#she forgot. she isn’t her anymore. why ask a beast if it remembers what the girl it consumed used to be.

[a-friendly-dumpster-fire]

have a sloppy sketch because i cannot find words to explain the emotional role reversal between breath of the wild and tears of the kingdom. something about losing yourself in the pursuit of finding yourself. forgetting the more you try to remember, losing more in order to gain more, sacrificing the very thing you fought to protect and that thing being memory etc etc . you know

[theshelbyclan]

Happy Birthday!

Summary: It’s your birthday! And the Shelby brothers refuse to let another one of their baby sister’s birthday go by without some proper celebrating. 

(Gif by @benson-shelby​)  A/N: It’s actually my birthday today, but due to quarantine I can’t really celebrate it with anyone. So I decided to celebrate with the Shelby’s! Via this little fic, purely self-indulgent, to cheer myself up and to remember some great birthdays I had in the past ;) Set in season 1, you’re just a few years younger than John. Words: 1710 *** “John, get her tea.” “I thought you had the tea.” “Well, then get the milk!” urgent whispers sounded in the hallway. 

“I’m not your bloody maid, am I, Ada,” John spat not so quietly in return.

You were lying in bed, awake for hours already. This was the day you’d become a woman, or so Ada had said, but still, your siblings were bickering like little children. It brought a smile to your face. Another annoyed grumble, “Shhh, you’re going to wake her up!” “Am not,” he hissed, “I got your fucking milk, didn’t I!” “Oi!” another low voice joined in, “Ada, you really need to take a look at the toast.” “What about the toast, Arthur?” “Burned it,” he mumbled and you could hear John giggle softly in the dark. Ada sighed deeply, “For fucks sake, fine, I’ll do it. Wait here.” As the least subtle brothers in the world shuffled about in the hallway, you thought of your other birthdays. When you were little, they were celebrated with mum and everyone gathered. During the war, no one paid attention to birthdays any longer. And now, after the war, people tried to get their lives back on track. Only last week you’d made sure Finn had gotten a birthday he’d never forget. And now they tried to return the favour, obviously. Another few minutes and about a thousands curses passed, when they finally tiptoed into the room. Closing your eyes, you decided to play along. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Slowly you sat up and put on a groggy voice, “What are you doing in here?” “You are the worst actor ever, Y/N,” John grinned. “Am I?” you feigned innocence. Ada handed you a cup of tea as John plopped down onto bed next to you, “Did you hear about Arthur burning the toast then?” “I didn’t burn it,” he protested, “Only… blackened it a little.” Ada sent her eldest brother a look, “Polly’s making some more.” “Thanks for the tea,” you smiled and took a sip. Frowning, you narrowed your eyes at John. “You’re not a child anymore, Y/N!” he explained happily. “Move over,” Arthur shoved his brother aside and hugged you, “Happy birthday, sweetheart. This is for you, go on, open it.” Wrapped clumsily in some brown paper, he’d given you a revolver. And just as you were staring at it, Aunt Polly walked in with toast in a lovely shade of light brown. “A gun,” she demanded at once, “For fucks sake, Arthur.” “She needs it to protect herself, Pol,” he returned, and with pride in his voice he added, “And look: it’s a lady’s gun!” You turned the weapon over and saw it was small, delicate and laid in. Still, deadly as any weapon it was. “My turn,” John said, bouncing up and down in excitement almost. He handed Polly your tea and when she sniffed it, she said strictly, “Alright, who put whiskey in her morning tea?” No one answered. Quickly John handed you his present, hardly wrapped at all. Inside, you found a peaky cap, razorblades included. “Honestly, John…” Ada sighed, “She’s not a bloody Blinder!” “It’s all she’s ever wanted!” John called out, “Ever since she could walk, she tried to steal our caps, forever talking about wanting to join us wherever we went. Now she’s got her own!” “I love it,” you beamed up at him, “All I ever wanted.” “Alright,” Ada interrupted, “Clearly Y/N has too many brothers so it’s up to me to turn her into a lady.” “Please do,” Polly sighed, “Or the only interest she’ll ever have is weapons.” She knew her niece well, “That and gambling…” Your sister combed a few rebellious strands of hair behind your ear and planted a kiss on your cheek, “My darling little sister, soon you’ll learn you have more than one way of getting a man to do what you want.” You blinked a few times. This had always been more of Ada’s area of expertise. “She has no idea what you’re on about,” Polly smirked. “Thank God,” Arthur and John said in unison. “Sit still,” Ada demanded and she started applying the lipstick, “Sit. Still.” You furrowed your brows at the unfamiliar feeling, “Just your colour,” Ada commented happily, “As I thought.” “Not bad, that,” Arthur commented as he tilted his head. John leaned back and examined you as well, “Yeah, well, it’s red, isn’t it? I like red...” “Lipstick, a gun and razors,” Ada commented matter-of-factly, “the most deadly Shelby as of yet, Pol!” Aunt Polly rolled her eyes. “Happy birthday, Y/N!” eleven-year-old Finn came running to the room and jumped up into your arms, “You can have mine!” And he thrust his homemade catapult into your hands by form of a gift. “Another weapon, Pol,” Arthur eyed her, “Whatever will become of our innocent little sister?” Aunt Polly rubbed her nose and stammered a little, “Well, you know I don’t agree with you joining the family business… And God knows I’ve tried to rein you in just a little…” “But,” you interrupted, eyes glittering mischievously. “But…” she looked down, “I got you something for your shoes.” “Shoes?” you looked at the little black package she’d handed you. John suddenly burst out laughing in realisation, Arthur tried to hide his face in his hands and Ada commented dryly, “So, no better than us, eh, Pol.” Slowly you opened the package. Inside, you found a small black butterfly knife. *** A few hours had passed, with the regular nonsense that you cherished more than anything in the world. The family was gathered in the kitchen, everyone argued and life seemed perfect. But, one thing was missing. “Where’s Tommy?” you finally asked. “He had business,” Polly answered shortly, “No idea when he’ll be back.” You eyed John carefully, the brother you always turned to, “You think he forgot?” “Nah,” he tried cheering you up, “And you’re doing alright with us, right? Don’t need grumpy here…” You smiled, but still it hurt a little. And then, unexpectedly, Tommy waltzed into the house like it was any other day. “Y/N,” he announced himself coldly, “I need you to come with me.” “Why?” you challenged, “We’re just celebra-“ “I said now, Y/N. Family business.” Tommy interrupted in a low voice. “Thomas…” Aunt Polly started, but he held up a hand to silence her. Then he turned to you and repeated, “Come with me.” Begrudgingly, you got up and followed your brother. Looking back, Arthur motioned you to move it, which made you all the more suspicious. Without moving a muscle in his face, Tommy opened the door and said, “Go on.” You stepped outside and the second you did, applause resounded through the streets. In front of every house, people had gathered and they cheered like you were royalty. You couldn’t believe your eyes. “Tommy, did you…” you started. “He’s been at it all morning,” John explained as he crossed you in the doorway. A few moments later, the sound of hooves echoed in the streets. “What the hell is this,” you said at once. “This,” Tommy made a broad hand gesture, “Is a gypsy on a horse.” “And what, pray tell, is he doing in the middle of town?” You recognised Johnny Dogs now, who called out, “Little Y/N Shelby! Happy birthday, love!  How the hell are you!” “I’m grand, Johnny,” you said numbly, “What’s with the horse?” He got off the horse and patted her flank, “She was a lovely filly as first. Sweet, but could never quite be tamed. Third filly out of Shadow, gorgeous beast.” “So, we decided,” Tommy mumbled as he lit a cigarette slowly, “she needed a rider who’d understand.” “What? Being a gorgeous beast?” your cynical reply came. Tommy rolled his eyes, “ ‘could never be tamed’ “. “Well, go on,” Johnny urged, smiling from ear to ear, “Up you get, little one!” Gingerly, you walked over to the horse. As you stroked her nose, Tommy handed you his cigarette and said softly, “What do you think of her?” “She’s an absolute beauty.” Tommy nodded, “Just like you,” but before you could send him a thankful look, he’d walked off again. And with the whole of Small Heath watching on, you climbed up on the horse. *** It was almost midnight when you woke up on a hard cold bench. A splitting headache washed over you as you tried to lift your head. You touched your temple and noticed some blood on your knuckles. Vaguely, you remembered being in the Garrison only a few hours before. You remembered Tommy had closed the betting den and the pub being packed with people, all celebrating your birthday. Memories of card games, songs and laughs came back to you. And the whiskey, so much whiskey. Slowly, you hoisted yourself up. As you looked around, you recognised the inside of the police cell. And you felt at your laced up boots: the knife was still safe inside. A sigh of relief escaped you. “How’s the head, eh?” Recognising your brother’s voice, you looked up without meeting his eye. “What did I do?” you asked finally. After a pause, Tommy replied, “Well, you celebrated your birthday alright.” “Did I have fun?” “Yes, I’d say so.” You frowned, “Why am I in here?” He cleared his throat, “It started with the barmaid and ended with you head-butting a policeman. Quite the Shelby night…” “Is that pride I hear?” Tommy didn’t answer, so you send him your best innocent smile. Eventually he asked, “Was it worth it?” “Hell yes,” you replied in a flash. “Little devil, celebrating her fucking birthday, eh?” “Admit it!” you pointed at him, “you areproud!”

And Thomas Shelby actually smiled through the bars, “Fucking right I am.” When he started to walk away, you shouted, “Oi! What about my bail?” “Paid it!” he called from a distance. “How am I supposed to get home?” you raised your voice even more. Tommy’s reply echoed, “Take your horse. She’s outside.” Myhorse? And just as a policeman with a head in bandages opened the door of your cell, you smiled to yourself: Best birthday ever.

Tommy left the station before you were released, but before he’d gone, he finally said:  

“Happy birthday, Y/N.”

***

Masterlist

[nebulus-frd]

Jealous and protective Rowan and oblivious Aelin in a modern established relationship au

Hi!!!

Thank u so much for the request. I loved your prompt and also love Rowaelin deeply. Hope u enjoy it ♡

If you liked it or not, let me know. Leave a comment, compliments and especially, constructive critics, are always welcomed.

Wanna request your story? Come ⋆⭒ here ⋆⭒, tell me everything. ----------

The beach. The sea. Them.

Synopsis: Modern AU where Rowan and Aelin finally get a deserved vacation. But he isn't enjoying all the attention given to his wife during the first day of it.

Rated: T

Warnings: implied sexual content. If I forgot anything, let me know.

Words: 1700+ (oneshot).

1/1

It was their first time back at the beach after being married.

The life of a military couple was hectic, to say the least, but Rowan and Aelin were rather used to the chaos. This explained why Rowan found himself alone in bed on the first morning of their vacation. Although his wife had always been a late riser, he knew better than anyone how hard it was to break their routine and if he himself hadn’t take medicine to fall asleep, he wouldn’t probably have slept at all.

Not bothering to properly dress, Rowan moved to the kitchen only to find it empty. Did she go grocery shop? But to his surprise not only was the fridge completely packed, but three sandwiches also topple each other on a plate next to a note.

Good morning princess, did you sleep well? Not even a true love kiss was able to break from the evil medicine spell. I’m training on the beach. Join me… Or not, if you feel like sleeping throughout the entirety of our vacation.

Love,

Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius.

Rowan didn’t even feel the smile that broke through him. God, I love her. Of course, she was training. His wife always called him a workaholic and a military freak, only to always prove herself one. The food was warm enough for her not to have left for too long. And in half an hour Rowan found himself heading to their hotel gym.

Where was Aelin?

He had circulated the gym area twice without success in the mission of joining his wife. Could she be at the beach? It wouldn’t be a surprise. Aelin loves the sea, the sunny weather, and the heat on her skin.

Eight years ago, if someone said to Rowan that there were people who loved those things, he would have straight-out laughed in their faces. He couldn’t anymore. He had learned to appreciate each of these unlike anyone else.

Rowan loved the smile Aelin would have while watching the sea, loved the glow her eyes would reflect under the sun’s light, loved the heat from Aelin’s heart.

His wife had changed each perspective he had in his life.

And while at the beach, once again he asked himself how the hell, he was deserving of the woman he married to?

Aelin was coming out of the sea, dressed in a swimsuit that covered a lot more of what he was used to seeing, looking like the sea god herself had descended in the mortal world to bestow her beauty upon mortals. Thus, Rowan was hindered breathless and as soon as their eyes locked up, he could listen to her thoughts through them.

“Are you delight with the view?”

And the smile that broke in her lips made his knees go weak. She pointed to a small pile of clothes at his right and he could recognize the tennis beside it. As soon as they met Rowan girdled his arm around her hips and kissed her.

“Missed me much?” Aelin asked holding a smirk while still in his arms. Her turquoise eyes nailed on his green-forest ones. The only answer she received was a grunt and a heavy head dropping in her shoulder. “You know you could use words, rather than growling like a beast”, which made Aelin feel the smile coming from her husband, she could picture it too: the perfect set of teeth accompanied by two fangs that were borderline not-human, which had left so many marks on last night's activities, she had almost come to the beach in a diver suit.

“I can’t be bothered. There are a lot of more interesting things to do with my mouth… And my tong…”, Rowan’s impure statement was interrupted by the sound of Aelin’s phone ring, it took a moment for the woman to snap out of the mood her husband had put them in. Poor object, it earned a glare that, if possible, would have transformed it into ashes.

“Oh hi!... Yes, of course, I’m coming… Right, next to the bar… Yes, be there in a few”, she said on the phone friendly. With whom she could have made prior appointments?

“Where are you going?”, Rowan asked confused, involuntarily holding her tighter, Aelin didn’t hide the smile at her husband's unwillingness.

“WE are going to a functional training, apparently the hotel holds them every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday”, she said while putting on a pair of shorts and her tennis, Rowan just nodded in answer.

Once they were in the central area, the closer location between the hotel’s pools and the beach, the equipment could already be seen as well as 10 people roaming around it. Soon enough a man came up to them greeting Aelin, too friendly to Rowan’s likeness, although he could only spot the top of his head.

“Miss Galathnyius, it’s good to have you with us today”, the strange said while avoiding looking at Rowan’s side but he did not miss a beat.

“It’s Mrs.” his accented and low voice seemed to reverberate, earning him an alarmed glance from the instructor, as he had taken from his clothes and name tag.

“Yes, of course. Mr. and Mrs. Galathnyius it’s a pleasure to have both of you here”, the smaller man seemed ready to bolt as he alternated his looks from Rowan’s face tattoo and Aelin’s mirth-filled eyes, she just nodded and that was very well what he did. She knew it wasn’t jealousy from her husband, more like his inability to not correct a mistaken person.

Oh, how wrong she was.

…

Half an hour throughout the class, Rowan was calculating how much trouble would he be if he were to beat three civilians. As the training was open to anyone at the beach, around fifteen more people had come to enjoy the activities. Including a group of four men, who seem too inclined to help Aelin with her training.

Which had made Rowan seeing red since he heard the first suggestion in correcting Aelin’s posture during a core exercise. Whilst his wife seemed completed oblivious as not only agreed to a few suggestions and gave tips of her own. Rowan didn’t mind that both were right.

Nonetheless, at each suggestion made by a stranger, Rowan would casually assert his territory. Moving closer to Aelin, helping her with the weights and holding her during an exercise that required it. Of course, there was the possibility that none of the people participating held any second intentions towards his wife and were only trying to be helpful. He seriously doubted it, even though that was what Aelin seem to think.

Usually, Rowan had never been one to bluntly be jealous and if he found it necessary to discuss attitude with someone, he wouldn’t do it in front of Aelin. But he’d gone apeshit when one of the guys from before made a move to touch her while he went to grab for water. Fuck this. He had been by her side every single moment. What’s with these disrespectful motherfuckers?

The man whose hands extended to help Aelin in moving the piece on her waist only caught a movement in corner of his eyes before a mountain of a man was before him. His eyes caught a glimpse of a wicked tattoo on the man’s face, which had been hidden by the cap he was using.

Rowan’s intimidating demeanor and the fucking gold ring in his and hers left hands were more than enough for assholes to grasp the situation.

She is mine, I’m hers. Fuck off.

Either it was the rings or himself didn’t matter. Apparently, with one look everybody understood his warning.

…

However, nine hours later, he’d been left baffled as his wife complained how, after he glued himself to her side, nobody had talked or interacted with her anymore.

“Well, if you weren’t such a territorial bastard today, we could have made some friends that could introduce us to the town”, she said as they had clearly lost themselves while looking for a Japanese restaurant.

“I beg your pardon?”, Rowan answered seeing red all over again just from remembering the previous event.

“Oh, come on, you thought I did notice? You were just asserting your territory for the heck of it”, she said not bothering with more than an eye roll, still searching the street’s name on their map.

“For the heck of it?”, Rowan was bewildered. Aelin thought he was doing that out of leisure?

“You couldn’t possibly be jealous of those guys from the beach, right?”, she said finally dropping the stupid map that had put them in their current predicament and looking straight into his eyes. Whatever she saw there gave Rowan his favorite smile. “You were….”, she laughed, loud and uncaring. Beautiful. “You are unbelievable”.

Like the viper his wife was, she stealthy approached him in that dark alley. “My cranky husband was jealous of some gym dudes?”, her voice was surrounded by arrogance and seductiveness. Reminding Rowan just who he had married with. The most confident, assertive, dazzling woman he had ever met.

Their eyes were locked on each other as she stalked him like a snake ready to consume her prey. His response to her provocation was nothing more than a grunt. “You know what you should have done?... You could have kissed me right there, ravished me, really… And I would’ve said thank you”.

After many years into their relationship, one would think that Rowan had become numb to Aelin’s advances. However, it was very much the opposite of it. He would be scandalized, shocked… And excited, she burned him with bold words and even bolder actions that made his head spin. His calloused hand didn’t miss one second into holding Aelin’s by her backside and his mouth went to her neck.

“Ditch dinner, Fireheart, I will show you what I would like to have done”, Rowan could feel Aelin’s thundering heartbeat, like his own due to their proximity. It would never lie to him, he affected her just as she did him.

“Oh, why, when you say with such gentleness. I suppose we could make something at home”, she smoothed her hand at Rowan’s ringed finger each word, handing him a bright smile by the end. “I love you”, albeit the sentence was said in a soft tone, it swept bothering feelings between the two, such as sea waves that accompanied their evening.

“To whatever end”, he said holding her left hand and as they walked toward the ocean. Free, unrestricted, and vast. Much like their love.

[nitannichionne]

If He Was Your Fan, Chapter 53: Three Words (A Henry Cavill Fan Fic)

Chapter 53: Three Words

(Henry POV)

I was quickly becoming a beast, as my trainer said.

I have to admit it was partially because I was working out my frustration…my sexual frustration, emotional frustration. I never realized how spoiled I was, having her like I did all the time. Now she is in the same house, same bed, and all we’d done so far was cuddle and kiss, but she always kept herself in check somehow, she was guarded. I was afraid to make a move. It had only been a couple of weeks since the end of filming, and I was doing some voice work, but it all felt like dog years now.

But hope drove me. She had not left. The night we came back from the party made me realize we really had a chance to move past my lapse in judgment:

We came back to the house talking about the party and everyone there. Somehow there was no discussion that involved the names Brock or Emma.

“I was really surprised when Stuart showed up,” she said softly as I played fetch with Kal. “The scream Stella let out! Good thing the party was already over and she dropped paper plates instead of real ones. She really missed him.”

“Yeah,” I nodded following her as she held on to Luna’s leash, moving with her. “You can tell he really missed her. Did they leave after the party?”

“I think so,” she smiled.

“I guess he couldn’t stand to be away from her a moment longer.” I stayed near her, wanting to keep the conversation going.

“I’d like to figure out how he got onto the grounds,” She shrugged up at me as Luna found her favorite tree and climbed it. “We were a closed set.”

“Ah, when there’s a will, there’s a way, darling,” I smiled, looking at her meaningfully as I closed the distance between us. “Stuart has no intention of letting her go. I’ll bet there is a reason he was out of touch for a bit.”

“Maybe, but that could be good or bad,” she nodded and swallowed harder than usual.

“Or maybe the time apart made him realize how much he missed her, isn’t that good?”

“But it hurt, Henry,” She whispered, leaning so close to me that it was painful not to reach out and hold her just then. “drove her a little crazy, too.”

I suddenly wasn’t sure if we were talking about Stella and Stuart anymore. “I’m sure he’ll make up for it. I think they love each other, it’ll work out.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do.”

We got ready for bed and we stood on opposite sides. The plan is usually to have sex, and fall asleep curled in each other’s arms, but she didn’t look like she wanted that or didn’t. She still sported that confused look.

I swallowed hard. “Should I sleep on the couch?” I have never slept on the couch! I couldn’t believe I offered it, but if staying on the couch meant she stayed, I was alright with it. I just didn’t want her packing and calling a cab.

“No,” she said quickly.

“You’re not going to—”

She laughed, “No, Henry, I’m not going to sleep on the couch. Let Kal have it.”

My heart sank when she got in bed and turned her back to me. I laid on my back staring at the ceiling. “Darling?”

“Yes?”

I sighed, realizing I had to be patient. I turned away, and my chest constricted. “Good night, love.”

“Good night.”

In the middle of the night, I awakened, warmth at my back. I stayed still, feeling her arms around me, her nose and cheek at my back, her legs and hips aligned with mine. She spooned me, warming me from head to toe, and giving me hope. I turned to her slowly and pulled her close, watching her sleepily get into her snuggle spot on my chest and shoulder and move her arm around me. I wasn’t sure how long I stayed awake, just watching her, but I knew it would be a matter of time before things got right again.

I was outside doing t-drills. I could smell food cooking and it made me get intense. I was hungry in more ways than one, stealing glances at her in the house wearing a gown and moving about, cooking and working in the kitchen. I could tell by the way she moved that she still wasn’t wearing underwear, another gift of hope to me. I had worked to get her, but I also had to work to keep her. I was running out of ideas. I knew gifts wouldn’t work, she told me that once. She once said that I’m sorry gifts are like asking to pretend something didn’t happen.

It was starting to get dark outside.  I went in and washed up for supper. Once again, she served supper, but didn’t sit down. This time I sat and waited. I was hungry, but I sat and waited.

“Henry, it’s curry,” she tells me.

“I know.”

“Go ahead and eat.”

I gave a small smile. “I’ll wait.”

“For what?”

“For you.”

“Henry—”

“Please sit and eat with me.”

She made herself a plate and sat next to me, to my right.

I was at the head of the table, as always. God, I loved that. There is a big difference between sitting at the head of a table alone and sitting with someone there, especially to your right. “Thank you.”

She smiled, raising an eyebrow at me as she got her first forkful.

I chuckled softly. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“C’mon,” I mirrored her expression. “What is it?”

“I would like to work out with you soon.”

“I was hoping you would,” I said with a sigh. “Outside? Inside? I have the cones and ladders—”

“How about the exercises we did before together, or something like it?”

I brightened at that. Oh, not only were those fun, but they led to… “I really enjoyed those, love, I’d love to.”

“Would you like to try some stretches tonight?” she asked.

“I’m game,” I tried to sound casual, but I wasn’t sure if I was pulling it off.

“I saw some stuff online and…you don’t pay enough attention to your flexibility, Henry.”

“Kind of a strong guy, sweetheart.”

“You need to balance, babe.”

Babe. Now when she did that, called me pet names, I took notice. She called me those all the time, but lately it was sparingly, almost like when she forgot not to. But now I had hope, more than I did before.

We went to our exercise area and she had laid out not only our mats but a comforter or two. I still didn’t make assumptions. This is stretching, not so much working out, which required more space. She put on some leggings and a t-shirt, and I felt teased.

“Okay…” she says, extending her hands to me. I took them and she held tight. “Now, go into a squat…”

We did that, and stared at each other. “Whoa…” I realized that we were both kind of depending on each other here. One of us could fall. I kept the hold tight.

“Breathe in your nose, out of your mouth?” She did so, and I joined her. “Up now.” We were close again and she said, “Cross hands.” We did. “Let go of your left and squat back.” We held each other by our right hands and slowly squatted, looking at each other. We laughed. “Ready to switch?”

I nodded and we brought our left hands together to let go of our rights. We stayed there for about eight breaths and we both silently brought our hands together. I smiled. We both kind of felt it, knew. “What now?”

“Back to back?”

We locked arms and I lifted her. To my surprise she was also able to get me off the ground a few inches. We did this a few times, and I actually walked with her that way.

“My feet are straight up, babe!” She cheered. “Wow!”

“Workouts are paying off,” I panted. I slowly let her down. “I liked that. You’re a great weight to work out with.”

“Uh, thanks?” she chuckled, quirking her eyebrow at me. “Okay, now take my forearm, I’ll take yours.” She was a foot or so in front but facing me. “Good. Now lean forward, and left the inside leg out behind you…”

“We look like ice skaters,” I chuckled.

“Very strong and trusting couples,” she says softly. You hold for awhile. “Alright, other side.”

We did the other side and I looked over at her. She was looking at me, a small smile on her lips. We released and I looked at down at her. “What now?”

“Kneel.”

I obeyed.

She knelt in front of me, facing the same direction, our bodies inches apart. She extended her hands out. “Okay, hold my hands.”

I took them gently, inhaling her scent. “Alright.” My voice sounded deep, even to me.

