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bloody-bee-tea · 4 years ago

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Goo

Jiang Cheng rapidly blinks to clear his vision, but the haze over his eyes stays where it is. It almost feels like he’s seeing double at this point, and seeing Sect Leader Yao twice does very little to improve his already poor mood, if Jiang Cheng is being honest.

While this is not Jiang Cheng’s first conference as a Sect Leader, it’s still new enough that he desperately has to try to make a good impression, and nodding off in the middle of Sect Leader Yao complaining about something or other is certainly not the way to do it.

Even though Jiang Cheng would love to do nothing more.

He’s not sure when the last time he got a full night’s sleep was, but it must be months at this point. Between caring for his infant nephew, taking over the role as Sect Leader and rebuilding Lotus Pier there is simply not enough time for him to sleep.

Not that he could even if he had the time for it, with how his nights are haunted by nightmares, but Jiang Cheng tries his best not to think of that.

Just like he’s trying very hard not to think about his shaking hands or his weak knees or how his vision keeps tilting as if he’s already falling to the side.

He cannot allow himself to show some weakness here, especially not with Jin Guangshan watching him like a hawk.

The old leech is just waiting for Jiang Cheng to make a mistake—has been since that very first meeting Jiang Cheng attended as a Sect Leader—and Jiang Cheng would rather die than play into his hands like that.

So Jiang Cheng keeps himself awake by sheer force of will for the rest of the day, and by the time Nie Mingjue puts an end to this endless farce—at least for this day—Jiang Cheng feels sluggish and slow as if he’s wading through goo instead of normal air.

He just hopes that no one else noticed it yet.

“Jiang-xiong,” Nie Huaisang says as he sits down next to him and Jiang Cheng feels like crying.

He just wants to leave and rest his eyes for a few moments, drop the Sect Leader charade and give in to how weak he feels, but it doesn’t seem like he gets to do that yet, if Nie Huaisang wants to talk.

“What do you want?” Jiang Cheng snaps out and then winces as he realizes how unbearably rude that was.

Nie Huaisang is the beloved brother of a Sect Leader and Jiang Cheng likes to think that they are somewhat friends, and Nie Huaisang definitely deserves better than that.

“I apologize,” Jiang Cheng presses out, still way too formally, but Nie Huaisang doesn’t seem to be that offended.

At least for now.

“I guess that answers the question of how you’re doing,” Nie Huaisang muses and sends Jiang Cheng a knowing look from behind his fan.

“I’m doing just fine,” Jiang Cheng tells him, desperately trying not to burst into tears when he thinks about another day of endless talks tomorrow.

“You look like death warmed over,” Nie Huaisang shoots back and Jiang Cheng doesn’t actually have anything to say to that.

“How’s Jin Ling doing?” Nie Huaisang wants to know when Jiang Cheng stays quiet and Jiang Cheng can’t help the small smile on his face.

“He’s doing well. He’s growing so quickly,” he whispers, because Jiang Cheng still can’t believe that Jin Ling is going to turn two in a few months.

“That’s good to hear,” Nie Huaisang gives back. “It would be even better, though, if you were doing well too,” he then tacks on and Jiang Cheng flinches, before he straightens up.

“Who says I’m not?” he bites out, even though his vision is still tilting all the damn time because he’s so tired.

“You don’t look fine at all,” Nie Huaisang lowly says, and the only thing that prevents Jiang Cheng from snapping at him is the clearly worried look on Nie Huaisang’s face.

“I’m not—it’s not so bad,” Jiang Cheng whispers as he scrubs a hand over his face. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I think I do,” Nie Huaisang says, with a thoughtful look that he fails to hide behind his fan. “You need rest so you’re going to sleep.”

“Yeah, right,” Jiang Cheng scoffs, because while there is nothing he’d want to do more than go to sleep, he doubts that he can.

He can barely sleep at Lotus Pier; there is no way that he can fall asleep in a strange place, where he doesn’t feel safe.

Nie Huaisang narrows his eyes at him, and Jiang Cheng sighs.

“You can’t make me, so drop it now, Huaisang,” he tells him, but that only seems to spur Nie Huaisang on harder.

“Oh, but I know someone who can,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes and a shudder runs down Jiang Cheng’s back.

It used to be a badly hidden secret that Jiang Cheng had the worst crush on Nie Mingjue, but honestly, it’s been so long, and with everything that’s been going on recently, Jiang Cheng doesn’t think that even Nie Mingjue’s disapproval will be enough to send him to bed, no matter how much Jiang Cheng still wants to impress him.

“And would you look at that, what a coincidence, he’s just walking over here,” Nie Huaisang suddenly says, his fan hiding most of his face again and Jiang Cheng can feel a faint flush on his face.

“When the hell did you become such an insufferable schemer,” he hisses out, because this anger is always something he can fall back on even when he’s dead tired and embarrassed beyond belief, and while Nie Huaisang seems more than amused by this, Nie Mingjue’s face darkens as Jiang Cheng’s words reach him.

“He always was,” Nie Mingjue tells him with a hard glare. “Which you would know if you made any kind of effort of maintaining a friendship between the two of you.”

Jiang Cheng tenses at his tone, more than at his words. Nie Mingjue sounds honestly displeased with how Jiang Cheng has been treating Nie Huaisang, and he can’t even say anything in his defence because he has been neglecting Nie Huaisang.

There is just almost so much to do; he barely has time to eat or sleep, how the hell would he ever find time to write to Nie Huaisang when it’s not an important Sect matter? Jiang Cheng doesn’t even have time for idle chit-chat with his own people; there is no way he would find the time to sit down and put it onto paper.

“I apologize, Nie-zhongzhu. Nie-xiong,“ he then says to Nie Huaisang with a low bow. “I will take my leave.”

Jiang Cheng is already half turned away, because leaving this situation—and Nie Mingjue’s disapproving look—is the only thing on his mind right now, but then Nie Huaisang speaks up again.

“Da-ge,“Nie Huaisang whines before Jiang Cheng can run away from them. “Cut him some slack, would you?” he asks as he smacks Nie Mingjue with his fan, and Jiang Cheng thinks this is definitely the wrong way to endear Nie Mingjue towards him.

“You wouldn’t expect me to maintain non-essential friendships if I just lost you, and our entire Sect and I had to raise your baby,” Nie Huaisang says decisively and Jiang Cheng watches as the tensions drains out of Nie Mingjue at that.

“No, I wouldn’t,” he admits as he scrubs a hand over his face. “I’m sorry, Jiang Wanyin.”

“There’s no need,” Jiang Cheng quickly gives back, wondering if this could be a hallucination, because Nie Mingjue is not known to apologize.

“He was just being overprotective,” Nie Huaisang says as he leans close. “You know how it is.”

“Yeah, right,” Jiang Cheng scoffs out, before he can think about it. “No one’s ever been overprotective when it comes to me,” he tacks on, voice still barely above a whisper, but Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang freeze.

“Da-ge,” Nie Huaisang then says, his eyes wide and pleading and Nie Mingjue nods as if he just made a decision.

Jiang Cheng can only continue to stare at them, because none of their reactions makes any sense, but then Nie Mingjue places his hand on his shoulder and it’s heavy and warm and Jiang Cheng sways under it.

“You need to sleep, Jiang Wanyin,” Nie Mingjue tells him and now Jiang Cheng feels like crying, because Nie Mingjue’s voice is soft and there is nothing in this world Jiang Cheng would like to do more, but he can’t.

“I can’t,” he whispers, finally admitting to that one weakness, and Nie Mingjue squeezes his shoulder.

“Why not?” he gently asks and Jiang Cheng hangs his head in shame.

“I mean no offence,” he starts with, because he needs to get that out of the way first, “but I don’t feel safe here. At least not enough to sleep.”

“Jiang Cheng,” Nie Huaisang starts, but Nie Mingjue cuts him off with a gesture.

“It’s not Lotus Pier,” Nie Mingjue says, and there’s understanding in his voice. “And you didn’t put up the defences of this place yourself.”

“Yes,” Jiang Cheng breathes out, his eyes burning again and he’s unsure if it’s because he’s so goddamn tired or if it is because someone finally understands.

“Would it help if you warded your own room?” Nie Mingjue asks, but Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

It would probably make him feel safe enough that he could fall asleep for a few minutes at a time, but by now Jiang Cheng knows that a few minutes are worse than no sleep at all.

“What if I sit with you?” Nie Mingjue asks next and Jiang Cheng can’t help the scoff that comes out at that suggestion.

As if Nie Mingjue really has the time to sit with him, just because Jiang Cheng cannot manage to fall asleep on his own.

“My da-ge doesn’t joke,” Nie Huaisang says, and when Jiang Cheng looks at him, he doesn’t like the look on his face at all.

It seems far too calculating for someone like Nie Huaisang.

“Come on, we should continue this talk in your own room,” Nie Huaisang says, and now even Nie Mingjue looks like he knows that Nie Huaisang is up to something, but he doesn’t say anything and instead uses the hand that is still on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder to steer him towards his assigned quarters.

The trip there is short and blessedly silent, but Jiang Cheng can’t help but to notice the hand that Nie Mingjue still keeps on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. It’s heavy with his concern and Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how to handle that at all.

He sees Nie Huaisang throw him some looks from the corner of his eyes, but Jiang Cheng is too tired to figure out what the hell Nie Huaisang could be thinking and so he simply allows the Nie brothers to lead the way.

When Nie Huaisang closes the door behind them, Jiang Cheng immediately gets nervous again.

“You really don’t have to,” he says before anyone else can say something but Nie Mingjue shakes his head.

“I don’t have to, but I’m offering because I want to. I don’t know if anyone told you yet, but you look like shit.”

“I did!” Nie Huaisang says immediately and Jiang Cheng sinks down on the bed.

He really doesn’t know what he got himself into when he came to this conference.

“I would be more than happy to sit with you if that helps you sleep,” Nie Mingjue tells him and Jiang Cheng can tell that he means it, too, but he can’t accept this.

He can’t steal that much time from Nie Mingjue.

“You need to sleep, too,” he argues because he doubts that anything else will get him somewhere.

“No offense, but I can deal with a sleepless night. You on the other hand look like you’re going to drop dead if you don’t get at least seven hours.”

“Besides, there’s still Baxia,” Nie Huaisang says, and there’s something to his voice that makes Jiang Cheng tense up.

“Huaisang,” Nie Mingjue says in warning, but Nie Huaisang isn’t paying attention to him.

“You know, da-ge’s saber? You know that she’s semi-sentient, right? Even in the off-chance that he does fall asleep, Baxia would wake him up if someone with malicious intent were to intrude on these quarters.”

“Huaisang!” Nie Mingjue snaps out, clearly not liking what Nie Huaisang just revealed, but it’s done now.

“Semi-sentient?” Jiang Cheng asks, and he can’t help but to fiddle with Zidian around his finger.

It’s a spiritual weapon, too, like Sandu is as well, but he wouldn’t describe either of them as semi-sentient.

“That’s none of your concern,” Nie Mingjue gruffly says and normally Jiang Cheng would shrink back from his tone, but he’s actually too tired for even that kind of reaction though he does make a mental note to never ask about this again.

“If you don’t believe me, you can touch her to check for yourself,” Nie Huaisang says and now Nie Mingjue turns towards him, using his full height to tower over him.

“Nie Huaisang, you will stop right this instant!”

“But da-ge, look at him! He’s going to drop dead if he doesn’t sleep and how else is he going to feel safe enough?”

“Those are Sect secrets!”

“And Jiang-xiong is not going to tell anyone else, right?” Nie Huaisang asks as he leans around his brother to look at Jiang Cheng.

“Right,” Jiang Cheng says on reflex, but then he shakes his head. “Of course I wouldn’t tell anyone about that.”

He barely believes it himself. How would he ever tell someone else about this?

There must have been something in his voice, or maybe he just makes that pitiful of a picture, because Nie Mingjue takes a deep breath and the tension visibly leaves his whole posture.

“People have been killed for talking about this,” he states matter-of-factly and Jiang Cheng immediately nods.

“I understand.”

There’s a bit of a pause, before Nie Mingjue says “You may touch her if it helps.”

Jiang Cheng’s head flies up at his words, because with how this talk was going, this is really not what he expected.

“I wouldn’t dare to,” he gets out, completely panicked at the thought that this is just another test; one he’s going to fail because there probably is no right answer to this.

“I’m offering,” Nie Mingjue says and true to his word offers Baxia to him. “Huaisang is right. Even if I fall asleep, Baxia wouldn’t allow anyone to break into here. She would wake me at the first sign that something is wrong.”

Jiang Cheng’s fingers go back to Zidian again and he wishes the same were true for his own spiritual tool. He definitely would sleep better if he knew that Zidian could wake him up or even act without his conscious thought.

“If you’re sure,” Jiang Cheng says after a long moment, and he only reaches out for Baxia when Nie Mingjue nods again.

Jiang Cheng’s fingertips have barely grazed the saber when another consciousness washes over him.

“Oh,” he breathes out in surprise, because he really didn’t expect Baxia to be like that but then the feeling of something other overwhelms him completely and Jiang Cheng doubles over.

He can feel rage and the ever-vigilant aura of something that doesn’t have to sleep, but beneath that there is unimaginable joy and something like recognition.

Jiang Cheng’s head is spinning with all these impressions but before he can drown in these emotions that are not his, Baxia retreats. She doesn’t vanish completely, though; Jiang Cheng can still feel her as a steady presence, and he knows she’s looking out for him now as well, but when Jiang Cheng blinks his eyes he notices that he stopped touching the saber.

He shouldn’t still be aware of Baxia like that.

“What the hell,” he whispers and he jerks when Baxia reflects amusement back at him, before she goes almost dormant.

It takes Jiang Cheng way too long to realize that she seems to be going dormant in Zidian and he jerks his head up when he finally does.

“What the hell,” he asks again, louder this time, and he holds his hand out. “Why is your semi-sentient saber in my spiritual tool?” he demands to know, a tinge of hysteria to his voice, but Nie Mingjue looks like Jiang Cheng is feeling which is completely overwhelmed and thoroughly confused.

“Thank the gods,” Nie Huaisang whispers and it takes Jiang Cheng way too long to turn his head and look at him, because Nie Mingjue is keeping his gaze and Jiang Cheng doesn’t actually want to look away.

“What is going on?” he asks Nie Huaisang when he finally manages to break eye contact with Nie Mingjue, even though it feels like one of the most difficult things Jiang Cheng has ever done.

“Congratulations, you’re soulmates,” Nie Huaisang says and he claps his hands together as if his words actually make any kind of sense.

“Huaisang, explain,” Nie Mingjue mildly says and Jiang Cheng can tell that he’s more fondly amused than really concerned and Jiang Cheng wonders how he can be this calm right now.

“Jiang-xiong, can you still feel Baxia?” Nie Huaisang asks instead of getting into an explanation and Jiang Cheng barely has to reach out for Zidian—for Baxia—before she responds to him.

“She’s like a cat that got the cream,” he says, because she radiates contented smugness and Jiang Cheng isn’t sure if he likes it or not.

He decides to go with not for as long as he doesn’t know what’s actually happening here.

“Da-ge, can you still feel Baxia?” Nie Huaisang asks next and Nie Mingjue nods as well.

“She’s—content. Happy.” There’s a bit of a pause. “Whole.”

“That’s good, that’s so good,” Nie Huaisang mutters and then he darts forward to hug Jiang Cheng. “Thank you so much for being my brother’s soulmate,” he whispers into his chest and Jiang Cheng brings his arms up around him on reflex, but it doesn’t do anything to alleviate his confusion.

“Can you explain?” he asks, too tired to come up with more words for his request and Nie Huaisang pulls back.

“There’s this really old legend,” he starts and Jiang Cheng sits down, because this might take a while and despite what just happened, he is still ready to keel over out of tiredness.

“The legend says that the saber spirits used to be whole; made up of a soul to know right and wrong and a heart to know compassion. But over the course of time, those two got split up. The soul was pushed into the sabers to cut down those that are wrong, but without their heart to know compassion and love, they went wild; crazy. They started to lash out against their wielders, causing them to go mad and to qi-deviate.”

“Like Baxia has been doing,” Nie Mingjue says, but the hand he puts on Baxia speaks of fondness, rather than anger.

“Yes,” Nie Huaisang nods. “But if the soul is reunited with the heart, they can heal. They can be whole again.”

“Say it clearly,” Jiang Cheng snaps out, because he’s too tired to understand the implications of all of it, though he does note down Nie Mingjue’s little remark.

It hurts his heart to think that Nie Mingjue was suffering because of Baxia. And going by the wave of sadness he gets from Zidian—from Baxia—she is hurting because of that, too.

“Zidian is Baxia’s heart,” Nie Huaisang says and then winces. “Well, Zidian wielded by you is Baxia’s heart. The tale turned into a legend, because not many people know of it; because it barely happens. Finding your soulmate like this is extremely rare, because not only do the soul and the heart have to be a match, the humans who wield them, must be too. Zidian has been around for ages; but now it’s drenched in your spiritual energy and that’s what makes it a fit.”

“Kind of reassuring to know that Madam Yu wouldn’t have made the cut,” Nie Mingjue mutters and Jiang Cheng can’t help himself, he bursts out with laughter.

“Can you even imagine that?” he wheezes out, and a very distant part of himself knows that he’s completely overreacting because of his sleep-deprivation, but he can’t stop.

“I don’t want to, actually,” Nie Mingjue drily says and then pushes Jiang Cheng gently down on the bed. “Sleep, Jiang Wanyin,” he whispers when Jiang Cheng goes easily.

Jiang Cheng tries to struggle, tries to gives this a bit more thought besides the warm feeling that fills him when he thinks that he might be made for Nie Mingjue, but his thoughts are sluggish and sleep is creeping up on him.

He reaches out for Baxia again, and he relaxes when he finds her awake and alert, ready to protect him should anything happen, and Nie Mingjue’s heavy, warm hand has moved to cup Jiang Cheng’s cheek, telling him that he’s still here, that he too would protect Jiang Cheng.

It’s enough for Jiang Cheng to finally close his eyes and give in to the darkness.

The last thing he hears before sleep takes him is a muttered “Sleep, my heart.”

It’s the best sleep he has gotten in ages.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

#bt writes #the untamed #mdzs #mingcheng #soulmates #canon divergence #hurt/comfort #sleep deprivation #fluff #kinda getting together

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space-lynn · 3 years ago

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Helluva Boss Episode 6: Truth Seekers was amazing. I'd recommend watching the episode first before any of you start reading this snippet. SPOILER ALERT!!! since someone inspired me to write this based off of a scene.

(TW: Blood)

The world around her was barren, distorted and drained of color. The sky above her head, the ground below her feet, the SJMS uniform she was wearing and the chair she sat on were nothing more than different shades of white, black and grey. Sasha looked around, wondering where the hell she is. She stood up bewildered and stepped away watching, as the chair she sat on started to sink into the ground. Screeching noises could be heard above, and her head tilted up, watching streaks of color fly around. One colored in olive green smacked her head, dripping it's color all over her.

What the fuck? she thought.

She examined the goo staining her hands, before shaking it and getting it off. The green thing hit her again with enough force for her to land on her behind in mud. She groaned, hauling herself up. In the corner of her eye, she watched it land on the ground and take the shape of... Grime.

Only it wasn't him. It was a weird crudely drawn version of him.

"You're dangerous," he spoke, turning into the real Grime for a second. "Quick to please and charm others with lies."

"Grime, wh--"

"With a silver tongue, too. Never learned how to get what you want on your own, human? Do you always rely on others? Pathetic," he continued, interrupting her and still changing between the drawing version of himself and the real one.

"What are you talking about?"

Grime opened his mouth to talk again, but the words were unintelligible, a high-pitched ringing sound stopping her from understanding.

A shriek sounded above and her head snapped back up to see three other streaks whirling over her, one colored blue, another a mix of light green and light purple, and the last an emerald green.

She looked back at Grime, opening her mouth to speak, to tell him she'd changed but the blue streak wrapped around her right arm and tossed her away from Grime. She coughed, looking up to see it take the shape of Anne.

"You're a liar! A manipulator! Did you honestly think I would forgive you? You don't deserve it, Sasha. You never deserved it."

The green-pink mix barrelled into her next, coming up from the ground underneath her. It lifted her up into the air, taking the shape of the narwhal worm she had taken Barrel's warhammer from.

"You promised. Promised!" the narwhal shrieked in Percy and Braddock's voices. She watched it's face morphed into a horrible mix of her close toad friends' faces. Four eyes peered down at her as she floated for a moment.

"You promised we'd leave when things got dangerous! But we didn't, because you're selfish. You'll lie to get what you want, without caring for the safety of OTHERS!"

The narwhal-Percy-Braddock thing swung its tail onto her, smashing her into the ground on her stomach. Spitting out mud, she tensed up when the third streak, the emerald one, made a squelching noise behind her. It took the shape of Marcy, glaring down at her with orange irises shaped like a cross in the middle of bright red eyes.

"Running again, Sasha? Are you that much of a coward to face your damn problems? Because you're afraid that other's will think you're weak?"

"I-I..."

Sasha noticed stairs made out of mud behind her and she moved back from Marcy. She flipped herself over, pushing herself to stand up and run towards it, no longer caring for the words spoken to her. She dashed up the stairs, subconsciously noting the mud giving way to reveal blue. Her foot caught on one of the steps in her haste, making her fall forward. She placed her arms forward, trying to brace herself, but the once solid blue stairs liquified into a dark red and Sasha slammed into it head first. She pushed herself up, looking down at herself to notice the fluid slide off, revealing her in her old toad armor.

A deep voice chuckled at the top of the stairs, compelling Sasha to look up. Two guards stood in front of a throne made out of corals. Their halberds crossed in front of the figure atop the throne, concealing their face.

"Losing control, Sasha? You deserve it. After everything you've done."

When the guards moved themselves and their halberds to the side to reveal the figure on the throne, Sasha froze and the stairs below her glitched, switching between royal blue and crimson red. Upon the throne sat her father, dressed in the garbs and royal armor of a tyrant newt king that she'd killed before. He smirked down at her.

