pathetically at his words. But you needed to cum so fucking bad. 

He smirked. “Shhhhh. Not yet. You’ll get to cum. But not until I’ve got you overflowing with my cum.”

Your pussy clenched at the thought.

Jackson smirked before pressing his mouth against you again. This time instead of coming to your mound teasingly, his tongue, flat and pliant, covered your exposed clit, making you cry out. 

You weren’t prepared.

Jacksom had always been a little shit of tease, never going in for the kill quite so quickly. But this was a man on a mission. A mission to ruin you.

One hand flew to your mouth, trying to stifle your cries as Jackson licked your clit. You let your head fall back, eyes falling closed. Almost immediately, Jackson abandoned his licking for enclosing his lips around your clit, sucking and pulling at it. A silent scream fell from your lips, the feeling more intense than it should be. You looked down at him once again and he pulled off your clit with an almost audible pop, making you shudder. 

“I said eyes on me. I want you to watch me as I get your pussy swollen and throbbing for my cock.”

Before you could choke out a half-baked reply, he pressed his face back against you. He alternated between suckling your clit, making you keen, and pressing the flat of his tongue against you, using his whole face to tease your pussy, making you whimper and pant.

Jackson knew what he was doing. The alternating kept you on your toes— kept you high on endorphins— but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to make you cum. 

Your legs began to tremble. The distraction of trying to keep yourself up, balancing yourself on mostly one leg certainly kept you distracted enough.

“Ja-Jackson….” 

His name trailed off into a moan as you slowly slide down the door, your leg barely able to hold you up any longer. In turn, Jackson lightened up on his torture, going back to mouthing at your mound, moving along with you until you were safely on the floor. He gave your mound a playful nip before pulling away. 

You whimpered, still slightly shaking as you watched him stand up. On one hand, you were nowhere near orgasm, but on the other hand… you almost felt overstimulated as you tried to get back your wits. Jackson looked down at you, panting. He still had that dark, dangerous look in his eye, but there was more control now. 

He offered his hand and you took it. He pulled you back onto your feet, pushing you back against the door and immediately pressed his mouth to yours, all but devouring you— nipping, sucking, teasing— he was overwhelmingly everywhere. Still shaking, you kissed back, trying to regain some semblance of control by nipping at his lower lip, your hands fisted in his shirt. Jackson growled against you, pinning your hips back against the door as he yanked your skirt down. 

Shuddering, you kicked your sandals off as his mouth left yours, kissing a hot fiery trail down from your jawline to your neck, making your let out an airy moan. He pulled away from your skin just long enough to pull your shirt over your head, then he was back at it again, this time sucking and nibbling at all the places that make you keen. “F-Fuck— Jackson—“

He moans happily against your skin as you fumbled with the buttons of his shirt before he grabbed your wrists, pinning them over your head. You whined in frustration and struggled a little, very upset that he disrupted your mission in getting him naked. He chuckled against your skin. 

Reaching behind you with his free hand, he unclasp your bra. He let it hang from your shoulders, knowing that it would eventually fall away naturally.

Jackson looked you over. His jaw was set tight, his brow tense as his gaze drank you in. You flushed, looking away from him shyly, feeling extremely embarrassed by not only his stare, but the stark contrast between your states of dress.

He let go of your wrists and slowly pulled the straps of your bra down your arms. You breathed heavily as you finally looked back up at him. His gaze was unreadable. It was just dark and depthless. You were so mesmerized that you almost missed him whispering, “So beautiful… I can’t believe….”

“Can’t believe what?”

His eyes burned into you, Jackson leaned into you, trapping you against the door and his body, his forearms against the door, caging you in. You grabbed at his shirt as his lips skimmed the outline of your ear. He huskily whispered, “I can’t believe you’re mine, lǎo pó.”

You shuddered at the nickname, whining in need again. Jackson nuzzled your neck, you could feel his smirk against your skin as he growled, “And soon you’re going to be pregnant with my baby and everyone will know that you’re mine and I’m all yours.”

You stopped breathing, your heart fluttering and your pussy clenching. Honestly, you couldn’t tell which you felt more, the utter love and devotion he had for you, or just how much hornier his words made you. Moaning his name, you tugged at his shirt, all but begging him to just fuck you already.

Slipping his hands down from the wall, reached down and hoisted you over his shoulder, making you squeal in surprise, grabbing his ass (you swear, you were going for his shirt… it’s just, his ass was a bit more… solid) as a means of support.  In retaliation, Jackson nipped at your bottom, making you squeak in delight as he carried you towards you room.

Once in your room, Jackson smacked your ass, making it jiggle and you gasped before he tossed you down on the bed. Slightly dazed, you looked up at him as he kicked off his shoes, somehow in his lust filled haze remembering your rule about shoes. 

He growled out, “On your hands and knees, now.”

Scrambling, you turned over, your limbs shaking as you presented your ass as high as you could, pressing the side of your face into the bed, your eyes landing on Jackson’s nightstand. In the back of your mind, a bubble of a thought took form in that even though you were on birth control, Jackson still used condoms typically, especially after that one little scare in which you missed two periods in a row. You wondered just how out of it he was to go grab one.

A rush of excitement shot through you at the sound of him undoing his belt, and the metal hitting the floor as he dropped it. Your breath caught in your throat as you heard him unzipping his pants. The bed squeaked a little under his weight as he got on the bed behind you. You let out a pathetic whine as he grabbed your hips, roughly pulling you back against him, his underwear covered cocked grinding right up against your sopping pussy and the teeth of his zipper nipping at the delicate underside of your thighs.

Jackson let a string of curses as you pressed back further into him. You buried your face in Jackson’s pillow as you practically sobbed out, “Please! Jackson! Please, fuck me already. Breed me! I want your cum so badly.”

He didn’t say anything. 

Instead, he let out a frustrated growl as he pulled back enough to shove his underwear down enough to let his cock free. In a single breath, he went from teasing your entrances with hot tip of his cock to being fully sheathed inside of you, your pussy convulsing in response. You let out a high pitch whine, the suddenly feeling of being full almost too much. He always filled you just right.

Jackson stilled above you, pressing his shirt clad chest against your bare back, his mouth against your shoulder as he panted raggedly. “Fuck— you’re going to be the end of me, little girl.”

You couldn’t help but let out an airy chuckle, grinding back against him, making him moan. “Likewise.”

Jackson grabbed your hips, making you go still. “You’re playing with fire, yeobo.”

Whimpering in frustration, you wiggled against his hold. You looked over your shoulder at him, staring him down with pleading eyes. “Ka-Yee… I want your baby. I want it so badly. Please….”

With one shaky hand, you reached back, tugging on his pants, almost trying to force him further inside. At this point, you were beyond desperate for him to fuck you. You trembled, forcing out a shaky voice as tears started to well up in your eyes. You whispered, just enough for him to hear you, “Please, please, please, fuck your baby into me.”

You felt him throb harshly against your g-spot before he wrapped his arms around your middle, keeping your torso pressed firmly as against his own as let out a frustrated, airy moan, pulling back so the two of you were balanced on your knees. Your hands flew to his arms, clawing at his as you whimpered. He nipped at your ear lobe, roughly whispering, “Careful what you wish for.”

His hips snapped harshly against your ass, your skin clapping loudly against each other, making you cry out. 

Yes! This was what you wanted— it’s been too long since you felt his bare cock teasing your g-spot as his quick pace almost made your pussy burn from the sudden and intense stretch. You cried out, tears falling from the corners of your eyes as you clawed at his arms, trying to ground yourself. Jackson let out a loud groan, practically rivaling your own sounds when one hand reached up to tug at his hair, the other clawing at his hand as it snaked down to cup your pussy as he fucked you roughly.

Jackson’s voice was increasingly becoming higher and whinier, his thrusts becoming sloppier. He pressed his face into your neck, letting out a strangled moan as you clenched around him in excitement, the palm of one hand rubbing harshly at your clit, while the other grabbed at your breast. “Hnnnng— no— don’t— don’t wanna cum yet.”

You shuddered, crying out, “Please, please— paint my walls white. J-Jackson, f-fuck me pregnant. I need it!”

Jackson cried out, giving you one last hard thrust— the force of it, knowing you two over. He broke your fall, letting go of your breast, but you didn’t care. You were a shuddering, whimpering mess as you felt his cock violently twitch inside you as he came… hard.

He breathed harshly through his teeth as you panted. He just kept cumming— you had never felt him cum so hard or for so long before. The hand pressed against your clit angled your hips up, as if he was trying to keep his cum from escaping you as you stroked your hand through his hair. 

Panting harshly, he mouth at your shoulder, coming down from his high. He reached above your head on the bed, grabbing his pillow before shoving it up under your pelvis. He whispered huskily against your ear, “Such a good girl for me— not cumming yet. And now good girls get rewarded for behaving so well.”

You shuddered at his words. Jackson pulled back enough, but entirely withdrawing from your body. He first turned you over on your side then onto your back. It took a moment, but your eyes began to refocus as you gazed up at Jackson. His gaze was hazy, completely fucked out as he stared back down at you. His hair was wild, completely mussied up from your grabbing, some of it sticking to his forehead, completely soaked in sweat.

He pulled a high pitched whine from you as he gave you a thrust. In turn, he let out a hiss, overstimulated. Jackson practically tore his shirt off, throwing it across the room before he dropped down, caging your face between his forearms. He stared deeply into your eyes as he adjusted his hips, wincing at the almost painful feeling of overstimulation.

Jackson pressed his pelvis against yours, firmly trapping your clit between your bodies as he began thrusting again. You cried out, not expecting the intensity from such a small movement. He ran one hand through your hair, tugging at the root, making you whine before he dove in, kissing you like a man starved.

You felt overwhelmed, nails digging into his shoulders as he sucked and nipped at your tongue, his pelvis grinding hard against yours, you clit becoming even more sensitive and swollen. Jackson mouthed at your neck and chest, sucking and biting all over your breasts, commenting about how swollen they’d be or something of that matter. Your mind was too filled with the feeling of him grinding away at your clit like a mortar and pestle to hear anything. 

Jackson kissed his way back up your chest as he shifted his hips a bit, making you scream at the feeling of both your clit and your g-spot now being deliciously tortured. Your hips twitched on their own, practically trying to run away from the stimulation as Jackson swallowed up your screams. Between kisses, you whimpered out, “J-Jackson— close….”

Staring deeply into your eyes, he grabbed one of your thighs, hoisting it over his shoulder as he continued to roughly grind against you. He let out a strained whine, you pussy clenching around his semi-hard member. 

His voice was hoarse as he whispered against your lips, “I know, lǎo pó, I know. Cum for me, I want to feel your pussy spasming as it swallows all of my cum. I want you nice and pregnant by the time I’m done with you.”

His words set you off. Everything inside you that strained and clenched letting go all at once. You let out a silent wail as your orgasm tore through you. It was intense and felt never-ending. You couldn’t breathe as the tidal wave of pleasure took you away. Jackson cupped your face, kissing the underside of your jaw as he continued to grind against your clit, prolonging the feeling.

As it ebbed away, your body slowly relaxing, Jackson placed butterfly kisses all over your face as he eased out of you. You mewled happily. 

You sweet, post orgasm euphoria didn’t last long though… not with how Jackson laid down on the bed next to you as he began rubbing your clit in gentle, slow circles. You gasped, back arching and you immediately reached for his wrist.

As you whimpered out his name, Jackson nipped at your jawline, rubbing your clit a little faster. “Such a good girl for me. You like being filled with my cum, huh?”

You let out a weak noise of affirmation, making him smile down at you. “Of course you do.”  He glanced down at your pussy, biting his lower lip, groaning. “Look at that, your pussy is still clenching. Such a good girl, keeping all of my cum inside to get pregnant.”

Letting out a small cry as he started to rub your clit more vigorously, you looked at him pleadingly. What you wanted, you weren’t sure— did you want him to stop? Or did you want him to make you cum again? 

“J-Jackson—“

He leaned up and kissed you, it was rather sweet— intimate— compare to the ways he was rubbing your clit. “One more, yeobo. Give me one more. I know you can.”

You keened as he slipped two long fingers into you, immediately seeking out your g-spot. You pawed at his chest, moaning and whining as he croaked his fingers, still thrusting into you. Your orgasm was building again as the heel of his palm smacked your clit while his fingers teased at the spongy material within you. Tears welled in the corners of your eyes as you squirmed around, unable to escape. 

Jackson hooked his thigh over yours, practically pinning your hips back into the mattress as he lowly growled out, “Keep still. I don’t want any of that cum spilling out.”

You mewl his name pathetically, trying to burying your face in his neck as your orgasm continued to build. He whispered your name against your hairline. “That’s it. Cum for me. I know you can. Want to make sure we get you pregnant this first fucking try.”

He started finger fucking you even harder, kissing you deeply as you cried out. The feel of him, his mouth on yours, the way his chest vibrated against yours as he groaned did you in. This one wasn’t as hard, but it was just as mind blowing. As the waves of pleasure crashed down on you, Jackson smiled against your lips, appreciating the way your pussy clenched around his fingers.