She leaned forward and stretched, relying on me completely to keep her from falling forward. I did not fail her. She arched her back, looking as if she could take flight, her head falling back. I could hear her take deeper breaths, her chest expanded and more open and she gave a huge sigh. “Alright, pull me back.”

I pulled gently and made no secret of sniffing her hair, brushing my lips at her temple.

“Curl forward.”

I was basically spooning her on my knees, much the way I remember our first time. I folded my arms around her and she leaned forward, stretching my back but also giving me the luxury of being so close. We breathed this way. I could have stayed like this.

“Alright, you can—” She gasped softly as I cradled her hips against mine, keeping my hands holding hers and my arms around her.

“Sorry,” I whispered in her hair.

“Oh, that’s okay—"

“No,” I whispered again. “I am sorry I let that happen. I don’t ever want that to happen again.” I felt her draw a shaky breath. I wish I could see her face. “I love you, and I am sorry I hurt you.”

She turned in my arms and looked up at me, sitting cross-legged. “I have been waiting for that.”

“For what?”

“For you to show responsibility and regret,” She whispered. “I couldn’t trust you if you didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you say that?” I felt a lump in my throat. “I would have—”

“But then I wouldn’t be sure if you were sincere, or if you are apologizing because of being caught, not what happened.” Her eyes were bright with emotion. I could still see some sadness and pain, but how I saw hope and love unhidden and unrestrained.

“Am I forgiven then?” I asked hopefully.

“Yes, but even though I love you, I don’t forget easily,” she said with a small smile. “At least we can move forward now, really try?”

“We can?” I got on my hands and knees in front of her, leaning forward and rubbing her cheek with my own. I nuzzled her neck. “Can we?” I whispered, my lips brushing her skin, inhaling honey and almost tasting it.

“Y-yes, I suppose—”

All I needed to hear. I kissed her hungrily, my lips nibbling and nipping hers, my arms squeezing her tight as my fingers raked her back. I felt like I was starving. And when she returned the kiss, when I felt her hands rest on my shoulder blades and squeeze, I trembled slightly for control…

@mistress-of-ward @nuggsmum  @messyinsomnimaniac @jencanbeyouryengeralt  @sweetdreamsofgelato  @mary-ann84  @omgkatinka  @the-soot-sprite  @viking-raider  @keanureevesisbae  @henryobsessed  @summersong69   @sunshine96love  @michelehansel    @thelastsock   @tumblnewby  @tenaciousneckpartypainter  @rn7rocks  @daydreamin83  @ruthoakenshield  @musicartmayheminmyheart @kaatelyynn-blog-blog@forallthebrokenheartedthings @alphacancrii  @liquorlaughslove @designerwriterchic   @tamychm  @nikkilynn303  @circesgirl1   @xoxohannahlee  @pixie88@fckdeusername @maan24  @kaatelyyynn​  @october505​ @absentmindr​ @introvertedmouse​  @sassy-pelican

[heliads]

Love Letters

In a world where you can anonymously send letters to your soulmate, a sudden lack of response could mean anything from your soulmate not wanting to hear from you or them even being dead. Your soulmate isn’t responding- surely that has nothing to do with the events of the Dread Doctors?

masterlist

You flop down on your bed, arms folded across your chest. Why does it have to be so exhausting to live in Beacon Hills? You’re no supernatural, and have no intention of ever becoming one, but you still find yourself wrapped up in every trouble that comes to your hometown. Next to you, Lydia looks up with a sympathetic smile. 

“Research getting to you?” You nod, looking at the piles of mythology books stacked around your room. “You could say that. It feels like I’ve read every book about fantasy monsters in existence, but yet I’ve barely found a single thing on the Dread Doctors or anything remotely like them. Sometimes I wish I was a banshee too, so I could just open any book and find what I’m looking for.” Lydia rolls her eyes. “Y/N, we both know that’s not how being a banshee works.” You groan and roll onto your stomach, picking up the next book on your stack. “Then how did you manage to find a book talking about them on your first go? I can’t find anything!” Lydia smirks. “I had a lucky guess. Now come on, we only have a few more to go and then we’ll be done.”

You heave a dramatic sigh and open the heavy tome in front of you, idly flipping through the pages to find the demonic Dread Doctors that you’re looking for. Instead, you come across a letter tucked in between two chapters of the book. You pluck the letter from the pages, examining it to find that it’s just like all the others that have come before it. It’s the same worn lined paper, encased in the same plain but slightly warped envelope. A single glance reveals that the same slanted handwriting is scrawled across the page. You turn it over in your hands, basking in the feeling of warmth that spreads across you at the sight of it.

Across the room, Lydia looks up at you, noticing the envelope in your hands. “Another letter from your soulmate?” You nod, giving it one last treasured glance before putting it delicately beside you and turning back to your book. You’ll open it later, once you are alone and can give it all the attention it deserves.

You’re not sure quite when you first started receiving letters from your soulmate, but you do remember the thrill it brought you to see the first one arrive. You’d seen your parents send each other letters when they were too busy to call before, so this wasn’t your first time witnessing a soulmate’s letter arrive. Your mother would be helping you with homework when a letter would suddenly appear in front of her, or your father would be sitting at his desk and turn over a paper to find an envelope tucked into the stack of documents he was reviewing. All people are given soulmates, and all soulmates will be able to write to each other, it just depends on how willing your soulmate is to hear from you.

There are rules to the letter-writing, of course. You cannot force your soulmate to write to you, and it’s best if you alternate who sends letters. Your aunt always told the story of some girl who was so excited about her soulmate that she sent him ten letters a day, and was surprised when her soulmate suddenly forgot to write. All you have to do to send the letter is simply finish writing it, hold it in your hand and think of your soulmate, and it will disappear from sight and reappear wherever your soulmate will find it. And, the most infuriating rule of all- no private information can be shared through the letters. No names (first or last), no addresses, no clues to help your soulmate find you. If you try to include such hints to your identity, they are simply blurred out when your letter is transferred to your soulmate. They will be unblurred once you meet your soulmate, because by then your soulmate will know who you are and they won’t have to rely on you simply telling them your name to find you. 

So, you and your soulmate have given up trying to include any personal information- what’s the point when it’ll just be erased? They say it’s better that way, that if it’s too easy to find your better half you won’t experience the longing and slow love that should precede that first meeting, but you’re not sure if you believe that. Wouldn’t it be better to just know who they are?

Thus, the letter in front of you does not bear any address or signatures. Just a phrase, penned across the front of the envelope: To my soulmate. That’s all it takes.

Once you’re finally done paging through the mythology books with Lydia, she bids you goodbye and you can finally turn to the letter that’s been a silent distraction beside you all night. Eagerly, you tear open the envelope and unfold the paper inside. The letter is one page long, and full of everything from accounts of his day to his plans for the future. At the bottom, he’s simply signed the letter: Love, me. 

You savor his words for a few seconds longer, then turn to your desk and gently place the letter in a box sitting inside one of the drawers. You’ve kept all his letters, and every now and then, when you feel most distressed, you take them out and read them, one by one, until your fears blend away into the background and are replaced by the light heat in your cheeks. You won’t write another letter until tomorrow- it’s become a tradition that you and your soulmate will alternate days sending letters- but when you go to sleep that night, your head is spinning thinking of everything you want to say to him.

You sit down next to Lydia at Scott’s kitchen table, too tired to say anything longer than “So we did it.” You’re still overwhelmed by everything that just happened- the Dread Doctors are finally gone from Beacon Hills, along with them their accomplice Theo Raeken, and that ghastly Beast that nearly killed everyone you hold dear. At this point, you’re barely able to keep your eyes open, but Scott has still insisted on holding a pack meeting to make sure everyone’s alright and that the threats are finally over, for the time being. It feels like danger will never be truly gone from Beacon Hills.

As you hear the low voices of Scott’s pack around you, you stare listlessly at your hands. It’s a late night, and you’ve been expecting a letter from your soulmate for a while. Usually, he sends them some time at night, and it’s his day to write. Yet your hands are empty, and there are no letters in sight. Whatever, he’s probably busy. It’s not like you’ve never accidentally skipped writing on your day- there have been times when you’ve been too busy fighting with Scott and his pack to send your soulmate a letter. Although the chances of him having the same excuse are pretty low, you decide to stop worrying about it. The letter will probably come tomorrow, anyways.

But it doesn’t. In fact, no letter arrives all day. Or the next. After four days, you decide to write your soulmate a brief note, just asking if your last letter arrived or not. Your soulmate has never missed a day before, even by a few hours, so this sudden development is more than a little surprising. Finally, a week after you sent your note to your soulmate and still no response, you decide to go to Lydia for help.

“He hasn’t responded in more than a week. What if he’s hurt? What if something happened? You’re pacing in front of Lydia, feeling the stress wash over you in waves. “He’s never gone a day without sending a letter, why is this happening?” Lydia steps in front of you, stopping your panicked outburst. “I know you’re worried, but let’s be calm about this. Maybe you should reread some of his old letters? You can check and see if he seems stressed or in danger, or if he doesn’t want to write anymore.”

You accept Lydia’s advice and pull out the box of your soulmate’s letters. You start flipping through them, looking for any signs of trouble. To Lydia’s credit, your soulmate does seem a little tense in the past few letters, and he keeps mentioning how stressed he was even in the middle of summer vacation. You’re checking to see how far back he mentioned his fears in his letters, when you come across one envelope from about six months back. You open it, scanning the inked lines when your breath catches in your throat. 

Lydia looks over at you in concern. “What’s wrong, Y/N?” All you can do is hold up the letter to her, displaying your soulmate’s first initial and his hometown. Lydia’s eyes go wide. “That’s personal information. How can you see it?” You shake your head, still shocked. “I must have met him in the last few months. The letter wasn’t sent that long ago, and I certainly couldn’t read that when he sent it. The thing is,” you rummage through some more letters to prove your point, “I haven’t gone anywhere outside of Beacon Hills, and people don’t come here for vacation. He also mentioned moving to a small town around the beginning of the school year. That means he must have been here recently.”

Another realization hits you, and you feel your heart sink. “Lydia, what if he was killed by the Beast or the Dread Doctors? With everything going on, there’s a pretty big chance of it. Think about it- he was in Beacon Hills during the attacks, he’s now not responding to me. Oh, Lydia, I think he’s dead.” Lydia puts her hands on your shoulders and forces you to look at her. “Listen to me, Y/N. You don’t know if he’s dead. So, let’s assume he’s not. Right now, we do have a good amount of information, so we can probably track him down. Focus your energy on finding your soulmate, not on worrying about every negative thing that could have happened to him.

You can’t bear to think of your soulmate being dead, and so you throw yourself into finding every last clue about your soulmate’s identity. In his letters, he mentioned being able to hear his parents cooking dinner right next to his bedroom, so the house must have a kitchen right near the stairs. Stiles looks into this and finds a list of houses with that floor plan, leaving you to wonder how it’s possible for Stiles to be so creepily good at research. Your soulmate also said that he’d been learning how to skateboard, so through many hours of careful observation at school, you compile a list of every student known to have a skateboard. He talks about having friends on the lacrosse team? Scott and Liam can tell you about anyone who hangs around after lacrosse practice.

Finally, you’ve got a list of about ten people. You’ve taped it to your mirror just like Stiles during his investigations, and you stare at it with Lydia. 

“I still don’t know who it could be. Most of these people don’t share all the characteristics mentioned in the letters.” Lydia says, looking in turn at each person on the list. You sigh softly. “Actually, I think I know. There’s only one person on here that could be him. Besides, he has a pretty good reason for not being here.” Lydia looks at you, the truth starting to dawn on her. “You don’t mean-” You nod. “Yes. Theo Raeken is my soulmate.”

Lydia groans. “Couldn’t you have someone nice instead? In fact, are you sure it’s him and not someone else? I mean, Thomas and Tyler both haven’t been seen in a while, it could be one of them instead.” You tilt your head to the side, considering the names on the list. “I’m afraid not. Thomas moved schools and I saw Tyler the other day. Besides, I’ve seen Theo’s handwriting from when he still went to our school and it’s basically the same. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier.” Lydia looks at you pointedly. “You didn’t think of it because you have no proof that he’s your soulmate other than the fact that their handwriting kind of looks similar.” You smile at that. “Maybe so, but he’s the closest of anyone.” You grab your phone off of a nearby table and stick it in your pocket. “I have to find out if it’s really him. I’m going to go visit his house and see if any of my letters are there.” At Lydia’s sigh, you look back at her. “I have to know if he’s really my soulmate. I have to.”

 It’s a fine, sunny afternoon when you reach Theo’s house. His parents aren’t there, but you’re able to get in through an unlocked side door. You creep up the stairs (note the kitchen exactly where it’s supposed to be!) and into the closest bedroom. You scan the desk and chairs, looking for some sign that he’s your soulmate. Finally, you find what you’ve been looking for- a stack of letters hidden in a corner of the room. You pick up the top one, opening it to find your own handwriting scrawled across it. “So it’s true,” you say to yourself, holding the letter tight, “my soulmate is dead.” Suddenly, a voice behind you breaks the silence.

“Not quite.”

You whirl around to see Theo, alive and well, standing behind you. You can barely stammer out a few sentences. “You- how did you- you were-” “In Hell?” You nod, still dumbfounded. “Liam and Hayden let me out. They needed my help for some plan of theirs to defeat the Ghost Riders.” Theo pulls out a letter from his jacket pocket and holds it out to you. “I was going to just send it like usual, but I figured it would be easier to give it to you in person.” Your hands shaking, you take the letter from him. Sure enough, it’s the same envelope and letter as always, except this time your name is written across the front instead of just ‘My soulmate.”

You look back up at him, still confused. “How did you know you were my soulmate if you just got out of Hell?” Theo laughs at that. “It’s kind of funny, actually. I was just standing there, and then a few letters appeared in my hands. The second Liam saw them, he got this look in his eyes like he’d seen them before. He wasn’t going to tell me that you were my soulmate, something about the fact that I was a betraying killer and didn’t deserve to know, but Hayden told me. She said that you’d been searching for me for a while and that you should know I was alright.”

You turn the letter over in your hands, still somewhat surprised that it’s all true. You had long suspected that Theo was your soulmate- everything lined up and it would make sense that he disappeared- but seeing him in person and confirming the truth was still enough to make your head spin. “Why do you care?” Your voice, barely louder than a whisper, is still enough to make Theo flinch. “You tried to kill us, even me. Why does it matter now that I’m your soulmate?” 

Theo’s voice comes slower now, and it seems as if his usual cocky confidence is starting to fade away. “When I came out of Hell, I knew I needed to do better, both by the pack and by you. I want a fresh start, Y/N, and I want to be with you. I’m sorry for what I did, I just need to know that you’ll still want me as your soulmate.” He looks up at you, and you find yourself startled by the pain in his eyes. You’ve seen him upset before, back when he was still trying to win over Scott and Stiles, but this feels more genuine. “Of course I want you, Theo. You’re my soulmate. I wouldn’t want anyone else.” Theo’s smile is sunshine on a cloudy day, bright enough to scare away any possibility that he wasn’t telling the truth before. “I think that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.” You share his smile, and can finally bask in the joy of finding your soulmate.

[comfyswitcherblanketfort]

Geralt and the Minotaur

Y’all can thank @bounce-a-coin-off-your-witcher for encouraging me to do this, I defs would have just thought about it for a couple months then forgot 😂

Pairing: None for this part

Warning: talk of violence and murder, retelling of Theseus and The Minotaur myth, talk of human sacrifice, if theres more plz let me know!

Summary/Notes: Myth background in case you didn’t go past the PJO books with your mythology obsession like I did. In ancient Greek mythology they believed in ‘joint fatherhood’ so basically the kid would have attributes from both fathers (bc philosophy was the tits back then not necessarily biology) King Aegeus (Vessimir) couldn’t produce an heir with his wife so he went to the Oracle of Delphi and she told him to ‘open his wine sack’ (helpful right?) long story short he bangs a princess and then Athena (patron goddess of Athens) tells the princess to go down to the sea with an offering where she bangs Posiden (co-patron god of Athens) hence Theseus (Geralt) is not only a demigod but a bastard prince.  I think this is all the background yall are gonna need if you don’t already know the myth

__________

Geralt knew the story well. For as long as he could remember, his mother would comb his stark white hair before bed and he would ask, “Tell me about my fathers?” She would smile fondly and begin to braid his hair in a pattern much like her own. 

“My little hero, your fathers are powerful, fair, righteous men. You have not only the blessing and favor of Poseidon, but the right to the throne of Athens.”

When he was younger he would squirm and protest, “I know mumma, but who were they?”

Vissena would sigh and change the subject until he was older, at which point she began letting the crumbs fall from her words. Crumbs Geralt followed to the truth of his heritage, piecing together stories his grandfather had told him about a sword and sandals pinned beneath a stone. 

When he was twelve, his mother told him the truth.

“You are destined to free the city of Athens from a terrible fate. When you can lift the stone and retrieve your father’s sword you may travel to his palace and claim your place as prince…” Her voice came to a strangled end before she coughed and continued “But you mustn't think about that now. You’ve rope to braid and cattle to feed.”

When he finally told her he was ready to try, her eyes welled with tears. She merely nodded, continuing to run the comb through her baby’s hair like she always had. He understood as he grew older why she was so reluctant to let him go. What mother can willingly send her child away in only destiny’s hands, regardless of his exceptional strength?

At 16, he succeeded in his first task, retrieving his father’s things, and set off to Athens. He went by land, wanting to rely on himself, not his grandfather’s wealth and power. He fought Perophes, disarming the practiced warrior with surprising little effort, to complete his second task. Fighting Coercion sent chills down his spine, with the man’s reputation for killing every opponent he faced he was certainly formidable, but he bested him nonetheless. His third task was complete. However, his name only became synonymous with ‘hero’ after slaying the wild boar. 

His first kill was at 17, still on the road to Athens. He could have let Procrustes live, could have delivered him to the nearest king for imprisonment, but his gut had twisted at the thought of the consequences of his failure. He tied Procrustes to the same small table he tied all his victims before slicing clean through the giant man’s limbs that hung off the edge. Leaving him to bleed out like he’d done to the skeletons littering the floor. It only seemed fitting, though the memory still made him queasy on nights when he couldn't sleep.

Even upon arrival at his father’s home, there was danger staring back at him in those beautiful amethyst eyes. The prophetess Yennefer would stop at nothing to keep the life of luxury and power she’d gained. She whispered false prophecies in King Vessimir’s ear, convincing him this boy who claimed to be his son was nothing but an imposter. Geralt should have expected such a welcome. 

As he lifted a cup of poisoned wine to his lips, Vessimir glimpsed the sword at his side, recognizing it in time to knock the ceramic out of his hand. 

The vessel had yet to shatter on the floor before Vessimir had rounded on the violet eyed woman with fury in his eyes like none Geralt had ever seen. 

The whole of the dining hall was holding their breath, waiting for the explosion to come.

King Vessimir whispered but one word, “Disappear.”

The woman glared daggers at Geralt as she waved her hand, stepping through a portal into nothing. He stared after her for a long time, having never witnessed manipulated magic up close and if he were honest with himself, he was a bit dazed.

As his father explained and apologized Geralt simply tilted his head in confusion, slowly putting the pieces together in his shock.

“Your sword, it was mine. You must forgive me, I believed a lie. I beg you.”

Geralt nodded, “You have a state to protect.”

Vessimir grasped him by his shoulders, “No, I have to protect you.”

Geralt smiled, endeared by the old king’s sudden saccharine sentiments, “I’m no boy anymore, you shouldn’t worry.”

As the rest of the guests at the banquet began to resume conversation Vessimir guided Geralt to a window overlooking the beautiful city that he would now be calling home, “So I’ve heard.  I would have thought your mother would raise you to be more merciful.”

Geralt eyed the ground, “Mercy for one who has killed so many and would kill again isn’t really mercy.” His voice was smaller than he would like, but after all these years of imagining his father, well he hadn’t expected a criticism of his ethics. 

“Good.” Vessimir nodded, leaning against the edge of the window, “We can work on your tone, but that’s a good start.”

A tentative smile took over Geralt’s face, “Work on my tone?”

“If you’re going to rule Athens and defeat Crete, you’ll need to be more assertive. But none of that now,” Vessimir waved a hand and a servant brought two more goblets of wine, “Now, I want to get to know my son.”

-

The following months were filled with lessons, from Vessimir’s top generals in battle strategy and formal combat, from a matronly maid in etiquette and the cultural customs of the port city, and from Vessimir himself in diplomacy. Geralt was thrilled at first, ready to prove himself worthy, but the routine slowly lost its shine. Eskel and Lambert were no doubt excellent fighters and leaders, but there were only so many ways to disarm someone with every weapon in the royal arsenal, and they were running out of challenges for the boy. If that’s what you could call him anymore. With regular meals, unlike during his travels, and the way his trainers pushed him he was starting to look more worthy of his Olympian heritage and place at the throne. 

He stood by his father’s side and paid careful attention to all of his meetings, every last one. Even the ones at dawn after a night of drinking with Eskel and Lambert. 

He sat on a stool, a step down from the platform where his father’s throne was carved out of stone as he observed the nobles bringing their worries, reports, and complaints to the king from the outskirts of the territory. The large amphitheater was teeming with men ready to share their opinion. Geralt found that rarely did anyone bring something that really needed fixing, just listening was usually enough to soothe their egos. It was all rather mundane now, Geralt could mouth the words his father would say before they filled the air, until the last representative. 

"My king, the spring is approaching, will we allow Crete to take our children yet again?”

Geralt’s brows knit together, eyes darting between the man and his father as they spoke.

Vessimir wiped a hand over his face, looking ten years older in an instant, “We don't have a navy that could even begin to challenge Crete’s. We have no choice.”

The gathered crowd erupted in shouts of outrage, only silenced when Vessimir stood, “It is the life of fourteen, or the life of the nation. Which will you surrender?”

There was more yelling, this time between a select few delegates, but Geralt ignored it and leaned to his right, lowering his voice so only Eskel could hear him. 

“What does he mean ‘the life of fourteen’?”

Eskel frowned, “He hasn’t told you?”

Geralt glared at him, waiting for an explanation.

“King Minos’ son was killed at the games a good twenty or so years back, so as penance he takes fourteen virgins from us every nine years. Seven men, seven women, and feeds them to his bastard Minotaur.” Eskel glanced over Geralt’s shoulder at the king, a look of worry clear on his face. 

“I thought the Minotaur was just a story, a parable of Crete’s barbaric nature.”

Eskel raised an eyebrow, not impressed by Geralt's literary analysis, “It’s no tale. It's as real as the ground under your feet, and it plays with its food.”

Geralt whipped his head back around to his father in time to catch his words, “There is no voting on war because of the brashness of your grandfather Letus, tread lightly. Until we have a reasonable plan of action all we can do is submit!"

Before he knew what his legs were doing Geralt was standing and shouting, "I'll go! Send me father! I'll kill the beast and return!" 

Cheers erupted from the crowd but Geralt only cared about his father's reaction and Vessimir was still as stone. For a moment Geralt worried for his heart, then Vessimir gripped his arm and leaned in with a panicked look on his face, "You are my only son, I will not send you to your death." He growled. 

Geralt felt a fire rising in his chest, "Your people are forced to send their children unwillingly yet when yours volunteers you're exempt? Does that seem fair to you?"

Vessimir’s grip tightened, nails digging into Geralt's arm, "Doesn't matter. You are the only heir. I can't risk the stability of the government."

Geralt stepped closer, making sure to stand at his full height, "Then you do not believe in me? In the power and blessings of Posiden that courses through me?" 

Vessimir snarled but said nothing. Surely not used to being challenged, especially not so publicly, about his devotion to the gods. 

Geralt lowered his voice, "I will go. I will free Athens as is my destiny, and I will come back to you unharmed." Geralt gripped his father's arm, and nearly pleaded, "I cannot sit idly by, you know I can't." 

Vessimir's eyes softened ever so slightly as he released his grip, "I should have known your mother would raise a stubborn man." 

Geralt grinned, "She said I got that from you." 

The amphitheater had gone quiet, all eyes on the king and this strange new prince. 

"Geralt will go." Vessimir sighed, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder. The crowd cheered in earnest this time and Geralt soaked it all in, their hope and elation. Vessimir raised a hand for silence and continued, "Now tell me, scholars and strategists, how will we bring him back alive?"

__________

part 2 here!

[pandoraborn]

Cruelty of the Beast - Part 14

( previous. )

-----

Characters: c!Quackity, c!Puffy, c!Tommy, c!Dream, c!Wilbur, c!Ranboo, c!Techno, c!Phil Word count: 2019 Content: blood, injury, mild blood loss, talk of war, talk of murder, tommy embraces his dark side, dark!fic,

-----

Quackity fumbles for the bandages, swearing under his breath. The anger from earlier never faded, and it’s only increasing with each passing moment. He hadn’t been sure what to expect when patrolling the greater SMP, but Quackity had never expected Technoblade to show up and give him another thrashing. He hadn’t succeeded in killing Quackity again, but he had certainly tried. Quackity had managed to flee after receiving a large gash on his arm, but he feels smug over the fact he’d manage to wedge an arrow into Techno’s collarbone.