He lifted his hand. Red strings shot from his fingertips and stabbed her. One on each ankle, one on each wrist and one on her neck. The man closed his fist, pulling her forward. She tumbled down, struggling, but it was futile.

"Haven't you learned, dear," her father spoke, grinning at her. She watched as he glitched, his face flickering to look like her.

"Waybrights always--"

The ashen world distorted and glitched to feature a war-torn battlefield full of weapons and corpses, both metallic and flesh. Then it switched back.

"--always--"

Flames flared up around her, bringing with it the stench of death, rotten and pungent and sickly-sweet.

"--fuck up."

Now within his reach, he grabbed her neck, slowly choking her.

"We can't love and we'll never be loved. One way or the other."

His face melted, replaced by hers, replaced by 13 year old Sasha.

"Especially you, not by those friends of yours," her voice said.

Sasha had tears in her eyes. She whimpered, "No..."

"We no longer need you," Grime spoke from behind her.

She tilted her head slightly, just enough to look at those she was trying to escape from. They look at her in disgust, in anger, in hate. And in one voice, mixed with every other human or Amphibian she'd ever met in her life, including her own, they said,

"You're going to die alone."

"STOP!" she screamed. "Please! All of you, stop talking!"

She watched Grime and the others narrow their eyes, fading in a royal blue color. She then watched her 13 year old self and the throne fade in that royal blue and join the mismatched vortex swirling behind her. She watched it come down and spin around her in crimson. Drops of it rushed towards her, sticking to her skin. More came, this time with shards of metal that went through her armor and clothes and pierced her skin. Blood dripped from her wounds, joining the still-swirling crimson whirlpool. Globs of her blood wrapped around her wrists, pinning them together. Metallic shards drenched in red stabbed at her throat, making her choke and cough up blood. More of the red liquid hit her head and dripped over her eyes, before solidifying and effectively blinding her. The blood spilling from her lips crawled up her face and wrapped around her nose and mouth. She struggled against her binds, lifting her hands to her face and clawing at it. She grasped it, pulled it off and with a choked gasp, opened her mouth to scream, only for more to--

Her eyes snapped open, inhaling sharply as her body tensed up and her heart pounded in her ears. She lay there frozen, stopping herself from gasping or breathing loudly for fear of waking up the other two occupants of the bed. Once she calmed down, she slowly turned her head to see Marcy and Anne still sleeping beside her, clutching one another. Sasha sighed, then carefully extracted herself from the bed. She tiptoed out of the bedroom, years of experience allowing her to avoid the creaky floorboards.

She escaped into their living room, sitting down on the couch. She placed her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands.

She whispered, "It's okay. It was a just dream. Just a nightmare. You'll be fine. It was just a... nightmare."

Sasha sighed. Looking up to see the clock on the wall read 2:47, she wished that it was already 7:00. She doesn't think she can go back to sleep after something like that and she'd rather be productive to take her mind off of it.

She stared at their bedroom door, frowning. She'd talk to her girlfriends about ner nightmare soon. Not when they wake up, not that day, not later in the morning, afternoon or evening, but soon.

Another sigh escapes from her. She stood up and walked into her study, turning on the lights, sitting at her desk and starting on leftover paperwork from the day before. If she can't sleep, she might as well get some work done.

----------

My ending did not come off strong, but I couldn't think of anything else that did not give Sasha some sort of comfort from Anne and Marcy.

Well, I hoped you enjoy reading! Have a nice day!

#amphibia #amphibia fanfic #sasha waybright #anne boonchuy #marcy wu #sashannarcy #fanfic snippet #helluva spoilers #sashannarcy is just background here

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iamvegorott · 3 years ago

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A New Life Ch. 10

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Confused Chat

“What’s friends with benefits?” Yancy asked, standing above King and spotting him for arm presses. King let out a laugh and had to rack the bar. He took a second to sit up and laugh a little more before talking.

“Why are you asking?” King turned so he could look at Yancy better. “Am I not taking hints?” He added with another laugh.

“No, no, no.” Yancy waved his hands in front of himself.

“What brings it up?” King grabbed a small towel from the ground and dabbed his forehead with it.

“Phantom and Jackie.” Yancy leaned against the machine and crossed his arms. “After last night’s party-” Yancy stopped himself. “Yous weren’t there either. Yous don’t do the parties too?”

“Not all the time, it depends on the day.” King shrugged. “Sometimes it’s too much; too loud, too many lights, it can get overwhelming pretty easily.”

“So you do go sometimes?” Yancy perked up.

“I do.” King chuckled. “Now, what about Jackie and Phantom after the party?”

“Oh yeah.” Yancy rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, theys got together...like...together.”

“They had sex?” King clarified.

“Yeah.”

“Not shocking those two ended up in bed together.” King got up and walked over to a cleaning station, grabbing a clean rag and a bottle of disinfectant. “And I’m guessing you’re asking about friends with benefits because one of them called their ‘relationship’ that?”

“Phantom did.” Yancy was happy that King was catching on to everything quickly.

“Again, not shocked.” King started cleaning off the cushioned bench he had just been laying on.

“So, likes, I think I get what it means.” Yancy started picking at his fingers. “Is it just you having sex with a friend? And that’s it?”

“Yeah.” King just shrugged. “That’s the ‘benefits’ part of friends with benefits. Two adults consenting to have sex with no strings attached except for friendship.”

“It’s only that if theys having sex?”

“I guess? Don’t know if there’s like a proper definition for it or not.”

“So...if the friends are just kissing? That’s not friends with benefits? But they’re not dating either?” Yancy’s questions got King to stop and look at him.

“You’re questioning what you and Illinois are, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” Yancy’s answer came out really soft.

“Alright.” King tossed the rag and bottle aside. “Lay down.”

“What?”

“Lay down on the bench, I’m going to sit here.” King sat down on the bench right next to the one he had been gesturing at.

“Am I doing presses?” Yancy asked, laying on the bench.

“Nope. We’re talking.” King crossed his legs. “That’s what friends do.”

“We’re friends?” Yancy turned his head.

“Aren’t we?” King tilted his own head.

“Yeah, yeah we is.” Yancy smiled a little and went back to looking at the ceiling.

“I’m happy to hear that, now, start from the beginning.” King got himself comfortable.

“The beginning? Beginning of what?”

“You and Illinois.”

“Didn’t you read our files? Yous already know everything.” Yancy waved a hand.

“I did read it, but it doesn’t tell us everything. Watching someone and writing down history doesn’t tell us how you were feeling or the little things that might not seem important to the one watching but is invaluable to you.” King paused. “So, like I said, start from the beginning.”

x~x~x

Yancy felt exhausted, drained, and struggled to keep his eyes open. He’s never been this tired after a workout before and he and King had stopped halfway to talk. Talking shouldn’t take this much energy, right? Yancy talks all the time, for hours on end and he’s never felt like this before. The closest was when he was telling the others at jail what he had actually done. Yancy still didn’t get it.

King’s words echoing in his mind was mostly likely not helping, adding in possible explanations and adding questions and so much that made Yancy think so much in a way he hadn’t done before.

You’ve never been with anyone else before right?

Not a single date or even a kiss before leaving jail with him

Yancy went straight to his room and to the bathroom, stripping himself of his clothes and stepping into the shower, body running on autopilot.

You went from being the one protecting

To being the one needing protected

Yancy found himself just standing in the running water, staring off at nothing. Only realizing he had been doing so when the water started to get cold. He turned off the water and stepped out, feeling how pruney his fingers were. Once again going on autopilot, he dried off, went back into his room, and got dressed in clean clothes.

The sudden change makes you feel weak...doesn’t it?

You were the one fighting and stealing for him

And now he’s watching over you, taking care of you

Change hurts.

Yancy sat on the edge of his bed and heard the door open. He glanced over and saw Illinois walking in, smiling.

Do you think that if Illinois hadn’t been Howard before you’d be less resistant?

That you’d be more open to what you two have going?

You wouldn’t be questioning him protecting you?

“We should use that giant TV to watch some movies while the others are gone,” Illinois suggested.

Are you scared of going too fast?

Or too slow?

“I-” Yancy lost his voice.

“You okay?” Illinois asked.

You’re scared of being seen as weak again, aren’t you?

You haven’t been weak in so long

The last time you were

It hurt.

Change hurts.

All Change Hurts.

“Yancy?” Illinois went over to Yancy when he just kept staring at him. “Yanc, Yanc, are you here? Are you okay?” Illinois placed a hand on Yancy’s shoulder and wasn’t expecting him to jerk away and stand up.

“I am not weak!” Yancy didn’t know where that came from or why he shouted it, but it felt...nice to let it out.

“I never said you were,” Illinois said.

“Then why are you so protective?” Yancy felt his throat tighten, was it fear, sorrow, or both?

“Because I care about you.” Illinois immediately answered. “You’ve been having a hard time with having your entire life-changing for the third time against your will, more or less. I chose to change who I am, I chose to go explore something new fairly often, I am used to change and embrace it, but my mind isn’t yours. You are not weak, you just need some extra help right now and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Illinois pointed down. “If I were to pass out right here, right now, you would crawl to the depths of hell to make sure I was okay.”

“I would.” Yancy rubbed his temple, he couldn’t call this dull pain a headache, it wasn’t even really pain. It was more like a cloud covering his mind, blocking anything from connecting. “I can barely keep a thought anymore.” Yancy lowered his hand and sighed. “Can we go watch those movies? I don’t... I don’t want to think anymore.”

“We both need a brain break.” Illinois weakly chuckled. “Let’s go watch some trashy musicals.”

“There aren’t any trashy musicals.” Illinois was happy to see Yancy showing himself again.

“No No Nanette?” Illinois started walking.

“That musical isn’t trashy.” Yancy huffed and followed.

“What kind of magical properties did that kiss towards the end have?” Illinois didn’t bother hiding his smile as Yancy bumped into him.

“That doesn’t make it trashy.”

“Trashy might not be the right word, but it’s still something.”

“You’re something.” Yancy stuck his tongue out.

“You’re right.” Illinois winked right back at him.

-------------

Tag List: (let me know if you want added or if your name has changed)

@rainymae523 @m0th-goo @windymischeif @voonespelle @ashywasteland93 @madallice329 @sophiefrye22 @its-miinty

#a new life #a lifetime #yanois #totally not posting this at 1am ^-^

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givemeweasley · 4 years ago

Text

Scapegoat

George Weasley X Reader

Word Count: 1.4k

Warnings: mentions of blood (nothing serious), Umbridge ew, angst

A/N: thanks to @i-padfootblack-things for the request :) This is my first request so thank you again and I hope you like it!!! Also here's a link to the request for those of you who want to know what it was!

Request

-----

“This is a bad idea.” You whispered in George's ear. Fred was hidden behind a pillar across the corridor smirking as he glanced down the hall.

George let out a small laugh before turning to you and kissing your cheek. “All our ideas are bad ideas, love. At least for the people they happen to be about.” He winked and turned back around. You hated that heat rose to your cheeks, but you couldn’t help it. You loved him.

Yet that love didn’t entirely erase the feeling that this prank was going to go bad.

“Here she comes.” Fred's voice rang out through the Extendable Ears.

And with a flick of his wand, George’s half of the prank came alive.

You watched as Pansy Parkinson took an unknowing step into the puddle of goo that George had charmed to be like instant cement. Instantly, she began to struggle but the more she struggled the more the goo climbed up her legs.

You peered over at Fred who was snickering before waving his wand for his half of the prank.

Suddenly, a Blast Ended Skrewt fell from it’s frozen place in the ceiling and landed in front of Pansy, who was full on shrieking.

“Time to go, princess!” George laughed, grabbing your arm and tugging you away.

But Pansy was still struggling, the goo was at her waist and steadily climbing higher.

Fred began jogging to meet the two of you. “That’ll show her not to mess with you.” Fred winked your way.

But you felt awful.

Tugging your arm from Georges, you took off down the hall to find the goo at Pansy’s neck with the Blast Ended Skrewt firing away at her.

She was missing her eyebrows and the ends of her hair were simmering.

You pointed your away at the creature and shouted. “Immobulus!” The Skrewt seized, but froze in its place. “Stop moving, Parkinson! It makes it worse!”

But she screamed in frustration. “I should’ve known it was you! You filthy disgusting-”

“Y/L/N! What is the meaning of this?!” Professor Snape's billowing robes flowed behind him as he appeared from seemingly nowhere.

You stood frozen, wand still in the air pointed at Pansy. You knew it was useless to try and say anything but still you wanted to try.

“Sir, I was just trying-”

“She did this to me, Professor Snape!” Pansy shrieked, the goo now at her chin. Snape glared at you but not before waving his wand to remove the goo that had been steadily encasing Pansy. He then pointed at you menacingly.

“Detention. For a week.”

“But-”

“Starting now.” Snape turned on his heel and you knew he expected you to follow.

-----

For the next several hours you were forced to count Flobberworms, clean spare cauldrons, reorganize shelves, etc. until Snape decided he was tired.

You were covered in Flobberworm goo, your bones were aching and you had a headache. You wanted nothing more than to crawl into your warm bed. Actually, that was a lie. There was one thing you wanted more. You wanted to punch your boyfriend. And his brother for good measure.

They left you there. To deal with Pansy and Snape alone. And while they were the masterminds behind the prank, it was you who got in trouble for it. Neither of them even bothered to check up on where you were. No saving you from detention or making some wild excuse that McGonagall needed you that instant.

They’d quite literally fed you the snakes.

The march back to the Gryffindor tower didn’t make you feel any better. The neverending flights of stairs made you ache more and the dark quietness of the corridors only fueled your anger.

“You look-”

“Balderdash.” You muttered, not wanting to hear the Fat Lady’s comments on your attire. You knew you looked gross.

Sighing, she swung her portrait to allow you access.

You clambored in, ready to get to the shower and then collapse in bed. Your eyes were locked on the dorm steps when someone spoke up.

“Hey.” George was sitting on the couch looking at you with a guarded expression. You blinked at him, before deciding you didn’t care and turned back to make your way up the stairs. You weren’t in the mood to talk to him. “Wait, princess!”

In a moment, his hand was wrapped around your forearm before it was immediately snatched back. “What the hell is this?” He sounded just as disgusted as you currently felt.

You whipped around. “It’s a lot of things. Flobberworm goo, Longbottoms failed potions, Moly dust, would you like me to continue?” You snapped.

George had the grace to grimace and look guilty. He wiped his hand on his pants. “Y/N… about that-”

Hot tears sprung to your eyes before you could help it. “You left me there! It wasn’t even my idea to prank her! Yeah, it hurt that she called me what she did but I didn’t want her to get seriously injured!” You pushed him. “And instead of helping me help her you just ditched me, like the coward you are.”

You were about to turn on your heel and march right back up the stairs when George put his hands on your cheeks, and gazed at you so earnestly your heart stuttered.

“That’s not entirely true.” George held up his hand, traces of blood still evident despite his obvious efforts at trying to wipe it away. I will be obedient.

The color drained from your face as you looked at the words etched into his skin. You forgot all about your detention and were suddenly focused on what happened after you left the twins.

“What happened?” You whispered, clutching his scarred hand in yours.

George flinched as your fingers brushed over the raised skin. “Me and Fred were running, I thought you were behind us- Umbridge was coming around the corner and decided we were up to no good. I turned back to tell you to run while we distracted her, but you weren’t there. Thank Godric.” His other hand tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. “We spent the better part of our night writing in our blood.” George's hand slipped from your cheek and slowly grazed its way from your shoulder to your hip, pulling you close. “That doesn’t mean I’m any less sorry that you got caught by Snape.” He pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Although I’m glad you're covered in- whatever this is- rather than your own blood.”

You looked up at your boyfriend, your heart swelling in your chest with love for him. “I’m sorry- I shouldn’t have called you a coward.”

George laughed as he descended to press his lips against yours. “No harm done, princess.” His arms wrapped around you tightly as yours lifted to curl around his neck and pull him infinitesimally closer. The feel of his lips draining whatever anger was left in your heart. It was difficult to be mad and stay mad at George Weasley.

Finally, you pulled away breathless. “I love you, Georgie.”

“I love you too, princess.” He glanced down. “So much that I don’t mind being covered in- Flobberworm goo.”

You raised a brow and began to pull out of George’s embrace. “Well, I guess that means I should go shower.”

George winked before grabbing your hips and lifting you until you were wrapped around him. “I’m taking that as an invitation.”

You laughed as he carried you up the stairs towards the dorm bathroom. “Then consider yourself invited.”

Taglist: @huffledor-able541 @sarcasticallywitty15

#George Weasley x reader #George Weasley imagine #George Weasley fic #George weasley #gw #x reader #Harry Potter fic #harry potter #givemeweasley #request

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carewyncromwell · 4 years ago

Photo

The Cinderella AU is back, and...ahhhh, my babiiiiies. *dissolves into a pile of happy goo*

The Winter Festival presented in Royaume is most strongly related to the celebrations for Saint Nicholas in French provinces such as Lorraine, which are held on December 6th and include lots of music and a parade led by Saint Nicholas (or Pere Noel, as he’s also called), the French alternative to Father Christmas and Santa Claus. Florence’s holiday likewise resembles Italy’s Feast Day, which is hosted on December 8th.

Back in the olden days, dancing wasn’t just done for fun -- it was considered a standard form of socializing. Prior to the 19th century, it was far more common for Europeans to dance in large groups that then switched partners frequently, as opposed to being locked onto a specific partner, and this applies to both formal gatherings and more informal ones. Strict pair dancing really came more in vogue in the early 1800′s with the German waltz, so during the Renaissance, one could expect to see a lot more swapping of partners at parties than one generally sees in the modern era. There were couple dances at that time, of course, such as the lavolta -- they just weren’t as popular as dances like the waltz became at formal gatherings later on. Country dancing, or dances performed at informal gatherings, was generally seen as more lighthearted and easy for people to join in without being expert at it, while court dances, which were generally saved for more formal events, were much more performative and choreographed.

Carewyn’s dress in this sketch was strongly based off of this absolutely gorgeous dress, which was inspired by real Renaissance artwork.

Previous part is here – whole tag is here -- Katriona “KC” Cassiopeia belongs to @kc-needs-coffee -- and I hope you enjoy! xoxo

x~x~x~x

With the arrival of winter, Carewyn found herself busier than ever. The King and Queen of Royaume had ordered that the palace be fully furnished with holiday cheer, so Carewyn and the rest of the staff soon had their hands full, putting gold-trimmed garlands around every banister and decking every hall with holly and ivy. Carewyn wondered how in the world the King and Queen could afford such finery when they still couldn’t seem to scrounge up enough funds to have the proper tools and supplies in stock for their staff, let alone to give them proper food rations -- but from what Bill and Charlie told her, this wasn’t too uncommon.

“It’s like this every year,” said Charlie, sounding very surly. “The royals and the court always pig out on the most sumptuous feasts, and then we have to pay for it after the fact. Just you wait until New Year’s -- the Queen always likes hosting a huge masked ball to ‘start the new year off right’ and the nobles end up leaving the worst messes behind...”

Bill sighed. “I don’t think it’s all selfishness on their part, really. I think it’s to try to lift the Prince’s spirits, more than anything. You know he isn’t allowed to leave the castle grounds...and I’m sure he no doubt hears all about the Winter Festival and all the other celebrations in town around this time of year, from the staff. The holiday season can’t be that much fun, when you’re forced to sit and watch from the sidelines...”

Andre did indeed seem to be in a forlorn mood. Whenever Carewyn caught sight of him walking through the palace gardens with her cousin Iris, he seemed to always be looking away, off into the distance, while Iris tried to engage him in conversation. Carewyn couldn’t help but feel sorry for him -- as much as his parents clearly were spending beyond their means, it seemed to be largely so that they could try to shield him from the War going on outside. It wasn’t a good decision, Carewyn thought, but a slightly understandable one...and more importantly, Andre himself had no hand in either the staff’s struggles or his own captivity.

One day Carewyn was polishing the floors in one of the guest suite, singing the song Orion had given her for the second time that day, when the partially ajar door was very quickly shoved open. Carewyn looked up just in time to see a ruffle of bed curtains, as if someone had leapt onto the guest bed and drawn the curtains so that they were hidden from view.

Carewyn opened her mouth, ready to ask who was there, only to be interrupted by a familiar voice echoing down the hallway outside.

“Your Highness?”

Iris?

Carewyn frowned deeply. She heard heels clapping down the hall, and sure enough, her brown-haired, slender cousin came into view through the open door.

Iris caught sight of Carewyn inside the guest suite, and her confused expression instantly turned ugly.

“Have you seen the Prince?” she demanded.

Carewyn raised her eyebrows innocently. “No.”

“Well, if you do, tell him that Lady Iris is looking for him,” said Iris waspishly. “And see that you don’t speak to him either.”

“I don’t quite know how I can tell his Highness that you’re looking for him, if I’m not allowed to speak to him,” said Carewyn rather coolly.

“You know full well what I mean,” Iris snarled under her breath.

Eying the almost completely polished floor, she rather pointedly strode right through the part Carewyn had just finished cleaning, dragging her heels to leave long, streaking footprints through it.

“Prince Henri might like using you as his little dress-up doll, but don’t think it means he actually likes you,” she whispered coldly. “Why would a prince ever be interested in a servant girl with no dowry or prospects?”

Carewyn’s eyes narrowed upon the streaks on the floor before flitting up onto Iris’s face with a very stony look. She was very tempted to remind Iris that she had no interest in kissing up to the richest man that would have her, and that a man and a woman didn’t have to be romantically interested in each other to engage in conversation...but, honestly, she didn’t see much point. She wouldn’t be able to soothe Iris’s jealousy no matter what she said, and Carewyn quite frankly liked the thought of Iris leaving far more than to try to make her feel better.

Satisfied that she’d gotten the last word, Iris picked up the skirts of her lavender brocade gown and strode quickly from the room and down the hall in search of Andre.