As you came down from your high, he pressed his forehead against yours, cupping your pussy gently as he lovingly caressed your lower lips, making you mewl. “That’s a good girl. My sweet, wonderful girl.”

You swallowed, mouth having run dry as you weakly called out his name, your whole body still shaking. His hand slowly slid up and away from your pussy as he shifted around, lying on his stomach next to you. He cradled your face in hands, your shaky hands sliding up his arms to his shoulders. 

Jackson kissed you, nice and slow. Gentle and giving. He pulled away just enough to whisper, ‘I love you’ against your lips, a sentiment you mirrored in return.

Your sweet moment was broken though by the annoying sound of a series of insistent text messages. Jackson groaned, letting his head fall to your shoulder, making you giggle weakly. You wet your lips with your tongue. “You should go get that.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll be right back and with a towel to clean you up.”

He kissed your cheek sweetly before sitting up properly, kicking off his pants and slip his cock back into his boxers. You sighed blissfully, stretching out as you focused in on his nice derrière as he walked back out in search of his jacket.

A moment later, he called out, “It’s not mine. Must be yours. Want me to get it?”

“Mmmmmm. Sure. What does it say?”

With your phone in his hand, Jackson paused in the door way, jaw dropping before he yelled, “Fuck!”

You jumped. “What’s wrong, Seunie?”

He groaned in frustrated anger, his head falling back as he continued to walk towards you. He held your phone out for you and you took it, brow knit together before you saw the photo. 

Jackson dived towards his spot on the bed. “I can’t believe I owe Youngjae 100,000 won.”

You continued to lay there, staring at the photo of Jinyoung and his wife. He was kissing her cheek as she smiled, holding up a positive pregnancy test. 

Cuddling up to you, Jackson sighed, “I can’t believe they beat us at who got pregnant first. They just started trying.”

You laughed. “But there was no competition. We haven’t even been seriously trying.”

Jackson shot you a stink eye. He was silent was a few moment, thoughtful. Turning a serious gaze on you, he brushed your hair away from your face as he asked, “The why don’t we?”

That Feeling by @ropeseok​ Coming Soon!

Want more like this? Check out the following:

Reservations, a first-time story with V (Kim Taehyung) of BTS

STAR-CROSSED, a science fiction series with Jackson Wang of GOT7

As always, reviews, comments, asks, and tags are always loved! ~Peony

Also, please note that I do NOT do tagging lists. Please see my FAQ for why.

GOT7 Masterlist

Masterlist

All rights reserved. © Copyrighted 2020.

[pilot-boi]

Blooming: Chapter Ten

The Fourth Time

Planting seeds during a lull in the tournament, and a little destiny related introspection

AO3 LINK

Jaune tucked the little paper bag of seeds into his pocket and went to find Pyrrha, because she’d had a meeting with the Headmaster earlier and hopefully it was done now. Even more hopefully it wasn’t anything serious.

Luckily he didn’t have to uproot the whole freaking school to find her, because that would be really pushing his luck with Goodwitch, even with how strangely understanding she was being. He found her under one of the Forever Fall trees that lined the courtyard, reading some thick book.

The kind bound in brown leather with golden letters for a title, and Jaune was pretty sure it was poetry, because Pyrrha was just like that.

Struck dumb for a moment at the sight of her sitting and looking so peaceful, with the leaves falling around her exactly the same shade as her hair, Jaune nearly forget what he was doing. She looked like a painting of a long revered hero, the kind that his mom would hang up from a yard sale and dust every day.

Once he remembered, he didn’t hesitate to disturb her peace and accepted no objections, real or fake, as he tugged her from the ground and dragged her along. It was obvious that Pyrrha was more curious and endeared than she was upset about being denied her reading time. She hadn’t really been focused enough to read anyway.

Jaune also refused to tell her what he was up to this time, aside from the fact that no, Nora was not in trouble. And no neither was he, seriously Pyrrha did you not trust him at all?

She did, but not when it came to not ending up neck-deep in chaos for more than ten seconds.

They took a detour to Professor Peach’s classroom closet, which Jaune knew well enough from having hid in it from Weiss’s wrath once. And Weiss had thankfully waited for him outside because she was a classy lady who had something against walking headfirst into dusty old cobwebs.

Jaune made Pyrrha wait outside as well, even though he knew full well she wouldn’t have the same hang ups. He was going to take any chance to extend this surprise that he could.

He eventually emerged with a gardening shovel and a watering can and refused to give Pyrrha either of them. Or tell her what they were for. Knowing Jaune’s reputation for seat-of-his-pants plans, he really hoped Pyrrha wasn’t guessing the obvious, considering that was exactly the plan.

Filling the watering can was yet another adventure that involved Jaune accidentally getting both of their shoes soaked. Pyrrha repaid him by cutting off his string of apologies with a laugh and a spritz of water in his face. 

Watering can momentarily abandoned and then promptly kicked over on accident, Jaune yelped and thoroughly botched his escape.

When Jaune finally flopped down with a refilled watering can on the ground where he wanted to plant, Pyrrha sat next to him. Much more gracefully, he had to admit, but without any hesitation. “Jaune, what-”

“We’re gonna plant some flowers!” Jaune cut in excitedly, tugging the packet of seeds out from his pocket. It was a bit of a hassle honestly, because admittedly, he probably should’ve done that when he was still standing up.

He showed the packet to Pyrrha, who took it from his hand and just stared at it in silence for a while. A smile slowly spread on her lips until she shook her head very, very fondly, and Jaune was positively beaming.

“Oh, Jaune,” Pyrrha laughed, shaking her head a couple more times. 

And maybe she sounded a little choked up, she wasn’t sure, but she felt choked up because gods damn it. Gods damn it, this idiot. This absolute wonderful idiot, who was really honestly wasn’t that dumb, because he was truly too smart for his own good. 

And so, so kind. And for some stupid reason he insisted on spending all that kindness on Pyrrha of all people. And she just didn’t know how to handle that sometimes, that he really cared about her and not the Invincible Girl. She didn’t know how to show how much he meant to her, how to accept his kindness, how to give any of it back.

So she just dropped her head onto Jaune’s shoulder, nuzzling her forehead against him forcefully, until she felt Jaune stop tensing and his head come to a rest atop hers. And then they just sat there. 

Her face was pushed into the cloth of his sweatshirt, and she was smiling and mumbling something that she hoped was an incredibly well thought out thank you. The packet of lily seeds was still clutched tightly in her hands.

In that moment she loved Jaune so much she felt like she forgot how to breath, discipline be damned.

They ended up getting mud on their clothes and even some on their faces and definitely much, much more on their hands. Dirt black crescents were under their nails and Pyrrha’s sweater was splotched with soil.

But it was fine, because it was fun. Pyrrha was terrible at gardening, not having much experience, but Jaune tried his best to draw on every last thing he remembered from his childhood. And lilies were resilient little creatures anyway, so it was fine.

And once they were done, the once pristine flower bed was torn up and muddy but the watering can was empty. And then empty again after an extra round of water, because they planted a lot of seeds. 

They stayed sitting there on the ground side by side, the sun warm on their skin and their dirt-covered hands intertwined. This time Jaune was the one to drop his head onto Pyrrha’s shoulder, and from the way he leaned into her, the way his thumb traced back and forth against the back of her hand, she wondered if somehow he knew that she was suddenly feeling a tired, sad kind of dread.

Planting flowers was great until you started wondering if you’d ever see them sprout.

Lilies were resilient creatures, not unlike her, and she knew that. It wasn’t the weather or the quality of the seed that she was worried about. It was time. The time that she might not have much left of, anymore. After her meeting with the Headmaster, and the rest of them, and the Maidens, and the magic, she didn’t know how much time she had left.

Pyrrha could suddenly count on her fingers how many days she had left to live if things didn’t go to plan. Or maybe if they did go to plan, because she still didn’t know if the plan she was working off of matched up with theirs.

Jaune pressed his face into her hair then, saying things he wasn’t sure she heard much less believed. “You’re gonna be fine, kay? I don’t know what’s wrong… really, but I’m here to help. You’re gonna be fine.” A futile promise against her unknowable fate, but a promise he couldn’t help but make over and over, hoping that one day he wouldn't have to.

“And you-”

She tugged her hand out of Jaune’s, but he wrapped the arm around her instead, and he immediately squeezed her closer as he felt her start to cry. 

This weird sort of crying that she’d undoubtedly learned at some point in her celebrity life. Her breaths steady and even but the rest of her shaking, with whines that got swallowed in her throat. She made up for her lack of sobs with endlessly flowing tears. 

If she let herself cry normally, the mask she wore in public would shatter, and it occurred to Jaune for the hundredth time just how cruel that was.

“I really don’t know what’s wrong, but you can do this,” he reassured her, trying to keep the shake out of his voice because gods dammit he was trying to be the strong reliable one right now, voice don’t you dare betray him. He pressed a kiss to her head and set his chin on top of it. Pyrrha could feel his voice rumbling in his chest. 

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.” And Pyrrha’s voice did hitch at that “I know you can do this.”

Pyrrha was scared, she was scared to die. But she was more scared to watch others die because she decided to make the wrong decision. She was scared to plunge headlong into this fight that wasn’t supposed to start yet.

She didn’t want to think about her upcoming decision, or the tournament fights that would precede it. And she really didn’t want to think about after either, because who knew who she would even be on the other side, if she made it at all. With her foreseeable life possibly being barely more than a week, she didn’t want to think about anything at all.

But then Jaune’s words made her think about training on the roof. And having to stop Nora from punching him awake in the middle of class after they trained too late. And this made her think of the way his expression then mirrored the affronted look he’d worn during their first bout of the tournament when they’d teased him about the team attack names. 

And for a moment, she almost laughed. But then her thoughts drifted forward to the vault, and the conversation there, and she was back to being terrified.

“After,” he started, and even despite all his effort he definitely one hundred percent sounded like he was crying. “After we’ve won the tournament” And because that wasn’t touching close enough to his actual question, he added, “What are you gonna do?”

He wished he was as focused on just winning as he tried to make himself sound. Wished that his entire world wasn’t hanging on what Pyrrha’s answer was.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” Pyrrha admitted, nuzzling her head into his shoulder that was now soaked from her tears, and she wished that she could answer the question that she could hear hiding underneath the one he’d actually said. “Not much, anyway.”

Because she was scared to. Because this was the Destiny she’d been striving for all this time. The only goal she’d ever had, so what came after that?

Her life had been written like a script for her ever since she started training and felt how right her spear felt in her hands. So what would happen when the words on the page ran out? When the blank pages were held out in front of her, what would she write now that she had the power?

Pyrrha barely dared to hope that there would be a page for her to write on at all.

“I have,” Jaune said, and his chest wasn’t hitching anymore, thank the gods. Pyrrha watched as his free hand picked at the muddy grass below them.

She willed the familiar nervous energy the motion held to calm her down. Pyrrha hummed. “Any ideas?” Because she didn’t have any for once. Her book was quite possibly coming to a close, so any ideas he had of what to do to add new pages was welcome.

Jaune’s hand stilled, and he stayed quiet for a few breath’s time. Pyrrha didn’t rush him. “Ask me when we get there.”

And when he pressed another kiss into her hair, Pyrrha wished that she could promise to do that.

[hitbythunder]

The Roll of Thunder -2

A Thor x Reader and later some Loki x Reader story

Summary: After Frigga’s and Loki’s deaths, Thor struggles with his grief and blames himself for the loss. Barely able to manage his emotions, the god helps the other heros on Earth so that he can stay away from Asgard - a place which only reminds him of his pain. When the team acquires a golden sphere from a mission, however, Thor is forced to deal with his past. She has black hair, pale skin and a pair of emerald eyes which haunt the god in his dreams. Could she be Loki?

Warnings: non-con in later chapters

~º*º*º~

Loki? No, this is impossible. Loki died in my arms over a year ago!

But the woman in front of him looked very similar to the God of Mischief and Thor furrowed his brows while he tried to make sense of all that, of the chaos in his mind. Maybe it was one of Loki's tricks? One that had survived it's creator, or someone else entirely had set this up to inflict the pain in his chest. This woman, this creature, should not exist, being an abomination in his eyes and above all it reeked of mischief and deceit. Suddenly, Thor's rage was boiling inside him again, stronger than before and in his blind fury he quickly strode forward, the floor vibrating at his heavy footfall.

“Can you speak?” Bruce asked her but received no answer because when she saw the Thunderer approaching her with large steps, her eyes stayed glued to him and she shrank back in fear. But Thor did not halt despite her reaction and thus she frantically crawled backwards until she hit the metal table at the end of the room. With her knees drawn close to her chest she stared up at the giant of a man looming above her. Thor warily eyed the small shivering form at his feet, how her green eyes showed nothing but horror and fear, the black pupils merely tiny dots, and he was pleased by the sight.

Yes, fear me as I am the last thing you shall ever behold! Thor thought to himself and lifted Mjolnir to end this miserable creature's life. Her pale face became white as the wall behind her and she raised her arms in defense but she didn't avert her gaze from the furious Thunderer, emerald green eyes staring into his piercing blue orbs which unnerved him even more. Enough! I won't bare it any longer!