He’s at the community center, grabbing whatever he can for bandages and healing. His hands tremble too much for him to be effective, but the thought of waking anyone up or disturbing them doesn’t sit well with him. Quackity wants to handle this alone, the others can worry in the morning.

The sound of shuffling comes behind him, and Quackity spares Puffy a quick glance before going back to treating his wounds. Of all the people to come find him right now, he wishes it wasn’t her. Quackity feels like she’s too gentle with the teenagers, wouldn’t see enough reason.

“Quackity?” Puffy’s voice is gentle. “Come with me to Snowchester, we can help you better.” She’s only irritating him more. If only she’d been around earlier, she’d have seen the mess and where everyone actually stands.

“They have Techno on their side,” Quackity says gruffly. “Also, Tubbo is wrong about Tommy.” He shoots her a glare through his peripheral vision. It’s not her fault, but he’s angry at her all the same. “It’s worse than we thought.”

There’s no response from Puffy at first. Quackity dimly wonders if she’s walked off, but he can feel her hands on him a second later. Quackity doesn’t jerk back, he lets her take over the bandaging, but he stares at her with his good eye.

“What are you talking about?” She finally asks. “I think Tubbo would know the most about Tommy, considering how close they used to be. Tommy also wouldn’t willingly work with Techno if he really is working with them.”

“I caught Tommy and Ranboo planting explosives around the perimeter,” Quackity snaps. “Tommy was ordering Ranboo to get rid of me, and then after I accidentally shot him-”

“You shot Tommy?” Puffy’s grip tightens painfully. Wincing, Quackity tries to jerk his arm back, but her grip is holding strong. “What were you thinking Quackity? That’s Tommy!”

“Do you really think Tommy would disappear all this time and not come back with some warped thinking?” Quackity asks pointedly. “He’s with Wilbur, remember?”

“He’s a child,” Puffy protests. “He needed the most help out of all of us, and...” she trails off, biting at her lip. She resumes bandaging up Quackity’s arm, breathing slowly. Quackity watches her eyes glisten with unshed tears. Anger fading, Quackity shakes his head. He shouldn’t be angry at Puffy. She loved Tommy, he knows. Her and Sam and even Eret had all loved Tommy in their own ways, and circumstances had constantly prevented them from actually offering help.

“He said he was tired,” Quackity says, softening his own voice. “Said he was tired of being everyone’s hero, or villain, and just wanted to put an end to everything. I don’t know what that meant, only that something big is coming, and Tommy is putting aside grudges to work with people he hated. He’s with Dream, Puffy, and we have to start treating him and Ranboo the same we treated Dream.”

Pulling back, Puffy wipes her eyes. Her bottom lip is quivering, but she nods. “You’re right. We have...” Her voice trails off again as she clears her throat.

“We have to treat them like the villains now,” Quackity says. “If they recruited Techno, they likely have Phil too. Which means they’re building up an army, and we have to prepare too.”

She nods. “I’ll go tell Tubbo, then. We’ll have to protect Michael.” Puffy turns and leaves, heading in Snowchester’s direction. Quackity watches her go, before turning to leave in a different direction.

He’s going to talk to Sam.

----

“Stop your bitching, Tommy, before we drug you.” Rather than sounding concerned, Wilbur sounds amused. This is massively unfair. Wilbur should be sobbing over his injuries, fretting over how worried he is for Tommy’s life.

Or maybe the fog of pain is clouding his version of reality.

“I’m so tired,” Tommy whispers. “Am I dying?” He stretches his hand out, hoping someone will grab at it. Ranboo lets out a snort before slipping his hand into Tommy’s. He’s grateful for the action, but Ranboo isn’t who he wants. “Wil...Wilby...”

“Tommy you got shot with a single arrow. I know it hurts like hell, but stop dramatizing this and hold still so Techno can pull it out.” At least Wilbur has the good graces to keep Tommy pinned to the sofa. What Wilbur doesn’t understand is that his entire body still aches. The sofa feels warm and sticky underneath him, and Tommy’s thoughts aren’t sticking long enough for him to counter with a witty retort.

Pain-laced eyes meet Techno’s, before sliding over to Phil. It says something to Tommy when Phil looks more concerned for Tommy’s physical health than Wilbur, so he yanks his hand from Ranboo’s, reaching for Phil instead. “Phil... dad...”

"No,” Phil says. “I’m not your father, and I’m not moving closer. You already have way too many people gathered around you. You’d think this was a wake, rather than you getting hurt.”

“I’m dying,” Tommy whines. “I went out of my way to fight Quackity, I stood up for myself, and this is the thanks I get? I even passed out!” Talking makes his hip pulse with pain; Tommy squeezes his eyes shut as he hisses, fighting to hurt to grab at himself to yank the damned thing out already.

“Yes, you did, you were so brave,” Wilbur says. Wilbur is no longer mocking him, at least. “When this is over and you’ve had yourself a long sleep, we’ll treat you to a nice, hot meal.”

“I’m already done.” Techno clears his throat. It takes the group a moment to realize Techno had been standing in place for at least a full minute, holding a blood-stained arrow in his hand. His other hand is pressed against Tommy’s hip to slow the flow of blood.

The realization that Tommy’s ache isn’t the arrow, but the after effect kicks in. Without people distracting him, the pain from the would fully sets in, and he’s yelping loudly in agony.  It hurts. The wound throbs just as much as when he was first shot, and he can already feel the edges of unconsciousness creep up in the edges of his vision again. Wilbur reaches down to smack him gently in the face.

“Stay awake, Toms. Don’t go to sleep just yet. Techno, you should have said something immediately, because now he’s actually losing blood. Dream-”

“Already on it.” Dream comes in with bandages and ointments and stuff Tommy is sure he’s never seen before. Techno’s hand pressed against him stings, and dimly, he can feel Ranboo grab his hand a second time.

The time for lighthearted banter is over, apparently. No longer is Tommy milking the pain or trying to ease the tension, now he’s hovering on the edge of consciousness and trying to resist the drowsy pull of sleep. He’s floating again, listening to everyone chatter around him, ignoring the stabs of pain from bandages and oils being applied to his injury.

For the first few seconds, Tommy can make out voices trying to talk to him. He can’t remember what he says in response, but the conversations finally slow. Tommy’s still somewhat coherent. At least, he’s coherent enough to make out the following conversation.

“I’m going to murder him,” Techno mutters. “I don’t like Tommy, but what Quackity did was bullshit. I’m going-”

“Easy,” Dream says. “Pretty by now everyone knows what’s going on, and they’re going to arm themselves. So we have to do the same thing, otherwise we’re never going to get anywhere.”

“We don’t have the element of surprise anymore,” Ranboo whispers. “At least with the explosives. But we still have the dragon.”

“Why was Quackity there to begin with?” Dream asks. “I should have known he’d get in the way.”

“Yeah,” Techno mutters. “He’s always in the way. He’s really good at interfering where he’s not wanted, sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong. Are you sure-”

“You know what?” Dream pauses. Tommy can practically see Dream stroking his chin. “We knew there were going to be casualties. If Quackity is acting as their guard dog, it’s not going to be long before he convinces them to try and track us. We could have people showing up here any day now, because he’s good.”

“So can I kill him or not?”

“I don’t feel good about this,” Ranboo says. “Especially for Tommy’s sake. He and Quackity were close.”

Tommy tries to move. He tries to reach up to grab at someone’s sleeve, but he’s too heavy, especially now that the pain is fading and easing the tension in his body. He does grunt, though.

“Tommy, you can sleep now.” Tommy doesn’t know who’s saying it, but it doesn’t matter. All their voices are blending together anyway.

“He...” Tommy parts his lips and lets out a quiet, ragged breath. “-shot me. Said I was mentally poisoned.” Wilbur cards his fingers through Tommy’s hair. It’s such a gentle, soothing act, and Tommy leans into it. “We’re at war, boys.”

“What are you saying?” Dream asks. “We’re not doing anything you’re not comfortable with. I know those people were your friends.”

“Were,” Tommy mutters. Forcing his eyes open, he focuses his gaze on Dream. “My comms have been open the whole time. Mine, and Ranboo’s. Not once did anyone bother contacting me. Not even Tubbo.”

“They probably forgot,” Phil offers. “I mean, not everyone remembers we have these devices. Or they probably thought yours was confiscated.”

Tommy shakes his head. “I realized something while out there fighting Quackity. I’m always going to be someone’s pity friend. They don’t care that I’m seventeen and can make up my own mind, they still treat me like I’m breaking and need to be kept safe. When I said I’m tired, I meant because of everyone.”

“You’re not glass,” Dream says. “I tried, you always bounce back, on some level.”

“I’m bouncing back now.” Tommy closes his eyes again. “And I’m saying, if Techno really wants to unleash hell, I say go for it.”

“Tommy...” Dream sounds taken aback. Tommy would laugh if he wasn’t so tired. The tables really have turned, haven’t they? “You’re starting to sound like us. You know if you go down this path, there isn’t any turning back.”

“So be it. I died for a cause that ultimately doesn’t matter, and as far as they’re concerned, that me is still dead.”

“You’re fully embracing the villain life?” Wilbur chuckles. “Even though you know what this actually entails? I’m actually a little concerned for your psyche.”

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in Tommy’s voice. “I already accepted it, but now all I care about is the promise you made to me, Wil. That we’re still together after all this. Alive, dead, whatever the in between or whatever the dragon decides, I intend to hold you to that. All of us.”

A silence settles over the group at large. It’s not hard to figure out what Tommy is giving permission for, or finally admitting to himself. It’s shocking, it’s a twist, and they all know it’s not even defeat anymore. A defeated Tommy never means what he says. No, this is a resolution, a finality to everything he’d been through. Tommy knows that they know it, and no one’s going to speak up against him.

“Alright.” Dream claps his hands. “It’s settled then. We’re going to war.”

“Quackity wanted cruel,” Tommy whispers, letting himself fade. It’d been a long day, and he’s glad it’s finally over. “He’ll see the cruelty of the beast before long.”

[kitesatforestp]

Beauty and the Beast

Okay so I might have written my first story👀

“Erik, why don’t you want Kaya to have a car?” Jamil asked.

The brown couch I sat on was cozy, the pillows filled with various flowers and Que dog symbols. The pillow I got him for his Founder’s Day was one I was holding now, a memory of happy times. A picture of his family, him and his wife, stood beside the neutral purple chair he sat in.

I had that once, too.

And yet you excitingly ruined it, and all to have bragging rights of breaking a girl’s back and still “having it”, isn’t that right, he goaded. These days all Kill ever did was taunt me.

She could hurt herself, her brother is the better driver, I can drive her, she gonna try and sneak boys and girls in her car-, my thoughts were cut off.

Jamil already knew the answer to his question.

“Erik-,” he started but I cut him off.

“If Kaya gets a car then I won’t see her anymore.”

Flashes of heels, dressers that rocked as if there weren’t two peoples’ clothes in them, and tears, so many tears raced past my mind. Fast, too fast. Over the past ten years I’ve had so many times where I almost forgot the last moment her and I had where I had access to her, even if it was just her despondency. Her amusement. Me on my knees amused her, though it broke the heart of our children who watched. A moment I wrote down, down to the color and time of day to remember. The only torture I ever thought I deserved.

I watched patience settle over Jamil’s face, and I almost smiled. This was something I knew I would never lose.

“Is this the part where you tell me I need to move on?” I implored my therapist.

“Yes, right before you tell me you have and you are just actively choosing to love her anyway,” he patiently responded. His response was exactly what I’d expected, and yet still it gave me no peace. Peace was foreign in every way and had been for a while.

“Erik. I want you to be honest. Have you been following our plan? Taking up hobbies, constantly checking yourself on why you enjoy these hobbies?” he asked to which I nodded my head.

I thought about the paintings I had in my home. The set of drums in the music room. Robots scattered in my office. An office that held pictures from a wedding and a few first dates. The music room that held the videos filled with “I love you’s” and “forevers” that fell short yet seems to fill me to this moment.  

“Doc can I ask you something?” I inquired to which he nodded his head.

“Was it ever possible that we would work out? With all the trauma I had, was I always going to self-destruct? Run away?” I asked. This question had been asked before, but my thoughts on it had changed. “Is that a black people thing, that we don’t get to rest and be easy, even with the people we love?” I pressed on, not waiting for his response.

Jamil tilted his head to me. He understood my fears, as I had been struggling for a minute now. Every session was about Kaya wanting a car, and every session I had told him over and over that I didn’t want her to have one because I didn’t want her to drive off and not look back.

Jamil was perceptive and did not give me a reprieve. He stared into my eyes and looked back at his family pictures my eyes kept flickering to. His eyes turned sad and unwilling, but he had nothing to worry about. Nothing could break my heart. It was still in shredded pieces on the floor of my dining room, still pumping after collecting ten years of tears.

“Erik, you don’t want Kaya to have a car because drop-off’s are the only time you have contact with your ex-wife,” he stated bluntly.

I stared back. It amused me that he believed I had no idea of this. This cat and mouse game him and played over this topic went round-and-round. This statement still, however, squeezed my heart. Jamil became blurry and something hot rushed down my face.

I cried for the remaining session.

[official-weasley]

The Irreplaceable Charlie Weasley: Pt. 8, Ch. 2

PART 8: WHERE IT ALL ENDS Chapter 2 - Dragons at Hogwarts

Nova

“Come on, Eero. Work with me, please.” I was crouched behind a boulder talking to a Common Welsh Green.

“I just want you to have a friend.” I pleaded and sneaked a look at Eero. He did not look amused but was laying down which was progress.

I approached him, my wand ready and my eyes down. I was determined that this was going to be the day!

“No, no biting, Eero!” I put my hand down when he snapped his jaw at it. “We did that yesterday. Let's do something else today.” He laid back down and if he had the ability I was pretty sure he would roll his eyes at me.

“Ajax, come boy.” I whispered toward the boulder opposite to the one I was hiding behind. My Chimera showed himself slowly. He was such a good boy and he was perfectly tamed now. My co-workers thought I was mental acting like he's a little Crup but to me, he was more of a pet than a beast.

“Now, Eero.” I looked back at the Dragon and felt a relief when I saw that he was eyeing Ajax but with curiosity rather than anger or agitation. “Will you be so kind and share your personal space with Ajax?” I approached the Welsh Green, his eyes still on the Chimera. His tail was still which was a good sign and it stayed that way even when Ajax was getting closer.

“Okay, Ajax. Stop. Not too fast.” I put my hand up at him and he sat down, his tail moving from left to right in anticipation. “Eero, buddy.” I looked back at the Dragon. “Are you going to be a good boy today?” He laid his head on the ground, his eyes going from me to Ajax, and started letting out smoke through his nostrils.

“Good. Thank you.” I felt like I was working with a teenager. Almost as stubborn as the only person he listened to, the Freckled Weasley. I waved at Ajax to come even closer and I couldn't believe it when Eero let Ajax sit a few meters away from him.

“Today is a good day, boys!” I exclaimed, careful not to show too much excitement or Eero might just take it away. “So, how about a lunch date?” I looked at them both and Ajax roared in excitement. I lifted my wand and levitated 2 steaks between them. My heart was beating so fast that I could barely pull off the Levitation Charm.

I slowly placed the pieces of meat down as their eyes wandered from each other to the meal. Eero started moving his tail and his claws were scratching the earth beneath him but he didn't move.

“Steady, Eero. Steady.” I said softly. Ajax was still sitting, patiently waiting for my command.

I might have needed over a year to tame the Chimera but my work was so much easier because of it. I could now focus only on the Dragons, knowing full well I can trust Ajax not constantly keeping an eye on him.

“Now...” I stood a few meters away from them. “Share your meal, slowly.” Ajax looked at me and I nodded. He got up and carefully approached the steaks on the floor. Before he took his piece, he looked at Eero who didn't move but has raised his head now.

Ajax bit in the steak and took a few steps backward. I gazed at Eero who copied Ajax's movements, taking his steak and retreating. I felt like I was going to explode from happiness. I finally managed to befriend a Chimera with a Dragon. I couldn't wait to write my report on it and tell my team and Charlie!

“You two needed almost as long as me and Charlie!” I laughed at my own joke and sat on the ground, observing them having lunch together.

“Nova!” I stood up at once, holding my hand at Ajax, to make him stay put.

“Blackwood, where are you?” I retrieved backward, still looking at the two creatures.

“Andrei, stop shouting!” I hissed at him when I saw him running towards me.

“Blimey, you did it!” He hid behind a boulder and peaked at Ajax and Eero. I nodded proudly.

“What is it?” I came closer, one of my eyes still on the lunch date.

“I wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't urgent...” Andrei started. He scratched the top of his head, looking rather uncomfortable. “I am already a few men short and I know this is a job for a Dragonologist but I have no one else to ask.”

“Well, spit it out, what do you need?” I was getting impatient. The look on his face was saying that something wasn't okay.

“I need you to go help Charlie, Ben, and Tim.” He finally answered.

“Go to Hogwarts?” I was puzzled. Charlie went there a week ago for the Triwizard Tournament and I knew that Andrei sent most of their team to make sure everything was going smoothly.

I didn't understand what they needed as they were supposed to be back in a few days. If I got my days straight the task with the Dragons was yesterday morning.

“Sam and Dominik got hurt. The Chinese Fireball didn't take it well when they were trying to steal her egg.” He shook his head.

“That was expected.” I rolled my eyes. They kept saying that this year's tournament was going to have more safety precautions than usual and then they make them steal a Dragon's egg from a Dragon mother. As if Dragons, in general, aren't dangerous enough.

“Are they okay?” I completely forgot he told me that Sam and Dom were hurt.

“They're going to be fine according to Charlie but he is now two men short to safely transport the Dragons back and I know this isn't what you originally do but...”

“I'll go.” I interrupted him. “No problem.” I smiled. I really didn't mind. It meant I could go to Hogwarts not sneaking in and out with an illegal baby Dragon like the last time.

“You're a lifesaver, Blackwood!” He tapped my back. “I'll set a Portkey for you in about 2 hours, would that be enough for you to get ready?”

“That sounds great.” I turned back to Ajax who was now napping and Eero was looking at him, rather annoyed as he didn't agree to a sleepover. “I'll just take Ajax back and get my stuff.”

I approached the two creatures with caution and nudged Ajax.

“Come on, sleepyhead. Your date is over.” Ajax stood up, a bit drowsy, and followed me away from Eero.

“Did you make a friend today, Ajax?” He gave out a friendly roar as we reached his habitat.

“I will be gone for a couple of days. Be a good boy and obey Rose and Jeffrey, will you?” He laid down on his usual spot and swung his tail back and forth a couple of times to let me know everything will be okay.

I rushed to my cottage to get some essentials before meeting Andrei by the gate. I didn't know what excited me more the fact that I was going to see Charlie a few days earlier, the fact that I will be helping him with Dragons, or the fact that I would have time to go around Hogwarts and stroll down memory lane.

—

I never liked using Portkeys much. They made me nauseous more than Apparation and I forgot to ask Andrei where exactly at Hogwarts I will turn up.

“Hi, love.” All of my irritation faded away when I looked up and saw Charlie's extended hand. Of course, he was going to wait for me. I pulled myself up with his help and dusted my jeans.

“Hi, Char.” I pressed my body to his in a tight embrace. I missed his scent. He didn't smell like grass and honeysuckle anymore. It was more like grass and outdoors and sometimes even of smoke if he had an incident with a Dragon at work.

“Thank you for agreeing to help. It's a mess out here.” He sighed after kissing me.

“What happened?” I still didn't know the full story.

“Victor Krum, the Durmstrang Champion I wrote you about...” I nodded as Charlie looked at me, making sure I followed. “He confused the Chinese Fireball so much that she stomped on two of her real eggs and she lost it.” Charlie shook his head. I knew he wasn't okay with this and that he sympathized with the Dragon.

“When we tried to take her back to the Forest, Sam and Dom weren't cautious enough and she almost scorched both of them.” Charlie put his hands to his temples. “And now I have a team of 3 instead of 5.” He stopped and looked at me. “That's why I asked Andrei to send you. You're man enough for 2 of them.” I laughed and kissed him.

“How long do we have before we have to leave?” I asked, hopeful to have at least a couple of hours.

“You want to feel nostalgic?” Charlie's lips curved. He grabbed my hand and rushed through the thick Forest. I gasped when the Castle came into view. I've missed it more than I would like to admit.

“We'll leave tomorrow in the middle of the night. We want to make sure the Fireball is okay. So basically you have quite some time.” He hugged me from behind and kissed my cheek, my gaze still on Hogwarts.

“What about the Dragons?” I snapped out of my daydreaming. “That's what I'm here for!” I giggled.

“The Dragons are all set. We just need you to help us get them back.” He calmed me down. “You can go visit Hagrid and Dumbledore and Snape.” He chuckled.

“Ah, yes. My favorite professor.” We both laughed. “You're not coming?” I wanted to visit every single room in the school but I wanted to do it with him.

“Can't.” He frowned. “I have to be here in case something happens.” He pressed his lips on mine. “You go have fun and I'll see you in the evening.” He winked at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. What was he hiding this time? He had the same smug face as every time he was hiding something from me and even though I knew the expression, I could never figure out what was happening in that cute head of his.

I made my way to Hagrid's hut first. I thought starting with him would be the best and I could make an excuse that I just ate lunch in case he offers me any of his Rock cakes. According to one of Ron's letters, they were as hard as when we ate them when we were at Hogwarts.

I knew that the students had 1 more hour of lessons, meaning it was perfect to chat with Hagrid for a bit. He was as happy to see me as I was to see him. He asked me loads of questions about the Sanctuary and the Dragons. He asked about Norbert and he finally told me how he got the egg. To me, it sounded more like someone wanted to bust him rather than being nice to him.

Fang recognized me at once. He was less energetic than I remembered him. After all, he wasn't so young anymore!

Hagrid happily told me Aragog was still alive to which I tried to look as happy as he was about it. I even tried one of his cakes just for pure nostalgia and regretted it the second I felt my teeth breaking on it. He expressed his concern for Harry and I couldn't help but share it. That boy went through more in the 15 years of his life than anyone else I knew.

Hagrid and the rest of the staff believed that he didn't put his name in the Goblet and I agree. I only met him a couple of times now but I could see that the kid wasn't asking for attention.

I liked talking to Hagrid. He wanted to talk about animals and daydream about the creatures he would like to have, just like me. I told him about Ajax and he was thrilled that I got him to work with Eero.

Our talk turned from an hour one to almost three so I hurried up the Castle to catch my favorite redheads at dinner.

“Nova!” Ginny stood up at once, half of the Gryffindor Table turning their heads in my direction. I hugged her and she made enough space for me to sit down.

She was sitting with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George and I couldn't help but be jealous. They reminded me of my lot and I was now more than sure that Ron had a crush on Hermione. On the other hand, she was harder to read, which made me think they were just like me and Charlie.

“Where's your beard?” I chuckled, looking at Fred and George. Ron was updating us constantly and the story of the twins trying to cross the Age Barrier to get their names into the Goblet was hilarious.

“You should have seen us!” Fred laughed.

“We looked ravishing with a beard!” George added.

“I reckon we even looked cooler than Bill with that earring of his.” Fred said proudly.

“I don't think you two can reach Bill's level of cool.” Ginny giggled and I joined her.

“Harry, congratulations on getting the egg. Charlie told me you did a great job!” I turned to him after Ginny and I finally stopped teasing the twins.

“Thanks.” He said, lowering his head. It was obvious he wasn't as proud of himself as we gave him credit for.

“It's okay. I believe you didn't put your name in the Goblet.” I reassured him and he looked a bit cheered up.

“Do you know about the other tasks?” Ron asked excitedly.

“No. Just know about the one with the Dragons.” I answered even though I have heard rumors about what the other two were.

“Figures!” Ron scoffed. “You and Charlie only know stuff about Dragons.” The lot laughed.

“That's not true!” Ginny defended me. “Did you forget that Nova was the best Transfiguration student of her year!” She stuck her tongue at him.

“Really?” I turned to Hermione, her eyes were beaming.

“Yes, I took Advanced Transfiguration for 6 years.” I said rather proudly. It didn't come in as handy as I hoped it would. With occasional transfigured food or rock or similar object to distract the creatures, I didn't use it much, but I can't deny that I miss it.

“I take it as well.” Hermione said matter-of-factly. “Started this year.” She sounded like she was jealous that she didn't receive her invitation in her Second Year as I did. She should've been sorted into Ravenclaw.

I remembered my private lessons with McGonagall fondly. She was strict and I always came out of that classroom feeling like I could sleep for days being so tired but I enjoyed every second of it and I always felt like 6 years weren't enough. I wished Magizoology and Transfiguration were more connected.

“I have a lesson later in the evening, you can join me if you'd like.” Hermione snapped me out of my memories.

“I would love to!” I beamed at her. I wanted to visit McGonagall anyway and participating in one of her lessons sounded like a dream at the moment.

“Nerds.” Ron playfully rolled his eyes at both of us.

“So, Ronald.” I cleared my throat. “Ginny told me that you didn't believe Harry when he told you he didn't put his name into the Fire. What was that about?” Ron's face turned pale. “How come you didn't mention THAT in your letters?” I raised an eyebrow. I was having too much fun teasing him.

The twins were holding their stomachs, laughing so hard. Harry and Ginny joined them.