Carewyn remained on the floor for a moment, waiting for the sound of her cousin’s footsteps to fade away. Then she slowly rose to her feet, walked over to the door, and closed it, before she got back down on her hands and knees so she could start cleaning the part of the floor Iris had slid her feet through.

“Andre?” whispered Carewyn without looking up. “Is that you, hiding in there?”

There was a rustle. Then the bed curtains parted, to reveal Andre sitting on his knees on the bed.

“You knew it was me?” he murmured.

“I thought it might be,” said Carewyn, offering him a small gentle smile even though she didn’t fully look up from her work.

Andre looked almost guilty. “...Thank you for covering for me, Carewyn. I don’t mean to insult your cousin, I just...need some space.”

“It’s all right. It can be draining, not to have any time to yourself, even when you are around people you like. And really, I didn’t lie -- I hadn’t seen you, however much I thought I might know where you were,” she added with a wry smile.

Andre tried to smile, but it came out rather forced and faded very quickly. He glanced from Carewyn to the closed door and back.

“...Does she always talk to you like that? Iris?”

Carewyn paused in the work and looked up. Andre’s face was twisted in a very troubled frown.

The maidservant returned her focus to the floor so as not to look at him, scrubbing at a particularly dirty streak.

“Not always,” she said mildly.

Sometimes she says worse things.

Andre’s eyes narrowed slightly, becoming sadder still. “Carewyn...I had no idea. I mean, I understand your mother was estranged from your family and your father skipped town, but...Iris is your cousin. Even if she’s nobility and you’re not, the way you talked about your family, I thought...”

He trailed off. He felt incredibly foolish, for not having questioned whether Iris and Carewyn’s relationship was really that good. KC had even complained about her mother trying to matchmake her with Carewyn’s cousin, Arsen Dupont, hadn’t she? Did that mean that all of Carewyn’s family talked to her the way Iris did?

Carewyn, however, was very stoic in her response. “Please don’t judge Iris based on how she speaks to me, Andre.”

Grandfather would be furious if I were the reason Iris didn’t marry Andre. The only reason that Iris and Andre shouldn’t marry should be Iris herself, and her own stupidity.

“Good people don’t have to get along with everyone, not even their own family. The way Iris speaks to me is just as much my own doing as it is hers -- and truly, her words are just words. They don’t injure me. If you enjoy her company, then you mustn’t judge her too harshly for something like this.”

Judge her harshly for other reasons.

Andre didn’t look very comforted. He adjusted himself on the bed so that he was sitting on the edge with his feet on the floor.

“...To be honest...I don’t really enjoy it that much,” he muttered.

Carewyn looked up again.

“She’s amiable enough, I suppose,” said Andre uncomfortably, “but...well, I was curious to meet her because it sounded like she enjoyed fashion and might have some good ideas for me to try out. And she had a few -- I mean, I still don’t think ash gray suits you at all...but I ended up finding a rather nice shiny pewter fabric for your shoes, and -- well, you’ll see it when they’re done. I think you’ll like them. But even with that...it just feels like, a lot of the time, she’s only saying what she thinks I want to hear, rather than what she really thinks! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike flattery -- but I already get that all the time at court. Especially around this time of year...”

He looked down at the floor, his shoulders dropping as he rested his arms in his lap.

“I have plenty of servants and subjects and...well, people who only want to be around me for my crown,” he said dejectedly. “I guess all I was really hoping for was...”

“A friend.”

Andre looked up at Carewyn in surprise. She’d put down her rag on the edge of her bucket, her eyes full to the brim with compassion.

Within seconds, the Prince’s face had burst into a delighted, relieved expression.

“Yes! Oh, I’m so glad you understand, Carewyn. Erika always says I shouldn’t complain so much...and I know she’s right -- I have a lot to be grateful for. It’s just...”

“You can have a lot to be grateful for and still be missing what you need,” said Carewyn very primly. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do more or be more. It’s how you express that feeling that matters.”

Andre cocked his eyebrows curiously. “Express it?”

Unable to meet the Prince’s eye straight-on, Carewyn fixed her ponytail so that some of the hair coming out of it was restrained again.

“Well...to Lady Rath’s point, complaining about a problem, or wishing it would go away, never really solved anything. My mother used to say that ‘dreamers never make a dream come true’ -- if you want something to happen, then you need to act on it, not just sit around and wish that things might change.”

That’s why I can’t just sit back and wait for the War to end so Jacob can come home. If he’s out there on the battlefield, in pain and alone, I need to find out where and figure out some way to reach him.

Andre considered this for a long moment. At last his face split into a huge, blazing white smile.

“You’re right! You’re absolutely right, Carewyn...”

He leapt off the bed, bent down to get down on Carewyn’s level, and grabbed both of her shoulders.

“Will you go to the Winter Festival with me?”

Carewyn was taken aback. “What?”

“I’ve never been, not even once, even though I’ve always wanted to,” said Andre, his eyes bright with excitement. “Of course we’d probably have to be sneaky about it...but the courtiers will be plenty occupied all night here, with Mother’s ball. There are plenty of times I’ve been able to sneak out of the ballroom and no one’s ever found me, even when they were actively looking. I have the perfect purple brocade doublet I could wear...and I’m sure your new shoes will be stunning with the dark blue velvet gown I made for you...”

“Andre,” said Carewyn, a bit taken aback by his enthusiasm, “hold on. Brocade and velvet...those are hardly things to wear outside the palace, if you don’t want to be noticed.”

Andre blinked. “They’re not?”

“No,” Carewyn said very firmly, her eyes narrowing reproachfully as she slid out of his grip. “Only people of status and wealth wear those materials. People in town wear cottons, linens -- wool -- and they’re far simpler than even the uniform I’m wearing right now. You and I would stick out like sore thumbs, especially since all of the nobility will be at the Queen’s Ball. I doubt we’d last more than five minutes in town before we got caught.”

Andre deflated visibly.

“...I see,” he said, disappointed. “If only I’d thought of this sooner...I could probably have made us something else, if the Festival wasn’t the day after tomorrow...”

Carewyn bit the inside of her cheek. She didn’t love the thought of going against the King and Queen’s wishes, and of course spending time with Andre was uncomfortable considering she was supposed to stay out of Iris’s way, but...well, she agreed with Bill. It had to feel pretty rotten, to be stuck on the sidelines, watching everyone else have fun and longing to join in, during the holidays. Carewyn had never really gone to the Winter Festival as a kid since her mother didn’t like large crowds and she’d preferred spending quiet time at home with her and Jacob...but Andre clearly wanted to go to the Festival so badly...

“...I could...always go pick something up, in town,” Carewyn said slowly, her eyes lingering on Andre’s shoulder rather than his face. “I’m supposed to be meeting a friend at the castle gate around noon...I could always convince him to walk with me to look for some festival clothes for both of us. Then you could always tailor what I bring back, in case it doesn’t fit correctly...”

Andre looked like Carewyn had just presented him with a unicorn for a Christmas present.

“Oh, Carewyn...you’re absolutely brilliant, that’s what you are! Don’t worry, I’ll give you plenty of money -- buy whatever you think is best -- ”

And that was how Carewyn got roped into going to the Winter Festival. But really, she knew she couldn’t in good conscience let Andre sneak out on his own...and despite herself, her heart was much too gentle for her to even think of trying to tell him not to go, however much trouble she knew both of them would be in if they got caught.

All the more reason to make sure we don’t, she told herself.

When she met Orion at the gate that day, she told him she had some shopping to do before the Festival. Orion had quirked an eyebrow when she had him hold up several peasant-worthy outfits over himself so Carewyn could examine them, but Carewyn refused to tell him who she was shopping for, merely that he was around Orion’s height.

“Can I take this to mean you’ll be attending the Festival after all, my lady?” Orion asked, his eyes trailing over her face with some interest. “I believe you told Ginny Weasley that you’d be too busy.”

Carewyn avoided his eye as she took the outfit he was holding from him and placed both it and a forest green and white dress she’d found on the counter so she could pay.

“I am -- but I’ve opened some time in my schedule for it all the same, at least in the evening.”

Something flickered in the back of Orion’s eyes. Was it curiosity, or was it disappointment? “The gentleman you’re shopping for must be someone special, for you to reschedule your plans.”

Carewyn couldn’t fight back a proud huff. “He’s special only in the way that he needs help, and I’m the person who can give it.”

She took the clothes from the cashier and started heading out of the shop. Orion followed along behind, his black eyes running over her face even while she refused to look at him and narrowing ever-so-slightly.

“...I see.”

Andre was pleasantly surprised by what Carewyn had brought back for them. Although yes, they were made of far less expensive fabrics than he was used to and lacked decoration, he was very pleased with the colors. He’d mentioned having a purple doublet before, so he wasn’t surprised she picked that color of tunic for him, but he was very happy when she picked out some very handsome emerald green trousers trimmed with gold embroidery to go with them, as well as some tall black leather boots with gold buckles. Andre hadn’t really put purple and green together much before, but he really liked how the shades looked together. Carewyn’s dress, however, he did make one large alteration to besides just the fit -- adding a rather pretty trim to the front and back of bodice and the bottom of the skirt made of thick silvery linen ribbon. (He claimed that it was to help the dress better blend with her new pewter gray silk slippers, but Carewyn also just suspected he couldn’t help himself, seeing how plain the dress she’d gotten was.)

The night of the Festival, Andre went down to the Queen’s Winter Ball. After going through the motions for a half hour or so to throw off suspicion, Andre slipped away, and -- after quickly changing into his peasant clothes -- met Carewyn by the gate of the palace. When he got there, he found Bill, Charlie, and their little sister Ginny waiting just across the street, ever so “casually” looking away from the castle wall as Carewyn carefully opened the gate and she and Andre slipped out. Once the gate was closed, the three Weasleys swooped down on Carewyn and Andre, Charlie grabbing Andre’s arm and Ginny grabbing Carewyn’s, and the group flooded into town to meet up with the rest of the Weasley clan.

From the moment they arrived, Andre looked happier and more laid-back that Carewyn had ever seen him. Carewyn couldn’t help but feel like just walking around the Festival, surrounded by ordinary people who had no idea who he really was, made this the best day of the young Prince’s life...and she had to admit, as much as she could take or leave parties, his enthusiasm was infectious. When Ginny suggested they go dance, Andre was absolutely thrilled at the thought of learning how to do a country dance, and pressured Carewyn to show him how. Carewyn hardly thought herself the best choice for this, but found it difficult to say no, seeing how excited he was. Once Carewyn, Charlie, Andre, and Ginny jumped into the fray, though, she did find herself having fun. The steps were actually pretty easy to follow along to, especially compared to the sorts of court dances she’d always seen her older cousins practicing at the Cromwell estate, before any private balls they were invited to.

It didn’t take long, though, for someone to spot Andre. In the middle of one of their dances, a hand came from out of nowhere and snatched a hold of the back of the Prince’s purple tunic, pulling him back out of line.

“Hey!” yelped Andre. “What are you -- ?!”

He looked up, to see the rather tall and foreboding frame of his fencing instructor.

Andre gave a very weak smile. “Aha...hi, Erika.”

Erika’s expression was very stony. Carewyn, Charlie, and Ginny immediately hopped out of line and over to them. Standing right behind Erika and dressed in a sapphire blue cloak that obscured her elegantly trimmed linen dress was KC.

“Lady Rath!” said Charlie with his best attempt at a winning smile. “KC! What a nice...surprise! Heh...”

KC raised her eyebrows coolly. “Hello, Charlie...Carewyn.”

Bill had rushed over too, sensing trouble.

“It’s not their fault, KC,” said Andre quickly, “I can explain -- ”

“Oh, don’t worry,” said KC, her arms crossing as she looked at Andre. “We know full well it isn’t their fault.”

“I say it is,” said Erika rather bluntly, her eyes flashing dangerously at Carewyn and the Weasleys, “considering they encouraged it.”

“It isn’t their fault because they wouldn’t have felt able to say ‘no’ to the Crown Prince of Royaume, even if they’d wanted to,” KC pointed out logically.

Andre suddenly looked very guilty. He glanced from the Weasleys to Carewyn, almost silently asking if he’d pressured them into any of this. Charlie, in response, spoke rather forcefully.

“Well, frankly, we did want to! Andre deserves a fun holiday, for once. Reckon it’s a helluva lot better than that stuffy old ball going on up there.”

He jabbed a thumb behind him in the direction of the palace.

“The Prince’s safety is more important than a fun holiday,” Erika shot back coldly, “as are the King and Queen’s orders. You’d do well to remember that, Weasley.”

“Erika, please,” said Andre desperately. “No one from Florence would dare come this far west of the border...and even if they did, none of them would recognize me, dressed like this. And you said it yourself, KC, it’s likely they won’t attack our forces anyway until after the 8th -- that’s when their winter holiday is, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” granted KC with a frown. Her voice became much more thoughtful as she added, “Though if they wanted to be really clever, they’d strike on or the morning immediately after a holiday, when everyone’s got their guard down...”

Carewyn faced Erika with as much conviction as she could, even though she was completely eclipsed by the taller and stronger woman’s shadow.

“I realize the Prince’s safety is important,” she said in a very low voice, so as not to be overheard, “but if there truly was anyone who meant to target him, wouldn’t they be more likely to look for him at the Winter Ball, rather than here among the peasantry? And considering that the palace is only about five blocks away from here and he’s in the company in one of the castle’s most capable guards,” she nodded in Bill’s direction, “and both his combat instructor and our army’s chief military strategist...I’d say that he’s quite well protected.”

Erika gave Carewyn a beady look.

“People say you’re nothing like your family, Cromwell,” she said rudely, “but I think they’re full of it. You’re just as pretentious and fawning as the rest of them.”

She nonetheless released the back of Andre’s collar.

“I’ll stay for two hours only,” she muttered to him sourly. “When I go, you go.”

Andre beamed from ear to ear.

KC and Erika weren’t much for dancing, but they did loosen up in time, while sitting with the rest of the Weasleys and enjoying some of the fresh sugar-dusted crepes, mince pies, cocoa, and coffee. Before long as well, Andre had mastered the art of the country dance. Ginny was thrilled to have someone else who was just as excited to dance as she was, and -- bless her heart -- the twelve-year-old treated Andre with the same amount of cheer and respect as she probably would’ve anyone else, just like her brothers did. She even ended up giving Andre pointers about how to do the dances better. Carewyn soon found herself getting pretty tired, but Ginny, Charlie, and Andre all kept pulling her back into line with them, and she bit back her exhaustion if only to see them smiling a little longer. It had been a really long time since she’d been able to make anyone smile like that, while doing so little -- it made herself feel that little bit better about herself, and made her stand just that little bit taller.

While dancing to a particular song, the woman playing the fiddle sped up very abruptly, changing tempo. Soon everyone was rotating in chaotic, joyful circles, switching partners constantly. As to be expected in country dancing, a few people made mistakes that they had to correct, but nobody really cared. One mistake, though, was Carewyn losing her footing and tripping over her skirt. The new gray silk shoes Andre had made for her, as lovely and comfortable as they were, were more like slippers than any proper outdoor footwear and didn’t have great traction, so she would’ve fallen right off her feet if someone hadn’t suddenly appeared behind her and caught her with an arm gently looped around her back.

It was Orion. He was dressed in clothes that were nicer than usual, but still modest, including some brown suede boots and a handsome forest green doublet that ended up being the same shade as Carewyn’s dress, though he still lacked the high-collared undershirt one would usually see from a nobleman.

“Forgive me for catching you twice, my lady,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Carewyn couldn’t help but smile. “At least you weren’t hurt after throwing yourself under me this time -- ”

They couldn’t continue the conversation, though, without getting locked up in the midst of the group dance. Carewyn was forced to twirl in sequence, just to avoid another pair moving on through.

“Shall we?” she asked.

Orion suddenly looked oddly wary, like a foal learning how to walk.

“I’m afraid I’ve never done this before,” he murmured, just barely dodging another pair of dancers.

Following the sequence, Carewyn rested an arm lightly around Orion’s waist, steering him in a circle.

“Don’t worry,” she said, as she offered him an encouraging smile. “It’s only a pattern...no one will complain if you make a mistake. Follow me.”

His face betraying some hesitance, Orion nonetheless found himself letting go, mirroring Carewyn in stylized turns and spirals through the dancing crowd.

Orion had come to the Festival because he’d guessed that the mysterious “guest” Carewyn was shopping for was -- in fact -- the Prince of Royaume, and thus this would be the perfect opportunity for Orion to meet him and get a better fix on his character. But even with this goal in his mind, he’d found his inner balance oddly disturbed, when he caught sight of Carewyn. She’d always been a rather pretty woman, but in the company of her friends -- smiling with such pure, undiluted happiness, at the sight of how happy they were -- her blue eyes sparkling with such soft emotion, every time they laughed -- her ginger hair flying free as a flag behind her as she twirled around them...it distracted him. It was an unwelcome distraction, one he was quick to scold himself for, before trying to relocate his center and return to the task at hand. And yet, when Carewyn lost her footing, he found himself once again throwing away his own internal balance and laser-pointed focus in favor of turbulent, emotional chaos...and soon they were dancing, and Orion found himself surfing in that chaos -- relishing that wild, but liberating warmth he felt coming off of her. Was it some magical aura she had, that made him feel like he was dancing with a blazing, soothing fire even as the snow began to fall overhead?

Carewyn Cromwell truly was a remarkable woman, to divert the Prince of Florence’s focus away from his one and only goal...and yet, as Orion danced with her, he couldn’t help but think...oh, if their world could be but a world where they could dance like this anywhere...even in Florence, where everyone knew his face...

When the dance came to an end, everyone clapped, and Carewyn and Orion moved off to the side together to sit with Bill, Ron, KC, and Erika. Erika was very suspicious of Orion from the off-set, finding him way too “pleasant” for her tastes, but Orion wasn’t the least bit offended. If anything, he said with a wry smile, her aggressive aura in some ways reminded him of a good friend of his. After several more rounds, Andre, Charlie, and Ginny finally came to sit down with the others for a quick break.

“Whew! I’m parched,” said Andre. He brought a hand up to wipe the sweat from his brow.

“Here,” said Bill.

He offered the Prince a stein of apple cider. Andre gulped down about half of it before lowering the stein, his mouth stretched into a broad smile.

“Oh, Carewyn, thank you for this,” he said, reaching out a hand to squeeze hers. “If I’d had any concept just how much fun this was, I would’ve come years ago.”

Carewyn smiled, looking genuinely touched. “I’m glad you’re having fun, Andre.”

Orion glanced from Carewyn to Andre and back. His face was very unreadable, but his black eyes had widened noticeably.

This must be him, he realized. Prince Henri.

The thought was a club to the back of the head, knocking some sense back into him after having gotten so thoroughly distracted. Orion’s thoughts moved very quickly as he watched the two interact.

“I am,” Andre said fervently, his eyes squinting slightly as he beamed. “And I hope you know how grateful I am...”

Something grimmer flickered over his face.

“...I hope you know...Iris was wrong, about how I see you.”

Carewyn was startled. “Andre...”

“I don’t just see you like a little dress-up doll,” said Andre very seriously, as he squeezed her hand. “You’re my friend, and a good one, at that. And for what it’s worth...” he smiled broadly, “...I’d say any royal should be proud, to have you on their arm.”

Carewyn was clearly a bit overwhelmed by the Prince’s complimentary words. Her gaze had drifted down to the table.

“...Thank you, Andre,” she said very softly.

Although her face was demure, her sparkling eyes and voice betrayed some deep, genuine emotion -- and despite himself, Orion felt some warm pride welling up in his chest, at the sound of it. Catching himself, Orion forced himself to return to the task at hand and lightly cleared his throat.

“Forgive me,” he said politely, “but I don’t think we’ve met.”

Carewyn looked from Andre to Orion quickly.

“Oh -- yes,” she said, “Andre...this is Orion. Orion, Andre.”

Andre’s eyes lit up at the name.

“So this is the infamous Orion you’ve been telling me about, KC!” he said, shooting a bright grin over at his cousin.

Orion raised his eyebrows curiously. “‘Infamous?’ I must wonder what she’s told you, for me to have earned that title.”

KC grinned. “Just that you saved Carewyn from a bucking horse, pulled her out of a ravine, and climbed over the castle wall twice just to visit her.”

Ginny’s freckled face lit up. “Orion, you did all that? That’s so romantic!”

Both Orion and Carewyn immediately tried to correct the record, but no one seemed to care much. Andre was laughing most of the time.

“Are you well-traveled, Orion?” asked Andre. “Judging by the way your doublet is distressed, I’d guess you’ve been to the Islands in the Southern Sea -- I’ve only seen such fabrics as imports.”

“I’m...afraid I haven’t, actually,” confessed Orion. “Though I have been to the Southern Sea.”

Florence’s castle was actually positioned on the shore, right by the sea. It was one of the few things Orion could say in its favor, even though there were times it made him long to cast off and never return.

Everyone seemed interested in this.

“You have?” said Charlie eagerly. “What’s it like?”

“Did you sail on a ship?” asked Ginny.

“Were you ever attacked by pirates?” added Ron.

“Nothing that exciting, I’m afraid,” Orion chuckled. “I’ve only seen it, not sailed it...at least, not yet.”

Carewyn’s red lips turned up into a full, pretty smile. “It must be beautiful, though.”

Orion turned to her, his own mouth spread in a grin. “It’s breathtaking. A seemingly endless void of blue that nonetheless sparkles as green as jade and as white as pearl. It’s as translucent as crystal, and yet so deep and mysterious that ships have been swallowed whole by it, and no man could ever discover all of its secrets. Its waves whisper to you as it ghosts the shoreline, and yet it can also roar and ravage like a beast, without warning or mercy. It can hypnotize you, draw you in...make you long to drown yourself in it, while simultaneously wanting it to spirit you away, over the horizon...”

Like your eyes.

Orion caught himself staring in them. Closing his eyes and bowing his head, he forced a soft laugh.

“Forgive me -- I’ve gotten carried away...”

“Not at all,” said Carewyn gently. She rested a hand lightly on top of his forearm. “It sounds wonderful.”