Thor's grip on the hammer tightened and he was about to summon his lightning when Natasha launched herself in front of him, covering the smaller woman protectively.

“Stop this insanity at once!” she hissed and glared at the god, ready to face his wrath if need be. But Thor would never hurt one of his friends, especially not Natasha whom he respected for her honed skills. “Get out of my way.” Thor's voice was merely a low rumble in his chest, but the Black Widow was unimpressed by his threatening. When she realized what the Thunderer had in mind she just acted without much thinking. It was crystal clear to her that she needed to protect the other woman because Natasha had experienced a similar deadly terror herself when she was trained to be an assassin. Most of the memories of that particular time were locked away by her mind because they are to painful and horrible to recall. But the helpless small woman had reminded her exactly of that period of Natasha's life and so there was no way she would let Thor pass.

“If you want to proceed you will have to kill me first. So don't you dare to try to harm her again.” she hissed and Thor knew she was deadly serious about it. Thus he slowly brought the hammer down and narrowed his eyes slightly at the red-head. Being still angry he did not step away from the two females and hesitantly Natasha turned and knelt down beside the frightened woman. “It's ok now, he won't hurt you.” she whispered sweetly and quickly took off her long dark-brown cardigan to wrap the smaller female up and cover her nakedness in front of the men present. The strange woman seemed surprised at the gesture and looked at her savior in confusion. “Come!” Natasha urged her to stand up and held her from both sides to steady her because her whole body was trembling in fear. “What are you doing?” Steve asked, earning himself a 'stupid question' -look from the red-head while she led the woman towards the elevator, her emerald eyes warily watching Thor as they passed him. “I'm going to tend to her, like we should have from the start and see that she feels better. You have any free guest room left, Tony?” “Two floors up, right next to yours. But don't get that slime onto my furniture!” Tony's retort caused the Widow to turn her head and give him the most horrid death-glare he had ever received. The cold shiver running down his spine made Tony freeze in place momentarily and only when the elevator's doors were closed did he move again.

“Guess I know why she's been called the 'Black Widow'... “ he murmured while Steve walked over to Thor who glared intently at the remnants of the sphere.

“Uhm, Thor? … What was that about? You wouldn't have killed her, would you?” Steve asked but again the god maintained his silence. “Well, I think it's for the best if we all get some sleep. She doesn't seem to be dangerous and Natasha is keeping an eye on that woman. Besides, there's nothing we can do right now and tomorrow we will make a fresh start.” Bruce finally replied and gestured for the others to follow him to the elevator, which they all did willingly. “Yeah, maybe she will talk to us and explain herself.” Steve added while Clint and Tony yawned behind him.

“Time to get my beauty-sleep!” Tony said and noted that the big blonde was missing, then his gaze fell upon the open balcony door. Whenever Thor was angered or simply pissed off, he left the tower for several hours, flying around and bringing rain. Tony understood that a man needed some space but this time he wondered what Thor would have done if Natasha hadn't stopped him. Honestly, the thought that Thor would kill her had never crossed Tony's mind, even when he saw how the god raised his mighty hammer.

No, he wouldn't have done that, he's a good guy... After the shower, Natasha guided the female towards her room but then decided it would be wiser to share a room for the first night. So she arranged some pillows and blankets on the cozy couch in her own room and was content to see the small woman smile slightly when she lay down and nuzzled into the pillow. “Like a little kitten.” Natasha chuckled and tucked her up, the sparkling emerald eyes watching her every move. Of course she was wary, Natasha knew all to well that trust is something to be earned but given some time she was sure that the woman would warm up to her. Yawning Natasha walked over to her bed and put the black gun out of her nightstand and under her pillow, just in case. When she heard the faint noise of slow breathing she turned and beheld the female sleeping calmly, her chest heaving steadily and her expressions relaxed. Curled up like that she truly looked like an innocent kitten and Natasha doubted that she could be a danger to someone. Don't worry, kitten, I will protect you. *** The next day, every one rose rather late because of the night's endeavor and Thor had no intentions to meet any of the Avengers or the strange creature soon. Additionally, his little late night flight around the blocks to soothe his temper had drained him too. Thus he rolled over in bed and pulled the blanket over his head when he heard some talking outside his room. But even in his sleep he was haunted by a pair of emerald green eyes.

“Good morning, kitten.” Natasha said to her new roommate, who sat up and rubbed her eyes lazily while Natasha got dressed – black jeans combined with a ruby woolen pullover. Then she rummaged in her wardrobe in search for some fitting clothes for her guest and decided that she would need to buy some new ones. “Here, they will probably be a little too large but they should do it for now.” she finally said, holding up some grey sweatpants and a black shirt. and walked over to the woman to help dressing her. Luckily the silent female complied without a struggle but insisted on wearing the dark-brown cardigan on top. When they were finished Natasha took her by the hand and led the smaller one outside towards the kitchen area. The other members of the team were already up and about, Bruce made his famous pancakes while Tony managed the coffee and Steve chatted with Clint at the dining table. They all paused and looked over when the two women emerged from the hallway.

“Good morning guys!” Natasha cheered to successfully break the uncomfortable silence and led the female over to the table. “Morning. Any troubles during the night?” Steve asked when the two women sat down between him and Clint. Clad in this loose fitting clothes, her black hair combed and hanging loosely down her shoulders, the strange woman looked quite normal and one could easily forget that she came out of a golden metal sphere, covered in slime. Actually, the longer Steve observed their guest, the less he thought of her as a danger and decided to show his best manners. She was a lady after all. “Everything was fine, she slept like a baby.” Natasha replied while Tony put a cup of coffee in front of her and Bruce brought the pancakes. They smelled delicious and the female leaned cautiously closer to inhale their sweet rich scent, observed amazed yet amused by the Avengers. “Did you two snuggle up under the blanket?” Tony asked, a wicked smirk plastered across his face and Clint chuckled at this dirty indication, Steve just rolled his eyes. “Shut up, Tony.” Natasha retorted and divided the pancakes among them. “I suppose she hasn't said anything yet, am I right?” Bruce was curious to know more about the woman but was wise enough not to push the matter too much. “Not a word, but that will come in time, right kitten?” The red-head replied and gently put her hand on the other woman's shoulder who smiled shyly in return. “'Kitten', is she your pet now?” Tony quipped, not believing his ears. “I mean, not that I'm surprised, you two surely look great in bed.” he added and winked at the Widow, imagining the two woman rubbing against each other nakedly until a slap on the back of his head from Clint woke him from his daydream.

“This whole situation must be handled with great care as we don't know what she is capable of. We shouldn't rush things but keep an eye on her. Maybe we can run some simple health-tests later, just to check the basics.” Bruce was very diplomatic and tried not to sound too eager to analyze the female but he doubted that she was all human. Natasha pondered over the scientist's words and finally nodded slowly, accepting that they had to gather information somehow. “Ok, but not without me.”

Breakfast – or rather brunch as it was almost midday – continued peacefully and while the Avengers chatted casually, the female seemed to relax and accommodate to their presence, her vivid eyes scanning the room and observing each of the team members curiously. That was until the Norse god joined them, stumping loudly into the room with a grim and tired face. The Kitten shrank back on her chair, trying to become as small and invisible as possible when Thor's gaze roamed over her but luckily he just grabbed a large cup of coffee and leaned against the kitchen counter, far away from the strange creature. Although he avoided looking at her and mostly talked to Steve and Tony at the other end of the table, Thor could feel the green eyes watching him and he played with the thought of moving abruptly just to scare her again. But that would enrage the over-protective Widow and the blonde was too tired to deal with that now.

*** “Ok, this should be enough for today. Now we have to wait for the results.” Bruce exclaimed happily and removed the sensors from the Kitten's arms and forehead while Tony managed the new data with his AI. “She's very calm, I think she realized that we mean her no harm.” “Tell that our Norse meathead.” Natasha was still furious with the god and his behavior. “Yeah, he frightened the living daylights out of her and I doubt they will ever warm up to each other after that fiasco.” Tony walked over to the others and stood right in front of the female who sat on the large metal table. “But she does look like Reindeer Games...except for the hairstyle.” In contrast to the Trickster, the Kitten's black hair wasn't combed back, instead several thin strands framed her pretty face. But she had the same mesmerizing green eyes and a pale complexion. “Maybe she's the good twin no one knows about?” Tony added and Bruce chuckled in amusement. “Then hopefully we find yours too!”

“Very funny...” “Alright, if we're done here I will take her shopping. She's in dire need for clothes.” Natasha said and motioned for the Kitten to follow her. “Wait, you wanna go outside with her?” The scientists didn't approve of this idea. “I won't leave her to you guys.” “I could go and buy some stuff, after I have ascertained her measurements with my hands of course.” The billionaire smirked while his friends gave him a disgusted look. “No way, you pervert. I'll ask Steve to baby-sit her while I'm gone.” Natasha replied before the two women entered the elevator.

*** Thor walked down the corridor to get some food as his stomach was screaming for nourishment by now and was surprised to see Natasha grab her car-keys and head for the elevator – alone. “Where are you going?” he asked wondering why she was in such a rush and Natasha gave him a small but earnest smile before she vanished inside the elevator. “I'm going to buy our guest some clothes and other stuff. I won't be gone for long so don't try anything stupid!”

After allaying his hunger, the god chose to spend some time in the living room, maybe watch some TV, but he regretted his decision the very moment he exited the elevator one floor above. Sitting on the large cream couch of the living room suite, the Captain flipped through some magazines while the black-haired woman beside him froze when she saw the god. Steve noted and looked up to behold the reason for her fear, then he frowned silently. “Thor... I didn't expect you to leave your room today.” Slowly Thor walked over to them and sat down on the armchair next to his friend, as far away from her as possible before he replied in a low voice. “Believe me, it was a mistake.”

Great, now I need to baby-sit them both... Steve thought to himself, praying that Natasha would return soon while Thor and the Kitten stared at each other. His condescending gaze travelled across her slim body, which was hidden under the loosely fitting clothes, her hair combed and shiny. Thor couldn't understand why everybody was so friendly to her, accepting her as if she was one of their own and even spoiling her with new garments and all this kindness. She came out of a magical golden ball with ancient Asgardian engravings, by the Nine's sake! How can his friends be so calm around her? Does the fact that she looks awfully familiar bother only him? Which it did quite a lot actually, because he was sure of his brother's death and it pained his already wounded heart to be reminded of his loss, of how much he missed his sibling. Every fiber of his body wanted to scream at her, to torment her as much as her mere presence tormented him and he could not stand to look upon her beautiful yet disgusting face. Thor's face didn't give away his boiling fury but his fingers dug deep into the armrest. It was the most inappropriate moment for his bladder to demand release and Steve shifted on the couch to delay the inevitable but he had no chance against 'nature's call'. “I'll be right back.” Reluctantly he rose and left the two glaring at each other, hoping that both would be still alive when he returned. The woman watched with shock how the nice man vanished out of her sight, leaving her alone with the other man, the big gruesome giant who had hurt her badly when she was still in her shell, sending pure stinging pain through her entire body. Physically he hadn't hurt her but he had inflicted such agony on her, imprinting a lesson into her mind: Fear him! Run from him!

Yes, she was sure it was him because she remembered his aura and she had noted the tiny sparks of lightning surrounding his hammer when he loomed above her later. Oh how she dreaded him, she didn't even dare to move an inch because that could unleash another wave of this terrible pain. Frantically she tried to stay calm, to soothe her nerves but in vain. Then he rose.

[fc5holidayexchange]

'Fool Me Thrice'

John Seed x Deputy C. C. Black, Setting aside their differences for some heart to heart.

@johnsrevelation

'Hey there! Your deputy was so much fun to write for! I can see why John is crazy about her! I hope I captured her fire well for you!'

Fluff, Inner Conflict, Mischief

-

What is a name, save for an identification of ourselves? Save for a title, a moniker, a nom de guerre or a nom de plume?

A name holds a lot of power. A fae who knows your name can use it against you. Rumpelstiltskin and Beetlejuice are summoned and defeated by their names.

Names carry weight.

Names carry purpose.

And isn’t he a chameleon? Hasn’t he worn his own names and titles like coats and hats to suit his needs?

Duncan. Seed. Baptist. Inquisitor. Herald. Brother.

John.

-

But hers… hers is a mystery.

That god damned deputy and her metaphorical carrot on a stick.

It shouldn’t be much to ask, shouldn’t be a hard question for Deputy Black to answer. But he's… he's been trying for months to pry it out of her. It's almost a game, now. Like cat and mouse, like temptation extended on a silver spoon only to be yanked away with a chastising click of the tongue.

Just last week, wasn’t she perched right here on the arm of his couch, where he's leaning now? Shapely legs crossed, head held high, that haughty smirk on those plump lips, vehemently denying anything but her first initials. At this point, John asks just because he can. Because it's second nature. Because somehow after all they've hurled at each other in this holy war, C.C. Black still answers his midnight calls and still bothers to pay him visits at the ranch.

She prances around Holland Valley absolutely obliterating all the good work he and his people have put into preparing for the Collapse. Hell, just yesterday she took a couple explosives to the YES sign on the road near his ranch. Perhaps a precursor to something bigger. Something he'll make her rebuild all on her own, and then bury her under, if she takes it down. Something-

“John Seed? Over?” the radio on his coffee table squawks.