“Oh, we miss having you around, Blackwood.” Fred said as they stood up, gave me a hug, and started to leave. They were followed by Hermione and Harry. While Ron lingered behind.

“I'm sorry. I know it was stupid of me.” He whispered and hugged me.

I smiled. I knew he was just a bit jealous that Harry got all the spotlight. Ron was the youngest brother in the family and with all the success of his three eldest brothers, being a Curse Breaker, a Dragonologist, and working for the Ministry, I knew Ron felt pressured to do something memorable as well.

I didn't doubt for a second that it wouldn't happen for him. Bill, Charlie, and I weren't exactly the coolest bunch while at school and we're doing just fine now.

I decided to stay behind with Ginny as the Hall was still too crowded for me to go say hello to any of my Professors. Ginny told me that Harry fancies this Ravenclaw girl named Cho. She was pretty bummed about it and I didn't know how to advise her. Charlie told me how bad he felt when I had a crush on Murphy and I couldn't bear the fact that Ginny was going through the same thing.

I also couldn't believe Harry had a crush. Which only made my assumptions that Ron fancied Hermione stronger. However, Ginny tried to hide her excitement when she told me that she thinks Cho likes Cedric Diggory instead and that that might throw Harry off. I might've just heard the rumors about the other two tasks but I knew they were having a Ball on Christmas day and I couldn't help but wish that Harry would ask Ginny.

In my opinion, it was too quick for them to get together but it was a nice opportunity for them to bond and perhaps open Harry's eyes to the fact that they would look really cute together.

I don't think Harry doesn't like Ginny. I believe it has more to do with the fact that he sees her as a sister because Ron is his best friend. And it only takes a couple of hormones to change that.

After calming Ginny down and telling her that she should wait to see what will happen this year and in the next one, I finally had the chance to say hello to Professor Sprout and Dumbledore. They greeted me with a big smile on their faces and told me that they have both read my paper on Hippogriffs and Dragons and congratulated me for it. That made me blush more than I would like to show.

On the way out of the Great Hall, I bumped into Snape.

“Blackwood.” He narrowed his eyes at me. I felt like I was about to get detention. “What are you doing here?”

“Professor Snape, nice to see you again.” I said a bit too cheerfully as his eyes narrowed some more. “I'm here to help take the Dragons back to Romania.” He didn't move. In fact, he didn't even blink.

“Wasted your talents on animals, did you.” He said, disappointed. “I hope Miss Haywood wasn't as foolish as you.”

“It's Mrs. Egwu now, but no.” I shook my head. “She's a Potions Master at Beauxbatons, sir.” If Tonks and Tulip were here they would've laughed at me for calling Snape sir.

“At least one of your lot didn't end completely incompetent.” He said without any expression on his face. I knew Penny was going to burst into tears of joy after I tell her the compliment Snape has just given her.

“Always a pleasure to talk to you, Professor.” I knew he couldn't say anything back, so I squeezed between him and the door and stormed towards the Charms Classroom. I wanted to see Flitwick before joining Hermione for Transfiguration.

“Miss Blackwood, is that you!” I turned around and wanted to jump for joy when I heard the all too familiar squeaky voice. “Or is it Mrs. Weasley now?”

“Professor Flitwick!” Perhaps I said that a tad too enthusiastically but I didn't care. I missed his lessons. “No, still a Miss.” I giggled and I couldn't help but wonder if I saw a hint of disappointment on his face.

“Here on Dragon duty, I presume?” He started walking with me.

“Only here to take them back. Two in Charlie's team were injured.” I explained.

“So you and Mr. Weasely...” He waved his finger at me.

“Still together, yes. Just not married.” His lips curved and my cheeks turned pink. It was really strange to talk to him about this even though he and McGonagall had the most embarrassing conversation with us in our Seventh Year.

“How are you, Professor?” I wanted to stir the conversation elsewhere.

“Can't complain!” He grinned. “Even though it would be better if we weren't hosting so many other students.” He sighed. I understood what he meant. The corridors seemed more crowded than I remembered.

“If you're looking for Professor McGonagall, she is just starting her Advanced Transfiguration class.” He stopped in front of her classroom.

“I was trying to find you and then was headed here, yes.” He seemed rather proud of the fact that I wanted to see him as well.

I wanted to visit all of my Professors. I was rather sad that Kettleburn already retired even though he received a Christmas card from Charlie and me every year just like Hagrid did. I didn't care much for Rakepick as I always feared her and according to Fred and George, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers changed every year since she left. They even said that the job was cursed, but I didn't really believe that.

I said goodbye to Flitwick and knocked. I could hear Professor McGonagall say to come in, so I opened the door.

“Nova!” McGonagall said in surprise. “I mean, Miss Blackwood.” She put her hand on her lips, embarrassed that she stepped out of the role of a teacher for a second.

“Hi, Professor. Mind if I join?” I grinned. She invited me to sit down next to Hermione. She had two other students attending her lesson.

“I doubt there is anything new I can teach you, Miss Blackwood.” I knew she felt as nostalgic as I did.

“I just want to listen to you teach.” I answered honestly. Hermione stared at us, in awe. I knew she couldn't believe McGonagall to be so relaxed and not looking as strict as always.

I was leaning on my crossed arms, listening to McGonagall speak as if I was listening to my favorite song. I still remembered everything she was teaching the three students and Hermione was writing everything down with such a force that I thought her parchment was going to ignite itself.

It was now time to do some practical work and Hermione was doing a great job. I corrected her wand movement a couple of times, as McGonagall was paying more attention to the other two students and I couldn't help but get a feeling she was doing it on purpose so that I would help Hermione.

Hermione was hesitant to take my advice at first but when she tried my method of configuring her paper into a butterfly and it worked immediately, she was more eager to listen. There was a knock on the door and we all turned around to see Ginny peek in.

“I am so sorry to disturb your lesson, Professor...” She whispered. “But I need to steal Nova from you.”

McGonagall nodded at her, the same disappointed expression on her face I was having.

“It was nice to see you again, Miss Blackwood.” She accompanied me to the door. “If you ever come again, you are more than welcome to join any of my classes.” She gave me one of those rare smiles that I only got once before; when I was saying goodbye to her in my Seventh Year.

“Ginny, what is it?” I asked her as she closed the door behind us. “Couldn't this wait?” I couldn't help but wish that I could go back in there.

“Oh, I think you won't mind me disturbing you soon enough.” I finally turned my head to her, away from the door. She had the same smug expression on her face Charlie had earlier.

“What are you up to?” I raised an eyebrow at her, crossing my arms on my chest.

“Charlie asked me to tell you to meet him at your usual spot by the Lake.” She winked at me.

“Oh.” Was all I could reply. I loved Transfiguration but nothing in this world could beat spending time with Charlie by the Lake.

“Tell me how it goes.” She giggled and ran away.

Tell her how what goes?

[hailing-stars]

@febuwhump day three: imprisonment 

definitely not a lizard

Summary 

“I don’t understand why I have to be here, Mr. Stark,” said Peter, as Tony pulled the car into the school parking lot.

“Because this is entirely your fault.”

“I think entirely is a little unfair.” Peter took a glance back at Nessie, who snuggled with her pink stuffed bunny. She had gotten so big that she covered the entire front seat of the car. “I’m not the one who suggested Morgan bring her pet dinosaur for show and tell.”

“But you are the reason she has a pet dinosaur.”

“Don’t think enough blame is pinned on OsCorp for that one, actually.”

or

Peter ransacks an OsCorp lab for fun and finds Morgan a friend in the process.

OR

The origin story of the monster that lives in lake behind the Stark house.

Bits of broken glass crunched under Peter’s feet, and under his mask, he smiled, looking around at the OsCorp lab he’d just ransacked. Jameson was right. He was a menace, and it felt great.

Good, healthy destruction was soup for the soul, and nothing felt more soul-mending then laying waste to the place responsible for so much animal cruelty. After taking a few seconds to admire his handiwork, he turned to leave, but his eyes caught a cage with a small lizard locked inside.

“Don’t worry, buddy,” said Peter, striding across the lab, stepping on even more broken glass. “I’ll get you out there. Put you somewhere you can be free.”

He picked up the small cage, and Karen alerted him Tony had sent him a couple of text messages reminding him about Morgan’s birthday party, telling him to be late. That they wouldn’t be waiting for him to cut the cake.

It was a sinking realization. The remembering her birthday, and consequently, remembering he hadn’t remembered to buy her a present. Between Spider-Manning and school and friends and academic Decathlon, his life was filled with great distractions.

The lizard jumped around in the cage, and Peter got a brilliant idea. He only hoped Mr. Stark saw the genius of it.

*

Peter wasn’t late to the party, but him and the lizard were the last to arrive.

He parked his car behind Bucky’s motorcycle. He swung his door open, and unbuckled the passenger’s side seatbelt, freeing the cage from the strap keeping it safe from the bumpy ride out to the lake house.

He just hoped Ms. Lizard wasn’t too shaken up. He hoped she was ready to meet her new family.

As it turned out, her new family wasn’t quite ready to meet her. Tony’s head snapped in Peter’s direction as if he was the one with the extra sense for danger. His eyes narrowed in on the lizard cage tucked under Peter’s arm, and he marched through party guests scattered about the yard and towards him.

“What the hell is that?”

“It’s a lizard,” said Peter. He held out the cage, balancing it on the palms of his hands. “Isn’t she cool?”

“Please tell me,” said Mr. Stark, “that thing isn’t supposed to be Morgan’s present?”

Peter gasped, and moved the lizard away from him. “Mr. Stark, she isn’t a thing.”

“She’s not a present, either.”

“You and Pepper were just saying Morgan needs to learn about responsibility,” said Peter. “So really a pet is a perfect present.”

“No we weren’t,” said Tony. “We were saying you needed to learn about responsibility after you forgot to put gas in your car and we had to come save you on the side of the highway.”

“Well maybe if I had a pet lizard as a kid I’d remember to put gas in my car.”

“Oh, so it’s May’s fault?”

“No,” said Peter. “That’s not what I meant!”

Tony released a long, annoyed breath, and rubbed his temple. “Are you serious right now? With the lizard? Really couldn’t have thought of a less annoying birthday present?”

“It was sort of an impulse thing,” said Peter, and he explained to Tony about OsCorp. He explained the destruction of the animal testing lab, because he knew he would approve of that sort of inconvenience being bought upon Norman Osborn. “So you see, I couldn’t just leave her there in animal prison. She deserves a home.”

“Pete, not this home,” said Tony. “Find someone else to care for your friend, and get her out of sight before Morgan -”

An ear shattering scream filled the air. Party guests, made up of mostly old and new Avengers paused and cleared the path for Morgan Stark, who charged at them in her brand new ballet slippers.

“IS SHE MINE?”

“Uh, well -” said Peter, shuffling his feet around, feeling awful.

“I LOVE HER,” said Morgan. She put her knees in the dirt, and peered into the cage. The lizard stared back at her. “I’ve always wanted a lizard.”

“You have never once said you want a lizard,” said Tony.

“Well I didn’t know I wanted one until I had one,” she told him, with a tone that suggested it was very obvious.

Tony closed his eyes. “Fine. You may keep the stupid reptile, but you’ve both responsible for keeping it fed and the cage clean, got it?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Tony walked away, and Peter popped the lid to the cage open, so Morgan could get a closer look at her new pet.

*

Two weeks passed, and Nessie no longer fit in the glass cage Peter had lifted from OsCorp. That was okay, according to Morgan, because Nessie liked sleeping at the end of her bed way more than cold, smooth glass, anyway.

According to Tony, it was a nightmare. He was terrified of the strange noises Nessie hissed at him every morning when he tried to wake Morgan up for school.

Peter sat at the kitchen table, minding his own business and eating cereal in a sleepy fog, when Tony stormed into the kitchen waving his bloody finger around.

“That’s it,” said Tony. He twisted the facet, and ran steamy water over the bite marks. “I’m calling Bruce. That thing definitely isn’t a lizard.”

“Maybe Nessie hates you because you keep calling her a thing,” said Peter, with a mouth full of cereal.

Tony grumbled and poured peroxide over his hand.

Later, Bruce showed up with a homemade DNA testing kit and a whole lot of questions.

“...you really thought it was a good idea to let Peter and Morgan keep an unknown species from OsCorp?”

“It was kind of an impulse thing,” gritted Tony, glaring at Peter, who patted Nessie’s head, distracting her from Bruce poking her scaly skin and drawing her blood.

Bruce worked fast, and it felt like hardly any time at all had passed before he was scratching his head, staring at the results in disbelief.

“I think… I think Nessie’s a dinosaur.”

“Oh great,” said Tony. “OsCorp is genetically engineering dinosaurs. Just what we need.”

“Has Norman never watched Jurassic Park?” asked Peter, with a frown. “He really should… it’s a great film.”

“Of course he’s seen Jurassic Park. He’s just too stupid not to take it’s warning and not put dangerous beasts on our planet.”

“I don’t think Nessie’s dangerous,” said Bruce. “She’s definitely from the prehistoric age, genetically, but she lacks any predatory instinct. Looks like OsCorp has successfully domesticated dinosaurs.”

“Leave it to Osborn to create completely boring dinosaurs,” said Tony. He held up his now bandaged finger. “If she’s not dangerous, why did she bite me?”

“Have you considered she just doesn’t like you?”

Tony growled, Nessie hissed more of her baby dinosaur roars, and Peter pet her, calming her down and marveling at how awesome it was to have a dinosaur running around the lake house.

“Dr. Banner,” said Peter. “If they can make dinosaurs, do you think they could engineer, like, a Pikachu?”

“A what?”

“You know, Pokemon?”

Bruce continued looking confused, and Tony continued looking like he was in great, neverending pain.

*

“I don’t understand why I have to be here, Mr. Stark,” said Peter, as Tony pulled the car into the school parking lot.

“Because this is entirely your fault.”

“I think entirely is a little unfair.” Peter took a glance back at Nessie, who snuggled with her pink stuffed bunny. She had gotten so big that she covered the entire front seat of the car. “I’m not the one who suggested Morgan bring her pet dinosaur for show and tell.”

“But you are the reason she has a pet dinosaur.”

“Don’t think enough blame is pinned on OsCorp for that one, actually.”

Tony parked the car, and grabbed Nessie’s leash from the dashboard. He managed to click it around her collar without losing an arm, or getting his hand bitten. They were working on their relationship, and in Peter’s opinion it was going pretty well, as long as Tony remembered to feed her hamburgers every once in a while.

It was a slow walk to the school’s entrance. Nessie was a faster swimmer than walker, and Peter often wondered if she wouldn’t be happier living in the lake.

“Okay,” said Tony. “You’re gonna have to carry her. I can’t take walking at this snail pace.”

“Why do I gotta carry her?”

Tony looked at Peter like he was dense. “Because I would break my back, super-genius.”

“Fine, fine,” said Peter, scooping Nessie up in his arms. She licked his face in appreciation.

They got looks from everyone who spotted them in the hallway, as they marched towards Morgan’s classroom. Once they got there, it was impossible for Morgan’s classmates to focus on anything else besides the dinosaur, so they got to start show-and-tell right away.

Peter stood next to Tony and Morgan up at the front of the class, dozens of tiny eyes staring at him. He handed the end of Nessie’s leash to Morgan, and she plopped down in front of her feet.

“This is my pet dinosaur -” started Morgan, only for Tony to cut her off with a series of loud coughs and a correction.

“Reptile,” he said. “Dinosaur’s just a family joke. They definitely don’t exist anymore.”  

“Uh, Mr. Stark,” said Mrs. Presley. “What kind of reptile is Nessie, exactly?”

“A big one,” he answered, then urged Morgan to continue.

“Nessie likes bubble baths,” she said.

Peter could tell from the look on Tony’s face that he was having flashbacks from the time he’d walked into the bathroom and saw him and Morgan with a giant bubble gun, and Nessie in the tub filled with even more bubbles, snapping her jaws at the flying ones.

“And cheeseburgers,” she continued. “My big brother Peter rescued her from that mean green guy -”

“-the pet store owner!” Peter injected. “He was, umm, wearing a green polo, and kept her in a tiny cage.”

“Yeah, they were so mean to Nessie,” said Morgan. “Always poking her with needles and keeping her locked up, but then Peter got her for me for my birthday, and now we have lots of fun, even if it stresses my dad out sometimes.”

Morgan finished her speech, and Mrs. Presley whispered to Tony, asking him if it were safe for the children to pet the creature she was still convinced was something more than a reptile. He nodded. The children lined up, and after they each had a turn, Tony and Peter left with Nessie, once again, locked in Peter’s arms.

“I think it went well,” said Peter, once they were in the car. In the backseat, Nessie took a bite out of her pink bunny. “Maybe we should stop for burgers on the way home.”

*

Eventually, Nessie moved out of the house.

It happened over time, as she grew larger and larger, and became way too big to sleep on the end of Morgan’s bed. She grew so massive, Morgan understood it’d be cruel to keep her locked up in the house, especially when they had a perfectly good lake in the backyard.

So the lake became Nessie’s home, but it wasn’t like she didn’t come back to visit. She showed up, emerging from the lake to scare the hell out of Happy, on the occasions of family barbecue, enticed by the smells coming off the grill.

She showed up for Morgan on summer days, when her and Peter swam in the lake despite Tony’s concerns about flesh eating bacteria.

“You worry too much, Mr. Stark,” Peter would tell him.

And Tony would tell him that was impossible. It was a parent’s job to worry, and it would never quite be enough.

When the house got quiet, when Morgan aged out of the part of her life when her family was her entire world, and when Peter became busy with college and Spider-Man nonsense, Tony worried more.

Some nights he found himself wandering outside, firing up the grill, and throwing a few burgers for himself, and for Nessie, who could always be counted on to rise up out of the lake for a good burger.

As the sun set, casting an orangish glow over the lake,  he threw a burger out to Nessie and she ate with a snap of her jaw.

“You know,” Tony told her. “You’re not half bad, Ness.”

She walked towards him, and before Tony could react, licked him. Her giant, reptile tongue left dinosaur slavia and small bits of hamburger on his face and clothes.

“Really,” he said. “Just when we were starting to get along.”

Nessie put her head to the sky, and roared at the disappearing sun. Tony could only hope the neighbors wouldn’t hear her.

[vocalyunho]

B{oyfriend}est friend

pairing — WooSan x reader (fem)

genre — light angst, smutty smut

word count — 4.5k

warnings — threesome, acts of handjob, blowjob and fingering, overstimulation, explicit sex, a full course meal with a side of cookie all in all.

A/N: So uhm 👉🏼👈🏼 if you think I gave more attention to San, it’s because I involved untold feelings that were kept inside from both San and the reader for many years and that helped make the situation more complicated and heated, so yeah 🌱

San and you have been childhood friends since you were sooo little. You used to live next to each other and go to school together and even though you weren’t in the same school in middle school anymore you’d still meet on some week days and of course on weekends.

San was, also, actually your first kiss. It didn’t mean anything back then...because you just did it to “get it over with”, but it did later. You were kids and many other classmates of yours would go on platonic relationships and give tiny pecks to each other and that made you feel bad. You didn’t have a “boyfriend” to give kisses on your cheeks and lips and you really wanted to know how that felt. So when you said that to San one afternoon, while you were on the playground, he grabbed your cheeks and brought his face so close to yours that you could hear your heart beating in your ears. You still remember how he kept looking at your eyes with his adorable, little, nervous smile and told you “I can be your first kiss if you want to and that’ll be fair because you will be mine too”. And when you nodded he touched your lips for 2 or maybe 3 seconds and then parted again.

This is just a memory of the thousands you have of him and you being together as just friends. But later when you were in high school and still good friends you started having mixed feelings. At first, you’d be happy if he told you he had found a girl he likes and a second later you’d feel jealousy starting to burn your insides. Just the thought of a girl making him feel complete and touching him in places he wanted her the most, made your mind go dizzy.

Even though he had some girlfriends before and even though you knew he was the high school’s heartthrob, you just couldn’t imagine someone else being his favourite girl. But this was only how you felt in high school, you had a tiny crush on him back then, or is this just what you thought it was? Was it only in high school or?

yes! this was only in high school!

You’re both college students now, living in your own apartments and acting like adults as much as you can. You’re studying on the same university, just different departments. He’s an art major and you’re a psychology one, currently both on your second year of studying.

San is, also, the one who made you meet your current boyfriend. Wooyoung and you have been together for about 7 months now and he makes you really happy. He’s kind, respectful, smart and a beast whenever and wherever he needs to be, but you still feel kind of incomplete and that makes you feel guilty, because Wooyoung is so nice and deserves only the best. You really like him, but your mind keeps going back to San and whenever he’s around, your mind doesn’t know who to give more attention to. San is your childhood best friend and also Wooyoung’s closest friend since college started and Wooyoung is your boyfriend that you honestly like, but fuck, you feel like you need them both.

The way San behaves doesn’t help a lot either...he’s being really touchy, he always was, but lately it’s just really weird. He even touches you, hugs you and plays around when Wooyoung is there which he didn’t use to do. He tells you to talk to him whenever you seem down to him, he asks you if you’ve eaten every day and it feels like...he’s taking care of you...a lot. You love this attention from him, but this attention makes you feel things that shouldn’t be welcome, but instead they really are.

Wooyoung, on the other hand, has you in the centre of the world. He takes care of you and you of him, he asks your opinion about everything important to him, you talk every difficulty out and he, for sure, makes you feel good during sex. There hasn’t been a single session in which you haven’t screamed his name, except for the ones where you, both, really had to be quiet. However, sometimes it feels like he notices the way San behaves around you, but doesn’t do anything to stop it...at least, that’s what you assume because neither have San’s actions changed a bit nor Wooyoung has said anything to you.

——————————————————————

Lately, Fridays have been movie nights for Wooyoung, San, Ame and you. You’ve been rewatching all Harry Potter movies together, while eating every unhealthy food you can think of and having fun, but tonight Ame isn’t here. She had to attend a family dinner and left the three of you alone. So far everything has been great and of course you haven’t made San feel like he’s third wheeling even if Wooyoung has tried kissing you and touching you throughout the entire movie. You’re glad San is sitting on the couch closer to the tv, because he can’t hear you whispering to Wooyoung to stop being touchy in front of his friend.

Maybe he’s had enough of your scolding, because now he’s sitting on the other side of the couch and is not snuggling up to you, eyes stuck on the tv screen.

“wait, we haven’t ordered anything and the movie is almost over”, San speaks as he turns his head towards you.

“shit, we forgot with all the chips we got”, you say glancing first at San and then your boyfriend, but Wooyoung doesn’t even try to look at you.

well, this is worrying.

“Maybe we can order when the movie’s over, don’t you dare leave without eating, San” you chuckle on the last part looking at him and he does the same.

“okay, that’s enough!”, Wooyoung speaks as he stands up.

“you two have been flirting in front of me for MONTHS and I’ve tried brushing it off, thinking that this is how you normally act around each other, but I’ve had ENOUGH”.

“what are you talking about, Wooyoung?” San asks, already standing up too.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re being touchy with her all the time, you spend a lot of time with her everyday, you eye her up and down non stop...WE GET IT, YOU WANNA FUCK HER”.

He screamed the last part and San took a step back, looking taken aback.

“Wooyoung stop...non of this is true...why are you being like this, now?” at this point, you’re afraid they’ll fight, so you stand up too.

“it’s true” you hear San speak, looking back and forth Wooyoung and you.

“I wanna fuck her, but I have never tried it because I respect both of you and your relationship”

“San, what are you saying?” you’re so confused, what’s happening right now?

“I’m sorry, Y/N” his face is full of guilt.

San, your best friend, just admitted to Wooyoung, your boyfriend that he wants to fuck you? This will not end well at all, but this is your chance and you need to grab it before it slips away.

“I don’t know if this is a game you’re playing with me right now guys, but if it is please stop it before I fuck you both”

They snapped their heads towards you so quick.

“WHAT?”

“you heard me San, you heard me both”

“are you serious?”

“never been more before”

“I mean...if San’s okay with that...” Wooyoung speaks softly all of a sudden, but you both heard him well. He was mad a minute ago, but seems chill now.

You didn’t expect him to be open to that so quickly, you thought he’d be after a little convincing, but does that turn him on for him to agree to something like that so fast?

“I-I’d love to-” San says.

“okay but I’m not taking anyone without a condom on”

“let’s take care of that later”

Wooyoung took your hand and guided you to the bedroom in a second.

San must be following you both because when Wooyoung pinned you to the wall, you could see San behind him staring at you. He attacked your neck so fast that your eyes closed instinctively and your hands stuck on the wall trying to hold on it, but failing.

“listen, San” Wooyoung started saying between kisses “you’re only allowed to fuck her however she wants you to, buddy”

He’s sucking and biting under your ear making your knees weaker and weaker with each bite until a soft moan leaves your lips. If he keeps this pace, you’ll fall on your knees any time, but he knows you too well to let that happen. So, he lets his arms get a hold of your thighs, guiding you to wrap your legs around his waist.

San found the armchair in the corner of the room and sat down, probably waiting for the right moment to take his part in the game, but you can see him looking at you with lust in his eyes.