Orion found himself unsure of how to respond to her touch. He’d never really been around a lot of physical affection before, so he was at a bit of a loss of what to do in such a situation. Fortunately Carewyn withdrew not long after, and Orion tried to find his center of balance again by turning his focus back to Andre.

“...I must say, though...your attention to detail is impressive, Andre. I can see why you and Carewyn get along -- she also has an eye for hair and clothing pieces.”

“Of course she does,” said Charlie, sparing a playful smile in Carewyn’s direction. “Carey is our little lady, after all.”

Carewyn shot Charlie an attempt at a sardonic look, but it was foiled by the broad smile that had conquered her face.

“That she is!” Andre laughed.

“A lady with considerable grit, however,” said Bill, his mouth turned up in a wry smile not unlike Charlie’s. “I’ve never seen anyone else climb up onto a mantle, just to reach a chandelier.”

KC looked at Carewyn incredulously. “What? Why didn’t you get a ladder?”

“It wasn’t necessary,” said Carewyn primly, crossing her arms. “I had it under control.”

Orion’s black eyes sparkled affectionately. “I’d say even an experienced soldier in the field would hesitate before climbing over a steep cliff and into a briar patch at the bottom of a ravine...wouldn’t you agree, Andre?”

Andre nodded. “I daresay so! Though I’ve never been to the battlefield myself, or met any soldiers...I would dearly like to, though.”

Orion frowned. “Like to?”

“Well, yes,” said Andre, his tone becoming more serious. “We could use all the help we can get out there...I’d love to feel like I could really help the war effort on the ground, rather than staying at home. Especially when my comfort is built on the backs of those who are hurting.”

Orion’s gaze fell down onto his hands as they clasped together on the table.

“...Your conviction is inspiring,” he said softly. “But believe me...a battlefield is not a place anyone should like to visit.”

Not long after, Erika rather abruptly rose to her feet and told Andre it was time to leave. The group all left the festival together, though Carewyn lingered behind with Orion, so as to try to give Andre cover for getting back inside the palace without anyone noticing.

Once they were alone, Orion once again found himself off-balance. He’d acknowledged before that Carewyn indeed was a person to be admired, as well as a person who could be admired by anyone...even him. He did admire her. He enjoyed her company -- he found her witty and engaging -- he identified with her independence, resilience, and determination -- he was struck by her compassion and utter selflessness. She was like him in so many ways, and yet she was methodical and insightful, as well as braver than a bear, despite her size. Her voice was so soothing, and yet it rippled with a kind of deep passion and emotion that it truly rivaled the deep, dark sea. And tonight especially...tonight, he kept catching himself staring...but none of that mattered. None of it should matter, in the face of achieving peace for Florence.

“She’s not on your side,” McNully’s words returned to him. “She’s on Royaume’s. Just...mind that you use your head as well as your heart, all right?”

Orion couldn’t help but feel as though using his head would be easier if he could more easily tell which way was up.

“I’m glad you came, Orion,” said Carewyn. “I’m sorry I wasn’t a better dance instructor -- dancing isn’t really my area of expertise.”

Orion’s black eyes sparkled mischievously. “Perhaps we shall simply have to dance again in the future, so that we might practice.”

Carewyn giggled. “Somehow I doubt either of us will be attending any grand balls in the future.”

Orion’s amused gaze softened as it trailed over her cold-kissed pink cheeks and along the snowflakes clinging to the ginger waves cascading down her back.

Carewyn tilted her head, her lips twisted up in a wryly questioning smile. “...What?”

Orion looked away quickly.

“Forgive me -- I merely...don’t recall ever having seen you wear your hair down before. It’s...different.”

Carewyn brought a hand through her hair absently. “Mm...yeah, I guess it would be. I don’t wear my hair down much, but...well, I figured for a casual event like this, it wouldn’t be a problem...”

“It’s no problem at all,” said Orion. He kept his tone as level as possible, even though he felt a flush creeping up his neck. “I was just thinking it was appropriate...to see you letting loose with your friends, the same day you chose to wear your hair free...”

He came to a stop, and Carewyn stopped too, turning around to face him properly. Orion reached out his hand and -- very tentatively -- took hers, holding it between their chests like a gentleman.

“...You should be allowed to feel like that more often,” Orion murmured. “Free.”

Carewyn scanned Orion’s face, her eyes lingering on his before dipping into the corners of lips. Orion felt his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He wanted to kiss her hand, but...did he dare?

“She’s not on your team.”

“You reckon little Miss Knight-in-Shining-Armor would take kindly to that, when she finds out?

“Mind that you use your head as well as your heart, all right?”

It was just too much. Orion couldn’t think, whenever his thoughts got too loud. Closing his eyes, he took several deep, measured breaths. Only once he’d brought his heart rate down did he open his eyes again.

“I should go,” he said at last, his voice coming out much more calmly than he felt.

His eyes flickered down to his hand holding hers again, but he’d already lost his nerve. He released her hand, even though his hand felt like it had chilled as soon as the contact was broken.

“...Good night, Carewyn.”

He turned to go.

“Orion.”

Carewyn’s hand enclosed over his. Orion stiffened, his heart pounding full-force once more, and he turned back around to face her, just as she raised his hand up to her own lips and placed a gentle kiss to the back of it.

Orion stared. She raised her head with a smile, releasing Orion’s hand with a kind of muted confidence even despite the pinkness of her cheeks.

“Until we meet again, Mr. Freeman.”

With this, she picked up her skirts and darted away up the street, in the direction of the palace.

Orion stared after her. He stared long after she was out of sight, his galaxy-like black eyes staring at the swirling snow without even seeing it. He tentatively took his own hand, trailing his thumb over the place her lips had grazed...and despite all judgment, despite all rational thought, he found his lips turning up in a smile of their own accord. He’d never felt so light and so off-balance in all his life -- was this what it felt like, to glide on a bird’s wings? And yet he knew, despite the weightlessness he felt, it was instead indicative that he’d fallen.

In the midst of using her to get intelligence about her kingdom...in the midst of him following the strategy he’d laid out to get the end of the War he wanted, by learning their weak points and using them to soften others to him...Prince Cosimo Orion Amari, heir to the throne of Florence, had fallen head over heels in love.

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #cinderella au #my art #my writing #orion amari #carewyn cromwell #andre egwu #bill weasley #charlie weasley #ginny weasley #ron weasley #katriona cassiopeia #erika rath #murphy mcnully #skye parkin #GAAAAAAH #I am so friggin' happy right now #the drawing was tricky but I'm actually kind of happy with it!#carewyn could sense orion's shyness and decided to give the poor guy a hand :3 #she probably isn't as aware of how deep her feelings are yet as orion is but she is very fond of him #that'll be made clearer in the next part #also andre I friggin' adore you ;~;#in carewyn's canon she and andre actually dated briefly at school XDD #but they ultimately broke up because they needed something different in a relationship #andre isn't really as feelsy and sensitive as carewyn and as stoic as she is she honestly does appreciate sensitivity #andre's the sort to push carewyn's more perfectionistic instincts not help her chill the f*** out like orion can #but they still make great friends <33

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overthemazewall · 3 years ago

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Thomas needed a new mattress. At least that's what Teresa said every time she'd climb the six flights to his shitty walk-up and found him laying curled up in the middle of the queen size he'd pulled off the street two days into the semester. He didn't see the point, really. If he could lay on it, it was good enough, even if it kind of smelled.

As far as Thomas was concerned, it did it's duty despite it's flaws and he could accept that. Call it kinship.

Unfortunately, Teresa did not agree.

“Cough twice if you’re still alive.”

Speak of the devil.

The apartment itself was barely livable, according to Teresa, who really needed to lower her standards.

Yes, the place was half falling in, evidenced by the gigantic water stains that were caving in over his stove and the weird way the floor wobbled at the doorways. The building was cracking at the foundation and sat in the worst part of town, sad and sagging. Thomas knew the landlord was nothing more than a grifter making a buck off dubiously forfeited security deposits and the odd maintenance fee he was sure was illegal.

But it was cheap and Thomas could do cheap.

He'd told Teresa and Minho it was temporary, just a spot to crash between work and school. It was a stopgap after the worst year of his life, so it didn't matter that the sink didn't drain or that the shower only ran cold, or that the mattress sank so deep, the sheets could be pulled over him and no one would ever know he was there.

"You're practically on the floor, Thomas," Teresa sighed, throwing herself into the armchair he and Minho found in a dumpster a month before. It was stained with who-knows-what and had the distinct stench of garbage goo and rain. Thomas didn't have to see to know she was actively looking everywhere but the paisley fabric and making a face like she'd rather be vomiting.

"It's what I deserve," Thomas whined, dramatically throwing his arms from under the sheets, into the air then letting them flop back to his sides.

#fic snippet #thomas tmr #teresa tmr #teresa agnes #tmr #maze runner

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kiapet2 · 3 years ago

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Chapter 5: It Also Says You Were Adopted. So That's Funny, Too.

Masterpost

Chapter Summary: On families, found and otherwise.

Chapter Warnings: Swearing, Innuendos

“So what’s this about a brother?” you say.

You stop your movement for a moment as a walkway in front of you seems to have given out. The wall on the other side is a portal surface, though, so you make your way across using your portals, carrying Roman and with Virgil holding Logan and Patton following close behind.

Roman sighs. “It’s… complicated. I know AIs don’t really have families, per se, but we were created from the same source, the same… blueprint, I guess, so I’ve just always thought of him that way.”

“Thought of him as family?” you say, something unfamiliar churning in your gut at the word.

“As a brother,” Roman says simply.

“Aw, that’s sweet, Roman!” Patton says. “I think of all of you as my family- we were literally made for each other!”

Your throat tightens a bit and you cough to clear it, trying to seem natural as you do. Thankfully, no one else seems to call you on it, and you walk for a little bit, pausing every now and then to navigate a difficult space with portals and thinking through what Roman said.

“You were made from the same blueprint?” you say curiously. “Like, you’re the same type of Core?”

“In short, yes,” Logan says. “He is the original Creativity Core, made years before Roman.”

You think about that for a moment. “Why would they need two Creativity Cores?”

“They didn’t,” Roman says grimly. “He was corrupted.”

“Right, corrupted,” you say. “That makes sense.”

You walk for a bit more, and then say, “So what does being corrupted mean?”

“It means the Core’s programming goes wrong,” Roman says. “They go off the deep end.”

“In the case of Remus… well, you’ll see,” Logan says. “Suffice to say that there was good reason to remove him from the mainframe.”

You shoot one final portal through a grate, popping out through the other side and waiting for Virgil and the others to follow. In front of you is an old door, which you successfully manage to open, though it requires little more force than you’d expected.

“We’re here,” Roman says as you walk through the doorway and are greeted with a bizarre tableau.

The room is large, the walls and ceiling made from a dark, rough material that you know from experience won’t hold any portals. The walls, floor and ceiling are all littered with dents and holes, and spattered with what looks like orange and blue paint. Pipes run through the room in various places, carrying what looks like the same orange and blue liquids, as well as a third liquid which is a pure white.

That all on its own would be strange enough, but what really catches your eye is the figure moving about the room. It looks like some sort of robot, small and stocky with arms and legs stemming from a spherical body and no head to speak of. The robot is jumping into the colored goo littering the floor and walls, bouncing off the blue patches like they’re trampolines, before it lands in a patch of the orange goo and proceeds to skid twenty feet right into the wall as if on ice. It hits with a loud clatter, rebounds and falls flat on its back into the orange goo.

You hesitantly make your way into the room, avoiding the patches of colored goo.

“Are you-” You trail off as you realize the robot is cackling, trying to make snow angels in the orange goo.

“Fuck me, that stuff is great!” the robot exclaims. “Do you think if I slid really hard into the bouncy stuff it would launch me back against the wall so hard I’d shatter apart?”

You blink in surprise at the question as the robot climbs to its feet. As it does, you realize this isn’t a robot at all, but rather a Core, made of dark metal and nestled in a lighter-colored metal frame with robotic arms and legs. The Core looks more beaten up than any of the others you’ve seen so far, with cracks and dents littering its chassis and with one handle twisted and broken. It- he looks at you with a dark green eye that goes wide with glee.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” he says. “Did you bring me a new pet to play with?”

“Cut it out, doofus” Roman says, rolling his eye. “We need your help.”

“Oh? And what could my perfect little Brother Dearest need from me?”

You step forward. “I need to know how we can remove whoever’s running this facility, and put someone else in his place.”

The Core laughs, high-pitched and wild. “What? Why would I want to do that? He set me up with this sweet body and testing chamber, after all.” He gestures expansively to his surroundings.

“He did?” you say.

“Yup! I used to do the official stuff but apparently it was too ‘unpredictable’ and ‘actively hazardous to Aperture Science Facility equipment,’” the Core says, making actual air-quotes to punctuate the phrases. “So now I mess around here and do whatever I want!”

“Hey, uh, Creativity,” you start with uncertainty, “Can I call you Creativity?”

“Sure,” the Core says. “Or you could just call me by my name- Remus.” He does a little bow of introduction.

“O-oh!” you say, surprised. “I didn’t think you’d want to tell me so fast.”

Remus shrugs. “I’ve to nothing to hide.

“Well then, Remus,” you continue, “I understand that he’s, uh, your friend. But if you don’t help us stop him, he’s going to kill me.”

Remus’ eye widens. “Really? Can I watch?”

Okay, so that didn’t quite work out the way you were hoping. “If you help me and I get killed fighting him, you can watch,” you offer.

“Now that’s tempting,” Remus says, “but not enough to get me to turn on him.”

“Virgil, could you bring me closer please?” Logan says. Virgil sight and does so.

Logan fixes Remus with a steady gaze. “Remus, surely someone as creative as yourself could not be satisfied with just one room, large though it may be. There are a limited number of tests you can attempt here, after all.”

You catch onto where Logan is going with this. “If you help me, maybe whoever’s in charge can set you up with something even better than this. And whatever happens is bound to be an adventure, right?” you add, banking on his potential similarities to Roman.

“Hm, you make some compelling points,” Remus says. “Tell you what- I’ll help you find our illustrious leader, if you solve this puzzle.”

You blink. “Solve this-”

Remus dramatically raises one arm and water pours out of the ceiling, drenching you and washing away every bit of gel in the room. You sputter, wiping wet hair out of your face, and by the time you’ve blinked the last bit of water from your eyes the layout of the room has changed. Where you are standing is surrounded by walls as high as you are tall, all made of dark, non-portal conductive surfaces. Directly above the enclosure is a large tube which is splattering some sort of thick white liquid onto the ground, the excess running into a nearby drain.

“What is that?” you say, eyeing the white substance.

“Moon juice!”

“Moon juice?” you repeat incredulously.

“That’s what it’s made of, so that’s what I call it!”

“I believe the proper term is ‘Conversion Gel,’” Logan says. “It was used in some of the facility’s older puzzles.”

“Eh, tomato/to-mah-to, Moon Juice/Conversion Gel,” Remus says, waving one hand dismissively. “The point is that with that nifty little portal-maker you got there, we can finally mess around with it properly!”

“These walls and floor won’t hold portals, though,” you say, shooting some balls of light at the floor to demonstrate.

“Oh really?” Remus says, eye widening with glee. “Why don’t you try shooting the white stuff, then?”

You give him a skeptical look, but do what he says. The ball of blue light shoots from your gun and spreads into a blue portal on the white gel itself.

You raise an eyebrow at Remus. “The gel is a portal surface? I didn’t think anything that wasn’t solid could be.”

Remus gives you a wiggle back. “Weird, isn’t it? C’mon, mess around with it!”

You look down at the blue portal again. The stream of Conversion Gel is falling directly into it, presumably coming out from wherever you left the orange portal. That doesn’t help you- you need both portals here, but the gel is the only surface around you that will actually hold one. But maybe...

You shoot the orange portal onto the Conversion Gel, right next to the blue, then step back as the gel comes shooting up out of it in huge globs that fall and soak the surrounding area. You shoot the orange portal again onto some of the new area that’s been covered by the gel, moving the stream and causing even more of the previously dark floor to turn white with the gel.

You keep shooting portals in strategic places to expand where the gel hits, coating the walls of the enclosure and then the areas outside of it until the room- and you- are liberally splattered in white, and you are able to shoot the portals where you need in order to launch yourself up to the door.

Remus hops through the Portal behind you. “Fun fact! Moon Juice is also a deadly poison that will kill you if you get it in any of your ortifices!”

“Ah!” you shriek, trying to wipe the Moon J- the Conversion Gel off yourself. “Great! That’s just great! Augh!”

Remus cackles. “Oops, did I forget to mention that? My bad!”

“All right, he did your stupid test,” Virgil growls. “Now tell us how to find and replace that bastard.”

“Wow, Virgie, so vicious!” Remus says flirtatiously. “I like it, got anything for me?”

Virgil makes a disgusted noise and floats a few feet away, and Remus cackles again.

“You did promise to give us your aid once Thomas has completed the test,” Logan says, and Remus waves on hand.

“Oh, don’t get your panties in a twist, Nerd, I’m getting there.”

He leans in as if sharing a secret- which you suppose he is. “There’s an automated program that will scan the system to see if any cores are corrupted, then replace them if they are. It doesn’t run on its own, but if you go to the secondary control center you should be able to start it no problem.”

“Wait, the Core running this place is corrupted?” you say.

Roman snorts. “Of course. Do you think a normal Core would act like this?”

Beside you, Virgil flinches, so briefly you think you might have imagined it.

“We will need to have a Core remain at the secondary Control Chamber to activate the program,” Logan says. “Otherwise it will activate while there is no other Core around to replace him.”

“What about you, Lo?” Patton says. “You’re the smarty-pants here, if anyone could make sure it went alright it would be you.”

“Oh, well, I’m flattered of course,” Logan says, “Though I was rather hoping- never mind. I would be happy to do so.”

You turn to Remus. “Alright, then. Can you lead us to the secondary control center? And then the main one, I guess?”

Remus gives a formal bow, reminding you very strongly of Roman. “Right this way.”

This time when you head out you pick up Patton with the portal gun, while Virgil carries Roman and Logan. He rotates to look at you as you move, using portals to navigate tough areas and following Remus’ rather esoteric instructions.

“You alright, kiddo?” Patton says kindly. “You seemed kinda choked up back there.”

Of course Patton had noticed, and of course he’d waited until you were relatively alone to ask you about it. The thoughtfulness is enough to make you almost choke up again, which is almost annoying at this point.

“I just, uh,” you say, clearing your throat, “the talk about family, made me think about- about how I don’t really know if I have one. Or, well, had one. And where they are now.”

“Oh, kiddo,” Patton says, “no wonder you’re getting emotional. That sounds hard.”

You shrug. “I guess. I don’t really know what I’m missing- I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.”

“I think it makes it different,” Patton says, “and that’s okay.”

You focus on maneuvering through the maze-like back-parts of the facility then, putting the conversation out of your mind in favor of survival. It’s only when you’ve reached the Control Center, and Logan and Roman are debating how best to lock in, when you feel a bump on your arm.

You look up to see Patton giving you that adorable, squinty-eyed smile. You’re sitting on the ground to rest, Patton sat down next to you, and he reaches out with a handle to gently pat you again.

“You can be part of my family too, kiddo,” he says almost shyly. “If you want, that is.”

The tightness in your throat is back. You manage to croak out, “I- I think I’d like that.”

Patton beams. “Well it’s settled then! We’re a family.”

Even as you lock Logan into place and prepare to head up to a confrontation that honestly scares the crap out of you, a little core of warmth remains. We’re a family, Patton had said. Yeah, you think you can accept that.

#aperture sides facility #my writing #ts storytime

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marsupials-of-mars · 5 years ago

Text

Regicide

(A little bit of inspiration drawn from @sweetest-honeybee s Kingceit doodles)

What do you MEAN you won't?!" Deceit stood cold, frozen, immobile. He seemed to refuse to believe what they had just requested. "You can't just STOP! What about me?! About us?! What about what we had?!"

Roman attempted to avoid eye contact, but found it difficult once Remus had shoved him forward and ducked behind him.

"We just... we've been doing this so long now, and we all know it's not what anyone wants."

"Who knows that?! Who said I know that?! It IS what I want! It's what he wants!" Deceit bared his fangs as he shouted, a hiss from deep within his throat mixing with his words.

"But..." Remus peered over Roman's shoulder. "It's NOT what he want's. It's not because of you, he just doesn't want to BE anymore. He almost isn't him, and it's about to feel like an act to keep going."

"Then let him act!" Deceit gritted his teeth at his own words. They tasted sour in his mouth, but the thought of losing him for good was even worse. "I love him!"

Roman shook his head and reached out for Deceit's arm, but he quickly jerked it away. Roman sighed. "You won't love him. You loved him. But he's not gonna be the same anymore. I know it, Remus knows it, he knows it. And I know you know it. Trust us, it's less painful for everyone this way."

"Nothing could be more painful than this!" Tears sprang to Deceit's eyes. "You're KILLING him! You're MURDERING my King! And you expect me to just accept that?" The anger in his voice quickly drained until nothing was left but grief. "Please... I need him. I'm begging you, you know I don't beg..."

"I am partial to begging..." Remus met Roman's eyes and wiggled his brows.

"Cut it out! Not the time!" Roman sharply shoved his brother. Remus coughed and looked at his feet.

"Yeah sorry I uh... it's how I lighten the mood..." his voice was uncharacteristically soft and apologetic. He looked back up at Deceit. "We do care... but it hurts to be King. Like the bad kind of hurt, painful hurt. It's like trying to hold your head together as it's splitting down the middle." Remus demonstrated, a crack running down his skull and his head falling open to expose red goo and grey matter. Deceit jerked back. "But way less fun."

Roman chimed in: "Every time you see him, he's in pain. He hides it because he loves you but... it's getting unbearable. Remus and I, we're not parts of a whole in the slightest, and King can tell. We used to be the good and the bad, we could click together like puzzle pieces. But we're... rounded. And the pieces don't fit anymore."