John has to fight himself not to reach out and snatch it up as urgently as possible at the sound of that familiar voice.

“Ah… Deputy Black,” he breathes into the receiver, trying to ignore that anxious clenching in his chest, “to what do I owe the honor? I thought we’d broken up after you torched my little sign. Was I mistaken?”

“I'll make you a proposition-….” comes her response, and then… Nothing. Silence.

“…Deputy?” he forces himself into something cool, detached.

No need to sound like he's been waiting all damn day for a call from her. (No need to admit that he has been.)

Seconds tick by. Minutes.

“C.C…?”

“Sorry bout that. Had to get my sights lined up,” she finally, mercifully responds and-

“Your what?” John instinctively ducks, his eyes darting to any window in sight, “finally coming to kill me, dear?”

“Yes…” she tastes the word.

Savors it. Draws it out with such fervor that…

No. Oh no.

Oh no no.

“This sign’s pretty big John. How'd you get it all built all the way up here? Tulip should be able to knock it right back down real-"

“Deputy, I'd strongly advise you not to lay a finger on that trigger,” he blurts, seething through his teeth, “unless you’re willing to suffer those consequences personally.”

Silence again.

She is testing him.

John finds himself vaulting up from the couch, radio clutched so tightly in his hand he can hear the casing creak in protest. He's off like a shot towards the door before his thoughts can catch up to his feet. If he can get Affirmation in the air soon, he can catch up to her quick enough to spare any major damage. If she'll only just wait a little, let him stall for time.

“I dunno, Seed, looks like it's itching for some bullet holes. Like a clean canvas. Which letter do I start with?” there is a haughty smirk in her voice as she interjects, drawing John to a stumbling halt.

Against all better logic in his brain he stands stock still, seething and teetering with frenetic, anxious energy. Needs to move, needs to go, needs to get her before she makes a big mistake. Tempest of a woman, Hell of a deputy. Pride suits her just as well as wrath does, clearly. He’ll wring that neck himself. He'll tie her down and keep her stuffed in the bunker if it means keeping her out of so much fucking trouble!

“Deputy. Do not. Touch my sign. Do you hear me? Do you understand?” he barks into the radio, shoulders tense, looking for all the world like he may as well combust where he stands.

“What. No more midnight visits?” she says, and-

That voice didn't come from the radio.

Before he can whip himself around to face the source of that crooning voice, she's on him. Arms locked around his midsection, drawing him in tight against her body. Her face pressed into his shoulder, her fingers digging into his stomach. And all he can do is sag in her grasp as all the adrenaline gusts out of him like a tide receding, leaving only mild irritation in its wake.

John should not be so relieved to feel this grasp, to know who's managed to sneak right up behind him with his guard down. And yet she's got her capable hands wrapped so tightly round his heart that even the warmth of her against his back has his pulse askitter.

“Gotcha,” is all she has to breathe into his shirt to get the goosebumps rising on his arms.

“I should throttle you. Should hold you down and carve your pride right into you,” he seethes, but there is no malice in his voice.

“Mm, but you won’t. You're so gullible John,” C.C. snickers as she tightens her fists in the fabric of his shirt, “it's like you don’t trust me or something.”

Oh, and he doesn’t. Not truly, anyway. Not when the woman can’t even give him her own name. Not when she leads him along like this only to turn right back around again and go on fucking up his region. But here he is, weak at the knees and already forgetting all about her transgressions and her latest prank, if only to make space for thoughts of what this night will bring for them now that she’s here.

She seems to have the same idea, for when he doesn’t get a response out in time, the deputy releases him. She grasps his bicep, whirls him around, and effortlessly leads him, dumbfounded, to the couch he’d been perched on moments ago. Probably still warm where he’d been lounging.

“Perhaps I don’t trust you, Wrath, because you seem to have fun cavorting around Holland Valley – and nowhere else recently, mind you – ruining all that I've worked for?” he finds his voice in his rising irritation that settles so comfortably next to his giddiness, a foreign pairing of feelings.

“You say that every time I show up here, in more or less eloquent words,” she snorts, pushing him down into the cushions and standing over him, and God she's stunning in this light.

Well, she's always stunning.

“And yet you continue to jam your fingers under every little button of mine.”

Before she can retort, John’s hands are on her, tugging her right down into his lap where she feels most familiar. Strong legs on either side of him, her arms coming to snare around his neck, this…

This is precisely where she belongs.

His heart is aloft any damn time she's with him. Like a hard reset on his brain, he so easily forgets what kind of woman she is outside the security of his ranch. All thoughts become her, become want, become need, become-

“I love you, John-"

Oh.

…

“…John?”

C.C.’s gentle hand under his chin brings him back to reality, where she threads her fingers through his beard and gently pushes to close his gaping mouth.

“Well that’s… out of left field don't you think?” is all he can get out, even as his pounding pulse threatens to consume him alive, “you can’t just walk in here after giving me a coronary and take the liberty of saying something like that when I'm inclined to not believe you, deputy.”

“Hey you don't have to love me back,” she shrugs, putting up a wall though he can still trace the faint ache in her eyes at his lack of response, “not gonna break my heart that way.

Her hands fall to settle on his shoulders, and he feels her squeeze him, tracing her gaze over his face as he admires the lines of hers. The corners of her lips twitch softly, subtly, tugging at a smile, or perhaps something more to say, but she remains silent as ever. She's always been good at that, if only when she needs to be. Like now, clearly. Stubborn woman, trying to tug the emotions right out of him and into the open air between them.

And instead, John speaks in actions, winding his arms around her and tugging her down to collide the spaces that divide them. Chest to chest, her thundering heartbeat pounding against his sternum, betraying her heightened emotions. C.C. tucks her head into his shoulder as he threads his fingers through her long hair, and like this, he is whole. He has everything he needs.

Out there they’d fight tooth and nail. Hell, tomorrow morning they'll be right back to the old bullshit again. He damn well can’t just set aside their differences when Deputy Black is so insistent on fucking up his hard work for the resistance.

But John Seed is nothing if not a fool, all because of her.

And damnit, he'll fall right back into her arms again the next time. Always has, always will.

“John-"

He grumbles some non-affirmative to hush her as he tucks his face in her shoulder, breathing in the smell of her hair. Of Holland Valley on her, the trees and grasses and wildflowers. Gunpowder and smoke and purest her. Chaos on two legs, keeper of his heart.

“I love you too.”

It's her turn to stiffen, something he delights in, and her fingertips dig into his skin as she comes to tighten her hold on him. The two of them may as well be one person, tightly as they’re tangled and carefree as they are.

“Really?” she whispers, just barely a breath, as he lifts his head to press kiss after kiss to her hair, her cheek, her shoulder, anything he can reach.

“Really."

[peacekeeper-xiv]

Serious Events

A series of events…

Aeritria and Arakiel meet accidentally inside Samael house.

Aeritria Locklair stopped dead in her tracks when Ara turned around. The blood drained from what little he could see of her face, and her eyes narrowed moving over him to look for weapons, surprises, explosives, all the things he might have on him while in Soren's house. It took her a couple ticks to reconcile the sight of him in Soren's house. Alive. Not dead. Not even thinking of the advantage that came from him not knowing who she was, she finally spoke, "Well bloody damn hell... you look surprisingly healthy for a dead man."

 Arakiel agrees to travel with Aeritria east, having decided that Ikara had been gone for too long and he was going to look for his daughter. They discover that they still have some disagreements though.

Arakiel Etemorah smirked. "Wrath?" He chuckled smarmily. "Kinda daft name to call a kid. He pick that out himself?" Still, he didn't seem intent on keeping up his teasing. "And what do they all mean to ya? What would you do if they were in danger?"

Aeritria Locklair rolled her eyes, "Its short, for Rathorin... " When he questioned her on what they meant to her and what she would do there was clearly a reaction. She tried to keep the calm, snarky demeanor, but too many things had already happened where she had given a whole lot for those three. There was the briefest of haunted looks before it was replaced with tense shoulders and a defensive posture. "Enough..."  Her lips pulled into a thin line, "Is that supposed to be a threat?”

Arakiel Etemorah smiled knowingly and shook his head. "No, but that's answer enough." Sheathing his katana, he stood. "I have a daughter. She should have returned by now, but she hasn't. That's what's in the Burn." His expression turned somewhat grim. "I wanted you to know before you decided to follow me. I'm willing to do -enough- for her.”

 Aeritria agrees to accompany Arakiel in his search for Ikara and together, they make for The Burn. Arakiels insistence on drawing out Aeritrias ire though, nearly sets them at odds.

Aeritria Thorne had never been good at reining in her temper, it was why she made such a good marauder. It was also why she had made such a good criminal. There was a sudden shift from her that would hit every one of his senses. The growled words came out with cold fury, "Fuck you Arakiel. I came out to help you, but that was just another dumbass mistake on my part. Everything is fucking fine. Its more godsdamn fine than it has been in over a twelves damned year, but you just can't leave well the fuck enough alone. I don't want to fucking talk about it cause its none of your gods damned business. You don't get to fucking come back from the dead and act like I should just fucking ugh!" Axe or no axe, there was a hint of red glowing in the abysmal darkness of her eyes before she turned around and started storming away. "Fuck you!"

It would be some time after that they managed to work out their difference, but once they had they concluded, wandering the desert in search of one small Au Ra was futile. Aeritria then turned to a dangerous source of power to send out the needed signal flare, her Dark Knight soul stone.

Aeritria Thorne took a few moments to try to catch her breath and shake away the voices that still tried to reach her from the stone. Running her fingers through her hair to push it out of the way she glared over at it for a moment. "I tried to warn you the darn thing isn't... as helpful as I like sometimes. I really did kick Rath's balls all the way into his throat last time I used the damn thing." Aeri rubbed the back of her neck and looked away, "Sorry... I haven't used it in a long while. With my other soul stones... it’s easy. It’s like they want to help. That one... there is still a bit of a fight going on with who is in charge of who."

 After some time arguing with the voices in her mind, Aeritria finally was able to cause a large enough explosion of aether that could be seen from malms around. The fact that it nearly killed herself and Arakiel was of little consequence.

Arakiel Etemorah wasn't a hero. It just wasn't in him. But he wasn't the same man he'd been a few years ago either. The blade in his hands was quickly sheathed and he rushed forward to where Aeritria stumbled. He wasn't about to pick her up and carry her away from danger like some knight in shining armor. But then, she'd have hated that. He grabbed her by the wrist and literally dragged her behind him. "Come the fuck on!" He wasn't going to let her go until they were behind enough rock to guarantee they would be safe from the explosion that was likely coming.

 Several bells later, their fishing attempt proved fruitful and they noted the appearance of an approaching figure. Unfortunately, it was not exactly who they had been looking for.

Arakiel Etemorah sheathed his blade, looking at her curiously as his hearing had not completely recovered. "One of them?" He looked to where the creature had been sniped and put two and two together. "The boy..." The unknown Miqo'te still seemed rather protective of Beta and stood between them and him, even if his weapon was put away. Beta's familiar voice shouted across the sands as he approached. "It's okay Aasifa, they are... family of a sort I guess?" The one called Aasifa seemed to relax a bit and plopped down in the sand as Beta and Ara and Aeri approached his location. "Aasifa is still thinking there are better ways to fish." He said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. Arakiel's steps seemed to hasten as he approached.

 With so many differing personalities… and because Aasifa is Aasifa, some troubles did arise.

 Aeritria Thorne saw Arakiel start choking after Aasifa did whatever the hell it was that he did and her attention snapped to the Miqo'te. Her chakrams came out and pinned Aasifa to one of the rock walls by his sleeves, "The Fuck you think you are doing you piece of shit! What the hell did you do to him?!"  She stood between Arakiel and Aasifa, and if looks could kill he would have been dead a thousand times over. She held a finger up to Beta to shut him up before he tried to 'help'.

 Eventually though, a peace was brokered, and the quartet left in search of the large sources of aether that Beta’s instruments had detected after the explosion Aeritria had caused.

Arakiel Etemorah might have moved to stop Aeri if she had still wielding her chakrams, but he did not expect the idiot cat to die from a punch. Beta called out in frustration as the punch landed. Aasifa for his part might have dodged the attack, if he'd bothered to try. Instead he took the hit to the throat and grinned at her as though he almost enjoyed all the chaos he'd caused. "Was... good... hit." He croaked out from a damaged voice. "Proud... of... sister." He ripped his sleeves free from the blades and found his feet on the sand once more. He didn't retaliate, simply rubbed at his throat and looked at her expectedly. Beta however was exasperated. "I swear to Alexander! Everyone's crazy!" He huffed and put away the smoke bomb and electric charge he'd been prepping if they hadn't stopped. Aeri's words had registered with him, but he knew better than provoking her further and refused to retort. "Can we get back to looking for Ikara now? Since you and I are the only ones who can speak now, I'll take your word for both of you."