Wooyoung still has you pinned against the wall, his lips travelling from your neck to your lips where he plants sloppy kisses that echo in the room. He’s licking and biting on your lower lip all the time and you thought he just did it for access in your mouth but he already is inside it and hasn’t stopped biting your lip. The moment he squeezed your ass you knew exactly what he was doing. He’s trying to make you moan against him, to let San know how good he’s making you feel without even being inside you yet and probably to turn him on even more. Of course you’ll play along with that...having your boyfriend and best friend being turned on only for you is your dream that’s slowly coming true.

You let your head fall back a little, hitting the wall as you do and a breathy moan with a pinch of a high-pitched meowl comes out of your throat in waves.

“we haven’t even done anything yet, but you’re already doing so well, baby” Wooyoung breathes against your lips.

“I know” you reassure him.

He turns his body and throws you both on the bed with you on top. This is your chance to make him and San go feral, so your hand flies down to his pants, pulling the sweatpants down just enough to reveal his grey underwear and growing bulge. You start grinding against him, up and down with a little pressure to make him feel your core on his member, but you won’t stick to that.

You climb off him and slide down to where his knees rest, as your hand pulls down his underwear. You take him in your hand, stroking him lightly and his eyes shut close in an instant.

“Wooyoungie...I just want a little pre-cum to make my movements easier, can you do that for me?” you speak with innocence.

“I hope so” his voice is caught in his throat.

You could just spit in your hand or use some lube, but that would take all the fun away, so you start pumping him faster and faster until broken moans leave his lips. You have no idea what San could be doing in the corner of the room, but you can’t check right now...not until Wooyoung starts dripping.

“will you...let me fuck you in my favourite position after this?” he says heaving through his nose.

“maybe yes, but later”

Transparent liquid starts dripping from his tip and it’s not much, but enough to spread it all over his member with your hand and make the noises more squeaky and sloppy. You ask more pressure now and especially on his tip as you go up and this can easily get him going but tonight’s a special night, so you stay on his base and bring your lips close to his tip licking around it.

The moment he felt your lips on him, he flinched and held him up on his elbows to see your every action. You took him in your mouth, up to where you can and started blowing him fast until whines left his throat.

“fuuuck that’s it” his head has dropped back, making his Adam’s apple more visible than before.

You bob your head quick, letting your mind get filled with his beautiful sounds and just a second later he becomes more vocal.

“I-I’ll come-” and with two more blows he’s come, but you were ready for that so you parted and turned his member to his stomach to come over himself.

He is loud and all blissed out, but your attention has turned to San now who’s taken his member in his hands, stroking himself with furrowed eyebrows.

“nonono, tonight I’ll help with that” you say motioning for him to come on the bed and he does.

“wait...are you sure? is this okay?”

“yes, Sannie...tonight everything’s fine”, you say helping him on the bed.

He’s already taken off his pants and his underwear is down enough to let his member stick out and

okay this is a big boy.

He’s bigger than Wooyoung, that’s for sure and you kind of expected that in all honesty...but you still don’t know if he’s good.

You hesitate a little because all of this is surreal...you never thought something like this would happen and especially with both your boyfriend and best friend in one room, but you finally grab him from his base and give him a stroke all the way up to his tip.

He sighs loudly and you take your attention from his dick to his eyes as you approach him with your mouth. He follows your eyes just as slowly and the sexual tension that always existed between you has reached the final level now. You haven’t even touched him, but a “fuck” leaves his lips as you still look at each other.

You lick long stripes from the base to his tip, hearing his breath hitch and you can’t help but let a smile appear on your lips. You take him all in once, feeling him in the back of your throat and you start bobbing your head slowly as your hand pumps the part that can’t fit in your mouth. You’d stop everything you were doing if you weren’t so dedicated to make him come, the moment he left out the first noice.

fuck, his voice is raspy.

You were not expecting that. San is usually vocal when he speaks and his voice is quite high...so it must be deeper only in bed. You have to make him feel really good to hear his voice more, so you move faster and faster letting the sloppy sounds echo in the room. San starts hissing and his legs tremble from the stimulation on his member, his moans all husky and deep.

“i-if you only knew how g-good this feels Y/N-“

You could just cum by the way he said your name.

When he becomes louder, you know he’s close so you let your hands do the last part and he comes in tiny spurts that land on his stomach and legs.

Your arms hurt and the position made your knees burn so you flop down between the two boys, San still coming down from this hell of a suck and Wooyoung watching closely your every action on San’s dick. You can’t help but notice that Wooyoung is erected again... so this indeed turns him on.

Suddenly, Wooyoung stands up moving to the night stand and taking out two condoms, giving one to San and tearing up the other one.

“let’s get the game going” he says as he slides the condom on his length.

He holds himself above you, looking lovingly at you.

“San take her pants off, please and I’ll take the rest off” he says and attacks your lips as San is slowly moving to your lower body.

Wooyoung licks your lips as his hands reach the hem of your shirt pulling it up and breaking the session just to take it off. He does the same with your bra, leaving your lips alone to give attention to your breasts. He starts sucking and biting here and there and you’ve gotten so sensitive now that tiny moans leave your throat. If only San came to swallow all of them with his lips...

San is on your left, stood up and looking closely everything that’s going on in front of him, with the corner of your eye you can see that he’s erected again too and with your head you motion for him to come closer. When he does, you grab a fistful of his shirt and collide your lips. Wooyoung is traveling down your body with his lips while San’s are on yours on a slow and gradually sloppy kiss. The moment Wooyoung reaches your panties and slides them down, you leave a hum fill San’s mouth that made him twitch.

“you’re better than I thought you’d be” he says.

“I hope you are, too” you smile against him.

“oh, you bet I am”.

“Wooyoung mate, can you leave this to me?” He’s still looking at you and you know exactly what he’s talking about.

Wooyoung pulls away while San moves to the end of the bed, letting his body down enough to face your core. He kisses up your left thigh, slowly getting closer to where you need him the most and the moment he licks a stripe up your clit, an unintentional cry leaves your mouth. He licks and kisses one after the other as his hand moves to your entrance letting two fingers slip inside you with not too much, but enough force to make you whimper. He starts moving his fingers in and out in a slow but gradually fast pace, your eyes roll on the back of your head and your back arches from the bed when he adds a third finger. He lets them rest inside you and starts drawing circles making your voice get caught in your throat and your legs shake from the stimulation.

“p-please-“

“fuck”

This was Wooyoung who’s stroking himself next to San, his eyes stuck on your face and his ears filled with your noises.

“I-I don’t wanna come just yet, p-please” you try your best to get the words out and in an instant he stops.

Your heart is racing and you can hear a light tapping in your ears from the effort not to come on his fingers.

“can I...do it the way I like it?” Wooyoung asks.

“of course, baby”

He takes his remaining clothing off and gets between your legs as his hands wrap around your waist to lift your hips off the bed and on his thighs. Wooyoung loves it when your lower body is on him, when both of you are putting effort to move and feel good and especially when he can hold you close to him feeling your waist on his fingers.

He’s in your entrance but doesn’t push in just yet, he’s brushing his tip on you wetting himself with your silk but you need him right now so...you grab him and guide him to your entrance, pushing down to get him all in.

This is the first time you made him bottom out in the first push, it hurts, but the feeling of being full outreaches the pain. He keeps you still and his hands tighten around your waist as he pulls out and thrusts hard. A muffled cry leaves your lips, but he doesn’t stop and keeps a fast pace going. He’s hissing and the moment he slows down you push down on him making a loud moan leave his and your lips.

Your entire body is bouncing, fucking yourself on his dick hard, your voice comes out in throaty moans and he seems like he’s close, being more vocal now but you need to get him off. Your pussy clenched around him when he hit your g-spot, making him twitch inside you and his head fell forward from the overstimulation and need of release.

You’re both snapping your hips on each other. Wooyoung is thrusting quick, sighing heavily each time trying to make you both reach your climax. Sweat has formed on your forehead and you’re sure you felt some drops from Wooyoung drop on your stomach, but you like it.

“fuck, don’t stop...I’m close-”

You keep going, pushing down faster and faster, his grip on your waist tightens and when he comes loud and broken moans come out of him. You always loved how vocal he is during sex, it reassures you that you make him feel good and just that is enough to send you to heaven. You keep clenching as tiny cries leave your lips and you let your colours spill out as he pulls out, his condom full of his white liquid.

“you’re so good, baby”

He flops down next to you, your breaths out of control but your mind now is full of San, who’s still standing and his eyes were stuck on how Wooyoung disappeared inside you all this time.

“so” you look at him.

“can you, uhm- come here- no, wait I’ll bring you here” he speaks fast.

“no, it’s fine I can move”.

You slowly stand up with effort, wondering why he wants you to leave the bed, but when see the mirror behind him, you already feel yourself clench around thin air.

“I-”

“you wanna see yourself fucking me”

“y-yeah...if that’s okay with you”

“only if you fuck me hard”

He looks taken aback but doesn’t hesitate to attack your lips as he gets on top of you. The mirror is on your right, which means that if you stay like that you’ll both be able to see your fucked out faces in some minutes. He feels different now though...this entire time he was a little hesitant and insecure about what was happening, but now even the way he’s kissing you is different. He’s more confident and his hands are on a tight grip on your thighs, squeezing them hard. He’s breathing loudly against you, like he’s putting his all in the kiss because he’ll never get to kiss you again and now...you’re kind of afraid about that too.

You moan against him, not knowing what turns him on but you’re willing to try different things in order to find out. You place your hands where his jaw and neck connect, trying to deepen the kiss and maybe make it more personal, showing him that you really enjoy all of this and he bites your lip hard. His tongue slides inside you and so does his member.

You hadn’t even realised he had positioned himself in your entrance, but that doesn’t matter now. He pushed just halfway in and he, for sure, is bigger than Wooyoung but not wider than him.

“all in” you reassure him and return your lips on his instantly.

He pushes once again, making you whimper, but swallowing all your noises with his lips. He starts thrusting and both his tongue and dick are playing games inside you while his hands are probably marking your thighs with the strong hold. It’s not easy for him to move as fast or hard he wants with his lips connected to yours, you know that. So, you break the kiss to let him do as he wants freely.

“tonight’s your chance San, fuck me hard”

He looks at you as he straightens his body and starts pumping in and out of you fast, so fast that you don’t even try to hold on to something. You just let yourself bounce, your mouth open agape on a silent scream and your hands on each side of your face, resting there. He suddenly stops and you’re afraid something happened, but when he moved your legs over his shoulders and hit a completely new spot, all thoughts were gone and only stars were left in your mind.

“ahh, that’s it”

He’s thrusting hard making all your cries sound broken, but his own groans are loud and clear. He’s putting all of his effort to this moment, you can tell that and you can’t keep your eyes open for much but you can see him looking in the mirror and mumbling something that you can’t make out. The overstimulation is unbearable, but this is your only chance to feel him inside you without the guilt eating you alive later. The sweat on his forehead, the muscles on his arms that keep you steady, his hair that’s all over his eyes...fuck he’s so beautiful and he’s yours only for tonight...

“I-I’ll come” he growls and breaks your train of thought.

“wait for me-e”

And in a couple more thrusts, he’s filling the condom with his hot liquid as you cum for the second time this night. He trembled as he came but then stiffened up and your legs feel numb just like your mouth that’s still open, but what’s more important is the situation in front of you. You just came because and with your childhood best friend...the friend that was your first kiss when you were just kids, the friend that spent so many nights and days in your house, playing around with you, helping you or listening to you, the friend that was your crush in high school but never got the guts to let him know...the friend that just said he loves you?

“what”

“I...love you Y/N, I’m sorry” he’s breathing fast in your ear.

“I-”

“no, don’t say anything please...I don’t wanna hurt more”

“San, what ar-”

“I’ve never tried anything like this before” Wooyoung speaks from the bed as he’s come down now.

“me neither” San says slowly getting up from you.

“y-yeah me neither”

What did just happen? No, what did he just SAY?

You thought this would only be an experience, a one night thing and that everything will be back to normal tomorrow...well, as normal as things can be after all this...because there’s no way everything will be the same now that your boyfriend saw your best friend fucking you and vice versa.

But...just 3 words made the situation even worse. How will you face Wooyoung and San after hearing this and especially how will San face you both after saying this? You’ll either find out or you’ll both let this go like it never happened...

[minniemixe]

Beauty And The Beast

Gangster AU

Stray Kids Fanfic

Chan x Reader

Other Appearances: GOT7 BTS

Genre: Smut, Fluff, Angst

Warnings: Mention of rape, family drama

Beauty and the Beast Masterlist

Chapter 6

“What happened to your hand?” Moon’s mother asked pointing towards her bandaged hand as the two sat in the lounge, Moon cuddled up next to her mom “Oh this, nothing big, I was walking down the stairs and slipped, there was glass in my hand, it broke and I cut myself” she told. “I can bet you were running down the stairs. Sweetheart how many times have I told you to be careful on stairs, huh?” the older lady dotted “I’m fine mom, it’s just a cut” she looked up at her mom smiling, the mother kissed her daughter’s head, hugging her tighter, “MMhhmm, I missed my baby so much” she said repeatedly kissing her cheeks   “I missed you guys too, sorry for not contacting you much and visiting sooner” Moon replied, snuggling closer in her mom’s chest. “I’m still surprised you visited. I thought you’d be busy with your work, we’d have been happy even if you just frequently contacted us telling us you’re okay” she spoke “You’re not wrong, I am quite busy with my work, I was also surprised when my colleague asked me if I wanted to visit” she replied “Colleague?” her mother asked “Ah yeah, he had some work in this area so he asked me to tag along, saying I could visit you guys while he ran his errand” Moon replied “When is he returning? Why don’t you ask him to stay for dinner?” her mother said “He said he wa-” Moon was cut off by the doorbell “Is that him?” “I don’t think so, he said it would take him two or more hours. It hasn’t even been an hour yet” Moon replied, getting up to check. When she opened the door, Chan stood there with a bouquet of roses and a gift bag in his hands.

“Oh hey. Back so early?” Moon asked letting him in “Ahh yeah, I got done earlier than expected, so thought why not visit your parents” he said “Ofcourse, I’m glad you did, Mom was asking about you. Oh by the way, introduce yourself as my colleague, that’s what I told my mom” Moon said as the two made their way to the living room “Hello ma’am, I’m Chris, a colleague of your daughter's. These are for you” Chan introduced himself, handing the roses to her. “And this is for- where’s your dad?” he asked, looking around “Oh he’s not home, I’ll take that” Moon replied, taking the brown gift bag from him “Oh My God, this is so sweet of you, you didn’t have to do this” her mother smiled at Chan. "I couldn't visit empty handed for the first time" Chan reasoned, bowing politely "You didn't come empty handed, you brought my daughter with you" Moon's mother smiled patting Chan's back who smiled sheepishly in return. “So, Chris, I hope you’ll be staying for dinner” Moon’s mother asked “Ofcourse, I’d love to” he replied politely “Well, make yourself comfortable, I’ll go make dinner” her mother said walking out of the living room. “Wait mom!” Moon called out running after the older lady “Yes hunny?” she asked turning around “Can we have pizza? I really missed homemade pizza” Moon said playing with her fingers “Sure baby, anything you want.” the older lady replied kissing Moon’s forehead. Moon jumped up and down excitedly hugging her mother, “Thank you Thank you Thank you” she said repeatedly. Her mother laughed, cooing at her daughter affectionately “C’mon, lets make you some pizza”, walking towards the kitchen, with Moon skipping behind. Chan saw the whole interaction, smiling to himself about how cute and happy Moon looked. Her whole aura had changed, Chan loved every second of it and hoped that he’d get to see it more often. Chan too followed the two ladies, to the kitchen, opting to help the two. “Can I help with anything?” Chan asked entering the kitchen “Oh no honey, make yourself comfortable.” Moon’s mom answered “Please ma’am, I insist” he said “You can cut the vegetables, I’ll stir fry them” Moon said before her mother could say anything “I’ll make the dough, you guys get started on the topping” her mother said “Should I make the sauce?” Moon asked “No, I made pasta yesterday, so there’s plenty of sauce. I made extra yesterday” the mother replied, disappearing into the pantry. “Where is your father though?” Chan asked, folding his sleeves, Moon’s eyes focused on his veiny arms “Earth to Moon. Are you still here?” Chan snapped his fingers in front of her eyes, snapping her out of her thoughts “Oh huh? What?” Moon said “I asked, where is your father?” Chan laughed at her bewildered expression “Don’t know, don’t care. He left the moment he saw me” Moon shrugged. Chan didn’t know what to say so he just began at his task, glancing at Moon who was taking out the pots and pans. “You okay?” he asked, not being able to control the urge “Why wouldn’t I be. This isn’t the first time. I’m used to it. I don’t give a shit anymore” Moon said “What about your mom? Does she never confront him?” Chan asked “As if he’d listen. Besides, I don’t want mom to get involved, the man is unpredictable. The last thing I want is my mom to get hurt at the hands of that monster” Moon said washing the chicken “I’m -” he stopped mid sentence seeing her mother return to the kitchen “Sweetheart, please grate the cheese after you’re done with the topping” her mom said, getting started on the dough “Sure Mom” she smiled "So Chris. What line of work are you in?" Moon's mother initiated a conversation "I'm on the management side ma'am" Chan replied "Oh but isn't that different from hers, last I talked to her, she was in the web developing department” she asked pointing towards Moon “Ahh yes, but it’s a small system so there isn’t much with departments and stuff” Chan said “Oh I see” “Yeah, there are like 13, now 14 of us, each of us with a different role” “Mom, remember the client I had to meet out of town, that’s him, I edited a few things for him, and since it was up to his satisfaction he offered me a job” Moon played along “That’s nice. What is it that you guys do, like as a group?” the mother questioned “Well, it’s a lot of different things, we design websites, we do shipping for different online shopping mediums, photography, videography and event planning and management” Chan answered. Moon was impressed with how quickly he came up with something so believable “Well that’s nice” the older lady smiled. The conversation went on with random topics. “Oh I almost forgot. Baby your friend has been visiting a lot lately. He asked where you lived but I didn’t know where, but he kept coming back saying, he just wants to see you since it’s been so long. He even came yesterday” Moon’s mom told “Mark? But I met him a few weeks back” Moon said confused “No, not Mark, I think his name was something like Alan?” Moon’s mom said “I don’t know any Alans” she replied brows furrowed “No, I think it was something like Andrew or Andy?” the mother said “Andre?” Moon said grimacing “Yeah yeah, that was it” her mom’s face lit up “If he comes again, tell him I have nothing to do with him, never did, never will” Moon scowled “Why, was he a bu-” her mom started when the doorbell rang “Mavis?” Moon asked looking at her mom “But she’s in UK and she’s not returning until late tonight” her mother answered going out of the kitchen to check “Who’s Mavis?” Chan asked “My little sister” Moon answered. Moon’s mom walked in with a man beside him, who’s face instantly lit up seeing Moon. “Princess!!” he exclaimed, running towards her hugging her tight. Moon harshly pushed him away, slapping him hard across the face. “I’m not your fucking princess. Get lost. I never want to see your face ever again. Stay away from me, stay away from my parents.” To say Chan and Moon’s mom were confused about everything would be an understatement, their faces were contorted in utter confusion, looking from each other to the two, expressions bewildered. “Wha-” the man started “NO, NO Andre, I don’t want to hear it. And don’t even try to play dumb, you completely ruined my life, and I’m not exaggerating and you know that very well. I don’t want any explanation, I don’t want an apology either, I just want you out of here.” Moon said, her voice cracking “Please give me a second chance” Andre pleaded “Get lost before I kill you. Don’t test me, I really will kill you” Moon gritted “Hunny what is this about. At least hear the kid out.” her mother said “No mom, I can’t stand him” “Excuse me, Mr Andre, I think you should leave. I’ve never seen my girlfriend this stressed. I trust she has a very valid reason for it, so leave with respect while you can” Chan smirked “You may not want to hear this, but I really like you, I have, ever since highschool. And I’m not saying this because I want you to break up with him, but because I want you to be safe. He’s not what you think he is, he’s a gang leader” Andre said, the three’s eyes went wide and Moon’s mother let out a loud gasp. Moon wasn’t having any of it and his remark only angered her more. Grabbing the knife from the kitchen top, she lunged forward, “THIS AGAIN. YOU FUCKING BASTARD. I’M GONNA KILL YOU”. Chan quickly moved forward to stop her while her mother just stood there rooted to the ground, completely shook. Andre laughed maniacally, smirking at her. “What do you mean again?” Moon’s mother asked “Oh she doesn’t know?” Andre smiled like a lunatic “I SAID LEAVE” Moon shouted “But I think she deserves to know, look at her, are you really going to keep it from her?” Moon thrashed around trying to get out of his hold, but to no avail. What was supposed to be a nice reunion between Moon and her family, turned into something unimaginable. “If you’re not going to talk. Let me, your mother seems really confused and she deserves to know.” Andre spoke again “There is nothing to know about, get lost” Moon said through gritted teeth “Aww, are you really going to make your parents think you died in a car crash when in reality someone slit your throat or shot you in the head?” Andre questioned “What is he talking about?” her mother asked “Nothing mom, he’s just blabbering, this is what he does. This is exactly what he did in highschool” Moon answered “It was to protect you” Andre said “Protect me? You twisted sick creature. You completely turned my life upside down and you have the audacity to say that. Get out before I kill you” Moon said, Throwing a knife at him, he moved to the side and dodged it. “You’re going to regret this.” Andre said, turning around to leave. Moon released a breath and leaned on the kitchen top, burying her head in her arms while her mother rubbed her back. “Sorry mom, the whole day is ruined” Moon said lifting her head “No, no Sweetheart, don’t apologize, it isn’t your fault” her mother said “Here take this” Chan said, handing Moon a glass of cold water “Thank you” she said taking it from him “What was all that about? And what does he mean by Chris being in a gang, and is he your boyfriend? Were you really going to kill him?” Moon’s mother bombarded her with questions “Hey hey Mom, calm down, let me explain, he’s just getting in your head, take a deep breath, everything is alright” Moon said rubbing her mom’s arm to calm her down “Okay, but you better be honest about every single detail” her mom said “Yes, let's put the pizza in the oven first, we’ll talk while it bakes” Moon replied After putting the pizzas in the oven, the three gathered in the living room. Moon took a deep breath before speaking. “Back in highschool, he was my classmate. An annoying one at that. He would follow me around, complimenting me, giving me flowers and all that stuff. He confessed to me numerous times and I’d turn him down everytime, saying I wasn’t interested. He was a delusional psychopath, he’d always tell me I didn’t give him a chance because of Mark, seeing how close I was with him. He’d always try to pull stupid stunts to ruin what Mark and I had. And one time he took it too far, I have no idea what he had planned but whatever it was, it backfired, it didn’t affect him as much as it affected me. He went abroad two weeks after the incident while I suffered. The only explanation he gave was ‘I just wanted to keep you safe’ because apparently Mark was also in a ‘gang’. He ruined my entire life and for that I’ll never forgive him” Moon explained “What could he have possibly done to make you hate him this much, and if this is about your highschool life being difficult, don’t you think you might be exaggerating” Moon’s mom reasoned “I really didn’t think I’d ever have to tell you this” she sighed “It’s already out of the bag, might as well tell the whole thing” her mom said “Remember the sports day? The one that determined whether I got the scholarship to the college or not?” Moon asked “The one you couldn’t play in because of the mishap?” her mom questioned “Yes that one. But everything that happened that day was a lie” Moon replied “What?” she asked confused “I did go to the locker room to change into my uniform, but everything that happened inside was different from what I told you, or anyone for that matter. The only people who know what actually happened inside were Andre, Mark, Jaebum, Jinyoung, even I don't know. And the event that lead to what happened in that room, that only Mark, Andre and I know” she spoke “If it was something this big, why would you keep it from us?” her mom said. Moon took a deep breath before she started explaining "It's complicated, I was 15 and everything happened so quickly I couldn't handle it. When I did finally get around to telling you, well you know what happened" Moon said looking into her mother’s eyes. The older lady sighed, knowing exactly what her daughter was talking about

5 Years Ago

"I have practice after school today. I can see you tonight if you want" Moon spoke into the phone "When are you gonna get free from that?" Mark asked on the other line "Not sure, probably by 5:00 or 5:30, maybe after, maybe before. Why, something important?" She replied "Nah, just wanted to hang out, we can go out tomorrow as well, you'll be tired anyways" he shrugged "You're not wrong, I'm not even gonna bother walking back home, just gonna call an Uber" she laughed "Why? Isn't your mom picking you up?" He questioned "Not today. She said she and dad have some work so they won't be able to pick me up. It's no biggie anyways, I understand, especially with renovations going on, they have a lot on their plate already" she answered "I'll pick you. I'm free, plus it's safer" he said "Is that supposed to be a pun?" Moon laughed "How?" He asked confused "Free? And safe" Moon quoted the words "Oh, totally unintentional. And I want you to be safe" Mark laughed catching on to what she was insinuating "Well, no need, who knows when I'll get free anyways" she said, heart fluttering at his words "Too late, I'm already on my way" he said "Dude, my practice hasn't even started yet" she laughed "Yeah well, I haven't got much to do so might as well watch you practice. See you in 5 Bitty" Mark said "See you. Bye" she said ending the call. "Who was that" Andre asked, suddenly appearing out of nowhere "What the hell! Stop sneaking up on me and it's none of your business" Moon replied walking away