Deceit clenched his fists and squeezed his eyes shut. "I... undersss.. ssstand. But.. pleasss..sse... at leassss-ss-st let me ssse-sssee him one lasss-st-st time? To sssay goodbye?" His voice broke. His hiss had worsened in his hysteria, each S a struggle, slowing his sentences to a sluggish pace, but the brothers were patient. It was the absolute least they could do.

"Um..." Roman wrung his hands nervously. "I-uh... we don't... I mean..."

"Of course we will! Ain't that right Lame-miserables?" Remus elbowed Roman sharply in the ribs without breaking eye contact with Deceit. "The least we can do!"

Roman looked up at Remus. He finally noticed something he hadn't before. Unmistakable love. His smile was anxious but soft, his gaze warm and sympathetic. It wasn't quite clear what kind of love it was, but Remus cared immensely, more than Roman had seen him care for anything in a long time. It clearly changed Roman's heart, because before he could stop himself he was agreeing.

"Yeah, of course we will, we want this to be as painless as possible for everyone."

"How long do I have?" Deceit grabbed Roman's shoulders. Roman had never seen him this emotional, without his usual calm collected exterior.

"Um..." Roman looked at Remus, who shrugged. "Ten..." Remus frantically gestured to raise the number. Roman grimaced but complied. "Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes to say what you need to say."

Roman had never known exactly what Deceit and King talked about. All he retained was a feeling, a distinct lack of the fear regarding Deceit that the other lights seemed to have. When Deceit acted tough or collected, Roman couldn't quite take what he was saying at face value, could feel his more personal motivation, the feelings Deceit had about his contributions.

He was overall more quick to open himself to Deceit's side, and from that he'd realized that Deceit must talk often with King about his deeper feelings and ideas. He would only open up like that to someone he felt extremely close to. He was very secretive in general, and the act of revealing even the smallest bit of personal information seemed incredibly intimate to him. Roman wasn't quite sure what Remus experienced from King, but he always assumed it might be similar.

"And then...?" Deceit gripped Roman's sash and twisted it around white knuckles. His eyes were pleading, hopeful.

"And then we're done." Roman gently lowered Deceit's hands. "I'm sorry."

"Monthly! How about monthy?! Every other month? Yearly?" Deceit looked to Remus.

"We... will think about it." Remus's smile was strained. He couldn't operate on the spot, pinned by Deceit's desperate stare. Roman had to be the bad cop, no matter how backwards it seemed.

"NO. We won't think about it. Do you REALLY want a relationship monthly, or every other month, or yearly, where you get twenty minutes with an in pain and slowly fading shell of who you really want to be with? You need to let him go, rip off that bandaid rather than slowly peeling it off over... who knows how long you want to keep this up?"

"But Remus just said-!"

"Remus is an idiot! You're hysterical if you're hung up on what he said!" Roman took Deceit's shoulder. "Look, don't think about this now. Just enjoy your last bit with him."

Deceit slowly loosened his grip and the desperation faded, replaced now by a sort of empty acceptance. "I... okay. Let me sssee him."

Roman nodded and looked to Remus. "Ready?"

Remus fell into Roman without a second thought, eager to give Deceit closure. His tentacles wrapped Roman's waist and shoulders and Roman resisted his instinct to recoil. He leaned in and touched their foreheads together. His brother's breath smelled awful and he could feel himself getting more disgusting by the second. His final thought, before he lost himself, was how relieved he was that would never have to bare a fusion again.

King woke with a splitting headache. He rubbed his temples as he slowly opened his eyes, the light sending more piercing pain through his skull.

"King!" He looked down in time to see Deceit barrel into him with open arms, knocking him to the ground.

"Woah! You're hardly a hugger..." He rubbed Deceit's back.

"I am when you're DYING jackass!"

King winced at the volume. "Aw, cmon, I'm not dying. I'm just... not gonna be around anymore."

"That's no different!"

Deceit pushed his face into King's sash and flicked out his tongue, drawing in his scent while he still could. King was the only one who knew most of Deceit's "embarrassing" habits and reflexes, though he tried to convince Deceit that they were adorable. In turn, Deceit was the only one who knew some of King's secrets, such as;

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you Tiberinus..." Deceit spoke softly and gripped King's sash.

"You're going to be the best goddamn side in the mindscape, you're going to get your points across, you're going to open yourself up, you're going to SMILE and you're going to do anything else you damn well please because you're DECEIT and your your own wonderful amazing sexy person."

Deceit scoffed. "Yeah, I'm sure..."

King stuck him with a stern look. "You're going to SMILE. Because you have the most radiant smile and the sickest fangs i've ever seen, and it's not fair that I'm the only one who gets to see that with any regularity. It's absolutely sinister."

"I'm sinister." Deceit hissed.

"No, honestly right now you seem pretty sniffly and cuddly. And in any case sinister people still gotta smile from time to time. Look at the joker."

"Oh, the joker! What a fun and convincing comparison!" Deceit rolled his eyes.

"You get what I mean though, I don't want to be the only one you can talk to because then you'll stop talking altogether. You have so many amazing things to say, and as much as I love being your outlet, if you keep plugging everything into a single outlet your house is bound to burn down. And if you only trust that one outlet and it burns out, you'll be some idiot sitting in the dark surrounded by perfectly functional outlets upset that you can't read your book. Comprendo? "

Deceit let out a lengthy sigh. "What if my lamp can only reach one outlet?"

"Then you move the lamp. You may get some weird shadows and you might have to sit at the other end of the couch. But you'll still be able to read."

Deceit slapped King's knee in frustration. "See?! You can come up with these perfect metaphors and figure out feelings so easily. I'm not good at that."

"Patton is good at that. And Logan, and sometimes even Roman and Remus. I don't get it from nowhere. You're gonna be okay."

"Who's going to act with me?"

"Roman."

"Who's going to help me when I'm sick?"

"Patton."

"Who's going to make me laugh?"

"Remus, Roman, Logan... they're funny if you ever tried talking to them. You need to think outside your tiny me-centered box. You just have to try a little. Honestly... this might be for the best."

Deceit bolted upright. "How can you say that?! How could this possibly be for the best?! You're DYING!"

"Okay, yknow what? I'm breaking up with you."

Deceit paused. "What?"

"I'm breaking up with you. Looks like you have to move on now. And you're not going to see me anymore. Because we're broken up."

Deceit blinked. "What are you doing?"

"Look, what's harder? Your beloved dying, or never again having to see that awful ex you hate? So I hate you, and we're through."

Deceit stared a moment before breaking into laughter. King relished the last time he'd hear that laugh.

"Fuck you!" Deceit shoved his shoulder.

"That's the spirit! I hate your guts!"

"Go to hell!"

"See you there!"

"I hope I do so I can kill you again!"

"You gotta kill me first you coward!"

Deceit fell into King's arms in fits of laughter.

"God I'm gonna miss you Tiber...I dunno if-"

"Nah. Not allowed. Chin up, Scales. You got this."

King suddenly felt a dampness on his chest. Deceit shook with sobs, gripping King's waist until it was almost painful. He placed a hand on Deceit's trembling back and trailed his fingers down his spine, softly, slowly, as he got it all out.

"Shhh... yeah, I know..." He wiped Deceit's wet cheek with his thumb.

"I don't want you to go... I know you think I can handle it, and I probably can I just... I still don't want you to leave me."

"I'm not going anywhere. I keep saying, it's not like I'm dying. I'll still be with you, and not even in a cheesy spiritual way, all that makes me up is still inside Roman and Remus. I know it doesn't seem like me, and I know it's way different from talking to me, but I'll always be there. I'll know what you're up to and I'll be watching. In the creepiest way possible. So you'd better not mope around once I'm out of here because I see all."

"Comforting..." Though it was sarcastic, King could tell that he'd managed to calm Deceit a good amount. His head ached from being together so long. He looked up at the clock on the wall.

"Twenty minutes. Looks like it's time to- Ow! Shut up! We agreed- You're disgusting!" He gripped his head. Deceit looked up at him anxiously.

"Tiber? What's going on?"

"Ah, just... bickering." King forced a smile. "Twenty minutes is up and they really want to split."

"Oh." Deceit took a deep breath and wiped his eyes. "About that... does it really hurt you? Have you been hurting? And keeping that from me? I would have wanted you to tell me... this might have been less unexpected."

"Oh so you're the only one who gets to keep secrets?" Deceit pulled back at the jab and King felt immediately guilty.

"Sorry, I'm just... headache. I wanted to hold it together. I wasn't planning this, I thought I could handle it. Because I love you, and I didnt want to do this to you. But I finally realized that it would be unfair to both of us if I ended up something that... wasn't me. I know it was selfish...I had some warning, I helped make the choice, so I got a head start on the mourning. But you only get... twenty minutes..." King hissed at the sharp pain in his skull. Deceit studied his face.

"Honestly... truly and honestly... I wouldn't have wanted you to tell me sooner. That would have just prolonged the inevitable. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy what I did have with you without worrying that everything we were dojng would be for the last time. And there's no use being mad anyway, I've lost any time I would have had to teach you any lessons."

"Eh, I don't learn anyways. uGH SHUT UP!" King covered his mouth and squeezed his eyes tightly shut to ward off his headache. "Sorry... I need to go."

"I know." Deceit helped King to his feet and wrapped his arms around his waist. He stared a moment. "Know that every second I spent with you makes up for this moment."

"You sappy snake..." King leaned his forehead against the top of Deceit's head. "One more for the road?"

"Like I'd let you go without it."

King tipped Deceit's chin up with a knuckle. He savored his last look into his lover's eyes, one a radiant yellow and the other a warm honey brown. He tried to burn the image into his mind, wherever it would end up. Only once he was convinced that he had it did he lean down to meet Deceit's lips with his own.

For that moment, he forgot about the pain, and he could ignore the taste of salt on both their lips. It was bliss, the kind he would never have again, the kind that was so perfect that he didn't need to.

He felt his body begin to warm, then a buzzing, a tingling throughout his skin. His headache built to a dull pulse. He pulled Deceit tighter, for what he could tell was his final second.

And then he was gone.

Roman woke with tears on his face and a rapidly beating heart. He looked up, first at Remus, who was no better off then he was, then to Deceit.

He was trembling, fingers poised over his lips as though he were afraid to touch them directly. His eyes were vacant and upturned, as if he hadn't quite noticed that whatever he'd been looking at had since left his line of sight.

Roman debated, for a moment, whether to speak or to leave him to his own thoughts. After weighing his options, he decided on the latter. He looked to Remus, who had already lunged forward to wrap Deceit in a hug, and had been returned with a shaky hand slowly closed onto his back.

Roman gulped and made his way over. He let his knuckles brush Deceit's as a gentle invitation. Deceit quickly accepted, intertwining their fingers and squeezing tightly.

"Can you feel him?" Deceit's voice was nearly inaudible. "Is he there?"

Roman stared at Deceit's soft profile. A warmth grew in his chest, a feeling that could have been his, but not quite. And it was clear.

"Yes. And he loves you a whole lot."

A ghost of a smile pulled at Deceit's lips.

"I know."

#deceit sanders #king creativity #sanders sides #thomas sanders #creatwins #angst

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thevengeanceuniverse · 4 years ago

Text

Truce? Ch 3

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25622497/chapters/63285697

They get caught up in the game, becoming so good at the pretending that it no longer feels like a chore. It starts being second nature for Bucky to order Tony something sugary to eat with his coffee because he’s secretly a child with an enormous sweet tooth. Tony learns that while Bucky can now make conversation with anyone at the galas, he likes the people involved in NGO work the most and secretly sets him up with sweatshop activists interested in shifting the labour to a manner that doesn’t horrendously violate human rights.

Bucky has had enough of organizations using people.

The culmination comes on Bucky’s birthday, which the team, minus Tony (and Bruce who baked Bucky a dozen cupcakes before retreating to his lab) tries to celebrate like normal people do. They go out to dinner in disguises that only work with varying success, drink innumerable bottles of champagne and eat cake that is so rich it feels like it’s giving them diabetes just from looking at it.

It turns out that supersoldiers can get drunk after all, if they have a god in their midst that brings Asgardian mead to the party. Everyone is overly enthusiastic about putting its powers to the test and they all end up various levels of wasted.

Stumbling back to the Tower at 3 am to order pizza and wings and all the other greasy food they can find, they’re confronted with Tony’s gift, which is just lying in wait for Bucky’s return.

A giant tank dominates a part of the space that Bucky was sure had a wall before. It is as long across as Bucky is high and swimming happily inside, in his miniature body of water decorated with what seems like thousands of dollars in plants, fish and castles as well as a state of the art filtration system, is a red-eared slider.

There’s a nameplate on the front of the tank, with the engraved words “Call me Crush.”

Bucky, of course, tries to thank Tony. Tony predictably tries to avoid it as long as possible.

Driven to desperation, Bucky does something he’s not proud of, but he would argue it was desperate circumstances. He enlists the PR team.

They arrange it so that Bucky and Tony are outside when the photographers catch them, so Tony absolutely cannot escape as the man he professes to love presses a sweet kiss to his cheek and thanks him happily. It’s absolutely chaste and leagues tamer than the majority of things that Tony Stark has been caught doing in public, but somehow it reduces Tony to the equivalent of a puddle of goo.

Even the sceptics are convinced the relationship is real when they witness Tony Stark transform into a blushing maiden at an innocent kiss, unable to form words until he ultimately just hides his red face in Bucky’s neck. He would obviously rather be anywhere else at the moment.

Bucky’s smug grin, on the other hand, tells the world he is utterly comfortable exactly where he is if that meant Tony Stark was in his arms.

“Tony, can you explain this to me please?” Pepper dropped a newspaper on Tony’s lab table.

“Oh my god,” Tony said, shocked. “Pepper, is this paper?”

“It’s not the paper that’s the focus here, Tony, it’s what on it!” She pointed at the image of Tony and Bucky plastered across the front page. “What is this?”

Tony glanced at it briefly, seeing a headline about his and Bucky’s fake romance and quickly turned away, forcing his mind to return to the problem he had been working on before Pepper had so rudely barged in. “What do you mean, what is that? That is the proof of my brilliant acting and everything going according to plan. I thought you would be happy.”

“This is not acting!” Pepper held up the paper in front of his face until he had no choice but to take a good look at it. It’s two pictures side by side. One is the famous still of Bucky’s thank you that had splashed all over the gossip channels, but the other was one he hadn’t seen before.

His face drained of colour as he stared at the image that must have been taken that day at the trampoline park, where Barnes had decided to blow his mind by showing him that while he didn’t dance, he sure as hell could.

The picture was one of him pressed up with his back against Bucky Barnes chest, held there by metal and flesh hands intertwined with his on his abdomen.

The closeness wasn’t the issue, it was the look of rapture on his face as Barnes dragged his lips across the exposed expanse of Tony’s neck, intent and seductive. It looked as if the photographer had caught them in a private moment, one that had never been meant to share with others. It’s what made it so enticing. That two fully clothed people in a photo had the ability to seem so indecent was one thing, but both photos together enlightened Tony to a damning discovery.

Tony gaped at the image, mortified. “What the hell is this?” Tony had no recollection of any of this happening. Was he drugged?

“No, you were not drugged,” Pepper answered, making Tony aware that he was speaking aloud. “Though that would more easily explain why you’re suddenly so chummy with Sergeant Barnes when six months ago you couldn’t stand being next to him.”

“We need to end it,” Tony said abruptly instead of answering, not wanting to touch his burgeoning relationship with Barnes with a 10-foot pole. “It’s the only smart thing to do. If we keep this going, people are going to expect us to stay together and it’s going to be even more of an uproar when we split up. We’ll make up something—say I cheated, people would believe that.”

“Tony, you’re not the same man you were years ago,” Pepper said, dragging a hand over Tony’s hair. “Are you sure you want to throw yourself under the bus in order to protect the Winter Soldier?”

“That’s just the thing, Pep,” Tony replied. “He’s not just the Winter Soldier anymore.”

“Bucky, I brought back food,” Steve announced as he walked into the apartment after his run, clad in t-shirt and shorts. Catching sight of Bucky sitting slumped on the sofa with a pillow clutched to his stomach, he dropped the smoothies and bagel sandwiches on the table and moved towards him.

“Sweetheart,” he said gently, “what’s wrong? Is it a bad day today?”

“No,” Bucky mumbled. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine,” Steve said, sitting down next to his oldest friend and longest love. They had been through hell and back to be here, and even if he was still learning who the new man Bucky was, he knew when he was okay and when he wasn’t.

“It’s stupid. I just got a call from the PR people.” Bucky sighed. “They said that Tony thinks that it’s a good time to end our fake relationship. They’ll start the de-escalation sometime this week so in a few months we can naturally break it off.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?” Steve asked, shifting on the sofa to pull his feet up and crossing them. He knew that Bucky and Tony had been getting friendlier over the course of the last months, a real affection growing for each other as evidenced by Bucky’s birthday gift. When Bucky had walked in to see the enormous tank and his new turtle friend inside, drunk from the Asgardian mead—which Steve was going to treat with extreme caution from now on—he had grasped on the open edge of the tank and attempted to go swimming. To bond with his new friend.

Luckily, Thor (the only one still standing upright) had enough strength to dissuade Bucky from taking a dip with the turtle, convincing him that he would probably scare Crush and ruin their blossoming relationship. Bucky had pouted fiercely, but it had worked.

“No—I mean yes, of course, it’s good,” Bucky conceded to Steve’s question. “Because it means that the public is no longer interested in persecuting me for the crimes I committed as the Winter Soldier, but—” Bucky broke off, burying his face in his hands and groaning. “It’s complicated.”

Steve stoked Bucky’s side soothingly. “Yes, like this whole charade has been the definition of simple.”

Though Steve and Bucky were the ones actually together, Steve wasn’t jealous that Bucky had to pretend to be with Tony in public. He knew that Bucky loved him and if this fake relationship would protect him and prevent the Winter Soldier’s crimes from coming back to haunt them in the future, he was all for it. He would endure any discomfort if it meant protecting Bucky and whether he liked it or not, he knew that his actions of turning against the world to go chase after Bucky did leave a stain on his reputation. Fury had been frank with him on that fact. Tony, on the other hand, still had the political clout, financial means and media finesse to help Bucky out of this situation with the best possible outcome.

Especially because of his personal connection to the issue causing the uproar.

“Bucky,” Steve pulled the brunette back to him, holding onto his hands and squinting at him with concerned blue eyes. “What’s really wrong? You know you can tell me anything.”

Bucky worried the flesh of his lip with his teeth, pulling away to clutch the pillow back against his stomach once again.

“Oh god, Steve,” he finally whispered, eyes wet and guilty. “I know that it was all pretend, that we actually weren’t dating and I know that I love you more than anything but…I think the illusion became the reality.”

“Hey, can we talk?”

#winterironshield #stuckony #stony #stucky #winteriron #fake dating #fake relationship #enemies to lovers #enemies to friends to lovers #vengeanceworks #fanfic #fanfiction #ao3 fanfic #ao3

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ramblesanddragons · 5 years ago

Text

Of Monsters and Memories

An idea based on this comic by @artsymeeshee that I just ran with.

It has been years since I’ve written anything. I’m so rusty but I’m trying to get back into it. I have no editor and I am terrible at grammar so please let me know what I missed. I’m writing more fan fiction to get back into figuring out how to write.

EDIT: Now with Ao3 link!

Warnings: Swearing, alcohol, angst. (Also please let me know if I missed one.)

Ford had told Stan about some of the dangers they would run into in the arctic. Krakens, selkies, freezing cold. Some sort of thing that was the unholy offspring of nightmares and a squid wasn’t one of those things. The problem was the thing seemed to made out of smoke and they were having the damnest time pinning it down but it had to have some sort of physical form. It sure as hell was holding on to Stan tight enough.

Stan was wrapped around the mast of the boat as the arctic wind howled or maybe it was the creature, he had no idea.

“Hey anytime with that fancy space gun Sixer!”

“Aiming is proving to be difficult give me a moment!” Ford yelled back.

Stan did his best to wiggle out of the tentacles that had him but stopped the struggle when he noticed that Ford had all but been swallowed by a plume of smoke. Only his head was visible in the cloud of darkness. Ford’s eyes were tense with pain and tears were streaming down his cheek.

“Ford, snap out of it. Whatever you see ain’t real!”

Ford had been looking forward to taking notes of the creature made of smoke that floated above the ice. He had never even seen something like this before. It had to be some sort of life form as it weaved around the boat almost playfully. Things had taken a sharp turn for the worst when Stan tried to take a picture of it for the kids. It screeched and started to climb up the side of the boat with long tendrils extending. Stan grimaced and slide on his old pair of brass knuckles.

“Want to bet I can punch smoke?” Stan yelled leaping at it with full force.

In a flurry of shouts, punches, and missed shots Ford found himself trying to save his knuckleheaded brother who was wrapped around the mast. Aiming was proving to be a problem as the smoke wouldn’t stay together into a shape. It had spread itself thin onto the deck of the boat only forming parts of itself it to tentacles to hold Stan.

Ford could feel panic rising into him. He cursed himself for thinking that it had been playful earlier when it had clearly been looking for the best time to strike. He had let his enthusiasm get to him again and now Stan was in danger again.

Chastise yourself later Stan needs help! Ford tried to find a target but froze as the hairs on the back of his neck rose.

A dark malevolence engulfed him in a plume of smoke. The chill it brought to Ford’s body made the cold of the arctic seem like a walk in the park. He physically shook himself to clear it away and focused again on his brother but Stan was gone. He was alone in some sort of inky void. He looked around and realized with horror his clothes had changed. He was wearing Stan’s old suit. In his hand’s was the wretched memory gun.

Seeing it again made Ford’s stomach clinch tight. The urge to drop it to the ground and smash it was strong but he had to...to do something with it. He looked up again to see he was no longer alone in the void, Stan had appeared, on his knees and unconscious. Just like the last time. Tears started to burn at the corners of Ford’s eyes as his arm moved on some sort of autopilot pointing the gun at Stan’s head.

“Please...I can’t...not again...” Ford’s body shook as whispered to the void. His vision blurred with tears as the world started to become dark.

“Hey Poindexter! Did you know the world was flat?”