Aeritria Thorne grit her teeth, dug her sharp nails into her palms and drew blood from her own hands to keep from murdering Aasifa right there and then. She reached over, grabbed her Chakrams, held them tight for a moment, still wound up and considering putting them through the rest of Aasifa's neck. It was Beta that managed to draw her out of it with his ridiculous cursing, "For fucks sake... didn't anyone ever teach you to curse properly?" She looked to Arakiel then took another breath. "I came out here to find you and Ikara... if Aasifa so much as touches that damn necklace again I will cut it off his neck, and I'm sure Arakiel will help, so if you want to find your girlfriend before something fucking happens to her you better tell you -friend- to behave or leave. Now, if you have an idea of where to go... let’s go."

Beta took in a deep breath and let out a long exhale. "I was trying to..." He frowned at Aasifa and pointed at the necklace. "No more chaos magic!" Aasifa looked like he might argue but Beta glared, and he stopped. "For all you know that thing might have called a hundred sandworms to raid the burn and it would've put her in more danger! So, no more til she's safe!" Beta looked properly angry and despite his inability to curse properly, seemed to convey the same feelings. He then turned to Arakiel. "And don't act like he's all innocent. Stop acting like you are gonna gut me 'cause I didn't know Ikara was out here! Cause I didn't and now I'm gonna find her! Aasifa could easily have seen you as a threat to his friend." Ara narrowed his eyes at the boy but simply turned his chin some and sneered. Finally, he turned to Aeritria. "He goes for the necklace again... stab him... ‘Cause I said not to. But you stop threatening him if he doesn't, 'kay? I've been wandering the burn for weeks now. I'm ready to be done with this place... so I just wanna find Ikara and then we can all go home." He huffed out another breath and continued. "And thank you for helping Arakiel look for her... I'm sorry this is all a mess, but I was trying to do good. So, let's... just do what you came here to do please." He continued a moment later in quieter tones. "And I don't like everyone else’s profanity. It's boring."

 Elsewhere in the Burn though the target of their search was about to have her own random encounter.

Ikara had been wandering the burn for what felt like an age. Trying to track Beta had turned into a much bigger problem than she had originally anticipated. She had made her way into Garlemald, stealing a uniform and posing as a Garlean soldier. Eventually she found the site where the popularis had their operations that Beta had been a part of. She searched every ilm of the area for any signs of Beta or which way he might have went. She eventually found Beta's tomephone, cracked and busted with charred and melted edges. She picked it up and searched the area even more, moving rubble. Eventually she resorted to carefully questioning a few citizens and was told that the rebels had flown off in the direction of the burn via magitek armor. She breathed a sigh of relief in the hope that Beta was on the airship, as she did hear from someone that no one was taken prisoner. All the rebels were killed or escaped, and she hadn't found his body yet. If he wasn't there, he might still be alive. Clutching the little scrap of a tomephone she went in the direction that the few citizens had pointed her in. She eventually found the wreckage of the armor and searched the entire thing from top to bottom. There was still no sign of Beta, but she found some disturbances in the sand and hoped they were the remnants of footprints. She followed them until they disappeared, eaten by the shifting sands. Then she kept looking. She wasn't sure how long she had been searching, but she knew she was lost, and she didn't care. If she was lost, it meant Beta probably was too, and they would eventually find each other.

A few malms away, Lloire had left the simulacrum of Cartenaeu that his mind had created as a battleground for himself and his reflections. Now he wandered the desert sands of the Burn once more, sorting his thoughts. He had no clue how to go about finding the people he needed to find or what order to find them in. Even as that were, were there enough people he worried for to face all the various aspects of his soul?

Some had been quoted as saying that the universe around them had come about in the beginning due to a massive explosion of aether, the same catalyst woke him from his indecisiveness. He hit the sand as an enormous shockwave of aether flew past him, stealing his feet from him.

"The fuck was that?"

As his senses returned to him, Lloire closed his eyes and focused not on where the explosion had been, but on any source powerful enough to have caused it. There was a massive pool of energy to the east of him that was far bleeding aether into the air. It was more than reasonable to assume that who or whatever it was, they were responsible for the massive explosion he'd felt. His fights would have to wait, leaving anything that powerful this close to Doma's borders would be irresponsible. Gathering his feet under him, he took off at a run towards the source of aether.

Ikara had been wandering in the Burn long enough that she felt like she was going blind. The land being so drained of aether meant she saw the world as everyone else did. She felt sorry for them, all the color was gone from this part of the world. She had found a small outcropping of what she originally thought were rocks but had eventually realized was the skull of a very large beast that had once dwelled there, and hidden away for a bit to get some rest and get out of the sun.

Then the world exploded in color far away. She felt it before she ran out and saw it. Her eyes watered from all the colors and she started searching the horizon for any signs of something that would explain it. Clutching the tomephone she started in the direction of the explosion, hoping that maybe if Beta was out there, he would investigate too.

Lloire travelled swiftly across the sand as he rushed towards the source of aether drawing at his senses. Eventually he climbed over an outcropping of rock and saw a figure in the distance. They didn't seem to have noticed him yet but were moving closer to him. If he held his position, he could wait until they were close enough to engage before revealing himself. He moved back behind one of the jutted-out stones and waited.

As Ikara made her way towards the explosion another source of aether caught her eye in the distance and closing in on her position. The aether was wrong, fractured, broken, and extremely potent.

The tomephone she clutched in her hand was tucked into her pocket and replaced by her staff. She had been conserving her aether the whole time she was out here, to the point where it was overflowing. Her necklace had been filled to the brim, but she had waited and not wasted it in case of running into a Garlean contingent or some beast.

She held her staff to her side, loosely and in a nonthreatening manner, but she was ready for whatever was on the other side of the ridge. When she got close enough, she yelled to whoever was there, "I can see you! Come out before I decide that I'll cast first and ask questions later. This is your only warning!"

Her voice was unmistakable. Lloire came out from behind the rocks with a curious expression worn on his face. "Ikara? What are yo--" He wasn't able to finish his question though as the sounds of the winds and shifting sands in the area were pierced with the sound of shattering glass. Ikara, who had the unique advantage of always seeing aether would see a fragment of Lloire's aether break away from the rest.

As for Lloire himself, he collapsed in a heap in front of her while the image of a younger Lloire remained where he had been standing. The Lloire-image began to solidify before finally seeming as alive, even to her vision, as Lloire had moments ago. "I should've known we'd run into you first and I'd be the first to fight..." He sighed. "You remind him... us... of Aliya sometimes." A staff materialized in his hands and a blackmage soul stone pulsed with aether beneath his robes. "I'm called Kid... And so that your older brother can live, I have to fight you with all my might... and you gotta kill me."

As he spoke, the similarities between who Lloire used to be and who Beta was seemed all the more pronounced. "Show him... us... what you're made of. That you won't be another Aliya, okay?"

Ikara was equal parts confused and relieved when Lloire stepped out from behind the rocks. "Nii---..." She watched his aether shard and split then him collapse to the ground and started running for him, without thought to her own safety. That was until a shard split off and started to solidify. Ikara skid to a halt, her staff still out at her side as a younger version of Lloire appeared before her.

"Halone's frosty tits... what the hells?" She eyed the fragment for a moment before flipping down a visor to see if he was still there without her aether sight. Her frown deepened as she tried to piece together what she saw with the visor down, verses what she was seeing with it up, "Oh.... what have you done to yourself big brother..?" His aether had somehow split off and manifested. The younger version of him was real in a sense, but only in so much as the creations she made from aether. It would disappear with time, but not until the wielder or spell was completed or removed.

Mention of Aliya had her frown deepening, "I'll take that as a compliment. Aliya was your best friend." She shook her head at the aether spirit. "I won't fight you. It could hurt the whole of him. He is completely fractured. Let me fix it instead." She wasn't holding her staff weakly at her side anymore though, it was ready in case the splinter decided to attack.

For his part, Kid-Lloire didn't seem to be in a rush to attack her. "It was a compliment. Look, you haven't seen us for a while. The Lloire you know. Nii-san I think? Anyways, he's prolly more messed up now then when he stabbed himself in the chest. He just fought each and every splinter of himself and killed each one. Well, except me and Erioll...." He shook his head energetically. "But that's off subject. The point is... He's finally realized what's got him so screwed up. He's scared that the people he cares for are gonna die. Usually ‘cause of him. There's a lot to unpack, but the basic gist is he needs his friends to prove they can handle their own against him when he's not in control. He's scared of his black magic... or his anger issues... or being you know... Hyur. But the truth is he's only really dangerous when he's whole... and then, only to his enemies. But we gotta prove it to him... us... so, you have to kill me. I'd rather you went into this with full knowledge and not making me force the issue." He huffed a breath, having spoken more than Lloire usually would. "So, what do you say?" The younger Lloire lazily lifted his staff and nodded to Ikara. "I mean, if nothing else... you kinda need to blow some aether." A small almost shy smile was half hidden behind his staff.

Ikara listened and it was clear she was starting to nurse a headache from how dumb it all sounded. Then again, she really wasn't too much different than her brother. She had run off plenty of times without people to protect them. She wasn't sure she trusted any of them to take care of themselves. It was why she was in this gods forsaken desert in the first place.

"Let me examine him, to ascertain that you are telling the truth, though I doubt you are lying. I have to be sure it won't kill him. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I killed him without checking first. Let me do that, and sure... I'll kick your ass." She smirked at him, "I mean, Nii-san is tough, and he taught me a lot, but it’s been a while, and the collective you haven't seen what I'm capable of anymore. Just you know.... do me a favor and let me check him first and I'm down. Also... beforehand... Did you cause that other explosion? Cause really, I can't spend a ton of time here if you didn't. I've god a cute moronic Miqo to save."

The younger manifestation lowered the staff and stepped aside to allow Ikara past to check on Lloire's unconscious form. "Too true, but don't forget... Lloire's been out to war just as long as you presumably have. Don't take this too lightly please." True to his word he would stand still and let her examine Lloire. "Also, no. We thought it was you. You've the largest pool of aether out here beyond our own. The other sources of aether out here are weaker... except one particularly bright spot further south..." His head tilted as he considered -who- she was likely speaking about. "Though, large sources of aether wouldn't help you find Beta but large explosions might. Guess that would make sense. We didn't know he was out here though." He shrugged. "Well, like I said, I can't hold back or we'll know... so I'll try and make it as fast as I can... but no promises."

Ikara was wise enough not to completely let her guard down but moved over to examine Lloire's unconscious form. She examined him as well as she could, even checking to see if he would wake with prodding. He didn't, and she obviously was looking at something with concern, 'These threads of aether tying you to him. If I hurt you, I'm hurting him. To be fair, you are only a portion of his aether, but you are an important part of his being. You won't be destroyed right?" She considered what he said about the spot further south and frowned. "If there was an explosion, I doubt that Beta caused it. He wouldn't give his position away like that... especially when there are Garleans after him... so I'm sorry but I won't be holding back either."

She jumped back and her staff spun in the air as aether pulled not from the land, or from her, but from a single crystal in her necklace. The necklace drained in but a few breaths as she unleashed one of the most powerful spells she had on the fragment of Lloire. She didn't have time to play. Those could have been Garleans killing her boyfriend and she loved her brother, but damn if she was going to let her boyfriend die cause her brother was being stupid. The magic flared bright and large with destruction so that it could be seen for several malms.

When the smoke cleared, Kid was standing in a charred crater, his staff held up as though he were blocking with it and the aether of his mana wall shimmered as the spell dissipated from absorbing the attack. Nevertheless, Flare was an impressive spell and she could see some singed edges around his clothing and armor. Another side of Lloire might have spoken here. Warned her or threatened her, but Kid understood her and knew she was only doing what she needed to in order to protect her loved ones. Instead he returned the attack. He vanished and reappeared nearly on top of her. It was completely against everything one was taught as a thaumaturge and would have been insane if he was fighting a sword wielder. With her so close, she could see the lightning flash in his eyes as his aether swelled. The first strike was a blast of lightning aether that dropped down from the sky towards her. The second was a blast of weak fire that seemed almost pointless in its intensity. Finally, he wrapped up the triple casting of spells with a much more potent fire spell as his entire aura seemed to pulse with heat. The spells complete he took a step back from her to examine their effectiveness.

Ikara honestly would have been disappointed if the first spell had done all the work. It would work for piddly little Garlean soldiers, but this was a part of her brother, and she expected more from him. There was a small smile at the fact that he had gotten his manawall up fast enough. Then again, the spell took plenty of time to cast and gave him amply time to prepare.

When he teleported right in front of her, she laughed. "You should have been a redmage, kid. Its more fun, but to be fair less destructive." to illustrate her point she stepped out of the way of the lightning blast and wacked at his nose with her staff, holding it like a rapier. Which, to be fair, wasn't nearly as quick to maneuver, but was much harder to dodge due to the size of her staff and his proximity. Soul stone or no, she had learned how to leap and fly as a red mage and those things were all body, not magic. She couldn't wield those same spells, but a quick backflip and she was out of the way of the weak fire spell, only to land at the point where he struck with the larger fire spell. It singed her hair and clothes before she managed to get up her own manawall and protect herself from the subsequent blasts.

Already she was working to cast again, though there wasn't a huge explosion this time. Instead she targeted his mind, addling his sense to weaken his spells, then attempted to put the shard to sleep.