"Mrs Smith, can I talk to you privately" Moon asked her coach, who was currently instructing a few girls "Of course, girls would you please excuse us" the coach replied "It's about the application" Moon started "Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry about that, I mixed up the applications. Yours was perfectly fine and congratulations, it got accepted. Now all you have to do is pass the audition. Coaches from the top colleges will be here on the final day. Practice hard, I know you can do it. Good luck" Mrs Smith patted Moon's shoulder "Are you serious. The application for scholarship was accepted? Oh my God, I'm so excited. I didn't think I'd get accepted" Moon said enthusiastically "Don't underestimate yourself. You've got great potential, give yourself more credit. Now get to practice, you have a scholarship to win" the coach cheered Moon giggled and walked away thanking the older lady. On her way back from the lockers she spotted Mark, Moon ran up to him and hugged him tight shouting enthusiastically. "Woah there little lady, why so hyper. Did you eat chocolate again?" Mark laughed "Okay so, oh my God, I'm so happy right now" she kept jumping up and down. "I can see that. So tell me, what's the good news" he laughed "Remember the application I told you about, the one which had some problems with it, guess what, my coach accidentally mixed mine with someone else's. I just found out mine got accepted. Now all I have to do is get a perfect score in my games and I'll get the sports scholarship" Moon told enthusiastically. "Bitty, that's amazing. See I told you everything will work out, you were stressing for no reason. I'm so proud of you, I knew you could do it" Mark exclaimed hugging her tightly, swinging right to left. "Not just yet, I still have to play in the finals and then pass the entrance test. The competition is tough, so I'm kinda nervous" Moon said "You. Are. Going. To. Do. Great." He said shaking her with every word. Moon laughed at his actions, smiling brightly at him. "Now get to practice, I'll cheer for you" he said turning her around and pushing her forward, Moon laughed running towards the ground with Mark following behind. "Alright girls, take 5" the coach called out. The team walked towards their benches to get a rest for a few minutes. “That was a good game. But you girls can do better. Nattalie, you have to work on your goal blocking strategy. Ruth and June practice on your kicks. The rest of you, you’re still lacking good positioning” the coach said. The girls nodding along to what they were being told “In the next game I want you all to change the positions, understood” the couch asked “Yes coach” the girls shouted in sync

“Weren’t you playing badminton?” Mark asked Moon, handing her a bottle of water, after another football game “I am, I’m playing both” she replied, gulping down the entire bottle “One game doesn’t scratch your itch?” he asked folding his arms “Nope, you know me. Need to play every single game. Life’s too short to play just one.” she replied “Why didn’t you try out for all of em?” he said sarcastically “According to rules, one person can participate in only two sports, otherwise, I would’ve” she replied “You are one of a kind Bitty” he laughed, patting her head

“Number 5, I need you to come with me, we need balls for the dodge ball” the coach called out to Moon. “Yes coach” she called out, walking towards the older woman. “Have you decided on any majors yet?” the coach asked Moon as the two entered the storage room “I haven’t got anything planned to be honest, I want to be an athlete so this scholarship would be a great boost for me. I guess I’ll see as I go along” she replied placing the needed stuff inside a basket “That is great. From the years of watching you grow, I know you have great potential. I wish you all the luck in your career.” she smiled at her student “Thank you ma’am” Moon smiled as the two exited the room “It’s stuck” Moon said pulling on the door “That’s weird, maybe something is stuck from the inside” the coach said. Moon went inside to check but saw nothing near the door that could be causing it to jam. “There’s nothing here” she replied. She tried opening it further but it wouldn’t budge. Pushing the door harshly, it moved a little, making a creaking noise. “It’s easier from the inside since I have to push, I’ll close as much I can from the inside, slip out and then pull the rest” Moon said “Let me help you, I’ll pull from the outside and you push” the coach said “No no, it’s alright. You go ahead, I’ll lock up and come back” Moon said “Are you sure?” the coach asked “Yes, it’s all good” she replied “Here are the keys.” she said, handing the keys to Moon and walked away. After 5 minutes of pushing the door, she was able to close it enough for her to easily slip out. She put a foot outside but before she could get out, someone shoved her inside and slipped in right after her. He harshly pushed the door and closed it from the inside. Moon looked up to see Andre standing right above her. “Finally. I have you all to myself” he said and leaned over her, Moon’s breath hitched as she tried to think about ways to escape. Kicking him in the leg as hard as she could, she ran towards the door, she tried to open in but it was jammed after opening just a little bit. Before she could pull on it more, Andre grabbed her by her hair and yanked her back, making her fall on the ground. “HELP!!! SOMEBODY HELP!!!! MARK!!!!” she screamed out. Pushing the door and closing it once again, he moved towards her and spoke “No one can hear you. We’re on the other side. Your precious Mark isn't coming to save you.” he said straddling her waist and pinning her arms above her head “STOP!! PLEASE STOP!! AAAHHHH” Moon sobbed “And when I’m done with you, he won’t even want to look at you, he’ll be so disgusted” he said kissing down her jaw to her neck. “PLEASE STOP, ANdRE, STOP IT” “Just like that, keep screaming my name” he said groping her.

“Okay boys team, you’re up.” the coach announced. The team got up from their benches and walked towards their coach. “1, 2, 3, 4 - where’s Andre?” the coach asked as she was counting the members “He said he was going to the toilet, it’s been five minutes now” one of the team members replied “HAS ANYONE SEEN ANDRE?” the coach turned around and announced. Hearing the announcement, Mark started looking around, having an uneasy feeling when he didn’t see Moon or Andre. Getting up from his spot he went towards the coach and asked about her “She and I went to get some sports equipment from the storage room, the door was stuck so she stayed back saying she’ll close up and get back. Why? She isn’t back?” the coach asked “No” Mark replied “Could you go check on her, see if she needs help with the door, and if doesn’t close, just tell someone from the admin and bring her here” the coach said Mark nodded his head and ran towards the storage area. Being an alumni, he was quite familiar with the building and didn’t have much difficulty getting to the storage room.  As he got closer he could hear Moon screaming, assuming she was stuck inside he fastened his pace, but what he heard next made his blood oil with anger and started running. Kicking open the door his fists clenched in anger at the scene in front of him. Moon was sprawled on the ground, her shorts halfway down, shirt riding up her chest and Andre on top of her groping her in the most inappropriate of ways. “You fucking bastard” Mark gritted and pushed him off her. Moon quickly scrambled to the side, fixing her clothes she curled in the corner sobbing harshly, her body shaking uncontrollably. Mark grabbed Andre from the collar of his shirt and pulled him up. Throwing him against the wall, Mark threw a punch to his face, making him stumble. Mark kept throwing punch after punch until Andre was lying on the ground. Mark was about to kick him when he kicked his foot under Mark’s, sending Mark stumbling back. Taking the opportunity Andre got up and ran out of the room. Mark wanted to follow after him but decided against it taking a look at Moon’s figure.   Getting closer to her curled up figure, he gently touched her shoulder. “AAHH, NO PLEASE, NO-” she started thrashing around, “hey, hey, hey, it’s me, it’s just Mark” he spoke soothingly “M...Ma….Maa…” she stuttered, eyes glossy, cheeks tear stained, face completely red and body shaking uncontrollably. “Yeah it’s just me, I’m here, I’m not gonna hurt you. I got you now, everything’s alright” he said wiping away her tears. Letting out a sob, Moon threw herself at Mark, wrapping her arms and legs around him, clutching onto him for dear life. “I...I..di...didn’t..th...thi….think...an...anyone wa..was gonna co..come” She spoke trying to calm herself “It’s okay, I’m here now. I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you” He said, rubbing her back, trying to get her to stop shaking. The two sat there in silence, Moon releasing deep breaths occasionally. “You better?” Mark asked as Moon loosened her hold on him and pulled away “Mhhmm” she nodded getting off of him and standing up, her legs still feeling wobbly “C’mon, we have to tell your coach.” Mark said, grabbing her hand, and pulling her out of the storage room but Moon stood there rooted to the ground “It’s no use” she said pulling him back “What do you mean? You’re not walking away without taking action, I’m not gonna let you. The bastard needs to be punished” Mark said harshly “You think I don’t know that. We’re gonna tell the coach, then what?” she retorted “The school admin takes action, that’s what” “How do you plan on proving him guilty? There are no security cameras in this room.” she folded her arms “What about the hallways? If we can catch him going in th-” “Come with me” she cut him off, dragging him with her. “Look at that” she said pointing towards the broken security camera “Ho-” he started “It broke this morning, A bunch of boys were throwing around balls and ended up kitting the camera, It’s supposed to be fixed tomorrow. Andre knew this too and took the opportunity. There's no point in telling anyone” she sighed hanging her head low, tears streaming down her face “I’m sorry. We’ll get him back, I’ll make him pay for ever laying a finger on you. I promise you that” Mark said hugging her small figure closer to him “Teach me, teach me how to protect myself. What if he does it again, and you’re not there” Moon said, lifting her head “I’m not leaving your side, ever. You don’t ever have to worry about me not being there” he said wiping her tears “But I still want you to teach me, I don’t want to depend on anyone” she said, taking in a deep breath, finally calming down “Okay, whatever you want. But what are you going to tell your coach. You look horrible” Mark questioned “Let’s go, I know what I have to say” she said walking away, with him following behind

“Number 5. What happened, you were gone for more than 20 minutes” the coach asked when Moon handed her the keys “I was trying to close it from the inside, when it closed and got stuck, I kept banging on the door since I didn’t have my phone, Mark opened it from outside” she lied “You look sick, your face is all red, are you sure you’re alright” the coach asked concerned “Yes, I just get claustrophobic in tight spaces, that’s all” “Oh, explains a lot. Leave the practice early today. Get some rest” the said “No ma’am I’m fine, I can practice” she said “Don’t tire yourself out, get some rest, There is a week till the final day, you’ll have plenty of time to practice. Go home today, rest up, get better and we’ll practice tomorrow. I don’t want one of my top athletes to pass out from exhaustion.” the coach said sternly “Yes ma’am” she replied and walked away to gather her things

“You’re coach is right you know, you don’t have to tire yourself” Mark said, starting the car “It’s just, you know how it is. This scholarship may be my only chance to get out, and I don’t want to risk losing it. Being completely honest with you, one of the reasons I didn’t want to tell anyone about what happened with Andre is because I don’t want it to hinder my scholarship. Yeah it’s because there isn’t sufficient proof to prove it was him. I could pursue it, but that would just take my focus away. I don’t want that” Moon explained “I wish you weren’t so hard on yourself all the time” he said “I wish the world wasn’t so cruel to me” she whispered looking out the window. Mark didn’t have much to say to her, knowing she indeed went through a lot on a daily basis. He just sighed and kept driving in silence.

The next went smoothly, Moon would practice after school, and after practice she would learn self defence with Mark. As promised, he didn’t leave her side.  It was the final day and everything was going smoothly. Moon’s football team won with a good score, and she was really ecstatic especially since she kicked the winning goal. Going into the girls locker room she began to change into her badminton uniform. After getting changed, she sat on the benches to put her shoes on. Halfway through Andre entered the locker room. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THIS THE GIRLS LOCKER ROOM, YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED HERE” Moon shouted at him “Relax girl, I’m just here to grab something for June from her locker. I asked coach before coming inside” he replied “Where’s coach?” she asked “In the ground” he smirked at her. “But don’t worry. I’m not gonna do anything” he added before walking away. Moon quickly took out her phone, texting Mark, who immediately replied

Moon: Mark please come to my locker room Mark: Why? Everything okay? Moon: Andre, he’s here. He says he’s here to get something, but I don’t trust him Mark: Take a deep breath Bitty, I’m on my way. Moon: Please hurry

Putting her phone aside she quickly got to putting on her shoes. Chugging down her water, Moon quickly got up to run out. But as soon as she stood up, she started feeling dizzy and light headed. She looked down at the water bottle and cursed, realizing it was drugged. Releasing a laugh, Andre walked over to her. “Staaayyyyy awaaayy” Moon slurred, pushing him away. All the self defence tricks she learned now useless as her movements were very delayed “C’mon we have to get out of here before your boyfriend shows up” Andre said, dragging Moon’s intoxicated self with him. “Booyfrieend, I wiiiiish~” Moon giggled, completely drunk “As if that matters anyway. You’re mine now” Andre whispered. Reaching for the door. Mark was quick and smart. Knowing Andre was going to do something, he didn’t come alone. Pulling Moon towards himself, he pushed Andre towards Jaebum. “Take care of him, I’ll take her out”. Nodding his head Jaebum dragged Andre away. Picking Moon up, Mark walked inside. Sitting her down on the benches, he went to her locker and started rummaging through it. Silently thanking the Gods when he found a juicebox in her locker, he went to her and took her phone and texted himself

Moon: Hey could you bring me a juice box, I don’t feel so good

After sending the text he removed the previous conversation and manipulated the text time to make seem as if it was sent 10 minutes ago. Taking out his phone, he texted Jinyoung.

Mark: Bring Bitty’s coach here in 5 minutes Jinyoung: Why? I thought you’ll keep it under control Mark: Shit went down big time. We can’t get her out quietly now Jinyoung: Fuck Mark: Just text me when you reach near the locker room

“You look hot” Moon suddenly said. This caught Mark off guard as she was simply giggling to herself all this time “Say what now” he asked bewildered “Don’t act like you don’t know. You’ve always known how I liked you. I never said anything. But for some reason I feel like confronting you about it” she said walking up to him. Mark sighed “Bitty, this really isn’t the time. You’re intoxicated. Let’s talk when you’re sober” he said “No, I wanna talk right now. I’m completely sober. You’re the one who needs to man up. You never tell me you like me but your actions say otherwise. Either tell me you don’t feel the same and that your actions are platonic or be honest with me. Stop leading me on” she slurred stumbling. He grabbed her shoulders to steady her, before he could say anything his phone went off

Jinyoung: On our way, two minutes max Mark: Stall her till I come out. I have a situation Jinyoung: You’re kidding? What even is going on? Mark: Don’t have time to explain

“You’re being a real jerk here” she poked him “Gosh I can’t believe I’m gonna do this”  he whispered before kissing Moon. she was caught off guard but nonetheless kissed back. He felt horrible for taking advantage of her like this but he knew he didn’t have much time. Putting two fingers on her neck, he pressed on her pressure point until she fainted in his arms. Lying her on the ground, he took out his pocket knife. Apologizing to the unconscious figure he made a small cut on her temple. Letting a little blood pool on the floor he dipped his fingers in it before smearing it on the side of the bench. Once he made sure everything was in place. He picked her up princess style and walked out of the locker room. “Oh my lord. What happened?” Moon’s coach asked looking at her unconcious figure in Mark’s arms “I’m not sure. She texted me she wasn’t feeling well and that she wanted me to bring her juice. I did as told, but when I called her she didn’t pick up so I went inside the locker room. She was unconscious when I got there. I think she hit her head on the benches because there was blood on the bench’s corner.” He lied “Coach, we should tell everyone she won’t be playing. Mark will take her to the hospital” Jinyoung said catching on to Mark’s lie “Oh yeah yeah, please call me as soon as she wakes up, Jinyoung, you tell her parents, I’ll make the announcement” the coach said walking away “Tell aunt and uncle what I told the coach. I’ll take her to your apartment. Make something up and make sure they don’t ask to go to the hospital.” Mark warned “If she hit her head, she needs a CT scan” JInyoung said “No, she didn’t hit her head, she was drugged, I had to make her faint to get her out, made a little cut just to make up a story” he explained “It’s 2:00 right now, I can stall them until 6:00, 7:00 max” Jinyoung sighed “That’s plenty of time.” Mark said, turning around and walking away from him.

Head bent over the toilet bowl, Moon threw up. Her stomach emptied and the more she hurled the more her throat burned. Mark returned with a glass of water, he kneeled down next to her and rubbed her back. “Any better?” he asked as she looked at him “Water.” she told him. Mark handed her the glass and she chugged the whole thing down in one go. Handing him the glass back she stood up. “Do you have a spare toothbrush?” She asked flushing the toilet “Yeah, here” he handed her the new brush from the cupboard. Moon started brushing her teeth and Mark left the toilet giving her privacy.

“I made some hangover soup,”  Mark said as Moon walked into the kitchen. “Can I get something for a headache? I feel like someone is hammering my head” Moon said clutching her head “Yeah, here you go” he said handing her a glass of water and two pills “Thanks” she said popping the pills “So, what happened? All I remember is drinking water which happened to be drugged. After that, it’s like I blacked out. And what happened to my head?” she asked, touching the bandage on her temple. Mark was internally relieved that she didn’t remember anything. He really didn’t want to talk about the kiss “When I got there, you were totally wasted and were being dragged out by Andre. Thankfully we got to you in time. JB took care of Andre, while I got you out.” Mark said “Wait. I was wasted, please tell me I didn’t say anything stupid” she asked “You were just a giggly mess. Drunk you is like a 3 year old kid with candy” he laughed, handing her the bowl of soup. “Oh. how’d you get me out without anyone noticing? And what about my parents?” she asked taking a spoonful of the soup “Well, I strangled you until you passed out and then took you out” he shrugged. Moon’s mouth went wide open as she dropped her spoon in the bowl. Mark laughed at her expression before continuing “You have pressure points in your neck, I pressed on it and you were out cold. I made a little cut on your head, made your coach think you fell and hit your head. Voila perfect escape plan. Although I am really sorry about your head” “Nah, it’s cool, it’s better than being seen drunk. Especially since i’m a minor and it was an important day” she casually waved him off. Mark and Moon went over the plan one more time, before he dropped her back at home. “Wanna come inside, I’m sure they’ll wanna see you” Moon said unbuckling her seat belt “Yeah sure, let’s just get it over with” he said exiting the car with her.

The following week became a living hell for Moon. She lost her scholarship and her coach referred her to the school psychologist. After a few sessions, it was concluded that Moon was mentally unstable and should avoid extra curricular until she was better. Moon knew very well that she was mentally disturbed and knew exactly why, but her coping mechanism was different and she hated talking about her problems. So to avoid confrontation, she did everything she was told by the psychologist. The problem got bigger and bigger and Moon decided it would be better to just drop college altogether. After graduating from high school, Moon became interested in online games and started developing love for computers. Starting with freelancing she built up her skills with time and forgot about her highschool life and dreams.

End Of Flashback

By the time Moon finished explaining, the pizza was cooked and now the three sat there in silence and ate the pizza. “Did you really hate us that much to not bring up such a big thing?” Moons mother asked “At first I felt it wasn’t important and I just wanted to forget it, so I avoided talking about it. After the sports day, I wanted to tell you but I needed some time to accept it. Then the whole thing with the psychologist took place and when I tried to talk to you about it, I knew it was too late, Andre was gone and I couldn’t really do anything. You know how I can get, just like dad I too can get hot headed, and when I bought it up things didn’t exactly go as planned so I gave up” Moon casually answered “I’m sorry. We couldn’t be there when you needed us the most and you had to go through that all by yourself” her mom said “Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong” Moon said “I was hard on you sometimes. I couldn't protect you like I should’ve” “You did more than you could, I’ll always be thankful for that.” she said tightly hugging the older lady. “This must be really awkward for you. First time meeting your girlfriend's parents and all you get is drama” her mom said looking at Chan “Girlfriend?” Moon questioned “He did say he was your boyfriend” “I was planning to tell you after some time, we just started going out” Moon blushed “It’s completely alright ma’am. I was somewhat aware of Moon’s relation with her father, so you don’t have to worry about that.” he smiled politely.

“Thank you so much for having me ma’am. It was really nice to meet you. You’re an amazing chef. Thank you once again, I really enjoyed your company.” Chan said as the two were now getting ready to leave. “Oh you flatter me Chris. It was amazing to meet you too. And please, don’t call me ma’am, just call my Aunt” her mother said patting his back “Thank you” he smiled shyly, his ears turning red. “Bye mom” Moon said, hugging mom one last time for the day. “Bye sweetheart, visit again soon” her mother said “I will, ba-bye” she said waving at her, getting inside the car

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

The next morning Moon woke up earlier than expected. Finishing her morning routine, she went downstairs to the kitchen to whip something up for herself. Entering the kitchen, she was met with Bree and El preparing breakfast. “What’s for breakfast today?” she asked the older girls “Toast and egg. You want orange juice or mango?” Bree answered “Mango” she smiled, getting herself a glass of water “Hey guys” an unfamiliar yet recognizable voice spoke “NAY!!” Moon shouted turning around “SUNNY” Nay said with the same enthusiasm and  embraced Moon tightly “What are you doing here?” Moon asked as the two pulled apart “I should be asking you. No contact for a year and you’re in a gang.” Nay said “Yeah, long story” Moon smiled sheepishly “Your dad?” she raised a brow “Something along the lines yeah. What about you?” Moon questioned “Well you know my hoe-ish tendencies. Gotta sell my drugs somehow” she shrugged “Why am I not surprised” Moon laughed “Because you know me so well” Nay said swinging her arm around Moon’s shoulder “You girls seem close” Bree said “Been besties since high school” Nay replied “Speaking of highschool. How’s Madzi, what’s she been upto lately?” Moon asked, the two girls taking a seat on the bar stool near the counter top “Oh you don’t know?” Nay said “Oh no, I don’t like that tone. What’s going on?” Moon said “Well, it’s a long story. She was in a relationship an-” Nay started “Woah, I’m gonna stop you right there, was it an abusive relationship. Tell me where she is, I swear to God I’m about to kill someone” Moon cut her off “Slow down tiger. I like how you’re so feisty yet the tiniest of us three. Where do you store all that anger” Nay said, causing Bree and El to laugh “Ha ha, but for real, you know how I get protective over her, she’s the youngest amongst us” “Yeah yeah I know. Anywho. She was in a committed and happy relationship, but her parents found out.  Being homophobic, they were completely against their daughter being in a relationship with a woman. Things did not end well. She was forced to marry someone and break up with Didi. A month into her marriage, she found out that her husband is in a gang. And the last time I talked to her she didn’t sound really good” Nay explained “Didi from computer class? The cute shawty.” Moon asked “Yeah her. They made such a cute couple” “Literally everyone knew the two were whipped for each other, but neither of them said anything” “They were meant to be. The two met in a nightclub a few months after highschool. Both were drunk, guess it was the perfect opportunity.” Nay told “Can’t we do something about it? I mean you’re probably involved with more than one gang, maybe team up and get her out” Moon said “I checked. But her Gang has very strong alliances, so we can’t do anything” “Well, let’s just hope the universe has mercy on her” “Yeah well, there's not much we can do anyway” “So you tell. How’d you get into the whole drug business?” Moon asked “Well, Madzi, Didi and I started it about two years ago. We wanted to ask you but you were having issues of your own with your father, so we thought best to give you space. We didn’t think we’d succeed but damn was it fun once we got there. Didi and I are still in the business, Madzi however, well I just told you” Nay answered “What did you guys call yourselves?” “Stonewhores” she grinned “I- I’m not even gonna ask” moon said making her laugh “Alright girls breakfast is ready. Moon, go upstairs and get everyone”  Bree told “Yep” the younger girl replied and went up the stairs Knocking on everyone's door she did as she was told. “Hey, Min have you seen Innie? He’s not in his room” Moon asked Seungmin “I think he went to Channie’s office.” he replied “Oh okay, I’ll check, thanks” she smiled at him walking towards Chan’s office She knocked twice, waiting for someone to open the door “It’s open” Chan called from the inside. She opened the door and stepped inside. Chan and Jeongin seemed to be in the middle of some serious discussion. “Am I interrupting something?” she asked looking at their serious expressions. “No, it’s okay, we’re done. What brings you here?” Jeongin asked “Oh, Bree’s calling everyone downstairs for breakfast,” Moon said. Jeongin moved closer to Chan and hugged him “Thank you.” he said pulling away “I trust you, Don’t let me down” he said patting his back “I won’t” he said walking out of the office “What was that about?” Moon asked confused, looking at Jeongin’s disappearing figure. “He came to tell me about Him and Anessa. He said they like like each other and want to go out, came to ask for my permission” Chan answered “That’s so sweet and cute of him. You know he looks up to you a lot” Moon replied “Yeah I know. He’s a good kid, that’s why I didn’t object” Chan said, the two walking out of his office. “It’s cute, he even asked me to talk to Felix” Chan chuckled “What for?” “Seungmin and Liv also have a thing for each other, but they’re both afraid to tell Felix because of what happened when El and Woojin started going out. It’s like Romeo and Juliet” Chan answered “I don’t think so, in my defense Romeo and Juliet were dumb and dumber” “It’s a classical romance novel, what even woman” “I think if Seungmin ever came across liv’s unconscious figure, lying next to sleeping pills, his first instinct would be to try to wake her up or take her to the infirmary, not take the pills and kill himself. Whereas Romeo was a dumbass who thought that Juliet was dead, he didn’t even try to wake her up, just straight up took the poison and comitted suicide.” “I never knew you were into reading classical romance” he teased her “Oh please, it was compulsory in high school. I’m more into violent, gore, kinky, bloody kind of shit” “Kinky you say” “From the whole list, that’s what you picked up?” “I only hear what I wanna hear” he laughed As the two reached the kitchen Moon grimaced when she saw Hyunjin slap Nay’s ass. “Get your dirty hands off my baby” Moon said slapping Hyunjins back “What’s your problem?” he said “You just harassed my best friend, I’m not gonna stand here and watch” “Uhh babe, he didn’t harass me” Nay said “WHAT!?!?! Him? Seriously of all people, why him? Girl you could do so much better than him” Moon made a disgusted face “Well I’m offended” Hyunjin said overdramatically “Oh boi, she’s the best” Han laughed “What’s wrong with him?” Nay asked “Everything” Moon replied, everyone now seated on the dining table “But he has a nice dick and he knows how to use it” Nay shrugged “Ewww Nay, I’m eating” Moon pretended to throw up. Everyone just watching the two with amused expressions “I’m sure he’d be delighted to show you” Nay smirked “No thank you, I’d rather get stabbed by him again” Moon said “I can stab you with my  dick” Hyunjin chirped “Oh boi, bad move” El whistled “Why?” Hyunjin asked “Her boyfriend does not seem happy” Woojin said looking at Chan who had an unreadable expression “You do that and I chop it off” Chan said “Wait what? When did you two happen” Felix asked “Yesterday” Bree answered “Who confessed?” Han asked “Chan made the first move” Moon replied “Yess. Hwang, pay up.” Hyunjin grumbled and took out a $50 note from his wallet and handed it to Han “Come to papa” Han said kissing the note “You guys were betting on us?” Moon exclaimed “Only about who was gonna confess first” Han shrugged “Well, nobody confessed, which means both of you lost. So thank you very much for the money” Moon said reaching forward and took the money from his hand “But-” Han pouted “Too bad for you” Minho laughed “So Moon, How was your visit to your parents house” Liv said changing the topic “Oh it was great” she replied “Your mom and sister must’ve been happy to see you” Anna chirped “Well my sister was out of country so I couldn’t see her, but I met my mom and it was amazing” Moon smiled “When is she returning, I’ll take you to visit her” Chan said “Last night. Can we go this afternoon” Moon replied “I have some work this afternoon. You can take my car, but if you want to go with me, we can go tomorrow” Chan said “Oh it’s okay, I can go by myself” she replied “You sure?” “Yeah”

Moon rang the bell about three times but there was no answer. It was 4:00 in the evening and a Sunday so she couldn’t be at work. Not wanting to wait anymore she took out the spare key she always kept with her and unlocked the door. “I’m coming, I’m coming” her sister called out when Moon walked inside her apartment “Sis!!” her sister ran towards Moon and hugged her tight “What the pleasant surprise, and I see you still have the key” she giggled “And I see you still haven’t given up on your habit of sleeping around” Moon said taking in her appearance “C’mon sis, stop being such a party pooper” she said walking into the kitchen “Mavis. You know I don’t have any problem with the way you live your life, but please, this isn’t exactly safe. There are so many dangers, what if someone creepy takes advantage of you while drunk, or what about an STD. you have to be careful” Moon sighed “Sis, I understand your concern but don’t worry, I’ve gotten out of the habit of sleeping around with anyone. It’s just one person now. And no strings attached” “Well that’s good to hear, and I hope you use protection, because God knows where he’s been” Moon said “He too only sleeps with me, and yes, we do use protection if that’s what your worried about” Mavis said “Babe, should we order takeout?” a voice called out “He’s still here?” Moon asked “You’re the one who came unannounced” Mavis shrugged “Babe, I aske-” he stopped mid sentence when he saw Moon “YOU!?!” Moon’s eyes went wide wide

[ianthedisastrous]

In my Father's Eyes

People assumed Edward doesn't recall his father, perhaps thought of him only in the sense of another story. Truly, shouldn't the author who penned that tale be Edward's parent? His creator? The thought had puzzled him, from time to time, but always he returned back to several certainties. 