“What?”

“Yeah, I’m one of those flat earth people.” It was Stan’s voice coming from somewhere. Not the body before Ford kneeling and awaiting its fate at his hands, but outside of the void.

“Stan...the world isn’t flat?”

I’ve gone mad, Ford thought completely lost.

“Oh yeah it is. I kept meaning to ask when we were going to hit the edge. Also, you know we didn’t go to the moon in ‘69 right?”

“S-Stan we watched it on the damn TV together!” Ford’s voice echoed and for a moment the sounds of the sea seemed to reach his ears.

“I mean yeah we did but it was faked. Although that was a good day, right? Ma let us stay home to watch it. Remember?” Almost at Stan’s beckoning the void changed around him and the image of two small boys watching a small TV formed in front of Ford. It wasn’t as clear as the one of Stan awaiting his doom and it disappeared as fast as it had appeared. It was one of Ford’s favorite memories besides the two of them finding the original Stan of War.

“Yeah I do.” Ford whispered softly. He could now feel ocean spray on his face. The cold in his soul was being melted by the warmth in his chest growing. The creature shrieked and withdrew from around Ford. He was now fully back to the deck of the ship and before him was Stan still tied to the mast by smoky tendrils.

“Oh yeah and uh did you know that the government is putting chemicals in the water to brain wash us? Or that the government is actually a bunch of lizard people actually hold on you might believe that one let’s see...”

“Stan.” Ford wanted to both hug and smack his brother at the same time.

“What? Oh hey welcome back now can you shoot this fuckin’ thing?”

“Gladly.” Ford growled.

The thing had gathered back into a smoke ball but it seemed to Ford less intimidating now, slightly smaller, weaker. There was no way to really tell where the thing’s body was so Ford just started to fire on the thickest gathering of grey and black he could see. There was going to be a few holes in the deck of the ship but it was worth it to hear the thing let out one last scream before collapsing into a pile of goo. Stan was freed from the mast as the smoky tendrils disintegrated. Ford ran into the hull of the ship and returned with gloves, a scraper and a container.

Dinner was sandwiches that night as Stan was too tried to cook. He eyed Ford as he ate and let out a heavy sigh as he realized he had only taken a bite of his dinner. Ford’s forehead was knit together like it did when he was thinking too hard.

“Wanna talk about it?” Stan’s voice seemed to shake Ford out of his thoughts.

“Well we do need to talk if you believe the world is flat. I have failed as a scientist if my own brother believes that.” Ford let out a weak chuckle.

“Nah I’m not the brightest but I’m not that dumb. Look, I was just thinking of the craziest things I could to snap you out of whatever trance that the smoke thing had you under. Nothing pisses you off more than bad science.”

“Stan, I want to apologize. I feel like I wasn’t paying close enough attention and let my curiosity get in the way of your safety. I will aim to do better.”

“Sixer it’s okay you...”

“No, it’s not okay!” Ford cut Stan off. “My mistakes keep getting you hurt.”

“Look I was getting myself hurt plenty before coming out here with you.” Stan had recently gotten a lovely memory of spraining his ankle while running from some dogs when he was about 25 back a couple of weeks ago which could be good proof of that but he knew that wouldn’t exactly make his brother feel better. Ford pushed his plate away and leaned his head into his hands.

“What exactly did that thing do to ya?”

“My running theory is that whatever it was prays on a victim's memories. Their worst moments causing them to freeze up. I was about to...I was about to erase you again.” The tears were coming back into Ford’s eyes. Stan slid him over a napkin.

“That’s you’re worst moment?”

“O-of course. I’ve faced plenty of horrible things but that was my mistakes coming back to bite me in the ass. I’m fine with that. But when my arrogance and stupidity hurts other people, people I care about...first there was Fidds and then you were the one who could have lost everything for my carelessness and...”

Stan slammed his fist onto the table and that startled Ford enough to break him out of his rant. “I pushed you into that hell portal I...”

“A hell portal I built!” Ford interjected loudly.

“You were conned. Manipulated. Ford you’re stubborn and yeah maybe a little arrogant but so am I.” Stan got out of his chair and kneeled by his brother.

“If there was an award for who could hold on to guilt the longest, I could probably win the gold medal. So, listen to me here. Please don’t let this mind erasing thing eat you alive. I know I’m the poster child for healthy coping but please don’t be so hard on yourself. I have enough self-loathing for both of us.”

“Stanley.”

“Look being out here with you watching you get all excited and doing nerd stuff has been the happiest I’ve been in years. I don’t need you to be worrying about what might happen so much that you stop enjoying it ‘cus then I’ll stop enjoying it and so what the hell else do we do huh? Soos is in charge of the Shack and I wouldn’t really want to go back. So, what, do we spend our next few years playing bingo in an old folks' home?”

“Hell no.” Ford responded somewhere between a sob and a laugh.

“Right. So, relax. There is no where I’d rather be.” Stan grinned when a small smile placed itself on Ford’s face.

“What are the qualities of a Pines man? Braveness, boldness, curiosity, creativity, stubbornness, and deep self-loathing.” Ford said counting on his fingers.

“Let’s hope Dipper skips out on that one.” Stan got back up and poured himself and Ford a drink of the good stuff they kept for special occasions. He figured dealing with a smoke monster was occasion enough.

Ford looked at the amber liquid and drained it in one gulp. “Stanley has is ever occurred to you that perhaps we could use a little therapy in our lives?”

“No shrink is so understanding that they would believe half the shit that’s happened to us.”

“Perhaps we should look. Even if we have to go a more supernatural route to get an adequate one I-I think we should.” Ford began to scribble what Stan guessed to be a list of idea candidates. He smiled as he watched the wheels in his brother’s mind whirl.

“Yeah. Sure, I’ll talk to a fairy about my problems.” Stan spent the rest of his night listening to Ford tell him why it was an awful idea to let the Fae know your problems and enjoyed every minute of it.

#Gravity Falls #gravity falls fanfiction #tw swearing #tw alcohol #a little hurt #a little comfort #the whole pines family needs therapy #I am so rusty #It is 1 in the morning and I have work #i should be sleeping #fanfic #my writing

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cynthiaandsamus · 5 years ago

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Game Blondes Crystal Clear Nuzlocke Part 3: A Gooey Situation!

“Hey I’m blonde!”

“…I’m also blonde.”

“AND WE’RE THE GAME BLONDES!!”

“Welcome back to Game Blondes! Last time we got a shiny Eevee, and two, count ‘em TWO badges out of sixteen, though the game’s gonna start scaling up the more badges we get so we gotta be careful not to lose any more pokemon…”

“Don’t worry I’ll be fine, I’ve only lost a rat so far, now that I have something to work with I’ll be able to do stuff a lot easier.” Samus grinned confidently. “Went back to the Professor and got a Togepi (named Sunnyside) which immediately goes in the box, no way am I risking taking a literal newborn on this death journey.”

“Probably a wise choice… don’t want to tempt fate.”

“Well now that I have two badges I guess that qualifies me to operate a squirtbottle… you’re world is weird Cynthia.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Well now I’ve annoyed some living trees and gotten Cut from the dude. Guess it’s up the Sprout Tower now, not sure if it’s at all necessary but couldn’t hurt to get up there and see what’s going on.” Samus shrugged. “Oh… apparently they just give you the HM now as soon as you enter if you have the badges… Well is there anything at the top or not!?”

-One Encounter Later-

“YEAH FUCK THAT! It doesn’t count if I reset before anything faints! Nopenopenope I’m out!”

“I don’t think anyone can blame you, the run would just be over now if you didn’t.” Cynthia chuckled.

“…we may or may not come back to that later but more than double my level is not great, should’ve guessed when there was a “are you sure you’re up for the challenge?’ guard at the bottom of the tower… Still I wonder if there’s something good up there to make it worth it…”

“That’s a challenge for another day.” The Champion smiled.

“Well I don’t wanna just go through the game like normal… Even if I can do the badges in any order I still need to walk all the way there, so I don’t wanna just skip through gyms when they’re right there…”

“Why not go fuck around in Kanto for a bit? The train drops you off in Saffron so you can get to most of the region from there and pick badges at random.”

“Good idea! To fuckery!” Samus cheered. “Alright, in Saffron now, whole different country to fuck up with my sequence breaking nonsense.”

“Now that I think about it, it’s probably ironic that a Metroid protagonist is playing the pokemon game where you can sequence break…”

“SPEEDRUNING BABY! FUCK THE INTENDED ORDER!” Samus hummed. “Well most of the houses here are closed but I did get the Psychic TM, gonna teach that to Polly so my starter has a little more firepower.”

“Wonder if Silph Co. is another unstoppable hell gauntlet.“

“They don’t even let me go up… but I got a free Up-Grade for Polly! Okay, next badge I’ll go back to that kid in Goldenrod and evolve her. Might as well go kick Sabrina’s ass while I’m here…”

“HA! The guard in the normal games tells you the Up-Grade can’t be bought anywhere else. But since you can buy it in the department stores here, they added dialogue so he gets upset about not being told it was already in department stores, that’s cute.”

“Good lore for the changes I guess.” Samus snickered.”There’s two gyms but one’s empty, so guess the other’s Sabrina’s. Well Danny’s in charge here, wiping out these Psychics with a Ghost-type should be easy. See? That Channeler went down easy!”

“…and Danny’s dead.”

RIP Danny the Gastly Route 31-Saffron City, Lv. 5-Lv. 13

“Eh… I was NOT expecting that guy to have a level 18 Kadabra and I kinda forgot Gastly was a Poison type in addition to a Ghost type… well there goes my whole plan for this gym…”

“You’ll make it through, see? You’re already at Sabrina.”

“Yeah but I feel like she’s gonna be a higher level, I mean one of her minions killed one of my pokemon and I’m down a main teammate and my main strategy, think I’m gonna grind a bit and fill that empty slot before I come back, not taking any chances…”

“Better safe than sorry I guess… even if it is a bit cheap.” Cynthia sighed.

“Let me go back and bury my dead ghost and go out into one of these fields and catch me a new dude. Which way should I go? I can go pretty much anywhere from Saffron… any of the cardinal directions anyway.”

“Well you know what they say, Go West, Young Meowth.”

“…who says that?” Samus grumbled. “West it is then. ..and immediately who the hell is this guy?”

“Oh shit he has a Porygon too! Time for a Mirror Match!”

“Awww yeah, there’s no beating Polly!”

“Oh wow he has a Shiny Togepi too. I mean it’s still an egg baby but it’s a sparkly egg baby.”

“That was surprisingly tough for an egg baby, must be hard-boiled. Still at least it’s not another casualty and he gave me a bunch of money and five level balls. So that’s nice of him, speaking of which this is a new area so I can catch a new pokemon~!”

“Oooh an Abra, good luck with that!”

“Trying out one of those new Level Balls then, here goes nothing!”

“Heck yeah! Since it’s a Psychic that just wants to be left along I’ll name it Mob. Looks like it’s close to evolving too so I may use it for a bit.”

“Well might as well have a look around Celadon while we’re nearby. Erika might be a better fit for your next gym battle since you have a flying type and a few psychic moves that’ll do well against her grass and poison types.”

“Yeah… wait… the game corner here sells the Berserk Gene!? What the hell!?”

“Yeah that’s… strange…” Cynthia quirked a brow. “Rather cheap too…”

“I mean I guess it’s not super useful but still… Weird placement. Those Leftovers might be good to save up for too, but that would require more gambling… Oooh! Heracross!”

“Can I get it? Please Please!?”

“Well I guess Celadon City is a new area, so if it’s the first pokemon you encounter you can get it, sure… but just this once…”

“Whoohoo! Time for a gambling montage!”

-80’s Music-

This is a gambling montage~

Samus is gambling all her money away~

We’re not allowed to show this part in Europe~

She’s Gonna get that Heracross~

This is a gambling montage~

-montage end-

“Well since it’s blue and armored I’ll name her Gravity like my suit, looks like she’ll need a bit of grinding but should be fun to use~”

“Well a couple of training battles in Erika’s gym later and Gravity has a few levels and Hooters evolved into a Noctowl.”

“These levels on these gyms are starting to get high though, I may have to do some grinding… hopefully I’ll be able to beat Erika at least… Still, a little training won’t hurt. This guy says he’ll give me Fly if I can get one more badge, so that’ll really open things up, all the more incentive to grind up for Erika.

“…well fuk it’s a Muk. And it’s like ten levels higher than anything I have.”

“Still, Muk are mostly defensive pokemon and you just have to weaken it, give it a shot.”

“Holy crap I caught it… wasn’t expecting that, guess I have a new teammate… I’ll name it Goo since that’s what it is. Doubt it’ll help much with Erika or Sabrina, but it’s always good to have a big tanky pokemon like that, I’ll think about adding him to the team somewhere…”

“And this is why we carry Antidotes… you were almost in trouble there.”

“Meh I’ll be fine, guess I’ll switch out Shimon the Poliwag for Goo the Muk since he’s my lowest level besides the new Heracross, we’ll see if this pile of sludge comes in handy soon.”

“Holy crap look how weird it looks when Goo follows me.” Samus laughed.

-One Grind Later-

“Okay a little bit of grind and Gravity is up to level with the others and all of Erika’s support trainers are gone, I’ve got Goo and got him an Ice Punch TM, I’ve got a Noctowl, got Polly knowing Psychic and got Gravity being a Bug type, and just in case I’m buying a couple Antidotes so I think we have a decent shot at this battle, here we go!”

“If worse comes to worse you could probably just lean on your overpowered Muk now that it has a move that’s great against Grass types…”

“Well I’m gonna try not to do that if I can help it, let’s start out with Noctowl vs her Tangela! Ha! Even if it puts Hooters to sleep, that Giga Drain does next to nothing against her! That was an easy first KO. Way to pull your weight Hooters! “

“Oooh Bellsprout next huh?”

“That’s part poison right? I’ll try Polly next then and hit it with some Psychic! HA! A one hit KO! Don’t mess with Polly!”

“Another OHKO from Hooters on that Hopip… you’re really tearing through this boss battle. Though to be fair grass-types have a lot of weaknesses to exploit and usually have to use status ailments to keep up.”

“Last pokemon’s Oddish, let’s go Hooters, make this a clean sweep! Well it managed to take two hits but it’s still no match for my awesome owl thing! Great job Hooters!”

“That’s awesome, three badges down, but you realize Sabrina will be even stronger now that you have more badges, right?”

“Crap… Well the Pokemon League called again and basically just told me to go get Fly, since I’m right here I can do that pretty easily, guess we’re set up for that. I can teach it to Hooters as a reward for winning that gym battle.”

“…wow so you can just fly to any city now huh? You don’t have to have visited any of them, guess you can hop around as much as you want now.”

“True, though I’ll probably be in trouble if I just go directly for the badges each time, the walking will help me get more levels too but if I wanna go somewhere I can just drop myself off and see what’s up around there. I can continue that sidequest with Professor Oak at some point too since I can just fly to Pallet Town and see what’s going on, and I feel like I can safely evolve Polly too, which I may do… NEXT TIME ON GAME BLONDES!”

Samus’s Journey So Far (Kanto Side):

Samus’s Current Team:

#Game Blondes #Let's Play #Game Grumps #Pokemon #Crystal Clear

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kh-akira · 6 years ago

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Snowball-Fight

A little Winter prompt we did on our Discord Server.

“Okay, Team Fire against Team Flower!” Akira cheered and held her hand up. Lea reacted right away and gave her a high five with a very confident grin.

“Let’s get this show started!”

Standing a bit afar from the pair, Kairi leant to Ilana and whispered: “Isn’t it kinda unfair that they get to team up?”

“Do you want them on different teams?” she answered with a glance and a raised eyebrow to her younger friend, gathering some snow in her hands. “We want to play a game, not starting a war.”

Besides them, Belle chuckled. “Well, at least we have the advantage of numbers, isn’t that right Chip?”

The young boy nodded enthusiastic. “Yeah, they will stand no chance against us”!

Ilana let out a sigh, but smiled. “Don’t count on it actually helping us against those two.”

She looked over to Akira and Lea. He gave her some instructions on how to form a good snowball - had he been to a world with snow before? - and she had even started to build a little wall of snow.

The group from Radiant Garden had decided to give the Beast’s Castle - could you actually still call it that? - a visit, after Lea had told them that, unlike their own world, there is snow in others when the cold season started. Neither of the girls had ever seen snow before, so they had been very excited to see the white glory for the first time.

Of course, Lea had to mention games you play in the winter, like a snowball fight. Of course Akira was all for it. Kairi and herself only agreed to it, after Chip and Belle had overheard their conversation and wanted to take part in this little game.

Ilana just hoped it would stay a game. One could never know with those two.

Several minutes later the two teams had finished their preparations. Kairi went over the rules they had agreed on.

“..., no hard objects and no magic in any form!”

“As if our magic would help anyway,” Ilana could hear Lea say to Akira, who chuckled and agreed with a nod.

“The game ends when one team gives up. Everybody ready?”

A collective shouts of YES! echoed through the backyard.

“Okay, then ready….GOO-ahhh!”

The moment Kairi gave the starting signal, she already had to hide behind their little wall from the snowballs of Akira. But the princess was quick and threw one of her own and hit Lea on the shoulder.

It quickly became apparent that Kairi was the one with the best aim in their team, scoring most hits on the two red heads. Chip barely scored anything, but that didn’t damp down the enthusiasm of the boy and he had the time of his life.

Ilana herself had just one goal: Hit Akira at least once in the face. And she even managed it! But her friend wasn’t so happy about that and now she was her primary target. To keep herself safe, Ilana sat down behind the snow wall besides Belle.

“I have to admit, you guys play this game with much more fervor than I’m used to,” Belle said with a nervous laugh and dared to glance over the wall, just to quickly sit back again, when a snowball flew right above her head.

“Warned you, that playing a game with them is not for the faint-hearted,” Ilana smiled, making it herself comfortable. No way she would get up now that she had Akira’s wrath on her.

“Indeed. But at least they seem to have fun,” Belle mused, looking at Chip and Kairi.

Ilana hummed in agreement.

Not only were Akira and Lea very much in the game, but also Kairi. It surprised her sometimes how ructious the princess could be. Was she always like that or did it come from the time she spent with the other two?

Ilana slapped Kairi’s knee before she could finish the colorful sentence she had just started.

“Kairi, not in front of the kid!”

“Ups, sorry,” she apologized, but was right back in the game when she was hit at her head.

With a sigh Ilana eased back. She bet that the cusses came from Lea.

“We give up, We give up!” Kairi shouted, half hiding behind the snow wall and waving her arms over her head.

The hail of snowballs stopped at that.

“You sure? We’d give you another fair chance if you want,” Lea shouted back, casually leaning with his elbow on their own wall.

“No thanks,” Kairi said loud enough, before she let herself drop to the ground with a sigh. “None of us wants to continue this madness,” she mumbled only for Ilana, Bell and Chip.

“Says the one who highly contributed to it,” Ilana chuckled and got a grin and shrug of shoulders from Kairi.

“It was so much fun! I hope we can do this again!” Chip said, grinning widely. Still it was obvious that the boy was tired, since Belle had to hold him in position, or he would have just slumped to the ground.

“This certainly was...an experience,” Belle commented over the loud victory cheerings of Akira and Lea, while she wiped all the snow from Chip’s head and shoulders.

“As much fun as this was, I have to admit I can’t wait to get back inside. This whole snow thing can be really cold,” Ilana admitted and rubbed over the sleeves of her jacket.

“Yeah, I just realize that now,” Kairi agreed and mirrored the motion, her teeth jitterin now that the heath of the battle was over.

Belle laughed at the two girls freezing like that. “Well, then we better head back into the castle. I’m sure Mrs. Potts has prepared some tee for you to warm up.”

“Ah, that sounds lovely,” Ilana hummed.

She was about to get up and call, grabbing at her back and shaking herself, while Lea had to lean against the wall from how hard he laughed.

If Ilana had to guess, he had shoved some snow down her back. She shook in sympathy for her best friend.

When Akira gave up on getting rid of the snow in her clothes, she turned around to glare at him.

“Lea, you goddamn-!”

Quickly Ilana covered Chip’s ears.

Why did everyone have to curse?

Before Lea could react, Akira was tackling him to the ground, pressing his head into a pile of snow. He struggled a lot and was then able to throw her off his back, just so that he could pin her on the ground and now tried to shove snow down her front. But she quickly kicked him against the side and started her counterattack.

The others watched them in their tussle.

“I don’t know if this is cute or concerning,” Ilana mused, making Kairi chuckle.

“Hard to tell, huh?”

Belle on the other hand was certainly concerned. “Shouldn’t we try to stop them?”

“If you want to get caught in the cross-fire, by all means do so,” Ilana snorted and the other woman nodded with a sigh.

“I assume this is normal for them?”

“Yeah, it’s their way of showing that they like each other. They’re weird that way,” Ilana explained on the quiet, making now both Kairi and Belle chuckle.

But Chip was confused by this. “But Belle and Adam like each other too and I never see them play around like this.”

“You know Chip, adults have different ways to show affections. Akira and Lea are both very silly and prefer to play and joke with each other, instead how Belle and Adam do it in a civilized manner,” Ilana said in a rather exaggerating tone, making the other two laugh again. Chip on the other hand pondered about this answer.

“Anyway, let’s finally get inside. They’ll follow us when they’ve worn out each other,” Kairi suggested, receiving agreeing hums.

Ilana and Kairi, draped in blankets, carried plates of tea and biscuits to the library, since Belle had suggested that they should warm up there at the fireplace, while she read one of her favorite books of them.

It was when they passed the entrance hall, that they spotted Akira and Lea entering the castle.

They were both wet from head to toe, their hair sticking to their heads and jittered awfully from the cold.

“Well? Finished fooling around you two?” Ilana asked them in a teasing tone, but it seemed they were too exhausted to catch on the ambiguousness of that question and just making confirming, grunting noises, while trying to get warm again.

“And? Who won?” Kairi looked from one to the other.

They stopped in their attempts to warm themselves up and looked ad each other with an unsure expression, before answering.