The back to back spells struck and Kid felt his mind cloud with the enfeeblements along with the ringing in his head from the staff hit. Still, he seemed immune to sleep spells. It did allow fog his thoughts enough that he responded to her banter rather than continue incessant spellcasting. "Wasn't readily taught when I was around... I'm sure Azure can show you what Lloire's learned though." Wiping idly at his nose to ensure there was no bleeding, he only managed to fire of a scathing blast of energy from his staff as he moved away from her and she saw his aether pool into the ground as leylines became visible beneath him.

Far in the distance of the Burn the group of misfits that were wandering and looking for Ikara could see the mushroom cloud from her first flare, and the subsequent explosions of lightning, fire, and magic lighting the horizon. Aeri immediately turned to Aasifa with an accusatory look, "You do that too?" She was guessing whoever was blowing up the horizon was likely pissing off the little lizard though.

True to Aeri's thoughts, Ikara was getting annoyed. She had hoped to put Kid to sleep long enough to check and make sure her brother wasn't actually being hurt by the fight. "What? I have fight all of you? I ain't got time for that shit. You're wasting enough time as is."

She tried to examine Lloire from a distance to make sure he was still okay, and that moment of distraction gave Kid the opening that he needed to hit her with a blast of energy and make her shake her head to get her vision back. Fighting mages was a lot harder as everything was so damn bright.

Aetheric symbols swirled around her as she started to vent her frustration on the shard of her brother, "Will..." A giant glacier was dropped on him, "You..." Another one, "Just..." Another one... "Piss off!" Aether flared around her in crystalline light and she tapped another crystal in her necklace, though this one didn't drain all the way, instead only draining two thirds of the way as she dropped another huge flare of magic on Kid, then tapped the rest of that crystal and cast a second flare. The power off the flurry of spells back to back was enough to send a shockwave out in all directions.

Kid attempted to ward off the spells but was only able to block off the first set. Those crystals she wore were going to be his undoing if he didn't deprive her of them sooner rather than later. Still, his own pools of aether were rather large and he wasn't exhausting them on flares. Still, the second one she'd unleashed in a row was more than his wards could handle and the explosion blackened his staff arm, leaving it near useless. Still, he wasn't one of Lloire's sides that reacted to anger as easily, not even in the significant pain he was in now. "I... told you... Not going to make this... easy on you!"

He stood up with flames flickering out around him on the ground and took the staff into his other hand. "Enough of this..." Runes began to glow around him as he activated Enochian. "The highest tier of fire magicks he knew was unleashed where she stood, the leylines fed him aether faster and another was cast at her to follow it. "This ends now!" One more swift cast and he'd have the power built up he needed to unleash his largest spell. Another fourth-tier fireball exploded where Ikara was standing and even the group further out could feel the swelling of aether at the battleground.

Hundreds of yalms away Aasifa shot a look around him at the others, looking hurt that he'd been accused. "What? Cannot... be Aasifa, he... is needing to say ...word. Aasifa... has been... quiet. That is a war zone, ...yes?" He croaked out before he grinned widely. "Let's go... and see!" Arakiel frowned and growled but started off towards the explosions before anyone else.

Aeri glanced between Arakiel and Beta both before speeding up the pace the group had set. Which, in all honestly didn't take much as the others were in just as much of a hurry. "I get Ikara can blow shit up... but ... thats a lot of firepower." She shook her head and they all moved as quickly as they reasonably could towards the battle. Aeri had her misgivings about it, as she wasn't really feeling like being blown up in this gods forsaken place, but she had given Ara her word, and she wasn't about to go back on it now.

 Ikara got some satisfaction from Kid's blackened arm. Even thought she had said she was going to put her all into this fight, she was still doing her best to only tap the aether in her necklace as she didn't know what she would find where Beta was. "Oh for Halone's sake... you think this is easy for me? The hardest part of this is not turning the hell around and leaving you to sulk in the fact that I won't fight you. You have the WORST timing ever... I've got places to be! I'm supposed to be saving my boyfriend, not my brother. For fucks sake... worst older brother..."

Fire exploded all around her, but before he could get off all his spells she was moving. This time it was her turn to teleport to him. One moment she was where his spells were aimed, and the next she was standing on top of him and wrapping her arms around him in a bear hug, then smashing her forehead into his nose to interrupt his casting. The first fire spell missed her, the second engulfed both of them, and she aimed her knee for his family jewels when he tried to cast the last spell, aiming to knock him to the ground and just punch him in the face. The whole time she was aiming physical spells at him she was building up her own aether to counter with her own spells.

Kid didn't have a chance to respond right away, her brow had found his nose and it gave a loud crack and blood spewed from the quickly bruising part of his face. "Little brother right now!" He shouted back at her. "You're older than I was!" His aether appeared to stop wavering at all and grew very sure and still as he began reciting the last spell, his eyes locking on her with intense focus. "This ends sis!" The spell was likely one she'd not seen him cast before. It was one that Lloire had learned only recently on the frontlines. His most powerful spell was building over both their heads and it was clear that he meant to put his everything into it, even if it meant a draw and a draw meant they both lost.

Ikara was splattered with warm blood that spewed from Kid's nose, and his words hit a chord with her. It was one of those things she always forgot. She wasn't a kid anymore. She was an adult now. She mostly never felt like one, but she was. She had been through more than most kids ever went through and come across the other side. She had lived to see adulthood. The train of thought was disrupted by the pure aether building as Kid started a spell that she didn't know. She knew if he got the spell off that would be devastating for her, and for Lloire. She had to win, or Lloire would stay broken.

She wiped the blood from her face, and her vision focused on it for a moment making her realize that while it felt real, it still wasn't real. It was all aether, and one thing she was good at was controlling aether. "You're right! I am older than you. I'm an adult, and I don't need Lloire to take care of me. We take care of each other because that is what family does, but I made it this far... and I'll be fine!"

The last five crystals in her necklace started to drain as she pulled the specific types of aether from them. Earth, Air, Fire, Ice, and Lightning... the catalysts that made everything in the world. "I won't destroy you. You're a part of my brother... but I don't have to destroy you to beat you!" She started disrupting the flow of aether in Kid, pulling the elements apart, as she had done so many times with her 'paintings'. Normally she had more time, but right his moment she didn't. She poured all the aether from her necklace into rearranging the aether in this fragment of her big brother. She worked desperately fast, trying to reform him into something else. At the last moment she poured her own aether into building the strongest manawall she could and prayed to Halone to make this work. "I can take care of myself, and you're an egotistical jerk for thinking I can't manage without you!"

 The last words were spoken as his spell went off, and the aether that he was created from shifted into the form she thought of when she thought of their lessons when she was still learning how to cast the simplest spells.

Kid seemed to know that he'd lost in that moment. Despite the spell above them and his own aether breaking down, he smiled. "Good. Remember that... And learn the lesson it took us this long to start to learn..."

Ikara grit her teeth and forced the last strands of aether into place where she wanted them, just as the spell overhead exploded. It could be seen for malms and malms around.

[weston-hcs]

Do you think you could do pros and cons of each house? (Such as the people in each house). Ex (Violet Wolf): Pro: they’re very creative. Con: they have no motivation Sorry if it’s hard to understand.

Sen: I’m crying. This is a great ask. I love this. I will give my LIFE for this ask. I love you. You mean the world to me anon. I tried to go with stuff that isn’t mentioned in the manga so forgive me if I end up going off on a tangent.

Sapphire Owl

Positives:

People are generally friendly when it comes to helping someone studying. If you’re having difficulty in a certain subject, there’ll always be someone who’s a specialist that is willing to help you out.

They’re surprisingly superstitious and love their tradition. Not only do they have their “welcoming parties” but they have weird rules like “don’t mention Alexandria in the library or your fail exams” and “first to finish and clean up during meal times is exempt from fag time” - while it doesn’t seem so positive at first, it helps to build a lively atmosphere for the dorm.

Being in the Upper Years is a blessing. With the fags and all, they’ll do pretty much anything you say. Though, it’s slightly easier on the Lower Years as well since the sixth formers don’t ask for too much. Generally, the whole brotherly relationship is fine within Blue House.

Negatives:

There’s no sneaking out past curfew! Not only are Lawrence and Clayton looking around, but most likely one of these guys is going to rat you out if you disturb them from their sleeping/studying time.

The second you get a bad grade, everyone in your dorm will know. That means the prefects will know. Prepared to be absolutely grilled with questions as to why you did badly. While Clayton takes the bad cop role, Lawrence is slightly more lenient but harsh if this is your second meeting with him. The gossip goes away after a week but people’ll be watching you to see how you do on the next test.

None of them are ever down to hang out. They have next to no social life because they always insist that they need to be studying 24/7. None of them know how to take a break and when they do… it’s for about five minutes.

Emerald Lion

Positives:

They’re the most encouraging people you could ever meet. A little loud and embarrassing if you’re not used to them but they’ll always support their fellow teammates in a match. They’re definitely chivalrous towards their opponents as well, wanting a fair match from them - they’ll even cheer them on to make sure they face them with all they have.

They have an outstanding care for justice. As far as anyone’s aware, there’s hardly any incidents of bullying or fallouts within this house. Everyone cares too much about dignity and all to get into a scrum.

They genuinely care too much about others. Whenever someone’s in trouble, these boys will bend over backwards to help out, even if it’s not deserved at times. Skipping class to go help someone isn’t exactly the most virtuous thing but their morals and worry for other people says otherwise.

Negatives:

6.30am may be normal rising time but everyone here gets up at 5am to practice. It gets annoying when you just want to stay in and there’s a massive ruckus of someone in your room getting ready to go jogging or something… some people just don’t realise that SLEEP IS VALUABLE.

They’re pretty girl crazy. The second they hear that one of their mates did anything remotely romantic with a girl, the whole lot of them devolve into chaos. “What do you mean you held hands?” It gets absolutely crazy when they hear someone’s gotten their first kiss so you might want to keep that a secret.

Not in the mood for exercise? Yes you are. Pretty much everything is solved with a good sweat, according to the Green House kids - if you just want to lie in bed and sob, they’re not exactly helping that much if they’re pounding on your door to get out and face the world bravely.

Scarlet Fox

Positives:

Their care about appearance extends to others. You won’t get two feet outta your room like a hot mess without someone telling you what’s wrong with you and how to improve. CONSTRUCTIVELY. Some people even have small sewing kits on them for unfortunate wardrobe accidents - these are the gods among men.

This is a party dorm. There’s always something going on. There’s always someone’s house to crash at on the weekends. Sure, maybe the lot of them get caught past curfew, but everyone takes the brunt of the punishment together.

They’ll always talk you out of a bad mood. They’re great conversationalists so they can pick anyone out of the dumps with a little chat. For some reason, even if you don’t feel like it, their persistence is enough to get someone to give in and they’ll make things feel a little better after that.

Negatives:

Since everyone’s of noble birth, there tends to be some friction in terms of who’s daddy is more powerful, or who’s more handsome. Fights like this can last anywhere from two days to two school years.

Drama always happens. Beneath the bullshit black tea is some actual tea. There’s a lack of trust in the Red House dorm because everyone has the power to ruin absolutely everyone with just a few words of gossip.

They’re pretty stubborn. Spoiled rotten, they really do think that they can get whatever they want. When things don’t go their way, they end up all pouty and annoyed for quite a while and it takes a good stern talking to from someone else to get them to grow up.

Violet Wolf

Positives:

It’s quiet at night. As rambunctious as this lot can get, they know that everyone needs their sleep so they’re respectful of that. To be honest, it’s only because one time Violet gave everyone a right scolding with 4 Ys for waking him up once. Never again do they want to face his wrath.

A lot of the dorm works together when it comes to the efforts of the drama department; musicians, artists and pretty much anyone in the Violet Wolf dorm will be helping out with the school productions. It might as well be just their show.

Once you get to know them, they’re the type to ride or die. Their loyalty is unbreakable (unless you’re an absolute idiot that betrays them) and they’ll take the code of help your friends and harm your enemies to the max. Your enemies best be worried for what’s coming to them.

Negatives:

Trying to practice your musical skills during free time in the dorms is a bad idea. Everyone else is trying to do the same thing as well, even though there are tons of free music rooms on the main campus. If you’re trying to study during then however… good luck.

You’ll have pretty much no social life outside of the Violet Wolf dorm; you’re branded as an eccentric weirdo, even if you do happen to be a normal and charismatic person. Good luck with that social stigma.

They can be self-sufficient but it means they keep to themselves a lot. When others attempt to make contact with them, they shut themselves off and refuse to actually communicate properly. Maybe that’s why their perception to the rest of the school hasn’t changed yet.

[himbowelsh]

"I'm gonna need you to calm down." - the Philly squad upon seeing a gator in the bayou visiting Roe's family.

prompt me like a love song baby (ACCEPTING)

Gene’s not sure what he regrets more – inviting Babe down to Louisiana for the week while his cousin is also visiting, or saying it was fine if Babe brought his friends with him.His sister Minnie put it quite nicely. “We call him the creepy cousin for a reason, and it ain’t because he’s a friendly guy. We call him that cause he’s weird, a little scary, and has his share of problems. You’re supposed to keep him away from kids or open flames, not invite your boyfriend down here to meet him.”