His father was a fair man, one who listened to the pleas of his people; the sort of king that Edward wished to be, if he were to ever be given the chance. Many boys idolize their fathers as much as they adore their mothers, with childishly blind eyes; but Edward had always known the image his father held in his eyes as true for more than only himself; a man who earned the praise of his kingdom. 

"A good king," his father's voice comes back to him sometimes, with warmth in the memory of being very small and sitting before him with expression filled with wonder at what he might learn, "must be kind."

"As kindness is stronger than any terrible deed, stronger than evil men and frightening beasts; kindness can give hope and that is the most important gift that can ever be given. 

You hold the faith of your kingdom in your hands and you must always take care with it." 

And Edward believed, with a strength of conviction that could not waver, believed every word spoken was the guidance of a wise man. 

His father taught him to wield a sword, another memory upon the pages, a young boy with palms sore from gripping too tightly the hilt of the blade that was both exciting and frightening. A weapon that felt so much more unforgiving than he knew how to carry. 

"Steady your arm higher m'boy, lift your chin, for if you must be the one to bring harm to another you must carry the burden of meeting their eyes, their pain you too must see; this is the weight of the blade you hold. 

This is the responsibility of a just man, if he must spill blood. You must remember them, for they too have fought for their cause."

It was a truth Edward never forgot, a memory that gripped him each time he drew his blade, knowing that it was never to be done in jest. And never once did he walk away in victory without solemn respect given to the loss.

Yet, the lesson that pained him the most, filled him with an indescribable peace, was the hardest to learn.

A brave man stricken with grave wounds and tired, hands grasped weakly around the firm grip of his trembling son, a smile spared for his lovely wife and her soft tears, for the sleeping infant cradled in her arms.

A man Edward thought neither sickness nor time could touch, that no injury might slow; in the end was simply just a man. 

"A good king sees his legacy grow brighter in those he leaves behind when his time is spent. There is no shame in weeping only a short while, do not be afraid of giving your grief a voice; it lives in you the same as every happiness and with just as much to teach you.

But you will be a good king one day, as you are a good man grown from the eager child who once begged for bedtime stories of dragons and knights. 

Love, m'boy, is what makes a man the best he can be; for his family, his kingdom, and himself. You and your sister are my proudest moments, Edward."

The words had never left him, not in the days that followed with eyes wet from the ache of that grief, nor ones beyond it when pain gave way to joy at the recollection of good times and gratitude.

What did it mean then when those memories were penned to the pages of a story? Chapters in a novel that held a past truly real to him? Edward returned to them now and then, fingers swept over the words with an indulgent smile. 

Because it was not only a story, it was his story. 

That is what his father taught him, and what he faced with his head held high; his had a legacy to carry with pride. 

Slightly's life, however, had never been a fairytale. 

Kindness had never been the litany of the world they resided within, but their father had urged them to never lower their eyes in spite of the snarl and snap of the darkness; even fairytales have monsters. And monsters have purpose, if only for how they craft it from their own darkness. They were brilliant, they were strong, they would survive. 

He was proud of his brood. 

"You should never forget where you belong, why you were born with claws rather than lofty ambitions.

I expect you to do great things, things that you must do in places others are afraid to walk."

Perhaps the most loving thing their father had ever uttered was how high those expectations were; he believed in a child many would not have. In those early days the words sounded like a demand ushered unfairly upon the child who had no want of it, but with time the purpose unraveled into truth better understood.

Slightly knew more of being a father than they did of their own; the chores of the Mountain Prince were never finished, they cannot recall ever seeing him at peace. Never remember a moment at rest, no more than a fleeting encounter before the call of the Court drew him away. A shadow of a figure that would with time grow fuzzy at the edges of their memories. 

But what other way was there aside from necessity?

"Is father angry, because of me?" So small, Sorrel was only a child filled with foolish questions, dangerous questions, questions Slightly was old enough to know better than speak out loud and settle doubt in the air around them. Doubt could wound far too deeply. Eyes as blue as still waters begged to know, eyes that did not belong to the Mountains.

"No, he isn't. He's mad at other people for arguing about differences," Slightly had shushed the boy and drew him close with claws laced with Sorrel's own, tiny creature nestled in the spot against their side. Secrets carried a burden one so young did not fully understand. "Because no amount of difference means more to him than you do." 

And it was a truth Slightly saw and knew, each time their father gathered up in his arms the boy who was not his own but he would accept as no less. Each time he stepped between him and some threat, the vicious ferocity the Mountain Fey protected their young with fueling an inhuman anger. 

Their father never spoke it in so many words, but he taught that lesson well; those who are your own simply were, no matter where the world's opinions might fall. 

The crueler lesson came too soon; what loss can do and what sacrifices are worth. 

Day by day Slightly saw their father fade to a terrifying emptiness in his voice, the horrors of giving too much of himself to the pain of having his eldest ripped away from him. 

He gave up, hour by hour, until the light was all gone away into a stillness that lay glassy and hollow in his once fire-bright eyes and Slightly was left choking on the rage of being abandoned. 

How dare he choose to mourn one child so intensely that he left the others behind. To make the decision to fade away rather than fight after all his demands that his children must always do so.

"Keep your eyes open, you must always be ready." 

The words of the one who had not been able to do the same, the one who Slightly trusted and found themselves suffocating in the wake of what they could not understand.  

Slightly locked away the memories; his voice, his lessons, every moment buried deep and soaked with a bitter pain. They had no choice; Sorrel needed to be looked after and mother was taxed with a role meant for two. 

Their father taught a poignant truth with his death; leaving those behind to fend for themselves was the cost of some choices.  

But even so, Slightly could not bear to truly hate him, not when they missed him so very, very much. Children do not simply forget the ones who were their world.

It took long years to find the truth in the pain, to shift through and see that all joy has a shred of sorrow within it, that all love carries a bitter core of fear in the loss; that sometimes a sacrifice is not written so much in blood as it is in a broken heart. 

Slightly learned to grieve from the one they called father, to value those near more than anything that could be won, and most importantly; that sometimes loving someone means you cannot save them from their own demons. That you must accept, and forgive, that they may fail you. 

But shadowy creatures and skies filled with unfamiliar stars never crossed Ian's mind much as a child; he couldn't concern himself with storybook monsters when he knew far too many real ones waited for him in the cold gazes of his classmates. People who didn't understand him, people who were taught to never dare to understand.  

And his mom tried so hard; every day it seemed like she came home just a little more exhausted than the one before. Her soft smile might not have wavered but Ian knew her heart was still just a little too broken to tell her why he was afraid of the world.

She needed him to be brave, but he could only pretend to and hope it was enough. She urged him to speak but he remained as silent as he dared; it was her tired eyes that hurt him at the thought of asking too much of her.   

But his dad always listened. Whenever he needed him, even if he never answered.

As a child, barely tall enough to reach the desk where his mother kept her glossy albums, Ian believed that somehow his late night conversations, hands tightly gripping the only photo he had of the man, did not go unheard. 

"Please come back. Mom is sad all the time and I don't know how to make it better," he would speak in no more than a breath of sound, eyes dropped and half shut to hold back the tears. "I know they're wrong at school. That...that you didn't leave because you wanted to, not because we're...different from everybody else. But if you could just come back? Nobody could say those things anymore."

Some places, his mom explained, people could not come back from, as she kissed his forehead one day. It was a day he could barely recall later his age or the other details, only the words she spoke when he voiced what he had really wanted for his birthday. 

Children so young still believe that magic could do a great deal more than it ever should. 

"He wanted so badly just to meet you," and with the words Ian saw a gravity in her eyes that he never had before, "He loved you boys more than anything in this world, but he just didn't have the chance to stay."

Ian learned that love was powerful, but sometimes it was very unfair, and it was why a person had to be strong for those who needed them the most. The world was scary, it always would be, but people had to try. 

He didn't ask his mom again, he couldn't stand to see that sorrow. 

His dad always was there; never judgemental in that silence. And as a child it had been too easy to overlook that silence could only exist without judgement and find the best in that. It felt safe, so much safer than risking speaking the doubts to anyone else. Silence was patient, and so too then was Ian's dad in his memories of a man who could not be there.

"We have to leave soon,'' quiet moments in his room had long since given way to rooftop vigil under the sprawling skies; maybe somewhere in that expanse of forever his father resided just beyond his reach. "I..I thought I'd be happy to leave this place but I'm just scared. I'm always scared; I wish-" He sighed and drew his knees up with the tired words. "-I wish I were like you, not afraid of anything." 

But Wilden had been afraid; of the sickness that stole his life in small measures, of the world moving on without him, of missing so much of it, and most of all of his boys never knowing who he was. 

Ian had been surprised when he discovered that, as his mom reassured him that it was okay to be afraid sometimes, but just as often she spoke of his bravery in the face of those fears and that it rooted itself down deeply into Ian's mind.

The man he had never had a chance to hear speak taught him that everyone was afraid sometimes, that everyone fights their battles, and the best a person can do is to find a reason to. 

But it wasn't right to let that fear turn a person cruel; time and again he heard of his dad's forgiving nature. And bit by bit Ian learned what parts of himself he wanted to be so much like the man, and what parts he had to let go, for his own sake.

"I don't want to have to be you, dad. I'm sorry." Ian whispered to the darkness as the morning crept so steadily closer; every star in Swynlake glittered in watchful attention to that conversation from the balcony. Twenty years to his life that very day. "I don't know what I want to do from here but you won't be mad if it's not what you expected me to, right?" 

The night could not speak, ghosts belonged in days and years behind him, but it did not mean their presence was any less wanted. Ian could not think in the past tense, not when he still felt there was too much more left to learn. 

He knew what his dad had already taught him, how many times that memory had held vigil to his unsteady words, and he was not nearly done yet. His dad had never been there, not so much the way other people could have claimed, but he had done what any good father strived to; he had listened. 

"I miss you."

[mimiplaysgames]

A Powerful Enough Dream (Ch. 9)

Pairing: Terra/Aqua (eventually) Rating: T Word Count: 4,554

Summary: It is time to rescue Ven. Aqua steps into Castle Oblivion, not knowing what’s waiting inside.

Read on AO3

A/N: I wasn’t planning on publishing this one too soon - it just happened lolol. I do want to say that I’m sorry this chapter is so canon-divergent. I planned it before KH3 came out and I don’t have the time to rewrite everything. I hope you enjoy it anyway!

~*~*~*~*~

Oblivion, pt. 1

Stars shoot past Aqua in a melted blur. The faster she goes, the less she notices. Keyblade wielders should be humble. They should take their time to acknowledge and admire life, promised as students that their Light sturdies under such discipline. But screw it - she’s too excited to bother with the view.

All she has to do is listen. Once her heart connects to that place, her glider leads the rest of the way.

Sora and the others lag behind. Their gummi ship is impressive but it’s basically a tourist’s vessel, locked to the celestial highways that have to be traveled in full, unable to perform any of the warps her glider is capable of. At some point, she disappears from their radar, and she hovers in the middle of space to wait for them.

It shouldn’t take this long to get to Ven. They hold her back.

Aqua breathes heavily into her helmet, watching for signs of Sora’s bright red beast of a ship. The confines of her armor, absurdly enough, take some getting used to. She made it with her own hands, once a proud moment from her road to mastery. Yet it feels like she’s outgrown it. It’s heavy and tight, constricting the rise of her arms and the strides of her legs. It could be that she has gotten used to living without it. It could be that it doesn’t recognize her anymore.

That’s a terrifying thought. Aqua shakes it out of her head. It’s just because it’s been a long time since she’s worn it. That’s all.

Lightning snaps and cracks, and Sora’s gummi ship breaks through a barrier that tears a hole through space. Behind it is a mess of passageways marked by colored stars and dust. By normal standards, a passageway to the Land of Departure means he’d need to discover and unlock his way, but instead Sora has to blast through to catch up to her. There has to be some kind of transgression for it, but they’ve wasted enough time to think about collateral damage right now.

Her engine revs up and she soars, Sora trailing closely. She can’t feel the air through her armor as it darkens, but pressure mounts on her shoulders. Negative space squeezes her waist, her arms, her chest, threatening to collapse. It’s thickening. She’s getting close.

By the time she lands, there aren’t any more stars left to see.

Shedding her armor, Aqua breathes in humid air. Storm clouds smother the sky, but it doesn’t rain. Did it ever in the years she’s been gone? The dirt doesn’t thirst for anything, and the cliffs buckle with every step.

The castle (not home, something else) is ugly. Painted the color of stale excrement, it contorts in ways that can’t have been built by human hands. Towers stick out sideways and upside down, criss-crossed and layered where no staircases could practically fit inside. The castle suspends itself in the air by nothing except someone’s imagination.

There’s supposed to be grass underneath her shoes - or maybe stone tile leading to the terrace. Either of the two. Looking over the cliffside, she’s supposed to see rivers miles below, too far to hear their work. Now it’s just blackness. Morbid curiosity questions how long it would take for her to find new ground if she jumps off.

A couple of yards away was where Ven caught a grasshopper and claimed it as his own pet. He never expected he’d crush it by accident. He never expected he’d bury it in that same spot.

If Aqua remembers correctly, there’s supposed to be a tiny dirt path, right here, that would’ve led her to a clearing in the forest, down a lower altitude by several notches, where she and Terra kept a chest of old toys they couldn’t let go of, and letters they wanted to keep but forgot about. Where they kissed for the first time because she was curious, and Terra shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal, and she did the same.

Where there should be that forest is nothing but air now.

But home is home, always a fortress, always there to shelter, just like it does for Ven if only by a new expression.

The thunder of Sora’s engines roar before they quiet, exhaling one last time when he lands. He brings everyone with him - Lea is the first to come out, mouth wide open in a stupefied gasp, his glare demanding an explanation.

“Castle Oblivion?” He gesticulates, letting his hands slap his hips. “Sure, it’s not the easiest place to get to. But you could have done us all the humanly decent thing, and said so.”

“Castle Oblivion?” Aqua repeats. The words sound foul.

“You mean your lot didn’t name it?” He crosses his arms as he steps by her side. He’s too smug, like he finds that fact giddy.

“No, of course not, this…” This is the first time it’s ever happened in our history.

“If it wasn’t you, then it had to have come from our favorite, friendly Nobody.” Still smug. Stars, she’d punch him. “Xemnas.”

Despite the warning in her eyes at the mention of that name, Lea sneers. “It’s quite the comfortable home, if you’re interested in psychopathy.”

“You’ve been inside?” she hushes, tying up an apology behind her lips. What if he doesn’t know?

“Don’t worry.” He waves a hand at her. “I was a Nobody at the time. Not like I was that attached.”

So he knows. “You’re lucky you ever got out,” Aqua mutters.

“That attached to what?” Sora skips over, an innocent smile plastered so hard on his face that the horrible truth still wouldn’t peel it off of him.

“Memories,” Riku answers.

If Riku knows, then surely he’s lost some. Aqua nearly blurts out her concern for him, but he flashes her a gentle smirk and rolls a shoulder like it barely matters.

“Is that supposed to mean something?” Sora asks as Kairi tags along, who is unzipping and zipping Donald’s cap.

“The Organization used it to research memories,” Lea says. “We even went so far as to manipulate them - you know, plant a little bit of this, tweak a little bit of that.”

“And this is important, why?”

“The castle has a defense mechanism,” Aqua says, glancing at Riku, “to protect the delicate balance of this world so we could give all Keyblade trainees a safe refuge. The rooms aren’t truly real anymore. Threats who wander in are… forced to relive certain events in their life.”  

But Riku doesn’t have much of a reaction.

“Anyway,” she continues, “the memories replayed aren’t always exact. They reflect the heart of the person the castle is reading. So yes, it would be the perfect place to experiment with them.”

“I’ve been in this star-forsaken place more than I wished for,” Lea says, giving the castle a lookover. “My most important mission was to find one particular room. I never did.”

Hearing that was comforting. “Because the rooms inside move around,” Aqua says. “The point is to make the intruder confused. Make them obsessed with remembering correctly that they continue to wander. Until they forget why they’re there.”

Sora gapes, his eyes bulging. “You were the one who designed it like that? You’re savage.”

“Gawrsh,” Goofy says, holding a chin to his hand. His vowels ripple. “Ya think it’d be a nifty place to keep Xehanort locked up in.”

Donald frowns and fists his hips. “And you left Ventus in there?”

“Yes, and I’m the only one who can get him out,” she says sternly, choosing not to elaborate on the how. She sucks in a breath. “The castle won’t exactly recognize me, either. But I have the key.”

“How do we stop ourselves from losing memories?” Kairi asks. For a first mission, this one is entirely inappropriate.

“We don’t. I’m going in alone.” Aqua has long accepted the responsibility, thinking about this moment since the day she closed those doors. She chooses to ignore the disappointed look on Kairi’s face - once full of curiosity and hope at finally being allowed to show her worth.

“But you shouldn’t have to do this alone,” Sora says, stepping forward.

Aqua purses her lips. She’s done good not telling him everything.

“I do.”

“What is it with you and Terra and your obsessions with marching a one-man parade?” Sora grins, rubbing his nose. Riku snorts. “You’re going to have to learn to take ‘Nah’ for an answer. I think Ventus would agree with me.”

“Ditto,” Lea says.

“It was your bright idea to leave him and now we have to fix it,” Donald grumbles.

You were the ones who followed me. Aqua bites her lip.

It’s Aqua against six others who disagree with her, who came all the way here like she’s the one needing a chaperone. Ven would have wanted to come too, given the chance. He’s just better at submitting to her demands, even if he hated them, even if he didn’t want to understand they were for his safety.

“But your memories-”

“It really isn’t fair that Sora forgets what it’s like to be in there anyway,” Riku says, arms crossed and flexed.

Sora furrows his brows. “What would we forget?”

“Whatever you’re giving the castle,” Aqua says, starting quiet then raising her voice. “It will snatch something you’re passionate about… Your best defense is to simply look away. Believe in your own integrity, instead of what you see.”

“That…” Kairi picks at her cuticles. “Doesn’t sound too bad.”

That’s only because they’ve never spent years weighing the consequences.

“Consider this: how long would it take you to get to Ventus?” Lea asks.

“Not long at all. I can summon him to the first room,” Aqua says.

“Then we skidaddle in and run the stars out.” He mimics walking movement with his fingers. “You’re too paranoid. We didn’t travel all this way to admire the decorator’s taste. Award-winning, I tell you.”

Aqua takes a moment to study each of them, hoping her eyes spoke of horrors she can’t find the words for. But they smile back with encouragement. She considers tying them up with her chains to see if they enjoy feeling trapped under pressure.

She sighs. “The less amount of time we take, the better.”

The front door protests when she opens it, heavy and dragging across the pale floor. The inside is sterile, so white that the reflected light blinds. Every surface she can see is scrubbed clean of any and all personality. Like a hospital. Like a morgue.

At first glance, it’s just a simple room. A door innocently waits on the other side, the same monocolor as everything else. Their footsteps clank hard on the tile floor.

“Can’t believe I get to see the magic this time,” Lea says, the volume of his voice normal, but too strong for this room.

“You bums are pretty late for the show,” a gravelly voice replies. Aqua catches him leaning casually at the corner of the room, his black helmet a stark stain against the wall. She swears he wasn’t there before. She swears she got rid of him. She wonders if it’s still Ven’s face underneath.

“You again,” Sora barks.

“Took you long enough to get here,” Vanitas says, straightening up. “A really long time. Venty-Wenty needs his mommy to wake him up, but it’s like…” He snorts. “It’s like you forgot you had a kid waiting for you. Some mother you make.”

Donald slaps his webbed foot on the floor, his voice grating. “We’re too busy to deal with you. Now scram!”

“I have more right to be here than you,” he says, a sudden leap downhill trickling through his voice. His posture, however short he is, stays tall and proud. “I got here first. I outperformed the parent.” He jabs a finger in the air. “Don’t believe my sincerity, but I’ve got all the family business to pick with my own brother. It’s inhumane to keep us apart.” Vanitas summons his Keyblade, electrical sparks warping the air before its monstrosity takes form. “It’s been almost thirteen years, Aqua. What do you say? We can make this reunion worth the wait.”

Aqua scoffs through her nose. So he wants to think he’s still that much of a threat, after everything she’s seen. She keeps her nose high. “I don’t think about the gnat I’m stepping on.”

He pauses before he laughs. “You almost bruised me there, Master Aqua. What kind of selfish person would say something like that.” Darkness sputters from his body, ribbons crawling out of the leathery web of his skin. Monsters, Unversed. Red-eyed and twitchy, with more spunk and intelligent thought than the feral mind-numbing of a Heartless. “It suits you.”

This time, Aqua doesn’t hesitate. Her Master’s Defender takes form, and she charges. The sound of Keyblade summons bounce off the walls like bells as the mob of Unversed swarms. She takes out a swath of them in one icy hit, a sudden euphoria taking over her body - it’s good exercise to have. Beating him up should release some of the tension in her shoulders.

Still, she has to be careful about one thing: she can’t let Vanitas follow her.

“Get rid of them!” she yells.

By superficial glance, Vanitas is outnumbered, but the Unversed keep coming. Wave after wave of aggressive emotion. As though humans will never go numb.

Sora takes the enthusiastic lead. Lea stays behind and relies on his pot-shots. Riku hovers near Kairi, who does her best juggling creatures she’s never fought before. Donald sounds like he’s cursing when he really isn’t as he casts thunderous spells, and Goofy builds a strong defense on the front line, right by Sora’s side.

Aqua focuses on Vanitas, who has his arms wide open like a goal post.

But Sora juts in, and Aqua staggers to avoid hitting him.

“He’s nothing but a creep. Leave him,” he says, blocking one of Vanitas’ explosive attacks on her behalf.

“I have to end this,” she spits.

“Then stop talking and end it,” Vanitas growls, his Keyblade brimming with heat as he slams it against Sora’s.