“I guess...the tree?” Lea’s answer sounded more like a question, but Akira nodded.

“The...tree?” Ilana and Kairi were confused at this, so Akira started to explain.

“You see, while we were still in the middle of our little brawl-”

“Which I would have totally won,” Lea muttered in-between.

“As if,” she retorted and punched his upper-arm playfully. Before this turned into another tussle, she just continued to explain. “Anyway, we weren’t paying attention to the things around and at some point we both crashed against a tree. Bunch of snow fell down and almost buried us.”

“It was a really close call,” he added with a not so happy face at the memory.

Ilana and Kairi sighed.

“We really can’t leave you two troublemaker alone, can’t we?” Ilana said in a slightly chiding tone, but still smiled at them.

Lea and Akira grinned at each other, before they looked back to the girls, sticking out their tongues.

“Apparently not,” Akira answered her answer, making them both laugh.

“You two are so childish. Sometimes I can’t believe you’re actually older than me,” Kairi said.

It was not intentionally from her, but with this simple statement a lot of the merry mood was drained out of the two before her.

“Have to catch up on things after all,” Lea answered with a shrug and Akira nodded, both having a rather sober smile on their face.

Confused, but also worried, Kairi looked between them, before it dawned on her what the problem was. She was about to apologize, when Ilana spoke up.

“You two should get out of those wet clothes or you’ll get sick. Mrs. Potts is in the kitchen, she will have blankets for you.”

“Right, sounds like a good idea,” Akira agreed, both seemingly to remember that they were freezing and with jittering teeth made their way to the kitchen.

“We will wait in the library for you,” Ilana called after them. After giving Kairi a reassuring nod, the two girls went on their way.

The group had already settled in in front of the fireplace, with Belle sitting in a big, comfy chair and Ilana, Kairi and Chip cuddling together on a small couch, when Akira and Lea joined them.

Their clothes had been apparently so soaked, that they had to borrow pants from someone and wore only their shirts under their blankets.

While Lea claimed an armchair as his, Akira fetched the tea for them.

Ilana was a bit surprised that Akira sat besides Lea and huddled up to him with no protest, especially when he put his arm around her, even tho she could see that her friend’s ears were red. Seemed like she was glad for any warmth she could get.

As soon as everybody at made it themselves comfortable and was provided with tea and snacks, Belle started to read the story for them.

It was about an hour later.

The exhaustion from their day spent outside, the warmth of the fire and the soft tone of Belle’s voice made Ilana very drowsy. Kairi and Chip, who leant against each side of her, were already fast asleep. She would have dozed off too, if not for the fact that Belle suddenly stopped reading and chuckled, which got her attention.

She looked to the other woman, who pointed with a smile to the chair of Lea and Akira. When Ilana looked at them, she had to chuckle, too.

They were both also asleep and had gotten very cozy with each other.

Lea was simply slumped against the backrest, supporting his head with one arm leaning on the armrest and the other one still around her shoulders. He snored softly, something that didn’t seem to bother Akira, even her head and one hand rested on his chest.

This was such a cute sight for the sore eyes! Ilana just had to take a picture of this, for various reasons.

While rummaging for her Gummiphone, Kairi besides her woke up and looked around confused. When Ilana pointed to the two sleeping in the armchair, it took Kairi only a few seconds to get what was going and also started to giggle.

Ilana was able to take a picture just in time, since apparently Lea wasn’t that deep asleep. Or the giggling woke him up. His snoring died down and slowly opening his eyes, trying to blink away the sleep.

With big grins, Ilana and Kairi waved at him, when he looked over to them.

Still a bit sleepy, he raised one hand in a salute, but that made Akira stir. Seemingly sensing the missing arm on her shoulder, she grabbed it in her sleep and put it back to where it was before, signing contently.

While Lea looked puzzled at that, Ilana and Kairi had to hold themselves together not to giggle and gush too loud. Still Lea put his finger on his smiling lips to beckon them not to wake her up.

Ilana nodded and shushed Kairi when she got a bit too loud with her giggling, even tho she herself was still trying to get herself under control.

Belle watched all this with an amused expression.

After a few minutes the girls had calmed down and Belle had resumed to reading the book.

While listening to the story, Ilana glanced over to the armchair.

Akira had luckily not waked up from their tittering. The girl needed every bit of sleep she would allow herself.

What made Ilana gush internally was the way how Lea gently combed his fingers through her hair and the soft smile he had while looking down at Akira’s sleeping form. She bet that the girl would have melted like a snowball in front of a fire, if she could’ve seen it.

It was so adorable to watch. But also so frustrating with how in love those two where with each other, but refused to talk with the other about it.

Ilana did her best to push them into the right directions, but one thing they had in common was their stubbornness.

Maybe a direct approach would be better?

Akira was a lost cause for that, so much she knew.

But maybe it would help if she had a word with Lea.

Yeah, that sounded like a good plan.

#kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts 3 #axel #lea #kairi #kh oc #kingdom hearts oc #disney #akira #ilana #axel/lea #AkiLea #my writing

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 6 years ago

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WAD LIAO 86

Lance had absolutely no memory of what happened between blasting his way out of the ship and getting back to the castle, only that waking up to find 8 pairs of eyes staring back at him was just plain creepy. Groaning at the unwanted brightness of the world, he tried to hide back under the blankets as Hunk joyfully yelled his name. Scrunching his eyes closed, he shook his head

"Lance isn't here right now. Please try again later"

"Lance, you have no idea how worried we were. We put you in a pod, but you were still unconscious when the glass opened"

"I wasn't out long enough. I feel like quiznak"

"You look like it too and you stink!"

"Thanks Pidge. Just what everyone wants to hear when they wake up. Now let me sleep"

"Lance? How are you feeling?"

Tugging the blanket from his hold, Keith nuzzled at his face, before kissing his cheek and moving to stroke his hair

"How do you feel, baby?"

"Gross. My head hurts"

"Probably because you had a massive dose of quintessence..."

"I didn't mean to..."

"Whether you meant to or not, the fact remains that Lotor is now 6 containers short of pure quintessence, and a ship"

"What? What happened to the ship?"

"It exploded. There was a flash of blue, the black goop disappeared, and then an explosion in the hangar. I'm assuming that was you?"

"I don't remember"

"After that, there was a second explosion in hangar which set off a chain reaction"

"Oh... it sounds like I missed all the fun"

"How can you joke at a time like this? You've been unconscious for the last 12 vargas, after spending a whole quintant in a pod"

"Shiro, now is not the time"

"It is. He made a monumental mess of the mission"

"No he didn't"

"I have no idea how I am going to explain any of this to Lotor"

"Then how about you don't"

He hadn't even been awake 5 doboshes and Keith was picking a fight with Shiro. Wriggling lower in the blankets, he sighed to himself unhappily

"We can't not tell him"

"How are we supposed to tell him Lance messed up the mission?"

The only warning about what happened next was the snarl that Keith let out. He felt the alpha move from his side, before the was a solid thud, followed by another one

"Keith!"

Allura screamed Keith's name, and the boys let out screaming cries of their own. Immediately hushing them, Allura carried them to Lance's side, while Hunk was trying to say something or other to Keith. In the way of wake ups, it wasn't the worst one he'd ever had, but it was definitely up there. Sighing, Lance pushed at the blankets

"Lance..."

"Allura, can you help me up? I can't put up with this right now"

"Lance, you need to rest"

"I don't feel well"

Placing one of the boys against him, Allura used her now free hand to place her palm on his forehead

"You feel hot"

"I feel gross... my head hurts"

By now Pidge and Coran were weighing in on whatever was happening between Keith and Shiro, only adding to noise that threaten to split his head open. Whimpering in pain, he curled around his son as he tried to rub his back to soothe him

"Will you all be quite!"

It was unusual for Allura to yell, let alone scold everyone at once, so other than the pups, everyone in the room fell silent

"Thank you. Lance is sick, and you are all making it worse. Now that he's awake, I want you all out of this medical bay until further notice!"

"But...?"

"What...?"

"Keith and Shiro..."

"He's my husband..."

"Queen Allura..."

"Quite! Now please leave"

"But..."

"Keith, I suggest you calm down and get some rest before you come back here. Coran, I want you to preform a scan on Lance. Now that he's awake, I want to make sure he's actually alright and not suffering from overexposure to quintessence"

"What about the boys?"

"I'll look after them, just... give me a bit"

"Lance"

"Shiro, that's enough. I can't believe you and Keith. You both need to sit down and have a serious conversation, because this is completely unacceptable. You're team members of Voltron, we can't win a war, when we're fighting amongst each other"

There were a few grumbles, all of which from Keith, but surprisingly enough, the rest of the team apologised and promised to come later. Left alone in the room, Keith came back to his side

"Keith, you need to rest. You haven't slept since you returned"

"I can't, Allura. I can't leave him"

"Lance?"

"I'm ok, just go get some rest..."

"Baby..."

"Keith, you need to rest"

"Then I'll sleep on the other bed"

"Please just go. I'm not going anywhere and Allura's right, you need to rest. The boys need their dad"

"And what about you?"

"I'm ok..."

"You're not ok"

Whining, which ever twin he was holding wriggled in an attempt to escape his hold. He didn't have the strength for this. He felt like he'd been run over, and even if he knew he was going to miss Keith the dobosh he walked out the door, it wasn't fair to ask him to stay

"Keith, please. I don't want to fight"

A small kiss was pressed to his lips

"Call me. If you need anything, or if something happens..."

"It's alright Keith. I will make sure he's taken care of"

"See. Now stop worrying"

Releasing the pressure that went into scrunching his eyes shut, Lance felt the pain in his head lessen minutely. It took a few long moments, but finally he heard Keith moving away from him. It was another few moments before Allura spoke again

"He left"

"Sorry, Allura. I just couldn't... my head hurts too much"

"It's alright. They've all been bickering since Shiro and Keith arrived back with you. Hopefully now they'll give it a rest"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to screw everything up"

Feeling something wet on his face, he had no idea why he was crying

"Lance, you didn't screw anything up"

"I did. Now Keith's even madder at Shiro, and you all have to tell Lotor what happened..."

Kissing his forehead, Allura moved his son back into her hold. Lance immediately missing the warmth

"Coran, why don't you go ahead and scan Lance. After that, we can see about letting you get some more rest"

"Right now I just want to shower"

"I don't think you're in any condition for that. You're lucky your plate armour protected you"

"Was it that bad?"

"It was. You were also bleeding, though we couldn't find the wound"

"Oh..."

It was a miracle that Keith had left in the first place, doubly so now

"I don't know how it all went so wrong"

"We knew there was a risk of both the black goo and quintessence being on that ship..."

"I..."

"It's ok, Lance. Just lay still for Coran"

It was way too much effort to roll back on to his back as his stomach filled with heat from the scanner. There was the usual silence from Coran, before the man finally reported the results way too loudly

"All you're external injuries have healed, but now that we know quintessence affects fertility, I superimposed your womb..."

His stomach dropped. He knew he already wasn't going to like this

"Normally the castle pods can heal all manner of injuries, though this time there seems to be scarring on the lining of your womb, much like an electrical burn"

Allura let out a small gasp

"I'm afraid I don't know enough about what that means to give you a definitive answer, though I suspect your fertility may be affected. However, it seems a rather straight forward procedure to remove the damaged tissue, and I'm confident the Olkari will be well equipped to perform such a procedure"

For an omega to be told they might not be able to do the very thing they were born to do was shocking enough. For Lance though, he wondered why he wasn't more shaken over it? Was it because thing were rocky with Keith? Or because even if his omega wanted another child, he knew he couldn't cope with it?

"Lance?"

"I just... I don't want to do anything about it"

"You mean you don't want to have another child?"

"Allura. I can't... my last miscarriage was from my body not being able to keep up. I don't want to fall pregnant again and have the same thing happen due to exposure to quintessence"

"Lance..."

"Coran, will the damage worse?"

"No. The scar tissue has already healed this way. I do not believe it will spread"

"Then I don't want surgery"

"Isn't this something you should talk to Keith about?"

"He's only going to blame himself... I'll talk to him about it when... when it's a better time. He won't rest if he thinks he needs to be by my side. Coran, is there anything else I should know?"

"No. All your levels are returning to normal naturally, and the quintessence has already "left" your body"

"Ok..."

"Shall I turn the scanner off?"

"Please. Lance, what do you want to do?"

"I feel revolting. Can I shower? I'll be careful, I'll even sit on the shower floor"

"What if you pass out or slip?"

"Then come with me. Not into the shower, but if you're in the next room, I mean. I don't know. My head hurts"

"Coran, would you mind coming with us? Honestly, I would prefer you waited until with Keith to shower, but even with your armour off..."

"I still smell like dead Galra..."

"Unfortunately"

"Yep. Shower time"

Coran supported him down to the hall to the first room with a shower. The Altean probably would have even stayed and helped him shower if Allura hadn't gently distracted him by asking him to hold Lanieth. Sinking immediately to the floor, Lance crawled out of the blanket wrapped around him and into the shower, blindly feeling for taps and jumping when spray of water hit his back. So, still in his underwear, Lance went about curling up under the hot water. It didn't help his headache, but knowing the Galra stink was running down the drain made him feel a million times better, but gradually his hands came to his stomach as the shock finally began to pass. How was he supposed to tell Keith? Coran said it seemed like a straightforward surgery, but this was damage from quintessence and it made no sense. If quintessence was life, shouldn't he be going into heat, rather than suffering damage that could prevent the creation of another life? He was still scared of falling pregnant again, but to never have another child? Would Keith be happy with just their two boys? And he'd had them so young... when he was 36, his sons would be 18... he wanted another two pups, and Keith had been ok with having 4 children... but what happened if something happened to the boys? Being in space, they'd had none of their vaccinations. What if they came down with something as simple as the flu? Out here, it could very easily kill them... there was also the constant worry of SID's, and what if another accident happened, like how Lanieth had gotten hold of Keith's blade. Whining for his husband, he gripped his stomach firmly. He wanted to give Keith all the children his husband wanted. To build a life with them and his mate. To have the same chaos for his children that he'd had, and for Keith... Keith was the last of his bloodline... Lance had his brothers and his sisters, but Keith, Keith was all alone. The closest thing to a brother he'd had was Shiro, but that wasn't blood... what good was a male omega who couldn't carry and birth pups?

Lance was still crying on the bathroom floor when the door slid open and Allura came rushing in. Turning the taps off, the queen ignored the fact he was soaking wet as she gathered him up against her

"Lance? What's wrong?"

"Everything... Allura, what do I do?"

"Lance, is this about the scan?"

Nodding, he buried his face against her neck, nuzzling in a bid to find some comfort, but she wasn't Keith, and his omega was having the mother of all meltdowns internally

"Coran said surgery was an option"

"But what if it didn't work? I... Keith wanted more kids... not right now, but you know, eventually. I... I just..."

"Shhhh, we'll work everything out. We always do"

"How... how am I supposed to tell him?"

"Don't worry about that for now. You're over tired and your emotions are all over the place. Are you still in pain?"

"Y-yes"

"Can you stand?"

"I don't know... I feel so sick, Allura"

"Coran!"

Wincing at Allura calling for Coran, he whimpered as she held him tighter

"Sorry. I didn't think"

"It's ok. It's not your fault"

"Allura, Lance. What's happening here?"

"Coran, can you please help Lance up and back to the medical room. We need to find something safe to give him for the pain"

"Certainly. Lance, my boy, I'll just grab you a towel and we'll have you out of the shower in a tick"

"T-the pups?"

"I'll see to them"

"I want to feed them. My chest hurts"

"I'll help you feed them once you're settled back in the medical room"

"Thank you..."

"Anytime. You know I would do anything and everything I can to help you"

"I know... I've missed you, Allura"

"I've missed you too. Coran's going to help you up now"

Nodding his consent, the man surprised him by lifting him up and into his hold. He didn't doubt Coran was strong, but being lifted was confusing and threw centre of balance off. Scrunching his eyes again, he groaned miserably as Coran started the walk through to the medical room.

It was another varga and a half before Lance could finally settle back down. The boys had been fed, but each time Allura tried to move them from his side, they begin screaming, that was how he ended up curled up on the floor as both his sons tried to hit and poke him for attention. With how active the boys had become, he wasn't risking having them up on the examination bed with him, even if the fall was small, he just couldn't risk it. He was miserable and didn't want to be responsible for something happening to his boys. With an IV in his left arm, his naked form was covered by three thick blankets, though he was back to freezing. Sitting with her leg against his back, Allura was playing with his hair as Lance tried to ignore the fact the medication in the IV hadn't kicked in yet, and the fact Coran was terrible at inserting an IV line. Unable to see a particularly had smack coming, Lance flinched back into Allura as he was hit in the eye

"Lance?"

"I'm ok. One of them just hit me in the eye"

"Kelance is closest to your face"

"I'm sorry, would you mind making sure they don't hit my face. I can't open my eyes"

"They're just so happy to see you. I could tell how badly they missed you"

"I missed them too... and saying goodbye to Fern... I couldn't stop myself from crying"

"She was rather adorable. Keith told me the family seemed a good fit?"

"We don't really know. Shiro wouldn't let us stay and find out..."

"Lance, I know Shiro is making things hard, but please try not to think about it for now"

"I don't want to think about anything. I'm so exhausted and all I want to do is sleep"

"Perhaps there's something we can give you?"

"No... I don't like taking things while I'm breast feeding..."

"What can I do?"

"Just, watch the boys?"

"It's hard not to"

Lance snorted and immediately regretted it. His sinuses now deciding to throb in time with the rest of his head. While he didn't particularly want to take medication, he wouldn't say no to being knocked out the old fashion way.

Eventually Lance must have fallen asleep as he was woken by the sound of a plate smashing. Blinking as he opened his eyes, he found himself looking up at Pidge, who was rushing to pick up the pieces of the plate she'd just dropped

"Good morning to you too"

"Sorry Lance, I just wasn't expecting you to be in bed with Allura"

Confused as to what she was talking about, he looked down to find Allura sleeping opposite him with Kelance curled up against her and her body angled as such so the twins couldn't make an escape for it. Remembering he was naked, Lance blushed bright red

"It's soooo not what you think"

"So Allura didn't say up watching the boys so you could sleep?"

"Oh, in that case, it's exactly what you think. What's the time?"

"About 5 in the morning. I woke up for a midnight snack, and decided to poke my head in on the way back"

"And wake up the whole castle while you were at it"

"That was because I didn't expect you to be sleeping with Allura"

"We're not sleeping together..."

Rolling off his arm, he winced at how bruised it was from not removing the cannula. Sliding it free with a hiss, he rolled back on it to hide the damage

"If you say so. How do you feel?"

"My headaches gone... but still pretty average, and cold"

"That's what happens when you run around half naked"

"I'm not running around half naked, and I'm not even running"

It clicked for Pidge, the female alpha wrinkling her nose

"Ok. Too much information"

"How do you think I feel? I can't even get up and get a change of clothes"

"I might be convinced to bring you some up"

"Oh yeah, what's that going to cost me?"

"I don't know yet"

"Great. That means I'm in your debt"

"Don't worry, I won't make you pay up big"

"I'm still worried. Anyway, you should probably take that back to the kitchen, unless you want to keep talking to me knowing..."

"La la la. Ok. Point taken. I'll bring something for you to wear"

"Something reasonable"

"I never said that"

Grinning, Pidge fled from the room before he could come up with something witty to say. He knew she'd probably just bring him back his uniform, or sweats and shirt, but he was still nervous about her choices, and even more nervous that she'd ask Keith to bring him his clothes. He desperately missed his husband, and his omega was beginning to melt down again over the previous day's news, but he needed a little more time to process before talking to Keith

"Lance?"

Settling Lanieth back against him, Lance tried to smile at Allura. Sleeping on the floor really didn't agree with the Queen, and her hair was a total mess

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you"

"It's quite alright. How are you feeling?"

"My head doesn't feel like it's going to burst anymore"

"Excellent. Have you been awake long?"

"No. Just repositioning. Gotta make the most of it before the boys wake up"

"I can take them if you'd like?"

"No, I've missed then like crazy, but it looks like you've got a fan"

Stroking Kelance's hair, Allura yawned as she nodded

"It is rather nice to wake up to them"

"I know. They're still so small, but they've grown so much. I love waking up and watching them sleep"

"As sweet as this is, I think Kelance needs a nappy change"

"Oh... possibly. If you um, grab the supplies from the cupboard, I'll change him"

"I don't mind changing him, unless you'd rather"

"As long as you promise not to watch me. We fell asleep before asking Coran to grab me something to wear, so now it's kind of weird"

Allura blushed much like he had

"I didn't think..."

"I was too tired to work clothes anyway. Coran had to help me take my own underwear off..."

"Should I call Coran? Or Keith?"

"Not Keith... not yet, he needs sleep. Pidge stopped by on her way back from getting a snack, she said she'd bring something up, but who knows how long that's going to take"

"I'm sure Pidge will be right back. I'll change Kelance"

"Thanks... after that, we should probably try and get some more sleep. Shiro will probably want us up and training today, and no offence, you look as bad as I do"

Laughing, Allura lifted Kelance up as she rose, busting herself gathering up what she needed to change the pup

"I really didn't intend to fall asleep"

"I don't mind. Not if it's you. It's not like you haven't slept beside me before"

"That's very true. I don't know what it is, but sharing a room with you feels almost natural"

"It's because I'm wonderful, and awesome, and little the annoying brother you always wanted, and are now stuck with"

"Yes, to be honest, sometime's it does get quite lonely sleeping so far away from you all"

"Then you should just come hang in the nursery. We can play with the boys and nap"

"Oh how I wish I could. I'm going to have to contact Lotor and make sure everything is thoroughly explained"

"Have you talked to him since Honerva?"