To be fair, it’s not like Gene planned it this way. Babe’s visit had been a very spur-of-the-moment thing – as in, Babe called him up one day and told him, “I need to get out of Philly for, like, a week. Can I please crash at your place?” Apparently half a country away seemed like a far enough escape from whatever trouble Babe refuses to tell Gene about. Gene wasn’t even surprised when Babe called him from the plane a few days later and sheepishly told him that the rest of his crew was coming along.(Gene shudders to think of being crammed in alongside the Philly bunch on a long plane ride. He thinks he’d start looking for parachutes before they even made it off the runway.)His cousin showing up on the Roe family’s doorstep on the morning before Babe is set to arrive: that’s a surprise.Merriell Shelton straightened up in the doorway, bared his teeth in a shameless grin, and wasted no time making himself at home. He bedded down on the couch (the guest room, Gene insisted, was for Babe), drank all of the beer, and leered at Gene and his siblings over the top of the Bayou Chene Times. If there’s one thing Merriell’s good at, it’s showing up when he’s not welcome. If he’s good at anything else, it’s making people so uncomfortable that they want to crawl out of their skin.(Minnie and Winnie, the twins – who aren’t actually twins, but are so alike in every way that the family considers them a single unit – hate Merriell with a passion. He antagonizes them, they snap at him right back, and it turns the entire house into a war zone. Gene is ready to rent a hotel room, just because he knows he won’t be able to endure them for long.)Merriell is the last person Gene wants in the house when his boyfriend and his friends show up. But, well, it’s not like he can kick his cousin out. His mother would never let him, or forgive him for suggesting it; his aunt would roll in her grave. Merriell might not care either way, but Gene won’t risk the wrath of his Maman.So, when a gaudy orange taxi rolls through the bayou and pulls up in front of Gene’s family home, Gene is waiting at attention in the doorway; and Merriell is lounging on the porch.“Where in the sweet hell,” Merriell mutters, “did they find a taxi in the middle of this swamp?”Gene doesn’t answer. He knows better than to question Babe’s way of doing things by now. The taxi could be stolen, for all he knows, and he really doesn’t want to find out.As each person steps out (there are so many folks in there that taxi might as well be a clown car), it couldn’t be more obvious that the city-dwellers are out of place. Fran is wearing a sunhat and sunglasses. Bill is grimacing down at the mud staining his pristine white sneakers. Julian’s in jeans, for god’s sake, and Spina has a damn map under one arm. Worst of all, Babe’s Irish porcelain skin all but makes him luminescent in the warm bayou sunlight. The snorts he’s wearing do his bony legs no favors. Gene has no doubt he’ll be red as a cherry before the day is out, and moaning about how much the sunburn hurts.He doesn’t get much of a chance to gape at his out-of-place guests, however. Babe catches sight of his boyfriend and breaks into a grin wide enough to light all of New Orleans.“Gene!”Babe rushes forward, and the next second Gene finds him swept up in an enthusiastic hug. His arms lock around Babe’s shoulders; he pulls him down to plant a kiss against soft lips. In an instant, Babe is pliant against him, and Gene has to stop himself from grinning. He’s missed this.When they break apart, Babe is flushed as red as his hair, and he’s still beaming. “Oh god, you look –” he says, and is cut off by Gene kissing him again. “Great,” he finishes, when the part for air once more. “You look incredible.”From over Gene’s shoulder, he hears his cousin whistle. No force on earth is getting him to tear his eyes from Babe just to tell Merriell Shelton off.A part of him wonders if the Philadelphia gang are actually from earth. If they were some bizarre pack of aliens, it would explain a lot.An unholy shriek splits the bayou, and that’s what gets Gene to tear his attention away from Babe. To be fair, Babe does the same thing. He reels around at the first sound of his friends in trouble, and is already bounding towards them before he catches sight of something that makes him freeze in his tracks.Then Babe screams, and everything falls to chaos after that.People are wailing. The taxi’s horn blares. The Philadelphia tourists run around each other like chickens with no heads, any sense completely abandoned in their panic. “HOLY SHIT,” someone is hollering. It’s shrill enough that it could be Babe, but there’s an equal chance of it being Bill, or Julian. It’s definitely not Fran. “THAT’S A DINOSAUR. THAT IS A GODDAMN DINOSAUR.”Fran has climbed on top of the taxi,  armed with her purse and ready to use it. Spins is hammering on the car windows, but the driver has locked the door. Babe has leapt into Bill’s arms, clinging to his neck like a damsel in distress. Julian is on the ground, curled up with his hands clasped over his head, ready for the end of times. Guarnere, in classic Wild Bill style, looks ready for a fight.They’re all losing their minds over an alligator.To be more accurate, they’re losing their minds over Etienne.Etienne has lived around their home for as long as Gene can remember. He’s a friend of the family. Not their pet, of course (“You can never tame nature,” Gene’s late grandmére once told him a small solemn-eyed little boy who never forgot her words. “You gotta to learn to live with it, or it’ll eat you up.”), but a friend all the same. Etienne and the Roe family have an unspoken agreement: you don’t bother us, we won’t bother you. He Roe children were kept well out of the way of the ancient gator as children, though little Gene always dared to venture too close when his mother’s back was turned. In exchange, Etienne gobbled up the pests around the Roe home, and left all the “good things” (like people) alone. Etienne isn’t someone Gene’s Maman will invite in for dinner, but he’s harmless.Mostly.Gene wonders if he has a taste for Philadelphians.Bill drops Babe to the ground, and Babe immediately wraps himself around the taxi’s tire. He looks like he’s crying. Everyone’s screaming so loud that Gene can’t tell whose voice belongs to who.He takes a few steps back onto the porch. For a few moments, all he can do is watch in bemusement. He’s jolted out of his gaze by an inevitable  snort of laughter.“You’ve really thought this through,” Merriell drawls, and takes a long drag from his cigarette.Gene sighs through his teeth, and debates the merits of intervening. He could let them wear themselves out – it seems easiest. Then again, if they keep this racket up, the entire bayou is going to be awake, and old Etienne might just get offended enough do do something about it.So he reluctantly clears his throat and steps forward. “Everyone,” he calls; and when this gets no response, “everyone!”Nothing. He’s not sure what he expected.A sudden projectile flies past his head, not leaving Gene time to duck. It shatters against the nearest tree with a loud crash. The noise is jarring enough that, all at once, the chorus of screams cuts off. Merriell is standing up now, staring at the group with a wide-eyed, unreadable expression. He’s doing the thing again, Gene realizes, and fights not to moan. The creepy thing. This is why Merriell is the cousin they don’t like to leave alone in the house.“Oh, look at that. You do know how to shut your mouths.” Merriell’s lips curl back in what no sane person would call a grin. He looks thrilled. “Makes it lots nicer ‘round here when it’s quiet.”Babe is the one to break the spell that Merriell seems to have cast over the group. His attention swivels back to Gene, and he chokes on air as he fights to form words. “G-G-Gene! There’s a, there’s, it’s a goddamn –”“That’s Etienne,” Gene interjects, stepping off the porch again. “Afraid I’m gonna need y'all to quiet down. My Maman’s inside cooking, and all this screaming’s not good for the gumbo.”Fran is staring at him as if he’s lost his mind – even though she’s the one clinging to the hood of a taxi. “You gave that monster a name?”“He’s our neighbor. We’re friendly.” To prove it, Gene gives Etienne a wave. The old gator, smart enough to not want to get involved, slinks back into the depths of the bayou.Only when he’s gone do the Philly crew seem it safe enough to exit Crisis Mode. Babe peels himself off the ground, while Bill lifts Fran off the hood of the car. No one bothers to help Julian up. When they all turn to Gene, wide eyed and expectant, Gene is reminded of schoolkids waiting for the teacher’s instruction. He’s never wanted to be a teacher.“Lets go inside,” he says after a beat. “Time for you to meet to family. My brothers are out, but my sisters are in, and so’s my Maman. They’re all dying to meet you.”“And who’s this asshole?” Bill demands as they pass Merriell (he pulls Fran a little closer to him when Merriell leers at her). His cousin doesn’t seem offended in the least, so Gene just rolls his eyes.“That’s Merriell. He’s part of the family, but he ain’t supposed to be here now. You can ignore him.”As the Philly gang filters through the doorway, one after the other, Gene feels like a mama duckling counting heads. Only when he gets to the last head – full of messy ginger hair – does he pause to look up into Babe’s bright face.“That might have been a rough start,” Babe whispers, looping an arm around his waist, “but this is gonna be a great vacation, Gene. I’m sure of it.”Gene bathes in the confidence of his boyfriend’s words. He wants more than anything to believe that Babe is right.The jagged smile he glimpses on Merriell’s face, however, suggests that Babe and his friends are in for more trouble than they’re prepared to handle.

[myaekingheart]

48. I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant

read the scarecrow and the bell on ao3

index | from the beginning | < previous | next >

LISTEN when I found out that Dave Wittenberg, English VA for Kakashi, is also the narrator of I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant, I knew I had no choice but to make a whole damn chapter about this and I honestly lose my shit every time I think about it. I have watched so many fucking clips on Youtube for reference, I have heard Kakashi fucking Hatake say shit like "contractions" and "prenatal care" and "placenta" so many damn times, OH MY GOD. I just can't handle it x'D

Here, just bask in these 40 minutes of glory. And stay out of the maternity ward from now on, Kakashi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hgMb-ca6Cc

               From high above, the citizens of Konoha looked like living dolls strolling along their predetermined routes just the same as any other day. There was no variety, no excitement. Just boring people going about their boring lives. Rei squinted up at the sky, trying to decipher what time it was. Maybe it was the stress, or she was overworking herself, but she was trapped in one of those cycles where she felt as if somewhere down the line she had stumbled over her own two feet and couldn’t regain her balance, eventually destined to smack face-first into the dirt.

               Since Sasuke’s defection, Lady Tsunade had insisted they tighten security in Konoha just to be safe. Rei understood it was, of course, a valid precaution, but after weeks of absolutely nothing extraordinary, she was beginning to grow weary with the extended work hours. With so much time and nothing to do, her mind wandered often, namely to Kakashi. While he seemed fine on the surface, deep down she knew he was hurting. He was reminded of his failure as a sensei every single day. It weighed so heavily on him, the stress was almost even making Rei sick. There was too much going on, and the threat of something coming from Sasuke’s actions terrified her. Lately, her stomach had been in knots and she had hardly been getting any sleep. If only things would just go back to normal, but she knew that was something she never had any control over. She would just have to suck it up and deal with it, even if that felt impossible.

               The cry of a merchant advertising his wares tugged Rei out of her daze. She glanced over to him and his cart of fresh produce, overhearing him prattle on about how watermelon was in season to a woman who only looked mildly interested. Out of all of the familiar faces below, hers was the one Rei didn’t recognize and it stirred in her something suspicious. She zeroed in, watching the girl politely decline the man’s offer and walk away. Every few minutes, she would stop and bow her head, clenching her fists at her sides as if she was stifling fury.

               Rei’s mind burst into overdrive. There was something sketchy going on here, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. Camouflaging herself with her chameleon jutsu, she leapt down into the street and tried to gauge whether there was more to this than met the eye. The closer she crept, the clearer it became that what Rei had thought was anger was actually…pain. Her heart raced in her chest, her mind immediately suspecting genjutsu. An almost debilitating fear of Itachi’s return chilled every bone in her body. And then, without a second of hesitation, the woman ducked into a nearby alley and fell to her knees gasping in defeat.

               In one fluid motion, Rei snuck up behind the woman and slammed a chakra point in her neck. The woman cried out in pain and curled up, arms wrapped around her stomach. After a few moments, however, it was clear that Rei’s preconceived notions were yet again false. Her chakra did not reset. This was not genjutsu. She was in real, physical pain.

               Rei whipped around to the front of the woman, tilting her chin up harshly and settling the blade of her kunai against her neck. “Who are you and what’s your intention here? Tell me, now!” Rei insisted. The woman stared squarely back at Rei, panting and sweating. Her gaze was overflowing with fear and desperation, a special breed of pain Rei had only seen once before in the face of a little girl whose father she had taken away many years prior. A shiver ran down Rei’s spine. “Fine, don’t answer me then” she spat, releasing the girl’s chin with a quick flick of her wrist. There were other ways to gain intel.

               Snatching up her satchel, Rei began rummaging through the inside in hopes of finding some form of identification. The woman didn’t even protest but rather keeled forward and cried out once more in pain. Maybe she had been poisoned, and the toxins were just now hitting her intestines and causing severe inflammation. Or perhaps she had gotten into a nasty fight and was suffering from internal bleeding. A shock of recognition punched Rei as her fingers grazed cold steel, making out the imprint of two strange trapezoids. Iwagakure. So she was truly an enemy after all.

               For a moment, Rei considered leaving her for dead but she knew that would be irresponsible. If she was able to be saved, she could hold valuable intel on Iwa’s intentions. She had no choice but to take her to the hospital.