“What about the time we’re spending in the castle? It’s ticking,” Sora asks her, his brows furrowed upside down.

“You’re boring me,” Vanitas says. He ghosts through the space between them, throwing an electrified force like he’s batting a swing. Aqua dodges, using the Defender as a lightning rod, and redirects the intensity until it crumbles into a wall away from everyone else.

“We’re not alone!” Lea calls out, the smoke of his fire spells clouding the room.

Something slithers, weaving through the air with a high-pitched wiggle. The thing is white, bending like it can compute Aqua’s strike before she has the chance to think of it. Its skin is thick yet fluid, reverberating her magic like it’s jelly. All of its movements are calculated - the way it walks is unnatural, as if someone is inputting commands into its mind.

“Nobodies!”

“Finally, some proper entertainment.” Vanitas catches Kairi off-guard, throwing her backward. “You got children in your team. Proud of yourself?”

If Aqua goes ahead and hurries to Ven, none of them would have to sacrifice their memories.

If she leaves them alone, would she betray their need for help?

“Just go,” Sora says. “It’s not a big deal. Look at him.” He waves to Vanitas, who is messing with Lea now. “He’s like an angry chicken.”

That’s the last word she’d use to describe Vanitas, but they’ve wasted so much time already.

“You promise?”

“Promise to trust my word?”

Aqua sighs and grips his shoulder, her fingers digging into his sleeve. His eyes go wide, getting the message. “Don’t underestimate him. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

The door handle churns when she grabs it. Pops, whirs, and shouts rally behind her in a thunderous roar, and she stops herself from turning the knob.

“I didn’t say you could see him!” Vanitas yells, coming toward her like she’s the only one whose existence has any value. Riku blocks his way, scruffed up from vanquishing enemies in one intricate attack a moment before.

The lock turns. She wants to see Ven but she doesn’t, not with enemies so close.

Vanitas dodges strings of attacks from all sides, from her friends, from Goofy throwing his body across the room, from Donald screaming incoherent gibberish. “Not without me!”

It almost sounds… painful. If he’s this bothered, then she can only imagine how much hatred and disgust fuel his words.

Poor Ven for having to deal with him.

She shuts the door behind her, suffocating the noise, cutting off Vanitas’ verbal assault, like an eraser swallowing an exclamation mark.

Aqua stands at the entrance hall of what used to be the old castle, gold pillars holding up ivory walls, coated in stained glass light. Down the hall are staircases leading up to the throne room where she had her Mark of Mastery, right where they’re supposed to be.

She should’ve been more careful than let the castle into her mind. Damn it.

“Nothing is real,” she declares. Someone could be upstairs. The Master. With his bushy mustache and ridiculous hairstyle that she’s offered to cut for years. What would he say to her?

Maybe she could apologize. She really wants to.

No. The castle will conjure him only because she’s thinking of him. “I won’t look. I won’t.”

Some part of her jumped at the thought that it could be Terra… She could hear Terra’s voice. It’d be exact, his smile something she’s needed. It could be wonderful. It could be sad.

“I won’t look,” she whispers, taking a peek up at the balcony over the foyer to see if she could at least spot a head of hair. She sees the stained glass mural in the same beautiful shapes she’s mimicked with crayons, hovering right above the thrones. The colors do their best work in the late morning, just like how they glistened prims on Terra’s shoulders when she dueled him.

Aqua inhales sharply. She runs past the stairs and down another hallway to the left, to a door that normally would lead to the kitchen.  

Is she remembering that right? The kitchen?

“It doesn’t matter.” It does. But Ven. She grips a new door handle, so much like the ones back home (the same golden color).

She hisses. “Ven,” she calls, willing the word onto the door.

Aqua enters another empty white room with yet another door at the opposite side, like she smothered white paint all over a filled canvas. Who knows how far she’s moved away from the others by now, or how many rooms have sifted in between.

But the whiteness is exactly what she wants - to get to Ven, she’ll need some peace and quiet, and a bit of time to grieve.

Something is wrong, though. Aqua doesn’t take another step. The rooms should read her, not watch her.

“Who’s there?”

Footsteps lightly tread, weighty but feathery. A man in a black robe gracefully makes his appearance from behind a stone pillar, his face a secret under the hood. A giant of a man, barrel-chest with a thick waist, at least two heads taller than her.

“I had missed the chance to see you before,” he says, his voice deep and smooth, but forceful like the bottom of an ocean. Aqua’s heart hammers at the familiarity. “Now I’ve been granted a tabula rasa...”

Aqua scoffs, Defender at the ready.

“My friend,” Xemnas says.

“You’re not my friend.”

“Even I am not that cruel to be so cold. How can you say that to someone who has longed to see you?”

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?”

Xehanort’s Nobody hums, halfway between a chuckle and solemn breath. “I don’t need the pity.”

“Then I have nothing else for you.”

Aqua is the first to move, casting a barrier around herself for protection, expecting him to conjure up spells of his own. Instead, out of his palms burst two red sabers that throb when she gets close.

He strikes her with both, clutching Defender’s jab and throwing her off balance. He’s too fast for his size - he has to be utilizing the darkness to bend the laws of physics. Showing off his acrobatics and reappearing in places she doesn’t expect, he toys with the space between them, coming close to taunt her into hitting him. Then he goes away in a flash. Aqua scrambles to keep up.

“Enough of this,” she mutters.

Summoning her Master’s chains takes more from her than any other spell, but they’re her rock and wind - as though Eraqus is with her every step of the way, approving her decisions. They are Light incarnate into metal, threads that peel chunks away from her heart to take form. To justify conjuring them, she needs to land a certain blow.

This is Xehanort’s Nobody, after all. Watching him wince will be a welcome sight.

They wrap around his body, locking his sabers against his thighs. He shudders from the pain, his knees losing their strength. Yes, that’s exactly what she wants.

Like finding new resolve, Xemnas stands straight on trembling feet just as she was sure he’d collapse. She must be exhausted from conjuring them, she has to be. They shouldn’t be this weak. Dark energy crackles and whips against the links. His arms manage to flex outward, pushing against the hold.

Maybe that’s the point. To survive this, he can’t be anything close to human. He’s technically Nothing.

Or maybe it isn’t. Maybe she isn’t sure she wants this.

“An old trick,” Xemnas says, loosening one arm.

This is her only chance. Aqua pinches the gap between them in an instant, her Master’s Defender high in the air to knock him out.

Xemnas grabs her by the wrist, the Defender suspended in air. His hand is so large that his fingers lock together, twisting and squeezing her that she’s worried he’ll break it.

Aqua tries to jerk free but the pain cuts into her circulation.

He watches her squirm. “Like a trapped mouse with not the mind to know there’s nowhere to go. No need to skirmish so much.”

“Let go of me.”

“Why do you hate me so?” He squeezes harder and lifts her, her feet dangling off the floor. She yelps. “You fight me though you know me as faceless. Such harsh disregard for my existence.”

“Spare me,” she breathes, her wrist throbbing, “your stupid pleas.”

“But I do plea.” Xemnas gently lifts the hood off his head. It’s not the shoulder-length silver hair that surprises her, but his face. Yellow eyes, but the same face.

She gasps. “Terra.”

Wrong. Everything about him is wrong - the smile, the malicious glint in his eye, the tightened half-smirk. A callous Terra looking down on her like the gnat under a shoe, needing to be scraped off.

“You’re hurting me,” she whimpers to (Terra’s face), hoping to catch the tiniest reaction in his eyes that he’d feel bad for doing so - just like Terra would. But he doesn’t.

This is supposed to be Xehanort’s body without a heart. But she’s been misleading herself, hasn’t she?

(Terra’s body) wanting to be her friend, wanting to stay close, wanting to reconnect. And she wanted the same. Aqua swallows bile.

This bastard stole from her.

She throws a kick into his face with enough force that he lets her go. Xemnas stumbles backward, holding his chin where her shoe made contact. He winces. Good.

“You’re nothing like him!” Aqua says, flexing her sore, thick grip on the Defender. It twitches and singes.

Xemnas stays where he is, carefully massaging his chin like she isn’t in the room anymore. If he heard her, he doesn’t give notice, staring blankly at the floor. She wonders - for the slightest moment - if what she said actually stung him.

“You can try,” he says.

“Excuse me?”

“Try it.” He conjures his blades. “Obliterate me. Let’s see if you make peace with doing so after seeing my face.”

Shut up. Aqua lunges at him, ignoring the ache on her wrist. But instead of using his blades against her, a wall of light erects from the floor. She collides into it. It electrocutes her, throwing her back.

An offensive barrier? Terra’s used this. Protecting her in the Realm of Darkness right after finding her. This really is Terra’s body.

A cry echoes against the tile. It came out of her own mouth. She can’t lose it here.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re his body,” she whispers to herself, standing up. She stumbles as Xemnas casually approaches, his footsteps as soft as the adrenaline dissipating from her body. Numbness is quickly replaced by the stinging in her wrist. It’s harder to take calming breaths.

It matters. It matters too much.

Aqua huffs, telling herself to stop thinking about who’s in the room and start thinking about the people depending on her. “You’re wasting my time,” she declares.

She turns on her heel and heads for the door.

A blast explodes near the exit. Over her shoulder, Aqua sees Xemnas holding out his palm, smoke fizzing out of the leather of his glove.

“After all this time?” he asks.

Aqua gives herself a conscious reminder that Nobodies can’t truly feel. Lea is sure to disagree, but there’s little in Xemnas’ voice to tell her there’s anything left of Terra in that mind.

She yells. Such a primitive thing to do, but it tricks her body for a few precious moments into feeling she has the strength to pull off something big and reckless. Chains of light emanate from her body.

The chains pummel in different directions, and Xemnas erects several barriers to counter each one. Neither of them actually target him. It’s not that she’s getting worse at her aim. Or getting brittle. She knows this. It’s everything to do with (him), and she’s ashamed of it.

At least they’re distracting him.

Aqua yanks the door handle with her good hand, a pressure bursting from the other side and swallowing her as she closes it behind her.

Warmth beats on her shoulders. Tall stone towers conquer the space around her, blocking off the horizon. Aqua only sees gently setting sunlight. She’s somewhere on a terrace of a castle, tucked away from the main streets.

Her heart drops when she realizes it’s Radiant Garden.

“No, no, no, no,” she murmurs, palming the brick walls behind her for a door. For the feeling of a doorknob. She can’t have this now. She can’t stand to witness one of her worst memories.

A few feet ahead. There, a gray door that would take her out to an alley - out of this room. It’s just a room.

But the castle knows.

It only takes a second. A tall figure catches her peripheral attention.

Terra, with a scowl on his face. He’s impeccable: thick, effortlessly tousled hair just right, the pensive deepness of his eyes far away and hurt, unsure of her presence there. Something about him is tense, like he’s about to turn over his shoulder and walk away from her all over again.

Aqua has only one wish to ask what she used to call home. Smile. Please, smile.

[if-the-crown-fits-translate-it]

Duchy Conversation 8

[The following transcript details the conversation is between one of the Crown ARG Discord members and Duke on Twitter]

Donti: “Its always a roll of the dice as to who I will talk to! Who is it today, I wonder? :Dc, Hello!”

Duke: “Hello there, Donti. I do hope I haven't kept you too long. It is the Duke, little lamb.”

Donti: “Hi Duke!!! Sorry I kept you waiting, didn't notice you had messaged me ^^'

How have you been ?”

Duke: “Apologies are in order for myself as well it seems, the little bird did not notify me you responded!

I have been doing as well as I can be. My sister is hurt and it is the fault of a cretin, it is not something I am in joy over.”

Donti: “Oh, I heard about that, I'm so sorry  :(. I hope it didn't change your views on the family, I'm sure they regret it

((we are simply the best at responding))”

Duke: “Oh indeed we are truly the most wonderful at responses! It does my heart well to see such our skill. In a more serious tone though, I will say that it did in fact impact my view of the family. How could it not?

Donti: “That's fair, I was just being overly hopeful :/ How are you feeling? About it I mean.?”

Duke: “I feel disgusted.

These people are animals, brutes. There are few in this family who can even have the honour of being called kind - Prince, Baron and Jester are the only ones suitable for humanity. Countess perhaps as well, although I am unsure.”

Donti: “Those are strong sentiments Duke, even if they are justified... Have you talked to Crown about it? He cares about your well-being, after all.”

Duke: “I will not speak to Crown on this matter. I do not think his constitution can handle the reveal of my inner feelings. What will he suggest, that I simply apologize? That I forgive and forget? No. I will not.”

Donti: “What are you going to do then? Hold a grudge? I have learnt the hard way that people don't enjoy those.

When you hold a grudge. People will make you let go of it.”

Duke: “No one will make me do anything.”

Donti: “That's a good thing.”

Duke: “I will rise with the sun and set with the moon. I will traverse oceans and watch mountains crumble. I will live and laugh and love but in my heart, I will gaze upon these beast's faces and know that I will howl with joy at their demise.

They hurt my sister, Donti.

They hurt her.”

Donti: “Yea... Did you talk to her about it?”

Duke: “I have. She is doing much better now, but the fact still remains sight will never return to one of her eyes. Her face is forever scarred because she had the audacity to care about me. They have lied to us, kept information from us, mocked and jeered...... And now this.

If you cannot see my reasons for a "grudge" as you call it so then I am afraid I do not understand your way of thinking, little lamb.”

Donti: “Oh I see your reason for a grudge. Don't worry. I would do the same. But are you planning on,,, acting on this? I wouldn't advise it, but if you are, don't be rash.”

Duke: “I have no plans as of now. My current goal is to ensure my sisters' safety and comfort as she adjusts to her current prediciment.

Of course, if King or Baroness notice a few missing items they adore then it is not the fault of I, but a wonderful coincidence”

Donti: “If by chance it were to happen, it would be well deserved. Although, I would suggest that the plants be left alone... I would feel bad if a living thing were to die for a grudge against another.”

Duke: “I do not view plants the way you do but it is understandable, I suppose. I'm sure whatever hooligan is committing such crimes will know.

May I ask you something Donti?”

Donti: “Of course you may ^^”

Duke: “Do the strong not devour the weak?”

Donti: “... They do. I have learnt that many times over.”

Duke: “Then if that is how the world goes, is it so terrible to be one of the strong? One of the victors that taste the honey-sweet sense of delight?”

Donti: “But to be one of the strong. Certain things must be sacrificed. Pity. Kindness. Empathy. To taste victory, one must pay the price”

Duke: “And if the price has been paid, who would we be to deny the gift thats been given?”

Donti: “And if your fellow lions defend the mice?”

Duke: “Then the lion must bring itself to slaughter.

Do not fear though, this is much more of a.. Personal issue then one that deals with your flock, little lamb. I hold no ill will towards any of you”

Donti: “It looks like you've already paid the price of victory... Not that I blame you. I would be a hypocrite to say otherwise. But sometimes the lion who cares for the mouse will call upon the mice and see that it is answered.

Is it worth losing the trust of many.. Even all?”

Duke: “Then how does the lion prevent the mice from coming for the mouse?

What I crave, what I've decided, hurts no one physically. Those who may grieve for a moment will move on with time, and if not? Then they can weep, for I have conquered.”

Donti: “Well said. Although. One must remember why he chooses to conquer. Or he may lose sight of his goal”

Duke: “I want to live, Donti. Is that so bad? So selfish? To have a life that is my own?”

Donti: “No. It isn't selfish. But you have to remember that you share your life with others. Or you'll find yourself losing everyone.”

Duke: “Of course, of course. One would be foolish to forget that, after all people enrich our lives. Without my sister life would be horrid, a misery existence filled with only shades of grey.”

Donti: “Losing a sibling is terrible, I hope it never happens to you.”

Duke: “Do you have experience?”

Donti: “My sibling and I simply drifted away... We were close, once. Sometimes they visit me, and I them... But. It's just not the same. We have chosen different paths

Nothing that you could help...”

Duke: “How terrible, little lamb. I mourn for your loss. Perhaps the Crown could help fix that - but I must say I do prefer you as you, dear one.”

Donti: “Yea.. Maybe. But I enjoy being myself. My other self has never awoken... Not that I try to contact them.”

Duke: “You are you. There is no one else, and if there is? Pay them no mind. You are yourself. Do not contact them. Do not engage. Only you exist, only you must be in mind.

You are you.”

Donti: “Oh, alright.. Why are you against it? Aren't you sharing another's mind?.. Although. Your counterpart is asleep..”

Duke: “Do not speak of him

Do not.”

Donti: “Alright! I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable ^^”

Duke: “There is no one else in this body but I. There is no one else here but I. And if there was? He does not matter. He is weak and I am strong. I have won, but that is redundant because. There. Is. No. One. Else. Here.

I am myself, Donti. All of it.”

Donti: “Of course. I'm sorry for bringing it up”

Duke: “Good. Thank you for apologizing, little lamb. What you said was quite rude.

It is alright though! Do not fret. I forgive you, it was just a simple mistake after all. Do not fret.”

Donti: “Yes, thank you for forgiving me, i think i forgot my manners ^^""

By the way, have you ever played video games?”

Duke: “You did, little lamb. You did indeed. I am forgiving however, and you are young. Do not worry, such transgressions are already forgotten. We are friends after all, and it would be cruel of me to hold it against you so.

On the topic change, what is a video game?”

Donti: “Oh! it's a type of digital entertainment? There are many different kinds of them!

Us lambs enjoy them, and there are a lot of multiplayer games that I think you would enjoy”

Duke: “Fascinating, what exactly do you think might be suited towards my taste? I find myself intrigued.”

Donti: “Hm... You seem like someone who would enjoy RPGs? Roleplayers games! There are also online competitive games you might enjoy...

Before we... Drifted. My sibling and I would play cooperation games! Two people would share a keyboard and work towards a common goal. I would suggest you look into a few”

Duke: “Those do not sound so bad. Perhaps it is time I look more into these things instead of letting new experiences pass me.

I am sorry about your sibling. I truly am. Perhaps have them be dreadfully injured so you must nurse them back to health? A bond will grow out of the feeling of debt if nothing else.”

Donti: “Ah. My sibling is very. Independent.. Even if they were to be injured, they would deal with it on their own. If I were to help them, they would go. I love them, but they don't need me anymore. I’ve accepted that..”

Duke: “Oh dear, you poor thing. It must be horrible, to be all alone. I knew how that felt once. With so little support, barely anyone to depend on..... I think the worst part of it all is the quiet, no? The lonesome silence that settles into your skull.

You need not fret, while I am sorry about your sibling you do have my sister and I. We would never do such a cruel thing to you.”

Donti: “Thank you Duke.. That is very kind ^^ It hurts to think that you have been here too. I'm glad you're happy now!”

Duke: “Thank you. I am glad to be in such a place now, after that dark time. One day you will be here too.”

Donti: “That's a possibility I hope comes true!”

Duke: “It will”

Donti: “Unfortunately, it's getting late :( I must regretfully take my leave

Until next time!”

Duke: “Until next time, little lamb. I hope you rest well.”

[descendantofthesparrow]

Remember your past life - Prince! Harry Hook x Chosen Knight! Reader - part 16 - Captured Memories

@musicarose​

=

“i’m not sure why all your memories have been depleted, the shrine of resurrection was never completely examined and it did not give any sign of chance of losing memories, It could be that you were in there for so long that your brain just…forgot?”

You sighed and leaned back on your heels, pouting slightly. Harry patted your shoulder and looked at Regina. “so how did I separate from my….here version?” he ended sounding slightly confused as to word out his question.

Regina understood but shrugged “that is something that I can't explain as well, i’m sorry your highness” Harry winced and waved his hands around.

“um, Harry is fine” Regina nodded, smiling at him, before turning back to you.

“do you have the sheikah slate?” you nodded and unclipped it from your hips, handing it over to her, she hummed, tapping the buttons and screen quickly.

“It seems it is fully functional if only missing the upgraded runes, is there any more questions?” Regina asked as she pulled up the camera rune. “ooh, wait a moment, it seems this is the camera prince harry used all those years ago….possibly if you visit these sights, you could regain your lost memories” she handed the slate back to you and you slowly nodded, glancing at the white stone platform with the shadow of the castle behind it.

“so that will be my request for you, visit these sights….and once you visit as least one, return to me, there is something the prince wanted me to give to you (y/n)” you glanced at harry slightly confused but agreed.

“yes, ma’am” Regina smiled and nodded.

“good, now your friends should be at the inn waiting for you, don’t keep them waiting, and I believe they will want an explanation.”

You sighed and nodded, harry standing first and holding out his hand to you, you smiled in thanks and grabbed it, letting him haul you up from the floor.

“Goodnight you two, sleep well”

“thank you” you muttered in sync, walking out of Regina’s home and to the inn, flinching as the entire group seemed to lunge at you for answers.

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!”

=

You and harry carefully packed your bags, freezing when anyone moved or you heard something. Slowly sneaking out of the inn, you bought a bag of food and some flint, sheathing the sword from the training shrine on top of the nearby mountain.

Harry looked to you, a worried look on his face “lass are yeh sure about this”

“This isn’t their fight Harry, I need to find out what happened, and I need to find out how to help, I feel like this is all my fault” you whispered, swallowing down the pit in your throat. “I can't get them involved” harry frowned, pressing his lips together.

“i-I understand lass, but well still have to come back to get whatever “I” wanted to you have” he finger quoted as he referenced his past life.

“I know, it seems though I can….teleport with the shrines?” you chuckled, sending a comforting look to Harry as you climbed onto (horse name) “harry, they’ll be fine, this place is untouched by the dark one, and it'll stay that way”

“promise?” he asked quietly as he mounted his horse, you lead your horse to him, reaching over and cupping his cheek.

“promise”

=

You peeked at the picture, it seemed to match up perfectly with the archway in front of you. “um, I think this is it?” you muttered, holding it up, smiling as you matched the picture with the present archway. “It is!”

“great….now what-“ you and Harry froze, watching as the world blurred out, flashes of shadows and people coming to mind.

---

You slowly followed Harry as he numbly walked down the mountain path, tears burning at his eyes, you mentally sighed as you spotted the other champions waiting at the archway.

“Well? Don’t keep us in suspense.” Gil pushed, not realizing Harry's state of mind “How’d everything go up there on the mountain?”

Harry just shook his head, pressing his lips together, eyes on his feet. “So you didn’t feel anything?” an older teen asked, his fiery red hair hidden under a green cap ” No power at all?”

“no, I’m sorry” Harry finally muttered, swallowing harshly, trying to keep the tears back.

A tall young woman, her wild black hair that matched Harry's, Harriet, walked up to him, wrapping her arm around his shoulder “Then let’s move on. You’ve done all you could. Feeling sorry for yourself won’t be of any help. After all, it’s not like your last shot was up there on Mt. Lanayru. Anything could finally spark the power to seal the dark one away. We just have to keep looking for that…thing” she comforted, smiling slightly as she rubbed his shoulder.

“Thanks, Harriet” he gave her a small smile. Looking at her in the corner of his eye.

“if I may” harry looked to Uma confused, tilting his head. “i’m never sure on how to put this into words, but maybe it could help. But when I use my magic, I usually think about-“

The ground shook, thunder echoed across the plains, harry stumbled back, you ran forward, grabbing onto him and stabilizing him.

Uma turned, her eyes glowing slightly as she created a water vortex and launched up into the sky, gasping as she caught sight of the dark energy erupting from the castle.

“it's here” Harriet muttered gravely, fingers tensing on Harry's shoulders.

“This is it then” Gil hummed, flexing his fists as Uma descended back to the ground.

“Are you sure?” the red-haired teen asked Uma, looking up to the darkening sky.

“positive” Uma growled, anxiety for Harry and the kingdom settling in her bones.

“it's awake” Harry muttered, fear building in his eyes “the dark one!”

Gil's eyes narrowed, turning to the other champions “Let’s stop wasting time! We’re gonna need everything we got to take that thing down! Now we need to get to the beasts! Show that swirling swine who’s boss! (y/n) will need to meet the dark one head-on when we attack! This needs to be a unified assault! (y/n)!” you looked to Gil, a determined spark lighting in your chest “You get to the Castle. You can count on us for support. But it’s up to you to pound the dark one into oblivion!”

Harriet took Harry's arm, beginning to lead him away “come on Harry, let's get you somewhere safe”

“no!” Harry ripped his arm away “I'm not a little kid anymore, I might not have the power but there has to be something I can do!”

Harry turned to you, and you nodded, for once leading the way as the battle for Saorsa began

---

You gasped as the world returned to normal, Harry stumbling back slightly as he also snapped out of whatever that…memory thing was.

“Uma and Gil? They were apart of this?” you muttered, hearing Harry mutter Harriet's name. “maybe we should have-“

“no” harry stopped you “no, if they got caught up in this once before I don’t want them to get caught up in it again, they stay in storybrooke”

You slowly nodded, following harry back as he mounted his horse and started to go back to the village.

“let's go” he muttered.

--end of part 16--

permtaglist

@queer-cosette​

@sephiralorange​

@lunanight2012​

@daughter-of-the-stars11​

@amorathegamingkitsune​

@random-thoughts-003​ 

rypl taglist

@the-walking-daryl​

@dpaccione​

@redryderdesigns​

@forever1313​

@itsmysticalmystery​

@adamsbubblegumbitch​