"No, well, yes. But only very briefly. He took her death much harder than I expected. Not at all like when Zarkon died"

"Probably because Honerva actually loved him. She wanted to go back in time to be with him"

"The love of a mother is a complicated thing"

"You have no idea... I would do anything for the twins. That's how I feel. I mean, I love Voltron, but I love the boys even more"

"Of course you do. You birthed them and brought them into this world. Their part you, and part Keith. A symbol of your love"

"Well that love is all over the place at the moment. I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I keep dragging Keith down, but he never gives up"

"Lance, you're much braver and stronger than you think. You just need to believe in yourself more"

"I honestly don't know how to do that anymore"

"I think talking with Pidge and Hunk was definitely a step in the right direction. You're allowed to voice you're feelings, and you're allowed to take time to work out what you want and need"

"I need a million dollars and full body massage"

"A million dollars?"

"Sorry, it's an Earth joke"

"Earth seems rather beautiful. I wish it was closer"

"It is, and so do I. There's so much I wish I could have shown you"

"Lance, we have our whole lifetime to return. We won't be stuck in this situation forever"

"Sometimes it feels like we will. I don't know how you can stay so strong?"

"I'm not strong, all I have is this belief and desire for peace. For everyone to be safe and protected. I want to reach out my hand and protect them all"

"I do too. When I think about everyone out there still suffering and the black goop could be infecting any number of planets. It feels like there's no end to it... or something. I don't know if I'm even making sense"

"You're making sense. I wish talking to Shiro was this easy. Each time I try, he throws up his walls, and I never know what he's feeling anymore"

"Allura, do you still have feelings for him?"

"I honestly don't know. So much has happened, and it may be bad, I am truly grateful he doesn't remember what happened when he wasn't himself"

"Me too, but sometimes, when he snaps, I wish he did. I wish he could understand that when he gets angry, I can't mentally take it. I keep waiting for him to snap and hurt me, and it's exhausting"

"I don't believe he'd physically hurt you"

"Feelings and fears aren't always rational. I mean, I know I can't live without Keith, but I still wonder if breaking up with him would be the right thing to do"

"Oh, Lance. No..."

"Feelings suck"

"Maybe you'll be able to talk when you take your leave?"

"I don't know. I don't even know if we should leave, or if we do, I don't know if I'm going to be able to relax"

"I've been thinking about it. I think we could all use a break, and we are supposed to be on one, despite what Shiro thinks. Perhaps after you've taken your leave, Pidge and Hunk could? That way the castle would still be staffed"

"That's a great idea. They totally need a break. Maybe they could stay with Matt? I know they hardly get to see each other"

Allura nodded as she smiled, lifting Kelance to her chest, the small boy grabbing her hair

"I think someone's awake, and hungry"

"Probably. I'll take him"

"In that case, I'll change Laneith. I wonder how much longer Pidge is going to be"

"She's evil, don't forget that. She'd happily let me sit around naked all day"

"She's not evil, maybe... instead, spirited?"

Lance shot Allura grin

"Very spirited"

"Who's very spirited?"

Walking into the medical room, Pidge raised an eyebrow as she came to stop

"You"

"Of course I am, but what did I do this time?"

"I said I wouldn't be surprised if you left me sitting here naked"

"Rude. What's this then?"

"I don't know... How do I know you didn't do something to them?"

"You don't. Keith's still sleeping, so I could have gotten up to anything"

"Pidge, what did you do?"

"Nothing. Here's your clothes, and I'm going back to bed"

Carrying the pile over, Pidge dropped the pile down next to him

"I hope you're not too mentally scarred Allura. I wanted to be back before you woke up"

"I think I'll survive"

Pouting at the pair of them, the both smiled happily

"Hey, I'm not that hideous"

"Well, I wouldn't say hideous..."

"Hear how she talks to me! You can forget that favour"

"Nope. I'm definitely going to cash that in, when I think of something appropriate"

"Oh god. I've made a deal with the devil, haven't I?"

"Maaaaaybe. Anyway, don't get up to anything I wouldn't!"

"We all know what you get up to!"

Mocking insult Pidge grabbed her chest, before poking her tongue out

"Don't be late for breakfast"

"We won't... besides, I get the feeling Hunk will bring us breakfast because I'm still not allowed to leave"

"Breakfast in the medical room? That works. I'll let Hunk know"

"And Keith, and Coran"

"Can't you call them?"

"Nope, I don't know where my communicator is"

"Fine! I'm leaving before you give me anything else to do"

Allura changed Laneith as Lance dressed. Pidge had grabbed one of Keith's shirts, meaning it was right across his breasts, and the fabric had been pulled up about an inch, showing off his belly button above the top of his jeans. He'd worked hard, and the castle's healing pods had definitely sped things along, but there was still the slightest muffin top, which left him feeling super uncomfortable... despite the fact he'd just been talking to both Pidge and Allura, with his breasts exposed. Why did depression have to be so weird?

"So, are we really going to have breakfast in here?"

"I would say so... I didn't think Pidge would agree so readily"

"Neither did I. But you know what that means"

"What?"

"We can go back to sleep"

Giggling Allura returned to the nest on the floor, laying Lanieth down next to Kelance, before tickling the boy's stomach

"You can't expect them to sleep if you stir him up"

"But he's so adorable. They're both so cute"

"Remember that when they start crying. If we're going back to sleep, you might want to cuddle up against him again, or he's going to try and make an escape"

"We can't have that"

"Not even crawling properly and their planning their escape. Can you imagine what they'll be like when they start running?"

Allura giggled

"I have the mental image of you and Keith both running off in opposite directions, trying to catch them"

"Me too. Or Coran. I can picture him with them, like a loving grandfather"

"They're going to love all his stories, and he's going to love having such a captive audience"

Lance yawned as he agreed, he could barely keep his eyes open now that he knew everything had been taken care of. Readjusting his hold on kelance, he curled around his pup and buried his face in the boys soft hair.

Keith hadn't intended to fall asleep. Leaving the medical room, he'd been furious and frustrated over being kicked out, and the look of annoyance Shiro had shot him had his teeth aching. The man had been practically family to him. The brother he'd never had by blood, yet now all he felt was angry each time Shiro opened his mouth, or so much as looked at Lance in a way his alpha perceived as "wrong". He knew thing had been dragged out for far too long, and like an infected wound, the puss should have been drained long ago... even if it mean tearing the wound wide open. Waving off Hunk and Pidge, he'd stalked down to his room with the intention of showering and then returning to Lance, only once he'd gotten out of the shower and sunk down on the bed, he'd flopped back and grabbed Lance's pillow. Falling asleep with his face buried against it, he woke confused as to why Lance wasn't by his side. The bed was way too big and empty without him, and as he slowly woke, he realised he felt way too refreshed. Cursing himself, he'd rushed to dress before rushing from the bedroom, still struggling to button his jeans as he did, realising in his hurry to return to his mate, they were a pair of Lance's jeans that had torn at the buttonhole during his husband's pregnancy. Deciding against going back, he tugged his shirt over them and hoped no one would notice, or care.

Reaching the medical bay, Keith slammed his hand down on the door pad without a second thought. His free hand tried to soothe back his hair, but in reality, it was still a mess. Not that he could see this though, and not that he really cared about it personally, he just wanted to look good for his mate. How could he just fall asleep like that? What if something had happened during the night? What if Lance had needed him, and he hadn't been there? What if he'd had an episode and hurt himself? Would Coran or Allura know how to help him? Would they have been able to stop him? All these thoughts flashed through his mind, but the moment the door opened completely, it all fell away. Sitting on the floor, Allura, Pidge, Coran and Lance were all chatting about something, while Lance had both boys in his lap. Watching as Lance waved his hands around animatedly, his husband seemed truly alright, and... happy. The thorns of jealousy were quick to grip his stomach as the little voice in the back of his head told him he was stupid for worrying, when Lance clearly didn't need him. It wasn't a great feeling, nor was it made any better when Lance caught side of him and his face fell slightly

"Keith! You're awake?! We were going to call you, but Lance was worried about you not having slept. If you hadn't arrived by breakfast..."

"Pidge, it's fine. I was actually still sleeping until a few doboshes ago. I suppose I really needed it"

"You look much better. Pidge, you were supposed to call Keith as well as Coran"

"It's not my fault. Hunk can be very distracting"

"Tooo much information for this morning. Keith, are you going to come sit down, or are you going to stare at us?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry"

Making his way over to the group, Keith sank down between Lance and Coran

"How about you? How did you sleep?"

"Allura and Coran gave me something for the pain, and then Pidge decided she had to wake me up"

"That wasn't my fault"

"You're the one who dropped the bowl"

"I didn't mean to. Anyway, you're just lucky I grabbed you clothes"

"This is Keith's shirt..."

"Oh, well close enough. It covers what it needs to, or do you want to get around being naked?"

"I don't know, do you want me to"

"Ewww! Pass! Anyway, like I was saying before you interrupted, hunk and I found a really nice looking planet. We don't actually know what the weather conditions are like, but it's got beaches, as well as some really cool looking cliffs and jungle"

"You don't know the weather conditions, but you know all that?"

"We used the database to search through the coalition and Galra planets for beaches and oxygen"

"Well that's a good start. What do you think? Where do you want to take Lance?"

All eyes went to him, and Keith didn't know what to say. Somewhere. Anywhere. Just as long as they were free from the heavy yoke of Voltron

"Beaches are good"

"Well you're helpful. Lance was saying he'd like to take Red and Black, so we need to find somewhere with a clearing big enough for both of them, and somewhere with enough freshwater that you'll be able to bath, because I can almost guarantee you'll be trailing Lance's scent around the castle when you get back"

"Pidge!"

"I'm just saying. We all know your scents really strong, especially because you're the only omega around"

"I can't help it. I wouldn't smell like this if I could"

Keith growled, trying and failing to cover it with a cough

"I like how you smell"

"That's because he's bonded to you. You have to remember that Hunk, Shiro and I are all alphas too, and Lance's scent does affect us"

"Guys, no fighting. I'm honestly ok with wherever Keith decides"

Lance didn't sound ok. Quiznak. Why couldn't he just shove away his anxieties and enjoy the fact his husband was awake? He needed to make an effort!

"Do you want me to take one of the boys? I missed you all last night"

"We all know that's a lie, you were fast asleep..."

Poking his tongue out, the action seemed too forced

"... but if you want to take Kelance, I won't stop you"

Reaching out, Keith lifted the boy into his lap. The pup immediately beginning to cry

"Sorry, they've been really sooky about not being next to me"

Smiling as he went to stroke Kelance's back, Keith caught sight of something black and appalling looking on Lance's arm. Grabbing it before his husband could hide, his eyes widened at the bruise

"What happened!"

His voice was rough, with more bite in it than he'd intended

"Keith, it's nothing"

Lance was trying to pull his arm back, looking pained as he did

"Lance, tell me what happened"

"It's nothing. Now let go"

"Coran, Allura, do you know what happened?"

Both shook their heads, looking at Keith with both confusion and the tiniest bit of fear. They all knew Keith had a tendency to blow things out of control when it came to him

"Keith, it's not a big deal. Coran put an IV line in last night, and I messed it up in my sleep. So don't go blaming them, when all they did was try to help"

"An IV line?"

"Yeah, to dilute the pain medication, and because it wasn't like I was up for drinking or eating anything"

"Keith, it's just a nasty bruise. Lance is ok, but more importantly, when are you two leaving?"

"I don't know. Shiro wanted us to all undo testing, so I was thinking after Lance and I have been tested and we've completed our training tests"

"Oh. That makes sense. Though I don't see why we all need to be tested"

"I've already been scanned by Coran and there's nothing to report. So do you think Shiro will let me do my test after breakfast? Now I'm thinking about the beach and the water, I just want to go already"

"That's nice"

"Hey, Allura was saying that once Keith and I get back, you and Hunk can go for a movement. Maybe you could go catch up with Matt"

"Well he has been talking about a new program he's been developing with the rebel forces. He wants to record all their different customs and fighting techniques, because for some of them, they're the last of their races"

"Oh! That's kind of cool. You might be able to do something like what you did with that game you and Hunk were working on, about Earth"

"That kind of got put on the back burner with everything going on"

"You should finish it..."

"Eventually. Buuuut the castle is partially to blame. There's just too many amazing things to analyse, and not enough time"

"Pidge, you could spend your whole life researching the castle and never know all its secrets"

"Don't be mean"

"The truth hurts"

The easy banter of the group left him feeling like an outsider. He just wanted to take Lance away from them all.

"So why are we all sitting here and not in the dining or lounge room?"

"Because we decided to have breakfast here?"

"Is there some reason why?"

"Keith, just go with the flow..."

"I'm not going against it, I'm just... curious I suppose"

"It seemed a good idea a few vargas ago, when Allura and I were still tired and I didn't want to carry the boys around. They're kind of sooky at the moment"

"Probably because they had to spend so long without their mum"

"Not by choice. Still, I've missed them and it feels really good to hold them again"

Lance smiled fondly down at the son, before nuzzling his hair and pressing kisses to the spot

"You're so good with them"

"Because I love them so much. Seriously, is crazy"

"It's ok Lance, we all know you're a little crazy"

"Pidge, have I ever told you how not funny you are"

"Yep. Doesn't make it any more true. Man, Hunk is taking forever"

"Do you want a hold a baby?"

"Is he going to cry?"

"Probably"

"Then I'll pass. Today's going to be a good day"

"You just want to see me destroy the training room"

"Well, if you did, we wouldn't have to pass Shiro's ridiculous test"

"Pidge, I thought you'd be against the destruction of the castle"

"I am, but this test is so stupid. Is this why we didn't tell him about breakfast?"

"I just assumed he'd show up here eventually. You're right though. I'm starving, and Hunk still owes me cookies"

"He made a whole batch that night, but I reckon he'd make a fresh batch, just for you"

"That's because Hunk is awesome. He is the sunshine of my life"

Pidge snorted, while Keith's frown grew

"I wouldn't say that, Keith looks like he's about to have a stroke"

"Keith's naturally broody. We all know that. Those frown lines come with the rest of the package"

"The package. Thanks, Lance"

"Keith..."

"Don't bother"

Lance sighed somewhat dramatically, waving his hand at him as if shooing him in annoyance

"Keith, you're my husband. I'm just saying, you care and worry about me way too much. When you're old and you have wrinkles, every single one of them is going to be my fault"

"That's if he lives that long"

"Don't even joke about that. Keith is going to live longer than all of us, and he's going to be just fine"

"I don't want to live without you"

"Silly alpha. You have nothing to worry about, besides, it's your job to make sure our boys are safe and happy"

"And any other children you guys have. Is Lance going to be coming back from your little holiday pregnant?"

"As pregnant as you are"

Winking at Pidge, Lance blew her a kiss, but it seemed too staged for Keith

"Sorry Keith, looks like you'll just have to wait for more pups"

"I'm happy with the boys for now, but someday some more pups would be nice..."

Rising to his feet, Lance said nothing as he stepped in the middle of the group, as he crossed towards the door. There was something in his scent that had Pidge wrinkling her brow as he passed, but to Keith, whatever it was wasn't apparent

"Lance?"

"Just going to the toilet. I'll be back shortly"

"Ok. If you take too long and Hunk gets here with breakfast before you get back, I can't promise I won't steal yours"

"Pidge, Lance needs as much food and rest as he can get"

"Allura, its fine. I know Hunk will have thought of that"

Leaving them, Keith's eyes remained firmly fixed on the door that now separated him from his mate.

Shiro wasn't impressed that they'd all decided to have breakfast in the medical room without informing him, but Lance didn't care. He'd pretty much wolfed down everything Hunk had piled on his plate so he didn't have to talk to Keith. His alpha had no way of knowing that his wish for more children might never come true, and Lance couldn't exactly tell him in front of everyone... No. It was better to just give it a few quintants and let Keith calm back down, though he would kill to know just why he was so agitated and leaking suck an unpleasant scent. It seemed too much to be from the guilt of falling asleep, especially when Keith should know he wasn't mad over it. With his stomach full, and Laneith in his lap like a shield to protect him from any harsh words Shiro may say, Lance looked to the alpha and cleared his throat

"Uh, Shiro..."

"What is it Lance?"

"Well... I was wondering if I could do that test today? Coran has already given me a scan, so next is the test right?"

"Coran gave you a scan?"

"Just to make sure everything was ok... so, can I?"

"I thought you didn't want to"

"It's fine... besides, the sooner I do it, the sooner it's over"

"Fine. We can start when you're ready"

"So now?"

"You need your Bayard. I had intended for the order to be Pidge, you, Coran, Hunk, Allura and then Keith..."

"Shiro, there's no harm letting Lance go first. He's well equipped and if there are any issues with the test, we'll be able to figure them out by watching him"

"The order was to reflect individual strength"

Ouch. So Shiro thought him that weak... Two could play that game and he ignored voicing his anger

"Right... um, Allura, where's my Bayard?"

"I've got it, actually both our Bayard's are in our room"

"Keith, you should keep your Bayard on you at all times"

"I know, I was just in a rush this morning"

"That's no excuse. Lance, retrieve your Bayard and head to the training room. The rest of us will watch on in the bridge"

"Allura, can you watch Laneith? The boys aren't allowed in the training room..."

"I would love to"

"He's probably going to cry"

"It's fine, he'll be able to hear your voice as we watch, so hopefully that will help"

"Yeah. I guess I better go"

Before Keith could offer to come with him, Lance moved Lanieth to Allura's lap before fleeing the medical room, scolding himself for acting so unnatural. Of course Keith was going to know something was wrong, especially when his own behaviour wasn't even fooling himself into thinking things would work out.

15 doboshes later, Lance was standing in the training room alone. He'd taken the opportunity to put a sports bra on, and change into one of his own shirts. It wouldn't really matter once his armour formed, but at least if something happened, he wouldn't be destroying Keith's clothes

"Lance, you may begin"

Nodding, he took a breath to steal his nerves

"Begin level one!"

Slicing through the bots was ridiculously easy for the first 5 levels. Level 6 introduced the shooting floating sensor things, but they were easy enough to shoot down. He'd made good progress, or at least he thought he had. Especially as he'd only tripped over his own feet once. Dodging and weaving, he cut the last two bots down, and the next wave dropped from the ceiling. Level seven was essentially level 6 times two, and level 8, another times two. So by the time level 9 hit, he was definitely feelings the strain, and his Altean markings felt like they were on fire. Wiping his face with the back of his hand, he gripped his sword even harder, as he backed away from the group of striking bots. Hissing in pain from the numerous shots he was now taking from what seemed like a hundred of those floating sensors, it was hard to keep his focus, so soon found himself thrown across the room and landing painfully hard on the floor. Quiznak. That move should be illegal. Scrambling to gather his feet, he kicked the first bot back into the others, before swinging wide, leaving deep gashes across the front of the bots, but they weren't deep enough to force them to vanish. Swinging again, this time the motion was even sloppier than the previous time, and the closest bot was able to knock his Bayard flying across the room. It was now he realised he might be in a bit of trouble and his left arm was wracked with the feeling of pins and needles. Defenceless, he was thrown across the room again, and his temper flared. Rolling away from the approaching bots, he crawled into a run, grabbing his sword as he raced across the room to gain some kind of ground. If he didn't pass this level, they were all going to think he was weak and with his emotions messed up, he stopped thinking altogether, and let his anger flow. He hated it. He hated himself. He hated his body for betraying him, and he hated Shiro for this stupid test. Narrowing his eyes, he lowered his stance and switched back to gun, beginning to shoot down the floating sensors while running in a wide circle around the room, tears forming in his eyes as he did. Every bit of his frustration was taken out on those bots, yet each one he cut down, there was another right behind it. Slowly the feeling of anger turned to hopelessness, and the careful mask crumbled. He wanted more kids, but with the black goop and the pure quintessence in their realty, that would never, ever be an option. There would always be the risk he'd be exposed again. The risk the damage would spread, or that he'd need to actually expose himself to the quintessence in order to obliterate the black goop. He found himself feeling selfish for thinking he'd rather put his own health first, when he'd been the cause of the universe being infected. Eyeing the pack of bots in front of him, he fell hard into hold habits, letting his blade fall from his hands, before the mob began their assault. Normally they'd stop before the damage became so pronounced, but with the sheer number of them, he incurred an insane amount of damage before the simulator finally stopped. Wheezing and spasming on the ground, he welcomed the pain he felt he deserved. There was definitely something wrong with his nose, neck and ribs. His body was shaking badly, but he couldn't move at all from the waist down, which was as terrifying as it had been when Shiro broke his neck and legs. Coughing, he tasted blood and between his legs felt too wet to be slick, but too thick to be urine. This is what he got for being such a bad and self absorbed omega.

"Lance!"

Rushing to his side, Lance smiled as Keith's pale face stared down at him

"Hey... I guess we know my limit now"

"You were amazing, until... what was that?"

"Exhaustion. The blade slipped from my fingers and I was too tired to catch it"

"You can release your Bayard now. You got to level 12"

"Easier said than done, but 12 is pretty good"

"It would have been better if you hadn't gone feral"

He went feral? He was pretty certain he hadn't

"I didn't go feral"

"Actually, you did baby, but you seemed to pull yourself out of it. Are you hurt?"

"I think I landed on my shoulder wrong..."

Which was technically true

"I'll carry you to the pod room"

"Can you walk?"

"No. I think I did my shoulder pretty good"

"Lance, you're supposed to have stopped before the physical damage became too much. You can't expect us to come to your rescue after every battle"

"I didn't know that. You didn't exactly explain it, and it wasn't intentional"

"Wasn't it?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Take him to the pod room, then Pidge will take her test"

"Perhaps it's best to call it a day"

"Allura, you of all people know we need to be prepared"

"Shiro, you are not the leader of Voltron, and there for you are making calls and decisions you have no right to. First Lance is going into a healing pod"

Piping up, Pidge raised her hand as Keith lifted him from the ground

"I don't mind going next... Keith should stay with Lance, and if we keep going, we can get them out the way"

"Keith won't be staying with Lance. He needs to be present to watch over your test. He needs to see how each of us function"

"No. Not happening. I am not leaving Lance, not again. It is far too soon for him to need healing again"

"Keith, you're over reacting"

"So if I stood you up, you wouldn't just topple over?"

"Maybe, but I'm fine. Just tired"

And lying his arse off, but sometimes a lie was better than the truth....

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