               The triage room spun as Rei tried to comprehend the dizzying chaos. Doctors and nurses flurried around her, shouting commands at one another over the woman’s piercing cries. Rei’s vision began to grow hazy, her eyes flashing from surgical gloves to forceps to speculum. She clenched her clammy hands and bit the inside of her cheek. None of this made any sense.

               The woman, whose name Rei had learned was Tanjo, locked eyes with the redhead, desperate and terrified, as if looking for some form of reassurance in this foreign affair. The knot in Rei’s stomach tightened and for a moment she was positive she was going to be sick. Tanjo reached out to grasp her hand but in that moment, a familiar voice called Rei’s name and suddenly she was being tugged out into the sunlit hall.

               “Sounds like someone is having a rough morning” a familiar voice spoke. Rei blinked, tying to gain her bearings. She staggered to the window and sucked in a deep breath, the hallway much less suffocating.

               “K-Kakashi” Rei gasped. He approached and sat her down on the nearby bench, surveying her pale skin and trembling hands. Tanjo’s screams echoed down the hallway: This isn’t happening! I-I didn’t know! I can’t be having a baby! I-I’m not pregnant! I didn’t know I was pregnant! “Oh god…” Rei groaned and quickly ducked her head between her knees, fighting nausea. If she was lucky, she would wake up in Kakashi’s apartment to find none of this had ever really happened to begin with.

               Truthfully, the woman didn’t even look pregnant. With her chubby cheeks and doe eyes, Rei could even argue she looked too young to be pregnant. Kakashi placed a comforting hand on his girlfriend’s shoulder, then pursed his lips behind his mask and approached the triage room. He wasn’t going to force Rei to explain, but he did want answers. He, too, was having trouble comprehending all of this.

               “Oh god, it hurts!” Tanjo screamed, squeezing her eyes shut tight.

               The doctor gave a single nod and looked up at her patient. “Your baby’s crowning—I need you to give me a big push!” she commanded. Tanjo wailed but did as she was told, and Kakashi watched from afar as her child gradually emerged.

               “What are you doing here, anyway?” Rei finally asked, leaning her head back against the wall and sucking in a deep breath. Kakashi, deeply moved, slowly turned toward his girlfriend and sat beside her.

               “I saw you rushing toward the hospital with that girl over your shoulder. Something didn’t seem right, so I alerted the hokage and followed you to make sure everything was alright” he explained. He glanced back to the doorway, the baby’s cries sending a shiver down Rei’s spine. “Lady Tsunade should be here any minute. In the meantime, what the hell happened?”

               “I-I don’t know!” Rei shook her head, gripping her hair. “One minute I’m just tailing a potential intruder, and the next she’s shoving a kid out of her!”

               Shaking his head, Kakashi furrowed his brows and pondered, “How can a woman not know she’s pregnant?”

               Rei pressed her hand to her mouth and swallowed hard, her leg beginning to bounce up and down on its own accord. “I’ve been trying to figure that out all morning.”                  

               Time seemed to slow to a standstill as they waited for Lady Tsunade. In the meantime, Kakashi flagged down one of the nurses and began to interrogate. All the while, he kept Rei in his periphery. She was clearly becoming unhinged from all of this and he needed to make sure she would be okay, while still getting the necessary work done. He ran down a mental checklist of everything the nurse had detailed to him, ensuring he got the story straight. Then, as she walked away, his eyes trailed to the young mother and her new, unexpected baby. Despite the obvious horror of the situation, there was something heartwarming about watching Tanjo cradle her child and caress her cheek. And yet deep down, there was also still a deadly sense of fear within her. He inched forward, leaned against the doorway, and then asked, “So, have you decided on a name?”

               The rapid tapping of the hokage’s heels echoed down the hall as she approached with steadfast purpose. “Alright, does anyone care to tell me what exactly is going on here?” she demanded. Her eyes darted to Rei, completely out of commission in the hallway, and she grimaced. Before Tsunade could incur her wrath, however, Kakashi stepped out into the scene. “Kakashi!” Tsunade shouted. “You look like the type of person to have answers. What is going on?”

               Rei nearly doubled over listening to the well-rounded explanation her boyfriend began rattling off. He sounded as if he narrated bizarre birth stories for a living, it came so effortlessly. “Twenty-three year old Tanjo is a kunoichi from Iwagakure who was sent here on a mission to infiltrate the Leaf Village. Tanjo has no steady boyfriend, but was seeing a man in the village who she said she had been sexual with. When she missed her period, she simply assumed it was just from the stress of her job. The Tsuchikage had assigned her to accompany two other shinobi on a top secret mission to gain intel on the Leaf Village. When she woke up this morning, she began experiencing severe stomach cramps that she had thought were just anxiety. However, as the pain worsened, Tanjo realized that something was seriously wrong. Rei tailed her while on duty and decided to bring her to the hospital, where Tanjo discovered she was in labor and she didn’t even know she was pregnant. No nausea, no weight gain, no cravings, no unusual stomach movements. After an hour of pushing, she gave birth to a healthy five pound baby boy.”

               Once he had finished his explanation, Tsunade blinked then said bluntly, “Kakashi, stay out of the maternity ward from now on.”

               Rei raised a hand up in agreement and added, “I think you took way too much pride in that.”

               Kakashi’s face turned beet red beneath his mask as he rubbed the back of his neck and replied sheepishly, “Well, I was just trying to give an accurate account of what happened.”

               Shaking her head, Tsunade passed both of them to enter the hospital room herself, but not before turning back to Rei and saying slyly, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he does that when you give birth, too.” All of the color drained from Rei’s face in that moment, groaning as she leaned over and dry heaved into the nearest trash can.

               Shizune’s eyes anxiously darted from one authority to the other. No one had spoken a word in nearly ten minutes. The village elders stared Tsunade down, stony-faced, and it was clear they weren’t budging. Why would they? They were only looking out for the safety of the Leaf Village. But this was a slippery slope. “No amount of silence will convince us otherwise” Homura finally spoke. “In no way, shape, or form will that kunoichi and her child remain in the Leaf Village.”

               “Bastards!” Tsunade shouted, slamming her fist on the table. “That child was born in Konoha, and therefore is a citizen of Konoha! I refuse to separate him from his mother!”

               Koharu shook her head and sighed. “Are you truly going to let an enemy-nin remain in the village she was assigned to destroy? It’s illogical! Letting her stay here will only put us in harm’s way. Her intentions were malicious, and therefore she in no way will stay in this village, end of discussion.”

               “So we’re just supposed to send her and her newborn child back to a place that will likely punish them for failing their mission?” Tsunade asked.

               Homura clenched his jaw. “Tsunade, the way in which we handle this situation will express to the other villages just how serious Konoha handles national security. If we allow this woman and her child legal citizenship to Konoha, we are telling the rest of the world that anchor babies hold power here!”

               “And so what?!” Tsunade shouted. “Our security is tight enough—we have the greatest ratio of shinobi to citizens of any village, we can ensure that this woman and her child do not disrespect the Hidden Leaf. If anything, our compassion should influence their opinion of us and make them proud to have been saved by us rather than that damn Tsuchikage.”

               Shizune hugged Tonton tight to her chest and peered out the window to the darkening sky. This argument had gone on for hours, and she was beginning to grow weary, yet she didn’t see it ending any time soon. Down below, Kakashi strolled through the dim streets distracted.

               Quite frankly, he couldn’t stop thinking of Tanjo and her child. He had never seen a live birth before, nonetheless one so jarring, and he was equal parts horrified and fascinated by it all. It’s crazy to think women can just push human beings out of their bodies like that, he thought to himself. His mind leapt back to his mission to watch over Kushina during her pregnancy, to all the swirling thoughts he had at the time about families and children. Now that he was older, and with marriage always in the back of his mind, those thoughts grew stronger still.

               As he wandered, he saw a familiar face seated at the local bar. Rei considered a glass of sake in her hand, a strange look upon her face. Kakashi ducked inside and rested a hand on her shoulder, panic coursing through him. “Rei, what are you doing?” he asked, voice low.

               With a drunken smirk, she raised her glass and said “Bottoms up!” before taking a massive swig and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

               Kakashi sighed and took the glass from her, setting it to the side. “How much have you had to drink?” he asked.

               She shook her head like a defiant child, refusing to meet his eyes. “Doesn’t matter” she pouted.

               “That’s her fourth one” the bartender called from the other end of the room. Rei glared at him and stuck her tongue out.

               “Why didn’t you cut her off?” Kakashi asked him, then turned back to Rei and asked, “Why are you drinking so much?”

               Rei reached for her glass but Kakashi slid it further away from her. Resting her head on the bar, she whined, “There must be something in the water in this place if women are suddenly getting all knocked up and I don’t want to catch it so I’m drinking booze!”

               “Oh my god” Kakashi muttered. He dug into his back pouch, fished out some cash, and paid for her drink before hoisting her up and escorting her back to his apartment. She swayed to and fro the entire way there, pouting and muttering that she was fine even though it was clear she was not, before finally slipping into unconsciousness and forcing Kakashi to carry her the rest of the way home.

               When she finally came to, she was tucked neatly into Kakashi’s bed lying right beside him. She glanced to the clock but her head was spinning and she couldn’t make out the time. Her stomach lurched and she scrambled to the nearest trash can to vomit perhaps a little too loudly, waking Kakashi in the process. Without a word, he snuck closer and held her hair back. Her body trembled and he could hear her crying as she puked. The minute she was done, she pressed her back against the wall and clenched her fists, hyperventilating. A jolt of anxiety rushed through Kakashi’s body.

               “Rei, what’s wrong?” he asked, sternly. She pressed a hand to her stomach and his heart raced in his chest. “Tell me what’s going on right now.”

               Gasping for breath, Rei replied, “K-Kakashi, I can’t stop thinking about Tanjo. I can’t…I can’t wrap my head around it. Every time I think about it, I swear, I’m going to be sick.” Kakashi pushed the trash can nearer to her as a precaution, but she rapidly shook her head and drew her knees up to her chest. “I’m fucking terrified. She had no idea she was pregnant. I didn’t even know that was possible! I can’t stand the thought of it, that could happen to anyone. What if that happens to me?”

               Kakashi reached out and rested a hand atop Rei’s forearm, rubbing gently. “Rei” he sighed, inching closer, “Do you have any idea how many women give birth in a single day? And how many of them do you think had no idea they were pregnant? Not many.”  

               “That doesn’t mean anything, Kakashi” Rei said. “The fact that it happened at all is enough. Is it really possible to be that out of touch with your own body that you don’t know there’s a baby inside of you? Like what if one day I’m just minding my own business, doing my work, and suddenly a kid pops out of me?”

               He knew it was inappropriate, but Kakashi couldn’t help but laugh. “Then I guess I’d have to really crack down on preparing a nursery.”

               “It’s not funny!” Rei shouted, reaching out to slap him on the shoulder. He stifled his laughter and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. She buried her face in his chest and sighed. “I swear, it’s like every time I close my eyes, it’s all I can think about it. The pain in her eyes, the way she just…pushed that little human out of her body. I can still hear her screaming. It haunts me.”

               In a way, it was strange to see Rei so resistant and nervous about this but considering the trauma of the day, it made sense. He thought back to when they were children, the bizarre games of house they’d play. She would shove her baby doll up her shirt and pretend her and Kakashi were husband and expectant wife on an assassination mission turned south when the baby decided she wanted a piece of the action. She would get so bossy, insisting Kakashi wasn’t playing his part right and that he had to both defeat the bad guys and help deliver the child. “You’re doing it all wrong!” she would shout, calling a time-out. “You have to help me breathe and pull the baby out slow! And hold my hand! Having a baby hurts and you have to take care of me!” Kakashi would groan and insist this was stupid, that a pregnant ninja would never be allowed on missions in the first place, but Rei would scowl at him and insist that she was an exception because she was the greatest kunoichi history had ever known and not even having a baby could stop her from doing her job. In hindsight, Kakashi couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory. They were so young, so naïve, with no real comprehension of what all pregnancy and childbirth really entailed. “Does this mean you never want children of your own?” Kakashi then asked.

               It was a question Rei wasn’t sure she wanted to face. She didn’t know how to answer. She stewed in silence, considering it for a long while. “No,” she finally said, “No, I would want a family but…not like that. If I ever have a baby, I want to be prepared for it. I want to know right away what I’m getting into and I want to be ready for everything involved.”

               “That sounds fair” Kakashi replied. “I promise I’ll do my best not to slip up, but if something ever was to happen, I want you to know that I won’t leave your side.”

               Rei wrapped her arms around her boyfriend and tried to relax but it was no use. She had no control over her muscle tension. Kakashi rubbed small circles on her lower back in hopes that it would help. “Well, thank you” she whispered, her voice breathy and quiet. “Just do me a favor, okay?”

               “Hmm?”

               Looking up at him, her eyes were firm and desperate. “Don’t slip up.”

               A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips and he kissed her forehead tenderly, dragging the trash can along as he helped her back into bed. He didn’t know for certain what the future might bring for them or for the new mother and her child whose fate was argued that entire afternoon, but he knew one thing was for certain: no matter what life threw at them, he and Rei were a team and he wasn’t going anywhere.